Ramin Talaie/Corbis via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Two former Goldman Sachs investment bankers were charged Thursday with helping to raise money for a Malaysian investment fund that has lost $4 billion, according to federal prosecutors. Tim Leissner, 48, and Roger Ng, 51, were charged in a three-count criminal indictment in Brooklyn federal court Thursday.



Leissner pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money and to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He will forfeit $43.7 million as a "result of his crimes," officials said.



Ng, who reported to Leissner at Goldman, was arrested early Thursday in Malaysia.



Jho Low, the Malaysian financier who allegedly masterminded the fraud, was also indicted, federal prosecutors said. He is at large and was last seen in China.



These are the first charges against anyone who has worked for Goldman Sachs. The company was the primary bond underwriter for the fund, known formally as 1Malaysia Development Berhad, or 1MDB.



Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Moroccan King Mohammed VI exchanged congratulations on Thursday to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Morocco.

In his congratulatory message to the Moroccan king, Xi said that Morocco was among the first African countries that established diplomatic relations with China, and their bilateral relations have been growing steadily over the past 60 years after the two countries cemented diplomatic ties.

Xi said that he is very satisfied that China-Morocco relations have developed rapidly and bilateral cooperation in various fields has been very fruitful after the two countries established a strategic partnership.

Xi said that he greatly values the development of China-Morocco relations and is willing to make efforts together with the Moroccan king to consolidate the political mutual trust between the two countries, strengthen bilateral cooperation under the framework of co-building "the Belt and Road," jointly implement the outcomes of the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and continue to promote the China-Morocco strategic partnership.

In his congratulatory message delivered to Xi, Moroccan King Mohammed VI said he was satisfied with the smooth development of Morocco-China relations over the past 60 years, saying that the two countries have always enjoyed mutual understanding and trust in each other and bilateral trade cooperation has kept growing rapidly.

The king said that Morocco is willing to actively participate in the construction of "the Belt and Road," supports the cooperation initiatives proposed by China within the framework of the FOCAC, and constantly advances China-Morocco as well as China-Africa cooperation.

Also on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani exchanged congratulatory messages.

Li said in his message that the Chinese side greatly values the development of China-Morocco relations and is willing to work together with the Moroccan government to continue to consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries, actively implement the outcomes of the Beijing summit of the FOCAC, and strengthen all kinds of cooperation under the framework of co-building "the Belt and Road" to bring more benefits to the two countries and the two peoples.

Othmani said in his message that Morocco is willing to continue to strengthen the traditional friendship between Morocco and China, enhance bilateral pragmatic cooperation and continue to advance the relations between the two countries.
Phuket police arrest gun-toting shop robbers

PHUKET: It has been confirmed today (Nov 1) that two men wanted for an armed robbery of a small neighbourhood shop in Chalong on Oct 23 were apprehended by police yesterday (Oct 31).

crimepolicetransport

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 1 November 2018, 05:47PM

Col Pakkayot Tanongsak of the Chalong Police and Lt Col Thummasan Boontrong of the Phuket Provincial Police led a team of officers to arrest the two men who robbed the shop, making off with a gold necklace worth about B18,000 and B3,000 cash. (See original story here.)

Police named the first man arrested as Phuwanart Maneechot, 27. He was arrested at an address on Soi 17, Thale Luang Rd in the Bo Yang district of Songkhla province.

Police seized from the address the helmet and knife used in the robbery.

Phuwanart has been charged with robbing in the night time using a weapon and using a vehicle for the convenience of robbing a property or avoiding arrest.

The second man has been named as Nattawuth Ditsara, 32. He was arrested in the Kuan Khanun district of Phatthalung province.

Nattawuth has also been charged with robbing in the night time using a weapon and using a vehicle for the convenience of robbing a property or avoiding arrest.

From questioning, Nattawuth admitted that he and Phuwanart are friends and they committed the robbery together because they needed money as they were both unemployed.

Nattawuth took the cash B3,000 and sold the gold necklace for about B16,000.
Phuket raids net three suspects, more than 8,000 meth pills

PHUKET: Police have arrested three drug suspects in Sakoo subdistrict, south of Phuket International Airport, after a series of tip-offs led them to raid two different houses in the area.



By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 1 November 2018, 04:28PM

More than 8,000 meth pills (ya bah) were seized in the raids. Photo: Sakoo Police

Sakoo Police Chief Col Kittipong Klaikaew revealed to The Phuket News today (Nov 1) that officers made the arrests yesterday (Oct 31).

Sakoo Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Urumporn Koondejsumrit, who for years previously worked with the Phuket Tourist Police, accompanied by military personnel made the arrests, he said.

The first arrest was of Nikorn Mui Chantarawong, 36, at a house in Moo 5 Sakoo, where they found him in possession 8,498 methamphetamine (ya bah) pills.

Nikorn has been charged with possession of Category 1 drug with intent to sell, confirmed Col Kittipong, who previously served as the Wichit Police Chief.

Col Kittipong explained that the officers had tracked down Nikorn after they were informed that he was allegedly selling drugs to teenagers in the Baan Bang Mala area.

Tracking another drug suspect who police were informed used the name Oot, Col Urumporn and the raid team arrested Anusorn Chanthawong, 35, and Teerapon Chandee, 28, at a different house, also in Moo 5 Sakoo.

The two were found with a cooking pot containing 100 grams of kratom leaves, as well as cough syrup, Coca-Cola and a colander  all the necessary items for making the notorious 4 x 100 kratom-based drug drink.

Both men were charged with possession of Category 5 drug, Col Kittipong again confirmed.

All three suspects were taken Sakoo Police Station for further questioning, he said.

Anusorn and Nikorn are relatives, Col Kittpong noted, but declined to elaborate further.
Regime vetoes recreational weed use

BANGKOK: The government has rejected calls for marijuana to be decriminalised so that it can be used freely as a recreational drug, saying Thailand at this point has to focus on its use for medical purposes.

drugshealth

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 1 November 2018, 09:04AM

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says recreational marijuana will never be permitted in Thailand because its not time to smoke pot and laugh all day. Photo: Bangkok Post / File

This is not the time to allow people to smoke pot and laugh all day. We are still struggling to deal with drug problems, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday (Oct 31).

Drug suppression is the governments priority, he said.

Public Health Minister Piyasakol0 Sakolsatayadorn, said that while the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) deliberates passing amendments to the 1979 Narcotics Act, the ministry is considering adopting a measure to immediately allow the use of marijuana for medical research.

The ministry now plans to reclassify marijuana as a Type 2 narcotic instead of Type 5 so that marijuana extracts can be used for medical purposes, said Tares Krassanairawiwong, secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA is seeking approval from Dr Piyasakol for its narcotics control committee to convene on Nov 9 to decide on the proposal to reclassify marijuana, Dr Tares said.

He insisted the ministrys move is in line with the amendments to the drugs law that are being considered by the NLA, saying this is part of government efforts to legalise the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

When reassigned as a Type 2 narcotic, marijuana will be used for four main treatment areas, said Dr Sopon Mekthon, an adviser to the public health minister.

In the first, marijuana extract will be used to treat nausea in cancer patients suffering side effects of chemotherapy, drug-resistant epilepsy in child patients, multiple sclerosis and severe pains, he said.

In the second, the ministry plans to use marijuana in Thai traditional medicine, he said.

Thirdly, the Department of Medical Science will study the possibility of using marijuana on patients with Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers and dementia, he said.

Lastly, the ministry plans to carry out laboratory studies to see how effective marijuana is in treating other diseases including cancer, he said.

Dr Sopon stressed that only marijuana extracts will be used for these purposes, not the leaves and flowers.

This is a first step toward totally legalising marijuana use for medical purposes, so not everyone will be allowed to grow the plant freely, he said.

The handling of marijuana will be strictly controlled at all stages from growing the plant to using its extracts for medical purposes, he said.

Read original story here.
Speeding wipeout Phuket taxi driver named, charge confirmed

PHUKET: Police have named the speeding Phuket taxi driver who wiped out six vehicles and killed a motorbike rider on Tuesday morning (Oct 30) and confirmed the charges against him.

tourismtransportaccidentsdeathpolice

By Tavee Adam

Thursday 1 November 2018, 05:58PM

A tourist was in the taxi when the accident happened on Tuesday morning (Oct 30). Photo: Seang Prachachon Kon Phuket / Facebook

Police today (Nov 1) also confirmed there was a tourist in the taxi at the time of the wipeout.

The airport taxi collided with five cars both parked and in motion, as well as fatally colliding with a motorbike, on Thepkrasattri Rd southbound in Srisoonthorn at 8am Tuesday. (See story here.)

The police officer in charge of the investigation, Capt Suporn Mueangkai of the Thalang Police, today confirmed that the taxi driver is 23-year-old Marut Puangsombat.

Capt Suporn also confirmed to The Phuket News today that the motorbike rider killed in the wipeout was Anuson Rattanadilok Na Phuket, 40, a Phuket resident.

Mr Anusorn worked at Thalang Hospital, Capt Suporn said, but did not identify which position he held.

His body has been buried in a funeral ceremony already, Capt Suporn said.

Capt Suporn explained that the only other person injured in the wipeout was Marut, the driver of the green-plate registered airport taxi.

He had only minor wounds. After the incident, he didnt run away, and he went to Mr Anusons funeral too, he said.

The other cars had no people inside so there no one else was injured, Capt Suporn added.

The reason for the accident was that Marut was driving very fast like other taxi drivers. He was not drunk at the time. He has been charged with reckless driving causing death and charged with reckless driving causing damage to property, Capt Suporn confirmed.

Capt Supon noted that Marut underwent blood tests that showed him negative for alcohol and drugs.

However, Capt Suporn added, When the accident happened, there was one foreign passenger in the taxi, but that foreigner was not injured.

Immediately after the accident, the foreigner went straight back to the airport to go home, he said.

Capt Suporn declined to name the tourist, or identify the tourists age or nationality.

Regarding whether Marut will have his commercial taxi drivers licence revoked over the incident, Capt Suporn said, Police have reported Maruts case to the court, and the court will decide how what to do with this guy, whether to allow him (to keep his licence) or ban him. All that is up to the court.

Of note, under a crackdown in 2016 metered taxi drivers were threatened by Navy security personnel that for not using their taxi meters or not having their metres configured correctly, the drivers faced a seven days licence suspension for a first first offence, and stood to have their licences revoked entirely for a second offence. (See story here.)
Watertown couple faces charges after meth found in home, police say

During the search, methamphetamine was located in the residence. Evidence of methamphetamine distribution was also discovered.
MONTREALThe head of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. tried to assuage concerns over criminal charges at home and diplomatic tensions with the embattled regime in Saudi Arabia, saying the challenges will not hurt business.

Despite the political issues weve had to contend with, our business is solid, chief executive Neil Bruce told analysts during a conference call.

On Oct. 10, the Montreal-based companys stock plunged to its lowest level since early 2016 after federal prosecutors announced they would not invite SNC to negotiate a remediation agreement over fraud and corruption charges that stemmed from alleged dealings with the Libyan regime under Moammar Gadhafi between 2001 and 2011  a completely distant era, Bruce said.

Read more:

Montreal engineering giant SNC asks court to review federal decision excluding it from remediation regime

Canadas biggest builder faces new level of risk in Saudi feud

Its when I did my MBA at Newcastle University, to put in perspective, he added. It hasnt had any impact whatsoever in our ability to bid.

In February 2015, the RCMP charged SNC and two subsidiaries with paying nearly $48 million to Libyan public officials to influence government decisions. The RCMP also hit the company, its construction division and a subsidiary with one charge each of fraud and corruption for allegedly defrauding various Libyan organizations of about $130 million.

A conviction could bar SNC from working with the federal government for up to 10 years.

An appeal of the Public Prosecution Service of Canadas decision to forgo an invitation to settlement negotiations is ongoing.

Bruce confirmed he was in Saudi Arabia last week, but said he kept clear of the Davos in the Desert conference. Many prominent international officials backed out of the event following the controversy over the alleged murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Bruce also pointed to an unfortunate diplomatic incident between Canada and Saudi Arabia when a tweet regarding human rights from Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland set off a trade embargo by the monarchy last August.

We continue to monitor the situation closely and were engaged with our clients, he said, but insisted the 9,000-plus staff and robust revenues  $992 million last year  remained unaffected by the row.

On Thursday, SNC reported a third-quarter profit of $120.7 million, up from $103.6 million a year ago.

Profits amounted to 69 cents per share for the three-month period ended Sept. 30, up from a profit of 59 cents per share a year earlier, the company said.

Revenue totalled $2.56 billion, down from $2.63 billion in the third quarter of last year.

On an adjusted basis, SNC earned 96 cents per share for the quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 78 cents per share in the third quarter of 2017.

Analysts on average had expected a profit of 67 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon.

SNCs outlook forecasts an adjusted profit of $3.60 to $3.85 per diluted share for 2018.

Read more about:
VANCOUVERThe federal government wants to create new ocean sanctuaries in British Columbia as part of an additional $61.5 million it is spending to protect endangered killer whales.

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Wednesday the government also wants to create new areas of critical habitat off the west coast of Vancouver Island for southern resident killer whales.

The protected areas of Swiftsure in the Juan de Fuca Strait between Vancouver Island and Washington state, and La Perouse Bank off Tofino will be areas that the whales can call home, he said.

We are in the process of consulting on those new critical habitat areas and expect to be able to move forward on them in the next couple of months, he said. We are also talking about creation of killer whale sanctuaries, which essentially are within the areas of critical habitat ... which means that we can prohibit a range of different activities, not simply fisheries, where you can regulate that ships cannot go.

The government previously announced $167.4 million would be spent to improve prey availability and reduce disturbances for whales.

Southern resident killer whales were listed as endangered in 2003 and only 74 of them remain in the wild.

Read more:

Conservation groups file suit against feds to protect endangered killer whales

Wilkinson said the government will take a closer look at enhancing food sources for whales by putting money into a new hatchery to increase the stock of chinook salmon.

While there have been calls for a ban on chinook salmon fishing, he said the government hasnt gone there yet.

Well certainly be looking at the needs of the southern resident killer whales and trying to ensure balancing economic issues with environmental issues, he said.

Earlier this year, the federal government closed about 35 per cent of recreational and commercial chinook fisheries in the Juan de Fuca Strait and around portions of the Gulf Islands.

Misty MacDuffee, a conservation biologist at the Raincoast Conservation Foundation in B.C., said she was encouraged by the move to identify sanctuaries where the animals can be protected from fishing and whale watching.

She said the government has to increase the number of salmon in the sanctuaries and a hatchery is not a promising way to do that.

The best way to increase the abundance of chinook is by closing fisheries.

The Fisheries Department proposal to enhance the availability of chinook in the fall in the Fraser River will not help southern resident killer whales when they need the salmon in the early spring and the summer, MacDuffee said.

The importance of those early time chinook are key to southern resident killer whales, she said. What the feds are proposing to do is enhance chinook that are returning in the fall.

In addition to food, Wilkinson said the government is looking at moving shipping lanes further away from areas preferred by killer whales as well as long-term solutions, such as quieter ships to reduce noise from vessels.

With the ferries, they are structured in such a way that reducing the speed doesnt help as much with the noise.

A conservation agreement is in the works with BC Ferries to ensure its vessels take a wide berth around the whales, he said.

Two years ago, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said the government was working with BC Ferries on possible approaches to help decrease noise and traffic.

Wilkinson said he hopes to have the bulk of the measures in place by May when the whales return to the area. But it will take some time to reduce noise and purchase ships that are quieter, he said.
OTTAWAMore than 1,800 Canada Post workers have walked off the job in Hamilton, Ont., and La Mauricie, Que., as the unions overtime ban takes effect across the country.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says the walkout in La Mauricie began Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. and in Hamilton just after midnight on Thursday.

Those workers joined union locals in other communities taking part in the rotating strikes, including Regina, Sask.

The Ontario communities of North Bay and Ottawa are also on strike, as well as the British Columbia cities of Campbell River, Courtenay, Nanaimo and Port Alberni.

In Quebec, Canada Post locals are also off the job in Outaouais after strikes in other areas of the province wrapped up Thursday.

On Wednesday, CUPW said the overtime ban means postal workers can refuse to work beyond their normal eight-hour days.

Read more:

Canada Post trucks backed up as strikes move throughout Quebec, Ottawa

Montreal hit with rotating Canada Post strike, 6,000 workers walk off job

We have a health and safety crisis at Canada Post. Weve seen injury rates skyrocket, Mike Palecek, CUPW national president, said in a statement Thursday. This has got to be fixed.

Meanwhile, Canada Post says it is facing a days-long backlog of parcel deliveries.

Dozens of trailers filled with parcels and packages were awaiting processing at the agencys three biggest hubs  Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

What are your thoughts?

Combined, the three key locations can process one million parcels a day from across the country, Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton has said.

The union and the postal service have been unable to reach new collective agreements for two bargaining units after 10 months of negotiations.

Canada Post has said it provided significant offers to its employees, including wage hikes.

But they dont address a single one of our major issues, Palecek said Wednesday in a statement on the unions website.

Those issues include health and safety concerns, he said, adding that the wage offers from Canada Post fall far below expected cost-of-living increases.

Last Tuesday, Labour Minister Patty Hajdu appointed Morton Mitchnick, a former chairman of the Ontario Labour Relations Board, to help the two parties resolve their differences

Read more about:
OTTAWABy the third year of undergrad, the discipline of economics was starting to lose lustre for young Nigel Wodrich. The tenor of it  with its technocratic nomenclature of human capital and price equilibrium  felt a bit staid, a bit agnostic.

But that feeling was swept aside when he met a new professor who arrived at the University of Ottawa that semester.

His name was Kevin Page.

Wodrich had heard of him, of course. It was 2013, and the bespectacled bureaucrat had just left the public service in a blaze of publicity, after finishing his five-year term as Canadas first-ever Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO). In an era remembered for the governments tight information control, Pages blockbuster reports and financial forecasts repeatedly whipped up furor for Stephen Harper and his Conservative administration.

This earned him accolades as a champion of transparency and accountability, but also a sizable legion of detractors. Former MP Patrick Boyer told Canadian Business that Page was a sanctimonious white knight who preened for the media by wrapping himself in this flag of accountability. The late Jim Flaherty, Harpers finance minister for eight years, once slammed Page as unreliable, unbelievable, and incredible.

Such acrimony sparked awe for a student like Wodrich. Here was an economist with the gumption to call it like it is, who used his craft to put pressure on politicians to make smarter decisions that would  hopefully  make things better for people. When Wodrich saw that Page was to teach his first class on the 2008 financial crisis, he was hooked. I have to take that class, he recalled thinking.

It didnt disappoint. In listening to Page talk about how to apply data methodologies to policy issues, Wodrich felt the flame of inspiration. Working on salient things, working in the public interest, being bold in that work, and being an advocate as well, Wodrich said. It was something I had never associated with economics.

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She was determined to stop the senseless dying in her city. What she did next was illegal  but it saved lives

Soon thereafter, Page opened the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy (IFSD) at the university, which he now runs as president and chief executive officer. The place operates as a sort of think tank and training ground, not just for students like Wodrich, but for working public servants who come for schooling in the rigours of fiscal analysis. His methods have since become a model for other governments, who send bureaucrats to his institute.

People cant follow the money from budgets to estimates documents. And this stuff gets quickly lost, Page, 61, told the Star in his office at the institute. We need to get to a way better place.

Kevin takes a genuine interest in developing the next generation, added Sahir Khan, a close friend of Pages who was among the first to join his team at the PBO, and now works with him as executive vice-president of the IFSD.

His view is that Canada is better off with 35 million PBOs.

Theres actually been some progress in that regard. Wodrich was hired as a junior analyst at the PBO in 2015.

Peter Weltman is Ontario's Financial Accountability Officer. He says Kevin Page's legacy as the country's first Parliamentary Budget Officer has inspired his own work.

Page once took a puck to the face during a mens league hockey game. The impact cratered his cheek and cracked his orbital bone in two places. It required the expert hand of a plastic surgeon to fix a titanium plate against the broken section of skull.

Everybody gets injured, he said with a shrug, seated behind the wooden desk in his office at the IFSD. His face  identical to the image from Harper-era news photos, but for the carpet of post-vacation stubble  tightened into a hockey-guy grimace.

Its just the price you pay, said Page, crossing his arms and leaning over a steaming mug of coffee. If youre not getting hit, youre not playing the game.

Its a good metaphor for his time at the PBO. In his 2015 book, Unaccountable: Truth and Lies on Parliament Hill, Page describes a threat to slash his offices budget in the wake of an early controversial report, as well as a feeling of general resistance to his insistence on maximum transparency. We hung on for dear life, he writes.

He didnt set out spoiling for a fight. When the creation of the PBO was first forecast, Page wasnt sure why anyone would want the job. In the wake of the Liberal sponsorship scandal, Harper, who was then the new prime minister, had promised legislation to increase government accountability and transparency. Part of the law was the creation of the new position of a Parliamentary Budget Officer, who would lead an office to produce cost estimates for proposed programs at the request of MPs.

By that time Page had climbed the rungs of the public service, from his beginning in the early 1980s as a masters of economics grad in the finance department to his standing as an assistant secretary in the Privy Council Office, the nerve-centre of the federal bureaucracy that supports the prime minister and cabinet in Ottawa. Approaching 50, he lived a comfortable life in suburban Ottawa, married with three kids and coaching hockey and baseball in his spare time.

You could have a nice, secure job path. Retire and live happily ever after, Page said. It was kind of a dream job as an economist.

Everything changed in the early hours of Sept. 9, 2006.

Pages 20-year-old son Tyler was walking on the train tracks near Algonquin College in Ottawa when he was struck by a train and killed  a tragic accident that, as Page writes in his book, felt as if a knife had been thrust into my stomach.

Priorities like a nice, secure job path to retirement were suddenly meaningless. After several months in a haze of sorrow that he says never dissipates, Page decided to gamble everything and apply to become PBO. He had lost a son. Nothing could be worse than that.

Theres no question. Were all shaped by different experiences in life, Page said. You dont look at risk the same way.

He never knew why exactly  out of a lack of other options, or out of empathy for his loss, Page guesses  but Harper gave him the job. Page was named Canadas first PBO in March 2008.

He had long admired the Congressional Budget Office in the United States. Established in the late 1970s, the CBO set the standard for independent assessment of proposed public programs and financial forecasts, Page said. He also admired its commitment to transparency, how it makes information public and aims to communicate what it is doing clearly with American citizens. He wanted to build something of the same quality with the PBO.

The first thing he told me is I have a mandate, and I think Parliament needs help, said Mostafa Askari, a career bureaucrat who first met Page at Queens University when Page was a masters student who marked papers for Askari, then a PhD candidate in economics. Askari was among the first people to join Page and set up the PBO. He is now deputy PBO in Ottawa, and plans to retire in January.

He said, I dont care about the risk, I dont care whether people get upset, Askari recalled. Thats one of the reasons I wanted to join him.

Page and his team received their first request for a cost estimate later that year, just before the 2008 federal election. It was from Paul Dewar, who was then the NDPs defence critic and he wanted to know the total cost of Canadas ongoing war in Afghanistan, launched with the U.S. and other allies in the aftermath of 9/11.

There were headwinds right away. Much of the information the PBO needed, Canadas defence department refused to provide. Page said he had to go to other countries, such as the U.S., to get estimates for statistics such as the depreciation of military equipment in a field of operation like Afghanistan.

When it came together, the election was underway. And after consulting with the leader of each party, Page opted to release the report during the campaign, showing the billions and billions the war was expected to cost Canadians while they decided who to support in the general election.

Not long after the election, in which the Conservatives won a minority government, he had his first confrontation with the Harper government. Page produced an economic forecast that predicted a recession after the 2008 financial collapse  correctly. But that conclusion contradicted the governments own fall economic forecast that year.

There were further episodes of friction, including a withdrawn plan to slash the PBOs budget  already relatively modest at less than $3 million  by one third. Asked once if the government was purposely misleading the public about the cost of its plan to buy F-35 fighter jets, Page flatly stated yes.

The purpose was never to attack the government, Askari said. We thought Parliament was being misled, so we thought it was our job to inform our clients.

Pages term as PBO ended in 2013 with no prospect of an extension from the Harper government. But by then, his reputation as an ardent pursuer of accountability gave some power to the idea of a respectable PBO. In Ontario, there was a minority Liberal government that agreed to create a Financial Accountability Office for the province.

Two years later, during the 2015 federal campaign, Justin Trudeau promised to make the PBO more independent by ensuring the sitting government doesnt have the unilateral power to dismiss whoever holds the position, and to give it a legal duty to cost out platform promises by major parties in future elections  changes that were enshrined in law in April 2017.

Story Behind the Story delivers insights into how the Star investigates, reports, and produces stories.

The murmur of a class in session could be heard through Pages office door on a recent Tuesday morning. The former PBO was contemplating whether his work has changed Canadas political discourse  as his friends and supporters insist it has. Page said he is happy with the expanded mandate of the office, which he had pushed for when he was there.

But beyond the durability of an institution to empower MPs with information about program costs, Page wants to keep doing the type of work that inspired Wodrich when he first became a professor at the University of Ottawa. Outside his office, public servants from Canada and visitors from Jamaicas finance department were listening to a PowerPoint about how to measure the effects of an economic shock on government deficits.

He wants his students to leave with an appreciation of technical economic tools, but also  like Wodrich  a sense of how those tools can be used for the betterment of policy. Page mentioned his colleague, Helaina Gaspard, who is working on an analysis of the funding shortfall for Indigenous child welfare in Canada. Its that type of work that brings the technical stuff to life, he said.

And so in establishing Canadas first legislative budget office, and laying the groundwork for more analysis at the IFSD, Page said he hopes he can shift Canadas political discourse toward more honesty, in grappling with the realities of dollars and cents.

In its way, the PBO has pushed open the door to that change, Page said. We nudged it, he said. We pushed it a little bit.

Now others just need to keep pushing it wider.
CHURCHILL, MAN.Residents of Churchill, Man. crowded around a bonfire during a street party to celebrate the return of rail service and a visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the northern Manitoba town.

Patricia Kandiurin held a banner with the label of the rail lines former owner, Denver-based Omnitrax, over the fire, slowly letting the flames destroy the white and black symbol as a nearby crowd cheered.

We are free, she said Thursday. We are not hostages anymore.

The first train rolled into Churchill in more than a year on Wednesday evening to the surprise and excitement of residents.

Flooding in the spring of 2017 damaged the tracks and severed the only land link to the subarctic town of 900 people on the shore of Hudson Bay.

During the time the line was washed out, goods and people had to be flown into Churchill and prices for groceries and fuel skyrocketed. The tourist economy in whats known as the polar bear capital of the world was hit hard and some people left town.

The federal government provided $74 million to help buy and fix the railroad, along with the towns port.

Trudeau said Omnitrax showed no interest in repairing the line, so it was important to shift ownership to the community and to those who shared a similar vision for the North.

The assets were bought by the Arctic Gateway Group  a partnership between several First Nations communities, Fairfax Financial Holdings in Toronto and Regina-based AGT Food.

The federal government has promised $43 million over 10 years to subsidize operations on top of the $74-million.

With this new deal, Churchill will have full control over its future, Trudeau said.

Trudeau was greeted at the celebratory party by a few hundred people singing O Canada.

He thanked the people for their patience and said the wait is finally over  rail service will be back to normal by the end of the month.

This is your victory, he said. I know times have been incredibly tough but the resilience and determination you have shown has been inspiring.

As the first train announced its arrival with a blow of its horn, children gave up trick-or-treating and families left the warmth of their homes to greet it.

Valerie Schweders daughter Jada told her she heard the sound, but initially she didnt believe it.

We went down to the port to watch it roll down the track, she said. It was nice to see it again. It was almost like you wanted to cry.

Schweder said many people felt stuck in the community because they couldnt afford to visit family or go on a trip. At the same time, feeding her four children was becoming extremely expensive.

That stress lifted when the train rolled in. The horn signalled freedom and a future.

Music played, people danced, and the smell of burgers and bannock washed over the communitys downtown during the party.

Jennifer Azure was all smiles as she walked around with a few of her sled dogs. She said its been very difficult to maintain her dog sled business and bed and breakfast. One bag of dog food cost about $150, and that would barely last two days.

Our dogs are really happy, as well as ourselves, she said with a laugh.

Our community has always really pulled together but its especially sweet now. We saw those first trains come down the tracks and its a good feeling. It gives us hope.

Despite the sale, many people said they werent sure if the railway could be repaired before winter. Murad Al-Katib of the Arctic Gateway Group said 29 washouts were repaired in 35 days.

We did that all together, he said.

Mayor Mike Spence said it has been difficult but better times are ahead.

We knew that once we got through this, we would be positioned for a greater, greater future, not just for us, but for Canadas North.

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A bag filled with fibres vacuumed from the indoor pool room where murder victims Barry and Honey Sherman were discovered has been turned over to Toronto police detectives by the Sherman family private investigation team.

That handover comes several weeks after police warned the Sherman familys lawyer they would seek a judicial warrant if potential evidence was not immediately handed over, sources close to the case have told the Star.

An earring discovered in the driveway has also being turned over by the private team.

The development continues an acrimonious relationship that has been building for ten months between the Sherman family and Toronto police.

Heres how it developed:

The rift began on day one when the bodies of the Sherman couple were discovered in their home on Dec. 15, 2017. Police initially deemed the pairs death a murder-suicide. That prompted the Sherman family to hire Toronto criminal lawyer Brian Greenspan, who in turn hired an investigative team including several ex-Toronto homicide detectives, forensic identification experts and a former provincial forensic pathologist.

Read more:

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That team began its own investigation immediately after police in late January ruled the case a targeted double homicide and turned the home at 50 Old Colony Rd. back to the family. According to remarks Greenspan made at a press conference last week, the private team determined  he did not say how  that the immediate area where the Shermans were found was never vacuumed by a police forensic team.

The pool room has a grey tiled floor and the Shermans, who had been strangled, were in a seated position each with a leather belt around the neck.

The intruders might have left behind a small sample of hair or fabric, Greenspan said at the press conference. The Toronto Police Service did not follow best practices and did not vacuum the area.

Greenspan said his team vacuumed the area, though it was now a contaminated crime scene due to the passage of time and traffic by multiple officers, adding whatever was sucked up by the private teams vacuum was secured in an evidence bag and kept in a secure location.

Police have not commented on the allegation that they did not vacuum the area of the pool room where the bodies were found.

During their initial search, private detectives were also directed by a television crew to a spot where the crew had seen an earring lodged in the gutter at the end of the driveway. The private team put that in an evidence bag too.

This was all back in January  the question for the private team was what to do with what they found.

In May, after several attempts, the private detectives arranged a meeting with Toronto Det.-Sgt. Susan Gomes and Det. Brandon Price. At that meeting, according to sources, the private team turned over analysis and photographs related to 25 palmprints and fingerprints found on surfaces in the home, which the private team believes police missed.

At the meeting, the private team, led by former Toronto homicide detective Tom Klatt, told the police about other items they had, including the vacuum bag and the earring. Other items were mentioned, but the Star could not determine what they were.

Shortly after, Toronto police retained Toronto criminal attorney Scott Hutchison, law partner of high-profile lawyer Marie Henein. Hutchison, sources say, was to advise police on a protocol for the passing on potential evidence.

No agreement was reached after a series of emails and calls between Hutchison and the private team throughout the summer and early fall, say sources close to the private investigation. In his press conference remarks, Greenspan said he was seeking a way to have the private team work with police going forward and still protect the integrity of the police investigation.

On Oct. 11, Hutchison wrote to Greenspan and warned him that if he did not turn over everything his team had, police would go before a judge to seek a production order, angering Greenspan, sources say.

After discussions with the Sherman family, the decision was made to hold last weeks press conference and express dismay about the police handling of the case. The family also announced a $10-million reward, and a tip line going to the familys team.

Immediately after the press conference, Greenspan directed his team to hand over any physical items they had collected to the police, sources close to the private team say.

Neither Hutchison nor Toronto police responded to requests for interviews for this story.

In the month leading up to the press conference, police obtained nine more search warrants in its investigation of the case, bringing the total to 37.

Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders has defended the work of his officers and said police searched the house for over six weeks forensically and very thoroughly.

He said that both his team and the private team are working towards the same goal  solving the Sherman murders.

With an eye to the fact that the Sherman familys team is still investigating, Saunders said he hopes the police and the team can develop a proper and robust protocol.

Kevin Donovan is the Stars chief investigative reporter based in Toronto. Reach him by email at kdonovan@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @_kevindonovan

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Firmly, but delicately, Stacy Sheene has been asking a Brampton judge since last year:

Do you have my ruling?

Shes still waiting for an answer.

Sheene was successful last year on a motion in Ontario Superior Court, which found that the proper jurisdiction to deal with the family court case involving her two children was the state of Florida, where she lives. As is often the case, the judge indicated at the end of that judgement that the parties could make submissions on legal costs, which Sheene says were submitted by Jan. 31, 2017.

Nearly two years later, Superior Court Justice David Price still has not released his ruling on costs  and Sheene says shes at a loss as to what to do. Despite several attempts at reaching out to Price by fax and through an assistant, Sheene says she has yet to be given an indication as to when shell be getting the costs order, if ever.

I want to be respectful, especially because he still hasnt made the decision, Sheene told the Star. Knowing how important it was for me to have the money and be able to move on, and still nothing, its really frustrating.

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Sheene submitted to the judge that she should receive her full legal costs for the motion, which totalled around $22,000 including costs associated with a previous lawyer.

I think that especially in family law, there is so much traffic going into these courts and the whole system is being so overworked and there are so many important issues to be determined that relate to children, their safety, financial issues, that once a decision has been made (on those issues), the costs decision, on the scale of importance, is probably lower, said Sheenes Ontario lawyer, Reesa Heft.

We just dont have enough access to justice in this province on the family law side.

Price would not be commenting, as judges generally do not comment to the media, said Norine Nathanson, senior counsel in the office of the chief justice of the Superior Court.

The court has been improving its tracking system, especially in recent months, regarding reserved decisions, meaning judgments that have not yet been released, Nathanson said. She added that the court has taken action to ensure that reserved cost decisions are now tracked in the same way as other judgments.

However, with our court releasing 10,000 decisions annually, there are inevitable challenges, as with any such system. Parties who are trying to follow up on reserve decisions and have not had success through the usual administrative procedures can write to the regional senior judge to bring the matter to their attention, where it will be promptly acknowledged, Nathanson said.

The Superior Court of Justice currently has three vacancies in Brampton and we are looking forward to having these vacancies filled. This will help alleviate the judges extraordinarily heavy workload in our courts busiest judicial centre.

The Canadian Judicial Council, which handles complaints about federally-appointed judges such as those who preside in Superior Court, has said that judgments should be delivered within six months after the hearing, except in special circumstances.

Indeed, judges should endeavour to perform all judicial duties, including the delivery of reserved judgments, with reasonable promptness, said council spokesperson Johanna Laporte. It remains an option for anyone who has concerns to write to the council and we will review those concerns in accordance with councils complaints procedures.

This is at least the second instance where a Superior Court judge has taken such a long time to render a ruling on costs. In 2011, the Star reported on the case of Jacqueline Spicer, who had been waiting 29 months for Justice Susanne Goodman, who presides in Toronto, to rule on legal costs from Spicers child support trial.

The day after the Star published its story online, Goodman released her ruling, awarding Spicer $7,500. Spicer told the Star at the time that she found herself in an awkward situation going public with her story.

Its a similar situation for Sheene, who doesnt want to appear as if shes bothering the judge, but also needs an answer as to when she can expect a ruling that is almost two years in the making. Her lawyer has checked in with the judges office, and Sheene herself has called and sent letters, as recently as August.

She was able to pay her lawyer, she said, but had to put expenses on credit cards. She told Price in a letter this past August that the money would mean a lot, as it would likely go toward covering legal costs for family proceedings in Florida.

I didnt really have any idea how long it would take, but after a few months I was asking my lawyer, have you heard anything, and she was asking me, have you heard anything? Sheene said. I didnt want to call once a week, once a month. I didnt want to make (the judge) mad, and at the same time I dont want him to forget.

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Toronto police released an image of a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl after luring her through social media applications.

Shu Andrew Yi, 28, was arrested and charged with sexual interference, sexual assault and luring a child under the age of 16.

On Wednesday, members of the Toronto Police Service Sex Crimes  Child Exploitation Section executed a search warrant in the Front St. W. and York St. area, where they arrested Yi.

In a press release, police said Yi allegedly lured a 14-year-old girl through social media applications and took her to a nearby hotel where he sexually assaulted her. He also allegedly offered her a birth control pill to take, the release said.

He is known to use the username addme4andrew online. Police are concerned there may be other victims.

The project was been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the Ministry of the Attorney General.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-8500, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
Toronto police have released the photo of a Toronto man wanted in connection with a sexual assault investigation and are asking for the publics assistance in locating him.

Police said in a press release that a 19-year-old woman was allegedly approached and sexually assaulted by a man in the area of Dundas St. W. and McCaul St.

Alexander Evans, 22, of Toronto, is wanted for sexual assault.

Police are concerned there may be other victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5204 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
Six auto insurance giants have withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in HST payments from Ontario car accident victims in defiance of repeated demands from the provincial regulator, according to a series of class-action lawsuits  obtained exclusively by the Toronto Star  claiming $600 million in damages.

Since the HST was introduced in Ontario in July 2010, Intact, Aviva, Unifund Assurance, belairdirect, Certas Direct and Allstate have engaged in unfair practices, the lawsuits allege. They say companies did not pay or reimburse HST on medical benefits in some cases, while in others they included HST in calculating a claimants benefit limits  all in violation of repeated regulatory direction.

Each of the companies is accused of preferring its own profits ahead of  the well-being of (claimants) who suffered loss or injuries in auto accidents.

Anyone who buys insurance from these companies are being gouged, said Paul Harte, who is among a group of lawyers representing plaintiffs in the lawsuits. Theyre paying for coverage that the companies have no intention of paying.

The six class-action suits, filed in court Wednesday, have not been certified and their claims have not been tested in court.

The Star sent interview requests to each of the six named insurance companies. Spokespeople for Intact, belairdirect, Certas and Unifund Assurance declined to comment, and Allstate did not respond.

Aviva spokesperson Fabrice de Dongo declined to comment on the lawsuit allegations but said, in a written statement: Aviva has followed the industry position on HST being included within the maximum benefit amounts ... and continues to support this interpretation.

The Star has obtained a Sept. 26 email from an Intact claims representative to a clients paralegal suggesting the company may already have acknowledged HST should not factor into benefit limits.

Our system has been modified so that HST no longer shows as coming out of the limits, the email reads.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada, which represents the industry, declined to comment because the case is before the courts.

The lawsuits also take aim at the provincial government for deliberately turning a blind eye to the wrongful conduct ... in fear that (insurance companies) would in retaliation increase rates ... at a time when the government of Ontario had promised a reduction in rates (and) stop providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations to the then-governing party.

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), which regulates and licenses Ontarios insurance companies, is named as a defendant in the claims for failing to ensure the government-designed, mandatory insurance was operated fairly.

FSCO spokesperson Malon Edwards said the regulator is reviewing the allegations and will issue a statement Thursday.

Between June 2010 and June 2016, FSCO issued a dozen bulletins and guidelines to the industry, which included direction on the HST issue.

If the HST is considered by the (Canada Revenue Agency) to be applicable to any of the services or fees listed in this Guideline, then the HST is payable by an insurer, reads a July 2010 bulletin on medical benefit payouts.

Accident victims denied millions in benefits by insurers, lawsuits allege | Story Behind the Story

A 2015 guideline makes clear that HST should not be considered part of the benefit limits for statutory accident benefits (SABS).

The HST is a tax and is not part of the benefit limits set out in the SABS, it reads.

Jill Nicholson, the lead plaintiff in the Unifund lawsuit, still becomes emotional while describing the accident six years ago that crushed her leg between her motorcycle and a trailer at an Ottawa-area intersection. She watched as firefighters collected pieces of bone from her left leg off the pavement.

Since then, she has needed extensive medical, rehabilitative and psychological services to deal with eight fractures. She was removed from her job as a border services agent and relegated her to a desk job because she could no longer meet the physical requirements to possess a firearm, she said in an interview.

I didn't know ... that I was being improperly charged for those medical services, said Nicholson, who sometimes walks with a cane or uses a wheelchair, and can no longer ride a motorcycle or complete basic household tasks. All of that (HST) money could have been used for my treatments. But its long gone ... Ive basically used all my (benefit) money now.

Catherine Brooks, the lead plaintiff in the Intact suit, was in the passenger seat of a 2007 Dodge Charger when the car was rear-ended in February 2015 in North Bay. Her injuries left Brooks, 56, with chronic neck pain radiating into her left arm as well as vision problems and psychological impairments.

When she applied for benefits the following month, Intact approved her claim, the statement reads, but reduced her medical and rehabilitation benefits by the amount of the HST owed on those benefits. One treatment plan totalled $2,200 in treatments  which wrongfully included $286 in HST, the claim states.

If they dont have a right to it, they shouldnt have it, Brooks said in an interview. They just go ahead and do these things and seem not to be accountable.

In recent emails to plaintiffs lawyers, two Aviva claims specialists dismissed FSCOs position on insurers paying HST on benefit claims as incorrect.

Using identical language, the emails state that the interpretative bulletins issued by FSCO ... are not binding on a tribunal or court, although such a body may consider them in arriving at its own conclusion ... In our view, these bulletins do not operate to create or change the law.

In a case heard by the Licence Appeal Tribunal in February, adjudicator Anita Goela ordered Aviva to pay HST in addition to the benefit and directed that it was not permitted to include the amount of HST in the benefit limit.

If the HST is considered by the (Canada Revenue Agency) to be applicable to any of the services or fees ... then the HST is payable by an insurer, the decision states, citing FSCOs guidelines.

In another Licence Appeal Tribunal decision last year, adjudicator Ian Maedel wrote: It has long been FSCOs policy that HST is payable in addition to any rehabilitation benefit.

Last year, Shawn Taylor was an active runner and snowboarder. Today, the 18-year-old Wasaga Beach resident is a quadriplegic who cannot move his hands and fingers or control his bladder or bowels.

He was a passenger wearing a seat belt in a car that rolled it several times. Taylor now requires around-the-clock care, for which he receives $6,000 a month.

It is Aviva company position that the $6,000 per month is inclusive of HST, reads a January email from an Aviva claims analyst written to one of Taylors caregiver agencies.

His lawyers say that $6,000 should not include HST.

In just over a year, Taylor has already gone through more than $250,000 of his $1 million benefits limit, including home and car renovations to accommodate his physical needs. Those bills have included thousands of dollars in HST that Aviva has improperly deducted from his available benefits, the lawsuit alleges.

At this rate, he will be out of provincial benefits in five years.

Theres not a lot of options there for us, said Rhonda Taylor, Shawns mother. Do we lose our house? ... I couldn't believe how much money Shawn will lose.

What is clear is that many insurers have no intention of complying with the direction of the regulator and there is no indication that the regulator has any intention of ensuring that these insurance companies comply, said Harte.

FSCO officials have been aware of issues with the payment of HST by insurance companies for years, according to documents obtained by the Star.

A 2015 complaint from health professionals who treat accident victims asked FSCO to take action on a lack of fair and appropriate payment of HST ... We would encourage increased education and oversight of insurers to ensure that they are complying with this requirement.

In June 2016, the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, which represents about 1,000 lawyers who represent clients in auto accidents, wrote to FSCO about a concerning an alarming practice of some Ontario insurance companies who wrongfully deduct HST from the available medical and rehabilitation limits for injured accident victims.

The letter asked FSCO to take every reasonable additional action, and seek every available remedy, as required to compel compliance with, and to prevent insurers from so callously ignoring the (regulators orders).

A response letter from FSCO superintendent and CEO Brian Mills, who is personally named in the six lawsuits, said the regulator was monitoring the issue and that change was forthcoming.

Those insurers who, to FSCOs knowledge, have failed to pay HST in addition to the cost of a benefit, have indicated that they will follow the direction set out (by FSCO) in the future, the letter said. FSCO will continue to convey this message regarding the HST should any further issue arise.

More than two years later, the practice remains common, the lawsuits allege.

FSCO took no or insufficient steps to stop the wrongful conduct, the statements of claim read.

Ron Bohm, president of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, said class-action lawsuits are the only way to give accident victims a chance at receiving access to justice when they are facing insurance companies with billions of dollars in assets.

Theres been a certain amount of incredulity that it has continued, Bohm said in an interview. It's nickel and diming, but when you add it up theyve really taken a lot of money out of the pocket of these people.

It's offensive ... Its pure bottom-line profit greed.

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Cleaning up the Alberta oilpatch could cost an estimated $260 billion, internal regulatory documents warn.

The staggering financial liabilities for the energy industrys mining waste and graveyard of spent facilities were spelled out by a high-ranking official of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) in a presentation to a private audience in Calgary in February.

The estimated liabilities are far higher than any liability amount made public by government and industry officials.

The official, Rob Wadsworth, Vice President of Closure and Liability for the AER, says a flawed system of industrial oversight is to blame.

He called on all stakeholders to accept tougher regulations and move away from a system that now allows the largest companies to take centuries to clean up their toxic well site graveyards.

We can continue down our current path until the impacts are felt by the public ... or we can start to implement the numerous changes that we now know need to be made, the document says, adding that the liabilities are underfunded and the collection of security funds from industry is insufficient.

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Off the chart air quality readings in Saskatchewans southeast raise new concerns  but little public warning

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Until now, the public has been told the liabilities have been calculated at about $58 billion, far less than Wadsworths estimate. The report does not spell out what he based his estimate on and Wadsworth declined an interview. The government meanwhile has only collected $1.6 billion in liability security from companies.

The liabilities include costs that companies must assume to shut down aging and inactive oil and gas exploration wells, facilities and pipelines once they are no longer needed. Another significant part of the liability is the clean-up of toxic tailings ponds from oilsands extraction mines near Fort McMurrray. The ponds have sprawled to cover an area the size of Kelowna.

The tailing ponds are used by companies to dump the waste from the mining of bitumen. The process normally requires hot water to separate bitumen from the oily deposits of sand beneath the boreal forest in Alberta, leaving behind a yogurt-like sludge.

The AER said Wadsworths presentation provided a snapshot in time of estimated total liability and was based on a worst-case scenario of a complete industry shutdown.

This seems to contradict a statement in Wadsworths presentation that the estimates are likely less than the actual cost. He also warned in his presentation that liabilities from conventional wells were getting larger due to an increasing number of licensees with questionable financial capacity to meet closure obligations.

The AER also says that industry companies are responsible for the costs in Wadsworths estimate.

Lars De Pauw, executive director of the Orphan Well Association  an industry-funded group that assumes responsibility for the inactive wells of bankrupt companies  said the associations work is getting done this year at a cost that was 30 per cent below the public estimates made by the regulator. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), an industry lobby group that represents most of the countrys oil and gas industry, declined to comment about the estimates from the newly-released documents.

The current rules are so weak that companies can delay setting aside money to cover cleanup costs until they are out of business and can no longer afford to pay anything, Wadsworth explained in his February presentation.

Even though we have known these programs were flawed, there has been no proactive change to the liability programs, according to speaking notes accompanying the first presentation, delivered on Feb. 28 to the Calgary-based Petroleum History Society. Until recently, the implications of our flawed system had not been realized.

National Observer obtained the documents from the February presentation and another Wadsworth gave in June as part of a joint investigation with Global News, the Toronto Star and StarMetro Calgary for the Price of Oil series. The documents were released after a request under freedom of information legislation.

$260 billion to clean up oil patch | Story Behind the Story

Wadsworth, who previously worked for nuclear power generator Bruce Power, had a 28-year career in the military that included a stint as a colonel in Afghanistan and deployments to Cyprus, Angola, Mozambique and Bosnia, the AER said. His presentation underscored the importance of being transparent with the public about the sectors liabilities.

Despite our best efforts, there are liabilities that are no longer owned by a company, or are not addressed by existing liability programs, Wadsworths February presentation said. We must ensure that the costs of these liabilities is retained by industry and not passed on to Albertans.

Nearly half of the total estimated liability  $130 billion  is what the AER puts in the mining category and involves oilsands and coal mines. Most experts contacted by the Price of Oil team said that this mining amount mostly related to liabilities in the oilsands, especially tailings ponds, with only a small fraction related to coal.

On its website, the regulator says the mining liability in Alberta is right now calculated at about $28 billion, far less than what the regulators liability vice president has estimated.

The estimated liability figures are based on the regulators internal assessments while the calculated liability that the public has been told about is based on numbers reported by companies to the AER.

Overall, the province has seen an increasing number of inactive wells becoming orphans  wells at the end of their useful lives that need to be cleaned up but no longer have owners who can pay for the job.

In recent years, the number of orphan wells designated for abandonment has climbed from fewer than 800 to more than 2,000, according to industry data. This number appears likely to continue climbing, according to Wadsworths presentation. It could take nearly 300 years for the industry to abandon all of its wells, let alone clean them up, the document also said.

Wadsworths estimates are so high that several experts who reviewed the presentations have described the situation as an economic and environmental crisis that raises questions about the financial health of a province that prides itself on strong fiscal management.

Its a big deal, said Thomas Schneider, an accounting professor at Ryerson University who has tracked liability management issues in the oilpatch for years. I mean $260 billion is a lot of money Were sitting on a huge liability, and then its just a matter of whos going to end up having to pay for it.

These are mind-blowing numbers, said Amin Asadollahi, an environmental consultant who previously worked as a senior policy advisor at Natural Resources Canada. He added that the liability problem needs attention now because the industry will face challenges as some countries try to lessen their dependence on fossil fuels.

I have never come across anything like this before where the known risk estimated by decision makers is so much larger than the publicly available estimates, said economist Robyn Allan, a former president and chief executive officer of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia who reviewed the presentations.

The numbers come at an awkward time for industry and government officials who are trying to make the case that they are developing natural resources responsibly and need new pipeline projects such as the Alberta-B.C. Trans Mountain expansion to further expand.

Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips also characterized Wadsworths estimates as a worst-case scenario in which the industry shuts down overnight.

The fact is that there are certainly liabilities with orphan wells, with tailings ponds and with other activities on the landscape, but our government from day one has taken these matters seriously and weve actually seen pretty good progress on this, Phillips said. Theres no question theres more to do, but weve taken it very seriously from the beginning.

Phillips added that Alberta, ruled by Progressive Conservative governments for 44 years before the New Democratic Party was elected in 2015, had previously failed to take this issue seriously but that her government was considering whether to force industry to set aside more money as a security deposit.

We certainly can  that is one of the tools in our toolbox as we review the Mine Financial Security Program (MFSP) and other industry association levies that have to do with (orphan wells.) There is no question that this is an ongoing conversation.

Schneider, the accounting professor, said the liabilities have the potential to affect Albertas balance sheet and its credit rating. Theres no way industry could fund that right now, he said in an interview. Its a matter of when are we going to deal with it. Are we going to deal with it now? Are we going to deal with it in 50 years or 100 years? What kind of legacy is going to be left?

In the presentations, Wadsworth warned that tougher regulations would be needed to prevent the problem from getting worse while ensuring that we dont trip economic growth for a sector that is an important engine in Canadas economy.

The liabilities are broken down into three categories. After the $130 billion estimated mining liability, the next largest category is the $100 billion cost of cleaning up conventional oil and gas wells. The third group of liabilities, provincially regulated pipelines, came in at about $30 billion, according to Wadsworths February presentation.

Phillips, the environment minister, said the solution involves partners at other levels of government, including municipalities, First Nations and the federal government.

We have a number of liability questions that remain unanswered because this is a long-term problem, and we did not see leadership from the previous government for 44 years, she said. Theres no question that there is more work to be done.

Correction  Nov. 2, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that incorrectly referred to Lars De Pauw, executive director of the Orphan Well Association as stating that the associations work is getting done this year at a cost that was 70 per cent below the public estimates made by the regulator. In fact, De Pauw said that the association's work is getting done at a cost that was 30 per cent below public estimates by the regulator.

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Finance Minister Vic Fedeli will reveal the state of Ontarios books in the fall economic statement on Nov. 15.

It will be a mini-budget meaning there are expected to be some tax changes and further spending cuts.

The days of phoney numbers in Ontario are over, Fedeli told reporters on Thursday.

We will present to the people of Ontario for the first time in a long time a true and current state of finances in the province, he said.

Premier Doug Fords Progressive Conservatives, who toppled former premier Kathleen Wynnes Liberals in the June 7 election, have been claiming Ontario has a $15-billion deficit.

But that inflated number includes $5.7 billion in Liberal election promises that the Tories do not plan to keep.

As well, it is based on auditor general Bonnie Lysyks disputed accounting treatment that does not count $11 billion in government-sponsored public pension plans, which are worth $5 billion on the annual bottom line.

Lysyk and her predecessors booked the holdings as an asset starting in 2002, but she changed her mind two years ago after a tiff with the Liberal government.

A panel of independent experts hired by Liberals  and led by the chair of the Canadian Actuarial Standards Oversight Council  concluded last year she was wrong.

Fedeli, however, noted the Tories will continue to use Lysyks accounting for the time being.

Read more:

Ontarios books suggest deficit should be considerably lower than Tories $15B figure

Doug Ford claims Liberal deficit the worst political coverup in Ontarios history

Auditor takes aim at Wynnes government over spending, waste, lax oversight

In the Liberals March 28 budget, Wynnes government forecast a $6.7-billion deficit for 2018-19.

Using the different accounting method, the auditor general estimated in her in pre-election report that the shortfall is $11.7 billion.

But Fords independent financial commission of inquiry, headed by former B.C. Liberal premier Gordon Campbell, warned the new government should only adopt Lysyks accounting method on a provisional basis while negotiating with her.

It would seem reasonable that the government should be able to recognize a portion of an asset it jointly controls with another party, Campbells report concluded on the joint-sponsored Ontario Public Service Employees Union Pension Plan and the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan.

Given the risks and uncertainties involved, they may not feel it appropriate for the government to recognize its full 50 per cent share of the surplus. By the same token, however, it seems unlikely they would conclude the value to be zero.

Interim Liberal leader John Fraser said he expects Fedelis fall economic statement to reflect the governments bent for axing measures brought in by the Grits.

Thats going to continue. The cars in reverse and it doesnt look like theyre taking their foot off the gas, said Fraser, predicting the Nov. 15 deficit will be billions lower than the Tories $15-billion tally because theyre cancelling Liberal initiatives.

I suspect you might see a lower number they will take credit for.

During the spring campaign, the Tories warned they would make the equivalent of $6 billion in cuts to an annual provincial budget that exceeds $150 billion.

With files from Rob Ferguson

Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

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During a recent segment about a supermarket shooting in Kentucky, CNN host Don Lemon said the biggest terror threat in this country is white men.

Lemon was speaking on live television Monday about an incident in which a white man allegedly shot and killed two black people outside a Kroger grocery store in Jeffersontown, Ky., not far from Louisville.

The incident, which is being investigated as a hate crime, occurred during the same week that 13 potential explosive devices were sent to prominent Democratic and media figures across the country and 11 people were killed in a mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. White men were also charged in both of those cases.

I keep trying to point out to people not to demonize any one group or any one ethnicity. But we keep thinking that the biggest terror threat is something else  some people who are marching towards the border like its imminent, Lemon told CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, referring to the Central American migrant caravan walking toward the United States. He added that the last time they did this, a couple hundred people came and they  most of them didnt get into the country. Most of them got tuckered out before they even made it to the border.

So, he said, we have to stop demonizing people and realize the biggest terror threat in this country is white men, most of them radicalized to the right, and we have to start doing something about them. There is no travel ban on them. There is no ban  you know, they had the Muslim ban. There is no white-guy ban. So what do we do about that?

On Wednesday, following the backlash, Lemon doubled down.

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Tree of Life Rabbi Myers says he saw a warm and personal side to Trump that surprised him

Earlier this week, I made some comments about that in a conversation with Chris, he said during a broadcast Wednesday night. I said that the biggest terror threat in this country comes from radicals on the far right, primarily white men. That angered some people. But lets put emotion aside and look at the cold hard facts. The evidence is overwhelming.

Lemon pointed to a recent Government Accountability Office report that shows that since the 9/11 attacks in 2001, far-right violent extremists have killed 106 people in 62 attacks in the United States, while radical Islamist violent extremists have killed 119 people in 23 attacks.

He also referenced several studies, including a 2017 report from the Nation Institutes Investigative Fund and the Center for Investigative Reportings Reveal, which found that from 2008 to 2016, there were almost twice as many terrorist incidents carried out on U.S. soil by right-wing extremists  many of whom are white  than by Islamist extremists.

It showed there were 115 incidents involving right-wing extremists and those that ended in death were more deadly than incidents carried out by other groups.

So people who were angered about what I said are missing the entire point, Lemon said about his earlier statements. We dont need to worry about people who are thousands of miles away. The biggest threats are homegrown. The facts prove that.

Still, Lemons remarks about terrorist threats ignited an uproar among many conservatives.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who survived a shooting targeting Republican lawmakers who were practicing for a Congressional Baseball Game in 2017, posted a link to a story about Lemon on Twitter  commenting simply with an emoji showing wide eyes.

And U.S. President Donald Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr., said in a tweet Wednesday that he thought it was some sort of joke quote taken out of context but no...its just Don Lemon being a moron.

Unfortunately this is how so many leftists actually think, he continued. Disgusting! Imagine the outrage if you changed white men with any other demographic?
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREASouth Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will soon visit Seoul as part of a series of high-profile diplomatic efforts aimed at ridding North Korea of its nuclear weapons.

Moon said in a speech to parliament that a second North Korea-U.S. summit is also near at hand and that Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit North Korea soon. Moon also said he expects Kim to visit Russia soon and that Kim may meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Moon has previously said that Kim told him he would visit Seoul within this year when the leaders met in Pyongyang, North Koreas capital, in September.

South Koreas presidential office said it had nothing to add to Moons speech about Kims trip. His comments were in line with previous statements, it said. They suggest that Moon is determined to push ahead with diplomacy to resolve the nuclear issue.

Now, based on firm trust among one another, South and North Korea and the United States will achieve complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, Moon said. This is an opportunity that has come like a miracle. Its something that we should never miss.

The prospects for a second summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump improved after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made his fourth visit to North Korea earlier this month. But no breakthrough has followed. U.S. officials have recently said a second Trump-Kim summit will likely happen early next year. Some experts have raised doubts over whether Kims Seoul trip will occur by December.

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Moon, a liberal who took office last year, favours a negotiated resolution to the decades-long international standoff over North Koreas nuclear ambitions. He has facilitated a series of high-level U.S.-North Korea exchanges, including their first summit in Singapore in June.

But Moon has faced growing outside skepticism over whether his engagement policy will eventually settle the nuclear standoff. Many conservatives in South Korea and the United States say North Korea has no intention of fully giving up its nuclear program and only wants to buy time to perfect its weapons.

Since entering nuclear talks earlier this year, North Korea has halted nuclear and missile tests and dismantled its nuclear testing site. The United States suspended some annual military drills with South Korea, but is reluctant to provide North Korea with big political or economic benefits unless it takes more serious disarmament steps.

The two Korea have also been taking steps to reduce conventional military threats along their border as part of deals struck during an inter-Korean summit in September. Seoul officials said the rivals on Thursday put covers on their naval and coastal artillery guns and closed gun ports along their disputed western sea boundary, the scene of several bloody maritime skirmishes between the countries in recent years.

South Koreas military said the two Koreas halted all hostile acts against each other along the land, sea and aerial boundaries as of Thursday. The Koreas have already removed weapons from a shared border village and have begun clearing mines at another border area where they plan their first searches for Korean War dead.

The two Koreas have remained split along the worlds most heavily fortified border since the three-year Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace treaty. If Kim, a third-generation hereditary ruler, visits Seoul, he would be the first North Korean leader to do so since the wars end. Last year saw increased fears of a new war on the peninsula as he exchanged threats of destruction and crude insults with Trump over North Koreas push to develop nuclear missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland.

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WASHINGTONSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman described slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi as a dangerous Islamist days after his disappearance in a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and national security adviser John Bolton, according to people familiar with the discussion.

In the call, which occurred before the kingdom publicly acknowledged killing Khashoggi, the crown prince urged Kushner and Bolton to preserve the U.S.-Saudi alliance and said the journalist was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group long opposed by Bolton and other senior Trump officials.

The attempt to criticize Khashoggi in private stands in contrast to the Saudi governments later public statements decrying the journalists death as a terrible mistake and a terrible tragedy.

The incident that happened is very painful, for all Saudis, the crown prince, the kingdoms de facto leader, said during a panel discussion last week. The incident is not justifiable.

The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Khalid bin Salman, described Khashoggi last month as a friend who dedicated a great portion of his life to serve his country.

In a statement released to The Washington Post, Khashoggis family called the characterization of the columnist as dangerous Islamist inaccurate.

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Jamal Khashoggi was not a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. He denied such claims repeatedly over the past several years, the family said. Jamal Khashoggi was not a dangerous person in any way possible. To claim otherwise would be ridiculous.

A person familiar with the discussion said Bolton did not signal he endorsed the crown princes characterization of Khashoggi during the call.

A Saudi official on Wednesday denied that the crown prince made the allegations, saying routine calls do exist from time to time with the young leader and top U.S. officials, but no such commentary was conveyed.

Saudi Arabia has faced international condemnation for its shifting accounts of Khashoggis Oct. 2 disappearance at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. The kingdom initially said Khashoggi walked out of the consulate unharmed, then announced that Saudi agents killed him in an accidental fist fight and more recently said it had evidence that his killing was premeditated.

Analysts said the crown princes efforts to discredit Khashoggi in private suggested a two-faced attempt at damage control. This is character assassination added to premeditated murder, said Bruce Riedel, a former CIA official and scholar at the Brookings Institution.

The White House declined to discuss sensitive conversations with the Saudis or to say how many phone calls the crown prince and Kushner have had since Khashoggis disappearance. The two men have had multiple discussions, according to people familiar with the matter.

Officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic.

Other Middle East leaders have also come to the crown princes defence. In recent days, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have reached out to senior officials in the Trump administration to express support for the crown prince, arguing that he is an important strategic partner in the region, said people familiar with the calls.

Israel, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have united behind the Trump administrations efforts to bring pressure on Iran and force through a Middle East peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians.

Other U.S. allies, notably Germany, Britain and France, have expressed serious concern about the killing of man who wrote articles critical of the Saudi leadership in The Washington Post.

In response to the killing, the Trump administration has revoked the visas or made travel ineligible for 21 Saudi nationals implicated by Turkey and Saudi Arabia in Khashoggis death.

As U.S. officials contemplate a more robust response, Kushner has emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Saudi alliance in the region, said people familiar with the conversations. Other officials at the State Department and Pentagon, however, have said the options under consideration could include a clear discipline of the Saudi government, an end to Saudi-led blockade of Qatar and a winding down of the war in Yemen. Officials cautioned that no decision has been made, and Trump has expressed little desire to significantly alter U.S.-Saudi-relations, but there is an interest in a full vetting of the potential options.

Kushners efforts to carefully cultivate a relationship with the heir to the Saudi throne makes him a critical voice in deciding the Trump administrations response. After several private talks early in the administration, Kushner championed Mohammed bin Salman as a reformer poised to usher the ultraconservative, oil-rich monarchy into modernity. Kushner privately argued for months last year that Mohammed would be key to crafting a Middle East peace plan, and that, with the princes blessing, much of the Arab world would follow.

It was Kushner who pushed his father-in-law to make his first foreign trip to Riyadh, against the objections of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and warnings from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. In the early days of the administration, Kushner often preferred to talk to the crown prince privately, but now co-ordinates his conversations with the National Security Council.

Kushner visited the crown prince at his palace in a secret October 2017 trip, a plan so closely held that it caught some White House and intelligence officials by surprise. The two 30-somethings stayed up late into the evening alone discussing the prospects of Kushners Middle East peace plan. A few days later, the prince ordered the house arrest of dozens of rival royals and imprisonment of other enemies in a bid to solidify his control of the government. The White House and the Saudis have denied that Kushner approved the power grab.

Saudi officials had made no secret of their antipathy toward Khashoggi, including expressing consternation last year when he began writing a regular column for The Washington Post. In the days after his Oct. 2 disappearance  before the Saudis acknowledged his death in Istanbul  a person close to the royal palace said Mohammed was puzzled by the high level of concern about Khashoggi, whom he considered part of the Muslim Brotherhood as well as an agent of Qatar.

Khashoggis family said Jamals views were much more nuanced than those described by Saudi officials. Although he sympathized with certain objectives of the Muslim Brotherhood, he also sharply disagreed with many of their positions, especially toward Saudi Arabia, the family said in its statement.

Saudi Arabia severed relations with Qatar last year, charging among other things that it harboured Muslim Brotherhood terrorists. Although the Saudis maintained a cordial relationship with the Brotherhood for decades after its founding in Egypt as an Islamist political and social movement, Riyadh declared it a terrorist organization after the upheavals of the Arab Spring.

Many Republican lawmakers, and Middle East analysts on the right, agreed with the Saudi assessment  in 2015, now-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, then a member of the House, co-sponsored a resolution calling on the State Department to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. During Trumps campaign, a number of prominent supporters  including Bolton called for such a designation.

Sissi, whose military government overthrew an elected Muslim Brotherhood-allied government in 2011, and Israels political right share that view.

Trump considered such an action early in his administration, but was dissuaded by Pompeo, who had become CIA director, and others in the administration. They noted that while the designation would please some Arab partners, others in the region would reject it. The Brotherhood has mainstream political stature and legitimacy in Jordan, Turkey and Morocco, among other countries.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a rival of the Saudi crown prince, has called for Saudi Arabia to be held accountable for the killing. Erdogan called Trump on Thursday morning, according to people familiar with the conversation.

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JUCHITAN, MEXICOThousands of Central American migrants resumed their slow trek through southern Mexico on Thursday, as immigration agents and police nibbled at the edges of the two caravans currently in the country.

Mexican authorities havent directly targeted the main caravan of about 4,000 migrants, and activists aiding that group said they were shifting their route toward the Gulf Coast, a path closer to the Texas border.

But a second, smaller caravan about 300 kilometres behind the first group appeared to be more leaderless, get less press attention and be more vulnerable.

A Mexican federal official who was not authorized to be quoted by name said 153 migrants in the second caravan were detained Wednesday during highway inspections in the southern state of Chiapas, a short distance from the Guatemalan border. While the precise size of the second caravan is unclear, that could be equivalent to about 10 per cent of those participating.

And there was also pressure on the first caravan, which set out before dawn Thursday from Juchitan, Oaxaca, seeking to reach the town of Matias Romero, about 65 kilometres ahead.

They had tried to arrange bus transport from Juchitan, but failed, leaving them once again on foot, hitchhiking and looking for rides where they can find them.

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But federal police began pulling freight trucks over and forcing migrants off, saying their habit of clinging to the tops or sides of the trucks was dangerous.

Get off! Get off! police officer Benjamin Grajeda shouted to a group of migrants clinging to the side of a truck outside Juchitan. You can ride inside, but not on the outside.

At other points along the route, police have forced overloaded pickups to disgorge migrants. On previous days, they have ordered passenger vans to stop transporting migrants.

The migrants have not said what route they intend to take northward or where on the U.S. border they planned to reach.

While Matias Romero would carry them toward the Gulf Coast city of Veracruz and a route toward the Texas border, another large caravan early this year passed through Veracruz and then veered back toward Mexico City and eventually tried to head to Tijuana in the far northwest. Few made it.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday praised Mexico for stopping the migrants from getting rides. Mexico has stepped up in an unprecedented way, Sanders told Fox News. They have helped stop a lot of the transportation means of these individuals in these caravans, forcing them walking. They have helped us in new ways to slow this down, to break this up and keep it from moving as aggressively toward the United States.

But U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up his pre-election focus on the caravan and others behind it, talking of creating a U.S. military force on the border that would outnumber the migrants, many of them women and children.

As far as the caravan is concerned, our military is out, Trump said. We have about 5,800. Well go up to anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Patrol, ICE and everybody else at the border.

Later Wednesday, Trump told ABC News, We have to have a wall of people.

A third band of about 500 from El Salvador made it to Guatemala, and a fourth group of about 700 set out from the Salvadoran capital Wednesday.

Altogether, the four caravans represent just a few days worth of the average flow of migrants to the United States in recent years.

Similar caravans have occurred regularly over the years and passed largely unnoticed, but Trump has focused on the latest marchers seeking to make border security a hot-button issue in next weeks midterm elections.

Worn down by days of long walks, many migrants have dropped out and returned home or applied for protected status in Mexico.

The initial caravan has shrunk significantly from its estimated peak of more than 7,000 migrants. A caravan last the spring ultimately fizzled to just about 200 people who reached the U.S. border at San Diego.

Mexican Interior Secretary Alfonso Navarrete Prida said about 2,300 migrants have applied to stay in Mexico under a government plan, and hundreds more have accepted assisted repatriation.

Also Wednesday, a Guatemalan woman gave birth to the first known caravan baby at a hospital in Juchitan. Mexicos governmental National Human Rights Commission said it had arranged for medical attention for the woman, who was 28 weeks pregnant, and the girl was healthy.

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HOUSTONJ. Mark Metts, a 60-year-old partner at one of this citys prestigious law firms, had never voted for a Democratic presidential candidate until 2016. Now he and some of his neighbours in the moneyed River Oaks enclave of Houston are about to oppose a Republican once again, to register their disapproval of U.S. President Donald Trump.

With Congress not really standing up to Trump, this election is becoming a referendum, Metts said, explaining why he would no longer support the re-election of Rep. John Culberson, an eight-term Republican.

Culberson is now running roughly even with the Democratic candidate, Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll last week  an extraordinary development in a district that has not elected a Democrat since before an oilman named George H.W. Bush won here in 1966, and one that illustrates how difficult Trump has made it for his party to retain control of the House.

If the 2016 election hinged in large part on a rightward shift among working-class whites who deserted Democrats in the presidential race, Tuesdays House election may turn on an equally significant and opposite force: a generational break with Republicanism among educated, wealthier whites  especially women  who generally like the partys pro-business policies but recoil from strident, divisive language on race and gender.

Rather than seeking to coax voters like these back into the Republican coalition, Trump appears to have all but written them off, spending the final days of the campaign delivering a scorching message about preoccupations like birthright citizenship and a migrant invasion from Mexico that these voters see through as alarmist. He amplified his fear-peddling Wednesday night with an online video that is being widely condemned as racist, showing a Mexican man convicted of killing two California deputies with a voice-over saying Democrats let him into the country.

In Republican-leaning districts that include diverse populations or abut cities that do  from bulwarks of Sunbelt conservatism like Houston and Orange County, California, to the well-manicured bedroom communities outside Philadelphia and Minneapolis  the party is in danger of losing its House majority next week because Trumps racially-tinged nationalism has alienated these voters who once made up a dependable constituency.

Traditional Republicans warn that Trumps conduct is further narrowing his partys appeal on the eve of the election, catering to a rural base in conservative states like Missouri, North Dakota and Montana that will decide control of the Senate at the possible expense of the Republicans House majority and crucial governorships.

The divisiveness may play well in some parts of the country but it doesnt play everywhere, said the speaker of the Texas House, Joe Straus, who has sought to keep his party from drifting too far right. Its hard to grow a party when your whole approach is to incite the base.

To see incumbent Republicans like Culberson or Rep. Pete Sessions, whose district is in an affluent part of the Dallas area, locked in difficult re-elections would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, Straus said.

More ominous for the GOP is that the desertion of educated whites following Trumps 2016 win could establish a new Democratic coalition in future elections, one that would certainly return to the polls in 2020. That would represent the mirror opposite of 1964, when Barry Goldwater lost the presidential race but made inroads into traditionally Democratic precincts among culturally conservative and economically prosperous voters  presaging Republican success further down the ballot in the years to come.

Just as Goldwater began unmooring conservative whites away from their Democratic roots, it is easy to see which demographic could shift most fundamentally on Election Day: college-educated white women, who were once fairly reliable Republican supporters. The effect of Trump with these voters is unmistakable: They supported Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama by 6 percentage points in 2012, before backing Hillary Clinton by 7 points four years later.

College-educated white women now say they prefer Democrats to control Congress by 18 points, according to a survey by Marist College and NPR.

In moderate areas, the Republican coalition has long depended on upscale whites casting aside their more liberal views on issues like gun control and abortion to support GOP economic policies. Trumps national message does virtually nothing to accommodate those voters.

Im not hearing anything helpful at all, said Gene DiGirolamo, a moderate Republican state legislator from Bucks County, outside Philadelphia, where Republicans are struggling to hold on to a House seat and hold back Democratic gains in state races.

In his area, DiGirolamo said, Trumps support among independents has slipped dramatically from when he was first elected.

Perhaps nowhere has Trumps persistent use of inflammatory language become as much of an issue as in Pennsylvania, where Republicans were already bracing to suffer losses in some newly drawn House districts before a gunman fixated on immigration massacred 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday.

At a gathering in a tavern outside Philadelphia on Monday evening, supporters of Scott Wallace, a Democrat running in the states most hotly contested House race, denounced Trump for his cruelty and alluded repeatedly to the presidents rhetoric on race and national identity. Addressing a tightly packed crowd, former Rep. Patrick Murphy, a Democrat who used to represent the area, warned that people who hate feel so emboldened to act on it.

The suburbs around Philadelphia used to be a reliable Republican bastion. But Shelley Howland, a Republican who attended the pro-Wallace event, said Trump represented a breaking point.

A supporter of abortion rights and gun control, Howland voted two years ago for Hillary Clinton over Trump, but stayed loyally Republican in the congressional election, supporting Wallaces opponent, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who is now seeking his second term. She said she would not support Fitzpatrick again.

This year, its going to be a straight Democratic ticket, said Howland, 65, lamenting this whole movement to the alt-right, Steve Bannon in the White House, Trump in the White House.

Wallace, an investor whose grandfather served as vice president, cast his campaign as an opportunity for Bucks County to repudiate a president who has unleashed a Pandoras box of dangerous social turmoil.

The tone that the president has set is absolutely toxic to relations between people of different faiths and different races and different sexual orientations, Wallace said.

Fitzpatrick, whose campaign did not respond to emails and phone calls seeking comment, has sought distance from Trump and brands himself as an independent lawmaker in campaign materials. Like other Bucks County Republicans, he has collected support from labour unions and endorsed policies like gun control that break with the national Republican agenda.

But former Rep. Phil English, R-Pa., said his party was now grappling with what amounts to a mortal political threat. Alluding to challenges right now with the brand, English said his party would likely face painful setbacks in precincts that evoke silk stocking Republicanism, such as Philadelphias Main Line.

Southeastern Pennsylvania has clearly made the transition from being one of the mainstays of the Pennsylvania Republican statewide base, and a significant part of the national Republican source of support, to being an enormous challenge, English said, noting that national cultural divisions had driven away swing voters.

In Culbersons well-heeled district, where even the restaurants with ample parking offer valet services, Trump is as polarizing as he was when he narrowly lost the seat in 2016.

Im staying focused on John Culberson and who I am, Culberson said in an interview when asked whether Trump was an asset or liability here, repeating a variation of the same phrase multiple times.

But the lawmaker acknowledged that this year is unusual because of what he termed the infinite amount of money flowing in for Fletcher, who has raised nearly twice what he has.

Fletcher, a corporate attorney who grew up attending the same Episcopal Church as George H.W. Bush, said voters here were attracted to the GOP that the former president exemplifies.

They were people who saw Republicans as the party of good government and moderation and I think theyre not seeing that now, she said, scorning Culberson for not standing up to Trump.

Like every race in Texas, this House contest has been overshadowed by Rep. Beto ORourkes challenge of Sen. Ted Cruz. And Cruzs allies quietly concede that having Trump come to Houston last month hurt them, and by extension Culberson, with moderate voters in Harris County, where the president was trounced. (The congressman was notably absent from the Trump rally).

But the deeper structural problem for Texas Republicans, one that may outlast this years Senate race, is that their long-running fears about Hispanics consolidating behind Democrats may prove to be less worrisome than the prospect of an even more reliable bloc of voters finding a new political home.

The more explosive element is college educated white women, said Democratic strategist Paul Begala. They are not itinerant voters like a lot of the Democratic base  theyre rooted and they always vote.

It is almost eerily symmetrical, the possibility that Texas Republicans could see their iron grip on the state loosened because of a political realignment in the states population centres. That was where Texas Democrats first saw their own supremacy challenged.

The areas that were the first to break away from the Democrats decades ago are now showing signs they could break away from Republicans now, said Straus, whose family helped build the modern Republican Party in San Antonio. And he did not hesitate to identify the proximate cause of the shift.

Trump, he said, has changed the Republican Party in ways that are just less appealing to the traditional Republicans and independents weve always relied on.

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As we approach the fifth anniversary of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, on Nov. 2, the murder of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi continues to dominate the news cycle.

His murder was egregious. The attempted cover-up was bizarrely incompetent.

It was the behaviour of people who believe that they are untouchable. And why wouldnt they? In the case of murdered journalists, it is rare that the guilty are held to account.

This may turn out to be one of the exceptions. If it is, it will be largely due to the global media attention centered on this case, and the combined efforts of so many, some in and some outside the media spotlight.

Coming together in a concerted action to have a greater impact has been at the heart of the IFEX network since its inception 26 years ago. It is how we work to defend the rights of people to express themselves freely and without fear. When the worst happens, it is how we work to hold their killers accountable.

Lately, the worst is happening far too often. Each year, UNESCO maintains a list of journalists who have been killed around the world.

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As I write this, there are 86 names on the 2018 list.

Its important to note that beside those 86 women and men stand many more. Add the names of their husbands, wives, children, and friends whose lives will never be the same. Add the names of their colleagues in the media who must decide every day whether doing their job is worth risking their lives and those of their loved ones.

But then, think of the people working to bring about accountability for these crimes, to change the climate where impunity continues to flourish. There are so many of us: human rights defenders, activists, lawyers  even some politicians  as well as thousands of others who persist even when there is no public attention, no articles in the news, and little hope  but who refuse to let the light go out on these cases.

On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, we acknowledge all those who work in this shared endeavor and continue to show that, together, our voices move mountains.

We continue to advocate in the cases of the violent crimes committed against Colombian journalist Jineth Bedoya Lima, Cambodian activist and broadcaster Kem Ley, Bahraini photojournalist Ahmed Ismail Hassan, Pakistani reporter Shan Dahar, Gambian Editor Musa Saidykhan and journalist Ebrima Manneh, and Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, among so many others.

Persistence pays off. Weve seen perpetrators jailed in Bedoya Limas case, reparations paid to Mannehs family. After an extended campaign to address the climate of impunity in Paraguay organised by IFEXs Latin America and Caribbean network, IFEX-ALC, the man behind the 2014 murder of Paraguayan journalist Pablo Medina was found guilty. It was the first time that someone who ordered an attack on a journalist in Paraguay had been sentenced for that crime.

Before he was killed, Khashoggi had been a prime target of daily, unrelenting online abuse from a Riyadh-based troll farm that aimed to smother the voices of all Saudi dissidents. One of his last acts was in support of a volunteer army working to combat those trolls in the online sphere.

They call themselves the Electronic Bees, and just 11 days before his death Khashoggi wrote on Twitter that the Bees were coming.

As an image of human rights defenders, its both compelling and inspiring  a fiercely committed swarm, with a shared focus and the power of numbers. Those who would threaten or disturb us should take heed.

Annie Game is executive director of IFEX, a global network of organizations connected by a shared commitment to defend and promote freedom of expression as a fundamental human right. A full list of member organizations is available on the IFEX website

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In late 2016, animal rights activist Jenny McQueen was on the lookout for factory farms.

The 55-year-old retired Ontario civil servant belongs to a so-called open rescue group called Direct Action Everywhere, which is trying to liberate animals from bondage. And on this December day two years ago, McQueen was driving around southwestern Ontario in search of an industrial chicken farm that she might investigate.

What she found instead was Adare Pork Ltd., a 2,600-sow operation near Lucan northwest of London. Known in the trade as a pig production system, it specializes in impregnating sows and briefly raising the offspring  usually until they are about 21 days old.

Those piglets deemed strong and healthy are then sold to another farm to be fattened for slaughter. Those that dont make the cut are usually killed.

Adare didnt return my telephone calls. But a 2012 profile in the industry magazine The Insider describes its owners as a progressive and successful farm family under contract to Quebec pork producer F. Menard. Menard, in turn, sells to the grocery chain IGA.

In short, Adare doesnt appear to be unusual.

What happened on that December day in 2016, however, was. McQueen says she drove up to the sow barns without meeting any humans and somehow got inside. There she took pictures, including some that revealed her identity. Thats one of the hallmarks of open rescue  no masks, no balaclavas.

Everything I do, I do with an open face, she tells me.

But her main purpose was to document what she saw as the casually cruel treatment of animals held in small, confined spaces and bred for meat.

She used those photos as the basis of a complaint to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. But nothing happened  and for good reason.

Most of what she documented  the piglet bodies bloodied with afterbirth, the confined sows, the burning stench of ammonia coming from open sewage pits beneath the barns  are considered acceptable by government.

McQueen is a bit vague on what happened after that. But she says she and a small number of allies made a few more trips to Adare Pork and took more pictures.

In order to avoid introducing disease into the crowded barns, they dressed in the standard hog workers uniform of plastic biohazard suits and slippers.

She says she timed her visits to take place at nights or on weekends in order to avoid running into farm workers.

Somewhere along the line (she wont say when), she removed two piglets. One, which she named Noel, had a damaged ear. She wont say what the other piglets name is  or where either of them now resides.

That too is one of the tenets of open rescue  to remove specific animals in need and, as far as possible, tell their stories.

In March, after another clandestine visit to Adare, she made a second appeal to the OSPCA. With it, she included a photo of a sow suffering from a prolapsed uterus. Again, she says, she heard nothing back

The adventure began to draw to an end this summer. In August, McQueen showed up at 5 a.m. at the farm, ready for more open rescue. But this time, the activists were surprised to find workers there. We made a fast exit, says McQueen. It was so fast that they left one of their biohazard suits behind.

Early in the morning of Oct. 4, police armed with a search warrant raided her Toronto home. She was handcuffed and charged with break-and-enter as well as mischief to property worth more than $5,000. She is due to appear in court later this month.

They treated me like a terrorist, she recalls bemusedly. All we were trying to do was help the animals.
VANCOUVERA longtime anti-poverty activist who recently won a Vancouver City Council seat is drafting her first motion, and it will focus on protecting tenants from a process known as renoviction.

Jean Swanson said her motion will ask the province to implement vacancy control  which would prevent landlords from raising the rent for a unit when a new tenant moves in  and better protect tenants through the citys existing tenant relocation and protection guidelines.

(Apartment buildings are) being bought at high prices with the landlord assuming theyll be able to rent them out at a higher rent than tenants are currently paying, said Swanson, the sole Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) candidate to be elected to council.

Anything the government does to build social housing is nullified by all of these affordable apartments becoming luxury apartments.

Despite a rate of change policy in the city that prevents developers from tearing down apartment buildings unless they replace the lost units in a new building, the trade in rental apartments has been brisk over the past few years: 150 buildings changed hands in 2017 while 39 buildings were sold in the first six months of 2018, according to the Goodman Report.

At the same time, Vancouvers vacancy rate has remained at under 1 per cent while rent rates have risen sharply.

Read more:

Real estate developers will have to change the way they do business, Vancouvers new mayor warns

Burnaby renters pressured to leave in citys self-made housing crisis, report alleges

B.C.s stricter rent controls may not halt construction, if Toronto is any example

Its common for tenants to start feeling apprehensive and fearing the worst as soon as they hear that their building has been sold, said David Hendry, a steering committee member of the Vancouver Tenants Union.

Under Vancouvers current guidelines, landlords must put in place a tenant relocation plan if they are demolishing or renovating a rental building and the citys financial compensation rates are higher than what is required by provincial law.

But some tenants who are facing renoviction say they have questions about how the citys guidelines are being interpreted. Andre Duchene helped organize his West End building, Berkeley Tower, after tenants learned they would have to move out because the new owner planned to do extensive renovations.

Duchene is pushing the city to take into account a Supreme Court decision that found a Residential Tenancy Brand arbitrator erred in failing to consider whether a landlord needed to end a renters tenancy in order to do the renovation.

The B.C. government subsequently issued a guidance to the Residential Tenancy Board in May 2018 that said the Residential Tenancy Act does not allow a landlord to end a tenancy for the purpose of renovations or repairs if  it is possible to carry out the renovations or repairs without ending the tenancy (i.e. if the tenant is willing to temporarily empty and vacate the unit during the renovations or repairs and then move back in once they are complete).

Duchene said hed like to see the city require landlords do a proper assessment into whether evictions are necessary to renovate  specifically if tenants have said theyll to move out in order to accommodate renovations.

But the buildings owner, Reliance Properties, has disputed Duchenes interpretation of the guidance. In a previous interview, Jon Stovell, president of Reliance Properties, said little work had been done by the previous owner on the 60-year-old building and renovations are badly needed. He also said current rents are too low to make the building profitable, which Reliance bought for $42 million in 2016.

Landlord advocates have warned that tightening rent control will make it harder for building owners to reinvest in aging properties or build new rental buildings.

Kennedy Stewart, Vancouvers new mayor-elect, has also promised to put renters front and centre as he takes office: hes said he will create a renters advocacy office to make sure renters are treated fairly and stop renoviction. Stewart says the office would stop renovictions by providing information, advocacy and legal assistance to renters during tenancy disputes and reinforce the citys renoviction policy.

An inaugural council meeting will be held on Nov. 5, and the first regular council meeting takes place a week later on Nov. 13.

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VANCOUVERPolice arrested three men on Tuesday over a series of break-ins on Granville St. in South Vancouver.

Officers found the trio in a parking lot at Granville St. and Southwest Marine Dr. at around 5:30 p.m., said a release. They were suspected of breaking into a home on West 37th Ave. near Granville St. less than an hour before.

Police said the same group is suspected of similar crimes earlier in the day.

The officers were able to arrest two of the suspects without incident. But the release said the third man ran from the officers and attempted to carjack a taxi full of people. When that was unsuccessful, police said, he ran to a gas station and attempted to force a man out of his car.

Thats when he was arrested by a canine unit.

Media-relations officer Const. Jason Doucette confirmed the suspect was treated for a dog bite prior to being taken to jail. He added that the houses were empty at the time of the break-ins.

Another police dog pursuing the fleeing suspect bit a 75-year-old Vancouver man on the leg. He was treated at hospital and subsequently released.

Graham Scott Beattie, a 40-year-old Surrey resident, was charged with two counts of breaking into a house and one charge of attempted theft of an automobile over $5,000.

Harold Jason Gillis, a 42-year-old Richmond resident, was charged with two counts of breaking into a home, while Joseph Leon Kidd, a 34-year-old Vancouver resident, was charged with one count of breaking into a house.

The three men are in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.

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VANCOUVER  Residents of British Columbias Bulkley Valley are greeting winter-like conditions while those in parts of the inner south coast are splashing through a deluge as Environment Canada posts weather warnings for those regions.

Rainfall warnings are issued for the Fraser Valley, Howe Sound and parts of Metro Vancouver while a snowfall warning is in effect for the Bulkley Valley, including the communities of Burns Lake and Smithers.

Ten to 15 centimetres of snow is expected across the Bulkley Valley.

Meteorologists say the snow should switch to rain by later in the day.

On the south coast, Environment Canada is forecasting 60 to 80 millimetres of precipitation.

The hardest hit areas of Metro Vancouver are expected to be the North Shore, as well as Coquitlam and Maple Ridge, but the storm is due to ease by Thursday.

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VANCOUVERDeneige Nadeau loves teaching critical and cultural theory at Vancouvers Emily Carr University of Art + Design  but she doesnt know how much longer shell be able to afford it.

Shes part of the two-thirds majority of instructors there who are on short-term contracts, getting paid per course with no guarantee theyll be able to work again next year. Having been offered only one course to teach each term this year, Nadeau also serves beer to make ends meet.

Ive come across this concept in social science research about hope labour and all the work that somebody does in the hopes that it will lead to something in the future, Nadeau said in an interview with The Star last month.

A report released Thursday reveals new details about how many university instructors in Canada may be in the same situation  data that until now has been a blind spot for researchers and advocates due to the fact that its not reported by Statistics Canada.

The report entitled Contract U comes from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, based on Freedom-of-Information requests with all 78 publicly funded Canadian universities. It shows that more than half of all academic appointments made by the universities that responded to the requests werent full-time, permanent, tenure-track jobs but temporary contracts.

A total of 53.6 per cent of positions offered by universities in the 2016-2017 academic year were on contract. About 80 per cent of them were part-time.

Read more:

Halifax students say precarious work for faculty is hurting their education

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Chandra Pasma, a post-secondary researcher at the Canadian Union of Public Employees who co-authored the report, said precarious employment has long been a top priority of the union.

There are surveys and there are lots of anecdotes of what (precarious academic appointments) are like for workers and for students, she said. One of the biggest challenges that we have is the complete lack of data.

Karen Foster, associate professor of sociology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, helped establish those detrimental impacts.

Foster co-authored a report that found most contract academic staff surveyed would rather have full-time secure positions and that uncertainty about their futures led to stress and health issues in addition to taking time away from research and student services.

She told The Star she was glad Pasma went through the painstaking process of making individual requests to all Canadian universities to get the missing information.

Someone needed to do it, Foster said. Institutions, and people who want to gut post-secondary institutions of funding, were hiding behind that lack of data ... This data tells us that it is that bad.

It also shows that universities reliance on contract academic staff varies across provinces, disciplines and individual institutions.

When Pasma requested data from all 78 publicly funded universities, 22 of them initially either refused, provided incomplete data, asked for excessive fees or failed to respond. It took many appeals and complaints before Pasma settled on a final data set from 67 universities.

According to the data, 13 universities had more than two-thirds contract appointments. The university with the highest proportion was Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, which had 78 per cent contract appointments. Institut nationale de la recherche scientifique in Quebec City was the only responding institution with no contract appointments.

Among provinces, B.C., Ontario and Quebec surpassed the average. Quebec had the highest proportion of contract appointments at 61 per cent, while B.C. had 55 per cent and Ontario had 54 per cent.

David Robinson, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, said its unclear why Quebec stands so far apart from the other provinces but it may have to do with how universities are organized there. Compared to other provinces, he said, Quebec university teachers have seen a longer-standing labour movement that may mean more robust job protections and hiring procedures.

The report concludes that universities reliance on contract faculty isnt exclusively a function of reduced public funding. If it was that simple, Pasma wrote in the report, you would expect universities within provinces to have approximately equal rates of contract staff.

But that doesnt seem to be the case. The proportion of contract appointments varies by institution, discipline and urban-or-rural setting, suggesting that the choices of individual institutions plays as much of a role as funding does.

For example, the University of British Columbia has 44 per cent contract appointments while Simon Fraser University has 78 per cent, even though both universities are large institutions based in Vancouver.

Universities located in urban centres had a larger proportion of contract appointments. Calgary universities, for example, had 49 per cent contract appointments even though Albertas average is much lower at 39 per cent.

The exceptions were Quebec, where Montreal had a lower-than-average proportion of contracts, and Ontario, which showed no difference between Toronto and the rest of the province. (However, the University of Toronto and McGill University in Montreal, both large institutions, were not in the data set.)

Humanities and social sciences had more contract instructors than the sciences and professional disciplines. Veterinary medicine and agriculture were the only two disciplines with less than one-third contract faculty on average.

Contract positions at Canadian universities are not new. They have long been used to substitute for professors on leave or to allow someone with specific expertise who isnt employed by the university to teach certain courses.

What we have seen more and more is the increasing reliance on contract positions not just to fill temporary gaps but also to fill long-term employment contracts, Robinson said. Its being used as a two tiered system.

Foster said theres little incentive for universities to change their practices with respect to contract staff unless theyre put under pressure to do so.

I dont think that individual institutions will be surprised by these findings; its just that now its out in the public, she said.

Provinces can use legislative and regulatory tools, such as implementing equal-pay-for-equal-work laws. Ontario did this with Bill 148, portions of which Premier Doug Fords government has promised to repeal.

Some students believe they have a role to play in protecting their instructors job security. Terra Poirier, who recently graduated from Emily Carr, recently published an art book called Non-regular on the experiences of her precariously employed instructors.

Theres no future if education itself has become so degraded, Poirier said. If the university is exploiting my teachers, then thats not going to stand.

Correction  Nov. 1, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that incorrectly stated Terra Poirier is currently an undergraduate at Emily Carr. In fact, Poirier was an undergraduate student at Emily Carr until she graduated in May 2018.

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COTTAGE HILLS  A two-mile bicycle trail near Kutter Park in Wood River Township was opened to the public with a ceremony Tuesday.

The trail will begin in Kutter Park and go north for one-tenth of a mile along Center Street to an abandoned railroad line. It will then follow the railroad bed for about a mile, ending just short of Illinois Route 255.

The cost of the project is about $450,000 and is funded through public and private funds.

Phillips 66 Refinery donated approximately $100,000, which the township used to leverage grants from the Metro East Park and Recreation District and Madison Countys Park Enhancement Program grants.

Patrick McRae, who chairs the township Parks Committee, said the trail was the result of a lot of cooperation between many people and agencies.

Its been a great coming together of the community, he said. Weve seen a lot of people work really, really hard to put this together.

Officials have also said they hoped this trail spurs interest in other trails in that area.

Its one of the first bike trails in northern Madison County, McRae said.

There is talk about additional trails that would connect to Gordon Moore Park and several parks in Bethalto.

I know theyre very interested in bike trails, if we could find a way to connect those parks it would be incredible, he said.

In addition to providing a useful service, he said bike trails can drive up property values and make areas more attractive.

The project started about eight years ago when then-Township Trustee Tom McRae, now a Madison County Board member and Patrick McRaes father, became interested in it.

Madison County Transit has been the driving force behind most of the countys approximately 86 miles of trails. However, most of those trails have been in the southern and central part of the county.

Part of the reason was that MCTs rails-to-trails program started after the agency had started securing the rights to abandoned railways in anticipation of possible light-rail routes between East St. Louis, Alton and Edwardsville, so most of the emphasis on land acquisitions and eventual trails were in those areas.

Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447.
DALLAS  A Dallas County jury has sentenced a 34-year-old man to death for the 2015 shooting death of a Dallas pediatric dentist with ties to west-central Illinois.

Jurors deliberated for about three hours before condemning Kristopher Love on Wednesday in the death of 35-year-old Kendra Hatcher. The same jury convicted Love of capital murder Thursday.
B.A.G.S. Programs Fall Fiesta

WOOD RIVER  First United Methodist Church of Wood River, 30 N. Sixth St., wants to invite you to its B.A.G.S. (Belindas Armored God Squad) programs Fall Fiesta on Nov. 3 from 4 to 6 p.m.

The party will include a silent auction, bake sale, tacos and soda. They will also be doing face painting, rock painting, scarecrow craft, and decorating brown bags for their annual distribution of Thanksgiving dinners for the less fortunate.

All proceeds go to B.A.G.S. program (K-5th grade). Please call 618-254-1921 for more information.

Trinity AME Church Honoring Reverend, First Lady

ALTON  A special program is planned for 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4 to show appreciation, love and thankfulness for Rev. John S. Herring, Sr. and First Lady Rev. Patricia Herring.

The program will include an uplifting, inspirational message from Rev. Spencer Booker, pastor of St. Paul AME Church in St. Louis. Musical selections from St. Pauls choir and other anointed musicians will also be heard.

Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church is located at 626 E. Fourth St., Alton.

Faith Lutheran Church Hosting GriefShare Seminar

GODFREY  Faith Lutheran Church is hosting a GriefShare seminar ahead of the approaching holidays as part of its upcoming offerings.

The church, 6809 Godfrey Road, in partnership with Gent Funeral Home, is hosting a GriefShare seminar entitled Surviving the Holidays, which offers practical holiday survival tips and the real-life stories of people who have navigated the holiday season after their loved ones death. The first seminar was held Thursday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m., and a second will be held Thursday, Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.

For more information on either event, or to register for the seminar, please contact the church at (618) 466-3833, ext. 200.

Mulligan Stew Dinner at Wanda United Methodist Church

ROXANA  Wanda United Methodist Church, 4813 Wanda Road, Roxana, will be serving mulligan stew Saturday, Nov. 3 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Mulligan stew, drink and dessert, or sloppy Joes, chips, drink and dessert are on the menu. Adults are $8 per person, children are $5.

Bring your own container for carryouts  quarts are $6, half-gallons are $12, gallons are $24. Dessert is $2.

Concordia Lutheran Having Trunk or Treat, Christmas Bazaar

COTTAGE HILLS  Concordia Lutheran Church in Cottage Hills is getting into the yuletide spirit early with a Christmas bazaar.

The churchs seventh annual Shop n Shop Christmas Bazaar will take place Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the churchs basement.

Lunch will be available, hosted by the Lutheran Women Missionary League. Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, Norwex products, handmade snowmen, jewelry, handmade crafts, spices, fresh baked goods, clothing and more.

For more information, call 618-717-0808 or 618-670-6809.

All You Can Eat Homemade Soup and Bread Lunch

GLEN CARBON  New Bethel United Methodist Church in Glen Carbon is holding its All You Care to Eat Homemade Soup and Bread Lunch on Saturday, Nov. 3.

A variety of soups and breads will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall in the lower level. The church is handicap-accessible with walk-in access in the back of the building and an elevator in the front entrance lobby.

Adult tickets are $8 and children 5 to 12 years of age tickets are $4. Children under 5 are free.

There will be a bake sale of more homemade goodies. New Bethel UMC is located at 131 N. Main St. in Glen Carbon.

New Bethel would like to thank the public for all of its support and looks forward to seeing everyone once again at this November event. For more information please call the church office at 618-288-5700 or email at office@newbethelumc.org.

Godfrey 1st United Methodist Church Chili Supper

GODFREY  Godfrey 1st United Methodist Church is having a Chili Supper on Wednesday, Nov. 7.

The Chefs for Christ will be serving all-you-can-eat regular chili, beanless chili, white chicken chili, deer chili, stuffed green pepper soup, and chicken noodle soup, dessert and a drink. Carryouts will also be available.

The dinner will run from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church, 1100 Airport Road, Godfrey. Adult dinners are $10, children 6-12 are $5, and children until 6 eat free.

For more information, call 618-466-3624.

Soup & Sandwich Luncheon/Bake Sale and Craft Fair

EDWARDSVILLE  It will be a full day at Immanuel United Methodist Church on Nov. 9 as a soup and sandwich luncheon will accompany a bake sale and craft fair.

Lunch and bake sale will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, 800 N. Main St., Edwardsville. The menu includes vegetable, bean, and chicken noodle soup; chicken salad croissants; pie and drink. Price is $8, the church is handicap-accessible and take-outs are available.

The craft fair will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and will also carry over into Saturday. The hours for Nov. 10 are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information, call the church at 618-656-4648.

Annual Human Rights Day Event

ALTON  Church Women United will host the Annual Human Rights Day on Friday, Nov. 9.

This year, the event will be held at Millennium Church on Blair Street in Alton, the former Trinity Lutheran Church. The event starts at 6 p.m.

This year, two people who continue to give their time, talents, energy and money to making Alton a better place to live will be recognized.

Cedric Parker gives his time and shares his skills working in the community. He encourages youth, works on community problems with the police and is a strong advocate of prison reform. He has held Teen Summits and HIV, drugs and other social problems facing todays youth. He has held food drives to help the hungry, Easter Egg hunts for young children in the community and he also shares his photography skills with children in area hospitals.

Tanya Brown is an international evangelist, educator and humanitarian. She founded and runs Vision Christian Academy, a school serving children ages pre-school through ninth grade. She writes plays educating youth about HIV, drugs and other social issues. She and her husband, Elder Lawrence Brown Jr., pastor Bethesda Temple Church in Alton.

The public is invited to come and help recognize them for their work in making this a better community.
In praise of Trumps economic policies, an Oct. 30 letter from a Godfrey Republican cites data from an Oct. 29 Chicago Tribune editorial as proof; but that data is incomplete and largely mistaken. GOP tax cuts have never paid for themselves; moreover, it is GOP tax cuts, not spending, that is the cause of the fast-growing federal debt and deficits.

Historical table spreadsheets from any FY federal budget show Social Security (SS) and Medicare have furnished 25-30 percent of total federal revenue since the payroll tax was increased by Reagan in the early 1980s. Thus, each year taxes were cut (Reagan, G.W. Bush, Trump) frugal Republicans were passing out SS and Medicare money mostly to the wealthy.
The Regional Refugee Coordinator Assistant provides program andadministrative support to the Great Lakes Regional Refugee Coordinatorsoffice. The incumbents primary duties include: Monitoring and evaluation ofU.S. government-funded humanitarian assistance programs, reporting on refugeeissues, maintaining contacts with government officials, internationalorganizations and NGOs in all countries covered by the office, and providingadministrative support. The employee often works independently and has theauthority to carry out many of the assigned duties without the directinvolvement of the supervisor. The jobholder reports directly to the RegionalRefugee Coordinator and does not exercise any supervisory responsibilities.
The Project Officer, Biogas will work directlywith Refugee beneficiary households, schools and host community of Kyaka IIRefugee Settlement in Kyegegwa District. His/her major role (s) will becoordinating with Biogas construction enterprises (BCEs) for biogas promotion,sensitization and installation in schools and households. The Project Officer,Biogas will report directly to the Project Manager, Bio-Livelihoods
The Acquisition and Assistance Specialistsperform technical and procurement management work that supports theUSAID/Uganda Acquisition & Assistance (A&A) team. The Mission has anOYB in excess of $350 million and includes several high-visibility, politicallysensitive Presidential Initiatives: the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDSRelief (PEPFAR), the Presidents Malaria Initiative (PMI) and Feed the Future(FtF). The work covers three Development Objectives generating technicallycomplex cross-cutting programs requiring intricate and sensitive procurementoperations. Individual A&A instruments range from $10,000 purchase ordersto $100M contract and grant agreements. Technical work involves supporting thepreparation, control, and review of procurement documents and reports relatedto planning strategies and appropriate solicitation documents, conducting theanalysis, evaluation, and negotiation of a wide variety of acquisition andassistance documents, such as contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants;maintains various procurement files and responsible for the distribution andfollow-up of official copies of A&A documents to permit the implementationand payment actions; or perform other similar work in support of implementationand operation of mission programs. The Acquisition and Assistance Specialist(Trainee) is located in the Office of Acquisition and Assistance, USAID/Uganda.The function of the Office is to provide Acquisition and Assistance(procurement) support to Mission Technical Offices and Development Objective(DO) and Assistance Objective (AO) Teams in the Mission, and in any RegionalOffices that may be supported by the Mission. The primary purpose of thisposition is to perform a variety of acquisition and assistance duties includingwriting grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and other procurementinstruments and preparing amendments in support of the Mission. The Specialist(Trainee) reviews and recommends approval or revision of requisitions in theGlobal Acquisition and Assistance System (GLAAS); reviews and recommendsapproval or revision of scopes of work (SOW); drafts requests for proposal orquote; performs cost and price analysis; analyzes proposals or quotes received;drafts contracts and contract modifications; analyzes contractor-proposedbudgets; recommends revisions to various contract provisions; writes Memorandaof Negotiation; and, prepares other required documentation. The Specialist(Trainee) maintains contract files and records up to date, prepares ContractorPerformance Reports (CPRs), and supports award closeouts. The Specialist(Trainee) provides guidance related to administrative award modifications. TheSpecialist (Trainee) is responsible for carrying out day-to-day activitiesunder the mentorship of more senior Office employees. This position is a partof an established career ladder, which provides for the potential to progressto the FSN-10 and, subsequently, to the FSN-11 grade level. There is nopotential for the Job Holder to become a permanent FSN-09 in this workassignment. Attainment of higher grade levels is contingent upon the Specialist(Trainee) successfully completing required training, meeting agree-uponobjectives and milestones, and performing in a Fully Successful (or equivalent)manner. Promotion to the FSN-10 and to the target FSN-11 grade levels is notmandatory, and failure to achieve those high levels of performance may be thebasis for dismissal.
The Senior Protection Assistant(Community-Based) is a member of the Protection Unit in a Country Operation andmay report to the Protection Officer, Protection Officer (Community-Based), oranother more senior staff member in the Protection Unit. Under the overalldirection of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with other UNHCR staff,government, NGO partners and other stakeholders, the Senior Protection Assistant(Community-Based) works directly with communities of concern to identify therisks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, theirfamilies and communities. The incumbent may have direct supervisoryresponsibility for part of the protection and/or support staff and supports theapplication of community-based protection standards, operational procedures andpractices in community-based protection delivery at the field level. To fulfilthis role the Senior Protection Assistant (Community-Based) is required tospend a substantial percentage of her/his time working outside the office,building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern. Thedevelopment and maintenance of constructive relationships with persons ofconcern that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming andresults forms the core of the work of the Senior Protection Assistant(Community-Based). The incumbent also supports the designing of acommunity-based protection strategy by ensuring that it is based onconsultation with persons of concern.
Model United Nations (MUNs) conferences are fast becoming the go-to activity for students looking to involve themselves in extra curriculars. There has been a splurge in both the number of delegates attending MUNs and MUN conferences as a whole. Students are increasingly looking to fill up the pages of their CVs and college applications with their achievements in this arena, as more and more (mostly Western) higher education institutions are placing emphasis on all-round achievement as opposed to marks alone.

The concept of Model UN has been around for a while, initially originating as a Model League of Nations, a simulation of the now defunct predecessor of the United Nations. These conferences can be held as mere educational activities within classrooms for an hour or two, or as full-blown simulations (usually between three to four days) conducted by renowned institutions like Harvard or The Hague. In India, the popular opinion is that MUNs as a concept flourished after the Cathedral Model United Nations was hosted in Mumbai, 1996. Since then, school and college calendars have been filling up with invitations to different MUNs, and there was no looking back. These conferences usually consist of three or more committeesgenerally modelled along the lines of the actual United Nations. Simulations of Security Councils, Disarmament and Security Committee, and the Economic and Social Council are common, while Crisis committees test the delegates spontaneity and abilities to think on their feet. Interestingly, fantasy and futuristic committees have featured in several conferences as well, ranging from Game of Thrones committees to the mock trial of Kim Jong Il to Harry Potter. Delegates are expected to represent their portfolios and debate on behalf of their country or character with respect to the committee agenda.

Some of the largest MUNs in India are chapters of international ones like HMUN (in association with Harvard), WIMUN (with the World Federation of United Nations Associations), and Ivy League MUN (by the University of Pennsylvania). All the above mentioned MUNs are organised by MUN Cafe, a brand of Worldview Global which is based in Hyderabad. These high-profile conferences have seen guests like Nandita Das, Rakesh Sharma, Amitabh Kant (CEO of Niti Aayog), and former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan grace the gathering either in person or through live stream. These MUNs usually claim high delegate fees from the participants, but MUN Cafe has also come out with MUN for India, a zero-fee series of MUNs held around the country facilitating easy access for all who want to improve their MUN skills.

MUNs as a whole provide a variety of skill sets as well as a host of side benefits not usually mentioned on the brochures. For Mirza Al Yessa who has been to 21 MUNs, the best takeaway is the friends he has made. Other than that, he says, MUNs have given me the ability to empathise at a greater level than I could before as it forces you to take on the persona of someone else. Bashir Abbas will soon cross his 35th MUN and in his opinion, his research skills are the ones that have been most impacted. According to him, he has learned to analyse from an international law point of view, understanding legal and non-legal precedent and what sources to trust for what kind of information.

Aditya Soma, executive director of Worldview Global, believes that MUNs help students get to build diverse peer networks, especially when they MUN internationally. These are powerful networks that can open up many opportunities to collaborate, partner and work together in the future, he says. Moreover, it is extremely beneficial for communication skills, writing skills, negotiation skills, and public speaking. The greatest impact according to him is the change that these delegates can bring. If a MUN is delivered with even a little bit of sincerity, it is 100 per cent bound to influence students to go out and make a difference. The nature of this academic tool itself is such, he says. These include initiatives towards sustainable development, e-waste management and solutions for pollution, all undertaken by students themselves.

Money is an added incentive for MUN participation, especially at the college level. While the bigger conferences retain their policy of non-monetary awards (including but not limited to certificates, trophies, gavels and bragging rights), numerous other MUNs around the country provide large monetary compensation along with a relatively reduced delegate fee in order to make up for a comparative lack of renown. So far, the highest monetary award for Best Delegate in the country is given by Jain Centre for Management Studies, Bengaluru. Best delegates from each of the several committees receive a whopping Rs 30,000, while honourable and commendable delegates receive Rs 11,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. Not bad at all, for four days of debate every year. Several other conferences offer anywhere upwards of Rs 5,000 per best delegate award, and considering these statistics along with the comparatively nominal delegate fee (usually Rs 1,000-2,000), as well as the sheer number of MUN conferences happening throughout the academic year, it is no wonder that the average number of delegates at these conferences are rising every year.

So, if you are in school or college and know how to gab your way out of a paper bag, what are you waiting for? Go ahead; dive headfirst into the world of Model UN. It may just be worth it.
The adage that failures can teach many lessons seems quite...
Controversys favourite child, Rakhi Sawant, 33, is hardly the shy type. Now, she is at it again. Having been in the news recently for taking on Tanushree Duttas #MeToo allegations, Rakhi is firing up all cylinders, and in no mood to slow down.

Having been associated with Indias fabled film industry for the last 15 years, and having done bigger banners and more films than Tanushree, Rakhi, who calls herself an illiterate, has worked hard in Bollywood to carve a niche for herself. If Tanushree is Miss India, I am Miss Andheri West, says a defiant Rakhi, who is famous for her colourful one-liners. Bollywood is my janmabhoomi and karmabhoomi. All those who know me, know that whatever I am is because of Bollywood, says Rakhi. I took a lot of time and struggled hard, but I have never compromised till today. Yes, I wore short skirts, did item numbers and flaunted my body, but I never resorted to shortcuts and I didnt compromise or sleep with anybody to move up, says the dancer, model and TV actress who is very clear that she will never support lies.

ALSO READ: Tanushree Dutta demands narco, lie detector tests on Patekar

Rakhi, who was once a close friend of Tanusree, believes that there is a campaign to vilify India and Bollywood, which is why the #MeToo has been imported from the US. They are raising Americas flag, while trying to tarnish Indias image, says Rakhi. She believes that Tanushree is on a mission to prove that Indian men are rapists and that India is a country where girls get raped. I am going to ensure that she does not succeed because ours is a country where Gandhi, Nehru, Ambedkar, Vivekananda, Indira and Modi were born, so I am not going to let her destroy India, she says.

Rakhi cannot fathom why Tanushree has brought the filth of #MeToo to India. Was she in a coma for ten years? Why is she coming out with these allegations today? What does she want? Is she taking revenge for her career. Is all her money over? shoots Rakhi, who is of the opinion that #MeToo campaign funded Tanushree financially to tarnish Indias image and reputation. Rakhi claims that Tanushree has received a lot of money from America to destroy Bollywood. I am very angry that Bollywood and Indias reputations are being besmirched by Tanushree. She is a liar and she is being paid to lie. Somebody hired her in America to speak against India, and against Bollywood. Now, everybody is listening to her. Nobody in the media is ready to print the truth and she continues to lie. But who is behind this #MeToo campaign and who is investing the money? I really dont know, she says.
The apex body of Bru refugees in Tripura has appealed to political parties in Mizoram to refrain from visiting the relief camps for poll campaigning, ahead of the November 28 election to the 40-member Assembly.

R. Laldawngliana, the vice president of the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), said the community members were not keen on attending public meetings by parties from Mizoram.

"We do not welcome poll canvassing inside the camps. The members here are not looking forward to attending public meetings by the parties, just before the [Mizoram] polls," he said.

The general secretary of the outfit, Bruno Msha, said unorganised campaigns by political parties in Mizoram could lead to a law-and-order situation.

He, however, clarified that political parties had to approach the MBDPF leadership if they wished to carry out campaigns in the region.

"If any political party wishes to hold a public rally, it should get in touch with the MBDPF leadership. We do not wish to create any law-and-order situation in the camps, where one group could be pitted against another," Msha said.

He also noted that no campaigner from Mizoram had visited the relief camps so far, but flags of different political parties were on display in a number of households.

Thousands of Bru community members fled Mizoram and took shelter in Tripura following ethnic clashes in 1997. Violence broke out after a forest official was killed by Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) militants.

The Centre, in association with the governments of Mizoram and Tripura, had been trying to repatriate the displaced Brus in phases.

Though several Bru families returned to Mizoram over the years, many refused to leave Tripura, citing security reasons and inadequate compensation.

The MBDPF had recently appealed to the Election Commission of India to establish polling stations in the relief camps for the Bru voters.

It was countered by NGO Coordination Committee, a conglomerate of major civil societies in Mizoram, which urged the EC to disenfranchise all Bru voters who chose to stay back in Tripura and did not return to Mizoram.
Stepping up his efforts to build a pan-India alliance to take on the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah in New Delhi on Thursday.

Naidu was expected to call on Congress president Rahul Gandhi later in the day to discuss a political alliance against the BJP. This was Naidu's second visit to New Delhi in less than a week. Naidu was expected to discuss seat-sharing plans with Gandhi.

Naidu "coincidentally" also met senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and briefly discussed the need to bring all non-BJP political parties together, TDP sources said.

Last week, Naidu had said "political compulsions" would force non-BJP parties to come together to form a third front against the BJP.

Naidu, a former BJP ally who quit the NDA earlier this year over the Narendra Modi government's refusal to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh, met BSP chief Mayawati, Abdullah and former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha in the national capital on October 27.
A report by the Human Rights Watch North says that Korean officials commit sexual abuse against women with near-total impunity. The HRW says the abuse is so common that it has become part of daily life. The report, released on Wednesday, claims that officials commit these crimes with "little or no concern for the consequences".

The 86-page report, 'You Cry at Night, but Don't Know Why': Sexual Violence against Women in North Korea details the harrowing accounts of 62 women who were abused by high-ranking party officials, prison and detention facility guards and interrogators, police and secret police officials, prosecutors, and soldiers.

According to the report, North Korean women rarely complain of the abuse as there are very few, if any, avenues for redress. When an official in position "picks" a woman, she has no other choice other than to comply with the demands he makes. Complains could lead to further sexual violence, longer detentions for those in custody, beatings, forced labour and increased scrutiny while conducting market activities. Those not in custody stand the risk of losing their source of income and jeopardising their family's survival, increased scrutiny while conducting market activities.

"Sexual violence in North Korea is an open, unaddressed, and widely tolerated secret," HRW executive director Kenneth Roth said. "North Korean women would probably say 'Me Too' if they thought there was any way to obtain justice, but their voices are silenced in Kim Jong Un's dictatorship," he added.

Many women became traders and main breadwinners for their families in the late 1990s as they were not required to attend a government-established workplace. But in a country were gender discrimination and subordination of women are pervasive, women who stepped out were easily exposed to sexual violence at the hands of officials.

One anonymous former textile trader in her 40s recounted being treated like a sex toy "at the mercy of men". "On the days they felt like it, market guards or police officials could ask me to follow them to an empty room outside the market, or some other place they'd pick," where they forced sexual encounters, she said. "It happens so often nobody thinks it is a big deal. We don't even realise when we are upset," she added. "But we are human, and we feel it," she said. "So sometimes, out of nowhere, you cry at night and don't know why."

Contributing factors include deeply embedded patterns of gender inequality and a lack of sex education or awareness about sexual violence. The HRW report quoted another victimwho also used a pseudonymwho said she had been raped by a police officer after being denied food for three days in a dark room at a border detention centre. Now that she lives in the South, she said, "I know it's sexual violence and rape".

Pyongyang meanwhile is fiercely protective and claims that international criticism on the issue as a smear campaign to undermine its "sacred socialist system". Pyongyang maintains that it protects and promotes "genuine human rights", and says there is no justification for the West to try to set human rights standards for the rest of the world. According to data submitted by Pyongyang to a UN panel on gender equality, a total of five people were convicted of rape in the North in 2015.
Self-sufficiency must to end coal import: Goyal tells CIL

Kolkata, Nov 1 (PTI) Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal

on Thursday urged state-run Coal India Ltd to pledge

self-sufficiency in production to eliminate import of the dry

fuel, and look at reviving the 1-billion tonne output aim.

The government had earlier set a target of 1 billion

tonne of coal production by fiscal 2019-20 for the mining

major. Coal India has announced a production aim of 652

million tonne in 2018-19.

"Our next step would be to revive the one billion

tonne production aim of CIL as decided earlier," Goyal said.

India had imported 213 million tonne of coal in the

last fiscal. "We cannot allow import of coal when we have huge

reserves of 300 billion," Goyal said.

He also said the PSU major should reach 2.5 million

tonne of dispatch per day by taking "sincere steps".

"We have huge challenges ahead of us to meet the

demand for the vital product, particularly when the economic

growth is rapid and demand for coal is increasing at a fast

pace," the minister said.

"Even today, we (CIL) are growing at about 10 per cent

and my fear is that rate of growth is not good enough. Very

soon, we may slip to single-digit growth unless all of us

collectively decide that we will not let that happen," he said

here at the miner's 44th Foundation Day function.

Goyal said that in Thursday's Cabinet meeting, some of

his ministry colleagues discussed issues related to Coal

India, including that of throwing open coal mining to private

players.

He called on the mining behemoth to maintain coal

production even during the festive days, saying this is a

critical phase.

The minister also sought to resolve problems of CIL

subsidiary Eastern Coalfields Ltd relating to underground fire

and rehabilitation, and meet the coking coal requirement of

the iron and steel sector. PTI BSM

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New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel called upon corporate leaders on Thursday to explore opportunities of investment in the emerging field of senior care.

In her keynote address at the 1st Annual Senior Care Conclave organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Patel said the rapidly changing global demographics have resulted in a sharp rise in the demand for senior care services.

This, coupled with an increased life expectancy of the population and an increased tendency globally to have nuclear families, has further accelerated the growth in the senior care sector, she said.

"Health services are to be designed in such a way that there is a complete coordination across the thread of care providers to cure acute conditions and symptoms," she said.

Highlighting the initiatives of the Health Ministry, Patel said the National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE) addresses various health- related issues of the elderly people and the programme is an articulation of the international and national commitments of the government.

The programme is state-oriented and basic thrust of the programme is to provide dedicated health care facilities to the senior citizens (above 60 years of age) at various levels of primary, secondary and tertiary health care.

"The basic aim of the NPHCE is to provide dedicated, specialised and comprehensive health care to the senior citizens at various levels of state health care delivery system, including outreach services. Preventive and promotive care, management of illness, health manpower development for geriatric services, medical rehabilitation and therapeutic intervention and IEC (information, education and communication) are some of the strategies envisaged in the NPHCE," she said.

The minister further stated that NPHCE was launched in 100 identified districts of 21 states and eight regional geriatrics centres were set up in selected medical colleges as referral units during the 11th Plan period.

As on March 2018, 520 districts in 34 states and union territories had been sanctioned for provision of geriatric care services. Besides, 19 regional geriatric centres in government medical colleges of 18 states sanctioned for specialised care and training purpose.

Two National Centres for Ageing (NCA) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi and Madras Medical College in Chennai have been sanctioned to be developed as centres of excellence for geriatrics.

"In 2018-19, 79 more districts have been recommended, taking the number of districts sanctioned for provision of geriatric care services to 599 districts," the minister said. PTI PLB SMN
New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) French ambassador Alexandre Ziegler will head a delegation of over 100 French company leaders to Nagpur on November 2 to enhance the country's cooperation with India in all aspects of sustainable urban development, according to an official statement.

The French ambassador to India will also deliver the keynote address at the 11th Urban Mobility India Conference, the flagship event of the Ministry of Urban and Housing Affairs (MoHUA).

According to the statement, Ziegler will highlight France's technical and financial support to India's urban transformation through collaboration in various metro, urban mobility and smart city projects through the French development agency AFD. PTI BUN SMN
(Eds: Disclaimer: The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with PR Newswire. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.)

MUMBAI, November 1, 2018/PRNewswire/ --



ASCENT Conclave 2018 is a flagship event of ASCENT Foundation, which brings together India's most inspiring Business Leaders, Industrialists and Innovative Entrepreneurs on one platform



ASCENT Foundation, a not-for-profit, peer-to-peer learning platform for entrepreneurs founded by Harsh Mariwala (Chairman, Marico Ltd.), is hosting its third edition of ASCENT Conclave, scheduled on Thursday, November 22, 2018 at St. Regis, Mumbai. This year's theme, 'Beyond the Conversation', will focus on ways to enhance the holistic development of an entrepreneur in order to spur their professional growth.



Held annually, the ASCENT Conclave brings together an eclectic set of established business leaders under a single roof for a day-long interactive engagement program. The Conclave has been unique for its curated sessions of these 'Thought Leaders' sharing their entrepreneurial ideas, struggles, journeys and insights. The Conclave also serves as a networking platform for over 500 like-minded entrepreneurs to engage and collaborate with some of India's leading industry experts.



The year's event will bring together eminent leaders such as Harsh Mariwala (Founder - ASCENT Foundation and Chairman Marico Ltd.), Rajiv Bajaj (MD - Bajaj Auto), Kishore Biyani (Group CEO - Future Group and Managing Director - Pantaloon Retail), Karan Johar (Managing Director - Dharma Productions), Sangita Reddy (Joint Managing Director - Apollo Hospitals Group), Ananth Narayanan (CEO - Myntra and Jabong), PC Musthafa (CEO and Co-founder - iD Fresh Food), Lavanya Nalli (Vice-Chairperson - Nalli Silk Sarees Pvt. Ltd.), Milind Soman (Director - Maximus MICE & Media Solutions), Harshwardhan Zala, (Founder & CEO - Aerobotics7), Nicolas Dumoulin (Managing Director - Michael Page India) and Gauranga Das (ISKCON Monk) who will come together to share their journeys - hits and misses and how they have focused on personal development for their professional growth. This year, IIFL Wealth Management Ltd. has collaborated with ASCENT Foundation as the Lead Partner at ASCENT Conclave 2018.



The Conclave will also include different session formats that will be moderated by Govindraj Ethiraj (Director - Ping Digital Broadcast & IndiaSpend), Menaka Doshi (Managing Editor - BloombergQuint), Prabir Jha (President and Global Chief People Officer - Cipla Inc.) and Malishka Mendonsa (Radio Jockey - RED FM). The Conclave will also host a special YourStory Panel moderated by Shradha Sharma (Founder & CEO - YourStory) to capture the entrepreneurial journeys of young child prodigy Harshwardhan Zala, (Founder & CEO - Aerobotics7), Milind Soman (Director - Maximus MICE & Media Solutions) and Gauranga Das (ISKCON Monk).



The event will include a keynote speech by Rajiv Bajaj, who will elucidate on how, based on his own journey, entrepreneurs can leapfrog towards building billion-dollar enterprises. Entrepreneurs will also gain valuable insights from the unique session formats on various themes such as the importance of brand building, scaling of businesses amidst challenges, people management and working towards effective leadership. For entrepreneurs who wish to purchase passes to attend the Conclave or to know more, please visit: http://www.ascentfoundation.in/conclave2018/.



Harsh Mariwala, Founder, ASCENT Foundation and Chairman, Marico Ltd. says, "The third edition of the ASCENT Conclave promises to be bigger and better. While keeping with the spirit of celebrating entrepreneurship, this year, we want to highlight the importance of holistic development. The Conclave will gather Thought Leaders and innovators from various walks of life with conversations which will empower, inspire and add immense value to entrepreneurial excellence."



Sandeep Jethwani, Managing Partner, IIFL Wealth Management Ltd. added, "We are pleased to be associated with the ASCENT Conclave 2018. This confluence of thought leaders will bring to the fore real-life experiences in the space of innovation, business, entrepreneurship and investments. In less than a decade, IIFL Wealth has catapulted itself from an early stage entrepreneurial venture, into a leading wealth and asset management firm and we understand the needs and aspirations of entrepreneurs. We look forward to partnering with the ASCENT Foundation in this meeting of great minds and look to engage with participants 'Beyond the Conversation'."



The previous ASCENT Conclave has witnessed marquee business leaders inspire and encourage growth-ready entrepreneurs. The past Conclaves include speakers such as Sajjan Jindal (Chairman - JSW Group), Uday Kotak (Executive Vice-Chairman & Managing Director - Kotak Mahindra Bank), Ronnie Screwvala (Founder - Unilazer Ventures and Swades Foundation), Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Founder - PayTM), Sandeep Singhal (Co-founder - Nexus Venture Partners), Ameera Shah (Managing Director, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd), Kunwer Sachdev (Managing Director and Founder - Su-Kam), Siddharth Roy Kapur (Erstwhile Managing Director - The Walt Disney Company India, Current President - Film and Television Producers Guild of India), Tanmay Bhat (Co-Founder - All India Bakchod), Vineet Rai (Co-Founder and Chairman - Aavishkaar and Intellecap Group),Falguni Nayar (Founder - Nykaa), Ashish Hemrajani (CEO - BookMyShow), Neeraj Kakkar (CEO - Hector Beverages) and Prasoon Joshi (CEO - McCann World Group India and Chairman - McCann Asia Pacific) amongst many others.



About ASCENT:



ASCENT is a not-for-profit expression of Harsh Mariwala (Chairman - Marico Ltd. and Founder - ASCENT Foundation) and his passion to identify high-potential growth-ready entrepreneurs and enable them to grow their enterprise. Launched in 2012, ASCENT is designed as a unique, powerful peer-to-peer platform that leverages the 'power of collective' through self-facilitated Trust Groups and enables entrepreneurs to share and exchange experiences, ideas, insights and create a healthy ecosystem to learn from each other. Additionally, ASCENT provides peripheral access to relevant growth enablers like service providers, investors and banks, industry role models and domain experts. ASCENT has selected over 400 entrepreneurs as members (from more than 1300 applications received) who are part of 34 operational Trust Groups in Mumbai and Chennai. The platform consists of a diverse range of entrepreneurs with a 50-50 split between Manufacturing and Services Industries; 44% Family Businesses; 10% Women Entrepreneurs and in all about 65+ diverse industries represented. The aggregate annual revenue of the ASCENT members is more than Rs. 18,000 crores with individual member turnover ranging from Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 2000+ crores. For more details please visit: http://www.ascentfoundation.in/.





Source: ASCENT Foundation PWR

PWR
Colombo, Nov 1 (AFP) Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed returned home from exile Thursday, two days after the country's Supreme Court withdrew a warrant for his arrest.

Nasheed, who had been jailed for 13 years on a controversial terrorism charge, was welcomed at Male airport by president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and hundreds of supporters.

It was not immediately clear what role he will have in the new government to be constituted by Solih this month.

The Supreme Court had ruled that Nasheed could not be detained until his appeal against the jail sentence for terrorism is heard.

The 51-year-old democracy champion was branded a fugitive from justice when he went into exile in 2016 after seeking medical treatment abroad while serving the jail sentence.

He risked arrest if he ever returned to the Maldives under President Abdulla Yameen, who jailed or exiled most of his opponents.

However, the strongman leader suffered a surprise defeat last month in an election and must leave office on November 17.

The president-elect is a nominee of Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Nasheed had hoped to run against Yameen but was barred by the election commission.

Since Yameen's defeat, political prisoners have been freed and exiles have returned from abroad as the Maldives prepares a transition to new leadership.

Elected president in the country's first democratic poll in 2008, Nasheed was found guilty of terrorism in 2015 in a trial the UN said was politically motivated. (AFP)

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New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours:



FGN8 US-INDIA-IMPORTS

50 Indian items face heat as US revokes duty-free privileges on import of 90 products

Washington: The US on Thursday revoked duty-free concessions on import of at least 50 Indian products, mostly from handloom and agriculture sectors, reflecting the Trump administration's tough stand on trade-related issues with New Delhi. By Lalit K Jha



FGN13 UN-INDIA-CUBA

India at the UN supports lifting of US sanctions against Cuba

United Nations: India reiterated its support for the lifting of all sanctions imposed five decades ago by the US against Cuba, saying the continued existence of the embargo undermines multilateralism and the credibility of the UN itself. By Yoshita Singh



FGN2 US-TRUMP-CITIZENSHIP

No need of constitutional amendment to make changes in birthright citizenship: Trump

Washington: President Donald Trump has said that no constitutional amendment was required to do away with the birthright citizenship -- the process by which babies born in the country to the non-US nationals automatically become citizens -- as this can be done with an executive order, bringing his tough stance on immigration ahead of the crucial mid-term elections next Tuesday. By Lalit K Jha



FGN21 LANKA-2NDLD PARLIAMENT

Lankan prez lifts Parliament's suspension; sacked PM Wickremesinghe says 'democracy will prevail'

Colombo: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has summoned Parliament on Monday, officials said Thursday, a move which could resolve the political crisis arose after he sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and installed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa.



FGN17 LANKA-POLITICS-WICKREMESINGHE

Lanka's ousted PM says he has confidence of Parliament

Colombo: Sri Lanka's sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has claimed to be the country's premier, saying he has the confidence of Parliament and will prove his majority, notwithstanding former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa's appointment in his place by President Maithripala Sirisena.





FGN3 US-IRAN-LD PERTOLEUM

Enough supply of petroleum for countries to cut oil import from Iran: Trump

Washington: There is a sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products for countries to "significantly" reduce their purchase of crude oil from Iran, US President Donald Trump has said as the November 4 deadline approached for nations like India to cut their oil imports to zero from the Islamic Republic before the imposition of major sanctions on it. By Lalit K Jha



FGN18 US-PAK-JUD

Pak must enact legislation to proscribe Hafiz Saeed-led JuD, FIF: US

Washington: The US has asked Pakistan to swiftly enact a legislation that formally proscribes both Hafiz Saeed-led JuD and FIF, even as it criticised the recent removal of the ban on the two outfits which it said runs counter to Islamabad's commitment to the FATF to fight terrorism. By Lalit K Jha





FGN16 PAK-BLASPHEMY-WOMAN

Christian woman acquitted in blasphemy case likely to be flown out of Pak amid death threats

Islamabad: A Christian woman who was convicted of blasphemy and was acquitted by Pakistan's Supreme Court is likely to be flown out of the country as the landmark verdict sparked countrywide protests and death threats from hardline groups.



FGN19 PAK-BLASPHEMY-LD PROTESTS

Protesters on the boil in Pak against acquittal of Christian woman in blasphemy case

Islamabad:Radical Islamists burnt tyres and blocked major roads as they held protests across Pakistan for the second day on Thursday against the acquittal of a Christian woman sentenced to death for committing blasphemy, defying Prime Minister Imran Khan's stern warning. By Sajjad Hussain



FGN22 MALDIVES-LD NASHEED

Maldives ex-president returns from asylum

Male (Maldives): The first democratically elected president of the Maldives has returned home after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term. (AP)

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Colombo, Nov 1 (PTI) Pakistan on Thursday became the third country after China and Burundi to recognise Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime minister of Sri Lanka which is facing political turmoil after his appointment.

Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Ahmat Hashmat called on Rajapaksa and offered congratulations to the former strongman, who was controversially installed as the premier by President Maithripala Sirisena after sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The High Commissioner reiterated Pakistans support for continuation and consolidation of democratic process in Sri Lanka, the High Commission said in a statement.

He expressed hope that the ongoing political situation will be overcome peacefully and amicably in accordance with the constitution and aspirations of Sri Lankan people.

Pakistan became the third nation after China and Burundi to recognise former president Rajapaksa as the new premier.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Rajapaksa, known for his pro-Beijing stance.

Wickremesinghe has called his sacking a constitutional coup and maintains that he holds majority in the 225-member House.

Sirisena, who had suspended Parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority, has agreed to call parliament next Monday.

The president was under increasing political and diplomatic pressure to reconvene Parliament which he had suspended apparently to allow Rajapaksa to engineer crossovers from Wickremesinghe's side. PTI CORR PMS

PMS
Colombo, Nov 1 (PTI) Sri Lanka's suspended Parliament will not be convened before November 16, a senior leader from President Maithripala Sirisena's UPFA said on Thursday, hours after officials at Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's office said the House will meet on Monday.

Susil Premjayantha, a senior parliamentarian from Sirisena's United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), said Parliament is unlikely to meet on November 5.

He said that Parliament needs time to prepare to meet and there is not enough time to meet on Monday.

Premjayantha said reports claiming Parliament will meet on Monday were misleading and the House was most likely to meet on November 16, as announced by the president earlier.

Sirisena had suspended Parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority.

The president is facing increasing political and diplomatic pressure to reconvene Parliament which he had suspended apparently to allow Rajapaksa to engineer crossovers from Wickremesinghe's side.

Meanwhile, Sirisena has sworn in three more Cabinet ministers, four state ministers and a deputy minister, this evening.

The president is keeping open government positions to lure Wickremesinghe lawmakers to join him and provide Rajapaksa with 113 seats to prove the new prime minister's majority.

Wickremesinghe maintains he still commands the majority and remains the legally appointed prime minister.

The ousted premier has already suffered five defections to Rajapaksa. PTI CORR PMS AKJ PMS

PMS
\R Rio de Janeiro, Nov 2 (AFP) Brazil will move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro has said, making the Latin American giant the largest country after the United States to make the controversial switch.

"As previously stated during our campaign, we intend to transfer the Brazilian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel is a sovereign state and we shall duly respect that," Bolsonaro tweeted Thursday, a move that will defy Palestinians and most of the world.

In interviews, Bolsonaro said Israel should have the right to decide where its capital is located, just as Brazil moved its capital from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1960.

Israel considers the entire city its capital, while the Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, with international consensus being that the status of the whole city must be negotiated between the two sides.

Israel occupied east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.

In December, President Donald Trump reversed longstanding US policy and recognised Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, prompting Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to boycott his administration.

The embassy was officially transferred on May 14. Guatemala and Paraguay followed suit, though the latter announced last month it would return its embassy to Tel Aviv.

Bolsonaro, 63, who won a run-off election on Sunday, has outraged many with his overtly misogynistic, homophobic and racist rhetoric.

Following his victory, Netanyahu told Bolsonaro he was certain his election "will lead to a great friendship between our peoples and the tightening of links between Brazil and Israel".

An official in Netanyahu's office told AFP the Israeli premier was "very likely" to attend Bolsonaro's inauguration ceremony in January.

Bolsonaro, meanwhile, plans to make Israel one of his first foreign trips as president, along with the United States and Chile -- countries that "share our worldview", according to the president-elect's future for chief of staff, Onyx Lorenzoni. (AFP)

HMB
Kheronibari (Assam), Nov 1 (PTI) Three members of a family were among five persons shot dead by suspected ULFA (Independent) while two others were injured at Kheroni in Assam's Tinsukia district Thursday night, police said.

A group of assailants with sophisticated weapons came to this village near Dhola-Sadiya bridge and called out five-six persons from their house around 8 pm, they said.

They then opened indiscriminate fire upon those people before fleeing under the cover of darkness, a police officer said.

Police suspect the gunmen belonged to the ULFA (Independent) faction as they were in battle fatigue.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal condemned "the killing of innocent people" and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families.

"Strong action will be taken against the perpetrators of this dastardly violence. We will not tolerate such cowardly act," he told PTI.

Sonowal said he has directed state ministers Keshav Mahanta and Tapan Gogoi along with DGP Kuladhar Saikia to rush to the spot.

"We will not spare the culprits of the killings and will be brought to book," he said.

The chief minister appealed to the people of Assam to maintain peace and harmony.

He also directed all deputy commissioners and SPs to remain alert. PTI CORR ACB ESB RBT ZMN
Srinagar, Nov 1 (PTI) Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, police said.

"Security forces launched an operation based on credible inputs about the presence of militants in Zagoo locality of Khansahib area in the district," a police official said.

He said during the operation, the militants fired on the search party, which was retaliated by the security forces.

"During the exchange of fire, two militants were neutralized. Their identities are being ascertained," the police official said.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, he said. PTI MIJ NSD
New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster Thursday said President Donald Trump's inability to participate as the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations next year was a "purely scheduling issue".

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 on January 26.

Asked if Trump declining India's invitation had something to do with India signing a deal with Russia on S-400 missile defence systems, Juster, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, said, "No, that is a purely scheduling issue."

Earlier this week, a White House spokesperson, when asked about Trump's decision, had said, "President Trump was honoured by Prime Minister Modi's invitation to him to be the chief guest of India's Republic Day on January 26, 2019, but is unable to participate due to scheduling constraints."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited Trump for a visit to India during their talks in Washington in June, 2017.

Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations.

In 2015, the then US president Barack Obama had attended it as the chief guest, which was his second visit to India as the American president.

On whether India will get a waiver from the US on Chabahar amid sanctions on Iran, Juster said, "These are matters that our two governments are discussing and we are working together on that." PTI ASK RC
New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI): These are the top stories from the northern region at 8.30 pm



DELHI DEL41 ENV-MEETING-LD ABSENT

New Delhi: Steps taken by states to control stubble burning "are far from satisfactory", Union minister Harsh Vardhan said Thursday as environment ministers of four states around Delhi, including Haryana and Punjab, where the practice is rampant, skipped a crucial meet to discuss measures to stop air pollution levels from deteriorating further.



NOIDA DES6 NCR-UP-POLLUTION

Noida (UP): The Uttar Pradesh government has asked the state's western districts, in and around the National Capital Region, to suspend all construction activities between November 1 and 10 and shut for a week industries using coal and biomass fuel to check pollution.



CHANDIGARH DES18 CH-KEJRIWAL-STUBBLE BURNING

Chandigarh: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Thursday said stubble burning in Punjab was the sole reason behind the rising pollution levels in the national capital as he slammed the Centre for failing to provide straw management machinery to the farmers.



LUCKNOW DES5 UP-RAM TEMPLE-APARNA

Lucknow: Joining the chorus for a Ram temple, Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav says she is in favour of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and has full faith in the judiciary.



LUCKNOW DES4 UP-BJP-ALLIANCE

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey on Thursday sought to belittle the efforts of opposition parties to stitch up an alliance with the SP and the BSP as key partners for the general elections next year, saying "days of caste equations are over".



SRINAGAR DEL14 JK-2NDLD ENCOUNTER

Srinagar: Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed and a soldier injured Thursday in an encounter with security forces in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.



CHANDIGARH DES34 PB-ARREST-TERROR

Chandigarh: Punjab police Thursday claimed to have busted a Pakistan-backed terrorist module operating in the state with the arrest of a person from Patiala.



CHANDIGARH NRG15 HR-ROADWAYS-STRIKE

Chandigarh: Haryana Roadways employees on Thursday extended their ongoing strike by another two days and announced a rally in Jind district on November 4.



DEHRADUN DES41 UKD-ANGANWADI-DM

Dehradun: Chamoli District Magistrate Swati S Bhadoria has set an example for others to follow by admitting her nearly two-year-old son in an Anganwadi centre at Gopeshwar village instead of an expensive city school.



AMRITSAR DES37 PB-BOOK-AKALIS

Amritsar: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) began a 48-hour dharna here on Thursday against the Congress government for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community by "denigrating" Sikh gurus in the newly published Class 12 history book of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB).



BANDA (UP) DES13 UP-SAND

Banda: Over 300 farmers Thursday started "Jal Satyagrah" to protest against sand mining in Ken river near Kolawal Raipur in Girwan area here in the Bundelkhand region.



LUCKNOW DES17 UP-SAFE CITY-WOMEN

Lucknow: The central government has approved a 'Safe City Project' for Lucknow at a total cost of Rs 194.44 crore under the Nirbhaya Fund Scheme with an aim to strengthen security of women in public places.



JAMMU DES15 JK-MUNICIPAL-AMENDMENT

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government has amended Municipal Laws, paving way for election of mayors of Srinagar and Jammu, and heads of local urban bodies (ULBs) through secret ballot.



PRI NAT NRG MOHALI NRG19 PB-VOHRA-LD LECTURE

Mohali: Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra Thursday expressed concern over "growing violent activities" of agitating groups, like the ones campaigning against cow slaughter.



IN THE PIPELINE

Shimla: Only 3,000 DNA tests are conducted against the requirement of at least four lakhs every year in India for crime solving, an expert said here Thursday.

PTI ASH

ASH
(Eds: Combines with related story, CBI probe in second HC case)

Lucknow, Nov 1 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court Thursday quashed the selection of over 12,000 teachers by the Uttar Pradesh government through an exam advertised in 2016 and directed the CBI to investigate another recruitment exercise begun earlier this year to fill 68,500 posts.

While the 12,460 assistant teachers were selected during the term of the Akhilesh Yadav government, the second order asking the CBI to step in is a major embarrassment for the Yogi Adityanath government.

Allegations of corruption have already stalled the filling of 68,500 posts in primary schools through the Assistant Teachers Recruitment Examination, 2018.

The exercise, which began with an advertisement on January 23, 2018, was meant to be the first major recruitment by the states basic education department after the new Bharatiya Janata Party took over.

The Lucknow bench of the court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to complete the probe within six months and submit a progress report to it on November 26.

The states Advocate General Raghvendra Singh had earlier said the UP government was not ready for a CBI inquiry, compelling the court to pass the order on its own.

Issuing directions on a bunch of writ petitions, Justice Irshad Ali directed that the officers who were part of the 2018 selection process would cooperate in the investigation and make available all the necessary documents required by the CBI.

The petitioners had made serious allegations related to this years exam, including the charge that answer books were switched.

Justice Ali said the court is prima facie satisfied that there is material evidence to establish that the examination authorities misused their power to give undue advantage to the candidates of their choice.

In the other case, the same bench found that the 12,460 assistant teachers were selected without following the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education (Teachers) Service Rules, 1981.

The selected candidates were not given appointment letters after the court put the process on hold.

The court directed that the selection process should begin afresh in 2016 case. It should be completed within three months, it said. PTI COR SMI ASH

ASH
Lucknow, Nov 1 (PTI) The central government has approved a 'Safe City Project' for Lucknow at a total cost of Rs 194.44 crore under the Nirbhaya Fund Scheme with an aim to strengthen security of women in public places.

The city will soon have integrated smart control room, exclusive women outposts, pink toilets, night patrols of women police and women help desks in all police stations with counsellors.

The project would be implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme with the centre and the state sharing the funding in 60:40 ratio, an official release said Thursday.

It was approved by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs as part of its plans to implement Safe City Projects in eight selected cities -- Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Lucknow -- under the Nirbhaya Fund Scheme.

The project is being implemented in consultation with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology, respective municipal and police commissioners of the cities besides civil society organisations, the release said.

Incidentally, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is a Lok Sabha member from Lucknow.

The other components of the project are augmentation of existing Asha Jyoti Kendra, implementing safety measures in buses, including installation of cameras, improving street lighting and integration of women power helpline with single Emergency number '112'.

The project also envisages gender sensitisation awareness campaigns and capacity building in collaboration with community and civil society organisations.

It will be implemented by Uttar Pradesh Police, assisted by the municipal bodies and city transport authorities, the release said. PTI SMI SNE

SNE
New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) The Delhi University will cite a 1943 letter written by an official in the government of British India to argue in the Supreme Court against construction of a highrise building on its north campus, varsity officials said Thursday.

The varsity in the apex court will oppose the construction of the 37-storey building on a public land sold to a private firm, they said.

The university has been opposing the construction on its north campus saying it will be in violation of the 2021 Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) and compromise with the safety of students.

The varsity had even approached the Delhi High Court earlier in this connection which dismissed the petition in 2015 saying the land was not part of the university's north campus.

The varsity again approached the high court this year challenging its order but the plea was dismissed as the court questioned the delay on DU's part.

According to a varsity official, Clause 11.3 of the 2021 Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) says, "Restrictions on tall buildings would be necessary in important areas like Lutyen's Bungalow Zone, Civil lines and North Delhi campus. In case of Urban Extension, areas for specific Urban Design projects and tall buildings should be identified."

The building is proposed to be constructed on a land which the DMRC sold to a private firm.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had bought the land from the Defence Ministry for Rs 42.4 crore, said a varsity official, adding a portion of the land, which was for public and was even acquired on public money was subsequently sold to a private builder for Rs 218 crore.

However, a varsity official said when they had petitioned in the high court, they did not have the copy of the 1943 letter written by the then joint secretary to the Government of India, the Department of Education, Health and Lands. The letter to the then chief commissioner of Delhi on October 25, 1943, stated that the university should be informed about any kind of construction activities.

The varsity is likely to file a petition in the apex court citing this letter.

The letter, a copy of which is with PTI, had also said that an area of approximately 582.44 acre should be considered to be the university enclave. The letter was written with a view to ensure that no "unseemly buildings are erected in the neighbourhood of the Delhi University and its colleges on the Old Viceregal Lodge Estate".

"The area of 81.78 acres should lie considered to be a protective belt and the Civil Station Notified Area Committee and the Delhi Improvement Trust (now DDA) should consult the university before building plans are approved by them in respect of land under their control and the president of the Delhi Municipal Committee should be asked to ensure that buildings erected on the land under the committee's control are of good type," the letter said.

It also said the Civil Station Notified Area Committee (now North Delhi Municipal Corporation) should inform the university of all applications for permission to construct additional buildings in the area of 25.78 acres (in the north of the proposed enclave) which is under private ownership, so that the university may have an opportunity of considering whether it may not desire to acquire the sites by purchase.

The Delhi Improvement Trust should inform the university of any scheme which the trust might contemplate for the development of the areas adjoining the enclave, the letter said.

Bipin Tiwary, the deputy dean, Works and OSD, Equal Opportunity Cell in the DU said, "We have presented the matter to the PMO and are hopeful that the prime minister will get the matter investigated.

"How can public land acquired for public purposes can be converted to private use for constructing the tallest building in an area which is under zone C, where such construction is prohibited. Also as per the letter, the university's consent should be taken. How can the DDA, the DMRC, UD, MCD flout the regulations? We demand an independent enquiry to protect the public interest at large," he said. PTI SLB DPB
New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 20 kgs of smuggled gold valued at Rs 6.4 crore, in two separate operations carried out here, according to an official statement issued Thursday.

In an operation conducted Wednesday, the DRI officers intercepted two passengers, who had arrived in the national capital by train from West Bengal, and seized 10 kgs of foreign marked smuggled gold having a market value of Rs 3.13 crore from them, it said.

The gold had been smuggled into India from Bhutan and was being transported to Delhi, the statement issued by the DRI said.

In another operation conducted the same day, officers of DRI intercepted three passengers arriving by train from West Bengal and seized 10.2 kgs of foreign marked smuggled gold having a market value of Rs 3.26 crores from them.

The modus operandi was similar in both the cases. "The gold was concealed in specially designed cloth belts worn by the passengers," it said.

In one instance, two gold bars weighing 1 kg each were concealed in the shoes of one of the passengers, the probe agency said.

The seized gold had been smuggled into India via the land border with neighbouring countries and was being transported to Delhi for sale during the ongoing festive season, it said.

All five passengers are Bhutanese nationals and have been arrested, the DRI said.

There has been a spurt in the number of seizures by DRI of gold being smuggled into India from China, Myanmar and Bhutan via the land border, it said.

Such smuggling of gold into India is expected to peak during the festive season due to increased domestic demand and high differential between the price of gold in India and the source countries, the DRI said. PTI AKV TIR
New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a team to enquire into the death of seven elephants which were electrocuted after coming in contact with a live wire near Kamalanga village in Odisha's Dhenkanal district.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel constituted a team comprising representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun, director of Project Elephant and chief wildlife warden in Odisha.

The team will visit the site and suggest measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future, due to electrocution or other causes which can be applicable to wildlife areas in the entire country, the NGT said.

"The representative of Ministry of Environment, Forests will be the coordinator. The visit may be undertaken within two weeks from today" the bench, also comprising Justice S P Wangdi, said in its October 30 order.

The green panel directed the Central Electricity Supply Utility of Odisha (CESU) to deposit Rs 1 crore with the chief wildlife warden of the state within a week and asked it to submit its stand in the case to the MoEF.

The tribunal said the incident "prima facie" shows apathy to the wildlife by CESU as 42 elephants have died of electrocution due to sagging live wires and at least 18 were killed in Dhenkanal division since April 2010 as per a news report, titled "Hanging live wire kills 7 jumbos in Odisha".

It appointed advocate Amit A Pai to assist the tribunal in the matter and posted the matter for consideration of the report on December 20.

The tribunal passed the order after taking note of the news report.

The article said that according to the Forest Department, electrocution occurred on account of negligence of CESU.

Seven elephants were electrocuted after coming in contact with a live wire near Kamalanga village on October 27.

A herd of 13 jumbos was passing through the village in Sadar Forest Range and seven of them came in contact with an 11-KV line.

The carcasses of seven pachyderms, including a tusker and five females, were spotted in the morning by villagers who informed forest officials.

While three carcasses were lying on a road, four others were inside a canal.

The incident happened apparently because of sagging electric wire, the forest officials said. PTI PKS PKS SNE

SNE
(Eds: Adding details of court proceedings)

New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) The Delhi High Court on Thursday extended till November 14 its order directing the CBI to maintain status quo on proceedings against Special Director Rakesh Asthana, allegedly involved in a bribery case even as the agency said that the complaint against him and others "clearly discloses the cognisable offences".

"The interim order to continue till the next date of hearing, that is, November 14," said Justice Najmi Waziri before whom the CBI opposed Asthana's plea seeking quashing of the FIR, stating that there was incriminating material against the special director in the case, the investigation of which was at the nascent stage.

In reply to the petitions by Asthana and Deputy SP Devender Kumar who was on Wednesday granted bail by a trial court, the CBI said it was "handicapped" in its probe against them as the case files and documents have been sent to the CVC for scrutiny following the Supreme Court's order directing the vigilance body to complete an inquiry against CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma by November 12.

Kumar, earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of businessman Sathish Babu Sana who had alleged to have paid bribe to get relief in the case.

The CBI, Asthana, Kumar and the Centre opposed in the high court the plea of Additional Superintendent of Police S S Gurm to be heard in the matter. Gurm has been transferred from Delhi to Jabalpur in the wake of a feud between Verma and Asthana.

The court was hearing separate pleas of Asthana and Kumar seeking quashing of CBI's FIR against them in the bribery case.

The proceedings also witnessed a controversy when there was a verbal spat between two advocates as to who will represent the Central Bureau of Investigation in the matter.

Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee, who came for the first time since the matter came up for hearing in the high court on October 23, said he has been instructed to appear for the CBI.

Advocate K Raghavacharyulu, who has been appearing for the CBI, opposed the appearance of Banerjee, contending that he has been appointed by the agency to represent it from the beginning when the petition was filed by Asthana.

"I have been appointed as the special public prosecutor in the case," Raghavacharyulu submitted before the court which did not comment on the issue.

Later, Banerjee said he will seek instructions from the competent authority and make it clear for the high court as to who among the two will appear on behalf of the probe agency.

When the judge, after some time, took up the similar quashing petition of middleman Manoj Prasad, the ASG was not present in the hearing which invited the attention of the court.

When the court asked where was the ASG, Raghavacharyulu said his instruction was that he has to represent the agency.

The court interjected and said, "He (ASG) is also the counsel. If he has instructions to appear in this court, he will appear. Anyway, if he is not here, you (Raghavacharyulu) proceed."

During the hearing, the SPP said they have complied with the court's order and filed responses to the pleas of Asthana and Kumar.

Advocate Sunil Fernandes, appearing for Gurm, said he was the officer who lodged the FIR and there were certain material facts which he wanted to bring on record as they were concealed by Asthana.

His application to be impleaded as a party in the matter was opposed by the counsel of CBI, Centre, Asthana and Kumar who said Gurm has no locus standi to be heard here.

ASG Banerjee urged the court not to pass any order on it at this stage and he would seek instruction on it.

Senior advocate Amrendra Sharan, appearing for Asthana, requested the court not to issue formal notice on Gurm's plea and it should first hear them.

To this, Fernandes said there was unanimity on both sides so there was all the more reason for the court to hear his plea.

The court said it would hear on November 14, the pleas of Asthana, Kumar and Prasad and also the application of Gurm.

On Prasad's plea, the court said it was not persuaded to issue notice at this stage and made it clear that there was no stay on anything, including ongoing investigation.

The high court on October 23 had ordered the CBI to maintain status quo on proceedings against Asthana which was further extended on October 29 till today.

The October 23 order had made it clear that the agency would not take any coercive step against Asthana.

In the reply, the CBI said, "This court categorically held that when an FIR is challenged by way of a writ petition, more particularly, in Prevention of Corruption Cases, allegations in the FIR are to be seen whether they disclose the cognisable offence or not and the roving enquiry at this stage is impermissible."

"It is submitted that the FIR and the complaint clearly discloses the cognisable offences and accordingly the CBI has registered the FIR and proceeded with the investigation."

The agency told the high court that there cannot be a roving enquiry now as the probe was at the nascent stage and several incriminating documents and role of other persons was under investigation.

"It is submitted that the investigation is at nascent stage. Being at this threshold, it may not be in the interest of the investigation to disclose various aspects or revelations or unearthed events," it said. PTI SKV HMP RKS SA
New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Thursday declined an urgent hearing on a plea by senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram, who is facing several criminal cases, seeking its permission to go abroad.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, who had made it clear on his first day in office on October 3 that urgent mentioning of cases will not be allowed unless they pertain to matters like hanging or eviction, again refused most of such pleas of lawyers on Thursday.

The CJI declined the request of a lawyer seeking urgent hearing on the plea of Karti saying, "Karti Chidambaram going abroad is not so important that it will get precedence over other (cases)."

The bench, also comprising justices U U Lalit and K M Jospeh, then referred to the work-load of apex court judges and said , "All judges have more work than they can handle. They have 20 hours of homework."

When the lawyer for Karti insisted, the CJI said, "Going out of India is not an important matter to be taken up tomorrow. Ask him (Karti) to stay in India."

Earlier, the apex court had accorded urgent hearing to Karti several times on his pleas seeking permission to go abroad.

The top court had allowed Karti Chidambaram to travel to the UK between September 20 and September 30, despite the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) objection that he has been "blatantly misusing" the liberty granted to him by the court to protract the investigation in the case.

The ED had said the liberty granted to Karti Chidambaram by the apex court is "blatantly and brazenly hampering, subverting, jeopardising and protracting" the probe pending against him in the Aircel Maxis case, which the agency has to complete in six months.

Prior to this, the apex court had allowed Karti to visit the UK, France and the US from July 23 to 31, while making it clear that he has to abide by the conditions imposed by it in an earlier similar order.

Karti Chidambaram has been facing several criminal cases including in connection with the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance in the INX-Media case.

In the INX Media case, the CBI had registered an FIR on May 15 last year against alleged irregularities in the FIPB clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when P Chidambaram was the Union finance minister. PTI SJK ABA MNL RKS RT
New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Thursday declined urgent hearing on a plea by senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram, who is facing several criminal cases, seeking its permission to go abroad.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said the issue of Karti Chidambaram visiting abroad is not an "important matter" requiring urgent hearing.

"Karti Chidambaram going abroad is not so important that it will get precedent over other (cases)," the bench, also comprising Justices U U Lalit and K M Jospeh said.

Declining urgent hearing, the top court observed that judges have more cases "than they can handle".

Karti Chidambaram has been facing several criminal cases including the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance in the INX-Media case.

In the INX Media case, the CBI had registered an FIR on May 15 last year against alleged irregularities in the FIPB clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when Chidambaram was finance minister. PTI SJK URD LLP NSD
New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) The Delhi High Court on Thursday suggested incorporating recommendations, like using OTP authentication instead of biometric, given by two amicus curiae to plug a "loophole" in the Aadhaar verification system that had been misused by a mobile shop owner to issue fresh SIM cards in the name of unwary customers for use in fraudulent activities.

The shop owner, during Aadhaar verification of a SIM, used to make the customer give his thumb impression twice by saying it was not properly obtained the first time and the second round of authentication was then used to issue a fresh connection which was handed over to some third party, the high court had earlier noted while initiating a PIL on the issue.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice I S Mehta, on Thursday, took on record the report submitted by senior advocate Dayan Krishnan and advocate Rushab Aggarwal who were appointed as amicus in the case to assist the court.

The bench also asked the Centre, Delhi government and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to file their response to the report and listed the matter for hearing on February 12.

"We feel it (suggestions) should be incorporated," the bench said.

In their joint report, the two lawyers have said that OTP authentication should be the preferred method instead of using biometrics where "security concerns are more pronounced" and "loopholes are easily accessible".

They said that biometrics should be only requested where it is essential.

The report also said there should be a "cooling off period" between authentications, "to ensure that if multiple authentications take place in quick succession the UIDAI systems would not respond, and thus effectively blocking loopholes as is highlighted in the instant case".

The other suggestions proposed in the report were that FIRs in such cases should be forwarded by the investigating agencies to UIDAI so that it has information of these loopholes and can create methods to address them.

The UIDAI should also file a complaint under the Aadhaar Act to ensure prosecution to the fullest extent of the persons who carry out such activities, the report said.

The two lawyers have also suggested that "incidents of this nature must be given wide publicity through both the UIDAI and the investigating agency as the scope/ nature of the breach cannot be adequately assessed without all concerned parties being put to notice.

"This would enable the general public to assess whether they were also victims and to take remedial action if necessary."

The report also recommended holding awareness programmes "to ensure that the public at large was aware of the sensitive nature of the data being provided, the potential for its misuse and how to protect itself from the same".

The loophole in question was first noticed by a single judge of the high court while hearing the bail application moved by the shop owner in a cheating case lodged against him.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva had noted that the "loophole can not only have disastrous consequences for the said individual but also raises serious law and order issues and could have serious repercussions on the safety and security of the nation".

Noting the scope of misuse of the sensitive personal data, the judge had on September 5 forwarded the matter to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court to consider taking up the issue as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

Justice Sachdeva, on September 17, dismissed the mobile shop owner's bail plea.

The bench headed by the Chief Justice had initiated the PIL on September 12. PTI HMP SKV RT
Campaigning for Nov 3 Karna bypolls comes to an end

Bengaluru, Nov 1 (PTI) Campaigning for the November 3

bypolls to three Lok Sabha and two assembly constituencies in

Karnataka came to an end Thursday, with a BJP candidate

pulling out of the contest and returning to the Congress.

In a major embarrassment for the BJP, two days before

the Ramanagara assembly bypoll, its candidate against Chief

Minister H D Kumaraswamy's wife quit the contest on Thursday

and returned to the Congress.

With BJP's L Chandrashekhar withdrawing his

candidature, Kumaraswamy's wife Anita Kumaraswamy, is expected

to have a smooth sail facing a virtual no-contest.

Bypolls for three Lok Sabha constituencies-Shivamogga,

Ballari and Mandya and two assembly constituencies- Ramanagara

and Jamkhandi, will take place Saturday.

Counting of votes will be on November 6.

Congress and JD(S) that are ruling coalition

partnersin Karnataka have decided to fight the bypolls

unitedlyagainst the BJP.

Congress has fielded its candidates in Jamkhandi and

Ballari and JD(S) in Shivamogga, Ramanagara and Mandya.

While Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy remained away

from campaigning on the last day as he had take part in the

"Karnataka Rajyotsava", state formation day celebrations, in

Bengaluru, most leaders from different political parties made

a last attempt to woo the voters.

Former chief ministers Siddaramaiah and Jagadish

Shettar campaigned in Jamkhandi for Congress candidate Anand

Nyamagowda and BJP candidate Srikant Kulkarni respectively.

State BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa campaigned for his

son and party candidate B Y Raghavendra who is pitted against

another former chief minister S Bangarappa's son Madhu

Bangarappa ofthe JD(S).

While senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar

campaignedfor party candidate V S Ugrappa, considered an

outsider for Ballari, BJP's Sriramulu sought votes for his

sister JShantha.

JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister was in the

party's bastion of Mandya Thursday to campaign for Shivarame

Gowda, who is pitted against a fresh face Dr Siddaramaiah, a

retired Commercial Tax officer from the BJP.

However, in a twist to the poll campaign on

the last day in Ramanagara, BJP candidate LChandrashekhar

withdrew his candidature.

Announcing his decision to return to his "mother

party," the Congress, Chandrashekhar accused BJP and its

leaders of "abandoning" him after giving him the ticket.

The development just ahead of polls is being seen as

senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar and his brother D K

Suresh's response to the BJP's alleged attempts to weaken the

coalition government by trying to "poach" Congress MLAs.

Upset and embarrassed BJP workers staged a protest in

Ramanagara and vented their anger against Chandrashekhar.

Chandrashekhar, son of a senior Congress leader C M

Lingappa, had joined BJP as the Congress decided to support

the candidate of its ruling coalition partner, JD(S).

Within days after joining the BJP, he was announced

as the party's candidate.

During campaigning in the last couple of weeks

openexpression of displeasure by congress workers was seen in

the Vokkaliga bastion of Ramanagara and Mandya constituencies

that come under old Mysuru region, as a large section of

localparty leaders and workers are opposed to their party

decisionto support JD(S) candidate in both segments.

Congress and JD(S) that had fought bitterly against

each other in the assembly polls, especially in the old

Mysururegion, decided to join hands to form a government as

the May 12 assembly polls threw up a hung verdict.

There are 31 candidates in the fray.

By-elections have been necessitated after BJP's B S

Yeddyurappa (Shivamogga) and B Sriramalu (Ballari), and C S

Puttaraju of JD(S) (Mandya) resigned as MPs on their election

to the assembly in May this year.

Bypolls to Jamkhandi assembly seat was caused by the

death of Congress MLA Siddu Nyamagouda, while Ramanagara fell

vacant after Kumaraswamy gave up the seat preferring

Chennapatna, the other constituency from where he had won.

PTI KSU BN

BN BN
BJP to step up protests, CM warns of action against those

trying to create communal divide in police

(Eds: Updates with arrest of BJP leaders)

Thiruvananthapuram/Kochi Nov 1 (PTI) Kerala Chief

Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Thursday cautioned against alleged

attempts by some people with vested interests to create

"communal divide" in the state police force, even as BJP and

various Hindu outfits decided to intensify protests against

the left government on the Sabarimala women entry issue.

Addressing police personnel at a function here to mark

the formation day of state police, he said certain people were

trying to attack and isolate efficient officials in the force

in the name of religion and caste.

Vijayan was apparently referring to the cyber attack

against senior IPS officers, Manoj Abraham and S Sreejith, who

had coordinated security arrangements in and around Sabarimala

as part of implementing the Supreme Court verdict allowing

entry of women of all ages into the Lord Ayyappa Temple.

"Certain people with vested interests are trying to

create communal divide in the police force. The government is

viewing such attempts with utmost seriousness and will take

stringent action against such trends," Vijayan said.

According to police, cases have been registered

against 13 people who were allegedly involved in the cyber

attack against Abraham.

Police Thursday night arrested BJP leader B

Gopalakrishnan, recently booked for allegedly using abusive

language against Abraham while addressing party workers as

part of the stir against the government's decision to

implement the apex court verdict.

Besides him, four other district leaders of the party

were arrested. All the five were later released on bail.

Meanwhile, BJP and various Hindu outfits Thursday

decided to intensify protests against the left government's

move to implement the supreme court order permitting women of

all age groups into the hill shrine.

BJP alleged the CPI(M), armed with the verdict, was

trying to persuade its women cadres to visit the shrine to

break its centuries' old customs when the temple doors open

for the pilgrimage season commencing this month.

BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai alleged that

the LDF government was trying to destroy the Sabarimala

temple, "by falsely propagating that it has turned into a

centre of conflict post the verdict.

Atheists have declared a war against devotees of Lord

Ayyappa," he said after the BJP's leadership meet in Kochi.

Accusing the state government of trying to "destroy

the uniqueness" of the shrine where customs prevent women in

the age group of 10 and 50 from offering prayers, Pillai said

BJP workers would take a "re-dedication pledge" in all

assembly constituencies Friday to protect the traditions of

the temple and 'Save Sabarimala.'

The party discussed its future course of action on

Sabarimala issue at its leadership meet Thursday.

Pillai said a BJP convention, being organised in

Kottayam Saturday, would declare the party's movement against

the state government's stand on the issue.

BJP would strongly stand with the devotees to protect

their faith when the temple doors open for a special pooja on

November 5 and 6, he said.

The party-led NDA would hold a 'rathyatra' from

Kasaragod to Sabarimala from November 8 to 13 to save "customs

and traditions" of the temple.

The rathyatra would be led by BJP president Sreedharan

Pillai and Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) leader Thushar

Vellappally to gather support of the people including those

from all religions to protect the faith, the BJP leader said.

"We will seek support of all religions for our

movement against the government during our yatra," he said.

At Kottayam, a meeting of Sabarimala Karma Samiti,

comprising representatives of various Hindu outfits, including

VHP and Hindu Aikyavedi, decided to strengthen their movement

against the state government over the Sabarimala issue.

The 'Save Sabarimala' meeting organised by the Samiti

was attended by leaders of various Hindu outfits and a member

of the Pandalam royal family associated with the shrine.

Inaugurating the meeting, Swami Chidanandapuri of

Kolathur Advaita Ashram alleged that the left government was

"crushing the Hindu faith" in the state in the name of

the apex court verdict.

The meeting decided to organise 'namajapa ghosham'

(chanting of Ayyappa mantra) in all temples when the

Sabarimala temple opens for special pooja Monday.

Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court refused to entertain

a plea seeking to maintain status quo on the issue of entry

of women of menstrual age group into Sabarimala.

A division bench of Justices P R Ramachandra Menon and

Devan Ramachandran observed the petitioner can approach the

Supreme Court if any clarification is required on the matter.

Kerala had witnessed widespread protests by devotees

after the state government made it clear that it was bound to

implement the top court's verdict on entry of women of all

ages into the shrine.

The shrine had witnessed high drama after around a

dozen women in the 10-50 age group were prevented by

protesting devotees from entering it after the temple doors

were opened for monthly pujas between October 17 and 22. PTI

LGK RRT TGB COR BN

VS VS
YSRC chief writes to guv over probe into attack on him

Hyderabad, Nov 1 (PTI) YSR Congress president Y S

Jaganmohan Reddy Thursday raised concerns over the Police

probe into the recent attack on him and sought Governor ESL

Narasimhan's intervention to transfer the case to an agency

not under the control of the Andhra Pradesh government.

In a letter to Narasimhan, Reddy claimed that there were

serious concerns that the police probing the case was being

"motivated and driven" by the state government to suit its

needs.

YSR Congress leaders met the Governor at the Raj Bhavan

here and submitted a representation, a party release said.

The YSR congress leader was injured when he was attacked

by a man with a small knife at the airport lounge in

Visakhapatnam. The police in its remand report in a court had

said it was an attempt to murder Reddy.

Terming the incident as 'drama' enacted by the BJP-led

NDA government at the centre and the Telangana Rashtra

Samithi, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had hit out at

them for "conspiring" against his government and trying to

destabilise the state.

Reddy in his letter, a copy of which was released to the

media by his party, said: In light of the serious concerns

raised in relation to the present investigating agency being

motivated and driven by the state government to suit their

needs, I request your immediate intervention in the matter.

The YSR Congress chief requested that directions be

given for entrusting the probe to an investigating agency not

under the control of the state government.

"This would ensure that the investigation would not be

vitiated, the real reasons behind the attack on me would be

unearthed and the perpetrators brought to justice, Reddy

said. PTI SJR

VS VS
Ghaziabad, Nov 1 (PTI) A man was arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend after she threatened to expose their relationship to his wife, police said Thursday.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (City) Dharmendra Chauhan said the mother of the woman had on October 19 filed a complaint regarding the disappearance her daughter at Kotwali G T Road police station here.

After a detailed investigation, a man, identified as Deepak, of Garhi Katiyya village of the Loni area here was arrested from his house Wednesday, he said.

Deepak, while confessing to the crime, said he had met the woman at a discotheque and became friends with her, the SP said.

After a few days the girl began demanding money from him and threatened she will expose their relationship to his wife if he failed to do so, Chauhan said.

Deepak planned to eliminate her and took her to Mangalore town near Haridwar in Uttarakhand on September 29. He strangled her and threw the body in a canal, he said.

The body was recovered next day by the Uttarakhand Police from the canal after some passersby informed it, the SP said.

Following his arrest, Deepak has been been sent to jail, Chauhan said. AQS

AQS
Guwahati, Nov 1 (PTI) Assam Health and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday expressed shock over the "brutal killing" of five people by suspected ULFA (Independent) gunmen in the state's Tinsukia district.

Three members of a family were among the five killed while two others were injured in the firing at Kheroni on Thursday night, police said.

The group of assailants, which was armed with sophisticated weapons, fled under the cover of darkness after firing indiscriminately at these people, they said.

"Shocked at the brutal killing of 5 people in Dhola's Kherbari of Tinsukia. I strongly condemn this cowardly act," Sarma tweeted.

"My condolences to bereaved families of victims Ananta Biswas, Abhinash Biswas, Shyamlal Biswas, Subol Das & Dhananjay Namasudra. Perpetrators shall not be spared," he said.

Several students unions and youth organisations including the All Assam Students Union (AASU), Tai Ahom Chatra Santha, also condemned the killings and urged people to not be swayed by communal forces and to stay united.

AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi blamed Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal-led BJP government for allegedly "failing to take preventive measures despite intelligence reports about possible violence".

BJP's Assam unit spokesperson Numal Momin said such violence against innocent people cannot solve any problem and appealed to all to maintain peace.

Meanwhile, the Sadou Asom Bengali Yuba Chatra Federation called for a 24-hour Tinsukia bandh from 5 am on Friday to protest the killings. PTI ESB DIV

DIV
New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) A 46-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly killing another after a scuffle broke out between them at a petrol pump in Dwarka's Chhawla area, police said Thursday.

The accused, identified as Sushil, was arrested Wednesday, they said, adding that the incident took place on the night of October 24.

During investigation, it was found that the victim, identified as Sanjay (38), had a quarrel with the accused at the pump over getting fuel filled in their vehicles. The two then had a fight, Girraj Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), said.

Sanjay was later found lying unconscious at the spot while the accused had fled, he said.

He was then rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead, he said.

Police initially could not ascertain the identity of the accused, Singh added.

Later, the manager of the petrol pump got a call from a person named Ramesh Dalal, a resident of Bahadurgarh, who enquired about the incident. The manager then alerted police, following which officials reached Dalal's residence but he was not there, he said.

It was learnt that Dalal is a relative of the accused, the officer said.

Subsequently, Sushil was arrested, he added. PTI AMP IJT
New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) A man and two others have been arrested for allegedly killing his wife -- a 38-year-old school teacher -- in northwest Delhi's Bawana area, police said Thursday.

The accused were identified as Manjeet (38), husband of the deceased, his girlfriend Angel Gupta alias Shashi Prabha (26) and Rajeev (40), they added.

Manjeet was in a relationship with Angel and his wife, Sunita, objected to it, so they conspired to eliminate her, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Rajneesh Gupta said.

Sunita was shot dead on Monday morning by unknown assailants while she was on the way to her school. She was shot thrice and was declared brought dead at the hospital, police said.

She is survived by a 16-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son, they said.

A manhunt is underway to nab the persons who were hired for the murder, Gupta said. PTI NIT DIV

DIV
Delight: Glaxo boss Emma Walmsley

Booming demand for Glaxosmithkline's new shingles vaccine boosted sales to more than 8 billion in just three months.

The British drug maker said Shingrix, launched earlier this year, smashed expectations and was expected to bring in full-year sales worth up to 750m.

This was 100m more than Glaxo's previous top forecast.

It lifted the company's overall sales to 8.1 billion for the three months to September 30, up 3.2 per cent on the same period last year.

A third of adults suffer from shingles and the drug is especially effective for elderly people.

Chief executive Emma Walmsley said: 'We are obviously absolutely delighted with the progress this launch has made. Demand is very strong and we are working extremely hard to improve our capacity for supply. This is a truly differentiated vaccine, that makes a big difference in terms of the protections of patients. We expect it to be a contributor to growth for some time.'

Elsewhere, Walmsley highlighted potentially revolutionary HIV drugs could soon replace daily pills with a monthly jab, if they get the nod from regulators.
BHP sold its US onshore oil and shale gas assets in July

MINING BONANZA Shareholders in BHP Billiton were feeling flush as the mining giant promised to return 8billion to them.

Half would come through buying back investors shares, while 4billionn would be through a dividend in January.

It comes after BHP sold its US onshore oil and shale gas assets in July.

It has returned 16billion to shareholders over the last two years. Shares climbed 3 per cent, or 46.6p, to 1609p yesterday.

DIGITAL SWOOP Events company Ascential has bought Flywheel Digital, which offers software and tools to help companies selling on Amazon boost their sales.

It will pay 46million for the US firm, but depending on performance could pay between 36million and 151million more over the next three years.

Shares in Ascential rose 6.8 per cent, or 25.6p, to 402.4p.

HEDGE STAKE A New York-based hedge fund has taken a stake in Deutsche Bank as the German lender tries to revive its flagging fortunes.

Hudson Executive Capital, run by former JP Morgan finance chief Douglas Braunstein, now has a 3.1 per cent stake.

ELECTRIC TEAM Car maker Volvo has partnered with Chinese tech giant Baidu to make self-driving electric vehicles as manufacturers scramble to strike deals to widen access in the lucrative Chinese market, where demand is growing.

FAIRNESS CODE Discount chain B&M and online supermarket Ocado will be required to treat grocery suppliers fairly under Government rules.

The two are now subject to the Groceries Supply code of practice because their annual turnover exceeds 1billion, meaning they are governed by the same rules as the big four supermarkets  Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda and Morrisons.

SERVICE DEAL Petrol station owner Applegreen has completed its purchase of Welcome Break. It paid 7.6million for a 50 per cent stake in the service station operator.

TWO APPOINTED Pet care retailer Pets at Home has appointed former Bestway Retail managing director David Robinson as its chief operating officer of retail.

It has also recruited Jane Balmain as interim chief executive of veterinary practice First Opinion.

FISH BONANZA Food packer Hilton Food Group reported a pick-up in sales in the second half of the year, due to its purchase of fish supplier Seachill.
Former Goldman Sachs bankers Tim Leissner and Roger Ng are accused of diverting 3.5bn from 1Malaysia Development Berhad

Two former Goldman Sachs bankers were last night charged in the US with laundering billions of dollars from a Malaysian state fund.

Tim Leissner and Roger Ng are accused of diverting 3.5billion from 1Malaysia Development Berhad and using it to buy luxury property, art, a yacht and even to invest in films such as The Wolf of Wall Street.

Ng, 51, was arrested in Malaysia yesterday, US officials said. He is said to have flouted accounting rules while working under Leissner, a former Southeast Asia chairman at Goldman.

Officials said Leissner, 48, had pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money and other offences. He has agreed to give up nearly 34million.

An estimated 3.5billion was misappropriated from the fund by officials and their associates between 2009 and 2014, say US justice officials.

Separately, Goldman has reportedly placed its former co-head of Asia investment banking, Andrea Vella, on leave pending a review of the case.
Assurances from Carpetright that its turnaround is on track have done little to shore up investor confidence.

Shares slipped 2.1 per cent, or 0.4p, to 18.5p as the flooring company said it continued losing money in the six months ending October 27.

The troubled retailer has been axing stores to stem heavy losses. For the year to April 28, Carpetright posted a loss of 70.5million.

This disruption heavily affected trading, though it added it had expected this and that there was improvement in its performance after the shake-up. Chief executive Wilf Walsh said: This is a transitional year as we work through our restructuring plan.

Carpetright shares slipped 2.1 per cent, or 0.4p, to 18.5p as the flooring company said it continued losing money in the six months ending October 27

This activity is firmly on track and has started to yield benefits.

After nearing collapse earlier this year, Carpetright decided many of its shops were too expensive or too large to run.

It has closed 67 over the last six months  65 in the UK and two in Europe  and expects to shut another six before the end of December.

It still expects to make the 19million of annual savings it has promised and will also lose its independent director Andrew Page, who will stand down from the board at the end of December to focus on other commitments.

A former chief executive of The Restaurant Group, he has come under fire for holding too many board positions.

Stock Watch - 4imprint 4imprint, which sells promotional products such as branded mugs for corporate events, has reaped the rewards of its advertising, according to analysts. The business has upped its spend on TV and radio ads, and announced yesterday that its full-year revenues would be at the top end of market expectations. Targeting revenue of 770million by the end of 2022, it said it is on track to hit this goal. Last year it pulled in 483million. Shares rose 12.7 per cent , or 230p, to 2040p.

Activist investor Crystal Amber, which owns 6.3 per cent of Northgate, where he is chairman, has previously criticised Page for his lack of strategic leadership and called for him to stand down.

On the FTSE 100, shares in Just Eat surged 6.3 per cent, or 38.4p, to 646p as the takeaway firm set its sights on an expansion in Latin America. It also reported a 16 per cent rise in British orders to 30.3m in the three months to September 30, with group orders around the world climbing 27 per cent to 54.7m. Sales rose 41 per cent to 195.3million.

However, investments in Brazil and Mexico will push 2018 profits to the lower end of the 165million to 185million range.

Analysts at Liberum concluded that the strategy of investing was the right one. But Peel Hunt earlier this week advised investors to sell Just Eat shares, saying that stiff competition from the likes of Uber Eats and Deliveroo could kill the business.

Smith & Nephew, the FSTE 100 medical equipment manufacturer, also received a thumbs-up from investors as it announced revenue for the third quarter of the year was up 2 per cent to 901.1million.

Shares jumped 6.6 per cent, or 83.5p, to 1357p as growth proved particularly strong in the US and emerging markets.

The UK remained challenging, Smith & Nephew added, but it wasnt unduly worried about Brexit. Housebuilders climbed on reports that the Government could be close to a Brexit deal.

Investors had feared that leaving the EU with no deal could hit the economy, causing the market to slump.

On the FTSE 100, Barratt Development edged up 3.1pc, or 15.8p, to 529.8p, Persimmon by 3 per cent, or 69p, to 2363p, Taylor Wimpey by 2.9 per cent, or 4.75p, to 166.25p and Berkeley by 2.3 per cent, or 79p, to 3580p.

But none of these gains was enough to haul the FTSE 100 into the black, as it ended down 0.19 per cent, or 13.44 points, at 7114.66.

On the FTSE 250, Indivior, which creates drugs to treat heroin addiction, said profits fell 12 per cent in the first nine months of the year to 208.5million.

It has been squeezed by late roll-outs of new drugs, and competition from rivals which it alleges are infringing its patents.

But investors, already warned of the poor results, seemed willing to take a punt as shares climbed 2 per cent, or 3.8p, to 192.1p.
Patisserie Valerie boss Luke Johnson was accused of being 'arrogant' and not listening to the concerns of ordinary shareholders

Patisserie Valerie boss Luke Johnson has been lambasted by angry shareholders at a crunch meeting to save the stricken cafe chain from collapse.

More than 99 per cent of investors in parent firm Patisserie Holdings voted in favour of a 15.7million share placing to secure its future.

But they lashed out at management accusing directors of 'holding a gun to our heads' in the wake of an accounting scandal that has brought the company to its knees.

At a meeting in London, Johnson was accused of not listening to the concerns of ordinary shareholders or answering their questions.

In one heated exchange with the 56-year-old tycoon, shareholder Angus Forbes, a former fund manager, said: 'Don't talk over me sir, you are in the dock, I have the floor.'

Kristof Neys, also an individual shareholder, said of Johnson's performance: 'He's quite arrogant.'

Johnson, who is executive chairman of Patisserie Holdings and its largest shareholder, said the chain was three hours away from bankruptcy when he plunged 20million into the firm last month.

He will get 10million back once the 15.7million worth of shares have been issued, with the remaining 10million on loan to the company interest-free for three years.

But investors were angered by proposals which they said will dilute the value of their own shares.

The shares will be sold for 50p each, compared with 433p before trading was suspended. Johnson told shareholders: 'At the time we decided on this resolution we were three hours from going to bankruptcy and this was agreed to be the best solution.

'Quite a few companies in our situation aren't saved, they go into administration.'

In a stock exchange announcement two hours before the meeting, the group said that it would not be providing any new information.

The Serious Fraud Office is investigating potential fraud at Patisserie Holdings which has seen the arrest and subsequent resignation of finance director Chris Marsh.

Storm in a cake shop 'We were three hours from going into bankruptcy' Luke Johnson, Patisserie Valerie 'Don't talk over me sir, you are in the dock, I have the floor' Angus Forbes, shareholder 'We've got a gun to our heads. What's going on?' Chris Boxall, fund manager 'I didn't feel any questions were answered' Heather Goddard, shareholder

Stock market filings reveal that Marsh and chief executive Paul May received twice as many share options as expected, which allowed them to cash in a combined 4.6million.

Johnson refused to disclose whether it had appointed lawyers to look into the share options.

Many smaller shareholders left the meeting feeling their questions were unanswered. Heather Goddard, an individual shareholder, said: 'I felt when Johnson came in and started the meeting saying 99 per cent of the votes in by proxy were in support of them, what he was saying to me was, 'You don't count.'

She added: 'When I asked him why there was there a gun to our head for this deadline he didn't provide me with an answer I understood.'

Forbes, 53, added: 'This decision is not right, it's immoral. I have shares in a company that has been subject to fraud, bad management, and malgovernance.'

Chris Boxall, co-founder of Fundamental Asset Management, which invests in Patisserie Holdings, said: 'We've got a gun to our heads  but we really want to know what's going on.' He added: 'I know the bakery business well, I was an auditor of one, they're easy to understand.

'What I don't understand is how we still don't know any more than we did three weeks ago.'

Roger Lawson, another investor, said: 'There was no good reason not to answer those questions as they could not possibly prejudice the investigations by the legal authorities.

'This is an abuse of company law and I will be making a complaint about it.'

Johnson has been criticised for presiding over the scandal while having more than 40 directorships at other companies. He is understood to have stepped down from four board roles since the troubles emerged.

He is also chairman of the remuneration and audit committees, prompting calls for him to step down over conflict of interest.
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Plains GP Holdings LP owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and provides logistics services primarily for crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas through its indirect investment in Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. The firm operates through the following segments: Transportation, Facilities and Supply and Logistics. The Transportation segment consists of fee-based activities associated with transporting crude oil and NGL on pipelines, gathering systems, trucks and barges. The Facilities segment consists of fee-based activities associated with providing storage, terminalling and throughput services primarily for crude oil, NGL and natural gas, as well as NGL fractionation and isomerization services and natural gas and condensate processing services. The Supply and Logistics segment consists of storage of inventory during contango market conditions and the seasonal storage of NGL, purchase of NGL from producers, refiners, processors and other marketers, extraction of NGL from gas processed at the facilities. Plains GP Holdings LP was founded in July 2013 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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Augusta Gold Corp., a junior exploration company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in the United States. It primarily explores for gold, silver, and other metals. The company holds interests in the Bullfrog gold project located in the north-west of Las Vegas, Nevada. It also owns, controls, or has acquired mineral rights on Federal patented and unpatented mining claims in the state of Nevada for the purpose of exploration and potential development of metals on a total of approximately 7,800 acres of land. The company was formerly known as Bullfrog Gold Corp. and changed its name to Augusta Gold Corp. in January 2021. Augusta Gold Corp. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Tosoh Corp. engages in the manufacture and sale of basic chemicals, petrochemicals, fine chemicals, and specialty products. It operates through the following segments: Petrochemicals, Chlor-alkali, Specialty, Engineering, and Others. The Petrochemical segment offers olefins and polymers. The Chlor-alkali segment provides caustic soda, vinyl chloride monomer, polyvinyl chloride, high-performance polyurethane, organic chemicals, urethane raw materials, and cement. The Specialty segment handles inorganic or organic fine product, measurement and diagnostic products, electronic materials that include quartz glass and sputtering target. The Engineering segment deals with water treatment equipment and construction. The Others segment manages transportation and warehousing, inspection and analysis, and information processing businesses. The company was founded on February 11, 1935 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

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Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA provides dialysis care and related dialysis care services in Germany, North America, and internationally. It offers dialysis treatment and related laboratory and diagnostic services through a network of outpatient dialysis clinics; materials, training, and patient support services comprising clinical monitoring, follow-up assistance, and arranging for delivery of the supplies to the patient's residence; and dialysis services under contract to hospitals in the United States for the hospitalized end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and for patients suffering from acute kidney failure. The company also develops, manufactures, and distributes dialysis products, including polysulfone dialyzers, hemodialysis machines, peritoneal dialysis cyclers, peritoneal dialysis solutions, hemodialysis concentrates, solutions and granulates, bloodlines, renal pharmaceuticals, and systems for water treatment; and non-dialysis products, such as acute cardiopulmonary and apheresis products. In addition, it develops, acquires, and in-licenses renal pharmaceuticals; offers renal medications and supplies to patients at homes or to dialysis clinics; and provides vascular, cardiovascular, endovascular specialty, vascular care ambulatory surgery center, and physician nephrology and cardiology services. The company sells its products to dialysis clinics, hospitals, and specialized treatment clinics directly, as well as through local sales forces, independent distributors, dealers, and sales agents. As of December 31, 2020, it operated 4,092 outpatient dialysis clinics in approximately 150 countries. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Bad Homburg, Germany.

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5 hours ago

Vietnamese workers at Chinese factory in Serbia cry for help

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (AP)  They are shivering in barracks without heat, going hungry and have no money. They say their passports have been taken by their Chinese employer and that they are now stuck in a grim plainland in Serbia with no help from local authorities.

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Royal Dutch Shell plc operates as an energy and petrochemical company worldwide. The company operates through Integrated Gas, Upstream, Oil Products, Chemicals segments. It explores for and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; markets and transports oil and gas; produces gas-to-liquids fuels and other products; and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver gas to market. The company also markets and trades natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), crude oil, electricity, carbon-emission rights; and markets and sells LNG as a fuel for heavy-duty vehicles and marine vessels. In addition, it trades in and refines crude oil and other feed stocks, such as gasoline, diesel, heating oil, aviation fuel, marine fuel, biofuel, lubricants, bitumen, and sulphur; produces and sells petrochemicals for industrial use; and manages oil sands activities. Further, the company produces base chemicals comprising ethylene, propylene, and aromatics, as well as intermediate chemicals, such as styrene monomer, propylene oxide, solvents, detergent alcohols, ethylene oxide, and ethylene glycol. Royal Dutch Shell plc was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Exxon Mobil: AKG Marketing Company Limited, Aera Energy LLC, Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company, Ampolex (Cepu) Pte Ltd, Ancon Insurance Company Inc., Barnett Gathering LLC, Barzan Gas Company Limited, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Celtic Exploration Ltd., Coral FLNG S.A., Cross Timbers Energy LLC, Ellora Energy Inc., Esmeroon Oil Transporta Imperial Oil Limited, Esso (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, Esso Deutschland GmbH, Esso Erdgas Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 17) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Overseas) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Chad Inc., Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Esso Exploration and Production UK Limited, Esso Global Investments Ltd., Esso Italiana S.r.l., Esso Nederland B.V., Esso Norge AS, Esso Petroleum Company Limited, Esso Raffinage, Esso Societe Anonyme Francaise, Exxo Holdings Inc., Exxon Azerbaijan Limited, Exxon Chemical Arabia Inc., Exxon International Finance Company, Exxon Luxembourg Holdings LLC, Exxon Mobile Bay Limited Partnership, Exxon Neftegas Limited, Exxon Overseas Corporation, Exxon Overseas Investment Corporation, ExxonMobil (China) Investment Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil (Taicang) Petroleum Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil Abu Dhabi Offshore Petroleum Company Limited, ExxonMobil Alaska Production Inc., ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd, ExxonMobil B Resources Company, ExxonMobil Capital Finance Company, ExxonMobil Capital Netherlands B.V., ExxonMobil Central Europe Holding GmbH, ExxonMobil Cepu Limited, ExxonMobil Chemical France, ExxonMobil Chemical Gulf Coast Investments LLC, ExxonMobil Chemical Holland B.V., ExxonMobil Chemical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil China Petroleum & Petrochemical Company Limited, ExxonMobil Development Africa B.V., ExxonMobil Development Company, ExxonMobil Egypt (S.A.E.), ExxonMobil Exploracao Brasil Ltda., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Tanzania Limited, ExxonMobil Finance Company Limited, ExxonMobil Financial Investment Company Limited, ExxonMobil France Holding SAS, ExxonMobil Gas Marketing Europe Limited, ExxonMobil General Finance Company, ExxonMobil Global Services Company, ExxonMobil Golden Pass Surety LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Company Holland LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Norway AS, ExxonMobil Hong Kong Limited, ExxonMobil International Services SARL, ExxonMobil Iraq Limited, ExxonMobil Italiana Gas S.r.l., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Inc., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc., ExxonMobil LNG Services B.V., ExxonMobil Lubricants Trading Company, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation, ExxonMobil PNG Limited, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical BVBA, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical Holdings Inc., ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH, ExxonMobil Production Norway Inc., ExxonMobil Qatargas (II) Limited, ExxonMobil Qatargas Inc., ExxonMobil Ras Laffan (III) Limited, ExxonMobil Rasgas Inc., ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, ExxonMobil Russia Kara Sea Holdings B.V., ExxonMobil Sales and Supply LLC, ExxonMobil Technology Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Funding Ltd., Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Golden Pass LNG Terminal Investments LLC, Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures LLC, Imperial Oil Limited, Imperial Oil Resources Limited, Imperial Oil Resources N.W.T. Limited, Imperial Oil/Petroliere Imperiale, Infineum Italia s.r.I., Infineum Singapore Pte. Ltd., InterOil Corporation, Jurong Aromatics Corporation Pte Ltd, MPM Lubricants, Marine Well Containment Company LLC, Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Limited, Mobil California Exploration & Producing Asset Company, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company, Mobil Chemical Products International Inc., Mobil Corporation, Mobil Equatorial Guinea Inc., Mobil Erdgas Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil International Petroleum Corporation, Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil Oil Exploration & Producing Southeast Inc., Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Producing Texas & New Mexico Inc., Mobil SerLimited, Mobil Venezolana De Petroleos Inc., Mobil Yanbu Petrochemical Company Inc., Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc., Mountain Gathering LLC, Mozambique Rovuma Venture S.p.A., Palmetto Transoceanic LLC, Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Global Company LDC, Permian Express Partners LLC, Phillips Exploration LLC, Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (II), SPI Limited, Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd., Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical Co., SeaRiver Maritime Inc., South Hook LNG Terminal Company Limited, Tengizchevroil LLP, Terminale GNL Adriatico S.r.l, Trend Gathering & Treating LLC, Wolverine Pipe Line Company, XH LLC, XTO Delaware Basin LLC, XTO ENERGY, XTO Energy Canada, and XTO Holdings LLC.
China Mobile Limited provides mobile telecommunications and related services in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The company offers local calls; domestic and international long distance calls and roaming services; and value-added services, such as caller identity display, call waiting, conference calls, and others. It also provides wireless Internet service, as well as digital applications comprising music, video, reading, gaming, and animation; wireline broadband services; and wireline voice services. In addition, it offers dedicated line and IDC services to corporate customers in a range of industry sectors; and basic corporate communication products comprising corporate VPMN and SMS, and tailor made solutions. Further, the company provides international telecommunications services, which includes IDD, roaming, Internet, MNC, and value added business services. Additionally, it offers telecommunications network planning, design, and consulting services; roaming clearance, IT system operation, and technology support services; value-added platform development and maintenance services; mobile data, and system integration and development services; network construction and maintenance, network planning and optimizing, and training services; electronic communication products design and sale of related products; and non-banking financial services. It also provides mobile cloud research and development services; call center services; e-payment, e-commerce, and Internet finance services; and mobile Internet digital content services, as well as operates a network and business coordination center. The company serves 950 million mobile customers and 187 million wireline broadband customers. The company was formerly known as China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and changed its name to China Mobile Limited in May 2006. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is based in Central, Hong Kong. China Mobile Limited is a subsidiary of China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited.

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ALBANY  All but one of New York's gubernatorial candidates are expected to attend a debate Thursday evening at the College of Saint Rose. The absent candidate, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is the one leading in all the polls.

"The governor will be spending the final days of the campaign speaking directly with voters and helping to elect Democrats up and down the ticket," Cuomo's campaign spokesman Lis Smith said in a statement Wednesday evening.

Thursday's debate is sponsored by the state League of Women Voters, which responded to Cuomo's refusal with an unusually sharp statement.

"We are extremely frustrated that the governor does not feel a fair, nonpartisan, debate is an appropriate venue to speak directly to voters," the group said. "This debate is for voters and open to the public. Five candidates will appear on the ballot next Tuesday. Voters have a right to hear from all five candidates before selecting the next governor of New York State on Election Day.

"If the governor truly wants to speak to voters, he should have made it his priority to attend the only upstate debate of all candidates."

Republican Marc Molinaro, Howie Hawkins of the Green Party, Libertarian candidate Larry Sharpe and former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, running on the new Serve America Movement line, are expected to take part in the debate at Saint Rose's Thelma P. Lally School of Education.

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Cuomo held only one debate with his Democratic primary challenger, Cynthia Nixon, and last week took part in a hastily organized one-on-one debate with Molinaro on New York City's CBS affiliate that frequently devolved into chaos as the two men traded accusations. The only question specific to upstate New York involved the Buffalo Bills' stadium.

The 6 p.m. debate at Saint Rose, slated to last roughly 90 minutes, will be live-streamed on the League's Facebook page, as well as on Twitter and Youtube by the college.

Also Thursday evening, the 20th Congressional District candidates will debate at WMHT at 8 p.m. in an encounter presented by "New York Now," a coproduction of WMHT and the Times Union. That hour-long exchange between U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, and his Republican opponent Joe Vitollo will air live on WMHT and will be livestreamed on the public broadcaster's website.
Simply rinsing your produce off at home may not quite cut it anymore, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Now, federal regulators are taking another step toward making sure the produce in your neighborhood supermarket is safer to eat.

The Food Safety and Modernization Act's Produce Safety Rule introduces for the first time science-based minimum standards for growing, harvesting and packing fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption.

The rule adds regulations requiring farmers to submit samples of surface and ground water used in growing crops. It also establishes standards on equipment and tool sanitation, which includes preventing contamination of storage facilities, greenhouses or other facilities.

The Produce Safety Rule requires that farmers keep animals from intruding on a crop throughout the growing season, as well as provide training for workers who handle produce or food-contact surfaces, among other regulations.

The FSMA law was passed under President Barack Obama back in 2010, but the FDA, following direction from Congress, has spent the years since then meeting with farmers and gathering comments on how to comply with the new rule.

Federal regulators plan to begin inspections of farms in New York and nationwide next spring. Farmers said they haven't been told when exactly inspections will take place.

"If you fully comply, it's a pretty heavy lift," said Peter Ten Eyck, owner of Indian Ladder Farms in Altamont. "We have a new stack of books of regulations that we're going to have to understand and read through."

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has been working with the FDA to "educate before and while we regulate," as the department's slogan has put it.

Ag and Markets has also been sending inspectors to farms to conduct "on-farm readiness reviews"  preliminary, educational inspections that communicate where the farm may fall short of rule compliance.

"They're very forward leaning to try to make this a comfortable way to comply with the law," said Ten Eyck. "They're really reaching out to be helpful."

Prior to the enactment of FSMA, most for-profit produce farms operated under similar U.S. Department of Agriculture's guidelines, called GAP - Good Agricultural Practices.

The USDA's audit program is considered voluntary, but many retail and wholesale buyers require that farms are GAP-certified to get market access.

Produce farmers have been undergoing the Harmonized Food Safety Standard Audit through GAP since 2011, and many say the new federal regulations are important but create an added layer of regulatory burden on farmers.

"Anytime we have another responsibility, we're always so busy and were always working that anytime somebody comes along with 'Hey, you guys have to start doing something different and we're going to check up on you,' that is stressful," Timothy Albright, a manager at Indian Ladder Farms, said. "It will make a big difference."

Becky Shaul, of Shaul Farms near Fulton, says her farm has adhered to the GAP guidelines for produce safety, and won't have to change day-to-day practices much under the new rule.

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But, she added "the burden issues is in paperwork," because FSMA and GAP will require different sets of documents to show essentially the same information, she said.

Kathi Pitts, whose family owns Windfall Farms in Montgomery, said she initially thought the process would be cumbersome, but has been "very impressed" with the state's willingness to help farmers reach compliance before inspections begin.

"It's just a brilliant thing they're doing," Pitts said. "They look over the whole operation for you, they tell you how to tweak this, how to tweak that."

Steve Ammerman, a spokesman for the New York Farm Bureau, said that, for most established farmers, "record keeping alone may be one of the biggest lifts for farmers as they familiarize themselves with everything that needs to be done."

"The requirements can be a lot for farmers, including standards for worker training, health and hygiene, how to protect crops from domesticated and wild animals, and proper care for equipment, tools and buildings," Ammerman said in an e-mail.

The FDA on Thursday released a report detailing the cause of the largest outbreak of E.Coli in the U.S. since 2006. The outbreak  which originated earlier this year in romaine lettuce grown near Yuma, Arizona  killed five people and left 96 others hospitalized. Eleven cases of the illness were found in New York, according to the FDA.

From August 2011 to December 2016, the FDA identified and investigated 140 foodborne illness outbreaks across the U.S. linked to FDA-regulated products.

Because of those kinds of incidents, farmers universally recognized the importance of having strict federal food safety guidelines in place.

"There was always a level of cleanliness that everyone adhered to, but you didn't have to have a plan. They would come through and say things like 'Hey there's too many flies in here,' or 'You're not sealing up all your food containers,'" Albright said. "But it wasn't written down. Now we have guidelines."
Detroit

General Motors will attempt to cut costs by offering buyouts to about 18,000 white-collar workers in North America.

The company made the offer Wednesday to salaried workers with 12 or more years of service.

The announcement comes on the same day that GM reported a $2.5 billion third-quarter profit. The company says in a prepared statement that although it is performing well, it wants to continue to reduce costs while the company and the economy are strong.

The auto industry faces looming troubles such as slowing sales in the U.S. and China and higher steel and aluminum prices due to U.S. tariffs.

GM wouldn't disclose terms of the buyout offers. The company has about 50,000 salaried workers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Company spokesman Patrick Morrissey wouldn't say whether GM is trying to reach a target number of employees. Those who were given the offer have until Nov. 19 to make a decision, and they would leave the company by the end of the year, he said.

"Even with the progress we've made, we are taking proactive steps to get ahead of the curve by accelerating our efforts to address overall business performance. We are doing this while our company and economy are strong. The voluntary severance program for eligible salaried employees is one example of our efforts to improve cost efficiency," the company said.

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GM has long talked about reducing costs in preparation for an economic downturn. The company strives to continue churning out profits through vehicle sales while, at the same time, investing in new technologies such as electric or autonomous cars. The company is close to delivering on a promise to reduce structural costs by $6.5 billion annually by the end of this year.

Savings from the employee reductions would come in 2019, after the buyouts take effect.

Morrissey wouldn't say if GM will begin to lay employees off if too few workers take voluntary buyouts.

"We will evaluate the need to implement after we see the results of the voluntary program and other cost reduction efforts," he said.

Retired Chief Financial Officer Chuck Stevens hinted at white-collar cutbacks in April of 2017 when he told analysts that GM is looking for cuts as it simplifies its business after its exit from Europe. Simplification "will allow us to take significant structure out of the business, whether it's corporate staff, whether it's engineering staff," he said on an earnings conference call.
SARATOGA SPRINGS  Alexander Bernstein, the son of American musical icon Leonard Bernstein, will visit Skidmore College at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, in an ongoing global celebration of the late composers centenary.

At Skidmore Bernstein will appear with Leonard Bernstein at 100  The Educator and Intellectual, a Zankel Music Center reboot of one of his fathers Young People's Concerts, the popular televised programs performed with the New York Philharmonic.

Two musicians from the original 1962 concert, virtuoso double bassist Gary Karr and clarinetist and Skidmore faculty member Paul Green, will be featured with Alexander Bernstein at Skidmore and reunite for a performance of Camille Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals." The three will join in a panel discussion at intermission.

Its an emotional return to one of the most important events in my life, said Green in a statement included in the Skidmore announcement, noting that he was 13 at the time of original show. It was so exciting to be part of this thing. We did the concert live at Carnegie Hall, and it was broadcast on national television a week later. So I could see myself on television from my house.

Karr, who was 20 then, is quoted in the same announcement recalling his audition: The only people listening to me were Leonard Bernstein with his very young son, Alexander, in his lap! It was, to say the least, a daunting experience.

Limited tickets for the event -- part of Dream with Me: Leonard Bernstein at 100, a series of Skidmore events scheduled for this fall -- are $8 for adults, $5 seniors and Skidmore community members, free for students and children. For more information, see skidmore.edu/zankel or call 518-580-5321.
Sheep eyeball juice. Bull testicles. Maggot-infested cheese. American root beer.

These are among the items considered palatable or even regarded as delicacies in some cultures that the Disgusting Food Museum in Malmo, Sweden is serving up.

The temporary museum, which opened Wednesday, clearly braced for revolted visitors to gag at the foods on display, most of which can be smelled or tasted. Tickets came in the form of vomit bags.

Curator Samuel West said the exhibition is meant to entertain, but also to convey a thought-provoking message: what is considered appetizing or repulsive is learned and can change. He hopes visitors will be encouraged to try more sustainable food products that are being developed or marketed, like insects and lab-grown meat.

"Disgust is one of the six fundamental human emotions, and the evolutionary function of disgust is to help us to avoid foods that might be dangerous, that are contaminated, toxic, gone off," West said. "Disgust is hardwired as an emotion but what we find disgusting is culturally learned."

The idea of exploring gross food came to him with awareness that the "single most impactful way we can impact the environment is by eating less meat," he said.

"It's an exhibition that asks visitors to challenge their notions of what is disgusting and what is delicious, and the aim is to get people to understand there is no objective measure of disgust," West said. "For some, the revelation might be that 'maybe insects aren't as disgusting as I thought.'"

The 80 food items in the museum's exhibit include a bull's penis, frog smoothies from Peru, a wine made of baby mice that is consumed in China and Korea, and Sweden's "surstromming," an infamously putrid fermented herring.

Visitors are also introduced to "balut," partially developed duck fetuses that are boiled inside the egg and eaten straight from the shell in the Philippines, as well as "casu marzu," a Sardinian pecorino cheese infested by maggots.

Also included are items many Western visitors might not consider disgusting at all. Swedish visitors are surprised to find salty licorice, popular in Sweden but perceived as disgusting to many others.

American foods on display include Jell-O salad, made of gelatin and typically fruit; canned pork brains with milk gravy; and root beer, a sweet soft drink which Swedes say tastes like toothpaste.

 Associated Press

CNN silent on Lemon's remark

CNN isn't commenting about Don Lemon's statement that white men represent the biggest terrorist threat in the country.

Lemon's statement, on his show Monday, attracted criticism in conservative circles. He was talking about the negative attention given to a caravan of potential refugees in central America. Meanwhile, white men are the suspects in recent shootings of two blacks in Kentucky and at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Lemon said that, "we have to stop demonizing people and realize that the biggest terror threat in this country is white men, most of them radicalized to the right, and we have to start doing something about them."

A CNN spokeswoman said Wednesday neither Lemon nor the network would speak more about it.

 Associated Press

Police investigate slaying of 2 rappers

Investigators in Florida are trying to determine who killed two aspiring rappers whose bodies were riddled with gunshot wounds when a friend drove them to a hospital's emergency room.

Miramar police spokeswoman Tania Rues said in a news release that 21-year-old Anthony Williams and 19-year-old Christopher Thomas were last seen alive at 3:20 a.m. on Oct. 26 in Fort Lauderdale. Hospital staff pronounced them dead at Memorial Miramar Hospital, about 20 miles from Fort Lauderdale.

Police aren't releasing the name of the driver as they investigate.

TCPalm newspaper reports Thomas went by the stage name YNW Juvy while Williams was known as YNW Sakchaser.

Both were connected to Florida rapper Jamell Demons, known as YNW Melly.

 Associated Press
ALBANY  A private medical company and Albany County have agreed to pay nearly $1.1 million to the estate of a Troy man who died when nurses waited more than 12 hours to call an ambulance after he suffered a stroke while being held at the county jail in August 2014.

Last year, an investigation ordered by the state Commission of Correction determined the care given to 24-year-old Mark Cannon was "so grossly inadequate ... it shocks the conscience."

The settlement was filed recently in U.S. District Court in Albany, where Cannon's mother had filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Cannon's infant daughter.

Cannon's symptoms steadily worsened after employees of a medical company that had a contract with the county brushed off his severe neurological symptoms as heat exhaustion, instructing guards to give him water and let him rest.

Later that night, Cannon's condition had deteriorated to the point where he lay nearly motionless on the floor of an infirmary cell with foam oozing from his mouth. A nurse patted his arm and wiped away the saliva, wrongly believing Cannon was recovering from a seizure even though he had no history of medical problems.

A nurse finally contacted a doctor for advice, and he instructed her to immediately call an ambulance. But it was too late: Cannon lingered for several days at Albany Medical Center Hospital before he was removed from life support.

Doctors determined Cannon had suffered a stroke  a loss of blood flow to his brain stem  that may have been caused by working out in the jail's recreation area on the day he fell ill. Emergency surgery might have saved his life, but too many hours had passed after the injury.

The state's investigation cited multiple missteps by nurses, including their repeated failure to acknowledge the severity of Cannon's symptoms or consult a physician until it was too late.

"Mark Cannon had a progressively deteriorating neurological situation that was completely disregarded by nursing staff despite dramatic signs and symptoms of an active neurological emergency and Cannon's repeated requests for medical care," the investigative report states.

The sharp criticism of Correctional Medical Care, a Pennsylvania-based private company, came as the state was probing the company's conduct related to multiple inmate deaths across the state.

The settlement filed in U.S. District Court calls for the company to pay $999,999, and Albany County to pay $95,000. Neither the company nor the county acknowledged any wrongdoing.

Within weeks of Cannon's death, the office of New York's attorney general reached an agreement with the company that allowed it to remain in business in New York with monitoring through May 2018. The company paid a $200,000 penalty and agreed to improve staffing levels and training practices.

At that time, Correctional Medical Care had contracts worth more than $32 million a year with 13 county jails in New York, including Albany and Schenectady counties' facilities

Albany County earlier this year terminated the $3.7 million annual contract it had with CMC since 2012. A company spokesman said the termination of the contract was a mutual agreement between CMC and county officials. In a deposition taken as part of a federal wrongful-death lawsuit, Sheriff Craig Apple testified the company's "performance" played a role in his decision, though he said the change was also based on a better offer from another company.

State investigation reports and court records also reveal that CMC's nurses, two of whom have faced discipline by the State Education Department, violated multiple protocols. The failures began the moment a guard called the jail's medical office at 4:12 p.m. on Aug. 26, 2014, to report that Cannon was having problems and needed assistance.

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Instead of going to Cannon's tier to check him out as required, a nurse told the officer to give Cannon some water and ask him to lie down.

In the hours that followed, Cannon was shuffled back and forth between his tier and the medical infirmary. At times, cameras showed him staggering into walls and vomiting.



Just after 3 a.m., with new officers and nursing staff on duty, Cannon was found lying on the floor of his cell unable to talk. His eyes were open and he was foaming at the mouth; his legs were stiff and his arms limp. Officers scooped Cannon into a wheelchair and pushed him toward the infirmary. Videos of the transport show Cannon's head tilted to the left and his feet dragging beneath him.

Despite his severe symptoms, no one called an ambulance.

The state's investigation determined nurses "failed to conduct a basic nursing and neurological assessment on a patient with obvious signs and symptoms of a neurological crisis."

A state Medical Review Board recommended that one of the nurses be terminated by the company and reported to the state Education Department for "grossly negligent nursing care" in her treatment of Cannon. The board also recommended that CMC should review the conduct of a second nurse the panel found had failed to document and assess Cannon's vital signs and "did not assess his obvious neurological deficit," among other issues.

Emre Umar of Blue Bell, Pa., is president of CMC, a for-profit company owned by his wife, Maria Carpio. Neither are licensed medical professionals. Umar has acknowledged that for more than 10 years, the company operated in New York in violation of state law requiring a medical care company to be owned by a physician. The firm has since restructured to adhere to the law, although Umar remains in charge of its operations.

Elmer Robert Keach III, the attorney for Cannon's mother, characterized the settlement as "fair" and said the money would benefit Cannon's daughter.
ALBANY- A longtime chief campaign supporter of New York's state Senate Republicans, the controversial real estate giant Glenwood Management, is cozying up to a historically less receptive group of lawmakers: state Senate Democrats.

The Long Island-based company  which played a central role in the corruption trials of former Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos  has given about $188,000 in New York elections this year through an array of limited liability companies, according to a Times Union review of campaign records.

More than half  $100,000  has still gone to Jobs for New York, an independent expenditure committee run by the powerful Real Estate Board of New York, an industry trade group. Jobs for New York has been spending so far this year to again help the industry's longtime Senate Republicans allies  though far less than in past years.

Much of the rest of Glenwood's largesse this year, however, has gone to individual members of the Senate Democratic conference: $5,000 each to Democratic Senate candidates Aaron Gladd and Assemblyman James Skoufis, who are in contested Senate races against Republicans; $5,000 each to Democratic state Sens. David Carlucci and Brian Benjamin; and $7,500 to Democratic state Sen. Tim Kennedy.

Meanwhile, none of the spate of limited liability companies registered to Glenwood's address in New Hyde Park, Long Island, have given to individual Senate Republican candidates this year.

A Glenwood LLC also gave $10,000 in mid-October to the Senate Democrats' campaign arm  which brought protest from a leading housing advocate informed of the donation by the Times Union.

"I don't think they should have taken it," said Michael McKee, the treasurer of Tenants PAC, which supports Democratic control of the state Senate. "Anyone who considers themselves a champion of tenants and affordable housing should not be taking money from Glenwood."

A Senate Democratic spokesman declined to comment on Thursday.

Records show, meanwhile, that Glenwood has given nothing directly so far this year to the Senate Republicans' campaign arm.

A Senate Republican spokesman also declined to comment.

The giving by Glenwood  the empire of high-end residential real estate in Manhattan  appears to be an attempt by the company to curry new allies, with Democrats confident they will retake the Senate majority in next week's election.

Next year, the Legislature will have to renew New York City's rent-stabilization laws, which greatly impact the bottom lines of Glenwood and other residential real estate developers. Senate Democrats promise to be more friendly to city tenants than Senate Republicans, who mostly represent districts outside New York City.

Senate Democrats have also pledged to close the "LLC loophole," the 1996 Board of Elections' decision that has long allowed Glenwood Management to be the state's biggest political donor  including to Democratic Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

Following the stain of a central role in the federal charges lodged against Skelos and Silver in 2015, Glenwood has substantially reduced its campaign giving  ending its donations to Cuomo  and has mostly stopped employing its stable of Capitol lobbyists.

When Democrats last held the Senate majority in 2009-2010, real estate interests retained influence among some members of the New York City-centered conference  dashing the high hopes of tenant advocates, who sought to pass legislation that had been tangled up during decades of Republican rule.

On June 9, 2009  the day after the now-infamous state Senate coup  the Senate Housing Committee had been scheduled to vote on a bill on the repeal of "vacancy decontrol." The longstanding major priority for tenant advocates would have curbed rent hikes on hundreds of thousands of city apartments. Instead, a day earlier, the chair of the housing committee, former Bronx state Sen. Pedro Espada, suddenly voted with another rogue Democrat, Hiram Monserrate, to put Republicans back in control of the Senate.

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Real estate campaign donations to Senate Democrats, including Espada, were "very much a part of the coup," McKee said.

After a month's standoff, the Democrats were enticed to come back to the Democratic side, but the conference was badly damaged and has not controlled the chamber since 2010.

While real estate campaign donations could certainly impact Senate Democrats going forward, McKee believes the situation will be somewhat different in 2019. That's because six of the eight members of the real estate friendly Independent Democratic Conference  including its leader, Jeff Klein  were defeated in primary elections this year, by opponents described as more tenant-friendly Democrats.

Under the so-called "LLC loophole" in state election law, Glenwood and other real estate interests can give virtually unlimited amounts to New York campaigns, using limited liability companies set up for each individual property they own.

Senate Democrats have pledged to close the LLC loophole  which has disproportionately benefitted Republicans  but are continuing to take LLC donations under the current rules.

This year, Glenwood has also given $50,000 to REBNY's political action committee, which in turn has given $95,000 so far this year to the Senate Democrats and $135,000 to the Senate Republicans.

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that REBNY's overall donations to Senate Democrats had increased dramatically this election cycle, while contributions to the Republicans had dropped somewhat  although giving to the GOP was still greater overall.

In both the Silver and Skelos cases, the lawmakers were convicted of concocting schemes in which the developer would enrich them, or their families, in exchange for favorable treatment on one or several of the key issues Glenwood has had before the Legislature. The 2015 convictions of Silver and Skelos were later overturned, but both were convicted and sentenced to prison this year when they faced retrial.

Glenwood's senior vice president, Charles Dorego, testified in the Skelos case under a cooperation agreement with federal prosecutors. The federal charges against Skelos said the former legislative leader  "using explicit language"  threatened to "punish" members of the real estate industry who he felt had not adequately supported him. According to the complaint, Skelos also directed Dorego to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations through limited liability companies.

In April 2017, Glenwood's 102-year-old owner, Leonard Litwin, long the state's biggest political donor, passed away.

A spokesman for Glenwood did not respond to a request for comment.
ALBANY  New York's Chief Judge Janet DiFiore accused court officers' unions of anti-Italian stereotyping in a letter she issued Wednesday, prompting a back-and-forth between union leaders and the judge.

Union leaders and court officers had protested outside an awards dinner on Oct. 23 honoring the judge for Hispanic Heritage Month, calling attention to the Office of Court Administration's refusal to meet with them to discuss what they describe as dangerous staffing shortages at state courthouses.

DiFiore, who walked up the courthouse steps as about 60 officers protested, noted in her letter that many wore blue T-shirts printed with the words "OCA, Office of Court Administration, Organized Crime Association, Beaver Street Bullies."

The slogan, she wrote, "was clearly directed at me both in my capacity of Chief Judge of the state of New York ... and as the first chief judge of Italian-American descent in state history."

Patrick Cullen, president of the New York State Supreme Court Officers Association, and Dennis Quirk, president of the New York State Court Officers Association, called DiFiore's accusation "spurious," saying the slogan was simply "a play on the OCA acronym."

"We will not apologize for exercising our constitutional right or for bringing to the public's attention our concerns for public safety in the nation's busiest judicial system," they wrote in a letter.

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Some in the legal community have come to DiFiore's defense, including the New York State Bar Association, which released a statement condemning the language used by protesters.

"We can hardly believe it is necessary to say this, but apparently it is: Ethnic slurs have no place in the public discourse," NYSBA President Michael Miller said in a statement. "When the term 'organized crime' is used in connection with an Italian-American, the meaning is as obvious as it is offensive. Respect and civility are hallmarks of our judicial system -- especially when we disagree."

Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for OCA, noted that three new classes of recruits, totaling an additional 380 officers, will be assigned to the courts by next spring.

"The chief judge is a tireless supporter of our 4,000 court officers, men and women who are the front line of New York state's court system," Chalfen said. "We have been aware and are addressing staffing numbers that are not where we would like them, even with the 600 officers that have been hired since she became the chief judge in January 2016."
BETHLEHEM  The state Commission on Judicial Conduct has been investigating an incident in which Albany County Family Court Judge Margaret T. Walsh was ticketed last summer for allegedly leaving the scene of a crash.

A witness told police that Walsh, who is running for state Supreme Court justice, sped away after backing into an unoccupied vehicle that was parked across the street from the residence of Walsh's mother.

Walsh's traffic ticket is pending in Bethlehem Town Court. The judge on Wednesday referred questions about the case and the commission's investigation to her attorney, Gregory J. Teresi, who said he was not immediately aware of the probe.

"I have not spoken to her about that issue," Teresi said.

Teresi said Walsh has been offered a deal in Bethlehem Town Court to plead guilty to a reduced violation of parking on a pavement. He said they have not accepted the deal but are considering it.

Teresi downplayed the significance of the commission's investigation, noting that an article about the incident that was published in the Times Union on June 27 would have been enough to prompt the probe. He added that the commission normally will not close an investigation until any related court case is resolved.

The crash took place about 9 p.m. on June 22 on a residential street that is a short distance from Walsh's residence in Slingerlands. A witness told police he was standing in a driveway on Oxford Road, off Route 85, when he "heard a loud bang/crash sound," according to police reports.

"When he turned around to see what had happened, he observed a white Volkswagen SUV in the middle of the road ... up against a red Chrysler," the report stated. "The SUV then turned and sped up towards Meadowbrook Drive."

Ralph Rahm, the owner of the 2015 Chrysler Town & Country that sustained more than $2,300 in damage from the collision, said this week that he was interviewed in early August about the incident by Ryan T. Fitzpatrick, a senior investigator with the Commission on Judicial Conduct. He said his friend, who owns the residence he was visiting that evening, also was interviewed.

Both vehicles sustained damage to the driver's sides. There were no injuries.

Rahm and his friend had said the impact pushed his vehicle slightly off the roadway and onto a lawn.

Rahm said a Bethlehem police officer and a body shop mechanic both told him that based on the amount of damage to his vehicle, it was  in their opinions  unlikely Walsh did not know she had struck another vehicle.

Walsh, a Democrat who co-chairs the state's Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, drove immediately to her residence and parked her 2018 Volkswagen SUV in her garage, according to police reports and law enforcement officials.

A Bethlehem police officer went to Walsh's residence a short time after the crash, but was unable to interview her because she did not answer the door.

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In an interview last June, Walsh said she had not been aware that she had struck the van, and that she never heard the police officer who went to her residence that evening. She said she often parks in the driveway but mostly parks in her garage, and had done so that evening because it was supposed to rain the next day.

"I believe there is a big misunderstanding," Walsh said in June. "I didn't have a chance to talk to the other person (and) I think an assumption was made that was utterly false."

She described the damage to her vehicle as very minor. Police officials have declined to release photos of the damage to both vehicles.

The Bethlehem officer who ticketed the judge with leaving the scene of a property damage accident  a violation  told Walsh that it was hard to believe she did not know she had struck the van.

"I understand that she (the officer) thought that I should have known, and perhaps I should but I didn't," the judge said. Walsh added that she may not have heard the officer at her door that Friday night because she may have been in the shower, or washing her face at the time.

Rahm believes he would have been stuck for a $500 deductible payment with his insurance company if the neighbor had not witnessed the crash and jotted down Walsh's license plate number.

"I have no vendetta or grudge against this woman, but she could not have not known" she had struck another vehicle, Rahm said this week.

Walsh has been a Family Court judge for 14 years in Albany and an acting state Supreme Court justice for the past decade. She is in the final stages of a campaign for one of two state Supreme Court positions that are up for election in November in the Third Judicial District.

Walsh and Albany County Court Judge Peter Lynch, also a Democrat, are vying for the judicial positions along with incumbent state Supreme Court Justice William E. McCarthy, a Republican.
Hoosick Falls Police

HOOSICK FALLS  A day after a parent reported finding a sewing needle in his young child's candy, village police said they'd determined it was a prank that "quickly spiraled out of control."

Officers interviewed the elementary school-aged child who found the needle, and the child admitted to trying to prank their father without realizing he would call the police.
Albany

From women's rights to old watercraft to historical newspapers and a dramatic escape from slavery, the State Museum, Library and Archives programs will celebrate New York State History Month in November.

As well as the family-friendly programs, a model of the first statue in New York City's Central Park that honors and depicts women will be on display in the museum's West Corridor beginning Tuesday, Nov. 6.

To mark the 101st anniversary of women's suffrage in the state, the Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony statue will be unveiled in Central Park in 2020  the first statue in the park to honor a woman. In 2013, longtime women's rights activists Pam Elam and Coline Jenkins formed the Statue Fund to create the statue.

The working model of the statue will be on display at the State Museum from Nov. 6 to March 31. Photos of the model are available on the museum's website.

Here are free programs in November at the Cultural Education Center 222 Madison Ave., Albany:

Nov. 4: 1 p.m., The Return of Cornplanter's Tomahawk

In 1792 a pipe tomahawk was gifted to the great Seneca leader Cornplanter by George Washington and became part of the Museum's collections in 1850. After being stolen for nearly 70 years, the pipe tomahawk returned to the State Museum in June 2018 thanks to the generosity of an anonymous collector.

Nov. 8: 3 p.m. Walking tour, genealogy resources. Join a tour highlighting published genealogies, local histories, church records, Daughters of the American Revolution records, census records, newspapers on microfilm, city directories and more. Space is limited; registration is required. Register by calling 518-474-2274. Also at 11 a.m. Nov. 17.

Nov. 10: 1 to 3 p.m., Reception and tour of "The Historic Woodstock Art Colony: The Arthur A. Anderson Collection Exhibition." Exhibition tour at 2 p.m. led by curator Karen Quinn.

Nov. 11: 2 to 4 p.m. "Remembering New York's Colonial Past through Archaeology, History and Art" Presentation and Panel Discussion. With William Starna, professor emeritus of anthropology at SUNY Oneonta; Paul Huey, retired senior archaeologist at the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; and Albany artist Len Tantillo.

Nov. 13: 7 p.m. Readings of America's Founding Documents and Talk with Alexander Heffner.

Community members take the stage to read memorable lines from America's founding documents. At 7:30 p.m., talk by Alexander Heffner, host of the PBS talk show, The Open Mind, and co-author of the 2018 revised version of A Documentary History of the United States. Organized by the New York State Writers Institute.

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Nov. 15: 7 to 9 p.m., Staged Reading of "Possessing Harriet." Organized by SUNY Albany. Full reading of the play, followed by a Q&A session. In 1839, Harriet Powell, a young, mixed-race, enslaved woman slips away from a hotel in Syracuse, escaping from the Southerner who owns her. With the aid of a mysterious free black man named Thomas Leonard, Harriet finds temporary safe harbor in an attic room at the home of impassioned abolitionist Gerrit Smith. With the slave catchers in pursuit, Harriet spends the hours before her nighttime departure on the dangerous journey to Canada in the company of Smith's young cousin Elizabeth Cady. "Harriet is forced to the precipice of radical self-re-imagination and a reckoning with the heartrending cost of freedom."

Nov. 17: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tour of "Enterprising Waters: New York's Erie Canal."

Nov. 20: 12:10 p.m. Brain Food for the Curious: Early Watercraft in the Northeast. Includes a 20-minute talk followed by a Q&A period; visitors are welcomed to bring their lunch.

Nov. 24: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thanksgiving with Tom the Turkey. Fun crafts, games, storytelling and much more with your favorite animals found in New York.

Nov. 28: 3:30 p.m. Historical Newspapers Online at the State Library. Learn about the online databases available at the State Library that contain full-text historical newspapers. How to find and access digital newspapers freely available online. Space is limited; registration is required. Call 518-474-2274.

The State Archives provides free access to photographs, artifacts, documents, manuscripts and other materials that tell the story of New York's history via its Digital Collections on the Archives website. The Archives will exhibit the original New York State constitution, adopted in Kingston in 1777, on Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Matthewis Persen House, located at 74 John St. in Kingston in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Ulster County's courthouse.

Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the museum website.
ALBANY  SUNY officials recently launched a new effort to train the hundreds of faculty members, administrators and student government leaders who serve on quasi-judicial student conduct boards that are at each of the systems campuses.

The new Student Conduct Institute could be described as a one-stop training center for those who have to pass judgment on increasingly contentious and complicated misconduct charges arising on campuses in New York and nationwide. The #MeToo movement, political and racial polarization, battles over gender identity and our increasingly litigious society have put new pressures on these conduct boards.

Its complex and it gets more complex all the time, said Joe Storch, the Institutes associate counsel and principal investigator. We want to move the field forward, he said.

SUNY campuses arent required to participate, but so far 51 of 64 have agreed to, he said. The program calls for trainers to visit the individual campuses and discuss the best way conduct boards can investigate and rule on misconduct allegations. The idea is to pull together a wide range of experts, including police, who can discuss how to interview alleged victims and perpetrators as well as legal and forensic experts.

The topics would include requirements of laws such as Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on ones sex; the laws against disability and racial discrimination, as well as the Clery Act, which requires the tabulation and reporting of campus crime statistics.

They will also run through a fictional hypothetical example  in which a female student alleges she was sexually assaulted by another woman. A number of facts in the case will be presented and participants have to gauge how to factor those into their decisions.

In addition to the live training sessions, they plan to offer ongoing digital training as well.

Part of the training sounds like an episode of CSI. Foresnic and memory experts may talk about phenomena like the tunnel vision that can overtake people who are undergoing a trauma and that can limit their memories of details surrounding a given incident.

To be sure, not all misconduct centers on sexual abuse. Cases can be brought for other violations, such as hazing or infractions such as tampering with smoke detectors of failing to obey fire drills.

The University at Albanys Conduct Board was in the news in 2016 after two students were expelled and another was suspended after board members concluded that they had falsely alleged they were victims of a racial attack. The women, who are black, said they were attacked by more than a dozen people on a CDTA bus earlier that year.

They were later convicted of falsely reporting a hate crime, after it came out that they had started the fight themselves. Two were convicted in court and one accepted a plea bargain.

One of the students went to civil court to fight the expulsion, but lost in a ruling in August.

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The prospect that students can go to court to fight conduct board hearings is another reason that members of those bodies would like verifiable training. Such training, along with certifications that might be given, could aid efforts to uphold their decisions during court appeals.

Eventually, the training, which will cost campuses $5,000 annually, will be open to private colleges and universities for their own conduct boards as well.

There is a lot of interest from our independent institutions in partnering with SUNY to deliver this training to the necessary people on campuses, said Emily Morgese, spokeswoman for the state Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities.

The initiative has been in the works for a while and stems in part from the Enough is Enough law that passed signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2015. That law requires that colleges and universities set up procedures to combat sex abuse on campuses. It included money to help start the Conduct Initiative. Its bearing fruit years later, Storch said of the law.

rkarlin@timesunion.com  518-454-5758  @RickKarlinTU
Twelve years ago, Manu Dutt made a decision he said he will always regret. The Indian immigrant entered into a sham marriage to obtain a green card after his visitor visa expired, but the U.S. citizen woman involved caved to questioning by immigration officers, exposing them both.

"That was the worst mistake that I made," Dutt told the Times Union over a video call from Batavia Federal Detention Facility near Buffalo, where he's been detained for 10 months.

Dutt is now caught in the web of increasing immigration enforcement under the Trump administration that's changed who is arrested and how long they're detained. Today the 36-year-old is a husband, father of two young boys and owner of multiple restaurants including Hunter Mountain Brewery near Windham, Greene County, where his family lives.

Dutt and his current wife, Jomela, who is a U.S. citizen, have been married for 10 years. Last November, Dutt received notification that the government intended to deny his petition to get a green card through marriage. This January, after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct for issuing a bad check of around $3,000 to a produce vendor  what he says was a misunderstanding  he was arrested and detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

ICE scheduled Dutt's deportation for this week, but it was cancelled because of his pending appeal  although the threat remains. An immigration judge ruled in Dutt's first appeal that he didn't prove his deportation would cause extreme and unusual hardship to his two U.S.-born sons, but Dutt's second appeal asks a higher court to reconsider.

"I have lost all hope in the system," Jomela Dutt, told the Times Union. "You have a good person who pays their taxes and loves his children and has been here and is always willing to help somebody else. You snatch him away from his family and away from his business and our whole world enfolds on us."

"They can never live together as a family"

Since Dutt's detention, Jomela has stopped building their new house, closed one restaurant and juggled running the family businesses and raising her two sons. Her father from Liberia has been living with the family for months to help out.

Jomela struggles with back pain, depression and anxiety. Seven-year-old Krishna goes to therapy for abandonment issues and doesn't understand why his dad isn't home. Three-year-old Kishan has a speech delay.

Dutt's appeal argues that if he is deported to India and his family joins him in order to be together, Jomela,who is black, would suffer from racial discrimination. His children couldn't access special education. He would struggle to find work, especially if he lived in his parents' village which doesn't have 24-hour electricity.

Shiv Sharma, a distant relative from the same village who is now based in Houston, re-met Dutt at one of his restaurants in Philadelphia seven years ago. Sharma became "like a grandpa" to Dutt.

"He has really good behavior," Sharma said. "He deserves to be with his family."

Dutt's former lawyer, Philadelphia-based Christopher Casazza, said the family's unification is on the line in this latest appeal.

"If he's deported for the prior fraud finding for the marriage, he will never return to the United States," Casazza said. "They can visit him in India, but they can never live together as a family unit."

More arrests, longer detention, snag pending cases

Dutt's story coincides with increasing immigration enforcement and changes in detention. Between 2016 and 2017, ICE arrests rose 42 percent, from 77,806 to 110,568. From January to March 2018, ICE made 439 arrests out of its Buffalo office, which covers the Capital Region. Only 66 percent of those arrested had criminal records.

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As arrests increase, the U.S. Supreme Court in February ruled that detained immigrants do not have the right to a bond hearing after six months. An earlier decision still lets detainees petition for release after three months if their deportation will be further delayed. The court said in that ruling the law "does not permit indefinite detention" but there is little protection against it.

Dutt left India 17 years ago for medical school in Armenia, where he met his first wife, with whom he had a son. The couple separated after arriving in the U.S. and Dutt entered the sham marriage soon after.

Dutt met Jomela while she was working at her mother's hair salon and he worked at a gas station next door in Pennsylvania. Three months later, the pair moved in with each other and have been together ever since. They opened five restaurants in Pennsylvania and a brewery in New York, where they moved three years ago.

Dutt's first application to legalize his status through marriage was initially denied but then approved with the help of a lawyer in 2011. The petition to get his green card was pending until Nov. 2017 when Dutt received notification that the government planned to deny it.

Around the same time, he was charged with a misdemeanor for issuing the bad check and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct violation in Gloversville City Court in January. Dutt said ICE showed up at court and ordered him to check in with immigration officials in a week. As he was walking out of court at his next court date, ICE detained Dutt.

Dutt fought and lost his case before the Board of Immigration Appeals in April. He filed a petition to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in September without a lawyer because he didn't have enough money. The government had already filed a motion to dismiss his petition and opposed his motion for a stay of removal when a team of lawyers from New York City-based Jenner and Block took on his case pro-bono in October. Dutt is also contemplating a petition in the Western District of New York challenging his lengthy detention pending a ruling on the merits of his case.

Meanwhile, Dutt's relative Sharma set up a GoFundMe page that has raised more than $750. Advocacy organization ICE-Free Capital District also featured Dutt's case at a recent fundraising dinner.

As his detention drags on, Dutt said the psychological stress has been unbearable.

"I even thought at times that I will give up and have to leave from here," Dutt said. "I have to sit here without knowing if anything positive will come out."
A day after Troy mother of two Dalila Yeend petitioned for funds to fight her deportation, a stranger donated the full amount needed. The anonymous donor, a Times Union reader, gave Yeend $1,225 - the cost of filing her green card and work authorization applications. If she couldn't pay and file, it was more likely that an immigration judge would order her deported at her next date in immigration court on Nov. 19.

Yeend said her tears of fear on Monday turned to relief on Tuesday. Yeend, who previously worked at Dunkin' Donuts in Troy, hasn't had steady income since she was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after rolling through a stop sign in May.

On Monday, Yeend received a notification from the government that she didn't demonstrate an "inability to pay" he filing fees because her household income isn't under the federal poverty line and/or she hasn't qualified for public benefits in the last six months. While Yeend's green card application is pending, she isn't eligible for public assistance and while her work authorization isn't approved, she can't work.

A GoFundMe for the family has raised more than $7,600 - $3,000 since Monday alone. In addition to her filing fees, which are now paid, Yeend is also trying to raise an extra $250 so that she can renew her 11-year-old daughter's passport and get one for her 9-year-old son so that they can travel if she is deported.

Yeend can't drive and has been depending on rides from the community.

"This is just a really stressful time for us. My children are going through this with me," Yeend said. "The community in Troy has been very understanding and very generous. I have some complete strangers who reached out to help."

Yeend came with her mother to the U.S. 18 years ago on a New Zealand passport. After she turned 18, Yeend had to make her own application to stay in the country. She settled in Troy, where she got married and had kids, of whom she has full custody after a domestic violence incident.

In 2015, ICE began Yeend's deportation proceedings and required her to check in regularly with them. After she rolled through a stop sign in Troy in May, she was arrested for driving without a license, because undocumented immigrants in New York can't get licenses, and turned over to ICE. She was detained in Batavia Federal Detention Facility near Buffalo for two and a half months then released suddenly in August.

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Her next date in Buffalo immigration court is Nov. 19.

If you would like to donate, visit this GoFundMe.

Steve Hughes contributed to this report.
ALBANY - Large fights that broke out after school dismissals in Albany last week left three city police officers with minor injuries and one 16-year-old facing charges. Police continue to investigate.

Albany Police spokesman Steve Smith said a female officer hurt her finger after trying to break up a fight among four school-aged girls Thursday, Oct. 25, near Lark and Colonie streets in Arbor Hill.
ALBANY  He wasn't physically there, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo's presence was hard to miss at the second and last gubernatorial debate Thursday at the College of Saint Rose five days before the general election.

First there was the screen: A smiling Cuomo appeared beside the animated faces of his four competitors on a large TV screen directly above the podiums where Marc Molinaro, Stephanie Miner, Howie Hawkins and Larry Sharpe debated in front of a crowd of roughly 100 people.

Then there was the introduction: Jeers rang out from the crowd when the League of Women Voters noted that only four of the five candidates agreed to Thursday's debate.

"I'm sorry, who's missing?" asked Sharpe in mock confusion.

And finally there was the content: For 90 minutes, candidates fielded questions about their plans for everything from economic development, education and environment to free college, gun rights and workplace sexual harassment. While their ideas for each differed, a palpable sense of frustration with what Molinaro dubbed the "Status Cuomo" was voiced by each candidate throughout the night.

According to his campaign, Cuomo spent Thursday night conducting a "tele-town hall" with select voters in the 5th Senate District on Long Island, which Democrats hope to flip from Republican control. The two-term incumbent and Democratic front runner enjoys a large fundraising advantage over the other four candidates and is ahead in the polls.

But his competitors chose to treat Thursday's debate as a chance to prove themselves to upstate New Yorkers, whose concerns they argued have been ignored by Cuomo over his eight years in office. A debate in New York City last week between Cuomo and Molinaro only mentioned upstate once, in a reference to the Buffalo Bills.

"Upstate needs to be shown the respect in state government it hasn't gotten in the last eight years," said Molinaro, the Republican candidate and former Assembly member who is Dutchess County executive.

One way to do that, he argued, would be for the state to take over the local share of Medicaid costs, which property taxes currently pay for. As governor, he said, he would orchestrate a 10- to 15-year state takeover of these costs, which he said would reduce local property taxes by 28 percent over five years.

Miner, a lifelong Democrat and former mayor of Syracuse running on the Serve America Movement line, also argued for a state takeover of local Medicaid costs. This would lessen the property tax burden on property owners, she said, and keep more people from leaving the state to live elsewhere.

Molinaro and Miner, the only two candidates with executive experience, also touted their histories of negotiating shared services across municipalities as a way to bring down costs  something they each said they would do if elected governor.

Hawkins, the Green Party candidate, said he would let local municipalities decide on their own whether they want to raise or lower property taxes, and do away with the governor's 2 percent property tax cap. Sharpe, the libertarian candidate, said he'd put the issue to residents, letting them vote each year whether they want to raise property taxes or not.

"It would be that simple," he said.

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Sharpe, whose vocal followers filled many of the seats Thursday, stood out as the most radical candidate on the debate floor  often proposing to toss out programs, laws and regulations and start from scratch, where his fellow candidates were more likely to offer ideas for reform or improvement.

He proposed getting rid of 11th and 12th grade, for example, which he described as "study hall, gym, smoking weed and video games" for most kids and said the state should instead offer to pay families a lump sum at graduation that they could spend over seven years on prep school, trade school or college.

He proposed getting Google or Apple to pay for roads and bridges in exchange for branding and pledged that none of his plans would raise taxes.

Hawkins, a three-time gubernatorial candidate, offered up familiar proposals to anyone who's followed the candidate in previous campaigns. He proposed 100 percent clean energy in the state by 2030, a project he noted would create "thousands" of jobs, and vowed to address harmful algae blooms, lead and other contaminants in the state's water. Many of his proposals, he said, could be paid for by raising taxes on the rich.

"Shame on Andrew Cuomo for not coming here," he said in his closing statement.

"The question in this election is, 'What kind of message are we going to send? Are we going to give Cuomo a free ride or are we going to demand more?'"
It was when one of her two tarps flew away and her sleeping bag was drenched that Katharina Groene realized her efforts to survive the Pacific Crest Trail were doomed.

"I never ran so fast through snow," she said. "That was the moment I realized something was wrong."

The 34-year-old German resident admits she wasn't fully prepared for the inclement, snowy weather that hit her in the North Cascades Monday near Mica Lake and Milk Creek, located in the greater Glacier Peak area.

Luckily, a Sultan woman she met the previous week anticipated her problem and sent for help.

RELATED: Search crews rescue injured hiker on Granite Mountain

Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue plucked Groene from the wilderness about midday Monday after she'd spent about five months hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Searchers found her suffering from hypothermia and dazed, but otherwise healthy.

Groene said Wednesday she believes she would have survived if no one had called to help her, but at the cost of some fingers or a leg.

She still can't feel her fingertips fully, two days after her rescue.

Groene and her good Samaritan, Nancy Abel, discussed their adventures Wednesday morning at Taylor's Landing north of Snohomish.

Abel and Groene met about a week earlier, while Abel was coming back from a day hike east of Stevens Pass. Abel gave Groene a ride to Stevens Pass and told her she likely wasn't prepared for the weather to come on her journey.

"I was trying to talk her out of it," Abel said. "I really felt she wasn't going to have a good time."

But Groene was determined to press on.

The snow came days later and she hadn't experienced such weather before, she said. Her pace slowed to seven miles per day, which she called an extremely slow rate.

Because it was a half-hour process to remove the tarp she covered herself and her pack in to grab a drink of water, she ate snow but grew dehydrated, she said. She also rationed her food. Groene lost two of her three pairs of gloves and found purple spots on her feet.

"I wasn't sure if I'd make it out at all," she said.

RELATED: 'You go from hope to despair': Hiker missing on Mount Teneriffe rescued

Eventually, Groene recorded messages for her family members, apologizing for dying on the Pacific Crest Trail. She screamed out for help, knowing it was crazy, but still trying to reach any humanity that might exist around her.

Meanwhile, Abel checked the weather in Groene's area and grew worried about her welfare. She couldn't sleep Sunday night, worried about whether Groene would survived.

Abel called 911 Monday morning, telling authorities Groene was headed north and in possible danger, lacking the right equipment to survive, Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue Sgt. John Adams said.

Chief Pilot Bill Quistorf and co-pilot Einar Espeland set out to find her in a search helicopter. They slipped beneath the clouds to spot the eastern edge of Mica Lake and found the Pacific Crest Trail.

Espeland spotted a single set of human tracks headed north and followed them through timberland switchbacks. Finding no tracks in the snow on the next ridge over, they determined she was likely on bare ground at that point between the two snowy ridges in the area. The searchers found her emerging from a forested area.

"I was crying," Groene said of her rescue.

She had been yelling for help just that morning after her tarp blew away.

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"I was screaming for help in the morning because I just had to get the fear out of me," she said. "... I'm super blessed I got out."

Groene said she was inspired to hike the Pacific Crest Trail by the movie, "Wild," based on the book by Cheryl Strayed about a woman hiking the trail alone. She also did it for weight loss - which she said she achieved - and to restore her faith in humanity.

RELATED: Hiker missing since Monday; found dead near popular Cascade mountain trail

She recalled the many stops along the trail where people take hikers into their homes for refreshment and restoration, and the several people who helped her with advice and rides. She also noted the natural grandeur of the trail.

"It's the most beautiful area I've ever seen," Groene said.

She was reluctant to stop hiking, but glad to be safe.

"It was still hard to say, 'OK I give up. I didn't make it,'" she said.

She's been staying with Abel and plans to head home to Germany next week.

Abel, who has a daughter living in Germany, said she couldn't help but look after her and make sure she survived her journey.

"She had the will to live," Quistorf said. "That was the key."

Groene looked over at Abel Wednesday morning.

"You saved my life," she said.

SeattlePI reporter Lynsi Burton can be reached at 206-448-8381 or lynsiburton@seattlepi.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LynsiBurton_PI. Find more from Lynsi here.
Are Cloud Communications Secure Enough for Mission Critical Government Voice Networks?

By Arti Loftus - Special Correspondent

Were now more than a decade into advancing cloud computing within the U.S. Federal Government, with mandates to modernize IT infrastructure and applications, and reduce costs even as pressure continues to mount, particularly when it comes to securing data and confidential information across hundreds of agencies with a massive number of public service employees.

According to CIO.GOV, Advances in technology, such as cloud and mobile, are transforming how agencies deliver and consume information technology (IT) services. Federal CIOs have opportunities as never before to enable agency mission delivery, improve customer service, maximize return-on-investment, and support emerging needs.

Under the umbrella of the Digital Government Strategy the U.S government is securely architecting our systems for interoperability and openness from conception, unleashing the power of Government data and reducing barriers to citizen and business interaction with the Government.

Cloud adoption for computing, storage, web applications and more has been underway, and arguably very successful, contributing to growth of U.S. and other companies including IBM, AWS, Microsoft, and many more.

For example, The IBM Cloud gives government agencies the freedom to innovate with new technologies and modernize legacy applications without lock-in and massive rework, according to IBM.

Built on open standards, the FedRAMP certified cloud optimizes for security, performance and flexibility by matching workloads to the deployment model best suited for government's unique requirements.

FedRAMP certification is run by the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, a government-wide service that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. According to the program, FedRAMP enables Agencies to rapidly adapt from old, insecure legacy IT to mission-enabling, secure, and cost-effective cloud-based IT.

Its no wonder cloud is working within the Federal government, and in state, local and regional government as well. Less expensive processors, faster and more secure networks, and the productivity associated with more and more mobile devices are driving innovation while reducing costs.

Cloud computing is making digital transformation of government agencies possible, and as the Internet led to the creation of disruptive new business models 20 years ago, cloud computing is now disrupting everything.



This includes voice networking.

Voice delivered over secure clouds is the future for not only large enterprises (completing changing, for example, the economics of contact centers and more) but for the Federal government in particular given the dispersed nature of operations.

With constant pressure to achieve significant cost, agility and innovation benefits of cloud computing, and the drive towards higher utilization of assets, more unified and controllable networks, less fragmentation, and the red tape that leads to long procurement cycles and contracting procedures, the U.S. Federal government is now also looking at migrating its massive fixed-line phone systems to the cloud through greater adoption of VoIP.

One equivalent to the FedRAMP certification program in the voice world is Joint Interoperability Testing Command (JITC) certification by the U.S. Department of Defenses (DoD) Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA).

Earlier this year, Ribbon Communications announced its largest carrier grade session management technologies and equipment earned this hard-won certification, with VoIP management and migration solutions that improve security and performance, while reducing costs.

Ribbon is a fast-growing global company continuously implementing a consolidation strategy in the world of VoIP, having most recently acquired Edgewater Networks, after combining GENBAND and Sonus to become the market share leader in session management services.

The company announced that its Session Border Controller 7000 (SBC 7000) and G5 Media Gateway have achieved JITC certification and are now available on the Approved Products List (APL).

In a press release, the company said, Ribbons carrier-grade scale enables the DoD to substantially reduce power, floor space, and maintenance costs. The SBC 7000 and G5 Media Gateway join an extensive line of Ribbon products already on the DISA Approved Products List including the SBC Software Edition (SWe), SBC 5110, SBC 5210, Voice Exchange 900 (VX 900) and the Application Server (as both an Enterprise and Local Session Controller).

What wasnt revealed in this particular announcement how cloud-based VoIP projects were progressing, the latest announcement came on the heels of earlier news that Ribbon, working with Verizon, also supported the DoDs Everything Over IP initiative by migrating one if its key agencies to a unified communications (UC) platform. In doing so, the DoD replaced two legacy systems with a single next generation solution, the press release stated.

The Department of Defense made the decision to move to Unified Communications to replace its aging infrastructure while keeping in mind unique security demands. Using Ribbon Communications JITC-certified Application Server for the deployment, the department was able to replace the core of its communications infrastructure while leveraging its existing endpoints and using standards-based technology going forward. The cost and time required to integrate this option were significantly less than implementing an entirely new solution.

Ribbon also announced earlier this year that the DoD had completed one of the largest Voice Over IP (VoIP) deployments in DoDs history leveraging Ribbons Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC)-certified Application Server.

We have been working closely with the Department of Defense and our solutions partners for several years to meet the demanding requirements of DoD deployments, said Steven Bruny, Executive Vice President of Global Operations for Ribbon Communications. It is very rewarding for our team and our partners to have successfully completed a migration of this magnitude. We believe it is a reflection of our commitment to standards and innovation and are pleased that we could provide DoD a path forward without having to start over.

Federal IT modernization is top of mind for most agencies, and it appears voice is a huge focus given the costs to maintain legacy phone systems and the opportunities to improve productivity and network security using IP-based solutions.

Old phone systems, while reliable for a hundred years, have limited features and dont fully support modern devices for effective collaboration and communication.

It appears Ribbon is contributing to the evolution to cloud communications on nearly every layer of the real time communications stack.

The JITC certification of our SBC 7000 and G5 Media Gateway are the latest examples of our ongoing commitment to providing the DoD with the most extensive set of carrier-grade, best-in-class security and voice communications solutions, said William Hartwell, Vice President, U.S. Federal Government Area, Ribbon Communications. The G5 Media Gateway works in perfect harmony with our certified Application Server and third-party solutions. Adding the SBC 7000 means that nearly all of our core Session Border Controller solutions are now available on the DISA APL. We are extremely proud of the fact that Ribbon is one of the only vendors in the industry to have received certifications for both virtual and appliance-based solutions.

We are continually investing in DISA solutions and clearly leading the market in providing the latest in security and VoIP application technology to the DoD, said Kevin Riley, Chief Technology Officer at Ribbon and Technical Contact for the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). Securing communications infrastructure is top of mind with our customers and our products play a critical role towards this end. We take this responsibility very seriously and this solution certification reflects our focus on bringing industry-leading security capabilities to market.

Riley added, Our comprehensive set of voice communications and security solutions allow us to scale and secure the smallest of enterprises up to the largest of deployments such as the Department of Defense.

Well continue to follow the progress of the massive, multilateral government network transformation projects, paying attention to how what is arguably the most powerful application of all  live human voice conversations  can be improved, secured and made more cost efficient, in some of the largest institutions of all.

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Edited by Maurice Nagle
[October 31, 2018]

New Number of Shares and Votes in Tobii

STOCKHOLM, Oct. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The number of shares and votes in Tobii AB has increased by 132,852 as a result of exercise of warrants in accordance with the company's incentive programs.

Today, the last trading day of the month, there are in total 97,574,355 shares and votes in the company. After the increase, the share capital amounts to SEK 708,090.51. The increase in the number of shares is due to the exercise of warrants in accordance with the Company's incentive programs.

This information is information that Tobii is obliged to make public pursuant to the Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, on October 31, 2018, at 22:00 p.m. CET.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/tobii-ab/r/new-number-of-shares-and-votes-in-tobii,c2661655

The following files are available for download:









http://mb.cision.com/Main/2874/2661655/937241.pdf New Number of Shares and Votes in Tobii - press release - 31October2018



Contact: Sara Hyleen, Director of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, Tobii AB, phone: +46-70916-16-41, email: [email protected]
[November 01, 2018] Global M&A Activity Pacing for Another Banner Year, Anchored by North American Dealmaking

SEATTLE, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PitchBook, the premier data provider for the private and public equity markets, today released its 3Q 2018 Global M&A Report, which found M&A deal activity remained robust through the third quarter of 2018, with 15,349 completed deals worth a combined $2.4 trillion. While both M&A counts (12.0%) and deal value (7.5%) declined from the same period in 2017, North American M&A accounted for the highest proportion of deal value in over a decade at 64.4%. Overseas, European M&A activity receded, most likely due to lingering concerns over Brexit and mounting trade tensions. Other notable trends observed in 3Q 2018 were private equity's growing share of M&A activity as well as deceleration within the oil and gas sector. The increase in private lending funds and leveraged loan issuance provided easy financing for private equity investors, who are continuing to pursue larger and more frequent LBOs and large multi-sponsor buyouts, or club deals. Additionally, the oil and gas sector experienced a 49% decline in deal value coming off a record-setting 2017 in terms of M&A deal value, despite the oil price recovery. "Global M&A activity remains healthy as North American dealmaking overcomes the weakness occurring in Europe, where a slowdown is underway," said Wylie Fernyhough, PE analyst at PitchBook. "Financing remains historically cheap and companies have shown an appetite for expansion via acquisitions as the economic expansion extends another year." Global M&A Activity North American M&A activity slowed with a total of 8,683 transactions closed totaling $1.5 trillion , representing year-over-year decreases of 9.0% and 8.2%, respectively. Despite the slowdown, nine of the 10 largest dealsannounced or in progress target North American companies.

, representing year-over-year decreases of 9.0% and 8.2%, respectively. Despite the slowdown, nine of the 10 largest dealsannounced or in progress target North American companies. European M&A has seen 5,646 transactions close valued at $809.1 billion through 3Q 2018 down from 7,973 completed deals totaling $1.0 trillion recorded through the same period in 2017representing year-over-year decreases of 29.2% and 20.0%, respectively.

through 3Q 2018 down from 7,973 completed deals totaling recorded through the same period in 2017representing year-over-year decreases of 29.2% and 20.0%, respectively. Global median M&A EV/EBITDA multiples grew from 9.1x in 2017 to 9.3x at the end of 3Q. Although European M&A activity decelerated, EV/EBITDA multiples in the region rose to 9.3x, up from 8.7x in 2017. Multiples in that region are expanding for the third consecutive year.



Private Equity M&A Activity Year-to-date, PE firms accounted for 33.3% of global M&A activity, up from 30.3% through the first three quarters of 2017. A favorable lending environment, coupled with strong fundraising for the strategy, has allowed the inventory of PE-backed companies to swell fivefold since 2000.

PE buyers (buyout/LBO) made up 29.4% of take-private deals YTD, up from 21.9% recorded in 2016, yet still far below the post-crisis peak of 48.1% in 2011.

Similar to take-private deals, the proportion of carve-outs or divestitures activity completed by PE firms has risen in recent years. The increase in shareholder "activists", coupled with ample PE dry powder is expected to continue fueling carve-out transactions. Spotlight: Oil & Gas

Following a record-setting 2017 in terms of M&A deal value, dealmaking in the oil & gas sector has slackened. Through the first three quarters of the year, oil & gas companies underwent 350 M &A deals valued at a combined $125.6 billion  decreases of 23.6% and 49.1%, respectively, from the same period in 2017.

&A deals valued at a combined  decreases of 23.6% and 49.1%, respectively, from the same period in 2017. Oil prices  which are a major driver of company value  are at their highest point since 4Q 2014, however, deal count and value are on pace to drop by approximately one-half and one-third, respectively, compared to 2017.

PE accounted for a sizable portion of oil & gas M&A over the last few years, with oil & gas gas funds raising $96.8 billion across 92 funds between 2013 and 2015. More recently, oil & gas fundraising has declined  averaging just $12.3 billion annually across a combined 31 funds in 2016 and 2017. Additional coverage in this report includes: Key takeaways

Overview

Deals by size & sector

Spotlight: Oil & gas

Spotlight: Corporate rounds Download the full report here. About PitchBook

PitchBook is a financial data and software company that provides transparency into the capital markets to help professionals discover and execute opportunities with confidence and efficiency. PitchBook collects and analyzes detailed data on the entire venture capital, private equity and M&A landscapeincluding public and private companies, investors, funds, investments, exits and people. The company's data and analysis are available through the PitchBook Platform, industry news and in-depth reports. Founded in 2007, PitchBook has offices in Seattle, San Francisco, New York and London and serves more than 20,000 professionals around the world. In 2016, Morningstar acquired PitchBook, which now operates as an independent subsidiary. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-ma-activity-pacing-for-another-banner-year-anchored-by-north-american-dealmaking-300741804.html SOURCE PitchBook

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Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-Joon Convenes Vietnam Co. Board Meeting to Step Up Conversion to Holding Company

Hyosung (KRX:004800) Chairman Cho Hyun-Joon convened a board meeting of Hyosung Vietnam Co. on Oct. 26, where he fixed procedures to convert it into a holding company.

Chairman Cho Hyun-Joon explained the remaining proceedings for the changeover of the company to a holding company, and collected opinions from inside and outside directors in the meeting. He also accounted for a ecision to pay more than 4,000 won in cash dividends to Hyosung shareholders for 2018, and vowed to continue business activities to return part of profits to shareholders.







After the meeting, Chairman Cho Hyun-Joon visited the site of a polypropylene plant under construction in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam with the directors, inspected the production process of the plant and discussed an infrastructure investment plan with related officials.

"Hyosung will sharpen its competitiveness to hold the global markets all the time by utilizing the expertise of Hyosung Corp., which is the holding company of Hyosung Group, and newly established affiliates," Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-Joon said. "By doing so, we will firmly carry out a management policy to raise business and shareholder values, and at the same time give part of profits back to our shareholders."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181031005937/en/
[November 01, 2018] Anonos SaveYourData Software Officially Certified by EuroPrivacy Meets the Requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

LONDON, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Anonos, global leaders in data risk management, security and privacy, today announced that its SaveYourData software has been evaluated and certified as complying with legal and technical requirements for pseudonymising data under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This announcement comes as follow up to the 40th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners held in Brussels from 22 - 26 October 2018 reflecting on the digital revolution and its impact on digital ethics and society. "Pseudonymisation is an effective safeguard for protecting privacy rights of individuals in connection with data processing activities like Big Data analytics & AI initiatives," said Gary LaFever, co-founder & CEO of Anonos. "The GDPR recognizes pseudonymisation as a means to reduce privacy risks to individuals while helping data controllers and processors to meet their data-protection obligations. This is why Anonos spent more than six years researching and developing the state-of-the-art SaveYourData software to enable companies to benefit from properly 'Pseudonymised' data under the GDPR." "In evaluating Anonos SaveYourData software, Archimede Solutions applied the 'EuroPrivacy' certification scheme, an innovative certification process developed through a H2020 European research project co-funded by the European Commission and Switzerland. EuroPrivacy (europrivacy.org) is managed by the European Center for Certification and Privacy in Luxembourg, and maintained by an international board of experts in data protection," said Dr Sebastien Ziegler, Chairman of the EuroPrivacy Board of Experts. "The EuroPrivacy certification scheme has been designed to enable a systematic and comprehensive analysis of compliance with the GDPR, applicable to products, services and data protection management systems, and encompassing emeging technologies such as data analytics and Internet of Things. The essence of EuroPrivacy is to build trust and confidence in privacy compliance. The evaluation gave us the opportunity to discover an innovative pseudonymisation software for improving the protection of personal data as requested by the GDPR."





"The Luxembourg National Commission for Data Protection (Commission Nationale pour la Protection des Donnees  CNPD) is pleased to see the European Centre for Certification and Privacy in Luxembourg contributing to bring new solutions for the certification in line with the objectives of the GDPR," said Christophe Buschmann, Commissioner at CNDP. "The CNPD welcomes EuroPrivacy's initiative to provide organizations a tool that supports their efforts in regards to compliance with the GDPR. We appreciate the fact that EuroPrivacy has engaged with us to submit the certification scheme for obtaining the European seal under GDPR."

"This certification is a major milestone and highlights the benefits of state-of-the art GDPR encouraged pseudonymisation over traditional privacy enhancing techniques like encryption, static tokenisation and anonymisation," said Francois Zimmermann, Global CTO of Financial Services Vertical at Hitachi Vantara. "SaveYourData provides a technical and legal framework that enables our customers to attain compliance without destroying business value by deleting data. Hitachi is excited to partner with Anonos to help organisations to maximise their use of analytics to support their data driven journey." "Successfully implementing big data analytics, machine learning and AI inevitably bring significant business, technical and ethical challenges. Not least among these are the absolute requirements that that personal data are always appropriately protected," said Martin Whitworth, Research Director, IDC European Data Security and Privacy. "Pseudonymisation, in particular, is a much-misunderstood technique that can be successfully employed to help to manage data subjects' risk while furthering an organization's mission, enabling data utility, and providing support for legitimate interest processing. However, choosing the appropriate protection methods for individual use cases is a non-trivial exercise and requires that we also have a means of safeguarding our current accumulated data stores, in a privacy compliant manner. This is why we are highlighting Anonos SaveYourData in our upcoming report dealing with creating a foundation for accelerating data-driven initiatives." This IDC report on the GDPR Certified Anonos SaveYourData Solution is available at anonos.com/DoNotDeleteYourData. About Anonos

Anonos technology reconciles conflicts between protecting the rights of individuals and achieving business objectives to use, share, combine and relink data in a compliant manner. Anonos' patented dynamic pseudonymisation, de-identification and anonymisation technology enables sharing, collaboration, and analytics of personal data by technologically enforcing dynamic, fine-grained privacy, security and data protection policies in compliance with the GDPR and other evolving regulations. BigPrivacy overcomes the shortcoming of other solutions that were "good enough" before the GDPR but fail to support new requirements for compliant Big Data analytics & AI. A Guide for Compliant Legal Analytics Under the GDPR is available at anonos.com/Legal-Analytics, and Global 500 companies can contact anonos.com/contact to receive a consultation to learn how Anonos' proprietary technology enables maximum data use, value and sharing by leveraging new global data protection laws. Media Contact: [email protected] +44 203 5144760 Anonos Website: www.anonos.com EuroPrivacy Website: www.europrivacy.org Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/778338/Dynamic_Pseudonymisation_vs_Static_Tokenisation_Dynamic_Pseydonymization_vs_Static_Tokenization_Anonos_BigPrivacy_GDPR_Compliant_Infographic.jpg

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[November 01, 2018] Lane Mendelsohn Vantagepoint ai President Interviewed on Proactive Investors

President of the worlds first artificial intelligence trading software shares how traders can predict stock market trends with up to 86% accuracy

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lane Mendelsohn, President of Vantagepoint ai, the software company that developed the first artificial intelligence (AI) trading software in the world available to retail investors and traders was invited to be interviewed on Proactive Investors. Proactive Investors is a leading multi-media news organization which operates five financial websites in four languages, providing breaking news, comment and analysis on hundreds of listed companies across the globe daily. Interviewed by Christine Corrado in the Proactive Investors New York studio, Lane Mendelsohn explains the evolution of his software company and the worlds first artificial intelligence trading software Vantagepoint, developed by his father, Louis B. Mendelsohn. Louis is a pioneer in the industry for his developments which combine the power of AI with a unique, global perspective on the markets. Louis Mendelsohn once said, To really gain an edge in todays global markets, you have to have a global approach. Many companies are just now beginning to adopt artificial intelligence, but the Mendelsohns were one of the very first, adopting it back in the 70s. They hold two patents n their 86% accurate, predictive technology so no one has been able to mimic the same proprietary software, nor will they ever be able to. Not only was Vantagepoint one of the first to break into the AI space, but it also has longevity on its side.



Since the software was first released in 1991, they have continued to refine it and add more features and functionalities to make it even more effective in terms of accuracy. Our focus is the technology. Were going to continue to develop and refine and improve the technology so that it continues to give our customers and traders an edge in the markets. said Vantagepoint President, Lane Mendelsohn. The AI capabilities of Vantagepoint are far beyond what the human mind could ever accomplish on its own. It sifts through thousands and thousands of stocks each night, in a matter of seconds. It delivers the results to traders on a silver platter, providing them answers to the top 3 most important factors of a successful trade; timing, direction and which stocks to pursue or avoid.

Vantagepoint still remains at the forefront of the trading software industry with about 30,000 customers in about 160 countries worldwide. President Lane Mendelsohn says, By giving people that confidence and the information that they wouldnt be able to get elsewhere, thats what leads to success. And were in the business of empowering traders and helping them be more successful and Im very proud that weve been so successful at doing that for close to 40 years now. Full interview and free demo of the software at https://www.vantagepointsoftware.com or by calling 800-732-5407. About Vantagepoint ai, LLC

Headquartered in Wesley Chapel, Fla., Vantagepoint ai, LLC, creators of Vantagepoint software, is a leader in trading software research and software development. VantagePoint forecasts Stocks, Futures, Forex, and ETFs with proven accuracy of up to 86%. Using artificial intelligence, VantagePoints patented Neural Network processes predicts changes in market trend direction up to three days in advance, enabling traders to get in and out of trades at optimal times with confidence. MEDIA CONTACT Jen Aquilino Communications Specialist 8139730496 [email protected]

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[November 01, 2018] Generation Investment Management Invests in DeepMap

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DeepMap, leading provider of high-definition (HD) mapping technology for autonomous vehicles, today announced that Generation Investment Management LLP (Generation) is a new investor in the company.

Company logo



Example of a DeepMap visualization for autonomous vehicle localization, planning, and control.



A DeepMap mapping vehicle near the company's headquarters in Palo Alto, California.







Generation is a sustainability-focused investment firm with offices in London and San Francisco. Generations Growth Equity team backs innovative businesses that will help drive the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy. As a DeepMap investor, Generation joins prior investors Andreessen Horowitz, Accel Partners, GSR Ventures, Robert Bosch Venture Capital, and others. The amount of financing was not disclosed.

James Wu, CEO and Co-Founder of DeepMap, said: DeepMap and Generation share the deeply-held belief that autonomous vehicles will lead to environmental and social benefits. We are delighted to work with the talented team at Generation. We consider Generation to be a value-added investor, whose insights and mission-aligned network will be of great advantage as we scale, especially in Europe. Lilly Wollman, Co-Head of Generations Growth Equity team, said: DeepMap is perfectly placed to address the imminent needs of autonomous vehicles. These vehicles will require HD maps and localization modules which are real-time, scalable, economically-viable, and machine-readable, something which DeepMap can deliver through its unique approach. We are very excited to partner with one of the most technically impressive and experienced teams in the industry. About Generation

Generation Investment Management LLP is dedicated to long-term investing, integrated sustainability research, and client alignment. It is an independent, private, owner-managed partnership established in 2004 and headquartered in London. Generation Investment Management LLP is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority. www.generationim.com About DeepMap

DeepMaps mission is to accelerate safe autonomy by providing the worlds best autonomous mapping and localization solutions. We deliver the technology necessary for self-driving vehicles to navigate in a complex and unpredictable environment. We address three important elements: precise high-definition mapping, ultra-accurate real-time localization, and the serving infrastructure to support massive global scaling. The company was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., with offices in Beijing, China. For more information, see www.deepmap.ai. Contact info: [email protected]

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:



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[November 01, 2018] Riskalyze Expands Its Investment In Enterprise Solutions for Broker-Dealers and Large RIAs With Key New Hires

AUBURN, Calif., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Riskalyze today announced the addition of two key executives that will expand its investment in enterprise solutions for large wealth management enterprises. The firm welcomes Dana Rhodes as managing director of enterprise solutions, and Justin Carapinha as director of demand generation. Both join as part of a broader set of investments the company is making in its enterprise solutions, enterprise product and enterprise implementation teams, which cater to the complex needs of broker-dealers and large RIAs. As Riskalyze experienced rapid growth within the financial advisory space over the past seven years, the last eighteen months yielded a marked demand from enterprise customers, as they tapped Riskalyze to help them provide risk and trading automation solutions to their large-scale networks of advisors. An alumnus of Invesco and NFP, Dana Rhodes was most recently vice president of advisory services at Kestra Financial. As managing director of enterprise solutions at Riskalyze, she will oversee the development and design of enterprise advisory platforms for large wealth management clients. She will work with managing directr Patrick Hannon , who joined the Enterprise Solutions team from Advicent last year. Both Hannon and Rhodes were present at Riskalyze's first-ever Institutional Partner Roundtable during the second-annual Riskalyze Fearless Investing Summit, which drew a large crowd of senior broker-dealer and RIA executives.

was most recently vice president of advisory services at Kestra Financial. As managing director of enterprise solutions at Riskalyze, she will oversee the development and design of enterprise advisory platforms for large wealth management clients. She will work with managing directr , who joined the Enterprise Solutions team from Advicent last year. Both Hannon and Rhodes were present at Riskalyze's first-ever Institutional Partner Roundtable during the second-annual Riskalyze Fearless Investing Summit, which drew a large crowd of senior broker-dealer and RIA executives. Justin Carapinha is director of demand generation. Formerly at Hewlett-Packard and Brocade, Carapinha most recently ran enterprise marketing for Amazon Web Services, the cloud services provider that constitutes almost all of the profitability of Amazon. Carapinha brings a wealth of knowledge for deploying the "Amazon playbook" of disruptive innovation to how Riskalyze will engage with enterprise clients and advisors alike.



Aaron Klein , CEO at Riskalyze. "As Riskalyze continues to innovate for advisors and enterprises, we're excited to have Justin and Dana join the team. By combining the connections, experience and track record of veterans both from financial services and technology, we're taking a page from Amazon's own playbook to continue delivering disruptive innovation to our wealth management enterprise partners." About Riskalyze

Riskalyze is the company that invented the Risk Number, which powers the world's first Risk Alignment Platform, empowers advisors to automate client accounts with Autopilot, delivers the first risk-centric 401K experience with Riskalyze Retirement Solutions, and enables enterprises to develop real-time visibility, increase revenue, spot issues and navigate changing fiduciary rules with Compliance Cloud. Advisors, broker-dealers, RIAs, asset managers, custodians and clearing firms use the Riskalyze platform to empower the world to invest fearlessly. To learn more, visit riskalyze.com.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/riskalyze-expands-its-investment-in-enterprise-solutions-for-broker-dealers-and-large-rias-with-key-new-hires-300741750.html SOURCE Riskalyze

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[November 01, 2018] For the 2nd Year in a Row, Fortune Magazine and Great Place to Work Name Panopto One of the Nation's Top Small Workplaces

SEATTLE, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Panopto, the leading video platform provider for businesses and universities, today announced it has been named one of the 2018 Best Small & Medium Workplaces in an annual ranking compiled by Great Place to Work and Fortune Magazine. For the second consecutive year, Panopto was listed as the #11 top small workplace and was recognized for its engaging and motivating workplace culture, as well as the strength and transparency of its leadership and communications. "Every employee at Panopto contributes to the culture, reputation, and success of our business," said Eric Burns, co-founder and CEO of Panopto. "We encourage our teams to creatively tackle big challenges, to openly learn from failures, and to debate ideas with intellectual honesty. I'm honored to be part of an organization whose culture has driven our success and has earned the praise of the people who make Panopto a unique and rewarding place to work." A leader in video content management systems, video capture software, and inside-video search technology, Panopto's more than 100 employees serve Fortune 500 companies and leading academic institutions around the world. The Best Small & Medium Workplaces is one of a series of rankings by Great Place to Work and Fortune Magazine and is based more than 158,000 anonymous employee surveys from hundreds of businesses across all industries. Panopto's Great Place to Work rating places the company among the very best when it comes to workplace atmoshere, rewards, challenges, and leadership.



For people interested, Panopto is hiring for a number of engineering, sales, and technical support roles across the company: www.panopto.com/careers . About Panopto

Panopto helps businesses and universities create searchable video libraries of their institutional knowledge. Since 2007, the company has been a pioneer in video content management systems, video capture software, and inside-video search technology. Today, Panopto's video platform is the largest repository of expert learning videos in the world. Headquartered in Seattle, with offices in Pittsburgh, Sydney, Hong Kong, and London. www.panopto.com

About the Best Small & Medium Workplaces

To determine 2018's Best Small & Medium Workplaces, Fortune partnered with global people analytics firm, Great Place to Work, to analyze feedback representing more than 158,000 US employees. Employees completed a Trust Index survey with more than 50 questions assessing pride, camaraderie, executive effectiveness, innovation, benefits, professional development and other elements of a great workplace. Scores also considered organizations' performance relative to their size and industry, as well as their ability to provide a great workplace for all employees, regardless of who they are or what they do. Survey results from eligible companies had a 6 percent margin of error, at most, with a 95 percent confidence level. To find out more about becoming Great Place to Work-Certified and eligible for Best Workplaces lists published with FORTUNE, visit Greatplacetowork.com. About Great Place to Work

Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through its certification programs, Great Place to Work recognizes outstanding workplace cultures and produces the annual FORTUNE "100 Best Companies to Work For" and Great Place to Work Best Workplaces lists for Millennials, women, diversity, industries and, internationally, countries and regions. Through its culture consulting services, Great Place to Work helps its clients create great workplaces that outpace peers on key business metrics like revenue growth, profitability, retention, and stock performance. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/for-the-2nd-year-in-a-row-fortune-magazine-and-great-place-to-work-name-panopto-one-of-the-nations-top-small-workplaces-300741811.html SOURCE Panopto

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[November 01, 2018] EU ag commissioner Phil Hogan to keynote AgTech Nexus Europe

DUBLIN, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Centered in the hotbed for agtech R&D and early stage startups, Global AgInvesting's AgTech Nexus Europe, 7 December at the Convention Centre Dublin, welcomes Phil Hogan, EU commissioner for agriculture and rural development, as keynote speaker. Hogan, and featured speaker Liam Condon, president of Bayer's Crop Science Division, will address how EU ag policy helps or hinders innovation. "New technologies have the potential to make agriculture more sustainable, in every sense of the word," said Hogan in an interview with GAI Gazette. "That is why we are making use of funding under Horizon 2020 and the CAP to invest strongly in research and innovation for agriculture and we should continue to do so in the coming years. We not only finance large-scale European innovation projects, but also stimulate innovation in a bottom-up approach." Condon is equally enthusiastic about the potential of technologcal innovation in agriculture, particularly with Bayer's recent purchase of Monsanto. He said, in an interview with Successful Farming, that he hopes the combination [of the two companies] will create a customizable product portfolio with a comprehensive offering of seed and crop-protection products, a leading platform in digital farming, and leading innovation capabilities and R&D technology platforms. He noted that together, the companies will put $2.8 billion towards R&D to "shape agriculture through breakthrough innovation for the benefit of farmers, consumers and the planet." At AgTech Nexus, Condon will discuss the challenges and opportunities on the horizon in a fireside chat led by Arama Kukutai, co-founder and partner of Finistere Ventures.



Other topics of discussion in Ireland  where investors benefit from an advantageous tax structure and a supportive government that has committed, over the past five years, more capital towards agricultural R&D than the U.S.  include outlooks for robotics in specialty crops; opportunities in digital agriculture; and accelerating, incubating and investing: the bridge from R&D to Series A. This second annual event also features a showcase of early stage agtech companies. Local and international startups are invited to apply at www.startup.agtechnexus.com for the opportunity to present to sector-focused investors ready to partner.

Many will start their week in Europe in London at Global AgInvesting Europe, 4-5 December, where allocators, fund managers and industry executives will come together to discuss investment prospects in agricultural real assets. Learn more at www.agtechnexus.com and www.gai-eu.com. CONTACT: Michelle Pelletier-Marshall

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[November 01, 2018] Reputation.com's Cassie Tod Named Among 2018's Top Women Leaders in SaaS

The SaaS Reports Annual List Celebrates the Accomplishments of Women in SaaS, Software and the Broader Technology Field The SaaS Report's Top Women Leaders in SaaS - 2018



REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reputation.com , the first and only complete cloud-based enterprise reputation management platform, today announced that Vice President of Customer Success Cassie Tod has been named to The SaaS Reports Top Women Leaders in SaaS for 2018, an annual list that celebrates the accomplishments of 50 women in the SaaS industry.



Tweet This: Honored: @Reputation_Com VP of Customer Success Cassie Tod Named to The #SaaS Reports Top Women Leaders in SaaS of 2018: http://bit.ly/2CSlwBS Tods career spans customer success roles at online advertising, digital marketing and digital media companies. At Reputation.com, she leads customer success, business listings, social media and review response operations. Tod was also instrumental in starting Reputation.coms Arizona hub, expanding the companys capabilities significantly, building a dynamic team and focusing on creating a great culture.

Cassies dedication and leadership is an example for all of us, and she couldnt be more deserving of this honor, said Joe Fuca, CEO of Reputation.com. She has played a huge role in the recent growth of Reputation.com. Were both proud and lucky to have her as a member of the executive team. Its an honor to have been named a leader in SaaS, said Tod. SaaS enables incredible innovation and advancements in how we support enterprise customers success. Im excited to share this recognition with the other accomplished women on the list. The SaaS Report's awards list is comprised of women who were selected based on detailed nomination submissions received from each leaders respective industry and company colleagues. The SaaS Report received more than 3,500 nominations on behalf of hundreds of women leaders. Leadership was assessed across a number of key areas, including integrity, intelligence, drive, company culture and company growth, among other areas. About Reputation.com

Reputation.com delivers the only integrated SaaS platform that helps enterprises improve their reputation with consumers online and onsite, across the entire customer journey  from finding a location on search, to conversion, to operational improvements that deliver a better customer experience. Reputation.com was the pioneer in creating the patented Reputation Score, the most complete index of customer experience on the web. Reputation.com technology has managed tens of millions of consumer reviews, surveys and social media interactions across hundreds of thousands of online points of presence for global companies spanning 77 industry verticals, including healthcare, retail, automotive, restaurants and others. Reputation.com is a World Economic Forum Global Growth Company and is funded by the same top-tier venture capital firms that backed Google, Facebook, Cisco and Microsoft. To learn more, visit www.reputation.com . Media Contact: Brigit Valencia

BOCA Communications

360.597.4516

[email protected]

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[November 01, 2018]

Balbix Named Winner of 2018 Red Herring Top 100 Global Award

Cybersecurity Startup Dedicated to Breach Avoidance and Cyber-Resilience Recognized for Innovation and Market Impact

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Balbix , Inc., provider of the security industrys first system built for avoiding breaches, today announced it is a 2018 Red Herring Top 100 Global winner. This annual list recognizes the worlds most innovative and promising private technology companies.

Celebrated at a recent awards ceremony in Los Angeles, the honorees were chosen from among the winners of the regional Red Herring competitions in Europe, North America and Asia. Balbix was named to he Red Herring Top 100 North America list in June.







Companies were evaluated by industry experts, technology industry insiders and journalists on a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative criteria including financial performance, quality of management, technology innovation, business strategy and market penetration.

The Red Herring Top 100 Global list represents some of the most disruptive and innovative startups in the world, and it is an honor to be included among their ranks, said Gaurav Banga, CEO and founder of Balbix. We believe that our unique approach to cybersecurity, which enables enterprises to predict and proactively mitigate breaches before they happen, will have a significant impact on the market.

Red Herrings Top 100 Global list has become a distinction, identifying promising companies and entrepreneurs. Red Herring editors were among the first to recognize that companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, Skype, Salesforce.com, YouTube, and eBay would change the way we live and work.

More information about the Red Herring Top 100 Global and the full list of winners can be viewed here: https://www.redherring.com/2018-red-herring-top-100-global-winners/ .

About Balbix

The Balbix breach avoidance platform, BreachControl, is the industrys first system to leverage specialized artificial intelligence (AI) to provide comprehensive and continuous predictive assessment of breach risk. Visualized via a searchable and clickable risk heat-map, it is designed for CISOs, CIOs and IT security teams. BreachControl can forecast critical breach scenarios and prioritize/recommend fixes by business risk, improving security operations, compliance and cyber-resilience. Learn more at www.balbix.com .

For more information, contact:

Kim Diesel

10Fold for Balbix

[email protected]
[November 01, 2018] Druva Breaks the Data Center to Cloud Barrier

Druva on AWS Snowball Edge Allows Petabyte-scale Workload Mobility to the Cloud

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Druva Inc., a global leader in cloud data protection and management, today announced the Druva Cloud Platform, Druvas Data Management-as-a-Service solution, is now available on Amazon Web Services (AWS) Snowball Edge. This solution allows enterprises to freely move data between on-premises and cloud without the lock-in, complexity, and cost of legacy hardware, enabling them to speed up their infrastructure to cloud transition. Organizations are rapidly adopting cloud infrastructure for application services. According to Druvas recent survey, data protection is a key motivator for a transition to the cloud, with 85 percent recognizing the need given the clouds scalability, distributed architecture, and added resiliency. However, even as this transition takes place, businesses require short recovery times for mission-critical services on-premises, which forces organizations to maintain older, complicated systems for rapid recovery. AWS Snowball Edge is a data migration and edge computing device with 100TB of capacity and support for computing tasks via built-in Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) and AWS Lambda function capabilities. Druva is using these advanced capabilities to facilitate a fast transition of data to and from the cloud. Enterprises get the benefits of workload mobility and the advantages of advanced cloud services like disaster recovery and replication -- improving their overall business continuity SLAs without the need for dedicated appliances or secondary storage devices. Pre-packaged with Druvas cloud data management technology and delivered directly from AWS to the customer, organizations experience a true as-a-service offering, simplifying provisioning and management, at no additional cost. ruva is building solutions that address the pressing data needs of enterprises today, while leveraging AWSs flexibility, security, and scalability said Bill Vass, vice president, technology, storage, automation and messaging, Amazon Web Services, Inc. With AWS Snowball Edge, Druva can further address key pain points organizations face as they continue their shift to the cloud, such as capital expenditures and current business data protection SLAs.



AWS Snowball Edge is fully supporting our platform, allowing customers to move large volumes of data to and from the cloud without the task taking up excessive amounts of time and bandwidth, said Prem Ananthakrishnan, vice president of products, Druva. Customers now have even greater flexibility in their mobility of data and are able to improve SLAs for business continuity purposes, all at no additional cost. Transferring dozens of terabytes of data to the cloud can be an insurmountable challenge for companies located where internet bandwidth is at a premium, said Steven Hill, senior analyst of storage technologies, 451 Research. The new AWS Snowball Edge is designed for moving data at scale, and adds compute capabilities to its hardened, secure system for moving up to 100 TB to the cloud. With AWS Snowball Edge, Druva can offer a new model for data protection thats tightly integrated with cloud migration capabilities.

We are excited about the potential of this offering, both for the management of our current global footprint and for future mergers and acquisitions, said Brian Bagwell, director of IT, North America, ANDRITZ. Data integrations currently take days or weeks, but this will give us the ability to quickly backup an acquired companys data and seamlessly incorporate it into our existing storage repository. An on-demand solution from Druva on AWS is a game changer for our approach to data management and data protection. Key Benefits of Druva on AWS Snowball Edge Additional benefits customers can expect from the integration include: Plug and play workload mobility. With Druva on AWS Snowball Edge, simply apply backup policies and backup or restore directly to and from the device. With global deduplication technology, only a single copy of data is stored - ensuring maximum storage on device.

With Druva on AWS Snowball Edge, simply apply backup policies and backup or restore directly to and from the device. With global deduplication technology, only a single copy of data is stored - ensuring maximum storage on device. Flexibility with no compromise to data protection. Once data has been migrated to the cloud, and if an organization decides to move to the direct-to-cloud model, customers can simply unplug the device and ship it back, with no interruption to their data protection service.

Once data has been migrated to the cloud, and if an organization decides to move to the direct-to-cloud model, customers can simply unplug the device and ship it back, with no interruption to their data protection service. Ship petabytes securely. AWS Snowball Edge devices use tamper-evident enclosures, 256-bit encryption, and industry-standard Trusted Platform Modules (TPM) designed to ensure both security and full chain-of-custody for your data.

AWS Snowball Edge devices use tamper-evident enclosures, 256-bit encryption, and industry-standard Trusted Platform Modules (TPM) designed to ensure both security and full chain-of-custody for your data. Offered as-a-Service at no additional cost. Procurement of AWS Snowball Edge is offered within the Druva Cloud Platform through the Phoenix Data Protection Service and is bundled in the Enterprise and Elite packages at no extra charge to customers. Availability

Druva on AWS Snowball Edge is currently available via early access to Druva and AWS customers in North America. AWS Snowball Edge can be ordered by Druva customers directly through the Druva Cloud Platform and is shipped by Amazon Web Services, pre-configured, directly to the customer. Additional information: Learn more about how to use Druva Cloud Platform on AWS Snowball Edge

Watch the video About Druva

Druva, an industry-leading data management-as-as service platform, unifies data protection, governance and intelligence across enterprise data, delivering enterprise-level scalability and security, while reducing cost and complexity. Over 4,000 enterprises trust Druva to protect and manage more than 100PB of data worldwide. Visit Druva and follow us @druvainc. Media Contact:

Jesse Caputo

Senior Manager, Public Relations

Druva, Inc.

+1.516.815.2836

[email protected]

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[November 01, 2018] Sun BioPharma, Inc. to Present Results of New Pancreatitis Study at American Pancreatic Association Meeting in Miami Beach, FL

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sun BioPharma, Inc. (OTCQB:SNBP), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in disruptive therapeutics for pancreatic diseases, announced today that they will present results of a new study entitled Effect of SBP-101 in a Mouse Model of Cerulein-induced Acute Pancreatitis at the American Pancreatic Association meeting in Miami, FL on Nov. 1.

The study, performed in collaboration with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA and funded by the National Institutes of Health, evaluated the ability of SBP-101, a polyamine metabolic inhibitor (PMI), to impact the development of acute pancreatitis using different formulations and dosing regimens. In some instances, administration of SBP-101 was able to decrease levels of amylase and lipase, markers of acute pancreatitis in the blood, and reduce swelling and inflammation in the pancreas, said Michael Walker, MD, Director of Pancreatic Research at Sun BioPharma and one of the studys co-Principal Investigators. Acute pancreatitis is a very painful inflammatory disease that accounts for over 270,000 hospitalizations in the US each year and can lead to recurring painful relapses and even to a chronic form requiring surgery. As such, A new treatment for acute pancreatitis would address a major unmet medical need in the United States, stated Stephen Pandol, MD, Director of Basic and Translational Pancreatic Research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the other co-Principal Investigator for the study. While the Companys primary focus remains pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), this new study demonstrates our continued interest in disruptive therapeutics for diseases of the pancreas. Suzanne Gagnon, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Sun BioPharma added, We continue to investigate SBP-101 for diseases of the pancreas and are pleased to be able to move forward with some early proof of concept animal studies in pancreatitis in conjunction with our ongoing clinical development program in pancreatic cancer. About SBP-101

SBP-101 is a first-in-class, proprietary, polyamine compound designed to exert therapeutic effects in a mechanism specific to the pancreas. Sun BioPharma originally licensed SBP-101 from the University of Florida Research Foundation in 2011. The molecule has been shown to be highly effective in preclinical studies of human pancreatic cancer models, demonstrating superior activity to existing FDA-approvd chemotherapy agents. Combination therapy potential has also been shown for pancreatic cancer. SBP-101 is expected to differ from current pancreatic cancer therapies in that it specifically targets the exocrine pancreas and has shown efficacy against primary and metastatic disease in animal models of human pancreatic cancer. Therefore, management believes that SBP-101 may effectively treat both primary and metastatic pancreatic cancer, while leaving the insulin-producing islet cells and non-pancreatic tissue unharmed. The safety and metabolic profile demonstrated in our first-in-human safety study further supports evaluation of the potential for additive or synergistic effects in combination with current standard pancreatic cancer treatment.



About Sun BioPharma

Sun BioPharma Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing disruptive therapeutics for urgent unmet medical needs. The Companys development programs target diseases of the pancreas, including pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis; the Companys initial product candidate is SBP-101 for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer. SBP-101 was invented by Raymond Bergeron, Ph.D., a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida. Sun BioPharma has scientific collaborations with pancreatic disease experts at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the University of Miami, the University of Florida, the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, the Austin Health Cancer Trials Centre in Melbourne, Australia, the Ashford Cancer Centre in Adelaide, Australia and The Blacktown Cancer and Haemotology Centre in Sydney, Australia. The Companys independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) is Chaired by James Abbruzzese, MD, Professor of Medicine, Charles Johnson, M.D. Professor of Medicine, a member of the Duke Cancer Institute and Chief, Division of Medical Oncology at Duke University School of Medicine. Professor David Goldstein, FRACP, Senior Staff Specialist at the Prince Henry & Prince of Wales Hospital / Cancer Care Centre in Sydney, Australia is Co-Chair of the DSMB. Further information can be found at: www.sunbiopharma.com. Sun BioPharmas common stock is currently quoted on the OTCQB tier of the over-the-counter markets administered by the OTC Markets Group, Inc. under the symbol: SNBP. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For example, statements regarding the Companys next study, the timing and effects of the reverse stock split and potential eligibility and approval for listing on a national securities exchange are forward-looking statements. Any other statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as will, believes, may, anticipates, expects, estimates or plans) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the anticipated timing of first patient enrollment, our need to obtain additional capital, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results or timing of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, timing of necessary regulatory processes relating to the reverse stock split, and other material changes in our business that could jeopardize our ability to qualify for listing on a national securities exchange. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the Company and its business, particularly those disclosed from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Stockholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Contact Information: Investor & Media Contact: Tammy Groene  Sun BioPharma, Inc. 952 479 1196

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[November 01, 2018] Simlatus Announces New Chairman and CEO Richard Hylen

Grass Valley, CA, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- On November 1, 2018, the Company appointed its new Chairman and CEO Richard Hylen.

Mr. Hylen is the Founder of Satel Group Inc. and has a long successful history as the Managing Director of Turner Broadcasting Far East LTD, and as a Senior Executive of Viacom's San Francisco cable company while providing cable, fiber, satellite, wireless and CAT5 both domestically and to over 50 countries worldwide over the past 35 years. Richard formed the Satel Group in 2008 in the San Francisco Bay Area in order to provide video and Internet services using the most advanced technologies. His skill set encompasses successfully negotiating complicated licensing agreements with governmental entities, creating joint venture partnerships, developing strategic distribution relationships, financing, designing, installing and managing advanced technologies to provide consumers with video and Internet services. Mr. Hylen used his extensive corporate management expertise combined with his technical knowledge to create Satel Group, recognized as one of the nation's largest providers of DirecTV to high rise buildings in a major metropolitan market. The new Chairman and CEO, Richard Hylen, stated, We are very excited to work with Bob Stillwaugh, the former Chairman and CEO, in working together to combine both of our technologies to expand our business model in various metropolitan markets throughout the west coast. Both Mr. Stillwaugh and Mike Schatz, the former COO, will remain aboard operating the manufactring business in building audio/video systems under the Simlatus umbrella as President and Vice President, while providing Satel Group with new proprietary systems for our services. Simlatus has been manufacturing the HD212C for Direct TV over the past several years, and this device is a specialized protection switcher with video presence sensing on each input, and Simlatus will support Satel with our proprietary product needs, continue manufacturing their audio/video products for large broadcast networks, complete their Sync Pal products and continue their direction with Virtual Reality Products for the Broadcast markets.



Bob Stillwaugh, former Chairman and CEO, stated, We continue to manufacture specialized audio/video systems for various markets including Broadcast Networks and underwater exploration. Satel allows Simlatus more strength and a firm foundation to expand our markets and systems. I look forward to working with Richard Hylen and in the best interest of our shareholders. About: Based in San Francisco, CA, Satel provides High Speed Internet, and DIRECTV for Multi-dwelling buildings including: Businesses, Apartments and Condominiums, and Residential Communities since 2008. www.satelsf.com

Simlatus Corporation is a revenue company that manufactures and markets commercial High-Definition (HD) and Analog audio/video systems for the global broadcast studio industry. www.simlatus.com Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements. While these statements are made to convey to the public the company's progress, business opportunities and growth prospects, readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements represent management's opinion. Whereas management believes such representations to be true and accurate based on information and data available to the company at this time, actual results may differ materially from those described. The Company's operations and business prospects are always subject to risk and uncertainties. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ are and will be set forth in the company's periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Contact: Richard Hylen, Chairman and CEO (530) 205-3437

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[November 01, 2018] Fleetsmith Announces Dashboard, Audit Log for Improved Visibility, Accountability, and Compliance on Corporate Apple Devices

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Fleetsmith, the provider of secure, automated Apple device management, today announced two new product features that significantly enhance visibility, compliance, and security of corporate devices. The first is Dashboard, which proactively surfaces issues across the entire corporate device fleet so that administrators can pinpoint and address problems in a few clicks. The second is the audit log, a record of actions taken within Fleetsmith that helps teams stay accountable and simplifies compliance with standards like SOC 2. Dashboard is available to all admins now; the audit log feature will be available soon. Easy-to-Use Dashboard Improves Admin Awareness and Efficiency

Dashboard surfaces issues and insights automatically, making it seamless to gain insight into an entire fleet, operationalizing a best practice. It is included in the free Fleetsmith Intelligence product, letting admins see the state of their device fleet at no cost. Insights provided by Dashboard include: Enrollment : Devices that are not enrolled may be configured insecurely, but until they are enrolled, IT teams have no way of knowing it. That is why it is critical to enroll every device, and make sure they stay enrolled, since hackers can use one weak device as a beachhead to attack an entire company. Dashboard shows which employees have not yet enrolled their devices and which devices were previously enrolled but have stopped checking in.

: Devices that are not enrolled may be configured insecurely, but until they are enrolled, IT teams have no way of knowing it. That is why it is critical to enroll every device, and make sure they stay enrolled, since hackers can use one weak device as a beachhead to attack an entire company. Dashboard shows which employees have not yet enrolled their devices and which devices were previously enrolled but have stopped checking in. Disk encryption : Without disk encryption, anyone can copy all data off of a device, even if they do not have the device's password. Dashboard allows you to see which devices are not encrypted at a glance.

: Without disk encryption, anyone can copy all data off of a device, even if they do not have the device's password. Dashboard allows you to see which devices are not encrypted at a glance. OS Version : The only way to get all the security patches Apple releases is by running the latest version of the latest major OS release . Dashboard displays fleet-wide merics for OS version, allowing admins to easily track the rollout of new OS versions across their fleet.

: The only way to get all the security patches Apple releases is by . Dashboard displays fleet-wide merics for OS version, allowing admins to easily track the rollout of new OS versions across their fleet. Hardware health: Devices can fail at a critical moment due to dead batteries or full hard drives. Dashboard allows admins to identify these problems before they interrupt employees.



Fleetsmith Intelligence and Fleetsmith Managed . It makes it easier than ever to spot problems with Fleetsmith Intelligence, the first free product for fleet intelligence, and the first free product to include simplified enrollment through Apple's Device Enrollment Program (DEP). When combined with Fleetsmith Managed, Dashboard becomes even more powerful, giving admins the ability to solve any issue surfaced with a single click. These include OS and app installation, patching, disk encryption with automatic key escrow, remote lock and wipe, security settings enforcement, WiFi, and printer configuration.

"Dashboard acts as a power-up for Fleetsmith Intelligence, putting it ahead of many existing paid products in terms of ease of use and advanced functionality. And it makes remediation with Fleetsmith Managed as simple as a single click," said Zack Blum, CEO and co-founder of Fleetsmith. "Helping admins spot problems more efficiently has multiple benefitsit puts industry best practices within reach of smaller companies and lets larger IT teams streamline their workflows." Audit Log Keeps IT Teams Accountable and Compliant

Fleetsmith's audit log creates peace of mind for admins by providing a crucial audit trail of actions taken within Fleetsmith. With audit log, IT and security teams will be able to easily confirm which administrator performed important in-product actions, such as user management and deployment of apps and settings. This improves accountability and makes both internal and external audits easiera win for companies like banks, security firms, and healthcare providers that undergo frequent inspection to comply with rigorous security standards. "We're excited to bring our audit log feature to market, as this capability is critical for any security-conscious company and is especially important in highly-regulated industries. Our goal here is to make it easier than ever for companies to meet their exacting security standards with Fleetsmith," said Jesse Endahl, CPO, CSO and co-founder of Fleetsmith. The audit log will include: Actions taken and a description of what was performed

Who made a change (username of the administrator taking an action in Fleetsmith)

When the action happened (timestamp) To learn more about Fleetsmith, visit www.fleetsmith.com . About Fleetsmith

Fleetsmith automates device setup, fleet intelligence, app and OS updates, and security across a company's Apple device fleet. Founded by former IT and security leaders from Dropbox and Fandom, Fleetsmith combines world-class product and security engineering with a powerful, intuitive interface that makes advanced Apple device management available for everyone. Fleetsmith is based in San Francisco and backed by Index Ventures, Harrison Metal, and Upfront Ventures. Try it for free at fleetsmith.com . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fleetsmith-announces-dashboard-audit-log-for-improved-visibility-accountability-and-compliance-on-corporate-apple-devices-300741939.html SOURCE Fleetsmith

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[November 01, 2018] Charterhouse Holdings plc, a Leading Supplier of Corporate Clothing and Personalisation Solutions, Selects Columbus to Deploy ERP and B2B eCommerce Solutions for Dynamic Operational Visibility and Market Expansion

NOTTINGHAM, England, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- At a glance: Fully integrated ERP solution connects the organisation ' s brands, enabling real-time visibility and control of commercial and supply chain operations

Charterhouse's worldwide customer base to benefit from increased sales & marketing capacity through multi-channel enhancements Columbus, the global digital business services provider, has announced that Charterhouse Holdings is transforming its business operations with dynamic enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and a cloud-based eCommerce platform. The Columbus deployment allows Charterhouse to consolidate real-time data from its multiple brands under a common ERP system and boost sales through a state-of-the-art customer-focused eCommerce portal for its B2B operation. With a constantly expanding customer base and over 15,000 products to manage, Charterhouse needed an agile system to increase warehousing capabilities and improve its operational visibility. The Columbus deployment of Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operatons allows Charterhouse to connect diverse customer and product portfolios using one ERP system.



The solution introduces additional functionality including enhanced sales forecasting, integrated Business Intelligence and advanced customer relationship management to meet the insight needs of decision-makers across the organisation. The cloud-based Columbus eCommerce solution replaces an AspDotNetStorefront solution to give a more versatile and responsive online experience for customers. Miles Carter, Chief Executive Officer, Charterhouse Holdings

"The new solution helps us identify emerging business opportunities, increase productivity and provide a more timely, dynamic and personalised service to our customers. The depth of industry knowledge demonstrated by the Columbus team was a key factor in our decision-making process, and we continue to benefit from their training and expertise."

Simon Charlton, Commercial Director, Columbus UK

"Charterhouse wanted a long-term solution to unify previously separate business processes and bring their data under one roof. The technologies we are putting in place enable Charterhouse to discover new insights through real-time data where they previously couldn't and scale the whole solution in line with business growth." About Charterhouse Holdings

Charterhouse Holdings plc was founded in 1970 and today operates with three major brands. Kustom Kit and Vanilla maintain the rich history in garment manufacture, by offering a diverse range of apparel for personalisation. Xpres is the market leading brand for equipment and consumables supplied into the personalisation sector. http://www.charterhouse-holdings.co.uk About Columbus

Columbus is an international IT services company serving customers worldwide. We are experts in developing and providing digital business applications that help our customers in the digital transformation of their business. We are specialist within the industries retail, distribution, food and manufacturing. We've proved this through more than 28 years of experience with more than 8,000 successful business cases. Columbus has offices and partners all around the world. www.columbusglobal.com

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[November 01, 2018] PAL-V Premieres the First Commercial Flying Car in the Middle East

RAAMSDONKSVEER, Netherlands, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- After the successful introduction of the PAL-V's production model earlier this year at the Geneva International Motor Show(GIMS), Kuwait will have the honour to be the first to have their entirely dedicated PAL-V premiere. On the 12th of November 2018 PAL-V will have an opening ceremony at the Dutch Embassy in Kuwait. Where it will be shown to the GCC VIPs, the general public and the press. Combining flying and driving in one vehicle has been a dream for the past one hundred years. The question no longer is if a flying car will cruise the skies, but when. Since the GIMS, the overall interest toward the PAL-V Liberty by customers, investors and media, has been beyond expectations.Some car journalist defined the PAL-V Liberty as the most feasible flying car in the pipeline. It looks like the world is eagerly waiting on who will be the first to be remembered in history as the flying car pioneer. Fact is that PAL-V is finalising its las steps of pre-production certification: compliance demonstration. "It takes a lot of testing to prove that the PAL-V Liberty complies with the regulations," said Mike Stekelenburg, PAL-V's Chief Engineer. He continues: "We deliberately chose to design, engineer and manufacture our flying car with proven instead of immature technologies, complying with existing road and air regulations (EASA and FAA). This approach focuses on safety and enables a realistic and imminent product delivery date."



"I am honoured and proud to be invited by the Dutch Embassy in Kuwait to come and to introduce the PAL-V for the first time to the Middle East," says Dingemanse CEO of PAL-V. Recent years, many government institutes and private persons in the region expressed particular interest in the PAL-V Liberty's capabilities and advantages. It opens the door to a new form of mobility, enabling a more effective policing, border control, coast guard and first aid. According to Dingemanse, the potential in the GCC is exceptional. It's the perfect region to demonstrate the versatile employment of the PAL-V Liberty. Once full certification is granted in 2020 PAL-V will hand over the keys of the PAL-V Liberty to the first customers.

In the meantime, PAL-V's pioneer clients are building experience at flying schools around the globe in preparation for deliveries. For them, door to door FlyDriving is closer than ever. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pal-v-premieres-the-first-commercial-flying-car-in-the-middle-east-300742158.html SOURCE PAL-V International B.V.

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[November 01, 2018] Medsphere Supports Federal Efforts to Alleviate Opioid Epidemic

Medsphere Systems Corporation, the leading provider of affordable and interoperable healthcare information technology (IT) solutions and services, today endorsed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act signed into law by President Trump on October 24. After losing more than 70,000 Americans to drug addiction in 2017-almost 50,000 of whom succumbed to an opiate overdose-it is encouraging to see the federal government provide funds to fight this epidemic. But this crisis won't be remotely alleviated if the SUPPORT Act is not followed by additional funding, long-term programs at state and local levels, and additional efforts to shore up rural healthcare and ameliorate the desperation experienced by so many Americans. With that preface, Medsphere encourages Congress to take additional steps beyond the initial $6 billion devoted to opioid addiction, which also incorporates financial incentives for electronic health record (EHR) adoption by behavioral health providers. To hasten the development of a functional national healthcare IT network, Congress should also consider communication between healthcare IT platforms and alternative approaches to the provision of therapy in rural and underserved areas. "We're gratified to see this attention to the problem of addiction in America, and our appreciation goes out to the federal government," said Medsphere President and CEO Irv Lichtenwald. "While we are hopeful about the benefit this legislation can create, the opioid crisis is only the most recent spike in America's seemingly perpetual behavioral health conundrum. Knowing that, we ask that Congress devise and fund a long-term program oriented around local programs that begins to truly heal this tear in the American social fabric." At this junctre, Medsphere suggests a long look at HL-7's Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard. The FHIR standard has emerged as the frontrunner and is being embraced with greater frequency by vendors and their clients. Congress might also consider an incentive program for the adoption of telehealth solutions, which could potentially make behavioral health and other types of care available in the areas where hospitals are few and psychiatrists are nonexistent.



We urge both to spend additional time and money, and to consult with state and community leaders nationwide, while crafting a national behavioral health improvement plan that takes into consideration the various factors that gave rise to the opioid crisis. Without more comprehensive planning, a similar crisis in the near future seems inevitable. About Medsphere

Founded in 2002 and based in Carlsbad, Calif., Medsphere Systems Corporation is an organization of committed clinical and technology professionals working to positively impact patient care by delivering award-winning healthcare IT solutions for providers of every size and budget. Medsphere's CareVue is an acute and inpatient behavioral health-oriented portfolio of clinical products and services that leverages the VistA electronic health record (EHR) system developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS (News - Alert)). Medsphere's Government Services Division also applies that VistA expertise to development and testing projects for both VA and IHS. Using a vendor-independent approach to helping hospitals solve critical challenges, the Phoenix Health Systems division provides a host of healthcare IT services, including systems implementation, project management, remote service desk, end-user device management, application management and IT leadership. Medsphere's ChartLogic division enables better ambulatory care via physician practice EHR, revenue cycle management (RCM) and practice management systems and services. Whatever your healthcare IT challenge, Medsphere has a solution. Learn more about Medsphere at www.medsphere.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005204/en/

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[November 01, 2018] Survey Indicates 2018 Black Friday Shoppers Will Choose Comfort Over Chaos

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The ability to shop without leaving the comfort of your couch  a luxury that was unimaginable just two decades ago  continues to disrupt what used to be America's biggest in-store shopping day of the year. According to a recent nation-wide survey of 1,000 adult respondents, only 37% of Americans plan to brave the Black Friday crowds and visit physical stores. There is a general agreement amongst respondents that despite the appeal of the price reductions, physical stores are far too busy (67%) and are just not worth the hassle (31%). Traditionally characterized by increased foot traffic and aggressive consumer behavior, Black Friday is no longer a brick-and-mortar, battle-of-the-fittest extravaganza. In fact, in 2017 Black Friday went down in digital sales history, with American shoppers spending a record $5 billion in 24 hours online. Cyber Monday followed suit with a record-setting $6.59 billion in web-based sales. Consumers Demand Stress-Free Convenience This year, there is likely to be even fewer manic shoppers sprinting out of their homes at dawn, caffeinated and determined to snatch up the last ultra-discounted home appliance, laptop or handbag. Today's shoppers are happily lost in the world of online shopping  where the retail industry lies at the tips of their fingers anytime, anywhere, and from any device. Throw free shipping into the mix and it is no surprise that shopping has taken on a new face: feet up on the couch, warm dog snuggled on lap, movie streaming in the background, and glass of red wine in hand to help with difficult choices. "For the 2018 Black Friday festivities, Americans are trading in their physical shopping carts for online carts," said Janelle Dieken, senior vice president of Genesys (www.genesys.com), and an exper in customer experience solutions. "Convenience is king, but online shopping is hardly hassle-free if customers are met with difficulties making payments, trouble finding answers to questions quickly, lack of response when using live chat and, not to mention, security issues."



Shopping has become as much about the experience as the purchase. The decrease in attraction of the Black Friday experience is not an in-store customer service issue  only 8% of respondents in the U.S. cite a lower standard of service as a reason to avoid physical stores. However, to many shoppers' dismay, online purchases can still come with a high level of stress and frustration related to customer service. Digitalization has redefined the norms around communication between consumers and companies. But, when online interactions aren't handled expertly, they can leave cyber shoppers waiting (im)patiently at best. Or at worst, screaming profanities at incompetent chat bots or overwhelmed contact center agents. Companies can either fall victim to the digital chaos of holiday shopping or harness the opportunity by ensuring that communicating with customer support is an easy, pleasant experience  for all parties involved.

Can't Get Enough of Black Friday Trends? Here Are Some Additional Survey Findings The Black Friday retail experience holds the least attraction for Americans who have the most experience with it. Only 25% of those aged 55 and up plan to brave the crowds, while 60% of 25 to 34-year-olds will be diving head-first into the chaos.

The trend spans all regions of the United States , with only 31% of respondents in the Southwest likely to show up in person on Black Friday, versus a nation-wide high of 40% in both the Northeast and Western states.

, with only 31% of respondents in the Southwest likely to show up in person on Black Friday, versus a nation-wide high of 40% in both the Northeast and Western states. American men are more likely than women to shop in person on Black Friday, with 44% planning to visit stores versus only one-third of female respondents (33%). Black Friday is not dying  it's simply evolving. To adapt with the changing times, companies must build the infrastructure to ensure that the entire buying experience is personal and friendly for the consumer. Whether people plan to shop online or in-store, the anticipation game has begun. Retailers, if everything hits the fan on Black Friday, please remember this one simple thing: If you put your customers first, and address their needs, you will be rewarded  not just in the form of favorable seasonal revenue, either. Today, a positive brand reputation is inextricably tied to delivery of good customer experiences. Case in point: 72% of U.S. survey respondents say they have sometimes or always bought something from a business based solely on its reputation for customer service. And, a whopping 89% of respondents have taken action as a direct result of poor customer service. Survey Methodology The nationwide poll includes responses from 1,000 U.S. adults over the age of 18 and was conducted online and by email or text to mobile phones. Two-thirds of respondents were women. Genesys also conducted the same survey of equal pool size in both Germany and the United Kingdom (U.K.). Look for additional insights from the Genesys survey in the coming weeks. ATTENTION MEDIA: To see a slide deck with more highlights from the survey, please contact the Genesys media relations team at [email protected] or download it from the Genesys website Resources page:

https://www.genesys.com/collateral/2018_consumerinsightssurvey About Genesys Genesys powers more than 25 billion of the world's best customer experiences each year. Our success comes from seamlessly connecting employees and customers across channels, on-premise and in the cloud. Every day, 11,000 companies in more than 100 countries trust our #1 customer experience platform to drive great business outcomes and lasting relationships. Visit genesys.com . Contacts: Rachel Faulkner

Public Relations Director

Genesys

[email protected]

+1 317-715-8109 Lisa Hawes

Sterling Communications

[email protected]

+1 408-395-5500 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/survey-indicates-2018-black-friday-shoppers-will-choose-comfort-over-chaos-300741167.html SOURCE Genesys

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[November 01, 2018] VetBloom and MedCerts Bring Together Educational Excellence and Industry Expertise to Launch Online NAVTA Approved Veterinary Assistant Program

LIVONIA, Mich., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MedCerts has partnered with VetBloom to deliver a world-class online veterinary assistant program that not only meets the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) standards, but uniquely prepares students around the country to be job-ready in as few as 6-months. The VetBloom Veterinary Assistant Program is one of only four NAVTA approved programs in the United States to be delivered online, allowing unprecedented access for students wherever traditional classroom-based programs are not available, or NAVTA approved. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the nationally recognized Approved Veterinary Assistant examination to earn the AVA (Approved Veterinary Assistant) credential. "Approved Veterinary Assistants are vital members of the integrated veterinary healthcare team, and this collaborative approach is crucial to providing the highest level of care to patients and their human companions. We are thrilled to be partnering with MedCerts to be able to expand the reach of this program", said Patrick Welch, DVM, MBA, DACVO, Ethos Veterinary Health's Chief Knowledge Officer and founder of VetBloom. "This partnership is exciting because it represents a unique collaboration between leaders in education and industry," said Dana Janssen, MedCerts Chief Product Officer. "There is no better way to ensure students are job-ready than to offer best-in-class curriculum from an industry leader like VetBloom, anchored by MedCerts' proven model for positive student outcomes." To ensure that students gain the hands-on experience required to become an Approved Veterinary Assistant, externship opportunities are facilitated by the VetBloom team and delivered through veterinary hosptals across the country.



"Veterinary assistants play a vital role in veterinary hospitals. The demand for quality help is growing and we are thrilled to offer our students an opportunity to step into this high-demand job market," said Jason Aubrey, CEO of MedCerts. "This program allows us to combine our school's commitment to student development with the highest level of industry expertise, setting up our graduates for the ultimate success in their career." In their search for a synergistic partner, MedCerts sought out deal sourcing and advisory services, which were provided by CEU Advisory Group, who helped bring together VetBloom and MedCerts. The partnership sets a new benchmark for training excellence in the field of veterinary education.

About MedCerts

MedCerts is an e-learning school that helps students gain entry to new careers by building the knowledge, skills, and experience needed for certification in healthcare, IT and other emerging in-demand fields. MedCerts delivers certification and career training through HD-quality video-based instruction, virtual simulations, games and animations, and on-the-job training. Students receive individualized support, with daily progress monitoring and progress reports, exam preparation support, and career services on their path to employment. For more information, visit: www.medcerts.com About VetBloom

VetBloom is an innovative learning ecosystem featuring the expertise of the finest veterinary professionals in the industry, along with cutting-edge online instruction. Students learn though virtual instruction, interactive case-based scenarios and 3D simulations. VetBloom allows veterinary professionals to advance their skills from anywhere in the world. For more information visit: www.vetbloom.com About Ethos Veterinary Health

Ethos Veterinary Health is a national network of veterinary hospitals providing specialty and emergency care for pets. Ethos is focused on advanced veterinary medicine, along with providing high-quality, compassionate care that improves the lives of pets and their owners. Our approach includes a focus on transformative science, continuous learning and growth for team members and collaboration. For more information, visit: www.ethosvet.com About CEU Advisory Group

CEU Advisory Group provides Corporate Development and Private Equity solutions. Contact [email protected] to learn more or visit www.ceuag.com Media Contact

Rita Shelley

Senior Director of Marketing

MedCerts |[email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vetbloom-and-medcerts-bring-together-educational-excellence-and-industry-expertise-to-launch-online-navta-approved-veterinary-assistant-program-300742036.html SOURCE MedCerts

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[November 01, 2018] Verizon CEO to Keynote at CES 2019

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM today announced that Verizon (News - Alert) CEO Hans Vestberg will deliver a keynote address at the upcoming CES 2019. CES is the global showcase for 5G driving innovation across industries, from smart cities to self-driving vehicles, digital health and telecom. Vestberg's address will take place at 4 PM on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019 in the Venetian's Palazzo Ballroom. Owned and produced by CTA, CES 2019 will run Jan. 8-11, 2019 in Las Vegas. 5G networks will be 100 times faster and five times more responsive than today, with an extremely high data rate and low latency - transforming industries and providing endless possibilities for new services and applications. At CES 2019, the world's most influential tech event, Vestberg will explore the future of connectivity through 5G as it fuels new technologies and services that will blend our physical and digital worlds. Vestberg will take a deep dive into the impact of 5G that will change our world for the better - from building smart cities infrastructure to improving education, aiding first responders and beyond. "Verizon is paving the way for 5G, which will improve the lives of citizens around the world fundamentally changing how we live, work and play," said Gary Shapiro (News - Alert), president and CEO, CTA. "Only at CES can you touch, see and feel 5G's impact across industries and hear from global experts leading the charge to harness the potential of 5G and its impact on future innovation. We welcome Hans Vestberg to the CES keynote stage and look forward to hearing Verizon's plans for the future that will spur new markets, create new jobs and connect communities around the world." Vestberg was named chief executive officer of Verizon Communications, a leading provider of wireless, fiber-optic and global Internet networks and services, in August of 2018. He previously served as Verizon's chief technology officer and president of Global Networks, with responsibility for further developing the architecture for Verizon's fiber-centric networks. At Verizon, Vestberg has focused on delivering seamless experiences for customers over network assets. These assets consist of the U.S.'s leading and largest 4G LTE (News - Alert) network, the world's first commercial 5G broadband internet service, and residential fiber networks. As a global internet backbone, Verizon's undersea cable network carries much of the world's internet traffic, and fiber assets in 45 of the top 50 markets in the country. Verizon's latest products and services will be on display at CES 2019 in CES Tech West, located in the Venetian, Toscana #3705. Vestberg spoke on a 5G Keynote Talk at CES 2018 and ha also keynoted while CEO of Ericsson (News - Alert). He joins a dynamic lineup of confirmed CES 2019 keynote speakers, including AMD's (News - Alert) Dr. Lisa Su, IBM's Ginni Rometty and LG's Dr. I.P. Park. Additional keynote speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.



CES is the largest and most influential technology event on the planet, featuring 4,500 exhibitors across 2.75 million net square feet of exhibit space. The 2018 event attracted 182,198 attendees, including a record 63,784 international attendees, according to the official show audit. Conducted by Vault Consulting, LLC, the CES audit provides absolute verification of exhibition records, including direct on-site observation, examination of registration systems and testing of attendee records. CES 2019 will showcase life-changing technology, with leaders in the 5G revolution such as AMD, Ericsson, Intel, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Sprint and T-Mobile showcasing their latest 5G applications. The show also provides access to the very latest transformative tech such as artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, smart home, smart cities, sports, quantum computing and more.

Registration for CES 2019 is now open. For the latest exhibitor news and show announcements, visit CES.tech. About CES: CES is the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for 50 years-the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace. As the largest hands-on event of its kind, CES features all aspects of the industry. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM, it attracts the world's business leaders and pioneering thinkers. Check out CES video highlights. Follow CES online at CES.tech and on social. About Consumer Technology Association: Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is the trade association representing the $377 billion U.S. consumer technology industry, which supports more than 15 million U.S. jobs. More than 2,200 companies - 80 percent are small businesses and startups; others are among the world's best-known brands - enjoy the benefits of CTA membership including policy advocacy, market research, technical education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CTA also owns and produces CES - the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. Profits from CES are reinvested into CTA's industry services. UPCOMING EVENTS CES Unveiled New York

November 8, New York, NY CES Unveiled Las Vegas

January 6, 2019, Las Vegas, NV CES Media Days

January 6-7, 2019, Las Vegas, NV CES 2019

January 8-11, 2019, Las Vegas, NV CES Asia 2019

June 11-13, 2019, Shanghai, China View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005433/en/

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[November 01, 2018] Quest Solution Enters Airport Parking Vertical Using AI-Based Technology

Orders from the Salt Lake City, JFK, Newark and Dallas Forth Worth Airports

Parking Automation orders exceeded $3M in the first nine months of 2018 EUGENE, Ore., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quest Solution, Inc. (OTCQB: QUES), (Quest or the Company) a provider of Supply Chain and AI-based Machine Vision solutions, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, HTS Image Processing, Inc. (HTS), has been awarded a contract for the Salt Lake City International Airport to supply Machine Vision Sensors for Parking Automation as part of the airports $3.6 billion modernization effort. The company has also received orders for its AI-based solution for the JFK, Newark, Kansas City, Greater Rochester and Dallas Fort Worth Airports. Shai Lustgarten, CEO of Quest Solution, commented, As U.S. airports are making multi-billion dollar investments to modernize infrastructure, traffic flow and parking improvements are important upgrades designed to benefit travelers and ensure efficient airport operations. Our AI-based Machine Vision solution accomplishes that by enabling quick-in/quick-out parking lots, saving time and eliminating queues. As accuracy and quality drive the selection of our technology, we are pleased to consistently win airport projects and to increase our installment base in the U.S. The Parking Lots and Garages industry generates approximately $10 billion in revenue,1 which represents a lucrative new vertical for Quest in terms of growth and higher profit margins. As we negotiate new contracts and evaluate existing contracts, we intend to shift to a revenue sharing model with a portion of our customers in order to drive long-term profitability. Mr. Lustgarten concluded, In addition to this new vertical, we are focused on continuing to leverage our strong Fortune 500 customer base, offering them unique solutions that integrate our AI technology with Quest legacy products. About Quest Solution, Inc.

Quest Solution is a Specialty Systems Integrator focused on Field and Supply Chain Mobility. We are also a manufacturer and distributor of consumables (labels, tags, and ribbons), RFID solutions, and barcoding printers. Founded in 1994, Quest is headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, with offices in the United States.



Information about Forward-Looking Statements

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This release contains forward-looking statements that include information relating to future events and future financial and operating performance. The words may, would, will, expect, estimate, can, believe, potential and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which that performance or those results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time they are made and/or managements good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in demand for Quest Solution, Inc.s products, the introduction of new products, the Companys ability to maintain customer and strategic business relationships, the impact of competitive products and pricing, growth in targeted markets, the adequacy of the Companys liquidity and financial strength to support its growth, the Companys ability to manage credit and debt structures from vendors, debt holders and secured lenders, the Companys ability to successfully integrate its acquisitions, risks related to the sale of Quest Solution Canada Inc. to Viascan Group Inc. and other information that may be detailed from time-to-time in Quest Solution Inc.s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Examples of such forward looking statements in this release include, among others, statements regarding revenue growth, driving sales, operational and financial initiatives, cost reduction and profitability, and simplification of operations. For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting Quest Solution, Inc. please refer to the Companys recent Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which are available at http://www.sec.gov. Quest Solution, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law. 1 https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-trends/market-research-reports/other-services-except-public-administration/personal-laundry/parking-lots-garages.html

Investor Contact:

John Nesbett/Jen Belodeau

IMS Investor Relations

203.972.9200

[email protected]

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[November 01, 2018] Majesco Positioned as a Leader in the Magic Quadrant for P&C Core Platforms, North America

Majesco (NYSE American: MJCO), a global provider of core insurance platform software and consulting services for insurance business transformation, today announced that Gartner (News - Alert) has positioned Majesco as a Leader in the October 2018 Magic Quadrant for P&C Core Platforms, North America report. Majesco is recognized as a Leader for its completeness of vision and ability to execute. The report evaluated 15 solutions, with only 3 being recognized as a Leader. "North American market for P&C core systems continues to consolidate as buyers raise expectations and expand the scope of their modernization efforts to include broad platforms," wrote Jeff Haner, principal research analyst, Insurance, Gartner and author of the report. "Ecosystems forming around these core platforms are receiving greater attention from insurance CIOs." The report notes that core platforms include elements such as: Core systems, including core modules for: Policy management, which provides end-to-end policy management and issuance - including quoting, rating, underwriting, policy generation and statistical reporting Billing management, which supports the entire insurance billing and collections cycle, including functionality such as electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP) Claims management, which supports every phase of the claims process for P&C insurers, from first notice of loss (FNOL) through settlement and reporting

Data repository, which uses a reference data model to centralize data from both core systems that are a part of the platform and other external systems

Reporting and analytics, which provide prebuilt dashboards and reports with industry-specific key performance indicators and support for ad hoc analysis

Portals and apps, which provide customers, agents and suppliers with a variety of functions from any device, such as sales and self-service, lead management, collaboration, and billing

Integration accelerators, which extend the functionality of the core platform by tapping an ecosystem of third parties offering additional functional capabilities and data sources "Majesco is honored to be named a Leader by Gartner in the Magic Quadrant for P&C Core Platforms, North America," said Adam Elster, CEO of Majesco. "Core platform systems are the operational foundation on which insurance companies launch and run their business. Incumbent insurers, as well as startups and greenfields, increasingly recognize that to compete in the age of Digital Insurance 2.0, they need a cloud business platform with these capabilities that enables rapid product innovation and delivers speed to value including speed to implementation, speed to market and speed to revenue in days and weeks rather than years. Majesco has aggressively focused on innovating our current and new products to help our customers position themselves as the leaders in a new era of insurance." "Over the past year, Majesco has introduced new, innovative capabilities to our core solutions, Majesco P&C Core Suite, covering the areas of customer experience, data & analytics, distribution management, cloud operations and various ecosystem capabilities. Majesco also introduced Majesco Digital1st Insurance, a ground breaking microservices based platform to enable the next generation of new products, business models and customer engagement," commented Manish Shah, EVP Product at Majesco.



Majesco P&C Core Suite supports all lines of business for personal, commercial and specialty and provides pre-configured ISO content, including all rates, rules, forms, taxes, fees, and surcharges for 52 jurisdictions (including DC and Puerto Rico), and provides a well-experienced monthly bureau content update service. Together, the preconfigured bureau content and Majesco Bureau and Content Update Services are designed to provide agility, rapid product innovation, and speed to market, enabling insurance companies to introduce new products and reach new markets quickly and cost effectively. Majesco Enterprise Data Warehouse is pre-integrated with the Majesco P&C software portfolio. Majesco Digital1st Insurance, a ground-breaking digital and microservices based solution set designed to enable the next era of new business models, new products and customer engagement in the digital age, allowing insurers to embrace innovation and growth. Gartner Disclaimer

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Majesco Insurance business transformation is a journey of change and revitalization, a renaissance of Insurance. Approximately 160 insurance companies worldwide in P&C, L&A and Group/ Employee Benefits are transforming their businesses with Majesco's solutions. Our market leading software, consulting and services uniquely underpin the entire insurance value chain and are designed to empower insurers with the agility, innovation and speed needed to meet their transformation opportunities. Majesco's solutions include policy management, new business / underwriting, rating, billing, claims management, distribution management, BI/ analytics, predictive modeling, digital platform with mobile and portal, testing services, cloud services, bureau and content services, transformation services, consulting services and more. For more details on Majesco, please visit www.majesco.com. Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of management, are not guarantees of performance and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. These forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in Majesco's reports that it files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission and which you should review, including those statements under "Item 1A - Risk Factors" in Majesco's Annual Report on Form 10-K. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to: integration risks; changes in economic conditions, political conditions, trade protection measures, licensing requirements and tax matters; technology development risks; intellectual property rights risks; competition risks; additional scrutiny and increased expenses as a result of being a public company; the financial condition, financing requirements, prospects and cash flow of Majesco; loss of strategic relationships; changes in laws or regulations affecting the insurance industry in particular; restrictions on immigration; the ability and cost of retaining and recruiting key personnel; the ability to attract new clients and retain them and the risk of loss of large customers; continued compliance with evolving laws; customer data and cybersecurity risk; and Majesco's ability to raise capital to fund future growth. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as predictions of future events and Majesco cannot assure you that the events or circumstances discussed or reflected in these statements will be achieved or will occur. If such forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. You should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by Majesco or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified timeframe, or at all. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this presentation. Majesco disclaims any obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005049/en/

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[November 01, 2018] Virtual Instruments Announces Joint Webinar with 451 Research on Bringing an End to IT War Rooms

On Nov. 7, industry experts will highlight the technology challenges and tools that contribute to war room scenarios, and a new approach to eliminating the need for such inefficient problem-solving methods



SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtual Instruments , the leader in hybrid infrastructure management, today announced an upcoming joint webinar with 451 Research entitled  Stop the Nightmare IT War Room . Taking place at 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 7, the webinars featured speakers include Nancy Gohring, senior analyst at 451 Research, and Ryan Perkowski, senior director of product management at Virtual Instruments. Customers today expect applications and services to be available and fully performing at all times, and these demands bring unforeseen challenges to complex hybrid infrastructure environments. When an issue arises, the IT organization typically retreats to its war room with its disparate infrastructure and application monitoring tools to begin the troubleshooing process. However, siloed monitoring tools lack a common context and have no inherent understanding of the business impact of the applications. This means that teams within each silo cant identify and resolve the issue on their own, which leads to a vicious cycle of finger-pointing. As a result, what was initially a small issue can quickly turn into a major problem that directly impacts the bottom line.



Organizations can overcome this nightmare scenario by taking a proactive and collaborative approach to resolving infrastructure-related performance, capacity and utilization issues. During the webinar, 451 Research and Virtual Instruments will explain how this is achieved by discussing: The technology trends that led to the nightmare war room scenario

How siloed monitoring tools and organizational models exacerbate the problem

Infrastructure teams options for improving  or even eliminating  the war room

The expected benefits of solving inefficient war rooms To register for the upcoming webinar, please click here . To learn more about Virtual Instruments and its hybrid infrastructure management solutions  including the latest version of VirtualWisdom, the industrys most comprehensive hybrid infrastructure management and AIOps platform  please visit: https://www.virtualinstruments.com/

About Virtual Instruments

Virtual Instruments is the leader in application-centric hybrid infrastructure management. It provides comprehensive infrastructure instrumentation and performance analytics for enterprise data centers. The companys solutions give IT teams deep workload visibility and actionable insights into their end-to-end systems across the hybrid data center. Virtual Instruments empowers companies to maximize the performance, availability and utilization of their production IT infrastructure from the data center to the cloud. The privately held company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. For more information, visit https://www.virtualinstruments.com . About 451 Research

451 Research is a leading information technology research and advisory company focusing on technology innovation and market disruption. More than 100 analysts and consultants provide essential insight to more than 1,000 client organizations globally through a combination of syndicated research and data, advisory and go-to-market services, and live events. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in New York, 451 Research is a division of the 451 Group. Learn more and connect with 451 Research on Twitter and LinkedIn . Contact

Anne Stanley

10Fold for Virtual Instruments

[email protected]

+1 415 800 5383

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[November 01, 2018] Convoy and CurrencyFair meet with the Irish Minister of Business, Enterprise and Innovation

Affirming the company's strength in promoting FinTech HONG KONG, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Convoy Global Holdings Limited ("Convoy", "Convoy Global" or the "Company", stock code: 1019) is actively promoting the development of FinTech, not only being the partner of the FinTech Week organised by the Invest Hong Kong this year, but also, having the pleasure to meet with Heather Humphreys, the Irish Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, together with our strategic partner, CurrencyFair, to exchange views regarding the latest developments in FinTech. Convoy is committed to becoming an all-round international financial services enterprise. The development of the FinTech business is an essential component and the key strategy. The Company has introduced different innovative technology investment platforms to further enhance the business portfolio and to lead Hong Kong's FinTech connect with the world. In August 2018, Convoy has entered into a strategic partnership with CurrencyFair, an Ireland's leading provider of International Money Transfer services. Both paries work hand in hand with the cross-border payments and remittance services.



Michael Yap, Head of Venture Capital, Convoy Global said, "The meeting with representatives of the Irish Government affirms our unremitting efforts and strength in promoting FinTech. It is also a shot in the arm for our future development. Convoy will continue to actively explore more international renowned FinTech companies, introduce realm of professional, technology and operational knowledge, provide better services for the wealth enhancement of our customers, and prepare for virtual banking services to facilitate our community to enjoy the convenient service via FinTech." Edmond Leung, Manager Director, Convoy Payments Limited ("Convoy Payments") said, "As the first key project of Convoy's FinTech business development, the subsidiary company which is engaged in payment business, Convoy Payments Limited, and CurrencyFair have jointly formed a strategic cooperation payment service plan. It will be officially launched soon. Our customers in Greater China can take the lead in enjoying low-cost, high-efficiency and convenient international money transfer services through mobile payment. On the other hand, CurrencyFair's international customers can enjoy online Asian currency trading services."

Based in the capital of Ireland, Dublin, CurrencyFair is a global leading internal money transfer service provider with over 100,000 customers throughout the EU and Australia. CurrencyFair's platform boasts an advanced automated matching system that offers customers low-cost money transfers across multiple currency pairings. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/778429/Convoy_Fintech_week_currency_fair.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/778428/Convoy.jpg SOURCE Convoy Global Holdings Limited

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[November 01, 2018] University of Toronto and Amgen Foundation Partner to Bring Prestigious Amgen Scholars Program to Canada

Four-year grant offers Canadian undergraduate students the opportunity to gain

hands-on research experience with world-leading U of T researchers TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, the University of Toronto (U of T) is pleased to announce the launch of the Amgen Scholars Canada Program, an immersive research program that offers undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research, be mentored by some of U of T's world-renowned scientists, and deepen their understanding of medical biotechnology. This is the first time the Amgen Scholars program has been offered in Canada. Beginning in 2019, 15 undergraduate students from across Canada will be welcomed to Toronto for a 10-week research placement at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine and Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. The program aims to increase learning and networking opportunities for students committed to pursuing a career in science or engineering. During their time as Canada's Amgen Scholars, students will: Take part in important research projects at U of T, gaining hands-on lab experience and contributing to the advancement of science.





Be mentored by faculty, including some of the world's leading research scientists.





Attend scientific seminars, workshops and other networking events, including regional summer symposia where students will come together to share their research projects, learn about biotechnology and hear first-hand from leading industry and academic scientists. Canada's Amgen Scholars will also have the chance to experience Toronto's unique biomedical ecosystem. U of T is the research and educational hub within Toronto's vibrant network of world-leading hospitals and health care sites, and the only Faculty of Medicine in the vibrant and diverse Greater Toronto Area of six million people. Financial support for students is also a critical component of the program, which offers fully-funded research opportunities to students, independent of financial status. By helping aspiring scientists delve into world-leading biomedical research  and breaking down barriers they may face, whether due to socioeconomic status, geographical location, or belonging to historically marginalized groups  the Amgen Scholars Canada Program is poised to inspire and equip a new generation of homegrown health leaders and innovative researchers. Representatives of U of T and Amgen also expressed their support for the importance and value of the Amgen Scholars Program in Canada: "We're thrilled to be launching the Amgen Schlars Canada Program here at U of T. By offering valuable research experience to undergraduate students and prospective researchers across the country, and fostering connections with our leading investigators  this program is fueling tomorrow's innovations."  Professor Vivek Goel , Vice President for Research and Innovation, University of Toronto









, Vice President for Research and Innovation, "Students and trainees bring so many fresh ideas and perspectives to our work. We often keep in touch long after they move to other institutions, and the connections often lead to research collaborations down the road."  Stephane Angers, Associate Dean of Research and professor, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto





"We have this incredible ecosystem of collaboration. We have outstanding students, world-leading researchers and a strong interdisciplinary network that all come together to catalyze imagination, innovation and discovery."  Leah Cowen , professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto .







, professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, . "As the pace of innovation increases, so too does the need to educate the scientists of tomorrow. We look forward to further expanding the reach of the Amgen Scholars Program, which has already provided research opportunities to thousands of talented undergraduates at premier institutions around the globe, and now has the potential do much more."  Robert A. Bradway , chairman and chief executive officer at Amgen





, chairman and chief executive officer at Amgen "The world needs more talented scientists who are continually innovating, and Canada is an ideal incubator for thought leadership and scientific discovery. We are excited to foster science education in Canada , and to collaborate with the world-class researchers at the University of Toronto through the expansion of this proven, successful Amgen Foundation program."  Francesco Di Marco , vice president and general manager, Amgen Canada ABOUT THE AMGEN SCHOLARS PROGRAM Since its inception in 2006, the Amgen Scholars Program has made research opportunities at premier institutions possible for more than 4,000 undergraduate students from over 700 colleges and universities who have participated to date. Of those alumni who have completed their undergraduate studies, nearly 900 are currently pursuing an advanced graduate degree in a scientific field, and another 280 have earned their Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D. More than 500 are employed in scientific fields across 33 countries, with 99 percent of surveyed alumni saying the program impacted their academic or professional direction. Amgen Scholars is now hosted at 24 top institutions across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and for the first time in 2019, China, Singapore, Australia and Canada. The Amgen Foundation will commit more than $21 million to the Amgen Scholars Program through 2022, totaling a $74 million investment over 16 years. U of T is now accepting applications for the 2019 Amgen Scholars Canada Program, until February 1, 2019. For more information, or to apply, visit http://www.glse.utoronto.ca/amgen-scholars-canada-program and follow us on Twitter at @uoftmedicine, @UofTPharmacy and @AmgenFoundation ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO Established in 1827, the University of Toronto (U of T) is Canada's largest university, recognized as a global leader in research and teaching. The university consistently ranks among the top 25 universities in the world. Its distinguished faculty, institutional record of groundbreaking scholarship and wealth of innovative academic opportunities continually attract outstanding academics and students from around the world and across its three campuses. Known for the discovery of insulin, stem cells, the first electronic heart pacemaker and first lung transplant, U of T is the research and educational hub within one of North America's largest biomedical clusters. ABOUT THE AMGEN FOUNDATION The Amgen Foundation seeks to advance excellence in science education to inspire the next generation of innovators and to invest in strengthening communities where Amgen staff members live and work. To date, the Foundation has donated over $300 million to local, regional and international nonprofit organizations that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways. For more information, visit www.AmgenInspires.com and follow us on Twitter at @AmgenFoundation. ABOUT AMGEN CANADA As a leader in innovation, Amgen Canada understands the value of science. With main operations located in Mississauga, Ont.'s vibrant biomedical cluster, and its research facility in Burnaby, B.C., Amgen Canada has been an important contributor to advancements in science and innovation in Canada since 1991. The company contributes to the development of new therapies and new uses for existing medicines in partnership with many of Canada's leading health-care, academic, research, government and patient organizations. To learn more about Amgen Canada, visit www.amgen.ca. SOURCE Amgen Canada

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[November 01, 2018] Wilkinson Barker Knauer Named Law Firm of the Year in Communications Law for 2019 by U.S. News - Best Lawyers

Wilkinson Barker Knauer (WBK) is honored to announce that it has earned the distinction of being named the 2019 "Law Firm of the Year" by U.S. News - Best Lawyers for Communications Law. This marks the fourth time in the nine year history of "Best Law Firms" that WBK has been selected "Law Firm of the Year" in our category. Additionally, WBK is one of 74 overall "Best Law Firms" recipients across all disciplines out of 14,644 eligible firms nationwide. "The highest honor we ever receive is the confidence and trust of our clients to partner with them in advancing their goals," said WBK Managing Partner Bryan N. Tramont. "With that as our foundation, we tremendously appreciate the recognition once again afforded to our team by U.S. News - Best Lawyers and its researchers. We compete in a robust market with many talented practitioners and firms, making this honor all the more exceptional." Law firms receiving this designation are determined to have an impressive overall performance in U.S. News - Best Lawyers research in a given practice area and represent a significant showing in this Ninth Edition of "Best Law Firms." In addition, the Washington office has been named a Tier 1 firm in both Communications Law and Media Law (both nationally and regionally). The Denver office has been named a Tier 1 firm in Colorado for Communications Law. The "Best Law Firms" rankings involve a rigorous evaluation process that includes client and lawer evaluations and peer review from leading attorneys. To be eligible, a law firm must have at least one lawyer who is included in Best Lawyers in that particular practice area. Currently, WBK has 21 Best Lawyers.



Visit U.S. News - Best Lawyers to see the rankings and for information on the methodology of these rankings. Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP, one of the largest law firms in the nation dedicated primarily to the practice of communications and energy law, is ranked as a "first tier" firm by Chambers USA (Telecom, Broadcast, and Satellite: Regulatory), and Legal 500 (Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory), and is the only firm to be named Law Firm of the Year in communications law four times by U.S. News - Best Lawyers (2012, 2014, 2018 and 2019). The firm, with offices in Washington, D.C., and Denver, Colorado, advises clients ranging from global Fortune 100 companies to small start-ups in regulatory, transactional, privacy, cybersecurity, consumer protection, intellectual property, corporate and litigation matters involving all aspects of communications and energy law, at both the state and federal levels.

To learn more about Wilkinson Barker Knauer, visit www.wbklaw.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) (@WBKLaw). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005677/en/

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[November 01, 2018] True Patriot Love and GardaWorld join forces to help Quebec women Veterans

MONTREAL, Nov. 1, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - True Patriot Love Foundation and GardaWorld are proud to announce the expansion of the Veterans Transition Network program to support female Veterans in Quebec. The program, the first of its kind in the province, is designed to support women Veterans who are struggling in their transition to civilian life and who are at a greater risk of anxiety, depression and isolation. GardaWorld values the expertise of Veterans and Reservists because of their shared values and work ethic. The company, which has a worldwide presence, is pleased to have hundreds of employees with a military profile. "We are an employer of choice for Veterans and Reservists," said the Honourable Christian Paradis, Senior Vice President at GardaWorld and former Federal Minister. We recognize the value of their skills and abilities developed within the Canadian Armed Forces. " "In fact, we offer quality jobs that are perfectly aligned with their military training: security, cash services, international logistics, risk management consulting services, etc. A veteran can therefore use her knowledge at GardaWorld to give a second wind to her career " added Martin Regimbald, Vice President, Human Resources. Behind this new program is a team of dedicated professionals for whom the rehabilitation and well-being of female Veterans is at the heart of their concerns. "At True Patriot Love Foundation, we're committed to providing essential support and resources to Canadian military members, Veterans and their families, and we're proud to have partnered with the Veterans Transition Network since 2012," said Bronwen Evans, CEO, True Patriot Love Foundation. "We are grateful for GardaWorld's support that will enable the expansion of the proram into Quebec, which will help support the many women who need assistance with their transition to civilian life."



The new program can also count on the support of VIA Rail as a transportation partner. VIA Rail has had very close ties with the Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans for many years. "VIA Rail applauds this initiative for women who have served so courageously. Diversity and equity underpin our efforts to recruit and promote our workforce," said Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President of VIA Rail Canada. "By partnering with GardaWorld and True Patriot Love, VIA Rail supports participants in this innovative program aimed at improving their well-being and helping them prepare for a return to civilian life. Among other things, VIA Rail will provide transportation for the participants."

The new training program for Quebec Veterans, offered by True Patriot Love in partnership with GardaWorld and with VIA Rail's support, is specifically designed to improve the quality of life for these women. It is a program to facilitate and ease the transition of women Veterans to civilian life, thanks to a team of professionals who have their future at heart. The amount of the financial contribution from GardaWorld and its partners will be announced tonight at an event at the Saint-James Club in Montreal. About GardaWorld

GardaWorld is the world's largest privately owned security services company, offering cash services, physical and specialized security solutions and, with the Crisis24 portal, the dissemination of vetted information related to international security. A partner of choice for private companies, governments, humanitarian organizations, and multinationals with personnel all over the world, GardaWorld employs more than 65,000 highly skilled, dedicated professionals who serve a diverse clientele in North America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. In the complex world we live in, our reputation is based on the quality of our services, as well as the commitment and integrity of our people. For more information, visit www.garda.com. About True Patriot Love Foundation

True Patriot Love Foundation (TPL) is a national charity dedicated to providing Canadian military and Veteran families with the support they need and the hope they deserve. Since 2009, TPL has provided $25 million to fund innovative research and support 750 community-based programs across the country. By addressing the unique challenges resulting from military service including mental health, physical rehabilitation, transitioning to civilian life, and the special needs of children, TPL has helped change the lives of more than 25,000 military families. For more information, visit www.truepatriotlove.com. About VIA Rail Canada

As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (viarail.ca) and all its employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and safely transports nearly four million passengers annually. The Corporation was awarded five Safety Awards and three Environment Awards by the Railway Association of Canada since 2007. For more information, visit: www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail. SOURCE Garda World Security Corporation

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[November 01, 2018] AmeriHealth New Jersey Offers Health Plans on the Federal Marketplace for the Sixth Consecutive Year

Beginning today New Jersey residents can choose from 10 different AmeriHealth New Jersey health plans across the bronze, silver and gold metallic levels on the federal marketplace. On average, AmeriHealth New Jersey members will see a 14 percent decrease in premiums for 2019 before tax credits are applied to the premium.. This is in part due to the recent New Jersey-specific legislation signed by Governor Murphy, including the individual mandate and the reinsurance program. New Jersey is one of only two states nationally that will have an individual mandate in place. "With so much uncertainty surrounding health care reform, we are very pleased to reduce the cost of health insurance for our members in 2019," said Mike Munoz, market president for AmeriHealth New Jersey. "We understand that everyone has competing financial pressures and health care is another expense to add to the list, but the health care system can only work properly if everyone participates. Whether this is your first time purchasing individual coverage, or if you are a returning customer, our team is ready to help." Licensed sales agents are available by phone and can be reached at 1-888-879-5331. Residents can also visit - ahnj4u.com - to find the health care coverage that is right for them. The website includes a subsidy estimator that allows individuals to quickly determine if they qualify for financial assistance and how much it will cover for 2019. New Jersey residents also have the option of purchasing a plan directly from AmeriHealth New Jersey, which offers some cost-saving alternatives. There are 13 plans available off exchange, including three plans in the Select Suite that provide a 10 percent savings compared to their similar on-exchange counterparts. Off-exchange health plans are not subsidy eligible. Regardless of whether health care coverage is purchased on or off the individual marketplace, individuals are encouraged to make health plan selections by November 30, 2018 to ensure ID card delivery by January 1, 2019. Important dates to remember:







November 30 The recommended date for individuals to enroll in an AmeriHealth New Jersey health plan to ensure their January invoice reflects their new plan and that they receive their 2019 ID cards by January 1, 2019. December 15 The last day to enroll in a health plan for 2019. January 1, 2019 The first day new health care coverage begins.

This is the sixth consecutive year AmeriHealth New Jersey has participated in the federal marketplace. "Despite the exit of other insurers over the years, we have remained committed to our community and the individual market," said Munoz. "This year we are also expanding our efforts to provide Hispanic residents assistance with enrolling in individual health insurance plans." AmeriHealth New Jersey will have Spanish-speaking licensed agents available to answer questions and enroll eligible individuals at local events throughout open enrollment. Open enrollment runs today through Saturday, December 15. For more information on health plans available from AmeriHealth New Jersey visit amerihealthnj.com/enroll. About AmeriHealth New Jersey For nearly 25 years AmeriHealth New Jersey* has been dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve. Our members are at the center of everything we do. Since the onset of the Affordable Care Act, we have been committed to offering health plans on the Individual Marketplace, which has expanded access to coverage for New Jersey residents. We are exclusively focused on New Jersey with plans designed to meet the unique needs of individuals, small- and mid-sized businesses, municipalities and boards of education across the state. We also provide administrative services to self-funded groups. Named one of the Best Places to Work for the past seven years, AmeriHealth New Jersey is located in Cranbury, NJ. For more information visit amerihealthnj.com. *AmeriHealth Insurance Company of New Jersey | AmeriHealth HMO, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005685/en/

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[November 01, 2018] Chainlink Acquires Town Crier from the Initiative for Cryptocurrencies and Contracts

PRAGUE, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ethereum Devcon 4 Conference -- Chainlink announced today that it has acquired Town Crier , the first working approach for trusted execution environment (TEE)-based smart contracts, built by the Initiative for Cryptocurrencies & Contracts (IC3), which includes faculty from Cornell Tech and Cornell University. Chainlink will oversee all future development of the technology. Town Crier is the world's leading trusted hardware-based oracle system. Following this acquisition, Chainlink, the foremost decentralized system for providing smart contracts with external data, will integrate the Town Crier technology into their decentralized oracle network. The combination of these two leading projects creates a clear technical leader for securely providing smart contracts with the key external inputs they need to function. Former Chief Scientist at RSA, current IC3 Co-Director, and Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute professor, Ari Juels, who is the co-inventor of Town Crier, says, "Chainlink is the most qualified team to seize the baton and bring Town Crier to the next stage of development. I'm confident that Chainlink's leadership will result in high production quality, a raft of new features, and greatly improved usability. Integration of Town Crier into the Chainlink platform will help solve the vital problem of smart contract connectivity by bolstering both data integrity and query confidentiality." Town Crier is the first system to successfully use trusted execution environments (TEEs) to securely trigger smart contracts on a live/mainnet smart contract network (Ethereum). Today's smart contract systems lack trustworthy sources of data, as currently deployed oracles provide only weak provenance and confidentiality assurances. The Town Crier system leverages trusted hardware (Intel SGX) to provide a strong guarantee that data comes from an existing, trustworthy source. It also provides confidentiality, enabling smart contracts to support confidential queries and even manage user creentials.



As the world's leading developer of decentralized oracles, Chainlink provides reliable inputs and outputs for smart contracts on any blockchain. Smart contracts provide the ability to execute tamper-proof digital agreements, which are considered highly secure and highly reliable. In order to maintain a contract's overall reliability, the inputs and outputs that a contract relies on also need to be secure. Chainlink provides a reliable connection to external data, allowing smart contracts to act on and generate useful events in the real world. "We're thrilled to take over development of Town Crier and incorporate it into Chainlink's decentralized oracle network," says Sergey Nazarov, CEO of Chainlink. "Working with Ari Juels and everyone at Cornell has been an immense pleasure for our entire team, and we look forward to working together with them and the rest of the academic security research community to create secure smart contracts that can meaningfully react to and affect key events outside of their own network."

For more information about Chainlink and Town Crier, visit:

https://chain.link/ and http://www.town-crier.org About: The Initiative for Cryptocurrencies & Contracts (IC3): IC3 is an initiative of faculty members at Cornell University, Cornell Tech, EPFL, ETH Zurich, UC Berkeley, University College London, UIUC, and the Technion, based at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech in NYC. For more information about IC3, visit: http://www.initc3.org/ Chainlink: Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network that enables smart contracts to securely access off-chain data feeds, web APIs, and traditional bank payments. Chainlink is consistently selected as one of the top blockchain technologies by leading independent research firms such as Gartner. Chainlink is well known for providing highly secure and reliable oracles to both large enterprises ( SWIFT ) and leading smart contract development teams. Cornell Tech: Cornell Tech brings together faculty, business leaders, tech entrepreneurs and students in a catalytic environment to produce visionary results grounded in significant needs that will reinvent the way we live in the digital age. Cornell Tech's world-class faculty, graduate students, researchers, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral entrepreneurs are focused on tech for impact. They conduct groundbreaking research, collaborate extensively with tech-oriented companies and organizations, and launch their own startups. Cornell Tech has seven Masters programs, including two dual-degree programs with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology through the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute. Key to Cornell Tech is its relationship with New York City -- the campus has a dedicated K-12 initiative to bring tech education into local schools, and the WiTNY program, a partnership with City University of New York to encourage more young women to pursue degrees and careers in tech. Cornell Tech's Roosevelt Island campus opened fall 2017. When fully completed, the campus will include two million square feet of state-of-the-art buildings, over two acres of open space, and will be home to more than 2,000 graduate students and hundreds of faculty and staff. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chainlink-acquires-town-crier-from-the-initiative-for-cryptocurrencies-and-contracts-300741835.html SOURCE Chainlink

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[November 01, 2018] Enerjisa Enerji partners with Plug and Play to bring innovation to the Energy Industry

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Plug and Play, an active early stage investor and global innovation platform headquartered in Silicon Valley, California USA, announces its partnership with Enerjisa Enerji. Through this partnership, the Turkish energy company has furthered its commitment to work with key industry stakeholders and disruptive startups to find the best solutions for their innovation strategy. "We have learned that a healthy and strong ecosystem can be a great enabler for us while dealing with industry challenges in our corporation," said Gul Erol, Enerjisa Enerji's Chief HR and Information Officer. "Our customers want simplicity and relevancy and we have to differentiate ourselves by providing the most relevant solutions and products for them." "This is a great segway for energy startups to globalize their offerings and access a new region through our ecosystem. Through this partnership, our goal is to connect Enerjisa Enerji with the companies that can join them in their digital transformation," said Wade Bitaraf , Founder and Director of Plug and Play's Energy & Sustainability program.



The energy sector continues to undergo significant changes in technology, business models, and customer experience. The leaders of the power and gas industry are ready to take a collaborative approach in tackling their external innovation challenges. Through Plug and Play, corporations join a consortium of forward-thinking companies that are ready to partner with and invest in startups. About Enerjisa Enerji

Enerjisa Enerji A.S. manages two main business lines of electricity distribution and sales with operational excellence; it reaches 9.2 million customers in 14 provinces and provides distribution services to more than 20 million users. Meanwhile, Enerjisa Enerji A.S provides significant contributions to sustainability through our electricity distribution investments and operations focused on human, technology and solutions. In line with the activities, Enerjisa Enerji A.S. aims to create value for our partners, customers, employees, suppliers and community by assessing new opportunities in the sector. About Plug and Play Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 20 locations globally giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 6,000 startups and 280 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. We provide active investments with 200 leading Silicon Valley VCs, and host more than 700 networking events per year. Companies in our community have raised over $7 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club, and PayPal. For more information, visit www.plugandplaytechcenter.com Media Contact

Allison Romero

[email protected]

(408) 524-1457 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/enerjisa-enerji-partners-with-plug-and-play-to-bring-innovation-to-the-energy-industry-300742126.html SOURCE Plug and Play

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[November 01, 2018] Research with Voya Finds Small Changes to Retirement Enrollment Website Can Drive Positive Outcomes

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), is sharing new findings today from research conducted in association with the Voya Behavioral Finance Institute for Innovation. In a working paper titled "Save(d) by Design," scientists from Carnegie Mellon University, City, University of London and UCLA1 published results from a pioneering field study that involved more than 8,500 employees across 500 workplace retirement plans. The workers, who were auto-enrolling into their employer-sponsored 401(k) plan, visited their respective enrollment websites to either confirm, decline or make personal adjustments to their savings selection. The study examined what would happen to their choices when three types of design enhancements were made to the site. These changes included: 1) moving important plan information (i.e. the default savings rate) closer to where the individual was prompted to act; 2) simplifying and standardizing the language associated with the enrollment options; and 3) changing from a single color design on the election buttons to three "traffic light" colors. "When it comes to helping workers with their retirement security, the industry has historically focused on automatic enrollment and providing generous match incentives as the primary tools for moving them in a positive direction," said Charlie Nelson, CEO of Retirement and Employee Benefits for Voya Financial. "While we should continue to apply these important strategies, this latest research suggests that making simple adjustments to website architecture presents another promising way to improve the choices of auto-enrolled workers - something that can be attractive to an employer that is not in a position to change its match level or plan design." The findings revealed that small digital changes can lead to big results in terms of greater personalized enrollment, more employees taking advantage of the full company match, increased savings and improved long-term financial security.2 Highlights included the following: 1. Greater enrollment personalization: The number of employees who personalized their enrollment increased by 15 percent. Among those who personalized, the average contribution rate was 7.8 percent, compared to 3.4 percent for those who accepted auto-enrollment. 2. Greater take-up of full company match: The enhancements resulted in a 19 percent increase in the share of employees who took advantage of the company's full match benefit. This demonstrated how optimized enrollment design could actually increase the effectiveness of existing matching incentives. 3. Greater plan savings and improved retirement security: The design changes also led to an increase in savings levels, boosting the average contribution rate by 62 basis points, or roughly 10 percent across all digital enrollees. That lift was equivalent to what one would expect from increasing the typical employer match by 62 percent. "Because employees don't often adjust their initial contribution rates after enrollment, these initial increases due to digital design can lead to meaningful improvements in long-run retirement security," said Dr. Shlomo Benartzi, UCLA Anderson School of Management professor and a senior academic advisor to the Voya Behavioral Finance Institute for Innovation. "The most compelling result was the shift toward personalization. When people personalize their plan choices, it suggests that they are being reflective and thinking about the best possible solutions for themselves. So it is great news that digital design enhancements can help increase the percentage of people who personalize their savings decisions." This new evidence further suggests that by adjusting online enrollment architecture, employers have an opportunity to generate improvements that are similar to if they substantially increased their match program. "If a company is looking to improve participant savings and overall plan engagement, making small digital enhancements to an enrollment website can be a powerful and cost-effective strategy," said Richard Mason, head of Behavioral Finance at Voya Financial. "This is some of the first evidence we have seen to show that digital design matters in an online enrollment setting. We encourage plan sponsors and advisors to explore the potential benefits that can come with a deeper understanding of digital design." Voya's Behavioral Finance Institute for Innovation is focused on gaining deeper insights into the decisions of American workers regarding their financial and retirement planning activities. By merging behavioral science with the speed and scale of the digital world, the Institute seeks to create large-scale solutions designed to help improve individual retirement outcomes. For more information and to view the findings from the current working paper or past studies, please visit Voya.com/behavioralfinance.







1. Saurabh Bhargava, Lynn Conell-Price, Richard T. Mason, and Shlomo Benartzi. "Save(d) by Design," Working Paper, October 2018. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3237820. 2. The tested enhanced design led to a 9 percentage point increase in the share of employees who personalized enrollment (on a baseline of 60 percent), an 11 percentage point increase in the share of employees taking full advantage of their employer match (on a baseline of 58 percent), and 62 basis point increase in the average contribution rate by employees (on a baseline of 5.41 percent of income).

About Voya Financial Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), helps Americans plan, invest and protect their savings - to get ready to retire better. Serving the financial needs of approximately 14.3 million individual and institutional customers in the United States, Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $8.6 billion in revenue in 2017. The company had $543 billion in total assets under management and administration as of September 30, 2018. With a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible - one person, one family, one institution at a time - Voya's vision is to be America's Retirement Company. Certified as a "Great Place to Work" by the Great Place to Work Institute, Voya is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. Voya has been recognized as one of the 2018 World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute; one of the 2018 World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune magazine; as a member of the Bloomberg (News - Alert) Gender Equality Index; and as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" on the Disability Equality Index by Disability:IN. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter (News - Alert) @Voya. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005654/en/

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[November 01, 2018] CSAA Insurance Group Funds Forest Restoration to Mitigate Wildfire Risk

CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer, joins a small group of private financiers to invest in a new Forest Resilience Bond that funds the upfront costs of forest restoration, while earning investors returns from the multiple agencies that benefit from the mitigation work. Developed by Blue Forest Conservation and the World Resources Institute, the pilot project raises $4 million in private capital to finance forest management in 15,000 acres of the North Yuba River area of Tahoe National Forest. The National Forest Foundation will lead the forest management work on the ground: managing invasive plants, cutting down small trees, clearing out shrubs, and burning off ground cover that can fuel wildland fires, for example. Healthier, thinner forests reduce the risk of severe fires, improve watershed health, and protect water resources. "Investing in healthy forests is good for the state, good for AAA members, and good for us as an insurer with thousands of customers living in areas at risk of wildfires and other disasters," said Linc Walworth, vice president of investments at CSAA Insurance Group. "We earn a good return while helping the environment and our customers. What a great combination in a sngle investment," he said.



The bond is the first of its kind, and supporters hope it will serve as a formula for infusing forest restoration with private financing. The Forest Service pays what it can to keep public forests healthy, but its budget is stretched as money is spent increasingly on firefighting rather than on maintaining healthy forests. Blue Forest Conservation contends that a public-private approach to funding healthy forests is more important than ever, especially as communities deal with the dual threats of mega-fires and droughts. The private financing generated by the bond allows public agencies to accelerate the pace and scale of restoration treatments by making funding available upfront.

Other organizations investing in the Yuba bond pilot project include The Rockefeller Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and Calvert Impact Capital. The Yuba Water Agency, a utility provider that recognizes the benefits of restoration to its local water quality, air quality, economy and environment, has committed $1.5 million over five years to reimburse investors. The California state government has also committed $2.6 million in grant funding to the project. The Tahoe National Forest will provide in-kind support and services and has provided all the resources associated with planning and permitting the project. "The bond demonstrates a collaborative approach to funding forest health treatments that benefit everyone both ecologically and economically," said Blue Forest Conservation Managing Partner Zach Knight. "We think this pilot can serve as a template for any state struggling to fund forest restoration work." Upon successful completion of the pilot project, Blue Forest Conservation and the World Resources Institute plan to launch a second phase of restoration work that will cover a much larger area of the Yuba River watershed. The team is also working to identify other landscapes across the West where the Forest Resilience Bond could play a role in promoting forest and watershed health, and mitigating wildfire risk. "We are honored to be among the early supporters of the bond, and we're eager for the Yuba pilot to be a success, so others will see the benefit in investing in similar restoration projects around the state and country," Walworth said. "The more funding we can create for forest restoration, the faster the work can get done, and the faster we can reduce our risk to destructive forest fires and other disasters." About CSAA Insurance Group CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer, offers automobile, homeowners and other personal lines of insurance to AAA Members through AAA clubs in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 1914, the company has been rated "A" or better by A.M. Best for 90 years, and is one of the top personal lines property casualty insurance groups in the United States, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The company has been repeatedly named one of the 50 most community-minded companies in America by Points of Light. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005194/en/

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[November 01, 2018] Moody's Analytics Expands its Award-Winning Data Alliance

Moody's Analytics, a global provider of financial intelligence, has expanded the Data Alliance so that members can now securely upload data for all accepted asset classes and all regions through the Data Alliance Portal ("the Portal"). It is now more convenient and more secure for Data Alliance members to contribute data and collect credit risk benchmarking insights in return. The Data Alliance's global database continues to grow and now includes 100 million Commercial & Industrial (C&I) private firm financial statements, $398 billion in Commercial Real Estate (CRE) loan balances covering 354 MSAs, and 63% of all Project Finance loans originated since 1983. Protecting the confidentiality of member data is paramount. With all data submissions now made exclusively through the Portal, we have strengthened the program's data security. "Our members look to the Data Alliance for meaningful insight into their portfolio risk," said Jean Liu, Senior Director at Moody's Analytics. "Being able to use the Portal for all their submissions makes getting those insights faster, easier, and more secure." Adding to our CRE release earlier this year, Project Finance, Asset Finance, C&I, and Agriculture are among the asset classes for which members can now contribute data and receive insight through the Portal. The Data Alliance also continues to expand globally, including a focus on European CRE and African C&I. "We're pleased that Data Alliance members can now contribute data and collect insight for all Portal asset classes," said Doug Johnson (News - Alert), Director at Moody's Analytics. "In particular, agricultural lenders will welcome the availability of agriculture lending data and best practices." We are also continually looking at other Moody's Analytics solutions for ways to enhance the Data Alliance. For example, a recent initiative to deepen portfolio analysis builds on our RiskFrontier solution and gives Data Alliance members and clients of the RiskFrontier solution the ability to compare their lending profile to peer group benchmarks for economic capital and profitability. The Data Alliance earned Moody's Analytics the award for Credit Data Provider of the Year in the 2018 Risk Technology Awards. This win added to the growing list of awards for Moody's Analytics, including Technology Vendor of the Year in the 2018 Risk Awards. Click here to contact the Data Alliance team for more information including the exclusive benefits of being a member. About Moody's Analytics Moody's Analytics provides financial intelligence and analytical tools to help business leaders make better, faster decisions. Our deep risk expertise, expansive information resources, and innovative application of technology help our clients confidently navigate an evolving marketplace. We are known for our industry-leading and award-winning solutions, made up of research, data, software, and professional services, assembled to deliver a seamless customer experience. We create confidence in thousands of organizations worldwide, with our commitment to excellence, open mindset approach, and focus on meeting customer needs. For more information about Moody's Analytics, visit www.moodysanalytics.com. Moody's Analytics is a subsidiary of Moody's Corporation (NYSE:MCO). MCO reported revenue of $4.2 billion in 2017, employs approximately 12,600 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 42 countries.







moodysanalytics.com twitter.com/moodysanalytics linkedin.com/company/moodysanalytics

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005745/en/

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[November 01, 2018] NTT DATA to Host 9th International Innovation Contest for Technology Startups

NTT DATA announced today the launch of its 9th Open Innovation Contest. Since 2014, the company has hosted the competition to invite startups from around the world to submit ideas for businesses that overcome specific technology and societal challenges. Regional contests will be held in 20 cities across 18 countries worldwide, with each contest winner earning a place at the grand finale in Tokyo, Japan on March 13-14, 2019. The overall contest winner will receive in-kind contributions - a dedicated team, including consultants and accelerators from NTT (News - Alert) DATA, who will work with the winners for three months on business development to help make their idea a reality. For more information on the contest please visit this link. NTT DATA will host two events in the U.S. where finalists will present their submissions to a live audience including a panel of judges. These events will take place in Palo Alto (News - Alert), California, on January 30, 2019 and in Boston, Massachusetts, on February 1, 2019. The deadline for applicants to enter the U.S. contest is November 16, 2018 by 5 p.m. (JST). Finalists will be selected by December. Please visit this link to enter.



"Through the Open Innovation Contest, we offer contestants access and exposure to our network and our own R&D leaders at NTT DATA," said Eric Clark, Chief Digital Officer, NTT DATA Services. "We are serious about supporting startups in their innovation efforts." NTT DATA welcomes proposal submissions for a collaborative business from any startup in the following fields:

Healthcare & Life Sciences Drug trial patient recruitment and retention Serialization of drug supply chain to reduce cost and avoid counterfeits

Financial Services, Insurance and Payments Open banking to control personal information when creating new accounts Connecting blockchain solutions to payment solutions

Automotive & Internet of Things Aftermarket automotive ownership tracker Enhancing IoT security Manufacturing IoT to support health of the manufacturing process

Robotic Process Automation & Back Office Automating Docker security updates

Storefront & Digital Marketing

Data Distribution Smart transportation solution to manage vehicle and connected city data

Disruptive Social Innovation Supporting global trade with a digital chain of custody Intelligent legal case assistants for courts

Past winners have experienced significant success through collaboration with NTT DATA. Grand Champion 5.0, Social Coin, worked with NTT DATA to jointly develop social media listening solutions by leveraging artificial intelligence and is currently selling this service globally. Additionally, Grand Champion 7.0, Gestoos, is now implementing their AI proof of concept with an NTT DATA client. For more information on previous achievements please visit this link. For more information and how to apply, please visit http://oi.nttdata.com/en/contest or send an inquiry to [email protected] About NTT DATA NTT DATA is a leading IT services provider and global innovation partner headquartered in Tokyo, with business operations in over 50 countries. Our emphasis is on long-term commitment, combining global reach with local intimacy to provide premier professional services varying from consulting and systems development to outsourcing. For more information, visit www.nttdata.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005699/en/

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[November 01, 2018] Goldlinks Announce Partnership with Bizkey, Bringing GGC to the Masses as Payment

SINGAPORE, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 31, 2018, when the whole blockchain industry was celebrating the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Bitcoin Whitepaper, global gold industry blockchain alliance Goldlinks announced the signing of strategic partnerships with BUMO, a leading international commercial public blockchain platform, and Bizkey, the blockchain-based Asian smart POS terminal and an offline payment system using digital currencies, expanding the company's business ecosystem. With the partnerships, Goldlinks has established a presence across the entire industry chain from the support for the underlying technology infrastructure to application scenarios and settlement channels when the digital currency is used to complete a transaction. The date of the announcement was chosen as a way to pay homage to Satoshi Nakamoto, the developer of Bitcoin. Furthermore, Bizkey is launching 'Token Day' in Singapore from October 31st to November 18th. Token Day is a campaign to familiarize the public with cryptocurrency in a retail setting. During this period, 30 retailers clustered around Chinatown in Singapore will accet various cryptocurrencies as payment. Sebastian Seow, co-founder of Goldlinks, was invited to attend the launch ceremony of the event.



During the event, the two companies said that they plan to further deepen their cooperation and knowledge-sharing in various areas, including applications for digital currencies and offline payment. Bizkey will support gold-backed digital currency GGC (Global Gold Cash) issued by Goldlinks as a terminal payment tool in daily consumption scenarios. This also means that the gold-backed digital currency will use Bizkey as its settlement entry to fully open the C-terminal payment channel. Bizkey is a mobile payment solution provider of digital currencies that furnishes users with offline retail payment solutions. It allows merchants to accept crypto currencies seamlessly with point-of-sale(POS) devices. The Token Days event is intended to encourage consumers purchasing and spending with crypto.

GGC, issued by Goldlinks, is a blockchain-based, gold-pegged digital currency. The third-party gold custody and third-party independent audit system guarantee full authenticity and security of its underlying asset. The stability and scarcity of gold determines its stable price. Compared to other digital currencies with violent fluctuations in prices, GGC, which is pegged to the stable price of gold, will be better accepted as a payment tool. Prior, GGC was already being used by many multinational trade companies to finalize international trade settlements. Reuters earlier released a news article, in which it reported that a South Korea-based company had received GGC as a form of payment then exchanged the digital currency for a batch of gold bars from Brink's, the world's largest cash and precious goods management company. As a groundbreaking and more efficient international trade settlement tool, GGC has gradually played an increasingly significant role in the real economy. In the future, GGC plans to collaborate with Bizkey and other strategic partners to apply GGC in a growing number of daily consumption scenarios, offering a more efficient, convenient and safe payment tool for consumers worldwide. SOURCE Goldlinks

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[November 01, 2018] Huobi MENA Announces Partnership with AI Trader and Launches Hybrid Intelligence Trading Mode

AI Trader, one of the most advanced trading platforms powered by Artificial intelligence, integrates Huobi MENA's cutting-edge trading platform technology and launches its Hybrid Intelligence trading mode. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AI Trader, an autonomous digital asset trading ecosystem and Huobi MENA, part of Huobi Group's worldwide network of digital asset exchanges, announced a partnership today to offer users the ability to trade with the power of deep learning artificial intelligence (AI). AI Trader also announced the launch of its Hybrid Intelligence Trading mode, developed on the basis of high-frequency trading (HFT) industry core principles. Hybrid Intelligence Trading enables users to activate technical indicators to analyse market trends and patterns to execute trades. These indicators include Exponential Moving Average (EMA) crossovers, Relative Strength Index (RSI), Bollinger Bands, Stochastics and more. During the launch, AI Trader announced an exclusive flat 40% discount to all users across the subscription packages. Once a Huobi MENA account is created, users can simply click this link to apply the discount. In addition, Huobi MENA is also offering COMMISSION FREE trading in the month of November to all new users who join Huobi MENA. AI Trader's spokesman, CMO Santosh Sarma said, "We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Huobi MENA. The partnership is a giant leap forward in our vision to bring a fundamental shift in the way crypto traders are trading today. We wish to offer the AI technology, which was only available in the hands of established hedge fund and asset management firms till now, to everyone." He went on to mention that: "Huobi MEN is the ideal choice of exchange for us. Huobi Group is not just one of the top three digital asset exchanges by trading volumes, but at its core, only Huobi offers carefully selected secure projects to its users, excluding those with low or no liquidity. The exchange has world-class architecture and the highest standards of security to safeguard our traders' interests from cyber-attacks."



Huobi MENA's Co-Founder Mohit Davar affirmed, "At Huobi, we believe that Artificial Intelligence is not just the future but also the present. The strategic partnership with AI Trader enables our users to apply the latest analytical trading tools, thus alleviating the burden on our traders. Our partnership with AI Trader underlines our vision to offer cutting edge solutions to our users." Shantnu Saxena, GM and EVP of Huobi MENA, stated, "We are sincerely excited to witness the evolution of the Hybrid Intelligence trading models, which signifies a future step through AI integration into our systems. This partnership fit well with our strategy to continuously innovate."

Huobi MENA users can securely trade on the AI Trader platform using their API keys. Their funds will remain in their accounts. Upon the completion of a trade, the results are reflected in their Huobi MENA account. The development teams at AI Trader and Huobi MENA have closely collaborated to ensure an unparalleled trading experience, while allowing users to use AI Trader to select and execute their trades. About Huobi Group: Huobi MENA is the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia branch of Huobi Group. Consisting of ten upstream and downstream enterprises, Huobi Group is the world's leading blockchain company. Established in 2013, Huobi Group's accumulative turnover exceeds $1 trillion. It proudly provides safe, secure, and convenient cryptocurrency trading and asset management services to millions of users in 130+ countries. For more information, please visit: www.huobimena.com

About AI Trader: AI Trader features three breakthrough-trading modes that are revolutionizing the digital assets trading industry. In addition to the newly launched hybrid mode users can trade in AI mode, where artificial intelligence reviews and makes trading decisions based on both past and real-time market information. Users simply choose a strategy and press play while the AI does the trading. In OCO mode, the platform offers you the simplicity to trade on all pairs with the ability to place BOTH a stop loss and a take profit level simultaneously, ensuring that only one or the other is executed. The ecosystem was conceived by one of the world's largest mining operations (Kingdom Mining), which is based in Dubai. Since its inception in May 2018, AI Trader has onboarded a wave of traders on to the platform, and the product has been reviewed and lauded by industry leading publications and many crypto influencers. For more information, please visit: https://aitrader.ai Promotion: Claim your 40% discount across all standard subscriptions at AI Trader https://app.aitrader.ai/payment/huobimena Disclaimer: Trading is subject to market risks and AI Trader or Huobi MENA in no form guarantee returns. Media Contact:

Tingyu Dong, +6585227502, [email protected]

Triuzla Green, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/huobi-mena-announces-partnership-with-ai-trader-and-launches-hybrid-intelligence-trading-mode-300742325.html SOURCE Huobi MENA

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[November 01, 2018] Wells Fargo Deploys Mobile Response Unit to Panhandle to Help Customers Impacted by Hurricane Michael

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced it has deployed its Mobile Response Unit to provide housing recovery assistance as well as help for auto, credit card, personal lines/loan, student loan and small business loan customers in the Panhandle and surrounding areas impacted by Hurricane Michael. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005126/en/ Wells Fargo (News - Alert) Mobile Response Unit The Wells Fargo Mobile Response Unit will be stationed at the following location: 112 W. 23rd Street, Panama City, FL 32405 Customers can receive in-person assistance from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Central time weekdays, and from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Central time Saturdays, beginning Wednesday, Oct. 31. "We want our customers in the Panhandle and surrounding areas who have been impacted by Hurricane Michael to know that we're here to support them," said Kelly Smith, Region Bank president for North Florida. "The deployment of our Mobile Response Unit to Panama City reflects our commitment to helping these customers recover as quickly as possible." Wells Fargo's Mobile Response Unit is a 75-foot, heavy-duty commercial "office on wheels" designed to bring valuable information directly to Wells Fargo customers after a disaster. The Mobile Response Unit has private offices and is equipped with computers and cellular data feed with satellite backup. It is powered by self-contained generators. Specialized team members on board are prepared to provide in-person assistance to a variety of customers, including: Home mortgage and home equity customers

Auto loan customers

Credit card customers

Personal line of credit/loan customers

Student loan customers

Small business loan customers Wells Fargo's deployment of its Mobile Response Unit to the Panhandle follows the company' donation of $1 million to support Hurricane Michael relief efforts, with $500,000 going to the American Red Cross and the remaining $500,000 to be disbursed in the coming weeks to nonprofits located in affected communities.



Disaster Relief Customer Assistance Information Wells Fargo is committed to providing support to customers and clients affected by Hurricane Michael, including reversing certain fees - such as late fees - for our lending products, including credit cards, auto loans, personal loans and lines of credit, and waiving Wells Fargo fees for customers using non-Wells Fargo ATMs. Customers who want to discuss their financial needs should call 800-TO-WELLS (800-869-3557), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and Home Equity customers can contact Wells Fargo to discuss potential payment and disaster assistance options or access information at Disaster Assistance and Property Damage Support site. Home Mortgage: 888-818-9147, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central time, and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central time.

Home Equity: 1-866-355-1540, Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time, and Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central time. Auto loan customers can request payment assistance for up to 90 days and discuss available options for the filing of a Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) claim, if applicable. Auto loan customers: 800-289-8004, Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Central time, and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central time. Wells Fargo Consumer Lending customers (credit card, retail services, student loans, personal loans and lines of credit) who are affected by the Hurricane can request payment assistance and waiving of fees for up to 90 days. Personal loans: 877-269-6056, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time, and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central time.

Personal lines of credit: 800-946-2626, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Credit cards: Call the number on the back of the card or call Wells Fargo at 800-642-4720 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Education financial services: 800-658-3567, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. Wells Fargo Small Business Lending customers who are affected by the Hurricane can request a payment deferment and waiver of late fees for up to 90 days on their Small Business Line of Credit, Small Business Credit Card, Commercial Loan, Wells Fargo BusinessLoan Term Loan, Business PrimeLoan, Equipment Express Loan, Commercial Equity Line of Credit, Commercial Real Estate Loan, FastFlex Small Business Loan or FastFlex Small Business Line of Credit. Customers can contact the National Business Banking Center at 800-225-5935, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Retail small business customers impacted by the hurricane are encouraged to call Wells Fargo, 800-225-5935, for more information and to discuss their options. Wells Fargo Insurance Services has also contacted clients in impacted areas to provide support and expertise. Customers in the impacted area who participate in an employer-sponsored 401(k) plan provided by Wells Fargo may be eligible to access their retirement savings. For more information, customers should call 800-728-3123. Customers of Wells Fargo Merchant Services who are in need of assistance with their merchant processing due to the impact of Hurricane Michael can call 800-451-5817. Affected merchant customers who contact Wells Fargo by Nov. 16 can receive a complimentary Clover Go card reader that works with a mobile device and, will enable their business to accept card payments. The one-time cost for the card reader is waived; however, payment processing costs from using the card reader will still apply, as will cellular service data rates as described by the provider. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 8,050 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 38 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune's 2018 rankings of America's largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005126/en/

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[November 01, 2018] Agile Marine Solutions' Integrative Mobile Technologies Leads Sector With Multi-SIM Instruments Delivering More Reliable Coverage And Faster Speeds

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Agile Interoperable Solutions (AIS), www.aisinterop.com, the leading provider of interoperable, unified command and control communications solutions, announces the creation of Agile Marine Solutions featuring technologies that resolve issues related to congested marine Wi-Fi, spotty cellular connections or no connections whatsoever when cruising or offshore. The marine line of ruggedized, long-range, multi-SIM card, smart routing communications technologies will be on display at the world's largest afloat show the 59th Annual Fort Lauderdale Boat Show October 31-November 4. AIS will be exhibiting and demonstrating its industry first technologies in conjunction with E.C. Ruff Marine its authorized reseller. "Our goal is to create integrative communications technologies capable of operating in any environment and to increase the carrier flexibility, speed, range and lower the cost of communications overall," said CEO Vernon Guillermo. "That's why we are offering the 16, 4 & 2 SIM card options that we believe are as competitive a line of communications tools available and cover the needs of most boaters/yachtsmen no matter who their current cellular carriers are. Our technology offers the ability to conveniently and seamlessly switch from LTE to satellite and back, we call it smart routing, and will cover a range of up to 25 miles offshore before automatic smart routing to satellite." The Marine CORE unit is a LTE communications solution for yachts and ships that reduces satellite costs and provides a bigger internet connetion when near shore. Marine CORE has sophisticated software onboard to manage cell tower hand offs as you move to maximize signal strength and the ability to automatically search for the best throughput connection available. The bonded LTE aggregates all cellular connections to maintain session persistence even if one or more cell connects drop due to the ship travelling out of range. The LMR extension functions in the background to detect loss of service to the trunked radio network and send the transmission over the VPN secure LTE connection. This requires no action by the operator. The unit is housed in a billet milled aluminum case for marine, mobile and portable applications making it perhaps the most flexible option available today. It will be available for order at the show and can be ordered on the web site with an MSRP of $4,195. The 16-card application sells for an MSRP of $11,895.



AIS will also be offering a paired-down version of the Marine CORE featuring a 2 SIM card configuration without the embedded satellite smart routing technology but with the same portable flexibility for an MSRP of $2995 at the show and on the web site. In summary, here's What Marine CORE is all about:

Smart Routing for automatic switching between LTE and satellite services and back to LTE to reduce sat usage

for automatic switching between LTE and satellite services and back to LTE to reduce sat usage Intelligent software to scan for the best LTE connection available all the time

No moving parts to be affected by ship movement

4 cellular LTE radios (carrier agnostic)

Automatic switching between carriers for expanded coverage

On-board SIM cards directly in the unit and virtual download from datacenter SIM library

Large coverage area secure Wi-Fi for multiple devices and calling via compatible cell phones

GPS tracking embedded in the unit

Interconnect points for mobile data units

Conformally coated boards and billet aluminum construction for durability

Passively cooled for wide range of temperatures All AIS technologies are an extension of its flagship product, CORE (Common Operating Radio Engine). AIS CORE technologies have proven themselves on the field under the harshest of circumstances around the globe with users such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Doctors Without Borders and are now being deployed by US municipalities and the federal government. All AIS CORE products are Band 14 capable, ready to support the FirstNet network. For more information about Agile Interoperable Solutions & Agile Marine Solutions, its activities at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show and its full line of land-based and marine CORE technologies, and to schedule an interview with CEO Vernon Guillermo, please contact Sheryar Wahid at 954-605-2942 or [email protected] Contact Sheryar Wahid

954-605-2942

s[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agile-marine-solutions-integrative-mobile-technologies-leads-sector-with-multi-sim-instruments-delivering-more-reliable-coverage-and-faster-speeds-300742383.html SOURCE Agile Interoperable Solutions

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[November 01, 2018]

US Army awards Raytheon $191 million contract for multi-mission radar

TEWKSBURY, Mass., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a $191 million contract for Ku-band radio frequency radars. KuRFS, an advanced electronically scanned array system, fills an immediate U.S. Army operational need for a counter-unmanned aerial vehicle radar.

Already deployed, KuRFS delivers precision fire control as well as "sense and warn" capability for multiple missions including detection of rocket, artillery, mortar and swarming UAS threats.

"Seeing threats  like swarming drones  as soon as possible on the battlefield is essential to protecting critical assets and saving soldiers' lives," said Andrew Hajek, senior director of tactical radars at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "KuRFS makes this possible by delivering a unique combination 360-degree situational awareness, precision and mobility."

KuRFS enables defense against multiple threat types through integration with he Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System, 50-caliber guns and 30 mm cannons. The radar also supports high-energy laser and the Coyote weapon system in both a ground mounted or vehicle mounted configuration.







Raytheon' KuRFS is able to quickly address the urgent needs of the Army through a model of rapid-turn development and deployment. This reduces time to fielding, while providing enhanced flexibility to adapt to a quickly-changing threat environment in the drone space.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2017 sales of $25 billion and 64,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 96 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Follow us on Twitter.

www.raytheon.com

Media Contact

Jackie Gutmann

+ 1.781.879.2789

[email protected]

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SOURCE Raytheon Company
[November 01, 2018] Fennemore Craig Expands Legal Services Offerings With Immigration Practice

Fennemore Craig, a leading Mountain West law firm, has announced a new Immigration Practice led by longtime immigration attorney Margo Chernysheva. Her firm, MC Law Group, will formally join Fennemore Craig on November 1, 2018. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005858/en/ Margo Chernysheva, Director, Immigration Law, Fennemore Craig (Photo: Business Wire) "Over our 133 years, we have grown Fennemore Craig to encompass the kinds of legal services practices that are relevant and valuable to our clients. Immigration is a prime example, which is an important topic to many at this time, and especially relevant across the communities of the Mountain West," noted James Goodnow, president and chair of Fennemore Craig's Management Committee. Chernysheva's team will focus on providing legal services covering the full spectrum of immigration law:



Business Immigration

E1 E2 Investor Visas

EB-5 Investor Visas

Employment Immigration

Family Law

Fiance Visas

Mediation

Arbitration "Helping people and businesses navigate the complexities of immigration law is my passion. Joining the Fennemore Craig family creates opportunities which apply that passion to serve clients across the globe," said Chernysheva. "Especially for business clients, being a part of a firm with such breadth of legal services, means we can seamlessly support their unique needs related to immigration, labor and employment and other litigation and transaction legal issues." The addition of Chernysheva -- who will join the firm as a director -- and her team expands Fennemore Craig's Las Vegas, Nevada presence and adds to the well-established Labor and Employment group, represented across the whole of Fennemore Craig's footprint in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada.

"Fennemore Craig's Las Vegas team is strengthened with Margo and her team joining us," said Las Vegas Office Managing Partner, Mark Hawkins. "Our team is excited to add her expertise, and we're confident that the immigration practice will add value for our clients in Las Vegas and beyond to address the complex landscape businesses and people are working through." For more about Fennemore Craig's Immigration Practice and complete legal services offerings, visit FennemoreCraig.com. About Fennemore Craig: Since 1885, Fennemore Craig, a NLJ 250 firm, has served businesses, Mountain West communities and people through their breadth and depth of legal services and commitment to quality legal work. Over the course of a century, Fennemore Craig has worked with clients on issues ranging from water rights in the West, business formation, mining, gaming and cross-border trade. Today, Fennemore Craig serves businesses of all sizes from their presence in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada. Learn more about the legal services offered at FennemoreCraig.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005858/en/

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[November 01, 2018]

Burns & McDonnell Broadens East Coast Presence With Opening of Greenville Office

GREENVILLE, S.C., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Having supported hundreds of facility and infrastructure projects along the East Coast, Burns & McDonnell is expanding operations with a new office in Greenville, South Carolina. The 100 percent employee-owned engineering, architecture, construction, environmental and consulting firm plans to hire 50 local employees for the office within the next three years. The growth in the region is part of firm's nationwide effort to hire more than 1,000 professionals annually.

The firm's new 2,300-square-foot office space is located at 124 Verdae Blvd. With a focus on facilities and infrastructure needs in the region, the Greenville office will support government, manufacturing and process, healtcare, higher education, energy and utility clients. Backed by a nationwide network of more than 6,000 professionals, the team will offer a full range of planning, design, construction and commissioning services.







"We're committed to providing great service, solutions and leadership for our clients and the communities in which we live and work," says Trevor Jones, Burns & McDonnell engineering manager in Greenville. "Opening an office in Greenville will allow us to expand our support of the region and hire diverse, local talent to plan, design and construct projects important to the success of our clients."

Burns & McDonnell ranks among the top 10 design firms and the top 20 manufacturing firms in the U.S., according to Engineering News-Record. The firm is also recognized as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2018 and as a best place to work by more than 20 publications across the country.

"Our employee ownership model provides a framework for career growth and success for employees," says Jones. "It's created a team-oriented, entrepreneurial culture, that attracts and retains the best and brightest professionals in the industry."

For photos and support materials, please visit our MEDIA KIT.

About Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies made up of more than 6,000 engineers, architects, construction professionals, scientists, consultants and entrepreneurs with offices across the country and throughout the world. We strive to create amazing success for our clients and amazing careers for our employee-owners. Burns & McDonnell is 100 percent employee-owned and is proud to be on Fortune's 2018 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit burnsmcd.com.

Contact: Elle Martens, Burns & McDonnell

816-822-3147

[email protected]

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SOURCE Burns & McDonnell
[November 01, 2018] Sonora Quest Laboratories Partners with uMETHOD Health to Advance the Care of Chronic Diseases with Precision Medicine

TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonora Quest Laboratories, Arizona's leading provider of diagnostic testing and information services, has announced a partnership with uMETHOD Health, a health technology company offering the first platform for Alzheimer's disease based on advanced artificial intelligence technology. Through the partnership, healthcare providers will have access to the RestoreU METHOD via Sonora Quest for their patients experiencing memory loss. The platform includes lab tests and individualized care plans to assess and minimize risk of developing Alzheimer's, and to help slow the progress of the disease in its early stages. "Alzheimer's disease is of great concern to many of the healthcare providers and patients we serve, and Sonora Quest is proud to be the first and only lab in Arizona to offer this service. We believe this partnership furthers our mission to offer innovative solutions that empower healthcare providers and patients with the necessary tools to improve outcomes," said Christina Noble, chief growth officer at Sonora Quest Laboratories. Precision medicine is an emerging medical approach that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment and lifestyle. It moves beyond a one-size-fits-all approach, allowing doctors to understand with more accuracy the treatments and strategies that will work best for any given patient. As a result, demand for this approach is growing, as certain complex diseases are proving harder to manage using monotherapy approaches. One such complex disease is Alzheimer's. Every 65 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's. Nationwide deaths have increased by 123 percent, yet the disease has been notoriously difficult to treat; over 300 drugs have failed in the FDA process over the last 20 years. Most doctors agree -- and multiple studies have demonstrated -- that personalized multi-domain approaches work best. "I have seen the impact of Alzheimer's disease on the Arizona community first hand," says Marwan Sabbagh, M.D., director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, and a member of uMETHOD Health's Scientific Advisory Board. "Research shows that multi-domain approaches to managing Alzheimer's disease are an important first line of defense and they can be applied today."



The RestoreU METHOD provides a personalized combination approach by employing artificial intelligence to interpret data from a patient's bio-specimens, demographics, medical history, lifestyle and more. The technology matches the data against a vast body of scientific research on Alzheimer's disease, resulting in individualized plans that help doctors manage or slow the progress of the disease. "Four years of testing and refining uMETHOD's technology has led to some very exciting clinical outcomes. As a result, this year has been focused on scaling our solutions to reach more people," says Vik Chandra, uMETHOD cofounder and CEO. "What better way to achieve this goal than in partnership with the nation's largest integrated laboratory system. We are thrilled to work with Sonora Quest, a company that shares our deep commitment to an approach that employs technological innovations to dramatically improve lives."

"Data-driven personalized treatments are the future," Noble adds. "At Sonora Quest, we intend to lead in the precision medicine space with a goal of continuing to bring new, innovative solutions to our communities." About Sonora Quest Laboratories

Sonora Quest Laboratories, a joint venture between Banner Health and Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), is part of the nation's largest integrated laboratory system with approximately 3,100 employees serving more than 23,000 patients every day throughout Arizona. Sonora Quest Laboratories is the market share leader in clinical laboratory testing in Arizona, performing more than 60 million diagnostic tests per year. Sonora Quest Laboratories offers a local comprehensive test menu which encompasses routine, molecular, prescription drug monitoring, genetic/genomic, women's health and pathology testing services. Ninety-eight percent of all testing is performed at our primary testing facilities located in Tempe, Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott and Yuma. Sonora Quest Laboratories is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) which is the gold standard in laboratory accreditation, helping laboratories to maintain accuracy of test results and ensure accurate patient diagnosis. This accreditation ensures the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients as CAP inspectors examine laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and records, and overall management.

About uMETHOD Health

Seventy-five percent of adults over 65 have more than one chronic disease and consume 86% of healthcare spend in the United States. uMETHOD Health offers next-generation, precision medicine methodologies that empower physicians to better manage outcomes and costs of these complex chronic diseases through customized care. For more information visit www.umethod.com . MEDIA CONTACTS:

Helen Bertelli

202-465-1468

[email protected]

Lauren Strait

[email protected]

480-998-2600 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sonora-quest-laboratories-partners-with-umethod-health-to-advance-the-care-of-chronic-diseases-with-precision-medicine-300742537.html SOURCE uMETHOD Health; Sonora Quest Laboratories

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[November 01, 2018] Lookout Puts the Trust in Zero Trust With New Post-Perimeter Security Solutions

Lookout, the leader in securing the post-perimeter world, today announced a unique approach to cybersecurity designed to protect businesses as their employees increasingly work from outside the corporate perimeter. With integrations to Okta, VMware and other leading technology partners, Lookout brings security and compliance to today's digital workforce without compromising productivity, privacy or user experience. Today, business apps and data have moved to the cloud and employees have gone mobile. For most businesses, this means their data may be accessed from devices they don't know or trust, over unsecured Wi-Fi networks they don't control. Traditional perimeter-based security strategies - once the backbone of enterprise security - simply no longer apply. However, that doesn't mean critical information can't be protected. It just means a different approach is required - a post-perimeter approach. "Gartner (News - Alert) predicts that 80% of worker tasks will take place on a mobile device by 2020."* Bad actors are acutely aware of this trend and are already taking full advantage of it. In fact, more than half of Lookout's Safe Browsing users have encountered a malicious link in the last year. The acceleration of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies only compounds this risk, as social media and mobile messaging apps used for personal purposes can be compromised to phish employees and steal corporate data. "In the post-perimeter model, access control mechanisms move from a single, corporate perimeter to every endpoint and user in the enterprise," said Aaron Cockerill, Chief Strategy Officer at Lookout. "This shift has huge implications for Lookout, as we have the largest mobile endpoint footprint in the cybersecurity market today. With cloud adoption on the rise and a growing dependence on mobile technology, Lookout will play a major role in this new security paradigm." According to Lookout, the post-perimeter model necessitates two actions: Critical security functions must move to the endpoint, and

Zero Trust security model must be adopted to protect corporate data.



Putting the Trust in Zero Trust The Zero Trust access model is centered on the belief that organizations shouldn't automatically trust anything, whether inside or outside their perimeter. To establish trust and gain access, users must both prove their identity and validate their device is free from cyber threats. A device that has been compromised cannot be trusted and shouldn't be granted access.

Lookout offers enabling technologies to advance the Zero Trust model on the mobile endpoint, including: Continuous Conditional Access (CCA), where users must continually validate that their device is free from cyber threats to gain access to corporate resources.

(CCA), where users must continually validate that their device is free from cyber threats to gain access to corporate resources. Phishing & Content Protection, which guards businesses from phishing attacks across all channels, including social media apps, messaging apps, SMS and more. Partners and Enterprises Embrace the Lookout Vision for a Post-Perimeter World Today, products such as the VMware Workspace ONE digital workspace platform operates with identity solutions such as Okta Identity Cloud, to control authentication and access to corporate resources based upon user identity and authentication policies. As part of the Workspace ONE Trust Network, Lookout and VMware are collaborating to help provide customers with a comprehensive and modern approach to enterprise security. To supplement existing Lookout integrations with Workspace ONE, Lookout's Continuous Conditional Access now incorporates device health status in the authentication and access decisions across managed and unmanaged devices. "Workspace ONE is an intelligence-driven digital workspace platform that enables organizations to give employees seamless access to any application from any type of device under automated and granular policy control," said Tony Kueh, Vice-President of product management, End User Computing, VMware. "In addition to the inherent security capabilities built into Workspace ONE, VMware collaborates with leading security companies, including Lookout, to integrate their solutions with Workspace ONE and ultimately provide customers with a single platform to manage and better secure all devices. By integrating Lookout's Continuous Conditional Access capabilities into Workspace ONE, we will help deliver a continuously secured digital workspace for our customers." "The adoption of cloud and mobile makes a network perimeter-centric view of security outdated, and companies have realized that they have to securely enable access for all users, regardless of their location, device, or network," said Chuck Fontana, Vice President of Integrations and Strategic Partnerships at Okta. "Enabling this Zero Trust security model requires organizations to consider both user and device trust signals before granting access, and Okta's identity and access management platform serves as the user access control layer for thousands of organizations worldwide. As a member of the Okta Integration Network, Lookout's Continuous Conditional Access can offer organizations a solution for critical device security context for those access decisions as a key component of modern access management." To learn more about how Lookout is securing the Post-Perimeter World, contact [email protected]. *Source (News - Alert): Gartner, "Prepare for Unified Endpoint Management to Displace MDM and CMT" June 2018 About Lookout Lookout is a cybersecurity company for the post-perimeter, cloud-first, mobile-first world. Powered by the largest dataset of mobile code in existence, the Lookout Security Cloud provides visibility into the entire spectrum of mobile risk. Lookout is trusted by hundreds of millions of individual users, enterprises and government agencies and partners such as AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Microsoft, Apple (News - Alert) and others. Headquartered in San Francisco, Lookout has offices in Amsterdam, Boston, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Washington, D.C. To learn more, visit www.lookout.com and follow Lookout on its blog, LinkedIn, and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101006006/en/

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[November 01, 2018] Alliance Bank of Arizona Wins Phoenix Business Journal's Corporate Philanthropy Award for Its Community Impact

Due to its steadfast philosophy of giving back to the communities it serves and commitment to improve the quality of life across the state, Alliance Bank of Arizona recently won the Phoenix Business Journal's Corporate Philanthropy Award in the large companies' category for its community impact. The award, which honors exceptional corporate commitment to the vital work of creating positive impact for the community, was presented on Oct. 25. Alliance Bank is a division of Western Alliance Bank, the largest locally-headquartered banking organization in Arizona and one of the country's top-performing financial institutions. The division has 10 offices across the state and focuses on meeting the needs of business customers by delivering customized deposit and lending solutions alongside unparalleled local market knowledge and outstanding customer service. "Giving back to the communities where we live and work is an intrinsic part of our corporate culture," said Kenneth Vecchione, CEO of Western Alliance Bank. "The cornerstone of our corporate philanthropy is rooted in helping to drive communities forward through leadership in education, substantial support of affordable housing, and community development lending and investments." Today the bank has active involvement and leadership positions in more than 90 charitable/nonprofit organizations and 30 business organizations across Arizona. Its team is committed to a wide range of worthwhile local organizations - from the Arizona Humane Society, the East Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona to North Country Healthcare, Make-A-Wish Arizona, Fresh Start Women's Foundation, Mesa United Way and many others. "Creating strong connections in our community is one of the most important aspects of the work experience here," said Vecchione. "These connections fuel volunteer projects, investment and reinvestment opportunities, and create boundless economic development possibilities, while also allowing employees to build their teamwork skills, create a sense of accomplishment, and develop important leadership skills." A powerful example of Alliance Bank's community impact is its wor with Raza Development Fund, one of the nation's largest Latino-focused community development financial institutions. When Raza decided to finance affordable housing along a major light rail line in Phoenix, Alliance Bank provided key funding.



"Alliance Bank focuses on community projects that benefit the community," said Tom Espinoza, Founder and CEO, Raza Development Fund. "The bank jumped right in ... Alliance Bank is involved in the community because they want to be, and this is a very different approach. It's part of their value system." Alliance Bank's in-depth, long-term support for "savings to scholarship" nonprofit AZ Earn to Learn also demonstrates its commitment to making higher education a reality for low- to moderate-income students. The Tucson-based organization guides students to save $500 each year to unlock an annual match of $4,000 at one of three Arizona state universities to help them earn the life-long asset of a college degree.

"Alliance Bank has been a major supporter even before we had our first student," said Kate Hoffman (News - Alert), Founder of AZ Earn to Learn. "Not only did the bank help us get our organization off the ground, they also provide important financial support - and they have done this every year since the program launched in 2012. I can't imagine a better community partner." The bank also lends time and resources to more than 15 high-impact education nonprofits, including Arizona Earn to Learn, College Success Arizona, Junior Achievement, Support Our Schools AZ, Maricopa Community College Foundation, Literacy Volunteers of Maricopa County, Arizona Women's Education and Employment Inc., and many more. About Alliance Bank of Arizona Alliance Bank of Arizona is a division of Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, the go-to bank for business in growing markets. Founded in 2003, Alliance Bank of Arizona offers a full spectrum of loan, deposit and treasury management capabilities, plus superior service to meet the needs of local businesses. With 10 offices in Greater Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff, along with Western Alliance Bank's powerful array of specialized financial services, the banking division is a valued resource for Arizona's business, real estate, professional, municipal and nonprofit communities. Western Alliance Bank is the primary subsidiary of Phoenix-based Western Alliance Bancorporation. One of the country's top-performing banking companies, Western Alliance ranks No. 2 on the Forbes 2018 "Best Banks in America" list. For more information, visit AllianceBankofArizona.com. About Western Alliance Bank With more than $20 billion in assets, Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL) is one of the country's top-performing banking companies and is ranked #2 on the Forbes 2018 "Best Banks in America" list. Its primary subsidiary, Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, is the go-to bank for business and succeeds with local teams of experienced bankers who deliver superior service and a full spectrum of customized loan, deposit and treasury management capabilities. Business clients also benefit from a powerful array of specialized financial services that provide strong expertise and tailored solutions for a wide variety of industries and sectors. A national presence with a regional footprint, Western Alliance Bank operates individually branded, full-service banking divisions with offices in key markets nationwide. For more information, visit westernalliancebank.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101006011/en/

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[November 01, 2018] Celanese Awards 'Century Grants' Totaling Nearly $400,000

As Celanese highlights its centennial year with the theme "Celebrate the Past, Imagine the Future," we are proud to announce the winners of the Celanese 'Century Grants' totaling nearly $400,000. The grants will impact the nearly 50 local communities around the world where Celanese operates to make a lasting, positive impact in the areas of Primary Education, Thriving Families and Safe Places. "This year marks the 100th anniversary of Celanese where Improving the World is a core value," said Mark Rohr, Chairman and CEO. "Celanese is celebrating its centennial year by promoting volunteerism as well as giving grants in the Americas, Europe and Asia regions. The company will grant nearly $400,000 in all global locations where we operate as a way of honoring our 100th year of business and our commitment to community engagement." In an event held at the company's global headquarters in Dallas, as well as streaming around the globe via Facebook (News - Alert) Live, the company announced its Dallas-area $100,000 and $30,000 grants: $100,000 Century Grant to Jubilee Park & Community: Supporting the Dallas southern sector, Jubilee Park & Community Center's mission is to be a catalyst for comprehensive community revitalization. Jubilee has helped to reduce crime by 74 percent in its 62-block area, with a 45 percent reduction in violent crime. Its educational programs are nationally recognized, award-winning examples in both preventing summer learning loss and improving academic achievement.

Supporting the Dallas southern sector, Jubilee Park & Community Center's mission is to be a catalyst for comprehensive community revitalization. Jubilee has helped to reduce crime by 74 percent in its 62-block area, with a 45 percent reduction in violent crime. Its educational programs are nationally recognized, award-winning examples in both preventing summer learning loss and improving academic achievement. $30,000 Century Grant to Mosaic Family Services: Mosaic Family Services provides culturally competent services to refugees and immigrants in crisis, including victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. Mosaic provides comprehensive case management, shelter, crisis intervention, counseling and mental health services, legal representation, outreach, education, and prevention services for under-served populations in North Texas. Additionally, the company announces Century Grants in its key regional locations: Amsterdam, The Netherlands: $50,000 to SYVNL (Syrian Volunteering in the Netherlands) and Leefkringhuis. Celanese is partnering with SYVNL in support of refugees i The Netherlands. SYVNL will work with local job agencies, NGOs and other companies to help find internships and job opportunities for refugees. Celanese is also partnering with Leefkringhuis in Amsterdam to provide shelter for women and children to recover from unsafe domestic environments and to help prepare them to live independent lives.

$50,000 to SYVNL (Syrian Volunteering in the Netherlands) and Leefkringhuis. Celanese is partnering with SYVNL in support of refugees i The Netherlands. SYVNL will work with local job agencies, NGOs and other companies to help find internships and job opportunities for refugees. Celanese is also partnering with Leefkringhuis in Amsterdam to provide shelter for women and children to recover from unsafe domestic environments and to help prepare them to live independent lives. Frankfurt, Germany: $50,000 to support a one-year training program of Provadis to prepare refugees for apprenticeships in Germany; a playground build for the Johanniter refugee shelter which houses many families and children; and support for Antoniushaus Hochheim, a local charity in support of differently-abled children.

$50,000 to support a one-year training program of Provadis to prepare refugees for apprenticeships in Germany; a playground build for the Johanniter refugee shelter which houses many families and children; and support for Antoniushaus Hochheim, a local charity in support of differently-abled children. Shanghai, China: $50,000 to support Shanghai Baby Home to fund surgeries for babies or children from orphanages all over the country. Shanghai Baby Home was founded in 2008 to help orphaned children in need of medical treatment. A second grant is awarded to support the renovation of the Huaxin Center. Huaxin is the only NGO facility of its kind in Shanghai providing assistance to children with special needs, including autism and cerebral palsy, as well as assistance to their families.

$50,000 to support Shanghai Baby Home to fund surgeries for babies or children from orphanages all over the country. Shanghai Baby Home was founded in 2008 to help orphaned children in need of medical treatment. A second grant is awarded to support the renovation of the Huaxin Center. Huaxin is the only NGO facility of its kind in Shanghai providing assistance to children with special needs, including autism and cerebral palsy, as well as assistance to their families. In addition, Celanese will be granting the balance of the $400,000 through Community Engagement Project Grants at the 45-plus Celanese manufacturing, technical/commercial sites globally. These Community Engagement Project Grants will combine the Celanese spirit of volunteerism with its charitable giving efforts to make a meaningful local impact.



Primary Education, Thriving Families and Safe Places. The Century Grants awarded today honor the communities that support Celanese while also challenging the company to be even more deeply engaged change agents in the areas where we live and work. To read more about the purpose and process of the Celanese Century Grant program, please view our launch news release issued in July. To learn more about the Celanese Centennial Anniversary Year, please visit https://century.celanese.com.

About Celanese Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Our businesses use the full breadth of Celanese's global chemistry, technology and commercial expertise to create value for our customers, employees, shareholders and the corporation. As we partner with our customers to solve their most critical business needs, we strive to make a positive impact on our communities and the world through The Celanese Foundation. Based in Dallas, Celanese employs approximately 7,700 employees worldwide and had 2017 net sales of $6.1 billion. For more information about Celanese Corporation and its product offerings, visit www.celanese.com or our blog at www.celaneseblog.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005936/en/

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Vector Group to Host Third Quarter 2018 Results Conference Call

Vector Group Ltd. (NYSE: VGR) will conduct a conference call and webcast to discuss its third quarter 2018 results on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. (ET).

Investors can access the call by dialing 800-859-8150 and entering 68647573 as the conference ID number. The call will also be available via live webcast at www.investorcalendar.com. Webcast participants should allot extra time before the webcast begins to register.

A replay of the call will be availableshortly after the call ends on November 7, 2018 through November 21, 2018. To access the replay, dial 877-656-8905 and enter 68647573 as the conference ID number. The archived webcast will also be available at www.investorcalendar.com for one year.







Vector Group is a holding company that indirectly owns Liggett Group LLC and Vector Tobacco Inc. and directly owns New Valley LLC, which owns a controlling interest in Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC. Additional information concerning the company is available on the Company's website, www.VectorGroupLtd.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101006187/en/
[November 01, 2018] Nuveen Closed-End Funds Declare Distributions

Several Nuveen closed-end funds have declared distributions. These funds represent investment strategies for investors seeking diversified sources of income to prepare for and sustain their retirement income needs. For further information regarding fund distributions including earnings, undistributed net investment income, and notices please visit http://www.nuveen.com/cef. The following dates apply to today's monthly distribution declarations for the following tax-exempt and taxable closed-end funds:







Record Date November 15, 2018 Ex-Dividend Date November 14, 2018 Payable Date December 3, 2018

Monthly Tax-Exempt Municipal Distributions Monthly distributions from Nuveen's municipal bond closed-end funds are generally exempt from regular Federal income taxes, and monthly distributions of single-state municipal funds are also generally exempt from state and, in some cases, local income taxes for in-state residents. Unless otherwise stated in the funds' objectives, monthly distributions of the municipal funds may be subject to the Federal Alternative Minimum Tax for some shareholders. Monthly Tax-Free Distribution Per Share Change From Ticker Exchange Fund Name Amount Previous Month National NXP NYSE Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio $.0455 - NXQ NYSE Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 2 $.0420 - NXR NYSE Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 3 $.0435 - NUV NYSE Nuveen Municipal Value Fund, Inc. $.0310 - NUW NYSE Nuveen AMT (News - Alert)-Free Municipal Value Fund $.0560 - NMI NYSE Nuveen Municipal Income Fund, Inc. $.0360 - NIM NYSE Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal Fund $.0265 - NZF NYSE Nuveen Municipal Credit Income Fund $.0660 - NVG NYSE Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund $.0655 - NMZ NYSE Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund $.0565 - NEV NYSE Nuveen Enhanced Municipal Value Fund $.0565 - NID NYSE Nuveen Intermediate Duration Municipal Term Fund $.0425 - NIQ NYSE Nuveen Intermediate Duration Quality Municipal Term Fund $.0295 - NHA NYSE Nuveen Municipal 2021 Target (News - Alert) Term Fund $.0150 - NEA NYSE Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0535 - NAD NYSE Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0535 - California NAC NYSE Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0555 - NKX NYSE Nuveen California AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0515 - NCA NYSE Nuveen California Municipal Value Fund, Inc. $.0285 - NXC NYSE Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio $.0440 - NCB NYSE Nuveen California Municipal Value Fund 2 $.0540 - New York NRK NYSE Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0450 - NAN NYSE Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0480 - NXN NYSE Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio $.0420 - NNY NYSE Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund, Inc. $.0300 - NYV NYSE Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund 2 $.0425 - Other State Funds - NAZ NYSE Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0440 - NTC NYSE Nuveen Connecticut Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0410 - NKG NYSE Nuveen Georgia Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0345 - NMT NYSE Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0410 - NMY NYSE Nuveen Maryland Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0440 - NUM NYSE Nuveen Michigan Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0445 - NMS NYSE Nuveen Minnesota Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0510 - NOM NYSE Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0430 - NNC NYSE Nuveen North Carolina Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0360 - NXJ NYSE Nuveen New Jersey Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0545 - NJV NYSE Nuveen New Jersey Municipal Value Fund $.0450 - NUO NYSE Nuveen Ohio Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0455 - NQP NYSE Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0470 - NPN NYSE Nuveen Pennsylvania Municipal Value Fund $.0405 - NTX NYSE Nuveen Texas Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0445 - NPV NYSE Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund $.0435 - Monthly Taxable Distributions Nuveen High Income December 2018 Target Term Fund (NYSE:JHA) announced plans to liquidate on or about November 30, 2018. The fund will not declare its regular monthly distribution in November 2018 and expects that all accumulated earnings will be included in the final liquidating distribution. For details, see the Press Release. Due to the upcoming merger of Nuveen Build America Bond Opportunity Fund (NYSE: NBD) into Nuveen Build America Bond Fund (NYSE: NBB), distribution amounts for November will be declared separately. We expect to announce a pre-merger distribution on November 6, 2018, to shareholders of record on November 16, 2018, payable December 6, 2018. A post-merger distribution will be announced on November 19, 2018, to shareholders of record on November 29, 2018, payable December 6, 2018. The total dollar amount of the pre- and post-merger distributions received on December 6, 2018 will be equal to or greater than the shareholders' prior monthly dividend amount. Monthly Distribution Per Share Change From Ticker Exchange Fund Name Amount Previous Month Preferred and Income Securities JPC NYSE Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund $.0610 - JPI NYSE Nuveen Preferred and Income Term Fund $.1355 - JPS NYSE Nuveen Preferred & Income Securities Fund $.0560 - JPT NYSE Nuveen Preferred and Income 2022 Term Fund $.1185 - Floating Rate NSL NYSE Nuveen Senior Income Fund $.0355 - JFR NYSE Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund $.0600 - JRO NYSE Nuveen Floating Rate Income Opportunity Fund $.0605 - JSD NYSE Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund $.1035 - JQC NYSE Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund $.0385 - Mortgage-Backed Securities JMM NYSE Nuveen Multi-Market Income Fund $.0300 - Emerging Markets Debt JEMD NYSE Nuveen Emerging Markets Debt 2022 Target Term Fund $.0375 -.0060 Global High Yield Debt JGH NYSE Nuveen Global High Income Fund $.1070 - Corporate High Yield Debt JHY NYSE Nuveen High Income 2020 Target Term Fund $.0390 - JHD NYSE Nuveen High Income December 2019 Target Term Fund $.0350 - JHB NYSE Nuveen High Income November 2021 Target Term Fund $.0465 - JCO NYSE Nuveen Credit Opportunities 2022 Target Term Fund $.0470 - Monthly Cash-Flow Based Distributions Each of the three taxable funds listed immediately below have adopted a cash-flow based distribution program. Historical distribution sources have included net investment income, realized gains and return of capital. If a distribution includes anything other than net investment income, the fund provides a notice of the best estimate of its distribution sources at the time of payment which may be viewed at: www.nuveen.com/CEFdistributions. These estimates may not match the final tax characterization (for the full year's distributions) contained in shareholders' 1099-DIV forms after the end of the year. You should not draw any conclusions about a fund's past or future investment performance from its current distribution rate. The following dates apply to today's monthly cash-flow based distribution declarations for the following closed-end funds: Record Date November 15, 2018 Ex-Dividend Date November 14, 2018 Payable Date December 3, 2018 Monthly Distribution Per Share Change From Ticker Exchange Fund Name Amount Previous Month Mortgage-Backed Securities JLS NYSE Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund $.1135 - JMT NYSE Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2 $.1125 - Real Assets JRI NYSE Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund $.1060 - The information contained on the Nuveen website is not a part of this press release. Nuveen Securities, LLC, member FINRA and SIPC. * Nuveen does not provide tax advice; consult a professional tax advisor regarding your specific tax situation. Income may be subject to state and local taxes, as well as the federal alternative minimum tax. 647682-INV-O-11/20 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101006191/en/

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iOS 15 review: A better iPhone experience

iOS 15 isn't a major overhaul, but there's a lengthy list of improvements in this version. Here's what to expect when you upgrade  and whether you should do so right now.
One word of advice, Apple users: Beware of floating balloons. A system specialist found out that Helium can brick both iPhones and Apple Watches during the installation of an MRI machine.

Android phones, however, didnt suffer the issue.

(Image credit: Jesus Diaz)

Erik Wooldrige  a Systems Specialist at Morris Hospital, in Morris, Illinois  got an onslaught of alarmed calls during the installation of a new General Electric Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine, a body scanning device that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to record three-dimensional images of patients' guts.

MORE: The One iPhone Trick Everyone Needs to Know

According to his own account, his immediate thought wa that the MRI must have emitted some sort of EMP [electromagnetic pulse], in which case we could be in a lot trouble. However, after receiving calls regarding 40 different Apple devices, he noticed that nothing else was affected  including Android phones. Needless to say, he was extremely puzzled.



When Erik went to check out the devices, he was even more puzzled with their erratic behavior: Most of them were completely dead. I plugged them in to the wall and had no indication that the device was charging. The other [Apple] devices that were powering on seemed to have issues with the cellular radio. The Wi-Fi connection, however, was normal and fast.

(Image credit: GE)

In a now deleted thread on Reddit, other people chimed in with the possibility of helium being the culprit the superconducting magnets inside MRI machines require liquid helium to work. When Erik went to check out this possibility, he found out that there had been a helium leak  and it vented into the building. Approximately 120 liters of liquid helium vented over five hours while the new magnet was cooled down to become operational.

According to Erik, since [t]he MRI room is not on an isolated HVAC loop, it shares air with most or all of the facility. We do not know how much of the 120 liters ended up going outdoors and how much ended inside.

Since helium expands at atmospheric pressure, that was a total of 90,000 liters of gaseous helium.



MORE: Fastest Wireless Network - We Tested 8 Carriers to Crown a Winner

Erik also reported that, after they closed the leakage, the Apple devices started to recover, but not all of them. He claims that some Apple Watches were working but the touch screens stopped functioning and didnt recover until several days later. One of the affected iPhone had severe service issues after the incident. The models affected, he discovered, were iPhone 6 models and higher, and all the Apple Watch models. The only iPhone 5 in the building was not affected. Neither were the Android phones.

One of the theories according to iFixIt, was that the iPhones are using a new timing oscillator, the clock that makes the phones and every computer work. This oscillator  called the SiT512  is the worlds smallest and helium may be affecting it, causing these effects.

Erik did a experiment (since removed from YouTube), placing a working iPhone 8 Plus in a sealed bag and filling it with helium at a much higher concentration than the one released by the incident. Eight minutes later, the iPhone locked up. iFixIt did the same in their labs and the same happened.

The final answer was in Apples own iPhone user guide: Exposing iPhone to environments having high concentrations of industrial chemicals, including near evaporating liquified gasses such as helium, may damage or impair iPhone functionality. If exposed, Apple advises to immediately disconnect your phone from any power adapter and let it out air for a week.

The helium must fully dissipate front he devices interior and, after an entire week, you can charge your phone and start using it again without trouble.

Helium is the the second most common element in the universe after Hydrogen but extremely rare on Earth. In other words, dont plan on taking your iPhone XR to take photos of Jupiter on a rainy day. And stay away from birthdays, political parties, and dont ever ever play with evil clowns.
STL Hates McCaskill???

Missouri Dem lashes out at McCaskill for 'crazy Democrats' comment, in profanity-laced tirade Sen. Claire McCaskill's, D-Mo., efforts to distance herself from "crazy Democrats" sparked a fiery backlash from a Missouri Democratic state senator, who responded by calling her a "piece of s---" and nicknaming her "Dixie Claire."

Kansas Indie Considerations

Greg Orman talks issues, Kobach with Star editorial board | The Kansas City Star Greg Orman, independent candidate for Kansas governor, discussed issues with The Star's editorial board. He's said he's unconvinced that Kris Kobach and Laura Kelly have the right experience to run the state.

Show-Me Ethics High Hopes

Clean Missouri proposition puts redistricting front and center, limits lobbyist influence Out of all the items on the Nov. 6 ballot, Clean Missouri is creating some of the most unusual partners in recent Missouri political history. Proponents of

Kansas City Election Hacks

With longest ballot in Jackson County history, here's how to speed up the voting process INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- The clerks at the Jackson County Board of Election Commissioners have spent the last five weeks working some of the longest absentee voter lines the county has ever had. "We start absentee voting six weeks out. This has been going for at least five weeks.

Missouri FAILS Voting Prep

Missouri Counties Face Uphill Climb to Prepare for High-Stakes Midterm - ProPublica Potential confusion about the state's voter ID law, changed by a court decision just weeks before Election Day, could cause problems on Nov. 6.

Low Key Contest

Kansas Secretary Of State Race Pits 'Quiet' Conservative Against 'Google Guy' Republican Scott Schwab and Democrat Brian McClendon disagree on the most basic of questions about the job they're competing for, Kansas secretary of state

Golden Boy Gets Real

Opinion | Missouri's Josh Hawley is an actual, not a pretend, conservative The Senate candidate can be part of the GOP's intelligent future - if the party chooses to have one.

Kansas Lock Step

Republican Candidate Kris Kobach Echoes Trump on Citizenship Republican candidate Kris Kobach backed up Trump's assertion that the U.S. can end birthright citizenship in some cases

These news links were important but maybe not critical or possibly topics that have have covered previously . . .Developing . . .
The Melton family alleges the District Attorney also disrespected his family during an argument in a conference room after the hearing.





"Hes screaming, throws his books down, and says 'I am not going to be blatantly disrespected by you,'" John Melton said of the meeting with District Attorney Mark Dupree. "The way he handled himself, not calling someone ahead of time that this would happen, there was not a police officer in sight, a sheriffs deputy, nothing."





John Melton said he made the ethics complaint with the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator in Topeka.

Family of slain KCK officer files ethics complaint The family of Kansas City, Kansas Police Captain Robert Melton has filed an ethics complaint following a recent guilty plea by the man who killed Melton.

It's important to note that DA Dupree has not yet answered these allegations. Here's the news story so far . . . The money line:Read more . . .
Thats because the CEO and Chairman of Tesla will have to pay a $20,000,000 settlement after the Securities and Exchange Commission hit him with fraud charges. Tesla will also have to pay $20,000,000. This may seem like a lot, but Musk shrugged off the verdict responding on Twitter that the joke was worth it.

How would you spend $20,000,000? Would you go on a round-the-world vacation and then buy yourself a nice condo and a Ferrari? Or maybe youd like to secure the future of your children with all that money and keep whats left for you. What Elon Musk will do with $20,000,000 is a bit different to whatever goes on in your head when you think about spending that kind of money.

Remember that time back in August when Teslas CEO Elon Musk claimed that the company would go private at $420 a share? Well, what was apparently a joke has backfired, and the billionaire has to now pay a $20,000,000 fine for making false and misleading statements. Musks response? "Worth it."

When your net worth is $21.9 billion maybe it is

Was Musks Mary Jane humor really worth it?

Back in August, Elon Musk blankly tweeted that he was "considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured." This created a flurry of responses and many investors were left dumbfounded. Apparently, the funding was to come from Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund (PIF) which had already bought a 5% stake in the company and was looking for more. This is what Bloomberg wrote on the subject:

"The Public Investment Fund, which has built up a stake just shy of 5 percent in Tesla in recent months, is exploring how it can be involved in the potential deal, said the people, who asked not to be identified talking about the matter.

Discussions began before the controversial Aug. 7 tweet by Musk, who is Teslas co-founder and chief executive officer, saying he was weighing a plan to take the company private.

The PIF sees its investment in Tesla as a strategic way for the worlds biggest crude producer to hedge against oil, the people said. The Saudi fund hasnt made any firm decisions on whether to increase its stake, or by how much, but talks are ongoing, they said. It wasnt immediately clear how much the fund would invest in Tesla."

The information, though, had already been contradicted by a Reuters report which read that "A source who is familiar with PIFs strategy said it was not currently getting involved in any funding process for Teslas take-private deal.

A second source close to the situation also said PIF was not taking part in any such plan at this stage. This source said that the Saudi fund would not make an investment of this kind without seeking guidance first from Softbank."

The convoluted situation, fueled by that 420 tweet, which was indeed "a reference to marijuana that he hoped would make his girlfriend laugh," as later revealed by NBC News, saw the Securities and Exchange Commission kick off an investigation on Musk and Tesla.

The investigation's scope was to find out whether or not Musk's actions were meant to manipulate stock prices by being false or misleading.

At the time, Telsas CEO explained that the company was under "enormous pressure to hit short-term earnings goals, suggesting that external investment could give the company breathing room," according to Gizmodo.

But the SEC didnt agree with Musk and Tesla and ultimately slapped both with a $20,000,000 fine. The fines, however, werent the only thing ruled by the SEC:

"The settlements, which are subject to court approval, will result in comprehensive corporate governance and other reforms at Teslaincluding Musks removal as Chairman of the Tesla boardand the payment by Musk and Tesla of financial penalties," according to a statement released by the commision. Musk has 45 days at his disposal to resign from his position as Teslas Chairman.

According to Gizmodo, "without a settlement, the SEC would have sought to have Musk be prohibited from acting as an officer or director of a public company. As CEO, he will remain in charge of Teslas day to day operations."

Still, the move has damaged Musk's image - although Tesla as a company registered an amazing third-quarter profit which saw the company's shares actually go up - and even some people on the inside are somewhat doubting him now

. At least thats what the SEC report says quoted by Gizmodo:

"Investors, stock analysts, and journalists immediately sought clarification of Musks August 7 statements. At 1:00 PM EDT, approximately 12 minutes after Musk published his tweet stating, Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured, Teslas own head of Investor Relations sent a text to Musks chief of staff asking, Was this text legit?"

At approximately 1:13 PM EDT, a Tesla investor, and friend of Musks chief of staff texted the chief of staff, Whats Elons tweet about? Cant make any sense of it. Would be incredibly disappointing for shareholders that have stuck it out for so long."

At the end of the day, you decide: was it worth it? Is it just another one of Musks many dividing comments that have kept him and Tesla in the limelight in the past few months or a sign of something else? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

Further reading

Tesla CEO Elon Musk Settles With SEC After Tesla Shares Take a Beating

Read more about Elon Musk.
Nick Sampson, one of the three co-founders of Faraday Future, has quit the company. Sampsons departure comes a day after Peter Savagian, the companys senior vice president of technology and product development, made his own beeline for the exits. If these departures arent bad enough, Faraday CEO Jia Yueting announced the anyone who started working for the company after May 1 would be placed on unpaid furlough. According to a report from CNBC, the furloughs begin in November, becoming the latest in a series of layoffs and salary cuts that have happened in recent months.

Faraday Future is not long for this world. Its one thing to struggle as a company, its another thing entirely to drag everyone down with it. Nick Sampsons departure is particularly troubling because hes been there since the beginning. Its even more troubling when Sampson sends an e-mail, saying that Faraday Future is effectively insolvent in both its financial and personnel assets.

We know about the companys financial struggles, but when employees start bearing the weight of its inadequacies, thats venturing past the point of no return.

Its hard to blame those who have left the company because, in Sampsons words, Faraday, at best, will limp along for the foreseeable future. He saw the writing on the wall. So did Peter Savaging, the companys senior VP of technology and product development, who left a day before Sampson called it quits. Sampson and Savaging arent the only two execs to leave Faraday in the last year. Chief designer Richard Kim left the company late last year. Chief Financial Officer Stefan Krause left shortly after Kim. So did Chief Technical Officer Ulrich Kranz. All three are former execs from BMW. Now its Savagian and Sampson. These arent isolated cases anymore. This is a mass exodus of some of the best minds in the business. Is the writing on the wall not clear enough yet?

Those who are sticking around arent going to find pots of gold at the end of the rainbow, either, because theres no rainbow, to begin with. An e-mail obtained by The Verge from CEO Jia Yueting contained more depressing news for employees who are still working for the company.

According to the e-mail, those who started working for the company after May 1 would be placed on an unpaid furlough beginning in November.

Those who joined the company before that date have the option to stay with the company, but if they exercise that option, their salaries would be cut to $50,000 annually. Thats still a lot of money compared to blue-collar workers who will only receive minimum wage, provided that theyve been with the company for more than six months. If you dont meet these requirements, then youre piss out of luck.

All this trouble also comes at a time when the company is in the middle of a legal fight with Chinas Evegrande Health Industry Group over the latters investments in the company. The automaker scored a small victory last week when the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre allowed it to seek funding from other firms, but even if it does get the opportunity to look for more investors, who, in their right mind, would want to get on board this sinking ship?

At some point, its smart to recognize whats in front of everyone.

Faraday Future is a failure, and its going to take a lot more than new investments to get it back on track.

The company will spin things positively to stay afloat, but not even the worlds best spin doctors can change the companys perception, especially after one of its three co-founders no longer wants anything to do with the automaker.

Faraday Future is sinking, and its past the point of saving. Its time to let it rest so that everyone can move on with their lives.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Faraday Future FF 91.

Source: The Verge
10 Things the Ferrari Purosangue Needs to Take on the Competition

It Is Not An SUV, But It Is A Ferrari Utility Vehicle
The Chairperson of the AUC, Moussa Faki Mahamat, undertook a two-day official visit to Nigeria from 25 to 27 October 2018. The visit is part of his regular consultations with member states, to advance the African Union agenda.

On 25 October 2018, the Chairperson attended a roundtable, chaired by Foreign Minster Geoffrey Onyeama and attended by the Ministers of Interior, Finance, Budget and National Planning, the National Security Advisor, the Controller Generals of Customs and Immigration, and the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Also in attendance were senior officials of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, and the national focal point for NEPAD.

The theme of the meeting was Repositioning Nigeria in the African Union. The discussion focused on how best to expedite the integration process on the continent, in the light of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, the Right of Residence and the Right of Establishment, and the Single African Air Transport Market.

The Chairperson of the Commission seized the opportunity to also brief on progress made on the African Union institutional reform, as well as the follow-up to the decision of the July 2018 Nouakchott Summit relating to the negotiations on the post-Cotonou arrangements with the European Union.

The Chairperson also met with representatives of the Organized Private Sector, to exchange views on the AfCFTA and the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons. This interaction provided an opportunity for in-depth discussions on the concerns expressed by the private sector and the steps taken in the context of the negotiations on the AfCFTA to address them.

On 26 October, the Chairperson was received by President Muhammadu Buhari. He commended President Buhari for his leadership and Nigerias longstanding commitment to African unity and advancement. He further commended Nigerias role in the operationalization of the Multi-national Joint Task Force, noting the successes achieved in the fight against Boko Haram, and its overall contribution to the efforts to silence the guns on the continent by 2020.

The Chairperson updated President Buhari on the Extraordinary Summit on the African Union institutional reform, scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa from 17 to 18 November 2018.

The Chairperson visited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He was briefed by the Chairman on the preparations being made for the upcoming General Elections in 2019. The INEC Chairman informed him that, in this exercise, INEC is implementing the observations and recommendations made by the African Union observer team during the 2015 elections.

The Chairperson commended INEC for its efforts to ensure the conduct of peaceful and credible elections, and confirmed that the African Union will deploy observers and avail any other assistance, as may be required, to the electoral process.

The Chairperson also visited the National Defence College (NDC), where he delivered a lecture on Integration, Good Governance and Democracy: The Africa We Want. He commended the NDC for its contribution to strategic thinking and policy planning on peace, security and governance, and for housing a Center of Excellence for Peace Support Operations Training in West Africa.

The Chairperson held an interactive stakeholders meeting with the Nigerian Film Industry, popularly known as Nollywood. He expressed appreciation for the talent, creativity and dynamism of Nollywood, as a demonstration of the continents resourcefulness.

He added that the Nollywood actors were shaping the image of the continent for the better, while at the same time serving as role models for African youth to encourage them to discover and realize their talents and, in so doing, take advantage of the huge opportunities available on the continent. Going forward, it was agreed that the African Union and Nollywood will partner to further popularize Agenda 2063 and related African Union activities.

The Chairperson visited the Headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), where he exchanged views with ECOWAS Commissioners on issues of mutual interest, most notably the promotion of peace, security, governance and integration, as well as efforts to strengthen collaboration between the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities, including ECOWAS.

The Chairperson also took advantage of his visit to address the staff of the African Union Scientific, Technical and Research Commission, which is mandated to promote the role of science, technology and research.

During his visit to Nigeria, the Chairperson was accompanied by the Commissioner for Trade and Industry and the Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, as well as by senior officials of the Commission.
VFS Global has been awarded the Regional Contract to provide Germany visa services in the Asia Pacific region, by the Government of Germanys Federal Foreign Office.



(TRAVPR.COM) UK - October 31st, 2018 -

VFS Global wins contract to provide Germany visa services in 14 countries in Asia Pacific



 VFS Global has served Government of Germany for 13 years, since 2005

 VFS Global also signs new contracts with seven other European client governments

VFS Global has been awarded the Regional Contract to provide Germany visa services in the Asia Pacific region, by the Government of Germanys Federal Foreign Office. As per this new contract, VFS Global will operate Germany Visa Application Centres in 36 new locations across 14 countries.

Residents of Brunei, Fiji, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea,

Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, P.R. China and Thailandwill soon be able to apply for Germany visas through VFS Global.

FS Global is expected to start operations in the new Visa Application Centres during the first quarter of 2019. The Peoples Republic of China alone will see the addition of centres in 15 cities*, further strengthening access to Germanys visa services across the country.

In addition to these facilities, VFS Global will also offer a Mobile Biometric Service in 24 locations throughout the region. The Mobile Biometric Service enables applicants to submit their documents and biometric information from a location of their choice, e.g. from their home or office, eliminating the need to visit a Visa Application Centre.

VFS Global currently operates 59 Germany Visa Application Centres across 16 countries.

Said Zubin Karkaria, Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group, We are grateful to the client governments who have shown their faith in our ability to maintain the highest levels of excellence in visa services. With the new contract, Germany visa applicants across 14 countries in Asia Pacific can enjoy streamlined and efficient visa services at VFS Global centres and avail of innovative services like the doorstep visa service.

Meanwhile, in August and September VFS Global has signed new contracts with seven other client governments to provide visa services in various regions, reaffirming its position as a market leader in the visa application outsourcing business.

As per the renewed/extended contracts, VFS Global will provide visa services for:

Belgium in Rwanda;

 Estonia in China, India, Belarus, Turkey, and Russia;

 Hungary in India, Belarus, Kazakhstan;

 Italy in Bahrain and Ecuador;

 Lithuania in Ukraine;

 Slovenia in 13 countries (Australia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada, Iran, Kosovo, Mexico, New Zealand, Serbia, South Korea, Taiwan, UAE, UK, USA); and

 The Czech Republic in Vietnam, Mongolia and Uzbekistan

-ends-

* Germany Visa Application Centres in China will be located in Beijing; Chengdu; Guangzhou (Kanton); Shenyang; Shanghai; Xian; Wuhan; Changsha; Jinan; Kunming; Chongqing; Fuzhou; Shenzhen; Nanjing; Hangzhou

About VFS Global





VFS Global is the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. VFS Global, headquartered in Dubai, UAE, has Swiss parentage and is a portfolio company of EQT, a leading global private equity firm headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.

With 2763 Application Centres, operations in 141 countries across five continents and over 182 million applications processed as on 30 September 2018, VFS Global is the trusted partner of 61 client governments.

###
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Kharar: The police have arrested two persons following the recovery of illegal liquor from their possession. The police have laid a naka at the Khanpur T-point. A car bearing registration number HR70-9062 was stopped for checking at the naka. During the search, eight boxes of liquor were recovered from the vehicle. Supinder could not produce any document or licence for the liquor boxes. In another case, the police stopped a motorcyclist for checking. During the search, 12 bottles of liquor were recovered from his possession. The suspect has been identified as Kuldeep Singh, a resident of Ghoga near Nijjer road. OC

One held for illegal mining

Dera Bassi: The police arrested a man for illegal mining and seized a loaded tractor-trailer here on Thursday. The suspect has been identified as Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Paragpur village here. According to the police, a naka was laid near the Dera Bassi bus stand when Kumar, who was coming on his sand-laden tractor-trailer, was signalled to stop. The police said the suspect could not produce any valid document about the material loaded in the vehicle. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Mining Act at the Dera Bassi police station. Kumar was produced in the court which remanded him to judicial custody. OC

Annual meet of surgeons ends

Chandigarh: Over 500 paediatric surgeons from various parts of the country, SAARC, Middle East, the US and other European countries participated in the 44th annual conference of the Indian Association of Paediatric Surgeons. The conference, which was organised in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Federation of Associations of Paediatric Surgeons from SAARC countries, concluded here recently. Prof Ram Samujh, Head, Department of Paediatric Surgery, said a one-day nursing CME was also organised. More than 100 nurses interested in paediatric surgical care attended the CME. Prof Jagat Ram, Director, PGI, was the chief guest, while Mark Devenport, president of the Federation of Associations of Paediatric Surgeons from SAARC, was the guest of honour. TNS

Baltana resident held with heroin

Chandigarh: The police have arrested a resident of Baltana in Zirakpur with 36 grams of heroin. According to the police, the accused, Parveen Kumar, was nabbed near Sant Nirankari Bhawan at Mauli Jagran village. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against him at the Mauli Jagran police station. Cops are investigating from where the accused procured the contraband. TNS

CHB holds camp for allottees

Chandigarh: As part of the Vigilance Awareness Week, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) organised its first Samadhaan Shivir to resolve issues of the allottees on the spot. The camp was held under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary of the CHB. Forty-one allottees aired their grievances at the camp. Over 90 per cent of the problems were resolved on the spot. TNS

Complaint box at Raj Bhawan

Chandigarh: City residents can now drop their complaints, grievances and suggestions/feedback in the form of letter at the Administrators open house grievance box kept outside Punjab Raj Bhawan in Sector 6 here. The grievances received shall be taken up by officials of the respective departments on a daily basis and the interim status shall be communicated to the complainant. The UT Administrator will take up the matter with the complainant if the department concerned failed to redress the grievance. It is yet another step towards increasing accessibility, transparency and efficiency of the UT Administration. Earlier, the UT Administrator had held an open house session where he heard out people. Last month, the Administrator's Complaint Box was installed at the UT Secretariat in Sector 9. TNS

Two sweets units challaned

Chandigarh: A team of Food Safety Administration, Health Department, on Thursday conducted raids in Daria and Kishangarh villages and Bapu Dham Colony. Six samples of sweets made of milk products were seized during the raids and challans were issued to two units where sweets were being prepared in unhygienic conditions. Around 2.4 quintal of sweets lying in unhygienic condition were destroyed by the food safety team. TNS

Traders meet MC chief

Chandigarh: A delegation of Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM) met MC Commissioner KK Yadav and demanded that the vending zones be notified immediately and vendors shifted from market complexes to designated places. CBM chairman Charanjiv Singh said the rates for garbage collection from commercial establishment were very high and should be brought down. Ravikant Sharma, councillor and CBM adviser, said due representation should be given to the traders body by including the names of two of its senior office-bearers in the Town Vending Committee so that there should not be any confusion or conflict while earmarking the vending zones. The Municipal Commissioner assured the delegation of considering their demands. CBM president Anil Vohra and advisers Jagtar Singh and Balwinder Singh were part of the delegation. TNS

Fatal mishap: Cop walks free

Chandigarh: A UT police constable was acquitted of the charges of causing death due to negligence and rash driving due to lack of evidence. The cop had allegedly hit a motorcycle with the police recovery van, resulting in the death of the rider. However, the allegations could not be proved in court and the constable walked free. On June 8, 2016, Constable Manjeet Singh was booked under Sections 279, 337, 338 and 304A of the IPC. Later, Section 304A was added to the case. The victim, Nitin Kumar of Khuda Lahora, was injured in the accident and succumbed to his injuries a day after. However, the constable's lawyer stated that some other vehicle had hit the motorcycle and Manjeet had reached there to help the rider. The accident had taken place at around 9 am when Nitin was returning home. The FIR had stated that Manjeet had fled from the spot after the accident. However, the defence stated that it was Manjeet who took the rider to the hospital. TNS

Anticipatory bail plea rejected

Chandigarh: A local court dismissed an anticipatory bail application of NR Munjal, managing director-cum-chairman of Ind-Swift Group of Companies, which is under scanner for allegedly evading VAT running into crores. A former accountant of the firm, Vipin Mishra, was arrested on September 12 in the case. On July 17 this year, the VAT tribunal court was being held with UT Adviser Parimal Rai presiding over. The firm was imposed a VAT of Rs 5.9 crore by the Excise Department. On being asked by the Adviser, the company's counsel said the matter was resolved on March 31, 2015. It added that the Excise Department had challaned them and they had paid Rs 5,000. The Adviser then asked how could a sum of Rs 5.9 crore could be knocked off by a mere Rs 5,000. An inquiry was marked and the fraud was unearthed, following which the Vigilance Department registered a case. TNS

Inter-school debate

Patiala: A student of Our Lady of Fatima Secondary School, Simarleen Kaur Bajwa, bagged the best speaker award at the annual inter-school debate competition, organised by The British Co-Ed High School, Patiala, in the memory of its first founder chairman, Sardar Amar Singh Kamboj, here recently. St Stephens School, Chandigarh, emerged as the winner of the English debate competition. As many as 10 teams from leading schools from the region  Budha Dal Public School (Patiala), Kaintal School (Sr) (Patiala), St Stephens School (Chandigarh), General Gurnam Singh Public School (Sangrur), Our Lady of Fatima Secondary School (Patiala), Yadavindra Public School (Patiala), Wynberg Allen School, Mussoorie, Yadavindra Public School (Mohali), Stawberry Fields High School (Chandigarh) and The British Co-Ed High School (Patiala)  participated in the debate. The competition was organised to promote proficiency in the articulation of thoughts and public speaking wherein the topic of debate was Renewable forms of energy should be subsidised by the government. TNS
Vappala Balachandran

Vappala Balachandran

Ex-Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat

There was something totally inappropriate about the idea of elevating a modest man like Sardar Patel to a Colossus of Hellenistic times. The Rhodians who built the statue for Sun God Helios, used to fling into the sea four horses and a chariot "for his use" every year. Left to himself, it is doubtful whether Patel would ever have liked his grand statue against the protests of 22 villages when throughout his life he cared more for them than tall statues or glittering public rallies.

That leads to a conclusion that the idea was to appropriate Patel into the BJP- Narendra Modi pantheon which Rajmohan Gandhi, the celebrated biographer of Patel, had rejected in 2013. He said, The countrys first home minister would not have recognized Mr. Modi as his ideological heir and been very pained with his behaviour towards Muslims. He said that Patel was a great team builder and other people were prominent in his daily life. On October 31, 2018, LK Advani who was the central figure during the foundation stone ceremony in 2013, was conspicuously absent.

That Patel and the BJP could not have coexisted will be evident if we read Patel's speech of February 27, 1947 on minority protection while accepting the chairmanship of the Advisory Committee to the Constituent Assembly on fundamental rights. His frank speech on August 11, 1947 at a public meeting why the Congress accepted Partition needs to be quoted verbatim: I would make no efforts to explain away the responsibility of the Congress for dividing the country. We took these extreme steps after great deliberation. In spite of my previous strong opposition to Partition, I agreed to it because I felt convinced that in order to keep India united, it must be divided now.

PM Modi in his Op-Ed piece on October 31 had quoted VP Menon on how Patel led from the front the integration of 550 Indian States. May I point out that this was just one problem that the Congress leadership had faced during the process of independence. More serious was the pernicious plotting by some elements in the Viceroy's administration to leave India in tatters. This would be clear if we read VP Menon's another landmark book The Transfer of Power in India (1957) and Mountbatten's frank memoirs published in 1949 which has received scant attention in India.

Menon was associated with constitutional developments since 1917. From 1942 till August 1947, he was Constitutional Adviser to the Viceroy. Mountbatten, who took over as Viceroy on March 22, 1947, had frankly admitted that his predecessor, Lord Wavell, had made secret plans of quick British withdrawal from India in 1946 with the anticipated chaos following the rejection of the Cabinet Mission's plan affecting the loyalty of the Indian Army. If that had happened, it would have left a serious administrative vacuum in India since the superstructure was still with British civil and military officers although the Interim Government (Governor-Generals Executive Council) under Jawaharlal Nehru as Vice-President with Sardar Patel as Home Member had taken charge on September 2, 1946. The Constituent Assembly had first met from December 9, 1946.

During this period, Menon was the link between the Viceroy and Congress leadership, including Nehru and Patel, and at times even Gandhiji, and he kept them informed of some secret planning by a coterie of British officers in the Political Department.

The deliberate British mischief in our nation-building had started earlier. The 1935 Government of India Act on a "Federation" with three categories of constituents would have left the future Central government out of control of the Indian nation. While the British Indian provinces and Chief Commissioners' Provinces would accede to India, the 562 Princely States would be entitled to decide their own accession.

Menon had said that the Political Department, instead of following Viceroys scheme of persuading the princes to accede, was secretly warning them of the loss the rulers would suffer if they were to federate. He said that such scheming princes were rudely jolted when Nehru declared, while addressing the annual session of the All-India States Peoples Conference on April 18, 1947 that any state which did not come into the Constituent assembly would be treated by the country as a hostile state.

The British tried to stifle the process of nation-building even later. Their declaration to the Cripps Mission in 1942 gave the right to even British provinces to accede or not accede to the Union or to form a separate Union or Unions. Menon said This was really the death blow to Indian unity. This trend continued even during Mountbatten Viceroyship. Mountbatten records one such difficult meeting on June 13, 1947 to discuss the paramountcy after the transfer of power and its effect princely states: Pandit Nehru also attacked Sir Conrad Corfield, the political adviser, to his face and said that he ought to be tried for misfeasance.

In June 1947, Patel asked Menon to take charge of the States Department. In fact, it was Mountbatten who had created the department. He says: Mr. V.P. Menon, my Reforms Commissioner was, much to my delight, appointed Secretary. Pakistans nominee Ikramullah was appointed as Joint Secretary. From then on till August 15, 1947, all negotiations with the princes were under the leadership of Mountbatten who says the idea of accession of Indian states on three subjects (Defence, External Affairs and Communications) was Menon's idea to get as many accessions as quickly before the transfer of power on August 15, 1947.

Our independence was won under the leadership of Gandhiji with all top leaders like Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad, Rajendra Prasad, Jagjivan Ram and others assuming equally important roles. Our nation-building was done after August 15, 1947 with the participation of several non-Congress leaders like Dr Ambedkar, Dr SP Mukherjee, Dr John Mathai and others. They all had their differences but were united on the task of nation-building. It will be highly facile for a new BJP pantheon to claim in 2018 that only Sardar Patel was responsible for our nation-building.

(Author of A Life in Shadow: The Secret Story of ACN Nambiar)
vermaajay1968@gmail.com

IMRAN Ahmed Khan Niazi got a second chance to redeem himself as Prime Minister with the Asia Bibi judgment. This is an opportunity he grabbed with a state-of-the-nation address where he put the mullahs opposing the judgment on notice. In September, the newbie PM had muffed up the first opportunity by giving in to demands of the mullahs to exclude a noted economist but an Ahmadi from his economic advisory council. In the Asia Bibi case, the mullahs might have left their flanks open by calling for the murder of Supreme Court judges and urging all Muslims in the Pakistan army to revolt against the apex courts judgment. With the army apparently by his side, Imran Khan, on the other hand, had secured his flanks.

If the desultory action by the zealots in the bazars of Pakistan is an indication, Imran might have the upper hand so far. His stern and unyielding address with smart juxtaposition of Islamic ideals may have struck the right note with the masses. In one stroke, Khan endeared himself to the West, but also assuaged Beijings concerns about the overflow of radical Islam from Pakistan into Xinxiang province after the operationalising of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Khans backing for the legislature has important lessons here in India where the Supreme Courts handling of Sabarimala and Ram temple cases is being questioned on the streets. In both cases, the protagonists are hamare log. But Khan has drawn a clear line between dissent and hooliganism by observing that the thugs cannot hijack this country in the name of Islam and they will be treated accordingly if they mess with the state. Since the mullahs are the Pakistan armys strategic assets much like gau rakshaks are indispensible for the Hindutva forces here, it remains to be seen if Imrans divorce from them is irrevocable. But the stirrings of a Naya Pakistan are in the air. If Imran stays the course , not only Pakistan, but also the region will benefit.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Solan, November 1

The 19-year old Nepalese youth, who strangulated a class VI boy Nagesh on Tuesday, had planned the kidnapping and murder all alone a day before executing the crime with the aim of making easy money.

Investigations conducted by the police revealed that the Nepalese youth Vipin had come to Solan on Monday evening from Shimla and spent the night at the local railway station.

Having worked in Rajgarh area of Sirmaur last year, he was aware of the fact that schoolboys often travelled alone on the Shamti-Oachghat Road.

Vipin wanted to extort ransom money from Nageshs father and flee to Nepal assuming that he would not be arrested. The police also recovered the mask used by Vipin to conceal his identity from his pocket soon after his arrest. The identity card of Nagesh was also recovered from his pocket while his school bag was hidden some distance away from his body.

He also told the police that he targeted the 11-year-old boy who was walking alone on that road. After befriending him, he took him to a secluded spot near Santa Rosa. Vipin first throttled him following which the boy became unconscious.

Later, he used a crepe bandage to strangulate him as Nagesh regained consciousness and tried to escape, revealed Additional SP, Shiv Kumar Sharma. The crepe bandage was also recovered from the spot where the body had been hidden.

A team of forensic science experts visited the spot last evening to collect evidence. The body of the deceased was sent to the IGMC Shimla for a post mortem yesterday. Its report was yet to be received.

The police were as also investigating how he arrived back in Solan after killing Nagesh and whether he used the public transport or had taken a lift from some passersby. The police have ruled out the involvement of any other person in the crime. Further investigations are underway, informed ASP Shiv Kumar Sharma.

The police were also verifying whether the accused youth had any criminal history during his stay in Shimla where he worked in a shop.

As many as 22 youth, who had put the traffic on hold while agitating on the old DC Office Chowk and were detained yesterday, were left off after they were produced before the SDM.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 1

Two local Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed and a soldier was injured in a gunfight in central Kashmirs Budgam district on Thursday, the police said.

The two militants were killed in a three-hour gunfight at Zoogu Kharian in Khansahib, some 50 km from Srinagar. The gunfight started around 4 am when joint teams of security forces were carrying out a cordon and search operation after an input about the presence of militants in the area.

As the searches were being carried out, the militants hiding in the area opened fire, triggering an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, two local militants of the Lashkar were killed, said Deputy Inspector General of Police, central Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdhi.

The slain militants were identified as Mukhtar Ahmad Khan, a resident of Brass in Budgam, and Mohammad Amin Mir of Drangbal, Pampore. They were both involved in a series of attacks, the DIG said.

Mukhtar had joined militancy in April and Amin in August.

A police spokesman in Srinagar said a soldier was also injured in the gunfight. His condition is stated to be stable.

Incriminating material and arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter, he said.

Sources said the two militants were holed up in a shed which was gutted during the encounter.

As the forces were withdrawing from the village, intense clashes broke out in areas near the encounter site. The police had to fire tearsmoke shells to quell the protesters. The clashes continued for over an hour. An OB (outside broadcasting) van of a news agency was also damaged during the clashes.

A large number of people later attended the funeral of Mukhtar at his native village.

The authorities suspended mobile internet in Budgam as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.

In October, 26 militants, eight security men were killed in anti-militancy operations across Kashmir. Last month, 14 civilians also lost their lives to violence.

Meanwhile, at least five persons were detained for questioning when a car jumped a security checkpoint at Shalteng on the outskirts of Srinagar.
editorial@tribune.com

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 31

Three district-level commanders and a well-trained sniper, who picked targets in the darkness of night, have been killed as October marked an increase in the offensive and pinpoint operations against militants across the Kashmir valley.

It also marks a change in counter-insurgency strategy which was affected by the Ramazan ceasefire as security forces were tasked to go slow and respond only in a tit-for-tat manner.

A key distinction during this month has been that fewer civilian casualties  barring the six civilians who died in an accidental explosion at the site of the gunfight - took place during the handling of the law and order situation around such operations.

The fresh offensive against militants has coincided with the conclusion of municipal elections in the region and a senior police officer attributed the successful counter-insurgency operations to the very good quality of information. The quality of information from various channels has been very good, that is why there have been result-oriented operations, ADGP Munir Khan said, adding that anyone linked to any banned militant organisation and carrying illegal arms would be a target.

He said over 190 militants had been killed this year while the number of active militants is in the range of 280 to 300. As October marked a sharp spike in the counter-insurgency operations, for the first time since Ramazan ceasefire earlier this year, the security forces traced militants to their hideouts and intercepted them at checkpoints almost on a daily basis and sometimes even in multiple gunfights in a day.

Four militants, two of them district-level commanders, were killed in counter-insurgency operations in Srinagar, the states summer capital which is registering a return of militant activities after a hiatus. Another district-level commander Manan Wani, who was a PhD scholar at Aligarh Muslim University, was killed along with his associate in north Kashmirs Handwara sub-district.

The counter-insurgency operations which resulted in the killing of militants in October took place in south Kashmirs Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama, in central Kashmirs Srinagar, and in north Kashmirs Baramulla and Kupwara  accounting for six of the 10 districts of the Valley.

Nearly 30 militants killed during the month were associated with the Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and at least one, a former pharmacy student, with the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen.

In one of the last counter-insurgency operations, the security forces zeroed in on a hideout in south Kashmirs Tral sub-district where it killed a well-trained militant sniper, Usman Haider, who had carried out rare sniping attacks in recent days.

Four political workers  one of them linked to a separatist group and rest affiliated with mainstream NC and PDP  were killed by suspected militants during the month.

Major encounters

October 30: Two Jaish militants, including a sniper, killed in Tral.

October 26: Two Lashkar militants and a soldier killed in Sopore.

October 25: Six militants killed in Anantnag and Baramulla. Soldier killed in sniper attack in Tral.

October 24: Hizb district commander Sabzar Bashir Sofi and his aide killed in Srinagar.

October 21: Three Jaish militants killed in Kulgam. Six civilians killed in accidental blast at gunfight site.

October 19: Two Jaish militants killed at a checkpoint in Baramulla.

October 18: Four militants killed in Baramulla.

October 17: Lashkar district commander Mehraj Bangroo along with another militant killed in Srinagar.

October 11: Two militants, including Hizb district commander and PhD scholar Manan Wani killed in Handwara.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1

N N Vohra, former governor of Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday red-flagged the growing violent activities of varied community groups against cow-slaughter and inter-caste marriages where people have been killed for alleged offences.

Delivery the 1st KPS Gill Memorial Lecture, initiated by the Punjab Police to mark the Punjab Day today, Vohra spoke on the subject 'National Security-Some Concerns' at the Indian School of Business auditorium.

Recounting his experiences as Punjab Home Secretary of working with Late KPS Gill, Vohra called for greater role of the state's in formulating national security policy and to increase budgetary allowance for police. He also laid emphasis on the importance of constabulary as the first responder to a crisis situation and how professional they should be.

"We need to be concerned about yet another species of threat to the maintenance of law and order: this relates to the growing violent activities of varied community groups against cow slaughter and the sale or consumption of buffalo meat. The massive agitations against these has caused loss of livelihoods of thousands engaged in rearing and selling meat and caused huge economic losses . Some of these agitating groups took law in their hands, held roadside trials of innocent persons, beat them mercilessly and even lynched them," Vohra said.

He lamented that there have been incidents of similar lawlessness being perpetrated by radical community groups who are opposed to inter-community and inter-caste marriages. "In several reported incidents such frenzied groups have held kangaroo courts and burnt or beaten to death innocent young couples," he underlined.

Vohra pointed out another species of lawlessness related to activities of the followers of 'gurus' or 'godmen'. Referring to a recent court order against the immoral activities of a 'godman', Vohra said even before the court order was announced, thousands of devotees blocked roads, burnt private and public property and indulged in organised violence.

He said these new species of disturbances were serious as besides being inherently lawless, such agitations have the propensity to trigger Inter and inter-community tensions, which could lead to bigger conflicts and large-scale violence.

Vohra called for urgent action by the Union government to evolve a National Security Policy, in close consultation with the states. He said time-bound steps would need to be taken to establish an effective pan-India security administration infrastructure.

He noted not enough importance was given to the police and states were grossly indifferent to the needs of the force. He said he has found that 17 states spent less than 4 per cent of their total budgets on police, three states spent less than 2 per cent and Odisha spends only 1.05 per cent.

"It is a matter for serious concern to observe that most states have not been making adequate provisions for refresher training being imparted to personnel at various levels, particularly constables. "Of the 25 states for which data is available for 2016-17, as many as 12 spent less than 1 per cent of their police budget on training. And J&K, which faces the largest and most complex security challenges, spent only 0.01 per cent of its budget on training."

Earlier, Punjab Co-operation and Jails Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa paid glowing tributes to late KPS Gill. He called on the police to effectively deal against the threat of narco-terrorism. DGP Suresh Arora while presenting his vote of thanks to the speakers said there is need to inculcate fear of the law than the fear of the police for meaningful policing. IG-cum-Director Punjab Police Training Academy, Phillaur, Anita Punj moderated the event. A large number of serving and retired police and army officers graced the occasion. A number of them participated in an interactive session with NN Vohra.
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Srinagar, November 1

The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday sacked Director Tourism Tassaduq Jeelani from his post and ordered an inquiry into his conduct at an event here last week.

"Tassaduq Jeelani has been removed as Director Tourism Kashmir. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan shall hold charge of the post of Director Tourism Kashmir till further orders," an official spokesman said.

He said the Divisional Commissioner will hold inquiry into incidents that occurred during Tourism Department sponsored three-day Kashmir Autumn FAM (Familiarisation) Tour of the valley, for a group of people involved in travel trade, from October 25-27.

The inquiry officer shall submit his report within 10 days, the spokesman said.

He did not specify any charges against the director but an online video had claimed that Jeelani addressed one of the functions during the FAM tour in an inebriated condition. PTI
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 1

It is nearly five months since Kabir Khan of Rajouri lost his son Saleem -- the youngest among four children. Khan, a daily worker, is running from pillar to post to bring back mortal remains of his son from Pakistan and complete his burial rituals.

On the intervening night of June 6 and 7, Saleem met with a deadly accident in Kargil. Not yet 18, he was a helper in gas tanker (JK02BK-6225) in which he was traveling that night along with Shokit Iqbal, son of one Lal Hussain, and Mohammad Jabbar, son of Mohd. Iqbal, also from Rajouri.

The vehicle met with an accident near Hardass Bridge in Kargil while heading from Jammu towards Leh and plunged into Shingo river. The FIR mentions that few belongings of the driver were found at the spot of the accident.

It was revealed that the bodies were washed away to the other side of Gilgit-Baltistan to Kharma area. Since then everyday has been a trauma for Kabir Khan and his family who despite traveling to New Delhi at least a dozen times, have not been granted an audience either by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj or or by any senior official.

"We got a call from a local resident, Khawaja Ashiq Hussain, around June 18, who told us that the bodies of our boys were found lying on sand with some documents recovered on their bodies," said Kabir Khan speaking from Rajouri. He hopes that despite tensions in ties, two sides will help repatriate his son's body on humanitarian grounds. "Since then I have travelled to Delhi several times. My nephew who works there literally goes and marks attendance in the Ministry on a daily basis. We submitted our documents for the third time last week," said Kabir Khan getting choked up as he spoke.

Responding to The Tribune, officials said the matter has been taken up with Pakistan. "When this matter was brought to our notice, since then our High Commisison in Islamabad has taken it up repeatedly with Pakistan Foreign Office. Unfortunately we are still waiting for the response as to how we can find a way ahead on this matter. So far we have not found any satisfactory response from the Pakistani government," said MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

Kabir Khan has now been informed on phone by MEA that discussions with Islamabad are in progress to facilitate his travel. Khan hopes that he will get a chance to say one final goodbye to his son and seek some closure.
editorial@tribune.com

Rifat Mohidin

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 1

The family of 18-year-old Ehtisham Bilal, who went missing from Sharda University in Noida on October 28, has made a passionate appeal to Governor Satya Pal Malik to trace him.

According to the teenage students family, he was pursuing BSc first year in radiology and imaging technology. His family said on October 4, he was beaten up by some students on the campus, which turned into a controversy after a video went viral. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had also appealed to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to look into the matter.

The police in Kashmir say they are clueless about his whereabouts.

The Delhi Police are investigating the matter and we are in touch with them. His call has been traced in Kashmir last and we are trying to trace him, a senior police official said.

The family says Ehtisham was beaten up by some students in the university, which they came to know after they were called by the university administration.

I reached Delhi the same day and met all police officers and the administration. They asked me to file an FIR against the students who had assaulted him, but I did not. I was there till October 10, said Bilal Ahmad, his distraught father.

The family said Ehtishams had to be hospitalised for a day following the incident.

He is the only son in the family. We just want him to stay here at home. We appeal to the authorities in Delhi and Srinagar to bring him home. His mother is sick and the incident has shattered the father, said his cousin.

The family gathered in Srinagars press colony on Thursday and made a passionate appeal to the authorities to find him.

Both the university authorities and his family have filed his missing report in Delhi and Srinagars Khanyar, where he lives.

A student in the university said that Ehtisham was among a group of students mistaken for Afghans and attacked by the goons who got into a scuffle over a social media post.

Following the incident, the university had also remained shut for a few days.
editorial@tribune.com

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 31

Showkat Ahmad Khan, one of the two militants killed in a gunfight in south Kashmirs Tral sub-district yesterday and the accomplice of the lead sniper, was the third member of his family from south Kashmirs Tral sub-district to have joined militancy, police sources said.

The sources said Khan was part of a sniper team  possibly a spotter for the lead sniper  which had carried out at least two sniping attacks in recent days in which two security forces personnel were killed.

Khan, a member of the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant organisation, along with the lead sniper Usman Haidar - a foreigner and reportedly related to group founder Maulana Masood Azhar  was killed during a gunfight at Chaanketaar village of Tral last evening.

The US-made M4 carbine which was used as the sniper rifle was recovered from the site of the gunfight, the sources said. The Jaish-e-Mohammad, which was founded in 2000 and had remained dormant for several years, has made a deadly comeback in the Kashmir valley in recent years and has recruited several dozen local youth. The groups presence in Tral is estimated to be eight to ten, the sources said.

A resident of Trals Handoora village, Khan had joined the militant group after his elder brother Ishfaq Khan was killed in a fierce gunfight in April this year in Trals Lam forest.

Militants appear at funeral, fire shots

Anantnag: Anantnag: Militants appeared at the funeral of their slain associate on Wednesday and offered a gun salute at Handoora village of Tral. Three or four militants appeared at the funeral of Showkat Ahmad Khan of Handoora, who was killed in a gunfight on Tuesday along with foreign militant Usman Haider at Trals Chankitaar village. A complete shutdown was observed in Tral and its adjoining area throughout the day on Wednesday. OC
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Bhopal/Indore, October 30

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's son Kartikey filed a criminal defamation suit on Tuesday against Rahul Gandhi in a local court, accusing the Congress leader of intentionally making a false allegation about his name being in Panama Papers of alleged tax evaders.

Gandhi, who had made these comments during an election rally in Jhabua on Monday, sought to clarify his remarks saying he had got "confused" and the Madhya Pradesh chief minister's son had no link to the Panama Papers case.

In the suit filed in the Special Court of Additional District Judge (ADJ) Suresh Singh through his lawyer Shirish Shrivastava, Kartikey Chouhan has alleged that Gandhi intentionally gave the statement to defame him.

The criminal defamation case was filed under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Under these sections, a person guilty of criminal defamation can be sent to jail for two years.

The court has posted the matter for November 3 when Kartikey's statement will be recorded.

The Panama papers refer to 11.5 million leaked documents published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists in 2016 with details of offshore entities set up by a Panama-based legal firm. The list included several Indian individuals and entities, many of whom are facing investigation.

Addressing a rally in Jhabua district of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on Monday, Gandhi had alleged the name of the son of 'mamaji' had figured in the Panama Papers but no action was taken against him. Chief Minister Chouhan is often referred to as 'mamaji', though Gandhi did not specifically name him.

Hours after Gandhi's allegations, Kartikey Chouhan had rejected the allegations.

"Rahul Gandhi has made a false allegation of my involvement in Panama Papers. I am aggrieved as the image of mine and my family were damaged in a childish manner," he had said, while warning of "strict legal action" if the Congress leader did not apologise within 48 hours.

Kartikey's counsel said Gandhi's statement was intended to defame Chouhan and his family as the Congress has failed to make a dent in the popularity of the chief minister.

"Now they are levelling allegations against his family and children. It was a clear cut intention. It was a well-planned statement," Shrivastava said.

Speaking to a select group of journalists in Indore, Rahul sought to clarify his remarks and said, "For campaigning I am touring Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan these days. The ruling BJP has indulged in so many scams and corruption that yesterday, I got confused."

"In Panama Paper leak case, Madhya Pradesh chief minister has no role," Gandhi said, but alleged that the BJP chief minister had a role in scams like Vyapam and e-tendering, among others.

The Vyapam scam refers to massive irregularities in state government jobs recruitment and selection in medical courses done by the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board.

The main Opposition party has also been alleging large-scale corruption through e-tendering in Madhya Pradesh. It has claimed massive irregularities in grant of state government procurement and other works through a website developed by two private IT companies.

The ruling party has denied these allegations. - PTI
gspannu7@gmail.com

New Delhi, November 1

Amid a clamour within the BJP for bringing a legislation for early construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday said any ordinance by the government or a Bill passed in Parliament will be unconstitutional when the matter is sub-judice.

Bringing an ordinance or law pending an appeal in the Supreme Court will be an adventurist action, he said.

In my view, to bring an ordinance would be unconstitutional. So let us see whether the government recognises the constitutional position or it will indulge in an adventurist action. An ordinance when the appeal is pending will be an adventurist action. It will be unconstitutional, he told reporters at the AICC briefing.

He said the demand for an ordinance was a trial balloon and the government is letting its followers test the water.

They are floating all these balloons to see what the public reaction is, but the matter is pending before the Supreme Court as a regular appeal against the Allahabad High Court judgment, he said.

In my view an ordinance would be unconstitutional. A Bill would also be unconstitutional. You cannot pass a Bill setting aside the judgment of a high court when the matter is pending in the Supreme Court. That is my understanding of law. I may be right, I may be wrong, he said.

Amid a growing chorus from saffron outfits for an ordinance on construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, BJP MP Rakesh Sinha on Thursday said he will bring a private members Bill in this regard and asked opposition leaders, including Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, whether they will support it.

Sinha said the onus is now on the opposition leaders and he is asking a clear-cut question as now is the time to separate truth from lies.  PTI
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Beijing, November 1

China on Thursday sought to defend the proposed bus service with Pakistan through PoK, saying its cooperation with Islamabad had nothing to do with the territorial dispute and would not change its principled stance on the Kashmir issue.

India on Wednesday said it had lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan over the proposed bus service between the two countries through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

Indias Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday that the bus service would be a violation of Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to reports from Pakistan, the new bus service will be launched between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on November 3.

Its launch apparently is coinciding with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans maiden visit to China starting from Friday.

Asked about Indias protest, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he was not aware of Indias diplomatic protest.

But on the issue of Kashmir, Chinas position is clear-cut. We made it clear many times, he said.

Chinas stand, he said, is that the cooperation between China and Pakistan has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and will not affect Chinas principled position on Kashmir, he said.

China maintains that the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan through dialogue and consultation.

He defended the USD 60 billion CPEC, saying it is an economic cooperation project between China and Pakistan.

It is not targeted against any third party, he said.

The CPEC involves a host of projects connecting Chinas Xinjiang province with Pakistans Gwadar port in Balochistan province. PTI
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 1

Renewing his mission to bring together political parties opposed to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.

Naidu is trying to unite opposition parties to take on the saffron party in the Lok Sabha elections next year.

Gandhi in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu said both of them have decided "not to get into the past" but talk about the present and the future as it is "critical" for the country.

The TDP had earlier criticised the Congress on the bifurcation of the state.

Asserting that there is a need to save the nation and the democracy, Naidu said he discussed this will the Congress president and they have agreed to it in-principle.

Gandhi tweeted,"I had a good meeting today with Shri Chandrababu Naidu. Amongst other things, we discussed the issue of opposition unity. I look forward to carrying forward our dialogue and to working together in the upcoming state & general elections".

Before that, he told reporters, "We are working together, we are going to work together. All Opposition forces are going to work together to defend India, our institutions and our democracy.

"We have had a past. Both of us have agreed we are not going to get into the past. We are going to talk about the present and future because it is critical for our country," Gandhi told reporters.

He said because of the situation in the country, "let all opposition forces come together and provide a vision." Asked who is going to be the face for an Opposition alliance, Gandhi said both the leaders have agreed that the principle idea is to defeat the BJP and defend democracy and institutions of this country. "All other ideas, we will discuss later," he said, adding,"Everyone is going to work together."

He further said, "Your interest is in sensationalism but we have to work together to deliver people's aspirations."

He said the primary challenge before all the opposition forces is to work together and defend India's institutions and democracy.

"Everything else is secondary. We will do what is our primary challenge," he said.

Earlier, addressing mediapersons along with Pawar and Abdullah here, Naidu said he had consulted both the senior politicians in his quest to bring together non-BJP parties in order to save the future generations and in the interest of the nation.

Both Pawar and Abdullah to expressed anguish over the country being in a deep crisis. Discussions, they said, were on as to how to protect the country by chalking out a common minimum programme.

This is the second visit of Naidu to Delhi within a week after he met senior political leaders, including Mayawati, Arvind Kejriwal, Sharad Yadav, Abdullah and Sudhakar Reddy and D. Raja, on October 24.

Ever since the TDP snapped ties with the BJP charging that the government of Narendra Modi had give the residual state of Andhra Pradesh a raw deal, Naidu has been on the move against the BJP-led NDA government.

The party moved a No-Confidence Motion in the Monsoon session of Parliament to record its resistance and now the the general elections approaching, Naidu is back in a role he is familiar with.

The AP CM in a press meet last Saturday indicated that for a non-BJP coalition, a national party has to be playing a role.  With PTI inputs
harinder@tribunemail.com

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 31

In what may change the working conditions for Lt Colonel-level officers of the Indian Army, fresh assessment parameters are being drawn up for those who have been overlooked at the rank.

The suggested changes, if implemented, can impact future postings; decide whether an officer can be given a time-scale promotion as Colonel or not; decide if the officer can be sent on deputation to other places or even get study leave.

There are a few thousand officers at the Lt Colonel level who have been superseded or overlooked. These non-empanelled officers cant be selected for higher ranks like Colonel and thence upwards like Brigadier, Maj General or Lt General.

An officer gets selected as Colonel around the age of 35-36 at the rank of Lt Colonel. Those who dont make the cut  only 25 per cent get selected  get the only available opportunity i.e. time-scale elevation to rank of Colonel after having served for a specified period.

This happens by the time an officer is around 47-48 years of age. The rank of Colonel is the highest a non-empanelled officer gets.

An officer who joins the Army gets promoted automatically to the rank of Lt Colonel in 13 years of service. The selections start from thereon. There are about 39,000 officers in the Army and only 4,000 or so are Colonels.

The Military Secretary branch on October 17 sent out a letter seeking comments of all Army Commands on whether such a new assessment form be made part of annual confidential reports (ACRs) or not.
shriaya.dutta@tribuneindia.com

Rameswaram, November 1

More than 3,000 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu were chased away by the Sri Lankan Navy, who also hurled stones at them and snapped fishing nets of 50 vessels for fishing in their territorial waters, a fishermen association leader claimed on Thursday.

Rameswaram Fishermen Association President, P Sesuraja said fishermen from this town and Mandapam region had ventured into the sea Wednesday morning in over 700 mechanised boats and were fishing near Katchatheevu when Sri Lankan naval personnel arrived there and threatened them.

They also snapped the fishing nets of 50 boats and pelted stones at the fishermen before driving them away, he alleged, adding all the fishermen returned early Thursday morning without a catch.

Sesuraja urged the Centre to take up the issue with the island nation's government to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Referring to the 1974 India-Sri Lanka agreement on fishing, he claimed that they had rights to fish in Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to the neighbouring country under the agreement.

Seventeen fishermen from Ramanathapruam and Pudukottai districts were arrested on Tuesday by the Sri Lankan Navy for fishing off Neduntheevu.  PTI
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Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 1

Congress social media head Divya Spandana Ramya doesnt appear to be listening to her boss and party chief Rahul Gandhi. After courting controversies in the past for her distasteful tweets, she again tweeted fresh trouble for the party on Thursday.

Posting a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the grand Sardar Patel statue inaugurated yesterday, Ramya wrote, Is that a bird dropping? The tweet was intact on Ramyas Twitter timeline much after it triggered a storm on the microblogging website with the pro-right handles attacking the Congress social media chief viciously.

The Congress had no clarification to offer and said Ramya operates independently. There has been severe anxiety within the Congress over the manner and style of Ramya on Twitter.

She had once posted a Rakhi Sawant video online with Sawant making disparaging remarks about the PM. Subsequently too the tone of Ramyas tweets has been a matter of consternation within the Congress with several senior leaders conveying their angst to Gandhi.

Gandhi feels it may prove counterproductive to divest Ramya of her charge in an election season, though he is not known to condone below the belt language.

Privately, Congress leaders wonder why Ramya doesnt get that message. She wants herself to be the story, says a Congress Leader.

Gandhi personally has always urged party people to maintain the decorum of language in political attacks though of late he has also surprised his ranks with PM chor hai allegation over the Rafale deal.

As for Ramya, the former MP from Karnataka seems to be enjoying Gandhis confidence as of now.

She had created a flutter a fortnight ago by deleting her social media profile forcing the Congress to clarify that she hadnt resigned as the department chief.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 1

Amid the tug-of-war over the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the BJP hit back at the Congress saying while everyone in the country was happy to see the Statue of Unity, the opposition party was playing politics.

Even in this the Congress is playing politics, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said as opposition leaders accused the BJP of trying to appropriate Patel, a Congressman.

Responding to the criticism, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, All this while the Gandhi family had been thinking that the entire country belonged to them, so on a day when Patel has been given his rightful place, they are worried.

As politics continues over the statue, which no doubt is an engineering marvel, observers point to the important issues being relegated to the background--controversies related to the RBI, CBI, economic crisis and the setback to the government when the Supreme Court asked the Centre for pricing details of the Rafale fighter jets.

With the inauguration of the statue on Sardars birth anniversary, the BJP has been able to showcase Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the man who not just gave Patel the place he deserves in history but also as a leader who believes in national unity and delivers on promises. The decision to construct the statue was taken by Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister.

Now whether Patel would have been embarrassed with the pomp and show as the Congress claims or the BJP is justified in honouring the man who was ignored all this while are debatable issues. The BJP has been successful in turning it into a Nehru versus Patel issue.

Whether it will accrue it political gains, only time would tell. However, a tidbit on the sidelines is that the Sangh Parivar is acutely aware of the lack of its cadres in Indias list of freedom fighters. And so far it seems Modi has been successful in drawing the attention of people towards the Sardar and him as someone who brought a forgotten icon to the centrestage.
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Ravi S.Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 1

Intellectuals and dignitaries from Sikh community on Thursday observed the 34th anniversary of anti-Sikh riots and described the incident as state-sponsored by the then Congress regime at the Centre.

Resolutions, including seeking completion of the investigations in a set time-frame to enable speedy justice to the victims, were adopted on the occasion.

A panel discussion was organised on the subject "Genocide November 1984: Justice still awaited" under the aegis of "The Sikh Forum"-- a non-government organisation, after which the resolutions were considered.

Forum's president Pushpinder Singh Chopra led observance of a one-minute silence in the memory of those killed in the riots.

A resolution demanded timely completion of investigations by the Supreme Court-led Special Investigation Team (SIT), and action against two Congress leaders Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler.

It alleged that despite court orders, the CBI had not concluded investigations, including against the two leaders.

A separate resolution law was passed urging Parliament to observe a two-minute silence to mourn the "heinous" murder of Sikhs during the period November 1 to 3, 1984.

Also, a resolution was passed seeking declaration of the violence as "Sikh Genocide Day". Although the BJP-led NDA has not fulfilled its poll promise of ensuring punishment of culprits of the riot. Home Minister Rajnath Singh had publicly pronounced at a function on December 26, 2014 while distributing cheques of compensation to riot victims in Tilak Vihar that the 1984 violence was a "genocide", it added.

Taking part in the panel discussion, former Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly and AAP leader HS Phoolka alleged that the conspiracy and execution of the violence against Sikhs was at the behest of the highest echelons of the establishment of the time. Roadblocks had been created to thwart fruitions of the investigations in all these years.

Former Ambassador KC Singh lamented that no government has set up commission to probe conspiracy part of the violence.

He was critical of the Sikh leadership in Punjab, including Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh of Congress and SAD patron and former CM Parkash Singh Badal, accusing them of not taking ample measures to rehabilitate the victims, or to put adequate pressure on the Centre.

The Congress made a Sikh in Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister as a veneer of showcase its commitment to the community, he added.

Former MP and National Commission for Minorities ex-chairman Tarlochan Singh said: "It was a shame that the government of the day and society failed to protect the Sikhs for three days."

Meanwhile, family members of the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots staged a protest at Jantar Mantar.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 1

Three youths were killed as a Tata Indica car collided with the road divider near Pathankot Chowk on the Jalandhar-Amritsar highway in the wee hours of Thursday.

Among the four youths who were driving back to Amritsar, three died on the spot after the collision while the fourth received serious injuries.

The deceased were identified as Sonu, Naresh and Pawan.

The injured, Akash, was rushed to hospital where doctors said his condition was serious.

Police reached the spot and started investigation.

Investigation officer Seema Gupta said the youth, all in their 20s, were apparently drunk when the accident took place.
uttara@tribuneindia.com

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 31

An official conducting inquiry into Dussehra tragedy in Amritsar that killed over 60 people has summoned Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu.

Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner B Purushartha, whos conducting a one-man inquiry into the October 19 incident, has asked the couple to appear before him on Friday.

Wednesdays inquiry saw officials from the railways, Government Railway Police (GRP), Municipal Corporation, and Punjab Police record their statements.

Purusharta said the commission would investigate the train driver, the gateman as well as the Railway Police Force personnel who were manning the railway tracks. The driver and the gateman would be summoned if required, the official said.

Over 61 people were killed when a train ran over Dussehra revellers at Amritsars Jora Phatak on the evening of October 19.

Navjot Kaur Sidhu was chief guest at the event.
vermaajay1968@gmail.com

THE Honble Sir Dinsha Wachas speech as Chairman of the Reception Committee of the All-India Conference of Moderates is a plea for slow and solid progress in India as opposed to a hurried though welcome one. He reminds his countrymen of the cautious words uttered by Mr. Hume and other early founders of the Indian National Congress to cultivate a genuine public spirit, to express opinions with lucidity and to cultivate habits of accuracy, self-control and moderation. Sir Dinsha does not specify any insurance of Indias public men having forgotten or neglected these aims, but be seems to assume that the tendency among younger politicians is not what it should be and they require the sobering influence of his advice delivered at a separate assembly. He refers to the new aspirations created by the war to march abreast of other progressive nations.
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

London/Dubai, November 1

On October 20, Arabic-language website alawatanews.com published a report that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had been forced out of power.

Citing the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), it said King Salman had signed a decree removing the prince "against the backdrop of growing pressure that accompanies the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi."

The report was false. The SPA has never published such an article, the wording and picture were lifted from a year-old royal court announcement about the removal of a former crown prince and MbS, as he is widely known, remains in his position.

The story and the website that published it are part of a fierce information war being waged online over the killing of Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the Saudi government last seen entering Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

Automated accounts known as bots have flooded social media in recent weeks, many of them promoting messages, which support Saudi Arabia and are intended to cast doubt on allegations that the kingdom was involved in Khashoggi's death.

But another effort has also sought to muddy the waters more broadly, using fake news websites and associated bots to sow confusion about developments inside the Saudi government.

Alawatanews.com is part of a network of at least 53 websites which, posing as authentic Arabic-language news outlets, have spread false information about the Saudi government and Khashoggi's murder, a Reuters analysis shows.

Investigators at Israeli cybersecurity firm ClearSky said a review of host-server addresses and registration details showed the websites were operating as part of the same network. Many of them also have near-identical design layouts and web addresses, or have published the same or similar fake news reports.

The alawatanews.com report, which said MbS had been replaced by his brother because of the fallout from Khashoggi's death, was typical of those articles. Another, published by a website called awwtarnews.com on October 22, said an MbS aide had also been replaced for the same reason, which was not true.

After being published online, the false news articles were shared on Twitter by automated bot accounts -- many of which repeatedly posted links to multiple sites from the network.

Twitter suspended the accounts shortly after receiving questions about them from Reuters. Alawatanews.com, awwtarnews.com, the Saudi government and SPA did not respond to requests for comment.

A person called Mohammed Trabay with a registered address in Egypt is listed online as the owner and operator of the majority of the 53 websites. When reached by phone, a man who identified himself as Mohammed Trabay confirmed he was the owner of the websites but hung up when asked for further details.

In subsequent emailed comments he denied any connection to the network and said he had not understood the questions when asked by phone.

"Sorry, I can't help you," he said. "I don't have any relation with the sites you mention."

Saudi Arabia's electronic army

The Saudi government initially said that it did not know what had happened to Khashoggi, a U.S. resident who wrote columns for the Washington Post, when he disappeared after entering its consulate in Turkey.

Under pressure to say more about Khashoggi's fate, and following Turkey asserting that he had been killed, Riyadh later changed its version of events to say he had died in a fight in the Istanbul consulate.

When that statement was also widely questioned, Riyadh offered a new explanation, blaming Khashoggi's death on a premeditated "rogue operation" in which Saudi individuals exceeded their authority.

US President Donald Trump has said Saudi authorities staged the "worst cover-up ever" but has also made more conciliatory remarks that highlight Riyadh's role as a US ally against Iran and Islamist militants, as well as a purchaser of US arms.

Online, the journalist's death has served to show how governments and people are increasingly able to manipulate information and social media to further their political agendas, said Lisa-Maria Neudert, a researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute, a department of Oxford University.

"Setting up misinformation pages purporting to be real news, leveraging highly divisive and controversial current issues, and using fake accounts and personas to conceal the originators of attacks are somewhat of the ABCs of computational propaganda," she said.

At the centre of Saudi Arabia's online efforts is Saud al-Qahtani, a close aide to the Crown Prince who was hired in the early 2000s to run an electronic media army tasked with protecting Saudi Arabia's image, according to a source with ties to the royal court.

When Riyadh led an economic boycott against Qatar in June 2017, Qahtani was at the forefront of online attacks against the small Gulf state. On Twitter, he urged Saudis to tweet the names of anyone showing sympathy with Qatar under the Arabic hashtag "The Black List".

Qahtani was sacked on October 20 over allegations that he was involved in Khashoggi's murder. A senior Saudi official said he had authorised one of his subordinates to conduct what was meant to be a negotiation for Khashoggi's return to Saudi Arabia.

Qahtani did not respond to questions from Reuters at the time.

Saudi authorities have not disclosed whether or not he is in detention and the status of his "flies", as his electronic army is known, is unclear. The Saudi authorities did not respond to a request for comment.

Opponents of the Saudi authorities have also been active online. Facebook and other companies identified a suspected Iranian influence operation in August which used a network of sham news sites and fake social media personas to spread disinformation, some of it targeted at Saudi Arabia. Iranian officials have dismissed the allegations as "ridiculous".

Mystery perpetrator

Twitter said it has removed large numbers of accounts for breaching its terms of use over the last two weeks, many of them originating from the Gulf region.

"Targeted platform manipulation and coordinated spam are a violation of the Twitter Rules and we will continue to enforce our policies vigorously," a Twitter spokesman said.

Reuters has found such bot accounts and influential Saudi users repeatedly posting hashtags on Twitter including "Qatari intelligence kills Khashoggi" and "Saudi Arabia the greatest," although it found no evidence Qahtani or the Saudi government controlled or directed those accounts.

Saudi Arabia's biggest online newspaper Sabq has also accused the international media, including Reuters, of using Khashoggi's disappearance to try to undermine the government, and released a statement on Oct. 21 saying a fake news story was being circulated under its name.

The websites identified by Reuters as spreading false news about the Saudi government have operated as part of the same network since 2017, said ClearSky analyst Ohad Zaidenberg.

All bar three of the websites have been taken down, although it is not clear who dismantled the network, when or why, said Zaidenberg, who previously tracked online influence campaigns for Israel's elite 8200 intelligence unit.

But the sites which are still online, as well as archived copies of those which are now disabled, provide an insight into the network's operations and aims -- to undermine the official Saudi version of events and spread confusion around its government.

"Saudi Arabia is considered to be one of the main powers in the Middle East. Accordingly, many operators of fake news infrastructure target the Saudi Arabian audience with increasing frequency," Zaidenberg said, adding that a perpetrator could not be identified at this stage.

Web-hosting and support companies Hetzner, GoDaddy and Cloudflare all declined to give any information about the websites' operator, citing client confidentiality.

Reuters
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Islamabad, November 1

A Christian woman who was convicted of blasphemy and was acquitted by Pakistans Supreme Court is likely to be flown out of the country as the landmark verdict sparked countrywide protests and death threats from hardline groups.

Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The apex courts judgment, which was pronounced on Wednesday, triggered protests across Pakistan with protestors led by Islamic political party Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan and other groups blocking major highways and roads in different parts of the country.

Bibis husband Ashiq Masih has reached Pakistan along with his family from the UK to shift her abroad, The News reported quoting sources.

Masih was provided complete security by the law enforcement agencies, it said.

Officials also said Bibi might be flown out of Pakistan due to threat to her life.

However, it was not clear where she will go as several countries, including Canada, have offered asylum to her.

The timing of her release was not been shared due to security reasons. She was kept in Sheikhupura jail near Lahore.

Bibis case has been deeply divisive in Pakistan where there is strong support for the controversial blasphemy laws.

The blasphemy laws were promulgated by former military dictator Ziaul Haq in 1980s. A person convicted under these laws is given death sentence.

Bibi was the first woman who was given death sentence under the blasphemy laws. PTI
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

London, November 1

A deal that would give UK-based financial services firms basic access to European Union markets after Brexit is nearly done, a British official said.

The Times newspaper reported that a tentative deal had been reached on all aspects of a future partnership on services, as well as the exchange of data. We are making progress, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, adding that the financial services deal would be based on the EUs existing equivalence system.

Currently, as an EU member, banks and insurers in Britain enjoy unfettered access to customers across the bloc in all financial activities. Equivalence, however, covers a more limited range of business and excludes major activities such as commercial bank lending.

A financial services deal may be expected if an overall Brexit agreement is struck this month, the official said.

The pound jumped, rising to $1.2904.

London, which has been a critical artery for the flow of money around the world for centuries, is the worlds largest centre of international finance. While New York is by some measures bigger, it is more centred on American markets.

Many bankers and politicians predicted after the June 2016 referendum that leaving the EU would prompt a mass exodus of jobs and business, dealing a crippling blow to Londons position in global finance.

Brexit and the city

Global banks operating in the UK have already moved some staff and reorganised some operations ahead of Britains departure from the European Union, due on March 29.

Britains Financial Conduct Authority said on Wednesday that UK financial rules should stay aligned with those in the EU after Brexit, a basic condition for Brussels to grant equivalence.

Faced with having Europes biggest financial centre on its doorstep, the EU has begun tightening conditions for equivalence in areas such as clearing derivatives and investment banking.

Under the current system, Brussels can scrap an equivalence designation within 30 days in some cases  a step it has never taken - and Britain has called for a far longer notice period.

Britain on Wednesday said there was no set date for Brexit talks to finish, backtracking from a letter by Brexit minister Dominic Raab that suggested a deal on the terms of its departure could be finalised by November 21. Reuters
THE murder toll continues to rise following the shooting deaths of three men in separate incidents between Thursday evening and yesterday morning.

The killings took place in Laventille, San Juan and Freeport.

Two of the victims have been identified as Aaron Thomas and Nathaniel Phillip, while the victim in the Freeport incident remained unidentified up to yesterday evening.
The pre-election splurge by the PNM-led Tobago House of Assembly (THA) draws attention to constitutional loopholes that should be addressed.

Here is an administration which went in with a comfortable majority for the election which was held in January this year and came out in a dead heat with the challenger party.
Hi and congratulations. IMO 3 weeks is the minimum to think about doing a bit of both countries. They are very different, but then different parts of Australia are also very different. Suggest you post on the NZ forum for that part of your trip.

>>Melbourne, Sydney, Queensland<< is the 2 largest cities and one large state. Can you tell us more about why you shortlisted them?

Queensland could be anything from the theme parks in Gold Coast to snorkelling the reef on a boat from Port Douglas and a whole lot of other things. Just to give you an idea of the size there are different climate zones across the state, and the northernmost is tropical so perhaps that's where you've heard the weather warnings about, it's wet season, cyclone season, stinger season. That said, it will be hot everywhere. But the choice of whether to go to the tropics depends on your own preferences and priorities, if you are keen on something uniquely local and can tolerate the heat plus humidity, if you don't mind wearing stinger suits or only swimming in pools rather than the ocean, if you can keep your plans flexible in case a cyclone develops, it might be worth it to you. If there's nothing that attracts you to particularly tropical Far North Queensland you could stay in the south and enjoy beautiful beaches without those considerations. There's even a way of seeing the southern end of the reef with less of the potential dilemmas of the far north, though my understanding is there is less of the upmarket accommodation that you can find further north, which might be a factor for you as it's your honeymoon. And there are beautiful beaches in places other than Queensland. And Queensland has a fascinating and historic outback too, though I'm guessing less overseas visitors picture that when they say they want to visit Queensland.

See, that's why we really need to talk more about what your interests and expectations are.

Oh and will you be renting a car if applicable? You'd probably want to get out of the cities for hiking and while you don't want the hassle and expense of a car in the city it's likely useful for going out of the city on day trips and longer. I know Sydney does have some harbour and beach hikes accessible by public transport. If you will be relying completely on public transport/ coach tours that will influence our advice.

As for how many days you need in each place, it's difficult to say without an idea of just what you want to see. It's better to work on a draft daily itinerary rather than allocate a certain number of days and then try to fit things in, that's why we get queries like 'I've booked everything and I want to see x, y and z but I can't see how to fit it in' and then we have to ask if they can change their flights and cancel their accommodation, and often they can't. So a daily itinerary drafted with your personal input is IMO the best way to plan your trip well.
I carry a bit more cash than some because I prefer to pay taxis that way to avoid the surcharge. Practically everything else I just tap my credit card which has no international fees and contactless technology.

That said, you want more than one card. My main card was compromised whilst I was in Sydney and fraudulent transactions attempted, detected and blocked by my card provider(bravo Post Office!) Fortunately the fraudster tried this about 5 or 6 days after Id returned home, so being without my card for a few days whilst they organised a new one was no inconvenience. It would have been a right pain if it had happened during my trip.

I was staying at the Pullman Grand at Circular Quay, the first fraudulent attempt was for $400 at the Ezy Mart next door, followed by attempts to pay for undercover parking. Given the use it had had for 4 weeks in Australia and in that area, Im pretty impressed that they flagged these as fraud. I hadnt notified them of my travel dates or anything (I dont need to with that card as its designed for international travel). Goodness knows how they managed to try to run up a bill of that amount at a convenience store like that anyway!
You can actually hit three parks, all within 3 hours of Vegas. Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and in between the two is the Mojave Preserve.

Death Valley is a huge park and takes a while to cover. Your problem at this point is trying to find lodging.

There is no lodging in the Mojave Preserve, but there are campgrounds or you can camp outside the campgrounds at a number of areas.

Camping at Joshua Tree will probably be full by now.

There is no east entrance to Sequoia from Death Valley. You need to enter the park from the west via the central valley.

The east side of the Sierras has some beautiful places to see, like the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine and Whitney Portal where the hike to Mt Whitney starts from.

I have a four day trip planned in a couple weeks. Plan to spend two days in the Mojave Preserve and two days in Death Valley. Lots to see in those parks, wish I had more time.

You could easily spend four days at Zion, or do a combo with Bryce. But you are really late for getting hotel rooms. Its a very popular time to be there.

Edited: 3 years ago
I do not think that 3 wks in Manuel Antonio area in July is a good idea. We spent 5 nights there at the end of Aug. and thought it was too busy and too long.

Why not try at least 2-3 different areas, if you have 3 wks?

Water in Samara could be calmer, in comparison to many other CR beaches, for your kids' swimming. Walking - and family- friendly.
Re: Travel from Hanoi to Dalat to HCM during TET, Feb. 1 - Feb 9

3. Re: Travel from Hanoi to Dalat to HCM during TET, Feb. 1 - Feb 9

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Good day All,

Sorry i have to ask here, as call all vietnam airline offices and lines in my home country (Msia) to no avail.

My 16 year old will board vietnam airlines flight in next 2 weeks without adult accompanying her.

In vietnam airline website, it is not required for her to take the unaccompanied minir service.

My question is, will she be able to just check in at the airport (kuala lumpur) as others and board the plane and no problem at the arrival city (Hanoi) due to her age?

There is no written info on this in the website. I called vietnam airline to confirm this but no one pick up the phone.

Can anybody with same experience help me with this. This is her first time travelling overseas without her.

Tqvm for your help.
Hello,

Would like to have some advice which city should I pick.

Im planning to travel year in May/June to Thailand again and thought maybe I could do 5 to 6 days in Vietnam to explore.

If I should pick one city which would be better for a female travelling alone. Like (street)food, markets, history/culture, shopping (but I can do that in Bangkok) and all things that walking distance would be best, green/parks. Of course where is safe for a female traveller.

The couple of years have been travelling many times to Thailand(5th time), Bali and the Island (3rd), Malaysia and Singapore (just one time) but never been in Vietnam. Same Im a litttle "scared" if thats the word to describe what I feel what people told me and so.

I would appreciate your advice a lot.

TIA
Hi everyone,

Me and my partner are going over seas for the first time from Australia. We are traveling to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

We have booked our flights over and return but Im yet to book an internal flight from Lang Probang, Laos to Hanoi, Vietnam.

Now iv already got the visa side sorted so no issues with understanding visas but my question was, would you recommend booking this flight before we leave or when we get over there, as we are trying to do this on the cheap. Or would you recommend crossing the boarder that iv heard takes 24hours??

If you recommend flying, who should I book it with and when to get the best deal?

Thanks guys, Lee.
Re: I need some advice on which JR pass I should get

3. Re: I need some advice on which JR pass I should get

It costs @14,000/@14,500 yen between Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka oneway and @10,000 yen between Osaka and Hiroshima oneway by standard JR tickets.

Thus, if you don't come back to Tokyo, only the 7 day JP Pass(29,110 yen) pays off. So, you have to activate it when you move to Hakone from Tokyo, or from Hakone to Kyoto, and you have to move from Hiroshima back to Osaka on the 7th day of the Pass.
I just wanted to post a short trip report as I loved to read them ahead of my visit.

We are a family of four ( kids 9&11). It was my husband and I second visit and kids first.

Day1:

We travelled from Dublin to JFK and precleared customs etc in Dublin which was great. We arrived at 2:30pm on 25th oct and arrived at hotel (50 Bowery in Chinatown) at 3:45pm.

After checking in and unpacking we walked to south Street port area and grabbed some food and a drink in Dorians tavern which we enjoyed. After that we took a walk under the Brooklyn bridge and back to hotel for early night.

Day 2:

After a broken nights sleep which saw us all awake for a while at 4am due to the time zone difference we eventually awoke at 7am and dressed and popped next door to hotel for breakfast in bake culture which we enjoyed so much we continued to eat here for the 5 mornings.

We had tickets to the crown at 11am so decided to walk towards financial area and around World Trade Center memorial. As we are Irish we wanted to see the Irish hunger memorial which we were glad we did, then we walked down to the Liberty boats which took an hour or so at a gentle pace.

When we got to the harbour the queue was crazy long. I had will call tickets but it was not clear where I needed to collect these from. We walked the length of the line and started to queue before deciding to google. We then discovered that we had to collect our tickets in castle Clinton so we left the line and collected tickets which meant we could join a much shorter line 30 minutes approx for security and then onto the boats for our visit.

The weather was cool but sunny so we have some amazing pictures of SOL.

Once at SOL we took lift to pedestal where hubby and daughter looked shocked at height of climb to crown. We showed our tickets and started to ascend. Approx half way hubby and daughter started to get a bit claustrophobic and bailed. (I pretty sure he would kill me for writing this lol). I continued up with the 9yr old son and loved the sense of accomplishment we got at the top. The walk to the crown is on a very narrow staircase and the air feels thin so I can appreciate that they did not want to continue. We however spent the rest of the day slagging them for failing.

After walking through the museum we continued to Ellis island by boat and spent about an hour there - the kids have learned in school about Irish famine immigrants so this was interesting for us all.

After boat back to battery Park we head to Eataly for lunch which was very tasty. We had considered going up to Central Park but it was getting a little late so we went back to hotel via a few shops to get some American candy and other essentials kids need when visiting NYC.

We had a nap and the went to shake shack for dinner ( another first) which was tasty.

(Apologies for ramble)

Day2:

Rain today- storm forecast arrived as planned so we decided to go to Woodbury Common (I know haters will give out here).

To be fair it cost approx $100!for the 4 tickets but we had planned to do some shopping in NYC and had been here 2005 and enjoyed it. Kids really loved it- lots of value on sportswear (Nike, NK, under armor etc). If I was here alone I would have stayed in Manhattan to shop but with kids this was a better option as we got it done all in a few hours. With the storm sightseeing would be a disaster that day anyway.

We took first bus back and went to south Street seaport for dinner in Il Brigante- a great find.

Day3

Sunday morning we split up. My and son went up 1 World Trade Center and hubby and daughter went to 911 museum (not really suitable for 9yr old).

We loved going up the tallest building in western world. Lift up and down fabulous. We were blessed that rain and clouds cleared and we had uninterrupted view of NUC and beyond. We paid $15 extra for iPad which was worth it.

Hubby and daughter also glad that they went to museum. They decided not to go into a couple of exhibits but glad they saw it.

After that we found Sephora (daughters dream shop), found the famous Irish bar dead rabbit for brunch and then made our way to Central Park.

This day we walked 25 km and kids were exhausted.

Day5

Intrepid was the plan for Monday morning. We took subway to grand central in morning and walked via Times Square across to intrepid museum.

We were disappointed that space shuttle was not on exhibit that day but still had interesting time seeing the HSS intrepid and growler, all the planes and of course Concorde. The museum is very interactive for kids.

The staff were knowledgeable and friendly.

After lunch we walked the full length of the highline into Chelsea. This was really fun to do and avoided all the frustration of walking in Manhattan with a stop sign ever 100 meters.

We wandered around Greenwich village and realized we were only 2km from hotel.

We went for dinner in Gemma in Bowery hotel- another good meal and went back to hotel for last night.

We had a broken night sleep due to fire alarm at 4am. We got up, dressed, grabbed passports and then it was called off so we went back to bed. Annoying but we all slept so it was fine.

Last day- checked out of room at 10am and walked over Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn. Explored DUMBO and returned via Brooklyn Bridge. The walk over Manhattan Bridge was peaceful in comparison and we got some of our best photos here. Brooklyn Bridge is very busy and slow moving. Lovely way to end our visit.

Sad to leave and delighted to share New York experience with our children.

Hope I didnt ramble on too much.
- The shutdown will begin at midnight on Thursday, November 1 up to 2pm later in the day

- The shutdown is to enable Kenya Power implement new tariffs announced by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)

- Kenyans low on electricity have been advised to buy their tokens before the shutdown

Kenya Power will temporarily shutdown its prepaid electricity system from 12 am on Thursday, November 1, to effect the new tariffs announced by Energy Regulatory Commission.

During the period which lasts at 2 pm on the same day, the power supplier clarified customers on prepaid services would not be able to buy electricity tokens.

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READ ALSO: Confusion as Energy Regulatory Commission says yet to get nod to effect fuel tax

READ ALSO: Kenyans angered by lawyer who sued Kenya Power for inflated bills after opting to settle matter out of court

Consequently, Kenya Power has advised consumers who are currently on low electricity unit to purchase tokens before the midnight shut down.

In the new electricity tariff which takes effect from November 1, small businesses consuming up to 100 units will now be charged KSh10 per unit from KSh15.60.

The regulator has however maintained the charge rate for the ordinary domestic customers consuming above 100 units.

The commission's Director General Pavel Oimeke expressed optimism the new lifeline tariff is likely to cushion 5.7 millions consumers from high energy cost.

The lifeline tariff is meant to accommodate more households in informal settlements, urban, peri-urban and rural areas to cushion them from increased of living. This will cover 5.7 million customers, said Oimeke.

According to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics report on basic well being of Kenyans, the national poverty levels stands at 36% of the total population.

This therefore implies 16.4 millions individuals live overall poverty hence one spends less than KSh 3,252 in rural areas and less than KSh 5,995 in urban centres.

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The Sad Life of Dedan Kimathi's Forgotten Family - on Tuko TV.

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- Jacque Maribe and her fiancee Joseph Irungu were charged with murder of Monica Kimani

- High Court granted her KSh `2 million bond with an alternative of KSh 1 million cash bail

- Maribe's rumoured ex-lover Dennis Itumbi had earlier lamented about delays by deputy registrar of High Court in releasing her after 32 days detainment

- The head of digital communication at State House later announced Maribe had driven out of Lang'ata Women's prison

- Kenyans poked fun at Itumbi who was Maribe's present help after her arrest insinuating he would have a good time with his bosom friend

Popular TV news anchor Jacque Maribe has finally tasted freedom after 32 days of detention in Lang'ata Women's prison.

The High Court in Nairobi granted Maribe a bond of KSh 2 million and an alternative of KSh 1 million cash bail with three sureties of same amount on Tuesday, October 30, but she spent another night within prison walls after she failed to secure approval of her release.

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Justice James Wakiaga ruled in favour of Jacque Maribe saying she needed to spend time with son because charges she faced could get her lengthy sentence if convicted. Photo: Jacque Maribe/Instagram.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Kenyan women parade their cleavages on Facebook after man offers 20k to the best

In a tweet by rumoured ex-lover Dennis Itumbi, seen by TUKO.co.ke, on Wednesday, October 31, Maribe who risked ending the month in prison due to delays by Deputy Registrar of High Court in approving her release after depositing bond application documents was finally out of the hook.

Itumbi who stood by her through her difficult times in the courtroom and even worked with her family at the deputy registrar's offices in a bid to secure her freedom was more than happy to announce his bosom friend was free at last.

"Jacque Maribe, has just driven out the gates of Lang'ata Womens Prison. Home, sweet home. Thanks for maombi (prayers)," read a tweet by the digital communications boss at State House.

READ ALSO: Kisii MCA sends condolence card to KCPE candidates

Kenyans who had initially told off Itumbi over his public display of affection for his special friend could not stop poking fun at him for his celebrations, insinuating the two rumoured former love birds would have a good time;

READ ALSO: Kenya Power to switch off tokens purchase for 14 hours beginning midnight

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Kenya News Today: This Is Why Jacque Maribe Was Granted Bail | Tuko TV

Source: Tuko Newspaper
- The Qatar government donated the money towards the inaugural Blue Economy Conference

- Kenya is set to host the conference after it met its KSh 800 million target for the same

- The conference is scheduled for November 25 and 26, 2018 with over 4,000 participants expected to attend

- The theme of the conference is Blue Economy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

- It will focus on new technologies and innovation for oceans, seas, lakes and rivers as well as the challenges and potential opportunities

The inaugural Blue Economy conference to be hosted by Kenya has received a boost after Dubai government donated KSh 50 million towards the meeting.

This enabled the government to hit its KSh 800 million target it set out to seek for hosting the first global conference on the sustainable blue economy.

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Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Macharia Kamau, on Wednesday, October 31, said the country still hoped to get an extra KSh 200 million towards the conference.

I am happy to announce that we have raised the entire KSh 800 million one month before the due date. Of that money, we have received about half, said Macharia.

The forum is scheduled to be held in Nairobi between November 25 and 26, 2018, with over 4,000 participants from around the world expected to attend.

READ ALSO: Government at crossroads as KSh 9 billion maize goes bad at National Cereals Board stores

We expect to raise about KSh 1 billion by the time the conference is held. That means we are able to hold the conference as planned, added Macharia.

The conference will focus on harnessing the potential of Kenyan oceans, seas, lakes and rivers to improve lives particularly in developing countries.

It will also leverage on the latest innovations, scientific advances and best practices to build prosperity while conserving our waters for future generations

READ ALSO: Kenyan man tired of applying for vacancies at Safaricom threatens to forcibly join the firms workforce

The meet is also anchored on the two conceptual pillars of sustainability, climate change and controlling pollution and production, accelerated economic growth, jobs and poverty alleviation.

The conference presents immense opportunities for the growth of our economy especially sectors such as fisheries, tourism, maritime transport, off-shore mining among others in a way that the land economy has failed to do, Macharia said during the announcement of the conference.

By hosting the meeting, Kenya affirms its appreciation of the importance of conserving and sustainably using its oceans, seas, lakes, rivers and marine resources through enabling cooperation for shared prosperity.

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- The pupil is alleged to have been hiding at her boyfriend's house while the others sat for their exam

- She claimed to have been sent to fetch KSh 1,600 which the school demanded from her

- The minor, however, could not raise the money and decided to go into hiding

- Police are hunting for the alleged boyfriend who is said to be a student at Kisumu National Polytechnic

Police in Kisumu on Wednesday, October 31, arrested a Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) candidate who was allegedly hiding at her boyfriends house since the national exam kicked off.

The candidate from St Marks Nyabera Primary School was reported to be hiding in the house by a village elder who spotted her in uniform within Nyalenda area.

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Police in Kisumu arrested a KCPE candidate who has been allegedly hiding at her boyfriends house since the national exams kicked off.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Telecommunication giant Safaricom fined over KSh 200 million for poor services in 2017

The Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) in Kisumu East, Samwel Kiarie, noticed there was a pupil missing while going round in the schools to monitor the ongoing exam.

According to the ACC, the house in which the pupil was found was being occupied by two men who are students at the Kisumu National Polytechnic.

The village elder informed the area assistant chief who in turn reported the matter to the area Chief Otieno Kabisai of Kolwa West Location who pursue the matter.

READ ALSO: Petition started to kick out white principal of prestigious school St Andrews Turi over racism

Kiarie further noted the girl did not clearly explain why she did not show up for the exam but said authorities were piecing her information together for investigations and find the real cause.

Currently, we are pursuing the young man from Kisumu National Polytechnic so that we can be able to ensure justice is done to the little girl, he said

It is quite unfortunate that such a girl can spend such a number of years in school and eventually not be able to do her final exams in primary school, Kiarie added.

READ ALSO: KCPE exam papers go missing in Narok en route to exam center

According to the girls narration, she was sent away by the school to fetch KSh 500 for the feeding program during the exams period plus others totaling to KSh 1600 but could not raise the amount.

The national examinations which kicked off on Monday, October 29, has since been marred with a number of incidences including expectant candidates delivering during the exams period.

This has forced a number of them to sit for their papers from hospital beds while others were forced to do so for several reasons.

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The Sad Life of Dedan Kimathi's Forgotten Family - on Tuko TV.

Source: Breaking News
- Joyce Nyambura and Samuel Kamau were repackaging flour that expired in July 2018

- Among the brands seized were Exe, Dola and Golden which are now in lawful custody

- It is feared the flour is being sold out to unsuspecting members of the public

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday, October 31, arrested two people believed to be running a syndicate distributing expired wheat flour.

The two, Joyce Nyambura and Samuel Kamau, were found repackaging different brands of wheat flour which detectives said expired a long time ago.

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READ ALSO: Afisa wa trafiki acheza densi barabarani, asahau habari ya hongo (video)

In a statement, DCI stated that the raid was conducted on a house within Siranga area in Nairobi's Dandora area. DCI's Twitter

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Kenyan drug barons plead guilty in a US court

In a statement, the DCI stated the raid was conducted in a house within Siranga in Nairobi's Dandora area.

According to the sleuths, the flour expired four months ago.

READ ALSO: Scare in Kisumu County Assembly as Sergeant-at-Arms fires his gun

At the scene, several bales of Exe, Dola and Golden wheat flour were recovered.

The arrest evoked public anger amidst fear that the overdue flour is currently stocked in retail shops and kitchen shelves.

At the scene, several bales of Exe, Dola and Golden wheat flour were recovered. Photo: DCI's Twitter

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Detectives arrest two people repackaging expired wheat flour in Dandora

The development came hardly two weeks after police impounded over 5,000 bales of fake and expired Chinese baby diapers in Mlolongo.

The products were seized at Eens godown, Kapa in Mlolongo after DCI sleuths raided it following a tip-off.

According to the police, the owner of the diapers had hired workers to stick fake Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) stamps on them.

The Ezee branded diapers had expired in February 2018.

They weighed about four tonnes and their worth was estimated at KSh 30 million .

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This Is Why Jacque Maribe Was Granted Bail | Tuko TV.

Source: Kenya Breaking News Today
- Lillian Maina is alleged to have stolen the money while th former Minister was receiving treatment in UK

- Nyachae's wife is said to have locked the safe but forgot to keep the key safely before leaving home

- She had gone to visit her ailing husband in UK only to find the money missing when they returned

- Lillian is said to have gone missing when the case was reported to the police

- According to police, the househelp was picked by her daughter from Nyachae's home

- The daughter has since been arrested and presented in court

Police are hunting for a domestic worker in former Cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae's house who went missing after KSh 5 million disappeared from his Nairobi home.

The woman identified as Lillian Maina is said to have disappeared on October 7, 2018, while the former minister was receiving treatment in UK.

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READ ALSO: Afisa wa trafiki acheza densi barabarani, asahau habari ya hongo (video)

Househelp allegedly steals KSh 5 million from former minister Simeon Nyachaes house

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Qatar government donates KSh 50 million to Kenya

A report by the Standard on Thursday, November 1, indicated the money was in a safe in the bedroom of one of Nyachae's wives, Grace Wamuyu, who travelled to the UK to visit the ailing minister.

The police, however, arrested the househelp's daughter, Grace Mbugua, who was presented before court on Wednesday, October 31.

According to the police who asked the court to allow them to detain her, they claimed she picked up her mother from Nyachae's residence and escorted her to Kitengela.

READ ALSO: KCPE exam papers go missing in Narok en route to exam center

The officers wanted her detained for a week to enable them finalise investigations while claiming she knew the whereabouts of her mother, but the court rejected the request.

Does she have an obligation to show the police where the suspect is? Is she an accomplice? Milimani Law Courts Magistrate Kennedy Cheruyiot said before setting Mbugua free unconditionally.

Nyachae's wife is reported to have opened the safe on September 28, 2018 but forgot to put back the safe keys and travelled on September 30, 2018 leaving her four employees to take care of the home in Spring Valley.

READ ALSO: Telecommunication giant Safaricom fined over KSh 200 million for poor services in 2017

Wamuyu and Nyachae returned to Kenya on October 7, 2018 after he was discharged from hospital only to find the key dangling in the safes keyhole

She reported the matter to Parklands Police Station after which detectives visited the scene. By then, the househelp had disappeared.

"We started investigations and Mbugua was arrested on October 29 on the strength of phone calls data which showed she had picked up the suspect and escorted her to Kitengela, the police said in an affidavit.

READ ALSO: Petition started to kick out white principal of prestigious school St Andrews Turi over racism

They argued it would be difficult to arrest her mother and recover the stolen money if she was released.

The magistrate ruled that the subject had no business showing the police where her mother was hiding.

The magistrate further noted she had a right to remain silent, a caution she ought to have been given at the time of her arrest.

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- Rwanda was first on the list followed by Kenya, Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

- New Zealand, Singapore, Denmark, China and Korea formed the top five globally

- The report said Kenya has improved access to credit and tax payment for investors

- Kenya is also keen on protecting young investors and has ease of registering property

A report released by the World Bank on Wednesday, October 31, has mapped out Kenya as a country with most favorable environment of doing business in Africa.

The 2019 Ease of Doing Business report ranked Kenya second after Rwanda as economies that promised high success rates for entrepreneurs and investors in the continent.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta said the recognition was attributed to various systems his administration had installed to spur business activities. Photo: President Uhuru Kenyatta's Twitter

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Kenyans descend on central Kenya MPs for claiming region accounts for 60% of country's GDP

Cote d'Ivoire and Togo were listed as third and fourth respectively by the latest report.

At the universal scene, Kenya was ranked 61, Rwanda 21, Cote d'Ivoire 122 and Togo 137.

READ ALSO: List of Kenya's major brands with best customer experience according to new study

New Zealand, Singapore, Denmark, China and Republic of Korea were, however, ranked as world leaders with greatest ease of doing business.

Speaking during the launch of the study at State House on Thursday, November 1, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the recognition was attributed to various systems his administration had installed to spur business activities.

He noted the rank had improved ffrom the previous 80 to the current 61.

"Since I took office in 2013, it has been my administration's singular focus to position Kenya as a preferred gate way to Africa for regional, foreign but also for domestic development. Through hard work, this aspiration is evolving right before our eyes and it is turning into a reality," stated Uhuru.

READ ALSO: Detectives arrest two people repackaging expired wheat flour in Dandora

According to the report, Kenya has made remarkable strides in entrenching a healthy business environment.

It linked the latest listing to the following enhanced areas:

1. Registering Property

Kenya made registering property easier by introducing an online system to clear land rent rates.

2. Getting credit

Kenya strengthened access to credit by introducing a new law on secured transactions that created a unified secured transactions legal framework and establishing a new unified and notice-based collateral registry.

3. Protecting minority investors

Kenya strengthened minority investor protections by increasing disclosure requirements, regulating the approval of transactions with interested parties and increasing available remedies if said transactions are prejudicial, increasing shareholders rights and role in major corporate decisions and requiring greater corporate transparency.

4. Paying taxes

Paying taxes was made easier by the merger of all permits into a single unified business permit and by simplifying the value added tax schedule on its iTax platform.

READ ALSO: Equity bank emerges top in terms of customer experience in Kenya

5. Resolving insolvency

The country made resolving insolvency easier by facilitating the continuation of the debtors business during insolvency proceedings, providing for equal treatment of creditors in reorganization proceedings and granting creditors greater participation in the insolvency proceedings.

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Simon Kabu Story: The Humble Millionaire | Tuko TV.

Source: Tuko.co.ke
- Mung'aro is said to have given Papah Agiza the car despite having lost in the 2017 elections

- Papah was among top Mombasa musicians who campaigned for Mung'aro

- The ex-MP unsuccessfully vied for Kilifi County gubernatorial seat

In 2017, former Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung'aro vied for the Kilifi County gubernatorial seat.

Mung'aro who defected from ODM to Jubilee party campaigned heavily for the seat with the help of local musicians and other celebrities.

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READ ALSO: Mombasa man urinates in front of wifes shop after being denied money

However, the politician did not clinch the seat as he was floored by Amason Kingi who garnered more votes.

Unlike most people who would turn bitter after losing such fetes, Mung'aro played cool and even went ahead to gift people who helped him during the campaigns.

READ ALSO: 16 common responses most Kenyans give when asked for money by friends and relatives

Among them is a Mombasa based musician known as Papah Agiza Ntalipa who received a brand new Toyota Prado courtesy of the politician who is the current a Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning.

Excited, Papa has been flaunting his new ride online and revealing to his followers 'hard work' and loyalty pays.

READ ALSO: 19 super hilarious memes from the #UnakufaChallenge that have got Kenyans on the floor with laughter

TUKO.co.ke exclusively reached out to Papah Agiza who confirmed indeed Mung'aro had 'blessed' him with the ride.

It should be noted he was among top Mombasa musician who strongly campaigned for the politician in 2017, with most of them churning out praise songs for the ex-MP.

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Shosh Cecilia Story Continues: Shosh Cecilia Gets New Teeth | Tuko TV

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- Uhuru visited Nyeri county and launched mega projects few days after Mt Kenya MPs decried Central Kenya had been sidelined in development

- The president commissioned construction of Nyaribo airstrip, inspected progress on Kamweiga Bridge and opened Karatina Market hub

- Mt Kenya MPs blamed Cabinet Secretaries from the region for negatively portraying the president due to underdevelopment

- The legislators had prevailed on Uhuru to keep his promise of prioritising region for development in his second tenure

President Uhuru Kenyatta has embarked on commissioning projects in his Central Kenya backyard a few days after the region's MPs decried dismal development track record in the area.

Over 70 MPs from the Mount Kenya region who convened at a retreat in Naivasha had blamed Cabinet Secretaries from the region of giving Uhuru a bad name by failing to lobby for development projects in the region.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned construction of Terminal 1 of Nyaribo Airstrip touted to open up the area for economic development. Photo: State House Kenya/Twitter

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: House help allegedly steals KSh 5 million from former Minister Simeon Nyachaes house

Uhuru seemingly firefighting the situation which exposed his failure to honour pledges he made to a region which voted for him to the last man toured Nyeri on Thursday, November 1, and launched several projects as seen in tweets posted in the official State House Kenya account.

The president's communique affirmed he was on an official working tour in Nyeri at the heart of Central Kenya, a region which overwhelmingly voted for his reelection in 2017 through the Jubilee party.

READ ALSO: Homa Bay county Speaker unanimously impeached by MCAs for being incompetent

The legislators led by Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire accused Uhuru of turning against his pledge to develop the region which massively voted for him in his second tenure after giving attention to other regions in his first tenure.

According to communication from State House, the president commissioned and assessed progress of three significant development projects in Nyeri county of Thursday, November 1.

During the tour, he inspected construction of Kamweiga Bridge, commissioned construction of phase one of Terminal 1 at Nyaribo airstrip and officially opened Karatina Market hub besides addressing locals in roadside stopovers.

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Source: Breaking News
- Uhuru who was on a working tour in Nyeri county said he was focused on development at the moment

- He told politicians not to think he was a fool because of his silence on political happenings

- Uhuru said he had not interest in any political seat in 2022 but would have had a say in his succession plan

- He challenged politicking leaders to shift attention to development matters

- A section of Mt Kenya MPs had accused the president of neglecting the region in terms of development

- Rift Valley MPs had also pressured Uhuru to declare his position on Deputy President William Ruto's presidential ambition

President Uhuru Kenyatta has hit out at Mt Kenya legislators and other leaders dragging his name into the 2022 succession politics saying his silence should not be taken for dumbness.

A caucus of Mt Kenya legislators recently criticised Uhuru's development track record in the region alleging he had sidelined them despite the area having massively voted for his reelection.

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READ ALSO: House help allegedly steals KSh 5 million from former Minister Simeon Nyachaes house

President Uhuru Kenyatta reiterated he had no times for politics and wanted to implement development projects he pledged while campaigning. Photo: Uhuru Kenyatta/Twitter.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Group push for removal of Okoth Obado from office for allegedly killing his lover

Speaking in Karatina, Nyeri after launching an ultramodern market hub on Thursday, November 1, Uhuru said he had no time for politics and his immediate concern was to develop the country and honour campaign pledges.

The agitated president who was on an official working tour in Nyeri where he inspected, commissioned and launched development projects challenged politicking leaders to focus on development and allow him serve the people.

"I am more concerned with developing our nation and not to engage in politics. My silence should not be taken for granted. Every leader needs to work and deliver results for all Kenyans," said Uhuru.

READ ALSO: Comedian Jalangos secret crush leaks their intimate chats

The president also encountered pressure from a section of Rift Valley MPs allied to Deputy President William Ruto who openly prevailed on him to state if he would support the latter in 2022 or not.

"Some politicians think my silence means I am clueless. I will not vie in 2022 but I will have my say on the succession plan when that time comes. I may be silent for now but I will give my voice in 2022. For now we need to serve the people and stop pursuing our own interests," Uhuru said.

In an apparent response to the Central Kenya MPs' claims that he had neglected the region, he said he was focused on delivering quality services to all Kenyans without bias.

He confirmed he had held a meeting with the region's leaders and would gradually address issues discussed.

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The dry season for 2022 is shaping up to be drier and warner than usual.
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Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Alexander Hug has said that over the past four years of his work in Ukraine little has changed in the issue of the war in eastern Ukraine.

He said this at a press briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"For about four years now, I have stood here almost every week, providing a security briefing outlining various levels of violence and insecurity and the negative impact on the civilian population. Believe me, it gives me no pleasure to say this - little has changed over that time. Four years after agreeing to ceasefire, as last week's events show, the sides are still in breach of the same ceasefire agreement. They have not withdrawn weapons, they have not disengaged, and they have not demined," Hug said.

He also said that he leaves his post "with mixed feelings."

"I leave with a sense of unease and regret. But I also leave with a sense of hope. I have not lost sight of the light at the end of the tunnel. This conflict is not endemic, it is not protracted, it is not frozen. It can be ended by the decision to do so," Hug added.

Hug's term of office as OSCE SMM principal deputy chief monitor expired on October 31. Mark Etherington will be the new principal deputy chief monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.

op
Ukraine should remain to be a reliable gas transit country.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel made the relevant statement at the meeting with Verkhovna Rada Speaker Andriy Parubiy and the heads of parliamentary groups and factions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"As for the Nord Stream 2. We know that Ukraine rejects this project. I am less critical of this project and advocate for the guarantees for Ukraine and for the fact that Ukraine should keep its role of a transit country," Merkel said, adding it is about the creation of a "transit agreement."

In turn, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Andriy Parubiy stressed that the construction of the Nord Stream 2 might lead to the shift of balance and security risks not only to Ukraine but the entire European space.

Parubiy urged the German Chancellor to study in more detail the arguments of the Ukrainian side regarding this project.

"We have repeatedly experienced the Russia's energy blackmail first-hand. We know how Russia is trying to use energy to influence the political processes in the country," Parubiy underscored.

As reported, the Nord Stream 2 is a gas pipeline project which aims to carry more Russian natural gas under the Baltic Sea direct to Germany, bypassing Ukraine and Poland. Russian gas monopoly Gazprom owns 51% of the projects shares. Russia wants to build two strings of the gas pipeline. The project opponents, including Poland, the Baltic countries, Ukraine, Moldova, the United States and Denmark, argue that Nord Stream 2 will increase the EU's dependence on Gazprom.

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Ukraine-Germany trade turnover could reach EUR 10 billion in the coming years.

"I believe we will be able to reach the turnover of EUR 10 billion in bilateral trade in the next few years," Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said during a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He thanked personally Merkel and Germany in general for the support and the level of cooperation and assistance between the two countries.

"From the first day of Russian aggression, from the first day of this terrible trial, we have always felt your personal support and your perseverance. As for the protection of interests of the state and assertion of the international law, all the people of Ukraine treat personally you and Germany with great respect and gratitude as our important strategic partner," Groysman said.

He believes that significant progress is being made in relations between Ukraine and Germany, especially in the economic field. "The role of Germany and your personal role are very important in supporting the reform process in Ukraine," the Head of Government of Ukraine added.

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The Russian Federation should abandon militarization of the illegally occupied Crimea.

Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, Karen Pierce made the relevant statement at the open session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We urge Russia to abandon its destabilizing arms and personnel transfers into the peninsula," Pierce said.

In addition, she criticized the construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait, calling it "an outright violation of the sovereignty of Ukraine."

"The systematic persecution and halt of Ukrainian and third-country ships by Russia in the Sea of Azov since April is another attempt to destabilize Ukraine and its economy," the diplomat said.

The UKs Permanent Representative to the United Nations also expressed concern over Russian cyber attacks targeting the financial, energy and government sectors of Ukraine.

As reported, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin said that Ukraine had been hit by over 6,000 Russian cyber attacks over the past four years.

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Members of the European Parliament and members of the Parliament of Canada discussed in Ottawa the introduction of additional sanctions against Russia.

"During a joint meeting of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the House of Commons of Canada and the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights, we discussed additional sanctions against Russia for imprisonment of Oleg Sentsov and all Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia," Borys Wrzesnewskyj, the Liberal MP of the Canadian parliament, announced after the meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He also thanked the MEPs for awarding Sentsov the Sakharov Prize and thus expressing the support for all Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia. "I thanked the parliamentarians for their support for Oleg Sentsov and more than 70 Ukrainians illegally transferred to Russia for torture, demonstrative trials and sentences in the restored Russian GULAG system," the Canadian MP said.

Wrzesnewskyj added that the participants had unfolded a banner in support of Ukrainians held in Russia at the end of the meeting.

As reported, the European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov, who is currently illegally imprisoned in the Russian Federation. The decision was approved in Strasbourg on October 25.

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President Petro Poroshenko will pay an official visit to Turkey on November 3-4, the presidents press service reports.

"On November 3-4, the official visit of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko to the Republic of Turkey will take place," reads the report.

It is noted that the 7th meeting of Ukraine - Turkey High Level Strategic Council co-chaired by the presidents of the two countries will be held in Istanbul on November 3. The program of the event includes discussions of key issues of bilateral political dialogue, the current state and prospects of the Ukrainian-Turkish cooperation in trade, economic, scientific, technical, defense, industrial, transport, cultural and humanitarian, educational and tourist spheres.

President Petro Poroshenko will also hold talks with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

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Warsaw intends to improve relations with its eastern neighbors, primarily with Ukraine and Belarus.

Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said this during a two-day visit to Minsk, Polish Radio (Polskie Radio) reported.

Poland wants to improve relations and is looking for opportunities to ensure security in the region. Such organizations as the OSCE or the Council of Europe play a special role in this issue, Czaputowicz said.

According to him, Poland was the initiator of the Eastern Partnership project and wants to develop this initiative in the future.

I think that the development of relations with the EU is a proposal for Belarus, Ukraine and other countries in the region. But we strive to overcome divisions along the East-West line, he noted.

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Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij has called on the international community to support Ukraine in the defense of its territorial integrity and assist in the release of Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin.

Eugene Czolij stated this in his speech at that the Warsaw Security Forum 2018, the UWC press service rperots.

He called upon the international community to use all diplomatic and economic means to support Ukraine in the defense of its territorial integrity, and to secure the release of more than 70 Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin and 100 hostages in Eastern Ukraine, reads the report.

The UWC added that Eugene Czolij urged the international community to strengthen existing sanctions against the Russian Federation, including banning its access to the SWIFT financial network, and to adopt and implement legislation akin to Magnitsky laws for the gross violation of human right.

The UWC President also called on the West to develop a proactive, offensive strategy with respect to Ukraine as opposed to a passive, reactionary strategy.

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Ukraine and Qatar signed a declaration on police cooperation.

"We held a meeting with Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani. We signed a declaration on mutual cooperation between police departments on a number of issues, including the fight against cybercrime and cross-border crime. This will make a great breakthrough in the information exchange issues," Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said.

According to him, Ukraine highly appreciates its relations with Qatar, which consistently supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine in all international arenas.

We highly value the development and deepening of international cooperation in the field of national security between our countries, Avakov added.

The document also provides for cooperation in the fight against terrorism, human trafficking, illegal migration, and illicit drug turnover. In addition, the declaration will contribute to the expansion of professional contacts between law enforcement agencies of both countries in order to exchange statistical information and analytics.

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Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman is planning to visit Germany in November.

He said this at a meeting with German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kyiv on Thursday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"I will be glad to visit Germany in late November and take part in a business forum that will be held for the third time," Groysman said.

Merkel, in turn, noted that German companies would be presented "very powerfully" at this business forum. She said she was confident that the event would be beneficial to both sides.

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Germany will send a special envoy for governance and decentralization reforms to Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko has said.

He said this at a joint press conference with German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kyiv on Thursday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Following my appeal to the German federal government the decision was made to send a special envoy for reforms in the field of governance and decentralization to our country," Poroshenko said.

According to him, the successful decentralization reform is still being implemented, in particular, thanks to the efforts of Germany and German advisers.

Merkel is on a working visit to Kyiv on November 1. Her current visit to Ukraine is the second in the past four years. She last visited Ukraine in August 2014.

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Ukraine is collecting evidence and documenting every case of the illegal stopping by Russia of vessels in the Sea of Azov for use of this evidence in international courts, Deputy Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons Heorhiy Tuka has told Hromadske.TV.

"As for how evidence is being gathered, everything is being documented, every case. Moreover, evidence from the shipowners and captains of those ships detained by the Russian Federation is being collected. All these materials are being collected, and they will serve as a basis for a further lawsuit [against Russia] from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the international courts," he said.

Tuka noted that Russia's stopping vessels in the Sea of Azov is illegal because, according to international maritime law, civilian vessels can be stopped in four cases, in particular, slave trade, piracy, illegal broadcasting, and flag change.

"There are a priori no legitimate reasons for such actions by Russia," he said.

In late July, Russia increased its activity in the Sea of Azov and began to stop foreign vessels crossing the Kerch Strait.

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Ukrainians, who live in the capital of Slovakia, held a series of events within the framework of the international action Light a candle of remembrance! dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine.

"On October 31, at the monument to Taras Shevchenko in Bratislava, the staff of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Slovak Republic, the members of the Slovak-Ukrainian Society of Bratislava and the Shevchenko musical and drama ensemble, the students of a Ukrainian school in Bratislava, representatives of the creative intellectuals and Ukrainian community conducted the commemorative events within the framework of the international action Light a candle of remembrance! the Embassy of Ukraine in Slovakia reports.

In particular, Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovakia Yuriy Mushka emphasized that "the Holodomor was one of the biggest national catastrophes in modern Ukrainian history. We regard it as the most brutal crime of the communist regime against the Ukrainian people."

The students of the Ukrainian school of Bratislava read out the names of children from Kirovohrad region, who had been starved to death in 1932-1933.

The participants in the action honored the memory of the Holodomor victims by observing a minute's silence.

The global action "Light a candle of remembrance!" started on September 1. It is held daily by the embassies and general consulates of Ukraine in different countries of the world, will last for 85 days and end in Kyiv on November 24. During each action, 85 names of children from millions of those starved to death are read out.

Photo courtesy of slovakia.mfa.gov.ua

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The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has called the arrest of Crimean Tatar Dilyaver Gafarov by a Simferopol "court" an act of discrimination and expressed a protest to the Russian Federation, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mariana Betsa.

"The invader continues to discriminate against Crimean Tatars. A pseudo-court has arrested Crimean Tatar Gafarov. We condemn [this act] and express a protest to the Russian Federation. Russia must immediately stop the persecution of the Crimean Tatars and comply with the requirements of the UN General Assembly resolutions and the order of the International Court of Justice," she wrote on Twitter.

Earlier reports said that the so-called "court" in Simferopol had arrested Dilyaver Gafarov, accused of participating in a volunteer battalion named after Noman Celebicihan, until December 25, 2018. The FSB suspects him of participating in armed groups "for the purposes contradicting the interests of the Russian Federation."

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Everything once comes to an end. And now we're seeing the start of the final stage of Angela Merkel's cadence. In German politics, she will certainly leave a very noticeable trace. Frau Merkel is as a leader perhaps of the same magnitude as Adenauer or Kohl. Angela Merkel is a really prominent politician and it's a shame that she decided to complete her political career.

However, on the other hand, changes, rotations, new ideas and approaches are needed. Merkel's decision deserves respect: she realizes that the time has come for new ideas and approaches, so she acted in a truly European way. There are issues that need to be addressed, but it's other politicians who will have to deal with them.

For Ukraine, Angela Merkel is an especially important political figure. Due to her efforts, some extremely complicated developments were successfully stopped right in the beginning of Russian aggression

For Ukraine, Angela Merkel is an especially important political figure. Due to her efforts, some extremely complicated developments were successfully stopped right in the beginning of Russian aggression. At the same time, I would in no way like to diminish the role of our Armed Forces - apparently, they became the most important tool that helped to some extent tune down Russian aggression. But Frau Merkel's diplomatic pressure on Putin, of course, also played its positive role.

What will happen after Angela Merkel is replaced? For some reason, it seems to me that in this case, no real shifts should be expected in the German position. However, the latest tendencies in German politics are not pro-European. This will be somewhat similar to what happened in the United States: when Donald Trump came to power, everyone thought that it was the end of the world, but in fact it was nothing like that. The same is true here. I think that in Germany, politicians will come to power, for whom European values and international law remain important. Therefore, I do not anticipate any fundamental changes in German policies.

How will this affect the work of the Normandy Four? Putin can be put in place by certain convictions, a stance position, and specific sanctioning measures that he won't be able to survive. If we proceed from this position, nothing changes in the equation. If we only hope for a certain leader's role then, of course, there's no such political figure yet who could be equal to Merkel. Therefore, I think, we should focus on positions, not personalities. If Germany's position remains strong and even strengthens, while sanctions become unbearable for Russia, this will mean that it is possible to achieve even greater results, even without Frau Merkel at the negotiation table.

Frau Merkel is as a leader perhaps of the same magnitude as Adenauer or Kohl

Will Merkel's withdrawal be good news for Russia? I don't believe everything depends on her. Again, Trump's initial position toward Russia was later corrected by the U.S. establishment. Similarly, whoever replaces Frau Merkel, they will still operate within the framework of a common European policy and within positions that have long been defined and are unlikely to be changing.

How will this affect German-Russian joint projects, in particular, Nord Stream 2? One should proceed from the fact that Merkel is not leaving office tomorrow  this will happen only in three years. During this period, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is scheduled to be completed. If the Americans really play a tough game and halt the project by imposing sanctions against Europe's participating companies, this will be a completely different situation ... So I would not link Merkel's step-down and the implementation of German-Russian joint projects, in particular, the Nord Stream 2 pipe.

Volodymyr Ohryzko is a Ukrainian diplomat, head of the Russia Research Center, ex-minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine
Alexander Hug is being replaced by Mark Etherington November 1.

During his last days as Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE SMM), Alexander Hug said that the hardest thing for him was seeing Ukrainians suffer from the Donbas conflict.

The suffering of Ukrainians across the country from this unnecessary conflict has been a very very deep experience for me and one that I wont forget, of course, Hug told Hromadske International during an interview on October 30 in Kyiv.

What was equally amazing is that with a few exceptions, all of these Ukrainians that Ive met, especially near the contact line, they have not developed hatred. They all believe in the possibility to have this conflict end quickly and make very clear to me and my colleagues that it is not their conflict they are suffering from, he said.

Hug took the position in late March 2014 and since then has been closely monitoring the situation in eastern Ukraine. On November 1, he will be replaced by a Briton, Mark Etherington, who joined the OSCE SMM around the same time in 2014 but shortly left.

Read alsoOSCE's Hug on Russian involvement in Donbas war: "Facts speak for themselves"

According to Hug, ever since the start of his service at the OSCE SMM, he has not seen a single quiet day in the conflict zone.

We have not witnessed a single day without ceasefire violations, we have had days where small arms fire only was used by the sides, which is much less of concern for civilians. But our own records show clearly that there hasnt been a day without a ceasefire violation, without the use of weapons, which is the language used in the Minsk agreements, he said.

Hug says he believes the conflict can only be resolved diplomatically, at the table.

Im not suggesting that Ukraine should act unilaterally and unilaterally withdraw its weapons, unilaterally cease the fire that will not work. It will only work if all those who have promised to end the fighting: that is Moscow, Kyiv, certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk do so in mutual arrangements and agreements.

He adds that back in spring 2014 he did not think this conflict would last for so long. Its even harder for him to accept that Im leaving now but the conflict continues.
OSCE monitors on October 27 lost a long-range unmanned aerial vehicle over Donbas.

Germany and France condemned the downing over Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine of a drone operated by monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and blamed Moscow and the "separatists" it backs for the incident.

In a joint statement, Berlin and Paris said the long-range drone had been shot down early in the morning of October 27 near the Russian-Ukrainian border over territory controlled by the Moscow-backed forces, Reuters said.

Read alsoOSCE loses drone monitoring trucks in Russian-occupied east of Ukraine

"The information gathered by the Observation Mission suggests that the Russian Federation and the separatists it supports are responsible for the drone's downing," they wrote in a statement issued on Thursday.

Russia is also a member of the OSCE. Together with Ukraine, all four countries are part of the so-called Normandy process, aimed at settling the conflict that has flared in eastern Ukraine since 2014.
Its not hard to imagine the Kremlin using religious tensions to further sow division, incite violence, and spread misinformation in Ukraine.

On Oct 11, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople  the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide  started a process to grant independence to a Ukrainian Orthodox Church seated in Kyiv, freeing it from the control of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow. The decision has touched off an intense political storm, and threatens to open a new  and possibly violent  front in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

The Washington Post explains why.

Unlike Catholicism, Orthodoxy does not have a centralized hierarchy with a pope-like authority figure. Rather, its composed of 14 autonomous churches, each of whose authority generally coincides with the national borders of countries with large Orthodox populations. Each independent church is headed by its own patriarch. However, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople holds the status of first among equals. Though the Ecumenical Patriarch holds only limited powers over the other churches, the Church of Constantinople holds the authority to grant independence to other Orthodox churches.

Today there are three separate umbrella organizations operating as Ukrainian Orthodox Churches, which split around Ukraines independence in 1991. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church  Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) declared independence from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1992, prompting the Moscow church to excommunicate its leaders. The second church, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church  Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), remained under the Russian churchs jurisdiction. The third church, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC), was founded in 1990; autocephalous is a religious term meaning independent, derived from ancient Greek for self-headed.

Read alsoPatriarch Filaret: Process of granting autocephaly to UOC irreversible

Roughly 12,200 Ukrainian parishes remain loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate; roughly 4,500 are loyal to the Kyiv Patriarchate. The last one, the UAOC, gathers about 1,200 parishes under its authority. Worshipers and clergy of each parish decide with which branch to align, though there are no formal rules internal to churches that govern the process of switching allegiances. A recent poll revealed that 28.7 percent of Ukrainians claimed allegiance to the Kyiv Patriarchate, while only 12.8 percent aligned with the Moscow Patriarchate and 0.3 percent with the UAOC. Another 23.4 percent of Ukrainians identified themselves as simply Orthodox without affiliation, while 37 percent declared the religious divide to be of no importance to them.

Many Ukrainians have long wanted an independent church, a demand that has intensified since Russias 2014 invasion of eastern Ukraine. Today many Ukrainian politicians, journalists and researchers accuse the Moscow church of using its Ukraine parishes to support the Kremlins hybrid war against Kyiv; Russian clergy have apparently assisted Russia's proxy forces. Since the war started, several Ukrainian parishes previously aligned with Moscow have switched allegiance to the Kyiv Patriarchate.

Read alsoMoscow vows to protect Orthodox believers in Ukraine

Today, the Russian Orthodox Church has very close ties to the Russian government  and neither has taken the news well. The Russian church immediately severed ties with Constantinople, effectively separating 100 million Russian Orthodox believers from the other 200 million Orthodox faithful worldwide. UOC-MP parishes make up about 35 percent of all Russian Orthodox parishes (including those in Russia), so it would be a major loss to Moscow if they all switch loyalty to Kyiv.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov issued a thinly veiled warning that echoed Moscows justification for occupying Crimea in 2014, saying that it would defend the interests of Russians and Russian-speakers  [and] of Orthodox Christians. Peskov further warned of possible Russian intervention if the Ukrainian authorities are unable to keep the situation within legal bounds if it takes some ugly, violent turn.

Read alsoMFA Ukraine comments on Kremlins intention to protect Orthodox believers in Ukraine

Peskovs statement is troubling, given Russias history of using trumped-up rights violations of Russian compatriots to justify military interventions in Georgia and Ukraine. The potential for conflict to turn violent is real as parishes decide whether to shift allegiance to the Kyiv Patriarchate. Valuable church property is at stake; some of Kyivs most iconic churches are aligned with the different patriarchates. Though Bartholomew called on all sides to avoid appropriation of Churches, Monasteries and other properties, as well as every other act of violence and retaliation, divided parishes could turn to violence to settle scores.

Its not hard to imagine the Kremlin using religious tensions to further sow division, incite violence, and spread misinformation in Ukraine. This would be consistent with the Russian playbook in Ukraine, the Baltics, NATO allies, and the United States. Putins objective in Ukraine has long been destabilizing Ukraines government. This might give it a new, golden-domed opportunity to foment disruption before Ukraines 2019 parliamentary and presidential elections. Inciting Ukrainians to hate one another and mistrust their leaders would be a political victory for Moscow. Which means that how Kyiv manages the transition will matter long beyond the 2019 elections.
Four enemy troops were wounded, intelligence reports say.

Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 24 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA).

"Two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in the past day. According to intelligence reports, four occupiers were wounded," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in an update published on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on November 1, 2018.

Russian occupation forces opened aimed fire from grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns, mortars and small arms.

Read alsoOSCE loses drone monitoring trucks in Russian-occupied east of Ukraine

"In the Luhansk sector, the enemy shelled the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Nyzhnie at night, using 122mm artillery systems, and at about the same time, the invaders opened fire from 82mm and 120mm mortars near the village of Krymske. Moreover, the occupiers used mortars twice near the town of Zolote," the report says.

The shelling was also recorded near town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Novoselivka Druha, Pisky, Novotroyitske, Berezove, Novomykhailivka, Starohnativka, Pavlopil, Vodiane, Hnutove, Lebedynske, and Shyrokyne. No heavy weapons were used in these instances.

"Since Thursday midnight, Russian-led forces have mounted one attack on the Ukrainian positions near Avdiyivka, using automatic grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. No casualties among Ukrainian troops have been reported from day-start," reads the report.
Giuliani's work abroad does not appear to break any laws or rules. But it also appears to be unprecedented.

Rudy Giuliani, a sometimes-cantankerous New York City mayor, has often traveled to Russia or other former Soviet states as guests of powerful players there. And since Trump was elected, he appears to have stepped up the frequency of those trips.

Just last week, for example, Giuliani appeared in the former Soviet republic of Armenia, which has close trade ties with Russia. He was invited, according to local press accounts, by Ara Abramyan, an Armenian businessman who lives in Russia. Abramyan once helped reconstruct the Kremlin and also received a medal for "merit to the fatherland" from President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Giuliani said he was in Armenia as a private citizen, but on a local TV news show, Abramyan implied that he expected Giuliani to carry a message for him to Trump, according to ProPublica.

Read alsoTrump ready to "respond to questions" in Russia collusion case

While in Armenia, Giuliani also attended a technology conference (one of his businesses advises on cybersecurity). The conference program listed him as appearing on a panel that also included a Russian currently on the U.S. sanctions list imposed after Russia's invasion of Crimea.

Giuliani's work abroad does not appear to break any laws or rules. But it also appears to be unprecedented.
Female law professor reveals email from apparently bogus private intelligence firm.

The apparent plot to bring down Robert Mueller by bribing women to make false sexual misconduct claims against him appears to have fallen apart, after emails revealed startling details about the conspiracy.

On Tuesday, Jennifer Taub, an associate professor at Vermont Law School, made public an email she received earlier this month in which the sender asked to speak to her regarding past encounters with Mr Mueller, who is investigating possible election collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, according to The Independent.

Her disclosure of the message came after Mr Muellers office announced  in a rare public statement  that it had asked the FBI to probe allegations that another woman was offered $20,000 to make false accusations against the investigator.

Mr Muellers team were made aware of the allegations by several journalists, who received emails by someone calling herself Lorraine Parsons. She claimed she used to work with Mr Mueller at law firm Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro in the 1970s.

In the email, which has also been made public, Ms Parsons said she was offered $20,000 by a man who said he worked for Surefire Intelligence to make false sexual assault allegations. The man also offered to pay off her credit card debts, the email claimed.

Read alsoTrump ready to "respond to questions" in Russia collusion case

Jack Burkman matches the name of a right-wing conspiracy theorist and prominent Trump supporter, who claims he is about to make public the testimony of a woman alleging Mr Mueller sexually assaulted her.

Some sad news. On Thursday, November 1, at the Rosslyn Holiday Inn at noon, we will reveal the first of Special Counsel Robert Muellers sex assault victims, Mr Burkman wrote on Twitter. I applaud the courage and dignity and grace and strength of my client.

In her email, Ms Parsons added that Mr Mueller was always very polite and was never inappropriate during their alleged time together at the law firm, and that she would not be part of a Washington DC drama for any price.

However, Ms Parsons identity could not be verified, and she refused to speak to reporters by phone. The law firm, Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro, also said it had no records of her having worked there.

Read alsoPaul Manafort and special counsel reach tentative plea deal  media

When the Hill Reporter news site rang a phone number the woman had provided, it reported it received a text message back that read, Youre in over your head. Drop this, alongside the home addresses of journalists working there.

The news outlet also said it later received a phone call from another number claiming to be a Surefire employee called Mike Wilcox. He allegedly told journalists to stop communicating with Ms Parsons.

The identity of Ms Taub, however, is not in doubt and like Ms Parsons allegations, the email she received also purportedly came from a Surefire employee.

NBC News reported domain records for Surefire Intelligence  which was incorporated less than three weeks ago  are associated with the email address of Jacob Wohl, a far-right Twitter conspiracy theorist best known for his rapid responses to Mr Trumps tweets and his penchant for visiting hipster coffee shops.

Mr Wohl, who has also touted a scandalous story about Mr Mueller in recent days, has repeatedly denied involvement with Surefire Intelligence, despite the fact his picture appears on the LinkedIn page of the firms alleged managing partner, Matthew Cohen.

On Tuesday, right-wing news outlet The Gateway Pundit, for which Mr Wohl writes, published allegations of sexual assault on or around August 2, 2010, by Mr Mueller, citing documents from a firm with the tagline International Private Intelligence  the same tagline used by Surefire Intelligence.

Gateway Pundit later deleted the story, issuing an update that they were investigating accusations regarding the veracity of the documents, and very serious allegations against Jacob Wohl.

It is not clear exactly what those behind Surefire Intelligence are trying to achieve, but the bogus firm appears to be responsible for both the allegations against Mr Mueller, and at least one email attempting to muddy the waters.
I am a more independent woman now, I can work from home and take care of my children, I can make my own decisions

Just a few years ago, the idea of investing to empower women was barely on the radar of most investors. But attitudes are slowly shifting  and, with them, so is capital.

Today, the collective value of public and private investment funds with a gender-smart focus amounts to $2.4 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively. While it is still not nearly enough (one recent study (PDF 10.5MB) puts the finance gap for female entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized firms at $1.4 trillion), the momentum is welcome.

So says Suzanne Biegel, a long-term gender-smart investor and co-organiser of a major first-of-its-kind summit on the subject held on 12 November in London.

Theres still a long way to go, for sure, but Im getting calls every day from people across the globe with new funds and new portfolio commitments, she adds.

What exactly is gender-smart investing and why does it matter?

Gender-smart investing covers investments that are explicitly geared towards advancing gender equity between men and women, as well as recognising the power of womens markets.

This commonly translates to support for ventures that are run by women and/or for women. But it also extends to how women are impacted in global supply chains, as well as how products and services are advertised and marketed to women.

And it matters for two reasons. First, because womens entrepreneurship and workforce participation represent an untapped source of innovation and growth. By the latest count, gender parity would add an extra $12 trillion or more to the global economy.

And secondly, because female empowerment is crucial to achieving universal gender equality, which, in turn, is vital to the delivery of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Thats the technical answer. Ask the women cited above and they will tell you the same, only in the language of changed lives and lifted aspirations.

5m No of women Unilever aims to empower by 2020

These women are among the 10,000 or so participants in a programme to encourage women to become micro-entrepreneurs in Colombia. Shakti, which began life in India, provides rural women with the opportunity to sell Unilever products door to door in their communities.

For them, gender-smart investing means enjoying greater independence and increased confidence; it means more time with their families and better prospects for their children.

Before, I had to wait a week to see my children because I was an intern housemaid , says one of the participants. Now I see them every day and I am able to do things: I feel proud of myself.

Shakti is one of a host of initiatives developed by Unilever with a view to empowering 5 million women by 2020. The list includes programmes to enhance womens access to rights, skills, resources, jobs and livelihoods, as well as measures to tackle unhelpful social norms and gender stereotypes across its value chain. (For more, see our 2017 report 'Opportunities for Women (PDF 6.31MB).

Lean Data: measuring gender impacts

At Unilever, we know these efforts are bearing fruit. But we have to be honest: at times we have struggled to define precisely what these fruits are.

Weve been working on gender empowerment for a while now, but there are still some really important issues that we just dont know enough about, says Katja Freiwald, who heads up Unilevers work on womens empowerment partnerships and advocacy.

She cites the Shakti programme. All the feedback shows it is working: female participants are seeing their incomes grow and their confidence increase. Yet, when it comes to granular details, such as how their roles are changing in the home or in their wider community, the picture grows cloudy.

To rectify this, Unilever began working earlier this year with its long-standing partner, impact investor Acumen, to co-develop a survey tool that could capture these nuances.

The ability to deploy such tools and use the data they generate means organisations can tweak or redesign their gender initiatives so as to iron out unforeseen problems and enhance positive outcomes, says Tom Adams, Acumens Chief Impact Officer.

The result is the Lean Data Gender Toolkit. Now in its final stages of testing, the toolkit draws on the experience of Acumens Lean Data unit in collating and interpreting qualitative and quantitative information relevant to socially oriented ventures. It also reflects technical insights from the International Center for Research on Women.

It is very easy to make assumptions on what does and doesnt advance the interests of women, but without accurate information its easy to get things wrong or miss opportunities to improve, says Tom Adams.

Using data primarily from tailored phone surveys, the Lean Data tool focuses on the lived experience of both men and women. In this respect, it differs from the head-counting approach of many existing approaches.

Previously, for example, it would have been complex and expensive to determine the impact of a programme aimed at training women in business skills beyond how many people completed the course. This new toolkit, by contrast, can tease out how exactly their working lives and their personal circumstances have improved.

The methodology is also designed to be repeatable and comparable, allowing for different projects to be to be measured longitudinally as well as benchmarked against one another.

As part of its test phase, the toolkit has been used to assess the gender impacts of four Unilever programmes, including Shakti Colombia.

For Suzanne Biegel, organiser of the November gender-smart investment summit, it holds out the opportunity for investors to hear the voice of end customers and to invest more strategically as a result.

This isnt just about lets go find a woman and back her. Its about tailoring investments and designing products so that they genuinely impact the lives of women and girls in a positive way, she states.

Getting smarter: encouraging uptake

For Unilevers Katja Freiwald, the Lean Data Gender Toolkit also offers a more cost-effective and more operationally relevant method of measuring gender impacts.

The Shakti study, for example, is already showing us how we can make the programme more efficient for us as a business but also more effective for the women involved, she notes.

When the toolkit is officially launched early next year, Unilever will encourage others in the business community to use it to assess their own initiatives on gender impact. Acumen will also make it available to its network of public and private sector clients.

Having a systematic methodology in place and making it available takes a lot of the leg-work away from companies and others looking to understand their gender impacts, says Katja Freiwald.

Its our hope that this toolkit will help not just us but others to take action as well. In that sense, it is a natural progression of the work we have been doing on our Opportunities for Women agenda, she adds.

Good impact data will not in itself bring about the revolution in gender equality that the world needs and to which women and men have a right. But it will make our collective efforts a whole lot smarter  which, as impacts go, is not to be underestimated.

How to understand gender impact Unilever and Acumen have partnered to bring a gender lens to impact measurement

All pictures of Shakti Colombia
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The finance commission of the Belgian parliament is expected to consider next week the situation with unblocking in 2012 of interest on deposits of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi at Euroclear Bank in Brussels, which were frozen under a 2011 decision by the United Nations, a parliamentary source told Sputnik

BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) The finance commission of the Belgian parliament is expected to consider next week the situation with unblocking in 2012 of interest on deposits of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi at Euroclear Bank in Brussels, which were frozen under a 2011 decision by the United Nations, a parliamentary source told Sputnik.

On Monday, media reported that the United Nations and the Belgian authorities were conducting parallel investigations into the alleged unblocking of frozen bank accounts of Gaddafi. According to reports, about 3-4 billion Euros ($3.41-$4.54 billion) of interest payments on that asset have been legally transferred to Libyan authorities and could be directed to illegal armed groups, which, in particular, were engaged in human trafficking.

"The finance commission is expected to consider the situation next week," the source said.

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said on Tuesday that he had not been involved in the decision to unfreeze these funds.

According to Reynders, this decision is the responsibility of the Finance Ministry, which he headed until December 6, 2011 and thus did not make any decisions on this matter.

In February 2011, the United Nations froze all foreign accounts belonging to Gaddafi's government. Gaddafi was overthrown and killed later that year in October. About a month prior to Gaddafi's death, the UN Security Council partially softened its sanctions against Libya. On the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 2009, a group of EU advisers on international affairs decided in November of that year that there were no longer any grounds for blocking interest payments on frozen bank accounts of Libyan authorities. The Belgian Finance Ministry was guided by this decision when paying interest on the Libyan assets.

In March, Belgian media reported that there were about 14.2 billion euros in various securities and 1.9 billion euros in cash belonging to Libya in Euroclear Bank in Brussels, as of late November 2013. However, they have since shrunk to less than 5 billion euros.
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DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 31st Oct, 2018) Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre, DIEDC, today honoured the winners of the 2018 Global Islamic Business Award, an initiative of the Global Islamic Business Excellence Centre at the Department of Economic Development, DED, Dubai.

The award ceremony was part of the second day of the Global Islamic Economy Summit 2018.

The award ceremony was also attended by Ali Ibrahim, Deputy Director-General of DED. The Islamic Development Bank won an honorary award while National bonds and Amlak Finance were the winners in the Financial Sector category. The General Services Department in Ras al-Khaimah (Public Sector), Al Jazeera International Catering (Private Sector) and Natural Wellness (Manufacturing Sector) were the winners in the other categories. The International Islamic Business Award went to Bosna Bank International.

Commenting on the Global Islamic Business Award, Sami Al Qamzi, Director-General of DED, said it has an important role in implementing the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to make the emirate an Islamic economy capital and a global economic hub.

"The Department of Economic Development has developed an integrated strategy to contribute towards making Dubai an Islamic economy capital as envisioned by our leadership. Dubai Exports, the export promotion agency of DED, is actively promoting a Hub-to-Hub initiative to reinforce Dubai as a global hub for halal products, by linking exporters and importers, and focussing on international accreditation of such products," Al Qamzi said.

Al Qamzi stated that the Islamic economy in Dubai is keeping abreast of the latest developments and is no longer limited to halal food or Islamic finance.

He added that recently there has been a major shift towards Sharia-compliant services and products, particularly in the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, e-commerce, and digital content industries.

"The Global Islamic Business Award has attracted many Shari'a-compliant companies, and we are encouraged by the level of interest it has generated within the local and international business community, Accordingly, we have now opened award registration for companies outside the UAE too. The response we see from international participants reflects the importance of the award, and the efforts being exerted to highlight Islamic values across the business," Al Qamzi added.

Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO of DIEDC, highlighted the role of the award in promoting Islamic economy among the business community worldwide and in recognising the efforts of companies across the Islamic economy sectors.

"The high uptake of the Global Islamic Business Award reflects the great interest of companies in the Islamic economy, which is gaining popularity with every passing day. DED opening registration to contenders from abroad will boost the number of applicants and it is already motivating companies from around the world to adopt Islamic principles in conducting business, reflecting the rising significance of the Islamic economy locally and internationally," Al Awar added.

The Global Islamic Business Award includes various categories such as manufacturing, hospitality, the pharmaceutical industry, and government services, in addition to Islamic financial services. The DED has called on all government and private sector entities that support Islamic values across their activities and products to participate in the award.
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DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 31st Oct, 2018) The Global Islamic Economy Summit 2018 in Dubai concluded earlier today with a call for halal industries to embrace innovative technologies in order to ensure their sustainable growth.

The high-level summit, the largest event dedicated to all aspects of the Islamic economy, was held on October 30th-31st, and attended by over 3,000 visitors, including H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, heads of state, ministers, top government officials, business leaders and industry experts from around the world.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the event was organised under the theme "A Shared Future", and examined the latest trends and technologies impacting halal economy sectors, as well as new opportunities and challenges faced by industry players.

The summit, organised by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre in cooperation with Thomson Reuters as a Strategic Partner, featured 16 interactive sessions that were joined by 62 speakers who shared their valuable insights and perspectives on the changing dynamics of the Islamic economy.

"The fourth edition of the Global Islamic Economy Summit was a resounding success and exceeded our expectations as it generated strong participation and interest. Dubai Chamber would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to ensure that the event retained its status as the premier summit centred on the global Islamic economy. GIES is a prestigious platform that brings together the brightest minds to share visions and innovative ideas that can propel the Islamic economy towards new horizons," said Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber and board Member of DIEDC.

"Dubai is the centre of the global Islamic economy and the stature and success of this event furthers the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to place the emirate as a hub of Islamic commerce, culture and art.

GIES 2018 distinguished itself with open and constructive dialogue about the challenges faced by industry players, as well as the opportunities that are being created by advanced technologies, such as blockchain, machine-learning and digital currencies," Al Ghurair added.

For his part, Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO of DIEDC, highlighted the transformation of the Global Islamic Economy Summit over the years into a landmark event that plays a key role in the development of the Islamic economy, through convening stakeholders, decision makers, and leading industry experts from around the world.

Al Awar said that the fourth edition of the summit succeeded in translating its theme A Shared Future into reality through productive discussions resulting in international partnerships that have the potential to enhance global financial security and socioeconomic stability. He pointed out that the collaborations will also drive the advancement of the Islamic economy, valued at more than US$2.1 trillion in 2017, and pave the way for sustainable growth across the globe. Referencing the statistics of the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2018/19, he noted that the size of the global Islamic economy is expected to exceed $3 trillion by 2023, mainly through expanding investment opportunities across its key sectors.

Highlight sessions on the first day of GIES 2018 included interactive and thought-provoking discussions on how technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain could be used to drive growth within the Islamic economy and the array of advantages being offered by Chinas Belt and Road initiative.

Also on day one, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid honoured the winners of the Islamic Economy Award, which celebrated business that have achieved success with Muslim businesses.
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The National Centre of Meteorology, NCM, has warned sea-goers of rough seas in the Sea of Oman as a result of fresh northeasterly winds with speed 42 km/hr.

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 01st Nov, 2018) The National Centre of Meteorology, NCM, has warned sea-goers of rough seas in the Sea of Oman as a result of fresh northeasterly winds with speed 42 km/hr.

In a statement on Thursday, the NCM said that wave height will be between 4 to 6 feet and peaking up to 7 feet until 8 am on Friday.
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The UAE has presented its Policy Statement 2018 at the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU's) 20th Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-18), which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre until 16th November.

DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 01st Nov, 2018) The UAE has presented its Policy Statement 2018 at the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU's) 20th Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-18), which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre until 16th November.

The inaugural day of PP18, commenced with the Policy Statement session, wherein all countries delivered their telecommunications related policy statements, beginning with the UAE, whose Policy Statement 2018 was delivered by Waleed Ali Falah Al Mansoorie, board Member of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, during the opening ceremony of the Conference.

Al Mansoorie began by congratulating Majed Sultan Al Mesmar for being elected as the Chairman for PP18, whishing him all the success.

Delivering the statement, Al Mansoorie pointed out, "Future is the focus of our UAEs development. Today, we have a national strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We also have an Artificial Intelligence National Strategy that is a cornerstone of the UAE Centennial Plan 2071. With this, we aim to achieve 100 per cent adoption of Artificial Intelligence in services and data analytics by 2031."

He also mentioned that the UAE Government has adopted a Digital Transactions Strategy (Blockchain) that plans to transfer 50 percent of government transactions to Blockchain platform by 2021, which saves the UAEs treasury about AED11 billion per year.

He added, "The UAE has been ranked first in FTTH (fiber to the home) coverage index, first in mobile and broadband internet coverage and first in the ICT usage and government efficiency index in the World Economic Forum report. The UAE is also among the firsts in the region to launch the 5G services commercially."

The Policy Statement also highlighted the UAEs National Space Programme, which includes the preparation of UAE astronauts under a 100-year plan to build the first human settlement on Mars by 2117, and reaching Mars with "Hope", the UAE Spacecraft, in 2021 coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the UAE.

Plenipotentiary Conference, the key event of ITU held every four years, will this year, convene representatives of Member States to set out a plan for 2020-2023 in terms of the latest developments in ICT.

ITU is the United Nations specialised agency for ICT, which allocates global radio spectrum, develops the technical standards and strives to improve access to technology for the under-served communities worldwide.
UNITED NATIONS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed veteran Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen as his next Special Envoy for Syria, it was announced Wednesday.

Pedersen succeeds Staffan de Misutra, who announced earlier this month that he will be stepping down in November after serving as the UN chief's top envoy for the war-battered nation for over four years.

According to a note issued by the Secretary-General's office, Pedersen "brings to the position decades of political and diplomatic experience", having served both in Government and UN capacities, including as Norway's Ambassador to China since last year and as Permanent Representative to the UN for five years, from 2012.

At the UN, Mr. Pedersen served as the Special Coordinator for Lebanon between 2007 and 2008, and before that, was Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for Southern Lebanon. He was also Director of Asia-Pacific Division at the Department of Political Affairs.

The UN chief also expressed his "deepest gratitude" to De Mistura, an Italian national, for his "concerted efforts and contributions to the search for peace in Syria.

" Appointed the Special Envoy in July 2014, De Mistura continued to work with all parties involved in the Syrian conflict to push for lasting peace, in line with Security Council resolution 2254, which endorsed a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned roadmap towards peace.

Though his tenure coincided with the bloodiest period of the crisis, with warring sides employing "medieval sieges", barrel bombs, human shields and snipers in densely populated civilian areas, an undeterred De Mistura continued to push all sides in the conflict to adhere to the peace roadmap as well as urging that world leaders seize any "window of opportunity" to end the war.

The crisis in Syria, which started with largely peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011, has so far claimed over 400,000 lives and driven some 11.7 million people from their homes, including over 5.5 million to seek refuge into neighbouring countries.
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An Accountability Court of Islamabad Thursday postponed the statement recording of former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for a day in Al-Aziza Steel Mills reference.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :An Accountability Court of Islamabad Thursday postponed the statement recording of former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for a day in Al-Aziza Steel Mills reference.

The accused Nawaz Sharif couldn't reach judicial complex Islamabad to appear before court due to security issues. However, the junior defense counsel submitted a one-day exemption plea for his client, which was accepted by the court.

Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik resumed hearing on Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference against deposed prime minister filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The defense counsel Khawaja Haris also couldn't reach court timely to attend the proceeding.

As the hearing began, the junior defense counsel informed the court that accused couldn't read to attend the proceeding due to security reasons and closure of various roads.

He requested the court to grant one-day exemption from hearing, which was allowed by the judge.

It may be mentioned here that the court had earlier fixed November1, a date to record the statement of former prime minister under section 342 ofNAB Ordinance.
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Eight new lifts and 19 more surveillance cameras would be installed at the Parliament Lodges soon, Senate House Committee was told in a briefing here on Thursday.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :Eight new lifts and 19 more surveillance cameras would be installed at the Parliament Lodges soon, Senate House Committee was told in a briefing here on Thursday.

Senate Deputy Chairman Salim Mandviwalla while chairing the meeting has directed the authorities concerned to float tenders for purchasing more surveillance cameras. The committee was told by CDA officials that one lift would cost Rs10.25 million.

Briefing the committee Superintendent Police, Special Branch, Islamabad said that a total of 28 surveillance cameras were working satisfactorily at the Parliament Lodges. More cameras were needed to ensure security.

Responding to a question of chairman Salim Mandviwalla, the SP said that the recording of cameras remain available for one month period. The recording is auto deleted after one month.

Chairman said the committee never received the reports of surveillance cameras functioning or otherwise. The SP assured the committee to regularly sending surveillance camera reports in future.

The committee endorsed the suggestion of interior ministry official to conduct audit of fire extinguishers installed at various places of Parliament Lodges.

Senator Samina Saeed stressed need for checking the fire extinguishers installed at the lodges, adding that one never knows whether fire extinguishers were working or not.

Regarding auction of rubble, CDA official told the committee that Rs4.9 million bid have been received. The rubble will be removed within the next ten days.

The committee directed to finalise consensus Terms of Reference (ToRs) for establishing shops at the Parliament Lodges.

A sub-committee headed by Senator Yousaf Badini has been constituted for supervising renovation and maintenance of the Parliament Lodges.

The committee has been mandated to submit a comprehensive report within a next fortnight.

The committee expressed it anguish over the absence of Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA). An official told the committee that the chairman has gone to Supreme Court.

Chairman CDA should have informed the committee about his engagements in Supreme Court of Pakistan.
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ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Oct, 2018 ) :Minister for National Health Services Aamir Mehmood Kiani made a surprise visit to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Federal Government Poly Clinic (FGPC) to examine the services being offered to routine patients.

He directed the hospital administration to maintain routine procedures during high alert situations.

The minister visited PIMS emergency and different wards of the hospital to observe availability of medicines and other health facilities.
Police have arrested 12 accused and recovered narcotics, illegal weapons from their possession.

SARGODHA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) : Police have arrested 12 accused and recovered narcotics, illegal weapons from their possession.

A police spokesman said on Thursday that during continuing drive against drug-traffickers and criminals, teams of different police stations conducted raids and arrested 12 accused and recovered 3.

330-kg hashish, 30 bottles of liquor, three pistols of 30-bore and one gun of 12-bore from them.

They were identified as Anwar, Ramzan, Rizwan, Waqas, Kamran, Rashad, Adeel, Yameen, Adnan, Mazhar and Aamir.

Police have registered separate cases against them.
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Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Khawaja Saad Rafique Thursday said no sensible person can tolerate derogatory language against any of the state institutions.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Khawaja Saad Rafique Thursday said no sensible person can tolerate derogatory language against any of the state institutions.

Speaking in National Assembly, he said, "No sensible person can agree with the elements that are using derogatory language against the state institutions." Saad said nobody agrees to the narrative of those agitating today. He said this is a very sensitive issue and the government needs to handle the current situation carefully. The use of force against the agitators should be avoided and the matter should be resolved through dialogue, he maintained.

He said closure of roads is not in the interest of the country and his party is not in favor to destabilize the government by using religious card.

Criticizing the government and the prime minister's speech, he was of the view that head of the government is just like a father and he/she would have to act with patience and wisdom.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan welcomed the speech of Khawaja Saad Rafque and said the whole nation is looking towards the Parliament to find amicable solution of this matter.

He said entire nation is perturbed over the current situation and it is looking towards the Parliament.

He said each person in this country is the true follower of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and can sacrifice his life for the sanctity of islam.

Ali Muhammad Khan said Prime Minister Imran Khan is true lover of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
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The National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) held a rally on the occasion of the second anniversary of 'November 1, 2016 mishap' at Gadani ship breaking yard, in which 29 workers had died after an oil tanker had caught fire.

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :The National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) held a rally on the occasion of the second anniversary of ' November 1, 2016 mishap' at Gadani ship breaking yard, in which 29 workers had died after an oil tanker had caught fire

The rally was led by NTUF President Muhammad Rafiq Baloch and a large number of workers attended it to pay homage to the martyred workers, said a statement issued here on Thursday.

The rally ended at the Yard Number 54, where a ship named`Fudreal M-T_Aces' had caught fire two years ago.
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ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :The 4th round of Pakistan-Germany strategic dialogue was held here on Wednesday in which the two sides reviewed the spectrum of the bilateral relations and identified opportunities and possibilities for further cooperation especially in the spheres of political, trade and investment, education, media, parliamentary exchanges and people to people contacts.

The Pakistan side was led by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua while the German delegation was headed by State Secretary Walter Lindner, Federal Foreign Office, said a press release.

The foreign secretary provided an overview of the progress made by Pakistan in strengthening democracy, political stability and improved law and order situation in the country. The achievements in the fight against terrorism and implementation of National Action Plan were also highlighted.

The foreign secretary briefed on the reform agenda and priorities of the new government and invited the German companies to invest in hydel-power generation, renewable energy automobile and agriculture sectors.

The two sides exchanged views on important global and regional issues of mutual interest. The foreign secretary briefed the delegation on foreign policy priorities of the country in the region, particularly efforts to facilitate an intra Afghan process of political reconciliation.

The German side appreciated Pakistan's positive role in the peace efforts in Afghanistan and highlighted challenges confronting Germany and the European Union, including migration.

The German side was apprised of the recent developments in the South Asian region, especially in Pakistan-India ties and human rights violations in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kahsmir. The German side was also briefed on the EU, Brexit and relations with the neighbours.

The next round of Strategic Dialogue will be held in Berlin in 2019.
Under the auspices of Pakistan Air Force Women Association (PAFWA) a two day annual art exhibition with a theme "Creative Expression" was held here at Officers' Mess, PAF Complex on Thursday.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :Under the auspices of Pakistan Air Force Women Association (PAFWA) a two day annual art exhibition with a theme "Creative Expression" was held here at Officers' Mess, PAF Complex on Thursday.

Begum Samina Alvi, wife of President Dr Arif Alvi was the chief guest at the occasion and on arrival, was received by Begum Tazeen Mujahid, President Pakistan Air Force Women Association, a press release said.

Begum Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, wives of services chiefs, ambassadors, civil and military dignitaries along with large number of art enthusiasts attended the exhibition. Work of artisans from all over the country was displayed in the exhibition.

PAFWA was created in December, 1965 with a view to uplift social, educational and economic conditions of low-paid employees of Pakistan Air Force and their families.

Over the period the association has contributed significantly towards the welfare of PAF employees and their families.

The main objectives of PAFWA are to improve the health and well-being of PAF personnel and their families and also participate in relief operations during any natural calamity.

Annually PAFWA carries out various social activities which involve child welfare programs, socio-economic projects, vocational/educational training, and adult literacy program for the families of PAF personnel, religious and national motivational programs.
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The leadership of Pakistan and Uzbekistan Thursday expressed readiness to facilitate and support the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :The leadership of Pakistan and Uzbekistan Thursday expressed readiness to facilitate and support the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process.

During the official visit of Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov to Pakistan, the leader from both the countries believed that Pakistan and Uzbekistan shared similarity of views and a common approach that a stable and economically viable Afghanistan was a prerequisite for stability and development of the entire region, said a Foreign Office statement on the visit of the foreign dignitary.

The Uzbek Foreign Minister was accompanied by Ikhtiyor Abullayev, Chairman of the State Security Service and Ismatulla Irgashev, Special Representative of President of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan along with other representatives of Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and State Security Service of Uzbekistan.

The visit reinvigorated meaningful deliberations in all areas of bilateral cooperation including political, security and defence cooperation, peace process in Afghanistan as well as trade and investment promotion.

During the visit, the areas of mutual interest for future collaboration were also identified, including agriculture, tourism and cultural cooperation.

The two foreign ministers held delegation-level-talks at the Foreign Office in a very candid atmosphere.

The Uzbek foreign minister proposed ground-breaking initiatives like Railroad between Uzbekistan and Pakistan passing through Afghanistan. The project would add to Pakistan's potential as the regional transit hub, enhance connectivity with Central Asia and beyond and aid in regional development and prosperity. Both sides agreed that the visit has opened up a new page in Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations and hoped that there would be no looking back from this point onwards. New strides in all areas of bilateral relations would be made in the days ahead.

In order to give further impetus to bilateral relations, it was agreed to hold the inaugural session of Bilateral Political Consultation and 6th session of Joint Ministerial Commission in Tashkent at the earliest possible.

Foreign Minister Kamilov also extended an invitation to Shah Mahmood Qureshi to undertake an official visit to Uzbekistan at an early date, which the latter accepted.
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Rime Minister Imran Khan Thursday expressed desire for a boost in bilateral economic cooperation with Uzbekistan and extended his government's support to the efforts of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in achieving lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) : Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday expressed desire for a boost in bilateral economic cooperation with Uzbekistan and extended his government 's support to the efforts of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in achieving lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond.

He was talking to Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov who met him alongwith a high-level delegation here at the PM Office. The Prime Minister extended an invitation for President Mirziyoyev to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

The Uzbek Foreign Minister conveyed the felicitations of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Imran Khan on his election as Prime Minister. He reciprocated by conveying his best wishes to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and appreciated his vision for rapid socio-economic development and enhanced international outreach of Uzbekistan.

The Uzbek Foreign Minister also conveyed his President's proposal for railway connectivity between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
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Federal Minister for Railways Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad Thursday said Pakistan Railways wanted to increase the number of freight trains from eight to fifteen as induction of more freight trains can earn more profits.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) : Federal Minister for Railways Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad Thursday said Pakistan Railways wanted to increase the number of freight trains from eight to fifteen as induction of more freight trains can earn more profits.

Talking to International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by Resident Representative IMF Pakistan Teresa Daben Sanchez, he said Pakistan Railways is aware of the IMF role in improving economy, a press release said.

The IMF delegation was interested in finding out measures to reduce fiscal deficit of Pakistan Railways and to reduce its dependency on government's subsidy.

During discussion, he mentioned that the speed of train should be increased.

He was very clear that ML I (Karachi-Peshawar) should be upgraded on priority.

He declared that right now Pakistan Railways has broad gauge but gradually it will be changed into standard gauge. He showed interest in constructing an extra standard gauge line at Karachi-Hyderabad.

On a question from IMF team on Public Private Partnership (PPP), he said Pakistan Railways is open to PPP. He said for improved working Pakistan Railways should make a consortium with various parties. The meeting was also attended by M Javed Anwar, Chairman and M Yusuf, DG Planning.
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Around 400 Syrian refugees on Thursday returned to their homeland from Aarsal in Lebanon, the National News Agency (NNA) reported

BEIRUT, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :Around 400 Syrian refugees on Thursday returned to their homeland from Aarsal in Lebanon, the National news Agency (NNA) reported.

Lebanon's General Security checked the papers of refugees who voluntarily seek to return to their homeland, NNA citing an official statement as saying.

"The return of refugees took place in the presence of the International Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations," the statement said.

Another statement carried by NNA said another batch of Syrians returned to their homeland from Burj Hammoud.

More than 1 million Syrian refugees are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, while the government estimated the true number of Syrians in the country at 1.5 million.

To secure the return of 890,000 Syrian refugees to their homeland, Russia has drafted a strategy and presented it to the Lebanese authorities.
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About 10 criminal attacks, including those on police officers, were committed at the Halloween night in the central French Ile-de-France region with up 100 people having been engaged in the unrest, local media reported on Thursday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) About 10 criminal attacks, including those on police officers, were committed at the Halloween night in the central French Ile-de-France region with up 100 people having been engaged in the unrest, local media reported on Thursday.

On Wednesday, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner called on the law enforcement agencies to be on high alert on Halloween night. The statement was made after the calls for attacking police officers, disseminated via social networks.

According to the France Blue radio broadcaster, the criminal attacks took place in the Essonne department.

Some 20 people robbed a sporting goods store in the commune of Etampes, later a police officer came under fire in the same commune.

Around 20 people robbed a bakery and threw bottles with acid at police officers, who arrived at the site, in the commune of Montgeron.

A total of 10 people opened gunfire in a bar leaving two people injured in the commune of Evry. Several public facilities were damaged by a gang of up to 40 people in the commune of Saint-Michel-sur-Orge.

Some unrest also took place in the communes of Les Ulis, Vigneux-sur-Seine, Draveil and Massy.

Various incidents were also registered in a number of French big cities, including Toulouse, Grenoble, Metz, Vienne and Rennes.
About 10 criminal attacks, including those on police officers, were committed on Halloween night in the central French Ile-de-France region with up 100 people having been engaged in the unrest, local media reported on Thursday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) About 10 criminal attacks, including those on police officers, were committed on Halloween night in the central French Ile-de-France region with up 100 people having been engaged in the unrest, local media reported on Thursday.

On Wednesday, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner called on the law enforcement agencies to be on high alert on Halloween night. The statement was made after the calls for attacking police officers, disseminated via social networks.

According to the France Blue radio broadcaster, the criminal attacks took place in the Essonne department.

Some 20 people robbed a sporting goods store in the commune of Etampes, later a police officer came under fire in the same commune.

Around 20 people robbed a bakery and threw bottles with acid at police officers, who arrived at the site, in the commune of Montgeron.

A total of 10 people opened gunfire in a bar leaving two people injured in the commune of Evry. Several public facilities were damaged by a gang of up to 40 people in the commune of Saint-Michel-sur-Orge.

Some unrest also took place in the communes of Les Ulis, Vigneux-sur-Seine, Draveil and Massy.

Various incidents were also registered in a number of French big cities, including Toulouse, Grenoble, Metz, Vienne and Rennes.

Halloween is celebrated on October 31 on the eve of the All Saints Day and is usually associated with costume parties and trick-or-treating tradition.
The Greek ambassador to Albania has been summoned by Tirana after police shot dead an ethnic Greek man on Albanian soil leading to protests, the latest incident to rock ties between the neighbours.

Tirana, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :The Greek ambassador to Albania has been summoned by Tirana after police shot dead an ethnic Greek man on Albanian soil leading to protests, the latest incident to rock ties between the neighbours.

Eleni Surani was called in on Wednesday after an Albanian tourism office was firebombed in Athens. There have also been protests in Athens and Thessaloniki over the incident this week.

Tirana asked the Greek authorities to "condemn these acts which harm the climate of good neighbourly relations between the two countries," Albania's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Konstantinos Katsifas, who holds both Albanian and Greek citizenship, was killed on Sunday in a shootout with Albanian police in the southern village of Bularat.

Bularat lies on the Albanian side of the border and is home to an ethnic Greek minority.

According to Albanian authorities, police sought Katsifas after he fired a Kalashnikov in the air during a ceremony commemorating Greek soldiers who fought in World War II.

The 35-year-old refused to surrender and fired on police, leading to a 30-minute shootout. A video of Katsifas firing the automatic weapon in the village was broadcast by Albanian media.

Athens has called for more information about the incident, while Tirana has said a thorough investigation is under way.

Albania and Greece have a number of diplomatic disputes, with Tirana's treatment of its Greek minority a common source of tension.

The neighbours are also in negotiations to resolve a long-standing disagreement over their maritime borders.
(@FahadShabbir)

Syrian President Bashar Assad on Thursday received a delegation from the Polish lower house of parliament, led by lawmaker Pawel Skutecki, the presidential press service said.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Syrian President Bashar Assad on Thursday received a delegation from the Polish lower house of parliament , led by lawmaker Pawel Skutecki, the presidential press service said.

The delegation embarked on a visit to Syria in order to "familiarize themselves with the real developments in the situation in Syria," according to the press service.

At the same time, Assad said that one of the main mistakes in policy of the EU countries is "a detachment from reality," noting the importance of being informed about the real developments in the country.

Since the Syrian government has regained control over vast territories of the country that had previously been seized by terrorists, it is now focused on creating favorable conditions for refugee repatriation, namely, via the restoration of infrastructure.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ST PETERSBURG (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd November, 2018) The Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) supports the government's decision not to sign the UN global migration pact dealing with the rights of refugees and migrants and expects other countries to follow, Roman Haider, the FPO's foreign policy spokesman, told Sputnik on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, who is an FPO member, stated that the Austrian government was concerned about the potential restrictions on its freedom to protect Austria's sovereignty and, therefore, would not sign the global compact on migration, which is expected to be adopted in December at the UN conference in Marrakesh.

"We don't think it compromises our EU presidency. It is a necessary step and we expect to be followed by other countries i.e. Italy, Poland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovakia," Haider said.

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is set to be formally adopted at the UN conference in Morocco on December 10-11. Though the treaty is not legally binding, some countries have expressed concerns that the compact could promote the liberalization of border crossing procedures.

The United States and Hungary have already decided not to join the deal, while Poland is considering such an option.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko did not discuss his proposals regarding the Donbas settlement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko did not discuss his proposals regarding the Donbas settlement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

In late October, Lukashenko said that Belarus was ready to engage in Donbas settlement process but only after Russia and Ukraine reached a relevant agreement.

"No," Peskov said when asked whether the two presidents discussed Lukashenko's initiatives.

Among other proposals, Lukashenko offered to send observers to Ukraine's eastern border with Russia and to polling places during next year's elections in Donbas, which "is considered an integral part of Ukraine.

" Ukrainians will go to the polls next spring to elect a new president, with the parliamentary elections expected no later than in fall 2019.

"The matter is that the territory of Donbas has its authorities. These are two republics [DPR, LPR], which, first of all, should determine the monitoring regime that they would consider appropriate and possible. This is the decision of the leadership of the two republics," Peskov said when asked to comment on Lukashenko's proposal to send observers to monitor elections.
(@FahadShabbir)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko did not discuss his proposals regarding the Donbas settlement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko did not discuss his proposals regarding the Donbas settlement with Russian President Vladimir Putin , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

In late October, Lukashenko said that Belarus was ready to engage in Donbas settlement process but only after Russia and Ukraine reached a relevant agreement.

"No," Peskov said when asked whether the two presidents discussed Lukashenko's initiatives.

Among other proposals, Lukashenko offered to send observers to Ukraine's eastern border with Russia and to polling places during the upcoming elections in Donbas, which "is considered an integral part of Ukraine.

"

"The matter is that the territory of Donbas has its authorities. These are two republics [Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR, LPR)], which, first of all, should determine the monitoring regime that they would consider appropriate and possible. This is the decision of the leadership of the two republics," Peskov said when asked to comment on Lukashenko's proposal to send observers to monitor elections.

The elections of the heads and members of the DPR and LPR parliaments are scheduled for November 11. Kiev authorities have already stated that they would not recognize the elections' results.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who previously could not make visits to EU countries due to sanctions, will be invited to the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany in February 2019, German diplomat and MSC Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger said on Thursday

MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who previously could not make visits to EU countries due to sanctions, will be invited to the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany in February 2019, German diplomat and MSC Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger said on Thursday.

Belarus has been under Western political and economic sanctions for almost 20 years over accusations of human rights violations in the country. Relations between Belarus and the West have improved recently amid the role of Minsk in the Ukraine conflict settlement. The European Union has lifted almost all sanctions placed on Belarus, including personal sanctions against Lukashenko, but some restrictive measures remain in place.

"Of course!" Ischinger told reporters in Minsk when asked whether Lukashenko was invited to the next MSC.

The diplomat drew attention to the fact that many European leaders took part in the Munich conference.

"I will be happy to receive President Lukashenko at the conference when he wants to take part in it, whether it will be in 2019 or 2020," Ischinger said.

The chairman of the conference also admitted that he was impressed by Lukashenko's commitment to resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

"I hope that the international community will listen to these interesting proposals that he [Lukashenko] has put forward," he said.

On Wednesday, the Belarusian president took part in the Munich Security Conference Core Group meeting in Minsk and said that it would be reasonable to consider the option of sending a joint UN-OSCE peacekeeping mission to Ukraine's war-torn Donbas.

The armed conflict in the region began in 2014, when Kiev launched a military operation against the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics, which refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new government that came to power after the overthrow of then President Viktor Yanukovych.

In an attempt to cease hostilities, the sides signed a peace agreement in 2015, but both Kiev and Donbas continue to accuse each other of truce violations.
(@FahadShabbir)

Beijing welcomes the appointment of Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen as the United Nations' new special envoy for Syria and has no doubt that Pederson will help advance the political settlement of the Syrian crisis, given his extensive diplomatic experience

BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Beijing welcomes the appointment of Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen as the United Nations' new special envoy for Syria and has no doubt that Pederson will help advance the political settlement of the Syrian crisis, given his extensive diplomatic experience, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Lu Kang, said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Pedersen as the UN special envoy for Syria to replace Staffan de Mistura, who in mid-October announced his decision to step down from the post for personal reasons at the end of this month.

"Mr Pedersen is a very experienced diplomat, we are confident that he will provide a new impetus to the political settlement of the Syrian issue," Lu told reporters at a briefing.

The spokesman stressed that Beijing would continue to support the mediation efforts made by the UN secretary-general and the organization's special representatives, all the while contributing to the political settlement of the conflict.

Lu also conveyed his regret about de Mistura's resignation, praising the work that he had done during his time as the UN special envoy for Syria.

Pedersen has extensive diplomatic experience, having worked in the field for more than 20 years, including around 10 years in the United Nations. The newly-appointed envoy acted as the Norwegian representative to the Palestinian Authority from 1998 to 2003, before being assigned as the UN secretary-general's personal representative for Southern Lebanon and serving as the organization's special coordinator for Lebanon between 2007 and 2008.

Between 2012 and 2017, Pedersen served as the Norwegian permanent representative to the United Nations, and was appointed as the Norwegian ambassador to China in 2017.

As most of the heavy fighting in Syria is now over, Damascus and the international community are trying to put an end to the conflict via political means, including through talks in Geneva, within the so-called Small Group on Syria, comprising Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States, and via the Astana group  Russia, Turkey and Iran.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday called for robust political efforts to bring an end to the warfare in Yemen causing intense suffering to local families.

KUALA LUMPUR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday called for robust political efforts to bring an end to the warfare in Yemen causing intense suffering to local families.

ICRC's Regional Director for the Near and middle East Fabrizio Carboni in a statement said people in Yemen were facing the horrifying menaces of war and hunger as the heaviest price for the conflict.

He said millions were displaced and millions other went to bed hungry every night.

According to ICRC, its team in Hodeida this week spoke of dreadful living conditions for thousands of displaced families who own only the clothes on their back and survive on a little rice or a thin mix of flour and water.

The depreciation of the Yemeni Riyal, reduced imports and difficulty of movement in the country have had alarming repercussions on the country's already catastrophic humanitarian situation, it said.

Carboni said millions across Yemen survive on just one meal a day, choosing either between food and medicine.

The cost of living has skyrocketed with the price for flour, sugar, rice and milk having increased by 30 per cent since last month and surpass the modest budgets of most Yemeni families, whose savings have been depleted by long years of conflict.

ICRC said clean water and medication were also a luxury in Yemen, where vital infrastructure was crumbling, a fact that had led to an increase in infectious diseases such as cholera and measles.

During the first half of this year, ICRC said it had provided food aid to roughly 500,000 Yemenis and helped over two million people have access to clean water and better sanitation.

Over 14,000 people injured in conflicts benefited from the ICRC support to 15 hospitals across the country.
China Aviation Daily | Oct. 31, 2018

ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu addressed the assembled Directors General for Civil Aviation (DGCAs) from ICAO's Asia and Pacific region in Nadi, Fiji, during the opening session of the 55th DGCA Conference on 22nd October 2018 and stressed the key importance of international travel and trade connections to the event's host State and others in the Region.

Recognizing Fiji's "very vibrant tourism sector, and the 40,000 jobs it supports here," Dr. Liu noted that the aviation connections Fiji had realized would help ensure the sustainability of its current and very healthy socio-economic growth. It highlighted for everyone the direct links between the investments States make in terms of legislation and skilled civil aviation oversight resources to ensure their ICAO compliance, and the aggregate socio-economic prosperity they can eventually realize as a result of those commitments.

Acknowledging the wide State-to-State diversity in the Asia/Pacific Region in terms of economic capacity and development, including with respect to civil aviation infrastructure and regulatory oversight, Dr. Liu underscored "the importance of increased regional cooperation through strengthened Regional Safety Oversight organizations and inter-governmental institutions."

With the Asia and Pacific Region now established as the world's largest in terms of the total percentage of global traffic, with more than a third of all commercial flights each year and traffic volumes growing at the fastest rate in the world today at over 11 per cent annually, Dr. Liu placed a critical focus on efforts to ensure that current aviation safety, security and efficiency performance targets not suffer as a result.

"The ICAO Global Plan for Aviation Safety (GASP), our Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP), and the more recent Global Plan for Aviation Security (GASeP), provide the aligned objectives and strategies to assist our member States in responding to challenges of growth," she noted.

The ICAO Secretary General also drew the participants' attention to recent progress made at ICAO's 13th Air Navigation Conference on some critical capabilities which will be helpful for the increased coordination Asia and Pacific States must now realize, including "Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) and the implementation of Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) for high density airports, and the increased sharing of Air Navigation Services best practices."

She drew the DGCAs' attention as well to the ICAO high-level Ministerial Conference convened earlier this year in Beijing, and to the targets it had enshrined in its Beijing Declaration. "The Declaration also underscored the role of data-driven safety methodologies to help us identify and address high risk accident categories, and for both safety and air navigation it strongly encouraged the inclusion of related high-level objectives in your States' National Development Plans," Dr. Liu declared.

The Conference concluded on 26th October with the closing speech made by the Secretary General. The Asia and Pacific 55th DGCA Meeting attracted 237 participants from 41 States and 9 international organizations, and commenced with a Fijian traditional opening ceremony of 'Na Veiqaravi'. In her closing speech she emphasized that as each Asia and Pacific (APAC) CAA explores its own preparedness to accommodate new and emerging air transport capacities and operations, they should recall at the same time the tenets of ICAO's No Country Left Behind initiative in terms of both the weaknesses with which they may need assistance, or the strengths which they can share. She highlighted the importance of certifying all international airports by 2020, implementing the APAC Seamless ATM Plan and putting in place their State Safety Programmes (SSPs) by 2025 to fulfill the commitments of the Beijing Declaration.

In the sidelines of the Conference, the Secretary General held several meetings with local Fiji authorities, States and Regional bodies. Notable among them was a meeting with the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of Fiji where she discussed the ongoing developments of civil aviation in Fiji and emphasized the importance of investment in civil aviation infrastructure which has direct positive impact on the economy. A meeting of the Directors General of the three COSCAPs of Asia and Pacific Region was organized to promote cooperation and collaboration among the three COSCAPs. The Secretary General presided over a luncheon meeting with the DGs of the Pacific Island States and discussed the progress of the PSIDs Needs Analysis study as well as cooperation strategies with ICAO and other partners to achieve the targets agreed by the APAC Ministers in the Beijing Declaration. In a separate meeting with the Executive Director of EASA she discussed the various cooperation programmes between ICAO and EASA. Dr Liu also met the CEO of Fiji Airways as well as visited the Nadi airport and met with the CEO of Airports of Fiji. In these meetings she was accompanied by the Regional Director of the APAC Office and the Directors of ICAO's Technical Cooperation and Air Transport Bureaux.

At the conclusion of its opening ceremonies, Dr. Liu honoured the professionalism shown by Anthonius Gunawan Agung, a young man who sacrificed his life to ensure the safety of a flight of passengers while performing his duties as an air traffic controller during the recent earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia on 28 September. She presented a plaque to an AirNav Indonesia representative who accepted it on behalf of the family of Mr. Agung.

Contributed by ICAO
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has received a congratulatory letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of the formation of government, the prime minister's office said on Thursday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has received a congratulatory letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of the formation of government , the prime minister 's office said on Thursday.

"The president of Russia congratulated Mr. Adel Abdul Mahdi on the occasion of the formation of the government, expressing his country's desire to strengthen relations between the two friendly countries, continue to provide support to Iraq and maintain joint cooperation in what is beneficial for both countries," the office's statement read.

The Iraqi prime minister has also received congratulations from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to the office.

On October 3, newly elected Iraqi President Barham Salih named Mahdi, who was Iraqi oil minister in 2014-2016, as the country's prime minister and tasked him with forming a new government. Mahdi was sworn in on Wednesday, as well as 14 out of 22 ministers whom he had designated.
Brazil is eager to continue supplying Kazakh uranium ore concentrate, Kazakhstan's Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary to Brazil Kairat Sarzhanov said Thursday.

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, Nov 1 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :Brazil is eager to continue supplying Kazakh uranium ore concentrate, Kazakhstan's Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary to Brazil Kairat Sarzhanov said Thursday.

At a briefing here in Astana, Sarzhanov recalled that the list of products exported from Kazakhstan to Brazil had been updated and now included uranium ore concentrate.

In April 2018, Kazatomprom company won a $1.3.7 million worth tender on supply of uranium ore concentrate for Indstrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB).

"Prior to my trip to Kazakhstan I met with INB President. We discussed the opportunities of cooperation with our company. The Brazilian side invites Kazakhstani experts to visit the atomic stations in Rio de Janeiro and expresses interest in further import of uranium ore concentrate," said Sarzhanov.

He said the draft agreement on cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy was being negotiated now.

"The agreement is expected to open new opportunities both for Kazakhstan and Brazil in use and development of nuclear energy. Besides, Brazil is keen on studying Kazakhstan's experience in uranium extraction by means of in-situ leaching," he said.

The State Revenues Committee of the Ministry of Finance says commodity turnover between Kazakhstan and Brazil made $82.3 million in January-August 2018 ($31.8 million - Kazakhstani export and $50.5 million - import from Brazil).

Kazakhstan imports sugar, tobacco, plane, machinery, construction materials, meat and orange juice from Brazil. In turn, Brazil imports sulfur, Si-based ferroalloys, plastic and rubber products as well as ferrous metals from Kazakhstan.
(@FahadShabbir)

Libyan presidential candidate Dr. Aref Ali Nayed told Sputnik in an interview that he would prioritize national reconciliation and the country's territorial integrity if he managed to secure a victory in the upcoming election.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Libyan presidential candidate Dr. Aref Ali Nayed told Sputnik in an interview that he would prioritize national reconciliation and the country's territorial integrity if he managed to secure a victory in the upcoming election.

Nayed, the chairman of the Libya Institute for Advanced Studies and former Libyan Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, is the only person who has officially and publicly announced his intention to run for president.

"The absolute first priority is national reconciliation. We cannot build Libya in a partial and fragmental way. Only all of us together can build Libya ... We also need to make it a top priority to secure the borders of Libya, to secure the territorial integrity of Libya and to secure Libyan cities and villages through proper policing," Nayed said.

The candidate noted that his domestic policy would also focus on providing larger autonomy to Libya's regions and cities.

"I do not believe that there should be a paternalistic centralized government that is decreeing from above. We should treat every region, every village, every tribe, every city with respect, and we will invoke the good will of local people in every area to build their own area. I actually plan to push down the budget to municipalities and village councils and to make people free to make their own decision how they will spend their budgets on their own cities," Nayed said.

He noted, in particular, that his team was considering Switzerland as a model for Libya's future administrative system.

"My team is actually studying the canton system of Switzerland, and we may very well give every village and city a very high degree of say in its affairs much like the Swiss do.

I do plan to make it the Switzerland of our region," Nayed said.

At the same time, the candidate noted that he would adopt a "more introvert" approach in foreign policy if took the office.

"During the 42 years of [overthrown Libyan leader Muammar] Gaddafi, Libya intervened in many situations in the world. I hope to run a policy that is more introvert, we want to invest in our own country and to build our own country first ... My foreign policy would be a balanced policy of good relations with everyone, we are not interested in wars, we are not interested in conflicts, we are only interested in peacemaking and mediation for peace. I think that we should become the best promoter of peace not only for our region, but for the world," Nayed said.

He noted that another priority would be the reinstatement of the Gaddafi-era's pro-African policy, which had a network of some 30 countries, and integrate this network with Libya's relations with the European Union, Russia and other countries.

In May, representatives of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), headquartered in Tripoli, on one side, and the authorities operating in the east of the country on the other, agreed that the country would hold parliamentary and presidential elections on December 10. The sides also agreed to work on uniting their security forces.

Libya has been torn apart by conflict since its long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011. The eastern part of the country is governed by the parliament, backed by the Libyan National Army (LNA) and located in Tobruk. The UN-backed GNA is headed by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

US citizens and US government staff in Guatemala face an increased risk of crime and violent outbursts as migrant caravans transit the country en route to the United States, the American Embassy in Guatemala City warned in a travel alert on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) US citizens and US government staff in Guatemala face an increased risk of crime and violent outbursts as migrant caravans transit the country en route to the United States , the American Embassy in Guatemala City warned in a travel alert on Thursday.

"The Embassy is monitoring ongoing caravans through Guatemala, and remains concerned about increased risk of travel blockages, political instability, and criminal activity," the release said. "Additionally, ongoing social disturbances, some violent, continue in the towns of Ixquisis, and San Mateo Ixtatan, in the department of Huehuetenango.

"

The towns cited in the embassy warning lie on the Guatemala-Mexico border, where migrants from two caravans have forced their way into Mexico during clashes with Mexican police on Sunday.

President Donald Trump has made the threat of migrant violence a prominent issue ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections is deploying thousands of American troops along the US-Mexican border to prevent members of multiple caravans from eventually entering the United States, more than 1,000 miles from the Guatemala border.
Media reports about alleged Russian submarines in Swedish territorial waters are another "propaganda ploy" created to hinder the normalization of relations between the two nations, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Media reports about alleged Russian submarines in Swedish territorial waters are another "propaganda ploy" created to hinder the normalization of relations between the two nations, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

In late October, Swedish media reported that teenagers from a sailing camp near Stockholm had spotted back in June a mysterious vessel, which they believed to be a submarine. According to Zakharova, the reports were actively discussed by politicians and experts, and were accompanied by "hints about Russia's trace."

"Stories about Russian submarines in Swedish territorial waters are nothing but a propaganda ploy that maintains certain public opinion and phobias against Russia, and keeps afloat the narrative about a certain Russian threat. Unfortunately, such an approach does not meet the interests of maintaining stability and security in the region and does not contribute to the normalization of bilateral relations, which have already deteriorated in recent years," Zakharova said at a briefing.

According to Zakharova, "it is the establishment of a mutually respectful dialogue between Sweden and Russia that the authors of all these fakes are afraid of."

She recalled that even the Swedish military had previously recognized the "absurdity" of regular speculations about alleged Russian submarines in the country's territorial waters.

Reports of spotting "submarines" are quite common in Sweden. In October 2014, the Swedish Royal Navy launched a hunt for a suspected Russian submarine, however two years later media reported that the signal detected from the suspected foreign submarine had actually come from some Swedish vessel.
Over 100 people have been detained in France for causing unrest on the Halloween night, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said Thursday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Over 100 people have been detained in France for causing unrest on the Halloween night, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said Thursday.

Earlier in the day, French media reporter that about 10 criminal attacks, including those on police officers, were committed on the Halloween night in the central French Ile-de-France region.

"Halloween should remain a holiday ... However, yesterday we witnessed serious incidents almost all over France ... Last night, we mobilized 15,000 law enforcement officers, and this allowed us to detain more than 100 people," Castaner told the BFMTV broadcaster.

The interior minister stressed that he had already filed a lawsuit over the assault on the law enforcement officers, noting that "we will not let this matter rest.

"

On the Halloween night, about 20 people reportedly robbed a sporting goods store in the French commune of Etampes, later, a police officer came under fire in the same commune. Around 20 people robbed a bakery and threw bottles with acid at police officers, who arrived at the site, in the commune of Montgeron, according to media reports.

Moreover, 10 people opened gunfire in a bar leaving two people injured in the commune of Evry. Several public facilities were damaged by a gang of up to 40 people in the commune of Saint-Michel-sur-Orge. Some unrest also took place in the communes of Les Ulis, Vigneux-sur-Seine, Draveil and Massy. Various incidents were also registered in a number of French big cities, including Toulouse, Grenoble, Metz, Vienne and Rennes.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Pakistan has called for a moratorium on the production of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS), known as "killer robots", that are capable of making their own combat decisions without human intervention, saying such devices would undermine world peace.

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 1 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :Pakistan has called for a moratorium on the production of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS), known as "killer robots", that are capable of making their own combat decisions without human intervention, saying such devices would undermine world peace.

"Any weapon system that delegates life and death decisions to machines, is by nature unethical, and cannot fully comply with international law including International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law," Pakistani delegate Husham Ahmed told the General Assembly's First Committee, which deals with disarmament and international security matters.

"LAWS gravely threaten international and regional peace and security as they lower the threshold of war," Husham Ahmed, who is director of arms control and disarmament in the foreign ministry. said.

"They would also negatively affect progress on arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament," he added, while also underlining the threat of non-state actors and terrorists acquiring armed drones.

Developments in artificial intelligence should not outpace the regulations governing them, the Pakistani delegate said, calling for a legally binding framework.

Pakistan, he said, supports an open ended working group through the Group of governmental Experts on lethal autonomous weapons and is open to addressing the issue in other multilateral forums, including the Conference on Disarmament.

Pakistan views the trans-border unauthorized use of armed drones outside of international armed conflict, especially against civilians, as violation of International Law. "Their use also contravenes State sovereignty and the UN Charter restrictions on the legitimate use of force for self-defence purpose only," the Pakistani delegate said. The UN Human Rights Council, jurists and human rights groups, he pointed out, had opposed armed drones targeting of civilians through signature strikes' as tantamount to extrajudicial killings.

Cyberwarfare also poses serious threats to international peace and security, he said, calling for the issue to be taken up in a multilateral forum.
A group of UN human rights experts have called on world leaders to stop inciting hatred and violence against the media, citing the hundreds of journalists killed or forcibly detained because of their work, and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2018 ) :A group of UN human rights experts have called on world leaders to stop inciting hatred and violence against the media, citing the hundreds of journalists killed or forcibly detained because of their work, and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

The experts, including David Kaye, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; and Bernard Duhaime, Chairman of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, released a statement ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, on Nov. 2.

The statement said that "these last weeks have demonstrated once again the toxic nature and outsized reach of political incitement against journalists, and we demand that it stop,and strongly urged States to take firm steps to ensure accountability for violence and attacks against journalists, reversing and resisting the appalling trend of impunity." They particularly highlighted the killing earlier this month of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and deplored the response of States, the international community and the United Nations itself, for the failure to address his enforced disappearance and apparent murder.

"The only way forward is to establish an independent, transparent and credible investigation into his murder, one authorized by and reporting to the United Nations. Anything short of a complete investigation, recognized as such by the international community, will make a mockery of government claims of commitment to the safety of journalists." The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) says that, between 2006 and 2017, over 1,000 journalists were killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public; an average of one death every four days.

In nine out of ten cases the killers go unpunished, and this impunity, say the UN experts, triggers further violence and attacks: perpetrators must be brought to justice, and victims and families should have access to remedies.

High-level international commitments already exist, such as a resolution on the safety of journalists, adopted by the Human Rights Council in September. The UN experts called on world leaders to implement such resolutions and end their role in inciting hatred and violence against the media.

On this year's International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, UNESCO is launching a new campaign, Truth Never Dies, to raise awareness of this situation, and is calling for media partners to support the initiative by publishing stories by, and about, journalists killed as a result of their work.

Meanwhile, At least 200 US journalists, most of them retired or semi-retired, have signed on to a letter condemning President Donald Trump's attacks on the media and accusing him of inciting violence against the press.

"Trump's condoning of political violence is part of a sustained pattern of attack on a free press which includes labeling any reportage he doesn't like as "fake news" and barring reporters and news organizations whom he wishes to punish from press briefings and events," the open letter reads.

The journalists, many from ABC-News, criticize Trump for his recent comments praising Congressman Greg Gianforte, a Republican, as "my guy" while discussing Gianforte's body-slam of Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs last year.

Former ABC News producer Meredith Wheeler told The Washington Post that she organized the effort, adding that the letter is still gathering signatures.
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Lisbon, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Oct, 2018 ) :Portugal has banned the use of wild animals in circuses by 2024 with a new law passed by parliament and applauded by animal rights groups.

Lions, tigers, elephants, camels and zebras are among the more than 1,000 animals banned under the new law covering around 40 species.

"Wild animals have no place in the circus. People should be able to enjoy themselves without animals suffering," Bianca Santos, vice president of the AZP local animal rights group told AFP.

Approved with support of both left-wing and right-wing lawmakers on Tuesday night, the law brings Portugal in line with a dozen other countries including half of Europe which have banned wild animals in circus acts.

"Parliament has finally realised that larger cages, stricter rules and more controls were not the solution for the problems of these animals, who were reduced to mere puppets, deprived of their dignity," said lawmaker Andre Silva from the PAN party.

Until 2024, circus owners will have to list their wild animals on a register created by the government so they can eventually be placed in wildlife shelters in Portugal or overseas.

Circus professionals who agree to hand over their animals before the end of the transition period could benefit from aid in changing their profession.

An association representing around 20 Portugese circuses, which had opposed the newlaw, said in statement the development would "contribute to the disappearance of the business."
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Statements made by international actors about Libya's elections being premature are "deeply offensive" and "lame excuses" of those who want to maintain the status quo, Dr. Aref Ali Nayed, the chairman of the Libya Institute for Advanced Studies and a presidential candidate, told Sputnik in an interview.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Statements made by international actors about Libya 's elections being premature are "deeply offensive" and "lame excuses" of those who want to maintain the status quo, Dr. Aref Ali Nayed, the chairman of the Libya Institute for Advanced Studies and a presidential candidate, told Sputnik in an interview.

In late September, UN Special Envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame warned that the North African country might not hold the elections on December 10 as planned, citing continuing violence in the country. According to Nayed, more than 2 million people have already registered to vote, while the Libyan High National Electoral Commission has also confirmed its readiness to hold the elections.

"The Libyan people are saying that they are ready, they are registering for the vote, the commission is saying it is ready, and then we have some foreigners saying that maybe the things are not mature enough for the election. I think that this is deeply offensive, and it is very important to leave the Libyan sovereignty with the Libyan people, and not to make these judgments on their behalf ... I think that these are all excuses to keep the powers be in their places, and these are unelected officials and officials who have been elected, but who have overstayed there a lot of time by multiple years," the candidate, who is the only one to have announced the intention to run in elections so far, stressed.

Nayed slammed the arguments for delaying the elections as "lame excuses" and rejected the security concerns expressed by the international community, noting that sufficient measures were in place.

"The entire eastern part of the country, the center and to some extent the south are under the control of the Libyan National Army, and Field Marshal [Khalifa] Haftar has himself expressed multiple times that he is ready to protect the elections, and that he is ready to abide by the results of the elections and that he supports the elections .

.. For the western part of the country, the forces of General Usam Jweli and General Mohamed Haddad are more than sufficient to secure the elections in Zintan, in the mountains, in the western part of the country, west of Tripoli, and Mohamed Haddad's forces can secure it for Misrata and the center of the country," Nayed pointed out.

He stressed that any further delay in the elections would only benefit terrorists, since they preferred the country "to linger in this divided and weakened state, so that they can go about their business of making Libya an ATM machine and a platform for terrorists attacks not only on Libya, but on all our neighbors."

"The danger of not respecting the will of the Libyan people is that the Libyan people may simply sidetrack the UN process and may decide to go for a tribal gathering or may decide to go for civil disobedience or demonstrations, and we could actually even have a civil war, because people do not like to have their right to vote curtailed by other people," he warned.

In May, representatives of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), headquartered in Tripoli, on one side, and the authorities operating in the east of the country on the other, agreed that the country would hold parliamentary and presidential elections on December 10. The sides also agreed to work on uniting their security forces.

Libya has been torn apart by conflict since its long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011. The eastern part of the country is governed by the parliament, backed by the Libyan National Army (LNA) and located in Tobruk. The UN-backed GNA is headed by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj.
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The Romanian government has signed an agreement with the US Army to purchase three additional Patriot Air and Missile Defense systems, defense contractor Raytheon said in a press release on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) The Romanian government has signed an agreement with the US Army to purchase three additional Patriot Air and Missile Defense systems, defense contractor Raytheon said in a press release on Thursday.

"This most recent agreement marks the fulfillment of the Romanian Air Force's plan to purchase four fire units," the release said.

"It also keeps the Romanian armed forces on track to acquire the seven systems Romanian senior leaders have stated they intend to obtain."

The release noted that the Patriot is a purely defensive system that is the backbone of NATO's defense against lower tier ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, advanced aircraft and drones.

Fifteen other nations depend on the Patriot system to protect their citizens and armed forces, including the US and six other European countries: Germany, Greece, Spain, Poland, Sweden and the Netherlands, the release said.
Russia will set up in Syria the largest hub on its wheat exports in the Middle East, Syrian Transport Minister Ali Hammoud told Sputnik in an interview

DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Russia will set up in Syria the largest hub on its wheat exports in the middle East, Syrian Transport Minister Ali Hammoud told Sputnik in an interview.

"We have reached an agreement with the Russian government on establishing in Syria a center for the exports of Russian wheat to other countries in the region.

In this connection, it will be necessary to expand ports in Syria and create granaries in the port area to store large volumes of Russian wheat," the minister said.

Adequate infrastructure will be necessary to transport wheat to neighboring states, the minister added.

"That is why we will need a railway and roads, which will be built as part of this large-scale project," the minister said.
Maintaining peace in Transnistria would be impossible without the Russian peacekeeping mission, and this mission will continue operating in the region, Moldovan President Igor Dodon said on Thursday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Maintaining peace in Transnistria would be impossible without the Russian peacekeeping mission, and this mission will continue operating in the region, Moldovan President Igor Dodon said on Thursday.

Dodon is paying a two-day official visit to Moscow. On Wednesday, the Moldovan leader held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and discussed key issues of Russian-Moldovan cooperation in the trade, economic and humanitarian spheres.

"Russian peacekeepers have been guarantors of peace on the Dniester for more than 26 years. Attempts to question this are counterproductive. Everyone acknowledges this, everyone understands that without Russian peacekeepers there is no guarantee of peace and tranquility on the Dniester. Therefore, there can be no questions about the withdrawal of the peacekeeping mission.

The mission exists, effectively performs its functions and will continue to fulfill them. How much time it will take  it all depends on political settlement," Dodon said at a press conference in Rossiya Segodnya international information agency.

Transnistria, a region with a predominantly ethnically Russian and Ukrainian population, seceded from the Soviet Republic of Moldova in 1990, fearing its possible reunion with Romania. The separation led to an armed conflict that ended in a ceasefire in July 1992, although the issue is still unresolved.

Since 1992, peacekeepers have been deployed to maintain stability in the security zone in Transnistria. The mission comprises military personnel from Moldova, Transnistria and Russia as well as Ukrainian observers.
Russian retaliatory economic restrictions on Ukraine that have been endorsed by the Russian government in response to Kiev's unfriendly actions will include Ukrainian companies that are registered in the United Kingdom and Switzerland,

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Russian retaliatory economic restrictions on Ukraine that have been endorsed by the Russian government in response to Kiev's unfriendly actions will include Ukrainian companies that are registered in the United Kingdom and Switzerland, according to the government decree.

Russian Prime Minister signed on Thursday a decree that lists 322 Ukrainian individuals and 68 entities falling under the scope of the retaliatory restrictions.

The decree features EastOne Group Ltd, registered in the UK city of Cheltenham, Toledo Mining Corporation plc, based in the UK city of Norfolk and Ferrexpo plc, registered in Switzerland's Baar.
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Syria is ready to open checkpoints on the border with Iraq, as it sees no security threats, and waits for the neighboring state to solve logistics issues, Syrian Transport Minister Ali Hammoud told Sputnik in an interview.

DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Syria is ready to open checkpoints on the border with Iraq, as it sees no security threats, and waits for the neighboring state to solve logistics issues, Syrian Transport Minister Ali Hammoud told Sputnik in an interview.

The checkpoints on the Syrian-Iraqi border have been closed since 2014 due to the territory being seized by the IS (Islamic State terror group, banned in Russia) terrorists. Damascus and Baghdad have discussed the issue of opening the border earlier in October.

"During the last visit of Iraqi Foreign Minister [Ibrahim Jaafari] to Syria, one of the main topics discussed was opening the border. The Iraqi side promised that it would be done soon. We are ready as soon as logistics issues are solved on the Iraqi side," the minister said.
Syria is interested in purchasing Russia's new MC-21 passenger jets and seeks priority in becoming the first buyer, Syrian Transport Minister Ali Hammoud told Sputnik in an interview

DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) Syria is interested in purchasing Russia's new MC-21 passenger jets and seeks priority in becoming the first buyer, Syrian Transport Minister Ali Hammoud told Sputnik in an interview.

"We have asked the friendly Russian side so that Syria could have the right of being the first in buying these aircraft," the minister said.

According to the minister, Syrian airlines will need more jets when they resume air survives to Europe.

The MC-21 jets are developed by the Irkut Corporation. Preparing assembly lines for the serial manufacture of MC-21 is currently underway.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday it had sent a request to the United Nations to investigate the US-led coalition's crimes committed during the liberation of the city of Raqqa.

DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) The Syrian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday it had sent a request to the United Nations to investigate the US-led coalition's crimes committed during the liberation of the city of Raqqa.

The ministry expressed hope that the thorough investigation into the crimes could prevent such incidents in the future.

"The mass graves found in Raqqa prove the bloodshed and crimes committed by the coalition against the Syrian people," the letter sent to the UN secretary-general and head of the UN Security Council read.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said that 4,000 bodies had been found in several mass graves in Raqqa.

"Most of them are women, children and old people, they were found under the debris of houses. [These people] died as a result of the coalition's airstrikes on Raqqa," the letter said.

The ministry noted that only 2 percent of the debris in Raqqa had been cleared.

Damascus also pointed out that the coalition had destroyed Raqqa and after that evacuated terrorists of the Islamic State (IS) terror group, outlawed in Russia, from the city.

"The coalition transported the IS terrorists to Deir ez-Zor so that they fight against the Syrian army there," the letter said.

The city of Raqqa first fell into the hands of the Syrian opposition forces in 2013 and was then captured by the Islamic State terrorist group that proclaimed the city its de facto capital. In 2016, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) backed by the US-led coalition launched a campaign to win the city back from the terrorists. The operation culminated in the 2017 Battle of Raqqa, which eventually allowed the SDF to gain control over the city, but Raqqa was left in ruins.
ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 31st October, 2018) As many as 23 militants from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey, were neutralized by the Turkish forces during air raids in northern Iraq, the Turkish General Staff said on Wednesday.

"As a result of air raids on October 31 in the northern Iraqi districts of Qandil, Avashin, Gara and Metina, 23 armed PKK militants were neutralized. They were preparing attacks on our bases. Terrorists' shelters and ammunition depots were destroyed as well," the statement said.

Tensions between Ankara and the Kurds escalated in July 2015 when a ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK collapsed over a series of attacks allegedly committed by the PKK militants.

The Turkish forces are involved in anti-PKK raids across the country and in northern Iraq.
LONDON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd November, 2018) UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Thursday held a meeting with Raed Saleh, the leader of the White Helmets, to discuss the group's activities in Syria, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

"Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has welcomed Raed al-Saleh, the leader of the Syrian Civil Defence (White Helmets), to the Foreign Office today to discuss the vital work the group has done in Syria," the statement read.

Hunt lauded White Helmets efforts during the hostilities in Syria, which "saved over 115,000 lives," according to the statement.

Both Damascus and Moscow accused militants and the White Helmets non-governmental organization of staging several provocations involving chemical weapons to influence public opinion and justify foreign intervention in Syria. In April, a staged chemical attack prompted the United States, the United Kingdom and France to strike Syria with over 100 missiles.
The United Nations Security Council will discuss the political and humanitarian situation in Syria during China's presidency in the month of November, Chinese Ambassador to the UN Ma Zhaoxu told reporters on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) The United Nations Security Council will discuss the political and humanitarian situation in Syria during China's presidency in the month of November, Chinese Ambassador to the UN Ma Zhaoxu told reporters on Thursday.

"We are going to have opportunity to discuss Syria in three occasions - on chemical weapons, political process and humanitarian situation," he said at the news briefing on China's agenda for the month of its presidency.

The Chinese diplomat underscored the importance of the situation in the country on the council's agenda.

"It has major impact on the region," he said, emphasizing the need for a political settlement to the ongoing conflict in the country.

Beijing's envoy added that on November 13, the Council will be briefed by Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Iraq Jan Kubis.

"We believe that Iraq's peace and stability is at a critical stage. An inclusive political solution is the only way to achieve lasting peace and security in Iraq," he said.

Under China's presidency, the UN Security Council will hold more than 20 meetings and consider the situations in Lybia, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Burundi, Yemen, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somalia and other countries, Ma Zhaoxu said.
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US F-15 fighter aircraft have arrived in Estonia to conduct joint training as well as test the BAK-14 aircraft cable arresting system, the US Air Force said in a release on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) US F-15 fighter aircraft have arrived in Estonia to conduct joint training as well as test the BAK-14 aircraft cable arresting system, the US Air Force said in a release on Thursday.

"F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 492nd Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England, and KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, arrived today at Amari Air Base, Estonia," the release said. "[T]he fighter aircraft will test the airfield's BAK-14 cable arresting system and are scheduled to conduct close air support training with Estonian Joint Terminal Attack Controllers.

"

The US Air Force explained the BAK-14 system is used to safely bring fighter aircraft to a stop in the event of an emergency.

The system has been paid for with funds from the European Deterrence Initiative, which was established to increase US forces' readiness in the event of any aggression by a regional adversary against the sovereign territory of a NATO ally, according to the release.
Urinary incontinence is a common condition that may not be routinely screened for in primary care, yet it can impact a womans quality of life and health and is usually treatable, says Carolyn Swenson, M.D., a urogynecologist at Michigan Medicine and IHPI member who helped develop the poll questions and analyze the findings. Its not an inevitable part of aging and shouldnt be overlooked.

San Francisco, CA USA (UroToday.com) -- Nearly half of women over 50 say they sometimes leak urine -- a problem that can range from a minor nuisance to a major issue -- according to a new national poll. Of more than 1,000 women between the ages of 50 and 80 who answered the poll, 43 percent of women in their 50s and early 60s said they had experienced urinary incontinence, as had 51 percent of those age 65 and over.Yet two-thirds of these women hadnt talked to a doctor about the sometimes embarrassing, little-discussed issue. And only 38 percent said they do exercises that can strengthen the muscles that can help keep urine in.The poll shows theyre finding ways of coping on their own  from using pads or special underwear to wearing dark clothing and limiting fluid intake.The new findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging suggest that more physicians should routinely ask their older female patients about incontinence issues they might be experiencing. The poll of 1,027 women between the ages of 50 and 80 was conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, and sponsored by AARP and Michigan Medicine, U-Ms academic medical center.Swenson studies the delivery of womens health care, especially related to the pelvic floor  the structures and muscles that support the bladder and reproductive organs. She notes that there are non-surgical and surgical options for treating incontinence.Of the women who said theyd experienced at least some urine leakage, 41 percent described it as a major problem or somewhat of a problem. One-third of those with leakage experienced an episode almost every day. Nearly half worried that it would get worse as they got older.The most common triggers were coughing or sneezing  experienced by 79 percent  and trying to get to a bathroom in time, experienced by 64 percent. But 49 percent said theyd leaked when laughing, and 37 percent said it had happened when they exercised.The last thing that older women should be doing is avoiding exercise or not being able to enjoy other activities that make life worthwhile, says Preeti Malani, M.D., director of the poll and a professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School who has special training in geriatric medicine. We hope these findings will help spur conversations between women and their health care providers, so that activities arent limited.Coping strategiesWomen reported doing many things to cope with incontinence, including 59 percent who said theyd bought special pads or undergarments. Sixteen percent had cut down on the amount of fluid they drink, and 15 percent said theyd changed what they wore to hide accidents in case they occurred.But only 38 percent had done Kegel exercises, which involve squeezing and releasing the muscles of the pelvic floor. Such pelvic floor muscle exercises can be an effective treatment when done correctly and consistently, especially as part of pelvic floor physical therapy with a specialized physical therapist.Its both surprising and disheartening to see that so many women seem to believe that incontinence is just a normal part of aging because its not, says Alison Bryant, Ph.D., senior vice president of research for AARP. A lot of women are unnecessarily limiting their daily activities and not enjoying life fully because of a condition that can often be remedied.Consulting with providersWomen older than 65 were more likely to have talked with a medical provider about their incontinence than younger women. So were women who reported being embarrassed by their urine leakage or said it was a problem for them.Among women who didnt talk with their doctor about their urinary incontinence, 22 percent said they didnt think of urine leakage as a health problem, so they didnt discuss it with their doctor. But Swenson notes that many treatment options now exist for urinary incontinence and that Medicare and private insurers routinely cover both medical and surgical treatments.Swenson is part of the Pelvic Floor Disorders treatment team at Michigan Medicines Von Voigtlander Womens Hospital, which offers a full range of treatments for urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor issues. Such treatments range from physical therapy and pessary devices to nerve stimulation, injections done in the office to prevent exercise-related incontinence, and minimally invasive surgery.The poll results are based on responses from a nationally representative sample of 1,027 women ages 50 to 80 who answered a wide range of questions online. Questions were written, and data interpreted and compiled, by the IHPI team. Laptops and Internet access were provided to poll respondents who did not already have it.A full report of the findings and methodology is available at www.healthyagingpoll.org , along with past National Poll on Healthy Aging reports.Further Related Content:
A humanitarian crisis is developing on the border between Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo after Angola expels thousands of Congolese migrants employed in diamond mines.

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

A fresh humanitarian crisis is in the making along the Angolan/Congolese border. Since the beginning of October, more than 450,000 Congolese migrants working in diamond mines in the northeast of Angola have been expelled. The UN has cited excessive force and human rights violations against these migrants on the part of both Angolan and Congolese security forces.

Expulsion sudden

The expulsion of these miners was sudden. They are fleeing across the Angolan border into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) provinces of Kasai, Kasai Central and Kwango. At least 6 migrants have died and 100 others have been injured. Others have allegedly been subjected to extortion and illegal taxation in the border town of Kamako on the part of DRC security forces.

Caritas mobilizes

Catholic parishes and the local Caritas in Kamako have mobilized in order to assist the hundreds of thousands of expelled migrants. But resources at hand are completely disproportionate to the number of people in need.

One parish Caritas office in Kamako opened all of its structures in order to welcome the migrants. This has allowed 2,300 people to find refuge. Other local parish Caritas offices are also organizing themselves in order to welcome other migrants.

Caritas Congo is coordinating the efforts of local Caritas offices on the ground. It is in contact with Caritas Internationalis in order to put a strategic plan in place.

Listen to our report

UN involvement

UN Human Rights Chief, Michelle Bachelet, has urged Angolas government to halt the expulsions. She also called on the Congolese government to provide the expelled migrants with protection against extortion and violence.

Congos reality

Despite being rich in mineral and natural resources, the DRC is among the poorest countries in the world. It is emblematic in terms of the inequality and the contradictions in the world economic and financial systems. For decades the DRC has experienced internal conflicts and has been the victim of exploitation for the benefit and profit of mostly foreign interest groups and companies.
The Vaticans Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (PCID) has announced two inter-faith events in Singapore and Thailand.

The Vaticans Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (PCID) has announced two inter-faith events next week in Asia  one in Singapore and the other in Thailand.

Singapore

The PCID is organizing the Second Christian-Taoist Colloquium at Fr. Jean Marie Beurel Centre, in Singapore, November 5-7, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Singapore and the Taoist Federation of Singapore.

Seventy-two scholars and people engaged in interreligious dialogue from Singapore, China, France, India, Malaysia, South Korea, Switzerland, Vatican and Taiwan will discuss the theme, Christian and Taoist Ethics in Dialogue, in its various aspects.

Among the participants are also representatives of the PCID, the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) and the World Council of Churches (WCC).

The PCID explained that the colloquium intends to provide opportunities for academics and those engaged in Christian-Taoist dialogue to share views and aspects related to the theme by means of the conference podium as well as informal discussions.

The meeting also aims at acting together urgently, with a shared sense of co-responsibility, to face the grave human, ethical and social degradation in the world on the basis of a patrimony of moral values common to all human beings.

Thailand

The second event is a commemorative ceremony of the 230th Anniversary of the Buddhist Royal Temple of Chetupon (Wat Pho) in Bangkok, Thailand on November 9. On this occasion, Venerable Phra Thepweeraporn, Abbot of the temple has invited two officials from the PCID, who will be joined by Holy Sees officials and local Catholic Church representatives of Thailand.

Good relations

According to the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, the Holy See and the Wat Phra Chetupon (Wat Pho) enjoy a long-lasting friendship and mutual collaboration.

His Majesty King Rama VII of the Kingdom of Thailand visited Pope Pius XI on 21 March 1934. The King gifted the Pope with a copy of Phra Malai, a sacred Buddhist Scripture written in ancient Khmer alphabets. At the request of the Vatican Museums, a group of Buddhist scholars from Chetupon Temple translated this sacred book into both the Pali and Thai languages.

On 16 May 2018, a delegation comprising of fifty Buddhist monks, government representatives and lay people led by Venerable Phra Rajaratanasunthon presented the copies of the translation to His Holiness Pope Francis during a private audience.

The first delegation of Buddhist monks from Thailand visited the Vatican on 5 June 1972 and had an audience with Pope Paul VI. One of the three monks of the delegation was Most Venerable Somdej Phra Wanaratana, former abbot of Wat Phra Chetupon (Wat Pho).


New Years Eve in Las Vegas just got hella sick. Celebrating the New Year by throwing it back to the past, The Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino has announced the Whoa! 90s Grand House Party Hosted by Joey Lawrence to ring in 2019. DTLVs premier FREE New Years Eve celebration will mark Lawrences first official return to Las Vegas since his Chippendales engagement in 2012.

Launched by his first appearance in a Cracker Jack commercial in the early 80s, Joey has enjoyed a long acting and music career spanning over three decades. Anchored by his heartthrob character Joey Russo in the smash 90s sitcom Blossom, Lawrences 30+-year run has seen many successful roles and achievements. His contagious charm, popular catch phrase, and rugged looks spawned a generation of first crushes and jealous boyfriends throughout the decade.

Its with a nod to this iconic persona that the Downtown Grand is excited to welcome the New Year with a 90s-themed Grand House Party hosted by Joey Lawrence.

For ultimate instagrammable moments, guests are encouraged to rock their favorite 90s gear and memorize their favorite 90s choreography. With a bomb soundtrack from Las Vegas own DJ Crykit the 90s Grand House Party will also feature an assortment of mad 90s props including throwback cocktails, fly dancers, and totally bangin decor.

The Downtown Grand is a perfect match for Lawrences return to Las Vegas. Located in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas, the 629-room Downtown Grand Hotel and Casino is in the midst of celebrating its five-year anniversary as the Grand Entrance to the Downtown Party. With a boutique style, chic rooms, and the perfect location, the resort property has built a reputation for creating memorable events, free concerts, and the best FREE New Years Eve party in Las Vegas.


El Dorado Cantina, an authentic Mexican restaurant and bar close to the Las Vegas Strip invites patrons and new guests alike to celebrate Dia de Muertos with food and drink specials, face painting, live music and giveaways, 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1 and Friday, Nov. 2.

This time of year is especially meaningful to Executive Chef Paco Cortes who grew up in Mexico City and has fond childhood memories of how everyone all across the region celebrated the holiday and honored loved ones who have past.

I will always remember walking through the streets of our local marketplace and admiring the colorful and bright floral arrangements, fruit baskets and incense displayed at each storefront, which served as offerings to loved ones who are no longer with us, said Chef Cortes. Many people who arent familiar with the holiday might think its a somber one, but its the oppositeits truly a time of celebration to honor the dead, and I look forward to everyone joining us for the festivities at El Dorado Cantina. There will be something for everyone!

Chef Cortes will travel back to his roots just days before the holiday to gather decorations and bring them back to display at El Dorado Cantina. Limited-time specials for Dia de Muertoes includes:

Prix-fixe menu ($35): three-course meal featuring appetizer (zucchini blossom quesadilla), entree (choice of a mole dish  negro, rojo, verde or pipian) and dessert (seasonal and traditional Mexican treat featuring pumpkin and sweet potato).

Traditional Mexican music performed live by local musicians

Specialty margarita

Face painting

Prize giveaways

The around-the-clock restaurant is best known for being one of the only Mexican restaurant in the valley to offer cuisine made with organic, non-GMO ingredients and for its extensive menu featuring dishes inspired by regions all across Mexico. Chef Cortes and his team believe in using sustainably-raised products, which means that all of the beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, and fish used in the dishes originate from carefully-selected farms in the U.S. and are free from antibiotics, pesticides, and steroids.


The District at Green Valley Ranch invites the community and their fur babies to celebrate the holidays with a special photo with Santa Claus on December 12th. Customers can bring their well-mannered pets for a meet and greet with Santa and take photos for the holiday season.

Pets must be leashed or kenneled. For more information, visit the centers website at https://shopthedistrictgvr. com/.


Chef Daniel Humm and restaurateur Will Guidara  the creative minds behind Worlds 50 Best Restaurants 2017 winner Eleven Madison Park in New York  will debut their signature concept,NoMad Restaurant, at NoMad Las Vegas on Wednesday, Nov. 14 (Pictured: Chicken for Two  Photo credit: Daniel Krieger)

Photo credit Daniel Krieger

The highly anticipated eatery is the newest offering at the just-opened hotel within Park MGM, a collaboration between Sydell Group and MGM Resorts International.

Photo credit: Benoit Linero

With a design meticulously overseen by French architect Jacques Garcia and inspired by the renowned Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading in Rio de Janeiro and the iconic Library of NoMad New York, this new NoMad Restaurant features soaring 23-foot ceilings and a menu that celebrates American classics in a grand and continental way by striking a distinct balance between accessibility, theatricality and luxury.

For Las Vegas NoMad Restaurant, Chef Humm conceived large-format communal courses to be served alongside an extensive selection of salads, pastas, and entrees, complemented by a menu of dishes for two, including the acclaimed NoMad Roast Chicken.

The cocktail program for NoMad Restaurant is managed by Bar Director Leo Robitschek of Make It Nice, who helms the nearby NoMad Bar and is the recipient of the 2014 James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program and 2017 Spirited Awards Americas Best Bar Team honor. The NoMad Bar, which opened on Oct. 12, offers an eclectic menu of shareable plates, snacks, sandwiches, pastas, and more; serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night meals.

The NoMad Restaurant and Bar are rooted in gracious hospitality and casually elegant cuisine, coupled with a distinguished and innovative wine and cocktail program.
Alibaba is focusing on Southeast Asia

After pouring $2 billion into Lazada early this year, Alibaba is planning to boost developing its chain of non-seller stores, which are the combination of physical and online stores in Southeast Asia, aiming to directly compete with its US-based opponent Amazon, according to James Dong, managing director of Lazada Thailand.

Southeast Asia is Alibabas largest foreign market thanks to its presence in six countries via Lazada. Dong also affirmed that Southeast Asia plays an important role in its strategy to expand globally.

In China, Alibaba has entered into co-operation with many local retail brands to develop the RT-Mart store chain featuring e-payment, on-demand delivery, and analysing consumer data. Dong also stated that Thailand will be the first foreign market carrying out the retail model.

Shopping behaviours and hobbies in Southeast Asia are quite similar to China. We believe that our strategies will be efficiency in the market, Dong said.

Lazada is running business in six Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore. Before investing $2 billion into Lazada, Alibaba acquired 83 per cent of the e-commerce platforms shares.
Altus Special Situations Asia 1 LP, a special situation investment platform set up by Altus Capital Corporation (a specialist investor and asset manager that focuses on Special Situation and Distressed Assets investments across Southeast Asia), has secured $65 million from IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and its two funds managed by IFC Asset Management Company (AMC): IFC Financial Institutions Growth Fund and IFC Emerging Asia Fund.

The investment, according to IFC, is targeted at supporting distressed companies in East Asias emerging markets with financing to ensure they can meet their financial obligations, regain creditworthiness, and preserve jobs, thereby contributing to sustainable growth.

Altus Capital Corporation, meanwhile, is managed by US-based Altus Capital Partners, which is known for investing in middle market manufacturing businesses in the US for returns.

Companies in the region face challenges, despite strong economic growth. In some markets, following the global financial crisis, loan defaults among highly leveraged corporations have increased, and a ballooning of non-performing loans (NPLs) has locked in banking capital. As a result, financially distressed companies are unable to obtain credit to restore viability and rebuild their operations.

Altus Capital will co-operate with two IFC funds to give a helping hand to Southeast Asian companies. Source: Shuttlestock

Through its global Distressed Assets Recovery Programme (DARP), IFC works with partners to build regional platforms across emerging markets and catalyse other institutional investors to invest in distressed assets. The investment will enable Altus to set up a regional facility to invest in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, the latter two being nascent markets for distressed asset recovery. With this investment, IFC and AMC seek to support this growing and attractive market for investors.

I am excited to embark on this next phase of Altus Capitals expansion with our partners at IFC, AMC, and other institutional investors, said Pavan Gidwani, Altus Capitals CEO.

He added, We welcome Altus playing a dynamic role as both a hands-on investor and an asset manager within this growing region, actively assisting to unlock value in viable, but underperforming middle-market companies, as well as in hard assets in need of redevelopment and repositioning. Our track record provides many documented successful turnaround stories in various sectors and markets, all with high social and development impact. We are fully committed to build upon that continuing legacy with our new fund.

Altus Special Situations Asia 1 LP will have up to $272.5 million of deployable capital. IFC, IFC Financial Institutions Growth Fund, and IFC Emerging Asia Fund will contribute up to $15 million, $25 million, and $25 million, respectively. Altus Capital Corporation will contribute $7.5 million.

IFCs support is likely to promote greater market integration for distressed asset resolution through the creation of a regional platform. This will mobilise much-needed regional and international capital for distressed companies to make them viable again, said Vivek Pathak, IFC Director for East Asia and Pacific, adding that, Subsequently, these companies can plan for long-term, sustainable growth that increases job opportunities, driving economic growth in the region.

IFC Financial Institutions Growth Fund and IFC Emerging Asia Fund are pleased to invest in Altus, which will provide much-needed capital and expertise for companies in the region that have been struggling to perform. In doing so, the funds see an opportunity to enhance this impact and create good financial returns for our investors, noted Marcos Brujis, CEO of IFC Asset Management Company.

IFC has been working with Altus  a DARP partner  since 2012. As of March 2018, IFC DARP has deployed over $5.5 billion focused on distressed assets globally. In Asia, IFC DARPs active projects include IFC commitments of approximately $525 million and co-investments of approximately $560 million.
File photo of Britain's Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab during a speech at the Conservative Party Conference at the ICC, in Birmingham, central England. (Source: AP Photo/Rui Vieira, file)

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab made the optimistic comment in a letter to the House of Commons Brexit scrutiny committee, dated Oct 24 but only now made public.

"I would be happy to give evidence to the committee when a deal is finalised, and currently expect 21 November to be suitable," he wrote.

Both Raab and Oliver Robbins, Prime Minister Theresa May's chief Brexit advisor, have been invited to address the committee on that date.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt echoed the optimism, telling an event in London: "It's entirely possible that we could make enough progress by then."

However, May's spokesman was more cautious, repeating only that "we wish to conclude the deal as quickly as possible".

Most of the divorce deal with Brussels is agreed but talks remain stuck on how to avoid new checks on Britain's land border with EU member Ireland after it leaves the bloc's single market and customs union.

Raab will visit the UK province of Northern Ireland on Friday on a "fact-finding trip", which will include meetings with local businesses and politicians, an official in his ministry told AFP.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said that if a deal were to be struck this month, there must be major progress next week.

"We are at a moment of truth. If there is to be a breakthrough in November, then we need the negotiating teams to find a way forward in the next week or so," he said.

He was speaking in Paris after talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Le Drian added: "It is essential that we obtain guarantees from the United Kingdom" regarding plans to control the border.

EU leaders had mooted a special summit in mid-November to seal the Brexit deal, but warned earlier this month this would not happen without more progress.

Raab wrote: "The end is now firmly in sight and, while obstacles remain, it cannot be beyond us to navigate them."

A European source told AFP on Wednesday however that "the technical discussions that resumed have not gone anywhere for the moment."

British officials are keen to avoid the negotiations dragging on, with Brexit day scheduled for Mar 29.

However, a statement for Raab's Brexit ministry said: "There is no set date for negotiations to conclude."

Separately, Raab's predecessor David Davis, who quit over the government's approach to Brexit in July, said the final deal will likely pass when it comes to a vote in the House of Commons, before retracting himself a day later.

Davis is among a large minority of May's Conservative MPs who strongly oppose her strategy, raising fears the deal will be rejected.
The number of foreign employees in Vietnam has increased in recent years

Specifically, Decree No.143/2018/ND-CP stipulating the details of compulsory social insurance for foreign employees in Vietnam has been officially approved and will come into effect from December 1, 2018.

After the decree was issued, a series of advisory companies like KPMG and Baker McKenzie immediately sent notices to their foreign clients in Vietnam. Currently, the majority of foreign firms in the country are still dazed by the turn of events and are processing the information.

A representative of South Korean Embassy to Vietnam told VIR that as the new decree is not identical to the draft submitted to the Vietnamese government in September, so they need to gather feedback from South Korean companies in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Takimoto Koji, chief representative of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), said that they are still studying the decree. The JETRO also wondered whether local peoples committees have received detailed instructions from Vietnams Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA). It expects no ambiguity or inconsistency in the decree.

The new decree was issued as the number of foreign employees in Vietnam has skyrocketed over the past few years due to regional integration, new trade agreements, and the improved flow of skill workforce within the ASEAN.

According to the MoLISAs statistics, the number of foreign employees in the country grew from 63,557 in 2011 to 83,046 in 2016. They mostly came from Asian countries like China, South Korea, and Japan, accounting for 73 per cent of the total, followed by European countries (21.6 per cent) and American countries (2.4 per cent).

The high averaged salary of foreign employees, along with their high number, makes the 3.5 per cent social insurance under Decree 143 quite a burden to their employers. Specifically, according to HSBCs September 2017 survey of expatriates living in Vietnam, a foreigners annual averaged salary was $88,096, equalling an average of $7,341 per month, much higher than Vietnamese employees averaged salary of VND4.23 million ($184) in 2018, according to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour.

To deal with the decree, employers and foreign firms in Vietnam may have to soon revise their financial plans. Currently, the recruitment of local employees would be a good option for employers to reduce social insurance spending.

Jonathan Moreno, chairman of AmCham in Ho Chi Minh City, told VIR, Foreign investors will try and absorb these additional costs through alternative cost savings or by lowering their reliance on foreign employees. I believe investors appreciate the slower roll-out. However, the fundamental cost and value concerns have not changed.

Indeed, many American investors believed they are forced to pay into a system which their foreign staff are unlikely to use. Most American investors already provide higher levels of health and accident insurance packages for their foreign staff from private insurance firms. Many noted that it would have been great if the law provided some wiggle room for people who already hold insurance policies or pay social insurance in their home countries.

Even though the new decree has been officially approved and will come into effect in December, the concerns surrounding its impact of reducing firms competitiveness is far from over. Koji from the JETRO voiced concerns that the change will weaken the competitiveness of Vietnamese industries.

He said the best choice is to replace foreign workers with locals. Some Japanese companies understand the MoLISAs goal to increase the number of domestic workers in higher positions at foreign companies in Vietnam.

Similarly, Moreno also told VIR that this will likely reduce businesses willingness to hire foreign workers, especially to mid-level positions. Companies have a general desire to localise their workforce, as it significantly reduces wage expenses. Foreigners are usually hired to provide necessary management, skills, and mentoring  services in short supply in the local workforce  to ensure successful operations.

Due to the concerns surrounding the issue, the draft was previously adjusted many times before officially becoming a decree.

According to vice chairman of the National Assemblys Social Affairs Committee Bui Sy Loi, the changes are necessary for Vietnamese and foreign workers to be treated equitably. It will also ensure fairness between businesses which only use domestic employees and those that employ staff from overseas. Indeed, companies employing foreigners have been enjoying favourable incentive policies on tax and social insurance.

The government also requested that the MoLISA co-ordinates with the relevant authorities to negotiate with other countries, and sign bilateral and multilateral agreements on social insurance. In case of a clash between the decree and international agreements to which Vietnam is a signatory, the international agreements will prevail.
Friendship Tower Grade A office project, located at 31 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1

According to Savills market brief report for the second quarter of 2018, total office space reached almost 1.8 million square metres, increasing by 2 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 10 per cent year-on-year, while average occupancy was stable by 96 per cent.

Tu Thi Hong An, associate director of Commercial Leasing, Savills Ho Chi Minh City noted that after Grade A rental growth of over 7 per cent in 2017, momentum is expected to continue with its record growth in 2019 and 2020. It is crucial for office occupiers to carefully analyse their office needs, plan ahead and manage future occupancy costs effectively.

According to An, the Vietnamese market has the potential for the development of more sophisticated office projects, following all current global megatrends.Therefore, the design, standard and functionality of offices of new projects will likely change in the coming years.

By 2020, the market is estimated to receive approximately 516,000sq.m of additional office space. However, given the very low vacancy rates and lack of new supply, Grade A office buildings are forecasted to remain scarcity in the future.

One of the Grade A office building, scheduled to open in early 2020 is 21-storey Friendship Tower located in a prime location of Ho Chi Minh City and developed by CZ Slovakia Vietnam. The project provides approximately 13,700sq.m of prime leasable space and an extremely high level of flexibility in configuration, with office sizes largely variable from 200sq.m up to 1,450sq.m of usable space.

According to CZ Slovakia, their first ever development in Vietnam aims to attract western firms developing their activity in Vietnam and Southeast Asia region and at the same time for Vietnamese companies doing international business.

Various studies have shown that an improvement in the indoor working environment raises labour productivity. Being aware of the materials and installation choices in particular has a direct impact on the indoor environment, Friendship Tower devoted into building the ideal workplace with premium substance.

Friendship Tower will be a LEED certified green building, scheduled to open in early 2020

Built as a traditional office building, however, Friendship Tower sets its value with the implementation of an innovative office concept in design, facilities and technology. The entrance lobby is preceded by a large atrium surmounted by an extensive cantilevered canopy - a distinguished element of the building. Friendship Tower will be a LEED certified green building. The curtain wall will be a high-quality unitized system with advanced double glass units able to reduce drastically solar gain with notable benefit on energy costs.

Vertical transportation from parking area at basement level to entrance lobby will be handled separately by dedicated shuttle lifts. This solution offers the higher level of access control and at the same time improving vertical circulation efficiency.

Likewise, the smart building management service of international standards is as a strong point of the building. The 24/7 security guard, high-quality natural stone Green wall at entrance hall, seven passengers lifts and a service lift in the building with destination control and landscaping service will turn the offices in the building into a professional working environment.

Additionally, Friendship Tower is a boutique professional office building and provides a conference centre and cafe with F&B services. Moreover, it is within walking distance from major facilities such as business hotel and serviced apartments, consulates general, restaurants and shopping malls, and other important business centres. Therefore, the building is set to be the perfect choice for discerning tenants seeking high quality office space in a prime location of Ho Chi Minh City.

Friendship Tower also matches the DNA of companies, which requires a truly working environment that serves as a place for meeting, collaboration, community building and exchange of knowledge.

For Friendship Tower, it starts the design process with a detailed analysis of the organizations objectives and needs. CZ Slovakia believes to the building becomes a new iconic work hard-live well destination for Ho chi Minh Citys professional white-collars.

For further information about the new Grade A workplace, please visit https://friendshiptower.com/

Contact hotline: 0909 369323 or email: tthithuhien@savills.com.vn for leasing inquiries
Apartment buildings in My Dinh 1 Urban Area in Hanois Nam Tu Liem District.-VNS Photo Doan Tung

So far, despite many attempts, the city hasnt thoroughly resolved the issue, he said.

According to Tran Ngoc Hung, chairman of the Vietnam Construction Association, 20 years ago, on June 20, 1988, then-Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet approved the Hanoi Master Plan towards 2020, aiming to build a modern capital.

Hung said the plan stipulated limiting the population from the Ring Road No 2 to Vinh Tuy, Nga Tu Vong, Nga Tu So, Cau Giay, Nhat Tan to below 800,000 people, a target that has already been drastically exceeded.

In the metropolitan area, landscape architecture was to "limit the height of new buildings and only arrange high-rise buildings in some suitable locations." However, he said investors of high-rise buildings had various ways of obtaining construction permits from State authorities.

This, according to Hung, led to a series of licensed high-rise building projects, overloading both technical and social infrastructures.

Hung said the locations of high-rise buildings and the number of floors of each building in the inner city, especially in the Ring Road No 1 area, should be considered carefully.

Thanh Cong Lake is covered by a series of high-rise buildings that turn the lake into a pond in the city centre, he mentioned as an example of poor planning.

Agreeing with Hung, architect Tran Ngoc Chinh, chairman of the Vietnam Urban Development and Planning Association, added that the boom in high-rise buildings without control was due to investors seeking big bucks.

The city Peoples Committee has issued regulations on the general planning and management of high-rise buildings in the five main districts of Hanoi, including Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Hoan Kiem, the northern part of Hai Ba Trung and the southern part of Tay Ho.

Under the regulations, high-rise buildings along both sides of Ring Road No 1 can be no taller than 24 floors with a total height of 86m. The maximum height for the buildings on both sides of Ring Road No.2 is 27 floors and 97m. Buildings along the Hong (Red) River dike can be no taller than 21 floors, no greater than 76m in total.

Old high-rise buildings in five districts are allowed to be renovated from 21-24 floors, including those on the streets of Nguyen Cong Tru, Giang Vo, Hao Nam, Ngoc Khanh, Thanh Cong, Khuong Thuong, Vinh Ho, Lang Ha, Phuong Mai and Thanh Nhan.

New high-rise apartment buildings on roads which have yet to be upgraded and enlarged have exerted rising traffic pressure on many densely populated areas.
HSBCs latest report entitled Navigator: Now, next and how for business, which polled over 8,500 businesses across 34 markets, finds that the majority of Vietnamese respondents are positive about the partnerships established with key trading partners, with 69 per cent believing that ASEAN membership will help their business in the next three years. Similarly, 65 per cent of Vietnamese firms believe the forthcoming European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement will have a positive impact on their business in the near future. The two sides agreed on a final text for the trade agreement earlier in June.

Vietnamese businesses are also looking beyond these agreements for growth. Over a quarter of businesses are eyeing opportunities in Japan, while 23 per cent are looking to expand into China, and a fifth are considering South Korea.

We are seeing an increasing demand from clients, particularly those in the manufacturing and energy sectors, looking to expand their operations. These ambitions are supported by sustainable local economic growth and interest from overseas firms looking to move here. Optimism from Vietnamese businesses has never been stronger, said Winfield Wong, head of Wholesale Banking at HSBC Vietnam.

Winfield Wong, head of Wholesale Banking at HSBC Vietnam Optimism from Vietnamese businesses has never been stronger.

In an effort to raise standards and boost competitiveness, 45 per cent of Vietnamese respondents said up-skilling their workforce is a key focus for investment while 43 per cent of firms stated they are placing a greater emphasis on productivity and skills development. Meanwhile, around 8 out of 10 companies in Vietnam are using data to optimise their performance, compared with 75 per cent globally.

The survey also sees 91 per cent of Vietnamese respondents, compared with 75 per cent globally, believing the outlook for trade is favourable in spite of geopolitical factors that are curbing enthusiasm elsewhere. They cite a favourable economic environment, decreasing costs of shipping, logistics, and storage, and an increasing demand for their products as the top three drivers of trade growth.

This bullishness is also reflected in the confidence of Vietnamese firms, with 91 per cent believing that they will succeed in the current environment, compared to 81 per cent of businesses globally. Consumer confidence, commodity prices, and global economic growth are the top factors for their own positive outlook.

On a global level, respondents are upbeat about their prospects  encouraged by customer demand and favourable economic conditions  yet many are revising their strategies for fear that protectionist policies will have a negative impact on international trade.

Vietnamese businesses optimism reflects an economy thats been one of Asias star performers in growth speed, said Wong. They are optimistic as they consider themselves well-positioned thanks to a strong domestic economy, confidence in the global economy, as well as far-reaching trade deals and burgeoning trade relations with major markets.

Despite the overall optimistic outlook on trade opportunities, four out of five Vietnamese firms (78 per cent) did concur that foreign governments are becoming more protectionist  this is considerably higher than the global benchmark (63 per cent) and an 11-percentage point increase from HSBCs last Navigator survey conducted in late 2017.

In fact, HSBCs Navigator survey shows that more than half of the companies (51 per cent) globally expect that free trade agreements, where they apply to their country and industry, will benefit them over the next three years.

FTAs are particularly popular in emerging markets, with 60 per cent of firms saying they will have a positive impact, compared to 45 per cent of firms in developed markets.
E.W. Jackson, Former Candidate for US Senate, Releases New Video Urging Black Christian Voters Nationwide to Vote Republican Contact: Vanity Jackson, 757-375-6444, Vanity@ewjackson.com



NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 1, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- In 2011, E.W. Jackson released a viral video titled "Exodus Now," which called upon black voters to exit the Democrat Party. Today, he has launched another video with the same emphasis. Says the Bishop, "We call on black Christians to stop allowing liberals to ride their backs into office."



In the earlier video, Bishop Jackson urged Americans of African descent not to vote for Democrats. In this new video he goes one step further and urges black voters to vote Republican. "Voting the righteousness of God is going to mean voting Republican because the platform of the Republican Party is pro-life, pro-Family and pro-Christian," he says. "The platform of the Democrat Party is anti-life, anti-Marriage, anti-family and anti-Christian."



Jackson cites the contempt that Senate Democrats have shown to Bible believing Christians who claim that Jesus is the only way to heaven. "In nomination hearings," says the Bishop, "Bernie Sanders, Diane Feinstein and Dick Durban attacked Christian nominees as bigots and haters for asserting that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Democrat Party elites have decided that being a Bible believing Christian is un-American."



The Bishop also points to the increasing influence of socialism on the Democrat Party as a red flag for Christians. "Socialism is Marxism," says Jackson. "A foundational principle of Marxism is that there is no God, and the state is supreme. That is anathema to Christianity and we should never vote for any candidate who embraces socialism."



Bishop Jackson has been speaking to churches and pastors across the country to mobilize Christians to vote in the November 6 election. Jackson says, "What I am seeing as I travel is that the Democrat Party is recruiting socialists to run for office. Republicans are recruiting Pastors and Christians. That tells us everything we need to know."



Click here to view the recent video.



Bishop E.W. Jackson is President of STAND Foundation, Inc., [standamerica.us] Senior Pastor of the Called Church and former Candidate for Lt. Governor and US Senate in Virginia.



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The Boeing-737 MAX 8, which went into service just a few months ago, crashed into the Java Sea off Indonesia's northern coast moments after it had asked to return to Jakarta on Monday (Oct 29). (Photo: AFP/Hadi Sutrisno)

Retrieving the black box will be key to unlocking why the Boeing 737-MAX, one of the world's newest and most advanced commercial passenger jets, nosedived into the Java sea so soon after leaving Jakarta.

Authorities picked up the box's signals some 30-40 meters (100-130 feet) below the surface of the water off Indonesia's north coast, where the plane crashed Monday.

"We have not found the black box's location, but it's in the area, within a three-kilometre radius," Soerjanto Tjahjono, head of Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee, told Kompas TV.

"Usually the black box location is near the main wreckage."

The box contains flight data that shows the speed, altitude and direction of the plane, while the cockpit voice recorder keeps track of conversations and other sounds in the cockpit.

Dozens of divers were taking part in the 1,000-strong personnel recovery effort along with helicopters and ships, but authorities have all but ruled out finding any survivors.

The development comes as Boeing officials were due to meet with Lion Air on Wednesday, after Indonesia ordered an inspection of the US plane maker's 737-MAX jets.

Indonesia's transport minister Budi Karya Sumadi took the unusual step of ordering the temporary removal of Lion Air's technical director and several other staff who cleared the flight, citing government authority over the aviation sector.

He later stressed that the measure meant to free up the technical director to help with the crash probe.

DNA TESTING UNDERWAY

Jakarta police hospital chief Dr Musyafak told a news conference on Wednesday that 191 families have so far reported that they have family members who are victims of the flight JT610 crash.

Dr Musyafak added that out of the 191 families, 147 have provided DNA samples for identification purposes. He also appealed for more family members to come forward.

He said Indonesian authorities have received 48 body bags and that all of them contain body parts.

The forensic team comprise more than 15 forensic doctors, more than 10 forensic dentists and four DNA experts.

Several postmortems have been conducted but none of the remains have been identified so far, Dr Musyafak added.

Apart from DNA identification, authorities will likely require fingerprints, dental records as well as information on secondary marks like tattoos or if they wear rings.

"If it is possible, we will try to sew the bodies," he added.

Indonesian authorities are also providing family members with grief counselling.

"DAD, I LOVE YOU EVERY DAY"

Distraught relatives sifted through clothes, wallets and other retrieved personal effects on a Jakarta dockside, as authorities sent body parts to hospital for DNA testing

"He was the best husband in the world," 33-year-old Ningsi Ayorbaba said of her partner Ferdinand Paul Ayorbaba, who was on the flight.

"We had planned to celebrate our 15th anniversary in April...Today, I'm bringing in DNA samples."

Among the items plucked from the water was a smartphone case with the image of a couple walking hand-in-hand over a bridge.

The story went viral online and the pair were later identified as Ine Yunita Savitri and her husband Wahjoe Noegrohantoro, who was on the downed jet. Savitri was not on the plane.

On Tuesday, their daughter Samantha posted the image to her Instagram account with the words: "Dad, I love you every day".

"WORST IN THE WORLD"

Aviation experts say it is too early to determine what caused the accident.

But Lion's admission that the plane had an unspecified technical issue on a previous flight - as well as the plane's abrupt nosedive just 12 minutes after takeoff - have raised questions about whether it had any faults specific to the newly released model, including a speed-and-altitude system malfunction.

"The bigger picture here is that you've got a lot of American carriers flying the same aircraft," Stephen Wright, aviation expert at the University of Leeds, told AFP.

"Is there (a problem) that could affect other aircraft?"

The crash has also resurrected concerns about Indonesia's patchy air safety record which led to a now-lifted ban on its planes entering US and European airspace.

Lion's co-founder Rusdi Kirana, now Indonesia's ambassador to Malaysia, said in a 2015 interview that "my airline is the worst in the world, but you don't have a choice".

Founded in 1999, the budget carrier capitalised on a boom in Indonesia's aviation industry, but has been plagued by safety woes and complaints over unreliable scheduling and poor service.

It 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.

Indonesia's transport minister ordered an inspection of all Boeing 737-MAX aircraft on Tuesday.

Lion Air Managing Director Daniel Putut said the airline had "many questions" for the Chicago-based company and they would discuss the delivery of remaining aircraft 737-MAX models, Indonesian news website tirto.id reported.

Lion Air, Indonesia's biggest budget airline which has been engaged in huge expansion, announced earlier this year it was buying 50 Boeing-737 MAX 10 jets for US$6.24 billion.

Boeing suspended release of the fuel-efficient 737 MAX just days before its first commercial delivery last year due to an issue with engines.

But the narrow-body jet was subsequently cleared for commercial delivery and has had thousands of orders from more than 100 customers worldwide.

Boeing said it was providing technical assistance under the direction of Indonesian authorities, while the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also helping the probe.

Additional reporting by Jack Board.
Members of a rescue team bring personal items and wreckage ashore at the port in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, after they were recovered from the sea where Lion Air flight JT 610 crashed off the north coast. (RESMI MALAU/AFP)

"We dug and we got the black box" from among debris in the mud on the sea floor, the diver, identified as Hendra, told broadcaster Metro TV on board the Baruna Jaya vessel.

The box was recovered at 10.15am in waters off Tanjung Karawang, West Java, by Indonesian divers, Kompas TV reported.

The black box was orange in colour and intact, the diver said, without specifying if it was the flight data recorder or the cockpit voice recorder.

There are two black boxes  the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder. The digital flight data recorder gathers information about the speed, altitude and direction of the plane with enough storage for 25 hours of data, while the cockpit voice recorder keeps track of conversations and other sounds in the pilots' cabin.

The Boeing-737 MAX plane plunged into the Java Sea on Oct 29, just 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta. It was headed to Pangkal Pinang city on Bangka island, an hour's flight away.

Rescue officials had been focused on recovering the main part of the aircraft  more specifically the planes black boxes  as investigators try to determine the cause of the crash.

As part of the search operation, Indonesian authorities deployed divers, search and rescue vessels, four sonar detectors and an underwater acoustic beacon.

Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee said 181 passengers  including two babies and one child  and eight crew members were on board.

Twenty employees from Indonesias Finance Ministry as well as Andrea Manfredi, an Italian former professional cyclist, were also among the passengers on the ill-fated flight.

Flight JT610 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.

Indonesian officials named the captain of the flight as Bhavye Suneja, an Indian national who had been with the airline for seven years, local media reports said.

According to Lion Air, Suneja and his co-pilot, Harvino, had 11,000 hours of flying between them and had undergone medical checkups and drug testing recently.
Nguyen Viet Thang, head of X26 JSCs Planning Division based in Hanoi, greeted the news on November 12 that the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will be officially adopted by the National Assembly (NA).

Vietnam will be the sixth nation to ratify this milestone deal, after Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Mexico, and Singapore. Last week, New Zealand adopted this deal. Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, and Peru are also expected to ratify the deal in the near future.

Our company has been awaiting the adoption of the CPTPP for a long time. If the deal is adopted by all 11 member states, we will be able to export more due to the import tax exemption, which will become true upon the deals entry into force, Thang told VIR.

Currently, the average rate is 12-18 per cent, depending on the market and product, Thang said, adding that the company has been seeking more partners in other CPTPP nations, and contracts will be materialised right after the CPTPP takes effect.

The NA last week announced that after thorough discussions, on November 12, 2018, it will adopt a resolution approving the CPTPP and related documents.

This is an important agreement which will have significant impacts on almost all sectors of politics, economy, society, and foreign affairs of Vietnam, especially in the sectors of agriculture and employees rights, said an NA document released last week.

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said, The CPTPP will have a comprehensive, positive impact on Vietnams investment and trade as a whole, with the garment, footwear, foodstuff, and beverage sectors to be the biggest beneficiaries, because the majority of import taxes on almost all of these products will be reduced to 0 per cent when the CPTPP takes effect.

Statistics show that Vietnams garment and textile export turnover from Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Chile, and Peru  despite high import tax rates  has been fluctuating around $40 billion a year, which is 3.5 times higher than the turnover from the US, and 11 times higher than that from the EU.

In another case, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a British business providing forecasting and advisory services through research and analysis, the CPTPP is expected to help Vietnams steel producer Hoa Sen Group to boost exports to CPTPP nations, including Mexico, Chile, and Peru. This is because the group currently faces import tariffs as high as 25 per cent in Mexico, 6 per cent in Chile, and 5 per cent on some products in Peru.

Hoa Sen Group also sees the CPTPP as Vietnams best chance to move up the value chain in global manufacturing. The trade deal would encourage greater investment in Vietnam from Australia and New Zealand. This would help especially in areas where Vietnam wants to make headways, such as high-tech industries, industrial development, services, and agriculture, enabling Vietnam to better participate in the regional and global value chain, according to the EIU.

Recently, HSBC released a comprehensive survey of global businesses, with 200 respondents in Vietnam, about the CPTPPs expected impacts on them. Results showed that 63 per cent of businesses in Vietnam believe the CPTPP will have a positive impact on their business, while 50 per cent said it is very relevant to their business.

HSBC Vietnams general director Pham Hong Hai said that with the US not present in the CPTPP, Vietnams benefits may be less than with the original Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). For instance, GDP will only move up by 1.32 instead of the 6.7 per cent, and exports will increase by 4 instead of 15 per cent. However, in general, industries like garments and textiles, leather footwear, and labour-intensive production will still benefit. Vietnam will be able to take advantage from its enhanced access to member markets, especially those on the other side of the Pacific like Canada and Mexico, Hai said.

According to the World Banks recently-released update on Vietnams economic developments, the CPTPP covers 11 economies that together account for 13.5 per cent of the global GDP, and a $10 trillion comprehensive market that spans over 500 million people.

Better access to a market of this size clearly creates significant opportunities for

Vietnams export-oriented economy. Vietnam has unique comparative advantages even among the 11 economies in the CPTPP, read the update.

Under conservative assumptions, the CPTPP is estimated to result in a cumulative increase of 1.1 per cent in Vietnams GDP by 2030. Assuming a modest boost to productivity, the estimated increase of GDP would amount to 3.5 per cent from the CPTPP. Meanwhile, Vietnams exports are projected to grow by 4.2 per cent and imports by 5.3 per cent, with larger increases of 6.9 and 7.6 per cent, respectively, assuming productivity gains.

The largest growth in output is estimated to be in food and beverage and tobacco, clothing, leather, and textiles, along with more modest growth in several manufacturing sub-sectors and services. Export growth is expected to be strongest in food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, chemicals, leather and plastic, transport and machinery, and other equipment. Imports are expected to grow across all sectors, according to the World Bank.

Aside from the direct gains stemming from trade liberalisation and improved market access, the CPTPP is expected to stimulate and accelerate domestic reforms

in many areas, such as competition, services (including financial services, telecommunications, and temporary entry of service providers), customs, e-commerce, the environment, government procurement, intellectual property, invest-ment, labour standards, legal issues, market access for goods, rules of origin, non-tariff measures, and trade remedies, said the update.

The CPTPP was inked in Chile on March 8 this year without the US, which withdrew from the TPP in January 2017.
The location of the NIC at Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park

The National Innovation Centre (NIC), a part of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI)-initiated Vietnam Innovation Network launched in August this year, will create a world-class technology startup ecosystem in Vietnam and contribute to the implementation of the national strategy on Industry 4.0.

According to the project draft drawn up by the MPIs Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM), the NIC will be developed on an area of 23 hectares in Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park with the total investment of VND1.9 trillion ($82.6 million), including VND1.7 trillion ($73.9 million) for the physical construction and VND200 billion ($8.7 million) for operating capital. The project, set to break ground in 2019, will be developed within three years, and it could be put into operation in 2020.

The NIC is expected to lure 40 big technology companies, 150 startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises, and 15 venture investment funds, thereby creating more than 5,000 jobs.

The NIC will focus on a number of priority sectors in the beginning, like developing hardware and software for smart factories and smart cities, digital content, and network security.

The NICs management line-up, including the 5-7 members of the board of directors, and 8-12 experts of the board of consultants, will be approved by the prime minister. According to CIEM director Nguyen Dinh Cung, the salary of employees in the NIC will be competitive to attract significant Vietnamese talent from overseas and from across the country.

During the operation, the NIC will enjoy the highest corporate tax incentives, such as exemption from land use fees for 20 years, preferential credit, allowing domestic and foreign enterprises operating in the same field to sublease grounds for the maximum stated by the law, allowing to guarantee for enterprises working on their premises to apply for work permits and long-term residence visa.

Earlier, on August 18-24, the MPI invited 100 overseas Vietnamese technology experts and scientists to discuss innovations in order to boost Industry 4.0 in Vietnam. On August 19, Vietnam Innovation Network was launched in the presence of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and leaders of ministries and agencies.
Vietnams listed companies lag behind firms in most world regions in terms of working capital performance.-Photo cafef.vn

The study is an analysis of the past four years that targets the largest 400 listed firms by revenue across 14 sectors on both the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange and the Ha Noi Stock Exchange.

Six out of 14 sectors have improved their working capital performance over the last four years. Energy and utilities, oil and gas and retail are the best-performing sectors while technology, consumer and metal and mining are the poorest performing sectors.

Inefficient supply chains, changing landscape of trade and channel practices and sub-optimal usage of trade financing solutions from organisations are the biggest reasons of Vietnamese businesses being lagging behind their regional and global peers in working capital performance, said Mohammad Mudasser, Practice Lead, Working Capital Management at PwC Vietnam.

There are certain worries about the operation of businesses in Vietnam for the past four years, according to PwC Vietnam.

The problems include lower return on capital employed (ROCE), flat margins, stretched cash conversion cycle (C2C) and relations between working capital performance and profitability, PwC Vietnam said in its study summary on Wednesday.

According to the UK-based audit company, conducive monetary policy of the Government and high foreign direct investment (FDI) capital have spurred Vietnamese listed companies to grow in line with the economic growth at 6.1 per cent per annum between fiscal years 2013 and 2017.

But it should be noted that their margin growth has remained almost unchanged in this period as expenses have outgrown revenues, PwC Vietnam said.

Moreover, there was a deterioration in ROCE of the companies whilst the financial leverage has increased with more borrowing to fund capital expenditure, the auditor said in the summary.

Besides, Vietnamese firms C2C or the average number of days that a company takes to convert resource inputs into cash flows has increased by six days over the past four years to 68 days in the fiscal year 2017, and is two times or more higher than most regional and global peers, PwC said.

Thats the result of more working capital used to generate revenue, which is financed through borrowing, rather than internal cash use from operational improvements, it said.

PwC Vietnams study also pointed out that companies that manage working capital better would likely perform better in financial metrics.

Top C2C performers had 12 days of C2C, which is around 20 times lower than the bottom C2C performances for fiscal year 2017 as they achieved better solvency, liquidity ratios and less dependency on outside borrowing to fund day-to-day operations, PwC Vietnam said.

$4 billion to release

The study also noted there is $10 billion in cash still trapped in net working capital but Vietnamese firms are able to release maximum 40 per cent of the figure or $4 billion.

Of the 14 sectors, engineering and construction, consumer products, and metal and mining industries have the greatest prospect for cash release as they have the most cash trapped in net working capital, PwC Vietnam said, adding their potential release may account for almost 50 per cent of the total opportunity.
Together, the EVFTA and the IPA will not just attract new European investment, but give those investors greater confidence in Vietnam Photo: Le Toan

Nicolas Audier

Europeans investing in Vietnam want a predictable, fair, and stable trade and investment environment. Since the doi moi reforms began Vietnams process of economic liberalisation, the government has made positive and progressive changes to encourage foreign direct investment (FDI) and make Vietnam a more attractive destination for foreign companies, and these reforms continue to bear fruit.

Indeed, earlier this month, EuroCham was proud to attend the 30 Years of FDI conference in Hanoi, sharing insights and recommendations with the government as well as the domestic and international business communities.

Foreign investment has been the engine of Vietnams growth over the last three decades, and attracting more FDI in the future is key to unlocking the next phase of Vietnams economic development. The government recognises this and has been deepening Vietnams international integration through new-generation free trade agreements, foremost among which is the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

While the EVFTA was agreed in December 2015, it has since been split into two parts: the provisions relating to trade (which are an exclusive competence of the EU) and those relating to investment protection.

Together, the EVFTA and the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) which accompanies it will not just attract new investment from Europe, but also give European investors greater confidence and protection when investing here.

In short, an IPA ensures that investors and their investments are protected from discrimination and unfair treatment. In this particular agreement, Europe and Vietnam have chosen to create an innovative dispute-resolution mechanism to settle disputes between states and investors.

By establishing a permanent Tribunal, the IPA between Europe and Vietnam should be a step above current arbitration-based resolution, which has been criticised for being too much in favour of investors.

The IPA Tribunal contains two important provisions which will protect EU investors in Vietnam. First, the tribunal will be independent. This is important, as it means that domestic courts on either side cannot intervene or override decisions of the tribunal. This will ensure fair, transparent and impartial decisions.

It should help to address some of the issues our members have raised in recent editions of the Whitebook, EuroChams annual report of trade and investment issues and recommendations.

In particular, despite recent improvements, foreign investors in Vietnam often prefer to settle disputes through arbitration, as a perceived lack of judicial independence means these investors tend to avoid Vietnamese courts to settle disputes.

Second, the tribunal will be balanced. It will be made up of nine members, with three each from Europe and Vietnam and a further three from another state. Three members of this panel will adjudicate on a particular dispute, with one member from each of the three parties. For appeal hearings, the panel will include six members, with two being selected from each side and a further two from the independent nation.

The IPA also includes another important provision: alternative dispute resolution. This gives either side the option to request mediation in Hanoi, Brussels or the respective EU member states capital. If this mediation is unsuccessful, the issue can be escalated to the tribunal at a later date.

Over and above this tribunal, the IPA also provides further protection to European investors in Vietnam. In particular, it contains a more detailed definition of fair and equitable treatment than most bilateral treaties, which should prevent local authorities from imposing unfair measures on European investors. In practice, this means that local authorities must, for example, meet the fundamental principles of due process in judicial and administrative proceedings.

These issues matter to European investors. In our new report published this month, The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement: Perspectives from Vietnam, we asked our members how the EVFTA would affect their business and investment plans once it has been ratified and implemented. The results were clear and unequivocal: one-third of EuroCham members said that the EVFTA would have a significant impact on their business or investment plan in the medium-term, with almost half (45 per cent) predicting a moderate impact.

In total, around eight in 10 EuroCham members taking part in our research predict that the EVFTA will have a positive impact on their business plans in the medium-term. This is a slight increase against our last report in 2017, when 76 per cent of respondents said that the EVFTA would have either a significant or moderate impact.

Looking further ahead to the long-term survey figures, these are even more impressive: 85 per cent of our members predict either a significant (40 per cent) or moderate (45 per cent) impact on their business plan once the EVFTA comes into force. Once again, this is consistent with our findings in 2017, when 85 per cent of our members also responded that the EVFTA would have either a significant or moderate impact.

This is because the IPA will help to address some of the issues that EuroChams 16 sector committees  working groups that represent our 1,000 members  have raised in recent editions of our Whitebook. These include issues, such as judicial recourse, arbitration, public-private partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions. If the government can continue to reform the legal framework to address these concerns, it would help Vietnam to prepare for the implementation of the IPA and further increase the confidence of foreign investors.

For this reason, EuroCham has been a strong supporter of the EVFTA  and the IPA that accompanies it  ever since negotiations first began. Earlier this month, we led a delegation of almost 20 representatives to Brussels to advocate for their swift ratification and implementation. During our meetings with four EU commissioners, senior EU officials, members of the European Parliament and other stakeholders, we found widespread support for both deals, and optimism about their prospects for ratification.

Trade and investment between the EU and Vietnam have been growing over the last decade. Figures from Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment show that in 2017 European firms had almost 2,500 investment projects worth around $44 billion in Vietnam, making up 10 per cent of the total foreign-invested projects and 14 per cent of the FDI capital.

Once ratified and implemented, the IPA will provide a more secure, predictable trade and investment environment, better aligned with international norms and practices.

Together, the EVFTA and the IPA are a true win-win for both Europe and Vietnam. The EVFTA will further open up Vietnams fast-growing market to European investors, while the IPA will give those investors greater confidence and protection in order to grow their trade and investment. This ultimately means greater access to high-quality European goods and services for consumers in Vietnam.
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In a sprawling California congressional district that includes some of the nation's richest farmland and part of one of its poorest cities, a first-time candidate, a Cambodian-American woman, is taking on a well-entrenched Democrat, a white man.



Neither reflects the 16th District's majority, the 58 percent of residents who identify as Hispanic or Latino. Slightly over 25 percent identify as white, like Rep. Jim Costa, the Democratic incumbent, and only 8.6 percent are Asian, like Elizabeth Heng, the Republican challenger. Blacks and others make up the remaining chunk of voters.

Republican Heng, 33, a graduate of Fresno public schools, Stanford and Yale universities, aims to flip the district, long dependably Democratic. "I truly believe that we need new voices with fresh perspective to fight for our community," said Heng in an interview with VOA Khmer.

Costa, 66, has represented the district since 2013. He began his political career in 1978 in the California State Assembly, moved up to the State Senate, and from 2005 to 2013, served in the U.S. House of Representative for California's 20th District, part of which moved into the 16th when district borders changed.



The Costa-Heng race, one he's likely to win, drew national attention the first week in August after Facebook and Twitter yanked a campaign ad from Heng, who was a registered Democrat before turning right.

The ad showed footage of genocide in Cambodia during the Pol Pot regime, which caused the deaths of at least 1.7 million people. Heng said her slogan "Great things can come from great adversary," referred to her parents' flight from Cambodia to the United States via Thailand to become successful small business owners in California.

Heng tweeted: "@facebook rejected my video because it was 'too shocking' for their platform, referring to the scenes of horrific events my parents survived in Cambodia," Heng.

She also tweeted a copy of the notice she received from Facebook which states, "we don't allow ads that contain shocking disrespectful or sensational content, including ads that depict violence or threats of violence" and asked "Facebook, do you think it's right to censor history?"

Conservative outlets including the National Review, chimed in, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, from California's 23rd Congressional District tweeted support and The San Francisco Chronicle reported conservatives were "irate" at Facebook with many claiming what happened to Heng was the latest example of tech companies trying to censor the right of center.

Facebook restored the ad within days, Twitter reinstated it by mid-month, and the race in California's 16th returned to key issues such as jobs, water, and immigration. In the crucial final weeks before the mid-term vote, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, the Merced Sun-Star and the Fresno Bee endorsed Costa, who despite repeated requests, did not speak to VOA for this story.



The 16th Congressional District has one of the lowest median household incomes---$43,839---in California, where the median household income is $63,783 according to 2010 U.S. Census data.



"So I believe it's important for us to invest in areas such as vocational training and career technical training and trade skills," said Heng. "So, we can provide our community and many people who are struggling in our community with the skillsets that they need to get to the next level, breaking out of this vicious cycle of poverty."

Welding, electrical and plumbing skills for jobs in construction, and the computer training needed by the tech industry are what people need to get ahead, she said.

Growing up in Fresno

Heng grew up in Fresno. Her parents---Siv Khoeu, mother, Chieu Heng, father---arrived the U.S. in 1983 after living almost four years under the Khmer Rouge regime. They began their working lives in the United States as a construction worker and seamstress before saving enough money to buy a Fresno grocery store where Heng worked after classes throughout elementary, middle, and high school.



Heng, valedictorian of Fresno's Sunnyside High School Class of 2003, attended Stanford University, where she served as student body president during her senior year. Heng, who majored in political science and American politics, told the school newspaper, the Stanford Review, in 2007 that she wanted to work on a presidential campaign, and was interested in a career in politics.



After graduating from Stanford, she returned to Fresno where she opened cell phone stores with her brothers. It was when she was managing some 75 employees that she says she realized "how government regulations impacted businesses negatively," she told the National Review in an interview published before her campaign ad controversy.

Time in D.C.

Fed up, she packed her bags and headed to Washington, where she ended up working on the House Foreign Affairs Committee headed by California Republican, Ed Royce.

She recalls that was where she learned how U.S. foreign aid is distributed worldwide, and how, during a visit to Cambodia, she was inspired to do more for the community.



"I realized how different my life could have turned out had my parents not sought refuge in the United States," Heng told VOA. "And that was a perfect example of why I continue to dedicate my life to service and politics and empowering and holding to the fundamentals of what make this country, the United States, great, but also to use that to great work around the world including places like Cambodia."

She decided to run for office when she returned to Fresno in 2017. Heng is the first Cambodian-American to make it through a primary and run for Congress. As of September 30, Costa has beaten Heng in the race for campaign contributions, $1,148,149 to $312,732, according to Federal Election Commission reports.

The 16th District favored Democrat Hillary Clinton over Trump in the 2016 presidential election by a margin of 21.3 points. Of California's 53 House seats, Democrats hold 39.



Part of Heng's effort to flip the district focuses on a get-out-the-vote campaign, so she knocks on a lot of doors.

"We're doing this every single day to turn people out to vote," said Heng. "It's so important for our community to get involved and so they can be a part of the process."

Immigration a key issue

Heng, who has made immigration one of her key areas, repeated the Republican line that the current U.S. immigration policy is "broken" and says that she would work to protect the border and enhance security measure to "prevent criminals and terrorists" from entering the country, but encourage legal immigration, according to her website.



"Immigration is one of the top priorities in my campaign because as you've seen in the national media that something that we consistently talk about," Heng told VOA. "I would love nothing more [than] to be on the forefront of immigration reform and getting that right for our country."



Sophal Ear, associate professor at Occidental Community College in Los Angeles is a leading authority on Cambodia and the Cambodian diaspora. He said he hopes Heng uses the Cambodian-American narrative in a "meaningful way" and not "simply as a stepping stone for power."



"Her family's refugee story of struggle is not just something she ought to exploit for political gain as a Republican candidate," he said. "She can't just take that and serve President Trump's agenda. She ought to remember that to whom much is given, much is expected."



However, Heng told VOA she would not be "a rubber stamp" for any political party. "I know how Washington D.C. works," said Heng. "I know how to hit the ground running to move legislative policy that works."
The UN rights envoy to Cambodia, Rhona Smith, has been denied access to the former opposition leader, Kem Sokha, during her visit to the country this week.

My request to meet Mr. Kem Sokha was denied by the investigating judge, Smith was quoted as saying by a spokesman for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The spokesman did not respond to additional questions about the rejection.

Smith began her latest fact-finding visit to Cambodia on Monday, where she planned to meet with government officials, civil society groups and members of the diplomatic community. She was due to focus on human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ly Sophanna, a Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman, said a judge had rejected Smiths request as Sokha remained under house arrest on treason charges and procedures and the investigation are ongoing.

He did not give a reason why an ongoing court case should prevent Sokha meeting Smith.

Sokha was jailed on treason charges in September 2017 for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the government through a U.S.-backed color revolution before his party was dissolved on the same grounds in November.

He was released on bail due to poor health and following an international outcry, but will remain under house arrest.

A judicial review of the case forbids Sokha from meeting former CNRP leaders and individuals who may be involved in the case, and foreigners, especially foreigners who may be involved in the case.

Government officials continue to defend his house arrest.

Am Sam Ath, a senior investigator with rights group Licadho, said he disagreed with the decision to block Smith from meeting with Sokha.

We are a civil society. We are still worried because there is continuing criticism from the international community. They could say that it is not transparent, he said.
Pakistan's Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of a Christian woman facing execution for blasphemy against Islam. The special three-member panel, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nasir, ordered authorities to immediately release 53-year-old Asia Bibi in its ruling Wednesday.
In a sprawling California congressional district that includes some of the nations richest farmland and part of one of its poorest cities, a first-time candidate, a Cambodian-American woman, is taking on a well-entrenched Democrat, a white man.

Neither reflects the 16th Districts majority, the 58 percent of residents who identify as Hispanic or Latino. Slightly more than 25 percent identify as white, like Rep. Jim Costa, the Democratic incumbent, and only 8.6 percent are Asian, like Elizabeth Heng, the Republican challenger. Blacks and others make up the remaining chunk of voters.

Republican Heng, 33, a graduate of Fresno public schools, Stanford and Yale universities, aims to flip the district, long dependably Democratic.

I truly believe that we need new voices with fresh perspective to fight for our community, said Heng in an interview with VOA Khmer. Although this is her first run for an elected position, Heng is the first Cambodian-American to make it through a primary and run for Congress.

Costa, 66, has represented the district since 2013. He began his political career in 1978 in the California State Assembly, moved up to the State Senate, and from 2005 to 2013, served in the U.S. House of Representative for Californias 20th District, part of which moved into the 16th when district borders changed.

The Costa-Heng race, one hes likely to win, drew national attention the first week in August after Facebook and Twitter yanked a campaign ad from Heng, who was a registered Democrat before turning right.

The ad showed footage of genocide in Cambodia during the Pol Pot regime, which caused the deaths of at least 1.7 million people. Heng said her slogan Great things can come from great adversary, referred to her parents flight from Cambodia to the United States via Thailand to become successful small business owners in California.

Heng tweeted: @facebook rejected my video because it was too shocking for their platform, referring to the scenes of horrific events my parents survived in Cambodia.

She also tweeted a copy of the notice she received from Facebook which states, we dont allow ads that contain shocking disrespectful or sensational content, including ads that depict violence or threats of violence and asked Facebook, do you think its right to censor history?

Conservative outlets including the National Review, chimed in, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, from Californias 23rd Congressional District tweeted support and The San Francisco Chronicle reported conservatives were irate at Facebook with many claiming what happened to Heng was the latest example of tech companies trying to censor the right of center.

Facebook restored the ad within days, Twitter reinstated it by midmonth, and the race in Californias 16th returned to key issues such as jobs, water and immigration. And, in the crucial final weeks before the midterm vote, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, the Merced Sun-Star and the Fresno Bee endorsed Costa, who despite repeated requests, did not speak to VOA for this story.

The 16th Congressional District has one of the lowest median household incomes, $43,839, in California, where the median household income is $63,783 according to 2010 U.S. Census data.

So I believe its important for us to invest in areas such as vocational training and career technical training and trade skills, Heng said. So, we can provide our community and many people who are struggling in our community with the skillsets that they need to get to the next level, breaking out of this vicious cycle of poverty.

Welding, electrical and plumbing skills for jobs in construction, and the computer training needed by the tech industry are what people need to get ahead, she said.

Growing up in Fresno

Heng grew up in Fresno. Her parents, mother Siv Khoeu and father Chieu Heng, arrived the U.S. in 1983 after living almost four years under the Khmer Rouge. They began their working lives in the United States as a construction worker and seamstress before saving enough money to buy a Fresno grocery store where Heng worked after classes throughout elementary, middle, and high school.

Heng, valedictorian of Fresnos Sunnyside High School Class of 2003, attended Stanford University, where she served as student body president during her senior year. Heng, who majored in political science and American politics, told the school newspaper, the Stanford Review, in 2007 that she wanted to work on a presidential campaign and was interested in a career in politics.

After graduating from Stanford, she returned to Fresno where she opened cell phone stores with her brothers. It was when she was managing some 75 employees that she says she realized how government regulations impacted businesses negatively, she told the National Review in an interview published before her campaign ad controversy.

Time in D.C.

Fed up, she packed her bags and headed to Washington, where she eventually landed a job with the House Foreign Affairs Committee headed by California Republican, Ed Royce.

She recalls that was where she learned how U.S. foreign aid is distributed worldwide and how, during a visit to Cambodia, she was inspired to do more for the community.

I realized how different my life could have turned out had my parents not sought refuge in the United States, Heng told VOA. And that was a perfect example of why I continue to dedicate my life to service and politics and empowering and holding to the fundamentals of what make this country, the United States, great, but also to use that to great work around the world including places like Cambodia.

She decided to run for office when she returned to Fresno in 2017. As of Sept. 30, Costa has beaten Heng in the race for campaign contributions, $1,148,149 to $312,732, according to Federal Election Commission reports. The 16th District favored Democrat Hillary Clinton over Trump in the 2016 presidential election by a margin of 21.3 points. Of Californias 53 House seats, Democrats hold 39.

Part of Hengs effort to flip the district focuses on a get-out-the-vote campaign, so she knocks on a lot of doors.

Were doing this every single day to turn people out to vote, she said. Its so important for our community to get involved and so they can be a part of the process.

Immigration a key issue

Heng, who has made immigration one of her key areas, repeated the Republican line that the current U.S. immigration policy is broken and says that she would work to protect the border and enhance security measure to prevent criminals and terrorists from entering the country, but encourage legal immigration, according to her website.

Immigration is one of the top priorities in my campaign because as youve seen in the national media that something that we consistently talk about, Heng told VOA. I would love nothing more [than] to be on the forefront of immigration reform and getting that right for our country.

Sophal Ear, associate professor at Occidental Community College in Los Angeles is a leading authority on Cambodia and the Cambodian diaspora. He said he hopes Heng uses the Cambodian-American narrative in a meaningful way and not simply as a steppingstone for power.

Her familys refugee story of struggle is not just something she ought to exploit for political gain as a Republican candidate, he said. She cant just take that and serve President Trumps agenda. She ought to remember that to whom much is given, much is expected.

However, Heng told VOA she would not be a rubber stamp for any political party. I know how Washington D.C. works, she said. I know how to hit the ground running to move legislative policy that works.
Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing on Thursday, just months after the small Central American nation broke its diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

The state visit comes one day before that of the president of the Dominican Republic, whose country also switched allegiances from Taiwan to China this year.

El Salvador and the Dominican Republic are among a growing number of countries that have cut ties with Taiwan in favor of resuming or establishing relations with China, which considers the self-governing island democracy to be part of its territory.

Only 17 mainly small, developing countries now recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation. Taiwan split from mainland China during a civil war in 1949, and Beijing has been steadily ratcheting up diplomatic and economic pressure since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016.

Beijing's aggressiveness is largely driven by Tsai's refusal to endorse Beijing's "one-China principle," which maintains that Taiwan is part of China and that the Communist Party-ruled administration in Beijing is China's sole legitimate government.

Taiwan has long been a wedge between China and the United States, which has formal relations with Beijing but maintains robust unofficial military and diplomatic links with the island.

Washington's de facto ambassador to Taiwan, Brent Christensen, said Wednesday that the U.S. would be opposed to "unilateral attempts to change the status quo" in Taiwan  a reference to increasing Chinese military intimidation.

China's wooing of Taiwan's allies in what the U.S. considers its backyard has rung alarm bells in Washington.

The U.S. pulled out its diplomatic envoys last month from El Salvador, Panama and the Dominican Republic after those countries cut ties with Taiwan.

At a conference in Washington attended by Salvadoran Vice President Oscar Ortiz last month, Vice President Mike Pence said El Salvador and other Central American countries should strengthen bonds with the U.S. "even as countries like China" try to "expand their influence in the region."
China and Pakistan say they are exploring the extension of their bilateral infrastructure development project to Afghanistan.

During the past four years of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Beijing has provided Islamabad $19 billion in soft loans and direct foreign investments, upgrading or constructing Pakistani transportation networks, power plants and the strategic Arabian Sea port of Gwadar.

The stage is now set for expansion and geographical extension of CPEC to western Pakistan and to landlocked Afghanistan, say Pakistani and Chinese officials. They say later this year Kabul is to host the next round of a trilateral peace and security cooperation dialogue with Beijing and Islamabad and discussions will also include a proposed framework for engaging Afghanistan in CPEC.

We should make this bilateral cooperation of CPEC project another platform for a better regional cooperation or connectivity. This economic development of Pakistan in fact is an opportunity for the whole up-gradation of the regional economic development, says Chinese Ambassador to Islamabad, Yao Jing.

During the past four years CPEC, the flagship and fastest growing project of President Xi Jinpings global Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has created more than 75,000 local jobs and has helped Pakistan increase its economic growth rate from more than three percent to 5.8 percent in 2017. The construction of power plants has almost ended the crippling electricity crisis in the country.

Time has come

Officials say the second phase of CPEC will be launched in coming weeks to construct special economic zones to help Pakistan advance and revive industrial development.

Officials tell VOA, China could initially propose capacity building training programs for Afghans and funding for linking a Pakistani motorway to Afghanistans border cities of Jalalabad and Kandahar.

The Chinese are helping Pakistan build the motorway linking the northwestern border city of Peshawar to the southern port of Karachi, which Kabul uses for its international trade. The proposed motorway would provide a much shorter route for Afghanistan to the Chinese-operated port of Gwadar, known as the gateway to CPEC.

Mushahid Hussain, head of the Pakistani Senates foreign affairs committee, says despite U.S.-led foreign skepticism and suspicions about CPEC, all 22 early harvest projects under the initiative have been successfully completed or are on route to completion.

Now the time has come for CPEC to move beyond Pakistan and China, and the natural extension or expansion of CPEC should be towards Afghanistan because Afghanistan has a border with Pakistan and China and these three countries have a natural correlation in terms of economy, culture and geography, Hussain told VOA.

He said later this month in Islamabad an unofficial trilateral think tanks conference of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan will also discuss how to include Kabul into CPEC.

Beijing initiated official trilateral dialogue with Afghanistan and Pakistan last year in an effort to ease regional tensions and promote a peaceful settlement to the Afghan war.

"Chinas role is extremely important ... in bringing Pakistan and Afghanistan together because China has very strong relations with Pakistan. China is one country which has no extra baggage in Afghanistan because it has no history of involvement or no negativism about its role in Afghanistan, Hussain noted.

BRI, CPEC skepticism

Both Chinese and Pakistani officials dismiss as misplaced and irrelevant criticism that CPEC and the BRI initiative is a debt trap for developing nations and an effort to increase Beijings political influence in the region.

Speaking at the Chinese embassy with CPEC project directors, Ambassador Jing said, There is a kind of force in the world who do not want to see a rising a China, who dont want to see a prospering China. Naturally, there are some forces who don't want to see this kind of a partnership between China and Pakistan. We should be alert against these kind of negative forces or elements.

Islamabad and Beijing have also rejected reported concerns that Pakistans economic woes are forcing Prime Minister Imran Khans government to slow down or revisit CPEC projects.

Jing said the investments under the multi-billion dollar CPEC is a new demonstration of Chinas confidence and trust in Pakistan.

Responding to CPEC critics, senior Pakistani Cabinet minister Shireen Mazari has stated the government is committed to the project and pushing for involving neighboring countries to make Pakistan a hub for regional development

CPEC is estimated to bring more than $62 billion in Chinese investment to Pakistan during the next decade.

Jing says Khan's first official visit to China this week will take the friendship between the two countries to "new heights." He added that agreements expected to be singed during the visit would help ease the bilateral trade-deficit. Beijing also plans to announce an unspecified financial "grant" for Pakistan to help it deal with a looming balance of payments crisis.

We want to invest more in Pakistan and buy more from Pakistan. Chinas capital, Chinas technology and also Chinas huge market could offer a bigger contribution towards Pakistans future development," said the Chinese ambassador.
A Christian woman acquitted in Pakistan after eight years on death row for blasphemy plans to leave the country, her family said Thursday as radical Islamists mounted rallies for a second day against the verdict, blocking roads and burning tires in protest.

The developments followed a landmark move by Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday that overturned the 2010 conviction against Asia Bibi for insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad. The charge of blasphemy carries the death penalty in this majority Muslim nation.

Bibi's acquittal immediately raised fears of religious violence - and presented a challenge to the government of new Prime Minister Imran Khan who came to power this summer partly by pursuing the Islamist agenda. Khan warned Islamist protesters on Wednesday night not to test the patience of the state.

Bibi remained at an undisclosed location Thursday where the 54-year-old mother of five was being held for security reasons, awaiting her formal release, her brother, James Masih told The Associated Press.

Masih said his sister simply would not be safe in Pakistan.

She has no other option and she will leave the country soon, he said. Masih would not disclose the country of her destination but both France and Spain have offered asylum.

Bibi's husband, Ashiq Masih, had returned from Britain with their children in mid-October and was waiting for her to join them, the brother added.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 Islamists blocked a key road linking the capital, Islamabad with the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Thursday, demanding Bibi be publicly hanged. Authorities deployed paramilitary troops, signaling they could move in to clear the roads.

Hundreds also blocked another key motorway, linking Islamabad with major cities such as Lahore and Peshawar, chanting slogans against Bibi and demanding her execution.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers in parliament called Thursday for reforming the judicial system and Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law - so that innocents like Bibi wouldn't spent years languishing in jail.

Hafiz Saeed, a radical cleric wanted by the United States, urged followers to hold rallies across Pakistan on Friday to condemn Bibi's release. Saeed is the founder of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba group, which was blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.

Protesters, rallied by firebrand cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, also set up roadblocks and burned tires in the southern port city of Karachi while hundreds clashed Thursday with police in various parts of eastern Punjab province.

Many parents kept their children from school, fearing more violence.

The Islamists also called for the killing of the three judges, including Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, who acquitted Bibi.

The three are on the hit list of Rizvi's Tehreek-e-Labbaik party, which has demanded a public execution for Bibi. Rizvi has managed to turn out tens of thousands of supporters in the past, often forcing authorities to bow to his demands on religious matters.

Tehreek-e-Labbaik claimed Thursday that two of its supporters were killed by police fire during overnight clashes in Karachi. No government official could immediately confirm any casualties.

In his televised speech, Prime Minister Khan warned the Islamists: Let me make it very clear to you that the state will fulfill its responsibility.

Bibi's lawyer, Saiful Malook, has gone into hiding as the extremists had threatened his life as well.

On Wednesday, cleric Afzal Qadri, with Rizvi by his side, urged a crowd of supporters outside the Punjab provincial parliament in the city of Lahore to revolt against army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa and overthrow Khan's government.

Bibi's acquittal, however, has been seen as a hopeful sign by Christians in Pakistan, where the mere rumor of blasphemy can spark lynchings. Religious minorities, who have been repeatedly targeted by extremists, fear the law because it is often used to settle scores and to pressure minorities.

In 2011, Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab, was shot and killed by one of his guards for defending Bibi and criticizing the misuse of the blasphemy law. The assassin, Mumtaz Qadri, was hanged for the crime, but later was hailed by religious hard-liners as a martyr, with millions visiting a shrine set up for him near Islamabad.

Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's minister for minorities was also killed in 2011 after he demanded justice for Bibi.

Bibi was arrested in 2009 after she was accused of blasphemy following a quarrel with two fellow female farm workers who refused to drink from a water container used by a Christian. A few days later, a mob accused her of insulting Islam's prophet, leading to her 2010 conviction.

Bibi's family has always maintained her innocence and says she never insulted the prophet.
Western diplomats say theyre confident Saudi-led forces and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen will acquiesce to a U.S. demand to halt four years of bloodshed within 30 days  and they expect all the warring factions to meet for talks in Sweden next month.

The U.S. call Tuesday for a cease-fire in Yemen, which was coordinated with Britain and France, is sparking cautious hopes that a breakthrough is now possible in the international effort to end a disastrous war which has left more than 10,000 dead from the fighting and more than 50,000 dead from starvation.

U.N. agencies and private relief organizations estimate 14 million Yemenis are on the brink of starvation with around 130 children dying every day because of malnutrition.

Diplomats acknowledge the possible breakthrough owes much to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who worked for The Washington Post, saying it has given them a greater opportunity to push harder for an end to the conflict. Britains foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, told the BBC Wednesday that Khashoggis death has helped the U.S. and to put pressure on Saudi Arabia. We are in a position to ask them to do things," he said during the interview.

He said it was too early to be optimistic, but there is opportunity now.

The four-year-old war in Yemen has pitted the officially recognized government backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against the Houthis, members of a Shiite offshoot who have been supported by Iran.

The Houthis are strongest in the West of the country and in recent weeks Saudi-led ground forces have closed in on the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, while mounting a blockade at sea, aggravating the humanitarian crisis. The port is the entry point for three quarters of imports into the war-wrecked country.

The U.S. call for a cease-fire came just a day after the Saudi-led military coalition said it was preparing a new offensive on the city within days and had sent more than 10,000 new troops towards Hodeida for the renewed assault.

Speaking in Washington Tuesday U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said 30 days from now we want to see everybody around a peace table based on a cease-fire, based on a pullback from the border and then based on a ceasing of the dropping of bombs that will permit the special envoy to get them together in Sweden and end this war. ...We have mired in this problem long enough.

Diplomats say they sense now that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has overseen the Saudi military effort in Yemen, may willing to end Riyadhs intervention as a way to rehabilitate himself in the wake of Khashoggis killing.

The self-exiled dissident journalist Khashoggi was killed four weeks ago in Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul, where hed gone to collect documents allowing him to re-marry. His killing, allegedly by Saudi agents, some of whom have served in the past as bodyguards for the crown prince, was belatedly acknowledged by the Saudi government after leaks to the media by Turkish officials providing details of the gruesome murder.

Saudi Arabia is on the back foot because of the Khashoggi affair, a former British diplomat who has served in the Gulf kingdom told VOA. He pointed out that while there have been efforts in the past to end the war, this latest call for an end to the fighting marked the first time that the U.S. has asked the Saudis to halt their airstrikes within a timetable.

Former U.S. diplomat Thomas Shannon also believes the Khashoggi killing is connected, although not directly. The reality is that the fighting in Yemen has been extremely unpopular in Congress and the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, which has horrified the U.S. Congress, has created a bigger problem for the Saudis which has to be dealt with. The administration is very intent on trying to clear some of this out and address the most immediate problem that they can address easily and that is the question of Yemen, he said.

The U.S. call for an end to the fighting was matched by strong messages from Washingtons Western allies. In Paris, the French defense minister, Florence Parly, said this week, We have applied relentless pressure in support of the U.N. in order to find a political solution because the military situation is a stalemate. This war must stop now.

The U.N.s special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, said Wednesday that he was pretty sure that all the warring parties will agree to meet for consultations in Sweden. He has said he also believes the Houthis are likely to agree to de-escalation and to move back missiles from close to the border with Saudi Arabia. The Houthis have been firing missiles at Saudi towns.

The last time Griffiths tried to arrange peace talks was in September but the Houthis refused to show up for the negotiations in Geneva.

The coordinated U.S.-led Western pressure for a cease-fire has been hailed as significant by David Miliband, a former British foreign secretary and now the president of the International Rescue Committee. It is the most significant breakthrough in the war in Yemen for four years. It is a very welcome recognition that current policy is failing and needs urgently to be changed to focus on a diplomatic solution, he added. He is urging Washington and London to draft a U.N. security council resolution to formalize the cease-fire demand.
Democratic campaign promises of Medicare for All are resonating with many American voters who cite the rising cost of health care as a top issue in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, despite concerns over possible tax increases to fund a universal health care program.

During the Obama presidency, Republicans successfully ran against the perceived threat of a government takeover of the health care industry to gain control of Congress.

But a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows 58 percent voter support for keeping former President Barack Obamas signature legislative achievement, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and that 8 in 10 likely voters from each major party want to protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer.

Democrats on offense

Many Democrats running for office this year, like New York congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are advocating for nationalized health care legislation that was proposed in the Senate by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who lost the 2016 Democratic nomination for president to Hillary Clinton. Sanders plan would expand Medicare, a government funded health care program for senior citizens, to cover all Americans.

Others Democratic contenders like Rep. Beto ORourke, a Democratic candidate for Senate in conservative-leaning Texas, are calling for increased federal regulation to hold down health care costs but are not calling for a complete government health care takeover.

The thing that is common among these different reforms is the structure of a government administered insurance plan that really controls or limits, to some respect, the payment rates that are paid to health care providers, said Linda Blumberg, an Institute Fellow in the Health Policy Center at the Urban Institute.

Republicans on defense

Republicans are on the defensive after failing to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which was enacted in 2010. Many are now claiming to support tenets of the ACA legislation that require insurance companies to provide coverage to patients with pre-existing conditions.

However, Blumberg says, it is disingenuous of many Republicans to make these claims while also supporting policies in the past that would separate the sick and elderly into separate risk pools with very high insurance rates that few could afford while charging lower coverage rates to younger, healthier people.

Four states will also vote on Medicaid expansion ballot initiatives offered under Obamacare that would extend health coverage for the poor, with 90 percent of funding coming from the federal government. The conservative governor of Idaho, C.L. Otter, has come out in favor of expanding Medicaid in his state despite concerns the costs to the state would greatly increase over time. Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have voted to expand the ACA Medicaid coverage, while other states with Republican governors or legislatures have declined to take advantage of the program until now.

Opponents of government intervention in private industry argue that public support for universal health care will decrease significantly when confronted with the prospect of increased payroll taxes, the rationing of coverage, and bureaucratic delays that would likely result from a national health insurance plan.

This is what happens when you have the government controlling health care costs, because now it is a singular consolidated entity making decisions on behalf of 300 million Americans, said Meridian Paulton, a domestic policy studies researcher at The Heritage Foundation.

Regulation versus competition

Conservatives continue to argue that promoting increased free market competition and innovation will work best to improve coverage and contain costs. However, the lack of health providers in many rural areas can limit competition.

President Donald Trump has attacked Democratic health proposals as socialism that would strip away funding from seniors who have paid Medicare taxes all of their working lives.

Democrats support a socialist takeover of health care that would totally obliterate Medicare. Republicans want to protect Medicare for our great seniors who have earned it and who have paid for it all their lives, Trump said.

Opinion polls show Democrats having a good chance to gain a majority of seats in the House of Representative in next Tuesdays election, but not likely to take control of the Senate.

In a divided Congress, Democrats are not expected to have the votes to pass major health care legislation such as Medicare For All, but the election momentum could increase support for a compromised approach that regulates costs but also fosters private sector competition and innovation.

We look at industrialized nations all over the world, many of them doing a mix of private and public insurance but making sure that there is a floor of care in coverage for everybody in the country, and those countries still take advantage of innovation, Blumberg said.



WATCH: Global Voices on US Midterms
Australia will remove child refugees from its remote Pacific detention centers within weeks, a senior diplomat said, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison seeks to secure support for his government, which looks set to become a minority administration.

Canberra's hard-line immigration policy sees asylum seekers intercepted at sea trying to reach Australia sent for processing to camps in Papua New Guinea and on the South Pacific island of Nauru.

While aid agencies have called for the removal of the more than 1,000 refugees held for more than five years, Morrison is under immense pressure to resettle 40 children currently held on Nauru amid warnings they are suffering from declining mental health.

Detailing the first public timetable for the removal of the children, George Brandis, Australia's High Commissioner to Britain, said Canberra will remove the children, though he did specify where they would be moved to.

"There are hardly any children in Nauru and in New Guinea, and we expect that by the end of this year there'll be none," Brandis told British radio station LBC on Tuesday.

By resettling the child refugees, Morrison will meet a key demand from several independent lawmakers for supporting for his government.

Morrison's ruling Liberal Party is on course to lose its one-seat parliamentary majority as voters in a Sydney electorate look set to select an independent lawmaker to replace former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Counting in the by-election continues, with independent Kerryn Phelps ahead of the Liberal Party candidate by nearly 1,800 votes, with just 2,000 ballots to be processed, the Australian Electoral Commission said.

Turnbull quit politics shortly after he was removed from the office of prime minister in August following a party revolt that installed Morrison as leader.

The loss of Turnbull's affluent Sydney constituency would leave Morrison's government dependent on the support of five independent lawmakers to pass legislation in the lower house of parliament.

Several independent lawmakers have said they may back no confidence motions that would trigger an early election unless the children held on Nauru were removed.
Ferocious legal and political battles await any attempt by U.S. President Donald Trump to end birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants, according to a wide range of scholars, many of whom saw no viable means for Trump to achieve his stated goal.

"There's no way President Trump can end birthright citizenship by an executive order," Georgetown University law professor Nan Hunter said. "This is a constitutional provision."

"I can't imagine there is a single judge in the entire country who would uphold such an executive order  it is a legal nonstarter," said Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow in constitutional law studies at the Washington-based Cato Institute.

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution  ratified in 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War  states: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."

"To say that citizenship occurs upon birth or naturalization  that's about as specific as our Constitution ever gets," Hunter said.

Not so, according to Trump.

"So-called Birthright Citizenship  will be ended one way or the other," the president tweeted Wednesday. "It is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words subject to the jurisdiction thereof.'"

Some conservative scholars agree, arguing the 14th Amendment's language contains a loophole.

"The question is, what does it mean to be 'subject to the jurisdiction thereof'?" Heritage Foundation legal policy analyst Amy Swearer said. "Based on the legislative history at the time, the 14th Amendment's framers intended to give citizenship only to those who owed their allegiance to the United States and were subject to the complete jurisdiction of the United States."

Swearer added, "The primary purpose of this amendment was to grant citizenship to the newly freed slaves, who were themselves lawful permanent residents. They were not subjects of a foreign power. They didn't owe allegiance to a tribe or to any other authority."

Who in America is exempted from U.S. jurisdiction and federal laws? Almost no one, according to Shapiro and others.

"'[S]ubject to the jurisdiction thereof' excludes diplomats or foreign armies. Even those who are here illegally are subject to American jurisdiction  they can be punished for crimes they commit," Shapiro said. "That's different than diplomats, for example. Russian diplomats at the U.N. rack up millions of dollars of parking tickets [in New York], and they can be expelled from the country, but they can't be forced to pay the fines."

American University political historian Allan Lichtman said any reading of the original debate surrounding the 14th Amendment shows its proponents intended near-universal birthright citizenship.

"The framers made it crystal clear that it had very broad coverage, that it applied even to the Chinese who, at that time, were not eligible for citizenship. They couldn't vote, they couldn't serve on juries, but their children were U.S. citizens," Lichtman said.

In a famous exchange in 1866, then-Republican Senator Lyman Trumbull of Illinois was asked by a fellow senator if birthright citizenship would "have the effect of naturalizing the children of Chinese and Gypsies born in this country?"

"Undoubtedly," Trumbull replied, adding that "the child of an Asiatic is just as much a citizen as the child of a European."

In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the American citizenship of a U.S.-born child of Chinese parents, setting a legal precedent that today's Supreme Court would consider if a new case came before it, either as a result of an executive order or an act of Congress limiting birthright citizenship.

"There is a [federal] statute that essentially repeats what's in the 14th Amendment, and Congress today could amend that statute. But if they did, that new statute would contradict the Constitution, and that is exactly the kind of situation in which the Supreme Court would rule," Hunter said. "I think it's a very strong bet that the Supreme Court would strike this [potential executive order or act of Congress] down."

Some Republican lawmakers are undeterred.

"There is a statute regarding the 14th Amendment, so I think it is something Congress would have to weigh in on," North Dakota Republican Senator John Hoeven said. "We have to make sure we are securing the border, that we're not creating incentives to come here illegally. So, we have to have something common sense."

If an executive order or congressional action are unlikely to succeed, a new constitutional amendment would be the only avenue left to end birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants.

"It's an extraordinarily difficult process to amend the Constitution," Georgetown University professor Hunter said. "It's a two-thirds majority [in Congress] required to propose an amendment to the Constitution, and ratification requires a three-fourths majority of the states. That's a super-majority consensus, which is why it's been done relatively rarely in our history. It's an extremely tough lift."

Trump's focus on birthright citizenship and illegal immigration has spawned an outpouring of often acrimonious debate across America. Many observers believe the president's pronouncements have nothing to do with serious policy proposals.

"I think ultimately this is a political maneuver," Shapiro said. "The president decided that ahead of next week's [midterm] elections, it would be good to raise this issue."

"What lies behind this is hard politics, not constitutional understanding," Lichtman said. "Floating this idea that, with the stroke of a pen, he [Trump] is going to deprive people of their citizenship rights is just part and parcel of demonizing immigrants and making people fearful of a so-called immigrant menace."

Conservatives reject the charge.

"It is not inhumane to have borders, to attempt to enforce those borders, and to reverse some of the enticement to come here illegally and have citizen-children," Swearer said. "This is not motivated by racial animus, by hatred for foreign nationals or that we want to keep non-white people out. It simply means that we have laws, and we want people who come here to follow those laws."

Lichtman noted that many of today's arguments over immigration echo battles of the past.

"The fear of the immigrant is nothing new. This kind of nativism, extreme nationalism, goes back to the earliest days of the republic," he said. "For a very long time, America's naturalization laws did not permit naturalization of Chinese and other Asians. The targets have changed over time, but the rhetoric and the nativist sentiment has not."
Thirty-year-old Shamsia Hassani is widely recognized as Afghanistans first, if not only, female graffiti artist. Being a graffiti artist anywhere in the world is a challenge, but in war-torn Kabul, it carries its own unique difficulties.

An invitation to an Istanbul cartoon and street art festival allowed Hassani to share her pieces with a broader audience. The large mural she worked on for three days features a regular character of her work, a cool, fashionably dressed young woman playing an instrument.

This character is always in my work with different compositions, and she has different messages and different colors, Hassani explains. She can use her musical instrument to talk to people, to speak louder and to get more attention, as she has no mouth.

But this musical instrument gives her power to speak in society, she adds Her eyes are closed because usually, she has nothing good around her to see, she does not want to see anything around, and she cannot see her future. However, it does not mean she cannot see.

Welcome respite in Istanbul

The opportunity to attend the Istanbul festival is welcomed, Hassani says, given the increasingly difficult environment in Afghanistan.

Recently the situation is getting very bad, and I usually am feeling hopeless sometimes because I see that nothing has changed and I could not change anything, thats very hopeless, she said.

Still, I am trying to work to give power to people and how they can stay strong in a society like Afghanistan, she said.

Late to graffiti

Hassani has struggled in her pursuit of art. Born in Iran to Afghan parents who had fled the war in Afghanistan, she was prevented from studying art in Iran, she says, because of her Afghan heritage. Eventually, her parents moved back to Kabul so she could pursue her art studies at Kabul University, where she now teaches. Hassanis love of graffiti came relatively late, however, thanks to an international initiative.

I just started to make graffiti at a graffiti workshop in Kabul, she said. They brought a teacher from the U.K. by the name of Chu, and he teaches us how to do graffiti. It was a very good experience, and after that I was just trying to paint on walls, and I wanted to do graffiti.

A luxury of time

Working on a mural for a few days at the Istanbul festival is a rare luxury for Hassani. Being a graffiti artist in one of the worlds most dangerous cities carries its own unique challenges, especially if you are a woman.

I am really scared of public spaces; I am really scared for explosions happening all the time. Specifically, its difficult for women to do graffiti and street art because usually, people are not happy with womens activity, Hassani said.

My family is very supportive, my parents and my husband, they always support me in my works. All the time I am careful, she adds with a nervous laugh. I usually work in Kabul, but usually on the small walls, not the big walls, because I cannot finish them. I need to run away as soon as I can.

Its not only the risk of bombs and hostility toward women artists, that Hassani faces. Artistic differences with the owners of the walls upon which she paints also can be a problem.

I am trying to get permission, but sometimes its difficult. Usually the owner of the wall never gives me permission to paint something  fantasy like this Hassani said, pointing to her mural. They usually like me to paint some portrait or some landscape or something that they like. So thats why its difficult to find a wall and location, as well.

At the Istanbul festival she received a warm reception as she held a seminar, sharing her experiences with a full and appreciative audience that peppered her with questions. Hassani says the support and interest at the seminar is welcome because in Kabul, few dare to offer her public support.

When I am working, sometimes I listen to people, and they usually use bad words, she said. But there are just a few people who say OK, its nice, or some people never say anything, they just pass by. But when I post my pictures on social media, I see a lot of support there. However, while working (outside) no support from people.

Love, power of art

When asked what keeps her going, Hassani says it is her love of art and the power it has for good.

I think I can introduce art to people in Afghanistan because we dont have galleries and exhibitions, and its good way that I can just show them artwork, Hassani said. And I also think that I can change peoples minds with my artwork and sharing my ideas with people, thats the thing I really like to do.
Hundreds of Google employees left their offices Thursday as part of a worldwide walkout protest of the company's handling of sexual harassment cases and its workplace culture.



More than a thousand workers and contractors reportedly gathered outside of Google's Mountain View, California, headquarters. Hundreds more, most of them women, also launched protests outside nearly two dozen global company offices.



"We are a small part of a massive movement that has been growing for a long time," organizers said in an article published in the online magazine The Cut. "We are inspired by everyone from the women in fast food who led an action against sexual harassment to the thousands of women in the #metoo movement who have been the beginning of the end for this type of abuse."



The walkouts are the latest indications of employee dissatisfaction that escalated last week after The New York Times reported the internet giant paid millions of dollars in severance pay to male executives accused of harassment without disclosing their wrongful acts.

The Times reported that Google paid $90 million in 2014 to then-senior vice president Andy Rubin after he was accused of sexual harassment. Rubin denied the allegations in the article, which Google did not dispute.



The report energized a months-long employee movement to improve treatment of women and minorities and increase diversity. The movement earlier this year included petition drives, meetings with senior executives, and training from the workers' rights group Coworker.org.

Organizers demanded late Wednesday that Google parent Alphabet Inc. add a worker representative to its board of directors and internally disclose pay equity information. Employees also asked the company to revise their human resources practices to make the harassment claims filing process more equitable.



Google CEO Sundar Pichai said "employees have raised constructive ideas" which the company will turn "into action."



Dissatisfaction among Alphabet's 94,000 workers and tens of thousands of contractors has not adversely affected the company's share price. But employees have said they expect Alphabet to have recruiting and retention problems if the problems are not adequately addressed.
Human Rights Watch calls for immediate action to stop what it says is widespread sexual abuse in North Korea.

In an 86 page report released Thursday, the group says its three year study of the issue has found that abuse against women is so common, it has come to be accepted as part of ordinary life, in North Korea.

The Human Rights Watch report follows a July 2018 white paper on North Korean human rights published by the Korean Institute for National Unification. The white paper reported women are easily exposed to domestic violence, gender-based exploitation, and violence in society, and the social conditions where women can be protected from such violence or seek relief were found to be lacking.

In its report, Human Rights Watch said, The government [of North Korea] fails to investigate and prosecute complaints, or to provide protection and services to victims, and even asserts that the country is implausibly free of sexism or sexual violence.

Sexual violence in North Korea is an open, unaddressed, and widely tolerated secret, said Kenneth Roth, Human Rights Watchs executive director.

North Korean woman would probably say Me Too if they thought there was any way to obtain justice, Roth said, but their voices are silenced in Kim Jong Uns dictatorship.

Extensive tales of abuse

Researchers for Human Rights Watch interviewed 54 North Koreans for this report. Roth called it the most extensive study ever done of sexual violence in North Korea.

Like all research on North Korea, its difficult because one cannot get physical access to the country, he said, noting as with other research and reporting, it relied on interviews with individuals who had escaped the country.

A participant in the study, Oh Jung Hee, told researchers she had been sexually assaulted numerous times.

Oh said market guards where she worked, and police officers, considered the women working as traders to be sex toys.

We [women] are at the mercy of men, she said, adding that the sexual violence toward women was so commonplace, that the men didnt think it was wrong and women have been conditioned to accept it as normal and routine.

Human Rights Watchs Emma Daly said in North Korea, men with power sexually harass, rape or abuse women, really taking advantage of the climate of fear in the country.

She clarified that men in power extends to nearly anyone within the system, from soldiers to guards to party officials.

We spoke to women who fled North Korea and they tell us that this kind of sexual assault [and] sexual harassment is extremely rife within the system. You find it in almost every part of life, Daly said.

Roth further contextualized the problem facing those in North Korea, saying women feel a horrible combination of powerlessness to escape sexual abuse and violence, but also shame when they are victimized.

A call for action

Human Rights Watch called upon North Korea to take serious steps to end the violence perpetrated against women. Roth asserted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could end the problem tomorrow and not affect his grasp on power, yet would make an enormous difference for the lives of North Korean women.

Roth urged the North Korean government to acknowledge the problem and ensure that police and prosecutors in the courts treat sexual violence as a serious crime, rather than sweeping it under the rug.

He said North Korea should also accept international assistance on how to hold officials accountable for abuses and how to protect victims who fear coming forward.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has not broached the subject of human rights abuses with North Korea and declined to meet with Human Rights Watch about its findings.

In an email to VOA, the South Koreas unification ministry wrote, The government places emphasis on human rights in the notion of universal value and ethnicity, and strives to continuously improve the quality of life for North Koreans.

The [Pyongyang] Joint Declaration of September contains numbers of agreements on inter-Korean exchanges and easing military tensions. If the agreements are well carried out, it will contribute to not only the improvement of inter-Korean relations and peace settlement on the Korean peninsula, but also the improvement of human rights of North Korean people, the message said.

South Koreas foreign ministry said Seoul would work with the international community to make practical improvements for human rights in North Korea, and that by pursuing peace and warmer inter-Korean relationships, a positive improvement on human rights in North Korea can be achieved.

Roth called Moons focus on denuclearization and closer economic relations naive and short-sighted. He called for Moon to stop hiding behind the denuclearization talks as an excuse, never to talk about human rights.
Indonesian navy divers say they have recovered one of the black boxes from the wreckage of Lion Air Flight JT-610, which crashed into the Java Sea just minutes after taking off from Jakarta early Monday morning.

The divers told local television reporters Thursday they found one of the planes recorders from the sea floor and brought it to the surface.

Search crews have been working around the clock to find the wreckage of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 jetliner and recover the planes cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, which contain crucial information on the planes brief flight, including the pilots last communications with ground controllers, when they asked to return to the airport.

Authorities said Wednesday they believed they had pinpointed the resting place of the Lion Air jetliner, which vanished from radar screens after taking off on a flight to nearby Bangka-Belitung island.

All 189 passengers and crew were killed in the crash.

The crash is the first one involving the Boeing 737 MAX 8, a new fuel-efficient version of the legendary passenger jet. Representatives with the U.S.-based aviation company were flying to Indonesia Wednesday to meet with officials with budget airline Lion Air, which has ordered 50 of the new 737 MAX 8 planes at a cost of $6.2 billion. Lion Air chief Edward Sirait told reporters Monday that the aircraft, which had only been in service for two months, suffered a technical problem during a flight from the resort island of Bali to Jakarta the night before, but was resolved according to procedure.

Indonesias transport ministry has ordered an inspection of all the new 737 MAX 8 jets. It has also suspended Lion Airs technical director and several technicians who cleared the plane to fly.

Mondays crash is another black mark on Indonesias fast-growing aviation sector, which has acquired a reputation for poor safety oversight. The countrys airlines have previously been banned from operating in the United States and European Union.
Despite their cities and towns being freed from Islamic State (IS) militants, many Iraqi refugees who have settled in Syria say that do not wish to return to their homes.

Iraqi refugees interviewed by VOA at al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria voiced doubts about a possible return to their home country in the near future.

"I have no money to move back to Iraq," said Jihan Najim, an Iraqi refugee who escaped in 2015 when IS took over her village in Iraq's Anbar province.

"I don't have family left in Iraq. I only have some women relatives at the camp," she said.

"It would be very difficult to go back and resettle in Iraq while there is no guarantee of livelihood," she added.

Another female refugee said that while life in the Syrian camp is tough, it is still better than living under uncertainty in Iraq.

"I have a disabled daughter who needs constant medical attention," said Um Fatima. "At least I can get her some medicine for free through aid organizations."

"But life in Iraq is very expensive. If I go back I wouldn't even afford to take her for a doctor visit," she added.

WATCH: Paralyzed Iraqi Woman Struggles at Syria Refugee Camp

Al-Hol camp was established in April 2015 to host Iraqi refugees fleeing violence after IS took over parts of northern and western Iraq.

There are approximately 10,000 Iraqi refugees currently living at the camp, while a few thousand other Iraqi refugees are settled in two other camps in Syria.



Al-Hol is administered by the semi-autonomous local Kurdish administration.

The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR is providing aid to the people in the camp. There are local aid organizations as well that are helping the refugees.

But local aid organizations complain about shortages in aid provided to the camp population.



"We have limited resources here," said Masud Remo of the Kurdish Red Crescent.

"We can't provide refugees with everything they need. International organizations should step up their efforts in this regard," Remo added.

Repatriation

Since the liberation of Mosul and other major Iraqi cities from IS, the Iraqi government has been working to facilitate the return of Iraqi refugees from Syria.

"There is an understanding between the Iraqi government and local Kurdish administration in Syria with regards to returning Iraqi refugees to their country," said Alav Hossein, a Syrian journalist who closely follows the situation in the region, told VOA.

"The Iraqi government has a vetting process through which it handles the return of Iraqi nationals who wish to return to Iraq. They want to make sure that these people have no affiliation with [IS]," he said.



"That's why the process of sending these refugees has been slow," he added.

In October, about 340 Iraq refugees returned to their country from Syria, according to the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement.

UNHCR reported that in September, about 1,540 others returned from al-Hol and Akda camps to Iraq.
U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in eastern Syria say recent Turkish shelling attacks have stalled their offensive against their mutual enemy, the Islamic State terror group.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is a U.S.-backed coalition of Kurdish-Arab fighters dominated by the People's Protection Units (YPG). The SDF has been fighting against IS in the Deir el-Zour region in eastern Syria.

Turkish forces recently struck several targets belonging to the YPG near the town of Kobani in northern Syria.

WATCH: Turkey and the YPG

The SDF said Wednesday that it had the right to defend itself, and "as a result, a Turkish military vehicle was destroyed."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "threats to invade our lands coincide with our campaign to push [IS] out of the remaining parts of Deir el-Zour," Nur Mahmud, a YPG spokesperson, told VOA.

"This is [IS's] final stronghold. Eliminating IS means a new phase of stability in Syria. But such Turkish threats create more instability in this country," Mahmud added.

Erodgan recently increased threats to launch a major offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters near the Euphrates River.

"We will destroy the terror structure east of the Euphrates River. We have completed preparations and plans regarding this issue," Erdogan said in a speech to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party on Tuesday.

"We have started active intervention operations against the terror organization in the last couple of days. We will soon come down hard on the terror organization with more extensive and effective operations," he added.

PKK link seen

Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a Turkey-based terror group that has been fighting for greater rights in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast for decades.

The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

But the U.S. makes a distinction between the PKK and YPG, backing the YPG-dominated SDF as its most effective fighting partner in the war against IS militants in Syria.

This partnership has angered Turkey.

In March, Turkish military and allied Syrian rebels seized the town of Afrin in northwestern Syria after a two-month campaign, which pushed YPG out of the town.

The Turkish government also demanded that Kurdish forces leave the northern town of Manbij, which was freed from IS by Kurdish-backed forces in August 2016.

In June, Turkish and U.S. officials reached an agreement to conduct joint patrols in Manbij, which included joint training between U.S. and Turkish forces around the Syrian town.

"The training process has been completed, and joint patrols will begin today or tomorrow," Hulusi Akar, Turkish minister of defense, said Tuesday.

"The plan is to remove the YPG, collect their heavy weaponry and finally allow the real Manbij people to be in full control of their city," he said in a public gathering.

Akar reiterated his country's intention to go after Syrian Kurdish fighters. "After Manbij, our next venue will be east of the Euphrates," he said.

U.S. reaction

U.S. officials called on both sides to avoid escalation and focus on defeating IS.

"We are aware of Turkish statements about a planned offensive into northeast Syria and have been in touch with Turkey and the SDF to de-escalate the situation," Cmdr. Sean Robertson, a Pentagon spokesperson, told VOA.

"We remain fully committed to implementing the Manbij road map [agreement], which is on pace as agreed between [U.S.] Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo and [Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut] Cavusoglu," he added.

Some analysts say the Turkish threats against the Syrian Kurds are likely to continue.

"I think Erdogan is going to increase the pressure on SDF because the U.S. is not willing to give him Manbij," said Fabrice Balanche, a researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

"Erdogan is furious about this, and that is why he targets Kobani. But I do not think it is the beginning of a major offensive," Balanche added.

Balanche said the U.S. needs to protect the Kurdish territory, including Manbij.

"The U.S. needs the YPG against [IS], since Arab [fighters] of SDF are not as efficient, as we can see in Deir el-Zour," he said.

Ezel Sahinkaya and Carla Babb contributed to this report.
The 2017 flu season was particularly bad in the Northern Hemisphere. Nearly 80,000 people died in the U.S., including 180 children. Already this year, the virus has claimed the life of a child in Florida.

A Florida hospital has surveyed parents throughout the U.S. to find out why some dont get their children immunized even though it could put them in danger.

WATCH: Some Parents Don't Understand the Flu Shot

Why get the shot?

Kids are very effective spreaders of disease. Just ask Ehren McMichael, mom of three.

My husband and I just assume if one kids gets it, its do the best you can and then hope for the best because more than likely, someone else in the house will come down with it as well, she said.

Even though kids dont like getting a shot, McMichaels kids, including her daughter Hannah, know why they get one.

It helps protect you from the flu, and so when you go to school, your friends dont catch it, Hannah said.

The same is true for her son Brayden.

Its better to get a shot than get sick, he said.

Flu shot myths busted

Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Florida surveyed parents and found a significant number of them are misinformed about the vaccine. The survey found that more than half the parents questioned think children can get the flu from the shot, a third dont think the vaccine works, and almost that many think the flu vaccine causes autism.

Dr. Jean Moorjani, at Orlando Health, tries to help parents understand why their kids should get vaccinated against the flu.

Doctors recommend the flu vaccine because we know, based on science and research and facts, that it is the best way to protect yourself and your family against the flu, she said.

You cannot get autism from the flu vaccine. It is not a conspiracy for doctors to recommend the flu vaccine. The parts of the virus that are used are completely dead, so you cannot get the flu from the flu shot, she added.

Get your shot early

Scientists try to figure out what strains of flu are likely to circulate in a given year, but even if they guess wrong, Moorjani said, the vaccine still offers some protection.

When your body receives the flu vaccine, your body starts to think, OK, Ive got to start making antibodies to help protect against the flu virus. So even if its not a perfect match, getting the flu vaccine will still give your body some protection, she said.

Infectious disease experts recommend getting vaccinated before the flu season begins. This goes for adults, as well. It helps protect those who are vaccinated as well as babies who are too young to be vaccinated.
By the end of the week, thousands of soldiers will be deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border in anticipation of caravans of migrants from Central America heading northward. The military presence is drawing reaction from those who live and work in border communities on both sides of the fence. VOAs Elizabeth Lee reports from San Diego, Calif.
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Scientists are putting a robotic Mars rover to the test in Spain's rocky Tabernas Desert. The European Space Agency and Russia's Roscosmos space agency plan to land a rover on the Red Planet in 2021, to search for microscopic signs of life. Faith Lapidus reports.
A new radio drama series co-produced by the U.N. Migration Agency and several Nigerian agencies working on migration and trafficking issues aims to deter people from risking their lives by making the dangerous journey to Europe. The series will be broadcast in Pidgin and Yoruba languages in six Nigerian states.

Speed FM in Edo State is one of several radio stations that will be airing "Abroad Mata," a 13-episode drama series on irregular migration, followed by live phone-in sessions where people get a chance to talk about their experiences with an expert panel.

In the first episode called "Waka Well", Efe, a young woman from Benin has just returned from a harrowing ordeal trying to cross the North African desert in hopes of getting to Europe. She tries to persuade her best friend Patricia, who is trying to reach Europe from Libya, to return home.

Perils of journey



Every year, tens of thousands of young men and women from West Africa make the perilous journey across the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. Many are exploited and abused by smugglers and traffickers on the way. Others drown in the Mediterranean.

Despite the risks, U.N. Migration Agency spokesman Joel Millman says irregular migration continues to flourish. He tells VOA social media propaganda and local gossip paint a rosy picture of life in Europe, enticing West African migrants to test their luck.

He says the radio series aims to counter this false picture.

This is an effort to create a drama that is accessible, that is on the radio that people can hear and make up their own mind about whether or not they have been told the truth about the experience of trying to make it to Europe irregularly this way, Millman said.

The series is being broadcast by stations in Edo, Delta, Oyo, Ogun, Imo and Lagos states.

The "Waka Well" episode has a happy ending. Patricias friends and his mama eventually convince him to return home, to everyones delight.
Norway summoned the Iranian ambassador Thursday over a suspected assassination plot against an Iranian Arab opposition figure in Denmark involving a Norwegian citizen of Iranian background.

Denmark said Tuesday that it suspected the Iranian government intelligence service had tried to carry out an assassination on its soil. It is now calling for fresh European Union sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

A Norwegian citizen of Iranian background was arrested in Sweden Oct. 21 in connection with the plot and extradited to Denmark, Swedish security police have said.

"During the meeting we underlined that the activity that has come to light through the investigation in Denmark is unacceptable," Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide said in a statement.

"We see the situation that has arisen in Denmark as very serious and that a Norwegian citizen of Iranian background is suspected in this case," she added.

The attack was meant to target the leader of the Danish branch of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz (ASMLA), Danish intelligence chief Finn Borch Andersen said. Tehran has blamed ASMLA)for a terror attack on a military parade in Ahvaz on Sept. 22 that left at least 25 people dead.

ASMLA seeks a separate state for ethnic Arabs in Iran's oil-producing southwestern province of Khuzestan. Arabs are a minority in Iran, and some see themselves as under Persian occupation and want independence or autonomy.

The Norwegian citizen has denied the charges, and the Iranian government has also denied any connection with what Norway suspects is a plot.
The U.S. government is monitoring for possible foreign interference in Tuesdays congressional elections and is prepared to sanction any company or individual involved in such activity, a senior intelligence official said Wednesday.

We remain concerned about interference coming from Russia, China and Iran, the official said in a phone briefing with reporters to discuss federal government plans to help secure the Nov. 6 elections.

The official provided no details about specific threats of foreign influence during the call, but said the intelligence community is prepared to identify individuals who meddle in the voting process.

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election in a bid to bolster support for Donald Trump and have more recently accused Moscow of seeking to influence the outcome of next weeks congressional elections. Russia has denied the allegations.

While speaking at the United Nations last month, Trump accused China of meddling in the election. He did not provide evidence to support his claim, and Beijing has denied the charges.

Trump signed an executive order in September allowing the government to sanction any individual or company found to be interfering in the election through either hacking or disinformation efforts.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security and intelligence will contribute to efforts for thwarting digital attacks on the election, officials said on the call. The White House will coordinate with these agencies through its National Security Council.

The Justice Department is also planning to launch an election interference command post on Election Day to help the FBI rapidly communicate with its different field offices around the country, a second senior administration official said.
The man accused of killing 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue pleaded not guilty Thursday in a U.S. federal court on 44 charges that include murder and hate crimes.

Robert Bowers, 46, spoke little during the brief court appearance beyond saying he understood the charges and his "not guilty" plea.

A grand jury indicted Bowers on Wednesday in connection with the October 27 attack at the Tree of Life synagogue.

In announcing the indictment, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the alleged crimes "are incomprehensibly evil and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation. Therefore this case is not only important to the victims and their loved ones, but to the city of Pittsburgh and the entire nation."

Victims' funerals



Funerals for the victims continue Thursday with services for Bernice and Sylvan Simon, as well as Dr. Richard Gottfried.

On Wednesday, hundreds of friends gathered to pay tribute to Melvin Wax, 88, who was leading Sabbath services on Saturday when the gunman burst into the synagogue shouting, "All Jews must die!" and began shooting. Funerals also were held for retired real estate agent Irving Younger, 69, and retired university researcher Joyce Fienberg, 75.

Trump visit



U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited the synagogue on Tuesday, placing a stone at each of the 11 Stars of David set up outside. Placing stones at a grave or remembrance site is an ancient Jewish tradition.

Trump also met with police officers wounded by gunfire in a shootout as they apprehended Bowers and spent an hour talking with Peg Durachko, whose husband, Dr. Richard Gottfried, was among the 11 killed.

"Melania and I were treated very nicely yesterday in Pittsburgh," Trump said on Twitter. "The Office of the President was shown great respect on a very sad & solemn day. We were treated so warmly."

Protests



Several thousand protesters demonstrated in the streets during Trump's visit, contending that his rhetoric helped fuel the gunman's anti-Semitism and anti-immigrant views against a Jewish group that aids refugees arriving in the U.S. from overseas. Trump complained about news coverage of the several hours he spent in Pittsburgh.

"Small protest was not seen by us, staged far away," he said. "The Fake News stories were just the opposite-Disgraceful!"

Trump shook hands with the synagogue's rabbi, Jeffrey Myers, and the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer.

Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner -- wearing a Jewish yarmulke -- and daughter Ivanka Trump, who converted to Judaism when she married Kushner, accompanied the first couple to offer their condolences.

"The president was very moved by the visit and his time with the rabbi and called it very humbling and sad," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters.

Worst attack in history



The Anti-Defamation League, which has tracked hatred and violence against Jews since the 1970s, said the Pittsburgh mayhem was the worst attack against the Jewish community in U.S. history.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday the United States was engaged in a multipronged effort ... to convince China to behave like a normal nation on commerce and respect international law after Washington indicted 10 Chinese nationals in the stealing aviation secrets.

Speaking in a radio interview, Pompeo called Chinas behavior in stealing intellectual property inappropriate and not consistent with being a superpower or a leader in the world.

Stealing another countrys intellectual property, something Chinas been engaged in to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, is just something China has to figure out a way to stop, he told the Brian Kilmeade Show.

Biggest national security challenge

Pompeo also told the Laura Ingraham radio show that over the long term, China was probably the biggest national security challenge facing the United States and the Trump administration was pushing back on all fronts.

Where the semiconductor piece fits in is its part of a mosaic of our strategic effort to push back against this continued Chinese effort, he said.

It is a multipronged effort on behalf of all of the United States government, at the presidents direction, to convince China to behave like a normal nation on commerce and with respect to the rules of international law, he said.

Turbo fan engine targeted

A U.S. indictment unsealed Tuesday said Chinese intelligence officers conspired with hackers and company insiders to break into computer systems of private firms to steal information on a turbo fan engine used in commercial jetliners.

It was the third major corporate espionage-related case involving Chinese intelligence officers brought by the Justice Department since last month and comes at a time when Washington is embroiled in a trade war with Beijing.

The United States and China have slapped tit-for-tat tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of each others goods over the past few months, sparked by U.S. President Donald Trumps demands for an end to alleged Chinese intellectual property theft, deep cuts to industrial subsidies, and action to correct a major U.S. trade deficit with China.

Early this month, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence intensified Washingtons pressure campaign against Beijing by accusing China of malign efforts to undermine Trump ahead of next Tuesdays congressional elections and reckless military actions in the disputed South China Sea, a major Asian trade route.

China has rejected the charges.
Governments around the world are increasing control over use of the internet and social media, according to the latest report by the Freedom House organization. In 2017, officials in many countries accused dissidents of spreading fake news as a pretext to silence them. Online propaganda and uncontrolled harvesting of personal data have permeated the internet in the past year. A Freedom House expert told VOA these trends are a major threat to democracy. Zlatica Hoke has this story.
Russia has imposed sweeping financial sanctions on 322 members of the Ukrainian elite and 68 companies owned by prominent Ukrainian businessmen.

Among the individuals targeted by the sanctions are:

President Petro Poroshenko's son, Oleksiy

Interior Minister Arsen Avakov

Security Service chief Vasyl Hrytsak

Deputy Prime Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze

Businessman Viktor Pinchuk

Former prime ministers Yulia Tymoshenko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk

Former leader of the ultranationalist Right Sector group, Dmytro Yarosh

The sanctions were announced in a decree signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev published on the Russian government's website on November 1.

According to the decree, the goal of the measure is to counter Ukraine's unfriendly activities "towards Russian citizens and entities, and to normalize bilateral relations."

The list also includes:

Secretary of Ukraine's Council for National Security and Defense, Oleksandr Turchynov

Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak

Deputy Defense Minister Anatoliy Petrenko

Chief of the Ukrainian Army's General Staff Viktor Muzhenko

Deputy speaker of the parliament Iryna Herashchenko

Veteran leader of the Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemilev

The sanctions include the freezing of assets and property on Russia's territory.

Among those affected are also judges of Ukraine's Constitutional Court, Ukrainian lawmakers, oligarchs, officials of the presidential office, executive officials, and major Ukrainian companies.

Medvedev's move came 10 days after President Vladimir Putin signed a decree setting the stage for "special economic measures" against Ukraine, instructing the government to draft a list of Ukrainian firms and individuals to be targeted for economic sanctions.

Putin's October 22 decree said punitive measures could be canceled if Ukraine lifts all restrictions it has imposed against Russian citizens and companies.

Ukraine, like the United States and the European Union, has imposed sanctions on Russian businesspeople, companies, and other entities in response to Moscow's seizure and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and its support for armed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

On October 23, Medvedev said Moscow was preparing sanctions that will also ban imports to Russia of some Ukrainian products. He did not specify which Ukrainian products would be listed under Russia's import ban.

In June, Putin signed a law on countermeasures against the United States and other countries that have sanctions against Russia.
Somalia hosted its first technology and innovation conference this month, with much talk about the industry's potential. Somalia's security threats and poor governance make attracting investment a huge challenge. But as Mohamed Sheikh Nor reports from Mogadishu, a company has set up the capital city's first co-working space to help foster Somalia's digital economy.
Sri Lankas president has summoned Parliament to meet next week as pressure grows for him to resolve the turmoil set off when he sacked the Cabinet last week, his chosen prime minister said Thursday.

President Maithripala Sirisena made the decision a day after meeting with Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya who previously warned of possible violence if lawmakers were not summoned immediately.

On Friday, Sirisena dismissed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Cabinet, later telling reporters he acted in part because Wickremesinghe and a Cabinet colleague were behind an alleged assassination plot against him. Details of the alleged plot have not been disclosed and Wickremesinghe denies the accusation.

Sirisena had replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa and suspended Parliament until Nov.16 in an apparent attempt to give Rajapaksa time to muster enough support to survive any no-confidence vote.

Constitutional crisis

Wickremesinghe had demanded the convening of Parliament, saying he still controls a majority of lawmakers.

Sirisenas moves have triggered a power struggle and some observers call it a constitutional crisis.

In remarks broadcast on state television, Rajapaksa told a meeting at his office that Sirisena decided to summon Parliament Nov. 5.

Karu Paranavithana, a lawmaker from Wickremesinghes United National Front, welcomed the announcement, calling it a great victory for the people.

He said Sirisenas coalition tried to establish a dictatorship but had failed.

They will have to retreat now, he added.

Assassination plot alleged

Sirisena was under increasing pressure by his political opponents, rights groups and foreign governments including the United States to summon parliament and end the crisis.

Sirisenas supporters have talked for weeks about an alleged assassination plot, but Sunday was the first time Sirisena commented publicly about it. A police informant has said Wickremesinghe and a Cabinet colleague, former army commander Sarath Fonseka, were behind it. Police have made no arrests.

Tensions have been building between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe for some time, as the president did not approve of economic reforms introduced by the prime minister. Sirisena was also critical of investigations into military personnel accused of human rights violations during Sri Lankas long civil war, which ended in 2009.

A shooting at the Petroleum Minister on Saturday killed two people and wounded one in the first violence related to the political turmoil.

On Tuesday, thousands of Sri Lankans protested in the capital demanding Sirisena immediately convene Parliament.
The United States is urging the warring sides in Yemen to return to peace talks supported by the United Nations, in hopes of ending a conflict that has lasted more than three years.

"We have come to the assessment that the climate is right at this time to move forward," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said Wednesday, after U.N.-backed peace talks collapsed in September.

At a briefing, Palladino said Yemen's Houthis must stop missile and drone strikes into Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and the Saudi-led coalition must halt airstrikes in populated areas in Yemen.

In March 2015, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia began airstrikes against the Houthis in support of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and has followed with other military support, including deploying thousands of troops. The United States has provided refueling and targeting support to the coalition.

U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths had tried to get the two sides together for peace talks in September in Geneva, but the Houthi delegation did not make the trip, with officials expressing concerns about safety guarantees not being met.

"[W]e want to see everybody around a peace table, based on a cease-fire, based on a pullback from the border, and then based on a ceasing of dropping of bombs that will permit the special envoy ... to get them together in Sweden and end this war," U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said. "We need to be doing this in the next 30 days. We have mired in this problem long enough."

Mattis spoke at an event Tuesday night in Washington, saying a cease-fire would allow the parties involved to step back from war and meet with Griffiths.

"That is the only way we're going to really solve this," Mattis said.

In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed support for Griffiths and a cease-fire leading to peace talks.

"Substantive consultations under the U.N. special envoy must commence this November in a third country to implement confidence-building measures to address the underlying issues of the conflict, the demilitarization of borders, and the concentration of all large weapons under international observation."

The conflict is a mix of regional and international influences that began with Iran-backed Houthi rebels seizing control of parts of Yemen, including the country's capital, from the internationally recognized government.

Rights groups have criticized the air campaign for what they say is indiscriminate bombing that has killed and injured many civilians. Houthi rebels have also been blamed for rights abuses and sending missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Pompeo called for both those Houthi attacks and coalition airstrikes on populated areas to stop.

"It is time to end this conflict, replace conflict with compromise, and allow the Yemeni people to heal through peace and reconstruction," he said.

The U.N. envoy said in early October that such safety guarantees were important for getting the two sides to talk, and that while anyone would want a cease-fire for any conflict, he did not believe that should be a precondition for peace talks.

An estimated 10,000 people have been killed since the conflict in Yemen began. The country was already the poorest in the region, and the fighting has pushed it to the brink of famine, with the United Nations saying 22 million people are in need of aid.

The International Rescue Committee welcomed the U.S. call for a cease-fire, calling it the "most significant breakthrough" in the war.

"It is a very welcome recognition that current policy is failing and needs urgently to be changed to focus on a diplomatic solution," IRC President and CEO David Miliband said in a statement.
Uganda has lost billions of dollars in recent years from illegal financial flows, including tax evasion, crime, and corruption. Ugandas Financial Intelligence Authority - set up to track illicit money - says it lacks resources to stem the flow.



Tax evasion, money laundering, and related corruption are costing Uganda at least $1 billion a year, according to Global Financial Integrity.



The Washington, D.C.-based non-profit said in a September report that tax evasion from imports and exports alone cost Uganda $6.7 billion dollars from 2006 to 2015.

Nearly $3 billion more was lost to errors and omissions in balance of payments over the last decade.



Global Financial Integrity says the economic losses were worsened by Ugandas role as a haven for illegal funds from its war-torn neighbors, such as South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Kenya.



Ezra Munyambonera is lead researcher at Ugandas Economic Policy Research Center and helped write the report. He blames Ugandas under-regulated financial system.



Whether you have got money from selling human beings, even buying goods and services, so thats one way. We had a war, ADF war, it was in DRC, but how was money getting out? The same thing with Sudan, Sudan people come here with dollars, they have come in high profile, but nobody will ask them, where is this money coming from?



The Economic Policy Research Centers Paul Lakuma, who also contributed to the report, is more blunt. He says leaders in Uganda ignore the illegal money.

Our political leaders, do they have the will of fighting it, or they are benefiting from it. Maybe it serves their political interests, its like maybe stability, or the length in which they stay in power, so they will look the other way.



Uganda's Financial Intelligence Authority is mandated to check illegal financial flows in the country.

Its director, Sydney Asubo, says a lack of collaboration and coordination between government departments has hindered efforts to stop the flow.



He says the agency's resources and authority are also limited.



If we know people are evading tax, if its to do with gold smuggling or cash smuggling, we inform the relevant bodies. If its to do with terrorism financing, we inform the counter terrorism police. So, its not because the officer doesnt know what to do. But the main challenge we have is funding.



Despite the billions in lost revenue, Global Financial Integrity notes Uganda has made progress against money laundering and cutting off some terrorist financing.



Uganda passed a 2013 anti-money-laundering act, which requires disclosure of transactions of $26,500 or more.



But corruption and enforcement are still problems, says the Uganda Financial Intelligence Authority's Asubo.

Since starting its operation against illegal money in 2015, Asubo says they have had only two court convictions.


U.S. President Donald Trump said he talked with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, especially about ongoing trade disputes between the world's two biggest economies.

Trump and Xi, in several reciprocal actions, have in recent months imposed higher tariffs on tens of billions of dollars of exports moving between the two countries, increasing tensions between Washington and Beijing.

But Trump described the call between the two leaders as "a long and very good conversation" and said "discussions are moving along nicely." He said further meetings with Xi are being scheduled for the G-20 summit of the world's biggest economies, set for Nov. 30 in Buenos Aires, the first ever such summit in South America.

Trump made no mention of whether the two leaders talked about the U.S. indictment unveiled Thursday of two companies based in China and Taiwan accusing them of stealing trade secrets from a U.S. semiconductor company, Micron Technology Inc. It was the fourth such case since September alleging Chinese espionage on U.S. economic interests.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions told reporters that Chinese espionage has been "increasing rapidly," demanding that "cheating must stop."

FBI director Christopher Wray said the U.S. has filed a civil lawsuit seeking to prevent the two indicted companies, Taiwan-based United Microelectronics Corp. and China's state-owned Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit, from exporting any products created using U.S. trade secrets and blocking the further transfer of trade secrets.

"No country presents a broader, more severe threat to our ideas, our innovation, and our economic security than China," Wray said.

Trump said he also talked with Xi about "many subjects," including a "good discussion" on North Korea, where Trump is trying to negotiate an end to Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.
U.S. President Donald Trump is stoking new fears over undocumented immigrants just days before next week's national congressional elections and could tighten rules Thursday for migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.



The U.S. leader is speaking about immigration at the White House, his latest attempt to make it the central issue for Republicans in the Tuesday voting. He is then heading to a campaign rally in the midwestern state of Missouri.

In a controversial new campaign ad he posted Wednesday on Twitter, Trump contended without evidence that Democrats allowed a twice-deported Mexican immigrant to stay in the country before he killed two deputy sheriffs in California in 2014.

The ad shows Luis Bracamontes laughing at a court hearing before he was handed a death sentence and profanely vowing, "I'm gonna kill more cops soon."

"Illegal immigrant, Luis Bracamontes, killed our people," the 53-second ad said. "Democrats let him into our country ... Democrats let him stay."



More footage shows unidentified thousands of people storming a barrier at an undisclosed location, with the video asking, "Who else would Democrats let in?"



Trump said atop the ad, "It is outrageous what the Democrats are doing to our Country."

Birthright citizenship

At a campaign rally in Florida late Wednesday, Trump claimed Democrats want to leave in place a U.S. Constitution provision granting automatic citizenship to everyone born in the U.S., including babies of undocumented migrants who have "been on our soil for only a matter of seconds."



Trump this week said he could change the provision by signing an executive order, but most legal scholars said any changes in the Constitution would have to follow the normal path, a two-thirds vote of Congress or a constitutional convention convened by two-thirds of the country's 50 states.



"Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant children are made automatic citizens every year because of this crazy policy," Trump said at the rally, "and they are all made instantly eligible for every privilege and benefit of American citizenship at a cost of billions of dollars a year. That's what it costs, billions!"

Trump this week has dispatched more than 5,000 troops to the southern U.S. border with Mexico to block a caravan of several thousand migrants, many of them women and children, from entering the U.S.

Migrant caravan

The migrants are still more than 1,000 kilometers from the U.S. but Trump has called them "invaders" and says he might send as many as 15,000 troops to counter what he views as a threat to the U.S.



Former Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge, a Republican, rebuffed Trump's claimed Thursday. He told VOA the "use of the word invasion" is "so disproportionate to the potential threat." He said the call for more troops at the border is "unnecessary rhetoric."



"Opiods are a bigger threat," Ridge said. "The terrorists that send pipe bombs to political figures and journalists is a serious threat. The gunman who assassinates people on the Sabbath."

Sharp criticism

The Bracamontes ad has drawn a quick rebuke from Trump critics, some of whom called it racist and compared it to a political ad in 1988 supporting then Vice President George H.W. Bush, a Republican, in his successful run three decades ago for the presidency. That ad depicted a mug shot of an African-American felon named Willie Horton, a convicted murderer, who was let out under a weekend furlough program supported by his Democratic opponent, Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.



While on furlough, Horton raped a white woman and stabbed her white fiance, with the ad stoking white fears of blacks committing crimes against them.



Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich, who served under Democratic President Bill Clinton and in an earlier Republican administration, said "this may be the most desperate and vile ad since Willie Horton."



A Trump critic, Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, tweeted about the Bracamontes ad, saying "this is just a new low in campaigning. It's sickening."

The facts behind the Bracamontes case are more complicated than the ad says. He was deported twice after being convicted of drug charges, once in 1997 while Clinton was president, and after again entering the U.S. illegally, in 2001 while Republican President George W. Bush was in office.



Bracamontes, after returning yet again to the U.S., somehow evaded U.S. authorities in the ensuing years, not that any court, government agency or political party allowed him to stay.



From 2003 to 2009, while living at least some of that time in the western state of Utah and working as a house painter and landscaper, he was charged with a string of misdemeanor traffic offenses. Such offenses usually do not trigger fingerprint checks against immigration records, which would have signaled to authorities that he was in the U.S. illegally after twice being deported.



Authorities say he shot the sheriff's deputies near Sacramento, the California state capital, when they checked on his car because they felt something was suspicious.

During his court appearance earlier this year, the Trump political ad shows Bracamontes saying, "The only thing that I [expletive] regret is that I [expletive] killed two ... I wish I killed more of those [expletive]."



National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this story.
Turkey's justice minister again called on Saudi Arabia to fully cooperate in the investigation into last month's killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.



Abdulhamit Gul said Turkish chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan failed to get answers about the location of Khashoggi's body and who ordered his killing during three days of Turkish-Saudi investigative efforts in Istanbul.



"This issue has become a world matter," Gul told reporters Thursday in Ankara. "This case cannot be covered up, and we are expecting close cooperation from Saudi authorities on the investigation we are conducting transparently and meticulously."



After initially denying Khashoggi had been murdered, the Saudi government claimed he died in an unplanned "rogue operation."

Saudi public prosecutor Saud Al Mojeb offered a different explanation last week when he said the killing was premeditated.



Fidan also said after talks with Mojeb earlier this week the killing was premeditated, with Khashoggi being suffocated immediately after entering the consulate and his body dismembered before it was disposed of.



Turkey is trying to extradite 18 suspects detained in Saudi Arabia so they can be tried in a Turkish court. Among them are 15 members of an alleged "hit squad" Turkey claims was sent to Istanbul to kill the Washington Post columnist who had written critically of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Some of the people suspected of being involved in the murder have close ties to the prince whose condemnation of the murder has failed to alleviate suspicions he was involved.

Khashoggi entered the consulate on October 2 to get a document he needed to marry his Turkish fiancee.
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against a former Goldman Sachs banker and a scandal-plagued Malaysian financier for their alleged involvement in an elaborate bribery scheme.



Low Taek Jho, a former official with the sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, and former banker Ng Chong Hwa were charged with conspiring to launder billions of dollars from the fund. Low, who was last seen in China, remains at large, the Justice Department said.



Former Goldman Sachs investment banker Tim Leissner has already pleaded guilty and agreed to forfeit nearly $44 million, according to documents unsealed in a New York federal court.



U.S. prosecutors previously filed civil lawsuits to seize assets that were allegedly bought with funds stolen from the 1MDB fund, the focus of a scandal that shook the political scene in Malaysia. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who created the fund in 2009, was criminally charged last week with misuse of money in the fund. Razak pleaded not guilty to all charges.



Najib lost his re-election bid in May, ending his party's six-decades of dominance in Malaysian politics.



Thursday's charges were the first criminal charges the Justice Department filed against individuals in the case, a scandal that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions described in a speech last December as "kleptocracy at its worst."
U.S. and Turkish forces have begun joint patrols in the area of Manbij, Syria, where Kurdish militia have been critical to defeating Islamic State fighters.

Two U.S. defense officials and Turkish officials confirmed the patrols in northern Syria on Thursday.

A convoy of about 30 troops patrolled northwest of Manbij along the demarcation line dividing Turkish-controlled territory from the area controlled by the U.S.-backed Manbij Military Council, defense officials told VOA.

The Pentagon has said the purpose of the patrols is to support "long-term security in Manbij" and uphold its commitments to NATO ally Turkey.

Since June, U.S. and Turkish forces had conducted more than 60 of what the Pentagon has called "coordinated but independent" patrols in the area.

Ankara and Washington agreed on a road map to stabilize Manbij earlier that month, amid Turkish demands for the withdrawal of Kurdish militia who helped push Islamic State from the city in 2016.

"We're fully supportive of the road map and the combined joint patrols, and I am confident they will be very effective," British Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika, deputy commander of the counter-IS coalition in Iraq and Syria, said in a press release Thursday.

Those Kurdish militia fighters, known as the People's Protection Units (YPG), are bolstered by Washington as part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) countering IS.

Ankara, however, views the YPG as the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Turkey, the U.S. and European Union all consider to be a terrorist organization. The U.S. and the YPG reject that characterization of the YPG.

As a result of the road map, the Manbij Military Council announced in July that all Kurdish militia who were associated with YPG had left.

Kurdish counter-IS fight suspended

The joint patrols come as the SDF in eastern Syria's Deir el-Zour region temporarily suspended its offensive against IS because of recent Turkish shelling.

Turkish forces this week struck several Kurdish militia targets near the town of Kobani in northern Syria.

The SDF said Wednesday that it fired back in self-defense, and "as a result, a Turkish military vehicle was destroyed."

Army Col. Sean Ryan, a spokesman for the counter-IS coalition, said Thursday that efforts were being made to ease tension:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed Syria in a phone call on Thursday.

Earlier this week, Erdogan increased threats to launch a major offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters near the Euphrates River.

"We will destroy the terror structure east of the Euphrates River. We have completed preparations and plans regarding this issue," Erdogan said in a speech to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party on Tuesday.

VOA's Sirwan Kajjo contributed to this report.
U.N. member states overwhelmingly supported lifting Washington's more than half-century-old economic, commercial and financial embargo of Cuba on Thursday, saying it is the main impediment to the island nation's economic and social development.

"The embargo is a flagrant massive and systematic violation of human rights of Cuban men and women," Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla told the General Assembly. "It has been, and still is, the main obstacle to well-being and prosperity of several generations."

The assembly voted 189 in favor of ending the blockade, with only the United States and Israel in favor of continuing it. No country entered an abstention, while Moldova and Ukraine were present but did not cast votes.

"There are no winners here today, there are only losers," U.S. envoy Nikki Haley said. "The United Nations has lost. It has rejected the opportunity to speak on behalf of human rights. The U.N. Charter commits every country here to the promotion of peace, security and human rights and that charter was betrayed today."

For the past 27 years, the U.N. General Assembly has held an annual vote condemning the economic, commercial and financial blockade that was imposed in 1962 during the Cold War.

The exercise is largely symbolic, as the General Assembly does not have the power to end the embargo, only the U.S. Congress does. But it highlights Washington's isolation on the issue. Ambassador Haley said the United States doesn't care if it is isolated.

"We have no problem standing alone on behalf of the things we believe in, and we will proudly do so again today if necessary," Haley said ahead of the vote.

More than thirty-six countries and regional groups took the floor, with a debate that began on Wednesday and concluded Thursday with the vote. Many argued the embargo runs contrary to the U.N. Charter and the organization's principles.

"Every attempt to justify this embargo has failed to convince 191 member states," said Ambassador Rhonda King of the Caribbean island-nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. "It is an affront to us all that the legislature of one country can make a decree on trade matters of another, thereby affecting third countries."

"The blockade is a vivid example of the unilateral way in which the United States acts in the world," said Iranian Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo. His country is also under U.S. sanctions re-imposed by the current administration.

"It is not justifiable to apply sanctions in perpetuity," said Kenyan envoy Lazarus Amayo. "In the long run, they are unsustainable and largely cause pain and suffering to the weak and vulnerable members of society," he added.

This year, the U.S. tried a different strategy, offering up eight separate amendments focused on Cuba's human rights situation, in a bid to lessen the emphasis on the embargo. But all eight amendments failed to garner more than a few votes in favor and were not adopted.

Haley argued the annual General Assembly exercise is "a waste of everyone's time" and does nothing to help the Cuban people.

"Cuba and its allies do the same thing every year. They propose a resolution blaming Cuba's poverty, repression, and lack of freedom on the United States," she said. "But this resolution changes nothing. It doesn't help a single Cuban family. It doesn't feed a single Cuban child. It doesn't free a single Cuban political prisoner."

In 2016, there was a brief shift in the U.S. position under former President Barack Obama. The United States abstained that year on the vote, as the Obama administration worked to normalize ties with Havana. Obama's efforts included making an historic trip to the island nation and reopening the U.S. embassy there.

But relations chilled again under President Donald Trump. He has blamed the Cuban government for the mysterious sonic attacks that sickened and injured more than two dozen U.S. diplomats and others in Havana that began in late 2016. The most recent suspected case happened in June this year. U.S. investigators still do not know exactly who and what caused the injuries, but 15 Cuban diplomats were expelled from Washington in retaliation last year.
Four-wheelers putter along the main road in Moapa Valley, Nevada, and the whimper of a horse carries from a nearby field. Gateway to the Valley of Fire, the towns chamber of commerce calls it because of Moapa Valleys proximity to the red sandstone walls of nearby Valley of Fire State Park. The towns 7,000 residents are 92 percent white.

Moapa Valley could be said to be emblematic of the old Nevada, where a silver lode was discovered in 1859 bringing white settlers to carve out livings in the desert.

We dont seem to have the same identity that we had as Nevadans even 10 years ago, laments Ken Staten, a registered Republican from Moapa Valley.

Staten was referring to Nevadas changing demographics, which can be attributed to an influx of both Californians and immigrants.

With its tensions between rural and urban voters, new demographics versus old ones, Nevada is one example of what is happening to U.S. politics on a national level.

For example, Mark Hugo Lopez, Director of Global Migration and Demography Research at Pew Research Center, says Republican-friendly states Georgia, Texas and North Carolina, may eventually be in play politically because of growing Hispanic populations.

In Nevada, most fingers point to California. Nevadans say their state is becoming California-cated, California-fied, or some variation. Lured by low tax rates and a jobs boom in construction and tourism, many Californians are flocking to the Silver State.

But Californians bringing their Californian problems has long been a common refrain in surrounding states, says Lopez. The question is, Which Californians are leaving?

While recent immigrants make up a large share of Latinos in Nevada, out-migration from California to Nevada has had a lot of Latinos as a part of it, Lopez said.

As a result, Nevada is increasingly Latino.

[Immigrants] come here, and all it is, is a freebie, said Lyle Kump, a Moapa Valley retiree who worries about the prospect of Nevada towns becoming sanctuary spaces for undocumented immigrants. If they build the wall, I hope they continue it right up along the border of California.

The new Nevada

Only 96 kilometers from Moapa Valley, limousines pull up to mega hotel-casinos in Las Vegas. The city has 10 times the population of the town and it is only 48 percent non-Hispanic white. The rest is a basket of racial identities.

In Clark County, home to Las Vegas and more than two million of the states three million residents, students speak more than 150 languages.

Here, diversity is a source of pride, even to Republicans whose party is led by anti-immigrant President Donald Trump.

Las Vegas is truly unique, remarked West Allen, an attorney and community leader at his local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My children go to school with people from Russia, from Mexico, from China, almost anywhere in the world.

In Allens view, immigrants enrich the country overall, and contribute to what he describes as Las Vegas deeply spiritual community that looks out for each other.

We want people who are the best people from every nation to become Americans, Allen said.

Changing population, changing votes?

In 2016, Las Vegas swung Nevadas overall vote for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, while at the other end of Clark County, Moapa Valley voted 78 percent for Trump.

Latinos helped give the state to Clinton, choosing her over Trump by a nationwide margin of 66 to 28. It was the third consecutive presidential race in which Nevada voted blue.

Before that, the state was reliably Republican, or red.

In midterm election years, like this one, Nevada tends to be purple, electing a mixed bag of congressional candidates.

The changes in voting track the changes in demographics and have led to the assumption that Nevada will become a blue state.

Sherman Avery, a Republican Jamaican-American coffee shop owner in the affluent community of Summerlin, in the Las Vegas area, supports what he calls an orderly flow of immigrants but calls the political transformation of his state kind of sad.

If you look at the history of Nevada  Las Vegas  it was made by people who had a pioneering spirit, Avery said. It wasnt made by people who said, Gimme, gimme, gimme, entitlement programs, all that kind of stuff.

But will they vote?

Latinos are now 19 percent of Nevadas eligible voters, according to the Pew Research Center.

If they turn out in large numbers, Hispanics could sway the closely fought battle between incumbent Republican Senator Dean Heller and his democratic challenger, Jacky Rosen, a house member.

Yet, history says a vast majority of them may not vote at all. Hispanic participation in midterm elections, Pew says, has declined over the past decade and reached a record low in 2014, the last midterm election. Just 16 percent of Latino voters ages 18 to 35 cast a ballot, less than half the rate of Latinos aged 36 and older (36.2 percent) and nearly one-third that of white voters overall (45.8 percent).

But there are more younger Latinos; they make up almost half of eligible Latino voters. So their lack of enthusiasm for voting has an outsize effect.

The relative youth of Hispanics is also seen as closing the voting gap gradually.

Were going to continue to push, to get Hispanics to vote, said Alicia Contreras, interim Nevada state director for the civic engagement organization Mi Familia Vota. It does take a village, and here in Nevada that is exactly the model that we work on.

How the new Hispanic population will vote is also not assured. Midterm elections have shown mixed results for Democratic congressional candidates among Latino and Hispanic voters.

Republicans in Nevada plan to stick with moderate messaging and conservative, family-centric principles.

Although the voting is different demographically, the values havent changed very much. Las Vegas attorney Allen observed.

Youre not going to win them over by just telling them, Youre wrong, said Summerlins Sherman Avery. They can see it in your life, and they can see you moving forward.
New U.S. calls for a cease-fire in Yemen have raised the prospect of ending a disastrous civil war that has caused the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, but previous rounds of talks have failed and thus far neither side shows any sign of backing down.

Earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for a cessation of hostilities and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the truce should happen within 30 days and lead to U.N.-led talks. Their remarks mark a shift in the position of the United States, which has backed the Saudi-led coalition in its three-and-a-half-year war with Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.

The White House has come under mounting pressure to rein in Saudi Arabia since Saudi agents killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi last month in their Istanbul consulate. The slaying has also brought renewed attention to the conflict in Yemen, which has killed thousands of civilians and driven the Arab worlds poorest country to the brink of famine.

But the Saudi-led coalition is unlikely to accept the current battle lines for long since they leave the Houthis in control of much of the country, including the capital, Sanaa, and the major port city of Hodeida. The two U.S. allies leading the coalition  Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates  have yet to comment on the proposal.

The rebels welcomed the calls for a truce as positive on Thursday, while urging international action to halt the Saudi-led air campaign, which has caused the bulk of civilian casualties.

Mohamed Ali Al-Houthi, a senior rebel leader, said those urging a cease-fire should translate their desire to bring peace in Yemen into action, stop the bombing of Yemenis immediately and lift the siege on Yemen.

The coalition has meanwhile been massing troops on the outskirts of the Red Sea port of Hodeida, the entry point for 70 percent of food imports and international aid, according to Yemeni officials, including some who are inside the city. Rebels meanwhile were taking up positions along the front lines. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief journalists.

UAE-led forces have been trying to capture the city for months, but have been halted on its outskirts by the Houthis, seasoned fighters who have held their ground despite years of heavy airstrikes.

The coalition has waged war on the Houthis since March 2015 in an effort to restore Yemens internationally-recognized government, whose authority has been largely confined to the southern city of Aden since the rebels seized Sanaa and much of northern Yemen in 2014. The war is widely seen as a proxy battle pitting Saudi Arabia and the UAE against Iran.

U.N. envoys have hosted several rounds of peace talks but have made no progress. The Saudi-backed government has demanded the Houthis withdraw from Sanaa and other areas, something the rebels have always refused to do.

The Yemeni government welcomed the cease-fire calls and said it was ready to discuss confidence-building measures, while accusing the Houthis of intransigence in past negotiations.

Sultan al-Samaey, a member of the Houthis Political Council, said the first step was to end the attacks by aggressor states which are supported by the United States of America. But he said that over the longer term, the rebels would only support a peace which will preserve our independence, without elaborating.

Saudi Arabia is unlikely to agree to any solution that would leave a Houthi-run entity on its southern border. The Houthis have repeatedly fired long-range missiles into Saudi Arabia, and have struck its capital, Riyadh.

Ordinary Yemenis have suffered immensely as the stalemated war has dragged on, but even so, many expressed skepticism about the Trump administrations calls for a cease-fire, especially one that would leave the country divided.

Ayoub al-Tamimi, a pro-Houthi political activist in Sanaa, said a cease-fire would plant land mines in the future of the region.

There is no solution that can come from (President Donald) Trump or the Democrats, only booby traps, he said.

In areas closer to the fighting, even a temporary reprieve would be welcome. The conflict in Yemen has so far killed an estimated 10,000 people and left around two-thirds of the population of 27 million relying on aid, with more than 8 million at risk of starvation.

The International Committee for the Red Cross said Wednesday that its team in Hodeida this week found dreadful living conditions for thousands of displaced families, who own only the clothes they wear and survive on a little rice or a thin mix of flour and water, if they find any food to eat at all.

We know this is out of humanitarian hands, we know this is a political issue, Avril Patterson, the ICRCs health coordinator in Yemen told the BBC on Thursday. We need cessation of hostilities so that the country can rebuild.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Thursday that an Australian company had discovered oil deposits on Zimbabwe's border with Mozambique.

Economists, however, said It was far too early for the fuel-challenged country to start popping champagne corks.

Mnangagwa said at an emergency press briefing that he had "important news for Zimbabwe."

"The government of Zimbabwe has over the last few months worked with Invictus Energy Limited to undertake oil and gas, he said. Invictus is utilizing data which was generated by Mobil Oil in the early 1990s, when extensive oil and gas geo work was undertaken in the great Muzarabani area. We have since been advised by Invictus that the findings are positive and point to gas and oil deposits."

Invictus Energy is based in Perth, Australia. On its website, it describes itself as "an independent oil and gas exploration company focused on high-impact energy resources in sub-Saharan Africa."

Zimbabwe's Energy Minister Winston Chitando said the oil and gas deposits are in a 200-square-kilometer area and are Africa's largest oil reserves discovered to date. He said that with proper funding, drilling and exploration would start by mid-2020.

The news came at a time when Zimbabwe is facing shortages of fuel, among other essentials.

Independent economist John Robertson offered a note of caution about the energy discovery.

"The drilling can take some years, because they go very deep and they have not got the equipment yet, he said. He also noted that the reported deposits lie in a very difficult area to work in and that a lot of money would have to be raised to set up rigs there. The people from whom they raise that money are the ones that need to be cautious. It is easy to promise that there will be good results, but sometimes very difficult to generate good results."

Invictus Energy officials at Mnangagwa's press briefing did not talk to reporters. The president said the company would give an update to its shareholders on Friday.
Andrew Mambondiyani, Thomson Reuters Foundation

MUTARE, Zimbabwe, (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Over the last decade, cattle farmers in the Zambezi Valley, in Zimbabwes Mashonaland West province, have noticed an odd thing.

Tsetse flies, once a major threat to their animals, have been slowly disappearing, resulting in fewer cattle deaths, they say.

When I first came to live in this area about 12 years ago, I lost a number of cattle due to diseases caused by tsetse flies, said Taurai Muindisi, a farmer in the provinces Chinhanga area.

But now, Im no longer losing my cattle. Tsetse flies are no longer a big problem in our area, he said.

Researchers now think they know what is going on: Hotter weather, the result of climate change, is making it much harder for tsetse flies to thrive.

A study published in the journal PLOS Medicine says that as temperatures have risen since the 1990s in the valley, tsetse fly numbers have plunged.

Data collected over 27 years at Mana Pools National Park suggests that hotter conditions are making it harder for tsetse flies to survive.

In 1990, researchers in the park captured more than 50 flies per animal each time they did a collection, the study noted. But by 2017, it took 10 catching sessions to find even one fly per animal.

Since 1975, average daily temperatures in the park have risen by about 1 degree Celsius, with that increase reaching 2 degrees Celsius in the hottest month, November, the study said.

That change suggests disease problems may decline as some long-suffering tsetse fly areas in Africa grow hotter - though they could surge in other new ones as the flies move, seeking cooler areas, Jennifer Lord, an author of the study, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Lord, of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, carried out the study with colleagues from the South Africas Stellenbosch University and the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich.

CLIMATE LINK

Tsetse flies carry trypanosomiasis, a parasite that causes a disease called nagana in livestock and sleeping sickness in humans.

The disease, which affects the nervous system, is a long-standing plague in Africa, causing fever, loss of appetite and in some cases death if untreated.

Found in 36 sub-Saharan African countries, it is a particular problem in nations such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, according to the World Health Organization.

Zimbabwes Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services says nagana can severely hurt livestock production in areas where tsetse flies are present.

But William Shereni, who heads the tsetse control division of the department, said he had also seen the flies become less of a problem in parts of Zimbabwe.

There is a decline in tsetse fly population. It is actually climate change; the tsetse flies are responding to global warming, he said.

Lord said potential changes in the distribution of tsetse flies, as a result of hotter conditions, would depend not only on temperatures but also where the animals and plants needed by the fly were available.

But for now, farmers in Mashonaland West say they are happy to see the flies disappearing in their area, and hope they will eventually be eradicated entirely.

Livestock deaths from diseases caused by tsetse flies are now rare in this area, said Marvellous Chirengwa, a farmer in the Doma area.

Reporting by Andrew Mambondiyani; editing by Laurie Goering
The United States is working to capitalize on what it regards as new leverage with Saudi Arabia to end the brutal civil war in Yemen and ease a regional standoff with Qatar, according to multiple US and diplomatic officials.

Seeing an opening created by the kingdom's new pariah status after the killing of a dissident journalist, US officials say the time is ripe to move on longstanding goals, including forcing an end to the Saudi-led bombing campaign that has prompted a humanitarian crisis in neighboring Yemen.

Continents and regions Crime, law enforcement and corrections Crimes against persons Criminal offenses Donald Trump Government and public administration Government bodies and offices Government organizations - US Homicide Middle East Middle East and North Africa Mike Pompeo Murder North America Political Figures - US Politics Saudi Arabia The Americas United States Unrest, conflicts and war US Congress US federal government White House Yemen Legislation International relations International relations and national security Treaties and agreements Jamal Khashoggi Misc people

The officials acknowledged that neither the Yemen war nor the dispute with Qatar can be solved quickly. But the administration hopes to make progress on both fronts by the end of the year, they said, and have recently stepped up public calls on Saudi Arabia to alleviate the disputes.

Calls for Yemen ceasefire

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo both this week called on participants in the Yemen civil war to agree to a ceasefire "in the next 30 days," a demand that comes amid fresh criticism of US support for the Saudi-led coalition in the conflict.

"Thirty days from now we want to see everybody around a peace table based on a ceasefire, based on a pullback from the border and then based on ceasing dropping of bombs," Mattis said at an event at the US Institute of Peace in Washington on Tuesday.

His call was later echoed by Pompeo, who issued a statement saying, "the United States calls on all parties to support UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths in finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Yemen."

Mattis and Pompeo both insisted that the US-backed Saudi-led coalition and the Iranian-aligned Houthis stop their respective aerial and missile bombardments.

The three-year conflict between Saudi-led coalition and their Iranian-backed enemies has devastated Yemen and killed at least 10,000 people. United Nations experts say that the coalition's bombing of civilians are potential war crimes and that its partial blockade of the country has put 13 million men, women and children in danger of starvation, in what could become the worst famine in 100 years.

Griffiths said the most pressing factor justifying the US call for a cease-fire was the threat of starvation: "The threat of famine is a very real threat and risks doubling the numbers of people in Yemen who are at risk of dying of hunger or famine. That's the urgent factor here."

Griffiths said he believed the US administration is taking this issue seriously, adding: "Secretary Mattis and Secretary Pompeo are on this day and night" but acknowledged "the challenge now is to turn this call into action."

Outrage over the situation has created increasing pressure on the US to pull its support for the coalition, which it provides in the form of military sales, training and refueling of coalition jets.

Saudi Arabia's belated admission that Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist and US resident, was murdered by a team with close ties to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has left the Trump administration -- including the President himself -- feeling stung by Saudi Arabia.

After initial strong denials, the kingdom has produced multiple explanations. Even after admitting that Khashoggi was murdered by men close to bin Salamn, the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said blaming Saudis for the US resident's death is "hysterical."

Speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue in Bahrain Saturday, al-Jubeir said, "This issue has become fairly hysterical. People have assigned blame on Saudi Arabia with such certainty before the investigation is complete. We have made it very clear that we are going to have a full and very transparent investigation, the results of which will be released."

Al-Jubeir met with Mattis on Sunday in Bahrain. The defense secretary told reporters traveling with him on his plane to Prague that he had discussed Khashoggi's death with the Saudi official. "We discussed it," Mattis said, "you know the same thing we talked about, the need for transparency, full and complete investigation, um, full, full agreement from FM Jubeir, no reservations at all, I said we need to know what happened."

Trump and senior adviser Jared Kushner, who is the President's son-in-law, placed a heavy reliance on the powerful crown prince for an overall strategy in the region, despite warnings that the young royal was untested and volatile.

While American officials previously expressed private displeasure at Mohammed's intervention in the Yemen war and the Saudi-ordered kidnapping of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, they mostly aired their grievances in private while maintaining in public that the alliance with Saudi Arabia was necessary to counter Iran's influence.

Trump is privately fuming

But Khashoggi's murder, and the ensuing coverup, have made it more difficult to keep those grievances private.

Trump has privately fumed at the Saudis for putting him in the situation of having to defend his decision to fastidiously cultivate a close relationship with Mohammed and his father, King Salman. He and his advisers are in agreement that forcing some kind of resolution on Yemen is a good way to make the best of a bad situation.

The Saudi stand-off with Qatar, which has fractured a security alliance importance to the US, has been another thorn in the Trump administration's side.

Asked Wednesday whether he felt betrayed by the Saudis, Trump suggested it was the kingdom's leaders that betrayed themselves.

"I just hope that it all works out. We have a lot of facts, we have a lot of things that we've been looking at," he said. "They haven't betrayed me. I mean, maybe they betrayed themselves. We'll have to see how it all turns out."

Trump has come to the belief in recent days that the American public is starting to catch on to the Yemen catastrophe, including through powerful images of starving children in the New York Times.

The Trump administration has been criticized by activists and some members of Congress for its support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen and for the administration's recent finding that the coalition was doing enough to avoid civilian casualties.

The US military provides the Saudi collation with training meant to help minimize civilian casualties, as well as aerial refueling of coalition warplanes.

Mattis said the "goal right now is to achieve a level of capability by those forces fighting against the Houthis, that they are not killing innocent people."

"We refuel probably less than ... I think 20% of their aircraft. They have their own refuelers, by the way," Mattis said.

Congressional pressure

A congressional source told CNN the Khashoggi murder has "put a face" on the broader problem related to the US-Saudi relationship and renewed momentum on Capitol Hill to push for legislation that would end US involvement in the war in Yemen.

Previous resolutions aimed at ending US involvement in the war in Yemen have failed to gain approval but various pieces of legislation proposed in recent months have received increasing support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, wrote in a recent op-ed that he plans to bring his resolution to end US involvement in the "unauthorized war" in Yemen back to the floor next month.

"Because of the privileged resolution that will come to a vote sooner or later and that is certainly something that's weighed on the administration," a senior congressional aide told CNN. "I am sure Mattis and Pompeo are well aware of that."

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna also cited Pompeo's statement in a press release touting his own bipartisan proposal in the House intended to align with the resolution Sanders is pushing in the Senate.

"It's about time. After more than three years of war, thousands dead, millions on the brink of starvation, and growing pressure from Congress, the Trump Administration is finally calling for an end to the Saudi-led war in Yemen," Khanna said in a statement. "We have tremendous leverage over the Saudi-led coalition and should demand this Administration do all in their power to bring both sides to the peace table and end the war."

The congressional source also told CNN that efforts to curtail US involvement in Yemen and pressure to respond to Khashoggi's murder are related in that they both provide evidence of the Saudi government's and in particular the crown prince's "recklessness."
The man responsible of killing Tiffany Ferguson, a Nashville nurse who graduated from the University of North Alabama, has just learned his sentence for the crime.

Christopher McLawhorn will spend the rest of his life in jail plus 14 years, according to WAAY 31's ABC affiliate in Nashville. Police say he stabbed 23-year-old Ferguson to death inside her condo in March of last year.



Tiffany Ferguson Tiffany Ferguson

According to police, McLawhorn was trying to break into cars and homes at the time of the murder. He was found guilty in september.
Heres a contest thats as wide open as they come, and I think the only time the Invite ran it was all the way back in 1995, in the pre-Empress days of the Czar. This week: Present a what if scenario and explain its effect, as in the examples above from Week 140.
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According to Hawaiian legend, Mauis Molokini Crater is the tail of a lizard whose body was cut in half by the goddess Pele. I imagine in the future, the story will be that this half-sunken caldera was engineered by the Hawaii Tourism Authority to resemble a set of arms thrown wide open toward Maalaea Bay, welcoming ships full of tourists. Nearly half a million visitors snorkel and scuba dive at the crater each year, lured by the promise of calm, crystalline waters with visibility often exceeding 150 feet. Once used for bomb practice by the U.S. military, this designated Hawaii Marine Life Conservation District is now home to some 250 fish species and 38 coral species. Snorkeling there, protected from wind and waves, you feel like youre in an aquarium, albeit one packed with other observers. At least half a dozen boats, some with as many as 140 passengers, moor off the crescent-shaped crater. For every rainbow-hued parrotfish chomping on cauliflower coral, there is at least one pasty skinned snorkeler wrapped in a yellow flotation belt distracting from the peacefulness under the sea.
If there were a year for flying with infants, this probably wouldnt be it. With several high-profile incidents such as Balas, and the continued absence of a regulation that would allow parents to sit next to their kids without paying extra, these are challenging times for babies on board. (In case you missed it, the Transportation Department has yet to issue a rule, as required by Congress, to ensure that a family that purchases tickets for a flight is seated together during that flight.)
Rose was an article clipper. She would sit at the bar and take out stories she had clipped from The Post that she thought someone should read. The Clydes staff had something for Rose, too: the purple drawstring bags that Crown Royal whisky comes in. Rose used the bags as purses, and Clydes would save them for her.
The candidates for each school board seat are the top two vote-getters in a crowded June primary that drew 18 candidates in all. In each race, the establishment-backed candidates won more votes in the primary than the younger candidates. But the younger slate has knocked on thousands of doors since then to introduce themselves to voters, trying to tap into dissatisfaction with the countys public schools and urging voters to change the status quo.
The university rehired Mr. Trister after he won the suit and after an accrediting body put sanctions on Ole Miss. During his brief return in 1970, he again found his way to the center of controversy, defending 93 black students who were arrested after protesting at an Up With People concert and who were taken to the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Despite calls for mass expulsions of protesters at Ole Miss and other universities, most Ole Miss students were allowed to resume their studies.
Bulgers death less than a day after he was transferred from a facility in Oklahoma has raised questions about why he was moved and what provisions were made for his safety and that of other prisoners. Bulger, arrested in 2011 after spending 16 years on the run, made many enemies when it was revealed that he had been both an organized-crime boss in the Boston-area and an FBI informant whose bureau handlers gave him wide leeway to commit crimes.
The mystery surrounding what befell the sisters has only deepened over the past week. New York City police said they are trying to piece together a two-month gap in the sisters lives after they disappeared in late August, and a medical examiner is still determining the cause and manner of their deaths. CBS News reported that the examiners office, which has declined to answer questions, has determined that the sisters were alive when they entered the water.
With two months left in the year, the District already has surpassed the 116 homicides recorded in 2017 and the 135 homicides in 2016. There were 162 people killed in the District in 2015, a year in which deadly violence surged over the summer, sparked fear among residents and raised questions about police strategies.
The factors researchers cite behind recent hate crimes are many: The manufacturing industry collapsed, and economic inequality widened, making life more financially precarious for many white men. Then when they turn on the television, the faces they see are no longer as white as they once were. The United States, meanwhile, elected its first black president. And underlying it all has been the deep anxiety that some whites feel over the prospect of losing their majority status, scheduled to happen sometime around 2045.
Neighbors say the trees began to disappear soon after Hudgens, who owns two other houses on the street and lives next door, bought the home. In January, the city removed three trees in treeboxes along the street, then last month he cut down a magnolia on his property and trimmed branches off another.
Comstock says she is running as an independent who breaks with Trump when necessary, cares about federal employees and worked to combat sexual harassment. She has embraced the slogan results, not resistance and said the vast majority of votes she has cast also had support of at least a few Democrats, including four to address the opioid crisis and 11 to cut government red tape.
I think hes tapped into some real feelings  with Trump and with the fact that because theres so much energy, some of the folks have gone to meetings and thought, Oh, we can actually win this thing,  Griffith said. And so people who used to give [Democrats] $20 are giving $200, and people that used to give $200 are giving $2,700.
The way we want to present locally to friends or others, it can be very different than the way we present ourselves on paper, Reid said. What often happens with someone whose psyche is fluid is they dont hold in their thoughts very well. So when they write, their inner thoughts just start pouring out.
U.S. missionary killed in Cameroon: An American missionary was fatally shot this week amid fighting between separatists and troops in northwest Cameroon. Charles Trumann Wesco had been in the region with his wife and eight children for nearly two weeks when he was killed. Cameroon's defense minister has cautioned foreigners against visiting the country's English-speaking northwest and southwest, where separatists are fighting for an independent state. The majority of Cameroonians speak French.
It is true what they say that these are three regimes that are horrible and deserve to be treated as pariahs, but nothing has worked so far, said former Venezuelan minister of industry and trade Moises Naim, now a distinguished fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Cuba has been a challenging issue for every administration since the Bay of Pigs invasion and no American president has been able to solve that puzzle. So lets see if they have come up with a new remedy, a new strategy, a new regional approach. Right now, we dont know.
Jan. 15, 2019 (BREITBART)  President Trump, using his expanding authority to revise the Constitution by executive action, ordered the summary deportation of all 11 million illegal immigrants by next week  just in time to keep his promise to have them out of the country within two years of taking office.
Along with more messages from that Big Three, lesser  though still distinguished  Democratic voices joined the chorus: former secretaries of state John F. Kerry and Madeleine K. Albright, Rep. Adam B. Schiff (Calif.) and last (well, probably not) but hardly least, Jimmy Carter, who Ill happily support as the best ex-president ever. Madeleine mentioned I had also been asked by Hillary Clinton, but I havent seen anything from her. Perhaps shes having trouble with her email server.
Finally, in 2019, many health-insurance companies are joining or expanding their presence on the ACA exchanges. CMS recently released a report showing that after declines in the number of insurers, 2019 will see 23 new insurance plans in the exchanges and an additional 29 plans that are expanding their geographies into new counties. Indeed, for 2019, the percentage of counties with only one insurer has dropped significantly, from 56 to 39 percent  all despite the individual-mandate repeal. That is pretty amazing, and it represents a vote of confidence by the insurance companies in the viability of the exchanges.
Democracies need to take immediate action to slow Chinas techno-dystopian expansionism. Governments should impose sanctions on companies that knowingly provide technology designed for repressive crackdowns in places such as Xinjiang. Legislators in the United States should reintroduce and pass the Global Online Freedom Act, which would direct the secretary of state to designate Internet-freedom-restricting countries and prohibit the export to those countries of any items that could be used to carry out censorship or repressive surveillance. The law would also require tech companies operating in repressive environments to release annual reports on what they are doing to protect human rights and freedom of information.
She doesnt bring up Trump and doesnt have to. Should her campaign and the Democrats prevail, she said, the victory will be about decency, modeling good behavior, being enthusiastic about who we are as a people and what this country has to offer; it will be about solving problems and working with other people and working across party lines. Citizens, she said, are tired of politicians who are just ideologues, and trying to stop things.
We have long accepted there should be no inquiry into whether a person came from the right race, cast or bloodline in establishing citizenship. Other nations may follow a different path. But our unique history has taught us that the bright-line fact of birth on U.S. soil is fundamental. No one can go back and find that your grandparents 1940 citizenship papers were incorrect, therefore they were not legally entitled to be citizens, therefore neither were their children and therefore neither are you. In the United States, every generation born here gets a fresh start.
That asymmetry contributes to a culture of dependency, convincing graduate students that they must obey the dictates of their advisers if they hope to obtain increasingly scarce jobs. It is also, at least in part, a response to the desires of tenured faculty members, hungry for disciples of their own, regardless of whether there are jobs for them. Inevitably, it results in a growing pool of academics who teach on an adjunct basis, frequently making less than minimum wage, without benefits, subsisting in patterns of unfair employment not unlike those of the church employees I knew growing up: financially insecure and thus susceptible to offers they cant refuse. With little practical training even in teaching, the implied career goal of many research fields, grad students who venture out of their discipline may appear overqualified to employers wary of the initials following their names, but they are usually underqualified, their concrete experience limited to the service jobs and freelance gigs keeping them afloat between terms. Those faithful who adjunct, whether by necessity or choice, commonly earn less than $5,000 per class, and in 2015 the University of California at Berkeley Labor Center reported that a quarter of part-time faculty members are on public assistance, further foreclosing their options and avenues of escape.
Walker has held one public office or another for the past quarter century. Asked why he needs a third term as governor, he said, I want to finish the job. By that, he said he meant focusing on developing and building a skilled workforce for the states growing economy. To do that, he said he is prepared to invest in worker training and education. My goal is not to just train and educate the workforce but to grow it, he said.
These groups have turned out at low rates in recent midterm elections. In 2014, 36 percent of eligible African Americans voted, along with 21 percent of Hispanics and 16 percent of people under age 30, according to the United States Elections Project. At the same time, 41 percent of whites cast ballots. And while some voters in these groups express heightened enthusiasm this year, it is unclear how much the electorates makeup will shift from previous years. Overall, voters who did not turn out in the 2014 midterms favor Democrats by 55 percent to 42 percent, while those who did vote split 49 percent to 48 percent in Republicans favor.
Two states that show a boost in voter participation so far this year are Florida and Nevada, which both feature competitive races for Senate and governor. In Nevada, a total of about 308,000 voters cast early, absentee or mail-in ballots in 2014, according to state data. As of early Wednesday, with three more days of in-person early voting to go, the figure for this year was at 463,016.
I dont want anyone to elect me because Im black, and I dont need anyone to pick my name because Im a woman, Abrams told an audience in Macon recently. But I need you to know that because Im a black woman, I understand the barriers to opportunity in the state of Georgia; because Im a black woman, I understand how hard you have to work sometimes to get as far as you can; and because Im a black woman, I know that when I make history, I make history with you.
There are no such communications, and if Bannon says there are he would be dissembling, Stone told The Washington Post, which reported Tuesday that Bannon had been asked about Stones interactions with the campaign in a recent interview with the Mueller team.
Officially, Trump officials are on the kind of government business thats part of the job. There was the town hall meeting with Perdue in Champaign, Ill., and the Energy Cybersecurity forum with Perry at the University of Texas. There was a ribbon cutting with Chao for a grant for carpool lanes in Santa Clarita, Calif., and a dedication ceremony with Zinke for a new national monument in Kentucky.
The rally was the first of two the media magnate is holding for Abrams on Thursday in one of the nations most closely watched gubernatorial races. If elected, Abrams would become the first black woman governor in U.S. history. She faces Republican Brian Kemp, who was appearing with Vice President Pence at a trio of events in the state Thursday.
We will not discuss hypothetical situations or specific measures within our rules on the use of force, but our forces are trained professionals who always have the inherent right of self-defense, said Lt. Col. Jamie Davis, a spokesman for the Pentagon. I would also emphasize that our forces are in support of DHS/CBP, who are performing law enforcement activities.
The theory about Soros funding the caravan dates to late March, when an earlier wave of migrants was heading north. The rumors circulated on Facebook groups and various right-wing websites, as well as on left-wing sites seeking to debunk them.
Before taking off for a campaign swing to Fort Myers, Fla., Trump also floated the idea of deploying as many as 15,000 troops to the border  just days after the Pentagon said it would send about 5,200 active-duty troops there, in addition to the 2,000 National Guard members already present. He also claimed without evidence that the population of immigrants in the country illegally could be as large as 25 million or 30 million. The nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute puts the estimated size of the undocumented population at 11.3 million.
The press uncovered the governments lies about the war in Vietnam; it exposed Watergate; it opened our eyes to the sexual abuse of children by priests; and, most recently, it shed a light on the sexual assault by numerous men in power, Romney wrote. The free press dispelled the false conspiracies about the 9/11 attacks, President Obamas birth, and Joe McCarthys lurking communists. The work of a free press is essential.
Trump won more than 68 percent of the vote in West Virginia  his largest share in any state  and he plans to campaign there Friday. Recent public polls show Manchin leading Morrisey by single digits. Republicans have privately voiced some pessimism about the race during the past several weeks, although the Democratic-led Senate Majority PAC remains on the air.
Its airlines were banned from flying to the United States in 2007 because they were deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping, or inspection procedures, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The FAA lifted the ban in 2016 after the countrys airlines showed signs of improvement. The European Union similarly barred Indonesian carriers from flying into European airspace from 2007 until June.
Click, click, click was the most horrible sound I ever heard, Yoon was quoted as saying in the report. It was the sound of the key of the cell of our prison room opening. Every night a prison guard would open the cell. I stood still quietly, acting like I didnt notice, hoping it wouldnt be me the one to have to follow the guard.
Last year, Moro found Lula guilty of corruption and money laundering as part of the investigation. In April, he sent Lula to jail to serve a 12-year sentence after his appeals were denied, a move that plucked him out of a presidential race in which he was the front-runner and cleared a path to the presidency for Bolsonaro, a fringe politician from a tiny party. Lula and many of his supporters called the investigation a politically motivated witch hunt to remove him from the race.
One of the Bad Boys of Brexit who have come under scrutiny for ties to Russia and the Trump presidential campaign, Banks was famously pictured with President Trump and the Euroskeptic British politician Nigel Farage at Trump Tower soon after Trump was elected. In Britain, parliamentary investigators have probed his dealings with the Russian ambassador in London, which Banks has described as routine business exchanges.
Other officials at the State Department and Pentagon, however, have said the options under consideration could include a clear discipline of the Saudi government or a demand to end the Saudi-led blockade of Qatar or wind down the war in Yemen. Officials cautioned that no decision has been made, and Trump has expressed little desire to significantly alter U.S.-Saudi relations, but there is an interest in a full vetting of the potential options.
Its hard not to think there is some kind of association here, said Seche, the former U.S. ambassador. Something other than just a sudden desire to see war end. A wave of indignation that has swept over Saudi Arabia because of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi has got to have some impact on our thinking, given our close association with the Saudis in Yemen as the preferred supplier of weapons and logistical support. It implicates the United States in this humanitarian crisis. Its time to get ahead of the wave.
Turkish officials had wanted the Saudi delegation to reveal the location of Khashoggis body, identify what Saudi officials said was a local collaborator who disposed of the remains and reveal who ordered the killing. At the very least, the Turkish official said, Fidan expected the Saudi prosecutor to provide statements from the suspects. Saudi authorities last month said they had arrested 18 people for their alleged involvement Khashoggis death.
Meaza Ashenafi was a judge on Ethiopias High Court from 1989 to 1992 and then an adviser to a commission writing up its new constitution. She also founded the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association and helped start the first womens bank in the country, Enat Bank.
The soothing soundtrack of wind chimes and frog choruses will melt away your troubles, leaving you physically and mentally cleansed with a psyche impervious to lifes stresses. Jill Stark was asked if she was going to Bali to "find herself", a mythical achievement that has had the hard marketing sell in recent years. Credit:Jill Stark Its a lot of pressure for a holiday. And yet, this romantic notion of the nomadic heroine throwing off the shackles of modern life to find emotional clarity sucked me in for years. So many trips were taken with the belief that theyd be so transformative Id emerge as a barefoot goddess of serenity. Id tell myself, this time it will be different. This time Ill find peace.

When my time away invariably failed to exact any lasting change and I still grappled with the self-doubt and anxiety Id struggled with since childhood, Id wonder what was wrong with me. Loading If Cheryl Strayed could go from lost to found on her hike along the Pacific Crest Trail in her memoir Wild, why couldnt I find myself on my travels? This endless quest for fulfilment has been a cash cow for the booming "wellness" industry, which has successfully commodified the fragility of the human condition by convincing us we can escape our worries with the swipe of a credit card. Its a business model that capitalises on our tendency to go looking for spiritual awakening when we are at our most vulnerable, grasping for an easy escape from our discomfort.

But the truth is, finding yourself is a far more complex process than booking into a luxury hinterland resort or embarking on a cold pressed juice cleanse as you #liveyourbestlife in an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. Taking a break might provide temporary respite (for those who can afford it) but when we return, the household chores and bills are still there. And inevitably, so are our problems. Despite what the wellness gurus would have us believe, we cant outsource our emotional labour to a travel agent. The greatest journey of self-discovery I ever embarked on did not involve a change of scenery. It required an unflinching examination of my inner landscape, and the courage to not look away from the ragged parts of me that will always be there no matter where I travel.

It has been four years since I suffered an epic mental health breakdown that I nearly didnt survive. In rebuilding myself from the ground up, I peeled back the layers of my identity, trying to reconcile the successful, well-adjusted woman the world saw with the scared and broken human I knew myself to be. I know now that I cant leave my emotional baggage by the front door while I take a vacation. But I can learn to carry it with grace. During those early months, when it was a struggle to get through the day, I bunkered down at a friends house by the beach, in the hope that its tranquillity would provide respite. But when your brain is set to panic mode, the gentle summer breeze could be whispering sweet nothings and playing pan pipe lullabies and you still wouldnt be able to relax.

After a lot of hard work in therapy  which Im acutely aware is a luxury many people simply cant afford  I have reached a place where I know and like myself more than I ever have, flaws and all. I know now that I cant leave my emotional baggage by the front door while I take a vacation. But I can learn to carry it with grace. And it starts with acknowledging there is no quick solution for life's big questions. While holidays can offer the space to reflect, foster creativity and cultivate solitude, it takes commitment to practise these things amid the stresses and mundanity of everyday life. For me, it means carving out time to meditate, or visiting my local park and listening to the wind whistle through the leaves of the ancient English elms while I let my bare feet feel the grounding energy of the earth. It means giving myself permission to rest when Im tired and going on solo dates to make sure Im more connected to myself than I am to my phone.
Australians with a rare genetic condition, that can kill sufferers in the most severe cases by the age of 50, will now have free access to a next-generation medication that usually costs hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

Health Minister Greg Hunt will on Thursday announce Galafold (migalastat) has been added to the federal governments Life Saving Drugs Program (LSDP) for the treatment of Fabry disease.

Lea Chant has been taking the drug Galafold to treat Fabry disease. Credit:Janie Barrett

Lea Chant, 55, has taken Galafold as a clinical trial participant for the past eight years.

She and her son Christopher were diagnosed with Fabry disease and the same mutation when Christopher was six-months-old.
The owner of Queensland fish-and-chip shop The Battered Wife says she had to close the shop for the night after a barrage of prank calls and abuse left her fearing for the safety of her young staff.

The furore came after a campaign against the Innisfail business erupted on social media, with The Red Heart Campaign calling for people to boycott the business, writing "there is nothing funny about domestic violence or violence against women".

State politicians on Wednesday denounced the controversial name of the shop, which has the motto "The only battering anyone need know".

But The Battered Wife owner Carolyn Kerr, a former police officer who had seen many examples of domestic violence before becoming a victim herself, said on Facebook the issue was not a joke.
"We do not know any of the circumstances of what may have happened up there." Two people who knew the couple, however, believe they may have been trying to take a photo. The high school sweethearts, who wed in 2014, ran a travel blog called "Holidays & HappilyEverAfters" and boasted an Instagram following of more than 17,800 people. Born in India, the pair had lived in New York until recently moving to California where Viswanath - when he wasn't traveling - worked as a software engineer for Cisco Systems in San Jose, the Mercury News reported.

"Diagnosed with the 'curious case of interminable travel bug' and a huge believer of 'happily-ever-afters', we will share with y'all, our holiday escapades, travel hacks, tips (and quips!)," read one post on their blog, which has since been taken down. Their Instagram account is filled with photos of exotic subjects, including the pristine white sand beaches of the Maldives and Italy's Florence Cathedral. The couple also commemorated their anniversary in dramatic fashion, with a hot-air balloon ride in 2016 and skydiving last year. "Hurling myself out of a perfectly functioning airplane was a dream forever for this pink-haired daredevil," Moorthy wrote in the caption of the video from the skydiving excursion. Fittingly, she wore a T-shirt with the words "GIMME DANGER." 'Living life on the edge' A number of photos show Moorthy posing near the edge of sharp cliffs, no guardrails in sight. On Facebook, Viswanath's cover photo is a picture of him and his wife at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon standing on a high rock outcropping with their arms extended wide and huge smiles on their faces.

'Please be careful' Raj Katta, who has known the pair for three years, told The Washington Post in a phone interview he also thought snapping a photo was "possibly the reason" his friends fell. Katta, a 24-year-old data engineer in New York, met Vishnu Viswanath at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where they were both completing a masters program in computer science. Katta said he never expected this to happen to Viswanath and Moorthy. "They're adventurous, but they always were thoughtful," he said. "They know what they're doing, they always had, but one instance changed everything."
Rio de Jaineiro: The mother of murdered Brazilian woman Cecilia Haddad has broken down in tears in a Rio court as she told of a frantic final phone conversation with her daughter in Sydney before she disappeared.

Milu Muller, 70, said that during the call she heard her daughter's former boyfriend Mario Marcelo Ferreira dos Santos Santoro, 40, who is accused of Haddad's murder, banging on the apartment door.

The body of 38-year-old Cecilia Haddad was found along the Lane Cove river in Woolwich. Credit:Facebook

"I could tell his voice clearly," she said.

"He was shouting 'open the door' and 'I want to talk to you.' Cecilia told him she did not want to talk and twice threatened to call the police."
Engaged Learning Series to Discuss Online Fact Checking

November 1, 2018

OGDEN, Utah  Weber State University will host Michael Caulfield of Washington State University for Citizen Fact-Checking in the Digital Age Nov. 8 at 10:30 a.m. in Shepherd Union Ballroom C.

Caulfield, head of the American Democracy Projects Digital Polarization Initiative (called DigiPo for short), will discuss how especially during elections, it is easy to misinterpret and misconstrue topics and issues online. DigiPo is a national effort to encourage college students to fact check and build their web literacy and civic involvement by analyzing and providing context for the information they see on social media feeds in particular.

Online literacy is an important skill, but with so much misinformation cluttering social media and other online sources, it can be difficult for people to develop online literacy skills, said Teresa Martinez, Continuing Education program coordinator.

Caulfields lecture is sponsored by the American Democracy Project and the Engaged Learning Series. WSUs Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) hosts the Engaged Learning Series (ELS) each year. ELS is a university-wide series of events designed to engage students, faculty, staff and community in discussion, debate, dialogue, learning and action around an issue of public concern. This years ELS theme, Matter of Fact? challenges people to think critically about fact and opinion, credible sources, how to articulate fact and why science, logic and history matter. The series offers a variety of events including lectures, musical performances, conferences and symposiums, lectures and more.

The Caulfield lecture is free for all, and snacks will be provided.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Contributed / Contributed Photo

WESTPORT  A Bridgeport man previously arrested in Westport for drunken driving and giving police a fake name at a car stop has failed to appear in court, police said.

In August 2017, Faru Ugorji-Ufomaduh fell asleep at the wheel while intoxicated and crashed into a guardrail near Nyala Farms in the early morning, police said. Then in June of this year, Ugorji-Ufomaduh, 27, was arrested by Westport officers again after he was pulled over on Greens Farms Road for allegedly talking on his phone while driving and giving police a fake name.
(This article was published at www.ImmigrationReform.com. Published here with permission.) A group of congressional Democrats is complaining about Texas Operation Lone ...

(This article was previously published at www.ImmigrationReform.com. Published here with permission.) If the Biden administration carries out threats to fire...
As one of Winnipegs more accomplished fight directors, Jacqueline Loewen appreciates the irony that accompanies her work choreographing stage combat.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/11/2018 (1114 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As one of Winnipegs more accomplished fight directors, Jacqueline Loewen appreciates the irony that accompanies her work choreographing stage combat.

THEATRE PREVIEW Click to Expand Vietgone

RMTC Warehouse

To Nov. 17

Tickets $22 to $41 at 204-942-6537 or royalmtc.ca

"Im a Mennonite, so I do pretend violence really well," she says. "But as a pacifist, I couldnt commit any of that violence myself."

Loewen, 36, has been busy lately on Winnipeg stages, planning and choreographing skirmishes in a diversity of shows, including the August Rainbow Stage production of Beauty and the Beast, the Prairie Theatre Exchange production of Prairie Nurse and now what may be one of her most challenging assignments: directing a four-minute kung-fu donnybrook in the MTC Warehouse production of Vietgone.

The play by Vietnamese-American playwright Qui Nguyen  himself a fight director  is the story of how Nguyens own parents came from Vietnam to America, but its filtered through a comic/comic-book lens.

Jacqueline Loewen (centre) works with actors Stephanie Sy (left) and Simu Liu (right), during a rehearsal. (Mike Deal photos / Winnipeg Free Press)

Nguyen has carved a specialty out for himself with theatre that reflects his own love of genre movies, with titles such as Alice in Slasherland, Living Dead in Denmark and Soul Samurai.

Vietgone is a work that shows the considerable range of skills needed for the field of fight choreography, especially compared with Prairie Nurse, a comedy in which the violence was limited to a minute or so onstage wherein old-timer handyman Charlie (played by Robb Patterson) administered a two-punch whupping on a confused hospital worker whom Charlie believes has been toying with the affections of a young immigrant nurse.

Loewen with actor Fernandes.

"I would describe it as a very functional gag," Loewen says, using the term the pros use for "stunt."

"The violence in that particular show is slapsticky and its meant to be one comic beat within the context of the story," she says. "And so I do that and try to match the style with what the director is coming in with so that it doesnt feel like two different plays."

That same dynamic comes into play for Vietgone but dialled to 11.

"Its not a gag," she says. "We timed the full run of the fight and its four minutes.

"Not only is it a fight sequence, its a very story-driven and stylistic part of the show," she says. "Instead of the violence being a tiny little component within the larger scene, this is the story of the scene itself."

Loewen says Nguyen himself cues the performers to the demands of the scene in the script.

"Not only is it a fight sequence, its a very story-driven and stylistic part of the show," Loewen said.

"The stage direction is something like: They break out the most badass fight sequence ever seen on any stage ever, " she says with a laugh. "That gives you some idea of the style that hes going for."

The shows director, Robert Ross Parker, co-founded the New York company Vampire Cowboys Theatre with Nguyen and they are attuned to each others styles, Loewen says.

"What the director had wanted was, instead of going into a realistic fight, we talked about how theres a point at which it makes a whole lot of sense for the realism to stop and for a very heightened, almost 1970s Blaxploitation kind of kung-fu fight sequence to come in with all the sound effects.

"For my part, thats way, way more fun," she says, adding that the task required viewing "a bunch of kung fu videos to see the tropes and to see why those storytelling elements are there."

"Im a Mennonite, so I do pretend violence really well," Loewen said.

Local comedy fans will recognize Loewen for her time with the local sketch troupe Hot Thespian Action, before she amicably parted ways with the company to seek her fortune in Vancouver.

But she has returned to Winnipeg to resume her career here, and she says Vancouver did give her a larger sense of her capabilities.

"When I was in Vancouver, I heard the term theatre maker, which I really like," she says. "It feels really big in terms of the way I can place myself  being a part of making the myriad aspects of theatre, whether performatively, or in the writing part or in the fight-choreography part, or anything like that.

"The stage direction is something like: They break out the most badass fight sequence ever seen on any stage ever, " Loewen laughs.

"Im finding in my own work that what Im interested in comes out in all of those aspects."

She comes back at an interesting time in Winnipeg theatre, with newly minted artistic directors  Carson Nattrass and Thomas Morgan Jones installed at Rainbow Stage and Prairie Theatre Exchange, respectively, and a new AD, Kelly Thornton, on the horizon at RMTC.

Loewen got to know Jones at a workshop and says she was pleased to meet someone whose tastes lined up with her own. "Im very excited that theres somebody in charge of the theatre in Winnipeg who is more interested in not just basic realism, so thats cool."

Thornton, she says, "seems to have a lot of interest in new works and development and she has a really broad sense of experience that we dont have here.

"Im very excited."

Loewen has returned to Winnipeg to resume her career here, and says Vancouver did give her a larger sense of her capabilities.

randall.king@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @FreepKing

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The Werewolves of Lundar that Rocki Rolletti (a.k.a. Peter Jordan) used to sing about don't seem to be a problem anymore, but the real wolves are.

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This article was published 31/10/2018 (1115 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Werewolves of Lundar that Rocki Rolletti (a.k.a. Peter Jordan) used to sing about don't seem to be a problem anymore, but the real wolves are.

Wolves are feasting on Manitoba-grown beef across the province like never before and the Interlake area north of Lundar may be the worst hit.

Between Eriksdale and Gypsumville on the east side of Lake Manitoba, there were insurance claims filed for 143 wolf kills on livestock, mostly cattle, for a total payout of $133,000 in the 2017-18 fiscal year that ended in March.

That's up from 48 claims the year before and $44,000 in compensation.

There were 472 claims for wolf kills across the province in 2017-18, which may be a record. Since April 1 of the current year, there have already been 326 claims.

However, some producers estimate the real kill rate is at least 10 times that. The catch for farmers is they have to produce something left over from a slaughtered cow to make a claim.

But wolves aren't a wasteful lot and typically eat and lick up every trace of a kill. Wolves in the Interlake are said to run from 20 to 28 animals in a pack that fight over every last morsel of a succulent calf.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES There were 472 claims for wolf kills across the province in 2017-18, which may be a record.

"This is the rub," said farmer Glen Metner, who ranches with his brother Robert near Moosehorn in the Interlake. "When wolves kill a calf, there's no sign that calf had ever been eaten. It's gone."

The Metners have lost 23 animals this year, 22 calves and one cow. That's out of about 350 animals.

They've been able to make only one claim; they found a few remnants of a calf.

For the Metners, 21 calves and one cow is easily a $25,000 loss right off the top. Then there are all the abortions they expect because their cows have been stressed by wolves, and the expected increase in "open cows" that don't become pregnant, again due to stress. They estimate losing $60,000 in total last year from seven calf kills, plus 53 aborted calves and an increase in open cows.

"That's quite a hit but what can we do about it? I'm a director with the Manitoba Beef Producers and we're trying to lobby the government for some kind of plan," said Robert. The Metners never lost more than two or three calves to predation before 2006.

One rancher in the area has lost 10 calves out of a herd of 120 animals, the Metners said. And another rancher north of the Metners lost about 30 cattle, according to the Manitoba Beef Producers Association.

"It's a huge problem" and a top priority for the association, manager Brian Lemon said. Farmers are losing five to 10 per cent of their herds in some parts of the province.

"It's hard to imagine, in a margin-based industry, that you can just take out that revenue and expect producers to continue. I know I couldn't afford that," said Lemon.

AP PHOTO/DAWN VILLELLA, FILE Wolves in the Interlake are said to run from 20 to 28 animals in a pack.

Other regions hit hard by wolves include the North Parkland and in southeastern Manitoba. In some parts of the province cattle are being killed by bears, he said.

It's not that producers don't love wildlife, he said. A big reason they choose to farm is for the love of the outdoors.

"We accept that predation is part of our industry, but it's gotten worse," he said. "We need to have a balance."

The typical way to combat wolves is to hire a trapper, something many farmers have tried. But wolves are smart animals. As Glen Metner found, trapping seems to snare only the young wolves, not the smarter, older animals that lead their packs.

The problem is trapping is costly, time-consuming and not always effective. As well, the pelts are worthless in summer and fall, not until wolves get their winter coats. It simply doesn't pay. Cattle producers would like government incentives to make it worthwhile.

British Columbia boosted the price of a problem wolf so high that it finally enticed trappers to take out an entire pack, in one case.

There also needs to be study and a management strategy. "It's the bigger issue of trying to find a way so these wolves have somewhere else to go, without being under so much pressure to come into the livestock area," said Tom Teichroeb, who farms near Langruth on the west side of Lake Manitoba and is the beef producers' president.

The beef producers recently put together a working group to study the issue further.

Provincial government officials did not return requests for comment.

Farmers are allowed to shoot a wolf on their property but the animals are rarely spotted. The Metners graze on 38 quarter-sections, for a total of 6,000 acres, or about 10 square miles. That's a lot of terrain over which to protect cattle.

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca
CHURCHILL  Residents breathed a collective yet bittersweet sigh of relief as a visiting first minister delivered news they'd been waiting too long to hear Thursday.

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This article was published 1/11/2018 (1114 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CHURCHILL  Residents breathed a collective yet bittersweet sigh of relief as a visiting first minister delivered news they'd been waiting too long to hear Thursday.

After about 17 months out of service, the Hudson Bay Railway is back on track and will be carting passengers and freight to Manitoba's northern hub by the end of November, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced.

He also pledged more than $3.8 million for 40 projects geared at helping revitalize Churchill through tourism and other initiatives.

"You all know too well the kind of far-reaching consequences this has had on your community," Trudeau said. "Prices surged, projects had to be put on hold, plans had to be delayed. Families, students, workers and shop owners were left stranded... I know times have been incredibly tough, but the resilience and determination you have shown has been inspiring.

"You organized town halls, you made your voices heard and when things werent moving fast enough, you put pressure on everyone involved," he added. "You did everything you needed to do to make sure we got this done and that we got this done right."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged more than $3.8 million for 40 projects aimed at helping revitalize Churchill. (John Woods / The Canadian Press)

In May 2017, flooding washed out 29 parts of the railway. Former owner Omnitrax refused to make repairs, leaving the community in the lurch for months without an overland link; goods needed to be shipped in by air or sea.

On Aug. 31, a new ownership team, Arctic Gateway Group, took over operations, making the required fixes within 35 days.

A test run Wednesday evening saw the first locomotives arrive in town, sending Halloween trick-or-treaters dashing toward the now-unfamiliar sound of a train rolling into the station.

"As soon as that train honked, that was it  no more kids," said port worker Melvin Spence, who was supposed to be handing out candy, but didn't mind keeping some for himself.

"I think that was a nice present for all the kids, having the train come."

Khalee Palmer, 16, had been stressed during her entire senior high school year, waiting for the trains to arrive.

Patricia Kandiurin burns an Omnitrax banner at a party celebrating the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill. (John Woods / The Canadian Press)

"My biggest thing right now is I think a lot of people in town are mad at Justin," she said. "My Grade 12 year would have been so different had they just put the money into fixing (the tracks), you know? They had the resources, they had the power  they just didnt.

"And I think a lot of us are feeling upset because (Trudeau) definitely was helping us, but he was helping us behind closed doors. So unless you knew he was doing it, all we saw was that we were struggling."

Word of the teenager's critiques at a town hall meeting earlier this year made its way back to Trudeau, who quoted from her in his remarks to the community Thursday.

The prime minister addressed hundreds at a street party he crashed on Kelsey Boulevard organized to celebrate the handiwork of the rail crew, residents said.

"I dont consider it a Trudeau celebration. I mean, yeah he gave us money, but it shouldnt have took that long," said Patricia Kandiurin, who threw an Omnitrax banner she'd hung on to for three years into a community bonfire.

Churchill-Keewatinook Aski MP Niki Ashton agreed that it was a relief to have rail service restored, but said Ottawa ought to have acted sooner.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau enjoys some bannock at a street party in Churchill after announcing the re-opening of the repaired railway, which will start transporting passengers and goods by the end of the month. (John Woods / The Canadian Press)

"It didnt have to be this way. Clearly the repairs could have been done faster than they were," the New Democrat said from Ottawa.

The Liberals did not invite her to accompany the prime minister to her riding, and there were no representatives from the provincial government, either. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Arlen Dumas was present, however.

"Churchill is a gem; its invaluable to our country," Ashton said. "Really, it's a community that requires the government to partner with it, to truly reach the potential that it deserves."

She also added that taxpayers deserve more answers on whether Omnitrax was paid or allowed to abandon its legal liabilities in the federal deal that transferred the railway and port into local hands.

Mayor Mike Spence emphasized how encouragement from across Canada helped Churchill citizens feel they weren't forgotten. "Know I'm Here" became the town's unofficial motto, freshly painted on a mural across the old navy base and printed on T-shirts and signs.

"People across Canada sent strong messages of support telling us clearly that they knew we were here, a very powerful message to us," Spence said.

The entire town of Churchill came out to greet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Thursday. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

"We knew that once we got through this, we would be positioned for a greater and greater future, not just for us, but for Canadas North."

At the street party, staff from the local school considered when they might know whether Churchill has truly bounced back after this year-and-a-half-long stalemate. It will be at least a few years before the town can properly analyze the results of the rail's absence and return, said educational assistant Ted Fenner.

"It was weird how emotional (the train arrival) was," he said. "You don't realize how important something is until it's gone."

jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @_jessbu

 With files from Dylan Robertson
OTTAWA  The head of the CBC is telling private-market competitors to back off on attacks against the public broadcaster, saying media need to collaborate on news to undercut the rise of misinformation.

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OTTAWA  The head of the CBC is telling private-market competitors to back off on attacks against the public broadcaster, saying media need to collaborate on news to undercut the rise of misinformation.

"Attacking each other is not a solution," said Catherine Tait, president and CEO of both CBC and Radio-Canada. "In order to ensure trust, we must work together."

She also said the CBC might change its peculiar accounting practices, which obfuscate how much taxpayer cash goes to digital offerings.

In a keynote speech at an Ottawa telecommunications conference, Tait said media ought to collaborate to prevent fake news and disinformation from shaking Canadian politics.

She did not offer specifics, but told reporters that CBC could share resources with its competitors instead of "sending out seven trucks to the same location" for simple press conferences.

"I think we're all realizing that the days of straight-up competition in the domestic market simply don't make economic sense," she said.

Tait told the conference Canadians should subscribe to newspapers. She similarly suggested Parliament might close loopholes that have allowed foreign giants to take money out of Canada's media market without investing domestically.

Senators and advocates have called on Ottawa to stop allowing Canadian businesses to write off advertising on foreign social-media platforms, which has undermined Canadian media organizations.

"We all have financial challenges, but it's not public broadcasting that is hurting private media in Canada. Making the public broadcaster smaller or weaker won't stop the Googles and Facebooks of the world, or the spread of disinformation," she said.

Taits remarks come just days after a torrent of criticism over the CBCs decision to air murder mysteries and baking shows on television instead of municipal election coverage, opting for radio broadcasts and live coverage on social media.

The 1991 Broadcasting Act says the network's mandate is to "provide radio and television services" that reflect the country, but that CBC "programming" should "be made available throughout Canada by the most appropriate and efficient means and as resources become available for the purpose."

Thats led critics to insist the CBC has no business moving its duty to inform off of conventional broadcasting, while Tait and others say the network ought to focus on online offerings to reach more Canadians.

In September 2016 testimony to Parliament, the founder of the site iPolitics, James Baxter, called the CBC "an uber-predator" for putting the bulk of its resources in markets that are already competitive, producing free news that leaves "a profoundly chilling effect" on upstarts trying to charge for content.

After her speech, Tait said shed be open to having the CBC provide more transparency over how it uses its annual $1.2 billion of taxpayer cash.

She noted that the CRTC just renewed its licence, and on the next renewal  scheduled for fall 2020  she would provide more data if the regulator asked CBC to do so.

"We really respond to the CRTC requirements and we'll look at that for sure. And there's a lot of interest in looking at digital," she told the Free Press.

Canadian law only compels broadcasters to report their spending for radio and television programming, not their online offerings. Meanwhile, the CBC reports its spending on two separate timelines, receiving its funding on fiscal years starting in April, and reporting its spending to the CRTC each August.

Comparing each 2017 figure shows that $209 million of the parliamentary stipend isn't accounted for in either the radio or TV spending reported four months later. Critics believe that means the network spent that much money on digital services.

But Carleton University communications Prof. Dwayne Winseck cautions that the two numbers cant be directly compared, because of the four-month summer gap which can include major broadcasting events like the Olympics.

He sees a lack of transparency in the CBCs budgeting. "The CBC has historically and recently been notoriously bad at this, which really cuts against the grain of them being a good, public-service media provider," Winseck said.

Similarly, the CBC reported a drop of 1,100 full-time staff working in television from 2016 to 2017, but a 342 increase in overall employees. That makes it unclear if the CBC has more than a thousand employees dedicated to online content.

Speaking generally, Tait noted that CBC reporters often file content used for radio, television and online reports. "We approach our news as multi-platform."

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
STARTING today, if you put your cellphone to your ear while driving in Manitoba you might say goodbye to $672 and hello to five demerit points  and lose your vehicle for three days.

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This article was published 1/11/2018 (1115 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

STARTING today, if you put your cellphone to your ear while driving in Manitoba you might say goodbye to $672 and hello to five demerit points  and lose your vehicle for three days.

But Manitobas new distracted driving law still isnt the toughest law in the land; Prince Edward Island has that honour.

The provinces new distracted driving law takes effect on Nov. 1, and features a fine jump for using a hand-operated electronic device from driving to $672 from $200, a new three-day licence suspension, an increase in demerit points to five from two, and a new $50 licence reinstatement fee.

The law requires drivers to "immediately surrender their drivers licence at roadside" with police officers issuing a temporary driving permit, lasting 24 to 48 hours, so the driver can get to where they are going or get their vehicle home before the suspension begins.

The legislation also adds that if a driver is caught a second time or more within a 10-year period, the licence suspension increases to seven days.

"The growing threat of distracted driving has led our government to take important action," Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Our government is taking serious measures because people are not putting their cellphones down and are engaging in other distracted behaviours while driving."

As well, Crown Services Minister Colleen Mayer said in a statement "our government is determined to reduce the growing threat posed by distracted because we are focused on keeping Manitobans safe.

"By using public education, legislation and enforcement, we are working together with Manitoba Public Insurance to change the public perception and make distracted driving a socially unacceptable as impaired driving."

Distracted driving can lead to both deaths and collision claims.

Insurance company Aviva Canada said in a recent report that even though provinces have been cracking down in recent years with increased fines and penalties, distracted driving claims had increased 23 per cent across the country from 2016 to 2018.

Erika Miller, a spokeswoman for CAA Manitoba, said while the auto club is pleased with Manitobas new law, it believes more should be done to eliminate the problem.

"CAA supports the increase, absolutely," Miller said.

"We think raising the fine is one way to make it clear to Manitobans distracted driving has a consequence. It might give people pause for getting them to put their phone in their purse or trunk before getting behind the wheel.

"Its a good step in the right direction."

But Miller said the government should continue cracking down.

"We need to see a culture switch in society for all cell phone use behind the wheel. It took a long time for seatbelt use. Strengthening the penalties and fines is a good way to discourage that kind of behaviour... we have to remember that hands free is not distraction free."

Brian Smiley, a spokesman for Manitoba Public Insurance, said the vehicle insurer agrees with the increase in penalties.

"Our position is this has a very, very strong message to drivers that they need to focus on the task at hand  driving," Smiley said.

"Put down the phone because the penalties are stiff and punitive."

Smiley said last year in Manitoba distracted driving was responsible for 30 deaths and 15,000 drivers were fined for it.

Miller said the CAA tracks hand-held phone legislation across the country.

Currently, P.E.I., which as fines ranging from $575 to $1,275, has the highest possible fines in the country, along with five demerit points.

Ontario, which has fines ranging from $490 to $1,000, and three demerit points, has proposed an increase to up to a $3,000 fine, six demerits for a second and subsequent offences, and 30 days licence suspensions for a third and subsequent offences.

Other maximum fines across the country are British Columbia at $543 for a first offence and $888 for a second offence, Alberta at $287, Saskatchewan at $280, the Yukon at $500, Quebec at $300 to $600, New Brunswick at $173, Nova Scotia at $233 to $578, and Newfoundland and Labrador at $300 to $1,000.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
The Progressive Conservative government should delay passage of its night hunting bill for six months to carry out meaningful consultations with Indigenous Peoples  or face a likely court challenge, a legislative committee was told.

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This article was published 1/11/2018 (1115 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Progressive Conservative government should delay passage of its night hunting bill for six months to carry out meaningful consultations with Indigenous Peoples  or face a likely court challenge, a legislative committee was told.

Joseph Maud, representing nine Treaty 2 First Nations and a territory of 22 million acres, said the government has yet to engage in "serious sit-down discussions" with First Nations.

"We have a lot to be talking about together. Why arent we talking?" he told MLAs at a public hearing Wednesday evening.

Bill 29, as it stands, is "contrary to the Constitution of Canada" as well as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Maud said.

"Why act in a way which will cause us to challenge this bill in the courts  to challenge it successfully at the end of the day?" Maud said.

Bill 29 would establish a general prohibition against night hunting in Manitoba.

However, Indigenous Peoples could continue to hunt at night under certain conditions.

In southern Manitoba, hunters would have to apply for permits to hunt in designated areas. Those who disobey would face a minimum $3,000 fine.

In northern Manitoba, there would be fewer limitations, mainly near populated areas.

The Progressive Conservatives promised to curtail what they called "unsustainable and unsafe" night hunting practices in Manitoba during the 2016 election campaign.

There have been deaths and several close calls because of night hunting in recent years, with farmers complaining of cattle and farm buildings being shot and fields damaged by hunters.

DANIEL CRUMP / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Councillor Scott Phillips of the RM of Sifton who spoke in favour of Bill 29 on Wednesday.

Rural and municipal groups, along with the Manitoba Wildlife Federation, have generally praised the bill, but Indigenous leaders say their hunting rights would be compromised.

Maud described the talks so far between government and Indigenous Peoples on Bill 29 as "general discussions," not true consultation.

Other Indigenous leaders said the same thing.

Cindy McKay, a band councillor with Pine Creek First Nation, challenged accusations that Indigenous Peoples hunting at night were responsible for depleting certain animal populations or endangering rural people. She said there is no evidence of that.

"How does one know whos shooting when its nighttime?" McKay said.

As for species loss, the evidence suggests animals are starving because of inadequate habitat, she added.

Scott Phillips, a councillor with the RM of Sifton, speaking on behalf of dozens southwestern Manitoba towns and municipalities, said a ban on night hunting needs to take effect "immediately."

"Its extremely unsafe to human life, unethical to wildlife," he said, referring to the use of spotlights to hunt.

"I, along with thousands of taxpaying citizens, need closure on this before something tragic happens again, and whether wed like to admit it or acknowledge it, it is going to happen again," Phillips said.

Brian Kotak, managing director of the Manitoba Wildlife Federation, representing 14,000 hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts, said the group supports the bill as an attempt to balance safety with "the rights of aboriginal peoples to hunt for sustenance."

However, he said his organization still has concerns that night hunting will still be allowed in the province  even with the proposed restrictions.

"Even in an area that you are familiar with and may have hunted many times before, it is impossible to know what is behind your target at night," Kotak said.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
The granddaughter of a woman allegedly neglected while in the care of her daughter told court on Wednesday that she will never forget the day she saw her grandmother in the hospital after she had been removed from her mothers home.

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This article was published 1/11/2018 (1115 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rae Deutscher and her lawyer Andrew Synyshyn walk out of the Brandon Provincial Courthouse after day one of her trial. Deutscher is charged with failing to provide the necessities of life to her mother. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

The granddaughter of a woman allegedly neglected while in the care of her daughter told court on Wednesday that she will never forget the day she saw her grandmother in the hospital after she had been removed from her mothers home.

"Its one of the worst things Ive seen in my entire life," Chandra Hawkins said on the stand. "Her face was so swollen I couldnt recognize her. She was bruised, she was emaciated ... she had cauliflower ear, a goose egg on her forehead."

Hawkins was one of several witnesses to testify in Brandon Court of Queens Bench during the first day of trial for Rae Elene Deutscher, who is charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life to her mother, Elene Collins, and thereby endangering her life.

Collins, 96, died at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on Dec. 24, 2014.

Deutscher has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Collins had been living with Deutscher for a little more than a year before Hawkins started growing concerned for her grandmothers quality of care, she said.

In June 2014, Hawkins said she was visiting her mother and grandmother when she noticed a puncture wound on one of her grandmothers cheeks.

When she asked her mother what happened, Deutscher said she was trying to feed Collins and she had accidentally stabbed her with the fork.

"It was scabbed over and bruised. It wasnt extreme, but it was enough to raise alarm that something was up," Hawkins said.

Hawkins was also concerned that Deutscher hadnt taken Collins to see a physician and had her on a variety of herbal supplements, she said, adding she wanted Collins to be assessed.

Hawkins called her uncle  Deutschers older brother and Collins son  who eventually called Brandon police to conduct a wellness check.

When a mental health assessment of both Collins and Deutscher came back with no suggestion of neglect or need for intervention, Hawkins said she was still concerned but didnt know what to do.

"I wasnt satisfied, but I didnt know what to do next because (Deutscher) was now the power of attorney," Hawkins said.

Hawkins and Deutscher werent on speaking terms until approximately September, she said, and she only saw Collins again in October when Deutscher and Collins visited her in Winnipeg.

Deutscher told Hawkins her grandmother wasnt walking well enough to get out of the car, Hawkins said, so she came outside and chatted with Collins, who was sitting in the front seat.

Other than repeating herself, Collins was able to engage in a basic conversation and nothing was out of the ordinary in regard to her appearance, Hawkins said.

In the weeks after that visit, Hawkins said Deutscher had called and told her Collins had fallen and hurt her arm, as well as she was becoming sick and suffering from incontinence.

When Hawkins told her to take Collins to the doctor, Deutscher said it wasnt the time to take her to the doctor when she was sick and weak, and that she needed to be at home where she could be nursed back to health.

It was when Deutscher called and told Hawkins that Collins had fallen and hit her head a couple of times that she started insisting Collins needed to go to the hospital.

"For a long time I was telling her she needed to take grandma to a doctor  any doctor. Now I was saying, no, you need to take her to emergency," Hawkins said. "Mom kept saying that she was going to take her (to emergency), and I believed her, and then she broke that agreement. She was very scared that if (Collins) was taken to the doctor  she believed if she was put on medication she would die."

Hawkins eventually told Deutscher she would come to Brandon on Nov. 26 to help her take Collins to the hospital and Deutscher agreed, she said, but made a comment the day before that made Hawkins realize she needed to expedite the process.

"We were having a discussion  she said, I dont know how were going to get her out of the basement. At that point she told me she had made a bed for (Collins) on the bathroom floor and she had been living on the bathroom floor," Hawkins said. "I was sickened. I had no idea. I assumed she was being cared for in a bed in a room. I did not know she was being cared for on a bathroom floor."

Hawkins called her father and Deutschers ex-husband, Brian Deutscher, who called the police, she said.

Brian testified police initially said they would do a wellness check, but called him back to inform him theyd changed their mind after finding out Hawkins would be there the next day.

"I said it was a mistake  from what I understood (Collins) was on the bathroom floor," Brian said.

When he eventually saw Collins in the hospital, Brian said he was taken aback.

"She looked like she had been in a fight with Muhammad Ali," Brian said.

The officer who eventually conducted the wellness check, Const. Jason Richards, testified Deutscher was co-operative and let him in to see Collins, who was laying on a bathmat in the basement bathroom.

Collins breathing was shallow, her face was swollen and she was not responding when Richards tried to talk to her, he said. She also had bruising to her forehead, arms and legs.

Sgt. Edward Conway testified that when he arrived on scene, paramedics were working frantically on Collins in the bathroom.

There was no evidence of anything that would have caused a fall, Conway said, and he noticed a pillow on the floor.

Conway spoke to Deutscher, who told him her mother had been living on the floor because she had severe diarrhea.

"I said, why isnt she in the hospital? and she said she was the best person to look after her mom," Conway said. "I thought her behaviour was odd."

Defence lawyer Andrew Synyshyn asked Conway if he would agree that some people react differently to different situations. Conway agreed that was accurate, noting that Deutschers behaviour was enough to strike him as odd.

Synyshyn also challenged Hawkins on various points of her testimony  questioning the reliability of her memory, her qualifications to assess the situation and why she made the decision to call her uncle or her father instead of calling the police herself.

"What steps did you take to intervene?" Synyshyn asked Hawkins.

"For the first 18 months, aside from saying I thought she should have seen a doctor, I didnt have any major concerns," Hawkins said.

"So  the answer would be nothing. You did nothing," Synyshyn retorted.

"I visited regularly and talked to her (on the phone), so thats not nothing," Hawkins replied.

Synyshyn also suggested Hawkins was only concerned because Deutscher believed in a more natural treatment. Hawkins said she had no concerns with holistic medicine as long as its done in conjunction with a physician.

Medical professionals are expected to testify as the trial continues today.

 edebooy@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @erindebooy
The Progressive Conservative government's effort to transform the health-care system is about improving services  not cutting costs, Health Minister Cameron Friesen told a business audience Thursday.

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The Progressive Conservative government's effort to transform the health-care system is about improving services  not cutting costs, Health Minister Cameron Friesen told a business audience Thursday.

Speaking to the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, Friesen said the health debate should not be characterized as saving money versus providing good service. He said both can be done at the same time.

"We harness the efficiencies that are latent in the system. We reinvest it into better care for Manitobans. That's the conversation we need. That's the message the government needs to tell," he said.

The average annual increase in health-care spending in Manitoba has been 5.8 per cent over the past decade, the minister said, while provincial revenue growth has been about four per cent. That's created an unsustainable trajectory, he said.

Manitoba spends $7,282 per person per year on health care, well above the national average of $6,600, but still lags in such areas as emergency room wait times as well as waits for hip and knee replacements and cataract surgeries.

"We've pushed more money at the system and it hasn't always harnessed that good result," he said.

The province's health system is massive, with 55,400 employees, 250 service-purchase agreements, 57 hospitals, 178 bargaining units and an annual budget of $6.4 billion, Friesen said.

"If this was a corporation, it would be one of the top 10 largest in Canada, larger than CIBC, larger than New Flyer, larger than Richardson International. It's a big, big enterprise," he told the business group.

Friesen, who took over the massive portfolio on Aug. 1 after more than two years as the province's finance minister, said his goal is to improve health outcomes as well as the patients' experience.

"What we're trying to do is to help people understand that change is necessary in Manitoba when it comes to health care," he told reporters after a speech and question-and-answer session that lasted a half-hour longer than scheduled.

He said he wants the system to develop "more consistent measurements" for assessing the delivery of health care. Recently, the Health Department established 14 provincewide teams to examine clinical and preventative programs and plan for the future. The groups cut across the entire system, focusing on such areas as surgery, Indigenous and women's health, emergency and urgent care, cardiac care, emergency services and so on, the minister said.

They are expected to report on their work by March of next year, and the results will be made public, Friesen said.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
The Manitoba Museum will honour the Winnipeg Free Press for 146 years of contributions to life in the province at its 2019 Tribute Gala.

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This article was published 1/11/2018 (1114 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Museum will honour the Winnipeg Free Press for 146 years of contributions to life in the province at its 2019 Tribute Gala.

The annual award recognizes the leadership and philanthropy of individuals and organizations that have shaped the province and the city of Winnipeg.

"The Winnipeg Free Press has been an integral part the community, representing the hopes, dreams and ambitions of its readers. It is a leading source of local news, information and debate and shares Manitobas voice on national and international issues," the museum said in statement announcing the award.

Established in 1872, the Free Press is the oldest newspaper in Western Canada.

"Everyone at the paper is really pleased the Free Press is being recognized by the Manitoba Museum for the papers contributions to the community," publisher Bob Cox said Thursday.

"We strive every day to tell the stories of Winnipeg and Manitoba, and it is fantastic to be recognized by such an important keeper of stories about our history."

The museum has had a lasting relationship with the Free Press, through editorial coverage, advertising and unique events such as the Treaty 1 anniversary celebration with the Treaty Commission of Manitoba, Manitoba Business Council and Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre.

"We are proud to celebrate the newspaper that has been around as long as our community, recording its growth and development and commenting on issues that affect Manitoba and the world," said James Cohen, chairman of the Manitoba Museums board of governors, in the statement.

The Free Press is the largest independently owned newspaper Canada, and the largest-selling newspaper in Manitoba.

It recently won the best use of mobile category at the INMA Global Media Awards, and frequently receives nominations from the National Newspaper Awards, the Canadian Journalism Foundation, and the News Photographers Association of Canada.

It also supports hundreds of organizations with special coverage and advertising grants that promote causes, events and accomplishments in Manitoba.

The gala will be held April 4, at the museum. The paper will be represented by its owners, business leaders Ronald Stern and Robert Silver.

"I am proud of the Winnipeg Free Press and our involvement with it over the past 17 years," Stern said in the statement. "We are committed to preserving the newspapers strong traditions of journalistic excellence and community service."

Silver drew on the papers storied history Thursday.

"This is an honour shared by everyone who has been associated with the Winnipeg Free Press, from William Luxton and John Kenny, who started the paper in a rented shack on Main Street, to the current staff who work hard every day to build on that tradition," Silver said in a statement.

Past award winners include Sandy Riley, the Winnipeg Foundation, the Chipman family, Babs and Gail Asper, and George T. Richardson.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 31/10/2018 (1115 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What's the end game, Mr. Premier?

This past month will likely be remembered as a watershed in the evolution of Premier Brian Pallister's leadership. For it was this past month that Pallister seemingly abandoned any interest in building a so-called "big tent" of support  a pillar of most long-serving governments in this country  in favour of an overall strategy to galvanize and activate his base.

This week, for example, there was his decision to formally withdraw from a 2014 settlement agreement signed by the province, Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba Metis Federation. Pallister has been sparring with the MMF for months now over this agreement, but the enthusiasm with which the government confirmed it was pulling out, and the complete lack of any interest in resuming discussions, was telling in many ways.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSManitoba Premier Brian Pallister heads to questions period Wednesday afternoon.181031 - Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

Under the terms of the 2014 Turning the Page agreement  intended "to build a forward-looking, productive and non-adversarial working relationship" among the three parties, as laid out in its terms of reference  the MMF was to be paid $1 million per year until 2034 to compensate for past and current Hydro development on Metis lands, for a total of $20 million. So far, it has received $5 million.

In addition, Hydro agreed to pay the MMF $67.5 million over 50 years to compensate them for past and future province-wide hydro-electric development. It was described, at its inception, as an act of reconciliation with one of the most politically active indigenous communities in the province. As part of that proposal, the planned $453-million Hydro transmission line to Minnesota would proceed without objections from the Metis group.

But in March, Pallister pulled the plug on that agreement.

Pallister called it "hush money" to buy off a special-interest group that would rob future generations of Metis people of their rights, and set a precedent for similar payments on future projects, such as the $540-million Lake St. Martin flood-mitigation channels.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSManitoba Premier Brian Pallister talks to the media after question period Wednesday afternoon.181031 - Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

That matter is now before the courts.

On Wednesday the premier continued to use controversial language in accusing the former NDP government of using taxpayers' money to buy off the Metis and force them to relinquish their inherent rights.

"We have too much respect for the Metis people to try and buy away their rights," Pallister told the legislature. "It will not happen with this government."

Portraying a compensation deal as payola is an interesting political tack, if only for the fact that other provinces and private companies involved in resource development have been lauded for striking identical agreements with the Metis and other Indigenous groups to avoid costly litigation.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSManitoba Premier Brian Pallister heads to questions period Wednesday afternoon.181031 - Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

If Pallister did not like the Turning the Page agreement, he could certainly have proposed something different. But he has not, and into that vacuum he has watched idly as this has built into a major skirmish.

The premier's strategy is also interesting because Pallister is picking a fight with a Metis leader who has proven he is a political force to reckon with.

MMF President David Chartrand has, over the years, made his organization into a legitimate mainstream political player. By showing so much lust for battle, Pallister is making what could turn out to be an inconvenient political enemy come next provincial election.

One can view Pallister's decision to abandon his own carbon-tax plan in the same general context.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Premier Brian Pallister slammed a federal decision to lower carbon taxes on New Brunswick coal production.

Why he pulled out remains a matter of some speculation. What explanation he did provide was nonsensical given that he has, in his back pocket, a legal opinion indicating that Ottawa has the full legal, constitutional right to impose a national carbon tax. One theory suggested Pallister ditched his plan because he took offence at a joke that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made at a public event in Winnipeg

Whatever the reason, the end result is pretty clear: he is abandoning a politically and legally elegant policy in favour of a bare-knuckle fight.

The original made-in-Manitoba plan positioned Manitoba in a somewhat progressive light. Although Pallister's $25-per-tonne levy fell well short of federal levels and the expectations of hardcore activists, it did make it hard for the NDP and Liberals to criticize him. That had the potential to draw some reluctant praise from middle-of-the-road voters, who tend to toggle between parties depending on the prevailing electoral winds.

Along with the termination of the agreement with the MMF, Pallister seems to be working overtime to confirm his enemies' worst fears about him. That is hardly sound strategy.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSManitoba Premier Brian Pallister talks to the media after question period Wednesday afternoon.181031 - Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

Governments that want to serve a long time typically try to balance decisions and policies that "play to the base" with ones designed strategically to suppress opposition, particularly at election time.

Base-friendly decisions have many benefits. They can galvanize core support heading into an important election, while also triggering a surge of donations, the lifeblood of electoral politics.

However, most governing parties also know you have to dabble in policies or decisions that aggravate their bases. In these situations, party leaders must convince core supporters that the net benefits  neutralizing a line of attack or eliminating a constituency of possible opposition  outweigh any compromise on core values.

At a time when populists such as U.S. President Donald Trump are rewriting political rules, Pallister certainly seems to gambling that the decisions he is making to bolster core support will be more than enough to overcome the blowback that is manifesting among non-supporters, who see a premier doing his utmost to confirm many of their worst fears.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSManitoba Premier Brian Pallister talks to the media after question period Wednesday afternoon.181031 - Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

The gamble could involve consideration of the growth potential of the two major opposition parties, both of which have yet to show they can mount a significant challenge. It could also involve calculus around fiscal accomplishments.

Pallister is no Trump, to be sure. However, the experience in the U.S. right now suggests political leaders may not need a big tent in order to win and hold onto power.

It's an approach to politics that has not worked to any great extent until now, but leaders such as Pallister and Ontario's Doug Ford certainly seem to be willing to wager their futures on a policy agenda that is more loyal to the wishes of the base and excludes any concessions to opposing constituencies.

And what of the aforementioned end game? Most politicians are tactical, and have some idea what they want to accomplish from every move they make. However, what if that is also falling out of favour?

Pallister and other leaders of his ilk may be showing that a complete lack of an end game is the new politics.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
Churchill residents welcomed the first train in a year and a half Wednesday, and are eager to hear the news the prime minister will deliver in the northern town today.

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This article was published 31/10/2018 (1115 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Churchill residents welcomed the first train in a year and a half Wednesday, and are eager to hear the news the prime minister will deliver in the northern town today.

At the Arctic Gateway Group port at 10 a.m., Justin Trudeau will announce the restoration of rail service to Churchill. The first train arrived Wednesday night.

The northern community, located about 1,000 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, has been isolated since May 2017 when parts of the railway were washed out due to flooding en route to Gillam, Man.

Trudeau will unveil $3.8 million in funding for 40 projects geared to supporting tourism and skill training; helping offset the freight costs that stemmed from the rail closure; and opening the door for more investments in Churchill.

Afterward, hes scheduled to attend a street party celebration with community members, alongside Minister of International Trade Diversification Jim Carr.

Its unclear exactly when the first VIA Rail passenger train will arrive in Churchill, though sources said its expected very shortly.

Heard a familiar (unfamiliar?) sound of a whistle... booked it to the station, and there it was! The first train to arrive in Churchill in 17 months!



We are a railway town again!! pic.twitter.com/RBxBdiLhQ7    Joe Stover (@joechurchill) November 1, 2018

Since losing access to train service, the town of about 900 people struggled with rising costs of living as items were brought in by ship or air. Tourism also dwindled in the north with no access point for VIA Rail.

On Aug. 31, the Arctic Gateway Group took ownership of the rail line from Denver-based Omnitrax and immediately started making repairs.

Churchill Mayor Mike Spence wasnt giving interviews ahead of Trudeaus announcement, but said the community was "buzzing" by email Wednesday.

"This is another important milestone and everyone is excited," Spence said.

During the prime ministers stopover, Churchill resident Patricia Kandiurin plans to wear a hoodie she emblazoned with the mantra locals have adopted since the railway shutdown: "Know Im Here."

Shes happy to hear the rail line will be back in operation soon, but wishes it didnt take so long to get back on track.

"Its a little bit late, but its exciting that hes acknowledging us," Kandiurin said of Trudeaus visit. "Better late than never."

"I dont want to sound rude or anything like that, but we shouldnt have had to wait this long. I mean, theyre punting money but it should have happened last year," she added.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make a funding announcement for Churchill in person when he visits the town.

Kandiurin said many people have moved away from Churchill in the time since the rail line shut down and shes not sure whether theyll return.

Others couldnt afford to leave by plane and therefore missed weddings, funerals and holidays with loved ones, she said.

Still, the town plans to celebrate the good news, organizing a feast, setting up bonfires and making plenty of Know Im Here signs.

"To me, (the mantra) means we are here. Were the citizens of Churchill. The citizens of Churchill are not going anywhere. Were not going to be quiet until we win what were fighting for," Kandiurin said.

"And I guess we won," she added. "We got our rail line back. We got our life line back."

jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @_jessbu
A retired, prominent pediatrician will have to wait until late December for a judge to render his sexual abuse case.

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This article was published 31/10/2018 (1115 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A retired, prominent pediatrician will have to wait until late December for a judge to render his sexual abuse case.

Victor Chernick, 82, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual offences against his son, who reported to police about five years ago that his father had repeatedly sexually abused him in the 1970s. Chernick was head of pediatrics at Winnipegs Childrens Hospital at the time, and he has denied all of the allegations against him. He testified he thinks the accusations are "repugnant."

Victor Chernick

After Court of Queens Bench Justice Joan McKelvey heard all of the evidence in the six-day trial, Crown and defence lawyers presented their final arguments Wednesday. Chernicks defence team argued the judge should believe Victor Chernick over three Crown witnesses, including his now-56-year-old son Richard Chernick, who testified they were aware of the sexual abuse.

The criminal allegations were only brought forward as a way to bolster Richards civil suit against Victor and ultimately get his money, defence lawyer Sarah Inness argued.

"This is about securing a conviction to ensure that the lawsuit is successful and money flows," she told McKelvey.

"It is about money. Victor Chernick was adamant and unwavering in his testimony: the things that Richard said he did to him didnt happen, he didnt do them. He was unshaken in his denials, my lady, and he ought to be believed."

The Crown, on the other hand, argued Victor Chernick "tailored" his testimony so that it would make sense compared with testimony from other witnesses. He remembered one of his daughters going to visit his sister, who testified against him, Crown prosecutor Debbie Buors argued as an example, but he said his daughter Sharon, who has also accused him of sexually abusing her, wasnt there. He testified he went to counselling with Sharon but not with Richard.

"He will give you a little bit, but not all of it," Buors argued.

Richard testified last week that his father sexually abused him about 100 times in the mid-1970s, starting when he was 12 until he was 17. He described three of those incidents in detail in court. His wife, Debra Stern, from whom he is separated, testified for the Crown, as did Victors sister Arlene Chernick, a.k.a. Robin Tyler. Tyler said Victors daughters disclosed the abuse to her in the early 1980s and told her Richard was being abused as well. Thats what Tyler told the FBI in a statement in 1991.

Inness argued Tylers activism means shes inclined to believe any disclosure of sexual abuse. She argued Stern testified in support of her former husband because she stands to benefit financially from his lawsuit  a suggestion the Crown disputed, saying the former couple is not legally married and are merely roommates.

Both Richard and Sharon Chernick asked the court to lift publication bans on their identity. Sharon went to police with allegations about her father in 1991, and Chernick was committed to stand trial in Manitobas Court of Queens Bench before those charges were stayed in 1993. The Crowns attempt to revive them in light of Richards accusations was met with judicial stays in 2017 after Chernicks defence team successfully launched several legal challenges.

Evidence related to Sharons allegations is inadmissible in the case currently before the court. McKelveys decision is expected Dec. 18.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay
Classified as a dangerous offender for preying on vulnerable women on the streets of Winnipeg, a 54-year-old man will spend the next eight years in prison, a judge has ruled.

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This article was published 1/11/2018 (1114 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Classified as a dangerous offender for preying on vulnerable women on the streets of Winnipeg, a 54-year-old man will spend the next eight years in prison, a judge has ruled.

Douglas Bowman will be under supervision for 10 years after he's released from prison  the maximum long-term supervision order that can be imposed on a dangerous offender in Canada. It means he will essentially be on parole for a decade after his release and will have to follow any conditions the parole board sets.

Crown and defence lawyers agreed Bowman should receive maximum supervision after his sentence, which Court of Queen's Bench Justice Joan McKelvey imposed Thursday, noting he has not shown any remorse or empathy for the victims of his "traumatic and violent" sexual assaults.

"Bowman has demonstrated a failure to control his sexual impulses in the past," McKelvey said as she read a portion of her 33-page decision in court Thursday. "There is a likelihood of him causing injury, pain or other evil through the failure to control those impulses in the future."

McKelvey sentenced Bowman to 14 years and gave him time-and-a-half credit for each day he's spent in custody since his arrest in September 2014. McKelvey convicted him in July 2017 on two counts of sexual assault with a weapon and two counts of uttering threats for attacking two women who were working in the sex trade in 2010 and 2013. He sexually assaulted them at knifepoint inside his minivan and threatened to kill them.

Bowman told police during a 13-hour interview that he had picked up between 200 and 300 sex workers over 26 years and was violent or had threatened violence with about half of them.

His admissions to police were only fantasy, Bowman later said during a psychologist's assessment. He still denies attacking the two women and claimed his past sexual offences were only pranks. He was convicted on five counts of indecent assault and one indecent act from the mid-1970s to early 1980s, and in 1983 he was convicted and sentenced to six years for rape, showing a pattern of using violence as a sexual preference.

A psychiatrist and a psychologist both assessed Bowman as being a sexual sadist with signs of anti-social personality disorder. He still has the support of his spouse, but he's been classified as a high risk to reoffend and has refused to participate in sex-offender treatment beyond the two sessions he completed in 1986.

The attack on his most recent victim, a then-20-year-old woman who had to be hospitalized after Bowman picked her up in the North End, was particularly "brutal," McKelvey wrote in her decision.

The woman testified Bowman repeatedly sexually assaulted her April 1, 2013 while holding a knife and threatening to kill her if she didn't stop screaming. He told her she and all the other "slutty girls" deserved what was happening to her. When she tried to pepper spray him, he took the canister from her and wiped pepper spray in her eyes before throwing her out of the vehicle.

"Not only did this man traumatize me for one night, what he did to me impacts my life each and every day," she wrote in a victim impact statement.

"I'm still dealing with the aftermath of what this monster did to me. I often ask myself will this ever go away. Will I ever be able to move on from this? This is just the emotional results. The physical pain and scarring I went through was so bad I can barely walk. Till this day, I don't take any type of pain meds because the feeling I get when I do take them reminds me of my stay in the hospital," she wrote.

Bowman, who has a Grade 9 education and has been unemployed for much of his life, is cognitively impaired and was severely abused as a child. His father beat him so badly he was hospitalized for six months and may have suffered brain damage, defence lawyer Laura Robinson told McKelvey during his sentencing hearing at the end of September.

His "lengthy history of delinquent behaviour involving assaultive actions towards females," as described in one assessment from the 1980s, led to him serving an adult sentence in Ontario for the rape he committed as a youth, and justice officials warned he had already exhausted all the resources Manitoba's youth justice system could offer him. His record includes 27 convictions, including for several thefts and breaking and entering.

Crown prosecutors were seeking a 20-year prison sentence in addition to the 10-year supervision order, while defence asked for a nine- to 11-year sentence.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay
A Winnipeg mother who fought to have her sons death recognized by the military has been named this year's Silver Cross Mother by the Royal Canadian Legion.

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This article was published 1/11/2018 (1114 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg mother who fought to have her sons death recognized by the military has been named this year's Silver Cross Mother by the Royal Canadian Legion.

On Remembrance Day, Anita Cenerini will place a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on behalf of all Canadian mothers who have lost sons or daughters in the service of the military.

The Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command / The Canadian Press 2018 National Silver Cross Mother, Anita Cenerini is seen in this undated handout photo.

The legion has awarded the honour every year for nearly 100 years, but this year will be the first time it has gone to the mother of a soldier who died by his own hand.

His mother fought for the recognition, engendering media interest including an investigation by the Globe and Mail that found Pte. Thomas Welch was the first Canadian soldier to commit suicide after returning from Afghanistan.

Welch enlisted in the army a few months before the 9/11 attacks and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2003. In media interviews, Cenerini traced the personality changes in her son, from jovial to withdrawn, over the course of his service as a rear gunner in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment.

At the time, there were next to no treatment services for post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental-health issue now recognized as a devastating and invisible war injury.

Canadas role in Afghanistan is noted for resulting in the largest number of deaths due to any of the country's military missions since the Korean War.

After his return from Afghanistan, the 22-year-old committed suicide May 6, 2004 at his regimental army base in Petawawa, Ont.

The military initially determined his death was unrelated to his service. They gave Welch a military funeral but he was not awarded the Memorial Cross, which is given to families after soldiers die in active service. His name was omitted from the Book of Remembrance, which honours Canadas war dead.

Thomass mother worked to have her sons sacrifice recognized, the same as any other soldier would be.

The Legions website Thursday specifically noted the significance of Thomass death as the one that "marked the first death by suicide of a Canadian soldier returning home from the Afghanistan mission, attributable to military service."

The designation lasts a year. Cenerini will perform a range of duties that honour Canadas fallen until the next Silver Cross Mother is named a year from now.
One often hears that We cant trust the polls. Two usual examples people like to cite are the 2015 Canadian election and the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In the first case, Justin Trudeaus Liberals were predicted to win only a minority victory, not the actual majority of seats they achieved. South of the border, Donald Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton was a shock to many.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/11/2018 (1115 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

One often hears that "We cant trust the polls." Two usual examples people like to cite are the 2015 Canadian election and the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In the first case, Justin Trudeaus Liberals were predicted to win only a minority victory, not the actual majority of seats they achieved. South of the border, Donald Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton was a shock to many.

Upon closer examination of the polls released during these two national campaigns, we find that most of the mistakes were not in the polls themselves, but the spinning done by those using algorithms to create seat projections for the Canadian House of Commons in 2015 or the Electoral College votes based on state outcomes in the U.S. Indeed, polls were a part of these projections, but other factors were used to make erroneous predictions, including regional historical patterns of voter behaviours.

The polls were essentially accurate in Canada. Just prior to the 2015 federal election, in which the Liberals took 39.5 per cent of the vote, pollster Nik Nanos had the Liberals pegged at 39.1 per cent, Forum reported 40 per cent and Ipsos-Reid reported a 38 per cent figure. Of the seven major pollsters reporting for the major national media, five of the seven were within two percentage points of the final vote.

Regarding the U.S. election, a review of the polling reported on the CNN website for each of the 50 states showed they correctly predicted presidential candidate winners in 44 of the 50 states. Not great, but not the downright collapse in polling that many now seem to recall. In other words, at fault was the spinning of the results by those such as Nate Silver who, just one day prior to the election, gave Clinton a whopping two-thirds probability of winning the election, with only a one-third chance for Trump. Clearly, before we can trust the spin makers, more work is required to improve the algorithms.

The challenge for pollsters remains the same as it was decades ago. To capture accurately what U.S. pollster George Gallup described as a "miniature electorate." That is, those who are qualified to vote, who will vote and how they will vote.

Compared to the multi-layered Canadian and American electoral systems for selecting our leaders, the system for choosing Winnipegs mayor is simple: the candidate who gets the most votes wins. Therefore, polling should be easy. Yet municipal elections are difficult to poll due to their notoriously low turnouts. Even asking respondents if they plan to vote can be misleading, as respondents inflate the likelihood they will vote.

The reality is that those who do show up at the polls tend to be different from those who do not. For example, young adults who have different values and priorities compared to their elders are notorious non-voters. In the 2017 Calgary election, a city with a higher proportion of young adults compared with the rest of Canada, Mainstreet Research produced three polls for the Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun, with each erroneously claiming that incumbent Naheed Nenshi was behind his more conservative challenger, Bill Smith.

One of the many problems in their polling was capturing young voters through random calling. In one poll, Nenshi was reported to be behind Smith as much as 16 points, yet the election produced a victory for Nenshi with a lead of more than seven points.

Winnipeggers in 2018 saw fewer polls compared to the six polls that appeared during 2017 Calgary election. Only two polls were released during the Winnipeg campaign, with both conducted by Probe Research for the Winnipeg Free Press, with the first being in partnership with the CBC and the second with CTV. (To be transparent, I served as a vice-president for Probe Research until 2012.) Both were conducted the month before the date of the election.

The first Probe poll was conducted with 600 respondents from Aug. 27 to 31, with results released on Sept. 14. Brian Bowman drew support from 60 per cent of decided voters, compared to Jenny Motkaluks 29 per cent. The second poll showed very little difference. It was conducted with 653 respondents from Sept. 19 to 28, with 61 per cent for Bowman and 28 per cent for Motkaluk.

There was also a third poll, led by a national team of academics who have been surveying voters in major city elections across Canada since 2017 for a project titled the Canadian Municipal Election Study (CMES). The Winnipeg component of this study was described by the Winnipeg Free Press on Oct. 19, yet the most the researchers would reveal regarding voter preferences was that the CMES results were similar to those reported in the other two Winnipeg polls.

Michael McGregor of Ryerson University, one of the leaders of the CMES study, recently provided me with their numbers. The results from 1,000 respondents, which were collected from Sept. 15 onward, revealed that 63 per cent of decided voters were supporting Bowman, 25 per cent had chosen Motkaluk and 12 per cent supported other candidates.

In the end, only 42 per cent of Winnipeggers turned out to vote. Bowman took 53.3 per cent, compared with Motkaluks 35.7 per cent. Bowmans victory was less sizable than expected. The fact that Motkaluk was able to reduce Bowmans lead as the campaign progressed, and after the polls were released, was not surprising. No doubt, there were many pro-Bowman supporters who were complacent and did not vote.

People had more time to become familiar with Motkaluk as his main opponent, and she was able to win endorsements from many councillors, including Jeff Browaty, Jason Schreyer, Janice Lukes and Ross Eadie, many of whom were putting up her signs beside their own.

Compared to the polling fiasco of last years election in Calgary, Winnipegs election provided a placid sea of predictable weather.

Christopher Adams is a past pollster and political scientist based at St. Pauls College. He is the author of Politics in Manitoba: Parties, Leaders, and Voters.
Crisis Phone Numberspecial noticeIf you are a veteran in emotional crisis and need help RIGHT NOW, call this toll-free number 1-800-273-8255, available 24/7, and tell them you are a veteran. All calls are confidential.1-888-899-9377A Crisis Intervention Hotline has been established by the VA Heartland Network to assist veterans who may be dealing with a mental health crisis or difficult issue in their lives. The hotline will also aid family members or friends of veterans who need help in assisting a veteran in crisis.
The fallout from the confirmation of U.S. President Donald Trumps Supreme Court pick, Brett Kavanaugh, riveted people on both sides of the border and provides ample evidence that feelings can become weaponized in politics to uphold white male privilege.

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This article was published 1/11/2018 (1115 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

The fallout from the confirmation of U.S. President Donald Trumps Supreme Court pick, Brett Kavanaugh, riveted people on both sides of the border and provides ample evidence that feelings can become weaponized in politics to uphold white male privilege.

In his blistering, scripted opening statement to the Senate judiciary committee, Kavanaugh performed the role of the aggrieved party, a white man under siege, caught in the grips of a Democratic "hit" egged on by the Clintons. He grimaced, he bristled at questions that he disliked, pursing his lips as if to contain the mounting explosion of rage within.

In response to questions about his judicial temperament, his defenders fired back, saying that anyone who was being falsely accused of sexual assault would have behaved in a similar manner. In other words, men whose authority is being questioned, who are poised to take up one of the most privileged positions at the apex of American justice, have every right to get good and mad.

In response to a question from Sen. Amy Klobuchar about whether he had ever blacked out from excessive drinking, Kavanaugh grew irritable and spat back at the senator: "Have you (blacked out)?" When Klobuchar asked again: "Could you answer the question, judge?" Kavanaugh responded: "Yeah, and Im curious if you have."

Prof. Christine Blasey Fords performance was emotional, too, but the reaction to her testimony and her general demeanour didnt operate according to the same standards applied to Kavanaugh. He was applauded for fighting back and being a man just like his Twitter-hungry president. As CNNs Jake Tapper explained of Blasey Ford, "Pretty credible, pretty likable, pretty believable."

"There was another kind of testimony taking place on Thursday," Megan Garber wrote in the Atlantic, citing Tapper. Ford engaged in the kind of labour to which women have grown accustomed: worrying about other peoples feelings. Apologetic about neglecting some of the details, not only was she "pretty credible" during what must have been a painful time, she devoted some of her energy to making her questioners feel comfortable, "making things  for everyone else, if not herself  a little easier."

Noted sociologist Arlie Hochschild, in her influential book The Managed Heart, coined the term "emotional labour" to describe the work that women must perform in a range of contexts. Her book focuses on airline flight attendants, who are expected to manage the feelings of their customers. The Kavanaugh crisis is a critical reminder of the persistence of these gendered expectations as they occur in the political sphere.

Kavanaugh need not be concerned about how his blanket denials might be interpreted by the thousands of women who have experienced sexual violence. He did not need to think about the pain that might be caused when he explains that he didnt remember even meeting Blasey Ford because she didnt move in the same elite private school circles as him. Men of his privilege can be excused for easily forgetting the women who are external to the "in group."

As a white woman, Blasey Ford benefits from privileges that were never afforded to Anita Hill, who testified 27 years ago against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. Seen as aloof, Hill apparently didnt act in ways many believed should befit a legitimate victim of sexual harassment. Whats more, Hill got caught up in what black feminist author Kimberle Crenshaw calls the "false tension between feminist and anti-racist movements."

Like Kavanaugh, Thomas was somehow forgiven for getting emotional  and for calling the episode a "high-tech lynching"  because it was particularly stinging for a black man to be targeted by a black woman.

So, should we try to banish emotions from political life, even if they fuel our politics?

After all, anger can be harnessed to fight injustice, as countless examples throughout history compel us to appreciate: civil rights, LGBTTQ* rights, womens rights. Our lives and our politics are forever structured by how we feel and how we express those feelings.

And we should be wary of suggestions that reason should always prevail over emotion, especially since the recourse to reason has been an exercise to uphold unequal relations of power. As many observers have noted, we reason with emotions.

The critical questions we should ask are not about whether anger is inherently good or bad. But how are emotions mobilized in politics, for whom and by whom? And what conditions serve to normalize the expression of these emotions?

There are no neat lessons to draw from the Kavanaugh debacle. This episode is a stinging indictment of a system that channels white male rage right up to the highest position in the U.S. justice system, leaving a woman who came forward to relive the trauma of sexual assault and to manage her feelings  and death threats  on her own.

Michael Orsini is a professor in the school of political studies at the University of Ottawa and a contributor with EvidenceNetwork.ca, which is based at the University of Winnipeg. He is completing a study on the role of emotions in a series of policy controversies. The study is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

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Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is feeling misunderstood. He thinks his policy on the carbon tax has been trashed by the press and the pundits and thats just plain unfair. Hes going to hit back against his tormentors.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 31/10/2018 (1115 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is feeling misunderstood. He thinks his policy on the carbon tax has been trashed by the press and the pundits and thats just plain unfair. Hes going to hit back against his tormentors.

Mr. Scheer told a recent Ottawa party meeting he would stand up to the media. He accused journalists of siding with the Liberals in the carbon tax debate. "We dont always get the same kind of coverage that (Trudeau) gets in the mainstream media. Have you noticed that?" he said. Trudeau, he added, has "the media on his side, hes got the pundits, hes got the academics and think tanks, everyone who wants to lecture you on how to spend your own money and how to live your life."

Since then, Tory finance critic Pierre Poilievre complained that a Bloomberg reporter in Ottawa had shown bias. Josh Wingroves offence, in Mr. Poilievres eyes, was that he had reported a statement from the Business Council of Canada supporting the governments plan.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer (Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files)

If this is Mr. Scheers idea of standing up to the media, he wont go far. Reporters are going to keep doing their job, reporting on the national debate on a carbon tax, even if Mr. Scheer sends his finance critic out to accuse them of bias.

The main reason the Tories carbon reduction plan doesnt get the same coverage as the governments plan is that the government has a plan and the Tories have none. Mr. Scheer should not be surprised that the media, the pundits, the academics and the think tanks support the governments plan: they have looked at the facts and the facts, broadly speaking, support the plan.

The government cannot efficiently figure out how each Canadian consumer of fossil fuels should adjust their lives and their businesses to burn less fuel. If you raise the price of carbon, Canadians will figure that out for themselves, as they always do when market forces or world conditions drive up a price. The governments plan is to tax carbon at $10 per tonne to start with (equivalent to 2.3 cents per litre of gasoline) and raise that by $10 each year to reach $50 per tonne in 2022. Large emitters exposed to foreign competition where the Canadian tax does not apply will get a break so that they are not immediately put out of business.

Canada has to do something to reduce its emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases because the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has increased steadily through the industrial era, resulting in warming of the climate, melting of the polar ice caps and rising sea levels. All countries have to cut their emissions and Canada, being part of the problem, has to do its part. Greater results will be achieved when greater polluters such as the United States join the effort. No country can single-handedly solve the planetary problem, but each has a role to play.

Mr. Scheer and several Conservative premiers, recently including Manitobas Brian Pallister, object to the federal plan. But Mr. Scheer has yet to show how Canada will reduce its emissions without a carbon tax.

Until he comes up with the long-awaited better idea, Mr. Scheer is in effect telling Canadians to carry on polluting and pass a degraded planet to the next generation. This position will not win wide support. Mr. Scheer will have a lot of messengers to shoot.
Pepping up the players for a trip to the UNI Dome

The Winterset High School competition gym was filled with good cheer from freshmen to seniors and boosters in between. They gathered on game day to Pep Up the coaches and players of the Husky football team, who would soon depart for their journey to the...

Winterset falls in semifinals

Winterset advanced to the Class 4A semifinals on Thursday night to face the Xavier Saints at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls. Despite a valiant effort by the Huskies, Xavier defeated Winterset 40-14. Our boys fought hard, said head coach Zach Sweeney. We ran into...
The following companies are subsidiares of Eli Lilly and: 1096401 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, ARMO BioSciences Inc, ARMO Bioscience, Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Alnara Pharmaceuticals, Alnara Pharmaceuticals Inc., Andean Technical Operations Center, Applied Molecular Evolution Inc., AurKa Pharma, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc., ChemGen, CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, CoLucid Pharmaceuticals Inc., Dermira, Devices for Vascular Intervention(DVI), Disarm Therapeutics, Dista Ilac Ticaret Ltd. Sti., Dista S.A., Dista-Produtos Quimicos & Farmaceuticos LDA, ELCO Dominicana SRL, ELCO Insurance Company Limited, ELCO Management Inc., ELCO for Trade and Marketing S.A.E., ELGO Insurance Company Limited, Elanco Animal Health Ireland Limited, Elanco Switzerland Holding Sarl, Eli Lilly (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Eli Lilly (Philippines) Incorporated, Eli Lilly (S.A.) (Proprietary) Limited, Eli Lilly (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Eli Lilly (Suisse) S.A., Eli Lilly Asia Inc., Eli Lilly Asia Pacific SSC Sdn Bhd, Eli Lilly Australia Pty. Limited, Eli Lilly B-H d.o.o., Eli Lilly Benelux S.A., Eli Lilly Bienes y Servicios S de RL de CV, Eli Lilly CR s.r.o., Eli Lilly Canada Inc., Eli Lilly Cork Limited, Eli Lilly Danmark A/S, Eli Lilly Egypt for Trading, Eli Lilly European Clinical Trial Services SA, Eli Lilly Export S.A., Eli Lilly Finance S.A., Eli Lilly Ges.m.b.H., Eli Lilly Group Limited, Eli Lilly Holdings Ltd., Eli Lilly Hrvatska d.o.o., Eli Lilly Interamerica Inc., Eli Lilly Interamerica Inc. y Compania Limitada, Eli Lilly International Corporation, Eli Lilly Ireland Holdings Limited, Eli Lilly Israel Ltd., Eli Lilly Italia S.p.A., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Eli Lilly Kinsale Limited, Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., Eli Lilly Nigeria Ltd., Eli Lilly Norge A.S., Eli Lilly Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., Eli Lilly Polska Sp.z.o.o. (Ltd.), Eli Lilly Regional Operations GmbH, Eli Lilly Romania SRL, Eli Lilly S.A., Eli Lilly Saudi Arabia Limited, Eli Lilly Services Inc, Eli Lilly Services India Private Limited, Eli Lilly Slovakia s.r.o., Eli Lilly Sweden AB, Eli Lilly Vostok S.A. Geneva, Eli Lilly and Company, Eli Lilly and Company (India) Pvt. Ltd., Eli Lilly and Company (Ireland) Limited, Eli Lilly and Company (N.Z.) Limited, Eli Lilly and Company (Taiwan) Inc., Eli Lilly and Company Limited, Eli Lilly de Centro America S.A., Eli Lilly do Brasil Limitada, Eli Lilly farmacevtska druzba d.o.o., Eli Lilly y Compania de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Eli Lilly y Compania de Venezuela S.A., Glycostasis Inc, Greenfield-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Heart Rhythm Technologies Inc, Hybritech, Hypnion, ICOS Corporation, ImClone GmbH, ImClone LLC, ImClone Systems Holdings Inc., ImClone Systems LLC, Imclone Systems, Irisfarma S.A., Ivy Animal Health, Kinsale Financial Services Unlimited Company, Lilly (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd, Lilly Asia Ventures Fund I L.P., Lilly Asia Ventures Fund II L.P., Lilly Asian Ventures Fund III L.P., Lilly Cayman Holdings, Lilly China Research and Development Co. Ltd., Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Lilly France S.A.S., Lilly Global Nederland Holdings B.V., Lilly Global Services Inc., Lilly Holding GmbH, Lilly Holdings B.V., Lilly Hungaria KFT, Lilly Japan Financing G.K., Lilly Korea Ltd., Lilly Nederland Finance B.V., Lilly Nederland Finance B.V. - GCC, Lilly Nederland Holding B.V., Lilly Pharma Ltd., Lilly Portugal - Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Lilly S.A., Lilly Suzhou Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Lilly Trading Co. LTD, Lilly USA LLC, Lilly Ventures Fund I LLC, Lilly del Caribe Inc., Lilly ilac ticaret limited sirketi, Lohmann Animal Health, Loxo Oncology, Lylly Centre for Clinical Pharmacology PTE. LTD., Novartis Animal Health, OY Eli Lilly Finland AB, Origin Medsystems, PT. Eli Lilly Indonesia, Pacific Biotech, Pharmaserve-Lilly S.A.C.I., Physio-Control, SGX Pharmaceuticals, SGX Pharmaceuticals Inc, Spaly Bioquimica S.A., UAB Eli Lilly Lietuva, Valquifarma S.A., and Vital Pharma Productos Farmaceuticos.
Airbus SE engages in the design, manufacture, delivery and provision of aerospace products, space and related services. It operates through the following segments: Airbus Commercial Aircraft, Airbus Helicopters and Airbus Defence and Space. The Airbus Commercial Aircraft segment develops, manufactures, markets and sells commercial jet aircrafts and offers aircraft conversion and related services. The Airbus Helicopters segment deals with the development, manufacture, marketing and sale of civil and military helicopters. The Airbus Defence and Space segment covers systems and services in the field of defence and space for governments, institutions, and commercial customers. The company was founded on December 29, 1998 and is headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands.

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Allergan plc, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, and commercializes branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical, and regenerative medicine products worldwide. The company operates in three segments: US Specialized Therapeutics, US General Medicine, and International. It offers a portfolio of products in various therapeutic areas, including medical aesthetics and dermatology, eye care, neuroscience, urology, gastrointestinal, women's health, and anti-infective therapeutic products. The company also offers breast implants and tissue expanders; and RM-131 (relamorelin), a peptide ghrelin agonist for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis. In addition, it develops medical and cosmetic treatments; therapies for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and other liver diseases; inhibitor for the treatment of psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders; atopic dermatitis drug candidate; peri-ocular rings for extended drug delivery and reducing elevated intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients; and treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Further, the company develops RST-001, a novel gene therapy for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa; small molecule therapeutics for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases; topical medicines for fat reduction; and delivery system and botulinum toxin-based prescription products. It has collaboration, option, and license agreement with Lyndra, Inc.; and strategic alliance and option agreement with Editas Medicine, Inc. Allergan plc also has licensing agreements with Assembly Biosciences, Inc.; MedImmune; and Heptares Therapeutics, Ltd. The company was formerly known as Actavis plc and changed its name to Allergan plc in June 2015. Allergan plc was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

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The following companies are subsidiares of American Tower: 10 Presidential Way Associates LLC, 3267351 Nova Scotia Company, 3286208 Nova Scotia Company, 3298099 Nova Scotia Company, 52 Eighty LLC, 52 Eighty Partners LLC, 52 Eighty Tower Partners I LLC, ACC Tower Sub LLC, AT Kenya C.V., AT Netherlands C.V., AT Netherlands Cooperatief U.A., AT Sao Paulo C.V., AT Sher Netherlands Cooperatief U.A., AT South America C.V., ATC Africa Holding B.V., ATC Africa Shared Services (Pty) Ltd, ATC Antennas Holding LLC, ATC Antennas LLC, ATC Argentina C.V., ATC Argentina Cooperatief U.A., ATC Argentina Holding LLC, ATC Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., ATC Atlantic C.V., ATC Atlantic II B.V., ATC Atlantic III B.V., ATC Backhaul LLC, ATC Brasil  Servicos de Conectividades Ltda., ATC Brazil Holding LLC, ATC Brazil I LLC, ATC Brazil II LLC, ATC Burkina Faso S.A., ATC CSR Foundation India, ATC Chile Holding LLC, ATC Colombia B.V., ATC Colombia Holding I LLC, ATC Colombia Holding LLC, ATC Colombia I LLC, ATC EH GmbH & Co. KG, ATC Ecuador Holding LLC, ATC Edge LLC, ATC Ethiopia Infrastructure Development Private Limited Company, ATC Europe B.V., ATC Europe LLC, ATC European Holdings Inc., ATC Fibra de Colombia S.A.S., ATC France Cooperatief U.A., ATC France Holding II SAS, ATC France Holding SAS, ATC France Reseaux SAS, ATC France SAS, ATC France Services SAS, ATC GP GmbH, ATC Germany Holdings GmbH, ATC Germany Services GmbH, ATC Ghana ServiceCo Limited, ATC Global Employment B.V., ATC Heston B.V., ATC Holding Fibra Mexico S. de R.L. DE C.V., ATC IP LLC, ATC India Infrastructure Private Limited, ATC Indoor DAS Holding LLC, ATC Indoor DAS LLC, ATC International Cooperatief U.A., ATC International Financing B.V., ATC International Financing II B.V., ATC International Financing II Holding LLC, ATC International Holding Corp., ATC Iris I LLC, ATC Kenya Operations Limited, ATC Kenya Services Limited, ATC Latin America S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., ATC MIP III REIT Iron Holdings LLC, ATC Managed Sites Holding LLC, ATC Managed Sites LLC, ATC MexHold LLC, ATC Mexico Holding LLC, ATC Niger Wireless Infrastructure S.A., ATC Nigeria C.V., ATC Nigeria Cooperatief U.A., ATC Nigeria Holding LLC, ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Limited, ATC On Air + LLC, ATC Operations LLC, ATC Outdoor DAS LLC, ATC Paraguay Holding LLC, ATC Paraguay S.R.L., ATC Peru Holding LLC, ATC Polska sp. z o.o., ATC Ponderosa B-I LLC, ATC Ponderosa B-II LLC, ATC Ponderosa K LLC, ATC Ponderosa K-R LLC, ATC Sequoia LLC, ATC Sitios Infraco S.A.S., ATC Sitios de Chile S.A., ATC Sitios de Colombia S.A.S., ATC Sitios del Peru S.R.L., ATC South Africa Investment Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, ATC South Africa Services Pty Ltd, ATC South Africa Wireless Infrastructure (Pty) Ltd, ATC South Africa Wireless Infrastructure II (Pty) Ltd, ATC South America Holding LLC, ATC South LLC, ATC Spain LLC, ATC TRS I LLC, ATC TRS II LLC, ATC TRS III LLC, ATC TRS IV LLC, ATC Tanzania Holding LLC, ATC Telecom Infrastructure Private Limited, ATC Tower (Ghana) Limited, ATC Tower Services LLC, ATC Uganda Limited, ATC Uganda ServiceCo (SMC) Limited, ATC Watertown LLC, ATC WiFi LLC, ATS-Needham LLC, ActiveX Telebroadband Services Private Limited, Adquisiciones y Proyectos Inalambricos S. de R. L. de C.V., Agile Airband Ohio LLC, Agile Connect LLC, Agile IWG Holdings LLC, Agile Network Builders LLC, Agile Networks Indiana LLC, Agile Networks Site Development LLC, Agile Towers LLC, Alternative Networking LLC, American Tower Asset Sub II LLC, American Tower Asset Sub LLC, American Tower Charitable Foundation Inc., American Tower Delaware Corporation, American Tower Depositor Sub LLC, American Tower Guarantor Sub LLC, American Tower Holding Sub II LLC, American Tower Holding Sub LLC, American Tower International Holding I LLC, American Tower International Holding II LLC, American Tower International Inc., American Tower Investments LLC, American Tower LLC, American Tower Management LLC, American Tower Mauritius, American Tower Servicios Fibra S. de R.L. de C.V., American Tower Tanzania Operations Limited, American Tower do Brasil - Cessao de Infraestruturas Ltda., American Tower do Brasil  Communicacao Multimidia Ltda., American Towers LLC, BR Towers, Blue Sky Towers Pty Ltd, Blue Transfer Sociedad Anonima, Broadcast Towers LLC, CNC2 Associates LLC, California Tower Inc., Cell Site NewCo II LLC, Cell Tower Lease Acquisition LLC, Central States Tower Holdings LLC, Colo ATL LLC, Colo Atl, Communications Properties Inc., Comunicaciones y Consumos S.A., Connectivity Infrastructure Services Limited, DCS Tower Sub LLC, Eaton, Eaton Towers (Lilongwe) Limited, Eaton Towers Ghana (M) Limited, Eaton Towers Ghana Limited, Eaton Towers Holdings Limited, Eaton Towers Kenya Limited, Eaton Towers Limited, Eaton Towers Niger S.A., Eaton Towers Uganda Limited, Essar Telecom Infrastructure, Eure-et-Loir Reseaux Mobiles SAS, GTP Acquisition Partners I LLC, GTP Acquisition Partners II LLC, GTP Acquisition Partners III LLC, GTP Costa Rica Finance LLC, GTP Infrastructure I LLC, GTP Infrastructure II LLC, GTP Infrastructure III LLC, GTP Investments LLC, GTP LATAM Holdings B.V., GTP LatAm Holdings Cooperatieve U.A., GTP Operations CR S.R.L., GTP South Acquisitions II LLC, GTP Structures I LLC, GTP Structures II LLC, GTP TRS I LLC, GTP Torres CR S.R.L., GTP Towers I LLC, GTP Towers II LLC, GTP Towers III LLC, GTP Towers IV LLC, GTP Towers IX LLC, GTP Towers V LLC, GTP Towers VII LLC, GTP Towers VIII LLC, GTPI HoldCo LLC, Ghana Tower InterCo B.V., Global Tower Assets III LLC, Global Tower Assets LLC, Global Tower Holdings LLC, Global Tower LLC, Global Tower Partners, Global Tower Services LLC, Gondola Tower Holdings LLC, Grain HoldCo LLC, Grain HoldCo Parent LLC, GrainComm I LLC, GrainComm II LLC, GrainComm III LLC, GrainComm LLC, GrainComm Marketing LLC, GrainComm V LLC, Haysville Towers LLC, IW Equipment LLC, IWD Equipment LLC, IWG Holdings LLC, IWG II Holdings LLC, IWG II LLC, IWG Miami LLC, IWG Towers Assets I LLC, IWG Towers Assets II LLC, IWG-TLA Australia Pty Ltd., IWG-TLA Canada Corp., IWG-TLA Encanto 1 LLC, IWG-TLA Encanto 2 LLC, IWG-TLA Encanto 3 LLC, IWG-TLA Encanto LLC, IWG-TLA Holdings LLC, IWG-TLA Media 2 LLC, IWG-TLA Media LLC, IWG-TLA Telecom LLC, IWL-TLA Telecom 2 LLC, Idaho Tower Company LLC, InSite (BCEC) LLC, InSite (MBTA) LLC, InSite Borrower LLC, InSite Co-Issuer Corp., InSite Guarantor LLC, InSite Hawaii LLC, InSite Issuer LLC, InSite Licensing LLC, InSite Towers Development 2 LLC, InSite Towers Development LLC, InSite Towers International 2 LLC, InSite Towers International Development LLC, InSite Towers International LLC, InSite Towers LLC, InSite Towers of Puerto Rico LLC, InSite Wireless Development LLC, InSite Wireless Group, InSite Wireless Group LLC, Insite Wireless LLC, Invisible IWG Holdings LLC, Invisible Towers LLC, JT Communications LLC, LAP Inmobiliaria Limitada, LAP Inmobiliaria S.R.L., LL B Sheet 1 LLC, Lap do Brasil Empreendimentos Imobiliarios Ltda, Lease Advisors-AU PTY LTD, Loxel SAS, MATC Digital S. de R.L. de C.V., MATC Infraestructura S. de R.L. de C.V., MATC Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., MC New Macland Properties LLC, MCSU Properties LLC, MHB Tower Rentals of America LLC, MIP III Iron Holdings LLC, MIP III U.S. Iron LLC, Microwave Inc., Municipal Bay LLC, Municipal-Bay Holdings LLC, New Towers LLC, PCS Structures Towers LLC, R-CAL I LLC, RSA Media Inc., Repeater Communications Group I LLC, Repeater Communications Group II LLC, Repeater Communications Group III LLC, Repeater Communications Group IV LLC, Repeater Communications Group LLC, Repeater Communications Group V LLC, Repeater Communications Group VI LLC, Repeater Communications Group of New York LLC, Repeater IWG Holdings LLC, Richland Towers LLC, Signum/IWG Tower Corp., Southeast Network Access Point LLC, SpectraSite Communications, SpectraSite Communications LLC, SpectraSite LLC, T8 Ulysses Site Management LLC, TLA PR-1 LLC, TLA PR-2 LLC, Telecom Lease Advisors Management 2 LLC, Tower Management Inc., Towers of America L.L.L.P., Transcend Infrastructure Holdings Pte. Ltd., Transcend Towers Infrastructure (Philippines) Inc., Turris Sites Development Corp., Turris Sites IWG Corp, Tysons II DAS LLC, UNIsite, Uganda Tower Interco B.V., Ulysses Asset Sub I LLC, Ulysses Asset Sub II LLC, UniSite LLC, UniSite/Omnipoint FL Tower Venture LLC, UniSite/Omnipoint NE Tower Venture LLC, UniSite/Omnipoint PA Tower Venture LLC, Vangard Wireless LLC, Verus Management One LLC, Viom Networks, and Virdi IWG Holdings LLC.
The following companies are subsidiares of Marsh & McLennan Companies: 8WORKS INC., 8WORKS LTD, A. Constantinidi & CIA. S.C., A.C.N. 000 951 146 Pty Limited, A.C.N. 001 572 961 Pty Limited, A.C.N. 076 935 683 Pty Limited, A.C.N. 102 322 574 Pty Limited, ACE Insurance Agents Limited, ACE Insurance Consultants Limited, ACE Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Limited, AD Corretora de Seguros, AFCO Premium Acceptance Inc., AFCO Premium Credit LLC, Access Equity Enhanced Fund GP LLC, Admiral Holdings Limited, Agnew Higgins Pickering & Co. (Bermuda) Ltd, Aldgate Investments Limited, Aldgate Trustees Ltd, Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited, Alpha Consultants Limited, Alta SA, Altius Real Assets (GP) LLC, Amal Insurance Brokers Limited (in liquidation), Anda Insurance Agencies Pte Ltd, AssetVal Pty Ltd, Assur Conseils Marsh S.A., Assurance Capital Corporation, Assurance Services Corporation, Australian Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd, Australian World Underwriters Pty Ltd., BBPS Limited, Barney & Barney Orange County LLC, Beaumonts (Leeds) Limited (in liquidation), Beaumonts Insurance Brokers Limited (in liquidation), Beaumonts Insurance Services Limited, Beneficios Integrales Oportunos SA, Benefitfocus Inc., Blue Marble Micro Limited, Blue Marble Microinsurance Inc., Bluefin, Bluefin Insurance Group Limited, Bluefin Insurance Services Limited, Boulder Claims LLC, Bowring (Bermuda) Investments Ltd., Bowring Marine Limited, Bowring Marsh (Bermuda) Ltd., Bowring Marsh (Hong Kong) Limited, Bowring Marsh Asia Pte. Ltd., Bowring Marsh Corretora de Resseguros Ltda., Bowring Marsh Limited, Broderick Piller Pty Ltd, Broker 2 Broker Limited, BuildPay LLC, Burke Ford Trustees (Leicester) Limited, C.T. Bowring Limited, CMC-Belgibo NV, CPRM Limited, CPSG Partners LLC, Carpenter Marsh Fac Chile Corredores de Reaseguros Limitada, Carpenter Marsh Fac Colombia Corredores de Reaseguros S.A., Carpenter Marsh Fac Peru Corredores de Reaseguros S.A.C., Carpenter Marsh Fac Re LLC, Carpenter Turner Cyprus Ltd, Carpenter Turner S.A., Cascade International Holdings C.V., Cascade Regional Holdings Limited, Central Insurance Services Limited, Charter Risk Management Services LLC, Chartwell Healthcare Limited, Chronos Insurance Brokers Pty Limited, Claims and Recovery Management (Australia) Pty Limited, Clark Thomson Insurance Brokers Limited, Client Provide Limited, Colombian Insurance Broking Wholesale Limited, Consultores 2020 C.A., Cronin & Co Insurance Services Limited, DVA - Deutsche Verkehrs-Assekuranz-Vermittlungs GmbH, Dawson Insurance, DeLima Marsh S.A. - Los Corredores de Seguros S.A., Dovetail Insurance Corp., Dovetail Insurance Corp., Dovetail Managing General Agency Corporation, Dovetail Technology Service India Private Limited, Draw Connect Limited, Draw Create Limited, Draw Group London Limited, Eagle & Crown Limited, Echelon Australia Pty Limited, Echelon Claims Consultants Sdn Bhd, Echelon New Zealand Limited, EnBW Versicherungs Vermittlung GmbH, Encompass Insurance Agency Pty Ltd., English Pension Trustees Limited, Epsilon (US) Insurance Company, Epsilon Insurance Company Ltd., Eustis Insurance & Benefits, Evolution Management Ltd, Exchange Insurance Services Limited (in liquidation), Exmoor Management Company Limited, Faulkner & Flynn LLC, Freedom Trust Services Limited, GC Genesis LLC, GCube Insurance Services Inc, GCube Underwriting Limited, Gama Consultores Associados Ltda., Gem Insurance Company Limited, Global Premium Finance Company, GrECo International Holding AG, Gracechurch Trustees Limited, Gresham Pension Trustees Limited, Group Promoters Pty Limited, Guy Carpenter & Cia (Mexico) S.A. de C.V., Guy Carpenter & Cia. S.A., Guy Carpenter & Co. Labuan Ltd., Guy Carpenter & Company AB, Guy Carpenter & Company Corredores de Reaseguros Limitada, Guy Carpenter & Company Corretora de Resseguros Ltda., Guy Carpenter & Company GmbH, Guy Carpenter & Company LLC, Guy Carpenter & Company Limited, Guy Carpenter & Company Limited, Guy Carpenter & Company Ltd./Guy Carpenter & Compagnie Ltee, Guy Carpenter & Company Participacoes Ltda., Guy Carpenter & Company Peru Corredores de Reaseguros S.A., Guy Carpenter & Company Private Limited, Guy Carpenter & Company Proprietary Limited, Guy Carpenter & Company Pty. Ltd., Guy Carpenter & Company S.A., Guy Carpenter & Company S.A. (Uruguay), Guy Carpenter & Company S.A.S., Guy Carpenter & Company S.r.l., Guy Carpenter (Middle East) Limited, Guy Carpenter Bermuda Ltd., Guy Carpenter Broking Inc., Guy Carpenter Colombia Corredores de Reaseguros Ltda., Guy Carpenter Insurance Brokers (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Guy Carpenter Japan Inc., Guy Carpenter Mexico Intermediario de Reaseguro S.A. de C.V., Guy Carpenter Reasurans Brokerligi Anonim Sirketi, HAPIP GP 2009 LLC, HAPIP GP LLC, HSBC Insurance Brokers International (Abu Dhabi) LLC (in liquidation), Hamilton Bond Limited, Hansen International Limited, Hayward Aviation Limited, INSIA Europe SE, INSIA SK s.r.o., INSIA a.s., INSURANCE BROKERS OF NIGERIA LIMITED, IRC Asia Insurance Brokers Limited, InSolutions Limited, Industrial Risks Protection Consultants, Ingeseg S. A., Ingeseg S.A., Insbrokers Ltda., InsurTech Alliance LLC, Insure Direct (Brokers) LLC, Insure Direct (Brokers) LLC [BAHRAIN BRANCH], Insure Direct - Jardine Lloyd Thompson Limited, International Catastrophe Insurance Managers LLC, International Loss Control Services Limited, International Risk Consultants (Asia) Limited, Invercol Limited, Irish Pensions Trust Limited, Isosceles Insurance (Barbados) Limited, Isosceles Insurance Company Limited, Isosceles Insurance Ltd, Isosceles PCC Limited, J&H Marsh & McLennan Limited, J.W. Terrill Benefit Administrators Inc., JI Holdings Limited, JIB Group Holdings Limited, JIB Group Limited, JIB Holdings (Pacific) Limited, JIB Overseas Holdings Limited, JIB UK Holdings Limited, JL Marine Insurance-Brokers GmbH & Co. KG, JLM Verwaltungs GmbH, JLT (Insurance Brokers) Limited, JLT Actuaries and Consultants Limited, JLT Advisory Limited, JLT Affinity Colombia Solutions SAS, JLT Agencies Limited, JLT Asesorias Ltda, JLT Asia Holdings BV, JLT Asia Shared Services Sdn Bhd, JLT Belgibo, JLT Benefit Consultants Limited, JLT Benefit Solutions Limited, JLT Benefit Solutions SA (Pty) Ltd, JLT Bermuda Ltd, JLT Brasil Holdings Participacoes Ltd, JLT Chile Holdings SpA, JLT Colombia Retail Limited, JLT Colombia Wholesale Limited, JLT Consultants & Actuaries Limited, JLT EB Holdings Limited, JLT EB Services Limited, JLT Employee Benefits Holding Company (PTY) LTD, JLT Employee Benefits SA (Pty) Ltd, JLT Financial Planning Limited, JLT France Holdings, JLT Group Services Pty Limited, JLT Holdings (Barbados) Ltd, JLT Holdings (NZ) Limited, JLT Independent Insurance Brokers Private Limited, JLT Insurance Agencies Limited, JLT Insurance Brokers Co. Limited, JLT Insurance Brokers Co. Limited ( Shanghai Branch), JLT Insurance Brokers Co. Limited (Beijing Branch), JLT Insurance Brokers Co. Limited (Guangzhou Branch), JLT Insurance Brokers Ireland Limited, JLT Insurance Brokers SA, JLT Insurance Group Holdings Ltd, JLT Insurance Management Malta Limited, JLT Intellectual Property Limited, JLT Intellectual Property [UK Branch], JLT Interactive Pte. Ltd., JLT Investment Management Limited, JLT LATAM (Southern Cone) Wholesale Limited, JLT Latin American Holdings Limited, JLT Life Assurance Brokers Limited, JLT Management Services Limited, JLT Marine (Pty) Ltd, JLT Mexico Holdings Limited, JLT Mexico Intermediario de Reaseguro S.A. de C.V., JLT Netherlands BV, JLT Norway AS, JLT PLA, JLT Pension Trustees Limited, JLT Pensions Administration Holdings Limited, JLT Pensions Administration Limited, JLT Peru Reinsurance Solutions Limited, JLT Peru Retail Limited, JLT Peru Wholesale Limited, JLT QFM Services Limited, JLT RE Brasil Administracao e Corretagem de Resseguros Ltda, JLT Re (French Branch), JLT Re (Northern Europe) AB, JLT Re Argentina Corredores de Reaseguros S.A.U., JLT Re Labuan Limited, JLT Re Limited, JLT Re Pty Ltd, JLT Reinsurance Brokers GmbH, JLT Reinsurance Brokers Limited, JLT Reinsurance Brokers Limited [French Branch], JLT Risk Management Limited, JLT Risk Solutions AB, JLT Risk Solutions AB Branch - Germany, JLT SA IB Holdings Company (Pty) Limited, JLT SCK Affinity Administracao e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., JLT SCK Corretora e Administradora de Seguros, JLT Secretaries Limited, JLT Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerlii A.., JLT Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd., JLT Specialty France, JLT Specialty Insurance Broker A/S, JLT Specialty Limited, JLT Specialty Limited [DUBAI BRANCH], JLT Specialty Pte. Ltd., JLT Towner Insurance Management (Anguilla) Limited, JLT Trust Services (Barbados) Ltd, JLT Trustees (Southern) Limited, JLT Trustees Limited, JLT UK Investment Holdings Limited, JLT Vantage Risk and Benefit Consulting Private Limited, JLT Wealth Management Limited, JLT do Brasil Corretagem de Seguros Ltda, JLTPCS Holdings Pte. Ltd., JMIB Holdings BV, JSL Securities Inc., Japan Affinity Marketing Inc., Jardine IBR Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson (Proprietary) Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Asia Pte Ltd, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Australia Pty Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Canada Inc, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group Ltd, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc, Jardine Lloyd Thompson India Private Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson India Private Limited (UK Branch Office), Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Consultants Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Inc., Jardine Lloyd Thompson Ireland Holdings Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Ireland Unlimited Company, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Korea Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Limited [Macao Branch], Jardine Lloyd Thompson PCS (Dubai) Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson PCS Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson PCS Pte Ltd, Jardine Lloyd Thompson PCS SA, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Private Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Pty Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Sdn Bhd, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Valencia y Iragorri Corredores de Seguros SA, Jardine Pension Trustees Ireland Limited, Jardine Risk Consulting Co. Limited, Jardine ShunTak Insurance Brokers Limited, Jardine ShunTak Insurance Brokers Limited [Macao Branch], Jardines PF- Consultoria Em Gestao De Risco Limitada, Jelf, Jelf Commercial Finance Limited, Jelf Financial Planning Limited, Jelf Insurance Brokers Limited, Jelf Limited, Jelf Risk Management Limited, Jelf Wellbeing Limited, John Lampier & Son Ltd, Johnson & Higgins (Bermuda) Limited, Johnson & Higgins Limited, KESSLER & CO AG, Kepler Associates Limited, Kessler & Co Inc., Kessler Consulting Inc., Kessler Prevoyance Inc., Key Underwriting Pty Limited, Kroll, Lambert Brothers Holdings Limited, Lambert Brothers Insurance Brokers (Employee Benefits) Limited, Lambert Brothers Insurance Brokers (Hong Kong) Ltd, Laterlife.com Limited (in liquidation), Lavaretus Underwriting AB, Lavaretus Underwriting AB (BRANCH - Denmark), Libra Insurance Services Limited (in liquidation), Lloyd & Partners Limited, Local Government Insurance Brokers Pty Limited, Lomond Macdonald Limited, Lynch Insurance Brokers Limited, M&M Vehicle L.P., M.P. Bolshaw and Company Limited, MAG JLT SpA, MERCER ALTERNATIVES LIMITED, MM Risk Services Pty Ltd (for dissolution), MMA Mid-Atlantic Employee LLC, MMA Securities LLC, MMB Consultores S.A., MMC (Singapore) Holdings Pte. Ltd., MMC 28 State Street Holdings Inc., MMC Borrower LLC, MMC Brazilian Holdings B.V., MMC Capital Inc., MMC Cascade Regional Holdings LLC, MMC FINANCE (EUROPE) LIMITED, MMC FINANCE HOLDINGS LTD, MMC Finance (Australia) Limited, MMC Finance (Singapore) Limited, MMC France Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., MMC GP III Inc., MMC Group Services sp. z o.o., MMC Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, MMC Holdings (New Zealand) ULC, MMC Holdings (UK) Limited, MMC International Finance (Barbados) SRL, MMC International Holdings LLC, MMC International Limited, MMC International Treasury Centre Limited, MMC Middle East Holdings Limited, MMC Poland Holdings B.V., MMC Realty Inc., MMC Regional Asia Holdings B.V., MMC Regional Caribbean Holdings Ltd., MMC Regional Europe Holdings B.V., MMC Regional LATAM Holdings B.V., MMC Securities (Europe) Limited, MMC Securities LLC, MMC Treasury Holdings (UK) Limited, MMC UK Group Limited, MMC UK Pension Fund Trustee Limited, MMOW Limited, MMRC LLC, MOW Holding LLC, MPIP III GP LLC, MPIP IV GP LLC, MPIP V GP LLC, MPIP VI GP LLC, Mangrove Insurance Europe PCC Limited, Mangrove Insurance Solutions PCC, Mangrove Insurance Solutions PCC Limited, Manoel Management Services Ltd, Marchant McKechnie Insurance Brokers Limited, Marine Aviation & General (London) Limited, Marsh & McLennan (PNG) Limited, Marsh & McLennan Agencies AS, Marsh & McLennan Agencies Limited, Marsh & McLennan Agency A/S, Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, Marsh & McLennan Agency Limited, Marsh & McLennan Agency Pty Ltd., Marsh & McLennan Argentina SA Corredores de Reaseguros, Marsh & McLennan Colombia S.A., Marsh & McLennan Companies Acquisition Funding Limited, Marsh & McLennan Companies Acquisition Limited, Marsh & McLennan Companies Asia Pacific Treasury Center Limited, Marsh & McLennan Companies BVBA/SPRL, Marsh & McLennan Companies Finance Center (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Companies France S.A.S., Marsh & McLennan Companies Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., Marsh & McLennan Companies Regional Holdings S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Companies Services B.V., Marsh & McLennan Companies UK Limited, Marsh & McLennan Europe S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan GP I Inc., Marsh & McLennan Global Broking (Bermuda) Ltd., Marsh & McLennan Holding GmbH, Marsh & McLennan Holdings (Canada) ULC, Marsh & McLennan Holdings Inc., Marsh & McLennan Incorporated (for dissolution), Marsh & McLennan Innovation Centre Holdings II, Marsh & McLennan Innovation Centre Holdings S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Innovation Centre Limited, Marsh & McLennan Insurance Services Limited, Marsh & McLennan Ireland Limited, Marsh & McLennan Management Services (Bermuda) Limited, Marsh & McLennan Risk Capital Holdings Ltd., Marsh & McLennan Servicios S.A. De C.V., Marsh & McLennan Shared Services Canada Limited, Marsh & McLennan Shared Services Corporation, Marsh (Bahrain) Company SPC, Marsh (Beijing) Risk Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Marsh (China) Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd., Marsh (Hong Kong) Limited, Marsh (Insurance Brokers) LLP, Marsh (Insurance Services) Limited, Marsh (Malawi) Limited, Marsh (Middle East) Limited, Marsh (Namibia) (Proprietary) Limited, Marsh (Pty) Ltd, Marsh (Risk Consulting) LLP, Marsh (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Marsh A/S, Marsh AB, Marsh AG, Marsh AS, Marsh Advantage Insurance Holdings Pty Ltd, Marsh Advantage Insurance Pty Ltd., Marsh Africa (Pty) Ltd, Marsh Argentina S.R.L., Marsh Associates (Pty) Ltd, Marsh Austria G.m.b.H., Marsh Aviation Insurance Broking Pty Ltd (for dissolution), Marsh B.V., Marsh Botswana (Proprietary) Limited, Marsh Brockman y Schuh Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Marsh Broker Japan Inc., Marsh Broker de Asigurare-Reasigurare S.R.L., Marsh Brokers (Hong Kong) Limited, Marsh Brokers Limited, Marsh Canada Limited/Marsh Canada Limitee, Marsh Company Management Services Cayman Ltd., Marsh Compensation Technologies Administration (Pty) Ltd, Marsh Corporate Services (Barbados) Limited, Marsh Corporate Services Isle of Man Ltd, Marsh Corporate Services Limited, Marsh Corporate Services Malta Limited, Marsh Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Marsh EOOD, Marsh Egypt LLC, Marsh Emirates Consultancy LLC, Marsh Emirates Insurance Brokerage LLC, Marsh Employee Benefits Limited, Marsh Employee Benefits Zimbabwe (Private) Ltd, Marsh Eurofinance B.V., Marsh Europe S.A., Marsh FJC International Insurance Brokers Limited, Marsh For Insurance Services S.A.E., Marsh Franco Acra S.A., Marsh GSC Servicos e Administracao de Seguros Ltda., Marsh GmbH, Marsh Holding AB, Marsh Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Marsh India Insurance Brokers Private Limited, Marsh Insurance & Investments LLC, Marsh Insurance Brokers, Marsh Insurance Brokers (Macao) Limited, Marsh Insurance Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Marsh Insurance Brokers (Private) Limited, Marsh Insurance Brokers AO, Marsh Insurance Brokers Limited, Marsh Insurance Consulting Saudi Arabia (in liquidation), Marsh Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers LLC, Marsh Intermediaries Inc., Marsh International Broking Holdings Limited, Marsh International Holdings II Inc., Marsh International Holdings Inc., Marsh Investment B.V., Marsh Ireland Brokers Limited, Marsh Ireland Brokers Limited (UK Branch), Marsh Ireland Holdings Limited, Marsh Israel (1999) Ltd., Marsh Israel (Holdings) Ltd., Marsh Israel Consultants Ltd., Marsh Israel Insurance Agency Ltd., Marsh Israel International Brokers Ltd. (in liquidation), Marsh JCS Inc., Marsh Japan Inc., Marsh Kft., Marsh Kindlustusmaakler AS, Marsh Korea Inc., Marsh LLC, Marsh LLC Insurance Brokers, Marsh LLC [Ukraine], Marsh Lda., Marsh Limited, Marsh Limited [Fiji], Marsh Limited [New Zealand], Marsh Limited [PNG], Marsh Ltd. [Wisconsin], Marsh Management Services (Bahamas) Ltd., Marsh Management Services (Barbados) Limited, Marsh Management Services (Bermuda) Ltd., Marsh Management Services (Dublin) Limited, Marsh Management Services (Labuan) Limited, Marsh Management Services (MENA) Limited, Marsh Management Services (USVI) Ltd., Marsh Management Services Cayman Ltd., Marsh Management Services Guernsey Limited, Marsh Management Services Inc., Marsh Management Services Isle of Man Limited, Marsh Management Services Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Marsh Management Services Malta Limited, Marsh Management Services Singapore Pte. Ltd., Marsh Management Services Sweden AB, Marsh Marine & Energy AB, Marsh Marine Nederland B.V., Marsh Medical Consulting GmbH, Marsh Mercer Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Marsh Nest Inc., Marsh Oman LLC, Marsh Oy, Marsh PB Co. Ltd., Marsh Philippines Inc., Marsh Privat A.I.E., Marsh Private Client Life Insurance Services, Marsh Pty. Ltd., Marsh Qatar LLC, Marsh RE S.A.C. Corredores de Reaseguros, Marsh Rehder Consultoria S.A. (MRC), Marsh Rehder S.A. Corredores de Seguros, Marsh Resolutions Pty Limited, Marsh Risk Consulting B.V., Marsh Risk Consulting Limitada, Marsh Risk Consulting Ltda., Marsh Risk Consulting S.L., Marsh Risk Consulting Services S.r.L., Marsh Risk and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, Marsh S.A. Corredores De Seguros, Marsh S.A. Mediadores de Seguros, Marsh S.A.S., Marsh S.p.A., Marsh SA [Argentina], Marsh SA [Belgium], Marsh SA [Luxembourg], Marsh SA [Uruguay], Marsh SIA, Marsh Saldana Inc., Marsh Saudi Arabia Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers, Marsh Secretarial Services Limited, Marsh Semusa S.A., Marsh Services Limited, Marsh Services Spolka z.o.o., Marsh Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerligi Anonim Sirketi, Marsh Spolka z.o.o., Marsh Szolgaltato Kft., Marsh Takaful Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Marsh Treasury Services (Dublin) Limited (in liquidation), Marsh Treasury Services Limited, Marsh Tunisia S.a.r.l., Marsh UK Limited, Marsh USA (India) Inc., Marsh USA Borrower LLC, Marsh USA Inc., Marsh Uganda Limited, Marsh Venezuela C.A. Sociedad de Corretaje de Seguros, Marsh Vietnam Insurance Broking Company Ltd, Marsh Zambia Limited, Marsh Zimbabwe Holdings (Private) Limited, Marsh d.o.o. Beograd, Marsh d.o.o. za posredovanje u osiguranju, Marsh for Insurance Services - Jordan, Marsh i-Connect (Pty) Ltd, Marsh s.r.o., Matthiessen Assurans AB, Mercer (Argentina) S.A., Mercer (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer (Austria) GmbH, Mercer (Belgium) SA-NV, Mercer (Canada) Limited/Mercer (Canada) Limitee, Mercer (China) Limited, Mercer (Colombia) Ltda., Mercer (Danmark) A/S, Mercer (Finland) OY, Mercer (France) SAS, Mercer (Hong Kong) Limited, Mercer (Ireland) Limited, Mercer (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Mercer (N.Z.) Limited, Mercer (Nederland) B.V., Mercer (Norge) AS, Mercer (Polska) Sp.z o.o., Mercer (Portugal) Lda, Mercer (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Mercer (Sweden) AB, Mercer (Taiwan) Ltd., Mercer (Thailand) Ltd., Mercer (US) Inc., Mercer Administration Services (Australia) Pty Limited, Mercer Africa Limited, Mercer Agente de Seguros S.A. de C.V., Mercer Asesores de Seguros S.A., Mercer Asesores es Inversion Independientes S.A. de C.V., Mercer Broking Ltd., Mercer Career Unipessoal Lda, Mercer Consultation (Quebec) Ltee., Mercer Consulting (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer Consulting (Chile) Limitada, Mercer Consulting (France) SAS, Mercer Consulting (India) Private Limited, Mercer Consulting B.V., Mercer Consulting Group Inc., Mercer Consulting Holdings Sdn. Bhd., Mercer Consulting Limited, Mercer Consulting Middle East Limited, Mercer Consulting S.L.U., Mercer Consulting Venezuela C.A., Mercer Corredores de Seguros Limitada, Mercer Corretora de Seguros Ltda, Mercer Danismanlik Anonim Sirketi, Mercer Deutschland GmbH, Mercer Employee Benefits - Medicacao de Seguros Unipessoal Lda., Mercer Employee Benefits Limited, Mercer Financial Advice (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer Financial Services Limited, Mercer Financial Services Limited liability company, Mercer Financial Services Middle East Limited, Mercer Global Investments Europe Limited, Mercer Global Investments Management Limited, Mercer HR Consulting Borrower LLC, Mercer HR Services LLC, Mercer Health & Benefits (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Mercer Health & Benefits Administration LLC, Mercer Health & Benefits LLC, Mercer Holdings Inc., Mercer Holdings Inc. [Philippines], Mercer Human Resource Consulting Ltda, Mercer Human Resource Consulting S.A. de C.V., Mercer ICC Limited, Mercer Investment Consulting Limited, Mercer Investment Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Mercer Investment Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Mercer Investments (Australia) Limited, Mercer Investments (Hong Kong) Limited, Mercer Investments (Japan) Ltd, Mercer Investments (New Zealand) Limited, Mercer Investments LLC, Mercer Ireland Holdings Limited, Mercer Italia Srl Socio Unico, Mercer Japan Ltd., Mercer Korea Co. Ltd., Mercer LLC, Mercer Limited, Mercer MC Consulting Borrower LLC, Mercer Master Trustees Limited, Mercer Mauritius Ltd., Mercer Oliver Wyman Holding B.V., Mercer Outsourcing (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer Outsourcing S.L.U., Mercer Pensionsfonds AG, Mercer Pensionsraadgivning A/S, Mercer Philippines Inc., Mercer Private Investment Partners IV General Partner S.a.r.l., Mercer Private Markets AG, Mercer Private Markets Advisers (US) AG, Mercer Services Poland Sp. z.o.o., Mercer Sigorta Brokerligi Anonim Sirketi, Mercer South Africa (Pty) Limited, Mercer Superannuation (Australia) Limited, Mercer Switzerland Inc., Mercer System Services LLC, Mercer Technology Acquisitions Limited, Mercer Treuhand GmbH, Mercer Trust Company LLC, Mercer Trustees Limited, Mercer WorkforcePro LLC, Mercury Insurance Services Pty Ltd, Moola Systems Limited, Mountlodge Limited, Muir Beddal (Zimbabwe) Limited, NERA Australia Pty. Ltd., NERA Economic Consulting GmbH, NERA Economic Consulting Limited, NERA S.R.L., NERA SAS, NERA UK Limited, NERA do Brasil Ltda. (for dissolution), National Economic Research Associates Inc., NetComp Insurance Corp., Neuburger Noble Lowndes GmbH, Normandy Reinsurance Company Limited, Northern Alliance Brokers Limited (in liquidation), OWL Marine Insurance-Brokers GmbH & Co.KG, OWL Marine Verwaltungs GmbH, Oliver Wyman (Bermuda) Limited, Oliver Wyman (Hong Kong) Limited, Oliver Wyman AB, Oliver Wyman AG, Oliver Wyman Actuarial Consulting Inc., Oliver Wyman B.V., Oliver Wyman Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd, Oliver Wyman Consultoria em Estrategia de Negocios Ltda., Oliver Wyman Energy Consulting Limited, Oliver Wyman FZ-LLC, Oliver Wyman Group KK, Oliver Wyman Inc., Oliver Wyman LLC, Oliver Wyman Limited, Oliver Wyman Limited Liability Company, Oliver Wyman Limited/Oliver Wyman limitee, Oliver Wyman Ltd., Oliver Wyman Pte. Ltd., Oliver Wyman Pty. Ltd., Oliver Wyman S. de R.L. de C.V., Oliver Wyman S.A.S., Oliver Wyman S.L., Oliver Wyman S.r.l., Oliver Wyman SNC, Oliver Wyman SPRL/BVBA, Oliver Wyman Sdn. Bhd., Oliver Wyman Services Limited, Oliver Wyman Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Oliver Wyman sp. z o.o., Omega Indemnity (Bermuda) Limited, Organizacion Brockman y Schuh S.A. de C.V., Osbornes Insurances Oxford Limited (in liquidation), PFT Limited, PI Indemnity Company Designated Activity Company, PT JLT Reinsurance Brokers, PT Jardine Lloyd Thompson, PT Marsh Indonesia, PT Marsh Reinsurance Brokers Indonesia, PT Mercer Indonesia, PT Nexus Asia Pacific, PT Oliver Wyman Indonesia, PT Quantum Computing Services, PT Quantum Investments, PT Quantum Support Services, Pallas Marsh Servicos Ltda., Pavilion Alternatives Group (Singapore) PTE. Ltd, Pavilion Financial Corporation Holdings UK Limited, Pavilion U.S. Investments Holdco LLC, Pension Trustees Limited, Pensionsservice Benefit Network Sverige AB, Perils AG, Personal Pension Trustees Limited, Pet Animal Welfare Scheme Limited, Portsoken Trustees (No. 2) Limited, Portsoken Trustees Limited, Potomac Insurance Managers Inc., Premier Pension Trustees Limited, Premium Services Australia Pty Limited, Professional Claims Handling Limited (in liquidation), Profund Solutions Limited, Promerit AG, Promerit Hungary Kft, Promerit Schweiz AG, Pymetrics Inc., R G Ford Brokers Limited, R R B Beratungsgesellschaft fuer Altersversorgung mbh, R. Mees & Zoonen Holdings B.V., Renewable Energy Loss Adjusters LLC, Renewable Energy Loss Adjusters Limited, Resource Benefit Associates, Rightpath Reinsurance SPC Ltd., Risk Management Australia Pty Limited, Rivers Group Limited, Rockefeller Risk Advisors Inc., Rutherfoord International Inc., SAFCAR-Marsh, SBJ Holdings Limited, SCIB (Bermuda) Limited, SCM Global Real Estate Select GP LLC, SCM Infrastructure General Partner S.a r.l., SCM International Private Equity Select III GP LLC, SCM LT General Partner S.a.r.l., SCM PE General Partner S.a.r.l., SCM PE II GP Ltd., SCM PE II Scotland GP Ltd, SCM Strategic Capital Management (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., SICAR Marsh S.a.r.l., SME Insurance Services Limited, Sail Insurance Company Limited, Scalene Re Ltd, Seabury & Smith Borrower LLC, Seabury & Smith LLC, Secure Limited, Sedgwick (Holdings) Pty. Limited, Sedgwick Consulting Group Limited, Sedgwick Dineen Group Limited, Sedgwick Financial Services Limited, Sedgwick Forbes Middle East Limited, Sedgwick Group, Sedgwick Group (Australia) Pty. Limited, Sedgwick Group (Bermuda) Limited, Sedgwick Group (Zimbabwe) Limited, Sedgwick Group Limited, Sedgwick Internationaal B.V., Sedgwick Limited, Sedgwick Management Services (Barbados) Limited, Sedgwick Management Services (Singapore) Pte Limited, Sedgwick Noble Lowndes (UK) Limited, Sedgwick Noble Lowndes Group Limited, Sedgwick Noble Lowndes Limited, Sedgwick Overseas Investments Limited, Sedgwick Private Limited, Sedgwick Re Asia Pacific (Consultants) Pte Ltd (for dissolution), Sedgwick Trustees Limited, Sedgwick UK Risk Services Limited, Sedgwick Ulster Pension Trustees Limited, Settlement Trustees Limited, Shanghai Mercer Insurance Brokers Company Ltd., Shorewest Insurance Associates LLC, Sirota Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Sirota Consulting UK Limited, Smith Long Term Disability Management Group Inc., Societe d'Assurances et de Participation Guian SA, Software Underwriting Systems Limited (in liquidation), Southern Marine & Aviation Inc., Southern Marine & Aviation Underwriters Inc., Sudzucker Versicherungs-Vermittlungs GmbH, Sumitomo Life Insurance Agency America Inc., Sylvite Financial Services, TBX Solutions Limited, Talent Tech Labs LLC, The Benefit Express Holdings Limited, The Benefit Express Limited, The Carpenter Management Corporation, The Insurance Partnership Holdings Limited, The Insurance Partnership Services Limited, The Positive Ageing Company Limited, The Purple Partnership Limited, The Recovre Group Pty Ltd, Thomsons Online Benefits (HK) Ltd., Thomsons Online Benefits Inc., Thomsons Online Benefits Limited, Thomsons Online Benefits Pte Ltd., Thomsons Online Benefits S.R.L, Torrent Government Contracting Services LLC, Torrent Insurance Services LLC, Torrent Technologies, Torrent Technologies Inc., Tower Hill Limited, Tower Place Developments (West) Limited, Tower Place Developments Limited, U.T.E. AMG, U.T.E. Marsh - Caja Castilla La Mancha Junta de Comunidades, U.T.E. Marsh - Salvado Reus (in liquidation), U.T.E. Marsh - Salvado Reus 2012, U.T.E. Marsh - Salvado Vila-Seca 2010, UAD BB Marsh Lietuva, Vezina & Associes Inc., Vezina Assurances Inc., Victor Insurance Europe B.V., Victor Insurance Holdings Inc., Victor Insurance Italia S.r.l., Victor Insurance Managers Inc., Victor Insurance Managers Inc./Gestionnaires d'assurance Victor inc., Victor O. Schinnerer & Co. (Bermuda) Ltd., Victor O. Schinnerer & Company Limited, Victoria Hall Company Limited, Wellnz Limited, William M. Mercer (Canada) Limited/William M. Mercer (Canada) Limitee, William M. Mercer AB, William M. Mercer Comercio Consultoria e Servicos Ltda., Wortham Insurance & Risk Management, everBe SAS, and realright GmbH.
Bausch Health Companies Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets a range of pharmaceutical, medical device, and over-the-counter (OTC) products primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology, and dermatology. The company operates through four segments: Bausch + Lomb/International, Salix, Ortho Dermatologics, and Diversified Products. The Bausch + Lomb/International segment offers products with a focus on the vision care, surgical, and consumer and ophthalmology Rx products in the United States; and Solta products, branded and generic pharmaceutical products, OTC products, and medical device products, and Bausch + Lomb products in Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. The Salix segment provides gastroenterology products in the United States. The Ortho Dermatologics segment offers dermatological products in the United States; and Solta medical aesthetic devices internationally. The Diversified Products segment provides pharmaceutical products in the areas of neurology and other therapeutic classes, as well as generic and dentistry products in the United States. The company was formerly known as Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. and changed its name to Bausch Health Companies Inc. in July 2018. Bausch Health Companies Inc. is headquartered in Laval, Canada.

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Invesco S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF's stock was trading at $18.23 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, PBP stock has increased by 32.0% and is now trading at $24.07.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Banco Santander: 2 & 3 Triton Limited, A & L CF (Guernsey) Limited (f), A & L CF June (2) Limited, A & L CF June (3) Limited, A & L CF March (5) Limited, A & L CF September (4) Limited, AFB SAM Holdings S.L., ALIL Services Limited (b), AN (123) Limited, ANITCO Limited, Abbey Business Services (India) Private Limited, Abbey Covered Bonds (LM) Limited, Abbey National, Abbey National Beta Investments Limited, Abbey National Business Office Equipment Leasing Limited, Abbey National International Limited, Abbey National Nominees Limited, Abbey National PLP (UK) Limited, Abbey National Property Investments, Abbey National Treasury Services Investments Limited, Abbey National Treasury Services Overseas Holdings, Abbey National UK Investments, Abbey Stockbrokers (Nominees) Limited, Abbey Stockbrokers Limited, Ablasa Participaciones S.L., Administracion de Bancos Latinoamericanos Santander S.L., Aduro S.A., Aevis Europa S.L., Afisa S.A., Albert., Aljardi SGPS Lda., Alliance & Leicester, Alliance & Leicester Cash Solutions Limited, Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments (Derivatives) Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments (No.2) Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments Limited, Alliance & Leicester Limited, Alliance & Leicester Personal Finance Limited, Altamira Santander Real Estate S.A., Alternative Leasing FIL, Amazonia Trade Limited, Amherst Pierpont, Andaluza de Inversiones S.A., Aquanima Brasil Ltda., Aquanima Chile S.A., Aquanima Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aquanima S.A., Arcaz - Sociedade Imobiliaria Portuguesa Lda., Argenline S.A. (b), Asto Digital Limited, Athena Corporation Limited, Atual - Fundo de Invest Multimercado Credito Privado Investimento no Exterior, Atual Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos e Meios Digitais S.A., Autodescuento S.L., Autohaus24 GmbH, Auttar HUT Processamento de Dados Ltda., Aviacion Antares A.I.E., Aviacion Britanica A.I.E., Aviacion Centaurus A.I.E., Aviacion Comillas S.L. Unipersonal, Aviacion Intercontinental A.I.E., Aviacion Laredo S.L., Aviacion Oyambre S.L. Unipersonal, Aviacion Real A.I.E., Aviacion Santillana S.L., Aviacion Suances S.L., Aviacion Triton A.I.E., Aymore Credito Financiamento e Investimento S.A., BEN Beneficios e Servicos S.A., BRS Investments S.A., BZW Bank, Banca PSA Italia S.p.A., Banco Bandepe S.A., Banco Madesant - Sociedade Unipessoal S.A., Banco PSA Finance Brasil S.A., Banco Popular, Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A., Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso 100740, Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso 2002114, Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso GFSSLPT, Banco Santander - Chile, Banco Santander Consumer Portugal S.A., Banco Santander International, Banco Santander International SA, Banco Santander Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Banco Santander Peru S.A., Banco Santander Rio S.A., Banco Santander S.A., Banco Santander Totta S.A., Banco Santander de Negocios Colombia S.A., Banco de Albacete S.A., Bansa Santander S.A., CCAP Auto Lease Ltd., Canyon Multifamily Impact Fund IV LLC, Capital Street Delaware LP, Capital Street Holdings LLC, Capital Street REIT Holdings LLC, Capital Street S.A., Carfax (Guernsey) Limited (f), Carfinco Financial Group, Carfinco Financial Group Inc., Carfinco Inc., Casa de Bolsa Santander S.A. de C.V. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Cater Allen Holdings Limited, Cater Allen International Limited, Cater Allen Limited, Cater Allen Lloyd's Holdings Limited, Cater Allen Syndicate Management Limited, Centro de Capacitacion Santander A.C., Certidesa S.L., Chrysler Capital Auto Funding I LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Funding II LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Receivables LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 2 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 4 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding LLC, Cobranza Amigable S.A.P.I. de C.V., Community Development and Affordable Housing Fund LLC (g), Compagnie Generale de Credit Aux Particuliers - Credipar S.A., Compagnie Pour la Location de Vehicules - CLV, Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Argentina S.A., Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Iberica S.L. Unipersonal en liquidacion (b), Consulteam Consultores de Gestao Lda., Consumer Lending Receivables LLC, Crawfall S.A. (b), Cantabra de Inversiones S.A., Cantabro Catalana de Inversiones S.A., Darep Designated Activity Company, Decarome S.A.P.I. de C.V., Deva Capital Advisory Company S.L., Deva Capital Holding Company S.L., Deva Capital Investment Company S.L., Deva Capital Management Company S.L., Deva Capital Servicer Company S.L., Digital Procurement Holdings N.V., Diners Club Spain S.A., Direccion Estratega S.C., Dirgenfin S.L. en liquidacion (b), Ebury, El Corte Ingles, Elavon Mexico, Electrolyser S.A. de C.V., Entidad de Desarrollo a la Pequena y Micro Empresa Santander Consumo Peru S.A., Erestone S.A.S., Esfera Fidelidade S.A., Evidence Previdencia S.A., Financeira El Corte Ingles Portugal S.F.C. S.A., Financiera El Corte Ingles E.F.C. S.A., Finsantusa S.L. Unipersonal, First National Motor Business Limited, First National Motor Contracts Limited, First National Motor Facilities Limited, First National Motor Finance Limited, First National Motor Leasing Limited, First National Motor plc, First National Tricity Finance Limited, Fondos Santander S.A. Administradora de Fondos de Inversion (en liquidacion) (b), Fortensky Trading Ltd., Fosse Funding (No.1) Limited, Fosse Master Issuer plc, Fosse Trustee (UK) Limited, GTS El Centro Equity Holdings LLC, GTS El Centro Project Holdings LLC, Gamma Sociedade Financeira de Titularizacao de Creditos S.A., Gesban Mexico Servicios Administrativos Globales S.A. de C.V., Gesban Santander Servicios Profesionales Contables Limitada, Gesban Servicios Administrativos Globales S.L., Gesban UK Limited, Gestion de Instalaciones Fotovoltaicas S.L. Unipersonal, Gestion de Inversiones JILT S.A., Gestora de Procesos S.A. en liquidacion (b), Getnet Adquirencia e Servicos para Meios de Pagamento S.A., Global Vosgos S.L. Unipersonal, Grupo Empresarial Santander S.L., Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico S.A. de C.V., Grupo Financiero Santander SAB de CV, Guaranty Car S.A. Unipersonal, HQ Mobile Limited, Hispamer Renting S.A. Unipersonal, Holbah II Limited, Holbah Santander S.L. Unipersonal, Holmes Funding Limited, Holmes Master Issuer plc, Holmes Trustees Limited, Hyundai Capital Bank Europe GmbH, Iberica de Compras Corporativas S.L., Independence Community Bank Corp., Insurance Funding Solutions Limited, Interfinance Holanda B.V., Inversiones Capital Global S.A. Unipersonal, Inversiones Maritimas del Mediterraneo S.A., Isla de los Buques S.A., Klare Corredora de Seguros S.A., Landcompany 2020 S.L., Langton Funding (No.1) Limited, Langton Mortgages Trustee (UK) Limited, Langton Securities (2008-1) plc, Langton Securities (2010-1) PLC, Langton Securities (2010-2) PLC, Laparanza S.A., Liquidity Limited, Luri 1 S.A. en liquidacion (b) (e), Luri 6 S.A. Unipersonal, Master Red Europa S.L., Mata Alta S.L., Merciver S.L., Mercury TFS, Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.A. de C.V., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.L., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.p.A., Moneybit S.L., Mortgage Engine Limited, Motor 2016-1 PLC, Motor 2017-1 PLC, Mouro Capital I LP, Multiplica SpA, NW Services CO., Naviera Mirambel S.L., Naviera Trans Gas A.I.E., Naviera Trans Iron S.L., Naviera Trans Ore A.I.E., Naviera Trans Wind S.L. (b), Naviera Transcantabrica S.L., Naviera Transchem S.L. Unipersonal, NeoAuto S.A.C., Norbest AS, Novimovest  Fundo de Investimento Imobiliario, Open Bank Argentina S.A., Open Bank S.A., Open Digital Market S.L., Open Digital Services S.L., Operadora de Carteras Gamma S.A.P.I. de C.V., Optimal Investment Services SA, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland Euro Fund, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland US Dollar Fund, PBE Companies LLC, PECOH Limited, PI Distribuidora de Titulos e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., PSA Bank Deutschland GmbH, PSA Banque France, PSA Finance UK Limited, PSA Financial Services Nederland B.V., PSA Financial Services Spain E.F.C. S.A., PSA Renting Italia S.p.A., PagoFX Europe S.A., PagoFX HoldCo S.L., PagoFX UK Ltd, PagoNxt Merchant Solutions S.L., PagoNxt S.L., Parasant SA, Patagon.com, Pereda Gestion S.A., Pingham International S.A., Popular Spain Holding de Inversiones S.L.U., Portal Universia Argentina S.A., Portal Universia Portugal Prestacao de Servicos de Informatica S.A., Prime 16  Fundo de Investimentos Imobiliario, Punta Lima LLC, Punta Lima Wind Farm LLC, Retop S.A., Return Capital Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos S.A., Return Gestao de Recursos S.A., Riobank International (Uruguay) SAIFE (b), Rojo Entretenimento S.A., SAM Asset Management S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, SAM Investment Holdings S.L., SAM UK Investment Holdings Limited (b), SANB Promotora de Vendas e Cobranca Ltda., SCF Eastside Locks GP Limited, SDMX Superdigital S.A. de C.V., SMPS Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A de C.V, Sancap Investimentos e Participacoes S.A., Santander (CF Trustee Property Nominee) Limited, Santander (UK) Group Pension Schemes Trustees Limited, Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 1 S.A., Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 2 S.A., Santander Alternatives SICAV RAIF, Santander Asesorias Financieras Limitada, Santander Asset Finance (December) Limited, Santander Asset Finance plc, Santander Asset Management - S.G.O.I.C. S.A., Santander Asset Management Chile S.A., Santander Asset Management LLC, Santander Asset Management Luxembourg S.A., Santander Asset Management S.A. Administradora General de Fondos, Santander Asset Management S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Asset Management UK Holdings Limited, Santander Asset Management UK Limited, Santander Back-Offices Globales Mayoristas S.A., Santander Banca de Inversion Colombia S.A.S., Santander Bank & Trust Ltd., Santander Bank National Association, Santander Bank Polska S.A., Santander Brasil Administradora de Consorcio Ltda., Santander Brasil Gestao de Recursos Ltda., Santander Brasil Tecnologia S.A., Santander Capital Desarrollo SGEIC S.A. Unipersonal, Santander Capital Structuring S.A. de C.V., Santander Capitalizacao S.A., Santander Cards Ireland Limited, Santander Cards Limited, Santander Cards UK Limited, Santander Chile Holding S.A., Santander Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Santander Consumer (UK) plc, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L4 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L5 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Bank, Santander Consumer Bank AG, Santander Consumer Bank GmbH, Santander Consumer Bank S.A., Santander Consumer Bank S.p.A., Santander Consumer Banque S.A., Santander Consumer Credit Services Limited, Santander Consumer Finance Benelux B.V., Santander Consumer Finance Global Services S.L., Santander Consumer Finance Oy, Santander Consumer Finance S.A., Santander Consumer Finance Schweiz AG, Santander Consumer Financial Solutions Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Finanse Sp. z o.o. (b), Santander Consumer Holding Austria GmbH, Santander Consumer Holding GmbH, Santander Consumer International Puerto Rico LLC, Santander Consumer Leasing GmbH, Santander Consumer Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.L., Santander Consumer Multirent Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Operations Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Receivables 10 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 11 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 3 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 7 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables Funding LLC, Santander Consumer Renting S.L., Santander Consumer S.A., Santander Consumer S.A.S., Santander Consumer Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Services S.A., Santander Consumer Technology Services GmbH, Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., Santander Consumer USA Inc., Santander Consumo S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Corredora de Seguros Limitada, Santander Corredores de Bolsa Limitada, Santander Corretora de Cambio e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., Santander Corretora de Seguros Investimentos e Servicos S.A., Santander Customer Voice S.A., Santander Digital Assets S.L., Santander Drive Auto Receivables LLC, Santander Equity Investments Limited, Santander Espana Merchant Services Entidad de Pago S.L. Unipersonal, Santander Espana Servicios Legales y de Cumplimiento S.L., Santander Estates Limited, Santander F24 S.A., Santander Facility Management Espana S.L., Santander Factoring S.A., Santander Factoring Sp. z o.o., Santander Factoring y Confirming S.A. E.F.C., Santander Finance 2012-1 LLC, Santander Financial Exchanges Limited, Santander Financial Services Inc., Santander Financial Services plc, Santander Finanse Sp. z o.o., Santander Fintech Holdings S.L., Santander Fintech Limited, Santander Fundo de Investimento SBAC Referenciado di Credito Privado, Santander Gestion de Recaudacion y Cobranzas Ltda., Santander Global Consumer Finance Limited, Santander Global Facilities S.A. de C.V., Santander Global Facilities S.L., Santander Global Operations S.A., Santander Global Services S.A. (b), Santander Global Sport S.A., Santander Global Technology Brasil Ltda., Santander Global Technology Chile Limitada, Santander Global Technology S.L., Santander Global Trade Platform Solutions S.L., Santander Guarantee Company, Santander Holding Imobiliaria S.A., Santander Holding Internacional S.A., Santander Holdings USA Inc., Santander ISA Managers Limited, Santander Inclusion Financiera S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Insurance Agency U.S. LLC, Santander Insurance Services UK Limited, Santander Intermediacion Correduria de Seguros S.A., Santander International Products Plc. (d), Santander Inversiones S.A., Santander Investment Bank Limited, Santander Investment Chile Limitada, Santander Investment I S.A., Santander Investment S.A., Santander Investment Securities Inc., Santander Investments GP 1 S.a.r.l., Santander Inwestycje Sp. z o.o., Santander Lease S.A. E.F.C., Santander Leasing LLC, Santander Leasing S.A., Santander Leasing S.A. Arrendamento Mercantil, Santander Lending Limited, Santander Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Operations S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Services S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Uruguay S.A., Santander Merchant Platform SolucoesTecnologicas Brasil Ltda., Santander Merchant S.A., Santander Mortgage Holdings Limited, Santander Paraty Qif PLC, Santander Pensiones S.A. E.G.F.P., Santander Pensoes - Sociedade Gestora de Fundos de Pensoes S.A., Santander Private Banking Gestion S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Private Banking UK Limited, Santander Private Banking s.p.a. in Liquidazione (b), Santander Private Real Estate Advisory & Management S.A., Santander Private Real Estate Advisory S.A., Santander Real Estate S.A., Santander Retail Auto Lease Funding LLC, Santander Rio Asset Management Gerente de Fondos Comunes de Inversion S.A., Santander Rio Trust S.A., Santander Rio Valores S.A., Santander S.A. Sociedad Securitizadora, Santander Secretariat Services Limited, Santander Securities LLC, Santander Seguros y Reaseguros Compania Aseguradora S.A., Santander Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., Santander Servicios Especializados S.A. de C.V., Santander Technology USA LLC, Santander Tecnologia e Inovacao Ltda., Santander Tecnologia Argentina S.A., Santander Tecnologia Espana S.L.U., Santander Tecnologia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Totta SGPS S.A., Santander Totta Seguros Companhia de Seguros de Vida S.A., Santander Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych S.A., Santander Trade Services Limited, Santander UK Group Holdings plc, Santander UK Investments, Santander UK Operations Limited, Santander UK Plc, Santander UK Technology Limited, Santander Wealth Management International SA, Santander de Titulizacion S.G.F.T. S.A., Santusa Holding S.L., Services and Promotions Delaware Corp., Services and Promotions Miami LLC, Servicio de Alarmas Controladas por Ordenador S.A., Servicios de Cobranza Recuperacion y Seguimiento S.A. De C.V., Sheppards Moneybrokers Limited, Shiloh III Wind Project LLC, Sociedad Integral de Valoraciones Automatizadas S.A., Sociedad Operadora de Tarjetas de Pago Santander Getnet Chile S.A., Socur S.A., Sol Orchard Imperial 1 LLC, Solarlaser Limited, Sovereign Community Development Company, Sovereign Delaware Investment Corporation, Sovereign Lease Holdings LLC, Sovereign REIT Holdings Inc., Sovereign Spirit Limited (f), Sterrebeeck B.V., Suleyado 2003 S.L. Unipersonal, Summer Empreendimentos Ltda., Super Pagamentos e Administracao de Meios Eletronicos S.A., Superdigital Argentina S.A.U., Superdigital Colombia S.A.S., Superdigital Holding Company S.L., Superdigital Peru S.A.C., Suzuki Servicios Financieros S.L., Swesant SA, TIMFin S.p.A., TOPSAM S.A de C.V., Taxagest Sociedade Gestora de Participacoes Sociais S.A., Teatinos Siglo XXI Inversiones S.A., The Alliance & Leicester Corporation Limited, The Best Specialty Coffee S.L. Unipersonal, Time Retail Finance Limited (b), Tonopah Solar I LLC, Toque Fale Servicos de Telemarketing Ltda., Tornquist Asesores de Seguros S.A. (b), Totta (Ireland) PLC, Totta Urbe - Empresa de Administracao e Construcoes S.A., Trabajando.com Mexico S.A. de C.V. en liquidacion (b), Trabajando.com Peru S.A.C., Trans Rotor Limited (b), Transolver Finance EFC S.A., Tresmares Growth Fund Santander SCR S.A., Tresmares Santander Direct Lending SICC S.A., Tuttle and Son Limited, Universia Brasil S.A., Universia Chile S.A., Universia Colombia S.A.S., Universia Espana Red de Universidades S.A., Universia Holding S.L., Universia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Universia Peru S.A., Universia Uruguay S.A., Uro Property Holdings SOCIMI S.A., WIM Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., WTW Shipping Designated Activity Company, Wallcesa S.A., Wave Holdco S.L., Waypoint Insurance Group Inc., and Wirecard (Technological Assets).
iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF's stock was trading at $32.80 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EZU shares have increased by 52.7% and is now trading at $50.10.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
Papillon Resources Limited (Papillon) is engaged in the exploration and development of resource projects located in Mali. The Company has joint venture interests in a portfolio of gold tenements (granted licences and applications) in western and southern Mali. The Company's primary focus continued to be the advancement of the Fekola Project (Fekola or Project) located in south western Mali adjacent to the border with Senegal. Papillon completed its pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the project. The Company's subsidiaries include Mali Goldfields SARL, Songhoi Resources SARL, Bamagold SARL, Waraba Resources SARL, PIR Mali SARL, Papillon Exploration (AUS), Papillon Mining (AUS), Papillon Exploration (UK) and Papillon Mining (UK).

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The Boeing Co. is an aerospace company, which engages in the manufacture of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space and Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital. The Commercial Airplanes segment includes the development, production, and market of commercial jet aircraft and provides fleet support services, principally to the commercial airline industry worldwide. The Defense, Space and Security segment refers to the research, development, production and modification of manned and unmanned military aircraft and weapons systems for global strike, including fighter and combat rotorcraft aircraft and missile systems; global mobility, including tanker, rotorcraft and tilt-rotor aircraft; and airborne surveillance and reconnaissance, including command and control, battle management and airborne anti-submarine aircraft. The Global Services segment provides services to commercial and defense customers. The Boeing Capital segment seeks to ensure that Boeing customers have the financing they need to buy and take delivery of their Boeing product and manages overall financing exposure. T

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The following companies are subsidiares of BP: 200 PS Overseas Holdings Inc., 563916 Alberta Ltd., ACP (Malaysia) Inc., AE Cedar Creek Holdings LLC, AE Goshen II Holdings LLC, AE Goshen II Wind Farm LLC, AE Power Services LLC, AE Wind PartsCo LLC, AM/PM International Inc., ARCO, ARCO British International, ARCO British Limited, ARCO Coal Australia Inc., ARCO El-Djazair Holdings Inc., ARCO Environmental Remediation L.L.C., ARCO Exploration Inc., ARCO Gaviota Company, ARCO International Investments Inc., ARCO International Services Inc., ARCO Midcon LLC, ARCO Oil Company Nigeria Unlimited, ARCO Oman Inc, ARCO Resources Limited, ARCO Trinidad Exploration and Production Company Limited, ARCO Unimar Holdings LLC, Actomat B.V., Advance Petroleum Holdings Pty Ltd, Advance Petroleum Pty Ltd, Air BP Albania SHA, Air BP Brasil Ltda., Air BP Canada LLC, Air BP Croatia d.o.o., Air BP Finland Oy, Air BP Iceland, Air BP Limited, Air BP Norway AS, Air BP Sales Romania S.R.L., Air BP Sweden AB, Air Refuel Pty Ltd, Allgreen Pty Ltd, AmProp Finance Company, American Oil Company, Amoco (Fiddich) Limited, Amoco (U.K.) Exploration Company LLC., Amoco Bolivia Petroleum Company, Amoco Bolivia Services Company Inc., Amoco Canada International Holdings B.V., Amoco Capline Pipeline Company, Amoco Chemical (Europe) S.A., Amoco Chemicals (FSC) B.V., Amoco Cypress Pipeline Company, Amoco Destin Pipeline Company, Amoco Environmental Services Company, Amoco Exploration Holdings B.V., Amoco Guatemala Petroleum Company, Amoco International Finance Corporation, Amoco International Petroleum Company, Amoco Leasing Corporation, Amoco Louisiana Fractionator Company, Amoco MB Fractionation Company, Amoco MBF Company, Amoco Main Pass Gathering Company, Amoco Marketing Environmental Services Company, Amoco Netherlands Petroleum Company, Amoco Nigeria Exploration Company Limited, Amoco Nigeria Oil Company Limited, Amoco Nigeria Petroleum Company, Amoco Nigeria Petroleum Company Limited, Amoco Norway Oil Company, Amoco Oil Holding Company, Amoco Olefins Corporation, Amoco Overseas Exploration Company, Amoco Pipeline Asset Company, Amoco Pipeline Holding Company, Amoco Properties Incorporated, Amoco Remediation Management Services Corporation, Amoco Research Operating Company, Amoco Rio Grande Pipeline Company, Amoco Somalia Petroleum Company, Amoco Sulfur Recovery Company, Amoco Tri-States NGL Pipeline Company, Amoco Trinidad Gas B.V., Amoco U.K. Petroleum Limited, Amprop Illinois I Limited, Amprop Inc., Anaconda Arizona Inc., Arabian Production And Marketing Lubricants, Aral Aktiengesellschaft, Aral Luxembourg S.A., Aral Services Luxembourg Sarl, Aral Tankstellen Services Sarl, Arco Mediterraneo Inversiones S.L., Areas Noriega S.L., Areas Singulares Reyes S.L., Aspac Lubricants (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Atlantic 2/3 UK Holdings Limited, Atlantic Richfield Company, Atlantic Richfield Companyd, Autino Holdings Limited, Autino Limited, Auwahi Wind Energy Holdings LLC, B2Mobility GmbH, BASS Management Pty Ltd, BP (Abu Dhabi) Limited, BP (Barbados) Holding SRL, BP (Barbican) Limited, BP (China) Holdings Limited, BP (China) Industrial Lubricants Limited, BP (GTA Mauritania) Finance Limited, BP (GTA Senegal) Finance Limited, BP (Gibraltar) Limited, BP (Guangzhou) Advanced Mobility Limited, BP (Hunan) Petroleum Company Limited, BP (Indian Agencies) Limited, BP (Shandong) Petroleum Co. Ltd, BP (Shanghai) Trading Limited, BP - Castrol (Thailand) Limited, BP AMI Leasing Inc., BP Absheron Limited, BP Advanced Mobility Limited, BP Africa Limited, BP Africa Oil Limited, BP Akaryakit Ortakligi, BP Alaska LNG LLC, BP Alternative Energy Holdings Limited, BP Alternative Energy Investments Limited, BP Alternative Energy North America Inc., BP Alternative Energy Trinidad and Tobago Limited, BP America Chembel Holding LLC, BP America Chemicals Company, BP America Foreign Investments Inc., BP America Inc, BP America Inc., BP America Limited, BP America Production Company, BP Amoco Chemical Company, BP Amoco Chemical Holding Company, BP Amoco Chemical Indonesia Limited, BP Amoco Chemical Malaysia Holding Company, BP Amoco Exploration (Faroes) Limited, BP Amoco Exploration (In Amenas) Limited, BP Andaman II Ltd, BP Angola (Block 18) B.V., BP Argentina Exploration Company, BP Argentina Holdings LLC, BP Aromatics Holdings Limited, BP Aromatics Limited, BP Asia Limited, BP Asia Pacific (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., BP Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, BP Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, BP Australia Employee Share Plan Proprietary Limited, BP Australia Group Pty Ltde, BP Australia Investments Pty Ltd, BP Australia Nominees Proprietary Limited, BP Australia Pty Ltd, BP Australia Shipping Pty Ltd, BP Australia Swaps Management Limited, BP Aviation A/S, BP Benevolent Fund Trustees Limited, BP Berau Ltd., BP Biocombustiveis S.A., BP Bioenergia Campina Verde Ltda., BP Bioenergia Ituiutaba Ltda., BP Bioenergia Itumbiara S.A., BP Bioenergia Tropical S.A., BP Biofuels Advanced Technology Inc., BP Biofuels Brazil Investments Limited, BP Biofuels Louisiana LLC, BP Biofuels North America LLC, BP Biofuels Trading Comercio Exportacao Ltda., BP Bomberai Ltd., BP Brasil Ltda., BP Brazil Tracking L.L.C., BP Bulwer Island Pty Ltd, BP Business Service Centre Asia Sdn Bhd, BP Business Service Centre KFT, BP CIV Pty Ltd, BP Canada Energy Development Company, BP Canada Energy Group ULC, BP Canada Energy Marketing Corp., BP Canada International Holdings B.V., BP Canada Investments Inc., BP Capellen Sarl, BP Capital Markets, BP Capital Markets America, BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Car Fleet Limited, BP Caribbean Company, BP Castrol KK, BP Castrol Lubricants (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., BP Central Pipelines LLC, BP Chembel, BP Chemicals (Korea) Limited, BP Chemicals East China Investments Limited, BP Chemicals Investments Limited, BP Chemicals Limited, BP China Exploration and Production Company, BP Comercializadora de Energia Ltda., BP Commodities Trading Limited, BP Commodity Supply B.V., BP Company North America, BP Company North America Inc., BP Containment Response Limited, BP Containment Response System Holdings LLC, BP Continental Holdings Limited, BP Corporate Holdings, BP Corporate Holdings Limited, BP Corporation North America, BP Corporation North America Inc., BP D-B Pipeline Company LLC, BP D230 Limited, BP Danmark A/S, BP Developments Australia Pty. Ltd., BP Dogal Gaz Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, BP East Kalimantan CBM Limited, BP Eastern Mediterranean Limited, BP Egypt Company, BP Egypt East Delta Marine Corporation, BP Egypt East Tanka B.V., BP Egypt Production B.V., BP Egypt Ras El Barr B.V., BP Egypt West Mediterranean (Block B) B.V., BP Energy Asia Pte. Limited, BP Energy Colombia Limited, BP Energy Company, BP Energy Europe Limited, BP Energy Solutions B.V., BP Energy do Brasil Ltda., BP Energia Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., BP Espana S.A. Unipersonal, BP Estaciones y Servicios Energeticos Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, BP Europa SE, BP Exploracion de Venezuela S.A., BP Exploration & Production Inc., BP Exploration (Absheron) Limited, BP Exploration (Alaska), BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., BP Exploration (Algeria) Limited, BP Exploration (Alpha), BP Exploration (Alpha) Limited, BP Exploration (Angola), BP Exploration (Angola) Limited, BP Exploration (Azerbaijan), BP Exploration (Azerbaijan) Limited, BP Exploration (Canada) Limited, BP Exploration (Caspian Sea), BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) Limited, BP Exploration (D230) Limited, BP Exploration (Delta), BP Exploration (Delta) Limited, BP Exploration (El Djazair) Limited, BP Exploration (Epsilon) Limited, BP Exploration (Gambia) Limited, BP Exploration (Greenland) Limited, BP Exploration (Madagascar) Limited, BP Exploration (Morocco) Limited, BP Exploration (Namibia) Limited, BP Exploration (Nigeria Finance) Limited, BP Exploration (Nigeria) Limited, BP Exploration (Psi) Limited, BP Exploration (STP) Limited, BP Exploration (Shafag-Asiman) Limited, BP Exploration (Shah Deniz) Limited, BP Exploration (South Atlantic) Limited, BP Exploration (Xazar) Pte. Ltd., BP Exploration Angola (Kwanza Benguela) Limited, BP Exploration Argentina Limited, BP Exploration Australia Pty Ltd Level 15, BP Exploration Beta Limited, BP Exploration China Limited, BP Exploration Company (Middle East) Limited, BP Exploration Company Limited, BP Exploration Indonesia Limited, BP Exploration Libya Limited, BP Exploration Mexico Limited, BP Exploration Mexico S.A. De C.V., BP Exploration North Africa Limited, BP Exploration Operating Company, BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, BP Exploration Orinoco Limited, BP Exploration Personnel Company Limited, BP Exploration Peru Limited, BP Express Shopping Limited, BP Finance Australia Pty Ltd, BP Finance p.l.c., BP Foundation Incorporated, BP France, BP Fuels & Lubricants AS, BP Fuels Deutschland GmbH, BP GOM Logistics LLC, BP Gas & Power Investments Limited, BP Gas Europe S.A.U., BP Gas Marketing Limited, BP Gas Supply (Angola) LLC, BP Ghana Limited, BP Global Investments, BP Global Investments Limited, BP Global Investments Salalah & Co LLC, BP Global West Africa Limited, BP Greece Limited, BP Guangdong Limited, BP High Density Polyethylene - France, BP Holdings (Thailand) Limited, BP Holdings B.V., BP Holdings Canada, BP Holdings Canada Limited, BP Holdings International B.V., BP Holdings North America, BP Holdings North America Limited, BP Hong Kong Limited, BP India Private Limited, BP Indonesia Investment Limited, BP International, BP International Limited, BP International Services Company, BP Investment Management Limited, BP Investments Asia Limited, BP Iran Limited, BP Iraq N.V., BP Italia SpA, BP Japan K.K., BP Korea Limited, BP Kuwait Limited, BP LNG Shipping Limited, BP Latin America LLC, BP Latin America Upstream Services Inc., BP Lubricants KK, BP Lubricants USA Inc., BP Luxembourg S.A., BP Malaysia Holdings Sdn. Bhd., BP Management International B.V., BP Management Netherlands B.V., BP Marine Limited, BP Mariner Holding Company LLC, BP Maritime Services (Singapore) Pte. Limited, BP Marketing Egypt LLC, BP Mauritania Investments Limited, BP Mauritius Limited (in liquidation), BP Middle East Enterprises Corporation, BP Middle East LLC, BP Middle East Limited, BP Midstream Partners GP LLC, BP Midstream Partners Holdings LLC, BP Midstream Partners LP, BP Midwest Product Pipelines Holdings LLC, BP Mocambique Limitada, BP Mocambique Limited, BP Muturi Holdings B.V., BP Nederland Holdings BV, BP Netherlands Upstream B.V., BP New Ventures Middle East Limited, BP New Zealand Holdings Limited, BP New Zealand Share Scheme Limited, BP Nutrition Inc., BP Offshore Gathering Systems Inc., BP Offshore Pipelines Company LLC, BP Offshore Response Company LLC, BP Oil (Thailand) Limited, BP Oil Australia Pty Ltd, BP Oil Espana S.A., BP Oil Hellenic S.A., BP Oil International, BP Oil International Limited, BP Oil Kent Refinery Limited (in liquidation), BP Oil Llandarcy Refinery Limited, BP Oil Logistics UK Limited, BP Oil New Zealand Limited, BP Oil Pipeline Company, BP Oil Senegal S.A., BP Oil Shipping Company, BP Oil UK Limited, BP Oil Venezuela Limited, BP Oil Vietnam Limited, BP Oil Yemen Limited, BP Olex Fanal Mineralol GmbH, BP One Pipeline Company LLC, BP Pacific Investments Ltd, BP Pakistan (Badin) Inc., BP Pakistan Exploration and Production Inc., BP Pension Escrow Limited, BP Pension Trustees Limited, BP Pensions (Overseas) Limited, BP Pensions Limited, BP Petrochemicals India Investments Limited, BP Petroleo y Gas S.A., BP Petrolleri Anonim Sirketi, BP Pipelines (Alaska) Inc., BP Pipelines (BTC) Limited, BP Pipelines (North America) Inc., BP Pipelines (SCP) Limited, BP Pipelines (TANAP) Limited, BP Pipelines TAP Limited, BP Polska Services Sp. z o.o. Ul., BP Portugal -Comercio de Combustiveis e Lubrificantes SA, BP Poseidon Limited, BP Products North America, BP Products North America Inc., BP Properties Limited, BP Raffinaderij Rotterdam B.V., BP Refinery (Kwinana) Proprietary Limited, BP Regional Australasia Holdings Pty Ltd, BP River Rouge Pipeline Company LLC, BP Russian Investments Limited, BP Russian Ventures Limited, BP SC Holdings LLC, BP Scale Up Factory Limited, BP Senegal Investments Limited, BP Services International Limited, BP Servicios de Combustibles S.A. de C.V., BP Servicios territoriales S.A., BP Shafag-Asiman Limited, BP Shipping Limited, BP Singapore Pte. Limited, BP Solar Energy North America LLC, BP Solar Espana S.A., BP Solar International Inc., BP Solar Pty Ltd, BP South America Holdings Ltd, BP Southern Africa Proprietary Limited, BP Southern Cone Company, BP Subsea Well Response (Brazil) Limited, BP Subsea Well Response Limited, BP Taiwan Marketing Limited, BP Technology Ventures Inc., BP Technology Ventures Limited, BP Train 2/3 Holding SRL, BP Transportation (Alaska) Inc., BP Trinidad Processing Limited, BP Trinidad and Tobago, BP Trinidad and Tobago LLC, BP Turkey Refining Limited, BP Two Pipeline Company LLC, BP UK Retained Holdings Limited, BP Venezuela Investments B.V., BP West Aru I Limited, BP West Aru II Limited, BP West Papua I Limited, BP West Papua III Limited, BP Wind Energy North America Inc., BP Wiriagar Ltd., BP World-Wide Technical Services Limited, BP Zhuhai Chemical Company Limited, BP+Amoco International Limited, BP-AIOC Exploration (TISA) LLC, BPA Investment Holding Company, BPNE International B.V., BPRY Caribbean Ventures LLC, BPX (Eagle Ford) Gathering LLC, BPX (KCS Resources) LLC, BPX (Karnes) Gathering LLC, BPX (Permian) Gathering LLC, BPX (WSF Operating) Inc., BPX Energy Inc., BPX Midstream LLC, BPX Operating Company, BPX Production Company, BPX Properties (GP) LLC, BPX Properties (LP) LLC, BPX Properties (NA) LP, BTC Pipeline Holding Company Limited, BXL Plastics Limitedv, Bahia de Bizkaia Electridad S.L., Baltimore Ennis Land Company Inc., Black Lake Pipe Line Company, Brian Jasper Nominees Pty Ltd, Britannic Energy Trading Limited, Britannic Investments Iraq Limited, Britannic Marketing Limited, Britannic Strategies Limited, Britannic Trading Limited, Britoil Limited, Burmah Castrol, Burmah Castrol Australia Pty Ltd, Burmah Castrol Holdings Inc., Burmah Castrol PLC, Burmah Castrol South Africa (Pty) Limited, Burmah Chile SpA, Butamax Advanced Biofuels, CASTROL Austria GmbHb, CH-Twenty Inc., CNAA, Cadman DBP Limited, Casitas Pipeline Company, Castrol (China) Limited, Castrol (Ireland) Limited, Castrol (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Castrol (Shenzhen) Company Limited, Castrol (Tianjin) Lubricants Co. Ltd., Castrol (U.K.) Limited, Castrol Australia Pty. Limited, Castrol B.V., Castrol BP Petco Limited Liability Company, Castrol Brasil Ltda., Castrol Caribbean & Central America Inc., Castrol Colombia Ltda., Castrol Del Peru S.A., Castrol Egypt Lubricants S.A.E., Castrol India Limited, Castrol Industrie und Service GmbH, Castrol KK, Castrol Limited, Castrol Lubricants RO S.R.L, Castrol Mexico S.A., Castrol Namibia (Pty) Limited, Castrol Offshore Limited, Castrol Pakistan (Private) Limited, Castrol Philippines Inc., Castrol Servicos Ltda., Castrol Ukraine LLC, Castrol Zimbabwe (Private) Limited, Centrel Pty Ltd, Charge Your Car Limitedc, Chargemaster, Chargemaster (Europe) GmbH, Chargemaster Limited, Charging Solutions Limited, Clarisse Holdings Pty Ltd, Coastwise Trading Company Inc., Consolidada de Energia y Lubricantes (CENERLUB) C.A., Conti Cross Keys Inn Inc., Coro Trading NZ Limited, Cuyama Pipeline Company, DHC Solvent Chemie GmbH, Dermody Developments Pty Ltd, Dermody Holdings Pty Ltd, Dermody Investments Pty Ltd, Dermody Petroleum Pty. Ltd., Dome Beaufort Petroleum Limited, Dome Wallis (1980) Limited Partnership, ECM Markets SA (Pty) Ltd, Elektromotive Limited, Elite Customer Solutions Pty Ltd, Elm Holdings Inc., Energy Global Investments (USA) Inc., Enstar LLC, Estacion de Servicio Alto Campoo S.L., Estacion de Servicio Ganzo 10 S.L., Estacion de Servicio Reocin 9 S.L., Estacion de Servicio Santillana II S.L., Estacion de Servicio Sardinero S.L., Estonian Aviation Fuelling Services, Europa Oil NZ Limited, Exomet Inc., Expandite Contract Services Limited, Exploration (Luderitz Basin) Limited, Exploration Service Company Limited, FWK (2017) Limited, FWK Holdings (2017) LTD, Finite Carbon, Flat Ridge 2 Holdings LLC, Flat Ridge Wind Energy LLC, Foseco Holding Inc., Foseco Holding International B.V., Foseco Inc., Fosroc Expandite Limited, Fotech Solutions Ltd, Fowler Ridge Holdings LLC, Fowler Ridge I Land Investments LLC, Fowler Ridge II Holdings LLC, Fowler Ridge III Wind Farm LLC, FreeBees B.V., Fuel & Retail Aviat ion Sweden AB, Fuelplane- Sociedade Abastecedora De Aeronaves Unipessoal Lda, GOAM 1 C.I S. A .S, Gardena Holdings Inc., Gelsenkirchen Raffinerie Netz GmbH, Grampian Aviation Fuelling Services Limited, Guangdong Investments Limited, Highlands Ethanol LLC, Hosteleria Noriega S.L., IGI Resources Inc., Insight Analytics Solutions Holdings Limited, Insight Analytics Solutions Limited, Insight Analytics Solutions USA Inc., International Bunker Supplies Pty Ltd, Iraq Petroleum Company Limited, Jupiter Insurance Limited, Ken-Chas Reserve Company, Kenilworth Oil Company Limited, Kingbook Inversiones Socimi S.A., Latin Energy Argentina S.A., Lebanese Aviation Technical Services S.A.L., Limited Liability Company BP Toplivnaya Kompania, Limited liability company Setra Lubricants, Lubricants UK Limited, Lytt Limited, Manormaker (Nominee No. 1) Limited, Manormaker (Nominee No. 2) Limited, Manormaker GP Limited (99.90%) 11 Black Horse Lane, Mardi Gras Transportation System Company LLC, Markoil S.A., Masana Petroleum Solutions (Pty) Ltd, Mayaro Initiative for Private Enterprise Development, Mehoopany Holdings LLC, Mes Tecnologia En Servicios Y Energia S.A., Minza Pty. Ltd., Mountain City Remediation LLC, No. 1 Riverside Quay Proprietary Limited, Nordic Lubricants A/S, Nordic Lubricants AB, North America Funding Company, OMD87 Inc., OOO BP STL, Omega Oil Company, OnSight Analytics Solutions India Private Ltd., Orion Delaware Mountain Wind Farm LP, Orion Energy Holdings LLC, Orion Energy L.L.C.b, Orion Post Land Investments LLC, Oyambre 1 S.L., PRODUITS METALLURGIE DOITTAU, PT BP Petrochemicals, PT Castrol Indonesia, PT Castrol Manufacturing Indonesia, PT Jasatama Petroindo, Pacroy (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Peaks America Inc., Pearl River Delta Investments Limited, Petrocorner Retail S.L.U., Phoenix Petroleum Services Limited, Pozuelo 4 S.L., Prospect International C.A. (In liquidation), Puente Arce 4 S.L., Remediation Management Services Company, Richfield Oil Corporation, Rio Corvo 2 S.L., Rolling Thunder I Power Partners LLC, Romax Insight Korea Ltd., Ropemaker Deansgate Limited, Ropemaker Properties Limited, Ruhr Oel GmbH, Rusdene GSS Limited, SOFAST Limited, SRHP, Saturn Insurance Inc., Sherbino I Holdings LLC, Sherbino Mesa I Land Investments LLC, Sociedade de Promocao Imobiliaria Quinta do Loureiro SA, Societe de Gestion de Depots d'Hydrocarbures - GDH, South Texas Shale LLC, Southeast Texas Biofuels LLC, Southern Ridge Pipeline Holding Company, Southern Ridge Pipeline LP LLC, Sp/f Decision3 (GreenSteam) Company, Standard Oil Company, Standard Oil Company Inc., Standard Oil of Ohio, Stryde Limited, Sunrise Oil Sands Partnership, TISA Education Complex LLC, TJKK, Taradadis Pty. Ltd., Telcom General Corporation, Terre de Grace Partnership, The Anaconda Company, The BP Share Plans Trustees Limited, The Burmah Oil Company (Pakistan Trading) Limited, The Standard Oil Company, Toledo Refinery Holding Company LLC, Torrelavega 7 S.L., Union Texas International Corporation, Vastar Pipeline LLC, Veba Oel AG Veba Oel, Verenium, Viceroy Investments Limited, Villacarriedo 8 S.L., Warrenville Development Limited, Water Way Trading and Petroleum Services LLC, Welchem Inc., West Kimberley Fuels Pty Ltd, Westlake Houston Development LLC, Whiting Clean Energy Inc., Windpark Energy Nederland B.V., and Winwell Resources L.L.C.
The following companies are subsidiares of BorgWarner: B80 Italia S.r.l., BERU AG, BW El Salto S.A. De C.V., BWA Receivables Corporation, BWA Turbo Systems Holding LLC, Borg Warner Europe Holdings (PDS) B. V., BorgWarner (China) Investment Co. Ltd., BorgWarner (Reman) Holdings L.L.C., BorgWarner (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner Aftermarket Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Alternators Inc., BorgWarner Arden LLC, BorgWarner Arnstadt RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Asia Inc., BorgWarner Automotive Asia Limited, BorgWarner Automotive Components (Beijing) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Wuhan) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Brasil Ltda., BorgWarner Chungju Co. LLC, BorgWarner Comercial e Distribuidora de Pecas para Veiculos Automotores Ltda., BorgWarner Comercializadora PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Componentes PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Cooling Systems (India) Private Limited, BorgWarner Cooling Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Diversified Transmission Products Services Inc., BorgWarner Drivetrain Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Drivetrain Management Services de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Drivetrain de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Electric Motors L.L.C., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems Holding LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Emissions Systems LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Portugal Unipessoal LDA, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Spain S.L.U., BorgWarner Emissions Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Emissions Talegaon Private Limited, BorgWarner Engineering Ketsch RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Engineering Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Esslingen GmbH, BorgWarner Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Europe Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Gateshead Limited, BorgWarner Germany Holding GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Holding Services GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REH GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REM GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, BorgWarner Global Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Heidelberg I RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg II RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg REH GmbH, BorgWarner Heidelberg REM GmbH, BorgWarner Holding Inc., BorgWarner Holdings Limited, BorgWarner Hungary Kft., BorgWarner IT Services Europe GmbH, BorgWarner India Holdings Inc., BorgWarner Investment Holding Inc., BorgWarner Ithaca LLC, BorgWarner Ketsch Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Ketsch REH GmbH, BorgWarner Ketsch REM GmbH, BorgWarner Kft., BorgWarner Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Korea Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Korea Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Korea LLC, BorgWarner Limited, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf REH GmbH, BorgWarner Markdorf REM GmbH, BorgWarner Massachusetts Inc., BorgWarner Mauritius Holdings Ltd., BorgWarner Mexico Holding BV, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings II LLC, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Morse Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Morse Systems Italy S.r.l., BorgWarner Morse Systems Japan K.K., BorgWarner Morse Systems Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Muggendorf RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner NW Inc., BorgWarner Netherlands Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Oroszlany Kft., BorgWarner PDS (Anderson) L.L.C., BorgWarner PDS (Changnyeong) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Indiana) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Livonia) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Ochang) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner PDS (USA) Inc., BorgWarner PDS Brasil Produtos Automotivos Ltda., BorgWarner PDS Irapuato S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Technologies L.L.C., BorgWarner Poland Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Pyongtaek LLC, BorgWarner Romeo Power LLC, BorgWarner Rzeszow Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Shenglong (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner South Asia LLC, BorgWarner Southborough Inc., BorgWarner Spain Holding S.L.U, BorgWarner Sweden AB, BorgWarner Systems Lugo S.r.l., BorgWarner Thermal Systems Inc., BorgWarner Thermal Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems Beijing Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Tralee Ltd., BorgWarner Transmission Products LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Arnstadt GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Korea LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Tulle S.A.S., BorgWarner Trustees Limited, BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems France S.A.S., BorgWarner Turbo Systems Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems LLC, BorgWarner Turbo Systems Worldwide Headquarters GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Turbo and Emissions Systems de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner UK Financing Ltd., BorgWarner UK Holding and Services Ltd., BorgWarner US Holding LLC, BorgWarner USA Industries L.L.C., BorgWarner United Transmission Systems Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Waterloo Inc., BorgWarner Wrexham Limited, Cascadia Motion LLC, Creon Insurance Agency Limited, Delphi Technologies, Dytech ENSA, Gustav Wahler GmbH u. Co. KG, Haldex, Kuhlman LLC, Kysor Europe Limited, M. & M. Knopf Auto Parts L.L.C., NSK-Warner (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., NSK-Warner K.K., NSK-Warner Mexico S.A. de C.V, NSK-Warner U.S.A. Inc., New PDS Corp., Old Remco Holdings L.L.C., Old Remco International Holdings L.L.C., Remy International, SeohanWarner Turbo Systems LLC, Sevcon, Sevcon New Energy Technology (Hubei) Company Limited, and Transmission Systems AutoForm LLC.
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Veterinary Practice Management Software Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2017 and Forecast 2018-2024

Global industrial statistics of Veterinary practice management software market

 The global veterinary practice management software market is segmented on the basis of delivery type, by animal, by end users and geographical regions.

 The global active pharmaceutical ingredients market is expected to reach XX USD Mn by 2024 with a growing CAGR of XX% from 2018 to 2024

 The report covers in-detail insights about the competitors overview, key findings and their key strategies

 In addition, the market report includes regulatory scenario, and competition analysis with vividly illustrated the competition dashboard to assess the market competition.

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Increasing number of firms providing animal healthcare software in order to offer better management, increased adoption of veterinary software services is expected to fuel the market. Innovative technologies and expanded applications to the veterinary healthcare are anticipated to create lucrative opportunities.

The global veterinary practice management software market is divided into following categories-

1. By Delivery Type

 Cloud Based

 Web Based

 Others

2. By Animal

 Small animal

 Large animal

 Others

3. End-users

 Veterinary Hospitals

 Veterinary Clinics

 Others

4. Geography

 North America

 Europe

 Asia-Pacific

 The Middle East & Africa

 Latin America

U.S. veterinary practice management software market is accounted for significant regional revenue share due to the surge in adoption of the companion animal. North America has expected to account for major revenue share of global veterinary practice management software market.

Veterinary healthcare providers are inclining towards innovative software solutions to offer better disease management, customer relationship management. UK, Germany are cumulatively contributed significant market share in Europe.

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Improved veterinary healthcare infrastructure, increased adoption of advanced technologies in veterinary clinics and hospitals are expected to accelerate the market share in future. Increased pet adoption, rising disposable income in China create healthy opportunities. Emerging nations India, Mexico are expected to offer growth opportunities for global veterinary practice management software market.

Some of the key players profiles in the global veterinary practice management software market include Vet Space Ltd. (UK), Computer Fanatics Limited (New Zealand), IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.), Patterson Companies, Inc. (U.S.), Henry Schein, Inc. (U.S.), ezyVET Limited (New Zealand), Onward Systems Inc. (U.S.), Alisvet & InformaVet Inc. (Canada), Eclipse Veterinary Software Ltd (UK), Animal Intelligence Software, Inc. (U.S.), Hippo Manager Software, Inc. (U.S.), Timeless Veterinary Systems, Inc. (Canada), InformaVet Inc. (U.S.)

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Key Questions Answered

 What is the current and future veterinary practice management software market outlook worldwide? What trends are affecting the global market?

 What is the competitive landscape and market share of major players in the veterinary practice management software globally?

 What are the key, high growth markets that veterinary practice management software manufacturers should expand into? Which market segments are growing the fastest?

 What are the unmet needs with the veterinary practice management software currently on the market? How will emerging technologies fulfil these unmet needs?

 What is physician perception and market outlook of veterinary practice management software?

 What are the challenges and barriers that have hindered widespread adoption of veterinary practice management software?

Reasons to buy veterinary practice management software market Report:

 Global, regional and country-level analysis and forecasts of the study market; providing Insights on the geographical areas in which this industry is prospering

 Segment-level analysis on basis of product type, application, colour along with market size forecasts and y-o-y estimations to detect key areas of industry growth in detail

 Identification of key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges (DROC) in the market and their impact on shifting market dynamics

 Study of macro and micro environmental factors that affect the market presented in an extensive strategic analyses section containing PESTLE and Porters Five Forces Analyses

 A comprehensive listing of key market players along with company overview, product portfolios, key financial information (subjected to availability), SWOT analysis and Analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment

 Competitive landscape analysis listing out the mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies

 Expertly devised Market Outlook along with Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the market

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Precision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.

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Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services to institutional, retail, and high net worth investors. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, balance sheet management, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 1,400 bank branches and 4,800 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

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Brookfield Business Partners LP engages in owning and operating business services and industrial operations. It operates though the following segments: Business Services, Infrastructure Services, Industrial Operations, and Corporate and Other. The Business Services segment includes services such as residential mortgage insurance, healthcare, road fuel distribution and marketing, real estate and construction, entertainment, financing, and other businesses. The Infrastructure Services segment consists of services to the nuclear power generation industry and offshore oil production industry: and access, forming, and shoring solutions and specialized services. The Industrial Operations segment deals with automotive batteries, graphite electrode, and other manufacturing; water and wastewater services: natural gas production and well servicing; and a variety of other industrial operations. The Corporate and Other segment comprises cash and liquidity management, and activities related to the management of the partnership's relationship with Brookfield. The company was founded on October 1, 2015 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.

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Canadian Western Bank provides personal and business banking products and services primarily in Western Canada. The company offers current, savings, cash management, US dollar, and chequing accounts, as well as organization, strata solution/condo, general trust, and trust fund investment accounts. It also offers commercial lending and real estate, and equipment financing and leasing products; loans and mortgages; secured and unsecured lines of credit; registered retirement savings plan; consolidation, vehicle, and recreation vehicle loans; and credit cards. In addition, the company offers cash management services; life and disability insurance products; and ATM, mobile, and online banking services, as well cheque order services. Further, it provides investment products comprising guaranteed investment certificates, registered retirement income funds, tax-free savings accounts, registered education savings plans, and mutual funds, as well as personal and business planning services. Canadian Western Bank has a strategic partnership with Temenos AG to support small and medium sized enterprises with financial decision-making and enhancing their businesses. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada.

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Global Magnet Wire Market Research Report 2018 is a comprehensive business study on the current state of industry which analyses innovative strategies for business growth and describes important factors such as top manufacturers, production value, key regions, growth rate. The Magnet Wire report encloses data about the consumption, share, and future aspects. The report also elaborates competition along with company profile, latest development trends, Industry chain.

Get Sample Copy at https://www.orianresearch.com/request-sample/671172

Market Overview

Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and market shares for each company. Through the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global market of Router industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and import/export. Revenue and gross margin by regions (North America, EU, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India) and other regions can be added.

Inquire more or share questions if any before the purchase on this report @ https://www.orianresearch.com/request-sample/671172

No. Of Pages: 129

Key Companies Analyzed in this Report are:

Superior Essex

Rea

Sumitomo Electric

Liljedahl

Fujikura

Hitachi

IRCE

Magnekon

Condumex

Elektrisola

Von Roll

Alconex

Jingda



The report focuses on Global Magnet Wire Market major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. What's more, the Magnet Wire industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered. In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.

On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into

Copper Magnet Wire

Aluminum Magnet Wire

Market size by End User

Motors

Transformers

Home Appliance

Reactor

Key Stakeholders

Magnet Wire Manufacturers

Magnet Wire Distributors/Traders/Wholesalers

Magnet Wire Subcomponent Manufacturers

Industry Association

Downstream Vendors

Order a copy of Global Magnet Wire Market Report 2018 @

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Major Points Covered in Table of Contents:

1 Magnet Wire Market Overview

2 Global Magnet Wire Market Competition by Manufacturers

3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Complementary DNA Microarrays (cDNA

4 Global Magnet Wire Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)

5 Global Magnet Wire Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

6 Global Magnet Wire Market Analysis by Application

7 Global Magnet Wire Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis

8 Magnet Wire Manufacturing Cost Analysis

9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers

10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders

11 Market Effect Factors Analysis

12 Global Magnet Wire Market Forecast (2018-2025)

13 Research Findings and Conclusion

14 Appendix

About Us

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There is not enough analysis data for Carpetright.

4.0 Community Rank

Outperform Votes Carpetright has received 247 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

Underperform Votes Carpetright has received 164 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.)

Community Sentiment Carpetright has received 60.10% outperform votes from our community.

MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Carpetright and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe CPR will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe CPR will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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Celanese Corp. engages in the provision of technology and specialty materials businesses. It operates through the following segments: Engineered Materials, Acetate Tow, Acetyl Chain and Other Activities .The Engineered Materials segment includes the engineered materials business, food ingredients business and certain strategic affiliates. The Acetate Tow segment serves consumer-driven applications and is a global producer and supplier of acetate tow and acetate flake used in filter products applications. The Acetyl Chain segment includes the integrated chain of intermediate chemistry, emulsion polymers and ethylene vinyl acetate (""EVA"") polymers businesses, based on similar products, production processes, classes of customers and selling and distribution practices as well as economic similarities over a normal business cycle. The Other Activities segment consists of corporate center costs, including administrative activities such as finance, information technology and human resource functions, interest income and expense associated with financing activities. The company was founded by Camille Dreyfus and Henri Dreyfus in 1918 and is headquartered in Irving, TX.

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Covestro AG develops, produces, and markets polymer materials for various industries. The company operates in three segments: Polyurethanes; Polycarbonates; and Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties (CAS). The Polyurethanes segment develops, produces, and markets chemical precursors, such as diphenylmethane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, and polyether polyol, which are used primarily in the furniture, construction, and automotive industries. The Polycarbonates segment provides high-performance plastic polycarbonates in the form of granules, composite materials, and semi-finished products for use in the automotive, construction, electrical and electronic, medical technology, and lighting industries. The CAS segment offers precursors for coatings, adhesives, and sealants, as well as specialties. This segment also provides polymer materials and aqueous dispersions for use in automotive and transportation, infrastructure and construction, wood processing, and furniture applications. The company markets its products through trading houses and distributors. It operates in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, the United States, Canada, and the People's Republic of China. The company was founded in 1863 and is headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.
Texas Pacific Land Corp. operates as a landowner in the State of Texas. Its surface and royalty ownership allow revenue generation through the entire value chain of oil and gas development, including through fixed fee payments for use of the firm's land, revenue for sales of materials used in the construction of infrastructure, providing sourced water and treated produced water, revenue from its oil and gas royalty interests, and revenues related to saltwater disposal on land. The company also generates revenue from pipeline, power line and utility easements, commercial leases, material sales and seismic and temporary permits related to a variety of land uses including midstream infrastructure projects and hydrocarbon processing facilities. The company operates through following segment: Land and Resource Management and Water Services and Operations. The Land and Resource Management segment focuses on managing oil and gas royalty interest and surface. The Water Services and Operations segment offers operators an unparalleled breadth of service across the majority of the Permian Basin. The company was founded in April 2020 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX.

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Duck Creek Technologies, Inc. provides software-as-a-service core systems to the property and casualty insurance industry in North America. It offers Duck Creek Policy, a full lifecycle solution for the development of products and quoting, binding, and servicing of policies across various channels from agents and brokers to end-users; Duck Creek Billing that provides payment and invoicing capabilities, such as billing and collections, commission processing, disbursement management, and general ledger capabilities for insurance lines and bill types; and Duck Creek Claims that supports the entire claims lifecycle from first notice of loss through investigation, payments, negotiations, reporting, and closure. The company also provides Duck Creek Rating that allows carriers to develop new rates and models and deliver accurate quotes in real-time based on the complex rating algorithms; Duck Creek Insights, an insurance analytics solution that allows carriers to gather and analyze data from internal and external sources and facilitate rapid analysis and reporting on a single system; Duck Creek Digital Engagement that offer digital interactions between property and casualty insurers and their agents, brokers, and policyholders; and Duck Creek Distribution Management that automates sales channel activities for agents and brokers, including producer onboarding, compliance, and compensation management. In addition, it offers Duck Creek Reinsurance Management that automates critical financial and administrative functions; and Duck Creek Industry Content that provides pre-built content, including base business rules, product designs, rating algorithms, data capture screens, and workflows for insurance lines of business. The company serves insurance carriers and leaders. Duck Creek Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Hyatt Hotels: CHANCELLOR STREET CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION INC., GLENDALE HOTEL PROPERTIES L.L.C., HT-SEATTLE HOLDINGS LLC, 1379919 ALBERTA INC., 319168 ONTARIO LIMITED, 3385434 CANADA INC., ADMINISTRACION DE PERSONAL ANDARES S. DE R.L. DE C.V., AIC HOLDING CO., AIRPORT PLAZA ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, AIRPORT PLAZA HOTEL LLC, AIRPORT PLAZA OFFICE BUILDING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, AMERISUITES FRANCHISING L.L.C., ARANCIA LIMITED, ARUBA BEACHFRONT RESORTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, ARUBA BEACHFRONT RESORTS N.V., ASIA HOSPITALITY INC., ASIA HOSPITALITY INVESTORS B.V., ASIAN HOTEL N.V., ATRIUM HOTEL L.L.C., AUSTIN RESORT BEVERAGE LLC, AmeriSuites Hotel, BAKU HOTEL COMPANY - AZERI, BAKU HOTEL COMPANY - CAYMAN, BASTROP MARKETING L.L.C., BAY II INVESTOR INC., BELLEVUE ASSOCIATES, BH PLAZA LLC, BRE/AMERISUITES PROPERTIES L.L.C., BRE/AMERISUITES TXNC GP L.L.C., BRE/AMERISUITES TXNC PROPERTIES L.P., BURVAN HOTEL ASSOCIATES, CAL-HARBOR SO. PIER URBAN RENEWAL ASSOCIATES L.P., CELAYA RESORTS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., CHESAPEAKE COMMUNITIES LLC, CHESAPEAKE RESORT LLC, CIUDAD DEL CARMEN DIAMANTE RESORT S. DE R.L. DE C.V, COAST BEACH L.L.C., COMPAGNIE HOTELIERE DE LAGON BLEU, CPM SEATTLE HOTELS L.L.C., CRW INVESTMENT LLC, CTR INTEREST HOLDCO INC., DALLAS REGENCY LLC, DENVER DOWNTOWN HOTEL PARTNERS LLC, DESARROLLADORA HOTELERA ACUEDUCTO S. DE R.L. DE C.V., DH BEVERAGE LLC, DIAMANTE RESORT LA PAZ S. DE R.L. DE C.V., DISTRICT HOTEL PARTNERS LLC, EXHALE ENTERPRISES GIFT SERVICES COMPANY, EXHALE ENTERPRISES II L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES III INC., EXHALE ENTERPRISES IV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES V L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES VIII INC., EXHALE ENTERPRISES X INC., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XIV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XIX L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XV TCI LTD., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XVI L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XVII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XVIII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XX L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXI INC., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXIV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXVI L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXVII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXVIII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXXI L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXXII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXXIII INC., FAN PIER L.L.C., FAR EAST HOTELS INC., G.E.H. PROPERTIES LIMITED, GAINEY DRIVE ASSOCIATES, GALAXY AEROSPACE COMPANY LLC, GHE HOLDINGS LIMITED, GRAND HYATT BERLIN GMBH, GRAND HYATT DFW BEVERAGE LLC, GRAND HYATT SAN ANTONIO L.L.C., GRAND HYATT SF L.L.C., GRAND RIVERWALK BEVERAGE LLC, GRAND TORONTO CORP., GRAND TORONTO VENTURE L.P., GREENWICH HOTEL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, H.E. ATLANTA CENTENNIAL PARK HOLDINGS L.L.C., H.E. AUSTIN L.L.C., H.E. BERMUDA L.L.C., H.E. CAP CANA L.L.C., H.E. DRISKILL LLC, H.E. GRAND CYPRESS L.L.C., H.E. IRVINE L.L.C., H.E. KANSAS CITY L.L.C., H.E. LENOX L.L.C., H.E. NASHVILLE L.L.C., H.E. NEWPORT L.L.C., H.E. ORLANDO L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA HC HOLDINGS L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA HC HOTEL L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA HC PARKING L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA HC RETAIL L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA SANSOM L.L.C., H.E. PORTLAND HC L.L.C., H.E. PORTLAND L.L.C., H.E. PROPERTIES HOLDING L.L.C., H.E. PROPERTIES L.L.C., H.E. SAN ANTONIO I L.L.C., H.E. SAN ANTONIO L.L.C., H.E. TUCSON HOLDINGS L.L.C., H.E. TUCSON JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., H.E. TUCSON JV L.L.C., H.E. TUCSON OWNER L.L.C., HAPP INVESTOR LTD., HARBORSIDE HOTEL LLC, HARBORSIDE LAND LLC, HC PORTLAND JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HC ROYAL PALMS L.L.C., HCV CINCINNATI HOTEL L.L.C., HE ORLANDO HOTEL LLC, HGP (TRAVEL) LIMITED, HH NASHVILLE HOLDINGS L.L.C., HH NASHVILLE JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HH PORTLAND L.L.C., HHMA BURLINGTON BEVERAGE L.L.C., HI HOLDINGS (SWITZERLAND) GMBH, HI HOLDINGS BAJA B.V., HI HOLDINGS BRAZIL S.A.R.L., HI HOLDINGS CELAYA B.V., HI HOLDINGS CIUDAD DEL CARMEN B.V., HI HOLDINGS CYPRUS LIMITED, HI HOLDINGS CYPRUS-INDIA LIMITED, HI HOLDINGS GUADALAJARA B.V., HI HOLDINGS HP CABO B.V., HI HOLDINGS HP TIJUANA HOTEL B.V., HI HOLDINGS KYOTO CO., HI HOLDINGS LA PAZ B.V., HI HOLDINGS LATIN AMERICA B.V., HI HOLDINGS NETHERLANDS B.V., HI HOLDINGS PLAYA B.V., HI HOLDINGS RIO S.A.R.L., HI HOLDINGS RIVIERA MAYA B.V., HI HOLDINGS VIENNA S.A.R.L., HI HOLDINGS ZURICH S.A.R.L., HI HOTEL ADVISORY SERVICES GMBH, HI HOTEL INVESTORS CYPRUS LIMITED, HIHCL AMSTERDAM B.V., HIHCL HP AMSTERDAM AIRPORT B.V., HIHCL HR AMSTERDAM B.V., HILP HOTEL SERVICE PROVIDER LLC, HOTEL AM BELVEDERE HOLDING GMBH, HOTEL AM BELVEDERE HOLDING GMBH & CO KG, HOTEL INVESTMENTS HOLDING CO LLC, HOTEL INVESTMENTS L.L.C., HOTEL INVESTORS I INC., HOTEL INVESTORS II INC., HOTEL PROJECT SYSTEMS PTE LTD, HOTEL SERVICES CIUDAD DEL CARMEN S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HOTELS CS CELAYA S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HP ATLANTA CENTENNIAL PARK JV LLC, HP AUSTIN L.L.C., HP BEVERAGE DALLAS DFW AIRPORT LLC, HP BEVERAGE SUGAR LAND LLC, HP BOSTON HOLDINGS L.L.C., HP GLENDALE JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HP GLENDALE L.L.C., HP INDIA HOLDINGS LIMITED, HP LAS VEGAS BEVERAGE L.L.C., HP M STREET L.L.C., HP ROUTE 46 TEXAS LLC, HP SAN FRANCISCO L.L.C., HP SAN JUAN L.L.C., HP TEN TEXAS LLC, HPHH ATLANTA L.L.C., HPHH DENVER L.L.C., HPHH SAN JOSE JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HPHH SAN JOSE L.L.C., HQ CHESAPEAKE LLC, HR LOST PINES RESORT LLC, HR MC HOTEL COMPANY S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HR MC SERVICES II S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HR MC SERVICES S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HRHC LLC, HT- WAILEA LLC, HT-AVENDRA GROUP HOLDINGS L.L.C., HT-AVENDRA L.L.C., HT-CHESAPEAKE COMMUNITIES INC., HT-CHESAPEAKE RESORT INC., HT-HOTEL EQUITIES INC., HT-HUNTINGTON BEACH INC., HT-JERSEY PIER INC., HT-JERSEY PIER L.P., HT-JERSEY PIER LLC, HT-LONG BEACH L.L.C., HT-MIAMI BEACH L.L.C., HT-PARK 57 INC., HT-SEATTLE LLC, HT-SIERRA L.L.C., HT-VANCOUVER INC., HTLB L.L.C., HTS - NS L.L.C., HTS - NY L.L.C., HTS-ASPEN L.L.C., HTS-BC INC., HTS-INVESTMENT L L.C., HTSF L.L.C., HTW BEVERAGE LLC, HY LONG BEACH HOTEL LLC, HYATT (BARBADOS) CORPORATION, HYATT (JAPAN) CO. LTD., HYATT (THAILAND) LIMITED, HYATT ARUBA N.V., HYATT ASIA PACIFIC HOLDINGS LIMITED, HYATT AUSTRALIA HOTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LIMITED, HYATT AUSTRIA GMBH, HYATT BEACH FRONT N.V., HYATT BORNEO MANAGEMENT SERVICES LIMITED, HYATT BRITANNIA CORPORATION LTD., HYATT CC OFFICE CORP., HYATT CHAIN SERVICES LIMITED, HYATT CRYSTAL CITY LLC., HYATT CURACAO N.V., HYATT DISASTER RELIEF FUND, HYATT DO BRASIL PARTICIPACOES LTDA, HYATT EQUITIES L.L.C., HYATT FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT SERVICES INC., HYATT FRANCHISING CANADA CORP., HYATT FRANCHISING L.L.C., HYATT FRANCHISING LATIN AMERICA L.L.C., HYATT FULFILLMENT OF MARYLAND INC., HYATT GLOBAL SERVICES INC., HYATT GTLD L.L.C., HYATT HOC INC., HYATT HOLDINGS (UK) LIMITED, HYATT HOSPITALITY SERVICES L.L.C., HYATT HOTEL MANAGEMENT LIMITED, HYATT HOTELS CONSULTANCY SERVICES ASIA PACIFIC LIMITED, HYATT HOTELS CORPORATION OF KANSAS, HYATT HOTELS CORPORATION OF MARYLAND, HYATT HOTELS FOUNDATION, HYATT HOTELS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, HYATT HOTELS OF CANADA INC., HYATT HOTELS OF FLORIDA INC., HYATT HOTELS OF PUERTO RICO INC., HYATT HOUSE CANADA INC., HYATT HOUSE FRANCHISING L.L.C., HYATT HOUSE HOTEL HOLDING COMPANY L.L.C., HYATT INDIA CONSULTANCY PRIVATE LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL (ASIA) LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL (EUROPE AFRICA MIDDLE EAST) LLC, HYATT INTERNATIONAL - JAPAN LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL - SOUTHWEST ASIA LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL -ASIA PACIFIC LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL -SEA (PTE) LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, HYATT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS CO., HYATT INTERNATIONAL HOTEL MANAGEMENT (BEIJING) CO. LTD., HYATT INTERNATIONAL MILAN L.L.C., HYATT INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (BEIJING) CO. LTD., HYATT INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL SERVICES INC., HYATT JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HYATT LACSA SERVICES INC., HYATT LOUISIANA L.L.C., HYATT MAINZ GMBH, HYATT MARKETING SERVICES INC., HYATT MARKETING SERVICES NIGERIA COMPANY LIMITED, HYATT MINNEAPOLIS LLC, HYATT MINORITY INVESTMENTS INC., HYATT MSS L.L.C., HYATT NORTH AMERICA MANAGEMENT SERVICES INC., HYATT OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, HYATT OF BAJA S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HYATT OF CHINA LIMITED, HYATT OF FRANCE S.A.R.L., HYATT OF GUAM LIMITED, HYATT OF ITALY S.R.L., HYATT OF LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN L.L.C., HYATT OF LATIN AMERICA S.A. DE C.V., HYATT OF MACAU LIMITED, HYATT OF MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., HYATT OF PHILIPPINES LIMITED, HYATT PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS L.L.C., HYATT PLACE ANNE ARUNDEL BEVERAGE INC., HYATT PLACE CANADA CORPORATION, HYATT PLACE FRANCHISING L.L.C., HYATT PLACE OF MARYLAND INC., HYATT REGENCY COLOGNE GMBH, HYATT REGENCY CORPORATION PTY. LIMITED, HYATT SERVICES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED, HYATT SERVICES CANADA INC., HYATT SERVICES CARIBBEAN L.L.C., HYATT SERVICES GMBH, HYATT SERVICES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, HYATT SHARED SERVICE CENTER L.L.C., HYATT TRINIDAD LIMITED, HYCANADA INC., HYCARD INC., HYSTAR L.L.C., Hyatt Corporation, INFORMATION SERVICES LIMITED, INTERNATIONAL RESERVATIONS LIMITED, JOINT VENTURE ITALKYR CLOSED JOINT STOCK COMPANY, JUNIPER HOTELS PRIVATE LIMITED, KSA MANAGEMENT INC., KYOTO HOLDING CO., LHR-PARTNERS LTD., LORING PARK ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, LOST PINES BEVERAGE LLC, MACAE PARTNERS S.A.R.L., MAHIMA HOLDINGS PRIVATE LIMITED, MARION RESERVATION CENTER L.L.C., MEXICO CITY HOTEL INVESTMENTS B.V., MILAN HOTEL INVESTMENTS B.V., MIRAVAL ARIZONA GUARANTOR LLC, MIRAVAL GROUP LLC, MIRAVAL RESORT ARIZONA HOLDINGS LLC, MIRAVAL RESORT ARIZONA LLC, MIRAVAL RESORT ARIZONA OPERATING CO. INC., MIRAVAL RESORT TUCSON LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS I LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS II LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS III LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS TRUST, MRG ATX BEVERAGE HOLDINGS LLC, MRG ATX HOLDINGS II LLC, MRG ATX HOLDINGS LLC, MRG ATX INVESTMENT LLC, MRG ATX MANAGEMENT I LLC, MRG ATX MANAGEMENT II LLC, MRG ATX OPERATIONS LLC, MRG CRW HOLDINGS LLC, MRG CRW MANAGEMENT I LLC, MRG CRW MANAGEMENT II LLC, MRG CRW OPERATIONS LLC, MUNICH OPCO GMBH, Miraval Resort, OASIS LUXURY RENTALS INCORPORATED, PARIS HOTEL COMPANY B.V., PARK HYATT HAMBURG GMBH, PARK HYATT HOTEL GMBH, PARK HYATT WATER TOWER ASSOCIATES L.L.C., PH NEW YORK L.L.C., PHMC RESIDENCIAS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., POLK SMITH REGENCY LLC, PT HYATT INDONESIA, PVD INVESTMENT COMPANY S.A.R.L., Peabody Hotels & Resort, RCG PROPERTIES LLC, REGENCY BEVERAGE COMPANY LLC, REGENCY RIVERWALK BEVERAGE LLC, RESERVATIONS CENTER L.L.C., RIO JV PARTNERS PARTICIPACOES LTDA., RIO PRETO PARTNERS HOTEIS LTDA., RIO PRETO PARTNERS S.A.R.L., ROSEMONT PROJECT MANAGEMENT L.L.C., ROUTE 46 MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES CORP., RUNWAY HOLDING L.L.C., RUNWAY L.L.C., SAO PAULO INVESTMENT COMPANY INC., SAO PAULO INVESTORS LIMITED, SASIH, SDI EQUITIES INVESTOR L.L.C., SDI INC., SDI SECURITIES 11 LLC, SDI SECURITIES 6 LLC, SELECT HOTELS GROUP L.L.C., SELECT JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., SEOUL MIRAMAR CORPORATION, SERVICIOS DE HOTELERIA SAN JOSE S. DE R.L. DE C.V., SERVICIOS HOTELEROS LA PAZ S. DE R.L. DE C.V., SETTLEMENT INVESTORS INC., SHG PUERTO RICO INC., SIERRA HEALTHSTYLES LLC, SJC DESARROLLOS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., SKS CORP. N.V., SMC HOTELS B.V., SOROCABA PARTNERS HOTEIS LTDA, SOROCABA PARTNERS S.A.R.L., STANHOPE L.L.C., STARHILL LORING PARK L.L.C., SUGAR LAND/HP LLC, THE GREAT EASTERN HOTEL COMPANY LIMITED, THE GREAT EASTERN HOTEL HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED, TIJUANA PARTNERS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., TR MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT LLC, TUCSON VILLAS HOLDINGS LLC, TUCSON VILLAS LLC, TWO SEAS HOLDINGS LIMITED, Two Roads Hospitality, WAILEA HOTEL & BEACH RESORT L.L.C., WAILEA HOTEL HOLDINGS L.L.C., WAILEA MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION L.L.C., WAILEA RESORT VILLAS HOLDINGS L.L.C., WAILEA RESORT VILLAS L.L.C., WEST END RESIDENCES L.L.C., XENIA ASSURANCE COMPANY INC., XENIA ASSURANCE COMPANY OF ILLINOIS, ZURICH ESCHERWIESE HOTEL GMBH, and ZURICH HOTEL INVESTMENTS B.V..
Deutsche BArse AG operates as an exchange organization in Europe, the United States, and the Asia-Pacific. The company operates through seven segments: Eurex (Financial Derivatives), EEX (Commodities), 360T (Foreign Exchange), Xetra (Cash Equities), Clearstream (Post-Trading), IFS (Investment Fund Services), and Qontigo (index and analytics business). The company engages in the electronic trading of derivatives, electricity and gas products, emission rights, and foreign exchange; operating of Eurex Repo over the counter (OTC) trading platform and electronic clearing architecture; and operating as a central counterparty for on-and-off exchange derivatives, repo transactions, and OTC and exchange-traded derivatives. It also operates in the cash market through Xetra, BArse Frankfurt, and Tradegate trading venues; operates as a central counterparty for equities and bonds; and provides listing services. In addition, the company offers custody and settlement services for securities; investment fund services; global securities financing services; and global securities finance and collateral management, as well as secured money, market transaction, and repos and securities lending transaction services. Further, it develops and markets indices, as well as portfolio management and risk analysis software; markets licenses for trading and market signals; provides technology and reporting solutions for external customers; and offers link-up of trading participants. Deutsche BArse AG was founded in 1585 and is headquartered in Eschborn, Germany.

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The following companies are subsidiares of DaVita: Aberdeen Dialysis LLC, Accountable Kidney Care LLC, Adair Dialysis LLC, American Fork Dialysis LLC, American Medical Insurance Inc., Animas Dialysis LLC, Arcadia Gardens Dialysis LLC, Ashdow Dialysis LLC, Atlantic Dialysis LLC, Austin Dialysis Centers L.P., Barnell Dialysis LLC, Barrons Dialysis LLC, Barton Dialysis LLC, Bastrop Dialysis LLC, Beachside Dialysis LLC, Beck Dialysis LLC, Bellevue Dialysis LLC, Bemity Dialysis LLC, Beverly Hills Dialysis Partnership, Birch Dialysis LLC, Bladon Dialysis LLC, Bliss Dialysis LLC, Bohama Dialysis LLC, Bowan Dialysis LLC, Braddock Dialysis LLC, Bridges Dialysis LLC, Brimfield Dialysis LLC, Brook Dialysis LLC, Brownsville Kidney Center Ltd., Brownwood Dialysis LLC, Bruno Dialysis LLC, Buckhorn Dialysis LLC, Buford Dialysis LLC, Bullards Dialysis LLC, Bullock Dialysis LLC, Calante Dialysis LLC, Campton Dialysis LLC, Canyon Springs Dialysis LLC, Capes Dialysis LLC, Capital Dialysis Partnership, Capron Dialysis LLC, Carlton Dialysis LLC, Carroll County Dialysis Facility Inc., Carroll County Dialysis Facility Limited Partnership, Cascades Dialysis LLC, Caverns Dialysis LLC, Cedar Dialysis LLC, Centennial LV LLC, Central Carolina Dialysis Centers LLC, Central Georgia Dialysis LLC, Central Iowa Dialysis Partners LLC, Central Kentucky Dialysis Centers LLC, Channel Dialysis LLC, Cheraw Dialysis LLC, Chicago Heights Dialysis LLC, Chipeta Dialysis LLC, Churchill Dialysis LLC, Cinco Rios Dialysis LLC, Clark Dialysis LLC, Clayton Dialysis LLC, Cleburne Dialysis LLC, Clinica Central do Bonfim S.A., Clinton Township Dialysis LLC, Clyfee Dialysis LLC, Columbus-RNA-DaVita LLC, Conconully Dialysis LLC, Continental Dialysis Center Inc., Couer Dialysis LLC, Court Dialysis LLC, Cowell Dialysis LLC, Cowesett Dialysis LLC, Crossings Dialysis LLC, Crystals Dialysis LLC, Cuivre Dialysis LLC, Culbert Dialysis LLC, DC Healthcare International Inc., DNP Management Company LLC, DPS CKD LLC, DV Care Netherlands B.V., DV Care Netherlands C.V., DVA Healthcare - Southwest Ohio LLC, DVA Healthcare Renal Care Inc., DVA Healthcare of Maryland LLC, DVA Healthcare of Massachusetts Inc., DVA Healthcare of New London LLC, DVA Healthcare of Norwich LLC, DVA Healthcare of Pennsylvania LLC, DVA Healthcare of Tuscaloosa LLC, DVA Holdings Pte. Ltd., DVA Laboratory Services Inc., DVA Renal Healthcare Inc., DVA of New York Inc., DaVita - Riverside II LLC, DaVita - Riverside LLC, DaVita - West LLC, DaVita APAC Holding B.V., DaVita Brasil Participacoes e Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita Care (Saudi Arabia), DaVita Dakota Dialysis Center LLC, DaVita Deutschland AG, DaVita Deutschland Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, DaVita El Paso East L.P., DaVita Germany GmbH, DaVita HK Holdings Limited, DaVita HealthCare Brasil Servicos Medicos Ltda., DaVita International Limited, DaVita Nefromed Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita Nephron Care Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita Rien Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita S.A.S., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Asa Sul Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Distrito Federal Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Guarulhos Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Jardim das Imbuias Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Taubate Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia de Araraquara Ltda., DaVita Sp. z o.o., DaVita Sud-Niedersachsen GmbH, DaVita Transrim Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita UTR Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita VillageHealth Inc., DaVita of New York Inc., Dallas-Fort Worth Nephrology L.P., Damon Dialysis LLC, Dialysis Holdings Inc., Dialysis of Des Moines LLC, Dialysis of Northern Illinois LLC, Dierks Dialysis LLC, Dolores Dialysis LLC, Dome Dialysis LLC, Doves Dialysis LLC, Downriver Centers Inc., EURODIAL - Centro de Nefrologia e Dialise de Leiria S.A., East End Dialysis Center Inc., East Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Ebrea Dialysis LLC, Edisto Dialysis LLC, Eldrist Dialysis LLC, Elgin Dialysis LLC, Elk Grove Dialysis Center LLC, Empire State DC Inc., Etowah Dialysis LLC, Ettleton Dialysis LLC, Eufaula Dialysis LLC, Falcon LLC, Family Health Care of Central Florida, Fanthorp Dialysis LLC, Federal Way Assurance Inc., Fields Dialysis LLC, Five Star Dialysis LLC, Fjords Dialysis LLC, Flagler Dialysis LLC, Flamingo Park Kidney Center Inc., Forester Dialysis LLC, Freehold Artificial Kidney Center L.L.C., Fremont Dialysis LLC, Frontier Dialysis LLC, Fullerton Dialysis Center LLC, GDC International LLC, Gambro Healthcare, Ganois Dialysis LLC, Garner Dialysis LLC, Garrett Dialysis LLC, Gaviota Dialysis LLC, Gebhard Dialysis LLC, Genesis KC Development LLC, GiveLife Dialysis LLC, Glassland Dialysis LLC, Glosser Dialysis LLC, Goliad Dialysis LLC, Grand Home Dialysis LLC, Greater Las Vegas Dialysis LLC, Greater Los Angeles Dialysis Centers LLC, Green Country Dialysis LLC, Green Desert Dialysis LLC, Griffin Dialysis LLC, Groten Dialysis LLC, Harmony Dialysis LLC, Hart Dialysis LLC, Hawn Dialysis LLC, Healthcare Partners, Helmer Dialysis LLC, Hennepin Dialysis LLC, Hewett Dialysis LLC, Hilgards Dialysis LLC, Hochatown Dialysis LLC, Home Kidney Care LLC, Honeyman Dialysis LLC, Houston Kidney Center/Total Renal Care Integrated Service Network Limited Partnership, Hummer Dialysis LLC, Hunter Dialysis LLC, Huntington Artificial Kidney Center Ltd., Hyde Dialysis LLC, IDC -International Dialysis Centers Lda, ISD Bartlett LLC, ISD Corpus Christi LLC, ISD I Holding Company Inc., ISD II Holding Company Inc., ISD Las Vegas LLC, ISD Lees Summit LLC, ISD Renal Inc., ISD Schaumburg LLC, ISD Spring Valley LLC, ISD Summit Renal Care LLC, Iroquois Dialysis LLC, Jacinto Dialysis LLC, Jenness Dialysis LLC, Kamiah Dialysis LLC, Kanika Dialysis LLC, Kavett Dialysis LLC, Kenai Dialysis LLC, Kershaw Dialysis LLC, Kidney Home Center LLC, Kimball Dialysis LLC, Kingston Dialysis LLC, Kinnick Dialysis LLC, Kinter Dialysis LLC, Kiowa Dialysis LLC, Knickerbocker Dialysis Inc., Lakeshore Dialysis LLC, Landing Dialysis LLC, Landor Dialysis LLC, Lassen Dialysis LLC, Leasburg Dialysis LLC, Leawood Dialysis LLC, Lees Dialysis LLC, Legare Development LLC, Liberty RC Inc., Lifeline Pensacola LLC, Lifeline Vascular Center-Albany LLC, Lincoln Park Dialysis Services Inc., Livingston Dialysis LLC, Llano Dialysis LLC, Lofield Dialysis LLC, Logoley Dialysis LLC, Lone Dialysis LLC, Long Beach Dialysis Center LLC, Lord Baltimore Dialysis LLC, Lory Dialysis LLC, Lourdes Dialysis LLC, Lyndale Dialysis LLC, MVZ DaVita Alzey GmbH, MVZ DaVita Aurich GmbH, MVZ DaVita Bad Aibling GmbH, MVZ DaVita Bad Duben GmbH, MVZ DaVita Cardio Centrum Dusseldorf GmbH, MVZ DaVita Dillenburg GmbH, MVZ DaVita Dinkelsbuhl GmbH, MVZ DaVita Dormagen GmbH, MVZ DaVita Duisburg GmbH, MVZ DaVita Elsterland GmbH, MVZ DaVita Emden GmbH, MVZ DaVita Falkensee GmbH, MVZ DaVita Geilenkirchen GmbH, MVZ DaVita Gera GmbH, MVZ DaVita Iserlohn GmbH, MVZ DaVita Monchengladbach GmbH, MVZ DaVita Neuss GmbH, MVZ DaVita Niederrhein GmbH, MVZ DaVita Nierenzentrum Aachen Alsdorf GmbH, MVZ DaVita Nierenzentrum Berlin-Britz GmbH, MVZ DaVita Nierenzentrum Hamm-Ahlen GmbH, MVZ DaVita Prenzlau-Pasewalk GmbH, MVZ DaVita Rhein-Ahr GmbH, MVZ DaVita Rhein-Ruhr GmbH, MVZ DaVita Schwalm-Eder GmbH, MVZ DaVita Viersen GmbH, Madigan Dialysis LLC, Magney Dialysis LLC, Magoffin Dialysis LLC, Makonee Dialysis LLC, Marlton Dialysis Center LLC, Marseille Dialysis LLC, Mason-Dixon Dialysis Facilities Inc., Mazonia Dialysis LLC, Mellen Dialysis LLC, Melnea Dialysis LLC, Memorial Dialysis Center L.P., Meridian Dialysis LLC, Mermet Dialysis LLC, Milltown Dialysis LLC, Minam Dialysis LLC, Minneopa Dialysis LLC, Mountain West Dialysis Services LLC, Mulgee Dialysis LLC, Nansen Dialysis LLC, Natomas Dialysis LLC, Nauvue Dialysis LLC, Navarro Dialysis LLC, Nephrology Medical Associates of Georgia LLC, Nephrology Practice Solutions LLC, New Bay Dialysis LLC, Nicona Dialysis LLC, Norbert Dialysis LLC, Norte Dialysis LLC, North Austin Dialysis LLC, Northwest Physicians Network, Oasis Dialysis LLC, Ohio River Dialysis LLC, Okanogan Dialysis LLC, Olive Dialysis LLC, Ordust Dialysis LLC, Owyhee Dialysis LLC, Palo Dialysis LLC, Palomar Dialysis LLC, Panther Dialysis LLC, Parkside Dialysis LLC, Pattison Dialysis LLC, Patuk Dialysis LLC, Pearl Dialysis LLC, Pendster Dialysis LLC, Percha Dialysis LLC, Pershing Dialysis LLC, Pfeiffer Dialysis LLC, Philadelphia-Camden Integrated Kidney Care LLC, Physicians Choice Dialysis LLC, Physicians Choice Dialysis Of Alabama LLC, Physicians Dialysis Acquisitions Inc., Physicians Dialysis Ventures LLC, Physicians Dialysis of Lancaster LLC, Physicians Management LLC, Pible Dialysis LLC, Pinson Dialysis LLC, Pittsburgh Dialysis Partners LLC, Piute Dialysis LLC, Plaine Dialysis LLC, Platte Dialysis LLC, Pluribus Dialise - Benfica S.A., Pluribus Dialise - Cascais S.A., Pluribus Dialise S.A., Prairie Dialysis LLC, Prineville Dialysis LLC, Purity Dialysis, RMS Lifeline Inc., RNA - DaVita Dialysis LLC, RV Academy LLC, Ramsey Dialysis LLC, Rayburn Dialysis LLC, Red Willow Dialysis LLC, Redcliff Dialysis LLC, Refuge Dialysis LLC, Renal Center of Beaumont LLC, Renal Center of Fort Dodge LLC, Renal Center of Lewisville LLC, Renal Center of Morristown LLC, Renal Center of Newton LLC, Renal Center of Port Arthur LLC, Renal Center of Tyler L.P.L.L.L.P., Renal Center of West Beaumont LLC, Renal Center of the Hills LLC, Renal Life Link Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - California Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - Illinois Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - Mid-Atlantic Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - Northeast Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - Southeast LP, Renal Treatment Centers - West Inc., Renal Treatment Centers Inc., Renal Ventures Management LLC, RenalServ LLC, Riddle Dialysis LLC, River Valley Dialysis LLC, Rocky Mountain Dialysis Services LLC, Rollins Dialysis LLC, Roose Dialysis LLC, Rophets Dialysis LLC, Roushe Dialysis LLC, Routt Dialysis LLC, Royale Dialysis LLC, Rusk Dialysis LLC, Rutland Dialysis LLC, SAKDC-DaVita Dialysis Partners L.P., Saddleback Dialysis LLC, Sahara Dialysis LLC, San Marcos Dialysis LLC, Santiam Dialysis LLC, Sapelo Dialysis LLC, Saunders Dialysis LLC, Seabay Dialysis LLC, Secour Dialysis LLC, Sensiba Dialysis LLC, Shadow Dialysis LLC, Shayano Dialysis LLC, Shelling Dialysis LLC, Sherman Dialysis LLC, Shetek Dialysis LLC, Shining Star Dialysis Inc., Siena Dialysis Center LLC, Simeon Dialysis LLC, Skagit Dialysis LLC, Soledad Dialysis Center LLC, Somerville Dialysis Center LLC, South Central Florida Dialysis Partners LLC, South Fork Dialysis LLC, Southern Hills Dialysis Center LLC, Southlake Dialysis LLC, Southwest Atlanta Dialysis Centers LLC, Sprague Dialysis LLC, Springpond Dialysis LLC, Star Dialysis LLC, Stevenson Dialysis LLC, Stewart Dialysis LLC, Stines Dialysis LLC, Storrie Dialysis LLC, Sugarloaf Dialysis LLC, Sun City Dialysis Center L.L.C., Sunapee Dialysis LLC, Sunset Dialysis LLC, TRC - Indiana LLC, TRC El Paso Limited Partnership, TRC West Inc., TRC of New York Inc., TRC-Georgetown Regional Dialysis LLC, Talimena Dialysis LLC, Terre Dialysis LLC, The Woodlands Dialysis Center LP, Tortugas Dialysis LLC, Total Renal Care Inc., Total Renal Care Texas Limited Partnership, Total Renal Care of North Carolina LLC, Total Renal Laboratories Inc., Total Renal Research Inc., Toulouse Dialysis LLC, Transmountain Dialysis L.P., Tross Dialysis LLC, Tugman Dialysis LLC, Tunnel Dialysis LLC, Turlock Dialysis Center LLC, Tustin Dialysis Center LLC, Twain Dialysis LLC, Tyler Dialysis LLC, USC-DaVita Dialysis Center LLC, Unicoi Dialysis LLC, University Dialysis Center LLC, Upper Valley Dialysis L.P., Valley Springs Dialysis LLC, Victory Dialysis LLC, VillageHealth DM LLC, Villanueva Dialysis LLC, Vively Health LLC, Vogel Dialysis LLC, Volo Dialysis LLC, Waddell Dialysis LLC, Wakoni Dialysis LLC, Walker Dialysis LLC, Walton Dialysis LLC, Watkins Dialysis LLC, Weldon Dialysis LLC, West Elk Grove Dialysis LLC, West Sacramento Dialysis LLC, Weston Dialysis Center LLC, Whitney Dialysis LLC, Willowbrook Dialysis Center L.P., Winds Dialysis LLC, Wood Dialysis LLC, Woodford Dialysis LLC, Wyandotte Central Dialysis LLC, Yards Dialysis LLC, Ybor City Dialysis LLC, Yucaipa Dialysis LLC, and Zephyrhills Dialysis Center LLC.
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According to the new market research report by IndustryARC, titled Soil Treatment Market By Function (Soil Protection & Soil Fertility), By Type (Organic Amendments, Ph. Adjusters), By Technology (Physiochemical, Biological & Thermal), By Geography - Forecast(2018  2023), the market will be driven by the demand for high quality food grains.

North America will Dominate the Soil Treatment Market

North America will dominate the Soil Treatment Market during the forecast period i.e. 2018-2023 followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. This is due to the growing concerns about the arable land in these regions. The increasing demand for improved soil fertility and soil aeration along with the government regulations on agricultural products in North America and Europe will drive the demand for soil treatment in the forecast period. In Asia Pacific, the government initiatives to support the growth of the agriculture industry will enhance the growth of soil treatment chemicals in the region.

Selected Regulatory Analysis Done in the Full Report:

The weed and pest control soil treatment has the largest share in the soil treatment market. It is expected to dominate the market in the next six years. Crop residue is the fastest growing segment in the organic amendments. The technological advancements along with the increasing R&D to implement low cost soil treatment techniques in growing economies will drive the demand for pest control products during the forecast period.

Selected Driving Factors Mentioned in the Full Report:

 The growing population along with the increasing demand for food products will enhance the growth of pest management.

 The growth of bio agricultural market will spur the growth of soil treatment in the forecast period.

 The growing demand for soil quality will drive the demand for soil remediation technologies in the forecast period.

Request for table of contents of the full report by providing your details in the below link:

https://industryarc.com/Report/15104/soil-treatment-market.html

Key Players of the Soil Treatment Market

The key players of the soil treatment market include Agrofill S.R.L., Isagro Spa, Nbc Bird And Pest Solutions, Syngenta Ag and Wynca Chemical. Agrofill manufactures fertilizers for specialized agriculture which include floriculture, horticulture, fruit and grape growing and hydropony. Isagro deals with research and development and distribution of agro pharmaceutical products for crop protection in Asia, Europe, North America and South America. Nbc Bird And Pest Solutions provides pest and bird control services in UK. Syngenta AG has introduced a seed treatment fungicide known as SALTRO in Australia.

The Soil Treatment Market is Segmented as Below:

The growing demand for high quality food grains due to increase in population will enhance the growth of the soil treatment in the forecast period.

A. Soil Treatment Market By Function

1. Soil Protection

1.1. Weed Control

1.1.1. Glyphosate

1.1.2. Atrazine

1.1.3. Acetochlor

1.1.4. 2 ,4-D

1.1.5. Other Weed Control

2.1. Pest Control

.2.2.1. Micro Organism

.2.2.2. Macro Organism

3.1 Soil Fertility

B. Soil Treatment Market By Technology

1. Physiochemical

1.1. Soil Vapour Extraction

1.2. Solidification And Stabilization

1.3. Chemical Oxidation

1.4. Electro-Kinetic Separation

1.5. Fracturing

1.6. Soil Flushing

2. Biological Treatment

2.1. Bioventing

2.2. Enhanced Bioremediation

2.2.1. Aerobic Enhanced Bioremediation

2.2.2. Anaerobic Enhanced Bioremediation

2.2.3. White Rot Fungus

2.3. Phytoremediation

2.3.1. Enhanced Rhizosphere Biodegradation

2.3.2. Phyto Accumulation

2.3.3. Phyto Degradation

2.3.4. Phyto- Stabilization

2.4. Thermal Technology

2.4.1. Electrical Resistance Heating

2.4.2. Radio Frequency /Electromagnetic Heating

2.4.3. Hot Air/ Steam Injection

C. Soil Treatment Market By Geography(15+ countries)

D. Soil Treatment Market Entropy

E. Company Profiles

1. ADAMA Agricultural Solutions Ltd.

2. Agraquest Inc.

3. Agrofill S.R.L.

4. BASF SE

5. Camson Bio Technologies

6. Certis USA LLC

7. Isagro Spa

8. Jiangsu Yangong Chemical

9. Jk International LLC

10. Monsanto Company

11. Nbc Bird And Pest Solutions

12. Novozymes A/S

13. Ohp Inc.

14. Syngenta Ag

15. Terracottem Australasia Pty Ltd.

16. Terramanus Technologies LLC

17. Trapper John Inc.

18. Wynca Chemical

Sample Report @ https://industryarc.com/pdfdownload.php?id=15104

What can you expect from the report?

The Soil Treatment Market Report is prepared with the main agenda to cover the following 20 points:

1. Market Size by Product Categories

2. Market trends

3. Manufacturer Landscape

4. Distributor Landscape

5. Pricing Analysis

6. Top 10 End user Analysis

7. Product Benchmarking

8. Product Developments

9. Mergers & Acquisition Analysis

10. Patent Analysis

11. Demand Analysis (By Revenue & Volume)

12. Country level Analysis (15+)

13. Competitor Analysis

14. Market Shares Analysis

15. Value Chain Analysis

16. Supply Chain Analysis

17. Strategic Analysis

18. Current & Future Market Landscape Analysis

19. Opportunity Analysis

20. Revenue and Volume Analysis

Media Contact:

Mr. Venkat Reddy

Sales Manager

Email 1: sales@industryarc.com

Or Email 2: venkat@industryarc.com

Contact Sales: +1-614-588-8538 (Ext-101)

About IndustryARC:

IndustryARC is a Research and Consulting Firm that publishes more than 500 reports annually, in various industries such as Agriculture, Automotive, Automation & Instrumentation, Chemicals and Materials, Energy and Power, Electronics, Food & Beverages, Information Technology, Life sciences &Healthcare.

IndustryARC primarily focuses on Cutting Edge Technologies and Newer Applications in a Market. Our Custom Research Services are designed to provide insights on the constant flux in the global supply-demand gap of markets. Our strong team of analysts enables us to meet the client research needs at a rapid speed, with a variety of options for your business.
Genworth Financial, Inc. is a financial services company, which engages in the provision of insurance, wealth management, investment and financial solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Mortgage Insurance, Australia Mortgage Insurance, U.S. Life Insurance, and Runoff. The U.S. Mortgage Insurance segment offers mortgage insurance products predominantly insuring prime-based, individually underwritten residential mortgage loans. The Australia Mortgage Insurance segment offers flow mortgage insurance and selectively provides bulk mortgage insurance that aids in the sale of mortgages to the capital markets and helps lenders manage capital and risk. The U.S. Life Insurance segment offers long-term care insurance products as well as service traditional life insurance and fixed annuity products in the United States. The Runoff segment includes the results of non-strategic products which are no longer actively sold but continue to service its existing blocks of business. Its non-strategic products primarily include variable annuity, variable life insurance, institutional, corporate-owned life insurance and other accident and health insurance products. The company was fo

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Horizonte Minerals Plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the identification, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral projects in Brazil. The company primarily explores for nickel deposits, as well as cobalt deposits. It holds 100% interest in the Araguaia ferronickel project and the Vermelho Nickel-Cobalt project located in the south of the CarajAs mineral district in northern Brazil. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen Coding GmbH, Allen France SAS, Alpine Automation Limited, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Holdings Inc., Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Arylux Hungary Elektromechanikus Alkatreszgyarto Kft, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix (Suzhou) Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Holdings Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel (Ireland) Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Buell Industries Inc., CAPMAX Logistica S.A. de C.V., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS (Australia) Pty Limited, CS (Finance) Europe S.a.r.l., CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, CSMTS LLC, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures (Australasia) S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur (Shanghai) Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Dorbyl U.K. (Holdings) Limited, Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO (Holding) AG, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elga Skandinavian AS, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, FEG Investments L.L.C., Fasver, Filtertek, Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech (Taicang) Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart (Japan) K.K., Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart Foster Belgium, Hobart International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW (China) Investment Company Limited, ITW (Deutschland) GmbH, ITW (EU) Holdings Ltd., ITW (European) Finance Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW (Ningbo) Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Alpha Sarl, ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components (Langfang) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium, ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS (UK) Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Contamination Control (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Delta Sarl, ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.A., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Finance Designated Activity Company, ITW Finance Europe S.A., ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW France Finance Alpha S.A.S., ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments II Inc., ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics (Thailand) Ltd., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Italy S.R.L. in liquidazione, ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings UK, ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW Hungary Finance Beta Kft, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Finance Srl, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lombard Holdings Inc., ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW M FILMS II LLC, ITW MH LLC, ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology (China) Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Plastic (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Philippines Holdings LLC, ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Spraytec, ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Ideal Molding Technologies LLC, Illinois Tool Works (Chile) Limitada, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Norway AS, Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron (Shanghai) Ltd., Instron (Thailand) Limited, Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Holdings Limited, Instron International Limited, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, International Leasing Company LLC, International Truss Systems Proprietary Limited, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kester Components (M) Sdn. Bhd., Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems (Canada) Inc., Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MOA Enterprises Inc, Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, Norden Olje AB, North Star Imaging Europe, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited (Enping), Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Penta Dnepr LLC, Penta Sever OOO, Penta Volga OOO, Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., Ramset Fasteners (Hong Kong) Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco (Nederland) B.V., Simco Japan Inc., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques  SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Taiwan) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes BVBA, Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek (China) Limited, Teknek (Japan) Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V.B.A., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta (Guangzhou) Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Vesta Global Limited, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, ZF TRW (Engineered Fasteners and Components), and Zip-Pak International B.V..
The following companies are subsidiares of Iron Mountain: AB Archyvu Centras, AB Archyvu Sistemos, AB Archyvu Sistemos Estonia Branch, AKTATRADE Iratendezo Selejtezo es Megsemmisito Bt., AS Archivu Serviss, Accutrac Software Inc, Administradora de Informacion Ltda, ArchivesOne, Archyvu sistemos, Ausdoc Group Pty Limited, Ausdoc Holdings Pty Limited, Bonded Services Group, Box Butler, Britannia Data Management Limited, Connected Corporation, Cornerstone Records Management, Crozier Fine Arts, Crozier Philadelphia LLC, Custodia S.O.S. SA, Custodia de Documentos Limitada, Data Outsourcing Centre doo, Data Security Services Pty Limited, DigiGuard, Docu-File Cape Town Proprietary Limited, Docu-File Durban Proprietary Limited, Docu-File JHB Proprietary Limited, DocuTar Iratrendezo es Tarolo Szolgaltato Kft., DocuVault, Docufile (Pty) Ltd, Docufile Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, Docufile Lesotho Proprietary Limited, Docufile Services Proprietary Limited, Docugroup Papir Szolgatato Kft., Document Holdings Sweden AB, Docuscan Cape Town Proprietary Limited, Docuscan Proprietary Limited, EAC Invest, Endless Document Storage Services LLC, EvoSwitch, File Express Limited, Fine Paper Recyclers Sydney Pty Ltd, Fontis International GmbH, Fontis International Inc., Fortrust, G4S Secure Data Solutions Colombia, Hays IMS, Horanross Limited, IBEX IM Limited, IBEX Information Management Limited, IG2 Data Security, IMSA Peru SRL, IO.com, Information Storage Consolidation Co, Interfile Participacoes S.A., Intradis SA, Iron Mountain (Deutschland) Service GmbH, Iron Mountain (Espana) Services S.L, Iron Mountain (Gibraltar) Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain (Ireland) Services Limited, Iron Mountain (Nederland) Services BV, Iron Mountain (UK) EES Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain (UK) Limited, Iron Mountain (UK) Services Limited, Iron Mountain A/S, Iron Mountain Acquisition Holdings Pty. Ltd., Iron Mountain Argentina S.A., Iron Mountain Arsivleme Hizmetleri A.S., Iron Mountain Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd, Iron Mountain Australia Group Pty. Ltd., Iron Mountain Australia Group Services Pty. Ltd., Iron Mountain Australia Holdings Inc., Iron Mountain Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd, Iron Mountain Austria Archivierung Gmbh, Iron Mountain BPM International S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain BPM SPRL, Iron Mountain Belgium NV, Iron Mountain CIS LLC, Iron Mountain Canada Operations ULC, Iron Mountain Ceska Republika S.R.O., Iron Mountain Chile S.A., Iron Mountain Chile Servicios S.A., Iron Mountain Colombia S.A.S., Iron Mountain DIMS Limited, Iron Mountain Deutschland GmbH, Iron Mountain Do Brasil Ltda, Iron Mountain EES Holdings Ltd., Iron Mountain EES Sp. z.o.o., Iron Mountain Espana SA, Iron Mountain Europe (Group) Limited, Iron Mountain Europe PLC (fka Iron Mountain Europe Limited), Iron Mountain Finland OY, Iron Mountain France S.A.S., Iron Mountain Fulfillment Services Inc., Iron Mountain Global Holdings Inc., Iron Mountain Global LLC, Iron Mountain Global Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain Group (Europe) Limited, Iron Mountain Hellas SA, Iron Mountain Holdings (Europe) Limited, Iron Mountain Holdings (France) SNC, Iron Mountain Incorporated, Iron Mountain India Private Ltd, Iron Mountain Information Management LLC, Iron Mountain Information Management Services Canada Inc., Iron Mountain Information Management Services Inc., Iron Mountain Intellectual Property Management Inc., Iron Mountain International (Holdings) Limited, Iron Mountain International Holdings BV, Iron Mountain International Information Management Co. Ltd., Iron Mountain Ireland Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain Ireland Limited, Iron Mountain Latin America Holdings Sociedad Limitada, Iron Mountain Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain Luxembourg Services S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain Luxembourg Services S.a.r.l. Schaffhausen Branch, Iron Mountain MDM Limited, Iron Mountain Magyarorszag Kereskedelmi es Szolgaltato Kft., Iron Mountain Management Services GmbH, Iron Mountain Mayflower Limited, Iron Mountain Mexico Holding S. de RL de CV, Iron Mountain Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Iron Mountain Mexico Servicios S. de RL de CV, Iron Mountain Mortgage Finance Holdings LLC, Iron Mountain Mortgage Finance I LLC, Iron Mountain Nederland B.V., Iron Mountain Nederland Holdings B.V., Iron Mountain New Zealand Limited (fka Recall New Zealand Ltd), Iron Mountain Norge AS, Iron Mountain Participations SA, Iron Mountain Peru S.A., Iron Mountain Poland Holdings Ltd, Iron Mountain Polska Services Sp z.o.o., Iron Mountain Polska Sp. z.o.o., Iron Mountain Receivables QRS LLC, Iron Mountain Receivables TRS LLC, Iron Mountain Records Management (Puerto Rico) Inc., Iron Mountain Records Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Iron Mountain SRL, Iron Mountain Secure Shredding Canada, Iron Mountain Secure Shredding Inc., Iron Mountain Services Private Ltd, Iron Mountain Services S.A.S., Iron Mountain Shanghai Co Ltd, Iron Mountain Slovakia s.r.o., Iron Mountain South America S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain Southeast Asia Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain Switzerland GmbH, Iron Mountain UK Services (Holdings) Limited, Iron Mountain US Holdings Inc., Iron Mountain Ukraine LLC, Iron Mountain Vietnam Company Limited, Iron Mountain d.o.o. Beograd, Jin Shan Limited, KDM Spectrumdata Pty Ltd, KH Data Capital Development Land LLC, Kestrel Data (Canada) Ltd, Kestrel Data Services Limited, Kestrel Information Management Pty. Ltd., Livevault, Marshgate Morangis S.a.r.l., Mimosa Systems, Mobilshred Inc., Navbharat Archive Xpress Private Limited, Nettlebed Acquisition Corp., Pipax Security S.A., Preferred Media Limited, Prism Integrated Sdn Bhd, Recall, Recall (London) Limited, Recall (Schweiz) AG, Recall (Shanghai) Ltd., Recall A/S, Recall AS, Recall Asia Pte Limited, Recall Corporation Sdn. Bhd., Recall Enterprises (Thailand) Limited, Recall Enterprises Sdn. Bhd., Recall Europe Finance Ltd. (fka Recall Europe Finance Plc), Recall Europe Limited, Recall Finance Limited, Recall Finland OY, Recall France SA, Recall France SA Belgium Branch, Recall France SAS, Recall GQ Limited, Recall Holdings, Recall Holdings Limited, Recall Holdings Sweden AB, Recall Hong Kong Ltd., Recall India Information Management Pvt. Ltd., Recall Information Services SRL, Recall International Pty Limited, Recall Italia SRL, Recall Limited, Recall Overseas Holdings Pty Limited, Recall Shredding Limited, Recall Sweden AB, Recall Taiwan Ltd., Recall Technology Pty. Ltd., Recall Total Information Management India Pvt. Ltd., Recall Total Information Mgt Pte Ltd, Recall do Brasil Ltda, Record Data Limited, Royal Seal S.R.O., Safehouse Information Management Solutions Private Limited, Secur Archiv SA, Secure Paper Services Pty Ltd, Shuttle SRL, Silver Sky Limited, Sispace AG, Startify, Storbox SA, The Coding Company Pty. Ltd., The Imaging Centre Pty Ltd, UAB Confidento, Upper Providence Venture I L.P., Venues Australia Pty Ltd, and Xepa Digital.
iShares Edge MSCI Multifactor USA ETF's stock was trading at $28.96 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, LRGF stock has increased by 56.9% and is now trading at $45.43.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF's stock was trading at $73.25 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EFG shares have increased by 53.8% and is now trading at $112.63.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
The following companies are subsidiares of NOV: AG Holding UK, APL France SAS, APL Management Pte Ltd, APL Norway AS, APL do Brasil Ltda., ASEP Group Holding B.V., ASEP Otomotiv Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Ackerman Holdings C.V., Ackerman Holdings GP LLC, Ackerman International Holland B.V., Advanced Production and Loading, Advanced Wirecloth, Aggregate Plant Products Co., American Pipe and Construction International, Ameron B.V., Ameron Holdings Pte. Ltd., Ameron International, Ameron International Corporation, Ameron Pole Products LLC, Ameron Polyplaster Industria E Comercio de Tubos Ltda., Ameron Singapore Holding, Ameron Singapore Poly Holdings Pte. Ltd., Ameron Trading Holdings Pte. Ltd., Andergauge Limited, Andergauge Redback, Andergauge USA, Arabian Rig Manufacturing Company, Axiom Process Limited, Belco Manufacturing Company, Big Red Tubulars Limited, Bondstrand Ltd., Bowen Downhole Inc., Bowen Downhole LLC, Brandt Interests, Brandt Oilfield Services (M) Sdn. Bhd., C.M.A. Canavera S.R.L., CJSC Fidmash, CJSC Novmash, CSI Inspection, Camco Drilling Group Limited, Chemineer, Coil Services Middle East LLC, Containment Solutions, Containment Solutions Services, Couoperatie Intelliserv Holding U.A., Couoperatie NOV NL U.A., Danco AS, Denali Incorporated, Denali Management, Devin International, Dreco Canada L.P., Dreco DHT, Dreco Eastern Europe ULC, Dreco Energy Services ULC, Dreco International Holdings ULC, Dreco LLC, E.C. Motors, Elmar Far East Pty Ltd, Enerflow Industries, Enerpro de Mexico, Environmental Procedures LLC, Ershigs, Fabricated Plastics Acquisitions Limited, Fabricated Plastics Limited, Fiber Glass Systems, Fiber Glass Systems (Qingdao) Composite Piping Co., Fiber Glass Systems Holdings, Fiber Glass Systems Oman L.L.C., Fiber Glass Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fiberspar, Fiberspar Australia Pty. Ltd., Fiberspar Corporation, Fiberspar Linepipe Canada Ltd., Fibra Ingenieria y Construccion S.A., FidService, Fjords Processing (Shanghai) Co., Fjords Processing 1 AS, Fjords Processing AS, Fjords Processing Australia Pty Ltd, Fjords Processing France SAS, Fjords Processing Korea Co. Ltd., Fjords Processing Limited, Fjords Processing UK Ltd., Fryma S.a.r.l., GOT German Oil Tools GmbH, GP USA Holding LLC, GPEX, German Oil Tools (Middle East) FZE, Grant Prideco (Jiangsu) Drilling Products Co., Grant Prideco (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Grant Prideco AB TCA Holding LLC, Grant Prideco European Holding, Grant Prideco Holding, Grant Prideco III C. V., Grant Prideco Inc., Grant Prideco Jersey Limited, Grant Prideco L.P., Grant Prideco Mauritius Limited, Grant Prideco Netherlands B.V., Grant Prideco PC Composites Holdings, Grant Prideco S. de R.L. de C.V., Grant Prideco USA, Grant Prideco de Venezuela, Greystone Technologies Pty. Ltd., GustoMSC B.V., GustoMSC U.S., Hebei Huayouyiji Tuboscope Coating Co., Hitec AS, Hydralift AmClyde, Hydralift France SAS, Hydralift Holdings UK Limited, Inspecciones y Pruebas No Destructivas, IntelliServ Norway AS, Intelliserv, Intelliserv GP Holdings LLC, Intelliserv International Holding, Intelliserv LLC, Interval LLC, JiangYin Tuboscope Tubular Development Co., Merpro Group Limited, Merpro Products Limited, Merpro Tortek Limited, Midsund Bruk AS, Mono Group Pension Trustees Limited, Mono Pumps New Zealand Company, Monoflo NOV S.A.I.C., Moyno Inc., Moyno de Mexico S.A. de C.V., NKT Flexibles I/S, NOV (Asia), NOV (Barbados) Holding SRL, NOV (Barbados) SRL, NOV (Caymans), NOV (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., NOV - Oil Services Angola LDA., NOV APL Limited, NOV ASEP Elmar Mexico, NOV Africa Pty Ltd, NOV Australia Pty Ltd, NOV Azerbaijan LLC, NOV Brandt Europe France, NOV Brandt Oilfield Services Middle East LLC, NOV CV1 GP LLC, NOV CV2 GP LLC, NOV Completion Tools AS, NOV Completion Tools LLC, NOV Completion and Production Solutions Korea Ltd., NOV DH de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., NOV DHT Canada Holding ULC, NOV Denmark Cooperatief U.A., NOV Downhole Argentina, NOV Downhole Bolivia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Colombia, NOV Downhole Comercializacao de Equipamentos para Petroleo Ltda., NOV Downhole Congo, NOV Downhole Eurasia Limited, NOV Downhole Europe B.V., NOV Downhole Germany GmbH, NOV Downhole Italia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Kazakhstan, NOV Downhole Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Downhole Pty Ltd, NOV Downhole Thailand, NOV Dreco GP LLC, NOV EU Acquisition SNC, NOV Elmar (Middle East) Limited, NOV Elmar NL B.V., NOV Elmar Pte. Ltd., NOV Enerflow ULC, NOV Eurasia Holding LLC, NOV European Holding LLC, NOV Expatriate Services, NOV FGS Malaysia Sdn Bhd, NOV FGS Singapore (Pte.) Ltd, NOV Fiber Glass Systems Fabricacao De Tubos E Conexoes Ltda, NOV Flexibles Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Flexibles Holding ApS, NOV Floating Production AS, NOV Fluid Control B.V., NOV GEO GP LLC, NOV GEO LP1 C.V., NOV GEO LP2 C.V., NOV GP Holding L.P., NOV GP1 Holding LLC, NOV Gabon SARL, NOV Germany Holding GmbH, NOV Ghana Limited, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Equipment Manufacturing LLC, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Products Middle East FZE, NOV Grant Prideco L.L.C., NOV Holding Danmark ApS, NOV Holding Germany GmbH & Co KG, NOV Holding Germany Management GmbH, NOV Holdings B.V., NOV Hydra Rig Pte. Ltd, NOV India Private Limited, NOV Intelliserv UK Limited, NOV International Holdings C.V., NOV International Holdings GP LLC, NOV Intervention & Stimulation Equipment US LLC, NOV Intervention and Stimulation Equipment  Aftermarket Comercio de Equipamentos e Servicos Ltda., NOV Kenya Limited, NOV Kostroma LLC, NOV Kuwait Light & Heavy Equipment Repairing & Maintenance Co., NOV LP (Trading), NOV MSI Pipe Protection Technologies Inc., NOV MSI Pipe Protection Technologies Mexico, NOV Mexico Holding LLC, NOV Middle East FZCO, NOV Mission Products UK Limited, NOV Mozambique Limitada, NOV NL Mexico Holding B.V., NOV Netherlands Finance Holding C.V., NOV Netherlands Finance Holding LLC, NOV North America I/P, NOV Oil & Gas Services Egypt (S.A.E), NOV Oil & Gas Services Uganda Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Ghana Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Nigeria Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Tanzania Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Vostok LLC, NOV Oilfield Solutions Ltd., NOV Park II B.V., NOV Process & Flow Technologies AS, NOV Process & Flow Technologies Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies Pte. Ltd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies UK Limited, NOV Process & Flow Technologies US, NOV Rig Solutions Pte. Ltd., NOV Romania, NOV Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., NOV Saudi Arabia Trading Co., NOV Services Ltd., NOV Servicios de Personal Mexico, NOV Subsea Products AS, NOV TV2 LLC, NOV TVI LLC, NOV Tanajib Kuwait for Services and Maintenance of Oil Rigs Refineries and Petrochemicals, NOV Tuboscope Italia S.R.L., NOV Tuboscope Middle East LLC, NOV Tuboscope NL B.V., NOV Tubulars and Connectors Ltd., NOV UK (Angola Acquisitions) Limited, NOV UK Finance Limited, NOV UK Holdings Limited, NOV UK Korea LP, NOV Wellbore Technologies Norway LLC, NOV Wellbore Technologies do Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Wellsite Services Germany GmbH, NOV Worldwide C.V., NOV-BLM SAS, NOVM Holding LLC, NOW Downhole Tools, NOW International LLC, NOW Nova Scotia Holdings LLC, NOW Oilfield Services, NQL Holland B.V., National Oilwell (U.K.) Limited, National Oilwell Algerie, National Oilwell DHT, National Oilwell Middle East Company, National Oilwell Services de Mexico, National Oilwell Varco (Beijing) Investment Management Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco (Thailand) Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Algeria, National Oilwell Varco Almansoori Services, National Oilwell Varco Bahrain WLL, National Oilwell Varco Belgium SA, National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S, National Oilwell Varco Egypt LLC, National Oilwell Varco Eurasia, National Oilwell Varco Guatemala, National Oilwell Varco Guyana Inc., National Oilwell Varco Hungary Limited Liability Company, National Oilwell Varco Korea Co., National Oilwell Varco MSW S.A., National Oilwell Varco Mexico, National Oilwell Varco Muscat L.L.C., National Oilwell Varco Norway AS, National Oilwell Varco Peru S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Petroleum Equipment (Shanghai) Co., National Oilwell Varco Poland Sp.z.o.o., National Oilwell Varco Pte. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Rig Equipment Trading (Shanghai) Co., National Oilwell Varco Romania S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Solutions, National Oilwell Varco UK Limited, National Oilwell Varco Ukraine LLC, National Oilwell Varco de Bolivia S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco de Chile - Servicios Limitada, National Oilwell Varco do Brasil Ltda., National Oilwell de Venezuela, National-Oilwell Pte. Ltd., National-Oilwell Pty. Ltd., PT Fjords Processing Indonesia, PT H-Tech Oilfield Equipment, PT NOV Oilfield Services, PT National Oilwell Varco, PT PROFAB INDONESIA, Pesaka Inspection Services SDN.BHD., Pipex Limited, Pipex PX Limited, Pipex Structural Composites Limited, Pridecomex Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., Pridecomex TA Industries, Procon Engineering Ltd., Profab Engineering Pte. Ltd., Profab Services Pte Ltd, Quality Tubing FSC, R&M C.V., R&M Canada Cooperatief U.A., R&M Energy Systems Australia Pty Ltd., R&M Energy Systems de Argentina S.A., R&M Energy Systems de Venezuela, R&M Environmental Strategies, R&M Singapore Holding LLC, R&M UK Holding LLC, RE.MAC.UT. S.r.l., RHI Holding LLC, ReedHycalog, ReedHycalog International Holding, ReedHycalog LLC, ReedHycalog UK Limited, Robannic Overseas Finance A.V.V., Robbins & Myers, Robbins & Myers (Suzhou) Process Equipment Company Limited, Robbins & Myers B.V., Robbins & Myers Foundation, Robbins & Myers GP LLC, Robbins & Myers Holdings, Robbins & Myers Holdings UK Limited, Robbins & Myers Inc, Robbins & Myers Italia S.R.L., Robbins & Myers N.V., Rodic S.A. de C.V., Romaco S.a.r.l., STAR Sudamtex Tubulares S.A., STBH2O TUNISIE, STSA, Screen Manufacturing Company Unlimited, Seabox AS, Slip Clutch Systems Limited, Smart Drilling GmbH, Soil Recovery A/S, South Seas Inspection, Subseaflex Holding ApS, T-3 Energy Preferred Industries Mexico, T-3 Energy Services, T-3 Energy Services Cayman, T-3 Energy Services Cayman Holdings, T-3 Energy Services India Private Limited, T-3 Energy Services Mexico, T-3 Investment Corporation IV, T-3 Mexican Holdings, TVI Holdings, Telluride Insurance Limited, Tianjin Grant TPCO Drilling Tools Company Limited, Tube-Kote, Tubo-FGS, Tuboscope & Co. LLC, Tuboscope (Holding U.S.) LLC, Tuboscope Brandt de Venezuela, Tuboscope Machining Services AS, Tuboscope Norge AS, Tuboscope Pipeline Services Inc., Tuboscope Services, Tuboscope Vetco (Deutschland) GmbH, Tuboscope Vetco (France) SAS, Tuboscope Vetco (Oesterreich) GmbH, Tuboscope Vetco Canada ULC, Tuboscope Vetco Capital Limited, Tuboscope Vetco Moscow CJSC, Tuboscope Vetco de Argentina S.A., Tubular Coatings Solutions Ltd., Tucom Composites Polyester Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Varco BJ B.V., Varco CIS, Varco Canada ULC, Varco I/P, Varco International de Venezuela, Varco L.P., Varco US Holdings LLC, Vetco Coating GmbH, Vetco Enterprise GmbH, Vetco Saudi Arabia Ltd., Visible Assets, Wilson International, Woolley, XL Systems, XL Systems Antilles, XL Systems Europe B.V., XL Systems International, voestalpine Middle East Free Zone Establishment, voestalpine Tubulars Corporation, voestalpine Tubulars GmbH, and voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG.
Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance and Wealth. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings accounts, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, credit cards, and other financial services to personal and small business customers. The Commercial Banking segment provides lending, transactional banking, working capital management, risk management, and debt capital market services to small and medium-sized entities, corporates, and financial institutions. The Insurance and Wealth segment offers life, home, and car insurance products; and pension, investment, and wealth management products and services. It also provides digital and mobile banking, and telephone services, as well as advisory services for savings, investments, and planning for retirement. The company offers its products and services under the Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Scottish Widows, MBNA, Schroders Personal Wealth, Black Horse, Lex Autolease, Birmingham Midshires, LDC, IWeb, and Agricultural Mortgage Corporation brands. Lloyds Banking Group plc was founded in 1695 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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Targa Resources Corp. provides midstream natural gas and natural gas liquids services. It also provides gathering, storing, and terminaling crude oil and storing, terminaling, and selling refined petroleum products. It operates through the following business segments: Gathering and Processing, and Logistics and Transportation. The Gathering and Processing segment includes assets used in the gathering of natural gas produced from oil and gas wells and processing this raw natural gas into merchantable natural gas by extracting NGLs and removing impurities; and assets used for crude oil gathering and terminaling. The Logistics and Transportation segment includes all the activities necessary to convert mixed NGLs into NGL products and provides certain value added services such as storing, fractionating, terminaling, transporting and marketing of NGLs and NGL products, including services to LPG exporters; storing and terminaling of refined petroleum products and crude oil and certain natural gas supply and marketing activities in support of its other businesses. The company was founded on October 27, 2005 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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Magna International Inc. designs, engineers, and manufactures components, assemblies, systems, subsystems, and modules for original equipment manufacturers of vehicles and light trucks worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Body Exteriors & Structures, Power & Vision, Seating Systems, and Complete Vehicles. Its Body Exteriors & Structures segment provides body and chassis systems, as well as engineering and testing services; exterior systems, including fascia and trims, front end modules, front integration panels, liftgate modules, active aerodynamics, engineered glass, running boards, truck bed access products, and side doors; and roof systems, such as modular and textile folding roofs, and hard and soft tops. The company's Power & Vision segment offers dedicated hybrid, dual and e-clutch, and manual transmissions; engine drive plates and accessories; AWD/4WD products, rear drive modules, and hybrid and battery electric drive systems; transmission, engine, and driveline components; advanced driver assistance systems, camera systems, ultrasonic sensors, and electronic controllers; interior and exterior mirrors, actuators, door handles, overhead consoles, and camera monitoring systems; head, tail, and fog lamps; signal and other lighting products; and latching systems, door modules, window systems, power closure systems, hinges and wire forming, and handle assemblies. Its Seating Systems segment provides seat structures, mechanism and hardware solutions, and foam and trim products. The company's Complete Vehicles segment offers vehicle manufacturing and engineering services. It also designs, engineers, and manufactures tooling products. Magna International Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Aurora, Canada.

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MAXIMUS, Inc. engages in the operation of government and human services programs. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Services; U.S. Federal Services; and Outside the U.S. The U.S. Services segment offers a variety of business process services, and appeals and assessments for state, provincial and national government programs. The U.S. Federal Services segment includes process solutions, program management, as well as system and software development, and maintenance services for various United States federal civilian programs. The Outside the U.S segment comprises of national, state, and county human services agencies with a variety of business process services, and related consulting services for welfare-to-work, child support, higher education institutions, and other human services programs. The company was founded by David V. Mastran in 1975 and is headquartered in Reston, VA.

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Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. is a supplier of precision instruments and services. The firm manufactures weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial, packaging, logistics, and food retailing applications. It also manufactures several related analytical instruments and provides automated chemistry solutions used in drug and chemical compound discovery and development; and also, metal detection and other end-of-line inspection systems used in production and packaging and provides solutions for use in certain process analytics applications. Its operations are conducted by the following segments: U. S. Operations, Swiss Operations, Western European Operations, Chinese Operations and Other. The U.S. Operations segment represents certain of the company's marketing and producing organizations located in the United States. The Swiss Operations segment includes marketing and producing organizations located in Switzerland, as well as extensive R&D operations that are responsible for the development, production, and marketing of precision instruments, including weighing, analytical, and measurement technologies for use in a variety of industrial and laboratory applications. Th

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The following companies are subsidiares of Molina Healthcare: Aetna & Humana - Medicare Advantage, Affinity Health Plan, AmericanWork Inc., Better Health Network, Camelot Care Centers Inc, Children's Behavioral Health Inc., Choices Group Inc., College Community Services, Dockside Services Inc, Family Preservation Services Inc., Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc., Family Preservation Services of North Carolina Inc., Family Preservation Services of Washington D.C. Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan.
There is not enough analysis data for Monash IVF Group.

4.3 Community Rank

Outperform Votes Monash IVF Group has received 67 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

Underperform Votes Monash IVF Group has received 39 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.)

Community Sentiment Monash IVF Group has received 63.21% outperform votes from our community.

MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Monash IVF Group and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe MVF will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe MVF will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise: 3Com International Inc., 3PAR Inc., Apogee, Aruba Networks Inc., Aruba Networks International Cayman, Aruba Networks International Limited, BlueData Software, Cloud Cruiser, Cloud Technology Partners, Cloud Technology Partners Inc., Compaq Computer (Mauritius), Compaq Trademark B.V., Cray, Cray Inc., EDS World Corporation (Far East) LLC, EYP Mission Critical Facilities Inc., H3C Holdings Limited, HP Enterprise Services Australia Pty Ltd, HP Financial Services (Australia) Pty Limited, HP Financial Services (Chile) Limitada, HP Financial Services (Japan) K.K., HP Financial Services Arrendamento Mercantil S.A., HP Financial Services Company (Korea), HP Financial Services International Holdings Company, HPE Government LLC, HPFS Global Holdings I LLC, HPFS Global Holdings II LLC, HPFS Rental S.R.L., Hangzhou H3C Technologies Co. Ltd, Hewlett Packard Caribe BV LLC, Hewlett Packard Colombia Ltda., Hewlett Packard Enterprise (China) Co. Ltd., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V. Amstelveen Meyrin Branch, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Cie, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Costa Rica Limitada, Hewlett Packard Enterprise GlobalSoft Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise India Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Ireland Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Luxembourg SCA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Polska sp. z o.o., Hewlett Packard Pathfinder LLC, Hewlett Packard Taiwan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (Israel) Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (M) Sdn. Bhd., Hewlett-Packard (Nigeria) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Schweiz) GmbH, Hewlett-Packard (Tanzania) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Thailand) Limited, Hewlett-Packard ApS, Hewlett-Packard Argentina S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Australia Pty Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Belgium SPRL/BVBA, Hewlett-Packard Bermuda Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Brasil Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Bulgaria EOOD, Hewlett-Packard Caribe B.V., Hewlett-Packard Caribe Y Andina B.V. LLC, Hewlett-Packard Chile Comercial Limitada, Hewlett-Packard Cyprus Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Egypt Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Financial Services (India) Private Limited, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Canada Company, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Company, Hewlett-Packard France SAS, Hewlett-Packard G1 SPV (Cayman) Company, Hewlett-Packard Gesellschaft mbH, Hewlett-Packard Ghana Limited, Hewlett-Packard GmbH, Hewlett-Packard Guatemala Limitada, Hewlett-Packard HK SAR Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Hellas EPE, Hewlett-Packard Holdings Ltd., Hewlett-Packard International Bank Designated Activity Company, Hewlett-Packard International Bank Public Limited Company, Hewlett-Packard International Sarl, Hewlett-Packard Italiana S.r.l., Hewlett-Packard Japan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Korea Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Leasing Limited, Hewlett-Packard Limited, Hewlett-Packard Luxembourg Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Macau Limited, Hewlett-Packard Manufacturing Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Marigalante Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Middle East FZ-LLC, Hewlett-Packard Mocambique Limitada - Sociedada em Liquidacao, Hewlett-Packard Nederland B.V., Hewlett-Packard New Zealand, Hewlett-Packard Norge AS, Hewlett-Packard OY, Hewlett-Packard Operations Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Peru S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Philippines Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Portugal Lda., Hewlett-Packard SARL, Hewlett-Packard SIA, Hewlett-Packard Servicios Espana S.L., Hewlett-Packard Singapore (Sales) Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Hewlett-Packard Sverige AB, Hewlett-Packard Technology Center Inc., Hewlett-Packard Teknoloji Cozumleri Limited Sirketi, Hewlett-Packard The Hague B.V., Hewlett-Packard Venezuela S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Vision Limited, Hewlett-Packard d.o.o., Hewlett-Packard s.r.o., Limited Liability Company Hewlett Packard Enterprise, MapR Technologies, New H3C Technologies Co. Ltd., Niara Inc., Nimble Storage, Nimble Storage Inc., Nimble Storage Israel Ltd, Nimble Storage Japan GK, Nimble Storage UK Limited, Plexxi, RedPixie, SGI (Silicon Graphics), Sapphire Holding Co, Scytale, Shanghai Hewlett-Packard Co. Ltd., Silver Peak, SimpliVity, Sinope Holding B.V., Trilead, UAB ES Hague Lietuva, and Unis Huashan Technologies Co. Limited.
North American Construction Group Ltd. provides mining and heavy construction services to the resource development and industrial construction sectors in Canada and the United States The company's Heavy Construction & Mining division offers constructability reviews, budgetary cost estimates, design-build construction, project management, contract mining, pre-stripping/pit pioneering, overburden removal and stockpile, muskeg removal and stockpile, site preparation, air strip construction, site dewatering/perimeter ditching, tailings and process pipelines, haulage and access road construction, tailings dam construction and densification, mechanically stabilized earth walls, dyke construction, and reclamation services. Its Equipment Maintenance Services division provides fuel and lube servicing, portable steaming, equipment inspections, parts and component supply, major overhauls and equipment refurbishment, onsite haul truck brake testing, onsite maintenance support, under carriage rebuild, machining, hose manufacturing, and technical support services, as well as welding, fabrication/repairs, weld certification, and inspection services. As of December 31, 2020, the company had a heavy equipment fleet of 626 units. The company was formerly known as North American Energy Partners Inc. and changed its name to North American Construction Group Ltd. in April 2018. The company was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Acheson, Canada.

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The following companies are subsidiares of American International Group: AGC Life Insurance Company, AIG APAC HOLDINGS PTE. LTD., AIG Advisors S.r.l., AIG Aerospace Insurance Services Inc., AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd., AIG Asset Management (Europe) Limited, AIG Asset Management (U.S.) LLC, AIG Assurance Company, AIG Australia Limited, AIG Brazil Holding I LLC, AIG CIS Investments LLC, AIG Canada Holdings Inc., AIG Capital Corporation, AIG Capital Services Inc., AIG Claims Inc., AIG Egypt Insurance Company S.A.E., AIG Employee Services Inc., AIG Europe (Services) Limited, AIG Europe Holdings S.a.rl., AIG Europe S.A., AIG Federal Savings Bank, AIG Financial Products Corp., AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd., AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Corp., AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp., AIG Global Reinsurance Operations, AIG Holdings Europe Limited, AIG Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, AIG Insurance Company China Limited, AIG Insurance Company JSC, AIG Insurance Company of Canada, AIG Insurance Company-Puerto Rico, AIG Insurance Hong Kong Limited, AIG Insurance Limited, AIG Insurance Management Services Inc., AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited, AIG International Holdings GmbH, AIG Investments UK Limited, AIG Israel Insurance Company Ltd, AIG Japan Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha, AIG Kenya Insurance Company Limited, AIG Korea Inc., AIG Latin America I.I., AIG Latin America Investments S.L., AIG Lebanon SAL, AIG Life Holdings Inc., AIG Life Insurance Company (Switzerland) Ltd, AIG Life Limited, AIG Life South Africa Limited, AIG Life of Bermuda Ltd., AIG MEA Holdings Limited, AIG MEA Limited, AIG Malaysia Insurance Berhad, AIG Markets Inc., AIG Matched Funding Corp., AIG PC Global Services Inc., AIG Philippines Insurance Inc., AIG Property Casualty Company, AIG Property Casualty Inc., AIG Property Casualty International LLC, AIG Property Casualty U.S. Inc., AIG Re-Takaful (L) Berhad, AIG Resseguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., AIG Shared Services Corporation, AIG South Africa Limited, AIG Specialty Insurance Company, AIG Technologies Inc., AIG Travel Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., AIG Travel Assist Inc., AIG Travel Assist Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., AIG Travel EMEA Limited, AIG Travel Inc., AIG Uganda Limited, AIG Vietnam Insurance Company Limited, AIG WarrantyGuard Inc., AIG-FP Pinestead Holdings Corp., AIG-Metropolitana Cia. de Seguros y Reaseguros S.A., AIGGRE EOLA LLC, AIGGRE Europe Real Estate Fund I GP S.a r.l., AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I GP LLC, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I LP, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund II GP LLC, AIU Insurance Company, AM Holdings LLC, Ageas Protect, AlphaCat Managers Ltd., American General Corporation, American General Life Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Co. Ltd., American Home Assurance Company, American Home Assurance Company Escritorio de Representacao no Brasil Ltda., American International Group Inc., American International Group UK Limited, American International Overseas Association, American International Overseas Limited, American International Realty Corp., American International Reinsurance Company Ltd., American International Underwriters del Ecuador-Holding S.A., American Security Life Insurance Company Limited, Arthur J. Glatfelter Agency Inc., Avondhu Limited, Blackboard Customer Care Insurance Services LLC, Blackboard Insurance Company, Blackboard Services LLC, Blackboard Specialty Insurance Company, Blackboard U.S. Holdings Inc., Chartis Takaful Enaya B.S.C. (c), Commerce and Industry Insurance Company, Crop Risk Services Inc., Eaglestone Reinsurance Company, Ellipse, Fortitude Group Holdings LLC, Fortitude Life & Annuity Solutions Inc., Fortitude Reinsurance Company Ltd., Franklin Life Insurance Company, Fuji Fire and Marine, Glatfelter Insurance Group, Globe and Rutgers Insurance Group, Grand Isle SAC Limited, Granite State Insurance Company, Group Risk Services Limited, Group Risk Technologies Limited, Illinois National Insurance Co., Jefferson Eola Venture LLC, Johannesburg Insurance Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, Laya Healthcare Limited, Lexington Insurance Company, MG Reinsurance Limited, Mt. Mansfield Company Inc., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh Pa., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Vermont, New Hampshire Insurance Company, PT AIG Insurance Indonesia, Pine Street Real Estate Holdings Corp., Private Joint-Stock Company AIG Ukraine Insurance Company, Risk Specialists Companies Insurance Agency Inc., SA Affordable Housing LLC, SAFG Retirement Services Inc., Service Net Warranty LLC, Stratford Insurance Company, SunAmerica Affordable Housing Partners Inc., SunAmerica Asset Management LLC, Talbot Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Ltd., Thai CIT Holding Company Limited, The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company, Travel Guard, Travel Guard Group Canada Inc./Groupe Garde Voyage du Canada Inc., Travel Guard Group Inc., Tudor Insurance Company, VALIC Financial Advisors Inc., Valic Retirement Services Company, Validus Holdings, Validus Holdings (UK) Ltd., Validus Holdings Ltd., Validus Reinsurance (Switzerland) Ltd, Validus Reinsurance Ltd., Validus Ventures Ltd., Volunteer Firemen's Insurance Services Inc., Western World Insurance Company, and Western World Insurance Group Inc..
Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development of pharmaceutical products primarily in the United States, Europe, and South Korea. It offers Contrave for the treatment of obesity. The company also offers Contrave under the Mysimba brand name. Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in La Jolla, California. On March 12, 2018, Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc., filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

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Invesco Zacks Multi-Asset Income ETF's stock was trading at $16.41 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, CVY shares have increased by 48.3% and is now trading at $24.3281.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
LONDON, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosbank together with FinEx launched a joint automated investment service for Russian investors - SmartInvest. The service will help to choose the appropriate investment instruments, forecast returns and fully manage the investment portfolio. The service is available to any private investor looking for a dynamic, diversified portfolio management strategy. It is possible to use the service having no previous experience of investing as SmartInvest automatically chooses the appropriate asset allocation based on the user's investment horizon, investment goal and risk tolerance. SmartInvest has been developed in accordance with the global Robo-Advising standards, the main aspect of which is the use of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF); SmartInvest invests in a range of ETFs as the only investment instruments. The advantage of ETFs lies in diversification by holding shares of hundreds of companies in one share. Such methodology provides a cheap investment solution for investors. A SmartInvest portfolios provide clients with long-term growth potential even if some individual securities may show short-term losses due to market fluctuations. Portfolio composition methodology is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, behavioral finance as well as portfolio management research and FinEx's own initiatives. The service can be used with the minimum investment of 100,000 rubles (approximately $1,500). In order to achieve the investment goal quicker, the client can top-up the account with a minimum of 2,000 rubles (approximately $30) on a monthly basis. The minimum investment period is 1 year and it is possible to cash out and close the account at any time after this with no additional costs. The service can be used after registering on the website (Rosbank clients will be able to access the service through their internet-banking platform) and passing a quick risk-tolerance test. This test allows the service to assess a client's risk tolerance, which affects the investment profile of the portfolio: the more risk an investor is willing to take, the greater the allocation to riskier assets resulting in higher potential returns. When creating a portfolio the client has to set an initial investment amount, investment period and a planned top-up amount. As the final step the client provides their personal information and confirms using a one-time code received as a text message. Investors can create multiple portfolios and the portfolios can be topped-up using any mobile banking platform, Rosbank clients can do so at no extra charge. The service can generate an additional return by creating ISA accounts, which provides tax benefits of up to 52,000 rubles per year (approximately $790), as well as avoiding Capital Gains Tax. The overall service fee is 1.9% per year with the investment period of 1-3 years. In order to stimulate mid-term investment horizons, the fees decrease to 1.3% after 3 years, which is substantially lower, compared to the general asset management costs in Russia. These fees include all management costs including trading costs. "The aim of SmartInvest service is to provide high-quality asset management tools to all types of investors who seek a profitable savings strategy. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to save up for a large purchase or provide yourself with a descent pension savings. The minimum investment amount in SimpleInvest is 100,000 rubles which is substantially lower than in any alternative asset management services. "FinEx developed the SmartInvest platform with Rosbank participating in user interface development as well as creating a seamless integration into its mobile banking application to maximize the client's user experience." - Arnaud Denis, First Deputy Chairman of Rosbank "SmartInvest is aimed at providing investment solutions to all types of clients ranging from successful entrepreneurs to students at the very beginning of their careers." - Oleg Yankelev, FinEx managing partner, CEO FinEx Plus LLC. About Rosbank A RosbankA is a universal bank in Societe Generale International Financial Group. The bank provides its services to more than 4 million private investors in 70 regions of Russia. Rosbank is part of Societe Generale Group, a leading universal European bank with more than 150 years of history, which throughout its activities demonstrates its ability to grow, withstand external challenges and successfully adapt to change. The bank's network has more than 350 branches and more than 2.2 thousand ATMs. It is one of the 11 most significant credit organizations of Russia according to the Central Bank. Rosbank has ACRA creadit rating of AAA (RU) and RAEX ("Expert RA") rating of ruAAA in addition to being Russia's most reliable bank according to Forbes magazine in 2018. About FinExA FinEx is an integrated asset management business providing a full spectrum of investment solutions, including hedge funds, private equity investments, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), robo-advising solutions with its headquarters in London. A Contacts: Simon Luhr, +44(0)20-7663-3300, Simon.Luhr@FinxCapital.com
The following companies are subsidiares of Quest Diagnostics: AmeriPath, AmeriPath Cincinnati Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Cleveland Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Consolidated Labs Inc. (FL), AmeriPath Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Hospital Services Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Indianapolis PC (IN), AmeriPath Kentucky Inc. (KY), AmeriPath Lubbock 5.01(A) Corporation (TX), AmeriPath New York LLC (DE), AmeriPath Texas Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Tucson Inc. (AZ), American Medical Laboratories, American Medical Laboratories Incorporated (DE), Associated Clinical Laboratories L.P. (PA), Associated Clinical Laboratories of Pennsylvania L.L.C. (PA), Athena Diagnostics, Athena Diagnostics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics, Blueprint Genetics FZ-LLC (UAE), Blueprint Genetics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics Oy (Finland), California Laboratory Associates, Cape Cod Healthcare - Business, Celera, ClearPoint Diagnostic, Clearpoint Diagnostic Laboratories LLC (TX), Cleveland HeartLab, Cleveland HeartLab Inc. (DE), Clinical Laboratory Partners, Colorado Pathology Consultants P.C. (CO), ConVerge Diagnostic Services, Consolidated DermPath Inc. (DE), DFW 5.01(a) Corporation (TX), DGXWMT JV LLC (DE), Dermatopathology of Wisconsin S.C. (WI), Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma LLC (OK), Diagnostic Pathology Services Inc. (OK), Diagnostic Reference Services Inc. (MD), ExamOne Canada Inc. (New Brunswick), ExamOne LLC (DE), ExamOne World Wide Inc. (PA), ExamOne World Wide of NJ Inc. (NJ), Focus Diagnostics, HemoCue, Hoffman M.D. Associated Pathologists Chartered (NV), Institute for Dermatopathology Inc. (PA), Isabella Street Urban Renewal LLC (NJ), Kailash B. Sharma M.D. Inc. (GA), Kilpatrick Pathology P.A. (NC), LabOne, LabOne LLC (MO), LabOne of Ohio Inc. (DE), Laboratorio de Analisis Biomedicos S.A. (Mexico), Lancet Labs, MACL, Med Fusion LLC (TX), Med fusion, MedPlus, Mid America Clinical Laboratories LLC (IN), Nomad Massachusetts Inc. (MA), Nuclear Medicine and Pathology Associates (GA), Ocmulgee Medical Pathology Association Inc. (GA), Pathology Building Partnership (MD) (gen. ptnrshp.), PeaceHealth Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories PLLC (WA), Q Squared Solutions Holdings LLC (DE), Q Squared Solutions Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (China), Quest Diagnostics Brasil Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Domestic Holder LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics HTAS India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Incorporated (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (MD), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NV), Quest Diagnostics India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Infectious Disease Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics International Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics International LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Investments LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Ireland Limited (Ireland), Quest Diagnostics LLC (CT), Quest Diagnostics LLC (IL), Quest Diagnostics LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Massachusetts LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Mexico Holding Company Trust (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Mexico S de RL de CV (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (CA), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute Inc. (VA), Quest Diagnostics Receivables Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Subsidiary Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics TB LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Terracotta LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Venture LLC (PA), Quest Diagnostics Ventures LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics do Brasil Ltda. (Brazil), Quest Diagnostics of Pennsylvania Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics of Puerto Rico Inc. (PR), Quest HealthConnect LLC (CA), ReproSource, Reprosource Fertility Diagnostics Inc. (MA), Solstas Lab Partners, Sonora Quest Laboratories LLC (AZ), Specialty Laboratories Inc. (CA), Summit Health, UMass Memorial Medical Center - Anatomic Pathology Outreach Laboratory Business, Unilab Corporation, and Unilab Corporation (DE).
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF's stock was trading at $123.88 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, LQD stock has increased by 7.4% and is now trading at $133.08.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
Resolute Forest Products Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates in the forest products industry in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Market Pulp, Tissue, Wood Products, and Paper. The Market Pulp segment offers virgin and recycled bleached kraft pulp, which is used to make a range of consumer products, including tissue, packaging, specialty paper products, diapers, and other absorbent products. The Tissue segment provides various tissue products, such as recycled and virgin paper products for the away-from-home and retail markets; and sells parent rolls. The Wood Products segment produces construction-grade and spruce-pine-fir lumber products, wood chips, bed frame components, finger joints, and furring strips for pulp and paper mills, as well as I-joists for the construction industry. The Paper segment offers newsprint to newspaper publishers, as well as to commercial printers for a range of uses comprising inserts and flyers. This segment also provides various uncoated mechanical papers, including supercalendered and white papers, as well as uncoated freesheet papers to commercial printers, direct mailers, publishers, catalogers, and retailers. Its specialty papers are used in books, retail inserts, direct mail, coupons, magazines, catalogs, bags, and other commercial printing applications. This segment sells specialty papers to commercial printers, direct mailers, publishers, catalogers, and retailers. The company also produces electricity at six cogeneration facilities and seven hydroelectric dams. Resolute Forest Products Inc. is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

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Avient Corp. engages in the business of thermoplastic compounds. It specializes in polymer materials, services, and solutions with operations in specialty polymer formulations, color and additive systems, plastic sheet and packaging solutions and polymer distribution. The firm is also involved in the development and manufacturing of performance enhancing additives, liquid colorants, fluoropolymers and silicone colorants. It operates through the following segments: Color, Additives and Inks; Specialty Engineered Materials; and Distribution. The Color, Additives and Inks segment provides custom color and additive concentrates in solid and liquid form for thermoplastics, dispersions for thermosets, speciality inks, plasticols, and vinyl slush molding solutions. The Specialty Engineered Materials segment makes polymer formulations, services, and solutions for designers, assemblers, and processors of thermoplastic materials. The Distribution segment distributes engineering and commodity grade resins, including PolyOne-produced solutions, principally to the North American, Central American, and Asian markets. The firm's products include polymer distribution, screen printing inks, and thermoplastic elastomers. Its services include IQ design and color services. The company was founded on August 31, 2000 and is headquartered in Avon Lake, OH.

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iShares MSCI Canada ETF's stock was trading at $23.42 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EWC shares have increased by 67.6% and is now trading at $39.25.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
The following companies are subsidiares of Carnival Co. &: 1972 Productions Inc., 6348 Equipment LLC, A.C.N. 098 290 834 Pty. Ltd., A.J. Juneau Dock LLC, AIDA Kundencenter GmbH, Adventure Island Ltd., Air-Sea Holiday GmbH, Alaska Hotel Properties LLC, Barcelona Cruise Terminal SLU, Bay Island Cruise Port S.A., Belize Cruise Terminal Limited, CC U.S. Ventures Inc., CCL Gifts LLC, CSSC Carnival Italy Cruise Investment S.r.L, Carnival (UK) Limited, Carnival Bahamas FC Limited, Carnival Bahamas Holdings Limited, Carnival Corporation & plc Asia Pte. Ltd., Carnival Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Carnival Corporation Korea Ltd., Carnival Corporation Ports Group Japan KK, Carnival Finance LLC, Carnival Grand Bahama Investment Limited, Carnival Investments Limited, Carnival Japan Inc., Carnival License Holdings Limited, Carnival Maritime GmbH, Carnival North America LLC, Carnival Port Holdings Limited, Carnival Ports Inc., Carnival Support Services India Private Limited, Carnival Technical Services (UK) Limited, Carnival Technical Services Finland Limited, Carnival Technical Services GmbH, Carnival Technical Services Inc., Carnival Vanuatu Limited, Costa Crociere PTE Ltd., Costa Crociere S.p.A., Costa Cruceros S.A., Costa Cruise Lines Inc., Costa Cruise Lines UK Limited, Costa Cruises Shipping Services (Shanghai) Company Limited, Costa Cruises Travel Agency (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Costa Cruzeiros Agencia Maritima e Turismo Ltda., Costa Group Digital & Strategic Services GmbH, Costa International B.V., Costa Kreuzfahrten GmbH, Cozumel Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Creative Travel Lab Ltd., Cruise Ships Catering & Services International N.V., Cruise Terminal Services S.A. de C.V., Cruiseport Curacao C.V., D.R. Cruise Port Ltd., Ecospray Technologies S.r.L., F.P.M. SAS, F.P.P. SAS, Fleet Maritime Services (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services Holdings (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services International Limited, GXI LLC, Gibs Inc., Global Experience Innovators Inc., Global Fine Arts Inc., Global Shipping Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Grand Cruise Shipping Unipessoal LdA, Grand Turk Cruise Center Ltd., HAL Antillen N.V., HAL Beheer B.V., HAL Cruises Limited, HAL Maritime Ltd., HAL Nederland N.V., HAL Properties Limited, HAL Services B.V., HSE Hamburg School of Entertainment GmbH, Holding Division Iberocruceros SLU, Holland America Line Inc., Holland America Line N.V., Holland America Line Paymaster of Washington LLC, Holland America Line U.S.A. Inc., Ibero Cruzeiros Ltda., Iberocruceros SLU, Information Assistance Corporation, International Cruise Services S.A. de C.V., International Leisure Travel Inc., International Maritime Recruitment Agency S.A. de C.V., Milestone N.V., Navitrans S.R.L., Ocean Bahamas Innovation Ltd., Ocean Medallion Fulfillment Ltd., Operadora Catalina S.r.L., P&O Princess American Holdings, P&O Princess Cruises International Limited, P&O Princess Cruises Pension Trustee Limited, P&O Properties (California) Inc., P&O Travel Limited, Prestige Cruises Management S.A.M., Prestige Cruises N.V., Princess Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Princess Cays Ltd., Princess Cruise Corporation Inc., Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., Princess Cruises and Tours Inc., Princess U.S. Holdings Inc., RCT Maintenance & Related Services S.A., RCT Pilots & Related Services S.A., RCT Security & Related Services S.A., Roatan Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Royal Hyway Tours Inc., Santa Cruz Terminal S.L., SeaVacations Limited, SeaVacations UK Limited, Seabourn Cruise Line Limited, Shanghai Coast Cruise Consulting Co. Lda, Ship Care (Bahamas) Limited, Sitmar Cruises Inc., Spanish Cruise Services N.V., Sunshine Shipping Corporation Ltd., T&T International Inc., Tour Alaska LLC, Transnational Services Corporation, Trident Insurance Company Ltd., Westmark Hotels Inc., Westmark Hotels of Canada Ltd., Westours Motor Coaches LLC, Wind Surf Limited, and World Leading Cruise Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd..
There is not enough analysis data for RWE Aktiengesellschaft.

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MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about RWE Aktiengesellschaft and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe RWE will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe RWE will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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Swiss Re AG is a wholesale provider of reinsurance, insurance and other insurance-based forms of risk transfer. The Company operates in four segments: Property&Casualty Reinsurance, Life&Health Reinsurance, Corporate Solutions and Life Capital. Its Reinsurance Unit provides premiums and fee income through Property&Casualty and Life&Health segments. Its Corporate Solutions segment is engaged in serving mid-sized and large corporations, with product offerings ranging from traditional property and casualty insurance to customized solutions. Its Admin Re segment provides risk and capital management solutions by which the Company acquires closed books of in-force life and health insurance business, entire lines of business, or the entire capital stock of life insurance companies. Its open and closed life insurance books, including Admin Re, are managed under a unit called Life Capital.

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TelefAnica Brasil S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides mobile and fixed telecommunications services to residential and corporate customers in Brazil. Its fixed line services portfolio includes local, domestic long-distance, and international long-distance calls; and mobile portfolio comprises voice and broadband internet access through 3G, 4G, and 4.5G, as well as mobile value-added services and wireless roaming services. The company also offers data services, including broadband and mobile data services. In addition, it provides pay TV services through direct to home satellite technology, IPTV, and cable, as well as pay-per-view and video on demand services; network services, such as rental of facilities; other services comprising internet access, private network connectivity, computer equipment leasing, extended service, caller identification, voice mail, cellular blocker, and others; wholesale services, including interconnection services to users of other network providers; and digital services, such as entertainment, cloud, and security and financial services, as well as sells wireless devices and accessories. Further, the company offers multimedia communication services, which include audio, data, voice and other sounds, images, texts, and other information, as well as sells devices, such as smartphones, broadband USB modems, and other devices. Additionally, it provides telecommunications solutions and IT support to various industries, such as retail, manufacturing, services, financial institutions, government, etc. It markets and sells its solutions through own stores, dealers, retail and distribution channels, door-to-door sales, and telesales. The company was formerly known as TelecomunicaAAes de SAo Paulo S.A. - TELESP and changed its name to TelefAnica Brasil S.A. in October 2011. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in SAo Paulo, Brazil.

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TelefAnica Deutschland Holding AG provides integrated telecommunication services to private and business customers in Germany. It offers voice, data, and value-added services in mobile and fixed line networks; access to infrastructure and services for its wholesale partners; and digital products and services in the fields of Internet of Things. The company provides its products and services through a network of independently operated franchise and premium partner shops, and online and telesales channels, as well as indirect selling channels, such as partnerships and co-operations with retailers. It markets its products and services under the O2, Blau, AY YILDIZ, Ortel Mobile, FONIC, netzclub, and TArkeiSIM brand names. As of December 31, 2020, TelefAnica Deutschland Holding AG had approximately 47 million customers. The company was formerly known as TelefAnica Germany Verwaltungs GmbH and changed its name to TelefAnica Deutschland Holding AG in September 2012. The company is based in Munich, Germany. TelefAnica Deutschland Holding AG is a subsidiary of Telefonica Germany Holdings Limited.

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The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various personal and commercial banking products and services in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases through auto dealer network. It also provides credit cards; real estate secured lending; auto finance; consumer lending; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, private banking, investment advisory, and trust services to retail and institutional clients; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to companies, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,085 branches, 3,440 automated teller machines, and 1,223 stores, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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GlaxoSmithKline Plc is a healthcare company, which engages in the research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceuticals; Pharmaceuticals R&D; Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare. The Pharmaceuticals segment focuses on developing medicines in respiratory and infectious diseases, oncology, and immuno-inflammation. The Pharmaceuticals R&D segment focuses on science related to the immune system, the use of human genetics and advanced technologies, and is driven by the multiplier effect of Science x Technology x Culture. The Vaccines segment produces pediatric and adult vaccines to prevent a range of infectious diseases including, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella, polio, typhoid, influenza, and bacterial meningitis. The Consumer Healthcare segment develops and markets brands in the oral health, pain relief, respiratory, nutrition and gastro intestinal, and skin health categories. The company was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Middlesex, the United Kingdom.

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Treasury Wine Estates Limited operates as a wine company primarily in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. It engages in the viticulture and winemaking; and marketing, sale, and distribution of wine. The company's wine portfolio includes luxury, masstige, and commercial wine brands, such as Penfolds, Beringer, Lindeman's, Wolf Blass, 19 Crimes, Chateau St Jean, Beaulieu Vineyard, Stags' Leap, and Sterling Vineyards. It also provides contract bottling services to third parties. The company owns and leases 8,676 planted hectares of vineyards primarily in Barossa Valley and Coonawarra, Australia; 498 planted hectares of vineyards in Marlborough, New Zealand; and owns and operates 3,213 planted hectares in various viticultural regions in California, including Napa and Sonoma Valleys, as well as 193 hectares in Italy. It markets and sells its products to distributors, wholesalers, retails chains, independent retailers, and on premise outlets, as well as directly to consumers. The company was founded in 1843 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

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Unum Group is engaged in providing financial protection benefits. It operates through the following segments: Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, Closed Block and Corporate. The Unum US segment comprises of group long-term and short-term disability insurance, group life and accidental death and dismemberment products, and supplemental and voluntary lines of business. The Unum International segment engages in the operations of UK business, which includes insurance for group long-term disability, group life, and supplemental lines of business that include dental, individual disability, and critical illness products; Poland business primarily includes insurance for individual and group life with accident and health riders. The Colonial Life segment includes insurance for accident, sickness, disability products, life products, and cancer and critical illness products. The Closed Block segment consists of individual disability, group and individual long-term care, and other insurance products no longer actively marketed. The Corporate segment refers to investment income on corporate assets and other corporate income and expenses not allocated to a line of business; and interest

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William Lyon Homes (NYSE:WLH) posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November, 6th. The construction company reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.30 by $0.07. The construction company had revenue of $466.90 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $487.15 million. William Lyon Homes had a net margin of 3.04% and a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 6.98%. William Lyon Homes's revenue was down 12.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.68 EPS.

View William Lyon Homes' earnings history.
The following companies are subsidiares of Tyson Foods: APF Legacy Subs LLC, Advance Food Company LLC, AdvancePierre Foods, AdvancePierre Foods Holdings Inc., AdvancePierre Foods Inc., Aidells Sausage Company Inc., Allied Specialty Foods Inc., American Proteins Inc, Artisan Bread Co. LLC, Australian Food Corporation Pty Limited, Australian Food Corporation Trust, BRF, Barber Foods LLC, Bosco's Pizza Co., Bryan Foods Inc., C.S. Grain LLC, C.V. Holdings Inc., CBFA Management Corp., Central Industries Inc., Chefs Pantry LLC, Clovervale Farms LLC, Cobb (Hubei) Breeding Co. Ltd., Cobb (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Cobb Ana Damizlik Tavukculuk Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Cobb Columbia S.A.S., Cobb Europe B.V., Cobb Europe Limited, Cobb Peru (Andina) S.A.C., Cobb-Heritage LLC, Cobb-Vantress Brasil Ltda, Cobb-Vantress Inc., Cobb-Vantress New Zealand Limited, Cobb-Vantress Philippines Inc., Coominya AFC Pty Limited, Coominya AFC Trust, DFG Foods Inc., DFG Foods L.L.C., Don Julio, Egbert LLC, Equity Group - Georgia Division LLC, Equity Group - Kentucky Division LLC, Equity Group Eufaula Division LLC, Equity Meat Corp., Flavor Corp., Flavor Holdings Inc., Foodbrands America Inc., Foodbrands Supply Chain Services Inc., Gallo Salame Inc., Global Employment Services Inc., Grow-Out Credit LLC, Grow-Out Holdings LLC, Haimen Tyson Poultry Development Co. Ltd, Hudson Foods Company, Hudson Midwest Foods Inc., Hybro Genetics Brasil Ltda, IBP Caribbean Inc., IBP Foodservice L.L.C., IBP Inc., International Affiliates & Investment LLC, Jiangsu Tyson Foods Co. Ltd, Keydutch Finance B.V., Keydutch Holdings I LLC, Keydutch Holdings II LLC, Keydutch Investments B.V., Keystone CLJV Holdings Limited, Keystone County House Road LLC, Keystone Foods, Keystone Foods (AP) Limited, Keystone Foods Holdco LLC, Keystone Foods Intermediate LLC, Keystone Foods LLC, Keystone Foods Pty Limited, Keystone Management Inc., Keystone Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited, LD Foods LLC, M & M Express LLC, M&M Restaurant Supply (MI/OH) LLC, MFG (USA) Holdings Inc., Mac Food Services (Malaysia) SDN. BHD., Madison Foods Inc., McKey Food Services (Hong Kong) Limited, McKey Food Services (Shandong) Limited, McKey Food Services (Thailand) Limited, McKey Food Services Limited, McKey Luxembourg Holdings APMEA S.a.r.l., McKey Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., McKey Luxembourg S.a.r.l., McKey VI Holdings Limited, Myung Seung Food Company Ltd., National Comp Care Inc., New Canada Holdings Inc., Oaklawn Capital Corporation, Oaklawn IT Solution Private Limited, Original Philly Holdings Inc., PBX inc., Pierre Holdco Inc., River Valley Ingredients LLC, Rizhao Tyson Foods Co. Ltd, Rizhao Tyson Poultry Co. Ltd, Rural Energy Systems Inc., Sara Lee - Kiwi Holdings LLC, Sara Lee Diversified LLC, Sara Lee Foods LLC, Sara Lee Household & Body Care Malawi Ltd., Sara Lee International LLC, Sara Lee International TM Holdings LLC, Sara Lee Mexicana Holdings Investment L.L.C., Sara Lee TM Holdings LLC, Sara Lee Trademark Holdings Australasia LLC, Saramar L.L.C., Shandong Tyson-Da Long Food Company Limited, Smart Chicken, Southern Family Foods L.L.C., Southwest Products LLC, TF 20 B.V., TF 5201 B.V., TFA Leasing LLC, TFA Opportunity Zone Fund LLC, TFI of California Inc., Tecumseh Poultry LLC, Texas Transfer Inc., The Bruss Company, The Hillshire Brands Company, The IBP Foods Co., The Pork Group Inc., TyNet Corporation, Tyson (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Tyson Americas Holding Sarl, Tyson Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Tyson Breeders Inc., Tyson Chicken Inc., Tyson China Holding 2 Limited, Tyson China Holding 3 Limited, Tyson China Holding Limited, Tyson Deli Inc., Tyson Europe Holding Company, Tyson Farms Inc., Tyson Farms QOZB LLC, Tyson Foods Brasil Investimentos Ltda., Tyson Foods Canada Inc., Tyson Foods Europe (Netherlands) B.V., Tyson Foods Europe GmbH, Tyson Foods France S.A.R.L., Tyson Foods Germany GmbH, Tyson Foods Group Limited, Tyson Foods Holland B.V., Tyson Foods Huadong Development Co. Ltd, Tyson Foods Iberia Alimentos S.L.U., Tyson Foods Italia S.p.A., Tyson Foods Korea, Tyson Foods Netherlands B.V., Tyson Foods Products Limited, Tyson Foods Scotland Europe Limited, Tyson Foods Scotland Sales (Europe) Limited, Tyson Foods UK Limited, Tyson Foods Wrexham Limited, Tyson Foods oosterwolde B.V., Tyson Fresh Meats Inc., Tyson Fresh Meats Sales and Distribution LLC, Tyson Global Holding Sarl, Tyson Hog Markets Inc., Tyson India Holdings Ltd., Tyson International APAC Ltd., Tyson International Company Ltd., Tyson International Holding Company, Tyson International Holding Sarl, Tyson International Service Center Inc., Tyson International Service Center Inc. Asia, Tyson International Service Center Inc. Europe, Tyson Mexican Original Inc., Tyson Mexico Trading Company S. de R.L. de CV., Tyson New Ventures LLC, Tyson Opportunity Zone Fund LLC, Tyson Pet Products Inc., Tyson Poultry Inc., Tyson Prepared Foods Inc., Tyson Processing Services Inc., Tyson Refrigerated Processed Meats Inc., Tyson Sales and Distribution Inc., Tyson Service Center Corp., Tyson Shared Services Inc., Tyson Storm Lake Holdings LLC, Tyson Warehousing Services LLC, Tyson of Wisconsin LLC, Uninex SA, Universal Meats (UK) Limited, WBA Analytical Laboratories Inc., Wilton Foods Inc., Xamol Consultores e Servicos, and Zemco Industries Inc..
SYRACUSE - The latest lawsuit to put a spotlight on the Catholic Church seeks to identify all priests in New York State who have been accused of sexual misconduct.

However, the Diocese of Syracuse says it won't do that.

The lawsuit was filed in State Supreme Court in New York City. The plaintiff is accusing a Brooklyn priest of sexually abusing him for two years, and accuses all eight dioceses in New York State of making sure similar allegations never became public.

49 priests face accusations in the Syracuse Diocese, which spans seven counties - including Oneida and Madison. 67 priests in the Albany Diocese face accusations as well. That covers all or parts of 14 counties, including Herkimer and Otsego.

The lawsuit is seeking the names of all agents, including priests, accused of child molestation; the history of abuse; the pattern of sexual behavior; and the alleged offenders' last known address.

Syracuse Diocese officials explain why they won't release the information of the accused.

It's certainly not right of any organization to put out a list of people accused. It should be a list of individuals found to have credible complaints of abusing a minor, says Danielle Cummings, director of communications for the Diocese of Syracuse.

Cummings says the names of those who have been accused of abusing a minor are not being concealed. They have been sent to the county district attorneys.

What has been the practice in regards to releasing a list of names since 2002 has been that if an individual comes to the dioceses and indicates they have been harmed, and it has been found to be a credible allegation and they would like that confirmed, we will confirm that, said Cummings.

We have some individuals, as much as it seems unreasonable for people to understand, there are victims who do not want the name of the person who harmed them to be on a list.

Cummings says it's a matter of striking a balance.

You're going against a wish of certain victims, and trying to comply with the other victims who want a full list. We respect both. It's not an easy decision to make.

What Cummings could say is there are no active, practicing priests facing allegations of sexual misconduct.

We have not had a complaint of clergy sexual misconduct of a minor in almost 30 years.

They're still wrong, they still hurt somebody, they're not seen in a good light - nor should they be. But these are not current cases, she said.

The Diocese of Albany denies the claims filed in the lawsuit. It issued an email statement on Thursday.

While we have not yet received the lawsuit announced by attorney Jeff Anderson during a press conference conducted Oct. 30, the Diocese of Albany denies the entirety of the alleged claims.

As a point of clarity, in 2015, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger proactively published a list of all known clergy offenders  living and deceased  on our diocesan website and in our diocesan newspaper, The Evangelist. At the time, Bishop Scharfenberger was one of only a handful of bishops in the country to take this step. That list can be found at www.rcda.org/offenders.

The list of 45 names includes all Diocese of Albany clergy who have been removed from ministry and those who were deceased or resigned prior to credible findings by the Diocesan Review Board of sexual misconduct with a minor.

We will have no further comment on the lawsuit at this time because the matter is in litigation.
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  Are you new to Greater Lafayette and looking to get more plugged into our community? Thursday evening, Greater Lafayette Commerce and Purdue Federal Credit Union have created a night just for new residents in our community.

The Greater Lafayette Newcomers Event will bring together new residents and city organizations, including county commissioners, school superintendents, medical facilities, libraries, the arts and much more.

The night is set up with a speed dating format. Newcomers will get four minutes at each community table and will rotate to get a sampling of everything our community offers.

Greater Lafayette Commerce President Scott Walker said with a growing community, we need to invest in our newcomers.

"We have been growing, and continue to grow," said Walker. There's more people here today than there ever have been. There's an additional 4,000 people in our workforce compared to last year at this time. We know a lot of those people are new to the community and we want to welcome them. That's what this event is about."

Purdue Federal Credit Union president and CEO Bob Falk says they wanted the format of the evening to be fun and enjoyable.

"At the end, you've met 25 new members of the community," said Falk. "If you get engaged in our community, the community will give back to you. We know people who engage in this community tend to stay here, and tend to have a more enjoyable experience."

The event is in downtown Lafayette Thursday at 5:30. You must RSVP to Kelli Cornelius at Greater Lafayette Commerce at kcornelius@greaterlafayettecommerce.com.

"Not many communities roll out the red carpet for their newcomers," said Falk. "It's going to be a fun evening."
DALLAS (WLFI)  It's been to the moon and back, and now Neil Armstrong's Purdue flag has a new owner. Thursday night, it sold for a whopping $42,000. The flag was one of two Purdue centennial flags taken on the Apollo 11 flight.

The new owner, who is still unidentified, will pay a total of $52,500 after a bidder premium. The flag, and more than 2,000 other items are part of Heritage Auction's sale of Armstrong's personal items.

The bidding for the flag started at $40,000. According to Purdue Archives, the flag is one of two that flew to the moon with Purdue grad and commander Neil Armstrong. The other is in their care. There's a photo of Armstrong presenting President Frederick Hovde the flag during a commencement ceremony in 1970.

Armstrong's engineering notebook, a Purdue pin and fraternity paddle were also up for sale as part of his collection.

The following lots sold for:

Armstrong handwritten engineering notebook - $6,000

Dean's Club medallion paperweight - $1,500

Purdue pin - $1,000

1970 Commencement program where Armstrong got his honorary doctorate - $700

Phi Delta Theta Patch - $2,000

Gamma Phi pledge board - $700

Purdue scissor and letter opener box from President Beering - $4,400

Orlando Itin, owner of Brunos Pizza in West Lafayette, knows a thing or two about collecting memorabilia.

"There's a lot of interest in space collectibles," said Itin. "You don't see much space collectibles ever out. They've really promoted this very well and it has a lot of attention."

Big O passed on the flag, but he has his eye on an autographed picture of longtime Cincinnati Reds player Pete Rose and Armstrong. Itin worked with New Orleans Saints quarterback and former Purdue star Drew Brees to purchase John Wooden's 1930's Purdue jersey in May.

In the flag description in the auction catalog, it reads "We feel it would be a noble act by a Boilermaker graduate or fan to purchase this flag in time for the University's sesquicentennial in 2019 and either donate it to Purdue or allow them to display it."

You can follow the rest of the bids here.
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Russia on Thursday imposed financial sanctions on hundreds of Ukrainian individuals and dozens of companies, in what it described as countermeasures for Kiev's actions against Moscow.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed the document published by the government's press service that called for Russian assets of 322 Ukrainian citizens and 68 businesses to be frozen.

On the list are Yulia Tymoshenko, a former prime minister who is among the favourites for president in polls next year, and Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

The defence minister and the parliament speaker also feature, along with several chemical and mining companies.

Moscow said the sanctions were linked to "unfriendly actions by Ukraine in relation to Russian citizens and legal entities".

The Kremlin said it would be prepared to remove the sanctions if it saw the "political will" to normalise relations from Kiev's side.

"At the moment we do not see this," presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a regular press briefing.

Tymoshenko wrote on her Facebook page she was "little concerned" by the sanctions against her as she did not have a business presence in Russia.

Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko meanwhile said many figures would use their appearance on the list as a badge of honour.

"The important thing is not who's on the list, but who's off it... for some (who are sanctioned) it will even help them at election time," he wrote on social media.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter feud since the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Moscow has been accused of fuelling a rebel conflict in eastern Ukraine that has cost the lives of some 10,000 people.

Kiev has brought in a number of measures to limit activity with Russian companies.

Last year it also blocked access to Russia's most popular social media networks and the Yandex search engine.

The US and Europe have already brought in several rounds of sanctions against Moscow for its actions in Ukraine.

Guncelleme Tarihi: 01 Kasm 2018, 14:32
On Oct. 19, Saudi Arabia acknowledged that dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi had died following a physical altercation with embassy officials. In an interview with FOX News, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir described Khashoggis murder as a tremendous mistake, but vehemently denied allegations that Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered his death. Mohammed bin Salman reiterated al-Jubeirs comments on Oct. 24, by describing Khashoggis murder as a heinous crime, and vowing to punish Saudi officials responsible for his killing.

The perceived implausibility of the Saudi governments official narrative on Khashoggis murder triggered widespread international criticism and caused major Western powers to openly debate the imposition of punitive economic measures against Saudi Arabia. The reaction of Saudi Arabias most important ally, the United States, has been followed particularly closely by Mohammed bin Salman and his political allies. The U.S. governments initial response to Khashoggis murder was positively greeted in Saudi Arabia, as Trump emphasized the importance of arms contracts with Riyadh for job creation in the U.S. defense industry, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had a cordial meeting with senior Saudi officials.

The Trump administrations dovish reaction to Khashoggis death was widely criticized within the U.S. Congress. In the aftermath of Khashoggis murder, neoconservative Republicans like South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham and Florida Senator Marco Rubio, aligned with prominent Democratic Party lawmakers in condemning the Saudi governments involvement in Khashoggis death and questioning the future of the U.S.-Saudi Arabia alliance. The emergence of a broad-based coalition of critics of Mohammed bin Salman within the U.S. Congress convinced the Trump administration to change course, by revoking visas against selected Saudi officials and considering sanctions against the perpetrators of Khashoggis murder.

- How can US pressure Saudi Arabia?

While the impact of these actions on the U.S.- Saudi Arabia relations has thus-far been limited, the United States could exploit Saudi Arabias growing vulnerabilities and pressure Mohammed bin Salman in two main ways. First, the U.S. government could pressure Saudi Arabia to make a larger advance payment on its weapons deals with Washington, and use the threat of contract cancellations to spur Riyadh to action. Even though Saudi Arabia agreed to $110 billion in contracts with the United States in May 2017, only $14.5 billion of these deals has been confirmed by the Saudi government. Securing a larger advance payment from Saudi Arabia would provide more credibility for Trumps arguments about Saudi Arabias economic importance to the United States, and also demonstrate that his rhetoric about Riyadh not paying the U.S. enough for defense is being matched with concrete action.

Second, Trump could offer Saudi Arabia a quid-pro-quo that the United States will refrain from imposing punitive economic measures against Riyadh, if Mohammed bin Salman takes tangible steps towards normalizing relations with Qatar. Even though U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Saudi Arabia to end its blockade of Qatar in late April and included both countries in its Arab NATO plan to contain Iran, Riyadh has dismissed U.S. concerns about Gulf disunity. As Khashoggis murder has reinforced international concerns about Mohammed bin Salmans destructive impulsivity, U.S. policymakers are in a strong position to convince Riyadh to ease tensions with Qatar, as doing so could help repair Saudi Arabias damaged reputation.

- Enhanced relations with China and Russia?

The growing risk of U.S. punitive measures against Saudi Arabia over Khashoggis murder has caused some prominent analysts, like Al Arabiya General Manager Turki Aldakhil and the Eurasia Groups Ayham Kamel, to call for a rebalance of Saudi foreign policy towards China and Russia. While this argument has diffused across the Saudi intellectual and business community, it has weak empirical foundations. Although China is Saudi Arabias largest trade partner, the Chinese Petrochemical Corporation has cut oil imports from Saudi Arabia over concerns about price manipulation and Chinese investors were frustrated by Mohammed bin Salmans decision to suspend the Aramco IPO. There are also few prospects for enhanced China-Saudi Arabia defense cooperation, as Riyadh only purchased $20 million worth of Chinese arms in 2017, and Saudi Arabias military campaign in Yemen relies on U.S. technology.

The prospects for a marked improvement in Saudi Arabia-Russia relations are equally dim. On Oct. 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Trumps unwillingness to criticize Mohammed bin Salman over Khashoggis murder, by arguing that it differed markedly from Washingtons immediate decision to implicate the Russian security services in Sergei Skripals poisoning. Although Putin corresponded with King Salman over Khashoggis murder on Oct. 25, lingering concerns about Saudi Arabias blockade against Qatar and doubts about the potential for a breach in the U.S.-Saudi Arabia alliance could ultimately weaken the Moscow-Riyadh partnership.

In the Middle East, the initial reactions to Khashoggis death sharpened regional polarizations. Saudi Arabias strongest allies, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, praised the Saudi governments handling of the Khashoggi investigation; while its leading critics, Qatar, Iran and Turkey challenged the Saudi account. While Al Jazeeras extensive unflattering coverage of Riyadhs handling of the Khashoggi case and Turkeys insistence that Mohammed bin Salman gave dishonest account of Khashoggis murder, could further strain both countries relations with Saudi Arabia, a spiral of escalation is not the only conceivable outcome.

- MBSs efforts to deflect international opprobrium

In recent days, Mohammed bin Salman has departed from his traditionally aggressive approach to international criticism by praising Qatars economic model and directly discussing the Khashoggi case with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Mohammed bin Salmans unwillingness to further inflame tensions with Qatar and Turkey aims to showcase Saudi Arabias ability to act as a responsible stakeholder on the world stage, and deflect international criticisms of his foreign policy conduct.

In addition to restricting damage to Saudi Arabias international image, Mohammed bin Salmans efforts to de-escalate tensions with Saudi Arabias regional rivals could also be aimed at assuaging growing frustrations with his leadership style amongst the Saudi royal family. One leading potential opponent of Mohammed bin Salman is Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, a business magnate arrested during last Novembers anti-corruption crackdown, and a former employer of Khashoggi at the progressive Bahrain-based news outlet, Al-Arab News Channel. Another potential critic is Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, who directly blamed Mohammed bin Salman for Saudi Arabias military intervention in Yemen last month and possesses considerable legitimacy, as one of the only surviving sons of Saudi Arabias founder, Abdulaziz Ibn Saud.

In light of these dissenting views, Ahmad bin Abdulaziz's return to Riyadh on Oct. 31 poses a considerable challenge to Mohammed bin Salman's authority. The widely reported decision of the U.S. and British governments to provide security assurances to bin Abdulaziz suggests that Saudi Arabia's closest Western allies are grooming him as a critic who can act as a check on Mohammed bin Salman's impulsive actions on the world stage. Bin Abdulaziz's internal support base appears limited at first glance, as he was one of only three members of Saudi Arabia's allegiance council to oppose Mohammed bin Salman's selection as Crown Prince. However, the widely mooted existence of Khashoggi sympathizers within the elite establishment and his ties to Western powers make him arguably the greatest internal threat to Mohammed bin Salman.

In spite of the influence wielded by these influential critics, their discontent is unlikely to pose a serious short-term threat to Mohammed bin Salmans authority. The anti-corruption campaign caused no Saudi private businessmen to appear on March 2018s Forbes Billionaires list. This attests to the diminished lobbying power of bin Talal and his allies within the Saudi private sector. Prince Turki al-Faisal, the unofficial leader of the Saudi royal familys moderate wing, has also defended Mohammed bin Salman against allegations of his involvement in Khashoggis murder. Mohammed bin Salman also maintains firm control over Saudi Arabias security services and the absence of a vocal internal backlash against his dismissal of senior aide, Saud al-Qahtani, suggests that the Saudi Crown Princes internal position remains stable.

Although the Saudi government continues to deny involvement in Khashoggis murder, the case has sparked fears of unprecedented U.S.-Saudi Arabia tensions and left Mohammed bin Salman scrambling to defend his tarnished international reputation. Despite these uncertainties, the atmosphere of fear created by Khashoggis murder and the absence of a realistic challenger to Mohammed bin Salman will likely ensure his continued dominance over Saudi politics for the foreseeable future.
Two interventions by Australian surveillance or strategic agencies this week sought to whip up hostility toward China in readiness for Canberras involvement in a US-led war against Beijing. Both depicted Australia as being on the frontline of a battle against Chinese interference and plans for war.

A report by the government-funded Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) alleged that Chinese military-linked researchers are working undercover in US and allied universities. It was published on Tuesday, a day after a speech by the chief of Australias electronic spy agency warning of Chinas potential threat to infrastructure that would be critical in wartime.

The twin interventions are another sign of advanced preparations being made for war. They were made amid increasingly overt trade war and military moves by the Trump administration to confront China and prevent it from ever becoming a challenge to the global hegemony established by the US capitalist class after World War II.

After years of minimising any possibility of Australias population being dragged into a nuclear war between the US and China, the national security establishment and the corporate media are ever-more openly accusing China of espionage and aggression. A two-year drumbeat about rising Chinese interference in Australia is being taken to a new level by the authorities and their partners in the US-led Five Eyes global spy network.

ASPIs report triggered media headlines around the world, including in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, Financial Times and Canadas Globe and Mail, as well as across Australia. A new report has found Chinese military scientists regularly work undercover in Australian universities on sensitive research projects, Rupert Murdochs New Corp headlines declared.

Based on unsubstantiated assertions and unclear estimates, the Picking flowers, making honey report declares that since 2007, Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has sponsored more than 2,500 military scientists and engineers to study abroad and has developed relationships with researchers and institutions across the globe. Supposedly, these researchers are sent overseas to pick the fruits of developments of military-related technology and bring them home to make honey for the PLA.

Beyond the reports alarmist opening claim, the number of scholars claimed to be hiding their military links over the past decade is much smaller. Dozens of PLA scientists have obscured their military affiliations to travel to Five Eyes countries and the European Union, including at least 17 to Australia, where they work in areas such as hypersonic missiles and navigation technology.

Moreover, much of the research seems to be openly published in reputable academic journals, as per the norms of scientific activity. The authors report, Alex Joske, says he calculated that the number of peer-reviewed articles jointly authored with alleged PLA scientists rose from 112 in 2006 to 734 in 2017. Almost half were published in the US or UK, with 84 in Australia.

Unscientifically extrapolating from these statistics, Joske produces his headline figure of 2,500 military-related scientists working overseas between 2006 and 2017. Joske admits to a major shortcoming with the methodology, because articles could possibly be counted twice.

Relying on US intelligence claims, the report also alleges: In addition to their overt activities, PLA researchers, especially those who havent been forthcoming about their military affiliations, may engage in espionage or steal intellectual property while overseas. The PLA engages in such high levels of espionage that in 2014 the US Government took the unusual step of publicly indicting five Chinese military hackers.

ASPIs report welcomes the Australian governments current review of the Defence Trade Controls Act, which has seen the Department of Defence call for sweeping new restrictions on all scientific research in Australia, whether directly related to military purposes or not, backed by powers to raid universities and businesses suspected of breaching the rules.

However, ASPI goes further, calling for tighter visa checks and stronger US-style rules prohibiting national security exports and research activities, bans on investment in Australia by Chinese defence companies and a committee, modelled on a US body, to bring university leaders together with the security agencies.

It cites the Trump administrations US National Security Strategy document of December 2017 that named China a strategic competitor and urges a greater anti-China propaganda campaign: Politicians and senior public servants should better articulate whats in the national interest and publicly explain why advancing Chinas military capabilities isnt in the national interest.

The report threateningly warns universities that they risk reputational damage and eroding trust with official and corporate research funders by collaborating with a non-allied military.

Joske, until recently an Australian National University student, is currently employed by ASPI. As a student, he supplied similar dubious material for Silent Invasion: Chinas Influence in Australia written by Clive Hamilton, a former Greens candidate, now university professor. The book insinuated that the majority of Australias 1.2 million people of Chinese descent are not loyal to Australia; cast suspicion over many of the countrys 130,000 Chinese students, as well as many individually named academics, scientists and researchers of Chinese descent, and alleged that numbers of prominent business and political leaders are fifth columnists.

Silent Invasion called for Australia to join a US-led war against China, supposedly as the only way to stop the country from becoming a tribute state of the resurgent Middle Kingdom.

In a rare public speech, delivered to an ASPI National Security Dinner in Canberra on Monday, Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) director-general Mike Burgess declared that his electronic spy agencyformerly a quasi-secret arm of the militaryhad come out of the shadows to make the population aware of its activities, because of new threats to Australias most important interests.

Burgess did not name China but said strategic and economic power is shifting east. He declared that this posed unprecedented dangers to Australias industrial base and critical infrastructure.

Burgess claimed credit for the Liberal-National governments decision, announced on the eve of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls ouster on August 24, to ban the Chinese telcos, Huawei and ZTE, from Australias proposed 5G networks. Such high-risk vendors had the potential to cripple the networks and all essential infrastructure, he insisted.

5G technology will underpin the communications that Australians rely on every day, from our health systems and the potential applications of remote surgery, to self-driving cars and through to the operation of our power and water supply, Burgess said. The stakes could not be higher Getting security right for our critical infrastructure is paramount.

While drumming up a wartime atmosphere, Burgess denied that ASD had any interest in communications involving everyday Australians. By law, ASD is meant to operate only against overseas targets. He insisted that ASD was only focussed on terrorists, cyber threats and foreign espionage or interference.

This is known to be untrue. In the Five Eyes network, the ASD is integrated into the operations of its US equivalent, the National Security Agency (NSA). As the revelations of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and leaked documents published by Julian Assange and WikiLeaks have demonstrated, the NSA and its partners conduct mass surveillance worldwide.

This includes sharing information on each others citizens who are regarded as threats to the ruling establishmentin particular, opponents of the drive to war, worsening inequality and erosion of basic democratic rights under the capitalist system.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe late last week made his first visit to China since taking office in December 2012. The trip, aimed at further thawing the frosty relations between the two countries, took place as both China and Japan are being affected by the Trump administrations trade war measures.

Abe took the first steps toward ending the standoff with China by suggesting, in June 2017, that Japan could provide conditional support for Chinese President Xi Jinpings massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aimed at linking East Asia with Europe and Africa.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Japan in May, after years of bitter exchanges, particularly over the disputed rocky outcrops in the East China Sea known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyu islands in China. Li, however, barely referred to these divisive issues and stressed instead the value of economic cooperation between two countries.

Following Lis visit, Abe declared that he wanted to lift the Japan-China relationship to a new stage and described Lis trip as an important first step toward a dramatic improvement. Abe reiterated that theme when he met Li and Xi in Beijing last week, saying: From competition to coexistence, Japanese and Chinese bilateral relations have entered a new phase With President Xi Jinping, I would like to carve out a new era for China and Japan.

Responding in kind, Xi said the two countries should move in a new historic direction and work together at a time of growing global instability and uncertainties. Abe was welcomed with all the pomp of a state visit, including a 19-gun salute, an honour guard, the playing of the two national anthems, and a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People.

China faces aggressive moves by the Trump administration on all frontstrade war measures, accusations of Chinese interference in American politics and US military provocations in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

Japan has been hit by US trade threats, both directly and indirectly through its exports to China, which is Japans largest trading partner. Last financial year, Japan exported $137 billion worth of goods into Chinese marketsmuch of it semiconductors and other components that are incorporated into items sold in the US.

For China, hi-tech imports from Japan are vital as the US seeks to choke off access to such goods on the grounds of national security. In the name of halting the alleged theft of American technical secrets, the Trump administration is seeking to undermine Chinas efforts to become a global leader in advanced technology. Abe and Li agreed to start talks about cooperation in state-of-the-art technology, while protecting intellectual property rightsa move that Washington will not welcome.

Abe brought 500 corporate executives as part of his entourage. According to Li, Chinese and Japanese companies signed deals worth $18 billion during the visit. At the same time, the two central banks signed a three-year credit swap agreement allowing them to exchange $30 billion worth of each others currencies and helping to facilitate trade.

Abe and Xi announced 50 joint infrastructure projects, although these are not formally part of Chinas BRI. This is another move that will displease the US. Washington regards the BRI as undermining its efforts to isolate China and has been pressuring countries not to participate.

Other deals concluded during Abes visit included cooperation between stock exchanges and a pledge by Japan to promote the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership led by China.

This warming of relations, however, remains tentative. While both sides played down long-festering disputes during Abes visit, the potential for a sudden deterioration of relations remains. Without stability in the East China Sea, there can be no true improvement in bilateral relations, Abe reportedly told his hosts. He sought assurances that China would stop sending vessels into waters around the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, regarded by Japan as its territory.

Nevertheless, the first tentative steps were taken to defuse the dispute. Tokyo and Beijing signed an agreement to cooperate in maritime search and rescue operations. They also agreed to open a hotline to avoid accidental clashes at sea and in the air, and resume talks on the joint development of gas fields in the East China Sea.

Japan remains dependent on the US-Japan Security Treaty and is not about to take steps that would endanger it. As such, Tokyo is vulnerable to pressure from the Trump administration to distance itself from Beijing. President Donald Trump last year publicly suggested that Japan and South Korea had to pay more of the costs of US military bases, and could press the issue again.

While resting on the US military alliance, Abe has been remilitarising Japanboosting the defence budget and removing legal restraints on the use of the military overseas. He also has pushed for a revision of the countrys post-war constitution, under which Japan nominally renounces war and pledges never to maintain war potential.

Beijing is deeply suspicious of Abe, a right-wing militarist who defends the war crimes of the Japanese military during the 1930s and 1940s in China and elsewhere in Asia. Abes visit in 2013 to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of Japanese militarism that inters the remains of class A war criminals, marked a low point in relations with Beijing. China branded the visit absolutely unacceptable.

During his trip to Japan in May, Premier Li pointedly pushed these fractious issues to one side and used the formula favoured in Tokyo that the two countries should look to the futurethat is, not dwell on the past. Nonetheless, the bitter experiences of Japans brutal invasion of China in the 1930s continues to colour relations between the two countries and form a core component of the Chinese nationalism that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) exploits to buttress its rule.

Moreover, like the US, Japan is deeply concerned that Chinese economic expansion is undermining its own ambitions to become the dominant power in Asia. The Japanese ruling class was shaken in 2010 when China overtook Japan as the worlds second largest economy and has never reconciled itself to being eclipsed. Japans remilitarisation is above all to ensure the ability of Japanese imperialism to aggressively prosecute its economic and strategic interests in Asia and internationally.

These underlying tensions continue to simmer and could rapidly erupt, ending the present moves toward economic cooperation.
President Trump announced on Wednesday evening he was considering deploying another 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers to the US-Mexico border. This follows the present deployment of 5,000 active-duty soldiers to the region to stop the entry of a migrant caravan as it makes its way through Mexico.

As of press time Trumps proposal received muted media coverage and was not referenced on the online front page of the New York Times. Democratic politicians have downplayed the significance of the deployment, calling it a stunt by Trump to curry favor with his fascistic base one week before the midterm congressional elections.

While there are undoubtedly electoral considerations behind the Trump administrations moves, the tripling or quadrupling of troop presence on American soil is a further milestone in the attack on democratic rights and the savage war on immigrants. What is being prepared in the southwest United States is an army of occupation, the size of which has not been seen since the border wars of the Mexican Revolution of 191020.

Speaking to reporters in front of the White House before departing to a campaign rally in Florida, Trump declared, Well go up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Control, ICE and everybody else at the border, adding Nobodys coming in. Were not allowing people to come in. Immigration is a very, very big and very dangerous, a really dangerous topic. Were not going to allow people to enter our country who do not have the well-being of our country in mind.

In a related press conference, the head of US Northern Command Gen. Terrence OShaughnessy was asked by reporters what the purpose was of sending the troops. To secure the border, he said. From what? a reporter asked. He refused to answer.

The ostensible reason for the military operation dubbed Operation Faithful Patriot has been to free up the Border Patrol to carry out repressive measures against the caravan of immigrants, mostly women and children fleeing horrific violence and poverty in Central America. The 5,239 troops already being deployed will join the 2,092 National Guard troops already in place.

The announcement that the active-duty contingent may be more than doubled to 15,000 soldiers means the troop level would match the same number of American occupation troops in Afghanistan and triple the number of troops in Iraq.

In a statement, US Northern Command said shortly after the Presidents proposal, The number of troops deployed will change each day as military forces flow into the operating area, but the initial estimate is that (the Defense Department) will have more than 7,000 troops supporting DHS (Department of Homeland Security) across California, Arizona and Texas.

The possibility that soldiers may fire upon immigrants crossing the border is very real. Defense Secretary James Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon that the deployment was no stunt, saying, We dont do stunts in this department.

The military has announced the troops will use helicopters to transport CBP officers, build tent cities to house personnel, and construct barriers and medical units. Northern Command has identified 13 bases in California, Arizona and Texas from which US troops will operate as well as 14 bases from where they will be called from, totalling 38 active-duty units.

The legal implications are chilling as US troops will be used in a domestic operation explicitly forbidden by the Posse Comitatus Act. The news comes the same week as President Trump declared his willingness to overturn the 14th amendment, ending birthright citizenship by presidential decree, in an illegal move to deprive millions of immigrant children of basic democratic rights. It also follows the anti-Jewish massacre in Pittsburgh by a fascist, the mail bomb scare by a Trump supporter, and the racist killing of two shoppers in a store in Kentucky.
With less than a week until the November 6 midterm elections, Socialist Equality Party congressional candidate Niles Niemuth campaigned Wednesday among workers and students in Lincoln Park, a Downriver suburb in Michigans 12th district which borders southwest Detroit.

The area is a bedroom community for workers employed at the surrounding auto, steel and chemical plants. In recent years the city has seen a growth in its Hispanic and Latin population, now accounting for more than 20 percent of residents, many of whom have family members who are immigrants or are immigrants themselves.

Like many other cities in Downriver, Lincoln Park has been marked by decades of deindustrialization and stagnant wages. More than one in five residents live below the official poverty line, well above the national rate of 13 percent.

Gabrielle and Alison are both 20 years old. Gabrielle is studying nursing at Henry Ford College. She pays $2,500 per semester for her course and is working at Tim Hortons, a fast food cafe chain, for $9.75 an hour to pay it off. Its garbage, she said. I would take anything for $20 an hour.

Niles with Gabrielle (right) and Alison (center)

Alison is waiting to be accepted for a position as a pharmacy technician trainee. Her mother is a steelworker and her father works in an auto engine plant. She was studying psychology at college but had to drop out last year because it was too expensive, and she couldnt afford it any longer. She told us she thinks education should be freely available to all as a basic right.

Both of them were outraged by President Donald Trumps deployment of troops to the southern US border against immigrants from Honduras and other countries in central America. Its messed up, Gabrielle said. Why dont they just let them in? They just want to work. I know plenty of immigrants, lots of them here illegally, and all they want is to have a life: to work, have a family, have a dog and a home. There are ICE agents who come to my work at Tim Hortons every day looking for them.

Alison added I just saw on the news theyre trying to get rid of the birthright citizenship law. If your parents came here illegally and had you, you cant be a citizen. It is so wrong. Everyone here is an immigrant. Im Irish and Indian and German. Gabrielle added: People should have a right to live everywhere in the world.

Gabrielle moved to Michigan from Dingess, a small mining community just outside Logan County in West Virginia. She and her boyfriend have considered moving back there, but the only work he could get would be in a coal mine, where Gabrielles cousins work.

If you have money, you can go anywhere you want, Alison said. She and Gabrielle were both angered by the endemic poverty around them and the immense levels of social inequality in the US. I heard how much money Jeff Bezos has, Alison said. How could you ever spend that? Gabrielle said she thought he should be made to spit that back out so we can share it with everyone.

They had other concerns: the danger of world war and dictatorship. Gabrielle said Im scared that in the years ahead its going to be really restricted, that we wont be allowed to do anything. Trump the other week sent everyone a text message. How did my number get to the president? What else are they going to do?

Alison said she was scared there is a danger of a third world war. There are wars happening right now we dont even know about, and there are bigger countries getting together. You saw that whole North Korea thing. Trump threatened to wipe it out. It just sort of happened really quickly. Its like a scary movie.

Neither of them had any interest in the choice between Democrats and Republicans. Niles explained that his campaign is aimed at building a movement of the working class independent of both these parties for socialism and genuine equality. If we all got together and did something about itthats what we need, Gabrielle replied. A lot of the time it feels like were a small group. But were not. The working class really is a big part of the world. Its the high class and the low class.

Alison said she was not very familiar with what socialism means but that she was supports issues she associates it with: I think it means people are equal and everyone gets free schooling and healthcare, she said. Everyone should get enough so that they can live on it, Gabrielle said. People shouldnt worry about housing, electricity, or all these basic rights.

Niles also spoke with Tom, a 29-year-old Ford autoworker. He has been at Ford for almost three years, but the company has kept him on as a temporary part-time (TPT) worker, a category of casual and insecure work expanded by the United Auto Workers union in the last two contracts. I applied for this job because Ford was supposed to be the great American dream, he told us. Ive been transferred between different facilities six times: in Bronswtown, Livonia, Romulus, Dearborn, Monroe. Other people have even more time than me and are still being kept as TPTs.

He and his wife, who has just started working as a nurse, have two kids and are living paycheck to paycheck. Its really tough, he said. School supply season comes around and holiday comes around and birthdays. Its stretching and budgeting.

He described the atmosphere of management harassment that takes place at the plant. One woman almost got fired for having a heart attack a few months ago, he said. She had tried to take a day off work the day after having the attack. Three weeks later they tried to fire her for it. She was in her 50s. She just quit because she couldnt take it anymore.

Tom said he pays union dues to the UAW even though we dont get profit-sharing or the same benefits or any of the other things you are supposed to get for being in a union. He had been following the UAW corruption scandal involving payouts from Fiat Chrysler to the leading union officials in exchange for enforcing contracts which are favorable to the company, and he was disgusted. When you start at the plant, they show you the video about why the union was founded and why they do what they do. Then while youre working there, it seems like youre in the video, before the union was formed.

Anastasia (right of picture) and her friend with Niles

Niles also spoke with Anastasia and her friend, both Sophomores at Southgate Anderson High School, as they were on their way home from school. Anastasias father is a mechanic and works night shifts to make ends meet, leaving her to take care of the house, her dog and brother.

We have so much we want to change about the world, she told me. But you cant vote for anyone to do it. They say they will but they do nothing. Anastasias father previously had to work four jobs at once to help pay for four surgeries for her when she was younger. With Obama I remember my dad telling me that Obamacare wasnt as good as it was meant to be. He still doesnt have health insurance now.

They spend money on barely anything, she commented. She noted that her school is run-down and underfunded. We need better food in the cafeteria and better bathrooms. The bathroom stalls have no locks. Some of the doors are off and the toilets are broken.

Anastasia noted that when she was in middle school a student committed suicide with a gun on the school grounds. His name was Nicholas. No one feels safe. There is nothing for us. There used to be a bunch of language classes and other things for you to go into if you were interested, and now theres nothing. Theres no support.

I want to know what Im going into in this world, she said. We dont know how we will get a job. When you fill out an application, not many people succeed. Not many people get accepted into college.

Were supposed to be here in the land of the free, she said. I dont feel free.

She said ordinary people barely have anything anymore and the rich are making so much money. They want us to think they dont have any money because they dont want to spend it on fixing things for us. But its a lie. They spent $600 million on a new skyscraper in the city. We could have used that for schools! For all sorts of things. If there are billionaires in this world, there is money to build things.

But the money was being spent for things we dont need like the military. She noted that victims from the hurricane in Florida have lost their homes and their cars. What are we doing for them?

Its government of the rich, she concluded. They dont do anything and get paid millions of dollars. I would like socialism. Maybe we could start fixing things that actually need to be fixed.
Influential business, political and media circles are using the political crisis following the Grand Coalition governments election disaster in Bavaria and Hesse to bring about a sharp shift to the right in German politics. This is the background to Friedrich Merzs candidature to be party chairman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the media hype being organised around him.

After Chancellor Angela Merkels announcement that she would resign as party leader at the CDU party conference on December 8, the Bild, Handelsblatt and Welt newspapers announced on Monday that Merz would apply for CDU chairmanship. On Tuesday, Merz announced his candidacy himself. On Wednesday, he held a press conference in Berlin.

Since then, leading media outlets have feverishly promoted him. Merz is being celebrated as a saviour who electrifies the party. Flash polls predict he will have high approval ratings. Regional conferences and even a vote inside the party are also under discussion in order to elect Merz as the new CDU chairman. It is an open secret that his real goal is not the CDU headquarters, but the chancellery.

The intensity of the hype around Merz stands in stark contrast to the actual extent of his support. Hardly any other German politician so openly and nakedly embodies the interests of capital and combines this with an arch-conservative policy that would also qualify him as the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Merz withdrew from active politics starting in 2004, after having been ousted two years earlier by Angela Merkel as CDU parliamentary party leader. Since then, he has mainly been active as a lobbyist; in the last two and a half years, he served as chairman of the supervisory board of BlackRocks German branch.

The US asset-managing corporation BlackRock controls $6.4 trillion, making it the largest asset manager in the world. In order to increase the wealth of its customers, the company invests in innumerable firms and maintains a worldwide network of political contacts. In Germany, for example, it holds substantial stakes in all 30 DAX companies and is by far the largest single shareholder of Deutsche Borse.

Merzs job at BlackRock is to maintain these networks. His role goes far beyond the usual range of tasks, the Suddeutsche Zeitung wrote. BlackRock, it added, values his address book, his contacts in politics and in the executive offices of German companies. Merzs role is to act as a door opener for one of the most powerful financial groups that has ever existed. They are happy in those circles today.

Even before joining BlackRock, Merz served on the supervisory boards of numerous corporations and banks. For nine years he has also been Chairman of the Atlantic Bridge, a European-American network of some 500 influential personalities from the banking, finance, business, politics, media and tech sectors, as well as a member of the Trilateral Commission.

Even when he was an active politician, Merz stood at the extreme right wing of the CDU. In economic policy, he advocated a strictly free-market course: he supported the Hartz IV welfare cuts imposed by the Social Democrat (SPD)-Green government, but called for a significantly lower standard payment. He called for limiting the welfare state, the complete abolition of protection against sackings, an increase in the retirement age and full taxation of pensions.

He took an ultra-reactionary position on social issues. Long before the AfD existed, Merz called for a German guiding culture and demanded that Muslims accept our customs, traditions and habits.

The CDU Economic Council and the Parliamentary Group for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, the largest group in the Union faction, welcomed his candidacy.

The Free Democratic Party (FDP) and its leader Christian Lindner hold similar positions in economic policy to those of Merz. AfD chief Alexander Gauland has praised Merz as a clever man.

Merzs candidacy for party chairmanship is a step towards AfD participation in government.

Merz will compete against several other candidates at the party conference, including CDU Secretary General Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who is Merkels favourite, and Health Minister Jens Spahn, who holds positions similar to those of Merz. But even if he loses the election, the axis of government policy will move further to the right.

The right-wing policy of the Christian Democratic-Social Democratic Grand Coalition has created conditions for a right-wing representative of parasitic financial interests like Merz, who would otherwise only reap contempt, to launch a serious bid for the chancellorship. The SPD and its political fig leaf, the Left Party, bear principal responsibility for this. Since the Hartz laws, they have played a leading role dismantling social rights, building a police state, and remilitarizing German foreign policy.

The stronger the resistance to this, the more official politics takes the form of a conspiracy. After massive losses in the 2017 Bundestag elections, the CDU, CSU and SPD spent months negotiating a new government program behind the scenes that would adopt the AfDs course in refugee policy, police-state repression at home and imperialist war abroad.

In the Bavarian and Hessian state elections, they reaped the consequences. The massive losses suffered by the CDU, the SPD and the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) were primarily the result of opposition from the left. But this opposition finds no expression inside the existing party system.

There is broad opposition against growing poverty, rising rents, the demonization of refugees, the massive military armament and AfD intimidation since the far-right march in Chemnitz. Before and during the elections, tens of thousands took to the streets in numerous cities; in Berlin alone, 250,000 marched in a demonstration against the right on October 13.

Official policy is reacting to this with another shift to the right. If the Grand Coalition remains in office, the political process of putrefaction, which is pushing right-wing figures like Merz upwards, will continue to accelerate.

This is shown by experience in numerous other countries. The rise of fascist Jair Bolsonaro to the Brazilian presidency is the result of the right-wing, anti-worker politics of the former ruling Workers Party (PT). And far-right Italian Lega leader Matteo Salvini owes his success to the Italian Democratic Partys years-long policy of social cuts. Around the world, the ruling class is responding to the crisis of capitalism by turning to dictatorial forms of rule and war. Germany is no exception.

The SPD is determined to keep the Grand Coalition in office despite the election defeats in Bavaria and Hesse, and has rejected any call for new elections. Even SPD youth leader Kevin Kuhnert, who led the campaign against the continuation of the Grand Coalition, currently rejects an end to the Grand Coalition government.

The dangerous shift towards the right in Germany can only be stopped by an independent political intervention of the working class based on a socialist and internationalist program. This requires the building of the Socialist Equality Partythe only party to represent such a programme.
The most recent Living Planet Report reveals that the worlds populations of vertebratethose species with a spinehave fallen by 60 percent between 1970 and 2014 as a result of human-induced global environmental changes. Put another way, the available data for all species and regions reveals that the number of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians across the world has fallen by well over half in less than 50 years. At the same time, the report notes, this threatens the economic activity that ultimately depends on nature, estimated to be worth around $125 trillion a year.

This decline is especially sharp in South and Central America, a region which has experienced a vertebrate population decline of 89 percent, and in freshwater populations worldwide, which have dropped by 83 percent. The decline is slower in North America and the Eurasian landmass, which have suffered population declines of 23 percent and 31 percent, respectively.

Other data presented in the report indicate the same sobering trends. While Earths environment was relatively stable during the past 11,700 years, an era known as the Holocene, the past 50 years in particular have seen enormous changes to the planets ecosystem. In the last 50 years, global average temperature has risen at 170 times the background rate, the report says. Ocean acidification may be occurring at a rate not seen in at least 300 million years. Earth is losing biodiversity at a rate seen only during mass extinctions.

First published in 1998 and every two years since, the Living Planet Report and its primary statistic, the Living Planet Index, serve as a benchmark for biodiversitythe number of species in an ecosystem and the populations of those speciesacross the world. It is a collaborative effort between the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London which analyzes the impact human activity is having on the environment and in turn how the various changes of Earths environment impact animal and human life.

The study tracks 16,704 populations representing 4,005 species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians currently used as the sample for Earths wildlife. All the populations in the study come from one of five major regions, which roughly correspond to North America, South America, Eurasia, Africa and Oceania. The divisions are based on the types of species found in the regions and provide a somewhat more granular understanding of the health of different regions around the globe, which in turn indicates whether the effects on a specific section of wildlife are local or global in scope.

The regions are then subdivided by taxonomic groupbirds, mammals, fishes, reptiles and amphibiansand threats such as habitat degradation and loss, overexploitation, invasive species and disease, pollution, and climate change. This allows for an at-a-glance analysis of both what species in a given region are being most affected by the changing environment and what is driving their population loss.

On a global scale, the most common reasons for declining animal populations are habitat loss and overexploitation, which account for approximately three-quarters of global vertebrate population loss. This includes a combination of agricultural, residential, industrial and commercial development, logging, damming, and mining, as well as mass hunting, poaching and harvesting.

Climate change, in contrast, only accounts for less than 10 percent of the decrease in wild populations. The Living Planet Report notes, however, that this will increase as climate change accelerates and that losses of wild species already suffering from more traditional threats like habitat loss and overexploitation may be exacerbated by compromising a species ability to respond to changes in climate. This interconnection is stressed throughout the report and is shown for climate change and every other impact humans have had on the environment.

The analysis showing the consequences of the deteriorating environment on human life are no less devastating. The cost that humans face, the report notes, is not just measured by the direct monetary loss caused by a lack of natural resources. There are natural processes that regulate air, water and soil, between 50,000 and 70,000 plants used industrially, as well as numerous cultural benefits that are being eroded as various ecosystems suffer collapse.

One noted direct cost on humans is the loss of pollinators, which threatens at least $500 billion of crop production per year. Another, not discussed in the report, is the impact of extreme weather events such as wildfires, hurricanes and typhoons, made more common and stronger as a result of climate change, which kill thousands of people every year and cause hundreds of billions of dollars in damages globally.

Overall, a clear picture emerges of a planet in crisis. The biosphere of Earth, the infrastructure for all life on the planet, is collapsing. The massive expansion of human activity since the Industrial Revolution is the primary cause. What then are the solutions?

To its credit, the authors of the Living Planet Report never suggest a Malthusian approach, never suggest that perhaps the only road for a healthy planet is to eradicate some large percentage of the human race in order to restore some sort of equilibrium. On the contrary, the appeal to its readers is that the natural world should be preserved and strengthened in order for a modern, prosperous human society to exist, and to continue to thrive.

What they do not challenge is the socioeconomic form of political organization that helped propel the Industrial Revolution, capitalism and the division of the world into rival nation-states. In contrast to the global approach taken to the science they present, the authors appeal to the United Nations and its member states, all of whom have material interests in exploiting and ravaging the planets resources. This has been proven again and again by industrial/ecological disasters such as the BP oil spill and the radiation leakage from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

As such, the crisis of the environment is ultimately a political crisis, one that can only be solved by a turn to the working class. Only through this social force, one which is inherently international and for which a healthy environment is a social necessity, can the restoration of Earths ecosystems even begin.
"This fire has burned 4,000 years and never stopped," says Aliyeva Rahila. "Even the rain coming here, snow, wind -- it never stops burning."

Ahead, tall flames dance restlessly across a 10-meter stretch of hillside, making a hot day even hotter.

This is Yanar Dag -- meaning "burning mountainside" -- on Azerbaijan's Absheron Peninsula, where Rahila works as a tour guide.

A side effect of the country's plentiful natural gas reserves, which sometimes leak to the surface, Yanar Dag is one of several spontaneously occurring fires to have fascinated and frightened travelers to Azerbaijan over the millennia.

Venetian explorer Marco Polo wrote of the mysterious phenomena when he passed through the country in the 13th century. Other Silk Road merchants brought news of the flames as they would travel to other lands.

It's why the country earned the moniker the "land of fire."

Ancient religion

Such fires were once plentiful in Azerbaijan, but because they led to a reduction of gas pressure underground, interfering with commercial gas extraction, most have been snuffed out.

Yanar Dag is one of the few remaining examples, and perhaps the most impressive.

At one time they played a key role in the ancient Zoroastrian religion, which was founded in Iran and flourished in Azerbaijan in the first millennium BCE.

For Zoroastrians, fire is a link between humans and the supernatural world, and a medium through which spiritual insight and wisdom can be gained. It's purifying, life-sustaining and a vital part of worship.

Today, most visitors who arrive at the no-frills Yanar Dag visitors' center come for the spectacle rather than religious fulfillment.

The experience is most impressive at night, or in winter. When snow falls, the flakes dissolve in the air without ever touching the ground, says Rahila.

Despite the claimed antiquity of the Yanar Dag flames -- some argue that this particular fire may only have been ignited in the 1950s -- it's a long 30-minute drive north from the center of Baku just to see it. The center offers only a small cafe and there's not much else in the area.

Ateshgah Fire Temple

For a deeper insight into Azerbaijan's history of fire worship, visitors should head east of Baku to Ateshgah Fire Temple.

"Since ancient times, they think that [their] god is here," says our guide, as we enter the pentagonal complex which was built in the 17th and 18th century by Indian settlers in Baku.

Fire rituals at this site date back to the 10th century or earlier. The name Ateshgah comes from the Persian for "home of fire" and the centerpiece of the complex is a cupola-topped altar shrine, built upon a natural gas vent.

A natural, eternal flame burned here on the central altar until 1969, but these days the fire is fed from Baku's main gas supply and is only lit for visitors.

The temple is associated with Zoroastrianism but it's as a Hindu place of worship that its history is better documented.

Merchants and ascetics

Built like a caravanserai-style travelers' inn, the complex has a walled courtyard surrounded by 24 cells and rooms.

These were variously used by pilgrims, passing merchants (whose donations were a vital source of income) and resident ascetics, some of whom submitted themselves to ordeals such as lying on caustic quicklime, wearing heavy chains, or keeping an arm in one position for years on end.

The temple fell out of use as a place of worship in the late 19th century, at a time when the development of the surrounding oil fields meant that veneration of Mammon was gaining a stronger hold.

The complex became a museum in 1975, was nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, and today welcomes around 15,000 visitors a year.
A month ago, I wrote a piece for this website with the title: "The smears against George Soros are dangerous." I knew then, from spending time in Eastern Europe, that the international far-right's attack on Soros had become an excuse for Hungary's government to imprison migrants and shut universities. What I didn't know was that within a month, the conspiracy theories about one of America's most prominent Jewish philanthropists spread by that far-right network -- including members of the US President's entourage -- would lead to bombing attempts and mass murder on US soil.

To many Americans, it might be confusing to see far-right extremists, like Cesar Altieri Sayoc Jr. and Robert Bowers, be accused of attacking Jewish people in the name of protesting nonwhite immigration. Sayoc, who is charged with last week's mail bomb campaign, reportedly accused Soros of funding a high-profile caravan of immigrants currently traveling from Honduras (and echoed several high-profile GOP leaders in doing so.)

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Bowers, arrested at the scene of Saturday's synagogue shootings in Pittsburgh, is reported to have posted messages complaining about Jewish organizations aiding refugees. "Open you Eyes!" [sic] read one post. "It's the filthy EVIL jews Bringing the Filthy EVIL Muslims into the Country!!"

To Eastern Europeans, none of this is surprising at all. If you spent any time in Hungary during April's general election, you'd have seen poster images of Soros with opposition politicians, brandishing Photoshopped bolt cutters as he bursts through the fences reinforced on Hungary's borders to keep out migrants.

In Hungary, where my grandparents came from, fear of Muslim invasion runs deep; centuries of resistance on the borders of the Ottoman Empire have engendered a residual mythos of Hungary as a nation destined to hold the frontier between European Christendom and Islam. But the idea of Hungary's most famous Jewish emigrant as a fifth columnist enabling this invasion? That taps into wider international prejudices about the Jewish people as barely white sleeper agents in white civilization.

Multiple Ph.D. theses have been written on the subject of whether Jewish people are "white." Here's perhaps one simplified answer to a much more complicated question: In white, Christian countries, Jews are a minority -- but unlike non-Caucasian minorities, many Ashkenazi Jews aren't as easily singled out simply by skin color. Those Jews can pass -- my family did, in Europe, for generations.

So white supremacists eager to police racial purity have to look for other traits to define their racist boundaries. (Remember all that Nazi obsession with head sizes?) In the nastier corners of the internet, it's only a short stop from that to the idea of the Jew as someone who's still on the same "team" as Hispanics, black people or Middle Eastern people, practicing an added deceit by passing in white society. Or as Bowers put it: "It's the filthy evil jews Bringing the Filthy evil Muslims into the Country!!" Doesn't matter how white your skin is, if you're not Aryan, you're filthy, in the eyes of the extremists.

Hungary, where the theory of an alliance between Jews and nonwhite migrants has been given freest rein by a supremacist government, has pinned these anxieties most obviously onto the figure of George Soros. As I've written before, Soros has invested significant wealth in supporting democratic institutions in Hungary and other western countries but his support for migration has been grossly exaggerated.

In a pre-election speech, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban railed against nonwhite migration ("Africa wants to kick our door down") in the same breath as attacking "Uncle George" for being behind Europe's changing demographics. (He also identified Hungary's enemy as an unnamed group, which "does not have its own homeland but feels it owns the whole world." It was widely assumed to be an anti-Semitic description of the Jewish people.) But as Spencer Ackerman points out at the Daily Beast, there's been a Jewish bogeyman for every age of white prejudice, and it's always been someone accused of trading in his white countryman's suffering for personal profit.

There may be particular reasons for criticizing Soros' individual choices -- as there are with any public figure -- which don't make the critic anti-Semitic. (As Eric Levitz has written this week, many who defend Soros would also criticize the ways Sheldon Adelson also uses his wealth to impact the democratic process.) But in the case of Soros, we can't ignore the ways the particular charges against him echo centuries-old anti-Semitic tropes that long predate his arrival on the scene.

This stuff is everyday parlance in Hungarian politics. Flick through the hard-right propaganda website Breitbart and you'll find pages of GOP attacks on Soros as an insidious proponent of further nonwhite migration. Breitbart refers to Soros' Open Society Foundations as "The Death Star" and pushes claims such as: "globally, Soros is involved in efforts to promote migration from the Muslim world into Europe across open borders."

Just this Monday, after the Pittsburgh shootings, the website was amplifying a claim by the GOP gubernatorial candidate in Florida, Ron DeSantis. According to DeSantis, a victory by his opponent Andrew Gillum would lead Florida to "become a petri dish for people like George Soros and Tom Steyer." (Steyer, another liberal philanthropist, is the son of a Jewish father who acted as a prosecutor against Nazis at the Nuremburg trials.) Breitbart helpfully illustrated this claim with a double portrait of Soros and Gillum, who is black.

So, allegedly, Jewish billionaires foster a breeding ground for bacteria, starting with a black governor. This stuff isn't subtle and it's not new either.

The attack at the Tree of Life synagogue was not the only deadly incident linked to a white supremacist this week. Just as Bowers reportedly entered a Jewish synagogue to open fire on innocents on Saturday, Gregory A. Bush was arrested in Kentucky on Wednesday after failing to gain entry to a historically black church carrying a weapon. Before he could be arrested, police say he'd sought out two black passersby to kill instead of the churchgoers, allegedly after telling a frightened white bystander that "whites don't shoot white." The shootings are now being investigated as a hate crime.

(Breitbart loved that one, too.)

Most disturbingly, we see the same personnel popping up in Donald Trump's White House, purveying conspiracy theories at outlets like Breitbart, and building links with populist governments in Europe who make anti-Soros prejudices official government policy. Steve Bannon, who served as Trump's chief strategist and Breitbart's executive chairman, recently visited Hungary to hail Orban as "the original Trump." The international far-right has a network every bit as strong as the web it attributes to George Soros.

It's not enough for President Donald Trump to condemn the individual actions of racist killers. He needs to repudiate the conspiracy theories that fuel their bloodlust. He needs to denounce Bannon, and he needs to end his warm ties with a racist Hungarian government. The European Union is already considering sanctions in response to Orban's racist cultural crusade. If Trump continues to embrace him as a brother in an international network of far-right thinkers, the international community will need to hold the US President to account, too.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Police are investigating after a crash in Terre Haute.

It happened just before 10:00 on 3rd Street near Washington.

Our crew on the scene observed a single vehicle crashed into an electrical pole.

The crash knocked out the traffic light for the intersection, resulting in police directing traffic.

The extent of any injuries and the cause of the crash is unclear at this time.

We will continue to follow this developing story and bring you more information as soon as it becomes available.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI)- Local bus drivers are feeling the impact of the three siblings killed while boarding their school bus in Fulton County, Indiana. It's sending a heartbreaking message and a warning to drivers.

Tiffany Haskett was driving students to school like she always does when she found out the news on Tuesday morning.

"It made me sick," Haskett said.

Three children were killed while boarding a school bus in Fulton County. A fourth child, unrelated, is currently in the hospital suffering serious injuries.

"It's not worth it to take a child's life. Let alone, three and almost four," Haskett said.

As a bus driver, Haskett says this one hits close to home.

"I've seen an accident almost happen," she added. "I've been yelled at and people are on their phones. O have seen people basically just not paying attention or even caring.

The Vigo County School Corporation (VCSC) has placed black flags on the front of school buses to honor the children in the accident.

"That's a child's life. If you are a mother or a father, you have to think about if it was your own child getting on that bus," Haskett said.

VCSC is collecting donations for the family. You can drop cash or check donations straight to the transportation office, on maple avenue.
Human remains found at a property owned by the Vatican in Rome have raised hope that a 35-year-old mystery involving a teenage girl's disappearance could be nearing a resolution.

The Holy See said in a statement released Tuesday that fragments of human bone were found during restoration works on an annex next to the Vatican's diplomatic office in the Italian capital.

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"The Vatican Gendarmerie promptly intervened on the spot, informing the superiors at the Holy See who immediately informed the Italian Authorities," it said online, adding that an investigation has been launched.

According to the statement, the chief prosecutor of Rome, Giuseppe Pignatone, said experts were trying to establish the age and sex of the remains, as well as the date of death.

Italian media have begun speculating whether the remains are connected to Emanuela Orlandi, a 15-year-old girl who vanished without a trace after leaving her Vatican apartment for a music lesson in 1983. She was the daughter of a prominent employee of the Institute for the Works of Religion, which is widely known as the Vatican Bank.

READ: Mobster's body exhumed from Vatican site in search for teen who vanished

The mystery has captivated people throughout Italy and triggered numerous conspiracy theories -- pointing the finger at everything from the Mafia to the Vatican itself.

A top Vatican exorcist, the late Rev. Gabriele Amorth, had previously told CNN he suspected the girl had been abducted for sexual reasons, saying: "The investigation should be carried out inside the Vatican and not outside."

READ: Missing girl's brother urges Vatican to open up

In 2005, an anonymous call to an Italian detective said Orlandi was kidnapped on the orders of the then-vicar of Rome, Cardinal Ugo Poletti, and that "the secret to the mystery lies in a tomb in Sant'Apollinare basilica" -- specifically the tomb of mobster Enrico "Renatino" De Pedis.

De Pedis was gunned down in Rome in 1990 and his body was moved to the basilica sometime before 1997, presumably either as part of a secret deal for a massive loan De Pedis allegedly made to the Vatican or to protect his tomb from being desecrated by rival gang members.

In 2008, De Pedis' mistress said he had been involved in Orlandi's kidnapping and that the girl was buried under the foundation of a house outside Rome. Investigators searched that house but found that the concrete foundation was poured the year before the girl's disappearance and could not have been connected to the crime.

In 2012, investigators opened his tomb and unsuccessfully searched it for clues.

The Vatican has distanced itself from the Orlandi controversy.
STARKVILLE Miss. (WTVA) - The community at Mississippi State University gathered together for an emotional Wednesday night in remembrance of the eleven victims killed in last week's synagogue shooting.

Twelve white flowers represented the eleven victims shot and killed in Pittsburgh, the 12th flower for other lives taken too soon to senseless violence.

"One of the initial feelings was, you know, what if it were someone I knew, what if it was someone I had a connection with that was there," shared Tyler Daniel, who is president of Hillel, the campus' Jewish Student Association. "The next feeling was what if it were me? What if it was my synagogue?"

Federal prosecutors have filed hate crime charges against suspect Robert Bowers, 46. Pennsylvania authorities say Bowers made anti-Semitic statements after Saturday morning's shooting at Tree of Life synagogue.

Daniels says there was an outpouring of support of condolences from across the country and state following last Saturday. He says the vigil is not only to remember the victims but show a strong sense of solidarity for Jewish student on campus.

"My grandfather was the state's only Holocaust survivor, and he watched his entire family murdered in Auschwitz simply because they were Jewish," said Joseph Metz, a former president of Hillel. "So, to have an individual go into a synagogue and kill somebody just because they were Jewish, really hit me personally."

Students, campus groups and other religious leaders from the Muslim Student Association and the University Baptist Church also filed in to pay respects.

A prayer service was held and the names of all 11 victims spoken during the vigil.

"You never really need a reason to love somebody," said Jason Stein. "It should be an initial reaction but that's not what's happening in the country right now.

Those who took the podium also shared stories of hatred shown to them because they were Jewish.

"Throughout history, Jews have been the scapegoat," explained Metz. "Especially American-Jews, they try to stand up when nobody else will stand up."
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Raven Varona/Parkwood/PictureGroupBeyonce and JAY-Z celebrated Halloween by paying tribute to two historic American Olympic champions on Instagram: Florence Griffith-Joyner and Tommie Smith.

Joyner, also known as Flo Jo, won three gold medals at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, and is considered the fastest female sprinter of all time. She still holds the world records in the 100 meters and 200 meters, and was was one of the most glamorous female athletes.

Beyonce recreated Flo Jo's look from the 1988 Olympics, wearing a purple leotard and blue shorts.

JAY appeared as Smith, who became a symbol of the black power movement when he won the gold medal in the 200 meters at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Along with bronze medal winner John Carlos, they created an iconic image when they raised their fists in the black power salute while receiving their medals, as the world watched on television.

Before appearing as Flo Jo, Beyonce also paid tribute to Toni Braxton by recreating the album cover for Tonis 1993 multi-platinum self-titled debut.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
A 5-year-old Ohio boy was hospitalized after testing positive for methamphetamine after trick-or-treating on Sunday, say local authorities.

In a statement released Sunday night on Facebook, the Galion Police Department announced that it had launched an investigation after they learned a local boy had gotten sick after going door-to-door for candy earlier that day.

Afterward, the child had a seizure and fell over, local station WSYX/WTTE reports.

The left side of his face was just droopy and then he fell and then he couldnt move his left arm, his mother, Julia Pence, told the outlet. He didnt know where he was, he didnt know what he was doing.

The boy had been trick-or-treating for about two hours on Sunday afternoon with his father, who told officers the child had eaten a few pieces of candy and was wearing fake vampire teeth, WSYX/WTTE reports.

The boy was rushed to a local hospital, the Mansfield News Journal reports.

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He was disoriented, he didnt know who was who and where he was at, Pence told CNN.

She was shocked when she learned what had gotten her son so ill.

They told me that my son had methamphetamine in his urine, she told CNN.

The boy was treated and released from the hospital Sunday night, Galion Police Chief Brian Saterfield told the News Journal.

We have taken evidence to the Mansfield Police Department crime lab for testing and are awaiting results, Saterfield told the publication.

Police are investigating whether it was the candy the boy ate or the fake teeth he had in his mouth were laced with the potent drug, and are having the teeth tested, CNN reports.

Police havent received other reports about other children getting sick after trick-or-treating, according to CNN.

Parents should still be cautious, though, Saterfield says.

I think parents should always be concerned, looking at the candy, he tells CNN. Look for anything that looks out of place, if the candy bag is open or ripped, throw it away.

Calls to Saterfield for comment were not immediately returned.
Oprah Winfrey hit Georgia on Thursday to campaign for Stacey Abrams, a longtime Democratic state lawmaker hoping to become the first black female governor in American history.

As Winfrey stumped for Abrams in the state, Veep Mike Pence was nearby to deliver some of his very best insults to the talk-show host billionaire on behalf of Abrams political opponent, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp.

I was sitting at home in California, minding my own business, but I could not stop hearing about whats going on down here, Winfrey said, charming the crowd that had gathered to see her.

You are on the precipice of an historical election, she said, assuring them, Nobody paid for me to come here; nobody even asked me to come here. I paid for myself and I approve this message.

Abrams is running on a campaign that includes Medicaid expansion and common-sense gun control, Winfrey noted.

Democracy is not just about our individual rights and concerns and our individual protections. Rather it lives and thrives in making sure that everybody is lifted by the community, Winfrey said.

Oprah preemptively scolded the crowd of reporters witnessing her Georgia performance against making any speculation that her appearance was in service of a 2020 run at the White House.

Im not here because Im making some grandstand for myself. I dont want to run. Im not testing the waters, Winfrey said.

She decided to lend her celebrity, she said, after watching how Abrams handles herself in the midst of the onslaught of hate and vitriol.

You keep standing strong for the values that matter to me, and the values that matter to Georgians all over this state, she added.

Among that onslaught, Winfrey blasted Republican ads shed seen in her hotel room casting Abrams as too radical for the state, calling it noisedesigned to confound you with fear.

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Staunch conservative Kemp, who embraces Trumps hard-line on immigration, brandishes a gun in his campaign ads, blasts Abrams as a tool of socialists and Hollywood elites who want to turn Georgia into California.

Winfrey did not mention Pence who, in appearances the same day, charged Abrams with being bankrolled by Hollywood liberals and derided Winfreys presence as well as a recent campaign appearance for Abrams by Will Ferrell.

Id like to remind Stacey, and Oprah, and Will Ferrell, Im kind of a big deal, too, simpered Pence, former TV talk show host and current Donald Trump yes-man.

Ive got a message for all of Stacey Abrams liberal Hollywood friends: This aint Hollywood, Pence said.

This is Georgia. And Georgia wants a governor thats going to put Georgia values and Georgia first. And Brian Kemp is going to do just that.

Interesting position, because local Republicans have, from time to time, touted a tax credit that has turned Georgia into a film-making force; the industry contributed an estimated $2.7 billion in direct spending in Georgia last year, according to a report in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

And, if Kemp has his way, a so-called religious liberty bill will pass into law which could dry up Georgias Hollywood money.

Oprahs speech:

speech:

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History buffs who dont scare easy, the house for you is on the market in Sandwich, Massachusetts.

The all-black house located at 33 Tarragon Drive is a near perfect replica of the Salem home of Puritan Jonathan Corwin, a central figure in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Corwins house is commonly known as the Witch House.

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The real Salem Witch House.

The Sandwich property was built in 1984, and while it doesnt come with any of the bone-chilling history, it does feature a few other perks  like modern plumbing and electricity. Its currently on the market, listed with Tori Harrison Farr of Sothebys International Realty, asking $725,000.

Corwins house is the only structure in town still standing that has direct ties to he trials, according to its official website. Corwin was a wealthy merchant in the colony and one of the judges of the witch trials, which, from the winter of 1692 through May of the following year, resulted in the hanging of 19 alleged witches, the site states.Tours are available to the public.

Its no coincidence that the Sandwich home shares many physical properties of the Corwin house, including its black timber facade, diamond-paned windows and three peaked roofs. According to the listing, this East Sandwich treasure is an authentic reproduction of the famous Salem Witch House. Inside the 3-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath, 2,606-square-foot home, the historical architecture continues, including beamed ceilings and large stone fireplaces.

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Contemporary additions make the home more than comfortable for present-day buyers. The fireplaces are gas, the kitchen includes every modern appliance, and there is a generator in case the lights go out for reasons otherworldly or otherwise.
Police are struggling to put together the pieces of tragic mystery that stretches from Saudi Arabia, to sleepy Fairfax, Virginia, and finally the shores of the Hudson River in New York City, where the bodies of two young women were discovered, duct-taped together at the waist and ankles, face to face, on Wednesday, October 24th. In addition to being found wearing similar black leggings and black jackets with fur-lined hoods, their resemblance, seen in police sketches released the following day, was uncanny. Last Friday, October 26th, they were identified as Rotana Farea, 22, and Tala Farea, 16, sisters from Saudi Arabia by way of Fairfax, Virginia. Nearly a week after their bodies were found, new details about the sisters lives have emerged, but police still have few answers about what ultimately ended them, and the medical examiners office has yet to determine a cause of death.

We do not know that a crime took place, Dermot F. Shea, the chief of detectives for the NYPD, said on October 25th. We have a terrible tragedy for sure.

Initially, according to the New York Post, investigators thought the sisters may have followed through with a suicide pact, duct-taping themselves together before jumping from the George Washington Bridge in Upper Manhattan; the bodies of previous jumpers had floated down the Hudson and washed ashore in Riverside Park, near where they were found. But the Farea sisters bodies showed none of the trauma that would be expected from jumping into the water from such a great height, and little decomposition, suggesting they hadnt been in the water long.

Investigators have been in touch with the sisters mother, who still lives in Fairfax. According to multiple news sources, the woman, who has not been identified, said that on October 23rd, the day before the bodies were found, she was contacted by the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and told that the familys residency in the US was in jeopardy because the sisters had applied for immigration asylum. Investigators are now looking to verify that claim  and whether it might have had anything to do with their deaths.

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We are looking at all clues in their past life, Shea said.

According to investigators, Rotana, Tala and their mother moved from Saudi Arabia to the United States in 2015, settling in Fairfax, a Washington, D.C. suburb. The sisters relationship with their mother had apparent difficulties. According to the New York Times, the woman told investigators that she hadnt seen her daughters since last December, when she reported them missing to Fairfax police. They were found quickly, but rather than returning home, they asked for protection, as the Times put it, and were placed in a shelter instead, with cops refusing to disclose its location to their mother.

According to the Guardian, older sister Rotana was enrolled at George Mason University in Fairfax up until last spring, and left for unspecified reasons; she was still living in an apartment complex in the area until July, but its not clear if Tala was living with her. In late-August, their mother filed another missing persons report, for just Tala this time, and the flyer distributed online by Fairfax police indicated she might be with Rotana. According to the Arab News, citing unspecified family members, the Fareas mother called off the search when she learned Tala was visiting Rotana in New York, and was in touch with both daughters up until last week. When she stopped being able to reach them, she filed another missing persons report, according to both the Times and the Arab News.

Reached for comment by Rolling Stone, the NYPD said they are seeking any information in regard to the below described individuals who may have been staying the New York metro area between August 24th, 2018 through October 24th, 2018.

The Arab News also reports that family members have rejected the theory that the sisters might have killed themselves. The girls father, according to the outlet, arrived in New York over the weekend. Saudi Arabias consulate general in New York said in a statement posted to Twitter on October 30 that it had appointed an attorney to follow the case closely, and that embassy officials in Washington had contacted the family and extended its support and aid to the sisters family. They also noted that the sisters were students accompanying their brother in Washington, referencing a third sibling who, thus far, has not been mentioned in any news reports about the case or the familys immigration to the United States. The NYPD did not respond to Rolling Stones request for comment on the Saudi consulate generals statement.
Narcos: Mexico, the much anticipated fourth season of Netflixs global hit show kicks off worldwide on the streaming giant by Nov. 16.

As it moves away from its three-season Colombian setting, the new 10-episode series traces the genesis of the drug trade just south of the Rio Grande.

Narcos: Mexico focuses on the rise of the Guadalajara cartel in the 1980s. The key witness to this ascent is DEA agent Kiki Camarena, played by Michael Pena (Ant-Man and the Wasp), who moves his wife and son from Fresno, California to Guadalajara to assume a new post. Here, he goes up against the astute drug lord Felix Gallardo, played by Diego Luna (Rogue One), who has united a once-disorganized group of independent marijuana growers and dealers to form the infamous cartel.

Narcos: Mexico is produced by Gaumont Television for Netflix. Eric Newman serves as executive producer and showrunner. Jose Padilha, Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard are executive producers.

Variety recently spoke to Pena and Newman who weighed in on the new season:

Pena spoke to Variety just as he was packing to leave for the Australia-set shoot of James Bobins live-action family adventure film, Dora the Explorer, where he plays the titular Doras father.

How did you join the cast of Narcos?

MP: Eric Newman came to me about three years ago, and he told me there was a part for me in Season 4 to play Kiki Camarena. I remember seeing Camarena on the cover of Time Magazine so I was really excited because for me, he is a Latin hero. I didnt hear from Eric for a while and then a year and half later, he told me they were starting it back up.

How did you prepare for this role?

First of all, its a real person so you cant take many liberties. I met with Mika Camarena, his wife, and just talked to her. I wanted to see what made him tick. What made Kiki Kiki. I wanted to know what it took to have put his life in danger to catch the bad guys. She told me that that was who he was. He had been in the military; he fought for justice so in his eyes, he was always fighting for justice. You know as an actor, you cant overthink things so she helped me to simplify it.

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Throughout your career, youve avoided being stereotyped, which is great, but youve always chosen to play Latino or insist that your characters have Latino names. Is that right?

Yes, I think its important that even if the character doesnt have a Latino name, to just make him Latino, whenever possible, obviously. In the great scheme of things, I think I was inspired by people who did the same, like Edward James Olmos who was amazing in Stand and Deliver. Theres something cool about seeing someone on screen that kind of looks like you; I was definitely affected by it. Its important to see Latinos that are cast as doctors, as successful people who are educated, and not just criminals. Im not saying I havent played them as well, it depends on the script. But for the most part, Id like to be a positive influence and hopefully, set a good example.

Meanwhile, Eric Newman who was in New Orleans working on another Netflix project, said:

The plan is to spend more time in Mexico. However, it was always my intention to spend as much time and produce as many seasons of the show as possible.

So Narcos could be set in other places eventually, like Spain, which is mentioned in one of the new episodes.

EN:Unfortunately, theres a drug market everywhere in the world; theyve reached every corner of the earth.

Was everything shot in Mexico, even the scenes that take place in Colombia?

It was hard to leave Colombia; we grew very fond of it. But weve had an amazing experience in Mexico. We shot a little bit in Guadalajara, a lot in Mexico City; we were also in San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, Puerto Vallarta, we moved around quite a bit. Its just spectacular. Am hoping that in the same way that the first three seasons of Narcos showed a side of Colombia that people werent familiar with, season four will do the same for Mexico. People know the beaches and resorts in Mexico but I hope they get to know the incredible beauty of some of the places where we got to work; it looks like nothing else in the world.

Did the shoot go quite smoothly this time?

It was great. Obviously, we had a tragedy in the beginning when one of our location scouts was killed, which the police have called a random crime. It was not connected to the show in any way. Nonetheless, it was very upsetting and tragic. We havent had a problem since. Mexico is an amazing place to work. The government was incredibly accommodating and the crews are amazing. Everybody who worked on the show enjoyed it.

Was the budget for Narcos: Mexico similar to the first three seasons?

At the end of the day, it evened out. Some things are more expensive in Mexico and some cost more in Colombia. We somehow  miraculously- did not increase our budget significantly.

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Nairobi (AFP) - Amnesty International said Thursday that plans by Tanzania's economic capital to hunt down and arrest suspected homosexuals were leading it down a "dangerous path".

Dar es Salaam governor Paul Makonda on Monday urged citizens to begin reporting homosexuals for round-ups to begin next week in the country, where anti-gay rhetoric has soared in recent years.

"It is extremely regrettable that Tanzania has chosen to take such a dangerous path in its handling of an already marginalised group of people," said Joan Nanyuki, Amnesty's regional director.

"The idea of this taskforce must be immediately abandoned as it only serves to incite hatred among members of the public."

Makonda, a fervent Christian and loyal ally of President John Magufuli, said on Monday he expected criticism from outsiders for his hardline stance.

"I prefer to anger those countries than to anger God," he told reporters.

Makonda said homosexual behaviour "tramples on the moral values of Tanzanians and our two Christian and Muslim religions".

Anti-homosexual sentiment is rife in Tanzania, forcing most gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities to live in secrecy.

Political rhetoric against homosexuality has increased since Magufuli's 2015 election.

Last year the president said everybody should condemn homosexuality, "even cows", and soon after his government threatened to arrest or deport gay rights activists.

Three South Africans were subsequently expelled for allegedly advocating for same-sex marriage.

AIDS clinics have also been shut down under Magufuli, accused of "promoting" homosexuality, while he has encouraged women to abandon birth control and have more babies.

Under British colonial-era laws homosexuality is illegal in Tanzania, with same-sex acts between men punishable by a maximum life sentence.
Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for governor of Florida, told Floridians Monday that their lives depend on his electoral victory moments before accusing President Trump of stok[ing] fear for political gain.

Listen everybody. Thank you so much for the support. With your help, were going to bring home this win. Dont forget, weve got to vote. Election Day is a myth. Election Day is today and every day until November 6th. Get out there and vote like your lives depend on it. Because your lives do depend on who the next governor is, Gillum said during a rally in Fort Lauderdale, which was broadcast live by local radio stations.

Gillums comments come just two days after an anti-Semitic gunman murdered eleven congregants at a Pittsburgh synagogue. After encouraging voters to get to the polls, he went on to blame the National Rifle Association for blocking common-sense gun reforms and accused President Trump of stok[ing] fear.

They cannot run roughshod over us any more. [We need to say] that enough is enough. And were going to pursue common-sense gun reforms, he said. This man has a responsibility to stand up and to speak out against hatred and division. And instead every single day he gets on Twitter and goes to rallies and he stokes fear. His only goal is to make us afraid of each other so that we dont trust one another so that we dont respect each others humanity anymore.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for a return to civility and a dampening of charged rhetoric in the wake of Saturdays mass shooting and the recent spate of attempted mail bombings targeting prominent critics of President Trump. To that end, Republican New York gubernatorial nominee Mark Molinaro issued a civility challenge to Governor Andrew Cuomo on Sunday, challenging Cuomo to join him in ceasing all negative advertising for the remainder of the election in order to cultivate a more conciliatory political environment.

While Cuomo has called for a return to civility in the wake of the bomb threats and the Pittsburgh shooting, he has not responded to Molinaros challenge.
When Angela Merkel was elected to the helm of Germanys Christian Democratic Union (CDU), 9/11 hadnt happened, the Lehman Brothers still existed, and the release of the first iPhone was seven years away.

Eighteen years on, after winning four elections as German Chancellor, Merkel announced on Oct. 29 that she will step down as the chair of her party in December. With that, the leader who had come to be known as Mutti (Mommy) to Germans, entered the twilight of her career.

Merkel knows her time is up: Germany needs new political blood. It is not known when she will go exactly, but it is unlikely that she will serve the remainder of her term until 2021. A former scientist, Merkel entered politics at the age of 35 and has always sought the pragmatic solution in her approach to politics. And so she is now carefully planning her exit. Aware Germany needs new political blood, she would rather jump than be pushed.

Merkel learned from the mistakes of Helmut Kohl, who served as Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998. As his one time protegee, she publicly called for Kohls removal in 1999 when he was tangled in a campaign finance scandal and could not let go. And for his part, Kohl made the mistake underestimating Merkel, a woman he referred to as my girl. Others also made the same mistake about the daughter of the Lutheran clergyman from East Germany.

Merkel went on to become German Chancellor in 2005, winning three more elections in 2009, 2013 and 2017. She led one of the worlds richest democracies for 13 years during a period of incredible fluxnot only for Germany, but for the E.U. and beyond. As many of her counterparts came and went, she witnessed the 2008 financial crash; the Eurozone crisis, the Russian invasion of Ukraine; the Arab Spring; the brutalities of the Syrian war; the migrant crisis; the election of Donald Trump; and Brexit.

On the domestic front, Merkel presided mostly over a period of relative peace, stability and prosperity in Germany. But recent events made her Chancellorship untenable. The trouble began when Merkel made the decision to open Germanys borders to the millions of refugees travelling through Europe in the summer of 2015. Within a few months, over a million refugees and asylum seekers had arrived in Germany.

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The political fallout was immense. It galvanized the far-right populist AfD party, who surged in last-years national election, winning seats in Germanys Bundestag for the first time. Meanwhile, the traditional parties, Merkels Christian Democrats and the center-left Social Democrats (the SPD) hemorrhaged support.

This trend has played out in recent local elections in the states of Bavaria and Hesse too. Aside from the AfD, the other big winners are the Greens. The Greens and the AfD pose diametrically opposing visions of what Germany society should be, on issues from refugee policy to the environment.

And so, German politics is becoming more splintered and polarizeda phenomenon spreading across much of the West. Issues of identity, religion and race are likely to dominate the years ahead.

Germany becoming more inward looking is bad news for leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, who was hoping that his tenure in the Elysee might coincide with political will in Berlin to pave the road towards further integration in the eurozone. Merkels departure will be felt even more profoundly against the backdrop of a geopolitical context in which we see a return to nativism; the politics of exclusion and fear; the rise of autocracy and the very questioning of democracy itself as a form of governance.

Its also bad news for those who hailed Merkel (whether rightly or wrongly) as the leader of the free world. The question, when she leaves, is how much of what she stood for will remain.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump has astonished legal scholars with his claim that he can end birthright citizenship with a swipe of his pen. No, they say, he can't.

Trump also went far off track in asserting that the U.S. is the only country that automatically grants citizenship to anyone born in the country. Many do.

His comments in an interview with "Axios on HBO":

TRUMP: "It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don't. ... Well, you can definitely do it with an act of Congress. But now they're saying I can do it just with an executive order."

THE FACTS: Scholars widely pan the idea that Trump could unilaterally change the rules on who is a citizen. It's highly questionable whether an act of Congress could do it, either, though it is conceivable that legislators could change the rules regarding children born in the U.S. of parents who are in the country illegally.

Peter Schuck is perhaps the most prominent advocate of the idea that birthright citizenship is not conveyed by the Constitution to children of parents who are living illegally in the U.S. Even he says "Trump clearly cannot act by" executive order.

"I feel confident that no competent lawyer would advise him otherwise," he said by email Tuesday. "This is just pre-election politics and misrepresentation and should be sharply criticized as such."

Schuck, of Yale, and colleague Rogers Smith of the University of Pennsylvania have argued since the mid-1980s that Congress can set the rules for providing citizenship to U.S.-born children of parents who came illegally.

But most scholars on the left and right share the view that it would take a constitutional amendment to deny automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country illegally.

James Ho, a conservative Trump-appointed federal appeals court judge, wrote in the Green Bag legal journal in 2006 that birthright citizenship "is protected no less for children of undocumented persons than for descendants of Mayflower passengers."

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Stephen Yale-Loehr, a Cornell university immigration expert, said the case against Trump's authority is "not open and shut, but the better view is it would require a constitutional amendment."

The Constitution's citizenship clause was part of the post-Civil War amendments that enshrined the rights of African-Americans. The citizenship clause, in particular, was intended to overturn the Supreme Court's notorious Dred Scott decision of 1857 that held African-Americans were not citizens.

The Supreme Court has never ruled squarely about the clause's application to children of immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. Trump did not make a distinction between legal and illegal status in his remarks. An 1898 Supreme Court decision held that the U.S.-born son of legal Chinese immigrants was a citizen under the 14th Amendment; a footnote in a 1982 decision suggests there should be no difference for children of foreign-born parents whether they are in the U.S. legally or illegally.

___

TRUMP: "We're the only country in the world where a person comes in, has a baby and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years with all of those benefits. It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous. And it has to end."

THE FACTS: That's flat-out wrong.

The U.S. is among about 30 countries where birthright citizenship  the principle of jus soli or "right of the soil"  is applied, according to the World Atlas and other sources. Most are in the Americas. Canada and Mexico are among them. Most other countries confer citizenship based on that of at least one parent  jus sanguinis, or "right of blood"  or have a modified form of birthright citizenship that may restrict automatic citizenship to children of parents who are on their territory legally.

More broadly, Trump's view that U.S.-born children of foreigners live a lifetime of taking "all those benefits" ignores the taxes they pay, the work they do and their other contributions to society.

___

Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd

Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck

EDITOR'S NOTE _ A look at the veracity of claims by political figures
Donald Trumps White House has announced an aggressive new policy to confront the governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, labelling the three nations the troika of tyranny.

Many of you in the audience today have personally suffered unspeakable horrors at the hands of the regimes in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, only to survive, fight back, conquer, and overcome, John Bolton, Mr Trumps national security advisor said during a speech in Miami, Florida. The troika of tyranny in this hemisphere  Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua  has finally met its match, he said.

The remarks came the same day the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted its 27th annual resolution calling for an end to the nations economic embargo on Cuba, after a failed bid by Washington to amend the text to push Cuba to improve its human rights record.

The UN vote can carry political weight, but only the US Congress can lift the more than 50-year-old embargo. The United States and Israel voted against the resolution, 189 countries voted in favour and Ukraine and Moldova did not vote.

Mr Bolton promised a tough stance by the Trump administration towards dictators and despots near our shores in a speech in Miami, which is home to large numbers of migrants from Cuba and Venezuela.

He also said the president had signed an executive order to ban US persons from dealing with entities and individuals involved with corrupt or deceptive gold sales from Venezuela.

The speech was expected to be well received by Cuban-Americans and other Hispanics in Florida who favour stronger pressure on Cubas Communist government and other leftist governments in Latin America. However, it appeared unlikely the new policy would be welcomed by international governments.

US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the General Assembly that the resolution was an opportunity for countries to feel they can poke the United States in the eye.

But youre not hurting the United States when you do this. You are literally hurting the Cuban people by telling the regime that their treatment of their people is acceptable, she said ahead of the vote.

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The United States consistently voted against the UN resolutions for 24 years but abstained for the first time in 2016 under former president Barack Obama, as Washington and Havana forged a closer relationship.

But relations have deteriorated sharply since Donald Trump took office in January 2017, returning to Cold War characterisations of Cuba and tightening trade and travel restrictions that had been eased by Barack Obama.

The United States voted against the UN resolution last year along with its ally Israel. The General Assemblys remaining 191 members voted in favour.

This year, the United States proposed eight amendments to the resolution, including calling on Cuba to fully grant its citizens internationally recognised civil, political and economic rights and freedoms, including freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and free access to information.

But all of the amendments failed after more than 113 countries voted against them. Only the United States, Israel and Ukraine voted in favour of all eight amendments. More than 65 countries abstained.

Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez said on Thursday the UN government lacked the moral authority to criticise Cuba and others on human rights.

The embargo is a violation of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of international law, he said before the vote. It is an act of aggression and an act of economic war, which disrupts international peace and order.

Last month, the United States launched a campaign at the United Nations that it said was designed to highlight the plight of Cuban political prisoners.

Protesting Cuban and Bolivian diplomats drowned out the launch by shouting, chanting and banging their hands on desks.

Mr Bolton spoke at Freedom Tower  a building where Cuban refugees were welcomed in the 1960s following Fidel Castros revolution  a day after Mr Trump campaigned in Florida for Republican candidates in tight Senate and gubernatorial races.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Australia will move all asylum-seeker children off the Pacific island of Nauru by the end of the year, officials said Thursday, but rights groups have called for the government to end the "in limbo" status that accompanies them and their families.

Under a harsh policy meant to deter asylum-seekers from reaching Australia by boat, Canberra sends arrivals to remote Pacific camps on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island for processing, barring them from ever resettling in Australia.

But the government has been "quietly" transferring children off Nauru, amid a public outcry and mounting concerns for their welfare.

"There are hardly any children in Nauru and [Papua] New Guinea and we expect that by the end of this year there will be none," Australia's high commissioner (ambassador) in London George Brandis told British talkback radio station LBC Thursday.

Hundreds of children have been moved from Nauru to Australia for treatment in the past few years, accompanied by their families.

They are scattered throughout the country under varying restrictions -- some in onshore detention, some in the community with limited working and education rights -- but none are allowed the opportunity to be settled.

"Once people have received their medical assistance, then the expectation is that they will return to their country of origin," Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said Thursday when asked about children being moved to Australia.

- 'Still in limbo' -

But rights groups have slammed the government for the "in limbo" status of those bought to Australia, saying Canberra is not offering genuine options.

"They (families) aren't given visas, they are basically held in community detention until their issues (treatment) are resolved, and some of them are actually being held in fenced detention centres," George Newhouse of the National Justice Project told reporters Thursday.

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"Even when you bring them to Australia, if you leave families with a sense of uncertainty, it is going to be very difficult for the children to recover," he added.

The Australian newspaper on Thursday quoted government sources saying there were 40 children remaining at processing centres on Nauru and they would be transferred to Australia by the end of the year.

The decision comes amid a string of reports by non-governmental groups and the media of abuse, depression and suicides on Nauru.

A recent poll commissioned by Sydney's Sunday Telegraph -- a tabloid that usually supports the right-leaning government -- found 79 percent of Australians surveyed want children and their families transferred off Nauru.

Ahead of a crucial Sydney by-election last month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison flirted with the idea of allowing some refugees to be transferred to New Zealand, although they would still be blocked from entering Australia.

- 'Respect for Nauru' -

On Thursday, he claimed criticism of poor living conditions among the would-be asylum seekers was offensive to the people of Nauru.

"I think people need to be very respectful of our neighbours in Nauru. Because it's where their children live, this is where they go to school, this is where they have businesses, this is where they have their lives."

The migrants forcibly settled there are from countries as diverse as Iran and Myanmar.

Under a deal with former US president Barack Obama, 439 people of a potential 1,250 have so far been resettled from Manus and Nauru to the United States.

But more than 600 remain on Nauru, while refugee support groups say some 600 men are still in transition centres on Manus after the camp there was closed late last year.

Canberra has long boasted its hardline policy is discouraging asylum seekers from embarking on dangerous sea voyages.
Beto ORourke may well lose his bid for Senate, but win his effort to reshape politics in Texas.

The three-term Congressman from El Paso is drawing huge crowds, raising a ton of cash and impressing even the most jaded campaign observers. But hes still behind in the polls, Republicans are voting early at a faster clip than ORourkes fellow Democrats, and even his biggest fans harbor doubts that he can break the nations longest losing streak for Democrats.

Still, look down-ballot and there are reasons for Democrats to hope. ORourke has inspired legions of political newcomers with his optimistic message. Many of them could well vote for other Democrats on the ballot. Even if his campaign comes up short, ORourkes coattails could help carry Democrats in the eight Texas House districts the non-partisan Cook Political Report lists as in play.

I think he has pretty good coattails. All of our ticket is not as strong as he is, said Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, a Dallas-area Democrat.

From across the aisle, Republicans offer begrudging respect. The amount of money he has, its obviously going to elect a lot of races, from House seats down to judgeships, one senior Republican said. By turning out voters for himself, hes turning out voters for other Democrats.

Take the Dallas-area district that has been represented by Republican Pete Sessions for the last 22 years. Sessions won his first term in 1996 with 53% of the vote, his weakest showing. In 2016, he won with 71% of the vote. The seat belonging to Sessions, the chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee and two-time chairman of House Republicans campaign committee, has long been a dream flip for Democrats. But it looked out of reach until this year, when the party recruited Colin Allred, an attorney who worked in the Obama Administration and played linebacker for the NFLs Tennessee Titans.

Polls in the district have been hard to come by in recent weeks, although Republicans say their private surveys indicate Sessions is on safer terrain than he was mid-summer. But the district is among the fastest changing in the country, with political allegiances shifting among these wealthy, highly educated voters. Mitt Romney carried the district with 57% support in 2012, then Hillary Clinton carried it with 48% four years later. Allred, a first-time candidate, has raised almost $5 million, which is more than Sessions.

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Thats why, on a recent Sunday afternoon, Allred filled a theaters lobby with supporters before they went to knock doors on his behalf. Actress and producer Connie Britton and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro were on hand to back him up. A day earlier, Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis was at his side.

Its not just Democrats and Republicans on the ballot. Its not just left and right and ideology on the ballot. Its right versus wrong. Whats going on right now is wrong, we are being led in the wrong direction, Allred said.

Allreds supporters nodded along. This is going to be close, but were working hard, volunteer Tom Ervin said, sporting a Beto hat and an Allred campaign t-shirt. I didnt know Murphy, Texas, existed until I knocked on doors there.

Standing nearby, Heather French was chatting with her friends she brought to meet Allred. People think Texas is solid red, she said. Its really not, but we have to show up.

And thats why senior officials in both parties are watching districts like Sessions for a potential shift. When you look at the changing residency in his district, it is no surprise that this was going to be a district in which there was a challenge, Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey said. One of the blessings of living in Texas is the opportunity and growth that we have. One of the challenges we have in Texas is we have people who move in from states where the policies are completely different and yet decide, Boy, itd be nice if Texas implemented them.

The ORourke enthusiasm, perhaps partnered with a blue wave of broader Democratic enthusiasm, could elect the first Democrat to the Senate from Texas since 1988. No one can credibly argue that ORourke isnt a factor in why the state is in play.

Were not taking any vote or voter for granted, said state Sen. Dawn Buckingham, who is leading the state Republicans campaign efforts. Were trying to pound our message home and get everyone over the finish line.

Its entirely possible her team succeeds. The Republican Party of Texas is among the strongest in the country. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has positive favorable ratings and appears to be coasting to an easy re-election this fall. In September, Republicans flipped a state Senate seat in a district that is two-thirds Hispanic and had been in Democratic hands for 130 years. And, with roughly a quarter of all registered voters having cast early or absentee ballots already, Republicans are largely seen as leading among voters aged 40 and over  including a 250% increase among voters in their 40s and a 150% jump in voters aged 50 to 64.

But even Sessions critics recognize their challenges. I think Sessions is going to win, said Hunt Caraway, a 50-year-old high school government teacher who cast his vote early for Allred. But if we get it close, it will send a message to Sessions that he needs to represents his district  all of his district.

Or, if the ORourke phenomenon proves it can translate buzz into votes, it may send some new faces to Washington.
Pieces of the flight data recorder from the Lion Air passenger jet that crashed after takeoff from Jakarta on Monday has been retrieved on Thursday, according to CNN.

On Saturday, is was reported that divers found the main fuselage and could hear pinging from the cockpit voice recorded. Sadly, a diver lost his life during the search after being found unconscious by his dive partner.

Strong currents are not uncommon in the area, and have been in full force all week across the Java Sea.

These strong currents are part of the reason it took several days to find the black box piece, even though the sea floor is only about 30 meters (98 feet) in the crash-site area, according to Reuters.

Currents will likely continue to inhibit recovery and search efforts.



IndonesiaDebriFri

Shoes and debris retrieved from the waters near where a Lion Air jet is believed to have crashed are laid out for investigation at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)

Now with the black box, which records the technical specs of the airplane during flight, has been found, it should help to pinpoint the exact cause for the plane crash.

Once the cockpit voice recorder is recovered, more questions regarding the crash may be answered.

The plane, which was flying from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang, requested a return to land only two to three minutes after takeoff before crashing into the Java Sea to the northeast of Jakarta.

All 189 people who were on board the airplane, which crashed less than 15 minutes after takeoff, are believed to have lost their lives, according to the Associated Press.

The weather at the time of the crash was fair under a partly sunny sky and light winds; however, a technical issue was reported on the plane's previous flight.



Indonesia Plane AP1 10/29

In this May 12, 2012, file photo, a Lion Air passenger jet is parked on the tarmac at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Trisnadi, File)

Several people who were on the plane's previous flight said that an unusual engine roar was reported before and during take off.

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More than 300 people were involved in the rescue operations Monday afternoon. Cell phones, ID cards and luggage were found in the initial hours of the search, according to CNN.

The plane was only in operation for two months before the crash occurred.

On Wednesday, a large object was detected in the search area and officials were hopeful they had found the downed plane, according to the AP. Divers found a sunken vessel instead of the plane's fuselage. The divers did discover more debris and clothing on the ocean floor.

Several bodies were discovered as search efforts continued on Thursday and Friday.

Only an isolated shower or thunderstorm will be seen across the region through the beginning of the week as search and recovery operations continue.

This crash is now more deadly than the AirAsia crash in December 2014, when 162 people were killed.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Brazil's president-elect Jair Bolsonaro has told an Israeli newspaper he intends to defy the Palestinians and most of the world by moving his country's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Brazil would become the second major country after the United States to do so.

Asked in an interview with Israel Hayom published Thursday if he would move Brazil's embassy, as he had indicated during his campaign, Bolsonaro said Israel should decide where its capital is located.

"When I was asked during the campaign if I'd do it when I became president, I said 'yes, the one who decides on the capital of Israel is you, not other nations'," he told the paper, which is a firm backer of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel considers the entire city its capital, while the Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, with international consensus being that the status of the whole city must be negotiated between the two sides.

Israel occupied east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.

In December, President Donald Trump reversed longstanding US policy and recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, prompting Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to boycott his administration.

The embassy was officially transferred on May 14, with Guatemala and Paraguay following suit, though the latter announced last month it would return its embassy to Tel Aviv.

Bolsonaro, 63, who won a run-off election on Sunday, has outraged many with his overtly misogynistic, homophobic and racist rhetoric.

Following his victory, Netanyahu told Bolsonaro he was certain his election "will lead to a great friendship between our peoples and the tightening of links between Brazil and Israel."

An official in Netanyahu's office told AFP the Israeli premier was "very likely" to attend Bolsonaro's inauguration ceremony in January.
By Charlotte Greenfield WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan bestowed names on Wednesday to two newly-hatched young of New Zealand's national bird, the kiwi, in the northeastern town of Rotorua, on the final day of their two-week tour of the Pacific. The couple visited a breeding program for the endangered species and admired two three-day old chicks, whom they named Koha, meaning "gift", and Tihei, derived from a phrase that means "sneeze of life" in the indigenous Te Reo Maori language. Earlier, Harry led a group at a Maori meeting ground in singing "Te Aroha", a traditional song, whose name means "Love" in Te Reo. The couple were welcomed at Te Papaiouru Marae, visited by Harry's grandmother Queen Elizabeth in her coronation year of 1953, in Rotorua, a town famed for its geothermal activity and described by its mayor as the 'heartland of Maori culture'. Meghan, who wore a navy Stella McCartney dress and a carved greenstone necklace gifted by the country's governor general and Harry, in a grey suit, were both adorned with feathered cloaks gifted by local Maori. Harry began his speech in the Te Reo language and ended it with a Maori proverb, drawing applause from the crowd with his strong pronunciation. Then he led the song. His enthusiasm for the Maori language was welcomed by Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick, who said, "As our confidence as a bilingual district grows, so does our confidence in our people and our future." The use of Te Reo Maori language is experiencing a revival in New Zealand, after years of decline when policy makers cracked down on its use, particularly in schools. Free Maori language courses often report being booked out and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said her infant daughter Neve Te Aroha will learn it alongside English. Later, with Meghan wearing black puffa jacket, black trousers and flat shoes and Harry in a black shirt and beige chinos, they visited a tree-top canopy in a redwood tree forest, followed by a walkabout meeting with some of the public. A group of children gave an impromptu haka, a traditional war dance made famous by New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team. A toddler wandered toward Harry through the metal barricades holding back the crowds, but the prince quickly sought out his family and directed him back. The couple, who are expecting their first child in the northern spring, were set to leave New Zealand for London on Thursday, after a 16-day tour that also covered Australia, Fiji and Tonga. (Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence Fernandez)
Yaounde (AFP) - A Cameroonian anglophone separatist leader was in court Thursday, in his first public appearance since he was extradited from Nigeria in January, amid spiralling violence in English-speaking areas.

Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, who wants Cameroon's two anglophone regions to separate from the French-speaking part of the country and last year spearheaded a symbolic declaration of independence, appeared with nine other defendants at a brief hearing in the capital Yaounde.

"This day is a big day because all (ten) defendants were there," lawyer Me John Feu Nsoh told reporters after the court appearance, which was about the group's petition to be freed.

Ayuk Tabe, who pronounced himself the president of a new republic called "Ambazonia" in October 2017, was arrested with 46 others in Nigeria and extradited in January.

Cameroon has called the 47 "terrorists" and said they would "answer for their crimes", as tensions mount in the Southwest and Northwest Regions, home to most of the country's English-speakers.

Three lawyers filed a motion for the "immediate" release of ten of them in October, including Ayuk Tabe.

On leaving the courtroom the group waved at relatives held at a distance, before getting into a police bus, according to AFP.

English-speaking separatists complain of discrimination at the hands of the French-speaking majority in education, the justice system and the economy in the largely francophone central African nation.

In 2017 anglophone separatists took up arms, attacking security forces and torching symbols of the administration, such as schools.

The government has refused to engage in dialogue with separatists and has sent forces into the area to restore order.

The unrest has worsened this year, claiming the lives of more than 400 civilians and an unknown number of separatists in the year to September, according to the International Crisis Group think-tank.

More than 300,000 people have fled the violence, some to neighbouring Nigeria.
A man holds marijuana in Vancouver on Oct. 17, 2018, which is the day cannabis became legal for recreational use in Canada. Transport Canada now allows Canadians to travel with up to 30 grams of marijuana on domestic flights. Photo from The Canadian Press.

Canada has legalized cannabis, but confusion over the laws beyond our land could be a buzzkill.

The only country Canada shares a border with, the U.S., still outlaws cannabis at the federal level, even though some states have legalized recreational use.

Even with a medical marijuana licence, its illegal for Canadians to take pot across international borders. Doing so could result in up to 14 years in prison under the Cannabis Act.

On top of that, you could be turned away from entering the U.S. if you admit to using cannabis or have ties to U.S. companies in the pot industry. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently updated its policies to allow Canadians who work or invest in Canadas legal cannabis companies to enter the country provided they are not there for work.

Canadians can also face a lifetime ban from the U.S. if theyre caught lying about their pot use or ties.

Heres what else you can expect now that cannabis is legal in Canada:

Official border crossings

If youve been in a Canadian airport lately, you may have been greeted with signs reminding you that taking cannabis across international borders is illegal.

The new signs can been seen at major international airports, some railway stations and ferry and cruise terminals, according to Transport Canada, which says it is also working with provinces and territories to install road signs at land crossings.

The federal agency is also rolling out educational campaigns, which could be useful for some travellers, especially since the rules are different for domestic travel.

For those flying within the country, Transport Canada permits up to 30 grams in checked bags or carry-on luggage.

Talking to U.S. border agents

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Honesty is the best policy, according to Toronto-based immigration lawyer Joel Sandaluk.

Its very tempting to tell what a lot of people might say is a white lie, he said, but doing so could get you banned for life from entering the U.S.

Over the next coming years, the U.S. government may change its policy when it comes to the use and sale of marijuana products. What will never change is their policy with respect to making misrepresentations to immigration officers, he said.

Even if U.S. laws change, a lifetime ban for lying at the border would likely still apply. If youre banned for cannabis-related reasons, you may be able to apply for a waiver to gain entry to the U.S.

Its one of those things that if it comes back to you it can haunt you for the rest of your life.

Border agents typically ask very direct questions, and thats totally within their rights, according to Sandaluk. Questions about cannabis use, investments and work may arise, but theres no specific trigger that might lead to such questioning.

Its one of those things that is probably unlikely to come up, the lawyer said. What happens is that officers at ports of entry have a broad range of discretion on the types of questions they can ask or the types of interest they can take in people.

Todd Owen, a senior official with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, told Politico officers wont be asking every Canadian about cannabis, but if other questions lead there  or if there is a smell coming from the car, they might ask, he said.





No right to crossing borders

You can always go back home.

Overall, your rights are very limited at the border, Sandaluk said. Border agents have wide powers to ask questions and search you and your property, be it a suitcase, a car or a cellphone. If they ask for the password to access your phone and access is refused, officers can confiscate the device.

There is very little you can do in order to prevent that from happening. Other than saying, Its fine. Im withdrawing my application for admission. Ill turn around. And thats it.

He stressed that anyone crossing an international border must be mindful of the gravity of the situation.

When you approach a foreign country and ask for admission, youre seeking a benefit, youre not asserting a right, Sandaluk said.

States dont control borders

That also applies to states where marijuana is permitted. The U.S. border is a federal matter and state laws do not apply there.

Even though some states permit non-medicinal use, you still have to gain admission to the United States, said Sandaluk. In order to gain admission, you have to deal with the U.S. government, which is responsible for border enforcement.

The border can be a challenging place to cross even for U.S. citizens, the lawyer explained.

A lot of Americans have similar problems attempting to enter Canada with firearms, Sandaluk said. Where you have these cultural differences between Canada and the United States, there is sometimes a conflict of laws. Culturally, something [that] feels very normal in Canada might be very different in the United States.

There are some circumstances when cannabis products are allowed to cross the border. For more information, visit the federal governments information bulletin on importing and exporting laws.
Hardline Islamists called for the deaths of senior judges and the overthrow of Imran Khan after a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy was acquitted.

Asia Bibi had spent nearly eight years on death row in a case attracting international outcry, before she was freed on Wednesday by Pakistan's top court.

The release of the mother-of-five immediately sparked nationwide protests from religious extremists who had campaigned for her to hang.

Imran Khan, the new prime minister, appealed for calm as crowds blocked highways and main roads and clashed with police.

The Catholic farmhand who was falsely accused of defaming the Prophet Mohammed now faces a life in hiding, or asylum abroad.

Diplomats are understood to have spent weeks planning how to spirit her out of the country in the event of her acquittal, with Mike Pence, US vice president, taking a personal interest in her fate.

Asia Bibi is expected to claim asylum abroad Credit: AP

The overturn of her 2010 conviction also led to fresh calls to reform Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws, which critics say are used to persecute religious minorities and justify censorship, or even murder.

"I can't believe what I am hearing, will I go out now? Will they let me out, really?" Bibi told AFP by phone from prison after the ruling.

"I just don't know what to say, I am very happy, I can't believe it.

Her daughter, Eisham Ashiq, described the acquittal as the most wonderful moment in my life.

 I want to hug my mother and then celebrate with my family. I am grateful to God for listening to our prayers.

Asia Bibi was sentenced in 2010 Credit: Reuters

Mrs Bibi's ordeal began in 2009 as she picked berries in a Punjab field with others and was asked to fetch water.

Muslim women working alongside her allegedly objected, saying that as a non-Muslim she was unfit to touch the water bowl. Heated words were exchanged and the women then complained to a local cleric and accused her of blasphemy, a charge punishable by death. Mrs Bibi denied blasphemy but was rounded up by a village mob and was eventually sentenced to hang.

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Hardline religious parties had threatened to paralyse Pakistan with protests if Asia Bibi was not executed Credit: AFP

The three-member appeal panel of supreme court justices criticised the case against her, which Mrs Bibi had always said was fabricated to settle a score. The prosecution case relied only on her accusers' testimony and a confession extracted by the mob.

"The appeal is allowed. She has been acquitted. The judgement of high court as well as trial court is reversed. Her conviction is set aside," said Pakistan's Chief Justice Saqib Nisar in the ruling.

But the ruling provoked immediate anger from hardliners, over a case which has proven deeply divisive in Pakistan. Two senior government figures have already been killed after trying to help Mrs Bibi. Salmaan Taseer, the Punjab governor, was assassinated by his own bodyguard after calling for Mrs Bibi's release and reform of blasphemy laws. The killer, Mumtaz Qadri, was executed in 2016 and has been feted as a hero by hardliners.

Pakistani paramilitary soldiers stand guard outside the Supreme Court building in Islamabad Credit: AFP

A leader of the Islamist political party Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP), which was founded to support blasphemy laws, issued an edict that all those who ordered the release of Asia deserve death.

Omar Waraich, Amnesty Internationals deputy South Asia director said Mrs Bibi had been left to languish in prison on flimsy evidence.

He said: This was a case that was used to rouse angry and violent mobs, to justify the assassinations of two senior officials in 2011, and to intimidate the Pakistani state into submission. Mercifully, justice has prevailed. A clear message must now go out that the blasphemy laws will no longer be used to persecute Pakistans long-suffering religious minorities.




The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo sequel, The Girl In The Spiders Web, is in cinemas on 21 November, and itll give audience members more used to Claire Foys work in The Crown a bit of a shock.

Foy replaces Rooney Mara as central character Lisbeth Salander  the bisexual world-class computer hacker who teams up with disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist to solve mysteries.

Foys a revelation in the role, making a complete transformation in her edgiest performance to date.

Salander has a background of abuse, which inspires her to embark on a mission of revenge against men who hurt women. Because of that backstory, the typical Hollywood approach to shooting leading women could have been extremely inappropriate.

As Foy appears in varying degrees of undress, and is even naked in the film, Yahoo Movies UK asked her what discussions she had with her director Fede Alvarez about those sequences, discovering Spiders Web was originally meant to go a lot further.

Yahoo Movies UK: The male gaze could potentially destroy this film, youre in varying degrees of undress, youre naked at certain points. What conversations did you have with Fede about that, and what did he say to make you trust him?

Claire Foy: Very honest ones. At one point I said Fede, youre a middle aged, white man. Yes, which may have been hard for him to hear. I was just very honest about it. I had to be. I couldnt be in something where I was questioning that, I wouldnt have felt comfortable. And so I made him justify himself. Not in an aggressive way, I just had to have that conversation.

I felt very strongly that shed been so taken advantage of, this character, in so many different ways, the last thing I could do is feel I was betraying her in some way. And so he never really had to convince me.

There were certain things I was absolutely immovable on, where I said Youre going to have to just think of another way around it. And there were other things we completely agreed on, he completely understood.

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There were originally sex scenes in the movie, and I said Can we just ask the question why thats in there? I am all for anything as long as it informs the character and the story. So we had those conversations and it was really interesting to have people go Oh yeah, youre right. It was really interesting.

Fede Alvarez confirmed to Yahoo Movies UK that the discussions took place, and that he was supportive of them.

In a way, she took that responsibility. We both did, but her more than anybody, really being the guardian of not just Lisbeth, but of this female lead, particularly in the times were living in, Alvarez said.

While we were making the film Me Too was really hitting hard, so it was something that I really needed to listen to her about in a way, and I think I did. It was very interesting for me to see and her and understand how she feels playing that role and being portrayed in certain ways. To never force her to wear more make-up, or wear tighter clothes, things like that, which are pretty common in any Hollywood movie where theres a female lead.

But, you know my other movies, its always been something that I do. None of them are over-sexualised, Jane Levy in my films has never been in super tight clothes, or being super sexy or anything like that, its never what I go for. I try to be more fair with the character and not oppress the actor or the audience with a character thats perfect and bigger than life that you can never achieve that as a human being, so I always try to avoid that.

The Girl In The Spiders Web is released on 21 November.

Read more

The Girl in the Spiders Web explained

Claire Foy disputes The Crown back pay story

Claire Foy and Matt Smith want to return to The Crown and heres how
Bogota (AFP) - More than one million Venezuelans have crossed the border into Colombia since the start of this year, although 676,000 of those subsequently moved on to other countries, Colombia's migration authority said.

Those passing through traveled "mostly to Ecuador, Peru, Chile, the United States and Mexico," said Migracion Colombia in a statement on Wednesday.

The authority also said that more than one million Venezuelans are living in Colombia, of which 573,000 have legal documents.

"The Venezuelan migrant situation is a lot more than a simple number," said Migracion Colombia director Christian Kruger.

The United Nations says 1.9 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2015, as their homeland is gripped in a deep recession that has sent poverty levels spiralling.

Every day some 5,000 Venezuelans leave the country in hope of a better future elsewhere, according to UN figures.

At the end of September, Colombia President Ivan Duque said the arrival of a million Venezuelan migrants could cost his country more than $1.3 billion, amounting to 0.5 percent of the country's gross domestic product.

Venezuela rejects the UN figures, and President Nicolas Maduro has called on the international body to "justify" them.
* Right sees chance to reclaim party after a decade of centrism

* Merkel's old rival Merz sets out pro-business pitch

* Youthful Spahn pledges to tighten immigration laws (Recasts with right-wingers setting out their stalls)

By Thomas Escritt

BERLIN, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Two leading contenders to replace Angela Merkel when the German chancellor bows out as leader of the Christian Democrats set out their stalls on Wednesday, promising to give new definition to a party grown centrist over her two decades at the helm.

Merkel, who has shaped European politics over her 13 years as chancellor, announced this week that she would step down as party leader after her conservative bloc suffered two painful election setbacks within a month.

While Merkel has declined to back a successor, she would find it easier to continue as chancellor if a fellow centrist, like party general secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer - dubbed the "mini-Merkel" - were to triumph.

But the party's conservative wing, which has increasingly chafed at the compromises forced upon them by a leader who has often seemed most comfortable governing with parties well to their left, now sees an opportunity to grab back the reins.

In his first news conference since returning to front line politics after a decade in the wilderness, Friedrich Merz, a 62-year-old lawyer, outlined an unapologetically pro-business agenda, describing himself as a reform-minded pro-European.

"I am a convinced economic liberal, a social conservative and a socially engaged person," said Merz, who 15 years ago lost out to Merkel in the battle to run the party. "That's what has made the CDU strong."

Among the tasks of a CDU he led would be reclaiming voters who had deserted it for far right parties and coming up with a more detailed response to French President Emmanuel Macron's proposals for deepening European integration.

"He deserves a more substantial response from Germany," Merz said. "The biggest challenge for Europe in coming years is holding the euro zone together."

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MAKE THE CDU DISTINCTIVE AGAIN

He was answered minutes later from the party's socially conservative wing by Health Minister Jens Spahn, 38, whose pitch, in an article for the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper, focused on the 2015 migrant crisis that ultimately proved Merkel's undoing.

Warning of the "mainly male" migrants who continued to stream into Germany's big cities three years after Merkel's decision to open Germany's borders to more than a million refugees from war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa, he called for tighter asylum and immigration laws.

The number of new arrivals in Germany has fallen sharply this year, partly due to stricter border controls across Europe as well as tighter asylum rules in Germany and other countries.

"We have to limit and direct that flow" of immigrants, he said, arguing that the party had grown amorphous in its readiness to ally in government with parties from across the left and right.

One risk to the party of moving to the right would be that of breaking its existing coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD), who are smarting at a series of disastrous election outcomes and many of whom are already itching for the freedom to tend their wounds in opposition.

Pushing the CDU more to the right could, however, also allow the SPD to win back centrist voters in the coming years.

For the CDU's right-wing, another risk is that two right-wing candidates could steal each other's votes, allowing Kramp-Karrenbauer to win, especially since another Merkel ally, North Rhine Westphalia premier Armin Laschet has decided not to run.

Merz, currently non-executive chairman of asset manager Blackrock's German division, could also be hurt by his association with financial services sector.

Blackrock "aren't carpetbaggers," he added, distancing himself from the kind of predatory capitalism that is unpopular in socially minded Germany. (Writing by Thomas Escritt Editing by Michelle Martin, Mark Heinrich and Richard Balmforth)
Despite President Trumps recent efforts to muddy the waters  efforts that would likely be unanimously laughed out of court  the words of our Constitution and the relevant judicial rulings are emphatically clear when it comes to the issue of birthright citizenship.

If youre born in America under the American flag, youre an American citizen. It doesnt matter if youre male or female, rich or poor, black or white, gay or straight, the daughter of a president or the son of an undocumented immigrant. Youre a free and equal citizen. This principle of equal citizenship formed the core of the constitutional vision of President Abraham Lincoln and his allies, who laid the foundations of both the Republican Party and our Constitutions most transformative amendmentthe 14th.

In the infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision, Chief Justice Roger Taney declared that a black man generally couldnt be a United States citizenthat he had no rights which the white man was bound to respect. Candidate Lincoln campaigned against the decision in 1858 and 1860. Then, under President Lincoln, Attorney General Edward Bates took on Dred Scott in an 1862 legal opinion arguing that free blacks generally could be U.S. citizens. Finally, the Republican Congress enshrined the principle of birthright citizenship in Americas first major civil rights law, the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Two months later, Congress included birthright citizenship in its proposed 14th Amendment.

At the simplest level, the 14th Amendments Citizenship Clause was meant to repudiate Dred Scott and place the Civil Rights Act of 1866 on a firm legal foundation. However, it was also meant to root post-Civil War America in an inspiring Lincolnian reinterpretation of one of our nations Founding truths, that were all born free and equal.

Lets begin with the text of the Citizenship Clause: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. While the 15th Amendment explicitly mentions race, the 14th Amendments text is more capaciousspeaking not just of African Americans, but of [a]ll persons. This sweeping language grants U.S. citizenship to everyone born here and subject to our laws. The only relevant exception today (given that Native Americans no longer live in the same kind of tribal regime that existed in the 1860s) is for those who owe their allegiance to another sovereign, such as the children of foreign diplomats.

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The Citizenship Clause is one of the richest single sentences in the entire Constitution, rivaling the Preamble in both theoretical depth and breadth. Among other things, the Amendment constitutionalizes Lincolns reinterpretation of Jefferson by making clear that Americans are created equalborn equal, in the key language of this key sentence. This birth equality idea clearly condemns a racial caste system in which light-skinned children are born lords and dark-skinned children are born serfs. Indeed, the sentence goes far beyond race by condemning all sorts of other systems that improperly exalt some and degrade others because of birth status. The sentence thus explains why certain types of birth-based governmental discrimination are suspect (laws based on race or sex or sexual orientation or illegitimacy) whereas most other kinds of governmental line-drawing (say, between wage income and dividend income) should not be viewed with comparable skepticism.

Critically, the sentence focuses our attention on place, not parentage. Unlike the law of many European countries, in America the key issue of constitutional citizenship is based on the law of the soil, not the law of blood. The issue is where one was born, not to whom.

Most relevant to Trumps most recent pronouncements, the sentence resoundingly affirms that constitutional birthright citizenship does not depend on the immigration status of ones biological parents. Anyone born in America under the American flag is a citizen, even if his parents are not citizens and indeed even if his parents are not here legally. In the 1860s, surely all American-born children of slaves were meant to be covered by the Amendments citizenship clause, so as to completely repudiate the infamous Dred Scott case. Yet Reconstruction Republicans in Congress doubtless were aware that some antebellum slaves had been smuggled into America illegally, in violation of various 19th century congressional laws prohibiting transatlantic slave importation. This stubborn fact about the children of certain illegal aliens in the 1860s strongly suggests that American-born children of illegal aliens today are likewise birthright American citizens, regardless of the deficient immigration status of their parents.

In multiple cases decided in the late 19th and the late 20th century, the Supreme Court has recognized only three narrow exceptions to birthright citizenship: diplomatic children, tribal Indians and invading armies. The language and logic of these cases clearly suggest that children of illegal aliens are indeed birthright citizens; and the broad legislative backdrop of the Amendment and its intended application to all American-born slave children provide compelling support for this conclusion.

Thus, every generation, the constitutional clock resets; regardless of the lapses of a persons parents, the sins of the fathers and mothers are not visited upon the children. To repeat: Anyone born on American soil under the American flag is an American.
Andranotapahina (Madagascar) (AFP) - Angry residents in a rural Madagascar town line up along a road construction brandishing a banner emblazoned with the words "stop property plunder!" in a bid to halt expropriation of their land.

For hundreds of local families, the protest alongside a motorway promised by Hery Rajaonarimampianina, who is running for reelection as president, has become a symbol of how widely official corruption has spread before November's election.

Officials say the highway in Andranotapahina aims to ease traffic outside the capital Antananarivo, just 10 kilometres (six miles) away, but local families say it has made them victims of widely practised graft.

"We're here to condemn high-level corruption that has led to the theft of our rights to profit companies," said Andranotapahina resident Celestin Razafimanantsoa.

Madagascar votes on November 7, with Rajaonarimampianina a frontrunner in the Indian Ocean island state that was beset by protests this year over his attempts to change electoral laws.

But corruption remains a major complaint. Graft affects every level of society in one of the world's poorest countries which ranks 155 out of 180 on Transparency International's corruption perception index.

Critics say graft seeps into infrastructure projects, the judicial system and even the African nation's illicit rosewood trade as bureaucrats take their cut for services or from business deals.

Transparency International Initiative Madagascar (TIIM) director Ketakandriana Rafitoson has described graft as "institutionalised" and said corruption was at the core of the presidential campaign.

Former prime minister Jean Omer Beriziky is running on an anti-corruption ticket against Rajaonarimampianina, who stepped down in September to seek re-election.

"I want to reestablish the rule of law," Beriziky told AFP. "We are elected to serve -- not to serve ourselves."

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- 'Right to suspect corruption' -

In Andranotapahina, 2,500 local families say they have found themselves in conflict over the motorway project with Filatex, an Indo-Pakistani textile company with operations in the area.

Construction of the road, intended to ease traffic in the capital, required the seizure of several tracts of land.

"We're not against the project, but Filatex paid the state so the road would link to their facilities -- at the expense of our properties," said local resident Razafimanantsoa.

Filatex denies any wrongdoing. The group rejects claims from angry residents in Andranotapahina that approval of the motorway project involved bribes.

"We're also losing part of our property which will be seized for the project," said company director Dominique Andreas. "Corruption is not part of our strategy."

But local protester Georgienne Rahatarivony criticised the lack of transparency over the route selection.

"We were never consulted. It got our attention when our rice fields were marked with stakes during the night," he said.

Transparency International's Rafitoson said: "When affected communities are not consulted, we're right to suspect corruption.

"(It is) the nation of bribes and the '10 percent' rule."

In the former French colony of 25 million, poorly-paid civil servants typically seek cash incentives for providing basic services to the public.

Officials responsible for awarding contracts and tenders are often suspected of skimming off 10 percent from lucrative deals.

Rajaonarimampianina, in power from 2014 until he resigned in September, has refused to comment on the issue of graft.

He is not the only prominent Madagascan leader to face allegations of corruption.

Two predecessors, Marc Ravalomanana (2002 - 2009) and Andry Rajoelina have been criticised for criss-crossing the poor nation by helicopter to drum up support for their campaigns.

- 'Protected at the highest levels' -

In the 2013 campaign, Rajaonarimampianina spent $43 million wooing electors, according to a study funded by the European Union.

The TIIM anti-corruption group also "doesn't rule out" that front-runners could be funding their campaigns with proceeds from the country's rosewood trade.

Rosewood is coveted by Chinese carpenters for household furniture, but the species is on the verge of extinction.

The illicit rosewood trade began in 2007 when storms devastated Madagascar, according to an Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project report published in August.

The report said rosewood financing could be the "kingmaker" to decide whether Ravalomanana, Rajoelina or Rajaonarimampianina are elected president.

All three deny wrongdoing or links to the illicit business, but opposition candidate Beriziky, one of Rajoelina's former prime ministers, says illicit trade had the green light from high levels in government.

"The smugglers were protected at the highest levels of power so all of my efforts to control the trade came to nothing," Beriziky said.

TIIM and civil action groups issued a statement ahead of the election appealing to voters.

"Make sure there is no chance that corrupt people of any kind could be president," it said.
Prague (AFP) - Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Thursday called into question his country's support for a United Nations migration pact set to be adopted in December, following rejections by the United States, Hungary and Austria.

"I don't like the pact. It's not clearly interpreted and it could be abused," Babis, whose centre-left cabinet is set to discuss the issue next week, said in parliament.

"The United States have pulled out, Hungary too, now Austria, and Poland is debating it as well," he added.

The Global Compact for Migration, whose final text was agreed in July after 18 months of negotiations is set to be adopted during a conference in Morocco on December 10-11.

It lays out 23 objectives to open up legal migration and better manage migratory flows as the number of people on the move worldwide has increased to 250 million, or three percent of the world's population.

The United States quit talks on the pact last December, Hungary's anti-immigration prime minister Viktor Orban rejected it in July and Austria followed suit on Wednesday.

Babis, a Slovak-born billionaire, has taken a strict anti-migrant stance, refusing to accept a single refugee despite pleas from western European EU partners.
Delta Air Lines staff allegedly doubted black doctor's credentials: istock

A black doctor has claimed crew on a Delta Air Lines flight doubted her credentials as she attended to a fellow passenger who was unwell.

Fatima Cody Stanford, a doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, said she was on a flight from Indianapolis to Boston when a woman sitting next to her began hyperventilating.

Dr Stanford told CNN she was helping the passenger when a flight attendant intervened and asked if she was a physician, to which she replied she was.

A second attendant then allegedly asked to see her medical license, which she provided. Shortly afterwards, both airline workers returned and asked if the license she gave them belonged to her.

"I am very disappointed that your policies on #Diversity have not lead to any change. As a #blackwoman #doctor who showed my #medical license to help a passenger on DL5935 your #flightattendant still did not believe I was a #Physician," Dr Stanford wrote on Twitter.

@DeltaAirlineUS I am very disappointed that your policies on #Diversity have not lead to any change. As a #blackwoman#doctor who showed my #medical license to help a passenger on DL5935 your #flightattendant still did not believe I was a #Physician. @DrSinhaEsq@DrKathyHughes

 Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, FAAP, FACP (@fstanfordmd) October 31, 2018

My experience last night when a fellow passenger needed help, she added, shows that being a [doctor] does not shield from racism.

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Delta later responded on Twitter, writing: "I am so sorry for your frustration Dr Stanford. Please know that Delta does not condone discrimination for any reason and we take your comments very seriously. We are looking into [this] further and will be reaching out to you directly.

Dr Stanford said an official from the airline called her to say the company was investigating the incident.

A spokesman for Delta claimed flight attendants initially misread the credentials offered by the doctor and went to reconfirm her specific medical discipline".

He added: We are following up with the crew to ensure proper policy is followed. Dr Stanford's care for the passenger remained uninterrupted throughout the duration of the medical issue.

Dr Stanford's experience comes two years after a 2016 incident in which a black doctor, Tamika Cross, was barred from helping a man who fell ill on a Delta flight.

When Dr Cross tried to come to his aid, a flight attendant dismissed her.

We are looking for actual physicians or nurses, the flight attendant said, according to Dr Cross. The story, shared via Facebook, triggered thousands of comments, and an outpouring of stories from minorities and women who had faced scepticism from people who did not think they looked like doctors.

Her experience helped trigger changes in the airlines policies, including the requirement that medical professionals show their credentials before helping passengers.
Donald Trump has suggested up to 15,000 troops could ultimately be sent to the US-Mexico border to counter approaching caravans of migrants, a major increase on initial deployments.

The US president denied he was fearmongering over the threat of illegal immigration ahead of the countys midterm elections next Tuesday, insisting it was an important issue.

The new figure, floated during a discussion with reporters on the White House lawn, is higher than the 14,000 troops that America has deployed in Afghanistan.

It is the latest increase, with 800 soldiers initially sent to the border by the Pentagon  a figure that then rose to 5,200 earlier this week. The troops are legally barred from enforcing US immigration law and are instead providing support to border officials.

"We'll go up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Patrol, Ice [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and everybody else at the border, Mr Trump said.

It remains unclear whether the US president will follow through on the suggestion, given he mentioned it in passing rather than by making any formal announcement.

The comment is the latest in a series of escalating warnings that Mr Trump has been issuing over migrants approaching the countrys southern border though Central America.

At first there was just one so-called caravan of people seeking to enter the US. Size estimates peaked at around 7,000 people before dropping to around 4,000 people.

Donald Trump, the US president Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

Now more caravans have emerged. A second, which clashed with police whiling crossing Guatemala into Mexico this week, is made up of an estimated 1,000 people. A further two caravans, smaller in size, have also formed.

Mr Trump has been accused of playing up concerns over immigration to help drive up turnout among his supporters, with the Republican majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives on the line at next weeks elections.

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In recent weeks the US president has called the approaching migrants an invasion and a national emergency, threatened to close the US-Mexico border and described himself as a nationalist.

On Wednesday he repeated a threat to strip Central American nations of US foreign aid if they fail to help him stop the caravans. He also suggested there were 25 to 30 million undocumented migrants in America.

That is far higher than other estimates, such as from the Pew Research Center which put the 2016 unauthorised immigrant population at 11.3 million.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump also doubled down on his proposal to remove a right for the children of illegal migrants born on American soil to get US citizenship, saying it was very unfair to our citizens.

Soldiers in an Air Force C-130J Super Hercules at Ft. Knox, Kentucky being sent to assist Department of Homeland Security along the southwest border Credit: DANIEL A. HERNANDEZ/AFP

He chastised Paul Ryan, the most senior Republican in the House of Representatives, who suggested Mr Trump could not end birthright citizenship via an executive order, which does not need ratifying by the US Congress.

Paul Ryan should be focusing on holding the majority [in the House] rather than giving his opinions on birthright citizenship, something he knows nothing about! the US president tweeted.
The Indiana driver who police say plowed into four children at a bus stop, killing three of them, told authorities she didn't spot the school bus until it was too late.

Alyssa Shepherd, 24, was driving her pickup truck early on Tuesday morning when she struck a group of middle school students crossing the road to board their school bus.

Siblings Alivia Stahl, 9, and Xzavier and Mason Ingle, both 6, all died on the scene, while the fourth child, 11-year-old Maverik Lowe, suffered multiple broken bones and was airlifted to a hospital to undergo emergency surgery.

In a court hearing Wednesday, police disclosed what Shepherd, an eyewitness and the bus driver told them following the tragic accident, WTTV reports.

Photos from the case:

The female witness, who was driving behind Shepherd, estimated the suspect was driving around 45 mph at the time of the crash and said the bus was very visible, even though it was dark outside. The witness told police that she slowed down for the bus, but that Shepherd did not.

Shepherd reportedly told authorities that she was returning from driving her husband to work at the time of the accident and had three children in her truck at the time, including her little brother. She acknowledged she saw "something" with lights on the side of the road, but claimed she didn't recognize it was a school bus until it was too late to stop.

The bus driver told police he spotted Shepherd's truck and, believing it was a good distance away, he waved the children across the highway, according to WTTV. He said once he realized the truck was not slowing down, he honked his horn to try and signal the children to turn back.

According to authorities, the school bus followed proper protocol and had its stop-arm out at the time of the accident. All 50 states have laws that prohibit drivers from passing school buses when they are stopped and have their flashing lights on.

Shepherd was arrested following the crash and was charged with three counts of reckless homicide and one count of passing a school bus when arm signal device is extended, causing bodily injury. She has been released from jail on a $15,000 bond and will appear in court on Nov. 13, WSBT reports.
Cairo (AFP) - Egyptian authorities arrested at least 19 lawyers and rights activists on Thursday, Amnesty International said, condemning what it called an "appalling setback".

The rights group called the arrests "an alarming escalation of a crackdown on human rights workers" in Egypt.

"Today's chilling wave of arrests... is yet another appalling setback for human rights in Egypt," said Najia Bounaim, Amnesty's North Africa campaigns head.

"Anyone who dares to speak out about human rights violations in Egypt today is in danger."

Eleven people close to Egypt's banned Muslim Brotherhood, including human rights activists, were arrested on Thursday, their lawyer said.

Lawyer Abdel Moneim Abdel Maqsud earlier told AFP that 11 activists close to the Muslim Brotherhood were arrested and expected to appear before a judge.

The Brotherhood was outlawed and branded a terrorist organisation in December 2013, months after the military ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi following mass protests against his rule.

Jihadists have waged an insurgency since Morsi's ouster, while the authorities have made thousands of arrests in a crackdown on dissent.
The Citys hopes were raised and then dashed by mixed reports over a Brexit deal on financial services (Reuters)

Senior EU figures have shot down reports of a Brexit deal over financial services which sparked a rally in the pound.

The Times reported a Whitehall source as saying they were close to reaching an agreement on the future relationship of services and the data exchange.

The news, which gave the City hope their access to EU markets would be safeguarded after Brexit, saw the pound jump half a percent against the euro (GBPEUR=X).

But politicians at every level of the EU have now refuted the report that the UK had been guaranteed access on the basis that it kept the same regulations.

A European Commission spokesperson called the reports unsubstantiated and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said they were misleading.

Misleading press articles today on #Brexit & financial services. Reminder: EU may grant and withdraw equivalence in some financial services autonomously. As with other 3rd countries, EU ready to have close regulatory dialogue with UK in full respect for autonomy of both parties.  Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) November 1, 2018

In what appeared to be a coordinated strike on the story, European financial services commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis also rubbished claims a deal was done.

Fully agree with @MichelBarnier. #EU ready to have close regulatory dialogue with #UK in full respect for autonomy of both parties. Equivalence remains fully autonomous https://t.co/dNgX1PCKNx  Valdis Dombrovskis (@VDombrovskis) November 1, 2018

The UK is pushing for a mutual recognition system in which the UK and EU would accept each others financial regulations, rather than the UK simply having to accept EU rules.

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But the EU says the UK will have to make do with its equivalence system, which sees the bloc grant market access to foreign finance firms from countries with similar standards.

More than 30 non-EU countries, including the US and Canada, operate on this basis.

Speaking in April, Barnier said: Why would the equivalence system, which works well for the US industry, not work for the City?

And European parliament Brexit steering group member Danuta Huebner confirmed on Thursday it would be difficult to imagine the EU offering any more than equivalence.

Difficult to imagine more than FTA plus equivalence plus memoranda of understanding between authorities. But why should it be disappointing ? https://t.co/sX7YL14EIM  Danuta Huebner (@danutahuebner) November 1, 2018

Detailed negotiations about the future relationship wont even begin until the Withdrawal Agreement is concluded.

Brexit secretary Dominic Raab said in a letter to Commons Brexit committee chairman Hilary Benn that he wants to settle the divorce agreement by 21 November.

Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said on Wednesday that would only be possible if there was agreement within the next week on an Irish border backstop.

If there is no follow through on those commitments, then it is hard to see how this gets done in November, he said.

Minutes of the European parliaments conference of presidents reveal that a deal was on the table ahead of the last European Council but that it was vetoed by Raab in an eve of summit meeting with Michel Barnier in Brussels

MORE: Barnier: EU doesnt desperately need City of London
The UKs best known MEP, Nigel Farage, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg (Getty)

Nigel Farage will be paid 6,000 in expenses for being an MEP  even after he is made redundant by Brexit, Yahoo Finance UK can reveal.

Seventy-three MEPs are due to lose their jobs on 29 March next year  the day on which the two-year Article 50 process finishes and Brexit officially takes effect.

But all British MEPs, of which Mr Farage is one, will still receive almost 2,000-a-month ($2,584) in expenses until the end of June as part of their redundancy package.

Details of the payments were included in a presentation given to UK MEPs, which has been obtained by Yahoo Finance UK through a freedom of information request.

It reveals that UK MEPs will be entitled to keep half of the 3,950-a-month General Expenditure Allowance (GEA), which is paid directly to all MEPs every month, for three months after leaving.

That means they will each receive 5,800 in expenses over the period in which they will no longer be working  a total bill of 423,400.

A slide from the presentation obtained by Yahoo UK explaining MEPs will be entitled to some expenses after Brexit

A European Parliament spokesperson said the policy was designed to allow the MEP to wind down their office in their constituency by covering final payments for office rent and other administrative costs.

However, it is likely to prove controversial because, unlike MPs at Westminster, MEPs receive the whole expenses allowance into their bank accounts and are not required to prove what they spent it on.

That has caused concerns about the abuse of the allowance, leading MEPs to vote last week in favour of tougher transparency rules which would require MEPs to provide receipts for purchases and return any unspent funds. However, those rules are unlikely to have come into force before Brexit.

READ MORE: Steven Woolfe the only UK MEP to vote against new expenses transparency measures

On top of expenses, MEPs will also receive a transitional allowance of 7,600-a-month for up to two years after losing their jobs.

Every MEP under 63-years-old will receive the transition payments for a minimum of six months unless they find alternative work.

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After that, MEPs will receive an extra months allowance for every year they served as an MEP up to a maximum of two years.

Another slide from the presentation given to UK MEPs explaining what payments they will be entitled to after Brexit

That means every MEP who doesnt find work will receive at least 45,000 in transitional payments.

The UKs longest serving MEP, Labours David Martin who won his seat in 1984, could receive the full allowance of 182,000. Other long serving MEPs like UKIPs Farage, who has been in place since 1999, could receive 152,000.

MEPs already over 63 years old will begin receiving the pension of 260-a-month for every year they served in the parliament.

The European Parliament will also cover the cost of MEPs final journey back to the UK and shipment of up to 15 boxes of belongings from their office, the presentation reveals.

The presentation, entitled members entitlements, staff and logistics in the framework of Brexit, was given to MEPs by officials from the parliaments finance department in Strasbourg on October 23.

Julie Girling, one of the MEPs present, said: Never seen so many UKIP members attend a meeting in Strasbourg before.

Never seen so many UKIP members attend a meeting in Strasbourg beforethe subject? .Members entitlements after Brexit!!! pic.twitter.com/9c1nn43t7b  Julie Girling #FBPE (@juliegirling) October 23, 2018

MORE: Court blocks bid to end secrecy over MEP expenses




BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co and Baidu Inc launched a two-year project on Wednesday to test self-driving vehicles on Chinese roads, amid a global race by carmakers and internet firms to develop autonomous vehicle technology.

The project will start testing on designated roads in Beijing by the end of this year, and possibly other Chinese cities, the two companies said in a statement.

The vehicles will be capable of operating autonomously in certain conditions by the time the project finishes the development and testing process, they said.

By the end of the test period, the project will reach so-called level 4 technology for autonomous vehicles, or autonomous driving but not in all conditions. It is the second-highest tier after level 5, which describes vehicles that should be capable of navigating roads without any driver input.

Ford and Baidu, China's top search engine operator that is also taking a lead role in self-driving tech in the country, said in June they would develop connected services, artificial intelligence and digital marketing in China.

The U.S. carmaker, which is grappling with slowing China sales, is a founding member of the Apollo Committee, an advisory group for Baidu's Apollo autonomous driving open platform.

China's capital city gave German auto maker Daimler AG the green light to test self-driving cars on roads in July, making it the first international car maker to be granted such a license in Beijing.

(Reporting by Yilei Sun in Beijing and Adam Jourdan in Shanghai; Editing by Neil Fullick)
Oprah Winfreys impassioned speech on Thursday at a campaign event for Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams (D) earned praise from an array of media figures, including those on President Donald Trumps favorite TV channel: Fox News.

In her address at a town hall event in Georgia, Winfrey called on Americans everywhere to exercise their right to vote and encouraged citizens of the Peach State to consider casting their ballot in favor of Abrams.

For anybody here who has an ancestor who didnt have the right to vote and you are choosing not to vote wherever you are in this state, in this country, you are dishonoring your family, Winfrey said.

After airing the speech live, several panelists on Fox News Outnumbered complimented Winfreys moving words.

She is truly a master, co-host Melissa Francis said. She threads the needle of inclusion in a really interesting way, in my mind, where if youre listening to that speech, its hard not to feel inspired, its hard to make yourself feel left out. Very smart.

Oprah Winfrey blows away Fox News: If that woman can get people to eat pizza with cauliflower crust, she is going to get that woman elected. pic.twitter.com/ZIH8hJGriJ  Mike Sington (@MikeSington) November 1, 2018

Fox Business Network contributor Dagen McDowell, a guest host on Thursdays show, enthusiastically agreed with Francis assessment.

A lot of celebrities can raise money for you if you are running for political office, McDowell said. Oprah Winfrey has a spiritual connection with so much of this country, and it was built over years and years of doing that talk show.

If that woman can get folks to eat pizza with a cauliflower crust on it, she is going to get that woman elected, she added.

H/T Mediaite

Related Coverage

Gayle King Still Wants Her BFF Oprah To Run For President

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Fox News Host Laments Trump's 'Disturbing' Attacks On The Media: 'It's A Mistake'

Oprah: If You Don't Vote, You're 'Dishonoring' Your Ancestors Who Couldn't

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Gaza protest leaders are calling for calmer border demonstrations Friday to give a chance to efforts to reach a long-term truce with Israel after months of deadly unrest, a source in the organising committee said.

However, previous such hopes for a deal have been dashed since protests and clashes along the border between Israel and the blockaded Gaza Strip began on March 30.

It was not clear if demonstrators would heed calls for calm.

"Friday's events will be quiet," an official from the committee in charge of organising the marches told AFP Thursday, on condition of anonymity.

Egypt and UN officials have been engaged in indirect talks between Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, and Israel.

An Egyptian delegation was in Gaza on Thursday for further discussions, meeting with leaders of different factions.

After the meeting, a member of the organising committee said the Egyptians would attend Friday's protests.

"The Egyptian security delegation will visit one of return march sites tomorrow," Maher Mazhar told journalists.

He did not give further details, but it would be the first publicly announced visit to the protests by an Egyptian official.

The committee is technically independent from Hamas, but includes representatives allied to the Islamist movement.

The unnamed official said the agreement to quieten the border Friday "will give an opportunity for the success of the Egyptian efforts to (achieve) calm and lift the siege."

Protests would still go ahead, he said, but demonstrators would be encouraged not to approach the fence too closely, burn tyres or send balloons equipped with incendiary devices across the border.

Recent weeks have seen efforts by the UN and Egypt result in Qatari-funded fuel deliveries for Gaza, easing a severe electricity shortage.

There have also reportedly been talks with a view to Israel allowing Qatari cash into the Gaza Strip to pay public salaries.

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But last week, hopes for a deal were dashed by further border violence.

Seven Palestinians died in renewed clashes along the border last Friday.

Hours later, Islamic Jihad -- a Hamas-allied militant group -- fired dozens of rockets at Israel, which responded with extensive air strikes.

In a statement after a meeting of their leaders in Gaza on Thursday, Hamas and Islamic Jihad said the marches would continue.

Both groups praised Egyptian and UN efforts to broker a deal.

Since often violent protests began on March 30, at least 218 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire.

One Israeli soldier has been killed by a Palestinian sniper.

Demonstrators are calling for Palestinian refugees to be allowed to return to the homes their families fled or were expelled from in the 1948 war surrounding the creation of Israel and which are now inside the Jewish state.

Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008 and the recent unrest has raised fears of a fourth.
ATLANTA  Gwinnett County, Georgia, is one of the most diverse counties in the country, but you wouldnt know it from the houses on this particular block. Aside from a couple of political signs and the occasional overzealous Halloween decorator, this street in the city of Duluth is a stretch of similar two-story cream-and-brick homes, all facing similarly well-manicured lawns.

On a Thursday in October, six black women wearing bright orange T-shirts and jeans pull into this squeaky-clean north Atlanta suburb just before sundown, after what should have been a half-hour drive from the city took more than twice as long in traffic. They are domestic workers by day  nannies, housekeepers and home care workers  but they spend their evenings knocking on doors for Stacey Abrams, who would be the first black female governor in the history of the nation.

The plan is to skip over the houses inhabited by white people and target the voters of color. The women have a canvassing app, MiniVAN, that helps them to know which are which. Just over half of this immigrant-heavy county is non-white, but they are rare and sporadic voters  so turning out the vote here could be crucial to Abrams election in what is now a razor-thin race against Republican Brian Kemp.

The work can be dangerous, so the women always keep each other in eye-shot while canvassing. Occasionally their app fails them, and they encounter a house with a Confederate flag or some other white supremacist symbol. Sometimes theres a run-in with their fellow Georgians  an older white couple, for instance, backing their white Ford pickup out of their driveway and pulling up next to the women Ive accompanied today. A Kemp sign pokes out of the couples yard in the distance, and a large German shepherd pants in the backseat. The wife rolls down her window and asks the women what theyre doing there, while the husband snaps pictures of one of them and the license plate of their car.

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Shechel Williams, a gregarious 45-year-old home health aide, warmly explains that they are domestic workers campaigning for Abrams. She hands the wife a flyer through the window, and the suspicious couple speeds off without saying much.

The canvasser who just had her picture taken, Nilaja Fabien, is a 46-year-old Trinidad native who has spent nearly three decades working as a nanny for white children in Atlanta. She wears a blue denim cap over her closely cropped hair and speaks softly and deliberately, as if shes leaning over to tell a secret in the library. She is momentarily shaken by the encounter with the white couple.

Nilaja Fabien, a 46-year-old nanny originally from Trinidad, talks to a woman in Gwinnett County, Georgia, about Stacey Abrams' campaign for governor. (Photo: Laura Bassett/HuffPost)

What in the world? she asks.

You know whats in this world, retorts Williams. Just people trying to scare us.

More than 300 domestic workers in Georgia  nearly all black women, plus two men  are running the largest independently funded ground game in the state ahead of this historic election. Their organization, Care in Action, is the political arm of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, which represents 2.5 million domestic workers across the country. Theyre talking to voters of color in four critical counties, from the Atlanta suburbs to rural southwest Georgia, that could feasibly turn from red to blue if more non-white voters showed up at the polls.

While the proximate goal is getting Abrams elected, the domestic workers efforts are a continuation of an activist movement that began in earnest at the midpoint of the last century. For the most part written out of the popular history of postwar social movements, domestic workers, in fact, were a driving force in the fight for labor and civil rights. They played a central, if largely invisible role in the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott in 1955 and 1956. Beginning in the 1960s, household workers organized forums, spoke publicly, circulated pamphlets, gave testimonials, and lobbied legislatures, writes Premilla Nadasen in Household Workers Unite. What began as a grassroots movement of domestic workers, Nadasen adds, evolved into a mass movement which fundamentally redefined black womens relationship to the world of work.

Yes, we want to get Stacey elected, but its not just about getting a person elected, says Nikema Williams, a state senator and the Georgia state director of Care in Action. Its about reclaiming our power, reclaiming our voice and making sure that our issues are uplifted, because we are living these issues every day as women of color here in the South.

Abrams platform would directly and indirectly improve the lives of domestic workers. Shed expand Medicaid; she supports requiring a living wage across Georgia, instead of the current $5.15 an hour minimum; she has a plan to reintegrate incarcerated people into society and guarantee access to quality public education for all children. She wants to expand broadband access and better transportation to rural and low-income communities across Georgia, to better incorporate them into the economy.

These are important issues for domestic workers because women of color are typically on the chopping block for everything, Williams says. When things are being cut, we are at the bottom of the totem pole. So we are being very intentional about standing up for the people that identify as domestic workers because care work allows every other work to be possible.

Williams, 40, led the canvass I observed in Gwinnett County on Oct. 18. Shes a champion for Abrams, but shes also part of the post-Donald Trump wave of new women candidates herself. In December, she became the first woman elected to the historic Atlanta seat in the Georgia state legislature that was occupied by civil rights leader Julian Bond in the 1960s. She joined Care in Action in June to galvanize other women of color.

I definitely felt like my voice was needed in this conversation, she says. After the 2016 elections, there were a lot of white women that stepped up and found their voice and started their movements and their Facebook groups. And black women are the base of the base. I was like, if not now, then when? And if not me, then who? So I went for it.

A Chubby Ass To Whip

Abrams is the first candidate Care in Action has ever endorsed  a fitting first sally into politics, since the domestic workers movement began in Atlanta. Back at the groups headquarters there, a framed photo of Dorothy Lee Bolden hangs on the wall. A neighbor and friend of Martin Luther King Jr., Bolden founded the National Domestic Workers Union in 1968. In the photo shes wearing cat-eye glasses, hair piled high on her head, and shes flashing a peace sign to a crowd on stage after apparently giving a speech. Shes surrounded by men.

Beneath the poster, her quotation sits in a frame: We arent Aunt Jemima women, and I sure to God dont want people to think we are. We are politically strong and independent. On the wall nearby are two posters of the Georgia House and Senate Labor Committees, with pictures of the mostly white men who sit on them  a potent reminder that the fight Bolden started is ongoing.

The canvassers are all well-educated on the history of Boldens advocacy. One of six children, Bolden began washing diapers after school in 1930, at the age of 9, for $1.25 a week, and then cleaned house for a Jewish family for $1.50 per week at the age of 12. In 1940, she was hauled off to county jail and given a psychological evaluation for having refused the demand of her boss, a white woman, to stay late and wash the dishes. She had come to believe that poverty and economic deprivation were critically important to the goals of the civil rights movement, Nadasen writes, and that you couldnt integrate schools if children didnt have shoes to wear.

Bolden began to learn about activism and organizing from King in the early 1960s. She had 10 children, three of whom died in infancy, and her first organized activist experience involved fighting for their equal education rights. In 1964, the Atlanta School Board sought to move her kids all-black school to a condemned building, and Bolden led the protest and boycott that ultimately stopped that from happening.

That same year, after riding a bus with other housekeepers and hearing their complaints about low wages, long hours and racism on the job, she decided to organize Atlantas maids to fight for better working conditions. She conducted voter registration drives for domestic workers and educated them in the tactics of the civil rights movement. In 1968, with the consultation of representatives of the organized labor movement, she called the first meeting of the National Domestic Workers Union. For membership, people only needed a dollar and a voter registration card.

The union managed to defeat the first referendum to fund MARTA, Atlantas public transportation system, in 1968 because it hadnt included black people in the planning. Under Boldens charismatic leadership, domestic workers became a powerful union across 10 states, raised Atlantas wages by 33 percent and won the inclusion of domestic workers in workers compensation and Social Security benefits.

Three presidents in the 1970s consulted Bolden on issues affecting workers, and President Richard Nixon appointed her to an advisory committee on welfare and social services. I was the only Democrat up there, she told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1986. I was the one that went up to Washington to kick up some hell about women not getting the attention they deserved. She led the National Domestic Workers Union until 1996, often in the face of racist harassment. As Nadasen recounts, Bolden once got a phone call from a Ku Klux Klan member who threatened to whip her ass. Boldens response: I told them any time they wanted to, come on over and grab it. Youve got a chubby ass to whip.

She didnt back down to anybody, says Williams. She stood up to make sure workers had contracts and base wages, some of the same things were fighting for today, just to have dignity and to be heard in order to do their jobs. We absolutely ground ourselves in the work of Dorothy Bolden and her vision in everything that we do.

Yeah, Girl, Did You See The Help?

Around 3 p.m. every day except Sunday, more than a dozen women gather here at Care in Actions headquarters to share dinner on paper plates, catch up with each other and prepare for the evenings phone banking and door knocking. Well see if I feel like talking to people today, Diadra Nelson says with a wink as she strolls in. She is a retired 59-year-old sous chef at the Georgia State University bookstore, and she wears giant round earrings that say, Strong black queen.

Diadra Nelson joins in dinner, conversation and preparations at the Atlanta headquarters of Care in Action before a night of phone banking and door knocking. (Photo: Laura Bassett/HuffPost)

The NDWA recruits these women in parks, bus stations and other public places. Domestic workers are easy to spot, Williams explains; theyre the ones carrying cleaning supplies on the bus in the middle of the day or pushing strollers with babies that clearly arent their own.

Fabien was approached at a Barnes and Noble in 2011, where she had brought the two white children she cared for at the time. She remembers that it was right around the time The Help came out, because nannies in Atlanta had been talking about the film adaptation in which black housekeepers in 1963 speak out to a journalist about the racism they faced on the job. The movies lighthearted portrayal of the civil rights movement and its white heroine narrative flow out of broader, offensive myths about domestic workers, but Fabien says it sparked an important conversation nonetheless.

It was a huge mobilizing factor from what I saw, she says. When I spoke to other nannies about coming to the first meeting, they were like, Yeah, girl, did you see The Help? It was on the lips of everybody, and they saw the importance of organizing and supporting each other.

Abrams candidacy in Georgia comes at a time when women of color are undeniably winning difficult elections for Democrats in the South. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.), for instance, defeated Republican Roy Moore in a special election last year thanks mostly to the turnout among black women.

But their organizing is especially critical in Georgia right now, where Kemp has been caught engaging in multiple attempts to suppress the black vote. Earlier this month, a report from The Associated Press found that over 53,000 voter applications in Georgia  nearly 70 percent of them from black people  were being stalled in Kemps secretary of state office, which oversees elections. And Kemp denies being part of a plan to shut down seven polling places in a majority-black area. But Rolling Stone reporter Jamil Smith recently obtained audio of Kemp saying that Abrams voter turnout operation continues to concern us, especially if everybody uses and exercises their right to vote.

Georgia is not used to seeing women of color on the ballot for governor. The state has always been run by white men  mostly Democrats until 2002, when then-Gov. Roy Barnes (D) led a successful effort to remove the Confederate battle cross from the state flag. Republican men have won every election since.

The GOP is still hoping to capitalize on that same anger over the state flag to galvanize a subset of white voters who are enraged at the idea that their heritage is being erased. The night before the Abrams-Kemp debate this week, a photo surfaced on social media of Abrams participating in the burning of the old state flag in 1992, during her senior year at Spelman College.

Abrams defended having joined the permitted, peaceful protest against the Confederate emblem in the flag, while Kemps camp declined to comment. But Kemp has pledged to protect other Confederate monuments in Georgia, arguing that Georgians should not attempt to rewrite the past by removing them.

The women, domestic workers by day, canvass for Stacey Abrams in the evenings. (Photo: Laura Bassett/HuffPost)

Fabien is more than ready to move on from the states racist history. I feel like the time for that is over, that scary life that they want to have people living right now, thats done, she says. Were tired of it.

In this racially charged climate, it would be an enormous relief for women of color in Georgia to see someone running the state who looks like they do and understands their lives. Williams says when she first read in the newspaper that Abrams would be the first black woman governor in the country, she was in tears.

Because I knew that I dont remember ever knowing a black woman governor in the country, but I just never thought about it, Williams says. Seeing it in print, it just gave me chills.

Abrams grew up poor in Mississippi, one of six children to a mother who worked as a librarian and a father who worked in a shipyard. She went on to graduate from Yale Law School but is still $200,000 in debt from student and credit card loans. As a single woman, she became the first black woman minority leader of the Georgia State House of Representatives, and she writes romance novels on the side. Her brother struggles with drug addiction and has been in and out of jail.

When Abrams talks about reducing student debt, or expanding access to substance abuse treatment and mental health services, or rehabilitating incarcerated people, she is speaking about those issues from experience.

Denise Small, a 50-year-old retired nurse who now cares for an elderly family member, says she trusts Abrams for that reason. When she talks about these issues, its not only on her mouth, its in her heart. Her agenda for revamping the criminal justice system, mental health care, its just all valid and all necessary.

Small is about to knock on another door when I ask her if she thinks Georgia is really ready for a candidate like Abrams.

Oh, hell yeah, she says. I think its time. Because the people that practice humanity in this world, theyre looking for someone whos looking out for them.

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Georgia, youve been on my mind, Oprah Winfrey told the audience at a Thursday campaign rally for Democrat Stacey Abrams in Marietta.

The actress and former talk show host, who built a media empire and has dabbled in politics, came to the state as polls show Abrams and Georgias Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp deadlocked in the race for governor.

Abrams has attracted national attention as a black female Democrat who could win in the heavily Republican state  and because Kemp has refused to step down from his position, which puts him in charge of overseeing an election in which he is also a candidate. His stringent policy on voter identification has been challenged by critics, including former President Jimmy Carter, who contend that it is intended to suppress voting by minorities.

Winfrey said that issue motivated her involvement.

I was just sitting at home in California minding my own business, but I could not stop thinking about whats going on down there, Winfrey said.

The billionaire media mogul, who has been floated by some Democrats as a potential presidential candidate, bemoaned the negativity of contemporary politics, saying it was designed to confuse and confound you with fear, and cast Abrams as the hopeful alternative for voters.

I am here today to support a change maker, Winfrey said of Abrams, the former Democratic leader of Georgias House of Representatives. If elected, she would become the first African-American woman governor of a state. Shes a woman who dared believe she could change the state of Georgia, Winfrey said.

But Winfrey also framed Abrams candidacy in terms of its place in history.

Im here today because of the men and because of the women who were lynched, who were humiliated, who were discriminated against, who were suppressed, who were repressed and oppressed for the right, for the equality at the polls, and I want you to know that their blood seeped into my DNA and I refuse to let their sacrifices be in vain, Winfrey said.

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Kemp relied on a heavyweight of his own Thursday, campaigning with Vice President Mike Pence. Brian Kemp is tough on crime, Pence said. Hell always fight to keep violent criminals off the street, and Brian Kemp will always fight to make sure that law-abiding citizens will always have the right to keep and bear arms, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.

Pence, the former governor of Indiana, chided Abrams over the support she was receiving from Winfrey and actor Will Ferrell, who recently knocked on doors for the Democrat.

Id like to remind Stacey and Oprah and Will Ferrell, Im kind of a big deal, too. Pence said. And Ive got a message for all of Stacey Abramss liberal Hollywood friends: This aint Hollywood. This is Georgia.

With just five days remaining before voters head to the polls, Winfreys appearance followed a morning of knocking on doors for Abrams, and served to attract media attention, although Abrams hasnt lacked that. But Winfreys message was aimed not just at members of that party.

Oprah Winfrey takes part in a town hall meeting with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams ahead of the midterm election in Marietta, Ga., on Thursday. (Photo: Chris Aluka Berry/Reuters)

Ive earned the right to think for myself and to vote for myself. And thats why I am a registered independent  because I dont want any party and I dont want any kind of partisan influence telling me what decisions I get to make for myself, Winfrey said, adding, I have voted Republican and I have voted Democrat, and each time I voted, I voted for the people who I felt represented my values.

Having assured the audience that she was not trying to test any waters for a possible run of her own, Winfrey delivered a forceful speech then lapsed back into talk-show mode, bringing up Abrams as the crowd playfully updated a chant from the Oprah days: And you get a vote, and you get a vote!

Everybody gets a vote! Oprah responded, then asked Abrams why she was motivated to seek the states highest office.

Abrams responded that she believes poverty is solvable, then described an epiphany.

I realized when I was in the legislature that the person who sits in the governors office decides access to education, to health care, to jobs  that stand your ground was not created by the president; it was created by the governor of Florida, Abrams said, referring to the legal principle that was invoked by the defendant in the fatal shooting of black teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012. Mass incarceration didnt start in D.C.; it started with the governor of California. That the erosion of the social safety net did not happen in 94; it happened in the early 90s with the governor of Wisconsin, and Jim Crow never had a federal law; it was all states that stopped Otis Moss from being able to cast a vote. So, for me, the calling is that this was the moment. 2018 is our time, because we cant wait any longer.

Asked later in the day whether he had listened to Winfreys remarks in support of Abrams, President Trump said he had not.

Oprah liked me very much, Trump told reporters, adding. The woman shes supporting is not qualified to be governor.

Yes, Georgia has been on the minds of many people this year, and Oprah hopes to keep it there.

(Cover thumbnail photo: Chris Aluka Berry/Reuters)

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Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said what many were thinking after a jury acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse of all charges on Friday. This is America, Kerr said Friday before his team played the Pistons. Were treading down a dangerous path. It wasnt a shocking verdict, but one that poses great risk going forward if we continue to go down this path. ... States determining that people can just ...
More than 200 Google workers are planning a walkout on Thursday to protest the recent revelations about the companys protection of sexual harassers. The organizers have a list of requests for the company to consider to help anyone affected by sexual harassment or power dynamics at work, Bloomberg reports.

The New York Times report released last week detailed how Andy Rubin, who joined Google googl in 2005 with the acquisition of Android, was given a $90 million payout to quietly leave the company in 2014 after a worker accused him of coercing her into performing oral sex in a hotel room in 2013.

Google didnt deny the storys substance to the Times. CEO Sundar Pichai and HR chief Eileen Naughton told employees in email afterward that 48 people, including 13 senior managers, have been fired in the past two years for sexual harassment. None of them, they said, had received an exit package payment. Google also updated its policies to require all vice presidents and senior vice presidents to disclose any relationship with a co-worker regardless of reporting line or presence of conflict.

Over the weekend, employees in a group for women engineers began upvoting a post on an internal forum about organizing a walkout. By Monday morning, that post had hundreds of upvotes, Buzzfeed reports, and the Google employees who planned to participate numbered more than 200.

Personally, Im furious, a Google employee who requested anonymity told Buzzfeed. I feel like theres a pattern of powerful men getting away with awful behavior towards women at Google or if they dont get away with it, they get a slap on the wrist, or they get sent away with a golden parachute, like Andy Rubin. And its a leadership of mostly men making the decisions about what kind of consequences to give, or not give.

Rubin denies the allegations:

1/2 The New York Times story contains numerous inaccuracies about my employment at Google and wild exaggerations about my compensation. Specifically, I never coerced a woman to have sex in a hotel room. These false allegations are part of a smear campaign  Andy Rubin (@Arubin) October 26, 2018

The aftermath of the Times report is especially felt at Alphabet: X, the experimental moonshot factory charged with creating new, futuristic lines of business, Slate says, because one of the accused executives, Richard DeVaul, is still employed there.

Theres an increasing sense that Larry [Page] and Sergey [Brin] may be the problem, an anonymous source from X told Slate, speaking to a culture of impunity for men who initiate interoffice relationships with women working under them. I dont think theyre abusers, but theyve sheltered them. They clearly think theres some amount of value theyre getting out of these men that outweighs the women theyre preying on.
By Jane Lanhee Lee and Paresh Dave

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (Reuters) - Thousands of Google employees around the world briefly walked off their jobs on Thursday to protest the company's response to sexual harassment and demand that the world's largest search engine address rising concerns about workplace inequality.

The protests took place in waves, beginning in Asia and then streaming across Europe and North America, with the final wave occurring at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California.

The protests, which drew Google contract workers as well as employees, followed a New York Times report last week that Google in 2014 gave a $90 million exit package to a senior vice president, Andy Rubin, after he was accused of sexual harassment.

This was the $90 million straw that broke the camels back," Celie ONeil-Hart, one of the protest organizers and who works on YouTube marketing, told reporters as she joined hundreds of other employees in the courtyard of Google's Mountain View headquarters. "But there are so many stories that weve heard for so long, and its time for action and change," said O'Neil-Hart as she teared up.

Rubin denied the allegation in the New York Times story, which he said contained "wild exaggerations" about his compensation. Google did not dispute the report.

Organizers said about 60 percent of Google's offices participated, including Dublin, the company's largest site outside the United States, as well as London, Zurich, Berlin and Singapore. They shared photographs on social media of hundreds leaving offices.

Many employees at the Mountain View walkout chanted Womens rights are workers rights," and some wore blue ribbons in support of sexual harassment victims.

Seven U.S. employees who organised the demonstrations called on Google parent Alphabet Inc <GOOGL.O> to make harassment investigations fairer for accusers, share pay-equity data with workers and add an employee representative to its board.

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Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, speaking an hour later at a New York Times conference in New York, said he was taking note of the "concrete steps" workers presented to improve the company's culture and human resources processes.

"I want to make sure Google sets the bar," he said, noting that a lack of gender and racial diversity was part of the issue. "We're grappling with it, as with many places."

Organizers and other employees said Google executives, like leaders at the dozens of companies affected by the #metoo movement, have been slow to address numerous structural issues such as unchecked power of male executives.

They want Google to publicly report its sexual harassment statistics and end forced arbitration in harassment cases. They also have asked that the chief diversity officer be able to directly advise the board.

Rana Abdelhamid, who works in Google Cloud's marketing division in San Francisco, told reporters that the walkout was "about safety of women in the workplace," adding that Google's historical support for women's causes caused her to be shocked when she learned of the multi-million-dollar payout.

"The numbers and facts don't match with the intentions" of Google on equality and safety for underrepresented groups, she told Reuters. "We need to reprioritise energy and really focus on these issues."

MONTHS OF BUILDUP

Since its founding two decades ago, Google has been known for its motto "don't be evil," a dictum preserved in its worker code of conduct, and its transparency with employees about corporate strategy.

But employees have internally organised for months to increase diversity and improve treatment of women and minorities.

Those issues have been top of mind since the 2016 election of U.S. President Donald Trump, a Republican, stunned Silicon Valley, where liberal and libertarian policies are popular.

Tech workers have become more vocal to protest both the president's and their companies' stances on immigration, defence and discrimination. Workers have said that they are driven by the sense that their technology pioneer employers should also be standard bearers on socioeconomic issues.

"We all know that the status quo is unacceptable and if there is any company who can solve this, it is Google, said Thomas Kneeland, a Google software engineer in New York.

The dissatisfaction among Alphabet's 94,000 employees and tens of thousands contractors has not noticeably affected the company's share price. But employees, who warned they would demonstrate again if needed, expect Alphabet to face recruiting and retention challenges if their concerns go unaddressed.

Alphabet shares closed down 0.4 percent to $1,085.98 on Thursday.

Around the world, Google workers walked out carrying signs reading "Time's up Tech," "Happy to quit for $90M - no sexual harassment required" and "Not OK Google," a reference to the "OK Google" phrase used to activate Google's voice-operated Assistant.

Cathay Bi, a Google product manager, speaking through a megaphone before hundreds gathered in a bustling pedestrian plaza in San Francisco's financial district, talked about the engines of change.

"This is what it means to be 'Googley,'" she urged the crowd to chant, invoking a widely used term for the company's culture. "People don't change because of law and policies. Laws and policies change because of people."

(Reporting by Paresh Dave in San Francisco and Jane Lanhan Lee in Mountain View; Additional reporting by Padraic Halpin and Graham Fahy in Dublin, Angela Moon in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler)
What was supposed to be a dream trip for Hannah Gavios turned into what she calls the worst nightmare one could imagine.

Gavios, while in Southeast Asia teaching English in 2016, took a trip to Thailand. She stopped to ask someone for directions to her hotel, but the man turned out to be a deranged local who tried to harass me. The man, 28-year-old Apai Ruangwong, offered to guide her to her hotel and instead led her to a wooded area where he attacked and sexually assaulted her.

She managed to fight him off and took off running in the dark, not realizing she was heading straight toward a cliff. Gavios fell 150 feet and miraculously survived. But the fall had fractured her spine and she couldnt move. In immense pain, she cried out for help. Thats when Ruangwong found her again and sexually assaulted her for 10 hours. She was finally saved by locals. (Ruangwong was sentenced to five years in prison.)

I was partially paralyzed from the waist down, the Bayside, N.Y., native tells Yahoo Lifestyle. I was given emergency spinal surgery at a Thai hospital. Doctors werent certain whether she would ever be able to walk again. I was very determined to prove them wrong and to show that I will walk and be on my two feet.

Hannah Gavios walks in Nike during the Runway of Dreams Foundation Fashion Revolution event on Sept. 5, 2018, in New York City. (Photo: Noam Galai/Getty Images for Runway of Dreams Foundation)

About 10 days after her fall, doctors asked her to walk 50 feet, which Gavios says was exhausting for her. But day by day, she started making progress and is now able to walk with the help of crutches.

One would think her horrific ordeal would elicit sympathy from everyone, but Gavios says that some strangers blamed her for what had happened to her. What was she thinking, traveling by herself? she says, referring to the sexist comments she would receive. She should always be with a man. Why shouldnt a female be able to travel or walk around by herself? Maybe we should focus on teaching men how to behave rather than belittling women for doing things on their own.

Gavios does say that she also wants to feel safe when shes on her own, so she took up martial arts and Krav Maga, the Israeli military self-defense system. Just so that I could still continue my adventures and always feel safe if I get into a dangerous situation, she says.

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Hannah Gavios with Janira Obregon at the Runway of Dreams Foundation Fashion Revolution event in New York City. (Photo: Noam Galai/Getty Images for Runway of Dreams Foundation)

While Gavios was building up her strength and making strides, she admits she was devastated to learn that she may never run again. However, all that changed when she saw pictures of people in crutches and prosthetics doing the New York City Marathon. She set her mind on doing the race on crutches and started training. Gavios says she feels confident and prepared for the challenging race on Nov. 4. Im just ready to crush 26 miles, she says.

Although she has set her own personal goals, Gavios, who is a yoga instructor, also wants to help others. I was inspired to also help other people with injuries or disabilities, she says. Through her Team Reeve funding page, Gavios has raised more than $16,000 for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which funds research for spinal cord injuries.

Who knows? Soon there could be a cure out there for not just myself but 5.4 million Americans in this country alone suffering from paralysis, she says.

In the meantime, Gavios realizes how incredibly far she has come. If I had to go back to one of those dark days where I was feeling helpless, I would say, Hannah, youre going to get through this. Youre so much stronger than you think you are.

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By Aaron Sheldrick and Osamu Tsukimori TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's resurgent nuclear industry will miss a government target of providing at least a fifth of the country's electricity by 2030, a Reuters analysis shows. With eight reactors running and one more set to come online in November, nuclear has this year overtaken non-hydro renewables in power output for the first time since the 2011 catastrophe, when all of the country's nuclear plants were idled. Yet operators can expect as few as six units to restart in the next five years, and fewer than 20 by 2030, the analysis shows. That is far short of the 30 needed to meet the government target reiterated this year. Based on the analysis, the world's third-largest economy may get about 15 percent of its power from nuclear in 2030, compared with a government target of 20-22 percent. "It's impossible to meet the target, that's pretty much confirmed," said Takeo Kikkawa, an energy studies professor at Tokyo University of Science, who sat on an official panel that reviewed Japan's energy policy this year. He said he did not expect another round of restarts before 2020. One major trading house predicts nuclear will account for 14 percent of power production in 2030, according to a presentation given at a private seminar this year and shown to Reuters. Nuclear remains an unpopular energy option in Japan and the country will reboot only a fraction of the 54 reactors it had before the disaster. Six reactors at Fukushima Daiichi are being dismantled in a decades-long exercise that is fraught with technological challenges and radioactive waste. Operators have decided to decommission another 10 units across the country since Fukushima. The Nuclear Regulation Authority created new safety standards from scratch after the disaster highlighted failings in the industry and its overseers. All reactors must be relicensed before restarting. Yet Japan's nuclear industry, which before Fukushima operated the world's third-largest number of reactors and provided about 30 percent of the country's electricity, has staged a significant recovery. The turnaround has exceeded expectations of analysts and the utilities themselves. Kansai Electric Power and Kyushu Electric Power, for instance, have won approval to restart or are on course to win approval for all the reactors they applied to relicense. Those units are far from Tokyo and are pressurised water reactors (PWR), unlike the boiling water reactor (BWR) designs favoured in eastern Japan, including those that melted down at Fukushima. Many court cases are pending for reactors in the east of the country. Local political support varies, and the regulator is locked in disputes with operators over earthquake risk assessment. The older BWR technology used in many of the reactors under review is also an issue because the stigma of Fukushima hangs over them. "When you come to the BWRs, the issue becomes very politicized," said Nobuo Tanaka, the chairman of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation who was the head of the International Energy Agency between 2007 and 2011 after a stint in Japan's industry ministry. The reputation of Tepco, which operates two nuclear plants that have been damaged in natural disasters, also looms large, Tanaka said. "Tepco does not have any support as a nuclear operator," he said. The utility has to be removed from the equation before progress on BWR reactors can be made, he said. Tepco has reached the first stage of approval, but faces strong opposition from local residents. But Japan's utility lobby group said progress was being made. "The safety reviews of PWR plants took time but they have been progressing steadily and there have been some developments in the BWR category as well," Satoru Katsuno, the chairman of Japan's federation of electric utilities and president of Chubu Electric, said of the outlook for restart approvals. Chubu Electric has been locked in a dispute for years with the regulator over disaster resilience measures at its Hamaoka plant, which uses BWR reactors. (For graphic on Status of Japan's reactor fleet, click https://tmsnrt.rs/2OTpNfA) The analysis suggests that Japan will rely on fossil fuels, particularly liquefied natural gas and coal, as the pace of renewables expansion slows. That will make it harder to meet its emissions targets under international agreement. The government estimates costs for replacement fuel  mostly liquefied natural gas - to compensate for idled reactors totalled 14.6 trillion yen ($130 billion) across the industry in the six years through March. The lack of realistic energy targets makes it harder for the industry to plan for investment, utility officials say. And the issue of disaster resilience is not going away: a big earthquake struck the northern island of Hokkaido in September and left a nuclear plant reliant on backup generators. (For graphic on Japan electrcity output by source, click https://tmsnrt.rs/2OYYa51 (For graphic on status of Japan's reactor fleet, click https://tmsnrt.rs/2OTpNfA) (For graphic on the global nuclear industry, click http://tmsnrt.rs/2n69ZIr) (Reporting by Aaron Sheldrick and Osamu Tsukimori; Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Its a very good thing spacecraft cant get bored, because if spacecraft could get bored, the Kepler space telescope would have gone out of its mind long ago. It was in March 2009 when NASA launched Kepler into orbit around the sun, pointed it to a small patch of deep space containing about 150,000 stars, and gave it one instruction: Dont blink  ever.

Kepler, which was at last retired on Oct. 29 after running out of maneuvering fuel, obeyed, and that has paid off. What the spacecraft was patiently looking for were planets around those stars  or, more specifically, the dimming of light that occurs when an orbiting planet passes in front of its parent sun, obscuring a tiny bit of the stars light. Such dimming is infinitesimal, the equivalent of removing a single lightbulb in a display of 10,000 bulbs, according to astrophysicist Natalie Batalha, director of the mission.

But thats all it took. In the time Kepler was operating, it used that method to discover 2,327 confirmed exoplanets and another 2,426 candidates that have yet to be confirmed. Extrapolating that finding across the entire bowl of the sky, astronomers now believe that virtually every star in our galaxy  and, by extension, every star in every galaxy  has at least one planet. And some, like our sun, have many more.

All of a sudden weve learned that planets are everywhere, says astrophysicist Jessie Dotson, a project scientist on the Kepler team. I think the biological potential of the galaxy is huge.

Thats the key, of course, at least for humans: the possibility that we, living on our own tiny world, arent the only organisms at large in the cosmos.

Not all of the planets Kepler found would be fit to harbor life, or at least life as we understand it. Some are far too hot, some are far too cold, some sizzle with radiation from their too-close suns, some are gas giants (so-called hot Jupiters) with no surface to stand or swim or crawl on at all. What you want is a rocky world like ours, one that orbits its sun in what astronomers colloquially call the Goldilocks zone, where things are not too hot and not too cold, so water can exist in a liquid state. The next generation of telescopes will continue the hunt, some of them returning their focus to worlds Kepler first discovered, others looking elsewhere.

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Alive or not, the planets Kepler discovered have a beauty and whimsy all their own: worlds with red suns, worlds with two suns, worlds with hemispheres on which day never dawns. NASA artists have captured some of that in a series of travel posters, executed in the artistic style of the Depression-era Work Progress Administration.

While Kepler detected the vast majority of known exoplanets, it didnt discover all of the planets the posters depict  only the ones that actually carry Kepler in their names. Most of the others were spotted by astronomers on Earth using telescopes to measure a stars radial velocity, or the wobble caused by the gravity of a planet orbiting it. Whatever the provenance of the planet, the art is playful, the science behind it is solid, and the mere knowledge that the worlds exist has helped transform our view of the cosmos.

Heres a look at just a small handful of the exoplanets out among the cosmos:

Pegasi 51b: Kepler cant claim this one. Pegasi 51b, which is 50 light years from Earth in the constellation Pegasus, was the first exoplanet ever discovered, on October 6, 1995, by astronomers using the radial velocity method. Dont look for life on 51b: its about twice the size of Jupiter, has a surface temperature of 1,800 F and lies so close to its sun that it needs just four days to complete a single orbit.

HD 40307g: Another world discovered by the wobble method, HD 40307g is located 42 light years from Earth and orbits a small, orange star with just 75% of the radiant energy of our sun. Its part of a litter of six planets circling the same star, but unlike its siblings, 40307g orbits in the Goldilocks zone. Its mass is about seven times that of Earth, with twice the gravitational pull. Much more important, it has a solid surface  and thus a place for life to get a foothold.

Kepler-16b: It isnt Tatooine, Luke Skywalkers home planet, but its not all that different either. Like Tatooine, Kepler-16b  located 200 light years from Earth and discovered in 2011  orbits two stars, which themselves orbit each other. That means a double sunset and, like the poster promises, a double shadow if you were on the surface of the planet. Not that you could necessarily stand there, however. The planet is thought to be cold and gaseous, a low-mass, large-diameter world like Saturn. Pretty, but surely lifeless.

Kepler-186f: This one could be the jackpot. Discovered in 2014, Kepler-186f, located 582 light years away, is about the same mass as Earth and about 10% larger in diameter  well within the rocky range. Its three times closer to its parent star than Earth is to the sun (32.5 million miles versus 93 million miles) but that star is a red dwarf, which means its much cooler than our sun. That, in turn, puts the planet squarely in the habitable zone. If water and atmosphere exist there, and if the planet survived the high radiation level red dwarfs can give off, life could take hold.

PSO J318.5-22: This is easily the saddest world in the known sky. Discovered in 2013, the planet is big enough and bright enough to have been spotted directly, in the infrared spectrum, via a telescope in Hawaii. The reason it could be detected that way is that it actually had aspirations to be a star, but wasnt even big enough to make it into the humbler star stratum known as the brown dwarf. Instead, with a mass only six times that of Jupiter, it is officially a planet  an orphan planet, tethered to no star, and instead floating through space alone, 80 light years away. Next time you look toward the constellation Capricorn, where PSO J318.5-22 roams, spare it a thought.

Trappist-1e: What PSO J318.5-22 lacks, Trappist-1e has in abundance: family. Discovered by the Spitzer Space Telescope using the same transit method Kepler used, Trappist-1e is part of a litter of seven roughly Earth-sized planets orbiting a star 40 light years away. All seven planets could in theory harbor water. But Trappist-1e occupies the number four position, which in that solar system is the sweetest of the sweet spots, where liquid water is likeliest. All of the planets also huddle close to the hearth of their comparatively cool, red dwarf sun  so close that Trappist-1e needs just over six days to complete an orbit.
ROCHESTER, Ind. (AP)  The Latest on three schoolchildren being struck and killed by a pickup truck in northern Indiana (all times local):

6:50 p.m.

The driver of a pickup truck that struck and killed three young siblings as they crossed a northern Indiana road to board a school bus is facing charges.

Indiana State Police say 24-year-old Alyssa Shepherd of Rochester was arrested and charged with three counts of reckless homicide and one misdemeanor count of passing a school bus when arm signal device is extended, causing bodily injury. Shepherd was being held on a $15,000 surety bond.

State Police Sgt. Tony Slocum says 6-year-old twin brothers Xzavier and Mason Ingle died at the scene Tuesday morning along with their 9-year-old sister,

The siblings and an 11-year-old boy were struck about 7 a.m., before sunrise, as they were crossing a two-lane road near Rochester, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Indianapolis, to board a Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. bus.

Slocum says the injured boy, Maverik Lowe, is undergoing surgery at a Fort Wayne hospital.

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2:30 p.m.

State Police have released the names of three young siblings who were struck and killed by a pickup truck as they

Sgt. Tony Slocum says 6-year-old twin brothers Xzavier and Mason Ingle died at the scene Tuesday morning along with their 9-year-old sister, Alivia Stahl. All three were students at Mentone Elementary School.

The siblings and an unrelated 11-year-old boy were struck about 7 a.m. as they were crossing a two-lane road near Rochester, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Indianapolis to board a Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. bus.

Slocum says the injured boy, Maverik Lowe, is undergoing surgery at a Fort Wayne hospital.

The pickup's driver was identified as 24-year-old Alyssa Shepherd of rural Rochester.

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11:30 a.m.

State Police say a 9-year-old girl and her twin 6-year-old brothers were killed when a pickup truck struck them in northern Indiana as they were crossing a road to board a school bus.

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Sgt. Tony Slocum says the girl and her brothers died at the scene Tuesday morning after they were struck by the pickup near Rochester, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Indianapolis.

An 11-year-old boy who isn't a relative was also struck and suffered multiple broken bones. Slocum says that boy was conscious and speaking to emergency workers before he was airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital.

Slocum says the children were hit as they were crossing a two-lane road to board a Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. bus that had stopped with its stop-arm deployed.

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9:49 a.m.

State Police say three children were struck and killed by a pickup truck in northern Indiana as they were about to board a school bus.

Sgt. Tony Slocum says four children were preparing to board a Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. bus about 7 a.m. Tuesday when they were hit by the pickup truck on a two-lane road near Rochester, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Indianapolis.

Slocum says three of the children died at the scene and the fourth was airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital. Their names and ages haven't been released. Slocum didn't say which school the children attend.

Police are interviewing the woman who was driving the pickup.

Slocum calls the accident a "terrible tragedy."
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Latest on President Donald Trump's effort to end birthright citizenship (all times local):

2:20 p.m.

House Speaker Paul Ryan says President Donald Trump can't end birthright citizenship on his own.

The top Republican tells WVLK radio in Kentucky, "Well you obviously cannot do that. You cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order."

Ryan's comments Tuesday offered a rare challenge to the president  from his own party.

Trump tells "Axios on HBO" he wants to end birthright citizenship for babies born to non-citizens and immigrants not authorized to be in the United States.

Constitutional scholars are questioning whether changes could be made without Congress.

Ryan says Republicans didn't like when then-President Barack Obama "tried changing immigration laws via executive action. He says "obviously as conservatives we believe in the Constitution."

Ryan is retiring but the No. 3 House Republican, Louisiana's Rep. Steve Scalise, said on Fox that he's glad Trump is considering options.

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12:15 p.m.

Vice President Mike Pence says potentially changing birthright citizenship is part of the Trump administration's broad look at U.S. laws that draw people into the country illegally.

Pence said Tuesday the administration is looking at action that would revise birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed under the 14th Amendment. The amendment's Citizenship Clause says all people born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States.

Pence says the Supreme Court has never ruled on whether the language in the amendment applies specifically to people in the country illegally.

In a Politico interview, Pence denied that President Donald Trump's current talk about immigration is a scare tactic to rally Republican support in the midterms.

Trump tells "Axios on HBO" he wants to end birthright citizenship for babies born to non-citizens and immigrants not authorized to be in the U.S.

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9:35 a.m.

A person familiar with internal White House debate says the topic of birthright citizenship has come up various times over at least the last year.

President Donald Trump tells "Axios on HBO" he wants to end birthright citizenship for babies born to non-citizens and immigrants not authorized to be in the U.S.

White House lawyers expect to work with the Justice Department to develop a legal justification for the action. It's one of many immigration changes being discussed including asylum law changes and barring the migrant caravan from entering the U.S.

Administration officials say there likely would be no decisions until after the midterms.

Most scholars believe ending birthright citizenship would require a constitutional amendment.

The person familiar with internal White House debate wasn't authorized to speak publicly and spoke Tuesday to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

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By Zeke Miller and Colleen Long.

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8:45 a.m.

Constitutional experts are questioning President Donald Trump's legal ability to limit a constitutional amendment on birthright citizenship without Congress' consent.

Sarah Turberville directs The Constitution Project at the Project on Government Oversight and says Trump is "not a king" and "can't announce what the law is."

Other experts said Tuesday such an executive order might be possible if narrowly drawn but would violate the spirit of the Constitution's 14th Amendment.

Trump says in an interview with "Axios on HBO" he wants to end birthright citizenship for babies born to non-citizens and immigrants not authorized to be in the U.S. Most scholars believe ending birthright citizenship would require an amendment to the Constitution.

As early as 2015, Trump characterized birthright citizenship as a "magnet" for illegal immigration and the 14th Amendment as "questionable" in this context.

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7:15 a.m.

President Donald Trump says he wants to order the end of the constitutional right to citizenship for babies of non-citizens and unauthorized immigrants born in the United States.

The president's comments to "Axios on HBO" come amid a renewed push for hardline immigration policies before the midterm elections. Trump believes focusing on immigration will energize his supporters and help Republicans keep control of Congress.

Revoking birthright citizenship would spark a court fight over the president's unilateral ability to change an amendment to the Constitution. The 14th Amendment guarantees that right for children born in the U.S.

Asked about the legality of such an executive order, Trump said, "they're saying I can do it just with an executive order."

Trump says White House lawyers are reviewing his proposal. It is unclear how quickly he'd act on an executive order.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  The Latest on Rep. Beto O'Rourke's appearance on an MSNBC town hall (all times local):

7:20 p.m.

Democratic Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke is suggesting that President Donald Trump floated the idea of using an executive order to end birthright U.S. citizenship so close to the midterm elections because "he's trying to play upon the worst impulses of this country."

O'Rourke appeared Tuesday night on an MSNBC town hall and said Trump has stoked "fear and paranoia" about a caravan of Central American immigrants slowly trekking through Mexico toward the U.S. border.

He said the U.S. can rise above the White House's "current occupant."

A congressman from El Paso giving up his seat, O'Rourke is trying to beat Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. Cruz said Tuesday that he supports ending birthright citizenship but he's unsure if the president has the legal authority to do that with an executive order.

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3 p.m.

Texas Senate hopeful Beto O'Rourke is appearing on an MSNBC town hall, the second time in less than two weeks that a candidate seen as a rising Democratic star gets to make a nationally televised case for ousting Republican incumbent Ted Cruz.

Tuesday's event from Houston comes as O'Rourke shattered Senate campaign fundraising records, including raising $38-plus million for the three-month period between July and September, despite shunning donations from outside political groups.

A onetime punk rocker giving up his El Paso-based House seat to challenge Cruz, O'Rourke is trying to become Texas' first Democrat to win statewide office since 1994.

But polls that once showed him closing in now have Cruz consistently ahead.

After two debates with Cruz, O'Rourke appeared solo on a CNN town hall earlier this month.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP)  Ted Metz may not get many votes in the Georgia governor's race, but the Libertarian candidate is on the ballot, raising the possibility that no one else will get to declare victory on Election Day either.

Republican Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams are in the home stretch of a closely watched race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Nathan Deal, and polls have consistently shown the rivals running neck and neck.

Metz's third-party campaign has attracted scant attention, but he could still play a defining role in Tuesday's outcome. If the vote margin between Kemp and Abrams is close enough, even a small percentage of votes for Metz could force the two major party contenders into a month of overtime culminating in a runoff election Dec. 4.

That's because Georgia requires candidates to get more than 50 percent of the vote to win an election.

"The reason why you have to take it seriously is we expect the margin is going to be so close between Kemp and Abrams," said Andra Gillespie, a political science professor at Emory University in Atlanta. "It's probably going to be the closest we've seen in a long while."

Libertarians have been on the ballot for every Georgia governor's election since 1998, taking between 2 and 4 percent of the vote, but no fall governor's race has ever required a runoff.

Runoffs in other statewide races have been rare, too. The last was in 2008, when Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss barely missed a November victory with 49.8 percent of the vote. Libertarian Allen Buckley received 3.4 percent. Chambliss easily won re-election in the December runoff.

Metz, 60, is a retired insurance agent and financial planner whose campaign largely has revolved around promoting industrial hemp. During a recent televised debate, he urged voters to help him deny Kemp or Abrams and outright victory on Election Day.

"This is going to be a runoff, anyway," Metz said. "If you're tired of the two-party system and the two-party tyranny of the oligarchs running the planet, then a vote for me is a protest vote to show them that you're sick and tired of the same old stuff."

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Both parties are sending their highest-ranking motivators to Georgia in the campaign's final days. President Donald Trump will hold a rally Sunday with Kemp, who's also lined up a three-city tour Thursday with Vice President Mike Pence. Former President Barack Obama will visit Atlanta on Friday to fire up Democrats for Abrams.

"The fact they're all coming here shows that both sides see this as very much up for grabs," said Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia.

The stark contrast between the two major party candidates in Georgia could dampen voters' temptation to cast third-party protest votes. Abrams hopes to become the first black woman elected a U.S. governor and has run as an unabashed liberal. Kemp comes from the GOP's conservative wing and has embraced Trump's support.

A runoff would bring fresh challenges for each. Republicans have historically fared better in Georgia runoffs, Bullock said, and Abrams' strategy of mobilizing first-time and less-frequent voters could struggle to maintain momentum into December.

Meanwhile, Deal has called the state legislature into a special session Nov. 13 to deal with recovery costs inflicted by Hurricane Michael. Kemp, who rejected calls to resign as secretary of state, would face a financial disadvantage in a runoff. State law prohibits lawmakers and statewide officers from fundraising when the legislature meets.

Some Georgia political veterans in Georgia are dismissing any runoff talk.

"If I recall correctly, the GA Governor's race was all but destined by the media for a runoff in 2010 and 2014," Chris Riley, Deal's chief of staff, tweeted last week. He noted Deal won both elections with a vote margin of 53 percent.

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For AP's complete coverage of the U.S. midterm elections: http://apne.ws/APPolitics
Paris (AFP) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday hailed "unprecedented" moves by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to transform his country as the young African leader makes his first trip to Europe.

Abiy, 42, has won global praise for forging peace with neighbouring Eritrea, announcing economic reforms and reaching out to dissidents, but is grappling with bloody ethnic disputes which have displaced some 1.4 million people.

Macron offered "all my support and that of France" in reforming Ethiopia and "in calming domestic tensions", telling Abiy at a press conference in Paris: "You have here a country which loves yours but also admires the transformation you are carrying out".

"I know how much he has risked to see these reforms through and how much these reforms are fraught with difficulties, but also how much Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has chosen a courageous path," Macron told reporters.

"The political, economic, social and cultural transformation that you are in the process of carrying out and that you've committed to in Ethiopia is unprecedented," added Macron, another leader keen to present himself as a reformer.

Abiy vowed to tackle the violence gripping Ethiopia, saying it would be resolved through "greater peace-building in the whole country".

"The communal conflicts cannot undo the reform agenda," he added, arguing that economic reforms would help end the violence by bringing greater prosperity.

"The reform process is contributing to greater peace in the country," he said.

Analysts see no single cause for the killing that has stretched from the countryside to the capital and left scores of Ethiopians dead.

But they say Abiy, who inherited a vast, ethnically diverse nation used to the iron-fisted rule of his predecessors, has his work cut out for him as he seeks to impose his leadership without tipping into authoritarianism.

French officials signed a string of cooperation deals with their counterparts from Africa's second most populous nation, in areas ranging from transport and energy to culture.

French experts are set to advise Ethiopian officials on how to open the national palace, dating back to the rule of Haile Selassie who was emperor until 1974, to tourists.
Washington (AFP) - US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis called Tuesday for a ceasefire in Yemen and for parties to come to the negotiating table within the next 30 days.

The Pentagon chief said the US had been watching the conflict "for long enough" and said he believes Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who are in a US-backed coalition fighting Shiite Huthi rebels, are ready for talks.

"We have got to move toward a peace effort here, and we can't say we are going to do it some time in the future," Mattis said at the US Institute of Peace in Washington.

"We need to be doing this in the next 30 days."

He said the US is calling for all warring parties to meet with United Nations special envoy Martin Griffiths in Sweden in November and "come to a solution."

Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the conflict between embattled Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, whose government is recognized by the United Nations, and the Huthis in 2015.

Nearly 10,000 people have since been killed and the country now stands at the brink of famine.

The United States has faced fierce international criticism for its role in supporting the Saudi-led coalition, especially after a series of strikes killed scores of civilians.

Mattis said US support is based primarily on teaching the Saudi air force to improve targeting and to not drop bombs when there is any doubt about what they might hit.

"Our goal right now is to achieve a level of capability by those forces fighting against the Huthis that they are not killing innocent people," he said.

"The longer term solution, and by longer term I mean 30 days from now, we want to see everybody around a peace table based on a ceasefire, based on a pull back (of Huthis) from the border and then based on a ceasing dropping of bombs that will permit the special envoy Martin Griffiths... to get them together in Sweden and end this war. That is the only way we are going to really solve this."

Last month, UN-led peace talks failed to take off after Huthi rebels refused to fly to Geneva over what they said was the UN's failure to guarantee a safe return to the capital Sanaa, which the group has controlled since 2014.
Following Meghan Markles debut as part of the British Royal Family, theres been plenty of discussion around the Meghan Markle Effect  that is, the bankability and sustained interest in the Duchess of Sussexs fashion statements, the power of which was estimated to give the British economy a boost.

While its nothing new that royals are looked to as trend setters, Markle is cutting a different kind of fashionable figure from Buckingham Palace.

Since becoming a royal, Markle has demonstrated a keen understanding of how her fashion choices carry significance. Markles fashion diplomacy so far has been deft; shes conscientious in supporting British designers, but also uses her wardrobe choices to pay homage to countries she visits, like Michelle Obama was known for during her time in the White House.

She mixes in affordable pieces from lines like ASOS and & Other Stories with designer labels. And as a self-proclaimed feminist, she often selects female-helmed brands and design houses  most notably, tapping British-born designer Clare Waight-Keller to create her highly anticipated Givenchy wedding gown for her nuptials to Prince Harry this spring.

Meghan Markle wears Outland denim and Veja sneakers while in Sydney, Australia. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

During her first royal tour as the Duchess of Sussex, Markle used her wardrobe to advocate for a cause that shes made the case for before: sustainability. While Markle has made headlines for wearing green fashion in the past, the Duchess made a concentrated effort during the royal tour to sport clothing that was made ethically and sustainably.

During her tour of four Commonwealth countries, where she and Prince Harry focused their attention on environmental and conservation efforts, Markle was photographed wearing multiple sustainable fashion labels. Chief among them, there were Rothy black flats, which are made from 100% post-consumer water bottles; Outland denim, organic cotton jeans crafted by seamstresses being paid a living wage; Veja fair trade sneakers constructed out of wild rubber and organic cotton; and a linen Reformation sundress that was created with 11.9 lbs less carbon dioxide than a conventional design, according to the companys website.

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Meghan Markle wears a Reformation dress in Fraser Island, Australia. (Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Yael Aflalo, founder and CEO of Reformation, whose sundress sold out soon after Markle was spotted wearing it, says people dont realize how much what they wear can affect the environment.

For the average consumer, the impact of fashion on the environment feels abstract and not part of our day-to-day life, she said, adding that choosing eco-conscious styles is a small change that adds up to make a big difference.

Megan Markle wears Rothy flats in Sydney, Australia (Dominic Lipinski/ Pool/Getty Images)

In this way, Markles sartorial advocacy is more than just a style statement made in goodwill. Outland, the brand that created the pair of jeans that Markle wore at least six times during the royal tour, told People that their sales increased 640% within 48 hours of the Duchess wearing the design.

Stylist and brand consultant Rachael Wang believes the Duchess wardrobe choices are a thoughtful way of calling attention to what needs to change.

Fashion from fast all the way up to luxury has generally ignored the truths that production mindlessly gobbles up precious natural resources, pollutes water, soil and air and takes advantage of laborers, Wang said. Not to mention, the trend cycle which promotes consumers to buy more than they will ever have time to wear before the the next trend emerges so that it all ends up in the landfillI think these conversations are extremely urgent and Im grateful that Meghan is using her platform to promote brands that are trying to change the irresponsible ways that the fashion industry has always done business.

Markles sustainable fashion choices werent just in the labels that she selected, but also in the way that she wore her looks. During the royal tour, Markle chose a navy blue Stella McCartney cape-front dress to the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Sydney that she had previously worn to a London concert for the Queens birthday. Stella McCartney, who designed Markles wedding reception dress, is known for her deep commitment to her design being both eco-friendly and cruelty-free. Markles outfit repeat is something that all consumers, royal or not, can easily do.

Those who want to practice sustainability with what they wear can do it with simple choices  no purchase required. Wang advises that consumers repair their clothes as opposed to buying new ones when they wear out and advocates for buying secondhand items, which keeps clothing and accessories out of landfills. She also suggests focusing your closet on your personal style, not a fleeting trend.

A wardrobe full of feel good staples like this will last a lifetime, she said. Then you can sprinkle in a few seasonal additions from brands whose ethos really resonate with your values.

Celine Semaan, founder and creative director of Slow Factory, a fashion and tech lab centered around environmental and human rights activism, points out that truly sustainable fashion is less about what you buy, but how you live your life.

Sustainable fashion is a culture  its more than a one-off purchase or decision, Semaan said.
Migrants from Central America are fleeing poverty and violence and are still weeks away from reaching the US

Central Americans fill their water bottles with juice while waiting in line to receive donated food in Niltepec, Oaxaca. Photograph: Rebecca Blackwell/AP

An impoverished Mexican town nearly flattened by a 2017 earthquake has welcomed thousands of tired and hungry Central American migrants in quiet defiance of Donald Trumps condemnation of the group.

As Trump ordered 5,200 troops to the US-Mexico border to block the migrant caravan, residents of the southern town of Niltepec  who still live among piles of rubble that once were their homes  welcomed the caravan with homemade soup, medical tents, and diapers for children.

We wish we had a space dignified enough to offer our visitors, said Zelfareli Cruz Medina, Niltepecs mayor.

As she spoke, caravan members were stringing up garbage bags to use as tents in Niltepecs main square. Surrounding buildings were scarred with cracks and gaping holes caused by the 8.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on 7 September 2017.

Of 1,720 homes in Niltepec, 1,602 were damaged in the quake, according to town officials, while 530 collapsed entirely. At least 100 families are still without homes, they said.

A tower atop Niltepecs main church was stripped down to its fragile wood skeleton by the quake and Cruz said the town needed help to rebuild its library and the mayors offices, which were serving as a shelter for the caravans women and children.

The US president has seized upon the migrant caravan ahead of midterm elections, claiming without evidence that it includes gang members and very bad people.

Migrants in the group say that they are fleeing poverty and violence. They are still 2,000 miles by road and weeks away from reaching a US port of entry, where most are expected to seek asylum as the law allows.

But a willingness to help the needy comes as almost second-nature to residents of the hardscrabble town in Oaxaca, one of Mexicos poorest states, Cruz said. We know now what it means to suffer, she said.

Near the church, three local families gathered at lunchtime in the shared backyard of rebuilt homes to cook an offering of chicken soup for the migrants.

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Later, Mariela Escobar, 52, a part-time cleaner, pored over a vat of steaming tamales  hundreds of them, she said  to hand out free for dinner.

People helped us greatly, said her neighbor, Angela Moreno Galves, 81. So now, of course, we want to help too.

Setting out from Honduras on 13 October, the caravan quickly swelled to number several thousand people. The latest estimates put its size at 3,500 to more than double that  matching or exceeding Niltepecs population of 3,800.

On Tuesday, more than 1,000 people in a second caravan that forged its way across the river from Guatemala began walking through southern Mexico and reached the city of Tapachula.

But Mexican federal officials seem intent only on seeing the caravan melt away as it moves through the country. The government regularly reports the number of migrants who have applied for refugee status or agreed for assisted bus trips back to their home countries.

The warmth of the welcome in Niltepec stood in deliberate, stark contrast to Trumps hostility, said Jorge Luis Fuentes, a senior town official.

Its a form of struggle, he said. Its a way to demonstrate that rights are universal.
Nealtican (Mexico) (AFP) - A sea of bright orange flowers sways in the wind, releasing the intense fragrance of the blossoms across the foothills of Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano.

Infused with pre-Hispanic mysticism, the petals of the cempasuchil flower, or the Mexican marigold, form the orange-carpeted path that guides souls on the Day of the Dead.

The distinctive flower is an essential part of the offerings Mexicans prepare for the climax of the traditional celebration held to honor the departed, which ends on Friday.

"An altar without cempasuchil flowers isn't an offering," says Yessica Ponte, a 28-year-old who, machete in hand, harvests the flower in Nealtican, in central Mexico.

According to Aztec legend, the cempasuchil was created from the body of a woman, Xochitl, pining for death so she could rejoin her deceased warrior lover, Huitzilin.

The pair had vowed to love each other even beyond death on the mountain dedicated to the sun god Tonatiuh.

But when Huitzilin was killed in battle, a devastated Xochitl begged the gods to take her to the world of the dead.

Tonatiuh dropped his rays onto Xochitl, transforming her into a flower that resembled the sunlight.

Huitzilin, reincarnated as a hummingbird, landed on the flower, opening its petals and releasing its fragrance.

Tradition has it that the couple's love will last as long as there are hummingbirds and cempasuchil flowers in the fields.

- Bread of the dead -

Some 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres) across 14 states -- from Baja California in the north to Oaxaca in the south -- are dedicated to growing the iconic flower.

But the majority of the orange fields are found in Puebla state which, according to official figures from 2017, produces 11,500 of the 15,000 tons of the country's total cempasuchil production.

On the Day of the Dead, big bouquets of flowers are arranged around portraits of deceased loved ones alongside white candles, mini-skulls made of sugar and chocolate, as well as the sweet and spongy 'bread of the dead" and other delicacies the dearly departed enjoyed in life.

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"I put as many flowers as I can, with a trail (of petals) that goes to the street" to help the spirits of her grandparents find their way back to the house, a smiling Ponte told AFP.

According to some beliefs, the marigold's petals, which range in color from a penetrating yellow to intense pink, soak up the sun's heat and represent the divine.

The flower's name comes from the word "Cempohualxochitl" in the Nahuatl language -- "20 flowers," from cempohuali (20) and xochitl, which is the word for flower as well as the name of the folk heroine.

The flower had a multitude of uses in pre-Columbian Mexico -- decorating altars and graves, painting the faces of prisoners marked for sacrifice, and as an ingredient in some remedies for diseases.

"It's important to preserve traditions because they generate a lot for the economy," said Ponte, who worked 12-hour days during the late October harvest.

She was paid 10 pesos ($0.50) for every bunch of 50 flowers.

- 'We can't cope' -

"In this season we cannot cope with the sales -- everyone walks away with cempasuchil," says Raimundo Ramos, a flower-seller at a market in Mexico City, where a small bunch of 10 flowers costs 40 pesos.

Last year's harvest generated a production value of 55 million pesos -- about $2.7 million.

As well as a traditional offering at this time of year, Mexican marigolds are used in insecticides and as a colorant in chicken feed, to give eggs a yellow glow.

It's also used in creamy soups and as a tonic for digestive, respiratory and fever problems.

"Pharmaceutical studies demonstrate that it has bacteria-fighting properties," said biologist Lizandra Salazar.

For 78-year-old healer Carmen Felix, modern scientific findings about the flower's healing properties confirm rather than disprove the legends surrounding the cempasuchil.

"Xochitl's eternal love, embodied in this flower, cures us of our ailments," she says, plucking petals in her lap.

"All illnesses come from sadness or fear, and only love can cure these things."
Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate for Georgia governor, is being backed by a number of celebrities as she attempts to make history as the first black female governor of a US state.

Barack Obama, who will hold a rally for her in the state, and Oprah Winfrey will be out on the campaign trail for Ms Abrams as she runs against Republican Brian Kemp, the current Georgia Secretary of State.

Winfrey, the billionaire media mogul, has inspired so many of us through the years with her unparalleled ability to form real connections and strengthen the bonds of family and community," Ms Abrams said in a statement.

She added: "I am honoured to have Oprah join me for uplifting and honest conversations with voters about the clear choice before us in this election and the boundless potential of Georgians.

Winfrey, who was born in Mississippi like Ms Abrams, will join the candidate at town halls in Marietta and Decatur, Georgia, as well as knocking on doors in the communities to ask for peoples votes.

The presence of celebrities is nothing new on campaign trails but not often seen on in gubernatorial races, particular from stars who are not from the state.

Earlier this week, Chicago-bred rapper, activist, and Grammy-winner Common joined the candidate at a Souls to the Polls rally The Independent attended in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

The event is meant to bring people from Sunday church services straight to the voting booth and several Georgia counties have allowed early voting to take place on Sundays leading up to the election.

During the rally at the Underground Atlanta plaza, Ms Abrams joked we just call [Chicago] north Mississippi because of the number of African-Americans who migrated there from the South years ago.

Common riled up the crowd with a verse: If you dont know what youre willing to die for, what are you living for today? Hopefully, youre living for freedom. Hopefully, youre living for justice and equality. Hopefully, youre living for more opportunities here in Georgia for every person, for people from all different types of backgrounds.

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He hit on Ms Abrams central campaign tenet, repeated at events all over the state: inclusion.

She has said she does not want votes simply because [she is] a black woman because her term in office would mean uplifting all Georgians looking for better educational, healthcare, and economic opportunities regardless of race.

Georgias demographics are changing dramatically and it is set to be the first state in the South that is majority minority by 2025.

Minority children are already the majority in the state with growing Asian and Hispanic populations, particularly in the suburbs of Atlanta.

Were all here together...and Stacey Abrams represents that love, that togetherness, the Like Water for Chocolate artist said on stage.

I dont come out and just support people unless theyre children of the most high God doing Gods work, Common said, encouraging the crowd to ask yourself...what more important thing are you doing this week than voting for Stacey Abrams?

This is our time right now to change the trajectory, he said, as Democrats see Ms Abrams race as a cardinal in the coal mine for the Republican stronghold in the state.

As much as Barack Obamas election meant a great deal for African-Americans in the south, Ms Abrams win would be important for black women.

Several older black women The Independent encountered on the campaign trail, those who had lived through the pre-1965 Jim Crow era when segregation was enshrined in law, could be seen holding back tears as Ms Abrams spoke.

Glenda Hatchett, the star of the television show Judge Hatchett, told The Independent as a black southern woman I want to be very clear that Staceys candidacy is about inclusion, adding: We will have a governor for all of Georgia.

The Democratic candidate, who in her words grew up working poor in Mississippi and then just plain poor as her parents studied to become ministers at Atlantas Emory University, took to the stage to say: I see of all of Georgia and I am running for all of Georgia.

She told a story shes retold hundreds of times on the campaign trail, but it does not feel rehearsed.

The audience laps it up as if they have never heard it before, a testament to her earnest delivery.

Ms Abrams graduated as valedictorian of her high school in 1991 and said she was invited to the governors mansion along with valedictorians from all of Georgias 159 counties.

I was only mildly interested in meeting the governor and much more interested in seeing the mansion. I watched a lot of General Hospital and Dynasty as a child, she joked.

But, she does not remember meeting the governor that day.

She only remembers the security guard outside telling she and her parents they do not belong in the most powerful place in the state because they were African-American and had just gotten off the public bus they had taken to get there.

She was ready to leave the property after the interaction but said her parents proved they werent ministers yet...and hand an engaging discussion with the security guard.

My parents raised me to understand you dont let people tell you who you are or where you belong, she noted as one of the main reasons to make back to that governors mansion.

The election is set to take place 6 November and the latest Fox News poll has Ms Abrams ahead of Mr Kemp.
Oprah Winfrey called on voters in Georgia to honour the men and women "who were lynched...repressed and oppressed" and make history by backing Democrat governor candidate Stacey Abrams in next week's midterms.

Ms Abrams is seeking to become the first black female governor in US history and Winfrey said breaking such barriers was important for those "who were humiliated, who were discriminated against... I refuse to let their sacrifices be in vain."

Winfrey also put to rest any rumours she was there for a potential run herself at the event in Marietta, Georgia, north of Atlanta.

She said: "I want to make it very clear ... I don't want to run, okay? I'm not trying to test any waters. Don't want to go in those waters. I'm here today because of Stacey Abrams".

"I've earned the right to think for myself and to vote for myself, and that's why I am a registered Independent," the billionaire multimedia mogul said. Ms Abrams is running against Republican candidate and current secretary of state Brian Kemp.

It appeared to be a direct appeal to her own vast and diverse fan base to come and vote for Ms Abrams.

"Nobody paid for me to come here. Nobody even asked for me to come here. I paid for myself and I approve this message, Winfrey said at the town hall event.

As she sat down with Ms Abrams on stage, the crowd chanted: You get a vote! And you get a vote! And you get a vote! parroting Winfreys characteristic enthusiasm when she would hand free items to audience members, like new cars, on her erstwhile television show.

Both born into poverty and partly raised in Mississippi, Winfrey said had been asking around for Ms Abrams number about three days ago.

She noted she had reached her when Ms Abrams was driving: I called up Stacey Abrams and said Stacey, this is Oprah. She said Girl, let me pull over!

It was not all jokes though, Winfreys speech was a rallying cry to vote for those in the American South, particularly the descendants of African-American slaves.

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For those who ha[ve] an ancestor who didn't have the right to vote and you are choosing not to vote ... you are dishonoring your family, you are disrespecting and disregarding their legacy, their suffering and their dreams, she said.

As much as Barack Obamas election meant a great deal for African-Americans and other minorities, Ms Abrams win would be a major leap forward for black women who have historically been kept out of educational and professional opportunities as well as positions of power.

Several older black women The Independent encountered on the campaign trail in Georgia last week, those who had lived through the pre-1965 Jim Crow era when segregation was enshrined in law, could be seen holding back tears whenever Ms Abrams spoke.

Glenda Hatchett, the star of the television show Judge Hatchett, told The Independent: as a black woman I want to be very clear that Staceys candidacy is about inclusion, adding: We will have a governor for all of Georgia.

Winfrey addressed them as well, quoting her personal friend and legendary poet and author Maya Angelou.

She used to say, Baby, your crown has been paid for so put it on your head and wear it. The right to vote is your crown, Winfrey said.

Addressing what critics have called divisive and even racist rhetoric of Republicans and, specifically, Donald Trump, Winfrey said the vitriol and the ads, they are designed to confuse and confound you with fear and asked Georgians to vote your values[and] conscience.

But, Ms Abrams message on the campaign trail has been one not just aimed at women of colour.

I dont want people to vote for me because Im black," she said, answering a previous question from The Independent during a campaign stop at the UpNext barber shop in southwestern Atlanta.

She wants people to vote for her because she will uplift all Georgians.
By Nelson Renteria SAN FRANCISCO MENENDEZ, El Salvador (Reuters) - About 2,000 migrants set off on foot from El Salvador's capital on Wednesday, the latest of several groups of Central Americans heading to the United States, even as U.S. President Donald Trump increased pressure to halt their flow. Men and women from the two groups of Salvadorans that departed San Salvador pushed baby strollers or bore children on their shoulders. On Sunday, a separate group of about 300 people set off from the city. Some, such as 42-year-old Luis Geovanni Vindel, a salesman from the central city of Zacatecoluca, moved on quickly, hitching rides alone toward the Guatemalan border. "We're already one step away from Guatemala, and soon into Mexico," said Vindel, limping forward with a cane on a prosthetic leg in the municipality of San Francisco Menendez. A larger U.S.-bound caravan, which left northern Honduras in mid-October is moving north at about 30 miles (48 km) a day through southern Mexico. It has become a major campaign issue ahead of U.S. congressional elections on Nov. 6. Mexico's Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete on Wednesday put the size of the first caravan at 2,800 to 3,000, below the government's previous estimate of about 3,500. Participants in the caravan have put the number significantly higher. Dozens of the men, women and children in that caravan told Reuters they were abandoning their homelands to seek asylum from a mixture of poverty, violence and corruption. "We're now in an unprecedented situation in the country," Navarrete told reporters in Mexico City. "This is not merely a caravan ... it's a migratory exodus." The bulk of illegal immigrants intercepted at the U.S. border are from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Trump said he could send up to 15,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, which is already heavily policed by border guards. "It scares us a little. But since we're seeing a ton of people going together, we can help one another to cross," said Jose Machado, a migrant departing from San Salvador, his backpack stuffed with clothing and toiletries. Trump, who has threatened to slash U.S. aid to Central America and close the U.S. border with Mexico, said in a tweet on Wednesday that Mexico needs to keep up efforts to discourage the migrants, who he described as "tough fighters." A clash at the Mexico-Guatemala border on Sunday left one migrant dead and several law enforcement officers injured. "Mexican soldiers hurt, were unable, or unwilling to stop Caravan. Should stop them before they reach our Border, but won't!" Trump said on Twitter. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders on Wednesday praised Mexico's actions to slow the movement of people, but told Fox News: "They can do more." Police estimated the two groups leaving San Salvador numbered around 1,000 each. One left around dawn, followed by the second later in the morning. Some waved Salvadoran flags as motorists honked in support and shouted "God bless you." (Reporting By Nelson Renteria, Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington, by Alberto Fajardo in Mexico City; Writing by Delphine Schrank and Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Dave Graham, Alistair Bell and Tom Brown)
Thousands of refugees and migrants from Central America are walking and hitchhiking northwards through Mexico, and Donald Trump has dispatched more than 5,000 troops southwards to help secure the US border amid what has has termed an emergency.

In addition to this original group, more than 1,000 migrants in a second caravan that forced its way across the river from Guatemala have begun arriving in the southern Mexico city of Tapachula.

About 2,000 migrants began walking north from El Salvador's capital on Wednesday, making it the third group to try and reach the US.

Mr Trump made clear Thursday he will do everything in his power to stop them, dispatching extra troops, threatening to shut border entirely and saying in an afternoon press conference the military would consider rocks thrown at active troops "firearms".

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In a demonstration that newer isnt always better, two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine show that minimally invasive surgery techniques, including robotic surgery, lead to higher death rates from any cause than traditional, open surgery done through an incision in the abdomen.

Minimally invasive surgery  or keyhole surgery, in which doctors perform operations through small incisions rather than by opening up patients and exposing them to complications  and robotic surgery have shortened recovery times and cut back on infections and bleeding. So in many cases, surgeons prefer using those techniques over open surgery that often requires deeper anesthesia, longer recovery times and comes with a higher risk of infection.

Thats the case with cervical cancer; most surgeons today recommend minimally invasive hysterectomy to remove the uterus. Doctors at MD Anderson Cancer Center wanted to confirm that this was the best option for patients, so they set up a study to compare survival after the two surgical methods. Understanding how best to prevent recurrences is critical, since most cervical cancer that recurs is difficult to treat. They randomly assigned women diagnosed with early stage cervical cancer to receive either a hysterectomy via minimally invasive surgery or robot-assisted surgery, or through the traditional open technique of making an incision in the abdomen. They fully expected that there would be little difference between the two groups when it came to survival and recurrence of the cancer, which would support the shift toward minimally invasive surgery and its lower rate of complications.

But they were surprised to find that exactly the opposite was true. Before they could enroll all 740 people in the study, the study was stopped after four months because one group showed dramatically lower survival: the women assigned to receive the minimally invasive hysterectomy.

We learned that people in the minimally invasive surgery arm had a four times higher likelihood of having a recurrence and of potentially dying than with the open surgery approach [after four to five years], says Dr. Pedro Ramirez, director of minimally invasive surgery at MD Anderson and lead author of one of the studies.

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In another study, researchers analyzed data from two large national databases that include about 70% of people diagnosed with different forms of cancer in the U.S. and compared outcomes for women with cervical cancer who received minimally invasive or open hysterectomy. There too the data was unexpected  women receiving minimally invasive surgery had a 65% higher chance of dying during the studys four to five year follow-up than women who received open surgery.

Taken together, the results prompted doctors at MD Anderson to immediately shift from recommending minimally invasive surgery for early stage cervical cancer patients to advising women to receive open hysterectomy. Ramirez says that recovery and complication rates have improved significantly for the invasive surgery in recent years, and emerging data suggest that minimally invasive surgery may no longer necessarily be better than invasive surgery on these factors.

Ramirez first reported early results of the study at a conference last spring, and physicians have debated how it should change their treatment decisions ever since. Its been surprising to the community of gynecologic oncologists, he says. Its been an unexpected finding for all of us.

Im a huge minimally invasive surgeon, and for me it was like a dagger to the heart, says Dr. Noah Goldman, associate professor and vice chair of clinical affairs in obstetrics, gynecology and womens health at Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School. Goldman, who was not involved in the study but heard the results at the conference, says he favored minimally invasive surgery because of the lower complication rates and easier recovery for patients. But, he says, the final findings now published in the NEJM should spark more discussions between doctors and patients. Were definitely going to take a long, hard look at who we can offer the minimally invasive approach to, he says.

Its not entirely clear why minimally invasive surgery would lead to worse results, but Ramirez says his study can rule out one possibility: that the minimally invasive approach, in which surgeons rely on laparoscopic cameras inserted through small incisions to see what theyre doing, causes them to miss some tumors and leave them behind. In the study, there was no evidence that women who were getting the minimally invasive surgery had more residual tumors than women getting the open surgery.

Instead, likely explanations for the difference might have to do with technical features of the way minimally invasive surgery is done. It involves pumping CO2 gas  which some studies show could accelerate tumor cell growth  and it requires using a mechanical manipulator to shift the uterus and cervix, which may contaminate new tissues with tumor cells.

Theoretically, its possible that changing the way minimally invasive surgery is done could lead to similar survival outcomes achieved with open surgery, but to prove thats the case, doctors would have to set up new studies that randomly assign women to getting open surgery or a new, modified minimally invasive procedure. Given the results of the current study  that the minimally invasive procedure increased the risk of recurrence or death by four times  its unlikely that doctors or patients would find that ethical.

Already, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a non-profit alliance of 27 leading cancer centers that provides guidelines for the best way to treat cancer, now advises that women with early stage cervical cancer opt for open hysterectomy rather than minimally invasive surgery based on these latest study results.

Goldman notes, however, that there may still be some women for whom minimally invasive surgery makes sense, but new studies will have to identify those groups. The current study, for example, did not analyze which women had cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes.

For now, women with early stage cervical cancer should discuss with their doctor which treatment option is best for them. I certainly will be more cautious, and will be talking to patients about what the data shows so that we can make the best treatment decision for them, says Goldman.
The crown prince reportedly disparaged the journalist days after he disappeared - REUTERS

Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, reportedly told the White House that Jamal Khashoggi was a dangerous Islamist in a phone call days after the journalist was murdered.

Crown Prince Mohammed told Jared Kushner, Donald Trumps son-in-law, and John Bolton, the presidents national security advisor, that Mr Khashoggi was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, according to the Washington Post.

The princes private disparagement of the murdered journalist is at odds with his public comments, where he described Mr Khashoggis killing as repulsive and said it was very painful for all Saudis.

His reported comments were made while Saudi Arabia was still claiming that Mr Khashoggi had walked safely out of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, a story that has now changed several times.

The remarks are likely to fuel suspicions among US senators that Crown Prince Mohammed ordered Mr Khashoggis death but placed the blame on low-level operatives after the killing led to a diplomatic crisis.

Saudi Arabia has arrested 18 men on suspicion of killing Mr Khashoggi but denied that Crown Prince Mohammed ordered his death or had any involvement in it.

A demonstrator holds a poster of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a gathering outside the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul Credit: YASIN AKGUL/ AFP

Neither the White House nor Saudi Arabia has commented on the report about the October 9 phone call between Mr Bolton, Mr Kushner and the crown prince.

Mr Khashoggis family have consistently denied that he was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group that was once tolerated by Saudi Arabia but is now banned.

The Muslim Brotherhood is not considered a terrorist group by Western countries, although it is banned by several authoritarian regimes in the Middle East, including Egypt and the UAE.

In his writings, Mr Khashoggi expressed sympathy for parts of the groups agenda and praised Qatar, the only Gulf Arab state to embrace the Brotherhood.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, also reportedly called senior White House officials to defend the crown prince and emphasise that Israel sees him as an important partner in the Middle East.

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Mr Netanyahu and the White House both consider Crown Prince Mohammed an ally against Iran and hope that he will lead other Arab states in endorsing a US plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly vouched for Mohammed bin Salman to US officials Credit: Ronen Zvulun/Pool via AP

Israels relationship with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states has been warming in recent years and the once-secret relations are becoming ever more public.

Mr Netanyahu visited Oman last week and two Israeli ministers made trips to the UAE, drawing protests from Palestinians who argued the Arab states were normalising relations with Israel while it continues to occupy the West Bank and blockade Gaza.

Turkish investigators are continuing to search for Mr Khashoggis body. One line of inquiry is that his Saudi killers dissolved it in acid, although experts said it seemed unlikely they could manage that quickly and within the consulate in Istanbul.
Paris (AFP) - Morocco's foreign minister has warned Europe against developing a "fortress" mentality to immigration from Africa, while promising his country is doing everything possible to control its borders.

Morocco, which nationals of many African states can visit without visas, has become a major gateway for sub-Saharan migrants into Europe, with 47,000 entering Spain from the north African coast in 2018, four times the number for the whole of last year.

The main reason is changes to smuggling routes favoured by human traffickers, who have switched their operations progressively from Turkey or Libya to Morocco over the last three years.

In an interview with AFP, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita urged European politicians not to stoke fears about immigration and understand the problems of the poor countries where many migrants originate, as well as transit nations like Morocco.

"For as long as Europe chooses a security approach, that will favour illegal migration. If Europe turns itself into a fortress, there will be new ways of getting round the controls," he said late on Wednesday.

The EU has put forward a migration strategy that includes increased development aid to tackle poverty in Africa, but anti-immigration, far-right politicians promising to seal borders are gaining ground continent-wide.

Italy's new populist government, which includes figures from the far-right League party, has taken the lead in promising mass expulsions and a new hardline on arrivals.

"There's no longer a cool-headed discussion to find solutions. People try to exploit the issue for gains elsewhere," Bourita said in a telephone interview.

- Under pressure -

Morocco has found itself under increasing pressure from its European partners, particularly Spain, to help stem the number of migrants crossing into Spanish enclaves in north Africa or crossing the Mediterranean. It has also faced criticism for either doing too little to crack down on human traffickers, or for the methods used to move sub-Saharan Africans away from its northern coast.

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"All the pressure shouldn't be on transit countries, that European countries say from their own comfortable positions 'you are mistreating migrants' or 'you are too slack, it's a problem'," Bourita said. "Everyone has a responsibility."

The European Union agreed to an extra 55 million euros ($62 million) in funding for Moroccan and Tunisia border controls in August, while further aid is reportedly under discussion.

Some analysts believe the kingdom is using its leverage with Europe behind closed doors.

This could see it demand more money for security and economic development, or by using the issue in other diplomatic negotiations such as over the status of the disputed Western Sahara region, or fishing and agricultural deals with the EU.

Increased arrivals from Morocco "may have been part of a Moroccan strategy to heighten the EU's awareness of its importance as a migration partner, with a similar aim of potentially increasing financial aid," analyst Chloe Teevan at the European Council on Foreign Relations wrote last month.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has openly used this strategy, warning Europe repeatedly that he would open the gates and allow millions of refugees and migrants to start crossing the Mediterranean again.

The EU signed a controversial -- but effective -- deal with Turkey in 2016 tied to aid of 3 billion euros to stop the flow of migrants. It has also negotiated with Libya and Egypt, other countries with poor human rights records, with the same goal.

Bourita denied that Morocco was asking for anything in return for its cooperation with the EU, saying it was acting in its own national interest and to show goodwill towards its European partners.

"There is an offer from Europe to help us in our efforts and Morocco has taken note of this, but Morocco is not there to negotiate anything," he said, declining to talk about the amount of additional aid being discussed.

Moroccan authorities say 54,000 attempts by migrants to cross to Europe were foiled between January and the end of August.

"Things are going in the right direction," he said. "There are real results."
By Ruma Paul and Simon Lewis DHAKA/YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar officials visited camps for Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh on Wednesday in an effort to kickstart a process to repatriate hundreds of thousands who fled an army crackdown last year. More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees crossed into Bangladesh from western Myanmar, U.N. agencies say, after Rohingya insurgent attacks on Myanmar security forces in August 2017 triggered a sweeping military response. Officials said after meetings in Dhaka on Tuesday returns would begin next month, but the U.N. refugee agency said conditions in Rakhine state were not yet conducive for returns". The agency had completed the second phase of assessment in Rakhine, but its access remained "limited", UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said in Geneva on Wednesday. Rohingya and other Muslims in three townships suffer hardship and economic vulnerability due to restrictions on their movement and the prevailing sentiment is "fear and mistrust", he said. A group of about 60 Rohingya community leaders met a delegation of about a dozen Myanmar officials in the Kutupalong camp, the largest refugee settlement in the world in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazaar district, said two Rohingya men who were present. Myanmar says it has been ready to accept back the refugees since January, and has built camps near the border to receive them. Myint Thu, permanent secretary at Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leader of the Myanmar delegation, said Myanmar had verified about 5,000 names of refugees and that repatriation would begin with a first batch of 2,000 returnees in mid-November. "We are here to meet with the people from the camps so that I can explain what we have prepared for their return and then I can listen to their voices," he told reporters in Cox's Bazaar. Bangladesh handed over an additional list of more than 22,000 Rohingya refugees to be verified by Myanmar, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Abul Kalam told Reuters. FIRST STEP TO CITIZENSHIP? Rohingya leaders said after Wednesday's meeting that they were unconvinced about the proposed repatriation. "They told us we don't have to stay (in a camp) for long, but when we asked for how many days they could not say," said Mohib Ullah, an influential organizer in the camps, reflecting what the officials said. Mohib Ullah said Rohingya leaders wanted Myanmar to recognize them as an ethnic group with the right to Myanmar citizenship before they return. Myanmar does not consider the Rohingya a native ethnic group. Many in the Buddhist-majority country call the Rohingya "Bengalis", suggesting they belong in Bangladesh. A pamphlet given to refugees by Myanmar officials on Wednesday, seen by Reuters, encourages them to accept new identity cards as a "first step" to citizenship. Many Rohingya reject the cards, which they say treat them as foreigners. Those with "national verifications cards" - known as NVCs - would be guaranteed "socio-economic development", but those without will be "stateless", the pamphlet says. "When we asked about our citizenship there was no answer," said Abdur Rahim, another Rohingya at the meeting. "They told us to accept NVCs. We are not accepting NVCs. We are not Bengali." The Rohingya leaders handed over a letter to Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi setting out their demands, including "compensation and reparations" for violence committed against Rohingya. U.N. rights investigators said in August that Myanmars military acted with genocidal intent in the crackdown last year. The administration of Nobel laureate Suu Kyi has denied most of the allegations, arguing it was a legitimate response to quell "terrorism". China, which has provided diplomatic cover to Myanmar over the exodus, has brokered talks with Bangladesh aimed at speeding up repatriation. Western countries and the United Nations, while calling for accountability for abuses committed by the military, have stressed that any returns must be voluntary. The repatriation faces resistance from Rakhine Buddhists who make up the majority in western Myanmar's Rakhine state, which the Rohingya also consider their homeland. Than Tun, a Rakhine community leader, said those who return should be confined to a part of the Maungdaw area close to the border and not allowed to resettle some formerly Muslim-majority areas. "We Rakhine dont want them to come back at all, but we understand there's international pressure," he said, adding anyone who does return should be placed in "certain secure locations". (Reporting by Ruma Paul in DHAKA, Shoon Naing and Simon Lewis in YANGON and Stephanie Nebehay in GENEVA; Editing by Nick Macfie)
NASAs most prolific planet-hunter is powering down after nearly a decade of revealing the diversity of our galaxys planets.

The Kepler space telescope will be retired after running out of fuel nine years after its initial launch, the space agency announced Tuesday. But the innovative spacecraft enjoyed an illustrious career, discovering as many as 2,600 planets and inspiring new fields of research, NASA said. Among its chief insights: that planets far outnumber stars.

As NASAs first planet-hunting mission, Kepler has wildly exceeded all our expectations and paved the way for our exploration and search for life in the solar system and beyond, said Thomas Zurbuchen of NASAs Science Mission Directorate. Its discoveries have shed a new light on our place in the universe, and illuminated the tantalizing mysteries and possibilities among the stars.

The probes retirement was not unexpected. Kepler has been running out of fuel for months, according to Space.com. In the lead-up to its impending retirement, scientists pushed Kepler to its full potential by preemptively powering down the spacecraft several times to extend its lifespan. It will be deactivated while in its current orbit of the sun, far from Earth, NASA said.

Launched in March 2009, the $600 million Kepler mission searched the night sky for Earth-like planets using whats called the transit method. The probes camera measured changes in the brightness of 150,000 stars in one patch of sky to identify alien planets, including ones that could potentially be inhabited by humans.

Read more: Eyes In the Sky: A Look at Americas Least Known Landmark

In 2013, mechanical errors made Kepler too unstable to continue its precision surveys. But scientists came up with a workaround, K2, that pivoted the probes field of view every three months and allowed it to survey more than 500,000 stars.

Over the course of its nine years, Kepler identified 2,662 planets and 61 supernovae on just 3.12 gallons of fuel. Its discoveries also supported nearly 3,000 scientific papers. Scientists said that Keplers data will support further research for a decade to come.

We know the spacecrafts retirement isnt the end of Keplers discoveries, said Jessie Dotson, Keplers project scientist at NASAs Ames Research Center in California. Im excited about the diverse discoveries that are yet to come.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the EU's "hypocritical and hostile attitude" on Thursday as he left for talks with four eastern European leaders in Bulgaria.

Netanyahu has regularly made such comments against the European Union, which is critical of Israel's occupation and settlement building in the West Bank.

To counter such criticism, he has sought alliances with sympathetic EU countries including Hungary, whose nationalist stance has been a thorn in Brussels' side.

"I leave now to a summit of countries, and I will meet with my friends, the prime ministers of Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and the Serbian president," Netanyahu said.

"This is not just a meeting of friends," he added. "It is also a bloc of countries with whom I want to promote my policy, to change the hypocritical and hostile attitude of the EU."

Netanyahu made similar comments before leaving for a Baltic summit in August.

Beyond the conflict with the Palestinians, the Israeli premier has also been eager to convince European countries to exert more pressure on Iran.

EU countries have been at odds with the United States since it pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and reimposed sanctions -- something long advocated by Israel.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen has been appointed to be the UN envoy for Syria, a UN spokesman said Wednesday, becoming the fourth emissary to take up one of the most difficult peacemaking jobs at the world body.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to the Security Council on Tuesday announcing his intention to appoint Pedersen, 63, currently Norway's ambassador to China.

A seasoned diplomat, Pedersen was a member of the Norwegian team to the secret negotiations that led to the signing of the 1993 Oslo accords between Israel and the Palestinians.

He will succeed Italian-Swedish diplomat Staffan de Mistura, who announced he was stepping down to spend more time with his family after four years in the demanding post.

De Mistura was appointed in July 2014 after veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi resigned following two years in the position.

Brahimi stepped in after former UN chief Kofi Annan quit just six months into the role. Annan described the Syria envoy's job as "mission impossible".

UN spokesman Farhan Haq announced the appointment and said Pedersen is expected to begin work at the end of November.

Pedersen will take over at a time when Syrian government forces have made major territorial gains in the seven-year war, with the military backing of Russia and Iran.

UN diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled but the world body leads a massive humanitarian effort to help millions uprooted and in need of medical and food aid.

More than 360,000 people have been killed in the war, which began in March 2011 as an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad but has morphed into a complex conflict with myriad armed groups, many of whom are foreign-backed.

- UN sidelined -

Reporting on his latest efforts, De Mistura told the council last week that the Syrian government had rejected a UN list of members to a proposed committee tasked with drawing up a post-war constitution for Syria.

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The committee is to be comprised of three groups of members, one proposed by the Syrian government, the second presented by the opposition and the third by the United Nations to include civil society representatives, religious leaders and others.

Last year, Russia, Iran and Turkey set up the Astana process to advance diplomatic efforts in Syria, a move that effectively sidelined the UN-led peace process that De Mistura was shepherding in Geneva.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide welcomed Guterres' decision to appoint one of her country's "foremost diplomats" and stressed that "finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria is one of the most difficult tasks facing the UN."

Pedersen has some knowledge of Arabic and is considered a skilled negotiator who can "find solutions and compromises in difficult issues," a Norwegian diplomat said.

The father of five served as Norway's UN ambassador from 2012 to 2017 before becoming his country's envoy to China last year.

He was special coordinator for Lebanon from 2007 to 2008 and UN envoy for southern Lebanon from 2005 to 2007. He also worked as director of the Asia and Pacific division in the UN political affairs department.

Pedersen also served as Norwegian representative to the Palestinian Authority between 1998 and 2003.




On the surface, the Ontario governments move to keep funding supervised injection sites of some form across the province signals a victory for the people who run and depend on those sites.

Health Minister Christine Elliott made the announcement on Oct. 22, after a months-long review of Ontarios supervised consumption sites and overdose prevention sites. Currently there is a distinction between the two, but the new model may change that.

Although Premier Doug Ford has previously said he is dead against supervised injection sites, the ministrys review concluded the sites save lives and connect people who use drugs with primary care, treatment and rehabilitation. According to federal government figures, the opioid crisis claimed nearly 4,000 lives across Canada in 2017.

This model echoes what we heard from healthcare workers, police, business owners, community members and people with lived experience, Elliott said.

But the devil is in the details, according to Sarah Ovens, a main organizer with the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society, and for the people closest to Ontarios opioid addiction crisis, the announcement signals the beginning of a potential new phase of limbo.

Safe injection site advocates carry Naloxone kits, which are used to treat drug overdoses in Canada. Photo from Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images.

Ovens has worked extensively with Torontos overdose prevention sites and knows how uncertainty can affect people giving and receiving care.

We think its really positive in that we really thought there was a real chance they might shut down all these sites, she said. But its very concerning because we dont know what the process will look like.

According to the Ontario government, the new model will maintain the overdose prevention element, with an emphasis on connecting people addicted to opioids with addiction services, health and social services, primary care, mental health support systems. The organizations that run the sites will need to apply to offer treatment and rehabilitation services. The application process will also include elements from initial and ongoing public consultations.

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Elliott made no mention of an increase in funding for the sites, which worries Ovens.

I think that what the workers manage to do on a shoestring budget is pretty amazing, she said. But Im concerned about what theyre going to be expecting of us and whether theyre not providing the resources for us to realistically be able to do that.

What the workers manage to do on a shoestring budget is pretty amazing.  Sarah Ovens

Ovens expressed the desire for the new government to keep these services in line with what the Liberals had introduced when they were in power.

If they are throwing out that previous framework and instituting a new one thats much more onerous, difficult and time consuming, then its going to hamper our ability to respond to this crisis, Ovens said. Especially in smaller communities across the province where there are fewer resources.

There are currently two types of sites in Ontario: supervised consumption sites and overdose prevention sites. Low-barrier overdose prevention sites differ from supervised consumption sites in that they operate under shorter-term permits and are not embedded in an established community centre. Theoretically, the only equipment an overdose prevention site needs to operate is a table, chairs and naloxone, Ovens said.

While both are considered life-saving services, Ovens said overdose prevention sites allow staff and volunteers to more quickly position themselves where they are needed most. However, because they operate under shorter-term permits, the staff who run them can only plan ahead a few months at a time.





Ovens said she doesnt know which elements of those models the new framework will incorporate, which makes it hard to plan ahead. She is concerned the new framework will raise the already existing barriers to new sites opening at a time when they are critically needed.

This is just not way to provide health-care services in general, she said. We are in an emergency, we need to be able to respond quickly. We need to be nimble, we need to be flexible, we need this to be low-barrier for communities to open these sites where they are needed.

Still, knowing overdose prevention organizations will be allowed to continue their work  however how vague the definition of that work is  is an improvement over not knowing whether they would still be operating from week-to-week, as was the case throughout the governments review process, Ovens said.

From the time that this review started, weve been really in limbo, she said. You want really good staff at these places, but asking the best nurses to leave their jobs for a three-month contract when you dont know whats going to happen after that, its really hard to plan, she said, adding that clients addicted to opioids are sensitive to that uncertainty, too.

Asking the best nurses to leave their jobs for a three-month contract when you dont know whats going to happen after that, its really hard to plan.  Sarah Ovens

The impact on the people who use the services is huge, she said. Not knowing if the service is going to exist from one day to the next, its really destabilizing for people and it really does impact peoples health and well-being.

The provincial government said approved sites could begin the transitioning to the new model in January 2019, with the 21 approved sites slated to open by April under the new model. Ontario is also planning to expand access to addiction treatment by adding new detox beds to high needs communities.

Through the uncertainty, Ovens remains optimistic.

Were glad that these sites are going to be allowed to continue operating, she said. I think the health minister said a lot of positive things in her announcement. I think she really listened to the people that she consulted with, and she acknowledged that these sites save lives.
Lima (AFP) - Peru's powerful opposition leader Keiko Fujimori was taken to a jail in Lima on Thursday, one day after a court ordered she be held in preventive detention for three years pending the outcome of a multi-million dollar corruption probe.

The 43-year-old was taken to a woman's prison in the south of the capital after a night in a sleeping bag in a cell at the Palace of Justice, where judge Richard Concepcion Carhuancho delivered the verdict Fujimori had feared.

Television images showed a handcuffed Fujimori smiling as she was taken Thursday in a police vehicle to the Chorrillos women's prison.

Around a dozen supporters of the Popular Force party that Fujimori founded in 2001 chanted, "Courage, Keiko, your people are here," as she arrived at the prison.

The daughter of disgraced former president Alberto Fujimori is accused of accepting $1.2 million in illicit party funding from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht for her 2011 presidential campaign.

She could face 20 years in prison if eventually convicted.

In ordering her detention, Carhuancho said there was a "serious suspicion" that Fujimori was running a "de facto criminal organization that is entrenched within the party" and had laundered illicit money.

He described Fujimori as a "high flight risk" and said "the only necessary measure in her case is undoubtedly preventive detention."

The judge took eight hours to reach his verdict, which almost certainly scuppers Fujimori's hopes of running for the presidency in 2021.

Twice before, in 2011 and 2016, she was defeated in a presidential run-off, despite the Popular Force party winning the most votes in both elections.

Her attorney Giuliana Loza told RPP radio station she would lodge an appeal on Monday.

Carhuancho is due to rule on public prosecutor Jose Domingo Perez's request for another 10 suspects to be held in preventive detention in connection with the Odebrecht investigation, which involves tracing millions of dollars in illicit payments.

Odebrecht has admitted spending hundreds of millions of dollars to buy politicians' favor in governments across Latin America.
President Trump watches as first lady Melania Trump places a flower on a memorial to shooting victims as they stand with Tree of Life Synagogue Rabbi Myers in Pittsburgh - REUTERS

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Pittsburgh on Tuesday to voice their anger at Donald Trump's visit after the killing of 11 people at a synagogue in the city.

They waved banners with slogans such as "President Trump, denounce white nationalism, and We do bridges not walls, a reference to Mr Trump's hard-line immigration stance.

It came after Jewish leaders, politicians and at least one of the victims' families criticised Mr Trump for his divisive rhetoric in the aftermath of Saturday's shooting, the deadliest attack on Jews in America's history.

Protesters shouted "leave Pittsburgh, leave Pennsylvania" outside the Tree of Life Synagogue, the site of the massacre, where the president and First Lady Melania Trump were paying their respects.

At a makeshift memorial outside the synagogue, the Trumps placed white roses and a stone from the White House for each of the dead.

They were joined by Mr Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, as well as Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers and Ron Dermer, Israel's ambassador to the US.

President Trump watches as first lady Melania Trump places a flower on a memorial to shooting victims as they stand with Tree of Life Synagogue Rabbi Myers in Pittsburgh Credit: KEVIN LAMARQUE/Reuters

Mr Trump came face to face with protesters as he arrived at a hospital treating victims of the shooting, driving passed several hundred demonstrators on the street and a sign that said, "It's your fault."

The suspected shooter, Robert Bowers, frequently posted anti-Semitic material online and was reported to have shouted "all Jews must die" as he carried out his attack.

The tragedy has heightened a national debate over Mr Trump's political rhetoric, which his critics say has contributed to a surge in right-wing extremism in the United States.

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

The White House has rejected the notion that Mr Trump has encouraged white nationalists, calling the shooting an "evil" and "cowardly" attack.

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An open letter to Mr Trump from a group of local Jewish leaders, stating: "You are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully denounce white nationalism" received more than 43,000 signatures.

People gather to protest the arrival of US President Donald Trump as he visits the Tree of Life Congregation on October 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh Credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP

Congressional leaders from both parties, as well as the Pittsburgh Mayor and Pennsylvania's Governor, declined invitations to join Mr Trump on his visit.

Bill Peduto, the Democratic Mayor, called for Mr Trump to delay his visit until all the victims' funerals have been held, saying it would distract attention and put a strain on resources.

The president's visit came hours after the first funerals were held in the city for brothers David, 54, and Cecil Rosenthal, 59 and 66-year-old Jerry Rabinowitz.

Mourners line up to pay their respects at visitation services for brothers Cecil and David Rosenthal Credit: Reuters

The family of Daniel Stein, 71, who was also buried on Tuesday, said they refused an invitation to meet Mr Trump.

Stephen Halle, Mr Stein's nephew, said it was because of the president's comments in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Mr Trump had suggested the synagogue should have had an armed guard.

Everybody feels that they were inappropriate, Mr Halle told the Washington Post. He was blaming the community."

Meanwhile Mr Trump's Vice President, Mike Pence, has come under attack for hosting an election event with a so-called "Christian rabbi."

Community members hold a candlelight vigil t Michigan State University Credit: Nikos Frazier/Jackson Citizen Patriot via AP

Mr Pence was campaigning for Lena Epstein, a Jewish Republican running for the House of Representatives, in Detroit, Michigan.

At the rally Loren Jacobs, who uses the title "rabbi" but espouses Christianity, was invited to speak on behalf of the area's Jewish community.

Jews expressed outrage over social media. Criticising Mr Jacob's involvement in the rally, Danya Ruttenberg, a prominent young rabbi, blasted Mr Pence as a "Christian supremacist."

"Stop pretending and appropriating my people," she wrote online.

The White House said Ms Epstein was responsible for inviting Mr Jacobs to the event, and that the vice president "invited him back on stage to deliver a message of unity."

"My family's history as Jews and my commitment to my Jewish faith are beyond question," Ms Epstein said in a statement.
By Jessica Resnick-Ault Pittsburgh (Reuters) - Behind the deli counter at a Jewish market in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, AJay Herskowitz provides brisket and comfort to a community shaken by tragedy. From London to New York to Los Angeles, people sought to offer consolation to Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood following a deadly shooting in a synagogue here. They turned to the ancient Jewish custom of shiva, paying their respects by visiting the mourning families, and by sending food baskets to mourners. At the Murray Avenue Kosher market, which often provides food for shiva visits, manager Herskowitz, who knew most of the victims personally, said he is "100-fold" busier than usual. Employees worked on their days off to prepare food platters, including brisket and apricot chicken dinners and lox platters. Herskowitz directed a delivery man bringing food to synagogues, homes of the shooting victims' families, and local Jewish schools. Several strangers just want to make blanket donations to help anybody out, said Herskowitz, who added that he had received an order from as far away as London. Jewish tradition requires that bodies be buried as quickly as possible, followed by shiva, the Hebrew word for seven, the week-long period when mourners remember the dead, discuss their loss, pray and comfort one another. Also, mirrors are covered so as not to be a cause of joy or not to become preoccupied with external appearance - inappropriate in mourning or in the presence of mourners. Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, David Mitzner Dean at the Center for the Jewish Future at Yeshiva University in New York, said the importance of sitting shiva is heightened in such a tragedy. "In a tragedy, shiva is particularly poignant in that it allows for a cathartic experience of reflecting on the lives led and not just on the way they passed. It allows us to ensure that the legacy revolves around their accomplishments and impact on the world, not overly on the tragic way in which they were taken from us, Glasser said. CROWDED FUNERALS On Tuesday, mourners crowded the first three of nine funerals for the victims of Saturdays attack by a gunman who shouted, "All Jews must die," believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Avowed anti-Semite Robert Bowers, 46, was charged with 29 federal felony counts and was ordered held without bail on Monday. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. Three more funerals were to be held on Wednesday. "With shiva, you're making grieving highly individual," said Rabbi Walter Jacob of Rodef Shalom, the site of funerals for two victims. "Its a little group who help each other," he said. Deli manager Herskowitz first heard about the shootings on his police radio at home - he has rabbinical permission to operate one on the Jewish Sabbath, when it is otherwise not permitted - and then alerted three other congregations in the neighborhood. Herskowitz said he was staying busy to avoid thinking about the calamity. He did not know if he would pay shiva visits himself, but the victim he knew best, Dan Stein, was always on his mind as he prepared meals for Steins family and the other victims. "I think about Dan and his wife Sharon all the time. I've never seen a couple melded together like they were," he said. (Additional reporting by Barbara Goldberg; Editing by Bill Tarrant and Jeffrey Benkoe)
(Reuters) - The suspect in a mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh that killed 11 worshipers has been charged on a total of 44 counts, up from 29 counts previously, according to a federal indictment filed on Wednesday. The charges against Robert Bowers, the suspect in what is believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in the United States in recent history, include religious hate crimes, firearms charges and causing injury to police officers. Bowers is due to appear at a second hearing in federal court in Pittsburgh on Thursday. (Reporting by Nick Carey; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
The names of the victims are displayed at a memorial on 28 October 2018 outside the Tree of Life synagogue after a shooting there left 11 people dead in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Robert Bowers, suspected of killing 11 people in the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has pleaded not guilty.

The truck driver entered the plea during an appearance in federal court for charges that could result in the death penalty.

There are 44 charges against the avowed antisemitic ranging from murder to hate crimes and obstructing the practice of a religion.

Prosecutors have said they will be pursuing the death penalty against him in the incident that is the deadliest-ever attack against Jews in the US.

He appeared in court with a bandage on his left arm, the result of a shootout with police at the synagogue on the morning of 28 October.

Mr Bowers is accused of interrupting a bris at the synagogue, located in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, and gunning down victims using a semiautomatic rifle and handguns after shouting "All Jews must die."

Donning a red prison-issued jumpsuit, he did not speak much in court except to say he understood the charges against him could result in being put on death row and to enter his plea.

During his previous court appearance earlier in the week, Mr Bowers had been shackled to a wheelchair since he was still being treated for his gunshot wound.

The 11 victims were regulars at the Tree of Life, there to attend Saturday services when the massacre occurred.

Rose Mallinger was the oldest among them at 97 and "was considered a pillar of the Jewish community" according to a statement from her family, Jerri Rabinowitz was a doctor who was killed as he ran towards the gunfire to help the wounded, Cecil and David Rosenthal were brothers and both developmentally disabled. One congregant Katy Levin told ABC News the pair were always seen together and she took comfort they were next to each other in their last moments.

Daniel Stein was a new grandfather, Richard Gottfried was a dentist and once-president at the Tree of Life, Joyce Fienberg was a grandmother of six who had mastered social media in order to stay in touch with them, 88-year-old Melvin Wax would lead services for the congregation when they needed it.

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Bernice and Sylvan Simon, both in their late 80s, were killed in the same synagogue in which they were married and Irving Younger was another grandfather and volunteer who greeted his congregation at services.

Judah Samet, 80, was not among the victims having arrived at the synagogue just four minutes late. As a child, Mr Samet had escaped the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany during the Second World War.

I survived the second time," he told the Washington Post about how he was in the parking lot just as the shooting was taking place.

Four police officers were also wounded in the shooting.

Critics have pointed out Mr Bower's antisemitic views openly expressed on social media channels like Gab were driven in part by the rhetoric of Donald Trump.
LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May appeared assured when she met business leaders on Wednesday, attendees of the meeting said, and sounded confident on prospects for striking a Brexit deal despite concern that Britain might leave the European Union without one.

May and Chancellor Philip Hammond met around 150 executives to discuss Britain's departure from the world's biggest trading bloc and this week's annual budget, which included spending pledges and higher taxes on technology firms.

Serco CEO Rupert Soames said both May and Hammond had been "reassuringly robust" and pragmatic in the meeting where May sought to assuage the concerns of business over the imminent departure from the EU.

"(It was) helpful to have practical recognition that the uncertainty is causing investment to slow down," he told Reuters.

With five months to secure a deal before Britain is due to leave the EU, business leaders are demanding certainty over the kind of trade terms the divorce will deliver. In particular, they want reassurances that there will be a 21-month transition period after Britain is due to leave the bloc.

Attendeees at the meeting at Guildhall in London said the atmosphere was good.

"There was a sense that they've got their mojo back," Legal & General chief executive Nigel Wilson told BBC News after the meeting.

"There was assured confidence from both of them that Brexit negotiations will go well, so we'll get a good solution, that it will go through parliament in a reasonably smooth way."

If Britain and the EU fail to strike a withdrawal agreement, there will be no formal transition period to cushion the impact of Brexit.

Earlier on Wednesday, the opposition Labour Party's finance spokesman John McDonnell also briefed businesses on the budget, and said those attending had quickly focused on Brexit during the discussion.

"We're as worried as they are about the uncertainty and the lack of assurance coming from government about a deal," McDonnell told reporters after the meeting.

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The Brexit negotiations are currently stalled over a disagreement on a fallback plan to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, former focal point for sectarian tensions, if a future trading relationship is not in place in time.

The latest meeting with business leaders follows a conference call the prime minister held with a similar-sized group of business leaders earlier this month.

May is bidding to prove her business-friendly credentials. She told the Conservative party conference that she would "back business" afer former foreign minister and prominent Brexiteer Boris Johnson reportedly used a different four-letter word to express his disdain for businesses' interventions on Brexit.

"She set out that the government would work to build a Britain that would be unequivocally pro-business," May's office said in a statement after the meeting.

(Reporting By Andrew MacAskill, William James, Alistair Smout and Elisabeth O'Leary; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Richard Balmforth)
New York City police are still searching for answers in the case of two Saudi-born sisters found duct-taped together in the Hudson River a week ago.

Police found the fully clothed bodies of 16-year-old Tala Farea and 22-year-old Rotan Ferea washed up in Manhattan on Oct. 24. Police initially believed the sisters committed suicide by jumping off of the nearby George Washington Bridge, but further investigation revealed no signs of trauma that would indicate a plunge from the bridge, police said.

According to police, the sisters mother said she received a call from the Saudi Embassy in Washington a day before the bodies were discovered informing her that her daughters had been ordered to leave to United States because they had applied for political asylum.

The sisters mysterious death comes at a time of increased scrutiny of U.S.-Saudi relations following the death on Oct. 2 of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was allegedly murdered and dismembered after entering the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called the killing a heinous crime that cannot be justified.

In the case of the deaths of the Ferea sisters, police said foul play has not been ruled out. The city medical examiner is still working on determining the cause of death.

The sisters lived in Fairfax, Virginia with their mother prior to going missing in August. Tala had been reported missing from Fairfax since Aug. 24 and was suspected to be accompanied by Rotan, police said. Police are still investigating their whereabouts for the last two months. NYPD Chief Detective Dermot Shea told reporters on Wednesday that detectives have gone to Virginia and interviewed family and associates.

I think weve made significant progress in piecing together pieces of this puzzle to find out what happened, Shea said. Those interviews are really unraveling in some way a piece of the puzzle of behind the scenes, but there is still work to do.

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On Wednesday police released photos of the sisters and asked anyone with information to come forward.

While we continue the expansive investigation into the deaths of sisters Tala & Rotana Fareawhose bodies were found on Oct 24 at the edge of the Hudson River in Manhattanwe urge anyone w/ info to call CrimeStoppers 800-577-TIPS @NYPDTIPS



Did you know them? Meet them? See them? pic.twitter.com/kX3KdxAuZp  Chief Dermot F. Shea (@NYPDDetectives) October 31, 2018

The Saudi consulate released a statement on Tuesday saying that the sisters were students accompanying their brother in Washington. The statement added that the embassy has appointed an attorney to follow the case closely.

The embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C. has reached out to the citizens family and extended its support and aid in this trying time, the statement said.
Washington (AFP) - The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul was a violation of international law, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday.

The top US diplomat nonetheless stressed that he wanted to preserve the decades-old alliance with Saudi Arabia and declined explicitly to criticize Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been consolidating power.

"It's an awful thing that took place," Pompeo told conservative talk show host Brian Kilmeade.

"The killing, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in the consulate in Turkey violates the norms of international law. That much is very, very clear," he said.

His remarks came as Turkey's chief prosecutor said that Khashoggi, a critic of the palace who lived in self-imposed exile in suburban Washington, was strangled as soon as he entered the Istanbul consulate, with his body then dismembered.

Pompeo, who was not asked directly about the Turkish findings, said the United States "won't rely on others" but would "develop our fact pattern" based on information it receives.

Pompeo said last week that the United States had identified 21 Saudis whose visas would either be revoked or who would be ineligible for future visas and said that more action would come.

But President Donald Trump has ruled out major actions such as ending arms sales to the kingdom, the largest foreign buyer of US weapons.
Charlie the dog probably has no idea how close he came to losing his beloved owner, Sonny Gilligan, when he accidentally shot him. (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Gilligan)

Dog shoots man is just not a saying you hear often  but in the case of a 74-year-old man in La Cruces, N.M., and his Lab-Rottweiler companion, its a true story.

Sonny Gilligan and his three dogs  Scooter, Cowboy, and Charlie  had all piled into a pickup truck last week to go hunting for jackrabbits when the 120-pound Charlie got his paw stuck in the trigger of one of Gilligans shotguns, according to the La Cruces Sun News.

I leaned forward and he slipped off the seat and caught the trigger  and it shot, Gilligan said. It was a freak accident, but its true; thats what happened. Gilligan was still sitting in the drivers seat when the bullet went through the seat and into his back, breaking a few ribs and shattering his collarbone. He says at first he thought the shot came from outside the car, but then he realized what had happened.

He told the Sun News: I was very fortunate I could get to my phone. The DASO (Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office) first responders saved my life. If theyd waited 10 more minutes, I wouldve died. I lost so much blood. It was a very close call, Gilligan remembers. I know I actually passed to the other side just before getting to the hospital, but they were able to revive me through CPR and bring me back. I have so much appreciation to the doctors and first responders who saved my life.

Those first responders discovered Gilligan next to his truck with a gunshot wound to his chest. They quickly transported him to University Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, where he has undergone surgery and remains in critical condition, according to the Sun News. Gilligan is expected to make a full recovery.

And as for Charlie? Despite the potentially fatal accident, the pup gets a pass from his adoring owner. Mark Gilligan, Sonnys son, told local Albuquerque news station KRQE that even in critical condition, Gilligans main priority was to spring his animals from doggie jail  meaning a county shelter where they were being kept and looked after. He spoils his dogs, you know. He calls them his boys. Hes very fond of his animals, Mark told KRQE.

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Poor Charlie, hes a good dog, Gilligan told the Sun News, saying he forgives his furry friend. The sheriffs department said the only one they had trouble with was Cowboy. The other two were friendly. Charlie is the boss, but hes gentle. Gilligan says he rescued all three of his dogs  and that Charlie was free. He describes the animal as a big, loving dog [that] would never hurt anybody on purpose.

While Gilligan recovers, hes at least relieved to know that his doggie trio is free because his son went downtown to release them on bond, he joked.

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Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - The Prince of Wales on Thursday called on The Gambia to work with Britain to promote democracy nearly two years after the small West African nation emerged from decades of authoritarian rule.

Prince Charles's arrival in The Gambia was the first royal visit since the 2017 ousting of President Yahya Jammeh who withdrew from the Commonwealth and threatened to change the country's official language from English.

"The UK and The Gambia can once again work together to defend our shared common values and to promote democracy, human rights, tolerance and the rule of law," said Prince Charles, accompanied by his wife Camilla at an event in the capital Banjul.

The Gambia was welcomed back into the Commonwealth during a visit by the Gambian president to London earlier this year.

Prince Charles said The Gambia's re-entry was an "important milestone" as the former British colony chose to turn its back on twenty years of Jammeh's rule.

He called on the two countries to commit to addressing The Gambia's urgent needs such as resource depletion, youth unemployment and rapid urbanisation with the help of Commonwealth member states.

"Please know that UK and the other members of the Commonwealth stand with you," Prince Charles said.

President Adama Barrow said the return to the Commonwealth illustrated his government's willingness to enhance international cooperation.

"I also call on the United Kingdom with whom we have close historical ties to continue to support us through enhancing trade, investment and economic cooperation," he said.

Following the event at MacCarthy Square, where the Union Jack was lowered in 1965 and the Gambian flag raised, the Duchess of Cornwall visited a middle school on the outskirts of Banjul to donate a metalwork lathe and plant a tree.

Local officials said it was the first royal visit since the country rejoined the Commonwealth. The last visit was by Princess Anne in 1990.

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The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall also visited a military barracks and a war cemetery where World War II army veterans were laid to rest.

Jammeh took over The Gambia, the smallest country on land in Africa, in a military coup in 1994 and installed a structure of oppression.

But his reign began to fall in December 2016, when he suffered an electoral defeat at the hands of Barrow, the opposition leader.

He refused to step down, but was forced out the following month after other West African countries intervened militarily. He flew into self-imposed exile in Equatorial Guinea.
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - The army general tapped by Brazil's far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro to be defense minister said Wednesday that snipers should be deployed to take down armed criminal suspects.

His comments came after the far-right governor-elect of Rio de Janeiro, Wilson Witzel, met with criticism after announcing he would deploy police snipers to shoot suspects even if officers' lives are not in danger.

"It's a necessary reaction to the ostentatious display of weapons of war, often in the hands of young people," retired general Augusto Heleno told Radio Nacional.

"It's not about killing indiscriminately. You need well-established criteria," he added.

"Police in Rio are very brave... but they need another kind of support."

Rio de Janeiro's impoverished "favela" neighborhoods are regular scenes of combat-style confrontations between heavily armed drug traffickers and security forces.

Witzel, a vocal Bolsonaro backer, was elected alongside him Sunday after both campaigned on hardline platforms that tapped outrage over violent crime.

Following through on a campaign pledge, the governor-elect said he would instruct police and soldiers to open fire on armed suspects, even if it meant shooting them in the back unprovoked.

"I'd rather defend officers in the courts than go to their funerals," he said in an interview Monday night with TV network Globonews.

He also proposed deploying snipers in helicopters to shoot suspects from above during police operations against drug traffickers.

Asked if his plan included shooting suspects in the back, he said: "Gun in hand? He's a threat. He's going to use that gun to attack anyone who's in front of him."

In February, President Michel Temer deployed the army to Rio to try to gain the upper hand in the bloody war on drug trafficking. Witzel said he wants to extend that 10-month emergency deployment by another 10 months.

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- Fighting fire with fire -

In a country that registered a record 63,880 murders last year, many Brazilians are fed up with violent crime -- a big factor in Bolsonaro's victory, and those of 12 far-right governors swept to office with him.

But rights activists said Witzel's proposals were not even legal.

"Giving prior authorization to automatically kill anyone who may be armed when there is no imminent risk to life is an affront to Brazilian and international law," Amnesty International said in a statement.

"It would only result in an escalation of violence and put hundreds of thousands of people's lives at risk, including those of the officers themselves."

Witzel, a little-known federal judge, surged to victory in Brazil's "Bolsonaro wave" after declaring his fervent support for the far-right former army captain.

Bolsonaro's own crime-fighting proposals include relaxing gun-control laws so "good people" can take justice into their own hands.

"Those who don't respect the law need to understand they will be held responsible, either before the law or by being taken down," he said Monday in his first interview as president-elect.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia imposed financial sanctions on Ukraine's political elite on Thursday, freezing the Russian assets of hundreds of politicians and officials along with dozens of businesses owned by Ukrainian businessmen. The sanctions were set out in a decree signed by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and were described as counter-sanctions drawn up in response to similar Ukrainian measures against Russian citizens and companies. The decree said 322 individuals and 68 businesses were targeted, including President Petro Poroshenko's son Olexiy, presidential contender Yulia Tymoshenko, the head of Ukraine's SBU security service Vasil Hrytsak, interior minister Arsen Avakov, and billionaire tycoon Victor Pinchuk. The sanctions also targeted several listed companies, including iron ore pellet producer Ferrexpo , poultry producer MHP , and Ukraine's biggest sunflower oil exporter Kernel . The decree said targeted individuals and firms would have their financial and property assets frozen in Russia and would not be able to repatriate them to Ukraine. Ties between Moscow and Kiev have steadily deteriorated since Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea and the outbreak of a pro-Russian separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine. Kiev has imposed its own financial sanctions on hundreds of Russian individuals and companies. It was not immediately clear how big an impact the Russian sanctions would have on the Ukrainian economy. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova and Andrew Osborn; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The abortive launch last month of a manned Soyuz mission to space was caused by a sensor damaged during the rocket's assembly at the cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Russian investigators said on Thursday. A Russian cosmonaut and U.S. astronaut were forced to scrap their mission on Oct. 11 after a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS) failed, sending them plunging back to Earth in an emergency landing. Presenting findings of an official inquiry into the accident, chief investigator Igor Skorobogatov said two more Soyuz rockets might have the same defect and that new checks were now being introduced into the rocket assembly process. The mishap occurred as the first and second stages of a Russian booster rocket separated around two minutes after liftoff from Kazakhstan's Soviet-era cosmodrome of Baikonur. "The reason for the abnormal separation ... was due to a deformation of the stem of the contact separation sensor...," Skorobogatov told reporters. "It has been proven, fully confirmed that this happened specifically because of this sensor, and that could only have happened during the package's assembly at the Baikonur cosmodrome," he said. Russian space agency Roscosmos aired footage filmed by an onboard camera, showing the Soyuz blasting off and climbing normally until three of its booster rockets detach, with one of them appearing to fall inwards, rather than away from it. The Soyuz is then knocked sharply off its trajectory and can be seen shaking and swinging as the footage is partly obscured by a spewing white cloud. Skorobogatov said the Soyuz's central block was hit "in the fuel tank area, causing a depressurisation and, as a result, a loss of the space rocket's stabilization." The accident was the first serious launch problem experienced by a manned Soyuz space mission since 1983, when a crew narrowly escaped before a launchpad explosion. Roscosmos said on Wednesday it hoped to launch its first manned mission since the accident on Dec. 3. The launch had been planned for mid-December, but senior Roscosmos official Sergei Krikalyov said they hoped to bring it forward so that the ISS is not switched to autopilot when the current three-man crew on board leave. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
On Full Frontal With Samantha Bee, Bee slammed longtime Iowa Republican congressman Steve King for his favorable stance toward white supremacists. On a recent trip to Austria, King met with members of the Freedom Party, which was founded by a former Nazi SS officer, and is currently led by Heinz-Christian Strache, who was formerly associated with neo-Nazi groups. For those familiar with Kings rhetoric, this should come as no surprise. But whats odd about it is what King was doing in Austria in the first place.You might be wondering, Why was Steve King even meeting with a Nazi-led party in Austria anyway? Bee said. Turns out he was on a Holocaust memorial trip. Awww, he must have been so disappointed to learn that Holocaust memorials usually take the anti-Holocaust side.Thats right. King was on a trip to visit Holocaust memorials, which was paid for by From the Depths, a nonprofit that seeks to educate lawmakers about the Holocaust, yet took time to meet with a group affiliated with Nazis. Following the meeting, King said of the Freedom Party, If they were in America pushing the platform they push, they would be Republicans.This gave Bee the perfect opportunity to take a shot. Did Steve King just say Nazis are Republicans? Bee asked. So tomorrow morning when you read the headline Samantha Bee says Republicans are Nazis, remember, I didn't say that, Steve King said it.

That last comment by King may have been the final straw for some Republicans. After years of sending out racist tweets and supporting white nationalists, King finally lost the support of the National Republican Congressional Committee and some financial backers, including Land OLakes and Purina. Still, when it comes to Kings overt racism and affinity for white supremacists, many in the Republican Party prefer to remain quiet.When speaking of Republican reactions to King, Bee joked, When Paul Ryan was asked about Kings thoughts on what color our babies should be, he yelled, Tax cuts!, threw a smoke bomb, and disappeared.
On Full Frontal With Samantha Bee, Bee slammed Rep. Steve King for what appears to be a favorable stance toward white supremacists. On a recent trip to Austria, the longtime Iowa Republican met with members of the Freedom Party, which was founded by a former Nazi SS officer and is currently led by Heinz-Christian Strache, who was formerly associated with neo-Nazi groups. None of this comes as a surprise to those familiar with Kings rhetoric. Whats odd is Kings presence in Austria in the first place.

You might be wondering, Why was Steve King even meeting with a Nazi-led party in Austria anyway? Bee said. Turns out he was on a Holocaust memorial trip. Awww, he must have been so disappointed to learn that Holocaust memorials usually take the anti-Holocaust side.

Thats right. King was on a trip to visit Holocaust memorials. Though the trip was paid for by From the Depths, a nonprofit that seeks to educate lawmakers about the Holocaust, he took out time to meet with a group affiliated with Nazis. After the meeting, King said of the Freedom Party, If they were in America pushing the platform they push, they would be Republicans.

This gave Bee the perfect opportunity. Did Steve King just say Nazis are Republicans? she asked. So tomorrow morning when you read the headline Samantha Bee says Republicans are Nazis, remember, I didnt say that  Steve King said it.

That last comment by King may have been the final straw for some Republicans. After years of sending racist tweets and supporting white nationalists, King finally lost the support of the National Republican Congressional Committee and some financial backers, including Land OLakes and Purina. Still, many in the GOP remain quiet when it comes to Kings overt racism and affinity for white supremacists.

Discussing Republican reactions to King, Bee joked, When Paul Ryan was asked about Kings thoughts on what color our babies should be, he yelled, Tax cuts!, threw a smoke bomb, and disappeared.

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Full Frontal With Samantha Bee airs Wedensdays at 10:30 p.m. on TBS.

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Saudi Arabia has come under fire for executing a female migrant worker without telling the Indonesian Government (Picture: Migrant Care)

Saudi Arabia is facing renewed criticism after executing an Indonesian migrant worker without first telling the Indonesian Government.

Tuti Tursilawati was sentenced to death in 2011 for murdering her employer in Saudi Arabia, despite claiming she was acting in self-defence because he was abusing her.

But despite agreements about notifying governments ahead of carrying out death penalties, Indonesias Ministry of Foreign Affairs said she had been executed without any notification.

The execution of Tuti Tursilawati comes amid the backlash over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi (Picture: REUTERS/Osman Orsal)

The move comes amid the backlash already faced by Saudi Arabia over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

According to ABC News, it comes just a week after Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister, Adel al-Jubeir, met with his Indonesian counterpart and President Joko Widodo in Jakarta to discuss migrant workers rights  in which it was apparently emphasised that there should be mandatory consular notification before carrying out death penalties.

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The latest execution is reportedly the fourth time Saudi Arabia has failed to provide any notice before executing an Indonesian migrant worker in the past three years.

Sharing the news, advocacy group Migrant Care said: This case is a slap for the Indonesian Government who will conduct a trial of the placement of 30 thousand migrant domestic workers to Saudi Arabia in the next six months.

The group has now called for Indonesias Government to cancel any agreement on migrant workers with Saudi Arabia.

In a press conference, Indonesias Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said she had lodged an official complaint about Ms Tursilawatis execution with Saudi Arabias ambassador to Indonesia.
RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a rare meeting with American evangelical Christians on Thursday, as the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom seeks to open up more to the world and repair an image of religious intolerance. The delegation was led by communications strategist Joel Rosenberg and included former U.S. congresswoman Michele Bachmann, according to an emailed statement by the group, as well as heads of American evangelical organizations, some with ties to Israel. "It was a historic moment for the Saudi Crown Prince to openly welcome Evangelical Christian leaders to the Palace. We were encouraged by the candor of the two-hour conversation with him today," the statement said. The delegation also met Saudi officials including Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Ambassador to Washington Prince Khalid bin Salman, and secretary-general of the Muslim World League Mohammed al-Issa. A visit by such prominent non-Muslim leaders, who estimate they represent about 60 million people, is a rare act of religious openness for Saudi Arabia, which hosts the holiest sites in Islam and bans the practice of other religions. Some of the figures' support for Israel, which the kingdom does not recognize, is also striking. For instance, Mike Evans, founder of the Jerusalem Prayer Team, describes himself on his website as "a devout American-Christian Zionist leader". Saudi Arabia has maintained for years that normalizing relations with Israel hinges on its withdrawal from Arab lands captured in the 1967 Middle East war - territory Palestinians seek for a future state. But increased tension between Tehran and Riyadh has fueled speculation that shared interests may push Saudi Arabia and Israel to work together against what they regard as a common Iranian threat. Prince Mohammed, who in recent years has loosened strict social rules and arrested Saudi clerics deemed extremists, said in April that Israelis are entitled to live peacefully on their own land. A month earlier, Saudi Arabia opened its air space for the first time to a commercial flight to Israel. Several members of the delegation, which met with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed in the United Arab Emirates earlier in the week, have also advised U.S. President Donald Trump on faith issues. (Reporting by Stephen Kalin; Editing by James Dalgleish)
London (AFP) - Royal Dutch Shell said Thursday that net profit jumped 43 percent in the third quarter, energised like its competitors by rising oil and gas prices.

Profit after tax leapt to $5.84 billion (5.15 billion euros) in the three months to September from $4.09 billion in the same period of 2017, the Anglo-Dutch energy giant said in a statement.

Production however declined two percent to 3.596 million barrels of oil equivalent per day amid the group's ongoing asset disposal strategy.

"Earnings primarily benefited from increased realised oil, gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices," it added.

Profit on a current cost-of-supplies (CCS) basis -- which strips out changes to the value of its oil and gas inventories -- gained 37 percent to $5.6 billion in the third quarter.

Revenues increased 32 percent to more than $100 billion.

Shell has expanded rapidly into liquefied natural gas following its 2016 takeover of Britain's BG Group.

The group had announced in early October that it had approved a vast liquified natural gas project in British Columbia, Canada, to help meet an expected boom in Asian demand.

Shell's earnings came after British rival BP revealed earlier this week that its third-quarter net profit had doubled also on sharply higher oil prices.

Brent crude soared in September to a four-year peak above $82 a barrel partly on supply fears particularly in Iran, which faces new US sanctions. That contrasted with about $50 in the summer of last year.

Supply also remains under pressure after the OPEC oil cartel joined forces with 10 non-members including Russia to curb their collective output at the end of 2016.

The move was aimed largely at countering surging shale energy production in the United States, a key factor which had helped push Brent oil under $30 earlier that year.

The so-called OPEC+ group agreed a milestone deal to trim production from January 2017 by 1.8 million barrels a day to clear a global oil glut.
San Francisco (AFP) - A cancer-stricken groundskeeper has accepted a slashed award in a landmark trial focused on weed-killer Roundup, setting the stage for an appeal by maker Monsanto.

Judge Suzanne Bolanos last week denied Monsanto's request for a new trial but cut the $289 million damages award to $78 million to comply with the law regarding how punitive damages awards must be calculated.

In her ruling, Bolanos gave Johnson the choice of accepting the lessened damages award or triggering a new trial focused on what Monsanto should pay in the case.

An October 26 notice of acceptance of the judge's decision was filed on Johnson's behalf.

"We appreciate and acknowledge this jurys verdict sending a strong message to deter Monsanto's conduct that caused Lee Johnsons non-Hodgkin lymphoma," attorneys for Dewayne "Lee" Johnson said Wednesday in an emailed statement.

"However, to hopefully achieve a final resolution within his lifetime, Mr. Johnson has accepted the punitive damages reduction suggested by Judge Bolanos."

In her ruling, Bolanos denied a request by Monsanto to toss out the jury's overall verdict against the company.

Jurors in August unanimously found that Monsanto acted with "malice" and that its weed killers Roundup and the professional grade version RangerPro contributed "substantially" to Johnson's terminal illness.

The jury ordered Monsanto to pay $250 million in punitive damages along with compensatory damages and other costs, bringing the total figure to nearly $290 million.

Johnson, a California groundskeeper diagnosed in 2014 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma -- a cancer that affects white blood cells -- says he repeatedly used a professional form of Roundup while working at a school in Benicia, California.

Monsanto-parent Bayer has vowed to appeal the case.

"The court's decision to reduce the punitive damage award by more than $200 million is a step in the right direction," Bayer said in response to an AFP inquiry at the time of the judge's ruling.

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"But we continue to believe that the liability verdict and damage awards are not supported by the evidence at trial or the law and plan to file an appeal with the California Court of Appeal."

Monsanto attorney George Lombardi argued in court earlier this month that the evidence presented at trial did not sufficiently back the verdict, and that an attorney for Johnson was wrong to urge jurors to teach the company a lesson.

- More to come? -

Johnson's lawsuit built on 2015 findings by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the UN World Health Organization, which classified Roundup's main ingredient glyphosate as a probable carcinogen, causing the state of California to follow suit.

Monsanto has defended the weed killer, arguing that it has a history of safe use that dates back more than 40 years.

The lawsuit is the first to accuse the product of causing cancer, but observers say a Monsanto defeat likely opens the door to thousands of other claims against the company, which was recently acquired by Germany's Bayer.

Roundup is Monsanto's leading product.

Despite its denials of any links between its products and ill health effects, Monsanto has already suffered hits to its reputation in light of the controversy.

Records unsealed earlier this year by a federal court lent credence to Johnson's claims -- internal company emails with regulators suggested Monsanto had ghostwritten research later attributed to academics.

Founded in 1901 in St Louis, Missouri, Monsanto began producing agrochemicals in the 1940s. It was acquired by Bayer for more than $62 billion in June.

Monsanto launched Roundup in 1976 and soon thereafter began genetically modifying plants, making some resistant to Roundup.
Johannesburg (AFP) - South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday sacked the head of the country's tax collection agency, an ally of scandal-tainted former leader Jacob Zuma, said the presidency.

The president dismissed Tom Moyane after a judiciary inquiry recommended his immediate removal "to forestall any further deterioration of our tax administration system," said a statement from his office.

Ramaphosa suspended the tax chief in March just a month after taking over from Zuma and ordered the probe into the South African Revenue Authority (SARS).

In a letter to Moyane, Ramaphosa said the investigation had painted "a deeply concerning picture of the current state of SARS and the reckless mismanagement which characterised your tenure".

"Of further, and in many ways greater, concern is your refusal to meaningfully participate in the ... (investigation) in order to assist with identifying the root causes of the systemic failures at SARS and ways in which to arrest these," said Ramaphosa in the letter cited in the statement.

The tax service -- crucial for raising funds for public services -- was once among the country's best run and among the most efficient state institutions.

But it became a battleground of political rivalries in recent years after Zuma filled it with acolytes.

Since 2014 when Zuma appointed Moyane to head it, the agency repeatedly failed to meet its tax collection targets.

In his report after the probe, retired Judge Robert Nugent said "the day Mr Moyane took office was a calamity for SARS. Almost immediately, and then continuously for the next 18 months, SARS was thrown into turmoil, with tragic consequences for the lives of many people, tragic consequences for the reputation of SARS, and tragic consequences for the country at large".

Ramaphosa said it was evident that if the problems facing the agency were to be solved "it would be best to terminate" Moyane's services.

The main opposition Democratic Alliance said over the three-and-a-half years he was in charge of the tax collection agency "Moyane managed to reduce the vital entity from being a world leader in tax collection to being a friend" of the ruling ANCs state corruption project.
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP)  A network of churches in southern New Mexico is seeking to expand the number of temporary shelters for migrants amid an expected jump in demand.

A Catholic-run project in Las Cruces that offers short-term refugee housing says the rise in Central American migrants headed to the U.S.-Mexico border and a recent change in federal practices in housing asylum-seekers is putting a strain on the current number of shelters, The Las Cruces Sun-News reported .

Project Oak Tree coordinator Leonel Briseno said advocates are seeking to expand the number of churches that could offer temporary housing.

St. Genevieve Catholic Church and Our Lady of Health Catholic Church, both in central Las Cruces, are planning to open shelters, he said. Several Methodist and Lutheran churches also are operating small shelters.

At El Calvario United Methodist Church, The Rev. George Miller greeted a group of migrants who were brought to the church by bus during a recent evening. The group included 23 women, men and children  all from Central America  who would likely stay at least overnight and possibly a couple of days.

"The people we're housing are refugees," he said. "They've come to the border and applied legally. They're fleeing persecution and violence, and they've been released by the federal government to us."

The process of feeding, housing and coordinating cross-country travel for a group of strangers whose home countries are thousands of miles away is fraught with logistical challenges, organizers told the Sun-News . Volunteers have been prepping for hours to receive this once-a-week drop-off of immigrants at the church.

In the nearby kitchen, volunteers had a meal of rice, beans, chicken and corn tortillas ready to go.

Not all refugees from Central America speak Spanish. Volunteers at times encounter indigenous people who know little or no Spanish, but instead speak local native dialects.

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The migrants are bound for U.S. cities where their legal sponsor families live; most often this is a relative already living in the United States. Once they get there, they are obligated to appear at a federal immigration court hearing as part of their asylum cases.

By the time the immigrants reach El Calvario Methodist Church and other temporary shelters, these hearing dates have already been set. So arranging transportation out of Las Cruces for these migrants as quickly as possible is key, volunteers said.

Anselmo Delgado, El Calvario church's volunteer coordinator, said he's always on the lookout for people who are extremely withdrawn because some have experienced trauma and poor treatment on their journeys.

Delgado is proud of the effort El Calvario is making to help the migrants. "This has got to be the smallest church with the biggest heart in Las Cruces," he said.

An estimated 35 volunteers each week help run El Calvario's short-term shelter. They work in shifts, and different volunteers have different roles. Some prepare the food, others dole out donated clothing to migrants and others launder bedding once all the migrants have left for the week.

___

Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com
Colombo (AFP) - Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday lifted a suspension of parliament and called a meeting for Monday that could end an increasingly bitter power struggle between two rival prime ministers, officials said.

The climbdown by Sirisena, who sparked the crisis by sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister and naming former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse in his place, would allow a vote to see which of the two has majority backing among deputies.

Sirisena had suspended parliament until November 16 in the hours after the sacking last Friday, deepening the crisis which led the parliament speaker to warn of a "bloodbath" unless a vote is held. One activist has already been killed in fallout from the tensions.

The speaker Karu Jayasuriya met with Sirisena late Wednesday to force the concession, an official involved in the process told AFP.

"There were talks between the speaker and the president last evening. This is a compromise," the official said. "Otherwise, the speaker was going to defy the president and summon parliament on Friday."

Sirisena insists his actions were legal but Jayasuriya, who holds the third most powerful state post, refused to defend his manoeuvrings.

The crisis has put the whole country on edge.

Wickremesinghe has refused to accept his sacking and remained in the premier's official with hundreds of his followers camped outside.

He has repeatedly demanded that the legislature be recalled for him to prove his majority in the 225-member assembly. International calls for a parliament meeting have also been made by the United States and other nations.

Rajapakse has meanwhile named a small ministerial team of 12 and addressed bureaucrats at the finance ministry on Wednesday. He promised to expand his cabinet to 30 members.

The two rivals are also jockeying for power behind the scenes, battling to tempt lawmakers from opposing sides to bolster their numbers if a vote is held on Monday.
Stacey Abrams is trying to make history as the countrys first African American female governor but the Georgia Democratic candidate said: I dont want people to vote for me because Im black.

She wants people to vote for her because she will uplift all Georgians, she said, answering a previous question from The Independent in her speech.

Her voice hoarse from non-stop campaigning - Ms Abrams has campaigned in nearly every one of the 159 counties in the state - she said decades of Republican rule in the reliably red state have led to healthcare and education crises in particular.

But, she and her supporters believe if they change Georgia, you can change the south...and you can change America.

If Ms Abrams defeats Republican candidate and current Secretary of State Brian Kemp it would certainly be a change for the state that has never even seen a woman hold the position of Lieutenant Governor, a glass ceiling which Ms Abrams running mate Sarah Riggs Amico wants to break.

I dont want people to vote for [my ticket] because were women, Ms Abrams said in the crowded UpNext barber shop in southeastern Atlanta.

Again she said they want votes on the issues of fully funding the state education system, a fact Ms Riggs Amico passionately pointed out has only happened once in the last 14 years of Republican rule and only because they think theyll lose the election this year.

Ms Abrams is fiery in her delivery about improving job training and creating thousands of publicly-supported apprenticeships in the state, in part to combat the systemic problems in the states education system and historic racism in the former Confederate state.

I dont want to hear how we have the number one film industry, have the number one transportation opportunities because our folks cant get those jobs because they dont have the skills they need, she said.

Ms Abrams meanwhile, has promised to improve job training and create thousands of publicly-supported apprenticeships in the state.

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I dont want to hear how we have the number one film industry, have the number one transportation opportunities because our folks cant get those jobs because they dont have the skills they need, she said.

She wants to create 22,000 apprenticeships by 2022 because thats the future of Georgia.

In the intimate setting of the barbershop, she speaks with the same fiery delivery that she uses at a large rally.

Voters in both scenarios appear to connect with her in a way reminiscent of Barack Obama's early years on the campaign trail. She combines the sometimes soaring rhetoric of the former president with the genuine earnestness and ability to connect of a small town councillor.

Several people told The Independent, they were excited by Ms Abrams campaign and what she represents for the state which Democratic attorney general candidate Charlie Bailey said is the home of the civil rights movement.

He told The Independent its time for the state to take the lead in the South and perhaps change some of the misconceptions about the way conservative the region usually votes.

When you set aside all the parties, he said that together with Ms Abrams, he would be able to do real life, tangible things to make peoples lives better.

They would start with healthcare, he said.

Georgia has the highest maternal mortality rate in the state, something Ms Riggs Amico has regularly pointed out.

Back in the barbershop, as one woman shouted out she was fired up and ready to go, Ms Abrams reminds the crowd that even if you dont go vote, youre still voting.

By not casting a ballot youre still voting to keep the status quo on the issues that need changing in the state, she said.

Ahead of the Georgia midterms on 6 November her message appears to be getting through.

A recent poll on the right-leaning Fox News put her ahead of Mr Kemp and the momentum appears to be with her.
Stocks popping for a 3rd day in a row, as Wall Street waits on Apple. Plus  yes its the big one  Apple Earnings after the bell  we will have those numbers for you as soon as they cross. And  After a bludgeoning in October, one Wall Street bank says its time to buy Amazon  now its the call of the day. Plus  Google staff walk out across the globe. What this means for the search giant, and its business.

Catch The Final Round at 3:30 ET p.m. with Jen Rogers, Yahoo Finance markets correspondent Myles Udland and senior columnist Rick Newman.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  The Swiss president says his country will lift restrictions next year on Romanians and Bulgarians who want to work in Switzerland.

President Alain Berset said Thursday in Bucharest that the current limits imposed on Romanian and Bulgarian workers will end next May.

Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, but allows EU citizens to work in the country. However, it had activated a safeguarding clause to limit the number of workers from Bulgaria and Romania, two of the poorest EU states, over concerns they were taking jobs in areas with higher-than-average unemployment.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis also announced that Switzerland has allocated 180 million Swiss francs ($179.5 million) to Romania through the EU cohesion funds, money invested in border security, the judicial system, infrastructure and the environment.
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan chipmaker United Microelectronics Corp said it will temporarily halt research and development activities with its Chinese partner Fujian Jinhua, days after the United States cut off the state-backed firm from U.S. suppliers.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration took action on Monday to cut off Fujian Jinhua from U.S. suppliers amid allegations the firm stole intellectual property from U.S. semiconductor company Micron Technology Inc (MU.O).

The action against Fujian Jinhua could ignite new tensions between Beijing and Washington since the company is part of the "Made in China 2025" program to develop new high-technology industries.

The U.S. Commerce Department said it had put Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co Ltd on a list of entities that cannot buy components, software and technology goods from U.S. firms.

"UMC will follow all government regulations and temporarily hold the R&D activities we are performing for Fujian Jinhua until we are cleared to resume by the appropriate authorities," the Taiwanese company said in a statement late on Wednesday.

"The U.S. ordered sanctions, (so) we will follow U.S. government regulations as well," Richard Yu, head of UMC's corporate communications, told Reuters.

He said UMC was not considered a "supplier" as the Taiwan company does not export any products to Fujian Jinhua.

Attracting semiconductor expertise and talent from Taiwan has become a key part of an effort by China to put the chip industry into overdrive and reduce Beijing's dependence on overseas firms for the prized chips that power everything from smartphones to military satellites.

UMC and Fujian Jinhua signed a technology cooperation agreement in 2016 for UMC to develop memory-related technologies for the Chinese firm, stock exchange filings show.

"Jinhua will provide UMC with DRAM related equipment, as well as service fees to cover R&D expenses according to the progress of the technology development. The developed technologies will be jointly owned by both parties," a statement said.

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The world's top two economies are already waging a tariff war over their trade disputes, with U.S. duties in place on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods and Chinese duties on $110 billion of U.S. goods.

The U.S. action is similar to a Commerce Department move that nearly put Chinese telecommunications equipment company ZTE Corp out of business earlier this year by cutting it off from U.S. suppliers.

(Reporting By Jess Macy Yu and Yimou Lee; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
BANGKOK (AP)  Thailand's Red Cross Society may not measure its blood supplies by the bucket, but it knows how to throw a Halloween party.

Hoping that the annual gusto for gore would inspire donors, the society's National Blood Center had staff and volunteers dress up Wednesday as ghosts, monsters and witches. Even some donors dressed their hideous best.

The donation room was festooned with faux spider webs and plastic bats of the blood-sucking kind. At a minimum, nurses had horns or bat wings attached to their hats; others had macabre face paint, and a few gung-ho souls were in full dress as witches, ghosts and creatures of indeterminate monstrosity.

"The location has been decorated so donors can take photos to keep as souvenirs," explained a statement from the Red Cross. "Donors also received 'mummy blood' pens as mementos."

It wasn't actually blood-curdling scary; after all, that would have undermined the point of the occasion.

"Donors are pretty excited to see ghosts," said Wantana Boonyasiripong of Bangkok, who showed up to share a few corpuscles of her own. "It's kind of fun, making it a happy occasion for us to donate blood and make merit."

According to the center, about 14 percent of Bangkok's population donates blood, but some 40 percent of what is collected goes to areas outside of the capital, where the donation rate averages just 2.6 percent. The need for donated blood grows by 8-10 percent a year, the Red Cross said.

"The fact is you can donate blood any day," said Muanfun Bumroongton, a volunteer at the center who painted her face as pop culture villain The Joker. "We just thought that we could have extra fun today for those who come, making the day a bit more colorful."
President Donald Trump passionately reiterated his commitment to ending birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who arent citizens during a Florida rally on Wednesday night.

His comments come days after he told Axios on HBO that he could revoke the policy, a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment, via executive order.

Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant children are made automatic citizens every year because of this crazy policy, and they are all made instantly eligible for every privilege and benefit of American citizens at a cost of billions of dollars a year, Trump claimed. Thats what it costs  billions.

Trumps estimate likely comes from a study put out by an anti-immigration think tank, the Center for Immigration Studies, earlier this month. The Pew Research Center found in 2016 that such births were on the decline and that in 2014, babies born to undocumented immigrants on U.S. soil accounted for 7 percent of births that year.

The Constitution does not  I say that to the media  does not require it. Read it. Because illegal aliens are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, Trump insisted, though legal scholars and even House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) say Trumps got that wrong.

Trump doubled down on his commitment to upending the 14th Amendment to the riled-up crowd chanting, USA! USA!

We will keep the criminals, the drug dealers, we will keep them all out of our country, he said. We will get rid of all of this. We will end finally birthright citizenship.

Related Coverage

Without Birthright Citizenship, We'd Be Missing These Great Americans

Donald Trump Vows To End Birthright Citizenship

Paul Ryan Rejects Trump's Claim He Can End Birthright Citizenship

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
The Trump factor will be in play across the country in the November 6th mid-term elections, but perhaps no more so than in West Virgina where Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin faces a challenge from Republican Attorney General Patrick Morrisey for his seat. After promising support for the state's beleaguered coal industry in 2016, Trump looms large in the race and Morissey is hoping it'll help him to victory. Katharine Jackson reports.
Thousands of anti-Trump protesters gathered in Pittsburgh as the president touched down in the city, reeling from the most deadly antisemitic attack in US history.

The president and the first lady flew to Pennsylvania as a fierce debate has gripped the nation over whether Donald Trumps rhetoric was contributing to the divisive environment in which such acts of violence are more likely.

They arrived as funerals for some of the 11 victims - gunned down at the Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday afternoon - took place.

Shrugging off public assertions from Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto that the visit was ill-timed, the president entered the Tree of Life temple and was met by Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who led them inside the temple to light ritual yahrzeit candles in memory of the victims.

Emerging about 18 minutes later, the couple walked to a memorial outside the building, where the first lady placed a flower and the president placed a small stone on a marker for each of the dead.

First lady Melania Trump puts down a white flower at a memorial for those killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. (AP)

Mr Trump, who according to press secretary Sarah Sanders, described his visit as "very humbling and sad," left in his motorcade after about 30 minutes at the synagogue.

He made no public remarks.

"He wanted today to be about showing respect for the families and the friends of the victims as well as for Jewish Americans," Ms Sanders said.

About a block away, an ethnically mixed crowd of all ages including members of Pittsburgh's tight-knit Jewish community, held an anti-Trump rally as his visit began, singing Old Testament psalms and carrying signs with slogans such as "We build bridges not walls."

Many of their signs carried slogans and imagery invoking one of Squirrel Hill's most famous residents, the late Fred Rogers, whose long-running children's television show "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" featured lessons on friendship and kindness. Their march started on the street where he grew up and ended at the church where he belonged.

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The gunman who tore apart our neighbourhood believed your lies about the immigrant caravan in Mexico, protest organisers said in an announcement. He believed anti-Semitic lies that Jews were funding the caravan."

The protest announcement echoed an open letter from a group of local Jewish leaders who told Mr Trump: You are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully denounce white nationalism. More than 74,500 people have signed the letter, organised by the local chapter of Bend the Arc, a Jewish organisation opposed to what it calls the immoral agenda of the Trump administration and the Republican Party.

Earlier, around 2,000 people from across the United States came to offer condolences to the relatives of David Rosenthal, 54, and Cecil Rosenthal, 59, at the Rodef Shalom synagogue in the city in Pennsylvania as police officers stood outside.

The gunman who tore apart our neighbourhood believed your lies about the immigrant caravan in Mexico

Protest organisers

Services were also held for Jerry Rabinowitz, a 66-year-old family physician, and Daniel Stein, a 71-year-old retiree. Nurses in surgical scrubs were among the crowd of about 2,000 mourners.

He was just precious. I feel like Ive lost a father figure and I have a father, said Michele Bucher, a 54-year-old patient of the doctor.

Suspected gunman Robert Bowers, 46, appeared in court on Monday to face the first of dozens of charges, including 11 for murder.

The attack, which the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) described as the deadliest targeting Jews in the United States, has heightened a national debate over Mr Trumps rhetoric, which critics say has contributed to a surge in white nationalist and neo-Nazi activity.

The presidents administration has rejected such accusations, even as he continues his rhetoric over cracking down on immigration and the migrant caravan.

Mr Trump also visited a city hospital and met with three of the injured police officers who shot and apprehended the gunman.

Im just going to pay my respects, he earlier told Fox News. I would have done it even sooner, but I didnt want to disrupt any more than they already had disruption.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer, Republican House speaker Paul Ryan and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi  have all declined to join Mr Trump.

Pittsburgh Mayor Peduto, a Democrat, told reporters before the visit was announced that the White House ought to consult with the families of the victims about their preferences and asked that the president not come during a funeral. Neither he nor Democratic governor Tom Wolf appeared with Trump.

Beth Melena, spokesperson for Wolf, said the governor based his decision to stay away following input from the victims families, who told him they did not want the president to be there on the day their loved ones were being buried.

The ADL, a nonprofit group dedicated to fighting antisemitism and all hate speech, said last week that far-right extremists had stepped up online propaganda offensives in the run-up to the elections to attack and intimidate Jews.

But not everyone was opposed to the presidents visit. Shayna Marcus, a nurse who rushed to the synagogue on Saturday to help with the wounded, said she felt that the president was taking an unfair portion of the blame.

I don't think focusing on Trump is the answer  or on politics, said Marcus, whose four yarmulke-wearing boys carried signs in support of the president. David Dvir said he believed that politics should take a pause to allow people to grieve: Its our president, and we need to welcome him.
Donald Trump and the Republicans have released what has been described as one of the most racist political adverts in recent years and an attempt to rally the presidents base by portraying Central American migrants as police killers set to overrun the country.

The advert, which Mr Trump tweeted with the message it is outrageous what the Democrats are doing to our country. Vote Republican now, focusses on Luis Bracamontes, an illegal immigrant twice previously deported, who in 2014 shot and killed two California police officers, and injured a third. The advert shows Bracamontes, who has been sentenced to death, laughing in court and vowing to kill more officers.

Words across the screen read: Democrats let him into our country. Democrats let him stay. It then shows migrants pulling on what appears to be a border fence.

The advert, which many have likened to the notorious Willie Horton attack advert that was used by Republicans to undermine and derail the 1988 presidential run of Democrat Michael Dukakis, has been widely denounced as racist, seeking as it does, to compare all migrants to a police killer.

Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, called it the dog-whistle of all dog-whistles.

Thirty years ago, George H.W. Bush released his infamous fear-mongering, racist ad on Willie Horton.



This Trump ad is worse. Far worse. https://t.co/jLFbhU8FLs  Eric Umansky (@ericuman) November 1, 2018

This has been Donald Trumps playbook for so long, and when they go low, we go vote, he told CNN.

Christina Greer, professor of political science at Fordham University in New York, told The Independent the advert was clearly racist, and said part of the problem was the media was failing to correctly describe the presidents words and actions.

Part of the problem is that we are using 2015 standards in 2018. When Trump lies, we say he say he uttered a falsehood. We dance around the issue and call things racially-charged, she said.

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Trump has shown he has no desire to unify the country or protect it. But he will pour gasoline on issues.

The advert, which includes footage of the Central American migrant caravan making its way northwards to the US-Mexico, is the latest effort by Mr Trump and the GOP to seize on the issue of immigration, just days before the midterm elections.

He knows that few issues energise his base more, than efforts to clamp down on immigration. In recent days, Mr Trump has ordered the dispatch of thousands of armed troops to hep secure the border, and floated the idea of ending birthright citizenship, something legal experts say would breach the constitutions 14th amendment.

As far as the caravan is concerned, our military is out, Mr Trump recently said. We have about 5,800. Well go up to anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Patrol, ICE and everybody else at the border.

The campaign video was likened to a notorious advert used by supporters of George HW Bush in his 1988 presidential contest with Mr Dukakis. Mr Bushs supporters seized on the programme that had allowed convicted prisoner Horton, who was African American, on furlough, only for him to rape a woman and attach her fiancee.

It is unclear who made the advert; The Independent understands that Jamestown Associates, a DC-based political PR and strategy firm that has worked for the president in the past, did not produce this video, despite CNN saying it did.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions. The Trump campaign organisation also did not respond.

While Mr Dukakis had not started the release programme, he was the governor at the time of Hortons release and a supporter of it. Mr Bushs political supporters produced an advert called Weekend Passes, using the Horton case to attack the Democrat. The advert, judged to be very damaging to Mr Dukakis, led human rights activist Jesse Jackson to accuse the Bush campaign of racism.

However, reports in US media suggested that the Bracamontes advert was based on a falsehood. The killer last entered the US during George W Bushs presidency, the reports said, and had been arrested but later released by the office of Sheriff Joe Arpaio before that. Mr Arpaio is a favourite ally of the president.

Mr Trump has insisted the media is underestimating the threat posed by the migrant caravans. He earlier suggested they contained migrants from the Middle East, and others suggested there could be terrorists among them. Mr Trump admitted at the time he could not back up his claim.

You have caravans coming up that look a lot larger than its reported actually. Im pretty good at estimating crowd size. And Ill tell you they look a lot bigger than people would think, he told ABC.

In truth, the caravan, which us now made up of fewer than 4,000 people, consists overwhelmingly of people from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, nations that are struggling with intense levels of violence and grinding poverty.

On Thursday the caravan was reportedly in the city of Juchitan, in Mexicos Oaxaca state, at least 900 miles from the US border.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday praised Mexico for stopping the migrants from hitching rides.

Mexico has stepped up in an unprecedented way, Ms Sanders told Fox News. They have helped stop a lot of the transportation means of these individuals in these caravans, forcing them walking. They have helped us in new ways to slow this down, to break this up and keep it from moving as aggressively towards the United States.
By Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday his administration planned to require immigrants seeking asylum in the United States to come into the country through a legal port of entry, pushing a hard line on immigration ahead of elections next week. The president's remarks, five days before U.S. voters determine which party will control Congress and state governorships across the country, drew immediate criticism as an effort to generate fear and energize his political base. "Migrants seeking asylum will have to present themselves lawfully at a port of entry," Trump told reporters at the White House, painting a caravan of migrants traveling from Central America toward the United States as a dangerous threat. "Those who choose to break our laws and enter illegally will no longer be able to use meritless claims to gain automatic admission into our country," he said. It was not clear whether the plan would pass legal muster, although Trump, who sought to use immigration as an issue to motivate Republican voters in the 2016 presidential race and now ahead of the Nov. 6 elections, said it would. He added that an executive order was in the process of being finalized, but provided few details. Federal law provides that any immigrant in the United States may apply for asylum, regardless of whether he or she enters the country through a designated port of entry. Trump has ramped up his tough stance on illegal immigration in recent days. He deemed the group of migrants from Central America a threat to Americans. It is made up of people who have left poverty and violence at home and are heading slowly through Mexico toward the U.S. border. Trump referred to the movement as an "invasion." Mexico on Wednesday put the size of the caravan that left Honduras in mid-October at 2,800 to 3,000 people. Other caravans have since followed. The president, who has ordered U.S. troops to the border with Mexico, also suggested rock-throwing by migrants would be treated as equivalent to gun usage. "They want to throw rocks at our military, our military fights back. We're going to consider, and I told them to consider it a rifle. When they throw rocks like they did at the Mexico military police, I say: Consider it a rifle," Trump said. A Pentagon spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Davis, declined to discuss specifics on the military's potential use of force, but said that U.S. troops "always have the inherent right of self-defense." 'ABSURD AS IT IS CRUEL' Critics said the president was stoking fear ahead of the elections, in which Trump's Republicans are battling to keep their congressional majorities. "President Trumps attempt to paint peaceful families seeking asylum as a national security threat is as absurd as it is cruel," said advocacy group Human Rights First in a statement. "The president is fear mongering to score political points ahead of a contentious election at the expense of peoples lives." The American Civil Liberties Union said: "If he plans at some point to prohibit people from applying for asylum between the ports of entry, that plan is illegal." Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, an ally of the president and head of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a letter to the secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department that his office had received information that several members of the caravan had "significant criminal histories." Trump said on Wednesday the United States could send as many as 15,000 troops to the border to confront the migrant caravan, more than twice the number previously disclosed by defense officials. A U.S. defense official said about 100 active-duty troops arrived on the border at McAllen, Texas, on Thursday. Republican lawmakers and other Trump supporters have applauded the deployment. But critics argue Trump has manufactured a crisis for the U.S. military to address. Trump also said this week he would seek to scrap the constitutional right of citizenship for U.S.-born children of noncitizens and illegal immigrants. Such an action would face a likely legal challenge. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton; Additional reporting by Makini Brice, Kristina Cooke, Lisa Lambert, Idrees Ali and Tom Hals; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Donald Trump has said birthright citizenship "will be ended one way or the other" while falsely claiming the policy is not covered by the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution.

The president tweeted the remarks following widespread outrage over an interview in which he announced plans to terminate the right to citizenship for babies born on US soil to non-citizens. His comments arrived as the nation plans to send up to 15,000 active duty troops to its southern border ahead of a migrant caravan  the largest surge in US active duty military presence across the region since the Mexican Revolution.

"So-called Birthright Citizenship, which costs our Country billions of dollars and is very unfair to our citizens, will be ended one way or the other," he wrote. "It is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words 'subject to the jurisdiction thereof.' Many legal scholars agree..."

Nearly an hour later, the president wrote in a follow up tweet, "Don't forget the nasty term anchor babies."

"I will keep our Country safe," he added. "This case will be settled by the United States Supreme Court!"

So-called Birthright Citizenship, which costs our Country billions of dollars and is very unfair to our citizens, will be ended one way or the other. It is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words subject to the jurisdiction thereof. Many legal scholars agree.....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018

Mr Trump is incorrect in his claims the amendment does not cover birthright citizenship, as he appears to have suggested Wednesday morning. The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 shortly after the US Civil War, granting citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves who had just been freed.

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The amendment has also been applied to immigrant children born in the US in numerous legal examples, dating as far back as 1898 in the case of United States v Wong Kim Ark.

The US Supreme Court held at that time children born to foreigners residing legally within the country becomes at the time of his birth a citizen of the United States, by virtue of the first clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.

The amendment was also found to protect undocumented children nearly a century later in the 1982 case Plyler v Doe, which ruled its equal protection clause applied to undocumented immigrants seeking public school admission.

Mr Trump also negated the fact that, after a portion of the Axios interview was released Tuesday, a bevy of constitutional scholars vehemently disagreed with him.

This is a blatantly unconstitutional attempt to fan the flames of anti-immigrant hatred in the days ahead of the midterms.



The 14th Amendments citizenship guarantee is clear. You cant erase the Constitution with an executive order, @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/8vGkjOlPsE  ACLU  (@ACLU) October 30, 2018

Lawmakers, legal experts and civil rights groups alike swiftly rejected the presidents claims surrounding birthright citizenship, including his threats to halt the practice via the signing of an executive order.

US law does not allow executive orders to override constitutional amendments; instead, executive orders must work within the parameters of the Constitution. When they are found to be illegal or outside the scope of the presidents executive powers, they are immediately overturned  as has happened on numerous occasions under Mr Trump.

However, with less than a week until the crucial midterm elections, it appeared Mr Trump was ratcheting up controversies surrounding immigration  an issue that helped him soar to the Oval Office in 2016.

Besides his attacks on birthright citizenship, the president has also targeted a migrant caravan travelling north nearly 1,000 miles away from the Us-Mexico border as a key issue ahead of the November vote.

Earlier this week, the US military confirmed it was preparing send more than 5,000 active troops to the border  already manned by thousands of National Guard troops and border patrol officials  to assist in daily operations.

Meanwhile, an additional group of nearly 2,000 refugees reportedly began walking towards the US from El Salvador on Wednesday. Another group of nearly 300 migrants also left from the capital of El Salvador on Sunday towards the US border, carrying children in strollers and on their shoulders, Reuters reported.

The president later tweeted on Wednesday, "The World is using our laws to our detriment. They laugh at the Stupidity they see!"
President Trump said Wednesday that he is willing to send as many as 15,000 troops to the border in anticipation of a caravan of Central American migrants making its way north.

As far as the caravan is concerned our military is out, we have about 5,000-8 [thousand], well go up to anywhere between 10 [thousand] and 15,000 military personnel on top of border patrol, ICE and everybody else on the border, he told reporters.

The Pentagon announced 5,200 active duty troops will be sent to the border on top of 2,100 National Guardsmen already assisting border patrol with tasks that do not include physically stopping illegal border crossers.

General Terrence OShaughnessy, the commander of U.S. Northern Command, said the number of troops would exceed 5,200 but did not specify by how much.

The caravan of about 3,500 mostly Honduran asylum seekers, who say they are fleeing crime and violence in their own gang-ridden countries, is still over 800 miles away. Most are traveling on foot, making it weeks before they would arrive at the U.S. border.

The number of troops deployed will change each day as military forces flow into the operating area, but the initial estimate is that the DOD [Department of Defense] will have more than 7,000 troops supporting DHS [Department of Homeland Security] across California, Arizona and Texas, the Pentagon said in a statement after Trumps remarks.

The extra troops will provide a range of assistance, including planning, engineering, transportation, logistics and medical support to the US Customs and Border Protection, the Pentagon said.

We dont do stunts, Defense Secretary James Mattis said when asked whether Trumps inflated number of potential troops was a political stunt to rally supporters.

As Tuesdays midterm congressional elections approach, Trump has raised the alarm about potentially dangerous elements mixed in with the refugees traveling in the caravan, an issue popular with his base.
President Trump said he plans to end the right to citizenship for children born in the U.S. to immigrants with no authorization, or anchor babies.

Were the only country in the world where a person comes in, has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years with all of those benefits, Trump told Axios in an interview released Tuesday. Its ridiculous. And it has to end.

Canada, Mexico, and many South American countries also offer birthright citizenship.

The presidents plan will likely provoke legal challenges based on the 14th Amendment, which states, All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.

It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You dont, he said. You can definitely do it with an act of Congress. But now theyre saying I can do it just with an executive order.

Its in the process, he said. Itll happen  with an executive order.

The president added that he has discussed the issue with his counsel.

Most legal scholars disagree that a simple executive order would be enough to scrap birthright citizenship, citing precedents such as an 1898 Supreme Court decision stating that the 14th Amendment applies to everyone except children of enemies of the U.S. or foreign diplomats and those born on Native American reservations.

Some of Trumps previous executive actions cracking down on immigration have been promptly suspended by the courts, such as his three travel bans affecting seven Muslim-majority countries, which were meant to target terrorism.

The Supreme Court upheld the latest version of the travel ban.

Trump has made his hardline immigration policies a prominent issue of his campaign and presidency.

This remains the biggest magnet for illegal immigration, he said in the early days of his campaign, referring to birthright citizenship.

The entire interview with will air Sunday night on Axios on HBO.
Miami (AFP) - The White House imposed "tough" new sanctions against Venezuela on Thursday, denouncing Caracas as being part of a "troika of tyranny" that also includes Cuba and Nicaragua.

National Security Advisor John Bolton told an audience in Miami the sanctions would particularly target Venezuela's gold sector, which "has been used as a bastion to finance illicit activities, to fill its coffers and to support criminal groups."

"The troika of tyranny in this hemisphere -- Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua -- has finally met its match," he added, according to prepared remarks.

Bolton said the new sanctions came in the form of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.

He also announced that the State Department has added new sanctions on more than two dozen entities owned or controlled by the Cuban military and intelligence services.

He called the leaders of Venezuela and Nicaragua "desperate" autocrats who had joined Cuban counterparts in the "same oppressive behavior of unjust imprisonment, torture and murder."

"The troika of tyranny in this hemisphere will not endure forever," Bolton said.

"Like all oppressive regimes and ideologies, it too will meet its demise."

In addressing Nicaragua, Bolton said the regime of President Daniel Ortega had "completely eroded" democratic institutions, stifled free speech and imposed a deadly policy against political opponents.

Until free, fair and early elections are held, "the Nicaraguan regime, like Venezuela and Cuba, will feel the full weight of Americas robust sanctions regime," Bolton said.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he wouldnt be surprised if George Soros is funding the caravan of Central American migrants heading toward the U.S., amplifying a baseless conspiracy theory about the prominent Democratic donor days after an attempted attack on him.

Trump made the comments while speaking to reporters outside the White House.

Do you think somebody is funding the caravan? Do you think somebody is paying for the caravan? a reporter asked.

I wouldnt be surprised. I wouldnt be surprised, Trump said.

George Soros? Whos paying for it? a reporter interjected.

I dont know who. But I wouldnt be surprised, Trump replied. A lot of people say yes.

TRUMP on whether GEORGE SOROS is funding the migrant caravan:



I dont know who, but I wouldnt be surprised. A lot of people say yes.pic.twitter.com/nnoAioG8SR  JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) October 31, 2018

The conspiracy theory that Soros was funding the migrants spread across pro-Trump Facebook groups in recent days as people like Ann Coulter, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and the presidents eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., parroted it.

Trumps comments come a week after Soros, CNN and several of Trumps prominent Democratic critics were the intended targets of mail bombs allegedly sent by a Trump supporter.

Trump sent mixed messages after the mail bomb suspects arrest, urging harmony but also chuckling at someones suggestion that Soros should be locked up.

Trumps latest remark about Soros, who is Jewish, also follows the massacre of 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Related Coverage

All The Incendiary Garbage Fox News Has Broadcast About George Soros Since April

Trump Chuckles At Suggestion To 'Lock Up' George Soros After Calling For Harmony

Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Follows Nationwide Spike In Anti-Semitism

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Donald Trump has suggested he will end the centuries-long, amendment-protected practice of providing birthright citizenship in the United States by signing an executive order.

The only problem? He cant.

The president said in a Tuesday interview that birthright citizenship has to end, repeatedly calling the practice ridiculous and suggesting he can put a halt to it through the signing of an executive order.

It was always told to me that you needed the Constitutional amendment, he said in a recent Axios interview, a portion of which was released Tuesday morning. Guess what? You dont.

Birthright citizenship is an American tradition that was adopted into the US Constitution in 1868 through the ratification of the 14th Amendment.

That amendment states all persons born or naturalized in the United States are granted citizenship, including former slaves who had just been freed following the US Civil War.

The amendment was explicitly found to protect child immigrants born in the United States in the 1898 case US v Wong Kim Ark. At that time, the Supreme Court held that children born to foreigners permanently and legally residing in the country becomes at the time of his birth a citizen of the United States, by virtue of the first clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.

A later 1982 case Plyler v Doe also applied the 14th Amendment to immigrant children, holding that the denial of public school admission to undocumented immigrant children violates the amendments equal protection clause.

This is a blatantly unconstitutional attempt to fan the flames of anti-immigrant hatred in the days ahead of the midterms.



The 14th Amendments citizenship guarantee is clear. You cant erase the Constitution with an executive order, @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/8vGkjOlPsE

 ACLU  (@ACLU) October 30, 2018

Mr Trump criticised the practice on Tuesday while discussing immigration, saying, Were the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years with all of those benefits.

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Its ridiculous. Its ridiculous. And it has to end, he continued. You can definitely do it with an act of Congress. But now theyre saying I can do it just with an executive order.

However, executive orders cannot amend  and must work within  the parameters of the US Constitution.

Trump says he plans to build 'tent cities' for people travelling with the caravan

Regardless, Mr Trump appeared to court controversy by suggesting he could demand the end to birthright citizenship without the arduous process of amending the constitution; a move that would typically require two-thirds support from both Houses and three-fourths support from all 50 states.

The president could otherwise urge for a Constitutional Convention, which would require the support of two-thirds of the legislatures, and any amendments made during the convention would still need three-fourths support of the states.

It seems unlikely the vast majority of US lawmakers would suddenly seek to ratify birthright citizenship out of the constitution, however, it is among the extremely limited ways it may be legally possible.

If the president were to sign an executive order denying the practice, either forth outright for all non-citizens or specifically for children born to parents lacking permanent legal status, it would almost immediately be considered illegal by numerous US courts.

Once an executive order is deemed illegal, it is overturned  which has happened on numerous occasions. In fact, earlier this year a US District judge ruled Mr Trump exceeded his authority by signing an executive order that made it easier to fire federal employees, striking down key components of the mandate.

Previous versions of his executive orders banning travel to the US from several Muslim-majority nations was also blocked by courts across the country.

But with seven days until the first national election since Mr Trump was elected, the president appears to be rallying his base around the issues that helped him secure the Oval Office in 2016.

The president has repeatedly pointed to a migrant caravan nearly 1,000 miles away in southern Mexico as a major cause for concern ahead of the crucial midterm elections  and a reason to vote Republican, suggesting the Democrats want open borders and to allow in unlimited immigrants across the US-Mexico border.

On Tuesday, the president did not provide a timeline as to when he plans on signing an executive order, only saying it was in the process, adding, itll happen  with an executive order.
Washington (AFP) - Thousands of active-duty US troops are immediately deploying to the US-Mexico frontier to tighten security and provide back up to overstretched border agents.

Critics have blasted the move as an expensive political stunt ahead of next week's midterm elections.

Here is a look at what the deployment means, and what American soldiers will be doing on the border.

- Why now? -

US authorities say troops are needed to address large groups of migrants arriving at the border in so-called caravans, made up largely of Central American migrants.

The issue has incensed President Donald Trump, who has sought to make political capital by depicting the migrants as carrying out an "invasion" of America.

He has repeatedly hammered on the caravans and tried to keep the issue in the headlines ahead of crucial midterm congressional elections that could see the Democrats regain some degree of power.

The Democrats, for their part, have seemed to founder in terms of presenting a coherent message on border and immigration issues and the caravans.

- How many and what will they do? -

Numbers are changing daily, but so far the Pentagon has authorized 5,239 active-duty troops to go to the border on a 45-day deployment.

Another 2,000 or more are on standby, and some 2,100 National Guardsmen are already in the border region to support agents there.

That means more than 9,000 troops have already been committed to military operations on the border and Trump, who is prone to hyperbole, on Wednesday said the final number could swell to 15,000 troops.

Whatever the case, it's a massive deployment, the largest since Defense Secretary James Mattis came into office nearly two years ago.

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.

Approximately 15,000 US troops are in Afghanistan.

The soldiers -- who will be armed -- taking part in "Operation Faithful Patriot" are not meant to directly interact with migrants coming into the US. Rather, they will provide logistical support to agents with the US Customs and Border Protection Agency.

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General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, head of the US military's Northern Command, said troops will focus on trying to "harden" border crossings and surrounding areas, with work done by combat engineering battalions with experience building temporary fencing.

The soldiers will also provide medical support and temporary housing for border guards, and ferry them around on military helicopters.

- The caravans -

A first caravan, which has dwindled and now numbers some 4,000 people, according to an aid group called Pueblos sin Fronteras, arrived Tuesday in the town of Juchitan, in Oaxaca.

A smaller group of 2,000 people managed to cross the Suchiate River separating Mexico from Guatemala the day before.

The migrants are moving slowly, mostly by foot, and are still hundreds of miles from the US border.

They might not even arrive there until after the 45-day deployment is over.

- Political reaction -

Mattis on Wednesday rejected criticism that the deployment is a political move ahead of next week's elections.

"We don't do stunts in this department," he said.

But critics have piled on, and said Trump does not have the legal authority to order the military to enforce domestic laws.

"This deployment -- which comes at the expense of millions of taxpayer dollars, and an uncertain impact on our military readiness -- might satisfy the president's ego but not much else, given all the restrictions on what the military can legally do in support of our law enforcement authorities at the border," Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy said in a statement.

The Pentagon has not provided an estimate of costs of the operation.

Republican Congressman Jason Smith said he was glad Trump is taking a stance on the caravan issue.

"Our laws and sovereignty have to be respected," he wrote on Twitter.
ANKARA (Reuters) - A total of 260,000 Syrian nationals have returned to a swathe of land in northern Syria where Turkey carried out a cross-border operation dubbed "Euphrates Shield", Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Thursday. Turkey launched Euphrates Shield in 2016 to drive away Islamic State militants and the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia from its border with Syria. Ankara regards the U.S.-backed YPG as a terrorist organization. The operation ended in 2017. Turkey hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees who fled the conflict in their homeland. Some Turks view them as an economic burden and a threat to jobs. "As a result of the infrastructure work and security and stability in the region provided by the Turkish Armed Forces, around 260,000 Syrian nationals have returned to the Euphrates Shield Operation area," Akar said in a speech. Akar also said Turkey's operations in northern Iraq would continue until what he described as the terrorist threat to Turkish territory had ended. He was speaking after a week of airstrikes in the area that have targeted the bases of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants. On Tuesday the Turkish military killed seven Kurdish militants in air strikes in northern Iraq as they were preparing to launch an attack on regions were Turkish bases are located, it said in a statement on Twitter. (Reporting by Tulay Karadeniz, Writing by Ezgi Erkoyun and Sarah Dadouch, Editing by Gareth Jones)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry will visit Ukraine, Poland and other eastern European countries next week as the Trump administration seeks to offer them alternatives to buying coal and gas from Russia. Perry will also visit Hungary and the Czech Republic on the trip. He will meet with government officials on topics from nuclear energy to cyber security and coal and liquefied natural gas exports, the Department of Energy said in a release on Thursday. The Trump administration is seeking foreign markets for coal as domestic consumption has dropped to the lowest level since 1983 due to closures of coal-fired power plants that are suffering from abundant, cheap supplies of natural gas. In July, 2017 Centrenergo PJSC, one of the largest power companies in Ukraine, agreed to buy 700,000 tons of U.S. coal. Last month, Poland's top natural gas company, PGNiG, finalized the terms of a deal to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) from U.S. company Venture Global LNG, as part of a move to cut reliance on Russia. Poland has relied on Russia's Gazprom for more than half of its gas under a long-term deal that expires in 2022. The United States is touting its LNG as more reliable than pipelined gas from Russia, but LNG is more expensive because of the costs of shipping and super-cooling the fuel to the point where it becomes a liquid. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Leslie Adler)
By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. general overseeing a deployment of more than 5,200 troops to the border with Mexico said on Tuesday that troop levels would rise further, but declined to say how high or estimate what the operation will cost. Many basic questions remained unanswered a day after the Pentagon announced the open-ended deployment of over 5,200 active-duty troops to the border, including the scope of the mission as well as the Pentagon's assessment of any threat posed by arriving migrants. President Donald Trump has hardened his stance on immigration ahead of the Nov. 6 congressional elections. He has drawn attention to a caravan of migrants that is trekking through Mexico toward the United States as he seeks to fire up support for his Republican party, which is facing some tough battles as Democrats seek to wrest control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Republican lawmakers and other Trump supporters have applauded the deployment. But critics say Trump is politicizing the military, deploying them as a stunt to drive Republican voters to the polls without any real national security threat. General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, the head of U.S. Northern Command, defended the operation at a briefing on Tuesday. He echoed Trump administration concerns about the caravan and compared the border support mission to other domestic military missions, like hurricane relief. "I firmly believe that border security is national security," O'Shaughnessy said. The U.S. military still had no firm idea of what the operation would cost, he added. Pentagon officials have said the Defense Department will need to find a way to pay for the operation, suggesting money may need to be taken from other national security programs. O'Shaughnessy said that just over 1,000 troops had deployed to Texas as of Tuesday, where they will carry out tasks like building barriers, erecting tents, and flying government personnel by helicopter to and from different locations along the border. He said the troops now slated to go to Texas, Arizona and California were only the start of a larger deployment and that eventually troops would go to New Mexico as well. "What I can confirm is there will be additional force over and above the 5,239. The magnitude of that difference, I don't have the answer for now," he said. The projected U.S. deployment is already roughly the same size as the U.S. military contingent in Iraq. Trump railed against illegal immigration to win the 2016 presidential election and has seized on the caravan of Central American migrants at campaign rallies in the run-up to next week's vote. Trump has characterized the migrants as an "invasion" and falsely stated they harbor terrorists and are financed in part by Democrats. O'Shaughnessy declined to comment on intelligence about the caravan when asked whether there were terrorists among the migrants. He said the caravan was "different" than those seen by the United States in the past, adding that they were better organized. "We've seen violence coming out of the caravan," O'Shaughnessy said. Mexico's government said on Tuesday that it had deported two Honduran men for whom there were arrest warrants back home, one for homicide, the other for a drug-related offense. The two men, ages 21 and 47, crossed into Mexico with the migrant caravan in the state of Chiapas. Kevin McAleenan, the U.S. commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, estimated on Monday that the caravan was comprised of about 3,500 migrants. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; additional reporting by Lizbeth Diaz; editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Leslie Adler)
By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. general overseeing a deployment of more than 5,200 troops to the border with Mexico said on Tuesday that troop levels would rise further but declined to say how high or estimate what the operation will cost. Many basic questions remain unanswered a day after the Pentagon announced an open-ended deployment of over 5,200 active-duty troops to the border, including the cost and scope of the mission as well as the Pentagon's assessment of any threat posed by arriving migrants. U.S. President Donald Trump has hardened his stance on immigration ahead of Nov. 6 congressional elections. He has drawn attention to a caravan of migrants that is trekking through Mexico toward the United States as he seeks to fire up support for his Republican party. Republican lawmakers and other Trump supporters have applauded the deployment. But critics say Trump is politicizing the military, deploying them as a stunt to drive Republican voters to the polls without any real national security threat. General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, the head of U.S. Northern Command, defended the operation at a briefing on Tuesday. He echoed Trump administration concerns about the caravan and compared the border support mission to other domestic military missions, like hurricane relief. "I firmly believe that border security is national security," O'Shaughnessy said. The U.S. military still had no firm idea of what the operation would cost, he added. Pentagon officials have said the Defense Department will need to find a way to pay for the operation, suggesting money may need to be taken from other national security programs. O'Shaughnessy said just over 1,000 troops had already deployed to Texas as of Tuesday, where they will carry out tasks like building barriers, erecting tents, and flying government personnel by helicopter to and from different locations along the border. He said the more than 5,200 troops now slated to go to Texas, Arizona and California were only the start of a larger deployment and that eventually troops would go to New Mexico as well. "What I can confirm is there will be additional force over and above the 5,239. The magnitude of that difference, I don't have the answer for now," he said. The projected U.S. deployment is already roughly the same size as the U.S. military contingent in Iraq. Trump railed against illegal immigration to win the 2016 presidential election and has seized on the caravan of Central American migrants at campaign rallies in the run-up to next week's vote. Trump has characterized the migrants as an "invasion" and falsely stated they harbor terrorists and are financed in part by Democrats. O'Shaughnessy declined to comment on intelligence about the caravan when asked whether there were terrorists among the migrants. He said the caravans was "different" than those seen by the United States in the past, adding that they were better organized. "We've seen violence coming out of the caravan," O'Shaughnessy said. Kevin McAleenan, the U.S. commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, estimated on Monday that the caravan was comprised of about 3,500 migrants. (Reporting by Phil Stewart, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
China challenged the United States Friday to show evidence to support charges that Beijing backed a scheme by Chinese and Taiwanese companies to steal trade secrets from a US-based semiconductor firm.

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions accused the companies on Thursday of stealing an estimated $8.75 billion worth of know-how from semiconductor giant Micron.

The Justice Department unveiled criminal charges against Chinese state-owned Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) of Taiwan, along with three UMC officials.

It said they conspired to steal US-based Micron's advanced designs to turn Fujian Jinhua into a major player in the global computer chip market.

"If the US side is really concerned, they should provide concrete examples that can withstand the test of evidence and facts," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular press briefing.

The charges were the latest in a series of cases targeting what Washington calls an ongoing Beijing programme to steal valuable US industrial and commercial secrets in order to advance the Chinese economy.

"Taken together, these cases and many others like them paint a grim picture of a country bent on stealing its way up the ladder of economic development and doing so at American expense," Sessions said.

"This behaviour is illegal. It is wrong. It is a threat to our national security. And it must stop."

US President Donald Trump has cited China's alleged theft of US technological know-how among a litany of grievances in his trade war with the Asian power.

Trump and Xi spoke on the phone about trade and other issues hours after the charges were announced, and the US leader tweeted that the pair had a "very good" conversation.

Xi said he was "very happy" to talk to Trump again and that he would like to see him at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires later this month, adding that the two countries should "push for a mutually acceptable solution to China-US economic and trade issues", according to state media.

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- Chip designs -

The indictment released in the US district court in San Jose, California alleges that three former Micron employees in Taiwan -- Stephen Chen Zhengkun, He Jianting and Kenny Wang Yungming -- joined UMC in 2015 and 2016 with the express plan to hand over to the company Micron's design and manufacturing processes for specific dynamic random access memory (DRAM) semiconductors.

Those would then be transferred to Fujian Jinhua under an contract set by Chen.

Prior to the plot, US prosecutors said, neither the Chinese nor the Taiwanese company had any DRAM production capability.

But China had set out the goal of acquiring DRAM capability in its current strategic economy plan.

Chen was originally a top executive at Micron's Taiwan operation. He moved in 2015 to lead UMC, a contract chip manufacturer listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and subsequently became president of Fujian Jinhua.

- Competitive threat to Micron -

The theft posed a major threat to Micron, a company valued at around $100 billion and which controls 20-25 percent of the global market for DRAM chips.

The indictment came four months after Fujian Jinhua won a patent dispute with Micron in a Chinese court, gaining an order for the US company to stop sales in China of more than a dozen solid-state drives, memory sticks and chips.

In retaliation, the US Commerce Department on Monday placed heavy restrictions on Fujian Jinhua's ability to buy US machinery and materials for its factories that would boost its DRAM production capabilities.

In addition to the criminal charges announced Thursday, the Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit to block imports of any UMC and Fujian Jinhua products using stolen Micron technology.

In recent years Washington has stepped up its fight against China's alleged ongoing economic espionage programme to obtain all sorts of advanced technologies, from agriculture to heavy manufacturing.

"China is probably, over the long term, the biggest challenge, national security challenge that faces our country," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday in an interview with Fox News' Laura Ingraham.

"Where the semiconductor piece fits in is, it's part of a mosaic of our strategic effort to push back against this continued Chinese effort."
Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division John Demers announcing previous indictments against Chinese spies - REUTERS

Ten Chinese spies have been charged in the US with hacking in to aviation firms in the UK, US, France, and Australia to steal trade secrets.

The US Justice Department unsealed an indictment accusing intelligence officers of taking sensitive data to build the same or similar engine without incurring substantial research and development expenses".

It was the third round of charges brought by the US since late September against alleged Chinese spies targeting commercial secrets from aviation and aerospace companies that are often also American defence contractors.

The move came amid a shift in the US to a more assertive policy towards China on top of the escalating trade spat.

American leaders have repeatedly accused Beijing of overstepping its bounds, orchestrating a sophisticated economic and military campaign to bolster its influence, and getting ahead by cheating and stealing intellectual property from the West.

This is just the beginning, said John Demers, the assistant attorney general for national security. Together with our federal partners, we will redouble our efforts to safeguard Americas ingenuity and investment.

The officers  part of a regional unit of Chinas Ministry of State Security, the agency responsible for domestic and foreign intelligence  stole turbofan engine plans and other confidential information from 13 companies, including two UK aerospace firms, which were not named in the indictment. Only one companys name was revealed in court documents  Capstone Turbine, a gas turbine manufacturer in Los Angeles.

Barack Obama, then the US president, and Xi Jinping, Chinas president, signed a pledge not to hack each other for economic espionage Credit: Feng Li/ Getty

From 2010 to at least May 2015, they hacked into corporate computer networks through phishing attacks, when emails that seem to come from a trusted sender are used to get inside systems and glean confidential data. The hackers also turned company websites into malicious sites that infiltrated the computers of anyone who visited the pages.

At the time, a Chinese state-owned aerospace company was developing a comparable engine for use in commercial aircraft manufactured in China, such as the C919 and ARJ21. Both of these Chinese-made jets use foreign engines, and the country has long struggled to design a competitive version of its own.

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The Justice Department on Tuesday confirmed to The Telegraph that none of the ten defendants had been arrested.

The individuals named in the indictment are likely in China, and if so, its unlikely Beijing will ever hand them over  there is no extradition treaty between the two nations and Chinese officials have long denied cyber espionage. For years, Washington has indicted alleged Chinese spies in absentia.

In a first, the US extradited a Chinese national from Belgium earlier this month for trying to steal trade secrets from major US military jet engine suppliers, including GE Aviation.

In September 2015, Barack Obama, then the US president, and Xi Jinping, Chinas president, signed a pledge not to hack each other for economic espionage.

Washingtons recent accusations indicate that China is in violation of that accord.

State-sponsored hacking is a direct threat to our national security, said Adam Braverman, a US government lawyer. This action is yet another example of criminal efforts by the MSS to facilitate the theft of private data for Chinas commercial gain.

China on Wednesday gave a robust denial, with the foreign ministry insisting: The allegations are without any factual basis and are completely fabricated."
New York (AFP) - US officials have unveiled criminal charges against two former Goldman Sachs bankers over the scandal-plagued Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, raising fresh questions about corporate culture at the prestigious investment bank.

The Justice Department arrested former Goldman Sachs banker Ng Chong Hwa in Malaysia on Thursday, and unsealed charges against Tim Leissner, another ex-Goldman banker, who has already pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $43.7 million in restitution of ill-gotten gains.

Both men were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The Justice Department also announced criminal charges against Low Taek Jho, an alleged mastermind and an intermediary to the Malaysian fund. US officials say he remains at large.

Goldman Sachs itself was not charged.

These are the first US criminal charges in the case which spawned investigations around the world.

- Conspiring to launder billions -

The 1MDB scandal has had a major impact in Malaysia, with allegations of involvement of top officials contributing to the downfall of the long-ruling coalition at elections in May.

Former prime minister Najib Razak has since been arrested and charged over the scandal. He denies any wrongdoing.

The men were charged with conspiring to launder billions of dollars from 1 Malaysia Development Berhad, a sovereign wealth fund set up for development of the country, and conspiring to bribe officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi, violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Low, in a statement through his spokesman, maintained his innocence.

"Mr. Low simply asks that the public keep an open mind regarding this case until all of the evidence comes to light, which he believes will vindicate him," it said.

Ng was also indicted for conspiring to violate the internal controls at Goldman Sachs, which underwrote about $6.5 billion in bonds issued by 1MDB, the US government said.

The funds were intended "for the benefit of the Malaysian people" but more than $2.7 billion went to kickbacks and bribes, according to the charges.

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Goldman Sachs, which garnered $600 million in fees and revenues from three 1MDB bond transactions detailed in the indictments, has said previously it has received subpoenas and requests for information on the case from various governments and regulatory bodies.

Goldman Sachs, which said it is cooperating in the probe, was not named in the DOJ criminal documents, but was referred to as "financial institution #1."

The DOJ said Ng and Leissner repeatedly circumvented Goldman's oversight tools for countering fraud, adding that the "business culture" at the firm, "particularly in Southeast Asia, was highly focused on consummating deals."

The documents refer to a third unnamed Goldman official who is an Italian national. The banker, Andrea Vella, was put on leave in October, according to a person familiar with the matter.

- Hiding Low's involvement -

Under one scheme involving a 2012 "Project Magnolia" bond offering by 1MDB, Low allegedly told the ex-Goldman bankers they needed to bribe officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi to guarantee that the transaction went through.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes were subsequently paid to officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi. After the bond transaction was executed, more than $500 million of the bond proceeds were misappropriated into shell companies controlled by Low, Leissner, Ng and other co-conspirators, the government alleged.

Some of the funds went to finance the movie, "The Wolf of Wall Street," a 2013 Oscar-nominated film about Jordan Belfort, a corrupt stockbroker who was sent to prison for fraud, the government said.

Ng and Leissner's efforts in the scheme dated to 2009, when they began cultivating a relationship with Low, who allegedly "worked as an intermediary in relation to 1MDB and other foreign government officials" but did not hold a formal position at 1MDB and was never employed by the government.

Ng, a managing director at Goldman, and Leissner, who worked as Southeast Asia chairman and managing director at Goldman, sought on three occasions to make Low a formal client, but were rebuffed because officials in the compliance group had "concerns" about the source of the person's wealth and deemed he would not be a "suitable" client.

As the bond offerings proceeded, the two men concealed Low's involvement from Goldman Sachs officials.

Leissner is free on a $20 million bond and pleaded guilty before a US judge in August, in Brooklyn Federal Court. He is cooperating with DOJ investigators, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Lawyers for Leissner did not respond to requests for comment. Low is represented by Marc Kasowitz, an attorney who has formerly represented US President Donald Trump, a DOJ spokesman said.
With The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo sequel The Girl In The Spiders Web headed into cinemas this month (its released on 21 November), Yahoo Movies UK travelled to Rome to sit down with the films director Fede Alvarez.

The Girl In The Spiders Web definitely fits in with Alvarezs body of work so far  it has the intensity of Evil Dead, mixed with the intrigue of Dont Breathe. But one upcoming anomaly (at least on paper) is the Labyrinth sequel Fedes developing with The Henson Company.

But Fedes dedication to practical effects will pay off in a film that absolutely has to involve puppets. Oh yeah, for sure, Fede agrees. You know my approach with those things, its all about making it as real as I can. So something like Labyrinth, making it a CG-fest would be the most disgusting thing ever (laughs). 

It sounds like the Labyrinth sequel is in the right hands. Im a huge fan of that film, its one of the films that made me want to be a filmmaker, Alvarez told Yahoo Movies UK. its all about trying to find exactly how were going to make it. Its not even about the story, we have the story and we love it, and I think the fans will love it.

Its a continuation, but even if you havent seen the first one, it works as backstory to the story we want to tell. Its written by Jay Basu who wrote this with me, so were really excited about it.

But before that, The Girl In The Spiders Web, which sees Alvarez replacing David Fincher as the director in charge of the Dragon Tattoo franchise.

Fedes own Dont Breathe was compared to Finchers Panic Room, but what does Alvarez think of the director hes replacing?

Yahoo Movies UK: Youre stepping into David Finchers shoes to a certain extent, what does he mean to you as a director?

Fede Alvarez: I watched his movies in high school, and now hes my executive producer, its actually incredible. A lot of people ask about the pressure of comparing yourself [to him], but when I was doing Evil Dead, just the fact that people were using my name in the same sentence as Sam Raimi made my year, it was the best thing ever.

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This is the same for me, its just a thrill  to be compared at all. I was watching Finchers stuff in high school and college, to get to work on something that hes involved with, its a thrill.

And it feels like there are other influences here  at times it feels like Bond meets Bourne, were spy thrillers an influence?

Yeah, they were. But a lot of thats from the books, the books got crazier as they advanced. As they evolved, the stories got bigger. So it was the fun part making this film, that we knew it was going to be completely different from the other ones.

The first American movie is more of an Agatha Christie mystery  this has nothing to that. It has a mystery in it, but its more of a thriller, shes more on the run, and the stakes are bigger. Its still a super personal story, but it was fun to show an aspect of these books that have never been done in movies before.

I talked to Claire Foy about the male gaze and how it would be disastrous if Lisbeth was overly sexualised, and she said that she had some very open and honest conversations with you about that, can you talk about that part of the process?

In a way, she took that responsibility. We both did, but her more than anybody, really being the guardian of not just Lisbeth, but of this female lead, particularly in the times were living in.

While we were making the film Me Too was really hitting hard, so it was something that I really needed to listen to her about in a way, and I think I did.

It was very interesting for me to see and her and understand how she feels playing that role and being portrayed in certain ways. To never force her to wear more make-up, or wear tighter clothes, things like that, which are pretty common in any Hollywood movie where theres a female lead.

But, you know my other movies, its always been something that I do. None of them are over-sexualised, Jane Levy in my films has never been in super tight clothes, or being super sexy or anything like that, its never what I go for.

I try to be more fair with the character and not oppress the actor or the audience with a character thats perfect and bigger than life that you can never achieve that as a human being, so I always try to avoid that.

You mention your other films, I love them all, and each of them ends with a tease for a sequel, will you make sequels to Evil Dead, Dont Breathe, and potentially this one?

I dont know man, Im happy thats a possibility. It makes me happy that every time Im done with a film, people are excited about that idea  its a privilege, really. I want to make all of those, I really would like to make all of them.

Id love to go and do Evil Dead 2 and Dont Breathe 2 and even another chapter of this. Its just that lifes too short. I always want to travel to different places and tell different stories, and it takes so long to make these movies.

If I wasnt a writer on them, it would be easier  give me a script and Ill shoot it, so I can have a new movie by the end of next year. But I write my movies, I devote a year  at least  to writing them. So I can say Im just going to do this thing and do it, it takes two years.

So I always try to keep moving forward and find other stories. All that being said, Ill be surprised if I dont go back to one of those worlds at one point because I really love them.

Speaking of building worlds, youve been attached to the Labyrinth sequel for a while now, I would love to see you play in that world. Where is that in terms of the process?

Thank you. I actually had lunch with Lisa Henson last week at the Henson studios and were very excited about it. Im a huge fan of that film, its one of the films that made me want to be a filmmaker, its all about trying to find exactly how were going to make it. Its not even about the story, we have the story and we love it, and I think the fans will love it.

Its a continuation, but even if you havent seen the first one, it works as backstory to the story we want to tell. Its written by Jay Basu who wrote this with me, so were really excited about it. But really, honestly, I never really think or consider or make decisions about what to do next before Im done with a movie, because were still promoting this one and making sure everybody goes to see it. After that, Ill take a little break and try to decide whats the best next movie to tell.

And it has to be puppets, right?

Oh yeah, for sure. You know my approach with those things, its all about making it as real as I can. So something like Labyrinth, making it a CG-fest would be the most disgusting thing ever (laughs).

Speaking of doing stuff for real, well need to talk around this because of spoilers, but theres a moment in this where you do something very dangerous for real  what was that like to shoot? It must have been an intense day, with health and safety involved

A nightmare. I tend to do that a lot in my movies, I get in situations that sounds great on paper, but when it comes to shooting it, you say Why did I write this? Theres two elements to that, one is the perversion of the scene, which Im proud of. Every time Ive done that in a film, the audience dont like to admit it but they love to see those things, to explore the dark side of film.

Then obviously the physicality of that. Im not the one who suffers, its the actors  and it was really, really tough for Claire on the day  because of many of those things, the perversion part of it, which makes you feel bad that youre in that situation, but its the way it should be. If it was great and a walk in the park, then the audience wouldnt get the real experience. What you get out of her performance in that scene is reality, shes not faking a lot of those emotions.

And thats what I always try to do, its why my actors have intense shoots because I put them through the wringer. At the end of the day, if you make a good film thats the best thing you can do for an actor so they dont have to be embarrassed they were involved. Thats what I give them in return for all of that work.

Theres some many imaginative shots in this film  which is your favourite?

Its actually the opening shot after the main credits. That guy doing dishes

Its amazing.

Its a very beautifully constructed shot, very simple as well, and faithful to the way Ive done things in the past.

Dont Breathe had one of my favourites, where they enter the house and the camera travels around, and shows you every element thats going to be part of the story, that was something we came up with during lunch and I did it with my phone, then we pitched it to everybody and we did it.

That wasnt planned, it was something that organically came to the story and really defined the movie, almost.

That shot [in The Spiders Web] was the same, we figured it out on the day. How do we do this with just one shot that says whats really happening here? We did a very simple one, but its very special  particularly for that part of the movie, and the times we live in.

Its this very emotionally open guy, whos really being nice [laughs] and wants to have an open conversation and is being honest about his own insecurity [laughs], Im laughing now, but on the day it was really hard. It was hard to watch, because it was so dark, it was painful.

Hopefully what that shot does is it tells the audience that theyre in good hands. The technical aspect means theyll be on for a good ride. Its always the right way to start the movie.

The music, the way its shot does feel Bond-esque, would you like to make a Bond film and would Claire Foy make a good Bond if they gender-switched the role?

She would make a fantastic Bond, actually. We should do a movie where Bond and Lisbeth meet, that would be great. In 10 years maybe theyll do that, when Hollywood runs out of ideas they will start combining movies.

I love those movies and theyre definitely an influence on this one, but I would say the Roger Moore films are more of an influence than the latest ones. Roger Moores my Bond because of the age that I was, I know a lot of people might say Hes not the best one! but who cares? My Bond is Roger Moore.

So there was a lot of that over the topness, everythings a bit too much and a bit more operatic. The character of Camilla dressing in red all the time, what the f**k is that? Its obvious that were making it bigger and more operatic.

Its something Hollywood films can do  not every other kind of film can do it, to really be a little bit insane and a bit over-the-top and the music be super-dramatic, I like that poppiness of it. To inject it into a series that has been more serious and moody, it was good  without betraying that  to add that to it.

The Girl In The Spiders Web is out in the UK on 21 November.





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In a landmark case on legislative districting in 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court stated that the right of suffrage can be denied by a debasement or dilution of the weight of a citizens vote just as effectively as by wholly prohibiting the free exercise of the franchise.

The first part of that sentiment  debasement  is often cited when we debate restrictions on voters casting their ballots. But we often overlook the second part  dilution  when we fail to consider the disenfranchisement caused by voter fraud.

Both present a threat to our participatory democracy, because the right to vote is the fundamental right that protects all of our other rights and individual liberties enshrined in our Constitution.

There is nothing new about the threat voter fraud presents to our form of government. It has always been present in the shadows of our democracy. Voter fraud comes in several different forms: impersonation, false registration, duplication, absentee fraud, ineligible voting, voter intimidation and outright buying of votes. These types of voter fraud are as old as the republic.

But in the 21st century, these threats have been compounded by modernization and the fast-paced technology of the digital age.

The extensive use of mail-in ballots, for example, has certainly made voting more convenient. But much of our voter fraud (and voter error) come from these same efforts to make voting more convenient and easy. Likewise, the use of newer technologies such as electronic voting open us up to the threat of hacking and force us to confront issues of cyber-security around our voting systems.

I am not suggesting we abandon our efforts to make voting more accessible and open. But it is an unfortunate reality that with every technological advance there is a corresponding threat of exploitation and fraud. As with any human system, there are those who will seek to take advantage of openness and assert disproportionate influence on the outcome of our elections.

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In 2016, some voters in California had their voter registration changed electronically unbeknownst to them. An investigation into voter fraud revealed vulnerabilities in the state database system with regard to IP address retention. The practical consequence was that with basic personal identifying information anyone could access the state database system to both create a voter registration record and to make changes to an existing voter record anonymously. By not retaining the IP address to identify the computer and circumstantially the individual who made the changes, it made it impossible to police the system.

By making a simple change to capture and electronically record the IP addresses of all users, the system was protected. In correcting this vulnerability, we proved we could still provide convenient access to voter registration while ensuring a more secure environment that preserves the integrity of the process.

Our system of democracy rests on the fact that we have faith in it. Even when it is not a false vote that decides an election, that false vote, if ignored, leaves an indelible mark on our system. If the citizenry begins to believe that fraud is tolerated by our government, that faith is destroyed. We call it self-government and generations of Americans have rightfully fought to secure and protect that right. We must continue that fight today and protect not only every citizens right to vote, but the integrity of our election process.

Policing the system against fraud at the state and local level does not equate to disenfranchisement. In fact, it is quite the opposite.

Guarding against fraud is what ensures that every person has a voice and no one person or one institution has unequal power or unfair advantage. It is those who commit fraud that undermine our system of democracy and marginalize the voice of those who honor the process and follow our laws. Our government must send a strong and clear message that we will not tolerate the manipulation and abuse of our democratic process.
James Whitey Bulgers death made headlines across the world after the notorious Boston gangster was allegedly killed by a fellow prisoner with Mafia ties.

However, for one of his victims families, the new was immediately met with jubilation.

I want to get a bottle of champagne and pop that cork, Patricia Donahue, who was married to Michael Donahue when Bulger shot and killed him as he left a bar in 1982, told WFXT-TV in Boston. You die the way you live. He was killing people, he was killed.

Ms Donahue and her son, Tommy, discussed Bulgers impact on their family Tuesday after the 89-year-old was found unresponsive in a federal prison earlier this week. Investigators are looking into Freddy Geas  a career criminal and Mafia hit man  as a potential suspect.

Shortly after it was discovered Bulger had been serving as an FBI informant, the Donahue family was awarded $6m  a judgement the government later successfully appealed.

The family never received the lump sum, even though it appeared Mr Donahues death was the result of bad timing. Bulger was actually targeting his neighbourhood friend Edward Brian Halloran, a former White Hill gang member who was also leaving the bar when the two were attacked and killed.

I was overwhelmed with joy, Tommy Donahue told the local news outlet. Of course I hope he suffered. My family has been suffering for 36 years.

Bulger was among the FBIs most wanted fugitives for 16 years until he was finally arrested for a litany of crimes in 2011.

The gangster, who served as the leader of South Bostons Winter Hill gang, was sentenced to life in 2013 for a range of crimes including his participation in 11 murders. His life and crimes became embedded into American pop culture and served as the subject of several major films.

Additional details surrounding Bulgers death remained unclear.
Victoria Bance was stabbed more than 20 times by Robert Bance following an argument (SWNS)

A woman who desperately shouted her address to a 999 operator while she was attacked by her husband was murdered by him four minutes later.

Victoria Bance was stabbed more than 20 times by Robert Bance after a row sparked when she spoke to another man in a pub.

The 37-year-old victim dialled 999 during the terrifying incident where she begged officers to come to her aid.

Mrs Bance could be also be heard in the background shouting their address  but no officers were sent.

Call handlers then phoned back but Robert Bance picked up the phone and fobbed them off by telling them nothing was wrong.

A few minutes later Robert Bance, 53, then called 999 and told operators: I have just killed my wife, adding I have stabbed her, she is dead.

Mrs Bance made a desperate 999 call during the incident where she begged officers to come to her aid (SWNS)

Police arrived within five minutes to find Victoria lying on their bed. She had a slight pulse but was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

A police watchdogs report has now been released and criticised the call handler for not sending officers to the address.

The report says they also did not register the incident on police computer systems nor even alert their supervisor to the desperate plea.

Drunken Robert Bance was subsequently jailed for life after he told by the judge he must serve a minimum of 15 years after he pleaded guilty to murder which was committed in a cold and deliberate rage.

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Police and paramedics who attended their home in Plymouth, Devon, and found she had suffered 23 knife wounds inflicted with a 17cm long Commando knife, including 14 deep stab wounds to her chest  any of which would have been fatal.

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Prosecutor Simon Laws QC stated that Victoria was able to cry outpouring the phone call before there were beeps on the line as if someone was trying to grab the handset.

He said it was clear there was a struggle going on.

The call handler rang back and Robert Bance answered calmly, telling the handler nothing was wrong.

Robert Bance was jailed for life (SWNS)

After the case an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) was launched.

Investigators noted how British Telecom contacted Devon and Cornwall Police at 1.26am that morning reporting an abandoned 999 call.

They found the police call handler then rang the number, getting a man who answered that everything was fine.

A womans voice was heard in the background, shouting information that has since been identified as her address.

The IOPC investigators stated: However, the police call handler did not register this incident on police systems or send police officers to the address.

Four minutes later, the man contacted Devon and Cornwall Police to report that he had killed his wife.

Our investigators interviewed the call handler involved, obtained information from police systems, examined relevant policies and procedures and obtained evidence regarding the expectations placed upon call handlers.

Robert Bance was sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court (Geograph)

The [IOPC] lead investigator concluded that, in their opinion, there was sufficient evidence upon which a reasonable tribunal, properly directed, could find misconduct in respect of the call handler regarding the allegation that they did not create an incident log for the call or refer the matter to a supervisor.

The investigator was also of the opinion that the call handlers performance may be considered unsatisfactory in respect of their failure to recognise and react to the sound of a distressed voice.

In response to the IOPCs report, Devon and Cornwall Police agreed that the call handler had demonstrated an inability or failure to perform the duties of their role to a satisfactory standard or level.

However, the police watchdog agreed with the forces course of action which was to address the matter through performance, including a six-month action plan and mentoring.

Devon and Cornwall Police said it also proposed to review their call handler training in the control room.
As the saying goes, records are made to be broken. And true to form, there's a new world's tallest statue. Earlier today, the Indian government unveiled Statue of Unity, a 597-foot-tall structure that honors Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of modern-day India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the October 31 celebration (selected since it's both Patels birthday and National Unity Day) to unveil the statue, which towers over the Narmada River in the western state of Gujarat.

INDIA-STATUE-POLITICS Photo: Getty Images/Sam Panthaky

It took exactly four years for the statue (which is made from steel, reinforced concrete, and bronze cladding) to surpass the former record holder, China's 420-foot-tall Spring Temple Buddha. The Statue of Unity cost some $420 million to complete and was constructed by Larsen & Toubro. The Mumbai-based firm is one of the largest in the country, and has been responsible for the construction of such high profile projects as New Delhi's International Airport and the Lotus Temple. The sculpture was designed by Ram V. Sutar, a 93-year-old Indian sculptor who is among the most celebrated designers in the region.

Vallabhbhai J. Patel Photo: Getty Images/Margaret Bourke-White

Anytime a statue is erected in the name of unity, similarities to New York's State of Liberty are bound to follow. And India's Statue of Unity is no exception. While the 305-foot-tall Statue of Liberty pales in height to its Indian counterpart, the two do share the similar ideals of inclusiveness. Indeed, Patel was influential in incorporating more than 560 colonial Indian states into a single union. In fact, there's another New York statue that was created for much of the same reasons. Washington Square Park's statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi was to honor his contribution to the unification of Italy in the 19th century.

Yet, records are made to be broken, and the Statue of Unity is no exception. It's estimated that by 2021, India will complete another 696-foot-tall statue of the 17th-century warrior king, Shivaji, along the coast of Mumbai.
The 2020 presidential election is fast approaching, and there have been plenty of whispers in Washington about whos running.

Preliminary polls have former Vice President Joe Biden leading any other candidate by a large margin. I dont think about the polling data. I think about whether or not I should run based on very private decisions relating to my family, he said in a CBS interview.

The 75-year-old also acknowledged that people were likely to judge him on his vitality if he ran.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton became the first female nominee of a major political party. Would the second time be the charm?

California Sen. Kamala Harris has been taking to the campaign trail to help local Democrats in the midterms. When she arrived in South Carolina, the audience chanted, Madam President!

Similarly, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand visited the crucial swing State of New Hampshire.

Many speculated that Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was planning to run after she released a DNA test, following ridicule from President Trump. This could help defuse any attacks he could make about her then questioned Native American heritage.

Related: Yahoo News Explains: Does Trump owe Sen. Warren $1 million?

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker helped Democrats campaign in Iowa, a state where campaigning almost always signals a run for president.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders also visited the pivotal state, criticizing Trump about health care.

He said as a candidate, If I am elected president, Im going to bring health care to everybody. Remember that? He lied, said Sander at a rally.

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg and lawyer Michael Avenatti could be rogue candidates who could take on the president.

Bloomberg has no shortage of cash to campaign, and Avenatti has a way of out-Trumping Trump  at least on Twitter.

And if anyone knows a thing or two about cover-ups (and Im not talking about the hair), its @realDonaldTrump. Now the question is what is he going to do about it? Its already been weeks. https://t.co/8E7OTn1waN  Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) October 23, 2018

Whoever runs, its becoming evident that the 2020 presidential election is shaping up to be a historic one.
Dubai (AFP) - Yemen's government said Thursday it was ready to re-start peace talks with Huthi rebels, amid growing international pressure to end the years-long conflict.

The Yemeni government said it welcomed "all efforts to restore peace" after the UN called for the warring parties to enter negotiations.

"Yemen is ready to immediately launch talks on the process of confidence-building, primarily the release of all detainees and prisoners, as well as those who have been abducted or subject to enforced disappearance," the government said in a statement carried by the state-run Saba news agency.

That came after a string of comments by key US officials and by the UN's envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths, who called Wednesday for warring parties to come to the table "within a month".

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week called for an end to the Yemen war, including air strikes, in an implicit acknowledgement that a Saudi-led coalition was involved in the bombing of civilians.

Washington backs the coalition, which is fighting alongside Yemen's government against the Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

But Saudi Arabia's regional role has come under scrutiny after the killing in its Istanbul consulate last month of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a former royal court insider-turned-critic who wrote columns for the Washington Post.

- 'People are already dying' -

Yemen's war has been particularly devastating for the country's children, over seven million of whom now face food insecurity, according to the UN children's agency.

"Today, 1.8 million children under the age of five are facing acute malnutrition, and 400,000 are affected by severe acute malnutrition," said Geert Cappelaere, regional director of UNICEF.

"In the last couple of years, we see the number of severely acute malnourished children stabilising," he told AFP late on Wednesday.

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But "ending the war is not enough," he added.

"The war is exacerbating the situation that was already bad before because of years of underdevelopment" in the Arab world's poorest nation, Cappelaere said.

According to aid organisation CARE International, food security experts are determining whether famine should be declared in Yemen.

"A declaration of famine would mean that the international community has already failed the people of Yemen," said Jolien Veldwijk, assistant country director for CARE Yemen.

"Two of the thresholds needed to declare a famine -- death rates and acute malnutrition rates - are lagging indicators, which means that by the time these thresholds are met, people are already dying," she said.

UNICEF's Cappelaere said that over 6,000 children had either been killed or sustained serious injuries since 2015.

"These are the numbers we have been able to verify, but we can safely assume that the number is higher, much higher," he said.

Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the war in 2015 to bolster Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Iran-backed rebels took over the capital Sanaa.

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

In September, a previous round of UN-led peace talks collapsed after the Huthis refused to travel to Geneva, accusing the world body of failing to guarantee their delegation's return to Sanaa or secure the evacuation of wounded rebels to Oman.

Previous talks broke down in 2016, when 108 days of negotiations in Kuwait failed to yield a deal and left rebel delegates stranded in Oman for three months.

A UN panel of experts has accused both the Huthis and the Saudi-led coalition of acts that could amount to war crimes.
Aden (AFP) - Yemen's government said Thursday it was ready to re-start peace talks with Huthi rebels, as international pressure to end the years-long conflict intensifies.

The United Nations said a day earlier it aimed to relaunch the talks within a month, after a previous attempt collapsed in September when the rebels refused to attend.

"The Republic of Yemen welcomes all efforts to restore peace," a government statement carried by the state-run Saba news agency said.

"The government of Yemen is ready to immediately launch talks on the process of confidence-building, primarily the release of all detainees and prisoners, as well as those who have been abducted or subject to enforced disappearance," it said.

The United States this week called for an immediate end to the hostilities in Yemen, where Washington backs a Saudi-led coalition fighting alongside the government against the Iran-backed Huthis.

In September, the Huthis refused to travel to Geneva for planned peace talks, accusing the UN of failing to guarantee their delegation's return to the Yemeni capital Sanaa and to secure the evacuation of wounded rebels to Oman.

Previous talks broke down in 2016, when 108 days of negotiations in Kuwait between the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and the rebels failed to yield a deal.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week called for an end to the Yemen war, including air strikes, in an implicit acknowledgement that the Saudi-led coalition was involved in the bombing of civilians.

Both the Huthis and Saudi Arabia along with its allies stand accused of transgressions that could amount to war crimes.

The coalition has been blacklisted by the UN for the maiming and killing of children in a country where 14 million people now face starvation.

Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, is the target of the longest drone war in US history.

In 2012, the US expanded a covert war against the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which Washington categorises as the radical group's most dangerous branch.

The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen since 2015, when Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened after the Huthis seized Sanaa.

Rights groups say the toll could be as high as 50,000.
An Instagram account started by eight 16-year-old girls who live in communities near the Gaza border, where they post images that show life under the threat of rockets and incendiary balloons, has become quite popular.

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The social media page, called Otef Gaza, managed to get more than 50,000 followers within days of being launched.

The girlsLee Cohen from Moshav Yesha; Maya Caspi, Lian Yifat, Shani and Stav Peretz from Kibbutz Kerem Shalom; Kim Ovitz from Moshav Ami'oz; and Amy Stadim from Kibbutz Ein Hashloshaare very good friends who attend the Nofei ha-Bsor High School in the Eshkol Regional Council.

(Photo: Haim Horenstein)

The idea to open the page came up during a joint bus ride.

"We went on an Israeli journey as part of a school trip," said Cohen. "During the bus ride, we started thinking about the situation and talked about it a lot. We felt very frustrated that no one in the country really cares.

If the same incendiary balloons were landing in Tel Aviv, things would have been different. We decided that this issue has to be brought up to the attention of the public, and most importantly, to the attention of the decision-makers. We talked to our tour guides on the bus and opened the page during the ride, Cohen went on to say.

Fire in the Gaza border region

The photos the 11th graders are uploading to the account document the events that take place in border communitiesincluding one of thick smoke billowing from burning tires during border riots, and fires started as a result of incendiary kites and balloons.

Each image is accompanied by a caption. For instance, under a picture showing a burning kite, there is a sentence saying: "It's no longer childs play."

The Instagram account went viral soon afterwards. "We were completely shocked," Cohen said, adding that within hours, we were flooded with countless inquiries and pictures. We could not believe we had reached so many followers. Within the first three days, we had more than 30,000 followers."

(Photo: Haim Horenstein)

Due to the accounts popularity, the girls are now receiving countless photos in real time from all around the border region, which they upload right away.

"People, it turns out, do not even know what life is like in the Gaza border communities," Cohen said. "Its unacceptable that we have to lock ourselves in our houses because of tire smoke from Gaza riots, and no one in Israel is aware of it.

We live in a warzone, and it does not interest anyone in Israel. We see it in the comments. People write to us, asking: How do you live there? Our goal is to reach the decision-makers  so they would put an end to it, the 16-year-old stressed.

She said she hopes their Instagram page will reach people from all around the world so that the story of the Gaza border communities will be told.
"I am not a person who loves vengeance, but this is certainly the sweetest revenge possible against the Nazis," says 93-year-old Holocaust survivor Solomon (Sally) Perel, who has recently returned to the northern German town where he spent 3.5 years as a member of the Hitler Youth, 73 years after World War II. This time, however, he was there to attend a festive ceremony in his honor after one of the citys schools was named after himthe Comprehensive School of Sally Perel.

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Perel was born in the town of Peine in Lower Saxony to a Jewish family that emigrated from Russia. When the Nazis came to power and passed the Nuremberg Laws, the family's shoe store was looted and Solomon was expelled from his school. This prompted the family to move to the Polish city of odz in 1935.

the 93-year-old Holocaust survivor

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After the German invasion of Poland, Solomon, along with his brother Yitzhak, escaped to the Soviet part of Poland, where he was placed in a Komsomol-run orphanage, while his brother decided to continue to Vilnius in Lithuania.

When the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, Solomon escaped the orphanage but was eventually captured by a German army unit. But thanks to his fluency in the German language, he managed to convince his captors that his name was Josef Perjell, and that he was a German citizen living outside Germany.

Because he was still a minor, he was enrolled into the Hitler Youth boarding school in Braunschweig, a city in northern Germany, where he spent 3.5 years. He was in constant danger because he was a circumcised Jew and had to hide his real identity throughout his time there.

"I was there from the age of 16.5 until the age of 20. I lived there using a made-up name and a false identity, so no one would find out I was a Jew. In boarding school, I attended classes on racial theory and went through pre-military prep. I never showered with other students, so they wouldn't find out I was circumcised, or I showered while facing a wall or while wearing underwear. I was creative," Solomon explains.

Perel in Braunschweig

Fortunately, no one ever suspected me, as had they ever suspected me, it would've ended very badly for me. Fortunately, they also never asked me during medical examinations why I was circumcised. That place symbolizes the lion's den for me. Every night I went to sleep hoping my identity would not be uncovered, the 93 year old continues.

Toward the end of the war, Hitler ordered all the Hitler Youth members to enlist, and Solomon was drafted into the armys infantry, where he was a bazooka operator. Fortunately for him, his unit quickly fell into the hands of the US military.

"Fortunately, I didn't manage to start fighting. And even if I had, I would not have shot at Americans," he says, adding that because he was a junior conscript soldier, he was released and not taken as a prisoner of war.

He later reunited with his brother Yitzhak and learned of his parents death. They could not find their sister, who fled to Russia.

After the war ended, Solomon reclaimed his Jewish identity and briefly served as an interpreter in the Soviet Army. He immigrated to Israel in July 1948, enlisted in the newly-formed IDF, and fought in the War of Independence.

Many years later, he wrote an autobiographical book in German, which was later translated into Hebrew and published in 1991 under the title: "Ich war Hitlerjunge Salomon" ("I Was Hitler Youth Salomon").

In 1990, a film was made based on Solomon's life, titled Europa Europa. The film won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1991 and was nominated for the Academy Award. In 1994, a new edition of the book, titled "Europa Europa," was published in Hebrew.

Braunschweig

Nowadays, Solomon Perel spends his time retelling his life story all around the world, working to deepen awareness of the Holocaust. He also frequently meets with delegations brought to Israel by the Foreign Ministry. He has a wonderful sense of humor and a rare ability to charm an audience.

In early September, Solomon received an email from the principal of a school in Braunschweig, telling him it was decided to name the school after him. Over 1,000 students aged 5 to 13 attend the school.

The decision was approved by the school board and passed unanimously by the members of the city councilincluding the representatives of the far-right Alternative to Germany (AFD) party.

"This is the first school in Germany named after a Jewish Hitler Youth member," Perel says.

Perel was joined at the ceremony in Braunschweig by his two granddaughters and his niece, Naomi Barkin, who also spoke on behalf of the family.

Solomon was met with a lot of love at the ceremony. When he entered the hall, the crowd stood up and cheered him on. Some students even approached him and asked to take selfies with the 93 year old.

School students ask to take a selfie with Perel

The crowd jumped to its feet again after Solomon's speech, with the standing ovation lasting for several minutes. The principal then presented Perel with a key to the school.

Solomon also visited what remains of the Hitler Youth boarding school, where he spent over three years of his life.

Everyone dreams about something, but this is beyond anything I have ever dreamed of. It is a great honor for me, Holocaust survivor exclaimed in his speech.

I am very active in Germany on the subject of the Holocaust, and this is the highlight of my work. This is a victory for the will to live over evil. I fought and won the right to livewhich is what the Nazis tried to deny me as a Jew," he concluded.
With President Donald Trump getting a cool welcome from the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, Israel's envoy to the memorial ceremonies for the synagogue shooting victims has come to his defense, saying it was "unfair and wrong" to link him to the tragedy.

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Trump was greeted by hundreds of chanting protesters Tuesday, many accusing the president's fiery rhetoric for contributing to the climate of violence and emboldening extremists to act.

Donald and Melania Trump (Photo: Reuters)

Pennsylvania's governor and the mayor of Pittsburgh declined to join Trump during the visit , and one of the families of the 11 victims of the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in US history asked not to meet him. Adding to the anger was the shooting suspect's apparent targeting of a synagogue because of his outrage over a Jewish refugee agency that has become a target of conspiracy theories among Trump's nationalist base.

However, Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett took issue with those he said were "using this horrific anti-Semitic act to attack President Trump."

"This is unfair and wrong," said Bennett, who rushed to Pittsburgh after the shootings to offer Israel's support to city's Jewish community. "President Trump is a true friend of the State of Israel and to the Jewish people. With President Trump we never have to worry if he has our backs."

Israel's envoys to the United States and the United Nations have also tried to distance Trump from the attack.

Their defense of the president has added another element to the growing divide between Israel's leadership, which hails Trump for his staunch political backing and tough stance against nemesis Iran, and the more liberal American Jewish community, whose members are among Trump's toughest domestic critics.

Jared Kushner(L) and Ivanka (Photo: Reuters)

Trump visited the Tree of Life synagogue and lit candles for the victims before visiting survivors in the hospital. He was accompanied by his daughter Ivanka, a convert to Judaism, and her Jewish husband, Jared Kushner, as well as Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer.

Dermer also backed Trump, saying he was "not aware of a single non-Israeli leader that has made such a strong statement in condemning anti-Semitism."

Nancy Bernstein, co-chair of J Street Pittsburgh, a liberal American Jewish group, said that many American Jews accuse Trump of contributing to the polarized atmosphere that led to the shooting and were unhappy about Israeli leaders being so close with the president. She took particular aim at Bennett, who has been a visible presence in Pittsburgh after the shooting attack.

"He has a history of inciting against refugees in Israel, and this was the very reason that 11 people were murdered in our synagogue here," she said, referring to the shooter's anger toward a Jewish group that assists immigrants in the US.

Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett in Pittsburgh (Photo: AP)

The Israeli government's consistent support for Trump has far less to do with his controversial domestic policies and more with the blanket international support he has granted Israel.

Fulfilling a campaign promise, Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved the US Embassy there.

In a break from previous administrations, he has placed the blame for failed peace talks solely on the Palestinians and refrained from criticizing Israeli settlement activity. He also pulled out of the Iran nuclear agreement, a step welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has also angered the liberal Reform and Conservative streams of Judaism, which represent the majority of affiliated Jews in the US, by siding with Orthodox rabbinical authorities on issues of recognition and pluralism in Israel.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has determined Israel must not demolish the house of a terrorist who is found not responsible for his actions due to mental impairment.

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In a letter to Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Mandelblit wrote that in cases of terrorists suffering from mental disorders, the demolition of their homes would not achieve the desired goal of deterrence.

"That person would not have the ability to rationally consider the real possibility the home he lives in would be demolished, and consequently decide against carrying out the terror act we wish to deter him from committing," the attorney general wrote.

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

Mandelblit also put other restrictions on the demolition of terrorists' home, basing the decision on the severity of the results of his actions. The attorney general made a distinction between a victim who was wounded and one who was killed.

He stressed that according to the Supreme Court's ruling, in case of very severe injury "the IDF's operations will be considered proportional only if the army seals the part of the house in which the attacker lived and not destroys the entire structure."

The attorney general's letter was in response to Lieberman's protest last month against the IDF's decision not to demolish the home of the terrorist who murdered Adiel Coleman at Jerusalem's Old City in March. The decision not to demolish the house was made after the family proved the terrorist was suffering from a mental illness.

IDF chief Eisenkot and Defense Minister Lieberman (Photo: Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

"With your authorization, it was decided not to demolish the terrorist's house, based on medical documents that indicate the terrorist's mental history as well as the doubt over his mental state when committing the murdera doubt that has never been cleared due to the death of the terrorist in the incident," Lieberman wrote to the attorney general.

"While the family of the terrorist claims he was mentally unfit, others who know him are cheering for him and glorifying his name as a shahid (martyr) in the media and on social media," the defense minister added.

"I fear potential terrorists hear these voices and see that the terrorist's house was not demolished based on medical history that will never be proven, and this will significantly undermine deterrence," he concluded.

Lieberman sent copies of his letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabat.

According to the IDF, from 2015 to 2017, 35 terrorists' homes were demolished and five others were sealed off. This year, there have been four demolitions and one house sealed off so far, with three additional house demolitions planned.

The government has determined that the demolition of a terrorist's house would be done only if he is a Palestinian who is not an Israeli citizen and claimed the life of an Israeli citizen. If the Israeli was critically wounded, the terrorist's house will not be demolished.
On Saturday evening, February 17, 2018, as I was looking with astonishment at my laptop screen at a hotel in Munich, I was still thinking this was a coincidental, scattered, unorganized outburst of populist, anti-Semitic and fascist sentiments. Terrifying and reminiscent of those dark days of Europe, people using the internet as a tool to unload their darkest primeval feelings, a stage to discredit and incite against others, but at the end of the daysomething spontaneous.

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It all happened mere hours after I asked the Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, about the Holocaust law his country had just passed, and after he accused "Jewish perpetrators," among others, for the Holocaust.

On Sunday morning, when the attacks had only gotten worse and the few became dozens, hundreds and then thousands, and content and images began repeating themselves in very similar configurations, I realize this was something else entirely, and that whoever was making so a great effort to slander me and scare me is a much more serious foe than some neo-Nazi hooligans online.

Polish PM Morawiecki and Bergman (Photo: AP)

On Monday, when they posted photos of my mother's grave online and called my father a "kapo," I realized how much such a campaignwhich costs several hundreds of thousands of dollars, a negligent sum for a statecould deter journalists, or anyone who wants to speak their opinion freely.

I asked experts from an Israeli company called Cyabra, which deals with protection against covert online smear campaigns, to analyze the attacks and the thousands of tweets and comments in Polish, Hebrew and English, as well as examine my Facebook and Twitter pages, the servers and the names of the commenters. They came back with a detailed report analyzing the case and several unequivocal conclusions: "This isn't an independent or isolated thing. This is a strong and skilled PR campaign, with very generous funding. There is very high probability that whoever is behind the smear campaign is an established body with intelligence capabilities and budgets only large organizations have."

The advantage an attacker in this kind of cyber campaign on social media has is that it's very hard to catch him and prove beyond any doubt that one particular person or entity is indeed behind the creation of some fictitious user that wrote horrible things on Facebook. Therefore, it is impossible to prove one-to-one that Polish intelligence or elements with ties to the Morawiecki government or to Morawiecki himself were behind the campaign. On the other hand, the Polish premier has never apologized for his anti-Semitic Holocaust-denying comments, has been fanning the flames of nationalism in his country, and didn't even condemn the unruly anti-Semitic and Nazi behavior of his supporters online.



One of the claims made against me as part of the Polish campaign, much like any other good tale of plots and conspiracy, was that the entire incident that started the commotion was planned in advance to the last detail; that the "lying Jew"meaning mewas not some chance guest at the conference, and that it was no coincidence I was sitting on the third row while the Polish prime minister was speaking. I was there intentionally (some of the posts claimed that I'm, of course, an operative of the Israeli Mossad)everything to embarrass and hurt their precious prime minister.

The truth is the entire incident was the most unplanned public thing that has ever happened to me. Several days earlier, I had finished launching a new book in the United States: a busy promotional tour, lectures and interviews, which were not free of intense moments. I was exhausted.

On a short layover in Moscow I met a local journalist. He reminded me of the term "active measures," popular professional jargon in the KGB and the intelligence agencies under its command in Eastern Europe. It means "misleading the opponent, weakening his status and disrupting his ability to successfully execute hostile plans (against the Soviet Union)."

"So they're doing the same thing today, just without the ideology and with completely different technology," the journalist said, and told me off-the-record how local intelligence was using "herds and divisions" of fictitious users on social media to sow confusion and disinformation, to smear, deter and break the spirit of anyone who rises against the regimesuch as journalists and human rights activists.

I looked at him with sadness, thinking how I'd feel if I were in his position.

On Friday morning, at the Munich Security Conference, I was part of a discussion with the heads of Jewish communities and organizations in Europe. Some of them reminded meboth in looks and behaviorthe few relatives of mine who survived the horrors of the Holocaust. I saw the concern on their faces over the wave of anti-Semitic nationalism that has been sweeping Eastern Europe, the fear of dark days, the dread that once again the hatred towards Jews will be used to inflame passions and blame the foreigner for the illnesses of the country. Most of the time, it's hard for Israeliswho come from a nation that is always prepared to and lives by the swordto understand these fears and respect these concerns.

On Saturday morning, I was listening to Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki as he was speaking at the conference about the economy, energy and his country's relationship with Russia. Morawiecki talked about everything, except the elephant in the room: a law according to which it will be forbidden to accuse Poland and the Poles of involvement in the Holocaust, and those who do make such accusations would risk criminal charges.

So I took advantage of the time given for questions. Wolfgang Ischinger, the chairman of the conference who was heading the discussion, instructed to pass the microphone to me, and I got up to speak. I wanted to ask a general question about the law, but I was then flooded with memories. My entire familymy late mother and my father and their familieshave all gone through the Holocaust. Few survived. Most were murdered. The Holocaust has been hovering over our heads our entire lives as one giant shadow.

And so, as I was getting up from my chair in the third row, everything came flooding back: The memories from our little apartment in the North of Israel, where we could talk about everything except for the Holocaust; missing my mother; the terrible sting of betrayal from her neighbors and friends; her vow that she will never speak another word in Polish. My soul was raging.

When I was talking, the Polish prime minister looked at me with a blood-curdling and unfeeling look. "After this law is legislated, I will be considered a criminal in your country for saying these things," I told him. "What is the purpose? What is the message that you are trying to convey the world? You are creating the opposite reaction and just attracting more attention to these atrocities."

I didn't really expect an answer. I imagined Morawiecki would express sorrow for my pain and that of my family and avoid answering with some diplomatic roundabout wordingpleasant and filled with compassion and understanding, but one that essentially doesn't really say anything.

I was wrong. Morawiecki rejected the accusations of Poland's or Polish involvement in the Jewish Holocaust and said that "We must not allow such horrible lies, because they'll hurt the memory of the victimsboth Poles and Jews."

He said that six million Poles were murdered during World War II, all in order to paint the Poles as nothing but victims. He just forgot to mention that three million of them were Jews, almost Poland's entire Jewish community, and that the Nazis would've never succeeded in killing so many without the help of the local population.

His punch line was that indeed "there were Polish perpetrators, as there were Jewish perpetrators, as there were Russian and Ukrainian perpetrators, not only German perpetrators."

Morawiecki and Bergman's exchange

X

Hearing these things left me astounded, my eyes filled with tears of pain and rage.

The first to realize what had happened was Tzipi Livni. She was sitting in the first row and filming what was happening on her phone. Later, she got up, walked up to me, saw how emotional I was and embraced me. She then told me something along the lines of "You'll see, this won't stay here. His comments about the Jews being perpetrators of the Holocaust will cause a big storm in the coming hours."

I was sure the harsh response from Israel, which included a condemnation by Netanyahu to Morawiecki's comments (sort of), would make the Polish premier realize he had gone one step too far, and apologize.

But I was wrong again. The first tweet coming out of an official Polish spokesperson was that Jews would have no choice but to deal with the truth. Later came softer responses , but they all repeated the same message more or less, without backing down or apologizing.

At the same time, a campaign of incitement was launched on social media.

Every post I made and every tweet immediately got hundreds and even thousands of counter comments and posts. The most central motif of these posts was presenting me as the embodiment of the Jewish man's infamous qualitiesmostly chronic lying and greed. "Ronen Bergman is a smart Jew, he came to Munich to make a lot of money out of the Holocaust..." "This is what regular Jews are likeliars. The Jews are very greedy. The only see money, money, money," "Hello, spreader of fake news. How much money were you paid to spread lies about Poland?" "The time of lying is over. Now the world will see the truth; Polish truth, not Jewish lies," "...you show deep disrespect toward the victims of the Holocaust... the cowardly liar," "Shame on you, Bergman! This is the perfect Jewish-type provocation, but lies only expose the true face of your nation. Because of that, people all over the world have hated you for thousands of years! The truth will defeat you! We'll expose it!"

And more: "I believe we could properly diagnose Mr. Ronen Bergman's illness, which is called Polonophobia. His late mother also suffered from that... it has to be deep in his DNA. All Poles celebrate the historical truth today. We're a persistent force," "...this is what dialogue with the Jews looks like: You ask them, and they'll expel you," "...we're done with the shit they've been feeding us. Now the Jews will learn what Jews did during the war, and will have to live with it..." "Because of you, Mr. Bergman, I now know why Hitler hated Jews!"

The Mossad issue became very central in the comments: "It's all a Mossad provocation," "will you do anything for money? For your career? For the Mossad?", "Do you know why Hitler was never found? Because he's circumcised, he was Jewish. The Mossad killed and hid Hitler so the world will never know he was Jewish," "You have to admire the Jew's refusal to answer questions about his magical mother and her alternative life. That's how a real agent behaves, agent Ronen Bergman."

Many of the posts and tweets linked Nazi Party officials to the Jews; Jews in power next to Hitler: "GoebbelsJewish; EichmannJewish; HeidrichJewish; 150,000 Jewish soldiers serving Hitler."

A picture of me from a show a few days earlier in New York appeared on a banner that came with many of the posts. In the background was the New York Times heading, a golden image of the Third Reich's minister of propaganda Joseph Goebbels sitting on a pedestal, looking like the Palme d'Or Award with the writing "Golden Goebbels Award."

The Old Protocols of the Elders of Zion were dug up to show the Jews are in charge everywhere: "50 years of one-sided views about the Holocaust, like Steven Spielberg's anti-Polish film 'Con's List,' which is directly responsible for the creation of the phrase 'Polish death camps.' Jewish Hollywood's war against Poland continues", "A Jewish journalist from NYT is appalled when Prime Minister Morawiecki says that there are Jewish perpetrators. Those bored, ignorant primitives need to be taught!"

There were also many of those who turned the tables on history: At first, Jews cooperated with the Nazis and helped them annihilate Poles. Later, when the war ended, they were among the founders of Soviet secret police forces, or played a major role in them, and also helped these secret services against the Poles.

Other posts included illustrations of Jews in Der Sturmer style: Pictures of hanged men on the gallows and others who are being brought up to be hanged. And above the hangedthe Polish national symbol, a Star of David, and the writing: "Jewish Police in German Nazi service from Krakow Ghetto ... is hanging 7 Polish partisans in Plaszow 26.06.1942 in presence of German Nazis."

In another post, a Gestapo man stands in front of the Jewish police people, alongside the writing: "Oh, who's this? OMG, it's Mr. Bergman's father."

And in another, a photo of a poster that allegedly proves that the Jews welcomed Soviet forces into Eastern Poland with Nazi propaganda posters and swastikas.

Someone drew (quite impressively, I have to say) an illustration of an SS soldier on the left, and a Jewish police man (with a red Star of David) firing together at the head of a Polish prisoner, with the inscription "#Polish_Holocaust."

Someone else posted a horrific picture of a man in the Jewish police force with a Star of David arm band holding the body of a child, hinting at the age-old libel that Jews love the blood of Polish children.

One man, or perhaps a bot that identified as Benedict Chamilowsky, wrote: "Bergman, you and your people need to accept the truth. The Jews are also to blame for WWII: American and German Zionists collaborated with Hitler early on, funding him and bringing him to power in Germany in 1933."

Christian motifs were not absent either: Pictures of Christ on the Cross and the clear implication that he was handed over to the Romans by the Jews, with horrific captions about "The cup of the Lord's wrath" that must be given to the Jews. And in another post, a picture of Benjamin Netanyahu holding up the famous UN poster placard with the Iranian bomb, but instead of a bomb there's a picture of Christagain an implication of the Jews turning him in.

In addition to linking me to the Nazis and the Jewish people to Nazi crimes, commenters tried to question my authenticity. They claimed, among other things, that my mother did not go through the Holocaust, that her family was not murdered, that she was not a child when the war broke out, that she did not receive a commendation for her Polish. They (wrongfully) claimed that in an article I had published several years ago in Yedioth Ahronoth I said different things to the ones I said to the Polish prime minister. I was furious to read this, of course, but I also could not help but be impressed by the research and effort. Someone had managed to find an article that is not online, and that was published only in Hebrew and only in print five years ago in Yedioth Ahronoth. If I am not mistaken, this can only be achieved if one physically arrives to the archive that holds these volumes. And who was it that went there? How did he know how to find this article, and then translate it?

Then came a new low: They posted a picture of my mother's grave and tombstone. That was really impressive, and showed that someone with a lot of money and power is behind this. And that is because none of usthe family members of the late Miriam Bergmanhave ever posted that photo online (or even took it).

And that is not the last of it: Many of my Facebook friends received a message with a picture of me and of an angry Harry Potter, which implies "you are a liar!" People I have not been in touch with regularly phoned me or messaged me to ask whether I was all right.

All of a sudden, I felt like that Russian journalist I had met at the airport, and I understood his fear. Suddenly I realized how natural it is that fear and doubt creep into the heart of those who have been involved in controversial events, even when they're trained to be at the center of a public storm, and when they are convinced they have done the right thing and written the truth. Perhaps I shouldn't publish this article, or post this tweet? Maybe it's not worth it?

Eventually I decided to carry on as normal, without changing a thing, but it wasn't an easy decision.

Since it all looked too organized, I decided to check whether my suspicions were true and approached a group of ex-intelligence officials who founded Cyabra, a company that protects public figures and brands from social media shaming campaigns. The report I got from them left no room for doubt: it determined that "in light of an attack on the journalist Ronen Bergman over the affair of Polish involvement in the Holocaust, Cyabra analyzed the negative discourse against Dr. Bergman on February 19-20, 2018 on Facebook, Twitter, Israeli news sites, and Bergman's personal site RonenBergman.com, and found high involvement of fake users in the negative discourse on all platforms. The attack was mostly orchestrated by fictitious identities that posted the same texts at the same time. Furthermore, they used the services of a private or fake VPN address to conceal the countries from which the activity originated."

For instance, on Facebook: "Dozens of fake profiles were found to be involved in the negative discourse about him. The discourse was done in English, Polish and Hebrew, and included claims against Jewish activity in the Holocaust and the authenticity of Ronen's claims, as well as anti-Semitic speech, and so on. Most of this negative discourse originated from the same fake profiles who liked and commented on each other's postings. Analysis showed that many profiles used the same words and phrases, and many profiles posted comments on set and illogical times."

On Twitter, Cyabra found "extensive use of the hashtags #JewishTruth, #PolandTruth and #TruthFromPoland. Many of the profiles used in the attack were opened shortly beforehand, but still managed to publish hundreds and even thousands of tweets and hashtags. Many repeated the same phrasing and words."

The study also examined the messages that were sent to the site RonenBergman.com and found that "there was use of virtual private IP addresses, hiding the original ones with which the person logged in."
Moscow was raging mad and the Russian liaison officers at the Hmeimim base in Syria were furious with their Israeli counterparts after the IAF's recent attack in Syria , which was confirmed this week by a source in Jerusalem. The source sought to show Israeli determination and put on a false display of the IDF resuming normal activity in Syria against Iranian targets. But the story behind this aerial attack shows the extent of the crisis between Russia and Israel, which began with the downing of a Russian spy plane , and to which no solution has been found so far.

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According to reports on social media in the Middle East, where users monitor military activity in Syria, the Israeli air strike took place more than a month ago, after Russia blamed Israel for the deaths of 15 air crew and intelligence personnel aboard the intelligence plane, which was shot down by Syrian aerial defense.

It's safe to assume that the attack was aimed at testing the Russian response in an attempt to assess the extent of the crisis between Moscow and Jerusalem. The attack was carried out in daylight, and the Russians were given early warning. This time, too, the Syrians fired anti-aircraft missiles in all directions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: AFP)

The Russians did not let the attack go unanswered and conveyed strong protest through the Russian-Israeli military liaison system. The only thing Israel could take comfort in is the fact the Russians chose not to make the attack public, which would've just further exacerbated the crisis. Even the latest Israeli leak, about a month after the attack, did not warrant a public response from the Russian or Syrian governments. In the Russian media, the Israeli report was not given much airtime or attention.

Israeli defense sources claim that this crisis continues because the Russians are trying to impose new rules of coordination on Israel that could severely limit the effectiveness of Israeli attacks in Syria. Israel is not yet ready to fully comply with Russian coordination demands, as this would pose an unreasonable risk to the IAF fighter jets, while operational information could leak to the Iranians and Syrians.

On Wednesday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov briefed journalists in Moscow on the preparations being made in Syria to begin using the S-300 missile batteries, which Russia gave the Syrian army. Among other things, he saidwithout explicitly mentioning Israel's name"This system is a warning to all the hotheads in the region."

Since the Russian plane was shot down a month and a half ago, there has been a complete disconnect between the Russian defense minister, Sergey Shoygu, and the Israeli defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman. The close personal ties between the two, created over the past few years and used as a regular channel of communication between the two defense establishments, were severed.

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman with Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu (Photo: Defense Ministry)

Furthermore, all attempts by the Prime Minister's Office to schedule a meeting with Russian President Putin have gone unanswered by the Kremlin. During his stay in New York last month, Netanyahu announced that upon his return to Israel he would meet posthaste with President Putin in order to resolve the crisis. Five weeks have passed since, and Putin is not picking up the phone.

The disconnect between the Israeli and Russian political leaderships makes it difficult to solve fundamental problems. For example, Israel has reservations about the Russians' commitment to keep the Iranians dozens of kilometers from the Golan Heights. In practice, there are Iranians integrated into Syrian army units stationed on the Syrian Golan, not far from the Israel border. In the current state, Israel finds it difficult to persuade the Russians to fulfill their commitment.

Even the leaks from the Prime Minister's Office about preparations being made for a meeting with Putin in Paris on November 11 seem premature. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that the only planned meeting in Paris is between President Putin and US President Trump, when heads of state will meet to commemorate 100 years since the end of World War I. Peskov explained to journalists that "Putin is scheduled to attend memorial events, so he will have an opportunity to hold brief conversations with other participants, including Netanyahu."

Israeli officials claim that the Israeli policy to sabotage any Iranian incursion into Syrian territory and disrupt any attempt to smuggle Iranian weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon, is continuing as usual. To that end, the Israeli officials say, many operations are carried out. But it is doubtful these operations continue at the same rate they did before the Russian spy plane was shot down.
The Palestinian factions in Gaza have agreed to temporarily halt the violence on the border in order to chance the Egyptian efforts to reach ceasefire understandings with Israel, a source in the strip told Ynet on Thursday.

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According to the source, the agreement between the Palestinian factions includes a halt to incendiary balloons, tire burning and the nightly protests on the border.

The "March of Return" protests will continue on Friday, but without violence or attempts to breach and sabotage the border fence.

Palestinians rioting on the Gaza border (file photo) (Photo: AFP)

Earlier, an explosive balloon was found at a kindergarten at the Eshkol Regional Council. The council said the kindergarten teacher who spotted the balloon made sure to move the children away from it and immediately report it to the community's security officer. A police sapper neutralized the explosive.

Explosive that was attached to balloon that landed in Eshkol kindergarten

No one was hurt in either incident.

Burning vehicle of Sdot Negev security officer

On Thursday, a Palestinian official told Ynet that there has been progress made in efforts to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, under Egyptian mediation.

According to the most recent reports, the agreement under discussion will be implemented gradually in three stages: in the first stage, Qatar would continue its funding of fuel for the Gaza power plant as well as salaries to Hamas employees.

In the second stage, the Gaza power plant would be converted into a natural gas facility, which will reduce its cost of operations. In addition, Israel will improve its electricity supply the strip, while Egypt will improve the operations of the Rafah crossing.

The third stage includes the reconstruction of Gaza at a cost of $600 million, in accordance with a plan formulated by UN envoy to the region Nickolay Mladenov.

On its part, Hamas would stop the incendiary balloons and the attempts to sabotage the border fence. It would also keep the crowds protesting as part of the "March of Return" about 500 meters from the fence.

The two sides have already taken confidence-building steps in an effort to reduce tensions. A Palestinian source told Ynet that Hamas has shown genuine interest in reaching understandings with Israel as a result of these steps.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh meets with Egyptian intelligence delegation (Photo: Reuters)

Senior Egyptian intelligence officials preside over the negotiations, alongside UN envoy Mladenov. The Egyptian delegation arrived in the Gaza Strip through the Erez crossing on Wednesday and met for hours with the Hamas leadership, headed by Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar.

According to Hamas sources, the discussions mostly revolved around the Qatari money transfer mechanism, which would allow paying salaries to Gaza officials whose lost their livelihood as part of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's sanctions on Gaza.

The Egyptians are proposing for the funds to be channeled through a mechanism supervised by the UN, so the money will only be used to pay salariesexcept salaries of those officials who are believed to belong to the Hamas military wing.

In addition, as part of the proposal, Israel will continue to supply the strip with the Qatari-bough fuelwhich according to the Palestinian sources, has allowed most Gaza households to be powered by electricity for at least eight hours a dayas opposed to the usual four hours.

On Wednesday, Israel announced that it increased the Gaza Strips fishing area from six nautical miles to nine. Israel has also agreed, although in principle, to build internationally funded and supervised infrastructure projects.

Fire in the Gaza border region (Photo: Assaf Gvaram)

The Hamas-led border violencewhich includes weekly border riots and incendiary kites and balloonshas gradually been decreasing. For the past week, Hamas has not been providing free transportation for those protesting along the frontier with Israelas the terror group has done since the start of the March of Return campaign almost seven months ago.

The Egyptian delegation is expected to meet on Thursday with representatives of other Palestinian factions, as well as with the members of the March of Return organizing committee, in order to update them on the progress of the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas.

Despite the Egyptian efforts, over the past few weeks there have been multiple reports about the ceasefire agreement being reached, but each time it was followed by the intensification of the border violence and even large scale rocket attacks.
Syria's Foreign Ministry is complaining to the UN about airstrikes carried out by the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group citing new mass graves discovered.

The ministry called on the UN secretary-general and the head of the Security Council to force the US-led coalition to stop its airstrikes in Syria.
Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox extremists from the Jerusalem faction clashed Thursday with police forces after they blocked the intersection of Jabotinsky and Aharonovich in Bnei Brak, in protest of the arrest of a Haredi man who refused to enlist to the IDF.
Former Israel Lands Authority (ILA) Chairman Bentzi Lieberman was convicted Thursday on trust charges for promoting the interests of his close frienda former MK Nahum Langenthal.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is reportedly investigating an incident in which an F-16 fighter jet almost collided with another aircraft and several groundcrew members.

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The incident is said to have occurred on Wednesday at one of the IAF bases located in southern Israel after the braking system of the F-16I Soufa jet had reportedly malfunctioned.

There were no injuries in the incident but the front part of the plane sustained some damage.

F-16I Soufa

An initial investigation revealed that after the jet had returned from a training mission, it was waiting at the predetermined point between the landing strip and the subterranean bunker where the planes are stored. At a certain point, for reasons still unknown, the aircraft lost its braking capability due to a failure of one of the hydraulic drive systems.

The jet began to ride down the runway and in order to prevent a collision with another plane that was located right ahead and crashing into the groundcrew that was operating in the area, the pilot managed to divert it to a nearby channel. The plane was then taken for inspection.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit issued a response, emphasizing the malfunction has since been fixed and the jet returned to full activity.

"After concluding a training mission, the brakes of the fighter jet had malfunctioned. The pilots were not hurt, but the plane sustained slight damage. The problem has since been fixed by the technicians," the statement stressed.
Dozens of the Pink Panthers LGBT group members blocked Thursday the Azrieli Junction in Tel Aviv for a short period of time in protest against discrimination of the gay community.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said Thursday that he intends to move the countrys embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as he promised during his election campaign.

"As I stated during the election campaign, we intend to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem," Bolsonaro stressed via his official Twitter account, adding, "Israel is a sovereign state and we respect it."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling Iran the "most potent force of militant Islam" and is warning Europe of possible Iranian attacks on its soil.

Speaking to reporters Thursday after talks with his Bulgarian counterpart, Netanyahu said radical Islam is a threat to the world, and that Israel has recently revealed a number of Iranian plots to carry out attacks on European soil.
By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

LONGUEUIL, Quebec  Highland Copper has secured one of the permits needed to develop its mine in the northern part of Gogebic County.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Qualitys resource division issued an amended wetland, lakes and streams permit for the companys Copperwood project in northern Ironwood and Wakefield townships, the company announced Tuesday.

The receipt of the Wetlands Permit is a significant milestone in obtaining all permits required for the development of the Copperwood project, Highland CEO Denis Miville...
KING, Wis. - David Paul Morzenti, 70, of Island Lake, passed away peacefully on Oct. 28, 2018, at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, after courageously battling long-term heart failure. He was a greatly loved father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law and uncle.

David was born on Nov. 26, 1947; son of the late Charles and Anna Morzenti.

He was preceded in death by sister, Kathleen, and brothers, Ken and Donald.

Survivors include his daughter, Thuy, and his son, David (Tricia), and his two grandchildren, Madelyn and Joseph, as well as his ex-wife, Mai, of Grand Prairie, Texas; sisters; Virginia, of Syracuse, N.Y., and Patricia, of Toronto, Canada; brothers; Charles (Sharon), of Island Lake, Gary (Yvonne), of Montreal, and Jon, of Hurley. He also has numerous nieces and nephews.

David enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1964, and he served with units in Korea, Fort Meade, Md., and Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1968 and then worked as a contractor in Vietnam and Greenland.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After receiving his law degree, he moved his family to Montreal, to set up a general law practice in Hurley. He really enjoyed practicing law and representing the people of Iron County. He was a political enthusiast, offending some and heartening others, with a legendary sense of humor.

His greatest joys were his daughter and son, along with the rest of his family. David had a generous and loving heart beneath a tough exterior, and the best of him lives on in his children. He was a unique and courageous individual who never gave up. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Namaste.

Per his wishes, no formal service will be held. Instead, the family will plan a celebration of life in the summer of 2019.

The Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information, or to give online condolences, please visit hollyfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Quantico Injured Military Sportsmen Association, a military veterans' organization, or a charity of your choice.
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Washington, DC - During National Veterans and Military Families Month, we salute the brave and dedicated patriots who have worn the uniform of the United States, and we celebrate the extraordinary military families whose selfless service and sacrifice make our military the finest in the world.

Our Nations veterans represent the best of America. Generation after generation, men and women have answered the call to defend our country and our freedom, facing danger and uncertainty with uncommon courage. They make tremendous sacrifices by leaving their families to serve throughout the homeland and in combat, contingency, and humanitarian operations worldwide.

Our heroes have always relied on their families for strength and support. Serving alongside our men and women in uniform are spouses, siblings, parents, and children who personify the ideals of patriotism, pride, resilience, service above self, and honor. They endure the hardships and uncertainty of multiple relocations, extended trainings, and deployments because of their admirable devotion to our country and a loved one in uniform.

President Ronald Reagan said, Americas debt to those who would fight for her defense doesnt end the day the uniform comes off. Our Nations veterans fulfilled their duty to this country with brave and loyal service; it is our moral and solemn obligation to demonstrate to them our continuing gratitude, unwavering support, and meaningful encouragement.

I am steadfastly committed to ensuring our veterans and their families receive the care and support they deserve. I was pleased to sign into law the landmark VA MISSION Act of 2018, which revolutionizes the way veterans receive healthcare and other services vital to their lives. The Department of Veterans Affairs is continuing to raise its standard of service, including through the establishment of the first national center of excellence for veteran and caregiver research, which will improve services and outcomes for patients and their families. I have also mandated greater collaboration across the Government to support veterans transitioning to civilian life. Additionally, Second Lady Karen Pence and I have collaborated on ways to elevate the career and educational opportunities for military spouses and children in partnership with State, local, and tribal officials.

It is most appropriate that in this season of gratitude we stop to recognize veterans, military families, and those who gave their lives in service to this great Nation. We are indebted to these heroes for the freedoms we enjoy every day. I ask all Americans to join me in offering our sincere thanks to our veterans and the families who love and support them.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2018 as National Veterans and Military Families Month. I encourage all communities, all sectors of society, and all Americans to acknowledge and honor the service, sacrifices, and contributions of veterans and military families for what they have done and for what they do every day to support our great Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-third.

DONALD J. TRUMP
Today

Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. High 82F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Cloudy skies. Low 64F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 83F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph.
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It is important to know how to track a phone number. This is because at some point you may want to know where a call came from. In contemporary society, there are a lot of unwanted spam calls including unknown numbers. With the advancement in technology, tracking of phone numbers has now become easy. Unfamiliar numbers and unwanted calls have made many people in Ghana to learn how to track a phone number. This helps in identifying where the call is coming from including who made the call. The information obtained will help you take the appropriate action in relation to what you want to do.

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Technology such as a Hoverwatch and TrapCall enables you to know who made the call and where the call came from. If one turns off his or her phones data pack or GPS, tracking the phone will be hard, but the phone number will remain active which can be tracked. As you read on, you will learn simple tricks on how you can track a phone number. In the modern world, we receive many unwanted calls including unknown numbers. With the advancement in technology, it has become possible for us to track these calls, understand where they are coming from and who made the calls. There is various available software that you can install in your computer or phone that you can use to track a phone number for free in Ghana. The simple tricks below will help you track a cell phone location for free.

Find my phone

You might have misplaced your phone, or you may want to monitor a person in possession of your phone. Tracking of a phone is now possible because bot iPhones and Android phones have the built-in methods that you can track them using a separate smartphone or computer. Below is how you can track an iPhone or Android phone using their own inbuilt methods:

iPhone

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Open settings of the phone

Choose iCloud

Make sure that the Find My iPhone option is on

Once the feature is on, it is now possible to track your phone. You will achieve this by accessing the Find My iPhone app on a different device and also using the Apple ID of your phone

This will bring up your phones location. You should be careful because the target person will receive a notification every time you try to search his or her location.

Android

Begin by opening your settings

Open security settings

Look for an option saying "remotely locate this device." Make sure that the setting is on and the GPS of the phone is on in the background

You can locate the device by turning on the Android, Device Manager

You will need to log into your Google account that device you are tracking uses

After logging in, Google will inform you of the location of the phone. Also, you will see the history.

How to track someones phone by their number

To find my device might be complicated because someone might decide to turn off the GPS or data pack of the phone. After he or she turns off the phone's data pack or GPS, the only thing that will continue being active will be the phone number. The following steps will help you find the current location of the phone by phone number when the GPS is off.

Step 1:

Identify if the phone is on switch-on mode. This is significant for making the technique work.

Step 2:

You should send a hacking link with a bug or a worm through a text message to the number. You can use any texting app to achieve this.

Step 3:

Ensure that the text is convincing enough to make the person using the phone to click on the link. After he or she clicks on the link, the bug will auto-install in your device.

In order to track your phone, you will need to ensure that the bug access the GPS of the phone and then switch it on. After that, you can continue with the process of locating your phone. This might seem easy, but it comes with some obstacles such as:

The sent bug is just another text message which will not activate itself unless clicked upon.

Second, the text message needs to be convincing to make the other person click on it. There is also a chance that the person might ignore or not see the message.

Third, the other person might reset the phone or restore it to factory setting, thus removing the sent bug.

How to track a cell phone number on Google map

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Google Map also known as Google Earth is a program that provides a representation of earth and it is based on satellite images. Google maps enable you to see the aerial views provided by Google Satellites. You can use Google Earth to track the location of a cell phone, and this can be achieved through the following steps:

Step 1:

On your browser type https://google.com/latitude/ then click on the enter button.

Step 2:

Input the login details and the Google Email ID and password of the device you want to track on Google Maps.

Step 3:

Input your mobile number, or you can click on the same link on your mobile web browser and click on the "Send a link to my phone."

Step 4:

You will receive a message with URL on your phone.

Step 5:

Click on the URL link to open it on the web browser of your phone.

Step 6:

Then allow Google to access your location. Click on the "Yes" button when the dialog box pops up to let Google Latitude find your current location.

Step 7:

The Google Earth will provide you with the location of the cell phone. You can also find the latitude of the cell phone by raising the latitude.

How to track a phone call

If you need to track a phone call, Hoverwatch software will be the best option for you. Hoverwatch helps you stay in a Stealth mode making it the best way for tracking a call. It allows you to track someone by cell phone number without them knowing. It is the most convenient and complex solution, but you will obtain all the information you need about the target number. True cellular Mobile number locator is another preferred method that you can use to tack a call. All you need is to click on the search after opening the software on your device and enter the number you want to track.

How to track a phone number for free

You might be wondering how to track a cell phone location for free with the number of the cell phone. This is possible through the help of GPS Phone and Locate Any Phone Apps. These apps are great in tracking phones even when the phones are not connected to the internet. They can help you obtain the GPS coordinates of the phone number within seconds. The other free ways you can track a phone number is by WhatsApp or SMS apps. These apps are made for tracking individuals that you know. The good thing about these apps is the peace of mind that will enjoy after identifying the location of your family members and friends. All you need to do is to type in phone number and find location.

Don't worry anymore about how you can track a phone number because we have provided you with enough tips. You can find current location by phone number or any other of the afore mentioned methods to find your phones location. With the tips above, you can identify the location of your family members and friends so as to have peace of mind. Dont forget to share the tricks with your family members and friends.

Source: Yen
Some Kenyan women have gone wild after deciding to parade seductive photos of their juicy racks on social media.

This is how it all started: a man by the name Zack Opondo asked his female followers to show off what their mama gave them in exchange of KSh 20,000. which is roughly around GHC 1,000 ($200)

READ ALSO: Asamoah Gyan's wife has another husband in Italy - Radio presenter drops bombshell on air (Video)

In a Facebook post seen by sighted by YEN.com.gh on TUKO.co.ke, Kenyan ladies heeded to the call and decided to take off their tops, and flash their assorted collection of bras.

The only rule to this game was no push up bras allowed and there was no restriction to how the goodies were to be delivered. Clothed or not clothed, all were welcome.

The post, majorly written in Kenya's Luo language, asked the women who thought they had what it takes to prove their worth.

READ ALSO: Touching video of a girl who gave birth at 13 going to school with her little son goes viral

The poll that is set to end at 5pm on Wednesday, October 31, requires the best boobies to be ranked using the majority number of likes. The catch is more than 1125 people are required to find your twins attractive and worth hitting the like button

Scrolling through the comment section, one cannot help but take note of the men slowly sampling their next meal.

READ ALSO: Michael Essiens wife packs out over Princess Shyngle's confession of sleeping with him

It was an elimination game and the judges were men each working hard to determine who deserved the crown and who needed to just take a hike.

According to Zack, the brain behind the bizarre competition, part of the proceeds would be channeled towards purchasing mastectomy bras for breast cancer survivors.

Well, may the best chest win!

Ghana News Today: Musical Performances at the Glo Concert: Davido, Stonebwoy and Sarkodie Yen.com.gh:

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Source: Yen Ghana
A scene was created at the Dzorwulu offices of gold dealership company, Menzgold, as an investor with the firm refused to leave the building over what seems to be a case of an investment gone wrong.

Menzgold Company Limited is facing serious difficulties, some of which has to do with issues of legality brought against them by the Security and Exchanges Commission.

Apart from that, investors in the gold trading activity of the company have not been paid their dividends for about two months.

Classfmonline.com reports that on Tuesday, 30 October 2018, the woman, Margaret Ofori, refused to leave the offices until she was paid her money.

Ofori narrated that she was a mother of three who had invested GHC 60,000 with Menzgold.

READ ALSO: Villagio, Ecobank Towers and the rest of Ghana's tallest buildings

Embattled Chief Executive of Menzgold, Nana Appiah Mensah. Photo credit: Google Photos

Source: Instagram

According to her, after returning from Bahrain a few months ago, a friend advised her to invest the money with the company.

She has however not received any extra value payment or dividend on her investment. Menzgold's promise to customers is to give between 7 and 10 percent on the capital, every month.

Ofori is not expectant of profit and only wants her principal paid back to her in full

After waiting till 6 pm on Tuesday, she was told that clients will be paid 15 per cent of their principal investment from 9 November 2018.

READ ALSO: Asamoah Gyans first reaction on social media following marital hullabaloo excites many

The Menzgold crisis has opened up issues of financial education and government's responsibility towards Ghanaians.

Vice-President of IMANI Ghana, Kofi Bentil, was of the view that government owed nothing to people whose monies were locked up with Menzgold.

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Youth of the Kumbungu Constituency in the Northern Region have turned on their Member of Parliament, Ras Mubarak, after the legislator described people in the area as ignorant.

The MP launched a sarcastic tirade at the people of his constituency, saying most of them ignorantly criticise his works.

In a Facebook post, he said most people in his constituency need to be cured of their ignorance, which he described as laughable.

READ ALSO: Nana Addo has only fulfilled childhood ambition - Ablakwa

May God cure our Kumbungu constituency of ignorance. Someone sits in constituency office and thinks MPs shouldnt be interacting with branch executives, laughably ignorant, Mr. Mubarak wrote.

His comments have, however, not gone well with the youth of his constituency, who have since called him out.

A group calling itself the Concerned Youth of Kumbungu Constituency want the MP to apologise for his remarks.

In a statement, the group said also chided Mr. Mubarak for welcoming the legalisation of weed in Canada, adding that they did not vote him into Parliament to champion any cause that is illegal in Ghana.

Again, we strongly take exception to the MPs statement on Facebook recently congratulating Canada for legalizing the use of cannabis (Marijuana) and described as significant legacy by Prime Minister Trudeau. We note with great concern that, the Hon. Member is entitled to his opinion but again we wish to remind him that he is representing the people of Kumbungu in Ghanas Parliament. We hold Kumbungu in high esteem hence the need to protecting it name and legacy. We do not want the name Kumbungu to be associated with anything that is deemed illegal in Ghana, the group wrote.

READ ALSO: GFA to pay Nyantakyi's GHS 2.4million FIFA fine if he defaults

Read the full statement from the Kumbungu youth below:

COALITION OF CONCERN YOUTH OF KUMBUNGU CONSTITUENCY.

ATTENTION: HON. RAS MUBARAK MUST RETRACT AND APOLOGISE TO THE PEOPLE OF KUMBUNGU CONSTITUENCY OVER HIS FACEBOOK COMMENTS.

The above group is disgusted and appalled by the member of Parliament for Kumbungu constituency Hon. Ras Mubaraks recent derogatory comments on Facebook.

We are shocked by his unrepentant expression of lack of remorse in the face of massive expressions of disappointment at his comments which sort to suggest that  the ignorance in Kumbungu constituency is unbelievable .

We wish to remind the Hon. Member that as a public officer of his standing, hes required to speak or write with honour and dignity. He has failed in that regard.

We further wish to remind him that he was voted for by the same people he claimed are ignorant .

We find these statements insulting to the entire Kumbungu constituency.

The MPs comments goes to suggest our former MPs the likes of Hon. Alhaji Musah, H.E Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Hon Alhaji Yakubu Kapkpagu and Hon Moses Yahaya are all ignorant.

The MPs comments isnt only directed at our former MPs but also our revered Chiefs such as Naa yab Kumbung- Naa, Nyab Vo- Naa, Nyab Zugu- Lana, Nyab Gbullung- Gbang Lana, Nyab Dallung- Lana, Nyab Sing- Lana, Nyab Zangballung- Gbang Lana and Nyab Tibung- Lana.

Furthermore, the MPs comments go to undermine the likes of Dr. Nashiru Issahaku former Governor Bank of Ghana, Alhaji Mahadi, Dr. Awal Mohammed current Minister for Business development and many others.

We, therefore, consider the MPs comments as reckless, disrespectful and potentially defamatory.

Again, we strongly take exception to the MPs statement on Facebook recently congratulating Canada for legalizing the use of cannabis (Marijuana) and described as significant legacy by Prime Minister Trudeau.

We note with great concern that, the Hon. Member is entitled to his opinion but again we wish to remind him that he is representing the people of Kumbungu in Ghanas Parliament.

We hold Kumbungu in high esteem hence the need to protecting it name and legacy.

We do not want the name Kumbungu to be associated with anything that is deemed illegal in Ghana.

We cannot condone such statements, and we condemn them in no uncertain terms as unbefitting of a lawmaker representing the people of Kumbungu constituency.

We further wish to remind the Hon. Member that, Kumbungu constituency is underdeveloped hence the needles organization of unnecessary demonstrations as have witnessed recently which has no positive impact on the constituency.

We demand from Hon. Ras Mubarak a retraction and an unqualified apology to the people of Kumbungu constituency for the appalling comments.

We call on all stakeholders including our revered Chiefs in the constituency to condemn and denounce the MPs comments and demand a full retraction and apology.

If the Hon. Member should fail or refuse to do that, then we the people of Kumbungu constituency would respectfully and humbly demonstrate against him.

God bless Kumbungu constituency, God bless Northern Region and God bless Ghana.

Thank you.

Signed

Prince Tikumah

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READ ALSO: Photo of white lady driving a taxi goes viral on social media

Source: Yen
A Ghanaian journalist has called on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate the dealings of a gold dealership firm, EL Gold Limited, located in Accra.

According to Kwame Gyan, the gold company must be checked immediately before the situation results in a similar way as that of the embattled Menzgold.

The gold dealership sector has been in the news in recent months following disagreements with the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and Menzgol regarding its operations.

The latest development is the order from the SEC to have the company [Menzgold] shut down its gold trading activities.

READ ALSO: GFA to pay Nyantakyi's GHS 2.4million FIFA fine if he defaults

Mr. Gyan posted a photo of another gold vault company suspected to be operating in the same module as Menzgold.

A card of EL Gold Limited he shared on Facebook suggested the company deals in gold brokerage, gold exports, gold smelting and gold assaying.

Mr. Gyan called on SEC to act fast in order to prevent innocent members of the public from having their monies locked up.

The blogger and communication expert accompanied the said photo with the comment: Security and Exchanges Commission I beg you see this? Or you dey wait create NAM2?

PS: Tesano Police Station please they are right opposite your counter back ooo!

Yenkasa Kumasi: What is the Biggest Challenge Confronting the People of Kumasi? | Yen.com.gh

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Source: Yen
-Asamoah Gyan did not call for DNA testing of his kids

-Although it was jokingly discussed years back, he attached no seriousness to it

- His brother allegedly went behind him to request for DNA testing of the kids

Contrary to earlier news reported of the Black Stars skipper, Asamoah Gyan requesting for DNA for the kids of his wife of about five years, it is revealed that the Black Stars skipper was not aware of the DNA request.

It is alleged that the elder brother of the skipper, Baffour Gyan who is reportedly surviving on his brothers wealth requested for the DNA test to be conducted on his brothers children.

Gyan Brothers

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Asamoah Gyans first reaction on social media following marital hullabaloo excites many

In a report sighted by YEN.com.gh, on MyNewsGh.com, Baffour is said to have leaked out the information to the media, thus causing a stir.

According to report, Baffour had his younger brothers signature scanned into requesting a DNA test on all three of his(Asamoahs) kids.

A family source hinted how the Gyan brothers had jokingly discussed the DNA testing of their kids after news broke of the paternity of Emmanuel Tagoe popularly known as the Gameboy

READ ALSO: 6 hot photos of the lady alleged to be behind Asamoah Gyans divorce

Asamoah was blatantly against it with reasons being that Gifty had been with him when his career began in 2002.

The Black Stars skipper however heard of the news of the DNA in the media space but has since not said anything concerning that, for reasons best known to him.

READ ALSO: 9 angelic photos of the beautiful woman Asamoah Gyan is wickedly divorcing

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Member of Parliament (MP) for Klottey-Korle constituency, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings joined the campaign team of former President John Dramani Mahama during its tour of the Greater Accra Region on Wednesday.

The MP, who is the eldest daughter of the founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jerry John Rawlings, was seen canvassing for support for former President John Mahama.

Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings was on stage with other dignitaries of the party, including former regional chairman, Sam Nii Ade Coker on Wednesday.

Mynewsgh.com reports that MP also went though some of the areas in her constituency in the company of the campaign team.

READ ALSO: Analysis: 6 reasons Akufo-Addo, NPP must take Mahama's 2020 bid seriously

John Mahama addressing NDC members at the Klottey-Korle Constituency. Photo credit: John Mahama Campaign

Source: UGC

When she had the chance to speak, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said the former president stands tall among the other contenders. She went on to tell delegates to vote for him as the partys flagbearer.

The daughter of J.J. Rawlings is among 94 of the 106 minority MPs have who have promised to use their resources to campaign for the former president.

READ ALSO: I'm not a cheat; DNA test will vindicate me- Asamoah Gyan's wife

YEN.com.gh had previously reported that that Mahama, who suffered a stunning defeat at the hand of Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2016 election, officially launched the process of giving the presidency another shot.

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Dancehall sensation, Shatta Wale, is currently hot after taking a swipe at Sarkodie.

Shatta Wales comment is not coming as a surprise as for the past weeks he has been hitting hard on the BET award-winner.

But Sarkodie in his reply to Shatta Wale shut down the internet as he recorded a diss track which he titled it Advice.

READ ALSO: Asamoah Gyan has a child with another woman in Italy - Social Media user reveals

Sarkodie took a strong swipe at Shatta Wale, advising him to stop wearing fake jewelries.

However, in Shatta Wales recent interview when asked about his relationship with Sarkodie said the latter is his 'small boy' when it comes to music.

Ghanaians slam Shatta Wale for referring to Sarkodie as his 'small boy'

Source: Facebook

Shatta Wales statement didnt go down well with some social media users as they took to YEN.com.ghs Facebook page to blast him.

READ ALSO: Video of a Nigerian girl who gave birth at 13 going to school with her little son pops up

For instance, a user Qwabena Doggiee destroyed Shatta Wale by describing him as a local champion.

Phrem Sadart Pheno also went hard on the self-acclaimed dancehall king.

Governor Okatakyie Buadu also blasted Shatta Wale.

Many other social media users also expressed their displeasure with respect to Shatta Wale's statement against Sarkodie.

Meanwhile, Shatta Wale's 'Reign' album has dropped from the Billboard Charts after just one week.

Shatta Wale debuted in the Billboard Charts at number 6 two weeks after launching it.

READ ALSO: Kuami Eugene explains why he is dressing fashionably now

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Source: Yen Newspaper
Baffour Gyan in recent developments have come under a lot of criticisms for being a bad influence in the life of his brother and skipper of the black stars Asamoah Gyan.

It was reported earlier this year, Baffour lead machomen to forcibly evict Gifty out of Asamoahs huge Basilica residence estimated at 300 million dollars on the Bortianor hills.

According to the report, he ordered she stayed at a two bedroom semi-furnished inside east legon anytime she and her kids were in Ghana.

READ ALSO: Asamoah Gyans first reaction on social media following marital hullabaloo excites many

These actions by Baffour is a clear indication that Gifty and her children are threats to him(Baffour) considering the level of treatment he mets out to them.

Reports sighted on MyNewsGh.com indicates that Baffour has moved his family into another matrimonial home of his brother located at Number 15 Eleandoe street inside East Legon.

He has also ceased the cars in Giftys possession, making her resort to engaging the services of Uber rides and Taxis since she arrived in Ghana over her divorce

READ ALSO: Asamoah Gyans wife sings Kuami Eugenes Wish me well in exciting video

Yen.com.gh earlier reported that Baffour Gyan reportedly requested DNA test for Asamoah Gyan's kids

According to the report, Baffour had his younger brothers signature scanned into requesting a DNA test on all three of his(Asamoahs) kids.

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Government institutions like the Ghana revenue authority, and the ministries prepare to receive the about 100,000 graduates as Nation builders corps start work today, November 1, 2018

According to the National Coordinator of NabCo, Ibrahim Anyass, all qualified trainees, including those still completing verification, would be engaged in November.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Ibrahim added that so far, the NabCo Secretariat had placed over 67,000 trainees ahead of the November 1, start work date.

NabCo recruits start work today

Source: Facebook

READ MORE: I'm not a cheat; DNA test will vindicate me- Asamoah Gyan's wife

Ibrahim explained that the rest are expected to be offered their placements during the first week of November.

Statistics gathered from the secretariat indicate that 324 beneficiaries have been placed under Civic Ghana, 1,995 under the digitize Ghana module with Educate Ghana being the highest so far with 29,444. The rest are Enterprise Ghana -42; Feed Ghana-5,817; Heal Ghana, 6,575 and Revenue Ghana, 169

He said the programme was not a duplication of other youth employment schemes like the Youth Employment Agency which was introduced under the National Democratic Congress government.

He further explained that the programme formed part of the Akufo-Addo government's move towards addressing the increasing spate of youth unemployment in the country.

NabCo recruits start work today

Source: Facebook

READ MORE: Klottey-Korle MP Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings joins campaign for Mahama 2020

Government is expected to pay the recruits an amount of Gh 700 at the end of the month.

Speaking at the passing out ceremony of the nation builders corps on October 17, 2018, President Nana Akufo-Addo, urged them to work hard and contribute their quota to the development of the country.

He reminded the recruits that the monthly stipend which was going to be given them at the end of the month was not for free and that they needed to work hard and be committed to their work.

Akufo-Addo expressed optimism that the country would benefit from the services of the recruits who would be working under the various modules under this programme.

READ MORE: Analysis: 6 reasons Akufo-Addo, NPP must take Mahama's 2020 bid seriously

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Public Nuisance Vs. Animal Welfare: Can Co-Existence be the answer?

I being an Attorney-at-Law who appears on behalf of Animal SOS (ASOS) Lanka before the Court of Law in case of the said matter, its my duty to respond over the false allegations and misrepresentation of the facts made by some state authorities, as published by you in the above event.

Animal SOS Lanka commenced operations in 2009 where there were only a few neighbours in the vicinity and they were invited for the opening ceremony which was attended by the patron of the charity Venerable Athureliya Rathana Thero. So far the charity has rescued thousands of dying stray dogs and cats whilst providing them a shelter till the end of their lives.



In the legal perspective, The Weligama Police has reported facts to the Magistrate of Matara under public nuisance only on 4th December 2014, five years since it commenced operations. The Superintendent of Police Matara inquiring into the matter, called CEA for a report which was submitted on 25th November 2014, recommended several conditions which the Magistrate ordered ASOS to comply with.

On the 2nd of April 2015, The Weligama Police stated before the Magistrates Court of Matara that the respondent alias Animal SOS had managed to comply with the conditions as stipulated by the learned Magistrate on 11th December 2014, as per recent improvements or constructions done thereof.

When the matter was fixed for inquiry, the respondent took it up to the High Court and proceeded onto the court of Appeal, where it has now been fixed for arguments in January 2019.



When the matter was called before the court of Appeal, unfortunately, the so-called complainants/villagers disturbed and interrupted the proceedings of Animal SOS in contrary to the verdict by Magistrate Matara on 2nd April 2015 where they were ordered not to interrupt or to intervene under any circumstance.

The complainants and several other new villagers make serious disturbances threatening life, throwing firecrackers to terrorize the dogs, poisoning sanctuary animals, put up barriers preventing vital supplies to reach the sanctuary and caused criminal damage to property. They harass employees throughout and sabotage proposed renovations. The villagers accuse ASOS for dumping waste water to an outside land regularly and have damaged pipelines causing delays in constructions, which is critical in complying with the regulations of CEA. ASOS were then cleaning several tanks to be utilized for their waste water treatment project by using the pipe line which runs to their own cinnamon land. When it rains the run off matter is collected to the said tanks regularly. To facilitate final arrangements of the waste water treatment plant, it is necessary to clear the tanks to apply a layer of waterproof coating/concrete at the bottom.

"I represented Animal SOS whilst explaining the real situation of the controversy allowing the officials to understand the ground situation in response to mere allegations made by the villagers"



Though complaints are lodged at Weligama Police and subsequently at Midigama Police quite often, the police have not acted. The so called discussion was represented by Divisional Secretary  Weligama, HQI Weligama (Acting), CEA Southern Province, PHI Weligama and Midigama and some 23 villagers.

I represented Animal SOS whilst explaining the real situation of the controversy allowing the officials to understand the ground situation in response to mere allegations made by the villagers. The steps taken to improve the conditions and the renovations done with regards to the disposal system, improvements in case of the management of storm water and latest update on the waste water treatment plant thereof, upgrades to parapet wall in minimizing the noise etc. were also explained. These upgrades are done also complying with international standards since most of these works are being designed and supervised by foreign professionals and being funded fully by donors in the UK.



The boundary wall was renovated whilst increasing its height up to 9 feet, areas paved with interlocking blocks,an anaerobic digester unit was installed to collect dog feces and an incinerator to burn solid waste was also constructed costing the charity millions of rupees. The cascade sand filter was also constructed to clean storm water run-off and ASOS has spent LKR 6 Million for their waste water treatment plant, which is in its final phase of implementation. The animal waste collected in the anaerobic digester is taken out by gully browsers regularly,once a week mostly or when full, and every corner of the land is kept in a pleasant manner by the labourers, accordingly.

The complainants will never understand or accept the effective precautions taken by ASOS and keep lodging complaints at state authorities like Divisional Secretariat, PHI, CEA and the local Police station to simply to make the officials take action against ASOS.

The officials did not speak a word on behalf of the 38 employees, 1400 dogs and 80 cats and the vital service rendered by ASOS providing shelter, rabies control programmes and lifesaving care for so many strays.



Subsequently when these government officials were interviewed by media they repeated the same allegations made by the villagers.The Divisional Secretary has even stated in the interview with Daily Mirror that ASOS has neither a proper waste disposal system nor a waste water disposal mechanism where ASOS just disposes the waste water to nearby paddy fields and the streams irresponsibly.Surprisingly the Divisional Secretary or any of his officials never visited ASOS. These are only allegations made by villagers and not his own observations, at any cost.

Finally, all government officials are welcome to see the ground conditions, which is very much different than the verdict of villagers. There is no interruption by ASOS to residents other than conducting English classes for the village kids and the treatments given to their pets and cattle, free of charge.

Indrajith Amarathunga

Attorney-at-Law for ASOS
Popular broadcast journalist, Israel Laryea, says Multimedia colleague Seth Kwame Boateng deserved to have won the Journalist of the Year award at the 2017 Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards.

This years GJA awards was successfully held last Saturday, with journalists from various media houses being awarded for their impeccable works.

The biggest award on the night which is the Journalist of the Year, however, went to host of Citi FMs Breakfast Show, Bernard Koku Avle.

READ ALSO: Lil Win showers belated birthday wishes on Yvonne Nelsons daughter

Israel Laryea admits Bernard Avle was a worthy recipient of the award, but believes his colleague Seth Kwame Boateng would have been better placed to win it should the year under review have been considered.

Considering the year under review, it should have been Seth Kwame Boateng, but Bernard Avle deserves it per his track record, the ace journalist said on Starr Chat with Bola Ray.

Okay so for Bernard Avle again [it is] not so much about the year under review, he has a track record and Im saying he probably should have been recognized some time back.

The work that Seth Kwame Boateng did with the mother and baby unit at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, he did extensive work, it wasnt his sole effort, he had a whole team backing him but that was great work considering the year under review.

He further stated that the standards of the GJA awards have dropped when compared to previous years.

In his view, the awards were more prestigious and had more credible winners than it has in recent times.

READ ALSO: Social media user blows alarm over alleged fake gold investment company

It was a lot more prestigious, because the kind of people who emerged as journalist of the year, were people that you look at them without a doubt, because they had the track record. Theyve done extensive work so that when they are pronounced journalist of the year, theres usually no question about them, Laryea said.

The Multimedia journalist also touched on the performance of GJA president Affail Monney, insisting he has been a bit disappointed in his tenure.

According to him, it doesnt appear as if the leadership is keen in supporting journalists who are under its wing.

We used to have some really vibrant GJA presidents back then like Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, Mr Kabral Blay-AmihereIve had a few disappointments with him (Affail Monney). There have been some instances having to do with the work done by Manasseh Azure Awuni and pronouncements that have come up about him. There was also that incident that happened at the 37 military hospital involving one journalist and the pronouncements that came out after that, he added.

Yenkasa Kumasi: What is the Biggest Challenge Confronting the People of Kumasi? | Yen.com.gh

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Source: Yen
Intl Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is today

Attendees of Third Asian Investigative Journalism Conference holding portraits of the two imprisoned journalists Wa Lone, and Kyaw Soe Oo while others carrying a banner reading Journalism Is Not a Crime

The very senseless murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Kashoggi which sparked an international outcry also raised concerns over the vulnerable state which

journalists all over the world put themselves in when they hunt for stories threatening the interests of criminals and corrupt officials.

If the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary systems are in thrall to crime, there is no one to protect journalists. According to the UNESCO, during the past 12 years (2006-2017) close to 1010 journalists have been killed in the world for reporting news and feeding the public with information. In nine out of ten cases the killers go unpunished. Even if, on a very rare occasion, an investigation was completed, only low-level associates were caught. The big fish usually get away thanks to political influence, wealth or intimidation.

Setting aside November 2

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2 November (today) as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists in 2013. The date was chosen in commemoration of the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November 2013.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, issuing a message for November 2, said: On this day, I pay tribute to journalists who do their jobs every day despite intimidation and threats. Their work  and that of their fallen colleagues -- reminds us that truth never dies. Neither must our commitment to the fundamental right to freedom of expression.

The issue is not confined to one region. Journalists in the Asian region have also faced severe threats and harassment just for doing their jobs. Asia has seen courageous journalists covering corruption, crime, trafficking, politics, business and human rights have been targeted. In 2017, the UNESCO documented the largest number of fatal attacks (27 killings) that took place in Asia and the Pacific region, representing 34 per cent of the total.

Executive Director of the GIJN David E. Kaplan speaking at the plenary session at the Third Investigative Journalism Conference

Press freedom in Sri Lanka

When it comes to Sri Lanka, ranked 131 in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index, starting from former chairman of Independent Television Network (ITN) Thevis Guruge, who was killed in 1989 to former Editor of the Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge who was shot dead in 2009 in Colombo, there are hundreds of journalists, bloggers and writers who have been murdered, harassed and threatened.

During the UNESCO Regional Conference to End Impunity of Crimes against Journalists last year in Colombo, Editor of the Jaffna based Uthayan, Thevanayagam Premanath, said that there have been 35 incidents of attacks, intimidations and harassments between 2005 and 2013 by military and unidentified groups targeting Uthayan. However, he said that none of the cases has been investigated into properly or investigated.

Predators

Despite promises that President Maithripala Sirisena made to end impunity for crimes against journalists in Sri Lanka during his presidential election campaign in 2015, almost all the violent crimes against journalists have gone without culprits being punished.

It is in such a disappointing atmosphere that people hear of the news of Mahinda Rajapaksa  who was featured prominently in the many international lists naming the worlds biggest press freedom predators during the two terms he had as president (as RSF described him in 2008)  swearing in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

Just minutes after Rajapaksa was sworn in as prime minister, supporters of his party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), invaded the newsrooms of various state media. They took control of the two public service TV channels, Rupavahini and ITN, the radio stations that are part of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, and the Lake House press group.

SL Journalist associations concerned

The ongoing power struggle between Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena has put the countrys journalists in a vulnerable state. The take-over of state media soon after Rajapaksa was sworn in as premier was condemned by many journalists organizations including the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

The IFJ said: The IFJ is seriously concerned by the ongoing political crisis in Sri Lanka, and the harassment of journalists at the state media institutions by politically motivated members. Upholding press freedom, editorial independence and journalists rights is a basic component of a democracy and the IFJ urges all to respect it, and ensure that the pillar of democracy is not affected.

Meanwhile, issuing a statement on Wednesday (October 31) the Head of RSFs Asia-Pacific desk Daniel Bastard said: The violence with which Mahinda Rajapaksas bully boys took over the state media is absolutely unacceptable. We call on all parties to act responsibly by guaranteeing journalists safety and by respecting their editorial independence, so that impartial news coverage is available to the public.

Third Asian Investigative Journalism Conference

Press-freedom organisations and organisations established for the journalists can also do more to end impunity. Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) is also one of the organizations that has totally understood its role and the responsibility.

Safety of journalists was the key topic discussed at several panels among more than 60 sessions during the recently concluded Third Asian Investigative Journalism Conference in Seoul, South Korea. The 3rd Asian Investigative Journalism Conference Uncovering Asia, jointly organised by Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), the Korea Center for Investigative Journalism (Newstapa) and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, was attended by a total of 440 journalists from 48 countries convened in Seoul, Korea from October 4-7, 2018. According to the organisers the event attracted the participation of the largest ever gathering of investigative journalists in the region.

"Just minutes after Rajapaksa was sworn in as premier supporters of SLPP invaded the newsrooms of various state media"



The opening session of the conference was Dealing with the New Threats chaired by the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Malaysias Malaysiakini Steven Gan, Managing Editor of Indias NDTV Sreenivasan Jain, founder and executive director of the Indonesian Association for Media Development Eni Mulia, CEO and executive editor of the Philippines Rappler Maria Ressa, academic dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University Sheila Coronel and senior journalist of Dawn Newspaper, Pakistan Zaffar Abbas.

Steven Gan of Malaysia aired his views on how media companies were threatened, but the role of the journalist was not under attack. Now thats beginning to shift, he said. Gan underscored that; You can give your best to the world, and they can kick you in your teeth. Give your best to the world anyway.

Meanwhile, Maria Ressa of the Philippines said that as independent media is under siege in Asia and around the world, the time is rife to fight repression and initiate action.

How Asias muckrakers dealt with dangers

There was another session titled Dealing with the Threats  Both Off and Online.

Umar Cheema, a Pakistani journalist who was captured and tortured while working on a story that would have discredited the Government was one of the journalists who shared his experience during the session with the attendees.

I did a good job! It was worth it! Those words helped me to stay strong during torture. They didnt want me to talk about what they did. But that was the first thing I did afterwards. Otherwise, they would have threatened me over a lifetime,Cheema said.

Indonesian freelance journalist Febriana Firdaus said that freelance journalists like her are compelled to take their own risks.

Even if your editor says he will help you out, dont have any expectations, says Firdaus. Firdaus was expelled from an official meeting with former military offices for writing about Indonesias mass killings of 1965. Still she is given her own security protocol with threats against her going viral in 2016 and 2017.



Representing Myanmar, Aung Naing Soe, who was working in different ethnic areas in Myanmar and had been jailed for his work, shared his unpleasant experience with the journalists and the participants. I had been held in Yamethin prison, near the capital city of Naypyitaw, since October, along with three other colleagues, after being arrested for filming with a drone. We were sentenced to two months jail under legislation dating to 1934, Naing Soe said.

While in detention Myanmar Buddhist nationalists slandered him online, accusing him of being linked to Islamic terrorists. Luckily, there was no sensitive data on my computer or my cell phone. However, I dont really believe that I was arrested for operating with a drone, he stated.

Meanwhile, journalists at the Uncovering Asia Conference strongly endorsed a call for Governments worldwide to free imprisoned journalists.

Journalists from 48 countries together stood together at the conference, urging the Myanmar Government to immediately release two reporters employed by Reuters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. They were arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison for allegedly breaching the countrys Official Secrets Act, a little-used law from colonial rule after investigating into a massacre of Rohingya Muslims.

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are currently in jail in Yangon in a landmark case that has prompted international outrage. Its a sad commentary on where the world is that we have far too many panels at this conference devoted to dealing with the harassment, hate and violence directed at journalists, Reuters News chief operating officer Reg Chua told participants.

He also said that 42 journalists have been killed this year and a record 262 imprisoned last year. Chua said that in some dangerous cases, neither the editor nor the journalist decides whether a story finally gets carried from a certain point onwards.

Journalists carried portraits of the two imprisoned journalists and a banner which read, Journalism Is Not a Crime.

Meanwhile, the keynote at the gala dinner, which was part of Uncovering Asia, was one of the main events that every journalist was awaiting. The reason was the keynote delivered by award-winning Malaysian political cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque- who uses the pen name Zunar. He was repeatedly targeted under the former Government of Malaysia for his cartoons, which often mocked former Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, fond of luxuries. Some of his collections were banned.

"Reporters who risk their own lives for the sake of the people are heroes of our time"



He was hit with nine counts of sedition in 2015, stemming not from his artistic work, but Twitter criticism about the jailing of then opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.The award-winning cartoonist, who suffered years of persecution, has also faced arrests, travel bans and sedition charges. However, after the change of regime, charges against him have been dropped and the former Prime Minister Razak is facing the possibility of imprisonment for corruption. Delivering his keynote at the conference, he recalled the unpleasant experience he had had, but did not forget to make everyone laugh using his sense of humour.

The police informed me that they had bugged my phone, I said thank you very much because every day I can say a four-letter word to the police. For me, if you cannot beat them, laugh at them. No dictator in the world can stand it if you keep laughing at themuntil one day they introduce an anti-laughter law, he said bringing waves of laughter around the conference hall.

Zunar said that he had switched from political cartoons to cartoons for the people and even removed the copyright of his cartoons and told people to go ahead and use it. My talent is not a gift, it is my responsibility. It is my duty as a cartoonist and journalists to expose corruption, he noted.

He also stated that cartoonists and journalists alike, in jail-friendly jobs, have to take a stand and do their best when faced with corrupt dictators. Zunar added that freedom of expression being the fundamental right of specially journalists and cartoonists like him, the right has to be fought for since no government would give it freely.

The role of the media- which in a democracy is referred to as the Fourth Estate-is to keep voters in a democratic country informed by investigating and reporting on issues that politicians and other powerful interests would prefer were not exposed.

As US historian Timothy Snyder said in his You Tube talk on March 6, 2018, entitled Reportersthe Heroes of Our Time, reporters who risk their own lives for the sake of the people are

heroes of our time.

The countrys leaders should do their utmost to prevent violence against journalists and media workers, to ensure accountability, bring to justice perpetrators of crimes against journalists and media workers, ensure that victims have access to appropriate remedies, promote a safe and enabling the right environment for journalists to perform their work independently and without undue interference.
Chinas Ambassador Cheng Xueyuan meeting Mahinda Rajapaksa at his Wijerama Mawatha residence in Colombo a day after the latter was sworn in as Prime Minister by President Sirisena.

Sri Lankas democratic process, which suffered a devastating blow last Friday, is likely to be on the reverse gear in the coming months and years. The pre-2015 regime, seems to be moving hell and earth to re-establish itself in power, while the big powers have their eyes fixed on the developments in Sri Lanka.

The constitutional crisis that erupted on Friday night following what is widely seen as President Maithripala Sirisenas controversial and morally unacceptable move to remove the sitting prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has its geopolitical implications, too.



Although at the centre of this geopolitical aspect of the Sri Lankan crisis are China, India and the United States, the spotlight is largely on China, the only country which permitted its ambassador to meet Mahinda Rajapaksa upon his swearing-in as the prime minister on Friday by President Sirisena. Addressing a protest rally on Tuesday in Colombo, a United National Party lawmaker alleged that Chinese money was propping up the anti-democratic forces and helping them to return to power through the backdoor. A few months ago, a New York Times article claimed that China had lavishly funded Rajapaksas 2015 botched re-election campaign for the presidency.



China has much at stake in Sri Lanka, with Hambantota being the jewel in the crown of the soon-to-become world empire, which is not so naive as to ignore the saying that whoever controls Hambantota, will control the Indian Ocean all the way to Antarctica. Given the propensity for a military confrontation between the United States and China against the backdrop of US apprehensions about Chinas military rise, the trade war between them, the growing tensions in the South China Sea and the security concerns of India, Japan and even Australia, the importance of the Hambantota port has shot up manifold.



When the government changed in January 2015, China had already built part of the Hambantota port for Sri Lanka and an airport in Mattala. The two projects were commercial flops and had negative returns, adding further strain on the countrys growing debt burden. Meanwhile, Chinese companies had penetrated Sri Lankas power, road and building construction sectors and started landfilling for the US$ 1.4 billion Colombo port city where the Chinese developers had been given a 20-hectare plot of Sri Lankas sovereign territory as freehold, with nary a protest from the so-called nationalists or blind patriots.

The port city was a major security concern for India, as the new city developed by the Chinese was adjoining the Colombo harbour, through which 70 percent of Indias shipping cargo passed. Heightening the security concerns of India, the US and Japan were the secret visits of Chinese military submarines to the Colombo port. One such visit took place when Japans Prime Minister was on an official visit to Sri Lanka.



The Rajapaksa regime put all its eggs in Chinas basket and earned the displeasure of India, Sri Lankas closest neighbour, whose cooperation was sine qua non in the quest for a solution to the national question. Yet, India stomached the Rajapaksa governments China-leaning because it felt an all-out hostility would be a worse option. This appears to be Indias policy on the current constitutional imbroglio in Sri Lanka.

The post-2015 Wickremesinghe-Sirisena government took some corrective measures and renegotiated the port city deal. The freehold offer was annulled, but the government, in a desperate bid to tide over the deepening debt crisis, handed over 85 percent of the Hambantota port to China under a joint-venture deal.

Yet, Wickremesinghe performed his balancing act well vis-a-vis India, China, the US and Japan while the Indian Ocean region was fast becoming a flashpoint for a big power conflict, what with the US and India naming the Indian Ocean region Indo-Pacific and entering into pacts that have made them military allies.



India, Japan, the US and Australia have, meanwhile, intensified military cooperation and are reviving a quadrilateral defence arrangement to counter Chinas military rise and its assertive diplomacy, especially in the South China and Indian Ocean regions. It is against this backdrop that Sri Lanka has plunged into a political crisis with serious international implications. It may not be an unintelligent guess if one were to assume that China precipitated the constitutional coup in a bid to block Wickremesinghes proposal to hand over to India the development of the Colombo Ports Eastern Container Terminal. China was not so pleased when the Wickremesinghe government ditched Chinese companies and handed over to India a mega project to build tens of thousands of houses for the war-affected people in the North.

"The Rajapaksa regime put all its eggs in Chinas basket and earned the displeasure of India, Sri Lankas closest neighbour, whose cooperation was sine qua non in the quest for a solution to the national question. Yet, India stomached the Rajapaksa governments China-leaning because it felt an all-out hostility would be a worse option"



The question that arises is whether the projects earmarked for India, including the ones in the north, the Colombo Ports Eastern Container Terminal project and the project strategic oil tanks in Trincomalee, will now go to China, if the Rajapaksas ensconced themselves in power.

With the bigger focus being the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, China may, in a quid-pro-quo deal, waive part of the debt or offer concessions on debt repayment, in the event, Rajapaksa emerges victorious in a floor test in parliament in the days to come. This will enable the Sirisena-Rajapaksa government to take measures to ease the living cost burden of the people and further entrench themselves in the seat of power, notwithstanding the fact that a substantial segment of Sri Lankan society, especially the educated and politically mature people, have condemned their action as undemocratic, unconstitutional and immoral.

Since there is no free lunch in politics, Chinas largesse will come with a must-do list. The Hambantota port may be used by Chinas military vessels on one pretext or another. China may place a request and obtain a tiny island near the Hambantota port on lease. The request had been turned down by the Wickremesinghe government.



Hambantota is a key pivot in Chinas Belt-and-Road initiative, which can certainly contribute to world peace through enhanced and inter-dependent trade. But at the same time the possibility of BRI ports becoming military facilities of China cannot be ruled out, with Chinas yuan diplomacy pushing many developing countries into a debt trap and compelling them to do Chinas bidding.



In this big power game, the leverage India and the US have is limited. They had lost the Maldives and just regained it with the defeat of pro-China President Abdulla Yameen. Even if India and the West add pressure on Sri Lanka through the United Nations Human Rights Council process, the Sirisena-Rajapaksa government can overcome the crisis with Chinas backing. They may warn that Sri Lanka may lose the GSP Plus concessions on account of the countrys poor human rights record and weak democratic credentials. The Rajapaksas have faced this before. But the West and India will not sit idle if, under a Rajapaksa dispensation, the country becomes one with China. Sri Lanka may become a key theatre in the coming world war.

With undemocratic forces gaining upper hand in Sri Lankas political crisis, the bigger danger is the country adopting a Chinese-style virtual one-party political system.
President Maithripala Sirisena has said that he would neither let the North and East to be merged nor allow the country to be a federal state.

He told the SLFP electoral organizers who met him in Colombo that he would have to be killed to get those two done.

The President has told the organizers that some groups had been adamant about the merger of the North and East and the formation of a federal state.

He has said he would not remain as President even for an hour if Ranil Wickremesinghe was reappointed the Prime Minister.

The President has said that he took a bold decision after winning the Presidential election on January 8, 2015 and that the steps he took today were even stronger and that he did so thinking of the country.

He has said that a secretary of the UNP had delivered him a letter after winning the Presidential election in 2015, which contained the need to appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister and transfer powers vested in the President by certain clauses in the Constitution and wanted him to sign it.

The President has mentioned that he had sent a reply to the UNP that even though Mr. Wickremesinghe would be made the Prime Minister, the powers vested in the President could not be transferred to him.

He said that was how Mr. Wickremesinghe had acted throughout and that he had endured the last three and half years with great difficulty.

The President said he decided to form a new government after appointing Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister as he could not bear it any longer. In addition to this he said a plot to assassinate him had also come to light.

President Sirisena said that he and Premier Rajapaksa were now taking decisions together and have a clear idea about how to take the country forward in the future and asked the organisers not to worry about such matters but carry out their respective tasks successfully.

The President has said the new government could proceed after rectifying the shortcomings that existed earlier and appealed for everyones support for that to be achieved.

He has said the collapse of the previous government began with the Central Bank bond scam.

President Sirisena has said that the people had made their views on this known very clearly when the results of the last Local Government election took place but the UNP and its leader were unable to understand the message that was sent.

He has said the UNP had been unable to get rid of policies of privatization and selling state property and assets to foreigners and maintained that he had opposed such moves from the very beginning. (Ajantha Kumara Agalakada)
Railway trade unions today said that the train services on the northern railway line would be disrupted from this Sunday night if the Police failed to arrest those who were involved with Pothuhera blockade incident last evening, within 48 hrs.

Speaking to the media Railway Trade Union Alliance (RTUA) Co-Convener Lal Ariyaratne said the trade unions including Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters' Union, Ceylon Railway Guards Union, Railway Engine Drivers Union and Train Controllers' Union would support the trade union action.

The Trade Unions had informed the matter to the Railways General Manager and he had assured legal action against the individuals who were involved in incident within 24-hours.

We will start our strike after another 24 hours, he said.

The trade union alliance vowed trade union action if the authorities failed to take legal action over the suspects.

Mr Ariyaratne said that all train services on the northern railway line beyond Polgahawela, including the office and the night mail trains, would be suspended as a result of scheduled trade union action.

He requested the Police to investigate the matter based on the video footages taken by the Police officers during the incident.

He also added that during the trade union action the security of the employees and the railway properties should be protected by the law enforcement authorities and in case of any damage to the properties or employees lives it would lead into an islandwide trade union action.

A group of commuters disrupted the railway services near the Pothuhera railway station last night.

The commuters threatened the locomotive driver and guard of the Fort bound KKS Colombo Intercity Express to slow down and allow the Colombo-Kurunegala slow train at Pothuhera Railway Station.

A tense situation occurred after the commuters threatened the express train driver and the guard to drive back the train until the slow train passed. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)
Mr. Pasan Manukith, Head of Information Technology Systems Development, Sampath Bank PLC, accepting the awardon behalf of the Bank

Sampath Slipless Banking, the pioneering solution developed by Sampath Bank PLC together with PayMedia (Private) Limited,was recognized in the Sustainability and Environmental Technologycategoryat the 20thNational Best Quality ICT Awards (NBQSA) held recently in Colombo.

The mobile app that allowsusers to make cash deposits and withdrawals without having to fill out any physical forms at Sampath Banks 229 branchesaround the island, received the Silver Award, the highest honour accorded in the category at the event.Mr. PasanManukith, Head of Information Technology Systems Development, Sampath Bank PLC accepted the award on behalf of the Bank.

We are honoured to see Sampath Slipless Banking being recognized in the Sustainability and Environmental Technology category at the NBQSA 2018, said Mr. Nanda Fernando, the Managing Director of Sampath Bank PLC.Working together withPayMedia, we had envisioned Sampath Slipless Banking as an eco-friendly, convenient and secure alternative to cumbersome traditional forms.Redefining the way customers conduct their day-to-day transactions at our branches, the app has been well received by the market,winning wide appreciation from all stakeholders. Encouraged by this, we will continue to strive to transform Sri Lankas financial services landscape through innovative solutions that leverage emerging technologies to deliver greater value to the nation.

One can begin using Sampath Slipless Bankingby simply downloading the app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and registering themselves through it. Both Sampath Bank accountholders and customers of other banks can make deposits using the app by entering the account number and the amount to be deposited. Sampath Vishwa users can make withdrawals by entering their account number and the amount they wish to withdraw. Users can save their account details and those of the accounts they transact with frequently within the app to avoid having to enter them every transaction. They can also view their transaction history right on their mobile phones.

In a bid to help non-smartphone users take advantage of this solution, the Bank has deployed tabs within its branches with Sampath Slipless Banking loaded on it.The Bank also plans to roll out bill payments, credit card payments, cheque deposit facilities and a host of other services through the app.

Established in 1987, Sampath Bank has become a state-of-the-art financial institution that continues to be a market leader today thanks to its constant innovation and customer focused approach to business. Its unique tailor-made solutions, superior services and convenience of access have allowed Sampath Bank to further differentiate itself from the competition and stand out as the bank of choice for many in Sri Lanka.
The Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had agreed to provide parliamentary privileges to newly appointed Prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa including the Premiers chair in Parliament chambers.

A spokesman from Speakers office said he has to do it as per the gazette notification issued pertaining to the appointment of Mr. Rajapaksa as the Premier.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror UPFA MP Thilanga Sumathipala the Prime Minister was not appointed by the Parliament but by President Maithripala Sirisena.

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has to leave the Temple Trees and should hand it over to the newly appointed Prime Minister. Once Mr. Wickremesinghe is removed from the office, he cannot any longer enjoy the Prime Ministers privileges, MP Sumathipala said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)
Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Subramanian Swamy today urged Sri Lankan Tamil Community as well as its senior respected leaders like Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan to try for a working arrangement with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse for the sake of Tamil issues.

For what it is worth, I would be happy to work for a favourable settlement if required, Subramanian tweeted.
Yesterday, the United Nations marked World Cities Day to promote the international communitys interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities, addressing challenges of urbanization and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.

This years theme is Building Sustainable and Resilient Cities. The general theme of World Cities Day is Better City, Better Life, while each year a different sub-theme is selected, to either promote successes of urbanization or address specific challenges resulting from urbanization.

The UN says that this year it has selected the theme because cities need support to become resilient and develop their capacity to absorb the impact of hazards, protect and preserve human life and limit damage to and destruction of public and private assets while continuing to provide infrastructure and services after a crisis.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a message says, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the New Urban Agenda together provide a road map for a more sustainable and resilient world. How our cities develop will have significant implications for realizing the future we want.

This years World Cities Day focuses on resilience and sustainability. Every week, 1.4 million people move to cities. Such rapid urbanization can strain local capacities, contributing to increased risk from natural and human-made disasters. But hazards do not need to become disasters. The answer is to build resilience -- to storms, floods, earthquakes, fires, pandemics and economic crises, the UN chief says.

According to him, cities around the world are already acting to increase resilience and sustainability. Bangkok has built vast underground water storage facilities to cope with increased flood risk and save water for drier periods. In Ecuadors capital city of Quito, the local government has reclaimed or protected more than 200,000 hectares of land to boost flood protection, reduce erosion and safeguard the citys freshwater supply and biodiversity. In South Africas Johannesburg, the city is involving residents in efforts to improve public spaces so they can be safely used for recreation, sports, community events and services such as free medical care.

On World Cities Day, let us be inspired by these examples. Let us work together to build sustainable and resilient cities that provide safety and opportunities for all, the UN chief adds.

In Sri Lanka, the Maithripala Sirisena - Ranil Wickremesinghe national unity government set up the Ministry of Western Province and Megapolis with the aim of making urbanisation a vital path of its vision of a just, peaceful and all-inclusive society. Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka worked out and started implementing several important projects such as the Homagama technology city where some 300 acres of state land were to be used for nanotechnology and artificial intelligence projects which would give younger generation Sri Lankans opportunities to use their creative talents and enterprising skills to start new projects. Several similar projects were also being worked out.

Creativity, innovative and enterprising skills are being promoted in most countries to enable the younger generations to create a better world for the common good of all. As in any venture there are also the negative aspects. Apple boss Tim Cook, in an interview with Cable News Network (CNN) this week, warned that multi-national technology companies should take effective measures now to prevent the excessive invasion of privacy. He warned that if effective measures were not taken immediately technology companies might have the ability to know more about ourselves than even what we know.

While being conscious about the forbidden apple, we also need to make full use of modern technology including artificial intelligence to develop not only mega cities but also our rural areas so that the village people too would have an equal place and equal say in sustainable eco-friendly development. At the same time what we need to forbid is our leaders getting involved in hate speech or extremism which might provoke some mentally unstable people to massacre innocent people as we saw in the horrible crime at the Pittsburgh Jewish synagogue last Saturday.
Before Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn in as the new Prime Minister on Friday evening, did President Maithripala Sirisena sack Ranil Wickremesinghe from the Prime Ministerial post or did the latter cease to hold office following the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) withdrew from the national Government the same evening?

Two versions come from those who endorse the last weeks so-called regime change.

President Sirisena, citing an Article in the Constitution informed Mr Wickremesinghe on Friday night that he had removed the latter from the post. The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the legal advisor of the Mahinda Rajapaksa group Professor G.L. Peiris also seems to be of the opinion that Wickremesinghe was sacked.



But he always quotes a part of a different Article of the Constitution which says On the Prime Minister ceasing to hold office by death, resignation or otherwise and argues that the word otherwise includes the expulsion of the Prime Minister by the President, despite no provision in the Constitution directly vests power in the President to remove the Prime Minister. No doubt, this is just an interpretation of one side of the debate.

On the other hand, the top aides of Mr Rajapaksa, such as Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila explain the regime change as an inevitable outcome of the withdrawal of the UPFA from the National Government.



They argue that the National Government had been formed by way of the UNP, the party which had obtained the highest number of seats in the Parliament having formed a coalition with the UPFA faction led by the President, and once the UPFA withdrew from the coalition, the National Government ceased to exist.

And they point out another Article of the Constitution which says The Prime Minister shall continue to hold office throughout the period during which the Cabinet of Ministers continues to function to say that Wickremesinghe ceased to hold office once the UPFA withdrew from the national government.

These diverse versions on what happened on the eve of Rajapaksa having been sworn in are an indication that the group endorses the regime change finds grounds to justify the change after it was put into effect.

The ordinary people are utterly confused on the legality and the propriety of what the President has done, in spite of the Constitution becoming a subject matter to be debated in every household these days.



Hundreds of legal interpretations are being put forward every minute on the matter, but pathetically not a single version seems to be independent. Every expert has some sort of link to the parties of the two leaders who are laying claim to the premiership. Sometimes interpretations are based on personal grudges.

Ridiculously some experts interpret the Constitution in one way in the evening but only to switch camp the next morning and unabashedly give a diametrically different interpretation.

Ethics and morality have no place in the current debate. (In fact, it has been so in most of the cases in Sri Lanka) Those who wholeheartedly supported Wickremesinghe when he, with only 47 seats in the Parliament, was sworn in as Prime Minister by President Sirisena on January 9, 2015 question now the morality and the legality of the appointment of Rajapaksa, who had the support of only 95 MPs as Prime Minister by the same President.

Since some might find it hard to digest our point we would put it on the other way round as well.



Those who justify the appointment of Rajapaksa as Prime Minister without the necessary votes in the Parliament today questioned the propriety of appointment of Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister in 2015.

On both occasions those who endorsed the Presidents move to appoint a Prime Minister without the required Parliamentary majority hid behind an Article in the Constitution which says The President shall appoint as Prime Minister the member of Parliament, who, in the Presidents opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of the Parliament.

Yes, for argument sake, he was correct on both occasions. But the whole world knew that even in the Presidents opinion Wickremesinghe in January 2015 and Rajapaksa, at the time of his appointment were not most likely to command the confidence of the Parliament.

During the address to his nation on Sunday, the President admitted that he appointed Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister in January 2015, when the latter commanded the confidence of only 47 out of 225 members of the Parliament. Hence, he admits that he violated the Constitution.

Likewise, it is clear that the President prorogued the Parliament in order for Rajapaksa to muster sufficient support to prove that he commands the confidence of the Parliament.

"Hundreds of legal interpretations are being put forward every minute on the matter It is a well-known fact that only about 100 MPs, including the four UNP defectors, had set to support Rajapaksa by last Wednesday"



It is a well-known fact that only about 100 MPs, including the four UNP defectors, had set to support Rajapaksa by last Wednesday. The President would be exposed to have violated the Constitution for the second time if Rajapaksa failed to show his majority power in the Parliament once it meets.

Nevertheless, the current scenario is not so surprising, as it is a result of the gradual mounting of conflicts between the President and his coalition partner, the UNP. The conflict came to the surface in the form of Presidents displeasure over the UNP ministers handling of corruption cases against the former regime. It must be recalled that President Sirisena in an unexpected turn of events in October 2016 launched a scathing attack on the Bribery Commission, CID and FCID, claiming that the three institutions had been politicized. Later he and Minister Rajitha Senaratne justified his controversial statement by saying that the three institutions were very slow in looking into the high profile corruption committed by the leaders of the former regime.



The President again in July last year accused the UNP of delaying and even stalling investigations against the leaders of the previous Government. During a Cabinet meeting, he had reportedly challenged to catch the thieves within three months if the police and the Attorney Generals Department were brought under him. He had told the UNP leaders that it wouldnt be a problem for the UNP if Rajapaksa made a comeback. And ironically the situation has come to a head now with the President himself teaming up with the same leaders of the previous regime.

UNP leaders have been questioning since last Friday one of the Presidents famous comments that he would have been six feet under the ground had he been defeated at the last Presidential election. The only answer with which the President can counter their argument is the allegation of a coup to assassinate him and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, as claimed by Namal Kumara. He could say that going six feet under the ground was not an immediate threat, whereas the coup was already knocking on the door.



In spite of the coup theory having helped the Rajapaksas comeback; and also the purported conspirators having targeted his brother as well, interestingly his group seems to be totally indifferent about it, as the UNP leaders had been. If Rajapaksa proved his majority in the Parliament and the allegation of the purported coup is disproved under the new government what would be the situation of the President?

The civil society organizations that helped the President to come to power in 2015 lament that he had betrayed the mandate he received from the people in 2015 by bringing back the regime that he himself called corrupt and dictatorial. True, but it is the so-called Yahapalana regime that betrayed that mandate first by allowing to happen, if not conniving with the Central Bank Bond scam, the largest single financial fraud in Sri Lankas history, as the President had put it in his address to the nation.



Yet, needless to say, people achieved something, in term of democracy during the so-called Yahapalana Government. Not a single state-sponsored abduction was reported during this period and the Right to Information Act had been used even by the Rajapaksa loyalists. Minorities were not in fear. But, the fate of UNP and thereby that of the government seems to have been intrinsic. The UNP which introduced the executive presidency to the country has failed to realize the powers of an executive president. Thus, the same thing happened under President Chandrika Kumaratungas tenure as well, in 2004.

Most important matter to be concerned with all these arguments and bickering is that this is just a dogfight among power-hungry politicians and no interests of the people are involved in it.
Nava Sama Samaja Party Leader Wickramabahu Karunaratne said yesterday they would launch a massive trade union action and a riot in protest of Presidents decision to remove Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister and proroguing Parliament unconstitutionally.

He told a news conference that the country had plunged into a serious crisis and requested the President to restore democracy in the country by convening Parliament immediately.

President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa were acting against the Constitution disregarding Parliament. We consider this a political coup, he said.

He said Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa was the legal expert behind this and said he was clever at twisting the law. (Nimala Kodituwakku)
DARBY BOROUGH  A 25-year-old man was charged with felony firearms and related lesser offenses after allegedly threatening a juvenile over the weekend  an incident that reportedly also involved a juvenile gang known to police, according to charging documents.

Tyree Williams-Pace, who has addresses in both the borough and Philadelphia, was identified in a photo array by a juvenile as the man outside his Whitely Terrace residence on Oct. 26 with a black-handled firearm tucked in his waistband who threatened him, according to the probable cause affidavit on file in district court.

He was not found to be in possession of a firearm by police, according to the affidavit authored by Patrolman Michael Case.

Charges filed against Williams-Pace include possession of a firearm prohibited, a first-degree felony, and firearms not to be carried without a license, a third-degree felony. He is also charged with terroristic threats, conspiracy to terroristic threats, making repairs or selling an offensive weapon, possession of an instrument of crime and corruption of minors  all first-degree misdemeanor offenses.

Williams-Pace was released after posting bail, which was set at 10 percent of $7,500, according to online court records. It was not immediately known if the defendant had retained an attorney.

According to the affidavit, the incident on Friday, Oct. 26, reportedly spilled over from a fight the previous Tuesday, Oct. 23, between two Penn Wood students. When that brawl was interrupted by police, a group of juveniles allegedly accompanied by Williams-Pace then showed up at a rivals residence on Whitely Terrace demanding to fight, the affidavit states.

A preliminary hearing for Williams-Pace is listed for Nov. 7 before Magisterial District Judge Leonard V. Tenaglia.

Numerous attempts to reached Darby Borough Police Chief Robert Smythe for comment were unsuccessful.
TRAINER  U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., visited the Monroe Energy refinery Tuesday, soliciting ideas from industry, labor and elected officials how to deal with mandates costing the Delco facility $170 million in 2016 alone.

I think that a well-intended idea from long ago is threatening this really, really important sector of this industry, Toomey said of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which was enacted in 2005 and requires a certain amount of ethanol be blended into gasoline. Refiners can blend the ethanol into the gasoline or pay a credit purchased from energy traders, known as Renewable Identification Numbers.

Jeff Warmann, CEO and president of Monroe Energy, described RINS as basically a black market of commodities thats being traded outside of normal (Federal Trade Commission) and (Securities and Exchange Commission) control and oversight.

He said the RINS cost Monroe Energy about half of what it costs to run the entire refinery. Two years ago, the RINS cost Monroe $170 million and this year, theyre anticipated to cost $60 million, he said.

Besides the financial strain, the standard doesnt help the environment as once believed, Toomey said, as he added, the environment is better off when were burning gasoline.

Toomey, a longtime advocate of eliminating the RINs, co-sponsored legislation with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2015, which failed. However, the senators concern grew after the Trump administration agreed to having gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol sold all year long.

We had hoped that we would get some significant improvements in the problems facing our refineries as part of a deal with this year-round sale of E15 and that did not happen, Toomey said. Thats why I felt the need to get everybody together and lets reassess and work on new ways forward.

I was disappointed when the administration announced that they are going to permit year-round sale of higher mix of ethanol, the senator said. It really eliminates the incentive we had hoped would bring the ethanol folks to the table so we could have a bipartisan broad resolution here.

Some alternatives were suggested.

The intent of the RINS was to provide a marketplace for ethanol and the export marketplace, in my mind, is just as good as domestic market, said Mark Smith, CEO of Philadelphia Energy Solutions, which now operates the old Sunoco refinery in Southwest Philadelphia.

Toomey said litigation against the E15 waiver might be the path to facilitate change.

In addition, he said the statutory volumes expire in 2022, at which time the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be setting the levels, something that could be of concern to both the gasoline and ethanol producers.

Another aspect of the issue is that when E15 goes year-round, only one in four vehicles were built to process it and that some car warranties may be invalidated because of it, according to the American Petroleum Institute.

Others spoke of the ethanol requirement impact.

It was created to wean us off dependence of foreign crude and supposedly to help the environment, said Ryan OCallaghan, president of the United Steelworkers Union Local 10-1. Its just got to go. Its no longer applicable as it was intended.

In addition, OCallaghan said, The government is forcing a product on the American consumer that the American consumer does not want.

Devon Crawford, vice president of the USW Local 10-234, said it presents a grave challenge in terms of jobs and the local refineries future viability.

It puts us at risk, he said. It puts the refinery at risk. It puts PES at risk. It puts the community at risk  Its enough to break people and thats what this is about  this is a regulation that is going to break people.

And while Toomey said he did not think this issue was jeopardizing the local refineries at this moment, he stressed the importance of reaching out to senators and representatives in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

The merits of the arguments are on our side, the senator said. I think there is a win-win solution that is possible. Thats where I am hoping we can go.

In the meantime, he urged that support be created before the situation becomes a dire peril here.

Theres not an imminent threat of a catastrophe in the near future but we cant be complacent, Toomey said. Weve got to solve this problem.
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FREEPORT, Maine (AP)  L.L. Bean is looking across the border to Canada to boost sales.

The Maine-based retailer has signed an agreement in which its iconic boot and other products will be sold in 30 stores in Canada for the holiday season, and in L.L. Bean-branded stores opening over the next decade. The company also has launched a dedicated website for Canadian customers that incorporates duties and smooths out currency fluctuations.





. . .
Better roads. Cleaner water. Real Democracy.

This post is part of a new project at Eclectablog called A Fresh Michigan. Our goal is to help people understand the astonishing impact they can have on the future of our state by supporting the three statewide ballot proposals along with Sam Bagenstos and Megan Kathleen Cavanagh for the State Supreme Court. You can read more about this project HERE.

Check out and share our non-partisan voter guide for a new Michigan at AFreshMichigan.com.

Now heres the kicker.

Passing Proposal 1, Proposal 2 and Proposal 3 are essential for transforming this state, but these victories for democracy could mean less than nothing unless we send BOTH Megan Kathleen Cavanagh and Sam Bagenstos to Michigans Supreme Court.

These are the stakes

There is a VERY good chance that these popular ballot initiatives  particularly 2 & 3, which will up update our electoral system for the 21st century  will be challenged in court by the same billionaires and outside groups who could not defeat them at the polls. And when they are challenged, the case will most certainly end up before the State Supreme Court.

At the moment, Republicans enjoy a solid 5-to-2 majority in Michigans top court. Its a majority theyve held for all but a short period of time for decades. If that doesnt change on November 6, any one of our 2018 ballot proposals could be stamped null and void.

However, if we elect both Democratic Party-endorsed candidates, Megan Kathleen Cavanagh and Sam Bagenstos, progressives would have a 4-to-3 majority and we could ensure that the transformational change voters seem poised to enact on November 6th is solidified. And because Proposals 2 and 3 are amendments to the constitution, Republicans cant do what they did when our Emergency Manager law was crushed at the polls and simply pass a bill that completely ignores the voters will.

A Republican-controlled Michigan Supreme Court is the GOPs ace in the hole. It can overturn the actions of a Democratic Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General, as well as block access to the ballot for proposals and undermine proposals which the voters adopt, former Michigan Democratic Party Chair and badass progressive attorney Mark Brewer told us.

This is why EVERYTHING that we care about is on the ballot when we vote for the candidates running for Michigans Supreme Court.

Dark money gets what it pays for

You know who doesnt have to be convinced Michigans Supreme Court matters?

Corporate interests and outside groups. Shady, anonymous special interests have spent tens of millions keeping our Court in Republican hands for decades.

For the 2010, 2012 and 2014 campaigns, the Brennan Center for Justice found that Michigan was home to the most expensive and least transparent Supreme Court campaigns, according to the Michigan Campaign Finance Network. And the only reason that wasnt true in 2016 was because the races werent competitive, yet outside groups still spent millions.

When it comes to dark money that cant be traced back to its sources and the buying of Justice, Michigan is like no other state, the MCFN argues.

And the payoff for corporations has been huge. [T]he Michigan Supreme Court has handed down staunch conservative rulings in recent environmental and labor cases, The New Republics Matt Ford reports in a must-read piece Can State Courts Save the Liberal Agenda?

While the right has largely been interested in using their majority to enable polluters and limit workers rights, the battles on the state level will become even more intense now that there is unshakable conservative majority on the United States Supreme Court.

If a case rises to the U.S. Supreme Court that leads the justices to overturn the landmark case that legalized abortion in 1973, Michigan would revert to the last abortion law on the books  a 1931 law that made performing an abortion a felony, unless it was to save the life of the mother, Kathleen Gray of the Detroit Free Press reported. The law has no exceptions for rape or incest.

Even same-sex marriage and adoption could eventually fall back to the states.

But the issue that will almost certainly be taken up by our states Supreme Court is partisan gerrymandering.

Just this week, the U.S Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to an electoral map Pennsylvanias Supreme Court issued to replace an illegal GOP gerrymander.

By turning down the GOPs appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court has shown the way forward to stop gerrymandering at the state level: elect progressive state supreme courts in states that hold judicial elections, and elect Democratic governors who can appoint progressive justices in the states that dont elect them directly, Wrote Daily Kos Stephen Wolf.

Again and again, Democrats have won nearly as many or more votes than Republicans and the GOP still managed to capture super majorities thanks to maps that contort the will of the public.

This crime against democracy could end by the time the next maps are drawn after the 2020 census. But only if we have four Supreme Court justices that owe their positions to the voters and not their donors. Here they are.

Megan Kathleen Cavanagh

A lifelong Michigander, Megan Kathleen Cavanagh has been one of our states top appellate court for the past fifteen years. Like her father, former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Michael Cavanagh, her overarching interest is to ensure that ALL people who enter the judicial system receive fair treatment and, toward that goal, serves as a councilperson for the Negligence Section of the State Bar of Michigan which she describes as a diverse group of plaintiff and defense attorneys dedicated to finding consensus on important issues affecting citizens fair and equal access to the courts.

Unlike her two Republican-endorsed opponents who were both appointed by Republican governor Rick Snyder and who have sought and received the endorsement of Right to Life, Cavanagh has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood and nearly every labor union in the state.

When asked about her work as appeals attorney, Cavanagh is clear: EVERYONE deserves fair access to our judicial system. I have committed my career to being an advocate for an open, fair and honest justice system because, she says, I firmly believe that that is the best way to advocate for every citizen who is affected by or works within that system.

Visit her campaign website at CavanaghForSupremeCourt.com.

Sam Bagenstos

Its easy to think of everything we lost on November 8, 2016 when Donald Trump won Michigan and the electoral college by edging out Hillary Clinton in three Great Lake States.

But we gained the motivation to reform our democracy and we gained the candidacy of Sam Bagenstos for Supreme Court Justice.

The Free Press called him the most qualified candidate to seek a seat on the court in recent memory, which may be an understatement. If Clinton had won, Sam Bagenstos could very well have ended up on her short list of potential Supreme Court nominees.

His campaign calls him a Fighter for Justice and his career illustrates thats not just good copy again and again.

A Harvard Law graduate and former clerk for Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bagenstos helped rebuild the civil rights division of the Justice Department after eight years of George W. Bush. Hes argued before the Supreme Court four times and is representing the citizens of Flint in class action lawsuit. His victories for Americans with disabilities and for pregnant workers have been cheered by both the left and the right.

His willingness to run for this office in Michigan now is a recognition that conservative takeover of the federal courts demands that progressives refocus on what we can accomplish in a state where weve lived through a dark age of unrepresentative right-wing rule.

We have come to rely in the civil rights world on the federal courts as the place that we can go to enforce our basic rights, and I think we have to face the reality that  thanks to Donald Trump  the federal courts are going to be closed for business for the protection of our basic rights for the next generation, he said. Im not being hyperbolic here.

With Bagenstos leading a Democratic majority, Michigan will be a state where our rights are not for sale.

Visit his campaign website at BagenstosForJustice.com.

We need them both

These two great progressive candidates give us the opportunity to completely transform our states highest court. And we have to elect BOTH Megan Kathleen Cavanagh and Sam Bagenstos. Otherwise, as Cavanagh said in a recent forum, Whoever gets elected wont be able to do anything but craft beautiful dissents, worthy of framing and little else.
The girls claim that there are pages and pages of the universitys policy on harassment and how to get the counselling but what happens after one reports is utter harassment

Dhriti Chengappa (name changed), a researcher, allegedly endured more than five years of sexual harassment during her postgraduate study at IISc. It allegedly started when she worked on a project between her postgraduation and PhD. The professor overseeing the research bombarded her and the other women in the group of junior researchers with crude and humiliating sexual comments. She couldnt do anything but bear the entire harassment all through the five years, says Dhriti. However, she is not alone. Late-night research, isolation and a strict, male-dominated hierarchy are the perfect conditions for sexual harassment, say students at IISc.

According to sources, there are around 8 to 10 cases of sexual harassment under the institutes internal committee. Most cases were reported in 2015 and 2016. However, when contacted, Dipshikha Chakravortty, associate professor and a member of the Internal Complaints Committee of Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, declined to comment on the issue.

Many students, who wished to be anonymous, said there are many cases of harassments which happen in the institutes campus. However, many of them shun from lodging an official complaint due to various issues including threats to their career or delay in finishing their pursued courses.

One such student from Nano-Science Department says, I was harassed by a professor. I approached the authorities, the department head. All that he did was called the accused for an enquiry and was just let go with a warning. Nothing happened after that. However, I had no option but to continue working under the same mentor or I had to quit my degree. I chose to continue. Now, all that I do is I dont go to the lab when he is there. I work from my room.

According to her, its been two years since this happened and she claims that she still hasnt got any justice. She also says that hers was not the only allegation against that professor. There have been many students who have complained against him.

Several students from the alumni claim that such incidents are quite frequent within the campus. A student says young female academics and students are particularly vulnerable due to the structure and hierarchy of lab working, You [may] have privileged access to facilities or equipment or a particular dataset, and that access comes through that supervisor [who is harassing you]. Ive heard of cases where students have put complaints in and then been told they need to change projects. Its the student that takes the hit for speaking up."

They claim that action is taken against the erring professors only if there is a personal agenda behind sacking that person. Another student said, Management supports most of the professors and institute just cover up the matter as there is also the question of prestige of the institution.

But the main reason for their reluctance to make a formal complaint was doubts that being a junior woman in a small, male-dominated field. A student from the department of physics said, "Im applying for jobs and really hoping they dont know what happened at my institution. If Im known as a troublemaker they wont want me. In a lab group, theres a very hierarchical system and they can prevent you from doing your own work. They can be very buddy-buddy  its not like a big office, where a manager may have more of an unbiased stance.

The girls claim that there are pages and pages of the universitys policy on harassment and how to get the counselling but what happens after one reports is utter harassment.

However, a senior professor from the IISc on condition of anonymity said, "I dont decline that there might be genuine complaints about harassment but there are many orchestrated ones too. In some of the cases, I have myself seen girls accusing professors of sexual harassment when they dont get their papers, which are really not worthy of publishing, withheld from publication,

However, students feel that the hierarchy, working environment and male-dominated culture of science, not only in their university but in their discipline, makes tackling sexual misconduct more complex and challenging than in other academic fields and industries.

(with inputs from Tania Thomas and Akram Mohammed)


November 1, 2018



Alltech opens Nepal office





Alltech opened its Nepal sales and support office in the city of Kathmandu on October 25, 2018.





Alltech has been operating in Nepal for 16 years, and the company witnessed a 60% growth in its business within the country last year. About 80% of Nepal's population is engaged in agricultural work, and the agriculture sector contributes to nearly 30% of Nepal's GDP.



Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, inaugurated the new regional office. Other company representatives who participated in the opening included Steve Elliott, global mineral director; Matthew Smith, vice president of Alltech Asia-Pacific; and Dr. Aman Sayed, managing director of India and regional director of South Asia, along with managers and members of the Alltech team in South Asia.



"The growth of the feed market here is quite significant, and we are the first animal health company to enter into the market," said Lyons at the opening of the office.



"To best serve our customers, we decided to establish an Alltech regional office in Kathmandu," Lyons continued. "Our team in Nepal is committed to supporting feed manufacturers and farmers as they meet the growing demand for meat and milk."



Dairy production is a growing agricultural sector in Nepal. With a well-established presence in India  the world's largest producer of milk  Alltech plans to share best practices with neighboring Nepal. Given that Nepal's milk production currently trails demand by about 100,000 litres per day, there is a significant opportunity for Alltech to provide value through its nutritional technologies and technical expertise.



"Kathmandu was a sensible choice for us and for our clients," said Sayed. "Our goal is to ensure that producers in Nepal get the timely service and support they need."


By Washington Examiner , Oct. 31, 2018





SAN DIEGO  U.S. Border Patrol agents based in San Diego have spotted 15 drones flying between Tijuana, Mexico, and Southern California over the past 12 months, according to new data provided to the Washington Examiner.





Not one of the drone operators involved in those incidents was prosecuted for using an unmanned aerial system, or drone, around the international border, which is protected air space.

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Health professionals from across the country and some NGOs that are part of the National Emergency Medical Team
Turkish police seize a car full of bombs and explosives in Mardin

Turkish security forces seized nearly 250 kilograms of explosives late Wednesday in southeastern Mardin province.

Turkish police detained 5 terrorists related to the seizing 250 kg of explosives in Turkeys Mardin. "The explosives were supposed to be used in 32 separate bomb attacks," Mardin governor Mustafa Yaman told the press on Thursday.

According to the official, the explosives were ready for attacks in metropolitan areas. The statement said police forces found the vehicle on Ceylanpnar-Kiziltepe highway at around 7.30 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

BOMBS WERE BEING TRANSFERRED FOR BOMBING

The operation was carried out in Mardin district after it was learned that large amounts of explosive materials were illegally brought by the PKK/YPG terror organization and they would be transferred to other Turkish provinces for bombing activities.

The explosive material seized in the vehicle was identified as pentaerythritol tetranitrate, also known as PETN, the statement noted. A comprehensive investigation into the matter was launched by Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the governor said.
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ABC/Randy HolmesThursday marks the seventh anniversary of Lulu, Metallica's much-maligned 2011 collaborative album with late music legend Lou Reed. Showing that they have a bit of a sense of humor about themselves, the metal legends marked the record's anniversary by poking fun at it.

"Everyone's favorite album Lulu was released #OnThisDay in 2011," Metallica tweeted. "Dare we ask what your favorite song on the album is?" The band also added a winking emoji.

Lulu was notoriously hated by fans -- the song "The View" was a particular target of ire, thanks to the part when James Hetfield growls the line "I am the table!," which naturally became a meme.

Critics weren't too kind to Lulu, either. Pitchfork's scathing review gave the album a score of 1.0 out of 10, while critic Chuck Klosterman wrote in his review, "If the Red Hot Chili Peppers acoustically covered the 12 worst Primus songs for Starbucks, it would still be (slightly) better than [Lulu]."

Metallica is currently on tour, but you probably don't have to worry about them playing any Lulu songs: the band hasn't performed anything from the album live since 2011. The tour continues this Saturday with a hometown acoustic charity show in San Francisco.

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THE real risk of hostilities between China and the United States could have catastrophic affects on our trade with the booming Asian powerhouse.

The two superpowers are in an escalating trade war over tariffs, sparking fears they may want their respective key trading partners to pick a side  with either China or the US.

Prominent trade analyst Michael Every has warned farmers about the scale of the threat, but other commentators say superpowers are a long way from demanding concessions from their allies.

But on one point, agreement is clear.

Australia needs to share its eggs between more than one trade basket and develop links into new growth markets such as Japan, Indonesia and India.

Agricultural exports play a significant role in Australias trade surplus with China.

Its our largest market for farm produce, which has risen a whopping seven-fold since the turn of the century and was worth $14 billion in 2017-18.

However, many countries have lost markets as China has risen to become an export juggernaut and received little access to its booming domestic market in return.

Most significantly, Chinas aggressive pursuit of expansion through mercantilist trade policy, pulling out all stops to maximise exports and limit imports, has provoked the US to follow suit.

In March, 11 nations, including Australia, signed up to the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) that was ratified by the Federal government in October.

The TPP was intended to include the US, but it withdrew from negotiations in 2017.

In January, however, US president Donald Trump signalled he could push harder for a substantially better Pacific trade deal for the US.

Mr Trump has already twisted the arm off allies in Canada and Mexico to sign up to a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement.

That deal includes anti-China terms requiring Mexico and Canada to notify the US before trading with non-market economies.

Rabobanks Mr Every, a Hong Kong-based, Asia-Pacific head of financial markets research, calls it a cold war between the two global superpowers.

At the recent National Farmers Federation convention in Canberra he warned that, one way or another, access to Chinas gargantuan domestic market could be cut short.

China has made it clear there will be a gun put to your forehead and youll be asked are you with us, or are you with the US? Mr Every said.

If you answer the US, the Chinese can slam the door shut.

Mr Every said the US would look to renegotiate the TPP with a clause no trade with China.

Australia needs to pick a side, before its picked, he told the Canberra forum.

Youre in a much stronger position if you can pick.

At the Lowy Institute, international economy program director Roland Rajah is less fearful of a stark choice between China and the US looming in Australias near future.

But the situation could escalate over time.

Its far too early to say which scenario well get, Mr Rajah said.

If you extrapolate the trend line of the way things are going, then we could be headed towards an us-and-them situation.

But at this time its not clear how far things will go.

Mr Rajah said the jury was out on the affect of clauses that could restrict the ability of Canada and Mexico to pursue a trade deal with China.

Some say it will be very constraining, others say it wont really change anything legally speaking, he said.

I say it is meaningful, especially if you think of domestic politics when a country negotiates with China.

Business interests will immediately worry about the risk to their trade with the US and start making loud noises against jeopardising that, which could be politically hard to ignore.

US vice-president Mike Pence has been clear on how the US sees the picture.

He took aim at China this month, warning of its emboldened and growing military aggression, abuses of domestic minorities and trade policies that profit at the US expense.

To advance our vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, were building new and stronger bonds with nations that share our values across the region, Mr Pence said.

Mr Pence said China used an arsenal of policies inconsistent with free and fair trade such as tariffs, quotas, currency manipulation and foreign subsidies that are handed out like candy.

As we respond to Chinas trade practices, we will continue to demand an economic relationship with China that is free, fair, and reciprocal, he said.

A recent Bloomberg report highlighted the security threats driving these concerns.

It alleged a Chinese military operation secretly inserted microchips in computer parts of 30 US companies.

Chinese manufacturers denied the claim.

The components, made in China, were in some cases used by the US government in the Department of Defence and the CIA.

Australia has followed the US in restricting Chinese telco Huawei from the rollout of 5G mobile networks, citing security concerns.

Mr Every expected national security concerns to drive foreign policy.

When national security comes in, free trade goes out the window, Mr Every said.

Now, theyre putting pins into maps, he said.

Australia is the canary in the mine.

There is no country more aligned with the US militarily in this region and no country more correlated with China economically.

The US can say to Australia this deal will be part of overarching military strategy, youll be comfortably tucked under our wing.

But part of a new deal (TPP) could be an addendum that says Australia cant walk in the front door to trade with China while US firms cant.

That means youre united with the US in breaking Chinese resistance to economic reforms.

I dont see how Australia can say no, otherwise its saying sorry US, we are going to sneak in and steal your lunch while you do all the heavy lifting.

Mr Rajah said the US could continue to pursue trade restrictions, through measures already in place, namely US tariffs on Chinese exports.

The US is pursuing a policy of decoupling from the Chinese economy, but its not clear if it will take a narrow focus on national security or pursue a broader agenda, he said.
TECHNOLOGY has been inspiring more students to consider a university pathway as they start thinking about a career in agriculture.

About 75 students from the WA colleges of agriculture in Denmark, Harvey, Cunderdin, Morawa and Narrogin, along with Edmund Rice College, toured The University of WA, Curtin University and Murdoch University last week to gain insight into the courses and opportunities on offer.

The event, in its fifth year, was co-ordinated by Department of Education, Teaching and Learning Services principal consultant for agricultural education, Alysia Kepert.

Feedback from previous students shows that coming onto campus is a really important part of their further education exploration, Ms Kepert said.

We also invite back previous students now studying at each of the universities so students can identify with someone who has had a similar secondary education experience.

While the agricultural colleges are an important part of WA agricultural education, the Department of Education is developing strategies to expand the uptake of the senior secondary agriculture courses in other Western Australian schools to bring the clear career opportunities in the agricultural industry to a wider audience.

The day started at UWA with professor Graeme Martin discussing the demand for agricultural scientists, not just at UWA but across the industry.

We are in an industry where there are much more jobs than there are graduates so there are so many opportunities, professor Martin said.

He also spoke about the role of the 1600 hectare UWA Future Farm at Pingelly and its aim to create a profitable sustainable farm for the long-term future.

We love what we do here at UWA  we love teaching it and we love researching it, he said.

UWA agronomist Ken Flower shared with students how drone technology will (and already is) revolutionising agriculture.

Dr Flower said the technological advancements in agriculture had created a lot more interest in people wanting to study the field at university, so much so that a new masters degree in agriculture engineering was being developed.

Aimed to have a strong focus on precision ag and drone technology, the course is set to be available in 2020-21.

In precision ag we are using drones for remote sensing to tell how healthy a crop is, Dr Flower said.

We can measure the temperature of the crop to tell which crops are under water stress and the impact of frost damage.

We can also specifically target weeds to reduce costs and minimise the use of chemicals.

From the data, we can then form a prescription map which can be loaded into the tractor to apply different levels of nutrients to certain areas.

Dr Flower said the main reason this technology wasnt being used yet was people in WA not knowing how to utilise the data and creating management strategies, which is where incoming students would help.

In five to 10 years time, a lot of this technology will be used, he said.

For the second part of the day, the students headed to Curtin University where they toured some of the lab facilities with King Yin Lui.

The group then moved onto Murdoch University, visiting the Anatomy Museum and the campus farm.

WA College of Agriculture, Denmark, deputy principal Steve Swallow said university education was becoming more common among students at the school, with about one third of students undertaking the ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) program.

Today we are trying to show students the options in tertiary education at universities which all offer agriculture-related degrees, Mr Swallow said.

Technology seems to have made students more interested in going to university to study an ag-related degree, as I think they realise they need to go university to understand the technology and be able to utilise it correctly.

College of Agriculture, Harvey animal and plant production and biology teacher Colin Newton said the day offered students the chance to meet up with peers from other ag colleges.

The ag colleges are very spread out from one another so this is one of the good opportunities that the students have to network with one another, Mr Newton said.

They can also hear about trends in agriculture, find out about the courses that are on offer and see things that they wouldnt usually get to see in their normal studies.

Year 11 Harvey college student Kristen Batten said she was still uncertain about her career direction, which meant it was important to see what opportunities were available.

I dont know what I want to do after school, so days like this open up some doors as to what is out there to help me decide on what I might want to do, Kristen said.

A career in ag is definitely an option for me, but Im still figuring out what Im going to do.

Year 11 Narrogin college student Ryan Brechin said the tours were eye-opening.

(The day) has given me some ideas of what I can do when I go to university, Ryan said.

I was thinking of doing computer programming, but Im still not sure on what I want to do.
The former chairman of Goldman Sachs in Southeast Asia pleaded guilty to FCPA and money laundering conspiracies in connection with a plot to loot the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.

Tim Leissner, 48, was charged in a two-count criminal information (pdf) unsealed Thursday in federal court in New York.

He pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money and violate the FCPA.

The DOJ said he bribed various Malaysian and Abu Dhabi officials and circumvented Goldmans internal accounting controls.

Leissner was ordered to forfeit $43.7 million as part of his plea deal.

No sentencing date was announced. FCPA-related charges are punishable by up to five years in prison and money-laundering conspiracies by up to 20 years.

The DOJ also unsealed a three-count indictment (pdf) Thursday against another former Goldman managing director who allegedly helped Leissner.

Ng Chong Hwa, 51, also known as Roger Ng, was charged with conspiring to violate the FCPA and launder money.

Ng circumvented Goldmans internal accounting controls, the DOJ said.

Goldman Sachs underwrote more than $6 billion in bonds issued by 1MDB in three separate bond offerings in 2012 and 2013 while Ng was a managing director.

Ng was arrested Thursday in Malaysia pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant issued at the request of the United States, the DOJ said.

The indictment also charged Low Taek Jho, 36, also known as Jho Low, a Malaysian businessman allegedly at the center of the plot to steal billions of dollars from 1MBD, formally known as 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

Low was charged with conspiring to launder money and violate the FCPA by paying bribes to Malaysian and Abu Dhabi officials.

Hes still at large, the DOJ said.

Leissner resigned from Goldman Sachs in February 2016.

Hes married to fashion designer and reality TV star Kimora Lee Simmons. Her television show, Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, aired from 2007 to 2011 on the Style Network.

The DOJ alleged that Low, Ng, Leissner, and others conspired to bribe officials at 1MDB and in Abu Dhabi to win business for Goldman, including the 2012 and 2013 bond deals. They allegedly stole the proceeds from the bond deals and used some of the money to take kickbacks and pay bribes to officials at 1MDB and in Abu Dhabi.

The DOJ said they conspired to launder the money in the United States by buying luxury residential real estate in New York City and elsewhere, and artwork from a New York-based auction house, and by funding major Hollywood films, including the Wolf of Wall Street.

From a bond deal that closed in March 2013, they allegedly diverted more than $1 billion.

They laundered the money at Lows direction by transfers to bank accounts in the name of entities beneficially owned and controlled by Low, Leissner, and others, including 1MDB officials, according to the DOJ.

Low allegedly used $137 million from the stolen money to buy art at a high-end art auction house in New York, New York.

More than $4 million from the deal went to a bank account beneficially owned by a relative of Ng, the DOJ said.

In an online chat between Low and Leissner in June 2014, they talked about the need to suck up to a 1MDB official and to send cakes to a Malaysian officials wife.

A few months later, the DOJ said, a bank account owned and controlled by Leissner and his relative was used to transfer approximately $4.1 million to a high-end New York jeweler, in part, to pay for gold jewelry for the officials wife.

In Malaysia earlier this year, police charged former Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife with laundering money looted from 1MDB.

During raids on the couples houses and condos, Malaysian police recovered $273 million worth of jewelry, handbags, and other valuables.

Police also seized cash in 26 currencies with a total value of $28.6 million.

In earlier court filings, the DOJ alleged that more than $4.5 billion was looted from 1MDB from 2009 through 2015 by high-level officials of the fund and their associates. Najib wasnt named. He was chairman of 1MDB while he was prime minister.

Najibs ruling coalition lost power in elections in May.

The DOJ has already filed forfeiture actions against nearly $1.7 billion in assets linked to 1MDB.

In Singapore, authorities in late 2016 barred Leissner from working in the banking sector for ten years.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore said he issued an unauthorized reference letter to a bank in Luxembourg in June 2015, using Goldman Sachs letterhead.

Leissners letter said Goldman Sachs had conducted due diligence on Mr Low Taek Jho and his family, and had not detected any money laundering concerns with respect to Mr Low or his family.

These statements were untrue and were made by Mr Leissner without Goldman Sachs knowledge or consent, MAS said.

The DOJ said Thursday it had help in the case from the Singapore police and Attorney Generals office, and from prosecutors and police in Malaysia, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.

____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
The former executive director of financial planning at Venezuelas state-owned oil company pleaded guilty Wednesday for his role in a $1.2 billion embezzlement scheme.

Abraham Edgardo Ortega, 51, a Venezuelan national, pleaded guilty in federal court in Miami to one count of a money laundering conspiracy.

Hes scheduled to be sentenced January 9.

Ortega admitted taking $5 million in bribes to give priority loan status to a French company and a Russian bank. Both were minority shareholders in joint ventures with Petroleos de Venezuela SA or PDVSA.

The bribe money came from $1.2 billion embezzled from PDVSA.

Including Ortega, the DOJ has announced guilty pleas by 16 individuals in connection with the investigation into PDVSA bribery.

Last week a former banker at Julilus Baer Group was jailed 10 years for his role in the embezzlement and money-laundering scheme. Matthias Krull, 44, a German national and Panama resident, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Earlier this week, a former PDVSA procurement officer, Ivan Alexis Guedez, 47, of Katy, Texas, pleaded guilty in federal court in Houston to one count of conspiracy to launder money.

The defendants include former PDVSA officials, professional third-party money launderers, and members of the Venezuelan elite, sometimes known as boliburgues, prosecutors said.

Ortegas guilty plea revealed details about a false investment scheme. It was made to look like a payment into a fund. Instead the money was diverted and laundered.

The fake investment scheme was supported by complicit money managers, brokerage firms, banks and real estate investment firms in the United States and elsewhere, operating as a network of professional money launderers.

____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
On August 14, 2018, new amendments to the Russian Code on Administrative Offenses (Administrative Code) related to bribery by legal entities went into effect. The new provisions establish conditions exempting companies from liability for bribery if those companies assist authorities in uncovering and investigating misconduct.

The amendments also enable courts to freeze assets of companies under investigation for bribery.

These new rules are likely to have an impact on how companies operating in Russia approach bribery perpetrated by employees.

While the Russian Criminal Code (Criminal Code) establishes individual criminal liability for receiving and giving bribes, as well as acting as an intermediary (Articles 290, 291, 291.1), the Administrative Code establishes non-criminal (i.e., administrative) corporate liability for bribery, applicable to Russian legal entities and foreign legal entities registered in Russia.

Specifically, pursuant to Article 19.28 of the Administrative Code, the administrative offense of bribery on behalf of a legal entity is defined as giving or offering bribes (i.e., money, securities, anything of value)  in the interest or on behalf of a legal entity  to an official with managerial functions, foreign official, or an official of an international organization in return for an act or omission in connection with their official roles. The penalty for this administrative offense varies from three to one hundred times the amount of the given or offered bribes value.

One of the recently enforced amendments to the Administrative Code establishes mandatory exemptions from corporate liability for bribery. Specifically, in accordance withArticle 19.28 (subparagraph 5) of the Administrative Code, a legal entity will be exempted from liability for bribery of a domestic official if it provides assistance in i) uncovering the misconduct, ii) conducting an administrative investigation, and iii) detecting and investigating a related criminal offense. Legislators excluded bribery of foreign officials and officials of international organizations from this potential exemption for legal entities, consistent with Russias obligations under the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Officials in International Business Transactions.

The amendments that recently entered into force also include a new rule that enables Russian courts to impose an asset freeze on a legal entity under bribery investigation, based on a substantiated motion requesting such a measure filed by a prosecutor. According to Article 27.20 of the Administrative Code, this measure would ensure that legal entities pay penalties for bribery imposed by Russian courts. Under the new rule, the value of assets subject to the freeze must not exceed the potential penalty. If a party disagrees with the courts decision to impose an asset freeze, it can move for the court to re-consider its decision or appeal the courts decision.

According to the recently published inaugural Europe-Caucasus-Asia (ECA) Corruption Survey, 65 percent of respondents on Russia note that corruption is a significant obstacle for companies doing business in the country and only 25 percent of respondents are confident in the effectiveness of the Russian anti-corruption laws. These results are reflective of regional problems in the area of corruption and are consistent with the Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranking Russia 135th out of 180 in 2017 (with the score of 29 on a scale from 100, very clean, to zero, highly corrupt) together with Papua New Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, Honduras, and others. At the same time, the Russian government is undertaking the new legislative initiatives targeting corporate liability for bribery and providing companies with additional incentives to exercise a more transparent and proactive anti-corruption approach.

While it is too early to evaluate the practical impact of these regulatory changes, companies operating in Russia now potentially have a stronger incentive to report bribery by employees and should focus on reflecting these regulatory changes in their anti-corruption compliance programs and approaches.

____

Maryna Kavaleuskaya is an Associate with Miller & Chevalier. She is a common and civil law trained lawyer. Her practice focuses on matters involving the FCPA, anti-corruption due diligence reviews and compliance audits, business and human rights, and other areas of international corporate compliance. Before starting her LL.M. program at Harvard Law School, she practiced law in Belarus where she focused on high-profile criminal cases. Shes fluent in Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian and often works with clients in the Europe Caucasus Asia region.
Turkeys newest airport, planned to be the worlds largest, has been officially opened in Istanbul.

Istanbul Airport will be capable of handling up to 90 million passengers by 2021, with further expansion leading to a total capacity of up to 200 million.

That would be almost double the capacity of the worlds busiest airport last year, Atlanta.

This is another important advantage for Istanbul which could attract even more tourists including more foreigners who come to Turkey for cost effective hair transplant services.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan officially opened the airport on Monday to coincide with the 95th anniversary of modern Turkeys foundation, and the associated public holiday, Republic Day.

The $12bn (9.4bn) project has been spearheaded under Mr Erdogans government, which envisions Istanbul becoming a global transit hub between Asia, Africa and Europe

Istanbuls existing Ataturk Airport will continue to operate as normal until the end of the year, when it will transfer its international code  IST  as its replacement begins to ramp up its capacity.

At the initial phase, five takeoffs and five landings will take place at the airport. Turkeys national flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) made the first flight to Turkish capital Ankara on Oct. 31. The airline company will fly to Turkish resort town Antalya on Nov.1 and to Izmir on Nov. 2 with first international flight to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Nov. 1 and to Azerbaijan on Nov. 8.

It is expected that by the end of the year, 2,000 flights (from over 250 carriers) will go through the airport to over 350 destinations every day.

The new airport is expected to reach its 90-million capacity by 2021; be upgraded to 150 million by 2023; and reach its goal of a 200-million passenger capacity by 2028.

Turkish authorities plan to move all operations from one city airport to another in the space of a day  currently scheduled for the end of December.

Worlds largest duty-free shopping complex

Istanbuls new airport will also be home to the worlds largest duty-free shopping complex. The 53,000 square meter shopping complex will consist of six sections, including luxury stores and bazaar concepts.

After that, Ataturk airport would be closed to passenger traffic, and continue as a private airfield until its current lease expires in 2021.

Istanbuls other, smaller airport, Sabiha Gokcen, is expected to remain operational into the foreseeable future.

For more information about the Istanbul New Airport visit igairport.com

Sources: Daily Sabah/BBC/IGAAirports
HashiCorp, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of cloud infrastructure automation solutions, raised $100m in Series D funding.

The round, which brought the company valuation at $1.9 billion and total funding raised to date to $174m, was led by new investor IVP, with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners and existing investors GGV Capital, Mayfield, Redpoint Ventures, and True Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds to focus on its open source and commercial product development, hiring in global go-to-market functions; and customer success, support, and training efforts for its worldwide customer base.

Led by Dave McJannet, CEO, HashiCorp is a cloud infrastructure automation company that enables organizations to adopt workflows to provision, secure, connect, and run any infrastructure for any application. Its open source tools Vagrant, Packer, Terraform, Vault, Consul, and Nomad are downloaded tens of millions of times each year and are adopted by the Global 2000. Enterprise versions of these products enhance the open source tools with features that promote collaboration, operations, governance, and multi-data center functionality.

HashiCorp now counts more than 50 of the Fortune 500 and over 100 of the Global 2000 among its paying customers and 320 employees.

FinSMEs

01/11/2018
ShipMonk, a Deerfield Beach, Fla.-based provider of inventory management, orders, and shipping solution, closed a $10m Series A financing.

The round was led by SJF Ventures with participation from Grotech Ventures, Supply Chain Ventures, and a strategic group of individual angel investors.

The company will use the financing to continue its expansion, including the addition of a New York location in 2019.

Led by CEO Jan Bednar, ShipMonk provides multi-channel order fulfillment services and inventory management software to small and midsized (SMB) e-commerce companies. The companys API integrations sync directly with customers marketplace platforms and online shopping carts to automatically import orders, which are then processed at ShipMonks two bicoastal warehouse locations. The software offers complete product visibility and order controls.

ShipMonk has over 200 employees across facilities in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Los Angeles, California areas.

FinSMEs

01/11/2018
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 Patient advocacy is working: Patients are being heard and funding for research is increasing.

 Research is coming at metastatic breast cancer from all sides, including immunotherapy.

 New metastatic breast cancer "TARGET-CLUSTER" pilot study announced.

The keynote speaker got the flu and the morning sunshine turned to sloppy rain, but hope, health and science continued to shine brightly at the third annual Northwest Metastatic and Lobular Breast Cancer Conference, held Friday and Saturday in Seattle.

Created for patients by patients, the conference was facilitated by funding from Komen Puget Sound and a slew of sponsors, chief among them Amazon Web Services, which hosted more than 300 patients, researchers, caregivers and vendors at its downtown meeting center for the second year in a row. AWS also provided free livestreaming so thousands of patients across the country could virtually attend (links available here and

here). In addition, there was on-site interpretation and translation for Spanish-speakers, and a side session in Spanish for patients and community health workers was broadcast via the Consulate of Mexico in Seattles Facebook page.

How do you combat metastatic breast cancer which, despite all the advances and the "awareness," still kills roughly 41,000 women and men every year? For these conference organizers, its by disseminating information, clinical trial opportunities and resources as relentlessly as cancer spreads its deadly seeds.
Work with your past self, create paradoxes to use to your advantage, and defeat an evil wizard (easy, right?)
Pinch of Salt: So much to be thankful for
Kurfurstenbad : Godesberg group rejects proposals for alternate use

BAD GODESBERG The citizen group Burger.Bad.Godesberg does not want to see a market hall or a meeting place where the indoor swimming pool used to operate. What will happen to the indoor swimming pool remains unclear.

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Although the Kurfurstenbad indoor swimming pool in Bad Godesberg has been closed for some time now, it hasnt been forgotten. The Bad Godesberg district council had to consider a weighty question from the CDU party at its meeting on Wednesday evening.

The topic: possible uses of the building which houses the pool - which is situated near the music school. Background: Both the council coalition and the administration do not want to reopen the pool - which echoes the results of the first citizen's referendum. The majority of the citizens of Bonn voted in favor of closing the indoor pool.

The suggestions of the CDU in Bad Godesberg have now put the Burger.Bad.Godesberg in a position of having to respond. The members of the group said they did not want to see a market hall in the building, nor a place for associations or groups to meet. "We want a pool to be preserved at this point - regardless of whether it's completely renovated or new," stressed Joachim Schafer, chairman of the group.

The idea of installing a combination pool in Friesdorf is not an alternative. This is only a few hundred meters away from Dottendorf. With that location, it is just as inconvenient for Bad Godesberg residents as the Wasserland Pool, which was shot down in a citizen referendum as well.

The CDU proposals for the Kurfurstenbad also went "exactly in the wrong direction, because they divert attention away from the pool". A market hall in that location competes with Moltkeplatz and clubs gathering at the pool building would weaken the Stadthalle as a venue.
Bonn district council decision : No Sunday shopping during cherry blossom festival

Bonn The district council of Bonn rejected a proposal for Sunday shopping in connection with the cherry blossom festival. Stakeholders and administration, however, are to come together for talks.

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There will not be any Sunday shopping for the cherry blossom festival in Bonn's Old Town next spring. A unanimous rejection was delivered to the group Zeit der Kirschblute (Cherry blossom time). There was, however, political consensus for bringing stakeholders and administration together for talks.

Eight shop owners had requested that shops be allowed to open on Sunday, April14 and the item was put forward on the council agenda. Spokesperson for the initiative, Victoria Harlos said up to 20,000 tourists visited the Old Town every day during the blossoming season over the past few years, and the trend is growing.

Harlos explained that the idea to open stores on a Sunday was not about sales promotion, but rather to add value for visitors. Further, open shops would add to the charm of the Old Town during the cherry blossom fest. She also noted that this part of the city didnt have any Sunday shopping days, in contrast with the inner city. "Five hours - that would only be fair," she explained. But the administration saw it differently, and referred to store opening laws in NRW. "The approval requires a public interest, for example in connection with festivals, markets or trade fairs," said Axel Rei, director at Bonn Citizen Services, and cherry blossoms didnt fall in one of these categories.

Another "event" would "greatly overburden" the infrastructure of the Old Town. Local residents have to contend with high traffic volumes, noise and rubbish because of the rush of visitors, and this would be exacerbated by Sunday shopping. Especially since the weather-dependent event cannot really be scheduled.

The administration said it wanted to accommodate those who came forward with the request by allowing them to put information stands in front of the shops - for those who apply for a special permit. One politicians asked if the idea of Sunday shopping was supported by all the businesses, another mentioned the danger of increasing commercialization, and another sympathized with residents.

Varying positions have led in the past to quarrels and complaints at the cherry blossom festival. "A lack of toilets, overflowing garbage bins... tourist buses in the narrow streets, traffic jams and not enough seating", spelled out district mayor Brigitta Poppe-Reiners. She invited stakeholders for a discussion about the situation.

And the question of who will finance the mobile toilets remains. "Business people cannot get stuck with the costs. The district has no budget for this. I want to discuss the matter with Tourismus und Congress GmbH, which will ultimately benefit from the event," says Poppe-Reiners. "Under no circumstances should the residents have to do the clean-up work after all the commotion."
The 5,655-carat Lion Emerald Credit: Gemfields

A giant and extremely rare emerald worth an estimated 2 million ($2,549,954) has been discovered at a mine in Zambia. The gemstone is a whopping 5,655 carats.









The above post is reprinted from Gemfields

Geologist Debapriya Rakshit and experienced miner Richard Kapeta uncovered the impressive 5,655-carat emerald inside the largest open-pit mine in Kagem, which is partially owned by Gemfields  a London-based mining company. The gemstones inside the mine reportedly formed hundreds of millions of years ago.The 5,655-carat Zambian emerald crystal has "remarkable clarity and a perfectly balanced golden green hue," Gemfields described in a Monday news release.It was spotted on Oct. 2 in the eastern part of the Kagem mine, where a team of miners has found luck in the past few months."This area of the mine has proven to be particularly fertile in recent months with the Kagem team recovering several significant crystals there, but none with the combined size, color and clarity of the Lion Emerald," the mining company said.Elena Basaglia, a Gemfields gemmologist, called the discovery an "important find" for the emerald world.We are experiencing strikingly increased demand for high-quality Zambian emeralds from the major brands, particularly in Europe, all of whom admire the rich color and unique transparency of our gems  qualities that make them unique among emeralds," Basaglia said in an online statement. "Its difficult to estimate how many individual gems will be cut from Inkalamu, but the cutting expertise of Gemfields auction partners will mean that this gemstone will make its mark in the history books of exceptional gemstones."Gemfields named the huge rock the "Inkalamu," which translates to "lion" in the local Bemba language, to honor its 3-year partnership with non-profits the Niassa Carnivore Project and Zambian Carnivore Program."These partners work tirelessly to smooth the relationship between Africas carnivores and local communities across vast, remote and challenging areas. The health of carnivores, is widely regarded as a good indicator of the health of the wider eco-system due to carnivores status at the top of the local food chain," Gemfields said.We expect a number of large, fine-quality cut emeralds to be borne of the Inkalamu crystal, Adrian Banks, managing director for product and sales at Gemfields, said in a statement.These important pieces are what return value to the buyer, and there might be hundreds of offcuts that are fashioned into smaller gems, cabochons and beads, but the key lies in recovering the fine quality pieces. Given this emerald is such a rare find, it is also perfectly conceivable that the buyer will choose to purchase it as an investment.
OAKVILLE, Ontario, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giyani Metals Corporation (TSXV:WDG, GR: A2DUU8) (Giyani or the Company) is pleased to announce that the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in Botswana has approved the Companys proposal to clean up the old mine tailings at its three prospects K.Hill, Otse, and Lobatse, within the framework defined by an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) that was submitted by Giyani to the DEA in Botswana in September of this year. The Company believes its clean up proposal is both advantageous for the local communities and a viable route for early economic return for the Company.



Robin Birchall, CEO of Giyani Metals Corp. commented:

We are very pleased with this decision by the DEA in Botswana. This will enable Giyani to implement a cost effective and reasonably quick EMP to rehabilitate the three sites and make them much safer than they are today. By doing so, the Company believes it will be able to collect the manganese bearing stockpile material from all three sites and process it into a valuable product that could generate cashflow for further project development.

Environmental Management Plan

Working closely with the DEA in Botswana, the Giyani team, in partnership with a local environmental consulting firm, inspected the three sites K.Hill, Otse, and Lobatse where previous manganese mining operations existed several years ago. The sites were left unrehabilitated and currently constitute various degrees of physical risks and negative impact on the local environment. The Giyani proposal included three EMPs uniquely designed for each site to address specific issues. Giyani has also been working very closely with the local communities recently to take their input into the process and ensure the EMPs are designed to produce a satisfactory outcome that will enhance conditions in the area.

Giyani has started the EMP work on the ground, including continuous consultations with the local communities and archaeological studies as agreed with the DEA. The Company will provide updates on the progress of the EMPs as milestones are achieved.

About Giyani

Giyani Metals Corp. is a Canadian based junior exploration company focused on creating shareholder value by accelerating the development of its high-grade manganese project in the Kanye Basin, Botswana, Africa.

Additional information and corporate documents may be found on www.sedar.com and on Giyani Metals Corp. website: http://giyanimetals.com/ .

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Giyani Metals Corp.

Robin Birchall, CEO

Contact:

Giyani Metals Corporation

Robin Birchall

CEO, Director

+447711313019

rbirchall@giyanimetals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, the financial picture of the Company etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statement.
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In the 1950s, while doing research for a book on political participation, the social scientist James Q. Wilson found himself attending a lot of citizen engagement meetings on urban planning. Eventually he reached a conclusion that seemed obvious to him, but that public officials, and especially political reformers, didnt talk much about. Wilsons insight was that most citizens dont attend meetings to endorse a policy, to give their blessing to a new project, or to sit back and learn. They show up to complain -- to say no to whats being proposed.Its not hard for a local government to fill an assembly hall for a session on airplane noise or the need for a new four-lane road through town. But nine times out of 10, the people arent there to tell the government to keep up the good work. Theyre there because theyre upset.One reason most public officials dont talk much about this is that it runs counter to the deeply held American belief that the broadest possible public participation is good for democracy. Its true that a significant portion of the time, the ambitious plans of local government arent good policy. In those cases, somebody really does need to speak up against them.The decade that followed Wilsons research produced perhaps the most dramatic triumph for citizen participation in modern American history: the victory of Jane Jacobs and her band of citizen activists over New York Citys super-planner Robert Moses, and the abandonment of Moses scheme to bulldoze much of Lower Manhattan with gigantic expressways.Jacobs crusade marked the beginning of a period in which public participation and civic activism became untouchable articles of faith in American local government. Candidates in every corner of the country began running on a platform of more civic engagement, more transparency, more chances for ordinary citizens to show up at meetings and make their feelings known. They are still doing it.Virtually no one runs for office these days saying what Wilson implied in the 1950s -- that mass meetings and listening sessions make it more difficult for a local government to enact any complex instrument of public policy, good or bad. Bostons Big Dig, the highway and tunnel project that ended up costing $24 billion and taking 25 years to complete, was made a good deal slower and more expensive than anyone expected because numerous cadres of citizen activists, environmentalists, preservationists, and others had to be consulted and mollified before work could proceed.These days, it is almost impossible to find any local official willing to entertain Wilsons insights -- at least in public. One of the few current officeholders who will go on the record challenging the conventional wisdom is Christopher Cabaldon, the iconoclastic, provocative and often eloquent mayor of West Sacramento, Calif. Several years ago, Cabaldon appeared on apanel that asked a small group of mayors how they apportioned their time and how they wanted to spend it. Cabaldon was asked about the number of hours he spent at town halls and other mass meetings. Too many, the mayor said. Public meetings take up huge amounts of time and rarely produce anything of genuine value.More recently, Cabaldon expanded on his views to an audience in Texas. Public meetings, he said, generate a warped sense of what the community is all about. They attract the affluent, the angry and the articulate. They do a poor job of expressing the views of the ordinary citizen. When we generate instant opinion, we are empowering desires in the community that are not necessarily representative.  If we were responsive to every one of the citizen complaints, we would change from being one of the most progressive governments to one of the most regressive.Cabaldon isnt a household name in Austin, but now would be a good time for that citys leaders to consider what he has been saying. Austin just spent five years working on a massive new planning and zoning project and ended up unable to pass anything. There was plenty of public involvement in this process; one might reasonably argue that there was too much.No one disputes that Austin needed to do something about its zoning code. Written in the 1980s, it was so badly riddled with waivers and exemptions that even real estate developers had trouble figuring it out. In 2012, the city council approved Imagine Austin, a comprehensive plan for the city that extended all the way out to 2040 and covered everything from transportation and housing to recreation and nutrition. One of the provisions of Imagine Austin declared the need for a new zoning code, with work to start on it immediately.The work did begin promptly, and the new effort, known as CodeNext, attracted what one proponent called a tidal wave of input from neighborhood associations. By 2017, the city had received some 4,000 comments and 60 position papers. I think it was a bit overwhelming, says Greg Guernsey, the city planner who was in charge of CodeNext at the time.But it soon became clear that the feel-good spirit of Imagine Austin, with its lofty rhetoric declaring the city a beacon of sustainability, social equity and economic opportunity, did not extend to ground-level decisions that had to be made in the new document. Virtually all of the citys activists paid lip service to the idea of creating affordable housing, but differed on where it should go.The more progressive housing activists were convinced that the number of affordable units the city needed -- as many as 65,000 over the next decade, by one estimate -- could be produced only through adding density to the citys residential neighborhoods, mostly by creating more accessory dwelling units on single-family lots and allowing medium-sized apartment buildings to be built on blocks of one- or two-story homes. The neighborhoods werent buying this. Homeowners imagined eight-story condo towers dwarfing their modest bungalows. The city, which had been assiduous in conducting more than 100 listening sessions before it sat down to write, didnt do a very good job of quieting peoples fears.The second version of CodeNext was finished in the fall of 2017. It moved most of the projected affordable housing to busy commercial corridors where tall apartment buildings wouldnt offend homeowners. This placated the neighborhood associations, but it left the housing activists complaining that there simply wasnt enough space on these corridors to give the city more than a fraction of the affordable units it needed.So the planners went back one more time and produced CodeNext 3, an attempt to forge a compromise the two sides could each accept. It didnt work. The neighborhoods remained wary, and the housing activists continued to argue that the number of affordable units likely to be created was much too small. You just have this tiny narrow strip where theyre allowing development, said a spokesman for AURA, a grassroots housing advocacy group. They havent widened out the corridors at all.The only thing certain about CodeNext 3 was that it didnt have enough votes on the city council to become law. On Aug. 1, Mayor Steve Adler admitted defeat. It seems evident, he wrote, that were not going to get to a place of sufficient consensus. He described the entire process as divisive and poisoned  marked with misinformation. The mayor asked the city manager to come up with a new plan, but offered no specifics on what that might involve.It would be going too far to say that civic engagement killed CodeNext. But the more that mass meetings were held and the more that people morphed from passive citizens to activists, the harder it became to hammer out a deal. This started out as a battle between diehard neighborhood activists and a couple hundred urban activists, one participant recalled. Then it grew to include hundreds, thousands of new people.It isnt hard to imagine how something like this would have been handled in the 1960s. A select group of middle-aged white businessmen, led by the mayor and the chamber of commerce, would have spent a few weekends squirrelled away in a country club and emerged with a master plan for the citys future. This is literally what happened in Dallas in 1966.No one is suggesting a return to that style of government. Cabaldon isnt arguing for it. Simply trusting the elected officials to make all the decisions, he admitted, is not the right answer either.But paying a little attention to the insights of Cabaldon and Wilson might not be a bad idea. Public policy doesnt get better just because more people are showing up to meetings. Often it gets worse. It improves when voters elect officeholders with a pragmatic sensibility and then give them some leeway to do the right thing and explain their decisions to the public. Thats called representative government. Its a lovely thing when it works.
Governments around the nation are working to design the best vaccine policies that keep both their employees and their residents safe. Although the latest data shows a variety of polarizing perspectives, there are clear emerging best practices that leading governments are following to put trust first: creating policies that are flexible and provide a range of options, and being in tune with the needs and sentiments of their employees so that they are able to be dynamic and accommodate the rapidly changing situation.
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Rhode Island Board of Education must provide free public education to students with disabilities until they reach age 22.The appellate courts decision vacates the U.S. District Courts finding and leaves it to the District Court, working with the Department of Education and the plaintiffs, to develop a solution.Sonja L. Deyoe, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs, said about 1,600 students are affected by this decision.The Rhode Island Department of Education said the 1st Circuit Courts ruling calls for Free and Appropriate Public Education to be provided to people with disabilities until age 22. This conflicts with current state law, which states that such services are provided to age 21.We received the ruling just Monday evening, said RIDE spokeswoman Meg Geoghegan. We are in the process of reviewing the decision and cannot yet comment.The plaintiffs, a young adult with special needs and a group of similar individuals, argued that Rhode Island had failed to provide a free, appropriate public education to students with disabilities, as required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.The plaintiff says Rhode Island provides public education to young adults without disabilities between the ages of 21 and 22 but does not provide special-education services to people with special needs of the same age.
Alabama voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed in schools and government buildings in the state.By greater than a three-to-one margin, voters in the state supported the controversial ballot initiative that almost certainly will invite court battles over the First Amendment.The amendment effort was led by by Dean Young, a Christian activist who once served as an aide to Roy Moore, the former chief justice who made national headlines in 2001 when he had a 5,200-pound granite monument of the Ten Commandments installed in the rotunda of the state courthouse.Moore caused a firestorm of controversy 17 years ago when he installed the Biblical monument on public grounds. Several groups including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Southern Poverty Law Center sued, and a federal court ordered Moore to remove the monument. Moore announced his intention to defy the court ruling; ultimately he was removed from office in 2003 and the monument was removed from courthouse grounds. (Moore was reelected to the bench in 2012 and again served as chief justice until 2017, when he resigned after having been suspended for several ethics violations. His 2017 run for a special U.S. Senate election ended unsuccessfully amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.)Young saw the Ten Commandments amendment as an affirmation by the states residents of their commitment to faith. Do the people of Alabama want to acknowledge God, the God of the Old and New Testament, the Christian God? Do we want to acknowledge the God that our nation was founded upon? Alabamians will vote, they will reckon on that day with God how they vote on this, that's how serious this is," Young told the Associated Press earlier this year. "Either we stand for God or we won't."Support of open displays of religious objects remains strong, but it has declined somewhat in recent years. In 2005, 83 percent of Americans believed it was acceptable to display Christmas symbols on government property. By 2014, around 75 percent did.In Alabama, political contributions for the measure, which totaled a little more than $27,000, consisted almost solely of a loan given to the campaign in support of the amendment by Young himself.As in 2001, the ACLU pushed back, as did one prominent state Republican. Bill Hightower, a state senator who unsuccessfully ran for governor earlier this year, said while he personally believes in the Ten Commandments, he is "much more interested in [them] being written on someone's heart, not on a wall."Hightower and others believed that any attempts to install the Ten Commandments would only lead to another lawsuit, one the state cannot win. They are the greatest groups of laws that have changed the course of history of mankind for a long time," Hightower said during a candidate debate this spring. "There is no doubt on their impact to the world. But this law? I don't believe it will be a big issue for us. We can't defend it."But Young and other supporters said that's exactly what they want: a legal challenge to the amendment that ends up in federal court, ultimately resulting in a Supreme Court decision on the matter. And with the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh giving the high court a reliable conservative majority, Young and other advocates may have reason to be optimistic.
Every 10 years, political battle lines deepen as one party accuses another of manipulating district boundaries to win more seats. The fight over 2010 restricting is still ongoing In June, a federal court ordered Virginia to redraw legislative districts it deemed to be gerrymandered along racial lines. In two other cases, one that accused Republicans of partisan gerrymandering in Wisconsin and another accusing Democrats in Maryland, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to offer a definitive opinion on the issue.With the court unwilling to take a stand on partisan gerrymandering, advocates of redistricting reform took the issue directly to voters in four states. On Tuesday, residents in Colorado, Missouri, Michigan and Utah voted on whether to limit partisanship and promote transparency in redistricting.In a significant victory for advocates of reform, voters approved the measures in Michigan, Colorado and Missouri. Utah's Proposition 4 is still awaiting results but is leading in the votes counted so far.Its a big deal, said Wendy Underhill, director of the National Conference of State Legislatures' elections and redistricting team. From 2010 to 2017, there were five measures on statewide ballots that address similar things. Now, there are five in a single year. (The fifth this year being in Ohio, where voters approved a measure on primary ballots in May to make the drawing of congressional districts more independent and less partisan.)Michigan and Colorado will join California and Arizona in adopting the country's most independent redistricting processes, says Michael Li, senior counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice. The new commissions will transfer the power to approve election maps from lawmakers to a group of carefully vetted citizens.Each of Tuesday's proposals varies in scope.In Missouri, Amendment 1 will task a nonpartisan demographer with drawing district maps. The maps will then need to be approved or changed by a 70 percent vote from the existing commission.If approved, Utahs Proposition 4 would establish a seven-person commission of members chosen by the governor and state legislative leaders. As in the other states, an applicant would be disqualified for lobbying or being a candidate for political office within the four years before appointment to the commission.Redistricting reform advocates argue these measures will reduce lawmakers control and give citizens more power in the process.But some critics contend that they will give more power to Democrats over Republicans.Katie Fahey and her team founded Voters Not Politicians to develop and campaign for the Michigan proposal. Michigans amendment will create a redistricting commission composed of four Democrats, four Republicans and five members of third parties -- who would be selected from a pool weighted to reflect Michigans geographic and demographic makeup. Applicants for this commission would also be restricted by current and past political work.In Colorado, Amendments Y and Z deal with congressional and legislative redistricting respectively. The changes will create a 12-member commission consisting of four members of the states largest political party, four members from the second largest party and four unaffiliated members. Members would be selected through a combination of methods, including randomized drawings and appointments by former judges. Being a lobbyist or elected official in the state within the last three years will disqualify someone from serving on the commission.The inclusion of unaffiliated members is especially important in Colorado because the state has about 1.2 million active independent voters, said Curtis Hubbard, a spokesperson for Fair Maps Colorado, a bipartisan group that backed Amendment Z. That's roughly one-third of the state's total active voters.This was done less as a response to perceived gerrymandering, Hubbard said. This was really done with an eye to the future and an understanding that the previous processes weve had were highly partisan.  Theres got to be a better way.One key component for the Colorado, Michigan and Utah measures is the inclusion of public participation.Redistricting is an infamously secretive process, said Li. Its not always clear who is actually drawing the maps. Redistricting meetings also tend to be held behind closed doors, where newer politicians who dont understand what theyre doing defer to party leaders for guidance, said Li. To push back on that tradition, all three states would require the commissions to consider feedback from residents on proposed district maps.Not everyone is convinced the independent commissions will be fair.The conservative Michigan Freedom Fund campaigned against Michigans ballot measure. The executive director of the group, Tony Daunt, said it is problematic because regular citizens, unlike politicians, are accountable to no one.In Colorado, Douglas Bruce, a former Republican state legislator, drove the opposition.Y and Z schemers leave selection of 'neutral' commissioners to retired state judges, Bruce wrote in an op-ed for The Coloradoan . Instead of random drawings of applicants, judges will pick whom they like. Democrat governors have named judges 36 of the last 44 years. The pool of judges for this task is highly liberal and totally unaccountable.Tuesday's victories for redistricting reform could bring a "shocking wave of change," said NCSL's Underhill.No matter your political affiliation, independent redistricting is about having a voice, said Fahey.I think one message that resonated in the 2016 election is that the establishment is not working, said Fahey. I think if anything, people want their power back. I think a lot of us are tired of politicians making promises they cant follow through on.
A federal appeals court on Wednesday ordered boards of election in Ohio to count provisional election ballots for the 2018 midterm elections that are cast by certain people previously purged from the state's voter rolls.A three-judge panel from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that votes cast by people purged from the rolls between 2011 and 2015 must be counted if they still live in the same county of their last registration and if they are not disqualified from voting because of a felony conviction, mental incapacity or death.(You can read the ruling here or at the bottom of this story.)The panel's injunction comes as progressive advocacy groups appeal Senior U.S. District Judge George Smith's decision to dismiss a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jon Husted that said notices the state sent to inactive voters were inadequate under federal law.Should the groups be successful on appeal, some voters may be wrongly denied the ability to vote unless the injunction is in place, the panel wrote.It comes six days before the Nov. 6 election date and well into the period where Ohio residents can vote early.Naila Awan, an attorney for the legal group Demos representing two groups that sued Husted over the voter purge, said the injunction could affect a few thousand voters whose ballots would otherwise not be counted. More than 7,500 voters had their provisional ballots counted under the aforementioned guidelines in the 2016 presidential election, the 6th Circuit judges wrote.She said all people who think they are eligible to vote should cast provisional ballots, in the chance the ballots may be counted. She also noted that many races in Ohio have been decided by slim margins.Husted, a Republican running for lieutenant governor on a ticket with Attorney General Mike DeWine, said Wednesday that he disagreed with the ruling but that it is "temporary and narrow in scope." He said he will not appeal to avoid "an unnecessary source of contention with an election only five days away.""Ohio is, and will remain, a leader in elections administration because of our commitment to making it easy to vote and hard to cheat," Husted said.Kathleen Clyde, a Kent Democrat vying to be secretary of state, issued a statement applauding the ruling."I am happy Ohioans who were wrongly purged from the rolls will be allowed to cast a ballot and have that ballot counted," she said in a statement issued by her campaign.The Ohio A. Philip Randolph Institute and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, which sued in 2016, claimed the state's voter purge processes were illegal under federal laws that bar states from using voter inactivity to spark removal from the rolls, and contended it amounted to voter suppression.A divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that Ohio's voter purging processes were constitutional. The latest legal dispute focuses on the forms the state sent to inactive voters.The groups said all voters the state deleted from its rolls from 1995 through 2016 through a disputed process were actually removed unlawfully because the state's notices to inactive voters didn't comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.Smith disagreed in an opinion issued earlier this month and said the forms complied with federal law.The 6th Circuit panel did not fully rule on Smith's decision but said the advocacy groups have a good chance of winning at the appellate level. The groups argue that inactive voters weren't definitively told that their registrations would be cancelled if they didn't respond to the notice or vote within a four-year period.Federal law says such notices must say a voter "will be removed," or something to that effect, if they do not confirm their current information or vote, the judges wrote. Ohio's notices say that a voter's name "may be removed" or their registration "may be cancelled" if they do not respond or vote, the order states.While Smith ruled against this argument, the appellate judges wrote that they were "less sure that the district court came to the correct legal conclusions."The panel rejected another request from the groups to bar the state from purging any voters who received notices prior to August 2016, reasoning that it will not affect next week's election.
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GIS 01 November, 2018: Twenty-three projects by Mauritian artists including two Rodriguans will be receiving financial grants under the Twenty-three projects by Mauritian artists including two Rodriguans will be receiving financial grants under the National Arts Fund (NAF) to the tune of Rs 9 million ranging from Rs 70 000 to Rs 800 000 for the realisation of their projects.

The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun made this announcement yesterday during a press meet at the Hennessey Park Hotel in Ebene in the presence of other personalities.

He recalled that the NAF launched its first call for projects on 25th July 2018 under four Arts Grant Schemes namely the Emerging Talents Grant, the Production Grant, the Capacity Building Grant and the Research Grant. He pointed out that the NAF received 56 applications out of which only the 23 projects were selected following different screening stages. The projects are as follows: five projects under Emerging Talents Grant, 15 projects under Production Grant, and three projects under Research Grant.

The Minister underlined that the NAF has been set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Arts and Culture to give a new thrust to the Mauritian creative arts industry through financing of creative arts projects, schemes and events in relation to arts development such as music recording, concerts, and sales and exhibition of art works. To this regard, he indicated that Budget 2017-2018 had earmarked Rs 50 million to finance these activities.

Furthermore, Minister Roopun dwelt on new budgetary measures 2018-2019 whereby Government is increasing subsidy for the production of CDs from Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 and is also extending the VAT Refund Scheme to cover musical instruments purchased by local artists registered with the Mauritius Society of Authors. The objective, he underlined is to support artists by better integrating them in the mainstream of economic development and at the same time optimising the potential of the creative sector for economic growth, job creation and social inclusion.

He also spoke on the Artist Bill which he indicated will be introduced in the National Assembly early next year. The Bill, he said, will contribute to improving the economic and social working conditions of artists, and define the legal status of professional artists .

Speaking of the Grant Schemes, Minister Roopun highlighted that cinema under the category performing arts is being included in the second call for proposals. The aim, he said, is to finance local production given that the cinema industry is a potential pillar of the Mauritian economy as well as to identify the young talents in the country.
Description

GIS  01 November, 2018: A half-day seminar on the theme The role of Mauritius in linking Africa and Asia was held today at the Ebene branch of the University of Mauritius in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo. The Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment, Mr Alain Wong, the Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to Mauritius, Mr Sun Gongyi, and other personalities were also present on the occasion.

Organised by the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China in collaboration with the University of Mauritius, the seminar aimed at providing a platform for the holding of panel discussions. Speakers from the University of Mauritius, the Economic Development Board, the Prime Ministers Office, the Bank of China (Mauritius) Ltd, and Business Mauritius addressed the participants. Their interventions were followed by a question and answer session.

In his address, Minister Lutchmeenaraidoo highlighted that, since Africa is a vital continent with some 30% of global natural resources and has the youngest population around the globe, Mauritius can serve as a link between Africa and Asia, and as a lighthouse for the region. He underscored that India and China have a major role to play in the future.

He underscored that Mauritius, in a bid to link Africa and Asia, needs to sign several free trade agreements. The country, he stated, is already a stakeholder in the African Continental Free Trade Area and agreements are already being prepared with some 12 African countries for bilateral cooperation. Furthermore, the Mauritian financial sector can be a significant focal point for massive foreign investment on the African continent, he added.

For his part, Ambassador Gongyi underlined that 2018 is a historical year for bilateral relations between Mauritius and China, following the friendship visit of the Chinese President, Mr Xi Jinping, to Mauritius as well as the participation of the Mauritian Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, in the 3rd Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit.

Mauritius, he observed, whether through bilateral cooperation with China, multilateral cooperation under FOCAC, or tripartite cooperation, has the required potential and assets to play an active role in the implementation of the eight major initiatives enunciated in the FOCAC summit. China will earmark some USD 60 billion in view of supporting the African continent to implement the eight initiatives, he added.
With tens of thousands of collisions between emergency and civilian vehicles each year, the notice of flashing lights and sirens isnt cutting it.The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded a $1.1-million contract to HAAS Alert , a Chicago-based startup, to answer the problem with mobile technology to help responding EMR vehicles warn approaching drivers, according to a news release. The contract directs HAAS to collect input from active and retired first responders nationwide via the Science and Technology Directorate's First Responder Resource Group, then design a solution to meet their needs and reduce collisions.HAAS Alert Chief Operating Officer Noah Levens said the contract gives the company 12 to 18 months to develop new hardware  namely, a mobile advanced warning device (AWD) for responder-to-vehicle communication  and retool its existing software, which is being used by various fire, police and even towing and utility fleets in about 50 cities. The news release said HAAS Alert uses in-vehicle systems and smartphone apps to stream real-time safety messages to nearby phones and connected cars when emergency vehicles are approaching or on scene.Levens said reporting on such collisions is inconsistent nationwide, but several studies demonstrate the problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration records about 60,000 emergency vehicle collisions a year, and the National Fire Protection Association has reported that one in five firefighter deaths over the last decade occurred en route to or from a call.Collisions are not only tragic but also potentially expensive, sometimes costing $1 million or more in litigation.Just having your windows up and doing another action, most of the time its a phone, can take the alert radius down from 1,400 feet to 200 feet, which means the average person has about four seconds to respond, Levens said. Four seconds to respond to a fire truck barreling down the road at 50 miles an hour blowing an intersection, thats the problem.Stumping for HAAS Alerts product, Levens pointed to a 2014 study by the University of Minnesota that AWDs reduce the odds of a crash by 60 to 90 percent.The thing with first response, historically, has always been, Just make the lights brighter, change the flash patterns, make the sirens louder. Weve maxed that out, he said. There are lawsuits now that first responders are losing their hearing because the sirens are too loud.  Its time for something else.HAAS Alerts new solution will supplement lights and sirens, not replace them, but exactly what it will entail depends on input from first responders. How the alert is displayed, how visual or sound-based it will be, what it will look or sound like  those details will depend somewhat on manufacturers of phones and cars, too. But Levens wants to coordinate with them to create an iconography for the alert, akin to a low-oil light or other universally recognized symbols in cars, and he said the alert radius will be adjustable.Levens expects the alert will reach people through in-dash connections in newer vehicles, the navigation apps on their phones, and also through wireless emergency alerts and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. The system will also issue alerts to other responders in the area.A lot of communities polled said that if theyre responding to an incident, there could be multiple types of departments from surrounding communities all converging on one location, said Cory Hohs, CEO of HAAS Alert.Levens said some fire truck manufacturers have already started building proprietary digital alert systems into their vehicles, and the NFPA is working on industry standards. With autonomous vehicles on the horizon, he said, soon it will be more important to notify vehicles of upcoming hazards than to notify drivers.Whats important about CV2X [cellular vehicle-to-everything] technology is  cars need to know this information prior to a camera or short-range sensor picking up this information, he said.
See the text below that I read earlier this morning. Most of this is on the money in my book.I'm readingby James M Kendra and Tricia Wachtendorf."Scholars have struggled for precision in defining such concepts as disaster as well as related terms, including resilience, vulnerability, crisis, and recovery. They grapple, too, with the ideas of catastrophe and megacrisis; dozens of definitions exist for each of these terms (Perry 2006). This murkiness has real-world consequences for how high-level policy makers and street-level emergency managers make decisions about how and where to direct their funding and attention.They affect how officials view the nature of a future disaster, and how they diagnose and respond to an unfolding crisis. None of the definitions for disaster is perfect. In many ways, those that depend most on numbers are least satisfactory. Take the number of fatalities or the amount of economic loss, for instanceeach has a different significance based on the scale of society that is affected. For this reason, most scholars now hold a concept of disaster that contains an implicit sliding scale, where the magnitude of the impact is considered alongside the characteristics of the society that has experienced the event, including local capacity for response.Nor can it be assumed that all hazards will have similar consequences. The decisions that people make for habitation, recreation, and commerce expose them to environmental extremes, influenced by historical conditions of social and economic development and by present efforts for planning and disaster mitigation (Mitchell 2003). For this reason, one sees different outcomes to earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, for example. The mismatch between natural, technical, and social systems (Mitchell 1990) creates conditions that make people more prone to harm. Disasters, in turn, result when the risk, which is a probability, is realized in an actual event. Nevertheless, all the definitions involve some notion of a social system being overwhelmed and unable to meet its needs, thus requiring assistance from elsewhere.Some transformation of the natural and built environment occurs that leaves the area unable to provide its usual support for residents, workers, and visitors (Dombrowsky 1998). One particularly long-lasting concept of disaster describes it as follows: An event, concentrated in time and space, in which a society, or a relatively self-sufficient subdivision of a society, undergoes severe danger and incurs such losses to its members and physical appurtenances that the social structure is disrupted and the fulfillment of all or some of the essential functions of the society is prevented. (Fritz 1961: 655)
(TNS)  Susan Earle took a breath as she stepped up to the lectern at a Walworth County Board meeting in July.She said it was her 60th birthday, and it was 26 days before her retirement and her last day as a dispatcher in the Walworth County Communications Center.Her voice started to break with emotion. She said she didnt know Sheriff Kurt Picknell would be in the room when she spoke during public comment.Her final, emotional plea to the county government: Hire more dispatchers.It was with deep struggle to finally decide to retire, Earle said through tears. The communications division is a highly stressful position.I wanted to have the chance to tell you while I was still an employee  that this is something you need to do now before you lose more people.The center has four vacancies, which officials described as unusually high. But Earle thinks even what constitutes a full staff is not enough.Sheriffs Capt. Jamie Green, who oversees the center, and Undersheriff Kevin Williams downplayed Earles claims and said a study set to begin in early 2019 will reveal whether the center is understaffed.When Susan said that they needed more dispatchers and that up there, I dont know that we can factually say that that is accurate or not, Williams said earlier this month. I think that is her personal opinion.As I sit here, it [the study] may say we may need more people. It may say we dont need more people, Williams continued. I honestly dont know, and thats why were gonna go through the process.To be clear, Earle said, she holds no ill will toward the center or the sheriffs office. She loved her job and said she retired because she was ready for retirement, not because the stress forced her out.Still, she is equally firm in her belief that staffing increases are necessary  even when acknowledging budget constraints and how the problem is not exclusive to Walworth County or to Wisconsin.We need to increase our staffing before  you lose more [dispatchers], Earle toldearlier this month. Because its the stress level that just builds and builds and builds.And then suddenly its like, You know what? This is not worth it.Every day is differentEarle said she was born, raised and still lives in the town of La Grange.When Earle first started in 1985, she said she was paid $8 an hour and the insurance was phenomenal.Now, the center has four open positions. One job description posted on the sheriffs office Facebook page listed pay at $19.52 to $26.45 hourly.These employees are often faced with individuals in traumatic or crisis situations, the countys website states.Throughout traumatic or crisis situations, the dispatchers must maintain their focus on their dispatching duties while dealing with the individuals involved.The communications centers six work stationseach set up with seven computer monitors  fill up a room on the second floor of the sheriffs office in Elkhorn.A supervisor is on each of the three shifts along with at least two other dispatchers. Second shift  3 to 11 p.m.  typically is the busiest shift, Green said. Although three is the minimum number of staffers on duty, a few more sometimes are added.Dispatchers in 2017 received about 125,000 calls  21,884 of which were 911 calls, according to the sheriffs office annual report. That number of 911 calls is down from 22,842 in 2016.Green pointed out that several calls can come in for one major incident, such as a car crash involving several parties.Dispatchers take calls from 13 law enforcement and 13 fire/rescue departments throughout the county, but they do not handle dispatch for Whitewater, Delavan and Lake Geneva.Dispatchers go through training and extensive background checks that can take between six and eight weeks and training, Green said.Dispatchers are trained in a public safety telecommunicator course through the Association of Public Communications and the emergency medical dispatch course. The two are a minimum of 16 weeks, according to the annual report.But no matter what training a dispatcher receives, unpredictability ranging from the mundane to life-and-death matters is part of the job.Every day is different, Green said. You can answer a 911 call with someone not breathing, and then the next phone call could be someone inquiring about whether they need a permit to launch their boat.When asked how everything is going in the dispatch center, Green said busy, as usual.The 2019 study will look at staffing levels, call volume and workload, he said.The study next year could be completed in time to reflect any requested changes in the 2020 county budget. Green said the 2019 budget, which has not yet been approved, contains no staffing changes for the center.Williams pointed to a study during the 2000s that recommended staffing levels the communications center is now meeting. If those levels have changed, the new study will show that, he said.Williams, who used to run the communications center before he became undersheriff, said a newly formed county group  the Emergency Communications Advisory Committee  will have a broader scope than a similar group  the 911 Governing Board  from years before.The new committee will help standardize procedures, which Green said was one of his goals when he started in his position in 2016. Green is listed as one of the seven members from law enforcement, fire departments and emergency medical services to be appointed, according to county documents.Although the sheriffs office and the county will be examining the communications center, Williams said the sheriffs administration is pleased with the work dispatchers are doing.Green said Earle had not talked to him before she made her comments at the county meeting, and the plan for the 2019 study was made well before July.Earle said she started noticing troubles with staffing about five or six years ago.On top of the staffing changes, Earle suggested switching to 12-hour shifts. Years ago, the county had part-time dispatchers, which Earle suggested could come back to smooth out the schedule.Green said staffing has been consistent since he started in the position. He said he does not believe others in the center share Earles concerns.As it relates to work  my interpretation is they all have a view that they are helping and doing well, Green said. But any given day because they are individuals and they are people, they have events outside of work that cause stress, too.Its hard to predict that.Retired life is still busy for Earle, which is just how she likes it.She still works part time at the Evergreen Country Club, where the craze of a Friday night fish fry rivals the buzzing dispatch center, she joked. She has more time to see her two kids. She is always looking for nonprofit or community involvement.But if there was a way for her to go back to the dispatch center and work part-time to help her coworkers out, she said she would walk through the door in a minute.If a tornado were to blow through this county, Id go in to work and say, You dont have to pay me. Ill just sit here and answer the phone, Earle said. Thats from my heart. Thats how much I love doing the job that I did.It takes a certain kind of person to work in a dispatch center  a crazy one, Earle joked. An emergency room nurse would make a good dispatcher, she said.Back in July, Earle said the country is volatile against police officers. What scared her the most, she said while wrapping up her comments, was not hearing an officer call for help.That was always a greatest fear, Earle said, adding she never had to live that.She said for her 60th birthday she wanted the county to hire more communications officers.She said thank you, stepped away from the lectern and walked by Sheriff Picknell, who gave her a hug.2018 The Janesville Gazette (Janesville, Wis.)Visit The Janesville Gazette (Janesville, Wis.) at www.gazetteextra.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(TNS)  Residents in Elgin, Ill., can now securely pay their water, sewer and garbage bill by phone.The new automated system, available at any time of day, can be accessed by calling 311 from within the city or 847-931-6001 outside the city, 311 Citizen Services Manager Jennifer Phillips said.Be sure to have your account numbers handy  the account you have with the city and the credit card you will be using to pay the bill, Phillips said. If you dont have your utility bill account number, you can call the 311 center during business hours, press 0 and a citizen advocate will assist you.About 730 people used the phone-in option during the first seven days it was available. The city is testing a version in Spanish that could launch in about three weeks, Elgin Communications Specialist Molly Center said.This is Elgins second attempt at a phone-in payment service, Phillips said. The city was forced to take the system down more than two years ago because it was not in compliance with security measures required by credit card companies, she said.Since many people call the citys 311 center to ask to pay their utility bills, the new setup should free up the time of citizen advocates so they can answer questions about other issues and reduce wait times on the phone, Phillips said.Having the phone-in system is a way to have options for all our constituents. We want to meet as many needs as we can, she said.In addition to paying by phone, residents can also pay their utility bills in person at city hall, by mail or online at cityofelgin.org/waterbilling, Center said.The city is upgrading the online payment system for utility bills, too, Center said, as well as setting up an online system to pay for other things, such as residential permit fees. Right now, permits must be obtained in person in a process that requires stops at multiple offices in city hall, Center said.The new online experience will be out before the end of the year, Chief Technology Officer Jeff Massey said.
(TNS)  Two Chinese intelligence officers and a group of alleged hackers have been charged in San Diego on accusations of infiltrating the computer networks of private companies in the U.S. and abroad to steal plans for a turbofan engine to be used in commercial airliners, according to the indictment unsealed Tuesday.The five-year conspiracy was led by Zha Rong, a division director of the Jiangsu Province Ministry of State Security, and Chai Meng, a section chief  both supervisors overseeing human intelligence and intellectual property theft operations within the ranks of the Chinese government, according to the indictment.The indictment is among a small but growing collection of prosecutions that openly accuses the Chinese government of stealing U.S. trade secrets.Earlier this month, an officer from the same Chinese intelligence branch was extradited from Belgium to Ohio to face intellectual property theft charges relating to jet aircraft engines.According to the indictment, Yanjun Xu, a deputy division director, targeted experts who worked as leaders in the aviation field in private companies  including GE Aviation  and invited them to China to give university presentations as a way to steal trade secrets.In September, a Chicago federal grand jury indicted a Chinese-born U.S. Army Reserves soldier who is accused of working as an agent for the same intelligence group. His role was to help recruit Chinese nationals working in the U.S. as scientists and engineers to become spies, according to the indictment.On Thursday, arrest warrants were issued for 10 people in the most recent case, however, all defendants are believed to be in China."This action is yet another example of criminal efforts by the (Ministry of State Security) to facilitate the theft of private data for China's commercial gain," U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman said in a statement. "The concerted effort to steal, rather than simply purchase, commercially available products should offend every company that invests talent, energy, and shareholder money into the development of products."The officers are accused of deploying a group of hackers to steal information on the technology of a turbofan engine being developed by an unnamed French aerospace manufacturer and a U.S.-based company. The indictment does not name the U.S. company nor say where it is located.A state-controlled aerospace company in China had been working to develop similar technology for an engine to use in commercial airliners in China at the time, the indictment alleges.The intrusion, beginning in 2010, stretched beyond the two main companies involved and targeted several businesses through the U.S.  from Massachusetts to Arizona to Oregon  that were developing parts for the engine, according to the charges. Other victims included a company in Wisconsin, companies based in the United Kingdom, and a "multinational conglomerate."The intelligence service also repeatedly tried to hack into a San Diego-based technology company as part of the conspiracy from 2012 to 2014 to steal commercial information and use its website as a "watering hole," meaning anyone who visits the website could be vulnerable to infection. On top of the official conspiracy, two alleged hackers are also charged with orchestrating a separate attack on the company for their own criminal motivations, the U.S. Department of Justice said.The first attack occurred on Jan. 8, 2010, when hackers got inside the networks of Capstone Turbine, a gas turbine manufacturer based in Los Angeles. The hackers first created their own email within the network, and later installed malware onto Capstone's website to make it a "watering hole." The malware, called Sakula, was designed to exploit vulnerabilities in the Internet Explorer web browser.The hackers infiltrated an Arizona aerospace company in 2012 by sending an email that encouraged targets to click on a website that had been set up purporting to be Capstone Turbine, its domain misspelled by one letter.The conspiracy also used two insiders working for the French aerospace company to operate as moles, according to the indictment. The company had offices in Suzhou, Jinagsu province.In November 2013, an intelligence officer told Tian Xi, a product manager for the French company: "I'll bring the (Trojan) horse (malware) to you tonight. Can you take the Frenchmen out to dinner tonight? I'll pretend I bump into you at the restaurant to say hello. This way we don't need to meet in Shanghai," the indictment states.A month later, the officer allegedly asked Xi three times if he had "plant(ed) the horse."Another restaurant meeting occurred in January 2014 between the officer and Gu Gen, the French company's information technology infrastructure and security manager.Within weeks, Xi texted the officer: "The horse was planted this morning."The prosecution is linked to another San Diego case that accuses a Shanghai malware broker of providing the Sakula program for the Capstone Turbine attacks."I believe that the novelty and rarity of this malware is evidence that only a small group of hackers knew of it and that they were working together," a San Diego cybersquad FBI agent noted in the complaint against the malware broker, Pingan Yu.Sakula is a rare program that was used in the theft of U.S. Office of Personnel Management hacks discovered in 2014 and 2015 that compromised the data of thousands of federal employees. The OPM breaches are not mentioned in either prosecution, however.Yu, 37 pleaded guilty to a computer hacking conspiracy in September relating to the Capstone case.When Yu was arrested in August 2017 at the Los Angeles airport, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters on Friday that China opposes of all forms criminal internet activity, according to a report by Reuters.
In Iceland, one company is pioneering drone-based food delivery. Photo: Arnaldur Halldorsson/Bloomberg via Getty Images

In the film version of Ready Player One, director Steven Spielberg depicts a future that is dystopian, but not too dystopian. Yes, in the films version of 2045, Earth is essentially destroyed and people must live in trailer parks in the sky, but at least they can still get pizza delivered by drones. Delivery robots have been a dream since at least the days of George Jetson  and a number of well-funded companies are racing to make it happen  but the reality has, until now, been somewhat underwhelming, with drone-delivered food largely relegated to the world of marketing gimmicks and PR stunts, including a 7-Eleven coffee and Slurpee delivery in 2016.

If drone-based food delivery all feels a bit trivial, thats probably because it is. In fact, one expert  Missy Cummings, the head of Duke Universitys Humans and Autonomy Lab  has even said that she doubts that food delivery is important enough to warrant attention, predicting that it simply wont take off as a major business model. But in many ways, the low stakes of food delivery make it an ideal way to test an emerging technology that could, for example, be used to deliver lifesaving medicine to rural areas  and if a few drone pizzas get dropped in the meantime, its probably a worthwhile trade-off.

In fact, there is already one place where tiny robots do air-drop dinner on a regular basis: Iceland. The small country launched the planets first drone-delivery service in summer 2017. The program is a joint venture between the countrys top online marketplace, AHA, and the Israeli tech firm Flytrex. Since launching, Flytrexs drones have carried thousands of items (California rolls, hamburgers, waffle-makers) to people in the capital city of Reykjavik, and just two months ago the Icelandic Transport Authority expanded the approved delivery zone by a lot, meaning Skyr from the sky is now available to half of the citys 123,000 residents.

Flytrex, as it turns out, has larger aspirations than Reykjavik. This past May, the Department of Transportation revealed a program called the Unmanned Aircraft System Integration Pilot Program that is expected to foster a meaningful dialogue between private-sector drone operators, the public, and the government in a way that will also help inform future regulations for complex low-altitude operations. As part of the program, ten companies were granted permission to begin flights in several areas around the country. Uber, for example, will begin a test program in San Diego, and is rumored to be eyeing flights in 2019 and commercial operations in multiple markets by 2021. Flytrex, meanwhile, will begin its own pilot program (of pilotless vehicles) in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Flytrex co-founder Amit Regev estimates that his firm will officially launch deliveries in Raleighs Holly Springs Towne Center strip mall in four to six weeks. Their model is set up like GrubHub or Caviar, with an app that employs GPS tracking and online menus. Customers order on the app, a worker retrieves the meal and loads it into a Flytrex drone, and its at the customers home in mere minutes. Customers will be able to order from any of the malls 20 restaurants, assuming they live within a three-mile radius. (Flytrex hasnt decided on delivery fees yet.) Looking ahead, Regev says his companys next-generation drone will also be able to fly in the rain, carry 30 percent more than a previous model, and fly 4.5 miles in each direction.

Flirtey is another company trying to figure out how food deliveries can translate into something more impactful. The Nevada start-up is the drone-makers responsible for that 2016 7-Eleven Slurpee delivery, and after that first run, Flirtey and 7-Eleven launched a monthlong pilot at Reno-area stores, completing 77 food and medicine drops in total; the average delivery time was ten minutes per order. Now, Flirtey CEO Matt Sweeny is clear about his companys eventual goal: We intend to save lives using drone delivery, he says of the companys new focus on automated external defibrillators. One Flirtey delivery drone, Sweeny predicts, will save at least one life every two weeks based on historical cardiac arrest data.

Jeff Bezos and Googles parent company, Alphabet, are playing in this space, too, yet  of course  plenty of problems need to be worked out, many of them almost laughably low-tech. How can drones combat kids with broomsticks or BB guns? Weight limits remain low due to the physical constraints of the actual drones. What happens if a low-flying drones rotor connects with a customers hand, or an overeager guard dog? Pizza boxes are surprisingly unwieldy and must remain perfectly flat. Drones are annoyingly loud. And deliveries can really only be made to yard-size areas, meaning pinpoint, doorstep delivery, or even deliveries to high-rise apartments, are basically impossible at this point.

Also, drones are still extremely easy to hack: In 2012, Todd Humphreys, an aerospace engineering professor who directs the University of Texas Radionavigation Laboratory, famously hijacked a drone in midair. Using a $1,000 device, he seized control of the four-foot aircraft. (The Department of Homeland Security had challenged him to try.) He warns that civilian drones remain just as easy to attack today, and you can do it without much trace being left behind. He gives Grub examples like using a GPS jammer so an aircraft gets lost. Hackers could commandeer a neighbors dinner without much difficulty. Or you can imagine other ways that are more brute-force, Humphreys adds. A shotgun, for example.

And yet, the executives of these companies are confident that theyll figure these things out (as is the wont of tech executives) and that customer interest, not to mention the DOTs, in this novelty will remain high enough that the firms will be given the room to try. Sweeny says that during Flirteys 7-Eleven trial, a group of customers threw a party and made Flirtey do multiple consecutive deliveries of food to the same address. They told us they felt like the real-life Jetsons, he says, sounding pleased to have made their night.
One of two fan tuan, or rice rolls, on Ho Foods breakfast menu. Photo: Melissa Hom

Certain cultures and countries, its true, just breakfast better. Take Taiwan, where the buzzing night markets are the bridge to one of the worlds great morning meals. Centered around fresh soy milk served sweet or savory (typically, takeout places are called soy-milk shops), its heavy on north Chinese influences, carbs, and eggs. People bug out over the food  like Richard Ho, who runs the raved-about Taiwanese beef-noodle-soup shop Ho Foods.

When you go to Taiwan, the first thing you crave is Taiwanese breakfast. There are these famous places; my dad will go to one and buy 30 of something to bring back, he says. My friends parents do the same thing. Its a thing that has a close, emotional attachment for a lot of Taiwanese people.

After moving from Southern California to New York, Ho says Taiwanese breakfast was something he couldnt find anymore  save for a dish here and there. (The Food of Taiwan author Cathy Erway says, Taiwanese breakfast food just wasnt a well-known concept here.) This Saturday, after a few trial runs, hell find a dedicated place for it: his own Ho Foods on weekends from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Theres been a swell of places serving danzai noodles and oyster omelettes, and Ho isnt the only young entrepreneur getting in on the breakfast action. You can find shao bing, soy milk, and more at Zai Lai, and the Win Son guys (who serve a few Taiwanese breakfast dishes during brunch) are opening a cafe where theyll serve soy milk and dan bing.

At Ho Foods, Hos goal is to re-create the soy-milk shop experience and serve whatever essentials he can. Taiwanese breakfast is not  low on the carbs, you know? What we do is kind of a snapshot of it, he says.

Here, a primer on what Ho Foods will serve this weekend.

If you come from an Asian country like Vietnam, China, or Taiwan, soy milk is a certain way, he says. American soy-milk brands doctor theirs up with coagulants and vanilla and are nothing like what Ho will serve. His is made from just soy milk mixed with water, and can be had plain or sweetened. You should get a youtiao, or cruller, or for some carb-on-carb action, a shao bing youtiao.

Photo: Melissa Hom

Savory soy milk is where things get more complicated. Its spruced up with toppings, including pork floss, a dried meat that has a distinctly light texture; crullers for crunch; and scallions, salt, chili, and vinegar, which curdles it. It has this really kind of savory blast of umami, he says. I dont want to compare it to something else  I think its something people dont normally see.

Photo: Melissa Hom

The steamed bread called mantou isnt something youll usually find at soy-milk shops, Ho says, but at its own stalls. Its a breakfast essential, though, often used for sandwiches. He serves it as his parents did, with pork floss and scrambled eggs.

Photo: Melissa Hom

Eggs are, of course, big in Taiwanese breakfast. One of the standard dishes is the egg bing, made with eggs cooked with scallions and white pepper. Ho calls it our version of having eggs for breakfast.

Photo: Melissa Hom

Fan tuan, or rice rolls, are an obsession all their own in Taiwan. Lots of modern variations exist (a Sunset Park restaurant serves an entire menu of them), but Ho keeps it more classic. Sticky rice is wrapped around a double-fried cruller, plus pickled turnips and pork floss. Sticky and chewy on the outside, its crunchy inside. Its another one of those odd textural things thats very addicting, he says.

Photo: Melissa Hom

If youre not in the mood for soy, theres peanut milk (often called rice milk) for you. Thick and hardy, its made with roasted peanuts, rice, water, and brown sugar.

Photo: Melissa Hom

For a snack option, there are turnip cakes made with shredded turnip, mochi flour, dried shrimp, and Chinese sausage.
Go get a duck burger! Photo: Melissa Hom

Every month in New York, there are a bewildering number of new dishes to eat, drinks to imbibe, and food-themed events to attend. Often, the hardest part is just figuring out whats really worth your limited time. So Grub kicks off each month with a curated collection of dishes, drinks, and events that should absolutely be on your agenda. Make your plans now.

1. Check out Atlas new menu, featuring a lobster tostada and mole blanco.

Theyre waking up later at Atla, and introducing a rare mole to the menu. Enrique Olvera and Daniela Soto-Innes all-day cafe will now open at 11 a.m and theyve overhauled the menus (now just weekdays and weekends), axing the pambazo and adding new dishes. During the week, theyll serve the pinenut-based mole blanco ($24) with leeks and cabbage, a pearly type thats, otherwise, only served in New York at La Morada. As for the other new dishes, think corn pancakes ($19) with apple jam (the spirit of breakfast lives on!), tostadas with lobster salpicon ($32) and cashew cheese ($14) with plum and sesame, and duck wings ($25).

2. Sample New Yorks newest over-the-top burger, which is made with confit duck leg.

Duck: Its everywhere. But what about a duck burger? Theres one on the menu at the brand-new Pomona (8 West 58th Street), a New Yorknostalgic restaurant from the duo who worked at places like Strip House and Daniel. (They also ran the short-lived first iteration of Henry.) That pricey bird burger ($38) is one complicated patty. Its made with ground duck breast, chopped liver, scraps of foie gras, and confit leg meat, which is all spiced up. After grilling, its rested into a duck jus with orange, and served on a brioche bun with duck-skin mayo, orange zest, mustard, and grapefruit jam. (The rest of the menu similarly retrofits many other steakhouses and meaty classics.)

3. For breakfast, have a bagel created by chefs from Via Carota and Black Seed Bagels.

A Via Carota bagel? Say it is so. The West Village favorite is the featured restaurant for Black Seed Bagels latest monthly collaboration. An everything bagel ($13.75) is topped, appropriately, with ribbons of speck and stracchino cheese, plus a thick slice of roasted butternut squash and cabbage salad.

4. Celebrate Diwali with lamb-shank biryani or a Rasmalai tiramisu tart.

Dont have any Diwali plans? The five-day festival starts on November 7, and some restaurants are ringing it in with special dishes. From November 5 through 9 at Floyd Cardozs the Bombay Bread Bar, theyll serve a $65 family-style meal with Chettinad shrimp, lamb-shank biryani, lotus root and cashew korma, and gajar halwa (a sweet carrot pudding). Nearby in the West Village, Rahi will serve a trio of specials like shrikhand, a yogurt dish with rose-petal jam, pistachios, and sweet mathri. (Hell also have a paneer pasanda mini-sandwich and lamb raan.) Finally, Baar Baar will serve a special $60 prix fixe menu for all five days, with options that include beef short rib curry, and a dessert of Rasmalai tiramisu tart with condensed milk cremeux.

5. Wash down your chicken au jus sandwich with a blue soda spiked with rum and vodka.

A blue coconutty soda sounds like a drink from The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, but its not. Made with coconut-fat-washed vodka, white rum, lime cordial, black sea salt, and blue curacao, its on the menu at the cocktail club and restaurant Devon (252 Broome Street). Opening November 5, the new spot comes from Oliver Zabar, son of New Yorks most famous grocer, whose hired Sean Saunders (of the popular Happiest Hour) and Josh Blum (whose worked at Aquavit and Le Turtle) to cook. If a blue soda isnt your thing, theres a twist on a classic in the Wheres Tom Collins? and food like a chicken au jus sandwich.

6. Join the Meat Hook at Ops for a meaty Monday night dinner.

Cancel your plans for November 12. One of Grubs favorite places, the pizza-and-wine spot Ops, will host its friend the Meat Hook (another Grub favorite) for a steak night ($50, tip included). From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Meat Hook will serve dishes like bresaola, wedge salad with ricotta ranch dressing, steaks, and French-onion mashed potatoes. There will, of course, be great wine, too. For reservations, email hello@opsbk.com.

The Via Carota bagel sandwich. Photo: Alex Ostroff

7. Drop by a new Caribbean-southern restaurant in Harlem.

The recently opened Greedy Pot is a small counter-service restaurant with big ambitions. It opened earlier this month in Harlem (1944 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard) with a menu that combines southern and Caribbean cooking. There are a few mains and sides available each day, and youll see fried chicken alongside curry goat and options of rice and peas and mashed potatoes. (Dinner is $11 for a main with two sides.) The small space hasnt stopped them from offering brunch, on Soulful Sundays youll find chicken and waffles and beef BBQ ribs. Theyre liable to serve specials like fried blue-crab cakes, but dont pass on the meat loaf  its anything but pedestrian.

8. Watch a documentary about Americas favorite teen chef, before he leaves teen-hood behind forever.

In just 25 days, Flynn McGarry will turn 20, and in the process, become the Chef Formerly Known as the Teen Chef. Before that happens, youll get the chance to see the documentary made about McGarrys preternatural rise. Premiering at Film Forum on November 9, Chef Flynn starts with footage of a 16-year-old McGarry foraging, and combines home videos from McGarrys momager Meg with director Cameron Yatess own, which documents the young chefs stages, New York pop-up, and aspirations to open Gem.

9. Go to a famous chefs natural-wine event in Hudson, then to Nur for a dinner with an Israeli winemaker 

Have yourself a Winevember. First on November 2, Zak Pelaccios BackBar will host a Georgian-style supra feast (tickets are $45 in advance, $55 at the door)  expect meats cooked over fire, plus flatbreads, salads, and much more  with Black Lamb Wines Stetson Robbins and two Georgian winemakers. The next day hell throw his Peripheral Natural Wine Fair, with a day of drinking at BackBar, featuring wines from the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Georgia, and other countries, plus food from the likes of Lil Debs Oasis and Gaskins. Then on November 5 at 8:30 p.m. (dinner is $150), modern Middle Eastern restaurant Nur will host Judean Hill winemakers Gilad and Golan Flam for a grapey get-together. Theyll serve wines from their Flam Winery alongside dishes like its Jerusalem bagel, eggplant carpaccio, and panipuri.

10.  Or attend the third Raw Wine in New York, a wine fair and series of dinners and tastings around the city.

If a wine day isnt enough, Raw Wine returns with a week of tastings and dinners at natural-wine bars and restaurants around the city. These events (from now through November 7) include a hangout with Spanish winemakers at Cervos and a five-course dinner with Delinquente Wine ($75) at the new Uncle Chop Chop. The actual two-day Raw Wine Fair (tickets vary from $25 to $95) at 99 Scott Avenue takes place on November 4 and 5, with biodynamic, natural, and organic wines from 140 producers (including the Madeira Collection and 2Naturkinder), food from the likes of Cervos and Metta, and talks on subjects like pet-nat.

Sweetgreens salad and side made with Robins Koginut squash. Photo: Melissa Hom

11. Eat a Sweetgreen salad with a very flavorful, Dan Barber-approved squash.

Dan Barber has worked with crop breeders for years to create new varieties of everything from wheat to tiny squash, and earlier this year, he launched boutique seed company Row 7 with those farmers. Starting today, one of those crops, Robins Koginut squash, will be available at Sweetgreen locations around the country. Its featured in both the Koginut squash bowl with organic spinach, wild rice, pear, toasted buckwheat, and balsamic vinaigrette, as well as in a side dish.

12. Sip on lots of apple booze at events celebrating New Yorks cider producers.

New York is apple country, a fact that means the state is also awash in great cider. From November 2 to 11, the eighth annual Cider Week NYC celebrates this with events at restaurants around the city. Events include a one-night cider festival on November 8 at the Essex Street Market and a Bushwick cider market at Brooklyn Cider House on November 11. There will also be dinners (such as at High Street on Hudson on November 2), producer tastings (including at Foster Sundry on November 3 and City Swiggers on November 5), and chances to meet producers (one is at Murrays Cheese Bar on November 9). Check out all the events here.

13. Go talk with Anita Lo about her new cookbook for solo chefs.

Cooking for one can be challenging and expensive. (Do I really want to spend all that money on those ingredients? Will the roast-chicken fatigue set in on the third or fourth day?) If you cook alone, Books Are Magic has the cookbook event for you. On November 8, the acclaimed chef Anita Lo will drop by the Cobble Hill shop to talk about her book Solo with Taste editor Matt Rodbard. (RSVP here.) The chefs book features only recipes for one, so you can eat your chicken pho and have your chicken tagine, too.

14. Check out the new dishes at one of the years biggest openings.

Marie-Aude Roses La Mercerie has been one of the years biggest openings, earning two stars a piece in reviews from the New York Times and New Yorks own Adam Platt. (In his review, Platt called out its steak tartare as one of the best hes had in this city.) Rose just changed up her menu for the fall, adding dishes like a chestnut ($24) veloute; osso buco ($29) braised in vermouth and veal stock and served with fava beans, Swiss chard, and red bell pepper; and a pear clafoutis for dessert.

15. Gorge on smoked-duck gumbo and a prime brisket sandwich downtown.

Due east, Pig Bleecker returns to downtown Manhattan (after a temporary two-month transformation into Pig Beach) with a new-look menu that draws from different southern influences. There are some interesting-sounding dishes like tasso-spiced pork-belly buns ($13) with gochujang ranch, a prime brisket sandwich ($23) with crispy pickled red onions, and a smoked duck and andouille gumbo.
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...
News Release

November 1, 2018



Contact information

Minnesota lodging industry training staff to recognize and prevent sex trafficking

Together with the Minnesota Lodging Association, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) today released the Sex Trafficking Prevention and Response Training for the Minnesota Lodging Industry. The training is a requirement of a mandate passed during the 2018 Minnesota Legislative Session stating that employees of hotels and motels in Minnesota must be trained to recognize sex trafficking. Minnesota joins several other states in implementing this type of requirement.

Sex trafficking happens across Minnesota. A recent report by the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation found that of the victims receiving Safe Harbor sex trafficking prevention and recovery services in the state, 36 percent of victims were in the Twin Cities metro area and 64 percent were in greater Minnesota. Given the often hidden nature of sex trafficking, gathering accurate data on prevalence can be difficult.

According to data from the National Human Trafficking Resource Center and Polaris BeFree Texting Helpline, nearly 1,500 cases of sex trafficking in hotels and motels involving more than 1,800 victims have been reported in the U.S. since 2007. This makes the training of staff in recognizing and reporting sex trafficking an important piece of prevention.

Sex trafficking is a growing and complex public health concern in Minnesota, said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm. There is a need for action at all levels through policy, programs, and preventive efforts. Partnerships between the public and private sectors, like this one with Minnesota hotels and motels, are welcome, because they make a critical difference in addressing the issue.

Current hotel and motel owners, managers, and employees must complete the new training by Nov. 28, 2018, and new employees must be trained within 90 days of hire. Operators are also required to post and maintain an approved poster on sex trafficking in a location visible to all staff, conduct annual training and support an ongoing awareness campaign for employees.These requirements are tied to hotel and motel licensing.



Our lodging association members supported this legislation because they recognize the important role they play in eliminating sex trafficking in our state and want to help, said Liz Rammer, president and CEO of Hospitality Minnesota and executive vice president of the Minnesota Lodging Association. Training materials were carefully and thoughtfully developed with hotel and motel staff in mind to ensure that they are relevant and actionable.

Training materials include a manager and owner training toolkit, trainee guide, poster set for display, and guided training presentation. You can access more information about the Sex Trafficking Prevention and Response Training for the Minnesota Lodging Industry on the Safe Harbor website.

The MDH Safe Harbor Program is the result of the Safe Harbor Law passed in 2011. It raises awareness, understanding and identification of the commercial sexual exploitation of youth. The program also coordinates the state response to sex trafficking with cross-sector partners.

The Minnesota Lodging Association has provided business support services to hotels, motels, inns and bed and breakfasts since 1931. Membership includes major hotel brands as well as independent properties throughout the state. MLA members receive access to industry data, advocacy, education, marketing and networking. The MLA is a state partner of the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

-MDH-

Scott Smith

MDH Communications

651-201-5806

scott.smith@state.mn.us

Mary Smith

Marketing & Communications Manager

Minnesota Lodging Association

651-925-4017

mary@hospitalitymn.com
Popular support for the opposition party therefore has not changed dramatically due to the heated dispute between trade unions and the government over measures to make laying off easier for small businesses, dropping only by 0.2 percentage points since September.

The Social Democratic Party would win well over a fifth (22%) of the vote if the parliamentary elections were held today, finds a poll commissioned by Alma Media.

The National Coalition has continued polling right below the 20-per cent mark for already seventh consecutive months, with the latest poll putting its popularity at 19.9 per cent.

The much-reported dispute between trade unions and the government has similarly yet to have a considerable impact on the Centre Party, which saw its popularity increase by 0.1 percentage points to 15.2 per cent between September and October.

The Green League, on the other hand, has seemingly managed to halt its slide in the poll. Alma Media reports that popular support for the opposition party jumped by 0.6 percentage points  a change that nevertheless falls within the polls margin of error  over the past month to 12.9 per cent.

The Left Alliance has continued to threaten to breach the 10 per cent-mark, with the poll putting its popularity at 9.5 per cent for the second month in succession.

Tietoykkonen interviewed a total of 1,500 people for the poll between 12 and 30 October. Almost three-quarters (73.8%) of the respondents were able and willing to indicate which party they would vote for if the parliamentary elections were held today.

The Finnish parliamentary elections will be held on 14 April 2019.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Source: Uusi Suomi
Stubb announced his bid to become the lead candidate and, effectively, the next President of the European Commission on 2 October.

Alexander Stubb (NCP), a vice president at the European Investment Bank (EIB), has voiced his delight that he will have the opportunity to make his case for becoming the so-called lead candidate of the European Peoples Party (EPP).

The EPP, which is to select its lead candidate for the next European elections in Helsinki, Finland, on 78 November, will organise a debate between the two candidates, Stubb and Manfred Weber of Germany, as part of its congress on Wednesday, 7 November, according to Dara Murphy, the campaign director for the EPP.

Related posts: Stubb throws hat in ring to become President of European Commission (03 October, 2018)

The debate, which is expected to last 3040-minutes, will be held at the request of both candidates, added Murphy.

Stubb has repeatedly called for open dialogue and transparency in the nomination process. Weber, on the other hand, said recently he will neither announce his campaign platform nor participate in debates until he has been confirmed as the lead candidate of the EPP, sparking speculation about both his level of confidence and possible reluctance to debate his rival candidate.

Weber has been widely billed as the frontrunner to clinch the lead candidacy, having already received endorsements from the likes of Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany. Stubb, meanwhile, has received endorsements from Estonia and Sweden.

Also the Finnish Christian Democratic Party has lent its support to Weber.

Well back Weber to become the [lead candidate]. Our group approached the decision based on Christian democratic values, Sari Essayah, the chairperson of the Christian Democrats, told Uusi Suomi on 23 October.

The 2019 European elections are to be held on 2326 October.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Source: Uusi Suomi
Lameness prevention: it's all in the head

An understanding of how cows think, how they see the world and how they move is essential for lameness prevention.
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School officials have withdrawn from consideration in the MSBA's school project program.

Adams-Cheshire Backs Out of School Building Program

ADAMS, Mass.  The Adams-Cheshire Regional School District has backed out of the MSBA's 2018 cycle.

After a conference call with the Massachusetts School Building Authority on Tuesday, during which representatives from both towns were present, the district agreed to withdraw its consideration for an elementary school project.

"Our next step is to further understand exactly what our needs are and go from there," Superintendent John Vosburgh said Wednesday morning.

Earlier this year, the district submitted a Statement of Interest to the MSBA  as it does every year. Surprisingly, the district was one of 28 selected by the state to undergo a senior study and on Oct. 17 representatives from the MSBA toured Hoosac Valley Elementary School with local officials.

Cheshire Selectman Robert Ciskowski went on this initial tour and said at the Selectmen's meeting last week that the MSBA would want an answer in the coming weeks. He said he felt blindsided by how fast the project was moving.

Also, he was set back by the condition of the school and cited multiple roof leaks, temperature irregularities, and plumbing issues among others.

Although a feasibility study would have to look at multiple options that would certainly include a renovation at Hoosac Valley Elementary School and a new build up at the Hoosac Valley High School campus, the Cheshire Selectmen made clear that they were uninterested in funding repairs at Hoosac Valley Elementary caused by deferred maintenance on Adams' part.

Cheshire Selectwoman Carol Francesconi attended the conference call and said at Tuesday Selectmen's meeting that she made known the town's concerns.

"I just expressed our concerns and that this was proceeding quicker than we anticipated," she said. "And the fact that we were told in the past that repairs would be made before it became a district school and that hadn't happened."

Francesconi added that the Adams Selectmen said $250,000 had been budgeted to fund a third-party evaluation of the school to report what is wrong with the building and what it would cost to fix it.

"After the review, we both agreed we would have a better idea of what would be involved, and I think we both agreed that we are not ready for an MSBA loan," she said.

Francesconi said they plan to reapply next year and attempt to get in the 2020 MSBA cycle.

Vosburgh said at the School Committee meeting Monday that he thought the tour was very comprehensive but did note that he did not think the district would be accepted in this cycle.

He added that either way, the state has seen the condition of the building.

"They looked at everything and I think they came away with a really good sense of where we are at," he said. "They saw that there was certainly a need here."

Vosburgh also said Wednesday after the verdict was reached that once the district has more information officials will figure how best to go forward  this may include pursuing the accelerated repair program that instead of a total renovation focuses on smaller repairs (roofs, boilers, windows, etc.)

"Once this information is in our hands we can then determine the course of action deciding between applying for the Core Program again, the Accelerated Repair Program, or simply funding with local dollars to make the repairs needed," he said.
In a press conference with Gov. Dan McKee Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Nicole Alexander Scott of the Rhode Island Department of Health announced that the state of Rhode Island has expanded eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to all adults over the age of 18. Citing rising case numbers in the state, Alexander Scott and state officials are hoping to encourage residents of the state to get the booster shots ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and winter months. Are you planning on getting a COVID-19 booster shot? Why or why not? Let us know below.

You voted:
On Oct. 16, I had the privilege of attending the inaugural Steward Speakers event of the 2018-2019 season. For the uninitiated, Steward Speakers is Indianas oldest speaker series; it is also the only one that exclusively brings African-American luminaries to Central Indiana. (In the spirit of full disclosure, I have served Steward Speakers in a variety of capacities since 2010.)

The event was a panel discussion that featured former Essence magazine editor-in-chief Susan Taylor; civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton; the hip hop professor Dr. Michael Eric Dyson; and award winning journalist Roland Martin, who served as moderator. The panel took place at the spacious Pike Performing Arts Center. (Other Steward Speakers events will occur during the next several months.)

Billed as The State of Black Affairs, the night was an unflinching examination of topics ranging from racism to poverty to politics to the intra-racial struggles that have long plagued African-Americans. Martin did an excellent job of ensuring that each speaker had ample time to express his or her perspective  while also sharing insightful facts and anecdotes of his own. Dr. Dyson, who is well known for his superlative vocabulary and spellbinding oratorical skills, brought many in the capacity crowd of 1,200 to their feet on more than one occasion. Ms. Taylor, who continues to defy the aging process at 72, embodied sagacity and passion as she implored the audience to be vigilant in the struggle for racial equality.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the evening was a somewhat subdued Rev. Al Sharpton, who seemed quite content to cede the spotlight to Dyson and Taylor. (The sometimes-controversial minister was more animated during a closed-door session with local clergy members earlier in the evening.) During the panel, Sharpton spoke wistfully about how one of his mentors, the legendary James Brown, encouraged Sharpton to style his hair with Browns trademark conk. Sharptons father abandoned his family when he was a child, so the fact that Brown wanted Sharpton to look like him left an indelible mark on his psyche.

Near the end of the evening, Rev. Sharpton pointed out that Oct. 16 was the 23rd anniversary of the Million Man March. He said that some of the action steps that were proposed during the March had been realized while others had not. This naturally led to a type of denouement  a literary term referring to the moment of crisis resolution at the end of a book or play.

Specifically, Martin asked a small number of people  approximately 20  to stand up. He then recounted how a decision made by a similarly small group of people ultimately changed the world. In December 1955, a few ordinary African-Americans, who were huddled in the basement of a church, launched what was initially intended to be a one-day bus boycott. Instead, the Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted 381 days  and turned a young minister by the name of Martin Luther King Jr. into a national leader.

The key question that naturally arose from this powerful evening (a question that was explicitly raised) is whether audience members would channel our fervent energy into meaningful action. Would we organize? Would we open businesses? Would we become better parents? Would we become more politically active? I pray that these questions are not merely rhetorical. There is no hyperbole in suggesting that the fate of our nation will largely turn on our willingness to answer  and to act  affirmatively.

Larry Smith is managing director of Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence at Indiana University. Contact him at larry@leaf-llc.com.

On Oct. 16, I had the privilege of attending the inaugural Steward Speakers event of the 2018-2019 season. For the uninitiated, Steward Speakers is Indianas oldest speaker series; it is also the only one that exclusively brings African-American luminaries to Central Indiana. (In the spirit of full disclosure, I have served Steward Speakers in a variety of capacities since 2010.)

The event was a panel discussion that featured former Essence magazine editor-in-chief Susan Taylor; civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton; the hip hop professor Dr. Michael Eric Dyson; and award winning journalist Roland Martin, who served as moderator. The panel took place at the spacious Pike Performing Arts Center. (Other Steward Speakers events will occur during the next several months.)

Billed as The State of Black Affairs, the night was an unflinching examination of topics ranging from racism to poverty to politics to the intra-racial struggles that have long plagued African-Americans. Martin did an excellent job of ensuring that each speaker had ample time to express his or her perspective  while also sharing insightful facts and anecdotes of his own. Dr. Dyson, who is well known for his superlative vocabulary and spellbinding oratorical skills, brought many in the capacity crowd of 1,200 to their feet on more than one occasion. Ms. Taylor, who continues to defy the aging process at 72, embodied sagacity and passion as she implored the audience to be vigilant in the struggle for racial equality.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the evening was a somewhat subdued Rev. Al Sharpton, who seemed quite content to cede the spotlight to Dyson and Taylor. (The sometimes-controversial minister was more animated during a closed-door session with local clergy members earlier in the evening.) During the panel, Sharpton spoke wistfully about how one of his mentors, the legendary James Brown, encouraged Sharpton to style his hair with Browns trademark conk. Sharptons father abandoned his family when he was a child, so the fact that Brown wanted Sharpton to look like him left an indelible mark on his psyche.

Near the end of the evening, Rev. Sharpton pointed out that Oct. 16 was the 23rd anniversary of the Million Man March. He said that some of the action steps that were proposed during the March had been realized while others had not. This naturally led to a type of denouement  a literary term referring to the moment of crisis resolution at the end of a book or play.

Specifically, Martin asked a small number of people  approximately 20  to stand up. He then recounted how a decision made by a similarly small group of people ultimately changed the world. In December 1955, a few ordinary African-Americans, who were huddled in the basement of a church, launched what was initially intended to be a one-day bus boycott. Instead, the Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted 381 days  and turned a young minister by the name of Martin Luther King Jr. into a national leader.

The key question that naturally arose from this powerful evening (a question that was explicitly raised) is whether audience members would channel our fervent energy into meaningful action. Would we organize? Would we open businesses? Would we become better parents? Would we become more politically active? I pray that these questions are not merely rhetorical. There is no hyperbole in suggesting that the fate of our nation will largely turn on our willingness to answer  and to act  affirmatively.

Larry Smith is managing director of Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence at Indiana University. Contact him at larry@leaf-llc.com.
For many, the thought of undoing institutional racism seems so abstract and monumental that having the audacity to take it on leaves many people not only skeptical, but often, adversarial. What sound mind would believe the people, power, resources and commitment to tackle this issue exist in a country so strongly rooted in racist acts, where talking about race often sparks turmoil, fear and denial?

We are a society that perpetuates the injustice and disparities we claim to hate through our lack of courage. There is a silent unwillingness to face the issue of institutional racism, and, especially, the ways it creates barriers to people of colors health, well-being and success. But recent studies by the Brookings Institution and other researchers have shown that race has a profound impact on whether or not a person has access to opportunity. If we want Central Indiana to be a community of inclusive economic growth, we can no longer ignore race. At the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), we believe change is possible, and yes, race has to be a part of the discussion.

CICF cant be a part of a conversation about equity unless we get smart about the history and enduring impact of institutional racism. Gaining that knowledge is an ongoing process, but we started by sending everyone on our staff and the CICF board to a two-day workshop called Undoing Racism, developed by the Peoples Institute for Survival and Beyond and presented by Child Advocates of Marion County.

Undoing Racism challenges participants to analyze the structures of power and privilege that hinder social equity and leave many people marginalized. The content covers the history, policies and practices that were intentionally built to affect people of color. The workshop goes even further in bringing the realization of how that same institutional governance exists today. Today, we continue to grow through more conversation and learning. The experience continues to help our institution evolve.

We believe in the importance of the Undoing Racism workshop so strongly, that we have partnered with Child Advocates to make it available to more people in our community. Child Advocates began hosting the workshop in 2010 to help workers in the family court system better understand the disproportionate number of Black children going into the foster care system and staying longer than any other race. Since then, under the leadership of Cindy Booth, executive director, and with the support of funders such as CICF, almost 3,000 people from education, not-for-profit, corporate and other sectors and backgrounds have completed this training. The desire to learn more, and therefore do more, is becoming contagious.

CICF supports Undoing Racism, because you cannot tackle an issue if you do not understand it. This workshop is the best resource our community has to gain foundational knowledge of how institutional racism works and it was a crucial step in CICFs current journey.

There are those that are unconvinced that an organization like CICF can take on this work and make a difference. But we are determined. CICF has changed its mission and were going all in. Our mission is to mobilize people, ideas and investment to make this a community where every individual has equitable opportunity to reach their full potential  no matter their place, race or identity. We aim to create neighborhoods and environments that empower people, change unfair systems and dismantle institutional racism to make this a place where everyone can thrive. While others may avoid the issue of race, CICF will not. We know race does not play a role in all of the inequities and disparities we see in our community, but we do know that it is still a major contributing factor.

We at CICF believe we can make a difference. However, we also know we cannot do it alone. With the support of many partners in the community as well as nationally, we hope to bring profound awareness, meaningful conversations and lasting impact to our community. We cannot promise to always get things right. In fact, we know that we will not. We do commit to remaining humble, learning and listening to our community. And we want the community to hold us accountable.

Pamela Ross is vice president of Opportunity Equity and Inclusion for Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF).
The whole idea of a "court Jew" takes on new meaning



by Dorothy Reik

President, Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains





Let's start with Pittsburgh. I know a lot of Israelis. They think Trump loves Jews because he moved our embassy to Jeresulem. He is trying to start the final war! First all the Jews have to go to Israel so he's making it more attractive. Israelis don't get it that this is all about the End Times-- or the rapture or the apocalypse, or whatever phrase you prefer. Bottom line-- there has to be a conflagration in the Middle East so Jesus will come back and "rapture" all those "chosen" to enter heaven, leaving lakes of burning oil-- yes-- get that oil out of the ground! - a flaming holocaust which will consume the rest of us-- not sure if we burn forever of just until we are incinerated. Jared, I guess, and Ivanka and the kids will be offered the opportunity to repent and accept Jesus in time to avoid flames-- not so sure about MBS. That's why climate carnage doesn't matter! Got it? 40% of Americans believe this! That's why the book series about the end times was such a best seller. But there is another factor-- at least until now these Israelis have been making lots of money flipping houses and they give Trump the credit. So who cares-- so long as we are getting rich? I try to explain that it is blood money. I warn them about yellow stars being sewn on their clothes but they laugh.





Smithsonian Magazine explains that one refugee named Bahr, who was a spy, gave the U.S. So now that Jewish blood has been spilled, will the slaughter on Squirrel Hill change their minds? Only time will tell. Don't forget-- "nationalist" means "anti-Semite"-- "Jews will not replace us!" Steven Miller is not invited to "nationalist's'" homes which are "Jew Free Zones." The Squirrel Hill shooter had one complaint about Trump-- he was not anti-Semitic enough! Remember that Charlottesville thug who fumed that Trump "sold" his daughter to a dirty Jew! BTW that guy is in jail now as are a number of Proud Boys and Rise Again members are on their way to joining him. Bowen, remember, was especially incensed that the Jews at Tree of LIfe helped, of all people, Russian immigrants, charging that they were bringing in people who would destroy our country. Sound familiar? Trump is equating the caravan of Central Americans fleeing for their lives with the Jewish refugees running from certain death in the concentration camps of Europe. He is not sympathetic to either group, considering all immigrants inherently dangerous! The Jews were turned away just as Trump is planning to turn away the members of the caravan, but this time it will be a gunpoint. They will find one member of the caravan to be a danger and that will be an excuse to turn them all away just as we turned back the Jews. Theexplains that one refugee named Bahr, who was a spy, gave the U.S. an excuse to turn all the Jews away . "What Bahr didnt know, or didnt mind, was that his story would be used as an excuse to deny visas to thousands of Jews fleeing the horrors of the Nazi regime." So will one Honduran with a tattoo be the excuse for turning back thousands or migrants including the children? Or will we steal the children... but don't get me started!





In Florida, Cesar Sayoc was a failure at killing but he succeeded in proving that Trump's rhetoric can be deadly-- if there is a competent killer. Of course the victims would have been employees of the targets who would never open their own mail-- but no matter. The message would have been clear. Each and every one of his targets was on Trump's hit list and most were pictured on his van with their faces in crosshairs. Trump is continuing has attacks today honing in on Tom Steyer and CNN after the network interviewed him. Soyac's van, which was his home, is covered with Trump memes-- pictures and quotes from the hate rallies-- he attended. Maybe Soyac was disturbed-- but most killers are and that is why sane people try not to set them off but Trumpf cannot be considered sane-- not by a long shot. Of course Trump is not only aided and abetted by Fox-- MSNBC and CNN are also in his corner, playing clips of his rantings over and over again so as to implant his hateful lies in our brains until the connections are made and cannot be reversed. By the time the "panel"gets to comment listeners are on to something else having absorbed Trump's version of events. I have to keep the remote close by to mute him as soon as his orangutan face shows up. One Trump fan in Kentucky did get his targets-- they weren't famous people but they were Black. The killer was a white supremacist who tried to get into a church but failing that he found a couple of targets in a Kroger's supermarket!





But lest you think these murders and attempted murders would slow down the Trump campaign train, think again! Trump hosted Black Republicans in the White House while the bodies in PIttsburgh were still warm, encouraging them in their anti-Soros chant just in case anyone missed the point of "globalism" in his remarks. Rothschild used to the the anti-Semitic dog whistle for international Jewish bankers but now Rothschild has been replaced by Soros who was one of the recipients of a bomb this week. And he repeated his call to Black American-- "What do you have to lose?" After Kentucky they have their answer-- their lives. Saying that the stock market opened the day after September 11th - it opened Sept. 17th-- Trump continued his lying, hate filled campaign on schedule. The caravan is off the front page for now along with Trump's campaign-- except for the incessant clips on cable TV-- and Trump is angry about that. But he exhibits no real anger at the Bowen and Sayoc. He blamed Tree of LIfe for not having a security guard as if that would have helped-- the first police who came on the scene were shot! It took the SWAT team to arrest him! And that killing in Kentucky is not even on his radar.





So I will continue to monitor House Hunters International looking for a place to land when even California becomes unbearable. As of now, the report is that Becerra won't enforce our new net neutrality law until Sessions finishes suing us! Which of our laws is next? 100% renewables? Immigrants rights? Wait-- we won that one already! How about car emissions? Who is to say?








Indianapolis residents can celebrate the arts, humanities and religion through the theme of Intersection during the 23rd annual Spirit and Place Festival Nov. 2-11.

The festival features 30 events at various locations throughout the city. Although every event is different, each one will explore, challenge or reflect the meaning of intersection, according to the website.

Theres really a wide array of events and topics for the public to engage, program manager Erin Kelley said. We pick a theme that hopefully will resonate with the public.

Explore Art-Motive! will spotlight the connection between art and automobile design and history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

This is the first time weve ever been there, Kelley said.

Explore Art-Motive! is one of five nominees for the Award of Awesomeness, which recognizes events that exemplify key traits of the festival. The winner receives $1,000 at the conclusion of the festival. Other nominees are Hummus and Happiness, The Score Awakens, Afroturism in Action: A Conversation with Tobias Buckell and Convergence: Connecting Our Shared Experience through Performance and Prose.

Buckell, a science fiction author, will lead a discussion on reimagining a future that includes the arts, technology, science and social justice from a Black perspective 6-8:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at Kephrw Institute/Renaissance Center, 3549 Boulevard Place.

Im a walking intersection  my whole life  and Ive always felt really comfortable saying that, said Buckell, who was born in Grenada, is bi-racial but looks white and lives in Ohio. Thats the reason Im super passionate about this. When I was younger and growing up not a lot of diverse people were allowed to imagine futures. I deeply believe that if we are not allowed to imagine our futures then someone else will and that someone else may not be an ally.

The majority of events are free, however, a few do charge an admission fee. Those events usually offer a meal or cover the cost of art supplies, Kelley said.

A discussion about African-Americans and philanthropy will be 7-9 p.m. Nov. 6 at Christian Theological Seminary Shelton Auditorium, 1000 W. 42nd St. Race Matters: Faith and Philanthropy in the African-American Community will explore how race and philanthropy intersect and is presented by the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving, Christian Theological Seminary and Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy at the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. David King, Karen Lake Buttrey Director of the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving, hopes the conversation on philanthropy isnt just expanded, but those in attendance leave with actionable steps to move forward and impact the communities in which they live.

Words like philanthropy are off-putting and misunderstood in many communities, King said. We have an understanding of philanthropy that [it] belongs to the Bill Gateses and the Warren Buffets of the world. We want to be clear that all of us can be and should be philanthropists. Its an important conversation to reframe the definition of what philanthropy is. Its not just writing the big check.

Contact Editor Oseye Boyd at 317-762-7850. Follow her on Twitter at oseye_boyd.

The 23rd annual Spirit and Place Festival will be Nov. 2-11 at various locations throughout Indianapolis. For a complete list of events, visit spiritandplace.org.

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October 31, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - As if the political affiliation of the murderer from Pittsburgh werent known to everyone, it was very important to Israels ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, to cover up the killers connection to his ideological home.

One of the big forces in college campuses today is anti-Semitism, he said in an interview with MSNBC. And those anti-Semites are usually not neo-Nazis on college campuses. Theyre coming from the radical left. We have to stand against anti-Semitism whether it comes from the right or whether it comes from the left, he said in an interview with MSNBC.

The fact that the man who entered the Tree of Life synagogue Saturday morning and ended the lives of 11 people is a declared member of the far right, a xenophobic white racist ultranationalist, doesnt make any special impression on Dermer. He insists on pointing a finger at anti-Semites from the radical left.

Instead of talking about the negative influence of the discourse of hatred and the far-right spirit in President Donald Trumps America, Dermer turns the spotlight across the sea to the leader of the British Labour Party, the anti-Semitic Jeremy Corbyn, and to anti-Semitism in Europe.

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Nor did Dermer miss an opportunity to blame the Muslims; he insisted on mentioning that Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan called the Jews termites the previous week. He was also asked about Trumps statement last year describing neo-Nazi demonstrators in Charlottesville who shouted Jews will not replace us as good people.

Dermer said he didnt think the presidents comments after Charlottesville were very good. But he was not aware of a single non-Israeli leader that has made such a strong statement in condemning anti-Semitism, he added, referring to Trumps condemnation of the murders in Pittsburgh.

Dermers words reflect the abyss between American Jews and the Israeli government. Many American Jews believe that the massacre in Pittsburgh reflects the rise of the far right in the United States under the sponsorship of Trump, whom they say encourages racists and anti-Semites and defends their right to bear arms.

But while they criticize Trumps violent messages and his use of the term globalists, for example, which has clear anti-Semitic connotations, Israeli officials prefer to handle the far right and Trump with kid gloves.

Its hard not to conclude that the government considers the far right in the United States and elsewhere a partner in the battle against extremist Islam and infiltrators, and sees its strengthening as a stamp of approval for continuing the occupation and deporting asylum seekers.

When Dermer, as Israels ambassador, chooses to divert the fire from those who are really to blame to the European left and the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement on campus, hes proving that continuing the occupation is the top priority of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government. Its a government thats even willing to turn a blind eye to the political changes in the United States and Europe that are endangering the lives of Jews in the Diaspora  and in the long run in Israel as well.

The above article is Haaretzs lead editorial, as published in the Hebrew and English newspapers in Israel.

This article was originally published by " Haaretz " -

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==See Also==

Former Israeli politician says anti-Semitism accusation a "trick" to deflect criticism of Israel
By Robert Fantina

October 31, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - One can only marvel at the blatant, outrageous hypocrisy of the United States. This is on clear display in many areas: proclaiming support for self-determination while financing the oppression of the Palestinians; citing international law when it suits its needs, but violating international law, such as in the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and stating that all men are created equal, as U.S. police officers gun down unarmed people of African descent. Multiple examples abound.

The governments officials do nothing to hide this hypocrisy; rather, they seem to seek opportunities to flaunt it.

The most recent opportunity came when the U.S. called a special meeting of the United Nations to spotlight, it said, Cubas political prisoners. According to the U.S., Cuba has imprisoned 130 political prisoners. The U.S. called this a blatant affront to basic democratic freedoms.

Over the course of several years, nearly 800 of the U.S.s political prisoners have been jailed in the U.S.s Cuban base, Guantanamo Bay. Currently, about 55 are housed there. These prisoners are often jailed for years, without charge or access to family or legal assistance, and are tortured.

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One such shocking case was the incarceration and torture of Canadian citizen Omar Khadr, arrested in Afghanistan at the age of 15 after having been badly injured by U.S. soldiers (please note that child soldiers cannot, according to international law, be arrested). After being tortured in Afghanistan, he spent 10 years in the U.S.s Cuban-based torture chamber (yes, Canada was complicit in these crimes, and compensated Mr. Khadr with $10 million dollars, far less than he should have received).

We will look at a few of the statements the U.S. made prior to and after the U.N. meeting on Cuba. What was said during the meeting is hard to discern, since Cuban diplomats shouted over the U.S. speakers, disrupting them constantly.

The first quotation manifests in just thirty-two words the hypocrisy that is so emblematic of the United States.

Holding the Cuban regime responsible for its human rights violations and supporting the Cuban peoples aspirations to live in freedom are key components of President Trumps National Security Presidential Memorandum of 2017.

Trump and the U.S. government are very selective in who they hold responsible for its human rights violations, and whose aspirations to live in freedom they support. Israel and Saudi Arabia are two of the planets most brutal violators of human rights, yet the U.S. supports them completely, with the U.S. providing more foreign aid to Israel than it gives to all other nations combined. The United Nations has issued more resolutions critical of Israels treatment of the Palestinians than it has of any other nation, and that number would be higher if the U.S. didnt generally veto them.

As this is being written, Palestinians demonstrating for the right of return, a right guaranteed under international law, are being slaughtered by Israel in the Gaza Strip. More Palestinians are losing their homes in the West Bank so that Israel can build illegal settlements on Palestinian land that only Israelis can live in. Yet the U.S. is proclaiming its support for the people of Cuba to live in freedom.

We should also point out the Cubans can leave Cuba at will; they can travel for business, pleasure, education or any other reason, with no restrictions by the government. Palestinians in the West Bank are forbidden by Israel from visiting the Gaza Strip, let alone leave the country altogether, and those in Gaza cant visit the West Bank. Why doesnt Trumps National Security Presidential Memorandum of 2017 apply to the Palestinians?

A State Department statement regarding the Cuba-focused U.N. meeting proclaimed that the 130 political prisoners allegedly held by Cuba are an explicit sign of the repressive nature of the regime and represent a blatant affront to the fundamental freedoms that the United States and many other democratic governments support.

There are so many things in this statement that demonstrate U.S. hypocrisy. We will attempt to sort them all out.

If having 130 political prisoners is a sign of the repressive nature and a blatant affront to the fundamental freedoms that the United States supports, what, then, is the incarceration of 55 political prisoners of the U.S? Is 55 too low a number? Is it only when the number reaches, say, 130, that it is an explicit sign of the repressive nature of the regime and represent(s) a blatant affront to the fundamental freedoms that the United States and many other democratic governments support?

And we must remember that that number, 55, is just those in Guantanamo. There are numerous other political prisoners in the U.S. Chelsea Manning, pardoned by President Barack Obama, was imprisoned for exposing U.S. crimes; she was sentenced to 35 years, and spent seven incarcerated, must of in solitary confinement. Edward Snowden fled the U.S. to avoid becoming a pollical prisoner. His crime, too, was exposing U.S. crimes.

And what about Mumia Abu Jamal? Convicted of the killing of a police officer in Philadelphia in 1981, a crime for which the evidence of his guilt is limited, at best, he has spent nearly 36 years in prison, much of it in solitary confinement.

And then there is Leonard Peltier, an activist in the American Indian Movement. Since its founding, the U.S. has had nothing but disdain for the Indians (indigenous population of the U.S.), and silencing a trouble-maker like Peltier, someone who actually advocated for the indigenous population, wasnt hard to do. He was convicted of killing two FBI agents. During his appeal, the government admitted that it had no evidence connecting him with the crime. The FBI withheld evidence that would have exonerated him. He has been imprisoned for nearly 40 years.

The U.S. is never a fan of people advocating for social change, and will reach its deadly tentacles around the world to prevent any peoples movement from succeeding. Simon Trinidad, also known as Ricardo Palmera, is one such activist. He was a negotiator for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-Peoples Army (FARC-EP). During a negotiation session in Ecuador, he was arrested, extradited to the U.S. and charged with drug trafficking. On his fourth trial (the government was unable to get a conviction on the first three), he was found guilty.

Several members of the Black Panther Party, arrested during the 1960s and 1070s, remain incarcerated in U.S. prisons. Their crime was attempting to obtain equal rights for U.S. citizens of African descent, another minority group which the U.S. government holds in contempt.

This is not an exhaustive list; these names, and the unnamed 55 in the Guantanamo Bay torture center, are just a few. The U.S. also uses infamous rendition sites; it kidnaps political opponents and sends them to different countries around the world to be tortured.

Certainly, there are countries with worse human rights records than the U.S. But there are many, many whose human rights practices are far superior. It is the height of hypocrisy for the U.S. to criticize any other nation for any alleged human rights violations, when it supports Israel and Saudi Arabia, and holds countless U.S. political prisoners in its own jail cells.

It is unlikely that this will change soon. Trump, through his own behaviors and statements, has made racism, misogyny and repression acceptable. Much of his base supports these ugly sentiments, and the Republican Party has accepted this as the new normal. Things on the Democratic Party side arent much better, when the government which purports to be a democracy is, in fact, an oligarchy.

It is important for people around the world to oppose the U.S. and support Palestine, Cuba, Iran and other nations victimized by the imperial United States.

This article was originally published by " Counterpunch " -

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Home Search ICH Mexico: Is the End of Magic Imperialism Approaching? By Andre Vltchek October 31, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - You all know how the saying goes: Poor Mexico  too far from God, too close to the United States. This proud, beautiful and deep part of the world has been plundered, ravished and humiliated for many centuries, first by the Europeans (both the Spaniards and French), then by the Norteamericanos. The vulgarity and brutality of the conquest had often been unbelievably grotesque, unreal, insane  to the point that I decided to name it a magical imperialism (or call it magical colonialism if you wish). Great cultures created by Mayas, Aztecs and other native people  cultures much more advanced than those of the Europeans, have been crushed, tricked, cheated, and finally forced into submission. Local gods were sent to a permanent exile and Catholicism, under the threat of death or torture or both, was forced down the throat of everyone. Yes, Western colonialism often takes truly bizarre, surreal, forms. What example should I provide, to illustrate magic imperialism? For example, this one: in Cholula, near the city of Puebla, Spaniards slammed their church on top of the biggest (by volume) pyramid on Earth  Tlachihualtepetl. It is still sitting there, even now as I write this essay: the church is sitting on top of the pyramid, unapologetically. Local authorities are even proud of its presence, promoting it as a major tourist site. I hope, one day, UNESCO includes it in the memory of humanity list, as a symbol of cultural vandalism. . Catholic church arrogantly slammed on top of the biggest pyramid in the world, outside Puebla I summoned the curator at a local museum, Ms. Erica, asking her about this insanity. She explained, patiently: We are strongly discouraged from speaking about brutality of the past. Mexicos attitude towards its own history is truly schizophrenic. On one hand we know that our country was plundered, raped and abused, by the Spanish colonizers, by the French, and then by the U.S. But we, scholars, teachers, curators, are literally ordered to ignore it, to be positive; to look for good things in what was done to us, and what we inherited. Clearly, Ms. Erica has had enough. She speaks openly, passionately: In the past, the church had been hit and damaged by lightning, on several occasions, and the local people believe that it happened because of the wrath of local gods, who were protesting against the desecration of their site and an architectural masterpiece  the pyramid. However, the structure was always quickly restored by the religious and state authorities. The church still dominates the landscape, visible from as far as the city of Puebla, while the grand pyramid looks humiliated and belittled, like nothing more than a forested hill. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter ***** Mexico suffered for centuries, and it is suffering now. It is one of the greatest countries on Earth. In fact, it is not just a country, but a universe, not unlike those universes created by other great countries, like universe China, universe India or universe Russia. Mexico is ancient and deep, and as mentioned above, it gave birth to some enormous civilizations, which were self-sufficient and much more advanced than the cultures of those who came to attack it, to plunder and enslave it. These civilizations, however, were robbed of their identity by the invaders, forcefully Christianized, then reduced to the level of minorities in their own land. Natives were forced into slave labor, and used to mine their own silver and other raw materials, which were quickly shipped far away, enriching first Europe and later North America. Originally, all this was done by the colonists from abroad, and later, by the local elites on behalf of the West. The same story could be traced to all corners of Latin America; and a similar story to so many parts of the world. All this was done straight-faced. The West is never famous for soul-searching or spasms of guilt. No justification was provided. After all, there has been a Cross above the country named Mexico, and an imaginary banner of civilization (Western one, naturally). I call all of it a magic imperialism, because the whole destruction of this ancient and beautiful world was done in an almost poetic way: built on faith-based dogmas, as well as on military and expansionist theories, and the myths of racial, cultural and religious supremacy. All this took place during the colonial period, and it is taking place now, in the days of free market fundamentalism. Is all this good or bad for the Mexican people? Who cares! Such questions are not allowed. Mexican people are supposed to listen, accept, and obey the West, simply because the West is the most enlightened part of the world, because it knows better. The word superior is hardly used (as it is politically incorrect), but it is presumed. ***** Now Mexico is boiling. It has had enough of being treated like a child, like a slave, like an inferior part of the world. This time I travelled for three weeks all over the country, revisiting my old places. I wanted to hear what people think and say. I used to live in this country, for an entire year, some 20 years ago. Deep in my heart, I never really left. Now, everything looked both familiar, and at the same time, foreign. I spoke to people in Mexico City and Puebla, in Guadalajara, Tequila, Tlaxcala, Tijuana, Merida, Oaxaca, and I went deep into the countryside. Wherever I was, I felt fear. I detected anxiety, terrible anxiety. Yes, there was fear, but also determination to change everything, and to start from scratch. I was filming a documentary here, with the working title: Mexico  Year Zero. It was not a binding title, but I was getting used to it, it was somehow fitting. Left-wing politician Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (known as AMLO) won the Presidential Elections, securing great support in all but two states of the country. This can mean total overhaul, true change, a new beginning, if Obrador fights, if he is determined, if he serves the interests of his people. Or it may mean nothing, almost zero, if he hesitates, loses guts and surrenders to inertia. I spoke to at least a hundred people, in many parts of the country, perhaps many more. Not one, not a single one said, that his or her country is doing well! This, despite all sorts of positive economic indicators, despite a good position on the Human Development Index (HDI), and the fact that Mexico is, after all, an OECD country and the 15th largest economy in the world. Magical imperialism brought this great nation to its knees. Everything here is full of contradictions. Mexico has much greater culture and lifestyle than the United States, but it is subservient to the North. 90% of its exports go straight to North America (U.S. and Canada). The Mexican view of the world is fully shaped by the brainwashing right-wing propaganda, literally flooding the country through such outlets like CNN en Espanol and FOX. Outraged by North American behavior, Mexico is nevertheless forced to see the world through the eyes of its great tormentor. RT, CGTN, PressTV, or even Telesur, are only available through the internet. This has to change. Everybody knows it has to, somehow. But how? So far, there is no plan. Is the President-elect going to come up with the one? And if he does, can he survive, or will he be harassed or even kicked out from his post or killed, as has happened to so many others, including Chavez and Dilma? Can any Latin American country gain its true independence from the global dictatorship of the West? Cuba did! Or should I write: so far, only Cuba has. And Venezuela, to a great extent, but both are paying a horrendous price. ***** All over Mexico, there are reminiscences of the Western involvement, or should I say monuments of barbarity. Often, one has to search for them, or even read between the lines, in order to identify them. Spanish conquest, inquisition, massive theft of land, natural resources, and then massacres, massacres, torture On February 7, 2016, Telesur reported: The Supreme Indigenous Council of Michoacan, Mexico, accused the Catholic Church of being complicit in the killing of over 24 million Indigenous people. Some 30 Indigenous communities of Michoacan, Mexico, have released a statement demanding Pope Francis apologize for the genocide committed with the complicity of the Catholic Church against their people during the Spanish invasion of the Americas in the 16th century. For over 500 years, the original people of the Americas have been ransacked, robbed, murdered, exploited, discriminated and persecuted, the Supreme Indigenous Council of Michoacan said in a statement. Well, Pope Francis, any comments; at least some desire to speak about justice? The United States invasion, and the grab of enormous Mexican territory: The Mexican War was instrumental in shaping the geographical boundaries of the United States. At the conclusion of this conflict, the U.S. had added some one million square miles of territory, including what today are the states of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California, as well as portions of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada Reading what it says above, one would believe that this account would be followed by the expression of horror at what took countless lives of the Mexican people, and resulted in the theft of tremendous territory. But no; of course, no! This quote is from the introduction written by John S. Brown, Chief of Military History, to a brochure (the Occupation of Mexico May 1846  July 1848) described as being produced by in the U.S. Army Center of Military History by Stephen A. Carney. Instead of apology and indignation, the further quote follows: The Mexican War lasted some twenty-six months from its first engagement through the withdrawal of American troops. Fighting took place over thousands of miles, from northern Mexico to Mexico City, and across New Mexico and California. During the conflict, the U.S. Army won a series of decisive conventional battles, all of which highlighted the value of U.S. Military Academy graduates who time and again paved the way for American victories. The Mexican War still has much to teach us about projecting force, conducting operations in hostile territory with a small force that is dwarfed by the local population, urban combat, the difficulties of occupation, and the courage and perseverance of individual soldiers The self-congratulatory, almost poetic language of both the brochure and the introduction to it sounds truly, as if it is trying to fit into a magic imperialist realism. But it is not: it is just how history is taught in the United States, in Europe, and unfortunately, in many schools in the formerly and presently colonized countries. French intervention in Mexico Then the French massacred people in Mexico City, as well as all over the territory that was left to the Mexicans after the 1846-1848 U.S. invasion. The French intervened in Mexico on two occasions: from 1838 to 1839, and from 1862 to 1867, in which conflict, at least 12,000 Mexican people were killed. The French were killing, plundering and imposing their dictate, shamelessly and mercilessly, but that was not really something exceptional, as they were doing precisely the same, or worse, all over Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Caribbean and Oceania. ***** Now, right at the northern part of the enormous city of Tijuana, the U.S. authorities and their contractors, are building an enormous wall. It does somehow not look unlike the perimeter built by Israel, between the occupied Golan Heights and Syria proper. But then, many things look suspiciously similar, these days. This wall is a clear expression of a thorough imperialist madness. This entire land used to belong to Mexico, before the 1846 invasion, or call it officially Mexican-American War. Both countries are part of one continent. Both sides of the border are inhabited by essentially the same people. There are millions of Mexicans living in California, and there are millions of North Americans who are seeking better life south of the border  in Mexico  either in the retirement colonies, or, for instance, as students at much cheaper and good Mexican universities, or as artists. North Americans travel to Mexico to get their teeth fixed, Mexicans go north to get better paid jobs; the border area is basically an integrated zone, with its own music, traditions, history and folklore. I know it well, and I know that it used to have its own magic and, yes, its realism too. Now it is gone, thoroughly ruined. But as if in a novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, even through all that dust and insanity, one can still feel the magic. Here, I am still in Latin America, at its edge, at the last inch. And, screw the wall! I shout at a U.S. contractor, through the bars. I want to know what he thinks about all this, if he actually thinks at all. He replies honestly and phlegmatically: I am not allowed to speak about this. I face a Mexican woman; whose back is against the U.S. constructed wall. Her house is just one meter from the perimeter. If she sticks her finger through the bars, she is technically in the United States. Her name is Leticia. She doesnt care about politics. Her biggest fear is that the creatures inhabiting this area will get hurt: They are cutting the natural flow of water in this area. This will not end well. And the animals cannot migrate, anymore. This is so brutal. I am happy where I am, and so is my family. At this side, I am fine. But you know, the creatures are different  they need to move She almost brings tears to my eyes. A narco, a small fish narco who is accompanying me to the wall, explaining the reality of the border and how the drug cartels here work, suddenly produced one short and loud sob. He is a Latino, after all. He may be a gangster, but he has a heart. I know, mostly it is not Mexicans who are trying to jump the fence. The majority of Mexicans are middle class, and the middle class lives a better life here than in the constantly stressed and overworked U.S. It is those desperate people from Central America who are risking their lives, crossing  from Guatemala, Honduras  people whose governments were overthrown by Washington, people whose countries were destroyed. People who are suffering from gangs and narco-mafias  direct consequences of the civil wars triggered by the West. These people are traveling on the monstrous Mexican cargo trains called La Bestia, the beast; they are having their limbs cut off when they fall from the roofs down onto the tracks. I follow them, I film them, I talk to them. They are on the move, from the southern Mexican border towns all the way to the north; to the U.S. border. They have no choice. And Washington knows it. It took socialism away from them  in Honduras and Guatemala it did. Then it rewarded them with this damn wall. Magic imperialism! Central America is in ruins. Mexico, potentially one of the greatest nations on Earth, is stagnating, living in fear, suffering from corruption and crime, from servile and obedient (towards the West) elites. This entire mess has been triggered by neo-liberalism, as well as the selfish over-indulgence in the North. Comes Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Mexico is tired. It does not believe in itself, anymore, but it voted, clearly and proudly. It wants to hope. It wants to believe. It wants to live. It tries. People spoke, people voted. They have no clue what will come next. Is the man they voted for really with them? Radical intellectuals at UNAM do not think so, they told me. But the poor Mayan and Azteca villages, the core of this country, are with him. They trust him. They hope. He has no right to fail them. If he fails the poor, there will be a civil war. He is our last hope, I was told in Tijuana. Again, and again, I recall what I was told by one of the greatest South American writers and thinkers of all times, Eduardo Galeano: Hope is all that poor people have. That is why, comrades, do never play with hope! If Obrador succeeds, if he delivers even half of what he promised, Mexico will dramatically change. The entire Central America will change, perhaps the entire Latin America will. This is the most populous Spanish speaking country, a cultural and intellectual powerhouse that has been asleep for many long and painful decades. This is where magic realism rubs shoulders with that magic imperialism imported and implemented by the West. I landed here, symbolically on September 14, the night when Mexican Independence Day is, historically, celebrated. I did not sleep. I went to Zocalo, to see the people. Enormous fireworks illuminated the sky of the city where the Spanish cathedrals are built on top of the ruins of the great native civilizations. Poor and rich were standing, watching the colorful show, looking at an enormous flag. The day after, I was filming at the splendid Bellas Artes, one of the most beautiful theatres on Earth. There, a Soviet-trained conductor was facing a brilliant youth orchestra, which consisted of once poor boys and girls from deprived communities. On the stage, the legendary Folkloric Ballet of Mexico was performing; with proud native themes, and with young women holding rifles, marching towards the redness of the revolution. The audience roared. People, strangers, were embracing, shaking hands. There were tears; tears of joy. Oh Mexico! 2018. Year Zero, I call it. Yes, this is how I will name my film. Year Zero. The revolution, hopefully. The new beginning. The independence. Hopefully. Yes, I wrote it, of course, I did: People are reluctant, skeptical. But they are both  reluctant and full of hope. I was told in Guadalajara, by an accountant who was forced by circumstances, to drive a taxi: I did not vote for Obrador, because I do not believe that what he was promising during his campaign, could be achieved. But I hope that he is real. If I see that he is real, I will drop everything and dedicate my life to supporting him. To save Mexico is to stop neo-liberalism, dependency on the West, and to join countries that are fighting against the global dictatorship. Can it be done? Will it be done? I trust Obrador. I have no other choice. I travelled all the way here, to the country that I still love, profoundly; I travelled here in order to offer my help. I am not an impartial spectator. This is not the time for those In a few short months, the fate of those humble villages of Yucatan and Chiapas will be decided. The entire Latin America is watching. To change Mexico looks like an impossible task. But it has to be performed. True revolution should put the Mexican people first, and put the final end to those terrible centuries of plunder, humiliation and terror. To hell with magic imperialism. To hell with any imperialism, full stop. Viva Mexico! Viva Patria Grande! Andre Vltchek is a philosopher, novelist, filmmaker and investigative journalist. He has covered wars and conflicts in dozens of countries. Three of his latest books are Revolutionary Optimism, Western Nihilism , a revolutionary novel Aurora and a bestselling work of political non-fiction: Exposing Lies Of The Empire. View his other books here. Watch Rwanda Gambit, his groundbreaking documentary about Rwanda and DRCongo and his film/dialogue with Noam Chomsky On Western Terrorism. Vltchek presently resides in East Asia and the Middle East, and continues to work around the world. He can be reached through his website and his Twitter. 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 MEMO

October 31, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Saudi dissident Prince Khalid Bin Farhan Al Saud says he expects a coup to be orchestrated against King Salman and his heir, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

The coming period will witness a coup against the king and the crown prince, he said while commenting on the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggis is known and all that is happening now are attempts to postpone a direct accusation of those who had issued the orders to have him killed, which Khalid said could be none other than Mohammed Bin Salman.

Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter

According to the prince, Khashoggi was planning to write his memoirs which could be one of the reasons that led to his murder.

Khashoggi was last seen when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on 2 October. Turkey has said it has audio recordings which prove he was killed in the building. After first denying knowledge of Khashoggis whereabouts and claiming he had left the consulate 20 minutes after his arrival, Saudi authorities admitted he had been killed on site by what they described as rogue agents.

This article was originally published by " MEMO" -

Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here.

==See Also==

EXCLUSIVE: Senior Saudi prince flies home to tackle MBS succession

'Could Prince Ahmad bin Abdel Aziz Become the Next Saudi Crown Prince'?

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
Nigerian radio host and presenter Ifedayo Olarinde popularly called Daddy Freeze says 99% of what our Pastors and GOs taught us is false.

According to him, the word Jesus has no meaning and was invented by manipulators.

Read his post below:

99% of what your Pastors and GOs taught you is false!



How can his name be Jesus when the letter j was not part of the English language until 1634? Here is a copy of the original translation of the King James Bible completed in 1611.



How can his name be Jesus when the Hebrew alphabet doesnt have a j sounding letter?



The name Jesus is less that 400 years old, how can it aptly depict a savior that resurrected 2,018 years ago?



Yeshua is Hebrew remember? So why does he have a Latin name?

 Hebrews 7:14 

New International Version

For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,

 John 4:22 

New International Version

You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.



If salvation is from the Jews, why do we have a Latin Jesus, but obey the law of moses and pay tithe like the Jews?



The names Joshua and Jesus are exactly the same word in Hebrew and Greek, the Bibles first languages, the names were separated in Latin. why?



Be careful of what name you call The name Jesus was invented, Yahweh had a son called Yeshua, which means salvation! the name Jesus has no meaning, its an invention!



Yeshua is our Saviour, while Jesus was invented by manipulators, who aligned his birthday with Nimrods and the pagan solstice of the sun.



Yeshua said you can only worship him in truth and in spirit (John4), if you dont know the truth, you end up worshiping a pagan invention. ~FRZ



#FreeTheSheeple
Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Lawmaker, Ben Murray Bruce, has reacted to recent claims that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration plans to sell national assets.

The senator said it was a wrong move because of the motive. According to the Bayelsa state senator, the Nigerian government when Atiku Abubakar was vice President privatised national assets to make public companies more profitable unlike in the present government where they plan to sell them to fund budget.

Speaking via his twitter handle on Thursday morning, the senator likened the case of the President government to that of the proverbial prodigal son, who sold off his inheritance for enjoyment.

Senator Bruce said it would be a shortsighted move by the Buhari led government to sell national assets to pay salaries. He went on to ask what government will sell next, after national assets.

In his words:

There is a difference between privatisation and selling of assets to fund budget. The purpose of Atikus privatisation was not to raise money to fund the budget. It was to make public companies more profitable. Muhammadu Buhari is selling assets just to spend the money. Big difference!

Selling off public assets to spend on a salary paying budget is so short sighted! What happens next year? Will government sell Nigerians? This is the behaviour of a prodigal child who rather than add to the property inherited from his father, he sells it off to enjoy his life.

If a government needs money, they should be more creative than selling off assets that other governments before them built. Funny enough, this same government has been accusing those other governments of not building anything. Now, they want to sell the nothing that they built?
Senator Shehu Sani has said that the murder of Gen Idris Alkali and Kaduna state traditional ruler, Agom Adara represent our national Portrait of tragedy and shame.

It will be recalled that Gen Idris Alkali was reported missing in September after his car was discovered in a pond in Plateau state. However, on October 31st, a team of security agents set out to the well, where the generals body was suspected to have been dumped.

The well was subsequently drained, and the decomposing body of the general was found. Other items, including the shirt he wore on the day of his disappearance were equally recovered from the well.

The Kaduna traditional ruler was also kidnapped and murdered by his captors recently, even though ransom had been paid.

In a reactions to these murders, the federal lawmaker said, their deaths reveals our national shame and tragedy . A clear sign of the countrys systemic failure.

He wrote;

Gen Idris Alkali and Agom Adara represent our national Potrait of tragedy and shame.

Their souls hovers above the heaps of our systemic failure and guilt as a nation.

Their spirit will eternally hunt their assailants and perpetually torment the conscience of the power of their custody.
Governor of Kako State, Abdullahi Ganduje has been invited by the State House of Assembly investigative committee, to appear before it on Friday.

The committee which was set up to probe the some of video clips which showed the Governor, receiving bribes from contractors.

This was made known to journalists by the Secretary of the seven-man ad-hoc Committee, Mujtafah Adamu, on Thursday.

Adamu said the letter, which summoned the governor to appear before the investigating committee, was issued on Oct. 31.

He said:

The letter which was signed by the Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Baffa Danagundi and issued to the governor, is requesting his appearance and to hear the matter from his own perspective.

You may wish to appear together with your lawyers for the hearing, and enclosed is the copy of the video clips for your perusal, the letter said.
Vanguard



Afro-beat musician, Seun Kuti has shared his feelings about Nigerians who continue to support political leaders who only work for the progress of themselves instead of the good of the general public

The Nation



The N22, 500 proposed by the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) at its extra-ordinary meeting as a new minimum wage has stalled moves by the Federal Government to abort the indefinite nationwide strike planned by Labour

ThisDay



PDP rejects Osinbajos comment on debt profile Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has described the decision of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to sell some public assets to fund 2019 budget as irresponsible. The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, had said recently that the

Guardian



Islamic extremists killed no fewer than 360 defenseless civilians, including 260 Christians and 100 Muslims in the country in the month of October 2018. A report, released yesterday by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, was signed by its board Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi and Head, Civil Liberties and Rule of Law

The Sun



NAN As permutations continue on the coming major contest for the presidency between incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President, youths in the North say they have yet to take a definite stand on who to support. Malam Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, leader of the Northern Emancipation Network

The Authority

Civil servants in Imo State will henceforth receive their salaries on the first week of the month..

Daily Times



The Federal Government has confirmed a report which ranks Nigeria first on the list of countries with high record of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS

Daily Trust

The Nigerian Army yesterday recovered the remains of the former Head of Administration, Army Headquarters, retired Major General Idris Alkali, about two months after he was declared missing on his way from Abuja to Bauchi via Jos. The remains of Alkali were found in a sack

Leadership



The Osun State Chapter of Social Democratic Party (SDP) has charged members of the party and the people of the state to disregard the purported suspension of membership of Otunba Iyiola Omisore by Afenifere, a Pan-Yoruba Socio Cultural group. Reacting to the development in Osogbo yesterday, the spokesman of the party, Mr. Taiwo Akeju

Tribune



A team of Nigerian doctors Tuesday successfully separated a set of conjoined twins at University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada. The doctors led by Dr Nuhu Kwajafa of the Global Peace Initiatives confirmed the success
Tell us a little about the history of your citys drinking culture.

Beer has been the beverage of preference due to price, availability and, of course, the hot and humid climate, followed by rum and cola. We produce a local neutral cane distillate called seco, which is easily mixed with fruit juices. This seco started as a farmers drink and eventually permeated all the social degrees of the country. Right now there is a growing demand for craft products, the younger generations are drinking local and imported IPA beers as well as crafted cocktails. The older generations still like to have bottle service at a bar. Bottle service is quite popular here due to the low taxation on alcoholic beverages  also its convenient when clubs are packed so you dont have to wait for a server to take care of you. A very popular rum drink is Pintao, which is 2oz rum, 5oz club soda and a splash of cola. Premixed cocktails were always available, however now locals are turning their palates to the real, freshly made cocktail.

When did the city get into cocktails  or is there still a way to go before we can say there is a mainstream cocktail culture?

The serious craft cocktail culture started maybe three or four years ago, and its building up. For sure its growing but is not at its finest moment as yet. Indeed it is blossoming and catching up at great speed.

Who and what are the pioneer bartenders and bars?

The first ones are always the bravest ones. I will say bartenders such as Pascual Tejada, Carlos Maestracci and Angela Vecchione are the ones who ignited the movement. As pioneer bars I will say Amano, Mula and Strangers Club.

Where do you think the city ranks in terms of bar scenes in Latin America? Is it leading the way or are other cities and scenes more influential?

Because of our location, Panama is the hub of everything and everyone. Definitely we have raised the bar for craft cocktails and hospitality as wed even been nominated in the top 10 Best New International Bars by Tales of the Cocktail, therefore we are a point of reference. But the bar scenes in Bogota, Lima and Mexico City are ahead of us for now.

Do economic shifts affect cocktail consumption? Do you feel cocktail consumption is at an all-time high?

Our culture is very special when it comes to economic shifts as they dont affect the drinking trend as much as in other latitudes. However, because of pricing, beer will always be the biggest challenger against authentic craft cocktails, regardless of the situation. People still walk into a cocktail bar and before they order their favourite expression, they will start with a beer or two. The crowd in this city have more drinks per hour than their peers in the US or London. But there is still more work to do before you can say that cocktail consumption is at an all time high here. For sure we are drinking more cocktails than before, but not to the point where you can say we are at an all-time high.

What challenges do the citys bartenders/owners face?

The biggest challenge for a bar is to keep it interesting for the locals. This is a city with lots of tourists who happen to have great cocktail bars in their countries and have developed a taste for it. However, locals are still debating whether to have a cocktail vs traditional libations (beer, bottle service and rum & cola).

Some still get mad when they walk into a cocktail bar and find out they have a very short list of beers. For now the demographics show that the female crowd has been more receptive than the male one  a good cocktail bar in Panama will always have more women than men with a cocktail in their hands.

What is the best cocktail youve had in your home town and who made it?

A Negroni by Ivan Radulovic, from Strangers Club.
The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has said that vice president Yemi Osinbajo has deliberately distorted facts concerning Nigerias debt profile under the current administration.

In a statement entitled Osinbajos Distortion On Debt Profil by the PDP on Thursday, it said the aim of fact distortion by the VP, is to hide the failure of president Muhammadu Buhari.

In the statement signed by its National publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party accused the president government of borrowing more money that any previous Nigerian government.

See full statement below

Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) also wishes to bring to the attention of Nigerians to the deliberate distortion of facts by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo regarding the nations debt profile, which escalated to a frightening proportion under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

In the desperation to divert attention from the failures of the Buhari administration, VP Osinbajo falsified financial templates to argue that this government has no blame in the accumulation of debts under its watch.

It is an incontrovertible fact that the Buhari administration has accumulated more debts that any other administration in the history of our nation.

Our dear VP forgot that Nigerians are aware that between 2016 to 2017, under Buhari, our annual borrowing was about N3.7t as against the N1.04t annual borrowing perimeter between 2008 to 2015. Between 1999 to 2007 the annual borrowing perimeter was as low as N96b.

To deceive the public and divert attention to the alarming borrowing spree of Buhari administration, the APC-led FG converted domestic debt borrowed in naira under its watch, to the US dollar so that the very high exchange rate will make the domestic debt look smaller in dollars.

It is important to point out that the domestic debts of states were not part of the data base until 2013. Therefore, a sincere comparison of debts over the years should have focused on total external debt and Federal Governments domestic debt.

In view of the above, if VP Osinbajo, a professor of law was not being economical with the truth, the appropriate comparison should be to have the domestic debt in naira and convert the external debt to naira to get national debt for each of the years which show that the Buhari administration has accumulated more debts than any other administration.

An appropriate comparison will further show that the annual growth rate of public debt was only 0.44 percent under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, 2014 percent under the YarAdua and Jonathan administration and 29.6 percent under President Buhari.

We therefore charge the Vice President to refrain from bandying figures that he cannot substantiate, in an attempt to score cheap political point. Nigerians have moved beyond the lies, deception, propaganda and beguilement of the APC.

It amounts to a huge disservice to our nation if a person of such high office of the Vice President will allow himself to be used to distort figures to deceive Nigerians.
The second day of the virtual 21st annual Thomas L. Hill Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity, otherwise known as ISCORE, pro
Members of Iowa States Student Government make their way through the nights agenda during their meeting 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.
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Columns are hyper-specific to opinion and are written by only columnists employed by the Iowa State Daily. Columnists are unique because they have a specific writing day and only publish on those writing days. Each column undergoes a thorough editing process ensuring the integrity of the writer, and their claim is maintained while remaining research-based and respectful. Columns may be submitted from community members. These are labelled as Guest Columns. These contain similar research-based content and need to be at least 400 words in length. The following requirements should be met: first and last name, email and relation or position to Iowa State. Emails must be tied to the submitted guest column or it will not be accepted or published. Pseudonyms are prohibited and the writer will be banned from submissions.

Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020
HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED Military veterans stand in formation last Thursday at East Ferry during the Veterans Day ceremony. Sitting from left to right are Jim Perry, a former member of the U.S. Army...

Council OKs amended dog leash law The town council unanimously approved an amended ordinance that allows dogs to roam free during certain times at seven municipally-owned sites. The times and dates when dogs can be unleashed...

7 positive for virus at Melrose Asymptomatic fourth-graders who tested negative for COVID 19 were able to return to school today after the entire grade was ordered to stay home Friday following an outbreak. We recognize...
Africa has sustained gains in domestic resource mobilisation made since 2000, as tax revenues remained stable in 2016, according to Revenue Statistics in Africa 2018. Providing internationally comparable data for 21 participating countries including Uganda, the report finds that the average tax-to-GDP ratio was 18.2 percent in 2016, the same level as in 2015, which represents a strong improvement from 13.1 percent in 2000.

The third edition of Revenue Statistics in Africa, released in Paris during the 18th International Economic Forum on Africa, shows that tax-to-GDP ratios varied widely across African countries, ranging from 7.6 percent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to 29.4 percent in Tunisia in 2016. Six countries -Mauritius, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Togo and Tunisia- had tax-to-GDP ratios greater than or equal to 20 percent in 2016. Ugandas tax-to-GDP ratio was 13.0 percent but has slightly improved. In comparison, the average tax-to-GDP ratio for Latin America and the Caribbean was 22.7 percent and 34.3 percent for OECD countries in 2016.

Revenue Statistics in Africa is a joint initiative between the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and its Development Centre, with the support of the European Union.

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The publication, which now covers 21 countries, shows that revenue trends are mixed. Between 2015 and 2016, the tax-to-GDP ratios of 11 countries increased while those of 10 countries in the sample decreased. Botswana registered the highest increase (1.3 percentage points) followed by Mali (1.2 percentage points). The largest decreases (of over 2.0 percentage points) occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Niger.

The changes in tax-to-GDP ratios were primarily due to economic factors. Declines in oil prices coupled with lower activity among mining and oil companies contributed to the decreases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Niger, while a significant increase in the sale of diamonds in Botswana has increased revenues. In contrast, the increased tax-to-GDP ratio in Mali is partly explained by improvements to tax administration.

African economies continue to rely heavily on taxes on goods and services, which accounted for 54.6 percent of total tax revenues in the Africa (21) average. Value-added taxes (VAT) alone accounted for 29.3 percentof revenues.

However, the contribution of income taxes is increasing: taxes on income and profits accounted for 34.3 percent of total revenues across the Africa (21) in 2016 and have contributed the most to growth in tax revenues since 2000, increasing by 2.6 percent of GDP to reach 6.2 percent of GDP in 2016. Corporate income tax revenue increased by 1.4 percentage points over this period to 2.8 percent of GDP, while revenue from personal income tax rose from 2.1 percent to 3.0 percent of GDP in 2016, a historic high.

The report also contains data on non-tax revenues, which continued to decline across the 21 countries on average in 2016 but remain an important source of income in certain countries. These revenues, which include income from natural resources and grants, exceeded 5 percent of GDP in nine of the 21 countries of Botsana, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Rep. of Congo, DRC, Cote dVoire, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia and Uganda.

Authors says Revenue Statistics in Africa is an important part of the African Unions Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA) and is aligned with the African Unions Agenda 2063 and SDG 17.1.
East Africa Center for Disability Law and Policy (EA-CDLP) is set to hold the 1st Symposium on disability and Media, peddled at discussing the factors influencing the position of the media on disability in the Uganda.

The Symposium is expected to attract stakeholders of disability rights advocates and representatives of disabled people organizations, individual journalists and media practitioners, editors, media house owners and station managers, the academia, policy makers and implementers and the general public.

Being the first of its kind, the Symposium will take place on November 9, 2018 at hotel Africana and will focus on highlighting the challenges that remain outstanding on both ends, response actions taken by different stakeholders and the future prospects and opportunities.

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EA-CDLP has for over the last 18 months worked towards addressing the scant coverage of disability issues in the mainstream and alternative media, the negative portrayal of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the media and lack of a concerted and coordinated approach to media engagement by disabled peoples organizations (DPOs).

This process started with a baseline survey that sought to establish the state of media coverage on disability issues in Uganda and was subsequently followed by virtual trainings for journalists and persons with disabilities to address the capacity gaps identified during the survey.

With the establishment of the Uganda Media Caucus on Disability (UMCD), EA-CDLP has currently set a framework for information flow from DPOs to the public through the media and a platform to monitor and evaluate developments in the media related to disability issues.

According to EA-CDLP, increased interest and appreciation to identify and include disability issues in news broadcasts, publishing and daily programming by individual journalists and media houses as well.
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Emergency crews attend a fire after an accident on highway 407, as shown in this still image taken from a video provided by Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, in Toronto on Wednesday Oct. 31, 2018. Officials say two people have been killed in a multi-vehicle crash that sparked a tanker fire on a major toll highway in the Toronto area. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Ontario Provincial Police-Sergeant Kerry Schmidt **MANDATORY CREDIT**
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Polish Ambassador Wojciech Gerwel in Hanoi on October 31st (Photo: VNA)



Ambassador Gerwel expressed his honour to assume this position, saying that his experience in Vietnam will help promote the two countries relations.

Highlighting his special sentiment towards Vietnam, he said the Vietnamese community, including students, in Poland is a bridge helping to intensify bilateral connections.

With regard to priorities during his term, Gerwel said he will prioritise enhancing cooperation in politics, economy, education-training and culture with Vietnam. He expressed his wish for closer coordination between the Polish Embassy and ministries, sectors and localities of Vietnam.

Stressing economic ties, the diplomat said his country is strong in agriculture, food and pharmaceutical production, shipbuilding and mining, so it wants to step up partnerships in these spheres.

Poland has established a trade office in Vietnam and this is one of the first overseas representative offices of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, showing the importance his country attaches to economic links with the Southeast Asian nation, he noted.

Ambassador Gerwel expressed his belief that the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will take effect soon. He added LOT Polish Airlines, the national flag carrier of Poland, plans to open a direct air route to Vietnam, and this route will help shorten the two countries distance and facilitate tourism cooperation.

At the meeting, PM Phuc pledged the best possible conditions for the ambassador to promote collaboration with Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities.

There remains much room for trade ties, he said, noting that bilateral trade is able to rise strongly from the current revenue of over USD1 billion.

He asked Poland to promote the signing and ratification of the EVFTA. The two sides should also work closely to disburse the preferential credit package of EUR250 million that Poland pledged for Vietnam.

The Government leader also applauded the planned opening of a direct air route, saying he believes that it will help bolster investment, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries./.
Sebelum Anda bermain, Anda perlu mengetahui apa yang Anda butuhkan untuk masuk ke dalam permainan roulette kasino online ini. Jika Anda sudah mendaftar di situs judi casino online dan sudah memberikan user ID, login terlebih dahulu dan pilih menu live casino yang tertera di situs judi tersebut. Pertama pilih dealer dan putuskan sendiri, lalu pilih meja atau kursi di dalam ruangan. Jika namanya tertera dan berwarna coklat, maka kursi tersebut sudah ditempati oleh pemain lain, dan pilihlah kursi kosong berwarna hitam.

Kasino Roulette adalah salah satu permainan paling populer di situs perjudian kasino. Jadi dalam permainan ini kamu harus menebak angka berapa yang akan keluar. Ada 36 nomor berbeda dalam permainan populer ini di mana sebuah bola kecil diputar dan dilemparkan ke dalam mesin roulette. Anda harus menebak dari mana bola kecil itu masuk dan di nomor berapa ia berhenti. Ada banyak jenis pilihan angka dari 0-36, dan mereka dihitung secara berbeda. Sebagai agen casino terpercaya, panduan permainan roulette ini juga memberikan informasi tentang jenis pilihan dan nama permainan roulette casino online sebagai berikut:

Jika Anda ingin bermain roulette di situs kasino online, caranya sangat sederhana. Anda dapat bermain di Kasino ION, Kasino Sbobet, dan Situs Kasino. Di bawah ini adalah artikel panduan bermain di mana Anda dapat mempelajari roulette langsung dan memainkannya di situs judi online mana pun.

tangkapan layar

Sebelum Anda bermain, Anda perlu mengetahui apa yang Anda butuhkan untuk masuk ke dalam permainan roulette kasino online ini. Jika Anda sudah mendaftar di situs judi casino online dan sudah memberikan user ID, login terlebih dahulu dan pilih menu live casino yang tertera di situs judi online tersebut. Pertama pilih dealer dan putuskan sendiri, lalu pilih meja atau kursi di dalam ruangan. Jika namanya tertera dan berwarna coklat, maka kursi tersebut sudah ditempati oleh pemain lain, dan pilihlah kursi kosong berwarna hitam.

Panduan Bermain Online Kasino Roulette

Kasino Roulette adalah salah satu permainan paling populer di situs perjudian kasino. Jadi dalam permainan ini kamu harus menebak angka berapa yang akan keluar. Ada 36 nomor berbeda dalam permainan populer ini di mana sebuah bola kecil diputar dan dilemparkan ke dalam mesin roulette. Anda harus menebak dari mana bola kecil itu masuk dan di nomor berapa ia berhenti. Ada banyak jenis pilihan angka dari 0-36, dan mereka dihitung secara berbeda. Sebagai agen casino terpercaya, panduan permainan roulette ini juga memberikan informasi tentang jenis pilihan dan nama permainan roulette casino online sebagai berikut:

1. Straight Up: Penempatan angka tunggal dari 0 hingga 36. Contoh perhitungan straight up adalah mengalikan taruhan dengan 35. Ini adalah jenis taruhan tertinggi dalam permainan roulette kasino, jadi 50 dikalikan dengan 35 memberi Anda 1750, mengapa jenis taruhan ini menghasilkan pengembalian yang begitu tinggi? Hal ini karena tidak mudah untuk memenangkan pilihan nomor dengan memilih hanya satu nomor dari banyak.

2. Taruhan split: Jenis taruhan yang ditempatkan pada dua angka atau di antara dua angka yang berbeda. Misalnya, menempatkan di sela-sela angka 9 dan 12 atau 13d dan 14 dihitung sebagai jenis taruhan split. Setiap nomor dapat ditempatkan dalam jenis ini selama nomor tersebut berdekatan dan persis seperti Gambar A dan B. Untuk taruhan ini, jika Anda memenangkan contoh dan mengalikannya dengan 850, Anda akan menerima jumlah taruhan yang dikalikan dengan 17. .

3. Taruhan jalanan: bertaruh dengan 3 angka ke bawah, misalnya 1,2,3 atau 10,11,12. Semua taruhan jalan akan menerima kemenangan dikalikan dengan 11. Misalnya, 50 dikalikan 550.

4. Taruhan sudut: Jenis taruhan di mana empat angka ditempatkan saling berhadapan, seperti 13,14,16,17 atau 19,20,22,23. Semua angka valid karena terdiri dari 4 angka yang diisi seperti kotak dan taruhan dikalikan 8 (misalnya 50 kali 800).

5. Taruhan baris: Atau, Anda dapat mengatakan bahwa ada 6 jenis taruhan yang terdiri dari 2 baris, tetapi 6 poin dengan 2 peregangan, seperti taruhan jalanan. Misalnya, jika Anda memilih angka 7 hingga 12 dan 13 hingga 18, taruhan 50 adalah 5 kali dan kemudian dikalikan dengan 250 kemenangan.

6. Kolom Inner Bet: Jenis taruhan vertikal dengan 12 poin berturut-turut, seperti kolom numerik 1,4,7,10,13,19,22,25,25,28,22,24,34 atau kolom lainnya. Dan jika dia memenangkan kolom, 50 taruhan digandakan dan 100 taruhan.

7. Lusin : Jenis taruhan menempatkan 12 angka tetapi menempatkannya pada kotak berbentuk seperti contoh Kolom A dengan angka 1 sampai 12 dan odds dengan kolom lain untuk dipilih dengan memilih 1 kotak pertama untuk Kolom A. Kalikan dengan 2, 50 taruhan 100.

8. Zero part : Cara bertaruh 0.1,2,3 sama persis seperti di gambar, karena berdekatan dengan angka 0, anda hanya bisa bertaruh 0.1,2,3. Menempatkan taruhan ini mengalikannya dengan 50. hingga 8.

9. Zero Corner: Bertaruh pada angka 0.1,2 atau 0.2,3 adalah dua pilihan karena Anda hanya bertaruh mendekati angka nol. Jenis taruhan ini dikalikan 11 jika taruhan menang.

10. Two Dozen: Jenis taruhan dengan hanya dua pilihan: 1-18 atau 19-36. Jika taruhan Anda adalah 50, itu dikalikan dengan 1 hingga 50 jika Anda menang.

11. Merah atau Hitam: Masukkan taruhan Anda dengan memilih Merah atau Hitam sebagai warna angka yang muncul saat taruhan 50.

12. Genap/Ganjil: Pilih angka yang menghasilkan jumlah jenis taruhan ganjil.
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Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Khanh Ngoc chairs the ceremony. (Photo: baophapluat.vn)

Speaking at the ceremony, Head of the Legal Aid Department Nguyen Thi Minh said that the aid, worth EUR45,000, will be used until 2020 in supporting the implementation of the legal aid law by increasing the quality of legal aid staff through training courses on legal aid to specific people, especially children and smuggling victims, in order to protect the legitimate rights and interests of those who receive legal aid.

Appreciating the aid, Deputy Minister Ngoc said that there had been progress in legal aid in Vietnam over the past year, with the legal aid law adopted by the National Assembly in 2017, which aims to increase the quality of legal aid, contributing to helping poor and vulnerable people have unbiased access to justice and enjoy legal equality.

Legal aid is a big policy of the Vietnamese Government, serving mainly poor and disadvantaged people, which has been carried out for a long time by the Ministry of Justice, he stressed.

Committing to wisely use the aid, he expressed his hope that the Irish Embassy in Vietnam will continue to support legal aid activities, contributing to reinforcing and developing the Vietnam  Ireland relationship.

Noting that the relationship between the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice and the Irish Embassy in Vietnam has been set up since 2012 by a signed agreement on law and justice cooperation, Ambassador Cait Moran said that one of the priorities of her embassy is to support Vietnams poverty reduction by assisting the poor in having access to justice.

Since 2015, the Irish Embassy has given annual support to legal aid in Vietnam./.
At the reception (Source: VNA)



PM Phuc said Vietnam set the goal of achieving 30 percent growth in the number of tourists each year and turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector.

He expressed his belief that Norman, with his experiences, will help increase foreign tourist arrivals in Vietnam and popularise images of the country to the world.

The PM stressed that Vietnam boasts a stable socio-political environment which ensures security and safety for visitors, as well as many tourist attractions. In particular, the country is stepping up administrative reform, making it easier for foreign visitors to arrive and stay in Vietnam, he noted.

Expressing his impression on the development of Vietnams tourism sector, Norman pledged to offer suggestions to develop Vietnams tourism.

Besides promoting Vietnams images and attractive tourist destinations, Norman said he would also work as a bridge to encourage tourism companies to invest in the Southeast Asian country.

Having evaluated Normans proposals, PM Phuc assigned ministries and agencies to work closely with Norman to successfully promote Vietnams tourism to the world.

The PM also asked Norman to assist Vietnam in marketing Vietnamese coffee and developing infrastructure and finance./.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 54F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 34F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Papua New Guinean Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Oct. 31, 2018. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

PORT MORESBY, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- China and Papua New Guinea (PNG) vowed on Wednesday to further develop the relations between the two countries and strengthen cooperation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

When meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said PNG is a key and friend of China among the Pacific island nations.

Bilateral relations have reached the all-time high since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, he said, reiterating PNG's adherence to the one-China policy.

China was among the first countries which supported PNG in hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' meeting this year and rendered PNG assistance in this regard, according to the prime minister.

Expressing firm support to the Belt and Road Initiative, O'Neill hoped that cooperation under the China-proposed initiative could promoted PNG's economy as well as common development of the Pacific island nations.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, proposed in 2013, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road.

For his part, Wang said the upcoming APEC meeting in Port Moresby is a major event for the Pacific island nations, and China wished the meeting a success and will continue to offer help to PNG.

Noting that PNG was the first among the Pacific island nations to sign cooperation agreements with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, he said China welcomes the attendance of Prime Minister O'Neill at the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held next year in China.

China is willing to expand cooperation with PNG in trade, investment, industrial capacity and education under the Belt and Road Initiative so as to help the country achieve sustainable development and common development of the Pacific island nations, he added.

The Chinese top diplomat stressed that China has abided by the principle of non-interference in domestic affairs of other countries and no-attachment of political strings regarding foreign aid.

In a separate meeting with PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato, Wang underscored the important position of PNG in China's neighborhood diplomacy, saying China is willing to become a lasting and trustworthy friend and partner of PNG.

Wang said China would like to strengthen cooperation with the Pacific island country on joint construction of the Road and Belt, investment, agriculture and industrial modernization so as to help transfer PNG's resources potentials for the country's development.

Minister Pato is also welcome to attend the upcoming China International Import Expo scheduled for next month in Shanghai and China expects more distinctive PNG imports, he added.

Pato expressed the willingness of his country to learn from China's experiences on poverty alleviation and development.

PNG also hopes to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with China on trade and investment, energy and resources as well as infrastructure, he said.

2

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[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]
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.






By Park Hyong-ki







Hwang Jung-min, an actor known for his roles in various blockbuster movies, has been tapped as the new model for Korea Post, specifically the post office's fund services.







The actor has been promoting the national post service's money market, bond and other types of investment portfolio funds that have a low exposure to stocks.







He has been appearing in ads for a total of 13 funds that are currently offered at 222 post offices nationwide.







They are mostly for middle- and low-income earners given the funds invest in short-term state debt securities. People who invest have little chance to lose their principal.







Hwang assured this by testing the post office's new robot system that suggested which funds best fit his investment characteristics in September.







Korea Post launched the 13 funds Sept. 3 following the Financial Services Commission's approval in June.







Hwang was one of the nominees for the Golden Bell Awards in the category of best actor for portraying a spy in the thriller, "The Spy Gone North."







The movie was based on the true story about a South Korean agent trying to infiltrate North Korea to gain intelligence on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program in the mid-1990s.







Hwang played a cop in the action comedy blockbuster "Veteran," trying to solve a brutality case involving local chaebol. The movie was directed by action auteur Ryoo Seung-wan in 2015, reflecting the real-life social problems concerning chaebol.







The actor made his debut on the silver screen in 1990 when he appeared briefly in the movie "The General's Son."










Korean-American cheesemaker Soyoung Scanlan. Korea Times file.



By Kang Aa-young



Korean-American cheesemaker Soyoung Scanlan, better known in Korea by her maiden name Kim So-young, is one of the top-notch cheese artisans in the United States.



Produced fresh at her Andante Dairy in Petaluma, California, her organic hand-made cheeses go directly to America's top restaurants and high-end retailers who are seeking to meet sophisticated consumers' delicate taste buds.



The San Francisco-based local newspaper SF Gate named Scanlan's Figaro as one of the top 10 cheeses for 2008.



Her dairy business took off after celebrity chef Thomas Keller publicly endorsed her hand-made cheese as one of the best in a TV interview.



Unlike farmstead cheeses, Scanlan's hand-made cheeses have their own flavor and taste.



Her cheese is named after musical terms, such as Adagio, Rondo and Nocturne.



"Making music and making cheese (or anything good) are very similar," Scanlan said during a recent Korea Times interview in Seoul. "They require a lot of practice, and even small mistakes can screw things up and negatively affect their overall quality."



For this reason, music is an integral part of her life.



"Pursuing harmony and beauty of music and cheesemaking give me enough joy to forget about the painstaking process of making cheese," she added.



Scanlan is one of the few artisans who only uses her hands all during the process.



Her dairy does not have a pump, which means it follows a very traditional method with intense labor.



She often delivers her finished products to customers, who understand her dedication to cheese. Her cheeses are mostly used for a cheese plate at the end of a meal. It goes through "minimum modification" and is served with some other ingredients, which she said is similar to that of "fish for sushi making."



Scanlan's meteoric rise as a gourmet cheese artisan came as a surprise to Koreans familiar with her academic background.



She was once a promising biochemist who graduated from an elite program in engineering. She initially went to the United States to pursue a doctoral degree after earning a master's degree from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).



In Korea, Scanlan said she was a city girl born and raised by a professor father and a homemaker mother and a typical science major who was eager to know more about nature and how life mechanisms work.



While taking doctoral courses in the United States, she felt bored of studying. "My skepticism grew as time went by. The more I studied engineering the more I found myself moving far away from the purpose of my study. Then I heard my inner voice that I wanted to do hands-on work"



Before leaving Seoul, Scanlan said she herself had no idea her journey to the United States would end up being a cheesemaker.



The turning point of her dramatic career transition came in 1993 when she and her American husband traveled to France.



Scanlan said her encounter with French cheese was like "love at first sight."



She was fascinated with the dairy product that is made with simple ingredients, including milk, rennet, salt and fermentation-related microorganisms and transforms various cuisines with rich flavors, textures and tastes.



There, she realized cheesemaking is her destiny, and determined to make cheese her profession.



After returning to the United States, she started from scratch.



Her beginning was rough. Back in the 1990s, she said dairy farmers in California were "very conservative." She was a newcomer from South Korea, a country few of them knew of.



"You cannot imagine what it was like," she said. "Putting myself out there as an aspiring cheesemaker in the United States into Korean context is like an expat who is trying to find a job in the fishing industry on the small southern island of Geoje in South Korea."



Scanlan described her first visit to a dairy farm in California: "When I visited there to purchase some milk, the dairy owner asked me bluntly if I could lift the huge amount of milk," she said to indicate the heavy labor that is required in the dairy business. "He was worried that I might spill the milk, because then he would be the one who had to clean up the mess."



She said she was a stranger in the U.S. dairy industry because previously there were no Asian cheesemakers.



"I am probably still the only Asian cheesemaker in the United States," she said.



At that time, European-style homemade cheese was rare in the United States as many American dairy farmers produced cheddar or pizza cheese in big facilities.



In the American dairy industry, she was a stranger in every sense.



She chose to learn cheesemaking as a trainee at a dairy farm. In addition to learning cheese, she had to take care of chores, including cleaning her workplace. She was eager to learn.



After a years-long of stint in dairy farms, in 1999 Scanlan established her own dairy business, Andante Dairy in Petaluma, Sonoma County, 60 kilometers north of San Francisco.



She is the founder and the only employee of her business, and this kept her busy.

She has worked seven days a week without days off. Despite the restless life, she said she is not tired at all because she still has passion for quality gourmet cheese.

Her professionalism has paid off.



Word of mouth of "Soyoung cheese" spread fast after her products debuted at a nearby grocery store. Her dairy business took off after the celebrity chef Thomas Keller, who runs the San Francisco-based high-end restaurant French Laundry which was awarded three Michelin stars 12 years in a row, praised her cheese in public.



"I couldn't believe the cheese is from U.S., made from Korean cheesemaker," Keller said in a TV interview. Keller is the only American-born chef having two three-starred Michelin restaurants.



The celebrity chef helped bring her work to wider attention when he featured her cheeses at French Laundry.



"He treated me with all respect," she said, adding the respect came from understanding her masterpiece.



She said without moments like this, she couldn't have made it.



Keller's endorsement took Scanlan's dairy business to the next level. She earned fame and became a rising artisan cheesemaker.



Some local based business owners commented it's an "honor," for them to have her in the U.S.



Although she is called a cheese artisan, there is no formal certification for "artisan" in the U.S. cheese industry.



Reputation is all that matters for cheesemakers to survive.



"Though you have a good technique, the finished product is all that people care about," Scanlan said.



Consistency and credibility are two of the core factors that have made her a reputable cheese artisan.



Over the past two decades since she founded her diary business, the process of making cheese has not changed much. She sticks strictly to basics when making cheese.



All cheese starts from milk. She collects milk at the dairy farms and transfers it to the cheese dairy. Her cheese dairy is located at a goat milk farm, so the distance from the animals to the cheesemaking facility is "about 20 meters."



The milk is pasteurized, and the cheesemaking starts.



She adds starter culture (lactic acid and flavor producing bacteria and fungus), rennet (an enzyme to induce coagulation), and the milk becomes acidic and coagulates.



From here, a continuous process to concentrate milk solid components (mostly proteins and fat) starts: Milk coagulation, draining the curds, processing the curds, salting, drying and ripening. Depending on the cheese, the whole process takes two days (for fresh cheese) to two years (some aged cheeses).



Korea's cheese market is growing faster at a rapid pace, with its consumption on the rise here over the last five years.



Despite its newfound popularity, however, critics say the market is still at an "early stage" in terms of product variety and consumption patterns.



Especially, it is rather very "limited" to certain types, what's called "processed cheese."



Scanlan said cheese culture in Korea is in its "infancy" and she warns them to see the reality before starting out.



"There isn't a job market for the craft, when they go back home," she said.



After she got public recognition, she visits Korea to teach classes for the small-scale cheesemakers who own dairy farms and try to make cheese to increase the value of the milk.



She found out knowledge on cheesemaking is at a "very primitive level" and also randomly modified by some teachers.



"It's important to offer accurate information," she said.



Nowadays, she's importing cheese made from her friend to Korea. She said she aims to give opportunities to people to know about the variety of cheeses.



"It's important to know the variety then find their favorite, regardless of where it came from," she said.


The 2018 International Conference on Humanitarian and Development Assistance to the DPRK was held at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-min



By Jung Da-min



Some might think North Korea's food supply and demand would be unstable, but prices in the market are remarkably steady, according to Kwon Tae-jin, director of the Center for North Korean and Northeast Asian Studies at the GS&J Institute.



It comes against the background that North Korea's rationing system does not work properly, Kwon said at the 2018 International Conference on Humanitarian and Development Assistance to the DPRK at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul, Wednesday.



The Korean Sharing Movement hosted the event with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Korea and Gyeonggi Province.



Kwon said how to increase residents' access to the market or, more fundamentally, how to increase their incomes, was the priority. He also called for a review of the country's food security and its agricultural policies.



Kwon attributed North Korea's stable food market prices to the country's unrecorded imports from neighboring countries including China.



"Merchants are providing as much food as the people need," Kwon said. "My presumption is that the unofficial total of imports would be much more than official imports."



Those with accessibility to the market and decent incomes were responsible for the changed patterns of food consumption that have been observed, Kwon said.



"If it was the problem of gaining calories from grains in the past, now North Korean people want to eat protein, that is, meat, as well as vegetables and fruits," Kwon said.





A vendor carries vegetables in Pyongyang's Yonggwang Street in this 2004 file photo. Korea Times
Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth holds the report "You Cry at Night but Don't Know Why: Sexual Violence against Women in North Korea" during a press conference in central Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap



By Kim Jae-heun



A report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international nongovernmental organization, revealed Thursday that government officials committin sexual violence is rampant in North Korea.



The report, titled "You Cry at Night but Don't Know Why': Sexual Violence against Women in North Korea," contains interviews with 106 North Korean defectors conducted between January 2015 and July 2018. Fifty-seven of them have defected after Kim Jong-un rose to power in 2011.



According to the report, a large number of married women in North Korea had become exposed to sexual violence while working at marketplaces, where government officials exploit them sexually.



Twenty-one women said they have either been sexually harassed or assaulted by government officials.



According to one female defector, state regulators or security men would just tell women to follow them into an empty room or someplace else whenever they wanted. She said it happened so often that the officials did not think it was wrong and women became used to it.



Sexual violence was more serious at detention facilities.



Another woman said she was caught while trying to escape to China in 2009 and was detained in Chongjin. "There was a woman who was consistently raped by the officer. Another officer would rape every new female prisoner," she said in the report.



"If North Korean women had judicial means to deal with sexual violence, they would call out for a #MeToo movement, but their voices are silenced under the dictatorship of Kim," Kenneth Roth, executive director of the HRW, said during a press conference in central Seoul. "We should not let North Korean officials rape women who are going out to work to support their family. North Korean leaders including Kim should recognize such problem and protect the women."



Roth said Kim could benefit much from stopping violations of woman's rights in his country, which is not a difficult job.



As the denuclearization process is expected to take a long time, the executive director believes Kim can improve human rights in his country and start economic exchanges with South Korea or join international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.



"Stopping rape would not threaten the government's grip on power. Stopping rape does not mean regime change. The government doesn't stop rape because it doesn't care and we want to change that," Roth said.






By Jung Da-min







North Korean media are promoting the "rich" harvest from fruit farms around the country, despite droughts and floods that damaged the country's overall food production this year.







The Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Sept. 28, in particular, published an article titled "Harvesting thousands of tons of fruit every day" on its front page, saying this year recorded "bumper crops" in the face of high temperatures and drought.







The article praised officials and agriculture workers of farms in Pukchong County, in South Hamgyong Province, and other regions for their work in improving pesticides and producing more fruit than last year, despite the challenging conditions.







North Korea has implemented a policy of increasing food production to counter an ongoing food crisis. The country's leader Kim Jong-un has often inspected fruit farms and fruit processing plants in the regions, including the Taedonggang Combined Fruit Farm, the Taedonggang Combined Fruit Processing Plant and the famous Kwail County in South Hwanghae Province.







Kwail means fruit in Korean and the county's economy is based on it. Kim inspected the county in September last year.







The country has also promoted processed fruit products, such as carbonated drinks, cider and drinking vinegar, to reflect the changed tastes of North Koreans.







Meanwhile, more fruit processing plants are being built.







On Wednesday, Rodong Sinmun reported on the completion of a new fruit processing plant in Kosan County, where there is a fruit farm.






People feed black-headed gulls at Dianchi Lake in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 31, 2018. Thousands of black-headed gulls have migrated to the city during these days. Kunming is known as the "spring city" for its mild climate and year-round green environment. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

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[ Editor: zyq ]


By Jung Hae-myoung



To 20-somethings, marriage is no longer a dreamy future but a costly reality. When asked what pops up in their heads when hearing the word "marriage," the response was "cost-to-benefit ratio."



According to a 2017 Statistics Korea report, 57 percent of people in their 20s said it was more beneficial to not get married. The cost of marriage can be both materialistic and non-materialistic  finance, stress from the relationship and personal time, while the benefits remain unsure.



"I don't want to give up my life that I have worked so hard to build. From what I have seen of my parents' marriage, the wife has to sacrifice her personal life. Even if culture seems to have changed, traditional roles and awareness still remain in households," a 25-year-old woman surnamed Lee told The Korea Times. "For me, I still need my own space and time."



According to a 2016 survey conducted by Macromil Embrain of 1,000 people in their 20s, 59.5 percent of women chose not to get married because they want to have "freer life." When multiple replies were allowed, 58 percent of the women also opted out marriage to avoid stress from new relationships and in-laws.



While the main reason for non-marriage for women was relationship stress, men did not want to tie the knot mostly for financial reasons. Some 56 percent of men chose not to marry because they worried over their financial status, followed by 47.3 percent who felt stressful about paying for the wedding.



According to Duo, a matchmaking company, an average couple in Korea needs 230 million won ($202,322) in wedding cost including housing in 2018. Considering a median annual income for workers here is 25 million won ($21,989), a couple has to save money for five years without any spending, just to get married.



Roh Sang-eun, 33, a salaried man, said he felt relief when he crossed out marriage from his to-do list in life.



"My parents bought their first home in 2016. When I see them, I find it hard to see myself buying my own home while raising a child. I can live better financially if I don't get married," he said.



A wedding ceremony is just the beginning. Buying a home, raising a child and paying for education will overwhelm young parents to regret their decision to marry. According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family report in 2016, raising a baby cost 1.07 million won per month on average, which is a third of the monthly expenditures of a household.



When a child grows up and starts going to school, the parents' bank account begins to drain even more. Aside from school fees, Korean students receive private tutoring. In total, it takes 300 million won to raise a child until they go to college, according to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. The cost for gap years and study abroad are not even included.



Considering the calculations above, non-marriage seems the wiser option for people in their 20s who are already struggling to land jobs and build stable careers in the first place. So far this year, the unemployment rate among those in their 20s is 11.3 percent, up from 7.4 percent in 2008, according to Statistics Korea.



Experts say young people give up on marriage because they cannot take the next step without having a proper job. They not only fail to find jobs, but even the ones they can find are unstable and temporary. This makes it harder for them to save money and move forward for the marriage step.



Refusing marriage as 'institutional' step



But why should marriage even be a step in life? Still others opt out of marriage to pursue their personal goals and life values. They say relationships should not be bounded by the institution of marriage, and choose to be free from the traditional social pressures prevalent in Korea.



"In society, marriage is a possessive relationship between two people, but relationships can take different forms," Ohn Jeong-min, 23, told The Korea Times. "I didn't want my relationship to be trapped in the norms set by society. What is a normal relationship anyway?"



"Along with the economic issues they face, people in their 20s cherish social, cultural and personal beliefs. They weigh up whether marriage is worthy enough to endure and give up their life values," said Jeong Ji-woo, a culture critic.



For the reason that marriage became something to endure, Oh Chan-ho, a sociology professor and the author of "Sociology of Marriage and Nursery," explains: "The current generation has seen their parents, who received a better education than previous generations, but had to sacrifice their career for marriage.



"But the mothers tell their daughters to never give up their career, because they regret giving up their dreams to serve their husbands."



Recently, he said he was struck by a reader's comment on his book saying "In the end, alpha-girls grow up to become supermoms."



Although the number of people having "unconventional" family types is growing, such as unmarried couples, single parents or just people who commit to living alone, government policy is not yet prepared for such changes.



Single parents here have to withstand neighbors' scrutiny, not to say disadvantages of government welfare. Unmarried single-person households have the lowest priority when they apply for apartment deposits.



Public awareness changes and the government should consider policies for the changes. Although fairytales from childhood usually end with "...and they lived happily ever after," Korean people in their 20s believe "they" is not the only option for a happy ending. For millennials, different forms of life can offer more for personal life and happiness.


Choi Dae-zip, president of the Korean Medical Association, lies on the sidewalk in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday, in protest of the recent imprisonment of three doctors arrested for misdiagnosis. Yonhap

By Kim Hyun-bin







A doctors' group is planning a rally in Seoul later this month to protest the recent conviction of three doctors who were found guilty of a malpractice that led to the death of a child.







They claim it was unfair to prosecute the doctors because they could not "control unexpected" situations, threatening to strike if they were not released.







But the public is giving a cold shoulder to their action, saying the doctors were rightfully charged for professional negligence and the government should strengthen punishment for such actions.







The Korean Medical Association said they would hold the rally in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Nov. 11, with 130,000 members and students at medical schools participating.







Choi Dae-zip, the president of the association, has been staging a one-man protest in front of Cheong Wa Dae, the National Assembly and Suwon Detention Center where the doctors have been detained, calling for their release. He and some other doctors shaved their heads to protest the court's verdict.







The protest began after a local court sentenced two doctors each to one year in prison and another to 18 months, Oct. 24, for professional negligence after they misdiagnosed an eight-year-old boy's symptoms of pneumonia and hydrothorax in his lower left lung as constipation in 2013. They focused on relieving the pain during the boy's four hospital visits, and he died at a nearby university hospital from hematogenic shock caused by a diaphragmatocele and a hemothorax.







This was the first time for doctors to be tried as criminal defendants for a misdiagnosis. The three were put behind bars immediately after sentencing.







"From now on, all doctors in Korea could face criminal charges for their medical decisions and any of them can be imprisoned for a mishap," Choi said, adding medical practice has limits in that even a doctor's best efforts sometimes lead to bad results.







"Doctors, who are experts, try to gain the best results through their expertise and experience. But they sometimes cannot predict or avoid danger," Choi said. "If a high court does not change the decision, it will make doctors perform their duties minimally."







However, most of the public is against the association's move, especially toward the strike, which will greatly inconvenience patients. Some even posted online petitions on Cheong Wa Dae's website to call for punishment of the leaders.







"Doctors these days are shameless and take no responsibility. They only see patients as paychecks," a petitioner wrote. "They rather need to apologize for the misdiagnosis. These evil groups need to be investigated thoroughly, so they can learn how trashy their actions are."







"This is a strike most of the public can't understand. If there is a hospital that takes part in the strike, I will never go there," another person wrote on social media.


















Former Samsung Engineering Vice Chairman Yang In-mo, second from left, speaks after receiving an order of merit from Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Marija Pejcinovic Buric, left, during the opening ceremony for the Croatian Embassy in Jung-gu, Seoul, Oct. 24. / Courtesy of Embassy of Croatia in Korea


By Kang Seung-woo



An IT entrepreneur, under heavy fire for abusing employees and killing chickens, said Thursday that he would step down as CEO of his two companies.





Yang Jin-ho
Graphic by Cho Sang-won



Faced with an aging population, can Koreans accept immigrants as their own?



By Lee Suh-yoon



Step into any construction site, factory floor or fishing vessel and it becomes clear who keeps the wheels running at the lowest tier of the Korean economy  migrant workers.



As of September, foreign residents, numbering around 2.3 million, made up over 4 percent of the country's population. Most of them are migrant workers from China or Southeast Asian countries.



Despite the 10 percent youth unemployment rate in Korea, work that falls under the so-called 3-D category (dirty, dangerous, and difficult) is short of hands. TV programs that zoom in on such workplaces usually feature an old Korean man nearing retirement surrounded by young migrant workers.



With the birthrate projected to drop below one child per woman this year, Korea's workforce is aging faster than any other advanced economy. By one estimate, almost 40 percent of the entire population is expected to be older than 65 by 2050. The government has been actively issuing temporary employment visas to fill up the first signs of labor shortages, mostly in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.



Experts now believe the country's transition to a multiracial society is inevitable, and perhaps the only way to save the economy and the nation's welfare system. They say that simply trying to raise the birthrate among Koreans, the focus of recent government responses, is not an adequate solution.













But it is difficult to imagine Korea as a multiracial society where immigrants and their children could take up to almost 15 percent of the total population, as is the case in developed nations that have openly accepted immigration in the last few decades such as Norway and Sweden.



"We have no choice but to accept immigrants," says Kim Joon-sik, a board member at Asian Friends, an NGO that helps multiracial families and people in poverty-stricken areas of Southeast Asia. "That's what the European countries did when their birthrates started falling. It's our turn now."



The question is, can Koreans, taught from an early age to be proud of their "Korean bloodline" and conditioned into "cultural homogeneity," accept immigrants as fellow countrymen?



Koreans have a "strong sense of resistance" to foreigners, said Kim, and the numerous state-sponsored campaigns that preach the abstract values of multiracial understanding are not helping either. Such campaigns are usually centered on the families of some 150,000 "marriage immigrants," mostly young women from Southeast Asia, and their half-Korean children. The images of these young mothers, conforming to the Korean way of life in their interactions with the Korean husband and his family, are a popular media subject.



Seol Dong-Hoon, a sociology professor at Jeonbuk University, believes the shift in perception toward immigrants can start by debunking the myth of a "pure-lineage Korean."



"It's the people who live in Korea that are Korean," he said in a recent interview with The Korea Times' vernacular sister paper, the Hankook Ilbo, pointing out 8.4 percent of the total population during the 918-1392 Goryeo Kingdom were actually foreigners.



"If you observe the physical features of Koreans, there is a clear mix of features from both southern and northern parts (of Asia)," Seol pointed out.





Migrant workers call for the right to change jobs at a rally in downtown Seoul, Oct. 14. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
South Korean soldiers run in the field during the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises in Mungyeong, south of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 31, 2009. Korea Times file



The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that religious and conscientious beliefs are to be considered valid reasons for refusing the military service mandate, overturning its decision from 14 years ago.



In a 9-4 vote, the full bench led by Chief Justice Kim Meong-su delivered the decision and ordered an appellate court to retry the case of Oh Seung-hun, effectively stating that the appellant should be cleared of the conviction.



Thursday's ruling potentially allows for 227 other similar cases pending at the top court and some 930 conscientious objectors currently on trial in Korea to avoid criminal convictions for disobeying the mandate and to replace their duties with alternative services.



"Punishing (conscientious objectors) for refusing the conscription on grounds of religious faith, in others words, freedom of conscience, is deemed an excessive constraint to an individual's freedom of conscience ... and goes against democracy that stands for tolerance of minorities," the court ruled.





The Supreme Court in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Korea Times file
South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and his U.S. counterpart Jim Mattis pose after signing a joint defense agreement at this year's Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Wednesday (local time). Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense



By Lee Min-hyung



Seoul and Washington have laid the foundation for a stable and swift transfer of the wartime operational control (OPCON) from the U.S. to South Korea during their annual defense dialogue, the defense chiefs of the two countries said Wednesday (local time in Washington, D.C.).



Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and his U.S. counterpart Jim Mattis did not reach a consensus over the specific timeline for the planned OPCON transfer, but both sides pledged to join forces for an earlier transfer of OPCON from Washington to Seoul.



As a first step to realize the joint goal, "both countries agreed to verify Seoul's initial operational capability (IOC) next year to judge whether South Korea has enough capability to lead troops in time of war," Jeong said in a joint press conference with Mattis after the 50th Security Consultative Meeting (SCM).



"Seoul and Washington will then continue to take into account any shifts in defense circumstances here and abroad and decide the specific timeframe for the OPCON transfer," Jeong said.



Jeong went on to say that the verification of the IOC will finish as early as July next year.



Mattis, who accompanied Jeong during the conference, said Washington would also continue fulfilling their joint mission of earlier OPCON transfer.



"In signing the document (the joint defense agreement on the sidelines of the 50th SCM), we ensure continuity for the future Korean-led Combined Forces Command, as it assumes the mission of our current U.S.-led Combined Forces Command," Mattis said.



Suspension of joint drills



Defense chiefs from the two sides also came to terms on making joint efforts to realize the complete denuclearization of the peninsula.



"We shared a common sense of the need to build lasting peace on the peninsula and the U.S. expressed its willingness to support the ongoing inter-Korean peace momentum," Jeong said, dispelling concerns that the U.S. is worried about the inter-Korean joint agreement, as it can weaken defense readiness of South Korea.



According to the inter-Korean military agreement, Seoul and Pyongyang must put an end to any military activities in the border area as of Nov. 1.



"The U.S. completed reviewing details of the air buffer zone near the border area," Jeong said.



During the defense ministers' talk, both sides also agreed to suspend Vigilant Ace, a joint air exercise scheduled to take place in December.



The annual air exercise has taken place in South Korea to maintain the Seoul-Washington air defense readiness against any possible provocations from North Korea.



Some critics here raised concerns that the suspension of the drill may negatively affect the defense capability of the two allied countries.



Jeong said the two countries will continue discussing how to resume their annual joint exercises until Nov. 15 and unveil detailed guidelines for the upcoming plans before the end of this month.



Mattis also dispelled any concerns over a possible "defense hole" following the suspension of the Seoul-Washington joint drills.



"We are not right now concerned with a loss of combat capability," the U.S. defense chief said.



"Clearly as we go forward, we will have to make adaptations to ensure we do not lose that capability. But right now, again, this is not a total suspension of all collaboration and military exercises."


President Moon Jae-in delivers his speech on the government's 2019 budget proposal during a plenary session at the National Assembly, Thursday. Yonhap



President says second NK-US summit 'near at hand'



By Kim Yoo-chul



President Moon Jae-in asked the National Assembly, Thursday, to endorse the government's expansionary budget proposal for next year as Seoul hopes to boost the economy by creating more jobs.



"South Korea achieved 3 percent economic growth last year, but the economy is predicted to expand 2 percent this year retreating from the growth seen in 2017. It's highly likely that this low growth, which began many years ago, will continue," Moon said in his address to the Assembly.



The protectionist policies of developed economies including the United States, escalating trade friction between Beijing and Washington, and gradual U.S. rate hikes are threatening the growth of Asia's fourth-biggest economy, according to the President.



"Now is the time to initiate more active fiscal plans to take on bigger downside risks stemming from external factors, and structural issues such as the low birthrate and labor market weakness," Moon said.



The government plans to spend 470.5 trillion won ($422 billion) in 2019, an increase of 9.7 percent from this year. President Moon said more of the fiscal spending will be focused on strengthening social welfare programs for the have-nots and social safety systems in order to achieve a more inclusive society.



Job creation and helping citizens increase their household incomes are still the government's top economic priorities, said the President. The government will allocate 23.5 trillion won next year to create more jobs, up 22 percent from this year.



"The government will push forward with the three economic policy priorities _ income-led and innovation-driven growth, and fair competition _ in 2019. Achieving a complete paradigm shift will take time as this issue is more about changes in the country's economic DNA and social structure. South Korea can't go back," Moon said.



Regarding North Korea, the President noted that Kim Jong-un is planning summits with leaders of China, Russia and Japan as he steps up efforts to get sanctions on his country eased four months after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.



"Kim Jong-un will visit Seoul soon. A second summit between him and Trump is also near at hand. Kim may meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Chinese President Xi Jinping may soon visit Pyongyang."



Moon said he wants to win more backing from the Assembly for the ongoing peace process on the Korean Peninsula. "If the government wins backing from the Assembly, then that will be a huge plus and clearly provide an extra impetus to advance denuclearization talks."



The President said earlier that Kim told him he would visit Seoul within this year when they met in Pyongyang in September. However, the visit may be delayed because of stalled denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington.



"Based on mutual trust and understanding, the two Koreas and the United States can achieve complete denuclearization and lasting peace. This is an opportunity that South Korea should not miss," Moon said.








By Kim Bo-eun



U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed a high-level meeting with his North Korean counterpart would take place as earlier stated, amid signs of Pyongyang making preparations for inspections to take place at key nuclear and missile testing sites.



Pompeo said he would discuss inspections of North Korea's nuclear and missile testing sites with his counterpart next week, in a radio interview on Wednesday (local time).



This is seen as signaling progress in the denuclearization process, after it appeared stalled for weeks as working-level talks failed to begin.



The secretary said during his last visit to Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "committed to allowing American inspectors to come look at two significant sites."



"We hope to get them there before too long," he said.



The two sites are seen to be the Punggye-ri nuclear testing site and Tongchang-ri missile testing site.



North Korea stated in the Pyongyang Declaration reached at the third inter-Korean summit in September it would permanently shut down its Tongchang-ri site in the presence of international experts.



It dismantled its Punggye-ri site in May, ahead of the June summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump, but this has yet to be verified.



Pompeo stated after his last visit to Pyongyang that the North Korean leader said he would invite inspectors to Punggye-ri to verify its shutdown.



There was no mentioning of the date and location of the meeting next week, but media reports stated it could be held in New York on Nov. 9.



The secretary also referred to a second summit between North Korea and the U.S.



"We do have the intention of President Trump and Chairman Kim getting together before too long, hopefully early in the next year, where we can make a substantial breakthrough in taking down the nuclear threat from North Korea," he said.



Analysts said the high-level meeting will likely work out details of inspections of the sites.



"The talks will likely address who will take part in the inspections, the scale to which and how they will be conducted," said Shin Beom-cheol, senior fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.



"It would be about how many inspectors would take part, if only the U.S. would participate, or other bodies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency or Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization or South Korea would take part, and whether there will be drilling and collecting of soil or rock samples."



The professor said the working-level talks, which have failed to begin thus far may continue to be indefinitely postponed.



"North Korea appears to favor a top-down approach and making big deals to avoid detailed calls for inspection," Shin said.



Professor Park Won-gon of Handong Global University said the meeting, in addition to inspections and the second summit, will likely discuss shutting down the Yongbyon nuclear facility and corresponding measures the U.S. may offer.



"North Korea has been calling for a declaration ending the Korean War, as well as sanctions relief for Yongbyon's shutdown, while the U.S. has stated Pyongyang will need to take additional denuclearization steps. This will likely be addressed at the meeting," he said.


Conscientious objector Oh Seung-hun talks to reporters outside the Supreme Court, southern Seoul, Thursday, after the court overturned a lower court ruling that found Lee guilty of breaking the country's military draft law for refusing mandatory military service. / Yonhap



By Lee Suh-yoon



Korea's top court recognized the right of people to refuse mandatory military service for their religious and conscientious beliefs in a landmark ruling, Thursday, creating a powerful precedent that could spare hundreds of young men from prison sentences every year.



A 13-member bench of the Supreme Court overruled an appellate court ruling that sentenced Oh Seung-hun, 34, a Jehovah's Witness follower who refused to serve in the military, to 18 months in jail, sending the case back to the lower court for a retrial that is likely to follow the top court's decision.



"Punishing conscientious objectors is an overly harsh restriction on their freedom of conscience as well as a threat to their basic rights," Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su said in the ruling. "It also goes against the spirit of liberal democracy of tolerating and embracing minorities. Thus, the bench's majority opinion is that conscientious objection is a justifiable reason for refusing military service."



The court said the authorities would have to see whether the objectors' belief is true, by assessing their family background, school life and other social experience, a comment that acknowledges concerns that people may misuse the verdict by pretending they are Jehovah's Witness followers or belong to other religious groups.



All able-bodied Korean men between the ages of 18 and 35 must complete around 18 months of military service. Those who refuse can be sentenced to up to three years in jail under the Military Service Act. Around 20,000 conscientious objectors, mostly Jehovah's Witness followers, have been jailed in Korea since 1950  more than any other country in the world.



Thursday's ruling is against the top court's earlier decisions that found the defendants guilty for violating the military law, with the latest decision taking place in 2004. It will likely affect some 930 other conscientious objection cases pending in courts nationwide.



The ruling is also in line with an earlier decision in June by the Constitutional Court, which ruled it was unconstitutional to not offer alternative options  such as civilian forms of service  to conscientious objectors.



The Ministry of National Defense is currently drafting alternative service systems and set to announce them next Tuesday.



Four of the 13 justices were against the decision, saying it can be a benefit to people believing in a specific religion. They also said it was a matter of state policy that should be resolved through the adoption of alternative services.



"I thank the Supreme Court's brave decision," Oh told reporters after the ruling. "I know the public is worried that some people could take advantage of the alternative service system. I will carry out my duties faithfully during my alternative service to dispel such concerns."



Park Sang-wook, another conscientious objector who just finished serving a 15-month jail term last month, also came to see the historic ruling. "I hope no one has to go to jail again for following their conscience and sympathizing with others' pain," Park said.


COLOMBO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapakse, on Thursday said that President Maithripala Sirisena had decided to convene Parliament on Nov. 5 to settle the ongoing political crisis.

Speaking at an event at the Presidential Secretariat, Rajapakse said the president had informed him of his decision.

The move comes after Speaker of Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya, met Sirisena on Wednesday and urged him to convene parliament to solve the ongoing political crisis which erupted after Sirisena appointed Rajapakse as the prime minister, sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe from the post last Friday.

Jayasuriya said he had received the signature of 125 legislators, urging him to convene parliament to vote as to which party had the majority support in Parliament.

Sirisena had last Saturday prorogued parliament till Nov. 16.

[ Editor: WPY ]
By Lee Min-hyung







The two Koreas have implemented an agreement signed in mid-September designed to prevent any military conflict with each other on their land, sea and air borders, the Ministry of National Defense said Thursday.







"As of Nov. 1, Seoul and Pyongyang will put a complete end to any hostile activities against each other on land, sea and air boundaries," a military official said.







"In particular, South Korea has shut down artillery facilities set up on the Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong Island on the West Sea to fulfill the joint military agreement agreed during the inter-Korean summit on Sept. 19," said the official.







Under the agreement, Seoul and Pyongyang will not carry out any maritime firing exercises and regiment-level field training within five kilometers of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) as of Thursday, according to the defense ministry.







On the southern side, artillery weapons, including the K-9 self-propelled howitzers, will not be fired. The North also pledged to not use any of its artillery to keep the ongoing peace momentum on the Korean Peninsula on track.







The joint agreement signed between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un outlines a series of steps to disarm the border area and ease lingering military tension in the region.







Starting Thursday, both sides also started operating the inter-Korean "buffer zone" near the land, sea and air borders.







"The South Korean military will also continue to maintain close defense cooperation with the United Nations Command (UNC) and the United States Forces Korea (USFK) in implementing the inter-Korean military agreement," the ministry said.







North Korea also expressed its official pledge to put a complete end to any inter-Korean military provocations from Thursday during a generals' dialogue last week, it added.







As of Oct. 27, the two Koreas and the UNC completed verification of the disarmament of troops in the Joint Security Area (JSA) in the border area.










North Korean leader Kim Jong Un condemned international sanctions on the country's nuclear program while he visited a resort construction site, North Korean state media reported on Thursday (November 1).



The North's state-run television KRT released several still photographs of Kim inspecting a large construction project at a tourism resort in Wonsan along with high-ranking officials. During the inspection, Kim told workers that such economic projects are a new "decisive battle" for supporting the ruling party, pushing back against international sanctions over the nuclear program, KRT said. He also blamed the 'hostile forces' and sanctions by them and emphatized to build the nation's strenth on its own, according to KRT.



American officials have been skeptical of Kim's commitment to giving up nuclear weapons, but the North's pledge at the summit with the South drew an enthusiastic response from President Donald Trump, who met Kim in an unprecedented summit in June and has been keen on a second meeting.



Washington has demanded steps such as a full disclosure of the North's nuclear and missile facilities, before agreeing to Pyongyang's key goals. The State Department declined to provide details, but a working-level meeting with the North is expected to take place in New York. (Reuters)










By Lee Sun-ho





During my four-day bus tour to several port cities in the Hallyeohaesang National Park in early October, one notable stop was the Tongyeong. The coastal journey arranged by Hana Tour was to commemorate the diamond jubilee of the commencement of my coed high school. Only 26 alumni (13 women and 13 men) could participate in the event. It followed a similar four-day trip to North Kyushu, Japan, late May, in which 47 members joined (Ref. The Korea Times dated June 11, 2018).







Aboard the 1,975-meter-distance ropeway up and down Mount Mireuk, also called Mount Yonghwa by Buddhist followers, I could easily have a panoramic view of the charming city, and our curator enlightened us about the various aspects from natural phenomena through humanities endowed with this blessed port city, whether past, modern or contemporary.







From the 461-meter top of Mount Mireuk, I could imagine the historical marine theater below, where the Great Battle of Hansan Island took place 426 years ago between the Joseon Kingdom and Japan, and they said on a clear day Japan's Tsushima Island could be spotted. The seashore city in South Gyeongsang Province has an area of 239.82 square kilometers with its population of 142,493 (2016). In 1995, Chungmu City and Tongyeong County were merged, naming them Tongyeong City as it is called today.







Chungmu City was named after the posthumous title of Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598). The name Tongyeong means "naval post" and is itself associated with the history of Adm. Yi, as it refers to the principal naval base that was located on nearby Hansan Island.







Tongyeong is the home of quite a few dignitaries in Korea. The poet Yoo Chi-hwan (1908-1967) used his hometown as a "post box" instead of the scenic sea, as he sent, without ever receiving a response, a myriad of love letters to the poetess Lee Young-do (1916-1976). Yun I-sang (1917-1995) was a noted 20th-century composer. Park Kyung-ni (1929-2008) was a famous novelist, who wrote the well-known "Toji" (Land) consisting of 16 volumes. Shin Suk-ja (1942-2012) was a political prisoner held in the notorious Yoduk prisoners' camp in North Korea. In August 2011, human rights activists from Tongyeong started the "Daughters of Tongyeong Rescue Campaign" to save her and her two daughters from North Korean captivity, in vain.







It was surprising for me to see the first undersea tunnel in Asia connecting downtown Tongyeong and the adjacent Mireuk Island, constructed on Nov. 20, 1932. The 86-year-old tunnel, 483 meters long, 3.5 meters high and 5 meters wide, is still used for the convenience of pedestrians.







I did not know the background story of why the Korean Marine Corps came to be called "devil-capturing marines." Marguerite Higgins (1920-1966) reported to the New York Herald Tribune the brave fighting story against mass North Korean troops invading Tongyeong area during Aug. 17-19, 1950, through its successful amphibious operations led by Commander Kim Seung-eun (1924-2007).







"Chungmu Halmae" as a mythical old woman gave her name to "Chungmu gimbap" (laver rice roll), a common Korean snack food. I also noticed "ggulbbang" (honey bread) has been a well-known local food mixed with wheat flours, different local fruits and a small amount of honey.







I became interested in Tongyeong Camp Mare (meaning sea in Italian). It has turned out to be a new district in Tongyeong, a place where tradition and innovation come together to drive the redevelopment of the region. Utilizing the derelict Shina Shipyard, it celebrated its heritage last September by reusing several industrial structures at the site, and also aimed at the future, introducing a range of new programs to create a hub for craftsmanship, tourism, research and development and housing. I hope this ambitious plan would be a model success story, sooner or later.







I was aware of the twin relationship of Gangnam-gu, my residential district in Seoul, with Tongyeong.







Such twin relationships at home were also made with Gwacheon, Yeosu and Hapcheon. Five more inter-country twin ties were set up, namely, with Rongcheng, Shandong, China; Sayama, Saitama, Japan; Tamano, Okayama, Japan; Shamara, Russia; and Reedley, California.







It is my ardent wish that Tongyeong, considered the Naples of Korea, will prosper.









Lee Sun-ho (

) is an ombudsman columnist for The Korea Times in Seoul.




If President Trump were a different  and better  man, he would have reacted to the sickening slaughter of 11 congregants at a Pittsburgh synagogue by engaging in some sober self-examination and refraining from incendiary comments that might energize other violent extremists.



After all, Robert D. Bowers, a virulent anti-Semite who is accused of Saturday's rampage at the Tree of Life Synagogue, reportedly was angry about a so-called caravan of Central American migrants heading for the U.S. border  which Trump, Fox News and others have been harping on incessantly in recent weeks as the midterm elections approach.



Trump has claimed, without presenting any evidence, that the caravan is harboring gang members and Middle Eastern terrorists; guests on Fox News and others have suggested that the caravan is being funded or organized by George Soros, a philanthropist and Jewish survivor of the Holocaust.



Trump rightly denounced the massacre in Pittsburgh as a "wicked act of mass murder" (after suggesting dubiously that "the results would have been far better" if the synagogue had employed an armed guard). But there is no sign that he has developed any second thoughts about his divisive and dishonest rhetoric.



On Monday, Trump was already back at it, saying that "some very bad people" are heading to "to our Southern Border." He even referred to "an invasion of the country." Never mind that a similar distortion of reality had apparently just animated a mass murderer; the president refuses to connect the dots.



Trump responded with similar nonchalance last week to the arrest of Cesar Sayoc Jr., one of his supporters who is accused of sending explosive devices to more than a dozen opponents or critics of the president, including former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton (or "Crooked Hillary," as Trump calls her), Rep. Maxine Walters and hedge-fund billionaire Tom Steyer, who has been campaigning for Trump's impeachment.



Trump praised law enforcement for apprehending Sayoc, but rejected the suggestion that his own behavior was in any way to blame for the bombs sent to a Who's Who of his critics. (As for Steyer, the president on Sunday described him on Twitter as "a crazed & stumbling lunatic.")



So who, other than the perpetrators themselves, is responsible for what Trump on Sunday called "the division and hatred that has been going on for so long in our country"? You guessed it: the news media. According to Trump, their "fake and dishonest reporting ... is causing problems far greater than they understand."



On Monday the president 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."



It's not surprising that the president would seek to deflect responsibility for the "anger and outrage" he himself has kindled with his demonization of Mexicans, Muslims, refugees, asylum seekers and his critics and political opponents. Nor is it surprising that he would blame the media.



Undermining legitimate news reporting, contradicting established facts, branding reporters as liars, devaluing verifiable truth  these are by now the familiar tactics of a man who is as incapable of introspection as he is of uniting the country at a time of trauma. He is by his very nature a divider, a pugilist, a blamer of others. His instinct, even in a moment of national mourning, is to attack his perceived enemies and double down on his most divisive pronouncements.



Obviously the primary responsibility for acts of violence and terrorism belongs with those who commit the crimes. No one can argue that either Bowers or Sayoc acted as Trump's agent. (Bowers apparently thinks that Trump is "a globalist, not a nationalist" who is in the thrall of Jewish advisers.) As we suggested in a previous editorial, even Trump's most ugly, provocative and inaccurate comments fall far short of the criminal standard for incitement to violence.



Even so, violence is the predictable result of comments that fuel the violent fantasies and irrational hatreds of unstable individuals; it is the foreseeable outcome of our increasingly toxic politics.



Yet the president's irresponsible behavior continues, and the allies and advisers who should be criticizing him are instead enabling his excesses.



The other day Vice President Mike Pence dismissed the idea of any connection between Trump's rhetoric and acts of violence, noting primly that "everyone has their own style, and frankly, people on both sides of the aisle use strong language about our political differences." What Pence calls Trump's "style" is a grievous character flaw that continues to put the nation at risk.





The above editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Allies should maintain close consultation regarding NK



Washington announced Tuesday it will establish a working group with Seoul this month on affairs related to North Korea. The two countries made the agreement during a visit to Seoul this week by Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative for North Korea.



The bilateral agreement to form a new consultative group comes amid rising concerns that the allies are increasingly falling out of step with each other on North Korea. President Moon Jae-in has been eager to ease international sanctions on Pyongyang and expedite inter-Korean economic projects. But Washington remains firm on retaining the sanctions until North Korea makes visible progress in the denuclearization process.



Amid widening differences between Korea and the U.S., the establishment of a working group is a timely move that will hopefully improve coordination between the two countries regarding nuclear diplomacy with North Korea.



There are growing signs of Washington's displeasure with Seoul's rush toward improving inter-Korean ties amid a deadlock in U.S.-North Korea nuclear negotiations. During his visit here, Biegun met with presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok who also leads a committee for implementing inter-Korean agreements. The media highlighted that Biegun met with Im before meeting with National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong, who has been leading the nuclear negotiations. The session with Im triggered speculation the U.S. may have called on Korea to slow down its pace of inter-Korean engagement.



According to U.S. news reports, officials of the U.S. Treasury Department communicated recently with the nation's major banks directly, without going through the Korean government, regarding compliance with sanctions on North Korea. The U.S. also reportedly contacted conglomerates whose leaders accompanied Moon to the Pyongyang summit in September and inquired about their plans for inter-Korean economic projects. These actions could be seen as a U.S. warning.



It is not just the U.S. that is displeased with Seoul's rush toward inter-Korean cooperation. Local media belatedly reported that a high-level North Korean negotiator, Committee for Peaceful Reunification of the Country Chairman Ri Son-gwon, insulted our business leaders with rude outbursts during a cold noodles lunch in Pyongyang during the inter-Korean summit in September. This fueled the increasingly negative sentiment here toward President Moon's impatience for inter-Korean economic cooperation. The President must remember that now is the time to focus on North Korea's denuclearization.



As Moon said during a speech at the National Assembly, Thursday, it is crucial for Korea and the U.S. to firmly trust each other to achieve their common goal of complete denuclearization of and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. The working group should dispel growing concerns about a rift in the alliance by improving mutual understanding between the two countries.




By Donald Kirk





WASHINGTON  The news reports on the radio sounds like shots from a war zone. Someone killed in a shooting in a high school. A police officer killed by someone he was chasing. A civilian killed by a police officer.



Then come the much greater tragedies, killings of three or four or five or six at a time, shootings at schools, finally the slaughter of 11 worshipers at a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh. That was enough to drive off the front pages the story of the nut who sent out bombs from his home in Florida to CNN and liberal politicos. Not to worry. His bombs, after all, never exploded. Forget him.



You wonder, though, after hearing this incessant drum beat of violence, death and destruction, what kind of country you're living in. Koreans should consider themselves blessed. They live in a land of relative law and order, where the streets are pretty safe and you don't really worry about being out late on a dark and stormy night.



Oh, that's right. South Koreans still have to worry about the North Koreans, Kim Jong-un's nuclear arsenal and those tens of thousands of hungry soldiers armed to the teeth with thousands of cannon north of the demilitarized zone. Still, no one thinks Kim would order an attack while hopes are high for peace and reconciliation in an era of dialogue.



The U.S., though, is already under attack - from the forces within, from the epidemic of opioids and other drugs, from the fear not just of isolated crazy people but of crazy leaders, from thugs in high places, from politicos hell-bent on destroying their rivals. Trump may not be so bad as a phalanx of hostile columnists make him out to be every day in the New York Times and Washington Post, but he hasn't helped by praising idiots for beating up other idiots at political rallies.



Oh, that reminds me. On Tuesday, Americans go to the polls to vote for 35 senators for six-year terms in the upper house of the American Congress and to cast their ballots for two-year terms candidates for 435 seats in the lower house, the House of Representatives. Trump is campaigning in a spirit of desperation as if he himself were up for election, not just all the people who must be elected to keep him from getting impeached.



One platform Trump is not standing on: demands for outlawing automatic weapons, to be able to check to see who's using them, at what age, where such weapons are sold, why someone wants to buy one. In fact, in a moment of sheer stupidity, Trump suggested the Pittsburgh massacre would not have happened if the synagogue had had an armed guard.



Good luck with that argument! The trouble, as everyone knows, is that the all-powerful National Rifle Association is a major donor and friend of Trump and the Republican Party. Not even another slaughter will persuade the NRA of the need to temper the unlimited power of a member to fire away at targets real or imagined.



The elections Tuesday are about much more than the power of the NRA, but the ongoing killing makes that issue timely and compelling. You have to wonder, since no one's doing a thing to curb the NRA or the right of every adult American to own and shoot a weapon like any soldier on a battlefield, whether Americans, deep in their hearts, actually like to turn on the TV or radio and hear about the latest killing.



Maybe we as a country crave the sharp adrenalin rush of panic, to be followed by maudlin outpourings of empathy, then to be followed by police investigations and trials. Could it be the slaughter appeals to some inner instinct, some unacknowledged desire to see who's next, what's the next episode in the drama? That is, of course, if it's not happening to you.



The Pittsburgh synagogue massacre may not lose any votes for Trump. The shooter may strike liberals and leftists as having been a Trumpkin, the epitome of all that's wrong, a living reason not to vote for a president who talks up violence and prejudice. Ok, but true Trumpkins will no doubt love him, anyway.



After all, he did speak up, did he not? My gun is my voice. My words are deadly. Definitely enough to keep you from changing channels on the TV, to stay tuned to the news on the radio. Is that what Americans want? Maybe Trump has his fingers on the pulse. We'll have a better idea after Tuesday's voting.





Donald Kirk, www.donaldkirk.com, rotates between Washington, D.C. and South Korea covering war and peace in Asia and the U.S.




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.


A protester wearing academic dress in Mong Kok during the Occupy movement protests in October 2014. Photos from the South China Morning Post



By Rachel Leung





Hong Kong's education chief told lawmakers on Wednesday that 16 people have been injured during protests on university campuses in the last five years, saying students had learned about "improper behaviour" from the Occupy movement and clashes in the Legislative Council.



Kevin Yeung Yun-hung was responding at the weekly Legco meeting to the question of pro-establishment lawmaker Starry Lee Wai-king, who asked if the series of incidents showed a problem in the city's education system.



Yeung said data obtained from the Education Bureau showed that, since 2014, there have been 11 incidents of demonstrations on campus by university students that developed into confrontations, resulting in a total of 14 members of teaching staff and two others being wounded.



But Yeung said it wasn't from their schooling that the youngsters learned such behaviour.



"People see youngsters manifesting certain improper behaviours and they think there's something wrong with the education system, but I can certainly say that they're not taught to do these things," Yeung said.





HKU students try to break into the The Hong Kong Jockey Club Building For Interdisciplinary Research, in January 2016, where Chairman of the governing Council of the University of Hong Kong Arthur Li Kwok-cheung was attending a meeting.



"Where did they learn it? We've seen media reports of insults and the Occupy movement or even from inside this chamber. You can imagine how it looks when you can see them happening from TV."



He admitted that something needed to be done in the education system to instill positive messages and values in students via after-school activities and other such measures.



The clashes included the protest by 200 students who besieged a University of Hong Kong governing council meeting in 2016, trapping council members inside, including Professor Arthur Li Kwok-cheung, for hours.



Police officers with batons and pepper spray were deployed at the scene.



The chaos erupted after students demanded a restructuring of the council so that the chief executive would no longer be the default chancellor of HKU.



In another incident earlier this year, about 30 Baptist University students staged an eight-hour stand-off at the school's language centre after dissatisfaction about the school's requirement that all students must pass a Mandarin exam to graduate.



The students were filmed hurling vulgarities at staff, drawing severe criticism from both on and off campus.





A group of University of Hong Kong students in January 2016, having started boycotting classes, demanding a review of how the institution's governing body is formed.



The Education Bureau said that the police would generally not intervene in such emergency incidents and would only enter campuses upon the school's request.



Democratic Party lawmaker Andrew Wan Siu-kin said Yeung's argument was misdirected, and showed the government had not reflected on political deadlock since the Occupy movement and on long-standing social inequality.



"It would be naive for Yeung to put the blame only on the Occupy movement," said Wan. "University students were only taking part because of their conscience and passion for society."



Wholesale and retail lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai suggested that, to better protect the safety of on-campus staff, students' conduct should be noted on their transcripts. This would ensure elders and teachers at universities are respected and students do not throw insults at them.



The secretary said the decision to do so should be up to individual institutions but that he would forward the recommendations to the different universities.





Protesters created a study area for students at the Admiralty protest site during the Occupy movement protest in October 2014.
The world's largest radio telescope has already discovered 53 stars but is struggling to attract researchers to its remote location in a mountainous region of China. Photo from the South China Morning Post



By Alice Shen




Pietro Orlandi (L), brother of missing Emanuela Orlandi, with Laura Sgro (R), a lawyer for the Orlandi family, attends Raiuno (RAI 1)'s talian television show 'Porta a Porta' (lit. Door-to-door) conducted by Italian journalist Bruno Vespa, in Rome, Italy, 31 October 2018 The family of a teenager who went missing in Italy in 1983 called Wednesday on the Vatican to provide more details on the discovery of human remains in one of its properties. EPA



The bones were uncovered on Monday by builders refurbishing a building owned by the Vatican in Rome, the Holy See said, in a potential breakthrough for police investigating one of Italy's darkest mysteries.



Since the grisly find, Italian media have been rife with speculation that they could shed light on the fate of one or possibly two teenagers who went missing in the 1980s.



"We will ask Rome prosecutors and the Holy See how the bones were found and why their discovery has been linked to the disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi or Mirella Gregori," the Orlandi's family lawyer, Laura Sgro, told the media.



The statement released by the Holy See on Tuesday "provides hardly any information," she said.



Sgro was speaking on behalf of the family, which she said would not comment until DNA tests had been performed.



The remains were discovered in a building in the leafy grounds of the Holy See's embassy to Italy.



The property had been left to the Vatican in 1949 by a Jewish businessman who belonged to the Fascist party before the introduction of racial laws in Italy, and later converted to Catholicism, according to Italian media.



Builders found a near-complete skeleton in one spot and fragments of bones in another, the Repubblica daily said.



The Vatican's statement on Tuesday made no reference to either Orlandi or Gregori.



Both girls were underage when they went missing separately in Rome in 1983.



Orlandi was the daughter of a member of the Vatican's police, and was last seen on June 22, 1983 when leaving a music class.



Theories have circulated that the then 15-year-old was kidnapped by an organised crime gang to put pressure on Vatican officials to recover a loan.



Another claim was that she was taken to force the release from prison of Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turk who attempted to assassinate Pope Jean Paul II in 1981.



Orlandi's brother Pietro has been leading a decades-long campaign to find out what happened to her and has accused the Vatican of silence and even complicity in the case.



In 2017, conspiracy specialists were driven into a frenzy by a leaked  but apparently falsified  document, purportedly written by a cardinal and pointing to a Vatican cover-up.



It referred to an expenses report of what the Vatican spent on kidnapping Orlandi and sending her to live abroad in secret.



The Vatican has said on several occasions that it has cooperated with Italian police in the case.



Gregori, then 16, disappeared exactly 40 days before Orlandi.



Her mother says she answered the intercom at the family apartment before telling her parents it was a school friend and she was going out to speak to him. She never returned.



"In my heart, I hope the bones are Mirella's, so we can put an end to this affair and I can have somewhere to go and cry and take my sister flowers," Maria Antonietta Gregori told La Repubblica daily.



Investigators have not ruled out that the cases could be connected.



It is not the first time Italian police have followed a possible lead to finding Orlandi's body.



In 2012, forensic experts exhuming the tomb of a notorious local crime boss at a Vatican church uncovered some 400 boxes of bones.



Enrico De Pedis, head of the Magliana gang, was suspected of involvement in her kidnapping and some speculated the youngster may be buried alongside him  although DNA tests failed to find a match.



Sightings of the teenager over the years proved unfounded. She would now be 50 years old.



The first investigation into Orlandi's disappearance was closed in 1997.



In 2007, De Pedis' lover told investigators he had kidnapped and killed the girl on the order of the head of the Vatican bank.



The claim  that she saw the girl's body buried in a sack under cement  sparked a fresh enquiry that led nowhere.



Police shut the probe again in 2016, after which Pietro Orlando called on the Vatican to open its own investigation.



"Truth and justice are sacrosanct. We will never give up," he told the media on the last anniversary of her disappearance. (AFP)


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The official cause of the Thomas Fire, which burned nearly 1,000 homes in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties last December, has still not been officially announced.

But this week, Southern California Edison said its equipment was involved in the fire at one of the two known ignition points, near Santa Paula.

It stopped short of accepting the full blame however, saying that it hasn't been able to do a full investigation, because Cal Fire had confiscated utility equipment such as power poles where one portion of the blaze had started, along Koenigstein Road in Santa Paula.

Several lawsuits have already been filed against SCE alleging its power lines sparked the fire.

SPECIFICALLY, WHAT HAS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON SAID?

Pedro Pizarro, CEO of SCE, parent company Edison International, made the announcement Tuesday during a quarterly investors conference call. He complained that Cal Fire was not permitting SCE's own fire investigators to view the confiscated equipment.

"Cal Fire has pieces of evidence that we don't, and they may come up with conclusions that, in the end, we may agree with or may not agree with," Pizarro said.

For that reason, he said the company could not conclude that its equipment was actually at fault.

The company did not address whether its equipment was involved in the other ignition point, near Anlauf Canyon Road in Santa Paula.

WHY IS SCE DISCLOSING THIS NOW, BEFORE OTHER INVESTIGATIONS ARE CONCLUDED?

The Ventura County Fire Department is still investigating the fires with several other agencies, and none has announced an official cause.

Pizarro said SCE had not made the announcement to get ahead of fire officials, but because its investigators had taken their inquiry as far as they could without having access to the confiscated equipment. He said he felt the information should be shared with investors and the public.

Pizarro and another executive said the company was likely to record a loss due to its equipment's role in the Thomas Fire and that it was still unclear whether the company's $1 billion in insurance could cover the loss, or whether any of it would be passed on to investors or even to customers.

Because there are two ignition points, it's also unclear what portion of financial liability for the fire would be assigned to Edison if it were found to be responsible for one ignition point, and not the other.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO PINPOINT THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE?

It matters because Edison customers could be on the hook for billions of dollars in damages if state fire investigators and utility regulators rule the company's equipment was at fault.

But if it was caused by negligence, the money could come out of shareholder profits.

Under California law, a utility must pay all the damages from a fire that its equipment causes (and its shareholders must pay in case of negligence).The legal principle is known as "inverse condemnation".

Edison and other big utilities in California wanted to overturn that principal during the last legislative session. They failed, but the law that did get passed, SB901, creates a new Catastrophic Wildfire Cost and Recovery commission that will examine ways to "more fairly allocate risks associated with increased wildfires," SCE spokesman Steve Conroy said.

This story is part of Elemental: Covering Sustainability, a multimedia collaboration between Cronkite News, Arizona PBS, KJZZ, KPCC, Rocky Mountain PBS and PBS SoCal.
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Some celebrate e-scooters as a cheap, green mobility option while others sound the alarm over what they see as a threat to public safety. Hopefully there's one thing both groups would agree on: they shouldn't randomly catch fire.

But that's what some scooters in Lime's local fleet were at risk of doing, according to the company.

In a community update posted this week, Lime said it learned this August of a battery defect in its Segway-built Ninebot scooters which "could result in the battery smoldering or, in some cases, catching fire." Lime said the at-risk scooters were discovered in its Los Angeles, San Diego and Lake Tahoe markets.

The scooter fire that sparked the recall was reported at one of the company's facilities in Lake Tahoe, according to The Washington Post, citing an incident report it obtained in which a Lime employee reported hearing a "loud bang" and discovering "flames showing from the battery area of a scooter as well as an adjacent chair."

"Immediately upon learning of the defect, we worked with Segway Ninebot to create a software program to detect the potentially affected batteries," Lime officials said in its community post. "We then worked independently to create an even more thorough software program to ensure that no potentially faulty scooters remained in circulation."

That meant using a code that flagged scooters deemed at risk by the company, which were then deactivated, according to Lime.

A company spokesman did not respond to questions about when the scooters were recalled, precisely how many were affected or whether their L.A. market included the cities of Long Beach and Santa Monica, where the company is participating in mobility pilot programs.

Lime and Bird scooter riders zip along the strand in Santa Monica. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

The recall might not be the last for the company. The post goes on to say Lime "received an unconfirmed report that another Segway Ninebot scooter model may also be vulnerable to battery failure, which we are currently investigating."

It wasn't clear which model or models of the Ninebot scooter have been found to be at risk of a battery defect (the company's website features three different models). Segway did not respond to a request for comment.

Lime listed a few steps its taking to minimize future risk to riders, including only charging its Ninebot scooters at company-run storage facilities, keeping them out of the hands of so-called "juicers" -- freelancers who pick up and charge e-scooters overnight.

The city of Los Angeles has its own pilot program with e-scooter operators, including Lime and Bird, which went into effect in early October. The regulations place a cap of 3,000 scooters on the participating companies, with options to add thousands more for operating in certain disadvantaged communities.

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Threats made against La Jolla High School, suspect arrested

San Diego police on Oct. 26 arrested a person suspected of making threats toward La Jolla High School in a pair of notes that were found by students and made mention of two specific dates, including Halloween, school officials said. Details about the suspect or the content of the threats have not been disclosed.

Principal Charles Podhorsky sent an e-mail to parents Oct. 25 informing them of the threats, which mentioned Oct. 31 and Dec. 10 as the dates the campus would apparently be targeted.

There were two notes found off campus in the La Jolla community that contained language indicating a potential threat to our school, Podhorsky wrote Thursday. Since the notes were found in the La Jolla community, the San Diego Police Department is handling the investigation with assistance from school police.

Podhorsky added that as a precaution, additional officers would be at the campus on the dates mentioned in the notes.

On Friday evening, school officials sent an e-mail to parents with a statement attributed to Podhorsky.

I am relieved to report that an individual has been arrested in connection with the two notes found in the La Jolla community containing language indicating a potential threat to our school on Oct. 31 and Dec. 10, the statement read. I want to thank the San Diego Police Department  and school police for their assistance. I want to thank our students who saw these notes and immediately notified school administrators and police.

Principal Podhorsky also advised parents to take this opportunity to talk to your students about the consequences of making comments  in person, in writing, or on social media  that could be perceived as a threat.

School officials urged students and parents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the Students Speak Out/Crime Stoppers hotline at (619) 275-8240, or the San Diego Police Department at (619) 531-2000.

Halloween decorations reported stolen

In the past few weeks, residents from across La Jolla were reporting on the neighborhood-based social media site nextdoor.com that Halloween decorations were stolen from their properties. Examples of items taken include a tall Jack Skellington sculpture, a life-sized witch cutout and cutouts of cats. These were removed from the owners front yards and some residents resorted to offering rewards for their return.

Former La Jolla Country Day teacher pleads not guilty to sex with minor

A former La Jolla Country Day School teacher pleaded not guilty Oct. 23 to felony charges involving a sexual relationship with an underage student.

Jonathan Sammartino, out of jail on bond, taught at La Jolla Country Day School from 2012 to 2016 before moving to a school in the Bay Area.

Sammartino is charged with one count of having unlawful sex with a minor more than three years his junior, oral copulation and sexual penetration with a foreign object.

The girl was 17 at the time and he was 33, according to an arrest warrant filed by San Diego police.

Each felony count carries a three-year maximum sentence.

The complaint alleges he committed the first act between June and September in 2016 and the second two acts between April and September that year. The span covered time when the girl was a senior at La Jolla Country Day and after her graduation.

According to the arrest warrant, Sammartino met the girl on several occasions to engage in sexual activity at his home and in his car.

The girl told a friend about the encounters in 2016 and in July this year she filed a police report from Northern California, where she attends college, the warrant said.

She told police Sammartino did not use force or fear to persuade her to having sex with him.

Sammartino was arrested last month in San Jose. Judge Maureen Hallahan allowed Sammartino to remain out of jail until his preliminary hearing, set for Nov. 5 to determine whether there is enough evidence to hold him for trial.

Prescription drug deaths reaches new record, County says

The San Diego County Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force released the 2018 report card, which indicated the number of San Diegans who died from unintentional drug-related deaths rose for the fourth year in a row.

The latest report shows 273 San Diegans died from prescription drugs last year, an 8 percent increase from 2016. The previous record was set in 2012, when 268 prescription drug deaths occurred.

In particular, it found that deaths related to the opioid drug fentanyl have spiked. Last year, 84 people died from fentanyl, 51 more fatalities than reported in 2016. This is the highest number of deaths from fentanyl ever recorded in San Diego County.

As little as two milligrams of fentanyl is a fatal dose for most people. Because of its potency, fentanyl overdoses may require additional Naloxone, a medication that reverses overdose from opioids.

We have seen a steady increase in fatal overdose cases over the years where fentanyl has been added to opiates, County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Glenn Wagner said.

Phone scam targets contact numbers

In a recent cyber security scam, reported by the AARP fraud-watch network, smartphone users receive a text from an unknown number with a message claiming a friend has written a compliment about them in a new app. The text message contains a link that prompts them to download the specific app on their phone. Online there may even be hundreds of glowing reviews for the app.

But beware! In the fine print, downloading the app automatically grants it access to your contacts and all of your saved numbers. The app then perpetuates its number trolling activity by sending all of your contacts the same invitation. While this scam itself poses minimal immediate danger, it allows fraudsters to access your phone to steal your contacts and build a list of phone numbers that the scammer can later sell on the black market for future scam targets.

If you receive a text message prompting you to download an app like this, its best to delete the message and avoid any potential issues.

Police Blotter

Oct. 18

Vehicle theft, 2800 block Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, 5:15 p.m.

Oct. 19

Vehicle break-in/theft, 7200 block Draper Ave., 5 a.m.

Theft, 10500 block North Torrey Pines Road, 8 a.m.

Vehicle break-in/theft, 8300 block Camino del Oro, 2 p.m.

Petty theft, 8500 block Villa La Jolla Drive, 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 20

Misdemeanor vandalism, 8600 block Villa La Jolla Drive, midnight

Vandalism ($400 or more), 5600 block La Jolla Blvd., 2:55 a.m.

Residential burglary, 700 block Forward St., 12:27 p.m.

Oct. 21

Battery with serious injury, 7800 block Herschel Ave., midnight

Petty theft, 1100 block Coast Blvd., 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 22

Vehicle theft, 5900 block Camino de la Costa, 9:55 a.m.

Vehicle theft, El paseo Grande at Kennel Way, 4:35 p.m.

Vandalism (less than $400), 7800 block Ivanhoe Ave., 5:50 p.m.

Oct. 23

Theft, 900 block Turquoise St., 10 a.m.

Oct. 24

Petty theft, 8800 block La Jolla Scenic Drive North, 1 a.m.

Grand theft, money/labor/property over $950, 700 block Genter St., 1:20 a.m.

Residential burglary, 900 block Wilbur Ave., 3 a.m.

Oct. 25

Vehicle break-in/theft, 200 block Bonair St., midnight

Vehicle theft, La Jolla Blvd. at Tourmaline St., 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 27

Tampering with an automobile, 2600 block Prestwick Court, 3 a.m.

Vehicle break-in/theft, 9800 block La Jolla Farms Road, 1:15 p.m.Oct. 28

Residential burglary, 1300 block Caminito Halago, 1 a.m.

Vehicle break-in/theft, 8100 block Paseo del Ocaso, 10 a.m.

 Compiled by Ashley Mackin-Solomon
My first time to Beijing was in 1990 .I started learning Chinese around 1988. I'm very interested in Chinese culture. When I had a chance to come to Beijing, I gladly came, by train. .From Hungary through Russia to Mongolia and then to Beijing. But it was not easy, because the journey took six days . And about the impression, even though I had read some books and watched some videos, when I got to Beijing, of course, it was a completely different feeling . Firstly, my biggest impression was that there were so many people .The second impression was that there were not many western-style restaurants. One of our relatives sent us to the only McDonald's in Beijing. It was in Wangfujing, and there were a lot of people . Now after 30 years, there's no place without McDonald's (in Beijing), so it's changed a lot .Shopping was different. Foreigners had to go to the Friendship Store to buy things, and then the options were limited there. So it was really like another country compared to the present. Payment must be made in foreign currency then, not in RMB .The Beijing that I came to know in Hungary was a theoretical Beijing, then when I came to the actual Beijing, I found no difference between the Great Wall and Forbidden City and so on I read about in books and the real Great Wall and Forbidden City. The differences were in daily life, because those were details that could not be understood by reading.I think the biggest change in Beijing is in infrastructure, including transportation. As I said, it used to take six days (to travel from Hungary to China). Now if there were a high-speed train, it might take one day to get to Beijing.At that time, Beijing had only two subway lines. Line 1, Line 2. Now there seem to be 15. We have a saying in Hungary: If you build a small lake, sooner or later there will be frogs living in the lake, and maybe fish in the future.That means as conditions improve, With high-speed rail, highways, tunnels of all kinds, things will develop faster in the future .There will be frogs even in a small lake.

[ Editor: WPY ]
Harvey Weinstein has blasted a new accusation that he sexually harassed and assaulted a 16-year-old aspiring model more than 15 years ago, with his attorney calling the allegation preposterous.

The accusation came Wednesday in a new complaint filed in New York by the anonymous accuser, identified only as Jane Doe. She is part of a growing federal class action lawsuit against Weinstein, which now comprises 10 women who have accused the Oscar-winning producer of sexual misconduct.

The new accuser claims that Weinstein lured her to his New York apartment in 2002 and made unwanted sexual advances. She alleges he also forced her to touch his genitals.

Ben Brafman, an attorney for Weinstein, vehemently denied the accusation.

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This claim is preposterous, Brafman said in a statement. Like so many other women in this case who have already been exposed as liars, this latest completely uncorroborated allegation that is almost 20 years old will also be shown to be patently false.

Weinstein was indicted in New York in May and again in July on charges that he sexually assaulted three women. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on $1 million bail with GPS monitoring.

Since last fall, more than 80 women have accused Weinstein of a multitude of charges, including rape and inappropriate conduct, over the last four decades. That culminated in a series of grand jury indictments in Manhattan on six counts, including first- and third-degree rape, first-degree criminal sex acts and two counts of predatory sexual assault.

david.ng@latimes.com

@DavidNgLAT
Janet Winston had a rash that wouldnt go away.

The English professor from Eureka, Calif., always had been sensitive to ingredients in skin creams and cosmetics. This time, however, the antifungal cream she was prescribed to treat her persistent rash seemed to make things worse. Was she allergic to that, too?

Winston, 56, who works at Humboldt State, knew the dermatologist in her rural Northern California town was booked months in advance. So, as she often does for specialized treatment, she turned to Stanford Health Care, a nearly six-hour drive south. She hoped to finally clear up her rash and learn what else she might be allergic to  for years, she had avoided lipstick and other skin products.

Winston said that 119 tiny plastic containers of allergens were taped to her back over three days of testing. Winston ultimately learned that she was allergic to  among other things  linalool (a compound of lavender and other plants), the metals gold, nickel and cobalt, the ketoconazole cream prescribed to treat her persistent rash, the antibiotic neomycin, a clothing dye and a common preservative used in cosmetics.

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Her Stanford-affiliated doctor had warned her that the extensive allergy skin-patch testing she needed might be expensive, Winston said, but she wasnt too worried. After all, Stanford was an in-network provider for her insurer  and her insurance, one of her benefits as an employee of the state of California, always had been reliable.

Then the bill came.

The total: $48,329. That included $848 for the time Winston spent with her doctor.

Winstons health insurer, Anthem Blue Cross, paid Stanford a negotiated rate of $11,376.47. Stanford billed Winston $3,103.73 as her 20% share of the negotiated rate.

I was grateful I had such wonderful care at Stanford, Winston said, but I was pretty outraged they could charge that.  No one cut into me. No one gave me anesthesia. I had partly open plastic containers filled with fluid taped to my back.

Medical billing analysts told Kaiser Health News that Stanfords charges for Winstons allergy patch test appeared excessive. They were surprised to hear that Winstons insurer, Anthem Blue Cross, paid Stanford more than $11,000 for the treatment.

Stanfords list price, however, is a whopping $399 per allergen.

That charge is astronomical and nuts, said Margaret Skurka, a retired professor of health informatics at Indiana University and a medical coding and billing consultant who advises hospitals and providers. She reviewed Winstons bill.

The usual, customary and reasonable charge for testing a single allergen in the high-cost San Francisco Bay Area is about $35, said Michael Arrigo, a San Francisco-based medical billing expert witness who also reviewed Winstons bill. The data seems pretty conclusive that the charges in this case are inflated.

For the type of allergy skin-patch testing Winston received, the average charge physicians submitted to Medicare  an important data point for private insurers  was about $16 per allergen in 2016, according to Medicare payment data.

An Anthem spokesman noted that one of the insurers examiners did review the bill, but could not say whether it received extra scrutiny because of its high cost. We try to strike a balance between protecting affordability and providing a broad network of providers to create choices, Eric Lail said in an emailed statement.

Winstons case highlights how some health providers set exorbitant rates, knowing theyll ultimately be paid a lesser amount. Patients rarely pay these rates  known as chargemaster or list prices  and they can generate headlines for the $100 aspirin.

But such list prices, as the starting point for negotiations and discounts, do help determine the amounts insurers pay, and ultimately what patients pay as their share of cost.

Stanford Health Care also has a lot of power in dealing with insurers such as Anthem Blue Cross. The academic medical system includes hospitals and outpatient clinics across the San Francisco Bay Area as well as a number of large doctor practices in the region. That kind of consolidation and market power can raise healthcare prices. Insurers in the region have long grappled with Stanfords high costs, at times withdrawing the health system from their networks. But the breadth and depth of the academic medical system  not to mention its popularity with high-end customers in the Bay Area  makes it difficult for insurers to exclude a powerhouse like Stanford from a network for long.

A study recently published in Health Affairs found that such consolidation in California has caused healthcare costs to rise sharply for both patients and insurers.

Janet Winstons original bill from Stanford Health Care is shown. (Alexandra Hootnick / Kaiser Health News)

Patrick Bartosch, a spokesman for Stanford Health Care, said that Winstons doctor customized her treatment rather than using off-the-shelf patch tests. The university health system operates a large allergen bank of its own, he said.

In this case, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the patient and her environmental exposures and meticulously selected appropriate allergens, which required obtaining and preparing putative allergens on an individual basis, Bartosch said in an emailed statement.

Leemore Dafny, a Harvard University healthcare economist, said big health systems such as Stanfords  which owns multiple hospitals and outpatient clinics  can pressure insurers to pay big.

Everyone wants to point fingers at the providers, but  a lot of times [insurers] roll over and pay the rates, she said.

In other words, Stanford charged Winstons insurer $48,000 because it could.

After some bargaining with Stanfords billing department, Winston ultimately paid $1,561.86 out of pocket. She made the argument that her doctor had told her the cost per allergen would be about $100, not the nearly $400 that Stanford ultimately charged her insurer.

The takeaway from Winstons medical misadventure? Insurers often tell patients to shop around for the best price and to make sure they choose in-network providers to avoid surprises. Winston did everything right and still got caught out.

As a state employee, she had great insurance and Stanford was an in-network provider. Winston said her doctor warned her the test would be expensive, but she never anticipated that could mean close to $50,000. That shows why you shouldnt be afraid to ask for specific numbers: Expensive and cheap can have hugely different meanings in the high-priced U.S. health system.

Clearly uncomfortable with the charges, Winstons physician advised her  in advance  to contest it with Stanfords billing department. So she did, and Stanford gave her a nearly 50% discount for her coinsurance share of the bill.

Still, Stanford received more than $12,000 total from Winston and her insurer for allergy patch tests  a cost that is borne by insurance policyholders and taxpayers. Researchers have linked consolidation by Northern California providers such as Stanford and Sutter Health to higher health costs for the regions consumers. A local health workers union also has taken aim at Stanfords costs with two city ballot initiatives that attempt to rein in what Stanford and other health providers can charge patients in Palo Alto and Livermore.

I was grateful I had so much insurance, and that it was in-network, and I could afford the [final] bill, Winston said. On the other hand, I thought, How can they get away with this? Most Americans could never afford this procedure, at least at this facility, and it made me think about the grand piano in the lobby.

Barbara Feder Ostrovis is a senior correspondent for Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent publication of the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The United States unveiled charges against two alleged Chinese spies, accusing them of orchestrating a conspiracy to steal prized jet-engine technology from private companies  including in Los Angeles  as the Trump administration raises pressure on Beijing to address its trade grievances.

The U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday that the Chinese intelligence officers worked with hackers and co-opted company insiders to acquire commercial aviation technology in a campaign of computer intrusions that lasted more than five years. They sought to obtain intellectual property and confidential business data, including information related to a turbofan engine used in commercial airliners, the government said.

The case comes amid growing trade friction between the United States and China and follows on the heels of another case in which a Chinese intelligence official was extradited from Belgium and charged with conspiring to steal trade secrets from an Ohio aviation company this month. And a U.S. Army recruit was indicted in September for working as an agent of a Chinese intelligence officer.

Intellectual property theft is among the Trump administrations chief complaints in a trade war that has rattled global markets and seen the worlds two largest economies slap tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of each others goods. China has long been focused on acquiring advanced jet-engine technology in its efforts to close the gap with Western manufacturers on the production of commercial and military aircraft.

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Concerted effort

This action is yet another example of criminal efforts by [Chinas Ministry of State Security] to facilitate the theft of private data for Chinas commercial gain, U.S. Atty. Adam Braverman, of the Southern District of California, said in a statement. The concerted effort to steal, rather than simply purchase, commercially available products should offend every company that invests talent, energy and shareholder money into the development of products.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lu Kang waved off the allegations, calling them purely groundless and fabricated at a regular news briefing Wednesday in Beijing.

The turbofan engine mentioned in the latest case was being developed through a partnership between a French aerospace manufacturer with an office in Suzhou, in the eastern province of Jiangsu, and a company based in the United States. The first alleged hack took place no later than January 2010, when members of the group infiltrated Capstone Turbine, a Los Angeles gas turbine company, the department said in the statement.

Alleged spies

Among 10 individuals charged were two people the United States identified as spies working for the Jiangsu provincial arm of the Chinese security ministry. Division Director Zha Rong, also known as Leanov, and Section Chief Chai Meng, also called Cobain, were each charged with one count of gaining unauthorized access to a protected computer, according to the indictment dated Oct. 25.

For decades, China has sought to develop its own commercial jet to break the duopoly held by Airbus SE and Boeing Co. In 2016, it set up state-owned engine maker Aero Engine Corp. of China to develop engines to be fitted on homegrown commercial aircraft.

Beijings Made in China 2025 blueprint specifically identifies aerospace as a key sector that can help match or exceed the high-end manufacturing output of countries such as Germany, Japan and the United States. Trump administration demands that China roll back support for the plan have been a major sticking point in discussions to resolve the trade dispute.
In a remote corner of the Sierra Nevada, amid 8,000-foot peaks and deep river gorges, a financial experiment is about to begin.

Once this winters snow melts, workers will cut down small trees and burn off undergrowth across 5,000 acres of the Tahoe National Forest. But those workers wont be paid by the U.S. Forest Service or any other public agency that typically funds forestry projects.

Instead, the roughly $4 million will come from two foundations, an investment firm and an insurance company  which hope to make money on the deal.

The project, set to begin next summer, is the first forestry project financed with a so-called forest-resilience bond created by the nonprofit World Resources Institute and start-up Blue Forest Conservation. The San Francisco firm was founded by a group of Berkeley business school graduates with the goal of persuading profit-seeking investors to pay for work that reduces the risk of costly wildfires and potentially eases the risk of drought. Blue Forest finalized terms with its investors on Wednesday.

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The Tahoe project is a big deal for Blue Forest and marks the culmination of more than three years of work. But its also a first step, one the companys founders hope will ultimately lead to much larger projects costing tens of millions of dollars and covering vast swaths of overgrown, fire-prone forests in California and other Western states.

Just signing the contract is already a success, said Leigh Madeira, a Blue Forest founder. But we dont want to be doing just one project. We want to be doing this on a bigger scale in multiple watersheds in multiple states.

The forest resilience bond works like this:

Investors put up the cash to pay for forest-thinning work. Theyll be repaid over time, with interest, by public agencies or other entities that want to see that work done but cant pay for it all at once.

In this case, the roughly $4 million in upfront money is coming from CSAA Insurance Group  part of AAA  and investment firm Calvert Impact Capital, as well as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Theyll be lending that money to the National Forest Foundation, which will hire the contractors and manage the forestry work. CSAA and Calvert will earn 4% on their money  richer than the 3% they might earn on government bonds  while the foundations will earn 1%.

The money to repay the bonds will come from annual payments from the Yuba Water Agency, a public water utility, and a grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as CalFire.

For the investors, the appeal of the fire bond is more than just the return on investment. Linc Walworth, vice president of investments for CSAA, said the insurance company last year alone had 5,000 wildfire-related insurance claims. Investing in a healthier forest could mean having to pay fewer claims.

To the extent we can reduce the risk of wildfire in California, thats good business for us, he said.

For Calvert, a Bethesda, Md., firm that specializes in so-called impact investments  ones that earn a financial return but that also aim to promote environmental stewardship, community development or other social benefits  the bond checked several boxes.

There are air quality benefits, water quality benefits, job creation, said Jacqueline Westley, a senior investment officer at Calvert. Its exactly the sort of thing we want to invest in.

Just as important, though, theres money lined up to repay the investors.

Theyve built something we can channel capital to, Westley said. We see a lot of programs come across our desk that are not investable  theyre entirely too risky or theres no source of repayment.

In the Stanislaus-Tuolumne Experimental Forest near Pinecrest, one area, left, was cleared of undergrowth and small trees, making it less fire prone than the denser, untreated area on the right. Blue Forest is financing similar work in the Tahoe National Forest. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

A key benefit of the bond program is that, by using private financing on the front end, it allows work to happen now instead of waiting for public resources to become available. The U.S. Forest Service, which maintains the health of national forest land, has a backlog of tens of millions of acres worth of forest rehabilitation work that could cost billions of dollars to complete.

Jason Ko, a Forest Service program manager, said if it were left to his agency alone, the project being financed through Blue Forest would take between seven and 10 years to complete. With Blue Forest, it should be done in less than four.

This would have waited until we had more money, Ko said. This allows us to do it now.

Yuba Water, which has pledged $1.5 million over five years to help repay the bonds, is spending an unprecedented amount for a utility on a project of this type, said Sherry Reckler, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Services California operations.

This is the first time weve had a water agency willing to invest such a large sum, she said.

The water agency hopes to get benefits from the project that could more than offset its financial contribution.

For starters, agency project manager Willie Whittlesey said thinning out this section of forest should mean less debris  branches and downed trees  washing down the North Yuba River, which runs from the project area down to the agencys New Bullards Bar reservoir. And if the project prevents fires in the area, it should cut down on the amount of soil that washes into the river and its tributaries, as hillsides are more prone to erosion after fires.

(Los Angeles Times)

Less debris and sediment can translate into big savings for Yuba Water. After heavy rains in the spring of 2017, the agency spent more than $5 million removing debris and sediment from its reservoirs.

CalFire already pays for forest-thinning work through grant programs aimed at reducing fire risk and protecting watersheds. But those grants are not paid out until work is completed, so the agency or nonprofit doing the work usually has to front the money itself, said Marcus Selig of the National Forest Foundation. That limits the amount of work the foundation and others can do.

On this project, a CalFire grant will ultimately cover much of the cost of the work, but it will be private investors, not the National Forest Foundation, that will pay for the work upfront.

That frees up our resources so we can get more work done, Selig said. We do around $15 million to $20 million of work a year, and its not uncommon for us to get pretty strained.

Whittlesey said Yuba Water was willing to pay into the program because it wants the fire bond idea to take off. If more utilities, other public agencies or companies that benefit from healthy forests pay for forestry work, it could defray the cost for all parties and lead to more work being done in less time.

We need to identify all the beneficiaries and help them recognize the value of forest improvement work, he said. Were willing to help launch this thing so we can show it works and hopefully identify other beneficiaries so we can do this on a larger scale throughout the watershed.

Blue Forest hopes the Tahoe pilot project will help show that thinner forests use less water and allow more water to flow downstream. With enough data, co-founder Zach Knight said, Blue Forest may be able to persuade big water users  such as farms, breweries and beverage bottling companies  and power companies that generate electricity with hydroelectric dams to pay into future bond projects.

The company may even be able to sell carbon credits  the kind that are purchased by corporations looking to offset their carbon footprint  if it can quantify the carbon benefit of a forest that is less prone to burn.

There is just so much interest from investors, Madeira said. Investors want to be funding things like this, but they dont exist.

james.koren@latimes.com

Follow me: @jrkoren
A former senior Goldman Sachs banker in Asia pleaded guilty to U.S. bribery and money-laundering charges and his deputy was arrested in Malaysia, as federal prosecutors in Brooklyn laid out conspiracy allegations related to Goldman Sachs lucrative fundraising for Malaysian wealth fund 1MDB.

Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, the alleged mastermind of a scheme to siphon billions of dollars from the fund, was charged in absentia. He is accused of conspiring with Roger Ng, then a Goldman Sachs banker, to launder billions of dollars embezzled from 1MDB, known formally as 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Former senior Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money and violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by paying bribes to Malaysia and Abu Dhabi officials and circumventing Goldmans internal accounting controls, according to prosecutors. Hes been ordered to forfeit $43.7 million.

Goldman Sachs also placed Andrea Vella, its former co-head of investment banking in Asia, on leave, according to a person briefed on the decision.

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Vella was put on leave over his role in the firms involvement with Malaysias 1MDB corruption case, pending review of the allegations, said the person, who asked not to be identified without authorization to speak publicly. Vella was demoted last month.

Low, Ng and Leissner are the first individuals to be charged in the U.S. in relation to the scandal at 1MDB. Goldman Sachs arranged bond offerings that helped the fund raise more than $6 billion, much of which, according to international authorities, was squirreled away in private accounts and used to buy yachts, paintings and high-end real estate.

Prosecutors alleged bribes and kickbacks were paid in connection with Goldmans bond offerings on 1MDBs behalf, which generated some $600 million in fees for the bank. Such payments were known to Ng, Leissner and other employees of the bank, according to prosecutors.

Low, known as Jho Low, remains at large, prosecutors said in a statement. Ng was arrested Thursday in Malaysia, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant issued at the request of the U.S., they said.

Michael DuVally, a Goldman Sachs spokesman, didnt have an immediate comment.

The U.S. alleges that a small coterie of Malaysians led by Low diverted money from 1MDB into personal accounts disguised to look like legitimate businesses, and kicked back some of those funds to officials. Some of the money is alleged to have ended up with former Prime Minister Najib Razak and his family.

According to court papers, Leissners scheme dates from at least 2009, prosecutors said. Between 2012 and 2013, he conspired with two other co-conspirators to get and retain business from 1MDB for the benefit of Goldman Sachs by promising bribes and kickbacks to government officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi using misappropriated and embezzled proceeds from 1MDB bond transactions.

Prosecutors allege that Low and Leissner used the laundered funds to buy artwork and luxury real estate in New York City and to finance movies including The Wolf of Wall Street.
During heated trade talks with Japan in the 1980s, Robert Lighthizer, then a top negotiator under President Reagan, earned the nickname missile man after he took one of Japans written offers, folded it into a paper airplane and flung it at the opposing side.

More than 30 years on, Lighthizer is now leading the charge for President Trump in a much bigger and more consequential trade fight with China, which overtook Japan as the worlds second-largest economy in 2010.

The United States and China have exchanged several volleys of mass tariffs this year and are at an impasse. Where the two sides go from here, and how much more pain the administration is willing to exact and absorb, will depend in good part on Lighthizers judgment.

A veteran trade lawyer and experienced Washington hand, the guttural, blunt-speaking 71-year-old has had Trumps ear from the start as the U.S. trade representative. But his recent success in closing an improbable deal with Canada and Mexico on a new North American Free Trade Agreement  a top campaign promise for Trump  firmly established Lighthizer as the administrations most important voice on trade after the president.

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Lighthizer shares Trumps preference for hardball tactics and rebuilding domestic manufacturing, a conviction that for Lighthizer stems in part from his roots in the Rust Belt. He was born and raised in Ashtabula, Ohio, a onetime railroad and coal-transport town that, like Youngstown to the south, Erie, Pa., to the east and Cleveland to the west, has been pummeled by industrial decline.

I dont sense theres any daylight between Lighthizer and the president, said Alan Wolff, a longtime Washington attorney and now deputy director-general of the World Trade Organization. The fundamental objectives have always been the same: Trade policy has to benefit the U.S. industrial base.

That doesnt mean Trump has a grand strategy on how to achieve that objective. Nor is it assured that Trump wont settle with China for something less if it were to boost his personal stature or larger political goals. One test may come at the end of November in Buenos Aires, where world leaders will gather for the annual G-20 summit and where Trump is planning to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Because Trump has frequently spoken about his personal chemistry with Xi, some analysts wonder whether Trump could cut a modest or symbolic deal with the Chinese leader, as he did with North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un in Singapore. Administration officials have downplayed that possibility. And the fact that Lighthizer is expected to accompany Trump to Argentina diminishes those odds.

But on Thursday, Trump unexpectedly tweeted that he just had a long and very good conversation with Xi on trade and about North Korea. And on Friday, he told reporters: Were getting much closer to doing something. They very much want to make a deal. I think well make a deal with China.

Lighthizer has backed a ramp-up in tariffs to exert increasing pressure on China, saying that Beijings industrial policies present an existential threat to Americas economic future and that Chinese officials will be more likely to make meaningful concessions if they are pressed against the wall.

In September, the administrations levies expanded to affect a total of some $250 billion of Chinese goods, half of all U.S. merchandise imports from China. Beijing has retaliated with duties on $110 billion of American-made products, or about 85% of all imports from the United States.

Even as American farmers and other businesses complain about the harm from tariffs, Lighthizer has shown no sense of urgency to sit down with Chinese counterparts. And he will almost certainly be urging Trump to press for concrete structural changes in Chinas economic policies when he meets with Xi, rather than accept vague commitments and promises to buy a bunch more airplanes, soybeans and other goods to shave the U.S. trade deficit with China.

His not talking with the Chinese makes it harder for the Trump-Xi meeting to have any substance on trade, said Derek Scissors, a China scholar at the American Enterprise Institute who has advised the administration on China matters.

Scissors says Lighthizer and others in the administration want to shift supply chains and decouple Americas economic and investment links with China, a difficult process that could take many years and would undoubtedly be disruptive for parties on both sides.

Yet that is the direction that Washington appears to be driving toward. Lighthizers ascendance comes as the administration has recently laid down markers of what has arguably been a sea change in how America relates to China.

Ever since Chinas opening up four decades ago under reform-minded leader Deng Xiaoping, U.S. administrations had largely pursued a policy of engagement with Beijing, betting that would lead to market liberalization and Western-style democratic reforms in the communist nation.

In recent years, though, many lawmakers and China policy hands in the West have come to the view that the strategy has not worked. Beijing has backpedaled on market opening pledges and, under Xi, increasingly thrown its military and financial weight around the region and beyond.

More recently, the U.S. or China has canceled regular economic and strategic dialogues that had been a part of the formalized relationship between the two countries. Instead, in a sweeping speech last month at the Hudson Institute, Vice President Mike Pence issued a lengthy attack accusing Beijing of military aggression, economic mercantilism and a broad range of nefarious activities, including meddling in the U.S. midterm election and infiltrating American universities.

While Pence offered limited evidence, the 40-minute broadside was seen by some experts as a declaration of a new cold war. It has been parsed over in Beijing and will almost certainly further complicate the trade conflict, said Cheng Li, a China expert at the Brookings Institution.

Lighthizer declined to be interviewed for this article, but hes made clear that the United States can  and must  take a forceful stand against Chinas state-led economic model.

He and many others in the West say Beijing has not kept up its part of the bargain when it was invited to enjoy the benefits of WTO membership in 2001 and that current international legal mechanisms are unable to deal effectively with Beijings market-distorting practices, such as Chinas overproduction of steel, and policies that lead to coercion or outright theft of U.S. intellectual property.

A linchpin of the U.S. fight with China, at least in Lighthizers eyes, is Xis so-called Made in China 2025, an ambitious state-led plan to funnel billions of dollars to build up dominant Chinese firms in key sectors such as robotics, aviation, artificial intelligence and biomedicine.

They have a system, and their system is challenging our system, Lighthizer said in congressional testimony in July, telling senators that the U.S. struggle with China is going to go on for years.

In Trump, Lighthizer hopes hes found a president whose trade focus will remain on promoting manufacturing at home rather than shaping foreign policy.

Lighthizers view has long been that trade policy has taken a back seat to diplomatic and global strategic priorities, said Bonnie Byers, a trade lawyer at King & Spalding who has known Lighthizer since the early 1990s.

But it remains to be seen whether Trump will keep that commitment. The president has previously said he would cut China slack on trade if Xi helped pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.

Li of the Brookings Institution said Beijing clearly does not want to negotiate with Lighthizer, but now finds itself with little choice. In the past, the Chinese could rightfully complain about shifting or mixed signals coming from the White House as those committed to the nationalistic policies of Trumps campaign vied with proponents of free-trade orthodoxy.

But no longer. The so-called globalist camp lost its most prominent proponent when National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn departed in March after failing to stop Trump from imposing blanket tariffs on steel imports. Cohns replacement, Larry Kudlow, and Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin are more pro-free trade and at times have tried to promote a softer approach. But they have been overshadowed by Lighthizer and Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro, a sharp China critic who has been at Trumps side since the 2016 campaign but whose inexperience in Washington and truculence have hurt his effectiveness.

By contrast, Lighthizer is widely regarded as a skillful tactician and politically savvy, having learned his way around Congress beginning in the late 1970s from then-Sen. Bob Dole, for whom he worked as a minority counsel and later staff director of the Senate Finance Committee.

When Reagan tapped Lighthizer as a deputy U.S trade representative in 1983, the U.S. was already embroiled in a bitter trade conflict with Japan over allegations of dumping, subsidizing key industries and appropriating American technology. Similar complaints have been lodged against China, albeit on a larger scale.

Amid intense U.S. pressure and domestic considerations, Japan agreed by the mid-1980s to voluntarily limit its exports of steel, cars and other goods  a strategy of managed trade that Lighthizer more recently employed in renegotiating NAFTA and in his dealings with other countries.

The key lesson of Japan was that the two countries were playing very different economic games, said Clyde Prestowitz, who worked on Asia trade for Commerce in Reagans first term. China and the U.S. are also playing different games.

Whats different, Prestowitz said, is that the U.S. doesnt have the automatic pressure points with Beijing, as China was never an American ally or under its security umbrella.

Bob is well aware of this and is finding other means of gaining negotiating leverage, he said.

don.lee@latimes.com

Follow me at @dleelatimes

UPDATES:

Nov. 2, 12:15 p.m. : This article was updated with President Trumps comments about Chinese President Xi Jinping.

This article was originally published on Nov. 1 at 3 a.m.
More than a year ago, a vast reconstruction of 1920s Paris emerged on the backlot of Warner Bros. Leavesden just outside London.

At the time, fans didnt know that J.K. Rowling would take them to the French capital in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, which opens in the U.S. on Nov. 16, but the actors and director David Yates were able to immerse themselves in the story using a series of magical Parisian streets and shops. Although the sequel to 2016s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them also brings the audience to New York and London, Paris is the focal point for the new adventures of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne).

To re-create Paris in 1927, three-time Oscar-winning production designer Stuart Craig and his team took several trips to the city, photographing references and exploring some of the specific places Rowling noted in her script. They also hired a full-time researcher, who complied an archive of period photographs.

The Eiffel Tower appears in a scene from Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. (Warner Bros. Pictures)

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Craigs version of Paris brings together elements of Baron Haussmann, an architect who renovated Paris in the 19th century, and pulls in the neighborhoods of the Marais, Pigalle and Montmartre. The entrance to magical Paris in Montmartre is at the base of a lively bronze statue, based off a real statue in Paris Opera house. The realistic flourishes bring a desired sense of authenticity to the fantasy realm.

The approach that weve used on the Potter films and these films is to make every place look real and then use magic to come out of that seeming reality, says Craig, who has been the visual mastermind behind every Rowling film adaptation, earning Oscar nominations on four of them, along with one for the first Fantastic Beasts. That was our aim: to make Paris look, at first glance, completely real. The magic is largely hidden and appears when it needs to.

The French ministry of magic, known as the Ministere des Affaires Magique, draws its inspiration from the Palais-Royal. Rowling specified in the script that the building would be art nouveau in style, and Craig delivered by using curving, twirling designs and a series of interconnected domes.

Art nouveau was the height of fashion and taste and architecture interest, Craig notes. Inside [the ministry], theres a typing pool, and above that is this massive dome, and etched onto the ceiling are these creatures in star patterns, like the zodiac. Ours are new constellations in the shape of these magical creatures.

He adds, Its nice to have a French ministry, U.S ministry and a British ministry  and probably in the third film, a Berlin-based ministry. Theyre all variations on a theme, and thats very nice to deal with as a designer.

The typing pool is made up of about 100 extras, which meant that the props team had to manufacture more than 100 circular period typewriters (some of the more than 100,000 props created for the picture), which were copied from a 1910 typing keyboard.

1927 Paris as re-imagined for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. (Warner Bros. Pictures)

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To arrive in the Ministere, wizards journey to the Place de Furstenberg, a real square in Paris 6th arrondissement, where an elevator emerges from four trees. The Place was replicated on the backlot at Leavesden, along with several magical streets and the home of Nicolas Flamel (a name most associated in Potter-lore with the sorcerers stone), which draws on a Tudor design to suggest his ancient years.

The backlot was built with green screens above each building to allow the visual effects team to expand on practical sets during post-production.

Having something tangible there that we extend just looks better, says visual effects supervisor Christian Manz. Its something the actors can be in, to understand the world that theyre in. The Paris set is big. Its not as big as Paris, but the actors are still walking around streets. You really do feel theyre in that place. What we create beyond that hopefully just adds to [the location].

The climax of this chapter in the story takes the characters to Pere Lachaise, the largest cemetery in Paris, which Craig and his team remade  in part  in a studio at Leavesden. They also partially built a giant underground amphitheater that fit more than 600 extras.

Its very photogenic, Craig says of the cemetery. The tombs are quite elaborate and stretch all the way from the front gate up this big hill. Its good inspiration for the bit we built in Leavesden in the studio.

Longtime fans will find a sort of visual continuity among all the Potter films, even as the narrative shifts to new countries.

Its Stuarts vision of the world, notes visual effects supervisor Tim Burke. He created the world for Potter, which grounded it in a reality that made it believable. We dont want it to become science fiction, because weve got to believe this world exists. If its grounded, then you believe the magic. Everything just looks real.

 The cast of the Harry Potter spin-off film talk about returning for the sequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

calendar@latimes.com
According to the General Department of Customs, for the first nine months of 2018, Vietnams coffee exports reached over 1.4 million tonnes, valued at US$2.75 billion, up 18.8% in volume.

Germany and the US continued to be the two largest consumer markets for Vietnamese coffee in the first eight months of 2018, with market shares of 12.6% and 9.8%, respectively. Other markets with a sharp increase in the imports of Vietnamese coffee in the first eight months this year included Indonesia (+ 8 times), Russia (+ 66.6%) and Philippines (+ 46.6%).

However, global demand and coffee prices have a direct impact on domestic coffee prices. The average coffee export price in the Jan-Aug period was down 15.5% over the same period in 2017, reaching US$1,913 per tonne.

In September, unroasted robusta coffee in Vietnams Central Highlands decreased by VND700 a kg to VND31,900 - 32,500 per kg, compared with the previous month. During the first nine months of 2018, domestic coffee prices fluctuated sharply with the fall ranging from VND 2,100 - 2,400 a kg.

The fluctuations in the world market causing impacts on the domestic market are inevitable. However, experts have shown how to reduce these impacts to the maximum. Tran Van Hung, from Fair Trade Project in Vietnam, suggested that besides ensuring the quality of coffee, it is important to promote the participation of Vietnamese coffee in international certification on fair trade or sustainability, in order to have a stable coffee price in the world market and ensure an income for farmers.

"When these certificates are available, each price movement on the world market ensures that farmers are still able to sell their coffee at a minimum price. This price guarantees that farmers growing coffee will have profit to reinvest," Hung said.

Dao Duc Huan, Director at the Centre for Rural Development (under the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development), said that in the face of market demand, it is necessary to promote advantages and determine the appropriate strategy and long-term approach for Vietnamese coffee to affirm its role and position. In particular, building a high-quality Vietnamese coffee brand is an important solution and is the basis for promoting effective and sustainable value chains for Vietnamese coffee products in the future.

To realise this goal, in addition to support from the State in accessing market demand information, it is essential to develop synchronous policies and solutions to promote and introduce coffee products aimed at raising the image of Vietnamese coffee in the world market, contributing to raising its value and promoting market expansion in the context of deeper international economic integration.
The star and director of Mary Poppins Returns sit close together on a settee in a hotel suite high above Central Park, thick as thieves, and suddenly theyre not Emily Blunt, Golden Globe-winning actress, and Rob Marshall, Hollywoods Oscar-nominated go-to musical man.

Its the Em and Robbie show.

Theres an exceedingly warm mutual admiration and a shorthand between the pair after two films together, a rapport that first sparked years ago over lunch for a project that didnt pan out and blossomed when Blunt starred as the plucky bakers wife in Marshalls 2014 hit adaptation of Stephen Sondheims Into the Woods.

Marshall calls Blunt an old soul and my favorite actress. She vows to lure him and his partner, John DeLuca, out of Manhattan and convert them to Brooky-Brooks  meaning Brooklyn, where she lives with husband John Krasinski.

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The two are creatively simpatico, they say, which is a big part of how they found the confidence to attempt something as wildly ambitious as reviving one of the most beloved characters in cinematic history. Also, Marshall adds, it helps that they both like martinis.

Still, Blunt admits, she was surprised and terrified when Marshall called her one day after the success of Into the Woods to propose teaming up on a new project he wanted to make with Disney.

He said, By far their most prized possession is Mary Poppins, and I remember my hair blowing back from thrill and vague panic, Blunt said with a laugh. But she said yes immediately, and the massive undertaking began.

Emily Blunt is Mary Poppins, center, in Disneys original musical Mary Poppins Returns. (Jay Maidment / Disney)

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Mary Poppins Returns, a Disney song-and-dance extravaganza in the vein of the studios song-and-dance classics of yore, is a direct sequel to 1964s Mary Poppins. The fantasy classic was based on P.L. Travers book series about a magical nanny who floats out of the clouds to bring order and joy to the young Banks children in 1910 London.

Directed by Robert Stevenson and featuring over a dozen iconic earworms by the Sherman brothers, Mary Poppins was one of the years highest-grossing films and scored 13 Oscar nominations and won five (including lead actress, original song and original score). Breathing life into its titular heroine, Julie Andrews served up a practically perfect screen performance that defined the character to generations of fans.

Arriving in theaters Dec. 19, Mary Poppins Returns is aiming for a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious repeat  and with handsome production design, impressive visuals seamlessly blending live action and animation, and brightly fanciful costumes by Oscar-winning designer Sandy Powell, its well-positioned to take home some more hardware.

Musicals are complicated to create because you have to find the rhythm. You have to know when theres a ballad, when theres an uptempo, what you need when, said Marshall, who made his feature directing debut with the 2002 Oscar-winning musical Chicago, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award, and returned to the genre with 2009s Nine. Bad musicals are when you havent earned a song. But in a good musical, youre unaware that theyre singing.

Mary Poppins Returns was the most massive undertaking of his career, Marshall estimated, and thats coming from a filmmaker who also directed a Pirates of the Caribbean sequel.

Also difficult, added Blunt: Paying homage without replicating.

Making the world of Mary Poppins both familiar and fresh to 2018 audiences began with connecting its threads to the original. A screenplay by David Magee sets Poppins return to Cherry Tree Lane two decades after her last visit to the Banks family.

England is suffering under the gloom of the Great Depression, and a now-grown Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw) is a recent widower. Even with the help of his activist-unionizer sister, Jane (Emily Mortimer), he struggles to raise his three young children and keep bank lenders (including a villainous Colin Firth) from seizing the family home.

Bringing life and light once again in a time of darkness, Mary Poppins alights on a kite from the sky. And in Blunts rendition, she isnt quite the same Mary Poppins you might remember. Revisiting Travers expansive series of Mary Poppins books proved crucial for Blunt, since as soon as she signed on to play the legendary role she vowed not to watch the original film again.

I didnt want any natural instinct I might have to be diluted by the brilliance of what [Andrews] did, she said. I knew that I wanted to take quite a big swing with the character. No one can out-Julie Andrews Julie Andrews! Youve got to do something else.

The Mary Poppins of the books, she found, presented new and different qualities than those seen in the 1964 film. Theres an eccentricity and a battiness to her. Shes incredibly vain and rude and funny, grinned Blunt, and weird, actually. Like this strange, rare bird. You cant get a read on where shes going. But I read the books quite fully, and it became clear to me where I wanted to go with her.

I knew that I wanted to take quite a big swing with the character. No one can out-Julie Andrews Julie Andrews! Youve got to do something else. Emily Blunt

The moment when Marshall knew Blunt had her character down pat came on the first day of rehearsal. Its a scene in which Michael and Jane Banks are visited by Mary Poppins for the first time in decades.

You walked in and you were the character, he said, beaming at Blunt. You clearly had a laser sensibility of who she was. We finished the scene, and I started crying. It was the beginning of rehearsals, and we had months to go, and she had already carved her own space from her own imagination and her own sensibility.

You were so sweet, Blunt answered, admitting that she was wracked with nerves that day. You said, And there she is.

The two had discussed infusing their Mary Poppins with tonal influences of the era in which Mary Poppins Returns takes place  specifically, the snappy, sassy clip of Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday. I knew the pace and speed I wanted her to move; I wanted her to come in like a tornado, said Blunt.

But it wasnt just Mary Poppins uniquely oblique persona that the actress had to find; carrying a bombastic Hollywood throwback musical, she embraced her inner Broadway hoofer  and vocalist.

Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins in Disneys Mary Poppins Returns. (Disney)

I still love singing in the shower or the car, love it  karaoke, if Im drunk enough  but I have always, ever since I was a child, found it very nerve-wracking to sing in front of people, said Blunt, whose karaoke skills have indeed been documented on the internet. But I think I am one of those people who, when I am nervous about something, I almost have to go all the way, because it combats the fear.

She acts a song, nodded Marshall, who tapped the perfect comrade-in-arms to join Blunts Poppins in some of the films most memorable  and difficult  musical numbers.

After the meteoric success of Hamilton, creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda was the toast of Hollywood. He chose to do Mary Poppins Returns next, taking on the role of Jack, a warm-hearted lamplighter with ties to Mary Poppins and her old cohort, Bert.

He walks into every room with great hope, and theres a natural exuberance and effervescence to him, raves Blunt. Jack is one of the few characters who truly sees Mary Poppins  and sporting a mouthy Cockney accent, brings vigor to numbers like Trip the Light, a traditional staged number featuring a battalion of London lamplighters, and a vaudeville-styled duet with Blunt that proved one of the more challenging scenes to pull off.

In the films hand-drawn animated sequence (a nod to the 1964 film), Mary Poppins and Jack have led the three young Banks children  Annabel (Pixie Davies), John (Nathanael Saleh) and Georgie (Joel Dawson)  into a magical china bowl that, of course, is merely the doorway to yet another fantastical world of its own.

There, the pair put on the ritz for The Covers Not the Book, dancing with animated animals up and down a staircase made out of enormous books. It was the first scene Marshall shot, playing co-choreographer with DeLuca and occasionally grabbing a cane to show his stars how its done.

Lots of previz and storyboarding helped, as did Marshall and DeLucas choreographer minds. The concept sprang out of the song by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, about this wonderful concept that what you see on the outside isnt necessarily whats on the inside, said Marshall, who directed Blunt and Miranda alongside dancers who would be transformed into animated penguins in post-production.

Rob hired the shortest dancers he could find, laughed Blunt, who also revealed the most terrifying moment she had on set. Its a green screen set of books, Im in heels with a skirt, and I couldnt see the stairs. Rob is the nicest that there is  but also he does it till its perfect. Hes got the dancers mentality of, You will do it until its absolutely spectacular.

I remember I was about to do another take coming down the stairs and I went, Im terrified! and he said, I know honey, I can see it on your face  OK, Action!

RELATED: Virtually every film coming out this holiday season 

Blunt pulled it off without a hitch, of course. And the sequence, like every musical number in Mary Poppins Returns, brings with it a salve of sorts to younger audiences; more than its predecessor, this Mary Poppins film seems to feel the weight of its own legacy, every song a musical spoonful of sugar delivering coping mechanisms for life in an oft-chaotic contemporary world.

What I love about Mary Poppins the most is she recognizes what people need and she gives it to them, said Blunt, but she gives it to them in a way that they can go on a voyage of self-discovery. She wants zero credit. Theres nothing manipulative about her generosity, because she makes it all about you  and then she leaves. I love that she knows that life is full, it ebbs and it flows. She allows for the cracks in people, and ultimately the light shines through.

Recognizing that such a film might be what audiences need now  particularly the younger viewers  was something Marshall believes got so many talented cast members on board, including Blunts Devil Wears Prada and Into the Woods co-star Meryl Streep.

Meryl said yes within seconds, he said. She called the film a gift to the world. I think in a way, we were all aware of that.

Among the acrimony and bitterness that is out there right now in the air, I think a film like this could actually be the great unifier, at Christmas, which would be nice, wouldnt it? added Blunt. As my husband puts it, its a joybomb on the soul.

If we can just bring a ray of hope to the world now  , mused Marshall. It is a fragile time, and a divided time. I think we all need hope that something better is coming.

(L-R) Jane (Emily Mortimer), John (Nathanael Saleh), Annabel (Pixie Davies, Ellen (Julie Walters), Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Georgie (Joel Dawson) and Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) in Mary Poppins Returns. (Jay Maidment / Disney)

jen.yamato@latimes.com

@jenyamato
War correspondent Marie Colvin fought not one but numerous personal battles in her violently abbreviated. life and director Matthew Heineman and star Rosamund Pike have joined forces to persuasively handle them all in the gripping and insightful A Private War.

Colvin was the two-time winner of the British Foreign Journalist of the Year Award and something of a celebrity among her peers in the time before she was killed in Syria in 2012, and though some of her struggles can be surmised, they are still brutally involving.

For openers, Colvin took the injustices of the world personally and made it her unwavering mission as a reporter to expose them as widely as possible.

I have to go to places where you could be killed, to make that suffering part of the record, Pike as Colvin says in voice-over in Arash Amels smart and well-crafted script. I see it so you dont have to.

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More than that, Colvin continually fought with the non-combat zone world, fought to make people who were safe at home pay attention to those who were not. I cared enough to go to these places to make someone else care, she says. We fail if we dont face what war does.

Perhaps inevitably, Colvin also had major battles with herself. Her work came at a steep personal price that included alcoholism and intense, disturbing bouts of PTSD that A Private War puts on-screen.

For this impressive film pulls few punches in unflinchingly detailing from the inside  graphic nightmares included  the complexity of the effect war had on Colvin and the world surrounding her.

Though this is his first dramatic feature, Heineman is the key to A Private Wars narrative realism. His previous in harms way films, the exceptional documentaries City of Ghosts, about resistance to Islamic State, and Cartel Land, concerned with the Mexican drug trade, made this a story he could tell from the inside.

Like Marie, Heinman says in a directors statement, I have felt that same bizarre thrill that conflict reporting brings and also felt the lingering dark thoughts that are an unavoidable consequence of it.

Though Charlize Theron, one of the films producers, reportedly considered playing Colvin at one point, A Private War is fortunate in having Pike in the leading role.

An actress who doesnt always get the credit she should for potent work in unusual and challenging roles (Gone Girl, Hostiles, United Kingdom and Beirut, among others), Pike lobbied to play Colvin and has succeeded exceptionally well.

Its not just that Pike changed the timbre of her voice, the way she walks and even her posture to accurately reflect Colvin physically (though she has).

Its that this fierce, lived-in performance, complete down to the drawn face and go-for-it personality, is so convincing that people who knew Colvin were shaken at the resemblance.

Based on a Vanity Fair profile by Marie Brenner, A Private War opens with an aerial shot of Homs, Syria, in 2012, a visual that reveals the catastrophic damage the city suffered at the hands of forces loyal to Bashar Assad.

Homs proved to be Colvins Waterloo, and the film never lets us forget that as it flashes back, identifying each sequence by telling us how many years before Homs it took place.

Private War starts in London in 2001 with one of Colvins stabs at living an at-home life with an ex-husband with whom she is trying to reconcile.

Though born and raised on the North Shore of Long Island, Colvin worked for Britains Sunday Times, where her ambitious editor Sean Ryan (Tom Hollander) both wants her to shine and fears for her safety.

Against Ryans advice, Colvin goes to Sri Lanka to interview a leader of the Tamil Tiger insurgency. On her way out of the combat zone, she is struck by shrapnel and loses the sight in her left eye.

Though she initially hates the idea of wearing an eye patch (the worst idea I ever heard), Colvin soon embraces it as a personal trademark back in London. But staying lionized at home is not on her agenda, and she tells Ryan that, injury or not, she has no intention of hanging up my flak jacket.

Colvins next major assignment is Iraq in 2003, where she teams up with freelance photographer Paul Conroy (excellent work by Fifty Shades veteran Jamie Dornan) to check out rumors of mass graves outside Fallujah.

This section, which includes a nerve-wracking session at a government checkpoint and the harrowing discovery of those graves, is perhaps the films most potent and underscores the effectiveness of Heinemans passion for authenticity.

Working with veteran cinematographer Robert Richardson and production designer Sophie Becher, the director has created a vivid sense of what it feels like being on the ground. And the agonizing mourning at the gravesite is enhanced by the use of Iraqi refugees living in Jordan, where the film was shot, as extras.

Though she well knew the line that foreign correspondents who are both old and bold are nonexistent, Colvin could not resist going to Homs. The notion that anywhere in the world, people are dying and nobody knows its happening always made her crazy, and A Private War is a moving tribute to that magnificent obsession.

A Private War

MPAA rating: R, for disturbing violent images, language throughout, and brief sexuality/nudity

Running time: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Playing: ArcLight Hollywood; Landmark, West Los Angeles

kenneth.turan@latimes.com

@KennethTuran
For much of Boy Erased, we are watching the face of 19-year-old Jared Eamons as he takes in his surroundings. Its a handsome, intelligent face  it belongs to the actor Lucas Hedges  and its range of expressions subtly distills the drama of this somber, coolly appalled and appalling movie. You note Jareds dutiful attentiveness as his father preaches a sermon, his furtive downward glance in the company of a boy he likes and his quiet anguish when he finally approaches his parents and disgorges the long-held secret of his homosexuality.

Some time later  or perhaps earlier, given writer-director Joel Edgertons deft shuffling of time frames  Jared will find himself with a group of people, mostly young men, dressed in white button-up shirts that suggest a declaration of collective purity. At times he scans the room to see if anyone else shares his skepticism, despair and growing alarm, but those who enter the Christian ex-gay program known as Love in Action are generally advised to keep their eyes off each other and on the programs strict director, Victor Sykes (Edgerton).

Hedges silent scream of a performance, more internalized than his excellent work in Manchester by the Sea and the recent Mid90s, both complements and counters the soul-smothering heaviness of Sykes agenda. Boy Erased is based on Garrard Conleys 2016 memoir about his experience as an Arkansas teenager, when his Baptist parents sent him to Memphis for gay conversion therapy. The movies moral position on Love in Action is clear enough, but to its credit, it seeks to articulate that position without cheap histrionics or easy condemnations, to summon restraint in depicting an ideological campaign that has no particular use for nuance.

Edgerton, always a superb actor, is also a shrewd and attentive filmmaker, as he showed in his underappreciated 2015 psychological thriller, The Gift. His knack for evoking domestic tension especially animates the tense, difficult scenes of Jareds home life after he is outed as gay to his parents by someone he thought was a friend, under circumstances that constitute their own cruel form of violation.

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Jareds parents, Marshall and Nancy, are played by Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman, and like Edgerton the two actors have closeted their native Australianness in service of a well textured and reasonably convincing snapshot of Southern suburbia. Kidmans steely grace illuminates the plight of the doting, sympathetic Nancy, who responds to her sons admission by sadly closing her eyes but not, crucially, her mind or heart. Crowe, meanwhile, conveys Marshalls natural affection for his son but also his instinctive willingness to suppress it, to bark orders and demand answers in lieu of listening.

That difficult dynamic is replicated, with a much more toxic level of obtuseness, at Love in Action, where Jared is sent after surprisingly little family discussion. From there, Boy Erased, shot in dim, muted colors and accompanied by agitated orchestral strings, proceeds with the coolly restrained tension of an art-house horror movie. Or perhaps a prison movie, the kind that might bring back chilling memories of your companys last employee retreat, only with more God talk and ritual self-humiliation.

Joel Edgerton as Victor Sykes in Boy Erased. (Focus Features)

Sykes, a drill sergeant in a necktie, runs the show with a few scowling deputies on hand. They confiscate their charges cellphones and other personal possessions, and warn them against drinking, viewing pornography or engaging in more than cursory physical touch. New enrollees are forced to diagram any deviant branches in their family trees (abuse, alcoholism, etc.), and also to excoriate themselves and especially their parents in extended group confessionals.

Boy Erased is far gloomier and more single-minded than Desiree Akhavans recent drama The Miseducation of Cameron Post, which tackled the same subject from a young womans point of view and, like Girl, Interrupted or One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, found solace and humor in the personal bonds that developed between inmates. Edgertons picture, by contrast, searches mostly in vain for signs of solidarity and resistance within Love in Action, whose more battle-hardened members warn Jared that unless he plays his cards right, his stay might be more permanent than hed been led to believe.

The programs fire-and-brimstone drudgery is mercifully relieved by flashbacks to Jareds more carefree college days, specifically his separate encounters with two very different young men (played by Joe Alwyn and Theodore Pellerin). Neither episode plays out quite as you might expect from a movie about the intensity of carnal desire and the dangers of trying to stifle it  a refreshing narrative tack in a movie that suggests the pitfalls of subjecting either religious belief or sexual orientation to a one-size-fits-all mentality.

Jared, we learn, has a talent for writing, and also for thinking and listening. As a gay man who has spent his whole life under a God-fearing roof, hes used to making peace with inner tension, and he gravitates toward balance in every situation. Hedges captures that ambivalence beautifully, and also the moment when he decides to stop going with the flow. But for reasons that have less to do with him than with the screenplay, he doesnt fully illuminate one important aspect of Jareds journey.

Unlike last years drama Novitiate, which examined the tension between spiritual devotion and gay desire in an even more cloistered setting, Boy Erased doesnt seem particularly interested in the inner spiritual life of its characters. Not Jareds parents, whose love for God permeates every aspect of their daily routine, and crucially not Jared himself, whose divine encounters are limited to a scene of him cursing the heavens in anger. Given its focus on church and community, the movie seems curiously reluctant to broach the subject of God in more intimate, relational and compassionate terms.

I object to this omission partly on representational grounds  the teachings of groups like Love in Action should not, and do not, speak for all Christianity  but also, more important, on dramatic ones. In framing Jareds conflict through the lens of a morally repressive and intellectually bankrupt program, rather than of his own much more valuable interior dialogue, the movie sacrifices a deeper, more intimate kind of insight. Boy Erased is a sobering, justly infuriating movie, but its own convenient elisions keep catharsis at bay.

RELATED: With the gay conversion therapy drama Boy Erased, Joel Edgerton hopes to stir hearts and change minds 

Theodore Pellerin, left, and Lucas Hedges in Boy Erased. (Focus Features)

Boy Erased

Rating: R, for sexual content including an assault, some language and brief drug use

Running time: 1 hour, 54 minutes

Playing: ArcLight Cinemas, Hollywood, and the Landmark, West Los Angeles

justin.chang@latimes.com | Twitter: @JustinCChang


Pound for pound, youd be hard pressed to find a more purely entertaining movie this fall than Joseph Kahns gleeful love letter to battle rap, Bodied. Props are due to writer Alex Larsen, a.k.a. Kid Twist, a Canadian battle rapper whose life story loosely inspires the tale of Adam (Calum Worthy), an aggressively woke white Berkeley student who enters the battle-rap scene by way of his thesis on the use of the N-word. Its participant observation  an intense form of data collection  with the self-styled ethnographer falling down the rabbit hole and emerging completely changed.

Larsens script is a blistering deconstruction of identity politics that may leave your head spinning. Adam, the son of a lit professor (Anthony Michael Hall) and cowed by his militantly feminist vegan girlfriend (Rory Uphold), finds freedom of expression when the politically correct gloves come off.

But is there a limit? How do systems of power work in a battle where a rapper, with the goal of roasting an opponent to a crisp, only has appearances and assumptions to work with?

Kahn applies his maximalist style, using text and animation to bring a visual spark to the lyrical flow. From crisp academic arguments to sick burns, words spew, stutter, and startle, and as delivered by a totally committed Worthy, a soulful Jackie Long, and a posse of actors and rappers from the scene, the wordplay is dizzying, mesmerizing and intoxicating.

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Bodied

Rated: R, for strong language and sexual content throughout, some drug use and brief nudity

Running time: 2 hours

Playing: Starts Nov. 2, AMC Burbank; also available on YouTube Premium Nov. 28

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Actor and director Alex Winters documentary The Panama Papers is a methodical exploration of the massive journalistic endeavor that went into publishing leaked documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. The release revealed the offshore banking practices and tax evasion of world leaders and other public figures.

Winter dives into the reporting details, carefully following the story from a whistleblowers first messages to German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung through the yearlong process of combing through data, performed by an international team of 376 investigative reporters. The film focuses on how this all got done  in secret  but the full scope and consequences of the fraudulent activity periodically land. On-screen text informs viewers that the U.S. has lost nearly $277 billion due to tax avoidance by the wealthy, further widening the gap in income inequality.

By the time Winters informative film reaches the trifecta of Donald Trump (whose name appeared in the documents over 3,000 times), Paul Manafort and Steven Mnuchin, it all seems frustratingly futile. But Winter points out that the publishing of these documents was a success  at a cost. Protests erupted, investigations were opened and heads of state were deposed, but at least one journalist was killed (Maltese investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia). The Panama Papers serves as a reminder of the important work reporters do in fighting abuses of power and the way that work is evolving in an increasingly fractured global landscape.

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The Panama Papers

Not rated

Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Playing: Starts Friday, Laemmle Pasadena

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Custodian of brands like Pixar and Marvel, Disney certainly knows a thing or two about pre-sold properties. But there is pre-sold and there is The Nutcracker during the holiday season.

The ballet performed to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovskys music has introduced generations of youngsters worldwide to classical music and its performances not only keep multiplying but also keep earning money as well. In fact, reports say that the holiday extravaganza can generate anywhere between 40% and 45% of an American companys annual revenue. Thats a lot of toeshoes.

Its taken Disney some time to get there, but it has now added this particular chestnut to its cache of family-friendly perennials.

But in true Hollywood fashion, rather than emphasizing the pieces familiarity, The Nutcracker and The Four Realms is being promoted as not the Nutcracker you know. This is mostly true and mostly, but not entirely, a good thing.

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Visually dazzling from its opening scene, this Nutcracker, production designed by Guy Hendrix Dyas and photographed by Linus Sandgren with visual effects supervised by Max Wood, looks tiptop as it presents an owls eye view of Victorian London at night. This is a film determined to visually delight us, and why not?

This Nutcracker, with a screenplay by Ashleigh Powell, is also unabashed about providing life lessons. Focusing on believing in yourself, finding your place in the world and endorsing empowerment for its smart and independent young heroine, Nutcracker is unabashed about being earnest and four-square, and that is one of its attractions.

But because no modern family film is considered complete without a requisite number of sinister plot turns and busy action sequences, Nutcracker has added several in. These scenes, however, come off as pro forma rather than integral and the plot they are linked to can seem overly complicated. It almost seems as if two different people directed the film, and in fact they have.

A pair of directors working sequentially, Lasse Hallstrom and Joe Johnston, are jointly credited with helming Nutcracker, but the real auteur here, frankly, is likely the powerful Disney system.

(According to press reports, the special-effects-savvy Johnston was involved with mandated reshoots because Hallstrom, who returned for post-production, was unavailable to supervise the new sequences because of schedule conflicts.)

As with many Disney epics, care was taken both with lead casting (Mackenzie Foy sparkles as 14-year-old heroine Clara) as well as peripheral elements that, when taken together, can help attract an audience.

So the supporting players include polished professionals like Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman, both familiar faces to the potential grandparents in the audience.

For those expecting ballet, not only is a bit provided but it is executed by top dancers Misty Copeland and Sergei Polunin. And James Howards score echoes Tchaikovskys music and was conducted by the Los Angeles Philharmonics Gustavo Dudamel and features piano by Lang Lang, boldface names all.

This Nutcracker also takes a moment to tip its hat to some Hollywood predecessors. Dudamel is featured in a silhouette shot that echoes the way conductor Leopold Stokowski was presented in Disneys 1940 Fantasia, which used the Nutcracker music.

And when Clara takes a look around the fantasyland shes about to enter and says Guess Im not in London anymore, the nod to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz is unmistakable.

Young Clara is introduced on Christmas Eve as the middle child in a well-to-do London family that has recently been shattered by the death of the wife and mother that held everyone together.

A scientifically inclined independent thinker, Clara would rather be spending her time in the attic working on Rube Goldberg contraptions that socializing. But she is happy to go to the annual party given by her godfather and kindred spirit, the inventor Drosselmeyer (Freeman), and this year she has a special reason to want to go.

Thats because her mother has left her as a Christmas gift an enormous mechanical egg along with an enigmatic note that reads Everything you need is inside. The only problem is, the key needed to open the egg has not been included.

At Drosselmeyers house, Clara goes down a passageway and, like the children in the Narnia stories, finds herself in a parallel universe where a handsome young Nutcracker captain (Jayden Fowora-Knight) informs her that her mother was the queen of this particular world and that she herself is a princess.

In her mothers time, this universe consisted of the four realms of the title, each with a regent. But now one of the realms, the fourth, has apparently gone rogue. Its regent, Mother Ginger (Mirren), has been banished and has to depend on the services of a noticeably grotesque CG invention called the Mouse King, a looming moving figure constructed of some 60,000 mice. Really.

Though the Land of Flowers is especially beautiful (2 million individual CG blooms go a long way), the most influential regent is clearly the Sugar Plum Fairy, in charge of the Land of Sweets.

Star Keira Knightley has great fun with this role, adding unexpected elements of Mae West to its Snow White core. Sugar Plum also needs that key, and she encourages Clara to return to the fourth realm to get it.

That quest, as well as the film, turn out to be considerably more complicated than anyone anticipates, and there are moments when you wish it was less so. The visual allure of this production is undeniable, but having the nerve to be simple and nice all the way through is, even for Disney, verging on being a lost art.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

MPAA rating: PG for some mild peril.

Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes.

Playing: In general release.

kenneth.turan@latimes.com

@KennethTuran
It probably says something about the present moment that there have been two new movies in two consecutive weeks in which a woman waves a blade perilously close to a mans nether-regions. Then again, maybe it doesnt: The two movies, both set in the 1970s and steeped in unease, could otherwise hardly be more dissimilar.

The threat of a little snip-snip in the horror remake Suspiria, a story of feminist witchcraft, feels deliberately timed for the cultural reckonings of 2018. By contrast, the late emergence of Orson Welles The Other Side of the Wind  48 years after it began production and 33 years after the great filmmakers death  could hardly have been planned, and feels all the eerier for it. And while you could easily find a castration metaphor or two amid the glorious, astonishing wreckage of this long-awaited swan song, its sexual politics belong, as they must, to an earlier era.

The woman brandishing the scissors is the Croatian-born actress Oja Kodar, Welles co-writer and late-in-life romantic partner. Before she topples a giant phallic sculpture in one especially see-it-to-believe-it scene, she spends a lot of time wandering, tall and dark and uninhibitedly nude, under the desert sun. The cameras openly admiring gaze tells you that feminism isnt really on the agenda  and neither, for that matter, is witchcraft, unless the completion of The Other Side of the Wind itself is proof of some strange sorcery at work.

Welles shot the picture between 1970 and 1976, then spent his remaining years desperately trying to finish it. But after the directors death in 1985, the film remained mired for decades in various circles of legal, financial and geopolitical hell  until, finally, a successful rescue mission spearheaded by producers Frank Marshall (who worked on the original film) and Filip Jan Rymsza. The effort was bankrolled by Netflix, which is releasing the film alongside Morgan Nevilles Theyll Love Me When Im Dead, an invaluable decoder ring of a documentary about the movies torturous production history.

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To dispense with the obvious: Its odd to see a new motion picture from the director of Citizen Kane beamed into your living room via streaming queue. (While most will see the film via Netflix, it is also receiving a brief L.A. theatrical run at Laemmles NoHo 7.) Then again, it may also be a fitting outcome  an expression of faith that the titans of cinema might just survive, and in fact depend on, the mediums future players. That might have pleased Welles, a pioneering Hollywood classicist who conceived of this final opus as a rejoinder to, and an example of, the aesthetically cutting-edge visions of New Hollywood.

And a vision  a cracked, corrosive, savagely compromised vision  it unmistakably is. A mock documentary avant la lettre, The Other Side of the Wind has a jagged syntax that would have felt startling in the 70s and, decades later, has lost little of its restless found-footage vitality. The late cinematographer Gary Graver (who worked on Welles F for Fake) employs a jittery mix of color and black-and-white, 16-millimeter and 35-millimeter film stocks, and the veteran editor Bob Murawski has cut the results into a rapid-fire approximation of Welles late-career style.

The effect of all this rupturous technique  which could hardly seem more removed from the magisterial deep focus of Citizen Kane, The Magnificent Ambersons and Touch of Evil  is to heighten the already chaotic, disorienting mood at the house party where most of the action takes place. Its the 70th birthday of a cynical, reclusive, Hemingway-esque film director named Jake Hannaford (played by another titan, John Huston), who is deep into production on a picture that has recently stalled.

Hemingway, Hannaford, Huston: If the meta-parallels werent clear enough, the cash-strapped film-within-a-film is also titled The Other Side of the Wind, though this one appears to be a ludicrous parody of self-indulgent art cinema  specifically Michelangelo Antonionis Zabriskie Point  as it follows Kodar and a blankly handsome leading man, John Dale (Robert Random), across a vast, rugged and increasingly clothing-optional landscape.

Oja Kodar in Orson Welles The Other Side of the Wind. (Netflix)

We see long, fascinating stretches of that footage early on alongside Hannafords right-hand man, Billy Boyle (actor, director and Welles associate Norman Foster), and a skeptical producer (Geoffrey Land), clearly modeled on then-Paramount Pictures chief Robert Evans. Other sections of the movie are screened, and sidelined by a power outage or two, at Hannafords party, where he chomps a cigar and showers unending vitriol on various friends, associates and hangers-on.

Sharp-eyed viewers may spy the young faces of Dennis Hopper, Paul Mazursky and Henry Jaglom moving in and out of the shadows, and also of the Welles scholar Joseph McBride, playing a film historian who assails Hannaford with questions. Sharp-eared listeners will pick up on some acerbic one-liners amid the flow of gossip, some of them from Mercedes McCambridge as a walking bile dispenser and Susan Strasberg as a nosy film critic inspired by Pauline Kael, whose 1971 essay Raising Kane had made her a Welles adversary.

But the key supporting player is Hannafords closest confidant, an ascendant Hollywood director named Brooks Otterlake (played by Welles closest confidant, a then-ascendant Hollywood director named Peter Bogdanovich). Their bond, oiled by knowing banter and clouded by Oedipal and Shakespearean overtones, is the pictures most fascinatingly complicated. A close runner-up might be Hannafords mysterious relationship with the wayward Dale, which leads someone to theorize about the directors latent desires for his leading men, a fixation that he concealed, revealed and exorcised through the movie screen.

Whatever else it may be  a wrecked, towering monument to its own incompletion, a howl of rage at the industry that Welles helped build and forever define  The Other Side of the Wind increasingly comes to resemble a shattered cinematic hall of mirrors. Its the labyrinth from The Lady From Shanghai writ large, its broken surfaces reflecting and signifying the fraught circumstances of its making. What would Welles have made of this posthumous assemblage? Would he have minded its undeniable lapses into tedium? How much of it are we meant to read as thinly veiled auto-critique versus a wickedly funny jape?

Frankly, Im not sure Welles drew much of a distinction: Every time you sense him veering toward the confessional, you can hear his cackle booming loudly right behind it. But the reverse is true as well. There is one scene in The Other Side of the Wind  Hannafords version  that must be seen to be believed, in which Kodar mounts Dale in the back seat of a Mustang, having her way with him as rain lashes the outer windows.

Its an absurd, luridly overheated sequence, yet Welles, never exactly hailed as one of the cinemas great eroticists, shoots it with such crazy intensity and dynamism and wild bursts of color that it all but transcends its parodic function. It cuts to the heart of this extraordinary, cantankerous wreck of a movie, because it reminds us that even when faced with something he had every reason to despise  whether it was other movies, other people or the industry that spawned and broke him  Orson Welles couldnt help but turn contempt into art.

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The Other Side of the Wind

Rating: R, for sexual content, graphic nudity and some language

Running time: 2 hours, 2 minutes

Playing: Laemmles NoHo 7, North Hollywood, and streaming on Netflix

justin.chang@latimes.com | Twitter: @JustinCChang
A short drive through the leafy forest of Cumbernauld, a town just outside Glasgow, leads to a dusty lot where an 18th century version of Wilmington, N.C., has been built for the fourth season of Outlander. Wooden shop facades line streets that dead-end into the dirt and promise wares residents would have needed in Colonial times.

But if the narrative setting of the Starz series, based on Diana Gabaldons novels, is shifting to America, the show remains firmly rooted in Scotland. So rooted that Scotlands only film studio, Wardpark Studios, was built to accommodate the show. So instead of relocating its production from Cumbernauld, Outlander has recreated this Southern port town as it was a decade before the Revolutionary War.

Every year we seem to reinvent the show, and thats always a challenge, says producer Matthew B. Roberts, sitting in his office in Wardpark Studios, which has expanded since 2013 to four soundstages, multiple workshops and the new Wilmington backlot. The typical television show will be centered around a place, and then you flow story in and out of that place. But we dont usually have that. In the first few seasons, when you needed a location or you needed a castle, we just went outside. In the new season, they land in America. So that was the challenge for season four: America in Scotland. We cant go out and find that castle. We have to build everything.

Sam Heughan (Jamie Fraser), Caitriona Balfe (Claire Fraser) and Lauren Lyle (Marsali) in Outlander Season 4. (Aimee Spinks / Starz)

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The 13 new episodes, based largely on The Drums of Autumn, the fourth book in Gabaldons series, brings the newly reconnected Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire (Caitriona Balfe) Fraser, as well as Young Ian (John Bell), to North Carolina to make a life in the New World. There they encounter Jamies aunt Jocasta (Maria Doyle Kennedy), who presides over a vast plantation called River Run; Jamie and Claire eventually build their own homestead in Frasers Ridge.

For Heughan, the storyline felt like a chance to explore the roots of what makes America so special.

We get an opportunity to show America in its infancy, Heughan says. Its exciting to show that America is this land of immigrants and different cultures coming together and really sharing where they came from.

Prior to shooting season four, Heughan traveled to North Carolinas Blue Ridge Mountains and spent a week exploring the area to better understand Jamies journey. I was amazed at how similar it was to Scotland, he says. The landscape is much bigger, but it does have a wild, old feel to it. There were times when we were on set and youd look out and you could almost be looking at the Blue Ridge Mountains. Theyve got a history to them that feels very familiar.

Caitriona Balfe (Claire Fraser) on the set of an upcoming episode of Outlander. (Aimee Spinks / Starz)

For time-traveling Claire, who previously lived in 20th century Boston, history lies in the past and the future. Now, returning to America in 1767, she knows whats to come  the Revolutionary War and the rapid growth of slavery in the South.

She knows what shes walking into, in many ways, Balfe says. She has a lot of concerns about staying anywhere near River Run because seeing slavery firsthand, knowing that all of this is going on and the extent of it, is very hard for her. But she also thinks theres a possibility of a new opportunity. Its a safe place to settle before being forced to take a side in this impending war. Its strange, but its also beneficial for her sometimes. Trying to work around knowing what she knows and knowing whats coming in the future, but also using it to her advantage.

Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe goof around behind the scenes on the American set of Season 4 of Outlander. (Mark Mainz / Starz)

In order to create Colonial America, production designer Jon Gary Steele built separate interior and exterior sets for River Run and Frasers Ridge, a cabin where Claire and Jamie build their new home. The interiors were constructed, with great attention paid to details like custom chandeliers and ornate wallpapers, inside the soundstages; the exteriors were erected on location in the Scottish wilderness. These set pieces, along with the Wilmington backlot, will stay in place for the next two seasons, which also take place in America. The fake Wilmington will even be expanded for next season. Steeles goal is to keep things both truthful and in line with the overall aesthetic of the series.

We do tons of research to make it as historically accurate as possible, Steele says. Theres not much to show what Wilmington would have looked like during this period because the paintings would be more from [the years] later, but we went from plans drawn of the city and etchings, and we tried to make it as close as possible.

Still, the new setting had to fit in with the shows tonal palette as well, which meant taking a few liberties when it came to historical accuracy. For example, the walls in River Run dont necessarily match the time period. A lot of the plantations had very pale walls and pale colors. When we started doing samples, it didnt look like Outlander to me. It wasnt rich. So I switched it. I wanted to make River Run more in line with the colors of Outlander.

The exteriors were especially tricky since there needed to be a visual continuity between North Carolina and Scotland.

We cant use the quintessentially Scottish landscape, says Hugh Gourlay, who is the supervising location manager. But if you take a little bit longer to look and examine Scotland in comparison with aspects of North America, it fits very well. The woods, the rivers, the hillsides all work very well. It will be a fun thing for fans to find out what was filmed in Scotland and what was used as stock shots from North America. Theres plenty in Scotland that delivers very nicely for us.

You need to create a coherent world the audience can settle into and believe is the world of Jamie and Claire in North Carolina in the 1770s, adds Gourlay. Thats as important as the actual physical location were in.

Behind the scenes photo of Caitriona Balfe (Claire Fraser) and Sam Heughan (Jamie Fraser) from the upcoming fourth season of Outlander. (Aimee Spinks / Starz)

The actors especially enjoyed spending time on the new sets, which helped fully situate them in the feeling of Colonial America.

Were used to working on sets that are very old  old castles that have a heritage and history, Heughan says. Were suddenly on these new sets, and you get the feeling because thats literally what America was. People just going and building things.

That Wilmington backlot reminds me of watching some behind-the-scenes thing in Hollywood, Balfe adds. As an actor. being on that is very cool because you really feel like Wow, this is TV. I still get that feeling every time I walk onto those kind of sets. They create these little worlds.

Since production on the show began in 2013, Wardpark Studios has grown immensely  and will continue to grow as work on season five begins in early 2019. What was initially an unused warehouse is now a fully integrated studio that employs more than 200-250 people during filming. Wardpark is, in fact, the only film studio in Scotland, a fact that has prompted a recent push for the creation of at least one more. It is just one example of what is known as the Outlander Effect. Almost immediately after the show debuted, fans began flocking to the Highlands in search of the shows castles and standing stones; a cottage industry of location tours continues to thrive.

Throughout our story, Scotland really is one of the characters, and we never really leave her, Roberts confirms. There are things the fans and the audience will see.

I was always slightly confused by Americans coming to Scotland and trying to reconnect with their Scottish culture, adds Heughan. Now I realize Of course they are. Were only a couple of generations removed from the people who actually went [to America]. Ive come to realize that were distant cousins really. In our show, theres a celebration of that. Scotland is definitely still a really strong part of the show.

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A Star Is Born is in. First Man could be in. BlacKkKlansman and Black Panther should be in.

Its early November and, in the next few weeks, the final group of aspiring Oscar contenders will arrive in theaters. Judging by recent history, thats prime contention time. Last year, seven of the nine best picture nominees launched their domestic theatrical runs in November or December.

Some of the following pictures have already earned plaudits and prizes at fall film festivals. Others havent been widely seen at all.

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Whos up? Whos down? Heres the rundown of whats still to come, with the movies ranked based on their likelihood of securing a best picture nomination.

Green Book (Nov. 16)

Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali in Green Book. (Patti Perret / Universal Pictures)

The story: Gregarious, resourceful hustler (Viggo Mortensen) is hired to drive a black classical pianist (Mahershala Ali) for a concert tour of the Deep South in 1962. An unlikely friendship develops.

Working for it: Green Book unexpectedly eclipsed higher-profile movies to win the Toronto Film Festivals Peoples Choice Award, and early motion picture academy screenings have generated similar enthusiasm. It has all the makings of a commercial powerhouse when it arrives in theaters for Thanksgiving. No amount of tryptophan will keep your in-laws from crying when the credits roll.

Working against it: Some critics  and there will be outspoken ones  will find the films treatment of race simplistic. Being compared to Driving Miss Daisy isnt as bad as likening your movie to Crash  but its close.

The Favourite (Nov. 23)

Emma Stone plots some palace intrigue in The Favourite. (Yorgos Lanthimos / 20th Century Fox)

The story: A lady (Rachel Weisz) and a servant (Emma Stone) jockey for the favor of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) in early 18th century England.

Working for it: Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Dogtooth), The Favourite subverts the historical costume drama at every step, brandishing a stinging wit and joyful decadence. Backstabbing has never been more fun to watch.

Working against it: Its Lanthimos most accessible film, but that doesnt mean everyone will be into his idiosyncratic flourishes. Anyone who found Downton Abbey to be occasionally a bit on the naughty side will be poleaxed by this.

Roma (Nov. 21)

Yalitza Aparicio, left, Marco Graf and Daniela Demesa in Roma. (Alfonso Cuaron / Netflix)

The story: A quiet young woman (Yalitza Aparicio) becomes pregnant while caring for a wealthy family in a changing Mexico City during the early 1970s.

Working for it: Alfonso Cuarons (Gravity, Children of Men) achingly beautiful tribute to the women who cared for him in his youth floored festival audiences in Venice, Telluride, Toronto and London. Once they begin handing out prizes, look for critics groups to coalesce around Cuarons movie. They might even create new awards just to find more ways to celebrate it.

FULL COVERAGE: 2018 Holiday movie preview 

 Nancy Garcia, Marina de Tavira and Yalitza Aparicio discuss working with Alfonso Cuaron on Netflixs Roma, which won the top prize at the 2018 Venice Film Festival and is generating major awards season buzz.

Working against it: Its a foreign language (Spanish and Mixtec) movie shot (by Cuaron) in (shimmering!) black and white and released by Netflix. And because its Netflix, we have no idea how many people will be watching it in a theater (absolutely essential for this film) as opposed to viewing Romas opening four-minute shot of soapy mop water undulating across a stone driveway on their laptops and then switching over to Queer Eye.

If Beale Street Could Talk (Nov. 30 in New York, Dec. 7 in L.A.)

KiKi Layne and Stephan James in If Beale Street Could Talk. (Tatum Mangus / Annapurna Pictures)

The story: Childhood friends Tish (KiKi Layne) and Fonny (Stephan James) become lovers, but their bond is tested when Fonny is falsely accused of rape.

Working for it: Barry Jenkins follow-up to the Oscar-winning best picture Moonlight earned raves at its Toronto premiere for its sensitive and potent adaptation of James Baldwins novel (and was the runner-up, along with Roma, to Green Book for Torontos Peoples Choice prize). In its depiction of black love  between a man and a woman, between friends, between family, between community members  Beale Street feels as necessary as its predecessor.

Working against it: Following Moonlight, expectations could burden this movie, which gorgeously unfolds in a nonlinear approach that could prove off-putting to older academy members averse to flashbacks of the nonacid variety.

Widows (Nov. 16)

Michelle Rodriguez, left, Viola Davis and Elizabeth Debicki star in Widows. (20th Century Fox)

The story: A group of women, led by Viola Davis, carry out a robbery that their husbands planned but never completed. (The films title betrays the reason why.)

Working for it: Steve McQueens first film since 12 Years a Slave is easily his most commercial effort. But its no mere heist movie. Widows takes on toxic men, a broken political system, the widening chasm between the privileged and the poor and a world in which anything  and anyone  can be bought and sold. All these elements are baked into a crowd-pleasing thriller that has been producing gasps and cheers at academy and guild screenings in recent weeks.

 Widows stars Michelle Rodriguez, Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki and Cynthia Erivo discuss how the Steve McQueen-directed heist thriller allowed them to defy Hollywoods expectations of female actors: Sometimes you get a role that helps you to sla

Working against it: Could disappoint those itching for a pure heist movie. And its genre trappings could dissuade some from voting for it.

Vice (Dec. 25)

Christian Bale plays Dick Cheney in Vice. (Annapurna Pictures)

Virtually every film coming out this holiday season 

The story: Dick Cheney becomes the most powerful vice president in U.S. history, promising to handle the more mundane jobs of George W. Bushs presidency  i.e., overseeing bureaucracy, military, energy and foreign policy.

Working for it: Writer-director Adam McKay won an Oscar two years ago for The Big Short, his scathing, freewheeling indictment of Wall Street and regulatory irresponsibility. The idea of McKay training his moral outrage toward Cheney and Bush will have many in Hollywood sharpening their pitchforks with glee.

Working against it: For some, a tax audit notice would be preferable to a movie centered on politics, much less Cheney. Also: Its late arrival  the movie wont begin screening until mid-November  will have it scrambling for traction with voters. In other words, itd better deliver.

Mary Queen of Scots (Dec. 7)

Saoirse Ronan headlines Mary Queen of Scots. (Liam Daniel / Focus Features)

The story: Mary Stuart, queen of Scotland, and her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, vie for the English throne.

Working for it: Two Oscar-nominated actresses  Saoirse Ronan in the title role and Margot Robbie playing Elizabeth  plus a nuanced exploration of what it means to be a woman in power.

Working against it: Its more conventional than The Favourite and may suffer by comparison when critics groups gravitate toward Lanthimos film.

On the Basis of Sex (Dec. 25)

Felicity Jones as Ruth Bader Ginsburg in On the Basis of Sex. (Jonathan Wenk / Focus Features)

The story: Biopic of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (played by Felicity Jones) centers on a landmark case focused on gender discrimination.

Working for it: The commercial success of the extraordinary Ginsburg documentary RBG shows theres an appetite for this kind of film.

Working against it: RBG might have satisfied that appetite, making this movie redundant.

The Mule (Dec. 14)

The story: True tale of an elderly man (Clint Eastwood) who becomes a prolific drug courier for a Mexican cartel.

Working for it: The needles-and-pins trailer for this Eastwood-directed thriller, co-starring Bradley Cooper, looks fantastic. (The film hasnt screened for press yet.) The last time Eastwood and Cooper teamed was American Sniper, and that turned out pretty well for all involved.

Working against it: Warner Bros. reps continue to soft-pedal the movies Oscar chances, saying simply: Its a good Clint movie. Translation: Its Gran Torino, not Million Dollar Baby.

Related:

TIFF 2018: From the breakout films to star-studded interviews, full coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival

Toronto International Film Festival puts awards season in focus

glenn.whipp@latimes.com

Twitter: @glennwhipp
Two classic horror films, Rosemarys Baby and The Exorcist, have been the go-to reference guide to describe the tonal feel of Netflixs Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. But when it comes to the look of the series, its fair to say Suspiria  Dario Argentos 1977 brightly hued horror film, not this years remake starring Dakota Johnson  cast quite a spell.

Creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who sparked an Archie-Comics-reconsidered frenzy with his CW noir teen drama Riverdale, collaborated with production designer Lisa Soper, who supervises the design of the sets, to build their version of Sabrina Spellmans (Kiernan Shipka) town of Greendale. Here, as the titular character informs the audience in the first moments of the series, it always feels like Halloween.

He told me to think about classic horror and mentioned Suspiria,  Soper says while wandering the sets on the shows sound stages. I really latched on to that because Ive worked on a lot of horror features over the years, and when people use that as a reference point and you show them the actual colors Argento used, they get scared and end up dialing it right back to a super, super dark palette. It ends up becoming a stereotypical look.

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With Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a coming-of-age teen drama that revolves around the push-and-pull of a young mortal witch caught between two worlds, Soper wanted to cling to the classics color.

Its always fall in Greendale, says Soper. But I didnt want this world where fall is just browns and grays and blues and the dark of night. It was about grabbing on to the reds and yellows and the golds and the last little bit of green  that green thats like a really strong emerald because its wet and hanging on to dear life.

World-buidling has become a hallmark of modern television as viewers, now able to playback on a DVR or stream a show at any time, can study the visual elements more easily. Its the details that can play a big role in helping or hurting the believability of the storytelling.

She just knew the world, is how Aguirre-Sacasa describes what Soper delivered. She knew the mythology, and we had the same touchstone. I cant quite imagine what the show would have been without her.

Wanting flexibility, and control over the environment, Soper and her team did things like place set pieces on wheels and fashion tight nooks for cameras on the dozens of sets built on a nearby soundstage at Martini Film Studios. The flooring, countertops and wallpaper (some designs created, others purchased and downloaded) of all the sets are printed in-house, working with the furniture to create a retro aesthetic for the shows present-day setting.

The set is incredible, Shipka says before starting a day of shooting on the already-commissioned second season. Theres all these nooks and crannies, and everything is so detailed  you dont even realize it. It helps tremendously to walk into a set where it just feels real and home and grand and wonderful. I was a big Harry Potter fan, so I feel like Im in my own magical world. You take it for granted when youre there every single day, but its insane.

Soper shared some insight into the world of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

An exterior shot of the Spellman house featured in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. (Diyah Pera / Netflix)

The Spellman House

For a family of witches  even one with a part-mortal member  a house is not a home without a little Gothic touch. House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne served as the inspiration for the mood of the Spellman house, while the actual House of Seven Gables standing in Salem, Mass., influenced the look of it.

The home is where you can start getting into the characters quirks, Soper said.

As viewers venture inside, the house is built in a spiral pattern, Soper said, to evoke the buildup and suspense of horror.

The office leads to living room that leads to the botanical room that leads to the kitchen that leads to the next room,  she said.

With its divided flights, the Imperial staircase is meant to mirror the two paths for Sabrina  into the mortal world and the witch world. When shes coming down the left side, its meant to imply shes in a witchy mood; down the right side, shes in a mortal state of mind.

The house in the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is intended to evoke a sense of tension and fear. (Diyah Pera / Netflix)

Soper pored over details that might get overlooked by most viewers. The windows at the main entrance, for example, feature symbols for a death spell and a resurrection spell. The wallpaper in the foyer, a design with trees of different shades of green and deer nibbling on grass, was a device to bring the outside in.

We wanted the outside world of the woods, where the witches are, to come in, Soper said. So you still feel like youre in that environment without literally putting trees inside the home. That mother nature-feel carries into the kitchen, with hues of green and elements of wood.

And every door handle in the home is at a different height throughout the house: Its a witches house, Soper says. Everything is just slightly strange.

Inside Sabrinas bedroom from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. (Diyah Pera / Netflix)

Sabrinas bedroom

A bedroom, for most teenagers, is a sacred haven for angst. For Sabrina, its a patchwork of her personhood. Photos of David Bowie, the Monkees, and the Beatles line the walls. Tarot cards take up space on her vanity mirror, just above a retro Archie Comics thermos (that Soper found on EBay) taking up space on the tabletop. And a collage of Polaroid photos  each a portrait of trees from various angles  takes the shape of a growing tree on one of her walls.

Its a lot more youthful, has a lot more life, than the rest of the house, Soper says. It has less of the old, stringent witchy side to it. Everything else in the home has a centuries-old feel to it. Here, things are much more eclectic. The story here is someone ready to carve her own path.

A look inside Baxter High from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Diyah Pera / Netflix)

Baxter High

Even a teenage mortal witch has to go to school. The town of Greendale has been affected by negative forces; the trick was to show that there is still life to it. That all comes into play with the look of Baxter High, the school Sabrina attends in the mortal world.

Its old and drab, but theres still so much life to it, Soper says. The colors of the school are drab and dreary but get punched up with decorations for the various themes or holidays the school is celebrating. On this day, with production on the shows second season underway, pinks and reds pop in the school hallway for Valentines Day.

The exterior shots were filmed at Lord Strathcona Elementary School in Vancouver. The large framed photo that hangs over the trophy case on the school set is a shot of that school, taken by Soper on her phone.

The essence of the series is that Sabrina is caught between two worlds: the mortal world of her mother, and the witch world of her father. That duality plays out on campus  anything done in the witch world, they try to do a mortal version of it too.

For me, with the school, it was about trying to give it history but also have this visual interest to it, Soper says. I didnt want to make it look like being mortal sucks. We wanted to show the benefits of both sides.

Tati Gabrielle, left, Abigail Cowen, Adeline Rudolph in a scene from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. (Diyah Pera / Netflix)

Academy of Unseen Arts

The school in the magical world also had to feel like a place of learning without giving off Baxter High vibes. The interior of the school is designed to be a series of identically shaped rooms  taking inspiration from pentagrams, a five-pointed star made from one continuous line, and fractals, a ceaseless pattern. With a change of artwork, lighting or paneling, a room can transform into a sewing room, library, cafeteria, classroom, dormitory, and music room  all with the illusion that its one part of the larger space.

I wanted the rooms to be interconnected, Soper says. We have this unlimited rich changeover that we can do.

Even the floor  a geometrical pattern  looks like a Magic Eye optical illusion.

When the camera is panning down from above, I wanted it to look like youre falling into the floor, she says.

Instead of framed photos of a memorable homecoming game or a school dance, the walls here are lined with horror images. Clive Barker, a luminary of the horror genre with works including Hellraiser and Candyman, provided more than 100 original painting to line the walls of the academy.

He has floors and floors of his house just filled with his incredible artwork, Soper says. He said, Take what you want. Theyve really made the space come to life.

An exterior photo of Cerberus Books and Spirits from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. (Diyah Pera / Netflix)

Cerberus Books and Spirits

A teen drama isnt a teen drama without a hangout spot. But for Sabrina and her mortal friends , the spot needed to have a little bit more character, Soper says. She and Aguirre-Sacasa checked out an old store front from the 1920s in Cloverdale, Surrey, British Columbia, and the ideas came. They talked about the days when weathermen used to appear on late night television on Fridays or Saturdays, dressed as a vampire or werewolf before introducing an airing of a scary show or movie.

So we thought, What if one of those weatherman retired and couldnt let it go and opened a comic shop/cafe, Soper recalls.

With the help of the art department, the hangout spot took shape. The eccentric space includes a werewolf that sits in one of the diner booths (We change his position every once in a while) and mannequins dressed in costumes (Everyday is Halloween in there). The comics on display include old Archie horror comics and comics drawn by Soper and her husband.

Soper says its become a place with most of the color in the mortal world of Greendale: Whereas the school, the individual characters houses are a little bit less saturated, here there are massive amounts of neon and crazy colors.

And, hey, its an easy commute for Soper. She hadnt yet found housing when she was scouting the location before production started on the show. She noticed a vacant apartment upstairs from the storefront, and its now her home base.

I was like, Well, this will save me some time, Soper says. Ill be back at work when I go home at night, and Ill be at work when I wake up in the morning.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Where: Netflix

When: Any time

Rating: TV-14 (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 14)

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina2018 TV-14 1 Part

yvonne.villarreal@latimes.com

Twitter: @villarrealy
Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Tran Chau said the provincial authorities issued 13 documents, while the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued 16 documents, taking urgent measures to address the warning.

The provincial Peoples Committee held six meetings with departments and localities to deal with the issue, he said, expressing his hope that EC will lift its yellow card warning on Vietnamese seafood on January 1, 2019.

Phan Trong Ho, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the province withdrew seafood exploitation licences, as well as removed registrations of fishing vessels found to have commit violations and announced them on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developments online portal and local radio stations.

The provincial authorities also reviewed the responsibility of leaders of the communal Hoai Nhon and Phu Cat district Peoples Committees for violations. Binh Dinh has improved its management and inspection capacity to fight IUU at seaports, as well as completed a project on the establishment of a local Fisheries Surveillance Agency, which is scheduled to be put into operation later this year, he said.

Gabriel, for his part, said that nearly half local fishing vessels go fishing offshore, adding that in order to fight IUU fishing effectively, strong commitments from the fishing community and management agencies are needed.

European parliamentarians lauded Vietnams progress in legal reform to respond to the warning.

The same day, the delegation paid working trips to Quy Nhon seaport, Binh Dinh fishery JSC, and Binh Dinh Tuna Association.
In the style world, there are few things more iconic than an Hermes silk scarf. At once bold and simple as well as sophisticated and casual, its a staple of fashion that defies trends  and sets them.

The first Hermes scarf was created in 1937, paying homage to the inauguration of the Paris bus line from Madeleine to Bastille. (Today there are more than 1,500 unique designs.) More than 80 years later, the Parisian house is staging a celebration of its iconic square scarf  the carre  with a Carre Club event. Think of it as a grandiose, interactive installation. It launches in Los Angeles with a VIP party Wednesday before opening to the public Nov. 8-11.

For the record: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the daily opening time of Carre Club. It is at noon Nov. 8-11, not 11 a.m.

The Carre Club premiered in New York before traveling to Toronto and Singapore and making its way to Southern California.

A look at an Hermes Carre Club exclusive silk bandanna. (Zach Hilty / BFA.com)

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Its been a long tradition to celebrate the Hermes scarf, as it is the fantasy, happy and fun side of Hermes  its a lively ambassador to the brand, said Bali Barret, artistic director of Womens Universe at Hermes. Hermes Carre Club started with the idea of gathering Hermes scarf lovers and fans to experience a unique moment in the heart and soul of our creative studio. A club seemed the perfect way to bring a community together to discover, meet and play with our artists and illustrators.

The design of one can take several months to a year, requiring a dialogue between illustrators and artists that is followed by craftspeople in Lyon, France, engraving the silk before printing and coloring completes the creation.

An Hermes scarf starts with an idea, a story, a collection, an object, a trip, a discovery, a talent, a hand, an eye, and then it comes to life in different steps, Barret said.

Color swatches at the Hermes Carre studio. (Zach Hilty / BFA.com)

Its a long and precise process that takes around two years to deliver a new scarf, but what a beauty when it finally comes to life, she added. The Hermes carre is not only an accessory; it is the result of a magic chain of creation, imagination, talent and savoir-faire.

The Carre Club will take over a Melrose Avenue space, transforming it into an all-encompassing, multi-room Hermes experience exploring every element of the brands classic silks.

The journey will begin with Hermes Click and Check, where guests check in, receive a membership card and have a portrait taken. Then its on to the Carre Studio, where the artistic process is brought to life by an on-site atelier featuring artists and designers drawing Hermes scarves in real time.

The Carre Cafe serves coffee and candy, and at Carre Stories, the lore of the square scarf is celebrated using recorded messages that spill secrets, anecdotes and tales relating to the storied carre.

Interior of the Hermes Carre studio. (Zach Hilty / BFA.com)

In the silk-paneled walls of Carre-OK (a play on karaoke), guests will be able to try out their performance skills by singing their favorite tunes. And last, at the pop-up boutique Carremania, limited-edition scarves, including a $195 bandanna exclusive to the L.A. event, will be available for purchase. (Prices for scarves at the event will range from $195 to $595.)

The message of the club is to convey a sense of inclusivity, fun and freedom across generations and cultures, Barret said. We want to show the vibrant heart of the Hermes carre, inviting our members to watch as our designers sketch, and to listen to and share their own carre stories.

Hermes Carre Club, 8175 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, noon to 8 p.m. Nov. 8-11, free admission, hermes.com

Scarves on display at the Hermes Carre studio. (Zach Hilty / BFA.com)

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At just 36 years old, Jason Wu has accomplished more in his career than most fashion designers can hope to achieve in a lifetime.

By the time he was 18, the Taiwanese-born, New York-based fashion prodigy was the creative director of a line of designer dolls. In 2006, he launched his namesake line, and, in 2009, he rose to prominence as the visionary behind former First Lady Michelle Obamas inaugural ball gown (he also designed her second inauguration look in 2013).

Countless more fans  Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, Julianne Moore, Diane Kruger, to name a few  and a fragrance launch later, Wu has now added the title of student mentor to his resume as part of a collaboration with Los Angeles Otis College of Art and Design and Santa Monica residents Mary and David Martins Madworkshop Foundation.

David C. Martin, from left, and his wife, Mary Klaus Martin, co-founders of the Madworkshop Foundation; designer Jason Wu; and Sharon Takeda, senior curator and head of the costume and textiles department at LACMA and a Madworkshop board member. (Buddy Bleckley / Madworkshop)

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During a conversation with Los Angeles County Museum of Arts Sharon Takeda at the museums Bing Theater on Oct. 26, Wu opened up on everything from his Otis master class focused on history and symbolism of womens uniforms to his design process, career trajectory and his secret pre-runway-presentation superstition.

The aforementioned class kicked into full swing in September, when Takeda, LACMAs senior curator and head of the department of costumes and textiles, opened up her archives to Wu and his 15 students for their first session.

We have to know our past before we create our future. Jason Wu, fashion designer

We have to know our past before we create our future, explained Wu, dressed in his signature head-to-toe black uniform. Together with his students, he examined 27 pieces from museums permanent collection, including designs by Junya Watanabe for Commes Des Garcons, Martin Margiela for Maison Margiela and the Hollywood costume designer known as Adrian.

Because of the digital age, it doesnt seem natural to go to the library to get the book or go to the costume institute and see the archive, or go to the exhibit and study the construction, said Wu, who has been flying to Los Angeles from New York on a monthly basis to teach and do sketch reviews (the class will culminate in a runway show next May). I wanted to take it back to where I started.

Designer Jason Wu mentors students at Otis College of Art and Design in collaboration with the Madworkshop Foundation. (Buddy Bleckley / Madworkshop)

Taking the easy way has never been Wus modus operandi, which was apparent throughout the evening. On the topic of his design process, the Parsons-educated Wu delved into everything from his incessant doodling (Its impossible for me to articulate my ideas until I draw them, he said) to his constant obsession with fabrics (Im always developing fabrics, even before I think about developing a collection). In addition to his longtime fascination with flowers, he also shared his love of feathers and his habit of sewing a feather into one garment in his shows for good luck. Because Im Chinese, Im superstitious. I made up my own superstitions, said Wu with a laugh. He also spoke of his formative years growing up in Taiwan, and credited his family for nurturing his talent and supporting his dreams early on.

Teaching at Otis isnt the only thing keeping Wu busy as of late. In September, the designer unveiled a new logo and rebranded his main line to Jason Wu Collection, and the secondary line, formerly known as Jason Wu Grey, to Jason Wu. Theres also another fragrance on the horizon, not to mention a plus-size collaboration with Eloquii, set to debut this month.

Jason Wu at his fashion presentation during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 7, 2018, in New York. (Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images)

In the audience were longtime fans and collaborators of the designer, including Jaime King and Camilla Belle, the latter of whom accompanied Wu to the Met Gala in 2010. Indeed, women in the public sphere have always been attracted to Wus work. Its a phenomenon he chalks up in part to his ability to blend sophisticated elegance with modernity, he said in an interview prior to the event.

I always say, Its great to dress people, but the best thing is to have the repeat business, the repeat client come, he told Takeda. It means youve done your job. Youve made her feel beautiful, confident and herself.

During a conversation, Jason Wu, left, and Sharon Takeda chat about Wus fashion beginnings and more. (Buddy Bleckley / Madworkshop)

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Shes been a mainstay on television and in fashion for more than a decade, and now Nicole Richie is taking on shoppable video. The hard-to-crack concept might finally be ready to take off with the trifecta of technology, distribution and celebrity style influencer coming together in a perfect storm.

NowWith, a new branded content network that produces Style Now With featuring Richie, has found a home on Yahoo Lifestyle, which is part of mobile giant Verizons content arm. Together with AOL, Ryot, Tumblr and HuffPost, the network of sites, known as Oath, garners more than a billion eyeballs.

The NowWith network is the brainchild of celebrity branding expert Nicole Winnaman, who founded the company Working Sundays with celebrity wrangler Ashlee Margolis of The A List and manufacturer Twila True of True Family Enterprises.

In time, NowWith will roll out not just style, but also cooking, travel, design and pet pillars, which will live on Oaths various digital platforms.

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Richie, who has built a following for her humorous style, first on Foxs reality series The Simple Life with Paris Hilton, then as a judge on NBCs designer competition Fashion Star, and on VH1s Candidly Nicole, is among the few entertainers who have successfully created a fashion brand. House of Harlow, capturing the boho style she helped popularize in the early Aughts, comprises a contemporary apparel line now sold exclusively on Revolve, as well as costume jewelry with distribution in stores nationwide.

Jewelry by Wylde Honey, Nicole Richies new line for the Now With network. (WWD)

Wylde Honey, named for her childhood nickname Honey Child and her personal hobby of beekeeping and honey-making, represents her foray into the direct-to-consumer masstige market with its loungewear, jewelry, accessories and beauty categories.

When I sat with [Winnaman and True], this idea of storytelling was so modern and fresh so it was important for me creatively to start something new and fresh with them, Richie said of the decision to found a new brand. And really go into this idea with something that people havent seen or experienced before. Im also capturing a different audience and speaking to a different customer. That, combined with doing these videos to introduce the product.

The idea of videos appealed to Richie because I needed a new way of speaking directly to my customer and this is something that is even more different than selling on Revolve. Its a combination of my two worlds, fashion and television.

The six three- to five-minute videos in the series, the first of which will debut on Nov. 15 on Yahoo Lifestyle, will be humorous and layered, and entirely shoppable. Viewers can hover over an item that Richie is wearing or talking about, and place it in a shopping cart that will appear to the right of the screen without interrupting the video or having to go to another site to purchase.

Its also about feeling like you want to be a part of it and being able to touch the video and get the product right there. Its very cool, extremely authentic to who I am, Richie said.

The quick timeline  60 days from concept to samples to shooting the videos on Monday and Tuesday  was made possible by True, who has been manufacturing product for 30 years and is the licensing partner for Wylde Honey.

We have a library of designs but what was so exciting for us is that Nicole is a curator of product. Her being able to bring the soul and spirit and style to our engine, is just unbelievable. It was important to her that she has these two definitive lanes where House of Harlow exists and where this other opportunity exists where her price point is bringing value to the consumer, True said.

Scarves by Wylde Honey, Nicole Richies new line for the Now With network. (WWD)

The focus on holiday gifting meant that the launch collection of 40 stockkeeping units, all priced under $100, included Richies essentials such as silk pillowcases, eye masks, robes, pajamas, scarves, headbands, face creams, essential oils and gold costume jewelry.

This is a way to speak to my customer and through these videos, almost create my own store, so it really does feel like me instead of giving something to another retailer and letting it hang in their space, Richie said. Im creating the backdrop, the music, the lighting, the tone. I see clothes on the runway, but not every woman has that for when they are buying a piece of clothing or jewelry so this is our way to give them a real story so they can value where they are spending their money also and see it in the designers vision.

On Yahoo Lifestyle, you are able to immediately enter that story and then that video comes alive and its shoppable. We are changing the footprint of retail. It really is HSN meets Cribs, Winnaman said.

According to Abra Potkin, vice president of talent and strategy at Oath, One of the things that was exciting for us at Verizon is the big push for 5G. What is the future going to look like? We are so excited about NowWith because is the future of retail. You see that with social media growing every day. We see e-commerce rising every day. On QVC and others, it tends to lean toward more of a my moms shopping experience and this is a modern and always changing and curated by different talent  and its seamless.

She continued, What Kylie Jenner showed with her lip kits is that when someone you like shares something, people move on that. But how I feel this takes that further is that Nicole is sharing a humorous experience. There are hidden messages in each video so you are along for the ride, but you also get to be in her closet shopping the things she adores that shes created.

Potkin said Verizon is working with Working Sundays to create a whole marketplace on its network, including a celebrity series on eBay. Winnaman said they will soon also debut a Pets NowWith series with another celebrity.

Richie also teased this: I know theres one question that all of our readers are dying to know and thats am I going to rap? And the answer is yes. My alter ego Nikki Fre$h will be appearing in these videos and I will be rapping an original song, so youre welcome.
The California bullet train appears to have fended off a civil suit attempting to stop the project, inching the high-speed rail line toward what could be another in a series of legal victories.

A case brought by opponents seeking to stanch the flow of bond dollars to the project was dealt a blow in a tentative ruling Thursday by Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Richard K. Sueyoshi, though arguments Friday put off a final ruling.

A final decision could take three months.

The case, brought by almond farmer John Tos, Kings County and other groups, asserts that legislation that clarified the 2008 $9-billion high-speed rail bond was an unconstitutional modification of a voter-approved act.

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Though only 12% of the projects cost estimate, the bond provides the bulk of the money for current Central Valley construction. Without the bond funds, the future of the rail system would be uncertain at best.

The case involves the attempt of Assembly Bill 1889 to clarify the meaning of the 2008 bond measures requirement that any expenditures fund projects that would be suitable and ready for high-speed trains.

The plaintiffs argued that the Legislature violated legal precedent that the state Constitution requires voters to approve any change in the use of bond dollars. But the state argued that the legislation only clarified the bond measures language and did not change the project.

In his tentative ruling, Sueyoshi agreed that the projects goal of building a statewide bullet train system had not changed. The tentative decision also closely examined what the bond measure meant by ready, saying it was understood the bullet train would be built incrementally.

But Stuart Flashman, attorney for the plaintiffs, argued that the completed construction in many areas of the state would not be ready for high-speed passenger operations by any conventional definition of the word.

Flashman said the judges decision not to affirm the tentative ruling essentially voids it until he issues a new decision or finalizes the tentative decision.

The judge indicated his leanings in the tentative ruling, said rail authority spokeswoman Lisa Marie Alley. In the meantime, the California High-Speed Rail Authority continues to advance work on the statewide system.

In several prior rulings, state courts have rejected suits that would have crippled the project, imposed injunctions or sent the bond measure back to voters.

ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com

Twitter: @rvartabedian
Her memories of Abuelito Felix began to fade soon after he died.

Still, Sofia Burt, 8, remembers dancing in his arms and hearing him call out to her, Hey, my little sunflower.

This week, the third-grader carried her grandfathers photograph inside her pink backpack to a Day of the Dead celebration in East Los Angeles. More than 200 children from 10 Catholic schools gathered at Calvary Cemetery to honor their family and culture by building altars for loved ones who have died.

These are people who loved us a lot, said Sofia, who goes to St. Anthony School in San Gabriel. We met some and some we never knew.

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Notions of death and the afterlife often are scary to children. But Sofia and the others at Calvary had plenty to say about their departed relatives and all the stories they left behind. Over the years, the third-graders have lost great grandparents, grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts.

My Tio Bob was really into the Cowboys and he always wore a rosary around his neck, said Ava Perez, 8, of Assumption School in Boyle Heights.

My Tia Esther had us come over with a big chocolate cake every year on her birthday, said Jeanette Sepulveda, 8, of Our Lady of Miraculous Medal School in Montebello.

My Tio George used to put on burgundy bow ties and loved going to parties, said Alana Martinez of School of Santa Isabel in Boyle Heights.

Tio George was 28 when he died in a car accident just last month.

Alanas mother, Stephanie Moran, went to the cemetery to spend the day with her daughters class. As she stood there in the cool morning air, she said she felt a sense of peace.

Were here to celebrate my brothers life, Moran said. We know hes smiling down on us right now.

Lylah Romero, 8, brought two lists of everyone shes bid farewell to over the years. One was family. The other, her beloved pets.

Ive lost a bunch of birds, a fish, a parrot, a dog and two turtles, she said.

She doesnt remember the name of one turtle. The other was called Violet. They died after she left on vacation and forgot to leave them food.

I was very disappointed in myself, Lylah said as she painted a picture frame to decorate her altar. Her class had brought candles, fresh pan dulce and apples and pears to pay tribute to their dead.

The Dia de los Muertos event, now in its fifth year, is a festive celebration of lives organized by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

This is a demonstration of our strong sense of love, said Florencia Teran, a teacher from Our Lady of Guadalupe School in East L.A. Were bringing back our culture, our tradition.

Teran taught students about the holiday, about pausing to remember lost loved ones and helping them on their spiritual journey with ofrendas, or altars of offerings.

Friar Chris Bazyouros, director of the Office of Religious Education of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, blesses students and the altar they made at Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

She showed them a colorful altar in the cemeterys mausoleum, built for a dapper, mustached man whose photograph stood front and center. Family had surrounded it with fragrant marigolds and things he once enjoyed: rice, tamales, cactuses, Coca-Cola.

This year, a lot more children understood the traditions. They had, after all, seen the movie Coco, about a young boys love of music and the family he meets in his journey into the afterlife.

Teachers and parents said the film had encouraged kids to talk about death. Many saw their own relatives reflected in the close-knit characters.

Vasgian Gutierrez, 8, of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal School in Montebello, said he was reminded of his grandfather Remberto who loved to sing rancheras.

He used to ride a horse named Scotch and always gave me popsicles, Gutierrez said proudly.

Celebrating Day of the Dead at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

He was in a large group on the cemetery lawn painting sugar skulls and skeleton masks when the Coco hit Un Poco Loco began playing over the speakers. Instantly, the children joined in like a well-rehearsed chorus.

Moments later, they moved into the mausoleum to build their ofrendas.

As teachers lined altars with tablecloths and the colorful Mexican tissue-paper flags called papel picado, the children took out their family photos. Some featured black-and-white faces from long ago, others young relatives lost recently, too soon.

Kailey Estrada of Sacred Heart Elementary in Lincoln Heights held a wrinkled image of an ultrasound from last year in her hand.

This was my moms baby in her belly, she said. Its heart stopped one day.

In a house full of brothers, Kailey had hoped she would at last have a sister. She cried for days after her father told her the bad news.

On Tuesday, the 9-year-old carefully placed the photo in a frame shed decorated with a sticker of a fuzzy yellow chick.

Im a little sad right now, she said. But I also feel like this is going to make the baby very happy.

esmeralda.bermudez@latimes.com

@LATBermudez
A former San Diego County sheriffs deputy was sentenced Wednesday to a year behind bars for groping a 14-year-old girl in a Vista restaurant, then later accessing investigative files and downloading the girls photo and personal information.

Timothy Wilson, who was a 10-year-veteran of the department and worked at the Vista jail, pleaded guilty in October to touching the teen. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully taking computer data.

According to authorities, Wilson accessed the investigative file approximately 44 times.

San Diego County Superior Court Judge Daniel Goldstein also ordered Wilson, 33, to serve five years on probation. Additionally, the former deputy is required to register as a sex offender for life.

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During the sentencing hearing, the judge chastised Wilson for repeatedly accessing the investigative file in the case. Doing so, the judge said, had violated public trust.

This is completely inappropriate conduct and it undermines law enforcement, Goldstein said. If you mess up on probation, I guarantee I am sending you to prison. This is really bad. You should be ashamed.

During the hearing, Deputy Dist. Atty. Dan Owens read a statement from the teen victim, who was in the courtroom.

A grownup should never touch kids the way you touched me , the girl wrote. The police said he had our address written down and thats really scary. Because of him, I know what it means to live in fear and how it can change your life.

The Union-Tribune does not identify victims of sex offenses.

After the hearing, defense attorney Marcus DeBose said his client did want to make it very clear to the world that at the time everything happened, he was not aware that there was a minor involved.

Also after the hearing, the teens mother, joined by her civil attorney, Michael Licari, announced her intention to sue the department. She specifically cited the defendants access to investigative files.

What happened to my daughter should not have been possible, the mother said. Yet somehow, no one at the Sheriffs Department noticed when Deputy Wilson accessed my daughters private information 44 times.

She said she wants policies put in place to safeguard access to investigative files involving child victims.

Sheriffs Department spokeswoman Lt. Karen Stubkjaer said the department could not comment on the potential suit.

As to safeguards, Stubkjaer said the Sheriffs Department has the ability to limit access to certain investigatory files when necessary, and noted it has been done before. In this case, she said, there was no indication upon the reporting of this incident that there would be a necessity to limit access by Department peace officers.

Once we learned that the suspect in this case might be a deputy, detectives worked diligently and quickly to confirm the mans identity and to develop probable cause to effect an arrest, she said.

According to authorities, the teen was standing in line at a Panda Express restaurant near downtown Vista on March 21 when a stranger grabbed her buttocks. The girl reported the incident.

About three weeks later, San Diego Crime Stoppers issued a request for the publics help to identify the man seen in security video.

A co-worker recognized Wilson and reported him.

The prosecutor said Wilson began checking the file on the case starting the day after the groping incident, before he had been identified as a suspect in the case. By the time of his arrest, he had checked the file dozens of times.

Owens said Wilson downloaded investigative photos of the girl, as well as her home address. And on his home computer, investigators found the photos in a file labeled white pants, which is what the teen was wearing when she was groped.

A search of Wilsons phone also turned up photos of other women  people who his attorney said were all adults.

Wilson has been in custody since his arrest May 18 while at work at the Vista Detention Facility. He was placed on unpaid leave and has remained jailed in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Under the plea deal, he must serve all 365 days of his sentence. That includes the approximately 165 days he has already served.

Teri Figueroa writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com
A man who tried to grab a deputys gun outside a 7-Eleven in the City of Industry was shot by the deputy and then barricaded himself inside the stores backroom after taking a clerk hostage early Thursday, authorities said.

The situation unfolded about 3:20 a.m. when a Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy who was inside the 7-Eleven saw a black sedan crash into a vehicle in the stores parking lot in the 2600 block of Pellissier Place, Lt. Scott Hoglund said.

A woman who was a passenger ran from the car, and a man who had been driving ran after her. The man suddenly stopped chasing her, changed direction and ran toward the deputys patrol SUV, Hoglund said.

The deputy believed the suspect may be trying to get into the car or steal the car, Hoglund said.

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The deputy approached the man, and the two scuffled. During the altercation, the man grabbed the deputys gun and the two fought over the weapon. The deputy eventually regained control of the firearm and shot the man at least once, Hoglund said.

The wounded man ran into a storage area in the 7-Eleven, grabbed a store clerk and barricaded himself in the room with her. The man eventually surrendered to authorities and was arrested.

The man, whose name has not been released, was taken to a hospital. His condition was not known.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @Hannahnfry

UPDATES:

8:25 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details from law enforcement about the events leading up to the shooting.

This article was originally published at 6:25 a.m.
An estimated 400,000 marijuana plants were destroyed by Santa Barbara County sheriffs investigators this week in what authorities are calling the countys largest seizure of pot plants at one site.

The plants were hidden among farmland in Santa Maria and discovered by sheriffs investigators on Monday, the sheriffs office said in a statement.

A sheriffs deputy destroys illegally cultivated marijuana in Santa Maria (Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office)

The crop belonged to a resident who, authorities said, had applied for a temporary state cannabis license using false information and did not have a valid cannabis license. Investigators found the 400,000 plants in various levels of maturity and tapped state Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel to help in the case.

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The number of seized plants at the cultivation site was the largest to date, and eradication efforts spanned two days, said sheriffs spokeswoman Kelly Hoover.

Authorities referred the case to county prosecutors and requested they consider perjury and illegal marijuana cultivation charges against the resident, officials said.

Recreational cannabis became legal in California this year but a license is required for all aspects of the burgeoning industry. Santa Barbara County has provided a legal pathway for cultivation there, authorities said.

joseph.serna@latimes.com

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.
A Boyle Heights man has been charged with manslaughter after prosecutors said he was high on nitrous oxide when he slammed into a pair of parked cars, causing a gruesome chain-reaction crash that killed an 11-year-old girl and left several others injured last year.

Jose Louis Perez, 22, will appear in a downtown courtroom Thursday to answer charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence, according to a news release issued by the Los Angeles County district attorneys office.

Perez was driving along Whittier Boulevard near Marietta Street around 7 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2017, when his vehicle veered into the opposite lane of traffic and slammed into two parked cars, authorities said.

The impact thrust one of the parked cars onto the sidewalk, where it struck Elektra Yepez, 11, and three of her relatives, prosecutors said. The girl died of her injuries, and her mother and two of her aunts were hospitalized but survived their injuries.

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Perez was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, and a juvenile passenger was held on suspicion of possessing nitrous oxide. Two other passengers in Perezs car were not hurt.

It was not clear whether Perez had retained a defense attorney or what happened to his juvenile passenger, who was arrested.

If convicted, Perez faces up to 13 years in prison.

Elektra was one of three children killed in the span of six days in fatal car crashes in Boyle Heights last year. On Nov. 16, a Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department cruiser that was racing to the scene of a shooting careened onto a sidewalk near Whittier Boulevard and Indiana Street, less than a mile from where Elektra died.

In that collision, two young boys, 7-year-old Jose Luis Hernandez and his 9-year-old brother, Marcos, died at the scene. Four others were seriously injured. The wreck was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, which since has turned its findings over to prosecutors for review, according to Shiara Davila-Morales, a spokeswoman for the district attorneys office.

james.queally@latimes.com

Twitter: @JamesQueallyLAT

UPDATES:

12:35 p.m.: This article was updated with information from the district attorneys office about a separate fatal crash in Boyle Heights.

11:25 a.m.: This article was updated with additional information about another fatal crash in Boyle Heights from last year.

This article was originally published at 9:50 a.m.
A 19-foot boat suspected of being used for smuggling came ashore at Imperial Beach early Thursday and eight people were taken into custody by federal agents, authorities said.

An Imperial Beach lifeguard spotted the pleasure craft coming ashore south of Imperial Beach Pier around 7:55 a.m. and saw a group of people leave the boat and head to a nearby street, U.S. Border Patrol spokesman Victor Pirro said.

Board Patrol agents responded within minutes and detained the eight people a couple blocks away on Imperial Beach Boulevard near 2nd Street, Pirro said.

Members of the group smelled strongly of gasoline, he said.

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Pirro said agents were at the scene about five minutes after getting the call, a very rapid response time.

Seven men and one woman  including two suspected smugglers  were arrested, and the boat has been seized, Pirro said. The eight, who all said they were Mexican nationals, will be processed at a nearby Border Patrol station for entering the country illegally, he said.

The boat, which was painted a blue-gray color, was carrying seven 10-gallon fuel tanks. Pirro said it also had exposed battery wiring and that no life vests were seen in the boat.

It was extremely dangerous, he said. They all smelled of gasoline and they had exposed wires from the battery. It was very dangerous.

Officials said it is unusual to see smuggling boats come ashore during daylight hours.

Kucher writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

12:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the people on the boat.

This article was originally published at 12:10 p.m.
The event was held jointly by the Association of Vietnam Scientists and Experts (AVSE Global), Quang Trung Software City (QTSC) and the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies (HIDS).

The forum included four sessions: Pathway to the Industrial Revolution 4.0 for Vietnam, The impact of digital technology on business strategies of SMEs, Applying digital technology to improve the competitiveness of SMEs and Digitalised services in supporting SMEs.

According to AVSE Global Director, Vu Ngoc Anh, the VDEF 2018 aims to share strategic visions and practical experience from pioneers, as well as discussing the trend of indispensable transformation in the digital economy.

In addition, the delegates assessed the current status, challenges and opportunities associated with the digital economy.

Speaking at the forum, Deputy Minister Information and Communications, Nguyen Thanh Hung, expressed their hope that the experts would share experience in effectively implementing digital infrastructure in administrative management and public service delivery in important fields including education, healthcare, transport and agriculture.
The Trump administration hit Venezuela with economic sanctions Thursday to block its exports of gold, a lifeline commodity for the embattled leftist government of President Nicolas Maduro, but put off targeting its oil exports, the mainstay of its economy.

President Trumps national security advisor, John Bolton, announced the sanctions as he outlined a muscular Latin America strategy that seeks to isolate and punish leftist governments in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua  which he branded a troika of tyranny and a triangle of terror  while embracing right-wing leaders in Colombia, Chile and soon Brazil.

Bolton spoke in Miami days before two bitterly contested elections in Florida  for governor and U.S. senator  where the votes of hard-line Cuban and Venezuelan exiles could have a significant effect on White House goals. Trump campaigned for Republicans in the state on Wednesday.

Although the strategy was heavy on rhetoric and light on specifics, Bolton drew a clear line between friends and foes, and his bellicose language could stoke fears in Latin America that Washington could take a more aggressive role, especially against Venezuela, in a region where it once backed coups and juntas.

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Bolton praised the president-elect of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, as a like-minded partner in the fight to advance the rule of law, citing his recent electoral victory as one of several positive signs for the region. A former military officer who has praised far-right dictatorships, Bolsonaro is perhaps best known for making insults to women, gays and people of color.

On Monday, Trump had tweeted that had a very good conversation with Bolsonaro. We agreed that Brazil and the United States will work closely together on Trade, Military and everything else! Excellent call, wished him congrats!

A senior administration official said the White House is confident that Brazils strong institutions will preserve order in the hemispheres second-largest democracy. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said Trump and Bolsonaro share a dedication to free markets and open government.

Reverting to the language of the anti-communist crusades during the Cold War, Bolton said the United States would stand with the freedom fighters against tyrants who fancy themselves strongmen and revolutionaries, icons and luminaries.

In reality, they are clownish, pitiful figures more akin to Larry, Curly and Moe, Bolton said. The three stooges of socialism are true believers, but they worship a false god.

He sought to emphasize the destructive influence that Cuba plays in Venezuela and, to a lesser extent, in Nicaragua. Cuban military, intelligence and medical personnel have been operating for years in Venezuela to shore up Maduro and, before him, the late Hugo Chavez.

In Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega has brutally suppressed protests calling for his ouster. Clashes have left more than 300 people dead since May.

Bolton accused the three countries of being the cause of immense human suffering, the impetus of enormous regional instability, and the genesis of a sordid cradle of communism in the Western Hemisphere.

Bolton did not offer to expand asylum programs for people fleeing the countries he condemned as oppressive. The Trump administration has made it more difficult to obtain refugee status in the United States. In September, it announced plans to admit a maximum of 30,000 refugees in 2019, the lowest cap in U.S. history.

Even as Bolton spoke, the Trump administrations relative isolation was highlighted at the United Nations, where the General Assembly adopted its 27th annual resolution calling on the United States to end its economic embargo on Cuba. U.S. diplomats tried unsuccessfully to amend the resolution to pressure Cuba to improve its human rights record.

The penalties against Venezuela were in an executive order signed by Trump and released Thursday. They target specific economic sectors, including sanctions aimed at the illicit exploitation of gold. Venezuela exported $900 million worth of gold in the first nine months of this year through Turkey in anticipation of U.S. restrictions.

The new sanctions will deny the Maduro government access to stolen wealth, which it uses as a bastion to finance illicit activities, to fill its coffers and to support criminal groups, Bolton said.

Administration officials said Trumps order could lead to sanctions on Venezuelas oil industry, an action that would reverberate throughout the Americas. U.S. officials worry that interfering with the oil industry could cause prices at U.S. gas pumps to soar and hurt U.S. refineries that process Venezuelan crude. In addition, several Caribbean allies rely heavily on cheap Venezuelan oil.

Venezuela is reeling from economic and political turmoil, with food and medicine scarcities that have sent nearly 2 million residents fleeing to neighboring countries and farther abroad since 2015.

The Trump administration previously blacklisted 70 Venezuelan individuals and entities, including Maduro and his wife, barring them from traveling to the United States or doing business with Americans or American companies.

Bolton said the Treasury Department also expanded the list of businesses that it believes are controlled by Cubas military or intelligence services and are off-limits to U.S. trade or commerce. The administration has attempted to roll back many of the openings with Cuba that began under President Obama.

Miami is still a bastion, albeit a shrinking one, of ultraconservative Cuban and Venezuelan exiles and their descendants and supporters. Bolton spoke at the citys Freedom Tower, where Cuban refugees were welcomed after the 1959 revolution that brought communists to power.

Thursdays speech appeared a long-delayed victory for Bolton. Some 16 years ago, when he served in the State Department, he urged the White House to add Cuba to President George W. Bushs description of Iran, North Korea and Iraq as an axis of evil in his 2002 State of the Union speech.

At the time, Bolton accused Havana of producing illicit biological weapons, although there was no reliable evidence. Then-Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage blocked his effort.

Now Cuba has joined Boltons troika of tyranny.

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

For more on international affairs, follow @TracyKWilkinson on Twitter

UPDATES:

3:05 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction and analysis.

This article was originally posted at 1:45 p.m.
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Its Thursday, Nov. 1, and heres whats happening across California:

TOP STORIES

Theres a bullet inside Emely Ramirez, but it only hurts when the 6-year-old bends down. On a rainy Friday night last month, she was strapped into her car seat at a South Los Angeles gas station  her mother and 13-year-old sister were trading jokes outside the car. A nearby Pontiac was making Emelys mother, Brenda Ramirez, nervous. Then a BMW pulled up and people from both cars began shooting at one another. In the ensuing gunfight, the shooters didnt hit one another. But a bullet struck Emely in the back. Los Angeles Times

Midterm mayhem

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On the home page of his campaign website, Rep. Steve Knight of Palmdale has posted a television ad showing a veteran praising the Republican congressman for helping him get a double lung transplant. It turns out that veteran, David Brayton of Santa Clarita, has posted dozens of racist, anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim comments on Facebook. Brayton has also promoted violence against journalists he sees as hostile to President Trump and called on citizen militias to turn their weapons on left-wing protesters. Los Angeles Times

Coming Tuesday! Will California flip the House? The key races to watch. Los Angeles Times

Not a trendsetter this time: Female candidates are running in record numbers for the midterm election, just not in California. The Conversation

Plus: Early voting is blowing the doors off this midterm election, but its unclear what that means for Tuesday. Los Angeles Times

In San Diego: As different as Rep. Duncan Hunter and Democratic challenger Ammar Campa-Najjar may be, they have a strategy in common: In a district with a large veteran population, theyre relying on the moral authority of those who wore the uniform to try to portray the other as unsuitable for office. Los Angeles Times

A maddening moving mud pot

The San Andreas fault begins its dangerous dance through California at the Salton Sea, at a spot that seismologists long have feared could be the epicenter of a massive earthquake. But in recent months, this desolate location where the North American and Pacific plates rub together has become the focus of intense interest for a type of movement that is less the Big One than the Slow One. A muddy spring mysteriously has begun to move at a faster pace through dry earth  first 60 feet over a few months, and then 60 feet in a single day, according to Imperial County officials. Los Angeles Times

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Los Angeles Police Asst. Chief Jorge Villegas was accused of having improper relationships with subordinate officers before his sudden retirement last week, officials told The Times. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

L.A. STORIES

$$$: A proposal to limit the amount of paid time off that veteran Los Angeles police and firefighters can take while in a controversial retirement program would save nearly $13 million in the first year, according to a city report. Los Angeles Times

Plus: A high-ranking Los Angeles Police Department official had been accused of having improper sexual relationships with officers under his command shortly before his sudden retirement last week. Los Angeles Times

Beyond slashers and scream queens: Three women of horror on the legacies of their legendary roles. Los Angeles Times

From virtual loner to the White House: An oral history of Stephen Millers days at Santa Monica High. Los Angeles Magazine

IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER

In Texas: Migrants arriving at the U.S. border to seek asylum are routinely subjected to tactics that immigration rights advocates say are designed to drive them away, in violation of their rights under federal law. Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Down ballot: Democratic state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and Republican challenger Steven Bailey discuss the issues facing California. Los Angeles Times

The big picture: Why one of Americas richest states is also its poorest. The Economist

On the ballot in SF: Salesforce founder Marc Benioff has poured a combined $7.9 million in personal and corporate money into the effort to pass Proposition C, the San Francisco ballot measure that would nearly double city spending on homeless services by increasing taxes on the citys largest corporations, including Salesforce itself. San Francisco Chronicle

CRIME AND COURTS

Big payout: The city of San Diego on Tuesday agreed to pay nearly $1.5 million to settle a pair of lawsuits involving more than a dozen exotic dancers who claimed their constitutional rights were violated during raids at two San Diego strip clubs more than four years ago. Los Angeles Times

In depth: An unlikely alliance was born in search for answers over the O.C. snitch scandal. ABC 7

Ghost ship fire update: Breaking a long silence, the reclusive owners of the Ghost Ship warehouse, where 36 people died in a fire, are blaming the tragedy on their electrician, claiming he lied about being a licensed contractor. East Bay Times

THE ENVIRONMENT

Water wars: In an 11-0 vote, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors agreed in a resolution to support the State Water Resources Control Boards proposal to leave more water in the San Joaquin River and its tributaries to benefit struggling fish populations. The vote splits the city from the Trump administration and instead moves its support to a state plan that its utilities commission warns could lead to severe drinking water shortages for its nearly 884,000 residents. Sacramento Bee

Not the Rolling Stones song: Critics worry that Californias wild horse roundup could lead to slaughter. CBS News

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Fin: Film Independent has announced that it will discontinue the L.A. Film Festival after 18 years. Instead the L.A.-based arts organization will shift resources into more year-round events, including several that traditionally occurred during the festival. Los Angeles Times

A complicated place: From afar, L.A. shimmers like a diamond-studded bear trap. Yet, Chris Erskine is still smitten. Los Angeles Times

Cool exhibit: Underworld at the Getty Villa examines celebrity ghosts of ancient times. Los Angeles Times

Funny! For more than three weeks, authorities have been scouring California wine country, hoping to find an 800-pound hammer. New York Times

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles area: sunny, 81, Thursday; sunny, 84, Friday. San Diego: sunny, 77, Thursday; sunny, 79, Friday. San Francisco area: partly cloudy, 72, Thursday; partly cloudy, 67, Friday. San Jose: partly cloudy, 81, Thursday; partly cloudy, 77, Friday. Sacramento: partly cloudy, 84, Thursday; partly cloudy, 81, Friday. More weather is here.

AND FINALLY

Todays California memory comes from Larry Mayer:

In early November 1963, Dad and Mom, with us six kids, loaded the family station wagon and headed west to California from Phoenix. It was long after dark the second day when we arrived in San Francisco, and we were weary from the long journey. After driving around all evening and failing to find accommodations, Dad checked us into a salesmans display room on the third floor of the St. Francis Hotel. I remember how grand we felt the next morning waking up to witness the sun, which rose up bright and clear over Union Square, generously illuminating our room through the hotels spacious windows. I remember my sisters leaning out a window above the Powell St. portico that Saturday morning to marvel at the activity on the street and square below. There was Macys to the south, Bullock and Jones to the north, City of Paris to the East with its replica Eiffel Tower and red neon sign, and I. Magnin was just around the corner. The traffic on Post, Geary, and Powell Streets, the latter replete with the distinctive sound of cable cars, was mounting for a busy morning of shoppers on the square.

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Benjamin Oreskes and Shelby Grad. Also follow them on Twitter @boreskes and @shelbygrad.
The ballots for the midterm election are already rolling in. But what does it mean?

TOP STORIES

Voting Early and More Often

Election day is Tuesday, but nearly 25 million Americans have already decided to  in infomercial speak  act now, before its too late. Theyve cast early ballots in the midterm election, which is usually a snoozefest compared with a presidential election. Eighteen states have surpassed their early-vote totals from 2014, the last midterm; Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Texas could surpass the total votes cast in 2014 before the big day even gets here. Politics writer Mark Z. Barabak delves into what the numbers mean.

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With Supporters Like These 

David Brayton of Santa Clarita has posted dozens of racist, anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim comments on Facebook. Hes promoted violence against journalists he sees as hostile to President Trump and called on citizen militias to turn their weapons on left-wing protesters. Hes also featured in a TV ad for Rep. Steve Knight, praising the Republican congressman from Palmdale for helping him get a lung transplant. The disclosure could complicate Knights attempt to fend off Democratic challenger Katie Hill in their close election battle next week.

Island of Despair

Less than four years ago, Sri Lanka was a bright spot among Asian democracies. Today, it is embroiled in a political crisis that many fear could spell the end of democratic rule. When Sri Lankas president fired Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister last week and replaced him with its former strongman, Wickremesinghe simply refused to leave the official residence, initiating a standoff over whos in charge.

The Creeping Terror

In the area around the Salton Sea, scientists have long been concerned about the Big One along the San Andreas fault. These days, theyre trying to figure out the Slow One  a muddy spring thats creeping toward railroad tracks, a highway and other infrastructure. Though its moving literally at a snails pace, the muddy spring has been picking up speed, and scientists arent sure why.

Drip, Drip, DROP

For some L.A. city firefighters and police officers who hit retirement age at 50, its a no-brainer: collecting a paycheck and a pension, even if theyre out on disability or sick. After The Times wrote about the Deferred Retirement Option Plan this year, city leaders have been reassessing it step by step. The latest: A city report has found that a proposal to limit the amount of paid time off in the DROP program could save nearly $13 million in the first year.

Sign up to get Todays Headlines delivered to your inbox. 

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Today, you can get The Times delivered by email. Sixty-two years ago, it was by horseback  at least in Carbon Canyon. A story in the Nov. 1, 1956, Los Angeles Times reported: The age of internal combustion hasnt caught up yet with 14-year-old Jim Fitzgerald of Sleepy Hollow.

Los Angeles Times paperboy Jim Fitzgerald rides Quelty on his route through Sleepy Hollow in Carbon Canyon. (Ray Graham / Los Angeles Times)

CALIFORNIA

-- LAPD Assistant Chief Jorge Villegas was accused of having improper sexual relationships with officers under his command shortly before his sudden retirement last week, sources have told The Times.

-- State officials have abolished a long-criticized Compton water district and appointed the L.A. County Department of Public Works to take over.

-- In East L.A., more than 200 students gathered at a cemetery to build altars for the Day of the Dead while exploring the importance of family and ancestors.

-- San Diego will pay nearly $1.5 million to settle two lawsuits involving exotic dancers who say their constitutional rights were violated during strip club raids.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

-- The L.A. Film Festival wont be back. Its organizer, Film Independent, plans to shift its resources into more year-round events.

-- Netflix will put three of its big upcoming releases in theaters for exclusive periods, breaking from its streaming-centric strategy.

-- Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett plays 13 characters, each spouting a manifesto, in a multi-channel film installation opening in L.A. this weekend.

-- Composer Steve Reich reflects on 30 years of Minimalism and his new L.A. Phil world premiere.

NATION-WORLD

-- Under pressure from Congress, the Trump administration called for a cease-fire in Yemens bitter civil war for the first time.

-- Officials have identified a Mafia hit man as a suspect in the killing of James Whitey Bulger, the 89-year-old former Boston mobster who was beaten to death in a West Virginia prison.

-- The Supreme Court of Pakistan has acquitted a Christian woman who had been sentenced to death in 2010 for insulting the Prophet Muhammad. The ruling has set off protests and threats of violence.

-- India just unveiled the worlds tallest statue, and you might be surprised whom it depicts.

BUSINESS

-- Brian Williams late-night show, The 11th Hour, has given him a voice in the national conversation again, something that 3 years ago wouldve been hard to believe.

-- Tesla delivered an awesome earnings surprise. How come no one saw it coming? Perhaps that will be revealed in its 10-Q report.

SPORTS

-- The Dodgers say the team and pitcher Clayton Kershaw have agreed to extend the deadline on his decision whether to opt out of his contract to 1 p.m. Friday.

-- The Lakers narrowly escaped with a victory against the Mavericks, winning 114 to 113, in a game they led by 18 points in the first half.

OPINION

-- Get up and vote. Dont sit there and let the country fall into chaos.

-- Research shows that when local law enforcement agencies partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, it produces significant harm to children, schools and communities.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- The debate over how to cover migrants and Trumps preelection pronouncements. (CNN)

-- Whats Rudy Giuliani been up to in Russia, Armenia and Ukraine? (ProPublica)

-- How did the Victorian mansion end up becoming the quintessential haunted house? (JSTOR Daily)

ONLY IN L.A.

They have names like Guerrilla Tacos, Porridge + Puffs, Banh Oui, Burgers Never Say Die and Trudys Underground Barbecue. For the last few years, theyve been among the creme de la creme of L.A.s food truck and pop-up scene. But operating out of a clunky truck or a backyard can only take you so far, which is why these nonconformists are opening up their own bricks-and-mortar establishments.

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Voters in Ireland last week removed the crime of blasphemy from that countrys constitution, a change that the minister of justice hailed as another reflection of the strong public support for a modern, liberal constitution.

Yet despite Irelands example, insulting God or religious figures is still a crime in more than 70 countries, in some places punishable by death. (On Wednesday Pakistans Supreme Court ordered the release of a Christian woman who had spent eight years on death row after being convicted of insulting the Prophet Muhammad.)

Equally disturbing, blasphemy laws are being repackaged as prohibitions on hate speech. Over the years there has been a campaign, led by some Muslim nations, to have the international community condemn defamation of religion. This rhetorical sleight of hand allows defenders of blasphemy laws to portray them as protections for persecuted believers rather than the enforcement of a theological orthodoxy.

Blasphemy laws have no place in any society that purports to value freedom of conscience.

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On the day before Irish voters chose to remove blasphemy from the constitution, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that an Austrian womans rights werent violated when she was convicted of publicly disparaging religious doctrines. While conducting a seminar on Islam, the woman had suggested that an alleged marriage between Muhammad and a 6-year-old girl amounted to pedophilia.

In upholding the conviction, the European court deferred to the Austrian courts conclusion that the womans statements had been capable of arousing justified indignation and could only be understood as having been aimed at demonstrating that Muhammad was not worthy of worship. The judges further concluded that the courts in Austria carefully balanced the applicants right to freedom of expression with the rights of others to have their religious feelings protected, and to have religious peace preserved in Austrian society.

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

Such a ruling would be unimaginable in the United States, given the 1st Amendment. Although historically states have passed laws against blasphemy, rulings by the Supreme Court make it clear that a desire to protect religions from ridicule isnt a justification for abridging free-speech rights. As the court said in a 1952 case involving the censorship of a sacrilegious movie: It is not the business of government in our nation to suppress real or imagined attacks upon a particular religious doctrine.

Criminalizing criticism of religion is also difficult to reconcile with guarantees of freedom of expression and freedom of religion contained in such widely embraced documents as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Unions Charter of Fundamental Rights. It also has been demonstrated that blasphemy laws are more likely to be enforced against religious minorities than adherents of a majority faith.

The voters in Ireland were correct. Blasphemy laws have no place in any society that purports to value freedom of conscience.

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Half of all Americans now reside in a sanctuary jurisdiction where state or local political leaders have committed to supporting refugees and undocumented residents by declining to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in certain ways. But other communities have moved in the opposite direction. These reverse sanctuary communities have adopted partnerships with ICE that effectively deputize local police to enforce federal immigration laws.

The Trump administration has overseen a dramatic increase in these federal-local partnerships, which are called 287(g) programs after a 1996 section of the Immigration and Nationality Act. There are 78 active agreements, nearly two-thirds of which were adopted in the short time since Trump took office.

When the Department of Homeland Security approves an application from a local police agency, ICE trains local law enforcement officers to identify and arrest undocumented residents while, in theory, respecting 4th Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure. Under the jail enforcement model, the police only screen those whove already been booked into jail. Under the task force approach, local police incorporate immigration enforcement into all their day-to-day policing activities.

So, what could possibly be wrong about aggressively enforcing immigration law in this way? A growing body of research shows that they produce significant harm to children, schools and communities.

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No community is under an obligation to seek out an ICE partnership. Those that have them in place can simply and unilaterally end them.

My recent research with Stanford University graduate student Mark Murphy illustrates some of these consequences. Roughly half of the immigrants who are in the U.S. without legal documentation live in a household with children  and most of those kids are U.S. citizens. We found robust evidence that police partnerships with ICE caused some of these families to flee, and discouraged others from seeking economic opportunity in that community.

We examined data on the K-12 public-school enrollment of Latino and non-Latino children in all the communities nationwide that applied for ICE partnerships before 2012. We found that when a 287(g) partnership was approved and implemented, the enrollment of Latino students fell by 10% within just two years relative to the communities that applied for but did not implement this policy. This impact was particularly pronounced among the younger elementary school students. In contrast, we observed no changes in the enrollment of non-Latino students.

The sort of displacement we discovered can be harmful to childrens success in school and later in life. That is, the family stress of a relocation under duress or being denied economic opportunity in a new community both have been shown to reduce a students engagement in school, their learning, and, ultimately, their financial well-being.

Local partnerships with ICE have caused these displacements on a shockingly large scale. We estimate that the ICE partnerships implemented before 2012 displaced more than 300,000 Latino students. Right now, the Trump administration is expanding this reckless and counterproductive policy.

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

The manner in which we enforce any law  whether it is tax evasion or jaywalking or immigration  is itself a policy choice. The potential consequences should inform the decisions we make.

For example, reducing crime is a primary motivation for adopting ICE partnerships, but a Cato Institute study of data from North Carolina showed no reduction in crimes in counties that teamed up with ICE. ICE partnerships also divert resources from policing serious crimes and make immigrants hesitant to come forward as victims or witnesses. Racial profiling has become a problem in some counties, where police sometimes harass or detain law-abiding residents based on how they look, speak or dress.

As if these problems werent enough, other research shows that 287(g) partnerships can cause economic harm to the communities that adopt them. A study out of the University of Georgia found evidence that ICE-police partnerships did drive immigrants out  but that this self-imposed labor shortage reduced farm profitability. Other research found that aggressive deportation in ICE partnership counties led to more housing foreclosures.

But there is a straightforward way to roll back these partnerships. Local communities can simply choose to say no. Police partnerships with ICE are entirely voluntary. No community is under an obligation to seek out an ICE partnership. Those that have them in place can simply and unilaterally end them. A proper reckoning of the many ways these partnerships harm community policing, economic vitality and child development should make that an easy decision.

Thomas S. Dee is the Barnett Family Professor at Stanford Universitys Graduate School of Education and the Faculty Director of the John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities.

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Voters who declare themselves independent of partisan affiliation are ascendant in the American electorate.

In 2016, the Pew Research Center found that 34% described themselves as politically independent, outnumbering self-described Democrats (33%) and Republicans (29%).

In California, voters who decline to declare any party affiliation reportedly surpassed registered Republicans this year, becoming the second largest voting bloc, behind Democrats. (Two decades ago, independents were just 12% of the states electorate.)

Although there is some debate over how independent these voters truly are, their self-designation suggests an abandonment of partisanship for a different ideal: casting a ballot for the individual who seems best in a given race.

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I myself embrace that approach and its upsides.

Unscrupulous politicians find their way into both parties, so blind loyalty to either causes good people to support power-hungry reprobates. Little wonder that voting independent has growing appeal, or that it may prove beneficial in state and local races.

There is a strong case for voting purely by party affiliation in the House races, without any regard for the personal attributes of candidates.

As George Washington warned, excessive attachment to political parties agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, and opens the door to foreign influence and corruption.

In the 2018 midterm elections, however, my calculus is different.

There is a strong case for voting purely by party affiliation in the House races, without any regard for the personal attributes of candidates, only the tiny (R) or (D) next to their names. The reason is simple: President Trump.

The most consequential matter before voters in 2018 is whether Trump will continue to enjoy the endless support of a Congress controlled by his fellow Republicans, or confront a Democratic House that checks his power.

The stakes are wide-ranging and significant.

There is the matter of whether Robert Mueller will be allowed to finish and make public his investigation into foreign interference in the 2016 presidential election, and, by extension, the question of whether Americans will be allowed to review his findings.

If Democrats take the House, there is some assurance that the truth will come out, whatever it may be. If Republicans retain their majority, the probe could be ended or its findings could be suppressed.

Corruption is another concern. If Democrats win at least one chamber of Congress, they are likely to investigate the glaring irregularities in Trumps tax history and the appearance that he is using the presidency to increase his fortune. The GOP, on the other hand, is likely to keep ignoring the red flags.

Trumps unusual impulsiveness and unpredictability  as when he vacillates between nuclear saber-rattling with North Korea and professions of love for its dictator  makes it especially critical to empower an opposition party.

A member of Trumps own administration claimed in an anonymous op-ed that members of the Cabinet are working to constrain his worst impulses. But Trump can tell any of those people Youre fired at any moment, and fellow Republicans whose career prospects depend on their partisan loyalty might not object.

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

Republicans and right-leaning independents will be most averse to a Democratic House. But theyd benefit as much as any other American from insurance against the whims of this erratic president. Even if they think more highly of Trump, the United States is always most vulnerable to abuses of presidential power under one-party rule.

For all these reasons and more, Im setting aside my usual inclination to support individual candidates and relative aversion to the Democratic Party in this years midterm elections.

The tumult of 2018 underscores Yeats lament that the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.

Divided government is the best hedge against harm by the worst. And at this moment, a Democratic House majority is the only way to secure it.

Conor Friedersdorf is a contributing writer to Opinion, a staff writer at the Atlantic and founding editor of the Best of Journalism, a newsletter that curates exceptional nonfiction.

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On the home page of his campaign website, Rep. Steve Knight of Palmdale has posted a television ad showing a veteran praising the Republican congressman for helping him get a lung transplant.

It turns out that veteran, David Brayton of Santa Clarita, has posted dozens of racist, anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim comments on Facebook.

Brayton, 64, has also promoted violence against journalists he sees as hostile to President Trump and called on citizen militias to turn their weapons on left-wing protesters.

Braytons Facebook pages illustrate how Trumps incendiary rhetoric has resonated with his most radical followers. Trump, who is often praised by Brayton, has disparaged Muslims, Mexicans and blacks, equivocated when denouncing white supremacists, and encouraged violence against protesters and reporters.

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Last week, Cesar Sayoc, a Trump supporter in Florida, was charged with mailing bombs to CNN and more than a dozen critics of the president.

On Monday, Brayton shared a Breitbart article on the aggressive White House reporting of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta.

CNN should be indicted, found guilty and face a firing squad, Brayton wrote in his Facebook post above the story.

For Knight, one of the nations most imperiled Republican incumbents in Tuesdays midterm election, disclosure of Braytons background threatens to disrupt his attempts to steer clear of Trumps coarse brand of racial politics. Both Knight and his Democratic challenger Katie Hill are trying to campaign as moderates in the states 25th Congressional District.

Matt Rexroad, Knights campaign strategist, said Wednesday there was no reason to vet Braytons social media postings before putting him in a TV commercial.

Knight had no plans to take down the ad, Rexroad said. I think the timing of this is ridiculous.

In the commercial, Brayton wears a red shirt with the word infidel imprinted in the American flag, an apparent jab at Muslims.

In a Brayton Facebook post in May, an illustration shows two white men slipping a noose around former President Obamas head. You will hang by the neck until dead, the caption says. Take your smug ass to hell.

Braytons overt bigotry on Facebook  he posted a Ku Klux Klan blood-drop-cross insignia in June 2017  underscores the trouble that social media companies are having as they try to keep menacing bursts of hatred off their platforms.

On Thursday morning, a Facebook spokesman said the company was permanently taking down Braytons pages for violations of its community standards.

Brayton has used three Facebook accounts to dodge the companys suspensions, mocking the company along the way for its ineffective policing of content.

Notice my primary account is still banned on this fascistbook thingy, he wrote last year under the name David B Enghazi Brayton, which he has used for many of the inflammatory postings.

In a telephone interview, Brayton, a former Air Force medic, stood by all of his posts, but denied any of them were racist or anti-Semitic. He defended his call for putting CNN personnel before a firing squad, saying that what he viewed as the networks subversive propaganda was tantamount to treason.

He also claimed Muslims had declared war on Western Civilization. Islam has decided theyre going to kill everybody, he said. Theyve always done that.

The Knight campaigns TV ad with Brayton is part of the congressmans push to be seen as a champion of fellow veterans in his district, which covers Simi Valley, Santa Clarita and part of the Antelope Valley. The spot shows Knight in a living room with Brayton and his wife.

If it wasnt for Steve Knights assistance in this thing, I guarantee you Id be dead, Brayton tells viewers in the 30-second ad.

Knight, an Army veteran and former Los Angeles police officer, put the commercial on his campaigns Facebook page.

Im proud to have earned David Braytons vote, but this is who we fight for, Knight wrote in a Sept. 18 post. Every. Single. Day.

One of Braytons angriest Facebook postings came a few weeks after the August 2017 march of neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Charlottesville, Va. Brayton wrote that antifa protesters against fascism were enemies of America who had given up their right to legal and constitutional protections.

May your bodies stack up and you rest in the hell you have chose for you and yours in declaring war on Americans, he wrote. Echoing Trumps attacks on news organizations, he added, You ARE the enemy of America. So is your mouthpiece the corrupt fake media.

A few days later, he urged opponents of Muslims and Black Supremacists to DO OUR DUTY AS MILITIA in fighting antifa, saying they needed only 10% of Trumps 63 million voters to step up.

A Steve Knight reelection ad shows the congressman speaking with David Brayton, who posted the video on Facebook.

In May 2017, Brayton wrote, Kill them all above a photo of a demonstration of Muslim extremists. He also posted a remark that he attributed to a Union Army leader: If I had my choice I would kill every reporter in the world, but I am sure we would be getting reports from Hell before breakfast.

In one of his frequent posts against Trumps political adversaries, Brayton posted a doctored photo last year showing men leading Hillary Clinton up a gallows staircase for a hanging.

Racist remarks are rampant on Braytons Facebook pages. I think the KKK hates blacks cuz theyre jealous of them since blacks have killed more blacks than the KKK could in 100 years, he wrote.

Thats absolutely true, Brayton said in the interview.

Brayton also wrote: I know why black kids in liberal run cities hate and murder in huge numbers. They realized they were conceived as a paycheck.

In another post, he quotes Adolf Hitler saying, If my party had a voice in this country we might find less violent ways of expressing ourselves. Brayton asked, Sound familiar?

In September 2017, Brayton wrote, Perhaps all Jews on television should wear the sign in this last photo  just to make sure the audience knows  wink wink. The photo showed a yellow Star of David inscribed with the German word Jude  the badge that Nazis forced Jews to wear during World War II.

Rants against Islam are a major theme of Braytons Facebook pages. He once shared a photo of a Koran in flames. The profile picture for his account under the name David Heisenberg Brayton is an image of a man pointing two machine guns in the air. Hear me Islam, the caption says. I will slaughter you with your own knife.

From October 2016 to May 2018, Brayton complained about 11 Facebook suspensions, ranging from a week to 30 days. On May 23, he wrote on his newest account that hed been banned for the 12th time in 23 months.

When his main account was suspended, Brayton would post from his two other accounts. From those, he sometimes tagged his main Facebook page and posted screenshots of the notification that his account was temporarily blocked.

michael.finnegan@latimes.com

Twitter: @finneganLAT

maya.sweedler@latimes.com

Twitter: @mayasweedler

Find out about the 25th District candidates views on the issues.

More on the key congressional races in California.

UPDATES:

7:15 a.m.: This article was updated with Facebooks statement that Braytons pages were being taken offline.

This article was originally published Oct. 31st at 6:20 p.m.
Rep. Steve Knights campaign on Thursday took down an advertisement featuring a local veteran who regularly posts racist, anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic comments on social media, a day after the congressmans camp said it would not remove the political spot.

The ad was no longer displayed on the home page of Knights campaign website or on his Facebook page.

The Republican congressman from Palmdale said Thursday that his office had not been aware that the veteran, David Brayton of Santa Clarita, posted inflammatory and violent messages from multiple public accounts. He did not condemn Braytons comments.

We dont say anything that is anything near racist about anyone, he said when asked what he would say to constituents in the groups targeted by Brayton. Our office is very open. We try and help anyone who walks in, and thats the way we go about business.

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Speaking after a veterans luncheon in Simi Valley, Knight said he could not recall when or how he met Brayton, and that more than a year has elapsed since his office helped Brayton deal with severe medical issues.

In addition to posts calling for Trump supporters to take up arms against protesters, Brayton has posted doctored images of Democratic leaders, including one with former President Obama with a noose around his neck and former presidential candidate and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton being led to a gallows. He has posted disparaging comments about black people and Muslims, and the profile picture on one of his three Facebook accounts was captioned Hear me Islam. I will slaughter you with your own knife.

In a telephone interview Wednesday, Brayton, a former Air Force medic, stood by all of his posts, but denied that any of them were racist or anti-Semitic.

In the 30-second ad for the Knight campaign, Brayton sits next to the congressman and praises Knight for helping him get a lung transplant. The 64-year-old veteran wears a red shirt with the word infidel imprinted in the American flag, an apparent dig at Muslims; a Latin saying under it translates as If you want peace, prepare for war.

Knight said he didnt notice Braytons shirt, and that the veteran had never made comments to him hinting at his beliefs.

Well, when somebody comes into our office, we dont ask them if theyre a Republican or a Democrat, he said. We dont look at anything that they do. We ask them how we can help them.

Matt Rexroad, Knights campaign strategist, had said Wednesday that there was no reason to vet Braytons social media postings before putting him in the ad and that Knight had no plans to take down the ad.

The two-term incumbent is locked in a tight race against Democratic challenger Katie Hill in the states 25th Congressional District. The district, which covers Simi Valley, Santa Clarita and part of the Antelope Valley, has been in Republican hands since 1993 but now has a four-point Democratic voter registration advantage. Knights seat has been a Democratic target since Clinton carried the district in the 2016 presidential election.

Hill on Thursday said Knight should apologize to the groups Brayton attacked.

Knight, by featuring this individual, continuing to allow the ad to run, and refusing to condemn the remarks and behavior, is unfortunately complicit in creating a culture that divides us for political gain, and at the extremes, permits and encourages violence, Hill said in a statement.

The Los Angeles office for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights group, said it was unbelievable that a congressman would embrace the support of an overt bigot, especially in light of recent deadly attacks, including one that killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

In a closely watched campaign, Knight has tried to stay away from divisive rhetoric. The Army veteran and former Los Angeles police officer has sought to focus his campaign on local issues, highlighting his efforts to help veterans and obtain funding for local infrastructure projects.

Knight opened Thursdays luncheon by talking about a Vietnam veteran who, thanks to his offices intervention, recovered medals that had been awarded but never received. The 14 veterans present didnt seem particularly interested in the upcoming midterm election, however, and conversation drifted from healthcare to reminiscences about service.

But the casual nature of Thursdays lunch was not indicative of the races status. The campaign for the 25th had drawn national attention: Last week, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced his political action committee was spending $5.1 million to help Hill.

On Thursday morning, a Facebook spokesman said the company would permanently take down Braytons pages for violations of its community standards.

maya.sweedler@latimes.com

Twitter: @mayasweedler
The Butler County Democrats of Missouri came out in full force this week to greet Sen. Claire McCaskill  all three dozen of them.

In the partys field office, the Democratic faithful cheered for their two-term senator and laughed at jokes about how her younger rival, Josh Hawley, cant keep up with her busy campaign schedule. But they also got a dose of electoral reality from one of Missouris last Democratic statewide officials.

I think we can all agree that Im probably not going to carry this county. Does everyone agree with that? McCaskill said in this southern stretch of Missouri, where gun shops advertise on the radio and billboards blare antiabortion messages. But that doesnt mean I dont show up, show respect and fight for every vote I can get.

McCaskill is one of the 10 so-called red-state Democrats: senators who are defending their seats this year in states won in 2016 by President Trump. They are among this elections most-watched races and will probably determine whether Republicans keep their 51-49 Senate majority or widen it.

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Republicans began salivating nearly two years ago at the idea that Democrats had to compete in such hostile territory, confident that Trump supporters in these states would make all 10 of the races competitive.

But in the final days before the midterm election, only one appears all but certain to flip to the GOP: in North Dakota, where Sen. Heidi Heitkamps vote against Trumps Supreme Court pick, Brett M. Kavanaugh, appeared to give the final boost to her challenger, Kevin Cramer.

Democrats are extremely comfortable in four of the 10 races  Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  and polls are trending positive for them in West Virginia.

Only four are considered true toss-ups by political pollsters and strategists: Indiana, Florida, Montana and Missouri, where McCaskill, who  in the closing days of the race  is courting Trump voters and dropping the word moderate as often as she can.

This week, McCaskill called for the federal government to block the caravan of Central American migrants working its way through southern Mexico and derided the crazy wing of her own party in radio ads. Trump has made the caravan one of his top issues, ordering 5,200 troops to the border.

Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly is also tacking to the right as he fights to hang on in Indiana, and Sen. Joe Manchin III has followed a similar strategy in West Virginia, where he has a sizable lead in the polls.

If I dont pick up Trump voters, Im not going to win, McCaskill told the Los Angeles Times between campaign stops. There is a whole swath of Missourians who dont make a decision based on party. They make each decision individually and look at pros and cons. I think the fact that Im a moderate and I get things done appeals to them.

Trump won the state by nearly 20 percentage points. But McCaskill is buoyed by the Missouri voters who cast ballots for both Trump and Democratic Senate candidate Jason Kander in 2016, and for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and her in 2012.

But that mixed-party voting didnt happen throughout the state. Voters in Butler County, where McCaskill stopped Tuesday, backed Trump by a whopping 80% in 2016. The president is returning to neighboring Cape Girardeau to rally his supporters to back Hawley, the state attorney general and Republican Senate hopeful. Trump was in Columbia, Mo., on Thursday.

McCaskill sees Trumps visits to Missouri as a good sign for her.

Ask yourself why the president is coming here twice in five days, she told the crowd at a stop in Cape Girardeau on the banks of the Mississippi River on Tuesday. Hes not coming here twice in five days because theyve got this wrapped up.

The rally is one of several that Trump is holding in the final days before the midterm election in many of the most contested Senate races. Hes making two trips each to Florida, Missouri and Indiana, and single trips to West Virginia, Montana, Ohio, Georgia (where there is no Senate race, but a highly contested battle for governor) and Tennessee (where Republicans are expected to hang on to a GOP-held seat).

The red-state Democrats have taken different paths to compete on Trumps playing fields.

Some, including Manchin and Donnelly, cozied up to Trump voters. Donnelly ran a television ad touting a GOP trifecta: support for the border wall, opposition to abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a quote from Republican President Reagan.

Manchins support for Kavanaugh was viewed as sealing his reelection effort. Heitkamp and Donnellys opposition to the nominee probably hurt them.

The Democrats who are considered safest today  including senators in Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania  kept a sizable distance from Trump, although their states had smaller Trump margins than others. And Democrats in Montana and Wisconsin probably benefited from GOP candidates who werent as formidable as some Republicans had hoped.

Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin has a double-digit lead over GOP challenger Leah Vukmir in a recent Marquette Law School poll, leading all demographic groups except white, non-college-educated men  a major Trump constituency that also supports Vukmir.

In Montana, Libertarian candidate Rick Breckenridge said Wednesday that he would exit the race, a move that may help bolster support behind Republican Matt Rosendale, who is trailing in the polls. Both major parties have put a significant investment into advertising there, a sign they view it as competitive.

Elsewhere, Democrats are trying to pick up a couple of GOP-held seats, though those opportunities are fewer. In Arizona  which was an open seat after the retirement of Republican Sen. Jeff Flake  the race is still a toss-up, as is the one in Nevada, where Republican Sen. Dean Heller is trying to defend his seat in a state that Hillary Clinton won in 2016.

The fact that half of the red-state Democrats seems to be safe and only one appears certain to lose is a setback for the GOP, which had expected to be doing much better.

Its a little bit disappointing because the map alone should be putting us in a position where we can pick up five or six seats, said GOP strategist Matt Mackowiak of Potomac Strategy Group. I think well never have a better map than this.

Certainly not in 2020, when the electoral math flips strongly toward the other side as Republicans defend nearly twice as many incumbent seats as Democrats.

One GOP strategist, granted anonymity to speak freely, blamed gaps in campaign donations.

Democratic enthusiasm is as high as it has ever been in a midterm, the strategist said. Democratic fundraising has far outpaced Republican fundraising. Its stunning how badly our candidates are being outraised.

McCaskill has outraised Hawley by a 4-1 ratio, an imbalance that should be insurmountable. But Trumps popularity in Missouri  particularly this far-southern part of the state known as the boot heel  is proving to be one of the most difficult for Democrats.

McCaskill and other red-state Democrats have leaned heavily on the GOP effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, noting that doing so would eliminate protections for people with preexisting conditions. McCaskill has tried to focus her race on the issue, hoping to take advantage of the fact that Hawley led a GOP lawsuit to try to repeal the healthcare law.

Hawley has run on immigration and border security and is closing his race with accusations that McCaskill has been in office too long. He frequently cited her 12 years in the Senate in their last debate.

Shes a liberal Democrat who has opposed the president at every turn, he said at the event.

McCaskill has been careful to aim her campaign fury at Hawley, not at the president.

Josh Hawley can call me old all day, McCaskill said in Cape Girardeau. But Ill tell you this: In terms of how hard were working on this campaign, he can eat my dust.

The latest from Washington 

jennifer.haberkorn@latimes.com

Twitter: @jenhab
Even as embattled Republican candidates across the country pledge to protect Americans with preexisting medical conditions, nearly all continue to resist extending health protections to their poorest constituents.

Republicans running for governor in states that have not expanded Medicaid to low-income adults through the Affordable Care Act almost universally oppose any coverage expansion through the government safety net program.

And in four states where voters will decide the fate of Medicaid expansion next week, the majority of Republican politicians have either remained silent or oppose the Medicaid ballot measures.

(Kyle Kim)

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Facing a barrage of attacks from Democrats for voting to scrap the 2010 healthcare law, often called Obamacare, Republican candidates in recent weeks have insisted they, in fact, have championed protections for patients with preexisting conditions.

But the wall of GOP resistance to Medicaid coverage risks undercutting that effort as well as leaving millions of low-income Americans in states from Florida to Texas to Wyoming without access to health insurance or regular medical care until at least the next election.

Healthcare experts see Medicaid as the most practical way to protect low-income Americans with preexisting medical conditions, as these patients would not otherwise be able to afford insurance protections.

Expanding Medicaid gives access to affordable coverage and care, regardless of health history, said Elizabeth Carpenter, senior vice president at Avalere Health, a consulting firm based in Washington, D.C.

The latest from Washington 

By opposing Medicaid protections, the GOP has also given Democrats a political weapon in a number of states with highly competitive governors races, including Florida and Georgia, where Democratic candidates have made Medicaid a key plank in their campaign platforms.

We should be expanding Medicaid and making sure everyone with a preexisting condition has the coverage they need when they need it, declared Andrew Gillum, the Democratic gubernatorial hopeful in Florida, where hundreds of thousands of uninsured people stand to gain coverage if the state expands Medicaid.

Floridas current governor, Republican Rick Scott, has been an opponent of Medicaid expansion. Scott is now running for Senate.

Medicaid is also figuring in close gubernatorial elections in Kansas, South Dakota and Wisconsin, where incumbent Republican Gov. Scott Walker has been among the most ardent opponents of the 2010 law.

On the campaign trail, Walker has insisted he would protect Wisconsin residents with preexisting conditions, although he continues to back a lawsuit that would strip such protections from the health law. For nearly five years, Walker has also blocked Medicaid expansion.

[Medicaid] is a very strong issue, even in red states like Oklahoma and Montana, said veteran Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, noting the program is viewed favorably by 60% to 65% of voters.

That is more popular than almost all of the politicians who oppose it, even in red states, she said.

Indeed, polling in the four red states where Medicaid expansion is on the ballot next week  Idaho, Montana, Nebraska and Utah  has shown solid public support for expansion, despite the resistance from GOP politicians.

The notable exception to that resistance is in Idaho, where the outgoing Republican governor, Butch Otter, this week announced his support for the Medicaid measure.

But Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little, the Republican running to replace Otter, has said there are better ways to help low-income patients without coverage, though he has not specified what those ways might be.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican who has spent years fighting Medicaid expansion in his state, has not taken a position on the states Medicaid ballot measure this year as he runs for reelection.

There are no governors races in Utah or Montana, but the GOP Senate candidates in both states  Mitt Romney and Matt Rosendale, respectively  have opposed expanding the safety net program through the healthcare law.

Romney, who helped expand coverage as governor of Massachusetts, opposes the Medicaid ballot measure in Utah. And Rosendale, a former state legislator, voted against expanding Medicaid in Montana. The expansion there is set to sunset next year unless voters decide to extend it.

Medicaid, the half-century-old government health plan for the poor, is a pillar of the healthcare laws program for guaranteeing coverage and has helped drive a historic drop in the nations uninsured rate.

The law makes hundreds of billions of federal dollars available to states to extend Medicaid coverage to poor adults, a population that had been largely excluded. Medicaid eligibility historically was limited to vulnerable populations, such as low-income children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Most states moved to expand eligibility as soon as the healthcare law made additional federal aid available. To date, 33 states and the District of Columbia have elected to expand.

GOP opposition -- concentrated in the Deep South and the Great Plains -- has left about 2.2 million low-income Americans without insurance protections in the states that havent expanded Medicaid, according to an analysis by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. Almost half of those uninsured people live in just two states, Florida and Texas.

Many Republicans have argued that the program is unaffordable and ineffective, though a growing body of research shows Medicaid significantly improves poor Americans access to vital medical care.

Across the country, most GOP candidates continue to make this argument.

In Florida, former Rep. Ron DeSantis, who as a member of Congress voted repeatedly to repeal the 2010 health law, released a healthcare plan last week that he said would protect access for patients with pre-existing conditions.

At the same time, though, DeSantis said he continues to opposes Medicaid expansion, arguing that the program should not serve able-bodied adults. That is not what Medicaid was designed for, he said.

DeSantis heath plan does not specify how these people should be able to get health coverage, especially if they are ill or cannot afford a commercial health plan.

Obamacare 101: A primer on key issues in the debate over repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. 

More stories from Noam N. Levey 

noam.levey@latimes.com

Twitter: @noamlevey
The Doing Business 2019: Training for Reform report measures regulations affecting ten areas, including starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

Accordingly, Vietnams EODB score this year is 68.36, 1.59 points higher than the score recorded in 2017, with its ten areas ranked between 21st (dealing with construction permits) and 133rd (resolving insolvency).

As evaluated by the WB, Vietnam has shown progress in reforming, contributing to facilitating businesses in starting business, paying taxes and enforcing contracts.

The top 10 economies in the WB's annual EODB ratings (Vietnam at 69th place).

Specifically, Vietnam has made starting a business easier by publishing the notice of incorporation online and by reducing the cost of business registration.

The country has also made paying taxes easier by no longer requiring hard copy submission of the value added tax return and allowing joint payments of the business license tax and value added tax. Vietnam also made paying taxes less costly by reducing the employers contribution to the labour fund.

In addition, Vietnam has made enforcing contracts easier by making the judgments rendered at all levels in commercial cases available to the public online.

In the WBs annual EODB rankings, the top 10 economies are New Zealand, Singapore and Denmark, which retain their first, second and third spots, respectively, for a second consecutive year, followed by Hong Kong (China), the Republic of Korea, Georgia, Norway, the United States, the United Kingdom and Macedonia.
President Trump declared a national emergency last week -- in a tweet.

Aiming his ire at a caravan of migrant families hundreds of miles from the United States, Trump vowed he was bringing out the military for a National Emergency. His administration then authorized sending more than 5,000 active-duty troops to the border.

But Trump has filed no legal proclamation declaring a national crisis as required under a 1976 law enacted to rein in abuses of executive power by granting presidents additional authorities only in specific instances and for a limited time frame.

For Trump, the caravan is an emergency merely because he said so.

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Critics said the presidents approach represents another measure of his willingness to act outside the bounds of his predecessors -- in this case using an official term to portray migrants as dangerous and to stoke public fears ahead of next weeks midterm elections.

They warned that Trump is priming supporters to place their faith solely in his judgment over what warrants an emergency response from the executive branch. Their fears grew more acute this month when the Federal Emergency Management Agency tested a new presidential alert system, which allows the White House to issue notifications to every cellphone in the nation.

Norman Ornstein, a political analyst at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said the 1976 National Emergencies Act was intended to offer the public a clear White House rationale for pursuing emergency actions -- a safeguard that Trump has circumvented with his impetuous nature and loose language.

The law is in some ways built on the assumption a president will use it appropriately when there is an emergency, Ornstein said. We have to challenge all our assumptions right now. I find it chilling.

Trumps predecessors often invoked the 1976 law when facing down crises they believed threatened the nation.

President George W. Bush, for instance, declared a national emergency on Sept. 14, 2001, in the wake of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Alerting Congress through a formal proclamation, Bush moved to gain additional legal powers over the U.S. military. Nine days later, he declared a second emergency - to pursue economic sanctions on terrorist groups.

Since running a campaign focused heavily on threats from abroad -- including immigration, terrorism and predatory trade -- Trump has sought to consolidate support from his base through a governing strategy that asserts national security concerns in all manner of foreign and domestic affairs. In doing so, he has aimed to use fear to advance his domestic agenda and build support for unilateral actions.

Without consulting Congress, Trumps administration has implemented a travel ban on residents of several majority-Muslim countries, slapped huge trade tariffs on China, stripped security clearances from former high-ranking U.S. officials who were critical of Trump and separated immigrant children from their families at the border.

Trump and his aides said the president is now weighing new executive orders intended to strip asylum protections from Central Americans in the caravan and end birthright citizenship for the children of immigrants in the country illegally.

Critics have pointed to the mass shooting that killed 11 Jewish congregants last weekend at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh as a potential consequence of the presidents fearmongering.

The suspect in the shooting, Robert Bowers, 46, of Baldwin, Penn., disliked Trump but was said to believe the migrant caravan was a Jewish conspiracy. Some of Trumps Republican allies, along with Fox News commentators, have fanned unsubstantiated allegations that George Soros, a wealthy Democratic donor who is Jewish, funded the caravan.

Trump uses a lot of talk thats not of a technical or legal manner, said Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the national security program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School. He could declare a national emergency to free up a number of statutory authorities, but its not clear what kind of authorities he wants to use here. More likely, its a rhetorical play to show how furious he is about this group of vulnerable migrants.

The law governing presidential emergency powers was enacted in response to concerns over abuses from President Nixon, who declared two national emergencies within 17 months.

In 1970, he called up the National Guard to help deliver mail during an eight-day postal strike; a year later, he implemented price controls on consumer goods for 90 days, delivering a temporary jolt to the economy in the run-up to the 1972 presidential election.

The new law required presidents to offer a legal rationale for the emergency powers they were seeking. Those powers would lapse within a year if they were not renewed, and Congress would have the authority to invalidate them.

But the law has not been as effective as intended, experts said. Presidents in successive administrations have repeatedly renewed emergency declarations since President Carter issued the first one during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979.

That emergency proclamation -- allowing the U.S. to block Iranian government properties -- remains in effect, along with 29 others issued by the presidents since Carter. President Clinton declared emergencies 17 times, President George W. Bush 12 and President Obama 13.

The law has been invoked most to enact economic sanctions on foreign entities, including North Korea and the Taliban, but the emergencies also have been used during an influenza outbreak in 2009 and to combat cyberattacks in 2015.

Presidents also have the power to mobilize emergency federal resources on a more regional level through the Stafford Act, which is typically used during hurricanes.

Trump has issued two new proclamations under the National Emergencies Act -- in December 2017, to issue economic sanctions against human rights abusers abroad, and, in September, to penalize foreign entities that attempt to interfere in U.S. elections.

Kim Lane Scheppele, a Princeton University international affairs professor, said Trumps rhetoric, while intemperate, would be more dangerous if he had better lawyers who were capable of translating his Twitter threats into legal rationales to tap into more emergency powers.

A lot of what Trump is doing is barking more than biting, said Scheppele, who specializes in constitutional and international law. Hes using the language, but its not tied to any legal thing.

But Jeh Johnson, who was Homeland Security secretary in Obamas second term, said Trump is reaching for exercises in presidential authority in search of a quick fix to the complicated problem of immigration flows.

Johnson recalled the public concern over an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Africa in 2014. The Obama administration considered invoking emergency authority to ban all travelers from Africa, he said, but settled on funneling air traffic from West Africa to five U.S. airports staffed with medical personnel to screen passengers.

We recognized there is no legal lever you can pull to close a 1,900-mile border, Johnson said. Of Trump, he added that the president looks at the caravan heading north as a direct challenge to his presidential authority to secure our borders. He wants to send a deterrent message to the migrants heading north, and he wants to show the voters before the midterms that he is sending it.

David Nakamura writes for the Washington Post.
President Trump suggested Wednesday that there might be truth to an unfounded conspiracy theory that philanthropist and Democratic mega donor George Soros is funding a caravan of Central American migrants, telling reporters that he wouldnt be surprised if that is the case.

As he left the White House, Trump was asked whether he thinks somebody is funding the migrant caravan that is slowly making its way through Mexico toward the U.S. border.

I wouldnt be surprised, yeah. I wouldnt be surprised, Trump responded.

Asked whether the funder could be Soros, Trump said: I dont know who, but I wouldnt be surprised. A lot of people say yes.

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Trumps comments came in the wake of Soros being targeted with a pipe bomb last week and the fatal shootings this weekend at a Pittsburgh synagogue by a suspect who posted frequently about the migrant caravan.

The White House did not immediately respond Thursday to a question about what evidence Trump has that points to the possibility that Soros, a wealthy Jewish donor, has funded a caravan that originated in Honduras.

How billionaire philanthropist George Soros became a favorite far-right target, especially in his native Hungary 

In the run-up to next weeks midterm elections, Trump has repeatedly pointed to the caravan as a symbol of what is wrong with U.S. immigration policy and blamed Democrats for not passing legislation in a Republican-controlled Congress.

Trump told reporters that he considers such caravans very dangerous, adding: Were not going to allow people to come into our country that dont have the well-being of our country in mind.

The theory about Soros funding the caravan dates to late March, when an earlier wave of migrants was heading north. The rumors circulated on Facebook groups and various right-wing websites, as well as on left-wing sites seeking to debunk them.

The rumors cropped up again in recent weeks when a new caravan started receiving attention among conservatives. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) posted a video on Twitter of someone supposedly handing cash to migrants to storm the U.S. border, and he asked, Soros?

Fox News host Laura Ingraham and Fox Business hosts Maria Bartiromo and Lou Dobbs have also raised the possibility that the caravan is getting outside funding.

Cesar Sayoc, the Florida man authorities have accused of mailing more than a dozen bombs to people who have criticized Trump, appeared to be obsessed with Soros, mentioning him dozens of times on one of his Twitter accounts.

Robert D. Bowers, charged with killing 11 people Saturday at a Pittsburgh synagogue, also reposted several viral comments on a since-deactivated social media account about the migrant caravan. One post described the third world caravan as a group of approaching invaders.

John Wagner writes for the Washington Post.
I and several readers were communicating recently about the practice of putting I, me or my first in a compound-noun phrase. In fact, two back-to-back emails posed the same question: Isnt it wrong to put oneself first in a compound subject?

For example, Carol in Glendale had come across a passage to the effect of I and my 13 fellow campers. She doesnt like that. Can you blame her?

Rod in Burbank found his fodder in this column. When writing about possessives recently, I had suggested the form Both my and my wifes families are based here in South Florida.

Rod was fine with the grammar but still thought the passage needed improvement.

My objection is a nongrammatical point. I was always taught that I came second. My wife and I went to South Florida, Rod wrote. Thus, by extension, the same rule that applies to I should also apply to my, Rod noted.

That would would give us Both my wifes and my families are based here in South Florida.

I agree with Carol and Rod. Both these passages would be better with the first-person pronoun in the second-place position.

As Rod pointed out, it has nothing to do with grammar. There are no grammar rules about how to order nouns or pronouns in a compound subject. Instead, its about etiquette and speaking or writing in natural-sounding language.

Its true that using the personal pronoun last when other pronouns are used in the same clause is considered polite, Merriam-Webster editor Emily Brewster advises in a blog post.

However, using a different order does not necessarily mean that one is being impolite. In fact, outside of formal contexts, using the first person pronoun before another pronoun is not a mistake and will not cause anyone to take offense, she added.

Often, putting the first-person pronoun first sounds strikingly unnatural: I and Joe are talking. Grammatically, thats no less appropriate than my and my wifes families, but if sounding natural is a goal  and it should be  compound subjects with I should put the I last.

Interestingly, putting the first-person pronoun first sounds more natural if you use the ungrammatical object form. Compare Me and Bobby are going to the park with I and Bobby are going to the park. The latter is grammatical, the former is not, yet the former sounds better.

That counts. If one structure sounds bad and another sounds normal, that alone is at least partial justification for using it. Thats because, in language, popularity is a form of legitimacy: We use the term idiomatic to describe this phenomenon.

In informal conversation, there is nothing impolite about the speaker using Me and Gorgie as the subject of a sentence; it merely serves to emphasize her own role in the making up that has happened, Brewster said.

However, because it is informal, it might show that the speaker does not use language in a formal or careful way; therefore, this word order might say something about the background or educational level of the speaker, she added.

In other words, if youre writing for business or academia or if you just care about sounding educated, avoid using me as a subject. But remember its the right form for an object: Do you want to join Georgie and me at the park? Here, me is correct because its the object of join: join me, not join I.

Likewise, if you care about sounding courteous, refer to yourself last in any compound subject.

But if youre just speaking casually to a friendly audience, just choose whichever pronoun and pronoun order seem most natural.

June Casagrande is the author of The Joy of Syntax: A Simple Guide to All the Grammar You Know You Should Know. She can be reached at JuneTCN@aol.com.
Award-winning choreographer and educator Donald McKayle was considered one of the pioneers of 20th-century modern dance. His pieces on the black experience in America still resonate.

He died April 6 at the age of 87. On Nov. 7, the UC Irvine Libraries will present Donald McKayle: Dancing for All Time at the UCI Student Center and Langson Library. The fall 2018 exhibition will open with a panel discussing the legacy of Donald Cohen McKayle, the son of Jamaican immigrants who was born in 1930 and raised in Harlem.

The panel will include the Donald McKayle Legacys Dennis Nahat, and Debbie Blunden-Diggs, the artistic director of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, which has staged some of McKayles signature works, such as Games and Rainbow Round My Shoulder. Jennifer Fisher, associate dance professor at UCI, will moderate.

I had the office next to his for 15 years, and all I can say is he was one of the legends of dance, said Fisher. When I arrived at UCI, I already knew what a great reputation he had.

To honor the late dancer and professor, the UCI Libraries is presenting its fall 2018 exhibition Donald McKayle: Dancing for All Time, which opens on Nov. 7. (File Photo)

McKayle was the first black artist to direct and choreograph major Broadway musicals, including Raisin, which won the Tony for Best Musical in 1974, and 1981s Sophisticated Ladies.

But he was not one of those star choreographers whod come in, choreograph, then leave for Broadway or Hollywood, said Fisher. Even when he officially retired (from UCI in 2010), he was always there in his office, meeting with students.

Indeed, as professor emeritus, McKayle continued to teach a class each year, despite needing a walker, then a wheelchair, even after recovering from brain-tumor surgery in 2014.

And he was always out supporting his fellow choreographers in the area  big show, small show, it didnt matter, said Fisher. Id hear him burst into song sometimes, whether (it was) a spiritual or from musical theater. Not hearing him sing in the halls is hard ... But theres great solace derived from having the works he left us.

Though he was a soft-spoken man, McKayle spoke up when necessary. Back when his dance troupe, Donald McKayle and Company, which performed from 1951 to 1969, was expected to appear on a Sunday morning cultural show on CBS, the TV producers requested McKayle remove the black members of his company before televising their performance of Games.

McKayle refused and pulled himself and his company out of the committment.

Donald had to walk a fine line in Jim Crow America and worked at the time of No Negroes Needed Today signs at auditions, Fisher said. And his experiences, as a black artist and black man in America, he kept putting on stage, in his works. His messages resonate more now than they did back when they were first done.

Because Fisher teaches dance analysis, theory and history, she said that McKayle would call her the history person.

I may have been a history person to him, she said. But to me, Donald McKayle was dance history.

Michael Rydzynski is a contributor to Times Community News.

IF YOU GO

What: UCI Libraries present Donald McKayle: Dancing for All Time, a retrospective exhibition on the life of the late Distinguished Professor of Dance

When: 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. Nov. 7

Where: UCI Student Center & Langson Library

Cost: Free

Information: (714) 824-4651, dance.arts.uci.edu/events
Newport Beach City Council candidate Joy Brenner received a letter this week from a law firm representing the city that alleges she improperly used photos of herself with uniformed city employees in campaign mailers.

The letter, dated Wednesday and signed by attorney Matthew Richardson of the firm Best Best & Krieger, told Brenner that the photos with Fire Chief Chip Duncan and Police Chief Jon Lewis could violate a state code that prohibits city employees from participating in political activities of any kind while in uniform.

Such use of a city uniform for political purposes is prohibited since it could be construed as a violation of the citys impartiality in the upcoming election, according to the letter. Moreover, distributing photos of uniformed city employees is against the best interest of the depicted employees who  through your campaign materials  are unintentionally violating the law.

The letter demanded that Brenner stop using such photos.

City Council candidate Joy Brenners campaign mailers included this photo of her with uniformed Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis. A city-retained law firm sent her a letter this week saying her use of the photo was improper under state law. (Best Best & Krieger)

The images in question include a photo of Brenner and Duncan at the groundbreaking in April for the new Corona del Mar library and fire station complex and a candid shot of Brenner and Lewis at a meeting of the Corona del Mar Residents Assn. Brenner is founder and chairwoman of the Friends of the CdM Library and a co-founder and former president of the residents association.

There is no indication on my flier that any city officials were endorsing me, said Brenner, who is trying to unseat incumbent Scott Peotter in council District 6 in next weeks election. The intent was to show the breadth of my involvement over the last 30 years in ways that have helped our community.

A mailer for Newport Beach City Council candidate Joy Brenner shows her, in the center, with Fire Chief Chip Duncan, right, at the April groundbreaking for the new library-fire station in Corona del Mar. (Best Best & Krieger)

The Newport Beach city clerks office said Thursday that the city has not sent similar letters to other candidates.

Earlier this week, the city posted an advisory on campaign materials on its website offering a reminder that city resources, including on-duty staff, cannot be used to support or oppose any candidate or ballot measure. The post did not single out any candidate.

The note told voters, Should you see a photo of a city event or program in a candidates campaign material that features city staff, that photo was used without city permission and it should not be interpreted that the candidate or issue has the support of the city or staff featured.

Costa Mesa mayoral candidate Katrina Foley and council hopeful Manuel Chavez also received warning letters in October from Best Best & Krieger, which also is representing that city, after the two used photos of uniformed city employees in campaign materials.

hillary.davis@latimes.com

Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD
Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates is requesting support from the City Council to bolster his team with three new employees to expedite a clampdown on illegal businesses.

Gates wants to hire an expert from the residential treatment industry and an investigator to gather evidence and support city code enforcement. He also wants to hire an attorney to focus solely on illegal businesses.

A detailed proposal will be presented to the City Council at its meeting Monday.

The hope and design is [that] going after illegal businesses will increase quality of life and residents experience throughout the city, Gates said. To do that, were going to need more resources.

On Oct. 12, Gates and the Orange County district attorneys office took legal action against what they believe are five illegal residential alcohol or drug rehabilitation facilities, also known as sober-living homes, in Huntington Beach.

The lawsuits contend the facilities are a public nuisance operating without proper licensing  violating Californias civil code and Huntingtons municipal code  and constitute unfair competition for legal businesses.

The action marked the first in a planned series of lawsuits after the City Council gave Gates the green light to partner with the district attorneys office to crack down on illegal in-home businesses.

Huntington Beach has about 100 sober-living homes, of which 50 to 75 are illegal, Gates said.

The city of Huntington Beach and the Orange County district attorneys office recently took legal action against facilities at these five locations throughout Huntington Beach. (Bing Maps / Daily Pilot)

The operations and property owners listed in the lawsuits  StepHouse Recovery Inc., Nevaeh Re 1, Coastline Recovery, David and Andrea Lacy and Anthony Roxstrom  have locations throughout Huntington Beach.

One of the facilities is in talks about shutting down, Gates said, though he declined to specify which one.

Increasing his team, Gates said, would help the city take on other types of illegal businesses as well, such as short-term rentals, marijuana dispensaries and massage parlors.

Short-term vacation rentals  typically residences rented out for 30 days or less  arent allowed in Surf City, but many are listed on online rental sites. Gates estimates the city has 700.

Illegal medical marijuana dispensaries and massage parlors are on a smaller scale, Gates said  about 12 dispensaries have been shut down in the past two years.

If the council does not accept Gates proposal to expand his staff, wed still move forward with our efforts to sue illegal businesses, just on a smaller scale, he said.

Priscella.Vega@latimes.com

Twitter: @vegapriscella
I will be voting to reelect Newport Beach council members Kevin Muldoon and Diane Dixon. As a member of Citizens Against Airport Noise and Pollution, I have witnessed their work on behalf of residents to reduce noise and pollution generated by John Wayne Airport. They have attended our meetings, been responsive to our concerns, have worked on behalf of Newport Beach residents and have taken action.

Susan Mennings criticism of Muldoon and Dixons trip to Washington, D.C. is unwarranted (Mailbag: Consider airport issues when voting, Oct. 5). Thanks to the efforts of community leaders, like Dixon and Muldoon, and the legislators who supported the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018, new measures have been implemented to help protect the quality of life of people living near airports. With the recent passage of the new legislation there is hope that the concerns of communities impacted by airports will be considered.

I thank Muldoon and Dixon for their dedication to this issue. Thanks also to Councilman Jeff Herdman and City Council candidates Tim Stoaks and Joy Brenner, who have repeatedly addressed the airport issue. These outstanding individuals have contributed time and energy to understanding the impact JWA has on Newport Beach and are doing something about it. Keep up the good work and know that your efforts are not going unnoticed and are very much appreciated.

Beverly Moosmann

Newport Beach

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Test candidates in search of office

I propose radically changing the way we vote for public servants. Eliminate campaign funding, commercials and mailers. Instead, make every candidate take a two-hour public servant aptitude test. The test would gauge and score each candidate on their abilities, skills, intelligence, experience, beliefs and ideology. They would also have to write an essay on what they propose to do in their position. They would have to take this test live and in person with no smartphones or notes. All scores would be made available to the public to review and decide which candidates best fills the role for the job.

Russ Niewiarowski

Newport Beach

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48th District needs a moderate

I think it is astonishing that voters in the 48th District, given the opportunity to vote for an exciting, energetic and moderate new candidate such as Democrat Harley Rouda, would cast a ballot instead for Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa). Isnt it time that we elected someone with fresh ideas that focus on all aspects of our lives?

We have the opportunity to send a stellar candidate to represent us in Washington. Lets not let that great opportunity pass us by. The whole country is watching us.

Lynn Lorenz

Newport Beach

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Harley Rouda can cross party lines

I believe candidate Harley Rouda will work across party lines and accomplish things that are beneficial for the 48 District and our country.

Nancy Smith

Newport Beach

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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.
About five years ago, K-12 educational leaders across the country came to a disturbing realization:

Civics instruction wasnt just bad, it was abysmal.

One national study circulated at the time found that only 23% of eighth-graders were proficient or better in civics. According to another report, just 13% of high school seniors had a solid understanding of U.S. history, and less than half saw reason to become involved in state and local issues.

Ignorant, disinterested kids turn into adults who are equally apathetic. A 2016 survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, for instance, found that only 26% of Americans can name all three branches of government  a significant decline from previous years.

Many educators have long realized that something needed to be done to course correct, or else we would continue to produce generations of high school graduates who were clueless and cared little about the most basic facts regarding how our government works.

Here in California, where the voter participation rate for 18-to-24-year-olds has consistently fallen well below other age groups, that mission was taken seriously.

In 2013, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye established a committee of educators and leaders in law and business, which teamed up with Tom Torlakson, then state superintendent of public instruction, to develop a plan for getting civics instruction back on track.

In fact, the resulting task force considered this mission so important that it defined its goals broadly and deeply. It aimed not just to achieve a modicum of improvement, but to aggressively address widespread apathy among the electorate, low voter participation and a generally dismal understanding of governmental operations  and that effort would be centered around K-12 education.

Educators have blamed the decline in civics education largely to the outsized importance placed on standardized testing scores, which resulted in students being drilled in math and English while other subjects were given short shrift.

But with the change to Common Core State Standards underway, the time was seen as ripe for revamping civics instruction to align with the new emphasis on critical thinking over rote memorization.

The task forces recommendations included introducing new curriculum emphasizing civics in every grade, involving students in school government, additional teacher training and partnerships with government, business and nonprofits.

Then, in September 2014, a bill was passed, which Gov. Jerry Brown later signed into law, requiring history and social studies standards to integrate civic knowledge and skills into all grade levels.

Since then, the changes have been working their way into our schools, and that is indeed a positive step.

But more must be done, and thats where  as with all matters involving children and education  parents play a critical role.

And what better time than now, with an important election coming in a few days, to teach kids about our rights and responsibilities in a functioning democracy? Its the perfect teachable moment.

If you think your lessons will be met with blank stares or eye rolls, you might be surprised to learn that child development specialists say that, contrary to what many of us might believe, most kids are very interested in learning about politics and the outcome of elections. They want to understand whats going in in their world, how certain positions and policies could affect them, and how they can make a difference.

Of course, for parents to teach their children, they must first educate themselves.

Elections arent just about the high-profile national offices, and the well-being of our communities isnt solely dependent on decisions made at the federal level. Choices made at the state, county and city level often have more direct impact on our lives; its crucial that we know who is representing us, what they stand for, and how they propose to deal with the issues that we care about.

For instance, two candidates are facing off for the job of Californias superintendent of public instruction, and the outcome of that contest will surely have repercussions for the direction of public education throughout the state. Local school board contests also bear close examination.

Do you know what the state Board of Equalization does? If not, then find out. (Hint: It has to do with taxes, and I know we all care about those.)

Whats more, we have 11 state propositions on the ballot this election, some controversial, some of which have garnered little attention so far. Study them all, read up on the arguments for and against  from reputable sources, not social media  and make informed decisions.

Then talk to your kids about all of it. Let them know how you are voting and why, and ask what they think. Encourage them to learn about candidates and issues, and to come to their own conclusions, even if their views differ from yours.

Most important, experts say, is for us to lead by example. Let your children see you reading your voter information guide and, if possible, filling out your ballot. Show them that you are excited to participate in our democratic process and grateful to have a voice.

The effort to incorporate more civics instruction in schools is a welcome development, but raising informed, involved citizens begins at home, with informed, involved parents.

Patrice Apodaca is a former Los Angeles Times staff writer and co-author of A Boy Named Courage: A Surgeons Memoir of Apartheid. She lives in Newport Beach.
Hundreds of students enrolled in grades seven through 12 received a preview of the working world at the second Challenge Success: Building Your Path event held Saturday morning at the La Canada High School campus.

For more than three hours, leaders with local ties, representing various industries throughout Los Angeles County, spoke in classroom break-out sessions about their jobs and career paths. Longtime civic leader and La Canada Flintridge Mayor Terry Walker also spoke on her unique journey to her current position heading up the City Council.

A districtwide initiative since 2017, Challenge Success is a research-based program from Stanford Universitys Graduate School of Education, which partners with schools, families and communities to promote a broader definition of success to support students who are healthy and engaged.

LCHS sophomore Claire Saydeh sat engaged listening to Kai Ryssdal, a La Canada resident and host of Marketplace on National Public Radio. Ryssdal has children in the local school system.

After hearing the radio hosts presentation, Saydeh said she had not originally planned to attend Saturdays event until a friend told her about the really cool people speaking.

I came here to get a feel of the different industries to get into and what they are, she said. Its really interesting to hear how these people got to where they are. I never thought about going into journalism until my mom told me to listen to this guy on the radio.

Actor Courtney Vance, another La Canadan, gave the mornings keynote address, titled Theres no Magic Pill - You Gotta Work! An Emmy award-winning actor, Vance studied history at Harvard, then made a career in Hollywood. One of his most notable roles was portraying Johnnie Cochran in the FX series The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story. He currently has roles coming up in Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions Ben is Back and also plays a pivotal role in HBOs upcoming drama horror series Lovecraft Country. He recently played a role in Wes Andersons Fox Searchlight animated film Isle of Dogs.

Youve got to get that silver spoon out, said Vance, who worked various odd jobs when he was young, such as delivering newspapers and cleaning toilets. Youve got to get in there and get dirty.

He added that it is wonderful to be able to address members of his community to, in essence, help promote the ideal for local students to dream big.

James Cartnal, executive director of student programs and services, said what the school is trying to emphasize with the Challenge Success initiative is that the route to success is varied and a zig-zag path.

Mimi Aung, project manager at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, gave the final keynote address of the day, speaking on the design of the Mars helicopter. In her breakout session to a packed classroom, Aung discussed the different engineering specializations available to students considering a career in science and engineering.

Its a special kind of engineering, she said about her role dealing with an apparatus going into space. You cant go in and make repairs when something breaks.

She told students to take advantage of these useful years in school to figure out how to advance their talents. Aung highlighted the work of investor Elon Musk, the chief executive and co-founder of SpaceX and Tesla Inc. She asked attendees what they would like to invent in the future, citing the high-speed Hyperloop proposal that would connect Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay Area with heavily reduced travel time.

A plane ride to New York is five hours, she said. It would be nice to meet a friend in New York for lunch and be back here [soon thereafter].

Aung said she is honored to talk to the students and the local community about what she does. Engineering is fundamental and cross-generational. Im instilling the idea of how fundamental engineering is to the standard of living, she said.

Writer, producer and director Tamika Miller talked to students about her participation in a Doritos commercial contest where, although she did not make the final cut, she got a chance, and helped her forward the movement of getting more women and people of color into directing commercials.

When asked what you do, claim it, speak it, she told her audience. Dont be shy about it.

Seventh-grade student Rose Miller said Millers talk motivated her.

I like to write stories, she said. She gave me inspiration for writing and creating things.

Matt Sanderson is a contributing writer to Times Community News.
With the November midterm election just days away, locals on both sides of the aisle are busy educating themselves on ballot measure language and campaigning at home and in districts where favorable voter turnout could give their parties a foothold.

In recent meetings of the Republican Club of the Foothills and the Canada Crescenta Democratic Club, members have been discussing key issues and races most likely to impact local constituents.

Basically, what were trying to do is endorse our candidates and do a little precinct walking, said Leo Walker, an Alhambra resident who hosts monthly Republican Club meetings at the Community Center of La Canada Flintridge the last Friday of every month.

Walker said a particular area of focus for local Republicans is Californias 28th Congressional District, where nine-term incumbent Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) faces newcomer candidate and businessman Johnny Nalbandian.

Nalbandian actually has a plan to help homeless people get off the streets, and the membership is pretty excited about that, he said. Schiff is ignoring the issues  hes so busy with a massive case of I hate Trump and you should, too hes not really gotten much done thats practical for his district.

Area Democrats take a different view.

Susan Mastrodemos, vice president of the Canada Crescenta Democratic Club, arrangers speakers and sets monthly agendas for meetings that take place every third Sunday at La Crescentas Center for Spiritual Living.

The La Canada resident said area Democrats feel solidly represented in Congress and the state Legislature by politicians like Schiff, so are instead canvassing in nearby swing districts where voters supported Hilary Clinton for president in 2016 but elected Republican representatives to Congress.

Its big-picture thinking, because the party that controls the Congress [appoints] the chairman of every committee and the Speaker of the House, Mastrodemos said.

Other issues getting local attention are Proposition 6  an effort to repeal the SB-1 gas and vehicle registration tax implemented last November to fund transportation projects  and Proposition 10, which would let cities expand rent control by lifting restrictions of the 1995 Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act.

Walker said Republicans support Proposition 6, because its a financial drain on all Californians but only benefits a few, while Proposition 10 is an idea that would worsen the housing crisis by putting the squeeze on landlords.

It has been said the quickest way to destroy a city is through rent control, he added.

Mastrodemos said Democrats see Proposition 10 as a first step in allowing cities that may wish to establish rent control measures for units built after 1995 but are currently barred from doing so by Costa Hawkins. Alternatively, theyre against repealing a gas tax, whose coffers have already earmarked $12 million in sound walls for La Canada Flintridge.

Thats one place where we can see the gas tax is important to our lives, Mastrodemos said.

Another ballot measure attracting vocal supporters and critics is Proposition 3, the Water Supply and Water Quality Act, would approve an $8.-billion general obligation bond to provide drinking water supply and services for disadvantaged California communities.

Supporters  including Foothill Municipal Water District, the Arroyo Seco Foundation and the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy  say the measure would help increase storm-water capture and help protect supplies from earthquakes and other natural disasters.

Opponents include the Sierra Club of California, the California League of Women Voters and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. Their claim is the $17.3 billion it would take to pay back the bond with interest would go mainly to special interest groups and not building dams to capture water.

Locally, statistics provided by the L.A. County Registrar-Recorders Office show the total voter registration for La Canada Flintridge at 14,781 as of Tuesday, a decrease of 271 voters from data provided just before the 2016 presidential election.

An analysis of party preference shows a continued decrease in the number of La Canadans registered as Republicans  from 6,182 in 2016 to 5,468 this year  while registered Democrats increased by just eight voters from 4,822 to 4,831 in the same time period.

County registrar figures also show the number of voters who declined to state a party preference has steadily risen in the past decade, from 2,486 in 2008 to 4,070 in the current election cycle.

Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine
On the opening night of the festival, the audience enjoyed the performances by local artist Thu Le, Lorenzo Bernadi from Italy and French artist Gerard Abiton with their "Chaconne" performance - a classical structure composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in the baroque era.

In addition, 40 young guitarists from Hanoi, HCM City, Can Tho and the Conservatory of HCM jointly performed new guitar accompaniments at the event.

The festival introduces audiences to five special concerts with unique music space, including the "Festivals nocturne concert, inspired by the Serenade work of talented musician Franz Schubert, on the evening of November 1.

On November 2, the city's guitar lovers will be introduced to the modern guitar models in the trend of international integration made by young artist Tran Dinh Vu. On the same day, there will be an exchange and joint performance by artists from Japan and Vietnam, entitled "Friendship concert".

A joint performance by guitarists Lorenzo Bernardi of Italy (L) and Thu Le from the host country. (Photo: VNA)



The following evening will feature a concert entitled "Romance in the Night" with the participation of artists Salvatore Fodera (Italy) and Paul Cesarczyk (Poland).

"The Magic of the Guitar" concert will wrap up the festival on the night of November 4, featuring the performance by Japanese guitarist Tomonori Arai and the solo performance from guitarist Rene Izquierdo (Cuba-US).

In addition to the concerts, the organisers are also holding a guitar competition on the Southeast Asian scale, with three categories featuring an open contest, a competition for candidates under 18 years old and an amateur event for Vietnamese candidates, thereby motivating the development of classical guitar among Vietnamese youngsters.

Speaking at the opening, Associate Professor, Dr. Ta Quang Dong, Director of the Conservatory of HCM City, said that starting in 2014, the festival has become a special culture of HCM City, offering a chance for young Vietnamese guitar talents to exchange with famous guitarists from around the world to learn and improve their experience.
The Los Angeles County Public Works Departments effort to remove sediment build-up from behind Devils Gate Dam has been an uphill battle thats lasted nearly a decade as the agency has dealt with environmentalists lawsuits and ongoing public scrutiny.

Now, as county engineers move forward with their four-year plan to remove 1.7 million cubic yards of dirt and Station fire debris from Hahamongna Park, theyll have a new challenge on their hands  La Canada Unified School District parents.

On Tuesday, a small but determined group of parents attended the regular meeting of the school board, where a presentation on the sediment removal process was on the agenda. They shared their worries about the potential health impacts to students of the 425 round-trip truck trips proposed in the project.

Their main objection was that the countys environmental review did not analyze the amount of ultrafine particulate matter recent studies have shown is emitted from diesel trucks and has cancer-causing potential.

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy science teacher and LCUSD mom Elizabeth Krider said current standards dont recognize ultrafine particulate matter, having a diameter of .1 micron or smaller, because scientific studies showing higher health risks than previously imagined are fairly recent.

When the environmental analysis was done [the county] used an old equation, Krider said. The best thing we can do  is to persuade them to incorporate the new science, to think about reducing the truck trips or changing the type of truck  because you dont want our kids to be the experiment.

School board President Kaitzer Puglia assured parents district officials are just as concerned. LCUSD has submitted formal comments and passed board resolutions about the potential health risks of the hauling route being near so many La Canada educational institutions, including La Canada High School.

Chief technology officer Jamie Lewsadder said the district purchased air quality meters and will soon begin collecting baseline data that students can potentially use in their own science classes.

Parents said theyd scheduled a meeting with a field representative from L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger to share the data and see what more could be done. Last year, Barger made a motion to reduce the amount of sediment removed from 2.4 million cubic feet to 1.7 million.

San Fernando Valley Pediatrician and LCUSD parent Dr. Elizabeth Evans said the World Health Organization recently declared small-particle air pollution was the No. 1 risk to children worldwide. She thanked the district for promising to monitor air quality.

You cannot rely on the companies that are doing this work to tell you if they are meeting air quality standards or not. We need to have that information ourselves, she said.

Together, officials and parents promised to enlist help from researchers, possibly from USC and the neighboring Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in gathering data that could help them in their fight.

Sinnettes contract extended

With no objections Tuesday, board members extended Supt. Wendy Sinnettes contract with La Canada Unified through July 31, 2022, with an annual salary of $260,916.

Sinnettes new earnings reflect a 2% pay increase over her previous $255,800  a raise granted to all employees in the Confidential, Managerial, Supervisory and Administrative Assn.

Because that increase is retroactive to July 1 of this year, the superintendent will receive the retroactive pay as a one-time lump sum of $6,821. Board members enthusiastically supported the extension.

Wendys phenomenal, and its great shes willing to stick around another four years, said board member Dan Jeffries.

Im very grateful and fortunate to be able to work with all of you, Sinnette told board and cabinet members.

YMCA to offer school-site fitness for district employees

Full-time LCUSD employees will soon be able to take small group training sessions provided by YMCA of the Foothills on the district school campuses, after board members approved allowing Supt. Sinnette to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Y.

Under the agreement, all full-time teachers, classified employees and administrators are eligible for free individual Y memberships (to be renewed annually), which entitles them to take part in the school-site classes, explained YMCA of the Foothills chief executive Tyler Wright.

Somebody asked me a few months ago, Whats in it for you? Wright said. Whats in it for us is a better community, a better educational institution, better teachers and better students  isnt that enough?

Independent PE classes at LCHS 7/8 shaping up

In other news, school board members continued to discuss an option that would allow La Canada High 7/8 students who were elite athletes or had doctors excuses to opt out of regular physical education classes while still meeting state standards.

One method would be to provide a standards-aligned online course of study students could take on their own time. That, along with the regular state-mandated physical fitness test, would meet California Education Department mandates, said Assistant Supt. of Educational Service Anais Wenn.

Wenn and Sinnette explained students who opt out would not be allowed to remain on campus during sixth period, to avoid creating a need for staffing or supervision. Board members directed Wenn to continue refining language with the districts legal counsel before bringing the item back for approval.

sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine
The Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii Island plays a starring role in the movie Stoke, which visitors and locals can see when it debuts at the Hawaii International Film Festival on Nov. 10. The film tells the story of an L.A. tourist and her wannabe guides who go off sightseeing and find themselves mesmerized by the power of Kilauea.

It was shot in 2017, before Kilaueas violent eruptions and quakes that started May 3 and lasted three months. The plot taps into the experience many travelers feel on a first visit to Hawaii when they encounter nature at its most extreme.

Caitlin Holcombe plays Jane, a privileged lawyer from L.A., who arrives at Kilauea Volcano on vacation. The lava flow behind the actress is real.; it was filmed in 2017 before the major eruptions this summer. (Larkin Pictures)

Sometimes they dont realize theyre coming here to be humbled, but thats ultimately what happens when they arrive, said co-director Zoe Eisenberg.

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In Stoke, the tourist, Jane, goes from Kailua-Kona on the west side of Hawaii Island to the lava fields nearly 100 miles away. The volcano that leaves her awestruck in the movie also provided amazing lava-viewing opportunities in real life last spring.

A river of lava flows to the sea on July 27. (U.S. Geological Survey)

Kilauea also destroyed roughly 800 homes, not far from where Eisenberg lives. This led the writer-producer to worry about how locals would react to the film, her fourth.

We actually did a test screening, specifically inviting residents of Puna, she said. Some had lost their homes in the flow. So we invited a lot of people who had been directly impacted by the volcano to see how they would react to it. The reaction was really positive. They were really moved by it because of the way the story mirrors what happened.

The volcanos eruptions from May to August lured some tourists to Hawaii Island to witness them firsthand, but far more stayed away. The Hawaii Tourism Authority blamed a 14% drop in visitor arrivals and spending in September on misperceptions about the distance of resort areas of the island from the volcano.

A scientist observes the eruption from Kilauea Volcanos Fissure 8 on July 22. (U.S. Geological Survey)

Stoke will have its first public screening at 8:15 p.m. Nov. 10 with a second showing at noon Nov. 11, both at the Regal Dole Cannery in Honolulu. The movie also will be shown at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 at the historic Hilo Palace Theater on Hawaii Island.

In all, over nearly four weeks, more than 185 films from 35 countries will be screened on four islands. Check out the film festivals schedule, which Includes movies and related events Nov. 8-18 on Oahu, Nov. 15-18 on Kauai, and Nov. 29-Dec. 2 on Hawaii and Maui.

Tickets cost $10 for matinees and $14 for shows starting after 5 p.m. Passes good for all festival events cost $400.

Info: Hawaii International Film Festival

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travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel
When Indian prime minister Narendra Modi unveiled the tallest statue in the world Wednesday, he traveled to a small spot called Sadhu Bet on the Narmada River in the state of Gujarat.

And thats a problem.

Indian workers at the construction site of the Statue of Unity a week before the unveiling Wednesday. (Divyakant Solank / EPA/Shutterstock)

The remote location in northwestern India isnt easy to get to, which will make it tough for tourists to visit the statue of independence leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, whose 597-foot-tall bronze body is almost double the height of the Statue of Liberty.

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India just unveiled the worlds largest statue, but who is Sardar Patel? 

The nearest town to the newly minted statue of independence leader is Kevadia, a place with no airport and no public transit, according to the Indian news website The Print.

The biggest problem right now for tourists will be to get from Kevadia to the statue itself, because there are no taxi or bus services, a story posted on the website said. Tourists will have to rely on auto-rickshaw drivers, who may charge exorbitant prices. Language could also prove to be a barrier, given the tribal-dominated nature of the region.

The nearest airports are in the towns of Vadodara, Surat and Ahmedabad; the closest one (Vadodara) is 60 miles away, and connections by bus or train take a long time.

Still, plans call for developing the area around the newly minted landmark with a three-star hotel, boat rides on the Narmada River and a highway linking Kevadia to the site. Officials are expecting 15,000 tourists will visit each day.

The installation of the Statue of Unity, which portrays Sardar Vallabhbhai Pate. (Divyakant Solank / EPA/Shutterstock)

The statue features two high-speed elevators inside that will whisk visitors to a viewing area (roughly around the statues chest) of the river, nearby hills and the dam.

Theres also a museum inside, and a designated selfie spot planned outside.

By the numbers, the statue was cast from about 1,700 tons of bronze and cost $430 million. It beat out the 420-foot Spring Temple Buddha in China, which took more than a decade to build starting in 1997.

Tickets cost less than $5 (350 Indian rupees) to visit the statue, which is open daily.

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Catch a set by political satirist Mort Sahl on a Weekend Escape to Mill Valley

travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel
In an effort to boost voting by active military personnel, absentee ballots were made available in an election in Los Angeles County in 1945.

A story in the March 12, 1945, Los Angeles Times reported, In a joint statement, John Barcome, chairman of the Republican County Central Committee, and Michael D. Fanning, chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee, have made a nonpartisan appeal to servicemen to apply for absentee ballots so that they may vote in the April 3 primary election.

A brief in the March 16, 1945, Los Angeles Times reported, Seaman Robert L. Pierce, on leave from the Navy Torpedo Squadron,  was the first serviceman to cast an absentee ballot in the April 3, municipal primary election.

See more from the Los Angeles Times archives here
For two and a half years, former President Mohamed Nasheed watched from exile as his political allies and democratic activists were jailed and targeted by an increasingly authoritarian government on his island nation, the Maldives.

Nasheed returned to the Indian Ocean archipelago Thursday to a joyous welcome as yellow-clad party activists and flag-waving supporters poured into confetti-strewn streets in the cramped capital of Male.

The homecoming of the islands first democratically elected president was the clearest sign of the political transition taking shape in the Maldives, where incumbent President Abdulla Yameen has pledged to step aside after losing reelection to a member of Nasheeds Maldivian Democratic Party.

Im extremely grateful to the people of the Maldives for having lived with hope, Nasheed said Thursday before arriving in Male from Colombo, Sri Lanka. They always believed that things would change.

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Former President Mohamed Nasheed, right, and President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih walk to a rally in Male, Maldives, after Nasheed returned from exile. (Ahmed Shurau / AFP/Getty Images)

The Maldives  a string of coral islands better known for luxury beach resorts  has emerged as a possible bright spot for democracy in South Asia, which has seen an election in Pakistan marred by military interference, a bloody pre-poll crackdown in Bangladesh and now a messy crisis in Sri Lanka, where a dictatorial former president has returned to power in what critics call a constitutional coup.

Nasheed, 51, has lived in exile since early 2016, when he was granted asylum in Britain. He had just begun serving a 13-year prison sentence for a terrorism conviction that United Nations and human rights groups said was marked by a lack of due process.

Nasheeds allies said the case was orchestrated by his rival Yameen. During five turbulent years in power, Yameen manipulated the judiciary, muzzled the press and jailed or exiled all of his major opponents.

He also allegedly profited from a scheme to lease dozens of islands to tourism developers at reduced cost, robbing the country of tens of millions of dollars in revenue.

While in exile, Nasheed divided his time between Britain and Sri Lanka while continuing to lead his party. He had hoped to run in the election, but after he was disqualified due to the conviction, he threw his support behind Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, a consensus opposition candidate.

Read more: The Times profiled Nasheed during his exile in Sri Lanka 

The low-key Solih, a veteran opposition lawmaker, flew to Sri Lanka to meet Nasheed a day earlier so that the pair could arrive in Male together. They walked to a rally on the capitals seafront clasping hands in a show of unity.

He is the main person that represents freedom to the people of the Maldives, the president-elect said. They are waiting for his arrival.

Solih captured 58% of the vote in a stunning victory in the Sept. 23 election. Just as surprisingly, Yameen agreed to step aside without much of a fight.

Days later, Nasheed announced his intent to return to the Maldives come what may.

He faced the prospect of arrest upon his arrival until this week, when the countrys highest court suspended the warrant until his appeal could be heard.

That made his homecoming a happy one. Joining him on the flight from Colombo were his wife, Laila Ali, and some two dozen friends, family members and party activists, many of whom had lived in self-exile and were returning to the Maldives after years.

Laila and I are both looking forward to coming home. pic.twitter.com/UCQql9rh2m  Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) October 31, 2018

Among them was Ahmed Abbas, a political cartoonist who was briefly banned from traveling by the Yameen government, then fled to Sri Lanka around the same time as Nasheed.

I saw this as the chance to go home, Abbas said. We are happy. But we cant be 100% relaxed until this current government is out of power.

A former journalist who gained international attention as an advocate for climate justice a decade ago, Nasheed is regarded by supporters as the Maldives father of democratic reforms.

He led the fight against the 30-year dictatorship of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and founded the Maldivian Democratic Party during a previous stint in exile, which ended in 2005. He was jailed more than a dozen times before winning the Maldives first multiparty elections in 2008.

It is not clear what role he will play in Solihs administration, but Nasheed said he would work to ensure that Solihs broad coalition  including secular and Islamist parties  holds together.

I see my function as making sure that President Solihs government remains stable, Nasheed said.

Among Solihs challenges will be managing the Maldives tourism-dependent economy, which has racked up large debt to China from massive infrastructure projects championed by Yameen. Nasheed says the Chinese contracts carry onerous repayment terms that in a couple of years will exceed the entire budget of the country, home to fewer than half a million people.

Several political prisoners and opponents have been freed or returned from exile in the weeks since the election. Nasheeds arrival followed the return last month of Qasim Ibrahim, a tourism magnate who spent several months in Germany after being convicted of plotting to overthrow Yameens government.

shashank.bengali@latimes.com

Shashank Bengali is South Asia correspondent for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @SBengali

UPDATES:

11:35 a.m.: This article was updated with additional background.

This article was originally published at 6:10 a.m.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman described slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi as a dangerous Islamist days after his disappearance in a phone call with President Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and national security advisor John Bolton, according to people familiar with the discussion.

In the call, which occurred before the kingdom publicly acknowledged killing Khashoggi, the crown prince urged Kushner and Bolton to preserve the U.S.-Saudi alliance and said the journalist was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group long opposed by Bolton and other senior Trump officials.

The attempt to criticize Khashoggi in private stands in contrast to the Saudi governments later public statements decrying the journalists death as a terrible mistake and a terrible tragedy.

The incident that happened is very painful, for all Saudis, the crown prince, the kingdoms de facto leader, said during a panel discussion last week. The incident is not justifiable.

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The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Khalid bin Salman, described Khashoggi last month as a friend who dedicated a great portion of his life to serve his country.

In a statement released to the Washington Post, Khashoggis family called the characterization of the columnist as a dangerous Islamist inaccurate.

Jamal Khashoggi was not a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. He denied such claims repeatedly over the past several years, the family said. Jamal Khashoggi was not a dangerous person in any way possible. To claim otherwise would be ridiculous.

A person familiar with the discussion said Bolton did not signal he endorsed the crown princes characterization of Khashoggi during the call.

A Saudi official on Wednesday denied that the crown prince made the allegations, saying routine calls do exist from time to time with the young leader and top U.S. officials, but no such commentary was conveyed.

Saudi Arabia has faced international condemnation for its shifting accounts of Khashoggis Oct. 2 disappearance at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. The kingdom initially said Khashoggi walked out of the consulate unharmed, then announced that Saudi agents killed him in an accidental fistfight and more recently said it had evidence that his killing was premeditated.

Analysts said the crown princes efforts to discredit Khashoggi in private suggested a two-faced attempt at damage control. This is character assassination added to premeditated murder, said Bruce Riedel, a former CIA official and scholar at the Brookings Institution.

The White House declined to discuss sensitive conversations with the Saudis or to say how many phone calls the crown prince and Kushner have had since Khashoggis disappearance. The two men have had multiple discussions, according to people familiar with the matter.

Officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic.

Other Middle East leaders have also come to the crown princes defense. In recent days, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have reached out to senior officials in the Trump administration to express support for the crown prince, arguing that he is an important strategic partner in the region, said people familiar with the calls.

Israel, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have united behind the Trump administrations efforts to bring pressure on Iran and force through a Middle East peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Other U.S. allies, notably Germany, Britain and France, have expressed serious concern about the killing of Khashoggi, who wrote articles critical of the Saudi leadership in the Washington Post.

In response to the killing, the Trump administration has revoked the visas of or made travel ineligible for 21 Saudi nationals implicated by Turkey and Saudi Arabia in Khashoggis death.

As U.S. officials contemplate a more robust response, Kushner has emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Saudi alliance in the region, said people familiar with the conversations. Other officials at the State Department and Pentagon, however, have said the options under consideration could include a clear discipline of the Saudi government, an end to the Saudi-led blockade of Qatar and a winding down of the war in Yemen. Officials cautioned that no decision has been made, and Trump has expressed little desire to significantly alter U.S.-Saudi-relations, but there is an interest in a full vetting of the potential options.

Kushners careful efforts to cultivate a relationship with the heir to the Saudi throne makes him a critical voice in deciding the Trump administrations response. After several private talks early in the administration, Kushner championed Mohammed bin Salman as a reformer poised to usher the ultraconservative, oil-rich monarchy into modernity. Kushner privately argued for months last year that Mohammed would be key to crafting a Middle East peace plan, and that, with the princes blessing, much of the Arab world would follow.

It was Kushner who pushed his father-in-law to make his first foreign trip to Riyadh, against the objections of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and warnings from Defense Secretary James N. Mattis. In the early days of the administration, Kushner often preferred to talk to the crown prince privately, but now coordinates his conversations with the National Security Council.

Kushner visited the crown prince at his palace during a October 2017 trip so secret that it caught some White House and intelligence officials by surprise. The two 30-somethings stayed up late into the evening alone discussing the prospects of Kushners Middle East peace plan. A few days later, the prince ordered the house arrest of dozens of rival royals and imprisonment of other enemies in a bid to solidify his control of the government. The White House and the Saudis have denied that Kushner approved the power grab.

Saudi officials had made no secret of their antipathy toward Khashoggi, including expressing consternation last year when he began writing a regular column for the Washington Post. In the days after his Oct. 2 disappearance  before the Saudis acknowledged his death in Istanbul  a person close to the royal palace said Mohammed was puzzled by the high level of concern about Khashoggi, whom he considered part of the Muslim Brotherhood as well as an agent of Qatar.

Khashoggis family said Jamals views were much more nuanced than those described by Saudi officials. Although he sympathized with certain objectives of the Muslim Brotherhood, he also sharply disagreed with many of their positions, especially toward Saudi Arabia, the family said in its statement.

Saudi Arabia severed relations with Qatar last year, charging among other things that it harbored Muslim Brotherhood terrorists. Although the Saudis maintained a cordial relationship with the Brotherhood for decades after its founding in Egypt as an Islamist political and social movement, Riyadh declared it a terrorist organization after the upheavals of the Arab Spring.

Many Republican lawmakers, and Middle East analysts on the right, agreed with the Saudi assessment. In 2015, now-Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, then a member of the House, co-sponsored a resolution calling on the State Department to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. During Trumps campaign, a number of prominent supporters, including Bolton, called for such a designation.

Sisi, whose military government overthrew an elected Muslim Brotherhood-allied government in 2011, and Israels political right also share that view.

Trump considered such an action early in his administration, but was dissuaded by Pompeo, who had become CIA director, and others in the administration. They noted that while the designation would please some Arab partners, others in the region would reject it. The Brotherhood has mainstream political stature and legitimacy in Jordan, Turkey and Morocco, among other countries.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a rival of the Saudi crown prince, has called for Saudi Arabia to be held accountable for the killing. Erdogan called Trump on Thursday morning, according to people familiar with the conversation.

Washington Post writers Karen DeYoung and Tom Hamburger contributed to this report.
Former Peruvian first daughter Keiko Fujimori was ordered back to jail Wednesday in a case that has captured attention in the South American nation reeling from a string of corruption scandals reaching into the highest echelons of power.

Judge Richard Concepcion ruled the 43-year-old opposition leader should be detained as a preventative measure as prosecutors investigate allegations that she led a criminal network within her party that received about $1 million in illegal payments from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

Fujimori has denied taking any money from the company during her 2011 presidential run and has called the investigation a political witch hunt.

In a hearing that lasted over eight hours, Concepcion said he believed there was considerable proof to strongly suspect that Fujimori not only knew about the payments but also had an active role in hiding the origin of the funds.

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As Fujimori looked on, her arms crossed and her lips pursed into a frown for much of the afternoon, the judge recounted information presented by prosecutors describing her as the leader of a powerful organization who plotted so that others could commit crimes on her behalf.

Undoubtedly, preventative prison is the only measure that applies, he concluded.

Concepcion ordered her jailed for 36 months, a ruling her lawyer immediately vowed to appeal.

The attorney, Giulliana Loza, argued that the chief prosecutors case relies overwhelmingly on a witness whose account cannot be corroborated, and she accused Concepcion of using outside information not presented by authorities.

In this case, weve never had an impartial judge, she said.

After the judges ruling, Fujimori, who is still considered one of the most powerful people in Peru, was surrounded by half a dozen uniformed officers. Fujimori, dressed in jeans in a long-sleeved black shirt, showed no emotion as she exited the room.

Many Peruvians thought the daughter of former strongman Alberto Fujimori would never see time behind bars in a country where corruption has long often gone unpunished.

But some of the nations most prominent politicians, including four former presidents, are now under investigation or charged in connection with corruption inquiries, and thousands of angry citizens have taken to the streets to protest official graft. A referendum on toughening anti-corruption laws is scheduled for early December.

Keiko Fujimori, who came within 50,000 votes of winning the 2016 presidential election, leads the opposition political party with a majority in Congress, but her influence has waned in recent months after Martin Vizcarra became president.

Fujimori has been a champion for her ailing 80-year-old father, who was pardoned by Vizcarras predecessor last year from a 25-year jail sentence for human rights abuses during his decadelong rule. Perus Supreme Court recently overturned the pardon and ordered him back behind bars.

Keiko Fujimori had been detained in early October as a preventative measure during the money-laundering investigation but was ordered released a week later.

Odebrecht has admitted to paying $788 million in bribes to politicians throughout the region in exchange for lucrative public works contracts.
As part of the activities to mark the founding anniversary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (November 18, 1930) and Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day (November 23), the event has attracted the participation of nearly 200 people from 15 ethnic groups across the country.

The highlights of this years event, Great National Unity Festival at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, during the opening ceremony, will be the programme "Colour of cultural heritage" introducing the national intangible cultural heritage of Soong Co singing of the San Diu ethnic group in Thai Nguyen province.

The programme aims to preserve and uphold the traditional cultural value of Vietnamese ethnic communities and enhance the great national unity bloc, while advertising the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism as an attractive tourist destination for visitors from both home and abroad.
Motion passed for FIFO and DIDO workforce to be counted

Queensland councils have supported a push by Isaac Regional Council for a change to government funding to recognise both resident and serviced populations in resource communities, at the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) annual conference in Brisbane this week.

Mayor Anne Baker said Isaac region had won the support of the conferences voting delegates on three motions put forward by Council:

 A review of funding for communities that permanently house fly-in, fly-out/drive-in, drive-out workforces, so that it is based on both resident and non-resident populations.

 To advocate to the State Government to engage with eligible councils before making changes to the eligibility criteria for funding under the Building our Regions (BoR) program.

 An amendment to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) allowing residents to operate generators 24 hours per day during disaster events.

Mayor Baker said present funding methodologies did not take account of non-resident populations, such as fly-in/fly-out workers, and change was needed to recognise both the resident and serviced population in regional communities which hosted such workforces.

In Isaac we have a permanent population of about 21,000, but on any given day an additional 10,500 workers are also living in temporary accommodation and camps in or near our communities.

For every two residents we have an additional serviced resident who is not counted for the purposes of calculating government funding.

Thats essentially a funding shortfall of 33 percent which places affected communities in a position of disadvantage.

This issue needs to be addressed if we want sustainable regional resource communities. It is fundamentally an issue of fairness and equity.
Last call for Pioneer Day participation

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Secret Santa application deadline is Friday

Applications for the Secret Santa program should be turned in no later than this Friday, November 19 in order to register needy area children for...

Board sets 2022-2023 school calendar, approves propane school bus, cameras

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Thanksgiving Bluegrass Jam is Tues.

The 46th annual Lincolnton Thanksgiving Bluegrass Jam will be held at Smiths Feed & Seed in Lincolnton, on Tuesday, November 23rd, at 7:00 pm. This...
Education & Career 100% Practical SEO Training in Jaipur



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cost!!Quibus Trainings, the most renowned name in the digital marketing training and consultancy in Rajasthan has now changed the entire scenario of SEO Training in Jaipur.At Quibus we have trained 900+ students, entrpreneurs and Professionals till october 2018 and we proudly say that 90% of our students are placed in reputed Digital marketing firms of India (10% were not attentive and interactive in Classroom sessions)Look at these Stats:. Traffic received from the organic SEO provides the highest ROI across all industries.2. More than 90% of internet users find websites using Search Engines.3. Google shares 66.2 % search market alone.4. Search Engine Result pages contain both organic (Free) and PPC (Paid) links. It is found in various SEM studies that more than 80 % users click on organic links.5. 62% of searchers never go to 2nd page of results.6. Top 3 organic search results control 54% of click and thus get succeed to enjoy high CTR (Click Through Rate) thus higher conversions, means more traffic, more profit.7. If a website doesn't appear in SERPs with good rankings, it's losing a big bite of profit, and that is certainly going to the competitors. And getting the higher rankings is only and only possible by SEO - Search Engine Optimization.Why SEO training??1. Doing SEO Training at Jaipur can help you to understand most of the issues hold back a website to show up in search engines with better rankings.2. SEO knowledge opens up a number of potential opportunities for you to earn money digitally3. SEO knowledge can help you to better monitor the SEO work if you hire somebody to do it for you. If you planning a digital project (website, e-commerce or just digital branding of your own business.)4. If you do it yourself, SEO course can drive quality traffic to your website and generate business with least resources and team.5. Doing SEO training in Jaipur can make you capable of being your own BOSS. you can start freelancing or start working on your own projects working from home.6. Quibus Claims 100% placement in reputed firms (If you take your training seriously and perform simultaneously in the classroom sessions)7. Start your own SEO consultancy firm, pick projects online and start your own online marketing business.8. Quibus has Trained more that 1000 aspirants till now, and according to alumni it is the only institute which provided 100 % practical SEO course in Jaipur.So, if you are planning to switch the career, or starting a career in digital marketing and especially in SEO, you must try and visit the best SEO training institute in Jaipur - Quibus Trainings, where 3 months of intense digital marketing training along with will make you an outstanding Digital Marketer who can plan, implement and analyse various digital marketing campaigns for businesses, events, services, products or personalities. Contact information:

Quibus Trainings - Digital Marketing and SEO Trainng in Jaipur



46 first floor muktanand nagar, gopalpura bypass road, Jaipur (302018)



Contact Person:

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Marketing

Phone: 9509066550

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Web: http://https://www.quibustrainings.com/seo-training-jaipur/

Author:

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e-mail

Web: http://www.quibustrainings.com/

Phone: 9509066550 01.11.2018 18:08:52 -

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Boiled snails are a snack loved by Vietnamese people from all walks of life. People can see snail vendors luring the senses with herbs like lemongrass and ginger on any street of Hanoi.

Snails are a popular street food in Hanoi, particularly in cold weather, due to the taste of chewy, salty, addictive morsels of snail meat and spicy fish sauce.

"Bun cham mam oc", said to be created by Hanoian gourmets, is really unique and considered a delicacy of Hanoi.

Food lovers should head to the variety of "Quan oc" restaurants in Hanoi, including "Oc Co Cam" on Tong Duy Tan Street, "Oc Ha Trang" on Dinh Liet Street, "Phuong Oc" on Hong Ha Street, and "Oc Ba Nga" on De To Hoang Street, among others.

The "Bun cham mam oc" will become a must experience for anyone visiting Hanoi.
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This content is from: Patents

European seed companies prepare for licensing and litigation difficulties as technology allows them to patent more inventions and threatens to stifle the industrys strong sharing culture
New Delhi : The RSS on Wednesday said that the government should enact a law to acquire the land for the construction, just like Sardar Vallabhai Patel had rebuilt the Somnath temple in Gujarat.

The also urged the centre to fulfill the promise made by then Congress government in the Supreme Court, saying that they will side with the Hindu community if an evidence was found of a per-existing temple, before it was razed to build Babri Masjid.

Like Sardar Patel had rebuilt the Somnath temple...the government should acquire the land for the construction of the Ram Temple and hand it over for its construction. The government should enact a law for this," said, RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya.
New Delhi : India on Wednesday lodged protested with Pakistan and China over a bus service, which is scheduled to be launched on Saturday between Lahore and Kashghar, through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

We have lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan on the proposed bus service that will operate through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir under the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to queries from the media.

Any bus services through Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity Touted as project under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the key project is under Chinese President Xi Jinping's pet Belt and Road initiative ( BRI).
Tu, who is also Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, was welcomed by LPRP General Secretary and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. He has been on a working visit at the invitation of head of the LPRP Central Committees Inspection Commission Bounthong Chithmany, who is also Politburo member, Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister, and Inspector General of the Lao Governments Inspectorate.

At the meeting, the Vietnamese official conveyed his sympathy over heavy losses caused by the hydropower dam break in Attapeu province and by floods in some Lao provinces recently. He voiced his belief that under the LPRPs leadership, those affected will soon be able to overcome the consequences, resume economic activities, and restabilise their lives.

Reporting on the outcomes of talks between the two inspection commissions earlier the same day, Tu said they reviewed bilateral cooperation outcomes and discussed cooperation directions for the coming time.

Accordingly, they agreed to push ahead with the current collaboration mechanism under their Parties cooperation plan for 2016-2021. The commissions will increase the exchange of experience in examining and monitoring the adherence to Party rules, executing disciplinary measures, fighting corruption, and building a contingent of personnel, he added.

Valuing the visits importance, the Lao leaders applauded the partnership between the two inspection agencies, asking them to enhance coordination and experience sharing so that bilateral ties become increasingly more effective in helping to perform tasks assigned by the Parties, States, and people of Laos and Vietnam.

They also asked the Vietnamese side to continue assisting Laos in training party inspection personnel.

LPRP General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachith and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith also thanked the timely and enormous support of the Vietnamese Party, State, and people over the years, especially in aiding victims of the hydropower dam break in Attapeu province last July.

Later on the same day, the Vietnamese delegation had a working session with Politburo member, Secretary, and Mayor of Vientiane capital city Sinlavong Khutphaythoun.
Ambassador Gerwel expressed his honour to assume this position, saying that his experience in Vietnam will help promote the two countries relations.

Highlighting his special sentiment towards Vietnam, he said the Vietnamese community, including students, in Poland is a bridge helping to intensify bilateral connections.

With regard to priorities during his term, Gerwel said he will prioritise enhancing cooperation in politics, economy, education-training and culture with Vietnam. He expressed his wish for closer coordination between the Polish Embassy and ministries, sectors and localities of Vietnam.

Stressing economic ties, the diplomat said his country is strong in agriculture, food and pharmaceutical production, shipbuilding and mining, so it wants to step up partnerships in these spheres.

Poland has established a trade office in Vietnam and this is one of the first overseas representative offices of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, showing the importance his country attaches to economic links with the Southeast Asian nation, he noted.

Ambassador Gerwel expressed his belief that the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will take effect soon. He added LOT Polish Airlines, the national flag carrier of Poland, plans to open a direct air route to Vietnam, and this route will help shorten the two countries distance and facilitate tourism cooperation.

At the meeting, PM Phuc pledged the best possible conditions for the ambassador to promote collaboration with Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities.

There remains much room for trade ties, he said, noting that bilateral trade is able to rise strongly from the current revenue of over US$1 billion.

He asked Poland to promote the signing and ratification of the EVFTA. The two sides should also work closely to disburse the preferential credit package of EUR250 million that Poland pledged for Vietnam.

The Government leader also applauded the planned opening of a direct air route, saying he believes that it will help bolster investment, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries.
The statement was made by Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Permanent Vietnam Mission to the United Nations, while addressing the general debate of United Nations General Assemblys Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Committee (Third Committee) within the framework of the 73rd UN General Assembly.

Ambassador Quy also attended other sessions in the committees working programme which took place from October 15-29 in New York.

He told participants that Vietnam has annual dialogues and consultations with partners such as the US, Switzerland, Australia, Norway and the European Union, and contributes to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights.

It is also a member of seven of nine international conventions on human rights, and considering joining the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, he stated.

The diplomat said Vietnam is completing a national report on ensuring human rights under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism and is scheduled to deliver the report next January.

He called on nations to join hands to find common solutions and maintain the role of UN forums to promote constructive dialogue and goodwill cooperation.

Participating countries affirmed their commitments and called for increased efforts to ensure human rights, especially in 2018 marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 25th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.

They noted the importance and universal value of the two documents, and underlined the significance of promoting and ensuring human rights to maintain and promote peace, security and development.

Delegates also shared their concerns over some matters, including increasing starvation, violence against women and children, discrimination and challenges threatening peoples lives such as conflicts, natural disasters, climate change, diseases and terrorism.

To address these challenges, they agreed to step up cooperation, share experience and boost constructive dialogue and frank collaboration on the basis of obeying the UN Charters principles.
The delegation was led by Teresa Maria Amarelle Boue, Politburo member of the Communist Party of Cuba and Secretary General of the FMC.

Politburo member Mai, who is also President of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association, affirmed Vietnam's consistent policy of supporting the revolutionary cause of the Cuban people.

The Party official also spoke highly of the working visit and the close cooperation between the women's associations of both countries.

The Secretary General of the FMC emphasised that the solidarity, traditional and long-standing friendship between the two countries are invaluable treasures of the two Parties and States, which need to be preserved and nurtured among the younger generations.

Head of the PCCs Commission for Mass Mobilisation, Truong Thi Mai, said that Cuba's experience in the implementation of gender equity goals is a valuable lesson for Vietnam in order to create more opportunities for Vietnamese women.

Politburo member Mai suggested that the women's associations of both countries continue to coordinate to effectively implement the signed agreements, boost exchanges of delegations and information, and support each other at international forums.

Secretary General of the FMC Teresa Maria expressed her gratitude for the support of Vietnam for Cuba and Cuban women in particular, while expressing her belief that under the leadership of the Party, the Vietnamese people would gain more achievements in the renewal process.
Nguyen Van Binh, head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committees Economic Commission, made the statement at a reception for German Ambassador to Vietnam Christian Berger in Hanoi on November 1.

Germany is now the largest trade partner of Vietnam in the European Union (EU) in particular and Europe in general, with two-way trade in the first nine months of this year hitting nearly US$8 billion, an increase of 11 percent year-on-year, he said.

The Vietnamese official expressed his wish that Germany and EU member countries will support the Europe-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), saying that the early signing and adoption of the deal will be a significant step to realise the EUs Europe-Asia connectivity strategy as well as boost Vietnam-Germany relations.

He hoped that Christian Berger will make active contributions to developing the bilateral ties in an effective and practical manner.

For his part, the ambassador spoke highly of the important achievements Vietnam has made in its socio-economic development, affirming that Germany always treasures the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.

He said his country wishes to actively support and foster the relationship between Vietnam and the EU, including the early signing of the EVFTA.


WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. on Friday opened COVID-19 booster shots to all adults and took the extra step of urging people 50 and older to seek one, aiming to ward off a winter surge as coronavirus cases rise even before millions of Americans travel for the holidays.
Pennsylvania Horticulture Societys Harvest program ends season with almost 19,000 pounds of produce donated and $30K raised to fight food insecurity
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BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed boosting the development of the country's new generation of artificial intelligence (AI).

Presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Wednesday, Xi spoke of the need to strengthen leadership, make good plans, clearly define tasks and consolidate the foundation to promote deep integration of AI with economic and social development.

Xi said accelerating the development of new-generation AI is a strategic issue, key for China to seize the opportunities in the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation.

Accelerating the development of new-generation AI is a key strategic resource for China to boost leapfrogging development in science and technology, industrial upgrading and overall productivity increase, he said.

Xi spoke of the need to prioritize enhancing ability for original innovations and focus on key core technologies. He said China supports scientists venturing into unknown AI frontiers to achieve breakthroughs.

He said key core AI technologies should be "securely kept in our own hands."

Xi said China has a pressing need for major innovations in fields such as new-generation AI, as the country is in a pivotal stage for transforming its growth model, improving economic structure and creating new drivers of growth.

A deeper integration of AI and industrial development can provide new power for high quality growth, he said.

Xi highlighted the need for fostering leading AI enterprises and sectors.

He called for integration of AI with primary, secondary, and tertiary industries to create new growth drivers in medium-high end consumption, innovation-driven development, the green and low-carbon economy, the sharing economy, modern supply chains, and human capital services.

Xi said it was necessary to combine AI with improving living standards. He said AI should be used in areas such as education, health, sports, housing, transport, disabled and old-age care, and housekeeping.

Xi said risk analysis in AI development should be strengthened and precautions stepped up to secure the people's interests and national security.

It must be made sure that AI is safe, reliable and controllable, he said.

Xi also stressed the need to establish and improve laws, regulations, institutions, and ethics to ensure healthy development of AI.

He urged officials at all levels to work to learn cutting-edge science and technology, strengthen coordination and increase policy support.
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China's foreign aid is carried out on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, openness and sustainability, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi who is on a visit to Papua New Guinea on Wednesday.

Wang made the remarks during the joint press conference with Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato, when responding to a question about some Western countries and media's claim that China's aid for Pacific island countries caused debt burden for them.

China's aid for Pacific island countries is in fact the mutual support and assistance between developing countries, and is an important part of South-South cooperation, Wang said.

China's foreign aid is offered on an equal basis, with full respect for the will of the governments and people of the recipient countries. It comes without interfering in their domestic affairs or any political strings attached, he said.

China always ensures that the foreign aid is mutually beneficial, taking into consideration the financial sustainability of the recipients when carrying out aid projects, he added.

China offers foreign aid in an open manner, not for targeting any third party but for making the pie of cooperation bigger, he said, adding that China is willing to carry out third party cooperation with other countries.

Moreover, China's foreign aid is sustainable, aiming at empowering the recipients to overcome their development bottlenecks and achieve self-supported and sustainable development, he said.

China always uphold the right approach to justice and interests with a priority to justice. This approach can stand the test of time and the judgment of the international community, said Wang.

Those who criticize China's good deeds should rather do more themselves to help the Pacific island countries, he added.
Jobs; Branding Study; Disaster Advice and Research; Servicing Package For Sale

For me October included time in Washington (State and DC), California, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Nevada. Lenders are talking about technology, the rate of change, and the overwhelming options available to LOs. And for home buyers, the process & economics are changing. Thanks to Amy R. who sent along this new company site. The buyer pays nothing, the seller pays 1.95 points to Ribbon, and the company ushers the buyer through the process. If the buyer is delayed in financing, We will resell/convey the home back to you at the same price we purchased it for on the official purchase agreement. And dont forget OpenDoor or Redfins 1% commission. Do you think real estate agents are welcoming this?

Lender Products and Services

JMAC Lending is extending its $500 Government Appraisal Fee Credit to include all Conventional Purchase loans. Our Government lending promotion has been such a huge success that we are pleased to extend this special, JMAC Founder and President Christina Pham says. We want to thank our brokers for doing business with JMAC and extend a warm invitation to new brokers to grow their business with us. Click here to learn more about JMACs products and learn more about the $500 Appraisal Fee Credit promo for Purchase loans. Contact JMAC at iwant@JMACLending.com or call 844.888.5622.

Did you know 60-80% of customers who describe themselves as satisfied do not go back to do more business with the company that initially satisfied them? Its a shocking fact, and the truth is loyalty means nothing if the borrower cant remember who the correspondent lender was that did the phenomenal job. To capture the lifetime value of a borrower, stay top of mind with initiatives like co-branding. If the statement from your correspondent investor goes out to your former borrower with your name or logo on it, chances are youll be remembered 5 or 10 years from now when theyre looking for a new mortgage. Dont let your borrowers forget who you are! Read more about the lifetime value of a customer in this TMS white paper.



Disaster Impacts

Moodys Corporation weighed in on Hurricane Michael's potential impact on RMBS (residential mortgage-backed securities). "As with past hurricanes, damage caused by Hurricane Michael poses a minor credit risk to RMBS with high exposure to the counties in the storms path, in this case, those in the Florida panhandle, Alabama and Georgia. Excluding SFR, RMBS exposure to the counties in Florida, Alabama and Georgia expected to be affected by the storm is small at less than 1% across the various asset classes," stated Moody's Senior Vice President Deepika Kothari. "Single-family rental (SFR) RMBS have a relatively higher exposure with assets in Florida and Georgia totaling about 1.5% of collateral. In addition to the small exposures, insurance protections and servicer relief options typically help mitigate the negative impacts of hurricanes. For SFR transactions, blanket insurance policies that cover windstorm damages for all properties, and flood insurance for homes in special hazard areas, will provide some protection," continued Kothari.

Hurricane Michael In commercial real estate news, by one calculation, CMBS exposure in the state of Florida totals about $53.3bn. However, most of the exposure falls within Miami-Dade county ($7.8bn), Orange county ($6.8bn) and Broward county ($5.3bn), none of which were in the path of Hurricane Michael. Of the 13 counties where residents were subject to mandatory evacuation, CMBS exposure was concentrated in nine counties. The allocated exposure, by property allocated balance, totals about $963.1mn, which is spread across 105 different CMBS transactions, with only six transactions having greater than 5% exposure.

FEMA reminds employers to Prepare your employees. For your workers, taking care of themselves, their homes, and their families is job #1. Yet, you won't be able to recover from a natural disaster on your own. You need your employees, so be sure everyone is protected now. Help employees help you by deciding how you'll communicate with staff during and after a major weather event. Then form a disaster relief committee. Employee resources are available to download from FEMA, so share them with staff and remind everyone to assemble emergency kits and plan escape routes. Hold workshops with a disaster preparedness professional who can discuss advance steps employees can take. Finally, let employees consider ways they might help each other, perhaps taking essentials to people in need or letting a coworker stay in a guest bedroom. Even with prepared staff members, your company will still operate with a skeleton crew in the wake of a national disaster. Some of your employees may be subject to mandatory evacuations and may find it difficult to return, if their homes flood or the area between an emergency shelter and home is impassable. Be ready to meet immediate customer needs, especially for cash, with just a small proportion of your usual staff to help.

As a brief reminder for bankers, here is a short list to remember around disaster planning from Agility Recovery, a business continuity and disaster recovery company: Know your power requirements. Power is the top asset that banks struggle to maintain or regain. Ask an electrician to define your power needs now, so you'll know how much juice you need to run your bank if and when the public power grid goes down. Have access to multiple vendors.Generators and fuel are in very high demand after a natural disaster. It may not be possible to telephone the local rental or fuel supply company to have them deliver what you need. The same storm might hit their business too, leaving them with reduced capacity. Reach out to a handful of vendors now, including businesses outside your geographic area. Let them know about your power requirements and your interest in being a customer during and after the next big storm. If they have a preferred client list, ask to be on it.

For HUDs part, it will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Florida and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes due to Hurricane Michael. The Presidents declaration allows HUD to offer foreclosure relief and other assistance to certain families living in this county. HUD is: Providing immediate foreclosure relief  HUDs automatic 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages commenced for the Florida counties covered under yesterdays Presidential declaration on the date of the declaration. For assistance, call your loan servicer or FHAs Resource Center at 1-800-304-9320.

Making mortgage insurance available  HUD's Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims whose homes were destroyed or damaged to such an extent that reconstruction or replacement is necessary and are facing the daunting task of rebuilding or buying another home. Borrowers from participating FHA-approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing, including closing costs; Making insurance available for both mortgages and home rehabilitation  HUD's Section 203(k) loan program enables those who have lost their homes to finance the purchase or refinance of a house along with its repair through a single mortgage. It also allows homeowners who have damaged houses to finance the rehabilitation of their existing single-family home; Information on housing providers and HUD programs  The Department will share information with FEMA and the State on housing providers that may have available units in the impacted counties. This includes Public Housing Agencies and Multi-Family owners. The Department will also connect FEMA and the State to subject matter experts to provide information on HUD programs and providers.

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and the nations community banks remind consumers that they can help alleviate financial concerns by planning in advance of a natural disaster or emergency. ICBA offers the following tips to help consumers prepare and recover from a natural disaster. Prepare backup communications plans if both cellular and landline service fail. You may want to be fully informed ahead of time of your cellular and satellite communications options. Store digital and paper copies of critical documents in a safe deposit box. These include a drivers license, passport or military ID, bank and investment account information, proof of occupancy, a mortgage deed, insurance policies and three years of tax returns. Consider placing these items in a waterproof bag. Make additional copies of personal documentsmarriage license, birth certificates, adoption papersfor safekeeping and alert a relative, trustee or attorney of their location. Print out contact information for trustees, guardians and executors and store it in a safe deposit box or give a copy to a trusted family member or friend.



Capital Markets

MIACs capital markets group is pleased to announce its exclusive offering of ~$25mm reperforming residential whole loans. The collateral consists of 63% modified loans, ~6 months performing, average UPB of ~$184k. Bids are due Friday, November 9th. Interested parties should contact their MIAC sales representative at 212-233-1250 or Steve Harris for additional information.

The U.S. 10-year closed +5 bps to 3.16% on little material news yesterday, similar to Tuesday. The biggest news of the day was a London Times report that U.K. and European negotiators have reached a tentative agreement that would give U.K. financial services companies continued access to European markets after Brexit. Chinas President Xi Jinping of China signaled increased urgency for more measures to combat the slowing economy. Those words came as October marked the worst month for global equity shares since May 2012. The focus now turns to Apple earnings today and the monthly U.S. jobs report tomorrow.

Weve already had a fair chunk of scheduled news in the U.S.: job cuts from Challenger, Gray & Christmas for October (+37% to 76k, the highest since mid-2015!), initial jobless claims (down to 214k), Q3 productivity (+2.2% in the 3rd quarter, strong!), and unit labor costs. After I send this commentary out well have Market manufacturing PMI (9:45AM ET), followed by ISM PMI for October (10AM ET) and September construction spending, seen increasing. In the early going the 10-year is yielding 3.16% and agency MBS prices are worse a few ticks versus Wednesdays close.



Jobs, Business Opportunities

A dynamic, highly successful billion-dollar retail IMB is seeking a talented Chief Financial Officer to lead its accounting, HR, and capital markets departments. The CFO directly assists the Executive Management Team on all strategic and tactical matters as they relate to budget management, cost benefit analysis, forecasting needs and the securing of new funding. The position is offered in the companys intermountain west corporate office, and experience with AMB and Riivos (formerly Alight) is a big plus. If youre interested in working with an exceptional executive team at a company with an incredible culture, send resume to me for forwarding. All inquiries are confidential; please specify opportunity.

A motivated and experienced investor is seeking to acquire a FULL EAGLE/HUD Designated or VA Automatic Authority mortgage company. Licensed in CA would be preferred but is not required. The ideal situation is for current shareholders to liquidate all or a large portion of their equity through the transaction. Principals would be willing to negotiate/keep the existing team. Interested parties please contact me; please specify the listing.

New Penn Financial is looking for a dynamic, growth-minded, producing sales manager to fill an important sales leadership role in a Joint Venture partnership. This prominent multi-state real estate agency in the Cleveland, Ohio area is one of New Penns newest partnerships. "We are very excited to launch this new venture and partner with another outstanding real estate agency," Senior Vice President, Corey Caster said. "This venture represents another major step in the growth of our industry-leading Joint Venture platform." If you are interested in hearing more about how to step into a prominent management role with an in-house audience, contact Vincent Daino, Vice President of Recruiting and Business Development at New Penn Financial. Additional opportunities are available for loan officers and producing managers throughout the country within New Penns existing real estate partnerships, contact Vince for more details.

Caliber Home Loans, Inc. has continued to thrive during a challenging year for the mortgage industry. Inside Mortgage Finance recently ranked Caliber 3rd among non-bank lenders in the country, based on 2018 volume through September, for producing over $32 billion! Comprised of Retail, Wholesale, Correspondent and Consumer Direct sales channels, Calibers strength in numbers comes from its purchase volume. Caliber can attribute strong purchase volume to the talent of its sales organizations, the launch of new products like Elite Access, and streamlined operations. Genuine success relies on teamwork, and everyone at Caliber Home Loans understands this. If youre interested in joining Calibers national network of producers visit www.joincalibernow.com or email Jeremy DeRosa.

For the 4th year in a row, PrimeLending was recognized on the prestigious 100 Best Workplaces for Women list by Great Place to Work and Fortune. This year, the company ranked #13 based on feedback from more than 400,000 employee surveys from businesses in all sectors. PrimeLending's ranking considers how well women are represented within the company's workforce. In fact, 45% of all VP roles and above, and 43% of retail leadership roles are held by women, like Mary Pugh, Charlotte Branch Manager. Joining PrimeLending this past Spring has been empowering. From the leadership team, to the Ops organization, I have all the support I need to confidently achieve my goals, grow my branch and perform up to my ultimate potential, Mary said. Additionally, PrimeLending has been ranked a Best Workplace for Diversity, Parents and Generation X. If youre ready to work for an award-winning company, contact Brian Miller (469.737.5729)!
Political class must sacrifice in the ...
State Republican Chairman J.R. Romano expressed outrage Thursday after hearing an African American candidates account of being stopped by state police while campaigning and told she needed a peddlers permit.

He also said state police need to apologize to the Rev. Ernestine Holloway, a candidate in the 82nd House District, and that the department needs to re-examine the way they engage with candidates for public office. The district includes part of Meriden and Middlefield.

"We are outraged that Ernestine Holloway or any other candidate would be harassed while attempting to reach voters, Romano said in a statement Thursday. Campaigning for public office is the height of civic engagement. No candidate or their supporters should be intimidated, ever.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloys office said Thursday that state police will investigate the incident. State police didnt respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Susan Bysiewicz, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, said in a statement that she had severed ties with the trooper, who also drove part-time for her campaign. The Hartford Courant identified him, citing sources, as Larry Morello, Durhams resident trooper who also drove for Bysiewicz when she was secretary of the state.

"The reports on this incident are deeply disturbing to me, Bysiewicz said. As the former Secretary of the State, I believe in fair and open elections, and I have zero tolerance for any group or person who would hinder our democratic process. The officer involved in this situation was an occasional volunteer driver for me.

Holloway told the Record-Journal Tuesday that she and a group of roughly a dozen supporters were approached by a trooper while campaigning in Middlefield last week. She is running against Rep. Emil Buddy Altobello, D-Meriden.

State police confirmed a trooper went to the area after a resident called to report a suspicious person.

Holloway said that the trooper informed her she needed a peddlers permit, which she purchased at Middlefield Town Hall. A spokeswoman for the state police said the trooper backed off that stance once he learned that Holloway was campaigning.

When reached for comment Thursday, Altobello said he didnt know enough about the incident. He also agreed with the calls for an investigation.

I think people ought to know what happened, Altobello said. Its unfortunate. It sounded like she was exercising her right to campaign.

Romano said he was appalled by the assumption that Ms. Holloway must have been peddling useless goods rather than campaigning less than a week before the most important election in Connecticut's history.

House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, issued her own statement echoing Romanos concerns.

Everyone in this country has the undeniable right to run for office regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity, and all candidates must be allowed to do what is necessary to run a campaign without fear as they express their ideas to residents they hope to serve, Klarides said.

She also said Malloy is treating this seriously.

Republican party leaders werent the only ones voicing concerns with how state police handled the interaction. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, who is seeking re-election, shared his thoughts on Twitter.

This is very concerning and deserves a full investigation, he said on Twitter.

Holloway said she returned to Middlefield the following day, at which time another state trooper approached her when she pulled her vehicle to the side of the road. She said the trooper asked if she was having trouble with her vehicle.

"I said 'you just saw me driving,'" Holloway said. "'I'm not hawking anything, I'm not soliciting something.

The trooper drove off, she said.

msavino@record-journal.com

203-317-2266

Twitter: @reporter_savino
Ten innovative companies from the U.S. state of Wisconsin will participate in the forthcoming China International Import Expo in Shanghai to showcase Wisconsin's key industries, including its advanced freshwater technology.

According to a joint statement released on Wednesday by Foxconn and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the Wisconsin firms will be featured as part of Foxconn Innovation Pavilion under its "Smart Future" theme.

Their specialties include water technology, advanced machinery, healthcare, and smart city applications.

The China International Import Expo, the world's first import-themed national-level expo, is slated to kick off next Monday in Shanghai.

"The China International Import Expo is a unique opportunity to showcase the vast strengths of Wisconsin companies to a targeted broader audience including central, provincial and local government procurement officials," said Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn CEO Terry Gou.

The Taiwanese electronics manufacturer is building a 10-billion-USD display panel screen plant in Wisconsin, which could eventually employ up to 13,000 local workers.

"As Foxconn contributes to the transformation of Wisconsin into an international tech hub, we are eager to deepen awareness of Wisconsin innovation around the world," Woo was quoted as saying.

Mark R. Hogan, CEO of WEDC, hoped that the China expo will offer these Wisconsin businesses the potential to enter into new markets and develop new partnerships.

He added that the expo will be an opportunity "to showcase the innovation taking place in our state and to demonstrate how the products made right here in Wisconsin could have a positive impact on the lives of the citizens of China."

The Foxconn Innovation Pavilion will promote many of Wisconsin's key industries. One section will be dedicated to its four freshwater technology companies, which are well-positioned to contribute to China's recent "Sponge Cities" initiative to improve the quality of urban water for millions around the country.
MERIDEN  Firefighters responded to Giuffrida Park to assist in a search for a lost female hiker on Wednesday evening, and were able to track her down after an hour of searching.

Crews began to respond to the park about 6:40 p.m. after the hiker called authorities to inform them that she was lost. The hiker was reportedly lost in the area of a yellow blaze trail, where units searched the entire trail but initially came up empty.

The hiker used her phone to keep in contact with authorities during the search, and police and firefighters used sirens and lights to give the hiker points of reference before eventually finding her shortly after 7:30 p.m. She was successfully taken out of the woods just before 8 p.m.
On a recent morning, Republican lieutenant governor candidate Joseph Markley left his Southington home for events in Madison, Durham and Kent.

I go someplace where I dont have competition, Markley joked.

Reaching voters in 169 cities and towns means a broader reach than the Southington and Waterbury area where Markley has served as a state senator in the 16th District. Rarely does he appear with his running mate Republican Bob Stefanowski.

Unlike their Democratic opponents Ned Lamont and Susan Bysiewicz, Markley and Stefanowski havent appeared together much on the campaign trail. Markley was the party-endorsed candidate, while Stefanowski won the nod in a five-way primary in August that included GOP-endorsed Mark Boughton.

Both candidates say theyre solidly united but fighting on different fronts, and agreed they can cover more ground apart.

It makes more sense for us to do separate things, Markley said. Its not a matter of avoiding. There is more to cover than he can cover alone.

Their Democratic opponents who have visited more than 100 cities and towns together see Stefanowskis campaign style as reflective of their type of leadership, should they win.

If Stefanowski and Markley cannot even campaign together, our residents cannot expect them to collaboratively and successfully solve our states problems together, a campaign spokesman said in an e-mail. Meeting and hearing from voters every day helps shape the critical policies needed to revitalize our state and lift the financial burden placed on so many.

The Stefanowski and Markley campaigns agreed to direct Stefanowski to attend events involving the general public, while Markley meets with local party leaders. Markley, experienced in policy and state government, doesnt think Stefanowski has been hurt by any public perception of inexperience.

I dont feel he needs to be protected when he speaks, Markley said. Hes perfectly capable of speaking for himself.

With Stefanowski on a tour across the state through Election Day, Markley said there has been some talk about him joining Stefanowski at more events. On Monday, Markley appeared with his running mate visiting Southington manufacturers.

The Stefanowski van includes 52 stops statewide and visited Markleys backyard Monday.

Should the Republican team win election, Stefanowski will rely more on meeting with Markley on policy matters, said GOP chairman J.R. Romano.

Theres no question that Joe is an asset, Romano said. But right now voters want a fight to lower taxes, as opposed to knowing the day-to-day details of government.

Romano also said Bysiewicz and Lamont campaigning together is aimed at turning out hard core Democrats.

While Joe and Bob are going to cover the entire state, Democrats are only talking to themselves, Romano said.

The Lamont campaign responded that Bysewicz and Lamont have toured the state together and heard the stories about the financial burden working and middle class residents face, how their wages remain stagnant and a lack of opportunity, according to a statement. Their campaigning style is reflective of the type of leaders they will be and the policies they will work to implement -- ones that put Connecticut residents first.

A spokesman for Stefanowskis campaign said Markley will likely join the gubernatorial candidate more in the final days of the campaign.

We've needed to divide and conquer, Kendall Marr said. Bob and Joe have appeared together when possible, but it usually has been our strategy to split up appearances, so as to cover more ground.

mgodin@record-journal.com

203-317-2255

Twitter: @Cconnbiz
Connecticuts last Republican governor is hoping voters will return the party to the governors mansion when they head to the polls.

Former Gov. M. Jodi Rell on Thursday endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski.

Over the last eight years weve seen Connecticut decline and fail to keep up with the rest of the nation, Rell said in a statement released by Stefanowskis campaign. We havent been able to compete for jobs and economic opportunity, even with our neighbors. The burden on families, businesses and retirees has been too severe, and the state needs a new approach.

Stefanowski's opponents in Tuesday's election are Democrat Ned Lamont, petitioning candidates Oz Griebel and Mark Stewart Greenstein, and Libertarian Rod Hanscomb.

Rell touted Stefanowskis career as a business executive and his experience managing billion-dollar budgets, adding that he knows that to achieve the best outcomes, you have to be able to compromise.

Connecticut is at a crossroads, we need to make some tough decisions and I know Bob can get it done, she added.

Rell was lieutenant governor for then-Gov. John G. Rowland, taking office when Rowland resigned in 2004 prior to a federal conviction and prison sentence for corruption-related charged.

Rell served out the remainder of Rowlands term and won re-election in 2006. She didnt run again in 2010.

Stefanowski said he was honored to have the endorsement of one of our state's most respected governors. As governor, I will work hard to put Connecticut on a more positive track.

msavino@record-journal.com

203-317-2266

Twitter: @reporter_savino
SOUTHINGTON  The Popular Restaurant was a little of everything: bar, banquet hall, pizzeria and social club.

Horace Secondo, an Italian immigrant, hurt his leg while working at the Clark Bros. Bolt Co. and needed another profession. In 1937, he opened a bar, Horaces, at the corner of Liberty and West Center streets. After establishing himself, he bought the building at 70 Center St. to open a restaurant.

His son Art Secondo, who followed in his fathers footsteps to become a restaurateur, said Horace Secondo hoped it would be a hit with locals.

Theres the name, Popular restaurant, Art Secondo said.

Horace Secondo and his family, including a young Art Secondo, ran the restaurant until selling it to his son Richard Dickie Secondo in 1965. In the late 1980s it was sold to Germano Abatzides, a Greek immigrant, and John and Phillip Tsiranides.

While Horace Secondo ran it, it was a social club for Italian and other immigrants as well as other town groups. Horace Secondo would help them out financially or help them find work.

He was very friendly, he was good to his patrons, Art Secondo said.

Weddings, stags and political parties were held in the restaurants Rose Room, named for the patterned wallpaper. A tap room served alcohol.

The Secondo family lived next door and spent every holiday, except Christmas, working in the restaurant. Art Secondo called it the Popular Restaurant college  he started stacking cans in the stock room, progressed to washing dishes and waiting tables and finally graduated to working the bar with his brother and father.

You learn a lot, he said. Theres no school that could teach you those kinds of things.

People still rave about the pizza, Art Secondo said, and ask about the recipe. His mother and others made everything by hand and by memory.

There was no recipe back then. The people who made pizza, there was no dough machine, he said.

At the time, just three restaurants in town including Popular Restaurant served pizza.

James Verderame Sr. had his stag party at the Popular Restaurant and attended family weddings there.

It was pretty much the place to go in town when I was growing up, he said. You met all your friends down there. Had really good food, the best pizza in town.

In its heyday, Popular Restaurant and nearby Phils Restaurant, where Testas Banquet Facility is now located, were the only such venues in town.

In 1991, a fire destroyed the 70 Center St. location of Popular Restaurant.

It was a very sad day. I remember standing there looking at the building, what was left of it, and it was really sad, Art Secondo said.

The owners at the time said they hoped to rebuild.

Verderame also saw the fire since he was working nearby on Main Street. I remember walking out one day and I saw the thing burning. I was in shock, he said. How can something like this happen?

In 2006, Horace Secondos nephew Ralph Secondo opened Popular Restaurant at 75 Center St. across from the original location. The location became Machiavellis Restaurant in 2008.

jbuchanan@record-journal.com

203-317-2230

Twitter: @JBuchananRJ
Photo taken on Oct. 31, 2018 shows the hand over of 64 ton diesel from PetroChina to a Lao company at Laos-China border, in Boten, Laos, Oct. 31, 2018. With over 64 ton diesel, handed over from PetroChina to a Lao company at Laos-China border, the first export of Chinese refined oil to Lao market was made on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Liu Ailun)

BOTEN, Laos, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- With over 64 ton diesel, handed over from PetroChina to a Lao company at Laos-China border, the first export of Chinese refined oil to Lao market was made on Wednesday.

PetroChina International (Yunnan) Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of PetroChina group, has been studying and preparing for two years to reach the Lao fuel market since 2016.

With the aims to expand its petroleum products sales in southeastern Asia and to seek new routes to market, the PetroChina company with its Lao partner undertook thorough researches in demands, market access, custom clearance and transportation, etc.

Finally, the first tanks of Chinese refined oil products, loaded in Kunming of China's Yunnan province and travelling for over 700 km, arrived at the importer's depot in Boten, the Laos-China border town, over 370 km north of Lao capital Vientiane.

Chindasack Nhotmanhkhong, director of the Nationwide Trading Petroleum Public Company of Laos (NTP), the importer, told Xinhua on Wednesday that the deal done is meaningful, since it will enrich Laos with one more petroleum importing source and route.

Laos mostly imported petroleum products from or via Thailand and Vietnam before.

"I am also feeling proud of being engaged in the specific work of national development strategy to convert Laos from a landlocked to a land-linked country, and of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative," said Chindasack.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The RBI's Central Board, headed by Governor Urjit Patel, is scheduled to meet in Mumbai on November 19, sources said amid a reported rift between the government and the central bank over certain key issues.

Sources said it is a pre-scheduled and routine meeting of the central board of the RBI.

The last meeting of the board was held earlier this month.

This would be the first meeting of the board after RBI's Deputy Governor Viral Acharya highlighted the issues concerning the independence of the central bank.

There are 18 members on the central board of directors of the RBI, including those nominated by the government.

There have also been reports that the Finance Ministry has started a discussion with the RBI under the never before used Section 7 of the RBI Act.

In a statement Wednesday, the Finance Ministry said the RBI's autonomy is "essential" and will be "nurtured".
By ANI

VISAKHAPATNAM: Walmart India has opened its first B2B Cash and Carry store in the city, with the inauguration of 'Best Price' store, fourth in Andhra Pradesh and 23rd in the country on Wednesday.

"We are planning to expand Walmart with seven more stores in Andhra Pradesh which would be opened in Tirupati, Kurnool, Kadapa, Nellore, Kainada, Vizianagaram, and the second store in Visakhapatnam," Krish Iyer, Walmart India CEO, said.

The 'Best Price' store in the city has integrated with the e-commerce and will facilitate the needs of all kinds of stores such as general stores, hotels, restaurants, houses, and the like. The Walmart will ensure convenient payment options, door-step delivery services which leads to create over 2,000 jobs locally (directly or indirectly), said the CEO.

Iyer further said that the company will invest to develop supply chain and to ensure growth of small and medium manufacturers in the State. Local clusters would be formed to outsource coconuts, melons, red chilli, vegetables, and other agriculture produce directly from the farmers to avoid middlemen. While the farmers get the double price of the produce, but, the price for customers would be best, he said.

Walmart earmarked $4 million in order to improve market access for small scale farmers in the State. The vision is to develop a chain with fruits and vegetable farmers and providing them access for training and more productive crop varieties, said the CEO.

He said the Best Price store will have over 5,000 items on display which include a wide range of fresh, frozen and chilled food items, fruits and vegetables, dry groceries, personal and home care items, hotel and restaurant supplies, apparel, office supplies, electronic goods and other general merchandise items.

Krish Iyer said that they have signed an MoU with Girijan Co-operative Corporation (GCC) to source Araku coffee and other products. He said four of the seven proposed stores would start functioning from next year. Whereas for other stores land still have to be identified which will take three to four years. He revealed that their focus is now on tier II and tier III cities. Punjab has the highest number of Walmart stores now and by next year AP will dislodge Punjab by having more stores, he said.

He said "we got good support from the State government and hence we are expanding our activities in the State."
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Sudhir Kumar Sharma, the 'labour contractor from Bengaluru' who was falsely accused in the ISRO spy case of 1994, tortured and harassed by the Kerala police before his acquittal in 1998, died of cancer in the city on Thursday. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.

He was suffering from cancer and was battling to get compensation of Rs. 55 lakh for the trauma he was forced to endure. However, the case had seen little progress till date and recently, the Supreme Court's ruling of Rs 50 lakh compensation to former ISRO scientist N Nambi Narayanan had meant a ray of hope for Sharma as well.

Ostracized and labelled as a traitor even while he fought to clear his name, it has been a long and uphill battle for Sharma, 62, who kept fighting as he wanted his reputation to be restored. While another co-accused, D Chandrashekar, did not survive till the recent judgement, Sharma got to see the apex court hand out justice for Narayanan and he was hopeful that it would follow for him too as the Supreme Court had labelled the entire case a 'criminal frame-up'.

ALSO READ | Want my name to be cleared in public, says Sudhir Kumar Sharma

In a recent interview to TNIE, Sharma, who was suffering from stage-4 oesophagus cancer which had spread to his lungs, said that his days were numbered and that he wanted his friends and family members, who had cut ties with him and labelled him as a traitor to the country, to realize that he was innocent of all charges.

Sharma's nightmare started when he was just 34-year-old and was detained in November 1994. He had offered to help a Maldivian national that his friend Chandrashekar had met at the airport who had been duped on the pretext of admission of her child to a school. Sharma only extended his help as he knew the school authorities. This was enough for the police to zero in on him and get him arrested. His ordeal included torture, physical and mental, at their hands. He was undergoing palliative care since the last three years and had filed the case for damages to ensure financial security for his family who supported him through the years of battling cancer.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: After playing hide and seek for most of October, North East Monsoon (NEM) showers finally arrived on Wednesday, although a formal announcement on the onset from the meteorological department is still awaited.

The regional weather inference of meteorological department says conditions are becoming favourable for commencement of NEM rains over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 24 hours and will extend over the rest of Tamil Nadu during the subsequent 48 hours.

However, in Chennai and neighbouring coastal districts typical monsoon conditions prevailed for most of Wednesday with occasional sharp spells of rain and persistent drizzle. The city received 25 mm of rainfall, while suburbs such as Puzhal, Madhavaram and Taramani received over 50 mm of rainfall. Meteorological officials said heavy rain is likely at isolated places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

S Balachandran, Deputy Director-General of Meteorology (DDGM), Regional Meteorological Centre, said coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will first experience the monsoon in the next 24 hours. It will gradually extend to the rest of Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas of south Karnataka and Kerala in the subsequent days, he said.

The official attributed the delay in onset of the monsoon to Cyclone Titli and Luban that formed over Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, respectively, early in October. He said the next two months will be crucial. We will have to wait and watch, he said.

India Meteorological Departments seasonal outlook for October to December, released in September, predicted that Tamil Nadu was likely to witness above normal rainfall activity in the range of 12 per cent. However, with the monsoon arriving late, it has to be seen how it will tee off. The normal onset date for NEM is October 20.

Noted weather blogger Pradeep John said the next three days are looking good. Coastal areas in Tamil Nadu will see widespread rain. Also, south Tamil Nadu and interiors will get their share, he said.

In the last 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Wednesday, Chennai and adjoining areas such as Ennore, Kelambakkam and Mahabalipuram recorded five cm rainfall each, as against one cm recorded the day before. The sky is likely to be generally cloudy in Chennai in the next 48 hours. Light to moderate rain or thundershower is likely to occur in some areas. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 30 and 24 degree Celsius respectively.

This year was trickiest

Met officials said this year was probably the trickiest when it came to predicting onset of NEM. Never has the Met department faltered twice in forecasting the onset. First, it had said monsoon would arrive as early as October 8.However, officials said the department has to follow a set criteria and to make the decision it has to establish that southwest monsoon has withdrawn completely, deep easterlies should set in over Tamil Nadu or seasonal low should have been established in south Bay of Bengal adjacent to Tamil Nadu coast.
Ajay Moses By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Concluding his two-day trip for the India-Japan summit, PM Narendra Modi arrived in Delhi during the wee hours of Tuesday. On the second day of the summit, Modi had declared in one of his speeches that from digital partnership to cyberspace Japan and India were going to strengthen their partnership in every field.

The announcement was welcomed by several technology enthusiasts and analysts except those interested in cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency watchers, who were closely following the deliberations of the two Asian countries were disappointed after discussions relating to the latest technology did not see any mention.

Japan is one of the largest markets to have a cryptocurrency framework with ATMs and exchange centres which could have been a resource for India.

If the Indian government would have explored the cryptocurrency framework of Japan, it could have been of much use to blockchain technology growth in India. said Prashanth Surana, co-founder, Snapper blockchain technology.

In this years financial budget, India declared cryptocurrency illegal. Many analysts see this move as a hindrance to the governments Make In India program.

I had to migrate my company to Singapore because I didnt want to step into grey areas of the law. India is losing out research in this area. It is curbing the imagination of entrepreneurs, said Prasannan, a blockchain angel investor.

Cryptocurrency is no longer interesting people but blockchain technology. which is its backing, has a good demand in the city, pointed out Sachin Yadav, a cryptocurrency analyst. The Japan summit could have been much more fruitful if the framework of cryptocurrency operation was included in the discussions, he added.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Firefighters battled hard late into Wednesday night to contain a massive blaze which swept through a plastic factory at Manvila in the district. The fire broke out late in the evening at the factory and godown of Family Plastics. The four-storey building reportedly contained a huge storage of raw materials and also chemicals, and the conflagration engulfed the entire structure, defeating all attempts to douse it. The blaze was visible from miles around. A preliminary estimate pegged the loss at Rs 500 crore.

By 10 pm, around 30 fire tenders were on the job fighting the fire. Within two hours of the blaze, the district administration also ordered the evacuation of local residents within a radius of one kilometre as the danger from inhaling the toxic fumes became increasingly high. While no casualties were reported, two men - identified as Jayaram Raghu and Gireesh - were admitted to the casualty wing of the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, reportedly after inhaling the fumes. Their condition is stable, hospital sources said.

The factory and godown is situated inside the industrial estate at Manvila. The fire was first noticed around 7.20 pm. The first shift had ended at 7 pm and a number of the employees were still inside the building taking their bath and preparing to leave. Staff detailed for the evening shift had started arriving by then. On seeing the fire, all of them rushed out, raising the alarm. Local people said they heard multiple explosions from the burning factory.

#Kerala #Fire

Firefighters struggling to put out the huge fire at a plastic factory at #Manvila industrial area in #Thiruvananthapuram. No casualties as workers escape. Minister @kadakampalli Surendran admits existing systems inadequate to contain fire.@NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/rq0r55NbWZ  Sovi Vidyadharan (@vidyadharansovi) October 31, 2018

"It would be difficult to put out the fire. We are waiting for it to subside. But steps have been taken to prevent it from spreading to nearby industrial units, District Collector K Vasuki said. After the alarm was raised, all the firefighting units in Thiruvananthapuram district, and later Kollam, were rushed to the spot. But at the time of filing this report, the fire has been raging through the facility for nearly four hours. Later in the night, the Fire and Rescue Service alerted units in Alappuzha also.

According to the fire and rescue service, nearly 30 units - including that of the Fire and Rescue Service, the Thiruvananthapuram Airport and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) were called in.

Although a short circuit is suspected to be the cause of Wednesday nights fire, only a detailed investigation can ascertain it.

In fact, a fire had broken out at the factory only two days back. While it was smaller blaze, it nevertheless had taken five tenders to put it out. Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran and Mayor V K Prasanth visited Manvila after being alerted about the fire.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: About 65,000 troops from various central and state police forces will be deployed for the first phase of the assembly polls in naxal-hit Chhattisgarh, officials said Wednesday.

Elections to the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly will be held in two phases on November 12 and November 20.

In two recent Maoist attacks in Bijapur and Sukma districts, nine security personnel and a DD News cameraman were killed, prompting security officials to direct personnel to "maintain a very high state of alert till the polls process is completed".

The officials said contingents from central forces such as the CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, CISF and RPF, and a few from state police forces have reached capital Raipur.

These will be in position at their designated locations and polling booths by this week, they said.

"About 650 companies of central and state police forces will be deployed for the first phase of polls in the state. The (personnel of) Chhattisgarh Police is in addition to this," a senior official said.

There is about 100 personnel in a state police or Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) company.

Considering the threat perception in 18 constituencies that go to polls in the first phase, the number of on-ground security personnel has been kept high, the officials said.

The assembly segments are spread in eight Naxal-affected districts of Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon, they said.

Also, a number of new polling booths are being opened this time so it was required to have more Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) units for ensuring safe polls during the first phase of the Chhattisgarh elections.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) units that are already deployed in the Bastar area for regular anti-Naxal operations will add to the strength of these forces, the officials said.

The Bijapur and Sukma Naxal attacks prompted security officials to state that they are "not taking any chances and the security units have been asked to maintain a very high state of alert till the polls process is completed.

" For the forces being sent to the central Indian state, the Union Home Ministry had issued specific directions that they should "carry their own night vision devices, communication equipment like satellite phones, bulletproof jackets, GPS systems and armoured vehicles as far as possible for safety and other operational requirements" in view of the Naxal threat.

The second phase of polls for remaining 72 constituencies in the state will be held on November 20. The counting of votes is slated for December 11.
By ANI

BHILWARA: As assembly elections are round the corner in several states, scores of political contenders belonging to various political parties are flocking to a small village called Kario, about 20 kilometres from Bhilwara, to seek future advice from well-known astrologer Nathulal Vyas.

Interestingly, due to a large number of people practicing astrology as a profession in the area, Karoi is known as 'Jyotish Nagri' of the country.

Vyas, who hails from Karoi village, is an expert in Bhrigu Sahita, a Sanskrit astrological (Jyotisha) treatise.

Political leaders, especially from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, who are seeking party tickets for the upcoming polls and are curious to know what lies in fate for them are paying regular visits to the elderly astrologer.

The 95-year-old astrologer shot to fame after former president Pratibha Patil, along with her husband Dev Singh Patel, flew down to consult him. Vyas had predicted that she will hold the highest office of the country. Later, after being elevated as the President, Pratibha Patil invited him to attend the oath ceremony.

Present Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and late Reliance Industries Chairman Dhirubhai Ambani are among the well-known people to have sought advice from the astrologer.

Elections to the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly will be held on November 28 to elect representatives of 230 constituencies. The poll is touted to be a direct political battle between the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party and the Indian National Congress.

In Rajasthan, the elections are slated to be held on December 7 for 200 seats in a single phase. In the last elections in 2013, BJP had won a majority and Vasundhara Raje was appointed as the Chief Minister.

The high stakes political battle will conclude on December 11, with the counting of votes for both the states.
(File Photo)

The China International Import Expo (CIIE), a sign of Chinas determination on reform and opening-up, will be held from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai. As the worlds first large-scale national exhibition themed on worldwide imports, the event will see more than 3,000 enterprises from some 130 countries and regions. Recognizing it as a great opportunity to deepen mutual cooperation, Demarks government will bring various national products to this event, and held a Greenland Day event at its embassy in Beijing on Tuesday to promote local tourism and high-quality products.

More than 10 Danish companies, including Danish Specialty Foods Aps, Danish Carlsberg Group, and Danish Crown Group, will showcase their products at CIIE, according to a release by the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Denmark. Besides these well-known brands, Demarks government also hopes to boost another name card: Greenland.

Featuring snow-covered mountains, permanent ice caps, the amazing Northern Lights, and whales swimming freely in Azure Ocean, Greenland has always been a dream destination for travelers. However, compared to other tourist sites in Northern Europe, Greenland still remains a niche sightseeing place for Chinese outbound visitors.

Greenlands government plans to offer more unique traveling experiences by upgrading its abundant national tourism sites and infrastructure to attract more Chinese visitors, said Mads Lumholt, a senior advisor of Greenlands tourist administration at the Greenland Day event.

Besides directly flying to this icy world, Chinese consumers can also taste Greenlands exotic feeling through its newly-introduced Greenland Ice Cap Water.

Driven by high awareness of water source quality, China has experienced robust growth in the bottled water market. In 2015, China consumed 37 billion liters of bottled water, more than any other country, and reached 40 billion liters a year after, accounting for nearly 17 percent of global consumption, Jrn Skov Nielsen, Greenlands deputy minister of the Ministry of Industry and Energy, said at the Greenland Day event. Nielsen also predicts that demand for healthy hydration products will continue to increase due to pollution.

At the event, a representative from Greenland presented bottled water sourced from 10-thousand-year-old Arctic ice water.

Having the worlds richest aggregate freshwater resources, Greenland has large-scale unexploited potential for the production and export of water. To seize this commercial opportunity, the local government has launched a series of comprehensive strategies including launching targeted marketing campaigns and creating a better business environment.

Greenlands government is conducting water quality examinations in extraction locations and will ease export regulations to attract more investment, including from Chinese investors, said Dr. Andreas P. Ahlstrm, a chief advisor for Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland.

In addition to 10-thousand-year-old ice cap water, Greenland is also seeking cooperation with China in many other fields, especially in the field of energy.

Currently, 70 percent of the energy used in Greenland comes from hydropower and the government wants to equip the rest of the country with clean energy by the end of 2030.

Greenlands government said it is willing to share knowledge with China in green energy utilization. Furthermore, as a country with low population density, Greenland also expects to learn from Chinas successful experiences in the construction of energy stations, especially in remote areas covered by ice, according to Aqqalu Jerimiassen, Greenlands minister of the Ministry of Industry and Energy.
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership has denied requests of several top ministers in the Vasundhara Raje-led Rajasthan government to allow them to change their constituencies for the Assembly polls in the state on December 7, state party unit officials said on Wednesday.

The ministers and leaders had asked that their seats be changed in order to fight off anti-incumbency, said state BJP officials who were familiar with developments. Rajasthan traditionally sees a change of government every five years.

BJP national president Amit Shah has reportedly issued guidelines which bar candidates from changing their seats.

The partys state election in-charge Prakash Javadekar has said candidates may be changed for some seats in the state to capitalise the chances of winning.

The ministers who want a change of seats include Housing and Urban Development Minister Shrichand Kriplani, Public Works Department Minister Yunus Khan, Cooperatives Minister Ajay Singh Kilak and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Rajendra Rathore. Several senior leaders of the partys state unit were also on the list.

They include Narpat Singh Rajvi, son-in-law of BJP veteran and former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and the deputy Speaker of the Rajasthan Assembly Rao Rajendra Singh.

According to the party officials, party brass feels that changing seats now may send out a wrong message.

Raje herself had said earlier that she would fight from her old seat of Jhalrapatan.

Shah is reportedly keeping a tight control over election-related decisions.

The core committee has sent a list of candidates for all 200 seats to the BJP headquarters in New Delhi where the party parliamentary board will take a final call, said the officials.

The Opposition said the decision signals the partys nervousness.

The desire to change their seats shows how nervous BJP ministers are. They failed to perform and did nothing for five years and now they want to escape the battleground. When the ship sinks the mice are the first to flee. BJPs ship is about to sink in Rajasthan, Congress MP and chairman of election campaign committee in Rajasthan, Raghu Sharma said.
By Online Desk

It's not yet the end of the world for Game of Thrones fans, as the makers are already busy starting up a prequel series for the popular fantasy show.

After the announcement that Naomi Watts will be seen in the pilot of the series, Josh Whitehouse has also joined the cast. Although it was announced that Naomi will be playing a charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret, we are yet to know what Josh's role is.

Written by Jane Goldman along with the original writer George RR Martin, the series will show what happened thousands of years before the events in 'Game of Thrones'. This time period is known as the "Age of Heroes" during which "Bran the Builder" and "Lann the Clever" existed.

While Bran the Builder is known for building several structures across Westeros, including the great Wall in the North, Lann the Clever is known for stealing the 'Casterly Rock' from the House Casterly.

The series will cover the history of "Westeros", and clarify the origin of the "White Walkers", as fans have been speculating that the Night King could have been a Stark before.

This series is just one of the five 'Game of Thrones' projects that were being considered by HBO. Four out of these have been dropped. Martin has confirmed that the series would be a prequel, and none of the present 'Game of Thrones' cast would appear in them.

While the makers of the show hunt for actors, a few casting call lists have leaked. On seeing the requirement of black and mixed-race actors, fans have concluded that there could be some scenes from "Essos" (another country in the fictional world of Game of Thrones) as well.

The shooting is expected to begin by the end of the year, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
By ANI

JAIPUR: With Rajasthan assembly elections around the corner, the political battle in the state has intensified- not just between the political parties but within the parties as well.

As many as 42 workers of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are in the fray to seek party ticket from the Sri Dungargarh assembly constituency of Bikaner district.

All of them reached the party office in Jaipur on Wednesday to claim their candidature for the assembly seat. What is even more interesting is- all of them travelled together to the state capital and are even staying at the same place.

ALSO READ: Politicians visit Bhilwara to consult astrologer before Rajasthan Assembly elections

However, the candidates said that there is no internal conflict among them.

One of the contenders, Krishna Ram told ANI, "As many as 42 of our party workers have applied for the ticket from Sri Dungargarh assembly constituency. We have conveyed it to our party leaders that all will support whosoever is given a ticket. We are all dedicated workers of the party."

Rajasthan is slated to go for polls on December 7, and counting of votes will be done on December 11.
By Online Desk

Telugu Desam Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held talks with National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and NCP chief Sharad Pawar in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss the plans for the future of the nation and he will be holding talks with Congress president Rahul Gandhi later in the day.

Speaking to mediapersons, Chandrababu Naidu described the objective of the meeting was to discuss the bad phase the nation was going through. We have discussed and decided to have a meeting for chalking out an action plan to save the future of the nation, he said.

Naidu said he was asked by the other two senior leaders to meet other non-BJP political party leaders and there will be a meeting with all those leaders in New Delhi shortly. NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the situation in the country is deteriorating day by day and attacks on institutions like CBI, ED, and RBI are a cause of concern.

It is time for collective efforts to save democracy, save institutions and save the nation, he observed. Echoing the opinion of Sharad Pawar, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah said the nation is going through a great crisis, which has never happened before since Independence. Democracy in danger, people are in danger. We all met to work out a common minimum program - How to Save Democracy and the nation, he said

Though, Chandrababu Naidu said they have not met discuss power, seats, but only in the interest of the state, the developments in the Nations capital on the political front, give a different picture.

It was TDP chiefs second visit to New Delhi in less than a week and significant changes in the political scene are expected at the national level after his meeting with Rahul Gandhi, which will be first such meeting. Both the leaders had shared dais during the swearing-in ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister of Karnataka.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Cranking up efforts to create an Opposition mahagathbandhan or grand alliance, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and Congress president Rahul Gandhi jointly announced their decision to work together along with other like-minded parties to save democracy by defeating the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

We have to defend democracy, institutions and the future of the country. We are going to come together and work together, Rahul said in a joint media interaction with Naidu after the meeting.

This was Naidus second visit to Delhi within a week. He met a battery of senior party leaders, including NCP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and Samajwadi Partys Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav.

During his earlier visits, he has met his West Bengal and Delhi counterparts Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal and BSP chief Mayawati.

We have to work together and deliver peoples aspirations. The principal challenge for the Opposition is to work together. Everything else is secondary. Jobs, farmers, and Rafale deal corruption will be our major issues against the Centre, said Rahul.

Like Naidu, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had made a few visits to the Capital and proposed a one-on-one strategy - fielding a joint Opposition candidate against each BJP nominee on all Lok Sabha seats - but it found few takers.

Who will play what role, time will decide. Any leader will be better than Modi to lead India...not just Rahul, any leader will be better, Naidu later said when asked whether Rahul has the qualities to become PM.

Deflects queries on the fronts PM face

Chandrababu Naidu expertly deflected queries on the PM face, saying: You are interested in candidate, we are interested in the nation... It is a reality you have to understand that Congress is a main opposition party. All other parties are necessary. Well work on them.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Giving a major relief to people in Assam whose names have been left out of the final draft of the National Register of Citizens, the Supreme Court on Thursday said the last date for filing their claims and objections would now be December 15. Earlier the date was November 25.

ALSO READ | Assam NRC: Parties stand opposed to deletion of documents from modalities

A bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton F Nariman clarified in the order that after December 15, notices to claimants would be issued until January 15, 2019, and then verification of their claims would begin on April 1, 2019.

The court allowed the claimants to use five more documents to prove their legacy. They are the NRC, 1951; names in the electoral roll up to March 24, 1971; a citizenship certificate; a refugee registration certificate; certified copies of pre-1971 electoral roll, particularly, those issued in the state of Tripura; and a ration card. Any of these documents can be used by the claimants to prove their Indian legacy in the ongoing claims and objections process.

The five documents are part of the 15 listed by the Centre in it s draft Standard Operating Procedure for the claims and objections of over 40 lakh people excluded from the draft NRC published on July 30.

The bench disagreed with State NRC Co-ordinator Prateek Hajela's conclusion that these five documents could be easily forged, and thus should not be permitted for use by claimants to prove their Indian citizenship.
By ANI

BEGUSARAI: A non-bailable warrant has been issued against former Social Welfare Minister of Bihar Manju Verma in connection with an Arms Act case.

Manjhaul sub-divisional court issued the warrant against Verma on Wednesday soon after the Supreme Court rapped the Bihar government for not arresting her. A hunt has also been launched to arrest the former minister, who is currently absconding.

Earlier in August, around 50 live cartridges were seized from one of Verma's residences during a raid, carried out in connection with the shelter home rape case.

Verma had resigned as the Social Welfare Minister of Bihar in August after her husband, Chandrashekhar Verma came under fire for allegedly having links with Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case.

The shelter home rape case pertains to the alleged sexual harassment of 44 girls residing at the state-run shelter home.
By ANI

DELHI: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, was informed about two memoranda signed with Russia last month.

The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) respectively.

While the MoU was signed with the Russian transportation ministry for the development of cooperation in transport education, the MoC between the two counties was reached with the Joint Stock Company "Russian Railways" (RZD) for technical cooperation.

The India-Russia instruments are aimed at providing a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector.

They are also expected to facilitate the exchange of technical experts, reports and technical documents, training and seminars. Workshops focusing on specific technology areas and other interactions for knowledge sharing also form a part of the memoranda.

Indian Railway Ministry has signed such documents with various counties. The identified areas of cooperation include high-speed rail, speed raising of existing routes, development of world-class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure etc.

The cooperation is achieved through an exchange of information on developments in areas of railway technology and operations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training, seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest.

The MoU will envisage cooperation in the priority areas for the development of transport education. This would enable the preparation of specific proposals in this area including their implementation within the framework of the Intergovernmental Russian-Indian Commission on Trade-Economic, Scientific-Technical and Cultural Cooperation.

The MoC will enable technical cooperation in various fields, including the upgradation of the Nagpur- Secunderabad section; implementation of a Single Traffic Control Center to manage mixed traffic at the regional level.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: In apparent fallout of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, suspected militants of the Paresh Baruah faction of United Liberation Front of Assam, better known as ULFA-Independent, gunned down five Bengalis in Assam on Thursday evening.

The incident occurred near the Dhola-Sadiya bridge in Upper Assam's Sadiya police district bordering Arunachal Pradesh. Sources said the militants, who came brandishing sophisticated weapons and wearing battle fatigues, swooped down on the Kherbari Bisonibari area near the Brahmaputra and fired indiscriminately on a group of people playing ludo.

Three of them were killed on the spot. Two others succumbed to their injuries on the way to the hospital. The attack did not come as a surprise to many given the ongoing fraying of tempers by various Assamese organisations and also the ULFA-Independent against the Citizenship Bill which seeks to grant citizenship to the non-Muslim immigrants of Bangladesh besides Pakistan and Afghanistan who migrated to India till December 31, 2014.

Ahead of Durga Puja last month, militants of the ULFA-Independent faction had triggered a blast in the heart of Guwahati leaving four people injured. Soon after the explosion, Paresh Baruah had called up local news channels owning responsibility for the attack.

He said it was carried out as a mark of protest against the Citizenship Bill. Some 60 organisations in Assam had recently come together in calling a statewide bandh against the bill.

They fear that if the bill is passed, it will threaten the existence of the locals and their land, language, culture etc. They pointed out that the ongoing updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would be meaningless if the bill is passed as that would legitimize the stay of the immigrants, who migrated till December 31, 2014, in the country.

The NRC is being updated with March 24, 1971 as the cut-off date. This means the immigrants, irrespective of faith, who migrated after the NRC cut-off date, are to be detected and deported.

The organisations have been very critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and the BJP for the attempt to "dump" lakhs of "Hindu Bangladeshis" (read Bengali Hindus) in Assam through the bill's passage. Speculations are rife that the bill will be passed in the Winter Session of the Parliament.

The BJP strongly advocates the asylum, if not citizenship, of the non-Muslim immigrants. The party argues that the non-Muslim immigrants were the victims of Partition who fled to India in the face of religious persecution.
By PTI

AHMEDABAD: Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha on Wednesday said people should not "forgive" Prime Minister Narendra Modi and "uproot" his government in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

He was addressing a farmers' gathering at Vanthali in Gujarat's Junagadh district, around 300 km from here.

"This government has failed on all fronts. Everyone is suffering, be it farmers, youth, women or Dalits. Only new slogans are being given. The only solution is to uproot this government in the next (Lok Sabha) polls," Sinha said.

"I want to apologise because I was also part of the BJP when promises were made ahead of 2014 (general) elections. But I do not want you to forgive him (Modi) in the next polls," he said.

The former finance minister has been a vocal critic of the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government and resigned from the party in April this year.

Sinha was invited by Patidar leader Hardik Patel to address the farmers.

Commenting on the unveiling of a 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Narmada district earlier on Wednesday, Sinha said Modi should have announced a pro-farmer scheme on the occasion.

"He did not announce any scheme for farmers because he has forgotten them," he said.

Disgruntled BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha was also present at the gathering.

The actor-turned-politician said he will not complain if the BJP sacked him.

"I did not come into politics for any personal gain. I will not complain if my party sacks me tomorrow. I love the people of this country more than my party," he said.
In one minute, what happens in Jiangxi Province?

In one minute, beating on glutinous rice cakes 60 times makes them sweeter.

In one minute, the temperature of a jar of soup slowly rises 1 and gives off aroma.

In one minute, a Jingdezhen craftsman completes a ceramic casting.

In one minute, Chinas highest ferris wheel the Star of Nanchang spins 16 meters in the air.

In one minute, Olympic canoe champions sprint 300 meters in Qingshan Lake.

In one minute, Poyang Lake welcomes 40 migrating birds.

In one minute, 4.5 mu of bamboo sprout grow in the sunlight.

In one minute, 95 tourists look up at the milky-way-like Lushan Waterfalls.

In one minute, one gold vessel is excavated in the tomb of Marquis of Haihun.

In one minute, Pan Fengxia, inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage, can sing six lines of Jiangxi opera.

In one minute, a China-Europe train starts off from the port of Ganzhou and runs 2,000 meters.

In one minute, Jiangxi welcomes 1,093 tourists with its amazing views.

In one minute, 300 bottles of medicine are produced in unmanned pharmaceutical factories.

In one minute, the Jiangxi copper cooperation produces 2.3 tons and send more than 100 products around the country.

In one minute, Chinas C919 passenger jet can fly 16,014 meters.

In one minute, 10,000 pieces of Lidu-made fireworks were ignited in a fireworks display at the Qingdao SCO Summit.

40 years of opening-up and reform

The Ganjiang River presents its splendid scenaries.

In one minute, a miracle can be witnessed.

In one minute, amazing sceneries can be appreciated.

In one minute, experience the everlasting endeavor.

In one minute, feel the ingenuity passed on from generation to generation.

In one minute, smell the happiness.

In one minute, sing an inspirational song.

One Minute in Jiangxi

Charms never fade.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Former finance minister P Chidambaram has questioned the Centre's much-touted Jan Dhan scheme, saying it is yet another jumla (fake promise) of the Modi government.

"Jan Dhan Yojana is another jumla and an exercise in mass deception by PM Modi and his government. The funds were supposed to be cost-free for struggling banks, but they are required to bear the cost of the accounts. The SBI alone has spent Rs 775 crore as on December 31, 2016 for maintaining the accountants. In any event, there are no comparable benefits to the customer," Chidambaram said.

Noting that just as the India story did not begin on May 26, 2014 "as PM Modi would like us to believe", financial inclusion did not begin with the Jan Dhan Yojana, said the former finance minister.

The UPA government sowed the idea of financial inclusion, said Chidambaram, adding that the RBI had introduced the Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (BSBDA), also called the 'No Frills Account' or 'Zero Balance Account'.

"Until May 2014, 25 crore BSBD Accounts had been opened and the average citizen began to enjoy the advantages of modern banking. Simultaneously, the Aadhaar programme was rolled out and 65 crore Aadhaar numbers were issued by May 2014," he said, claiming credit for the unique identification scheme also.

The Congress veteran pointed out that the Modi government simply renamed the BSBDA scheme as Jan Dhan Yojana and instead of pursuing genuine financial inclusion, the centre's aim appears to break records and grab headlines.

"When the Modi Government speaks of Jan Dhan accounts, it conveniently and deliberately ignores the 25 crore accounts created before 2014. Why?" Chidambaram said.

He charged that Jan Dhan accounts were used to launder money after demonetization in 2016.

"A humongous sum of Rs 42,187 crore was deposited in Jan Dhan accounts between November 8, 2016, and 30 December 2016. Initially, the finance minister threatened legal action (November 12, 2016), but the finance secretary ruled out an investigation on the grounds it would be a "time-consuming process." United Bank of India alone had 11,80,000 Jan Dhan accounts with over Rs 1 lakh so-called 'savings', the former finance minister added.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: Punjab has failed to control stubble burning, while neighbouring Haryana has decreased the menace, said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal here today. He added that the pollution had deteriorated in the national capital after October 25.

Showing satellite images of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, Kejriwal said, "We have seen an abnormal increase in pollution level after October 25. This is nothing else but due to stubble burning in various parts of Punjab be it Bathinda or Amritsar. The incidents of stubble burning were more in Punjab this year than in Haryana. In Haryana, this is limited to north Haryana in the areas around Ambala district which borders Punjab."

He said Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier assured him of lesser stubble burning in Haryana this year and the satellite images showed that stubble burning was indeed less in that state this time. Hitting at the Congress Government in Punjab, Kejriwal said the government and pollution control authorities in the state need to take the menace of stubble burning more seriously to find a lasting solution to the annual problem that was causing severe air pollution in Delhi.

The number of vehicles have not increased in the national capital after October 25 and neither more industries have been set up and nor there has been a dust build up. The air quality has deteriorated due to stubble burning in Punjab. Before October 25 the pollution level was between 150 to 200 points and now it is more than 350 points," he said.

"A few months ago I met Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan to discuss this problem. He assured me that the problem will be curbed as 'Happy Seeder' machines will be provided to panchayats to get rid of the crop residue. However, nothing has happened," he alleged.

When asked about the infighting in the Punjab unit of the Aam Aadmi Party, he said this was an internal matter of the party and would be resolved soon.

"The outcome of the action against Sukhpal Singh Khaira would be known soon,'' he said. He also hit out at the Congress, INLD and BJP in Haryana as he said that in the last 52 years nothing has changed in the state as these parties indulge in caste politics and AAP talks about buildings and hospitals.

"People have tried successive governments of the Congress, Indian National Lok Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party. They have all failed to deliver on development. Schools, roads, hospitals and other infrastructure are in a bad shape. These parties have ruled Haryana for 52 years. But nothing has changed on the ground. We have brought revolutionary changes in Delhi in three years. It is being discussed at the global level. I have travelled in recent days to villages in Haryana. We have been to schools. They are in dilapidated condition," he said.

He urged the people of Haryana to vote for the AAP in Assembly elections.
By Associated Press

MALE: The first democratically elected president of the Maldives returned home Thursday after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term.

The plane carrying Mohamed Nasheed from Sri Lanka landed in Maldives' capital, Male, where he was welcomed by his party members and supporters. He planned to address his supporters later Thursday.

Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in jail in 2015 after being convicted of terrorism for ordering the arrest of a top judge in 2012 while he was president. His trial was criticized internationally for lack of due process, along with those of many other political opponents jailed by strongman President Yameen Abdul Gayoom's administration.

He was offered asylum in Britain when he traveled there for medical treatment on leave from prison.

Nasheed's return follows Yameen's defeat in the Sept. 23 presidential election by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the candidate of Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party.

Since Yameen's defeat, courts have freed or granted bail to some of the jailed officials.

The Supreme Court earlier this week suspended Nasheed's prison sentence until it reviews his conviction at the request of the country's prosecutor general, a move to prevent his arrest on arrival.

Two other people  an opposition party leader and a former vice president who was Yameen's running mate in the 2103 presidential election  earlier returned from exile.

Nasheed, a former pro-democracy activist, was elected president in the country's first multiparty election in 2008 after decades of autocratic rule. He became popular internationally as an environment crusader, holding an underwater Cabinet meeting to highlight the perils of rising sea levels caused by global warming and their impact on the archipelago nation composed of coral masses just a few meters (feet) above sea level.

He resigned in 2012 amid public protests against his order to arrest the senior judge and lost the 2103 election to Yameen.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: Cracking down on the violence, arson and terror unleashed by the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) under the guise of Referendum 2020, the Punjab Police on Thursday busted a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist module, Khalistan Gadar Force, with the arrest of one Shabnamdeep Singh from Patiala. Shabnamdeep was planning to attack police stations and posts and crowded places in the ongoing festival season.

A pistol, hand grenade, CT-100 Bajaj Platinum black motorcycle and letter pads belonging to Khalistan Gadar Force and other banned terrorist organizations have been recovered from Shabnamdeep.

With this arrest, the Punjab Police has blown up Pakistan ISI's nexus with Gurpatwant Singh Pannu's campaign for Sikh Referendum-2020, and the conspiracy hatched by ISI-backed SFJ to spread mayhem in Punjab and other parts of India, DGP Suresh Arora disclosed, giving details of the arrest.

The arrest of Shabnamdeep proves once again that SFJ continues to spearhead and promote the "Sikh Referendum 2020" campaign through violence and arson, he said, adding that the organisation is patently preying on the poor, illiterate and devout Sikh youth from the Punjab countryside and radicalizing them.

The youth are being exploited by SFJ, which is using their poverty and credulity as cannon fodder to unleash violence and promote secessionist acts in the state, said Arora, appealing to Punjab's youth not to fall into the trap of such anti-national and secessionist forces out to destroy their lives by pushing them into violence and arson.

Shabnamdeep's arrest, and that of his associates found to be working for SFJ leaders, has also once again given lie to the claims of Gurpatwant Singh Pannu that their campaign for self-determination did not have any room for violence, and that SFJ and its leaders were not funding any terrorist activity in Punjab, he said.

It may be recalled that earlier, on May 31, Batala Police had arrest radical operatives - Dharminder Singh (a Territorial Army soldier) and Kirpal Singh, who had set two liquor vends on fire in Harpura Dhandoi and Panjgrian villages in Sri Hargobindpur block of Batala Police district.

Thus, the SFJ operatives had endangered the life of a poor liquor vend worker who was sleeping in the liquor vend, which was set on fire by the duo. Giving details of today's operation, Arora said Shabnamdeep Singh alias Maninder Lahoria, who hailed from Daftari Wala Burar village, Samana in Patiala district, was currently out on bail in a petty crime case in Rajasthan. It has been found that Shabnamdeep was operating a Facebook account under the pseudo name of "Lahoria Jatt Gill" with a profile picture of "Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale".

Investigations so far have revealed that in July, he was contacted by one Javed Khan Wazir, a suspected Pak Intelligence Officer (PIO), from Pakistan, and was introduced to a Pakistani Sikh 'Gopal Singh Chawla'. He was further introduced to two other persons, who told Shabnamdeep that they were also supporters of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and asked him to join more associates and propagate Sikh Referendum-2020 in a big way. Preliminary investigations have also revealed that Shabnamdeep was further introduced to one Nihal Singh who identified himself as a hardcore SFJ operative.

Nihal and the PIOs started communicating regularly with Shabnamdeep, and kept inviting him to indulge in arson involving liquor vends. They asked Shabnamdeep to videography such acts of arson and share videos along with details of news reports relating to these incidents.

Acting on these directives, Shamandeep and his associate set on fire several liquor vends and shacks, along with a house, last month, and sent the videos to the trio. Shabnamdeep purchased one CT-100 Bajaj Platinum Motorcycle and a new mobile phone with the funds transferred to him by Nihal. Shabnamdeep was also in contact with one Sukhraj Singh of Nagoke village in Tarn Taran, who was also involved in burning of liquor vends and propagation of Referendum 2020, for which he was receiving money from abroad.

Sukhraj Singh contacted Shabnamdeep for delivery of weapons to carry out targeted killings. Sukhraj Singh has recently been arrested by Amritsar Police. Meanwhile, PIO Jawed Khan contacted Shabnamdeep and shared a logo and name of organization "Khalistan Gadar Force", and asked him to get the letter pads of "Khalistan Gadar Force" printed and to use them for issue of press statements staking claims to the acts of arson and other terrorist acts committed by them.

Shabnamdeep and his handlers created a Facebook page in the name of "Khalistan Gadar Force" to popularize the newly formed terrorist outfit and propagate its actions. Javed Khan tasked Shabnamdeep to carry out targeted killings and also promised him Rs 10 lakhs for each such act. In the second week of October, Shabnamdeep was tasked by his handlers based in Pakistan to procure a new phone and install a new messaging application for further communication.

The handlers promised to provide him pistols and grenades. And around October 24, the Pistol and grenade were delivered to Shabnamdeep. The latter was advised to use this grenade on some Police Station or Police Post and crowded place during the ongoing Festival session.
Ramananda Sengupta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Nehru jacket has a new name. And its not going down well with the Twitterati.

A couple of innocuous tweets by South Korean President Moon Jae-in thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a gift of four tailor-made sleeveless jackets sparked off outrage and angst on the online platform on Wednesday.

Prime Minister @narendramodi of India sent me some gorgeous garments. These are modernised versions of traditional Indian costume, known as the Modi Vest, that can also be worn easily in Korea. They fit perfectly, Moon tweeted with a picture of him wearing one of them.

During my visit to India, I had told the Prime Minister @narendramodi that he looked great in those vests, and he duly sent them over, all meticulously tailored to my size. I would like to thank him for this kind gesture, he said in another tweet, which had pictures of the garments on a hanger. Each had a large label identifying them as MODI Jackets.

Outraged netizens were quick to correct Moon for describing Nehru jacket as Modi Vest.

Its really nice of our PM to send these but could he not have sent them without changing the name? All my life Ive known these jackets as Nehru jackets & now I find these ones have been labelled Modi Jacket. Clearly nothing existed in India before 2014, tweeted former CM of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah.

Thats a Nehru jacket not a UPA scheme that Modi can just rename and claim as his own creation! tweeted a journalist.

Nehru was first to receive these gorgeous Modi Vest garments from Narendra Modi in 1945, went another sarcastic tweet.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday opened its doors to everyone as it launched a web portal to facilitate a guided tour of the complex. The tour would be free of cost and needs to be booked online.

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi announced the one-hour tour, in which a maximum of 20 persons will be allowed at a time. It will be open to the general public from 10 am to 1 pm every Saturday, when the courts are not in session.

At present, the general public is not allowed entry into the apex court's premises, where only lawyers, law interns, law students, litigants and media persons are allowed.

The Supreme Court is located in a high-security zone and entry into its premises is regulated: visitors are given an electronic access card or daily passes.

Visitors will be accompanied by a guide throughout the tour and introduced to parts of historical importance.

After doing the booking online, the visitors will receive bar-coded messages on their mobile phones. These barcodes will help them gain entry into the premises for the guided tour.

The guided tour would include a visit to the main lawns, where the statue of justice is located, to courtroom number one, the Chief Justice's court, the judges' library, the judges' corridor, as well as the museum.

The top courts in the United Kingdom and Canada already allow such guided tours for members of the public.

The CJI has also established an in-house think tank to strengthen the knowledge infrastructure of the apex court and enhance its capacity to meet its increasing knowledge needs. The research will be a contribution of the apex court to the development of law.
Pushkar Banakar By

Express News Service

IMPHAL: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday said that the time had come to review the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

"The time has come to review AFSPA. But the complex geography of the state must be taken into account while taking any decision on it," he said. Singh said the state was returning to normal after a history of insurgency and people have started working hand in hand with the government for development of the state.

"Immediately after coming to power, I started Imphal evenings on weekends. People have responded and things started changing. Imphal has a good nightlife now," the chief minister said.

On the ongoing probe into the alleged human rights violations by security forces, the chief minister said he had full faith in the judiciary. -"Justice should be done to all -- the people and also to the security forces,-" he said.

However, army officials say that the act is an enabler and is required to maintain peace and tranquillity in the insurgency-torn state.

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat said the Act was enforced to bring the situation under control. General Officer Commanding of 57 Mountain Division Major General Vijay Mishra, however, said the Act needs to be in place for now.

"The situation in Manipur is under control but AFSPA needs to remain if we need to maintain peace and tranquillity in the state," he said adding that AFSPA was just not an enabler but a pre-requisite.

On the alleged extrajudicial killings, Mishra said that the army was very sensitive to human rights. -"If you see, the respect for human rights is imbibed into out forces right from the training days. We make sure that they (human rights) are protected at every step," he said.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: Police on Wednesday confirmed that the Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar's nephew Usman Hyder and his associate killed in a gunfight in south Kashmir's Tral area were members of sniper squad and the slain Pakistani militant was deputy chief of the squad, which had carried out fire sniper attacks on security forces last week.

A police official identified the two Jaish militants killed in over five hours long gunfight with security forces in Tral area of volatile south Kashmir on Tuesday as Mohammad Usman Hyder, a Pakistani militant and Showkat Ahmad Khan, a local. Usman, he said, was nephew of Jaish chief Masood Azhar and had infiltrated into the State about a year back.

"Both the deceased militants were involved in recent sniper attacks on security forces from a distance," he said.Two army men and a CISF Assistant Sub Inspector were killed and another soldier injured in three sniper attacks by Jaish militants on security personnel inside the security camps in south Kashmir and outskirts of Srinagar last week.Terming the killing of Usman as a major jolt to Jaish and its "sniper squad", the official said it has emerged that he was the deputy chief of the outfit's "sniper squad" and had participated in the recent sniper attacks on security forces after maintaining low profile in south Kashmir, where he was hiding.

"He (Usman) had cleverly maintained very low profile during his hiding in south Kashmir and was not even in radar of security forces. However, he came under security forces radar after last week's sniper attacks on security forces and was killed in the gunfight," he said.The official said US-made M4 carbine rifle, which is used by American troops and special forces of Pakistan, was recovered from the encounter site."It clearly proves that the two slain militants were part of sniper squad," he said.

The official said security forces have launched massive manhunt for some more Jaish militants, who are members of "sniper squad" and trained in handling and use of sniper rifle fitted with night vision equipment."We have got intelligence inputs that some more M4 carbine rifles are available with the militants and adequate security measures have been taken to tackle the threat of sniper attacks," he added.
By IANS

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday paid tributes to Indira Gandhi on her 34th death anniversary and lauded the former Prime Minister's contribution to the nation's economic development.

"Sincere tribute to former Prime Minister Indira ji on her death anniversary. We remember her great contribution to the nation and also her leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement, which she led by focussing on the relationship between disarmament and economic development," Banerjee wrote on Twitter.

Bengal Congress leaders and activists also paid homage to the leader through various programmes and discussions in the party offices across the state.

Senior leaders, including state Congress president Somen Mitra and leader of opposition Abdul Mannan, garlanded the photograph of Gandhi at the party headquarters Vidhan Bhawan in central Kolkata and took part in a forum on the leader's contribution to the nation, party sources said.

Similar programmes were held in the Congress party offices across the districts.

Gandhi, India's first woman Prime Minister, was born on November 19, 1917. She was assassinated on this day in 1984 by two of her bodyguards-- Satwant Singh and Beant Singh -- at her official residence.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Political parties and regional organisations in Assam welcomed the Supreme Court's directive to resume the process of filing of NRC claims and objections, but they insisted that none of the 15 documents in List-A should be dropped from modalities.

NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela had stated that 10 documents of List-A could be relied upon or introduced afresh by any claimant for inclusion of his or her name in the NRC but subject to authenticity as per the certification by relevant issuing authority.

Keeping on hold documents such as 1951 NRC, pre-1971 voters' lists, citizenship certificate, refugee registration certificate and ration cards, the apex court said it would issue an order on these documents' admissibility on October 23.

The All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU) said it was optimistic about the documents' acceptance in the next hearing. "We have full faith and trust in the court. We are confident that it will pass an order in the next hearing, making the five documents in question admissible during the process of filing of claims and objections," AAMSU president Azizur Rahman told TNIE.

The ruling BJP and opposition Congress also stand in favour of the five documents. "Lakhs of people had applied seeking inclusion of their names in the NRC on the basis of these documents. We are hopeful that these documents will be admissible," BJP state president Ranjit Dass said. "If these documents were initially accepted for inclusion of names of applicants in NRC, how could they be suddenly unacceptable?"

The Congress echoed a similar sentiment. "The eligibility criteria framed for the NRC by various stakeholders, including the government, had specifically listed the 1951 NRC and pre-1971 voters' lists as among documents for the purpose of verification. These two documents are even mentioned in the relevant part of the Rules, 2003. So, we hope they will not be excluded," Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA Debabrata Saikia said.
(Photo/Qilu Evening News)

Following the huge success of A Bite of China, new Chinese food documentary Once Upon a Bite racked up almost 200 million views and widespread praise when it hit screens recently.

The first episode, which broadcast nationwide on Oct. 28, included 20 types of food such as ham and hairy crabs. Within 14 hours, the now-famous documentary got over 150 million views on Tencent video and scored 9.4 on Douban, a popular movie rating platform in China.

(Photo/Qilu Evening News)

"A Bite of China" explored the history of food, cooking and cookware in China over a period of three seasons, but Once Upon a Bite, with the same director Chen Xiaoqing, presents a connected world of food from a global perspective through comparisons of the east and west.

For example, the first episode introduces and compares ham made in southern Anhui province and Spain.

(Photo/Qilu Evening News)

Besides the mouthwatering shots of food, the eight-episode documentary is full of macro and microphotography shots that reveal the cooking process and hard work behind each of the delicacies.

The public have high expectations when it comes to food-themed documentaries, said Chen Xiaoqing, who felt the pressure when producing Once Upon a Bite.

(Photo/Qilu Evening News)

There are always stories behind these delicacies, through which viewers can obtain an understanding of a country's history, community and emotion, added the director.

The series was filmed over a period of four years, and saw the crew visit more than 20 places across six continents.

(Photo/Qilu Evening News)

(Photo/Qilu Evening News)

(Photo/Qilu Evening News)

(Photo/Qilu Evening News)
K Jayakumar By

Through a few landmark judgments, the Supreme Court has in the past few weeks demonstrated the transformative power of the Constitution. Evidently some of these verdicts have shocked the sensibilities of different categories of citizens. They have their reasons to feel outraged. Adultery is no longer a criminal offence and the woman is no longer the sole culprit. Homosexuality is not a crime in India anymore. Entrenched ideas and stereotypical attitudes have been shaken.

It needs to be remembered that the apex court has neither legalised nor justified adultery as some of the innovative interpreters on social media would have us believe. These judgments have only put to test certain fossilised provisions in the Indian Penal Code against the ethos and values enshrined in the Constitution. The right of the individual to make choices is the essential substratum on which these interpretations are based. Our Constitution promises social, economic and political justice, and liberty of thought, expression and faith. Besides, it assures the dignity of the individual and equality of status and opportunity.

The apex court has been an arbiter of individual freedom and dignity and has brought about several corrective measures wherever these principles were being overlooked. Thus in the Vishaka case, it issued clear and binding guidelines to protect women from harassment in the workplace which have today become the accepted norm. The hitherto deprived sections have been emboldened with a new sense of right and the need to correct injustice of yesteryears. The #MeToo movement, which is already shaking up misguided male attitudes, too has been nourished by this new sense of justice and the right of the woman to preserve her dignity and freedom. All these have generated a new euphoria that celebrates the freedom and dignity of the individual, a paramount constitutional value.

Though the Constitution has all these values embedded in it, it is the task of the judiciary to discover these latent strengths and release a transformational energy. Thus the Constitution, through timely judicial interpretations, becomes the basis for social transformation. While the judiciary has been discharging this function meticulously, can the same be said about the legislature and the executive? Are not the rights of the individual, repeatedly underlined by judicial pronouncements, undermined by executive apathy and legislative reticence? It is not being insinuated that our legislatures have not enacted progressive legislations. They have. But when it comes to protecting the rights of the individual against bureaucratic rigidities, the inherent human values of the Constitution have not been adequately reflected either in our laws, programmes or their implementation. Government programmes are keen to define clearly the responsibilities of the citizens but seldom do they bind the executive to timely delivery or answerability. The duties of the citizens are highlighted but not their rights. The privileges of the executive are always protected while the laws and rules are often silent about accountability.

Thus the last date for submitting an application for welfare pension is stipulated with the highlighted admonition that late applications will be summarily rejected. But when the concerned officer shall take a final decision on the application is not clear. Despite the Right to Information Act and the Right to Service Act, the plight of the citizen and the intimidating tone of administration are still the same. It is the duty of a person applying for a building plan approval to submit the applications with all stipulated enclosures. But even if it is proper and complete, the final approval has to cross a number of hurdles and uncertainties that can frustrate even an applicant of above average patience. Systems and practices that thrive in corruption are outright violations and are against the right and dignity of the individual.

Ordinary citizens, who are bounced from table to table in government offices for getting what is rightfully theirs, often look upon their entitlements as a great favour. Even the terminologies like submitting an application and the general tone of government communications betray a patron-client relationshipincongruous to the egalitarian values of the Constitution. There is an ongoing drama of entitlements being dispensed as gratis and the dignity of the individual becoming a myth.

Modern India lives in different centuries. Though it is the same Constitution that protects all citizens, the fact remains that the urban educated India gets the benefit of the expanding arm of progressive transformation. While this empowerment is valuable and necessary, the continuing tragedy of exclusion of the less alert and less educated Indians from their right to survival takes away the sheen of the modern India. Human rights are not an abstract idea but an assurance given to every citizen of this country. Human rights are violated when a poor patient is denied treatment, when an innocent person is wrongly arrested or incarcerated, when entitlements are delayed or denied either due to arrogance or corrupt motives. Constitutional rights are trampled upon in a million situations in public offices across the country.

In legislations and legal interpretations regarding gender equity, LGBT rights and several such positions, we may be on par with developed Western societies. That augurs well for us in trying to shake off the fetters of a patriarchal society. But a society cannot be progressive only in select domains. The realisation of the rights of the individual should permeate all walks of life. We cannot have ultra-progressive stances in certain areas while allowing feudal and exploitative arrangements and systems in certain other areas to continue. Todays India is a bundle of contradictions with large patches of darkness to be ashamed of coexisting with spots of light to be proud of. That darkness will remain with us as long as we as a nation are not acutely impatient about the denial of rights of the powerless and critically intolerant about the misplaced privileges of the powerful.

K Jayakumar

Former Chief Secretary to Government of Kerala and former Vice Chancellor of Malayalam University

Email: k.jayakumar123@gmail.com
By Express News Service

VISAKHAPATNAM: Investigation into the attack on YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy took an interesting turn as the call data of the prime accused Janepalli Srinivasa Rao revealed that he had been in touch with some women and persons from outside the State. Police detained three persons, including a woman, belonging to Kanigiri of Prakasam district and sent teams to nab another two persons from Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.

In another development, the SIT officials filed a memo in the III Metropolitan Court on Wednesday seeking permission to collect specimens of Srinivasa Raos handwriting and signature in the presence of the court for comparison with the two letters, which were recovered from him during the investigation and to send the same for forensic examination.

They also filed another memo seeking the courts permission to take possession of Jagan Mohan Reddys blood-soaked shirt for investigation. The investigation team is also trying to get the courts nod to record statements of eyewitnesses and Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Meanwhile, the SIT officials called a medical officer from the King George Hospital on Wednesday to the police station to conduct medical tests on the accused. Accordingly, Dr Srinivasa Reddy of KGH conducted a medical examination and said that Srinivasa Raos health condition was normal though he was slightly weak. As the accused appeared dull, the police allowed his family members to meet him on Wednesday, sources said.

According to sources, a SIT team recovered seven of the nine mobile phones used by the accused from Thanelanka village of Mummidivaram mandal in East Godavari district.

We have recovered seven of the nine mobile phones used by the prime accused. We already traced the other two and our teams are on the job to bring them back for investigation, an official of the SIT said.

On Tuesday night, the SIT officials brought three persons, including two women, in burqa. They were reportedly brought from Piduguralla area of Guntur district. Visakhatnam police commissioner Mahesh Chandra Laddha and other SIT officials interrogated them.

One of the two women hails from Kanigiri area of Prakasam district. We found her name through the mobile call data analysis and she had a telephonic conversation with the prime accused a few minutes before the attack on the YSRC leader. We suspect that the prime accused revealed his attack plan to her, an official from the police department said.

YSRC files complaint against TDP MLC

Vijayawada: Taking objection to the comments made by Telugu Desam MLC YVB Rajendra Prasad that the attack on Opposition Leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy might have been carried out at the behest of the latters mother Vijayamma and sister Sharmila, YSRC party leaders filed a complaint at Vuyyur police station on Wednesday. The complaint was filed by former minister Kolusu Parthasaradi, SC/ST cell president Nagarjuna and other party supporters seeking arrest of the MLC. The leaders also requested Vuyyur Circle Inspector Satyanandam to take action against the TDP leaders for spreading false propaganda on social media platforms on the incident.
By Express News Service

VISAKHAPATNAM: Minister for IT and Panchayat Raj Nara Lokesh said that there was scope for development in the retail sector in the State. Speaking after formally inaugurating the Walmart Best Store at Gajuwaka, here on Wednesday, the IT Minister said that a large number of local youth would get employment opportunities in the retail sector. He said they would be successful in their career if they worked hard.

The minister said that the government was mulling promotion of 5,000 local brands, such as Araku coffee. Natural farming would be encouraged, he said. He sought help of Walmart in getting international recognition for these brands as also help these in marketing their products better.

]He said that under Yuva Nestam programme, jobless youth would be given training so that they could develop their skills as per Walmarts requirement. He said that the government had entered into an MoU with Walmart to start 15 stores in the State. This would help generate 30,000 jobs for local youths, he said. He sought feedback from the retail giant regarding its requirement.

]He said the new State of Andhra Pradesh had inherited a deficit budget after bifurcation. There was no capital and no infrastructure for governance, he said adding that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had worked with a vision and the State was now number one in ease of doing business. In ease of living and rural development the State also stood first, he said. He said that Visakhapatnam was fast emerging as IT destination and medical and pharma hub. New start-ups are providing employment to local youth, he said.
J Deepti Nandan Reddy By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: With the selection of candidates by the Congress party reaching the final stage, the scene shifted to party headquarters in Delhi on Wednesday. After the meeting of the partys central election committee concludes, the party is set to announce its first list of candidates on November 2. TPCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy, campaign committee chief Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and other senior leaders travelled to Delhi to discuss the list and seat-sharing talks with AICC president Rahul Gandhi, who is also the president of central election committee.

The screening committee, led by Bhakta Charan Das, has completed its exercise and handed over the final list to AICC leadership. The party leadership will release it after one last round of vetting. As TDP national president and AP CM Chandrababu Naidu is also set to visit Delhi on Thursday, seat sharing talks are also expected to be finalised by Friday. A joint statement by all the parties in grand alliance on seat sharing is likely to be made on Friday.

READ| Telangana election: Leaked candidate list breaks hearts of aspirants

The screening committee has prepared the final list of contestants after taking opinions from all sections and groups in the party into consideration. AICC leadership will go through the list once again and it is very likely there wont be any changes. Opinions of all TPCC senior leaders were considered while finalising the candidates. The first list, with more than 50 candidates, will be announced on November 2, said a senior leader from AICC. Sources say all prominent faces in Congress will be named in the first list.

Grand alliance show of unity

Keeping aside their differences, and Congress rumoured first list, grand alliance parties said they would announce their candidates jointly. It is reported that CPI national leadership has also been in touch with AICC bosses. All parties in the grand alliance have come together to put an end to the draconian rule of TRS. We have risen above our own interests to make this alliance a strong one. Our focus was always on providing a viable and strong alternative to TRS and never about bargaining for seats. Continuing the same positive momentum, we want to announce our candidates jointly.

While last minute talks on seat sharing are still going on, everything will be finalised by Friday, said TTDP chief L Ramana speaking to Express.

According to sources within Congress, TDP has been given 12, TJS 7 and CPI 5 seats. Though TJS and CPI are not satisfied with the seats given to them, keeping in view political compulsions, they have agreed to Congress terms. TJS chief M Kodandaram, TTDP president L Ramana and others met at CPI state secretary Chada Venkat Reddys residence on Wednesday to discuss on the latest developments. These leaders have decided to put pressure on Congress to announce a common minimum program (CMP) and announce that Kodandaram be made chief for the committee to implement this CMP.

Meanwhile, MRPS leader Manda Krishna Madiga met TPCC manifesto committee chairman Damodar Rajnarasimha on Wednesday requesting party leadership to ensure that Madigas are given fair representation with respect to tickets allocation.

Indiramma Rajyam soon, Rahul Pm, Uttam Cm

Paying tributes to Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary, Telangana Congress leaders expressed confidence that the country would have Indiramma Rajyam once again. Indira Gandhi was an iron lady who developed India benevolently, said senior leader Mallu Ravi. He also said that Uttam Kumar Reddy would become CM in the State after the polls.

TPCC slams BJP for Usurping PAtels legacy

TPCC treasurer Gudur Narayan Reddy admonished the BJP for trying to usurp Sardar Vallabhai Patels legacy. It is ridiculous the BJP is portraying Patel, a Congress man who worked to integrate India, while being lead by PM Modi who is disintegrating the country, he said.

HC reserves order on seven mandals pil

A division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday reserved its orders on the PIL filed by Congress leader Marri Shasidhar Reddy with a plea to declare the action of the ECI in proceeding to conduct elections without delimiting the assembly and Parliamentary constituencies connected to the seven mandals transferred to AP, as illegal.

Revanth asks CEO to ban biased media outlets

TPCC working president Revanth Reddy on Wednesday urged Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar to ban certain print and television news outlets, owned by TRS leaders, which were publishing biased news against Opposition parties. Reddy claimed that these outlets had been painting TRS in a positive light and were criticising Congress relentlessly. He met Rajat Kumar at his office and demanded stringent action against such media outlets.

ticket aspirants upset as poll meet gets cancelled

Adilabad: The cancellation of meeting of TPCC election campaign committee chairman Bhatti Vikramarka and others scheduled from November 1 to 4 in erstwhile Adilabad district, following high command summoning Vikramarka to Delhi, has disappointed ticket aspirants of Adilabad, Khanapur and Boath Assembly segments. The party leaders of the three constituencies are all reportedly worried as they wanted to start the poll campaign at the earliest.
K Shivashanker By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Festival season is here and sweet shops are making a killing as business is brisk. Motichoor laddus, pedas and kalakhands are flying off the shelf. But, watch out before you gobble down one of those sweets. Did you know that the above mentioned are among the most adulterated sweets? Telangana State Food Laboratory gets most adultery complaints on those sweets.

The laboratory conducted tests and found that some of the shops or makers were mixing maida into these sweets instead of making them with pure kova as they claim. Some were even using aluminium foil to decorate the sweet instead of silver foil. Colouring was also added more than permitted levels to make the sweets look more appetising. These additives, experts say, can leave you sick.

Most of the people who bring sweet samples to us for tests are those who experience reactions such as vomiting, or diarrhoea after eating them. They want to know if the food products are adulterated, a junior scientist at the laboratory said. Interestingly, while most people doubts the quality of milk used in preparation of sweets, analysts said they have not got complaints on that aspect.

Scientists at the food laboratory said that though mixing maida in sweets, which are supposed to be made out of kova, does not pose a grave danger to health, but quality of sweets comes down.

Experts say there are quite a few simple tests one can do at home to check the quality of sweets.

While the samples are tested at the Food Laboratory to know the quality, scientists there suggested a simple home-based test: when iodised salt is added to a piece of sweet dropped in water, if water turns blue it indicates presence of maida. In the run up to the festival of lights, confectioneries are often covered with an ultra thin shiny silver layer.

Junior scientist at the Food Safety Laboratory, G Laxmi Narayana Reddy said that they did detect some sweets covered with foils made out of aluminum. And the junior scientist suggests a simple hack to test what are people consuming.

While the silver foil breaks and cannot be scrapped out of sweets, if it is a aluminum foil over the sweets, it can be scrapped out as a layer and it can be rolled into a small ball, Narayana Reddy said.

Another food analyst at the laboratory said, While it is easy to conduct quality tests if a bottle of ghee or adulterated ghee are available, it is difficult to find if ghee or oils are used in sweets. If people hold any doubts about the food they are eating, they can submit samples at the Food Laboratory by paying nominal fee of around Rs 200.


By UNI

UNITED NATIONS: UN officials have criticised the Rohingyan deal struck between Myanmar and Bangladesh to start repatriating Rohingya refugees, with the UN refugee agency confirming they have not been consulted about the plan.

Bangladesh and Myanmar government officials announced this week they had struck a "very concrete" repatriation deal for the return of the 720,000 Rohingya refugees who fled a brutal military crackdown in August 2017.

Myanmar officials said on Wednesday they had verified 5,000 Rohingya refugees so far, with the "first batch" of 2,000 to be repatriated in the next month.

READ | Denmark provides additional aid of USD 4.6 million for Rohingya refugees

However, Dujarric, a spokesman for the UN secretary general, AntAnio Guterres, said the deal had taken the UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) by surprise.

"To be clear, UNHCR, which is in lead on the issues of refugees, was not consulted on this matter," said Dujarric at the daily press briefing given by the secretary general's office.

Chris Melzer, the UNHCR's senior external officer based in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, reiterated this, saying "UNHCR was not a party to that agreement.

"We would advise against imposing any timetable or target figures for repatriation in respect of the voluntary nature and sustainability of return," added Melzer in a report by Gaurdian.

"It is unclear if refugees know their names are on this list that has been cleared by Myanmar. They need to be informed.

They also need to be consulted if they are willing to return . .. It is critical that returns are not rushed or premature."

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have been living in cramped refugee camps in Cox's Bazar for more than a year after fleeing rape, murder and arson in Rakhine state at the hands of the Myanmar military.

ALSO READ | Amid international call for prosecution, Myanmar to start returning Rohingya in November; Bangladesh agrees

The Myanmar government signed an agreement with the UNHCR in June that they would work with the UN to create "safe and dignified" conditions for the return of the Rohingya to Rakhine, including guaranteeing security, freedom of movement and pathway to citizenship.

None of these assurances have been made by the Myanmar government so far and the UNHCR has only been given restricted access to Rakhine state.

"For UNHCR, the conditions in Rakhine state are not yet conducive for a return to Myanmar," said Dujarric.

"And, at the same time, we're seeing Rohingya refugees continue to arrive from Rakhine state into [Bangladesh], which should give you an indication of the situation on the ground."

Bangladesh has handed Myanmar a list of 24,342 refugees whom they have cleared for repatriation, but details of the logistics and precise date of the repatriation are unclear.

The issue of consent and possible forced repatriation has also been raised, with Rohingya in Cox's Bazar saying they were fearful of going back and had never been asked whether they wanted to return.

Myanmar officials, including Myint Thu, the permanent secretary at Myanmar's ministry of foreign affairs, visited the camps in Cox's Bazar on Wednesday and were greeted by hundreds of Rohingya protestors who held placards demanding citizenship and security.

"We are here to meet with the people from the camps so that I can explain what we have prepared for their return and then I can listen to their voices," said Myint Thu.

Safiullah, who like many other Rohingya uses one name, was among the refugees who met the Burmese members of the Bangladesh-Myanmar joint working group at Kutupalong refugee camp on Wednesday.

"The Burmese officials said to us that around 4,600 Rohingya refugees would be taken to Myanmar," said Safiullah.

"The first bunch, around 2,300, would be allowed to return now. The remaining half would return at a later stage, they told me. The returnees have to spend three days in a transit camp inside Rakhine before they are taken to another camp which will be their new home."

He had asked whether the Rohingya would be able to return to their own villages and get back their confiscated land and other properties but "the Burmese officials did not give me an answer".

"I will not return to Myanmar even if the authorities enlist me for repatriation. I am sure this is the view of almost all Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh," he said.

READ | World 'won't rest' on Rohingya crisis, UK foreign minister Hunt tells Aung San Suu Kyi

Some observers have described the announcement as politically motivated by the prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, ahead of the general election which will be held at the end of December.

While Bangladesh initially welcomed the refugees fleeing the military crackdown, a year on their presence has become a politically contentious issue, and there is increasing pressure on Hasina to start their repatriation as soon as possible.

Suktara Begum, a Rohingya refugee woman who spoke to Myint Thu on his visit to the camps, said: "They came to meet us today simply because of pressure from the international community.

They have not taken one step to meet our demands in so many months. They are not serious about our return to our homes. We do not trust them."
By AFP

DHAKA: Award-winning photographer-activist Shahidul Alam, who has been held by Bangladeshi authorities for three months in an internationally watched freedom of speech case, has been denied bail for the fourth time, his lawyer said Thursday.

The 63-year-old Alam was arrested on August 5 for making "false" and "provocative" statements on Al Jazeera television and Facebook during student protests. He says he has been beaten while in custody.

A high court in Dhaka took Alam's latest bail petition request off its hearing list without giving a decision or a reason, his lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua told AFP, slamming the action as unjustified.

Alam's arrest has triggered international protests, with rights groups, UN rights experts, Nobel laureates and hundreds of academics calling for his release.

After three previous bail attempts failed, lawyers launched the latest petition two weeks ago. "We are very unhappy. There is no justification for detaining a person without trial for three months," Barua said.

He said the detention was "a clear violation" of Alam's fundamental rights under Bangladesh's constitution. Alam's arrest followed nine straight days of protests by students who blocked Dhaka streets to show their fury at road safety conditions after two teenagers were killed by a speeding bus.

Alam told Al Jazeera the protests were the result of pent-up anger at corruption and an "unelected government... clinging on by brute force."

The photographer is being investigated under Bangladesh's internet laws which critics say are used to stifle dissent and harass journalists.

Alam, whose work has appeared widely in international media and who founded the renowned Pathshala South Asian Media Institute -- faces a maximum 14 years in jail if convicted. Others were also detained on similar charges during the protests.

The photographer told reporters outside court in August that he had been beaten in police custody so that his tunic needed washing to get the blood out.

The Human Rights Watch group has denounced Bangladesh authorities for targeting activists and journalists instead of prosecuting those who attacked students during the protests.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, used her first statement to raise the attacks and arrests of journalists in Bangladesh.

In recent weeks, the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been accused of stifling dissent further by ratifying a controversial new digital security law.

A prominent critic of the government was arrested for defamation last month days after he helped form an opposition coalition.
By AFP

ISTANBUL: Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and his body was dismembered and destroyed as part of a premeditated plan, Turkey's chief prosecutor said Wednesday, making details of the murder public for the first time.

The revelations came only an hour after Saudi Arabia's chief prosecutor left Istanbul, and his Turkish counterpart said he was "obliged" to release the information after their talks produced "no concrete results".

Gruesome reports in the Turkish media had previously alleged that Khashoggi, a 59-year-old Washington Post contributor who had criticised the powerful Saudi crown prince, was killed and cut into pieces by a team sent from Riyadh to silence him. His body has not been found.

"In accordance with plans made in advance, the victim, Jamal Khashoggi, was strangled to death immediately after entering the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul on October 2, 2018 for marriage formalities," said a statement from the office of Istanbul chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan.

"The victim's body was dismembered and destroyed following his death by suffocation - again, in line with advance plans," it added.

Saudi Arabia sent the head of its investigation to Istanbul this week, seeking to draw a line under a crisis that has brought near unprecedented scrutiny on the oil-rich Gulf nation.

Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb arrived in Istanbul on Sunday, met with Fidan twice, visited the consulate and spoke with Turkey's MIT intelligence agency.

He then flew out of Istanbul on Wednesday afternoon without making a public statement.

"Despite our well-intentioned efforts to reveal the truth, no concrete results have come out of those meetings," the Turkish prosecutor's office said.

It added that the Saudi prosector's office invited Fidan and his delegation to Riyadh "along with the evidence they have obtained".

A senior Turkish official earlier said that Saudi officials seemed "primarily interested in finding out what evidence Turkey had against the perpetrators".

"We did not get the impression that they were keen on genuinely cooperating with the investigation," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

'Who gave the command?'



After initially insisting Khashoggi left the consulate unharmed, then saying he died in a brawl during an interview gone wrong, the Saudi regime has admitted he was killed by a "rogue operation" and arrested 18 people.

But a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, Omer Celik, said on Wednesday that the murder could not have been carried out without instructions from "high-level" officials in Riyadh.

"Who gave the command?" Celik asked at a press conference, adding he believed it was "out of the question" that Saudi authorities had not learned where the body was.

Erdogan has repeatedly requested the suspects be extradited to Turkey for trial -- which Riyadh has refused to do -- as well as reveal the location of Khashoggi's body and who ordered the hit.

Abdulkadir Selvi, a well-connected pro-government columnist for Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper, on Wednesday accused the Saudi prosecutor of "working to save the crown prince by covering up the investigation rather than shed light on the murder".

The affair has tarnished the image of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who has positioned himself as a Saudi reformer. He has denounced the murder as "repulsive" and strongly denied any involvement.

'Violated international law'



The case has also sorely strained relations between the ultra-conservative kingdom and the West.

France said Wednesday that "not enough" was being done to find those responsible for the murder of the Saudi journalist, who was an insider in royal circles before going into self-imposed exile in the United States last year.

In an editorial published Tuesday, the Washington Post accused the administration of US President Donald Trump of "playing along" and "pretending to believe that the Saudis can conduct a credible probe -- even though a chief suspect is the kingdom's own autocratic ruler".

The editorial also urged the US Congress to impose sanctions on those responsible. On Wednesday Switzerland said it would halt deliveries of spare weapons parts to Saudi Arabia over the murder.

While Trump has called the case "one of the worst cover-ups in history", he warned against halting a Saudi arms deal, saying it would harm US jobs.

However, relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia, long-time allies, have cooled.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said the murder "violates the norms of international law. That much is very, very clear".

And on Tuesday, Washington called for a ceasefire and peace talks in Yemen, where the US has faced fierce international criticism for supporting a Saudi-led coalition.

Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said the US had been watching the conflict, in which nearly 10,000 people have been killed, "for long enough".
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON: Growing up amid the tumult of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War, Rick Doblin says he became convinced that humanity was "crazy" and "inherently destructive." As a teenager, he came to see the mind-expanding effects of psychedelics  including LSD and magic mushrooms  as the antidote to mankind's inner demons.

He set out to prove it. And now, after 32 years of false starts, setbacks and regulatory hurdles, he has brought MDMA  the illegal, all-night party drug also known as ecstasy  to the brink of medical legitimacy.

The Food and Drug Administration has labeled the drug a potential "breakthrough" for post-traumatic stress disorder and cleared late-stage studies of up to 300 patients. The studies are to be conducted by Doblin's nonprofit group dedicated to promoting mind-altering drugs, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, or MAPS. Researchers will begin screening patients this month.

Rick Doblin poses for a portrait in Vista, Calif., on Aug. 15, 2018. The founder and director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, or MAPS, Doblin is pushing for the therapeutic potential of psychedelics including MDMA, best known by its street name, ecstasy. (Photo | AP)

The goal is to win FDA approval by 2021. MDMA would become the first psychedelic drug  currently in the same ultra-restrictive category as heroin and cocaine  to make the leap to prescription medicine.

Doblin does not plan to stop there. His aim is the legalization of all psychedelics for recreational use by 2035.

"Psychedelics have been used for thousands of years for healing and spiritual purposes," says Doblin, 64. "I thought my contribution would be to bring them back."

MAPS' work is part of a resurgence of interest into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, a field that captivated researchers in the 1950s and 1960s before the government ban on LSD and other hallucinogens slammed the door shut in 1970.

"This field was so taboo it was essentially erased from the history books," says Stephen Ross, a New York University psychiatrist who is studying psilocybin, the ingredient in magic mushrooms, for depression and alcohol addiction.

Ross and other researchers are largely funded by the Heffter Research Institute, the other psychedelic nonprofit in the field. But Heffter executives adamantly oppose recreational use of psychedelics. They say the drugs are too risky to be used without professional supervision.

"Talking about full legalization of all psychedelics makes quite a number of people uncomfortable," says David Nichols, co-founder of Heffter and a retired pharmacology professor at Purdue University. "But that's Rick, he's got his base of people who give him a lot of money because they want to see him kick down the doors of government regulation."

SPECTRUM OF SUPPORT

Funding MAPS and the MDMA studies has meant relentless fundraising, more than $70 million over the years from by a wide array of wealthy backers.

"Rick has this beautiful vision of healing the cultural divide of the sixties; having veterans and counterculture icons coming together,'" says David Bronner, CEO  Cosmic Engagement Officer of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, the organic brand known for its quirky labels. Bronner has given $3.1 million to MAPS since 2005 and currently chairs its board of directors.

Earlier this year Rebekah Mercer, the billionaire Republican and co-owner of Breitbart, pledged $1 million to fund the PTSD trials.

"America's veterans deserve the very best care," Mercer said in a statement announcing the grant.

If prescription MDMA is ever approved, revenue would flow to a pharmaceutical company entirely owned by MAPS. According to the company's charter, profits would fund research into new uses for MDMA and other psychedelics.

BACK TO A PSYCHEDELIC FUTURE

The small studies published by MAPS and Heffter are dwarfed by research conducted roughly a half-century ago. Between 1950 and the mid-1960s more than 1,000 papers were published documenting 40,000 patients receiving LSD and other psychedelics for conditions like depression and addiction.

Only later would psychedelics become intertwined with the dayglow hippie culture of the 1960s and figures like Timothy Leary, the ex-Harvard professor who promoted psychedelics as a pseudo-religion.

MDMA had its own medical history before being adopted by the electronic rave culture of the 1990s, thanks to its ability to trigger intense feelings of euphoria, intimacy and connection.

The drug was discovered in 1912 by a German drugmaker researching chemicals to control bleeding. A chemical cousin, MDA, became a drug of abuse in the late 1960s, producing a combination of hallucinations and intensified emotions. Users dubbed it the "love drug."

MDMA was largely forgotten until a handful of psychotherapists reproduced it in the late 1970s to enhance therapy sessions.

Doblin first met some of the drug's proponents at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California in 1982, a seaside mecca for New Age teachers and seekers. In college at the time, Doblin became convinced of the drug's power to enhance communication and healing after an MDMA session with his girlfriend. His original plan was to become a therapist working with MDMA. But the federal government's 1985 ban on the substance pushed him into activism instead.

George Greer, co-founder of Heffter, was among the West Coast psychiatrists who first prescribed then-legal MDMA to treat anxiety and other issues, including domestic problems between couples. Greer and his wife, a psychiatric nurse, treated more than 80 patients with MDMA between 1980 and 1985.

THE BRAIN ON ECSTASY

It's not entirely clear how MDMA works, but Greer and others point to its effects on two key brain chemicals: It boosts the feel-good chemical serotonin, similar to antidepressants, and also increases the stimulating brain chemical dopamine, like amphetamines. The effect, Greer says, is that patients feel less fear and more motivation to face their traumatic memories.

The current standard of care for PTSD includes antidepressants and several forms of therapy. But only about a third of patients recover after treatment.

In studies funded by MAPS, more than 50 percent of patients who completed MDMA-assisted therapy no longer had PTSD, compared with 23 percent of patients who received therapy with either a dummy pill or inactive dose of MDMA, depending on the study.

PROCESSING THE PAST

Nigel McCourry, a lance corporal in the Marines, returned from Iraq in 2004 beset by nightmares of ambushes, exploding mortars and gun battles. For years he suffered insomnia, sometimes standing at his apartment door convinced that someone might break in and kill him.

He was especially haunted by one incident in which he accidentally shot and killed two young girls who were riding in a truck that approached his platoon during a firefight.

"A lot of what was tearing me up was having this viewpoint that I was a monster and dangerous," McCourry says. "On MDMA, I was able to forgive myself in a way that felt meaningful."

After MDMA treatment, McCourry was able to sleep through the night and stop taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety pills.

But MDMA has its own risks. When abused as a party drug it can cause life-threatening dehydration. And heavy, long-term users have shown signs of problems with memory and thinking.

Still, leading psychiatrists are cautiously supportive of MAPS' research, noting the need for new treatments. More than 800,000 U.S. veterans receive disability for PTSD and the risk of suicide among veterans is 22 percent higher than other adults.

Tufts University psychiatrist Paul Summergrad says he wants to see larger, more rigorous trials to confirm the benefits of MDMA and psilocybin.

Doblin says part of MAPS' mission is "harm reduction" to help people use psychedelics safely.

In August, MAPS flew several staffers out to Burning Man, the Black Rock Desert festival that attracts up to 70,000 people each year, including many who use hallucinogenic drugs.

Doblin and his staff trained festival volunteers who counseled 380 attendees through what they call "psychedelic crises," or bad trips.

These days, Doblin says he only occasionally uses MDMA for "therapeutic purposes."

"I don't go to raves and dance all night  although I certainly did," he says.
By AFP

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena lifted the suspension of parliament and convened a meeting of the legislature for Monday to resolve a power struggle between two rival prime ministers, officials said Thursday.

Sirisena shut parliament soon after sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister and naming former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse in his place. Wickremesinghe has refused to accept the move and remained in the premier's official residence.

"There were talks between the speaker and the president last evening. This is a compromise," an official involved in the process told AFP. "Otherwise, the speaker was going to defy the president and summon parliament on Friday."

It was not immediately known whether parliament would vote on the crisis on Monday.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: The US has asked Pakistan to swiftly enact a legislation that formally proscribes both Hafiz Saeed-led JuD and FIF, even as it criticised the recent removal of the ban on the two outfits which it said runs counter to Islamabad's commitment to the FATF to fight terrorism.

The US said the removal of the ban on the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation would jeopardise Pakistan's ability to meet its commitments to fight terrorism under the UN Security Council resolution.

"The expiration of the ban on JuD and FIF runs counter to Pakistan's commitment to work with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to address weaknesses in its counter-terrorism financing regime," a State Department spokesperson told PTI.

The spokesperson was responding to a question on the recent lapse of an ordinance issued by Pakistan's president that led to lifting of the ban on the two outfits.

Mumbai attack mastermind Saeed's JuD and FIF are no longer on the list of banned outfits in Pakistan as the ordinance that proscribed them under a UN resolution has lapsed and the new Imran Khan-led government did not extend it, a Pakistani media report said last week.

"As we have said before, the United States is deeply concerned that this development will jeopardise Pakistan's ability to meet its commitments under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 to freeze and prevent the raising and moving of funds belonging to or associated with UN-designated terrorist groups," the spokesperson said.

The development underscores the importance of Pakistan "urgently enacting legislation that formally proscribes" both JuD and FIF, the spokesperson said.

India has been pushing Pakistan to bring to justice the planners of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Saeed is the co-founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was responsible for the attacks in which 166 people were killed.
By PTI

DHAKA: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today held crucial talks with the newly-formed opposition National Unity Front (NUF), which includes the BNP of jailed former prime minister Khaleda Zia, ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for December.

The talks with the 21-member delegation of Jatiya Oikya Front, led by Kamal Hossain, chief of the new political alliance, are expected to ease political tensions between the Hasina-led administration and the opposition groups.

The ruling Awami League's decision to hold talks with the NUF at Ganobhaban (PM's official residence) was a dramatic development as the party had earlier rejected scopes for such talks exclusively with BNP, but responded quickly to the NUF's proposal for the dialogue four days ago.

The NUF emerged earlier this month as an opposition platform and floated a seven-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament to pave way for a poll-time interim government for holding a credible election.

The BNP stayed away from the last parliamentary election in 2014 and waged a violent street campaign in subsequent three years that saw deaths of several people.

The Awami League-led 14-party ruling alliance, however, said no proposal contradictory to the constitution would be acceptable.

Six BNP leaders including its secretary general Fakhrul Islam Alamgir joined the dialogue as NUF team members but media reports suggested leaders of the main opposition party were speculative about the government's intention in view of ''unexpectedly quick response" to the NUF's call on October 28 for the dialogue.

Ahead of the closed-door meeting, Hasina expressed hope that the work of the Awami League government in socio-economic development and the continuation of democracy would play a significant role in expediting the country's development.

"But this country is for all of us. Our prime goal is to change people's fate by taking the country forward through overall development," she was quoted as saying by the bdnews.

"I will leave it to you to judge. Nine years and 10 months of our government have passed. You will surely consider the country's development in this period. What I can say is that the people of Bangladesh are better-off now. Their fate has changed," Hasina said.

Several BNP leaders preferring anonymity expressed fear that the government actually wanted to keep Zia and her "fugitive" son and acting party chief Tarique Rahman away from politics.

Zia is now serving a 10-year prison term in two graft cases and Rahman is staying in London to evade justice as a court in Dhaka last month sentenced him to life imprisonment for masterminding the August 21, 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally.

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.

Despite being the main opposition, the BNP, apparently exposed to a political wilderness, remained just an ordinary partner of the alliance with its chairperson Zia serving prison term on graft charges and its acting chief Rahman staying in London to evade justice.

Hossain is 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.

He was a former Awami League leader who led a parliamentary group in framing the post independent Bangladesh's Constitution.
Ohhhh. How can you start an article about a watch, about leisure or fashion with such a horrible word? A lot of readers might just stop right here.

But you should stay with me. Its a question of life or death

Cancer spares no one and no watch can protect you from it. I can sense that I now have even fewer readers.

But for those of you still with me, lets try to look further into it. Im addressing male readers, because Im talking about a specific type of cancer  one that kills a lot of men (its the third deadliest), that only affects men and that worries men so much that some prefer not to be screened for it. Why? Because the image of this cancer is not linked to a tragic end. And thats the problem. Prostate cancer affects the most intimate areas of a man. For those who didnt know, the prostate manufactures sperm (oh yes) and thus plays a vital role in a mans sexuality. Furthermore, its proximity to the bladder can also cause nasty side-effects on the latter.

I am basically talking about impotence and incontinence

I know, its tough to be reading this when you thought you would be learning more about a Zenith chronograph.

A number of watch brands like to support good causes. They commit to projects to protect the ocean, the air and the Earth. They take part in highly respectable and charitable events. Thats good. But lets be clear, it is much easier to talk  or to support  some issues more than others. When it comes to compassion and sponsoring, there is a hierarchy.

I think its great to wear a divers watch that helps me to support cleaning the oceans. I love the fact that my passion for watches can finance schools, young artists or research into rare diseases. Once again, well done and thank you to all those involved in these projects.

But dare we ask a more disturbing question?

How can a brand use the image of prostate cancer and its devastating effects in a positive way? They would need to have balls to dare to do so (and Im using this image deliberately, so please dont consider this as machismo).

It was only in 1999 that some courageous Australians started a movement that would upset the world of the prostate. It was the birth of Movember, the solidarity movement that every November talks about the diseases that men dont want to talk about. Instead of impotence and Viagra, its the moustache that becomes trendy.

I remember seeing this movement grow and even being surprised by all the men who started growing a moustache in the office, before shaving it off on 1st December. The idea seemed senseless to me, stupid even.

But we live in a democracy, dont we? So each to their own.

I ended up reading about Movember, but barely had I started before I was fleeing the subject at the speed of a patient trying to avoid a prostate biopsy (known for being a great moment of pleasure). Seriously, who wants to talk about a disease that affects old people? I prefer to laugh when people make jokes about people wetting their pants and having accidents in bed. Its funny, isnt it?

There are, after all, much nicer causes that I could support.

So when watch brands start teaming up with moustachioed males, how do you think I reacted? You can imagine the jokes: Oh a blue dial, like Viagra! Thats an easy one, there are much worse. There you go, thats what I think of the few idiots that grow a moustache and ride on huge motorbikes (I dont like motorbikes) and try to promote awareness among a few elderly gentlemen. So when I see brands like Maurice Lacroix with their Pontos S Movember, Oris with the 65 Movember and Zenith associate their names with this I think, fine, but thats not for me.

Julien Tornare (CEO of Zenith) with Mark Hawwa (Founder of the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride)  Zenith

But

It was November 2014 (dont laugh) when a doctor told me you have prostate cancer, and its quite advanced. I was 50 at the time, so quite young for an old mans disease, especially when the surgeon told me that it had been there for at least five years.

So it was a case of fear, surgery, buying nappies, having a catheter running through your body and even those blue pills. Yippee!

Today, all is well, thanks for asking!

But now I know that Movember is genuinely useful, because these guys with their funny moustaches may just save your life one day.

Are you still here?

Why Zenith?

First of all, a few words about the Distinguished Gentlemans Ride (DGR).

It too was born in Australia, in 2012. It soon became a movement for collecting money to combat depression, then prostate cancer. The nice thing about the DGR is that it brings together style, humour, mechanics and a passion for the finer things in life (clothes, motorbikes, watches) and vintage. This all does good and it is a refreshing event, far removed from the  bad  cliches about the diseases it is trying to combat. What is also interesting is that the concept allows brands to use this positive and inclusive image. It is also the great success of the Movember moustache.

Distinguished Gentleman's Ride  Zenith

For the past few years, Zenith has partnered with the event in a very special way, offering five unique piece watches (not available for purchase) to those who raise the most money in Movember on DGR rides organised around the world.

Julien Tornare, CEO of Zenith  Zenith

As watch fans, we all know about Zenith. The brand has a great history (it was the watch of Bleriot, Gandhi, Roald Amundsen and Maurice Trintignant), a legendary chronograph movement, a brand that everyone loves. It is also a brand that is constantly trying to do more, whether in terms of exceptional technical innovation (the Defy Lab), interesting re-editions (the famous Cronometro Tipo 2  Cairelli) and inspired and well-targeted collections.

The Heritage Cronometro TIPO CP-2, revival of the Cairelli model from the 1960s  Zenith

The Type 20 Ton Up is one of those watches that appeals thanks as much to its original positioning as its design. It is the foundation for this  very  rare Zenith DGR chronograph.

The Zenith Pilot Type 20 Distinguished Gentlemans Ride: you cant have it

If you want to strap the Zenith Pilot DGR on your wrist, you need to earn it and be one of the biggest fundraisers in Movember. There will only be a few of these in the world. I sincerely hope you get one. The watch will have a much more significant value than any other.

This particular watch is based on the design of the 2016 Zenith Ton Up.

Pilot Ton Up DGR 2016  Zenith

It is a pilots chronograph with a touch of the Earth and motorbikes. Zenith has succeeded in converting one of its most commercially successful watches. In the Ton Up, the 45mm bicompax chronograph has a case with an aged look, a matching grey dial and a green nubuck strap. Its movement is the venerable and indestructible El Primero.

But where does this Ton Up name come from?

This bikers pilots watch was originally called the Cafe Racer, which referred to the vintage motorbikes of the 1950s and 60s that were modified to reach speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. The Cafe name comes from the task of setting off on these customised bikes from outside a cafe, accelerating to 100 miles per hour and returning  alive  to the starting point. Today Ton Up means more or less the same thing, in other words riding a motorbike at over 100 miles per hour [Editors note: ton is a slang word for 100 in British English].

Pilot Ton Up DGR 2017  Zenith

So much for the classic version of this Ton Up DGR.

The Distinguished Gentlemans Ride version is a little different from its older sister from 2016. It has the same bicompax design, 45mm diameter, imposing crown and El Primero. But its colour comes closer to a beautiful aged black, with a matching anthracite dial. The white numerals are imposing and go perfectly with the dark grey and black colour combimnation. The solid hands remain faithful to those of the original Zenith pilots watches. And the dial has the DGR logo. Each watch is, of course, numbered (from 1 to 5). The Zenith Type 20 DGR comes with a highly original strap, which has become an identifying signature of these rare watches: it is in gold leather with an embossed DGR logo and a moustachioed biker, in reference to Movember.

Pilot Type 20 Ton Up DGR 2018  Zenith

So we are dealing with a rare but discreet watch full of meaning. It shows that there is a person with a heart behind the watch. And thats fantastic.

What does the devils advocate think?

The devil loves cancer and hates it when people fight against it. So we could say that he doesnt like anything at all about this watch, which is precisely why we like it so much.

Coming back to the mortal human point of view, my only niggle is with the gold hands, which would have benefited from a more vintage coating in line with the aged case.

Apart from this small detail, I say go for it. Try to win it or instead buy the non-DGR version.

But above all, support Movember. Would you like to make a donation to support me ?

How to wear this Zenith with style?

The easiest way is to adopt the same style as the bikers from the sixties with their refined eccentricity. Nothing is off limits, as long as it is done with taste and with a nod to the past. The moustache and beard are, of course, a plus, and should be added in November.

Who knows, your life partner might like it!

So, opt for a chic bikers jacket (the Locklear by Ralph Lauren Purple Label, or the wiser Randall), a pair of dressy trousers for a contrasting look (why not a cargo version by Daniel Cremieux, but in flannel?), a white shirt and  above all  a waistcoat (I love the ones from Suit Supply, which are both simple and affordable).

Round this off with a pair of Berluti boots from the recent Off the Road collection, or John Lobb Helston in grained dark brown leather.

But before setting off, dont forget your helmet! My favourites are the Blauer 80s (Eighties), the Hedon Hedonist and the aptly-named Torc Racing T50 Union Jack.

Youre ready to hit the ton!

But before you do, dont forget to go for a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test. A blood sample is all thats needed.

And it saved my life.
Reporter

Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey).
Reporter

Tim Mitchell is a reporter at The News-Gazette. His email is tmitchel@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@mitchell6).
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. High 52F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 37F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Renowned veteran Egyptian journalist Hamdy Kandil died on Thursday morning in Cairo at the age of 82 after a struggle with illness.

The funerary prayer will be held on Thursday at noon at Al-Rahman Al-Rahim Mosque in Cairo, his brother, famous lawyer Asem Kandil, told local media.

Born in 1936 in Cairo, Kandil started his career in broadcasting in 1961 with the news show Aqwal Al-Suhuf (In the Press), before he was appointed director of the Arab Broadcasting Studios Union in 1969.

Kandil was best known, however, for hosting political TV programmes starting the 1990s.

In the 2000s, he became a harsh critic of then-president Hosni Mubarak's regime.

In 2003, his programme on Egyptian national television, named The Editor-in-Chief, was suspended after he fiercely criticised the Arab and Egyptian regimes for failing to support the second Palestinian Intifada.

He later moved to the United Arab Emirates and hosted another famous political show called Qalam Rusas (Pencil), which was also suspended after five years.

He got married in 1995 to Egyptian actress and 1970s and 80s movie star Naglaa Fathy.

Between 2010 and 2014, Kandil wrote columns for some notable independent Egyptian newspapers like El-Masry El-Youm and El-Shorouk.

He was known for his strong support for the 25 January 2011 revolution, which toppled president Mubaraks regime. Prior to the revolution, Kandil co-founded the National Association for Change, a reformist group headed by Mohamed El-Baradei.

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Columnist

Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich).
Financial Secretary Paul Chan

There are good reasons for our lofty place in the global economy. Our unique "one country, two systems" arrangement is certainly central to our success. Among many other things, it has made possible our unique and growing role as the business bridge between the Mainland and the rest of the world. Our advantages also include Hong Kong's long-standing embrace of free enterprise and the endless adaptability of Hong Kong business.

And then there are the people of Hong Kong. We have had no choice but to meet, and beat, a world of competition. International competition has, in short, given Hong Kong its edge.

Proven track record

I'm hardly alone in trumpeting our competitive culture. This year, Hong Kong was ranked second, globally, in the International Institute for Management Development's World Competitiveness Yearbook. We topped two of the Yearbook's four main focus areas, "government efficiency" and "business efficiency".

In this year's Global Competitiveness Index, run annually by the World Economic Forum, Hong Kong finished seventh among some 140 economies. We placed second, I should add, in four key areas: infrastructure, ICT adoption, financial system, and product market, which includes trade openness.

Earlier this year, the Heritage Foundation, which has named Hong Kong the world's freest economy for the past 24 years, had this to say about Hong Kong when releasing its latest "Index of Economic Freedom" report, and I quote: "An exceptionally competitive financial and business hub, Hong Kong remains one of the world's most resilient economies. A high-quality legal framework provides effective protection of property rights and strongly supports the rule of law." The foundation also added: "Regulatory efficiency and openness to global commerce undergird a vibrant entrepreneurial climate."

For Hong Kong, in short, free trade and competition are at the heart of our continuing success in the global economy.

Unfortunately, that combination is finding unexpected headwinds elsewhere. Protectionism and other uncompetitive practices are rising. Last month, the heads of the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development came together at the annual meeting of the IMF and the World Bank in Bali to defend global trade, to speak out about the importance of upholding a vigorous and healthy competitive environment for business.

I'm sure this conference, its notable speakers and panel discussions, will echo that message.

Regulation is vital to the effective operation of trade and markets. That said, regulators, and governments, must remember that the primary objective of business is not to uphold freedom but to realise commercial advantage.

They must ensure that no business can use an advantage to exclude other businesses or obscure public interest.

Such effort requires continuing vigilance. This is the reason that bodies such as the Hong Kong Competition Commission have been established.

Enabling competition requires a clear understanding of its meaning. There cannot be fair competition, for example, if competitors distort markets through cartels, or if a dominant player wins by forcing its competitors out of the market or using artificial barriers to prevent prospective competitors from entering.

Such distortions stifle the competitive process. Any short-term gains come at great expense: as an invisible tax on other businesses, and on the public, who end up paying more for fewer choices and inferior products and services.

A competitive culture, on the other hand, upholds the principle that competition is about outperforming rivals through efficiency, innovation and other legitimate means. A workable competition law enforces clear rules to ensure such an outcome.

Legal backing

Hong Kong's Competition Ordinance came into full force just three years ago. The ordinance promotes competition and prohibits anti-competitive practices in the marketplace.

The competition commission was established under the ordinance.

Despite its short history, the commission has achieved several milestones, including taking a number of anti-competitive cases to court. Enforcement attracts attention. And both the business sector and the general public in Hong Kong are, I'm pleased to say, increasingly aware of the ordinance - and the commission behind it.

The commission's initial cases have included bid-rigging, market sharing and price fixing, schemes that have attracted significant public interest because of their potential to hurt consumers.

Cartel investigations can often take years to reach litigation, so it is truly an accomplishment that the commission has brought three such cases to litigation in less than three years.

The commission is also playing an increasingly active role internationally, sharing its experience with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It was, by the way, one year ago this month that Hong Kong and ASEAN signed a free trade agreement, which will come into effect beginning in January. No doubt, the commission will continue to expand its co-operation with ASEAN.

Earlier this year, the commission was appointed co-chair of the International Competition Network Advocacy Working Group, with the goal of promoting a competition culture through non-enforcement means.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan gave these remarks at the Hong Kong Competition Exchange 2018 opening ceremony on November 1.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam

"Think Global, Think Hong Kong" is the mega promotional event organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in major cities. I would like to thank the council for bringing this event back to Japan this year. We were last in Tokyo and Osaka in 2012. Six years on, it is very timely to be back.



I say timely for at least three reasons. First, like many economies around the world, Hong Kong and Japan inevitably encounter uncertainties over the international trade agenda and economic prospects that have arisen over the past year, rendering trusting and reliable partnerships all the more important at this juncture, to help our trades weather the storm and conflicts.



Second, we both face the challenge set out in the report of the International Committee on Climate Change launched in Incheon earlier this month of how to reconfigure our energy, business and trading systems rapidly if we are to give our children a habitable and hopeful future. Japan has been hit by the horrific storms and unusual weather patterns earlier this year. Our hearts go to those who have suffered. Our minds must now be joined in our best endeavours to transform our economies so that they would work more in tune with our planet and our people.



Third, both our communities face the demographic challenge of an ageing population. Again, this demands innovation and creativity in our economies and social systems to provide to our elderly the dignity and support they need.



Any one of these three challenges alone would already be substantial. Together they represent a seriously daunting task that demands great determination, innovation and co-operation if we are to successfully conquer it. Happily, Hong Kong and Japan already have a strong basis to work together to rise to our common challenges. We have long enjoyed mature and stable relations in many areas including trade, business, tourism as well as cultural and academic exchanges. Japan was Hong Kongs fourth largest merchandise trading partner in 2017, with trade volume amounting to US$49 billion. The trading of Japanese food is perhaps the most remarkable and noteworthy. Hong Kong has been Japan's largest export market for food and agricultural products for more than a decade now, accounting for about one-fourth of her total exports. Japan is also one of Hong Kong's major sources of inward direct investment, valued at about US$28 billion in 2016.

Japanese corporates are one of the largest groups of foreign companies in Hong Kong. According to our latest survey, nearly 1,400 Japanese companies have set up their businesses in Hong Kong and around half of them are using Hong Kong as their regional headquarters or regional offices.

We treasure this partnership very much, and the "Think Global, Think Hong Kong" symposium in Tokyo is a testimony. Featuring over 70 high-profile speakers, the symposium and thematic sessions will showcase Hong Kong's role as an international service platform for bringing together business communities from Hong Kong and Japan to discuss how we can respond jointly to the changing dynamics of the global economy, environment and demographics.

Hong Kong continues to be an attractive place with tremendous potential for investors from all over the world, including Japan. With our unique advantages under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong maintains an open and free market, underpinned by a robust common law system, an independent judiciary, a simple and competitive tax system, and a level-playing field for businesses from around the world. As a matter of fact, Hong Kong has been ranked the world's freest economy by the US-based Heritage Foundation for 24 consecutive years. We are also the world's second most competitive economy, according to International Institute for Management Development's World Competitiveness Report 2018.

HK a gateway for investors

Being strategically located at the doorstep of Mainland China, Hong Kong has long been the gateway for foreign investors seeking access to the Mainland market. Our gateway position has been strengthened by the Mainland and the Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, or CEPA in short, a free trade agreement concluded between Mainland China and Hong Kong back in 2003. It provides preferential treatment to Hong Kong service providers and suppliers, as well as tariff-free treatment for products of Hong Kong origin. The beauty of CEPA is that it is nationality-neutral. Over the years, Japanese companies in Hong Kong have actively leveraged on the CEPA advantages to tap the opportunities in the Mainland market. We welcome more Japanese investors to establish their service businesses in Hong Kong or collaborate with Hong Kong companies to obtain preferential treatment offered by CEPA. As for trade in goods, they can set up manufacturing operations in Hong Kong to produce goods meeting CEPA origin rules to enjoy tariff free access into the Mainland market.

Meanwhile, we continue to expand our network of free trade agreements (FTAs), investment agreements, as well as comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreements, in order to better enable enterprises and corporate treasury centres established in Hong Kong to leverage on the extraordinary opportunities in emerging markets. In the past 12 months, we forged FTAs with the 10 member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Georgia respectively. These FTAs will not only enhance and strengthen the trade between Hong Kong and the respective regions, but will also boost economic and trade activities and greatly enhance business opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises and service providers. Japanese companies could also enjoy the unimpeded trade flow and facilitation measures by these FTAs if they establish a presence in Hong Kong or partner with Hong Kong service providers.

Hong Kong enjoys unique opportunities under the Belt & Road Initiative. First announced by President Xi Jinping in 2013, the Belt & Road Initiative spreads across Asia, Europe and Africa, accounting for one-third of the world's GDP and the world's merchandise trade respectively. It has been designed to promote infrastructural connectivity and in doing so, boost trade and investment, deepen policy co-ordination and create stronger people-to-people bonds among participating countries.

To promote the initiative, Hong Kong has so far organised three annual Belt & Road Summits. The third Belt & Road Summit was held in June this year, with the theme "From Vision to Action", and has attracted around 5,000 government and business leaders from some 50 countries and regions. The summit has established itself as the largest and most important Belt & Road commerce, investment and business-matching platform among project owners, investors and service providers. I would like to invite you all to join the fourth summit to be held in September next year.

Belt-Road engine

As one of the worlds leading financial centres and the one at the heart of Asia, Hong Kong is determined to be the Belt & Road's financial engine room, drawing on our experience, expertise and international connections. With our deep liquidity, premier financial infrastructure and comprehensive channels for raising capital, Hong Kong can meet the financing needs of Belt & Road projects in both public and private markets. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange has been ranked among the top five globally in initial public offerings for the past eight years. In April last year, our Securities & Futures Commission also set out eligibility criteria for infrastructure project companies looking to Hong Kong for equity and debt financing.

Hong Kong is the world's largest offshore renminbi centre and the leading centre for offshore renminbi asset management. Importers and exporters can settle their trade in renminbi through our payment system, at over 200 banks from all over the world. Investors can tap our renminbi liquidity through bank loans or "dim sum" bond issuance, or invest in a wide range of renminbi products available in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is the platform for finding the right partners, be them equity partners, or partners for the operation and management of infrastructure. We welcome Japanese companies interested in exploring new business opportunities to partner with Hong Kong in the search for success.

Our enterprises have a lot of experience working with international counterparts, including of course Japanese enterprises. We are blessed with a rich pool of multilingual and multicultural professionals who are experienced in various fields. In particular, legal services, which are indispensable for any businesses and development projects, is an aspect in which Hong Kong has a distinct advantage. The international community is familiar with Hong Kong's common law system, underpinned by an independent judiciary and a robust intellectual property rights protection regime. Arbitral awards made here are enforceable in over 150 jurisdictions, including Mainland China. Our more than 13,000 lawyers and many more legal professionals from around the world stand ready to provide efficient and reliable legal services, ranging from risk assessment and drafting contracts to dispute resolution for investment and commercial deals involving parties from Mainland China and other economies along the Belt & Road.

Bay area opportunities

Another major initiative that offers very promising prospects for Hong Kong and overseas businesses is the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development. The greater bay area covers Hong Kong, Macau and nine Guangdong cities with a total population of nearly 70 million and a GDP of over US$1.5 trillion. It accounts for only 5% of Mainland China's total population but 12% of total GDP. If we look beyond Mainland China, its GDP size is equivalent to that of Australia or the Republic of Korea. Air and cargo throughput of the greater bay srea also ranks first in the world.

The development of the greater bay area will allow Hong Kong to give full play to her strengths. And one of the ambitions in the greater bay area is to develop an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, which has the personal endorsement of President Xi Jinping.

The greater bay area possesses prominent resources and strengths in the field of I&T. Hong Kong has a number of world-class universities, tremendous strengths in scientific research, robust rule of law and a strong intellectual property rights protection system that allow value to be created out of innovation. Such advantages grow from Hong Kong's role as an international city, which allows resources for innovation from the Mainland and across the globe to converge. Hong Kong's highly international business environment can, on the one hand, attract international I&T enterprises to enter the greater bay area, and on the other hand, help Mainland I&T enterprises go global. Indeed, technological co-operation occupies a key area in my itinerary over this five-day visit to Japan.

Hong Kong's connectivity with other parts of the greater bay area has been significantly enhanced by the recent commissioning of two mega infrastructure projects within a month, namely the Hong Kong- Zhuhai-Macao Bridge across the Pearl River estuary, and the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link that connects our city to Mainland China's extensive high-speed rail network. These contribute to the goal of making the greater bay area an ideal place to live, study and work by linking together all the different cities with their complementary strengths.

For our friends from Japan, I would strongly recommend you to spend time to uncover the tremendous potential that the greater bay area development may mean to your operations. I am sure you will find ample opportunities there.

Ladies and gentlemen, our unparalleled knowledge of the Mainland market and our deep economic connections with both the Mainland and the rest of the world continue to make Hong Kong your best trading partner. As we build our resolve and capabilities to meet the formidable challenges we face, I welcome the continued encouragement and partnership of all our friends in Japan. Together we can support and inspire each other to accomplish the great things that our times demand of us.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave these remarks at the opening session of the "Think Global, Think Hong Kong" Symposium in Tokyo on November 1.
I therefore call upon those countries that have imposed weaponry, military and unilateral sanctions on Zimbabwe that are of an economic nature to repeal and to remove them so that we can conduct our business in an unimpeded manner, in an effective and efficient manner that is going to see us adhere to the values of the motion before us.
PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader prophet Walter Magaya is considering taking his Aguma herbal supplement  which he claims can cure HIV, Aids and cancer  outside Zimbabwe in the wake of the backlash he received following his announcement last Sunday that he had found a cure for HIV, Aids and cancer.
It Was the 'Largest

Crowdfunding Initiative'

Ever. And It Failed
(Newser)  Two Saudi Arabian sisters whose bodies were found duct-taped together on the banks of the Hudson River are believed to have entered the water alive. New York City police made the pronouncement Wednesday but have yet to establish how the pair died, per the AP. Investigators say there were no obvious signs of trauma, which may "rule out a theory they jumped into the river from the George Washington Bridge" sometime before Oct. 24, per CBS New York. Rotana and Tala Farea, who moved with family members to Fairfax, Va., in 2015, had been reported missing on Aug. 24. However, a relative tells Arab News that 16-year-old Tala had followed her 22-year-old sister to New York without permission.

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"The mother had to file a missing case report to the police over her daughters disappearance, but the search was called off later when they found Tala was with her sister, Rotana," who had moved to the city to study, the relative says. "The police told their mother that since her younger daughter was safe with an adult, it's safe to call off the search." A day before the bodies were found, their mother was reportedly contacted by a Saudi official who said the family would have to leave the US because the sisters had applied for political asylum. Meanwhile, the consulate of Saudi Arabia in New York has appointed a lawyer to "follow the case closely," per a statement. Read more on the case here. (Read more Hudson River stories.)
(Newser)  At an apparent turning point in one of its hardest foreign policy challenges, the Trump administration is demanding a ceasefire and the launch of UN-led political talks to end the Saudi-Iran proxy war in Yemen. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called for a halt to hostilities within 30 days. The renewed diplomatic drive reflects a convergence of political pressures: international outrage over the slaying of a US-based Saudi journalist and a Yemeni humanitarian crisis fueled by the dual threats of war and hunger in the Arab world's poorest country, the AP reports. "The time is now for a cessation of hostilities," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement late Tuesday. The conflict, which began in 2014, has killed around 10,000 people and left more than 8 million at risk of starvation.

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The administration's new push comes amid mounting fears of a fresh Arab coalition assault on the Red Sea port of Hodeida, the entry point for 70% of food imports and international aid to Yemen. Pompeo urged a cease-fire between the Saudi-led coalition allied with the government and Shiite Muslim Houthi rebels, citing both missile and drone strikes into Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates by Houthis and the airstrikes "in all populated areas" of Yemen by the US-backed Arab coalition. He urged implementation of "confidence-building measures" to address the underlying issues of the conflict. The United Kingdom joined calls for a ceasefire Wednesday, the New York Times reports. (UN investigators say all parties in the conflict have committed atrocities.)
(Newser)  A Democratic candidate in Virginia says her campaign was infiltrated by Project Veritas, the conservative group that tried to plant a fake story about Senate candidate Roy Moore last year. The campaign of Abigail Spanberger, who is running for a House seat in Virginia's 7th District, says the group sent a young woman who used a fake name and posed as a volunteer but asked questions that made staffers suspicious, the Washington Post reports. They eventually identified her as Marisa Jorge, a veteran of other Veritas "stings," confronted her, and asked her to leave the campaign. Spanberger is in a tight race with GOP Rep. Dave Brat, whose campaign says he had nothing to do with the infiltration. In other election news:

Oprah vs. Pence. The AP reports that Mike Pence and Oprah Winfrey will be campaigning for opposing sides in the Georgia governor's race Thursday, with Winfrey attending two Atlanta-area forums with Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams and Mike Pence appearing at three rallies with Brian Kemp, Abrams' Republican rival. Plans for a final Abrams-Kemp debate collapsed Wednesday after President Trump scheduled a rally that conflicted with the event, the New York Times reports.

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Trump declares blue wave "dead." President Trump told the Christian Broadcasting Network Wednesday that the Democrats' momentum in the midterm elections is "dead," Politico reports. He stopped short of predicting that Republicans would keep control of the House, but said Republicans would do "very well" and it "looks like were going to win the Senate which is very important."

President Trump told the Christian Broadcasting Network Wednesday that the Democrats' momentum in the midterm elections is "dead," Politico reports. He stopped short of predicting that Republicans would keep control of the House, but said Republicans would do "very well" and it "looks like were going to win the Senate which is very important." Wild cards in battleground districts. A Washington Post-Schar School poll in 69 battleground districts finds that Democrats have a slight edge over Republicans50% to 46% among likely votersbut concerns over immigration could cost them their advantage, as could lower rates of Democratic turnout. The poll found that Democrats and Republicans both strongly believe that their party will prevail.

A Washington Post-Schar School poll in 69 battleground districts finds that Democrats have a slight edge over Republicans50% to 46% among likely votersbut concerns over immigration could cost them their advantage, as could lower rates of Democratic turnout. The poll found that Democrats and Republicans both strongly believe that their party will prevail. Dems focus on health care . The Hill reports that Democratic candidates are focusing on health care in the closing days of campaigning, using the issue to counter the Republican focus on immigration. The campaign arm of the House Democrats has launched a wave of ads targeting Republicans who voted for ObamaCare repeal.

. The Hill reports that Democratic candidates are focusing on health care in the closing days of campaigning, using the issue to counter the Republican focus on immigration. The campaign arm of the House Democrats has launched a wave of ads targeting Republicans who voted for ObamaCare repeal. The pardon show. Fox News reports on an independent candidate for Vermont governor with a weird but intriguing idea. Cris Ericson says that if elected, she will "host a governor's pardon TV show every Saturday night," in which a studio audience will "save the state money" by deciding which non-violent offenders should be released.

Fox News reports on an independent candidate for Vermont governor with a weird but intriguing idea. Cris Ericson says that if elected, she will "host a governor's pardon TV show every Saturday night," in which a studio audience will "save the state money" by deciding which non-violent offenders should be released. Good news for GOP in Montana. The road to re-election just got trickier for Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in Montana, reports the New York Times. Having a Libertarian on the ballot has helped Tester get more votes than his Republican rival in the last two elections, but Rick Breckenridge, this year's Libertarian nominee, has decided to endorse GOP candidate Matt Rosendale.

(Read more Election 2018 stories.)
(Newser)  Some two dozen infants in rural areas of France have been born missing arms and hands since 2000, and now public health officials in that country have launched an investigation to uncover the cause of the defects. Recently, 11 new cases of such birth defects occurring in infants born in Ain, near the Swiss border, were identified, prompting the investigation, the Guardian reports. Previously, seven cases had been identified, but officials said that those did not represent an abnormally high number. Additional cases have occurred in Morbihan (four) and Loire-Atlantique (three), per Reuters. All of the cases occurred in births between 2000 and 2014, according to reports.

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Due to the occurrences of defects being clustered in agricultural areas, some are concerned that pesticides are the cause. "I want to know. I think all of France wants to know," Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told local TV, per Reuters. "It could be an environmental factor. Maybe it is due to what these women ate, drank, or breathed in." Emmanuelle Amar, director of a group that has documented the cases, says that genetic, drug, or alcohol causes have been ruled out. "These malformations are very rare, but also very specific," he says. It's not just humans that have been affected. There are reports of chickens and calves being born with defects, as well. Results of the investigation are expected by June. (A jury found that his cancer was caused by an herbicide.)
Abbas is set to arrive to Egypt on Friday and will meet with President Sisi to discuss Palestinian and regional developments

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will lead a high-level delegation to attend the opening of the 2nd World Youth Forum (WYF) in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh at the invitation of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Palestinian Ambassador in Cairo and Permanent Delegate to the Arab League Diab Al-Loh said Thursday.

The WYF is set to be held from 3 to 6 November under the auspices of President El-Sisi.

The ambassador added in press statements that Abbas is set to arrive to Egypt on Friday, noting that preparations are underway for his meeting with President El- Sisi, which is expected to cover the latest Palestinian developments and a range of other issues of mutual interest.

Al-Loh stressed the keenness of the Egyptian and Palestinian leadership on maintaining constant coordination in all areas, especially the political domain.

Delegations from around the world started arriving Wednesday to Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport ahead of the WYF.

Some 5,000 young people, journalists, public figures and officials from more than 50 countries across the world are set to participate in this year's edition of the forum.

The forum, which will be attended by El-Sisi, will focus on the themes of peace, development and creativity, as well as various topics that reflect the visions and aspirations of the worlds youth, according to Al-Ahram Arabic news website.

The forum will also give participants the chance to exchange their experiences in different fields, including development and innovation.

Last year, the WYF, which was held for the first time in Sharm El-Sheikh, attracted thousands of participants from around the world, with official delegations and young people from numerous countries.

The WYF was first announced during the countrys National Youth Conference in Alexandria in July 2017, which was also attended by El-Sisi.



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(Newser)  "Having sex with men who have power over you or letting them touch all over your body is a necessity to survive." Such is the assessment of one of 62 North Korean defectors who left the country after Kim Jong Un took power in 2011 and was interviewed over two years as part of a report on "endemic" sexual abuse in the country for Human Rights Watch, per the Wall Street Journal. On any given day, "market guards or police officials could ask me to follow them to an empty room," says another woman who describes being sexually assaulted many times. "Things like this happen in broad daylight," adds a former police officer and victim, per CNN. She says 90% of the women she knew were victims of sexual assault, perpetrated by government officials, prison guards, and prosecutors. Even in the military, officials "demand sexual favors," she says.

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In a sign of just how normalized the abuse is, only one victim said she went to police. North Korea has laws against rape and sex with subordinates, but "when the perpetrator is an official, even if the case comes to the police, it will be ignored," the ex-police officer says. "They are untouchable." North Korea's government last year told a UN committee that only a handful of rape convictions occur each year in the country of 25 million, including five in 2015. One woman says a military commander who assaulted some 30 women was only discharged from servicebut so were his victims. "It was considered that  they had actively taken part," she says. Per Reuters, North Korea is "strongly rejecting" the allegations as "unfounded and fictitious." (Defecting isn't easy.)
(Newser)  United Airlines was plagued with canine passenger problems earlier this year. This time it's American that's making headlines, and it involves a humanan apparently drunk one. USA Today reports on a baggage handler said to be in his mid-20s who had an interesting flight on board a Boeing 737 flying from Kansas City to Chicago after he fell asleep early Saturday in the plane's cargo hold. It didn't catch anyone's eye that he'd disappeared from the airport ramp; he was found when the plane touched down at O'Hare around 7:30am, and he got to have a sit-down with the FBI, Chicago cops, and the US Attorney's Office. He admitted to authorities he'd been drinking the night before; police say he was still intoxicated when he went to work, per CBS Chicago.

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The airline reports the worker wasn't hurt and that the cargo hold was pressurized and had heat. "We are grateful that he did not sustain any injuries," an airline rep says in a statement. An Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professor tells USA Today that baggage handling can be an exhausting job, and that naps in between lugging luggage aren't uncommon. Supervisors are supposed to keep tabs on workers after they load or unload planes, but "sometimes they slip through the cracks," he adds. Although this worker has been suspended from his duties, he wasn't charged by police, and he made his way back to Kansas City on another flightthis time, presumably, in the plane's cabin. (A German shepherd meant to go to Kansas ended up in Japan on a United flight.)
(Newser)  The mother of a former University of Southern California student who killed himself last year is putting blame on the fraternity that allegedly hazed him. Kathleen Russell claims Phi Kappa Psi members forced 19-year-old pledge Alasdair Russell to "drink in excess to the point of passing out" at an October 2016 fraternity party, per People. The British model from Kent, who appeared in a Gap ad alongside Naomi Campbell, complained of concussion-like symptoms after he fell off a platform and hit his head, losing consciousness, according to a lawsuit. By April 1, 2017, when Alasdair was found dead on a beach in Boca Raton, Fla., where his mother lived, he'd undergone a personality change, dropped out of school, and been "involuntarily committed," the lawsuit reads.

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Its claim of negligence by Phi Kappa Psi further extends to the events of the day after the party, when Russell says Alasdair complained of pain, blurry vision, and vomiting. Per TMZ, the lawsuit alleges frat members not only discouraged him from seeking medical attention for fear it would expose rule-breaking, "including but not limited to supplying alcohol to minors and engaging in hazing activities," but also gave the teen cocaine and Adderall to keep him partying. The USC website notes Phi Kappa Psi lost its status as a fraternity in March following "hazing and health and safety violations." ABC7 reports four other USC frats have been suspended for hazing allegations in the past two months. (Relatives believe a pledge was hazed before his September death in California.)
(Newser)  Someone should tell Mike Ray that if he wants to be the "life of the party," he should try wearing a lampshade on his head, not dropping trou. At least not at an event for women-owned businesses, which is where WYFF reports the South Carolina chef allegedly decided it would be fun Friday night to let his pants fall to his ankles in front of three female attendees. Per police, Ray, who owns Charleston's One Broad Street restaurant and the Normandy Farm Artisan Bakery, exposed his "buttocks and genitalia," with his naked rear "approximately 5 inches from [one woman's] pelvic region," per the Post and Courier. "We felt very disrespected, and embarrassed for our clientele," says Erin Reitz, the event organizer. Ray's take on his "attempt" at being the "life of the party": It "didn't go over so well."

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"I had a horrible lapse in judgment," he acknowledged. In the meantime, the chef was on Wednesday hit with indecent exposure charges, and he's stepping away from day-to-day involvement at his businesses for now to seek counseling. He says he's already said he was sorry to the women he allegedly flashed, but Reitz tells WYFF the only person she's heard he talked to was her husband. Some say counseling isn't enough, especially as the Post and Courier notes his "longstanding keenness for defying social norms," e.g., he once is said to have posted a pic of himself posing with a "giant bread penis." (Read a story about pants dropping over ... onions?)
(Newser)  The son and daughter of the allegedly anti-Semitic candidate who somehow won the Republican primary for a seat in Missouri's House of Representatives both reached out to the Kansas City Star this week to encourage residents of House District 15 not to vote for their father. "My dads a fanatic. He must be stopped," says Andy West. "His ideology is pure hatred. Its totally insane." Adds Emily West, "I cant imagine him being in any level of government." Steve West, 64, is known for a radio show and website that have espoused anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, racist, and homophobic views. "If he gets elected, it would legitimize him. Then he would become a state official, and hes saying that Jews shouldnt even have civil rights," Andy West, the middle of three West children, says.

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Both he and his sister were concerned to drive through the Clay County House district recently and see lots of support for their father. "You see his signs everywhere," Emily West says. "I dont understand how people can put out his signs knowing the comments that hes made." But Steve West spoke to multiple outlets including USA Today and NBC News to insist he's not racist or anti-Semitic and that some of his previous comments have been taken out of context, though he did also air some grievances with Israel, Islam, and Jewish people. He blames a contentious divorce for the rift between him and his children and says his ex-wife "poisoned" them against him. (Two similar stories: Another GOP candidate sent out an allegedly anti-Semitic mailer, and six siblings came together to encourage voters to vote against their brother.)
(Newser)  Carrying signs with messages such as "Don't be evil," Google employees around the world walked off the job Thursday in a protest against what they said is the tech company's mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations against executives. Employees staged walkouts at offices from Tokyo to Singapore to London, the AP reports. Hundreds protested outside Google's office in New York, and others were expected to do so later in California. In Dublin, organizers used megaphones to address the crowd of men and women to express their support for victims of sexual harassment. Other workers shied away from the media spotlight, with people gathering instead indoors, in packed conference rooms or lobbies, to show their solidarity with abuse victims.

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In an unsigned statement from organizers, sent from a company account, protesters called for an end to forced arbitration in cases of harassment and discrimination. They also want Google to commit to ending pay inequity and to create a publicly disclosed sexual harassment report and a clearer process for reporting complaints. The protest unfolded a week after a New York Times story detailed allegations of sexual misconduct about the creator of Google's Android software, Andy Rubin. The report said Rubin received a $90 million severance package in 2014 after Google concluded the sexual misconduct allegations against him were credible. In response, Google revealed it has fired 48 employees over the past two years, without severance, for sexual harassment, and an Alphabet exec named in the article resigned without exit pay. (Read more Google stories.)
(Newser)  In public, the Saudi crown prince has condemned the killing of Jamal Khashoggi while the journalist was in Saudi hands. Specifically, Mohammed bin Salman called the death a "tragedy" and a "heinous crime that cannot be justified." But in private, the crown prince expressed a different view about Khashoggi, report the Washington Post and the New York Times. Bin Salman spoke on the phone to Jared Kushner and national security adviser John Bolton after Khashoggi was reported missing and described him as a "dangerous Islamist" who belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood, per the Post. Both newspapers say the call took place before the Saudis acknowledged that Khashoggi died while in the Saudi consulate in Turkey.

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The stories do not report the reactions of Bolton, who has long opposed the Muslim Brotherhood, or of Kushner, and there's no indication that either agreed with the sentiment. Khashoggi's family insists he did not belong to the group. "He denied such claims repeatedly over the past several years," says a family statement. "Jamal Khashoggi was not a dangerous person in any way possible. To claim otherwise would be ridiculous. The White House, meanwhile, has concluded that the crown prince is likely to keep his grip on power despite the controversy and will not cut ties with him, according to the Times. (A top Turkish prosecutor says Khashoggi was strangled immediately upon entering the building.)
(Newser)  Authorities say a Florida man killed his wife and himself as his children waited to go trick-or-treating, the AP reports. A Polk County Sheriff's Office news release says 40-year-old Antero Araujo Quintana shot his wife, 42-year-old Beatriz Araujo, and then himself Wednesday evening at the family's Lakeland home. Witnesses say the couple had been arguing for several days before the shooting, which was witnessed by their 21-year-old son. Deputies say the couple's two younger children were waiting in the family truck and didn't see the shootings. Deputies found Araujo in the kitchen area with gunshot wounds in her abdomen and head. Araujo Quintana was in the living room with a gunshot wound in the head. The weapon used was a .380-caliber handgun. (A gunman in a 'Scream' mask shot two on Halloween night.)
Records of the relationship between the people of Bahrain and the Indian state of Tamil Nadu can be found in Indian scriptures that are more than 4,000 years old, according to a renowned Indian social activist and Tamil literary expert.

Bahrains relationship with Tamil people is one of the most historic, said Indian politician Vaiko who is a renowned literary scholar and a social activist from Tamil Nadu. He arrived in the Kingdom yesterday to attend the Gulf Tamil Literary Festival which will take place tomorrow.

I have made a brief study about Bahrain, about its ancient civilization and the people. Tamil Nadu is also a land of ancient civilization. We had a trade relationship with this Island. This is mentioned even in our Sangam literature, he said. Bahrain was home to the best pearl divers in the world.

The pearl divers from this Island used to come to Tamil Nadu to give training to people in Tamil Nadu. Over 2,000 years ago, Bahrain began importing black pepper from Tamil Nadu, he said.
The 35-year-old Bangladeshi expat who was found guilty of murdering a Bahraini imam Abduljaleel Hamood was handed down death sentence while his co-defendant was given one-year imprisonment by the High Criminal Court. The convict had earlier admitted to murdering his victim before the High Criminal Court, but his co-defendant did not plead guilty in the case. According to prosecution, the convict killed the imam by hitting him with an iron bar.

Later with the help of the second convict, he cut the body into pieces, carried it in plastic bags and dumped it near the scrapyard in Askar. The convict was a muezzin (prayer caller) at the same mosque in Muharraq where the imam was working. The court revealed in its verdict that the defendant had previous experience in slaughtering livestock for sacrifice, which would have made him cut the imams body into pieces.
Manama Souq is all set to receive a new vibrant look by revamping its facades and creating new look signages for storefronts, it has emerged. According to the Manama Souq Development Committee, the move would enhance and maintain the old Souqs position as an authentic tourist destination in the Kingdom.

The committee also said it is now accepting requests from traders and shop-owners in the area for the facade and signage grant programme. Interested traders can now apply for the signage programme by submitting the required documents to the BTEA. The meeting held 30 October 2018 was headed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa.

The storefronts, the committee said, will be replaced as per the design guidelines put forward in the Master Plan set by the Committee to enhance visitors experience. Once approved the requests will be submitted to Tamkeen, who will be financing the cost of the project by 50 per cent.

The Manama Souq Development Committee comprises of representatives from the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Urban Planning and Development Authority, Economic Development Board, Capital Municipality, Capital Secretariat Council as well as a number of Manama Souq traders.
Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) Annual Forum kicked off with participation from more than 500 senior representatives from among Bahrains banking industry, regulators and executives of monetary funds from Bahrain and internationally. Held under the patronage of the Central Bank of Bahrain at the Gulf Hotel, high-level speakers and panellists addressed: FinTech: Opportunities & Challenges, arising from the rapid development of FinTech and its impact on Bahraini banks and the future of the industry.

BABs Chairman, Adnan Ahmed Yousif, opened the Forum, welcoming guests and setting the stage for the days discussions. He shared his thoughts on the revolution FinTech is creating in the delivery of traditional financial services and the reshaping of the financial landscape with customers demanding greater inclusiveness, ease, speed and affordability. Rasheed Al Maraj, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, took the stage next for an interview with CNB Anchor Nuha Al Ali.

The Governor highlighted key developments relating to FinTech and the development of Bahrains financial sector as well as Bahrains growing position as a regional FinTech hub. Following was a keynote address by Meliksah Utku, General Manager and CEO of Albaraka Turk on The Digital Revolution, what it means for banks and its significance for the industry. Interactive panel sessions went on to delve deeper into key issues for the industry and BABs 52 members
Japan Airlines says one of its pilots was detained by London police last month. He was found to be under the influence of alcohol just before he was about to pilot a flight to Tokyo.

The airline apologized for the incident at a news conference in Tokyo on Thursday.

The 42-year-old copilot was taking a bus from a terminal at London's Heathrow Airport to the tarmac on Sunday when the driver noticed that he smelled of alcohol.

Police found 0.93 milligrams of alcohol per liter of breath, or more than 10 times the legal limit under the UK's Aviation Law. The police took him into custody for questioning.

The flight bound for Tokyo's Haneda Airport was scheduled to have 3 pilots in the cockpit, but took off an hour late without the copilot.

The copilot admitted to airline officials that he had drunk more than 1.5 liters of wine and more than 1.8 liters of beer in a hotel bar and in his room the night before.

But Japan Airlines said its preflight test did not detect alcohol on his breath. JAL officials said they suspect that the copilot rigged the test to mask his drinking. They said they will change their testing method to prevent fraud.

In a separate case last week, the captain of a Japanese domestic flight missed his flight because he was too hung over to work. He had violated his airline's ban on drinking alcohol within 12 hours of a flight.
Related Egyptian army chief of staff attends US conference against terrorism and extremist organizations

The Egyptian Army issued on Thursday the 29th communique on the anti-terrorism Operation Sinai 2018, saying 18 takfiris have been killed and 129 suspects have been arrested in the recent period as part of the countrys war on terrorism.

Eight takfiris were killed by military forces in different raids in central and northern Sinai, and 10 high-risk others were killed in special operations by national security forces in the North Sinai capital of El-Arish, the army said.

"One army officer was killed during the heroic raids by the army and the police that targeted terrorist infrastructure with the aim of maintaining the security of the homeland," the video statement added.

The air force carried out airstrikes in the western border area and destroyed 25 off-road vehicles laden with weapons and other contraband.

Military engineers have located and destroyed 141 bombs planted to target security forces.

On 9 February, the anti-terrorism effort dubbed Operation Sinai 2018 was launched in northern and central Sinai, parts of the Nile Delta and desert areas west of the Nile Valley, according to the first Armed Forces communique on the operation.

Last July, the army spokesperson said that more 321 terrorists were killed since the launch of the operation.

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A pressure group, the Progressive Yoruba Youth Congress, has revealed what giving support to the presidential candidate of the Peoples...





A pressure group, the Progressive Yoruba Youth Congress, has revealed what giving support to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, will cost the South West in 2023.





According to the group, it will hinder the return of the presidency to the southern part of Nigeria.





Addressing a press conference in Lagos, the national president of the group, Kola Salawu, urged the South West to reject the PDP and its candidate.





The group said, South West does not need to go back to oblivion again and we must rise up to protect this ongoing progress and support the one who has brought development to the zone.





When President Muhammadu Buhari s tenure ends in 2023 after he wins the 2109 elections, power will return to the southern part of Nigeria and that is just some four years away.





We never can tell what will happen then as the highest ranking person in this government from the south is Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. It may just be his turn.





We urge all sons and daughters of the South West to be politically awake and choose wisely in the forth-coming elections as the decisions we make will determine if the region will continue to enjoy the true benefits of good governance or we go back to the days of total neglect.





During the last PDP-led Federal Government, the South West was completely neglected. The area with the highest number of intellectual professionals was denied any meaningful position in the top hierarchy of political office holders.





At some point, there was nobody from the South West occupying any of the top ten positions in the country.





They pushed for alliances with other political parties across the country to form the new All Progressives Congress (APC).





They mobilised the South West to vote the new party which ultimately resulted to victory the APC at the polls.





Politically, the APC has taken care of the interest of the South West tremendously. The Vice President and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative is from the South West. There are 68 ongoing road projects in the zone.





It is obvious to all that there is a huge difference in what the South West got under the previous PDP government and what they are getting now.





The master stroke was the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day and the honor given to Chief MKO Abiola, something that even the Olusegun Obasanjo government refused to get done.





To our amazement, when the PDP were going to have their convention in 2017 to pick their new party executives, the party agreed to zone the party chairmanship position to the South West but alas, that did not happen, the position was given to the South- South.





After their party presidential primaries where Atiku Abubakar emerged candidate, he picked Mr. Peter Obi from the South East geo-political zone as running mate.




Just over a month ago, the United States of America categorically said it will not cooperate with the International Criminal Court of ...





Just over a month ago, the United States of America categorically said it will not cooperate with the International Criminal Court of Justice (ICC) in any way or any form, and neither will it allow the court to try any American citizen or that of any of its allies. The US national security adviser, Ambassador John Bolton specifically called the ICC an illegitimate court besides threatening the entire judges of the court with sanctions if they dared entertain anything or any matter the US considers a threat to their national interests.





Here in Nigeria, there was a recent uproar by some so- called rule of law advocates after President Buhari rightly said that national interest supersedes the rule of law which some people use as a convenient cover to seek freedom or protection for persons accused of committing heinous crimes and even rising against the sovereignty of the Nigerian state like Sambo Dasuki, Nnamdi Kanu and others like them! To such people, rule of law reigns when every rogue of their liking is walking about freely without accountability, even if the person has committed a heinous crime.





I thought I will see or hear deafening outrage from these rule of law activists after the US pronouncement on the ICC but, alas, till now theres dead silence from them! The US is known as the greatest champion and advocate of democracy and the rule of law, both domestically and internationally, but to hear them rile against an internationally legitimate organ like the ICC that was created and established for the sole purpose of strengthening democracy and the rule of law globally? Well, that was a shocker!





The simple message the US is passing to everyone that cares is this: the national interest of the United States of America supercedes the rule of law just as President Buhari also rightly said Nigerias national interest supersedes the so-called rule of law!





Since 2001, or thereabout, the United States has kept some suspected terrorists in detention at Guantanamo bay without trial. Thats about 17 years now without trial!





Here in Nigeria, the so-called rule of law advocates are calling President Buhari a dictator for detaining somebody like Sambo Dasuki for just three years without as much as caring for the thousands of people that have been killed and millions that have been made IDPs because of Boko Haram, which, apparently, were deliberately allowed to grow and fester for they equally label the president a dictator for decisively crushing a terror group called IPOB with their leader, Nnamdi Kanu running away at the mere sight of a python!





With the exception of a handful number of objective, patriotic critics who really care about the practical application of the rule of law in Nigeria and the world generally, most of those who lifted their voices in hypocritical lamentations and attacks over the presidents stance on the matter are those who, one, just hate the president for who he is, where he came from and what he stands for, and two, hate him for overturning their applecart of looting and sharing bazaar of public funds. For these two groups, anything President Buhari says or does or initiates or accomplishes, must be attacked, criticised, condemned and made to look worthless even if it is the free feeding of primary school pupils, or the seizure of territory from the hands of Boko Haram, or the N-Power programme, or the TraderMonie policy which is now boosting the macroeconomic health of the nation, or the construction of several roads across the country, or the revival of our neglected rail lines, or the massive improvement of electricity generation and supply, or the several payments of bailouts to states to clear backlogs of salaries and enhance their local economies, or the steady boost in agriculture to diversify the economy and so on. Their rabid hatred of the president for no justifiable reason is just in tandem with an African proverb that says, even if you dance on water, your enemies will accuse you of raising dust!













To such people, Nigeria should have been on the same pedestal of growth and development like Malaysia or India or Singapore or even China. And they cheered when the President of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohammed recently placed over 3,000 former and current government officials under travel ban in order to retrieve stolen public funds from them. But here in Nigeria, they lie, huff and puff and shout hoarse that democracy is under threat when it emerged that President Buhari has placed a mere 50 suspected high profile thieves under travel ban, and youre left wondering why a travel ban on suspected criminals in Malaysia or Singapore and even in the United States is not a threat to democracy but it is in Nigeria. In whose interest should thieves be allowed to travel freely to launder their ill-gotten wealth while the very country they stole from is stagnated? If Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and even the United States of America allow such unfettered freedom for thieves and other top shot criminals in the name of a so-called rule of law, wouldnt they have remained backwater states like Nigeria was forced to remain from 1999 to 2015?





The world is replete with countless examples of drastic steps or actions certain nations and their leaders have had to take in the promotion and sustenance of their national interests. There is no person in any sovereign nation that is better informed than the government of the nation, and thats because of the availability of security and Intelligence agencies who feed it with various Intelligence information on various plots by locals or foreigners against the well-being of the sovereign state. If the government acts on such credible information, and arrests the plotters, and yet some lawyers, out of mischief or out of ignorance, explore and exploit the weaknesses of our laws to have such dangerous persons released, what do you expect the government to do when the nations security is under such severe threat?





Be mindful of the fact and truth that if such dangerous persons are walking free, and they perpetrate their evil plots against the public or against public institutions, it is the very same people making untenable noises about the so-called supremacy of the rule of law over national interests that will begin to attack the same government again for failing to protect citizens yet they are the ones hiding behind the rule of law to have notorious persons moving about freely! With such persons you can never win, and the best thing for any reasonable and responsible government to do is to simply listen to them but do what is right in the nations interest.




Intensive efforts on the part of Cairo to broker an agreement culminated this week as the Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza announced a ceasefire with Israel.

In a statement to the press, Islamic Jihad Spokesman Dawoud Shihab said the movement would remain committed to the agreement only on condition Israel did the same, warning it would retaliate should Israel repeat its attacks against Gaza during the weekly March of Return protests.

Islamic Jihads military wing, the Quds Brigade, also released a statement warning that if Israel continued its aggression the movement would expand its scope of fire quantitatively and qualitatively.

An independent source in Gaza told Al-Ahram Weekly that the situation was now very volatile following a post-truce Israel attack which killed three Palestinian teenagers near the Gaza border with Israel.

Israeli authorities claimed that the children were planting explosive devices. The families of the victims say they had no links to any of Gazas political factions.

The incident triggered mass protests, with demonstrators calling on resistance movements to take revenge. Hamas facilitated the demonstrations and its media gave them extensive coverage.

Islamic Jihad issued a statement vowing it would retaliate in a means and manner commensurate with the magnitude of this crime and the overwhelming fury it engendered among our people, our nation and all free peoples of the world. 

The Weeklys Gaza source says that through the demonstrations and its media coverage Hamas is seeking to pressure Cairo to push for a written ceasefire agreement while Jihad insists Israel has reneged on the conditions of the truce.

We are looking at temporary ways to defuse the mounting escalation. What we had was an agreement without clear rules, the aim of which was to reduce tensions at the border, says Mohamed Gomaa, a Cairo-based expert on Palestinian affairs.

Hamas did not sign the agreement. Islamic Jihad appears to have done so unilaterally, in an attempt to gain some traction in Cairo, according to a source in Gaza. The source said Islamic Jihad felt Cairos proximity to Hamas had come at the expense of the other factions.

The Gazan source noted that the Islamic Jihad is gripped by the worst financial crisis in its history and suggested that the movement may have been motivated to escalate the situation in the hope of obtaining funding from Iran.

Refuting complaints that the Cairo-Hamas relationship has sidelined other factions, sources in Egypt maintain that Cairo keeps all parties in the picture and is in constant communication with all sides.

They say Egypt has been keen to strengthen ties with Islamic Jihad, in which framework Cairo released 12 members of the movement who had been arrested for security reasons, bringing the number of Islamic Jihad members released recently to 15.

If the ceasefire agreement announced by the Islamic Jihad was not officially put to Hamas, Hamas was nevertheless involved. Its spokesman Fawzi Barhoum shared the Jihads appreciation for Egyptian efforts in brokering the agreement.

However, observers agree that as long as Hamas did not actually sign the agreement efforts to sustain it remain tenuous.

In fact, Israel continues to target Hamas. Last Friday Israeli forces bombarded four military sites which were totally destroyed according to a source in Gaza contacted by the Weekly.

Observers interpreted the bombardment as an Israeli attempt to sap Hamas strength in advance of any forthcoming confrontation. They also believe that Israel is working to drive a wedge between Hamas and Islamic Jihad and fragment the resistance front in Gaza.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 1 November, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: The Gaza truce

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Chile Eboe-Osuji, president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) says President Muhammadu Buhari is one of the most highly respe...





Chile Eboe-Osuji, president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) says President Muhammadu Buhari is one of the most highly respected African statesmen of our time.





Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York earlier in the week, Eboe-Osuji expressed reverence for president Buhari, quoting him three times in his speech to the UN.





The speech, which was his first in his capacity as president of the ICC, was on the occasion of presenting the Courts annual report to the United Nations for 2017/2018.





In a copy mailed by the ICC, Osuji made a case for the sustenance of the criminal court, despite opposition from President Donald Trump of the United States.





The ICC president said this year marks the 20th Anniversary of the adoption of the Statute of the International Criminal Court, fondly called the Rome Statute.





He stated that the ICC was created to serve as a conscience to humanity in her journey to and through civilisation.





[The]Mindful[ness] that during [the 20th ] century [in which the Rome Statute was adopted] millions of children, women and men ha[d] been victims of unimaginable atrocities that deeply shock the conscience of humanity, Eboe-Osuji said.





He went on to quote President Buhari as he made a case for the sustenance of the criminal court.





One of the most highly respected African Statesmen of our time answered that question in a very straightforward way, he said.





As part of his own reflections during the 20th Anniversary of the Rome Statute in July, Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari answered that question in these words: With the alarming proliferation of the most serious crimes around the world, the ICC, and all that it stands for, is now needed more than ever, in ways that were unforeseeable to its founders.





Buhari at The Hague with ICC judges



The ICC may have been created at a time of optimism that it would not need to be utilized frequently, but, unfortunately, the increase in international crimes has only increased the Courts relevance. The ICC may have been created at a time of optimism that it would not need to be utilized frequently, but, unfortunately, the increase in international crimes has only increased the Courts relevance.





The 56-year-old judge went on to say the ICC is one real structure that the world has now to try those who would commit international crimes, and prevent such in the future.





In this regard, I cannot but invoke the following words of Nigerias President Buhari on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Rome Statute: The Rome Statute created more than a court; it created the outline for a system of justice for horrific crimes rooted first in national courts doing their job, and where they fail to do so, the ICC stepping in only as the court of the last resort.





He asked the UNGA to make the court stronger, rather than weaken its powers.





I urge you to make it stronger in every way that you can. DO NOT allow it to be weakened. Here, again, I quote President Buhari one more time: I urge all States that have not yet done so to, as a matter of deliberate State policy, accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court so that it can become a universal treaty.





Donald Trump attacked the court last week, stating that the United States will provide no support in recognition to the International Criminal Court.





As far as America is concerned, the ICC has no jurisdiction, no legitimacy, and no authority, he added.








The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Bello Muhammad, to summon ...





The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Bello Muhammad, to summon meeting of the territorys security council to address Shiite uprisings in the territory.





Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known when he fielded questions from State House correspondents at the end of the Councils meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.





The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.





The minister said: This matter came up for discussion and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has been asked to take the matter up with his own security committee.





Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), popularly referred to as Shiite, had engaged the security agencies in violent clashes within and around the FCT since Saturday.





About 26 people were reportedly killed and many others injured during clashes between soldiers and Shiite group in Zuba, Mararaba/Nyanya and Abuja in the last three days.





On Tuesday, the FCT Police Command announced the arrest of some IMN members with 31 bottles of petrol bomb and other dangerous weapons being ferried into Abuja.




The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, has warned that any member of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state that engages in anti-party activities stands the risk of being expelled from the party.To this end, a seven-man PDP Disciplinary Committee has been set up by the State Executive Committee in line with the provisions enshrined in the partys constitution to check acts of indiscipline among members.Speaking at a meeting with the State Executive Committee and other leaders of the PDP at the partys secretariat in Yenagoa, Dickson emphasised that any member, whose intention was to sow seeds of discord and create instability within the party, would be shown the way out, no matter how highly placed.A statement by the Governors Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the governor as saying, This party will not condone any indiscipline; any politics that you think that it is not yet your turn or it is not your preferred candidate that has become the flagbearer of the party and that you will get involved in anti-party activities and still remain a member of our party, that will not happen under my watch.Now the primaries have come and they have gone. No matter how highly placed, anyone in government or out of government, once this party has evidence showing that you are using your privileged position, because your preferred candidate did not win, you now go and play hide-and-seek, you now pick and choose which candidate to work for, we will send you out of this party in no time at all.Anyone coming to this party with the intention to sow seeds of discord, create factions, promote instability, under my leadership, we will tell you to go to the party you are coming from, so that you can stay there and do proper opposition.He added, From now on, the keyword is loyalty, discipline and order in the party. In case people have forgotten, let me refresh their memories. Even when this party had a President, in this state under my leadership, this party expelled all those who were doing anti-party activities and we didnt care a hoot. And if we could do it that time, we will do it ten times more now. And just as we did the other time, we will set up a disciplinary committee to deal with such issues.We want a strong party for all. I want to use this opportunity to tell INEC and security agencies in this state not to allow themselves to be used as co-conspirators to terrorise any community because it is only PDP that can win elections in this state.I also want to commend the party and my political desk and elders and caucus chairmen who have been working tirelessly to broker peace and understanding because in this game, we talk about persuasion, give and take and showing concern for the general. I thank them all for the reconciliation that is going on. Very soon I will meet with all aspirants and other stakeholders of the party. I want to receive them and assure them that the party will be there for them.
The Kano house of assembly panel investigating bribery allegations against Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of the state, has summoned him.

The Assembly constituted a committee on October 15 to establish the authenticity of the videos.

The panel summoned Ganduje to appear before it on Friday.

Daily Nigerian had published multiple videos showing Ganduje allegedly receiving kickbacks from contractors.

The footage exposed the names of the contractors, projects and the voice of the purported bribe giver.

It also has translation in English with dates and timelines.

Unlike the previous videos released by Daily Nigerian, the latest was suspected to have been released by other parties who could have had access to them after copies were released on request to security agencies and Kano Assembly.





The governor has denied the allegations, saying it is the handiwork of political opponents.





Mujtafah Adamu, secretary of the seven-man ad hoc committee, told NAN on Thursday that the governor was invited via a letter dated October 31.





He was quoted as saying: The letter which was signed by the chairman of the committee, Baffa Danagundi, and issued to the governor, is requesting his appearance and to hear the matter from his own perspective.





A copy of the letter, according to Adamu, asked the governor for his statement as part of the proceedings on or before the day of the hearing.





The letter reads in part: You may wish to appear together with your lawyers for the hearing, and enclosed is the copy of the video clips for your perusal.





Last week, Jaafar Jaafar, publisher of Daily Nigerian, told the panel that the videos are authentic and not doctored as the governor claimed.





He also told of how a contractor had informed him of the governors practice of receiving kickbacks from every contractor in the state.




Over 500 Christian and Muslim clerics gathered yesterday at the Unity Fountain in Abuja to pray for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari next year.Speaking on the theme of the session, Buhari must remain beyond 2019, the convener of the Christian session, Bishop Sunday Garuba, said that with prayers, Buhari would emerge victorious in the election.While appreciating the faithful that had been gathering to pray in the last 20 days, Garuba said that he was full of gratitude to the Muslim faithful that were always present at the session to pray for the country.Leader of the Muslim session, Imam Kamarudeen Salawu, stressed the need for vigilance by adherents of all faiths to shun evil men that come with money to buy their conscience or seek prayers.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised candidates of the Buruji Kasahmu faction of the Peoples Democratic...





The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised candidates of the Buruji Kasahmu faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state as contestants for the 2019 elections.





In a letter dated October 25, Okechukwu Ndeche, the commissions acting secretary, told Uche Secondus, national chairman of the PDP, that the decision was based on a court verdict.





The PDP had expelled Kashamu, senator representing Ogun east, and dissolved the faction loyal to him led by Adebayo Dayo.





But the senator went to court and got a ruling in his favour. On October 2, a federal high court in Abeokuta had ordered INEC to accept and process the list of candidates and delegates submitted to it by the Dayo-led faction.





In its letter, INEC said it would recognise candidates of the Dayo faction unless another court sets aside the order.





The Federal High Court in the matters ordered the Commission to recognise Adebayo Dayo led State Executive Committee of PDP in Ogun State and receive list of candidates for the 2019 Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly Elections from the said committee, the letter read in part.





Consequently, the Commission hereby notes the decisions of the Federal High Court in the above referred cases and will publish the lists of candidates submitted by the Adebayo Dayo led State Executive Committee of Ogun State pursuant to the Orders of the Federal High Court until they are set aside.





Meanwhile, in a telephone interview with TheCable, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP spokesman, said the Dayo-led faction is not recognised by the party because it did not participate in the primary election in the state.





INEC cannot, under our electoral law, accept nomination from any state chapter. The Buruji group did not collect form from the national secretariat of PDP at all. They did not participate in the primary election process of the PDP, he said.





How did they have nomination form from our party when they did not buy from us? They are in INEC as I am talking to you now. They are trying to smuggle in the names of their nominees. INEC rejected their form after it discovered that their nominations were not endorsed by the national chairman and national secretary. Its a provision of the law. There is nothing they can do about it.




Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he cannot mortgage his conscience to keep his job. ...





Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he cannot mortgage his conscience to keep his job.





The national chairman said this while briefing state house correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.





While answering questions on the crisis rocking the party from the recently concluded primaries, he said only three APC governors were not happy with the way he was running the party while others are rest assured that he is doing his best.





The national chairman said he would rather listen to his conscience than give in to pressures and do what is wrong.

Oshiomhole said it is only in Nigeria that 10 aspirants will compete for one seat, one person wins and the other nine will wonder why they did not win.





Let me say that if there is a choice between my conscience  what I believe is right and mortgaging that conscience in order to keep the job, I will have no difficulty resolving it in favour of my conscience, Oshiomhole said.





And those who know me know that at my age, I cannot learn new tricks. I am absolutely committed to justice, fairness, I am a stickler to enforcement of rules; because the source of relevance is derived from rules. I have lived my life fighting for justice and fairness.





Three governors are not particularly pleased with the outcome of the primaries in their states.





These are internal family issues; they are my friends, and that is important, even in moment of distress, that friendship is I want to believe is enough to help us to build a reconciliation.





There is no running away from the fact that we are the governing party who has a higher stake; we are the one in the news; if we were in the stock market, our shares would have increased considerably.




Popular US financial and media company, Bloomberg has tipped President Muhammadu Buhari For Second-Term.This was made known in an article by the company.Read the excerpts below:"Muhammadu Buhari will start as favourite for reelection in Nigerias presidential election next year so long as his health holds out."In a previous article, President Buhari was hailed for his fight on Islamic insurgency with his impact on the economy, however, not yet meeting expectations.It reads: "The former military ruler (Buhari) spent more than five months in London last year undergoing treatment for an undisclosed ailment, but has displayed renewed vigor since returning home in August.While 75-year-old Buhari made some headway against an Islamist insurgency, hes struggled to improve living standards in the oil-dependent economy. Though he would start as favorite for reelection given his overwhelming popularity in the north, hell need to rebuild the coalition that secured him victory last time around.He stands more than a fair chance, said Robert Besseling, executive director of political risk advisory firm EXX Africa. Its not going to be plain sailing though.
Former Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has told the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, to grow up and shed his toga of unbridled hatred for him.According to a press statement issued on his behalf by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the former governor who was reacting to a statement by Daramola bad-mouthing the new state-of-the-art High Court complex constructed by the Fayose administration, said Daramola had only lent credence to the Yoruba adage that the horse of our enemy is never tall enough in our reckoning.Adelusi said the true test of maturiry and decency is another Yoruba adage which says an elephant is too big an animal that somone out of malice or hatred will compare with a fly.He continued, Reproach and bad-belle apart, the high court complex built by Fayose is world class. It is also the first of its kind since the creation of Ekiti state in 1996.If Daramola cannot commend Fayose, he could as well shut up his mouth and stop behaving like a cry-babyAdelusi described Daramolas statement that the new high court complex, built and commissioned five months ago, was hybrid of absurdity that could not be put to use, as an after-thought and an exercise in futility.It is shameless Pull-Him-Down syndrome at work.Daramola was there at commissioning; he should have spoken there and then or is he a coward? Disparaging Fayose now is an act of cowardice. Speaking now after Fayose has left office tantamounts to back-biting and stabbing the former governor in the backAdelusi however said he was not surprised by what Justice Daramola said because the judge was sad that such high court complex for the state was built by somebody he hated with a passion.Justice Daramola has never hidden his displeasure towards Fayose, dating back many years. He had time and again allowed himself to become willing tool in the hands of some politicians to be used against the former governor.Justice Daramola was bitter and shed tears at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti on October 16, 2014, the day Fayose was being sworn in for second term because the former governor triumphed over all their conspiracies.Throughout the four years of Fayoses administration, Justice Daramola never attended state functions personally and on the day when the foundation of the new high court complex was being laid, Justice Daramola openly expressed doubt of Fayose completing the project.In this regard, what does any right-thinking person expect Justice Daramola to say of one of Fayoses legacy projects?When the project started, if truly he had noticed certain defects, why did he fail to point them out? Why did he have to wait till now? This, certainly, is not the act of a forward-looking person. It is without doubt an act of backwardness.Had this project been executed by the All Progressive Congress ( APC) administration whose interests Daramola leaves no one in doubt he represents, he would have commended it to high heavens.Justice Daramola will be well advised to please insulate himself from politics and allow Ekiti judiciary remain the last hope of the common man, the statement concluded.
The United States has called for a thorough investigation into the recent clashes between members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IM...

The United States has called for a thorough investigation into the recent clashes between members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and security forces.





In a statement on Thursday, the US embassy in Nigeria urged the federal government to hold everyone responsible for the violence to account.





The IMN members better known as Shiites have been clashing with policemen and soldiers in various parts of Abuja since Saturday.





They are protesting the continued detention of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, their leader.





While the army said three persons were killed during one of the protests, the Shiites have declared over 1000 of their members missing.





The US embassy urged the two parties to exercise restraint.





The statement read: The United States Embassy is concerned by the deaths resulting from clashes between Nigerian security forces and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in areas surrounding Abuja.





We urge government of Nigeria authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of the events and to take appropriate action to hold accountable those responsible for violations of Nigerian law. We urge restraint on all sides.




The Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh is getting ready to receive some 5,000 youths from 165 countries over the weekend, taking part in the second edition of the World Youth Forum (WYF).

The forum, scheduled to take place from 3-6 November with President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi in attendance, is a platform created by young people to deliver a message of peace and prosperity from Egypt to the rest of the world. More than 300 speakers will address participants at the annual event.

This year, the WYF events will revolve around a vision inspired by The Seven Pillars of the Egyptian Identity, a book by Egyptian author Milad Hanna written to emphasise the unity and harmony of Egyptian society despite divergences and differences.

The forums three-day sessions will revolve around three main themes: peace, development and creativity. The first theme will discuss rebuilding post-conflict countries and societies, as well as the role of world leaders in achieving peace, providing humanitarian aid, combating terrorism and Euro-Mediterranean collaboration.

The second will tackle issues related to water security, energy, empowerment of people with special needs and the role of voluntary work in developing societies.

It will also tackle the 2063 African Sustainable Development agenda, the strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the African continent over the next 50 years.

The guiding vision for Agenda 2063 is the African Unions vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.

The third theme will tackle topics related to e-sports and games, employment opportunities, the role of entrepreneurs in economic global growth, the role of art and cinema in forming communities, social media, digital citizenship and means of building future leaders.

On the forums sidelines will be a Model Arab-African Summit (MAAS). This was one of the recommendations of the first edition of the WYF which took place in November 2017.

MAAS participants will step into the shoes of leaders from Africa and the Arab countries to debate current issues on the organisations agenda.

While playing their roles as ambassadors, delegates make speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with allies, resolve conflicts, and mobilise international cooperation to resolve problems that affect countries in the Middle East and Africa.

There will also be the World Youth Theatre (WYT) created by youth for youth. The theatre will host a variety of performances, including musical plays, stand-up comedy and inspirational talks. Youth from all over the world will present their talent to the audiences.

Around 1,000 youths from 50 countries will have the opportunity to participate in performances ranging from music and singing to experimental theatre and fashion.

Mohamed Hemeida, a WYT organiser, said the event will be the biggest of its kind in the world. There will be workshops held during the event, conducting lessons on photography, music, short films, graphics and sculpture, Hemeida said.

All these activities will reflect positively on Egypts tourism, he added.

The forum enables youths to connect with top policy-makers, promising calibres from the region and the world who are determined to make the world a better place for everyone.

Alieddin Hilal, a former youth minister and professor of political science at Cairo University, believes that last years forum was a success because it enabled Egyptian youth to mingle with those coming from other countries.

Egyptian youths have been introduced to problems experienced by youths from abroad, Hilal said.

This years forum agenda tackles issues that touch the lives of the worlds youth, not merely from Egypt or the region. One of those issues is water scarcity, a problem in many countries around the world, Hilal said.

Terrorism, another issue up for discussion, is also a universal problem, he added.

It is essential to enable and give youth the chance to express their views regarding different topics. It is essential to listen to their opinions and solutions to help them become the worlds future leaders, Hilal said.

The idea of the forum was originally proposed in April 2017 when a group of Egyptian youths proposed the initiative at the National Youth Conference in Ismailia.

Last years forum hosted over 3,000 participants from 113 countries.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 1 November, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Youthful solutions

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Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on late Wednesday the differences blocking a deal over a new national unity government were not easy and signaled he was at odds with his ally Hezbollah over the last outstanding issue.

Five months since an election, prime minister-designate Saad al-Hariri has been unable to clinch a deal on the new government because of the competing demands of rival parties for cabinet seats that are parceled out along sectarian lines.

A deal seemed close on Monday when a row over Christian representation was settled with the anti-Hezbollah Christian Lebanese Forces ceding ground to Aoun and his Free Patriotic Movement, which is allied to Shia Hezbollah.

But Hezbollah is pressing its demand for one of its Sunni allies to be given a portfolio in the 30-seat cabinet to reflect gains they made in the May 6 parliamentary election.

Aoun, in a televised interview, said obstacles are being created that are not proper and not justified.

Addressing the demand of the Hezbollah-backed Sunnis, he said: This matter caused the delay, and this delay is a type of political tactic that is hurting our big strategy.

Aoun said the Hezbollah-backed Sunnis amounted to individuals, not a bloc and had gathered together recently to make their demand for a cabinet post.

Hariri, Lebanons main Sunni leader, has ruled out ceding one of his cabinet seats to the Hezbollah-allied Sunnis.

Another possible way out of the problem would be for Aoun to name one of the Hezbollah allies among a group of ministers allocated to him. But Aoun gave no indication he was willing to do so in the interview marking the second anniversary of his becoming president - a post reserved for a Maronite Christian.

Aoun said he wanted a strong prime minister, and not to weaken Hariri.

Hariri lost more than a third of his seats in the parliamentary election, many of them to the Hezbollah allies.

Lebanon is dire need of a government able to make economic reforms that are seen as more pressing than ever. The country is wrestling with the worlds third largest public debt as a proportion of the economy and stagnant growth.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.



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Over seven million children face a serious threat of famine in Yemen and ending the country's war will not save all of them, the UN children's agency said.

"Today, 1.8 million children under the age of five are facing acute malnutrition, and 400,000 are affected by severe acute malnutrition," said Geert Cappelaere, regional director of UNICEF.

"More than half" of the 14 million people at serious risk of famine in the impoverished country are children, Cappelaere told AFP late on Wednesday.

"Ending the war is not enough," he said, referring to a more than three year conflict that pits the government supported by a Saudi-led military coalition against Houthi rebels.

"What we need is to stop the war and (to create) a government mechanism that puts at the centre the people and children.

"The war is exacerbating the situation that was already bad before because of years of underdevelopment" in the Arab world's poorest nation, Cappelaere said.

He welcomed a call by the UN on Wednesday to relaunch peace talks within a month.

He said efforts to come up with a solution in the next 30 days were "critical" to improving aid distribution and saving lives.

Cappelaere said that over 6,000 children have either been killed or sustained serious injuries since 2015.

"These are the numbers we have been able to verify, but we can safely assume that the number is higher, much higher," he said.

Since 2015, more than 10,000 people have been killed and some 22 million -- three quarters of the population -- are in need of food aid, according to the UN.

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An official with a US-backed militia says joint US-Turkish patrols will begin within hours around the northern Syrian town of Manbij, part of a roadmap for easing tensions between the two NATO allies.

Sharfan Darwish, spokesman of the Manbij Military Council, told The Associated Press that the patrols will begin later Thursday.

Ankara and Washington agreed on a roadmap in June amid Turkish demands for the withdrawal of the US-backed Kurdish militia that freed Manbij from the Islamic State group in 2016.

The Americans and the Turks have been conducting independent patrols along the border, and joint patrols are seen as a way of preventing violence.

The Manbij Military Council that administers the town says the Kurdish militia, which Turkey views as a terrorist group, left Manbij in July.

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US President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the Syrian conflict during a phone call on Thursday, the Turkish presidency said in a statement.

The statement was released not long after it was announced that Turkish and American troops had begun conducting joint patrols in the northern Syrian city of Manbij, which is controlled by a US-backed Kurdish militia that Ankara considers to be a terrorist group.

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Gaza protest leaders are calling for calmer border demonstrations Friday to give a chance to efforts to reach a long-term truce with Israel after months of deadly unrest, a source in the organising committee said.

However, previous such hopes for a deal have been dashed since protests and clashes along the border between Israel and the blockaded Gaza Strip began on March 30.

It was not clear if demonstrators would heed calls for calm.

Egypt and UN officials have been engaged in indirect talks between Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, and Israel.

An Egyptian delegation was in Gaza on Thursday for further discussions.

"Friday's events will be quiet," an official from the committee in charge of organising the marches told AFP Thursday, on condition of anonymity.

The committee is technically independent from Hamas, but includes representatives allied to the Islamist movement.

The official said the agreement to quieten the border Friday "will give an opportunity for the success of the Egyptian efforts to (achieve) calm and lift the siege."

Protests would still go ahead, he said, but demonstrators would be encouraged not to approach the fence too closely, burn tyres or send balloons equipped with incendiary devices across the border.

Recent weeks have seen efforts by the UN and Egypt result in fuel deliveries for Gaza, easing a severe electricity shortage.

There have also reportedly been talks with a view to Israel allowing Qatari cash into the Gaza Strip to pay public salaries.

But last week, hopes for a deal were dashed by further border violence.

Seven Palestinians died in renewed clashes along the border last Friday.

Hours later, Islamic Jihad -- a Hamas-allied militant group -- fired dozens of rockets at Israel, which responded with extensive air strikes.

In a statement after a meeting of their leaders in Gaza on Thursday, Hamas and Islamic Jihad said the marches would continue.

Both groups praised Egyptian and UN efforts to broker a deal.

Since often violent protests began on March 30, at least 218 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire.

One Israeli soldier has been killed by a Palestinian sniper.

Demonstrators are calling for Palestinian refugees to be allowed to return to the homes their families fled or were expelled from in the 1948 war surrounding the creation of Israel and which are now inside the latter.

Israel launched three military offensives against Gaza since 2008 and the recent unrest has raised fears of a fourth.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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Indonesian divers on Thursday retrieved a black box from a Lion Air passenger jet that crashed into the shallow sea off the coast of the capital, Jakarta, killing all 189 people onboard.

The device should provide clues to what went wrong after the plane lost contact with ground staff just 13 minutes after taking off early on Monday from Jakarta, on its way to the tin-mining town of Pangkal Pinang.

We dug and we got the black box, a diver, identified as Hendra, told broadcaster Metro TV on board a search vessel, the Baruna Jaya, describing how his team found the orange-colored box intact in debris on the muddy sea floor.

The diver said he had seen only small pieces of the aircraft, and the search had closed in on the black box because of the ping signals it emitted.

The device, identified as the flight data recorder, would be handed over to Indonesias transportation safety committee (KNKT), authorities said.

The planes black boxes should help explain why the almost-new Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet went down.

It could take up to three weeks to download data from the black boxes and up to six months to analyze it, Soerjanto Tjahjono, the head of a national transport safety committee (KNKT), said on Wednesday.

Haryo Satmiko, deputy chief of the national transport safety panel, told Reuters earlier an underwater drone had detected an object suspected to be part of the fuselage in waters about 30 meters (98 feet) deep not far from the site where the aircraft lost contact.

With media speculating on the airworthiness of the aircraft, the transport ministry suspended for 120 days Lion Airs maintenance and engineering director, fleet maintenance manager and the release engineer who gave the jet permission to fly on Monday.

Lion Air will also be subject to more intensive on ramp inspections compared with other airlines. Regulators will check 40 percent of its flights at random, compared with 10-15 percent for other airlines, minister Budi Karya Sumadi said.

Safety Review

President Joko Widodo had also ordered a review of all regulations relating to flight safety, Sumadi said.

The government was also considering reviewing airfares and may increase ticket prices charged by low-cost carriers, he said, without providing details.

Privately owned Lion Air, founded in 1999, said the aircraft had been in operation since August, adding that it had been airworthy and the pilot and co-pilot had 11,000 hours of flying time between them.

But according to the transport safety committee, the plane had technical problems on its previous flight on Sunday, from the city of Denpasar on the resort island of Bali, including an issue over unreliable airspeed.

Lion Air chief executive Edward Sirait has acknowledged reports of technical problems with the aircraft, but said maintenance had been carried out according to procedure before it was cleared to fly again.

Investigators are looking into why the pilot had asked to return to base shortly after take-off, a request that ground control officials had granted, although the flight crashed soon after.

Strong currents have hampered efforts to find the fuselage of the plane, with efforts complicated by the presence of energy pipelines in the area.

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Hundreds of Google employees and contractors in Asia staged brief midday walkouts on Thursday, with thousands more expected to follow at offices worldwide, amid complaints of sexism, racism and unchecked executive power in their workplace.

In a statement late Wednesday, the organizers called on Google parent Alphabet Inc to add an employee representative to its board of directors and internally share pay-equity data. They also asked for changes to Googles human resources practices intended to make bringing harassment claims a fairer process.

Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said in a statement that employees have raised constructive ideas and that the company was taking in all their feedback so we can turn these ideas into action.

The dissatisfaction among Alphabets 94,000 employees and tens of thousands more contractors has not noticeably affected company shares. But employees expect Alphabet to face recruiting and retention challenges if their concerns go unaddressed.

The demonstrations follow a New York Times report last week that said Google in 2014 gave a $90 million exit package to Andy Rubin after the then-senior vice president was accused of sexual harassment.

Rubin denied the allegation in the story, which he also said contained wild exaggerations about his compensation. Google did not dispute the report.

The report energized a months-long movement inside Google to increase diversity, improve treatment of women and minorities and ensure the company upholds its motto of dont be evil as it expands.

Much of the organizing earlier this year was internal, including petition drives, brainstorming sessions with top executives and training from the workers rights group Coworker.org.

On Thursday, employees posted on social media about the walkout and were set to deliver speeches in public plazas.

Since its founding two decades ago, Google has been known around the world for its exceptional transparency with workers. Executives goals and insights into corporate strategy have been accessible to any employee.

But organizers said Google executives, like leaders at other companies affected by the #metoo movement, have been slow to address some structural issues.

While Google has championed the language of diversity and inclusion, substantive actions to address systemic racism, increase equity, and stop sexual harassment have been few and far between, organizers stated.

They said Google must publicly report its sexual harassment statistics and end forced arbitration in harassment cases. In addition, they asked that the chief diversity officer be able to directly advise the board.

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Back in August, we highlighted a new initiative by the New York Public Library. An institution thats hip with our times, the NYPL released on Instagram a digital version of Lewis Carrolls Alices Adventures in Wonderland. Now, in the Halloween spirit, comes a digital adaptation of Edgar Allan Poes classic tale, The Raven. They write:

The Raven includes a unique series of animations produced by Psyop and Studio AKA that takes readers on an ominous procession through a stark psychological landscape where the differing perspectives of both the Raven and Poes protagonist are depicted. The viewpoints steadily intercut and converge as the animation builds to its disquieting climax, as the door creaks open revealing darkness there and nothing more.

Read The Raven on Instagram here. And keep an eye out for NYPLs upcoming adaptation of The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Its due out by the end of the year.

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Egypt, among other world countries, will attend China's first International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai on November 5-10.



Egypt was chosen as the guest of honor of the event.



Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly will lead the high-level delegation representing Egypt in the exhibition.

Upon an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping, presidents of Czech, Cuba, Kenya, Panama, Switzerland, Croatia and Salvador will attend CIIE.

The prime ministers of Hungary, Pakistan, Russia and Vietnam will also attend the expo.



The CIIE is the world's first import-themed national-level expo. More than 3,000 companies from over 130 countries have confirmed participation in the expo, with a total booth area of 270,000 square meters.



Being the second largest economy worldwide and home to 1.3 billion people, the expo will be a good chance for Egypt to expound its development efforts in different domains and economic reforms.



Prominent exhibitors at the Expo include big household names  Sony, Samsung, Foxconn, Intel, General Motors, BMW, Tesla, Facebook, and Google, as well as many smaller rising players.

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The agreement will establish a student summer exchange programme as well as academic and research collaboration

The American University in Cairo (AUC) has recently signed a three-year agreement with Kings College London, which is ranked among the top 25 universities worldwide, for a student summer exchange programme as well as academic and research collaboration.

Kings College is one of the most prominent universities worldwide, said Ahmed Tolba 97, 01, associate provost for strategic enrollment management at AUC. "The student summer exchange programme will be highly competitive, with only four slots for the exchange programme," explained Tolba. A committee will select the students, just like our full-semester exchange programmes.

Tolba added that the agreement may extend to a faculty exchange programme as well.

While AUC students will travel to Kings College London, students from Kings College London will also be able to attend courses at AUC as part of this exchange programme.

AUC has been working closely with Kings College London since September 2017 to reach this agreement, initially meeting through study-abroad conferences, including the European Association for International Education, one of the largest study-abroad conferences in the world.

Tolba noted that because UK universities have a different educational system of their own, unlike the United States or other European countries, partnering with Kings College London is considered a major success. The reason the agreement is only for summer exchange is because Kings College courses are on a yearly basis, not by semesters, so its not easy to send or receive exchange students during the fall or spring semesters, he explained.

In line with its centennial strategic plan, AUC has been working on growing the number of international students on campus. Internationalisation of the student body maximises intercultural exchange between students, said Tolba. We want to maintain this as a core part of the AUC experience.

This is AUCs fourth UK exchange agreement. The university is already collaborating with the University of East London, the University of Liverpool and University of St Andrews. Currently, AUC has more than 170 international partnerships with top universities worldwide.

Photo: courtesy of the AUC Media Relations Office

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This years World Youth Forum is bringing together young Arab men and women with striking visions for the future

The problems and solutions, headaches and cures, fears and hopes of millions of young people throughout the Arab world are still under the worlds spotlight.

However, not all spotlights are identical. Some project a narrow and intense beam of light on a specific feature, while others illuminate more broadly in search of a better view and a clearer understanding.

Understanding the challenges, risks, and dangers, as well as the opportunities and hopes, of almost 30 per cent of the Arab worlds inhabitants (those aged 15 to 29) is not an easy job.

The easy job is to criticise and direct accusations at others in what is sometimes referred to as the Arab youths crisis or predicament, among other descriptions.

Other than laying the blame on decades of political regimes that ignored the needs and aspirations of the younger generations, little is being done to address, or rather cure, the ailments of Arab young people and start building for the future.

However, steps are now being taken to rectify what went wrong and readjust to what is yet to come.

This Saturday, Egypt hosts the Second World Youth Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh in an Egyptian platform that has been built by Egyptian young people who have too often been seen either as time bombs waiting to explode or incompetent creatures who know nothing about real life.

These very same young people are sometimes referred to as the victims of political economic, social, and religious repression.

However, thousands of Egyptian young people have nevertheless decided to overcome the circumstances that are pulling them down and build new opportunities rather than lament lost ones in participating in the Youth Forum.

Egypts Youth Need to Engage, No Political Engagement for Egypts Revolutionary Generation, and Reasons for the Low Engagement among Egyptian Youth are just some of the headlines that have circulated in the media regarding Egypts youth.

There is a constant sense of revolutionary nostalgia sometimes hidden behind arguments that reach the conclusion that the problem lies in young peoples supposed passivity.

Some commentators have even called upon the youth of the Arab world to demonstrate angrily and to bring down dictatorships and tyrannies.

However, easy references, particularly by those who live in the West, to dictatorships and tyrannies in another part of the world are also a sort of despotism.

What we are seeing in Sharm El-Sheikh suggests a different insight, since here Egypts young people will be engaging in dialogue and communicating with others on issues ranging from how to rebuild post-conflict societies to employment in the digital age, water security, and disability and social responsibility.

A study carried out by the American University in Cairo entitled Egyptian Youth: Networked Citizens but Not Fully Engaged Politically has found no evidence to suggest that Egyptian youth are less politically active than the youth of more democratic societies.

It says that despite some restrictions, young people in Egypt have not lost their faith in formal political action and that they still participate in elections.

It also finds that the 2014 presidential elections garnered more participation from young people than the parliamentary elections, which may indicate that political parties and politicians are not strong enough to entice young people to become involved and engaged in formal politics.

The study says that Egyptian youth are currently engaged in civic responsibilities, which in the Arab region is a less contentious method of engaging in political processes.

The complexities associated with particular political orientations often drive people to avoid formal politics and instead to engage in non-political civic associations and charities.

One theme that emerges from the study is that Egypts youth are using social media networks extensively and that they frequently engage in online political participation.

The data also reveal that there is no necessary relationship between online political participation and real-life political participation amongst young people.

It states that most of the political parties formed in the aftermath of the 25 January Revolution eventually weakened or became absent from the political scene.

It says that the social climate also changed, becoming hostile to the youth in general, and the revolutionary youth in particular, after the failure of the Muslim Brotherhoods year in power.

The study points out that a new political context emerged in 2013 and that several youth groups reappeared and allied with President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisis administration.

Youth have since been included socially and politically, and they were even recruited to participate in the drafting of the 2014 constitution. Nonetheless, they have not been able to play more than a limited role in Egypts transformation and current politics, the study says.

Now, Egyptian and other young people from more than 100 countries are gathering in Sharm El-Sheikh to discuss the pillars of their lives at the World Youth Forum.

Living in a region that is far from peaceful or stable makes such issues as building and sustaining peace, rebuilding societies in post-conflict stages, and humanitarian assistance in the face of challenges, vital for the regions young people to discuss and analyse.

Belonging to countries where more than 50 per cent of the population are young makes discussing topics such as entrepreneurism and start-ups, building future leaders, narrowing the gender gap in employment, and the future of jobs in the digital age priorities for all young people.

The calamity that has struck the region in the shape of religious extremism also makes topics such as the role of soft power in combating extremism crucially important.

The same thing goes for issues of water security, power challenges and opportunities, young people with disabilities, and the future of the African continent.

The importance of the World Youth Forum lies in the fact that it is one of the rare steps now being taken to empower the regions youth.

It does not grieve over years of wasted opportunities, official neglect, social exclusion and economic deprivation, but instead aims to build and plan for the future rather than lament the past.

The thousands of Egyptian, Arab and non-Arab young people who will be attending the Forum may not be trending among popular figures on social media.

They might not be among the top 100 political dissidents on Facebook. They might not be eloquent when it comes to criticising what is going on around them.

However, they are definitely young men and women who see in themselves the ability and the will to become future leaders, successful entrepreneurs, responsible citizens and last but not least people who have a vision for construction rather than destruction and aim to bring about real and material opportunities.

* The writer is a journalist at Al-Hayat newspaper.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 1 November, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Young people of vision

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Trump has nurtured a culture of hostility and fear of minorities, but this will not deter Arab American Democrats from working hard to ensure their community retains a voice

The Trump era has posed special challenges for Arab Americans not only in foreign and domestic policy, but also in confronting the hostile political culture the president has nurtured. As a result, weve been busy, especially in this election season; forced to work on many fronts, all at the same time.

Not since the 1980s have we seen so many Republican campaigns using anti-Arab or anti-Muslim bigotry against Democratic opponents, with most instances tied to charges that the Democrat has received financial support from questionable sources (from the Arab sounding names on their donors lists); is supported by individuals who are opponents of Israel or supporters of the BDS movement; are themselves linked by family ties to Palestinian terrorism; or are just not sufficiently supportive of Israel or Trumps moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem.

In addition, there has been an uptick in anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant (or more recently, Trumps unknown Middle Easterners) scare tactics that have contributed to making this a challenging and important election. What follows is a snapshot of the many issues and areas that define our agenda as we approach critical mid-term elections.

First and foremost is our basic commitment to preparing Arab Americans for the election through voter registration, voter education and voter mobilisation. This is the bread and butter of our work. As we have seen in the past, the best antidote to attacks is to become stronger.

And so, this year, Yalla Vote organisers were hired to register new voters in their communities, build networks of volunteers and strengthen relationships with community organisations.

With the support of this volunteer network, more than 50 Yalla Vote registration events were organised across the country. The effort now shifts to preparing to get out the Arab American vote on 6 November.

We are especially proud of the fact that this year a record number of Arab Americans filed for US House, US Senate or Gubernatorial seats, with dozens more running in local races.

Because they wont face any opposition in November, two exciting and historic candidates have won: Rashida Tlaib in Michigan and Ilhan Omar in Minnesota. Both Rashida, a Palestinian American, and Ilhan, a Somali/Yemeni American, will be the first Muslim women to serve in Congress.

The campaign still to watch is that of Ammar Campa-Najjar, a Palestinian/Mexican American running in California. Ammar, a Democrat, is running an extraordinary race and polling well within the margin of error in what is considered a heavily Republican district. Most likely owing to the closeness of the contest, his Republican opponent has launched a vicious campaign of the worst anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bigotry we have seen in a congressional race in some time.

In addition to these newcomers, Arab American incumbents expected to easily win re-election in November are four Republican Congressmen: Darin LaHood of Illinois, Ralph Abraham and Garret Graves of Louisiana and Justin Amash of Michigan.

So, if all goes well, come January, there may be seven Arab Americans in Congress.

Now to the issues we are addressing.

In July we published Underreported, Under Threat: Hate Crime in the United States and the Targeting of Arab Americans. Our report provides a long overdue analysis of targeted violence against Arab Americans and exposes multiple issues that affect hate crime reporting and data collection across the country. We are now working with members of Congress to address these issues and identify bipartisan action on the problem of underreporting as a 2019 priority for our hate crime work.

Two years ago, we began legislative work on combating the rampant decades-old problem of discrimination against Arab Americans during air travel. Last week, that work bore fruit.

President Trump signed the new FAA reauthorisation bill which includes a section we worked on requiring a training policy for its employees and contractors regarding racial, ethnic and religious non-discrimination.

In the next year we will face a number of challenges to free speech in the form of state and federal government efforts to place penalties on individuals or groups that support BDS against Israel and other efforts to broaden the definition of anti-Semitism to include criticism of Israel.

These initiatives seek to silence pro-Palestinian human rights activism on college campuses and ongoing work in a number of mainstream Christian denominations to divest their church funds from Israeli enterprises.

Additionally, we continue to address a range of other concerns that affect not only our community but all Americans  issues like opposition to the Muslim and refugee ban; immigration reform that protects diversity and family unification; opposition to government surveillance programmes that infringe on civil liberties; and support for a compassionate policy on the admission of refugees.

It is, to be sure, a full agenda. But it is one we are ready to take on because we know we must, in order to ensure the future of our community and our country.

* The writer is president of the Arab American Institute.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 1 November, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Our election agenda in the Trump era

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The subject of French artist Camille Rouzaud's first-ever solo New York exhibit, Raul, is a Puerto Rican teenager she met a few years ago, back when she lived in the island's historic neighborhood of Old San Juan. Drawn to studying performativity and the complexities of living, she spotted Raul in casual conversation from her balcony, and started filming. "He had this very beautiful and free energy of movement that I seek out so much," she says. That documentation sparked a friendship, and the footage became a well from which to continue investigating.

For Puerto Rican-born Natalia Viera Salgado, who curated Raul, Rouzaud's exhibit illuminates "all the layers we go through when we are growing up: failures, experiences." Resilience and resistance figure greatly in Rouzaud's artistic efforts; as means of self-preservation, they're human nature, and her work often explores those instincts through the impetuousness of adolescence. "The subjects in her work fear nothing," Viera Salgado adds. "Yet they also show emotion, and I think it is a beautiful thing to notice."

Still, Raul should be considered in context: The subject lives in Puerto Rico, a U.S. colony where the debt crisis has led its government, working in part at the behest of a federally-appointed Financial Oversight and Management Board, to close nearly 250 public schools last summer. And the outlook from there isn't so bright, either: Budget cuts and tuition hikes at the University of Puerto Rico will undoubtedly limit access to secondary education (some students are already struggling to stay enrolled, with more cuts are on the way), and the island's average annual income is less than $12,000. Right now, more than 40 percent of Puerto Ricans live below the poverty line.

"Growing up in an island like Puerto Rico is very tough, especially in our time," Viera Salgado says. "And I don't say it in terms of the street, but to see how the system is dismantling our education system is very frustrating. I feel these kids learn to survive and navigate many things that their parents experienced very differently."

Rouzaud doesn't purport to speak for Puerto Ricans, but her own experience  a queer woman who grew up in French public housing  certainly informs her understanding of inherited oppression. Read our conversation, below, to learn more about Raul, and how Rouzaud's connection to Puerto Rico and her own identity intersect.

I know you were born in France and currently live in New York City, but can you give us some insight on how you developed your voice as an artist? My own complexity, my own acceptance of who I am. I fought myself so much and felt so defeated during my teenage-hood. But I remembered the unconscious strength that I had sometimes as a kid. I look for that. I'm looking to be this wild animal again. But I grew up and I can't really be this fearless kid again, so I put it in my work. It's a form a therapy for me. Sometimes the kid in me can be very afraid so I try to find comfort and gain invulnerability through my work.

What brought you to Puerto Rico? How long were you living in San Juan? First time I traveled to the country was 10 years ago 'cause my girlfriend at the time was from there. Back then I was living in Barcelona and hanging out with the Puerto Rican community there. With time, I grew family and friends for all those years and their culture become part of my culture. Now it's equally as present as my Mediterranean culture, maybe even more. I've spent the last 10 years going back and forth, but I was living there between 2013 and 2015.

How did your friendship with Raul begin? What prompted you to film him back in 2015?

Raul was my neighbor in Viejo San Juan. I was living just in front of his building. One day he was having a conversation in the street, I was on the opposite balcony and I just started to film him. He had this very beautiful and free energy of movement that I seek out so much. We met down to the street the next day and I showed him some of the images I took out of the footage and he was like, "Yeah, that's cool, we can even film more?" And so we became friends.

In your artist statement, you noted a fascination with the "capacity for resistance" of teenagers. How does Raul exemplify this? It's about the movement, having this power in your body, like a wild animal, feeling invulnerable. In those videos Raul is very much like that.

Considering the chronology of Puerto Rico since your 2015 documentation (including the crisis post-Maria), has the significance of this project changed since its initial creation? Yes it changed, but mostly for personal history, not out of a political reason. I suffer for Puerto Rico's situation. I fully support the idea of independence; Puerto Rico is a very solid inspiration in my work but I feel like it's not my place to be political about PR in my work. At least not deliberately. I'm just proud to be linked to the island. My influences are more global: It's not just the oppression of the people of Puerto Rico specifically, it's the difficulty of being from a place where you feel like you're not accepted or are considered a second-class citizen. Like the public housing where I grew up in, for example, with poor people from everywhere, fighting for the right to be treated the same as all other French citizens. Or growing up gay in a hostile environment. The capacity of resilience.

Can you tell us more about what the original documentation was like? What did Raul think about it? The original footage is a conversation in the street between three teenagers. Sometimes intense, sometimes silent, some moments of affection and games. Actually some of the original untouched divided footage was published in Collection of Documentaries, an English magazine, in 2016. But I wasn't quite satisfied with the untouched footage. I knew I could get more out of it, something deeper, something even more close to me. I kept Raul informed about the evolution of the visuals and he seemed happy with it. Actually, I sent him the photos of the exhibition a few days ago and he said "se ve cabron." (Roughly translates to "that looks awesome.") So I think we're good. I love this group of work so much that some of his images will actually be traveling to Hong Kong for the Design and Art fair early next year.

How did you choose the stills to incorporate into this exhibition? What significance do the materials used for sculpture have?

If they vibrate within me, I go with those. It's also easier when it's the same person throughout the work because that person can't betray his own expression. As far as the materials, stones, heavy plexiglass, concrete... these just reinforce the purpose of my work. Strong, indestructible materials.

Looking to the larger Youthquake prompt and its aim to spark a dialogue about "collective consciousness and understanding how semantics can play a crucial role in shaping public opinion," where does Raul fit in? He is both a fragile and invincible being, as we all are  on the edge of chasm. And the madness of youth makes it even more apparent. So hopefully it's a universal dialogue.
Iranian Refugee Raises $700,000 For Victims Of U.S. Synagogue Massacre

10/31/18

Source: RFE/RL

An Iranian refugee who gained political asylum in the United States has raised over $700,000 for the synagogue in Pittsburgh where a gunman killed 11 Jewish worshipers this weekend. Shay Khatiri, 29, told media on October 30 that after the anti-Semitic rampage, he started an online fundraiser to collect donations for the Tree of Life Congregation that worships at the synagogue in Pennsylvania.

I started this, @djrothkopf. All donations go directly to the synagogue. I have no access to the donations. Please share the link woth the #DeepStateRadio world. https://t.co/w17JDGBtIz  Shay Khatiri (@ShayKhatiri) October 28, 2018

Khatiri said he had raised over $700,000 from more than 4,800 donors, far exceeding his expectations, by late on October 29. That has led him to raise his fundraising goal from his initial target of only $500 to $1 million.



"I thought to myself, 'Worst comes to worst, it will raise like $500.' Which is better than nothing, but it's a little above that now," he told the Washington, D.C., television station WJLA.



WJLA said Khatiri came to the United States as a refugee and applied for political asylum. He is currently a graduate student at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Baltimore.



He identifies himself as a deist, someone who believes in God but does not follow any established religion. He said he has been a recipient of the American Jewish community's generosity and wanted to repay the kindness.



Khatiri said he was inspired to raise money after seeing a Jewish friend's reaction to the shooting.



"She told me what happened and she was just broken," he told CNN. "Seeing how upset she was, I wanted to donate to the congregation."



Khatiri said that seeing the donations flood in online had convinced him that Americans can still unite behind a cause in the wake of such tragedies.



"Everyone talks about how divided we are," he told CNN. "But in such a tragic moment, Americans are always powerful and indivisible in trauma."



Khatiri's effort came as Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif offered condolences for survivors of the mass shooting and wrote on Twitter, "Extremism and terrorism know no race or religion and must be condemned in all cases."



Meanwhile, CNN reported that a separate crowdfunding campaign called Muslims Unite for Pittsburgh Synagogue has raised more than $180,000 for survivors and families of the mass shooting.



"We wish to respond to evil with good, as our faith instructs us, and send a powerful message of compassion through action," the group's donation page says.



With reporting by AP, CNN, WJLA, and Times of Israel
Iran: UN expert says human rights should be at the heart of the response to challenges faced

10/31/18

Press Release by United Nations, New York (24 October 2018)

Mounting challenges in Iran should be met by a constructive response which places international human rights law at its heart, said Javaid Rehman, the new Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran. While noting "potentially diverging views, including on the mandate itself", the Special Rapporteur said he hoped to "build on the cordial cooperation" extended to him thus far through "constructive engagement" with Iran, and hoped to visit the country.

Presenting his first report to the General Assembly following his appointment in July, the Special Rapporteur welcomed the decision by Iran to amend its drug-trafficking law which led to a marked reduction in the number of those executed for drug offences.

The Special Rapporteur also expressed alarm that Zeinab Sekaanvand was executed on 1 October, noting that "she was the fifth juvenile offender executed this year" following a trial raising numerous due process concerns. He also recalled that there were numerous juvenile offenders currently on death row in Iran, including Mohammad Kalhori, Mehdi Khazaeian, Mohammad Haddadi, Pouria Tabaei, and Saleh Shariati. The Special Rapporteur appealed to the Iranian authorities to abolish the practice of sentencing children to death, and to commute all death sentences issued against children in line with international law.

"The challenges facing people in Iran these past months has been illustrated by numerous protests across the country," the Special Rapporteur said. He said that the protests were fuelled by discontent relating to the enjoyment of economic and social rights and urged "the Government to both address the grievances underlying the protests, and also safeguard the right to freedom of association and assembly". "In challenging times, the right to freedom of opinion, expression, and access to information are all the more important." he added.

Explaining that he will seek to address economic and social rights in the course of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur said he also intended to assess the possible negative impact of sanctions on the enjoyment of such rights.

He further described a number of long-standing issues of concern which he will seek to address including with respect to the right to life and to a fair trial; the recent arrests and treatment of human rights defenders, other civil society actors, and lawyers; and the rights of women, foreign and dual nationals, and groups in vulnerable situations in Iran. The Special Rapporteur, in particular, expressed concern and alarm at the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities.

Read Mr. Rehman's full statement here.

About:

Javaid Rehman is a Professor of International Human Rights Law and Muslim Constitutionalism at Brunel University, London. Mr Rehman teaches human rights law and Islamic law and continues to publish extensively in the subjects of international human rights law, Islamic law and constitutional practices of Muslim majority States. Several of his published works have been translated into various languages. As a human rights lawyer, Mr Rehman has also provided legal opinions in various high-profile cases in a number of jurisdictions. On 6 July 2018, Mr. Rehman was appointed as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. He commenced his duties officially on 13 July 2018 and will present his first report to the seventy-third session of the General Assembly.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, Country Page: Iran





www.standup4humanrights.org

This year is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN on 10 December 1948. The Universal Declaration - translated into a world record 500 languages - is rooted in the principle that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." It remains relevant to everyone, every day. In honour of the 70th anniversary of this extraordinarily influential document, and to prevent its vital principles from being eroded, we are urging people everywhere to Stand Up for Human Rights: www.standup4humanrights.org
In the political history of Ghana, 2020 will be the first elections that a former President would become a flagbearer and opposition leader. Most former Presidents become statemen after their exist. Many people may say it is because they have served their full 8 years term and the constitution of Ghana prevents them from contesting again.



The case of former President John Mahama may not be different from that of our former Presidents whom the constitution of Ghana prevents them from contesting. The constitution of Ghana may not prevent H.E John Mahama from contesting but the massive defeat and rejection from Ghanaians in the 2016 elections should tell him not to contest again.



Ghanaians faced a lot of hardships under the John Mahama led administration eg. unstable electricity supply collapsed most businesses and became a major contributor to unemployment. Ghana found herself under the management of I.M.F under the John Mahama led administration which led to the net freeze on employment.



Corruption cases increased and huge sums of money were wasted through corruption. Money which could have been used for developmental projects were wasted through corruption cases like the 52million Woyome judgement debt, 3.2 million bus branding, Gyeeda, Isofoton etc. The economy of Ghana shrinked with all sectors and indicators of the economy fell which brought hardship on Ghanaians.



The NPP took over in 2016 and Ghanaians testify to major improvement in their lives. The introduction of free education has relieved the burden on parents, Nabco, Youth in afforestation and many others are helping solved unemployment problems.



It is clear that Ghanaians would reject John Mahama again in 2020 which he himself knows but the question now is why he still insist to contest again. Is it a plot to destroy the future of the NDC which he wants to contest on its ticket or in an unlikely possibility of winning, is it a plot to take back the country to the hardships we suffered during his tenure?



I believe Ghanaians would reject him again in 2020 but I pray he would reconsider his decision to contest and consider the welfare of his party and Ghanaians who are benefiting from the national cake under the NPP administration.



Edmund Kyei



NPP Asokwa Constituency 1st Vice Chairman and member of the NPP Communications team













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Ghana has begun a process to de-limit the maritime boundary between the country and Togo, a Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Mohammad Habibu Tijani has said.



Additionally, government is strengthening the legal regime on piracy and maritime crime by moving the Ghana Maritime Offences Bill forward to enhance the maritime criminal justice system to be able to effectively prosecute prospective offenders within Ghanas maritime jurisdiction.



The Deputy Minister was outlining challenges and commitments in addressing Ghanas maritime security threats at the just-ended 5th Our Ocean Conference in the Indonesian city of Bali.



This years conferenceis, the first to be held in Asia gathered over 600 commitments which is valued at about US$ 18 billion and created 12.4 square kilometers of marine protected area.



The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Mohammad Habibu Tijani led a delegation to represent the Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs at the conference.



The Hon. Deputy Minister was joined by Ghanas High Commissioner to Malaysia, H.E. Akua Ahenkra and other officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. At the conference, the Hon. Deputy Minister presented a Statement on Ghanas Initiatives in addressing maritime security issues on a panel.



Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Indonesia-Africa Maritime Dialogue was also held.



It was attended by Senior Officials from Indonesian institutions and officials from African countries including Ghana. Other representatives from Fish-I African, Global Fishing Watch, Interpol, and UNODC were also present.













The Minister cited piracy and armed robbery, illegal oil bunkering or theft of crude oil, threat to offshore oil and gas production, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU)fishing, arms, drugs and human trafficking as the major threats to maritime security that Ghana faces.



He assured everything possible was being done to address the concerns.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Private legal practitioner, Alexander Afenyo Markin has advised his colleague lawyer, Dr. Raymond Atuguba to learn to be a good sportsman by accepting in good faith, cases that dont go in his favour in court.



According to him, it is hypocritical to want to be a fair-weather friend to the courts in the country and only laud, praise and appreciate them when cases go in their favour, adding that a good lawyer worth his salt will take the losses in his strides, learn from them and use such losses as catalyst to improve and win other cases in the future.



"You shouldnt be a scorpion sitting on a shivling, be consistent and am directing this at my learned respected colleague, Professor Raymond Atuguba because some of his statements he issued attacking the courts are not proper, are not right and this does not help promote the rule of law he opined in an interview on OkayFM Thursday.



Speaking in an interview with Kwame Nkrumah Tikesie, host of "Adea Akye Abia" Morning Show, Mr. Markin who is also the Member of Parliament for Effutu in the Central Region, took a swipe at the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for usually playing tribal politics with court cases in the country and impugning the integrity of the judiciary.



"They have the penchant for denigrating the courts when they lose cases and politicise most court cases. They berate the courts and judges and insult them and turn around to celebrate them when cases go in their favour. That is absolutely wrong, he said.



Mr. Markin comments come in the wake of what he describes as propaganda by some people to twist facts relating to the ruling of the Supreme Court yesterday, which quashed an earlier ruling by a Winneba High Court upholding the removal from office, of the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Education Winneba, Professor Mawutor Avoke.



According to the unanimous ruling, the High Court in Winneba failed to take evidence from the parties in the case before granting judgment.



Mr. Markin further said "most of the time, you find some of our friends in the NDC putting up such a posture, when they win in court, all praises to the rule of law, when they lose in court, they start attacking the court, attacking the institution of state, attacking the individuals who adjudicated or presided, then they begin to say it is because of his tribal background, he is an Ewe or Fante or Nzema or Frafra or Dagomba. Such attitude does not augur well for the country and her laws. So our friends from the NDC who have gained notoriety for that must take a cue and learn. Democracy and the rule of law have no tribal colours."

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Six in 10 Gambians recommend a collaborative effort between the governments of Ghana and the Gambia to ascertain the truth about 44 Ghanaians who were murdered in the Gambia, Afrobarometers inaugural national survey in the Gambia reveals.



A majority of Gambians believe that perpetrators of crimes and human-rights abuses during Jammehs regime should be tried in court, irrespective of the work of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) that President Adama Barrow has established to address past human-rights abuses.



However, Gambians are divided as to whether Jammeh should be extradited to the Gambia for prosecution.



Attached is the full article. Click on pdf document on the right.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The lives of thousands of passengers who use the Adomi Bridge daily have been put in danger following the removal of bolts and nuts holding vital parts of the Bridge by some unscrupulous persons.



Report suggest that the suspects are targeting to remove some of the galvanized steel for a yet to be known purpose.



The DCE for Asuogyaman Samuel Kwame Agyekum confirmed the incident, adding that the security operatives are investigating the incident while the Ghana Highway Authority has been notified.



The Adomi Bridge located in Atimpoku in the Eastern Region which spans the Volta River that drains into the Gulf of Guinea, south of the Akosombo Dam was designed in 1956 and completed in 1957 by William Brown, of the engineers Freeman Fox & Partners.



In 2008, some serious cracks on the structures traverse beams were discovered. Following these findings, the Government of Ghana imposed a load limit on the bridge in an attempt to slow down the rate of damage. The cracked girders were locally strengthened by the installation of additional steel plates at the affected areas. The continued use of the bridge by overloaded trucks however, further compromised its safety and stability.



In 2009 , more cracks developed, mainly around the same area as the earlier ones were discovered; this necessitated major rehabilitation works on the suspension bridge.



In 2014, the bridge was closed to traffic on 10 March 2014 till 2016 for repair works and was opened to traffic in December 2015 after it had been refurbished.









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Prince Charles and Camilla have begun their nine-day tour of Africa.



The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall touched down at Banjul International Airport on Wednesday evening where they were greeted with a ceremonial welcome from dancers in colourful dress and a long line of dignitaries.



The couple were met on the red carpet by President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, and one of his wives. An official ceremony was held in McCarthy Square in the Capital City of Banjul to welcome the royal couple. They also enjoyed a cultural performance at the Coco Ocean Hotel.



The prince and duchess will tour the Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria on behalf of the British government.



More photos below.









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A week after students of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) went on a rampage and destroyed properties, authorities of the university have put the cost of damage between GH1.6 and GH1.7 million.



The students revolted against the school authorities in protest over what they described as inhumane treatment and heavy-handedness by the authorities.



Speaking on Okay Fm's Ade Akye Abia Programme, Assistant Registrar at University Relations Office, Mr. Kwame Yeboah Jnr, said the estimated cost of damage was the result of an extensive work by a team of experts put together by KNUST authorities.



As I speak to you now, the University has started [repairing some of the vehicles which got destroyed in the process, whilst other staff members whose cars were destroyed in the up rising have had theme repaired already."



The facilities that were destroyed, including access control facilities in all the halls and items in the offices that were destroyed, glasses that were smashed and all that and then the destruction of vehicles belonging to the staff of the university. These constitute the figure that I gave"



"Currently, an independent committee will be constituted by new council and they will determined whether students be made to pay for the damages or otherwise, but as it stands now, no decision has been taken on that yet," he added.



He further mentioned that calm has been restored following Governments request to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Chancellor of the KNUST, to lead a process to reconstitute the Universitys Governing Council.



An interim council that was announced was met with widespread rejection among various educational fronts.



The new council is expected to be reconstituted by Friday, November 2, 2018, and will take over from the Interim Governing Council, according to a press release issued in Accra by the Information Ministry.



A statement signed by the then Minister-designate for information, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, indicated that Government has subsequently engaged UTAG and updated the Association accordingly.







Source: Isaac kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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Former President John Dramani Mahama says the energy crisis that hit Ghana between 2012 and 2016  popularly referred to as dumsor  was solved by his administration, not the current government.



He is therefore telling the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stop deceiving Ghanaians that the Akufo-Addo-led government resolved the crisis.



Addressing delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Adentan Constituency as part of his five-day campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region, Mr Mahama described as false claims by NPP officials that they solved dumsor.



He explained that every single additional generation capacity of electricity currently in Ghana, including Ameri power and KarPower plants, was put in place by the NDC administration.



But today some people are trying to take the credit for solving dumsor when they havent added a single megawatt of electricity to Ghanas power generation, he said.



According to Mr Mahama, it was the work done by his administration in the energy sector that made him to declare in 2016 that Ghana will become a net exporter of electricity.



He therefore wondered why President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would make similar announcement and claim the credit for solving the energy crisis.



He said the NDC administration also stabilised the economy after fixing the energy crisis.



The former president was hopeful that the NDC will return to power in 2020 and urged members of the party to unite and work hard for victory.



He also committed himself to working hard to reduce the high cost of living in the country as well as provide jobs, when elected in the next elections.









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.

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Former Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has eulogized the memory of the late President John Evans Attah Mills describing him as a man of integrity with a high level of morality.



Mr. Ablakwa, who as a 28-year old, was first given an opportunity to serve in government as a deputy Minister, said he is still emotionally attached to the Late President.



According to him, the virtues of Prof. John Evans Attah Mills left a lasting impression on him, for which reason he named his son after him.



Speaking in an interview on Citi TV, Mr. Ablakwa said, he hopes his son whom he named after Professor Mills grows to be like him.



Touching on the character of the late Professor Mills, he said his love for the country is unmatched.



He recalled how then President John Evans Attah Mills would reject his travelling allowances, telling him that the country is being built for the younger generation.



He is a man that I can tell you that up until now, I have never known any human being like him. His love for country, his integrity, he does not want anything. We are traveling and he rejects his per diem. He will always tell the young men that we are building this country for you. I didnt know he will be called soon. He left such a lasting impression on me that I will never ever forget, no wonder I named my son after him. I hope he grows to become like the good old Prof.



I am still emotionally attached to Prof. He wouldnt do all the things they say about him. I know him, his kind of integrity, his high level of morality, a good man, a God-fearing man that is what propelled me to fiercely resist the attacks on him.

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu also recalled how he initially declined the offer to be a deputy Minister, but was later helped through the position by bigwigs in the party including Professor Ato Ahwoi and Mr. Totobi Kwakye.



Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also spoke about Mr. Rawlings tagging of some young appointees in the Mahama government as babies with sharp teeth.



Founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jerry John Rawlings in 2012, challenged then President John Dramani Mahama to throw out of his government some individuals he (Rawlings) describes as babies with sharp teeth.



According to Mr. Ablakwa, Ex-President Rawlings acted the way he did because he felt he had insulted Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, but that was not the case.



Mr. Ablakwa however explained that he is on good terms with Former President Rawlings and they have met few times to brood over some important matters.



I am not one to use insults and be disrespectful of adults, Rawlings did not mention names but over the period, that name was associated to me. I accept it. But I am happy that we do get along now and I do meet him. He has invited me a couple of times.





Source: Citi TV









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The Duchess of Sussex is being talked about because of the see-through skirt she wore out for one of her official engagements yesterday.



Meghan Markle is currently with her husband on an official visit to Australia, Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga and New Zealand. Yesterday was the 16th and final day of their tour and the Duchess suffered a wardrobe malfunction.



She stepped out in a navy blue dress that raised brows and people can't stop talking about it and how inappropriate it is for someone in her position. But some have praised her for pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable in the royal family.







Source: lindaikejisblog









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.

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FILE - In this April 14, 2018, file photo, protesters hold portraits of Jho Low illustrated as a pirate during a protest in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The United States Justice Department on Thursday charged the fugitive Malaysian financier in a money laundering and bribery scheme that pilfered billions of dollars from a Malaysian investment fund created to promote economic development projects in that country. The three-count indictment charges Low Taek Jho, who is also known as Jho Low, with misappropriating money from the state-owned fund and using it for bribes and kickbacks to foreign officials, to pay for luxury real estate, art and jewelry in the United States and to fund Hollywood movies, including "The Wolf of Wall Street." (AP Photo/Sadiq Asyraf, File)
How to choose the best writing service, when you are searching on the Internet: Who can do my assignment for me in the UK?

The world of internet has given us many facilities to help accomplish our goals. Among them are writing services offered by essay companies. Many students have for one or two reasons failed to complete their assignments on time. Failure to complete assignments attracts penalties. Sometimes a student gets disqualified. Lack of content is the other monster apart from time. Some students have all the time that is required, but they are unable to tackle the given topics. You can imagine working on a project that requires skills you dont have. You will either try to work it out and end up with a poorly done project or hire a professional to help you.

Assignment helping

The need for assignment help for many students has led to the establishment of several online assignment help companies. Accessing these companies is very easy. Most of them are there for you 24 hours a day. The biggest question is how you can be able to choose the best among the many companies. Has to do my assignment for me in UK been your google top search, this article dedicated to you. There are factors you should consider when looking for assignment help. In this article, we will answer this giant question How to choose the best writing company.

1. Quality paper and 0% plagiarism

Examiners give assignments to evaluate your skills. They expect you to do research but not to copy. Some companies despite offering quality papers they resale their papers. For quality and plagiarism papers go for Edubirdie UK. The company guarantees clients that papers given to them have never been published on the internet. The company has got professional writers who are Ph.D. holders in different fields but have dedicated their knowledge and intelligence to help students.

2. Timely delivery

Time is the most limited resource when youre busy with other things you may not have time to do your assignments. It is embarrassing to hire someone who cannot keep time. You should avoid companies that arent able to provide the paper on time. Visit UK Edubirdie, and you will have your assignments done on time. Time is one of the key things the company values.

3. Affordability

Cheap is not always the best, but youre a student. Youre surviving on someones account. You dont have that many funds to afford expensive services. Youre not earning. Look for a budget-friendly company. Some companies like Edubirdie UK allows you to make an order with zero deposits. Youre only required to make payment after youre satisfied with the paper.

4. Reviews

Good companies will allow you to view their writers rating and reviews from their clients. Before hiring a writer go through his or her profile. Read his or her reviews to know whether he can make a professional paper that will attract good grades. Never go for a company that doesnt allow you to view their writers profile.

5. 24-hour customer support

As a student, you want to contact your writer now and them to give further details and clarification. In some companies, youre not able to communicate with the writer working on your paper. Some use automated systems to fool clients. In Edubirdie UK youre able to choose your writer and communicate with him or her. Edubirdie has customer care staffs to help you when youre stuck.

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A San Francisco paramedic and a police officer have lost their jobs after an alleged assault in May 2017 on a woman who was restrained in the back of an ambulance on an involuntary mental health hold, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Paramedic Raymond Lee resigned from the San Francisco Fire Department on Friday after being criminally charged earlier this year for allegedly grabbing the victims throat while she was restrained and sedated, officials said.

Officer Michael Filamorewho was accused of violating protocol by muting his body-worn camera during the incidentwas fired by the department.

The womans family has filed a civil lawsuit against the city and police department.
Police in France arrested more than 100 people after gangs of masked youths stormed through Paris suburbs, following a message on social media calling for a 'purge' against police, according to Reuters.

Authorities said the riots were stoked by messages circulated on social media, apparently inspired by the Hollywood horror film franchise "The Purge"which depicts a violent dystopia in which all crimes are made legal for a day.

A man who wrote a message on the social media site Snapchat calling for the "purge" against police forces was arrested earlier this week.
Two officers with the Springfield (MA) Police Department have been accused of using excessive force while arresting two teens of Latino heritage, with one of the officers saying at the time of the arrest, "welcome to the white man's world," according to the Associated Press.

Springfield police Officer Gregg Bigda and former detective Steven Vignault pleaded not guilty during an initial court appearance Wednesday, hours after they were arrested. A judge released both men without bail.

Bigda served a 60-day suspension in connection with the February 2016 incident. Vigneault has since retired from the force.
Oklahoma deputy Kyle Turner jumped over downed live power wires to rescue a man from a burning car.

Cleveland County, OK, Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Turner has been nominated for HAIX Hero of the Month for his daring rescue of a man trapped in a burning car.

On the night of Oct. 3, 2018, a 2008 Chevy Cobalt 2-Door Sport went off the road in rural Cleveland County, took out two power poles, and dropped the power lines. Turner, who is a patrol deputy and a volunteer firefighter for Cedar County Volunteer Fire when not on duty, received an alert about the crash while he was returning from a hunting trip. First on the scene, Turner saw the car was on fire and power lines were down. I could hear somebody yelling for help, he said.

Turner pulled on his firefighter gear due to the extreme heat and jumped over downed power lines to pull the man out of the immediate danger zone. The man suffered injuries to his legs and could not walk. Turner said he wasnt thinking about the danger at the time.

All I knew was a man needed help and if I didnt help him, he might not be here today, Turner said. I believe God put me where I was that night on purpose.

Master Sgt. Brandon Dominic and Deputy Chazdon Anderson arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and helped Turner pull the man the rest of the way to safety. Turner said the rescue was truly a team effort due to the mans size and the number of downed power lines.

All the deputies involved risked their lives due to the downed power lines, Patrol Supervisor Lt. Michael Russell said. The power lines were arcing long after the accident while we waited for electric crews to arrive. I thank God that they (deputies) were being watched over and kept safe. The intense heat and the mans size were big challenges that Deputy Turner overcame. Deputy Turner never gave up the fight to save that man's life. I know, without a doubt, the victim was only moments from death when our deputies arrived.

The mans family later contacted the Cleveland County SO to thank the deputies and let them know the man was doing well.

To vote for Deputy Turner as HAIX Hero of the Month, give him a "like" on the POLICE Magazine Facebook page.

The winner of HAIX Hero of the Month for October will be the officer receiving the most "likes." The winner will be named next week and will receive a pair of boots from HAIX.
An officer with the Dallas (NC) Police Department was reportedly killed Thursday morning when he ran off the road and struck a tree in a single-vehicle accident, according to the Gaston Gazette.

The officer, identified as Cpl. Travis Wells of Kings Mountain, had been on the force for 22 years, according to Dallas Police Chief Allen Scott.

Troopers say the officer was on duty at the time of the crash but was not responding to a call for service.

Scott said Wells was 46 and is survived by his spouse. He did not have any children.
Telit, a global enabler of the Internet of Things (IoT), has announced that its LM960 PCI Express Mini Card (mPCIe) is the industry's first Gigabit LTE module to go through FirstNet review for use by the ecosystem. Joining the FirstNet lineup is the latest milestone in Telit's commitment to providing the first responder community with solutions and support for potentially lifesaving applications.

According to the company, Telit's LM960 is the world's first full industrial-grade, Cat 18 mPCIe module, a form factor that's compatible with a wide variety of first responder devices, such as gateways and network routers inside fire trucks, ambulances and other first responder vehicles. The LM960 remains the only module in the industry with 4x4 MIMO antennas, non-contiguous uplink carrier aggregation and 256 QAM high-order downlink modulation. It supports multiple satellite location technologies, including GPS. In addition to Band 14, the LM960 operates all other cellular bands used by FirstNet to provide first responders with maximum connection reliability anywhere in the country.

The LM960 has LTE Advanced Pro Category 18 technology, capable of 1.2 Gbps download and 150 Mbps upload speeds ideal for bandwidth-intensive public safety applications, such as live streaming, high-definition video and first responder vehicular routers.

"The LM960 is the world's first Gigabit LTE module, the first Gigabit LTE module certified for use on the first broadband network designed specifically for public safety," said Yossi Moscovitz, president of products and solutions, Telit. "These are all milestones in Telit's commitment to providing first responders with the ultra-fast, reliable, proven LTE technology they need to protect and serve America."

"After a product goes through FirstNet review, you can be confident as a first responder that the device meets our highest standards for reliability, security and performance," said Bob Sloan, Chief Operating Officer, AT&T, FirstNet Program. "We welcome Telit and the LM960 module to the FirstNet ecosystem."

On October 24 in Tampa, Florida, Telit and AT&T participated in "Cellular at the Center of New Generation of Emergency Responder Communications," a panel at Smart Cities Connect Fall Conference and Expo. This panel builds on an August 23 Telit-AT&T webinar, "How Hardware Affects Service and Coverage for First Responder Communications." These eventsalong with Telit's U.S.-based support organizationdemonstrate Telit's ability to meet the first responder community's unique requirements.

The LM960 is a sibling product of, and compatible with, the LM940. This enables OEMs to create new first responder solutions based on their LM940 designs. For more information about the LM940 and other Telit broadband solutions, visit http://info.telit.com/mobilebroadband.

The LM960 is a component module which requires an end-user device to utilize it. All future end-user (OEM) devices will and must go through FirstNet approval prior to being allowed onto FirstNet.

For more information, visit http://info.telit.com/public-safety.
MUMBAI, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Akshita Gandhi, artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur has been invited to showcase her work at two very prestigious platforms in the UAE - the Global Art Awards and the Grand Prix at Abu Dhabi.

The artist has been selected as a finalist for the eminent; Best Global Artist of the Year; award in the mixed media category, for the Global Art Awards. This important event on Dubai's art calendar will be held at the elegant Palm Jumeirah Hotel, an event attended by internationally acclaimed artists, critics, and media with the royal family as Guests of Honour. Akshita's work, Painfully Concealed Silence, is an artistic representation of the chaos within, will be exhibited as part of the 20 artworks selected from several hundred submissions from around the world.

The awards are created to honour and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of artists, galleries, and art professionals worldwide. Amongst the judging panel for the prestigious accolades are art moguls, business leaders and industry experts such as Mr. Sina Fattahi, Executive Board Member of Royal Front; acknowledged art collector Dr. Farzam Kamalabadi, President & Chairman of the Board, Future Trends Group and many more.

Further charming the UAE with her art, Akshita Gandhi has been invited to showcase her painting at the splendid Viceroy Yas, Abu Dhabi from 23rd to 25th November, as part of an art showcase around the Grand Prix, and event that will be attended by global media, celebrities and many more. Her painting The Enchanted Realm of Roald Dahl at the exhibit is a photograph of the mundane and our everyday lives. The strokes of neon, metallic gold and silver represent enchantment; for the viewer to slip into another realm and hope that the blurred line between reality and fantasy inspires the viewer to believe in magic again. The exclusive art exhibition hosted by The Rich List Group will take place during the Formula 1 weekend. The exhibit gives F1 aficionados and Rich List members the opportunity to invest into a selection of great art while giving art collectors a spectacular one-of-a-kind platform to make unique connections, and opportunities to add curated art to their collections.

The young artist, Akshita Gandhi, who studied in Dubai, says, "I have spent a great amount of time in the UAE, and am delighted that my art gives me the opportunity to visit again. I am very honoured to be amongst an elite list of talent at the prestigious Global Art Awards and to showcase my work to connoisseurs of art at the Grand Prix exhibit. Being a part of these exhibits is an encouraging validation that my art transcends cultures and holds appeal across borders."

A firm believer in giving back to society, Akshita founded the Dua Foundation, a social enterprise that aims to empower vulnerable members of the society by providing them a platform, which will enable them to gain financial independence via their art and craft skills. Proceeds from her sales go towards the work of the foundation.

About Akshita Gandhi:

Akshita Gandhi is an artist, a young business leader, and a philanthropist. She believes her art inherently complements her work as a Director on the Board of the SKIL Group with independent responsibilities to deliver projects and profitability in business. A firm believer in giving back to society, she recently founded the Dua Foundation, a social enterprise that aims to empower vulnerable members of the society by providing them a platform, which will enable them to gain financial independence via their art and craft skills.

Media Contact:

Insiya Japanwala

[email protected]

+91-8879462181

Public Relations Executive

Criesse Communications Private Limited



SOURCE Akshita Gandhi
MUMBAI, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

ASCENT Conclave 2018 is a flagship event of ASCENT Foundation, which brings together India's most inspiring Business Leaders, Industrialists and Innovative Entrepreneurs on one platform

ASCENT Foundation, a not-for-profit, peer-to-peer learning platform for entrepreneurs founded by Harsh Mariwala (Chairman, Marico Ltd.), is hosting its third edition of ASCENT Conclave, scheduled on Thursday, November 22, 2018 at St. Regis, Mumbai. This year's theme, 'Beyond the Conversation', will focus on ways to enhance the holistic development of an entrepreneur in order to spur their professional growth.

Held annually, the ASCENT Conclave brings together an eclectic set of established business leaders under a single roof for a day-long interactive engagement program. The Conclave has been unique for its curated sessions of these 'Thought Leaders' sharing their entrepreneurial ideas, struggles, journeys and insights. The Conclave also serves as a networking platform for over 500 like-minded entrepreneurs to engage and collaborate with some of India's leading industry experts.

The year's event will bring together eminent leaders such as Harsh Mariwala (Founder - ASCENT Foundation and Chairman Marico Ltd.), Rajiv Bajaj (MD - Bajaj Auto), Kishore Biyani (Group CEO - Future Group and Managing Director - Pantaloon Retail), Karan Johar (Managing Director - Dharma Productions), Sangita Reddy (Joint Managing Director - Apollo Hospitals Group), Ananth Narayanan (CEO - Myntra and Jabong), PC Musthafa (CEO and Co-founder - iD Fresh Food), Lavanya Nalli (Vice-Chairperson - Nalli Silk Sarees Pvt. Ltd.), Milind Soman (Director - Maximus MICE & Media Solutions), Harshwardhan Zala, (Founder & CEO - Aerobotics7), Nicolas Dumoulin (Managing Director - Michael Page India) and Gauranga Das (ISKCON Monk) who will come together to share their journeys - hits and misses and how they have focused on personal development for their professional growth. This year, IIFL Wealth Management Ltd. has collaborated with ASCENT Foundation as the Lead Partner at ASCENT Conclave 2018.

The Conclave will also include different session formats that will be moderated by Govindraj Ethiraj (Director - Ping Digital Broadcast & IndiaSpend), Menaka Doshi (Managing Editor - BloombergQuint), Prabir Jha (President and Global Chief People Officer - Cipla Inc.) and Malishka Mendonsa (Radio Jockey - RED FM). The Conclave will also host a special YourStory Panel moderated by Shradha Sharma (Founder & CEO - YourStory) to capture the entrepreneurial journeys of young child prodigy Harshwardhan Zala, (Founder & CEO - Aerobotics7), Milind Soman (Director - Maximus MICE & Media Solutions) and Gauranga Das (ISKCON Monk).

The event will include a keynote speech by Rajiv Bajaj, who will elucidate on how, based on his own journey, entrepreneurs can leapfrog towards building billion-dollar enterprises. Entrepreneurs will also gain valuable insights from the unique session formats on various themes such as the importance of brand building, scaling of businesses amidst challenges, people management and working towards effective leadership. For entrepreneurs who wish to purchase passes to attend the Conclave or to know more, please visit: http://www.ascentfoundation.in/conclave2018/.

Harsh Mariwala, Founder, ASCENT Foundation and Chairman, Marico Ltd. says, "The third edition of the ASCENT Conclave promises to be bigger and better. While keeping with the spirit of celebrating entrepreneurship, this year, we want to highlight the importance of holistic development. The Conclave will gather Thought Leaders and innovators from various walks of life with conversations which will empower, inspire and add immense value to entrepreneurial excellence."

Sandeep Jethwani, Managing Partner, IIFL Wealth Management Ltd. added, "We are pleased to be associated with the ASCENT Conclave 2018. This confluence of thought leaders will bring to the fore real-life experiences in the space of innovation, business, entrepreneurship and investments. In less than a decade, IIFL Wealth has catapulted itself from an early stage entrepreneurial venture, into a leading wealth and asset management firm and we understand the needs and aspirations of entrepreneurs. We look forward to partnering with the ASCENT Foundation in this meeting of great minds and look to engage with participants 'Beyond the Conversation'."

The previous ASCENT Conclave has witnessed marquee business leaders inspire and encourage growth-ready entrepreneurs. The past Conclaves include speakers such as Sajjan Jindal (Chairman - JSW Group), Uday Kotak (Executive Vice-Chairman & Managing Director - Kotak Mahindra Bank), Ronnie Screwvala (Founder - Unilazer Ventures and Swades Foundation), Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Founder - PayTM), Sandeep Singhal (Co-founder - Nexus Venture Partners), Ameera Shah (Managing Director, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd), Kunwer Sachdev (Managing Director and Founder - Su-Kam), Siddharth Roy Kapur (Erstwhile Managing Director - The Walt Disney Company India, Current President - Film and Television Producers Guild of India), Tanmay Bhat (Co-Founder - All India Bakchod), Vineet Rai (Co-Founder and Chairman - Aavishkaar and Intellecap Group),Falguni Nayar (Founder - Nykaa), Ashish Hemrajani (CEO - BookMyShow), Neeraj Kakkar (CEO - Hector Beverages) and Prasoon Joshi (CEO - McCann World Group India and Chairman - McCann Asia Pacific) amongst many others.

About ASCENT:

ASCENT is a not-for-profit expression of Harsh Mariwala (Chairman - Marico Ltd. and Founder - ASCENT Foundation) and his passion to identify high-potential growth-ready entrepreneurs and enable them to grow their enterprise. Launched in 2012, ASCENT is designed as a unique, powerful peer-to-peer platform that leverages the 'power of collective' through self-facilitated Trust Groups and enables entrepreneurs to share and exchange experiences, ideas, insights and create a healthy ecosystem to learn from each other. Additionally, ASCENT provides peripheral access to relevant growth enablers like service providers, investors and banks, industry role models and domain experts. ASCENT has selected over 400 entrepreneurs as members (from more than 1300 applications received) who are part of 34 operational Trust Groups in Mumbai and Chennai. The platform consists of a diverse range of entrepreneurs with a 50-50 split between Manufacturing and Services Industries; 44% Family Businesses; 10% Women Entrepreneurs and in all about 65+ diverse industries represented. The aggregate annual revenue of the ASCENT members is more than Rs. 18,000 crores with individual member turnover ranging from Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 2000+ crores. For more details please visit: http://www.ascentfoundation.in/.

Media Contacts:

Bhakti Dalal,

BDCC,

[email protected]

+91-9819118807



Shivani Divecha

[email protected]

+91-9821879331

Manager ASCENT

ASCENT Foundation



SOURCE ASCENT Foundation
IRVING, Texas, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE: DAR) will hold a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 to discuss the Company's third quarter 2018 financial results. The teleconference will begin at 8:30 a.m. ET and will be hosted by Mr. Randall Stuewe, CEO and Chairman of the Board, and Mr. Brad Phillips, EVP and Chief Financial Officer. Additionally, the Company will have a slide presentation available to augment management's formal presentation, which will be accessible via the investor relations section of the Company's website. The related press release will be issued after the market closes on November 6, 2018.

Due to historically high call volume, the company is offering participants the opportunity to register in advance for the conference through the following link: http://dpregister.com/10125255

Registered participants will receive an email with a calendar reminder and a dial-in number and PIN that will allow them immediate access to the call on November 7, 2018.

Participants who do not wish to pre-register for the call may dial in using 844-868-8847 (U.S. callers), or 412-317-6593 (international callers), and ask for the "Darling Ingredients" call. A replay will be available two hours after completion of the call through November 15, 2018. To access the replay, please dial 877-344-7529 (U.S. callers), 855-669-9658 (Canada) and 412-317-0088 (international callers) and reference passcode 10125255. The live webcast and archived replay also can be accessed on the Company's web site at http://ir.darlingii.com.

About Darling

Darling Ingredients Inc. is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a wide range of ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy and fertilizer industries. With operations on five continents, the Company collects and transforms all aspects of animal by-product streams into useable and specialty ingredients, such as gelatin, edible fats, feed-grade fats, animal proteins and meals, plasma, pet food ingredients, organic fertilizers, yellow grease, fuel feedstocks, green energy, natural casings and hides. The Company also recovers and converts recycled oils (used cooking oil and animal fats) into valuable feed and fuel ingredients and collects and processes residual bakery products into feed ingredients. In addition, the Company provides environmental services, such as grease trap collection and disposal services to food service establishments and disposal services for waste solids from the wastewater treatment systems of industrial food processing plants. The Company sells its products domestically and internationally and operates within three industry segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients. For additional information, visit the Company's website at http://www.darlingii.com.

For More Information, contact:

Melissa A. Gaither, VP Investor Relations 251 O'Connor Ridge Blvd., Suite 300 & Global Communications Irving, Texas 75038

Phone: 972-717-0300

Related Links

http://www.darlingii.com



SOURCE Darling Ingredients Inc.
ADELAIDE, Australia, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) today announced the launch of its new Fleet Management solution, Mitsubishi Motors Fleet iQ.

Mitsubishi Motors Fleet iQ is designed to offer Mitsubishi's fleet customers an array of services and solutions that enhance mobile resource visibility, safety, and uptime, while reducing total cost of ownership. Mitsubishi Motors Fleet iQ will harness Fleet Complete's CONNVEX, a cloud-based data analytics platform for connected vehicles, to create customizable solutions that are aimed at maximizing fleet efficiency and effectiveness.

Mitsubishi Motors Fleet iQ will provide customers with insights into several areas of their vehicle operations, including the ability to monitor driver behaviour such as speeding, idling, rapid acceleration, harsh braking and cornering. The devices will transmit real-time vehicle location data, monitor fuel usage, idle time, and report on vehicle diagnostics. This allows for a deeper understanding of how their fleet vehicles are used and, ultimately, how they can be used to reduce operating cost while maximizing revenue generation opportunities.

The launch of Mitsubishi Motors Fleet iQ will provide customers with the unique ability to have their vehicles connected with a fleet management solution before they hit the road for the first time. This model will help encourage the adoption of this technology by providing companies with an efficient way to connect their vehicles, while avoiding the associated financial and productivity costs grounding their fleet.

"The introduction of our connected fleet vehicle solution is an exciting step forward as we differentiate our fleet proposition to deliver concrete, actionable insights into our customer's fleet operations with the aim to improve fleet effectiveness and returns. We have the ability to provide better service to fleet customers, through a heightened level of business insights and data collection - and in turn drive both value and vehicle sales in the fleet sector," said Fulvio Fattore, Head of Fleet for Mitsubishi Motors Australia.

"We are excited to join forces with Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited. This partnership will fast-track the availability of connected fleet management solutions to businesses across Australia, and we have joined forces with Mitsubishi, knowing that they offer fleet solutions to businesses of all sizes, and all requirements," said Tony Lourakis, CEO of Fleet Complete.

"Through leveraging our CONNVEX connected vehicle infrastructure, we are confident this partnership will enable Mitsubishi to provide a cost-effective fleet solution, helping their fleet customers throughout Australia thrive."

For more information please visit mitsubishi-motors.com.au/fleet/fleet-iq

About Mitsubishi Motors Corporation

Mitsubishi Motors is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has a competitive edge in SUVs and pickup trucks, electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company launched i-MiEV - the first mass-produced electric vehicle - in 2009, which was followed with Outlander PHEV in 2013 - the plug-in hybrid market leader in Japan and Europe. Mitsubishi has 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, China, Indonesia, The Philippines and Russia. Models such as the Pajero Sport, Triton, ASX and Outlander play a major role in achieving its growth. The global sales volume in fiscal year 2017 was 1,101,000 units, and the net sales of Mitsubishi Motors for fiscal year 2017 was 2.19 trillion yen.

About Fleet Complete Fleet Complete is a leading global provider of connected vehicle technology, delivering mission-critical fleet, asset and mobile workforce management solutions. The company is servicing approximately 500,000 subscribers and over 30,000 businesses in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It maintains key distribution partnerships with AT&T in the U.S., TELUS in Canada, Telstra in Australia, and Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile) in multiple European countries. It remains one of the fastest-growing companies globally, having won numerous awards for innovation and growth. For more information, please visit fleetcomplete.com

Media contact: David Prusinski, EVP, Sales and Marketing, Fleet Complete, david.prusinski@fleetcomplete.com, marketing@fleetcomplete.com

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Two defendants in Kemerovo mall bribery case detained, one more arrested in absentia

 Imago/TASS

15:59 01/11/2018

MOSCOW, November 1 (RAPSI)  The Central District Court of Kemerovo on Thursday ordered detention of two defendants in a case over bribery during reconstruction of Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping malls building, that became a site of deadly fire in March 2018, and issued an arrest warrant for another one in absentia, the courts press service told RAPSI.

Thus, Nikita Cherednichenko, CEO of ISK Resource company, and Eduard Komkov, the son of the regional construction inspections chief Tanzilia Komkova charged with abuse of office, will be placed in jail until December 25. They are accused of taking a large-scale bribe.

CEO of Kemerovo confectionery factory Vyacheslav Vishnevsky charged with giving a bribe is to be detained for 2 months after his extradition or arrest in Russia. According to investigators, he left Russia in 2016.

According to investigators, in 2013-2014, Vishnevsky through an intermediary gave a 7-million-ruble bribe ($107,000) to Komkova, her son Eduard and Cherednichenko. The bribe was designated for help in favor of Vishnevsky.

The fire occurred in the mall on March 25. According to investigators, 60 people including dozens of children were killed by fire.

A criminal case was opened over negligent homicide, fire safety breach resulted in multiple deaths, provision of substandard services and negligence. By now, final charges are brought against 7 of 12 defendants in the blaze case. They are studying case materials. Investigation into the others is ongoing.
On October 25, the government issued an ordinance on the denotification. Earlier, in July 2016, it had denotified fruits and vegetables, thereby allowing farmers to sell these to buyers within or outside APMC yards, as they chose

The Maharashtra governments decision to denotify all agricultural commodities from the official wholesale markets (mandis) has met with protest from traders in the state.

Denotification means these products are free from the earlier compulsion to have their trade only at these sites.

The state government charges a 1 per cent service tax at these APMC (Agricultural Produce Markets Committee) yards. All buyers, sellers, commission agents, transporters and other intermediaries are registered with the APMC.

On October 25, the government issued an ordinance on the denotification.

Earlier, in July 2016, it had denotified fruit and vegetables, thereby allowing farmers to sell these to buyers within or outside APMC yards, as they chose.

Traders within the APMC would not be able to compete with their counterparts outside the mandi, due to the one per cent service charge.

"We are in talks with the government, to reconsider the decision, said Mohan Gurnani, president of the Federation of Associations of Maharashtra, a body representing the trade, transport and related segments.

While announcing the decision, state agriculture and marketing development minister Sadabhau Khot said, There will be no revenue loss to the government. Market committees would continue to function.

The state government had in the past shifted the APMC here to Navi Mumbai.

We helped the government in decongestion of the city  all traders and their business units shifted.

"The denotification would make commodities cheaper outside the mandis, said Gurnani.

Traders might face problems in payment. While farmers might see buyers running out after taking inventory, sellers might witness payment defaults outside the APMC yards.

"For a nominal fee, the APMC works smoothly, in a transparent manner, said Deepak Vijaykar, secretary of the APMC at Amravati.

Farmers and traders would continue to bring their agri produce to mandis.

"There is a different trading environment within mandis, which will not be available outside, said a more optimistic Krishnat Patil, president of the APMC at Kolhapur.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters
In a Sri Lankan House of 225 members, the cut-off figure comes to 113. With Wickremesinghe side touching 102 and Rajapaksas team at 101, the three-party Tamil National Alliance with 16 members and the left-leaning Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna with 6 members hold the key.

But with the latter declaring that they will not support either formation in a vote count,that leaves the TNA as the deciding factor, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

IMAGE: Ousted Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte / Reuters

The continuing democracy-deficiency discourse notwithstanding, in the evolving political situation facing neighbouring Sri Lanka, the 16-MP Tamil National Alliance may be holding the key just now.

This comes in the footsteps of the historic elections 2015 which incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa lost to rebel Maithripala Sirisena, as minority Tamils, Muslims and Upcountry Tamils of recent Indian origin (all three considered separate ethnicities alongside majority Sinhala-Buddhists) voted almost en masse for the latter.

Northing explains the electoral hold of the 20-25 per cent minority voters in the country than the way Rajapaksa readily conceded defeat once the final results from the Tamil majority Northern Province and multi-ethnic Eastern Province, where again the minorities hold a two-thirds sway, were known before crack of dawn on January 9, 2015, about 12 hours after voting ended. The final polling figures from the seven Sinhala-majority provinces would come only another 12 hours later, but the Tamil-Muslim minority mood had sealed the electoral fate of Rajapaksa and in a way that of the presidential polls, too, then.

Today, when the die seems to be cast in favour of sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party, the Sri Lankan GOP, figures however tell a different, touch-and-go story. This is despite the massive demonstration that the UNP organised, protesting against President Sirisenas massacre of democracy, in the national capital of Colombo, on Tuesday.

The constitutional coup of last Friday evening saw Wickremesinghe being replaced by former president Rajapaksa, as prime minister -- Sri Lankas very own Vladimir Putin in the making, moving from one constitutional position to another but keeping power and votes intact.

At the end of the day, the current constitutional crisis has to find a resolution only in Parliament, where the odds are equally-placed, or at least seemingly so. Wickremesinghe has a point that the issue has to be finally settled in Parliament, but then his reluctance to move the Supreme Court has also lent greater credence that the president had the power to sack him, at least under the original Sinhala version of the tri-lingual constitution, an area that elitist UNP drafters seemed to have ignored or overlooked in the formulation of the crucial 19th Amendment after the duo came to power in 2015.

Otherwise, in a House of 225 members, including Wickremesinghes UNP Speaker Karu Jayasurya, the cut-off figure comes to 113. At present the three-party TNA with 16 members and the left-leaning Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) hold the key, as these are the only two parties/groups that have not identified with either of the two stake-holders.

The JVP has six members in Parliament, and the party has declared that they will not support either Wickremesinghe or Rajapaksa in a vote count in the House, whenever and however held. That leaves the TNA as the decisive and deciding factor, if the alliance could stay together, as it has been thus far -- despite on-again-of-again internal squabble.

Figures speak for themselves. In Parliament, Wickremesinghes UNP has 87 members. He also has the re-assured and continuing support of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress with seven members; the All-Ceylon Makkal Congresss (earlier All-Ceylon Muslim Congress) five; the Tamil Progressive Alliance of some Upcountry Tamil parties, six; and the centre-right Sinhala Buddhist-nationalist Jathika Hela Uramaya (JHU), two. The total adds up to 102, including the speaker, 11 short of the magic figure of 113.

Against this, the Rajapaksa team starts with his original strength of 62 MPs from the breakaway SLFP-UPFA, otherwise known as the SLPP-JO. He now has the backing of Sirisena-led parent SLFP-UPFA,s 33. An anti-LTTE Sri Lankan Tamil party, namely, the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party of former Minister Douglas Devananda (one), and five defectors from the Wickremesinghe camp, of whom at least four of have been sworn in as ministers, are also on the Rajapaksa side. The defectors include at least two parties representing Upcountry Tamils, or Indian Origin Tamils (IOT). The Rajapaksa total adds up to 101, only one short of Wickremesinghes, but neither can touch the base-line, as yet.

Sri Lanka does not have an anti-defection law, and all those talking democracy in that country and for that country have never encouraged a law of the kind, which has done some good in and for larger neighbour, India, the worlds largest democracy. Even as the nation is engaged in an unproductive exercise of formulating a new constitution, no party or leader has even remotely talked about the urgent need for an anti-defection law in Sri Lanka. They are not expected to do so any time soon either.

It is not without reason. Under the 1978 constitution, which introduced the controversial proportional representation scheme for parliamentary and provincial council elections, akin to those for Indian states but with powers equivalent to that of Indias Union territories, no party is expected to sweep the polls. It has always been a coalition that has won parliamentary polls. The president is elected through direct elections, but given the numbers game that is evenly packed in the Sinhala majority constituency, the minorities count even more than is readily acknowledged.

It is in this context that the absence of an anti-defection law is keenly felt. Barring the out-going Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition of inconvenience , almost every other ruling combine has survived and grown in strength only by encouraging post-poll defections, at times of individuals but mostly of smaller parties, especially of two of the three ethnic minority communities, namely Muslims and Upcountry Tamils. The hard-core Sri Lankan Tamil community and their TNA, and its predecessors, had often survived such an onslaught, from time to time.

In the unveiling scenario, the Wickremesinghe camp has 102 MPs and Rajapaksa, 101. With the six-member JVP declaring its neutrality in vote, the required number for a majority comes down from 113 to 110, excluding the speaker with his casting vote in times of a tie. In the past, including the post-war 2010 parliamentary polls, some of the Muslim parties that had won in the UNPs company, casually walked over to the Rajapaksa side, on the permissible, specious plea that they could serve their constituency interests only that way.

If not as yet this time, the tendency is also for the leaderships of some of many of the minor parties to yield to pressure from their constituencies and/or to that of their MPs, many of whom felt deprived by a high-handed Wickremesinghe when he was prime minister until last week.

Even more is the tendency of some UNP back-benchers, who too have been feeling left-out from the partys decision-making process. It is even more so in the case of many aspirant, second-line leaders waiting to draw out the daggers for Wickremesinghe, but then the way the Sirisena-Rajapaksa duo did it has forced them to stay together, in the party and for the party -- rather than for the leader. Their unfulfilled leadership aspirations, once the current crisis blows over, should be the deciding factor.

It is in this context that the TNAs 16 MPs become the deciding factor, if it came to that. TNAs Leader of the Opposition, R Sampanthan, has since met with both Wickremesinghe and Rajapaksa. He was also reported to have said soon after the Friday developments that the TNA was not bothered about the intra-Sinhala prime ministerial race, but only about what either of them can promise the larger Tamil community in terms of post-war rehabilitation, power-devolution and political package -- and also the terms of delivery.

The TNA has since clarified that Sampanthans meeting with Rajapaksa bordered on a courtesy call, and did not amount to the alliance recognising his prime ministership. The party said further that the two leaders did not discuss any substantive issue, including the TNA continuing with the status of the Leader of the Opposition in the changed circumstances.

Though the 16-member TNA can make or break a new government in the country, it is still unclear if all 16 MPs would travel together from now on and would vote as the leadership commands. The tendency to believe that none of them would want to be seen as supporting a Rajapaksa dispensation is there, but that does not automatically mean that all of them would rather have Wickremesinghe back and firmly in the saddle. They may just decide to look the other way, individually or collectively.

For the TNA and the Sampanthan leadership, the constitutional crisis could not have come at a worse time. Only a week earlier, the TNAs rebel chief minister of Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran, had walked out, to float the Tamil Peoples Alliance -- which is different from the Tamil Progressive Alliance, another, already existing party of Upcountry Tamils.

The TNA leadership has not had the time to assess the Tamil peoples mood after the Wigneswaran act. Now, one wrong step by the TNA, and hard-liner Wigneswaran could hijack the traditional Tamil constituency, substantially, if not wholesale!

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is Director, Observer Research Foundation, Chennai Chapter.
IMAGE: BJP leader Anil Parihar.

A senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and his brother were shot dead by terrorists in the communally-sensitive Kishtwar district on Thursday night, prompting the Jammu and Kashmir administration to impose curfew and call out the Army as people staged angry protests and started manhandling senior police personnel, officials said.

BJP state secretary Anil Parihar, 52, and his brother Ajeet, 55, were returning home from their shop when they were fired upon from close range at a dark, narrow lane leading to their house, the officials said, adding this was the first such political killing in Jammu region in recent years.

The assailants were apparently waiting for the brothers to return home and used pistols to target them, they said.

They were rushed to a hospital where doctors declared them brought dead, they said.

Immediately after the attack, people started assembling outside the residence of Parihar and refused entry of senior police officers, who were even manhandled.

The mourners refused to hand over the body to police and did not allow them to gather evidence from the Parihar Mohalla where the two brothers were shot dead.

Kishtwar district magistrate A S Rana made a request to call out the Army in the town and its adjoining areas to control the internal security situation arisen due to 'assassination of Anil Parihar and Ajeet Praihar by some militants'.

Rana took the decision as he apprehended that violence might erupt and thus result in law and order problem, endangering life and property of citizens of Kistwar town.

Police had announced curfew in Kishtwar, Doda and Baderwah, besides imposing prohibitory orders, banning assembly of more than four people in Ramban, Banihal, Poonch, Kathua, Rajouri and upper reaches of Gool Gulabgarh.

Kishtwar is communally sensitive and the district had witnessed communal clashes in the past as well. The recent one was in August 2013.

Terrorists have in the past attempted to create communal tension in the region by targeting Hindu community, especially in higher reaches. In 2001, the terrorists killed 17 Hindu nomads.

The killings of Parihar brothers drew severe condemnation from all quarters.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed shock and pain over the killings, saying the police will leave no stone unturned to bring perpetrators of the crime to justice.

'Shocked and pained by the killing of J&K State BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother. My heart goes out to the bereaved family,' he said in a tweet.

The home minister also spoke to K Vijay Kumar, the advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor, and took stock of the incident.

'Spoke to Advisor to J&K Governor, Sh Vijay Kumar regarding the incident. The police will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice,' he said.

BJP president Amit Shah said the attack was 'a cowardly act that shames humanity'.

'Just got the tragic news of killing of Shri Anil Parihar, Secretary @BJP4JnK, and his brother by terrorists in Kishtwar. This is a cowardly act that shames humanity. I grieve the death of my valued colleague and pray that God gives his family strength to bear this untimely loss,' Shah tweeted.

In a tweet, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it was a 'very sad news' and offered condolences to the families of Parihar brothers.

'Very sad news. My condolences to Anil & Ajit Parihar's family & colleagues. May their souls rest in peace,' he said.

BJP general secretary Ashok Koul condemned the attack and called for punishment to the culprits involved in it.

Communist Party of India-Marxist MLA M Y Tarigami and state Congress president Gulam Ahmed Mir also condemned the killings of the BJP leader and his brother.

Mir termed the attack "barbaric and unfortunate" and pointed towards the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

National Conference's Jammu province chief Devender Rana strongly condemned the killings as 'barbaric, inhuman and most unfortunate'.

"Violence has no place in a civilised society," Rana said and hoped that the people will unitedly face the challenge posed by elements inimical to peace and tranquillity.
Three members of a family were among five people shot dead by suspected United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent men while two others were injured at Kheroni in Assam's Tinsukia district on Thursday night, police said.

A group of assailants with sophisticated weapons came to Kheronibari village near Dhola-Sadiya bridge and called out five-six people from their house around 8 pm, they said.

They then opened indiscriminate fire upon those people before fleeing under the cover of darkness, a police officer said.

Police suspect the gunmen belonged to the ULFA-Independent faction as they were in battle fatigue.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal condemned "the killing of innocent people" and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families.

"Strong action will be taken against the perpetrators of this dastardly violence. We will not tolerate such cowardly act," he said.

Sonowal said he has directed state ministers Keshav Mahanta and Tapan Gogoi along with DGP Kuladhar Saikia to rush to the spot.

"We will not spare the culprits of the killings and they will be brought to book," he said.

The chief minister appealed to the people of Assam to maintain peace and harmony.

He also directed all deputy commissioners and SPs to remain alert.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep anguish over the killings, saying strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

Singh also spoke to Sonowal and took stock of the situation.

"Deeply anguished by civilian casualties in an attack in Upper Assam region. It is a reprehensible act of mindless violence. Spoke to Assam CM Shri @sarbanandsonwal regarding the incident and asked him to take strict possible action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime," he said.

According to Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mukdhajyoti Mahanta, the bodies have been taken to the Sadia Civil Hospital for postmortem.

Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, former chief minster Tarun Gogoi, opposition Congress state president Ripun Bora, All India United Democratic Front general secretary Aminul Islam and the Assam Sahitya Sabha were among those who also denounced the incident.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a Twitter post, wondered if the attack was related to developments around the National Register of Citizens.

"Is this the outcome of recent NRC development," she questioned.

Banerjee strongly condemned the incident and offered condolences to the families of the deceased.

"Terrible news coming out of Assam. We strongly condemn the brutal attack in Tinsukia... We have no words to express our deep sorrow to the grieving families. The perpetrators must be punished at the very earliest," she added.
The Supreme Court on Thursday declined urgent hearing on a plea by senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram, who is facing several criminal cases, seeking its permission to go abroad.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said the issue of Karti Chidambaram visiting abroad is not an 'important matter' requiring urgent hearing.

The top court also observed that judges have more cases 'than they can handle'.

"Karti Chidambaram going abroad is not so important that it will get precedent over other (cases)," the bench, also comprising Justices U U Lalit and K M Jospeh, said.

The apex court had allowed Karti Chidambaram to travel to the United Kingdom between September 20 and September 30, despite th Enforcement Directorate's objection that he has been 'blatantly misusing' the liberty granted to him by the court.

The ED had alleged that he has been 'blatantly misusing' the liberty granted by court in allowing him to travel abroad and has been using the same to protract the investigation in the case.

It had said the liberty granted to Karti Chidambaram by the apex court is 'blatantly and brazenly hampering, subverting, jeopardising and protracting' the probe pending against him in the Aircel Maxis case, which the agency has to complete in six months.

The apex court had earlier allowed him to visit the UK, France and the US from July 23 to 31, while making it clear that he has to abide by the conditions imposed by it in an earlier similar order.

Karti has been facing several criminal cases including the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance in the INX-Media case.

In the INX Media case, the CBI had registered an FIR on May 15 last year against alleged irregularities in the FIPB clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when P Chidambaram was the Union finance minister.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court on Thursday extended till November 26 the protection from arrest to Karti and P Chidambaram, in the Aircel-Maxis case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.

Additional Solicitor General Tusshar Mehta, appearing for the CBI and ED, told CBI Special Judge O P Saini, "We have to meet a deadline and he (P Chidambaram) is not cooperating."

He also told the court that the CBI will file its reply to the anticipatory bail application of P Chidambaram on Thursday.

The ED had on Wednesday told the court in New Delhi that custodial interrogation of former Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram was necessary in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case to unravel the truth as he was 'evasive and non-cooperative' in the probe.

"From the conduct of the petitioner, which gets amply demonstrated from the records available, the investigating agency has reached a bona fide conclusion that in the absence of custodial interrogation, it will not be possible to reach the truth of the allegations as the petitioner has chosen to be evasive and non-cooperative," the agency had said.

It had sought custodial interrogation of P Chidambaram on the ground that he has not been cooperating with it in the probe and hence making it difficult complete the investigation in a time-bound manner as directed by the Supreme Court.

The senior Congress leader's role has come under the scanner of investigating agencies in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore.

In its charge sheet filed earlier in the case against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others, the CBI had alleged that Chidambaram had granted an FIPB approval in March, 2006 to Mauritius-based Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of Maxis.

The Maran brothers and the other accused named in the CBI charge sheet were discharged by the special court, which had said the agency had failed to produce any material against them to proceed with the trial.

The ED is also probing a separate money-laundering case in the Aircel-Maxis matter, in which Chidambaram and Karti have been questioned by the agency.
China on Thursday sought to defend the proposed bus service with Pakistan through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, saying its cooperation with Islamabad has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and will not change its principled stance on the Kashmir issue.

India on Wednesday said it has lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan over the proposed bus service between the two countries through PoK under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

India's Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday the bus service will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to reports from Pakistan, the new bus service will be launched between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China via PoK on November 3.

Its launch apparently is coinciding with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's maiden visit to China starting from Friday.

Asked about India's protest, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he was not aware of India's diplomatic protest.

"But on the issue of Kashmir, China's positon is clear cut. We made it clear many times," he said.

China's stand he said is that the 'cooperation between China and Pakistan has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and will not affect China's principled position on Kashmir', he said.

China maintains that the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan through dialogue and consultation.

He defended the $60 billion CPEC, saying that it is an economic cooperation project between China and Pakistan.

"It is not targeted against any third party," he said.

The CPEC involves a host of projects connects China's Xinjiang province with Pakistan's Gwadar port in Balochistan province.
IMAGE: Supporters of Jamiat Talaba Islam, student wing of religious and political party Jamaat-e-Islam, hold signs as they chant slogans after the Supreme Court overturned the conviction of a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy against Islam, during a protest in Karachi, on Thursday. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

Pakistan was tense on Thursday as countrywide protests against the acquittal of a Christian woman sentenced to death for committing blasphemy entered the second day despite Prime Minister Imran Khan's warning to defiant hardliners.

Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours.

She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The Supreme Court overturned the conviction, a landmark verdict on Wednesday that sparked nationwide protests, death threats from hardline groups.

She was set free after the apex court found that the evidence against her was insufficient.

Protestors led by Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan and other groups responded with anger and blocked major highways and roads in different parts of the country.

Traffic officials said major disturbance was witnessed in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad where dozens of protestors were enforcing the blockade of major roads. Traffic was also suspended on major motorways due to the presence of mobs.

The largest province of Punjab, which was suffering major protests, announced to close down schools for a day and also cancelled supplementary examinations of Secondary School Certificate.

Private schools in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces also announced to remain shut. However, educational institutions were open in Islamabad.

Hospitals were on high alert due to fear of clashes as police and paramilitary forces tried to contain the disturbance.

Long queues of traffic were witnessed in Lahore, Islamabad and other cities due to blockade of several major roads.

Mobile phone and internet services were also suspended in different parts of the country.

There was no official word on the plan to clear the mobs but security sources said all options were being considered.

"We are ready to take action and restore the writ of the state," a senior police official told PTI.

Talking tough, Prime Minister Khan Wednesday told hardliners not to 'confront the State' and refrain from vandalism after the Supreme Court acquittal of Bibi.

He addressed the nation through a video message and his address was solely focused on the Asia Bibi verdict.

Bibi was accused of committing blasphemy in 2009. She was convicted in 2010 by a trial court and her death sentence was maintained by the Lahore high court in 2014.

She appealed against the conviction in the Supreme Court, which for the first time heard the case in July 2015.

Bibi's case gained prominence when former governor of Pakistan's Punjab province Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 for supporting her and criticising the blasphemy laws.

A month after Taseer was killed, Pakistan's religious minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian who spoke out against the blasphemy law, was shot dead in Islamabad.

Critics say strict blasphemy laws have often been used to get revenge after personal disputes, and that convictions are based on thin evidence.

Dozens of people have been charged under the laws.

Though Bibi is being released, there is fear that she might be at risk of being attacked by terrorists.

In 2012, around 14 people were killed and scores injured when violent protests broke out over an anti-Islam and blasphemous videos circulated on YouTube.

There are fewer than four million Christians in Pakistan out of a total population of 197 million.

The vast majority of the population is Muslim, with Hindus being the biggest religious minority.
United States Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster on Thursday said President Donald Trump's inability to participate as the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations next year was a 'purely scheduling issue'.

Trump has declined India's invitation to be the chief guest at the parade citing pressing engagements, including his State of The Union address, around the time India will celebrate its Republic Day on January 26.

Asked if Trump declining India's invitation had something to do with India signing a deal with Russia on S-400 missile defence systems, Juster, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi, said, "No, that is a purely scheduling issue."

Earlier this week, a White House spokesperson, when asked about Trump's decision, had said, "President Trump was honoured by Prime Minister Modi's invitation to him to be the chief guest of India's Republic Day on January 26, 2019, but is unable to participate due to scheduling constraints."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited Trump for a visit to India during their talks in Washington in June, 2017.

Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations.

In 2015, the then US president Barack Obama had attended it as the chief guest, which was his second visit to India as the American president.

On whether India will get a waiver from the US on Chabahar amid sanctions on Iran, Juster said, "These are matters that our two governments are discussing and we are working together on that."
Naidu, a former BJP ally, has taken the initiative for a broader opposition unity and met several opposition leaders during his Delhi visit.

IMAGE: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu meets Congress President Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo

Aiming to forge an anti-Bharatiya Janata Party front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met heads of several opposition parties, including Rahul Gandhi, and termed his party's alliance with the Congress a "democratic compulsion" to protect the country.

Addressing a joint press conference, Gandhi and Telugu Desam Party president Naidu said the primary challenge before all the opposition forces was to work together and defend India's institutions and democracy, but they parried queries on who would lead the anti-BJP alliance.

"Everything else is secondary. We will do what is our primary challenge. You are interested in candidates, we are interested in the nation," Gandhi told reporters.

However, Naidu added, "It is a reality you have to understand that the Congress is the main opposition party. All other parties are necessary. So, we will work on these things. Our main motive is save nation."

This is for the first time Naidu met Gandhi since the TDP broke away from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

Gandhi and the TDP leader had shared the dais at the swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in May.

IMAGE: Gandhi along with Naidu addresses the media outside former's residence at Tughlak Road in New Delhi. Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo

The TDP leader also held meetings with Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference patron Faqooq Abdullah and Samajwadi Party's Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav during the visit to New Delhi, his second within a week.

Naidu also met Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Sitaram Yechury at the Delhi airport.

"Today we have to save this nation and democracy. That's why I discussed with Rahulji also. In principle, we have agreed (to tie up). Some of you have doubt about our past. It is a democratic compulsion now, we are joining together to protect this country," Naidu said.

This is for the first time the southern party, which was floated by N T Rama Rao in the early 80's, primarily to defeat the Congress in the undivided Andhara Pradesh, will work with the national party.

In the past, the TDP has been a part of the NDA-I as well as NDA-II dispensations till it exited in March this year.

The TDP supremo met Gandhi in the presence of top party leaders Ahmed Patel and Ashok Gehlot.

After the meeting, Gandhi said forgetting the past, the Congress would work together with the TDP to defeat the BJP and defend the country, its institutions and democracy.

"We are coming together, we are going to work together and all opposition forces are going to work together to defend India, our institutions and our democracy," Gandhi told reporters.

IMAGE: National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Naidu addresses media persons. Photograph: Subhav Shukla/PTI Photo

The BJP hit back, saying the TDP is desperate as cases of corruption are being investigated against the party leaders.

"TDP Govt in AP is mired in many scandals (IT, PD accounts, Irrigation scam etc.) MPs are being probed for misappropriation, tax evasion. Reason why Chandrababu Naidu is running from pillar to post to forge a 'Corrupt Alliance' in Delhi (sic)," BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao tweeted, using the hashtag "TDPisDesperate".

Naidu also said that he would meet leaders of all parties that are against the BJP and try to forge a unity amongst them.

"Those who are all against BJP, I want to meet everybody. I want to convince the need for unity and also to save democracy. Day by day, it is becoming from bad to worse. Collectively we have to work together. Finally, we want to chalk out a programme," he said.

On the alliance with the Congress, Naidu said it is a "democratic compulsion" to get together and added, "We had differences with Congress. We had differences with BJP. At national level, TDP had always played a very crucial role whenever there was a need."

The chief minister said though some parties have alliances at state-level, efforts would be made to bring those parties together at the national level to provide an alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Gandhi asserted that during the meeting they have decided "not to get into the past" but talk about the present and future as it is "critical" for the country.

IMAGE: Naidu meets Samajwadi Party's Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav. Photograph: ANI

After meeting Naidu, Pawar said non-BJP parties would come out with a common minimum programme to take on the government as he expressed concern over "assault" on institutions such as the CBI and the RBI.

"If we collectively work to save democracy, we can definitely save the institutions. Chandrababu (Naidu) will talk to other state political leaders in this regard," the NCP chief told reporters, adding that a common minimum programme will be drafted once the non-BJP parties come on board to discuss the matter.

Claiming that the country was going through "difficult" times, Abdullah, after his meeting with Naidu, said, "Today, democracy is in danger and people are in danger. That is why we all met and decided to work out a common minimum programme to save democracy, institutions and the nation."

Naidu's meeting with Gandhi comes amid seat-sharing talks between the two parties for the December 7 assembly election in Telangana.

The TDP chief pointed out that he had never seen this type of attack on institutions such as CBI, RBI, ED and I-T in his political career of 40 years.

"I have asked Rahulji to discuss in the party and proposed all-party meeting to chalk out a programme for future," he said.

IMAGE: Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Sitaram Yechury with Naiud. Photograph: ANI

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the credentials of Naidu in taking the initiative for an opposition alliance to take on the National Democratic Alliance, saying he was a supporter of the Bharatiya Janata Party till recently and during the 2002 "Gujarat pogrom".

Naidu's Telugu Desam Party was part of the Narendra Modi government when the deaths of research scholar Rohith Vemula, Mohammed Akhlaq (lynching victim) and others happened, he said.

"@ncbn supported BJP when Gujrat Pogrom happened in 2002, was part of @PMOIndia cabinet while Akhlaq, pahlu khan, Rohit,JUNAID, Aleemuddin where murdered,during his tenure as CM erstwhile AP many communal riots happened, AZIZ & AZAM killed in encounter NOW Saviour of Secularism WAH," Owaisi tweeted.

Earlier, Naidu "coincidentally" also met senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and briefly discussed about the need to bring all non-BJP parties together, TDP sources said.

This is the Andhra Pradesh chief minister's second visit to New Delhi in less than a week.

Last week, Naidu had met Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, Farooq Abdullah and former Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha in the national capital.
Government rejects activists' request.

Commission requests new witness to attend.

Jyoti Punwani reports.

IMAGE: The Elgaar March in Mumbai, March 26, 2018, demanding that the accused involved in the violence following the Elgar Parishad in Pune on December 31, 2017 be brought to book.

Left activist and writer Dr Bharat Patankar may have to depose before the Bhima Koregaon Commission of Inquiry.

Commission chairman Justice J N Patel (retd) on Wednesday, October 31, expressed a wish that Dr Patankar, who is associated with progressive movements, appear before the commission.

Dr Patankar is the founder of the Shramik Mukti Dal, an organisation that has been working among the tribals of Dhule since the 1970s. He is also the founder of the Jati Mukti Andolan, which works to eradicate caste. Additionally, he is active in anti-establishment literary movements.

On January 4, a team led by Dr Patankar had visited Bhima Koregaon and nearby villages which had witnessed violence on January 1. The fact-finding report brought out by the team was filed before the commission by Dalit activist Bhimrao Bansod, who was also part of the team.

Bansod has been in the witness box for six days now. He was first cross-examined by Vijay Sawant, representing the Vivek Vichar Manch, a pro-RSS think-tank. For the last three hearings, he has being cross-examined by Niteen Pradhan, counsel for Milind Ekbote, ex-BJP corporator and the first person to be accused for the Bhima Koregaon violence.

Both Samant and Pradhan remarked that someone else has signed on Dr Patankar's behalf on the fact-finding report. Bansod explained that Dr Patankar was not present on the day the report was signed by all the members, but he had authorised someone else to sign for him.

Pradhan claimed that Dr Patankar did not sign the fact-finding report because he did not accept the analysis and conclusions of the report. He further claimed that Dr Patankar had found it "despicable" that the Elgar Parishad had been organised on the eve of January 1, 2018.

Bansod disagreed with both claims.

It was at this stage that Justice Patel asked Bansod to call Dr Patankar to depose.

Pradhan then produced an interview Dr Patankar had given the Maharashtra Times newspaper dated June 15, 2018.

In the interview, Dr Patankar described the holding of the Elgar Parishad as 'a mistake'. It had given a 'wrong direction' to the annual gathering that took place at Bhima Koregaon, the interview quotes him as saying.

Further, he said in the interview, that when he went to Bhima Koregaon to assess the situation the next day, he learnt that the rioting was done by outsiders but no one had taken the name of Milind Ekbote or Sambhaji Bhide (both Hindutva leaders were the first to be named as responsible for the rioting).

Dr Patankar expressed surprise when contacted by Rediff.com. "We were all in full agreement with the fact-finding report filed before the commission by Bhimrao Bansod," Dr Patankar said. "He was to represent all of us."

Dr Patankar said he had told the Maharashtra Times that he did not agree with the way the Elgar Parishad was organised, but had not called it a mistake.

*****

Government rejects activists' request

The government has rejected requests by three activists: Harshali Potdar, Ramesh Gaichor and Sudhir Dhawale to provide them all the material relating to investigations into the Bhima Koregaon violence, so as to be able to defend themselves before the Bhima Koregaon Commission of Inquiry.

The material asked for ranged from station diaries to wireless messages, panchnamas to chargesheets, to evidence collected in the form of statements of witnesses, videos, etc.

State intelligence reports as well as copies of the armory stock taken out for the purpose of maintaining security in the affected areas were also requested.

This material would be necessary to evaluate the government's response to the violence said the application.

The three activists had filed applications before the commission.

Rejecting their application, the government said that chargesheets can be obtained from the courts where they have been filed. Also, the police have yet to be depose before the commission, hence the requests to submit police records at the present stage is not relevant.

The state government also rejected their application asking that top government and police officials, chief minister and state ministers for home downwards, be summoned before the commission.

The list included Sumit Mullick, who is the second member of the two-man inquiry commission. Currently the state chief information commissioner, Mullick was Maharashtra's chief secretary when the Bhima Koregaon violence occurred.

The application stated that in order to examine the administration's role in preventing and controlling the situation that occurred on January 1, top government functionaries would have to be summoned.

The third request by the applicants was also turned down. This was to first examine the police and government officials, and then the members of the public who have filed affidavits.

Shishir Hiray, the government counsel on Wednesday, filed the replies to all three applications before the commission.

Rejecting the request to summon the CM and other officials, the government said it is the government's prerogative to choose whom to call to refute the burden cast upon it.

It also said these officials have no connection with the terms of reference of the Commission -- the sequence of events that took place on January 1, 2018 at Bhima Koregaon, those responsible for them, whether the government was adequately prepared, and whether the police took adequate steps to handle the situation.

Since the burden of refuting charges is on the government, it is in the interests of natural justice that government officials and police be called to defend themselves only after everyone else has been heard, says the government reply.

The government also questioned the locus standi of the applicants.

Dalit writer Sudhir Dhawale is one of the activists arrested in June in connection with the December 31, 2017 Elgar Parishad held in Pune. Harshali Potdar had addressed the Elgar Parishad. Ramesh Gaichor is a member of the Kabir Kala Manch which had performed at the Parishad.

In April, the homes of all three activists had been raided.

The police have linked the Elgar Parishad to the violence at Bhima Koregaon.

Interestingly, the senior police inspector of every police station used to be called first to depose before the Justice B N Srikrishna Commission of Inquiry into the 1992-1993 riots. Private witnesses were called later.

The police also submitted station diaries and wireless messages of all police stations to the Srikrishna Commission. These formed a substantial part of the material relied upon by the commission and its counsel.
'Modi campers are aware that the Sangh may keep a Nitin Gadkari under wraps.'

'He may be pulled out of the hat if push comes to shove and if the Modi-led BJP is unable to deliver a decisive victory.'

A revealing excerpt from Kingshuk Nag's new book, Mohan Bhagwat: Influencer-in-Chief.

IMAGE: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat at a programme in Thane, October 26, 2018. Photograph: PTI Photo

With the general election not too far off, the RSS is flexing its muscles.

That is not surprising considering the fact that with the general elections approaching, there is no certainty of the BJP returning to power.

This is especially because of the attempts being made by the Opposition parties to forge a common front to take the BJP head on in the 2019 elections. Various opinion polls also show that Modi's popularity is sliding.

"There is time," RSS seniors say when asked whether the BJP can win the next elections, but in private, worry lines appear on their foreheads when queried about this.

For the record, the RSS is not a political outfit. It is a sociocultural organisation. But in the last decade -- and more prominently since the BJP came to power in 2014 -- there is a discernible interest of the organisation in politics.

This is because the RSS's top brass realizes that only if the BJP wins the election can the agenda of the Sangh be furthered. This means that over the next few months, the RSS would want to have a greater say over policymaking and appointments and, of course, election strategies.

"It's like an examination where the student has to answer the question papers. The others can help and assist the student before the examination by advising him what to study and how to study. Similarly, Modi and his candidates have to contest the polls; we can only help in campaigning and in formulating strategies. We will work intensively for this like parents do for their children," an RSS insider told this author

The insider says that Modi and the BJP have to showcase everything that they say has been achieved by the government since 2014.

"The performance of the Modi government is fairly good although its popularity is now going downwards," admits the RSS insider.

He breezily suggests that the plummeting popularity is most visible in urban and metro cities and the Modi government maintains its good rating in small cities. "So all you people may be getting it wrong," he suggests.

Many think that the Modi government will raise the ante on Pakistan and there could be a conflict between the two countries -- however small it might be. However, an army general says that this is ruled out.

"Both are nuclear powers and thus none can take resort to warfare," he adds. However, the Modi government will not be averse to producing all records of strikes by Indian forces in Pakistan as is evident from publicity of a strike 20 months earlier by the government in June 2018.

Similarly, in the case of the Ayodhya dispute, the RSS would hope that the Supreme Court will give a judgement that will allow the process of beginning the construction of the Ram temple before the elections. One does not know whether this will happen.

The VHP is mounting counter pressure on the central government to legislate on the matter to acquire the disputed land and build a Ram mandir.

The VHP has said if the ruling alliance does not have the numbers, it should convene a joint session of the two Houses of Parliament and get such legislation cleared.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy is also arguing that the central government should take over the disputed land through an ordinance and hand over the land to agama experts and a representative Hindu body who can build the temple.

To ensure that the BJP wins the next polls, the RSS is also getting into the nuts and bolts of the 2019 elections. At a three-day conclave held in Suraj Kund in Faridabad in mid-June 2018, RSS leaders confabulated with organizational secretaries of BJP units to figure out the popularity of BJP MPs.

The organisational secretaries -- who are hardcore RSS members on deputation to the BJP -- were asked to prepare a report on the performance of the MPs and assess if they had a chance to win the next elections.

According to reports, caste and winning combinations in various states were also discussed. Seats will be given based on the findings of this report.

The RSS team was led by Sarkaryavah Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi and had other joint secretaries like Krishna Gopal and Manmohan Vaidya to assist him. BJP President Amit Anilchandra Shah had come along and so had Ram Lal, the organisational secretary for the central unit of the BJP.

The only omissions were RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat and Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi!

UP was discussed threadbare at the meeting, which was attended by all the chiefs of the prants in the state. UP is of special interest to both the BJP and RSS. The victory in 2014 was largely because of the sweep of BJP of the state.

"This time this is being threatened by the proposed alliance between the two former chief ministers, the so-called bua-bhatija duo of Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav. If the BJP sweeps UP it is through, but this time the 2014 results cannot be duplicated," says a senior RSS functionary.

Analysts say that the problem for the BJP is that south of the Vindhyas the party still does not have much traction. The party -- with RSS help -- will try to consolidate its position in Karnataka where the BJP came first in the recent assembly elections but could not form a government because of the lack of majority.

In the neighbouring states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the BJP has barely any presence. Additionally, in Andhra Pradesh, its long-time partner N Chandrababu Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party has broken the alliance.

Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana account for 70 Lok Sabha seats against 80 seats in UP.

The RSS may not be too comfortable with Modi's power politics and his none-too-discreet attempts to corner all the glory but for Nagpur he is still their best bet to keep the Hindu flag afloat.

Modi campers are, however, aware that the Sangh may keep a Nitin Gadkari under wraps. He may be pulled out of the hat if push comes to shove and if the Modi-led BJP is unable to deliver a decisive victory.

Excerpted from Mohan Bhagwat: Influencer-in-Chief by Kingshuk Nag with the kind permission of the publishers, Rupa Publications.
Sanjeev Khanna stepped out of his usual sort of absent-minded personality to actively 'log into' the hearing, following the testimony alertly, at times standing up in the accused box to catch all of what was being said.

His co-accused Peter Mukerjea and Indrani Mukerjea were less attentive, but were not switched off either.

Vaihayasi Pande Daniel reports from the Sheena Bora murder trial.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Niranjan Mundargi fancied himself to be Arthur Hailey.

For a day.

That day was October 31, Wednesday.

As the energetic lawyer, who always has a new legal strategy up his sleeve, started up his cross-examination of Prosecution Witness 22 Minguel D'Souza, Mundargi seemed to be recreating certain chapters of novelist Hailey's runaway bestseller Hotel for CBI Special Courtroom 51 at the Mumbai city civil and sessions court in the Sheena Bora murder trial.

D'Souza, 42, who works at the front office of Hotel Hiltop, Worli, south central Mumbai, was the receptionist who checked Sanjeev Khanna, Accused No 2 and Indrani Mukerjea's former husband, out of the hotel early morning on April 25, 2012, the day after Sheena's murder.

The hotel staffer who checked Khanna in the day before, on April 24, on his arrival in Mumbai after he got off from a flight from Kolkata -- Prakash Madan -- died later that year (2012) and there is today no one to testify when Khanna checked in, hence the increased significance of D'Souza's testimony.

Khanna's lawyers Shreyansh Mithare and Mundargi have endeavoured tirelessly, since early last year, to prove before the judge that Khanna could not have ever been at the Bandra crime scene (8.9 km away and much further during weekday rush hour) at 7 pm on Tuesday April 24, 2012 or, later, part of the party that disposed of Sheena's corpse at Gagode Khurd, Raigad district, outside Mumbai, on the wee hours of April 25, 2012, given that he was 1. Still checking into Room 216 at Hiltop at 6.05 pm on April 24 and 2. He did not leave the hotel at 4.31 am the day after as per the police and the CBI's construction of the crime story.

Mundargi's imaginative and elaborate dissection of the way hotels work, particularly Hiltop, through his train of narrative-building questions to D'Souza, was yet another effort towards cementing that 'truth' in place.

To establish Khanna's innocence, the advocate took apart, bit by bit, the systems of Hotel Hiltop, like a mechanic opening the bowels of a car or, better, a scientist slicing a longitudinal cross section of the hotel, so all of us present in the courtroom could curiously peer in and view its operation, just like Hailey, who through his series of bestsellers showcased the workings of various businesses/institutions, including a hotel.

Mundargi's sequence of questions, that took about 50 minutes to traverse, scrutinised the little processes that were in place at the Worli three star, making it the hotel it was/is.

Further, he, with great thoroughness, actively aided by Indrani's lawyer Sudeep Ratnamberdutt Pasbola, who seemed to be nursing a cold, examined the practices according to which Hiltop functioned.

Mundargi took the court through exactly what a guest faced the moment he stepped into the hotel (that has an impressive view of the Arabian Sea, the graceful Worli-Bandra Sea Link and where tariffs were quoting October 2018 at Rs 6,500 per night for a single room plus 18 per cent tax) and what followed thereafter.

He firstly inspected Hiltop's check-in method.

Mundargi made tiny-tiny queries of D'Souza on the procedure, to verify its length.

What was the first step for a guest arriving at the hotel?

How was the guest identified?

Was he asked to show proof of his identity once his booking was retrieved from the hotel's computer system?

Did he pay up front for his entire boarding before his stay began? How?

Was the guest's ID immediately photocopied on the spot and returned to him or was it sent to his room?

Did the guest have to wait for the receptionist to xerox his proof of identity?

When did he sign the hotel register?

Was he issued an electronic key card or was he presented a metal key?

How was the key issued?

Mundargi kept at it: Was the guest then told about the hotel services available, like the free breakfast, its hours and "Where the guest can come for breakfast?"

CBI Special Judge Jayendra Chandrasen Jagdale corrected with a smile: "Venue of the breakfast."

The lawyer continued: Were guests given a spiel by the receptionist, upon checking in, about the other facilities too like WiFi?

Did a member of staff accompany a guest to his room with his luggage and to show him the facilities of the room he had just checked into?

How many people manned the reception desk?

Mundargi: "Is it correct that in the hotel register there is a column in which you narrate the time of arrival? Do you have a watch fixed at the reception (to verify that)?"

Pasbola interrupted "Clock, clock!"

Mundargi: "Do you look in at that watch every time a guest physically arrives at your hotel?"

Most important: The lawyer wanted to know how long, in all, did an average check-in take at Hiltop reception desk?

The advocate, always sunny-mannered and courteous, addressing D'Souza as Sir throughout, proceeded to check Hiltop's dining facilities and how its room service system worked right from the ordering of food to the billing procedure. And the times taken for preparing orders and their delivery.

Was breakfast complimentary? Could an outside person dine at a Hiltop restaurant if s/he was not staying at the hotel?

Was food ordered through room service prepared fresh?

Could meals be kept ready in advance?

Who tracked the tab and how were the meals paid?

Did it not say on the room service menu that all meals were prepared from scratch and an order would take time to come?

Did the waiter serve the food to the guest or at least place it before the guest?

Suddenly Mundargi popped in a random, out-of-the-blue question -- Did D'Souza know who Hardiyal Mehra was?

Knowing that D'Souza's interaction with Khanna had been limited to briefly checking him out in the wee hours of the morning he left Hiltop, issuing bill number No 624 of Rs 5,456.67, one wondered why Mundargi, even wearing his spiffy new Arthur Hailey hat, had this ongoing 20-minute obsession with the hotel's room service.

A little research later unearthed that earlier statements, by various witnesses in this case, say that Khanna, a vegetarian, had ordered a vegetable au gratin soon after arrival on April 24, which given the hotel's cook-from-scratch policy would have taken quite some time to come.

Everyone knew that, including a guest, if s/he had bothered to read the fine print on the hotel's room service menu which announced that food would take time to be prepared and delivered, as it was being done so freshly.

Mundargi obviously lastly, and most meticulously assessed, via his onslaught of obsessive questions to D'Souza, how the checkout process happened at Hiltop and how the checkout time on Sanjeev Khanna's bill was actually generated.

So what were D'Souza's answers like? How did he fare in the face of Mundargi's ambush? Was he a reliable prosecution witness? Was he able to identify the accused?

D'Souza, dressed in formals -- light blue, long-sleeved shirt, black pants, extra-buffed black Hush Puppies, gold ring on his left hand, silver wire-frame glasses perched on his nose and a blue plastic pen in his left shirt pocket -- came across as neither nervous nor particularly uncomfortable.

He did not prevaricate while answering a question and there were very times when he answered that he did not know or did not remember something.

It was hard to believe he was anything but honest.

He considered each query carefully, replying steadily -- proceedings were in English on Wednesday and his was competent -- and provided an often insightful answer that could have aided either the prosecution or the defence.

The most stand-out moment of uncertainty was when CBI Special Public Prosecutor Bharat B Badami, who conducted the short testimony on Wednesday (Where is Badami's colleague Kavita Patil these days?), asked D'Souza: "Can you identify if (Accused No 2 Khanna) is present in court today?"

D'Souza said he could, but never pointed Khanna out or actually scanned his eyes towards him. The testimony concluded without the Mumbaikar front office manager exchanging a glance with Accused 2 Sanjeev Khanna or looking into his face.

This brought on a disagreement a little later when Mundargi asked the hotel employee if he had identified Khanna in court and if the police ever put him through a procedure -- identification parade -- to point out Khanna after he was arrested. D'Souza said he had not been asked to identify Khanna by the police.

Badami did not seem to want to allow Mundargi a chance to verify if D'Souza could point out Khanna in court, cutting him off with "He said he is present in court. Where were you!?" The judge vouched for that.

The 42-year-old, SSC-pass hotel employee, 's/o of Dominic D'Souza' and 'r/o' of nearby Valmiki Chowk, Worli Koliwada, as per police/CBI records, had been working at Hiltop for over seven years.

His daily routine saw him arrive at the hotel at 9 pm and work through the night to 7 am. Because of his long stint at Hiltop, the Worli resident knew the workings of the hotel pretty much inside out and was a valuable source of information.

D'Souza's answers to Mundargi's rat-tat questions added a new take on Khanna's involvement, or perhaps lack of it, in this heinous crime that took away the life of a 24-year-old girl several decades too soon.

Khanna, wearing a blue, checked shirt and black jeans, stepped out of his usual sort of sleepy-headed, absent-minded personality on Wednesday to actively 'log into' the hearing, following the testimony and previous statements alertly, and at times standing up in the accused box to catch all of what was being said.

His co-accused Peter Mukerjea and Indrani Mukerjea were less attentive, but were not switched off either.

Indrani, in white and pale green, green bindi and pearl earrings, who looks her most beguiling when she offers her mysterious Mona Lisa smiles to the room or her ex-husbands (that make you wonder who exactly she is -- murderess, charmer, Lorelei-like siren bringing misfortune to the men she knows, unfortunate woman, hustler, victim, which!?? -- on Wednesday traded knowing grins or rounds of laughter with Khanna.

Khanna's cousin was in court actively and diligently liaising between him and the lawyers.

Guests checking in at Hiltop, D'Souza confirmed spent 10 to 15 minutes having their ID verified and photocopied and left the desk with their ID with them. A bell boy accompanied a guest to the room with the luggage and to show the room and would have done so for Khanna.

D'Souza could not -- strangely -- remember (the hotel's policy in 2012) -- if the key issued to Khanna was electronic or an old-style, clunky metal one. He half smiled and then grimaced: "I don't remember about that point of time."

He did know the waiter.

Mundargi: "Are you aware who Hardiyal Mehra was?"

D'Souza: "Waiter."

Mundargi: "You are aware?"

Badami cut in impatiently and perhaps strategically: "Waiter, waiter!"

Mehra was the waiter who brought Khanna his order of food on April 24 for which there is a receipt on file and is likely to be produced to the court at a later date.

The exercise by Mundargi of ascertaining and subsequenty reinforcing that it was possible that D'Souza could have prepared the final hotel bill somewhat before Khanna actually checked out, since it was known Khanna was checking out, did not occur smoothly.

Towards the end of the cross-examination Mundargi bravely attempted to conclude that D'Souza didn't really know when Khanna left the hotel even if the checkout time was stamped as 4.31 am April 25, 2012.

Badami violently disagreed with Mundargi's conclusion, saying that D'Souza had not really said any such thing.

Voices got raised. Indrani's lawyer Gunjan Mangla inserted her view.

Badami turned to her and said angrily: "Madam don't disturb us. He is not your client", which made Mangla bristle back.

This was how that portion of the cross examination evolved:

Mudargi: "So whatever facilities used by the guest are looked into and the final bill is prepared while the guest is checking out?"

D'Souza agreed.

Mundargi: "With regard to the present case... On April 25... Had the guest made a request to you that he was checking out?"

D'Souza: "Nothing was mentioned."

Mundargi: "Did it happen that the guest informed you (in advance) that he wants to check out and prepare a bill?"

D'Souza's response was vague.

Mundargi: "(Is it a practice) to generally try and keep the final bill ready so he (a guest) does not have to wait?"

D'Souza started talking about the practice for group bookings and Mundargi asked him not to go into group bookings...

Mundargi: "Is the final bill kept ready before the guest arrives at the counter?"

D'Souza: "Yes."

Mundargi enquired if those on the night shift at the reception at Hiltop used the "little leisure time" they got during the night hours, since there were not too many check-ins and check-outs, to do other work like keeping final bills ready.

The 'cross' went off track there as D'Souza wandered away on some tangent about audit work.

Mundargi confirmed again: "The final bill was prepared by you?"

D'Souza: "Yes, prepared by me."

Judge Jagdale: "Of?"

D'Souza: "Sanjeev Khanna (Room 216)."

Mundargi: "In the present case the checkout was at 4.31 am?"

D'Souza agreed.

Mundargi: "Did you send the final copy of the bill to his room?"

D'Souza: "(Gave it to him) at the reception."

Mundargi: "In the computer at 4.31 the bill was ready. How long after that -- 10 minutes, half an hour... -- at what time did he leave?"

D'Souza: "I don't remember."

Mundargi: "You don't remember at what point of time he (Khanna) physically left the hotel?"

The Hiltop employee shook his head and said that he just took Khanna's signature on the bill: "I must have seen him for a few seconds."

D'Souza remained calm throughout his stint in the witness box and not too many emotions chased across his impassive face. He spoke in a low voice during the 90 minute cross examination, which commenced with a few questions from Pasbola on the hotel register and some additional stamp and signature by D'Souza's colleague named just Kavita.

He looked directly into the faces of lawyers' faces offering a polite "Yes Sir" or "No Sir" or longer explanations.

Badami from time to time would interject firmly "Answer to the court!" which meant D'Souza should address his questions to Judge Jagdale instead of Messrs Pasbola and Mundargi.

The only sign of perhaps nervousness or fidgeting was when from time to time D'Souza would splay his palms out on the papers in front of him in the witness stand and tap/rattle his fingers. Or look slightly beyond the judge's face to some nowhere point as the 'cross' proceeded on a hot, muggy, pre-Diwali afternoon of October, a month known in Mumbai for heat worse than summer.

Mundargi wound up his cross examination of D'Souza on Wednesday with the routine/procedural defence lawyer declaration that the Hiltop hotel employee was falsely testifying at the behest of the police and the CBI.

D'Souza did not react. After confirming that he was done, he slipped out of the witness box to sit in the corridor outside as he waited for a drop by the CBI vehicle.

Inside the court Peter sat down to his several-course meal that had been brought to him by two of his long-standing friends. Before that his lawyers approached the judge about Peter's request for a bed in his cell and his wish to renew his British passport that had already expired (or was expiring).

His bed application needed medical approval before it could be taken forward. Badami promised to check up on how Peter could renew his passport. Peter, taking the witness stand, wearing as always white and khaki, emphasised: "Someone has to do it on my behalf."

The Sheena Bora murder trial will take a Diwali break and the next hearing, that will bring PW 23 to the witness box, was scheduled for November 14.

Incidentally, the relatively insignificant and uneventful cross-examination of PW 21, a panch or one of the witnesses used in a panchnama, Vishwanath Parshuram Sharma, who gave his address as 5th Road, Khar West, north west Mumbai, occurred last week.

His 'cross' was briefly conducted by Mithare after Pasbola declined. According to tattle in the corridors outside Courtroom 51, Sharma -- who said he was in the catering and wooden decorations business -- is a regular at court, and has testified as a panch in many trials.

In the Sheena Bora case he was one of the two panchs who went with the police to Hotel Hiltop to collect the hotel guest register for April 2012.

Sharma identified that register in court, in which there were entries of other guests who had checked in and out during that period.

Interestingly, Khanna's entry, on page number 4,583, was the only one in block letters and the only one written in black ink.

As the Wednesday hearing wound up Indrani cheerfully bid everyone "Happy Diwali!" -- greeting the lady clerks, journalists and Badami -- before daintily traipsing out of the court.

Peter followed some ten minutes later or more, herded along by a long-suffering cop, his face expressing the frustration he felt at the delays involved in escorting the Sheena Bora murder case accused back to jail.

The clock had already struck five and Courtroom 51 was closing down for the day. Infectiously cheerful peon Waghmare carried Judge Jagdale's black bag and thermos downstairs, indicating that Judge Jagdale would be exiting any time soon.

The little television screen, that posts information on hearings, which hangs high above the entryway of Courtroom 51 that was still decorated with a Dusshera mala (garland), had already winked shut.

The brightly-lit up screen is the latest addition to this court environment.

And though it has limited functionality, because of its height and therefore lack of readability, when you look up at it you get a warm feeling.

Maybe because it seems to herald the change that could eventually come to these corridors of justice.
Farmington Hills, MI -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/01/2018 --Perfect Impressions is a renowned company when it comes to vehicle wraps, car magnets, and decals. Turn the vehicle into an advertisement with customized vehicle graphics; by using the high-quality image from Perfect Impressions to create the commercial or recreational vehicle wrap. The company has an indoor heated garage where they can complete all of the installs years round. Their team of professionals will start by working with the customers on their design choices and the text or image that they want.



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Gold Fields Limited (GFI) said it received a notice on Wednesday by the National Union of Mineworkers or NUM of its intention to embark on a protected strike at its South Deep operation in South Africa to protest retrenchments at the mine.

Under South African labour law, the union is required to give 48 hours' notice of its intention to strike. The strike is set to commence on the afternoon of Friday, November 2.

Gold Fields noted that about 80 percent of the mine's workforce are members of the union and in the event the strike proceeds, it is expected to impact adversely on production during its duration.

However, the company added that safety of employees is paramount and, if deemed necessary, South Deep Mine would also consider cessation of production for a limited period of time.

As part of a wide-ranging restructuring announcement to stem South Deep's significant cash losses and consolidate current operations, Gold Fields said it commenced a Section 189 process with the mine's two registered trade unions, the NUM and UASA, on August 14, 2018.

Under the auspices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration or CCMA, mine management has engaged the branch leadership of the two unions since then about various matters related to the section 189 process.

The company said it held extensive consultations and explored various options to improve the sustainability of the mine and limit job losses. This included an offer of voluntary severance packages, which was taken up by 177 employees.

Despite these efforts, South Deep still has to reduce its workforce by approximately 1,100 staff members and retrenchment letters were sent to these employees on October 31, 2018. In addition, the mine will reduce the number of contractors by approximately 420 people.

"The 'no work, no pay' principle will apply for the strike. We respect the laws that allow for a peaceful, legal strike, but we are very concerned about the further impact that industrial action will have on the mine - and on our employees, with potentially more job losses," Gold Fields CEO Nick Holland said.

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Business News
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) announced Thursday that its Europe unit Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Ltd. has received Marketing Authorization from the European Commission for third Cystic Fibrosis or CF Medicine SYMKEVI (tezacaftor/ivacaftor). This is to be used in combination with ivacaftor (KALYDECO), for People with CF Aged 12 and older with certain mutations in the CFTR gene.

It is a new treatment option for patients with two copies of the F508del mutation, the most common mutation in cystic fibrosis, the company noted.

It is the first medicine in the EU to treat the CFTR protein defect in patients who have one copy of the F508del mutation and one copy of one of 14 mutations that result in residual CFTR activity.

In addition, the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products recently recommended the maintenance of orphan designation for tezacaftor/ivacaftor in combination with ivacaftor.

Cystic fibrosis is a rare, life-shortening genetic disease affecting approximately 75,000 people in North America, Europe and Australia.

The EU Marketing Authorization was based on results from two pivotal Phase 3 studies, EVOLVE and EXPAND, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in November 2017. Results showed treatment with tezacaftor/ivacaftor in combination with ivacaftor provides benefits across different CF populations, including statistically significant improvements in lung function.

Tezacaftor/ivacaftor in combination with ivacaftor was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February 2018 and by Health Canada in June 2018. It is marketed as SYMDEKO in the U.S. and Canada.

Cystic fibrosis is a rare, life-shortening genetic disease affecting approximately 75,000 people in North America, Europe and Australia.

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Business News
Just four days after the deadly shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, anti-Semitic graffiti was spray-painted on a Jewish synagogue in Southern California.

The vandalism on an exterior wall of the Beth Jacob synagogue in Irvine, south of Los Angeles, was noticed on Wednesday morning.

The word "F***Jews" was reported to be spray-painted on the white facade of the building.

Allen Berezovsky, president of the board was quoted as saying that security footage showed a person wearing a hoodie, sunglasses and a facemask spray painting the wall at around 1:18 am and then leaving on a stolen bicycle.

The Synagogue authorities notified the Irvine Police Department.

The Police started investigating about the incident, and have increased patrols at the Jewish facilities in Orange County.

The Irvine Police Department posted a video footage on their Twitter page with a footnote, saying, "Based upon the preliminary investigation, it appears the vandalism at Beth Jacob Synagogue occurred during the early morning hours of October 31. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Irvine PD Detective Dave Tran at 949-724-7098."

Irvine Mayor Don Wagner said in a statement that "Anti-Semitism cannot be acceptable in this country; it will not be ignored in Irvine."

A recent report by nonprofit organization OC Human Relations said hate crimes have continued to climb in Orange County for the third consecutive year. It is the third-largest of California's 58 counties.

In the deadliest attack on the American Jewish community, 11 people were killed and seven others injured in a shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue on October 27.

The suspect, 46 year-old Robert Bowers, was arrested after a shootout. He reportedly told Swat officers he wanted "all Jews to die".

Speaking at a rally later in the day, President Donald Trump, a known Holocaust denier, called the act "an anti-Semitic attack at its worst."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
A majority of voters think President Donald Trump has done more to divide the country since he took office, according to the results of a Politico/Morning Consult poll, although voters are even more likely to say the national news media is dividing the country.

Fifty-six percent of voters said Trump has done more to divide the country since he took office compared to 30 percent that said he has done more to unite the country. Another 13 percent said they don't know or have no opinion.

A vast majority of Democrats and 54 percent of independents agree that Trump has done more to divide the country, while 55 percent of Republicans view the president as a more unifying force.

Trump has received considerable criticism for his incendiary rhetoric on the heels of last week's attempted mail bombings and the deadly shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

The president has sought to blame the media for the "great anger" in the country, however, and the results of the poll suggest many voters agree.

Sixty-four percent of voters think the national media has done more to divide the country since Trump took office compared to just 17 percent that think the media has done more to unite the country.

Eighty percent of Republicans, 67 percent of independents and even 46 percent of Democrats think the media has done more to divide the country.

The poll also showed 58 percent of voters consider political violence to be "widespread," although the opinions of who is to blame vary significantly.

Thirty-six percent of voters hold Trump responsible for the political violence, including 62 percent of Democrats, while 31 percent hold Democrats in Congress responsible, including 58 percent of Republicans.

Just 9 percent of voters hold Republicans in Congress responsibility for the political violence and another 24 percent don't know or have no opinion.

The Politico/Morning Consult survey of 2,543 registered voters was conducted October 25th through 30th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

(Photo: Gage Skidmore)

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Business News
After moving notably lower over the past few sessions, treasuries showed a modest move back to the upside during trading on Thursday.

Bond prices moved higher in morning trading and remained positive throughout the afternoon. As a result, the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which moves opposite of its price, edged down by 1.5 basis points to 3.144 percent.

The rebound by treasuries came as traders expressed some uncertainty ahead of the release of the Labor Department's closely watched monthly employment report on Friday.

Employment is expected to climb by 190,000 jobs in October after rising by 134,000 jobs in September, while the unemployment rate is expected to hold at 3.7 percent.

Treasuries may also have benefited from the release of a report from the Institute for Supply Management showing a bigger than expected slowdown in the pace of growth in manufacturing activity in the month of October.

The ISM said its purchasing managers index dropped to 57.7 in October from 59.8 in September, although a reading above 50 still indicates growth in the manufacturing sector. Economists had expected the index to edge down to 59.0.

With the much bigger than expected decrease, the manufacturing index fell to its lowest level since hitting 57.3 in April.

A day ahead of the release of the more closely watched monthly jobs report, the Labor Department also released a report showing a slight drop in first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits in the week ended October 27th.

The report said initial jobless claims edged down to 214,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level of 216,000.

Economists had expected jobless claims to come in unchanged compared to the 215,000 originally reported for the previous week.

A separate report from the Labor Department showed a slowdown in the pace of labor productivity growth in the third quarter.

The Labor Department said labor productivity climbed by 2.2 percent in the third quarter after jumping by 3.0 percent in the second quarter. Economists had expected productivity to increase by about 2.0 percent.

Meanwhile, the report said unit labor costs surged up by 1.2 percent in the third quarter after slumping by 1.0 percent in the second quarter. The rebound in labor costs matched economist estimates.

The Labor Department's closely watched monthly employment report is likely to be in the spotlight on Friday, overshadowing separate reports on the U.S. trade deficit and factory orders.

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Market Analysis
Unidentified gunmen on Thursday shot dead senior Bharatiya Janata Party () leader and party's state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Jashmir.

Police said unidentified gunmen shot and killed Anil and his brother Ajit Parihar in Tapal Gali Mohalla of Kishtwar town.



In view of the mounting tension in the area, curfew has been imposed in Kishtwar town.





Ajit Parihar was an employee of the state Financial Corporation.



"Anil and Ajit Parihar were shot and killed in Kishtwar town by unidentified gunmen on Thursday evening. A manhunt has been launched to trace the assassins," the police said.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Thursday taunted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, saying that Lord Rama won't help the saffron party win elections.

"It's not a question of temples or mosques or gurudwaras. It's a question of the nation. This nation has all these religions and all these religions have a place here."



His comments came after BJP Rajya Sabha Member Rakesh Sinha on Thursday said he would bring a Private Member Bill on Ram temple in Ayodhya in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.



"They're going to lose the elections because they think Ram will win them the elections. It's the people who vote. Ram does not vote," Abdullah told reporters here.





Five states -- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, and Telangana -- go to Assembly polls this year, before India holds a general election in 2019.



He said that the BJP was running away from issues facing the people of the country, including rising prices of petrol and a weakening currency.



"...where are the 15 lakh rupees which they promised, look at the prices of petrol, look at rupee... dollar is worth Rs 74 now.



"These are all to create hatred in people. India does not need hatred. India needs to understand that we all have to live together... whatever your religion. We all want to live with honour. It's the honour we are fighting for," he said.



Earlier in the day, Rakesh Sinha announced his intention to bring a Private Member Bill on the issue of Ram temple, and dared the opposition leaders to support him.



"Will Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechury, Lalu Prasad, Mayawati support the private member bill on Ayodhya? They frequently ask the date (as to when construction of Ram temple will start). Now the onus is on them," Sinha said in a tweet.
The Electrical Power Corporation (E.P.C.) has appealed to the business community to have a backup generator as the country heads into the cyclone season.

The E.P.C. Chief Executive Officer, Tologata Tile Tuimalealiifano, sounded the warning in an interview with the Samoa Observer to explain the cause of the four-hour power outage on Sunday.

He said considering that the electricity was disrupted for four hours on Sunday, the onset of a cyclone in Samoa could see power disrupted for a longer period.

This is our advice to the business community because we are heading into the cyclone season. They should have a backup generator."

Considering the fact that the power was only out for about four hours, they would need a generator for a cyclone because the system could be down up to four weeks."

It is advised that businesses like the service stations to have these ready for what happens. That is the partnership in order to continue the nations service, he said.

The Governments Meteorological Division recently released its 2018-2019 Samoa Tropical Cyclone (T.C.) Season Outlook which forecast two or three tropical cyclones this season. The Office also forecast at least one tropical cyclone that would reach Category 3-strength or more.
And so the Government has increased the cost of fuel once again.

The increase announced by the Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti, this week is the latest in a year where fuel prices have continued to rise.

You wonder if they will decrease ever again. Probably not before Christmas.

Which is alarming for the very reason that every time fuel prices increase, we know the cost of living increases also. Its just the way it works.

The fact is that fuel prices dictate the cost of basic goods, and businesses cannot be blamed entirely for off-loading that cost onto consumers. Someone has to pay for it and its only the nature of the beast that customers pay.

Which is why the Government must do its best to ensure fuel is made available at a most reasonable price, so that members of the public  especially the poorest of the poor  are cushioned against this menacing blow they are being dealt with today.

According to the Ministers announcement, the higher prices are the result of the Mean of Platts Singapore M.O.P.S.) setting the November prices.

The statement goes on to say that things are not helped with a further weakening of the tala by 0.7 per cent against the US dollar.

Finally, the Government blames tension in the Middle East over Iran. They also point to O.P.E.Cs ability to control production which have led to further increases in world crude oil and product prices.

Whatever. To be fair to the Government, there are times when fuel prices are beyond their control, where a small country like Samoa, is at the mercy of the suppliers. Keep in mind that it doesnt just happen in Samoa, it happens to other countries as well.

The problem is that when we talk about fuel, we are talking about more than just motor vehicles and transportation. Fuel increases affect the cost of basic food items, services, cost of doing business and basic utilities like water and electricity.

Yes, as long as Samoa continues to rely on fossil fuel for electricity, every time the diesel price increases, there is a likelihood of electricity prices rising as well. Which is precisely what we have been seeing this year.

Speaking of electricity, its hard enough having to contend with high electricity prices. But when electricity supply fluctuates every so often  and when it is knocked out for the best part of the day like it happened last Sunday  frustration will inevitably set in and questions begin to emerge.

For instance, for all the millions of tala the Government has been spending on their different power stations, why do these problems continue to exist? We are talking about the Fiaga Power station, the Fuluasou Station and many other electricity developments throughout the country, which the Government has been making a song and dance about for years. And not to mention the solar panel projects they have been talking about.

And yet people of this country continue to be disadvantaged by an inconsistent electricity supply. Folks, every time electricity fluctuates, a family loses a refrigerator, a T.V. or an appliance of some sort. Every time the power is suddenly disconnected, businesses lose valuable equipment, production hours for thousands of workers are lost (someone has to pay for that) and most tourism businesses, who sorely need electricity, lose money and customers. We can go on and on.

Now following the latest outage last Sunday, the E.P.Cs Chief Executive Officer, Tologata Tile Tuimalealiifano, said the problem was triggered by a system failure when E.P.Cs solar and hydro systems could not meet the demand.

So what happened is because solar and hydro is new, these are the things we implemented towards our target to 100 per cent renewable, he said.

We are learning the new adjustments to the systems but the main objective to maximize renewable energy.

What is he talking about? Do these public servants realise that while we are not all electrical experts, what we do know is that their statements and comments dont make any sense?

Lets talk about solar power for instance. These solar power projects have been a talking point for several years now. Again, we are reminded that the Government has been talking about them, as if they will solve all our problems. They have been saying for years that they will only help decrease the cost of electricity. Has that happened? Absolutely not.

And now E.P.C. is blaming them for power outages, which have been happening since time began. What are we? And whos fooling who here?

Ironically, Tologata said the blackout on Sunday was an emergency and not a scheduled power outage. Really? Who cares if it was an emergency or a scheduled power outage?

When the country is spending millions on those electricity projects, power outages are not supposed to happen. Thats why millions are spent to prevent them from happening at all times.

Continued Tologata: We are working with Tesla from the lesson learnt on Sunday how we can improve the automatic system to address the issue so this does not happen again.

Everything we do is a learning process as we go. The current situation, its about 50-60 per cent that is generated from renewable, proportionate to the diesel generator.

Whatever that means, lets just remind E.P.C. once more, about those millions that have been spent during the past few years, on the countless electricity projects they have been talking up.

Maybe they should stop treating these projects as a learning process and start taking them very seriously. Members of the public  including the business community  are tired of paying the price for incompetency and these failed promises. What do you think?

Have a wonderful Friday Samoa, God bless!
Cabinet has endorsed the termination of top bureaucrat Afamasaga Su'a Pou Onesemo for breach of contract.

He was the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi, when announcing the Cabinets decision yesterday in his weekly press briefing, also used the opportunity to remind the bureaucrats not to mix up personal matters with work.

Responding to a question from the Samoa Observer, he said the Cabinet has acted on the recommendation of the Public Service Commission.

We have validated the recommendation submitted by the Public Service Commission (P.S.C.) yesterday (Wednesday) after their lengthy and thorough investigation into allegations leveled against the C.E.O.

We decided to terminate his employment contract following the recommendation, he said.

In June this year Afamasaga was placed on suspension to allow the Police and the P.S.C. to investigate allegations of impropriety levelled at the the C.E.O. by a former Member of Parliament of the Government of India, Sh.P.K. Bansal and his company Ascent Navals. Afamasaga strongly rejected the allegations.

In the same month the P.S.C. filed charges against Afamasaga which included alleged misuse of authority, breach of contract, failing to disclose alleged conflict of interest and the alleged breaching of the values of honesty and impartial manner.

Tuilaepa told the Samoa Observer yesterday that the outgoing C.E.O. was also given the opportunity to respond to the charges.

He was also given the opportunity to respond to the charges against the allegations leveled against him.

And the decision by the P.S.C Commissioner follows results that he breached his contract and breached values of honesty; hence the decision by the P.S.C. to terminate his contract.

It was a comprehensive investigation and the P.S.C. and I want to express my sympathies to him (Afamasaga) given the results of the investigation, and in my view again, was conducted properly and thoroughly which is in line with the duties of P.S.C.

The Prime Minister also thanked the sacked bureaucrat for his service and the decision of the P.S.C. was merit-based and was made in line with the rules and regulations of the Government.
The Chief Executive Officer of Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority (F.E.S.A.), Tanuvasa Petono Mauga has cautioned the public on the use of burning mosquito coils inside their homes.

His stern warning follows two fires, which are suspected to have started from burning mosquito coils, destroying two separate homes yesterday.

The first fire happened around 7.00 AM at Alafua, where a two-storey house was destroyed and the second was a Samoan fale at Puipaa, which housed a family of eight.

Twice in one day a fire was reported to the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services, Tanuvasa said.

When we had arrived (Alafua), the fire was already at a severe stage. However, further investigations have been done and concluded that the fire did not start from electrical outlets since the room that started the fire had no outlets, but it has been suspected that it might have been a burning mosquito coil.

Tanuvasa said based on the initial investigation, the fire resulted from the familys own negligence.

This was early on in the morning, so it seems like it might have been a mosquito coil based on what we discussed with the person who lives in the house.

Despite the family calling us quickly, there was no knowing for sure how long the fire had started and the materials of the house only made matters worse.

By looking at the house, you can see that it is old. The house material was incapable of lasting for long, so the fire was quick to spread that by the time we got there, it was too late.

He said the F.E.S.A. team was able to contain the fire saving the workshop and fortunately no lives were lost.

On the second incident, a mother of six from Puipaa was loss for words after losing their home to a fire yesterday morning.

Pulemau Faivaa said she went out fishing because it was their main source of income and only four of her six children were home when the fire occurred.

Her mother-in-law, Moevao Ulu, who lives next door to the family, told Samoa Observer that the fire began late yesterday morning when Pulemau had gone out fishing.

It was just the kids at the house when their mother had left and what had caused the fire was a burning mosquito coil left on the bed, Moevao said.

By the time the team from F.E.S.A. had arrived to the scene, the house was completely up in flames and nothing could be saved, Moevao added.

Pulemau could not contain her tears as she spoke to the Samoa Observer about returning to their home and belongings completely destroyed.

She said no one in her family works, including her husband who was in American Samoa, and she has four children who attend school.

In the meantime, she said they have moved to her in-laws home until her husband returns, and she is grateful that none of her children were injured or died in the incident.

Tanuvasa is encouraging the public to have a fire extinguisher readily available in their homes and to always be cautious of anything that could start a fire and to keep them out of childrens reach.

As we have already announced on different medias, the public should have a fire extinguisher especially businesses. In any incident of a fire, a fire extinguisher is the first thing you reach out for and it saves your home and business, the C.E.O. said.

Its true that a fire extinguisher is expensive, costing about a couple hundred, but it saves your building, which costs about hundred thousand tala.

Tanuvasa said a lot of fire reports have been due to carelessness with things like mosquito coils and forgetting to switch off electric outlets.

F.E.S.A. is working with the Samoa Water Authority and Electrical Power Corporation to raise awareness on issues concerning fire, with the hopes that the public learn from the previous incidents and prevent further fires from occurring.
Samoa has reaffirmed its commitment to promote and protect the human rights of all persons, and to advance its efforts to address discrimination against women.

Faimalotoa Kika Stowers, the Minister of Women, Community and Social Development made the commitment on behalf of the Government through a recent live videoconference, which was fed into the United Nations 71st session of the Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (C.E.D.A.W.) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Preparations for Samoas presentation began early last month with a three-day preparatory session and mock dialogue convened in Samoas capital Apia. It was led by the UN Women and facilitated by the Pacific Community (S.P.C.), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (U.N. O.H.C.H.R.) in partnership with Samoas Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (M.W.C.S.D.).

Faimalotoa told the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women that socio-economic wellbeing of the Samoan people remained at the core of the countrys development initiatives, and highlighted what she said were important developments since the countrys last review in 2012.

She made reference to the first comprehensive legislative review of the Convention since its ratification by the Law Reform Commission, the constitutional amendment of June 2013 introducing the 10 per cent quota of female representatives in the Legislative Assembly, the passing of the Family Safety Act in 2013, the establishment of the Family Court of Samoa in 2014, and the passing of the Crimes Act and the Labour and Employment Relations Act in 2013.

The Government remains committed to combatting all forms of violence against women and girls, and it was promoting safe families and communities, she added.

Faimalotoa also highlighted the role of the National Council of Churches and the vital role it plays in addressing gender-based violence, through workshops and consultations among different church denominations within the country.

The UN Committee Experts said that in light of the adoption by the Samoan Parliament in 2017 of the Constitutional Amendment Act which defined the country as a Christian nation, how would the State party ensure a balance between Christian values and womens rights. Given the countrys dual system of State and village governance, the Experts inquired about the effective prohibition of gender-based discrimination at the village level.

They further inquired about the timeline for the completion of amendments proposed by the Law Reform Commission, the powers and the mandate of the National Human Rights Institution, potential ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention, lack of an explicit definition of discrimination against women in national law, the low number of traditional matai titles held by women, recognition of womens committees in the village decision-making bodies, the role of church leaders in addressing gender-based violence, gender stereotypes in education, representation of women in the National Parliament, school dropout rates by pregnant girls, and the provision of comprehensive sexuality education to adolescents.

In her concluding remarks, Faimalotoa appreciated what she described as thought provoking discussions and the Committees suggestions and comments.

She said local authorities would continue working to ensure that women and girls benefited from economic and social developments in all areas and Samoa would continue counting on the support of a broad set of stakeholders, national and international alike.
A tracker at the Le Pupu-Pue National Park in Siumu has discovered the carcass of a small boa constrictor.

Chris Tafili, 27, from Aleisa said he discovered the dead snake last month at the park, and added that his discovery confirms that there are snakes on Upolu.

The carcass of the dead reptile only had its head and the tail and was without its midsection.

I thought it was some kind of reptile but when I took a closer look, it was a snake. I was more shocked to discover that it was missing its mid-section with just its head and tail lying on the ground.

I then collected the carcass and took it with me in a container of ice to Quarantine which they later confirmed that it was a Pacific Boa which they said has been here since early 1900s, Mr. Tafili said.

An official at the Quarantine Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E.) has confirmed receiving the carcass, when contacted by this newspaper. The remains have been passed on to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (S.P.R.E.P.) for verification, to determine if it is an invasive or local species.

Mr. Tafili said the discovery was shocking and people should be alerted.

People should be told, made aware of snakes in Samoa because not many are aware that they exist within the islands. Quarantine stated that for this year alone, this was the first report they have received concerning snakes. But I want to clearly get out the message that the best way to deal with snakes in my opinion is similar ways to how the Australians treat snakes and that is to just live in harmony with them.

The Le Pupu-Pue National Park is a 2,850 hectare National Park created in 1978, which stretches along the insular divide from the summits of Mt. Le Pue, the double-crater peak east of Afiamalu, and Mt. Fito right down to the lava fields of O Le Pupu and Upolus south coast.

The Pacific boa (Candoia bibroni) is a non-venomous snake endemic to Melanesia and Polynesia with a range extending from parts of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji through to Samoa and American Samoa.
A lawsuit against Mynas Supermarket for allegedly violating planning laws has been adjourned for another two weeks.

The matter went before the Supreme Court yesterday, and was adjourned after counsel Tafailagi Peniamina, representing the Office of the Attorney General, asked the Court for a two-week adjournment.

We respectfully seek for the first defendant to confirm and serve with the amended statements to their claim against the plaintiff and we respectfully seek for a two weeks adjournment to consider the statement and serve a response, she said.

Presiding Justice Mata Tuatagaloa granted the application.

Komisi and Sala Lupe Chan Mow, who live next to the new supermarket, are alleging that Mynas Supermarket and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment breached the Planning and Urban Management Agency (P.U.M.A.) law.

Sala Josephine Stowers, the counsel representing Komisi and Sala Lupe Chan Mow, clarified earlier that they had initially sought the Courts approval to file an injunction to stop the opening of the supermarket.

However, that application is moot and therefore the need to amend their claim.

We are suing them for something else and it has to do with numerous issues, they are not in compliance with P.U.M.A. laws and that is our claim, she told this newspaper.
Addressing the progress of commitments made to Small Island Developing States (S.I.D.S.) accelerated development involves looking deeply into many different facets of development.

At the S.A.M.O.A. Pathway multi-regional preparation meetings this week, one of those facets was the role of civil society and the private sector, and how they can affect change as genuine partners to government and to society at large.

A panel representing government, the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (P.I.F.S.), non-government organisations and the private sector presented on how they see the issue, followed by questions from national delegates.

Deputy Director of the Pacific Island Association of Non-Government Organisations (P.I.A.N.G.O.), Emeline Siale Ilolahia, said civil societies can go where Government simply cant always go.

Civil societies need to be in the middle of the conversation about who we are, and how we live, Ms. Ilohahia said.

She said its challenging for civil society organisations (C.S.Os) to work in the inter-governmental space, but they are needed to influence policies.

The S.A.M.O.A. Pathway meetings saw many national representatives of C.S.Os and N.G.Os, as well as government diplomats.

U.N.E.S.C.O. representative to the Pacific, Nisha facilitated the panel and discussion. Before opening the floor, she told the room how C.S.Os are mediating voices in democracy.

Civil society is the critical voice that gets the best out of society, she said.

A delegate for the Maldives said how in a majority Muslim country, C.S.Os are able to get up close and personal with groups of women and youth to talk about sexual and reproductive health in a way that government possibly couldnt.

Secretary General of P.I.F.S, Dame Meg Taylor said the Pathways lofty goals will succeed only with institutional support, and with that comes accountability based on clear, agreed upon needs, especially as the discussions venture beyond inter-governmental.

We need to anchor that accountability at a national, regional and global level, she said.

Despite progress, Dame Taylor called for more awareness and proactive reporting and accountability to the S.A.M.O.A. Pathway partnerships.

An accountability framework is the missing ingredient, she said.
At the close of this weeks talks between Small Island Developing States from all over the world, the Samoa Observer wanted to hear how the delegates thought the meetings had gone.

The multi-regional preparation meeting for the S.A.M.O.A. Pathway mid-term review has ended, with an outcomes document to be presented to the review late next year.

Travis Sinckler, delegate for Barbados said the week was momentous.

The small island States agenda is critical for the survival and sustainability of small island states, Mr. Sinckler said.

The support for the international community here was certainly welcome and what we are calling for is recognition of that support but also calling for action to ensure that in five years we can see the Samoan Pathway was a success.

Mr. Sinckler said the new national focal point mechanism and partnership frameworks will help small island developing states get the support they need.

At the end of the day the sustainable development of our countries depends on what we do,he added.

Delegate to the Dominican Republic, Luz Patria Bonilla, said having the meeting of the nations in collaboration with the United Nations agencies made the decision making more impactful.

[This meeting was] different in a sense that we can agree on solutions to common issues, in front of international organizations, providing a stronger force to find solutions, she said.

Armindo Gonaga Fernandez represents Sao Tome and Principe, an African island nation off the west coast. He said the evaluation of progress has shown good results, overall.

Although still, there is progress to be made, he said.

He said as a dynamic process which included regional talks before the multi-regional meeting this week, his small nation has had its voice heard.

We leave with the sentiment of good progress, Mr. Fernandez said.

Four of the delegates representing Sint Maarten, Aruba and Curacao, three islands in the Kingdom of the Netherlands said as non-independent nations, their voice often gets lost in international discussions like these, but not this time.

Patrice Gumbs, from Sint Maarten, said its been important to connect with partners who can financially support his countrys transformation to resilience.

Were a non-independent country but at the same time we have the same sort of economic restraints when it comes to renewable energies, he said.

Coming here has opened up potential partners towards finding people who can help us open up in that sense.

The inclusivity in the meeting has a positive experience, said Ghislaine Nicholaas from Aruba.

There are a lot of different types of islands out there.

Being here as an associate member state, seeing the similarities with fellow islands and connecting with them on the same issues and being exposed to the same opportunities to the same challenges we face it really anchored this on a global level, Ms. Nicholaas said.

Danae Daal from Curacao said the multi-regional meeting could have incorporate more interactive meetings with other countries.

I guess it did serve the purpose of what we were intending to do here, actually, though there is always a need for more, right, she said.

All in all, its been great, added Angelique Gumbs, also from Sint Maarten.
A first time visitor, Mariko Murata from Kyoto, Japan, flew into Samoa for a research project based on museums and cultural diversity.

Mariko was at the Samoa Tourism Authority Cultural Village in Apia when Dear Tourist caught up with her.

The purpose of my visit to Samoa was for research, we are currently doing a project on museums and cultural diversity and we have a friend who is working at one of the museums in Samoa, she said.

We came to see her and ask about the museum and cultural activities here in Apia. I have discovered that Samoa has a very specific cultural identity that is different from other countries like Australia or New Zealand in reference to the relationship between the colonizers and the people of Samoa.

Mariko said the Samoan people have not been deprived of their land or their language.

I have been in Samoa for five days and today (yesterday) is my last day. I had the chance to visit Palolo Deep and sightseeing in most of the museums in Samoa.

We have seen the colonial architecture in the city and that was pretty interesting, she said.

The 44-year-old shared her opinion about the importance of having museums in Samoa.

I was told that there were only three museums in Samoa and the people working there are trying to have the people of Samoa understand the meaning or significance of having museums and what it can do, Mariko said.

I think that the significance of having museums in a country depends entirely on the country itself, because it is originally a western institution.

I think that over here, it should not function the same way as overseas countries, with that being said, I think it would be interesting to have it as a cultural hub or it could be an opportunity to give a place for people here that long for cultural expression.

She added her favourite Samoan food is palusami, but then she has tried breadfruit and raw fish with coconut cream, which was also an interesting delicacy.

I also tried the local made Samoan beers but I would have to say that I like the Manutagi beer.

Samoa has a distinct way of functioning in terms of economy and culture I guess. Samoa is better off the way it is because its good that it is not too touristy, meaning really sophisticated or it would lose its cultural identity, she added.

Mariko said the people of Samoa are very friendly, and she is definitely coming back because five days is not enough to really understand and explore what Samoa has to offer.
Samoas unique culture attracted visitor, Liz Kendall from Surrey, England.

Liz was about to participate in the Samoa Tourism Authority Cultural Village experience in Apia when the Dear Tourist team met her.

I only have two weeks left, I have always wanted to come to Samoa for quite some time to experience getting to know the islands, Liz said.

My first week, I stayed in Matareva Beach Fales and just enjoyed the beauty of the island and did a bit of swimming and settling in and got the chance to see a little bit of Upolu. I came across the Tiapapata Art Centre there was an exhibition.

The 38-year-old said she spent three weeks in Savaii.

One of the taxi drivers told me that if you have not been to Savaii then you have not been to Samoa, and so when I got there I rented a scooter and travelled around Savaii, which was absolutely beautiful.

I felt that Savaii was more traditional and I loved meeting the people there, I also learned a lot about koko Samoa, which I have been trying to cook with.

I travelled around and stayed in different places and spent quite a lot of time in Manase, she said.

Liz loved swimming with the turtles, which was a special experience for her.

I had the chance to be part of the ava ceremony and felt that I was really part of the community, which was mainly the reason why I wanted to come to Samoa due to how strong the cultural values were upheld here.

But the highlight was celebrating White Sunday in Savaii, which was spectacular, everything was in white and the children were amazing.

They sang so beautifully in the service along with their dancing, which was fantastic and I was impressed because I have never seen children singing and dancing in church like that before, she said.

Her favourite Samoan food was the palusami along with the breadfruit.

But because I am vegetarian I have had an amazing variety of fruits. I rarely drink but I tried to get the chance to try Taula but so far my favourite is Vailima, Liz said.

Samoa is unique because the land is owned by the Samoan people and that is rare around the world.

She also noticed how locally produced food is available everywhere.

There was one little girl who asked me if it was true that in England we pay for our food and I told her that it was true and she said to me that food is made available for free on land, Liz said.

But I think an improvement that the tourism industry should look at and focus on is making the bus and ferry schedules available around the island and not in just one place.

It would be nice if it was accessible everywhere so that tourists are made aware of what bus to take or what ferry to take as well.

Liz added she felt like returning because there was still so much to learn.
San Diego attorney Michael Aguirre is suing the state Department of Finance and its director for refusing to turn over records related to Gov. Jerry Browns failed efforts to expand the California power grid.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday in San Diego Superior Court, state finance officials refused to release their financial analysis of the grid-regionalization bill as required by law.

When a finance official testified before the Senate Appropriations Commission in August, she said there was no file on this measure. Department officials later told Aguirre the report was a draft and not subject to public release.

Aguirre wants a judge to order the release of the analysis, which he suspects will show the expanded grid would cost taxpayers and utility consumers millions of dollars.

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The public interest in the disclosure of the sought fiscal impact documents is significant, the lawsuit said. The documents relate to proposed legislation purporting to restructure Californias energy sector with potentially disastrous consequences.

A Department of Finance spokesman said the office was withholding comment on the litigation because it had yet not been served with the complaint. But in emails to Aguirre before the lawsuit was filed, officials said it was prudent to keep the analysis confidential.

The public interest served by the documents nondisclosure clearly outweighs the public interest in its disclosure, it said. This is because the document is part of the Governors and the Director of Finances deliberative process involving internal administration communications.

The so-called Western grid would expand oversight of the network of power poles and wires from a nonprofit called the California Independent System Operator, or CAISO, to an entity that would manage the flow of electricity across as many as 14 states.

CAISO is governed by a board appointed by the California governor. The new organization would be run by a board appointed by energy industry insiders.

Critics say the transition would take away the states authority to manage the power grid and to determine how much renewable energy would be generated and used in California to comply with its ambitious climate-change goals.

The regional grid proposal, which Gov. Jerry Brown has pushed as a way to save consumers money and improve electricity delivery across the Western states, was unable to pass the state Legislature this summer.

It was the third straight year a regional-grid bill failed to reach the governors desk, and some lawmakers already are talking about reintroducing the legislation next year.

jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald
The San Diego Asian Film Festival, now in its 19th year, will strike an upbeat tone with its opening and closing selections. Each screening will be followed by a party featuring dishes inspired by the food-related films. The centerpiece entry is an affirmative documentary celebrating forward-looking, science-minded teens.

There are so many bad vibes in the air, said festival artistic director Brian Hu. Were not shying away from serious elements, but it is nice to recalibrate on Day One. All three films are pretty positive. That must have been what we were craving, and we hope the audience has been craving that, too.

At the same time, we want to remind people that much is at stake. We want to think globally when many are looking inward.

It would be hard not to think globally when attending the festival, which runs from Nov. 8-17. With screenings in six theaters across the city, it will feature 160 films from 20 countries in 28 languages or dialects. Just the opening, closing and centerpiece films are vivid examples of the variety.

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Little Forest, a 2018 cinematic version of a popular manga, launches the series on Nov. 8 at Balboa Parks San Diego Natural History Museum. Yim Soon-rye, a well-established director in South Korea, will discuss her film after the screening.

She doesnt get a lot of profile outside of Korea, Hu said. To honor her as a creative force, we also will show her 2001 film Waikiki Brothers. This new film, Little Forest, is about making meals out of what you have  local ingredients, planting your own food.

At the after-party, the film-to-table event will feature the cooking of San Diegos Chi family, which has several area restaurants including Dduriba, Bing Haus and Grandmas Tofu. In similar fashion, for the closing nights film-to-table event, also at the Natural History Museum, Zen Modern Bistro will serve dishes inspired by Ramen Shop.

Focused on immigration and the importance of food in preserving culture, director Eric Khoo follows a Japanese chef on his search for his Singaporean mothers soup recipe.

The centerpiece film, Inventing Tomorrow a U.S.-made documentary by Laura Nix, will screen at UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley on Nov. 11. Its about teens from various countries pursuing environmental projects for the worlds largest science fair. Hu said watching Inventing Tomorrow gave him a lot of hope.

At the fair, you see teens from different countries talking about to each other about their projects, Hu said. What better allegory for our festival than that  working across political and religious lines in such a sweet, innocent way? I hope these are the kids who will lead the world.

The festivals Taiwan Showcase, which has been held in conjunction with the University of California at San Diego for the last seven years, will feature two virtual reality films. Screenings are at the UC San Diego Price Center Theater and are free for UC San Diego students, faculty and staff members.

Hu  whose parents are from Taiwan and have returned there to live  has written a book to be released this month about cinema in Hong Kong and Taiwan. He called the fact that UCSD approached the festival about collaborating on Taiwanese cinema was fortuitous.

Together we can dig more deeply into Taiwan, he explained, adding that professors write the showcase into syllabi or offer it as extracurricular credit.

If you watch all the films in the showcase, you can get a real feel for Taiwan. Weve gained a little fame among Taiwans filmmakers that this is a place to show your work. We respect what theyve done and they trust their films will be handled with care.

The two virtual reality films to be screened are Lai Kuan-Yuans The Train Hamasen and John Hsus comedy, Your Spiritual Temple Sucks.

Among the festivals many not-to-be-missed films is famed Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-edas Shoplifters, which won the 2018 Palme dOr, the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. In the Asian-American Panorama section, Patrick Wangs two-part A Bread Factory explores a community arts space threatened by gentrification.

We dont screen just one genre, Hu said. Thats the bedrock - the collectivity of different spirits and world views. Weve been around 19 years in the independent sphere. These filmmakers have little to lose so they make the movies they want to make.

Of the 160 films we screen, half of them are submissions. We get about 500 submissions. The others are found by us doing recruiting, going to festivals. Some are too new to be submitted or they just played Toronto which just ended. The marketing team hates me because I often hold them up so I can get a recent film.

Titles of the short-films groupings include Animation Sensation, Not Safe for Wussies and Reel Voices. Reel Voices is a collection of shorts created by San Diego high school students who participated in the festivals annual filmmaking summer camp.

The festival, which is organized by the nonprofit Pacific Arts Movement, has expanded from six to seven venues this year, adding Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium.

This is very important to us, Hu said. A lot of Asian Americans live in Mira Mesa, which is tough to get in and out of. For us, as a socially minded organization, we should be where they are at. This is part of our mission: to bring the festival to the neighborhood.

Wood is a freelance writer.

The 19th San Diego Asian Film Festival

When: Nov. 8-17Where: UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley (headquarters), 7510 Hazard Center Drive No. 100, and five other theaters in San DiegoTickets: $12 general admission; $40 opening and closing nights; $15 centerpiece film; $60 festival six-pack; $195 all-festival badge. Student, military, senior and group discounts available. Some programs, including all weekday programs at 4 p.m., are free.Phone: (619) 400-5911Online: sdaff.org
The best weekend of the year for travel deals shoppers is fast approaching. Heres a small sampling of offers thatll open for booking between Black Friday (Nov. 23) and Cyber Monday (Nov. 26). Most deals are valid for travel at least through February.

1. Get 40 percent off at the 46-room Timber Cove Resort, which spans 25 bluff-top acres in Jenner, along the Sonoma coast. The deal must be booked on Cyber Monday, for stays through 2019; use the code CYBER. Regular rates at Timber Cove range between $319 and $619 a night, depending on room choice and timing. Theres no resort fee, and parking is free. Cancel for free up to seven days before your stay. Check out the resort and book online at www.timbercoveresort.com.

2. A Santa Fe resort is turning Cyber Monday into Cyber Week. All stays booked between Cyber Monday and Dec. 4 at Sunrise Springs Spa Resort, Santa Fes only destination spa, will get 30 percent off best available rates (starting at $265 a night). The deal is valid for travel starting Dec. 1, through February, and requires a two-night minimum stay. Youll get a spacious casita, breakfast for two daily, plus unlimited access to more than 60 experiential activities, ranging from fitness classes to art and cooking sessions. Theres no resort fee. Book online at sunrisesprings.ojospa.com.

3. Hotel Modera, a sophisticated independently owned hotel in the heart of the Portland, Ore., theater district, is offering a $99 rate for standard king rooms booked between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The offer is valid for stays through March. Be forewarned that theres a $24 nightly resort fee. Book online at www.hotelmodera.com.

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The Queen Kapiolani Hotel on Honolulus Waikiki Beach has an introductory $150-a-night rate to celebrate the hotels renovation. (Queen Kapiolani Hotel)

In other deals, Waikikis legendary Queen Kapiolani Hotel is celebrating a $35 million reimagining with a $150 introductory rate designed to reintroduce the hotel to longtime devotees and lure scores of new fans. A bonus: The hotel will waive its $28-per-night resort fee for U-T Travel Deals readers who book the introductory deal using the code QKSDUT. Book starting Nov. 4 through the end of the year, for travel through June 1, 2019. (The offer is blacked out between Dec. 21 and Jan. 2.) The 315-room hotel, with its spectacular view of Diamond Head, was built in the mid-1960s on land once reserved for Hawaiian royalty. Its retro-chic remake transforms guestrooms into comfortable, airy retreats in coastal color palettes, with large picture windows, private lanais and modern amenities. Theres a grand new open-air lobby and a state-of-the-art fitness center  and the hotel is dressed with works commissioned from local artists. Theres also a reimagined lineup of curated events and activities: Think daily surf lesson demonstrations and Hawaiian coffee tasting workshops. Book online at www.queenkapiolani.com.

You dont have to be a resident of Utah to take advantage of Ski Utahs Passport program for fifth- and sixth-graders. Passports allow fifth-graders to ski or ride their snowboards free three times at each of 13 participating resorts. Sixth-graders get one free day at each of the resorts. The passports are free, but theres a $45-per-child processing fee. Sign up online at www.skiutah.com/passes/passports.

Kenya Airways is offering transit passengers a free four-hour wildlife-viewing safari during long stopovers in Nairobi. Youll qualify for this free experience if youre flying Kenya Airways from London Heathrow, stopping in Nairobi on your way to other Africa destinations. Airline reps will greet you when you land in Nairobi, fast-track you through immigration and ferry you to Nairobi National Park, just 10 minutes from the airport. The airline pays park fees, provides a game drive and picnic breakfast, then whisks passengers back to the airport for connecting flights. Youll need a layover of about six hours, plus a transit visa (evisa.go.ke/transit-visa.html) to take advantage of the offer. (The airline will reimburse your $21 visa fee.) Learn more at www.kenya-airways.com/nairobi-national-park-stopover/en.

Mark Anderson at Adventure Vacations in La Jolla is offering four-night trips to Paris, including round-trip nonstop airfare from LAX, starting at $899 per person, based on double occupancy. Youll fly Air France and stay at the three-star Hotel des Nations Saint-Germain in the Latin Quarter. Daily breakfast, maps and Galleries Lafayette shopping discount cards are included  but youll basically be on your own. Airport transfers are not included. Anderson says participants can extend their time in Paris for $200 per couple per day  or he can stretch travel dates, at no extra cost, for those whod rather find their own Paris accommodations. The package is available for travel through March; surcharges may apply during holiday periods. For more info, contact Anderson at (800) 600-5587 or email him at adventure-mark@sbcglobal.net.

DaRosa is a freelance travel writer. Find more of her articles at www.AlisonDaRosa.com. Prices quoted here are subject to change. Restrictions and blackout dates may apply, and all deals are subject to availability.
Six military bases in San Diego County will be used as logistics hubs for supplies and troops to help with securing the Southwest border following President Trumps announcement Wednesday that he would deploy as many as 15,000 military personnel in response to caravans of Central American migrants making their way northward.

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Naval Air Station North Island (Coronado), Naval Base San Diego and Naval Base Point Loma as well as Naval Air Station El Centro will participate in the deployment named Operation Faithful Patriot, officials said

They have been identified as base support installations  staging areas for troops, for helicopters to land and supplies to be distributed, said Air Force Capt. Lauren Hill at Northern Command in Colorado.

Military troops will help with planning, engineering, transportation, logistics and medical support to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to the Northern Command statement.

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Tasks will include erecting temporary vehicle barriers and fencing and installing light towers, barbed wire and concertina wire. Temporary housing and meals will be provided and medical personnel would be deployed as needed for patient care, the statement said.

The new 15,000-troop figure doubles the number Pentagon officials have announced would be operating along the entire border with Mexico.

Well go up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Control, ICE and everybody else at the border, Trump said before departing Washington for a campaign rally in Florida. Nobodys coming in. Were not allowing people to come in.

Trumps comments came a day after the general in charge of the border deployment said 5,239 active-duty troops would be heading to the border with more potentially to follow, in addition to the 2,092 members of the National National Guard already there.

It wasnt clear whether Trumps 15,000 figure included the National Guard deployment.

If the deployment reaches 15,000 troops, it would be roughly equivalent to the size of the U.S. militarys presence in Afghanistan and three times the size of the presence in Iraq. Already, the deployment is believed to be the largest of its kind in more than a century.

The Washington Post contributed to this story.
November 1, 1958 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.

Saturday, November 1, 1958

In 1958 a confessed strangler of three women led officers to the remains of his victims in the desert east of San Diego. Harvey Glatman pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to death in a San Diego courtroom. He was executed at San Quentin in 1959.

The young reporter who wrote this account went on to serve as a deputy White House press secretary and later become editor of The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Here are the first few paragraphs of the story:

THERE IT IS

Death Trail Retraced By Slayer

By Gerald Warren

This is the place,

Harvey Morris Glatman, 30, ex-convict and confessed strangler of three beautiful young women, was pointing to a dry gulch in the lonely Anza Desert, showing officers where to search for the remains of one of his victims.

It was about 1 a.m. yesterday. The desert was cold and still.

San Diego County sheriffs deputies and Los Angeles detectives followed as Glatman set a brisk pace, peering behind each bush.

HALLOWEEN TABLEAU

it will be on the left side of a bush, he said.

The search party, flashlights blinking weakly in the brilliant desert moonlight, enacted a grin Halloween morning tableau.

It was here in a barren rocky stretch west of Vallecitos road, 8.8 miles south of Scissors Crossing  that Glatman said he strangled Mrs. Shirley Ann Bridgeford, 24, last March after forcing her to submit to him in her car.

Mrs. Bridgeford, a Sun Valley, Calif., divorcee, met Glatman through a lonely hearts club. Her object: matrimony.

CLOTHING LOCATED

At 1:55 a.m. Glatman, accompanied by two sheriffs deputies, found her coat beneath a huge cactus bush.

The tan coat was hardly discernible from the desert floor, where it had lain for seven months.

Nearby were other articles of clothing and a leg bone. Farther down the gulch, more scattered bones were fund where they had been carried by animals.

Deputies Roy Williams and James R. Hathaway, who were with Glatman when the remains were found, said he was calm, almost detached, as he identified the coat.

There it is, he said.

Later, as more and more bleached bones were discovered, he fidgeted, turned away and hid his face between his arms, held together by handcuffs binding his wrists before him.

Still confident and sharp of memory, Glatman then led the posse on the second phase of the death search.

Showing the way 26 miles down Vallecitos road, Glatman accurately identified the scene of his third killing.

At 4 a.m., he found the remains of his third victim.

Glatman said she was Ruth Rita Mercado, 24, a model and dancer of Los Angeles. He told officer he strangled her last July 23 after taking nude pictures of her and assaulting her in the desert.

I didnt want to kill her, he told police. She was the one I really liked.

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 man suspected of drunk driving led police on a brief pursuit Wednesday night that ended with him lying down in front of traffic on the 105 Freeway, authorities said.

Los Angeles police officers began pursuing the driver at 8:11 p.m. in South Los Angeles, said LAPD Officer Mike Lopez.

As he exited the 105 Freeway at Central Avenue, he crashed into several vehicles on the offramp, Lopez said.

He then ran back on the freeway and lay down on the pavement, shutting down the westbound lanes before he was taken into custody.

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An infant in one of the cars struck by the suspect was taken to a hospital as a precaution but did not appear to be seriously injured, Lopez said.

cindy.chang@latimes.com

For more news on the Los Angeles Police Department, follow me on Twitter: @cindychangLA

UPDATES:

10:10 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with new details.

This article was originally published at 9:15 p.m.
Six military bases in San Diego County will be used as logistics hubs for supplies and troops to help with securing the Southwest border following President Trumps announcement Wednesday that he would deploy as many as 15,000 military personnel in response to caravans of Central American migrants making their way northward.

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Naval Air Station North Island (Coronado), Naval Base San Diego, Naval Base Point Loma and Naval Air Station El Centro will participate in the deployment named Operation Faithful Patriot, officials said.

They have been identified as base support installations  staging areas for troops, for helicopters to land and supplies to be distributed, said Air Force Capt. Lauren Hill at Northern Command in Colorado.

Military troops will help with planning, engineering, transportation, logistics and medical support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to the Northern Command statement.

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Tasks will include erecting temporary vehicle barriers and fencing, and installing light towers, barbed wire and concertina wire. Temporary housing and meals will be provided, and medical personnel would be deployed as needed for patient care, the statement said.

The new 15,000-troop figure doubles the number Pentagon officials have said would be operating along the entire border with Mexico.

Well go up to anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Patrol, ICE and everybody else at the border, Trump said before departing Washington for a campaign rally in Florida. Nobodys coming in. Were not allowing people to come in.

Trumps comments came a day after the general in charge of the border deployment said 5,239 active-duty troops would be heading to the border with more potentially to follow, in addition to the 2,092 members of the National Guard already there.

It wasnt clear whether Trumps 15,000 figure included the National Guard deployment.

If the deployment reaches 15,000 troops, it would be roughly equivalent to the size of the U.S. militarys presence in Afghanistan and three times the size of the presence in Iraq. Already, the deployment is believed to be the largest of its kind in more than a century.

The Washington Post contributed to this story.

Repard writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com
A member of an Irvine synagogue arrived Wednesday morning to find a message expressing hate for Jews scrawled in red paint on the house of worships front wall.

The obscenity-laced graffiti was quickly painted over. But the fear and uneasiness remain for the 210 families of the Beth Jacob Congregation, days after a gunman killed 11 worshipers at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

Surveillance footage released by the Irvine Police Department shows a person in a hooded jacket stooping down to spray-paint the message, then leaving on a bicycle about 1:20 a.m.

In a news release, police officials said they have increased patrols at the citys Jewish facilities and will aggressively investigate this hate crime.

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The idea of something like that happening in America and Irvine is unreal, said Allen Berezovsky, president of Beth Jacobs board. My family immigrated here from the Soviet Union to escape such things  and to find it here in America, its scary and disturbing.

The synagogue already has armed guards at prayer services. A grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will pay for better security cameras, higher gates and vehicle-stopping barriers, Berezovsky said.

Beth Jacob has been a target of anti-Semitism before. In April, Nicholas Rose was charged with attempted hate-crime threats for possessing anti-Semitic literature, including kill lists of Jewish people and a step-by-step guide to killing my first Jew. Also among Roses possessions were papers referencing Beth Jacob and two churches, according to Orange County prosecutors.

In a 2017 report, the Orange County Human Relations Commission found that hate crimes in the county had increased nearly 30% over the previous two years, with Jews making up 9% of the victims.

Berezovsky said he is not ready to tell his children, who are 6 and 9, about the defacement of their synagogue.

Its a difficult conversation to tell innocent kids that people hate us just because were Jewish, Berezovsky said. How do you explain that to a child?

cindy.chang@latimes.com

For more news on the Los Angeles Police Department, follow me on Twitter: @cindychangLA
An ex-con suspected in a North County burglary spree was found guilty this week in a string of felonies  not just for the break-ins, but also for carjacking a father and 7-year-old boy, then forcing the man at gunpoint to try to outrun pursuing deputies.

A Vista jury on Monday convicted Joey Martin Ramos, 37, of 34 charges linked to the father-son kidnapping as well as a series of burglaries dating between late May and October 2016, culminating in the carjacking during which he was shot by a sheriff deputy.

The most serious charges Ramos faced were two counts of kidnapping during a carjacking. Each count carries a term of life in prison with the possibility of parole.

His potential sentence could increase significantly because of previous felony convictions. According to court records, Ramos was sentenced to prison in 2004 after pleading guilty to three of 19 felony counts linked to a string of home burglaries.

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If the judge makes a ruling at a Nov. 30 bench trial that Ramos has served prison time, he could face 500 years to life in prison, plus an extra 225 years, when he is sentenced, Deputy District Attorney Lucy Yturralde said.

Ramos attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

The trial started in September, and included testimony from some 96 witnesses, according to Yturralde.

I think the jury did a good job going through all the evidence and reviewing the testimony from each of the witnesses, the prosecutor said.

On Oct. 24, 2016, deputies spotted Ramos in Encinitas. They gave chase, knowing he had a warrant out for his arrest as a suspect in several home burglaries.

As he fled, Ramos came upon a man buckling his young son in the backseat of a Toyota Scion, according to the prosecutor. He flashed a gun, got in the passengers seat and ordered the man to drive. Deputies saw Ramos get in the car and continued their chase.

With deputies on his tail and his son in the backseat  even though Ramos had a gun  the Scion driver pulled his car over on North Coast Highway near Leucadia Boulevard.

Ramos jumped out of the Scion. As he ran he pointed the gun over his left shoulder at the deputy who was now chasing him on foot, authorities have said.

The deputy opened fire. One bullet hit Ramos in his ankle and he went down.

Adding to the danger: the deputies who were chasing Ramos saw him climb into the Scion, but were unaware in that moment whether the driver was a victim or an accomplice.

Deputies ordered the Scion driver out at gunpoint, and another deputy took the child from the car, Yturralde said.

That deputy, she said, testified that the crying child repeatedly said Dont shoot me.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

(760) 529-4945

Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT
A former sheriffs deputy was sentenced Wednesday to a year behind bars for groping a 14-year-old girl in a Vista restaurant, then later accessing investigative files and downloading the girls photo and personal information.

Timothy Wilson, who was a 10-year-veteran of the department and worked at the Vista jail, pleaded guilty in October to touching the teen. He also admitted to a charge of unlawfully taking computer data.

According to authorities, Wilson  who worked in the jail accessed the investigative file some 44 times.

Superior Court Judge Daniel Goldstein also ordered Wilson, 33, to serve five years on probation. Additionally, the former deputy is required to register as a sex offender for life.

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During the sentencing hearing, the judge laid into Wilson for repeatedly accessing the investigative file in the case. Doing so, the judge said, had violated public trust.

This is completely inappropriate conduct and it undermines law enforcement, Goldstein said. If you mess up on probation, I guarantee I am sending you to prison. This is really bad. You should be ashamed.

Deputy District Attorney Dan Owens read a statement during the hearing from the teen victim, who was in the courtroom.

A grownup should never touch kids the way you touched me , the girl wrote. The police said he had our address written down and thats really scary. Because of him, I know what it means to live in fear and how it can change your life.

The Union-Tribune does not identify victims of sex offenses.

After the hearing, defense attorney Marcus DeBose said his client did want to make it very clear to the world that at the time everything happened, he was not aware that there was a minor involved.

Also after the hearing, the teens mother, joined by her civil attorney, Michael Licari, announced her intention to sue the department. She specifically cited the defendants access to investigative files.

What happened to my daughter should not have been possible, the mother said.  Yet somehow, no one at the Sheriffs Department noticed when Deputy Willson accessed my daughters private information 44 times.

She said she wants policies put in place to safeguard access to investigative files involving child victims.

Sheriffs spokeswoman Lt. Karen Stubkjaer said the department could not comment on the potential suit.

As to safeguards, Stubkjaer said the Sheriffs Department has the ability to limit access to certain investigatory files when necessary, and noted it has been done before. In this case, she said, there was no indication upon the reporting of this incident that there would be a necessity to limit access by Department peace officers.

Once we learned that the suspect in this case might be a deputy, detectives worked diligently and quickly to confirm the mans identity and to develop probable cause to affect an arrest, she said.

According to authorities, the teen was standing in line at a Panda Express restaurant near downtown Vista on March 21 when a stranger grabbed her buttocks. The girl reported the incident.

About three weeks later, San Diego Crime Stoppers issued a request for public help to identify the man seen in security footage.

A coworker recognized Wilson and reported him.

The prosecutor said Wilson began checking the file on the case starting the day after the groping incident, before he had been identified as a suspect in the case. By the time of his arrest, he had checked the file dozens of times.

Owens said Wilson downloaded investigative photos of the girl, as well as her home address. And on his home computer, investigators found her photos in a file labeled white pants, which is what the teen was wearing when she was groped.

A search of Wilsons phone also turned up photos of other women  people who his attorney said were all adults.

Wilson has been in custody since his arrest May 18 while at work at the Vista Detention Facility. He was placed on unpaid leave and has remained jailed in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Under the plea deal, he must serve all 365 days of his sentence. That includes the roughly 165 days he has already served.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

(760) 529-4945

Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT
The Democratic Party of California seems convinced it has a real chance in North Countys 36th Senate District, despite a double-digit voter registration disadvantage and well-resourced Republican competition.

The states campaign fundraising database shows that since Sept. 12, more than $250,000 in monetary and non-monetary contributions have flowed to candidate Marggie Castellano, who faces Senate minority leader Patricia Bates of Laguna Niguel and her $1.1 million war chest in the fight to represent a district that reaches from Encinitas to Dana Point.

Why Sept. 12? Thats the day that Democrats posted the results of a 400-voter poll that showed Castellano within four points of Bates despite what at the time was an 11-fold fundraising disadvantage.

A small sample size gives the poll a 5 percentage point margin of error, meaning that Castellano could actually have been slightly ahead or a nine-point underdog in early September.

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But that range of possible results appears to have been enough to pique the interest of the Democratic Party of California, the California Nurses Association, the classified school employees union and other statewide political action committees.

Getting in her car at her Oceanside home Wednesday morning to knock on doors in San Juan Capistrano, Castellano, a 2016 Bernie Sanders electoral college delegate and documentary film producer, said the influx of assistance has bolstered the number of volunteers helping her get her message out.

That message, she said, focuses on environmentalism, universal access to health care and no-cost education, all themes that resonated during a recent Sanders get-out-the-vote rally at Miracosta College in Oceanside, where Castellano got to meet the man she campaigned hard for in 2016.

On these issues, we have been getting a good reaction for sure. These things, they are the ones so many people want to change, Castellano said.

But Bates is far from an easy mark. She is the more experienced candidate with experience at local, regional and statewide levels of politics, including previous service on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

And, though Castellano is the one with the Sierra Club endorsement, Bates, through her campaign manager Chris Marsh, asserts her own environmental credentials including support of bills that seek to prohibit oil drilling off the California coast. The opioid abuse crisis has also been a recent focus, with Gov. Jerry Brown recently signing Senate Bill 1109, a bill Bates introduced which mandates better education before prescribing and warning labels on prescription painkillers.

We certainly feel that the Senator has worked very hard on the issues that matter to the people in her district, and has a strong record of getting results, Marsh said.

A few weeks ago, local political circles were abuzz about an anti-Castellano campaign mailer which featured a picture of the candidate photoshopped under a string of Peruvian flags that said she Ran for Congress in Peru and was rejected for her EXTREME LIBERAL policies.

The candidate chuckles at that accusation, noting that she actually ran for the Andean Parliament, the official governing body of the Andean community, which spans Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, not the Congress of the Republic of Peru, her native country until she emigrated to the United States.

It seems like she wants to create terror and fear, but thats what we feel when we see her voting record. Its anti-people, Castellano said.

The Bates camp might has been drawing attention to the gap in experience between the two candidates.

We do not see any kind of track record from her; we believe the voters will see that, too, Marsh said.

So, does a candidate endorsed by the San Diego Democratic Socialists of America truly have a fighting chance in a district with 11 percent more registered Republicans than Democrats?

Thad Kousser, chair of the political science department at UC San Diego, said in an email Tuesday that the large flow of cash and volunteer hours bolstering Castellanos campaign does tell a tale, but its not one of certainty.

The fact that major institutional donors on the left  Democratic Party leaders and unions  have invested significantly in her campaign during the closing months tells us that they sense some opportunity in this district, Kousser said.

But he added that this isnt the kind of cash that would normally be required to fight an incumbent Republican leader toe-to-toe.

This isnt the all in investment typical of a targeted Senate race, which would be upwards of $1 million, but it is a significant move nonetheless by people who dont waste money, Kousser said.

For more information on where each candidate stands on specific issues, check out the Union-Tribunes questionnaires for each candidate at bit.ly/PatBates36 and bit.ly/Castellano36 .

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paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1850

Twitter: @paulsisson
They came dressed as a Ninja Turtle, the cartoon fish Nemo, a Transformer, a firefighter and other characters.

How beautiful you look, a woman said as she handed candy to Delilah, a young girl who had come dressed as a lead character from Frozen.

Im Elsa, Delilah said about her costume. She has super powers and shes a queen.

Delilah, who didnt give her last name, was among a group of 10 children trick-or-treating on Halloween, a childhood tradition shared by generations. Unlike most children, however, Delilah and her friends had no real neighbors to visit, and no real place to go home to.

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For the past 15 years, children living with their parents at Father Joes Villages have donned costumes and gone trick-or-treating at the shelter or at the nonprofits headquarters.

Its important because these kids have far from a normal life, Father Joes President and CEO Deacon Jim Vargas said. These children have spent an amount of time on the street. What we try to do here at Father Joes Village at every turn is to have as normal an environment as possible.

Only a handful of parents had signed media releases allowing their children to be photographed at the annual event in the nonprofits headquarters in the San Diego neighborhood of Stockton.

Other children associated with Father Joes Villages did trick-or-treating at the nonprofits East Village facility, which offers temporary shelter and a variety of services.

In all, Father Joes serves 247 children ages 12 and younger and 42 children ages 13-17, Vargas said.

Children at the headquarters came from the nonprofits Therapeutic Childcare Center, where families meet with teachers, social workers and psychologists to help improve parenting skills and strengthen family ties.

A lot of them didnt have role models, Vargas said about parents in the center and how they are helped. Its a very holistic approach.

Part of that approach is to create a supportive and stable environment that includes holiday celebrations. While it may seem whimsical and even silly, Vargas said the opportunity for children to trick-or-treat is part of a larger strategy to help break a cycle of homelessness.

This is the start of the holiday season, he said. After then comes Thanksgiving, then Christmas. These are very much kids holidays, and we want to make sure these children feel the love and the compassion we have for them.

Staff members at Father Joes got into the Halloween spirit by donning their own costumes, which ranged from simple face masks to an elaborate Queen of Hearts dress from Alice in Wonderland.

The children, ages 3 to 5, were more amused than spooked by some of props and antics they encountered while searching for treats. They were even unphased by the werewolf that peered out of a cracked office door to hand them candy from a hairy paw.

Parents and their children picked out costumes that were given out at Father Joes Villages about three weeks ago.

Teacher specialist Mark Galindo from the Therapeutic Chlldcare Center said some children make a strong connection with their costumes.

They can wear it the whole week, or the whole month if they want to, he said. Sometimes after Halloween they just wear it and wear it and wear it until its worn out. Theyll have it all the way to Christmas.

Galindo said he believes the costumes can be a form of escapism for the children.

They can dream about being a firefighter or a Ninja Turtle or anything else, he said. Its a way for them to fantasize about who they want to be and what they want to be. And with candy on top.

Galindo said he has noticed over a decade of bringing children to the headquarters at Halloween that the visits can be an eye-opening experience for them.

I see that they get an idea of how many people care about them, he said. It all comes together for them. Theyre just happy in here and have a good time with it.

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gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @GaryWarthUT

760-529-4939
The anti-Semitic truck driver accused of gunning down 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue pleaded not guilty on Thursday to federal charges that could put him on death row.

Robert Bowers, 46, was arraigned one day after a grand jury issued a 44-count indictment that charges him with murder, hate crimes, obstructing the practice of religion and other crimes. It was his second brief appearance in a federal courtroom since the weekend massacre at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

Authorities say Bowers raged against Jews during and after the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history.

Bowers, who was shot and wounded during a gun battle that injured four police officers, walked into court under his own power, his left arm heavily bandaged. He was in a wheelchair at his first court appearance on Monday.

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Bowers, who is stocky and square-faced with salt-and-pepper, closely cropped hair, frowned as the charges were read but did not appear to have a reaction as a federal prosecutor announced he could face a death sentence. He told a prosecutor he had read the indictment and, when asked if he understood the charges, said Yes! in a loud voice.

Bowers had been set for a preliminary hearing on the evidence, but federal prosecutors instead took the case to a grand jury.

The panel issued the indictment as funerals continued for the victims.

Jared Younger of Los Angeles told mourners that he waited for hours Saturday for his father to pick up his phone or let them know he was all right. The dread built all day until his sister learned their father, Irving Younger, had indeed been shot and killed.

That waiting stage was just unbearable, Jared Younger said at his fathers funeral Wednesday. Saturday was the most lonely day of my life.

Funerals were planned Thursday for Bernice and Sylvan Simon, husband and wife, and Dr. Richard Gottfried, a dentist who worked part time at a clinic treating refugees and immigrants. The oldest victim, 97-year-old Rose Mallinger, will be honored at a service Friday. Her daughter was injured in the attack.

Friends recalled Irving Younger, 69, as a kibbitzing, people-loving man. He was one of the first people Rabbi Jeffrey Myers met when he came to town last year from New Jersey to lead Tree of Life.

Myers, who survived the massacre, is presiding over five funerals for seven congregants this week. He ran a few minutes late to Youngers service because he was still at the burial for another victim, Joyce Fienberg.

I cant imagine the stress hes under, said his predecessor, Rabbi Charles Chuck Diamond.

As Youngers service was wrapping up, Myers momentarily forgot to read a letter to the family that another rabbi had sent.

After preparing for five funerals, you get a little verklempt, Myers said.

Bowers remained jailed without bail.
Inside the West Virginia prison where James Whitey Bulger was beaten to death, there is little shock about his violent demise, apparently at the hands of fellow inmates.

The notorious 89-year-old former Boston mobster, who was serving two consecutive life sentences plus five years for his role in 11 murders, was found unresponsive at 8:20 a.m. Tuesday just hours after he arrived at the prison.

A Mafia hit man identified as Fotios Freddy Geas, who is serving a life sentence at the prison for murder, is a suspect in Bulgers death, the Associated Press reported.

Am I surprised theres been another murder? No, said Richard Heldreth, president of Local 420 of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 800 employees at the U.S. Penitentiary Hazelton in Bruceton Mills, W.Va. It wouldnt surprise me if there was another one tomorrow. We are severely understaffed.

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The U.S. attorneys office for the Northern District of West Virginia and the FBI are investigating Bulgers death as a homicide  the third inmate slaying at the Hazelton prison in seven months.

In September, inmate Demario Porter, 27, who was serving a 26-month sentence for a parole violation, was killed in a violent altercation with another inmate. In April, inmate Ian Thorne, 48, who was serving a 20-year sentence for conspiracy to commit murder, was killed in a fight in a housing unit.

Union officials have raised a flurry of concerns over the last year about acute understaffing and lethal violence at the prison, which is categorized as a high-security lockup. There are more than 3,000 inmates at the prison complex.

Were short of 42 correctional officers, Heldreth said, noting that the Hazelton complex is authorized to have 445 correctional officers but only has 403. It affects the security of the prison.

Prisons across the nation have dealt with extreme shortfalls in correctional officers since the Trump administration imposed a hiring freeze in January 2017 and the Bureau of Prisons stopped filling vacant positions. At the beginning of this year, the agency eliminated 6,000 positions nationwide, a 14% reduction in staffing levels. The cuts included 127 jobs at Hazelton.

James Whitey Bulger as a young man. (Associated Press)

With fewer staff, corrections officers find it harder to control contraband, keep an eye on inmates and respond swiftly to emergencies in the massive facility, said Justin Tarovisky, executive vice president of Local 420 at Hazelton.

In an effort to fill in the gaps, he said, the Bureau of Prisons regularly leans on teachers, secretaries, counselors and other civilian employee with little to no experience to serve as corrections officers. While all prison workers get the same initial basic training, workers who typically work security are more familiar with the inmates and better equipped to anticipate problems.

Take a teacher, an electrician or a plumber and throw them in there for a day, theyre not familiar with anything, Heldreth said. Its a bad situation as we have to be on our toes working around these guys.

Staff who responded Tuesday morning began life-saving measures, but Bulger was pronounced dead by the Preston County medical examiner, the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement.

The agency did not say why Bulger was transferred to Hazelton from U.S. Penitentiary Coleman in Sumterville, Fla. Nor did it comment on why Bulger, a high-profile elderly inmate, was allowed to enter the prisons general population given his long record of violent killings.

He was sentenced to life in prison, but as a result of decisions by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, that sentence has been changed to the death penalty, Bulgers defense attorney, J.W. Carney, said in a statement.

Over the last year, a stream of U.S. congressmen and senators  from both sides of the political aisle  have joined union officials in raising the issue of public safety at the prison.

Inadequate staffing creates dangerous conditions for our corrections officers and our communities, said Rep. David B. McKinley (R-W.Va.) after the April slaying at Hazelton. When our federal prisons have to resort to using nurses or cooks to fulfill the duties of correctional officers, the solution isnt to cut positions. You need to increase your staffing levels.

This month, a congresswoman representing the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton, urged Justice Department Inspector Gen. Michael Horowitz to open a formal investigation into the appalling conditions at Hazelton.

James Whitey Bulger and girlfriend Catherine Greig before he became a fugitive. (Boston Globe)

According to Norton, the family of one inmate said he had been beaten badly by  prison guards to the point they fractured his ribs, while another reported he was attacked by guards and left in solitary confinement, unable to receive medical attention for days.

Last week, a bipartisan group of five U.S. senators, including Joe Manchin III and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, wrote to Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions to express deep concerns about staffing at the Bureau of Prisons, specifically mentioning the recent homicides at the Hazelton facility.

This is unacceptable, they wrote.

UPDATES:

3:40 p.m.: The story was updated with reaction from prison union leaders and politicians.

The story was originally published at 11:10 a.m.
Fire investigators are looking into a series of small brush fires that started Wednesday night in the East County.

Seven small brush fires, the largest at 2.75 acres, burned near El Capitan Reservoir north of Alpine, officials said. Four others broke out a few miles away along Interstate 8.

One of the first fires was reported around 8:40 p.m. when people called 911 to report seeing flames between Peutz Valley and Chocolate Summit. The area, filled with steep canyons and sparse vegetation, is located north of Interstate 8.

Ten minutes later another fire was reported burning a quarter-mile from the first one, according to the California Highway Patrol website.

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Cal Fire spokesman Issac Sanchez said there were seven small spot fires near El Capitan Reservoir that burned a total of 4.5 acres, ranging in size from a little under three acres to several that were one-eighth of an acre.

Around 11:15 p.m., Cal Fire also responded to four very small fires east of the earlier blazes along I-8 between Lake Jennings Parkway and Dunbar Lane, Sanchez said. Those were quickly extinguished.

It wasnt known if the fires  which all broke out within a couple miles of each other  were connected.

We do have our investigators engaged in both of those incidents, Sanchez said.

Staff writer Alex Riggins contributed to this report.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @pdrepard

UPDATES:

4:45 p.m.: This article was updated with information about the number and size of the fires.

9:40 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details.

This article was originally published at 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 31.
A 61-year-old man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of threatening the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Chula Vista, police said.

The man allegedly called the H Street church about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and threatened to hurt people who were planning on attending an All Saints Day Mass. Four such services were scheduled for Thursday, authorities said.

Chula Vista officers identified Thomas Escajeda as a suspect and arrested him about 11:45 a.m. Wednesday on suspicion of making criminal threats. Its unclear what led investigators to Escajeda.

The Chula Vista resident had been a registered church member for more than a year and had attended Mass at least a couple of times, authorities said. Police do not know Escajedas motives for the threat and believe he acted alone.

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About 7,000 families and about 15,000 people regularly attend the church.

Police said St. Rose of Lima had not received any similar threats recently.

Kevin Eckery, a spokesman for the Diocese of San Diego, said the church chose to close its school  the St. Rose of Lima School  as a precaution on Thursday, which also prompted them to cancel the 10 a.m. All Saint Day Mass, which was going to be for children.

The remaining Thursday masses, at 6:15 a.m., 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., will be held as scheduled, Eckery said.

He added that no other Catholic churches in the area had reported receiving similar threats.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com
A 19-year-old woman who stopped to help motorists involved in a collision on eastbound state Route 94 early Thursday died after she was hit by a SUV and thrown onto the westbound side of the freeway.

She was identified Thursday evening as Bertha Aida Estrada, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office.

The incident began when a gray Mercedes sedan, driven by an 82-year-old woman, was rear-ended by a Honda Civic driven by a 23-year-old woman around 1:40 a.m. on eastbound SR-94 west of 32nd Street, the California Highway Patrol said.

After the womans Mercedes was rear-ended, the driver lost control and slammed into the concrete wall of the center divide. Her sedan came to rest blocking the left-hand lanes of the freeway, said CHP Officer Jake Sanchez.

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Estrada  a San Diego resident  pulled over onto the right shoulder of the freeway and ran across the freeway to check on the occupants of the Mercedes.

While standing next to the car, in traffic lanes, she and the Mercedes were hit by a Jeep Patriot driven by a 24-year-old man, Sanchez said.

The impact of the collision knocked Estrada into the westbound lanes of SR-94.

Officials initially said she was hit a second time by a vehicle heading west on SR-94 that did not stop, but later said it was not known if she was struck again.

It is possible; we just cant say definitively, Sanchez said.

Family members of the victim came to the crash scene after being called by a passenger in Estradas vehicle, Sanchez said. Estrada died before she could be taken to a hospital.

Neither drugs nor alcohol were suspected as factors in the crashes, according to Sanchez.

The driver of the Mercedes and the driver of the Jeep were taken to local hospitals for treatment of minor injuries.

In an interview with San Diego News Video, CHP Sgt. Sofia Mosqueda said it is always dangerous for people to stop on the freeway and those who want to help should consider dialing 911 instead of getting out of their cars.

Im sure that people appreciate good Samaritans. We appreciate good Samaritans, Mosqueda said. But calling 911, she said, is probably the safest response for everybody.

You still need to be aware of the danger that the freeway and the occupants of vehicles can pose, she said.

This was the second time since Saturday that someone who stopped on the freeway to assist a motorist was killed.

Early Saturday, 21-year-old Curtis Adams was shot and killed after he stopped to help an apparently stranded motorist on the shoulder of Interstate 15 near the north I-5 transition road in Logan Heights.

Adams was killed shortly after getting out of his car. Police arrested 21-year-old Brandon Acuna in connection with Adams death.

Acuna pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, robbery, burglary and shooting at an inhabited vehicle at his arraignment Wednesday in San Diego Superior Court.

Staff writer Alex Riggins contributed to this report.

Twitter: @karenkucher

(619) 293-1350

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

11:15 p.m.: This article was updated with the victims name.

1:35 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details.

9:05 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details.

This article was originally published at 6:50 a.m.
Firefighters made quick work of a fire that ignited at a La Jolla home Thursday morning, police said.

The fire was reported about 9:15 a.m. after a mother, with her daughter and another person, smelled smoke inside their single-story home on Calle Guaymas, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Capt. Chris Barlow said.

The occupants left the house and firefighters arrived soon after. Smoke was coming from vents in the roof, and flames were shooting from a broken skylight, Barlow said.

Crews were able to determine the fire started in the closet of a back bedroom, the captain said. It took about 20 minutes to put out most of the fire.

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Barlow said the closet was charred and the rest of the house suffered smoke damage. The cause of the blaze and a damage estimate were not immediately available.

Red Cross was called to assist the displaced family.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

This story was originally published at 10:35 a.m.
A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that medical exams of children taken into protective custody by San Diego County and done without a court order and parental consent violate the constitutional rights of parents and children  a potentially sweeping decision that could affect counties across California and other states.

The unanimous decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came in a case from San Diego, where the county for years routinely conducted exams at the Polinsky Childrens Center on kids who had been removed from the care of their parents because of suspected abuse or neglect.

While courts had ruled in three previous cases that such exams could not be done without parents approval or a judges permission, no court had resolved the issue of whether the constitutional rights had been violated. On Wednesday, the 9th Circuit settled that question in a long-running case brought by parents Mark and Melissa Mann.

The Countys continued failure to provide parental notice and obtain consent for the Polinsky medical examinations have harmed families in Southern California for too long, Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw wrote. She said the Manns right to raise their children without interference from government, their right to privacy and right to make medical decisions for their children had been violated.

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The ruling will not only benefit the Manns in this case but also help a larger class-action case against San Diego that is also in front of the 9th Circuit, said Donnie Cox, the Mann family lawyer who has been fighting the county over the policy in several cases for nearly two decades.

It will also apply to all states in the sprawling circuit, the largest in the country, which includes nine states from Hawaii to Idaho.

Its going to change the landscape over how these kinds of exams are done, Cox said. He said similar cases challenging how authorities conduct medical exams are pending across the state including Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Sacramento and other counties.

Most counties conduct these kinds of exams, he said.

San Diego and other counties have said the exams were health checks, looking for communicable diseases or other ailments both to assess the children taken into county custody and protect the health of other children in emergency centers like Polinsky.

But Cox had argued successfully that they have another purpose: to investigate if there are signs the child was abused in order to build a case against the parents.

In the past, the doctors would not only check basic health metrics such as vital signs, whether they had lice and so on. But they would also examine the childs genitalia, searching for indicators of abuse.

Both the 9th Circuit and the federal court in San Diego had ruled in previous cases brought by Cox that such an investigatory purpose without the knowledge of parents, was unlawful. And since the most recent decision in 2014, the county has modified its policy, now seeking consent or a court order for the exams unless there is a clear emergency. Even so, the courts still had not yet weighed in on the larger constitutional question.

Now, this decision should once and for all put to rest the question of whether you can give a physical exam of a child without parental consent or a court order, Cox said.

It was unclear Wednesday what the next steps in the case might be. The county could ask a larger panel of the circuit to review the decision. A spokesman for the county said that will have to be discussed by the Board of Supervisors in the future.

Lawyer Shawn McMillan, who has sued counties over the medical exams, said the decision not only clarifies what the parental rights are but also could open counties to significant liability.

McMillan has sued Los Angeles County and Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, which conducts the exams, over the tests. While he said he settled with the county, the hospital is still litigating the case. He also has launched a class-action case in Orange County on behalf of children and families who have undergone the exams there.

This decision is going to have massive and far-reaching implications, he said.

Cox has long acknowledged that medical officials can  and should  conduct exams without consent if the child is obviously injured or in pain. But he has said for years that the county used the exams as fishing expeditions to gather evidence.

Instead of trying to treat these kids they are looking to use them as evidence , he said. And that is the problem we are telling about that for years.

Federal judges in San Diego district court have repeatedly found that the countys practices of not getting parental consent and excluding parents from the exams were unlawful in 2004, 2014 and again in 2016. The 9th Circuit had ruled similarly in a case from 2000.

The 2014 ruling ended up with the county agreeing to change its policy and begin notifying parents, seeking judicial orders if the parents do not consent to an exam and the county believes it is needed, and allowing parents to be present. The county also paid out a $1.1 million settlement in that case to the parents.

The class-action case Cox filed against the county in 2015 seeks to represent all children and families who have undergone the exams since 1995  a class of potentially tens of thousands. A federal judge declined to certify that class, but Cox said the appeal he has filed of that decision is now strengthened by Wednesdays ruling.

The Manns four children were removed from their homes on suspicion of abuse in 2010, and underwent the exams. A judge later dismissed the case and returned the children to the couple concluding there was insufficient evidence of any abuse.

In the decision, Wardlaw wrote that the children had been subjected to invasive, potentially traumatizing procedures. While acknowledging the countys broad health concerns, she said the court concluded the county is still constitutionally required to provide parental notice and obtain parental consent or judicial authorization for the protection of parents and childrens rights alike.

Twitter: @gregmoran

greg.moran@sduniontribune.com
A San Diego woman died hours after crashing her car into the center median of Interstate 5 in National City on Sunday, authorities said.

Marisela Aragon-Romero, 38, has been identified as the driver who lost control of her Pontiac while headed south on the freeway, according to the county Medical Examiners Office.

She suffered major injuries when her car hit the center median at the state Route 54 transition ramp about 5:15 a.m. Medics took her to a trauma center, where she died shortly before noon, investigators said.

Aragon-Romero was wearing a seat belt. The Medical Examiners Office said investigators dont know why she lost control of her car and crashed.

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pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @pdrepard
A 19-foot suspected smuggling boat came ashore in Imperial Beach early Thursday and eight people were taken into custody by federal agents, authorities said.

An Imperial Beach lifeguard spotted the pleasure craft coming onto the beach south of the Imperial Beach pier shortly before 8 a.m., and saw a group of people leave the boat and head to a nearby street, said Border Patrol spokesman Victor Pirro.

Board Patrol agents responded within minutes and detained the eight people a couple blocks away on Imperial Beach Boulevard near Second Street, Pirro said.

Members of the group smelled strongly of gasoline, he said.

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The 19-foot boat was spotted coming to shore by an Imperial Beach lifeguard shortly before 8 a.m. (John Gibbins/San Diego Union-Tribune)

Seven men and one woman  including two suspected smugglers  were arrested and the boat is being seized, Pirro said. The eight, who all said they were Mexican nationals, will be processed at a nearby Border Patrol station for entering the country illegally.

The boat, which was painted a blueish gray color, was carrying seven 10-gallon fuel tanks. It also had exposed battery wiring and no life vests were seen, Pirro said.

It was extremely dangerous, he said. They all smelled of gasoline and they had exposed wires from the battery. It was very dangerous.

Officials said it is unusual to see smuggling boats come into shore during daylight hours.

Twitter: @karenkucher

(619) 293-1350

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

11:40 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from the U.S. Border Patrol.

This article was originally published at 10:40 a.m.
We lost family last Saturday. As Jews, we call them brothers and sisters, although most of us never met any of the 11 innocent people gunned down just for being Jewish. I saw newscasters eyes well with tears describing the senseless horror that occurred during a Shabbat morning in a house of worship. I listened to a commentator poignantly describe how, in a violent world, this tragedy was different  different because after thousands of years of persecution, exile and murder, Jews were supposed to be safe in America.

The undeniable strength of the United States is its diversity. Our varying experiences converge into a common heritage built on being strangers in a new land, immigrants with a new lease on life, people who found belonging in the strength of our differences. Yet, there are those who dont believe in the multicultural fabric that makes America the beacon of democracy and freedom envied the world over, despite our imperfections and historical missteps. The scourge of anti-Semitism, couched in terms stolen from generations past, reared its ugly head again in the most egregious and devastating manner. Jews were killed  for being Jews. We are less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the world population with an undeniable record of contributions to the betterment of humanity, yet there are those who still find justification in the cold-blooded murder of Jews, for being Jews.

America is beset by a climate of division, incivility and vitriolic rhetoric. On this, we can all agree. Whether the killing of two African-Americans in Kentucky, because they were black, or the tragedy at Pittsburghs Tree of Life synagogue, the predictable result of these crescendos of hatred is violence spawned from the seeds of ignorance and bigotry. When will we recognize that words have meaning, that they are a call to action?

When I say we lost family, I mean every one of us. Jews do not have a monopoly on victimization. We are often the canary in the coal mine that gets ignored until it is too late, but we are not alone. Woman. Black. Latino. LGBTQ. Muslim. Japanese. Sikh. The list of targets goes on. As Jews, our history of confronting discrimination and fighting for survival stretch millennia, but the same ugly soil of bigotry is the ground from which it grows for all of us.

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For those who exploit the death of 11 souls to make a point, let us not forget that they were family. They had parents, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. There are people suffering from unspeakable pain, wondering how such evil can occur. For them, our hearts bleed. There is also the Pittsburgh Jewish community family. The attack in their backyard demands our unqualified sympathy and support. As does the larger Jewish community. We vow never again and then witness yet another malevolent attack on our family  on all Jews. We fear that we are not as safe as Americans as we felt last Friday.

A central tenet of Judaism is Tikkun Olam, repair the world. It is not charity and it is not about Jews. It is about making our world a better place for our family. This principle that guides many Jews is why Israel offers assistance to Iran after earthquakes or why Israeli rescue teams are the first on the scene of a disaster anywhere in the world.

Yes, our family is complicated. We are white, black, Asian, gay, Latino, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, conservative, liberal  we are all family. We all lost a bit of our souls with the death of our Jewish family members. But we will endure. We always do. The optimism that is at the foundation of Americas greatness and in our human spirit will prevail. This excruciating loss will unite us, once again, to defeat the forces that seek to annihilate us. Ive seen it before in all forms and from all segments of society.

We all lost family last Saturday. Let us honor them by fighting that which seeks to divide us and prove that our love for our family is too strong to be destroyed.

Tauber is board chair of Jewish Federation of San Diego County, an organization that works to build community, save lives and help Jews in need.
Theres no comparison between Hall, opponent

Re Vote for Matt Hall for mayor of Carlsbad (Oct. 18): Matt Hall was a small business owner for more than 40 years, Cori Schumacher was a professional surfer. Hall was on the Carlsbad Redevelopment Committee, chaired the Carlsbad Planning Commission, was on the Carlsbad City Council and has served with distinction as our mayor. Schumacher failed to vote in multiple elections.

Hall implemented Carlsbads climate action plan, recruited high-paying jobs to Carlsbad, funded a great Police Department, grew our citys rainy day fund and secured regional transportation funding. Schumacher, nothing. Hall is a Vietnam vet with a Purple Heart. Schumacher, no military service. Sounds to me like Halls opponent is more a breath of stale air that will stagnate any progress or growth as has been demonstrated during her short time on the City Council.

Gordon Cress

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Carlsbad

Schumacher is the change Carlsbad needs

You state that Matt Hall admitted he made a big mistake in fast-tracking the 2015 Caruso luxury shopping mall development. You state that challenger Cori Schumacher came across as thoughtful and informed. Perhaps you did not ask Hall how many times he had to recuse himself on village development projects due to ownership of numerous parcels in the village.

Hall states the Carlsbad political culture is more collegial than what Schumacher contends. Some residents would state its the good old boy politics at work.

We need a mayor who can participate and vote in all issues surrounding our village. We appreciate Schumachers hard work and transparency and look forward to her being our new mayor.

Wes and Judy Marx

Carlsbad

Your endorsement of Matt Hall for mayor of Carlsbad, was based on a shallow review of the issues.

He opposed districting the City Council after legal advice that it was required by law; wasted city money by voting to sue developers of the new generating plant even after it was clearly something the city had no control over; is unable to vote on issues that concern redevelopment where he has major holdings while his allies on the council support him.

Carlsbad for years has been dominated by politics funded by developers and not in the interest of its citizens. A review of who contributes to campaigns would have made this clear.

Cori Schumacher works constantly to advise citizens directly about both sides of the issues and explains why she votes as she does in their interest. She is the candidate for the people and should have had your endorsement.

Allen Manzano

Carlsbad

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Letters and commentary policy

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Patriotism is fine, nationalism is not

Re Donald Trump has sacrificed everything for country (Oct. 30): The letter writer is wrong to define nationalism as a love of your country, its laws, its political and legal systems, and its traditions. Thats the definition of patriotism.

Nationalism starts there, but then includes hate and violence. It includes marginalizing and scapegoating any group or minority that is different than you; blaming them for your problems.

This country was not founded for any one racial, religious or ethnic group. It was founded on ideals and principles for all people. The biggest threat to these American ideals is the present occupant of the White House with his race-baiting to those of his followers who are bigoted nationalists.

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Jeff Goodhartz

Jamul

As is often the case, the letter writer and others are hiding behind semantics. To me, it is clear as day that we have two words that define the two opposing sides in both national and world politics; nationalism and globalism. One opposes the other.

Lets at least cut to the chase and see it for what it is. Nationalism historically sides with isolation as opposed to globalism which sides with open relationships. History is our best judge of times past, and nationalism has met tragic failure over and over again and again.

Greg Bowerman

San Diego

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Letters and commentary policy

The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below.

Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook.
There are few beliefs more universally held in America than the view that voting is a noble, unselfish act that leads to a healthier democracy. University of Kentucky law professor Joshua A. Douglas spoke for millions in 2013 when he wrote that ...

Voting is the foundational concept for our entire democratic structure. ... When a group of citizens collectively elects its representatives, it affirms the notion that we govern ourselves by free choice. An individuals right to vote ties that person to our social order ... . Participation is more than just a value. It is a foundational virtue of our democracy.

More grating versions of this assertion are also common. In 2016, the editorial board of the St. Augustine Record, a Florida newspaper, blasted the 170,000 local residents who had registered for the state primary but then failed to vote, grousing that they were ...

... content to let the minority make the decisions that directly affect your livelihood, quality of life and the education of your children. But it does seem like we fought a war 240 years ago to end just that kind of tyranny. The really sad thing is, today our brand of voter tyranny is so utterly self-inflicted.

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This sort of thinking is why politicians, celebrities, teachers and everyone else under the sun constantly exhort Americans to register and then to actually vote. The assumption is the higher the participation in voting, the better the quality of the results.

This view is a why a longtime staple of the nations opinion pages has been the essay calling for voting to be mandatory, as it is in 22 nations with a collective population of more than 700 million people. The argument goes that since mandatory voting requires all adults to be invested in a nations politics, the actual practice makes governments more likely to respond to the most broadly held concerns. This broadening of decision-making, according to the theory, makes it harder for those on the extremes to gain power.

In Tuesdays The San Diego Union-Tribune, a letter writer made this exact point:

If you dont want mass shootings and hate crimes to become even more frequent than they are now, you cant sit back and let a small fraction of eligible voters make the choices that impact all of us.

You need to vote. Our lives really do depend on it.

Now I absolutely get why many people think this way. In such a polarized era, those with even moderately partisan views really, really want their side in power  and the other side routed. The general idea that more participation makes for better participation has some grounding in hard evidence. In his 2004 book The Wisdom of Crowds, renowned business journalist James Surowiecki offers example after example of his thesis that the many are smarter than the few while writing:

We think smart people are easy to recognize and identify. As a result, we assume that the key to solving problems or making good decisions is finding that one right person who will have the answer.

Success in business or in government, we imagine, is not a matter of building a collectively intelligent organization, but a matter of finding a few right people and stepping aside to let them make the tough decisions.

Yet all the evidence suggests that none of these assumptions is true. If you want the best answers possible, you shouldnt chase the expert. You should ask the crowd.

But any specific claim that the higher the percentage of voter turnout, the better the results are, has a problem: There is zero proof it is true. Many of the nations that require everyone to vote not only do not have good records of governance; sometimes their voters make terrible choices. The histories of Argentina and Brazil  two nations which have long squandered their enormous natural resources  bear this out. And there is little correlation between the quality of U.S. presidents and the percentage of voter turnout. In the last 50 years, the highest percentage turnout was in 1968, when Richard Nixon was elected. We all know how that turned out. The lowest percentage was in 1996, when Bill Clinton was re-elected. However you feel about Clinton now, the peace, prosperity and budget surpluses of his second term look great in retrospect.

So why doesnt Surowieckis theory about the wisdom of crowds apply to turnout? Because his examples often involve situations where large groups of people guess from a range of results  how much does a cow weigh, where a missing submarine might be, etc. Voters have far fewer choices involving far more variables than a single number or geographic location. And social scientists have documented that the thought process by which most voters make their decisions is haphazard and chaotic.

In their 2016 book, Democracy for Realists, social scientists Christopher H. Achen and Larry M. Bartels assail the romantic myths surrounding voting. This is Voxs short version of their thesis:

Voters dont have anything like coherent preferences. Most people pay little attention to politics; when they vote, if they vote at all, they do so irrationally and for contradictory reasons.

The book lays waste to a reassuring theory about democracy that goes something like this: Ordinary citizens have preferences about what the government ought to do; they elect leaders who will carry out those preferences and vote against those who will not; in the end, were left with a government that more or less serves the majority.

Even voters who pay close attention to politics are prone  in fact, more prone  to biased or blinkered decision-making. The reason is simple: Most people make political decisions on the basis of social identities and partisan loyalties, not an honest examination of reality.

The Myth of the Rational Voter  published in 2007 by iconoclastic George Mason University economics professor Bryan Caplan  similarly cites reams of hard evidence to demolish the idea that voters are wise and well-informed. In it, Caplan takes dead aim at the Surowiecki claim that the ignorance of crowds balances out and doesnt take away from the wisdom of crowds  at least when it comes to voting. In a summary of his book published in The Washington Post, Caplan wrote ...

Sure, the average voter knows little about politics, economics and policy. But for every voter who overestimates the benefits of tariffs, carbon taxes and the Iraq war, doesnt another make the opposite mistake?

Actually, no. Voters are frequently wrong in the same way. This is particularly clear in economics. If youve never studied economics, youre not equally likely to oversell or downplay the benefits of free trade. Instead, people who know nothing about economics are staunch protectionists, and people who know a lot of economics are avid free-traders.

The fact that voters errors fail to cancel out seems strange. Why would people have strong opinions about a subject theyve never studied? The simple answer is that a lot of voters are irrational, and it shows. In politics and economics, people believe what makes them feel good, even if the evidence is against them.

So is low voter turnout a form of tyranny, as the St. Augustine Record and lots of other folks believe? Or is it a nothing burger  neither bad nor good? The propagandists who exalt voting will no doubt never stop insisting its the former. But the facts say the latter.

So vote Tuesday  or dont. Its no big deal. Believe what makes you feel good.

Reed, who believes in the Chicago theory of voting early and often, is deputy editor of the editorial and opinion section. Twitter: @chrisreed99. Email: chris.reed@sduniontribune.com. Column archive: sdut.us/chrisreed.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
The fear is understandable.

Leonard Fournette injured his hamstring in Week 1, played only one more game and is out at least until Week 10 after the Jaguars bye.

Dalvin Cook left Minnesotas Week 2 game with a hamstring injury, has played sparingly in two games since, and there has been speculation he will sit through the Vikings Week 10 bye.

So I get why fans might be worried about Chargers running back Melvin Gordon and his hamstring, especially since he was a surprise late-week inactive before the teams game in Week 7 and due to the lack of news during the teams bye in Week 8.

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Given that Gordon suffered the injury in practice, there is no video. Even if there were, hamstring injuries are difficult to assess via video.

An important thing to note is not all hamstring injuries are the same. There is wide variety in severity.

At this point, Gordons injury does not seem to be long term, as he was back at practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday. Certainly, his continued participation in practice should be monitored as an indicator of his readiness.

We cant know at this point whether he will play this week, but barring a setback he should play soon.

Have some patience. The Chargers likely will.

It would be smart for the team to not turn this into a long-term deal by bringing him back a week too soon. It could be postulated Fournette and Cook both came back too quickly, as they returned to the lineup before suffering setbacks.

In any case, I do not anticipate that history will repeat itself, as I dont expect Gordon to be out anywhere near as long as the other two running backs have been.


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The recently extinct Malagasy elephant birds included the largest birds ever discovered. Seven species are recognized across two genera, including the larger Aepyornis and the smaller, gracile Mullerornis. The neuroanatomy of these enigmatic birds is understudied but can shed light on their lifestyle. In a study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers from the University of Texas at Austin examined the neuroanatomy of two elephant bird species, Aepyornis maximus and A. hildebrandti, and found that the part of the elephant bird brain that processed vision was tiny, a trait that indicates they were nocturnal and possibly blind.

Elephant birds were large, flightless and lived in what is now Madagascar until a mixture of habitat loss and potential human meddling led to their demise between 500 and 1,000 years ago.

Humans lived alongside, and even hunted, elephant birds for thousands of years, said lead author Christopher Torres, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Texas at Austin.

But we still know practically nothing about their lives. We dont even really know exactly when or why they went extinct.

Ornithologists had previously assumed that elephant birds were similar to other big, flightless birds, like emus and ostriches  both of which are active during the day and have good eyesight.

But Torres and his colleague, University of Texas at Austins Professor Julia Clarke, revealed that elephant birds had distinctly different lifestyles through reconstructions of their brains.

The researchers studied the skulls of two species of elephant birds: Aepyornis maximus and A. hildebrandti.

By using CT-imaging data of the skulls, they were able to create digital brain reconstructions called endocasts.

In addition to the elephant bird skulls, they also created endocasts for close relatives of the elephant bird, both living and extinct.

In both elephant bird skulls, the optic lobe  a bundle of brain nerves that controls eyesight  was very small, with the structure almost absent in the larger species, Aepyornis maximus.

The lobe had the most in common with that of the kiwi, a practically blind, chicken-size denizen of New Zealand, which came as a total shock because of the kiwis poor vision and nocturnal behavior, Torres said.

No one has ever suspected that elephant birds were nocturnal. The few studies that speculated on what their behavior was like explicitly assumed they were active during the day, he said.

In addition to vision, the endocasts rendering of the olfactory bulb  the part of the brain that processes the sense of smell  helped shed light on the habitats where elephant birds lived.

The larger Aepyornis maximus had a large olfactory bulb, a trait associated with forest dwelling.

In contrast, the smaller Aepyornis hildebrandti had a smaller olfactory bulb, possibly indicating that it lived in grasslands.

The smaller species also appears to have somewhat keener vision, which means it may have been more active at dusk than during the pitch black of night.

Details like these not only tell us about what the lives of elephant birds were like, but also what life in general was like on Madagascar in the distant past, Professor Clarke said.

As recently as 500 years ago, very nearly blind, giant flightless birds were crashing around the forests of Madagascar in the dark. No one ever expected that.

_____

Christopher R. Torres & Julia A. Clarke. 2018. Nocturnal giants: evolution of the sensory ecology in elephant birds and other palaeognaths inferred from digital brain reconstructions. Proc. R. Soc. B 285 (1890); doi: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1540
First phase cost including piers $67m

The cost of the project's first phaseincluding the two finger piers, large enough to handle four of the world's biggest cruise ships simultaneouslyis $67m.

Belizean businessman Michael Feinsteinwho developed Belize Tourism Village years agotold Seatrade Cruise News all permits, including environmental, are in place, and funding is guaranteed. The project, he said, has the support of both the local public and private sectors in Belize.

'All the cruise lines we have communicated with have been in favor of this project, including one [that] offered to buy us out, one [that] offered to invest and many letters of support,' Feinstein said.

2020 completion

Work has begun, with the official groundbreaking set for January. Completion is targeted for the start of the high season in 2020.

One of the western Caribbean's most popular cruise destinations, Belize City has been challenged by the need for ships to tender passengers 45 minutes to shore. Belize Tourism Village can get congested and, from there, passengers taking excursions to Belize's natural wonders face additional lengthy transfers.

Stake Bank Cruise Port will provide a modern docking facility 10 minutes from Belize City, with facilities for tenders to the mainland and tour dispatch, 'like an intermodal center,' said Mike McFadden, president of Florida-based MAC Maritime, the project's cruise industry liaison. He noted this will especially facilitate waterborne excursions.

Beaches, over-water bungalows, bars, a water park

Stake Bank itself will be developed as a beach and cultural destination with ample passenger and crew facilities. These include a swimming and snorkeling lagoon, family beach, teen beach and, in a different location, a watersports zone. There will be tranquil seaside cabanas near a beach bar, and over-water bungalows.

A separate Beach Club will feature a pool, pool bar and grill, with an ample water park and kids' play zone nearby. An oceanfront restaurant will be located near the marina where tenders connect to Belize City.

Travelers will step ashore into a grand arrival plaza, and crew will have their own area, including a pool.

Seasoned development team

Feinstein's team includes experts with decades of experience developing cruise ports, mixed use waterfront facilities and distinctive tourism venues throughout the Caribbean in collaboration with public and private stakeholders. Besides MAC Maritime, the development team includes Schneider Engineering & Consulting for engineering and coastal design and EDSA for upland development. Atlantic Bank Ltd. is the lead finance arranger.

Stake Bank Cruise Port will be one of Belize's largest and most important projects during the next three years. Tourism accounts for 30% of the country's GDP and is a significant source of foreign exchange.

For a long time cruise lines have been clamoring for docking facilities in Belize. Several years ago, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings broke from the pack by developing its own island gateway destination in southern Belize, with tender transfers to the mainland. Harvest Caye opened in 2016, to great success.

Cruise line input

'Our preliminary discussions with cruise line representatives have been met with high interest,' McFadden said. 'As the design phase of the project moves forward, we will reach out to the cruise lines on a regular basis to solicit their input. This will insure that the various components of the development satisfy the needs of their passengers and crew.'

The Stake Bank team will be attending the FCCA Conference & Trade Show in Puerto Rico, Nov. 5-9.
The MLC, dubbed the seafarers bill of rights, concerns the right of seafarers to decent conditions of work and rest.

Abdulla Darwish Al Hayyas, director of maritime transport affairs at the countrys Federal Transport Authority told the Seatrade Maritime Middle East Exhibition & Conference in Dubai that the UAE has seen 60 crew abandonment cases involving 300 seafarers in the last couple of years.

Some 95% of the cases have concerned foreign flag ships, owners and seafarers, and usually were the result of ship owners facing financial problems. The seafarers are left without provisions, medical care and fuel to run generators.

Al Hayyas said that with the exception of Panama and India the UAE received no assistance from the flag states in dealing with the cases, and the FTA had felt compelled to get involved on a humanitarian level.

The abandoned vessels were usually tankers and offshore service vessels, and many were substandard, belonging to owners vulnerable to financial problems.

In response to the wave of abandonments, and also a spate of safety incidents, the FTA has introduced a 25 year age restriction on tankers, and all commercial ships must now be fitted with AIS tracking, including dhows. Four ship owners, including Indias Varun Resources Limited, have been banned from calling at UAE ports. Seafarer insurance has also been made compulsory for all ships over 200 gross tonnage entering UAE waters. The insurance has to cover four months of salaries as well as repatriation.

We are aiming to ratify the convention as soon as we can, said Al Hayyas. It is a priority for us.
Coffee and baked goods may be the focus at 32Social, but its what happens while eating and drinking that is most exciting to Jake Minear, senior barista and manager of the coffee shop.32Social, located at 32 W. Michigan Ave., in Battle Creek is set for a soft opening Nov. 5 and a grand opening on Nov. 16 if everything falls into place, Minear says. Initial store hours will be 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.We want this to be a place where people can interact whether it be a business meeting or getting together with friends, he says. We just are really seeing the need for it. People wanted a great cup of coffee and to hang out with friends.The coffee shop is owned by Battle Creek businesswoman Tara Hampton, who, according to Minear, originally wanted to open a health food store until she started hearing about the need for a coffee shop downtown. In addition to coffee, 32Social also will sell baked goods made by Dark Horse Brewing Co. in Marshall. The coffee that will be supplied by Populace based in Detroit.A variety of food options will be added gradually, including healthy, workout-approved smoothies, light lunch options, and salads. Minear also mentioned the possibility of avocado toast and a pesto tart.He says the shop is dedicated to supporting local providers and will be serving locally sourced food options.Our goal is to work with a lot of local partners to help the local economy, Minear says. We want to provide an education to Battle Creek about what good coffee is and bring us closer to the future to do what other cities are doing.Minear, who was born and raised in Battle Creek, says he thinks there is a renaissance going on in the citys downtown area that will attract people. After living in Grand Rapids for four years while a student at Cornerstone University where he studied Worship Arts, he came back to Battle Creek because none of the jobs he was offered felt right.He says there is a widely-held belief that people, especially in his age group, are leaving Battle Creek. That he chose to stay, prompted the question Why?Tara had that same question when she interviewed me, Minear says. I told her that like most people my age I didnt imagine myself coming back to Battle Creek, but I saw this culture of revitalization that people want for this city.I think its really cool that I get to manage a coffee shop. Instead of moving out, I can stay and make my home anything I want it to be.Southwest Michigan Second Waves On the Ground Battle Creek series amplifies the voices of Battle Creek residents. In coming months, Second Wave journalists will be in Battle Creek neighborhoods to explore topics of importance to residents, business owners, and other members of the community. To reach the editor of this series, Jane Simons, please email her here or contact Second Wave managing editor Kathy Jennings here
Press Release

November 1, 2018 In lieu of mandatory drug testing

Binay pushes for drug prevention, intervention and treatment programs in all secondary and tertiary schools Without any law requiring mandatory drug testing for students in secondary and tertiary levels, Sen. Nancy Binay is pushing for the establishment of a comprehensive program for the prevention, intervention, evaluation, treatment and continuous care for tobacco, alcohol and other drug abuse in all high schools, colleges and universities. In the explanatory note of her Senate Bill 2077 entitled "An Act Establishing a Comprehensive Substance Abuse Educational Program in Every School," Binay called on concerned government agencies to formulate a program that would address drug problem in all schools nationwide. "There is a need to establish a comprehensive program for the prevention, intervention, evaluation and treatment for student alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse... (to ensure) the future of our youth's intellectual, physical and social well-being," Binay said. The Department of Education (DepEd) has said the proposed mandatory drug testing would also entail additional expenses for parents, who are already complaining of costly school fees. Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 only mandates random drug testing for secondary and tertiary levels. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) earlier recommended mandatory drug testing for all students and teachers, including those from Grade 4 and above as part of the government's drive against illegal drugs. However, the DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education, and other agencies rejected PDEA's proposal requiring surprise drug testing to grade school students. Binay's measure mandates CHED, DepEd, the Department of Health and the Dangerous Drugs Board to establish a program of prevention and intervention for student alcohol and substance abuse in all secondary and tertiary schools. The prevention component of the program is aimed at keeping students from using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; reduce or eliminate the incidence and prevalence of abuse; and, actively involve staff, parents and other community members in the development and implementation of prevention program plans, among others. The purpose of the intervention, referral for evaluation and referral for treatment component of the program is to identify students who are at risk for, or who have exhibited, alcohol, tobacco or other drug abuse problems. This component is also aimed at helping students or their parents who have requested assistance for alcohol, tobacco or drug abuse problems. The measure also requires that each school should assure confidentiality of records of students found positive of alcohol and drug abuse.
This past summer, dozens of SFU students chose the world as their classroom and studied abroad at one of seven SFU field schools, ranging from archaeology in Portugal to humanities in Prague.

Harleen Atwal, a student in criminology who took part in the NATO Field School and Simulation Program, describes her experiences.

The purpose of university is to learn new things and expand your intellectual horizon, and that is what I, along with 34 other students from across Canada, experienced this summer at SFUs NATO field school. No longer were we bound to the classroom. We learned firsthand about what the Canadian Armed Forces do, what a diplomat does, and how international decisions are made in a multilateral environment. We visited experts in their workplace, we had coffee with them, we developed relationships with them.

After speaking with Canadian troops, the Canadian ambassador to Latvia, and visiting the KGB museum, I learned that Latvia was rich with stories of wars, genocides and resilience. The countrys tragic history amplified the importance of having Canadian soldiers deployed in Latvia.

Visiting Canadian troops located at an operational military base on a NATO mission was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Next, we traveled to the 3,000-year-old cosmopolitan and globally influential city of Rome. To describe the beauty, rich culture, and ancient history of Rome is nearly impossible as is describing the feeling of learning from senior-level military and civilian officials at the NATO Defense College.
Fletcher Building has sold its Roof Tile Group business to Canada's IKO group for US$39 million and expects to exit its Formica laminated panels business this financial year.

The sale was below Roof Tile's carrying value, meaning Fletcher will book a non-cash loss of $15 million to $20 million. However, the firm said this won't impact its underlying earnings outlook.

"The sale is in-line with Fletcher Buildings five-year strategy to divest our international operations to focus our capital and capability behind our New Zealand and Australian businesses, with building products and distribution at our core," chief executive Ross Taylor said. "Once both sales have been completed we will review our capital structure and capital requirements and then determine how the funds will be allocated."

The shares fell 3.3 percent to $5.84.

The country's biggest construction firm put its international businesses up for sale after getting caught by escalating costs totalling on some major projects. That led to a series of multi-million-dollar write-downs and forced it to raise equity at a discount and renegotiate some lending terms.

The Formica sale process is still underway and Fletcher expects to have that completed in the year ending June 30 2019.

Fletcher surprised some investors in October when it made a play to buy rival Steel & Tube at what the steel products maker said was an opportunistic price. A higher bid wasn't immediately welcomed, and Fletcher subsequently walked away.

Separately, Fletcher got a positive endorsement from Precinct Properties New Zealand at Precinct's AGM today, despite delays in at least one major project. Fletcher is the primary contractor on the Commercial Bay retail development in downtown Auckland, which is running behind schedule and won't open in September next year.

Precinct chief executive Scott Pritchard said Fletcher kept the company abreast of the status of the project, which was beneficial in what is a challenging environment for construction firms.

"Importantly we believe Fletchers is maintaining a high standard of quality on this project and Precinct remains comfortable with the provisions of its construction contract, which protect it from potential losses from delay caused by the main contractor," Pritchard told shareholders.

The real estate investor committed to the $72 million second stage of its Wynyard Quarter development in Auckland, hiring Hawkins as primary contractor on a fixed-price contract. Construction is expected to start later this month and be completed in 2020.

Downer EDI, which owns Hawkins, noted strong demand for Hawkins' services in non-residential commercial construction at its annual meeting today.

Precinct shares fell 0.7 percent to $1.40.

(BusinessDesk)

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Chorus wants to have half its customers connected in just one visit by Christmas, as part of a wider programme it says will make life easier for its users.

The telecommunications network operator completed a record 50,000 quarterly fast fibre installations in the September period, with lead times for connections tracking at eight days, down from 13 in June. That's the result of being a more active wholesaler and working more closely with retail providers to improve customer experience, chief executive Kate McKenzie told shareholders today.

"These initiatives, combined with the strong retail competition created by New Zealands separated fixed-line networks, have helped lift fibre demand to record levels," she said.

Chorus contracts out its installation work, and those service firms have added 185 crews in the past year to meet escalating demand. McKenzie said the company is refining processes to lift productivity and reduce the effort required by customers to get connected. That's included sharing more information with retail providers.

"We have a big programme of work underway to reduce the time taken to connect customers to fibre to just a single visit by us," McKenzie said. "Initial trials have produced great feedback from retailers and in a few days well be releasing about 30 percent of our address base to retailers as the first phase in this initiative."

The end goal for the initiative is to have 50 percent of customers connected after one visit compared to the 25 percent currently.

If successful, McKenzie expects that will lift customer satisfaction scores which improved but missed the company's target in the June 2018 financial year.

The focus comes as Chorus puts the employment practices of sub-contractors building the fibre network under the microscope after a Labour Inspectorate inquiry found widespread issues. In the 2018 financial year, one of its service firms ended a relationship with a sub-contractor over claims workers were employed on a voluntary basis.

Chair Patrick Strange said the company was disappointed with the findings and is working with its primary contractors to stamp out those issues. Any lessons will be shared with other companies facing similar problems, he said.

Contracting firms have faced staffing issues as growing demand for fibre doubled the number of people in the field to about 4,000 in what's expected to be the peak.

Strange rejected claims that quality has been sacrificed during the roll-out. He says spot checks show just 1 percent of installations require a repeat visit, compared to the industry benchmark of 4-5 percent.

Chorus shares fell 1.1 percent to $4.70.

(BusinessDesk)

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The New Zealand dollar was sharply higher against the US dollar after President Donald Trump signaled progress on its trade dispute with China.

The kiwi traded at 66.57 US cents at 8am in Wellington versus 65.74 US cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index was at 72.73 from 72.07.

"Just had a long and very good conversation with President Xi Jinping of China. We talked about many subjects, with a heavy emphasis on trade. Those discussions are moving along nicely with meetings being scheduled at the G-20 in Argentina. Also had good discussion on North Korea!," Trump said on Twitter.

"NZD surged higher overnight, smashing through resistance," said ANZ Bank economist Miles Workman. Trump's comments were also "mirrored" in China with Xi Jinping reportedly open to the discussions at the upcoming G-20 meetings in Argentina, which added to the market's risk-on sentiment, Workman said.

Stuart Ive, senior dealer foreign exchange at OMF in Wellington, said more details will be needed on the US-China trade situation for the kiwi to hold around these levels markets. The G-20 meeting begins late November.

Investors will also now be shifting their attention to next week's monetary policy review at New Zealand's central bank, he said. While the central bank is widely expected to keep rates on hold at 1.75 percent, the focus will be on whether it reiterates that a rate cut is still possible.

The kiwi traded at 92.38 Australian cents from 92.31 cents yesterday.

It rose to 4.6070 Chinese yuan from 4.5575 yuan and traded at 75.02 yen from 74.06 yen. It was at 58.36 euro cents from 57.67 cents yesterday.

The kiwi traded at 51.14 British pence from 51.15 British pence after the Bank of England held its policy rate at 0.75 percent but hinted toward a slightly faster pace of tightening under its assumed orderly Brexit scenario.

(BusinessDesk)

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Z Energy is accelerating work on new services and cost-saving initiatives in the face of a very tricky crude oil market.

The company had been caught short by the rapid jump in oil prices and the fall in the kiwi dollar during the six months through September, chief executive Mike Bennetts said today.

While those impacts, and an unplanned extension of a shutdown at the Marsden Point oil refinery were beyond its control, risks in the crude market may persist and the company needs to move faster on projects it already has underway, Bennetts said.

The world is a very tricky place right now and oil prices could rise rapidly or fall away.

We want to be good for all seasons, he said. The company needed to up the pace" on customer experience and productivity initiatives.

Z Energy shares fell as much as 7.7 percent today after the firm cut its full-year earnings guidance for the second time in five months and delivered a lower-than-expected first-half dividend.

Bennetts told analysts and journalists that the company had known it would face a high crude oil price environment at some time but had thought it would be most likely in 2020. New international marine fuel standards from January that year may limit fuel oil use and could potentially increase global demand for low-sulphur diesel.

The company had been aiming to roll out a series of new services and initiatives during the remainder of this year and next to be ready for that, he said. These include Fastlane  where a customer can pull into a service station, fill up with petrol and just drive off, with on-site cameras picking up the vehicle registration number and sorting the payment automatically.

Other initiatives underway but previously not detailed include new customer analytics capabilities so Z can better target offers and products.

The company today cited the roughly $180 million a year it spends on reasonably blunt discounts and loyalty benefits. Targeting that spend where it will be most effective for different types of customers could save more than $10 million a year by not over-rewarding some customers for their loyalty.

Im very confident that this will turn up, Bennetts said. By this time next year we will have predictive analytics on the way we engage with some of our customers.

Those efforts to insulate the company from a high price environment are effectively a year late and are being accelerated, Bennetts said.

Z last year launched a range of initiatives under its Strategy 3.0 banner aimed at delivering $15 million to $19 million of earnings improvement in the current period. About $5 million of that was achieved in the first half and Bennetts said the company is on track to deliver $16 million to $18 million for the 12 months.

The company is also working on the potential to take more fuel oil from the Marsden Point refinery after the 2020 marine fuel changes. Fuel oil then may have very little value but may offer Z an opportunity given it has a bitumen business that may be able to absorb some of that product.

Z is forecasting full-year earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and changes in financial instruments of $400 million to $435 million. That is down $50 million on its original forecast in May.

The 12.5 cent first-half dividend, while up 20 percent, was still below the 17 or 18 cents investors could have expected under the firms new dividend policy.

Despite repeated questions from analysts, chief financial officer Chris Day resisted guiding them on the likely level of the second-half dividend.

The company remains committed to a pay-out ratio of 90 to 100 percent of underlying free cash flow, subject to business performance.

But Day said the company felt bitten by the change in market conditions having previously offered very precise guidance on the dividend, and the second half is still uncertain.

The company has reasonable confidence in the lower half of its earnings range, given the increased gains it expects from its strategy projects, the new supply arrangement it has with supermarket chain Foodstuffs, and the fact no maintenance is planned at the Marsden Point oil refinery this year, he said.

The company also expects to sell $40 million of property to help fund its other capital activities.

But the forecast assumes Brent oil prices of US$80 a barrel and a New Zealand dollar exchange rate of 65 US cents for the rest of the period and neither of those are fixed.

The kiwi dollar was recently at 65.47 US cents, while December Brent was trading at US$75.46 a barrel.

(BusinessDesk)

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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

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18th November 2021 Morning Report

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New Delhi: Indian Oil Corporation, the fuel retailer released a statement saying that cost of subsidised LPG cylinders has been increased by Rs 2.94 per cooking cylinder of 14.2 kilo LPG.



With the increase, cost of the 14.2 kilo cylinder will rise to Rs 505.34 from Rs 502.40.



IOC also added in the statement that cost of non-subsidised or market price LPG rates has gone up by Rs 60 per cylinder to Rs 880.





"While the price of non-subsidised LPG at Delhi will increase by Rs60 per cylinder in November 2018, mainly due to change in international price and foreign exchange fluctuations, the actual impact on subsidised domestic LPG customers is only Rs2.94 per cylinder, which is mainly due to GST," the statement said.



The rate increase has been consistent since June, and rates have gone up by Rs 14.13 per cylinder in the past five months.



Subsidies that are deposited directly in the bank accounts of users have also been increased. Subsidy transfer has been reportedly increased to Rs 433.66 per cylinder in November 2018 against Rs 376.60 per cylinder in October 2018.



"Thus the domestic subsidised LPG customer is protected against the increase in prices of LPG," said the statement.



The IOC report further reasoned that the rate hike is owing to higher global rates. Price of non-subsidised LPG in Delhi are increased by Rs 60 per cylinder. The balance Rs57.06 (Rs 60 minus Rs 2.94) is being compensated to customers by an increase in subsidy transfer to bank accounts.



Accordingly, the subsidy transfer in the customer's bank account has been increased to Rs 433.66 in November from Rs376.60 per cylinder in October.



The government subsidises only 12 cylinders of 14.2 kilo each per household in a year.
China hosts El Salvador, Dominican leaders after Taiwan switch



Beijing, Nov 1 (AFP) Nov 01, 2018



Chinese President Xi Jinping greeted El Salvador's President Salvador Sanchez Ceren on Thursday, pledging aid to the Central American country months after it switched allegiance from Taiwan to Beijing.

Xi is hosting Sanchez Ceren and the leader of another country that recently ditched Taiwan -- Dominican President Danilo Medina -- this week.

The Chinese leader welcomed Sanchez Ceren with a ceremony at the gargantuan Great Hall of the People, where a military band serenaded the two presidents with their respective national anthems.

The two countries then inked deals pledging to cooperate on development, including on Xi's pet Belt and Road trade infrastructure project. Beijing also promised aid for education, health and drought relief.

China "welcomes" more exports from El Salvador, and will encourage more qualified Chinese companies to invest in El Salvadoran industries, said Xi in a report by state media CCTV.

China is also willing to offer scholarships to El Salvadoran students visiting China, and will encourage more Chinese tourists to travel to the Central American country, he added.

Sanchez told Xi he was "representing the El Salvadoran people to show you how grateful we are and our satisfaction now that we have restored our diplomatic relations".

El Salvador recognised Beijing in August, becoming the third country to abandon Taiwan this year, following the Dominican Republic and Burkina Faso.

Medina will be hosted at the Great Hall of the People on Friday. He will also inaugurate the Dominican Republic's embassy in Beijing during his visit.

Only 17 countries remain in Taiwan's diplomatic circle as the self-ruling democratic island struggles to fend off Beijing's growing influence around the globe.

China and Taiwan have been governed separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949, but Beijing sees the island as part of its territory to be brought back into the fold.

Taiwan and China have been engaged for years in a diplomatic tug-of-war in developing countries, with economic support and other aid often used as bargaining chips for diplomatic recognition.

Central America has been a key bastion for Taiwan, with Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua still recognising Taipei rather than Beijing, which has used its economic muscle and promises of investment to entice governments.

But Panama broke ties with Taiwan last year.

The recent defections have irked the United States, which recalled its envoys from El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and Panama in September.

The United States recognises Beijing but is congressionally bound to ensure Taiwan's defence, with President Donald Trump's administration especially vocal on defending Taipei diplomatically.

A Chinese government spokesman said on Thursday that the diplomatic tie-up between Beijing and El Salvador "does not target any third party".
Trump reports 'very good' phone call on trade with China's Xi



Washington, Nov 1 (AFP) Nov 01, 2018



US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he'd just had "very good" talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the growing trade conflict between the two economic giants.

"Just had a long and very good conversation with President Xi Jinping of China. We talked about many subjects, with a heavy emphasis on Trade," Trump tweeted.

Trump said trade talks were "moving along nicely" and that meetings were "being scheduled" at the G20 summit planned in Buenos Aires at the end of this month.

Trump said he and Xi also had "a good discussion on North Korea."

Washington and Beijing are in an increasingly high-stakes standoff over Trump's aggressive move to end what he says have been years of unfair trade practices by China, including rampant intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers and market access barriers.

Trump imposed new tariffs on roughly half of Chinese imports this summer while Beijing fired back with tariffs on most US products.
Page Content

In the wake of the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) Resilience Summit 2018 held on October 25th , St. Maartens Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin invited leaders of the Dutch Caribbean OCTs to further discuss ways of strengthening their visibility and position. The meeting, which took place at the Government Administration Building last Friday was chaired by Prime Minister of Curacao, Eugene Rhuggenaath along with the Prime Minister of Aruba Evelyn Croes Wever, Merwyn Stegers, Deputy Island Governor of St. Eustatius and Island Governor of Bonaire Edison Rijna. Representatives from Saba were not present due to prior commitments.





Keeping in line with the theme used during the Caribbean OCTs Resilience Summit: Unite-Prepare-Adapt, the Dutch Caribbean OCTs recognize that it is imperative that they unite to discuss common concerns. The premise remains that the Dutch Countries & Territories in the Caribbean region continue to face challenges where a united approach, is the best way forward.





With Brexit looming and the discontinuation of the Cotonou agreement, EU-OCT relationships are expected to change and this requires the attention and positioning of the Dutch Caribbean OCTs.





The Cotonou agreement, which forms the basis for financing the Overseas Association Decision (OAD), expires in 2020. Negotiations are currently taking place to define what the future relations between the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of States (ACP states) will be.





In May of this year the European Commission published a draft revised overseas Associations Decision (OAD) and informed the public of the intention to establish a specific OCT financial instrument within the EU budget. The OCTA consequently reacted to this draft with a position on the draft OAD that was presented recently by President of the Executive Committee of OCTA, Mrs. Carol Voges.





The association of the overseas Countries and Territories (OCTA) constitutes an essential instrument for strengthening OCTs internal communication and for reaching out to partners including the European Union.





Given the geographical position of the Caribbean OCTs and its common (economic) concerns, it is vital that we position ourselves on matters that are of mutual concern, says St. Maartens Prime Minister Romeo Marlin. Prime Minister added that doing so will increase our strength and visibility of these territories in presenting a shared position on the draft ODA that is being negotiated by the Netherlands at the European Commission on our behalf.





The Leaders of the Dutch Caribbean OCTs agreed to work together on finalizing their joint position in the coming weeks.





Photo caption L to R  Merwyn Stegers, Deputy Island Governor of St. Eustatius, Prime Minister of Sint Maarten Leona Romeo Marlin, Prime Minister of Curacao, Eugene Rhuggenaath, Island Governor of Bonaire Edison Rijna and Prime Minister of Aruba Evelyn Croes Wever.




Page Content

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) recently announced that the World Health Organization (WHO) has removed its Zika virus country classification scheme, which categorized most of the Caribbean territories as having active Zika virus transmission.

Minister of Tourism Affairs Stuart Johnson on Wednesday said this news is very much welcome especially as the region and Sint Maarten in particular heads into the high 2018-2019 tourist season.

CARPHA reported that the Zika virus transmission in the Caribbean had been interrupted for over 12 months, or was at undetectable levels, thereby posing very little risk to residents and visitors to the Region.

This was matched by data shared with CARPHA by Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States of America, which showed that no Zika had been detected for over 12 months in travelers returning from the Caribbean to their countries, according to CARPHA information.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) took the lead of keeping CARPHA and WHO informed about the impact of Zika on the regional tourism sector.

The Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region in the world.

When Zika was at its height in the Region, there were a number of cancellations throughout the tourism sector across most if not all destinations. I am pleased that the classification of most Caribbean countries as Category 1 (having active Zika transmission) to Category 3 (having no Zika transmission) is no longer active.

I would like to commend regional organizations such as CARPHA, CTO, and CHTA for their regional advocacy on behalf of tourism dependent destinations including Sint Maarten in achieving the removal of the classification system.

This will without a doubt contribute to the safety image of the Region and have a positive impact on the Region and Sint Maarten in particular for the upcoming high tourist 2018-2019 season, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Stuart Johnson said on Wednesday.

PHOTO CUTLINE: Minister Stuart Johnson
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BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- China hopes Japan will keep its promise and properly deal with Taiwan-related issues so as to safeguard the political foundation for the healthy development of China-Japan relations, a spokesperson said Wednesday.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at a press conference.

The Japanese side has affirmed many times that it will continue to abide by the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, Ma said.

The four documents refer to the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the 1978 China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, the 1998 China-Japan Joint Declaration, and the 2008 joint statement on advancing strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

During Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's official visit to China last week, he reiterated Japan's stance toward Taiwan, which had been made clear in the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement.
By Zong Ze

Note: This is a translation of a Chinese-language article first published by Xinhuanet.com. The article reflects the author's own views.

Speaking recently about the Trump administrations policy toward China, United States Vice President Mike Pence accused China of pressuring three Latin American nations to sever ties with Taipei and to recognize Beijing. He condemned these alleged actions, which he said threaten the stability of the Taiwan Strait. His claim reveals his ignorance of history.

Put simply, there is only one China, and Taiwan is an integral part of Chinas territory. This has been widely accepted since October 1971, when the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 2758, which recognized the government of the Peoples Republic of China as the only legitimate representative of China at the United Nations and established the One-China Principle.

In this file photo taken on August 9, 2018 US Vice President Mike Pence speaks about the creation of a new branch of the military, Space Force, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. [Photo: VCG]

This year El Salvador became the 177th country to adopt Resolution 2758 when President Salvador Sanchez Ceren recognized that the government of the Peoples Republic of China is the only legitimate representative of China, and that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinas territory.

Decades ago, when the United States established formal ties with China, they recognized the One-China Principle. The three joint communiques that established formal China-U.S. relations, namely the Shanghai Communique, the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and the August 17 Communique, all affirmed the One-China Principle. American adherence to the three joint communiques and the One-China Principle, and its cooperation with China on restraining Taiwan independence forces, are part of the political foundations of healthy China-U.S. relations.

From time to time, some voices in the United States call on the government there to abandon the promises it made all those years ago. And some go so far as to call for the government to interfere in Chinas domestic affairs in relation to Taiwan. Mike Pence, an avowed Christian, would be well aware of the Bibles admonishment: Do to others as you would have them do to you.

And as a student of history, he would be well versed in his countrys own struggle against separatism.

Abraham Lincoln is held up as one of Americas greatest presidents precisely because he stood firmly against the Southern separatists to safeguard the union. A house divided against itself cannot stand, he said in his 1858 speech. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved - I do not expect the house to fall - but I do expect it will cease to be divided. In 1861, the country was plunged into a bloody conflict that would leave more than 600,000 dead on battlefields across the countryside. Chinas desire to safeguard its unity is just as strong as that of America. Americans fought their deadliest war for the sake of unity; why would they hold China to a different standard when it defends its own territorial integrity?

On October 8 during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chinas Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi proposed a series of concrete actions to safeguard China-U.S. relations and stability of the Taiwan Strait. This includes cessation of U.S. official and military contact with Taiwan, and end to arms sales to Taiwan, an end to unreasonable intervention in countries that have established or are hoping to establish relations with China, and restraint on voices calling for Taiwans independence.

Any sovereign country that chooses to establish diplomatic ties with China in accordance with United Nations Resolution 2758 should be free to do so without threats or intimidation from the United States. In recent years, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, the Republic of Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Burkina Faso have joined the Republic of El Salvador in establishing diplomatic relations with China. It is their right to do so and Washington should respect their exercise of sovereignty.
United States Vice President Mike Pence. [File photo: VCG]

Note: The following is an edited translation of a commentary from the Chinese-language "Commentaries on International Affairs."

During the National Day holiday in China last week, United States Vice President Mike Pence delivered a speech in which he boasted about the strength of the United States, and criticized China's development ambitions. The speech was translated into Chinese and published by the U.S. Embassy in China on their official WeChat account, enabling it to be readily ridiculed by Chinese netizens.

In his speech, Pence unleashed a verbal attack on the greater part of China's history over the past one hundred years. Some young netizens who paid attention to the speech decided to brush up on their history, and found that Pence's view of events was often laughable.

"It is remarkable to think that only five years after our nations had fought together, we fought each other in the mountains and valleys of the Korean Peninsula. My own father saw combat on that frontier of freedom," he said. Some Chinese netizens were quick to point out that the United States military smashed and burned its way up towards China's doorstep. In order to defend their country's sovereignty and territory, the Chinese People's Volunteers "crossed the Yalu River valiantly and spiritedly", as says a classic army marching song.

The Vice President also said, "We rebuilt China over the last 25 years." Twenty-five years ago China was at a crossroad, deciding on its path to development. It was then that China's leader Deng Xiaoping said, "Let whoever opposes reform go to sleep." He said this during his history-making Southern Tour, which gave a massive boost to the country's policy of Reform and Opening up. It was at this moment that China stepped up the pace of its move towards becoming a market economy. At the same time, the United States was busy celebrating the disintegration of the Soviet Union, and warning that China would be the next big global threat. In 1992, China's GDP was 2.72 trillion yuan; by the end of 2017 it was 82.71 trillion yuan. This was, as some Chinese netizens said, the result of hard work by the Chinese people, and not some gift from the United States.

Pence also said, "At the University of Maryland, a Chinese student recently spoke at her graduation of what she called the fresh air of free speech in America. The Communist Party's official newspaper swiftly chastised her. She became the victim of a firestorm of criticism on China's tightly-controlled social media, and her family back home was harassed." This observation led to more ridicule from Chinese netizens, as Pence grossly mischaracterized why she came in for such harsh criticism in China. Many Chinese netizens attacked her words because her decision to launch a broad-brush attack on China was little more than an insincere attempt to please her American hosts and her audience. As a Chinese netizen said, "Mr. Pence doesn't know today's China and the Chinese people. No wonder his remarks were not to the point and opened him up to ridicule."

But the biggest laugh that netizens got from Vice President Pence's speech, which also sparked the ridicule of many American netizens, was his accusation that "China wants a different American President." Many Americans on Twitter started replying "So do we!" And as some Chinese netizens noted, isn't interfering in the domestic politics of another country a longstanding habit of the United States? And some were quick to point to the tight race the Republicans are facing in next month's mid-term elections, which is why Pence fell back on the old trick of using China as a scapegoat for America's domestic problems.

Just last month, President Donald Trump bragged about his achievements and promoted his policy of "America First" at the United Nations. It triggered a burst of laughter from the participants at the General Assembly. We've become the laughing stock of the world, said many American media commentators.

Another netizen pointed out that Pence has always been seen to play a more neutral and moderate role in the Trump administration. This is why the many smears in his speech left many people in China feeling disappointed. In early September, The New York Times published an article by an anonymous senior official of the White House called "I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration", which complained about President Trump's "amorality" and "reckless decisions". The American media was rife with speculation about Pence's role in its publication, which is why some observers in China see Pence's fiery speech as some sort of misguided show of loyalty to President Trump. Chinese people have always believed that it is important to set your own house in order before you criticize someone else, but this is not, it seems, a sentiment shared by the American Vice President.

When President Trump spoke, the whole world laughed; when Pence spoke, Chinese netizens laughed, said a Chinese netizen. But now the jokes are over, and it's time for China to get back to the serious work of addressing the problems the country still has to solve along its path towards development. Because, regardless of Pence's barrage of criticism, China will continue to move forward, to build partnerships with countries around the world, and to play its part as a responsible member of the community of nations  and not be the butt of a joke for the world.
Trump's military deployment to the border



Washington, Nov 1 (AFP) Nov 01, 2018



Thousands of active-duty US troops are immediately deploying to the US-Mexico frontier to tighten security and provide back up to overstretched border agents.

Critics have blasted the move as an expensive political stunt ahead of next week's midterm elections.

Here is a look at what the deployment means, and what American soldiers will be doing on the border.



- Why now? -



US authorities say troops are needed to address large groups of migrants arriving at the border in so-called caravans, made up largely of Central American migrants.

The issue has incensed President Donald Trump, who has sought to make political capital by depicting the migrants as carrying out an "invasion" of America.

He has repeatedly hammered on the caravans and tried to keep the issue in the headlines ahead of crucial midterm congressional elections that could see the Democrats regain some degree of power.

The Democrats, for their part, have seemed to founder in terms of presenting a coherent message on border and immigration issues and the caravans.



- How many and what will they do? -



Numbers are changing daily, but so far the Pentagon has authorized 5,239 active-duty troops to go to the border on a 45-day deployment.

Another 2,000 or more are on standby, and some 2,100 National Guardsmen are already in the border region to support agents there.

That means more than 9,000 troops have already been committed to military operations on the border and Trump, who is prone to hyperbole, on Wednesday said the final number could swell to 15,000 troops.

Whatever the case, it's a massive deployment, the largest since Defense Secretary James Mattis came into office nearly two years ago.

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.

Approximately 15,000 US troops are in Afghanistan.

The soldiers -- who will be armed -- taking part in "Operation Faithful Patriot" are not meant to directly interact with migrants coming into the US. Rather, they will provide logistical support to agents with the US Customs and Border Protection Agency.

General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, head of the US military's Northern Command, said troops will focus on trying to "harden" border crossings and surrounding areas, with work done by combat engineering battalions with experience building temporary fencing.

The soldiers will also provide medical support and temporary housing for border guards, and ferry them around on military helicopters.



- The caravans -



A first caravan, which has dwindled and now numbers some 4,000 people, according to an aid group called Pueblos sin Fronteras, arrived Tuesday in the town of Juchitan, in Oaxaca.

A smaller group of 2,000 people managed to cross the Suchiate River separating Mexico from Guatemala the day before.

The migrants are moving slowly, mostly by foot, and are still hundreds of miles from the US border.

They might not even arrive there until after the 45-day deployment is over.



- Political reaction -



Mattis on Wednesday rejected criticism that the deployment is a political move ahead of next week's elections.

"We don't do stunts in this department," he said.

But critics have piled on, and said Trump does not have the legal authority to order the military to enforce domestic laws.

"This deployment -- which comes at the expense of millions of taxpayer dollars, and an uncertain impact on our military readiness -- might satisfy the president's ego but not much else, given all the restrictions on what the military can legally do in support of our law enforcement authorities at the border," Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy said in a statement.

The Pentagon has not provided an estimate of costs of the operation.

Republican Congressman Jason Smith said he was glad Trump is taking a stance on the caravan issue.

"Our laws and sovereignty have to be respected," he wrote on Twitter.
After a brief flirtation earlier this year with a run for the White House in 2020, the media mogul, who has long associated herself with Democratic Party causes, has instead thrown her influence into a race that has become a flash point for accusations of voter suppression.

Oprah Winfrey plans to lend her star power to Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams' quest to become the United States' first black woman governor at a couple of appearances in the state on Thursday.

Earlier this month, a coalition of state civil rights groups sued Kemp, accusing him of trying to depress minority voter turnout to improve his chances of winning. On Monday, former U.S. President and former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter asked Kemp to step down as secretary of state since he was running for governor.

Abrams' campaign said she would appear with Winfrey in Cobb and DeKalb counties for a discussion on "the critical value of women in leadership and what is at stake for our communities in the election."

Winfrey, 64, stole the show at January's Golden Globes awards ceremony with a speech against sexual harassment and assault. It sparked an online campaign to persuade her to run against Republican U.S. President Donald Trump in the next election cycle.

"It's not something that interests me," Winfrey told InStyle magazine in January. "I met with someone the other day who said that they would help me with a campaign. That's not for me."

Winfrey could not be reached for immediate comment on Wednesday.
S. Korea president says North's Kim to visit Seoul 'soon'



Seoul, Nov 1 (AFP) Nov 01, 2018



North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Seoul "soon", the South's President Moon Jae-in said Thursday, amid a rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula despite stalled nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington.

At their third summit in Pyongyang in September, the leaders of the two Koreas agreed Kim would visit Seoul "in the near future" without giving a specific date.

Moon later suggested that the trip was likely to happen this year, and told lawmakers Thursday that the peninsula was approaching "the historic starting line" for peace.

"It appears that Chairman Kim Jong Un's trip to Russia and a visit to North Korea by (Chinese) President Xi Jinping will happen soon," Moon said, adding there was an "open" possibility of a meeting between Kim and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"Chairman Kim Jong Un's return visit to Seoul will happen soon," he added.

No further detail was given.

But despite the flurry of diplomatic activity on and around the peninsula differences are emerging between Seoul and its security ally Washington, which stations 28,500 troops in the South to protect it from its neighbour.

At their historic Singapore summit, brokered by Moon, Kim and US President Donald Trump signed a vaguely-worded statement on denuclearisation but there has been little progress since then.

Washington and Pyongyang have sparred over the exact terms of the agreement, with the US pushing to maintain sanctions and pressure against the North until its "final, fully verified denuclearisation".

The dovish South Korean president has long favoured engagement with the North, which is subject to multiple UN Security Council sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

He has dangled large investment and joint cross-border projects as incentives for steps towards denuclearisation.

Concerns have been raised that such schemes could violate the sanctions against the North, while the US has been adamant pressure should be maintained on Pyongyang until it fully dismantles its weapons programmes.

The State Department said this week that Seoul and Washington would set up a new working group to strengthen coordination between them.

Moon said a second Trump-Kim summit was "right before our eyes".

"Now the South, the North, and the United States will achieve the complete denuclearisation and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula," he said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested the next meeting between Trump and Kim will be "hopefully early in the next year, where we can make a substantial breakthrough in taking down the nuclear threat from North Korea".

But in September, the North's foreign minister told the United Nations there was "no way" his country would disarm first as long as tough US sanctions remain against his country.
Joint Turkey-US patrols begin in Syria's Manbij: state media



Ankara, Nov 1 (AFP) Nov 01, 2018



Troops from Turkey and the United States launched joint patrols in the northern Syrian city of Manbij on Thursday, the Turkish defence minister said, part of a bid to ease tensions between the NATO allies.

"The joint patrol in Manbij between Turkish armed forces and the US began today at 3.53pm (1253 GMT)," Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told lawmakers, according to state-run news agency Anadolu.

The city is controlled by the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, which Turkey considers a terrorist group.

The patrol took place around the Sajur River that divides Manbij and the region of Jarabulus, which was captured by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels from the Islamic State group in 2016 during Ankara's first offensive in northern Syria.

Manbij was captured from IS by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an umbrella group dominated by the YPG.

Ankara has repeatedly threatened to attack the city and earlier this week President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey had completed preparations for a new operation to "destroy" the YPG in northern Syria.

There are US forces in the Sunni Arab-majority Manbij -- which lies just 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of the Turkish border -- and Washington has been closely working with the YPG in the fight against IS.

The US support of the Kurdish militia has strained relations with Turkey.

Ankara says the YPG is an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody insurgency in Turkey since 1984 with the goal of forming an independent Kurdish state.

The PKK is blacklisted as a terror group by Turkey, the US and the European Union.

Earlier this year, Turkey and the US agreed the YPG militia would withdraw from Manbij.

As part of the roadmap, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu at the time said the agreement would ensure the YPG leaves Manbij, then Turkey and the US would work together to establish a local security structure and decide who will govern the city.

Defence minister Akar warned earlier Thursday that "the terror group (YPG) will be buried in the trenches it has dug".
South Korea's spy agency has observed preparations by North Korea for international inspections at several of its nuclear and missile test sites, the Yonhap news agency said on Wednesday, citing a South Korean lawmaker.

Kim Min-ki of the ruling Democratic Party told reporters the South's National Intelligence Service observed North Koreans "conducting preparation and intelligence activities that seem to be in preparation for foreign inspectors' visit" at Punggye-ri nuclear test site and the Sohae Satellite launching ground. The lawmaker added no major movements were seen at Yongbyon, the North's main nuclear complex.

North Korea has stopped nuclear and missile tests in the past year, but it did not allow international inspections of its dismantling of Punggye-ri in May, drawing criticism that the action was merely for show and could be reversed.

In September, its leader, Kim Jong-un, also pledged at a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in to close Sohae and allow experts to observe the dismantling of the missile engine testing site and a launch pad.
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The defense ministers of South Korea and the U.S. met at the 50th annual Security Consultative Meeting in Washington on Wednesday. They discussed a wide range of security issues, including the planned transfer of wartime operational control.

During the talks, the allies discussed a detailed timeline for establishing a combined command structure.

The two sides also agreed to suspend an annual massive air drill that was originally scheduled for December as a show of force against North Korea.
[Tifariti, Liberated Territories of Western Sahara31 October 2018] The Frente POLISARIO takes note of the adoption by the UN Security Council of its resolution 2440 (2018) by which it decided to extend the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for a period of six months.



The Frente POLISARIO also takes note of the Security Councils call upon the two parties, the Frente POLISARIO and Morocco, to resume negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith with a view to achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.



It is now incumbent upon the Security Council to use its collective weight to advance direct negotiations between the two parties with a view to enabling the free and full exercise by our People of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence.



The Non-Self-Governing Territory of Western Sahara has been illegally occupied by Morocco since 31 October 1975, which coincides with the date of the adoption of the resolution today. It is critical that the Security Council uphold unequivocally the legal status of the Territory and preserve its territorial integrity, as also called for by the African Union on many occasions, pending a definitive solution to the conflict through the UN-supervised self-determination referendum, for which MINURSO was created in1991. The Frente POLISARIOwhose raison detreit is to uphold the inalienable and sacrosanct rights and national aspirations of the Sahrawi peoplewill accept nothing less than the full respect for the inalienable right of our People to self-determination and independence.



The Frente POLISARIO recalls that its commitments with regard to the ceasefire rest on the agreements reached with MINURSO including Military Agreement No. 1 of 1997, which is binding on both parties in the framework of the implementation of the ceasefire of 1991. It is therefore critical that the Security Council ensure full adherence to and respect for the terms of the ceasefire and Military Agreement No.1, which are integral parts of the UN Settlement Plan and thus the pillars sustaining the entire UN peace process in Western Sahara.



The Security Council should also ensure that MINURSO operates in line with basic standards and general principles applicable to UN peacekeeping operations, and that the Mission be mandated to monitor the human rights situation in the occupied territories of Western Saharawhere well-documented human rights abuses are rampant. It is urgent that the Security Council demand Morocco to refrain from all its destabilising actions in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and to cease its plunder of the natural resources of our Territory.



For more information, contact:



Dr Sidi M. Omar



Frente POLISARIO Representative at the United Nations



Tel:+1(646)248-1562



Email:somar@polisarioun.org
Bir Lehlu (SADR Liberated Territories), Nov 01, 2018 (SPS) -. The President of the Republic, Secretary General of Frente POLISARIO, Brahim Gali sent a message of congratulations to his Algerian counterpart, President Abdelaziz Buteflika on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of the glorious Algerian Revolution that is commemorated on the first of November each year.

"On the eve of the celebrations for the Algerian people of the sixty-fourth anniversary of the Glorious Revolution of the First of November, I take this happy opportunity to convey to you, on behalf of the people and the Government of the Sahrawi Republic, our most sincere congratulations and best wishes of health and success ", affirms the Saharawi leader in his message to his Algerian counterpart.

POLISARIO SG also thanked the Government and the people of Algeria for their historic and firm position of support for the just cause of the Saharawi people.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Algerian sister nation will commemorate the Sixty-fourth Anniversary of the Algerian revolution, the Prime Minister, Mr. Mohamed Al-Wali Akeik and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, sent messages to their Algerian counterparts. SPS

125/090/TRA
Berlin (Germany), Nov 01, 2018 (SPS) -The Sahrawis demonstrators denounced in Berlin, Germany, the illegal looting of the Sharwi people natural resouces ,reminding the European countries of their responsibility in the decolonization of Western Sahara and to demand from the international community the holding of the self-determination referendum promised by the ONU.

The demonstration called by the collective "Banat Esaguia" coincided with the celebration of the G20-Africa Conference to promote a program of cooperation and investment in Africa.

The Sahrawi protesters mobilized to call attention to participating countries and organizations to refrain from promoting any investment project in the occupied areas of Western Sahara and respect the judgments of the European Court of Justice.

Other demands were the release of all Saharawi political prisoners jailed by the Moroccan regime and respect for the human rights of the civilian population living under occupation.

Before the Brandenburg Gate, the demonstrators, mostly women, took the opportunity to call attention to the conflict and remember that North Africa continues to suffer the aftermath of colonialism.

On the other hand, the responsibility of Spain as an administrative power was also remembered by not complying with its international commitments and the signing of the illegal Madrid agreement, an agreement that is considered by all international organizations as invalid. SPS

125/090/TRA
United Nations, Nov 01, , 2018 (SPS) .- The UN Security Council extended for six months the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso), as presented by the United States, in order to continue pressing the parties to negotiate directly and without conditions to find a solution to the conflict.

With twelve votes in favor and three abstentions, the United Nations Security Council gave its approval to a proposal by the United States, which was discussed until the last moment, given that countries like France preferred a one-year term.

Last April the United States, also presented a request for the mandate to be renewed for only six months in order to put pressure on Morocco and the Frente POLISARIO to sit at the negotiating table after years of blockade.

For Washington, that approach has been successful and has facilitated the two parties have agreed to meet next December in Geneva at a meeting organized by the UN mediator, Horst Kohler.

The US Deputy Ambassador before the UN, Jonathan Cohen, said today that his country is satisfied with these developments, but considers that they are only a beginning.

"The political process is only beginning," Cohen said after the vote, arguing that the six-month extension will allow the Security Council to closely monitor the issue and make clear its "determination to accelerate" the discussions to resolve the conflict.

For its part, the POLISARIO was in favor of a shorter mandate for the Security Council to continue pressing Morocco to negotiate, according to the statement made to reporters by the Frente POLISARIO representative to the UN, Dr. Mohamed Sidi Omar. SPS

125/090/TRA
Boujdour (Refugee Camps) Nov 01, 2018 (SPS)  The 12th edition of the International Arts and Human Rights Encounters in the Western Sahara (known as; ARTifariti), started Wednesday at the Sahrawi school of arts in the Wilaya of Boujdour, refugee camps, in the presence of the Prime Minister, Mr. Mohamed Al-Wali Akeik and a number of members of the National Secretariat, Sahrawi Government, seniors official of SAFR Culture Ministry in addition to several Foreign delegations

The current edition of this international cultural event is held under the motto (A poem from all), the event will bring together artists and activists from different countries around the world

The said art event will witness a various cultural activities, workshops , exhibition, documents screening and artwork presentation, the participants also will visit the liberated territories of the Sahrawi Republic

The event, on other hand, is an opportunity for the people of art and culture to exchange knowledge and expertise to improve human rights and make stronger solidarity among world societies. SPS

125/090/TRA
In a straw poll of people aged between 25 and 74, the 500 who already retired said they had expected to retire at around 62 but in fact retired at 57. They mainly retired early due to health problems (33 percent) or because they were laid off (24 percent).

Korean workers face retirement more than five years earlier than they expected, a study suggests. The study was published by Samsung Life Insurance last month.

Some 33 percent of male retirees said they are happiest when they are with their spouses, but 31 percent of female retirees preferred the company of their children.

The 1,953 respondents who have not retired yet said they expect to retire at 65, eight years later than the average actual retirement age.

Few were fully prepared. Those still working said they would need W1.98 million for minimum monthly expenses after retirement, but only 17 percent have any plan how to earn that amount (US$1=W1,140).

Eighty-five percent hoped they could continue to work after retirement, hopefully with a minimum monthly pay of W1.94 million.
First lady Kim Jung-sook will visit India alone for four days starting Sunday, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.

The last time a Korean first lady visited a foreign country alone was in 2002 when Lee Hui-ho, the wife of then President Kim Dae-jung, attended a UN event in New York.

"The upcoming trip follows an invitation by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking the first lady to attend the Diwali festival as a guest of honor," a Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson said.

Kim will meet Modi in New Delhi on Monday and attend a luncheon hosted by the wife of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind before attending the opening ceremony of the festival of lights on Wednesday, where some 300,000 lanterns are displayed.
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.
The U.S. State Department is setting up a working group to coordinate strategies on North Korea while ensuring that South Korea is on the same wavelength with the U.S. when it comes to abiding by sanctions against North Korea.

Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, will lead the group and monitor whether inter-Korean economic projects are in line with the sanctions imposed on North Korea.

The U.S. government was also confirmed to have requested major South Korean conglomerates to submit reports detailing their inter-Korean projects and to be ready for a conference call.

Washington appears to have taken concrete steps to put the brakes on cross-border projects as Seoul seems to push ahead with them because it wants to keep the momentum of rapprochement with North Korea going.


Panopto and Matrox Announce Availability of Dedicated Media Capture Appliance

SEATTLE( )

Panopto, a leading video platform provider for businesses and universities, and Matrox Graphics Inc., a global manufacturer of reliable, high-quality encoder cards, appliances, and software, today announced the availability of the Matrox Maevex 6020 Remote Recorder, a new Panopto-certified media capture appliance.



The purpose-built appliance is tightly integrated with Panopto, providing customers with best-in-class live streaming and video recording in a compact, turnkey form factor. Production units are entering the manufacturing process and will initially be available to customers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, with additional market availability planned for 2019.



Panopto and Matrox jointly developed the integrated solution in response to growing market demand for dedicated, compact, enterprise-grade video capture that requires minimal setup and configuration. The appliance is purpose-built for the Panopto video platform, providing businesses and universities with plug-and-play setup, multi-channel HD video capture and live streaming, near-silent operation, and one-touch recording controls on the device. Key capabilities include:





Simplified setup - Simply connect power, network, and video sources. The pre-configured appliance easily connects to the Panopto server and registers as a remote recorder.

Simply connect power, network, and video sources. The pre-configured appliance easily connects to the Panopto server and registers as a remote recorder. Control room-compliant, near-silent operation - Under typical use cases, the appliance registers less than 25dB, making it perfect for in-room video capture and streaming.

Dual 1080p capture - The Maevex 6020 works in concert with Panoptos unique multi-channel video streaming engine, enabling viewers to watch dual HD feeds of the presenter and their content simultaneously.

Reduced-latency live broadcasts - The Maevex 6020 and Panopto provide customers with low-latency video during live broadcasts to internal or worldwide audiences of any scale.

Share videos to any device - The Maevex 6020 offers up to five different quality recordings per channel, with all videos automatically published to Panoptos video content management system for convenient on-demand playback on any device.

Scheduled or ad hoc capture - Through an easy-to-use web interface or mobile app, customers can schedule recurring or one-time events. And for ad hoc video capture, the front of the appliance includes one-touch controls for recording, pausing, and stopping.

Secure, reliable operation  Highly locked-down firmware ensures secure, reliable, and virtually maintenance-free operation.

Integration with visual indicators - Compatibility with Kuando BusyLight can provide presenters with a visual indication of whether the appliance is recording.

Panopto and Matrox share a belief that video solutions should adapt to the logistical requirements of any learning environment, said Eric Burns, co-founder and CEO of Panopto. Through our partnership, were taking the next step toward this goal, providing customers with best-in-class video capture in a form factor that makes it an attractive option for any classroom, conference room, or auditorium.



By combining Matroxs dedication to quality with Panoptos commitment to providing the best user experience possible, universities and enterprise organizations are now equipped with a best-of-breed, end-to-end video streaming and recording platformfrom capture all the way to consumption, said David Chiappini, vice president of research and development at Matrox Graphics Inc. Its now easy for schools and businesses to create, manage, and share video assetsat the highest qualitywith audiences across both on-premises and cloud locations.



For more information about the appliance or to place an order, visit www.panopto.com/matrox or www.matrox.com/graphics/panopto.



Visit Panopto at EDUCAUSE 2018 (booth 1309) to learn more about the Matrox Maevex 6020 Remote Recorder.

About Panopto

Panopto helps businesses and universities create searchable video libraries of their institutional knowledge. Since 2007, the company has been a pioneer in video capture software, video content management systems, and inside-video search technology. Today, Panoptos video platform is the largest repository of expert learning videos in the world. Headquartered in Seattle, with offices in Pittsburgh, London, Hong Kong, and Sydney, Panopto has received industry recognition for its innovation, rapid growth, and company culture. For more information, visit www.panopto.com.

About Matrox Graphics Inc.

Matrox Graphics is a global manufacturer of reliable, high-quality ASICs, boards, appliances, and software. Backed by in-house design expertise and dedicated customer support, Matrox products deliver stellar capture, extension, distribution, and display. Engineering high-quality products since 1976, Matrox technology is trusted by professionals and partners worldwide. Matrox is a privately held company headquartered in Montreal, Canada. For more information, visit www.matrox.com/graphics.
A couple of planned cross-border projects and events agreed at the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang in September have been delayed or canceled.

The two Koreas agreed to conduct on-site inspections of railways in North Korea in late October, and that Seoul would host a concert by a North Korean troupe in the same month, but neither of them materialized.

Meanwhile, plans to have some 150 South Korean businessmen inspect the North's shuttered Kaesong Industrial Complex have been delayed indefinitely.

The delays and cancellations seem to reflect U.S. concerns over the lack of progress in North Korea's denuclearization.
Between the 31 October and the 5 November, Heesen yachts Septimus and Abbracci will be exhibited at stand number 7 at the SYBASS Superyacht Avenue. We take a closer look at these vessels, both of which are true standard bearers of the pedigree of the shipyard. Heesen, having long enjoyed close ties with the US market, are expecting an overwhelmingly positive reception for Septimus and Abbracci, both of which illustrate the prestige of one of the most successful shipyards in the world

Style Studded M/Y Septimus

The award winning 50-metre yacht launched by Heesen in 2011 is the head-turning spectacle set to take the show by storm. Currently for sale with Edmiston, she is designed by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects, as an example of classic craftsmanship and a build of the highest quality. Interior spaces are the masterpiece of French designer Remi Tessier, and display a contemporary style backed up by substantial capabilities.

Septimus possesses an impressive array of leisure and relaxation opportunities whilst retaining the intimacy of a yacht of her size. The main deck is separated into a formal dining area and two lounging areas, whilst five comfortable staterooms to sleep ten guests all feature ensuites. She continues to impress with extensive social areas, namely a split-level sundeck entailing enticing amenities such as a jacuzzi, sunbathing terrace and bar. Unsurpassed in quality, her style speaks volumes.

All Eyes on M/Y Abbracci

The second vessel accompanying Heensen to Fort Lauderdale is Abbracci, a prime example of engineering quality and construction of the Heesen brand. Exterior lines are architected by Omega, whilst retaining the Heesen trademark in the pelican beak bow and negative sheer. The design for the 55-metre delivers elegant curves that are proportioned to maximise interior space, meaning that interior volume is impressive considering the sleekness of her stature.

The credible, functional and aesthetically charming Abbracci has 60,000 miles of cruising under her belt, accumulated in the space of only six years. This is just one testament to the capability of Heesens in-house naval architecture team who worked closely with Van Oossanen to refine the displacement hull. Consequently, Abbraccis world cruising abilities are unrivalled; she is comfortable in all conditions and covering transoceanic distances, perfect for the intrepid explorer.

Heesen encourages and welcomes visitors to their exhibition space, to come and peruse this years selection for themselves, proving once more to the world their outstanding presence as a global name.
Alibaba unveils its 'future hotel' in Hangzhou

From:ChinaDaily | 2018-10-31 15:16

China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group has unveiled its first "future hotel", also known as "Flyzoo Hotel", in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, according to a local media reports on Tuesday.

View of the Alibaba "future hotel" - Fly Zoo Hotel - of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group in Hangzhou city, East China's Zhejiang province, Oct 30, 2018. [Photo/IC]

Equipped with the latest leading technology, many futuristic features are enabled at the hotel, guests can check into the hotel without talking to anyone. They can walk straight to their rooms and get their faces scanned at the door to gain entry.

Robots can be found everywhere in the hotel, and they would guide the guests by providing recorded voice messages and accompany them during their stay. The guests can also control indoor temperatures, lighting intensity, household appliances through their voices.

An intelligent robot serves at the Alibaba "future hotel" - Fly Zoo Hotel - owned by Chinese E-commerce giant Alibaba Group in Hangzhou city, East China's Zhejiang province, Oct 29, 2018. [Photo/IC]

A very notable device that the hotel is equipped with is called "Tmall Genie", which is an AI management system. The system will take orders from guests, including buying groceries.

Wang Qun, CEO of the Flyzoo Hotel, said "The new AI system will help to improve the management efficiency of the hotel, by reducing more than half of the labor forces."

Small items in display in the Alibaba "future hotel", Fly Zoo Hotel, East China's Zhejiang province, Oct 30, 2018. [Photo/IC]

It's said that the furniture and many other items in the hotel can be bought merely by taking photos through designated APP.

It's also said that the Flyzoo Hotel provided 7 theme-rooms, which will create better living experience for the guests.
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Childrens books to go global

From:Shanghai Daily | 2018-11-01 03:29

MORE childrens books written by Chinese authors will be available around the world thanks to international copyright agreements due to be signed at the upcoming China Shanghai International Childrens Book Fair.

The fair runs from November 9 to 11 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center.

Shanghai Century Publishing (Group) Co will have 17 varieties of domestic childrens books translated into foreign languages and released abroad. For example, Schoolboy Jia Li and Schoolgirl Jia Mei, by author Qin Wenjun, will have an Arabic version.

The East China Normal University Press said many of its science books were published overseas.

This year we signed with HarperCollins Publishers for our mental calculation guidance books Pass in Three Steps, said president Wang Yan.

Childrens books coming to the fair are also emerging in new forms.

A picture book on the myth of the woman warrior Hua Mulan uses both paper and augmented reality technology to let children enjoy a four dimensional story on smart devices.
Completing the last mile between innovation and industrialization

From:Shanghai Daily | 2018-11-01 03:29

THE World Laureates Association concluded its first forum in Shanghai yesterday and laid plans for the WLA science community that was announced on Monday.

The discoveries that have been made through the WLA will very likely lead to future applications of technology, and we hope we can assist in this area as an advisory board, Michael Levitt, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2013, said at the closing ceremony of World Laureates Forum.

He was speaking on behalf of more than 30 top scientists who attended, including 26 Nobel laureates.

We also laid plans for WLA science community that will facilitate the connection between the last mile of innovation in basic science and the last mile of industrialization, he said.

Levitt added that scientists had agreed to emphasize the importance of basic scientific research, to call for international diversity and collaboration, as well as to support young scientists.

These were subject matters discussed at the three-day forum at Shanghais Lingang area, one of the citys major incubators of science and technology in the Pudong New Area.

Over the course of the forum, top scientists shared their latest research on photonics, life science, new drug development, brain science and artificial intelligence, among other fields.

All of my colleagues and myself have specially enjoyed the forum, Roger Kornberg, the 2006 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry and chairman of World Laureates Association, told Shanghai Daily.

Most scientific meetings are more narrow. They are usually about research in our own field. This is probably the first time that I participated in a meeting that ranged across all fields of science.

He highly valued such diversity because the boundaries between different scientific fields have disappeared, and it has become a norm for scientists to cross over.

Levitt added: Science is international. It depends completely on the free exchange of ideas and on collaborations between individuals, countries and cities. Diversity is incredibly important to science!

Shi Guanghui, deputy mayor of Shanghai, echoed the scientists focus on basic science research, international collaboration and support for young scientists. He also vowed to accelerate the construction of the WLA community into a home for both established and young scientists.

As Chinas largest economic center, Shanghai is accelerating in becoming a hub for scientific innovation with global influence, Shi said.

He added that the city will strive to become a cradle for new academic ideas, new scientific discoveries, new technologic inventions and new industrial trends.
Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Thursday have given priority to a host of issues form political, sociocultural and economic spheres. Prime Minister KP Sharma Olis health condition continues to be one of the most discussed issues as he is still in a hospital undergoing treatment for chest infection and imbalanced sugar level among others. Newspapers have highlighted that he summoned three key ministers to the hospital and held a meeting.

Important

Hospital likely to discharge PM on Friday

While almost all newspapers report that the Prime Ministers health is gradually improving, a four column story in The Himalayan Times predicts that the Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre is likely to discharge the leader on Friday.

We are going to keep the PM under observation till the antibiotics course is over. The PM is having regular meals, the report quotes his personal physician Dr Divya Singh.

Meanwhile, PM Oli has expressed his interest in going to the airport to welcome President Bidya Devi Bhandari as she is returning home from a Qatar visit on Thursday, reports Naya Patrika in a snippet. The doctors, however, did not entertain his request.

Govt to sack province chiefs

The government is preparing to remove all seven province chiefs appointed by the previous Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government, claims The Kathmandu Post in a three column story. Likewise, some ambassadors appointed by the previous government will also be called back.

The report says the government has already prepared a roster of candidates for new ambassadorial appointments.

Subash Nirola allowed to file appeal

Nagarik and Republica report that the Supreme Court has allowed former chief executive officer of Nepal Tourism Board, Subash Nirola, to file an appeal against the apex court verdict, without serving the jail term.

A division bench of Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra and Justice Purushottam Bhandari lets Nirola file the appeal against the decision to slap a seven year jail term on him without serving the sentence, but by depositing a security bond, according to the reports.

Ignored

Govt to take back Osho Tapobans land

Accusing the commune of breaching conversation laws and constructing illegal infrastructures, the government is all set to take back the forest land it provided to Osho Tapoban in Nagarjun of Kathmandu, Kantipur reports in a box story.

Around 13 years ago, the government had allowed the organisation to use 37 ropani land of Nagarjun forest, which is a part of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, to use as a spiritual commune. However, the government has now charged that the Tapoban used the area for commercial purposes.

Parliament Secretariat demands additional budget for vehicles

The Federal Parliament Secretariat has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs, demanding the release of additional budget to purchase 23 new vehicles and 30 motorbikes for parliamentary officials and staff, Annapurna Post reports in its lead story for the day.

The Secretariat has demanded Rs 17.5 million for a single vehicle for National Assembly Chair Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, according to the report.

Supreme Court stays Gorkhapatra GMs dismissal

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the government not to implement its decision of removing Basanta Prakash Upadhyaya from the position of General Manager of Gorkhapatra Corporation, according to a snippet in The Himalayan Times.

A single bench of Justice Ishwar Prakash Khatiwada issued the stay order against the decision made on October 28.

PSC chief dissatisfied with halt at recruitment

Public Service Commissions Chief Umesh Prasad Mainali has expressed his dissatisfaction over the government decision to halt the recruitment process of civil servants for next two months, according to the lead story in Gorkhapatra.

However, he said the constitutional body would cooperate with the government by halting the process till mid-December, warning it would not consider any change in the calendar after that.

Temporary staff protest govt move

The Himalayan Times lead story reports that dozens of temporary civil servants organised a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration at Singhadarbar demanding the decision to sack 8,000 of them be withdrawn.

The staff also demanded automatic permanent status, additional perks and dignified exit for those laid off, according to the report.

Interesting

Rs 3 million budget to control monkey menace in Parbat village

Mahashila Rural Municipality in Parbat district of Gandaki has allocated an annual budget of Rs 3 million to control possible entrance of monkeys in the village, reports Annapurna Post in its anchor story.

In the first three months of current fiscal year, the local government took 203 monkeys under control, according to the report. Total 20 personnel have been mobilised in the campaign.
Kathmandu, November 1

The World Bank Group says Nepal should maximise policy reforms in order to achieve its target of elevating into the middle income status by 2030.

Unveiling the 2018 edition of its annual Nepal Development Update report in Kathmandu today, one of the key development partners of Nepal said current efforts made by the government towards economic growth were positive, but not sufficient.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Banks Country Director Qimiao Fan said Nepal should increase its competitiveness. By competitiveness, I mean not only doing better than yesterday, but doing better than others, he said, highlighting opportunities and challenges Nepal had due to its neighbouring economic giants China and India.

Speaking at the function, Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada said the government would promote public private partnership to achieve its economic targets.

Discussing Nepals struggle to control trade deficit, he said the economic development should be distributive and inclusive so that every citizen could reap the benefits equally.

In the report, the Bank has suggested, For Nepal, maximising finance for development will require a systematic approach to leveraging all sources of finance, expertise and technologies to accelerate growth and enable the country to reach the middle income country status and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Home  Just In  President Bhandari calls on Nepali diaspora, industrialists to invest in Nepal

Doha, November 1

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has called on the Nepali diaspora in Qatar to invest in Nepal with confidence.

Addressing Nepalis in Qatar, President Bhandari, urged one and all to join hands for development and prosperity. The government has created an investment-friendly environment and legislated laws to help you, said the President.

Representatives from Qatar-Nepal Friendship Association, industrialists and others also were present at the programme organised by the Embassy of Nepal, Qatar.

President Bhandari, who is on her four-day formal visit to Qatar, shared that intensive discussions were held on the issues of bilateral interests and mutual cooperation with the Amir of Qatar during bilateral talks. She said that issues of Nepali migrant workers were also raised.

On the occasion, she expressed confidence that Nepal-Qatar ties will be further strengthened in the future.

Addressing the same programme, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said Qatar is Nepals trustworthy friend and the labour relations has further strengthened bilateral ties.
This year's United States Conference on AIDS (USCA) focused on the importance of activism in the fight against HIV. Activism played a crucial role in the early years of the epidemic -- bringing pressure to bear on governments, industry, and society to respond to the epidemic with urgency and compassion.

"Today, as we face an uncertain political environment, HIV activism is needed more than ever," said NMAC executive director Paul Kawata. "We hope this conference will reignite the kind of passion and action in the HIV community that we saw at the very beginning. If we are truly going to end this epidemic, that kind of commitment is what we will need from everyone."

To reignite the passion and action and renew commitment in the HIV community, Phill Wilson, president and CEO of Black AIDS Institute, delivered a historic keynote speech during the plenary session on trauma-informed care. Wilson talked about how activists in the AIDS movement live with trauma, and he explained why we need to heal together. Wilson acknowledged that the HIV community is aging and burning out and insisted on healing and preparing a young generation of leaders. At the end of this year, he will be leaving his role at Black AIDS Institute, an organization he founded in 1999.

"If we have been in the battle, everything we do is trauma informed," said Wilson. "We will not heal unless the same investment committed to fight HIV/AIDS is committed in healing ourselves. It is in the caring and the fighting and the loving that we live forever."

Wilson continued his speech and talked about preparing a young generation of leaders in the AIDS advocacy movement. Paul Kawata moved to the stage to pay tribute when Wilson invited people aged 35 and younger to stand up. I was so proud to be among those who stood up and listened to his final words addressed to older people: "The best gift we could give this movement is to step aside. ... [T]his younger generation is smarter, younger, wiser, more capable, and they have the foundation that we built." Then, Wilson addressed the young people in the audience, saying, "You have got this! You will end the epidemic."

NMAC is leading in preparing a young generation of leaders by organizing a fellowship for young people for each USCA. At the same time, NMAC is organizing a fellowship for people aged 50 and above who are aging with HIV.

Views From the Next Generation of HIV Activist Leaders

I was privileged to meet two scholars from both fellowships and sit down with them for an interview. During our conversation, they shared their challenges and opportunities and how they can best continue to work together to prepare a young generation of leaders.

"I agree with Mr. Wilson," said Marmina Miller, a Youth Initiative scholar for USCA 2018. "I will add to it that we are not the leaders of tomorrow, but we are leaders now!"

"Young black women have to be at the forefront of the reproductive justice movement," Miller continued. "Not only are young black women more likely to receive an HIV diagnosis than our white counterparts, but we are also more likely to die during childbirth and receive a late cervical cancer diagnosis. These reproductive and sexual health issues come from racial disparities in health care. Poor health outcomes for women of color do not just reveal bad policy, but they are evidence that the U.S. is failing to meet its human rights obligations to provide equal access to reproductive health care."

Many of the older women living with HIV had trauma related to the issues Wilson discussed in his speech, such as living with HIV for so long. They have fought for the rights of women living with HIV. They have built a strong foundation for emerging young women leaders to stand on; however, there is still a generation gap. In my opinion, older women living with HIV are not sharing enough of their experiences or transferring their knowledge and skills. Some have been in HIV work for so long that they can't see their lives having a meaning beyond activism. As a result, Wilson's words about stepping aside didn't resonate well with some. In addition, older women often cannot relate to young women's experiences living with HIV, and their struggles are not the same.

When asked what she expected to learn from young women from the Youth Initiative, Kneeshe Parkinson, an HIV 50+ Strong and Healthy scholar, replied, "I would like to know how they are learning about sexual health from their community. How do young women view older women living with HIV? Who are their mentors? I was inspired that so many young people have their own narrative about living with HIV and overcoming obstacles with a movement of change and have shared how this life-changing diagnosis has empowered them to be the face and voice of their community."

Listening to these women from different generations, it's obvious that a lot of things still need to be done to prepare a young generation of women in the AIDS movement.

As a young woman living with HIV, I am still struggling to convince older women that I need childcare in order to attend a meeting. Older women forget even to book children- or baby-friendly venues for meetings (venues where there are rooms for breastfeeding, bathrooms have changing tables, dining rooms have child/baby high chairs for feeding, and hotel rooms have cribs). Older women who have passed the age of procreation overlook all these small needs. Some of the older women use their oppression trauma by sharing their stories of how they had to struggle with babies, and how they were not welcome in public places with babies, as a way to convince me that I have to step aside and care for the babies, then come back when they are grown. In other words, as a young woman in this movement, I am acceptable only if my body can function like that of men. All these small nuances need to be talked about to create an activism world that is friendly to young women living with HIV and meeting their needs.

When asked what she wishes to learn from the women over 50, Miller replied, "I would want to know the secrets to long-term healthy self-care while being an advocate/activist. I want to know how the 50-plus fellows handled internal conflicts within the movement while maintaining a united front. I would also love to know more about their personal stories and how they live intersectional lives as women, men, LGBTQ, mothers, fathers, so that we can start collecting their memories. This is the first generation to face HIV and aging, and their struggles and triumphs must be recorded and shared."

Older people living with HIV, such as Phill Wilson, are our heroes. We look after them, and we must face the reality by acknowledging his words: "The best gift we could give this movement is to step aside. ... [T]he next generation is smarter, younger, wiser, more capable, and they have the foundation that we built."

"With the graying of HIV, and with this epidemic entering its fourth decade, a new batch of problem-solving leaders will be emerging," said Miller. "While we young adults can be impatient and spoiled, we are also confident, socially responsible, and savvy with technology. It is our elders' responsibility to prepare us to lead, but it is our job to listen intently."

Tuyishime Claire Gasamagera is a motivational public speaker, life skills coach and visionary operations executive; fluent in over seven languages including English, French and Kinyarwanda; anti-AIDS activist, freelance writer, lobbyist, and consultant with solid experience managing all levels of projects including fundraising, advocacy, budgeting, and administration on the national, regional, and global level.
Kathmandu, November 1

The umbrella organisation of recruitment agencies involved in facilitating the migration of Nepali workers abroad has challenged the government to effectively implementing a recent agreement it signed with Malaysia earlier this week.

President of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, Rohan Gurung, claims the government cannot implement this pact even for first three months because of the provision that employer companies have to cover all costs of the recruitment process.

Dont wait much, but just three months. Time will prove how right we were. The government hopefully will learn a lesson then, he says.

Gurung views that Labour Minister Gokarna Bista pushed the government for the agreement for the sake of popularity.

Lets see how the government will stop the agencies from charging a single rupee on the workers. Then, you will know how practical this decision is, he says, If this decision is not made just for popularity, let the government implement it.
#China Russia KADIZ 2 Chinese, 7 Russian warplanes enter S. Korea's air defense zone without notice: JCS Two Chinese and seven Russian military aircraft entered South Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) without notice on Friday, prompting the country's Air Force to scrambl...

#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...
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The Label Makers redesign Robinsons brands

Stockport-based beer brewing icon, Robinsons, has recently worked with leading label manufacturers, The Label Makers, to create a new look for their award-winning 122-year-old Unicorn Copper Ale, together with three brand new premium bottled beers - Mash Out, Kettleheadand Hopnik.

In a departure from previous styles, the labels distinctive designs display a silhouette of Robinsons brewing premises, the Unicorn Brewery, standing proud on the Stockport skyline, and provide a modern refresh whilst observing the family firms 180-year heritage.

In creating the new labels, The Label Makers used a craft paper material incorporating a subtle texture for the substrate. With the labels being die-cut to reflect the skyline design, the material was thoroughly tested beforehand to check that it could withstand a rigorous bottling line environment. A subtle mix of complementary pantones were selected and the labels were flexo printed with a rotary inline silkscreen to add a tactile dimension.

The Unicorn Copper Ale label utilised The Label Makers new MPS EF 10-colour flexo press with an integrated ABG Big Foot hot foil/embossing module. With this combination press, The Label Makers were able to produce the label in a single pass and embellish with hot foil to give the ultimate premium beerlabelappearance.

Gill Yates, Robinsons brand manager says: We have been working with The Label Makers over the last 18 months and they have supported us on some challenging and innovative projects such as, Trooper, Red N Black, Light Brigade and our Old Tom range. We knew they would be professional, efficient and quick to deliver and they always give us a final product.

Our new 500ml range looks great and has met and exceeded our expectations. We have already received some fantastic, positive feedback regarding their quality, look and feel. We would highly recommend The Label Makers.

Commenting on their working relationship with the brewer, The Label Makers Ben Robinson adds: As always with Robinsons Brewery, its great to work with a customer who has the confidence in your abilities which gives us the opportunity to push our technical boundaries.

The Label Makers manufacture premium quality self-adhesive labels to many UK leading brands. The company provides a bespoke service aimed at delivering the strongest on-pack message to ensure maximum shelf standout. Founded in 1963, the business operates in a number of sectors including an accelerating presence in the premium spirits and drinks sector.

The company will be exhibiting on stand 9 at the Spirits Packaging Summit 2018, held on 14 November at Edinburghs Assembly Rooms.

1 November 2018 - Sam Coyne the drinks report, editor
When I bought The Conservative Mind in 1994, I thought it was probably a book about how bad President Bill Clinton and the Democrats werebecause thats what I thought conservatism was.

I was nineteen, a high school graduate with no intention of attending university, and thought conservative simply meant whatever Rush Limbaugh had talked about that day. I had no idea who Russell Kirk was and bought the book randomly at a Barnes and Noble because it had conservative in the title and endorsements by Ronald Reagan and William F. Buckley on the jacket.

Yet no other book or author had more of an impact on my early intellectual development. It opened me to a conservatism of substanceof tradition, inheritance, even transcendencethat inflamed my young mind far more than welfare reform or flat-tax proposals. The Conservative Mind would lead me to Kirks other work and served as my introduction to figures like Richard Weaver, T. S. Eliot, and Mel Bradford as well.

Kirk showed me intellectual conservatism for the first time, and much of it was over my head. If Kirk enjoyed citing George Gissings observation that politics was the preoccupation of the half- or quarter-educated, I was probably operating at a level of about one percent, though even that might be giving South Carolinas public schools too much credit.

A lifelong Charlestonian, I had moved from South Carolina to Boston the year before to pursue a music career. Because of the cultural distance, living there made me more self-conscious about being Southern than I had ever been up to that point. My twangy accent sometimes made me feel like an outsider or even an amusement to the natives. This is where KirkMichigans Sage of Mecosta and a professed Northern Agrarianperhaps resonated most.

Like many modern Southerners, I didnt think there was much to be proud of in my regions past, at least in a broad political or philosophical sense. Sure, we could boast that we produced some of Americas most prominent Founding Fathers in Virginians George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. But stereotypical Southern pride was always a more complicated affair: usually rooted in romanticizing the Civil War, it meant too many different things to different people, much of it unconsciously harmful, or at least insensitive to the plight of African Americans.

But here was Kirk telling me not only that there was much more to conservatism than talk radio and the Republican Party but also that there was a distinctly Southern tradition, whatever its baggage. Kirk did not ignore or gloss over slavery or segregation when describing what constituted Southern conservatism, which he described, using the language of the 1950s, as rooted in four impulses: a half-indolent distaste for alteration; a determination to preserve an agricultural society; a love of local rights; and a sensitivity about the negro questionthe peculiar institution before the Civil War, the color-line thereafter. Kirks Southern conservatism ran through John Randolph of Roanoke (the too-often-overlooked nineteenth-century reactionary in the Burkean mold who, notably, would free his slaves in his will) to the Southern Agrarians of the early twentieth century, whom Kirk saw as resisting bureaucratic, industrial modernitythe iron new orderin favor of the old world.

Kirks preference for practical reform over radical change was conservatism at its most basic: conserving the best or most integral traditions and institutions of a community, nation, or civilization even in the face of unavoidable evolution or correcting injustice. So while sympathizing in many ways with the antebellum South, Kirk viewed Abraham Lincoln as a conservative reformer, not a radical Republican or tyrant as so many Confederate apologists would characterize him (including me, for a time).

If my partisan political interests had led me to Kirk, his conservatism also dovetailed with new developments in U.S. politics in the mid-1990s. My newfound fascination with Kirk coincided with Pat Buchanans meteoric 1996 Republican presidential primary campaign. In that election, Buchanan adorned the covers of Time, Newsweek, and other major outlets, and he won the New Hampshire primary. The Buchanan Brigades were a popular movement within the Republican Party, but they were also largely in opposition to it on many fronts.

Buchanan, like Kirk, was deeply critical of U.S. foreign policy. (Conservatives could oppose war? Rush Limbaugh never told me that.) He also preached a conservatism of the heart that favored Main Street over Wall Street and Washington, D.C. Buchanans conservatism might have been populist in style, but in substance it was similar to the anti-populist Kirks preference for local community over Leviathan. I was not surprised to learn later that Kirk was the Michigan chair for Buchanans 1992 primary challenge to President George H. W. Bush.

The discovery of Kirk and Buchanan simultaneously turned what I once thought was conservative on its head. Both men challenged the current GOP and a decadent popular culture, harking back to an earlier conservative tradition largely forgotten or dismissed by so many contemporary politicians and pundits who spoke in conservatisms name. It was an enduring conservatism rooted firmly in the American founding and the greater West.

Is it necessary for men at this time of day to make a declaration of the principles of the Republican party? Kirks hero, John Randolph, wrote in 1813. What are they? Love of peace, hatred of offensive war, jealousy of the state governments toward the general government; a dread of standing armies; a loathing of public debt, taxes, and excises; tenderness for the liberty of the citizen; jealousy, Argus-eyed jealousy, of the patronage of the President.

Such principles are not altogether outmoded, Kirk wrote in 1986 of Randolphs observations. Yet quite beyond yesteryears or todays political controversies, what Randolph of Roanoke gives us is a high example of political courage and candor, never obsolete.

These were timeless principles and qualities, Kirk deduced. And they were sentiments that would outlast Bill Clintons presidency and any other, I deduced. The partisanship of the moment was not exactly a permanent thing. Kirk had shown me a tradition of thought more salient than endless right-wing hyperbole. This was conservatism.

* * *

I thought about Russell Kirk more during the 2016 presidential election than I had since my early twenties. Not that Kirkian thought and influence had ever strayed far from my mind. For most of the prior decade, I had been closely aligned in a very public way with the Ron Paul liberty movement, which had propelled libertarianism to greater heights than it had ever before enjoyed in American politics.

In my work as a pundit, both in print and on talk radiowhere I strived to be more thoughtful, like Kirk, rather than merely bombastic, like, well, everyone else in talk radioI promoted and defended Congressman Pauls libertarian agenda during his 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, most particularly his battle within the GOP against the neoconservatives, who after 9/11 had been elevated to foreign-policy dominance in the George W. Bush administration.

I would eventually work for Ron Pauls 2012 presidential campaign and later for his son Senator Rand Paul. What I liked about their particular brand of libertarianism, in its conservative and Republican contexts, was that it sought in a broad sense to rescue the principles of Americas Founding Fathers. It was a practicalnot utopian or radicalphilosophy of basic liberty, free markets, and a more humble foreign policy. However surprisingly, this tradition shared ancestors with conservatism stretching all the way back through Kirk to Senator Robert Taft (to whose political principles Kirk would devote one of his books) and to Randolph of Roanoke.

While Kirk was always stridently opposed to libertarians (chirping sectaries, he famously called them) and to libertarianism as a school of thought, it is hard not to imagine him having sympathy for Ron Paul in his tense war with the neocons, and with his son Rand Paul, who arguably is todays most Taft-like member of the U.S. Senate, particularly on foreign affairs. Kirk was perhaps as opposed to populism as he was to libertarianism, yet he found common cause with Pat Buchanans peasants with pitchforks.

Moreover, I believed that if libertarianism was to make a positive contribution to American politics and culture, it would need a Kirkian balance. Its success might require a rootedness not typically associated with various strains of libertarianism in the United States.

While many in the liberty movement over the past decade, like earlier libertarians, were obsessed with trying to prove who among them was the most radical (thereby alienating the average person), the policy proposals of the Pauls were about preventing the state from overrunning society. Theirs was not a philosophy of hedonism loosened from traditional cultural mores and values, but a brand of Old Righttinged libertarianism in many ways indistinguishable from basic traditionalist conservatism.

But while many libertarians and antiwar conservatives, whose numbers had grown since the Iraq War, pinned their hopes on Rand Paul in the 2016 presidential election, he and every other contenderincluding Democratic nominee Hillary Clintonwould eventually be swallowed whole by the populist phenomenon of Donald Trump.

It is hard to imagine Kirk embracing Donald Trump the man. If one had to concoct a person who was temperamentally, intellectually, and morally the opposite of Kirk, the current president might be exactly that. As for President Trumps policies, it wouldnt be surprising to see Kirk praise peace talks between the Koreas or tax reform, while balking at air strikes on Syria or exorbitant budgets. Kirk, who believed conservatism wasnt an ideology but the rejection of ideology, would most likely have found as much opportunity for reform as occasion for dismay under the seemingly nonideological President Trump.

But what brought Kirk to mind so prominently many times since Mr. Trumps rise has been less about the president himself than the visceral reactions to him: too much of the left and the right in the U.S. have lurched toward their most extreme collectivist forms over the past two years.

The left has simultaneously portrayed Mr. Trump as a buffoon whose incompetence will destroy the country and somehow also as a methodical fascist dictator hell-bent on carrying out a white supremacist agenda. Progressives have regularly and viciously caricatured Trump supportersthe millions of mostly middle-class Americans who cast their votes for himas being as monstrously racist and authoritarian, in leftist eyes, as the president.

Partly in response to President Trump, many mainstream Democrats have begun to embrace a more explicit socialism, while progressive activists have become increasingly illiberal, even rejecting free speech in favor of a hardened identity politics. No less a progressive than former Democratic vice president Joe Biden chastised the left in October 2017 for not doing enough to protect the First Amendment.

Kirkian conservatism obviously rejects the collectivism of the left, and Kirk was one of the most prominent thinkers on the right at the height of the Cold War, the crescendo of socialisms maiden go-round. It is a given that Kirk would have firmly opposed an increasingly extreme left that continues to become more radical under President Trump.

But Kirk would have also opposed todays radical right. If the lefts current extremism is Trump-inspired, an alternative to the conservative mainstream that arose during the 2016 electionthe self-labeled alt-rightagreed with progressives that President Trump had unleashed dark ideas and forces into the mainstream, whether intentionally (as the left believed) or unintentionally (as the alt-right nonetheless celebrated).

If Mr. Trump was elected in part as a voter reaction to the extremes of the left, the alt-right sought to take that anti-liberal sentiment to the extremes of white nationalism, under the guise of defending a perverted notion of the West.

Yes, Kirk was opposed to much of what the mainstream conservative movement and Republican Party had come to be in his later yearsthis was in large part what attracted me to him at nineteen. Yes, Kirk represented a deeper cultural conservatism than most of what passes for that label today. Yes, Pat Buchanans immigration and trade views largely dovetail with those of the Trump Administration, which finds so much favor with the alt-right.

But the West of the alt-right is not the cultural patrimony Kirk spent most of his life defending and promoting, with Christianity at its center. The white nationalists who made national headlines marching in Charlottesville in August 2017 to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee werent interested in any genuine Western traditions, Southern or otherwise. They werent even interested in Lee.

They were only interested in defending a symbol perceived as offensive by many nonwhites. The alt-right protesters didnt seek reform, cultural preservation, or anything bordering on traditionalist conservatism. They wanted race war. And their actions led to a womans death. The alt-right seeks revolution, not cultural preservation. They are, in spirit and practice, every bit the levelers Kirk opposed his entire career.

* * *

The alt-rightwhich thankfully appears to be diminished after Charlottesvilleis primarily composed of young men about the age I was when I discovered The Conservative Mind nearly a quarter century ago. At forty-four today, I can look back and see some wrong turns I made by not understanding conservatism properly, or worse, by not balancing anti-leftist politics with the Christian humanism that was always at the center of Kirks thought.

A young person attracted to the alt-right today might feel culturally or politically isolated, as I did. He might begin down that path by being dissatisfied with much of what the mainstream right represents, or even by being confused about what constitutes conservatism, as I was. But he would find in Kirk something on the right more substantive and therefore attractive, like I did.

This was a man who vehemently opposed Japanese internment during World War II (he despised Franklin Roosevelt for his mistreatment of ethnic and religious minorities at home and abroad, observes Kirk biographer Bradley J. Birzer); who along with his wife, Annette, welcomed so many refugees into their home (Birzer: Kirks daughters never quite knew who might be at breakfast on any given morning: there might be any number of persons from Ethiopia, Vietnam, or Eastern Europe); and who detested how the U.S. government had treated Native Americans throughout history (Birzer: The federal government had stolen Indian children from their parents to reeducate them in schools in the eastern part of the United States. Sadly, such an American tradition of theft of property and destruction of families had its roots as far back as Andrew Jacksons presidency. All of it horrified Kirk, who had no time for prejudices dealing with the accidents of birth). A man like this does not remotely square with todays anti-minority, anti-immigrant, anti-Christian, and anti-human alt-right.

Kirk is needed on the right more than ever. The young men who are susceptible to the alt-right, whatever might be left of it, could use a healthy dosemore like an antidoteof Kirks basic compassion and respect for human diversity. Donald Trump could stand to benefit from Kirks Stoicism. Libertarians could learn from Kirks emphasis on culture. Neoconservatives would benefit from Kirks rejection of aggressive universalism and militarism (here, too, he offers an antidote). The Republican establishment might better comprehend what led to Mr. Trump by acknowledging its own inability to satisfy its base, a never-ending battle over putting conservatism into practice that Kirk soldiered in from his time in the Barry Goldwater campaign to his support for Pat Buchanan.

Kirks legacy and influence easily outlasted Bill Clintons presidency, resistance to which I thought was the entire point of conservatism before discovering The Conservative Mind in my youth. They lasted through the years of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and will remain after Donald Trump, too.

I have been endeavoring to steer clear of bigotry, intolerance, eccentricity, and preoccupation with the hours political controversiesthe curses of American conservatives, Kirk wrote more than a half century ago, explaining his intentions for Modern Age.

These curses endure. Thankfullygratefullyso does Russell Kirk.

Republished with gracious permission from Modern Age (Summer 2018).

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.
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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 1, 2018 08:52 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a2443e 4 Editorial #Editorial,migrant-workers,migrant-protection,Saudi-Arabia,Indonesia,death-penalty,execution,domestic-worker,human-rights Free

Tuti Tursilawati became on Monday the latest Indonesian migrant worker to have been executed by Saudi Arabia. She was found guilty of murdering her employers father. Since her arrest in 2010 she had pleaded self-defense against frequent sexual harassment that she said finally led her to beat Suud Mulhaq Al-Utaibi to death with a stick.



The Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the execution that it said lacked prior notification, violating international diplomatic ethics like in almost all executions of foreigners in the kingdom.



The family of the deceased is in shock as they had clung on to the hope that lobbying by the government, including by President Joko Jokowi Widodo, would save Tuti.



Since 2015, the government has imposed a moratorium against sending migrant workers to the Middle East, its termination pending the conclusion of negotiations of bilateral agreements to better ensure the protection of our workers.



Amid all the grieving with each report of an execution, we sense helplessness on Indonesias part.



The government even concluded a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia to allow a limited number of workers to enter the kingdom despite the moratorium. Workers advocates affiliated with Migrant Care, an NGO, demanded the agreement be scrapped as the execution violated the MoU pertaining to the rights of the workers. Many employers reportedly withhold workers passports.



Despite many efforts to strengthen protection and advocacy for migrant workers, Indonesia has failed to improve such basic protection, leading to the nearly zero guarantee of migrants well-being when employed in Middle Eastern countries.



These include the kafala (individual sponsorship) system under which employers control their workers mobility  including their entry, renewal of stay, termination of employment, transfer of employment  which the International Labor Organization warns is prone to forced labor.



Since the 1980s young and healthy men and women have left their poor villages, trusting experienced agents and success stories of earlier migrants who they hear have sent home considerable remittances after finding work in the Middle East. That so many have suffered and even become crippled or killed after suffering abuse at the hands of their employers, while others ended on death row, prove how Indonesia has still failed its citizens.



A major root of our helplessness is obviously our own death penalty. Another major source of our zero moral credibility to protest the conditions of our workers in the Middle East is our similar attitude to modern slavery.



Like Saudi Arabia, Indonesia still lacks a domestic workers law, hence maids remain the most vulnerable in the workforce.



Regarding the death penalty, we only need to learn from our neighbor where Malaysias government said the punishment will end. Without legal recognition of our maids and the value of their work and humanity, and by upholding capital punishment, our protests for the likes of Tuti and many more on death row in Saudi Arabia only invites mockery.
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Linkedin Namira Samir (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 1, 2018

Exclusive growth is like a poison, it is deadly but kills slowly, said Sri Mulyani Indrawati at the WikiStage World Bank Group in Lima, Peru in 2015, when she was its managing director. During the recent Bali meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group, in a seminar on women in the workplace Sri Mulyani, now finance minister, echoed experts who said unpaid household chores must be included in the measurement of a countrys economy.



Though some doubt she was serious, better recognition of what is mostly unpaid womens work is urgent. Men and women could not work in the formal or informal economy without anyone taking care of their small children.



The Indonesian government is focused on transforming human capital to achieve sustainable economic growth; 20 percent of the state budget is allocated for education with emphasis on disadvantaged groups, including the poor and those living in least-developed regions.



Yet economic growth remains stagnant at 5 percent, with 6.87 million people still jobless and 25.95 million people living below the national poverty line, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS).



More investment in human capital would yield economic benefits for the population and the country; but what causes Indonesias sluggish growth?



Benefits of growth and rising income are clearly unevenly distributed. The common indication of inequality, Indonesias Gini ratio, was at 0.39, with rural income inequality on the rise. The extent of inequality should be further examined.



Among our population of 265 million, 131.88 million are women and the remaining 133.12 million are men. In the first quarter of 2018, the employment to population ratio was 78.62 percent for men and 52.73 percent for women. Thus, nearly half of Indonesias women are unable to participate in the economy.



Gender stereotyping in Indonesia, as in other countries, has resulted in women being unable to pursue professional areas as much as men, among others, given lack of recognition of women in the pool of qualified labor force.



Lack of recognition of womens contribution in the economy includes their unpaid household chores and family care, which is often ignored in policy. Surveys show that the bulk of unpaid household chores or 75 percent of all unpaid care work is carried out by women and girls, according to Bloomberg.



The latest International Labor Organization report on care work demonstrates that in the Asia-Pacific, women spend 4.1 times more time than men on doing unpaid care work daily. Despite progress here and there, deficits in gender equality policies, most specifically care policies, remain widest in these regions.



This is a concern that must be immediately addressed by policymakers. Sacrificing womens capability to contribute to the countrys economy merely because of gender stereotyping should and must be stopped.



The feminist scholar Silvia Federici states economic production is impossible without womens uncompensated non-economic labor.



Overturning the stereotypes of what women should and should not do would not only need public education to change views that women alone should by nature take care of the family and household without pay. Policymakers also need better acknowledgment of the significance of womens contribution to the economy.



Especially in developing countries like Indonesia where most economic activities are in the informal sector, the failure to incorporate unpaid domestic work into economic growth calculations would make the final measurement such as gross domestic product (GDP) misleading.



Designing a standardized measurement to include unpaid household chores requires an arduous effort; even if it is quantified and assigned a monetary value, such measurement cannot be a quantification of monetized activities such as the GDP.



It is better to separately measure unpaid household chores and family care, to complement GDP. This has worked in how we measure poverty. To complement the monetary measure of poverty, the United Nations Development Program and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom have created a multidimensional poverty index, which measures deprivation according to three dimensions; education, health and living standards.



By including unpaid household chores in the economy with a nationally or internationally standardized measurement, Indonesias decisionmakers, from the local to national level, would better understand the gender gaps in the economy, how much women contribute through the informal sector or unpaid work, and their state of well-being.



In addition to designing a new measurement to complement the monetary measure of economic growth, there are other ways in which the government can further reduce the gender gap. The Finance Ministry has started to adopt gender-responsive budgeting, which aims to better ensure that government spending and investments have positive impacts on both men and women.



Among gender-responsive budgeting measures, in gender mainstreaming budgets are allocated to improve human resources quality of both men and women. To improve equality, allocation is increased for spending in sectors that benefit women, namely education, health and employment.



Almost all provinces in Indonesia have adopted the gender-responsive planning and budgeting, though much improvement is needed. Among others specific budget allocations are needed for specific activities.



The demand for better and fairer opportunities for women requires the integration of gender issues in the macroeconomy. Enacting carefully designed policies on gender equality would better address the challenge on advancing womens empowerment.

***

The writer is a researcher and consultant with main interests in multidimensional poverty alleviation, gender inequality and Islamic social finance. She holds a masters degree in Islamic finance and management from Durham University, the United Kingdom.

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Linkedin Damien Simonart (Agence France-Presse) Oswiecim, Poland  Thu, November 1, 2018 06:02 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a22dc5 2 Art & Culture Poland,history,culture,Holocaust,Germany,David-Olere Free

The Auschwitz museum unveiled Tuesday its largest-ever exhibition of the art of David Olere, a survivor of the World War II Nazi death camp who detailed his experiences in the gas chambers on canvas after the conflict.

"His work is exceptional because without him (Olere), we wouldn't know what was going on inside the crematoria," Serge Klarsfeld, president of Sons and daughters of Jewish deportees of France, told AFP at the opening.

"We wouldn't even know what the gas chambers looked like," he said at the site of the former death camp set up by Nazi Germany in the southern city of Oswiecim in then occupied Poland.

"This exhibition comes a few days after the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre. Anti-Semitism is still active, perhaps more than ever," Klarsfeld added, referring to the murder of 11 Jewish people in the US city on Saturday.

Titled "David Olere. The One Who Survived Crematorium III", the exhibition comprises 19 paintings from the museum's own collection and over 60 other works loaned from Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, among others.

Born in 1902 in the Polish capital Warsaw to Jewish parents, Olere studied art there before moving to Berlin in 1918 and later settling in Paris.

There he belonged to the so-called School of Paris which included Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Amadeo Modigliani and Henri Matisse and earned a living creating set designs, costumes and advertising posters for film studios including Paramount Pictures, Fox and Gaumont.

Deported by the Nazis from France to Auschwitz in 1943, he was forced to work in the camp's so-called Sonderkommando, a special unit that assisted in the operation of the crematoria and gas chambers.

Read also: Claude Lanzmann, director of Holocaust film 'Shoah', dies at 92

- 'Disturbing' ideologies -

In January 1945, Olere was among Auschwitz prisoners evacuated by the Nazis to the Third Reich where he was liberated by American troops in May 1945.

Dozens of drawings and paintings he later created show the life and death of prisoners in raw and disturbing detail.

"This unique collection of works is... the only iconographic source of those events, performed from the perspective of a first-hand witness," said Agnieszka Sieradzka, an art historian in charge of the museum's collection.

Olere's grandson expressed hope the exhibition would serve as a warning.

"Currently there is a very disturbing rise of nationalism and populism in Europe," Marc Olere told AFP at the unveiling.

"I hope that this exhibition will help to inform the younger generation of the dangers of these kind of ideologies and that it will contribute to protect them (younger generation)."

Olere died in Paris in 1985.

Auschwitz-Birkenau has become a symbol of Nazi Germany's genocide of European Jews, with one million killed at the camp between 1940 and 1945.
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Linkedin Lujan Scarpinelli (Agence France-Presse) Montevideo, Uruguay  Thu, November 1, 2018 09:03 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a2501d 2 Science & Tech Brazil,Colombia,Argentina,Internet,technology,startup,unicorn Free

Nubank is the online bank with the greatest number of clients outside of Asia. Fellow Brazilian startup 99 is a platform that connects 300,000 taxi drivers and chauffeurs to provide a competitive service in which passengers pay less while drivers earn more.

Rappi's orange clad bicycle couriers have sprung up in 27 Latin American cities offering services as varied as delivering cash and pizzas to walking dogs or looking for lost keys.

These are among a new breed of South American "unicorns" -- young digital companies that defied struggling economies and flourished to such an extant they are now worth a minimum of one billion dollars.

Since the dot.com boom years, successful tech companies have sprung up all over Asia, the United States and Europe but Latin America remained a relative backwater.

Little by little, that's starting to change with a fistful of companies, mostly based in Brazil and run by dynamic young entrepreneurs, breaking the mold and acting as regional pioneers.

Brazilians 99, Nubank, PagSeguro, ArcoEducacao and Stone Pagamentos, along with Colombian Rappi, are the latest in the region to cross the billion dollar value threshold, and they've done so in ingenious ways.

What's more, their success is attracting unprecedented levels of investment.

Read also: Bukalapak officially becomes Indonesias fourth unicorn startup

- 500% growth in one year -

Six years after its launch, 99 became a unicorn this year after receiving a $100 million investment from the Chinese Uber: DiDi Chuxing.

It's presence has spread to 500 cities and after riding out the recession from 2015-16, 99 grew 500 percent in 2017, its 31-year-old president Matheus Moraes told AFP.

In order to do so, 99 had to overcome classic Brazilian problems relating to infrastructure and price competition.

"Our strategy is to offer more competitive fares with greater guarantees for the driver," said Moraes.

He says 99's 300,000 employees earn 20 percent more than independent drivers, while its 14 million passengers pay 15 percent less.

Nubank is a financial technology company created in 2013, whose founders -- including 37-year-old Colombian David Velez -- wanted to "break from the system's inertia" and demonstrate that "there are no sacred industries" without room for innovation.

In March, it surpassed the one billion dollar mark.

"The macroeconomic environment was a huge challenge given that since we launched, Brazil's gross domestic product has shrunk by eight percent," said Velez.

However, legal barriers remain in an industry 90 percent controlled by banks.

The overall aim, says Velez, is to reach Brazilians excluded from the banking system.

"It's the first minute of the first half of the match," added Velez.

- Colombian first -

Since launching in 2015, Rappi has spread into Colombia, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. In September it received a $200 million investment from a group led by Hong Kong-based venture capitalists DST Global.

Originally picked up by seed accelerator Y Combinator, which previously invested in the likes of Airbnb, Reddit and Dropbox, Rappi has since become the first Colombian unicorn.

Investment in such firms is on the increase with more than one billion dollars shelled out by risk investment funds in 2017, an unprecedented sum, according to Julie Ruvolo, the venture capital director at Latin American Association of Venture and Private Capital (LAVCA).

"In 2018, there were individual investments of more than $100 million, with greater participation from global investors" such as SoftBank or Tencent, said Ruvolo, who expects new records to be broken this year.

Brazil led the way in 2017, attracting $859 million spread across 113 agreements.

In the cases of PagSeguro's online payment system and ArcoEducacao's education platform, both gained value after launching on Wall Street.

Soon an Argentine company will be in that crowd, with video games and mobile apps developer Etermax approaching the $1 billion threshold, according to a ranking list by Surfing Tsunamis and NXTP Labs.

Created in 2009 by Maximo Cavazzani, now 33, Etermax produced the Apalabrados game, which was the most downloaded in Spain in 2012, and Preguntados, which went viral in Finland, Turkey and the US, where it's known as Trivia Crack.

Read also: Expert tips before launching startup company

- Discipline -

Argentina's economic problems have actually benefited creative entrepreneurs, Cavazzani says.

"In 2009, the global economic crisis wreaked havoc and Argentina was in a difficult financial situation and didn't have access to creditors," he said.

"That forced us to be disciplined from the first day."

Since then, Etermax has expanded into Germany, Mexico, Uruguay and soon Brazil, too.

But expanding a startup in Argentina isn't as easy as in Silicon Valley, where funds are readily available, Cavazzani says.

"We had to generate enough capital to meet the payroll from the beginning."

Added to that was the difficulty posed by a highly sophisticated product that requires a rare expertise.

Even so, Etermax is thriving and well on its way to joining the ranks of the increasingly commonplace Latin American unicorns.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Beijing, China  Thu, November 1, 2018 07:07 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a22f2e 2 Art & Culture China,martial-art,author,novel,novelist,Louis-Cha,Hong-Kong Free

Louis Cha, a Hong Kong newsman and celebrated Chinese martial arts novelist, has died aged 94, sparking tributes and an outpouring of grief across the Chinese-speaking world.

Ming Pao, the Hong Kong newspaper co-founded by Cha, said he died Tuesday at a Hong Kong hospital after a long illness.

Best known by his pen name Jin Yong, Cha was widely considered one of the world's most influential Chinese writers.

He transfixed generations with his martial arts epics, such as The Legend of the Condor Heroes, selling hundreds of millions of copies and inspiring numerous film and television adaptations.

While his novels often vividly depicted ancient Chinese swordsmen and their heroic quests, Cha was equally lauded by his fans and literary experts for his ability to encapsulate human nature, Chinese culture and political allegories in his writing.

Read also: Aamir Khan: Movies can connect different cultures

Cha's death was the top trending item on the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo on Tuesday evening, with the topic amassing more than 1.3 billion views by Wednesday morning.

Fans in Xiangyang, a city in northwestern Hubei province that featured prominently in Cha's work, gathered to hold a candlelight vigil on its ancient city walls, local media reported.

Cha was born in 1924 in the southern province of Zhejiang, before moving to Hong Kong in 1948. He penned his first novel, The Book and the Sword in 1955 and went on to write 14 more.

In 1959, he co-founded the Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao, which said in a condolence letter on Tuesday that his death was "a great loss to Ming Pao, Hong Kong's news industry and Chinese literature".

Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam issued a statement expressing "deep sorrow" over the death of the "learned man and an acclaimed writer".
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) London, United Kingdom  Thu, November 1, 2018 15:02 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a3823f 2 Entertainment chris-pine,Scotland,accent,Netflix,film,united-states,star-trek Free

Star Trek actor Chris Pine swaps space for medieval Scotland in Netflix action drama Outlaw King in which he plays 14th century rebel warrior Robert the Bruce who fought the English to regain control of his homeland.

The American actor, best known for playing Captain Kirk in the sci-fi saga, dons armor and puts on a Scottish accent for the role, which follows the man deemed an outlaw by the English king as he pursues the bloody quest for independence.

Deemed a national hero in Scotland, Robert the Bruce was King of Scots from 1306 until he died in 1329.

Read also: Mystery surrounds Chris Pine return to 'Wonder Woman' film series

"It's certainly about Scottish independence," Pine told Reuters about the film. "But I think ... it's about love, it's about relationships, it's about violence, it's about the cost of the violence, it's about man's will to power and be in power and what one is willing to do to get it."

The historical film, which first premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September and is released next week, is Netflix's latest major movie offering featuring a Hollywood star.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 1, 2018 12:42 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a34f88 4 Art & Culture ghost,Indonesia,spirit,Halloween,#Halloween Free

Indonesian folklore contains many tales of ghosts that have been made into films, such as wewe gombel in Joko Anwars Folklore: A Mothers Love and kuntilanak in Rizal Mantovanis Kuntilanak trilogy (2006).

The following are others that are perhaps more popular among Indonesians living in certain regions.

Banaspati

Banaspatiis a fire-element ghost known among the Javanese. It is said that banaspati can fly from one place to another in a form of a fireball and has the ability to set human on fire. Hence one of the ways to avoid banaspatiis by plunging into a river and stay under the water for as long as you can.

Banaspatiis a quite popular ghost in some areas in Central Java, Sunu Wasono, a lecturer at University of Indonesias Faculty of Humanity (FIB), told kompas.com. It usually lives in the trees near to the river.

Lampor

This one is known to reveal itself as a soldier and usually shows up in groups.

Javanese people used to call them obor setan [torch of ghosts]; theyre said to be the warriors of Nyai Roro Kidul [mythical queen of the southern seas], Sunu said. I think people in Surakarta and Yogyakarta still believe in them.

Read also: Indonesia's first museum of death

Sundel bolong

In The Religion of Java (1976) book, American anthropologist Clifford Geertz stated that sundel bolong was a female spirit with a hole in her back covered by her long, black hair.

Arguably not as intense as kuntilanak, this particular character has been included in films, such as Sundel Bolong (1981) starring Indonesian horror queen Suzzanna.

Genderuwo

In his book, Geertz considers genderuwo a memedi type, which consists of spirits who are rather harmless although still terrifying to humans. Genderuwos are deemed playful as the spirits like to pull pranks on humans, such as throwing rocks at someones roof at night.

Joko Anwar is among Indonesian directors who have brought genderuwo onto the big screen although not in its literal form. In HBO Asias Halfworlds, Joko chose actor Reza Rahadian to play Tony the genderuwo.

Sunu said Javanese believed in two types of death: the "good death", which is when someone passes away due to old age, and the "unusual death", which is when someone passes away due to an accident or suicide. Those who pass away due to the latter might turn into a spirit and haunt the human world. (wir/kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Japan News) Fukuoka, Japan  Thu, November 1, 2018 14:08 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a374cd 2 Art & Culture doll,Japan,vending-machine,Hakata-dolls,fukuoka Free

Miniature Hakata dolls will be sold in a gacha-gacha capsule vending machine for 10,000 ($88) each in Fukuoka on Friday.

When encapsulated dolls of this kind were sold in January at the same price, all 30 sold out in less than 15 minutes. This time, 100 pieces will be prepared by six young craftsmen of a Hakata doll commerce and industrial cooperative association.

In the hope of conveying the dolls' appeal to young generations, the association decided to sell miniature versions of them in gacha-gacha machines during the Kougei Expo in Fukuoka in November. Kougei Expo is an annual exhibition of traditional Japanese crafts from around the nation.

Read also: Fruit picking grows in popularity among foreign visitors to Japan

The dolls in the capsules will be about five centimeters tall. One depicts Sugawara no Michizane, a historical scholar-statesman. Another, called Sanmen Daikokuten, is a single piece that depicts three different gods.

Sales will start at 11 a.m. at Marine Messe Fukuoka in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka.Speech
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Banjul, Gambia  Thu, November 1, 2018 12:07 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a30c77 2 People prince-charles,Camilla-Duchess-of-Cornwall,Britain,royals,Gambia Free

Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla landed Wednesday in The Gambia for the first leg of a week-long African tour aimed at strengthening ties with Commonwealth nations.

The Prince of Wales, heir to the throne, took over as head of the 53-member Commonwealth of Nations in April, succeeding his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

He and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, were received Wednesday by Gambian President Adama Barrow and his wife Fatou Bah-Barrow.

The country, which is almost completely surrounded by Senegal along the West African coast, was readmitted to the Commonwealth in February, after abruptly leaving the organization in 2013.

Read also: Prince Harry marks final day of Pacific tour with song in Maori language

On Thursday, Prince Charles is to visit the Medical Research Council, a faculty of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, during what is his first visit to the country.

He and Camilla are then expected to visit Ghana before ending their trip in Nigeria on November 6 - 8, a statement said.

As Britain prepares to leave the European Union in 2019, the prince aims to "celebrate the UK's dynamic, forward-looking partnerships" with Commonwealth nations, it said, adding that Charles has already visited 44 of them.
Noted designer Edward Hutabarat has created a classic chic look in his Ulos Batak in Innovation collection, showcased at the recent Festival Tenun Nusantara (Nusantara Weaving Festival) in North Tapanuli, North Sumatra.

Ulos has a special place in Edwards heart. As a designer of Batak descent, he feels obliged to preserve and reinvent the traditional Batak woven fabric.

The Ulos Batak in Innovation fashion show, held in Tarutung, North Tapanuli, on Oct. 17 was the final event of the Nusantara Weaving Festival, which ran from Oct. 13.

The 30 pieces in Ulos Batak in Innovation highlighted Edwards charming creativity with ulos.

Working with colorful ulos, Edward created a series of oversized coats. He balanced the intricate ulos motifs with the Javanese striped fabric lurik.

Anyone examining the motif details of the ulos under a microscope would surely be astonished, he said, admiring the works of North Tapanuli weavers that he used in the collection.

Some of the designs featured harungguan ulos originating from the Muara area in North Tapanuli. Harungguan ulos is a symbol of unity as it brings together layers of different motifs.

Harungguan ulos is called the king of ulos because all motifs can be found in harungguan, Edward pointed out.

Edward presented a calmer vibe for the mens pieces in his collection. He played with dark-toned ulos, such as indigo sibolang ulos, to create robes in simple silhouettes.

The collection charmed the audience, including Tomas Saller from the Czech Republic.

This is a world-class fashion show. The collection is terrific, I like the ulos motifs and colors, he said.

Aside from the fashion show, the Nusantara Weaving Festival also held various events aimed at bringing ulos, and other traditional woven fabrics, to the global stage.

The events included an art performance, a national symposium on traditional woven fabrics and a boot camp for weavers.

The five-day festival, jointly held by the Education and Culture Ministry, the North Tapanuli administration and local communities, took place in three locations, namely Tarutung, Muara and Sibandang Island.

Perkumpulan Wastra Indonesia (Indonesia Traditional Fabrics Association), along with ulos collector Vilidius Siburian, showcased a collection of 100 traditional woven fabrics from across the archipelago in the Ahu Partonun(Im a Weaver) exhibition. Half of the collection comprised North Sumatran woven fabrics, such as ulos, hiou, uis and abit.

One of weavers participating in the festival was 68-year-old Boru Hutagalung, who has 50 years experience in weaving.

She said that it took a month for her to complete a piece of harungguan ulos as she had to work with thousands of yarns to create the intricate motifs.

It takes a long time to design the motif, dyeing the yarns and weaving, she said, adding that a piece of harungguan ulos sold for Rp1.2 million (US$78).

Edward hoped that the festival would draw global attention to ulos.

We want ulos to go global so that the welfare of craftspeople will be improved, he said.

Tarutung Regent Nikson Nababan also expressed a similar hope and underlined the regional administrations commitment to supporting around 3,000 weavers in North Tapanuli.

Weavers wishing to increase their production capacity can join our training. North Tapanuli administration will also provide modern weaving tools for them, Nikson said.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Ottawa, Canada  Thu, November 1, 2018 09:49 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a25b22 2 World #Canada,#immigrants,Canada,plan,expulsion,Immigrants Free

Faced with an influx of asylum seekers from the United States, Canada is planning to substantially step up deportations of illegal migrants, Canada's public broadcaster reported Wednesday.

A leaked email from a senior Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) official to staff, cited by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the goal is to deport some 10,000 persons a year, as much as a 35 percent increase over recent years.

CBSA enforcement director Brad Wozny wrote that in recent weeks he has "been involved in several discussions both regionally and nationally concerning the government of Canada's decision to substantially increase removal efforts."

"Initial discussions have the agency working towards a new national target of 10,000 removals/year," he adds.

The CBC said 18,000 people, mostly failed refugee claimants, currently face deportation. So far this year 6,083 have been deported, compared to a total of 8,472 in 2017 and 18,987 in 2012.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government is "trying to improve the immigration system and be more expeditious in handling cases."

Border Security Minister Bill Blair, meanwhile, confirmed that the government has "added additional resources to ensure that (the CBSA) has what they need to do the job."

He noted that only asylum seekers who "have gone through all the legal processes of determining their eligibility for the protection of Canada" and been found "to have not been eligible are subject to removal."

This hardening of the government's position comes as Trudeau's Liberals face increased political attacks ahead of next year's election from opposition Tories, who accuse the government of mismanaging a migrant "crisis."

Donald Trump's election as US president triggered a spike in asylum seekers who have simply walked across the border into Canada, some braving biting cold and dangerous treks through the wilds.

According to the latest government data, more than 30,000 have come from the United States in search of asylum. Most were originally from Nigeria, Haiti, Turkey, Eritrea or Colombia.
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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi, Riza Roidila Mufti and Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 1, 2018 10:19 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a27de7 1 National Lion-Air,#LionAirJT610,JT610,plane-crash,budget-airlines,travel Free

With its cheap airfares, high frequency of flights and large number of destinations served, Lion Air has become the go-to airline for travelers in a hurry, despite the budget airlines spotty safety record.



And even after one of its aircraft plunged into the Java Sea on Monday, killing 189 people on board, travelers continue to stick with the budget carrier.



Luthfinnisa Sony Putri, who now lives in Yogyakarta, said she would stick with her plan of booking a Lion Air flight for her Idul Fitri holiday trip to South Solok regency in West Sumatra.



She said Lion Air was the only airline that offered a direct flight from Yogyakarta to West Sumatra.

Direct flights are hassle-free, you dont waste your time in transit and yet it costs less, said Luthfinnisa, who booked her flight with her husband and baby boy for June next year.

Read also: Lion Air JT610 crash: I want to bring my husband home no matter what

Based on online travel booking platform Traveloka, the trip from Adisutjipto Airport in Yogyakarta to Minangkabau International Airport in Padang, West Sumatra takes 1 hour and 55 minutes on a Lion Air direct flight with a ticket price of Rp 800,000 (US$52.59).

On a non-direct flight, it could take travelers up to 14 hours to reach Padang from Yogyakarta with ticket prices starting from Rp 2.3 million per person.

Mondays crash also did not dissuade Sakinah Utami from flying Lion Air. Sakinah, who had booked a Lion Air flight from Batam to Jakarta, decided to keep the ticket for a short trip in December.



Despite her fresh fear of flying, Sakinah said the low price motivated her to keep the booking.



I felt scared after finding out about the incident. I have used Traveloka to find other flights, but sadly the ticket price has gone up significantly given that my trip would be in December, Sakinah said.

Early on Monday, Lion Air flight JT610 crashed into the Java Sea north of Karawang, West Java after being airborne for only 13 minutes, killing all passengers and crew on board.



The aircraft used in the flight, a brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8, has been reported to have had a technical problem on a previous flight, but it had been resolved according to procedure,



The crash is the latest in a string of accidents that has plagued the countrys biggest budget airline in the country.



Between 2002 and 2018, Lion Air has had 15 serious incidents, some fatal and others resulting in injuries and aircraft losses.



Last year, one of Lions Boeing jets clipped with a Wings Air plane as it landed at Kualanamu airport in North Sumatra, although no one was injured.



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 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 2004, 24 people were killed when a Lion Air flight from Jakarta skidded off a rain-slicked runway after landing in Surakarta, Central Java.



In an interview with Kompas daily in 2015, Lion Air founder Rusdi Kirana, now Indonesias ambassador to Malaysia said my airline is the worst in the world, but you have no choice.



Following Mondays crash of Lion Air flight JT 610, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi ordered the removal of Lion Airs technical director Muhammad Asif.



Budi Karya Sumadi said the suspension could help improve transparency and impartiality in the ongoing investigation into the crash.



The ministrys Aircraft Airworthiness and Operation Directorate has also conducted an evaluation and special audit on Lion Air. Findings from the probe would be submitted to the National Transportation Safety Committee, which has conducted its own investigation.

If we find any negligence on the part of the airline, we will impose a strong punishment based on existing regulations, Budi Karya said.
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Linkedin Dian Septiari, Marchio Irfan Gorbiano and Ati Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 1, 2018 09:53 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a26223 1 World Indonesia,Saudi-Arabia,migrant-workers,migrant-protection,bilateral-relations,Manpower-Ministry Free

Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri has said he will review a scheme to send migrant workers to Saudi Arabia after the kingdom executed an Indonesian domestic worker without notifying her family or consular staff.



Tuti Tursilawati was executed Monday seven years after she was sentenced to death for killing her employers father in an act she had claimed was self-defense.



The execution casts a shadow over a recent agreement to send a limited number of migrant workers to Saudi Arabia under the One Channel System, despite a 2015 moratorium banning new domestic workers from entering 21 Middle Eastern countries.

With this incident, we will review [the system] and coordinate with relevant stakeholders, including the Foreign Ministry and the BNP2TKI [Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers], Hanif told reporters at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday.



President Joko Jokowi Widodo criticized the decision, saying the government had lodged an official protest and demanded better protection of Indonesian workers in the country.

Read also: Jokowi regrets being blindsided, again, in Saudi execution of Indonesian

Indonesia introduced the ban following the execution of two other Indonesian maids by Riyadh.



The Saudi side has not come out with an official response.



Even though Hanif and his Saudi counterpart Ahmed Sulaiman Al Rajhi had agreed on a technical arrangement for the project last month, ministry officials had said it would be a while before Indonesian migrant workers would be allowed again to work in Saudi Arabia.



Maruli A. Hasoloan, the ministrys Labor Placement and Employment Development Director General, said the ministry was still papering over any unresolved technical issues. I cant say when we can send the workers, but hopefully soon, he said recently.



The project will be evaluated after a six-month trial, and officially kicks off when a qualified Indonesian migrant worker is sent to one of a limited number of destinations.



Maruli said the new system aimed to address the fundamental reason why workers would often be involved in crime, such as dissatisfaction over unpaid wages or harassment. Im not saying [the project] will solve all the problems, but it can help minimize them, he said.



Under the limited trial, only certified worker classes are allowed: babysitters, family cooks and caretakers for the elderly, as well as family drivers, childcare workers and housekeepers. Certification is to be obtained through government-approved migrant worker training centers (BKLN).



The ministrys director for migrant worker placement and protection, R. Soes Hindharno, said that an online system was currently being set up to filter applications from around 300 BKLN and 446 worker placement agencies that wanted to participate in the project. Agencies with a poor track record would be automatically disqualified, Soes said.



Domestic workers like Tuti are among the most vulnerable groups that Indonesia sends abroad, owing to decades of unregulated recruitment and placement practices that neglect the rights and wellbeing of workers.



Women migrant workers have it even harder, with Azriana, the chairwoman of the National Commission on Violence against Women, saying that avoiding rape was not about skill [...] but protection.



Tuti was reportedly harassed by her employers father but did not report it, and chose instead to beat him to death. She was charged with premeditated murder. (tjs)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 1, 2018 17:45 1114 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a40fa1 1 City suspects,police,drug-dealer,e-cigarette,liquid Free

The Jakarta Police arrested 11 people for allegedly producing and distributing electronic cigarette liquid containing ecstasy in Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Jakarta Police narcotics unit chief Sr. Adj. Comr. Jean Calvijn Simanjuntak said the suspects had experimented to figure out how to make the liquid with the illegal drugs. He added there was a "boss" who ordered them to make the illicit liquid.

Someone ordered them by phone. That's who we are searching for, who gave them the order, he said, as quoted by kompas.com.

The e-cigarette liquid containing ecstasy was reportedly made at a rental house in Kelapa Gading and was distributed through a multi level marketing (MLM) approach.

However, the suspects reportedly said the MLM approach was changed to an easier method, social media.

Deliveries were made through a courier service or online transportation. (sau/gis)
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Berlin, Germany  Thu, November 1, 2018 21:44 1114 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a475ae 2 World #Germany,#refugees,Angela-Merkel,ally,warning,refugees,sex-crimes,gang-rape,syrian-refugees Free

Asylum seekers must be taught that Germany has zero tolerance for sex crimes, its migration commissioner said, following widespread shock over the rape of an 18-year-old woman that led to the arrest of seven Syrians.

"The perpetrators must be brought before a court and punished severely," Annette Widmann-Mauz, minister of state for migration, refugees and integration, told the RND news organisation.

German police arrested the seven Syrian men, aged 19 to 29, along with a 25-year-old German man last month on suspicion of raping the woman in the southwestern town of Freiburg.

One of the men is suspected of drugging the woman's drink in a Freiburg nightclub before they all took turns at sexually assaulting her in a thicket outside.

The crime has shocked Freiburg, a picturesque university town, and risks stirring up anti-refugee sentiment across the country as the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) seeks to cement itself as the leading opposition party.

"All asylum seekers must receive signposting courses on co-existence in Germany as soon as they arrive in Germany, or at the initial reception centre, and that includes zero tolerance for sexual abuse and other acts of violence," said Widmann-Mauz.

In her role as minister of state for migration, Widmann-Mauz works in the chancellery under Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The AfD's rise is attributed in part to a public backlash against the arrival of more than a million migrants since mid-2014, many of them from Middle East conflict zones.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 1, 2018 12:41 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a34b9f 1 Business Merpati-Nusantara-Airlines,PKPU,commercial-court,bankruptcy Free

State-owned airline PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines is on the brink of bankruptcy, with its creditors failing to agree to a peaceful resolution in the debt postponement petition (PKPU) hearing on Wednesday at Surabaya Commercial Court.

Of its 85 concurrent creditors, only four rejected a peaceful resolution, while only the Finance Ministry among its three separatist creditors opposed a peaceful resolution, said Arifin Sulaiman, an official assigned to manage the Merpati PKPU.

The Finance Ministry has the largest credit, so the 'yes' voters lost the vote, said Arifin as quoted by kontan.co.id.

Merpati has total debts of Rp 10.95 trillion (US$720.73 million): Rp 1.09 trillion owed to preferential creditors, Rp 5.99 trillion to concurrent creditors and Rp 3.87 trillion to separatist creditors.

Merpati owes Rp 2.66 trillion to the Finance Ministry, or 68.73 percent of the amount it owes to its separatist creditors. A peaceful settlement could be possible if it was supported by at least 51 percent of the separatist creditors.

Arifin said that the voting result had not made any significant impact, because the court would issue the final decision.

"The judicial panel will decide whether to declare Merpati bankrupt or to approve a peaceful resolution, he said, adding that the court would issue its decision on Friday.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani declined to comment on the ministrys stance in the vote. Actually, I know the answer, but let the director general respond," she said referring to state asset director general Isa Rachmatarwata. "But he is [not here] now, so wait until he returns, she said. (bbn)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, November 1 2018

The financial records that were the focus of an investigative report by independent whistle-blower platform IndonesiaLeaks were confiscated by police on Monday, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed.

KPK leaders have decided to give the two pieces of evidence [to the Jakarta Police] because of a court order from the South Jakarta District Court dated Oct. 23, 2018, KPK spokesperson Febri Diansyah said on Tuesday.

The financial records, known as the red book, were among the pieces of evidence that had been confiscated in a graft case involving meat-importing businessman Basuki Hariman and former Constitutional Court justice Patrialis Akbar.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Meranti, Riau  Thu, November 1, 2018 09:31 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a257cd 1 National crocodile-attack,crocodiles,wildlife,Riau,labor Free

After being missing for two days, Zaini, a 35-year-old resident of Mekar Sari village, Meranti regency, Riau, was found dead on a river bank on Tuesday after a suspected crocodile attack.



Zaini, who works as a sago plantation laborer, was last seen on Sunday on the banks of the Mukun river, tying sago stalks to a raft to bring to the factory.



According to the other laborers, he just suddenly disappeared from the raft, Mekar Sari village head Herman said on Wednesday.



Residents were not sure about what happened to Zaini until they saw a large crocodile biting a human leg on Monday. Residents then started to search around the mouth of the river and also asked for help from a crocodile handler from Kepau Baru village, Herman said. On Tuesday morning, the victims body was found on top of mud on the river bank.



He added that some of the body parts were missing. Both hands were gone, and the left leg was gone up to the knee, he said.



This is the third crocodile attack to occur in Meranti regency this year. In April, another sago laborer named Hongkiat, 18, was killed by a crocodile in Kepau Baru village.



In May, two residents of Sungai Tohor village were attacked by crocodiles on the same day in two different locations. Pian, 39, and Sahan, 41, were badly injured but survived.



Right now residents are afraid of conducting activities in the river, even though most of them are sago plantation laborers, Herman said.
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Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam  Thu, November 1, 2018 17:13 1114 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a3f300 1 National Singapore,fishermen,Indonesia,fishing,boat,border Free

Eight Indonesian fishing boats were run out of Singaporean waters by the city states Marine Police on Wednesday.

The boats reportedly sailed from Padang Belakang Island in Batam, Riau Islands, and entered Singaporean territory without permission, according to the Riau Polices marine director, Benyamin Sapta.

Weve conducted an investigation and the fishermen admitted that the Singapore authorities had warned them not to cross the border but they kept on going, Benyamin said.

After they arrived at Sei Kijang, near Singapores Pulau Dua, a Singapore Marine Police patrol approached and ordered them to leave. The boats sailed off but later returned to the border area.

The Marine Police then chased the boats, hitting one of them. One fisherman sustained a broken leg in the collision and is currently receiving treatment at the BP Hospital in Batam, said Benyamin.

He added that the Riau Police had previously reminded all fishermen to be careful in border areas.

[We] often tell them to go fishing only in our territory and not to cross the border, Benyamin said.

The authorities in Batam have sent a letter to the liaison officer of the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore. (foy)
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Linkedin News Desk (Bloomberg) Kuala Lumpur  Thu, November 1, 2018 13:39 1115 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877a3698b 2 SE Asia 1MDB,Malaysia,Kuala-Lumpur,scandal,immunity Free

Financier Low Taek Jho, wanted in Malaysia for alleged money laundering linked to state fund 1MDB, is still attempting to broker an immunity deal with authorities, a report said.

Low, said to be a central figure behind the alleged embezzlement of billions of dollars from 1MDB, reached out as recently as last week, Daim Zainuddin told broadcaster Astro Awani. Daim led a council that advised Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad during his first 100 days in power.

Low is seeking immunity in exchange for assistance in finding assets linked to the scandal-ridden fund, Daim said in the report published Wednesday, adding that the government hasnt been swayed.

1Malaysia Development Bhd., better known as 1MDB, is at the heart of a scandal which allegedly saw $4.5 billion misappropriated from the fund. Low, who previously said he did consulting work for 1MDB, is portrayed by some global investigators as the mastermind behind some of the schemes involving missing funds. He has been described as the best witness to provide information on alleged crimes at 1MDB.

U.S. prosecutors had painted Low as a bon vivant and a central figure who set up shell companies and arranged the transfers of tens of millions of dollars to pay Malaysian government officials, while Singapore investigators have called him a key person of interest. Funds from 1MDB that were raised for development projects were used to pay for luxury real estate, art, lavish parties and more, U.S. investigators say.

Lows whereabouts arent publicly known and Malaysia has sought Interpols help to locate and arrest him. He has been moving around to avoid detection, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin told Parliament on Monday. The government tracked down his latest location several days ago, and is seeking cooperation from a foreign country to bring him back to Malaysia to face charges related to 1MDB, he said.

A spokesman for Low did not immediately respond to a request for comments. Low, through his attorneys, had previously maintained his innocence and said he is confident of being vindicated. Low had also said he would not "submit to any jurisdiction where guilt has been predetermined by politics and self-interest overrules legal process."
Icelands Fever Dream describes herself as a fem-powered horror rapper, which might sound jarring at first, but her tracks end up being wildly accessible through catchy rhythmic wordplay and eclectic musical influences.

Image credit: Reykjavik Grapevine

Youll find some atmospheric similarities to a group like Die Antwoord in her music, but while the former tends to pair dystopian vibes with a sense of erratic playfulness, Fever Dream instead pairs the darker productions with more seductive and chilled out grooves. The result? The Icelandic rapper finds a real sweet spot somewhere between familiar and fresh.

Her 2018 EP Nom De Guerre exemplifies the horror rap sound, but its the single Soy Howser that both steals the show and highlights the young musicians range. One aspect of modern rap that has a hard time attracting new fans is the oversimplified beats. If a droning loop over stuttering trap hi-hats isnt your thing, fear not, as Soy Howser is one of the more intricate and simply satisfying rap instrumentals that we've heard in a minute.

Slow rising synths are fused with touches of sax, which make the tracks cumulative sound reminiscent of glitch-hop gargantuans Big Gigantic. An oversized kick, which again can be jarring at times, isnt only fitting but necessary, as it brings what could be considered a feel-good instrumental to the dark, compact clubs that Fever Dream thrives in. All of the above sets the sonic stage for Fever Dream's empowering vocals that challenge societies gender tropes.

If youre digging this video, check out the Nom De Guerre EP in full on either Soundcloud or Spotify. Additionally, Fever Dream just announced several tour dates across Europe, where shell be warming up for pop punk band Dream Wife. Dates below:

10.11 - Iceland Airwaves

15.11 - Stuttgart - Merlin

18.11 - Berlin - Musik & Frieden

19.11 - Hannover - LUX

21.11 - Bremen - Lagerhaus
Do you know why @epkaufm, professor of politics at @BirkbeckUoL didnt care? Because he KNEW that @BirkbeckUoL would not (really) care & neither would the rest of the world. He sent that tweet with his chest knowing black students will continue to pay his salary.  Ezimma Chigbo (@EzChigbo) 1 November 2018

It is no wonder that @BirkbeckUoL have one of the highest attainment gaps in the country. There strategy is simply to sell black and brown students dreams at recruitment then hand us over to the likes of @epkaufm once were through the door. And theyve been getting away with it.  Ezimma Chigbo (@EzChigbo) 1 November 2018

Birkbeck is committed to providing an inclusive and non-discriminatory environment and does not tolerate racism.

"We treat all allegations of discrimination and racism extremely seriously and always look into them in accordance with our policies and procedures.

"This matter has been brought to our attention and we cannot comment further at this stage.

Eric Kaufmann, a Politics professor at Birbeck University, was described as an 'enthusiastic racist' by Birbeck University student Ezimma Chigbo in a stream of subsequent tweets. Ezimma, who is also the Black member's Officer at Birbeck uni was disgusted to come across the post. In 2016, Eric retweeted a picture of a herd of black cows with the caption 'Black Lives Matter in Saskatchewan.'Kaufmann defended his post, saying that "This was a non-racist, sardonic Canadian joke about a rural farming province with virtually no black people I retweeted a few years ago. I have since deleted the tweet as it could be seen as insensitive." However, Chigbo argues that this is bigger than Kaufmann's tweet; alluding to internalised and institutionalised racism in Birbeck University. She alleges that over 50% of students at the university 'identify as BME' are paying to be educated in an environment where lecturers, like Kaufmann, hold significant power.Kaufmann was employed by Birbeck as a professor of Politics in 2011, and Chigbo argues that Kaufmann was able to write the tweet because he felt comfortable knowing that Birbeck 'do not care enough about black and brown students for there to be any serious repercussions.'She expressed her disgust at the fact that 'black students continue to pay his salary.' After initially attempting to refrain from publically commenting, Chigbo has brought the tweet to the attention of both the University and its students. In her final tweet confronting the issue, she challenges Birbeck, by saying that she looks forward to seeing how they handle this issue. A Birbeck spokesperson said:
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The Foxboro Police Department raised more than $15,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Pink Patch project. From left are Detective Patrick Morrison, Sgt. John Thibedeau, Lt. Scott Austin and Dispatcher William Fitzpatrick, with the patches.


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MBABANE  The Municipal Council of Ezulwini has approved the construction of SwaziMeds hospital valued at over E200 million.



Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Vusi Matsebula disclosed that in August 2018, the office received an application from the Swaziland Medical Aid Fund (SwaziMed) to construct a medical facility.



SwaziMed is proposing to construct a 100-bed referral hospital on Plot 6 of Farm 850 in the Ezulwini Municipality. The estimated cost of the proposed hospital is approximately E212 million, said Matsebula.



The CEO said in September SwaziMed had begun works on their boundary wall which is to be a retaining wall, as well as the bulk earthworks.

Matsebula explained that the bulk earthworks will involve the corrections of contours/levels within the site in preparation for future construction.

It should be mentioned that Ezulwini attracted investments worth over E37 million in only three months.



During the second quarter of the 2018/19 financial year, the Ezulwini Municipality has been flooded with building applications for both residential and commercial developments.



infrastructure



Investments from private infrastructure development in the second quarter of the current financial year totalled an amount of E 37 104 000, disclosed Matsebula.

In terms of large- scale private developments, applications for major commercial developments, Matsebula mentioned that they had been mainly received in previous financial years.



Matsebula disclosed that the upsurge for leisure and conferencing facilities which prompted Happy Valley to construct an additional 60 rooms worth E73 million was 78 per cent complete. The expansion of the Happy Valley Hotel is being done by Construction Associates (CA), who is a subsidiary of Inyatsi Group.



erected



The priciest of the large scale structures being erected at Ezulwini is the International Convention Centre and Five Star Hotel being constructed by the Kukhanya, Inyatsi and Stefanutti Stocks Joint Venture valued at over E2 billion which is 59 per cent complete. The total number of jobs created could not be immediately ascertained but a construction expert projected that between 500 and 1 000 people had been hired when taking into consideration the magnitude of the project being undertaken.



opposite



On the opposite direction of the state-of-the-art hotel and convention centre, is the Eswatini Revenue Authority (ERA) headquarters which was projected to cost over E300 million and is now 79 per cent complete. The principal contractor is Stefanutti Stocks and the project managers are APM Consulting while MA Consulting Engineers takes care of the engineering aspect.



Within the same periphery, a multimillion office park and shopping complex is also being constructed by MA Properties.

The property, which sits on a 8 000 square-metre plot opposite Corner Plaza, comprises of 15 double storey office spaces and a retail centre to be operated by OK Foods as anchor tenant.



construction



The structure to be completed in November is already almost complete. The construction tender was awarded to the Mbhilibhi Group while project management is undertaken by professionals from MA Consulting Engineers. The total number of jobs created was about 200 people.



During presentation of annual report to stakeholders, property owners and residents, the CEO highlighted that there had been an increase in the applications for commercial developments, urban townships and churches.
MBABANE  Those who are interested in attending the second edition of Siyawela crossover might have to freeze their plans as this years show hangs in the balance.



This, as the show is left with only two months to be organised by ACASWA, however, during their first ever meeting last Sunday, the newly-elected interim committee has not come out with a concrete answer if the event will take place or not.



The first edition of the annual show was launched last year by the ousted President Mzwakhe Myeni together with his executive committee. The event was held on December 31 at Mbabane Worship Centre Church, and drew an impressive crowd as the auditorium was filled to the rafters.



During an interview with this publication, Secretary of the interim committee, Thamie Ndlovu first acknowledged that their first meeting was a great success as they discussed a wide range of issues concerning a way forward. However, coming to the Siyawela crossover, Ndlovu said they would make a solid decision on the show during a meeting slated for next week Tuesday.



discuss



We have another meeting on Tuesday to discuss the Siyawela crossover and other ACASWA activities, which I believe will form part of our press statement at the joint conference we intend doing with arts and culture. So with regards to the crossover, a determination will be made on Tuesday, he said.



In addition, the lawyer who runs a firm in Manzini said Tuesday night was a unique one for them as they held a successful handover meeting with former President Mzwakhe Myeni and former Secretary General Apostle Vusumuzi Maculuve on the status of the association and remaining projects.



Apostle Maculuve said after resigning two months ago to pursue his studies at the University of Eswatini where he is currently enrolled for a Bachelors degree in Education for Leadership Management of Inclusive Education, had a perfect handover with the newly-elected ACASWA Interim Committee.
PIGGS PEAK  A pupil at Mhlatane High School is lucky to be alive after he fell from the first floor of the boys dormitory.

* Mario, the injured pupil, is said to be doing Form IV at the school.



The incident is said to have happened on Monday at around 4am when the pupils were preparing for class.

Other pupils were stunned when one of them left the hostel claiming he was being called by someone outside.

We wondered why he did not use the stairs but chose to use the window, said some of the pupils.



Mario is alleged to have heard strange voices calling him to go outside but they allegedly directed him to a window where he then jumped off.

The level from where he fell is said to be at least five metres above the ground.



Mario is said to have hit head first on the ground, causing severe injury. His screams attracted the attention of other pupils and the boarding master, who briefly attended to him before he was rushed to hospital.



The incident is said to have left fellow pupils shocked, as they did not understand why he went through the window when it was clear that he could get injured.

Mhlatane High School has about 1 600 pupils and some of the pupils who were interviewed claimed they were not aware of the incident.



Mario is said to have sustained most of his injuries on his head, leaving other pupils and teacher saying he was very lucky to be alive.

You cannot survive if you land with your head from such a distance, said a teacher.
MBABANE  Bring back our fathers skull, we want to bury his remains.



This is the only plea, to the police, by a family of Mavula in orthern Hhohho.

The son of the deceased has since taken the national commissioner of police to court, where he is seeking an order compelling him to return the skull.

The deceaseds skeleton was taken by the police following the arrest of suspects who reportedly tampered with the grave.



When the skeleton was eventually returned by the law enforcers, it was allegedly discovered that the skull was missing.

The director of public prosecutions (DPP) has been cited as the second respondent in the matter

Elias Ndwandwe informed the court that he was the son of the late Canda Ndwandwe.



He submitted that on or about 2018, he engaged the services of his attorney to get back his fathers remains because he wanted to bury them.

Elias alleged that he was then told to go to Piggs Peak Police Station to collect the human bones for purposes of burial.

When I arrived at the police station, I only got the human bones. The skull was missing, submitted the applicant (Elias).



He averred that on further enquiry from the police, the investigator, Good Boy Dlamini told him that he should bury the bones without the skull. The applicant told the court that that his father died on or about June 2004.



Elias contended that he had the necessary locus standi to bring the application to court by virtue of the fact that he was the biological son of Canda.

I have a direct and substantial interest in this matter, because the latters remains, being the bones that were dug from his grave, should be respectfully buried in the violated grave, submitted Elias.



Giving a background of the matter, Elias stated that the matter was brought to court because in 2011 community members of Mavula raised an alarm at his parental home that there was a violation of a grave of the late Canda.



Narrated



He narrated that the matter was then reported to the Buhleni Police Post. According to the applicant, after the report was made, he and the entire family were given feedback by the police officers, that they had arrested suspects who were found driving a motor vehicle carrying human bones. He alleged that this prompted further investigations by police officers.



I recall that the police arrested the suspects and they led me together with the police to the violated grave of my late father, averred the applicant.

He went on to state that the police led the suspects to the scene of crime, where the grave was dug and some bones of the deceased were taken as exhibits. Elias alleged that the exhibits were taken to the Piggs Peak Police Station for the criminal trial.



He highlighted that during the trial at the Piggs Peak Magistrates Court, a certain Matsebula gave evidence that the suspects came with the police at his home and human bones were retrieved from a pit latrine.

I verily affirm that the exhibits were taken to the Republic of South Africa by the police officers for forensic and DNA tests, he argued.
LOZITHA - He is known to speak without fear or favour, and that is exactly what he did before His Majesty King Mswati III yesterday.



This is none other than Motshane MP Robert Magongo, who informed the King that they were keen to know how much they would earn as the 11th Parliament.



This is because ever since the parliamentarians were sworn into office, they did not have a Circular on their terms and conditions of service for the next five years.



The MP said the King had appointed a commission to look into their conditions of service, and they had hoped that by this time it would have been ready.

We have been asking for lifts coming here and the other duties we have undertaken as MPs, but we do not know what we are working for, said MP Magongo.



He said in previous years when they had been in office, the Speaker and Senate president would have already had a hint of what they would be working on.

Magongos remarks were met with laughter from both the King and his colleagues, as he submitted that he was there to report those responsible for dealing with their circular.



Commission



The King appointed a commission, which was chaired by Eswatini Sugar Association (SSA) CEO Phil Mnisi to look into the terms and conditions of service.

The 10th Parliament was remunerated under Finance Circular No. 2 of 2013 and by the time the last Parliament left, MPs were paid a basic salary of about E46 000, while the late Prime Minister, Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini, earned about E77 000.



Before making his remarks, Magongos colleagues had started murmuring among themselves, and the MP told the King that he should not be bothered by his colleaguess utterances because they knew he would speak the truth.



As if Magongo knew that the issue of the new Circular was prudent, members of the commission, including Mnisi, Standard Bank CE Mvuselelo Fakudze, Kobla Quashie, Dr Sikhumba Gumbi, former PS Nomathemba Hlope, Joe Shilubane and its secretary, lawyer Sidumo Mdladla, all turned up at the Mandvulo Hall.



The group was carrying documents , which were assumed to have contents of the new legislators packages.

On another note, Magongo informed the King that what further destroyed the economy in the country was gossip.


HLUTI  It hasnt been long after worried teachers predicted things would turn out this way.



A police officer was found in a compromising position with a schoolgirl as other pupils sat for an exam in a nearby hall on Monday.

The officer is among the group that was dispatched to schools across the country to monitor the ongoing examinations, following the labour dispute pitting teachers and their employer  government.



Sneaked



The pair had allegedly sneaked off to a teachers house at Florence Christian Academy, in Hluti, at the time when the officer was supposed to be manning security in the exam room.

It is understood that the female pupil, who stays at the schools boarding facility, usually paid visits to the teachers house.



However, on this particular day, the teacher who owns the house was away conducting lessons in class when the Form II pupil was allegedly caught in a compromising position with the police officer.



Information gathered was that both the officer and the young girl should not have been inside the house when a startled domestic worker bumped into them unexpectedly.



A resident said the maid caught the police officer kissing and touching the girl inappropriately.

The incident reportedly happened during the morning hours when the house helper entered the place where the two were allegedly having a good time, much to their surprise.



Disturbing



The disturbing incident was reported to the owner of the house, who immediately alerted the school Head teacher Nomcebo Simelane.

A disgusted Simelane confirmed that she reported one male officer who was caught with a female pupil at a time when he was expected to be providing security for pupils sitting an exam.



They were caught in a compromising position and I had no alternative but to report the matter to the police in order to protect my pupils.

This thing really annoyed me because the officer was only sent to the school to provide security and not to abuse children, she said.

The matter was reported at the Hluti Police Station where an investigation was subsequently launched.
By Azernews





By Abdul Kerimkhanov

The resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is being delayed as a result of the non-constructive position of Armenia.

This was stated by Colonel General Madat Guliyev, head of the State Security Service (SSS), chairman of the State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Citizens of Azerbaijan at a meeting dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the State Commission on November 1.

He noted that thanks to cooperation with international organizations, in particular with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 1,480 prisoners and hostages were released, but according to information available to the commission, 871 Azerbaijani citizens are still among hostages and in captivity.

According to the information, Armenians tell prisoners and hostages that they "fully occupied Azerbaijan" and that "such a country no longer exists," to exert psychological pressure on them, Guliyev said.

Naturally, Azerbaijan continues to take necessary measures to release these people and those detained in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region Dilgam Asgarov, Shahbaz Guliyev and Elnur Huseynzade, he said.

The issue of the release of these people is at the center of the constant attention of President Ilham Aliyev, and the head of state always brings this issue to the attention of international structures during the meetings and discussions, Guliyev added.

He stressed that despite the ICRC put forward a proposal to release the individuals registered by the committee who are hostages and in captivity, to transfer prisoners and hostages to the parties [Azerbaijan and Armenia] as soon as possible, Armenia did not express its attitude to this humane proposal, remains indifferent to the fate of the victims of the war and takes no steps forward,

In conclusion, Guliyev added that the reason lies in the fact that from the very beginning of the conflict, Armenia is trying to politicize the humanitarian issue, and to represent the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh as a party to the conflict.

Addressing the event, Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament, member of the State Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons Bahar Muradova said Armenia neglects commitments undertaken at the international level.

She noted that Armenia committed crimes against humanity and mankind.

"Crimes committed by Armenia are not only against Azerbaijanis, but also against all mankind. Azerbaijan consistently reveals the aggressive nature of Armenia to the world community. And we witness that this does not cause a serious concern of international organizations," she said.

Muradova also underlined that the prevention of crimes against humanity and the punishment of their perpetrators are the commitments undertaken by the Azerbaijani state.

"The work carried out by the State Commission over the past 25 years should be valued in this context," Muradova added.

Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev have been kept hostage by Armenian militaries in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan for more than four years already. They were detained by the Armenian armed forces in July 2014 while visiting their native places and graves of loved ones in the occupied Azerbaijani Kalbajar region. Moreover, Armenian armed forces killed the third Azerbaijani Hasan Hasanov.

Later, Guliyev and Asgarov were judged illegally by the unrecognized courts of the separatist regime in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. Following an expedited judicial process in December 2015, Asgarov was sentenced to life imprisonment and Guliyev  to 22 years in prison.

Azerbaijans State Committee on Affairs of Refugees and IDPs, the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons and other agencies have repeatedly urged international organizations, including the ICRC, to assist in release of Guliyev and Asgarov, whilst the problem remains topical yet.
By Trend





The healthcare ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Turkey have agreed to increase the quota for the treatment of Kyrgyz citizens in Turkish clinics to 150 people, Kabar news agency reported.

Since 2014, Turkey has started to annually provide a quota for free treatment to 100 Kyrgyz citizens as part of an agreement between the governments of the two countries on cooperation in healthcare.

In accordance with the agreement, 50 people are selected by the commission of the Healthcare Ministry of Kyrgyzstan, and 50 people are selected by the Turkish Embassy in Kyrgyzstan.

Only treatment in Turkish clinics is free, and the patients pay for all other expenses themselves.
As greekreporter.com noted in a recent article, making the journey from Crete to the USA was not a decision that Antonis Karayannakis took lightly. However, when opportunity knocked, he knew that he had a chance to prove to himself all that he was capable of accomplishing. He moved to the United States on March 1, 2013, and has focused on building his future ever since.

Karayannakis business-oriented mind lay dormant in the Greek island of Crete. He wanted to start his own business, but once the economic crisis hit Greece, he saw that there were too many obstacles to be overcome.

His dreams led him to where he is now, the owner of Kalamaki Greek Street Food, a food truck that specializes in fine Greek food, Vromiko-style, and which is inspired by his roots.

I saw the potential in Crete [but] there wasnt any future, business-wise, noted Karayannakis.

I took the opportunity to go to the U.S. I proved what I can do, he told Greek Reporter. It wasnt easy but, if you want something and you have patience and dont give up, you can stay in the U.S. and have success. You just need time.

Just three years after he left Greece, tragedy struck Karayannakis family when his mother was accidentally killed outside of their home when a neighbor hit her as he backed up his car. I had given a promise to her when I left Greece back then in 2013 to do something by myself and search for success. So I made this move this year [to open the food truck]. he added.

According to Karayannakis, the business has a lot of work, few hours sleep, and stress, but as a proud Cretan-Greek we have in our blood [the will] to not give up and try harder to make it happen.

Read more at greekreporter.com

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: kalamakigreekla.com
Through images, text and video, users enter the educational portal and can start an interactive journey into the history of chocolate

Greeces favourite ION chocolate recently launched the first digital portal for cocoa and chocolate in Greece, where visitors are able to interactively learn about the history of chocolate!

The popular Greek brand has designed the educational portal IONchocopedia (www.ionchocopedia.gr), which will be hosted as a microsite on its corporate website (www.ion.gr).

Through images, text and video, users enter the educational portal and can start an interactive journey into the history of chocolate, which starts in distant tropical countries, then shows the various stages of harvesting, transporting, storing and processing cocoa beans, continuing with industrial production and ending with the creation of the final product that holds the hearts of consumers of all ages.

The educational portal also presents delicious ways of enjoying chocolate from around the globe, as well as nutritional advice from special nutritionists.

The aim of the Chocopedia Education Portal is to inform children and teenagers, as well as educational organisations.

ION is the sole company in Greece controlling the entire chocolate production process, from importing and selecting the cocoa bean to the final product, which is particularly sensitive to the emergence of responsible practices and innovative processes at every stage f production.

ION was first sold in Greece in 1930 and now has three state-of-the-art production units with nearly 1,000 employees.

Read more at greekcitytimes.com

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: User:Aka License: CC-BY-SA
Products exported by Greece to Russia include fur clothing (23.6 pct of total exports), petroleum-based oils (10.9 pct), copper pipes (5.8 pct), electrical communication devices (5.2 pct) and unprocessed tobacco (4.1 pct)

The Greek-Russian Business Council met at the offices of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) on Wednesday to discuss exports between the two countries, ANA reports.

According to figures presented at the meeting, Greek exports to Russia grew by 8.8 pct in 2017 compared to 2016, totalling 234 million euros. Imports from Russia also increased, by 20.5 pct, totalling 3.42 billion euros. Russia accounts for 6.8 pct of all imports to Greece.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: pixabay.com
Delegation from the Qatari government and the Qatar Investment Authority to visit Greece and Greek economy ministry to take part in the 18th Doha Forum in December

Greek Government Vice-President and Economy and Development Minister Yiannis Dragasakis had a meeting with the Qatari Ambassador in Athens Abdulaziz Al-Naama at the economy ministry on Thursday to discuss the progress of talks on an Agreement for the Mutual Promotion and Protection of Investments between Greece and Qatar, ANA reports. According to a ministry announcement, the agreement is being drafted in accordance with the European framework for investmentment agreements between EU member-states and third countries.

They also discussed bilateral economic relations and the prospects of increasing Qatar's investment presence in Greece, in tourism, infrastructure, energy and the financial sector, as well as ways to boost trade relations and the penetration of Greek products in Qatar's market.

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: Nuroptics License: CC-BY-SA
Greek Ministry for Digital Policy announced on Wednesday the launch of a call for the expression of interest regarding the creation of an investment fund for audiovisual productions, ANA reports.

The New Economy Development Fund ("TANEO"), in the framework of the implementation of the Digital Policy Ministry's plans for the development of the audiovisual industry, is creating a new investment scheme "Fund of Funds" with an initial public investment of 50 million euros, with a view to taking part in the capital of small and medium sized enterprises, which are active in film / television productions and in the production of audiovisual content and video games in Greece.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: pixabay.com
The move concerns houses of worship used by the Muslim minority in Thrace, northern Greece, and on the islands of Kos and Rhodes, synagogues as well as the churches of Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals and Copts

Greek Ministry of Education, Research and Religion will grant licenses to all houses of worship operating in Greece since 1955, according to a cyclical issued on Wednesday.

The move concerns houses of worship used by the Muslim minority in Thrace, northern Greece, and on the islands of Kos and Rhodes, synagogues as well as the churches of Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals and Copts.

According to the ministry's general secretariat of religions, which published the cyclical, the prerequisite for a license is for the religious site to have operated uninterruptedly in the same venue before August 9, 1955, when the system of issuing construction licenses was introduced.

The act will allow the establishment and operation of the sites and bear all relevant legal consequences, the secretariat noted in a press release.

It is not certain how many religious venues will affected by this move.

Read more at ekathimerini.com

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Jubair1985 License: CC-BY-SA
Pakistan formally announced its participation in Expo 2020, following recently signing a participation contract at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, said a report.



The contract was signed by Pakistans Ambassador to the UAE Moazzam Ahmad Khan, and Sultan Mohammad Al Shamsi, assistant minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, added the Gulf News report.



The signing has formally kick-started activities for construction of the Pakistan Pavilion at the Expo 2020 site, it said.



To be built on a large plot measuring 3,449.9 sq m in the Opportunity District, the pavilion will be based on the Emerging Pakistan theme, with representation from all provinces.



Abdul Razak Dawood, adviser to the Pakistan Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production and Investment, stated that they look forward to making its participation most meaningful, in line with the expos theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.
The Kingdom of Bahrain, represented by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), has been selected as a member of the UNWTO Executive Council for the period 2018-2021.



This selection comes as a result of the BTEAs efforts towards developing the tourism sector on a local level, as well as the kingdoms capability to represent the Middle East region in terms of tourism developments.



Zurab Pololikashvili, UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) secretary-general, said that the kingdom has taken strong steps to boost tourism and continues to be a strong regional player in this sector.



"Bahrain has all the facilities and infrastructure to become a global tourism hub," he said.



He was speaking at a press conference held at the ART Rotana, Amwaj yesterday (October 31), following the opening of the 109th session of the UNWTO Executive council in Bahrain.



The session, which ends today, will discuss several topics on the agenda related to the development of the global tourism sector.



Representatives from 35 countries, including ministers and ambassadors, are attending the landmark event in Bahrain.



On the sidelines of UNWTO Executive Council, the BTEA is hosting the UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventures: Big Data Solutions in Tourism today (November 1). The forum, held in collaboration with the UNWTO and IE Business School, brings 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
Bahrain national carrier Gulf Air and Thai Airways International have signed an expansion to the existing codeshare agreement, effective from October 28.



The expanded codeshare agreement will extend the travel opportunities for Gulf Air passengers to fly beyond Bangkok on Thai Airways to Hong Kong with immediate effect and to Singapore, Tokyo and Melbourne in the coming months and broaden the commercial partnership between the two companies.



Gulf Airs chief executive officer, Kresimir Kucko, said: Gulf Air has a longstanding commercial partnership with Thai that we are proud of. Gulf Air passengers can now have greater choice, convenience and a seamless travel experience from Bangkok to local Thai destinations as well as international destinations in the Asia-Pacific region. Gulf Air looks forward to growing the broader bilateral relationship with Thai.



Thais president, Sumeth Damrongchaitham, said: Thai continuously works towards making improvements for maximum passenger satisfaction. The codeshare agreement between Thai and Gulf Air will increase our capacity through the route network and sales, as well as to make travel convenient for passengers travelling between Thailand and Bahrain in addition to the Middle East. The codeshare expansion provides more opportunities for Thai passengers to travel to Bahrain and Middle East on Gulf Air. On the other hand, it also makes more traffic volume from the Middle East to Asia and Australia by Thai. This cooperation will strengthen a good longstanding relationship between both airlines."



Earlier in the summer of 2018, the minister of industry, commerce and tourism, and chairman of Gulf Air Board of Directors, Zayed R. Alzayani, and Kucko met Thai executive management and discussed strategic partnership opportunities and other commercial projects between the two airlines.



Moreover, last Sunday, Alzayani held a meeting with the Thai minister of commerce, Sontirat Sontijirawong, at the Ministry premises, in the presence of Thai Ambassador to Bahrain, Thanis Na Songkhla, and a Thai economic delegation accompanying the minister. During the meeting, the minister stressed the keenness of the Bahraini leaders and government to enhance economic and trade relations between Bahrain and Thailand.



In November, Gulf Air will start operating its latest fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the Bahrain-Bangkok route. This upgrade will enhance the product and service offering to the airline passengers on this popular route. With the Thai codeshare, Gulf Air forecasts to attract more passengers from Europe and the Middle East to fly to Asia-Pacific and the Far East through the airlines hub, Bahrain International Airport. - TradeArabia News Service
Thomas Cook Group, one of the worlds leading leisure travel companies, has announced plans to open a further 20 own-brand hotels between now and end of 2019, including six in Spain, four in Greece and three in Turkey.



The new openings include the companys first Casa Cook in its biggest market, Spain; the first family Casa Cook, and seven confirmed Cooks Club hotels.



Further new openings are set to be confirmed within the coming months which will take the companys portfolio to 200 hotels with around 40,000 rooms, making it one of the top 40 largest hotel groups in the world.



The expansion is part of Thomas Cooks strategy to deliver sustainable profitable growth through a carefully-curated portfolio of own-brand hotels that have higher customer satisfaction, more repeat guests and deliver higher margins than the holiday companys broader selection of hotels.



Enric Noguer, chief of Hotels and Resorts, said: Expanding our own-brand hotel portfolio is central to the success of the whole business. Operating and overseeing a group of well-managed and high-quality hotels that our customers recognise and turn to for the better service and reliability they experience is an important part of our strategy as a group.



Casa Cook Ibiza will open next summer as one of the key assets of Thomas Cook Hotel Investments, the hotel fund that the company launched earlier this year with hotel development company LMEY. The 189-room hotel will be managed by Thomas Cook and is expected to continue the success of the first two openings for the brand where more than 75 per cent of guests have been new to the company.



The second Casa Cook for summer 2019 will be the first for families and open in Chania, Crete. The 106-room hotel, delayed from summer 2018, will take an alternative approach to the traditional kids club with more of a focus on learning through play, art and local culture.



Building on the success of the first Cooks Club in Crete, this summer, Thomas Cook has also named seven new hotels and expects to confirm a further three in the coming months. The new Cooks Clubs include a managed hotel in Palma Beach, Majorca, that Thomas Cook will convert from an existing smartline hotel, as well as two franchised hotels in Turkey, a further two in Greece, and another in Italy. The brand will also open in Gambia in winter 2019. Three further Cooks Club properties in Bulgaria, Egypt and Greece are expected to be confirmed soon.



Thomas Cooks largest own-brand is Sentido hotels which will add a further six hotels next year to take the total to 70. The new openings include a 184-room hotel in Majorca that will sit in Thomas Cook Hotel Investments and will undergo refurbishment to bring it up to Sentido standards.



SunConnect, the holiday companys other family-focused hotel brand, will open four hotels next summer taking it to 20 hotels across Europe and North Africa. The brand has seen significant investment in quality training and support for its hoteliers in the past couple of years leading to the NPS lifting more than three points in two years.



Aldiana, the club resort that Thomas Cook now owns 42 per cent of following an investment last year, will open a club in Ampflwang, Austria as well as a new-build resort in Calabria.



These latest announcements demonstrate further progress in developing our Hotels and Resorts division into a hotel company within Thomas Cook, working with strong partners and focused around hotel management, franchising, and sales and distribution," said Noguer.



Next year we will add three more managed hotels, taking our total to 24 hotels, as we accelerate our ambitions to take on more management contracts for hotels around the Mediterranean, he said.



Thomas Cook has also removed a further nine hotels that did not meet brand quality standards. - TradeArabia News Service
American Veterans Group Brings Social Impact to Wall Street

American Veterans Group, a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) has launched a first of its kind business serving municipal, corporate and institutional clients. It is the first broker-dealer in the financial services industry to be designated a Public Benefit Corporation. The firm is 25% owned by a non-profit (501c19) solely created to fund veteran efforts and causes.

"From day one we believed our business greatly aligns to that of a PBC. This structure allows us to support a growing clientele of states, municipalities, and corporations. The more business our firm does with our clients, the more social impact we can deliver to the military veteran initiatives that our clients also care about," said Ben Biles, Co-Founder and CEO.

AVG addresses several challenges confronting entities that deal with broker-dealers and institutional traders while serving the vital function of connecting borrowers with lenders in capital markets.

"There is an inherent desire from our clients to want to give back to the communities they serve. We realize there are many ways to do this and that's why we're proud to offer this compelling value proposition to our clients whether they're an investment bank, a state pension fund, or a municipality interested in issuing bonds," added Biles.

AVG brings together a diverse team with extensive experience both in capital markets and the United States Armed Forces including Co-Founder William Frazier an industry veteran who held leadership positions at Gates Capital, Oppenheimer & Co., and J.P. Morgan. "I was drawn to the integrity of the mission of AVG. Our clients know when they do business with us that a significant portion of our firm's profits will go directly to serving veteran communities," said Frazier. To learn more about AVG, please visit: http://www.americanvetsgroup.com/ About American Veterans Group Ben Biles, a former Naval Officer, joined forces with William Frazier, a respected Wall Street veteran, to create American Veterans Group. AVG combines their deep experience and a track record of business and professional excellence in both Wall Street and non-profit leadership. AVG is a member of FINRA, SIPC, and the MSRB. In reporting to its Board of Directors, AVG must disclose its financial statements and its social impact statements to be audited by a third party.

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Trust, Data Skills Most Required for Next Gen Fixed-Income Dealers

Banks are relying on technology to reverse sharp declines in fixed-income revenue and profitability.

Technology has become so important that, when hiring new fixed-income sales and trading personnel, banks are prioritizing data management/analytics over the fundamental analysis skills once the hallmark of any good bond trader.

Among the 37 middle-market and 11 bulge-bracket U.S. fixed-income dealers participating in a recent study from Greenwich Associates, more than half saw revenues decline in their corporate bond and municipal bond businesses over the past year. Results in asset-backed securities and agency debt with clients were equally disappointing.

The good news for banks is that some of the headwinds to their fixed-income businesses are starting to give way, and a majority of banks have plans to grow their corporate bond businesses. Middle market dealers are also focused on increasing revenue for the municipal bond business, while global banks are more focused on interest-rate products, including government bonds and interest-rate derivatives.

When asked how they will achieve that growth, technology was cited as the No. 1 driver of future growth by global banks and No. 2 among middle market dealers, second only to organic growth.

Relationships and balance sheet still matter, of course, but the ability to manage both of those things quantitatively can mean the difference between profit growth and a year-on-year decline, said Kevin McPartland, Head of Research for Greenwich Associates Market Structure and Technology and author of the new report, Trust and Data Drive Fixed-Income Dealer Growth.

Some bulge-bracket dealers reported a current fiscal year technology budget of $10 million to continue building out their corporate bond trading desks. Global banks are prioritizing further automation of the trading process to handle more clients and more volume, using only existing human resources. Automating in this context runs the gamut from auto-responding to quote requests, to distributing post-trade analytics to customers directly.

Meanwhile, middle-market dealers see the improvement of their client management tools as the top technology priority. They are working to arm their sales and trading teams with increasingly smarter intelligence about each client based on trade history, portfolio makeup, individual preferences, and more. Banks in this group upped their average technology spend from roughly $900,000 annually to over $1 milliona notable increase from past years.

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| By Alex Likowski

UMB President Jay A. Perman, MD, and members of the UMB leadership team traveled to four Asian cities in late September and early October to strengthen existing relationships and establish new ones, expanding educational, research and economic development opportunities.

Beijing - Pharmaron

Starting in Beijing, China, the team visited with Pharmaron founder and CEO Boliang Lou, PhD, and his team. The rapidly growing contract research organization (CRO) operates facilities in China, the United Kingdom, and the United States, recently acquired a majority stake in Japan-based SNBL CPC, one of the University of Maryland BioPark's oldest tenants. Its 40-thousand square foot Clinical Pharmacology Center in Baltimore works with the School of Medicine's Center for Vaccine Development. The meeting included discussion of possible expansion in the BioPark and working together on additional clinical trials and collaborative research.

(View a photo gallery of the Asia tour and watch a video below.)

UMB Provost Bruce Jarrell, MD, FACS, reacts to CUPL Vice President Shi Jianzhong, PhD, as the two discuss a possible program in dental forensics.

James L. Hughes, MBA, UMB chief enterprise and economic development officer and vice president, reviewed the strength of the Maryland tech economy, the growth and potential for growth at the BioPark, and the recent successes of UM Ventures in bringing discoveries to market.

We've invested a lot of money in that and the state in fact has invested a lot of money in that so the UM Ventures not only has the infrastructure to get the patents, to do the evaluations, to do the licensing, but also to seed programs earlier on to get them to this next more desirable step, added Bruce Jarrell, MD, FACS, executive vice president, provost and graduate school dean.

The process of deciding which new discoveries and inventions show the greatest promise, and determining how to best develop them, Hughes offered, could benefit greatly from the critical eyes of an industry partner.

What we'd be very interested in doing is seeing if you could help us in evaluating the technologies, Hughes said. Because ultimately what we're trying to do is to convince a pharmaceutical company or venture capitalist that they should invest a fair amount of money  in order to bring it to the market, so what we're trying to do is to make it a much more compelling technology.

Pharmaron clearly sees the opportunity to partner with academia on how to accelerate projects, Lou replied. We want to grow over there (in the United States), we want to serve society over there. That's our purpose. Without strong partnerships, without the support from our collaborators, our inventors, we couldn't make it.



Beijing  China University of Political Science and Law



UMB's first international dual-degree program was established in 2015 with Beijing's China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), one of China's top law schools. Students first earn their JD or equivalent degree, then begin the MS program at UMB with a number of transfer credits ultimately finishing with a JM and MS in forensic medicine. Under discussion: a proposal to expand the program to dental forensics. No such program exists in China, largely owing to the nation's limited history of electronic dental records. But that is changing quickly, making a joint-degree program an attractive proposal.



When I heard this today, I thought we should carefully think how to realize this program, said

CUPL Vice President Shi Jianzhong, PhD. This is the start of history maybe. I think in the future more people will show their interest in this subject.



Jarrell also explained the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law's development of law degrees for non-lawyers and explored possible collaboration in that area.

Shanghai  Biomedical Industry Leaders

Eight-hundred miles to the southeast is Shanghai, China's largest city and a showcase of economic growth. Shanghai also offers many new partnership opportunities for UMB.



An early meeting with biomedical industry leaders provided keen insights into working with China, such as the evolving economic environment, biomedical industry trends, and the protection of intellectual property.



"Currently we get patent protection in the U.S., Europe and sometimes Japan, and I'm curious just how big a drawback that is for Chinese companies, if we have patent rights in the rest of the world, but not in China. Is that a drawback, or should we start pursuing patent protection in China? Hughes asked the group.

As many heads nodded, Richard Chen, PhD, from Beijing-based CRO Fountain Medical Development, said, I think right now you should because it's a very large market. All of the U.S. multinational companies are all here.

Shanghai  Care Capital



University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) Dean Mark Reynolds, DDS, PhD, MA, played a prominent role in an exciting and eye-opening meeting with Care Capital, a global investor dedicated to dental research, care, and education. The company is the top distributor of dental equipment in China, one of the top providers of clear aligners worldwide (marketed as AngelAlign), and is a leader in clinical software and dental imaging. Care Capital also is a major investor in dental service organizations and sponsors dental education in China, Europe, and the U.S.

Reynolds provided details of a wide array of educational and research activities at the school, including groundbreaking work in biomaterials, pain and neuroscience, oncology, infectious diseases, and much more, all with an eye toward possible future collaboration.

We have a very robust implant program, so we are very interested in exploring how we advance the field, he offered as an example. Reynolds also explained that UMSOD ranks in the top 10 in the U.S. for research funding from the National Institutes of Health and boasts a 100 percent pass rate in licensure exams for the past two years.

Weve always had a lot of respect for the University of Marylands education program, said Dai Feng, managing director, and today we learned a lot more about the research program as well and its terrific. Wed love to tap into both the educational and research experiences.



After an energetic exploration of potential collaborations in dental research and education, including topics from the role of dental hygienists to the use of saliva to routinely gather genetic information, the UMB team toured the company's impressive flagship dental clinic. The state-of-the-art facility included family- and child-friendly features that quickly attracted the attention of Perman and Reynolds, such as activity-filled waiting areas, low-mounted rinsing sinks with hardware shaped like elephants, and even artwork produced by one of the staff dentists featuring a happy young patient.

Shanghai  Fudan University



Not far away, Shanghai's Fudan University is one of China's oldest and most prominent universities with a highly respected medical school. In a wide-ranging discussion, leaders of both universities explored the programs and strengths of each institution, as well as unique offerings, such as specialized degrees offered by UMB aimed at broadening the capabilities of professionals.



"One example is people who want to know more about regulatory science, like the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), or federal regulations or how to get a drug through the FDA," Jarrell cited as an example.



A shared commitment to medical research also was discussed as the basis for possible collaboration.

Seoul  Konkuk University



A short flight across the Yellow Sea brought the team to Seoul, South Korea, where one of UMB's newest relationships is blossoming. Konkuk University (KU) is one of South Koreas leading private universities with nearly 30,000 undergraduates and graduate students on two campuses, in Seoul and Chungju. Among the 17 graduate schools are medicine, law, engineering, and science and technology.

Konkuk University President Sanggi Min and his leadership team visited UMB in May 2018 and were impressed with the Grid, UM Ventures' Graduate Research Innovation District. This vibrant education and co-working space offers students, entrepreneurs, faculty, and staff a place to connect to take on health and social challenges.



Like UMB, Konkuk is a leader in biomedical innovation and is committed to working with UMB to share best practices and develop new models for success. Step 1 is a move to create Konkuk's own Grid.

I believe that UMB and our university can develop a collaborative partnership through todays exceptional occasion, KU Provost and Executive Vice President Tak Hur, PhD, told faculty, students, and the UMB delegation at a ceremony to unveil the KU Grid. "I'm very excited now to introduce the outstanding Grid system into our own Konkuk University."

The KU Grid is the first visible product of the strong relationship between the University of Maryland, Baltimore and Konkuk University, added Jongmin Lee, MD, PhD, dean of the KU School of Medicine. The KU Grid will the hub of the commercialization and development of ideas and research products from students and faculty members as well as collaborations within and outside of Konkuk University.

Taking his turn at the podium, Perman spoke of his personal experience and how it illustrates the importance and power of a commercialization hub within a university. Once upon a time, I conducted biomedical research and my focus was in carbohydrate digestion and absorption and I had the good fortune to develop techniques to study carbohydrate digestion that in a way were very simple, he said. And I said to myself that this is so simple, that it is something that patients can do at home. We can teach a family to take a kit home from the office and they can measure the sugar to be investigated and measure the breath. I thought, put it in a kit. And then the next thought for me was how to encourage somebody in industry to make it into a kit. Well, I had no idea how to do that. I didnt know how to sell my idea. I didnt know issues of licensing, patenting, the whole world of commercialization. That was never taught to me. And thats what we can do with the Grid.

But promoting educational innovation is nothing new to KU, as the UMB team learned during a tour of KUs Smart Factory. The facility allows students from any department to brainstorm, share ideas, and build things on their own using 3-D printing, precision laser-cutting in an indoor drone development arena, and advanced virtual reality systems. Perman, Jarrell, Reynolds, and Hughes watched as students designed aircraft wings with computer-assisted design software and perfected a virtual reality archery program.



Another close similarity with UMB is Konkuk's relationship with the Konkuk University Medical Center. Founded in 1931 as the Central Clinic of the Community, the 900-thousand-square-foot hospital includes 870 beds and features numerous specialties, including treatment of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Tokyo  Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories (SNBL)



Before returning to the U.S., the UMB team made a final stop in Tokyo to reinvigorate old ties and explore new relationships.



Ryoichi Nagata, MD, PHD, FFPM, founder and chairman of contract research organization SNBL, shared plans for continuing translational research in the U.S. which may include collaboration with UMB. The university has optioned several technologies to SNBL affiliate Gemseki, and President Hideyuki Hirama, MBA, expressed interest in expanding work with UM Ventures to help bring more UMB discoveries from the lab to the market.

The UMB team also had a chance to discuss the work of Cambridge, Mass.-based Wave Life Sciences with board member Ken Takanashi, MBA, who also is an executive vice president of SNBL. With investment from SNBL, Wave has pioneered breakthrough technology enabling the control of a geometric property (chirality) of some nucleic acids essential to the development of many drugs and therapies intended to treat genetic diseases.

Tokyo  University of Tokyo



The final meeting of the Asia tour took place at Japan's most prestigious public university, the University of Tokyo (UTokyo), just a few yards from the historic Akamon (red gate). Founded in 1877, UTokyo is one of the nations oldest and largest universities, with notable alumni including nine Nobel Prize winners and a quarter of all of Japans prime ministers.

Perman and Jarrell explored creating collaborative online learning courses focusing on emerging issues in global health, particularly in aging, with Kenji Shibuya, MD, DrPH, professor and chair of the Department of Global Health Policy in the Graduate School of Medicine, along with assistant professors Akira Shibanuma, MS, and Shuhei Nomura, MS. The Department of Global Health Policy has the stated goal of transforming global health policy through best possible evidence and developing next-generation leaders who can actively contribute to solving global health issues.

I understand you have a particular focus and interest in aging, as do we, Perman observed. Its an important issue in the United States and we need to better prepare our professionals.

Shibuya agreed. Im sure theres a growing interest in this, even in the United States where its quite young and dynamic, in terms of social security and health care, he said.

Both nations face challenges with aging populations and declining birth rates. More than one in four (26 percent) Japanese citizens are 65 year old or older. In the U.S., that figure is just over 15 percent, lower than Japan, but almost double the 1950 figure and projected to rise to 22 percent by 2050 at the peak of the Baby Boom generation.

Another possible collaboration under discussion is a course examining emerging trends in global health and global health policy.

I really wish to continue our dialogue on this, Shibuya concluded.

This will have an impact. It will be a good thing to do, Jarrell answered. So, I look forward to it.
The safety of journalists has featured prominently in international news in recent weeks. And yet, while some cases grab the headlines, many more do not, and the scale of the issue often goes unremarked. On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, it is worth pausing to reflect on some facts.



Over the period 2006-2017, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recorded 1,010 killings of journalists. A total of 80 journalists and media workers were killed in 2018 as of 9 October. On average, every four days, a journalist is killed for bringing information to the public. Many people operating in the new media ecosystem  such as citizen journalists and bloggers  are experiencing growing harassment, in part due to their ambiguous status under national legislation.

Women journalists and media personnel have also been increasingly exposed to violence, with the number of women journalists killed worldwide rising steadily since 2010. But despite all of this, legal impunity for perpetrators of crimes against journalists remains the norm, as a staggering 90 percent of cases are unresolved.

Journalists are targeted for many reasons, and by many people. Some are investigating corruption and abuse of power. Some are expressing political or social views which others wish to silence. Some simply stand as a voice of peace in times of war. Irrespective of the motive, however, the systematic targeting of journalists is a telling reflection of how important  in fact, vital  their work is.

The intimidation, harassment and killing of journalists are  no doubt  extreme forms of censorship, and a violation of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which, among other things, recognizes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers.

But they also erode the conditions for peaceful and inclusive societies. For this reason, Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development  agreed in 2015 by more than 150 world leaders  has an indicator that tracks cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of journalists and associated media personnel.

The systematic targeting of journalists is a telling reflection of how vital their work is. Photo: UN Photo/Tim McKulka

United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has spoken out on many occasions about the importance of governments ensuring accountability for crimes against journalists and the UN, across its agencies, funds and programmes, has committed to a comprehensive Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) engages in work to strengthen free and independent media, including in places where the media and journalists face pressures and threats of all sorts. In fact, a stock-taking exercise currently underway shows that, in the past few years alone, UNDP has implemented over 100 interventions in 60 different countries to enhance the medias role in peace and development.

This work has taken many forms: from facilitating a Journalists Pact for Strengthening Peace in Lebanon, to promoting a balanced media coverage of elections in Georgia; from supporting insightful reporting on the extractive sector in Kenya, to providing training to journalists on how to make the most of open data in Moldova  to mention a few examples.

A free and independent media sector is the bedrock of informed societies. It can support accountable and plural governance, it can provide a space for healthy public debate and dialogue and, under appropriate circumstances, can also play a role in reducing violent conflict.

In recent years, technological developments, including the rise of social and digital media, and the liberalization of media markets have fuelled a significant change, with profound implications on how people are informed and ways they can participate in governance.

Growing manipulation of public opinion is distorting political incentives in ways that are contrary to the public interest. Divisions in society are likely to become more easily exploited for political gain and the prospects for social cohesion look less promising, as public spaces become more fragmented and echo chamber effects become more intense.

These trends are extremely worrying and must be addressed urgently. But how can we protect the quality of public debate, and ensure the broader benefits to societies, if we do not defend independent media and public service journalism?

Journalists and other media workers must be protected from threats, violence, arbitrary detention and death. And those who perpetrate crimes against them must be brought to justice. Because information and ideas should be shared freely, without fear of repercussion for the benefit of whole societies.

This article was originally published on IPS News.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) communities have long been blessed with vast ocean and island resources, inspiring rich heritages and cultures. But this geography also exposes them to common challenges, vulnerabilities, indebtedness and dependencies that make their paths towards sustainable development even more complex.

For this reason, nations gathered in Samoa at the 2014 International Conference on SIDS reaffirmed commitments to the sustainable development of SIDS, identifying 17 priority action areas to help achieve the 2030 Agenda. These priorities range from climate change, to sustainable and inclusive economic growth, gender equality and partnerships.

This week I joined the implementation progress review of the Samoa pathway, which emphasizes concerted actions at the national, regional and global levels. These action areas mirror the common vulnerabilities and challenges SIDS face and provide guidance for the needed joint actions thereafter.

The landscape of SIDS vulnerabilities is constantly changing along with the worlds development dynamics. In the recent special report by the IPCC, the vulnerabilities of SIDS were projected to be significantly exacerbated by a 1.5 C warmer climate - threatening SIDS populations health, livelihoods, food security, water supply, infrastructure, human security, cultural heritages and economic growth.

The anticipated decline of marine fisheries of 3 million metric tons per degree warming would have serious impacts for the Indo-Pacific region and the Arctic. Yet, simultaneously, various development opportunities are in play to help mitigate vulnerabilities and dependencies. Tourism, one of the worlds fastest growing sectors, is becoming the main economic activity for many SIDS, creating employment and generating income and foreign exchange earnings that are equivalent to over 20 percent of GDP in two fifths of the SIDS (where data is available).

Additional public sources of environmental financing, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), are also changing SIDS state of affairs. In June 2018, 15 projects totalling $786 million, or 21.4 percent of the total GCF approved funding, began implementation. The projects will increase SIDS resilience to the environment and economic shocks and improve the management of their natural resources.

It is critical to recognize that todays SIDS have evolved away from 2014s SIDS. Through innovation and the amalgamation of technologies, SIDS are paving a way towards enhanced productivity, resilience and inclusion, by turning some of the challenges they face into opportunities and re-conceptualizing the traditional perceptions of SIDS. The ideas of smallness and remoteness of SIDS are giving rise to agility, potentiality, and what we call large ocean states.

Utilizing innovative financing mechanisms  Caribbean and Pacific SIDS are leveraging resources from visitor entry fees to safeguard marine protected areas. For example, Belizes tourism entry fees amount to more than $2 million to fund conservation projects; Palau utilizes fees to improve wastewater management, thereby protecting coral reefs.

The blue economy approach is being tested and implemented across several SIDS, seeking to balance growth with sustainability. The Seychelles launched the Blue Bond to leverage capital markets to fund ocean-related environmental projects, moving beyond the usual trade-offs between economy and the environment and strengthening the countrys artisanal fisheries sector to attract new investments.

When taking the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) into account, SIDS vast ocean spaces - on average 28 times more than their land space, or in the Cook Islands case, 7500 times more than the land space - can bring a significant source of nutrition and revenue from sustainable harvesting of marine resources, thus contributing to inclusive economic growth and development.

With the concept of smart taking the world by storm, SIDS are showing initiatives of smart islands and smart nations. Following Singapores example, Mauritius, in early 2018, launched its Smart City Scheme for the Moka region. It offers modern and multicultural living and business facilities and is leading by example on building sustainable, inclusive and resilient cities as well as liveable smart nations.

Regionalism plays an important role in this evolution, as shared responsibilities, challenges, complex vulnerabilities and opportunities within a SIDS region can often foster joint efforts to innovate towards the SAMOA Pathway.

The Pacific SIDS concurrently adhered to the Pacific Roadmap for Sustainable Development as a regional approach to the need to boost partnership and innovation to implement the various global agreements on sustainable development such as the 2030 Agenda and the SAMOA Pathway.

In the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea (AIMS) region, SIDS are looking beyond Overseas Development Aassistance to increase domestic investments, foreign direct investment (FDI) and private sector engagement, while considering influences on debt sustainability.

In the Caribbean region, initiatives to address high debt and fiscal stress, such as debt-for-climate swaps, were welcomed within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The CARICOM Strategic Plan 2015-2019 and the business plan for the UN agencies in the Caribbean are fully aligned with the SAMOA Pathway priorities.

Fulfilling the call of the SAMOA Pathway, in the next four years, will require stronger partnerships and a renewed impetus to work together. UNDP has been privileged to be part of the many partnerships working with SIDS  with large coalitions such as the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA), with regional organizations and agencies such as CARICOM and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and with funding architectures such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF), Adaptation Fund, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and other multilateral and bilateral donors, to name but a few.

South-South and North-South Partnership will remain crucial for SIDS as we continue to pursue the key tenant of the SAMOA Pathway  Durable Partnership for SIDS. A laudable initiative in this regard is the SIDS Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development of SIDS in Aruba, established in 2015, as a partnership between the Government of Aruba, UNDP and the Kingdom of Netherlands. The Centre of Excellence aims to leverage best practices and provide a platform for strengthening innovation in areas such as energy, public-private partnerships (PPP), water management, environment, tourism and health.

At the global, regional and national levels, UNDP renews its commitment to continue the partnerships and policy and programming support that are instrumental in accelerating progress towards the SAMOA Pathways. We stand ready to continue to work with SIDS to address the structural challenges they face and pave a road towards sustainable development through enhancing resilience, productivity and inclusion.
Entrepreneur Zeinab employs 43 vulnerable women, including Afghan refugees, in her sewing factory in the Iranian city of Shiraz.  UNHCR/Sebastian Rich

NEW YORK, United States  The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi today called on UN member states to get behind a new global compact on refugees, which places the dignity, rights and aspirations of refugees and their hosts at its core.

Presenting his annual report and the compact to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly in New York, Grandi said that multilateralism was holding its ground amidst much adversity, but needed reinvigorating.

Refugees are an international concern, and a shared responsibility, Grandi said. In the compact, we will for the first time have a practical workable model, a set of tools that translates this principle into action.

Grandi expressed concern about how more and more frequently, refugees and migrants have become targets and casualties of divisive political agendas and of regional and international politics.

See also: World leaders voice strong support for new refugee deal at UN General Assembly

We must find a way to shake off the politics  and bring attention back to what matters  dignity, rights, and shared humanity, Grandi added.

Two years ago, UNHCR was asked by the UN General Assembly to consult with all UN member states and other stakeholders to develop a new international deal for refugees  known as the global compact on refugees  and to propose it as part of its annual report to the world body, as Grandi did today.

In the compact, we will for the first time have a practical workable model, a set of tools that translates this principle into action.

Refugees, if given the opportunity, can also be catalysts of humanity, solidarity, of a sense of shared purpose in society  in other words, of all that binds us together and makes us stronger in facing global challenges, Grandi said.

Crises across all continents have driven the number of people forcibly displaced to 68.5 million people, including more than 25.4 million refugees, Grandi noted in his speech to the UN committee.

Political solutions remain largely out of reach, he said, while the intersection of conflict with other factors like climate change, poverty and inequality have led to complex population flows, which are difficult to address.

Grandi also noted that while there are many sobering examples of refugees and asylum-seekers being pushed away, there were countless local communities around the world  often in remote, border areas  which continue to offer protection and support to refugees despite their own limited means, driven by compassion and fundamental human values.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi (centre at dais) proposes a new international deal for refugees at the UN General Assembly's Third Committee in New York on October 31, 2018.  UN Photo/Manuel Elias

In many of these places, a new comprehensive response to refugees is taking root.

Decades of keeping refugees apart, consigned to camps or on the margins of society are giving way to a fundamentally different approach  including refugees in national systems, societies and economies of their host countries for the time that it is necessary, and enabling them to contribute to their new communities and to secure their own futures, pending a solution to their plight, Grandi said, noting the that the global compact started with the generosity of these communities.

Grandi urged member states to give the collective endeavor that the compact is strong support, and to help with its implementation.

Recalling the courage, resilience and determination of many displaced people he had met over the past year in Kenya, Syria, Iran and Colombia, among other countries, Grandi hoped this would be a moment to look back on.

It will be up to all of us to make it work; to ensure that its promise becomes a reality for the millions of refugees and displaced people around the world who are counting on us."

A moment when practical people came together to chart a different course towards a better, fairer, more equitable response to refugee crises, shielded from the vagaries of politics, adapted to our challenging world.

It will be up to all of us to make it work; to ensure that its promise becomes a reality for them, and the millions of refugees and displaced people around the world who are counting on us, he concluded.

The global compact on refugees is expected to be validated by the UN General Assembly by the end of 2018.

You can read the full text of the High Commissioner's address here.
Deja vu like Indira period not again : Mayawati 20 Nov 2021 | 2:55 PM Lucknow , Nov 20 (UNI) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said the government should not adopt dictatorial attitude like once late PM Indira Gandhi had done and it would be better to consider all the demands of the farmers. see more..

2 killed in UP road accident 20 Nov 2021 | 2:27 PM Jaunpur, Nov 20 (UNI) Two people were killed when their motorcycle was hit by an SUV in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh, police said on Saturday. see more..

Terrorist killed in Kulgam encounter 20 Nov 2021 | 2:23 PM Srinagar, Nov 20 (UNI) An unidentified terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter in south Kashmirs Kulgam district, police said. see more..
Colombo, Nov 1 (UNI) President Maithripala Sirisena has convened Parliament on Novemebr 5 in a bid to resolve the political crisis in the island after he appointed former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister, dismissing incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe last week.

Rajapaksa on Thursday said Sirisena had informed him of the reconvening of the prorogued Parliament on the 5th of this month.

"The people's voices have been heard. Parliament will be reconvened on the 5th of November," tweeted Wickremensinghe in response.
UNSC extends mandate of UN peace mission in Western Sahara

United Nations, Nov 1 (UNI) The United Nations Security Council has extended the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) by six months, until 30 April next year.

Adopting resolution 2240 (2018), by a recorded vote of 12 in favour and 3 abstentions, the Security Council underscored the need for a 'realistic, practicable and enduring political solution' to the question of Western Sahara, United Nations news reported on Wednesday.

In that context, the 15-member Council expressed 'full support' for the Secretary-Generals plan to initiate renewed negotiations before the end of 2018 and urged all parties to resume dialogue, in good faith, towards a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, 'which will provide for the self determination of the people of Western Sahara.'
GLO.ACT supports awarneness raising efforts on new anti-human trafficking and migrant smuggling legislation

Karachi, Pakistan 1 November 2018 - Under the framework of the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants ( GLO.ACT), UNODC, as part of its awareness strategy, organized session for local police and community in Karachi between 25-26 October 2018. The purpose was to raise the awareness of the local police authorities as well as community about Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and introduce the newly enacted laws.

Reason for conducting session at Sindh is due to recent trends of human trafficking and migrant smuggling (HTMS) cases in Karachi. In 2017, 487 cases of HTMS were registered out of which 388 were prosecuted. Karachi is one of the most important business hubs in the country where people from within the Sindh province travel for better economic opportunities and travel abroad. There are three immigration checkpoints located at Quaid-e-Azam International Airport Karachi, the land route of Khokharapar and Mohammad Bin Qassim Seaport.

It is because of this context that UNODC, under GLO.ACT, made prevention one of its key focus areas when engaging with the police as well as local communities in Pakistan. In April 2018, GLO.ACT in partnership with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) organized awareness sessions at Gilgit and Hunza districts for members of the police and the local community. The police sessions were attended by police officers, representatives from academia, the media and civil society organizations.

Besides the realization that increasing the level of awareness and sensitization regarding TIP is necessary to curb the issue, the following factors were specifically focused on during the sessions:

Increasing awareness among people, particularly in areas where people tend to migrate abroad; Increasing awareness among law enforcement agencies about issue and the role they play in combatting it; Influence the role of civil society organizations to bring to light crimes that are generally unknown to large segments of society.

30 police and FIA officers as well as 45 representatives from community academia, media and civil society attended the sessions. Mr. Mohammad Younis Chandio who is currently posted as Additional Director FIA Karachi represented the FIA. Mr. Chandio said, "Including local police is a great initiative. There was lack of awareness among police officers regarding the crime of human trafficking although they were handling it under different sections of our Penal Code. The newly enacted law on TIP now specifically fixes the responsibility of local police to handle internal trafficking issues."

Mr. Ehsan Gilani, Senior Programme Associate at UNODC, emphasized that: "GLO.ACT has successfully covered four provinces of Pakistan with the intention to not only raise the awareness level of the police and community but also to promote inter agency cooperation between FIA and police which will help the agencies to tackle TIP in a more coordinated effort." The participants were also informed about GLO.ACT nation-wide awareness raising campaign to combat TIP and the Smuggling of Migrants and were urged to spread the word in community at large.

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.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Shahida Gillani, National Project Officer

Email: Shahida.gillani@un.org

For more information, please visit:

www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act/

Email: glo.act@un.org

Twitter: @glo_act

Nation-wide awareness raisisng campaign in Pakistan, please like and share:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNODCCOPAK.GloAct/

Twitter: @GLOACTPakistan
National Day of Mobilization Against Trafficking in Persons in Niger

Trafficking in persons is a complex reality in Niger. As a country of departure, transit and destination for victims of this crime, Niger has to address the spread of criminal networks, both internally and internationally. Nigerien authorities have made the fight against this phenomenon a government priority and have set up a National Day of Mobilization against Trafficking in Persons, which is celebrated each year on 28 September.

This year marked the fourth edition of this day and had as its central theme: "Trafficking in children through begging, prostitution and forced labor". During this day, all actors working against trafficking in persons as well as technical and financial partners met in Maradi, near Niger's southern border.

Maradi is of fundamental importance in raising awareness against trafficking in persons. According to an analysis report developed by the Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Justice on the behaviour, attitudes and practices of the population in terms of trafficking in persons in Niger from November 2016, only 19.9% of the population of Maradi are aware of legislation penalizing trafficking in persons. Thus, many activities such as conferences, debates and skits have helped raise awareness among the general public.

Mr Assoumana Malam Issa, Minister of Cultural Renaissance, Arts and Social Modernization opened this national mobilization day by delivering a speech on the priority of Nigerien authorities in the fight against transnational organized crime, especially trafficking in persons.

The Governor of the Region of Maradi, Mr Zakari Oumarou, also explained that trafficking in persons, especially regarding children, is a sad reality in Niger. In Maradi in particular, young girls are exploited in small businesses; in begging and housework. "Our duty," he continued, "is to prevent it."

The conference brought together more than 500 people with an estimated 200 women.

This activity contributes to the Regional Strategy against Trafficking in Human Beings and Migrant Smuggling (2015-2020) and the UNODC Regional Program for West Africa (2016-2020). The GLO.ACT project comprises 13 core countries and is a joint initiative of the European Union (EU) and UNODC, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The GLO.ACT project (2015-2019) is a global action to implement national strategic efforts to combat human trafficking and smuggling of migrants

For more information:

Definitions and tools on human trafficking and migrant smuggling

UNODC Regional Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants 2015-2020

GLO.ACT

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Maman Sadissou Laouali

GLO.ACT National Project Officer for Niger

laouali.sadissou@un.org

www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act/

Email: glo.act@un.org

Twitter: @glo_act
Transition Plan Lays Out UW Commitment to Biodiversity Science

The University of Wyoming would establish a new center of excellence in biodiversity science based at UWs Bob and Carol Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center, under a plan presented to the UW community today.

The plan also calls for enhanced coordination of UWs education and outreach activities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, with continuing support of the universitys Program in Ecology and UW Museum of Vertebrates.

The plan is intended to guide the transition of the highest-priority functions of UWs Biodiversity Institute (BI), which is on track to be closed later this year. At the same time, the document outlines a long-term vision for the university to become a national and global leader in biodiversity science.

The unique potential of biodiversity research in Wyoming recognizes the power and potential of Wyoming as a state where faculty, staff and citizens are embedded in the study of the complex interactions in nature that drive the evolution of flora and fauna, says the document, created by UWs Office of Research and Economic Development. As this transition of the Biodiversity Institute is managed, UW is committing to a vision for advancing a biodiversity enterprise that meets the needs of its citizens through world-leading biodiversity systems research.

The transition plan was presented at a town-hall meeting today in the Berry Center auditorium, to which all members of the university community were invited. Following input from that meeting, the administration expects to present a final plan to the UW Board of Trustees at its November meeting.

The BI was established in 2012 with generous funding from Robert and Carol Berry through the Wolf Creek Charitable Foundation. Their earlier donations -- matched by the Wyoming Legislature -- made possible construction of the Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center on the UW campus.

The generosity of Bob and Carol Berry  has been singularly important in elevating the profile and impact of biodiversity research, education and outreach performed at UW, the transition plan says. They have strengthened the foundation of a bright future for biodiversity research, education and outreach, despite the present challenges with the BI. Their contributions that led to the creation of the Bob and Carol Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center, an endowed chair in biodiversity science, and the operations of the BI are among the most generous in the history of UW.

While the BI -- currently with a staff of five -- is approaching the end of its available private operational funding, the Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center remains the home of robust biodiversity-related activities. Those include UWs Stable Isotope Facility; administrative support and students participating in UWs Program in Ecology, the most productive interdisciplinary graduate program as measured by the number of graduates receiving Ph.D.s; the UW Museum of Vertebrates, which hosts a biological record of vertebrates dating back more than a century; and the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database.

While noting that the BI is a minority occupant of the Berry Center building, and the Berry Centers activities are only a small component of the vast biodiversity research programs across campus, this building has been a prominent and effective public stage for biodiversity activities and education, and a compelling, attractive venue for convening educators and citizens, the transition plan says. The Berry Center will continue to house many of the BIs present activities and will retain its purpose as a public focal point, and its role in both research and education will be strengthened through partnership with the Science Initiative.

However, continued funding of BI salaries and operations from a single private donor is not possible, and diversification of funding sources is an essential part of the transition plan.

In fact, the proposed Berry Biodiversity Center of Excellence (BBCE) would greatly diversify its funding base, eventually deriving most of its resources from state and federal grants, private industry and private donor contributions, with some added institutional funding. It would draw upon the wide array of biodiversity research elements across multiple UW departments.

The plan describes the BBCE as a research enterprise that will pursue grand challenges in biodiversity research and yield a first-of-a-kind, experimentally validated predictive capability for the evolution of ecological systems to serve conservation efforts by informing policy and practice relevant to flora and fauna.

The center will have the potential to inform conservation efforts in a tremendously wide range of matters, including and beyond species protection efforts, water systems management, ecosystem restoration and reclamation practices, invasive species management, forest fire control, climate impacts on water supply, wildlife migrations and animal disease management, the plan says.

The BBCEs plans and activities would be informed by an external advisory committee, and the center would be based at the Berry Center.

A goal of BBCE will be to develop practices that enable rapid, coordinated responses to time-sensitive challenges in biodiversity science that have economic and societal impact, the plan says. As UW leads, a successful BBCE will act on the recognition of requiring successful partnerships with Wyomings community colleges, other universities and national labs.

Additionally, BBCE research will form the basis for a vigorous education and outreach enterprise in biodiversity science that serves the states citizens, drawing on the BIs practices as well as the best from other existing and planned STEM education and outreach activities.

To begin developing the BBCE, the plan calls for a UW research faculty member to spend 30 percent of his or her time to lead a planning process for the rest of the current fiscal year and into the next. Resources to support the new BBCE director position would come from indirect cost recovery revenue in the Office of Research and Economic Development. The leader will convene a task force to revisit a previous biodiversity plan and otherwise inform the plans development, including identifying the great scientific challenges for which Wyoming is ideally suited to assert national and global leadership.

UW financial support for this planning activity will be treated as an investment, contingent on the promise of success in growing externally supported research and outreach activities -- and on validation through a campuswide strategic planning process that biodiversity research indeed rises to the level of being a grand challenge, the document says.

The plan also lays out four priorities for maintaining the BIs most successful activities:

Education and outreach -- Viewed as the biggest strength of the BI, education and outreach activities undertaken between 2012 and 2017 reached over 14,000 people -- including 17 citizen science projects engaging over 1,000 people in field data collection, and 88 educational events engaging over 5,000 K-12 students.

The plan calls for leveraging the BIs education and outreach activities, including coupling BI practices with Science Initiative and other outreach efforts.

This transition and coupling should be done in parallel with a vigorous effort, already begun and to be led by (the universitys new Office of Education and Outreach), to survey existing UW outreach and engagement efforts in STEM field, the plan says. The overarching goal should include creating a new vision for UWs outreach efforts in STEM education, including reducing duplication as experienced on campus and by state stakeholders.

The plan calls for creation of an education and outreach coordinator position. This person would be responsible for developing and managing education and outreach programs that provide biodiversity expertise and experiences to a broad range of audiences -- and coordinating other existing STEM outreach programs at the university, including those associated with the Science Initiative, the Tier-1 Engineering Initiative and the Trustees Education Initiative.

Together, these activities and the BI outreach work can inform each other, and can serve as a reservoir of experience from which each can draw, the document says.

Administrative support for the Program in Ecology -- This would continue with a full-time employee housed in the Office of Graduate Education. Started in 2005, the Program in Ecology now has 51 students, 52 alumni, 42 faculty and 15 affiliates.

Support of the Museum of Vertebrates and its curation -- The BI has provided operational funds for this museum, whose profile is rising nationally. This would continue at a level of $35,000-$40,000 annually, administered by the Department of Zoology and Physiology.

Finally, the plan calls for a part-time position to develop an approach to assisting faculty in developing plans for research that has an impact that is broader than the primary research itself. The plan identifies biodiversity science as a grand challenge the university should tackle, as it is ideally suited for pursuit by UW, by virtue of the unique nature of Wyoming and its capacity to serve as a research laboratory.

The two full-time positions (outreach and graduate coordinators), two part-time positions (BBCE faculty leader and broader impacts assistance), and operational support for the BBCE and Museum of Vertebrates would require reallocation of funding within the current university budget. However, the plan notes that the new vision for biodiversity research, education and outreach would achieve financial stability through capture of a wide range of grant support from state and federal agencies, as well as donor contributions.

To read the complete transition plan, go here. To view a recording of todays town-hall meeting, go here.
UW Proposes Changes in Geography Education, Research, Service

Aiming to meet changing workforce needs while deploying its resources effectively and efficiently, the University of Wyoming has proposed a reorganization of its geography instruction, research and service.

The changes would result in the elimination of UWs current low-enrollment geography undergraduate degrees and Department of Geography graduate programs, while maintaining a commitment to geography instruction as an integrated and stand-alone subject to support interdisciplinary education at the university.

Students currently in the programs recommended for elimination would be allowed to complete those degrees. UW would continue to offer a minor in geography.

At the same time, UW is moving forward with a proposed new interdisciplinary program in geospatial information science and technology (GIST).

The discipline of geography is clearly tied to the universitys vision in the way that it seeks to understand the social and environmental challenges of today in order to create a sustainable, diverse and equitable world for tomorrow, UW Provost Kate Miller says. While it is not in the universitys interest to serve the need for geography research and knowledge with a stand-alone academic department at present, this proposal retains faculty expertise, foundational courses and the minor in geography, while simultaneously moving UW in a direction that supports new programs in spatial sciences to meet changing student demands and workforce needs.

The proposal from the provost triggers a process outlined in UW Regulation 2-13, which includes a 120-day period of review to seek feedback from stakeholders including the Faculty Senate, members of the Department of Geography, other interested faculty, the Staff Senate, the Associated Students of UW and other interested parties. The feedback will be collected and reviewed by the Office of Academic Affairs and presented to President Laurie Nichols by the provost, along with any revisions to her recommendations. The president then will make a recommendation on the proposal to the UW Board of Trustees by March 1.

All tenure-track, tenured and extended-term academic personnel in the Department of Geography would be moved into academic units suitable to their expertise. No staff positions would be eliminated.

Coursework in geography was offered at UW as early as 1945 through the Department of Economics, Sociology and Anthropology. A Department of Geography was established in 1966, and its name was changed to the Department of Geography and Recreation in the early 1980s, when it was home to a program in outdoor recreation planning and management. That program ended in 2005; this year, UWs Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources and the College of Business launched a new degree program in outdoor recreation and tourism management.

The Haub School also offers a degree program in environmental system science (ESS) that is similar to the geography degree program. The ESS program is thriving, with 84 students enrolled this fall.

Enrollment in geography programs, meanwhile, has declined, with just 14-20 undergraduate degrees granted each year between 2011-17.

The Department of Geography is the only remaining small department in the College of Arts and Sciences, as the college consolidated from 30 to 21 departments by the end of 2017.

This, coupled with the extant dispersal of geographic expertise in a number of other departments, low enrollment in existing geography degrees combined with the availability of the ESS degree in the Haub School and strong campuswide interest in developing interdisciplinary academic programs in (GIST), as well as the need to provide instruction in geography in the most financially prudent way possible, has led to this proposal, the provosts document says.

UW also is home to the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC), established in 1996 as an interdisciplinary research center focused on development of geospatial information and technologies and their applications in science, education, government and business. In December 2017, the Provosts Spatial Sciences Initiative Task Force recommended that WyGISC lead the development of a cross-college GIST program to deliver undergraduate, graduate and professional GIST curricula. Notice of intent for the new programs has been approved by the Board of Trustees, and a full feasibility study is underway, with anticipated board consideration in spring 2019.

The proposed GIST undergraduate degree is among the most employable and in-demand degrees in the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The proposed new GIST programs will be well positioned to meet student interests in the spatial sciences, the provosts document says.

Under the proposal, UW would continue to provide geography courses for future teachers in the College of Education, through the minor and related coursework.

And the university would remain home to the Wyoming Geographic Alliance (WGA), which promotes geography education across the state -- including hosting the annual National Geographic Society Wyoming Geography Bee. The WGA also provides professional development to K-12 educators.

UWs leadership role in the WGA will continue along with our commitment to the teaching of geography at UW, the document states. WGA coordination will stay with a current geography faculty member in the near term, and a stakeholder group will be convened to assist in discerning where its stewardship can thrive going forward.

For more information about the provosts proposal regarding geography instruction, research and service, go to www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs/plans/reorganization/geography/.
UWs Service Saturday Scheduled Nov. 10

November Service Saturday, sponsored by the University of Wyomings Service, Leasdership and Community Engagement (SLCE) organization, is scheduled Saturday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m.

Volunteers for the event will meet in the Skylight Lounge in the Wyoming Union. The event is free and open to the UW community.

Participants will visit with residents of the Laramie Care Center and the Ivinson Home for Ladies to spend quality time during the holiday season. Other participants also will assist with raking leaves at the care center.

To register for the event, visit www.uwyo.edu/union/slce.s

For more information about SLCE, call (307) 766-3117, visit www.uwyo.edu/union/slce/, like the Wyoming Union Facebook page, or follow SLCE on Twitter and Instagram @SLCE_UW.
On 30 October 2018, General James Mattis, the Defense Secretary, spoke at the US Institute of Peace and announced that it was his intention to put an end to the war in Yemen in less than 30 days.

Washington hopes that it will be supported by Martin Griffiths (United Kingdom). He is the Special Representative for the UN, Secretary General, and former director of the European Institute of Peace. The first president of this institution was Steffan de Mistura. He then went on to become the UN Secretary Generals Special Envoy for Syria. The European Institute for Peace is the sister organization of its US homonym. Ronald Raegan established the US Institute at the same time as NED. The thinking: the US Peace Institute would be a special purpose vehicle for the Pentagon, just as the Ned was for the Pentagon.

Last week Martin Griffiths was received in Washington. He gave a long interview on the Saudi TV Channel, Al-Arabiya (photo). It seems that his mission is to help Saudi Arabia to clamber out of the cesspool a product of its own waste, in which it was drowning in Yemen. Yemen, like Afghanistan, is a country that has always resisted invaders and which has never been able to be occupied.

The words of Jim Mattis were immediately echoed by Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State.

This war is an initiative of Mohamed Ben Salmane who is both the Saudi Crown Prince and Saudi Minister of Defense. Its aim: to enable Saudi to pull the strings of the Yemen government. Why? so Saudi Arabia can exploit the oil reserves to be found in the region between the two countries. It was undertaken with Israels help as Israel and Saudi share a joint general staff in Somaliland. It seemed that up until now the Princes initiative was integrated into the Pentagons general strategy which was to destroy the state structures of the enlarged Middle East (Cebrowski Doctrine).
Louis C.K. Photo: Kevin Mazur Photography/2016 Getty Images

Since the New York Times reported on Louis C.K.s surprise drop-in set at the Comedy Cellar in late August, coverage of whats been billed by multiple outlets as C.K.s attempted comeback has focused on the venues where C.K. has performed (including the Cellar and Carolines in New York) and the material included in his act during each performance. The New York Times published a new piece yesterday detailing C.K.s latest two sets at the Cellar Monday night, which were notably not surprise drop-ins, but booked and announced performances on lineups alongside comedians including Michelle Wolf, Sam Morril, Godfrey, Matthew Broussard, and Joe Machi, to name a few. Now that C.K.s performances have shifted from drop-ins to booked sets, the time has come to acknowledge one thing in the C.K. attempted comeback story: Its not an attempt anymore. Nearly a year after he admitted that the multiple sexual-misconduct allegations leveled against him were true, C.K. is back.

it would appear Louis CK is doing a booked spot at the Cellar tonight pic.twitter.com/M2pZf3FRP1  Seth Simons (@sasimons) October 29, 2018

According to the Times latest report, C.K.s new material includes jokes alluding to his sexual misconduct, like, They tell you that when you get in trouble you find out who your real friends are. Its black people, it turns out. Theyll stick by you, and I think even hell you can survive. Hell is not that bad. Ive been there. While some audience members reportedly filtered out before C.K.s set and there were two protesters outside the Cellar, the crowd greeted him warmly, and none of the comedians who performed publicly objected to sharing a lineup with him. The fact is  whether its tacitly or directly in support of C.K., or out of self-interest  the New York comedy-club community has welcomed C.K. back into the fold, which shouldnt be surprising to those familiar with the scene. As comedian Guy Branum wrote last year, the so-called boys club mentality at venues like the Cellar is the only real structure that exists in stand-up, and men in the club scene know that publicly questioning that structure means, in Branums words, theyll be expelled.

Speaking out gets even more complicated for women in the club scene. Stand-up Nikki Glaser, another Cellar comic, shared some prescient thoughts shortly after the C.K. news broke last year. I tweeted Saturday about feeling scared to tweet about Louis stuff bc we are gonna forgive him someday & he & others will remember who spoke up, she tweeted last November. I got a lot of support, but also got a lot of reminders that Im angry & it doesnt look good. Just saying my fears have been confirmed. Branum and Glasers points help contextualize why, two months deep into reports on these C.K. sets, comedians have kept mostly silent.

Thats not to say no one has spoken out against C.K. In addition to many women in comedy who have been vocal about him (including Aparna Nancherla, Laurie Kilmartin, Nell Scovell, Elayne Boosler, and most recently, comedy show host Padma Lakshmi), male comedians like Andy Richter, Paul F. Tompkins, and Andy Kindler have been outspoken about C.K. on Twitter, while Ted Alexandro, who has opened for C.K. before, made headlines when he delivered a scathing set about C.K. and Bill Cosby at the Cellar last month. Do you want to live in a world where a man cant politely ask a colleague if he can take off all his clothes and masturbate to completion? Is that where we are as a culture? he said. Why cant we just let Louie go back to writing jokes about how men are the greatest threat to the safety of women?

Others have called for accountability and structural changes in the wake of the C.K. story. If we want a comedy industry free from abuse, the organizations and industry figures that knowingly enabled and protected Louis C.K. while he abused fellow comedians must be held to account, Adam Conover tweeted last year, referring to the role C.K.s manager Dave Becky played in silencing C.K.s accusers. Those of us who possess influence have the ability and responsibility to see that they are. Stand-up and Late Late Show head writer Ian Karmel took the strongest stance yet last week when he tweeted that he will no longer perform at clubs that allow C.K. on the lineup. Referring to C.K.s new line about losing $35 million in an hour, Karmel added, Dude has had plenty of opportunities to say I was wrong, I felt compelled to do something that violated people, Ive been to therapy and addressed it, and anyone who feels the same urges should seek out help, too. But naw, its about how he lost a grip of money. Fuck that.

I'm just some shmuck, I'm not nearly as famous as he is, and it probably won't matter - but I wont perform at any club that lets Louis CK go up. Not in New York, LA or any city in between. There are plenty of stages and plenty of microphones.  big karma (@IanKarmel) October 23, 2018

No other comedians publicly backed Karmel or joined him in his decision, but that hasnt come as a surprise to him. If it was politically advantageous to come out against Louis returning without consequence, smarter, more career-minded comedians would have done it before me. Mostly, other comedians  specifically other male comedians, but also women  just dont care, he says. Like, theyll say they care, or theyll say its bad that hes coming back without showing much contrition or willingness to explain why hes not going to whip his dick out around unwilling audiences anymore, but I feel like if people really cared, maybe theyd do more than just tweet about it.

Karmel thinks that while lesser-known comedians have bills to pay, more established comics and those fortunate enough to have full-time writing jobs like he does have no excuse. I wish the bigger comedians, who dont have to worry about where they play, would walk the walk a bit more  but many of them are friends with Louis and know him on a personal level, and its hard to come out against your friend. Thats why I never expected this boycott to become a big thing, he says.

Theres also the fact that performing at established comedy clubs, like Carolines and the Cellar, where C.K. has been showing up, is a goal and, when obtained, a huge accomplishment for stand-ups. The Cellar in particular prides itself, as owner Noam Dworman has repeatedly stressed, as a venue where comedians are free to test out any material they want without restrictions. Why should comedians  like those sharing a lineup with C.K. on Monday  who have no involvement with C.K., fall on the sword when it could put their own careers at risk? And as Dworman has said, why should he censor comedians when theres now a swim at your own risk policy, allowing audience members to leave when presented with comedians they dont want to see? As weve seen each time C.K. has performed, the responsibility gets passed around from clubs to comedians to the audience and back again. This cycle will probably continue as C.K. adds theater dates, builds an hour, and eventually, self-releases his next comedy special.

Meanwhile, a different cycle continues for the women who came forward with their stories about C.K. last year. Since speaking out, Ive experienced vicious and swift backlash from women and men, in and out of the comedy community, Rebecca Corry, who accused C.K. of sexual misconduct, wrote earlier this year. Ive received death threats, been berated, judged, ridiculed, dismissed, shamed, and attacked. To see certain outspoken late-night talk-show hosts relentlessly go after Weinstein, Trump, and others for their misconduct, and avoid mentioning C.K.s name is just weird. I wonder, if he did what he did to their wives, sisters, mothers, or daughters, would it still be not worth mentioning?

Its been a year since the NYT report on C.K. and two months since his first publicized drop-in set, and the answer to Corrys question is a depressing one. While C.K.s return to film and television remains unclear (FX severed ties with him last year, while Netflix wont say whether theyll have him back), his return to the comedy-club scene has arrived without much resistance. Meanwhile, anyone else out there who has been sexually assaulted or harassed by powerful people, but has not yet shared their story, are watching this all play out. Maybe Louis never masturbates in front of an unsuspecting person ever again, but the fact that there were, at best, soft consequences for this shit is going to reverberate through our scenes, Karmel says. Like this entire fucking discussion has hinged on, When does Louis get to come back? and almost never on, How do we make our scene safer?
American Horror Story Sojourn Season 8 Episode 8 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * *  Previous Next  Billy Eichner and Evan Peters in AHS: Apocalypse. Photo: FX

We start this special Halloween episode of American Horror Story: Apocalypse with Michael Langdon (Cody Fern) finding the charred bodies of his closest allies, Grand Chancellor Ariel (Jon Jon Briones), Baldwin Pennypacker (BD Wong), and Miriam Meade (Kathy Bates). As he wails like a toddler who has just been informed that his high parents ate all his trick-or-treat candy, Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) approaches him. She offers him an opportunity to leave the Antichrist life behind and find his humanity. And if being a good person isnt enough of an incentive for Michael, Cordelia has hidden Meades soul in a part of the spirit world that only she can access. This would leave Langdon alone forever if he chooses not to follow Cordelia, but he rejects her in no unclear terms, vowing to kill everyone she knows. I appreciate that these two can agree to disagree.

Langdon then runs away to the lousy version of the Hundred Acre Woods, where he makes what appears to be a drum circle and prays for his devil daddys help. Unfortunately, his father leaves him on read, not picking up hellfire bling. Waiting days for an answer, Langdon hallucinates visions of Anton LaVey (Carlo Rota), an angel that tells him Hod loves him, and children offering him apples and Fanta. It brings me comfort to know that there are carbonated drinks in heaven, where I will be drinking insecticide-free seltzer every hour on the hour for eternity. Eventually, Langdons weird acid trip is interrupted by a goat he believes to be Satan, which he stabs to death.

With goat blood on his hands, Michael stumbles through the Not Hundred Acre Woods, until he finds a Satanist cult congregating on their day of demon worship. This is where a priest named Hannah chastises the congregation for not being evil enough. Apparently, someone sleeping with their wifes sister does not chart on the evil billboards. Hannah is looking for testimonies more like hers, as she reveals that she robbed a nursery and gave the money to the NRA. That  is definitely bad. Hannah asserts that the darkness worshippers need to make the world more terrible if they are ever going to get Satan to come back in a flame of eternal hellfire. Michael is sitting in the back feeling sorry for himself when Madelyn (Harriet Sansom Harris) offers him a hot meal and a place to stay after the devil worship service. While providing someone food and shelter is literally the opposite of evil, even if it is the Antichrist, Ill let this Good Samaritan be as bad as she wants to believe she is.

At her home, Madelyn reveals that she sold her soul to the devil and now has the privilege of doing unlimited heroin, owning a La-Z-Boy, and having sex with Ryan Reynolds. Im not sure if she went on Satan Tank and got a bad offer from Demon John or something, but this sounds like a very bad deal. If I sold my soul, Id demand at least two (2) chaise lounge chairs and weekly lunch dates with Rihanna. Anything less for your eternal damnation is asking too little! But  I digress. Langdon reveals that he has deep-seated parent issues because his mom tried to kill him and his dad abandoned him, but ultimately, he is the Antichrist that the Satanists have been looking for. Madelyn doesnt believe him until she sees the hideous Beelzebub tattoo behind his ear. Why Michael waited so long to reveal his true identity is beyond me, but I understand that sometimes depression makes people not act like themselves, even when that self is Satans spawn.

Back at the unholy congregation, the All Sinners Choir performs, and honestly their songs are all catchy as hell. This detail tracks if you remember that Lucifer led the praise and worship section of heaven before God hit him with the deuces. Hannah leads a human sacrifice of a social worker and a member of Doctors Without Borders. I, for one, am glad to be in a professional field that does not attract Satanists to kill me. Phil, a former Gawker employee and new member of the congregation, gets up to commit his first sacrifice, but his efforts are thwarted by Michael Langdon walking in dramatically with a cloak. Langdon shows the congregation his little tattoo and is embraced with open arms (hooves?), prompting him to slit the sacrifices throats in one fell swoop. Now that these devil worshippers messiah has arrived, they cant help but fawn over him. Langdon is repulsed by this behavior, although for someone who wants to bring about the fall of humanity, he sure hates attention.

The congregation wants to know what to do next since hes the Antichrist and their only duty was to prepare for his return. Langdon admits that he doesnt know what to do next since there is no instruction manual on how to be a wicked spirit. (I wonder if hes tried googling the answers, Google usually has the answers if you know what to search ) So Madelyn helps Langdon with his identity crisis by bringing him to Silicon Valley, the mecca of evil and the root of democracys demise, depending on how you look at resolute facts. Madelyn does all this for Michael with only one ask: that she be put in the VIP section of hell, I assume somewhere between Andy Warhol, Aileen Wuornos, and Christopher Columbus.

Madelyn brings Langdon to an office building that turns out to be the home of the Collective, the network of rich people we learned about in the first episode who were extremely prepared for the nuclear holocaust. Inside this office, we meet Jeff (Evan Peters) and Mutt (Billy Eichner), two coke-addicted, light-rock-loving misogynists who are working on sex robots. They are managed by Wilhelmina Venable (Sarah Paulson), the control freak who will later run the Outpost. The best part of American Horror Story is seeing Sarah Paulson in 19 different wigs this season, so Im pleased to see my Supreme as a ginger, donning purple as a nod to the caste system of the Outpost.

Mutt and Jeff explain that they sold their souls to the devil in exchange for success in Silicon Valley, and thus they have a billion dollars, Victorias Secret model girlfriends, and a weekly rendezvous with Ryan Reynolds. I would never sell my soul, but if I did, this would be where I start negotiations. After having to convince these tech bros that hes the Antichrist by showing a little skin and burning a woman alive, Langdon asks that Mutt and Jeff bring Miriam Meade back to life. They use their technology to build her into a robot, with one warning: Dont let her know shes a robot or shell have an existential crisis. We end this episode with Meade immediately waking up and recognizing Michael, setting the scene for the plot of Apocalypse to come full circle.
This novel is cited by many of my author friends as the best in the English language. I, too, am awed by its beauty and intelligence, so much so that I sometimes feel I should stop writing. (I wont.) The narrator of this story has been bestowed with telepathic powers by virtue of the time of his birth. This proves useful in recounting his life, which is coincidentally wrapped around historical events in India. Rushdie injects much political criticism of the powers that came to be, and this trait in his writing recalls for me George Orwells treatise on why we write: politics has much to do with it.
So many goodies! Photo: Vulture

Each month, Abraham Riesman offers recommendations of comics media, including book-length graphic novels, comics-format nonfiction, ongoing series, and comics-related items in other forms. With any luck, at least one of them will be a match for you. Check out Octobers recommendations here.

Upgrade Soul, by Ezra Claytan Daniels (Lion Forge)

Upgrade Soul is one of those sci-fi stories that starts with a premise youd think could only fill a short story, then explores every nook and cranny of it in such attentive detail that the length of a novel hardly feels adequate to contain it. In Ezra Claytan Danielss masterfully crafted narrative, an elderly couple  a scientist and a sci-fi author, respectively  wakes up one day to find theyve been transplanted into eerie new bodies that look like protoplasmic potatoes, wondering how they ended up in such an unfortunate situation. Ive already said too much and Im loath to tell you anything more, for the story is so full of bizarre surprises that I dont want you to miss out on the full impact of a single one. Suffice it to say that the book ends up being a meditation on identity and our unending quest for personal perfection and satisfaction at any costs. Danielss prose is haunting and cinematic, and his storytelling structure is magnificent, but his greatest talents lie in his artwork, which uses thin lines and surreal imagination to mix beauty and deformity to a point where the two are indistinguishable from one another.

Blame This on the Boogie, by Rina Ayuyang (Drawn + Quarterly)

Blame This on the Boogie barely has a through-line, but Im not complaining. This graphic memoir from Rina Ayuyang sorta centers around the authors lifelong love of dance, but it works primarily as a charmingly scattershot series of observations and vignettes about her years on this earth. Adopting a subtle variety of art and material styles that range from explosive crayon to graceful marker, Ayuyang chronicles her childhood as the daughter of Filipino immigrants, during which she was obsessed with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers; then leaps ahead to her adult life, dwelling on her roles as a mother and a comics creator, as well as a Dancing with the Stars superfan. The book feels like it has ADD, but the manic energy of the storytelling syncs perfectly with that of the visuals, adding up to a satisfyingly all-over-the-place reading experience.

Part of It: Comics and Confessions, by Ariel Schrag (Mariner)

Theres a story in the middle of Ariel Schrags Part of It that I cant stop thinking about. It deals with a period in the authors mid-20s when she needed to get a new pair of glasses and had difficulty deciding which frames to choose, which should be an extremely dull bit of self-indulgent autobiography. Add to that the fact that it takes up two dozen pages and it should be unbearable. And yet, Schrag is an expert personal storyteller and uses that space to chronicle a neurotic obsession with optimizing her life and hating its imperfectability  leaving you both furious with her for her indecisiveness and empathic toward her struggle to accept herself. That level of emotive self-observation is on display throughout this collection of pieces of memoir, which takes us from an early-childhood session of make-believe rape with her best friend, to a period of attempting to teach sex-ed and drama to complicated schoolgirls, to a blissfully stoned walk on Venice Beach, and beyond. The elegantly slender-lined visual style is deceptively simple, gradually revealing Schrags ability to command emotion with her pen in the same way she does with her words.

My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies, by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, and Jacob Phillips (Image)

My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies is that rarest of noir stories: one in which the femme fatale takes center stage. In it, we meet a young woman named Ellie, whos wound up in a swanky rehab facility alongside a collection of personalities ranging from the earnest to the blatantly untruthful. But where does she fit in on that spectrum? When she strikes up a friendship with a teenage boy in the facility, we learn that she contains more secrets than a car-trunk full of horse. All the while, we get glimpses of her obsession with historys great drug-addicted artists, whom she idolizes to a fault. Ed Brubaker is firing on all cylinders with Ellies narration and her compatriots dialogue, and his longtime collaborators Sean and Jacob Phillips conjure up a sun-baked world of self-deluded chumps whom youll instantly recognize from looking in the mirror.

The Antifa Comic Book, by Gord Hill (Arsenal Pulp Press)

English-language sequential art has a long history of anti-fascist work, running from the pulpy Hitler-socking of Joe Simon and Jack Kirbys Captain America to the unsettling meditations of Art Spiegelmans Maus. That said, we havent seen a lot of good old-fashioned anti-fascist propaganda comics since the U.S. Army stopped handing them out to GIs after V-E Day. That is changing with the advent of The Antifa Comic Book, a delightful bit of agitprop from leftist cartoonist Gord Hill. Its primarily a history lesson, diving into the rise of and resistance to fascist movements throughout the West, from that of Mussolini to that of the alt-right with charmingly simplistic imagery (intelligent people may disagree with Hills identification of certain rightist groups as actual, literal fascists, but thats somewhat beside the point). Its a bit curious that the book doesnt delve into fascism outside of Europe and North America, but Hills doing the Lords work, so you cant complain too much. Unless youre a fascist, that is. In which case: choke on it, Nazi scum.

Escape From Bitch Mountain, edited by Hannah K. Chapman (Avery Hill)

Escape From Bitch Mountain is the work of a comics collective known as Comic Book Slumber Party, and the wild, giggly energy of the finished product lives up to the groups moniker. In this brisk bit of ludicrous comedy, a T-shirt clad dog-woman warrior named Greasy wakes up after a wild night of drinking and ventures through a Dungeons & Dragons-esque fantasy world on a mission of glory and conquest. Each stage of her journey is crafted by a different creator or team of artists, and though the range of styles is dizzying, everyone involved has a profound gift for verbal and visual comedy, goading you into chuckles at the sugar-rush giddiness of the whole endeavor.

Mr. and Mrs. X, by Kelly Thompson, Oscar Bazaldua, Frank DArmata, and Joe Sabino (Marvel)

Like a 23 Things Only 90s Kids Will Get listicle, Mr. and Mrs. X is perfectly optimized for superhero-fiction fans who came of age during the Clinton administration. Its a chronicle of the ongoing adventures of that all-time great X-Men couple, country-fried Rogue and Cajun-spiced Gambit. Having recently tied the knot after decades of will-they-or-wont-they, the pair ventures into space for their honeymoon, only to find themselves running afoul of the Shiar Imperium (youd think X-people would have learned by now that thats more or less of an inevitability when leaving Earths orbit), crossing paths with Deadpool, and just generally getting into sci-fi-ified trouble. Veteran color artist Frank DArmata and relative-unknown penciller Oscar Bazaldua prove to be a formidable art team, capturing the whiz-bang of a world beyond the stars, and I swear to God, I dont know how writer Kelly Thompson is juggling as many books as she is right now and pulling them all off so damn well. If youre as big of an X-geek as she is, youll have a space-whale of a time.

Wonder Woman: Earth One, Vol. 2, by Grant Morrison, Yanick Paquette, Nathan Fairbairn, and Todd Klein (DC)

The Wonder Woman legendarium was not built on political subtlety. The characters progenitor, William Moulton Marston (though we should never forget her co-creator, artist H.G. Peter), was a proud wielder of a blunt form of feminism, declaring that the world should be (a) run by women and (b) filled with all manner of BDSM kinkiness. Masterminds Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette uphold that tradition of no-holds-barred ideological storytelling in the second volume of their clean-slate reimagining of the W.W. mythos, Wonder Woman: Earth One. Though the first volume was a fun yarn, the sophomore effort outstrips it in terms of ambition and delight, telling a tale in which Diana and the Amazons struggle against the twin demonic influences of Nazis and pick-up artists. Morrison never truly disappoints any time he sits at his typewriter, but the real action here is in Paquette and color artist Nathan Fairbairns truly stunning imagery, which plays around with the very notion of what constitutes a comics panel and paints us a feminine paradise that seems as though its only a gentle caress away.
Photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Harvey Weinstein allegedly forced a 16-year-old model to touch his genitals nearly two decades ago, civil court papers filed Wednesday claim.

The new allegation against Weinstein  who has been accused by Manhattan prosecutors of sexually assaulting three women  comes in a civil lawsuit against the disgraced movie producer.

According to an amended complaint filed in Manhattan Federal Court, this accuser met Weinstein in 2002, at a New York City event for her thenmodeling agency.

The woman, identified only as Jane Doe in court papers, says she found out at the event that Weinstein was a movie producer. After Weinstein learned that Jane Doe was interested in acting, he allegedly gave her his card and directed her to give him her phone number, saying they would have lunch to discuss her future, she claims. Weinstein then called Jane Doe three days later, saying he and his driver would pick her up for lunch, which she thought was for business purposes.

Rather than drop them off at a restaurant, Weinsteins driver left them at his residence in Soho, the suit claims.

As Jane Doe rode the elevator with Weinstein, she became nervous, the suit says. When the elevator door opened directly into Weinsteins apartment, Jane Doe realized that they were completely alone.

Weinstein, she claims, wasted no time in aggressively and threateningly demanding sex.

He told her that if she wanted to be an actress, she would have to be comfortable doing whatever the director told her to do  including losing her inhibitions and getting naked, the suit alleges.

Weinstein allegedly demanded that she take off her clothes.

Terrified and struggling to hold back tears, Jane Doe said she would not and resisted his demands, according to the papers, which were filed by lawyers Elizabeth Fegan and Emily Brown. Jane Doe was a virgin, and had no intention or understanding when she agreed to a business lunch that she would be put in this alarming position.

Weinstein then allegedly bullied Jane Doe, claiming he made the careers of actresses Penelope Cruz and Gwyneth Paltrow, and that neither would be working without him.

He intimated that Jane Doe would never work as an actress unless she acquiesced to his demands, the papers claim. He then took off his pants and forcibly held Jane Doe while taking her hand and making her touch and massage his penis.

Worried that Weinstein would try to do more, she allegedly screamed and he ultimately let her leave.

The woman claims that Weinstein sexually harassed year for nearly ten years after the alleged incident, court papers state.

Weinsteins lawyer, Ben Brafman, denied the latest allegation.

This claim is preposterous. Like so many other women in this case who have already been exposed as liars, this latest completely uncorroborated allegation that is almost 20 years old will also be shown to be patently false, Brafman said in a statement.
Photo: Lionsgate

If a hit man needs so much continued protection, is he even a good hit man at all? Variety reports that Samuel L. Jackson, Ryan Reynolds, and Salma Hayek will all return for a sequel to Hitmans Bodyguard. In the first movie, Jackson played a contract killer on his way to testify against an Eastern European dictator, Reynolds played his security detail, escorting him to the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands, and Hayek played Jacksons incarcerated wife. This time around, it will be The Hitmans Wifes Bodyguard, with Jackson and his presumably out-of-jail wife recruiting Reynolds to assist them on a mission on Italys Amalfi Coast. Many hijinks will no doubt ensue.
Spend 47 days in the art world with Seen. Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images

Like everyone in Baltimore, I have a John Waters story. Im 15 and my parents think Im at a girlfriends house, not with an older boy, riding on the back of his motorcycle. Seeing giant spotlights and choreographed dancing in the middle of nowhere, we stop for a closer look. We crawl under chain-link fences, staying for hours to watch a camera crew film take after take. Only later did I realize we had stumbled onto the set of Cry-Baby, Waterss eighth feature film, starring Johnny Depp, Ricki Lake, Iggy Pop, and Traci Lords. For me, the memory represents the sense of dramatic possibility that continues to permeate Baltimore; I never know what magical spectacle awaits me and whether a 27-year-old Depp might, at least in theory, be lurking around the corner.

John Waterss first work of art Divine in Ecstasy Photo:  John Waters; Courtesy Marianne Boesky Gallery

John Waters is one of Baltimores greatest cultural exports. If you know next to nothing about Baltimore, you probably learned it from watching one of his films  all of which have been set in the city in which he grew up, and still lives. Whether intentionally or as a byproduct of his films, the Prince of Puke has become a pillar of the citys creative community, inspiring lawns full of plastic pink flamingos as well as a certain clever insouciance.

What many Hairspray fans dont realize is, over the past few decades, Waters has transitioned his creative energies from filmmaking into live performances, writing books, and making visual art. In 1992, he took a grainy still from his early film, Multiple Maniacs, of its deceased star, Divine, and titled it Divine in Ecstacy. Since then, he has mined the history of film and popular culture into photography, video, sculpture, and sound works that veer from the absurd to reverent. He shows with Marianne Boesky in New York, and is a discerning collector and supporter of young artists as well.

At 72, Waters remains an enigmatic force in Baltimore. Even as the city which inspired him has its ups and downs (the citys other defining cultural export, after all, is The Wire), hes inspired generations of creative insurgents to envision Baltimore as the perfect setting to realize their DIY dreams. And since, as he put it recently, it remains still cheap enough to have a Bohemia, artists can afford to live and work here, and it sustains a lively art scene. The Baltimore Museum of Art is currently staging a retrospective of the Pope of Trashs artwork titled Indecent Exposure, which puts a range of his transgressive daring on display. On the occasion of the exhibition, I asked six Baltimore-based artists to consider the ways he has influenced their work.

Joyce J. Scott

Photo: Justin Tsucalas

Johns audacity to make his own rules and succeed continues to inspire me, says artist and West Baltimore native Joyce J. Scott. The city boasts just a handful of MacArthur geniuses and none is as badass as Scott, who employs traditional craftwork like beading, blown glass, and weaving to depict racial and sexual violence, pairing trauma with humor and stunning visual beauty. Her subversive approach, combined with impressive technical prowess, results in a visual complexity that pops with the shock of a punch in the face. When they look at my work, I always want people to say, What the fuck, Joyce? says Scott. I want people to always be like, Daaaaaaam with all of the As. You can see her bold sculptures at the solo exhibition What Next and Why Not at Peter Blums lower Manhattan gallery on view through November 10.

TT the Artist

Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images

I love the way John Waters took race and gender and put it into a form everyone could understand, says rapper TT the Artist, citing Waterss 1988 film Hairspray as an inspiration. The Baltimore transplant moved from Florida in 2002 to attend the Maryland Institute for College of Art (MICA). Coming from a strict religious upbringing, Baltimore was a whole new world, and here TT discovered an unabashedly sexual persona. Her lyrics like, Dont want no car/ Dont want no cash / Dont want no date / I just want my pussy ate have found her fans in Diplo, J.Lo, and Issae Rae, whos used the artists songs in every season of her HBO show Insecure. Now, TTs expanding her practice to include filmmaking, with a documentary about Baltimore club music due out in spring 2019. As a filmmaker, TT explains, I love Waterss color palette because its whimsical and surreal. I want my films and music videos to toggle between real life and role playing, [realizing that] combination of fantasy and reality.

Wickerham & Lomax (Dan Wickerham and Malcolm Lomax)

Photo: Justin Tsucalas

Im still shocked how often people identify with the anarchy of Waterss characters, but not their morality, says Dan Wickerham, of Wickerham & Lomax, a creative partnership whose work mines Baltimores unique history of queer club culture through spectacle-driven installations. For the past decade, Wickerham & Lomax have consistently puzzled audiences with over-the-top, media-savvy projects. For instance, Girth Proof cast participants from Craigslist and rendered them as CGI bulked-up event planners while BOYDega set a television series inside a traditional hair salon merged with a CIA office and Vogue fashion closet. Baltimore has had a huge influence on our work because we think of the whole city as material, says Wickerham. We are specifically interested in how the idea of Baltimore has been exported, which John had a huge part in. We insert ourselves into the citys myths in hopes of stretching them into a more complicated rendering of how we experience it. Currently the duo is busy preparing for a 2019 exhibit at the New York gallery American Medium and running Diskobar, an actual bar in Baltimore open six nights a week.

Phaan Howng

Photo: Joseph Hyde

Hairspray (the original, not the remake, never the remake) is my favorite JW movie, says Phaan Howng, the installation artist who just finished The Succession of Nature, a yearlong exhibition at the BMA, which envisioned a future Earth where plants have triumphed over humans while functioning like a dystopian dance party. Howng hypothesizes that Hairspray might be partly responsible for this thread of dance in her work. The artist moved to Baltimore in 2013 to attend MICA for graduate school and cites the citys social and environmental issues, including the decay of the built environment, as inspiration for her work. Coincidentally, Howngs exhibition at the BMA ended the same weekend that Waterss retrospective opened. She recounts that she was channeling Waters with her bombastic closing act, the End of Days Spectacular Spectacular, featuring a parade, marching band, traditional Chinese dragon dancers, hecklers, and a dance party on the front museum steps. I was surprised he wasnt planning a similar spectacle, says Howng. Since he wasnt, I figured Id better fucking bring it, a la Hairspray dance competition drama.

Michael Farley

Photo: Crystal Star Whitman/KEITH F COUGHENOURkeithfcoughenour@gmail.com

I distinctly remember seeing Female Trouble as a teenager and how much it changed my life, says artist Michael Farley who grew up in Baltimores suburbs. At the time, I was going to a godawful conservative Catholic school, so discovering John Waters was life-changing. Here were these angry queer people with Baltimore accents who hated the suburbs and wore whatever the fuck they wanted! At the time, it felt like I had discovered this secret alternate universe made just for me. Today Farleys wide-reaching body of work is knit together by a camp sensibility, from his drag persona Ellen Degenerate to a faux-Scandinavian pavilion, like the kind youd find at the Worlds Fair, referencing both Ikea and Norwegian black metal through furniture dyed with real blood. Farley, who currently splits his time between Baltimore and Mexico City, recently completed a Waters-esque music video for Mexican electronic musician, the TBD, full of sex shops and cruising leather daddies.

Labbodies (Ada Pinkston and Hoesy Corona)

Photo: Justin Tsucalas

John Waters made me realize that its possible to make a body of work that is simultaneously liberating and uncomfortable to look at, says Ada Pinkston, who co-founded Labbodies with fellow artist Hoesy Corona back in 2014. A performance and curatorial project focused around championing women and queer artists of color in museums, galleries, and public spaces, their activities include hosting an annual performance review, which brings together local and visiting artists for a weekend where youre just as likely to attend a seance as participate in a punk-rock dance party. Labbodies, which had its humble beginnings at the infamous live-work loft, the Copycat Building, embraces a DIY ethos that is pervasive across Baltimores creative landscape, channeling Waterss fuck permission mentality. Pinkston loves running into Waters at events and bars in Baltimore. Its fun to party with a legend in such a relaxed way, she says, to be able to talk to him, to get a head nod, which I read as, Its good to see that the next generation is fucking shit up!
South Park The Scoots Season 22 Episode 5 Editors Rating 3 stars * * *  Previous Next  Photo: Comedy Central

In 1996, riding high off the underground success of their first feature-length effort Cannibal! The Musical, Trey Parker and Matt Stone made like flesh-eating prospector Alferd Packer and headed West. Theyve lived in Los Angeles for over two decades now, each weeks production of South Park taking place almost entirely within one square block of office space in the nearby Culver City. Their shows constant fixation on the particulars of small-town life in a Colorado suburb not too dissimilar from the one that yielded the two of them has a way of obscuring the fact, but its been a long while since either of them called somewhere resembling South Park home.

Until an episode like The Scoots comes along, that is. Like last weeks Tegridy Farms, this half-hour trains its sights on a dumb new tech fad taking youngsters by storm, trading the scourge of vaping for the scourge of app-based electric-scooter rentals. It hasnt been two weeks since a group of eight Angelenos filed a class-action lawsuit against e-scooter start-ups Bird and Lime for aiding and abetting assault, a rather dramatic way to characterize the creation of a public nuisance thats led to scads of pedestrians colliding with riders. Two short days ago, Lime recalled thousands of its scooters from the streets of L.A. upon the discovery that the batteries may be liable to catch fire as a result of extended use. For anyone living in Los Angeles, the sudden deluge of sidewalk-scaling motor vehicles probably feels like an invasion in line with this zombie-flick parody. To the rest of us, however, the premise and its cultural context take some figuring out.

In the same respect that 30 Rock was occasionally guilty of getting lost in its own perspective of New York privilege  who could forget the relatable plot arc in which Liz Lemon bought a second apartment to expand her living arrangements?  The Scoots betrays Parker and Stones slightly blinkered vantage point from the SoCal hills. This week, the great e-scooter plague has reached South Park just in time for Halloween, enabling kids to maximize their candy yield by cutting down lag time between houses during trick-or-treating. In response to projections that theyll need to buy $6,000 worth of candy to prevent an exhaustion of resources and consequent eggings, the townspeople fly into a panic and place the blame squarely on the scooters. Anyone can grasp the concept of feeling threatened by new inventions, but the social significance of the scooters in specific gets lost in translation for those of us unable to speak West Coast.

Mr. Mackey plays the role of the last sane man while the scooters take control of the children as if snatching their bodies, the one notable exception being Kenny, who cant access the scooters because he cannot afford a smartphone. As Cartman so sensitively puts it: I always told you that one day, being poor would catch up with you. But you didnt want to listen, and kept on being poor. The whole night of the undead vibe really gets up and running when Mackey decides to take action by rounding up all the scooters in a rental pickup and flinging them off a nearby cliff. It doesnt work, of course, but it does cue up a striking silhouetted tableau of the towering scooter pile that recalls the recent French-Canadian zombie picture Ravenous. (Its right there on Netflix; I wonder if Parker and Stone have seen it.) The best way to kill a serpent is to cut off the head, and when Kenny informs him that all the scooters respond to a downloadable app, they fell the area cell tower to end the townwide nightmare.

From the title on down, The Scoots succeeds more as a horror-tinged Halloween special than the cutting takedown of scooter culture suggested by Parker and Stone. The relatively narrow frame of reference neuters their screed against Bird and Lime, but the widely known rhythms and tropes of walking-dead movies get them pretty far anyhow. Even if a viewer doesnt see red at the mere mention of the car-denting scooter menace, they can chuckle with recognition when the final scooter picks itself up as if possessed by malevolent energy. Everybody appreciates the time-honored non-twist twist of appending a question mark to a THE END title card, just as everybody gets a chill up their spine when watching mindless hordes sauntering through the street, whether in search of candy or braaaaains. Its an arresting image all on its own  if only it had been filtered through a social trend with a bit more reach. L.A.s a long way from South Park, after all.

Assorted thoughts and questions

 South Park has a strange relationship to the basic concept of continuity. Each new episode largely erases the assorted traumas of the previous installment  their longest, most dedicated running joke involves repeatedly murdering and reviving Kenny  which makes it difficult to predict which plot developments will stick. It comes as something of a surprise that Randy Marsh continues to plug away on his marijuana plantation Tegridy Farms, doubly so that Parker and Stone find a way to naturally integrate that detail into the plot, and triply so that they subtly foreshadow it through Stans 100% Hemp shirt.

 Using voice-over narration to achieve some manner of Stephen Kingtype affect was clever enough, but the joke really works due to their choice to give Kennys adult version of himself a velvety, booming baritone in place of the usual squeaking.

 Whether intentional or not, theres something funny about the main kids dressing up in costumes that arent really anything, but rather suggestions of things. They look like vague archetypes of the 80s action heroes Stone and Parker grew up on, also-rans from a G.I. Joe casting call, at once vague and specific. (Note: This bullet point was written prior to research that revealed the characters to be dressed as players from the video game Fortnite, and has been left intact as a scathing critique of the character designs of Fortnite.) (Additional note: Good Lord, am I old.)
From top: Robin Hood, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, Pan, and The Mummy. Photo: Vulture

In the old days, stars were the fuel that made the movies shine; now, its intellectual property. A few decades ago, the powers that run Hollywood realized that the easiest way to make money was to pretty much to only make movies based on things audiences had already heard of. Though there have been misfires along the way, IP has since achieved hegemony over the multiplex: On the list of 2017s highest-grossing films, you have to go down to No. 13 (Coco), to find an original idea. Some films  remakes, say, or comic-book movies  do not need to sweat too hard contorting themselves to fit the new realities. But then there are other properties where you can practically hear the boardroom discussion: Weve got the rights  now what? In my head, I call these IP-busters (I dont expect it to catch on), films that only exist because hey, the studios got to release 16 movies a year, so why not take a swing before someone else does?

For whatever reason, there is some intellectual property where a straight redo simply will not work. Maybe its been tried before, and failed. Or maybe the old version is way too problematic for the current day. Either way, if you find yourself tasked with developing one of these movies, there are five general approaches you can take. Choose wisely: The fate of your job may depend on it.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Photo: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

1. Make it a fantasy epic!

This week, Disney will celebrate the holidays by releasing The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, Lasse Hallstroms loose adaptation of Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovskys The Nutcracker ballet, which is an adaptation of Alexandre Dumass The Story of a Nutcracker, which is itself an adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmanns The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Thats a lot of source material to pull from, but the film jettisons basically all of it. Instead of seven-headed mouse kings and sugar-filled balls, Hallstrom brings us yet another story about warring fantasy kingdoms, filled with CGI soldiers marching in lockstep. You see, Mother Ginger is a separatist warlord whose Land of Amusements is in open rebellion against the Land of Snowflakes, the Land of Flowers, and the Land of Sweets 

Since the Lord of the Rings trilogy crafted a workable model for epic fantasy onscreen, a number of public-domain stories have been poured into this mold. Snow White and the Huntsman added catapults and cavalry charges to the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, while Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland gave us not only the violent battles that Lewis Carrolls book lacked, but also threw in an ancient prophecy about a legendary hero to boot. You could even include the Hobbit films, which pulled and stretched J.R.R. Tolkiens original story until it had turned into a trilogy rivaling its predecessor in scale. Youll notice that basically all of these films made a ton of money, which goes most of the way to explaining why people keep doing this. Thats, uh, not something you can say about most of the IP-busters to come on this list.

Robin Hood. Photo: Lionsgate

2. Get Guy Ritchie (or his cheaper equivalent) to direct!

November 21 brings a new version of Robin Hood, this one with Kingsmans Taron Egerton as the eponymous redistributor of wealth, Jamie Foxx as Little John, and Ben Mendelsohn as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Its the first feature from British director Otto Bathurst, who previously helmed episodes of Black Mirror and Peaky Blinders, but based on the trailer the film seems to take clear inspiration from the IP-busters of Guy Ritchie, who has spent the past decade carving a prominent niche with stylized adaptations of Sherlock Holmes, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and King Arthur. The Snatch filmmaker will soon bring his characteristic laddish energy and hyperkinetic editing to Aladdin, turning the tale of the Arabian street-rat into what one Disney exec has called a highly energized Guy Ritchie Disney musical.

Pan. Photo: Warner Bros.

3. Prequel-ize it!

To paraphrase Patton Oswalt, if an audience loves seeing a character doing cool stuff, you can bet theyll also love sitting through a movie about all the stuff they did before they got to the cool stuff. A few years ago, when cinematic universes were starting to get big, a few would-be Creators had the idea that the road to box-office gold was paved with origin stories. Why waste the version of the story everyone knew, when you could save it for the sequel? Accordingly, during the second term of President Obama, audiences were treated to a string of would-be franchise starters. There was Pan, which gave us Peter Pan and Captain Hook as close friends; Dracula Untold, which detailed exactly how that guy Vlad became a vampire; Victor Frankenstein, which dramatized the meeting of the infamous doctor and his assistant Igor; and Oz: The Great and Powerful, which explained both how the Wizard made it to Oz and how the Wicked Witch of the West became wicked (not like that). None of these efforts were quite the cinematic Big Bang their creators had hoped, as the quartet of films combined to produce exactly zero sequels.

Christopher Robin. Photo: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

4. Sequel-ize it!

If a prequel wont do, a sequel might. For instance, take 2016s The Legend of Tarzan, which picked up after the titular vine-swinger had already returned to his native Britain and become famous for his African adventures. (The movie then sends him right back, making you wonder what the point was.) But mostly, this is a model thats used for family films, under what we might call the Hook Corollary, in which we follow the grown-up versions of characters who were kids in the original. Disney, in its infinite wisdom, is pulling it off twice this year, giving us disillusioned adults reuniting with the ageless figure who delighted them as children in both Christopher Robin and the upcoming Mary Poppins Returns. The new Nutcracker fits here, too, as it follows the daughter of the main character in the original Nutcracker returning to her mothers kingdom to set it right.

I, Frankenstein. Photo: Lionsgate

5. Move it to the present day!

If none of these work, simply throw up your hands, and transport the earlier action to the present day. This seems to be something of a Plan Z when it comes to IP-busters, judging by the misbegotten films that have employed it. Consider 2014s I, Frankenstein, which asked the question, What if Frankensteins monster had lived into the 21st century, and fought demons?; or 2017s The Mummy, which attempted to kick-start Universals Dark Universe with Tom Cruise discovering a sarcophagus in modern-day Iraq. But my favorite attempt at a contemporary retelling is the one teased in the final scene of Dracula Untold, in which Luke Evans runs into the reincarnation of his long-dead wife on the streets of London, at which point Charles Dance, as the vampire who turned Vlad (and who was at one point supposed to also be the Roman emperor Caligula), shows up to mutter, Let the games begin. Its a vestige of the time when Dracula Untold was supposed to launch the Dark Universe, before its failure led to The Mummy taking that role, only for The Mummys failure to inspire Universal to scrap the whole plan entirely. In other words, the scene only exists to set up a movie that did not happen, which was supposed to tie into four or five more movies, most of which also did not happen. I can think of no better summation for both the grand ambitions, and the oft-frustrating execution, of the IP era.
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By Oct. 31, 2018

As a non-profit organization, money is used for educational purposes such as college scholarships and lessons for the community, which are offered by the McCracken County Cooperative Extension several times weekly.



The bazaar will include a variety of items available to purchase from local vendors and Homemakers clubs, with local craft artists, authors, and other creatives showcasing their work. Attendees will also be able to enjoy a BBQ lunch, prepared by Starnes BBQ & the Homemakers, for just $5. This event will be held at the McCracken County Cooperative Extensions location at 2025 New Holt Road in Paducah.



More information can be obtained by contacting the McCracken County Cooperative Extension at 270-554-9520.





The McCracken County Cooperative Extension is a part of the University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University off-campus information network. The Extension Office provides services, classes, and more to help continue the education and build lasting relationships for members of the community. To learn more about the Extension Office and to see a full list of classes and events, visit their Facebook page: Facebook.com/theMcCrackenExtension.



PADUCAH - The McCracken County Cooperative Extension will host their Annual Homemakers Holiday Bazaar from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday, Nov. 3rd. This event is free to attend and provides an opportunity to showcase the Extension Homemakers and the Cooperative Extensions services, as well as to serve as a fundraiser for the members of local Homemakers Association.
Calvert City Jingle All the Way 5k and Fun Run set for December 4
By WestKyStar & Mercy Health Staff Oct. 31, 2018 | 08:43 PM | PADUCAH

Women may indulge in a little pampering while learning about the latest ways to stay healthy at any age. Attendees will hear from Mercy Health physicians Drs. Daniel Howard, Alice Higdon, Ross Jones, Alex Wright, Marissa Stewart-Jaynes, nurse practitioner Karen Smith, and physician assistant Celia Parrott. Enjoy a wine tasting, food, chair massages, a blow dry bar by O So Beautiful, and much more. Tours will also be available of the Womens Center, which offers 3D mammography.





Women can enter to win a variety of door prizes and a grand prize of two tickets to Finding Neverland at the Carson Center. No registration is required. The first 100 women will receive a free gift.

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Staying healthy is something to celebrate. Thats why Mercy Health is hosting a free Healthy Happy Hour on Thursday, Nov. 8 from 5 7 pm. This free event will be held in the Marshall Nemer Medical Office Building.
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By Mike Cooper, West Kentucky Star Staff

Nov. 01, 2018 | LOWES

By Mike Cooper, West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 01, 2018 | 12:56 PM | LOWES

The Graves County Board of Education held a press conference Thursday morning at Lowes Elementary School to discuss the proposed tax increase, and the petition, which would force a referendum on the issue by county voters.



Board of Education attorney, David Hargrove, explained that because of incorrect information contained in the petition, the board will challenge it in Graves County Circuit Court.



Graves County School Superintendent Kim Dublin explained that the funds are necessary to make much needed improvements to Lowes Elementary School, address a failing HVAC system at Farmington Elementary School, and to hire additional school resource officers.



Dublin stressed that the Lowes building was built in 1953, and still uses a boiler system. It also uses window air conditioning units for classrooms, and the locker rooms for the gym are not usable due to being flooded most of the time. She also said that the board feels they need the additional resource officers in order to provide the safest possible environment for the students, and a failing HVAC system at Farmington Elementary can't be ignored.



Graves County Director of Finance, Jimmilyn Hancock, commented that the figures for the new tax are confusing to many, but to make it easier to understand, for a $100,000 home, the new tax increase would amount to $28 per year. She said, on average, for most taxpayers, it would mean an additional $3 to $6 dollars per month. Hancock also added that while the tax increase would be on real property and personal property, it would not include motor vehicles.



The board believes that if the public is given the opportunity to see the facts, that citizens would support these projects. Hargrove said that some people that had signed the petition had told board members that they didn't understand, at the time, what the tax increase actually would be, and had they understood, they would not have signed it.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 31, 2018 | 08:37 PM | LOWES

The Graves County Board of Education will hold a news conference at Lowes Elementary School at 9 am Thursday, regarding a petition opposing a proposed tax.Last week, a group of Graves County residents opposed to the tax hike turned in a petition with more than 2,500 signatures in hopes of putting the measure on the ballot. If verified by the Graves County Clerk's Office, it will be up to the Graves County Board of Education to decide whether to proceed with a special election. The special election would come with a $40,000 price tag, for which the Board would have to pay.

Graves County Schools approved a tax rate increase last month. The tax increase is 3.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, with 1.1 cents to go into the general fund and 2.8 cents to go into the building fund.

Of the proposed tax increase, Graves County Schools Superintendent Kim Dublin said the 1.1 cent portion will go toward new student resource officers. The 2.8 cent portion will go to renovate Lowes Elementary School and replace the HVAC at Farmington Elementary. Without the increase, Dublin says renovations to Lowes will not happen.

Dublin said the increase in a resident of Graves County's total tax bill would be in the neighborhood of $3 to $6 a month for most people.
By The Associated Press Nov. 01, 2018 | 10:38 AM | FRANKFORT

Kentucky's chief election officer is predicting at least 46 percent of registered voters will cast ballots on Tuesday.

Democratic Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes said the projected turnout for Tuesday's elections is in line with previous midterm election cycles. She noted absentee ballots cast and issued are slightly ahead of ballots cast and issued at this point in the previous midterm election in 2014.

Statewide, 1.6 percent of registered voters have either cast or been issued an absentee ballot. That's up 0.23 percentage points from this time in 2014.

Kentucky's 6th Congressional District is the highest profile race. The district spans 19 counties in central Kentucky, including Lexington and Frankfort. Republican incumbent Andy Barr faces Democrat Amy McGrath in a race that could help determine which party controls Congress.
Fri., Nov. 19, 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m.

FREE! Registration Required. Register online or by phone.

Bulletin Board, Health & Fitness, Lectures & Meetings

Join us before the holiday season starts to learn how to identify the signs of dementia! Alzheimer's and other dementias cause memory, thinking and behavior problems that interfere with daily living. Join us to learn how to recognize common signs of the disease; how to approach someone about memory concerns; the importance of early detection and benefits of a diagnosis; possible tests and assessments for the diagnostic process, and Alzheimer's Association resources. Offered through the Alzheimer's Association, Illinois Chapter - Springfield office. The Springfield office of the Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter serves 12 counties in Central Illinois 1.800.272.3900
Wits prof advises WHO on Ebola outbreak in DRC

The World Health Organization has appointed Wits Professor Helen Rees to its Emergency Committee on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

According to the statement of the October 2018 meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee on the Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ministry of Health of the DRC on 1 August notified the WHO of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in North Kivu province and cases were also subsequently found in Ituri Province:

From 4 May to 15 October 2018, 216 EVD cases were reported, of which 181 are confirmed and 35 are probable; 139 total deaths have occurred, of which 104 are confirmed and 35 are probable. The global case fatality rate stands at 64% overall, and at 57% among confirmed cases. Nine neighbouring countries have been advised that they are at high risk of spread and have been supported with equipment and personnel. Particular emphasis has been placed on Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan in terms of preparedness activities, according to the statement.

About Professor Helen Rees

Rees is the Executive Director of the University of Witwatersrands largest research institute, Wits RHI. She is globally recognised for her work on HIV, vaccines and reproductive health.

She was a member of the WHO Review Committee on the Role of the International Health Regulations (2005) in the Ebola Outbreak and Response, tasked with making recommendations to the WHO about steps required to improve the global response to public health emergencies. She is the Co-Chair of the WHO SAGE Working Group on Ebola Vaccines and Co-chaired the WHO High-Level Meeting on Ebola Vaccines with the Director-General of the WHO.

Rees has won many international and national awards for her contribution to global health and to science. She was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II and received one of South Africas highest awards, the South African National Order of the Baobab, for her contribution to medicine and to medical research.




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The only good thing to come out of this weeks Conservative government budget is that it exposed the claim that Labour under Jeremy Corbyn would carry out any genuine measures to end austerity or challenge the dictates of big business.

Prime Minister Theresa May pledged that austerity was coming to an end at the Conservatives annual conference earlier this montha claim so ludicrous that leading Tories expressed disquiet at raising expectations that no one intended to fulfill.

In the end, Chancellor Philip Hammond presented a budget with promises to ease off slightly on austerity, based mainly on increased revenues resulting from desperate people withdrawing their pension funds and paying tax on it. All major cuts remain in place, other than a paltry 5 billion extra funding per annum for the National Health Service already unveiled by May in Juneafter the NHS has already seen cuts of 20.5 billion and must find 22 billion in efficiency savings by 2022.

Aside from this headline figure, Hammond allocated 1 billion to help speed up the transfer of claimants to the widely hated Universal Credit system, which replaces six in-work benefits and has impacted negatively on many poor families. Cuts to benefits since 2015 dwarf any extra money being made available to claimants, including a four-year freeze that will have cost an average of 450 per year for 10.5 million households by 2020. Just 400 million extra was announced for schoolsaround 50,000 for each schoolunder conditions in which there is a 2 billion shortfall to schools in England every year.

So pathetic was the Tory pretense that the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Paul Johnson, declared, [T]his is no bonanza. Many public services are going to feel squeezed for some time to come. Cuts are not about to be reversed. He noted that the 2.6-3.4 percent increase in NHS funding did not match average increases of 3.7 percent a year over the NHSs entire history.

To add insult to injury, Hammond announced that the personal tax allowancethe minimum someone can earn before paying taxwill rise by just 650 to 12,500, while the higher rate personal allowanceat which someone starts paying the 40 percent tax rateis to increase by 3,650 to 50,000. This package costing the Treasury nearly 3 billion will barely increase the income of lower paid workers while increasing that of upper-middle-class layers by hundreds of poundswith around half of the tax break going to the top 10 percent of earners.

This should have been the stuff that Labours Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell made a political meal ofnothing for the poor and a handout to the Tories wealthier supporters. Instead, he was immediately forced on a back-foot.

When asked whether Labour would reverse tax cuts for higher earners, he replied, Were not going to take money out of peoples pockets. Simple as that.

This declaration met with feigned outrage from various right-wing Labour scoundrelssuch as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who said the tax cuts would be hard to justify at any time; Alison McGovern, the chair of the Blairite Progress group; and Tottenham MP David Lammy, who said, These tax cuts leave a bitter taste in my mouth because they help high earners in the City far more than my constituents in Tottenham, some of whom this winter will be facing the choice between eating and heating.

In response to criticism from such sources, McDonnell initially felt he could stand his groundciting his concern for middle-earners, headteachers and people like that, whove had a rough time of it, as well as everyone else. Labour, he said, would instead implement a new top rate of 45 percent for those earning over 80,000 a year and would reverse some Tory cuts to corporation tax.

His attempt at self-justification, by striking a pose slightly to the left of Burnham et al. on increasing corporation tax, is pathetic. His alternative measures would barely infringe on the wealth and assets of the super-richamounting to a slight rise in income tax for the top 5 percent of earners and leaving corporation tax at one of the lowest rates in Europe. In any event, his defiance did not survive the day. By Wednesday, he said that Labour would not directly support the tax breaks but would instead abstain on a vote on them!

As always, McDonnells real concern is not for the plight of middle earners, but that he does nothing that risks sending a negative signal to big business regarding the political loyalty of an incoming Labour government.

Yesterday, he continued his ongoing charm offensive in the City of London with a meeting at the headquarters of the global media group, Bloomberg. The Independent reported, Among the finance groups listed as invited were Aviva, Prudential and the Investment Association, as well as representatives from Pfizer, Skanska, John Lewis, Virgin Media and the Crown Estate.

In his most explicit statements yet, McDonnell reassured his well-heeled audience that there was nothing up my sleeve for them to worry about.

He begged, Come in and advise us. Heres our objectives, if youre not keen or if you dont like the policies were using to achieve those objectives, if theres another way of achieving those objectives let me know and well discuss them. If theres another way thats more pragmatic, well do it.

Their profits would flourish under Labour as, All the asset managers, the bank managerswhat weve been saying is that what youll get from us is certainty.

Nothing would be left to chance, as, Well publish everything in advancewhat the policies are, what the costings are, where the funding will come from. Some things you will like because you will get a good rate of return on your investments.

Such statements, made in private to the representatives of the financial oligarchy, make McDonnells public utterances on tax cuts for the better-off pale by comparison.
Six thousand workers at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) plants in Windsor, Canada and 5,000 workers at the companys assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois have been temporarily laid off since October 22. Autoworkers were given no advance notice by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union or its counterpart in Canada, Unifor, about the pending layoffs and production stoppages.

Over 3,000 workers at FCA transmission plants in Kokomo and Tipton, Indiana who have also been on temporary layoff since October 15 will now be out of work at least an additional two weeks. After keeping workers in the dark, UAW Local 685 officials are holding informational meetings today to dispel layoff rumors, discuss the actual layoff process and answer questions, according to a leaflet that workers sent to the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter. The local has spent the last three months ignoring a unanimous strike mandate by transmission workers over more than 200 unresolved grievances, the majority over health and safety.

Statements from FCA US, FCA Canada, and Unifor Local 444 President David Cassidy, all say that the layoffs are needed to adjust inventories. In comments that could have been delivered by any corporate manager, Cassidy told the Windsor Star, Inventory adjustment is nothing new in our industrywe often see this in the fall and at Christmas or just after. Sales can be up and down at those times of year.

It is also, nothing new for autoworkers to be strung along, lied to and sold out by well-paid union bureaucrats who oppose any collective action to defend the jobs and livelihoods of the workers they falsely claim to represent. Autoworkers at BVA were originally told by management they would be laid off for a week, with the expectation of returning to work on October 29. However, an automated message was delivered on October 25, informing workers they would be out of work for an additional two weeks.

Workers in Tipton and Kokomo were encouraged by an FCA spokeswoman, speaking to the Kokomo Tribune, to apply for Indiana State Unemployment Insurance and FCA US-paid Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUB). The spokeswoman also informed workers that continuation of their medical/dental/vision coverage, will be based on eligibility.

Autoworkers spoke to WSWS Autoworker Newsletter about this outrageous situation. Felicity, a Belvidere assembly worker who used a pseudonym to avoid retaliation by the company and the union, said, It has gotten less safe in the plant since she began working there three years ago. Explaining a recent workplace injury, Felicity detailed a culture of indifference to workers safety exhibited by management and the UAW.

Supervisors dont understand that if the workers are telling you something is wrong, then it needs to get fixed. You just dont leave it until someone gets hurt. But that is the culture they, they dont want to fix anything until someone gets hurt. Once someone gets hurt, then it gets brought back on us.

When asked by this reporter if the union has been any help, she responded, No, youre on your own. What is the union doing? They are not doing anything. They take our dues, thats it. They take our money, build luxury cottages, and fund these luxury trips with our dues money, she said, referring to the lavish lodgings being built for former UAW president Dennis Williams at the UAWs Black Lake, Michigan resort. I am barely paying my mortgage, yet youre getting a cottage built? Workers are dying, yet youre getting a cottage.

Referring to the multi-tier wage and benefit system introduced by the UAW in the transformational contracts with the Detroit-based automakers in 2007, Felicity agreed that all tiers should be abolished. Why, if we are doing the same job, Im getting hurt, just like you are getting hurt, why should we be paid differently. It breeds hostility between the workers.

Felicity continued, When I see things that are wrong, I have to say something. Maybe if other workers see what is going, we can start to make some changes. If it werent for us workers, not a Dodge Ram, not a Jeep, not a thing would be built.
A wave of strikes and protests across Italy this month reflects widespread and increasing hostility toward the coalition Five Star Movement-Lega government and increasing concerns over the rapidly deteriorating standard of living for the vast majority of Italians.

This past Saturday, nearly 10,000 Romans marched to protest against the crumbling infrastructure in Italys capital city. The protest, organised by a group of women that founded Roma Dice Basta (Rome Says Enough), put forward demands for Rome to return to a city that is inclusive, liveable, welcoming, and forward thinking.

There is widespread disgust for Romes mayor, Virginia Raggi of the Five Star Movement, who was elected on an anti-establishment campaign with promises to clean up the city and significantly improve its infrastructure, but has been mired in scandal since taking office and hasnt fulfilled any of her election promises. Raggi was indicted last month on charges of making false statements regarding the appointment of Renato Marra as director of Romes tourism department.

Residents and visitors are rightly shocked that garbage has been left to pile up, to the point that rats and wild boar regularly feast on the fetid mess, and that maintenance and improvement of transport services has been all but abandoned, with 35 percent of the bus and tram fleet out of commission and at least 30 buses in the citys aging fleet catching fire between 2017 and 2018.

Romes problems, however, began many years ago, and since the onset of the 2008 world financial crisis, the city has been faced with increasing challenges as its administrators have either sought to find short-term solutions or been involved in shady financial derivative transactions that have further deepened the Eternal Citys budgetary crisis.

Contrary to the common mantra echoed by the servile media that workers as well as inept administrators are the main cause of Romes budget imbalances, the role of finance capital and derivative schemes is largely responsible for Romesand Italyscrisis. Raggi is merely a continuation of this trend.

The protest in Rome followed on the heels of a 24-hour Black Friday general strike by public sector workers in transportation, hospitals, and schools across Italy who walked off the job in protest over salary, welfare, representation in the workplace, universal rights, against privatisation and liberalisation, the abolition of inequalities, and health and safety.

The four largest unions (USI, CUB, SGB, COBAS), sensing unrest among their membership, put forward workers requests for real increases in pay, provisions for sufficient staff, respect for the dignity of staff, and the right to retirement at 60 or with 35 years of contributions.

Since the 2012 Jobs Act, pushed through by the Democratic Party, public sector workers have faced increasingly harsh conditions. Citizens interviewed by local media outlets on the day of the strike were overwhelmingly sympathetic with the strikers, even as they expressed frustration over service interruptions.

Last months protests and strikes took place as the coalition government continued its crackdown on immigration and submits the latest austerity national budget for approval by the European Union (EU).

While there is widespread concern among Italians about immigration, there is also mass sympathy for the plight of immigrants and an understanding that the significant increase in immigration is due to the unending wars and economic destruction abroad.

Last week, upon visiting the site in Rome where a young woman was allegedly murdered by a group of Italian and immigrant men, Lega Party leader Matteo Salvini was met by hundreds of protesters who roundly jeered him as a jackal for taking political advantage of human tragedy to further vilify immigrants.

At the beginning of October, nearly 6,000 people demonstrated in Riace (southern Italy), Rome and Milan, to denounce the arrest of Riaces immigrant-friendly mayor and the fascist anti-immigrant policies of the coalition government. Contrary to the governments accusation that Riaces immigrants represent a threat to Italy, the towns immigrant policies are widely viewed as a role model for how immigrants can be integrated into society.

As the Italian government builds up a vast police state apparatus to carry out mass deportations of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, it is implementing further austerity through the latest national budget that pledges billions of euros for the military and the police, and tax breaks for businesses, while promising a miserly 780 per month basic income for Italian citizens, which comes with so many strings attached that it will be virtually impossible to qualify.

On October 24, the WSWS noted that a violent struggle is set to unfold on the summits of European bourgeois politics, as both pro-EU and far-right populist forces fight to impose their version of austerity while trying to avert a financial panic that could provoke an Italian and global market crash. The central question is a perspective for independent political opposition by the working class, uniting workers struggles against austerity in Italy and across Europe.
The Trump administrations proposal to end birthright citizenship for all people born on United States soil, enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, is another milestone in the assault on democratic rights.

With this move, the American oligarchy is repudiating the basic democratic principle upon which the American republic was founded, embodied in the Declaration of Independences proclamation that all men are created equal. If the American president can, by executive fiat, strike out the 14th Amendment, what is to stop him from overturning the entire Bill of Rights, which guarantees free speech, protection from unreasonable search and seizure, due process, and the right to counsel, among other fundamental protections?

Trumps proposal, which comes in the final days of the midterm election campaign, is a provocation by the administration and its fascist staffers aimed at whipping up xenophobic sentiments and creating a constituency for a right-wing extra-constitutional movement. Such a movement is deemed necessary to implement Trumps pro-corporate, pro-war, anti-immigrant agenda.

The impact of rescinding birthright citizenship on the working class and on immigrants would be disastrous. It would place 300,000 infants born in the US to noncitizen parents at risk of detention and deportation each year.

It would produce an underclass of immigrant families afraid to send their children to school, give birth in hospitals, or send their sick children to the doctors office. Millions of children would become stateless, lacking citizenship in any country. Slum districts and even walled ghettos with third world, apartheid conditions would become commonplace.

If applied retroactively, the rescission of birthright citizenship would reportedly place over 10 million people at immediate risk of deportation. Either way, the government will respond to the growth of the undocumented population with further moves toward martial law, including the construction of more detention camps and the deployment of more immigration agents and soldiers, not only to the border but to major metropolitan areas.

As the American Immigration Council wrote yesterday, the decision would also impose hardship on all Americans, who could no longer point to a birth certificate as proof of citizenship. If place of birth no longer guaranteed citizenship, then all Americansnot just those whose parents were undocumentedwould be forced to prove their parents nationality to the government in order to be recognized as a US citizen.

Workers and the poor would have the most difficult time tracing family heritage and would therefore be denied the right to due process, the right to vote and access to social services.

The move reveals the extent of the erosion of democratic principles within the ruling class. Nearly 20 years after the stolen election of 2000 and the launching of the war on terror, both parties have already torn the Bill of Rights to shreds, bombing countries under false pretenses, assassinating thousands with drones, conducting torture, mass surveillance and mass deportations.

The Democratic Party and the pro-Democratic corporate media have either supported Trumps birthright citizenship rescission or deliberately downplayed it.

Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana announced yesterday that he was supportive of the repeal of birthright citizenship, while Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri told CNN, I support the president 100 percent doing what he needs to do to secure the border.

NBC reported that Bernie Sanders, speaking Tuesday at a campaign rally for a Democratic Senate candidate in Maryland, deliberately avoided referencing Trumps attack on birthright citizenship.

The day before, Sanders downplayed the danger of the extreme right, denouncing those who attempted to link Trumps fascist rhetoric with Saturdays shooting of 11 Jewish people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Im not going to sit here and blame the president for the shooting, Sanders said.

Of the 28 editorials and op-eds featured on yesterdays online editions of the New York Times and Washington Post, just three addressed Trumps attack on birthright citizenship.

Of those, one Post op-ed by George Conway and Neil Katyal offered the soporific that Trumps move will undoubtedly be stopped by the courts, while the other, by Megan McArdle, defended Trump, claiming it is offensive lunacy to say his moves against immigrants have anything to do with fascism or dictatorship. It is nonsense to argue this way, and the left-wing folks ought to knock it off, she wrote.

The response of the Democratic Party and Democratic Party-aligned newspapers proves that this faction of the financial aristocracy is just as hostile to democratic rights as Trump and the Republicans, although they have different priorities.

While the Republicans and Trump seek to instigate backward elements of the population to create a pogrom atmosphere against immigrants, the Democratic Partys chief aim is to work with the military-intelligence agencies and tech companies to censor the Internet and gag any political views that the corporations and the CIA deem non-authoritative.

Replace foreign meddling and Russia with immigrant invaders and bad hombres and the right-wing hysteria promoted by the Democrats and Republicans becomes indistinguishable. In both cases, the most vicious attacks on democratic rights are justified by endless warnings of threats to national security.

Birthright citizenship is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, passed by Congress in 1866 and ratified by three-fourths of the states just over 150 years ago, on July 28, 1868.

The amendment begins with the words, All persons born or naturalized in the United Statesare citizens of the United States, and goes on to establish that, bound up with this right, no state can deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.

Defending his proposal, Trump tweeted yesterday, This case will be settled by the United States Supreme Court.

The case of birthright citizenship was already settledby a Civil War that claimed the lives of over 600,000 people. As President Abraham Lincoln explained in his 1863 Gettysburg Address, the war, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, tested whether a nation dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equalmight long endure.

The 14th Amendment is known as one of the three Civil War amendments. Along with the 13th Amendment, which banned slavery, and the 15th Amendment, which guaranteed adult men the right to vote, the Civil War amendments enshrined in law what the Grand Army of the Republic accomplished in fact.

The birthright citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment rejected the conception that rights and citizenship derive from blood, race or noble status. It was specifically a response to the notorious 1857 Supreme Court decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford, which ruled that persons of African descent were not citizens and could not exercise basic rights such as the right to due process.

The ultimate target of this and related moves is the American and international working class. Amid rising social inequality, a growing strike movement and broad disillusionment with the political establishment, those truths the bourgeoisie once held in its revolutionary era to be self-evident it now loathes as incompatible with its drive for corporate profit and world military domination.

The right to free speech and the right of immigrants to enjoy citizenship and its associated rights on US soilalongside all other democratic rightscan only facilitate, in the eyes of the ruling elite, the unification and education of the world working class, laying the basis for what they fear mostsocialist revolution and the expropriation of their wealth for the benefit of mankind.
The US economic war against China is escalating virtually on a daily basis with three major developments coming in just two days this week: the threatened extension of tariffs, the banning of dealings with a high-tech Chinese firm and the issuing of indictments against ten Chinese individuals for alleged theft of aircraft technology.

On Tuesday, President Trump in effect confirmed a Bloomberg report that he would impose tariffs on an additional $267 billion worth of goods if he did not receive a satisfactory offer when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the end this month.

Interviewed on Fox News, Trump said he believed that he would make a great deal with China and I have $267 billion waiting to go if we cant make a deal. The measures would be on top of the tariffs of 25 percent on $50 billion worth of industrial goods and the 10 percent impost on $200 billion worth of exports, which is set to rise to 25 percent from the start of next year.

Trumps warnings of an escalation of the tariff war came in the wake of a highly significant decision the previous day by the US Commerce Department to impose severe restrictions on US companies dealing with the Chinese semiconductor firm Fujian Jinhua citing national security considerations as the reasons for the ban.

In a statement announcing the decision, the Commerce Department said it had taken action to restrict exports to Fujian Jinhua because it poses a significant risk of becoming involved in activities that are contrary to the national security interests of the United States.

The company was nearing the completion of substantial production capacity for random access memory (DRAM) circuits and the additional production, which likely derived from US-origin technology, threatened the long-term economic viability of US suppliers of these essential components of US military systems.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said: When a foreign company engages in activity contrary to our national security interests, we will take strong action to protect our national security.

The Commerce Department has placed Fujian Jinhua on an entity list, which means that a license would be required for all exports, re-exports, and transfers of commodities, software and technology. Applications will be reviewed with a presumption of denial.

The ban on Fujian Jinhua has been likened to one imposed earlier this year, and then lifted by Trump, on the Chinese telecommunications company ZTE. In fact it is very different. The action against ZTE arose from the assertion by the US that it had not taken sufficient punitive action against executives involved in breaching US bans on dealings with Iran and North Korea.

The move against Fujian Jinhua is directed against the push by Beijing to develop hi-tech firms as part of its Made in China 2025 programone of the central planks of economic policies of Beijing.

As Alicia Garcia Herrero, an economist focused on China with the French investment bank Natxis told the Wall Street Journal: What the US is doing now could spread to anything that is considered high-end technology that the US doesnt want China to have any more. This case is very different from ZTE.

Fujian Jinhua is one of three companies, heavily supported by state funding, that the Chinese government is promoting as part of a plan to increase sophisticated chip production. It was founded in 2016 with backing from the Fujian provincial government, and has built a factory employing more than 1,000 people with the aim of mass producing memory chips. However, it is dependent on a number of American companies for the design and engineering of the components. The ban means effectively that these operations have been stalled.

On its website, the company says that it was inducted into a blueprint for the development of the semiconductor industry under Chinas latest Five-Year Plan that began in 2016 promoted directly by Xi Jinping. It has been locked in a legal dispute with the US firm Micron, which has accused it of stealing its technology.

The Chinese government is estimated to be investing some $150 billion over the decade from 2017, in order to expand the countrys chip-making capacities. One immediate aim is to halve Chinas imports of semiconductors by 2020.

The circumstances surrounding the action against Fujian Jinhua encapsulate the agenda driving the Trump administration. The companys factory, estimated to cost $5.7 billion, is being built in Jinjiang, a city in the east of Fujian province, previously known for its shoe manufacturers.

So far as the Trump administration is concerned China can continue to play a role in the world economy so long as it is confined to the production of low-cost consumer products, such as shoes, clothing and furniture, and remains economically subservient to the US as a kind of semi-colony.

However, the central policy of the Xi regime is to move China out of such dependence and shift it into hi-tech areas such as telecommunications, robotics and artificial intelligence, lifting it up the value chain. This is regarded by the US as an existential threat to both its economic and military supremacy and so it has sought to strike at what it regards as one of the weak points of the Chinese economy and the regimes long-term plans.

While China accounts for 50 percent of global exports of smartphones, it is reliant on imports for 90 percent of its semiconductor needs and last year spent $260 billion on chip imports. The US is determined it must not be allowed to break free of that dependence.

At the same time as the Commerce Department announced its ban on Fujian Jinhua, the US Justice Department deepened the offensive on another front. It indicted 10 Chinese intelligence officers and alleged co-conspirators for hacking operations that targeted American and European aircraft engine technology. This followed the extradition of an alleged Chinese spy from Belgium last month on charges of attempting to steal trade secrets related to aircraft engines.

Speaking on the latest indictments, John Demer, the head of the Justice Departments national security division, said: This is just the beginning. Together with our federal partners, we will redouble our efforts to safeguard Americas ingenuity and investment.

The fact that threats of further tariffs, major action against a high-tech company, and the indictment of alleged technology spies have taken place over just two days is not accidental. It points to a decision within the administration to escalate the economic war against what it considers to be its major rival.

This escalation was signalled in the speech by US Vice President Mike Pence on October 4. In a column published yesterday, Financial Times economics commentator Martin Wolf wrote that the speech was arguably the most important event of 2018 so far.

He said it set out Americas intention to confront China across the board from interference in American politics, alleged theft of intellectual property, trade and investment policies, cyber attacks, debt diplomacy, security and censorship, with the aim being to reset America economic and strategic relationship with China and to finally put America first.

Harking back to the outbreak of the First World Warthe result of great power politicsWolf cited a number of writers who have maintained that the outcome of the present US-China conflict is war and noted that such prophecies may be realistic.

He then offered a series of prescriptions through which global rivalry might be managed. However, all of them involved concessions by the US to the economic growth and expansion of China. As events themselves are revealing, this is the most unrealistic scenario of all.

Behaviour which led to the outbreak of war, Wolf wrote, would be insane. But the source of the insanity is not the mindset of Donald Trump and others in his administration that could be overcome by wiser policies. It is the outcome of objective processes, rooted in the insanity of the global capitalist system. The contradiction between the global development of the productive forces and the division of the world into rival nation-states and great powers, striving for profits, markets and resources, is assuming ever more explosive and threatening forms.
THOMASVILLE, GA (WALB) - New details have been released about a shooting in Thomasville overnight on Tuesday.

Thomasville Police have just identified Micharious Johnson as a suspect responsible for shooting 32-year-old Akeilous Hardy. He is in critical condition.

Police went to the 700 block of Wright-Street after receiving calls about neighbors hearing several gunshots.

Captain Maurice Holmes said when they started their investigation, many residents were frantic.

Clifton Filmore, who said he's the suspect's cousin, lives just a few houses down.

"I heard some gunshots and I thought nothing of it. I thought it was some firecrackers. But, when I first heard that sirens hit, I knew something happened," said Filmore.

Still, not much information has been released.

Investigators said they're following up on several strong leads from a handful of eyewitnesses.

If you have any information that may help in this investigation please call the Thomasville Police Department.

THOMASVILLE, GA (WALB) - The Thomasville Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened around 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
TAMPA, FL (RNN/CNN) - Five children were injured in a crash at a Florida school bus stop Thursday.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that all five were taken to a nearby hospital. One of the kids is in critical condition, said a Tampa police spokesperson told WFLA.

All of the children involved were waiting for their bus to take them to a K-8 school. Three of the children are 6 years old; the other children are 9 and 12.

The driver of the grey Ford Focus stopped a block away from the accident and spoke to police.

None of the names of the people involved have been identified.

Witnesses told the The Tampa Bay Times that the children typically walk to the bus stop together. Two of the victims are sisters.

The Tampa Bay Times reported a Tampa Fire Rescue truck driving to the scene also crashed with another vehicle. Three people from that collision were taken to a hospital.

Copyright 2018 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.

TAMPA, FL (RNN) - Five people, including three children, were injured in a crash at a Florida school bus stop Thursday.

WFLA reported that all five were taken to a nearby hospital. One of the kids is in critical condition, said a Tampa police spokesperson.

All of the children involved were waiting for their bus to take them to a K-8 school.

The driver remained at the scene and is being interviewed, Chief Brian Dugan told WFLA.

Copyright 2018 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-31 23:11:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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PARIS, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- French health minister Agnes Buzyn announced Wednesday that public health authorities would investigate dozens of cases of babies born either without arms or malformed ones in rural parts of the country.

"Following the alert, I asked for a new investigation," the minister told BFMTV news channel, adding that the first conclusions of the probing would be unveiled by the end of January 2019.

"We have asked to have the entire (results) of the inquiry before June. The complexity is to go back in the history of these families on cases that sometimes date from more than ten years ago," she added.

Earlier this week, public health authorities announced there had been an additional 11 cases reported in the Ain department of eastern France between 2000 and 2014. Similar incidents have already been unveiled in Brittany and the Loire-Atlantique areas. Last week, the health minister announced a new inquiry into the birth defects of 14 babies born since 2007.

"I want to know, I think all of France wants to know. We have to know where these women carried out their pregnancy, if it was in the department, or if it was elsewhere, " Buzyn said.

"We do not want to close any tracks. It's possibly an environmental cause. Maybe it's what they ate, what they drank, what they breathed. Today, I do not know," she added.

Public Health France and the national agency for health security ANSES that jointly conduct the probe "have to go back to the mothers, try to understand the common points that could exist between all these families," Buzyn said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 00:26:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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PORT MORESBY, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- China's development poses no threat to any country, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a joint press conference here on Wednesday following a meeting with Papua New Guinea's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Rimbink Pato.

Responding to a reporter's question, Wang said China's development itself is a just cause in human development and progress as nearly 1.4 billion people have got rid of poverty and moved towards modernization, which is the greatest contribution to all mankind.

China's development has been playing an important and active role in maintaining world peace and stability, Wang said.

China's development is also an integral part of the overall development of developing countries, and every country in the world has the right to develop, the Chinese state councilor said.

Any attempt to stop or deprive the developing countries of their right to develop themselves is the worst historical injustice and will surely leave a disgraced record in the history, Wang said.

For his part, Pato said that China's development has set a good example for PNG and other developing countries and made significant contributions to economic and social development of PNG and other South Pacific island nations as well as brought huge benefits to their peoples.

"China's development has never posed any threat to us, and PNG wishes China will continue to play an important role in the South Pacific islands region," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 00:36:51|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BUDAPEST, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian TV journalist who kicked migrants fleeing the police in 2015 -- images that made headlines around the world -- has been acquitted here by the Supreme Court, the court confirmed Wednesday.

"The video journalist was acquitted in the absence of an offense," the Hungarian Supreme Court announced in a statement.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the journalist Petra Laszlo had kicked twice, and had made a failed attempt at a third kick, but recalled that the context of the deed had been "an assault of several hundred migrants fleeing the action of the police."

"The act committed by the defendant, although morally incorrect and unlawful, was a disruption, not vandalism, disruption is a minor offense, obsolete, so the penal process must be terminated," the statement said.

In January 2017, a Court in Szeged rejected the journalist's argument that she was trying to protect herself and sentenced her to a three-year probation.

Ten months later, a Court of Appeal reinforced the decision at first instance.

Laszlo, who worked for N1TV, an internet TV channel, was fired for her attitude.

The incident occurred on Sept. 8, 2015, when hundreds of migrants broke through a police barricade near the Serbian border.

In 2015, at the height of the migration crisis, thousands of migrants entered Hungary. Since then, the Hungarian government has maintained an anti-migration political campaign.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 00:36:51|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BERLIN, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Siemens board member Cedrik Neike and Berlin mayor Michael Mueller (SPD) have signed an agreement on Wednesday for the industrial group to build a new development center in the German capital.

Siemens announced to invest up to 600 million euros (680 million U.S. dollars) in the construction of new offices, housing for staff, research laboratories as well as high-tech production facilities for start-ups on the historical industrial site in Berlin Spandau.

According to Siemens, Siemensstadt 2.0 - which translates to Siemens City 2.0 - is the single largest investment in Berlin yet to be made by the company.

Siemens chief executive officer (CEO) Joe Kaeser described the objective of the project on Wednesday as being to create a "networked ecosystem with flexible working conditions, societal integration and affordable housing."

Kaeser has recently announced a new program of corporate reforms which he said would lead to the decentralization of Siemens' sprawling industrial conglomerate and grant individual divisions more entrepreneurial autonomy.

From the perspective of Mueller, the fact that Siemens still remains dedicated to Berlin would be reflected positive impulses which the city would benefit from for the next 20 years. "New jobs will be created, the scientific location will benefit, and infrastructure will be further developed as well", the mayor predicted.

Although Siemens has since moved most managerial departments to Munich, the company was originally founded in Berlin and built its first major factories in an area of the city's Spandau district now known as Siemensstadt. Berlin is still the largest production center of the company with more than 11,000 employees.

Listed on the German DAX-exchange, Siemens recorded gross revenue annual revenue of 83 billion euros and employed 372,000 staff across the world.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 01:06:55|Editor: ZD

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A worker checks roses in a trial growing shed at a flower farm near Lake Naivasha, in Naivasha, Kenya, on Oct. 23, 2018. Fresh produce exporters from Kenya are looking forward to the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE), noting that it would help grow market for their goods. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu)

NAIROBI, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Fresh produce exporters from Kenya are looking forward to the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE), which takes place next week, noting that it would help grow market for their goods.

Hosea Machuki, chief executive officer of the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya, said Wednesday that the import expo by the Chinese government meets the need of local exporters.

Machuki told Xinhua ahead of the exhibition which begins in Shanghai on Nov. 5 that the CIIE may be what Kenya needs to help lower the trade gap with China. "We need to change this, one way or the other, that is why we are happy with the expo," Machuki said.

According to the Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya, Kenya earned some 1.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2017 from fresh produce exports, a rise of 11 percent from 2016.

Of the income, flowers contributed about 820 million dollars, up from 708 million dollars in 2016, while fruits and vegetables earned 90 million dollars and 20 million dollars, respectively.

Kenya sells its fresh produce mainly to Europe but industry players are keen on tapping into the Asian market.

"We expect to start selling herbs like basil, rosemary, chives, tarragon, mint, parsley, thyme and others that are being grown in Kenya to the Chinese market," said Machuki, noting the expo presents opportunities to sell Kenyan produce.

He noted that Kenya currently exports flowers to China but the export business is facing technical barriers that have slowed it down.

President Uhuru Kenyatta will lead the Kenyan delegation that comprises of exporters, trade experts and exhibitors to the expo in Shanghai.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 01:37:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DUBAI, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- People should read not only for the love of books but also search for the truth, said Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the ruler of Sharjah, a northern sheikhdom of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Wednesday.

He made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 37th Sharjah International Book Fair.

Qasimi said "people do not always seek the truth, but believe what they like to believe in, which may not be the truth always."

He added "I say to such people, look carefully and the truth is right there. The books I write are always a quest for the truth. We have taught our sons and daughters to always love reading and search for the truth."

Qasimi also honored Azzeldine Mihoubi, Algeria's Minister of Culture, as the "Cultural Personality of the Year" in recognition of his outstanding efforts and achievements in the development of cultural fields in Algeria.

Mihoubi thanked Qasimi and the organizers for selecting him as the "Cultural Personality of the Year."

Sharjah, one of seven UAE sheikhdoms, has 16 museums and is regarded as the cultural capital of the Gulf Arab region.

The 37th Sharjah International Book Fair will run until Nov. 10.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 02:57:20|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the United States will not rely on other sides regarding the investigation of the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as the Turkish side revealed details of his death on the same day.

Speaking in an interview with The Brian Kilmeade Show via teleconference, Pompeo said that the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in the consulate in Turkey violated "the norms of international law."

"What we've asked the Saudis to do and the Turks to do, the place which the murder took place, is to help us continue to develop the facts, that there are still many unanswered questions about precisely how this came to be," he said.

However, he added that "we are working diligently, our team, to get the facts, the facts that the Americans can learn. We won't rely on others; we'll take their information, we'll make sure and develop our fact pattern."

The U.S. top diplomat also noted that U.S. military and commercial ties with the kingdom are "very important," which should be kept in mind "as we continue to ensure that accountability is had for all those who were involved in committing this murder."

"The Saudis ... understand that they've got to get these facts out, and that time is not on their side in doing so," Pompeo added.

Also on Wednesday, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said that Khashoggi was choked to death immediately after entering the Saudi Arabian consulate in the city and his body was dismembered after he was strangled to death.

The prosecutor reiterated a call for the extradition of the suspects arrested in Saudi Arabia, saying "Turkish courts have jurisdiction over the case in line with Turkish law and principles of international law, provided that Jamal Khashoggi was killed in Turkey."

Khashoggi, journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

After releasing the results of its initial investigations, the Saudi Public Prosecution announced that 18 people were arrested over their alleged connections to the killing.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Oct. 23 denounced Saudi handling of the death of Khashoggi, calling it the "worst cover-up ever" and "a total fiasco."

Pompeo has also announced that the United States is revoking visas of 21 Saudi officials who were suspected of involvement in the case, in the first concrete step of punishment taken by the Trump administration after the disclosure of Khashoggi's death.
Photo taken on Oct. 21, 2018 shows a night view of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

STOCKHOLM, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- China's economic development has contributed significantly to global economic development, and "this has benefited us all immensely", Danish minister for development cooperation Ulla Tornaes said in an interview with Xinhua recently.

The words came just before the minister heads for Shanghai to participate the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Tornaes, as special representative of Danish prime minister, will participate the first CIIE in Shanghai to be held from Nov. 5 to 10. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up.

"As Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, I first of all recognize the major achievement of China in reducing poverty and increasing the economic well-being of the Chinese population," said Tornaes, commenting on the significance of China's opening-up.

"It is no easy task to maintain high economic growth rates for decades and to ensure that economic growth benefits all of the population in a country the size of China and with a population of close to 1.4 billion people," she added.

"China's opening up and reform process have offered opportunities for Danish companies," said Tornaes, adding that during the process, many Danish companies established themselves and "now consider China as their second home market".

Moreover, "China's economic development has contributed significantly to global economic development. This has benefited us all immensely," said the minister.

During her visit to China, Tornaes will have bilateral meetings in Beijing and participate, representing Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, in the CIIE, which over a dozen Danish companies registered their participation.

"Denmark will be present with both a national and a commercial pavilion at the CIIE. This is a clear demonstration of our commitment to cooperation with China, commercially and politically," she emphasized.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Denmark. And as Tornaes sees it, bilateral relations are "at an all-time high".

"Over the past 10 years, the cooperation has expanded immensely and now covers a wide range of sectors, including health, food safety, energy efficiency, environmental protection, creative learning and innovation, research and university collaboration, trade promotion, cultural exchange, etc," she said.

"Today, China is our sixth largest export market and we hope to increase the commercial cooperation even further," said Tornaes, noting that she thinks "we have much in common and can achieve even more together" for future cooperation.

"I envision the next 10-years will strengthen our bilateral cooperation even further to the benefits of our two countries, but I also hope the next 10-year will be marked by a strong cooperation between China and Denmark in contributing to solving global challenges and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals," Tornaes added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 04:02:41|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, or collectively BRICS, on Wednesday signed a declaration to accelerate cooperation in cultural areas.

The declaration was signed in Johannesburg by the BRICS ministers of culture after months of consultations. The declaration will see the five countries cooperating in fashion, culture and animation. South Africa's Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa called for the speedy implementation of the declaration.

"This declaration is a clear signal where we want to go and areas where we emphasize and practical steps we need to take. Cultural cooperation cannot be overemphasized, that should be the medium of our engagement. We have to engage on this continuously," said Mthethwa.

The culture ministers also agreed to engage the New Development Bank to fund cultural and creative industry programs. They endorsed the establishment of the BRICS cultural working group which comprises of senior officials from BRICS countries to foster people to people cooperation and encourage cooperation in the creative industry.

"We have to move speedily and instruct the working group to begin work. Cultural diplomacy has to be accelerated. This must not be confined to the boardrooms but should go to the people." Mthethwa said.

He said BRICS have brought hope to the people and that needs to be sustained to bring political and economic governance, and the 4th industrial revolution has to play a centre stage in culture with countries also cooperating to digitalize the sector.

China's Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Xiang Zhaolun said that culture is vital in the BRICS cooperation. It will enhance understanding among the BRICS countries, and improve tourism and economic benefits.

The ministers also endorsed institution-to-institution collaborations. These include cooperation in BRICS Alliance of Museums, BRICS Alliance of Arts Museum and Galleries.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 04:12:43|Editor: Liangyu

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South Sudanese President Salva Kiir delivers a speech during peace celebrations in Juba, capital of South Sudan, on Oct. 31, 2018. South Sudanese on Wednesday celebrated the signing of a power-sharing deal aimed at ending a brutal five-year civil war amid calls for lasting peace in the world's youngest nation. Regional dignitaries and South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar who signed a revitalized peace deal in September with President Salva Kiir in Ethiopia, joined thousands of South Sudanese in the capital Juba to celebrate the peace deal amid tight security. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

JUBA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese on Wednesday celebrated the signing of a power-sharing deal aimed at ending a brutal five-year civil war amid calls for lasting peace in the world's youngest nation.

Regional dignitaries and South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar who signed a revitalized peace deal in September with President Salva Kiir in Ethiopia, joined thousands of South Sudanese in the capital Juba to celebrate the peace deal amid tight security.

Speaking during the celebrations, President Kiir said the five-year-old civil war in his country has come to an end with the celebrations.

President Kiir also declared he has forgiven his opponents and is ready to move forward as part of efforts to end conflict in the country.

"I want to reiterate that the war in South Sudan has come to an end and we have forgiven each other and we have decided to move forward," Kiir told thousands of people who gathered in Juba to celebrate the peace deal.

The president said he has taken personal responsibility for the suffering of South Sudanese as a result of the conflict.

"You have endured immense suffering and the weight of responsibility heavily falls on my shoulders as your president and I deeply regret the physical, psychological, and emotional wounds you have undeservedly endured. As your president, I want to apologize on behalf of all the parties to the conflict," said Kiir.

During the celebrations, Kiir ordered the release of James Gatdet Dak, a former spokesman of Machar, saying although Gatdet has been sentenced to death, his release is for the sake of peace.

Kiir also said he would release William John Endley, a South African national who was Machar's adviser on Thursday after which he will be deported to his home country.

The South African, who is a retired army colonel, was also sentenced to death early this year on charges of espionage, conspiracy to overthrow the government and supplying weapons.

"The war is over and this celebration is testimony that we are committed to the agreement and we must commit ourselves to it," Kiir added.

Machar, who returned to Juba for the first time in two years since fleeing the country in 2016, took part in the peace celebration, saying that he came to Juba to show his commitment to the latest peace deal and end the conflict in South Sudan.

"I came only to confirm to people that I am for peace. The past is gone. We have opened a new chapter for peace and unity," said Machar who had been exiled to South Africa over the years.

Yoweri Museveni, Ugandan President, told South Sudan leaders to embrace non-violent means of solving political conflicts and differences through transparent elections and dialogue.

"It is therefore ideologically incorrect to use war to solve political arguments, elections are the discussions or the right way or referendum but then the elections must be fair. If the elections are not fair they are the one which create conditions for people thinking other ways of solving problems," said Museveni.

He congratulated Kiir and Machar for allowing logic to prevail after they signed in September a final revitalized peace agreement in the Ethiopian capital to end more than four years of conflict.

The Ugandan leader urged both leaders to avoid sectarianism, tribal politics and instead create systems and institutions with national character in the army and civil service.

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, Somali president, called on South Sudan leaders to make concessions to put the country and its people first.

"Let's all remember that no deal is always perfect, no arrangement is without flaws, no negotiation is perfectly balanced. The real test of a leader is to have the ability to make concessions and put this country and its people first," said Mohamed.

Mohamed said attainment of peace in South Sudan is significant for stability of the east African region, adding his country will support South Sudan.

"You have shown the way for peace, I urge you to steer your country into the right path of peace and development," said the Somali leader.

"You have shown a great statesmanship in coming together to end the protracted conflict. I urge you to join hands to stir your country into the right path towards peace and development," he said.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who helped broker the peace deal, called on South Sudan's leaders to commit to the peace agreement and move their country forward.

Sahle-Work Zewde, newly appointed Ethiopian President, called for ceasefire and urged the leaders to fully implement the peace deal which was inked in Ethiopia by Kiir and Machar.

Under the new peace deal, Machar will serve as the first of five vice presidents under a transitional government of national unity.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 04:22:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal jury has charged a Pennsylvania man with 44 counts, including hate crimes, for killing 11 and injuring six people during shootings at a synagogue in Pittsburgh last weekend, authorities announced Wednesday.

"Hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in our society," U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a press release, announcing the charges against Robert Bowers, 46, of Baldwin, state of Pennsylvania.

According to the indictment, Bowers drove to the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood last Saturday where members of three congregations gathered to engage in religious worship.

The indictment alleges that after entering the building, Bowers, armed with multiple firearms, opened fire, killing and injuring worshippers, as well as injuring multiple responding public safety officers.

Inside the building, Bowers made statements indicating his desire to "kill Jews."

The victims include 11 worshipers at the synagogue who were killed, and two members of the congregations who were critically injured by Bowers. Nine other members of the congregations escaped unharmed.

In addition, four law enforcement officers were injured while trying to stop Bowers' rampage.

"Today begins the process of seeking justice for the victims of these hateful acts, and healing for the victims' families, the Jewish community, and our city," U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said.

"Our office will spare no resource, and will work with professionalism, integrity and diligence, in a way that honors the memories of the victims," Brady said.

The funerals for the victims began on Tuesday and are continuing through the rest of the week.

U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump traveled to Pittsburgh Tuesday afternoon to offer condolences to the victims of the Synagogue shooting.

The FBI conducted the investigation, leading to the indictment in this case.

Bowers, a truck driver, remained jailed without bail ahead of a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday.

He faces a maximum possible penalty of death, or life without parole, followed by a consecutive sentence of 535 years of imprisonment.

An indictment is a formal accusation of conduct, not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 04:37:51|Editor: Liangyu

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Police officers stand guard at Times Square in New York, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2018. New York City stepped up security for the annual Halloween parade on Wednesday, a year after the holiday was scarred by a terror truck attack which claimed eight lives and injured a dozen in lower Manhattan. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- New York City stepped up security for the annual Halloween parade on Wednesday, a year after the holiday was scarred by a terror truck attack which claimed eight lives and injured a dozen in lower Manhattan.

New York Police Department Commissioner (NYPD) James O'Neill said on Tuesday that the police would use blocker vehicles to make sure there's no "unauthorized vehicles" on the route of the parade, with thousands of officers in both uniforms and plainclothes to be in place for the normally crowded event.

The police will try to ensure that the holiday is celebrated in an atmosphere of community, peace and fun, and "certainly not fear," said O'Neill.

Though no credible threats are known yet, there remains "a level of concern," said NYPD Chief of Patrol Rodney Harrison. "So we're going to continue to ask people to be vigilant."

On Oct. 31 last year, 30-year-old Sayfullo Saipov plowed a rented truck onto a popular downtown bike lane beside the Hudson river, in the deadliest terror attack that struck New York city since 9/11. Saipov was later identified as a sympathizer of the Islamic State terrorist group.

The attack occurred just hours before the traditional Halloween parade in the city, which was held as scheduled amid tight security.

At a memorial service held on Wednesday morning at the site of the 2017 attack, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio remembered the victims of the incident along with their family members and friends.

"For the families, (this) is a pain that will never go away," he said.

Newly-added concrete barriers and steel posts can be seen alongside the bike path, and more will be installed in the coming months across the city, as the NYPD has promised.

Also, a new bill was slated to be introduced in the New York City Council on Wednesday to demand ID verification for truck rentals.

Donovan Richards, a City Councilman with the borough of Queens, proposed the bill as a way to better safeguard against terror attackers using vehicles.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 04:47:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted a resolution that extends for six months the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) till April 30, 2019.

Resolution 2440, adopted by the 15-member Security Council with 12 votes in favor, 0 against and 3 abstentions, expresses full support for the intention of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his personal envoy to initiate a renewed negotiations process before the end of the year.

The resolution emphasizes the need to achieve "a realistic, practicable and enduring political solution" to the question of Western Sahara based on compromise and the importance of aligning the strategic focus of MINURSO.

It calls upon the parties to resume negotiations under the auspices of the secretary-general without preconditions and in good faith, taking into account the efforts made since 2006 and subsequent developments with a view to achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution.

Western Sahara was partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania at the end of Spain's colonial rule in 1976. When Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979, Morocco moved to occupy that sector and asserted administrative control over the whole territory.

Fighting broke out between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front. A cease-fire was signed in 1991. The UN mission was deployed that year to monitor the cease-fire and to organize, if possible, a referendum on self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 06:33:17|Editor: Liangyu

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that up to 15,000 military personnel could be sent to the southern border with Mexico to help defend against a caravan of Central American migrants.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the number of troops to be deployed at the border "will go up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel."

The comments followed a Pentagon announcement earlier this week that about 5,200 troops would be sent to the U.S.-Mexico border to support law enforcement activities and help stop what the president called an "invasion" by Central American migrants.

Currently, there are 2,100 members of the National Guard helping at the border.

"We're going to be prepared," Trump said. "They're not coming into our country."

He also promised to end so-called "catch and release" practices by building "tent cities" to house those who cross the border illegally.

The caravan is still nearly 1,600 kilometers from the border.

Trump is doubling down his hardline stance on immigration, an issue he's trying to place center and front in the upcoming November midterm elections, which could see Democrats seizing control of at least part of the Republican-held Congress.

The president denied that he was "fear-mongering" with repeated warnings against the caravan or using the issue for political purposes, while admitting the subject is "very important" as he slammed Democrats for their stance on immigration.

According to an interview with Axios, released in part on Tuesday, Trump revealed that he plans to end the right to citizenship for babies of non-citizens and unauthorized immigrants, born in the United States.

"A person comes in, was never in our country before, has a baby, and now all of a sudden the baby is a United States citizen," Trump told reporters Wednesday. "Through chain migration and other things, many other people come in through the baby."

"It's ridiculous," he added.

Birthright citizenship in the country is enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which allows for "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."

Trump insisted that he could and would end birthright citizenship with an executive order, though many, including some Republicans, were questioning his legal grounds.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 06:48:20|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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VIENNA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Austria government said on Wednesday that it would not join a United Nations (UN) migration pact, which is set to be adopted in December at a UN conference in Morocco.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz views the migration pact critically, saying it is mixing up the seeking protection with labor migration.

In the migration crisis in 2015, Austria, the small central Europe country, took in around 1 percent of its population in asylum seekers. The crisis reshaped Austria's politics, in which the right-wing government coalition was later formed.
Salvadoran migrants embark on a journey in caravan to the United States, in San Salvador on Oct. 31, 2018. (AFP Photo)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that up to 15,000 military personnel could be sent to the southern border with Mexico to help defend against a caravan of Central American migrants.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the number of troops to be deployed at the border "will go up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel."

The comments followed a Pentagon announcement earlier this week that about 5,200 troops would be sent to the U.S.-Mexico border to support law enforcement activities and help stop what the president called an "invasion" by Central American migrants.

Currently, there are 2,100 members of the National Guard helping at the border.

"We're going to be prepared," Trump said. "They're not coming into our country."

He also promised to end so-called "catch and release" practices by building "tent cities" to house those who cross the border illegally.

The caravan is still nearly 1,600 kilometers from the border.

Trump is doubling down his hardline stance on immigration, an issue he's trying to place center and front in the upcoming November midterm elections, which could see Democrats seizing control of at least part of the Republican-held Congress.

The president denied that he was "fear-mongering" with repeated warnings against the caravan or using the issue for political purposes, while admitting the subject is "very important" as he slammed Democrats for their stance on immigration.

According to an interview with Axios, released in part on Tuesday, Trump revealed that he plans to end the right to citizenship for babies of non-citizens and unauthorized immigrants, born in the United States.

"A person comes in, was never in our country before, has a baby, and now all of a sudden the baby is a United States citizen," Trump told reporters Wednesday. "Through chain migration and other things, many other people come in through the baby."

"It's ridiculous," he added.

Birthright citizenship in the country is enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which allows for "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."

Trump insisted that he could and would end birthright citizenship with an executive order, though many, including some Republicans, were questioning his legal grounds.
| 2018-11-01 08:12:09|Editor: Liangyu

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An Indian potter makes earthen lamps ahead of Diwali festival in Agartala, India, Oct. 31, 2018. People buy earthen lamps to decorate their homes during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. (Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 10:03:46|Editor: Liangyu

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SYDNEY, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state on Thursday announced plans to impose harsher penalties on bushfire arsonists, with offenders behind the major environmental threat facing up to two decades' imprisonment.

"Deliberately starting a bushfire is a selfish and senseless act that can have catastrophic consequences, potentially wiping out land and homes, and causing injury or death to residents and livestock," the state's Premier Gladys Berejiklian said in a statement.

The government will seek to raise the maximum jail sentence for bushfire offenses from 14 years to 21 years. The tougher penalty is set to be introduced into parliament this month and will apply to the specific bushfire offense of "intentionally causing a fire and being reckless about it spreading on public land or someone else's property."

Bushfires pose a major threat to large swathes of Australian states during dry seasons. In August, NSW authorities declared its earliest total fire bans on record as fire crews battled more than 80 blazes across the state hit by strong winds.

The state's attorney general will also ask its sentencing council to consider if the five-year standard non-parole period for the bushfire offense should be increased and review the maximum penalties for a range of arson offences, including destroying or damaging properties by means of fire.

"The reforms will provide a strong deterrent to would-be arsonists while more than 99 percent of the state is gripped by drought. With low rainfall predicted in coming months and large swathes of bushland looking like a tinderbox, we must do all we can to protect the state from another disaster," said the state's Minister for Police and Emergency Services Troy Grant.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 10:08:47|Editor: Liangyu

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CANBERRA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner has issued a warning about "emboldened racial supremacy movements" sweeping the country.

In his first speech since assuming the position, Malaysian-born lawyer Chin Leong Tan addressed the recent mass shooting at a synagogue in the U.S. city of Pittsburgh, which was allegedly committed by a white supremacist.

"According to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data, hate crimes continue to be perpetrated, with increasing frequency, against minority groups including African-Americans, Jews and Muslims," Tan said.

Addressing the rise of the movement in Australia, Tan said there is "no place" for it.

"We have seen, far too often, the manifestations of emboldened racial supremacy movements and agitation, the language and messaging of which has spilled over even into mainstream public and political debate," he said.

"As a successful multicultural society, we should be clear on this: there is no place for racial prejudice, discrimination, or intimidation in our society.

"As Australians, we should consistently stand together to oppose racism and racial supremacy in any form or representation."

Tan's predecessor Tim Soutphommasane used his final speech in the role in August to criticize Australia's politicians and media, declaring that "race politics is back" and saying there has "never been a more exciting time to be a dog-whistling politician or race-baiting commentator in Australia."

Upon beginning his five-year term in October Tan rejected his predecessor's claim that Australia was a racist country and said he would take a different approach to the role than the outspoken Soutphommasane.

He said on Thursday that his priority would be to analyze the relationship between racism and economic and social inequality.

"The unfortunate truth is there are conspicuous economic and social disparities between racial groups in Australia," Tan said.

"We should acknowledge this, look at possible related issues and work on finding some solutions together, as one of the ways to tackle racism."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 10:28:50|Editor: Liangyu

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CANBERRA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Department of Agriculture is preparing to import grain for the first time in over a decade as the nation's drought takes hold.

In a statement released on Thursday, the department said it was assessing five options to import bulk whole grain from the United States and Canada.

If it goes ahead it would be the first time Australia has brought in additional grain since 2006.

It comes at a time where grain production on Australia's east coast, where the drought is worst, has fallen to its lowest level in a generation.

At the current rate, Western Australia (WA) will produce more than half the national crop since the 1990s.

According to forecasts from agriculture lending giant Rabobank, the national winter crop would produce less than 30 million tonnes of grain, down 23 percent on 2017.

The bank said it expected the 2018 harvest to "go down as one of the worst in eastern Australia's history."

Steve Hatfield-Dodds, a spokesman for the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), said the government's official forecaster had revised its expectations down, citing poor rainfall as the reason.

"We expect 2018-19 winter crop production to be around 15 percent lower than our September forecast of 33.2 million tonnes," Hatfield-Dodds told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Importing grain is seen as a last resort in Australia because of the bio-security risk doing so poses.

One of the risks associated with importing grain is plant disease karnal bunt, which Plant Health Australia estimated would restrict Australia's agriculture exports to 45 countries if it was established in Australia.

"Our concerns are really around the potential for weed seeds and fungal disease to be brought in on the grain, that's our clear outlier that we're concerned about," Grain Producers Australia Chairman Andrew Weidmann said.
Aerial photo taken on Oct. 19, 2018 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue to held the upcoming first China International Import Expo (CIIE), scheduled to be held from Nov. 5 to 10, in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Fan Jun)

PORT MORESBY, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- China and Papua New Guinea (PNG) vowed on Wednesday to further develop the relations between the two countries and strengthen cooperation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

When meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said PNG is a key and close friend of China among the Pacific island nations.

Bilateral relations have reached the all-time high since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, he said, reiterating PNG's adherence to the one-China policy.

China was among the first countries which supported PNG in hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' meeting this year and rendered PNG assistance in this regard, according to the prime minister.

Expressing firm support to the Belt and Road Initiative, O'Neill hoped that cooperation under the China-proposed initiative could promoted PNG's economy as well as common development of the Pacific island nations.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, proposed in 2013, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road.

For his part, Wang said the upcoming APEC meeting in Port Moresby is a major event for the Pacific island nations, and China wished the meeting a success and will continue to offer help to PNG.

Noting that PNG was the first among the Pacific island nations to sign cooperation agreements with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, he said China welcomes the attendance of Prime Minister O'Neill at the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held next year in China.

China is willing to expand cooperation with PNG in trade, investment, industrial capacity and education under the Belt and Road Initiative so as to help the country achieve sustainable development and common development of the Pacific island nations, he added.

The Chinese top diplomat stressed that China has abided by the principle of non-interference in domestic affairs of other countries and no-attachment of political strings regarding foreign aid.

In a separate meeting with PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato, Wang underscored the important position of PNG in China's neighborhood diplomacy, saying China is willing to become a lasting and trustworthy friend and partner of PNG.

Wang said China would like to strengthen cooperation with the Pacific island country on joint construction of the Road and Belt, investment, agriculture and industrial modernization so as to help transfer PNG's resources potentials for the country's development.

Minister Pato is also welcome to attend the upcoming China International Import Expo scheduled for next month in Shanghai and China expects more distinctive PNG imports, he added.

Pato expressed the willingness of his country to learn from China's experiences on poverty alleviation and development.

PNG also hopes to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with China on trade and investment, energy and resources as well as infrastructure, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 10:48:52|Editor: Liangyu

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TRIPOLI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced late Wednesday that 139 illegal immigrants were voluntarily deported from Libya to Nigeria.

"Another group of migrants returned home to Nigeria from Libya yesterday. Among the 139 migrants, there were five pregnant women and seven unaccompanied children, as well as four people with medical conditions," IOM said in a statement later on Wednesday.

The return was done with the support of the European Union Trust Fund, the statement said.

The IOM is running a voluntary return program with an aim to arrange the return of illegal immigrants stranded in Libya to their countries of origin.

Migrant shelters in Libya are crowded with thousands of migrants who have been rescued at sea or arrested by Libyan security services.

Libya has become a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe due to insecurity and chaos in the North African country following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 11:18:55|Editor: Liangyu

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SYDNEY, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- In what's being described as a massive blunder, a valuable artwork in Sydney's Chinatown has been destroyed by the Australian harbour city's light rail construction project.

An art installation valued at around 500,000 Australian dollars (356,000 U.S. dollars), which integrated cloud-shaped brass pieces into the footpath, was excavated by workers and covered with bitumen.

The renowned contemporary artist Lindy Lee, who created the piece called Cloud Gate around five years ago, voiced her frustration to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday.

"It just feels like the left hand wasn't speaking to the right hand," she said.

"It was a very expensive project, because it's two streets of Chinatown."

"You can imagine, a lot of the budget went to infrastructure, so you'd think after all this expense they'd figure out a way of going around it."

"It's very disappointing, it was an awful lot of effort on my part," she added.

According to local media reports, the department of Transport for New South Wales (NSW) will now seek compensation from Acciona, the Spanish contractor in charge of the project, as the Sydney Council plans to eventually restore the artwork.

Plagued by controversy, the 2.1 billion Australian dollars (1.5 billion U.S. dollars) tram development which began in 2015 was originally set for completion by March 2019, however budget blowouts and massive delays now put the finishing date sometime around the middle of 2020.

Making matters worse, Acciona is now locked in a bitter legal battle with the NSW state government over financial grievances.

With many disruptions to key roads in the Central Business District, the lengthy construction process has already become a major talking point for media commentators and residents alike.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 11:28:57|Editor: Liangyu

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LIMA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Keiko Fujimori, head of Peru's opposition Popular Force party, was arrested on Wednesday on charges of money laundering stemming from illegal campaign financing.

Under a court order, she will be held in detention for 36 months as the investigation continues.

She was previously arrested in early October and detained for 10 days, because judicial authorities considered her to be a flight risk.

Fujimori, daughter of jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori, is one of 12 people suspected of accepting 1 million U.S. dollars in illicit funding from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht to help finance her unsuccessful run for the presidency in 2011.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 11:38:58|Editor: Yang Yi

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TOKYO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks lost ground Thursday morning as investors opted to secure profits after shares advanced over the past two days, with the yen's firmness dulling the outlook for exporters.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 170.68 points, or 0.78 percent, from Wednesday to 21,749.78.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 11.57 points, or 0.7 percent, at 1,634.55.

Information and communication, pulp and paper, and metal product-oriented issues comprised those that lost the most by the morning break.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 11:44:00|Editor: mmm

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Zhu Qin, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in Britain, speaks at the launching ceremony of the Shenzhen-London route in London, Britain, on Oct. 31, 2018. China's Shenzhen Airlines on Wednesday celebrated a new direct flight from Shenzhen, a southern Chinese city, to London. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's Shenzhen Airlines on Wednesday celebrated a new direct flight from Shenzhen, a southern Chinese city, to London.

It was the first direct flight between Shenzhen and London. The intercontinental route will be served by Airbus 330 wide-body aircraft and operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Wang Jie, vice president of Shenzhen Airlines, said at the ceremony that "Shenzhen-London route, as the first long haul intercontinental route launched by us, is a crucial starting point for Shenzhen Airlines to step out into the world."

He said the airline would blossom into an internationalized airline based in Shenzhen, with its route network covering Asia and the rest of the world.

The first flight launched on Oct. 30 from Shenzhen to London Heathrow airport. The flight departs from London at 9:40 p.m. local time (2140 GMT) and arrives in Shenzhen at 5:40 p.m. (0940 GMT) the next day. The return flight leaves Shenzhen at 2:10 p.m. (0610 GMT) and arrives in London at 7:40 p.m. (1940 GMT).

Shenzhen Airlines Co., Ltd was founded in November 1992. By the end of 2017, it has operated about 200 domestic and international routes.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 11:54:03|Editor: Yang Yi

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SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export rose 22.7 percent over the year to 54.97 billion U.S. dollars in October, a government report showed Thursday.

It was the country's second-biggest monthly figure since the data began to be compiled in 1956, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The daily export averaged 2.39 billion U.S. dollars in October, posting the third-biggest daily figure in history.

Import advanced 27.9 percent from a year earlier to 48.42 billion U.S. dollars last month, sending the trade surplus to 6.55 billion U.S. dollars. The trade balance stayed in the black for 81 months in a row.

For the first 10 months of this year, export touched a new high of 505.3 billion U.S. dollars. It was up 6.4 percent from the same period of last year.

Import was 444.1 billion U.S. dollars in the January-October period, sending the trade surplus to 61.2 billion U.S. dollars.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 11:59:04|Editor: Yang Yi

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TRIPOLI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame on Wednesday warned that the UN would impose sanctions on those obstructing the implementation of the newly-approved security arrangements in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

Salame made his remarks during a meeting with Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj, and the Security Arrangements Committee (SAC) in Tripoli.

"Salame commended SAC on achievements, called for GNA (Government of National Accord) swift implementation and pledged UN and international community support, warning sanctions against obstructers. Tripoli home to one third Libyans must be protected by regular forces," the Mission said in a statement later on Wednesday.

Serraj recently approved new security arrangements in Tripoli, which focus on forming joint police and army forces to secure the city.

Tripoli witnessed weeks of violence between forces allied with the government and other armed groups in Tripoli in August, which caused hundreds of casualties.

The spate of violent clashes ended after rival parties reached a cease-fire agreement, which required the warring parties not to attack public or private properties and refrain from inciting violence.

The ceasefire deal also stipulates that a joint military force will be formed to secure southern Tripoli, and that the withdrawal of armed groups from conflict areas should be overseen by tribal mediators.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and incessant violence since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 12:09:08|Editor: Yang Yi

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JAKARTA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- A black box of Lion air plane that went down in waters off West Java province of Indonesia on Monday was retrieved by a diver on Thursday, spokesman of Transport Ministry Baitul Ihwan told Xinhua by phone.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 12:14:08|Editor: Yang Yi

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SYDNEY, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Despite a 13 percent rise in the number of Chinese visitors over the past year to March, Sydney Airport Chief Executive Geoff Culbert believes Australia should still be doing more to capitalize on the 80 million Chinese tourists who travel abroad every year.

"I've lived 10 years in Asia, in Tokyo and Hong Kong, and I've seen the ambition of other nations and I feel like sometimes we're a bit too comfortable," he told The Australian Newspaper on Thursday.

"I don't think we're playing to win; I think we're playing not to lose."

"I'd like to see us as a country recapture some of that pioneering spirit that made us so great in the 1970s, 80s and 90s when we grew rapidly, and I'd like us as a nation to have that sort of ambition."

With 1.3 million visitors from China during the year to March, the figure is expected to rise to around 3.3 million by the year 2026, according to the Australia China Business Council.

While this is a substantial jump, it will still leave Australia outside the top 10 countries visited by Chinese travellers.

For Culbert, he believes more could be done to lift Australia's position a travel destination, accusing Australian tourism industry of resting on their laurels when it comes to attracting the lucrative Chinese tourist market.

"I'll go to events and people still talk about the Sydney Olympics, which was wonderful, but it was nearly 20 years ago," he said.

"Let's do something that's really meaningful, that's going to rewrite our history."

One area in particular that Culbert feels needs to be improved is the country's lack of a "night-time economy".

"We like to project ourselves as a cutting-edge global international city but when you go out at 10 or 11 o'clock at night and there's not much going on, we need to start asking ourselves: Do we want to compete globally?" he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 12:39:12|Editor: Yang Yi

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By Fone Ying Kyu

YANGON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's biggest business organization has called on the European Union (EU) to deliberate on intended trade sanctions on the country, expecting a balanced assessment with the issue after meeting with representatives from all sectors.

An EU monitoring team, in its mission to observe and assess facts if it should withdraw its existing Generalized Scheme of Preference (GSP) previously offered to Myanmar, arrived in the weekend to meet with labor and business circles in Yangon.

The EU Trade Commissioner sent the monitoring team to Myanmar for the trade sanction assessment out of an allegation that Myanmar violated human rights as well as workers rights. It is considering to withdraw its GSP offered to Myanmar.

The Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) urged in a press release issued late on Tuesday for support from the international community including the EU for the long-term development of the country's present status, while Myanmar is in a democratic transition with momentum, assisted by the EU.

In a series of negotiations at the EU Office in Yangon which began in the weekend through to Tuesday between the EU mission and civil society organizations and business circle as reported by the official Global New Light of Myanmar, Myanmar's trade unions have opposed the EU's intended trade sanctions on the country, saying that the move is not a constructive approach to deal with EU's allegation that Myanmar is accused of violation of human rights and workers' rights.

If EU suspends GSP, Myanmar's gross domestic product (GDP) will decrease and harm the foreign investment as well as the employment market, said leaders of the Confederation of Trade Unions, warning that the GSP withdrawal could affect EU's participation in Myanmar's transition.

The negotiating leaders urged the EU to reconsider and judge if its GSP withdrawal is a good option to deal with disputes.

Senior official of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) U Than Aung Kyaw said the government is deliberating to work out a policy if EU revokes the GSP.

Myanmar reinstated EU's GSP since July 2013 and has enjoyed the GSP for export of fisheries, rice, pulses, agro products, bamboo and rattan finished products, forestry products, apparels and finished industrial goods.

Of the foreign investment in Myanmar that reached 77.285 billion U.S. dollars as of the end of August 2018 since late 1988, Britain stood as the fifth largest investor with 4.382 billion U.S. dollars, representing the top investor among the EU countries, followed by the Netherlands with 1.528 billion U.S. dollars at the ninth position.

In June's 2nd Myanmar-EU Economic Forum held in Nay Phi Taw, Myanmar Vice President U Myint Swe invited EU entrepreneurs to invest in prioritized sectors in Myanmar under its new investment law and company act, which will create more attractive economic environment for investors.

Pledging a grant aid of about 300 million U.S. dollars to Myanmar for promoting the country's quality education, the EU also voiced strategic support of Myanmar's reform, pledging to cooperate with Myanmar to strengthen democracy, good governance, rule of law, peace, national reconciliation and human rights to tackle poverty and to boost trade and investment.

According to official statistics, investment in Myanmar from 300 EU companies reached 6.6 billion U.S. dollars as of April 2018, making up 8.68 percent of Myanmar's total foreign investment.

In last fiscal year 2017-2018, the country earned about 2.5 billion U.S. dollars from garment exports.

The country's garment is mostly exported to Japanese and European markets. There are over 400 garment factories with more than 300,000 workers in the industry.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 12:49:14|Editor: Yang Yi

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JAKARTA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- A black box of Lion Air plane that went down in waters off West Java province of Indonesia on Monday was retrieved by a diver on Thursday, a senior official from the Transport Ministry disclosed.

"Based on an initial information, yes it has been found," spokesman of the Transport Ministry Baitul Ihwan told Xinhua by phone when asked whether the black box has been retrieved.

The spokesman could not give a further details whether it was a flight data recorder or a cockpit voice recorder of the almost new Boeing 737 max 8 jet plane that crashed into the waters of Tanjung Karawang shortly after taking off from Soekarno-Hatta airport.

Rescuers and divers persisted search mission on Thursday by focusing on the site where the sounds of ping locators, installed in both of the black boxes, are detected by the remote operating vehicle deployed underwater from a ship, according to the head of national search and rescue office Muhammad Syaugi.

The searching site is located in Tanjung Karawang waters off the province, about 400 m northwest of the position of coordinate, where the aircraft with flight number JT 610 last communicated with air traffic controller. All the 189 people on board may have been dead, the office said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 12:54:16|Editor: Liangyu

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department on Wednesday backed off from the earlier remark that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo might meet with his counterpart of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) next week.

In a press briefing, Robert Palladino, deputy spokesperson of the State Department, said that Pompeo would be speaking to his DPRK counterpart, without providing details as to whether the two sides would meet or not.

"I have nothing - no further details to provide about how that speaking to his counterpart will take place, where, when, et cetera. I have nothing further at this time," he said.

"I will support smoke signals," he added.

Earlier in the day, Pompeo told The Laura Ingraham Show that he would speak with the DPRK side next week to discuss Pyongyang's reported readiness to open its nuke and missile sites for international inspectors, as well as the second summit of two countries' leaders.

The West media outlets have widely interpreted his remarks as a sign of meeting to lay the groundwork for the second summit.

In the interview, Pompeo said that "we do have the intention of President Trump and Chairman Kim getting together before too long, hopefully early in the next year, where we can make a substantial breakthrough in taking down the nuclear threat from North Korea (DPRK)."

According to a report by the DPRK's state-run news agency KCNA, during Pompeo's visit to Pyongyang earlier this month, Pompeo said he and Kim shared the same view over holding a second U.S.-DPRK summit as quickly as possible.

Kim also invited inspectors to visit the Punggye-ri nuclear test site to confirm that it has been irreversibly dismantled.

U.S. President Donald Trump also said earlier this month that his upcoming meeting with Kim will be held after the midterm Congressional elections in early November.

He added that the venue of his second meeting with Kim has been narrowed down to "three or four" locations.

The first-ever DPRK-U.S. summit was held in Singapore on June 12. According to a joint statement signed by Trump and Kim, the United States would provide a security guarantee to the DPRK in return for Pyongyang's commitment to denuclearization.

However, U.S.-DPRK talks have been stuck in an impasse due to their differences over the scale of denuclearization, U.S. sanctions, and whether to issue a war-ending declaration.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 13:04:17|Editor: Liangyu

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HAVANA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Cuba's government presented its 2018-2019 portfolio of investment opportunities to foreign investors on Wednesday.

As part of this year's Havana International Fair (FIHAV 2018), Foreign Trade and Investment Minister Rodrigo Malmierca showcased the portfolio of 525 projects worth an estimated 11.6 billion U.S. dollars.

Forty-five of the proposed projects fall within Cuba's special development zone of Mariel (ZEDM), an industrial park and deep water port that is considered the biggest state infrastructure project of the past decade.

Some 108 projects are in agriculture, a priority sector since cash-strapped Cuba spends some 2 billion U.S. dollars a year on costly food imports to meet domestic demand.

The great majority of investment projects are in tourism, the country's second leading source of foreign revenue and an "engine" of economic growth.

Investment opportunities also appear in such areas as renewable energy, iron and steel production, chemicals and mining.

According to Malmierca, 104 projects listed in the previous portfolio have been delisted because they have either been completed, modified or are under negotiation.

Last year, authorities approved more than 2 billion U.S. dollars in foreign investment, marking a record figure, he said.

Cuban authorities say the island needs 2.5 billion U.S. dollars a year in foreign investment to sustain economic growth. Foreign investors represent an important source of modern technology and know-how, in addition to capital.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 13:14:19|Editor: Liangyu

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department said Wednesday that Washington will decide next month whether to impose the second round of sanctions against Moscow over an alleged poison attack on a former Russian spy.

"The Chemical and Biological Weapons Act mandates that the State Department certify to the Congress whether Russia has met conditions required by the law three months after the initial determination of the Skripal case," Robert Palladino, deputy spokesperson of the State Department, said in a press briefing.

"Now, that initial determination was made August 6, and that takes us to November 6, which is the certification deadline," he said. "So November 6, that's the deadline by which the Department of State must certify to the Congress that Russia has met the conditions in the Chemical and Biological Weapons Act."

"The conditions that we would have to certify are that Russia has ceased and assured that it will not use chemical weapons again, and that it has allowed international inspectors to verify those assurances," he explained.

"So have they taken the steps to get back into compliance is the issue. And if we can't make such a certification, the State Department is required to impose a second round of sanctions after consultations with the Congress," he said.

However, he refused to tell what sanction measures the United States would take.

Before the first batch of sanctions on Russia came into effect in August, the United States had threatened to impose stricter sanctions on Russia three months after the first batch was implemented, if Moscow failed to agree not to use biochemical weapons on its nationals, provide credible assurance of not engaging in such behavior in the future, and allow third-party observers to verify Russia's actions on-site.

However, Christopher Ford, assistant secretary of state, said while announcing the first group of sanctions that "these measures ... will remain in place for at least one year and until further notice," backing off from the agency's previously set deadline.

Former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, aged 66, and his daughter Yulia, were found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping center in Britain's southwestern city of Salisbury on March 4. Britain claimed the pair was exposed to a nerve agent and holds Russia responsible, while the Russian government has denied any involvement in it.

The U.S. Federal Register said in a notice on Aug. 27 that the U.S. sanctions came into effect on the same day, as the Department of State has determined that "the Government of the Russian Federation has used chemical weapons in violation of international law or lethal chemical weapons against its own nationals."

Under the sanction regime, U.S. foreign assistance, the licensing of defense articles and services, and the licensing of national security-sensitive goods and technology concerning effort to Russia would be banned.

Russia will also be denied "any credit, credit guarantees, or other financial assistance by any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government, including the Export-Import Bank of the United States."

For its part, Russia blasted the U.S. sanctions, saying Moscow will "withstand" the U.S. moves and respond to Washington's "brute pressure."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 13:39:24|Editor: Liangyu

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MEXICO CITY, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on Wednesday predicted a 9.7 percent growth in exports for the region, a large part of which will head to China.

At the group's annual international business summit in Mexico City, ECLAC Secretary General Alicia Barcena said that the rise was a result of higher prices for raw materials.

"Oil recovered a lot and, generally, so did food exports, though not so dynamically," Barcena said.

According to ECLAC, goods' prices are forecast to rise 7.6 percent, while the volume of goods is likely to go up 2.1 percent for 2018.

Exports to China, the main trading partner of the region, are predicted to increase 28 percent due to the constant flow of raw materials and goods made from natural resources.

Correspondingly, exports within Latin America could rise 12 percent this year, while exports to the United States will increase by 7.1 percent.
Members of Indonesian Navy special force prepare for searching victims of the crashed Lion Air JT 610, at Tanjung Pakis offshore, Indonesia, Oct. 30, 2018. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)

JAKARTA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- A black box of Lion Air plane that went down in waters off West Java province of Indonesia on Monday was retrieved by a diver on Thursday, a senior official from the Transport Ministry disclosed.

"Based on an initial information, yes it has been found," spokesman of the Transport Ministry Baitul Ihwan told Xinhua by phone when asked whether the black box has been retrieved.

The spokesman could not give a further details whether it was a flight data recorder or a cockpit voice recorder of the almost new Boeing 737 max 8 jet plane that crashed into the waters of Tanjung Karawang shortly after taking off from Soekarno-Hatta airport.

Head of the Indonesian national search and rescue office Muhammad Syaugi (C) speaks during a press conference at the Tanjung Priok port, Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 31, 2018. (Xinhua/Veri Sanovri)

Rescuers and divers persisted search mission on Thursday by focusing on the site where the sounds of ping locators, installed in both of the black boxes, are detected by the remote operating vehicle deployed underwater from a ship, according to the head of national search and rescue office Muhammad Syaugi.

The searching site is located in Tanjung Karawang waters off the province, about 400 m northwest of the position of coordinate, where the aircraft with flight number JT 610 last communicated with air traffic controller. All the 189 people on board may have been dead, the office said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 13:44:26|Editor: mmm

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Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, addresses a UN General Assembly meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Oct. 31, 2018. Ma Zhaoxu said Wednesday that the United States should end its embargo against Cuba. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said Wednesday that the United States should end its embargo against Cuba.

"All countries should uphold the process of mutual understanding and development for all peoples," said Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, at a UN General Assembly meeting on the nearly six-decade blockade imposed on the Caribbean island by Washington.

"The international community must tackle issues together," he said, urging Washington to cease the unilateral coercive measure, which has been reinforced during U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

The General Assembly has adopted resolutions repeatedly to have the embargo dropped, yet it still has not ended, said the ambassador, noting that the blockade "is contrary to the principle of the United Nations Charter and cause huge financial and economic damage for Cuba."

"It hinders Cuba's ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals," Ma noted.

In its annual report to the UN, Havana indicated that economic losses due to the U.S. blockade totaled more than 4.3 billion U.S. dollars between April 2017 and March of this year.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 13:44:27|Editor: Liangyu

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SYDNEY, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- An Australian researcher has developed a major robotic system to detect structural faults in buildings, tapping latest technology that offers significant export potential, authorities said on Thursday.

"This technology, which combines microwave systems with cutting-edge robotic technology and artificial intelligence algorithms, has great potential because it will be the first gold standard structural inspection system for both terrestrial and underwater applications," University of Queensland researcher Dr Adnan Trakic said in a statement about his work.

"Not only will an automated and robotic scanning system deliver better results, it will also be more cost-effective and circumvent the tedious and inaccurate manual inspection."

The technology will be able to detect rust and cracks in concrete in roads, buildings, tunnels, bridges, mining facilities and marine areas including pylons, ports and vessels, said Trakic.

The Queensland government will also be providing funding support to the project as part of a wider innovation push.

"Through our Industry Research Fellowships we're making sure that we're keeping the state's best and brightest researchers in Queensland and also attracting talented researchers from interstate and overseas," said the state's Innovation Minister Kate Jones.

"Dr Trakic's project has the potential to put Queensland at the global forefront in microwave-based AI research and development, which is likely to attract significant interest and resources from industry giants right around the world."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 14:29:37|Editor: Liangyu

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KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia has moved up to 15th place in the World Bank Group's Doing Business 2019, from 24th in the previous year, after the country carried out six business reforms in the past year.

World Bank said in a statement Thursday that the acceleration in reforms covered the doing business areas of starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, trading across borders and resolving insolvency, helped Malaysia advance nine places to a global rank of 15.

"The country's consistent effort to adopt international regulatory best practices has made this achievement possible. We are committed to sustaining our support for this important reform agenda going forward with a focus on areas where entrepreneurs still experience difficulties," said Mara Warwick, World Bank Group Country Director for Malaysia.

According to the statement, the reforms implemented in the past year included the reducing time for registering a new business from 23.5 days to 13.5 days, following an introduction of an online tax registration system.

Besides, the process of obtaining a building permit was streamlined, reducing the time needed to complete all required procedures to build a warehouse from 78 days to 54 days.

Getting electricity was also made easier by eliminating the site visit for new commercial electricity connections, reducing by seven days the time that it takes for a business to obtain a permanent electricity connection and supply.

Meanwhile, an online single window platform to carry out property searches was implemented, making it easier to transfer property.

In terms of trading across borders, the time to complete border compliance requirements has been reduced from 45 to 28 hours for exporting, and from 69 to 36 hours for importing, after the country introduced electronic forms, enhanced its risk-based inspection system, made importing and exporting easier by improving infrastructure and the port operation system at Port Klang for the second consecutive year.

In a separate statement, Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking said that a special task force has been set up to initiate and drive regulatory reforms and improvements within the doing business indicator areas in the country.

"The government will undertake more reform initiatives to further enhance the ease of doing business of a new Malaysia that prospers through business competitiveness," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 14:34:38|Editor: Liangyu

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BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's cabinet has released a regulation on the management of administrative divisions, according to a State Council decree signed by Premier Li Keqiang.

"The regulation, based on China's experiences over the past 30 years, is of great importance to implement major decisions and plans by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council," according to the regulation.

It demanded efforts to strengthen Party leadership over management of administrative divisions, while due attention given to coordinating urban and rural areas where administrative divisions needed to be adjusted.

"Major adjustment of administrative divisions should be reported to the CPC Central Committee timely," it said.

The regulation also required more standardized management, with adjustment of city-level divisions approved by the State Council and adjustment of township-level divisions approved by the provincial-level government and reported to the State Council.

Local authorities should finish the adjustment within 12 months after approval, with a six-month extension allowed in complex situations.

Those who adjust the administrative divisions without authorization or reporting such changes to higher authorities, will be held legally accountable.

The regulation will come into force on Jan. 1, 2019.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 14:54:42|Editor: Liangyu

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BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Increasing public awareness of wildlife protection among Chinese people and their participation will make a difference in the global cause of wildlife conservation, a famed Chinese conservationist told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Zhuo Qiang, also known and aliased as "Simba", said China, as a major developing country with an earnest sense of responsibility towards the shared destiny of humankind, is actively participating in the global pursuit of an ecological civilization, and this has brought hope and progress to the cause.

Over the weekend, a few hundred attendees from home and abroad joined Zhuo in the "Run for Wildlife", a charitable event held on the western outskirts of Beijing.

While running up and down a 5-km hilly path across the forest park, participants vowed to reject wildlife products and do what they can to protect endangered species and defend the world ecosystem.

"It is delightful to see more and more Chinese people become aware and join the cause to protect wildlife," Zhuo said, who flew back from Kenya to support the event organized by "Nature Guardian", a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting habitat conservation, public education and international exchange between China and Africa.

In 2011, Zhuo traveled to Mara-Serengeti savannah, where he has been staying with the indigenous Maasai people and working with local conservationists at Ol Kinyei Conservancy, a sanctuary for wildlife covering 260,000 hectares of wilderness.

In recent years, Zhuo and his team have welcomed many Chinese visitors including children who offered to volunteer for the project.

Coming back from Kenya, Chinese volunteers shared their experience and called for an immediate end to the consumption of wildlife products, such as ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales and big cat bones.

Fourteen-year-old Wang Jingyi volunteered at Ol Kinyei last summer.

"I will make sure that nobody in my family or any of my friends consume wildlife products," she said at the event on Sunday. "Really, the lions are not scary. Humans are more frightening to them than they are to us."

Zhuo's wildlife protection work in Kenya had not gone smoothly at the beginning.

"When I first arrived and told people that I had come to protect wildlife, nobody believed me, as Chinese men were often linked to poaching and consumption of wildlife, not the defending of it," Zhuo told Xinhua.

Zhuo's work includes patrolling across the conservancy to prevent poaching and illicit grazing, monitoring, observing of wildlife, as well as rescuing injured animals.

Through years of hard work, he has gained trust and respect from the local tribes and the international community as well.

But wildlife conservation is not a single man's journey, Zhuo said. "It can only be achieved by a united community."

Zhuo places priority on mainstream education. He went door to door to talk with the local Maasai pastors, explaining to them the importance of protecting and restoring the ecosystem, and training young volunteers to become guardians of the habitat.

Eco-friendly tourism has proven to be an effective alternative to developing the local economy and can help the Maasai people earn a better life without having to kill the animals, he said.

On the other hand, he speaks of the threats, challenges, progression and solutions on local, regional and international stages, and calls for solidarity and joint efforts of all nations and all people.

He said he looks forward to making his own contribution to deepening cooperation and exchanges between China and Africa under the Belt and Road Initiative.

"I hope to share my experience and lessons learnt from operating a conservancy project in Africa with my colleagues in China, to improve wildlife protection in the country and build our own national parks in the future," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 14:59:42|Editor: Liangyu

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SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in's approval rating fell for five straight weeks as the support score made a natural correction after surging with the Pyongyang summit in September, a weekly survey showed Thursday.

According to the Realmeter poll, support for Moon declined 3.2 percentage points over the week to 55.5 percent this week, keeping a downward trend for the fifth consecutive week.

The result was based on a survey of 1,505 voters conducted from Monday to Wednesday. It had 2.5 percentage points in margin of error with a 95-percent confidence level.

The downturn could be considered a natural correction as Moon's support rating surged after his third summit in Pyongyang with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The recent stock price dive and the worsened economic indicators contributed to lower approval rating, the pollster noted.

Support for the ruling Democratic Party fell 1.5 percentage points from a week earlier to 40.5 percent this week.

The main conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party saw its support rate rise 2.3 percentage points to 21.8 percent.

It was followed by the minor progressive Justice Party that won 8.9 percent of support. The minor conservative Bareun Future Party and the centrist Party for Democracy and Peace gained 6.6 percent and 3.3 percent each in approval scores.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 15:24:46|Editor: mmm

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JINAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Outside a greenhouse, Zhang Jiuhe points to a screen showing multiple digits and explains what is going on.

"It is like feeding milk to babies," the farmer said. "You calculate the components of the nutrition solution for irrigating the plants, and monitor the real-time air and water temperature on the screen."

Inside the greenhouse, the nutrient solution was dripping from long pipes laid parellel to the leafy green. Soil temperature, air humidity and soil PH could all be adjusted by Zhang in real time.

This is the tech transformation happening in the city of Shouguang, China's major veggetable hub in the eastern province of Shandong.

The gear is expected to bring larger and finer yields from the city's numerous winter greenhouses, meeting the country's growing demands for high-quality vegetables.

Each year, around 8 million tonnes of vegetable are traded in Shouguang. The city, with more than 40,000 hectares of greenhouses, provides one-third of the vegetables for Beijing.

Growing vegetables in the freezing northern winter has always been a challenge for local farmers.

In the past, they burned coal to raise the temperature for plants to grow, and each season consumed around five tonnes of coal. It was not until the 1980s that local farmers started building greenhouses, making use of sunlight to get the best temperatures.

"Now the greenhouses have evolved for five or six generations," said Xu Meirong, researcher with local agricultural bureau. " Many have been equipped with automatic curtain rolling machines and automatic spray; farmers can control them remotely on their phones."

China has seen growing consumer demand for green and organic vegetables, and more producers have turned their focus to quality over quantity, according to a 2016 survey by market analyst Zhiyan.

More recently, traditional domestic e-commerce heavyweights such as Alibaba and JD have set up more offline stores offering select fresh products, all well received among young consumers.

In Shouguang, producers are adjusting to the change.

Zhang said he upgraded his greenhouse to maintain a steady high quality yield, something hard to achieve with traditional methods, as well as reduced water usage and pollution caused by over-fertilizing.

In his greenhouse, the yield improved by around 20 percent. He is also experimenting with soil-free farming that can boost yield by another 10 percent.

The products are around 20 to 30 percent pricier, but sales are still expanding. Zhang said he recently inked a sales deal with a company in the southern city of Shenzhen, some 2,000 km from Shouguang.

About 80 percent of the vegetables have been branded and sold in some 400 supermarkets and high-end communities in 20 cities including Beijing and Shanghai.

The local government is also working with academic institutions to promote the local brands nationwide.

"We are also exploring more cutting edge greenhouse technologies, setting up quality tracing system and market channels," said Xu, a local researcher.

Zhang has hired three researchers with doctorate degrees to help him find new methods to control the greenhouse environment.

"In the past, we worked on skills for growing plants," Zhang said. "But now, we compete in the field of science and technology."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 16:04:53|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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ULAN BATOR, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of Mongolia said Thursday that it had purchased 17.7 tons of gold from legal entities and individuals in the first 10 months of 2018, a year-on-year increase of 3 percent.

In October alone, the central bank purchased 3.4 tons of gold, a 34-percent increase against the same month of the last year.

As of October, the central bank's average gold purchase price was 99,911.55 Mongolian tugriks (about 39 U.S. dollars) per gram.

The Bank of Mongolia, which bought 20.01 tons of gold in 2017, aims to buy 22 tons of gold by the end of this year.

The bank launched a five-month campaign in May to encourage gold miners and individuals to sell gold to banks.

In addition, the bank opened one precious metal testing laboratory in the northern province of Darkhan-Uul and another in the southwestern province of Bayankhongor in mid-October in a bid to increase the country's gold reserves.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 16:09:54|Editor: mmm

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KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian business confidence is on the rise underpinned by intra-Asia opportunities with firms eyeing China, Singapore and Indonesia for future expansion, according to a survey Thursday.

HSBC Navigator survey that covered 200 Malaysian companies showed that Malaysian firms are confident in the opportunities presented within Asia, as China, Singapore and Indonesia were cited as the key expansion markets.

When asked about the top three markets where Malaysian businesses will look to expand in the next three to five years, China topped the list, with 22 percent respondents identifying it as the key market.

The survey also revealed that Malaysian firms are generally optimistic that regional policy initiatives will help their business, and see the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as favorable policy initiatives.

Relevant free trade agreements were also viewed favorably by 64 percent of respondents.

Meanwhile, around 62 percent of respondents believe that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative will be positive for business.

Overall, Malaysian firms have a positive outlook about their prospects, fueled by rising customer demand and a favorable economic backdrop.

Around 89 percent of companies in Malaysia are positive about the trading environment, significantly higher than of companies globally, which stands at 78 percent.

At a company level, 91 percent of respondents in Malaysia are confident that their company will succeed in the current environment, with consumer confidence being the top factor driving the optimism.

HSBC Bank Malaysia chief executive officer Stuart Milne said, Malaysian firms remain optimistic amid the trade tensions.

"These firms are also looking closer to home for opportunities and are adapting their approach to stay fit for the future. We expect technology, digitization and data utilization to play an increasingly strategic role in enabling businesses to develop their products and services, reach new customers and cut costs by improving operational efficiency," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 16:09:54|Editor: Li Xia

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United States' National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) officials check the debris of the crashed Lion Air JT 610 during their investigation of the air plane crash at The Tanjung Priok port, Jakarta, Indonesia, Nov. 1, 2018. Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) has held a closed-door meeting here with representatives of the crashed plane producer, Boeing, and officials of the United States' National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) over the crash of Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 plane in the country, KNKT chief said here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Veri Sanovri)

JAKARTA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) has held a closed-door meeting here with representatives of the crashed plane producer, Boeing, and officials of the United States' National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) over the crash of Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 plane in the country, KNKT chief said here on Thursday.

KNKT Chairman Soerjanto Tjahjono said the visit of Boeing and NTSB officials was a form of assistance commitments to help Indonesia in carrying out investigation into the crash of the brand new plane of which KNKT has yet to get familiar with.

"We are yet to have sufficient knowledge about the new plane nor trainings related to new features and technology of the brand new plane model," Soerjanto said, referring to the recent meeting with a total of 16 officials from Boeing and NTSB in his office here.

The crashed Lion Air plane was Boeing 737 Max 8, a brand new variant of single-aisle Boeing 737 family, which arrived at Indonesia in August this year. Lion Air was apparently the largest operator of the plane in Indonesia.

Boeing 737 Max 8 has bigger body than the previous 737 planes, advanced and quieter engines. The plane provides more legs room for the passengers as well as larger cargo compartment inside its larger body.

Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 plane carried 189 passengers and crew when it crashed enroute to Pangkal Pinang on Monday morning.

Indonesian authorities predicted that the plane dived at rapid speed from a height of 3,000 feet and hit sea surface that made its body and people inside the plane fragmented into pieces.

Indonesian air transport authorities has ordered examination over all Boeing 737 Max 8 planes operated in the country after the crash took place.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 16:14:55|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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ULAN BATOR, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has opened its Office of Honorary Consul in Mongolia's capital here, the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday.

"I am confident that the honorary consul will play an important role in developing bilateral relations and cooperation between Mongolia and Sri Lanka in all sectors and protecting the rights of Sri Lankan citizens living in Mongolia," Doloonjin Orgilmaa, first Sri Lankan honorary consul in Mongolia, said at the opening ceremony of the consul on Wednesday.

Representatives from the Mongolian Foreign Ministry, Sri Lankan non-resident Ambassador to Mongolia Karunasena Kodituwakku and several Sri Lankan citizens living in Mongolia attended the ceremony, according to the ministry.

Mongolia and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations in February 1962.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 16:14:55|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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NEW DELHI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- A water truck collided with a Qatar Airways plane Thursday at an airport in eastern Indian city of Kolkata, officials said.

According to the officials, all the passengers on board of the plane are reported to be safe.

The incident took place early Thursday when the flight from Doha to Kolkata was arriving at the airport.

"During the early hours today a collision took place between a water truck and an aeroplane belonging to Qatar Airways. No passenger was hurt in collision," an airport official said. "However, aircraft's belly suffered a damage."

Officials said there were 103 passengers on board.

Authorities have ordered an inquiry into the collision.

"Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered an enquiry into the incident to ascertain the reasons that led to collision," the official said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 16:24:57|Editor: mmm

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TOKYO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Japan's central government restarted land reclamation work on Thursday to facilitate the relocation of a controversial U.S. military base within Okinawa, Japan's southernmost prefecture.

The resumption of landfill work came amid protests from local citizens and officials who feel their opinions, civil and political rights have been ignored.

The Okinawa prefectural government in the summer had retracted its approval for the landfill work necessary for the building of a new base in a coastal region on the island to replace the the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

But earlier this week the land ministry issued an injunction for the reclamation work to be resumed.

The restarting of the landfill work drew the ire of Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki who is a stanch opponent of the new base being built within Okinawa and campaigned for his position as governor based on this platform.

"It is extremely regrettable that the work was resumed despite our calls for dialogue with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe," Tamaki was quoted as telling local media in Okinawa's Naha.

On Thursday, the local branch of the defense ministry in Okinawa used floats to mark the no-entry zone where rocks and soil are to be dumped as part of the reclamation work.

At the same time protestors took to small vessels in the vicinity with placards voicing their opposition and indignation.

One local woman in her 40s said she was absolutely furious with the central government for ignoring the views of local Okinawa citizens who have long been calling for their base hosting burdens to be lifted.

She said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had ignored the request from Governor Tamaki to resolve the issue through dialogue and this was tantamount to ignoring the feelings of the people of Okinawa.

Deputy Governor Kichiro Jahana said on Thursday that the central government has once again failed to listen to the collective voice of Okinawa.

He said he will request a meeting with Abe and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and that it was awful that the central government has no compassion for the people of Okinawa.

While the central government's stance on the issue appears to be unwavering, as per a bilateral agreement made between Japan and the United States in 1996, Tamaki has intimated that he may petition Washington over the deal as it runs contrary to the will of the people of Okinawa.

Tamaki said earlier in the week that the prefectural government will study the injunction decision and may move to apply for screening by the Central and Local Government Dispute Management Council under the auspices of Japan's Internal Affairs Ministry.

Tamaki has reiterated his will to continue to do everything in his power to keep his campaign pledge of blocking the construction of the new U.S. base.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 16:29:57|Editor: mmm

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KIGALI, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda eyes China as a "very important" export market and expects to introduce Rwandan products to Chinese consumers through the first China International Import Expo (CIIE), CEO of Rwanda Development Board Clare Akamanzi said Wednesday.

"China is a very important export market we are looking at right now and the fact that we signed a partnership with Alibaba now confirms that China is a very important priority market for us today," Akamanzi said at a media briefing after the launching ceremony of Alibaba's Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP), which makes Rwanda the first African country that launches this platform.

The eWTP initiative was proposed by Jack Ma, executive chairman of Alibaba Group, in 2016. It aims to promote public-private dialogue to foster a more effective and efficient policy and business environment to enable small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in cross-border electronic trade.

The first thing that Rwanda has to achieve is to make sure that Chinese consumers know the central African country, she said, noting that Rwanda sees the CIIE as a platform where it can present Chinese consumers with Rwandan products.

"We are going to use all platforms possible including trade expos in China and other local platforms to promote Rwanda products to the Chinese market," she added.

The CIIE, China's first-ever fair of this kind scheduled for Nov. 5-10 in Shanghai, is China's latest move to promote trade liberalization and further open up its market.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 16:39:59|Editor: mmm

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by Stefania Fumo, Li Jie

MILAN, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The first China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be a "great opportunity" for global trade, the Pirelli CEO has said.

The CIIE is going to be held on Nov. 5-10 in China's metropolis of Shanghai to show China's firm support for international trade liberalisation.

"I think (the CIIE) is a great opportunity to show the players in the global economic environment the opening of China to world trade, and it is also a contribution to the growth of the global market," said Marco Tronchetti Provera, executive vice chairman and CEO of Italian-Chinese tyre maker Pirelli, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"I think that China is growing not only as a market, but also in terms of technology and education," said Tronchetti Provera, who has continued to serve as Pirelli CEO since ChemChina became the major stakeholder of the Italian tyre maker in 2015.

Tronchetti Provera, who has been traveling to China on business since the 1990s, said that in the past two decades he has witnessed China's growth in every area -- its economy, its infrastructure, and its cities have burgeoned in a way he described as "amazing" in terms of both speed and the quality of growth.

"I have been really lucky to be a part of it, because I think it is something that has never happened so fast before in human history," said the veteran Italian entrepreneur.

"Pirelli entered China as a local producer in 2005," he said. "Before that, we used to export (tyres) to China. Then we decided to set up a factory that would be fully dedicated to the high value segment -- meaning tyres with a high technology content."

The decision to open the first factory in China that was 100 percent dedicated to producing high-value tyres "was based on the development of the Chinese market," Tronchetti Provera said. "We saw huge investments were being made by international car manufacturers."

"We were the first to gain approval from the main carmakers as local suppliers for the original equipment of high value cars," he said. "We created a network with regional wholesalers, and we entered into a number of agreements with tyre dealers."

Pirelli's development in China was fast, Tronchetti Provera said.

"We started from scratch, and now we have agreements with close to 4,000 distributors," said Tronchetti Provera, lauding the quality of China's education.

He said that "very knowledgeable people" in Pirelli's local management teams and research and development departments have been well trained by the Chinese education.

Tronchetti Provera was sanguine about Pirelli's prospects in China -- where he sees a future based on technology, people and innovations.

Tronchetti Provera said that "we must learn to see others as partners and not just competitors," because this means we can pool our energies and pull in the same direction to everyone's benefits.

"I am still positive. I believe that at the end of the day, global interests will prevail," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 16:50:00|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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QUITO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador could revoke the asylum status granted to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if he fails to abide by new regulations governing his stay at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, a top official said Wednesday.

"If Mr. Assange doesn't comply with these rules, obviously the Ecuadorian government will be able to reconsider its decision of having granted him asylum and revoke it," Attorney General Inigo Salvador said.

It was the latest sign of rising tensions between Ecuador and Assange, who has been held at the embassy since 2012, when the previous Ecuadorian administration granted the anti-secrecy activist political asylum.

Though the original Swedish allegations of sexual misconduct that drove Assange to seek asylum have long since been dropped, the British said they will arrest him as soon as he sets foot outside the embassy for having violated his parole terms.

Assange, who denies the allegations, believes the ultimate goal is to extradite him to the United States to stand trial for revealing state secrets.

The Ecuadorian authorities introduced a new set of rules in August which restrict Assange's rights to receive visitors and his online activities, and oblige him to pay for certain expenses, such as food.

Assange and his lawyer have pushed back against the new regulations. A strong-worded editorial in state daily El Telegrafo on Wednesday demanded that Assange play by the new rules.

"In keeping with a decent, humanitarian policy, the Foreign Affairs Ministry guarantees the restoration of access to communications, that is the Internet, but reminds that, as an asylee, he will not be able to make declarations or statements that interfere with other states or affect the interests of Ecuador," according to the editorial.

"The respect the state guarantees must be reciprocal ... and the Foreign Affairs Ministry affirms that it will not tolerate lies from that person," it added.

In December 2017, Ecuador granted Assange citizenship and requested that Britain give him diplomatic status, which was refused.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 16:55:01|Editor: mmm

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-three stolen high-end vehicles bound for China were recovered Tuesday at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport complex, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said Wednesday.

A press release issued by the CBP said its officers assigned to the Outbound Enforcement Team at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport complex recovered the stolen vehicles worth nearly 1.9 million U.S. dollars, including 11 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 and 12 Land Rover Range Rover.

These stolen vehicles ready for exportation were discovered while the CBP was conducting an outreach operation at two major Southern California vehicle export facilities, cooperated by the California Highway Patrol and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

The recovered vehicles were turned over to state authorities for further investigation and all of them would be returned to rightful owners, read the press release.

According to the CBP, 700 to 1,200 vehicles were processed for exportation at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport at any given day.

While the vast majority comply with federal and state regulation, there is a global black market where foreign individuals are willing to pay a premium for desired luxury brands and vintage models regardless of importation fraud schemes.

"By defrauding vehicle dealerships, financial and insurance companies, international thieves negatively impact the economy and consequently the American consumer," said Carlos C. Martel, CBP director of field operations in Los Angeles.

In fiscal year 2018, the CBP at Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport seized 66 vehicles heading overseas, including 40 stolen, 11 with odometer rollback, five undervalued, six had fraudulent documents, one concealing weapons/arms and three unlicensed/military vehicles.

Total value of fiscal year 2018 seizures is 4.3 million U.S. dollars.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 17:05:03|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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ULAN BATOR, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia will soon receive the fifth tranche of funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), equal to around 36.22 million U.S. dollars, the country's central bank said Thursday.

The amount is part of the IMF's three-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Mongolia totaling about 434.3 million U.S. dollars, which was approved at the meeting of the IMF Executive Board on May 24, 2017.

According to the Bank of Mongolia, the IMF Executive Board completed the fifth review of Mongolia's performance on Wednesday under the program.

"Mongolia has continued to make good progress under the Fund-supported program," Mitsuhiro Furusawa, deputy managing director of the IMF, said after the Executive Board's discussion.

"Helped by favorable commodity exports, a recovery in confidence, and strong program implementation, growth has accelerated further, leading to improvements in the fiscal position and debt dynamics," said Furusawa, who is also the acting chair of the IMF Executive Board.

"The fiscal accounts have posted a primary surplus, reflecting both a sharp increase in revenues and continued expenditure restraint. Meanwhile, past over-performance allowed the authorities to meet key reserve targets, despite a recent rise in balance of payments pressures," Furusawa said.

"However, Mongolia remains vulnerable to external and domestic shocks. Thus, the country's authorities should take advantage of the still favorable economic environment to further bolster fiscal and external buffers, strengthen the banking sector, and improve the investment climate," he said.

The authorities should continue efforts to protect social spending, strengthen tax administration, and improve public financial management, he added, stressing that a dedicated implementation of the authorities' reform program is key to building resilience against shocks and ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth.

Thanks to the IMF's program, Mongolia's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.1 percent year on year in 2017, higher than the 3.3 percent forecast by the IMF.

The IMF has predicted that Mongolia's GDP growth will reach 5 percent this year and 6.3 percent next year.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 17:10:03|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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ABUJA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian Army on Wednesday confirmed that the body of a missing general has been recovered from an abandoned well in central Nigeria after he was declared missing on Sept. 3.

Major General Idris Alkali, the immediate past chief of administration at the army headquarters in Abuja, was on a trip to the northeastern state of Bauchi when he was reportedly attacked and Nigeriankilled by unknown persons in the south of Jos, capital of the central Plateau State.

His body was recovered in the Guchwet area of Jos after a weeks-long search operation, the army said in a statement.

The army said that after a thorough investigation, they narrowed their search to a mining pond in the south of Jos. The general's car was found and recovered from the pond after two weeks of draining.

The army said its troops were led to the location by one of those arrested earlier in connection with the case.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 17:15:06|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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DAMASCUS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The ultra-radical rebel groups attacked positions of the Syrian government forces in the demilitarized zone at dawn on Thursday, marking the first attack on Syrian forces in the buffer zone, a war monitor reported.

A rebel group allied with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, umbrella group of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, attacked the Syrian positions in the eastern countryside of Idlib Province in northwestern Syria, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It was the first rebel attack on Syrian government forces since the demilitarized zone deal went into force last month.

The establishment of a demilitarized zone was the result of a Turkish-Russian agreement reached in September to separate the Syrian forces from the rebels.

According to the deal, the ultra-radical groups, mostly affiliated with al-Qaida, should withdraw their fighters and weapons from the zone, which forms a ring around Idlib, the last major rebel bastion in Syria.

However, the deal was only partially implemented, as the rebel fighters are yet to pull out despite the withdrawal of their heavy weapons.

The Syrian government said the deal to establish a buffer zone in Idlib should end with the province returning to the government control.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem recently said terror groups are still present in Idlib, indicating that the Turkish side is not committed to the demilitarized zone deal.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 17:15:07|Editor: Chengcheng

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Syrian refugees wait to have their documents processed at the Zamarani border crossing in the countryside of Damascus, capital of Syria, on Nov. 1, 2018. Around 400 Syrian refugees on Thursday returned to their homeland from Aarsal in Lebanon, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)

BEIRUT, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Around 400 Syrian refugees on Thursday returned to their homeland from Aarsal in Lebanon, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Lebanon's General Security checked the papers of refugees who voluntarily seek to return to their homeland, NNA citing an official statement as saying.

"The return of refugees took place in the presence of the International Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations," the statement said.

Another statement carried by NNA said another batch of Syrians returned to their homeland from Burj Hammoud.

More than 1 million Syrian refugees are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, while the government estimated the true number of Syrians in the country at 1.5 million.

To secure the return of 890,000 Syrian refugees to their homeland, Russia has drafted a strategy and presented it to the Lebanese authorities.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 17:40:11|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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TOKYO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stock closed lower Thursday as investors offloaded firms reporting subpar earnings, while telecommunications issues weighed on the broader market amid concerns over price competition.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 232.81 points, or 1.06 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 21,687.65.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 14.07 points, or 0.85 percent, to finish at 1,632.05.

Companies reporting worse-than-expected earnings and outlooks for the fiscal year ending March came under heavy selling, local brokers said, with firms like Yamaha Motor and Mitsui E&S Holdings losing ground after downwardly revising their earnings forecasts.

Mobile phone companies also weighed heavily on the market, investment analysts highlighted, following NTT Docomo, Japan's biggest mobile carrier, announcing it will lower its fees by up to 40 percent from the April-June quarter of 2019.

Shingo Ide, chief equity strategist at the NLI Research Institute, was quoted as saying that the Nikkei was "dragged down by a plunge in the three main mobile carriers. Uncertainty over the impact of the charge cuts on Docomo's earnings also prompted selling."

Subsequently, NTT Docomo tumbled 14.7 percent to 2,426.00 yen, while SoftBank Group dropped 8.2 percent to close at 8,310 yen.

KDDI, meanwhile, plummeted 16.1 percent to end the day at 2,360.00 yen.

By the close of play, information and communication, metal product, and oil and coal product-linked issues comprised those that declined the most, and falling issues beat rising ones by 1,108 to 937 on the First Section, while 66 ended the day unchanged.

On the main section on Thursday, 1,782.49 million shares changed hands, dropping from Wednesday's volume of 1,811.91 million shares.

The turnover on the penultimate trading day of the week came to 3,270.4 billion yen (28.96 billion U.S. dollars).
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 17:45:12|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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by Peter Mertz

DENVER, the United States, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The demand for American wheat has hit an eight-year low, according to recent data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

"The decrease to Mexico, our biggest wheat importer last year, was 22 percent, which equals the largest year-to-year reduction in exports that we've seen over the past seven years," said Anton Bekkerman, professor of economics at Montana State University (MSU).

The future for wheat looks particularly uncertain.

On Wednesday, Farm Futures' "Overnight Trends," a daily bulletin issued by the leading U.S. online agriculture information group, said wheat will fall "1-to-5" points.

"Wheat prices are lower, pressured by scant export business and the strong dollar, that forces U.S. prices lower to stay competitive on world markets," Farm Futures reported.

Vincent Smith, an agro-economist at MSU, said that it is possible that lower year-to-date exports of wheat from the United States are tied to trade conflicts with China and other countries.

Bekkerman told Xinhua that the loss of a commodity market means the relationship with Chinese wheat buyers may have been permanently destroyed, as other countries scramble to fill the void with the world's most populous nation.

The agricultural sector is known for its volatility -- consistent market fluctuations due to weather and global economic conditions.

Economists so far generally agree that it is premature to accurately gauge the impact of the U.S. trade frictions with China, especially when winter is coming.

"It doesn't look like there's much here for drawing any concrete conclusions," Bekkerman said of the USDA data.

Weather conditions seem favorable so far for a bumper wheat harvest in 2019 despite price declines.

"Drier weather on the Plains is also boosting progress seeding the 2019 crop, which is off to a decent start thanks to plenty of moisture," Farm Futures said in its October edition released on Wednesday.

"I'm sure some of the decreases are due to the trade restrictions, but it's difficult to tear apart the counterfactual," Bekkerman said.

"How much of a change in exports would we have seen if the tariffs were not in place?" Bekkerman asked.

Montana farmers told Xinhua they are considering switching crop production in light of uncertainties in wheat demand, especially the involvement of other global players.

"Russian exports still show no signs of running out of wheat, despite the sale of a cargo of soft red winter wheat to Egypt last week," Farm Futures said.

The news may force wheat farmers across America's vast Midwest to consider alternative crop planting in the spring, experts told Xinhua.

"There may also be a shift of exports into January and February of the next year," Smith said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 18:00:15|Editor: mmm

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by Xinhua writers Liu Fang, Dong Chen

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Amsterdam court judges said Wednesday that they expect to render judgement on Dec. 12 over the mummy Buddha statue case in which inhabitants of two Chinese villages argue that the Dutch collector was in bad faith when he bought the statue stolen from their village temple in the 1990s and subsequently made it away through an oral exchange deal when legal procedures started over two years ago.

"The court will render a judgement in six weeks, on Dec. 12, if it is possible," said J. Thomas, one of the judges, after the hearing that lasted nearly three hours.

In May 2016, two villages in China's southeastern province of Fujian filed this repatriation case of religious, cultural and ethical significance against Amsterdam resident Oscar van Overeem. They said the statue van Overeem lent for an exhibition in March 2015 was the one their villages had worshipped for over 1,000 years before it was stolen from the village temple in December 1995.

Van Overeem agreed that the statue comes from Fujian Province, but insisted that it is not the Zhanggong Zushi, or Monk Master Zhang Gong, as the villagers claimed. He said that his statue had been bought before the villagers found that their Buddha had been stolen, and it doesn't have two specific physical features that the villagers attributed to theirs.

Van Overeem also stated that he had reached an oral deal and exchanged the statue for another artwork with a Chinese "collector-investor-intermediary," who "was aware of the mummy controversy and political sensitivities and therefore preferred to remain anonymous."

Both the villagers and the defendant have submitted several rounds of written statements and evidence to the court. Before the hearing Wednesday, the villagers submitted an investigation report by the Fujian Relics Authentication Center dated April 28, 2018, which, according to Jan Holthuis, the Dutch lawyer representing the villagers, "sets out in a very structural and detailed way why the VO (Oscar van Overeem) statue is the villagers' statue."

"We specifically pointed out the additional evidence provided in this investigation report, such as the Chinese characters on the back of the statue and on the basket that is in the village's possession, written by one and the same villager. The judge should now deal with this specific evidence, as it has formally become part of the court case file," Holthuis told Xinhua.

The Dutch collector stressed during the hearing that his statue does not have "a hole drilled in the left hand," and "its head is not loose at all," contrary to what some villagers had said. He supported his argument with an expert conclusion of CT scans of the statue.

The villagers' lawyer told the court that the source material of the CT scans needs to be examined by independent experts, not only by parties appointed by van Overeem.

Regarding the time he bought the statue, van Overeem repeated that he has no document of the purchase. He added that he would ask the person involved in the deal, who might have kept the 1995 sales documentation.

The Dutch collector also insisted that he is no longer in possession of the statue and does not have much information about the "third party" who had allowed him to exchange the statue for another artwork.

After the previous hearing on July 14, 2017, the court had granted permission for a motion filed by the villagers to preserve evidence by seizing certain specifically defined data from van Overeem's computer. These data are now in the hands of a third independent party.

The villagers' lawyer pointed out to the court hearing that the defendant had given inconsistent statements on the completion date of his so-called "exchange deal," insisting that the plaintiffs should have access to the person in the exchange deal in order to get back the statue.

"This claim against VO to disclose the third party's name is now part of the Dutch legal proceeding and court judges' deliberation before they make a judgement," Holthuis told Xinhua.

The Dutch lawyer said the judges will make up their minds on whether they think the statue is indeed Zhanggong Zushi, and which party shall bear the burden of proof.

For Liu Yushen, a Beijing-based Chinese lawyer who is assisting Holthuis in the Dutch legal proceeding, said it is normal that this kind of case will take a long time.

"The case is complicated, not only because it involves two different legal systems, but also because of the difficulties coming from non-legal factors. It's more about history, culture, religion, etc.," Liu said.

Six villagers, who arrived in Amsterdam on the eve of the hearing, were not questioned by the judges during the court hearing. However, their presence at the hearing was important in the view of their legal representative.

"Now the judges are aware that the villagers exist. The fact that they appeared in the Dutch court shows respect for the Dutch court and the judges," said Holthuis.

"And judges can get a feeling of what kind of people these villagers are," he added.

"VO has been discriminating against the villagers, saying they are emotional and upset, and they are trying to use government power to get their statue back. This story can no longer hold now because judges have seen it is not true," Holthuis added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 18:10:18|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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BAGHDAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) militant group is creeping back with new plots into parts of central Iraq, nearly 10 months after the government declared victory against the extremist group.

The IS elements "have re-organized themselves and prepared logistically to carry out a long-term war of attrition against the Iraqi security forces," Mohammed al-Jubouri, from the intelligence service of Iraq's northern-central province of Salahudin, told Xinhua.

IS militants are launching attacks from their redoubts located in the rugged areas between the provinces of Salahudin and Nineveh in the north, including the areas of Hatra and Shirqat, and the mountain ranges of Himreen and Makhoul, Jubouri said.

Their hideouts also extend westward to the desert of Anbar Province as well as in the northeastern and eastern parts of Salahudin Province, including Hawijah area near Kirkuk Province and Mteibijah near the provincial border with Diyala, he added.

"IS militants built their headquarters in these areas and dug dozens of tunnels and hideouts, where they brought foodstuff and medical supplies and set up solar cells to generate electricity," the Iraqi source explained.

According to Jubouri, the IS militants are communicating by their cell phones and the U.S.-made Hytera two-way radios, which could be used within a radius of 60 km.

Drones for reconnaissance are also regularly used to spot the positions of the security forces and track their movement, he noted.

"One of major IS tactics is ambushing the security forces after tipping them off with false information, in order to bring them to a specific area well-prepared by the militants, and surprise them with attacks to cause heavier casualties," Jubouri said.

"The terrorists also frequently disguised in uniforms of the army, police and paramilitary Hashd Shaabi, in addition to using the same military American made weapons, including M16 rifles, which they got from the security forces who abandoned their posts during the IS blitzkrieg in June 2014," he added.

Meanwhile, the security forces are monitoring the extremist militants by means of reconnaissance and intelligence reports, which enabled them to carry out offensives and painful strikes on their hideouts.

The re-emergence of IS militants in the vast sparsely populated territory in northern-central Iraq has raised questions about the victory declared by former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

Earlier this year, many people were abducted and killed by militants claiming to be affiliated with the IS group.

Ibrahim al-Ameri, an Iraqi political analyst, said the IS comeback attempts in Iraq are "inevitable," as "they are facing tough situations by losing many of their strongholds in neighboring Syria."

Ameri believes the extremist group is trying to tighten its grip in central Iraq and reunite its areas with their surrounded strongholds in neighboring Syria.

In fact, IS militants also made a surprise advance in eastern Syria, when they seized positions of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near its border with Iraq.

Their advance in Syria raised concerns in Iraq that IS militants could infiltrate into Iraq to make use of IS hideouts in the desert and rugged areas in the center of the country, pushing the Iraqi army, border guards and Hashd Shaabi brigades to dispatch reinforcements to block the borderline, Ameri warned.

In a statement on Oct. 28, Iraqi new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, also commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, emphasized "the importance of continuing precautionary efforts and keeping track of the terrorist groups to secure the border with Syria."
Palestinian artist Noura Jardaneh displays her miniature replica of the old city of Nabllus in the West Bank, on Oct. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Nidal Eshtayeh)

NABLUS, West Bank, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The bustling city of Nablus in the West Bank, with a long history of more than 2,000 years, is still alive with visible Roman remains, Christian marks and Islamic features.

Nicknamed as minor Damascus, or uncrowned queen, the city got its name from the Roman ancient city of Neapolis. The Roman-style city, founded by the Flavian emperors in 72 AD, features distinctive traditional urban architecture despite its bloody history after the Israeli military incursions.

In order to demonstrate the structure of the city in detail, the Palestinian female artist Noura Jardaneh created a miniature replica of the nearly one-square-km old city, using simple materials such as cartons, stones and concrete.

The project took Jardaneh almost three years, driven by her original idea to unravel the maze of the old city's narrow alleys as an informative and interesting tour for children.

"In this project, we aimed at promoting the heritage and tourism by encouraging people to walk into the old city again," Jardaneh said.

Palestinian artist Noura Jardaneh displays her miniature replica of the old city of Nabllus in the West Bank, on Oct. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Nidal Eshtayeh)

"In essence, it employs art at the service of history ... seeing the miniature has provoked curiosity and eagerness toward knowledge and questions," she added.

As a graduate of fine arts and interior design, she put her skills into practice and dug into the history of Nablus to create the min-replica to help visitors better understand the old city.

The old city consists of seven quarters, where most buildings remain intact. The miniature, however, highlights the main characteristics of the Canaanite, Roman and Ottoman eras to satisfy tourists' curiosity with valuable information.

The project also created an offline application of hand-held devices showing various walking tours into the historical old city, to help promote tourism and local businesses.

Aroub Jamileh, deputy director of the Multi-purpose Community Resource Center in the old city, which sponsored Jardaneh's project, said the project demonstrates the city on the architectural, cultural and historical levels.

"It is a revival of the old city, because Nablus has seen attempts to destroy its heritage, but now we have brought it back to life through this project," she said proudly.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 18:25:20|Editor: Liu

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U.S. President Donald Trump (L) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, on July 16, 2018. (Xinhua/Lehtikuva/Heikki Saukkomaa)

BERLIN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty has triggered worries that it may cause a new round of arms race between Washington and Moscow.

European countries, situated between the Atlantic and Russia, have the most vested interests in the treaty, the most significant achievement of arms control in the Cold War era.

Experts believe that the possible invalidation of the treaty will be a big blow to the United States' European allies, as well as the already poisoned transatlantic relations.

EXTREME WORRIES ACROSS EUROPE

After U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed last month that the United States will terminate the INF Treaty and pull out of it, shocked European officials responded quickly.

The German government issued a statement saying that it will do its utmost to preserve the treaty. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told media that as the treaty concerns the vital interests of Europe, Germany will fight for it with all diplomatic approaches, including influencing Russia and putting the issue on top of NATO's agenda.

The signing of the INF Treaty and the withdrawal of the mid-range missiles from Germany were among the greatest achievements of disarmament policy and are important for the European security architecture, said Maas.

The 1987 agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union prohibited the construction and possession of land-based, nuclear-armed missiles or cruise missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 km.

Having kept nuclear missiles out of Europe for three decades, the INF Treaty is facing challenges in recent years, as the United States and Russia accuse each other of violating the agreement.

France, another major country in the European Union (EU) and a member of the nuclear club, responded with a warning by its Foreign Ministry that "hasty" and "unilateral" decision on the INF Treaty would be "regrettable."

French President Emmanuel Macron told Trump about the importance of the treaty especially in regard to European security.

European Commission Spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said the treaty, one of the cornerstones of the European security structure, contributed to the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race. She urged the United States and Russia to remain engaged in dialogue.

EUROPE FALLS VICTIM

Situated between the United States and Russia and serving as a buffer zone for the two superpowers in the Cold War, European countries were the major beneficiaries of the INF Treaty and will bear the brunt of the consequences of U.S. withdrawal.

Christian Moelling, deputy director of the research institute of Berlin-based German Council on Foreign Relations, said in a recent article that the withdrawal will accelerate the dismantling of German and European security order. Without the treaty, Europe would soon be threatened by Russian nuclear weapons without restriction.

The weapon systems prohibited by the INF Treaty have a short flying time of a few minutes to the rival's targets in Europe, which increases the risk of a nuclear war, Moelling wrote.

The INF Treaty removed medium and short-range missiles deployed in Europe during the heyday of the Cold War, including cruise missiles from Britain, and U.S.-made Pershing missiles from Germany, and Soviet's SS-20 missiles from East Europe.

Kate Hudson, general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said the withdrawal from the treaty will open the way for the return of cruise-type missiles to Europe and an increased risk of a nuclear war on the European continent.

Oliver Meier, an expert with Berlin-based German Institute for International and Security Affairs, estimated the invalidation of the treaty will trigger an arms race in Europe.

"We are not prepared for a new arms race," said Maas, German foreign minister.

ANOTHER BLOW TO TRANSATLANTIC TIES

Experts believe that the U.S. self-determined withdrawal from the INF Treaty has made the transatlantic relations worse.

"They (Europeans) are particularly affected by the end of the treaty, but they were only informed by Washington, not consulted," said Meier.

The United States made the decision without consulting European countries, the U.S. allies in NATO and the parties with the most vital interests in this issue.

"If Trump is thinking to deploy missiles in Europe, this initiative will cause big problems with NATO while, on the other hand, if the U.S. gives a free hand to Russia to develop mid-range missiles because the treaty is over, Europe, like in the 1980s, could face serious challenges," said Stefano Silvestri, former Italian undersecretary of state for defense.

"In both cases, this decision will put transatlantic relations in serious danger," said Silvestri.

After Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July, the United States made their Europeans allies feel uneasy as they were overlooked again.

The transatlantic relations, one of the pillars of the EU's foreign policy besides European integration, have been plunged into a difficult situation amid increasing distrust in recent years.

The United States keeps accusing EU countries, especially Germany, of creating a huge U.S. trade deficit. Trump also complained that Europe does not assume its share of defense responsibility and has compelled European NATO allies to sharply increase defense budgets.

The challenged transatlantic relations have made German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a sharp critic of Trump, call for grasping Europe's destiny in its own hands, and Maas mull building a multilateral alliance.

"An American withdrawal from the transatlantic security policy would destabilize Europe," said Moelling, adding that the withdrawal will also cause division within EU countries, a scenario that the bloc does not want to see.

(Xinhua reporters Grandesso Federico, Nathan Morley, Tian Dongdong in Brussels also contributed to the story.)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 19:00:25|Editor: Li Xia

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DHAKA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Economies in the South Asian region have made gains to improve the ease of doing business for domestic small and medium enterprises, according to a World Bank (WB) report released here Thursday.

The report entitled "Doing Business 2019: Training for Reform" noted that Afghanistan and India were ranked as top improvers for the region.

India, which is a top improver for a second consecutive year, implemented six reforms in the past year and advanced to 77th place in the global ranking, said the report, adding India is now the region's top-ranked economy.

According to the report, Afghanistan, a top improver for the first time, carried out a record five reforms, moving up to 167th rank.

With three reforms carried out in the past year, Pakistan showed remarkable improvement in doing business, advancing 11 spots this year.

Sri Lanka also carried out four reforms which included making Dealing with Construction Permits easier, while the introduction of online systems made it easier to pay taxes in Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

According to the report, Bangladesh moved one place up from last year's ranking.

"These results from the Doing Business 2019 report are great news for South Asia and underscore the need to persist with challenging reforms that can provide more opportunities for people to lift themselves out of poverty and spread prosperity ore widely," said Hartwig Schafer, vice president for the South Asia Region of the World Bank.

"We're looking forward to working with governments in the region to achieve more gains in coming years."

"South Asia continues on a strong reform agenda, thanks to political commitment and hard work that is involved in improving the domestic investment climate. This is particularly commendable in the case of Afghanistan, where conflict and insecurity make the work so much more challenging," said Rita Ramalho, Senior Manager of the World Bank's Global Indicators Group, which produces the report.

World Bank says Doing Business report includes gender dimensions in three indicators: Starting a Business, Registering Property and Enforcing Contracts.

It finds South Asian economies perform best in the areas of Protecting Minority Investors and Starting a Business.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 19:10:28|Editor: Li Xia

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MOGADISHU, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The UN top envoy in Somalia has cautioned that a stand-off between Somali government and regional leaders could scuttle international community's efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa nation.

Nicholas Haysom, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, renewed his call for collaboration to solve ongoing tensions between the country's federal and state authorities.

"We are exploring ways of bringing them together in the hope that Somalis can face down their problems together rather than going separately," Haysom said in a statement issued by the UN Mission in Somalia on Wednesday night.

The UN envoy's remarks come as political impasse continues after leaders of five Somali regional states on Sept. 8 suspended relations with the central government due to lack of political and security progress in the Horn of Africa nation.

The leaders from Jubaland, Puntland, Southwest, Galmudug and Hirshabelle regions accuse the government of interfering with regional issues, failure to implement security architecture and not fulfilling political agreements.

"Basically, we have been telling them that what we are facing is a quite serious political issue - the stand-off between the Federal Member States and the Federal Government may well paralyze our efforts to help Somalia get back on its feet," he added, according to the statement.
A Christian man inspects his neighbours' home, destroyed by Islamic State militants in the Christian city of Qaraqosh, Iraq, on Sept. 12, 2018. (Reuters file photo)

BAGHDAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) militant group is creeping back with new plots into parts of central Iraq, nearly 10 months after the government declared victory against the extremist group.

The IS elements "have re-organized themselves and prepared logistically to carry out a long-term war of attrition against the Iraqi security forces," Mohammed al-Jubouri, from the intelligence service of Iraq's northern-central province of Salahudin, told Xinhua.

IS militants are launching attacks from their redoubts located in the rugged areas between the provinces of Salahudin and Nineveh in the north, including the areas of Hatra and Shirqat, and the mountain ranges of Himreen and Makhoul, Jubouri said.

Their hideouts also extend westward to the desert of Anbar Province as well as in the northeastern and eastern parts of Salahudin Province, including Hawijah area near Kirkuk Province and Mteibijah near the provincial border with Diyala, he added.

"IS militants built their headquarters in these areas and dug dozens of tunnels and hideouts, where they brought foodstuff and medical supplies and set up solar cells to generate electricity," the Iraqi source explained.

Smoke billows from the positions of the Islamic State militants as a harvester gathers the wheat crop from a field in western Mosul, Iraq, on June 19, 2017. (Reuters file photo)

According to Jubouri, the IS militants are communicating by their cell phones and the U.S.-made Hytera two-way radios, which could be used within a radius of 60 km.

Drones for reconnaissance are also regularly used to spot the positions of the security forces and track their movement, he noted.

"One of major IS tactics is ambushing the security forces after tipping them off with false information, in order to bring them to a specific area well-prepared by the militants, and surprise them with attacks to cause heavier casualties," Jubouri said.

"The terrorists also frequently disguised in uniforms of the army, police and paramilitary Hashd Shaabi, in addition to using the same military American made weapons, including M16 rifles, which they got from the security forces who abandoned their posts during the IS blitzkrieg in June 2014," he added.

Meanwhile, the security forces are monitoring the extremist militants by means of reconnaissance and intelligence reports, which enabled them to carry out offensives and painful strikes on their hideouts.

Smoke billows from a refinery complex near the northern Iraqi town of Baiji on Oct. 17, 2015, after Iraqi security and allied paramilitary forces recaptured the area from the Islamic State group. (AFP file photo)

The re-emergence of IS militants in the vast sparsely populated territory in northern-central Iraq has raised questions about the victory declared by former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

Earlier this year, many people were abducted and killed by militants claiming to be affiliated with the IS group.

Ibrahim al-Ameri, an Iraqi political analyst, said the IS comeback attempts in Iraq are "inevitable," as "they are facing tough situations by losing many of their strongholds in neighboring Syria."

Ameri believes the extremist group is trying to tighten its grip in central Iraq and reunite its areas with their surrounded strongholds in neighboring Syria.

In fact, IS militants also made a surprise advance in eastern Syria, when they seized positions of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near its border with Iraq.

Their advance in Syria raised concerns in Iraq that IS militants could infiltrate into Iraq to make use of IS hideouts in the desert and rugged areas in the center of the country, pushing the Iraqi army, border guards and Hashd Shaabi brigades to dispatch reinforcements to block the borderline, Ameri warned.

In a statement on Oct. 28, Iraqi new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, also commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, emphasized "the importance of continuing precautionary efforts and keeping track of the terrorist groups to secure the border with Syria."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 19:35:32|Editor: mmm

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BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Moroccan King Mohammed VI exchanged congratulations on Thursday to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Morocco.

In his congratulatory message to the Moroccan king, Xi said that Morocco was among the first African countries that established diplomatic relations with China, and their bilateral relations have been growing steadily over the past 60 years after the two countries cemented diplomatic ties.

Xi said that he is very satisfied that China-Morocco relations have developed rapidly and bilateral cooperation in various fields has been very fruitful after the two countries established a strategic partnership.

Xi said that he greatly values the development of China-Morocco relations and is willing to make efforts together with the Moroccan king to consolidate the political mutual trust between the two countries, strengthen bilateral cooperation under the framework of co-building "the Belt and Road," jointly implement the outcomes of the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and continue to promote the China-Morocco strategic partnership.

In his congratulatory message delivered to Xi, Moroccan King Mohammed VI said he was satisfied with the smooth development of Morocco-China relations over the past 60 years, saying that the two countries have always enjoyed mutual understanding and trust in each other and bilateral trade cooperation has kept growing rapidly.

The king said that Morocco is willing to actively participate in the construction of "the Belt and Road," supports the cooperation initiatives proposed by China within the framework of the FOCAC, and constantly advances China-Morocco as well as China-Africa cooperation.

Also on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani exchanged congratulatory messages.

Li said in his message that the Chinese side greatly values the development of China-Morocco relations and is willing to work together with the Moroccan government to continue to consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries, actively implement the outcomes of the Beijing summit of the FOCAC, and strengthen all kinds of cooperation under the framework of co-building "the Belt and Road" to bring more benefits to the two countries and the two peoples.

Othmani said in his message that Morocco is willing to continue to strengthen the traditional friendship between Morocco and China, enhance bilateral pragmatic cooperation and continue to advance the relations between the two countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 19:40:33|Editor: Li Xia

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BAGHDAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The governor of Salahudin Province on Thursday escaped a roadside bomb explosion in central Iraq, a provincial security source said.

The roadside blast took place near the convoy of Ammar Jabur Khalil, governor of Salahudin, during his visit to al-Seniyah town in the north of the oil refinery town of Baiji, some 200 km north of Iraq's capital Baghdad, said Mohammed Khalil al-Bazi from Salahudin Operations Command.

The explosion wounded two bodyguards of the governor and badly damaged a vehicle in the convoy, Bazi said.

Meanwhile, a joint army and police force raided an IS hideout in Tulul al-Baj area near al-Seniyah and killed three IS militants, he added.

The IS militants are responsible for a series of attacks against civilians and security forces on the main road near Tulul al-Baj area, according to the security source.

The key cities of Salahudin Province, including Tikrit located some 170 km north of Baghdad, were captured by IS militants in June 2014, but the province was eventually freed by Iraqi security forces in major offensives.

On Dec. 9, 2017, Iraqi former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared full liberation of the country from IS militants after Iraqi forces recaptured all areas once seized by the extremist group.

However, small IS groups and individuals have regrouped in desert and rugged areas, carrying out attacks against the security forces and civilians despite operations from time to time to hunt them down.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 19:45:34|Editor: xuxin

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University students attend a class at Bamiyan University in Bamiyan province, central Afghanistan, Nov. 4, 2018. Established around two decades ago, but shut down by the Taliban outfit in 1997, after the armed outfit overran Bamiyan province, Bamiyan University was reopened in 2003 and since then has been serving as the main higher educational center in the highland region of Afghanistan. (Xinhua/Noor Azizi)

by Abdul Haleem

BAMIYAN, Afghanistan, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- "Thank God that the prevailing peaceful situation in Bamiyan has helped enable my enrollment in Bamiyan University and obtain a higher education," whispered Fatima, a second year student in the Agriculture faculty of the university.

Established around two decades ago, but shut down by the Taliban outfit in 1997, after the armed outfit overran Bamiyan province, Bamiyan University was reopened in 2003 and since then has been serving as the main higher educational center in the highland region of Afghanistan.

Although it only had two faculties, Education and Agriculture, after reopening, Bamiyan University has been rapidly developing since 2003, after the Taliban regime was overthrown in late 2001, said a member of the university Ismael Qasimyar.

"Bamiyan university reopened in 2003 with two faculties, Education and Agriculture. At that time, the university only had 200 students, with only 15 females, but the institution has been developing and today there are 6,400 students with about 2,000 of them being female who are studying in seven different faculties," said Qasimyar with pride.

Nearly 10 million children with more than 40 percent of them being girls currently go to school in Afghanistan. However, the doors of girls' schools are still closed in the areas held by the Taliban outfit.

Referring to the closure of Bamiyan University by the Taliban outfit in 1997 as "dark days" for education in the central region of Afghanistan, Qasimyar recalled with sorrow the insurgent group "destroying all of the university's infrastructure, including its library, laboratory building, research room and everything else."

Bamiyan University has been developed over the past decade and currently "it has seven faculties including Education, Agriculture, Economics, Social Sciences, Natural Science, Geology and Theology faculties," Mohammed Zahir Fayez, a senior official at the university, said.

The mountainous Bamiyan province is regarded as the safest among the insurgency-battered country's 34 provinces.

In her second year of university, Fatima, who is from central Bamiyan province, spoke with optimism to Xinhua recently about wanting to play an "active role" in developing agriculture, especially growing potatoes in the central region.

The central Bamiyan province is famous for its potato-based agribusiness in insurgency-plagued Afghanistan, as more than 60,000 farmers are engaged in potato cultivation in the province and have harvested around 350,000 tons of the vegetable this year.

As ambitious as she is, however, Fatima was skeptical about finding a job after graduating, expressing concerns that the situation in the job market is tight due to a high rate of unemployment and poverty in the country.

Echoing her concerns, another female student, Zakira, a student in the Geology faculty, lamented that many former graduates have yet to find a job.

"The majority of students after graduating remain jobless, and only a few of them have been hired by private schools, government entities, and non-government organizations," Zakira said despondently.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 19:50:38|Editor: Li Xia

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LAGOS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- An outbreak of cholera in Nigeria's northeast state of Gombe has killed five people, an official said Thursday.

Nuhu Bile, the state acting epidemiologist, told reporters in Gombe that 16 others were hospitalized at the Primary Health Center, Kembu, in Balanga area of the state.

The cholera outbreak occurred in October, he added, noting that 70 patients were treated and discharged, while the five people died before medical help could reach them.

The recent deaths had brought the number of cholera mortality to 13, Bile said.

He attributed the cause of the outbreak to five damaged hand-pumps in the community, which forced people to seek unsafe alternative source of water.

Cholera is a gastrointestinal disease usually spread by contaminated water and food, and can cause severe diarrhea that, in extreme cases, can lead to fatal dehydration and kidney failure within hours.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 20:00:41|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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ABUJA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Suspected Boko Haram fighters have killed at least 15 people and set many houses ablaze in an attack in Nigeria's northeastern Borno State, witnesses said on Thursday.

Many people are still missing following the attack on at least two villages in Konduga area of the state late Wednesday.

Some residents scampered for refuge in a nearby bush as the gunmen went on the rampage in Kofa and Abba Malumti villages.

One witness identified as Yahaya Danjuma said the religious leader of Kofa was among the 15 people killed during the attack.

"His (the religious leader's) house, too, was among many houses razed by the gunmen. We lost everything that we had, including livestock," Danjuma said in Hausa, a language spoken in the northern part of Nigeria and several African countries.

Danjuma told Xinhua that some villagers, including two of his nephews, were still missing following attack.

Another witness, who identified himself only as Danladi, said most residents were already in bed when they heard frequent gunshots.

"I left my two wives and five kids behind, as I ran toward the bush. Those who couldn't run to safety were killed," he said.

"From the bush, we heard the cries of women and children but we could not even help ourselves," Danladi said, describing the late Wednesday incident as "a night of horror."

Borno police spokesman Edet Okon did not immediately respond to Xinhua's phone calls and text messages.

Konduga, with a population of 13,400, is about 25 km southeast of Maiduguri, capital of Borno State.

Boko Haram has been trying since 2009 to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria, in the process killing tens of thousands of people and displacing millions of others.

The group in the Lake Chad Basin has posed enormous security, humanitarian and governance challenges, according to the United Nations.

Four countries caught up in the insurgency are Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. The UN said Boko Haram has displaced nearly 2.4 million people in the Lake Chad sub-region.
File photo shows a train leaves the Nairobi terminus of Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, on May 31, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

NAIROBI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) commuter trains have ferried more than 2 million passengers between Nairobi and the port city of Mombasa since its launch in May last year, the operator confirmed on Wednesday.

Li Jianfeng, deputy general manager of SGR passenger train operator, Africa Star Railway Operation Company Limited, said it has resonated with local and foreign travelers thanks to improved safety, convenience and customer service.

"By Oct. 28, 2,013,000 passengers enjoyed passenger train service since launching. We have also achieved a seating occupancy at 97.2 percent (including inter-county seats reuse)," said Li.

He revealed this to senior Kenyan policymakers, lawmakers, scholars from leading think tanks and media practitioners during a tour of the Nairobi SGR terminus on Tuesday to learn about operations of both the commuter and cargo services.

Li said the SGR freight service has ferried about 2,605,000 tonnes of bulk cargo since its launch, hence easing congestion at the port of Mombasa.

The SGR commuter train dubbed Madaraka Express has revolutionized travel while stimulating commerce along the 480 kilometers railway built by a Chinese company.

Li said the operator of this modern train service has focused on rebranding and paid attention to improved management, communication, social responsibility and timely response to customer's needs.

"The company has been improving operation concept, management and working methods. We aim at win-win in terms of both economic perspective and social benefits," said Li.

He revealed the SGR commuter train operator has also set up an online platform and customer service center to enhance interaction with passengers.

"Questionnaires and passenger survey returns are carried out at intervals to continuously improve service skills and quality," said Li.

"Service phones and customer service center are available to assist passengers and handle complaints upon request. Designated staff are available for disabled passengers," he added.

Li said that Kenyan staff continue to benefit from advanced training on railway operations in China.

Kenyan lawmakers expressed confidence in the operations of both the SGR commuter and freight transport services, terming them a game changer in the quest for socio-economic transformation in the country.

Shakeel Shabbir, Member of Parliament for Kisumu East in western Kenya, said the modern trains were contributing significantly to the country's development.

"We have great faith in the SGR passenger and cargo services that have contributed to rebuilding of our economy and passing of skills to local youth," Shabbir said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 20:35:50|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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NAIROBI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is at the final stages of putting in place regulations to boost medical care for retirees, the pension industry regulator said on Thursday.

Nzomo Mutuku, chief executive officer of the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA), told a media briefing in Nairobi that the authority has started a consultative process to develop guidelines to govern the Post-Retirement Medical Fund (PRMF).

"The draft guidelines have gone through an elaborate stakeholder consultation process and were exposed to discussion by members of the public nationwide. The guidelines were subsequently approved by the attorney general and the national treasury and are now awaiting final gazettement," Mutuku said when non-banking financial services consultancy Liaison Group launched a product that allows clients to enjoy medical cover in their retirement.

Dubbed the Suluhu Umbrella Scheme, it is the first one in the Kenyan market to allow members to port their medical cover through their pension and income draw down in one platform.

The PRMF is a fund setup within a registered retirement benefits scheme or by an employer (sponsor) to which contributions are made while a member is in active employment and from which medical cover benefits are met after a member has exited the service of their employer and becomes entitled to receiving benefits as provided in the scheme rules.

Mutuku said the PRMF guidelines intend to regulate and supervise the establishment and management of PRMF, provide a guidance for the schemes to allow members and sponsors to make additional voluntary contributions in respect to funding a medical fund, and to provide for members to transfer a portion of their retirement benefits to a medical cover provider at retirement.

The pension regulator said the guidelines therefore means that the climate is set for employers to plan for this very important benefit for their employees.

"It also means retirees will be better prepared to comfortably meet their healthcare needs and access hospitals of their choice for chronic, pre-existing and high-risk conditions," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 20:50:54|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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MOSCOW, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree Thursday to impose sanctions on 322 Ukrainian individuals and 68 entities amid a prolonged row between Moscow and Kiev.

The sanctions, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin last month, include freezing non-cash funds, uncertificated securities and property controlled by the blacklisted in Russia and banning their withdrawal of capital from Russia.

"The decree is aimed at countering unfriendly actions against Russian citizens and legal entities on the part of Ukraine and at lifting restrictions imposed earlier by the Ukrainian side on these persons, as well as normalizing bilateral relations," said a government statement.

The sanctions target Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's elder son Olexiy, Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy, key ministers and important businessmen.

The blacklist also includes EastOne Group and Toledo Mining Corporation registered in Britain and Ferrexpo registered in Switzerland.

The Russian government said it could lift the sanctions if Ukraine cancels its own restrictive measures against Russia.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow have been deteriorating since early 2014 over Crimea and armed conflicts in eastern Ukraine. Kiev has imposed a series of sanctions against Russia since then.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 20:55:58|Editor: mmm

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WINDHOEK, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- As China becomes Namibia's biggest export market, local-based enterprises in Namibia are at the helm of the increased trade volumes.

The dawn of light has just arrived over Namibia's coastal town Walvis Bay. At Tetelestai, an oyster producing company, supervisor Rino Katjingisiua was monitoring the growth and quality of Pacific oysters. The oysters are predestined for China amongst other markets.

"I have to ensure the oysters are worked on time," said 36-year-old Katjingisiua, inspecting the farm produce.

Established in 2006, to-date, Tetelestai specializes in growing Pacific oysters, trading in both fresh and frozen products.

"At the moment, we concentrate on growing Pacific oysters from juvenile stage (around 30 grams) up to market size, which is between 40g and 150g," Koos Blaauw, co-owner and managing director of Tetelestai told Xinhua in a recent interview.

According to Blaauw, the markets for fresh live oysters are mainly Chinese destinations including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai as well as Hong Kong.

On average, export volumes of Tetelestai brand products to China range between 20,000 to 40,000 units per month.

Statistics in June by Namibia Statistics Agency shows that China has become Namibia's biggest export market, surpassing countries like South Africa whom Namibia previously traded with extensively.

The Namibian-based enterprise counts on its bountiful Pacific oysters in penetrating the Chinese market, to where they export the majority of the locally cultivated oyster products.

"We had a market from the start, but it is only recently that the demand increased as word spread about Namibia and the quality of our oysters," Blaauw said.

According to him, the Chinese market has created opportunities for the business.

"We have a low population in Namibia, and the local market cannot consume so much. So as one of our main export markets, it has assisted us in expanding and stabilizing our business. Also, as we get more Chinese people visiting or working in Namibia, news about our name and the quality of our oysters is spreading and increases our sales in return," he added.

Partnering with Beijing Hi-Technology Energy Investments (Pty) Ltd has also been instrumental in expanding trade.

"It assists us in better understanding the Asian market and also helps to break down language and trade barriers," according to Blaauw.

With recent trade developments between Namibia and China, the company projects that the market share and demand for oysters may increase. The new partnership is also envisaged to yield growth.

"Even though still in the early stages of the partnership, we expect the surge in market share to increase job opportunities in the company as well as lead to training and more experience for our employees in different fields," Blaauw said.

Employees like Katjingisiua are hopeful that human resource development opportunities will further nurture their professional skills.

"I plan to do the best I can at my current job and to improve myself further," said an optimistic Katjingisiua.

Meanwhile, plans are underway to expand the farm to produce a higher output of Pacific oyster over the next year. "After that, we will also look at farming other species aimed at the Asian market," said Blaauw.

Moreover, apart from penetrating the Chinese market, Blaauw said that the company is also set to increase export volumes.

"We are now also registered with the Russian authorities and plan to export to Russia soon. For frozen oysters, we mainly export to South Africa. Then we also supply most of the local market in Namibia," he said.

Although the company faces challenges such as distance and high transportation cost in exporting to the Asian market and an import levy on oysters from Namibia into China (assessed at 18 percent), Blaauw said the enterprise is committed to increasing their market share in the Asian market.

"Our aim is to be recognized by the Asian market as one of the top-quality oyster producers in the world," he said.

The company currently employs 21 staff members, comprising two staff members in administration and office, two supervisors and the employees working on the oysters daily and harvest it for the market.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 21:11:01|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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RAMALLAH, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Foreign Ministry slammed on Thursday an Israeli declaration to build a new settlement in the West Bank's southern city of Hebron.

The ministry accused Israel of escalating "colonial judaization in the old city," and urged the international community to Israel to "respect and implement relevant international legitimacy resolutions" on the basis of the two-state solution.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he will propose a new plan to build an apartment block in the heart of Hebron.

"We are restlessly continuing the enhancement of the settlement town in Hebron, which has not happened in 20 years," Lieberman tweeted.

In mid-September, the Israeli government approved the construction of 31 new settlement units proposed by Lieberman.

Israeli settlement activity, deemed illegal by the large international community and under the international law, is considered one of the thorniest issues hindering the peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 21:11:02|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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JUBA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of South Sudanese on Wednesday gathered in the capital, Juba to celebrate a recently signed peace deal amid high hopes of an end to five years of civil unrest.

The nationwide celebrations attended by regional leaders marked the signing of the new peace deal agreed in September.

To many South Sudanese, the latest peace deal offers hope of ending the civil war and unbearable economic crisis that has ravaged the war-torn east African country since it plunged into civil war in late 2013.

"It is so wonderful for us to celebrate peace and I hope that this will be the last suffering in South Sudan," said 19-year-old Kual Marial.

"We women want peace and our hope is that they (leaders) have really realized that we are suffering and they will change their hearts."

"Peace has come and it is wonderful. With peace coming in, there is possibility of my people coming back from the refugee camp in Uganda," said John Ito, 77.

Ito said lasting peace will make South Sudan stable and give it chance for development and prosperity, urging the South Sudanese leaders not to squander the latest chance.

"I want to thank them (leaders) for the spirit of reconciliation, forgiveness and for bringing peace to us. Let them go ahead, and they should not fail again," Ito told Xinhua in Juba.

South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013, and the conflict has created one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world.

The UN estimates that about 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally. A peace deal signed in August 2015 collapsed following renewed violence in the capital, Juba in July 2016.

Under the new peace deal, opposition leader Riek Machar will once again be reinstated as Kiir's deputy.

Speaking during the peace celebrations in Juba on Wednesday, Machar who returned to South Sudan for the first time in two years after fleeing the country, reiterated his commitment to the new peace pact and end the war in South Sudan.

"I came only to confirm to people that I am for peace. The past is gone. We have opened a new chapter for peace and unity," Machar told the cheering crowd in Juba.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir declared an end to war during the peace ceremony on Wednesday, adding that he has forgiven his opponents and is ready to move forward.

Kiir also apologized to his people for the "immense suffering" they went through in the past five years.

Daniela James, 24, welcomed the positive steps taken by the South Sudanese leaders to end the war, and urged them to ensure that this latest peace deal is implemented fully.

"I want to thank our leaders for this achievement. It is very great to me and I'm so thankful," James said.

"Let them implement this peace and work on it. I don't see it just to be in the name of peace, but let's implement everything because I as a South Sudanese, I need peace in my country. I need our people who have been suffering to come home and stay in peace James stressed," Daniela added.

"We are very happy for the peace, being a youth in South Sudan; I hope it will bring peace and unity to all South Sudanese," said Atem Camilo, 26.

"If there is peace, everybody will be happy, we will move freely, we shall not suffer of food shortage," added Camilo.
Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, addresses a UN General Assembly meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Oct. 31, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said Wednesday that the United States should end its embargo against Cuba.

"All countries should uphold the process of mutual understanding and development for all peoples," said Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, at a UN General Assembly meeting on the nearly six-decade blockade imposed on the Caribbean island by Washington.

"The international community must tackle issues together," he said, urging Washington to cease the unilateral coercive measure, which has been reinforced during U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

The General Assembly has adopted resolutions repeatedly to have the embargo dropped, yet it still has not ended, said the ambassador, noting that the blockade "is contrary to the principle of the United Nations Charter and cause huge financial and economic damage for Cuba."

"It hinders Cuba's ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals," Ma noted.

In its annual report to the UN, Havana indicated that economic losses due to the U.S. blockade totaled more than 4.3 billion U.S. dollars between April 2017 and March of this year.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 21:56:13|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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by Murad Abdu

ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi-backed Yemeni government announced on Thursday that it is willing to restart stalled peace talks with the Shiite Houthis for finding solutions to end the country's years-long conflict.

In a statement released by the state-run Saba news agency, the government agreed and renewed its readiness to actively participate in the UN-sponsored talks with rebels who refused to attend previous talks that collapsed in September.

"The Republic of Yemen welcomes all the ongoing efforts aimed at resuming the peace negotiations," the government's statement published by Saba said.

"The Yemeni government is ready to immediately restart talks on the process of confidence-building measures, particularly the releasing of political detainees as well as those who have been abducted," the statement said.

The government accused the Houthi rebels of "intransigence" and being behind the failure of the previous rounds of peace negotiations and cease-fire periods.

"More than nine previous cease-fires were breached by the Houthis who always attempt to exploit the talks to re-positioning or mobilizing their fighters," according to the statement.

The government offered thanks to the United Nations special envoy Martin Griffiths and declared its full support for his efforts to achieve a long lasting peace in the impoverished Arab country.

Just one day ago, Martin Griffiths welcomed the recent calls for the immediate resumption of the political process and measures to reach a cessation of hostilities in Yemen, according to a statement released by his office.

The UN envoy urged all concerned parties to seize this opportunity to engage constructively with current efforts to swiftly resume political consultations, to agree on a framework for political negotiations and confidence-building measures.

Griffiths announced his commitment to bring the warring Yemeni parties to the negotiation table within a month, stressing that dialogue remains the only path to reach an inclusive agreement in the country.

Meanwhile, new batches of newly-recruited Yemeni troops backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) arrived in Hodeidah and began preparations for a new offensive against Houthis.

Sources on the ground confirmed to Xinhua by phone saying that thousands of well-armed soldiers arrived in Hodeidah and took their positions to attack Houthi-controlled areas in the Red Sea coast city.

"This time the target will be Hodeidah's port and it is obvious that Houthi won't be able to confront such an all-out offensive," said a field army commander.

The Houthis mobilized their forces and vowed to repulse the pro-government forces from advancing towards Hodeidah.

Scores of Houthi fighters were deployed in many key areas, along main roads and inside the residential neighborhoods in Hodeidah, according to local citizens.

A source close to the country's presidency office confirmed that the internationally-backed President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi "decided to take the inescapable decision to liberate Hodeidah by using the military force."

"The peace process will be imposed by military action which is the only available solution now," the source said, adding that "recapturing Hodeidah from the Houthi militias will end the people's suffering there."

The Houthis launched a large military campaign and seized the capital Sanaa in late 2014, forcing Yemen's president and his government to flee into the southern port city of Aden.

Saudi Arabia with other Arab countries intervened militarily and began pounding the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa in March 2015 in response to an official public request.

The internal military conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government recently entered its fourth year, aggravating the suffering of Yemenis and deepening the world's worst humanitarian crisis in the country.

The ongoing fighting between the two warring rivals with daily Saudi-led airstrikes plunged the most impoverished Arab country in the Middle East into more chaos and violence.

Three quarters of the population, or more than 22 million people, urgently require some form of humanitarian help, including 8.4 million people who struggle to find their next meal.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 22:11:18|Editor: mmm

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CAPE TOWN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The South African government on Thursday reiterated support for self-determination and independence of Western Sahara.

"We continue to affirm our solidarity and support for the just struggle of the people of Western Sahara for self-determination and independence," said Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu.

She was speaking after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 2440 which extends the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for the next six months, effective from November 1, 2018.

The UN mission was created to oversee a referendum on self-determination of Western Sahara, which is yet to take place.

"While we note this resolution by the UNSC, we remain concerned that it has taken years for the Saharawi people to attain their independence," Sisulu said.

She expressed hope that the resolution will resuscitate negotiations in Geneva led by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Horst Kohler, based on the long-standing parameters of negotiations that would provide for right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Western Sahara was partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania at the end of Spain's colonial rule in 1976. When Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979, Morocco moved to occupy that sector and asserted administrative control over the whole territory.

Fighting broke out between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front. A cease-fire was signed in 1991. The UN mission was deployed that year to monitor the cease-fire and to organize, if possible, a referendum on self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 22:41:28|Editor: Chengcheng

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BANGKOK, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's ranking in ease of doing business dropped one place to 27th out of 190 economies, according to a World Bank report released on Thursday.

Thailand's Ease of Doing Business (EODB) score, measuring the country's progress toward global best practice, reached 78.45 this year, up from 77.39 last year, according to the World Bank's Doing Business 2019.

"Thailand continues to demonstrate its commitment to improving the business climate for private enterprise. This will help the people of Thailand get better jobs that will lead to improved living conditions. The World Bank looks forward to continuing our support to help the country succeed in adopting global best practices, especially in areas where there is room for improvement," said Mara Warwick, World Bank country director for Thailand, Brunei, Malaysia and Philippines.

Pakorn Nilprapunt, secretary-general of the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission expressed delight of the World Bank report.

"We will continue to oversee and be responsible for ensuring that efforts to improve ease of doing business are implemented rapidly so that public services can increase convenience for doing business and help enhance people's lives," said Pakorn.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 22:46:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KIEV, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The sanctions imposed by Russia on hundreds of Ukrainian individuals and dozens of entities would unlikely affect Ukraine's economic stability, a senior central bank official said on Thursday.

"With the regard to the influence on macroeconomic stability, we believe it would have no impact," Kateryna Rozhkova, first deputy governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, told a press briefing in Kiev.

She said most of the 322 targeted individuals are officials who have no business ties with Russia.

Rozhkova added that the central bank needs time to study the potential impact of the sanctions on the Ukrainian economy.

Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Sergii Verlanov told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that the Ukrainian government will evaluate the economic effect of the restrictive measures within a month.

Earlier in the day, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree to impose sanctions on Ukraine, which include a freezing of assets controlled by the blacklisted individuals and 68 entities in Russia and a ban on the transfer of their funds from Russia.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow have been deteriorating since early 2014 over Crimea and the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. Kiev has since imposed a series of sanctions against Russia.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 22:51:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Xinhua writers Gao Shan, Tan Yixiao

SAIPAN, the United States, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Saipan and other Northern Mariana islands are recovering from the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu, and the international airport is planned for reopen by mid-November, the local governor said Thursday.

"The recovery here was so hard," Ralph DLG Torres, governor of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) told Xinhua, adding that restoring water and electricity was the top priority.

"We've been cleaning a lot of debris from the roads and beaches, making sure our tourists are safe, our locals are safe," he said.

Yutu hit the territory of the United States in the northwestern Pacific ocean on Oct. 24. An official damage assessment earlier this week showed the super typhoon destroyed over 1,000 homes on the 15 CNMI islands, including 779 in the capital Saipan, leaving over 1,000 people homeless. One local woman was killed, while Yutu damaged critical infrastructure on Saipan and Tinian, both major islands.

Many major hotels on Saipan have remained open with independent power and water systems. Demand for hotel rooms is up tremendously as displaced residents vied for accommodations with relief workers.

About 3,200 foreign tourists were stranded on the islands by Yutu, about half of them Chinese. The last group of 80 stranded Chinese tourists left on a flight Tuesday for home.

"Tourism has always been our main revenue here on the islands," which saw an increasing number of tourists in the last two years, said Torres.

The governor said tourism is recovering steadily and rapidly with accelerated assistance from federal agencies. On Wednesday, he announced Nov. 15 as the deadline set to reopen Saipan International Airport.

According to the Marianas Visitors Authority, tourist arrivals totaled some 653,000 in fiscal year 2017, up 30 percent year-on-year.

Torres said, "Last year and this year has seen a continued, gradual increase of Chinese tourists," while noting the building of new Chinese-invested hotels and direct flight services launched as early as 2011.

"We will be ready to welcome Chinese tourists back to our beautiful islands," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 22:51:38|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MALE, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Parliament Speaker of the Maldives Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed on Thursday resigned hours before a no-confidence vote was to be taken against him, local media reported.

Maseeh was to face a no-confidence vote on the floor of the House on Thursday night after a motion, signed by 51 lawmakers, in the 85-member House was brought to the parliament floor last week.

Chief Government Lawmaker Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik told reporters that Maseeh had stepped down on Thursday afternoon.

The no-confidence motion against the parliament speaker was initially filed in July 2017 with the signatures of 45 parliamentarians.

However, the motion failed when 13 lawmakers from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives who signed the motion left the party and the Elections Commission decided that those parliamentarians had lost their parliamentarian seats.

Maseeh faced another no-confidence motion in March 2017 which was defeated after 13 opposition legislators were expelled from the chamber.

Maseeh is a member of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives, led by incumbent President Abdulla Yameen.

He was elected speaker in May 2014 and since then has survived a number of impeachment motions under the Yameen administration, local media reports said.

Maldives held its presidential election on Sept. 23 which resulted in the defeat of Yameen and victory of Joint Opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

According to results released by the Elections Commission, Solih had won the polls after securing 58.3 percent votes, defeating President Yameen.

President-elect Solih will be sworn in on Nov. 17.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 22:56:40|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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NEW DELHI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- India's federal ministry of environment, forest and climate change on Thursday launched a 10-day clean air campaign in the capital Delhi and four places on its outskirts, officials said.

The campaign was launched by federal Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan with the aim to monitor and report polluting activities and to ensure quick action.

The minister flagged off 52 teams that will go to various places of Delhi and national capital region (NCR) to report the incidents of pollution to the concerned enforcing agency.

"These teams will be visiting different parts of Delhi and adjacent towns of Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Noida to proactively and aggressively report the incidents of pollution for the next 10 days," the minister said, adding that the teams will also post reports of the pollution on various social media platforms of Central Pollution Control Board.

Officials said the teams will ensure compliance and take quick action against the cases of violations.

While 44 teams will be deployed for Delhi, eight teams will be deployed in the NCR region.

Harsh Vardhan also dispatched special buses called Pariyayantra to mitigate pollution in the capital city. These buses are equipped with an air filter system as part of a pilot project.

Air pollution continues to worsen in New Delhi and it gets worse during winter months.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 22:56:41|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BUCHAREST, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia may exempt customs duties on vegetables and fruits, as well as wine imported from Moldova from next year, announced the Moldovan presidential press service on Thursday.

According to the release, Moldovan President Igor Dodon, who started Wednesday a two-day visit to Russia, had agreed with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to take joint concrete measures to increase the export of Moldovan goods to the Russian market, including the removal, starting from Jan. 1, 2019, of the customs duties on the export to Russia of fresh or canned vegetables and fruits, as well as wine products.

Moscow imposed an embargo on Moldovan wines in September 2013 and further announced tariffs on up to 19 categories of goods from Moldova, including meat, cereals, sugar, fruits, vegetables and furniture, two months after Moldova, governed by a pro-Western government, had ratified the Association Agreement with the European Union in July 2014.

National statistics cited by official Moldpres news agency showed that Moldova's export to Russia dropped dramatically in recent years, from 423 million U.S. dollars in 2014 to 254 million dollars in 2017.

Dodon, who won the elections and became head of state in December 2016, is widely regarded as a pro-Moscow president in the small country divided between pro-Western and Moscow-backed factions. He had so far no less than six bilateral meetings with his Russian counterpart, according to local media.

The local media believed that Putin's statement is undoubtedly an important support for Dodon, some three months before the parliamentary elections in February next year in Moldova.

According to the release of the presidential press service, Dodon and Putin also agreed in their meeting in Moscow that 2019 will be declared the Year of the Republic of Moldova in the Russian Federation, while 2020 the Year of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Moldova.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 23:01:42|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LONDON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- A committee of leading politicians on Thursday urged the British government to tackle major problems at the country's unsafe prisons, where violence and self-harm are at a record high.

The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee issued its call after an investigation into the state of prisons, which are almost full to capacity with more than 83,000 inmates.

As a result of staff shortages and overcrowding, prisoners have limited access to healthcare and healthy lives.

"A prison sentence is a deprivation of someone's liberty, not a sentence to poorer health or healthcare. However, standards inside England's prisons have deteriorated in recent years, following budget reductions and the loss of prison officers," said the committee in its report.

Chair of the committee Sarah Wollaston said: "We need assurances from government that it will urgently address the very serious situation in prisons with a whole systems approach underpinned by sufficient funding and attention to the prison and healthcare workforce."

The report said the mortality rate of people in prison is 50 percent higher than the general population, reflecting the poor health of prisoners and people in contact with the criminal justice system.

"This is often the result of, or is exacerbated by, early childhood experiences (abuse, neglect and trauma) social circumstances and higher rates of smoking, alcohol and substance misuse," said the report.

The committee says a government program of prison reform should place greater emphasis on health, wellbeing, care and recovery.

"The prison service often fails to learn lessons, even from serious incidents and inspection reports. This is not acceptable," said the committee, adding that every death of a prisoner by suicide must be regarded as preventable," it adds.

It wants the official Care Quality Commission to introduce a rating system in a similar way to the rating of health and care facilities.

The rating should show the extent to which prisons enable prisoners to live healthy lives and should also include not only the quality of health and social care provision in prison, but the extent to which all aspects of prison life allow prisoners to enjoy their fundamental right to health.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 23:16:45|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with a seven-member delegation of U.S. senators and congressmen led by Senator Lamar Alexander in Beijing, capital of China, on Nov. 1, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday called on China and the United States to manage and solve differences via consultation.

Li's remarks came as he met with a seven-member delegation of U.S. senators and congressmen led by Senator Lamar Alexander in Beijing.

China and the U.S. are the biggest developing country and the biggest developed country in the world respectively, and are at different stages of economic development, said Li.

The economies of both countries are highly complementary, and both people benefit from the bilateral cooperation, he said, adding that various problems may occur in the economic and trade cooperation.

"Both sides need to respect each other and give consideration to each other's core interests and major concerns and manage and solve differences via dialogue and consultation on an equal footing," Li told the delegation.

"This not only benefits our two countries but also benefits the whole world," he said.

"Although China and U.S. relations have had their share of ups and downs, generally speaking, they have moved forward in the past four decades," Li said.

Facts show that the sound and stable growth of bilateral relations serves the fundamental interests of the people from China and the U.S., he said.

The two countries need to follow the important consensus reached by the two presidents during their meetings and work together to move China-U.S. ties forward on a sound track, said Li.

He expressed the hope that U.S. senators and congressmen could play a constructive role to the end.

Stressing that China will firmly deepen its reform and further open up to the world, Li said China's development will provide more opportunities and a broader market for other countries.

For his part, Alexander told Li that their visit to China is to "show respect to a great country and great people."

The U.S. and China "are competitors but not adversaries," he said. "We believe with mutual respect we can continue to prosper together."

The U.S. senators and congressmen present at the meeting agreed that there are far more common interests between the two countries than disputes, adding that both countries need to treat problems in the economic and trade area through fair and equal consultations while initiating a trade war is not a way to solve problems.

They voiced the willingness to promote U.S.-China relations and boost mutual understanding and cooperation.

The two sides also exchanged views on bilateral, regional and international issues of common concern.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 23:26:47|Editor: Liangyu

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by Xinhua writers Zhu Ruiqing, Tang Lu

COLOMBO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China-Sri Lanka cooperation in the port industry under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has brought visible benefits to Sri Lanka's port development over the past years.

The cooperation, upgraded from co-management of a single terminal to comprehensive cooperation within the whole port, has helped western Sri Lanka's Colombo port become one of the fastest growing ports in the world.

In 2014, China Merchant Port Holdings (CM Port) and Sri Lanka Ports Authority joined hands to manage the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) in the Colombo port.

Alphaliner, an international rating agency, said in its latest report that the Colombo port was ranked highest in container growth in the first half of 2018, out of the top 30 global ports.

The port recorded a year-on-year growth of 15.6 percent in container handling in January-June of 2018, according to the report.

Sri Lanka's Ports and Shipping Ministry hailed the "significant achievement," saying it is "the first time in history that the Colombo port has reached the top of a global maritime ranking."

Besides its focus on growth, the CICT also lays much emphasis on reducing impact on the environment.

In November 2017, the CICT announced the conversion of all 40 traditional rubber-tired gantry cranes into electrified ones, making the largest green one in South Asia.

As a result, unlike traditional container yards, the container yard of the CICT now produces no loud noises or a pungent odor from the diesel generators.

As part of the China-proposed BRI, the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is designed to go from China's coast to Europe through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean in one route, and from China's coast through the South China Sea to the South Pacific in the other. It's part of China's efforts to promote maritime cooperation, regional inter-connectivity and economic integration.

Also in 2017, CM Port and Sri Lanka Ports embarked on a partnership to co-develop and manage the Hambantota port in the south, only 10 nautical miles from a busy shipping route in the Indian Ocean.

The Hambantota port has been functioning "extremely well," said Chief Operating Officer Tissa Wickramasinghe from the joint-venture Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG).

The officer added that the roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) business, which concerns the loading of vehicles and machinery, is picking up faster than expected.

Last month, the Hambantota port inked its first Terminal Service Agreement (TSA) with K-Line PTE Limited, one of the world's largest RO-RO operators based in Singapore.

The Hambantota port was gearing up to become the leading port in the Indian Ocean, said Ravindra Jayawickreme, CEO of Hambantota International Port Services (HIPS).

The CEO added that with its advantageous location, Hambantota is expected to become the only port in the country capable of handling the full gamut of services in the maritime and logistics area.

"But what was necessary to push this into the limelight was the right partnerships, and this is what CM Port brought to the table," Jayawickreme added.

Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Parakrama Dissanayake said the Colombo port is "currently the trans-shipment hub of South Asia. With the emergence of Hambantota, we envisage establishing Hambantota as an industrial gateway to the Indian sub-continent."

"This is a new dimension that is emerging out of the partnership with CM Port," Parakrama added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 23:36:50|Editor: Liangyu

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BEIRUT, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon will benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative, a Lebanese official said, suggesting the establishment of an arbitration center to solve legal disputes to boost business cooperation.

The Lebanese-Chinese arbitration center is an important measure to facilitate trade between the two sides under the initiative, said Rayan Kouatly, secretary general of the Lebanese Arbitration Center.

The 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.

"The Chinese economy is growing rapidly while Chinese interests are gaining importance in the Arab world and I see an important role for arbitration," Kouatly told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

Arbitration is a way to solve disputes outside the courts, particularly in the context of international commercial transactions. The dispute will be decided by one or more people who are the "arbitrators."

Kouatly explained that some Lebanese businessmen have worries of doing business with China because of little knowledge of the Chinese legal system, no acquaintance with Chinese lawyers or not being able to speak Chinese.

"The only mechanism that would ease those fears down is arbitration which is supposed to be a neutral mechanism in which both parties have faith," he said.

Kouatly said that there will be offices of the center in Beirut and Beijing where Chinese and Lebanese colleagues can create a joint arbitration panel.

The main aim of this center is to look into disputes between Chinese and Arab businessmen, he said, adding that the move will start by signing a cooperation agreement between the chambers of commerce, industry and agriculture of the two countries.

"We need to set rules to agree on arbitrators specialized in those fields, the mediators, a joint board of trustees or a board of directors, and a secretary general in Lebanon and China," he said.

But the first step is to "agree on the idea itself," he added.

Kouatly noted that the idea can also be expanded to Africa where live hundreds of successful Lebanese businessmen.

"This arbitration center would be an excellent bridge between China and Africa," he said, adding that it will cover the Middle East, China and Africa.

Kouatly added that agreements can also be signed by top Chinese and Lebanese law firms to facilitate the access to accredited and reliable lawyers in the two countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 23:36:51|Editor: Chengcheng

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LONDON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) said on Thursday it is investigating British businessman and political donor Arron Banks for alleged offenses committed at the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Arron Banks, co-founder of the Leave.EU campaign, and the campaign's chief executive Elizabeth Bilney are among the individuals under the probe, according to the NCA.

They were referred by the Electoral Commission to the NCA, as there were "reasonable grounds" to suspect that Banks was not the true source of 8 million pounds in loans made to the "Better for the Country" Organization, which ran his group Leave.EU.

The NCA said electoral law offenses would not routinely fall within its remit, but the "nature" of the necessary inquiries and "the potential for offenses to have been committed other than under electoral law" led it to consider an investigation.

"This is now a live investigation, and we are unable to discuss any operational detail," said the NCA.

Local media reported Banks denied any wrongdoing and said he welcomed the investigation.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 23:41:52|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan said Thursday that Indian forces have killed a civilian along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kashmir region.

The Foreign Ministry said the Indian forces fired along the LoC in Leepa Sector, resulting in the death of an 18-year old innocent civilian in Bijildar village.

The Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh was also summoned to the Foreign Ministry and protest was lodged over the "unprovoked ceasefire violations" by the Indian forces, a statement said.

"The Indian forces along the Line of Control and the Working boundary are continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons," the statement said.

Giving update on the cross-border firing, the Foreign Ministry said in 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 2300 "ceasefire violations" along the LoC and the Working Boundary, resulting in the deaths of 34 civilians, while injuring 135 others.

"This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations," according to the statement.

Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire along the LoC and the working boundary in 2003. Both, however, routinely accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.

The Director General of South Asia and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) desk at the Foreign Ministry, Mohammad Faisal, who summoned the Indian diplomat, said the "deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws."

The director general urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary.

He stressed that the Indian side should permit UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 23:46:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Shi Song, Justice Lee Adoboe

ACCRA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- For Ghana's exporters, the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) in early November offers a good opportunity to enhance trade ties with China.

Joseph Boahen Aidoo, CEO of Ghana's cocoa industry regulator Cocoa Board, expressed hope that the fair would open a new chapter in the western African country's cocoa exports.

"We are very hopeful that China's consumption of cocoa per capita will grow, therefore we have made inroads to China," Aidoo said.

Behind Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana is the second-largest cocoa exporter in the world. The government and planners have decided to make cocoa the leading product at the Ghana pavilion at the CIIE, which is scheduled for Nov. 5-10 in Shanghai.

"We believe that we can expand our market horizon in China. We are talking about 1.3 billion people, and even if we can get 1 percent of that market, it is very huge. So everybody is looking to China," Aidoo noted.

The CIIE offers Ghana an opportunity to showcase its cocoa as the leading product for the Chinese market, he added.

Data showed two-way trade between Ghana and China grew 12 percent to 6.7 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2017, up from 5.98 billion dollars in the previous year.

Among Ghana's exhibitors at the CIIE, the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) produces chocolate bars and a variety of chocolate powders, including the type for sugar-free cocoa drinks of natural taste.

"We want to enter the big market. We are getting into some of the institutions where we will get e-commerce and some satellite shops so that we can project ourselves," Nana Agyenim Boateng, the company's managing director, told Xinhua.

All its products for the CIIE show are expected to arrive in Shanghai before November, Boateng said. "It is going to be huge. Before we get back in November, we would have sealed all our agreements and moved on from there," he added.

Ebo Quaison, head of export at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, noted that Ghana is among the African countries invited to set up country pavilions at the CIIE.

"We are going to showcase cocoa and cocoa-related products as the lead, although we are going with over 50 different products," Quaison added.

"Unlike other fairs elsewhere where the visitors and locals compete for space and opportunities together, this very expo is different in nature," Quaison observed. "It is the first China International Import Expo, so the focus is on imports into the Chinese economy."

One major attraction at the Ghana pavilion will be a miniature farm intended to show what a cocoa farm really looks like for a better understanding of how cocoa beans are produced.

In Ghana, there are currently some 800,000 cocoa farmers. According to cocoa farmer Kwame Boateng, farmers like him believe the Shanghai CIIE could be an opportunity for Ghana to bring changes to its traditional market.

In their eyes, Boateng said, Ghana's producer price of cocoa beans has been under pressure since 2016 by international market pricing.

It is the Ghanian farmers' hope that the upcoming CIIE could help Ghana export more cocoa beans to China, he said, in addition to the old markets such as the United States, France and the Netherlands.

"At least there will be competition in the export destinations for the cocoa beans," he said.

Alongside the exhibition, the Ghanaian delegation will also organize a Ghana Trade and Business Forum in Shanghai, which partly features an introduction to Ghana's industrial transformation program.

"All in all, we are good to go," Quaison said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-01 23:56:56|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) holds talks El Salvador's President Salvador Sanchez Ceren at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on Nov. 1, 2018. Before the talks, Xi held a welcome ceremony for the El Salvador's president. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping held talks with El Salvador's President Salvador Sanchez Ceren in Beijing Thursday, urging the two sides to consolidate a basis for mutually-beneficial cooperation.

Xi welcomed Sanchez's visit to China and his attendance at the first China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai next week.

China and El Salvador established diplomatic ties on Aug. 21 this year. Xi said the two countries have opened up a new chapter of relations ever since.

The Chinese people highly appreciate Sanchez, who has significantly contributed to the bilateral ties by making a right and historic decision with strategic vision, political courage and a sense of responsibility, Xi said.

"The decision to establish and develop diplomatic ties with each other was independently made by the two sovereign states," Xi said. "It is consistent with the international laws and purposes of the UN Charter and reflects such principles as mutual respect, equal treatment, mutual benefits and common development."

"Within slightly more than two months after China and El Salvador forged diplomatic ties, bilateral exchanges have progressed rapidly in various fields with strong vitality and robust momentum," Xi said, adding that this convincingly demonstrates the decision follows the trend of history and is in the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries.

"China is willing to join hands with El Salvador to promote friendly cooperation in a speedy yet steady manner, so as to benefit the two peoples," the Chinese president said.

The two countries are faced with key tasks of mapping out cooperation direction as their diplomatic ties are still at an early stage, Xi said, urging both sides to firmly adhere to the one-China principle, which serves as a foundation in bilateral ties.

Stressing the importance of mutual understanding and trust, he called for more governance experience sharing, cooperation in local areas and exchanges between the two countries' political parties, legislative bodies and social organizations.

"The two sides should boost pragmatic cooperation in various areas, improve cooperative mechanisms, take the joint construction of the Belt and Road as guidance and transform complementary advantages into cooperation results in all aspects," Xi noted.

Saying China welcomes El Salvador to expand its export, Xi promised China will take measures to ease El Salvador products' access into the Chinese market.

"The Chinese side will cooperate with El Salvador in infrastructure in a government-guided, enterprise-led, market-based and mutually-beneficial way," he stressed, adding that capable Chinese enterprises are encouraged to invest in El Salvador and get more involved in its local society, premised upon legal, compliant and honest operation.

"People-to-people exchanges will be made a priority in the hope of benefiting both sides," Xi said.

He said China will support El Salvador in education, medical care, water supply and disaster prevention, increase scholarship quotas to El Salvador students, intensify bilateral cooperation in human resources training and list El Salvador as a destination for Chinese group tourists.

The Chinese president also called on the two countries to enhance coordination in international and regional affairs, jointly safeguard multilateralism and further advance China's ties with Latin American and Caribbean countries.

For his part, Sanchez said establishing diplomatic ties with China is a "long-cherished hope" of El Salvador.

He promised El Salvador acknowledges and firmly adheres to the one-China principle.

"The two countries have identical positions on many issues, and the development of bilateral relations is based on mutual respect and trust," Sanchez said.

"My visit has fully demonstrated El Salvador's confidence in advancing ties with China," he added.

Hailing China's remarkable achievements since reform and opening-up, Sanchez said El Salvador also strives to improve economic and social development and people's living standards.

"China is our partner in the path of development," Sanchez emphasized.

Viewing the upcoming China International Import Expo as "a good platform to introduce El Salvador products," Sanchez said his country welcomes Chinese investment and is willing to strengthen cooperation in areas including trade, agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, medical care, education, finance, science and technology.

He also voiced El Salvador's interest in participating in the construction of the Belt and Road.

Sanchez thanked China for its timely food aid after the drought in El Salvador not long ago.

El Salvador appreciates China's commitment to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity and stands ready to enhance political dialogue with China, and push for cooperation within such multilateral frameworks as the UN and the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, Sanchez said.

The two heads of state witnessed the signing of a series of documents on cooperation after the talks. Prior to the talks, Xi held a red-carpet ceremony to welcome Sanchez.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 00:01:57|Editor: Chengcheng

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MOSCOW/KIEV, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia-Ukraine relations have soured for years and could further deteriorate after Moscow rolled out large-scale economic sanctions against Kiev on Thursday.

The sanctions, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin last month, include freezing non-cash funds, uncertificated securities and property controlled by the blacklisted in Russia and banning their withdrawal of capital from Russia, according to a decree singed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday.

"The decree is aimed at countering unfriendly actions against Russian citizens and legal entities on the part of Ukraine and at lifting restrictions imposed earlier by the Ukrainian side on these persons, as well as normalizing bilateral relations," said a government statement.

The sanctions target Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's elder son Olexiy, Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy, key ministers and important businessmen.

The blacklist also includes EastOne Group and Toledo Mining Corporation registered in Britain and Ferrexpo registered in Switzerland.

The Russian government said it could lift the sanctions if Ukraine cancels its own restrictive measures against Russia.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow have been deteriorating since early 2014 over Crimea and armed conflicts in eastern Ukraine. Kiev has imposed a series of sanctions against Russia since then.

According to Russian media, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on Russia since 2014, affecting 1,228 people and 468 entities, including officials, businessmen and media outlets.

"Russia is not the initiator of such an exchange of restrictions, but it is a necessary measure. It is a response to the steps that were taken by the Ukrainian side," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a daily briefing.

At a joint press conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kiev, Poroshenko said that Russia sanctioned "a list of very worthy people" and the restrictions are an "evidence of the unconstructive position of Russia."

The Russian sanctions will unlikely affect Ukraine's macroeconomic stability as most of the targeted individuals are officials and they have no business ties with Russia, said Kateryna Rozhkova, first deputy governor of the National Bank of Ukraine.

Russian political analyst Maxim Zharov said the sanctions were too late and the Ukrainian side may have braced themselves and withdrawn capital from Russia.

"Therefore, there will be some effect from such sanctions, but there is no reason to hope for any serious changes in Kiev's policy towards Donbass," Zharov said.

However, Mikhail Belyaev, chief expert of Russia's Financial and Economic Analytics Agency, said the measures will "painfully" affect the economy of Ukraine and drive it into a more difficult situation.

"When it comes to the withdrawal of capital, some suspicious transactions, in this case, the restrictions should be used against the unfriendly actions of Ukrainian companies and individuals, which oppose Russia most fiercely," he said.

Ukraine is experiencing tough economic times and there is no visible sign that this situation will be remedied in the near future, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 00:01:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The suspect charged with killing 11 people at a synagogue in the U.S. city of Pittsburgh pleaded not guilty on Thursday, according to records of court proceedings.

The suspect, Robert Bowers, has requested a jury trial to determine whether he is guilty of the 44-count indictment pressed against him by prosecutors Wednesday. The charges included "use and discharge of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence," among others.

The U.S. Department of Justice said Bowers faces a maximum possible penalty of death, or life without parole, followed by a consecutive sentence of 535 years' imprisonment.

According to Bowers' indictment, the 46-year-old truck driver drove to the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh Saturday morning and opened fire on the congregation. Bowers surrendered himself to police after the attack and was taken into custody.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 00:11:59|Editor: Chengcheng

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Women mourn their lost loved ones, who were killed during the violent clashes between members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the security forces in Abuja on Saturday, during a burial ceremony in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, Oct. 31, 2018. A march for the release of the Movement's leader turned violent in Abuja when protesters pelted troops on Saturday. The riotous situation continued on Monday as government forces prevented protesters from gaining entry into Abuja. (Xinhua/Olatunji Obasa)

by Olatunji Saliu

ABUJA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Security has been beefed up in the Nigerian capital city of Abuja following recent skirmishes between government forces and hundreds of protesters.

Heavily armed security operatives were seen manning the major roads in the city center, as well as entry and exit routes of Abuja on Thursday, including the road leading to the national parliament and the government secretariat.

Some siren-blaring police vehicles patrolled parts of the capital city to ensure normalcy and free movement of people and goods.

Patrol vehicles of the police were placed in some strategic areas and places where protests were held since last weekend.

A march for the release of a religious leader turned violent in Abuja when protesters pelted troops Saturday. The riotous situation disrupted activities in the outskirts of Abuja for several hours.

The army confirmed three protesters were shot dead during that fracas. Other sources, however, said up to six protesters were killed and many others wounded.

The riotous situation continued on Monday as government forces prevented protesters from gaining entry into Abuja. Road users spent several hours in traffic as protesters and security operatives clashed again Monday evening near highbrow Asokoro, where the presidential palace is located.

The Nigerian army confirmed three more protesters were killed after the clash on Monday.

On Tuesday, a police patrol car was burned as protesters clashed with police in the central business district of Abuja.

The Shi'ites, also known as members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, had embarked on the protest to demand the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who was arrested and kept in secret police custody since December 2015, after some of his followers clashed with soldiers in the northern state of Kaduna.

In 2016, a public inquiry report by the state government of Kaduna revealed that 347 Shi'ites were killed when they clashed with the army.

Responding to the recent clashes, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday directed the minister of the Federal Capital Territory to take charge of the situation by constituting a security council to manage the situation.

Nigeria's police chief Ibrahim Idris said 400 protesters have been arrested so far.

"You know that when we make arrests, the next thing is to take them before the law courts," Idris said.

Protesters have vowed not to stop taking to the streets until their religious leader is released from detention.

In a telephone interview with Xinhua, Abdullahi Musa, a spokesman for the Shi'ites, alleged that 40 protesters were killed during the clashes with government forces between Saturday and Tuesday.

According to Musa, 21 protesters were buried on Wednesday.

"Twelve other bodies are with the army. We have started recovering some other bodies in parts of Abuja," he said.

The spokesman also alleged that 1,000 of their members were missing following the clashes with government forces.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 00:16:59|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KAMPALA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has dispatched a contingent of 219 troops and civilians for a two-week joint East African Community Field Training Exercise (EAC-FTX) in Tanzania, a military spokesperson said on Thursday.

Lt. Col. Deo Akiiki, Uganda's deputy military spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that 163 soldiers, 37 police officers, two prisons officers and 17 civilian personnel will participate in the 11th field training exercise, dubbed "FTX USHIRIKINO IMARA" in Tanga region.

Akiiki said the exercise, which attracts over 1,000 troops and civilians from the six EAC partner states, is designed based on peace support operations, disaster management, counter terrorism and counter piracy themes.

"The aim of the exercise is to jointly train and exercise the military, the police and civilian components from the six participating EAC partner states on joint planning and conduct of operations necessary to resolve arising crisis," said Akiiki.

The troops are drawn from Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Tanzania.

The Ugandan team led by Brig. James Ruhensi was flagged off by Lt. Gen. Wilson Mbadi, deputy Chief of Defenses Forces on Wednesday at the Gadaffi military cantonment headquarters in the eastern town of Jinja.

The participants are expected to enhance the state of readiness of the partner states' armed forces, police, civilian components and other stakeholders in response to complex and multidimensional security challenges in the region.

It will also strengthen cooperation, integration agenda, planning and conduct of public affairs in support of operations among EAC partner states.

The field training exercise was established in 2004 to train forces within EAC member states as a means of demonstrating compatibility and readiness to deploy in peace support operations, basing on past experiences of conflicts in Africa, such as the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 00:27:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Pak-Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) decided on Thursday to increase the prices of its car variants in the wake of the latest depreciation in the value of Pakistani rupee (PKR) against U.S. dollar.

This is the fifth round of price adjustment this year due to the PKR devaluation, the company said in an announcement.

The company stated that the prices of its different variants including Cultus, Swift, and Wagon-R were increased by 40,000 Pakistani rupees. However, the automaker didn't raise the price of Ravi, Bolan, and Mehran due to the down-trodden sales of these variants.

After the latest round of price increase, the rates of Suzuki Wagon-R VXR were lifted to 1,184,000 Pakistani rupees, Suzuki Wagon-R VXL to 1,274,000 Pakistani rupees, Suzuki Swift DLX to 1,515,000 Pakistani rupees, Suzuki Swift AT to 1,611,000 Pakistani rupees, Suzuki Cultus VXR to 1,380,000 Pakistani rupees, Suzuki Cultus VXL to 1,501,000 Pakistani rupees, and Suzuki Cultus AGS to 1,608,000 Pakistani rupees.

Three major stakeholders of Pakistan's auto industry, including Atlas Honda, Pak-Suzuki, and Indus Motors, have elevated their vehicles' prices more than thrice to overcome the effects of the rising cost of manufacturing and importing cars after the value of Pakistani rupee depreciated against greenback drastically since December last year.

The Pak-Suzuki Motor Company has already raised prices of Mehran, Bolan, and Ravi by 15 percent, 11 percent, and 9 percent respectively this year, whereas prices of Wagon-R were increased by 12-16 percent. However, the sales of Mehran, Bolan, and Ravi have slumped by 23 percent, 21 percent and 34 percent respectively during the July-September quarter this year.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 00:32:04|Editor: Yang Yi

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Chocolates made in Ghana are seen at a supermarket in Accra, Ghana, on Oct. 25, 2018. Niche Cocoa, a wholly-owned private Ghanaian cocoa processing company located in the Free Zones enclave in Tema, 25 km east of the capital Accra, looks forward to the opportunity to showcase the best of its products to the Chinese market. (Xinhua/Zhao Shuting)

by Justice Lee Adoboe

TEMA, Ghana, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- As Ghana prepares to showcase the best of its traditional and nontraditional export products at the 2018 China International Import Expo (CIIE) running from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, one local company has said it will take advantage of the event to expand its export to China.

Niche Cocoa, a wholly-owned private Ghanaian cocoa processing company located in the Free Zones enclave in Tema, 25 km east of the capital Accra, looks forward to the opportunity to showcase the best of its products to the Chinese market.

Speaking to Xinhua here at the factory, Francis Kangah, Quality Control Manager of Niche, said the company that was established in May 2011 exports its processed cocoa products in the form of liquor (paste) and butter to its major destination markets in Europe, including Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Russia.

However Kangah said the Chinese market was emerging strongly compared to Europe, and the company has also started exporting its cocoa cake and powder to China, with promising prospects.

"We started exporting to China about three years ago, where we send mostly cake and powder with a growing demand," he said, adding the company currently exports about 40 percent of cocoa cake and powder to China.

In order to add more value to cocoa, Niche commissioned its own confectionery plant and started producing Niche Chocolate made from authentic Ghanaian cocoa beans in 2017.

The plant was initially intended to serve the Ghanaian market with another brand of Ghanaian chocolates, the Golden Tree that is produced by state-owned Cocoa Processing Company.

With the trend of growth and significant increase in exports of cake and powder to China in recent years, Niche envisages a boom in demand in the near future.

"The shipment is actually growing as far as China is concerned," he said, expressing the belief that China would ultimately become a big market for Niche chocolates.

It has been the strategy of government of Ghana to increase the local processing of cocoa to at least 50 percent of total annual beans production in the medium term.

"If China starts importing chocolate from Ghana, that will actually enhance value addition to cocoa." he said, adding that the CIIE has presented the West African country a great opportunity to showcases its brand chocolate made from authentic Ghanaian cocoa beans.

"The opportunity to export to China, I believe is going to be a good business for us. The chocolate itself tastes very good, and it is chocolate coming from the best cocoa beans in the world," he said.

Kangah therefore expressed the hope that during the fair, the company would be able to meet with buyers who are interested in Ghana's cocoa which is the benchmark beans globally.

Kangah said the company has been seeking to establish a subsidiary in China so as to bring the company and its products closer to consumers in that market. "The expo therefore will present that great opportunity to fulfill this dream." he said.

For a long time, cocoa has remained the lifeline of Ghana's economy as a key source of employment for 800,000 farmers and other cocoa sector workers. It is also a major source of foreign exchange earnings.

With more than 900,000 metric tons of beans produced during the 2017/2018 crop year, the country was able to secure 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in selling the crops.

However, apart from the state-owned Cocoa Processing Company, there has not been much attempt to grind the cocoa beans locally over the years due to limited processing capacity, let alone transform them into finished products.

The country has therefore remained largely an exporter of raw cocoa beans, with only around 20 percent of its cocoa beans processed locally.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 00:42:06|Editor: mym

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BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday held a telephone conversation, speaking of bilateral trade and the Korean Peninsula issue while agreeing to meet bilaterally during the upcoming G20 summit in Argentina.

Trump said during the conversation that he looks forward to meeting Xi during the G20 summit so that they can have an in-depth discussion about some major issues.

The U.S. president added that he hopes their two countries will make joint efforts to prepare for the meeting.

The United States attaches importance to U.S.-China economic and trade cooperation and would like to continue to expand export to China, he said, adding that the economic teams from the two sides need to enhance exchanges and consultations.

Trump also voiced his support for the China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held from Nov. 5-10 in Shanghai, which is the first of its kind in China.

It is very important for the heads of state of the United Stats and China to keep frequent, direct communication, Trump said, and he and Xi should keep in touch with each other. Trump also said he attaches importance to a good relationship with Xi and is willing to extend, through Xi, his good wishes to the Chinese people.

In the telephone conversation held at the invitation of Trump, Xi said he is glad to talk with Trump over phone. And he also attaches importance to a good relationship with Trump.

Xi said he is willing to meet Trump during the G20 summit in Argentina and further exchange views on bilateral ties and other major issues.

Xi said both he and Trump have good visions for a healthy, stable development of the China-U.S. relations as well as expanding economic and trade cooperation, and they should make efforts to realize the wishes.

Xi noted in the conversation that China has repeatedly made clear its stance on bilateral ties, and hopes that both countries will promote a healthy, stable development of bilateral ties in accordance with the important consensuses reached between him and Trump.

The essence of the China-U.S. cooperation on economy and trade, said the Chinese president, is mutual benefits and win-win results.

The two sides have disagreed on trade issues for some time, Xi noted, saying that it has caused a negative impact on the relevant industries in both countries as well as on the global trade. This is not what China wants to see, said the Chinese president.

The upcoming CIIE has shown China's willingness to increase import and further expand its opening-up, Xi said, adding that he is glad to see many U.S. companies enthusiastically participate in the event.

There were successful examples in the past that China and the United States solved their trade differences through coordinated cooperation, said Xi, urging the economic teams of the two countries to increase their contacts and conduct consultations over issues of mutual concern so as to reach an agreement which is acceptable for both sides.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Xi emphasized that since the beginning of this year, the Korean Peninsula situation has undergone positive changes.

China appreciates the historic meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which promotes denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue, said Xi.

China hopes that the United States and the DPRK take care of each other's concerns and further advance the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in parallel with the building of a peace mechanism on the peninsula, Xi said, adding that China will continue to play a constructive role.

Trump said that since the beginning of this year, talks between the United States and the DPRK have made positive progress.

The U.S. side attaches great importance to China's important role in the Korean Peninsula issue and is willing to continue to strengthen communication and coordination with China, he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 00:47:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JERUSALEM, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Israel's largest workers union Histadrut announced Thursday that it will launch a general strike starting Wednesday, after 37 workers were killed at construction sites since the beginning of 2018.

In addition to the 37 fatalities, 154 people have been injured at Israeli construction sites this year, 38 of them seriously wounded.

All government ministries, local authorities, banks, firefighting and rescue services, the Israel Airports Authority and all the organized employers in the private sector are expected to take part in the strike.

The Histadrut demands that the European standard for scaffolding be made binding, as well as enforcing the obligation to wear a harness, regulating levers and applying a binding safety appendix to the state's tenders.

Avi Nissenkorn, chairman of the Histadrut, said at an urgent conference held in the coastal city of Tel Aviv that "if there is no solution, there will be a tough strike, because people's lives can't be compromised."

The declaration of the strike was preceded by the Histadrut chairman's requests to the government and employers demanding to reach a comprehensive arrangement that would regulate the issue.
A combination of file photos show Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko.

MOSCOW/KIEV, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia-Ukraine relations have soured for years and could further deteriorate after Moscow rolled out large-scale economic sanctions against Kiev on Thursday.

The sanctions, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin last month, include freezing non-cash funds, uncertificated securities and property controlled by the blacklisted in Russia and banning their withdrawal of capital from Russia, according to a decree singed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday.

"The decree is aimed at countering unfriendly actions against Russian citizens and legal entities on the part of Ukraine and at lifting restrictions imposed earlier by the Ukrainian side on these persons, as well as normalizing bilateral relations," said a government statement.

The sanctions target Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's elder son Olexiy, Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy, key ministers and important businessmen.

The blacklist also includes EastOne Group and Toledo Mining Corporation registered in Britain and Ferrexpo registered in Switzerland.

The Russian government said it could lift the sanctions if Ukraine cancels its own restrictive measures against Russia.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow have been deteriorating since early 2014 over Crimea and armed conflicts in eastern Ukraine. Kiev has imposed a series of sanctions against Russia since then.

According to Russian media, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on Russia since 2014, affecting 1,228 people and 468 entities, including officials, businessmen and media outlets.

"Russia is not the initiator of such an exchange of restrictions, but it is a necessary measure. It is a response to the steps that were taken by the Ukrainian side," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a daily briefing.

At a joint press conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kiev, Poroshenko said that Russia sanctioned "a list of very worthy people" and the restrictions are an "evidence of the unconstructive position of Russia."

The Russian sanctions will unlikely affect Ukraine's macroeconomic stability as most of the targeted individuals are officials and they have no business ties with Russia, said Kateryna Rozhkova, first deputy governor of the National Bank of Ukraine.

Russian political analyst Maxim Zharov said the sanctions were too late and the Ukrainian side may have braced themselves and withdrawn capital from Russia.

"Therefore, there will be some effect from such sanctions, but there is no reason to hope for any serious changes in Kiev's policy towards Donbass," Zharov said.

However, Mikhail Belyaev, chief expert of Russia's Financial and Economic Analytics Agency, said the measures will "painfully" affect the economy of Ukraine and drive it into a more difficult situation.

"When it comes to the withdrawal of capital, some suspicious transactions, in this case, the restrictions should be used against the unfriendly actions of Ukrainian companies and individuals, which oppose Russia most fiercely," he said.

Ukraine is experiencing tough economic times and there is no visible sign that this situation will be remedied in the near future, he said.
Photo taken on Oct. 29, 2018 shows fresh oysters at Tetelestai, an oyster producing company, in Namibia's coastal town Walvis Bay. (Xinhua/Shi Liwei)

WINDHOEK, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- As China becomes Namibia's biggest export market, local-based enterprises in Namibia are at the helm of the increased trade volumes.

The dawn of light has just arrived over Namibia's coastal town Walvis Bay. At Tetelestai, an oyster producing company, supervisor Rino Katjingisiua was monitoring the growth and quality of Pacific oysters. The oysters are predestined for China amongst other markets.

"I have to ensure the oysters are worked on time," said 36-year-old Katjingisiua, inspecting the farm produce.

Established in 2006, to-date, Tetelestai specializes in growing Pacific oysters, trading in both fresh and frozen products.

Photo taken on Oct. 29, 2018 shows packaged oysters at Tetelestai, an oyster producing company, in Namibia's coastal town Walvis Bay. (Xinhua/Shi Liwei)

"At the moment, we concentrate on growing Pacific oysters from juvenile stage (around 30 grams) up to market size, which is between 40g and 150g," Koos Blaauw, co-owner and managing director of Tetelestai told Xinhua in a recent interview.

According to Blaauw, the markets for fresh live oysters are mainly Chinese destinations including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai as well as Hong Kong.

On average, export volumes of Tetelestai brand products to China range between 20,000 to 40,000 units per month.

Statistics in June by Namibia Statistics Agency shows that China has become Namibia's biggest export market, surpassing countries like South Africa whom Namibia previously traded with extensively.

Workers transport oysters at Tetelestai, an oyster producing company, in Namibia's coastal town Walvis Bay on Oct. 30, 2018. (Xinhua/Shi Liwei)

The Namibian-based enterprise counts on its bountiful Pacific oysters in penetrating the Chinese market, to where they export the majority of the locally cultivated oyster products.

"We had a market from the start, but it is only recently that the demand increased as word spread about Namibia and the quality of our oysters," Blaauw said.

According to him, the Chinese market has created opportunities for the business.

"We have a low population in Namibia, and the local market cannot consume so much. So as one of our main export markets, it has assisted us in expanding and stabilizing our business. Also, as we get more Chinese people visiting or working in Namibia, news about our name and the quality of our oysters is spreading and increases our sales in return," he added.

Partnering with Beijing Hi-Technology Energy Investments (Pty) Ltd has also been instrumental in expanding trade.

"It assists us in better understanding the Asian market and also helps to break down language and trade barriers," according to Blaauw.

A worker cleans oysters at Tetelestai, an oyster producing company, in Namibia's coastal town Walvis Bay on Oct. 30, 2018.(Xinhua/Shi Liwei)

With the recent trade developments between Namibia and China, the company projects that the market share and demand for oysters may increase. The new partnership is also envisaged to yield growth.

"Even though still in the early stages of the partnership, we expect the surge in market share to increase job opportunities in the company as well as lead to training and more experience for our employees in different fields," Blaauw said.

Employees like Katjingisiua are hopeful that human resource development opportunities will further nurture their professional skills.

"I plan to do the best I can at my current job and to improve myself further," said an optimistic Katjingisiua.

Workers weighs oysters at Tetelestai, an oyster producing company, in Namibia's coastal town Walvis Bay on Oct. 30, 2018. (Xinhua/Shi Liwei)

Meanwhile, plans are underway to expand the farm to produce a higher output of Pacific oyster over the next year. "After that, we will also look at farming other species aimed at the Asian market," said Blaauw.

Moreover, apart from penetrating the Chinese market, Blaauw said that the company is also set to increase export volumes.

"We are now also registered with the Russian authorities and plan to export to Russia soon. For frozen oysters, we mainly export to South Africa. Then we also supply most of the local market in Namibia," he said.

Although the company faces challenges such as distance and high transportation cost in exporting to the Asian market and an import levy on oysters from Namibia into China (assessed at 18 percent), Blaauw said the enterprise is committed to increasing their market share in the Asian market.

"Our aim is to be recognized by the Asian market as one of the top-quality oyster producers in the world," he said.

The company currently employs 21 staff members, comprising two staff members in administration and office, two supervisors and the employees working on the oysters daily and harvest it for the market.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 01:17:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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RIGA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Latvia's outgoing parliament, which convened for its last session on Thursday, passed in the final reading amendments to the labor law allowing employers to reduce overtime pay in sectors where the minimum hourly wage is substantially increased under general collective agreements, parliamentary spokesperson informed.

According to the new regulation, in the sectors where employees have concluded general collective agreements, the hourly overtime pay will have to make up at least 150 percent of the standard hourly wage. In sectors without such collective agreements employees will be entitled to an overtime pay that is twice as high as their standard hourly wages.

In line with the Latvian labor law, for a general collective agreement to come into effect it has to be concluded by companies employing more than 50 percent of people working in the given industry or whose turnover exceeds 50 percent of the industry's turnover.

Such a general collective agreement applies to all employers and employees working in the respective industry.

The Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), however, strongly criticized the new regulation and warned that it might be disputed in the Constitutional Court.

The LCCI had proposed paying 150 percent of the standard hourly wage for the first two overtime hours in all sectors of the economy, including those without the collective agreements, but that proposal was rejected.
File Photo: Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez speaks at the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, Oct. 27, 2015. The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution, calling for ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday adopted a non-binding resolution calling for lifting the United States embargo against Cuba.

The draft resolution, tabled by Cuba, received 189 votes in favor and two against at the 193-member General Assembly.

"The blockade is a flagrant, massive and systematic violation of the human rights of Cuban men and women and has been an essential impediment to the aspirations of the wellbeing and prosperity entertained by several generations," Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said in his speech delivered before the voting.

"The quantifiable damages accumulated as a result of the blockade after almost six decades of its implementation amount to 933.7 billion U.S. dollars," he said.

Noting that the U.S. government "does not have the least moral authority" for criticizing Cuba or anyone else with regards to human rights, the Cuban foreign minister said that "we reject the repeated manipulation of human rights with political purposes as well as the double standards that characterize it."

The day's vote marked the 27th consecutive year in which Havana has tabled the resolution.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 03:18:01|Editor: Chengcheng

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VALLETTA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Malta is considering granting citizenship to robots, Digital Economy and Innovation Parliamentary Secretary Silvio Schembri said on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference launching Malta's national AI (Artificial Intelligence) strategy, Schembri said that after having enacted a holistic framework regulating distributed ledger technologies, Malta was now looking to do the same with AI.

Malta will launch its National AI strategy in 2019. Schembri unveiled a new vision for Artificial Intelligence.

"We aim to be among the ten countries in the world with a national AI strategy," he said.

"We still need to see how it will work," head of the AI task force Wayne Grixti added.

Unlike Saudi Arabia, which was the first country in the world to grant citizenship to a robot, granting citizenship for robots in Malta will also grant them access to the European Union, Grixti said.

Sophia, a social humanoid robot which was activated in 2016, was present at the conference. Developed by SingularityNET, Sophia was granted citizenship by Saudi Arabia in October 2017.

The Maltese authorities will explore a pilot project to create a citizenship test for AI Robots with SingularityNET.

The Maltese government's objective was to understand how AI could be applied to provide better services to citizens, with other possible applications being intelligent traffic management on the island's congested roads.

Schembri said that the government wanted to create a centre of research, development and application of AI.

"We want to adopt a holistic approach that will become a sustainable engine for growth," Schembri added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 03:38:11|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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GENEVA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The UN rights office said Thursday the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, is to undertake a human rights fact-finding visit to the United Kingdom to investigate government efforts to eradicate poverty.

Alston will visit the UK from Nov. 5 to 16, the office said in a press release.

"The United Kingdom is one of the richest countries in the world, but millions of people are still living in poverty there," said Alston.

He has been designated by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to monitor, report and advise on extreme poverty and its intersection with human rights.

"I have received hundreds of submissions that make clear many people are really struggling to make ends meet," he noted.

During his two-week visit, the Special Rapporteur will travel to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. He will meet with government officials, including at the devolved and local level, to discuss efforts to eradicate poverty.

He will also meet with individuals affected by poverty to hear about their experiences and with civil society organizations working on poverty and human rights, academics, and national human rights institutions.

Among the topics the Special Rapporteur will address include the rollout of Universal Credit, child poverty, and the implications of on poverty of Brexit.

He will also examine the effects of austerity measures to reign in budget spending, including changes to benefits and to local government funding.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 03:38:11|Editor: Chengcheng

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Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed (R) meets with Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok in Tunis, capital of Tunisia, on Nov. 1, 2018. (Xinhua/Adele Ezzine)

TUNIS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia will benefit from a fund of 2.8 billion euros (3.19 billion U.S. dollars) from the Netherlands to fight against terrorism and extremism, Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok announced here on Thursday.

On an official visit to Tunisia at the invitation of his Tunisian counterpart Khemaies Jhinaoui, Blok reiterated his country's willingness to support Tunisia in various areas including agriculture, economy, transportation, security, trade and technology.

Blok assured that his country is willing to support the Tunisian leadership throughout the next stage in order to achieve its economic recovery, regional development, reduction of unemployment rate and the amortization of regional disparities.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 03:48:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's newly-appointed Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik chaired the first meeting of his cabinet members in Aden province on Thursday, and vowed to resume oil exports from new fields in the next days.

The state-run Saba news agency reported that the prime minister said during his first ministerial meeting that his government is going to work in forthcoming period on resuming oil production, refining and exporting from new oil fields.

Most of the meeting time was devoted to reviewing plans to handle the deteriorating economic situation, improving services and reconstructing what have been damaged during the war or by natural disasters, Saba said.

The prime minister stated that the government's top priority is managing the economic challenges by bringing relative economic stability in light of the donations provided by Saudi Arabia-led coalition, according to Saba.

On Oct. 15, Abdulmalik was appointed as prime minister by Yemen's President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, replacing his sacked predecessor Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr.

Hadi sacked Daghr over sharp economic crisis and currency slump, and referred him to investigation over "carelessness and failure" of his government.

The southern port city of Aden, where Yemen's government is temporarily based, has been suffering from frequent power outages and lack of basic services including water, leading to public anger against the local authorities.

The impoverished Arab country has been locked into a civil war since the Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in late 2014.
A migrant woman, part of a caravan traveling to the U.S., cools the head of a child after crossing the Suchiate river, a natural border between Guatemala and Mexico, in Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico Oct. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- An estimated 2,300 children who have arrived in Mexico as part of the migrant caravan toward the United States are still in need of humanitarian support and protection, said the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday.

The children includes both those still traveling with the caravan and those now staying in communities and shelters after leaving the group, said UNICEF.

Additional groups of migrants from Central America, including many families with children, are traveling northward in search of a better life and could also soon need assistance, it noted.

UNICEF, in coordination with civil society organizations and local authorities, has set up drinking-water facilities in areas where members of the caravan are spending the night and has distributed hygiene products.

UNICEF is also working to install separate latrine and shower facilities for children and adults, it said.

A child protection team from UNICEF Mexico, working with civil society partners, will shortly put in place a series of psychosocial support measures aimed at decreasing stress levels among migrant children.

UNICEF is also working with the authorities in Mexico City, other public entities and NGOs to set up a "humanitarian-aid bridge" that will meet the needs of the migrants once they reach the capital, it said.

Those traveling as part of the caravan face considerable danger when traveling through irregular migration routes, particularly the children. It is a long, uncertain journey, which places them at risk of exploitation, violence and abuse, said UNICEF.

The children's fund reiterated its call on all governments to prioritize the best interests of children in the application of immigration laws and procedures, to keep families together, and to find alternatives to immigration detention.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 04:13:21|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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SANAA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni rival forces have deployed thousands of fighters in and around the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah ahead of a new round of UN-sponsored peace talks, local sources said on Thursday.

The peace talks is proposed to take place within a month.

Thousands of Iranian-allied Shiite Houthi armed rebels have been spreading among neighborhoods of Hodeidah, which is under their control, digging trenches along the main streets and stationing on rooftops of tall buildings, according to residents.

Residents told Xinhua that warships, armoured vehicles and tanks of Yemeni government troops backed by the Saudi-led coalition have been deployed to the southern edges of the port city. The soldiers have camped in separate barracks and spread in military posts between farms.

The rival military movements on the ground signal preparation for a major onslaught that could fail the proposed UN-mediated peace negotiations.

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam said in a statement published by his group-controlled Saba news agency on Thursday that his group has sent "thousands of fighters to Hodeidah in anticipation of any military assault."

"We affirmed our military readiness to confront any military escalation in Hodeidah," Abdulsalam was quoted by Saba as saying.

Abdulsalam's remarks came a day after pro-government reports that the government has massed thousands of troops to pressure the Iran-backed rebels to return to the UN-brokered peace talks.

The eastern entrance of Hodeidah city, Kilo 16 highway, linking the port city with the capital Sanaa, has been the scene of daily clashes between the rival forces.

The city's port is the main entry of the country's 70 percent of imports and aid.

United Nations aid groups have said the country is on the brink of mass famine, warning against any military escalation near the Red Sea port.

On Wednesday, the government and rebels voiced readiness to end fighting and engage in a UN-backed political compromise, just hours after the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, welcomed the calls by the United States and Britain for the immediate resumption of the Yemeni political process to reach a cessation of hostilities, now in its fourth year.

"We remain committed to bringing the Yemeni parties to the negotiation table within a month," Griffiths said in a statement on Wednesday.

Previous UN-hosted peace talks in Geneva collapsed on Sept. 8, after the Houthi rebels refused to attend, claiming that the UN did not guarantee the safe return of the Houthi delegation.

Other two previous peace talks in Switzerland and Kuwait in 2016 also collapsed.

The war has killed more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, and displaced 3 million others, according to available UN statistics.

Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Houthi rebels forced him into exile and seized much of the country's north, including Hodeidah and the capital Sanaa.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 04:33:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LONDON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) warned on Thursday that Brexit represents a threat to the economies of one of its core development regions, southeastern Europe.

The international development bank with headquarters in London warned in its new Regional Economic Prospects report that if Britain exited the European Union (EU) with a no-deal separation, it would harm the economies of countries like Romania and Bulgaria.

The EBRD said a no-deal Brexit scenario would severely disrupt cross-border supply chains between Britain and the remaining 27 EU nations in the short term.

Unless other member states increased their contributions to the EU, Brexit would lead to a 10-15 percent decline in structural and accession funds available to countries in central and southeastern Europe, amounting to a reduction of up to 0.4 percentage points of GDP in EU-supported investment, said the report.

The economies of south-eastern European countries would suffer because Britain is a significant export market.

Sergei Guriev, EBRD chief economist told Xinhua: "Some of the countries in that region are exporting more to the UK... We do not expect major disruption of trade but a hard brexit might actually harm the UK economy and that might harm those countries."

"A country like Romania, for example, exports almost 1 percent of GDP to the UK and the question is what happens if the UK economy has a major impact from Brexit. Romania will either have to find other markets or take a hit."

Guriev said it was very hard to speculate what is going to happen in March, when the Article 50 deadline for Britain quitting the EU expires.

"Currently the markets have priced in a scenario where either there is a deal which sustains the status quo in terms of trade or that a deal is not reached but the transition period is expanded for the next couple of years," said Guriev.

"In both cases we do not see major spillover. Uncertainty will increase, which is a major problem."

Brexit might also weaken perceived prospects of EU accession for candidate and potential candidate countries. A slower reform momentum would then weigh on growth.

"Cumulatively, the economic impact of a no-deal Brexit is projected to be largest for economies of southeastern Europe, mainly through disruption to trade linkages encompassing the UK and other advanced economies in Europe, the impact on the EU accession reform momentum and a reduction in the EU structural and cohesion funds," the report said.

The report said the reintroduction of a customs border with the EU would lower the demand for EU exports of finished goods to Britain.

Indirectly, lower exports from Europe's advanced economies to the UK would, in turn, affect demand for imports of intermediate goods from the Bank's regions, the EBRD said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 04:38:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council members will visit China in November during China's presidency of the council, said Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ma Zhaoxu on Thursday.

"We are planning to hold two side events. The first one is the planned visit by the Security Council members to China," Ma told reporters.

The theme of the visit will be peacekeeping operations, he said. "We'll have a chance to visit the stand-by peacekeeping forces near Beijing and so we'll have an opportunity to exchange with the peacekeeping soldiers and officers and to discuss how to improve the work of peacekeeping operations."

The council members will also visit Shenzhen and Guangzhou in the southern Guangdong province -- the pioneer cities of opening up and reform, said Ma.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's opening up and reform, he said. "That would be meaningful for us to go to the southern part of China ... and have an impression of China's development in the past 40 years."

"I have the honor to invite my colleagues in the council to pay a visit to China and to give my colleagues an opportunity to feel China, feel China's development, feel China's opening up and reform," said Ma.

The second side event would be a performance on Nov. 6 in New York City by a Chinese troupe of disabled people, said Ma.

The troupe is well-known across the world. It has toured more than 100 countries and won awards from UN agencies, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 04:38:26|Editor: Chengcheng

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Greek Alternate Foreign Minister George Katrougalos (4th L) and Deputy Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Bujar Osmani (C) pose for photos with the crew of a flight to Skopje at Athens International Airport, Athens, Greece, on Nov. 1, 2018. George Katrougalos and Bujar Osmani inaugurated a new direct flight linking Athens and Skopje on Thursday. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

By Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Greek Alternate Foreign Minister George Katrougalos and FYROM's Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Bujar Osmani inaugurated a new direct flight linking Athens and Skopje on Thursday.

FYROM, or the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, is the official name of Macedonia at the United Nations.

Katrougalos and Osmani discussed developments in the implementation of the deal reached this summer to resolve the Macedonia name dispute between the two countries.

The two capitals had a direct air link until 2007 when Skopje airport was named after ancient Greek king Alexander the Great.

Following the renaming of the airport this year and the achievement of the agreement which aims to put an end in a long standing row, the two neighboring countries decided the resumption of direct passenger flights between Athens and Skopje.

"We talked about the promotion and respect of the idea of the Prespes agreement as an agreement which not only resolves a longstanding issue between the two countries, but also stabilizes the wider Balkans region and ensures the European prospect of our neighboring countries," Katrougalos said in a statement.

"My belief is that there will be an explosion of positive contexts of opportunities in cooperation between our two countries which will become the new strategic partners in the region," Osmani said on his part.

After the meeting at the ministry, the Greek official accompanied Osmani to Athens international airport, where FYROM's deputy PM departed on the first passenger flight to Skopje after 11 years.

"It is a moment which brings our two peoples closer. After the agreement which is mutually beneficial for the two countries and peoples, such moments will become more and more," Katrougalos told Greek national broadcaster ERT at the Athens airport.

"This is a great day for the relations between our two countries. It is most symbolically telling how close we are after reaching this agreement," Osmani said before boarding the aircraft.

Under the agreement signed this June at the Prespes lakes, the natural border between the two countries, FYROM will be renamed "Republic of North Macedonia". Following the ratification process at Skopje the deal will be put to vote in coming months also at the Greek assembly.

Athens and Skopje were at odds over the use of the name Macedonia since Greece's northern neighbor broke away from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Athens was worried that the use of the same name of a Greek northern province by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 04:38:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States have signed guidelines on their combined defense after the planned transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul, paving way for the transfer and setting guiding principles for their future defense cooperation.

TRANSFER OF OPCON

According to a speech transcript released by the Pentagon on Thursday, U.S. defense chief James Mattis and his ROK counterpart Jeong Kyeong-doo attended the 50th annual Security Consultative Meeting at the Pentagon on Wednesday, and signed "Alliance Guiding Principles" after the meeting.

Noting that the document "paves the way for clarifying the conditions-based transition of wartime operational control of our combined forces," Mattis told the media that this document ensures that South Korea will replace the United States to lead the future Combined Forces Command, a mechanism that "will continue to use the combined might of U.S.-ROK alliance to defend the ROK's sovereignty from any external aggression."

"As the ROK prepares to lead our combined defense of the Korean peninsula, I must note the U.S.' strong support for your nation's ongoing efforts to fulfill the conditions for this OPCON transition," he said.

For his part, Jeong said that he and Mattis "assessed that we've made significant progress in our preparation for the transition," adding "we will continue our joint efforts to meet the conditions for wartime OPCON transition in an expedited manner."

Yonhap News Agency quoted ROK Defense Ministry as saying that "the Alliance Guiding Principles are a document that we drew up while thinking of the future of the alliance more than 50 years ahead ... the principles are expected to address citizens' security concerns by presenting a direction for the South Korea-U.S. combined defense system after the OPCON transfer and proclaiming the firmness of the South Korea-U.S. alliance."

It also reported that the two countries had signed a group of other military cooperation documents, including the plans for the Future Command Structure, under which the ROK will dispatch a four-star general to lead the joint command and the U.S. side will name a military official of the same level to be the deputy.

These documents "laid the foundation to stably and expeditiously carry out OPCON transition," Jeong noted.

U.S. FORCES TO STAY IN S. KOREA

According to these documents, the United States will keep its current level of troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula.

Mattis also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to "the provision of extended deterrence and the maintaining of the U.S. Forces Korea at the current level," Jeong said, referring to the U.S. commitment to using a full range of military capabilities, including nuclear, conventional and missile defense assets.

Jeong also announced that the two nations will conduct the initial operational capability (IOC) certification next year as the first step to evaluate the ROK-led wartime operational capabilities, and "regularly assess and review the implementation progress to determine the specific timing of OPCON transition."

"We can effectively and properly carry out the IOC certification, and thereby, reassure our citizens they do not need to worry about any falls, any decreases, any negative impacts to our military capabilities or our readiness posture," the ROK defense chief noted.

For his part, Mattis added that the two sides also studied "the details of the joint study for the future defense vision of the U.S.-ROK alliance, which will be conducted over the course of this next year."

"This study will examine the role our alliance would play following the final, fully verified denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," he added.

FUTURE JOINT DRILLS

The two nations have decided to suspend several major joint military exercises this year.

Jeong said as for the future major large-scale exercises, the two nations will conduct a review from staff members, and "have the results of the review until 15th of November, and then we'll make our final decision on any major exercises in the next year before the 1st of December."

Only a part of the joint exercises has been suspended at the moment, he noted. "However, if we continue to see a suspension of these large-scale exercises like the Key Resolve and the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian, then we will create ways to make sure that we can mitigate the impact of the suspension of these exercises, including things such as Iraq-U.S. combined staff training to make sure that we don't see any dips in our readiness posture or our military capabilities."

Yonhap reported that the two sides had also finalized their decision to suspend the annual massive Vigilant Ace air exercise, which was originally slated for December, to support the ongoing diplomacy to build trust with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and encourage its nuclear disarmament.

"Secretary Mattis and I have agreed that we will continue to do our best to support, from a military perspective, the diplomatic efforts of our countries and we'll continue our thought process on how we can move forward from this point on to bring about the complete denuclearization of and establishment of peace on the Korean peninsula, and we'll continue to seek ways in which we can continue to maintain our current level of combined defense posture, as well as our military readiness," Jeong added.

Mattis noted that "clearly the threat from North Korea, at least as expressed by Chairman Kim, has been significantly reduced."

"We are not right now concerned with the loss of combat capability. Clearly, as we go forward, we'll have to make adaptations to ensure we don't lose that capability," he said. "Certain large ones were put on hold, suspended temporarily in order to give the diplomats the best possible effort, because we were making a good faith effort on the military side."

The DPRK has blasted the U.S.-ROK military drills as threatening provocations against it.

The ROK handed over the operational control over its troops to the commander of the U.S.-led command during the 1950-53 Korean War. Seoul took back the peacetime OPCON in 1994, but the United States still possesses wartime OPCON. The transfer of it had been supposed to occur in 2015 but was postponed.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 04:53:28|Editor: Chengcheng

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Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez addresses the UN General Assembly meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Nov. 1, 2018. The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday adopted a non-binding resolution calling for lifting the United States embargo against Cuba. The draft resolution, tabled by Cuba, received 189 votes in favor and two against at the 193-member General Assembly. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday adopted a non-binding resolution calling for lifting the U.S. embargo against Cuba.

The draft resolution, tabled by Cuba, received 189 votes in favor and two against at the 193-member General Assembly. Only the United States and Israel voted against it.

"The blockade is a flagrant, massive and systematic violation of the human rights of Cuban men and women and has been an essential impediment to the aspirations of the wellbeing and prosperity entertained by several generations," Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said in his speech delivered before the voting.

"The quantifiable damages accumulated as a result of the blockade after almost six decades of its implementation amount to 933.7 billion U.S. dollars," he said.

Noting that the U.S. government "does not have the least moral authority" for criticizing Cuba or anyone else with regards to human rights, the Cuban foreign minister said that "we reject the repeated manipulation of human rights with political purposes as well as the double standards that characterize it."

Before the vote, there was debate on eight amendments proposed by the United States that criticized Cuba's human rights record and lack of civil liberties on the island. The amendments were all defeated by wide margins with only the United States, Israel and Ukraine consistently voting for them.

The General Assembly debate on "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba" began Wednesday.

Speakers on both Wednesday and Thursday overwhelmingly called on the United States to end its economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba as the General Assembly began its annual debate on the issue amid demands for the cessation of unilateral coercive measures.

Almost all speakers said the nearly six decades long blockade imposed on the Caribbean island by Washington impedes its right to development and its ability to participate fully in the global economy. They stressed that the United States must heed the Assembly's repeated calls to lift its restrictive policies.

China's permanent representative to the UN Ma Zhaoxu told the General Assembly that the U.S. embargo against Cuba should cease.

"All countries should uphold the process of mutual understanding and development for all peoples," he said.

"The international community must tackle issues together," he said, urging Washington to cease the unilateral coercive measures.

The General Assembly has adopted resolutions repeatedly to have the embargo dropped, yet it still has not ended, said the ambassador, noting that the blockade "is contrary to the principle of the United Nations Charter and creates huge financial and economic damages for Cuba."

"It hinders Cuba's ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals," Ma noted.

On the same day, Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called the embargo an "abhorrent relic of the Cold War" and said it "hobbles" Cuba's ability to engage in global financial markets and to participate in international credit institutions.

Iranian ambassador to the UN Gholamali Khoshroo said the blockade is a "vivid example of the unilateral way in which the United States acts in the world."

"Rather than drawing lessons from their short-sighted and disastrous policies towards Cuba and the Middle East, United States officials have intensified the blockade against the island to put more pressure on the Cuban leadership under far-fetched pretexts," he said.

Thursday's vote marked the 27th consecutive year in which Havana has tabled the resolution.

The only time that the United States didn't cast a no vote was in 2016 during the Obama administration's opening toward Cuba when both the United States and Israel abstained.

Two weeks ago, a U.S. sponsored campaign aimed to criticize the human rights situation in Cuba encountered fierce protest at the UN.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 04:58:33|Editor: xuxin

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Ma Zhaoxu (C), Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations and President of the Security Council of November, briefs journalists on the council's work of this month at the UN headquarters in New York, Nov. 1, 2018. The Security Council will focus its work on debates about multilateralism and peacekeeping in Africa in November, when China holds the rotating council presidency, said the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations on Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council will focus its work on debates about multilateralism and peacekeeping in Africa in November, when China holds the rotating council presidency, said the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations on Thursday.

"We are facing severe challenges in the international security situation. At the same time, international rules and multilateral mechanisms are being undermined," said Ma Zhaoxu, the ambassador.

The Security Council, which has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, must play a leading role in strengthening multilateralism and collective security mechanisms, he told reporters.

"In light of the new problems and new challenges we are facing, we believe it's important that UN member states jointly uphold the principles and purposes of the UN Charter. We need to find ways and means to strengthen multilateralism and the role of the United Nations to consolidate collective security mechanisms and increase cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations," Ma said.

Multilateralism was a hot topic at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly in September. More than 100 countries have voiced their support for multilateralism, he noted.

The Security Council open debate will provide an opportunity for continued discussion on the issue, he said.

On peacekeeping in Africa, the Chinese ambassador expressed the hope that an open debate on Nov. 20 would help set the stage and create a sound atmosphere for further discussion of the issue.

"We hope this will lead to more attention and input from the international community to strengthen capacity building of the African Union and African countries in safeguarding peace and security in Africa," he said.

Among the top troop-contributing countries, more than half are African ones. The five biggest UN peacekeeping operations are in Africa, he noted.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 05:08:35|Editor: huaxia

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NEW YORK, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. dollar fell against most other major currencies in late trading on Thursday amid stronger euro and sterling as the market became positive on a possible EU-UK Brexit deal.

Both British pound and euro rose sharply in late trading on Thursday, posting an increase of 1.94 percent and 0.86 percent respectively.

Britain's Brexit secretary Dominic Raab said Wednesday that he expected to ink an EU-UK Brexit agreement by the end of November, which would grant UK-based financial services firms basic access to European Union markets.

Raab made the statement in a letter, dated Oct. 24, to Hilary Benn, the chair of the UK Parliament's Brexit committee. The secretary added that Britain and the EU had also "made good progress on the structure and scope of the future agreement."

In late New York trading, the euro dropped to 1.1408 dollars from 1.1326 dollars in the previous session, and the British pound rose to 1.3013 dollars from 1.2778 U.S. dollars in the previous session. The Australian dollar was up to 0.7206 dollar from 0.7077 dollar.

The U.S. dollar bought 112.65 Japanese yen, lower than 112.92 Japanese yen of the previous session. The U.S. dollar dropped to 1.0023 Swiss francs from 1.0082 Swiss francs, and it slid to 1.3087 Canadian dollars from 1.3161 Canadian dollars. Enditem
File photo: A gas flare on an oil production platform in the Soroush oil fields is seen alongside an Iranian flag in Iran, July 25, 2005. (Reuters)

TEHRAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran's ambassador to Britain, Hamid Baeidinejad, said that it is impossible to renegotiate the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, also known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Press TV reported on Thursday.

"The aspiration ... is that we keep the Iran nuclear deal alive and give time to the U.S. to rethink and revise its position," Baeidinejad, also an Iranian nuclear negotiator, was quoted as saying.

He emphasized that the idea of changing or renegotiating the nuclear deal would be "impossible," he said, reasoning that if any part in the deal is changed, other aspects of the deal will either be changed or compromised.

"We are trying very hard ... to find mechanisms that this deal could (still) be effectively implemented," he added.

The U.S. President Donald Trump decided to quit the historic Iran nuclear deal on May 8 and urged the signatories to the deal for renegotiation of the accord.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 05:33:41|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KIEV, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday that sanctions imposed by Russia on 322 Ukrainian individuals and 68 entities are an "evidence of the unconstructive position of the Russian Federation," the presidential press service said in a statement.

"This is an indication that they are not going to implement Minsk agreements and are not going to reduce the tension," Poroshenko said during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kiev.

Poroshenko added that Moscow's decision to impose sanctions against Ukrainian citizens and companies came as no surprise for Kiev.

Earlier in the day, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree to impose sanctions on Ukraine, which include freezing of assets controlled by the blacklisted individuals and entities in Russia and a ban on the transfer of their funds from Russia.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow have been deteriorating since early 2014 over Crimea and the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Kiev has accused Russia of aiding the insurgents in eastern Ukraine and sending troops to combat areas there. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed Kiev's claims, saying that Ukraine has offered no evidence of Russia's alleged involvement in the conflict.

The Minsk agreements, reached in September 2014 and February 2015 respectively, are designed to peacefully end the conflict

Since 2015, Kiev has imposed sanctions on more than 1,700 Russian individuals and over 700 entities.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-02 05:38:43|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump slapped new sanctions targeting Venezuela's gold exports on Thursday, as his National Security Adviser John Bolton unveiled a hard-line policy toward Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.

Trump informed U.S. lawmakers that he has signed an executive order to bar U.S. citizens and entities from involvement in the gold export trade from Venezuela, according to a letter released by the White House on Thursday.

In a speech delivered in Miami, the U.S. state of Florida, Bolton elaborated the new U.S. sanctions as he lashed out at Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.

Labeling the three nations as "the troika of tyranny in this hemisphere," Bolton accused Cuba of helping Venezuela, saying the State Department will sanction over two dozen entities owned or controlled by the Cuban military and intelligence services, with which U.S. persons are banned from doing business with.

The goal is to prevent money from being gotten by the Cuban military, security and intelligence services, Bolton said at Freedom Tower, a local landmark to the Cuban community as it received many Cuban refugees in 1960s.

He also said that the U.S. administration would review whether to allow U.S. citizens whose property was seized by the Cuban government to sue foreign companies that have invested in the properties in Cuba.

Bolton's speech is believed to further press the two nations that the Trump administration have seen as adversaries, and to consolidate votes for the upcoming high-stakes midterm elections in the state home to many migrants from the two nations.

Bolton also threatened Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, saying unless the country hold "free, fair and early" elections, "the Nicaraguan regime, like Venezuela and Cuba, will feel the full weight of America's robust sanctions regime."

Trump said in August of last year that he would not rule out a "military option" in Venezuela "if necessary," despite his aides' opposition. The U.S. side has announced several rounds of sanctions against Venezuelan government officials ever since.

Several U.S. media outlets reported last month that that the Trump administration has talked secretly with rebellious Venezuelan military officers several times to discuss their plans to stage a coup in the South American country.

For its part, Venezuela has slammed the "warmongering" declarations of Trump as "threats to peace" and a "violation" of UN and international laws, instructing the military to prepare to "shoulder arms" in case of a U.S. invasion.

Over 20 U.S. diplomats in Cuba suffered from what Washington called "acoustic attacks" between November 2016 and August 2017. The incidents led to the partial closure of the U.S. embassy in Havana, expulsion of 15 Cuban diplomats who worked at the embassy in Washington, and a halt to issuance of U.S. visas in Havana.

Cuba rejected the accusation, initiated an investigation, and urged the United States to present evidence of the alleged attacks.

Though denying the U.S. accusation, Cuba reiterated its commitment to cooperating with the U.S. authorities to clarify this situation and its willingness to guarantee the health and safety of Cubans and foreign citizens in the island nation.
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, talks with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, in Brussels on July 11, 2018. (AP Photo)

ANKARA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on Thursday agreed by phone to take "constructive steps" toward strengthening ties, said Turkey's presidential press office.

The two leaders also discussed on Syria issues, including Manbij and Idlib, emphasizing to keep "close contacts" on bilateral and regional issues.

During the phone call, Erdogan condemned last Saturday's synagogue attack in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and conveyed his condolences to the victims' families.

The phone conversation came as Turkish and U.S. troops began joint patrols in northern Syrian city of Manbij under an agreement that aimed to ease tensions between the two NATO allies.

The Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of the People's Protection Units, Syrian Kurdish militia regarded by Ankara as a terrorist organization, from the city.
In this file photo taken on Oct. 23, 2018 John Bolton, National Security Adviser to the U.S. President Donald Trump, gives a press conference in Moscow. (AFP Photo)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump slapped new sanctions targeting Venezuela's gold exports on Thursday, as his National Security Adviser John Bolton unveiled a hard-line policy toward Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.

Trump informed U.S. lawmakers that he has signed an executive order to bar U.S. citizens and entities from involvement in the gold export trade from Venezuela, according to a letter released by the White House on Thursday.

In a speech delivered in Miami, the U.S. state of Florida, Bolton elaborated the new U.S. sanctions as he lashed out at Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.

Labeling the three nations as "the troika of tyranny in this hemisphere," Bolton accused Cuba of helping Venezuela, saying the State Department will sanction over two dozen entities owned or controlled by the Cuban military and intelligence services, with which U.S. persons are banned from doing business with.

The goal is to prevent money from being gotten by the Cuban military, security and intelligence services, Bolton said at Freedom Tower, a local landmark to the Cuban community as it received many Cuban refugees in 1960s.

He also said that the U.S. administration would review whether to allow U.S. citizens whose property was seized by the Cuban government to sue foreign companies that have invested in the properties in Cuba.

Bolton's speech is believed to further press the two nations that the Trump administration have seen as adversaries, and to consolidate votes for the upcoming high-stakes midterm elections in the state home to many migrants from the two nations.

Bolton also threatened Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, saying unless the country hold "free, fair and early" elections, "the Nicaraguan regime, like Venezuela and Cuba, will feel the full weight of America's robust sanctions regime."

Trump said in August of last year that he would not rule out a "military option" in Venezuela "if necessary," despite his aides' opposition. The U.S. side has announced several rounds of sanctions against Venezuelan government officials ever since.

Several U.S. media outlets reported last month that that the Trump administration has talked secretly with rebellious Venezuelan military officers several times to discuss their plans to stage a coup in the South American country.

For its part, Venezuela has slammed the "warmongering" declarations of Trump as "threats to peace" and a "violation" of UN and international laws, instructing the military to prepare to "shoulder arms" in case of a U.S. invasion.

Over 20 U.S. diplomats in Cuba suffered from what Washington called "acoustic attacks" between November 2016 and August 2017. The incidents led to the partial closure of the U.S. embassy in Havana, expulsion of 15 Cuban diplomats who worked at the embassy in Washington, and a halt to issuance of U.S. visas in Havana.

Cuba rejected the accusation, initiated an investigation, and urged the United States to present evidence of the alleged attacks.

Though denying the U.S. accusation, Cuba reiterated its commitment to cooperating with the U.S. authorities to clarify this situation and its willingness to guarantee the health and safety of Cubans and foreign citizens in the island nation.
Since Halloween is becoming more and more popular among younger generations, there is a growing dispute among Hungarians: should we celebrate this Anglo-Saxon tradition?

There is the group who wears costumes and carves pumpkins, and there is the other which says: there is no Halloween in Hungary, we have All Saints Day. Who is right?

Gondola.hu wrote an extensive piece on how it is possible to have it all: Why cant we celebrate Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day altogether? After all, these are celebrated on completely different dates, and for completely different reasons.

Although Halloween has Anglo-Saxon roots, many Halloween traditions originate from ancient Celtic harvest festivals (particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain) which may have had pagan roots.

Celtics had only two seasons: winter (from the 31st of October to the 1st of May) and summer. It was believed that during winter, the god of the sun, Samhain, is being trapped by the god of darkness, who summons all the dead souls on October 31.

On that day, Celtic priests gathered on top of the hill and lit huge bonfires, danced around them and offered sacrifices in order to chase away all of the bad ghosts.

Traditional Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, lighting bonfires, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.

Halloween celebrations are more and more popular in Hungary each year: costume parties are organised all over Budapest, people post their jack-o-lanterns on Instagram, and everyone is buying everything pumpkin-shaped.

Some people (usually from the older generations) think that, due to the growing attention Hungarians pay to Halloween, we slowly forget the two Christian holidays that have long traditions in Hungary: All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

All Saintss Day (November 1) is the celebration of all the Saints that went to Heaven and have no particular date devoted to them, while All Souls Day (November 2) is about commemorating all the souls that are being purified.

Both of these are holidays of the Catholic Church as opposed to Halloween which is believed to have pagan roots. People argue that Halloween has no tradition in Hungary. It is not celebrated in Central Europe, and it belongs to the West, particularly to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

However, some can argue that All Saints Day and All Souls Day are not celebrated for their religious aspect either.

For most Hungarians, these two days are only about going to the cemetery to visit their parted loved-ones and light a few candles.

Source: Daily News Hungary, gondola.hu; Wikipedia
Pundits right across the political spectrum discuss the broader implications of Angela Merkels decision to step down from the leadership of the CDU.

Angela Merkel got her dues, Zsolt Bayer comments in Magyar Idok. The pro-government pundit accuses Chancellor Merkel of exchanging conservative ideology for mainstream liberal rhetoric.

Bayer mentions as Merkels biggest blunder the embrace of a liberal immigration policy which he claims aims at to transform the demographic composition of Europe.

This strategy seemed to work for a while, but in the end, even what Bayer calls the brainwashed German nation which suffers from the memory of an artificially created sense of guilt since World War Two revolted against Merkels Wilkommenskultur.

Thus, the centrist CDU lost stupid liberals and anarchists as well as sane silent majorities that chose normality and voted for the AfD. Bayer concludes by expressing hope that Chancellor Merkels fate will soon also catch up with President Macron.

Magyar Hirlaps Mariann Ory thinks that Merkels decision to step down as party leader creates an opportunity for the CDU to renew itself.

The pro-government columnist points out that Chancellor Merkel will have a say in the succession in the CDU. As for the broader implications, Ory suspects that Chancellor Merkel will no longer be an important player at the European level.

In Nepszava, Tamas Ronay suspects that Angela Merkels resignation marks the end of an era.

The left-wing columnist praises Chancellor Merkel for her courage in stepping down and acknowledging failure. Ronay is however also confident that the CDU will follow Angela Merkels politics in the future.

But he finds it sad that German politics have become so unpredictable amidst of the rise of populists all over Europe.

This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online Click here to Share Your Story

MTI Photo
The disaster management authority took over the coordination of waste management in 116 villages in the central and northern Hungarian counties of Pest and Nograd, a state secretary of the interior ministry said.

Collection of household waste has resumed after a two-day pause in the villages in question, the non-profit contracted for the task, Zold Hid, said in a statement.

State Secretary Tibor Pogacsas said the governments utility cuts programme has ended companies practice to raise [waste collection] fees at their hearts content, requiring rationalisation within the companies.

On Tuesday, the government regrouped 26.4 billion forints (EUR 81.3m) to fund waste management, the official gazette Magyar Kozlony showed.

Jozsef Gal, a Budapest councillor of opposition LMP, slammed the measure as a one-off injection instead of comprehensive measures. A viable waste management system would require 30 to 40 billion forints of additional funds, he said.



The utility cost cuts are a scam, Gal said, and argued that people pay for the high waste collection costs through a 27% VAT and other taxes.



Photo: FKF Zrt.
IN MARAMURES  Incendii din cauza fumatului, cenusii sau jocul copiiilor cu focul

Nu numai cosurile de fum necuratate sau instalatiile defecte sunt de vina pentru producerea unor incendii nedorite si care te pot lasa pe drumuri intr-o secunda. Pompierii maramuresenii spun ca in acest an am avut incendii declansate [citeste mai departe]
A plan to build a small-company-focused, blockchain-enabled securities market in Wilmington's flagging financial district has drawn interest from investors in China, Abu Dhabi, and Canada, but it hasn't produced the hoped-for influx of securities traders, more than three years after the local government agreed to lend organizers $3 million.

Documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission this year show a group of well-connected local investors were poised to profit if the Delaware Board of Trade (DBOT) proved successful. But there are few signs of the hoped-for economic stimulus. Shawn Sloves, a New York trading software developer and DBOT investor who agreed to provide the market with its core software, has stepped down from the board, and told me he fears DBOT's moment has come and gone.

DBOT started out with plans to trade shares in start-ups and other small and regional stocks under a law signed by President Barack Obama. It added a proposal for a system to use electronic blockchain ledgers and smart-contract tokens, rather than traditional securities clearinghouses and dollar payments, as a way to speed new investments while complying with SEC rules But so far, DBOT has mostly served as a reminder how tough it remains for new markets remote from Wall Street and other financial centers to gain traction as alternatives.

In 2015, DBOT organizers, led by former Philadelphia Stock Exchange chairman John Wallace, at first listed ex-New York Stock Exchange chief Richard Grasso and other Wall Street worthies as their backers. Even after Grasso and the other New Yorkers pulled out, then-County Executive Tom Gordon authorized a $3 million, five-year loan to DBOT, which projected it would attract 50 traders and staff, earning an average $136,000 annually in its first year of operation, and up to 100 by this year  a welcome boost for a town Wilmington's size.

But two-thirds of the way into that loan term, the people DBOT has actually drawn to Wilmington fit into DBOT's recently downsized office suite at the underused former Hercules Inc. tower, where Wallace and a couple of staffers keep busy planning for business that has not materialized so far.

Wallace said DBOT and its blockchain proposal have continued to attract backers, including the exchange's new president, Michael Zavet, who mostly divides his time between New York and his native Toronto, and Brett McGonegal, a Hong Kong banker whose firm is a shareholder. They'll be a big help attracting order flow to DBOT, Wallace said  once the exchange prepares a blockchain trading plan, gets it approved by the SEC, and builds and deploys trading systems that fit. He acknowledges the market has a modest local profile: "It's not in Wilmington anymore, it's scattered," Wallace told me. "Look at the world today. But it will grow as we get products."

DBOT's biggest investment to date is from China, where media mogul Bruno Wu last winter swapped shares of his Seven Stars Cloud Group and its China Broadband Ltd. affiliate for a DBOT stake initially valued at $8 million.

Seven Stars' financial reports since then have detailed the DBOT investors who traded DBOT shares for the buyer's. There's a strong local flavor: They include John Hynansky, millionaire owner of the Winner auto-dealership group, who once accompanied his friend Vice President Joe Biden to Ukraine and got $20 million in U.S. government financing for auto dealerships there; Dennis Toner, a former Biden aide; and Delaware State Rep. Mike Ramone, a Republican from suburban Pike Creek. Ramone held the most shares in that transaction, worth around $3 million at Seven Stars' trading price when the deal was announced.

Ramone recorded his investment in DBOT on his annual state financial disclosure form for 2017. In June of that year, he voted for a bill that would recognize blockchain-based corporate records, giving DBOT backers something to point to when promoting their Delaware location as blockchain-friendly. It passed by a wide bipartisan margin.

Ramone, a landlord, fitness-center, and swim-school operator when he's not making law in Dover, didn't recuse himself from that vote. In his brief response to my calls and emails, Ramone did not address questions about why he joined those Democrats investing in DBOT when Wall Street declined to invest, or explain his non-recusal. He did write, when I asked about DBOT falling short of projections, that "DEBOT [sic] has not closed and left Delaware." Toner referred questions to Wallace. Hynansky didn't respond to a message left at his Newark, Del., dealership office.

Like other Delaware reps, Ramone is up for reelection Tuesday, against a Democrat who, local news accounts say, departed from her pet-shelter job after Ramone asked why the candidate was mentioning her campaign on the nonprofit shelter's Facebook page (the shelter gets a state grant). I expect Ramone will be reelected, as veteran incumbents are.

But we need not worry about a Ramone conflict of interest, Shawn Sloves, a former DBOT director (he resigned in September) who runs a New York technology firm that agreed to provide DBOT's trading systems, told me, a little sadly. "He will never benefit from what Delaware is doing on the blockchain," Sloves predicted. At least not through DBOT, which Sloves says has been overtaken by "inertia."

Sloves was bullish on DBOT when we talked in January. Then, Sloves said DBOT had a year's lead on any other blockchain-based exchange, since it had moved fast to get SEC permission to operate as a small-stocks trading node.

But since, "there hasn't been much movement or growth," Sloves lamented when I called him in New York last week.

As America's "corporate capital," with hundreds of the biggest U.S. companies and hundreds of thousands of smaller ones incorporated there for legal purposes, "Wilmington should be the center of blockchain," Sloves said. But DBOT can only beat well-funded rival blockchain markets-in-formation, if the state agrees to recognize blockchain shares, and if Wallace's team can get the SEC and Wall Street traders to accept it as a fully blockchain-based market, he added. Alas, Sloves has concluded "the state doesn't seem to be going in that direction," and DBOT has not attracted traders, more than three years into the five-year period covered by the government loan.

Both Sloves and Wallace say Sloves remains committed to providing DBOT's core technology, as needed. But Sloves says the two haven't talked since before he left the board, and he's moved on to other projects. "Where are the jobs? Where is the local market center? They should give the money back" to New Castle County, Sloves concluded.

Seven Stars doesn't seem to have profited since its DBOT investment. The stock traded last week below $3 a share, down from around $5 when it announced the deal last winter.
Beverly Davidson, PhD, Director, Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Chief Scientific Strategy Officer, and Arthur Vincent Meigs Endowed Chair in Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. She took CEOs and reporters on tours of CHOP's new gene therapy laboratory under the hospital's Colket building on Oct. 31, 2018 Read more

UNDER WEST PHILLY  Doctors and research officers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and their collaborators from University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine spent Halloween afternoon walking groups of Philadelphia CEOs and other guests a couple of stories below the level of the nearby Schuylkill, to see CHOP's newly finished clinical manufacturing facility, in the basement of the Colket Translational Research Building at its campus in University City.

The $75 million underground lab complex is airlock-doorways-protected, hydrogen-peroxide-sprayed, climate-controlled, hair-net-and-boot-net-wearing spotless  and it's designed to stay clean for its role as the newest in the chain of cell and gene-therapy testing and production facilities spreading around Philadelphia.

Over the last 10 years, CHOP has put together products for hundreds of patients in 30 clinical trials. The new lab will more than double production to 20-plus clinical-trial products a year, through four separate production suites, each with its own clean rooms, centrifuges, filters, cold storage, laboratory, and office space separated by air locks that limit access and exposure. Digital controls limit access and track what goes in and out, including how many times staff have changed their sterile scrubs and shoe covers (booties). The chairs in the suites are color coded so staff can tell them apart at a glance.

"This place is unique in the world," said Johannes Van der Loo, director of the Clinical Vector Core program at the center. To be sure, there are gene-therapy production labs at universities and hospitals in California, Florida, and several Midwestern states; Pfizer has expanded a program started at the University of North Carolina. But "this is a much more complex manufacturing enterprise," said Van der Loo. "Nothing like this exists in Boston," Philadelphia's rival as an East Coast medical-industrial center.

The city's emerging bioscience manufacturing system includes the cell-therapy manufacturing facilities at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania across Civic Center Boulevard, Chinese-owned WuXi AppTec's 600-person, 380,000-square-foot commercial labs at the former Navy Yard in South Philadelphia, along with cell and gene-therapy batch production and research labs at Jefferson, Christiana, and other hospital systems, and at academic start-ups.

CHOP's chief executive, Madeline Bell, called the labs a modern update on the old factory clusters that made Philadelphia a historic manufacturing center. "Penn uses our gene-therapy vectors," the vehicles that deliver treatments, said Beverly Davidson, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Penn and director of CHOP's Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, which operates the lab. So do scholars at other schools, start-up therapy developers, and commercial labs.

The CHOP facility engineers beneficial genes into modified viruses and other materials that deliver them to fix cancerous and other diseased cells in patients. CHOP, Penn, and other area medical centers and commercial suppliers are cranking up vector production, so new therapies can be tested, approved, and sold commercially, bringing costs down from experimental levels that can currently cost patients, insurers, and donors hundreds of thousands of dollars, or more.

Teams of CHOP and Penn doctors have produced the first FDA-approved gene therapies: Kymriah, a CAR T-cell therapy used against leukemia, for pharma giant Novartis; and Luxturna to treat an inherited blindness  a therapy developed by Spark Therapeutics, one of the first publicly traded companies spun out by scholars at the University City gene-therapy complex.

CHOP officials said they manufacture at cost, not as a profit-making enterprise. Translational research, such as the systems developed in the CHOP lab, is designed to bring products closer to market. The Colket building was built in 2009, but the basement was left empty while researchers developed plans and raised funding for the updated lab.

Davidson said gene-therapy products aren't complete when they leave the lab. "We test that product for years to come," after it's been used in patients, she said. "Six, eight, ten years." The FDA requires follow-up testing. "Once it's out of our facility, it's never really gone."
Incoming Haverford College freshman Matthew Dodds, left, from Princeton, NJ, gets help from Haverford professor Zachary Oberfield, center, in filling out his voter registration form on the first day check-in for freshman at Haverford. The Delaware County election board on Monday unanimously voted to approve a request to put a polling place on the college campus. Read more

They didn't change a single recorded vote, so far as we know. But two years after the 2016 presidential election exposed foreign propaganda efforts to sway American voters, there's been so much talk about the nation's antiquated, hacker-vulnerable voting systems that it's starting to look as if the Russian plan is working: There are signs the fear of vote-count fraud is eroding faith in American elections.

In a survey by Unisys, a Blue Bell company that sells government and corporate computer security software, 86 percent of the 1,000 U.S. voters polled "expressed concerns over the prospect of U.S. election voting systems being compromised by outsiders," according to Tom Patterson, the company's "chief trust officer."

"Lack of trust in our voting systems," especially among younger voters, who are least likely to vote and "express the highest level of concern," threatens to "undermine confidence in America's democratic system," according to Patterson.

But what's the danger, really, if votes aren't being hacked?

Or are they? It turns out that election hacking is like disbelief in Halloween ghosts: It's surprisingly tough to really prove there's nothing out there.

"Knowing if voting machines have been exploited is a very hard question. We don't ever go back and check with everyone who voted  'Who did you vote for?' " said Susan Greenhalgh, policy director for the National Election Defense Coalition, a group of academic, industry, and government election experts who worry that most U.S. electoral boards aren't doing nearly enough to keep the vote safe.

Aren't touch-screen computers at least an improvement over paper ballots? That's what Montgomery County still boasts on its election web page: "We are one of the earliest counties in the nation to use a direct recording electronic (DRE) machine," a specialized machine that records votes on a memory card, and forwards them to the state to be combined with other local results.

Too bad that "from a security perspective, the most problematic and risky class of electronic voting systems are those that employ direct recording electronic, DRE, machines," Penn professor Matt Blaze testified in hearings before the Republican-run U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee last year. "The design of DREs makes them inherently difficult to secure." The machines' complete dependence on their enabling software without a backup paper record "not only has the potential to alter the vote tally, but can make it impossible to conduct a meaningful recount, or even to detect that an attack has occurred, after the fact," Blaze said.

Without paper records to double-check, "if people did somehow change the vote totals, how would you know?" asked Greenhalgh. "It's not like the Department of Homeland Security does audits. We don't have a way to audit those paperless machines to know if the votes were reported correctly. Paper provides a safeguard that digital records don't."

>> VOTERS GUIDE: View candidates in the 2018 midterm election based on your address, or browse all the action in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware

Also according to its website: "Montgomery County voting is completely secure because it is a closed system that allows no external access to the programming."

But "just because they're not connected on the internet provides a false sense of security," as Greenhalgh put it: When results are emailed in to a central headquarters, they are protected by passwords that are relatively easy to hack.

That's why officials in California and Ohio have decertified all-electronic voting machines and gone back to paper copies, Greenhalgh added. "But you are still using them in Pennsylvania."

In February, the Wolf administration ordered counties to buy only machines with paper records. Spokesperson Wanda Murren called it "the first step in a whole package of election modernization that we're working on." But neither Harrisburg nor most county seats have bought new machines.

Since February, and a week before the midterm election, "one county has purchased new voting equipment  Susquehanna County," Murren told me. That raises the total to 16 largely rural counties with voting machines that can be audited, and 51, including Montgomery, where voting machines still can't be audited. Montgomery County hopes to buy new machines with paper backup next year, said spokesperson John Corcoran.

Blaze told the Senate he and his collaborators have tested the specific systems used in Pennsylvania and found "serious exploitable vulnerabilities in almost every component examined," usually within reach of a single corrupt "poll worker or voter. Such an attacker would be able to alter vote tallies, load malicious software, or erase" vote records, he testified. Hackers have publicized a lot of these security holes.

Besides rigged elections, we face "a much more formidable threat," Blaze told the senators: To challenge "an election outcome's legitimacy, it may be sufficient to simply plant suspicious malicious software on a few voting machines," make sure it gets discovered, and then "impair the ability of the true winner to effectively govern." .

Is a hacker-led election overthrow a risk this time? "We do not have any evidence of a compromise or disruption of infrastructure that would enable adversaries to prevent voting, change vote counts, or disrupt our ability to tally votes in the midterm elections," U.S. intelligence agencies said Oct. 19. "State and local governments have reported attempts to access" voter registration databases; so far, election officials "have been able to prevent access or quickly mitigate" those hacks.

But we're still mostly relying on the same voting systems as last time.

UPDATE: Despite a random claim by city commissioner Al Smith, here in the Northeast Times, that Philadelphia plans to buy updated voting technology, there's no public confirmation Philly plans an update of its aging voter machinery, says Patrick Christmas, policy director for the watchdog Committee of Seventy. "The (Pennsylvania) Department of State ordered counties to get new machines by 2020, but it's been unclear whether Philly will comply We think it's critical that Philadelphia has new voting machines with a voter-verified paper trail for the 2020 presidential elections."
An Italian cafe/restaurant called Fiore is on the way to the former Kanella South space in Queen Village.

Ed Crochet and Justine MacNeil, two pedigreed chefs last in New York, have signed a lease for 757 S. Front St., which last was Kanella South after a brief spell as Village Belle, which followed a decades-long run as Frederick's. (Kanella's Konstantinos Pitsillides has since decamped to his original BYOB location at 10th and Spruce.)

Crochet describes Fiore as "casual-ish, but not overly casual  professional at the same time." As an example, he suggested somewhere between the earthy airs of the nearby Hungry Pigeon and the polish of, say, Vernick in Rittenhouse.

MacNeil's forte is pastry, and her resume includes Del Posto, Craft, and the Dutch. Crochet was a chef at Craft before joining Starr Restaurants, which led to a spell as executive chef with Starr Catering. That pointed them toward Philadelphia as a city to open their first restaurant.

"We're not here to score big-time cash or move in on a market," Crochet told me. "We like Queen Village and we want to be a part of the restaurant scene here  not 'apart' from the scene."

The days will start with pastry-focused breakfast including zeppole or bombolini maritozzi, sweet and savory schiacciate, marinated vegetable salads, focaccia sandwiches, and the like. They want to feel out the opening times  aiming for 10 a.m., unless there's a call for earlier. "We want to be make sure that we are in line with what the neighborhood is looking for and we are happy to be flexible to do so," MacNeil said.

It will shut down in midafternoon and start again for dinner. The menu will be focused on pasta and vegetable-forward dishes. MacNeil is particularly proud of her gelato. They won't have a display case  rather just a few flavors at a time, including classics such as the Tuscan favorite crema, cioccolato fondente, and also "mix-in" heavy flavors such as rocky road and s'mores. All nut pastes and mix-ins will be made in-house.

Wines will be Italians and Americans, with bottle prices between $35 and $60. They'll offer five reds and whites by the glass. Pennsylvania liquors will be featured, though they'll go Italian for after-dinner drinks.

They'll do only light redecoration (there's a killer open grill in the dining room and a lovely separate barroom); the opening timeline is dependent on the liquor-license transfer, which can be 60 to 120 days.

They intend to book private parties in December and by January open the cafe portion, running that way until they're licensed.
Todd Carmichael, founder of La Colombe, poses for a photo at his store in Fishtown on Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, Pa. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. Carmichael, founder of La Colombe, writes about how he began marching/advocating when he was in college at U. of Washington. He compares it to his Guinness-record-setting solo march across Antarctica and then talks about why heOs become active again in response to Trump. JOSE F. MORENO / Staff Photographer Read more

Before Philly-based La Colombe had about 650 employees spread over five cities, CEO Todd Carmichael said he could just walk into his cafe and tell the handful of workers to go vote while he manned the counter.

It has to be more organized now, he said, but the emphasis on encouraging employees to vote has remained consistent since Carmichael cofounded the company in 1994. He instructs managers to make sure workers take the time they need to vote. If a manager does not follow these directives and employees don't believe they can vote, Carmichael said, they can email him directly.

"Voting day, it's the greatest day to be late," he said. "It's the day you should be late to work."

La Colombe's top java maven is joining the CEOs of more than 350 companies in "Time to Vote," which bills itself as a "nonpartisan, business-led effort [that] aims to increase voter participation on Election Day."

>> VOTERS GUIDE: View candidates in the 2018 midterm election based on your address, or browse all the action in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware

The campaign, announced in September, includes leaders of a diverse set of companies, including many with workers in the Philadelphia area, such as Walmart, the Gap, Dick's Sporting Goods, Nordstrom, PayPal, and Southwest Airlines. The initiative cites low voter-participation rates in the United States and describes how work frustrates many voters. Lyft, which is part of the campaign, is providing free and discounted rides to the polls, its president, John Zimmer, said.

This is hardly the only campaign around. ElectionDay.org has a petition to make election days a company holiday. The website notes that nearly 60 percent of voting-eligible Americans failed to vote in the last midterm, and 35 percent of nonvoters cited scheduling conflicts with work or school as impediments.

The effort has garnered pledges from more than 280 companies in retail, computer software, advertising, financial services, health care, and venture capital.

"The enthusiasm from our corporate partners is exceptional for a midterm election," Mike Ward of TurboVote, a nonpartisan voter-turnout initiative from such brands as Amazon, Facebook, and Google, told the Washington Post. "If you had asked me in March 2016 what we expected to be happening in October of 2018, I would have expected way, way less."

This year, 44 percent of U.S. firms are giving workers paid time off to vote in the upcoming midterm, up slightly from 42 percent in 2017, the Society for Human Resource Management found. It also documented a decline in companies offering unpaid time off to vote, beyond what the law requires, to 29 percent from 33 percent in 2017.

In Pennsylvania, there are no laws requiring companies to give employees time off to vote, according to Workplace Fairness, which tracks state laws on voting rights.

"The way this country is organized, it makes it hard for people to always vote, so we wanted to create an environment where we can overcome those difficulties," Carmichael said. "I want to make sure  that La Colombe is part of the solution."

Carmichael wants it to become a standard that "all businesses, from big box stores to small cafes," give employees the right to vote.

Companies should make Election Day a national holiday, given that workers are expected to be distracted at work while following polling numbers, the outplacement consultant firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas concluded. This productivity loss could cost employers several billion dollars collectively, the firm said.

Patagonia, a retailer of outdoor clothing and gear, closed its stores on Election Day 2016 and announced it will do the same for the midterms. It is also part of the Time to Vote campaign. "The threats to democracy have never been more real than they are right now," the company's website says.

>> SIGN UP: Get daily text messages on key issues leading up to the election

The Committee of Seventy, a Philadelphia nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group, recently launched an app called WeVote, which informs users about the candidates, voting rights, and anything else they need to know on Election Day, said CEO David Thornburgh. In about 10 days, the committee has attracted about 40 Philly groups, including companies, nonprofits, and campaigns, and 400 users.

Encouraging voting "is going to continue to seep into the corporate consciousness," Thornburgh said. "This is something the millennial employees care about, and they will be attracted to companies that share that interest and commitment."

Jen Devor, director of partnerships at Campus Philly and candidate for Philadelphia City Commissioner, helped create the WeVote app. A push to get out the vote shows future employees that "the company is making an effort to engage with the civically minded culture," she said.

One of the top three factors when young professionals, ages 25 to 39, in this region considered a new employer was company culture, according to a Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia survey in 2017. More than 75 percent of respondents were involved in public service or interested in getting involved.

Over at Comcast's Philadelphia office, the intranet message board includes a reminder that Election Day is coming and has a link to a voter registration website, said company spokesperson John Demming. The company does this for every election cycle and encourages employees to vote before and after work hours.

ShopRunner, which has its "founding office" in Conshohocken, is reminding employees that voting on Election Day should be a priority, even if they need to come in to work late or leave early, said Lindsay Verstegen, the company's senior vice president of people.

"Especially in tech and just any segment of business that's moving very fast, it's very easy to get caught up in things," Verstegen said. So it's important "to remind people that your right to vote is one of your greatest powers as a citizen in this country, so please go do that."

Eric Orts, a business ethics professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, said employers encouraging voting is a movement that is "building." Yet while big firms commit to national campaigns, Orts said it is important to see whether smaller firms are also offering this benefit.

"If you're asking what's the social cause, then we can't ignore the elephant, so to speak, in the room," Orts said, referring to President Trump. "Businesses have been involved in politics, usually behind the scenes having PACs support their candidates.  Right now it's a little different. A concern many people have is that we could lose our democracy if we don't get more people out to vote this time around."

Haverford-based NouSoma Communications has four employees, and its president, Ellen Langas, said the women-owned company includes a provision in the employees' annual work plan to allow up to two hours paid time off to get to the polls.

"Women can really effect change," she said, noting the surge in women running for public office. She views Election Day as similar to other major holidays observed in corporate America. "Voting allows us to exercise our choice about those who are going to represent us and ultimately shape our lives  and I take that very seriously and I think our employees do, too."
Terry Egger, publisher of the Philadelphia Media Network, shown here giving opening remarks at the 2018 Inquirer Corporate Philanthropy Conference & Awards in September, was named 2018 Publisher of the Year by Editor & Publisher, a trade journal for the newspaper industry. Read more

Editor & Publisher gave its 2018 Publisher of the Year award to Terrance C.Z. "Terry" Egger of Philadelphia Media Network, which publishes the Inquirer, Daily News, and philly.com. The trade journal for the newspaper industry said it received 60 nominations for the honor.

"His colleagues credit him for turning the organization around since arriving three years ago, when the company was at its 'darkest hours,'" the publication wrote.

Egger, 61, came to Philadelphia Media Network after having retired as president, chief executive, and publisher of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, where he worked from 2006 to 2013.

Since his arrival in October 2015, Egger has overseen the consolidation of the three newsrooms into one. Reporters' beats have been reorganized with a more digital focus. The company has added an events division, which quickly ramped up to 15 to 20 events a year. The advertising department is getting a total revamp along with a new name, Inquirer Solutions, reflecting its role for customers. And a digital subscription was begun in September 2017, enabling the company to enroll more than 25,000 paid digital subscribers after one year, beating the goal of 20,000.
Gov. Wolf, surrounded by state officials, announces a new effort 11/13/2017 to boost solar energy in Pennsylvania at an event at a solar installationin Elizabethtown, Pa., that is owned and operated by Community Energy Solar. The states solar industry grew for the second year in a row. Read more

After years of lagging behind those in other states, Pennsylvania's solar industry is making substantial gains to catch up.

Jobs in the state's solar sector increased by 26 percent to nearly 4,000 people in 2017, according to an annual census released by the Solar Foundation, a Washington-based nonprofit promoting solar energy.

It was the second consecutive year of employment growth after three years of declines, a sign that solar-friendly policies at the state level  and falling equipment prices encouraging more installations  are making their mark.

The gains come as the national solar workforce fell by 4 percent, the first annual drop since the group began releasing job counts in 2010. Some of the leading solar states, including California, Nevada, Massachusetts and Texas, have experienced deep cuts as, analysts said, prices come down and utility-scale solar projects come online.

Larger installers and manufacturers were also cautious in anticipation of U.S. tariffs on solar imports. Last month, President Trump imposed those tariffs, which were as high as 30 percent on solar equipment made abroad.

"After six years of rapid and steady growth, the solar industry faced headwinds that led to a dip in employment in 2017, including a slowdown in the pace of new solar installations," Andrea Luecke, The Solar Foundation's president and executive director, said in a news release.

At the same time, Pennsylvania joined an unlikely band of states with relatively small solar industries  among them, Utah, Minnesota, Colorado, Iowa, Ohio and Tennessee  in growing jobs.

"The fact that jobs went up in 29 states is an encouraging sign that solar is taking hold across the country," Luecke said.

Last year marked a series of opportunities for Pennsylvania's burgeoning solar industry, which is hoping to catch up with its neighbors, New Jersey, New York and Maryland.

"Now we're seeing efforts both at the policy level and also just in general, among the public, to go solar," said Pari Kasotia, the Mid-Atlantic director for Vote Solar, a Washington-based advocacy group. "I'm hoping the Pennsylvania solar market continues to increase as people become more aware of the benefits."

In late 2016, SolarCity, the nation's largest residential solar installer, moved into the Pittsburgh area, joining a business community of smaller solar providers.

Also in 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection gathered input from solar advocates on policy changes that would help spur growth. Gov. Wolf has said he wants to boost solar generation to at least 10 percent of in-state electricity sales by 2030.

The current solar target, set by the state legislature as part of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards in 2004, stands at a half-percent of electricity sales by 2021  a target that advocates argue is far too low.

In November, Wolf launched the Solar Energy Program with $30 million in grant funding to be used for new solar installations and solar equipment manufacturing in the state.

In addition, the governor signed legislation that aims to strengthen Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act by requiring solar renewable energy credits used to demonstrate compliance must be generated at solar facilities delivering electricity to the grid in the commonwealth.

The Solar Foundation's report found that about half of all U.S. solar employees work to install the systems, ranging from residential and commercial rooftops to large-scale solar farms that directly feed electric utilities.

The rest of the positions were split fairly evenly among manufacturing solar modules; sales and distribution of the systems; and project development.

The group determined job counts by surveying businesses that identify as part of the industry. It's the same methodology used by the U.S. Department of Energy in previous years to determine broader clean energy job counts.

Daniel Moore: dmoore@post-gazette.com, 412-263-2743 and Twitter @PGdanielmoore.
The Rosenthal brothers were murdered in a Pittsburgh synagogue only five days ago, but they've already left a legacy, which is this:

No one in their community thought, at first, to tell the national and international reporters who descended on the town last weekend that the men were developmentally disabled.

They were just Cecil, 54, and David, 59, people said, who worshipped at Tree of Life synagogue every Saturday for services. Cecil greeted members at the door, David set out the prayer books.

The fact that both were born with Fragile X syndrome  which can cause lifelong learning, movement, and intellectual impairments  was mentioned only after friends and loved ones in their Squirrel Hill neighborhood described everything else about the men.

We've learned how the sociable Cecil was nicknamed "the Mayor of Squirrel Hill." And that David was reserved, immaculate in dress and manner, and emanated a quiet joy. And that the brothers were so gentle, folks referred to them as "the boys"  not to deny their adulthood but to honor their innocence.

In a world that too often sees a person's disability before it sees the person, the Rosenthals were seen for all of who they were. Through the words of those who loved the brothers, the world has gotten to see that, too.

"We will never be the same," says Nicole D'Amico, lead employment specialist at Achieva, the Pittsburgh agency that provided disability services to the Rosenthal brothers for 25 years. She worked closely with the men and is reeling with grief. "We loved them and they will be deeply missed."

Until the Rosenthals were killed with nine others inside Tree Of Life by a gunman who detested the Judaism the brothers cherished, few beyond Squirrel Hill would have considered the brothers' lives extraordinary.

But parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities know better. As their kids age into adulthood and beyond, it can be rare for them to know lives in which they're truly seen, heard, and known by those outside of the disability community. I learned as much while writing "Falling Off the Cliff," last year's four-part series about adults with IDD and the families who care for them.

Behaviors regarded as quirky or cute in childhood can be seen as weird or frightening in adults. Public outings can become stressful as strangers point, frown, and sometimes even ask, "What's wrong with him, anyway?"

This is the downside of a community-inclusion movement that has brought so many people with disabilities out of their homes or institutions and into the public square. Not everyone in the square is ready for what they will see and hear.

"Where we once pursued integration, we now talk about promoting inclusion," writes Vanderbilt University special-education professor Erik Carter, author of Including People With Disabilities in Faith Communities.

"But my sense is that both terms fall short of what really matters most. People want to be more than integrated or included. They want to experience true belonging."

In the days since the synagogue murders, story after story has been shared in the national press and on social media about the many ways in which the Rosenthals belonged not just in Squirrel Hill, but to Squirrel Hill.

"You can feel what is good in the world when you talk to them, because they only talk to you about good things," Tree of Life member Jeffrey Solomon told the New York Times, unconsciously using the present tense as he spoke of the brothers. "They were  my introduction to the fact that there are people like that, and they are just like the rest of us."

Their friend Tara Czekaj took to Facebook the day after the shooting to share a memory of Cecil, whom she knew from the local Jewish Community Center. "I remember the day after September 11, 2001, Cecil sat at the front desk with me and said, 'Don't worry, Tara, I'll always protect you,'" she wrote. "It pains me to know they both needed protection yesterday."

And an emotional Ronna Wedner told Time about Cecil's daily visits to her flower shop in Squirrel Hill.

"Every day, it was, 'Good afternoon, ladies.' He would tell you how beautiful you were. Everyone was beautiful to him," said Wedner. "He was the happiest guy I knew."

When Jewish people offer condolences, they say, "May their memory be for a blessing."

My hope is that the memories shared so widely of these ordinary yet exceptional brothers will bless the world with curiosity about people with IDD who live, love, work and dream among us.

Maybe curiosity will lead to conversation, then to friendship, then to belonging.

What a beautiful legacy that would be for the Rosenthal brothers, whose community will miss them forever.
In what people are calling  accurately, in my opinion  the most important American midterm election in our lifetimes, there's been a lot of things we've never seen before: like, for example. a president sending thousands of troops to the U.S. southern border or erasing the existence of more than a million transgender people, all to boost GOP voter turnout a point or two.

And then there's this: non-voter porn.

If you read the news, you know the kind of political smut I'm talking about. Full-frontal exposures of mostly attractive 20-somethings, revealing their often lame-sounding excuses why they're joining the more than 60 percent of eligible Americans who typically don't vote in midterm elections.

We're talking about 20-somethings who've never used the U.S. mail and are traumatized by the idea of finding a postage stamp for a registration form, or so don't see how a small president in search of a balcony is any different than any other politician.

Non-voter porn is meant to titillate, shock, and outrage readers who think Tuesday's election is the last best chance to save Democracy As We Know It from going down the toilet it's been circling the last two years. The ur-document of this genre is a New York Magazine profile of a dozen mostly intelligent young adults who are engaged in many things  but not voting.

The piece went viral. Many readers got madder and madder as they read about Anna, the 21-year-old from Austin, Texas, living in New York, who can't handle her registration problems by mail ("Honestly, if someone had the forms printed for me and was willing to deal with the post office, I'd be much more inclined to vote"), or 25-year-old Aaron from Atlanta, who volunteered for Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2016 but who's now mad at Democrats for not seeming to care about climate change or much else ("And I just don't see the point anymore"), or Laura, the 21-year-old from Atlanta who didn't know in high school there was a vice president named Joe Biden but who promises she will educate herself enough to vote someday  hopefully by 2020.

The NYMag article failed to mention (as stressed in this hip-hop-style diss track from Mother Jones) that under-30 voter turnout in 2018 is likely to be higher than any midterm election in modern history. Yet it nonetheless inspired derision and the predictable biting satire from the Washington Post's Alexandra Petri. But you know what? If your inclination is to blame the avocado-toast-loving Generation That Killed Napkins and Mayonnaise for the collapse of the American Experiment 

Just. Stop.

Look, we all can take some personal responsibility in our lives, and so I have nothing but praise for the millions of millennials who successfully Googled "how to buy stamps" and have registered to vote in Tuesday's election. And if you're like me and you know there's some difference between the two parties ("Yo, Aaron from Atlanta  a Republican president is gutting all the climate change rules put in by [checks notes] a Democrat "), indifference can be annoying. But as someone who's (ineptly) parented two of today's 20-somethings, I know that yelling at them  is not a strategy.

Let's be honest: America  the supposed beacon of democracy  is one of the world's worst developed nations for voting. Millennials had nothing to do with that. Even worse, my generation of baby boomers has essentially been running the United States for the last quarter-century, and we've done nothing to fix that. We've generally made voting worse. We're the ones who need to be shamed.

Are we really going to blame voters who grew up in the 21st century for a system that uses 19th-century technology to implement ideas from the 18th century? America has a slew of companies that thrive by making it so easy  addictive, actually  to use their services. Can you imagine Uber or Spotify asking for your business  a full month ahead of time, assuming you can print out a cumbersome form and locate a post office? That would be insane, and yet a hodgepodge of governments  that all manage to register voters in different, complicated ways  do exactly that.

America's voting problem can arguably divided into three broad categories: the systemic problems that should have been fixed 50 years ago but weren't because the politicians who can make the changes are beholden to the lousy system we now have, plus what you might call the social problems of an outdated system that looks nothing like "the way we live today," plus the hurdles that are purely put there by hardball politics. It all adds up to a broken process.

The Pew Research Center found after the 2016 election that the United States ranked 26th of 32 nations on a list of developed, democratic nations when it came to voter participation. A big part of that is few other countries put almost all of the onus for voting on the citizen, to register and then get out to the polls. Most Americans  myself included  wouldn't support the system of mandatory voting that exists in some countries, where you can even be fined for not voting. But other systemic reforms could result in a huge boost in turnout:

 Same-day registration, in which unregistered voters energized by the final days of hard-fought campaigns can show up on Election Day with some form of ID, register, and go directly into the voting booth. This alone would solve many of the biggest problems for voters in the 18-to-30 bracket, who  unlike older voters  tend to move around frequently or change their name through marriage. "We know this works quite well.  Some states have been doing this since 1979," said Barry Burden, the University of Wisconsin political scientist who runs its Elections Research Center.

 Automatic registration, in which citizens interact with the government  getting a driver's license, for example  and are automatically registered to vote as well. This is done in many European nations and 13 states (plus D.C.). You can actually opt out if you're determined to make a statement by not registering (that's what 8 percent do in Oregon, Burden said), but typically this does boost overall participation by several percentage points.

 Early voting mechanisms, including early voting stations  which exist and work well in a number of U.S. states, even if here in Pennsylvania it's still viewed as something from Mars  and even mail-in ballots, which are successfully used in a few states like Oregon. These go beyond long-standing  and unfulfilled  proposals to make Election Day a national holiday.

Other voting advocates are focused on how to make various aspects of democracy  from the design of voting booths and polling places to registration using mobile apps to simply giving young people better information about who and what is on the ballot  more modern.

"We're all about how to make elections more open, inviting and easy to participate in," said Whitney Quesenbery of the Center for Civic Design, which works on projects such as testing an "Anywhere Ballot," where people can vote on their own device (she admits such solutions probably require "a better internet than the one we have now") or expanding use of voter guides  to address the common excuse for not voting of lack of information.

But in the end, one of the big reasons people don't vote for politicians is  politicians, and I mean that in two different ways. One is that political parties need to do a better job of putting up more competitive candidates in more races. "The number one reason" for not voting, Burden told me, "is not knowing who the candidates are, or not liking them  or actively disliking them."

The deeper reason  and it's something that the civic-minded folks who get involved in voting reform aren't comfortable talking about  is that too many politicians are too invested in discouraging people from voting instead of encouraging them. Some of the blame belongs to craven incumbents in both parties. (The supposed "liberal oasis" of New York state is one of the worst for voters, including a requirement that voters seeking to switch parties to vote in a primary do so six months in advance).

But for today's Republican Party  which does best with older folks who've lived in one place for a while and thus face the least voting hurdles  making it hard to cast a ballot is a feature, not a bug. Most of the worst voter-repression schemes  overly strenuous voter ID laws to fight nonexistent fraud, purging voter rolls, closing polling places, curtailing early voting  have been enacted by GOP legislatures, governors, or secretaries of state.

Some of these schemes  closing polling places on or near college campuses, or ruling that college IDs are invalid for voting  specifically target the young voters that we're now yelling at for not leaping these tall man-made hurdles and voting. That said, I do blame the Democrats for one thing: not making a bigger fuss about this. In the last month, I've seen dozens of TV ads on how the Democrats are going to protect health care but not one single ad that Democrats will make it easier for you to vote. That seems like a stunning lack of imagination.

So yell at them, and then yell 100 times louder at the Republican apparatchiks like Georgia's Brian Kemp or Kansas' Kris Kobach who've tried to build their careers by standing in front of the polling place door. But don't yell at millennials, who are tomorrow's enthusiastic voters. Unless we grown-ups keep screwing things up.
Trinity Brown is hesitant as Erin Carlisle Norton of Moving Architects dance troupe works with students at Valley Day School for emotionally troubled students. The group provides workshops for women and girls in trauma to express their feelings through dance. Read more

In a darkened gym at Valley Day School in Morrisville, five teenage girls slowly stretched and arched their way into a previously unfamiliar world of modern dance, as two drummers tapped out a back beat.

The new dancers moved tentatively and then more enthusiastically  crab walking and then skipping and leaping across the stage. But their visiting instructor, Erin Carlisle Norton of a troupe called Moving Architects, wasn't interested in how the girls moved as much as how they felt.

"I feel more confident without boys," one of the dancers said, as the others smiled even as they worked up a sweat. "We can talk about our girl issues."

If it sounds therapeutic, that was the point. The dancers from Valley Day School  a K-12 Bucks County school for kids requiring emotional and academic support  worked with the Moving Architects crew for three days and called themselves the Leading Ladies Girl Group. The program aims to use dance movements as a way for female teens to give voice to emotions they find hard to express in words.

"At first, they were hesitant  to see them come out of their shell and slowly open up was something," said Norton, whose small dance outfit is based in Montclair, N.J.

Valley Day officials said they created the Leading Ladies program  with roughly 12 participants from the school's enrollment of about 90  both to recognize that the predominantly male school has been increasing its female enrollment and to find new ways for these girls to address their emotional issues and any past trauma they experienced.

"This is out of their comfort zone," said Stacy Maurer, the school's licensed clinical therapist, who organized the Leading Ladies and watched approvingly from the wings as Norton guided their moves. To the dancers, she said, "What I have to say is, once you got into it, you couldn't wipe the smiles off of your faces."

The Leading Ladies were also taking on a starring role in a hot topic of youth psychology  how to account for differences between boys, who are often more verbal and forceful in expressing or acting out emotions, and girls, who are more prone to hold back and repress their feelings, which in the worst cases can result in depression or behavior such as eating disorders.

Valley Day officials, in a release announcing the program, cited the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault as evidence that girls experience different types of trauma. They also said that therapeutic approaches are needed that recognize young female brains are wired differently than those of boys.

It's a concept that clearly resonated with the visiting Norton, who has said that a key mission of Moving Architects  developed in part by focusing on trauma in training exercises with New York's Gibney Dance  is to foster the idea of merging femininity with strength.

She said the idea for students is to "try something new and step out of their comfort zone and feel themselves succeed in that." She said some of the exercises involved girls writing their feelings on a sheet of paper and then working on dance moves  a fast and loud stomp for "anger," for example  to act it out and thus feel empowered.

(Norton and Moving Architects also teach dance to boys, both during the three-day residency at Valley Day, where they worked with all students, and elsewhere.)

Inside the gym, Norton told the girls in the Leading Ladies group that "our bodies are super important to us" as a way to express feelings. "I know this is new and may feel kind of strange," she added, "but let's just go for it."

"I liked how you could tell that in dance they're trying to let something out, they're trying to express something with dance instead of words," said 15-year-old Jaida Santiago, a 10th grader who said she has experience in dancing ballet and salsa, but nothing like this before. "I was having a little rough day until now. I was really tired, but this energized me."

In addition to working on their own routines, with an assist from one of her New York dancers, Caitlin Bailey, Norton showed the girls a video of Moving Architects giving an intense and emotional performance, titled "Enough," about gun violence. One student said the dance looked like fighting, while another invoked robots.

"You guys aren't too far off," Norton responded. "It shows strength. You could express all these things with your body."

One of the Valley Day dancers, senior Trinity Brown, had to be coaxed into participating but was enthusiastic by the end of the session. "It helps me express myself and get through some stuff, get through emotions," she said, adding that she's weighing a future as a dancer if she doesn't become a writer or a therapist.

Several of the girls told Norton that they felt more comfortable with no boys around and less self-conscious about the sweat of intense dancing.

"Why do they not seem to care  and we do?" Norton asked.

The answer shot back quickly: "They're boys!"
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it is also sometimes a crime.

The crook in the fact-based and funny Can You Ever Forgive? is Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy), a writer of biographies and celebrity magazine profiles whose career is in decline. Nobody wants her book about Vaudeville star Fanny Brice, so she's out of work and about to be evicted from her apartment.

Israel starts scrounging for valuables to sell, including letters from famous people she's profiled, including Katharine Hepburn, and discovers they are worth a month's rent or two. She sells every item she can find, and in the process learns about the market for these specialized commodities  the better they capture the personality of the writer, the more valuable they are.

It occurs to Israel that a talented mimic (and an out-of-work writer) could forge these letters, using the right artifacts and some traced signatures. A few vintage typewriters later, and Israel is up and running  crafting and selling witty correspondence purportedly from Noel Coward, Dorothy Parker and others.

The fraud is pitched (by director Marielle Heller) as good fun, and Israel turns into an unlikely rooting interest. Unlikely because she's a recluse, a misanthrope, a cat lady/hoarder, a terrible housekeeper, and probably an alcoholic  attributes that McCarthy somehow assembles into a figure who earns our sympathy and affection. McCarthy's magic trick is to suggest that Israel is a woman who tried, and failed, to meet life halfway. We see it in a tender scene of another lonely woman (Dolly Wells) trying to befriend Israel, who doesn't know how to respond (her inability to read and respond to social cues may also be hardwired, something suggested by McCarthy's thoughtful performance).

It helps that Israel's crimes are essentially victimless, or that the victims are off screen. The letters end up in the hands of wealthy collectors, who can afford to endure a fraud or two. And she's no mere copycat. It takes resourcefulness and skill to do what Israel does, to understand a writer's voice, and to inhabit it  a feat more of invention than duplication.

It's possible to imagine the writers themselves getting a kick out of it  in the Charlie Kaufman version of this, ghosts of the writers would appear alongside Israel, making edits and suggestions. Israel does have an accomplice, a fellow drinker and couch surfer named Jack Hock (Richard E. Grant), who becomes Israel's beard and stand-in when dealers, buyers, and law enforcement realize there is a forger at work, and start to close in.

This isn't so much a procedural, though, as it is a study of two characters in symbiosis. Can You Ever Forgive Me? charts the offbeat alliance and ultimately the friendship that develops between the Hock and Israel, a bond that exists somewhere between proximity and affinity. They are castoffs and misfits who live in the margins of 1970s/1980s Manhattan and fill its empty spaces with each other. Their final scene together, unsentimental yet somehow deeply emotional, registers as one of the year's best.

MOVIES

Can You Ever Forgive Me?
In the labored new remake of Suspiria, an old man (Tilda Swinton under mounds of latex makeup) converses with a pedestrian who says he's on his way to a lecture by psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan.

It's a joke, riffing on Lacan's post-Freudian pronouncement that "Woman does not exist." Get it? The "man" in the scene doesn't really exist, at least not as a man, and if that's your idea of a knee-slapper, then maybe this Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) version of the 1977 Dario Argento horror classic is for you.

Others may find this eggheaded update a little fusty compared to what, back in the groovy 1970s, was a work of pure inspiration and sensation  and blend of colors, music, and assaultive imagery that still has the power to engage audiences today, and is still a regular at midnight showings around the country.

One doubts that Guadagnino's movie will have a similar legacy. For one thing, it's two and a half hours long, so patrons at a midnight show will miss last call and probably won't be home until at least 3 a.m. And the movie seems even longer  replacing Argento's splashy colors with dull, chilly greys, and lengthening the story (Argento clocked in at 96 minutes) with layers that feel over overwrought and overthought.

The basic setup is the same  American dance ingenue Susie (Dakota Johnson) comes to Berlin in the 1970s to enroll in a legendary dance academy and performing troupe run by the imperious Madame Blanc (also Swinton) and other ladies who may or may not be witches.

Guadagnino, though, has altered the context, bringing the social reality of 1970s Germany much more into the foreground. There are hammered-in references to WWII, the Holocaust, the ongoing activities of the Marxist Baader-Meinhof gang and related terrorist incidents, so we are encouraged to think deep thoughts about the nature of evil, man's (or woman's) ongoing capacity for violence, and so forth.

Madame Blanc declares that after WWII, art can no longer be beautiful or cheerful, and restages a piece that she conceived in the immediate aftermath of the war, featuring grim-faced dancers and stabby, brutal movements. It's not half bad, and it follows an even better sequence of Susie making her first performance, in which every violent move has a deleterious effects on another dancer, trapped in a separate room.

It's a cool idea, but derivative in its presentation. The bones and joints of the victim get pulled in grotesque directions, an effect (embellished with ripped-tendon sound effects) we've seen in countless modern horror movies, where deformed zombies skitter along hallways like spiders and climb walls.

Guadagnino calls particular attention to instruments of torture, so when a dancer gets the hook in this troupe, watch out. Elsewhere, he jabs at us with bursting images of hearts, worms, guts, set to the jolting sounds of the Thom Yorke score. Later, Guadagnino answers the question, what would Jabba the Hutt look like in Ray-Bans? In the end, there's nothing as chilling as the scene featuring Timothee Chalamet and the apricot in Call Me By Your Name.

MOVIES

Suspiria
Rap musician Tupac Shakur is shown in this 1993 handout photo. A Los Angeles Times investigation into the long-unsolved murder of Shakur concluded that his killer likely was a gang member who used a pistol provided by rival rapper the Notorious B.I.G. No arrests have been made in Shakur's death following the Sept. 7, 1996 shooting near the Las Vegas Strip. Read more

Pieces of hip-hop history are now on display at Temple University, courtesy of the donation of a collection that includes handwritten lyrics, notes, and jewelry that had belonged to rapper Tupac Shakur.

"For a hip-hop head, this is truly a dream come true," said Aaron Smith, a professor of Africology and African American Studies who teaches a Shakur-focused class at Temple, on Thursday. "Just 20 years ago, they were saying [hip-hop] was a pariah in society. Here, we have legitimization from the academic community on the highest level."

The items will be on exhibit at Temple's Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection. Located in Sullivan Hall on the university's main campus in North Philadelphia, the Blockson Collection consists of roughly 500,000 items that detail "the global black experience."

About a dozen items that belonged to Shakur were donated to the collection by Runnemede, N.J.-based Goldin Auctions. Among the pieces are handwritten lyrics for famous tracks like "It Ain't Easy" and "I Ain't Mad At Cha," as well as handwritten track listings for unreleased albums including Nuthin Gold, Street Fame, and Troublesome. Also included are a diamond earring and a bullet-dented gold medallion that Shakur wore on the night of a 1994 New York City attack in which the rapper was shot five times.

Jewelry, Smith said, played a significant role in Shakur's story. During his career, the rapper popularized the flaunting of expensive chains and medallions, which was "not a big deal" when Shakur started out. However, by the time of his death in September 1996 after a drive-by shooting that remains unsolved, the use of medallions and chains "as a means of identifying with a label" had become popular. Case in point: Shakur's 1996 album All Eyez on Me, where he displays his Death Row Records chain.

Shakur's death could even be attributed to jewelry, Smith noted. The shooting that killed Shakur erupted over a medallion that was stolen in a previous altercation.

"There is a lot of mystery around Tupac and his jewelry," Smith said. "To have some of [it] here means a whole lot."

While Shakur has few direct connections to Philadelphia  he was a New York City native who grew up in Baltimore before moving to the West Coast  bringing items of his to the city still makes sense, Smith said. After all, Philadelphia is the home of "gangsta rap," a genre that Shakur is closely associated. The form was reportedly invented by Philly emcee Schoolly D, who is credited with starting gangsta rap with his 1985 track, "PSK, What Does It Mean?"

"Gangsta rap started in Philadelphia," Smith said. "It's only right that one of the most influential writers and creators in hip-hop music has one of their resting places here in Philadelphia."

Now, with some of Shakur's items housed at Temple, the Blockson Collection will increase its focus on hip-hop culture, curator Diane Turner said Thursday. The idea, she added, is to develop a "large collection related to hip-hop."

"This is just the beginning of a long journey to collect and preserve hip-hop culture," Turner said.
Rina Banerjee's "Take me, take me, take meto the Palace of love" (2003) at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Read more

"America made me great."

So says artist Rina Banerjee, reflecting on her immigrant upbringing in New York and Philadelphia's Fox Chase neighborhood, in an interview for the catalog of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts' new exhibition, "Rina Banerjee: Make Me a Summary of the World." It is a statement not of egotism, but of slightly grudging gratitude that despite the prejudice and wrong-headedness she encountered, America gave her the opportunity to become herself.

This mid-career retrospective, the largest show ever devoted to the Indian-born American artist, threatens, at least on paper, to be almost too timely. Her issues  globalism, identity, world trade, change in the natural world, the spread of culture, disease, ideas, and money  are the stuff of each day's headlines.

Fortunately art, when it is good, is not about issues. Instead, it offers visions, ways of looking at the world that reconfigure our thoughts and unleash a flood of feelings.

Banerjee's work is not programmatic. The sculpture installations she hand-crafts from a wide array of materials, including stuff she buys on Ebay, are full of mystery. They are hairy and horned, beady and enigmatic. They are fragile works with an air of menace. If you are not careful, they might just eat you up.

Even her titles are overstuffed and intentionally awkward and ambiguous, as though they had been filtered through Google Translate. Here is the name of one of the show's strongest works: The world as burnt fruit  When empires feuded for populations, buried in colonial and ancient currency a Gharial appeared from an inky melon  hot with blossom sprang forth to swallow the world not yet whole as burnt fruit. (2009)

A gharial is a very dangerous, highly endangered Indian fish-eating crocodile  fewer than 250 wild ones survive. In Banerjee's work, a gharial's skull with electric-light eyes grasps the globe with the sharp tips of its teeth. It has a feathered collar, and it is emerging from a green ball with a pink interior.

This could be a fruit or a huge seed pod. It could also be a dome  a shape that appears in other Banerjee works  but here overturned, as though the authority it represents is overturned, exposing horror and hidden depths.

The opening of the ball is surrounded by cowry shells, which have been widely used as currency and which are a recurring motif in Banerjee's work. There are also many small glass vials and lightbulbs, which also recur in her work.

I can't tell you what it all means. But I can tell you the experience of encountering it is at once creepy and exhilarating. It is overripe and tropical, and it stays with you.

Philly to New York and back

Banerjee was born in 1963 in the city she still prefers to call Calcutta. When she was 3, her parents moved to London, then shortly thereafter to New York, then Philadelphia and New York again. After engineering school and art school, she was based in New York but has recently touched down in Philadelphia again.

In her sculptures and especially her drawings, people and their possessions often float in the air, sometimes linked to one another with fine threads or capillaries, but rarely standing on the ground. She has described this weightless, unrooted, unfinished state as a paradise where justice prevails because the answers are unknown.

PAFA's exhibition, which was curated by its contemporary art curator, Jodi Throckmorton, with Lauren Schell Dickens from the San Jose Museum of Art, strives to situate Banerjee's work firmly in the traditions of American art. It does so in quite a literal way, by placing the exhibition within PAFA's landmark 1876 Frank Furness building  itself an evocation of the exotic  and adjacent to iconic American art.

For example, Take me, take me, take me  to the Palace of love (2003), her pink, plastic-wrapped version of the Taj Mahal, sits only a few feet from Thomas Eakins' Gross Clinic and Winslow Homer's The Fox Hunt, two of the greatest American artworks anywhere.

The promise of self rule (2008), which consists of a thronelike chair hanging through a skylight, with netting and a cow's horn that looks like a heron's head at the bottom, is in the midst of federal period portraits. And Her captivity (2011), a birdcage enmeshed in grapevines, dolls' heads, gourds, and feathers, stands next to Benjamin West's Penn's Treaty with the Indians, and seems to offer an alternative take on colonialism. (These titles are her approved short versions of the full titles.)

PAFA has acquired three works in the exhibition  two huge, frightening flowers, one of which has a recorded jazz score, and Viola, from New Orleans-ah (2017). The latter, a severe hulking figure that incorporates a Yoruba mask, Indian rakes, a French Ferris wheel toy, a Murano glass horn, and much more. It is tethered by many strings to a parachute that rises into PAFA's great stair hall with its starry sky.

It animates this lofty space so dramatically that it is not unlikely it could return as a permanent fixture there once the show completes a forthcoming tour.

Unusually for Banerjee, this work was inspired by a real person, Viola Ida Lewis, an African American woman from New Orleans who married a Bengali man and started a business importing fabrics from South Asia.

Throckmorton sees this work as a version of the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the famed Greek marble from the second century BCE. It is easy to see what she means, although a work made of so many disparate parts cannot have the sweep and grandeur of a work shaped from a single piece of stone.

Of course, the disparate character of the work is a large part of its point. For Banerjee, freedom lies in incompleteness and imperfection.

American things tend to be made of many pieces. And unlike the Winged Victory we see at the Louvre, they are not all white.
Volunteers with PowerCorps, a division of AmeriCorps, return brooms used in their cleanup to a station set up underneath the Somerset stop on the Market Frankford subway line. PowerCorps was one of several organizations to aid in the Kensington neighborhood cleanup on November 1. RACHEL WISNIEWSKI / For the Inquirer Read more

In Kensington, everyone can agree on one thing: The neighborhood in Philadelphia's river wards needs to be cleaned  of the mattresses, the tents, the piles of garbage, the discarded needles along Kensington Avenue and the surrounding blocks, the detritus of an opioid crisis that pushed city officials to declare a disaster there last month.

But even as officials launched a large-scale cleanup along the avenue Thursday, they acknowledged that the crisis in Kensington can't be fixed by broom-wielding volunteers and city staffers.

"Today's event won't solve the litter problem or the discarded needles," said Brian Abernathy, the city's first deputy managing director.

But he told reporters that the cleanup  one of a few dozen goals for the neighborhood that the city had promised to accomplish before Nov. 15 as part of the disaster declaration  served a symbolic purpose, too. Officials hope it will show this long-neglected neighborhood that the city is serious about addressing its latest and largest crisis.

The disaster declaration is laying bare tensions over the central dispute in helping Kensington  namely, that not everyone agrees on how to do it. Even as she praised city officials for "not only working hard, but working smart in an intentional way," Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, who represents much of the community, told reporters that the neighborhood "cannot take any more."

The city has promised to find a location for a new "navigation center"  a short-term shelter that does not require sobriety and is designed to house people with addiction  within the next two weeks, as it prepares to clear a heroin encampment on Frankford Avenue. There's already one navigation center in the neighborhood, not far from the Allegheny El station, where the cleanup crews met on Thursday, and another low-barrier shelter near the city's only needle exchange, also in Kensington.

Abernathy said the navigation center must be convenient to people in addiction, who often balk at leaving the neighborhood where they can most easily find drugs to stave off the intense pain of withdrawal. "We won't be successful in getting folks off the street without [the center]. That is one of the most important efforts we have, but also one we have the most questions about," he said. "We're confident we're going to find a site for it that is workable for everyone involved."

Quinones-Sanchez says the neighborhood has hosted enough services for those in addiction, many of whom are not from the community.

"I will not allow them to put another [navigation center] in this neighborhood," Quinones-Sanchez said. "Kensington has been sympathetic. Kensington residents have been patient. Pero no mas." "But no more."

As cleaning crews picked up needles in McPherson Square Park, raked trash out of vacant lots and gave abandoned storefronts on the avenue a fresh coat of paint, residents said the cleaning was welcome  and long overdue.

"The cleanup is fine, but this area needs more than cleaning up. You see people on mattresses, sleeping. You see people getting their fixes in the neck. Sweeping and mopping is not going to fix that," said Iris Hernandez, 44. "It would be nice to walk out of your house with nothing to worry about  no needles, no overdoses." She has lived near McPherson Square for 15 years, and said she helped reverse two overdoses on her block this summer.

In the park, Elvis Rosado, an outreach worker at the local needle exchange who also lives in the neighborhood and has reversed dozens of overdoses, picked through the grass with a box to collect used syringes. "It's necessary  I just think too many people have locked themselves in and feel like whatever happens outside is none of their business," he said. "We're reminding you your community is still worth something."

Around the corner from the Somerset El station, where a crew of workers was painting vacant storefronts, Daniel Hinkie and a friend sat with a few other people in active addiction, surrounded by piles of clothing, suitcases, and cardboard mattresses. Both were born and raised in Kensington; the friend, 31, who's been addicted for four years and on the streets for two, still has family in the neighborhood.

"They're only doing this because the mayor's coming out," said Hinkie. He said he believed the city only started to pay attention to the crisis in his neighborhood when people from outside Kensington started going there. "But the cleanup is a good thing," he acknowledged. "The neighborhood needed it."
Gina Deney has been battling severe depression since she was a child. She has been hospitalized three times  once after a suicide attempt  and has tried more than 25 antidepressants that either had intolerable side effects or were ineffective.

"I've been through the gamut," said Deney, a feisty 55-year-old who now lives in Wilmington.

Deney has treatment-resistant depression  when a patient's symptoms aren't alleviated after trying at least two different antidepressants  and bipolar disorder. As a last-ditch effort, she turned to electroconvulsive therapy in 2015, first at Kennedy University Hospital in Cherry Hill and then at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. ECT causes small seizures that are electrically produced  stimulating areas of the brain associated with depression  with the aim of relieving various forms of mental illness.

ECT has alleviated her depression and stabilized her, Deney said, allowing her to get back to work running her home-care agency. Overall, remission with ECT is reported in about 80 percent of patients, according to the American Psychiatric Association, compared to about a 28 percent remission rate with an antidepressant.

But many people believe ECT to be a violent treatment. The stigma is partly based on such movies as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and books like The Snake Pit, in which the narrator paints a horrifying vision of ECT: "Now, the woman was putting clamps on your head  and here came another one, another nurse-garbed woman, and she leaned on your feet as if in a minute you might rise up from the table and strike the ceiling."

Today, however, ECT works very differently from when The Snake Pit was published in 1946. It uses far milder electrical pulses than it did decades ago, and the anesthesia is short-term. Patients are put to sleep for three to five minutes and given muscle relaxers to prevent injury. Then their brains are stimulated for a few seconds, causing seizures. When the patients wake up and regain their bearings, they go to a recovery room until they feel well enough to go home. Patients cannot drive after ECT.

Stigma against ECT persists nonetheless, as well as the popular notion of it as a treatment of last resort. So it's surprising that a study out of the University of Michigan, published in JAMA Psychiatry, suggests that trying ECT after just two other failed treatments  such as antidepressants or therapy or some combination of the two  makes financial sense.

The study found that for patients getting treatment for the first time, medication or talk therapy were more cost-effective than ECT. But for patients with treatment-resistant depression, ECT was a more cost-effective and often successful option. Not to mention that waiting for an antidepressant to kick in over a period of weeks can be dangerous for those who are severely depressed and may be suicidal. ECT works much faster.

The study may reshape physicians' notions about ECT and open up additional treatment options for patients with treatment-resistant depression, which affects 12 percent to 20 percent of all depressed people, according to a 2014 study.

"I think the big message is really not that [ECT] has to be done, or that you should do it after two other medication failures, but [that] it may not be unreasonable especially if your symptoms are severe," said senior author of the study Daniel Maixner, associate professor of psychiatry at Michigan. "The longer a depression lasts, the higher the number of medication failures you have, the tougher" it is to treat. That creates a pressure to move to ECT sooner rather than later.

The University of Michigan team examined well-regarded studies to create a simulation of what it would look like for patients to travel through various treatment options. The study incorporated a mathematical model that used an algorithm to run through hundreds of treatment scenarios.

"You're trying to simulate what would be possible routes for typical patients," Maixner said.

The study predicts that ECT as a third line of treatment would have an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $54,000 per quality-adjusted life year. (The ratio measures the value received for dollars spent to restore a patient's quality of life.) That is much lower than the $100,000 threshold usually considered worthwhile for health spending. Deney's treatment costs about $3,000 a session, which she pays for up front. Insurance reimburses her about $900 a session.

So the question is: Who would choose ECT and what doctor would recommend it after just two failed treatments?

"It's a terrifying process," said Deney, who went through more than 50 sessions of ECT between April 2015 and November 2017. A typical course of ECT runs three times a week for four to six weeks. Deney's treatment has far exceeded that because of the severity of her symptoms.

"You're not going in to have somebody put stitches in your arm. You're doing something with your actual brain. And when you really start to ask questions about what it's doing  we don't know," she said.

Deney has lost a significant amount of long-term memory and struggled with some cognitive deficits that she ultimately regained. Although the risk of loss of memory and cognitive ability exists, it is not as prominent as it was decades ago, when doctors administered higher doses of current. But because Deney has had such strong side effects from the treatment, she has taken a break from ECT for a while, maintaining her mental health through medication and therapy. Eventually, she will return to ECT, at least for maintenance sessions, she said.

Michael Thase, psychiatry professor at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, said ECT puts a lot of "wear and tear" on the patient, who has to go to the hospital two to three times a week for several weeks during the acute phase of treatment.

"If you're having the treatment, you really can't work," Thase said. "And if it works, you want to be darn sure you don't relapse" by sliding back into a debilitating depression.

Half the people who benefit from ECT are sick again in six months, Thase said, so most doctors help patients come up with a maintenance plan that may include medication as well as less frequent ECT sessions.

Ultimately, however, ECT is "the most effective treatment in psychiatry and the most effective treatment for suicide," said John Worthington, who conducted thousands of sessions on hundreds of patients over the course of several decades when he was at Abington Hospital. "ECT outperforms anything compared to it."

Deney knows, after all her years of failed treatments, that she needs ECT  despite that it continues to frighten her.

"It wasn't embarrassing. It wasn't humiliating. It wasn't any of those other words. It was purely terrifying," Deney said. "But I would've been dead had I not tried it. I have no doubt in my mind."
Richard Sample, 53, wheels through the kitchen of Serenity Court, a new respite center for homeless people who need more medical help than traditional shelters can provide. Earlier, a hospital had tried to send him to a regular shelter. Read more

On the afternoon of June 12, an ambulance sent by Temple University Hospital's Episcopal Campus pulled up to Station House, a shelter for homeless men, with the kind of passenger Michael Hinson has come to dread.

Hinson noticed a disturbing pattern soon after he became president of SELF Inc., the organization that runs Station House and six other shelters, a year ago. Some hospitals seemed to be trying to circumvent city rules by sending Station House weak and sick patients after 4 p.m., when a City of Philadelphia office that decides if people are well enough for shelters closes for the day. By ambulance, cab, and Uber, people would go from hospitals to Station House, which provides nighttime shelter intake for single men.

As a result, Hinson trained his staff to rush out and meet vehicles before they could deliver people to the shelter's parking lot off North Broad Street.

That June afternoon, the passenger was a paraplegic man in a wheelchair. He was too weak to maneuver the chair himself or transfer to a toilet. He needed multiple medications. For liability reasons, shelters are not supposed to take people who need hands-on care and cannot do for themselves what doctors call activities of daily living, like dressing and using a bathroom. Hinson said the city had told Episcopal the day before that the man was not appropriate for a shelter and needed to be in a nursing home.

A Station House intake officer sent the man back to the hospital.

Three hours later, at 6:45 p.m., Hinson himself was outside when the man returned, this time in a cab, along with a collapsible commode, a urinal, and three bags of clothes.

Episcopal had paid the cabdriver with a one-way voucher, and he refused to take the patient back to the hospital, Hinson said. Trapped between the rules and his desire to protect the man's dignity, Hinson let him stay in the shelter overnight. The city took him back to the hospital the next day.

"He's done nothing to deserve the broken system that we have or that the hospital has or the city has," Hinson said of his overnight guest.

There was a similar incident in March involving a Thomas Jefferson University Hospital patient in a wheelchair, Hinson said. That man was so weak and out of it that he fell out of the chair. Station House sent him back to the hospital. An hour later, Jefferson sent him back again, strapped to a stretcher.

"This is a person, a living person. Homeless, yes, but a living being," Hinson said. "We are playing ping pong with real human beings."

Temple declined an interview for this story, instead issuing a statement that it works with "a wide spectrum of community partners  to assure appropriate discharge of patients whose medical needs no longer require acute hospital care." Jefferson said it could not verify an inappropriate placement on the date Hinson mentioned. Because of privacy rules, Hinson was unable to provide the hospitals with the names of transferred patients he thought were medically inappropriate.

The problem of how to care for what Hinson calls "medically fragile" homeless people who have few appropriate places to go once they leave a health facility extends well beyond these cases. Homeless baby boomers are aging and they tend to be far sicker than better-off age peers. At a time when government funds for the poor are under assault, Philadelphia and other cities are grappling with how to keep the homeless, who tend to be heavy users of expensive hospital care, healthier as they age. How to house them is a key part of the debate.

The city does not keep track of how many of its homeless people have significant medical problems, but Liz Hersh, director of homeless services for Philadelphia, said Hinson's concerns are justified.

"It's absolutely a problem," she said. "We are 100 percent on the same page as Mike with identifying this as a problem."

Hinson kept a rough tally of after-hours attempts to place medically fragile homeless men at Station House from mid-January to mid-June. There were 13 cases involving hospitals, including Temple, Jefferson, Hahnemann University Hospital, Penn Medicine, Mercy Health System, and Crozer-Keystone Health System. Patients were sent with diagnoses like lymphocytic colitis, severe diabetes, chronic skin ulcers, severe anemia and kidney disease, colostomy, and suicidal thoughts. Four others came from Philadelphia's Office of Homeless Services, which asked Station House to take the residents at least for the night as a favor. One was a brain-surgery patient who had left the hospital before all of his skull was replaced. Another was an 82-year-old man who spoke only Italian and whose landlord locked him out of his home of 26 years. During his two-week stay, the staff learned he had Parkinson's disease and early dementia. He wound up in an intensive-care unit.

The shelters don't always turn away people with serious chronic health problems, some of whom come in on their own. "We have people here who we are constantly keeping an eye on because their diabetes is uncontrolled," Hinson said.

Station House accepted Michael Graham, 58, after he finished physical rehab. His left leg was amputated below the knee because of frostbite and infection he got while he was living in an unheated house in South Philadelphia. For more than a month, the shelter staff did its best to get Graham to doctors' appointments while he waited for a prosthesis. Staffers were helping him get a copy of his birth certificate so he could get a SEPTA ID and, hopefully, Social Security income that would pay for permanent housing. The shelter, Hinson said, was not the right place for Graham, who also was depressed and not eating and drinking enough. "He definitely needs a higher level of care," Hinson said.

Graham, a thin, gray-haired man, said he was eager to return to working odd jobs. "I can't do anything in this form, and I need help," he said in an interview. He hadn't lost his sense of humor. Asked where he'd like to live, he said: "The White House."

Three days later, he was back in the hospital and sick enough to need time in the intensive-care unit.

A new respite center

Hinson organized a roundtable discussion on the medically fragile homeless in May. Jeff Deeney, a case manager at the Urban Affairs Coalition's Center for H.O.P.E. shelter, said his 176-bed facility houses many such residents  people recovering from strokes or amputations or dealing with open wounds and heart problems  on one of its three floors. Other residents sometimes help those more fragile take showers. "We have our own participants becoming quasi nursing aides," he said.

Hersh thinks the situation has worsened during her two years in her job. The city, she said, is trying to become better informed about how to get homeless people with medical problems into nursing homes or personal care homes more quickly, when they qualify. She also hopes that medical providers and insurers will work with the city on the issue. As it is, homeless people are big users of expensive medical care that might be avoided if they had stable housing and appropriate care before they got sicker. "We know that housing is a social determinant of health," she said.

>>READ MORE: The Philly health plan that offers food as medicine

To relieve some of the pressure, Public Health Management Corp. in April opened a 20-bed, short-term respite center, Serenity Court, to replace an earlier eight-bed unit that was accessible only to people who could walk up a flight of stairs. The new center is meant for homeless people newly released from the hospital who need extra care as well as those dealing with chemotherapy, among other medical needs. It teaches people newly diagnosed with diabetes how to manage their blood sugar.

Hospitals  six now have contracts with Serenity Court  pay $250 per day for their patients' room and board. Medicaid covers clinical services. The goal is to discharge residents to permanent housing with medical support. PHMC also has 11 nurses that visit shelters and is considering expanding. And, it has a triage system that allows nurses to video-chat with shelter residents.

Although Serenity is not yet full, no one thinks it is big enough. "It's a big step forward for Philadelphia," said David Dunbeck, director of homeless and social service programs for PHMC.

What else should the city do?

Two days after he left Station House, Richard Sample  the paraplegic man who spent a night at Station House  wound up at Serenity Court. By the next week, he was strong enough to maneuver his chair through the halls at Serenity and the bathroom and he had an aide with him four hours a day. Breathing problems and a bladder infection  plus an eviction  preceded his trips between Episcopal and Station house. "I had an attitude, yeah," said Sample, 53, when asked how he felt about being transferred back and forth. Serenity, he said, had been "nice."

Temple had agreed to pay for his care through the end of that week, then he was supposed to go to a private shelter for a few days until the apartment Serenity Court's staff had found for him was ready. But Gina Gentile, nurse manager at Serenity, said Sample went to Hahnemann with chest pains. Then there was a problem with his apartment deposit. While he was hospitalized the last week of June, Serenity was looking for another place.

Dunbeck said Serenity is meant for up to 10-day stays. Not everyone will leave with a good housing situation. "We have to accept the fact that we will have discharges that are not as positive as we would like," he said.

One question is whether the shelters should rethink the prohibition on hands-on care and either give their staffs more medical training or hire aides. "I think we're going to have to take these people," Deeney said at the May meeting. He said the city may have to choose between having shelters full of older people getting inadequate care or accepting the situation and adding needed services.

"I think it would be smart to have a specialized shelter for this group," Dunbeck said.

Hersh thinks the best solution is stable housing.

Its a pretty dire situation 

Medical problems among the homeless are almost certain to be a growing challenge for at least another decade, said Dennis Culhane, a University of Pennsylvania social-policy professor. He said the youngest baby boomers, those born between 1953 and 1965, have dominated homeless populations since the late 1980s. Biologically, homeless people are much older than their chronological ages and are considered elderly above age 55.

"It's a pretty dire situation, to be honest," he said.

Culhane said that respite only forestalls the problem and suggests that homeless organizations apply aggressively for Social Security benefits and work with health organizations on suitable housing.

The hospitals that Hinson said had sent inappropriate patients after hours responded to the Inquirer's questions with short written statements that mostly boiled down to this: We're doing the best we can under trying circumstances. Penn Medicine directly addressed the questions, saying it did not dump medically fragile patients and uses "all available resources to assist the homeless in a city where post-hospital placement is limited.  We routinely continue to care for patients while suitable discharge solutions are arranged, and we often provide clothing, transportation assistance, medications, food, and help applying for medical assistance to patients who are being discharged to shelters or other temporary housing."

Insurers, including government programs, don't pay hospitals for patients who no longer need hospital-level care. Some also penalize hospitals when their patients come back too soon for more care. Yet Michael Consuelos, a pediatrician who is vice president for clinical integration at the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, said finances rarely come up in discharge decisions. Patients should return to the community  and free beds for more seriously ill patients  when they're able, he said. "I think hospitals are trying to do the right thing for patients," he said.

Joanne McFall, market president for Keystone First, which insures Medicaid patients in Southeastern Pennsylvania, said her company recognizes that social issues affect health and health costs. "We would certainly be open to being part of any coalition of organizations that will come together to address this sort of issue," she said.

>READ MORE: To aid those in addiction, the first step is housing

Complicating matters is the fact that this can be a difficult population. Medical problems often intertwine with mental-health issues, including addiction. Homeless people may walk out of hospitals before they should, and may be unwilling to use their Social Security income  if they have it  for housing. Many lack proper identification and the bureaucracies that can help them qualify for help move slowly. Behavioral problems often make the homeless unwelcome in group living locations. Experts say individual supported housing tends to be more successful.

Hinson thinks it is time to take the problem more seriously. "It's not one person's problem," he said. "I'm not at all trying to beat up on the hospitals or beat up on the city.  Unless it gets some attention, it's just going to continue to grow."

What other cities are doing

Philadelphia is not the only city grappling with this issue, though others have made more progress.

Boston has a 102-bed respite facility that takes patients similar to Serenity's and gets most of its funding from Medicaid. It can also offer end-of-life care. There is also a 20-bed center that provides less care than respite but more than a regular shelter. A spokesperson said the respite center is always near capacity, while the step-down unit has a waiting list.

Phoenix's Circle the City agency operates one 50-bed respite program and is about to open a second. It is supported with Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal funds. Occasionally, a hospital pays directly. It also has what it calls step-down respite in designated shelter beds. Care there is provided by a team of nurses, a community health worker, and a mental-health practitioner who make rounds two to three times a week, more often if needed.

Los Angeles prohibits hospitals from discharging patients without a safe and appropriate plan for their housing. The city, which, unlike Philadelphia, has four public hospitals run by the health department, also has 1,300 interim shelter beds funded by the health department for people with behavior or physical health needs. About 500 of those are "recuperative" beds for people who need on-site clinical services. Funding comes primarily from Medicaid and a 1/4-cent sales tax voters passed last year to help the homeless. Some hospitals pay a per diem.

After they leave, most patients go to permanent supported housing. The city has apartment buildings with health clinics on site.

Cheri Todoroff, director of Housing for Health at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, said there are fewer homeless people in the public hospitals now, although the hospitals are still full. "Now they're full with somebody who needs to be there."

A Rand Corporation study on the program found that it reduced overall spending.

The hospitals that Michael Hinson identified as having sent patients he considered medically fragile to his shelter in the evening responded with short written statements instead of making officials available to speak with the Inquirer about the pressures hospitals encounter when treating and discharging homeless patients. Their full statements are here:

Crozer-Keystone Health System: Our discharge planning process takes into account all conditions and situations in the advocacy of every patient, including post-discharge destination. We have relationships with many community service organizations that help make patient transitions as safe as possible for those who identify themselves as homeless, regardless of time-of-day. Care coordinators at our hospitals consistently facilitate safe, stable and dignified discharges, with an arsenal of resources available to advocate for the most vulnerable patients.

Hahnemann University Hospital: "As an integral part of the health care delivery network within downtown Philadelphia, Hahnemann University Hospital is committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care to all we serve. We have a long-standing history of treating the medically vulnerable and homeless population in Philadelphia. We have developed and nurture strong partnerships with local shelters, organizations and advocacy groups focused on addressing the health care and social needs of our most vulnerable and underserved community members. We partner with these organizations to find the best solutions for our patients and often we keep patients beyond what would be their discharge date to ensure patients are treated respectfully and with dignity."

Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital: "The Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital team takes very seriously its role in providing appropriate, quality care for our community members, especially those who are most vulnerable, as we have done in Delaware County for more than 80 years. While we cannot provide details about any specific patient's health or treatment, we have thorough procedures to evaluate each individual's needs. At discharge, our care coordinators work with patients who self-identify as homeless to link them with community resources, such as designated intake centers that have after-hours availability."

Penn Medicine: "Contrary to the implication, Penn does not 'dump' medically fragile patients, and we use all available resources to assist the homeless in a city where posthospital placement is limited. The circumstances described do not reflect our discharge planning process and policies, which ensure that each patient is treated with dignity and respect. We work closely with homeless shelters and other social services agencies throughout the region to ensure that each patient has a place to go once they are medically stable and able to leave the hospital. We routinely continue to care for patients while suitable discharge solutions are arranged, and we often provide clothing, transportation assistance, medications, food, and help applying for medical assistance to patients who are being discharged to shelters or other temporary housing."

Temple University Hospital: "Providing care to vulnerable populations is part of Temple University Hospital's founding mission. Temple's clinical, social work, and care management teams collaborate closely with the patient and with a wide spectrum of community partners  including home health agencies, rehabilitation hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, shelters, and others  to assure appropriate discharge of patients whose medical needs no longer require acute hospital care."

A spokeswoman from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital said the hospital could not substantiate a medically inappropriate discharge on the date Hinson gave. She added: "Our first priority is the safety and well-being of our patients. We work collaboratively with our patients and their families on a comprehensive discharge plan, tailored to their individual needs, to ensure an appropriate transition of care after an inpatient stay or emergency department visit. For those that require assistance with housing upon discharge, we collaborate with the City Shelter System of Philadelphia, as well as other shelters for non-Philadelphia residents. Once the appropriate shelter is determined and the patient information is approved and accepted by the Shelter Intake Center, Jefferson provides transportation and prescription assistance if needed. We encourage any patient to reach out if they have concerns about their care at Jefferson."

Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania: "Pennsylvania's hospitals are open 24/7/365 and treat all patients. Hospitals continuously work to partner with the City of Philadelphia and private organizations to help homeless and medically fragile patients find the resources they need after their hospital care has ended.

"Hospitals make efforts to contact family members or a designated contact during their discharge process. In the event that these individuals cannot be reached, care coordinators and discharge planners work to connect the patient to available support services that can help with post-discharge chronic health care needs. Additionally, hospitals are working with community health workers (CHW), social workers, and other care coordinators to help patients navigate resources and appointments.

"Hospitals are working to address current social challenges through collaborative and individual projects to support outreach for food insecurity, housing issues, and community violence. And, as hospitals partner with the commonwealth and local governments to work to address the opioid crisis, hospitals also continue to advocate for increased government resources to further integrate behavioral and mental health services into a patient's care plan."
Two cases of measles have been confirmed in Ocean County, the New Jersey Department of Health reported Thursday.

State health officials classified the cases of the highly contagious illness as an outbreak.

The people infected are believed to have developed symptoms after they were exposed to a person in Ocean County who contracted measles while traveling internationally.

In that first case, the person developed symptoms earlier this month after having traveled to Israel, where there has been an increase in measles cases. The state told residents to look for symptoms if they visited the following Lakewood locations: Schul Satmar, 405 Forest Ave., from Oct. 13 to 21; Eat a Pita, 116 Clifton Ave., on Oct. 15; CHEMED Health Center, 1771 Madison Ave., on Oct. 17 or 18.

The two new cases are believed to have potentially exposed others in Ocean County to measles between Oct. 25 and 30. Two of the likely venues where others could have been infected were NPGS, a kosher supermarket located at 231 Main St. in Lakewood, on Oct. 25 and 29, and Pizza Plus at 241 Fourth St. in Lakewood on Oct. 28.

The Health Department did not release information about the patients' ages or whether they were up to date on vaccinations.

State health officials are working with Ocean County officials to identify and notify people who might have been infected.

Meanwhile, residents are urged to be vigilant for signs of measles. Symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Individuals who have been infected may not develop symptoms until as late as Nov. 20, officials said.

Measles can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. Measles during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, premature delivery, or a low-birth-weight baby.

Anyone who may have been exposed is being asked to contact a health-care provider before going to a medical office or emergency room, to safeguard others from becoming infected.

People who have not been vaccinated or have not had the measles are potentially at risk. Health officials are urging people to ensure they are up to date on the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccines.

Two earlier cases of measles were identified last summer in Camden and Burlington Counties.

The Philadelphia region had an outbreak of mumps in March and April that affected more than two dozen people in Chester and Montgomery Counties and the state of Delaware.
An influenza victim, wrapped in a blanket, being escorted by a policeman, who wears a protective facemask of some sort, during the influenza epidemic in 1918. Read more

In the fall of 1918, Elizabeth Conway was 3 years old, but knew she had a big job to do.

Her twin brothers, then 6, were so sick they couldn't get out of their beds in the family's home in the Olney section of Philadelphia. So were the children's Irish immigrant parents, Patrick and Margaret, who just months earlier lost a baby to stillbirth.

Little Elizabeth tried so hard to help care for them, she was called "the little nurse."

The family  my grandparents and their children  had all fallen to a worldwide flu pandemic that this year marks its 100th anniversary. The flu hit Philadelphia exceptionally hard. The city's Department of Health and Charities estimated that 150,000 people were sickened, though other estimates are much higher. Between Sept. 20 and Nov. 8, 1918, the city logged 12,687 deaths from influenza and related pneumonia.

>> More: The 1918 flu pandemic in charts

The illness started with terrible fatigue, fever, and headache, much like other kinds of flu. But many of the victims would start turning blue, coughing so violently that some tore their abdominal muscles. They bled from the mouth, nose, and some even from their ears.

The disease, which came to be known as the Spanish flu, hit the young and healthy, with many victims dying within hours or a couple days after the symptoms began.

Though her parents and brothers would survive, Elizabeth died on Oct. 16, 1918.

She was buried in a grave dug by her own father, who was still recovering from flu himself. This does not surprise Cait Kokolus, director of the Catholic Historical Research Center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, given the extraordinary death toll.

In October 1918, there were 1,152 burials at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham, where Elizabeth is buried. The previous October, there were just 114.

The parade and the pandemic

There was nothing uniquely Spanish about the 1918 worldwide flu pandemic, said James Armstrong, a retired flight nurse for Penn Medicine's PennSTAR helicopter service and a captain in the Navy Reserve who has studied the flu's history.

Spain remained neutral during World War I. Nations at war were just as badly affected, but they didn't want to look weak, so they downplayed its impact, especially on their troops. Therefore, many people came to see Spain as the source of the flu epidemic.

In fact, historians say Philadelphia's flu death toll was especially high because of another official effort to downplay the danger.

On Sept. 7, 1918, a ship from Boston landed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and 300 sailors disembarked. Less than two weeks later, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported 600 sailors had been hospitalized with the flu, but none had died.

Worried physicians urged a quarantine to stop the spread of the flu. But the nation was at war, and the city was planning a Liberty Loan parade for late September that, it was hoped, would help the city accelerate war-bond sales.

Wilmer Krusen, director of the Department of Public Health and Charities, allowed the parade to go on as planned. Around 200,000 people lined the two-mile parade route on Sept. 28, enjoying the military bands and civilian displays of patriotism.

Within three days, 117 civilians had died of flu.

By early October, schools, churches, bars and restaurants were ordered closed.

Usually, flu is most dangerous to frail people, such as babies and seniors. But adding to the terror, the 1918 flu seemed to target healthy teens and young adults. Children were orphaned, parents lost sons and daughters in days or even hours, newspapers kept by the Germantown Historical Society show.

Emergency hospitals were set up in neighborhoods ravaged by the flu and the city recruited volunteer visiting nurses to help the homebound. Carts collecting bodies rolled down the deserted streets.

The city's Auto Club assisted with ambulance duties while hundreds of nuns and seminarians of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia volunteered as caregivers and grave diggers. The city health department noted the heroic efforts of B'nai B'rith, while Mount Sinai Hospital in South Philadelphia wrote to Archbishop Dennis Dougherty, thanking him for sending nuns to serve in the Jewish institution.

"So many of the medical staff and nurses had gone abroad to serve in World War I. Not only did we get this influenza but we were also short staffed," said Stacey Peeples, curator and lead archivist at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.

History that repeats itself

One hundred years later, those who have studied the pandemic say that it is a public health event important both to our history and our future. For as much progress as medicine has made, the fact is that a flu virus could still wreak terrible havoc.

"There's no way of predicting" when the next pandemic will occur, said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for the National Institutes of Health. But if a strain of flu pops up that is novel to the immune system of enough people, that's when a pandemic, with "abrupt and sudden" symptoms, can happen. Though 1918 is the deadliest flu recorded in modern times, pandemics have since occurred in 1957, 1968 and as recently as 2009.

Seasonal flu can be severe but won't create pandemic conditions because many people have built up antibodies to the prevalent flu strain, explained David Morens, a captain in the U.S. Public Health Service. Flu vaccines must be developed every year because the dominant virus strains are always changing. That involves some educated guesswork, and so the vaccine is never 100 percent effective, but it's the best prevention available. Researchers are looking into ways to develop a universal vaccine that wouldn't require changes in the components each flu season, but that's still in the future.

Armed with recent advances in genetic understanding, scientists are still trying to unravel what made the 1918 flu so deadly to healthy, younger people, Morens said. Researchers suspect that young adults, unlike their parents, at the time didn't have antibodies from exposure to earlier influenzas that appeared in the 19th century, he said.

>> Read more: The Philly vaccine pioneer who saved thousands from flu, and predicted the next pandemic

The flu of 1918 was known as an H1N1 flu, as was a 2009 flu that also sickened and killed many people around the world, including younger adults. But it was nowhere near as deadly as the earlier pandemic  and we can, at least in part, thank the 1918 flu for that fact.

In 2009, most people born before 1957 had been exposed to earlier strains of H1N1 virus that descended from the 1918 flu, he explained. Also, antibiotics and antiviral drugs have helped flu and pneumonia patients survive symptoms that once were deadly.

But public health experts still fear the potential impact of a deadly flu virus, and the 2009 flu shows why. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 59 million Americans contracted that H1N1 virus, 265,000 were hospitalized as a result, and 12,000 died.

A war without monuments

When the 1918 flu subsided, it was "quickly forgotten," Armstrong said, in part because World War I ended that November.

"You had something you could celebrate or something not to celebrate  so they went with something to celebrate," he noted.

In 2004, John Barry wrote The Great Influenza, considered a definitive history of the pandemic. As he wrote in the book and still says today, "there's no question that something like that could happen again."

As important an event as it was, Barry says, he knows of no monument ever erected to honor the courage of those who put themselves in harm's way to care for the flu's victims or bury its dead.

Armstrong found through his research that two nurses  Marie Louise Hidell and Edna Place  were among those awarded the Navy's highest honor, the Navy Cross, posthumously. They both died of flu after caring for sick sailors at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital.

As quickly as the flu came to Philadelphia, it ebbed. By late October, churches, schools and social sites reopened. My grandparents moved to Germantown. In the next five years, they had two more sons, including my father, Eugene.

No one talked much about the events of 1918 at home. We have no photograph of the little girl who would have grown up to become my Aunt Elizabeth.

But my father's older cousin, Anna Burns, remembered playing with Elizabeth, who liked to hold tea parties for her dolls. She told me how my grandfather would go into the basement sometimes, and, sitting among those dolls and other toys he couldn't bear to give away, quietly mourn his daughter.

Peg Quann is a Bucks County writer whose family has lived in the Philadelphia area since all four of her grandparents immigrated from Ireland around the turn of the 20th century, seeking prosperity for themselves and their families.
Rebecca Umbach, a former Penn doctoral student, who published research in the Journal of Experimental Criminology studying daylight saving time and crime. Read more

By 2020, city-owned buildings in Philadelphia are slated to get 22 percent of their electricity from a solar farm to be built for that purpose under an ordinance introduced Thursday by City Council.

The large-scale solar farm would be located in rural Adams County, about 100 miles west of the city.

"We're very excited about this," said Christine Knapp, director of the city's Office of Sustainability, who believes the deal will help drive regional demand for renewable energy sources.

Under the deal, Radnor-based Community Energy Solar would develop the 70 megawatt solar farm, not far from Gettysburg. Community Energy has already formed Adams Solar LLC to operate what would become the largest solar farm in the state by far.

The Philadelphia Energy Authority, a city agency that buys power, would be locked into a 20-year deal to purchase 100 percent of the energy generated by Adams Solar.

Knapp said the deal would prevent the city's electricity rates from rising even if rates from fossil fuel-based plants go up. The city will pay $44.50 per megawatt hour, about what it's paying now. The electricity will be used to power a portion of city-owned buildings such as City Hall, Philadelphia International Airport, and the Water Department.

Knapp said all the details need to be worked out before the end of the year, so construction can start before federal energy credits begin stepping down at the end of 2019. Companies get tax credits for solar. Construction could begin by fall 2019 and be complete by 2020. Electricity generated by the farm would flow into the regional grid coordinated by PJM Interconnection, since there's no way to transmit directly. But Philadelphia would take market ownership of the electricity, which would be delivered to Peco territory. The energy would not be generated for residential or commercial use.

Nationally, other municipalities have used similar plans for solar, but this would be the first plan of this scale used in Pennsylvania.

"We think this is a nice way to lead by example," Knapp said. "It's not in common use yet."

Community Energy has agreed to hire Philadelphians as part of the deal.

Philadelphia began seeking proposals for solar about a year ago. The city owns 600 buildings and has pledged to get 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

Knapp said the deal is only the beginning for similar power purchase agreements within the city.

Last month, Philadelphia won an award that could total $2 million or more from the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge for its efforts to address climate change and sustainability. Part of that money could be used to extend collaborative renewable power purchase agreements to businesses. Currently, the city's 3,000 biggest commercial buildings account for 17 percent of all carbon emissions, so bringing those numbers down could seriously reduce the city's carbon footprint, Knapp said.

Community Energy Solar has already developed a 100 megawatt solar farm for Amazon in Virginia. It has also developed solar projects in Burlington and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey, as well as projects for Elizabethtown College and Keystone Solar in Lancaster.

Brent Alderfer, CEO and co-founder of Community Energy, said the company began developing the project several years ago in Straban Township, arranging leases with landowners in order to stitch together about 500 acres for the solar farm. It has also begun the permitting process, as well as engineering needed to connect to the power grid.

"It's exciting to us," Alderfer said of the deal to build the largest solar farm in the state. The next largest is about 12 megawatts, he said.

He said the solar panels will be equipped to track the sun from east to west during the day for high efficiency.

Council's final approval will allow the company to get financing. Alderfer said he believes the project could be complete by spring or summer of 2020.

In a statement, Mayor Kenney said, "Philadelphia wants to lead by example in procuring renewable energy, which will reduce regional carbon emissions to help meet our climate goals and create regional job growth in the renewable energy sector."

The bill, which still needs full approval, was introduced by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, chair of Council's committee on the environment.

"Moving forward in a tangible matter with this goal symbolizes how we grow towards a greener and more sustainable Philadelphia," Reynolds Brown said.

Earlier this month, SEPTA put out a similar proposal to convert 10 percent to 20 percent of its energy consumption to renewable sources, such as solar panels or windmills. The transit agency, one of the largest energy consumers in the region, uses 480,000 megawatt hours a year of electricity for services such as trolleys, trains, and facilities. All of that power is drawn from the electrical grid, which uses primarily coal, nuclear, and natural gas. It hopes to have a deal by next year.
Portraits and artwork of local artist Ana Guissel Palma were the centerpiece of the altar created for South Philly's Day of the Dead procession, that ended at Fleisher Art Memorial. Oct. 28, 2018. Read more

In an empty hallway of Miguel Peralta's house hangs a picture of the Virgin of Altagracia.

The portrait of the Virgin Mary who protects all Dominicans  important enough that he made sure it was carefully packed in his luggage when he left his homeland seven years ago  hangs where only trustworthy guests can see it. Why so hidden?

"To venerate her, to feel that she protects our home, without having others misunderstand our beliefs," said Peralta, 45.

Peralta, born and raised Catholic, also keeps smaller images of the Virgin of Altagracia that he can carry with him in his pocket, as well as an image of the Catholic St. Miguel  who, in the Nigerian Yoruba religion, is a spirit. Named after the saint, Peralta says he worships these Catholic and Yoruba figures because they have guided his journey from the island to his life in the United States, where he arrived in 2009 to invest in grocery stores.

"I would have never gotten this far if it weren't for the blessings that the Virgin, Jesus, and the saints provide," he said.

For Latinos in the United States  two-thirds of whom are Catholic (although in Philadelphia, most classify themselves as unaffiliated)  religious beliefs often coexist with the worship of more homeland-specific deities, creating cross-cultural traditions that combine Catholicism with ancestral rituals of Native Americans and spiritual practices brought by African slaves.

These can take the form of altars, sculptures, and paintings; music and dance; funeral rites and healing practices; in memoriam cards, or resguardos, a kind of amulet that might provide luck, fortune, or protection from bad vibes  all serving to link Latinos to the countries from which they came.

On the Day of the Dead  a holiday celebrated Nov. 1 and 2 that honors the souls of deceased loved ones and saints  they take on even more significance.

Eva, 49, who goes by "La Dona," a spiritual healer from the Dominican Republic, owns a Northern Liberties botanica, a shop that sells, among other things, candles, sculptures, herbs, and oils for spiritual cleansing. She says all people have "a light, a vibe," that determines which saint they should carry in their wallets.

In the Afro-Caribbean religion Santeria, based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, she named Yemaya (La Virgen de Regla), who protects against bad vibes; Ochun (La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre), who brings good luck; and Chango (St. Barbara), who provides energy, power, and fame. But there are thousands more.

These days, she also sees a growing number of Americans coming to her shop for vibe cleansing and good luck hugs.

But such beliefs can clash with established doctrines, whether here or abroad, resulting in a desire to keep them under wraps.

Most people won't show just anyone what's in their wallets.

Mexicans, though, openly celebrate the Day of the Dead. In the most mainstream American acknowledgment of the holiday  the 2017 movie Coco  they're portrayed preparing a trail to welcome their Aztec ancestors with a celebration featuring colorful altars, flowers, food, and music.

In Caribbean countries like Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, people walk sorrowfully to the cemetery, lighting candles for each relative, pouring rum at the graves, and wearing dark-neutral colors. Back home are altars with flowers, candles, incense, and a large portrait or small in memoriam card that people carry in their wallets or pockets during the rest of the year.

"Our societies, especially of the Antilles, are societies of migration, and part of our cultural resistance is to carry with us what we share as ours on the islands and homeland," said Martin Cruz Santos, cultural historian and associate professor at Metropolitan University in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The tradition of carrying pictures of saints and the dead dates to medieval Europe, when the Catholic Church began to print prayer cards with the image of a saint or the Virgin Mary, an inexpensive way to establish a connection with the faithful. People in rural areas who couldn't travel to a church took these images and combined them with sacred native and African deities that they carried with them.

In Philadelphia, the first one to adopt the Latino practice was St. John Neumann, who used to carry small portraits of saints in his pockets to give to children, according to Cruz Santos.

"You always carry the ones you love with you," Peralta said of the prayer card, or recordatorio, of his grandmother, who died 18 years ago. He's kept it with him since the day of her funeral.

Cruz Santos said that although Latinos may want to assimilate, their cultural traditions can inspire fear or distrust in non-Latinos  especially in this time of heightened nationalism. Sometimes, Latinos end up having to adapt and choose between the two.

When Cristina Martinez's 23-year-old son, Isaias, died of a heart attack in January 2017, it was up to her, owner of South Philly's Barbacoa, to fulfill his wishes to be buried here instead of in Mexico. She decided to have an American-style funeral.

"Everyone in the community came to the burial, because it was the first time for them to see such a thing," Martinez, 48, said of the nontraditional funeral: They took the coffin to the burial site, laid it in the ground and threw dirt on it. Unlike at a Mexican funeral, there was no music.

This week, because she knew her restaurant would be packed on Thursday and Friday with Day of the Dead observers, she visited his grave on Tuesday.

With her, she brought tequila, barbacoa, tortillas, candy, and spices.
The Reverend Terrence Griffith (lower right) gets some help from Congressman Bob Brady (behind the pole ) and State Sen. Sharif Street (on ladder) to unveil a Pennsylvania historic marker at the September dedication of First African Baptist Church's new home in Overbrook. Read more

Until a few years ago, the greatest threat to the future of the 99-year-old New Light Beulah Baptist Church in Philadelphia's Graduate Hospital neighborhood was a thunderstorm that barreled through on a Thursday evening, ripping off part of the roof.

The raging downpour in June 2010 flooded the sanctuary, rendering the church uninhabitable. Yet, the determined congregation restored its house of worship at a cost of $250,000, and a year later moved back to the corner of 17th and Bainbridge to resume its ministry.

But the vicissitudes of nature paled next to another looming threat: the pressures of gentrification on an urban pocket where housing prices have increased more than 400 percent since 2000.

With longtime black neighbors moving out and mostly younger, mostly white newcomers moving in, the community's transition sapped the church of its membership  Sunday attendance dipped from a peak of 250 to 65  and turned the stucco and stone edifice into an albatross.

So, like many African American churches in and around Graduate Hospital and other gentrifying areas of the city, New Light Beulah in 2017 sold its building, its home for the last 61 years. Quickly razed, it was replaced by the 16-unit Portofino condo complex. The congregation departed with about $2 million  and a chance to save itself elsewhere.

In just the Graduate Hospital area and near environs, developers have snapped up the church properties of Greater St. Matthew Baptist, First Colored Wesley Methodist (now Fellowship Community Wesley Methodist), First African Baptist, Christian Street Baptist, and New Hope Temple Baptist.

The leave-takings are having ripple effects in both the neighborhoods where the congregations relocate and those they vacate, making way for new churches offering a brand of religious practice perhaps more appealing to the new kids on the block.

New Light Beulah members are temporarily holding services at a Yesha Ministries Worship Center in South Philadelphia. In two weeks, they'll resettle in the Nicetown section, in a building bought from Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church near the entrance to the Roosevelt Expressway.

"I really didn't want to leave," said Bishop Benjamin Thompson 3d, New Light Beulah's pastor for 30 years. "To see the [old] neighborhood change, it makes me feel sad and empty, like history is being lost."

Within blocks of New Light Beulah in Nicetown, Greater St. Matthew purchased a building. Wesley went to East Oak Lane, New Hope Temple to Germantown, and First African to Overbrook. Christian Street Baptist has not yet acquired a building and is temporarily worshiping in the office of a tax-preparation service in Germantown.

Into the spiritual vacuum created by their departures have come congregations, largely nondenominational, that attract different kinds of flocks comfortable with unorthodox venues. For the most part, their memberships are young, tech-savvy, and multiracial, a mix of starter families and singles, college students, and a smattering of older congregants. Suzanne Roberts Theater on the Avenue of the Arts is the sanctuary for Epic Church. The Block Church holds two hour-long services, replete with pink lighting and a rock praise band, for about 300 at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts. City Life meets at South Philadelphia High School, and Freedom Church at the Prince Theater. An exception is Liberti, which purchased a Center City church building.

"There are plenty of churches for people already in church," said Pastor Brad Leach, of City Life. "We want the people who are sitting at home," disconnected, or walking the streets with their earbuds blocking out the city and the people around them.

Churches have long followed the migration patterns of their members, or potential members. But because they are more stable than other social institutions, they are often the last to leave a changing neighborhood, said Ram Cnaan, director of the program for religion and social policy research at the University of Pennsylvania.

"If rich people move into an area, the old congregations would not attract them," he said. " The new people will either form new religious congregations or consume services in their old communities."

Since 2009, at least 30 religious buildings of various affiliations have been razed in Philadelphia, with Graduate Hospital, Point Breeze, Kensington, Fishtown, and West Philadelphia hit hardest, according to Rachel Hildebrandt, senior program manager at Partners for Sacred Places, a national organization based in Philadelphia that assists struggling congregations.

In the late 1950s into the 1960s, white congregations left urban neighborhoods when black residents moved in. Then, it was "white flight," said Melissa Wilde, associate professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. "Now, it's white return."

First African Baptist Church sold its building at 16th and Christian Streets for $2 million in 2015. A day-care center moved in, and a karate school is negotiating to rent space. The congregation made enough money to not only purchase a former St. Callistus Catholic Church property in Overbrook, but also renovate the two-acre campus' office and church buildings

"This is the best thing that could have happened to us. It's a great opportunity to do ministry," said the Rev. Terrence Griffith, First African Baptist's pastor. The church began worshiping in its new building last September.

In South Philadelphia, its weekly attendance was about 100. That has nearly doubled, with an infusion of young people. To hold on to them, First African, which gave itself the new moniker "FAB Church," is doing things differently.

"Young people don't want to be in church all day," said Griffith. "They don't need a half-hour for announcements, or singing one song for 30 minutes."

The church has started Scout troops, invited community groups to meet there, and is working to make sure what happened in Graduate Hospital doesn't happen in Overbrook.

"We intend to buy up vacant properties to make sure that they stay in the hands of the community," Griffith said of the congregation's new bailiwick.

Still, the transition to an unfamiliar neighborhood is fraught with pitfalls, including the risks of losing longtime congregants and turning off new ones by taking along old church practices.

"If you don't bring in new members and embrace the new community, it doesn't matter how much money you have in the bank" from the sale of the previous church building, Hildebrandt said.

The Rev. Steven Avinger, of Greater St. Matthew, held membership focus groups when the church was contemplating a move. Once the decision was made to buy the former Triumph Baptist Church building in Nicetown, he dispatched an advance team to prepare the way. Church members knocked on doors, hosted community meetings, and met with neighborhood stakeholders and police.

"We have to get people to trust and respect us in an era when people aren't as churched, or committed to church," Avinger said. He has been advised to treat the move like a business start-up, and that establishing the church in a new neighborhood will likely take five years.

In the transition, Greater St. Matthew has lost nearly half of its 600 congregants. But it gained members such as Mildred Burden, 68, who lives down the street and had been commuting by bus to a North Philadelphia megachurch. She visited Greater St. Matthew on a snow day.

"It was the love I felt from [the beginning]," Burden said. "My other church was huge, but this is like family."

Back in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood, Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church is holding on to the hope that it can weather gentrification, renovating its 93-year-old building at 15th and Lombard Streets with $100,000 in private donations and a grant of $750,000. In its congregational heyday in the 1960s, about 2,500 worshiped there. Now, about 150 regularly attend.

"I hope that we will be able to increase our membership," said Vernoca Michael, who has served on the church's historical commission. "Although we are African American Methodist Episcopal, we have never been a church closed to other ethnic groups. We hope to reach out, and continue to be a presence in the community."
.  2015                .     ,            98:93      ,        .       13     ,     .    ...
Gary Hague shown here at his Christmas Tree farm in Tunkhannock, Luzerne County, where internet speeds are among the state's slowest. Read more

Pennsylvania State University researchers rounding the bend on a year-long study of broadband access in rural Pennsylvania are finding that speeds are even s. . . l. . . o. . . w. . .e. . .r. . . than previously thought.

Last year, the Inquirer and Daily News wrote about Pennsylvania's woeful connectivity issues, particularly in rural parts of the state where hills block signals and providers can't make profits by laying higher-quality lines.

"There haven't been any improvements," Ed Bustin, a commissioner in Bradford County, said Wednesday. "Nothing has changed as far as what's currently available, as far as access and speeds."

Bradford County, on the New York border in Northeastern Pennsylvania, has slow connectivity speeds, but according to the most recent map available from the Penn State study, it's not among the worst. Adjacent counties like Sullivan and Wyoming had the slowest speeds, roughly 0-3 megabits per second, far below the FCC's 25 mbps benchmark for "high speed."

Penn State, with a grant from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, began mapping the state's broadband access on Feb.1 and has so far conducted a half-million tests with public input on its website and through Google queries.

Penn State found speeds differed from what providers had been promising.

"What we are documenting is profoundly different than what we were told, the speeds far slower," said Sascha Meinrath, the Palmer Chair in Telecommunications at Penn State. "Places we were told have access appear to have limited to no access. The important word is appear."

A 2016 Federal Communications Commission report estimated that 39 percent of rural Americans, about 23 million people, had no access to 25 mbps broadband.

In Pennsylvania, the number is 803,645, about 6 percent of the population. Earlier this year, Gov. Wolf launched the "broadband initiative," an effort to offer financial assistance to internet providers who were bidding on service areas.

Penn State's connectivity map shows that few areas meet the 25 mbps standard, the largest being in the Philadelphia suburbs and parts of Harrisburg. Sections of Allegheny County east of Pittsburgh also registered high internet speeds.

Those numbers may be larger, Meinrath said, because people who have good internet speeds generally don't check them.

A large swath of Northwestern Pennsylvania fell below the FCC minimum for "broadband upload speed" of 3 to 5 mbps, including most of Warren County, home to the Allegheny National Forest.

"There's people still using dial-up here," said Todd Lake, Warren County's public safety director.

When the Penn State study wraps up early next year, Meinrath said, every congressional and state House and Senate district will have an assessment of how it fared. The data will also be available to the public so they know which elected official to call to demand action. That could include pressuring Washington to invest more in broadband or find more financial incentives to get providers to move into rural areas.

Broadband connectivity issues are problematic in most rural areas, and the ongoing debate over whether internet is essential infrastructure, the same as roads and electricity, or just a luxury used to watch movies and send email is growing increasingly one-sided.

"Someone is just going to have pick up and subsidize the costs," said Cynthia Morrison, a Warren County commissioner and a Republican.

Meinrath said he believes internet access is a "critical resource."

"Some very basic things can no longer be done unless you have connectivity," he said. "The last thing we want to do is have an infrastructure that divides. We've been contacted by a ton of small business owners and farmers who tell me, 'I can't do my work because my connection sucks.'"
Cynthia Blocker, now 22, has been housing insecure since she was 14. Blocker will speak at "In Our Backyards: Pulling Back the Curtain on Homeless Youth Trauma," a free day-long conference at Temple University on Nov. 2. Read more

At 14, Cynthia Blocker came home one day to find her belongings in boxes outside her house and the door's locks changed. She left her mother and her home that night, and would never return.

For the next six years, at night Blocker slept on benches, in parks, at Rittenhouse Square, at the clothespin near City Hall, at part-time jobs after hours, outside the city's Municipal Services building, and on friend's and family member's couches. During the day, she attended Charter High School for Architecture and Design, or CHAD, where she studied fashion design, juggling classwork, service jobs and hair braiding  her side hustle to save money for an apartment.

At the time, "I felt lost," said Blocker, now 22. "It was worrisome. I had a lot of anxiety, anxious about where I was going to sleep or what I was going to eat the next day. I felt very insecure."

Nowadays, Blocker sleeps at a family friend's home she shares with her dad and his friend. Still, worry that her home could be gone at any minute looms.

Like Blocker, hundreds of homeless Philadelphia youth shuffle from place to place each day, often exposed to fear, anxiety, and stress as they try to survive the streets alone. On Friday, educators, advocates, researchers, and current and former homeless youth will convene at Temple University for "In Our Backyards: Pulling Back the Curtain on Homeless Youth Trauma," a free day-long conference to address nuanced experiences faced by today's homeless youth and the resulting trauma. There, Blocker will speak on a panel about her experiences.

The fourth annual conference will be hosted by the Life After Trauma Organization (LATO), a Philadelphia nonprofit whose mission is to create awareness and approaches to prevent and recover from trauma. The conference opens at 8:30 a.m. inside Temple's Howard Gittis Student Center and will include youth talks and presentations, a resource panel, and discussions focused on the layered experiences.

Philadelphia psychologist Clara Whaley Perkins, president and founder of LATO, said the goal is to figure out what needs to be done "once [youth] have a secure home to begin  to help [them] recover from the effects of having gone through that trauma."

In January at least 300 young people, ages 24 and under, were counted on a single night according to the city. Of those youths, nearly 80 percent were African American.

To much of the public, "young adults are invisible as homeless people," said Liz Hersh, director of the city's Office of Homeless Services.

"When people are on the street, everybody pays attention to it," but many times youths aren't on the streets, she said, which means their experiences of having the foundations of their lives rocked often fly below the radar.

Hersh said that through the Young Adult Leadership Committee at her office, youth integrate their voices and experiences into the office's efforts.

Most recently, the group took part in an April 2018 needs assessment of the city's homeless youth, which detailed the experiences of those who have been homeless or housing insecure.

People who are housing insecure may struggle to pay housing costs, move often, or live in overcrowded housing, while homeless people lack housing.

The assessment found that "there is an overall lack of youth-dedicated supportive housing programs" and that couch surfing, as Blocker did, is a near-universal experience.

Whaley Perkins said youths who move between foster homes and homelessness often experience abuse along the way, which creates compounded trauma that later manifests in various ways, such as anxiety and insecurity.

"You go from just living, which is a normal childhood experience, going through the normal developmental changes, to surviving, and that is a major stress for a child, for young people. "From a neuroscience perspective, it's what happens in the brain," she said.

"The stress of not knowing, the uncertainty from day to day to day, at 15 we do not have the capacity to cope with that kind of uncertainty day in and day out."

Youths mainly become homeless because of money problems, housing instability, or family issues, research shows. Many, like Blocker, leave home after years of abuse, parental neglect, or after coming out as LGBTQ to their parents.

Once youths become homeless, the challenge to survive overshadows other parts of their lives, such as school, and many times causes them to do things they normally wouldn't or to turn to coping mechanisms, such as drugs and alcohol.

Without skills, resources, or training, youths face endless daily uncertainty, with schools becoming a refuge, though many times they struggle to succeed, Whaley Perkins said. When school lets out, they're once again left to figure out where they will sleep.

Often with housing-insecure or homeless youths, Whaley Perkins said, people believe that with the right support  a home, care, and love  symptoms youths show, such as anxiety or insecurity, should go away. But they don't, she said, because the youths face long-term trauma.

"When they experienced their trauma, their brain was still developing, and so it developed in a certain way in response to the trauma that they were subjected to and that has long-term effects," she said. "Many times, trauma that comes out of the housing insecurity is not something that people recognize."

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.
WASHINGTON  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman described slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi as a dangerous Islamist days after his disappearance in a phone call with President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and national security adviser John Bolton, according to people familiar with the discussion.

In the call, which occurred before the kingdom publicly acknowledged killing Khashoggi, the crown prince urged Kushner and Bolton to preserve the U.S.-Saudi alliance and said the journalist was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group long opposed by Bolton and other senior Trump officials.

The attempt to criticize Khashoggi in private stands in contrast to the Saudi government's later public statements decrying the journalist's death as a "terrible mistake" and a "terrible tragedy."

"The incident that happened is very painful, for all Saudis," the crown prince, the kingdom's de facto leader, said during a panel discussion last week. "The incident is not justifiable."

The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Khalid bin Salman, described Khashoggi last month as a "friend" who dedicated "a great portion of his life to serve his country."

In a statement released to The Washington Post, Khashoggi's family called the characterization of the columnist as dangerous Islamist inaccurate.

"Jamal Khashoggi was not a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. He denied such claims repeatedly over the past several years," the family said. "Jamal Khashoggi was not a dangerous person in any way possible. To claim otherwise would be ridiculous."

A person familiar with the discussion said Bolton did not signal he endorsed the crown prince's characterization of Khashoggi during the call.

A Saudi official on Wednesday denied that the crown prince made the allegations, saying "routine calls do exist from time to time" with the young leader and top U.S. officials, but "no such commentary was conveyed."

Saudi Arabia has faced international condemnation for its shifting accounts of Khashoggi's Oct. 2 disappearance at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. The kingdom initially said Khashoggi walked out of the consulate unharmed, then announced that Saudi agents killed him in an accidental fistfight and more recently said it had evidence that his killing was "premeditated."

Analysts said the crown prince's efforts to discredit Khashoggi in private suggested a two-faced attempt at damage control. "This is character assassination added to premeditated murder," said Bruce Riedel, a former CIA official and scholar at the Brookings Institution.

The White House declined to discuss sensitive conversations with the Saudis or to say how many phone calls the crown prince and Kushner have had since Khashoggi's disappearance. The two men have had multiple discussions, according to people familiar with the matter.

Officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic.

Other Middle East leaders have also come to the crown prince's defense. In recent days, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have reached out to senior officials in the Trump administration to express support for the crown prince, arguing that he is an important strategic partner in the region, said people familiar with the calls.

Israel, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have united behind the Trump administration's efforts to bring pressure on Iran and force through a Middle East peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians.

Other U.S. allies, notably Germany, Britain and France, have expressed serious concern about the killing of man who wrote articles critical of the Saudi leadership in The Washington Post.

In response to the killing, the Trump administration has revoked the visas or made travel ineligible for 21 Saudi nationals implicated by Turkey and Saudi Arabia in Khashoggi's death.

As U.S. officials contemplate a more robust response, Kushner has emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Saudi alliance in the region, said people familiar with the conversations. Other officials at the State Department and Pentagon, however, have said the options under consideration could include a clear discipline of the Saudi government, an end to Saudi-led blockade of Qatar and a winding down of the war in Yemen. Officials cautioned that no decision has been made, and Trump has expressed little desire to significantly alter U.S.-Saudi-relations, but there is an interest in a full vetting of the potential options.

Kushner's efforts to carefully cultivate a relationship with the heir to the Saudi throne makes him a critical voice in deciding the Trump administration's response. After several private talks early in the administration, Kushner championed Mohammed bin Salman as a reformer poised to usher the ultraconservative, oil-rich monarchy into modernity. Kushner privately argued for months last year that Mohammed would be key to crafting a Middle East peace plan, and that, with the prince's blessing, much of the Arab world would follow.

It was Kushner who pushed his father-in-law to make his first foreign trip to Riyadh, against the objections of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and warnings from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. In the early days of the administration, Kushner often preferred to talk to the crown prince privately, but now coordinates his conversations with the National Security Council.

Kushner visited the crown prince at his palace in a secret October 2017 trip, a plan so closely held that it caught some White House and intelligence officials by surprise.The two 30-somethings stayed up late into the evening alone discussing the prospects of Kushner's Middle East peace plan. A few days later, the prince ordered the house arrest of dozens of rival royals and imprisonment of other enemies in a bid to solidify his control of the government. The White House and the Saudis have denied that Kushner approved the power grab.

Saudi officials had made no secret of their antipathy toward Khashoggi, including expressing consternation last year when he began writing a regular column for The Washington Post. In the days after his Oct. 2 disappearance  before the Saudis acknowledged his death in Istanbul  a person close to the royal palace said Mohammed was puzzled by the high level of concern about Khashoggi, whom he considered part of the Muslim Brotherhood as well as an agent of Qatar.

Khashoggi's family said Jamal's views were much more nuanced than those described by Saudi officials. "Although he sympathized with certain objectives of the Muslim Brotherhood, he also sharply disagreed with many of their positions, especially toward Saudi Arabia," the family said in its statement.

Saudi Arabia severed relations with Qatar last year, charging among other things that it harbored Muslim Brotherhood "terrorists." Although the Saudis maintained a cordial relationship with the Brotherhood for decades after its founding in Egypt as an Islamist political and social movement, Riyadh declared it a terrorist organization after the upheavals of the Arab Spring.

Many Republican lawmakers, and Middle East analysts on the right, agreed with the Saudi assessment  in 2015, now-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, then a member of the House, co-sponsored a resolution calling on the State Department to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. During Trump's campaign, a number of prominent supporters  including Bolton called for such a designation.

Sissi, whose military government overthrew an elected Muslim Brotherhood-allied government in 2011, and Israel's political right share that view.

Trump considered such an action early in his administration, but was dissuaded by Pompeo, who had become CIA director, and others in the administration. They noted that while the designation would please some Arab partners, others in the region would reject it. The Brotherhood has mainstream political stature and legitimacy in Jordan, Turkey and Morocco, among other countries.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a rival of the Saudi crown prince, has called for Saudi Arabia to be held accountable for the killing. Erdogan called Trump on Thursday morning, according to people familiar with the conversation.

The Washington Post's Karen DeYoung and Tom Hamburger contributed to this article.
Deptford Township police cars are not equipped with dashcams. The town challenged a state law requiring dashcams and a panel struck down the mandate in 2016. Read more

A Deptford Township police officer who fatally shot a suspected shoplifter who police said was trying to run him over with an SUV has been cleared of any wrongdoing, authorities said Thursday.

Gloucester County Prosecutor Charles A. Fiore said a grand jury declined to recommend criminal charges against Sgt. Kevin Clements, who shot and killed LaShanda Anderson, 36, of Philadelphia, in June at a strip mall.

That decision came after prosecutors presented the results of an investigation into whether the officer's use of deadly force was justified, a standard procedure under state Attorney General's Office guidelines.

Clements, 41, fired three shots as Anderson and a passenger tried to flee the Deptford Crossing Shopping Center in a rented Nissan Armada on June 9, striking her in the left side of her head, the prosecutor said. Anderson, who also suffered an elbow wound, died at the scene.

Chanel Barnes, the Armada's lone passenger, and Raoul Gadson, another alleged accomplice in a shoplifting ring that targeted Marshalls stores in the Philadelphia region, were not injured. Both face criminal charges.

The shooting made national headlines and sparked protests at the scene. It was the first police-involved fatal shooting ever in Deptford.

Clements, a 19-year veteran of the police department, who has been on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Deptford Police Chief William Hanstein did not respond to a request seeking comment.

Fiore said said Clements was "fearing for his life" when he fired at Anderson's vehicle after she accelerated toward him and ignored his commands to stop.

Anderson's family has raised questions about whether the shooting was justified.

A niece in June called the shooting "another senseless killing of an unarmed African American woman."

"This isn't what we were waiting for," the Anderson family said in a statement. "We want justice. We're going to keep fighting. "

"It's extremely disappointing but not surprising. We knew that cop wasn't going to get indicted," said Stanley King, a Woodbury civil rights lawyer who represents the family. "Grand jury proceedings can be extremely one-sided and oftentimes far from fair and objective."

Loretta Winters, president of the Gloucester County Chapter of the NAACP, which also conducted its own probe into the shooting, said she needed more information before commenting on the grand jury findings.

"I still feel that what happened that day  something is wrong. My heart goes out to the family," she said.

>>READ MORE: Family of Philadelphia woman says shooting 'was murder'

In his first extensive public comment on the shooting, Fiore issued a four-page statement releasing new details on the incident and the investigation. The prosecutor said investigators interviewed eyewitnesses and police, and reviewed available footage and ballistic reports. The statement provided a narrative of the shooting.

Two eyewitnesses, Olivia Scattergood, 22, and her boyfriend, Aedan Bell, 19, both of Clementon, have described a different scenario. Both said that they gave statements to the prosecutor's office in July, but neither was called before the grand jury, Bell said.

"I'm at a loss for words," Bell said Thursday. "I can't believe it would get thrown out like that."

The couple confirmed that Anderson and Barnes ignored police commands to stop, but disputed police accounts that Anderson had tried to run officers over. Both said they believe Anderson was trying to flee the area.

There was no body or dash camera footage because Deptford patrol cars and officers were not equipped with them.

The incident unfolded in the Marshalls parking lot across from Deptford Mall on a Saturday afternoon. Clements and Capt. William Bittner were dispatched to the scene in separate police vehicles after a report of a shoplifting in progress, Fiore said.

Anderson, Gadson, and Barnes left Marshalls with merchandise valued at $3,433.41, the prosecutor said. All three had extensive criminal records. Fiore said a store employee told a dispatcher that he recognized them from earlier encounters and security briefings about organized retail theft.

The officers were incorrectly advised by the dispatcher that one of the suspects was a "hit" for a "homicide," Fiore said. No explanation was provided Thursday on why the dispatcher had incorrect information.

After a scuffle with a store employee, Gadson ran off and Anderson got into the SUV, the prosecutor said. Bittner pointed his handgun at Anderson and ordered her out of the vehicle, he said. As Bittner approached the open driver's side door, Anderson sped off, striking him in the shoulder, the prosecutor said. Bittner was not injured, authorities have said.

The SUV traveled about 50 feet and then stopped suddenly, and Barnes entered on the passenger side, Fiore said. Clements was pursuing Barnes from another direction, he said.

Bittner threw his baton at the SUV, shattering its rear window, the prosecutor said. Witnesses said Clements was standing 12 to 25 feet in front of the vehicle with his weapon drawn when he ordered Anderson to stop, he said.

"Instead, the SUV accelerated quickly towards him," the prosecutor's statement said. Clements then "fired three shots in rapid succession," he said.

The SUV traveled through the parking lot, over a curb and down an embankment before striking an access road below, the prosecutor said. An analysis of the control module for the airbag, which deployed, shows the vehicle was traveling at speeds ranging from 19 to 22 mph, he said.

Barnes, 38, of Philadelphia, was arrested at the scene; she was charged with shoplifting and released to await trial. Gadson, 43, also of Philadelphia, was captured several days later on assault and robbery charges. He is in custody in Lehigh County on unrelated charges.

Family members have said that Anderson, a mother of three daughters, was trying to get her life together after several brushes with the law. Anderson had difficulty finding a job because of her criminal record, they said. She was arrested more than 15 times over the last 18 years  for shoplifting but also for more serious charges, including firearms violations and attempted murder. Gadson has been arrested numerous times on charges including theft and drug dealing. Barnes has been arrested seven times for shoplifting.
Rachel Garland, a lawyer with Community Legal Services, meets with Craig K. Lee, 53, who has lived at the Arvilla since 2011 and now will have to move. Read more

The 4500 block of Osage Avenue was quiet on a recent afternoon, except for the wind whipping through its stately tall trees, scattering leaves up the steps of fine Victorian houses and apartment buildings marketed to graduate students and faculty.

But there was a bit of commotion on the sidewalk, as Jay Tembo, 38, grappled with the news that he and other tenants would have to leave their home, a 1940, 16-unit apartment building with a name from another era: Arvilla.

"You need to call your caseworker," his neighbor, Wanda Levan, 48, told him. The word was, everyone living there  the last apartment building on the block dedicated to affordable housing  has to move by the end of November.

Residents first received the lease-termination notices, then spotted a listing that advertises the property for $2.15 million, promising that, once renovated, the one- and two-bedroom units could command up to $1,400 a month, as the property falls "within the limited, highly sought after Penn Alexander School Catchment."

It's becoming a familiar story in this corner of the city, where an array of forces have conspired to drive up real estate prices and, in some cases, drive out low-income renters.

Those factors include appreciating values across what real estate observers call "greater Center City"; aggressive investments by the University of Pennsylvania, including creating home-buying programs for staff and backing the creation of the University City District; and, in 2002, the opening of the transformative school, a collaboration between the School District and Penn, which kicks in $1,330 a student, that has since been recognized as one of the best schools in the nation.

At the same time, two census tracts that cover parts of the catchment each lost more than 500 units of affordable housing from 2000 to 2014, according to an analysis published by the Federal Reserve. The median income in the area of the Arvilla increased 26 percent from 2006 to 2016. And as for home prices? They doubled in University City from 1998 to 2011  but in the catchment, they tripled, adding a cool $100,000 or more to a property's price tag. For instance, a 1,500-square-foot house on the same block as the Arvilla recently sold for $540,000.

Al Cyrus, who has lived in the Arvilla for more than 50 years, said it's hard not to draw a connection. "When they put in that Penn Alexander building, it was a wonderful opportunity, but I didn't know it was going to make all the real estate prices double over here. I didn't know they were going to come for all the older buildings and try to make them condos."

At Penn Alexander itself, the student body was 57 percent African American in its first year of operation. By the 2009-10 school year, that fell to 39 percent and, as of last school year, it was just 21 percent.

There are also fewer students classified as economically disadvantaged, meaning they qualify for free meals; the number fell 9 percentage points in five years, from 51 percent to 42 percent of the student body in 2017-18.

Emily Dowdall, policy director at the Reinvestment Fund, said these trends reflect complex and interlocking issues. Among them, "it brings up some of the tensions that come up a lot in the community development field, when a place-based investment becomes so successful that the lower-income households it has been intended to serve can no longer afford to live in the community."

The landlord, the nonprofit Mission First Housing, says that it will help all the tenants relocate but that keeping the property just doesn't make financial sense. The nonprofit houses 1,050 people with city Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) subsidies  600 in its own properties, such as Arvilla, the rest through leases  but says that leasing is becoming more difficult as rental prices increase.

Mark Deitcher, director of the nonprofit's business development, said that's one reason Mission First is selling: It can reinvest the sales revenue from the 16-unit building into building a larger number of units that it will own, nearly 50 of them, farther out in West Philadelphia.

Besides, he said, the building is in disrepair, and the nonprofit isn't in a position to fix it.

Three years ago, Mission First hatched a plan to bundle it with another project, at 46th and Spruce Streets, and obtain low-income-housing tax credits to fund both renovations. That fell apart after a nearby neighbor "threatened to sue us even if we got zoning, and keep us in court for years. We made the decision it wasn't worth it to fight him." Selling off both properties was the alternative.

"We really work hard to keep our affordable units in neighborhoods that are gentrifying," Deitcher added. "We [own] close to 100 units in Center City.  But unless we already own something in these areas, it's very hard."

Last-ditch efforts

The building's residents, and nearby neighbors, are not ready to accept that.

Some residents, such as Michael Jones, have been in the building more than a decade, and don't want to leave.

"A lot of people here are like family to me," he said.

On the other end of the spectrum, Seanika Gilyard, 31, said she just moved in six months ago with her three daughters, ages 13, 7, and 3. They're finally settling into school, starting to make friends.

Tim Crawford, who's lived there six years, said that, given the condition of the building, he wouldn't mind leaving. It's the way it's being handled that upsets him: the notice, dated Oct. 18, to move by Nov. 30.

"I'm willing to move, but I feel like my rights are being violated. It's inhumane," he said.

On Monday night, a couple dozen residents and neighbors crammed into a West Philadelphia coffee shop to discuss what they could do to help: Ideas ranged from the pie-in-the-sky (find a buyer to keep the building affordable) to the pragmatic (exert political pressure, say, through district Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell). Some offered to lead fund-raising efforts to cover moving expenses, while others proposed letter-writing campaigns to push the owner to rethink the sale or at least give the residents more time. (On Thursday, Deitcher said Mission First will cover the moving expenses.)

J.J. Tiziou, who's lived on this block for 12 years, organized the meeting after he spotted the real estate listing.

"That listing makes it all about the money that could be made, and not about the social investment that could be made in the community," he said.

What's equally disturbing to him is that it seems to fit a pattern: "Let the place crumble and then flip it  that's a thing that happens in our city all too often."

Just a few blocks away, at the deteriorating Admiral Court and Dorsett Court apartment buildings, dozens of low-income tenants were likewise told to leave this year ahead of a sale. The last remaining tenants were confronted recently with a posted notice ordering them out by Oct. 30.

Rachel Garland, a lawyer with Community Legal Services, is working with residents at both Admiral and Dorsett and at Arvilla. She said that as neighborhoods gentrify, there's been an increase in mass evictions. Her question is: "What are we going to do to ensure these owners are doing it as a legal manner?"

And, beyond that, she thinks the city should weigh its commitment to keeping affordable housing in every neighborhood, rather than shunting it off to the most disadvantaged areas.

"Research shows that the more we concentrate poverty in particular neighborhoods, the less likely we are to break that cycle," she said. "What are we as a city  going to do to prioritize keeping low-income housing in particular neighborhoods, sometimes on particular blocks?"

Turning West Philadelphia into Cambridge

It raises the question: What was the priority guiding the development around Penn Alexander?

To Hannah Sassaman, a Penn Alexander parent whos lived in the area since 1997, it was self-evident: University leaders actively were trying to turn West Philadelphia into Cambridge.

Barry Grossbach, who has been zoning chair of the Spruce Hill Civic Association "longer than you've been alive," recalls how the neighborhood group began working with the university in the 1990s  even putting together a volunteer-run special services district that would become the precursor to the University City District.

"They worked with us on the establishment of a public school, they introduced a mortgage program to encourage their faculty and staff to buy in the neighborhood, they did work with us to stabilize the neighborhood  and that had a ripple effect for the communities farther west," he said.

The plan had far-reaching consequences.

Among them, said Dowdall, was a shift in thinking as Philadelphians began to recognize that there is not a fixed number of "good" schools  and that to create more of them requires investment.

"It showed there is the ability for schools to improve  and the challenge is to proactively make sure they can still serve a diverse student body and that we can use all the policy tools we have available to maintain diversity in the neighborhood as well."

Another consequence: Families determined to send kids to Penn Alexander are taking desperate measures.

Caleb Arnold and Carlos Munoz moved their family of four first into a one-bedroom apartment in the catchment, then found a two-bedroom space, all so their older son, who is autistic, could access supports they thought were not available at their old school.

"We stretched to be in that neighborhood," Arnold said. "We live in a place that's too small for us, and as our kids get bigger it gets increasingly too small. And we have no hope of being able to afford our neighborhood and one day buy a house  which is funny, because we're both lawyers."

The principal at Penn Alexander referred questions to the school district. Spokesperson Lee Whack said the district's priority is creating great schools across the city. As far as a school's impact on the community around it? "The school district does not control that," he said. "Our focus is on educating young people."

A Penn spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

But many Penn Alexander parents are growing keenly aware of the privilege of living within the catchment. Sassaman and others in 2016 formed a group called the Penn Alexander Equity Circle, that's joined protests against the eviction at Dorsett and Admiral Courts, and advocated against removing a teacher from nearby Lea school as part of citywide leveling.

But there are larger forces at play. Sassaman's is the last house on her block that has not been carved into student apartments, and offer letters from developers come in every other week.

For parents such as Gilyard, the mother of three being kicked out of Arvilla, there doesn't seem to be much hope of staying in the catchment.

Still, she said, that neighbors reached out  that meant a lot. "It's a great thing that the people from the block are being very supportive. I appreciate it. They didn't have to call a community meeting, or even act concerned."
Cori Dixon, 17, left, and Christopher Jones, also 17, sit in Saunders Park in West Philadelphia. Both educate others on homelessness, which they have experienced. HEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer Read more

Cori Dixon's beauty surprises, as though no one who's endured what she has could have eyes so bright.

Unmarred as she seems, Cori, 17, who remembers her first tumultuous years were in Cherry Hill and Woodbury, carries the burdens of having lived much of her life homeless or close to it.

"I feel like a 50-year-old woman, I've been through so much," Cori said. "I just wanted to be a teenager for a while."

Cori will participate in a conference next month in which young people will discuss homelessness and related issues.

To educate others, Cori already tells stories of homelessness as part of a group known as Youth HEALers Stand Up! The HEALers are part of People's Emergency Center, a West Philadelphia nonprofit that offers housing, job training, life skills, and other resources for the homeless.

Homelessness is so complex that even the advocates and city officials who fight it can't agree on how to quantify it. That's why it's hard to say how many homeless children live in Philadelphia.

PEC recently reported there were 6,583 Philadelphia children from birth through grade 12 who were homeless last year, based on numbers from the School District of Philadelphia and the state Department of Education.

Of those, 23 were unsheltered, while the rest were either couch surfing (living outside the home with friends or family), or in shelters, or in transitional housing, numbers show.

The city does not count couch surfers as being homeless. It does, however, include in its homelessness census all people under age 21 living in emergency and temporary housing. By that count, city officials recorded 3,885 homeless children and youth in fiscal year 2016, and 3,777 in fiscal year 2017. And this year, the city reported no unsheltered children.

The numbers don't seem to be changing in any dramatic way, said Liz Hersh, the city's director of the Office of Homeless Services. Still, she said, "a single homeless child is a crisis," adding that homeless kids do less well in school, earn less money over their lifetimes, and are more likely to be depressed.

What is amazing about homeless children "is what they're capable of once they get an opportunity," said Sister Mary Scullion, founder of the anti-homelessness nonprofit Project Home. "You see them have that fire in their bellies."

That's exactly what's happening to Cori, said PEC youth housing organizer Rashni Stanford. "She and other children like her have lived homelessness, and they want to help others."

In a PEC meeting room earlier in the week, Cori joined another 17-year-old HEALer who experienced homelessness and housing insecurity. Christopher Jones had lived a troubled life in Olney and, like Cori, somehow overcame his past to arrive at a stable present.

"They have a level of maturity that is more elevated than most teens I meet," said Joe Willard, vice president for policy at PEC. "That's in part because of their life experiences. They had to get more mature for a lot of reasons compared to the average teen out there."

"I wish I had someone to ask me, 'Are you OK?'" Cori Dixon

Cori remembers being in a homeless shelter with her mother when she was 5. She doesn't understand why, though she recalls her mother being sick and falling down in pain.

Afterward, she lived with an aunt, then moved back with her mother in a house. "Dang, our own house," Cori would say to herself, incredulous still that she once lived "normally."

It didn't last, as stress and conflict became part of the household routine. Cori was taken from her home and lived with a family member, but the two didn't mesh.

"I had depression and anxiety and was suicidal," she said.

Back she went with her mother, living in broken-down studio apartments in Cobbs Creek. Cori slept on a shower curtain on a grimy floor that hadn't seen a broom in years.

By the time she was 14, Cori said, her mother was not in the picture. Cori wandered around Philadelphia, without a place to stay. Eventually she went to an emergency shelter.

Homeless kids have to attend school, and Cori recalls how little math mattered during that awful time of pain and instability.

"What was the point of school?" she asked. "I had no focus, no peace."

One day, a school official sent her back to the shelter because her uniform had a tear in it. The young woman who washed her clothes in a tub and had no family to talk to at the end of the day was being hassled for a technical infraction by an adult who didn't take the time to understand Cori's plight.

"I wish I had someone to ask me, 'Are you OK?'"

Nowadays, she lives in a community home in Germantown. Her goal when she starts her senior year at Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School in September is to improve her grades, which have declined.

"I know I can get straight A's," said the budding writer and philosopher. "But your mind is on so many things. You feel stuck."

Christopher, who shared fewer details, remembers living long periods of time by himself as a child without any adults to guide him. He spent years couch surfing, sleeping in other people's living rooms. Twice, he was arrested for fighting.

"I have been angry and sad," he said, skipping the specifics. After his senior year at Eastern Academy Charter High School in East Falls next year, he'd like to study behavioral health, a subject that interests him given the aberrant adult behavior he's witnessed all his life.

One day, Cori may be a registered nurse. Or a philosopher. Or something else. The point is, she said confidently, now she believes she can begin to dream and to look ahead.

"I don't live in sad memories anymore," she said. "That's how people become miserable."

Philadelphia Media Network is one of 19 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city's push toward economic justice. Follow us at @BrokeInPhilly.
Rabbi Adam Zeff inspects the pre-Second World War, Russian Torah scrolls during a preparation for the upcoming Sabbath at the sanctuary of Germantown Jewish Center, in Mt Airy, on November 1st, 2018. Read more

On Friday evening, nearly a week after a gunman in Pittsburgh turned the Jewish Sabbath into a day of death worldwide, veterinary student Shira Rosenblum will host a Shabbat meal in her Center City apartment for friends and strangers.

Arizona lawyer Joshua Offenhartz will visit Philadelphia for a cousin's wedding, but also seek out a synagogue in which to pray.

Rabbi Jerome David will stand at the bimah  the platform from which the scriptures are read  of Temple Emanuel in Cherry Hill for a special service observing the pain of the tragedy.

For Jews and their interfaith allies, the Sabbath will be more than a day of rest ushered in by lighted candles and a blessing. It will be a statement about commitment, unity, and fearlessness in the face of terror  the message carried on a gathering wave of calls to worship following the carnage at the Tree of Life synagogue.

The American Jewish Committee (AJC), an international advocacy organization, is urging not only Jews but people of all faiths, elected officials, and religious and civil rights leaders to #ShowUpForShabbat, to flood synagogues on Friday and show that "when hate raises its ugly head anywhere in our country, we will rise to confront it with solidarity and determination," it said in a statement. The group also has posted online a solidarity statement for signing, and has created a prayer that can be recited during services.

"If you can't be safe in an institution of faith, where can you be safe?" said Marcia Bronstein, director of the regional AJC Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey. "We refuse to be afraid and we are standing together."

READ MORE>> After Pittsburgh shooting, clients ask HIAS PA: 'Am I safe?'

The Jewish Federations of North America, an umbrella organization partnering with AJC, has created the #SolidarityShabbat hashtag to encourage those who attend Friday services to post photos, said Steven Rosenberg, chief marketing officer of the Greater Philadelphia federation.

Rosenberg grew up in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, the scene of last Saturday's massacre, and knew several of the 11 people killed. "Awful, brutal," he said, his voice shaking.

Since launching Sunday, the hashtags have been used thousands of times on Twitter and have been seen by millions around the world.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and OneTable, a nonprofit that brings together young adults for Shabbat dinners, have joined up to encourage more people to host the Friday night meals in a show of unity. The campaign was originally launched last summer by OneTable after Heather Heyer was killed while protesting against white nationalists rallying in Charlottesville, Va. On Monday, the ADL also started a digital vigil for those unable to attend commemorations of the Pittsburgh dead.

Organizations including the Jewish Federations of North America, the Orthodox Union, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Jewish Community Center Association of North America have signed on to support the efforts. Jewish communities in countries including England, South Africa, and China have pledged to participate.

At 6 p.m. Friday, Rabbi Adam Zeff of the Germantown Jewish Centre in Mount Airy will lead interfaith services during a weekend the synagogue reserves to celebrate the legacy of its former rabbi, Elias Charry, who was instrumental in persuading Jewish families to remain in Mount Airy in the 1960s and '70s, when many Jews  and synagogues  were moving to the suburbs.

"He thought it was a religious duty to engage with different communities, and that we would learn more about what it means to be Jewish when we are in close contact with people who are not Jews," said Zeff, noting that members are likely to be surrounded by an interfaith and interracial show of support from neighbors on Friday.

READ MORE>>Pittsburgh shooting suspect to be arraigned Thursday

In Cheltenham, Rabbi Leah R. Berkowitz will lead Congregation Kol Ami's "First Friday" service, during which blessings are offered for birthdays and anniversaries and other special occasions.

"It is typical of spiritual spaces, that communities are often celebrating and mourning at the same time," Berkowitz said.

Temple Emanuel in Cherry Hill has fielded a plethora of calls about #ShowUpForShabbat and is anticipating that its usual attendance of 150 for Friday night services will double.

The synagogue usually hosts two Friday evening services, a family gathering and a traditional service. This week, they will be combined, to memorialize those killed in Pittsburgh.

"We have to show everybody that we will assemble. We will be together," said Andy Katz, the synagogue's executive director.

Rosenblum, 25, who usually attends Mekor Habracha Center City Synagogue, won't be in services on Friday, but instead will assemble about 10 people at the dinner table in her apartment for chicken, salad, and roasted vegetables. The third-year veterinary student at the University of Pennsylvania will host the dinner as part of a Jewish Graduate Student Network initiative promoting home-based Shabbat dinners.

The network partners with area Hillels and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia to encourage Jewish graduate students to connect and build community. The group provides funding for the dinners.

When introduced in September, the initiative had difficulty gaining traction, said Tslil Shtulsaft, the network's executive director. But after the call this week to #ShowUpForShabbat, offers to host spiked. By Thursday, Shtulsaft had at least 19 volunteers for this weekend or next.

The Pittsburgh murders are the first time, Rosenblum said, that she has felt the full force of an anti-Semitic act so personally.

"I think we just all want to be together as a community," she said, "now more than ever."

Offenhartz, 30, is flying into Philadelphia with that resolve. His cousin's wedding is Saturday evening, but before he celebrates, he plans to find a synagogue in which to pray and remember.

He and his family, he said, frequently have been the targets of anti-Semitic bigotry in Arizona  his first time was when he was 6  and while the Pittsburgh attack was a shock, it was no surprise. He will attend services Friday and Saturday morning in a show of solidarity.

"I feel a personal obligation as a millennial to make sure that I am standing up, because so many before me have had to stand up in more difficult times and circumstances," Offenhartz said. "Now it's my time to say, 'We won't allow you to intimidate us, or deter us from practicing our faith.'"
Democratic women running for the U.S. House in Pennsylvania often note as a selling point that the state's delegation in Washington doesn't have any women. On cue, voters usually respond with "That has to change" or "That's not right."

That pitch, however, has not been made in Delaware County's Fifth Congressional District, where Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon and Republican Pearl Kim are vying for an open seat in the recently redrawn district. Their race is the only one in the state that is guaranteed to send a woman to Washington.

"It takes the whole woman issue out of it," Scanlon said. "So presumably then, voters can focus on positions and qualifications."

Scanlon has been a civil rights lawyer for 35 years, advocating for children with disabilities for the Election Law Center and most recently working as a pro bono lawyer at Ballard Spahr helping refugees, veterans, and various low-income clients. She also served as president of the Wallingford-Swarthmore school board.

Kim's personal experience with the criminal justice system  as a victim of sexual assault while in college  led her to become a special victims prosecutor. While at the Delaware County District Attorney's Office, she championed human trafficking legislation. Most recently, Kim worked at the Attorney General's Office on campus safety and the opioid crisis.

Both women quit their jobs to campaign full-time during the primaries and have continued the momentum since. Scanlon won a contentious 10-way race and Kim was unopposed for the GOP nomination.

The redrawing of the district, which now encompasses all of Delaware County, a piece of Philadelphia, and a sliver of Montgomery County, gave an edge to the Democrats. It replaced the old Seventh District, which Republican Pat Meehan held before he resigned over a sexual harassment scandal, and the First District, held by Democrat Bob Brady, who did not seek reelection.

Scanlon and Kim are essentially running for two seats. They are both running to complete Meehan's term until January, and for a full term starting in January to represent the new district. In February, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court ordered U.S. House district boundaries redrawn, ruling the old lines unfairly benefited the GOP.

Despite voting patterns in the Fifth that favor Scanlon, Kim said she was "excited" about the redistricting.

"It's a diverse district, and there are a lot of immigrant communities, which I can certainly resonate with," Kim, a daughter of Korean immigrants, said before going canvassing in Upper Darby, an ethnically diverse town.

There she ran into a group of people leaving Sunday services at Prayer Chapel Church of God in Christ on Hampden Road. Oswald Okebata stopped to chat with Kim as he left the church and told her that he's a Republican committeeman and would pray for her victory.

>> VOTERS GUIDE: View candidates in the 2018 midterm election based on your address, or browse all the action in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware

Kim told him that she is receiving support from Republicans, Democrats, and independents. And added that she was on The Van Jones Show on CNN, where she answered questions about her candidacy during a brief segment in late September.

And so went most of the door-knocking. She kept her speech short, asking residents simply to consider voting for her and adding to check her out on Van Jones. She handed them a pamphlet with her bio and priorities  growing small businesses, ending the opioid epidemic, improving public safety and combating sexual violence  then it was off to the next house, almost like a relay.

A few minutes after Kim gave a woman one of her pamphlets, the woman came back out of the house and yelled across the street: "Is she a Democrat or Republican?"

Kim's information makes no mention of her Republican affiliation. That, paired with her more moderate stances and criticism of some of Trump's policies  she's for universal health care and against the separation of families at the border, and thinks leaving the Paris Agreement on climate change was a bad idea  led to a tense moment during Kim and Scanlon's debate last week.

"For the first time I'm hearing what my opponent's positions are on many of these issues, and she seems to be running against the Republican Party's positions, which I understand, because I am as well," Scanlon said. Kim just smiled as some in the audience laughed and clapped.

After the debate, Kim said she's an "independent-minded thinker" and that people might find that refreshing.

"I consider myself a fiscal conservative, and I believe in smaller government, but certainly I have moderate stances on immigration, for instance, and other issues, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that, or that it makes me any less Republican," she said.

Scanlon has "Democrat" in bold at the top of her pamphlet; former President Barack Obama praises her at the start of her latest television ad.

During the debate, Scanlon spoke about the issues most Democratic candidates have been talking about: campaign finance reform, expanding access to health care, gun control and immigration reform.

She told the debate audience of more than 200 that she ran for the school board in the mid-2000s because when she raised questions about a school construction project, the administrators dismissed her and the board didn't listen. She got elected after she jumped the construction fence and discovered that the work was running behind and the school wouldn't open for at least six months.

"For the last two years, it feels like I am in front of that fence again. The [Trump] administration is telling us not to believe what we can see in front of our faces, and Congress isn't listening," Scanlon said. "So, that's why I decided to climb over the fence again."

One of the progressive platforms she has stayed away from, but that has gained steam from other Democratic candidates, is free college. Scanlon says she wants to address the student debt crisis but also she thinks it's important to look at vocational training as an alternative to college.

"We've got this gap in the Philadelphia region between skills and jobs, and a lot of it is around technical and vocational skills, and those are good jobs," she said while campaigning at the University City train station a few weeks ago. "But there's been such a push to push everyone to college in recent years that I think we need to recalibrate that a little bit.  Really having a better developed array of opportunities for folks seems like it makes more sense."

As Scanlon spoke to potential voters at the station, most mentioned health care and education as top concerns. Some brought up guns, too.

Nancy Spor, a medical technician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said she works in neurology and sometimes sees children come in with gunshot wounds to the head. She wants to see gun violence be addressed, she said. But she mostly wanted to hear Scanlon's positions.

Spor is a registered Republican but said she is open to pulling the lever for a Democrat.

"It's all about who's going to do the best for me," she said. "I'm not just going to be in this party thing anymore, because the party thing is not happening."
A Democratic state House candidate in the Philadelphia suburbs has charged that her opponent is running an anti-Semitic attack ad in the wake of a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

The video spot, paid for by Republican State Rep. Todd Stephens, alleges that "Sara Johnson Rothman never saw a tax increase she didn't like" and "wants to drastically raise our income taxes."

At the end of the ad, a digitally altered image of Johnson Rothman shows her holding a stack of $100 bills.

"Reject Sara Rothman," reads text superimposed on the illustration, dropping her maiden name.

The Democrat said her legal name is Sara Johnson Rothman, which she has used since marrying her husband, Scott Rothman, who is Jewish. She serves on the Upper Dublin school board.

>> VOTERS GUIDE: View candidates in the 2018 midterm election based on your address, or browse all the action in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware

Stephens, who has represented part of Montgomery County since 2011, said Johnson Rothman's charges of anti-Semitism "defy reality."

"It's shameful my opponent is stooping this low for her own personal gain," he said. "This video is about her record of voting to take more of our hard-earned money with higher taxes every chance she got  period."

Johnson Rothman said, "You shouldn't play into people's biases and bigotry. I know it works. It works, obviously, for the president. But just because it works doesn't make it right."

She added, "They use 'Johnson Rothman' [earlier] in the ad.  But when they have me holding the cash, it's just 'Rothman.' That's just wrong."

(Stephens noted there is an image in the beginning of the ad that shows her with $100 bills that reads, "Sara Johnson Rothman Likes to Increase Taxes.")

Two mailings by the Pennsylvania Republican Party appear to drop the name "Johnson" almost entirely, referring to the candidate by her legal name only in fine print.

Laura Frank, a spokeswoman for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, said the group "has taken a look at it and we do not find anything anti-Semitic about" Stephens' ad or the Pennsylvania GOP's mailings.

"We've worked with [Stephens] for many years, he's been a huge supporter of us," she said. "We've never experienced any anti-Semitic behavior from him or his staff."

Rabbi Joshua Waxman, president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia, said Stephens' ad made "use of, whether inadvertently or advertently, certain anti-Semitic tropes, and we need to be, especially at this time, going out of our way to avoid any insinuations."

"The images that are included in the ad are disturbing in any situation, and especially in the aftermath of what happened in Pittsburgh," he said.

Johnson Rothman said that Stephens' ad also contained numerous factual inaccuracies about her record. Stephens stood by the claims, citing several budget documents.

Stephens said, "This ad has been running for weeks on Facebook with over 15,000 people seeing it, and not one person has raised this meritless claim."

A mailing in a Connecticut state Senate race, which showed an illustration of a Jewish candidate grinning and grasping a fistful of $100 bills, drew national attention this week.

A report by the Anti-Defamation League found a 57 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents reported in 2017 in the United States.

When youre running for office  you expect a certain amount of attack ads, said Johnson Rothman. But given whats going on in our country right now, with, of course, the massacre that occurred over the weekend, this is the time we need to draw attention to things like this. This is going on even in our communities here in suburban Philly.
Rachel Garland, a lawyer with Community Legal Services, meets with Craig K. Lee, 53, who has lived at the Arvilla since 2011 and now will have to move. Read more

Can you believe it's already November? Turkey talk is surely on its way, but Election Day is the next "holiday" on the calendar. Some businesses are celebrating by helping their employees get to the polls next week, my colleague Ellie Silverman reports. This morning we also have an important story out of West Philly about the ripple effect Penn Alexander has had on the community. It seems a well-known pattern of development is leaving little room left for low-income residents.

Reading this online? Sign up here to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox every morning.

 Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)

 READ MORE: The Penn Alexander effect: Is there any room left for low-income residents in University City?

Back in 2002, the Philadelphia School District and the University of Pennsylvania teamed up to open Penn Alexander, which has since been recognized as one of the best schools in the nation.

It's been a boon to the neighborhood but, over time, the community in the Penn Alexander catchment has lost much of its affordable housing units and home prices have tripled.

That means a pattern seen all over Philadephia is repeating once more: low-income residents are being forced out.

 READ MORE: After Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, clients ask HIAS: Am I safe?

In social media ravings he posted before killing 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue last week, Robert Bowers reportedly expressed anger toward HIAS.

He repeated lies suggesting Jews were funding the migrant caravan traveling through Mexico toward the U.S.

Columnist Mike Newall recently spent time at the Jewish-founded refugee resettlement agency. He found them juggling the trauma of the shootings with their everyday work helping refugees that they say have "never felt so unwelcome."

 READ MORE: La Colombe and other companies want to help their employees vote on Election Day

La Colombe CEO Todd Carmichael says Election Day is "the day you should be late to work." His coffee chain is part of a national nonpartisan effort to make sure employees have the flexibility to get to the polls.

And Nov. 6 is coming up quickly. That day Democrats will be looking for a "blue wave" and, if it arrives, reporter Jonathan Tamari says some of the first warning signs could arrive in Harrisburg or Erie County, Pa.

Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania and across the country, education has become a hot topic during state elections with school funding and teacher salaries at top of mind.

What you need to know today

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Well, that's terrifying. Thanks for capturing this Halloween installation, @yellaphant.

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we'll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out!

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Opinions

"And if Trump, or any president, can eradicate such safeguards with the stroke of a pen, no one in America will be safe from government tyranny. African Americans know this well. Or at least we should, because it was the unequal treatment of blacks that necessitated the 14th Amendment in the first place."  Columnist Solomon Jones calls threats to birthright citizenship an attack on African Americans.

If 2016 was the revenge of the blue-collar white voters, 2018 will be the revenge of the other educated and urbane white voters, writes Philadelphia-based political consultant Albert Eisenberg.

Despite recent events, columnist Michael Smerconish writes, there is positive political news all around us and we should draw strength from it now.

What were reading

Your Daily Dose of | Dance

At Valley Day School in Bucks County, a dance troupe is helping teenage girls heal wounds from trauma with dance.
Latanya Lucas, 49, a United Parcel Service worker and mother who battled breast cancer, died Saturday, Oct. 20, of complications from the disease at her mother's home in South Philadelphia.

Known as "Tanya," she was born to Deborah King and Frederick Wharton, and raised by her mother and stepfather, Allen King Jr.

Ms. Lucas lived in South Philadelphia and attended South Philadelphia High School.

At an early age, Ms. Lucas held various jobs before taking a position at UPS, where she worked in a warehouse for 20 years. She never retired.

In the early 1980s, she met Andre Westbrook. They had three children whom she raised as a single mother.

"She was a very supportive mother," her mother said. "She worked hard to provide for her children. She would always support any endeavors in their lives. It always made her happy to see her children's accomplishments, and she would give her last dime to see them prosper."

When her children won awards for their achievements, she couldn't wait to brag about them. "She would be the loudest in the room, shouting, 'That's my son,' or, 'That's my daughter.' Her family meant everything to her," said King.

Her relatives described Ms. Lucas as caring, honest, and very straightforward. In June 2015, she posted her mantra online. It read: "In the end, only three things matter. How much you loved. How gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you."

In 2016, Ms. Lucas was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent treatment, and the cancer went into remission. The cancer returned more aggressively in the summer of 2018, and she battled it with courage and grace.

"She fought with every ounce of her body and stayed strong as long as she could," her mother said. "Through her trials and tribulations, she always stayed positive. Even through the darkest of times, she kept her head held high."

As her health declined, Ms. Lucas decided to spend her last days at the home of her mother, comforted by her mother's love and sitting in a comfortable chair by a window. "I'm tired," she told her mother, as the end drew near.

In better days, Ms. Lucas knew how to have a good time. She loved to party, dance, and listen to her 90s R&B music. "Her smile would light up a room," her mother said. "I'm going to miss her."

Ms. Lucas was preceded in death by a brother. Besides her mother and stepfather, she is survived by children Jamil, Andre, and Shaniqua Lucas; four grandchildren; her grandmother, Carrie King; 10 brothers; five sisters; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were Wednesday, Oct. 31, with burial in Eden Cemetery, Collingdale.

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society via https://www.cancer.org/.
AR-15 rifles and their cousins are among the nation's most popular and profitable weapons. The AR-15 fires one bullet with each pull of the trigger  thus, semiautomatic  but it is easily modified to shoot continuously until the trigger is released. Read more

In addition to sparking a national conversation about political rhetoric as a motivator for violence, anti-Semitism, and hate, the mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh last Saturday renewed debate about gun policy.

On Tuesday, one of the many issues that should guide voters in casting their ballots is where the candidates stand on gun control. To help, we compiled quotes from local candidates  from debates, endorsement meetings, and public statements or interviews  that reflect their position on gun laws. (Editor's note: Since there are multiple gun laws and policies being debated, these aren't meant to offer candidates' definitive views on guns, but a general sense of where they stand on particular issues.)

Pennsylvania

Governor

Scott Wagner (R): "We have background checks in Pennsylvania, and as governor I would want to know that every i is being dotted and every t is being crossed.  What I want to know are the current regulations and checks that are currently in place being done as according to protocol." Source

Tom Wolf (D): "We should pass legislation that closes the loophole that allows people to purchase long rifles, including assault-style weapons without passing a background check, and we should pass legislation that requires all those who wish to purchase a firearm to go through a state police background check." Source

>> Read the full endorsement of the Editorial Board in this race here.

U.S. Senate

Lou Barletta (R): "I don't think that we should have any automatic weapons on the streets here in America.  I don't think we should have bump stocks. But at the same time I believe that we are a country of the Second Amendment and we should not punish law-abiding Americans.  How do you define an assault weapon that [an assault-weapon ban] doesn't infringe on the right of law-abiding Americans?" Source

Bob Casey (D): "I had to make a decision initially on three votes: the background-check bill that you talked about, the limitation on the magazine so that one individual can't shoot hundreds of bullets at one time  especially at schoolchildren, and third, the ban on the military-style weapon. I voted yes on all three of those. They are commonsense measures totally consistent with the Second Amendment ." Source

>> Read the full endorsement of the Editorial Board in this race here.

First Congressional District

Brian Fitzpatrick (R): "We [the Problem Solvers Caucus of which Fitzpatrick is a member] have a gun-safety package in place: universal background checks  , assault-weapons ban, gun violent restraining order, all those things that we  everything that we need to do to enhance gun safety. " Source

Scott Wallace (D): "We have to ban assault weapons, we have to ban high-capacity magazines, we have to ban bump stocks, silencers, we have to remove the ridiculous legal liability, immunity, that Congress granted to the gun industry in 2005 at the request of the NRA. And I would require biometric trigger locks on every gun in America." Source

>> Read the full endorsement of the Editorial Board in this race here.

Fourth Congressional District

Dean David (R): "We agree on something like bump stocks, that banning something that takes a semiautomatic weapon and makes it essentially automatic makes sense/  If we're all agreeing that there's got to be better communication between mental health and law enforcement, let's pass that bill. If we're all agreeing that high-capacity magazines are something that we can compromise on, let's do that. But let's not pack 50 things in a bill and say 'Well, I tried,' because you know what? You didn't try."

Madeleine Dean (D): "We, in the [state] House, passed legislation that the Senate passed it too and then sent to the governor for signing that would require mandatory relinquishment of weapons from a person subject to a final order of protection from abuse.  That's actually going to save lives, so I'm very proud of Pennsylvania for having done that. And that's only one small step. I ordered the bump-stock ban after Las Vegas." Source

Fifth Congressional District

Pearl Kim (R): "I respect the Second Amendment, but I do support the red-flag legislation that has been proposed across the state of Pennsylvania. That is, you can petition the courts if you  believe that a person could be an immediate threat to themselves and/or others. I think that is an effective piece of legislation." Source

Mary Gay Scanlon (D): "I am not saying let's take away everyone's guns. I am saying that there is room for common sense.  We need to reauthorize the assault-weapons ban, we need to ban high-capacity magazines, but we also need to address the steady violence that grips cities like Chester and Philly. And we need to have commonsense public health-type solutions there. We need research, which the federal government has banned." Source

Sixth Congressional District

Greg McCauley (R): "The vast majority of the shooters have had serious mental health issues. I mean, think about what they're doing. That's where our health-care system can start to work, right in mental health.  We need to get together and protect our children, more than our money. I'm going to get involved in it. I don't know that this is just a federal issue. Shouldn't the states already be on this? Shouldn't our police have what they need to protect our children? And shouldn't we have universal background checks to check their mental health?" Source

Chrissy Houlahan (D): "Guns of war do not belong in civilian hands. Full stop. We need to make sure that we do some commonsense things to make our communities and our schools safer, and that doesn't include arming our teachers.  We need to make sure that we are reinstating the assault-weapons ban. We need to make sure that we are limiting magazine capacity. We need to make sure that we are funding mental health." Source

>> READ MORE: These women could make history in Pennsylvania | Editorial

New Jersey

Senate

Bob Hugin (R): "I think there's the right balance to ensure that we're protected. I don't think that people who are suffering from mental illness should have access to any kind of a weapon, and we should protect them and ourselves in lots of ways. So, I think there's things we can do in terms of background checks to make sure that we have more safety without violating the right of people to own weapons." Source

Bob Menendez (D): "I am a cosponsor of restoring the assault-weapons ban.  I am a sponsor of outlawing high-capacity magazines.  I have always been a supporter of and most recently a cosponsor of universal background checks. For me that means, whether on a click of a mouse on a computer, going to a gun show, or buying it from an arms dealer, you should go through a vigorous background check to make sure that you don't have a criminal record, that you are not a domestic abuser, and that you don't have a record of mental illness, and that you are not on the terrorist watch list." From endorsement meeting

>> Read the full endorsement of the Editorial Board in this race here.

Second Congressional District

Seth Grossman (R): "When it comes to gun control we have a paradox. It seems that most of the gun deaths or mass shootings seem to occur in gun-free zones. So I think we've got to move away from the idea that fewer legal guns means less violence and less killings.  I cannot picture how another federal law would make anyone safer."

Jeff Van Drew (D): "I absolutely support universal background checks.  In fact, I believe that we should have a better, more thorough, better-run universal background-checks system.  I also believe that universal background checks should be truly universal. Nationally, whenever there is a transfer of guns, there is no reason that somebody should have a gun without a quick [check], and they made it quick now, you can really get a federal universal background check very quickly, gun shows, and so forth. I think that that's a good thing to do."

>> Read the full endorsement of the Editorial Board in this race here.

Third Congressional District

Tom MacArthur (R): "I am a supporter of the Second Amendment. I've been a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights. But at the same time, I'm a father, I'm a grandfather. I don't know anyone that wants people running around with guns that are a danger to themselves and others. I have advocated for universal background checks.  I have advocated for and supported increased funding, grants for school to harden the environment.  I don't believe in arming teachers."

Andy Kim (D): "I think it is ridiculous that we haven't been able to get into place the universal background checks, the closing the gun-show loophole, the private online sales. These are all steps that should have been done a long, long time ago, and the fact that we haven't even been able to do that after the Las Vegas massacre and the Parkland shooting is disgusting to me. "

>> Read the full endorsement of the Editorial Board in this race here.
The Constitution is held by a member of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Donald Trump says he wants to order the end of the constitutional right to citizenship for babies of non-citizens and unauthorized immigrants born in the United States. Read more

In an interview for Axios on HBO, President Trump announced he will sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship. When challenged on the constitutionality of doing this by executive order, Trump replied:

"You can definitely do it with an act of Congress. But now they're saying I can do it just with an executive order."

This is simply untrue. The 14th Amendment  which declares, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside"  cannot be changed by executive order, or even by an act of Congress. It would require a constitutional amendment.

Not long ago, Trump revoked President Barack Obama's Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) because, as he correctly pointed out, it was an unconstitutional executive overreach. Now he wants to attempt to change the Constitution by executive order?

>> READ MORE: Our descent into vitriol began long before Trump  and Democrats are culpable too | Marc Thiessen

Some conservatives justify his proposed action by taking a loose reading of the 14th Amendment, arguing that the phrase subject to the jurisdiction thereof leaves birthright citizenship subject to interpretation. Funny, just a few weeks ago, many of these same conservatives during Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings were defending the "originalist" approach to the Constitution, which holds that we should interpret the plain words of the Constitution according to their original public meaning.

They were right the first time. Many of these same conservatives (correctly) bridle at the idea that the phrase A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State in any way undermines the fundamental right of private citizens to keep and bear arms. Apparently, some on the right are strict constructionists when it's convenient but suddenly discover their belief in a "living Constitution" when it serves their policy preferences.

As my American Enterprise Institute colleague John Yoo explains, the originalist reading of the 14th Amendment is the correct one:

>> READ MORE: Trump's nuclear-treaty withdrawal sends a message to North Korea | Marc Thiessen

"The 14th Amendment's reference to 'all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof' refers to children who are born in US territory and are subject to American law at birth. Almost everyone present in the United States, even aliens, come within the jurisdiction of the United States. If the rule were otherwise, aliens present on our territory could violate the law with impunity.  The original public meaning of the 14th Amendment  which conservatives properly believe to be the lodestar of constitutional interpretation  affirms birthright citizenship."

Yoo further points out the high court has upheld this view of the 14th Amendment:

"United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) upheld the American citizenship of a child born in San Francisco to Chinese parents, who themselves could never naturalize under the Chinese Exclusion Acts. The Court held that 'the Fourteenth Amendment affirms the ancient and fundamental rule of citizenship by birth within the territory, in the allegiance and protection of the country, including all children here born of resident aliens.' It also explicitly rejected the argument that aliens, because they owed allegiance to a foreign nation, were not within 'the jurisdiction' of the United States."

The precedent is so clear. So if Trump moves forward, he may find that the Supreme Court  in all likelihood with the votes of his own nominees  declares his action unconstitutional. That would be quite a rebuke.

And even if Trump could change the 14th Amendment in Obama-esque fashion with his pen and phone, that is the last thing Republicans should want to do  both as a matter of law and a matter of principle. Because, as Yoo points out, the 14th Amendment is one of the Republican Party's great historic achievements:

>> READ MORE: Mitch McConnell could be the most consequential conservative leader of the century | Marc Thiessen

"After the Civil War, congressional Republicans drafted the 14th Amendment to correct one of slavery's grave distortions of our law. In Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857), Chief Justice Roger Taney found that slaves, even though born in the United States, could never become citizens. The 14th Amendment directly overruled Dred Scott by declaring that all born in the U.S., irrespective of race, were citizens. It also removed from the majoritarian political process the ability to abridge the citizenship of children born to members of disfavored ethnic, religious, or political minorities."

Republicans should not be seeking to restore any elements of Dred Scott. They should not be weakening the Constitution with the same kinds of loose interpretive doctrines that liberals use to justify their favored policy outcomes. The way to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining birthright citizenship for their children is prevent them from entering the country illegally in the first place. Strengthen border security. Build the wall. But leave the Constitution alone.

Marc Thiessen writes a twice-weekly column for the Washington Post on foreign and domestic policy and contributes to the PostPartisan blog. @marcthiessen
On Tuesday, voters in parts of West Philadelphia will reelect a corrupt state representative whose next address is likely to be jail.

They don't have a choice.

That's because Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown, who was found guilty of bribery and conflict of interest on Wednesday, is running unopposed. Her own Democratic Party and the Republican Party failed to put up candidates against her  even after she was arrested in 2014, and after she admitted to the investigating grand jury that she'd taken $4,000 in cash bribes from an undercover informant in a sting operation.

Brown's story is a familiar one from a state government contemptuous of voters and the public trust.

The parties do not take candidates to task when they break the few rules that do exist. There is no gift ban for Pennsylvania legislators; they just have to report gifts over $650. Pennsylvania is one of only 11 states that don't limit campaign contribution amounts. And, even though she's been convicted, Brown can show up in Harrisburg when the House's last session this year begins on Nov. 13 and vote on bills. She doesn't have to leave until she is sentenced  scheduled for Nov. 28. And she can keep collecting her paycheck until she is expelled from the chamber.

Brown manipulated the court system and postponed her trial for four years, hoping that she'd be in office long enough to qualify for a state pension. She won't get one, though, because she was convicted of six felony counts.

In 2014, staff writers Craig R. McCoy and Angela Couloumbis reported that former Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane, a Democrat, had tried to kill the sting case. Soon after, former Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams picked it up. Kane was so angry that the story leaked that she herself leaked confidential information, to embarrass the staffer she believed informed the Inquirer. She was found guilty of lying to a grand jury in 2016 and resigned. (In a separate matter, Williams was found guilty of taking lavish vacations and gifts in 2017.)

Brown is the last of six politicians caught up in the sting to meet justice. The rest pleaded guilty or no contest so they could cut deals to keep their pensions.

This whole affair was one of the worst in Harrisburg's history  and that's saying a lot. The events will demoralize voters if Harrisburg and the parties don't clean up their acts.

The new speaker should act swiftly to call an election to replace Brown so West Philadelphia can have decent representation. The legislature should change its rules to expel members upon conviction. It should cap campaign contributions and demand frequent disclosure. Legislators should ban gifts, like Gov. Wolf did for the executive branch. A bill banning gifts over $50 that actually made it out of committee should be reintroduced and toughened.

Harrisburg is a freewheeling environment where it's easy to imagine the video recording of Brown peeking inside an envelope stuffed with cash and saying, "Ooh, good looking!  Thank you twice."

On Election Day, say "No, thank you" to self-serving politics and write someone in. On Wednesday, call the winners and tell them you want real reform in the state Capitol.
The final quarter of 2021 is on its way and theres so much positivity about the rapid growth of the...
New Delhi: With just a month left for Telangana to go to polls, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Following the meeting, the Gandhi scion said, "We had a very good meeting, the gist was that we have to defend democracy and future of the country. So we are coming together to work, all opposition forces must unite."

Speaking on the same, the TDP supremo said, "We are coming together, to save the nation. We have to forget the past, now it is a democratic compulsion to unite. All opposition needs to be one."

Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, TDP MPs Jayadev Galla, CM Ramesh and others meet Congress President Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/oST28MdNg0  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2018

Chandrababu Naidu has been trying to unite the opposition parties to take on the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre in the Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held next year.

The meeting comes amid seat-sharing talks between the two parties for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Earlier in the day, the TDP president met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah in the national capital.

Naidu 'coincidentally' also met senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here and briefly discussed the need to bring all non-BJP political parties together.

(With inputs from agencies)
NEW DELHI: Amid reports of building a unified Opposition, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telegu Desam Party supremo Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday claimed that all his plans are centred around protecting the nation.

Naidu's comments came moments after his meeting with Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar and National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah.

We decided to meet in Delhi to chalk out a plan to protect the future of the nation, he said.

Naidu is expected to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi later in the day for alliance talks ahead of December 7 Assembly elections in Telangana and 2019 national elections.

According to TDP sources, Naidu will meet Gandhi at his residence around 3:30 pm and iron out seat-sharing details.

This is the TDP chief's second visit to New Delhi in less than a week, who aims to bring together all opposition parties on a common platform.

He earlier called on Aam Admi Party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Aravind Kejriwal, Loktantrik Janata Dal chief Sharad Yadav and BSP leader Mayawati on Saturday.

The TDP chief is playing the role of a "facilitator" to bring together all opposition parties to stop the BJP juggernaut in the 2019 general elections, a party leader said.


New Delhi: The Patiala Court on Monday extended the interim protection from arrest granted to former Union Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in the Aircel Maxis case corruption case till November 26.

It is alleged that FIPB approval in the Aircel-Maxis FDI case was granted in March 2006 by Chidambaram even though he was empowered to accord approval on project proposals only up to Rs 600 crore and beyond that it required the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

Notably the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday opposed in the Delhi court the anticipatory bail plea of Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case and sought his custodial interrogation. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is also probing the matter, will also file a reply on the anticipatory bail plea of P Chidambaram today.

ED, which filed its response to the anticipatory bail plea of Chidambaram, said that he has remained evasive and was not cooperating in the probe and therefore grant of anticipatory bail at this stage would be highly detrimental to the investigation.

It said Chidambaram, being a senior advocate practising in the Supreme Court, a Rajya Sabha MP and former union minister, "is a highly influential and well connected individual. Therefore, there is a serious apprehension of the applicant influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence pertaining to the present case."

The agency said that the investigation pertaining to FIPB approval fraudulently granted by Chidambaram has got several dimensions having wide ramifications for which investigation has been concluded to some extent and with regard to certain issues was still going on.

The court had on October 8 extended till November 1 the interim protection from arrest granted to Chidambaram and his son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis case filed by the CBI and the ED.

Chidambaram had filed the plea for protection from arrest in the ED case on May 30 this year after which he got relief from the court on various occasions.

The agency on October 25 had filed charge sheet against Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case, accusing him of conspiring with foreign investors to clear their venture.

With PTI Inputs
Mumbai: Mortgage leader HDFC Thursday reported a 25 percent rise in standalone net income at Rs 2,467.08 crore in the three months to September, boosted by investment income from part-selling its stake in the mutual fund arm during the quarter through an IPO, coupled with robust loan demand.

Vice-chairman Keiky Mistry said the company has no issue liquidity issues, despite the crisis in the system and also that it has no exposure to the crippled IL&FS group's debt instruments.

"We've some indirect exposure to the IL&FS group by way of funding a building in the BKC area of the city, but that is fully secured with lease-rentals, which are being paid on time. Though the asset is standard, we have made a 37 percent provision for the same," Mistry told reporters during the earnings presser.

Mistry said strictly speaking the numbers are not comparable as the quarter saw little dividend coming in from the banking arm, as it had paid Rs 585.85 crore dividend in the June quarter, against the normal practice of paying in the September quarter.

During the reporting quarter, HDFC Bank paid just Rs 5.77 crore in dividend, which was Rs 536.59 crore in the year-ago period.

Similarly, the number also includes Rs 1,000.02 crore coming in from the IPO of HDFC AMC, which was listed during the reporting quarter, he said.

He said the company's loan book swelled 17 percent during the quarter, led by individual borrowers who constitute over 73 percent of the total volume, which clipped past 25 percent, while the affordable housing loans swelled by 37 percent.

Giving a break-up of the loan book, Mistry said while individual loan book accounts for 73 percent, up from 71 percent a year ago, construction finance accounts for 12 percent, 9 percent is from lease-rentals and the remaining 6 percent comes from corporate loans.

But as much as 81 percent of the total loan book during the quarter has come from individual borrowers, he added.

The bottomline was also helped by better asset quality with the bad loans ratio coming down to 1.13 percent to Rs 4,278 crore in the quarter, from 1.18 percent a year ago, and a steady spread, which remained stable at 2.28 percent helping the company log in an 18 percent growth in the core net interest income at Rs 9,673.31 crore.

The non-performing assets (NPAs) in the individual loan portfolio stood stable at 0.66 percent, while the same for non-individual portfolio stood at 2.18 percent.

The company made a provision of Rs 5,071 crore against a regulatory requirement of Rs 2,951 crore, Mistry said.

Total income during the September quarter stood at Rs 11,256.96 crore, up from Rs 9,007.37 crore in the same period previous fiscal, he said, adding net interest income grew 18 percent to Rs 5,343 crore.

The company's capital adequacy ratio stood at 18.4 percent, of which the core tier 1 capital stood at 17.1 percent.

Shares of HDFC closed nearly flat at Rs 1,761.70, down 0.44 percent on the BSE, while the benchmark Sensex closed little changed in a dull trade.
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday dismissed the bail application of the in-laws of air hostess Anissia Batra, who allegedly committed suicide in Delhi. The accused have been taken into custody by the Investigating Officer (IO).

In July, a friend of the air hostess claimed that the victims's husband Mayank Singhvi had driven her to death. The friend further said that she had received a message from Anissia where she talked of killing herself saying that her husband has driven her to this stage.

Minutes before taking the extreme step, the 39-year-old air hostess had sent a text message to her husband, following which he rushed to the terrace. When he could not find Anissia on the terrace, he started looking around and was reportedly informed by a labourer working at an adjacent building that a woman had jumped off the terrace.

Anissia was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was declared dead by the doctors. The police had received a call from Max Hospital about the incident at 4.30 pm on July 13.

Members of the forensic team and police officials had conducted searches at the residence where the couple used to stay. They had also seized the bank account of Mayank.

Anissia was married for seven years and used to live with her husband at a residence in Panchsheel Park area near Hauz Khas in New Delhi.
New Delhi: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav in the national capital. On Tuesday, Chandrababu Naidu had a telephonic conversation with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav who urged the TDP chief to form a united front along with the Congress.

Akhilesh had stressed the need for an alliance and to bring other parties under a single umbrella. He had also mentioned that it is the responsibility of all to protect the democracy in the country. Both the leaders had further discussed the contemporary political scenario and developments.

Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu met Mulayam Singh Yadav in Delhi pic.twitter.com/K3swQWxcAP  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2018

Earlier in the day, Naidu met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and said, "We are coming together, to save the nation. We have to forget the past, now it is a democratic compulsion to unite. All opposition needs to be one."

Chandrababu Naidu has been trying to unite the opposition parties to take on the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre in the Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held next year.

Earlier in the day, the TDP president met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah in the national capital.

Naidu 'coincidentally' also met senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here and briefly discussed the need to bring all non-BJP political parties together.

(With inputs from agencies)
Displaced community Rohingyas are suspected to be living in Jammu and Kashmir's Kargil region, according to a report by Central Bureau of Intelligence (CBI).

There are allegedly 53 Rohingyas living in the region, according to the CBI report.

Security agencies are on alert after news of Rohingyas being in the are have surfaced in the LOC region.

Out of the 53 Rohingyas in the region, the majority of them are working as road construction labourers but their movement is constantly tracked, according to a Home Ministry official.

At least 29 Rohingyas were found in West Bengal's district. The number later increased to 100, according to Zee News.

Many groups were found conspiring for migration of Rohingyas living in Bangladesh to India.

Moreover, there are Islamic organisations in India which are collecting funds to provide help to the displaced community. These organisations are also constructing houses for Rohingyas in Bengal.

At least 40 such organisations have been recognised which are working to provide help to the Rohingyas and build houses for the community in West Bengal's 24 Parganas district, according to sources from Zee News.

According to the report, Rohingyas living in Bangladesh, Jammu, Hyderabad and other states are requested to shift to Bengal's 24 Parganas district.

The 40 organisations working for the Rohingyas have met around 50 times in the last few days to discuss the displacement of Rohingyas to West Bengal.

According to the Home Ministry report, 29 Rohingyas have started living in 24 Parganas of West Bengal and more are to follow. Construction of houses has been started in the district. The organisations helping Rohingyas have asked the villagers to donate the land to the displaced community.

Intelligence agencies suspect that the organisations helping Rohingyas are in discussion to get citizenship to the displaced community.

Land to populate around 5,000 Rohingyas is being prepared in West Bengal's district.

Rohingyas living in Bangladesh are often transferred across the border to India through agents.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police Nupur Prasad on Thursday held a meeting with licenced firecracker traders, retailers and citizen bodies and discussed Supreme Court's order of banning the sale of firecrackers other than green crackers in Delhi-NCR.

Prasad confirmed that retailers can only sell crackers certified by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).

Prasad added that people found selling illegal crackers will be booked and around 20 kgs of firecrackers have been seized in the past two days from the national capital.

The Supreme Court has banned the selling of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR and only green crackers are allowed for use. The apex court has also directed time slot for people to burn crackers on Diwali. The time directed by Supreme Court is 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali.

A common place will be decided where people can burn firecrackers, news agency ANI reported.

A bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said firecrackers already produced can be sold this festival season but only in other parts of the country.

In Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and other southern states, firecrackers can be burst from 4 am to 5 am and from 9 pm to 10 pm during festivals, the apex court said. The apex court said its direction on community bursting of firecrackers will apply pan India for two hours.

Its directions on the ban on the sale of firecrackers through e-commerce websites will apply pan India, the court said.

The top court passed the order while responding to a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government which urged it 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 the 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 firecrackers 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 a 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 PESO, under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

(With Agency Inputs)
New Delhi: Congress leader and the party's social media head Divya Spandana on Thursday sparked a controversy by tweeting a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi standing next to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's newly-inaugurated 'Statue of Unity'. The actor-turned-politician took a dig at PM Modi and captioned her tweet saying, "Is that bird dropping?"

Hitting back on the grand old party, BJP said that it is the values of the Congress that are dropping. "Ummm no, it is the values of the Congress that are dropping. Historical disdain for Sardar Patel + Pathological dislike for @narendramodi = Such language. Clearly, @RahulGandhis politics of 'love'!" the saffron party said in a tweet.

Ummm no, it is the values of the Congress that are dropping. Historical disdain for Sardar Patel + Pathological dislike for @narendramodi = Such language. Clearly, @RahulGandhis politics of 'love'! https://t.co/1TPCY7Fs4d  BJP (@BJP4India) November 1, 2018

Asked about the Congress leader's tweet, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra lashed out at the opposition party, alleging that "this is the real culture" of the Congress party. They miss no opportunity to abuse the prime minister of India, he said.

"It is the same party which called the prime minister 'neech'. Shashi Tharoor called him a scorpion and now Divya Spandana says that he is a bird's dropping," Patra said.

"This is nothing but language of arrogance from the Congress party for the normal Indian who with his sheer hardwork become the prime minister of the country," he said.

A normal Indian appears bird's dropping to them, while a dynast is power centre for them, Patra said. "This is arrogance of dynasty which is abusing the democracy of India," he alleged.

Despite criticism from the ruling party and Twitterati, Spandana remained defiant. "When you're done huffing & puffing take a breath & hold a mirror to yourselves. My views are mine. I don't give two hoots about yours. I'm not going to clarify what I meant and what I didn't cos you don't deserve one," she tweeted.

Spandana's comment came a day after the Prime Minister inaugurated an imposing 182-metre (597 feet) statue of Sardar Patel in Gujarat's Kevadiya. Statue of Unity, the worlds tallest statue, has been unveiled on the occasion of the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.

(With inputs from PTI)
AGRA: Akash Ganga, the skydiving team of the Indian Air Force (IAF), successfully attempted a complicated canopy formation bearing the Indian flag, undertaken at an altitude of 10,000 feet above ground in Malpura Drop Zone, Agra.

In a tweet, the IAF says, EaglesQuest: IAF Skydive team #Akashganga added a new feather to the cap by making Canopy Relative Work (CRW) Diamond formation with the Indian flag. The challenging jump was undertaken from 10,000 ft above ground at Malpura Drop Zone, Agra on 30 Aug 18.

#EaglesQuest: IAF Skydive team #Akashganga added a new feather to the cap by making Canopy Relative Work (CRW) Diamond formation with the Indian flag. The challenging jump was undertaken from 10,000 ft above ground at Malpura Drop Zone, Agra on 30 Aug 18.https://t.co/Z1R9nkjmqI pic.twitter.com/SdoMhNvq59  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) November 1, 2018

Akash Ganga, IAF's 14-member skydiving team, holds various records in skydiving formats and also participates in many global events.

On October 14, the team performed a scintillating air show at Mysore Glimpses of #IAF #AkashGanga : Akash Ganga team performed at Mysore on 14 Oct 18. The Team was welcomed with loud Applauses & Cheering by the crowd. More than 10,000 people had gathered at the Ground to watch the Air Show, tweeted IAF.

Glimpses of #IAF #AkashGanga : Akash Ganga team performed at Mysore on 14 Oct 18. The Team was welcomed with loud Applauses & Cheering by the crowd. More than 10,000 people had gathered at the Ground to watch the Air Show.

Read more https://t.co/Nik9ssz2Fh pic.twitter.com/f7vuzgwCh1  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) October 15, 2018

On October 8th, flag-bearing skydivers dropped out of AN-32 aircraft to kick off the IAF anniversary celebrations.
The National Security Council (NSC), the advising body of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), has asked Border Security Force (BSF) to prepare a report on the growing Islamic activities at the border of India and Pakistan.

According to a report accessed by Zee News, there has been a report about the rise of radical Islamic activities at the border of India and Pakistan border at Rajasthan.

There was no mosque in the border belt of the southern part of Jaisalmer till 2000 but huge construction activities started then onwards on the land of the Rajasthan government, where earlier old mosques were located, according to a BSF report.

The BSF in its report also suggests that the activities at Mandla Mosque shrine have increased drastically these days. The followers of Pir Pagara have been visiting this mosque not only from the border belt but also from other parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The mosque is situated at a distance of 8 km from the India Pakistan border of Jaisalmer.

"The facts and figures suggest the population of one community has been increasing with much higher rate than normal especially in Mohangarh, Sam, Pokhran and Nachna area of Rajasthan," said a BSF official to Zee News with the condition of anonymity.

NSC has asked the BSF to submit a report on the scale of demographic changes in border districts of Rajasthan and also the details on the growth of mosques and madrasas in the border districts of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Sri Ganganagar.

As per various agencies report the rise of radical Islamic activities also found at the India-Nepal and India-Bangladesh border. Due to the Pokhran range at the India Pakistan border, the radical activities are a big concern for the security agencies. Pakistan ISI has huge networks of their agents at the border areas so they can get know the movement of our jawans.
At least five persons were killed by United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) terrorists on Thursday in Bishnoimukh village in Assam.

The incident took place near Dhola-Sadiya bridge in Tinsukia district, news agency ANI reported. Three members of a family were among five persons shot dead by ULFA (Independent) while two others were injured at Kheroni on Thursday night.

A group of assailants with sophisticated weapons came to this village near Dhola-Sadiya bridge and called out five-six persons from their house around 8 pm, they said.

They then opened indiscriminate fire upon those people before fleeing under the cover of darkness, a police officer said.

Police suspect the gunmen belonged to the ULFA (Independent) faction as they were in battle fatigue.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal condemned "the killing of innocent people" and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families.

"Strong action will be taken against the perpetrators of this dastardly violence. We will not tolerate such cowardly act," he told PTI.

Sonowal said he has directed state ministers Keshav Mahanta and Tapan Gogoi along with DGP Kuladhar Saikia to rush to the spot.

"We will not spare the culprits of the killings and will be brought to book," he said.

The chief minister appealed to the people of Assam to maintain peace and harmony.

He also directed all deputy commissioners and SPs to remain alert.

(With PTI Inputs)
Srinagar: The Meteorological Department (MeT) on Thursday predicted light to moderate rains in plains while snowfall in higher reaches of Kashmir and parts of Jammu division in the next 36 hours. Regions such as Zoji La, Menamarag and Dras have received fresh snowfall.

Snowfall in the higher reaches of Kashmir has forced the closure of several important roads including the Srinagar-Leh highway, officials said.

"Snowfall on the Srinagar-Leh road has forced suspension of vehicular traffic on this road," an official of the traffic department said.

He said it was snowing at Peer Ki Gali in South Kashmir, leading to a closure of the Mughal Road, connecting the Valley to Poonch-Rajouri area.

Light rainfall was witnessed in the city and other parts of the Valley, ending the dry spell in Kashmir.

(With inputs from agencies)
Bengaluru: Karnataka on Thursday celebrated the 63rd year of its formation with pomp and gaiety.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy along with his cabinet and others took part in the Kanteerava Stadium ground celebrations here.

He unveiled the yellow and red state flag as the Karnataka anthem penned by eminent Kannada poet Kuvempu was rendered by all present at the city centre.

"Unity in diversity is our culture. As Kuvempu described, Karnataka is a peaceful garden of all religions. Let Kannada prevail in our words, thoughts and actions. Let us build a prosperous Karnataka," Kumaraswamy said.

Thousands of school students and public took part in the Bengaluru celebrations. The students from across the state showcased various cultural programmes.

The Formation Day was also celebrated at all district headquarters. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara took part in the celebrations in Tumakuru.

On November 1, 1956, Kannada-speaking areas of the erstwhile Bombay and Madras presidencies, along with an old Hyderabad region merged with old Mysore to form the new southern state.

Originally formed as Mysore State, it was renamed Karnataka in 1973.
Bengaluru: Richa Chadda despises the term "female-oriented" films but the actor says the phrase will continue to be relatively novel till such movies become a norm.

The 31-year-old actor says she started hearing the term when Sridevi's "English Vinglish" released in 2012 but adds actors like Nutan to Rani Mukerji have been the face of their films from a long time.

"I never buy this 'women-oriented' term. I don't like it. I have been hearing this term since 2012 that 'English Vinglish' is coming. I always turn around and say 'You never call the other things male-oriented'. But I guess it'll be a thing, till it becomes a norm.

"Be it Nutan, Nargis Sridevi or Rani (Mukerji), these women have done films which they have carried on their shoulders completely. There was an entire alternate cinema movement with Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Deepti Naval, Mita Vashisht and Neena Gupta... These are great actresses and they have done some excellent work," Chadha told PTI in an interview here.

The actor is currently in the city shooting for her next, "Shakeela", the eponymous biopic on the popular Malayalam adult star.

Directed by Indrajit Lankesh, the film narrates the rags-to-riches-to-rags story of Shakeela Khan, who ruled the South Indian cinema of the '90s. She has acted in several adult films in languages spanning Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.

Year 2018 saw films like "Padmaavat" and "Raazi", fronted by women, emerge as some of the biggest money-spinners and Chadha says the audience has always been ready for a female star who would drive the crowd towards the theatres.

"I think it's the producers, distributors and exhibitors who have not been ready. It is an issue.

"Men control the business and they say the film is female-oriented and it won't work till its ti*s and as*. But you don't know, a good story connects somewhere," she adds.

"Shakeela" is already being compared to Vidya Balan's critically-acclaimed hit "Dirty Picture".

Inspired by southern star Silk Smitha's life, the 2011 film explored the journey of a woman who dreams to be a star, goes on to become a sex symbol and following repeated failures, commits suicide.

Many claim that "Shakeela", the film appears to have been cut from the same cloth but Chadha disagrees.

"Comparisons will happen but we can't do anything about it. I can't escape that. I thought about it but now I'm not going to fight it. Shakeela became a star when Silk Smitha killed herself. Within two years of Silk's death, Shakeela was a superstar.

"She was a ready replacement of somebody who had just passed away. It's the same period, the aesthetics, the visuals and technically too things are same. The two films will appear similar to the inexperienced eye. But the two are very different. It's in a different zone. At least they will compare me to Vidya Balan and the film to a blockbuster like 'Dirty Picture'."

The actor says Shakeela, who has been an integral part of the biopic from the outset, is a living example of feminism in practice.

"She knows her career and personal life have suffered because of the courageous decisions she has taken to stand up against oppression of any kind. She knows she's paying the price for it.

"I could imagine any person in her place as being bitter, angry, suicidal or dependent. Going to school and learning feminism is one thing and living feminism is another. She has done the latter."

Shakeela will also have a cameo in the movie. The film also stars Pankaj Tripathi and the makers are eyeing a release date post March 2019.
WASHINGTON: The outcry in the United States demonising Saudi Arabia over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom`s consulate in Istanbul threatens US-Saudi strategic ties, the former Saudi intelligence minister warned on Wednesday.

"We value our strategic relationship with the United States and hope to sustain it. We hope the United States reciprocates in kind," royal family member Prince Turki bin Faisal al Saud said in an address to the National Council on US-Arab Relations, a non-profit advocacy organisation.

Turki, to whom Khashoggi once served as an adviser, has also served as an ambassador to London and Washington. His speech denouncing what he called "the demonisation of Saudi Arabia" clearly carried Riyadh`s imprimatur, as he heads an Islamic research centre named after his father, the late King Faisal.

Turki`s address came after Istanbul`s chief prosecutor on Tuesday said that Khashoggi was suffocated in a premeditated killing and his body was then dismembered.

Khashoggi, who lived in self-imposed exile in the United States, wrote columns for the Washington Post critical of the kingdom`s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Some US lawmakers have accused the crown prince of ordering Khashoggi`s death - a charge that Riyadh denies - and threatened sanctions. US commentators have strongly condemned the kingdom.

Recalling that more than 70 years of US-Saudi ties survived previous crises, Turki said, "Nowadays, this relationship is once again threatened." "The tragic and unjustified" slaying of Khashoggi "is the theme of today`s onslaught and demonisation of Saudi Arabia in the same fashion as the previous crises. The intensity and gleefulness of it is equally unfair," he said. "Subjecting our relationship to this issue is not healthy at all."

Turki reiterated that the kingdom is committed to bringing to justice those responsible for Khashoggi`s murder "and whoever else failed to uphold the law."

The Trump administration is demanding full accountability from Riyadh in Khashoggi`s death. In what it called a firsthe step, it revoked the visas of some Saudi officials implicated in the slaying.

The US-Saudi relationship "is too big to fail," Turki said. Those ties, he noted, transcend oil production, trade, arms sales and investment to cooperation on Middle East peace efforts, stabilizing oil markets, fighting extremism and containing Iran, the kingdom`s main regional foe.
How the gas price is formed?



As you know, the Cabinet announced the growth of gas prices for Ukrainian population. According to the text of the decree number 867 of October 19, 2018 - from November 1, 2018 to April 20, 2019 the price of gas for the needs of the population with VAT and transportation costs will be 8550 UAH (303 USD) per 1 thousand cubic meters. From May 1, 2019 year to December 31, 2019 - 9851.66 UAH (350 USD) per 1 thousand cubic meters, from January 1, 2020 - 12,313.85 UAH (437 USD) per 1 thousand cubic meters, the press service of the Gas Market Association reports. For now the document is published only on the government website. It will come into force after the publication in the "Uriadovy Courier" newspaper. Thus, in three stages, gas for the population will rise in price by 71%.



It should be noted that according to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, 100% of the gas produced in Ukraine by the state-owned Ukrgasvydobuvannia is supplied to meet the populations demand for natural gas - last year the company transferred 15.2 billion cubic meters to the needs of the population, while the total demand is estimated at about 20-22 billion cubic meters. We note that for several years the monopoly right to buy the gas from Ukrgasvydobuvannia has been assigned to Naftogaz Ukraine. Until recently, the state-owned company bought it at a fixed price of 4849 UAH (172 USD) for 1 thousand cubic meters without VAT.



Now, the price of gas purchase for the state-owned company will increase in proportion to the increase in the supply price of the PSD (Provisions for imposing special duties). The price at which Naftogaz will buy Ukrvydobuvannia gas will be determined by paragraph 12 of Resolution No. 867, taking into account the Naftogaz trade allowance - 1.917% of the specified price, the companys press service reported. Note, paragraph 12 of the resolution contains the formula according to which the price of gas in PSD is calculated as the arithmetic average price of the sale / supply of gas by Naftogaz Ukraine for industrial consumers. But the condition is advance payment of the price for the period of gas supply, which was valid from July 1, 2018 to September 30 2018 (8991 UAH / 319 USD per 1 thousand cubic meters according to Naftogaz price list) multiplied by the discount rate.



From November 1, a coefficient of 0.6943 will be applied, from May 1, 2019 - 0.8, and from January 1, 2020, the sale will be carried out at a price not higher than the arithmetic average price of gas at which Naftogaz offers gas to industrial consumers under condition of prior payment by the period of gas supply.



As specified by the Gas Market Association press service, earlier the State Regulatory Service approved the new PSD edition, which provided for equal access of all market players to domestic gas. The right to purchase the resource of Ukrgasvydobuvannia was granted to all suppliers who were willing to supply gas to household consumers," explained the press service of the Gas Market Association.



In the case of liberalization of access to domestic gas, commercial companies would be interested in trading it, says Director of ExPro Ukraine Gennady Kobal. According to him, traders could earn what Naftogaz is currently earning (93 UAH / 3.3 USD per thousand cubic meters). But it would be especially profitable for companies to work if the PSD price would be higher than the market one. In addition, domestic gas, unlike imports, is always available, Kobal adds: "The price of gas from Europe varies depending on the market situation, on the hryvnia exchange rate."



"ERU Trading" (one of the largest traders on the gas market in Ukraine) is positive about opening access to the resource of Ukrgasvydobuvannia for suppliers who want to sell it to household consumers, confirmed the director Yaroslav Mudryi. "We believe that the implementation of the initiative will not change the price of gas (for end consumers, - ed.), but the level of the trade allowance will be set by each supplier separately (within the limits provided for in the draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers), which can create an additional advantage in terms of competition of the market gas supplies to domestic consumers, "he says.

What is the cost of Ukrainian gas?

In the context of increasing gas prices, the most important question is How much does Ukrainian gas actually cost? Note that in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda on October 4, Oleg Prokhorenko, the head of Ukrgasvydobuvannia, said that the cost of a state companys full gas production cycle - from the start of drilling and production to the well shutdown - can vary from 180 to 250 dollars per thousand cubic meters. Taking into account the current rate, this is 50007000 UAH for 1 thousand cubic meters. If so, then it turns out that Naftogaz until recently bought the gas from its daughter at a price below the cost price (by 4849 UAH / 172 USD for 1 thousand cubic meters)?



A source, well acquainted with the pricing of Ukrainian gas, told 112.ua that the cost of gas production at Ukrgazvydobuvannia without investments made in the development of fields, rent and other financial expenses does not exceed UAH 1079 ($ 38) for 1 thousand cubic meters. Judging by the financial report of the Ukrgazvydobuvannia for the first half of 2018, the rent, the cost of production, operating expenses and income amount about 3040 UAH (108 dollars) in every thousand cubic meters of gas produced. According to our calculations, approximately this amount one thousand cubic meters of gas cost in the first half of 2018, excluding the necessary investments. Of course, the figure is very conditional, but its just for a common understanding.

Why do we need investment in the gas industry?



So why gas for the population costs not $ 100-150, as at the cost of production, but much more? If not to mention the governments habit of patching the state budget holes at the expense of Naftogaz and the wallets of Ukrainians, then there are purely economic reasons for this.



Ukrgazvydobuvannia management does not deny that they take into account capital investment while forming the cost of gas. Taking into account the processes in state-owned companies, the cost of gas cannot be reduced. The reason is that the company is investing huge funds in re-equipment, said Mykhailo Paduchak, Head of Drilling Department.



From 2016 to 2020, according to the 20/20 program (an increase in production to the consumption volume of 20 billion cubic meters per year, - ed.), it was planned about 4 billion dollars of investment,  of which is intended for implementation of projects to increase gas production from drilling, re-equipment of drilling machines and improvement of infrastructure for drilling operations.



By the end of the year, Ukrgazvydobuvannia plans to commission 87 wells (of which 13 are to be received from external contractors). Next year it is planned to drill another 131 wells. During the period from 2007 to 2014, Ukrgazvydobuvannia commissioned an average of 55 wells per year.



Drilling wells is the main and one of the most effective methods for increasing gas production. In particular, this year it was possible to increase production by almost 25 million cubic meters, another 25 million cubic meters we received due to the overhaul of wells at the second largest field - Yablunivske. Over the past year, about 1 billion cubic meters of gas was produced at the field.



Another area requiring significant costs is the technical re-equipment of its own facilities.

Branch of the company Ukrgazvydobuvannia company  Ukrburgaz until 2017 worked with outdated, non-upgraded equipment, which did not allow drilling high-quality wells in a short time, which therefore made it impossible to increase the volume of produced gas. In this regard, the drilling rate was very low - drilling of one well with a depth of 5,000 meters took up to three years. The commercial drilling rate of its own mashinery was 270 meters / machine-month (now, thanks to the modernization and improvement this indicator increased to 450 m / machine-month). For comparison: for external contractors the commercial speed is 1100 m / machine-month, which significantly approximates the start of gas production, "said Paduchak, noting that the time spent on drilling is one of the key factors affecting the total cost of gas.



Now, Ukrgazvydobuvannia claims that they buy the most high-tech equipment. The cost of acquired new machines for drilling with large carrying capacity is 12-22 million dollars per unit. In total, it is planned to purchase 20 machines, contracts have already been signed, and by the end of the year 8 machines will be delivered to Ukraine. And the next 12 machines will come before the end of July next year, Paduchak specified.



Processes of cardinal changes in the life on drilling sites have been launched. At each site, a position of labor protection engineer, a medical worker with equipped cabinet and first medical aid equipment is introduced. Previously, there was nothing of the kind. For the resettlement of people, the company buys modern trailers with proper conditions. The employees will have a toilet in the room and a shower with hot water. Of the required 800 wagons, about 77 wagons have already been purchased", said Paduchak.

At tenders, Ukrgazvydobuvannia is planning to purchase better and more expensive clothes for Ukrburgaz employees. Each driller will have two sets of changeable clothes (and not one, as it is now).



In order not to lose the pace of drilling, at the time while re-equipping its own machinery, Ukrgazvydobuvannia attracts external contractors whose work is more expensive ($ 18-24 thousand per day for one machine). If we analyze the cost of a meter of drilling, then external contractors are somewhere twice as expensive comparing to our own. At the same time, they drill three times faster, said Paduchak.



The company is currently working with three external contractors: the Croatian Crosco, the Chinese Beiken and the Ukrainian Spetsmehservis.



The Ukrgazvydobuvannia notes that they now have to work in the fields, many of which are already depleted. In the reservoirs of many fields, pressure has already been reduced, and it is not so easy to produce gas. The largest fields of the state company - Shebelinske and Yablunivske are depleted by 90% and 70% respectively. The first well at the Shebelinske field was drilled in 1950, at the Yablunivske - in 1977.



In order to increment reserves, Ukrgazvydobuvannia requires greenfield projects (exploration and discovery of new deposits). This also requires larger investment comparing to existing fields. Greenfield means much more money and time, as in this case we are talking about geological exploration, geophysical surveys (2D and 3D seismic), exploratory drilling. And we cant be sure that the gas will be found. When 1 or 2 of the drilled wells can be dry and only a third can produce gas, oil or condensate, experts say.

Today, due to the lack of a license offer and the blocking of special permission approvals by the regional councils, Ukrgazvydobuvannia is experiencing the greatest difficulties with the development of greenfield direction. The greatest resistance is felt from the Poltava Regional Council. In particular, over 2016-2018, Poltavagazvydobuvannia (a division of Ukrgazvydobuvannia) received 63 refusals from the Poltava Regional Council regarding permits for new areas of gas production or expansion of existing ones, said 112.ua Mykhailo Paduchak.

Ukrgazvydobuvannia also invests in intensification projects (hydraulic fracturing, gas lifting) to increase production at already obsolete fields.

* * *



Every Ukrainian who pays for gas and heat generated from it participates in the program for the development of Ukrainian mineral resources and the increase in gas production in the country. Of course, we could refuse, but in this case, gas production volumes would not only stop to grow, but would also decline rapidly - we would have to buy imported gas, which is more expensive than domestic one.



I dont know whether the idea that we all invest in domestic gas production can warm someone in the winter, when we have to pay for gas at new prices. However, no one asked the Ukrainians opinions on this topic, and the choice has already been made for us.
Occupant forces shelled the outposts near Novoselivka Druha from mounted anti-tank grenade launcher two times

Open source

On October 31, the militants shelled the Ukrainian military positions 13 times; two Ukrainian servicemen were injured. The press office of the Joint Forces Operation reported that.

Over the day, the Russian occupation forces shelled the defensive fortifications of the Joint Forces 13 times. The use of the weapons, prohibited by the Minsk Agreements was recorded, reads the message.

The enemy conducted adjusted fire from grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. The highest combat activity was recorded near Vodyane in the Azov sector and Zolote in Luhansk region. Besides, the occupation forces used 82mm mortars near Zolote.

The occpupiers fired at Ukrainian defensive positions near Novoselivka II from the stationary anti-tank grenade launcher two times. Moreover, enemy fire was observed in the areas of Avdiivka, Pisky, Novomykhailivka, Starohnativka, Pavlopil and Lebedyske.

Two servicemen from the Joint Forces personnel were injured during the hostilities, the HQ reported.

On October 30, two soldiers of government forces sustained injuries in combat.
The UAV was shot down over the militant-held section of Donetsk region on October 27

Open source

German and French foreign ministries consider Russia and pro-Kremlin militants to be responsible for the downing of the OSCE SMM drone. The respective statement appeared on the website of the German diplomatic authority on Thursday.

As we reported, the device was shot down over the militant-held section of Donetsk region on October 27.

'Germany and France, as members of the Normandy format, strongly condemn the destruction of the SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (LR UAV) in the early hours of 27 October near Nyzhniokrynske, in an area not controlled by the Ukrainian government, close to the Russian-Ukrainian border, and recall that those responsible for attacks perpetrated to the SMMs personnel and equipment should be held accountable. Evidence collected by SMM suggests Russia and the separatists it backs bear responsibility for the targeting and downing of the LR UAV, blinding the mission at this particular spot. In recent weeks, the SMMs UAV, while being heavily jammed, observed on multiple occasions convoys entering Ukrainian territory across a non-official border crossing point from Russia into Ukraine. Before the loss of communication, the SMM UAV spotted a surface-to-air missile system,' the statement reads.

Germany and France claim that Russia, as a Minsk agreement party, assumes special responsibility for providing free and safe access of the OSCE observers and their equipment,' the statement said.
The residents of occupied Donetsk received building materials, car parts, medical supplies, and food

Open source

The International Committee of the Red Cross along with the Swiss Embassy in Ukraine sent five trucks with humanitarian aid to the occupied territories of Ukraine, as the press office of Ukraines State Border Guard Service reported.

The trucks have crossed the demarcation line on the West of Ukraine through Novotroitske checkpoint, Donetsk region.

The cars were transporting more than 50 tons of cargo, including building materials, car parts, medical supplies, and food, the border guards stated.

Earlier, a humanitarian cargo from the UN weighing more than 100 tons was delivered to the occupied territories of Donetsk region.
Open source

As Volodymyr Balukh, Oleg Sentsov and many other political prisoners suffer in Russian jail, the media once again decided to remind the international society what the Kremlin has been trying so hard to conceal; the names of those 'incarcerated for their unwillingness to bow down to Russian President Vladimir Putins regime', as Atlantic Council put it.

'Since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, Moscow and its proxies have put dozens of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar political prisoners behind bars (...) The fabrication of these cases has been refined in Russia's courts. There a court does not need real evidence, just an order from above. The evidence and all other case-related elements can be carelessly thrown together, as the details dont matter. Moreover, Russians can hold people in pre-trial detention centers for years without trial', the article says.



'The number of political prisoners in Russia has been growing in recent years, and this is unlikely to change. More interference and pressure from the international community is necessary, as this has proven to be the only factor which secures the rare and occasional release of political prisoners', the outlet wrote.

Atlantic Council compiled a list of Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar, Russian and Danish inmates prosecuted for opposing the Kremlin's aggressive policy, with Volodymyr Balukh's photo on the top of the article.

Read the full story here.
Mark Etherington, Deputy Head of OSCE SMM in Ukraine Open source

Mark Etherington, the newly appointed Deputy Head of OSCE SMM in Ukraine, has officially assumed his office. The authority reported this on Twitter.

'Mark Etherington re-joins OSCE SMM as Deputy Chief Monitor, bringing a wealth of experience and skill to better serve the Mission and Ukraine,' reads the message.

Mark Etherington re-joins #OSCE #SMM as Deputy Chief Monitor, bringing a wealth of experience and skill to better serve the Mission and #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/8KomWtlJdX  OSCE SMM Ukraine (@OSCE_SMM) 1  2018 .

Alexander Hug, Etherington's predecessor stepped down on Wednesday. He has worked with the mission since March 2014.

Previously, Hug claimed that the sides in Donbas do not follow the ceasefire regime, this is why he retires with with anxiety and sadness. He claimed this at the briefing, UNN news agency reported.

As anyone who works in OSCE, I have to abandon my office after 10 years of working in the organization. I have been giving short reports on the situation on Donbas almost every week for about 4 years. Believe me, I am not satisfied with what I am going to say, - little has changed in that time. The sides are still violating the agreements on the ceasefire set four years ago, Hug claimed.
The U.S. State Department is to report to Congress till November 6 on Russias fulfillment of the condition of the law on chemical and bacteriological weapons

Open source

The U.S. State Department is to report to Congress till November 6 on Russias fulfillment of the condition of the law on chemical and bacteriological weapons. This report will influence the tightening of anti-Russian sanctions, as Robert Palladino, Deputy Press Secretary of State Department, told the journalists at the briefing, the website of the institution reported.

Chemical and Biological Weapons Act mandates that the State Department certify to the Congress whether Russia has met conditions required by the law three months after the initial determination of the Skripal case. Now, that initial determination was made August 6th, and that takes us to November 6th, which is the certification deadline. So November 6th, thats the deadline by which the Department of State must certify to the Congress that Russia has met the conditions in the Chemical and Biological Weapons Act. The conditions that we would have to certify are that Russia has ceased and assured that it will not use chemical weapons again, and that it has allowed international inspectors to verify those assurances. So have they taken the steps to get back into compliance is the issue. And if we cant make such a certification, the State Department is required to impose a second round of sanctions after consultations with the Congress, he said.

Reportedly, the U.S. imposed sanctions against Russia due to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yuliya in British Salisbury.
Kyiv District Court of Simferopol in the Russian-annexed Crimea arrested Crimean Tatar Dilaver Gafarov. Reporter Anton Naumliuk claimed this on Facebook.

Kyiv District Court of Simferopol arrested Dilyaver Gafarov until December 25, 2018; he is accused of having participated in the Noman Celebicihan volunteer detachment, reads the message.

Related: Huge increase in number of political prisoners in Russia & occupied Crimea

It is noted that Gafarov was detained on October 30, after the search at his home in Zhemchuzhyna Krymu village. Russian special forces seized his notebook, mobile phones, documents, Ukrainian and Russian passports. He refused to testify and denied all charges. The defense intends to file an appeal.

Related: ECHR should establish when Russia took control over Crimea, - judge

Crimea was annexed by Russia by way of the illegal referendum that was held on the peninsula in March 2014. Earlier, the Russian military captured all strategic military objects and buildings of the key authoritative bodies. Neither Ukraine nor the rest of the civilized countries recognized the results of the referendum. A number of the European and the world countries, including Ukraine, imposed the economic sanctions against Russia.
The European community supports 112 Ukraine TV channel in its fight for the freedom of speech and helps receive exclusive information from the primary sources in Europe.

In order to have an operative communication with European deputies and coverage of the latest international news, the leadership of the channel made a decision to open its press office in Brussels.

The experienced team of professionals of 112 Ukraine will be the first to provide Ukrainian community with the hot and exclusive news across the borders. The journalists of the 112 Ukraine will tell about all the events in the European Parliament and become a source of information for all Ukrainian media. Opening of the press office in Brussels is another step to the best possible provision of the on-time news to the country. We are also plan to open such press offices in other countries of the world, as Ukrainian community has to know the truth about what is really going on in Europe, 112 Ukraine general producer Artem Marchevsky said.

As it was reported earlier, the European parliamentarians David Coburn, Jonathan Arnott visited the main office of 112 Ukraine TV channel on October 30. Their purpose was to find out personally the reasons for the scandalous voting on sanctions against 112 Ukraine and NewsOne and to monitor the situation with freedom of speech in Ukraine.

Earlier, Ukraines Verkhovna Rada urged the countrys National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to introduce sanctions against several Ukrainian TV channels. 229 MPs supported the draft law No. 9157 on 'Approval of recommendations to introduce personal special economic sanctions and other restrictive measures (sanctions)'.

Thirteen European parliamentarians appealed to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to revoke the decision on imposing sanctions on 112 Ukraine and NewsOne TV channels. The leaders of 112 Ukraine and NewsOne channels arrived in Brussels personally to talk to the parliamentarians and get their support. The issue of freedom of speech in Ukraine is raised at the international conferences, forums and in the offices of European parliamentarians. The deputies carefully study the situation regarding sanctions against Ukrainian broadcasters, and sign the petition.
Earlier, Putin signed an order on the sanctions against Ukraine

Open source

The sanctions of Russia against Ukraine will affect 360 Ukrainian companies and over 50 individuals; TASS agency wrote this, citing its own sources in the Russian government.

'Soon, the document will be passed to be signed by the chairman of the government, and then it will be published. The response will affect about 360 Ukrainian companies and more than 50 individuals,' the message said.

As we reported on October 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree on imposing sanctions against Ukraine - in response to Ukraines restrictive measures against the Russian citizens and legal entities.

Having signed the document, Putin commissioned the Russian government to define those Ukrainian individuals to be affected by the restrictions. In addition, he ordered 'to take other measures necessary for the realization of the actual order.'

The order takes effect the moment it is signed. The sanctions can be lifted if Ukraine adopts a similar decision.

Russias Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev claimed that the sanctions against Ukraine would concern hundreds of people.

Related video:
The tariff has risen by 23,5%, the price is $305 for a thousand cubic meters

Open source

Gas prices in Ukraine increased by 23,5% today. Now, the price is $305 for a thousand cubic meters.

The Government made this decision on an extraordinary session on October 19. Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman noted that the households, which need support, will receive subsidies.

Groysman added that gas price increase is smaller than the IMF primarily demanded.

As it was reported earlier, Volodymyr Groysman claimed that the heating season in Ukraine officially starts on October 15, but the local authorities can decide on the beginning of heating supply to the houses taking into account the actual weather condition.

Earlier, in 2017 the capitals authority decided to terminate cooperation with Kyivenergo, which was transferred to a new enterprise Kyivteploenergo. In April, the representatives of Kyivenergo stated that all the staff will switch over to Kyivteploenergo.

Related: Gas getting more expensive, Ukrainians getting poorer

It was expected that the municipal enterprise will cover the receivables and payables of the company. However, on July 19, Kyiv Commercial Court refused to change Kyivenergo to Kyivteploenergo as a respondent concerning Kyivenergos debts.

In its turn, Naftogaz stopped gas supply in Kyiv due to Kyivenergos debts, which make almost $178,5 million. Due to these debts, Naftogaz refuses to sign the contract with Kyivteploenergo on gas supply with the result that hot water supply in Kyiv was cut off.
It is also noted that Germany does not have the same firm position in this issue as Ukraine

Germany insists on the provision of the guarantees of the maintenance of gas transit through the territory of Ukraine after the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, made such statement during the meeting with Ukraine's parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy as 112 Ukraine broadcasted.

"We know that Ukraine rejects this project. I consider it less critical and stand for the guarantees for Ukraine to make Ukraine keep its transit role. I think these negotiations are held with Russia; the issue is about the creation of the transit agreement. We want Ukraine to stay an important transit country," Merkel said.

She also added that besides Nord Stream 2, there is also a Turkish stream.

"That means, the gas streams are extended from Russia to the EU but it does not mean that we want to leave Ukraine's transit role. I think the incomes from the gas transit are important for Ukraine's budget," Merkel added.

Head of the Ukrainian Parliament Andriy Parubiy urged Angela Merkel to study the arguments of Ukraine against the construction of the Nord Stream 2 in more detail.

"The construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline can provide the rebalancing and risk for the security not only of Ukraine but the whole European area. I would like to ask to study the argument of the Ukrainian side in more detail," Parubiy noted.

Earlier Polish President Andrzej Duda urged the German government to give up on Nord Stream 2 construction. He insisted that the new pipeline would breach the current energy balance, posing danger to the energy safety of some countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Putin claimed that the Russian Federation was ready to save the gas transit through Ukraine after the launch of the Nord Stream 2.

Gazprom and its partners intended to begin the realization of the Nord Stream 2 project, which costs ten billion dollars. It is expected that the 1200 km gas pipeline will be laid through the Baltic Sea, and will connect Russia and Germany passing Ukraine, Poland, and Baltic countries. The capacity of the gas pipeline will be twice increased than the first Nord Stream. The construction is estimated to be completed by the end of 2019.

Ukraine is adamantly opposed to the construction by calling it politically motivated and suggesting the EU to create a consortium with the involvement of European companies to manage the existing more efficient transportation route through Ukraine. A number of EU countries have expressed their disagreement with the Nord Stream 2 project in particular Poland and Lithuania.

Related video:
It is noted that the Russian Federation does not fulfill Minsk Agreements

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel meet in Kyiv on November 1 Presidential Administration press office

Germany will advocate for the extension of the sanctions against Russia. Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany made such a statement during the briefing in Kyiv as 112 Ukraine reported.

"We will also talk about the connection of the sanctions with a particular state. If there is some progress then we can soften the sanctions. Unfortunately, the Minsk Agreements are not observed, if something takes place, it means only some millimeter forward, and there is a step back from time to time. Germany will stand for the extension of these sanctions," Merkel noted.

In June 2018, the European Council has prolonged the sanctions against Russia for the illegal annexation of Ukrainian Crimea.

Moreover, Montenegro, Albania, Norway and Ukraine announced an intention to reconcile their national policy with the prolongation of the anti-Russian sanctions.

Later the European Union has officially prolonged individual sanctions against Russians and legal entities involved in the actions against Ukraines territorial integrity.
Todays Russian sanctions against Ukraine is a beginning of a multi-episode series, as the Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin wrote on Facebook.

A superficial analysis of the so-called sanctions list of Russia and the time of its publication demonstrates the beginning of a serial TV show trying to influence Ukraine before and after the elections. But, in fact, its not even a pilot episode, its a teaser, Klimkin said.

Russia imposed sanctions against 68 companies and 322 Ukrainians.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko gave effect to the decision of National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on individual sanctions against legal and physical entities related to the Russian aggression in Ukraine. The order was signed on May 14, 2018. It was published on the website of the Presidents Administration on May 18.
Sanctions of Russia against Volodymyr Viatrovych are ridiculous, according to him, as he does not possess property and funds in the enemy country

The sanctions of Russia against Volodymyr Viatrovych, the director of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory are ridiculous, according to him, as he does not possess property and funds in Russia as 112 Ukraine reported.

"I think that the tough work we are holding in the area of the historical memory is too painful for Russia and consequently, we affect them quite seriously. It is a little bit ridiculous as for me, such display of the hysteria of the Russian government as I do not possess any property and funds in Russia. This threat means nothing to me but on the other hand, it is a "mark" for my personal merit in the counteracting the Russian aggression," Viatrovych claimed.

According to him, it means that the sanctions imposed by Ukraine and the world are effective.

"It is a request for some kind of the symmetry. For me, it means that the sanctions imposed by the world and Ukraine against Russia are effective and necessary," he added.

Viatrovych supposed that Petro Poroshenko and Volodymyr Groysman are not included in the sanctions list as it is also a weapon in the information war.

"I think this list is also a certain weapon in the information war against Ukraine and obviously, the presence of some people in this list will be used for the compromising of different persons," he said.

As we reported, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed an order which imposes sanctions against a list of physical and legal entities of Ukraine.

In particular, sanctions were imposed against Ukraines Internal Minister Arsen Avakov, acting Health Minister Ulyana Suprun and Culture Minister Yevgen Nishchuk, Minister of Education Liliya Grynevych, Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan, Ecology Minister Ostap Semerak, Information Policy Minister Yuriy Stets, Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak, Deputy Defence Minister for European integration Anatoliy Petrenko, and Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

Presidents son Olexiy and Poroshenkos Press Secretary Svyatoslav Tseholko were included in the list.
Press Secretary of Russias President Dmitry Peskov said it would be beyond all reason

The representative of Kremlin explained why the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko is not in the sanctions list. Press Secretary of Russias President Dmitry Peskov said it would be beyond all reason to impose sanctions against Poroshenko, TASS reported.

As a rule, the presidents are not included in the sanctions lists. It is beyond all reason, the representative of the Kremlin explained.

Earlier, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed an order which imposes sanctions against a list of physical and legal entities of Ukraine.

Presidents son Olexiy and Poroshenkos Press Secretary Svyatoslav Tseholko were included in the list. Petro Poroshenko was not included in the sanctions list.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko gave effect to the decision of National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on individual sanctions against legal and physical entities related to the Russian aggression in Ukraine. The order was signed on May 14, 2018. It was published on the website of Presidents Administration on May 18.
PACE members intend to figure out the situation with the security and working conditions of the OSCE SMM

The MPs from the socialists, democrats, and greens fraction of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) plan to visit the east of Ukraine on November 1 to figure out the situation with the security and working conditions of the OSCE SMM. Frank Schwabe, Chairman of the fraction, spokesperson for the human rights and humanitarian aid of the SPD in the German Bundestag, made such statement as Ukrinform reported.

"We want to see the situation there, how it changes; we will meet the OSCE mission. The issue is not likely about the reports but we want to see whether the OSCE mission is respected," he said. A few MPs from the same fraction want to visit Donbas besides Schwabe.

It is reported that the PACE delegation should examine the state of the implementation of the particular social and humanitarian projects, which were based on the support of Germany and which are implemented in Donbas.

"We will visit a children's hospital financed by Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. We want to see the IDPs shelters projects, where Germany participated, the project of the psychosocial maintenance of those who suffered from the war," the MP noted.

According to Schwabe, after the end of the visit, they will prepare a report on the expenditure for the implementation of these projects and efficiency of the provision of the aid to the people at the temporarily occupied territories.

Moreover, the delegation will give an appraisal of the state the state of the humanitarian aid to Donbas people.

"4,4 million people are suffering. Germany is interested in helping these people in Ukraine," he noted. Schwabe added that the PACE has the particular concern about the situation with the environment protection.

Frank Schwabe will also meet the government representatives of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada, civil society, and representatives of the international organizations.

As we reported, the Chancellor of Germany arrives in Kyiv, on November 1. It is expected that she will meet with the President Petro Poroshenko, as the Presidents Administration reports.

Related video:
The Chancellor of Germany will meet with President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman

Open source

The Chancellor of Germany arrives in Kyiv today, on November 1.

It is expected that she will meet with the President Petro Poroshenko, as the Presidents Administration reports.

The meeting starts at 1:15 pm in Mariyinsky Palace. Then, Poroshenko and Merkel will meet with media representatives at 2:55 pm.

The parties will discuss the situation in Donbas, occupied Crimea, Azov Sea, and Kerch Strait.

The leaders will coordinate their further steps to provide the implementation of the Minsk Agreements and enhance the international coalition within the counterwork of Russias continuing aggression.

They will also discuss the issues of Ukraines European and Euro-Atlantic integration, and enhancement of energy security of Ukraine and the EU as an integral part of the European and international security.

After the meeting, Merkel will visit the Cabinet of Ministers. She will meet with Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman at 3:30 pm. Her previous visit was held in August 2014.

Due to Merkels visit, some streets in the capital will be closed. The restrictions might last from 11 am till 8 pm on the streets mostly in Kyiv downtown, as the press office of Kyiv City State Administration reported.
The President will participate in the seventh session of High Level Strategic Council and inaugural ceremony of Ukraines Consulate

The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko will pay a working visit to Turkey, as the Presidents Administration reported. The visit is scheduled for November 3-4.

The seventh session of High Level Strategic Councils scheduled for November 3. It is to be held in Istanbul under the leadership of the president of Ukraine and Turkey.

The agenda provides the discussion of key issues of the bilateral political dialogue, current situation, and perspectives of the development of the cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey in the trade and economic, scientific and technological, defense industrial, energy transport, cultural humanitarian, educational, and touristic sectors. Ukraines President will have talks with the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the press office reports.

Besides, Poroshenko will participate in the opening of a plaque on a building where the Ukrainian People's Republic diplomatic mission was located in 1919-1922. In addition, he will visit Istanbul university, which has a department of Ukrainian language and literature, and opening of the exhibition of archival documents, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the diplomatic relationships between the countries.

The President will go to Antalya to participate in the inaugural ceremony of Ukraines Consulate and Ukrainian House cultural center.

Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, arrived in Ukraine with an official visit November 1.
The president also urged them to withdraw the wages from the shadow to stop the labor migration from Ukraine

Petro Poroshenko at the "Dialogue between State and business: meeting with president and representatives of government" event Presidential Administration press office

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has urged employers to increase the wages of their workers. According to the information of the president, about 4,5 million people have a minimum wage job, as the press service of the presidential administration reported.

Poroshenko reported that Ukraine succeeded to put the economy out of the crisis and reach the stable recovery. The GDP growth is almost 4%, however, "the society does not need these numbers but quality improvement in the living standards of people."

"The average level of the wages in the country, thank God, is growing in recent years. But it is to early to celebrate the victory. Not everybody can afford it as the level of incomes in the country is still low and the millions of people, we should understand this clearly, barely make ends meet. And it is our job, your job is to pay the competitive wage to all those who work in the private sector," the leader of Ukraine said.

Poroshenko noted that on the one hand, the increase of the minimum wage should take place and on the other hand, the legalization of the employment and unshadowing of the wages should take place.

The president also noted that the employers more often complain about the deficit of the labor force. According to the official data of the state border guard service, the difference between the number of people who left Ukraine and the Ukrainians who returned make a little bit more than 200,000 in 2017.

"The tendency is growing. In 2018, more people for 10-15% left. I emphasize, we have two ways, to create an iron curtain, just like in the Soviet Union, or to increase the wages in our country," Poroshenko claimed.

He noted that Ukraine becomes a part of the European labor market and consequently no one and nothing can defend the Ukrainian employers from this competition at this market. Consequently, the labor market in Ukraine should be competitive not only to Central Asia but the EU as well.

Earlier it was reported that Poland anticipates a sudden outflow of the Ukrainian migrant workers to the countries of Western Europe. The Polish economy, which is rapidly developing, requires labor force, mostly, these are the Ukrainians.
According to the president, Russia should stop to blaze guns and leave Ukraine, and then the sanctions will not be needed

Open source

The Russian sanctions against Ukraine are perceived as the state award. Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine, made this statement at the joint briefing with German Chancellor Angela Merkel as 112 Ukraine broadcasted.

"I want to emphasize that the Russian decision on the sanctions was not unexpected. With a few exceptions, it is a list of very decent people, including my son, including the half of my administration, with a great number of the MPs, the majority of the members of the coalition, members of the Ukrainian government. I want to say that being on this list is some kind of the state award, at least, it is perceived in such a way," Poroshenko noted.

He added that "instead of blazing guns, Russia should do one simple thing - leave Ukraine, withdraw its troops and weapon, and restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Then the peace will come and there will be no need to impose the sanctions."

As we reported, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed an order which imposes sanctions against a list of physical and legal entities of Ukraine.

In particular, sanctions were imposed against Ukraines Internal Minister Arsen Avakov, acting Health Minister Ulyana Suprun and Culture Minister Yevgen Nishchuk, Minister of Education Liliya Grynevych, Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan, Ecology Minister Ostap Semerak, Information Policy Minister Yuriy Stets, Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak, Deputy Defence Minister for European integration Anatoliy Petrenko and Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

Presidents son Olexiy and Poroshenkos Press Secretary Svyatoslav Tseholko were included in the list. Petro Poroshenko was not included in the sanctions list.

Later spokesperson of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov claimed that the presidents are not included in the sanctions lists. It is beyond all reason.
The majority of the sanctions are imposed against the physical persons; consequently, they concern the blockage of the non-cash funds, assets, securities, all stuff at the banks of Russia

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) does not expect the significant influence of the sanctions imposed by Russia on the macro-stability of the state. Kateryna Rozhkova, the First Deputy Head of the NBU made this statement as Interfax-Ukraine reported.

"How will it affect the macro-financial stability? We want to believe that in no way. The majority of the sanctions are imposed against the physical persons; consequently, they concern the blockage of the non-cash funds, assets, securities, all stuff at the banks of Russia. Taking into account, that the list is mostly composed of the lawmakers and officials, I want to believe that they do not keep their money in Russia after the Russian military aggression. If we talk about the legal persons, there is only "CreditDnipro" bank there. Once again, I hope that the bank does not hold any operations with the Russian Federation," Rozhkova said.

She added that the NBU will be able to provide more serious estimation later after the detailed analysis of the persons included on the sanction list.

Talking about the possible counter-sanction, she reminded that Ukraine has imposed the sanctions against Russia in 2017.

As we reported, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed an order which imposes sanctions against a list of physical and legal entities of Ukraine.

In particular, sanctions were imposed against Ukraines Internal Minister Arsen Avakov, acting Health Minister Ulyana Suprun and Culture Minister Yevgen Nishchuk, Minister of Education Liliya Grynevych, Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan, Ecology Minister Ostap Semerak, Information Policy Minister Yuriy Stets, Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak, Deputy Defence Minister for European integration Anatoliy Petrenko, and Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

Presidents son Olexiy and Poroshenkos Press Secretary Svyatoslav Tseholko were included on the list. Petro Poroshenko was not included in the sanctions list.
For the 23rd year, Albuquerque Pride brings us the annual New Mexico Pride Pageant at the African American Performing Arts Center . This culmination of the incredible performances we see all year at our local and regional clubs is a fierce spectacle of glamour, talent, poise and, of course, the best looks of the year. Friday night, Nov. 2 brings out all registered competitors for the preliminaries. These drag and gay, youth and adult LGBTQIA contestants compete for four coveted titles including Miss New Mexico Pride, Mr. New Mexico, Miss New Mexico Pride Youth and Mr. New Mexico Pride Youth. Once they narrow it down to the most powerful performers on night one, head out Saturday, Nov. 3 as they pick each other off, one by one, to win those sparkly crowns. The doors open both nights at 6pm and the pageant takes hold from 7 to 10 pm . Grab Friday tickets for $10 general admission and $20 VIP and Saturday $15 for general and $25 for VIP. This is an all-ages event. Support the community with pride. (Mayo Lua de Frenchie)

Albuquerque Pride puts on a pageant where contestants compete in various categories to win one of the four titles.

VIP Tickets include 3 drinks (alcohol for +21 with valid ID) and premier seating at the front of the auditorium.

This is an all ages event, cash bar available with valid ID.

Once a year, as it's been for 23 years, Albuquerque Pride puts on a pageant where contestants compete in various categories to win one of the four titles. Those who earn titles from this friendly competition continue to help Albuquerque Pride spread Pride in our community, fund-raise, and entertain as only entertainers are able to do.

There will be four winners:Two adult and two youth winners competing for Mr, Miss and Mx.

Categories include: Sponsorship, Judges Interview, Opening Number, Theme Wear with Audience Vote, Talent, Formal Evening Wear and On-stage Interview.
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!)
Corey Yazzie

In awareness of the political trajectory this republic has taken since November 2016, we here at Weekly Alibi have given up on the cruel pretense that certain members of the Republican party, their platform or their vision for America may be salvageable. They are not.

We dont believe in giving quarter to a political organization that has caged children, continued to utter insults at women, excuses itself from complicity in the violence of its most dedicated followers and generally mocks American values while waving a nationalist flag.

Whats the purpose of pretending that such un-American behavior is acceptable? The Republicans are complicit in Trumps dark triumph. Theyve allowed Trump to take on faux-heroic, authoritarian proportions, directly lashing themselves to the man or otherwise turning their eyes and ears away while he and his cronies dangerously deconstruct the republic.

The GOP must be voted from officemust be rendered ineffectual, impotent and unmemorableso that our nation can progress. That progress begins with a national Congress and a state leadership enabled to check the presidents misadventures and the ruling partys freedom to operate in such despotic chaos.

Committing to this dutiful process means embracing the Democratic party for this election and the next one in 2020, too.

For those in such a position, think about it this way: Rarely, citizens come into possession of the tools necessary to drive out the parties that either surely signify or at best abet darkness. This is one of those times. Vote them out, vote Democrat.

That is not to say that the bright-eyed, brilliant, blue-wave forming Donkeys will get a pass from this newspaper. Far from it, weve been openly critical of their group and individual politics before and will do so again. But right now, compadres, they are the best hope we have.

This year, the group representing the Democratic Party in New Mexico is an exceptional collection of humans. At the nexus of this community of tuned-in, radiant public servants, policy makers and political personages is the candidate for governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Recently, Weekly Alibi chatted with the Democratic candidate for the states top spot. With less than a week to go before the election happens, Grisham is confident and enthused. Shes up in the polls and ready to rock.

Weekly Alibi: Because of your deep connection to New Mexico, I understand that you might have had experiences or feelings that are particular to citizens of the Land of Enchantment. What are the most important issues to you then, issues that may also be affecting others in this state?

Michelle Lujan Grisham: Youre right, family is very important. As New Mexicans, we are very proud of this state and of our familys connections. I am a caregiver for my mother; Ive got two grandchildren. And I get asked or told this in every single community I visit, every single day I campaign: Please tell me my children can stay here. Tell me my grandchildren can stay here. So we are going to invest in the sorts of things that bolster the economy but we are also going to pay attention to those issues that are family-oriented  otherwise, we end up losing our talent pool. Were a small state, we have to have that talent pool. I think about my own family: my own daughter, an engineer, she left the state. It took her two years to get back and find a meaningful career here. Many of the New Mexicans I talk to are worried about that. [Hearing those family stories] gives me the opportunity to talk about my economic ideas. That strengthens our families, that beautiful segue where we can talk about leadership, policies and plans and relate it to people who are worried about their families.

Since these family issues seem to boil down to economic issues, I am wondering what are your plans for addressing such problems?

Sure, lets talk about the economic components, but first lets make sure that people have integrity, that theres justice, that theres compassion. Because if we think about the economy just for the sake of the economy and dont actually lift people up at the same time  youve got a disconnect in your work.  You could use the [New Mexico] procurement code in a way that really shores up small business investment. Were not investing the interest from the permanent fund in a way that bolsters the economy. We are not starting with renewable energy. All of that begins to shift how we structure our economic investments. Now, heres the compassionate component: Lift people out of poverty with a working families tax credit. Do more to insure that folks have meaningful access to healthcare and childcare. We want to get rid of the thing called the cliff effect, which means that if you get a $200 raise and you are on public assistance, for say, housing or childcare, you stand to lose $600 in benefits. So we crack this cycle that you [otherwise] cant get out of by investing in the resiliency of New Mexicans and by building our own healthcare system. Were going to start by leveraging Medicaid, making sure that we have Medicaid buy-in because too many folks cannot afford insurance products on the exchange or the networks are too narrow. These are the kinds of things that create economic sustainability and take care of New Mexicans at the same time.

We took a look at the Medicaid buy-in moving through the local level a couple of weeks ago, so its good to know that progressive proposal is on track. I was also interested to read that you favor re-implementing the methane rule, another issue Weekly Alibi looked at recently. Tell our readers a bit about that, please.

The methane rule, first of all, is a job creator. It will create hundreds of jobs for New Mexicans. Thats exactly what we want. And it addresses the fact that we are serious about climate change, about greenhouse gas emissions. Methane [from natural gas production] is one of the very worst [polluters]. We are going to make money for the fossil fuel industry and we are going to protect New Mexicans from climate change. We are going to protect the environment and people in the affected communities. Colorado has demonstrated unequivocally that you can do this: You can bring the oil and gas industry together with the environmental community. We can put that practice together, have people work together. Thats the kind of leadership New Mexico deserves.

How do you feel about a contention about oil and gas revenue that the N.M. Legislative Finance Committee made in a report earlier this year? They said that relying on income from such a volatile industry should be approached with great caution. How do you feel about that?

Theyre right. And this is what has hurt the state. In a boom cycle, such as the one we are currently experiencing, folks who do not really have a visionwho arent really thinking about our futureare sitting on their laurels saying we dont have to do anything. And if you do anything to this booming industry, its a signal to oil and gas that you are going to tell them to stop producing. My opponent says that about my plans all the time. But no, responsibly working in this state and giving back the tools we need to create a sustainable economic future are things everyone should want. Thats why I am talking about transforming New Mexico. We cant waste any more time. We have to think about climate change. Weve got a decade; New Mexico has the worst methane hotspots in the nation. We have to lead in these areas. We can do that productively. Weve been meeting with experts in the oil and gas industry, being clear about our objectives about whats right for New Mexico.

How does what is happening with regards to Trump and immigration affect New Mexicans? How are you going to work on ameliorating that ill effect?

Im the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; its been an incredible amount of work given this administration. His is an administration that is promoting fear and racism and he isnt taking any of the responsibility for making the kinds of changes and investments that would redirect the migration of people that are fleeing [their own countries]. New Mexicans get that. Were insulted for the most part by the notion that a wall is the way to go. We reject that. But New Mexicans also know theres a downside to immigration. I want to be clear that we want a secure border; we want to do everything we can to take out nefarious characters engaged in crossing the border. As a border state we need to stand up against family separations; we are still appalled by those sorts of actions. We want security but not the hateful fear-mongering.

Is the legalization of recreational cannabis a realistic goal for New Mexico?

The Legislature has been working tirelessly on that issue. Ive signaled to the Legislature that if they bring me a recreational cannabis law that deals with the unintended consequences [like] workplace intoxication, driving intoxication issues and the whole public safety gamut: prevention, highly regulated ediblesand heres one of the leading issues, the law must protect medical cannabis, we dont want patients to be priced out of the market,  if I get a bill that addresses those issues  then Im a likely signatory on a recreational cannabis bill. But I want us to be smart about it.
"As the Prophets saw, as the Apostles taught, as the Church has received, as the Teachers express in dogma, as the inhabited world understands together with them, as grace illumines, as the truth makes clear, as error has been banished, as wisdom makes bold to declare, as Christ has assured, so we think, so we speak, so we preach, honouring Christ our true God, and his Saints, in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in churches, in icons, worshipping and revering the One as God and Lord, and honouring them because of their common Lord as those who are close to him and serve him, and making to them relative veneration. This is the faith of the Apostles; this is the faith of the Fathers; this is the faith of the Orthodox; this faith makes fast the inhabited world."

Excerpt from the Synodikon of the Sunday of Orthodoxy (http://www.anastasis.org.uk/synodikon.htm)

By the Grace of God, here are presented a few true stories of the Saints, sayings of the Holy Fathers, sacred icons, and many other things so that, maybe in a small way, we may remind ourselves that (though we might not be ready to accept it)I must say that I am not a part of the clergy, so I hope to primarily put forth quotations from the Gospel, Saints and Holy Fathers, and not my own opinions. But if you see my own words or opinions, keep in mind that they are my opinions or comments and they have little weight, as opposed to the quotations from Christ, the Saints and the Fathers which do.I ask forgiveness if in this site any of my passions are acting, hindering the Grace of the Holy Spirit because of my sins. I apologize for any errors of mine, mistakes, problems with translations, etc. due to my ignorance and conceit. If anyone notices any mistakes or can suggest a better translation, please let me know. I try to post all of my sources. Please also let me know if I am violating any copyrights or other laws, and I will do my best to comply.
TORONTO, Oct. 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eurocontrol Technics Group Inc. (TSX Venture: EUO; OTCQB: EUCTF) (Eurocontrol or the Company) is pleased to announce the results of its special meeting of shareholders (the Meeting) held earlier today.



A total of 24,015,283 common shares of the Company were voted at the Meeting, representing approximately 28% of the total number of issued and outstanding common shares of the Company.

All matters presented for approval at the Meeting were duly authorized and approved, as follows:

a special resolution approving the Companys previously announced proposed sale of its subsidiaries, Xenemetrix Ltd., Croptimal Ltd. and Xwinsys Technology Development Ltd. to DYG Holdings Ltd. (the Sale Transaction); and



special resolutions giving authority to the Company's board of directors to amend the articles of incorporation of the Company to change the name of the Company and giving authority to the Companys board of directors to effect a consolidation of all of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares on the basis of one (1) post-consolidation common share of the Company for up to ten (10) pre-consolidation common shares, in each case, as it may determine.

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has completed the Sale Transaction in accordance with the terms of the share purchase agreement with DYG Holdings Ltd., as described in the Companys news release dated September 14, 2018. As a result, the Company has now completed its process of terminating its former business in Israel.

Paul Wood, Interim President and CEO of Eurocontrol stated, We are very pleased to have closed the Sale Transaction as the final step in an orderly discontinuance of our previous Israeli business activities. The sole focus of our Board is now to continue to evaluate potential value enhancing transactions.

For further information on this press release, please contact Paul Wood at (416) 361-2808 or pwood@eurocontrol.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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Forward-Looking Statements - This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this news release, regarding Eurocontrols strategy, future operations, possible strategic transactions, financial position, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words plan, will, would, could, believe, anticipate, intend, estimate, expect, project and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on Eurocontrols current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. As such, actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits or negative impact they will have on Eurocontrol and its shareholders.
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gen III Oil Corp. (Gen III or the Company) (TSX-V: GIII) (OTCQX: ISRJF) is pleased to provide the following details regarding the previously referenced non-brokered private placement on September 20, 2018:

In an effort to maintain FEED momentum and site demolition timelines, Gen IIIs board decided to initiate a non-brokered private placement at $0.40 per unit for gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 (the Offering).

Each unit consists of one common share and one-half (1/2) of one common share purchase warrant.

Each whole warrant will be exercisable at a price of $0.70 per share for a period of one year from closing, subject to acceleration if the common shares trade at or greater than $1.00 per share for a period of five (5) consecutive trading days after the date that is four months from closing.

The closing of the Offering is expected to occur in tranches and a finders fee may be payable at the discretion of the Company. The closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four month hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

Company Executive Vice President, Corporate Finance Mark Redcliffe stated, We are extremely pleased with the early interest shown in the private placement by our stakeholders and we appreciate their support which ensures we maintain project momentum.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in any jurisdiction. The securities will not be and have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or applicable exemption from the registration requirements.

About Gen III Oil Corporation

Gen III Oil Corporation is an innovative oil processing company with the most advanced re-refining technology in the industry. The Companys patented ReGenTM technology process combines proven refining technologies into a proprietary process that is able to extract a higher quantity of high quality base lubricating oils than traditional re-refineries, including greater than 50% Group III production of synthetic grade motor oil in a commercial scale re-refining operation. The Company currently holds 5 patents issued in North America, 2 patents issued overseas and has 9 patent applications, patents pending or under review in strategic countries around the world. The Companys first full-scale facility is currently under development in Bowden, Alberta, 100km north of Calgary, with targeted production commencing in late Q2 of 2019 (the Project). With a fully executed off-take marketing agreement in hand with Elbow River Marketing Ltd., a subsidiary of Parkland Fuel Corporation, the Company has in place agreements for the sale of all of its finished products when commercial production begins at its Bowden facility. The Bowden facility is being designed to process 2,800 bpd of used motor oil into a range of base stocks and related petroleum products. For more information about the Company, please visit www.geniiioil.com .

To see our TSX Venture 50 video, click here

On Behalf of the Board of Gen III Oil Corporation

Greg Clarkes

Greg Clarkes

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, contact Greg Clarkes at (604) 806-5275

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.

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve financial projections, substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as plan, continue, expect, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate, may, will, potential, proposed and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur. These include, but are not limited to, the statements regarding the quantity and quality of the re-refined products that might be produced; the cost of construction of the first ReGen re-refinery; raising sufficient capital to support the construction of the Project; the estimated operating costs for the Project; the market for the finished products; negotiating off-take agreements for those finished products; and the anticipated annual recurring revenue and EBITDA derived from those operations. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking information contained herein. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, Oct. 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Almas Jiwani, an international leader in gender equality and womens economic empowerment, was invited to speak at the Universidad Jose Matias Delgado (UJMD) on October 11th, 2018. This speech was given as part of Miss Jiwani's speaking tour in El Salvador to help promote women's empowerment and entrepreneurship, and included speaking engagements with non-governmental organizations, local and international businesses, and diplomatic meetings.



Miss Jiwani, CEO of the Almas Jiwani Foundation, enthusiastically spoke to attendees about student entrepreneurship and empowerment, and how individuals in higher education can re-analyze their approaches to success from a gender equality perspective. The event was co-organized by the Canadian Embassy in El Salvador and the UJMD, and attracted over 200 attendees, including students and educators from the University.

Why Entrepreneurship? Entrepreneurship has become a trending topic among business schools. As an university we want to educate people that not only seek for jobs, but generate them. This message is any academic track; one can become an entrepreneur in any economic reality, stated Ing. Roberto A. Sorto Fletes, Dean, Economics and Business Faculty.

Why Almas? We were aware of her international recognition as an authority in this topic. Her working history, core values and her ideas made her perfect suitable to address our students. Last but not least, she emphasizes the importance of gender inequality and the deep and long lasting effects over society of empowering girls. We would like to thank Canadas Embassy for helping us make this possible, said Ing. Roberto A. Sorto Fletes, Dean, Economics and Business Faculty.

Almas stated: The careers of the future are going to evolve from where they are today; the challenges of the future cannot be solved with the skill-set of yesterdayBut one thing is certain: no tool is, nor will be, more important to success than education.

With education you can be empowered, become an economic actor in your community, expand your potential, and the potential of your community. There could be a young man or woman in this room who will develop the next big technology. Because you are brilliant? Well, of course. But also because you have a different way of thinking through your access to education, Miss Jiwani added.

Almas concluded: It is also important to note that the future does not simply refer to your individual futures: it is our collective future which is in your hands. Each of you has taken the first important step by educating yourselves. You now have a responsibility to seize this opportunity of education to make the world a better place, for your future, and future generations. By also educating yourselves on important global issues, such as XXXXXXXX, you are taking an important step towards fulfilling that responsibility. An informed awareness and understanding of the complexities of the issues that are prevalent and critical in our world is a crucial part of your journey towards making sustainable change for your generation, and the generations to come.

About the Almas Jiwani Foundation

The vision of The Almas Jiwani Foundation is to empower women, girls and marginalized communities through focused projects that directly address disparities in equality, education, entrepreneurship and energy rights. The Foundation aims to bridge inequalities through the fostering of relationships among the various actors and stakeholders in global issues, and provide a platform for discourse and action.

Contact information

Almas Jiwani Foundation

Nicole Mankinen

VP, Communications and International Development

nmankinen@almasjiwanifoundation.org

www.almasjiwanifoundation.org
ANCHORAGE, Ala., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alutiiq, LLC acquired McCallie Associates, Inc., a highly successful, women-owned and controlled small business founded in 1982 with headquarters in Bellevue, Nebraska. McCallie is a strong addition to Alutiiqs Security and Professional Services Division  Professional, Administrative, and Management Services Operating Group.



McCallie originally entered the government contracting arena as a prime assisting to build the first Local Area Network for the Strategic Air Command (SAC), a major command of the U.S. Air Force and a Specified Command within the Department of Defense (DoD).

Under the leadership of President and CEO, Jennifer Maassen, since 1999, McCallies core capabilities evolved along with rapid changes in technology and the needs of its customers. McCallie provides the DoD with Information Technology Enterprise Solutions, Integrated Security Environments, mission support through mission systems planning software, architecture, data and process engineering, as well as operational and technical engineering services supporting SAC and its successor Command, USSTRATCOM, with their operational missions of strategic deterrence, global strike, and providing resilient Space and Cyberspace capabilities.

Having demonstrated expertise in data management, McCallie established Oxbow Data Management Systems as a wholly-owned subsidiary in 2009. OxBow Data Management Systems has become a leader designing and implementing essential health data management systems, which State and Tribal departments of health use to prevent and treat breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer through advancing the use of screening data.

McCallie provides systems and infrastructure engineering and Combatant Command and Service program logistical support services to multiple DoD customers and designs medical web-based data management SaaS products for states and tribes across the country, says Greg Hambright, President/CEO of Afognak Native Corporation, which wholly owns Alutiiq, LLC. This acquisition is a strong investment for Alutiiq, LLC and for our Shareholders.

With over 35 years of Government contracting experience, McCallie is a highly capable organization with world-class employees providing vital services to U.S. Strategic Command and other federal clients, says Dr. Travis Coldwell, Senior Vice President of Alutiiqs Security and Professional Services. We are excited to welcome this terrific group of professionals to the Alutiiq Family of Companies.

Afognak Native Corporation is an Alaska Native Village Corporation established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act that serves the Kodiak Alutiiq people of Afognak and Port Lions, Alaska.
Polarcus Limited ("Polarcus" or the "Company") (OSE: PLCS) releases its third quarter 2018 financial statements.

HEADLINES Q3 2018:

Segment revenue of USD 55.2 million, up 14% from Q2 2018 (IFRS revenue of USD 87.0 million)

Gross cost of sales of USD 39.8 million, down 3% from Q2 2018

Segment EBITDA of USD 7.3 million, up from USD 7.2 million in Q2 2018

Cash from operations of USD 0.4 million, impacted by USD 9.2 million negative working capital movements

Backlog of USD 170 million, up from USD 150 million last quarter and USD 125 million at same time last year

 All references in this report to "Segment" and "Segment reporting" are adjusted for IFRS 15 effects.

"Q3 2018 marked the third consecutive quarter of improved utilization and increased revenue for Polarcus. Revenue was up 14% sequentially, driven by multi-client late sales and reimbursable revenue.

"Focus on managing cost continues to be a high priority, reflected in the delivery of a 3% reduction in gross cost of sales despite an increase in utilization. General and administrative costs were 8% less than the previous quarter.

"Cash from operations was USD 0.4 million, impacted by negative working capital movements of USD 9.2 million during the quarter arising from an increase in receivables from customers.

"Global tender activity continued to improve, though near-term pricing remains competitive. The number of square kilometers tendered in the proprietary contract market during the first nine months of 2018 was up 15% year-on-year. The oil price continued to increase through Q3 2018 and is expected to have a positive impact on 2019 E&P company budgets that will be finalized during Q4 2018. Growth in tender activity, a strengthened oil price along with increasing E&P company exploration focus, point towards continued improvements to the 3D marine seismic acquisition market going in to 2019.

"The Company has 100% of the fleet booked for the remainder of 2018 and 70% booked for Q1 2019. This is a very different picture compared to the same time last year with utilization of the Company's fleet for this winter expected to be strong. Pricing levels of recent awards represent an encouraging improvement in the global marine seismic acquisition market. The Company's backlog at 30 September 2018 and awards announced after the quarter end is estimated at USD 170 million."

Duncan Eley

Chief Executive Officer, Polarcus

Contacts

Duncan Eley, CEO

+971 50 553 2198

duncan.eley@polarcus.com

Hans-Peter Burlid, CFO

+971 50 559 8175

hp.burlid@polarcus.com

About Polarcus

Polarcus (OSE: PLCS) is an innovative marine geophysical company with a pioneering environmental agenda, delivering high-end towed streamer data acquisition and imaging services from Pole to Pole. Polarcus operates a fleet of high performance 3D seismic vessels incorporating leading-edge maritime technologies for improved safety and efficiency. Polarcus offers contract seismic surveys and multi-client projects with advanced onboard processing solutions and employs approximately 350 professionals worldwide. The Company's principal office is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. For more information, visit www.polarcus.com

Disclaimer

The information included herein may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements expressing or implying the Company's intent, belief or current expectations with respect to, among other things, forecasts, estimates, and predictions. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties and are dependent on assumptions, information, data or methods that may be incorrect or imprecise. Actual results could differ materially from expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements if one or more of the underlying assumptions or expectations proves to be inaccurate or is unrealized. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, developments in the oil and gas industry, the demand for seismic services, the demand for data from the Company's multi-client library, currency risks, political risks, regulatory risks, and unexpected operational setbacks. For a further description of other relevant risk factors we refer to our 2017 Annual Report. The reservation is also made that inaccuracies or mistakes may occur in the information given above concerning the current status of the Company or its business. Any reliance on the information given above is at the risk of the reader, and Polarcus disclaims any and all liability in this respect.
English Finnish

CapMan Infra press release 1 November 2018 at 08.20 a.m. EET

Strong investor appetite for CapMan Infra's Nordic mid cap infrastructure fund with 115 million committed to the first close

CapMan Infra held the first closing of its Nordic infrastructure fund with commitments of 115 million. A diverse investor base participated in the first close, including pension funds, foundations, corporations and family offices. In addition to CapMan, Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Tradeka-invest Ltd and The Church Pension Fund are amongst the largest investors in this close. Investor appetite for the fund has been strong from both existing and new CapMan investors, and it is expected that support from both local and international investors will continue in future closings.

CapMan Nordic Infrastructure I fund invests predominantly in small to mid-cap core / core+ brownfield infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecommunications sectors across the Nordic countries, through either majority or minority equity investments. CapMan Infra leverages its local Nordic presence, the team's long experience in infrastructure investments and asset management, as well as its extensive local network in deal sourcing and value creation in its target companies.

"We see an abundance of interesting investment opportunities in our home markets and the fast first closing for the fund enables us to commence executing on our investment strategy. We focus on investing ca. 20-50 million equity tickets from the fund but can also execute larger deals through co-investments with our fund investors. We are very pleased with the support thus far and the interest that the fund has generated amongst a diversified group of investors," comments Ville Poukka, Managing Partner, CapMan Infra.

"Investor interest in infrastructure investments has increased with investors looking to allocate more capital to the asset class. An infrastructure fund with a local team and Nordic mid-cap focus is an attractive proposition to international infrastructure investors and we are among the first to provide a specialised strategy for the market. Through the establishment of the fund, CapMan Infra has become a significant new business area for CapMan alongside private equity and real estate," says CapMan's CEO Joakim Frimodig.

CapMan's commitment to the fund is 30 million.

For more information, please contact:

Ville Poukka, Managing Partner, CapMan Infra, p. +358 50 572 9120, ville.poukka@capman.com

Joakim Frimodig, CEO, CapMan Oyj, p. +358 50 529 0665, joakim.frimodig@capman.com

About CapMan

CapMan is a leading Nordic private asset expert with an active approach to value-creation in its target companies and assets. We offer a wide selection of investment products and services. As one of the Nordic private equity pioneers we have developed hundreds of companies and real estate and created substantial value in these businesses and assets over the last 30 years. CapMan employs today approximately 120 private equity professionals and has approximately 2.8 billion in assets under management. We mainly manage the assets of our customers, the investors, but also make investments from our own balance sheet. Our objective is to provide attractive returns and innovative solutions to investors. Our current investment strategies cover Real Estate, Buyout, Russia, Credit, Growth Equity and Infra. We also have a growing service business that currently includes procurement services (CaPS), fundraising advisory (Scala Fund Advisory), and fund management services. www.capman.com, twitter.com/CapManPE
THIS NEWS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.



ZincNyx has been renamed MGX Renewables Inc.

MGX Minerals to spin-out of MGX Renewables under a plan of arrangement

Spin-out to be completed as a return of capital to MGX Minerals Shareholders

MGX Minerals CEO Jared Lazerson appointed as CEO of MGX Renewables

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MGX Minerals Inc. (MGX or the Company) (CSE: XMG / OTCQB: MGXMF / FSE: 1MG) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an arrangement agreement, dated October 31, 2018 (the Arrangement Agreement) with its wholly-owned subsidiary, MGX Renewables Inc. (formerly ZincNyx Energy Solutions Inc.) (MGX Renewables) whereby MGX will complete the previously announced spin-out of 40% of the common shares of MGX Renewables (MGX Renewables Shares) pursuant to a plan of arrangement (the Plan of Arrangement) under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). Jared Lazerson has been appointed as CEO of MGX Renewables.

As at the date hereof, there are 30,000,000 MGX Renewables Shares issued and outstanding. Under the spin-out, MGX shareholders of record on June 29, 2018 will receive one MGX Renewables Share for each 12.4163 MGX common shares (MGX Shares) then held (the First Distribution), and MGX shareholders of record on October 22, 2018 will receive one MGX Renewables Shares for each 59.8186 MGX Shares then held (the Second Distribution and, together with the First Distribution, the Distribution).

The spin-out will require certain approvals by MGX shareholders at MGXs annual general and special meeting, expected to take place on December 20, 2018 (the Meeting). Further information regarding the transaction will be included in the management proxy circular to be mailed to MGX shareholders for the Meeting. Copies of the arrangement agreement and management proxy circular will be available on MGXs SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com .

In connection with the Plan of Arrangement, MGX is also pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement by MGX Renewables of up to 12,000,000 subscription receipts (the Subscription Receipts) at a price of $0.25 per Subscription Receipt for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 (the Subscription Receipt Offering). Each Subscription Receipt will represent the right to automatically receive, upon closing of the Plan of Arrangement, one unit of MGX Renewables (each, a Unit), each Unit being comprised of one MGX Renewables Share (Unit Share) and one half of one MGX Renewables Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant a Warrant). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one MGX Renewables Share at a price per MGX Renewables Share of $0.35 until the earlier of November 30, 2020. The Warrants will contain an accelerator clause whereby, if at any time after the date of issuance and prior to the expiry of the Warrants the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares exceeds $0.50 for a period of ten consecutive trading days, the Corporation shall be entitled, at the option of the Corporation, to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by delivering written notice to the holders of Warrants, to a date that is not less than 30 days following the delivery of such written notice. The Subscription Receipt Offering is expected to close on November 30, 2018.

Following the Companys news releases dated April 3, 2018, April 30, 2018, June 5, 2018, August 9, 2018, October 3, 2018 and October 16, 2018 (collectively, the Prior Releases), MGX determined that the most practical means of effecting the Distribution was by way of the Plan of Arrangement. As such, MGX no longer intends to issue any dividend-in-kind of MGX Renewables Shares to MGX shareholders and MGX no longer expects the Distribution to be made by way of MGX Renewables filing a prospectus with securities regulatory authorities. Neither the Company nor MGX Renewables has made any application to list the MGX Renewables Shares for trading on an exchange, no market currently exists for the MGX Renewables Shares, and the Prior Releases are qualified in their entirety by this news release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The MGX Renewables Shares, Subscription Receipts and any securities underlying the Subscription Receipts (the Units, Unit Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares) have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States, unless pursuant to an exemption from such laws.

For more information on MGX Renewables, please refer to the Prior Releases and the Companys other news releases, dated December 13, 2017, December 18, 2017, January 9, 2018, January 30, 2018, February 1, 2018, February 7, 2018 and March 12, 2018, available on the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and at www.mgxminerals.com .

About MGX Renewables Inc.

MGX Renewables Inc. has developed a patented regenerative zinc-air flow battery that efficiently stores energy in the form of zinc particles and contains none of the traditional high cost battery commodities such as lithium, vanadium, or cobalt. The technology allows for low cost mass storage of energy and can be deployed into a wide range of applications.

Unlike conventional batteries, which have a fixed energy/power ratio, MGX Renewables technology uses a fuel tank system that offers flexible energy/power ratios and scalability. The storage capacity is directly tied to the size of the fuel tank and the quantity of recharged zinc fuel, making scalability a major advantage of the flow battery system. In addition, a further major advantage of the zinc-air flow battery is the ability to charge and discharge simultaneously and at different maximum charge or discharge rates since each of the charge and discharge circuits is separate and independent. Other types of standard and flow batteries are limited to a maximum charge and discharge by the total number of cells as there is no separation of the charge, discharge and storage components. The MGX Renewables mission is to provide cost effective, long duration and reliable energy storage systems for markets involving renewables firming, peak shaving, diesel generator replacement, telecom facility back-up, electrification of ferries and tug boats and electric vehicle charging support.

MGX Renewables has also signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with Braingrid Corporation (Braingrid) to co-develop and market a packaged energy management product offering for the cannabis cultivation market. The partnership will leverage Braingrids software and technology, which uses proprietary sensing and control hardware and MGX Renewables modular energy storage systems, which provide scalable regenerative zinc-air flow battery for mass storage of energy, to provide cannabis cultivators with renewable solutions for cultivation. Braingrid is expected to begin trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange next week under the ticker symbol BGRD.

About MGX Minerals Inc.

MGX Minerals is a diversified Canadian resource company with interests in advanced material and energy assets throughout North America. Learn more at www.mgxminerals.com .

Contact Information

Jared Lazerson

President and CEO

Telephone: 1.604.681.7735

Web: www.mgxminerals.com

Legal Advisories

A market for MGX Renewables Shares may not sustainably develop following the completion of the Distributions. If a market for MGX Renewables Shares does not sustainably develop, MGX shareholders may have difficulty selling their MGX Renewables Shares and the market price for MGX Renewables Shares may be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond the Companys and MGX Renewables control. If the MGX Renewables Shares are not accepted for listing on a recognized exchange then the Distribution may not occur.

Following the Distribution, the Company may own or control MGX Renewables Shares and that ownership or control may be material. As a result, the Company could have the ability to control or veto matters submitted to MGX Renewables shareholders for approval. This may negatively affect the attractiveness of MGX Renewables to third parties considering an acquisition of MGX Renewables or cause the market price of the MGX Renewables Shares to decline. The interests of the Company may not in all cases be aligned with the interests of MGX Renewables shareholders. In addition, the Company may have an interest in pursuing acquisitions, divestitures and other transactions that, in the judgment of its management, could enhance its equity investment, even though such transactions might involve risks to MGX Renewables shareholders and may ultimately adversely affect the market price of the MGX Renewables Shares. So long as the Company continues to own, directly or indirectly, a significant amount of the MGX Renewables Shares, the Company may be able to strongly influence or effectively control MGX Renewables decisions.

The Company does, from time to time, make investments in other companies and in its own research and development initiatives. As such, the Company may acquire interests in companies or otherwise develop businesses that directly or indirectly compete with all or certain portions of MGX Renewables business or that are suppliers to, or customers of, MGX Renewables.

MGX Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors in respect of the Distribution.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to MGX that are based on the expectations of its management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to MGX which may constitute forward-looking statements or information (forward-looking statements) under applicable securities laws. All such statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results or developments that MGX anticipates or expects may, or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the word will, intend, expect, may and other similar expressions.

In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the following: the Plan of Arrangement; the Distribution; the Meeting and related management proxy circular; the Subscription Receipt Offering, including the terms of the Subscription Receipts and Warrants; the structure of the Distribution; the market for the MGX Renewables Shares; the ownership and control of MGX Renewables Shares by the Company; and the Companys future plans and investment strategy.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect several material factors and expectations and assumptions of MGX including, without limitation: that MGX will continue to conduct its operations in a manner consistent with past operations; the general continuance of current or, where applicable, assumed industry conditions; availability of debt and/or equity sources to fund MGX's capital and operating requirements as needed; and certain cost assumptions.

MGX believes the material factors, expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable at this time but no assurance can be given that these factors, expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. Such forward-looking 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 including, without limitation: general economic, market and business conditions; the Plan of Arrangement, Distribution and/or Meeting may not be completed in the timelines anticipated, in the manner anticipated or at all; the Plan of Arrangement, Distribution and/or Meeting may not have the results currently anticipated by MGX; failure to obtain in a timely manner, shareholder, regulatory, stock exchange, court and other required approvals in connection with the Plan of Arrangement; the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Plan of Arrangement; increased costs and expenses; and certain other risks detailed from time to time in MGX's public disclosure documents including, without limitation, those risks identified in this news release, copies of which are available on MGX's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the CSE nor any Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/18941ec1-a2ad-4ab9-8532-a3cecfbcbb8e
English Swedish

General press release 2018-11-01

Jays announces partnership with Kondor in the UK

Swedish audio product developer Jays Group AB (publ) is partnering with distributor Kondor limited, one of the leading distributors of consumer electronics and CE accessories on the UK market.



Jays Group AB (publ) announces a new partnership for distribution in the UK - region with Kondor, starting from Q4 2018. The agreement involves Jays current and future product range including their latest launch, m-Six. This new partnership follows the move from Jays to engage GTM Europe, an up and coming Sales & Marketing agency to support the development of the Jays UK business, which began September 2018.

Kondor was founded in 1994 and is the UKs leading distributor of consumer electronics and accessories into high street retailers and online enterprises. They currently service 12.000 stores on the UK retail market.

I am confident that the partnership with Kondor will result in successful business in the UK region, both through online and high street retail stores which Kondor today services. Kondor is a strong distributor on the UK market with a genuine passion for audio products, says Henrik Andersson, CEO of Jays Group AB (publ).

Kondor are delighted to add Jays to our Audio portfolio and were confident the brands innovative range will prove a big hit with our customers in the United Kingdom, says Des Duffy, Commercial Director at Kondor.
Sellbyville, Delaware, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) System Market is set to reach USD 1 billion by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. The rising government concerns and regulations to ensure the quality of electronic components and systems create several AOI system market growth opportunities.

Safe and secure electronic assemblies require high-quality and miniature printed circuit boards that are developed by inspection capabilities. The increasing number of problems, such as device break-ups and slow speed, due to faulty PCB units creates the need for their inspection and testing. In such cases, these systems offer high speed and accuracy to detect the assembly and manufacturing faults. Furthermore, the penetration of electronic assemblies in the automotive systems in EVs and HEVs drives the automated optical inspection (AOI) system market demand. These systems also detect the electronic components used in the production and assembly lines of the automotive systems and parts.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2969

A major factor hindering the AOI system market progress is the emergence of ball grid array in PCB manufacturing activities. The demand for this technology is attributed to the provision of inspection and packaging operations simultaneously, saving operational and manufacturing costs.

The rework inspection solutions in automated optical inspection system market will grow at CAGR of nearly 12% due to high demand from PCB manufacturing companies owing to the benefits offered in board separation techniques. The products mainly include rework conveyors that offer the PCB buffering possibilities and detect the failed PCBs in production lines. These systems comprise rework capabilities that are used for the inspection of microelectronics, which are implemented in the automotive electronic systems such as lighting and safety systems. The rework assemblies are associated with the offline rework stations in the machines that review faults at the end of the inspection process.

3D automated AOI system market will grow at CAGR of around 14% attributed to the benefits such as improved image dimensions and inline detection capabilities. The implementation of these systems offers improved PCB quality over the 2D systems during the manufacturing process. It supports the inspection of miniaturized and complex components, which are deployed in the consumer electronics products. These systems offer the early detection of PCB defects in the assembly process that further assures the production quality. Several inspection functions combined in a single machine reduces the companys manufacturing costs and eliminates human intervention.

Browse key industry insights spread across 350 pages with 312 market data tables & 31 figures & charts from the 2018 report Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) System Market in detail along with the table of contents:

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/automated-optical-inspection-system-market

Reflow soldering valued at nearly USD 110 million in 2017 in the automated optical inspection (AOI) system market is witnessing high demand from the SMT manufacturers, which is attributed to the detection of pre-reflow and post-reflow techniques. This includes the inspection of solder paste and joints in the PCBs and ensures fault detection at every stage. The systems ensure appropriate assembly of SMT with the help of AOI-based reflow soldering. Automotive components require miniaturized and high-quality PCBs with defect-free assemblies. As a result, the reflow soldering applications deploy these systems at pre-reflow and post-reflow stages to ensure high security of the PCB production lines thereby driving AOI system market.

The North American automated optical inspection system market is rapidly growing to reach a revenue share of around 30% by 2024, due to the high demand for developed automotive products. The U.S. AOI system market is witnessing high penetration of several PCB and consumer electronics manufacturers. The increasing concerns for developing high quality and safe electronic components further add to the usage of the inspection machines. The demand is attributed to features of advanced systems such as three-dimensional images, quick fault detection, and analysis of the PCB production lines. Moreover, the growing demand for technically-advanced products in the U.S. due to the presence of awareness among the population accounts for the (AOI) automated optical inspection system market growth.

The key companies operational in the AOI system market comprise Nordson Corporation, Cyberoptics Corporation, Orbotech, Kurtz Ersa, Koh Young Technology, Viscom AG, Mirtec, Saki Corporation, Omron Corporation, Machine Vision Products, Inc., ASC International, and MEK Marantz Electronics Ltd. AOI system market players focus on developing long-term relationships with the automotive and electronics OEMs. They also offer several application-specific machines to gain competitive advantages.

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About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.
Swedish English

Clinical up-date: Oncology Venture aims for approval of LiPlaCis based on pivotal study

in less than 200 patients

Hoersholm, Denmark and Cambridge, MA, US, November 1, 2018 - Oncology Venture A/S ("OV" or "the Company"), today announces its plans to aim for its first marketing approval of LiPlaCis based on a single arm pivotal study. On the basis of current good data OV's advisors and statisticians expect that a clinical study in 100-200 patients will be sufficient for a marketing approval of LiPlaCis as a new treatment of breast cancer. The ongoing phase 2 study of LiPlaCis may continue and bridge into such a pivotal trial. Recruitment timelines will be updated later. Furthermore, a status report is provided on the Company's clinical stage projects 2X-121, dovitinib, Irofulven, 2X-111 and APO-010.

LiPlaCis

Data from the ongoing Phase 2 LiPlaCis study in patients with metastatic breast cancer shows:

50% response rate (five out of ten patients) in the upper one third of DRP  selected patients

24% response rate (6 out of 25 patients) in the upper two thirds of DRP selected patients

These data should be compared with response rates to the established cancer drugs in metastatic breast cancer:

10-12% of eribulin, vinorelbine and gemcitabine and 10% of conventional cisplatin (1)

Oncology Venture has applied for a meeting with the FDA to discuss the filing of an IDE and IND application (the DRP technology to track and match and the protocol for the LiPlaCis treatment, respectively) with the intention to conduct LiPlaCis breast cancer clinical trials also in the US.

The aim is a first approval of LiPlaCis by a single arm pivotal study. On the basis of current good data OV's advisors and statisticians expect that a study in 100-200 patients will be sufficient for a marketing approval of LiPlaCis as a new treatment of breast cancer. The ongoing phase 2 study of LiPlaCis may continue and bridge into such a pivotal trial. Recruitment timelines will be updated later, following feed-back from the FDA.

Oncology Venture's regulatory strategy is firstly to obtain approval in the US, as the DRP technology facilitates conduction of focused studies in a small number of patients to determine the efficacy of LiPlaCis. The aim is then to run randomized pivotal studies in Europe and Greater China, provided necessary clearances from relevant regulatory bodies.

Patients with prostate cancer are also expected to respond to LiPlaCis, and OV has recently been given clearance from the Danish health authorities to treat up to 15 DRP selected prostate cancer patients with LiPlaCis.

"Although the data sample from the ongoing LiPlaCis study is still very limited, it should be pointed out that even a response rate of e.g. 30% in a larger population of heavily pretreated patients would give our drug candidate a huge competitive advantage. The US FDA has approved a range of pharmaceutical products based on clinical trials with only 70-120 patients where the efficacy readout is compared to historical data. This would be a preferred regulatory route for projects like LiPlaCis, possibly followed by randomized post approval studies," comments Peter Buhl Jensen, M.D., CEO of Oncology Venture.

2X-121

PARP inhibitors are becoming an increasingly important class of drugs for treatment of breast cancer, with three drugs being approved in the USA for this indication. A study of metastatic breast cancer with Oncology Venture's PARP inhibitor 2X-121 was initiated in June 2018. A first efficacy read-out from the breast cancer study of 2X-121 will be reported once patients have been long enough in the study to demonstrate results (similar to the LiPlaCis study).

In breast cancer all competitor approvals are linked to a subgroup of patients with BRCA mutated tumors. BRCA mutations counts for less than 10% of all breast cancers. PARP inhibitors are also active in ovarian cancer and breast cancer in patients with other types of non-BRCA mutated tumors. However, here the biology is complex with multiple mutations. In this space, Oncology Venture's patented DRP technology is expected to be of particularly good help to track, match and guide treatment for susceptible patients. Patient inclusion to the 2X-121 study is based on our multi gene DRP analysis; not on one single mutation as BRCA.

Clinical studies in ovarian cancer are planned to be conducted in Germany and the US. The US FDA has approved the initiation of such studies through the acceptance of IDE and IND applications (the DRP technology to track and match and the protocol for the 2X-121 treatment, respectively). The ovarian cancer studies are expected to commence in Q1 2019.

Irofulven

In Q4 2018, OV started its phase 2 study aimed to demonstrate that its patented DRP technology can be used to track, match and guide treatment of prostate cancer patients with Irofulven. Irofulven has previously shown a 10% response rate in prostate cancer. The aim is to raise the response rate to more than 20% to facilitate a marketing approval route. To speed up the inclusion OV will collaborate with German clinical centers. Results will be announced when prudent and relevant.

Dovitinib

As previously announced, OV is engaged in a data mining process based on documentation from more than 2500 patients to further document the ability of its dovitinib DRP to track, match and treat those patients where dovitinib is a relevant therapy.

APO-010

A phase 1/2 trial is ongoing in Multiple Myeloma according to plan. No responders have so far been identified in the trial.

2X-111

2X-111 is not only an anthracycline but also passes the blood brain barrier and has the potential to treat cancers in the brain. This is a very unusual opportunity. There is a robust manufacturing procedure in place, and we look forward to developing this product once contract negotiations on product manufacturing are in place.

References

For further information, please contact:

For investor inquiries

Ulla Hald Buhl, IR & Communication

E-mail: uhb@oncologyventure.com

Telephone +45 21 70 10 49



For media inquiries

Thomas Pedersen, Frontpage PR & Comms

E-mail: thomas.pedersen@frontpage.dk

Telephone +45 60 62 93 90





About Breakthrough therapy designation

Breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) is intended to expedite the development and review of drugs for serious or life-threatening conditions. The criteria for breakthrough therapy designation require preliminary clinical evidence that demonstrates the drug may have substantial improvement on at least one clinically significant endpoint over available therapy. A breakthrough therapy designation conveys all of the fast track program features.

About Oncology Venture A/S

Oncology Venture A/S is engaged in the research and development of anti-cancer drugs via its wholly-owned subsidiary, Oncology Venture Product Development ApS. Oncology Venture uses Drug Response Prediction - DRP -to significantly increase the probability of success in clinical trials. DRP has proven its ability to provide a statistically significant prediction of the clinical outcome from drug treatment in cancer patients in 29 out of 37 clinical studies that were examined and is currently demonstrating promising results in an ongoing phase 2 study prospectively using LiPlaCis and its DRP to track, match and treat patients with metastatic breast cancer. The DRP alters the odds in comparison with traditional pharmaceutical development. Instead of treating all patients with a particular type of cancer, patients' tumors genes are first screened, and only the patients most likely to respond to the treatment will be treated. Via a more well-defined patient group, risks and costs are reduced while the development process becomes more efficient.

The current OV product portfolio includes: LiPlaCis, a liposomal formulation of cisplatin in an ongoing Phase 2 trial for breast and prostate cancer; 2X-121 a PARP inhibitor in an ongoing Phase 2 for breast cancer; dovitinib, which will enter Phase 2 trials for indications dependent on further Dovitinib-DRP retrospective/prospective analysis of studies completed by Novartis. 2X-111, a liposomal formulation of doxorubicin under manufacturing for Phase 2 in breast cancer; irofulven, a Phase 2 is ongoing for prostate cancer; and APO010, an immuno-oncology product in Phase 1/2 for multiple myeloma.

Oncology Venture has spun out two companies as Special Purpose Vehicles: Oncology Venture U.S. Inc. (previously 2X Oncology Inc.), a US-based precision medicine company focusing on developing 2X-121 and 2X-111, and OV-SPV 2, a Danish company that will test and develop dovitinib. Oncology Venture A/S has an ownership of 92% in Oncology Venture US and 55% of dovitinib with an opportunity to acquire further 30%.

Learn more at oncologyventure.com

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oncologyventure/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oncology-venture/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OncologyVenture

Forward-looking statements

This announcement includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of OV's control and which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning OV's plans, objectives, goals, future events, performance and/or other information that is not historical information. All such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. OV undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made, except as required by law.

Certified Adviser: Sedermera Fondkommission, Norra Vallgatan 64, 211 22, Malmo, Sweden

This information is information that Oncology Venture A/S is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication on November 1, 2018.
In 2000, secret videos which Montesinos had recorded were televised that showed him bribing an elected lawmaker to leave the opposition and join the Fujimorist side of Congress. He has been in prison since 2001.

Montesinos was the long-standing head of Peru's intelligence service (SIN) under former President Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) , Keiko's father.

Las claves del fallo de #prisionpreventiva del juez Concepcion Carhuancho sobre Keiko Fujimori https://t.co/3Zgazbffjm pic.twitter.com/U4DaFUn3ul
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Envision Solar International, Inc. (QTCQB: EVSI), the leading producer of unique and sustainable infrastructure products for electric vehicle charging, energy security and outdoor media, announced the successful delivery and deployment of EV ARC products to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) locations, including Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve and the Departments License and Revenue Branch at Los Alamitos. The EV ARC units will provide charging for CDFW fleet and employee vehicles. The delivery marks the first EV ARC products to be deployed by CDFW.



CDFW will benefit from the EV ARC products due to contracting requirements because of its rapid installation that brings clean, non-disruptive EV charging infrastructure to remote, ecologically sensitive locations. The versatile EV ARC product provides both EV charging and backup power even in remote locations. EV ARC products enable the fastest and least impactful installation of permanent EV charging products, often with the lowest total cost of ownership in built up environments. In remote locations like parks they can be the only viable solution available.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is the latest agency to recognize the benefits of driving on sunshine with our EV ARC products, said Envision Solar CEO, Desmond Wheatley. We are delighted to be working with them and look forward to enabling more clean, green, impact-free charging infrastructure for them in the future.

CDFWs deployment of the EV ARC products is in line with new goals set by the State to increase the adoption of ZEVs and EV charging stations. The State of California has set a goal of having at least 1.5 million EVs in use in the State by 2025 and Governor Browns Executive Order B-48-18 directs State entities to spur the installation of 250,000 zero-emission vehicle chargers by 2025.

Invented and manufactured in California, the patented EV ARC and EV ARC HP products fit inside single parking spaces without reducing available parking. EV ARC generates enough clean solar electricity to power up to 225 miles of EV driving in a day. EV ARC HP DC fast charging systems provide up to 1100 miles per day. The EV ARC systems solar electrical generation is enhanced by EnvisionTrak (patented) which causes the solar array to follow the sun, generating up to 25% more electricity than a fixed array. The energy is stored in the EV ARC products on-board energy storage for charging day or night, and to provide EV charging and emergency power during grid failure. The EV ARC product is a permanent solution that provides Level I, Level II and DC Fast Charging but because it requires no trenching, foundations or installation work of any kind, it is deployed in minutes and can be moved to a new location with ease. EV ARC products are manufactured in the companys San Diego facility by combat veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other minority demographics and highly talented, mission-driven team members.

About Envision Solar International, Inc.

Envision Solar, www.envisionsolar.com, is a sustainable technology innovation company whose unique and patented products include the EV ARC and the Solar Tree with EnvisionTrak patented solar tracking, SunCharge solar Electric Vehicle Charging, ARC technology energy storage, and EnvisionMedia solar advertising displays.

Based in San Diego, the company produces Made in America products. Envision Solar is listed on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol [EVSI]. For more information visit www.envisionsolar.com , call (858) 799-4583. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events or our expected future results that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements in this report other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as estimate, project, predict, believe, expect, anticipate, target, plan, intend, seek, goal, will, should, may, or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or results. Statements contemplating or making assumptions regarding actual or potential sales, market size, and demand, prospective business contracts, customer orders, trends or operating results also constitute forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ substantially from those indicated in forwarding-looking statements because our business is subject to significant economic, competitive, regulatory, business and industry risks which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Our operating results, financial condition, and business performance may be adversely affected by a general decline in the economy, unavailability of capital or financing for our prospective customers to purchase products and services from us, competition, changes in regulations, a decline in the demand for solar energy, a lack of profitability, a decline in our stock price, and other risks. We may not have adequate capital, financing or cash flow to sustain our business or implement our business plans. Current results and trends are not necessarily indicative of future results that we may achieve.
17:33 | Lima, Nov. 1.

As every year, the most visited graveyards are El Angel in El Agustino district and Nueva Esperanza in Villa Maria del Triunfo district, the latter being the second-largest cemetery in the world.













Other burial grounds include Baquijano in Callao, that of Huachipa, and La Balanza in Comas district.









With flowers, rosary beads, candles, musical instruments and even alcoholic beverages on their hands, visitors pay their respects to relatives and friends right in front of their graves.









In the case of Nueva Esperanza, Lima's municipal inspectors were seen controlling the flow of vehicles and street vendors who flocked to the street offering flowers, decorative items, as well as food and drinks.




YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The number of people interested in investments in Armenias Tavush province has significantly increased in the recent period. Those are mainly Armenian businessmen from different counties who were born in Tavush: they want to have their investment in the homeland.

Tavush governor Vahe Ghalumyan told ARMENPRESS that there is a great interest towards investment opportunities, but still no major practical steps are being taken. Some investment programs are in process, and others still are at the discussion stage.

Vahe Ghalumyan informed that the forum which was held in September greatly contributed to the activeness of the investment field in the province, and the first results of the forum already exist.

A memorandum has already been signed after the forum. I visited Ukraine for that purpose. Armenian-Ukrainian businessman Andranik Ghazaryan from Ijevan plans to establish a livestock farm, cooperatives, as well as to provide pigs to farmers. We have presented several options to the businessman. Currently his representative is in Tavush, and the issue is being discussed, the governor said.

In addition, another businessman is interested in the program of creating a tourism zone. Vahe Ghalumyan said a hotel program is being implemented in Ijevan.

In terms of revealing investment opportunities, observations are being carried out in tourism and agriculture sectors. We have a successful example in the field of light industry. As you know, Tavush Textile is operating successfully, which has created 520 jobs with 150.000 AMD average salary. Now we are holding talks with the businessman to establish small production units in other villages, the governor said.

He also commented on the 140.000 USD grant which was announced during the visit of acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in Tavush. The grant will be provided to Haghartsin, Teghut communities.

There was a complaint among the residents after toughening the control over forests. And this grant aims at giving people a chance to have their own business. At the moment applications are received from the communities, they are being examined in order to distribute the grant. The applications relate to livestock breeding, constructing guesthouses, as well as greenhouses, he added.

Interview by Anna Gziryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan says under an agreement the early elections of parliament will take place on December 9.

Asked about the timeframe of the snap elections today in parliament, Pashinyan emphasized that the early polls will take place December 9 according to an arrangement.

The president will sign the order and we will see, he said.

Asked if the president will sign the order today, he said: I think yes.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Special Investigative Service (SIS) director Sasun Khachatryan refused to comment or give any information about an unnamed lawmaker who Nikol Pashinyan said is under a criminal investigation in the most massive bribery case in the history of the Republic of Armenia.

Reporters asked Khachatryan today after the Cabinet meeting to identify the lawmaker.

No comment, he replied.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Journalist Hakob Karapetyan has been appointed spokesperson of Mayor of Yerevan Hayk Marutyan, reports Armenpress.

Dear colleagues, starting from today I assume the duties of the spokesperson of the Yerevan Mayor. We will try to be maximally in contacts with the media and work in an atmosphere of mutual support. My contacts are available on Facebook and Twitter, and also will be available in other social networks, he said on Facebook.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Criminal cases on a total of 200 million dollar misappropriations and embezzlement are currently under investigation in different law enforcement bodies, acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said today in his speech in parliament.

I want us all to note that the investigative bodies are working beyond the boundaries of their capabilities. The workload is the reason why the process of restoration and compensation of damages is not proceeding the way we would want it to. Clarifications of taxes is one thing, but restoration of embezzlements and misappropriations is another thing, because it requires an investigation, a judicial process, a court verdict, after which these processes will be done, he said.

He noted that the construction of the North-South Road Corridor is currently under serious investigation.

He said that it can be considered a confirmed fact that the construction of the Tranche 1 section of the project fails to meet quality standards. Pashinyan said the government will be coherent in restoring the damages and brining the road to a duly level.

It is important today to set rules in order for this kind of manifestations to be ruled out in the future. The construction of the road isnt being implemented at full volumes because we have issues. The work wont be implemented in its entire volumes as long as these issues arent solved so that they dont work in the old ways, the old quality. Naturally this can have a certain economic suppression effect, he said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. There wont be a return to the old in the healthcare sector, acting PM Nikol Pashinyan said in parliament in response to a question from a lawmaker.

MP Marina Sargsyan told Pashinyan the concerns of doctors who had addressed her.

The healthcare system in Armenia is considered to be one of the most corrupt systems. Numerous doctors have addressed me to express their concerns about the latest developments and the circulating rumors. They are particularly asking if they will work in a new way and if the new healthcare minister will be enabled to continue the sectors reforms, Sargsyan asked.

Pashinyan said theres no turning back.

The governments working style will be dialogue, because it is very important to not only make steps, but also to be able to explain the logic of these steps, to hear out the criticism and use this criticism in order for the steps to be more accurate, Pashinyan said.

Speaking about the sackings in this sector, Pashinyan said there are no privileged or immune people in Armenia, including himself.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Its ruled out that no sector will develop in Armenia in the next five years due to energy deficit, acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during a session in the Parliament, expressing confidence that the renewable, alternative energy is going to develop with a new pace, reports Armenpress.

Lawmaker Sergey Bagratyan said attraction of investments is one of the most important factors for economic development. He asked the acting PM whether enough actions are being taken to attract investments in the economy and etc.

We are very careful to these issues. Especially in the field of energy we believe that it is necessary to move forward with convinced steps. If we move on a direction and it turns out that it is wrong, it will bring major damages. There are some issues in the energy sector. The first one is the further development of nuclear energy, and the second one is the energy cooperation prospects with Iran, the third one  the energy cooperation prospects with Georgia, and the fourth one  the real volumes of technological investments in our country. Its very important to assess the potential demand of our energy in our country, Pashinyan said.

He stated that relying on the previous calculations is not enough. Pashinyan said these calculations were made in the previous logic of the economys structure. Now he sees need for a new approach in a new logic, taking into account the foreign political strategy.

Energy is a major sector which should be able not only to ensure the normal development of economy, but to serve the foreign policy, foreign economic ties. We are trying to move forward in this sector with right steps. I agree that there is a great prospect for development of renewable, alternative energy in Armenia. I am convinced that it will develop soon with a new pace, the acting PM said.

He added that the mining industry develops all over the world, including in Armenia. The feature of it is the great volume of energy demand. And all our calculations show that the energy power we are developing will satisfy us, the acting PM noted.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Special Investigative Service (SIS) director Sasun Khachatryan doesnt rule out that as a result of the evidence on investigator Vahagn Harutyunyans falsifications of evidence in the March 1 probe the charges against former President Robert Kocharyan might be amended.

As soon as we decide that there is sufficient evidence to change the charges against Kocharyan you will know about it, Khachatryan told reporters.

Let us simply reason. Robert Kocharyan was saying that the army wasnt involved, that it didnt open fire. Then, when we found out that it had been involved, opinions were voiced that it was involved simply by being stationed in barracks, and it didnt open fire. Then, we substantiated that the army opened fire. These discoveries already speak about the bullet casings of the military being faked. I actually find this discovery to be very significant, because with this an attempt was made to entire cover up the real circumstances and break the case, he said.

Earlier the SIS said that an investigator in the March 1 case has falsified evidence while in office from 2007-2011.

The investigator, Vahagn Harutyunyan, is a justice major general who subsequently went on to serve as deputy chairman of the investigative committee. He resigned in July, 2018.

But he himself used to tell reporters on previous occasions that the investigation into the March 1 case is being carried out with flaws.

The March 1 probe is an ongoing investigation into the deadly 2008 post-election unrest in Yerevan. 10 people died in the clashes.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SADA Systems announces that its CEO and president, Tony Safoian, will participate in a panel discussion at the upcoming Toronto Global Forum . Safoian and four other top executives from the financial and technology industries will discuss the important relationship between innovation and entrepreneurship in large companies. The session, scheduled for Monday, December 10th at 9:00 a.m. ET, will be moderated by Steven Murphy, President and Vice Chancellor at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.



Launched by the IEFA in 2007, the Toronto Global Forum is committed to heightening knowledge and awareness of major issues concerning economic globalization, with a particular emphasis on the relations between the Americas and other continents. The 2018 conference will mark the Forums 12th anniversary. The Forum strives to enable open discussion about major current economic issues and facilitate meetings between world leaders by bringing together heads of state, the private sector, international organizations and civil society.

The theme of this years conference, to be held December 10-12 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, is Navigating a World in Disruption. Safoian and his peers will, according to the Forum, discuss how Innovation and entrepreneurship are today considered a central factor in creating short and long term economic growth at both regional and national levels. How do we foster cultures of entrepreneurship? How can large companies incorporate innovation and the entrepreneurial mindset in their organizations? What investment strategies should be implemented to create environments that allow new forms of innovation and entrepreneurship to flourish? What are the main challenges when companies look to scale-up? The Forum is expecting more than 170 speakers and over 3,000 participants over three days at the show.

The biggest companies have the most access to people and tools that can enable rapid and measurable growth and savings, but that doesnt mean innovation will come easy, says Safoian. One way companies can foster a culture of innovation is by encouraging employees to take risks in their jobs, to take a chance on a new product or service, for example, if it has the potential to provide unique value to customers. From talking to customers, we know that a fear of failure more than anything else is what causes companies to miss the biggest opportunities.

I am very excited to participate in this years Toronto Economic Forum, and I look forward to continuing a broader discussion about how companies can use technology to create and promote positive business, social, economic and political change, concludes Safoian.

About SADA Systems

SADA Systems, Inc. is a privately-held global leader in providing business and technology consulting services that transform organizations through innovative cloud-based solutions. As a Google Cloud Premier Partner, a Microsoft Cloud Solutions Provider, and a Facebook Workplace Service Partner, SADA Systems has gained global accolades as an exceptional service provider with proven expertise in enterprise consulting, cloud platform migration, custom application development, managed services, user adoption and change management.

Recognized on the Inc. 5000 America's Fastest Growing Private Companies for eleven years, CRNs MSP Elite 150, the 2018 Best Places to Work in Los Angeles, and 2018 Inc. Magazines Best Workplaces. SADA prides itself on continuous innovation, strong partnerships and corporate culture, and exceptional customer service.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is ready to normalize relations with Turkey without preconditions, acting PM Nikol Pashinyan said in parliament today in response to a question from MP Ruzanna Arakelyan.

I recently presented the situation in Armenia during a meeting with a very experienced diplomat when there was a discussion about the situation of our country, and this man is considered to be a very experienced diplomat in the world. I said, look, 2 of our 4 borders are closed  the border with Azerbaijan is closed because of the NK conflict and the border with Turkey, moreover, again because of the NK conflict, because this is absurd when one country is tying its relations with another country to the relations with a third country. We have two borders, you can think that these borders are open, but they are actually semi-open, because for example the border with Iran might get closed at any moment because of the relations between USA and Iran and the geopolitical situation, the Armenian-Georgian border might get closed, for example due to bad weather conditions and geopolitical conditions. I told him, that factually, for the record we can say that Armenia is an island without sea. I asked him how should Armenia proceed in such conditions. This was the last argument that helped the experienced diplomat to accept the stances and arguments that were brought during the discussion of a very [complicated] foreign policy issue. I can say the same about the Armenia-Turkey relations that has been always said, that Armenia is ready for normalization of relations without preconditions. But let no one anyhow interpret this that with this stance we are [devaluing] the international recognition issue of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, because the Genocide recognition issue is not a matter of Armenian-Turkish relations for us and in our perception. It is a security issue for us and a matter of international security, and it is our contribution to the genocide prevention movement and process. Basically, the border is not closed from our side, the border is closed by the Turkish side because of the NK conflict, and this is a bad policy, because if anyone has hopes that they can drive the Armenian people through coercion or threats to a given option of settlement of the NK conflict then they are mistaken, Pashinyan said.

The special session of parliament convened by virtue of law has kicked off for the final round of electing a prime minister.

The sole candidate is incumbent acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

He has been nominated as a formality by the Yelk and Tsarukyan factions as lawmakers are expected to deliberately vote him down in order to dissolve the parliament  a requirement for calling early elections.

The first round failed to elect a prime minister, as intended.

During the first round, the Yelk faction nominated Nikol Pashinyan in a technical maneuver because the Constitution says that a vote must take place.

Pashinyan took office after massive protests in April forced president-turned PM Serzh Sargsyan to resign. But Sargsyans Republican Party (HHK) still has most seats in the 105-seat parliament. Since taking office, Nikol Pashinyan has numerously said that the incumbent parliament doesnt represent the people and that early elections should take place as soon as possible.

He resigned on October 16 to trigger the process which is required to lead to early elections.

If everthing goes as expected, this will be the first time in the history of the Republic of Armenia when a parliament is being disbanded.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The New York Times has published an article by Turkish novelist, screenwriter, academic and recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature Orhan Pamuk about Ara Guler, the late Turkish-Armenian photojournalist who died on October 17 at the age of 90.

Guler, who was a friend of Pamuk, was nicknamed "the Eye of Istanbul" or "the Photographer of Istanbul.

Below are excerpts from the article:

I first heard of Ara in the 1960s when I saw his photographs in Hayat, a widely read weekly news and gossip magazine with a strong emphasis on photography. One of my uncles edited it. Ara published portraits of writers and artists such as Picasso and Dali, and the celebrated literary and cultural figures of an older generation in Turkey such as the novelist Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar. When Ara photographed me for the first time after the success of my novel The Black Book, I realized happily that I had arrived as a writer.

Ara devotedly photographed Istanbul for over half a century, continuing into the 2000s. I eagerly studied his photographs, to see in them the development and transformation of the city itself.

My friendship with Ara began in 2003, when I was consulting his archive of 900,000 photographs to research my book Istanbul. He had turned the large three-story home he inherited from his father, a pharmacist from the Galatasaray neighborhood in the Beyoglu district of the city, into a workshop, office and archive, Pamuk says.

In the early days of our friendship, we never spoke about Aras Armenian heritage and the suppressed, painful history of the destruction of the Ottoman Armenians  a subject that remains a veritable taboo in Turkey. I sensed that it would be difficult to speak about this harrowing subject with him, that it would put a strain on our relationship. He knew that speaking about it would make it harder for him to survive in Turkey.Over the years, he trusted me a little and occasionally brought up political subjects he wouldnt raise with others, Pamuk writes in the article.

In 2005, I gave an interview where I complained that there was no freedom of thought in Turkey and we still couldnt talk about the terrible things that were done to the Ottoman Armenians 90 years ago. The nationalist press exaggerated my comments. I was taken to court in Istanbul for insulting Turkishness, a charge that can lead to a three-year prison sentence.

Two years later, my friend the Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was shot and killed in Istanbul, in the middle of the street, for using the words Armenian genocide. Certain newspapers began to hint that I might be next. Because of the death threats I was receiving, the charges that had been brought against me and the vicious campaign in the nationalist press, I started spending more time abroad, in New York. I would return to my office in Istanbul for brief stays, without telling anyone I was back.

On one of those brief visits home from New York, during some of the darkest days after Hrant Dinks assassination, I walked into my office and the phone immediately started ringing. In those days I never picked up my office phone. The ringing would pause occasionally, but then it would start again, on and on. Uneasy, I eventually picked up. Straight away, I recognized Aras voice. Oh, youre back! I am coming over now, he said, and hung up without waiting for my response.

Fifteen minutes later, Ara walked into my office. He was out of breath and cursing everything and everyone, in his characteristic manner. Then he embraced me with his huge frame and started to cry. Those who knew Ara, knew how fond he was of swearing and forceful masculine expressions, will understand my amazement at seeing him cry like that. He kept on swearing and telling me, They cant touch you, those people!

His tears werent slowing down. The more he cried, the more I was gripped by a strange sense of guilt and felt paralyzed. After crying for a very long time, Ara finally calmed down, and then, as if this had been the whole purpose of his visit to my office, he drank a glass of water and left.

Hrant Dink was the editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian Agos newspaper. He was shot dead outside his office in 2007. Although the gunman was apprehended, the court proceedings resume up to this day as the investigation hasnt revealed the sponsors behind the murder.

I no longer felt the urge to ask him about his grandfathers and grandmothers. The great photographer had already told me everything through his tears.

Ara had hoped for a democracy where individuals could speak freely of their murdered ancestors, or at least freely weep for them. Turkey never became that democracy. The success of the past 15 years, a period of economic growth built on borrowed money, has been used not to broaden the reach of democracy but to restrict freedom of thought even further.

And after all this growth and all this construction, Ara Gulers old Istanbul has become  to use the title of one of his books  a Lost Istanbul, Pamuk concludes.

The full article is available here.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Climate Box innovative-interactive tool, which aims at raising environmental literacy of mid-school aged youngsters, will be introduced in Armenia within the framework of UNDP and by the support of the Russian Federation, reports Armenpress.

Dmitry Mariyasin, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Armenia, delivered remarks during the international conference organized within the frames of the Educational and awareness raising regional program on climate change, stating that the program is the best example of how the joint efforts of experts of different countries can contribute to create a demanded tool designed for kids.

I am very happy that the Climate Box is already used and will be used in Armenia with a great pace, Dmitry Mariyasin said.

Deputy minister of education and science Arevik Anapiosyan said the ministry plans to carry out large-scale reform of a state criteria for general education.

In terms of revision one of the most important principles for the ministry will be to build the education based on the principle of sustainable development. In order to reach the Sustainable Development Goals, we attach great importance to the education and therefore, we are also trying to organize so that we can contribute to the implementation of SDGs through education, Anapiosyan said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenias acting Prime Minister finds his meeting with US National Security Advisor John Bolton to be a major diplomatic achievement.

Pashinyan made the statement in his conclusive speech in parliament today during the final round of electing a prime minister, addressing various comments about Boltons visit to Armenia.

Ive met with Bolton, there wasnt even the slightest nuance during this meeting which can cause disturbance in Armenia and among Armenian people. I consider this meeting to be a major diplomatic achievement for us, I will say in the future as to what is the reason that I am saying so, Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan assured that the content of the meeting has nothing to do with the concerns that are voiced.

Pashinyan and Bolton held a meeting on October 25 in Yerevan, Armenia.

The parliament did not re-elect Nikol Pashinyan, the sole candidate, as Prime Minister in the second and final round today, as intended.

Thus, the parliament will be dissolved by virtue of law.

None of the lawmakers voted against or in favor, while 13 MPs abstained.

The special session of parliament convened by virtue of law kicked off for the final round of electing a prime minister midday.

The sole candidate was incumbent acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

He has been nominated as a formality by the Yelk and Tsarukyan factions as lawmakers are expected to deliberately vote him down in order to dissolve the parliament  a requirement for calling early elections.

The first round failed to elect a prime minister, as intended.

During the first round, the Yelk faction nominated Nikol Pashinyan in a technical maneuver because the Constitution says that a vote must take place.

Pashinyan took office after massive protests in April forced president-turned PM Serzh Sargsyan to resign. But Sargsyans Republican Party (HHK) still has most seats in the 105-seat parliament. Since taking office, Nikol Pashinyan has numerously said that the incumbent parliament doesnt represent the people and that early elections should take place as soon as possible.

He resigned on October 16 to trigger the process which is required to lead to early elections.

This will be the first time in the history of the Republic of Armenia when a parliament is being disbanded.

The legislature will be officially dissolved at a signed order of the president, effective immediately.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian on November 1 participated in the meeting discussions of the Core Group of the Munich Security Conference in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The President delivered remarks during the discussion relating to regional conflicts, stating that he wants to share his views just as a participant of the discussion and is not going to make an official statement about the situation in Armenia, the relations with Turkey, Azerbaijan, as well as the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, although the discussions are being held in Minsk, and the OSCE Group, dealing with the peaceful negotiation process for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, is called Minsk Group. I hope one day we will achieve a peaceful settlement by the help of this Group, the Armenian President said.

Commenting on the opinions voiced and in particular the issue of stability as mentioned by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President Armen Sarkissian said if there is no stability, one cannot predict what will happen tomorrow. One of the topics discussed related to the bipolar, unipolar and multipolar world. This speaks about the fact that we are entering into a period where many voices, rather than one or two, will be decisive, he said and also commented on the view of MSC chairman Wolfgang Ischinger what are the roles of small states in cooperation, partnership and competitiveness processes, whether the small states are deprived from the right to voice, or in any case they can contribute to ensuring security. In order to answer this question, I want to state that today the world is rapidly changing, Sarkissian said. The world is changing so rapidly that the ongoing technological changes will drastically become one of the challenges, and we need to understand what behavior we need to show in this field. I think the predictability will be the main one here.

According to the Armenian President, the voices of all must be heard in the new world. In the 21st century, when we face numerous dangers and risks, the small, even frozen conflicts, can become source of major problems. They can turn into regional conflicts and even go beyond the boundaries of regions. We witness this today for instance in Donbass.

We must be careful while talking about small, frozen conflicts. They may become very dangerous. This also relates to the conflict, my country met with: the talk is about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Unfortunately, what is taking place in the region, can be characterized as a high level of tension.

I think 20 years ago we could more rely on stability. I want to call on all participants, representatives of big states to stop the militarization of small conflicts, including the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Its a small land, but Armenia and Azerbaijan increase their armaments as a result of this. Of course, its not a nuclear arsenal, but complicates the situation, as today the technologies are developing more and more, and weapons today become more dangerous.

The most important thing in our life is the time. We can buy everything, however, unfortunately, we cant stop the time.

Commenting on the role of time factor in the NK conflict settlement, the President said: We know that the time is a relative concept. If it works in favor of peace, we can wait, but if it works in favor of war, its very short. I am deeply concerned over the militarization of the Azerbaijani side, and how much money is invested in this process. This shows that a great military potential is accumulated here. If you look at this, you will see that the time is not working in favor of peace. Is there a possibility that there will be a chain reaction, then yes. We should start not only talking, but also acting during the time of peace.

Elections will be held in Armenia soon, based on which legitimate government and parliament will be formed, there will people who will be able to sit around a negotiation table with Azerbaijan. In fact, everything depends on the will of the people.

Calling on to listen to the people of the Republic of Artsakh, the Armenian President once again thanked the OSCE for the efforts it makes for the sake of the settlement of the conflict. There is only one way, a peaceful way for the conflict settlement, there are no military ways, President Sarkissian said. If the military operations resume, all, everyone living in Artsakh, Azerbaijan and Armenia and the whole world will be affected. In other words, there is only one way, the peaceful settlement way, which can be done through the OSCE Minsk Group.








YEREVAN, 1 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 1 November, USD exchange rate is up by 0.31 drams to 486.55 drams. EUR exchange rate is up by 2.45 drams to 553.65 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is up by 0.02 drams to 7.42 drams. GBP exchange rate is up by 8.67 drams to 627.80 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price is down by 151.26 drams to 19005.39 drams. Silver price is down by 1.19 drams to 224.32 drams. Platinum price is down by 22.95 drams to 13046.22 drams.
YEREVAN, NVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian has signed a decree on scheduling early parliamentary elections.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Presidents Office, the decree says that the election will be held on December 9.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
ONeill did not reveal what might be on the agenda of the summit, apart from saying we want the Pacific to benefit from opportunities from Asia.

The invitation from President Xi Jinping is for those Pacific countries that recognise the One-China policy, ONeill said. (That is, Pacific nations which have diplomatic relations with China and not Taiwan.)

The invitation was revealed by PNG prime minister Peter ONeill when he addressed the Fijian parliament in Suva on 9 July.

Xi had gazumped APEC  and Australia, which had underwritten Papua New Guineas hosting of APEC and spent at least $100 million in doing so.

This was when Chinese President Xi Jinping invited Pacific leaders to a 'pre-summit' (now being referred to as a "state visit") he will host in Port Moresby ahead of the APEC leaders summit on the weekend of 17-18 November.

NOOSA  In early July the alarm bells would have rung to melting point for the Australian government.

But you did not have to be a foreign policy genius to realise that China, through the astuteness of its president-for-life Xi, had stolen a march in the epic struggle between his country and the United States (Australia responsible for refreshments) to be top dog in the south-west Pacific.

As Fairfax international editor Peter Hartcher wrote earlier this week, Australia has wasted most of the last decade under the delusion that it could sit passively and balance between the US and China.

One of the reasons that this is such a dangerous idea is that it encourages the inherent Australian temptation to succumb to a complacent inertia.

But just recently, wrote Hartcher, the main political parties have awoken to the need to shore up Australia's strategic hinterland, otherwise known as the Pacific.

Hartcher gave three example of this tardy response: muscling out Chinese firm Huawei from building an underwater internet cable linking PNG, the Solomons and Australia (price tag  probably upwards of $200 million); cutting a deal with PNG to build up Lombrum naval base on Manus as a joint Australian-PNG (and likely US) military facility; and, when it saw China involving itself in a proposed regional Pacific military training centre in Fiji, negotiating to make Australia the sole foreign donor.

As Hartcher wrote: It says to the Pacific states that Australia doesn't actually care about the people of the Pacific. It says, loud and clear, we only care about you as a chessboard where we counter China's moves.

And therein is the problem PNG Attitude has pointed to for many years: Australia relinquishing the opportunity to develop a true partnership with PNG and the Pacific that goes beyond 'hello neighbour, here's some money, please be there when we want you'.

Sitting in a Port Moresby hotel room during a visit in April I had written:

Irascible and grumpy though I may sometimes feel about both places [Australia and PNG] - an old mans privilege - I do think affectionately of them and wish they had developed more of a mutual partnership not just a dwindling relationship. Perhaps some prospect remains that, one day, the closeness we felt 40 or so years ago might regenerate and transform into something truly substantive. Our two countries would benefit immeasurably from developing a stronger bond than a relationship. We need something more durable. A partnership of equality, mutuality, honesty and authenticity. I hope it is not too late for that, although I fear it may be.

In the intervening months, despite Australias belated defensive reaction to China's incursions, I have observed China (until quite recently a virtual stranger in the Pacific) display much more alacrity than Australia (with a much longer, closer and more tied relationship) in its dealings with the region.

In an address in Port Moresby during that same visit earlier this year, I said:

The ideal, of course, would be to go beyond a workable relationship, which we seem to have, and to develop the stronger bond of partnership  implying principles that can pass various tests: of mutuality, responsibility, equality, authenticity, transparency, transformational capacity and ethics. To achieve this will require a joint commitment to the shared national interests of both countries  which means subsuming commercial, corporate, institutional and personal interests to the greater goal of bilateral understanding. I wonder if we know how to do that.

Six months later, I've firmed up my view. I dont believe we do know how to construct a fair dinkum partnership. Nor does the current leadership of PNG.

The APEC locus - Port Moresby's national convention centre. But will the future of PNG and the Pacific islands already have been reset at an earlier forum hosted by China with the big guys absent?

And the APEC forum, just over two weeks away, may demonstrate this reality to Australias humiliation.

First, there is the presence of Xi and the absence of Trump. Talk about giving away a gimme  its almost a capitulation by the US. It shows both the lack of Australian influence in the relationship and Trump's negligence.

Then theres the scene-stealing of Chinas pre-forum gathering for Pacific island leaders  Australia, New Zealand and friends of Taiwan excluded.

As well as generating this rather adroit idea, China will have put much thought into what may eventuate at that assembly. And having taking careful aim, Im sure it wont miss.

There are bound to be strategically significant hand-outs for the host, perhaps lesser ones for others, and almost certainly a new consultative or similar arrangement (lets call it the China-Pacific Collaboration) which will cement a continuing policy and development framework.

Some of these will put the frighteners on Australia  especially as its very likely there will be a few that will further threaten Australias influence in the region.

And that leads me to conjecture about the scene post-APEC in PNG. Amongst the political and bureaucratic classes there are high expectations that investment benefits will flow. They may be right but it probably wont be significant private investment, it will come from the contesting parties to power in the south-west Pacific.

As a number of candidates hover in the wings to take over from a stumbling Peter ONeill, it seems there may be a long hangover from this brief, expensive party.

A hangover that will last a lot longer than the decorations already festooning Waigani in anticipation of APEC.

A brief, expensive party leaving a legacy of everything still to be done and little left to celebrate in a country - and a region -where there is a new burgeoning power that knows exactly what it wants and an old, dithering realm, flummoxed and seemingly on the wane.
At the next boarding call, I joined the Goroka-bound passengers and exited the boarding lounge for flight PX 160.

The Sepik boys said, "Plis noken lus tingtig lo plan blo yumi" (Please, don't forget our plans). I didnt hear what their plan was but, yeah, that was it. I also wondered why these students were on a mass flight in October when they should still be in class.

The students were taking shots, hugging and even crying for each other. Among them, a New Ireland girl tried to comfort her sobbing Highlander girlfriend. Elsewhere, three coastal boys queued up for Wewak and Vanimo left their line to hugged the Highlands boys waiting for the Goroka and Hagen flights.

We were in the boarding lounge at Jackson's Airport in Port Moresby sitting and waiting for our flight to be announced.

GOROKA - The group of teenagers from Bougainville, the New Guinea Islands, Momase and the Highlands - their yellow and green uniforms indicating they were students - chit-chatted, took selfies, giggled and did the things teenagers do.

Sogeri national high school students in their computer lab - experiencing a sense of national identity often not observed in other types of secondary school where regionalism and tribalism reign

I took seat 6A while 6B was allocated to one of the male teenagers in the yellow and green uniform. We greeted each other and took our seats. The label on the pocket of his uniform said Sogeri National High School.

As we waited for other passengers to take their seats, I asked if they were on their way to a school game but he responded they were Grade 12 students travelling home as they have just completed their national examinations the day before.

I contemplated what had happened in the boarding lounge, seeing their affection for each other and their sorrow at parting, and I reflected on the relationships they had built at Sogeri.

I dont know the values and philosophies promoted by Sogeri National High School but I reasoned, from its name, that this was a school of status. Others ran through my mind: Sogeri, Kerevat, Aiyura and Passam - all national high schools.

They were built not just to educate but to instil a spirit of nationhood and patriotism. Students from all over PNG attend these schools to meet, greet, socialise, learn and plan to build Papua New Guinea.

Students selected to attend national high schools are able to build the bridges that connect our nation.

I sensed that these students were infused with a sense of nationalism unlike students from provincial high schools and top-up secondary schools in the provinces: the ones that cause provincialism or regionalism in national tertiary institutions.

For example, in 2017 at the University of Goroka a seven-hour fight broke out between upper Highlands and lower Highlands groups leaving coastal students confused. Sepiks and Simbus were involved in a similar conflict at Unitech in Lae some years ago.

Students at many tertiary institutions in PNG have provincial groups that do not give them the liberty, courage and confidence to address national issues.

Students from national universities in PNG are supposed to address national issues as educated elites but this is not happening because there can be no unity when students promote provincialism.

On the same note, there is also a risk of sub-dividing provincial groups into district groups when the view of the nation is obscured. Provincial high schools are being localised into districts and no longer bear the name Provincial High School.

Most of PNG's founding fathers and other prominent leaders were brought up in national high schools and held the nations interests at heart.

The essence of my experience at Jacksons Airport was that high schools and secondary schools are booming in provinces and even districts, but they are not necessarily building a nation.

This can have the knock-on effect of causing disunity among students at national tertiary institutions. How can citizens solve national issues if there is regionalism, provincialism, tribalism and other fragmented ethnic and cult-like movement among the people of this nation?
Australia's chief cyber spy says Chinese telecoms are a threat to critical infrastructure and that's why they were banned from Canberra's growing 5G network.

That news may not come as a surprise to China, but the Ministry of Commerce and the Global Times expressed some shock, confusion, and hurt this week.

The problem China faces is this: it has built an incredibly elaborate and successful technocracy with state-embedded digital brands like WeChat, but uses them to help monitor its own population. Those efforts are likely to make it difficult for China to gain the trust of other countries.

The top cyber and communications spy in Australia has explained why Huawei and ZTE have been barred from the country's 5G network and China is unimpressed.

Mike Burgess, the director-general of the Australian Signals Directorate, said in Canberra on Monday that the ban on Chinese telecom firms like Huawei Technologies and ZTE was in Australia's national interest and would protect the country's critical infrastructure.

It is the first time the nation's chief cyber spook has publicly explained the move since August when Australia made the call to block the Chinese telecom giants from supplying equipment to the nascent Australian 5G network.

Burgess said that the stakes "could not be higher" and that if Australia used "high-risk vendor" supplies then everything from the country's water supply and electricity grid to its health systems and even its autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles would be compromised.

In response, a miffed, but totally unsurprised China on Tuesday again called on Australia to drop "ideological prejudice" and "create a level playing field for Chinese companies doing business in the country."

Australia is a member of the so-called "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing alliance alongside Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, and while Australia is also a close trading partner, there is certainly an understanding to follow the US on sensitive intelligence issues that can compromise the alliance.

Story continues

So that obviously puts the kibosh on allowing any access to critical infrastructure for any companies aligned with the Chinese state.

And since the Chinese government has been leveraging the state's position, role and function within its growing portfolio of world-beating mega-tech companies, the decision out of Canberra to err on the side of caution - and Washington - would have surprised precisely no one.

But that didn't stop China from responding the way it did.

In a restrained retort from the English language tabloid,The Global Times, China accused Canberra of being part of a US-led global conspiracy to leave Chinese tech companies behind.

"Australian officials and think tanks in recent days continued to raise security concerns over Chinese companies' operations in the country and have made accusations about China stealing its technologies, in what Chinese analysts say is an attempt to, in collaboration with other Western powers, derail China's steady rise in telecom and other technologies," the Global Times noted.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a press briefing on Tuesday, that "the Australian side should facilitate the cooperation among companies from the two countries, instead of using various excuses to artificially set up obstacles and adopt discriminatory practices."

Back in August Marise Payne, the Australian foreign affairs minister, said the move was not targeted specifically at Huawei and ZTE, but applied to any company that had obligations clashing with Australia's national security.

In response, China's Ministry of Commerce released a statement chilling in its brevity: "The Australian government has made the wrong decision and it will have a negative impact to the business interests of China and Australia companies."

China is Australia's largest trading partner and 30% of Australian exports end up in the Middle Kingdom, it's a bit of a fraught relationship when the US is also the isolated Pacific nation's most important and closest military ally.

Huawei is the largest maker of telecom equipment worldwide, and in Australia for that matter too. But its sales here are still a fraction of the broader economic ties between the two countries, and it is China that has historically been unwilling to open much of its own telecom markets to foreign companies.

Describing Australia's ban on Chinese telecommunication companies as "discriminatory" and based on manufactured "excuses," China on Tuesday called on Australia to drop its "ideological prejudice" and "create a level playing field for Chinese companies doing business in the country."

In the annals of majestic propaganda, it's low-key bluster coming as it does from the world's first digital dictatorship, as Business Insider UK's Alexandra Ma describes here.

It's just that not getting your tech-giants invited to global infrastructure parties is one of the unforeseen costs of setting up the greatest, most powerful intelligence-collection systems ever devised.

That success makes it hard for the Chinese government and its state-owned media to credibly look surprised, hurt, or bewildered when such a decision is made.



Read more:

Australia's former foreign minister let slip how casually easy it is for China to tell another country what to do



China's vast data-collection platforms - WeChat alone has more than a billion users - are harvesting ever-deeper and more granular material on behalf of the state.

That's great news for China's state machinery when it comes to monitoring the population, but it's a double-edged sword too, and wielding it has its price.

According to Danielle Cave, a senior analyst at the Australian Security Policy Institute's International Cyber Policy Centre, requiring Chinese citizens, organisations and companies to support, cooperate with and collaborate in intelligence activities, of course, comes at a cost to China.

"And that cost will be the international expansion plans of Chinese companies-state-owned and private- which have been well and truly boxed into a corner.

"The CCP has made it virtually impossible for Chinese companies to expand without attracting understandable and legitimate suspicion. The suspicion will be deeper in countries that invest in countering foreign interference and intelligence activities, Cave wrote earlier this year in The Strategist.

Most developed countries, including Australia, fall into that group and will come to fear the potential application and reach of China's technical successes.

But then again, there are a good few states out there that could be willing to risk being watched by China, if they can use China's tech to watch their own populations.

For now the Global Times insists that "such accusations are baseless."

"They are in line with the Australian government's overall approach toward China - a tougher approach that (is) derived from suspicion about China rise's (sp) that they perceive as threat, a fantasy to contain China's further development and ideological prejudice against China."

It might be infuriating, but taken from this perspective it is a mark of sheer awe and respect for China's technocratic achievements that Australia has balked at letting Huawei loose inside its critical networks.
CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Encana Corporation (Encana) (TSX, NYSE: ECA) and Newfield Exploration Company (Newfield) (NYSE: NFX) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Encana will acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Newfield in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $5.5 billion. In addition, Encana will assume $2.2 billion of Newfield net debt. The strategic combination will create a leading multi-basin company and has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies. Subject to receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals by both companies, the transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019.



Strategic Rationale: shareholder returns, immediately accretive, asset quality and synergies

Creates a leading multi-basin company with large, premium positions in three of North Americas highest-quality, oil and liquids weighted plays; the Permian, STACK/SCOOP and Montney

Intends to raise dividend by 25 percent and expand share buyback program to $1.5 billion following closing of the transaction; funded with expected non-GAAP free cash flow and cash on hand

Immediately accretive to key elements of Encanas five-year plan including non-GAAP cash flow per share

Immediate scale and value creation; oil and condensate production up by over 54 percent and proved reserves up by around 85 percent

Adds a significant premium position in the core of the world-class, oil-rich, STACK/SCOOP in the Anadarko Basin

Creates North Americas second largest producer of unconventional resources; pro-forma third quarter 2018 production of 577,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d), including liquids production of around 300,000 barrels per day (bbls/d)

Enhances already strong balance sheet; 2019 non-GAAP net debt to adjusted EBITDA expected to be about 1.5x

$250 million of expected annual synergies through greater scale, cube development and overhead savings

This strategic combination advances our strategy and is immediately accretive to our five-year plan, said Doug Suttles, Encana President & CEO. Our track record of consistent execution gives us confidence to accelerate and increase shareholder returns. I am very excited to lead the combined company and want to congratulate the team at Newfield on doing a tremendous job building premium positions in the core-of-the-core in each of their assets, particularly in the world-class, oil-rich, STACK/SCOOP. When combined with our cube development model, expected synergies and relentless focus on efficiency, we are positioned to deliver highly efficient growth and quality returns.

Lee K. Boothby, Newfield Chairman, President and CEO, stated, This transaction is the best path forward for our company. The combination of the two companies provides our investors with the very attributes that should be differentiated in todays energy sectoroperational scale, proven execution in development of large, liquids-rich onshore resource plays, a peer-leading cost structure and an exceptionally strong balance sheet.

We strongly believe that the synergies between these two organizations will create a dominant diversified resource player that is positioned to drive future value. The new organization will be capable of efficiently developing high-value growth assets while delivering significant cash to shareholders. Throughout our 30-year history, Newfield has worked to create a strong portfolio of assets managed by some of the best and brightest people in the business. The merger will accelerate the development of these assets and as a result, capture full value for our owners.

Encana: A leading multi-basin company with premium positions in three top North American plays

This transaction includes approximately 360,000 net acres in the core-of-the-core of the world-class STACK/SCOOP in the Anadarko Basin. This premium, oil-weighted, stacked-pay asset contains multiple commercial and prospective zones which Encana believes are perfectly suited to its proven cube development model. This asset contains over 6,000 gross risked well locations and about 3 billion BOE of net unrisked resource.

Consistent with our focus on being in the best parts of North Americas best plays, our multi-basin portfolio will include large, premium, liquids weighted positions in three of North Americas highest quality, lowest supply cost basins; the Permian, STACK/SCOOP and Montney, added Suttles. Our multi-basin portfolio provides a powerful competitive advantage, helping us manage risk, provide optionality to direct capital to our highest margin opportunities and transfer learnings across the business.

Encana: Increased liquids mix drives margin expansion and returns

Following the close of this transaction, Encana expects liquids production will contribute over 50% of total company production, driving continued margin expansion and returns. Combined pro-forma third quarter 2018 production is around 577,000 BOE/d. This includes liquids production of approximately 300,000 bbls/d of which oil and condensate contributed 210,000 bbls/d. This production profile makes Encana North Americas second largest producer of unconventional resources.



Combined Pro-Forma Production Profile (Q3 2018) Encana Newfield Combined Q3 2018 Production Oil and Condensate (Mbbls/d) 136 74 210 NGLs (Mbbls/d) 42 48 90 Total Liquids (Mbbls/d) 178 122 300 Gas (MMcf/d) 1,197 462 1,659 Total Production (MBOE/d) 378 199 577

Transaction details

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of both Encana and Newfield. Newfields Board of Directors has recommended that its shareholders vote their shares in favor of the merger and Encanas Board of Directors has also recommended that its shareholders vote to approve the issuance of Encana common shares under the transaction.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Newfield shareholders will receive 2.6719 Encana common shares for each share of Newfield common stock. Upon completion of the transaction, Encana shareholders will own approximately 63.5 percent of the combined company and Newfield shareholders will own approximately 36.5 percent. Two directors from the Newfield Board of Directors will join the Encana Board upon closing.

The transaction is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the merger agreement, including holders of two-thirds of Newfields shares of common stock having voted in favor of the merger, holders of a majority of votes cast by Encana shareholders having voted in favor of the issuance by Encana of its common shares, the waiting period under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Act having expired or been early terminated, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange each having approved the listing of the Encana common shares to be issued in the transaction and other customary conditions.

Financial and Legal Advisors

Credit Suisse and TD Securities acted as financial advisors to Encana and delivered opinions to Encanas Board of Directors. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP acted as legal advisors to Encana.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provided a fairness opinion to Newfields Board or Directors and both J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as financial advisors. Scotiabank served as a technical advisor to Newfield. In addition, Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as legal advisors.

Conference Call and Webcast

A conference call and webcast to discuss this transaction and Encanas 2018 third quarter results will be held for the investment community today at 7 a.m. MT (9 a.m. ET). To participate, please dial 888-231-8191 (toll-free in North America) or 647-427-7450 (international) approximately 10 minutes prior to the conference call. The live audio webcast of the third quarter conference call, including slides, will also be available on Encana's website, www.encana.com, under Investors/Presentations & Events. The webcasts will be archived for approximately 90 days. Further information on the transaction is available on a slide presentation at www.encana.com , in the Invest In Us section under Presentations & Events.

Encana Corporation

Encana is a leading North American energy producer that is focused on developing its strong portfolio of resource plays, held directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, producing oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and natural gas. By partnering with employees, community organizations and other businesses, Encana contributes to the strength and sustainability of the communities where it operates. Encana common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ECA.

Newfield Exploration Company

Newfield Exploration Company is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs). Our U.S. operations are onshore and focus primarily on large scale, liquids-rich resource plays in the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma, the Williston Basin of North Dakota and the Uinta Basin of Utah. In addition, we have oil assets offshore China, and gas assets in the Arkoma Basin of Oklahoma.

Important Information for Investors and Shareholders

This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.

In connection with the proposed transaction between Encana and Newfield, Encana will file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a registration statement on Form S-4 that is expected to include a Joint Proxy Statement of Encana and Newfield that will also constitute a Prospectus of Encana (the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus). Encana and Newfield plan to mail to their respective shareholders the definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus in connection with the transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF ENCANA AND NEWFIELD ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ENCANA, NEWFIELD, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Encana and Newfield through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Investors will also be able to obtain free copies of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities by Encana, through the website maintained by the Canadian Securities Administrators at www.sedar.com. In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities on Encanas website at www.encana.com or by contacting Encanas Corporate Secretary. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Newfield will be available free of charge on Newfields website or by contacting investor relations .

Participants in the Merger Solicitation

Encana, Newfield and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the shareholders of Encana and the stockholders of Newfield in connection with the transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus described above when it is filed with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Additional information regarding Encanas directors and executive officers is also included in Encanas Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and 2018 Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities on March 23, 2018, and information regarding Newfields directors and executive officers is also included in Newfields 2018 Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on March 29, 2018. These documents are available free of charge as described above.

NOTE 1: Non-GAAP measures

Certain measures in this news release do not have any standardized meaning as prescribed by U.S. GAAP and, therefore, are considered non-GAAP measures. These measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies and should not be viewed as a substitute for measures reported under U.S. GAAP. For additional information regarding non-GAAP measures, see the Company's website. This news release contains references to non-GAAP measures as follows:

Non-GAAP Cash Flow , Non-GAAP Cash Flow Per Share (CFPS), Free Cash Flow and Non-GAAP Cash Flow Margin  Non-GAAP Cash Flow (or Cash Flow) is defined as cash from (used in) operating activities excluding net change in other assets and liabilities, net change in non-cash working capital and current tax on sale of assets. Non-GAAP CFPS is Non-GAAP Cash Flow divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Free Cash Flow is Non-GAAP Cash Flow in excess of capital expenditures, excluding net acquisitions and divestitures. Non-GAAP Cash Flow Margin is Non-GAAP Cash Flow per BOE of production. Management believes these measures are useful to the company and its investors as a measure of operating and financial performance across periods and against other companies in the industry and are an indication of the companys ability to generate cash to finance capital programs, to service debt and to meet other financial obligations. These measures may be used, along with other measures, in the calculation of certain performance targets for the companys management and employees.

, (CFPS),  Non-GAAP Cash Flow (or Cash Flow) is defined as cash from (used in) operating activities excluding net change in other assets and liabilities, net change in non-cash working capital and current tax on sale of assets. Non-GAAP CFPS is Non-GAAP Cash Flow divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Free Cash Flow is Non-GAAP Cash Flow in excess of capital expenditures, excluding net acquisitions and divestitures. Non-GAAP Cash Flow Margin is Non-GAAP Cash Flow per BOE of production. Management believes these measures are useful to the company and its investors as a measure of operating and financial performance across periods and against other companies in the industry and are an indication of the companys ability to generate cash to finance capital programs, to service debt and to meet other financial obligations. These measures may be used, along with other measures, in the calculation of certain performance targets for the companys management and employees. Net Debt, Adjusted EBITDA and Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA  Net Debt is defined as long-term debt, including the current portion, less cash and cash equivalents. Management uses this measure as a substitute for total long-term debt in certain internal debt metrics as a measure of the companys ability to service debt obligations and as an indicator of the companys overall financial strength. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as trailing 12-month net earnings (loss) before income taxes, DD&A, impairments, accretion of asset retirement obligation, interest, unrealized gains/losses on risk management, foreign exchange gains/losses, gains/losses on divestitures and other gains/losses. Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA is monitored by management as an indicator of the companys overall financial strength and as a measure considered comparable to peers in the industry.

ADVISORY REGARDING OIL AND GAS INFORMATION - The conversion of natural gas volumes to barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) is on the basis of six thousand cubic feet to one barrel. BOE is based on a generic energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent economic value equivalency at the wellhead. Readers are cautioned that BOE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. 30-day initial or peak production and other short-term rates are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery.

ADVISORY REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS - This communication contains certain

forward-looking statements or information (collectively, FLS) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. FLS include: becoming a leading multi-basin company; timing of closing of the transaction; the expectation that the closing conditions, including shareholder approvals and regulatory approvals, will be satisfied; anticipated benefits from the transaction; Encanas intent to raise its dividend and increase its share buyback following closing; Encanas position relative to peers; anticipated production and commodity mix; anticipated 2019 net debt to EBITDA; anticipated synergies; expectation that the transaction is accretive to all metrics in Encanas five-year plan; number of risked well locations and unrisked resource; and benefits of a multi-basin portfolio. Readers are cautioned against unduly relying on FLS which, by their nature, involve numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may cause such statements not to occur, or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These assumptions include: assumptions contained in Encanas corporate guidance and five-year plan; ability to satisfy closing conditions, regulatory and shareholder approvals; future commodity prices and differentials; data contained in key modeling statistics; effectiveness of Encana's drive to productivity and efficiencies; results from innovations; enforceability of transaction agreements; and expectations and projections made in light of, and generally consistent with, Encana's historical experience and its perception of historical trends, including with respect to the pace of technological development, benefits achieved and general industry expectations. Risks and uncertainties that may affect these business outcomes include: integration of Encana and Newfield and the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits from the combination of Encana and Newfield ability to obtain required shareholder and regulatory approvals for the transaction, timing thereof and risk that such regulatory approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the expected benefits of the transaction; risk that the conditions to the transaction are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all and the failure of the transaction to close for any other reason; risks relating to the value of the Encana common shares to be issued in connection with the transaction; disruption to Encanas and Newfields respective businesses that could result from the announcement of the transaction; variability and discretion of Encana's board of directors to declare and pay dividends, if any; variability in the amount, number of shares and timing of purchases, if any, pursuant to the share repurchase program; commodity price volatility; counterparty and credit risk; impact of a downgrade in a credit rating, including to refinance debt required to be repaid because of a downgrade, and its impact on access to sources of liquidity; risks inherent in Encanas corporate guidance and five-year plan; failure to achieve cost and efficiency initiatives; and other risks and uncertainties impacting Encana's business, as described in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and as described from time to time in Encanas other periodic filings as filed on SEDAR and EDGAR. Although Encana believes the expectations represented by such FLS are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions, risks and uncertainties referenced above are not exhaustive. FLS are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by law, Encana undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any FLS. FLS contained in this news release are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.

Further information on Encana Corporation is available on the companys website, www.encana.com , or by contacting:
A senior member of the Saudi royal family returned to Saudi Arabia as the crisis over Jamal Khashoggi's death continues to boil.

Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi king's only surviving full brother, was previously afraid to return to Riyadh for fear of getting swept up in the crown prince's corruption sweep, according to The New York Times.

Prince Ahmed has made comments appearing critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the past.

It's not clear if Prince Ahmed's return signals shifting power within the royal family in the face of crisis, or if the crown prince is taking further steps to reinforce his tight grip on power.

A senior member of the Saudi royal family has returned to Saudi Arabia as the crisis over Jamal Khashoggi's death continues to boil, indicating a power shift in the country's leadership.

Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz returned to Riyadh from London on Tuesday, The New York Times reported, citing three unnamed Saudi sources close to the prince.

Prince Ahmed is the only surviving full brother of King Salman, and is seen as an influential figure within the kingdom's royal family.

The prince had been afraid to return home because he feared he would get swept up in the crown prince's corruption sweep, The Times reported.

Saudi prince ahmed bin abdulaziz

Prince Ahmed had made comments that appeared critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of the Persian Gulf kingdom, The Times reported, citing associates of Prince Ahmed's family.

Last month, he appeared to blame King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed for Saudi Arabia's involvement in the Yemen civil war, which has killed tens of thousands of civilians.

He was caught on video telling protesters in London last month, according to Bloomberg: "What does this have to do with the [house of] Al Saud? Those responsible are the king and his Crown Prince."

"I hope the situation ends," he added, "whether in Yemen or elsewhere, today before tomorrow."

Story continues

His controversial statement stirred rumours of a rift among the royal house, though he later claimed his comments were misinterpreted.

See the video below.

https://twitter.com/sattam_al_saud/status/1036760509058568192?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

Power shift in the House of Saud?

It's unclear if Prince Ahmed's return signals shifting power within the royal family in the face of crisis, or if the Crown Prince might be taking a step to reinforce his power.

But his homecoming was not widely covered in Saudi media, which shrouded his visit in secrecy and added to speculation that his return could be part of a wider response to international criticism over Jamal Khashoggi's death.

Khashoggi, a Saudi critic and journalist, died inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Riyadh admitted that the journalist died as part of a preplanned murder, but stopped short of naming the person or people who ordered the job.

Crown Prince Mohammed is widely believed to have orchestrated the murder, though Riyadh has repeatedly tried to distance him from it.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that his chief prosecutor asked Saudi investigators to reveal who ordered Khashoggi's killing.

Erdogan also claimed people behind Khashoggi's killing are being protected from prosecution, seen as a suggestion that a senior figure, perhaps the crown prince himself, had signed off on the murder.

"There is no point in procrastinating or trying to save some people from under this," he said.



Read more:

Here's everything we know about the troubling disappearance and death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi



Mohammed bin salman

According to The Times, Prince Ahmed - who previously served as deputy interior minister and then as interior minister in 2012 - had been living in retirement, and awaited assurances that he would not be implicated in the crown prince's anticorruption sweep.

The anticorruption campaign targeted dozens of influential figures and members of the Saudi royal family perceived as potential threats to the Saudi throne.

Last year, the kingdom arrested 11 princes as well as government ministers and wealthy businessmen, holding them in the luxury Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh.

Officials reportedly used coercion and physical abuse to extract billions of dollars from some of the detainees.
Brazil will move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro said Thursday, making the Latin American giant the largest country after the United States to make the controversial switch. "As previously stated during our campaign, we intend to transfer the Brazilian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel is a sovereign state and we shall duly respect that," Bolsonaro tweeted, a move that will defy Palestinians and most of the world. In interviews, Bolsonaro said Israel should have the right to decide where its capital is located, just as Brazil moved its capital from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1960. Israel considers the entire city its capital, while the Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, with international consensus being that the status of the whole city must be negotiated between the two sides. Israel occupied east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognized by the international community. In December, President Donald Trump reversed longstanding US policy and recognized Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, prompting Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to boycott his administration. The embassy was officially transferred on May 14. Guatemala and Paraguay followed suit, though the latter announced last month it would return its embassy to Tel Aviv. Bolsonaro, 63, who won a run-off election on Sunday, has outraged many with his overtly misogynistic, homophobic and racist rhetoric. Following his victory, Netanyahu told Bolsonaro he was certain his election "will lead to a great friendship between our peoples and the tightening of links between Brazil and Israel." An official in Netanyahu's office told AFP the Israeli premier was "very likely" to attend Bolsonaro's inauguration ceremony in January. Bolsonaro meanwhile plans to make Israel one of his first foreign trips as president, along with the United States and Chile -- countries that "share our worldview," according to the president-elect's future for chief of staff, Onyx Lorenzoni. In interviews, Bolsonaro said Israel should have the right to decide where its capital is located, just as Brazil moved its capital from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1960
Brazil's far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro confirmed Thursday the country will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, making the Latin American country the largest after the United States to make the controversial switch. The move from Tel Aviv, which will defy Palestinians and most of the world, is the latest controversial announcement by the former army captain, who has wasted no time implementing his hardline conservative agenda since his election win Sunday. "As previously stated during our campaign, we intend to transfer the Brazilian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel is a sovereign state and we shall duly respect that," Bolsonaro tweeted. He also made waves on the domestic front, naming the judge who has upended Brazilian politics with a massive corruption investigation, Sergio Moro, to be his justice minister. Moro is a hero to many Brazilians for his unrelenting "Car Wash" investigation, which uncovered the large-scale looting of state oil company Petrobras. But for opponents, the move fueled accusations that the judge was politically motivated -- especially against leftist ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whom polls showed would have beaten Bolsonaro in the election had he not been jailed 12 years for corruption. - 'Shared worldview' - Bolsonaro promised in his victory speech to "change Brazil's destiny," and the four days since the election have given a glimpse of the magnitude of the change he has in mind. The president-elect has doubled down on his vow to roll back gun-control laws so "good people" can take justice into their own hands, lashed out at the news media and begun lining up a cabinet of political outsiders, including an army general and an ultra-free-market economist. A favorite with the market, Bolsonaro's election has seen Brazilian stocks gain 3.9 percent in the week since the vote, closing at a record high Thursday. The Sao Paulo stock exchange's Ibovespa index added 1.14 percent for the day to close at a record of 88,419 points, after breaking through the 89,000 barrier for the first time ever earlier in the day. On the diplomatic front, the embassy move squarely aligns him with US President Donald Trump, and bolsters his image as a "Tropical Trump." Israel considers all of Jerusalem its capital, while the Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. "I congratulate my friend Brazilian president-elect Jair Bolsonaro for his intention to move the Brazilian embassy to Jerusalem, a historic, correct and exciting step!" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. Reversing long-standing US policy, the Trump administration transferred the American embassy on May 14. Guatemala and Paraguay followed suit, though the latter announced last month it would return its embassy to Tel Aviv. Bolsonaro's first foreign trips as president will be to Israel, the United States and Chile -- countries that "share our worldview," according to the president-elect's future for chief of staff, Onyx Lorenzoni. - Flip-flopping, for business' sake - Bolsonaro has outraged many with his derogatory comments against women, gays and blacks, and his support for the torture used by Brazil's brutal military regime (1964-1985). He did, however, back down from one controversy on Thursday: a plan to merge the agriculture and environment ministries. The plan had drawn warnings from activists that he was selling out Brazil's natural resources to his backers in the agrobusiness lobby. Bolsonaro said industry insiders themselves had urged him to reconsider, fearing trade sanctions on their products from countries worried over the health of the Amazon rainforest. "To avoid international pressure, among other things, I said I was ready to reverse the decision. But the one who's going to decide the environmental question will also be Mr Jair Bolsonaro. And (the future minister) will not be someone put there under pressure from NGOs," he said, referring to himself in the third person. He repeated his oft-used line that environmentalists are "Shiites," a word he uses to imply extremism. "We want to preserve the environment, but not in the way it's been done lately," he told journalists. - Corruption crusader - Anti-corruption crusader Moro said it was an "honor" to accept Bolsonaro's offer to head a "super ministry" combining the justice and public security portfolios. His investigation has taken out a Who's Who of politicians and executives who colluded to pump billions of dollars from Petrobras into their own pockets or the coffers of their political parties. That has endeared him to many Brazilians fed up with endemic corruption. But although politicians of all stripes have fallen, Moro has been accused of being particularly merciless on the left -- especially Lula, Brazil's president from 2003 to 2010. Moro sentenced Lula -- a hugely divisive but enduringly popular figure -- to jail for taking bribes from a Petrobras contractor. That led the courts to bar Lula's presidential candidacy, dashing his hopes of making a come-back. Far-right president-elect Jair Bolsonaro, pictured in Rio on October 28, 2018, promised in his victory speech to "change Brazil's destiny" Brazilian president-elect Jair Bolsonaro, emblazoned on t-shirts pictured in Rio on November 1, 2018, has doubled down on his vow to roll back gun-control laws A plan to merge the agriculture and environment ministries was seen as a threat to Brazil's natural resources, including the Amazon rainforest Judge Sergio Moro led a probe into corruption at state oil giant Petrobras that has brought down a Who's Who of Brazilian politics, including former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, now serving a 12 year prison sentence
The bridges across the river Danube connecting Komarom in Hungary to Komarno in Slovakia are today the epitome of a borderless Europe -- but their appearance belies the tensions that stretch back a century, and which have only recently been calmed. As elsewhere in the region, the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian empire at the end of World War I caused huge upheaval in what became a divided city. For Istvan Kelemen, a 19-year-old conscript in the Austro-Hungarian army who had spent six years in prisoner-of-war camps in Siberia, returning home in 1922 was a shock. While he was away Komarom, roughly halfway between the Slovakian and Hungarian capitals Bratislava and Budapest, had became Komarno, part of the new state of Czechoslovakia. "He discovered that his city had moved country," his 61-year-old grandson, also called Istvan, told AFP in Komarno while leafing through wartime photos of his grandfather. "He left for the front as a Hungarian soldier, but when he returned it was to Czechoslovakia". Born in 1894, Kelemen lived to within six months of his 100th birthday. Komarno was retaken by Hungary during World War II, before it rejoined Czechoslovakia until the collapse of communism in 1989. Part of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic between 1990 and 1992, it has been part of Slovakia since 1993. "Before my grandfather died he used to say that he lived in six countries without ever leaving home," said Kelemen's grandson. - 'Shot into the water' - Despite the turmoil it witnessed during the last century, Komarno -- whose population of around 40,000 remains roughly two-thirds ethnic-Hungarian -- still boasts handsome Habsburg-era architecture. The green steel Elizabeth bridge was finished in 1892, while its nearby twin built in 1910, and rebuilt after detonation by Nazi German troops during World War II, is still the only railway bridge over the Danube. When the Danube was provisionally designated as the new border after World War I, Czechoslovak forces moved in to occupy the north side of the city. A bloody skirmish in 1919 on the bridges saw hundreds of Hungarian volunteer solders killed as they crossed the railway bridge in a bid to retake the northern side. "Many trying to escape back across the river into Hungary were shot into the water," Emese Szamado, who runs the Komarom museum, told AFP by a monument to the victims on the Hungarian side of the Danube. The small discreet stone was erected under communism in 1959. Jozsef Farkas, a passing Slovak-Hungarian pensioner, pointed out that this was surprising for the time. "Memorials of patriotic acts were rare during communism, it was mostly taboo to discuss such things," he said. After the treaty of Trianon was signed in June 1920 the river became the official border, while bitterness in Hungary over the loss of territory lingered. On the eve of World War II, Hungary annexed the border region north of the Danube -- including Komarno -- with the support of Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy. Grainy newsreel film shows Hungarian leader Miklos Horthy riding across Elizabeth bridge on a white horse in 1938 to celebrate the reunification. But, with Hungary again on the losing side in World War II, the Trianon border was restored in 1947, then tightly sealed during the decades of communist rule that lasted on both sides of the Danube until 1989. - 'One city, two countries' - But the collapse of communism did not immediately lead to smooth waters between the two countries. Indeed in 2009 it was on one of the same bridges in Komarno where traffic is today so seamless that Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom held a press conference after being banned from entering Slovakia. He had been due to unveil a monument to St Stephen, Hungary's first Christian king, in Slovakia's Komarno but had been prevented from doing so, with the Slovak government citing security concerns. In 2010 a monument to the Trianon treaty -- also on one of Komarno's bridges -- was damaged in the run-up to Slovakian national elections. That was typical of decades marked by moments of tension between the two countries, and during which it was frowned upon for Hungarians in Komarno to express their Magyar identity. Nowadays however, bilingual signs proliferate and posters advertising cross-border festivals proudly boast of "one city, two countries". "People get on with each other over there," says Emese Szamado, gesturing to the Slovakian half of the city. "They know each other's languages, shoppers come over here to shop in Tesco, while we go over there to visit Kaufland," said Emese Szamado. Near the old railway bridge, a new road bridge is under construction across the Danube to link highways in Slovakia and Hungary from next year. A bridge joining the Hungarian city of Komarom and the Slovakian city of Komarno over the Danube river. In the background a new bridge is built between the two countries A marble victims of war's list in the reformed church of Komarno in Slovakia Former Hungarian president Laszlo Solyom crossed the bridge between the two cities in 2009 but was barred from unveiling a monument in Slovakia's Komarno Istvan Kelemen flips through a family album showing wartime photos of his grandfather also called Istvan Kelemen, a conscript in the Austro-Hungarian army during World War I
Governments worldwide are stepping up use of online tools, in many cases inspired by China's model, to suppress dissent and tighten their grip on power, a human rights watchdog study found Thursday. The annual Freedom House study of 65 countries found global internet freedom declined for the eighth consecutive year in 2018, amid a rise in what the group called "digital authoritarianism." The Freedom on the Net 2018 report found online propaganda and disinformation have increasingly "poisoned" the digital space, while the unbridled collection of personal data is infringing on privacy. "Democracies are struggling in the digital age, while China is exporting its model of censorship and surveillance to control information both inside and outside its borders," said Michael Abramowitz, president of Freedom House. "This pattern poses a threat to the open internet and endangers prospects for greater democracy worldwide." Chinese officials have held sessions on controlling information with 36 of the 65 countries assessed, and provided telecom and surveillance equipment to a number of foreign governments, Freedom House said. The accusations made by Freedom House are "without basis, unprofessional, irresponsible, and have ulterior motives," said Chinese foreign ministry official spokesman Lu Kang at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Thursday. Cyberspace is complex, he added, and requires "the global community, including governments, businesses, think tanks and media to adopt a constructive attitude to maintain it." The report found 17 governments approved or proposed laws restricting online media in the name of fighting "fake news," while 18 countries increased surveillance or weakened encryption protection to more closely monitor their citizenry. According to the researchers, internet freedom declined in 26 countries from June 2017 to May 2018. Gains were seen in 19 countries, most of them minor. - China's 'techno-dystopia' - One of the greatest threats, Freedom House said, is efforts by China to remake the digital world in its "techno-dystopian" image. It cited a sweeping Chinese cybersecurity requirement that local and foreign companies "immediately stop transmission" of banned content, and compels them to ensure that data on Chinese users is hosted within the country. This has been followed by "hundreds" of new directives on what people can and cannot do online, and tighter controls on the use of VPNs to evade detection. The report said leaked documents and other evidence suggest as many as a million Muslims may be held in internment camps in Xinjiang, many as a result of nonviolent online activities. China appears to be using its big tech firms involved in telecom infrastructure to extend its dominance and gain an edge in surveillance, according to Freedom House. Companies such as Huawei -- largely banned from contracts in the US and Australia -- are building infrastructure in many parts of the world including Africa and Latin America, according to Freedom House board chairman Michael Chertoff, a former US secretary of homeland security. "This opens up a potential for exploiting information in these countries by having technological backdoors that can be used by the Chinese government to collect intelligence," Chertoff said. - Suppressing dissent - The researchers said online freedom is facing threats in democratic and authoritarian states. India led the world in the number of internet shutdowns, with over 100 reported incidents in 2018 so far, claiming that the moves were needed to halt the flow of disinformation and incitement to violence. Similar actions were taken in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. "Cutting off internet service is a draconian response, particularly at a time when citizens may need it the most, whether to dispel rumors, check in with loved ones, or avoid dangerous areas," Freedom House researcher Adrian Shahbaz said. "While deliberately falsified content is a genuine problem, some governments are increasingly using 'fake news' as a pretense to consolidate their control over information and suppress dissent." Shahbaz said more governments, including Saudi Arabia, are employing "troll armies" to manipulate social media and in many cases drown out the voices of dissidents. "It has now become a tool of authoritarian diplomacy to deploy an army of electronic trolls," he said. The researchers said online freedom also declined in the United States in part due to the rollback of "net neutrality" rules which ensured that all data be treated equally, without "fast" or "slow" lanes for commercial or other reasons. It said online freedom also faces threats in the US as a result of the reauthorization of a surveillance law and a "hyperpartisan" environment in social media marked by large disinformation efforts. Chinese officials have held sessions on controlling information with 36 of the 65 countries assessed by a human rights study
The US-led coalition against the Islamic State group said Thursday it was working to "de-escalate" fighting between Turkey and a Kurdish-led alliance battling the jihadists in Syria. "We have been in communication (with) both Turkey and the SDF to de-escalate the situation," spokesman Colonel Sean Ryan said on Twitter, referring to the Syrian Democratic Forces. The move came a day after the US-backed alliance, with a mix of Kurdish and Arab fighters, suspended an offensive against IS in eastern Syria after Turkey shelled its positions. The US State Department had quickly expressed its "concern" over the attack targeting the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which form the backbone of the SDF. The YPG has worked closely with the United States in the fight against IS jihadists in Syria, straining ties between NATO allies Washington and Ankara. The Turkish government sees the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a deadly insurgency in Turkey since 1984. The PKK is designated as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies. On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was ready to launch a new offensive against the YPG, reflecting growing concern in Ankara over the group's entrenched presence across the border. After Wednesday's shelling, the SDF warned of "a prolonged halt to our military operation" against IS if Ankara kept up its strikes. SDF spokesman Kino Gabriel told AFP on Thursday that anti-IS operations in Syria were "temporarily suspended" but that the alliance's forces were still holding their positions in the area. "Offensive operations have been halted, defensive operations continue. Our forces are consolidating their positions defensively," he said. Backed by coalition air strikes, the SDF launched a campaign on September 10 to expel IS from a holdout near the Iraqi border. The animosity between Syria's Kurds and Turkey underlines the complexity of the multi-front Syrian conflict. The war has cost over 360,000 lives since it broke out in 2011 with anti-government protests that were violently suppressed by the regime. The US-backed SDF launched a campaign on September 10 to expel IS from a holdout in eastern Syria near the Iraqi border
More than one million Venezuelans have crossed the border into Colombia since the start of this year, although 676,000 of those subsequently moved on to other countries, Colombia's migration authority said. Those passing through traveled "mostly to Ecuador, Peru, Chile, the United States and Mexico," said Migracion Colombia in a statement on Wednesday. The authority also said that more than one million Venezuelans are living in Colombia, of which 573,000 have legal documents. "The Venezuelan migrant situation is a lot more than a simple number," said Migracion Colombia director Christian Kruger. The United Nations says 1.9 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2015, as their homeland is gripped in a deep recession that has sent poverty levels spiralling. Every day some 5,000 Venezuelans leave the country in hope of a better future elsewhere, according to UN figures. At the end of September, Colombia President Ivan Duque said the arrival of a million Venezuelan migrants could cost his country more than $1.3 billion, amounting to 0.5 percent of the country's gross domestic product. Venezuela rejects the UN figures, and President Nicolas Maduro has called on the international body to "justify" them. Venezuelans line up outside an immigration office in Tumbes, Peru, near the border with Ecuador
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Thursday called into question his country's support for a United Nations migration pact set to be adopted in December, following rejections by the United States, Hungary and Austria. "I don't like the pact. It's not clearly interpreted and it could be abused," Babis, whose centre-left cabinet is set to discuss the issue next week, said in parliament. "The United States have pulled out, Hungary too, now Austria, and Poland is debating it as well," he added. The Global Compact for Migration, whose final text was agreed in July after 18 months of negotiations is set to be adopted during a conference in Morocco on December 10-11. It lays out 23 objectives to open up legal migration and better manage migratory flows as the number of people on the move worldwide has increased to 250 million, or three percent of the world's population. The United States quit talks on the pact last December, Hungary's anti-immigration prime minister Viktor Orban rejected it in July and Austria followed suit on Wednesday. Babis, a Slovak-born billionaire, has taken a strict anti-migrant stance, refusing to accept a single refugee despite pleas from western European EU partners. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, pictured October 2018, says the UN migration pact is "not clearly interpreted and it could be abused"


WARNING  DISTRESSING IMAGES: An animal welfare agency has shared a number of heartbreaking cases with its followers online, as it issued a public call about the correct way to report cases of animal abuse.

RSPCA Queensland said inspectors and the entire care team were left totally shattered after a spate of disturbing dog seizures around the state.

Inspectors have seized one dog and five pups in Cairns, another two dogs in Toowoomba and one in Brisbane inside a week.

All the animals were emaciated.

The RSPCA said a spate of dog seizures have left inspectors and the entire care team totally shattered. Source: RSPCA Queensland/ Facebook

This dog was surrendered to inspectors at a property in Toowoomba. Source: RSPCA Queensland/ Facebook

Sadly we are often forced to take in animals that have been severely neglected but these recent cases have been particularly disturbing, RSPCA Queensland chief inspector Daniel Young said in a statement.

The dogs are emaciated and all have come in within a week. Were not sure whats going on but its a state wide issue.

The organisation told one Facebook user that they are all very recent cases, so what youre seeing is how they are doing now.

But added that the dogs are being given plenty of attention, care and love at the moment.

The society says failure to provide adequate food, water or shelter to animals carries a maximum term of imprisonment of one year and a fine of over $30,000.

The RSPCA says anyone who sees an animal that needs help should report it directly to the organisation rather than post it to social media.

Two dogs huddle together on the ride to RSPCA care. Source: RSPCA Queensland/ Facebook

This dog was seized by Inspectors at a property in Cairns. Source: RSPCA Queensland/ Facebook

Only one complaint is needed to investigate concerns and social media posts encouraging mass reporting can do more harm than good, the RSPCA said.

In a recent case, someone who wasnt the original complainant published photos and the address of a person we were already investigating, Mr Young said.

Because of this, the person fled the property with the animal and were now trying to track them down.

Mr Young said social media lynch mobs can have a major impact on penalties handed down in court with magistrates reducing the penalty due to embarrassment and harassment the accused has suffered in the public arena.

 with AAP
Establishing path to mid-tier status  Wahgnion construction on-schedule for first gold pour in 2019, Golden Hill advancing toward resource estimate

(All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated)

TORONTO, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teranga Gold Corporation ("Teranga" or the "Company") (TSX:TGZ; OTCQX:TGCDF) today reported its operating, financial and development results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

The Company achieved record third quarter and year-to-date gold production at Sabodala of 56,376 and 185,788 ounces, respectively, and is on track to achieve full year 2018 production of between 235,000 and 240,000 ounces up from the Companys original guidance range of between 210,000 and 225,000 ounces. Third quarter and year-to-date per ounce costs improved versus the prior year periods, positioning the Company to achieve the lower end of its full year guidance ranges for these metrics.

Our team continued to execute successfully, managing the rainy season to achieve another strong operating quarter, said Paul Chawrun, Chief Operating Officer. With record year-to-date production at Sabodala in Senegal, we expect 2018 to set a new high for gold production after record-breaking years in 2016 and 2017. This is a testament to our continuous improvement program, which is resulting in improved grades relative to the Sabodala technical report, as well as our ability to manage our per ounce cost metrics.

Mr. Chawrun added, As we near the half-way mark of the project, Wahgnion continues to progress well, with construction on time and in line with latest capital spend estimates. With the added reserves recently announced, we have improved the 5-year profile, increasing annual production and lowering all-in sustaining costs to less than $800 per ounce(1),(3). In addition, we are excited about Golden Hill and remain focused on completing an initial resource estimate for this advanced exploration project in early 2019.

We have a very clear vision  to build a multi-asset, mid-tier gold producer in West Africa. We believe this can be achieved in the next five years, said Richard Young, President and CEO. Our producing mine continues to generate strong free cash flows. We have a second mine under construction which, upon completion, is expected to increase annualized consolidated production by 50% to about 350,000 ounces. Additionally, we have a third project, Golden Hill that has the potential to be our third mine and take the Company to mid-tier producer status.

OPERATING & FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Three months ended

September 30,

Nine months ended

September 30, Operating Data 2018 2017 Change 2018 2017 Change Gold Produced (oz) 56,376 50,873 11 % 185,788 165,333 12 % Gold Sold (oz) 52,887 47,695 11 % 184,377 162,134 14 % Average realized gold price1 ($ per oz) 1,209 1,277 (5 %) 1,284 1,253 2 % Cost of sales per ounce ($ per oz sold) 977 1,032 (5 %) 928 974 (5 %) Total cash costs1 ($ per oz sold) 663 782 (15 %) 650 735 (12 %) All-in sustaining costs (excluding (non-

cash) / cash inventory movements and amortized advanced royalty costs)1 ($ per oz sold) 1,052 1,084 (3 %) 920 978 (6 %) Notes to table above:

1 This is a non-IFRS financial measure and does not have a standard meaning under IFRS. Please refer to Non-IFRS Performance Measures in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.





Three months ended

September 30, Nine months ended

September 30, Financial Data 2018 2017 Change 2018 2017 Change Revenue ($000's) 64,196 61,041 5 % 236,488 203,403 16 % Cost of sales ($000's) (51,676 ) (49,225 ) 5 % (171,143 ) (157,964 ) 8 % Gross profit ($000's) 12,520 11,816 6 % 65,345 45,439 44 % Net profit attributable to shareholders

of Teranga ($000's) 7,866 10,370 (24 %) 22,433 26,173 (14 %) Per share ($) 0.07 0.10 (24 %) 0.21 0.24 (14 %) Adjusted net profit attributable to

shareholders of Teranga1 ($000's) 729 5,194 (86 %) 16,846 21,389 (21 %) Per share1 ($) 0.01 0.05 (86 %) 0.16 0.20 (21 %) EBITDA1 ($000's) 30,025 23,004 31 % 99,339 68,705 45 % Operating cash flow excluding changes in

working capital other than inventories ($000's) 20,166 11,884 70 % 71,137 57,902 23 % Operating cash flow ($000's) 17,371 10,235 70 % 50,271 38,927 29 % Sustaining capital expenditures (excluding

deferred stripping) ($000's) 5,812 6,469 (10 %) 13,119 21,398 (39 %) Capitalized deferred stripping - sustaining ($000's) 14,198 5,469 160 % 32,452 21,773 49 % Growth capital expenditures ($000's) 39,407 4,984 691 % 84,160 14,113 496 % Cash and cash equivalents, as at ($000's) 79,749 72,960 9 % Notes to table above:

1 This is a non-IFRS financial measure and does not have a standard meaning under IFRS. Please refer to Non-IFRS Performance Measures in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Record third quarter and year-to-date gold production at Sabodala of 56,376 and 185,788 ounces, respectively. On track to achieve full year 2018 production of between 235,000 and 240,000 ounces, an increase from the Companys original guidance of between 210,000 and 225,000 ounces.

Year-to-date per ounce cost metrics* were all lower than the prior year periods, placing the Company on track for the lower end of its full year per ounce cost metric guidance ranges, mainly due to higher grades mined and processed.

Total ounces mined over the last 15 month period ended September 30, 2018 reconciled 26% higher than the reserves models due to solid grade control processes and conservative resource modelling.

Net profit attributable to shareholders was $7.9 million ($0.07 per share) for the third quarter compared to $10.4 million ($0.10 per share) in the prior year period. The decrease in net profit was due to higher income tax expense, higher depreciation expense, a new accounting standard that increases non-cash accretion expense, and higher exploration expense in the current period partially offset by realized and unrealized hedge gains.

Adjusted net profit attributable to shareholders(2) was $0.7 million ($0.01 per share) for the third quarter compared to $5.2 million ($0.05 per share) in the prior year period. The decrease in adjusted net profit was due to higher income tax expense, higher depreciation expense, and higher exploration expense in the current period.

____________

*Per ounce metrics include cost of sales as well as the following non-IFRS financial measures: total cash costs, all-in sustaining costs and all-in sustaining costs (excluding (non-cash)/cash inventory movements and amortized advanced royalty costs). Please refer to the non-IFRS financial measures at the end of the Companys MD&A for the three and nine months ended September 30 2018.







LIQUIDITY HIGHLIGHTS

Cash flow related to operating activities for the third quarter, before changes in working capital excluding inventories, increased 70 percent year-over-year to $20.2 million.

Cash and cash equivalents totalled $79.7 million, a decrease of $12.0 million from the second quarter 2018 balance of $91.7 million, due to construction of the Companys second mine.

During the third quarter, the Company drew down an additional $32.2 million under the secured debt facility with Taurus Funds Management Pty Ltd; in total the Company has drawn down $102.2 million of the $165 million Wahgnion tranche of the Taurus Facility.

In October, the Golden Hill tranche of the Taurus Facility increased by an additional $10 million to $35 million to fund the Companys acquisition of its joint venture partners minority interest in the Golden Hill and Gourma exploration projects in Burkina Faso.

ORGANIC GROWTH HIGHLIGHTS

Updated Wahgnion NI 43-101 Highlights Significant Improvements to Reserves and 5-Year Profile

Open-pit proven and probable reserves increased by nearly 40% or 450,000 ounces of gold to 1.6 million ounces.

Extended initial mine life from 9 to 13 years.

Improved 5-year profile, increasing annual production and lowering all-in sustaining costs per ounce to $761 per ounce(1).

Wahgnion Construction is on Schedule

Engineering and drafting are mostly complete apart from piping design and layout.

Steel fabrication and equipment manufacture are on schedule with a large amount of items dispatched and currently in transit to site.

Despite a heavy rainy season, concrete pours remain on schedule for the plant areas, with significant progress made in the primary crusher, reclaim, SAG & ball mill pedestals, leach tanks and elution areas.

Bulk civils for the mine services, construction laydowns and site roads continued, with the plant and camp areas largely completed.

Golden Hill: Potential to be Terangas Third Mine

Progressing towards an initial resource estimate in early 2019.

Increased ownership in Golden Hill to 100% through acquisition of the joint venture partner minority interest, funded through upsizing the Golden Hill tranche of the Taurus Facility by an additional $10 million to $35 million.

Signed an agreement with ACC Resources Limited to establish a shared exploration entity within the Dossi permit area, immediately north of Golden Hill.

Teranga has secured $25 million(4) for the future advancement of Golden Hill to a feasibility study through the Taurus Facility.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



A copy of Terangas consolidated financial statements and managements discussion & analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 are available on the Companys website at www.terangagold.com , SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the OTC Markets website at www.otcmarkets.com/terangagold .

Q3 2018 CONFERENCE CALL & WEBCAST

Teranga will host a conference call/audio webcast today at 8:30 a.m. ET, during which management will review the highlights for the quarter. Those wishing to listen can access the live conference call and webcast as follows:

Date & Time: Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. ET Telephone: Toll-free +1-877-291-4570

Local of International +1-647-788-4919

Please allow 10 minutes to be connected to the conference call. Webcast: The webcast can be accessed on Terangas website at www.terangagold.com/q32018. Replay: The conference call replay will be available for two weeks after the call by dialling

+1-416-621-4642 or toll-free at +1-800-585-8367 and entering the conference ID 4389617. Note: The slide presentation will be available for download at www.terangagold.com for simultaneous viewing during the call.

ENDNOTES



(1) This is a non-IFRS financial measure and does not have a standard meaning under IFRS. Please refer to Non-IFRS Performance Measures in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. (2) This is a non-IFRS financial measure and does not have a standard meaning under IFRS. Starting in 2018, the Company adopted adjusted net profit attributable to shareholders and adjusted basic earnings per share as new non-IFRS financial measures. These non-IFRS financial measures are used by management and investors to measure the underlying operating performance of the Company. Presenting these measures from period to period is expected to help management and investors evaluate earnings trends more readily in comparison with results from prior periods.



The Company calculates adjusted net profit attributable to shareholders as net profit attributable to shareholders adjusted to exclude specific items that are significant, but not reflective of the underlying operations of the Company, including: the impact of unrealized and realized foreign exchange gains and losses, gains and losses on derivative instruments, accretion expense on long-term obligations, impairment provisions and reversals thereof, and other unusual or non-recurring items. During the second quarter of 2018, the Company also excluded the impact of foreign exchange movements on deferred taxes and other non-cash fair value changes from adjusted net profit attributable to shareholders as management does not believe these factors to be reflective of the underlying performance of the Company.



Adjusted basic earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares outstanding under the basic method of earnings per share as determined under IFRS.





Three months ended

September 30, Nine months ended

September 30, (US$000's) 2018 2017 2018 2017 Net profit attributable to shareholders 7,866 10,370 22,433 26,173 Adjustments (net of tax) for: Gains on derivative instruments (8,567 ) (5,320 ) (16,448 ) (5,320 ) Accretion expense 2,565 145 7,569 438 Acquisition - - - 52 Net foreign exchange losses 641 1,102 2,586 4,039 Impact of foreign exchange on deferred taxes 61 (1,103 ) 2,532 (3,993 ) Change in fair value of share warrant liability (1,284 ) - (1,273 ) - Change in fair value of gold offtake payment liability (553 ) - (553 ) - Adjusted net profit attributable to shareholders 729 5,194 16,846 21,389 Basic earnings per share 0.07 0.10 0.21 0.24 Adjusted basic earnings per share 0.01 0.05 0.16 0.20





For complete details of non-IFRS financial measures, please see the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section in the Companys Managements Discussion & Analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 available on the Companys website at www.terangagold.com. (3) Life of mine all-in sustaining costs figures for Wahgnion are before (non-cash)/cash inventory movements and exclude any allocation of corporate overheads. (4) The $25 million tranche from the Taurus Facility is to fund the completion of a feasibility study on Golden Hill, and is available for drawdown upon delivery of a positive initial preliminary economic assessment to the satisfaction of the lenders.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS



This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"), which reflects management's expectations regarding Terangas future growth opportunities, results of operations, performance (both operational and financial) and business prospects (including the timing and development of new deposits and the success of exploration activities) and other opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "plans", "expects", "does not expect", "scheduled", "trends", "indications", "potential", "estimates", "predicts", "anticipate" to establish or "does not anticipate", "believe", "intend", "ability to" and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", or are "likely" to be taken, occur or be achieved, have been used to identify such forward looking information. Specific forward-looking statements in this presentation include forecasting 2018 gold production of between 235,000 and 240,000 ounces, annualized production to increase 50% to about 350,000 ounces upon completion of Wahgnion in 2019 and progressing towards an initial resource in January 2019 at Golden Hill. Although the forward-looking information contained in this press release reflect management's current beliefs based upon information currently available to management and based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Teranga cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions, opinions and analysis made by management in light of its experience, current conditions and its expectations of future developments that management believe to be reasonable and relevant but that may prove to be incorrect. These assumptions include, among other things, the closing and timing of financing, the ability to obtain any requisite governmental approvals, the accuracy of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, gold price, exchange rates, fuel and energy costs, future economic conditions, anticipated future estimates of free cash flow, and courses of action. Teranga cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements.

The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including government approvals and permitting, changes in economic conditions, changes in the worldwide price of gold and other key inputs, changes in mine plans and other factors, such as project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of Teranga, as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in Teranga's Annual Information Form dated March 29, 2018, and in other filings of Teranga with securities and regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com . Teranga does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change. Nothing in this document should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or sell Teranga securities. All references to Teranga include its subsidiaries unless the context requires otherwise.

ABOUT TERANGA

Teranga is a multi-jurisdictional West African gold company focused on production and development as well as the exploration of more than 6,400 km2 of land located on prospective gold belts. Since its initial public offering in 2010, Teranga has produced more than 1.5 million ounces of gold at its Sabodala operation in Senegal. Focused on diversification and growth, the Company is advancing construction of its second producing gold mine, Wahgnion, which is located in Burkina Faso, as well as carrying out extensive exploration programs in three West African countries: Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire and Senegal. The Company had more than 4.0 million ounces of gold reserves as of June 30, 2018. Teranga applies a rigorous capital allocation framework for its investment decisions to execute on its growth strategy relying on a combination of cash on the balance sheet, free cash flow from operations and debt.

Steadfast in its commitment to set the benchmark for responsible mining, Teranga operates in accordance with the highest international standards and aims to act as a catalyst for sustainable economic, environmental, and community development as it strives to create value for all of its stakeholders. Teranga is a member of the United Nations Global Compact and a leading member of the multi-stakeholder group responsible for the submission of the first Senegalese Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative revenue report.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Richard Young

President & CEO

T: +1 416-594-0000 | E: ryoung@terangagold.com Trish Moran

Head of Investor Relations

T: +1 416-607-4507 | E: tmoran@terangagold.com




A few people, their faces whitened with talcum powder, wander the alleyways of the cemetery in Port-au-Prince. They are honoring the souls of the dead by dressing as voodoo spirits of death -- a Haitian tradition that has faded over the years, under pressure from some Protestant groups and eclipsed by the more mundane pleasures of Halloween. The Caribbean nation celebrates its special version of Day of the Dead on November 1 and 2. As soon as you approach the entrance to the cemetery, the aroma of coffee fills the air, mixing with the stench of alcohol. Voodoo practitioners pour liquor on the tombs of their loved ones and at the cross of Baron Samedi, which is found in every Haitian cemetery. As legend has it, Baron Samedi -- sometimes known as Baron Lacroix, but always dressed as a foppish undertaker with a top hat and tails -- runs all cemeteries. He often carries a walking stick seen as a "phallic symbol, as the Guede spirits represent fertility," explains Erol Josue, a voodoo priest and the director of the national office of ethnology. Between saying prayers and making offerings, some of the voodoo "spirits of death" seem to fall into a sort of trance, drawing the attention of curious Haitians and foreigners. "As they come from a cold world, the world of death, the spirits drink a lot of alcohol with hot peppers," Josue said with a laugh. "They dance to traditional rhythms with exaggerated hip movements to make fun of the prudishness of men who have secret lives at night." - Protestant angst - Drinking and dancing on the remains of the dead is what has angered some Protestants. Not far from the cross of Baron Samedi, two men -- Bibles in hand -- beg passersby to forsake the devil and "return to the path of righteousness." Haiti is traditionally a country where either Catholicism or voodoo is practiced. But over the past 30 years or so, more and more Baptist and Pentecostal churches founded by US missionaries have cropped up. For Josue, "Protestants who refuse to accept this homegrown culture in Haiti are attacking our democracy." A byproduct of the growing Haitian diaspora in the United States is the increasing popularity of Halloween -- in some local schools, it is more popular than traditional festivities. Edine Celestin, a 34-year-old photographer, said she was caught off guard when her four-year-old daughter asked her for a witch costume. "She's been sold on this holiday as if it were universal. When I told her we did not have Halloween in Haiti, but instead the festival of the spirits, she told me no, that her teacher had said otherwise," Celestin said. "She was disappointed and sad," the mother added. "I obviously want her to understand other cultures, and for her to respect them as much as she does her own," Celestin said. "I'm not against the idea of celebrating Halloween, but substituting it for our celebration of the spirits? That makes me furious." Haitians honor the souls of the dead by dressing as voodoo spirits of death Voodoo practitioners pour liquor on the tombs of their loved ones and at the cross of Baron Samedi, which is found in every Haitian cemetery Some voodoo followers enter in a trance-like state while honoring the dead at the cemetery in Port-au-Prince A woman voodoo devotee in the role of a spirit throws talcum powder on the face of another woman in a trance during Day of the Dead ceremonies
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Seoul "soon", the South's President Moon Jae-in said Thursday, amid a rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula despite stalled nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington. At their third summit in Pyongyang in September, the leaders of the two Koreas agreed Kim would visit Seoul "in the near future" without giving a specific date. Moon later suggested that the trip was likely to happen this year, and told lawmakers Thursday that the peninsula was approaching "the historic starting line" for peace. "It appears that Chairman Kim Jong Un's trip to Russia and a visit to North Korea by (Chinese) President Xi Jinping will happen soon," Moon said, adding there was an "open" possibility of a meeting between Kim and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "Chairman Kim Jong Un's return visit to Seoul will happen soon," he added. No further detail was given. The remarks came on the day a no-fly zone went into force along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas in line with a military agreement they signed at the September summit in Pyongyang. The 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two sides still technically at war and divided by the DMZ. Under the pact signed by the defence ministers all hostile activities along the border were to cease from November 1, including military drills on land, at sea and in the air, to prevent accidental clashes. - Second summit - But despite the flurry of diplomacy on and around the peninsula differences are emerging between Seoul and its security ally Washington, which stations 28,500 troops in the South to protect it from its neighbour. At their historic Singapore summit, brokered by Moon, Kim and US President Donald Trump signed a vaguely-worded statement on denuclearisation but there has been little progress since then. Washington and Pyongyang have sparred over the exact terms of the agreement, with the US pushing to maintain sanctions and pressure against the North until its "final, fully verified denuclearisation". The dovish South Korean president has long favoured engagement with the North, which is subject to multiple UN Security Council sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. He has dangled large investment and joint cross-border projects as incentives for steps towards denuclearisation. Concerns have been raised that such schemes could violate the sanctions against the North, while the US has been adamant pressure should be maintained on Pyongyang until it fully dismantles its weapons programmes. The State Department said this week that Seoul and Washington would set up a new working group to strengthen coordination between them. Moon said a second Trump-Kim summit was "right before our eyes". "Now the South, the North, and the United States will achieve the complete denuclearisation and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula," he said. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested the next meeting between Trump and Kim will be "hopefully early in the next year, where we can make a substantial breakthrough in taking down the nuclear threat from North Korea". But in September, the North's foreign minister told the United Nations there was "no way" his country would disarm first as long as tough US sanctions remain against his country. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) will visit Seoul 'soon', according to the South's President Moon Jae-in (L)
South Korea's supreme court ruled Thursday that moral and religious beliefs are valid reasons to refuse the country's mandatory military service, in a case that has implications for hundreds of conscientious objectors. Some 65 years after the end of the Korean War, nearly every able-bodied South Korean male between the ages of 18 and 35 must still complete around two years of military service. Anyone refusing the call-up has usually ended up in prison for 18 months, with more than 19,000 conscientious objectors jailed since 1950, most of them Jehovah's Witnesses. But the Supreme Court overturned the conviction of a conscientious objector on Thursday, months after a landmark constitutional court ruling that authorities had to provide an alternative to joining the military. At the centre of Thursday's case is Jehovah's Witness Oh Seung-hun, who was called up in 2013 but refused. "It is the majority opinion of the supreme court that conscientious objection is... a valid reason (to refuse conscription)," said Supreme Court chief justice Kim Myeong-su. Punishing conscientious objectors "for refusing conscription on grounds of religious faith, in other words, freedom of conscience, is deemed an excessive constraint to an individual's freedom of conscience", he added. The decision overturned a previous Supreme Court ruling 14 years ago. Oh, 34, said his refusal stemmed from biblical teachings. "The bible says that everyone who uses a sword will be killed by a sword," Oh told AFP. "I expected to suffer for objecting to conscription but I thought the pain I would feel by not listening to my inner voice would be far worse," he added. Jehovah's Witnesses welcomed the ruling, calling it a "huge step forward in ending this policy of imprisoning our fellow believers". "Today the Supreme Court has brought South Korea more in line with international norms," said spokesman Paul Gillies. According to the Jehovah's Witnesses, more than 900 similar cases are pending in the South Korean justice system, with 96 people currently serving prison terms for not fulfilling their duties. - Conscripts killed - The South remains technically at war with the North, after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty. But the ruling comes amid a dramatic dialling-down of tensions on the peninsula, with Pyongyang holding summits with both the South and the US, long its sworn enemy. A defence ministry official said it was drawing up an alternative to military service for conscientious objectors in light of the June court ruling. Former conscripts were unhappy about the decision, calling it unfair. "I'd understand if someone is incapable of joining the military because of some inevitable reason, but I don't think it's fair if it's because of religious reasons," said 26-year-old Park Jae-hyeong. Seoul's armed forces rely heavily on conscription, and military service often involves postings to front-line positions on the border with the North. In May 2010, a North Korean submarine torpedoed the South Korean naval vessel Cheonan, killing 46 sailors including 16 who were on military service. In November the same year, the North shelled a South Korean border island, killing two marines -- both of them conscripts. Traditionally men have had to interrupt or delay either their education or their careers to comply with the military service requirement, with Tottenham striker Son Heung-min a high-profile recent example. He only secured an exemption -- avoiding a potentially ruinous career break -- by winning gold at this year's Asian Games in Indonesia. But South Korea has recently hinted at a possible reform of the military service exemption programme, which critics say unfairly rewards athletes and artists for one-time achievements. South Korean footballer Jang Hyun-soo on Thursday was banned for life from playing on the national team by the Korea Football Association for submitting false documents required for his military exemption. Around 19,000 conscientious objectors have been jailed since 1950 -- most of them Jehovah's Witnesses Oh Seung-hun, a Jehovah's Witness and conscientious objector, was at the centre of the landmark case Supreme Court chief justice Kim Myeong-su (centre) handed down the landmark ruling on conscientious objectors Nearly every able-bodied South Korean male between the ages of 18 and 35 must still complete around two years of military service
Leaning back in his chair and admitting he is feeling every one of his 93 years, the world's oldest leader Mahathir Mohamad says his second stint as Malaysian premier is taking its toll as he grapples with everything from fending off China to paying down a mammoth national debt. "I should be dead now, actually," joked the nonagenarian leader in an interview with AFP Thursday. The veteran statesman is as sharp and straight-talking as ever, and not one to shy away from offering frank views on controversial issues, including gay rights and anti-Semitism. But it's not been an easy ride for Mahathir -- who has suffered increasing health problems in recent years -- since his ramshackle alliance won a shock victory at May elections and toppled the corruption-plagued regime of Najib Razak. Since then, a host of former leaders have been been arrested for corruption, many linked to the novel-worthy political saga around sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, in which billions of dollars were allegedly looted in a fraud stretching from Singapore to Switzerland. Aside from the crackdown on corruption, Mahathir is seeking to pay off a $250 billion national debt, and has cancelled a string of costly China-backed mega-projects, risking the ire of the world's number-two economy. On top of that, his own coalition is an uneasy alliance. It was cobbled together as a means of ousting Najib and is packed with politicians who once vehemently opposed him, including former nemesis Anwar Ibrahim, now the presumptive successor to the premiership. "It is exhausting," conceded Mahathir. "This time around I have to do more work than the first time I became prime minister... the whole government machinery has been destroyed almost." - Shock victory - Mahathir's victory took almost everyone -- including his own alliance -- by surprise, and amounted to a political earthquake that ousted the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition after six decades in power. After years of graft scandals and divisive racial politics in the multi-ethnic country, voters finally had enough of BN, with the 1MDB scandal the tipping point for many. Najib's fall from grace has been swift. He and his luxury-loving wife Rosmah Mansor have been arrested -- Najib has now been hit with a total of 38 corruption charges -- and both are likely facing long jail terms. A stash of cash, jewellery and hundreds of designer handbags worth over $270 million was seized from properties linked to the pair. Other figures aligned with the previous government, from the central bank chief to the attorney-general, have left their positions, and Mahathir and his team are scrambling to fill big holes in the administration. "I had to get rid of people who in the past, under the previous government, had... politically been involved with government," said Mahathir in the interview at the office of a foundation that he heads the in administrative capital Putrajaya. "A lot of things were spoiled by Najib in his effort to use every institution to ensure his winning the election." Adding to his difficulties, Mahathir has risked souring relations with Beijing by cancelling Chinese-financed railway and gas pipelines projects, which were widely viewed as dubious deals struck by Najib as he sought money to pay off debts. "We just cannot afford it," Mahathir said of the deals, but insisted relations with China were still good. - Succession speculation - Constant speculation about whether Mahathir will stick to a promise to hand power to Anwar within two years of taking office is also proving a major distraction. The pair's stormy relationship has loomed over Malaysian politics ever since Mahathir sacked Anwar, then a powerful deputy premier, in the 1990s, and Anwar was thrown into jail on questionable sodomy and corruption charges. Following May's election victory, Anwar was released from jail and pardoned -- he had been imprisoned again under Najib's regime in 2015 -- and earlier this month was re-elected to parliament. Mahathir brushed off the suggestion that Anwar's return to frontline politics could cause tensions: "I have worked with him before... I have no problem, I can work with everybody." Mahathir is enjoying a long honeymoon after Barisan National's defeat but critics remain concerned about his own authoritarian tendencies. During his first stint as premier from 1981 to 2003, he was accused of undermining the judiciary and other institutions, the press came under attack and political opponents were thrown in jail. He remains unapologetic about some of his more controversial views, such as that same-sex marriage is unacceptable in Malaysia, and that Jews are "hook-nosed". But as age catches up with him, Mahathir admitted he will have no choice but to relinquish power. And he insisted he would stick to his pledge to hand power to Anwar: "I have made a promise; I will keep my promise." Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is balancing both an uneasy leadership coalition and a crackdown on corruption in the former government Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak has been arrested and charged with a total of 38 corruption charges Mahathir Mohamad says a "lot of things were spoiled" by Malaysia's former leader Najib Mahathir has promised to hand power to former nemesis Anwar Ibrahim within two years
Divers have found a piece of landing gear from a crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesian authorities said Thursday, following the discovery of a critical black box that could explain why the brand-new plane plummeted into the sea, killing 189 people. Search teams have been scouring the seabed for the fuselage of the Boeing-737 MAX 8, which plunged into the waters off Indonesia's northern coast shortly after takeoff on Monday despite only being in service a few months. Referring to the landing gear, search and rescue agency head Muhammad Syaugi said late Thursday, "we have found part of it", as authorities piece together what caused the crash. "Separately, we have found bigger parts of the plane than we have seen in previous days," he added, hours after officials announced the recovery of a data recorder from the plane. There were no known survivors and only body parts have been found so far. Relatives are desperate to be able to say goodbye to their loved ones and the first funeral for one of the passengers was held on Thursday. But many others have yet to be located and analysts hope more victims could still be found with the bulk of the wreckage. "I assume that there will be a lot of bodies still strapped into the seats," aviation analyst Dudi Sudibyo told AFP. Dozens of divers are taking part in the massive recovery effort along with helicopters and ships, but the authorities have all but ruled out finding any survivors. - Cockpit recorder still missing - The plane's black boxes, which airlines are required to install, offer investigators their best chance of discovering why such a new jet crashed. The devices record information about the speed, altitude and direction of the plane as well as flight crew conversations. "The good news is we have found one of the black boxes," Syaugi told reporters earlier Thursday. Authorities said a flight data recorder was recovered, but they were still looking for the cockpit voice recorder. On a Jakarta dockside Thursday, Boeing and US National Transportation Safety Board officials joined the Indonesian team in sifting through twisted metal plane parts and piles of passengers' torn clothing, shoes, wallets and phones. The single-aisle Boeing plane, which was on its way from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang city, is one of the world's newest and most advanced commercial passenger jets. Despite the name, black boxes are in fact bright orange with reflective stripes. They are built to survive at vast depths and in extreme heat, and are fitted with a beacon which can emit a signal for one month. Black boxes help explain nearly 90 percent of all crashes, according to aviation experts. "Data from the plane -- the engine, all the instruments -- are recorded there," Sudibyo said. "If there is an anomaly, some technical problem, it is recorded there too." - First funeral - Passengers' remains are being sent to hospital for DNA identification. Forensic experts identified Jannatun Cintya Dewi as the first victim of the crash Wednesday evening. The 24-year-old civil servant's coffin was carried by pallbearers through the streets of her East Java hometown Sidoarjo on Thursday. Dewi's mother collapsed and had to be carried into their home, with friends and relatives weeping as the casket was laid in a freshly dug grave sprinkled with flowers. A bowl of fruit and two palm branches lay at one end. Some relatives have shared heart-wrenching tales of their final contact with loved ones. A selfie taken by a newlywed husband, Deryl Fida Febrianto, and sent to his wife some 30 minutes before the jetliner crashed has gone viral online. Aviation experts are puzzled by the accident but say it's too early to determine what caused it. Lion Air's admission that the jet had an unspecified technical issue on a previous flight -- as well its abrupt fatal dive -- have raised questions about whether it had faults specific to the newly released model, including a speed-and-altitude system malfunction. The accident has also resurrected concerns about Indonesia's poor air safety record which until recently saw the country's carriers facing years-long bans from entering European Union and US airspace. Lion Air has been plagued by safety concerns and customer complaints over unreliable scheduling and poor service. The budget carrier 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. In 2014, an AirAsia crash in the Java Sea during stormy weather killed 162 people. Divers retrieved one of the plane's two black boxes, which could hold vital clues to the cause of the deadly accident Jannatun Cintya Dewi, 24, is the first victim to have been identified among the 189 believed killed when the Lion Air plane crashed into the sea Officials from Boeing and the US National Transportation Safety Board joined the Indonesian team sifting through twisted metal plane parts and a pile of personal effects plucked from the sea Authorities are sending recovered remains to hospital for DNA comparison to passengers' relatives Data for the flight JT610 which crashed on Monday, and for the preceding flights to the same destination since October 24. A smartphone case and shoes are among the recovered personal items of victims on board the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT 610
From abandoned baby kangaroos to wallabies being blinded by the sun and koalas having to go walkabout to look for eucalyptus leaves, Australia's exotic wild animals are struggling to adapt to a crippling drought. The "big dry", lasting for several years in some areas, is turning vast swathes of lush green land across the continent's eastern interior brown. "There are large numbers of kangaroos dying all over the country," ecologist Richard Kingsford from the University of New South Wales told AFP, warning that change was occurring "at such a fast rate for so many animals and plants that they can't adapt in that amount of time". The government is ramping up aid to support drought-stricken farmers as they struggle to make ends meet and feed their stock. But conservationists warn that the natural environment, particularly endangered wildlife, also needs support. While droughts are not uncommon in Australia and native species are hardier than livestock, additional factors such as human activity, introduced animals and dwindling water sources are adding to the stress on populations. Wildlife rescuer Racheal Walker has seen a sharp increase in the number of baby kangaroos, or joeys, being taken into care in central-west New South Wales (NSW) state. The malnourished babies are abandoned by mothers who aren't able to feed them, while others are orphaned young whose parents were struck by vehicles as they roam closer to towns in search of food and water. Other smaller marsupials that usually prefer wooded areas are also venturing far beyond their habitat in search of sustenance. "We're finding a lot more wallabies with blindness because they're actually coming out into the open paddocks searching for food, and their eyes are unable to cope with full sunlight," Walker, of NSW rescue group WIRES, told AFP. Koalas are travelling longer distances as the eucalyptus trees they feed on dry up, exposing them to dog attacks and car accidents. And echidnas, also known as spiny anteaters, are becoming roadkill as they venture onto roads during the mating season. Between 2016 and this year, WIRES recorded a 52 percent increase in the number of macropods rescued, and a whopping 81 percent jump for wombats. The toll could be much higher in inland areas not frequented by people, Walker warned. In northwest NSW, ecologist Kingsford has seen a collapse in the kangaroo population of more than 90 percent. - Sharing habitats - The drought has fuelled conflict between native animals and farmers fervently trying to save every last blade of grass and feed for their livestock. In Booligal, where rainfall this year is 75 percent below average, farmers Matt and Sandra Ireson have seen increasing numbers of kangaroos and emus near roadways as they chase the "green pick" -- tufts of grass that spring up from water running off tarmac after a rare shower. One result has been a 20 percent jump in the number of traffic collisions involving wildlife in the last three years, according to insurance industry figures, prompting Sandra Ireson to start teaching young farmers "drought-driving" skills. The largest kangaroo species are powerful creatures that can grow up to two metres (6 foot, six inches) tall and weigh up to 90 kilogrammes (198 pounds), causing serious damage to cars and drivers. "People don't want to hurt the animal because that's understandable, but sometimes you just need to learn you don't swerve, you just have to brake," Ireson said. "And you may have to injure the animal, which is disappointing but that's better than having a disastrous accident." Ireson's lessons are part of her efforts to attract and keep younger Australians in the bush. With scientists warning that climate change is exacerbating droughts and increasing the intensity and frequency of heatwaves, Australians are having to adapt to the extended dry periods and learning to live with more -- and closer -- encounters with animals. For local farmer Alison McLean, who runs tourism project The Long Paddock to draw visitors to the agriculture-dependent region, the sharing of habitats between native animals and humans doesn't have to be a negative experience. "They are coming closer, which actually gives people an opportunity to see them, as long as they practise safe-driving," McLean told AFP, adding that she now has two echidnas living just outside her yard. "It's pretty amazing to see mobs of 30 emus go past you, which is what we see quite regularly and yet we still stop and take photos of it." With no end to the drought in sight, ecologist Kingsford is hopeful governments will take measures to protect vulnerable species, such as keeping farm livestock out of national parks so that wildlife has a food source during the dry spells. "There's a discussion, which is right, about the challenges for farming communities, but people also need to realise that the natural environment also goes through very hard times during droughts as well," he said. A kangaroo hops across the road outside the town of Booligal in western New South Wales -- one of the many species struggling to adapt to Australia's crippling drought There has been a 20 percent jump in the number of road accidents involving wildlife in the past three years in Australia and conservationists say a drought that has forced animals to roam closer to towns in search of food and water is partly to blame Vegetation for grazing has been scarce due to the severe and prolonged drought, forcing farmers such as Matt Ireson to provide supplementary food for their cattle Graphic on drought in Australia and how it affects native species. With scientists warning that climate change is exacerbating droughts and increasing the intensity and frequency of heatwaves, Australians are having to adapt to the extended dry periods
Peru's powerful opposition leader Keiko Fujimori was taken to a jail in Lima on Thursday, one day after a court ordered she be held in preventive detention for three years pending the outcome of a multi-million dollar corruption probe. The 43-year-old was taken to a woman's prison in the south of the capital after a night in a sleeping bag in a cell at the Palace of Justice, where judge Richard Concepcion Carhuancho delivered the verdict Fujimori had feared. Television images showed a handcuffed Fujimori smiling as she was taken Thursday in a police vehicle to the Chorrillos women's prison. Around a dozen supporters of the Popular Force party that Fujimori founded in 2001 chanted, "Courage, Keiko, your people are here," as she arrived at the prison. The daughter of disgraced former president Alberto Fujimori is accused of accepting $1.2 million in illicit party funding from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht for her 2011 presidential campaign. She could face 20 years in prison if eventually convicted. In ordering her detention, Carhuancho said there was a "serious suspicion" that Fujimori was running a "de facto criminal organization that is entrenched within the party" and had laundered illicit money. He described Fujimori as a "high flight risk" and said "the only necessary measure in her case is undoubtedly preventive detention." The judge took eight hours to reach his verdict, which almost certainly scuppers Fujimori's hopes of running for the presidency in 2021. Twice before, in 2011 and 2016, she was defeated in a presidential run-off, despite the Popular Force party winning the most votes in both elections. Her attorney Giuliana Loza told RPP radio station she would lodge an appeal on Monday. Carhuancho is due to rule on public prosecutor Jose Domingo Perez's request for another 10 suspects to be held in preventive detention in connection with the Odebrecht investigation, which involves tracing millions of dollars in illicit payments. Odebrecht has admitted spending hundreds of millions of dollars to buy politicians' favor in governments across Latin America. Peru's opposition leader Keiko Fujimori was taken from the Palace of Justice to a women's prison in Lima, where she could stay for three years as a graft probe unfolds
Once implemented, the Comprehensive and Progressive TPP (CPTPP) promises to expand trade and business opportunities for Canadian exporters while boosting competition domestically

TORONTO, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The members and directors of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association of Canada (JAMA Canada) applaud the Minister of International Trade Diversification, the Hon Jim Carr, and the Government of Canada for their extraordinary efforts in passing Bill C-79, ensuring a timely ratification of the CPTPP.

For JAMA Canada and our members, CPTPP is simply a matter of fairness which will allow our members to compete on an equal footing with all other importers in the Canadian market, said David Worts, Executive Director of JAMA Canada. We are looking forward to the early implementation of the agreement by the end of the year now that six countries have completed ratification.

The early implementation of the CPTPP will offer significant first-mover benefits to Canadian exporters through trade diversification, and offers our members, dealers, customers and Japanese investors the assurance of a more competitive market in Canada, as well as a strong endorsement of the multilateral trade system said Worts.

According to JAMA Canada, open competition will bring greater choice along with innovations in vehicle safety, lower emissions, higher fuel efficiency, alternative power trains (like electric, fuel cell, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles) and eventually the promise of enhanced mobility and reduced congestion through connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.

About JAMA Canada

JAMA Canada is a non-profit trade association representing subsidiaries of Japanese automakers in Canada, and was established in 1984 to promote greater understanding in trade and economic matters between Canada and Japan. For more information, please visit: http://www.jama.ca
The Prince of Wales on Thursday called on The Gambia to work with Britain to promote democracy nearly two years after the small West African nation emerged from decades of authoritarian rule. Prince Charles's arrival in The Gambia was the first royal visit since the 2017 ousting of President Yahya Jammeh who withdrew from the Commonwealth and threatened to change the country's official language from English. "The UK and The Gambia can once again work together to defend our shared common values and to promote democracy, human rights, tolerance and the rule of law," said Prince Charles, accompanied by his wife Camilla at an event in the capital Banjul. The Gambia was welcomed back into the Commonwealth during a visit by the Gambian president to London earlier this year. Prince Charles said The Gambia's re-entry was an "important milestone" as the former British colony chose to turn its back on twenty years of Jammeh's rule. He called on the two countries to commit to addressing The Gambia's urgent needs such as resource depletion, youth unemployment and rapid urbanisation with the help of Commonwealth member states. "Please know that UK and the other members of the Commonwealth stand with you," Prince Charles said. President Adama Barrow said the return to the Commonwealth illustrated his government's willingness to enhance international cooperation. "I also call on the United Kingdom with whom we have close historical ties to continue to support us through enhancing trade, investment and economic cooperation," he said. Following the event at MacCarthy Square, where the Union Jack was lowered in 1965 and the Gambian flag raised, the Duchess of Cornwall visited a middle school on the outskirts of Banjul to donate a metalwork lathe and plant a tree. Local officials said it was the first royal visit since the country rejoined the Commonwealth. The last visit was by Princess Anne in 1990. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall also visited a military barracks and a war cemetery where World War II army veterans were laid to rest. Jammeh took over The Gambia, the smallest country on land in Africa, in a military coup in 1994 and installed a structure of oppression. But his reign began to fall in December 2016, when he suffered an electoral defeat at the hands of Barrow, the opposition leader. He refused to step down, but was forced out the following month after other West African countries intervened militarily. He flew into self-imposed exile in Equatorial Guinea. Prince Charles's arrival in the Gambia was the first royal visit since the 2017 ousting of President Yahya Jammeh who withdrew from the Commonwealth and threatened to change the country?s official language from English Britain's Camilla (C), Duchess of Cornwall, and Fatou Bah-Barrow (L), wife of Gambia's President Adama Barrow, visited a local school During his visit Prince Charles called on the two countries to commit to addressing The Gambia's urgent needs such as resource depletion, youth unemployment and rapid urbanisation with the help of commonwealth member states The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall also visited a military barracks and a war cemetery where World War II army veterans were laid to rest
North Korean police and other officials prey on women with near-total impunity, a rights group said Thursday, in a rare report on sex abuse in the isolated nation. US-based Human Rights Watch drew on interviews with more than 50 North Korean escapees to chronicle gruesome details of rape and other abuses perpetrated by security officers such as border guards, but also civilian officials. The nuclear-armed North, which is accused of widespread rights abuses by the United Nations and other critics, is a deeply hierarchical and patriarchal society where traditional values of deference to authority still hold sway. But the vast majority of both defectors and market traders in the North are female. Many women have more freedom of movement than men as they are not assigned a state job from which their absence will be noticed. North Korean women caught fleeing the country to China or who are repatriated from its neighbour face severe punishment including torture, imprisonment and sexual abuse, the report said. "Every night some woman would be forced to leave with a guard and be raped," said one abuse victim in her 30s who was once held at a border detention centre. "Every night a prison guard would open the cell. I stood still quietly, acting like I didn't notice, hoping it wouldn't be me," she said. - 'At the mercy of men' - Traders who smuggle goods across the border with China to sell at state-sanctioned private markets are forced to pay "bribes" including sexual favours, the report said. Perpetrators include managers at state-owned enterprises, and gatekeeper officials at the markets and on roads and checkpoints, such as "police, prosecutors, soldiers, and railroad inspectors on trains," it said. But the concept of rape is different in the North, it added, where it is seen as applying only if violence is used. One anonymous former textile trader in her 40s recounted being treated like a sex toy "at the mercy of men". "On the days they felt like it, market guards or police officials could ask me to follow them to an empty room outside the market, or some other place they'd pick," where they forced sexual encounters, she said. "It happens so often nobody thinks it is a big deal. We don't even realise when we are upset," she added. "But we are human, and we feel it," she said. "So sometimes, out of nowhere, you cry at night and don't know why." - 'Open secret' - Some interviewees talked about rape victims in the North being expelled from university or beaten and abandoned by a husband for bringing shame to the school or their family. "Sexual violence in North Korea is an open, unaddressed, and widely tolerated secret," said HRW executive director Kenneth Roth. "North Korean women would probably say 'Me Too' if they thought there was any way to obtain justice, but their voices are silenced in Kim Jong Un's dictatorship," he added. Kim is the third generation of his family to rule the country, where state surveillance is widespread and dissent not tolerated. With the authorities imposing total control over the media the global #MeToo campaign against abuse of women has entirely passed North Korea by. According to data submitted by Pyongyang to an UN panel on gender equality a total of five people were convicted of rape in the North in 2015. Pyongyang maintains that it protects and promotes "genuine human rights", and says there is no justification for the West to try to set human rights standards for the rest of the world. It condemns international criticism on the issue as a smear campaign to undermine its "sacred socialist system". Kim has sought to soften his international image and has engaged with South Korea, holding three summits with Seoul's President Moon Jae-in -- a dove who advocates dialogue to nudge Pyongyang towards denuclearisation. But Roth warned that human rights were taking a back seat with Moon -- a former human rights lawyer -- staying largely mum on the issue as he seeks reconciliation with the North. "I think President Moon is naive and short-sighted to pretend that human rights can wait," he said, urging Seoul to "stop accepting negotiations solely on the terms of the North Korean government". The HRW report quoted another victim -- who also used a pseudonym -- saying she had been raped by a police officer after being denied food for three days in a dark room at a border detention centre. At the time, she said, "I thought I was offering my body so that I could get out of there and go to my kid. I was not even upset. Rather, I even thought I was lucky." Human Rights Watch issues rare report on sex abuse in North Korea which says police and other officials prey on women with near-total impunity Factfile on human rights abuses and issues in North Korea, documented in major reports. Human Rights Watch drew on interviews with more than 50 North Korean escapees to chronicle gruesome details of rape and other abuses North Korea is a deeply hierarchical and patriarchal society where traditional values of deference to authority still hold sway


The two sisters from Saudi Arabia, whose bodies were found bound together with tape on the bank of a New York river, had been ordered to leave the US after applying for political asylum, it has been revealed.

The sisters, Tala Farea, 16, and Rotana Farea, 22, were discovered on October 24 on a bank of the Hudson River, about 410 kilometres from Fairfax, Virginia, where they lived and were reported missing in August.

As of Tuesday, investigators still had not determined how they died.

The sisters bodies were taped together and facing each other, but had no obvious signs of trauma, police said. They were both fully clothed.

Their mother told detectives that the day before the bodies were discovered, she received a call from an official at the Saudi Arabian Embassy, ordering the family to leave the US because her daughters had applied for political asylum, New York police said on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabias Consulate General in New York said in a statement that it had appointed an attorney to follow the case closely.

New York City police sent a detective to Virginia to learn more about the sisters.

Two undated photos show sisters Rotana, left, and Tala Farea, whose fully clothed bodies, bound together with tape and facing each other, were discovered on on the banks of New York Citys Hudson River waterfront on Oct. 24, 2018. Source: NYPD via AP

Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said they were particularly interested in finding out what happened since they were reported missing and what led them to New York City.

We are looking at all clues in their past life, Shea said.

The medical examiners office was investigating the cause of death.

The lack of obvious trauma appeared to rule out a theory they jumped into the river from the George Washington Bridge.

In a statement, the Saudi Consulate General said embassy officials in Washington had contacted the family and extended its support and aid in this trying time.

It said the sisters were students accompanying their brother in Washington.

Tala and Rotana moved to the US from Saudi Arabia with their mother in 2015, settling in Fairfax, a suburb of Washington DC, police said.

Update: the two women have been identified. Thanks to everyone who shared the sketches, and thank you @NYPDDetectives. https://t.co/SMNOQt8SqE  NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) October 28, 2018

Rotana was enrolled at George Mason University, but left in the spring.

Story continues

A George Mason spokesman called the news of her death tragic, and said the university was cooperating with police.

Police said the sisters left their family home and were placed in a shelter after an earlier disappearance, in December 2017.

They were reported missing again on August 24 this year.

Police initially struggled to identify the bodies as much of the city and the country was transfixed by another mystery: the package bombs sent to a dozen prominent Democrats and CNNs New York City bureau.

Police released sketches of the sisters faces and posted repeated calls for the publics help in identifying them on social media.

We are out to get justice for those two girls and find out exactly what happened, Shea said.
The Sri Lankan president's party on Thursday reignited a constitutional crisis over which of two rival prime ministers heads the government by insisting that parliament will remain suspended. A spokesman for President Maithripala Sirisena's party announced the new u-turn just hours after Sirisena told diplomats in Colombo that parliament would be allowed to meet on Monday. Sirisena set off the crisis last Friday by sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister and bringing in former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse. Wickremesinghe refused to accept the dismissal and the president suspended parliament. The announcement of a Monday meeting had boosted hopes that lawmakers would be allowed to vote on which of the arch-foes they support. Rajapakse had also told a meeting of academics in Colombo that the legislature will be recalled on Monday. But at the end of the day, Sirisena party spokesman Mahindananda Aluthgamage told reporters parliament will only reconvene on November 16 in line with the early suspension order. "On Monday we will have a mass rally near parliament." In parallel, the Rajapakse administration announced measures to reduce personal and corporate taxes and cut the price of fuel and several commodities. Observers said this could be an attempt to win over the population. The renewed suspension still came as a new bombshell in the dispute which will mark one week with much of the government paralysed. Parliament speaker Karu Jayasuriya warned this week that delaying the reopening of parliament could lead to a "bloodbath" on the streets. One activist has already been killed in fallout from the tensions. Sirisena agreed to lift the suspension in a meeting late Wednesday with Jayasuriya, according to officials. But the speaker's staff said no written notification of the deal was ever sent. The crisis has put the country on edge, threatens to polarise voters and also caused international concern. Sirisena insists his actions were legal but Jayasuriya, who holds the third most powerful state post, has refused to defend the president's manoeuvres. Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya has also cast doubt on the legality of Sirisena's moves, increasing pressure on the president. - Foreign pressure - Colombo-based Western diplomats have made it clear that they were unwilling to recognise the new administration, diplomatic sources said. The United States, neighbouring India and Sri Lanka's key financial backer China have called on the rivals to peacefully resolve the crisis. Wickremesinghe has remained bunkered in the prime minister's official residence in Colombo with hundreds of his followers camped outside. He has repeatedly demanded that the legislature be recalled for him to prove his majority in the 225-member assembly. Rajapakse, whose decade as president up to 2015 became known for corruption allegations and the brutal ending of the Tamil civil war, is working out of a separate building that is officially the prime minister's offices. The 72-year-old has named a small ministerial team of 12 and addressed bureaucrats at the finance ministry on Wednesday. He added another 14 ministers on Thursday night. The two rivals are also jockeying for power behind the scenes, battling to tempt lawmakers from opposing sides to bolster their numbers for when a vote is held. Both sides have asked legislators on foreign visits to return home immediately. Rajapakse has given five legislators from Wickremesinghe's party ministerial positions in his cabinet after they defected. Wickremesinghe has convinced at least two lawmakers from Sirisena's camp to join his United National Party. According to the latest counts, Wickremesinghe has 104 MPs while Rajapakse and Sirisena together have 99. A majority of the 22 remaining MPs are expected to back Wickremesinghe, observers said. Even if the crisis is patched up, observers are worried about how the country will go into a presidential election scheduled for next year and legislative polls in 2020. "The struggle for power jeopardises progress on reforms, ethnic reconciliation, and prospects for peaceful and fair elections in 2019," said the International Crisis Group think tank. It has called on the United States, European Union and other key nations to put more pressure on Sirisena to end the battle. "They should back these calls by making clear that Rajapakse's appointment, if it stands, threatens the future of security and economic cooperation." Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena (L) had suspended parliament until November 16 after sacking Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe (R) last Friday but has now compromised The crisis was sparked by the president sacking the prime minister and naming former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse (C) in his place Sri Lankan soldiers stand guard at Mahinda Rajapakse's residence after he was sworn in as prime minister in Colombo on October 27


Sydney nightclub identity John Macris has reportedly been gunned down in Greece.

Macris has been named by Greek and Australian media as the victim of a fatal shooting in Voula, a suburb of Athens, on Wednesday.

The 46-year-old was reportedly ambushed and shot multiple times while exiting his car on the winding cliff-side road to his home.

John Macris was shot dead in Voula, Greece. Source: Greek City Times

Greek media described him as a wealthy man, known to police in both Greece and Australia, with the nickname the Australo.

Members of the Ibrahim family were in 2012 cleared of conspiring to kill Macris, who was believed by some to be linked to the shooting of Fadi Ibrahim.

Macris was previously a business partner of former Kings Cross nightclub owner John Ibrahim but the pair had a falling out in 2007.

John Macris was reportedly shot multiple times while exiting his car. Source: 7 News

News Corp reports Macris once dated PR queen and Sydney socialite Roxy Jacenko but has been living with his girlfriend Viktoria Karida, a former Playboy model, for the last seven years. The pair share a child.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was aware of the incident and was ready to offer consular assistance to any Australian citizens or their families.
US President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the Syrian conflict during a phone call on Thursday, the Turkish presidency said in a statement. The statement was released not long after it was announced that Turkish and American troops had begun conducting joint patrols in the northern Syrian city of Manbij. The leaders discussed the cooperation agreement in Manbij, which is held by a US-backed Kurdish militia that Turkey deems a terrorist group, the statement said. They also spoke of Idlib, the last major area in Syria still outside the control of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, where a demilitarised zone has been planned. The presidents agreed to maintain "close contact" and maintained their "determination" to "further strengthen bilateral relations", according to the statement. Washington's support of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria has strained already tense relations between NATO allies Turkey and the US. Ankara considers the YPG to be a "terrorist offshoot" of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody insurgency in Turkey since 1984 with the goal of forming an independent Kurdish state. To ease ties, the countries agreed to a road map in June that included the YPG withdrawing from Manbij and establishing the joint patrols in the city. However Turkey has repeatedly threatened a new offensive in northern Syria and has shelled YPG positions there in the past couple of days. The US-led coalition against IS said on Thursday it was working to "de-escalate" fighting between Turkey and the Kurdish militia. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump discussed the cooperation agreement between their countries in Manbij, which is held by a US-backed Kurdish militia that Turkey deems a terrorist group
President Donald Trump further hardened his pre-election anti-immigration rhetoric in a Florida campaign stop on Wednesday, after threatening to deploy as many as 15,000 soldiers on the Mexican border -- equal to the size of the US contingent in Afghanistan. "They got a lot of rough people in these caravans. They are not angels," he said in Fort Myers, referring to migrants from poor Central American countries moving towards the United States in hopes of a better life or to escape violence. "We're gettin' prepared for the caravan, folks," he said. Brushing aside accusations that his divisive rhetoric on immigration is stoking extremism, Trump made the troop announcement before flying to Florida for the last stage of campaigning ahead of next Tuesday's midterm elections. He will host 11 rallies across eight states in the next six days. Trump hopes to fire up core Republican voters and spur the party to retain dominance of both chambers of Congress. Democrats are threatening to light a fire under Trump's feet if they win even partial control, raising the specter of ever more brutal Washington politics. At the core of Trump's message to his raucous, adoring supporters is the now near daily warning that America is literally under attack from an "invasion" of illegal immigrants and that Democrats would throw open the borders. On Tuesday, Trump announced that more than 5,000 active duty soldiers were being sent. That was already highly unusual, but on Wednesday, he told reporters at the White House: "We'll do up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel." Trump frequently describes illegal immigrants -- a tiny minority of whom have formed groups to attempt walking hundreds of miles to the US border -- as "rapists" and "thugs." "It's a dangerous group of people," Trump said of the latest group of a few thousand migrants, who are still deep inside Mexico far from their goal. "They're not coming into our country." The situation, according to the Department of Homeland Security, is "an unprecedented crisis." However, the department's own figures show that the number of illegal immigrants intercepted in 2018 was only 400,000, a mere 25 percent of the 1.6 million figure in 2000. - Guns, bombs - The president has reveled in his anti-immigrant rhetoric for months. At his "Make America Great Again" rallies, like the one in Florida on Wednesday, Trump leads supporters in chanting "build the wall" -- a reference to his so-far unrealized dream of erecting a partition along the entire US-Mexican frontier. But the nationalist -- or what critics say is the racist-tinged -- policy was engulfed in deep controversy last week when an alleged anti-Semitic fanatic gunned down 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue. According to US news reports, the shooter had taken inspiration from Trump's speeches in his stated desire to fight for white people. Similarly, a Florida man arrested last week on charges of mailing homemade bombs to more than a dozen Trump opponents was an ardent supporter of the president. The alarming escalation of extremist politics threw Trump on the defensive, with opponents claiming that he had helped create an atmosphere in which the two attackers felt comfortable to carry out their plans. On Tuesday, Trump made a politically tricky visit to Pittsburgh, accompanied by his wife Melania, Orthodox Jewish son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka. Trump played the traditional presidential role of healer-in-chief at the Tree of Life synagogue, laying memorial stones and spending more than an hour at a nearby hospital with the widow of one of the slain. The experience was "very humbling and very sad," Trump said. Opponents and noisy groups of local protesters said, however, that he shouldn't even have come. Starkly illustrating the controversy, there wasn't anyone available, beyond the local air force base commander and his wife, to meet the president on arrival from Washington. Pittsburgh's mayor was among those who suggested that Trump stay away. - Brushing off, doubling down - White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders pointed out that Trump "was also asked to come by some" and insisted that he'd gone to "represent the country in this moment." Certainly Trump was back in fighting mood on Wednesday, tweeting that he and Melania "were treated very nicely yesterday in Pittsburgh." "Small protest was not seen by us, staged far away," he said. "The Fake News stories were just the opposite-Disgraceful!" He then explored his latest eye-catching plan for curtailing immigration: removal of a constitutionally protected right to citizenship for anyone born on US soil. The automatic right, which is also given in neighboring Canada and Mexico, has been criticized as outmoded, providing a loophole for the children of illegal immigrants. "The World is using our laws to our detriment. They laugh at the Stupidity they see!" he tweeted. However, the nature and timing of Trump's proposal -- first aired Tuesday -- has been controversial, particularly given his insistence that he can personally overrule something so far protected by the constitution. US President Donald Trump called migrants "rough people" as he began in Florida a series of rallies across several states ahead of November 6 midterm elections Soldiers from the 541st Sapper Company sit and wait for take-off in an Air Force C-130J Super Hercules at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, for their deployment to assist with security along the Mexican border A firestorm of protest raged around US President Donald Trump's visit to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 30, 2018, following a deadly anti-Semitic massacre US President Donald Trump, pictured with First Lady Melania and Rabbi Jeffrey Myers during a controversial visit to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that soldiers deployed to the Mexican border could shoot Central American migrants who throw stones at them while attempting to cross illegally. Trump told journalists at the White House that a group of several thousand migrants walking through Mexico towards the US border had thrown rocks "viciously and violently" at Mexican police. "We're not going to put up with that. They want to throw rocks at our military, our military fights back," he said. "I told them (troops) consider it (a rock) a rifle. When they throw rocks like they did at the Mexican military and police, I say consider it a rifle." Trump spoke during a presentation of his controversial policy on cracking down against what he says is uncontrolled illegal immigration. Contacted for comment, Pentagon spokesman Army Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Davis said the military would not discuss hypothetical situations on the use of force "but our forces are trained professionals who always have the inherent right of self-defense." "I would also emphasize that our forces are in support of DHS/CBP, who are performing law enforcement activities," he added, referring to the frontline Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection. Trump has ramped up the rhetoric daily ahead of next Tuesday's midterm congressional elections, accusing the opposition Democrats of wanting to throw open the borders to floods of "tough people," "rapists" and other types of threats. The current focus of the president's repeated claim to be acting against "an invasion" is the dwindling group of a few thousand impoverished migrants trying to get north, but still far from the US border. Trump said that from now on, the United States will stop its policy of allowing people to claim political asylum at the border unless they have first gone through an official border post. Those caught at the border will be held in tent camps or other facilities until they can be deported or have their requests approved, he said. Critics say that such a radical rethink to asylum policies could violate current laws. But Trump rejected this. "This is totally legal. No, we're stopping people at the border. This is an invasion, and nobody is even questioning that," he said. "We'll be doing an executive order sometime next week," he said, giving little further detail. Despite Trump's increasingly severe warnings of immigration chaos, the government on Wednesday issued figures saying that only about 400,000 people have been apprehended at the border in 2018, down from around 1.6 million in 2000. Trump said he was not anti-immigrant but wanted immigration to be completely brought under control. "Mass uncontrolled immigration is especially unfair to the many wonderful law-abiding immigrants already living here who followed the rules and waited their turn," he said. "Some have been waiting for many years. Some have been waiting a long time. They have done everything perfectly, and they are going to come in." Trump told journalists at the White House that a group of several thousand migrants attempting to walk from Central America through Mexico had thrown rocks "viciously and violently" at Mexican police Trump has ramped up the rhetoric daily ahead of next Tuesday's midterm congressional elections, accusing the opposition Democrats of wanting to throw open the borders to floods of "tough people," "rapists" and other types of threats The current focus of Trump's repeated claim to be acting against "an invasion" is the dwindling group of a few thousand impoverished migrants trying to get north President Donald Trump has announced plans to send as many as 15,000 active-duty troops to the US-Mexico border
Facing condemnation for its decades-old embargo on Cuba, the United States will on Thursday try to shift the focus at the United Nations to the communist government's human rights record. The General Assembly is set to vote on a draft resolution presented by Cuba calling for an end to the US embargo -- an annual exercise since 1992 that has won overwhelming support. In a shift, US Ambassador Nikki Haley this year has presented eight amendments that criticize Cuba's human rights record, hoping to counter calls for ending the embargo by drawing a spotlight on repression. "Every year Cuba puts forth a resolution that blames Cuba's poverty, repression, and lack of freedom on the United States," the US mission to the United Nations posted on Twitter Wednesday. "Tomorrow the UN will hear what we have to say about that and countries will have to vote between Cuba or the US. Who will vote with us?" The United States has been lobbying countries to support criticism of Havana's rights record in a bid to downplay its isolation at the United Nations over its Cuba policy. Last year, the resolution calling for an end to the embargo was adopted by a vote of 191 to 2. The United States and Israel were the only two countries that voted "no". That vote took place after Washington for the first time abstained in the vote in 2016 as former president Barack Obama pursued a thaw in relations with Havana. Ties between Cuba and the US have been in decline under President Donald Trump, who succeeded Obama, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said in September. During several hours of debate on Wednesday, ambassadors took to the podium to declare their opposition to the US embargo, imposed in 1962. South African Ambassador Jerry Matthews Matjila told the assembly the US amendments were "clearly an attempt to obscure from the serious human rights violations that are being imposed under the embargo against the people of Cuba." North Korea's Ambassador Kim Song accused the United States of seeking regime change in Cuba while Iranian Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo called the embargo "the most unjust and longest-lasting unilateral sanctions imposed against a country in our modern world history." The vote on Thursday will mark the 27th year that the assembly has called for an end to the embargo by adopting the resolution, which is non-binding but carries political weight. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, who is due to address the assembly on Thursday, has accused the United States of seeking to toughen the embargo by using human rights violations as a pretext. US Ambassador Nikki Haley will seek to counter a UN vote calling for an end to the US embargo on Cuba, imposed in 1962, by raising Havana's human rights record.
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MONTREAL, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saputo Inc. (TSX:SAP)  A conference call for analysts and institutional investors will be held on Thursday, November 1, 2018, at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), to discuss the fiscal 2019 second quarter results.

The conference call will begin with a short presentation followed by a question and answer period. The speakers will be Mr. Lino A. Saputo, Jr., Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Maxime Therrien, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary.

To participate in the conference: 1-888-223-5152

Please dial-in approximately five minutes before the call.

To listen to the call on the Web: http://www.gowebcasting.com/9674 .

Replay of the conference

A replay of the conference call will be available until Thursday, November 8, 2018, 11:59 p.m. The webcast of the call will also be archived on the Companys website.

To access the replay: 1-800-558-5253 (ID number: 21897333).



To access the archived webcast: www.saputo.com , in the Investors section, under Newsroom.

Media Inquiries

1-514-328-3141 / 1-866-648-5902

PDF available: http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/c3e3e3f1-fec6-4c5c-accd-1e97f3d39a61
US officials have unveiled criminal charges against two former Goldman Sachs bankers over the scandal-plagued Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, raising fresh questions about corporate culture at the prestigious investment bank. The Justice Department arrested former Goldman Sachs banker Ng Chong Hwa in Malaysia on Thursday, and unsealed charges against Tim Leissner, another ex-Goldman banker, who has already pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $43.7 million in restitution of ill-gotten gains. Both men were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Justice Department also announced criminal charges against Low Taek Jho, an alleged mastermind and an intermediary to the Malaysian fund. US officials say he remains at large. Goldman Sachs itself was not charged. These are the first US criminal charges in the case which spawned investigations around the world. - Conspiring to launder billions - The 1MDB scandal has had a major impact in Malaysia, with allegations of involvement of top officials contributing to the downfall of the long-ruling coalition at elections in May. Former prime minister Najib Razak has since been arrested and charged over the scandal. He denies any wrongdoing. The men were charged with conspiring to launder billions of dollars from 1 Malaysia Development Berhad, a sovereign wealth fund set up for development of the country, and conspiring to bribe officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi, violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Low, in a statement through his spokesman, maintained his innocence. "Mr. Low simply asks that the public keep an open mind regarding this case until all of the evidence comes to light, which he believes will vindicate him," it said. Ng was also indicted for conspiring to violate the internal controls at Goldman Sachs, which underwrote about $6.5 billion in bonds issued by 1MDB, the US government said. The funds were intended "for the benefit of the Malaysian people" but more than $2.7 billion went to kickbacks and bribes, according to the charges. Goldman Sachs, which garnered $600 million in fees and revenues from three 1MDB bond transactions detailed in the indictments, has said previously it has received subpoenas and requests for information on the case from various governments and regulatory bodies. Goldman Sachs, which said it is cooperating in the probe, was not named in the DOJ criminal documents, but was referred to as "financial institution #1." The DOJ said Ng and Leissner repeatedly circumvented Goldman's oversight tools for countering fraud, adding that the "business culture" at the firm, "particularly in Southeast Asia, was highly focused on consummating deals." The documents refer to a third unnamed Goldman official who is an Italian national. The banker, Andrea Vella, was put on leave in October, according to a person familiar with the matter. - Hiding Low's involvement - Under one scheme involving a 2012 "Project Magnolia" bond offering by 1MDB, Low allegedly told the ex-Goldman bankers they needed to bribe officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi to guarantee that the transaction went through. Hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes were subsequently paid to officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi. After the bond transaction was executed, more than $500 million of the bond proceeds were misappropriated into shell companies controlled by Low, Leissner, Ng and other co-conspirators, the government alleged. Some of the funds went to finance the movie, "The Wolf of Wall Street," a 2013 Oscar-nominated film about Jordan Belfort, a corrupt stockbroker who was sent to prison for fraud, the government said. Ng and Leissner's efforts in the scheme dated to 2009, when they began cultivating a relationship with Low, who allegedly "worked as an intermediary in relation to 1MDB and other foreign government officials" but did not hold a formal position at 1MDB and was never employed by the government. Ng, a managing director at Goldman, and Leissner, who worked as Southeast Asia chairman and managing director at Goldman, sought on three occasions to make Low a formal client, but were rebuffed because officials in the compliance group had "concerns" about the source of the person's wealth and deemed he would not be a "suitable" client. As the bond offerings proceeded, the two men concealed Low's involvement from Goldman Sachs officials. Leissner is free on a $20 million bond and pleaded guilty before a US judge in August, in Brooklyn Federal Court. He is cooperating with DOJ investigators, The Wall Street Journal reported. Lawyers for Leissner did not respond to requests for comment. Low is represented by Marc Kasowitz, an attorney who has formerly represented US President Donald Trump, a DOJ spokesman said. The 1MDB scandal led to criminal charges against former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, seen being escorted to court by police in Kuala Lumpur in October 2018 Factfile on the Malaysian 1MDB corruption allegations. Alleged mastermind Low Taek Jho, (C) pictured with Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys at a charity ball in 2014, remains at large The Equanimity, the 300-foot (90-metre) luxury yacht that Low Taek Jho - who allegedly played a central role in the 1MDB controversy - is said to have bought with swindled money A protester holds a sign with a picture of then-Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak during a November 2016 rally calling for Razak's resignation, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
LIVERPOOL  Bob Antonacci and John Mannion held dueling events Thursday as the two candidates for the 50th Senate District seat prepare to launch get-out-the-vote efforts ahead of Election Day.

Antonacci, a Republican, toured the National Tractor Trailer School in Liverpool. He was joined by incoming Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, a fellow Republican.

McMahon has been selective about endorsements in races this year. As he transitions to a new role, he's focusing on building partnerships with other elected officials.

But he made an exception for Antonacci, the Onondaga County comptroller since 2008. He believes Republicans need to retain control of the state Senate to ensure upstate New York issues are addressed.

McMahon acknowledged that he hasn't always agreed with Antonacci over the years. However, he respects his tenacity and willingness to "fight for what he believes is right."

"We need people like Bob in Albany and we need upstate New York to have a seat at the table," McMahon said. "And the way we do that is to make sure that Bob goes down and serves in Albany."

Antonacci welcomed McMahon's support and noted they've had their differences in the past. But they have continued to communicate and, he said, work for taxpayers.

"It's what's in the best interest of the taxpayer," he said.

While Antonacci and McMahon were in the suburbs, Mannion joined central New York unions for a pre-election rally in downtown Syracuse.

At the event, the Democratic candidate detailed his five-point plan to boost job creation in central New York. His jobs agenda includes more funding for small business incubators, connecting schools with employers in the region and infrastructure investments.

Two unions, 1199SEIU and Carpenters Local 277, were among the labor organizations represented at the rally. Both groups have endorsed Mannion's jobs plan.

Sheray Green, of 1199SEIU, lauded the union's preferred candidate.

"We need a leader in Albany who will stand up for our region and work to grow the economy, invest in the future and ensure local residents have access to good paying jobs," Green said. "We are proud to endorse John Mannion for state Senate and know that he will be a tireless advocate for our region and our communities."

Mannion, a longtime teacher at West Genesee High School in Camillus, is no stranger to labor. He is president of the West Genesee Teachers' Association and a member of the Onondaga County Teachers' Association.

During his campaign, he has received significant support from New York State United Teachers. The statewide teachers union was one of the first groups to endorse him in the 50th district race.

"I will fight for central New York in Albany, and I will push my common sense plans to grow the economy and put more local residents back to work," Mannion said.

The 50th district is a top priority for both parties. The race has received plenty of interest from Democratic- and Republican-aligned groups. NYSUT's super PAC has been one of the biggest spenders in the race. The candidates have spent nearly $900,000. That total will likely exceed $1 million by the election.

The 50th district includes several Onondaga County towns, a portion of Syracuse, most of Auburn and the towns of Brutus, Cato, Ira and Sennett in Cayuga County.

Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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State fire investigators and detectives from the Auburn Police Department were investigating the fire that damaged a city apartment house Wednesday night.

Auburn firefighters responded to the fire at 20 Barber St. after the first call came in at about 6:54 p.m. The blaze was located in a back stairway of the structure, which houses two apartments.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Thursday. Auburn Police Capt. James Moore said that the APD's investigation was opened due to comments made by a resident at the fire scene.

Auburn Fire Department Assistant Chief Ed Sherman said Thursday morning that the fire shot up the back wall of both apartments to the structure's attic, causing significant damage. Between water, smoke and fire damage, both apartments are currently unlivable, Sherman said, but not a total loss.

The fire displaced the three adults living in the upstairs apartment and the two adults and two children living downstairs, Sherman said. There were no injuries. The Red Cross was asked to provide assistance to the structure's residents.

Firefighters were on the scene for more than two hours. New York State Electric and Gas was called in to shut off utilities.

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Kenan Baldridge believes he has more to offer the people of the 54th District, which is why he sought a rematch against incumbent Sen. Pam Helming to vie for the state Senate seat this election.

"I ran two years ago and didn't make it. And Mrs. Helming has had a chance to show us what she wants to do, and I take issue with her voting record, so I decided to run again," said Baldridge, a Democrat. "I think I can do more to help the town (and) the area and a lot of these issues are controlled at the state level and that's where I can make the biggest impact."

Baldridge, who hails from the hamlet of North Rose in the town of Rose, began his political career on the North Rose-Wolcott school board in 1976, which he considers "special purpose government," where he served for more than 10 years. During that time he also served two terms each as first and second vice president of the Four County School Boards Association.

His own education background consists of a bachelor's degree from Middlebury College in Vermont, a master's from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Public Affairs, as well as a master's and doctorate in public administration, from universities in Albany and Ohio, respectively.

"It gives me a breadth and depth of understanding that I think I can apply to the Senate," Baldridge said of his formal education and work experience.

Most recently Baldridge worked as an independent management consultant from 2000 to 2011 before he decided to run to be Rose's town supervisor  a position he's dedicated himself to full-time since 2012. He previously ran for the supervisor position in 1977, he said, and got his feet wet  or nose bloodied  depending how you look at. He lost that election by 14 votes. He ran again in 2011, believing he could do a better job than the incumbent, and won a three-way race by 39 votes.

"Only in recent times have Democrats had a chance ... that's rural New York," Baldridge said. Being the only Democrat on the Wayne County Board of Supervisors until Walworth Supervisor Susie Jacobs joined this year, he said it's possible to win in a majority Republican area, "it's just not easy."

The race for the 54th Senate District seat, which he lost to Helming by more than 30,000 votes in the 2016 election, is a challenge, he recognizes. "It's an uphill battle for me, I know, but we're working very hard," Baldridge said.

Passionate about several key issues in his district, Baldridge believes there are "some distinguishing issues" between himself and Helming and argues that she "is voting against us" on certain issues he feels are top priorities.

Given his 42 years of service in the North Rose Fire Department, Baldridge expressed his support of the state's SAFE Act gun-control law, particularly a provision raising penalties for shooting a first responder. He says Helming has voted to repeal the whole law, although in recent campaigning she has expressed support of those provisions within it.

Women's equality, landfills and education are additional issues that Baldridge both sees as priorities for the district and places Helming is letting the district down. Helming, he said, cast a vote  along with all Republican senators  blocking the Reproductive Health Act from getting on the floor for a vote.

He believes the three landfills in the district  which bring in more than 5,000 tons of trash from New York City daily  are a thing of the past and society needs to move toward a "zero waste strategy."

As someone who went to college on scholarship and sees education as a ladder for upward mobility, Baldridge said he's "very sympathetic" to the needs of students going off to school and wants to "emphasize financial aid again."

The need to protect the Finger Lakes and find better ways to address the opioid crisis are also priorities for Baldridge.

"Clean water is not something to take for granted," he said. As harmful algae is already in the water, he said, more water treatment plants are needed but a further emphasis needs to be placed on prevention altogether. While he doesn't believe the solution will come through further regulation, he believes more collaboration and innovation efforts could help come up with a "win-win solution" before things get worse.

Just having responded to an overdose call on Sunday night and with history as a paramedic, Baldridge is intimately aware of the need for further efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. As a problem that we can't escape or arrest our way out of, Baldridge believes that the district could build a better, more coordinated treatment program.

"The thing about any legislative position," Baldridge said, "is your actual power is probably minimal, because it's always a group decision, but you're in a leadership role and you can take that leadership position and use that to influence people to get things done."

Staff writer Megan Ehrhart can be reached at (315) 282-2244 or megan.ehrhart@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @MeganEhrhart.

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State Sen. Pam Helming made it clear that she wants to fight on behalf of the constituents of Senate District 54 by serving another term as senator.

In her freshman term, Helming, R-Canandaigua, said she "hit the ground running"  largely attributing her success to nearly 30 years of private sector experience prior to entering politics  and said that it's reflected in the number of bills she passed.

Helming said she sponsored 119 bills, with 72 passing the Senate and 25 passing both houses. This is the most bills passed by anyone in my freshman class, she said.

In addition to her previous business experience, during which she worked with adults with developmental disabilities at a group home and as an environmental auditor for waste facilities, Helming also has local political experience and said that combination of experiences has helped her to be an effective senator.

Prior to running for the position, which opened when former state Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, retired in 2016, Helming served as Canandaigua town supervisor for three years. Before that, she was a town board member for about four years and she served on Canandaigua's planning and zoning boards for about 10 years combined.

In addition to aiding to her ability to get bills passed, Helming said that her business experience has also helped her to understand "how legislation that's passed impacts businesses."

Seeing one of the district's needs as further economic development, Helming believes "unnecessary regulations and the red tape" burdening businesses needs to be reduced. She wants the mandates on businesses and government to stop, and is committed to "continuing the fight for jobs."

"The No. 1 concern I hear is that businesses are having a hard time attracting qualified employees," Helming said. If the state wants businesses to stay, she added, there needs to be a source of qualified and competitive employees and a more balanced approach to retaining old and attracting new businesses. She wants to see more cooperation done with BOCES, schools and job training opportunities to bolster the upstate economy.

Helming said she sees the two main jobs of a senator as getting legislation passed and securing funding for the community.

"We secured significant funding for a number of organizations," she said, highlighting school systems, local fire departments and agriculture among a list of many.

In a debate with Baldridge Oct. 16, Helming highlighted the Lake Ontario flood relief aid she was able to get to help homeowners and small businesses get back on their feet, noting it was the largest single award for disaster relief in the state's history.

Helming also highlights funding she was able to secure for addressing harmful algal blooms on Owasco and Cayuga lakes, noting that addressing blooms on the Finger Lakes is and will continue to be a priority. Helming recently secured $200,000 for the Owasco Watershed Lake Association to purchase tributary stream monitors that will help collect real data to see what pollutants are in the lake and where they are coming from. Within the year, Helming also said she was able to get a combined $625,000 for the Wells College water plant in Aurora to replace general water filters as well as help purchase a carbon filtration system to protect against the blooms.

"I'm more passionate and even more committed now to continuing to be involved in the communities," she said of her motivation to run for another term in office.

In addition to "continuing the fight" for funding, water quality and jobs, Helming, who's lived in New York for more than 40 years, said she is committed to continuing the fight for rural communities  working on access to health care, transportation and infrastructure needs such as high-speed broadband services. She is also passionate about continuing to fight for local schools to have fully funded foundation aid and continuing to work with local law enforcement to provide funding and tools needed for them to do their jobs safely.

"One of my priorities is working hard to restore the public faith and trust in our government," Helming said on the topic of ethics and corruption. "Being out in the community, being as accessible as possible to anyone and everyone."

Before the end of this year, Helming said she will have hosted 16 town halls. She said that feedback, along with surveys and email blasts, is what drives her priorities in Albany.

Staff writer Megan Ehrhart can be reached at (315) 282-2244 or megan.ehrhart@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @MeganEhrhart.

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Tetra Natural Health Looking to Exploit Consumer Appetite for Hemp Based products

OTTAWA, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tetra Natural Health Inc., a division of Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. (Tetra or the Company) (TSX VENTURE: TBP) (OTCQB: TBPMF), today announced that it has signed a major distribution agreement with Kombucha Baby Brewing Company and its partners for the exclusive distribution of its Hemp Energy Drink in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario as well as California, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii.

The Hemp Energy Drink provides consumers with a product that contains fewer calories and more natural ingredients than existing energy drinks thus providing a welcome alternative to existing products in what is considered to be an extremely lucrative market.

We are thrilled in having signed this agreement with Kombucha Baby and its distribution partners providing Tetra Natural Health with access to a significant number of retail outlets in both Canada and the USA, stated Richard Giguere, CEO of Tetra Natural Health.

We are very excited to be adding the Hemp Energy Drink to our portfolio of products that will be available to our existing and potential client base, stated Dan McKenna, President and CEO of Kombucha Baby Brewing Company Inc. Numerous Canadian and U.S. customers representing thousands of retail outlets have indicated a strong interest in carrying this unique Natural Health Product (NHP).

About Tetra Bio-Pharma

Tetra Bio-Pharma (TSX-V: TBP) (OTCQB: TBPMF) is a biopharmaceutical leader in cannabinoid- based drug discovery and development with a Health Canada approved, and FDA reviewed, clinical program aimed at bringing novel prescription drugs and treatments to patients and their healthcare providers. The Company has several subsidiaries engaged in the development of an advanced and growing pipeline of Bio Pharmaceuticals, Natural Health and Veterinary Products containing cannabis and other medicinal plant-based elements. With patients at the core of what we do, Tetra Bio-Pharma is focused on providing rigorous scientific validation and safety data required for inclusion into the existing bio pharma industry by regulators, physicians and insurance companies.

For more information visit: www.tetrabiopharma.com

Source: Tetra Bio-Pharma

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements

Some statements in this release may contain forward-looking information. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding potential acquisitions and financings) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, the inability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to execute the Company's business plan; competition; regulation and anticipated and unanticipated costs and delays, the success of the Company's research and development strategies, including this trial, the ability to obtain orphan drug status, the applicability of the discoveries made therein, the successful and timely completion and uncertainties related to the regulatory process, the timing of clinical trials, the timing and outcomes of regulatory or intellectual property decisions, the success of various product launches including the one discussed in this release, and other risks disclosed in the Company's public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results or events not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. While no definitive documentation has yet been signed by the parties and there is no certainty that such documentation will be signed. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities legislation.

For further information, please contact Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc.

Robert Bechard

Executive Vice-President Corporate Development and Licensing

514-817-2514

Investors@tetrabiopharma.com

Media Contact

energi PR

Carol Levine

514-288-8500 ext. 226

Carol.levine@energipr.com

Stephanie Engel

416-425-9143 ext. 209

Stephanie.engel@energipr.com
Business confidence among British food and drink manufacturers has plummeted ahead of Brexit, latest research from the Food and Drink Federation has revealed.

Economic uncertainty saw net confidence fall by 21 percentage points by Q3 compared with Q1 of this year, according to the survey of 50 companies with a combined turnover of 11.4 billion.

Almost two-thirds of the companies polled, cited future tariff implications as a risk to their company.

Just under 60% of thought business investment across the overall UK economy would fall in 2019 and 96% expected to see rising input prices.

The findings also showed that 38% of food and drink manufacturers were reporting an increase in costs as a result of stockpiling ahead of a possible no-deal Brexit.

These results tell us just how seriously the food and drink industry, the UKs largest manufacturing sector, takes a no-deal Brexit, said Ian Wright, FDF chief executive. It is a grisly prospect to which we edge closer every passing day. [The Budget] announcement from the Chancellor  with measures to support productivity, exports, enterprise and investment  offers some respite for our SME food and drink manufacturers.

Gordon Polson, director of the Federation of Bakers, said: Just like everybody else, we are living with uncertainty and lack of clarity and the sooner that we do have some clarity, the better.

Retail market consolidation was also identified as one of the top three barriers expected to impact the success of small businesses, which account for 97% of the UKs food and drink manufacturing sector.

This follows the recent takeovers of Booker by Tesco, Nisa by the Co-op, and the proposed merger of Sainsburys and Asda, which present significant concerns for UK manufacturers.

The survey also stated that business conditions for food and drink manufacturers had been especially difficult this year, in part due to the fall in the value of sterling, which has contributed to increased costs of ingredients and raw materials.

More than three-quarters (79%) of businesses reported increased ingredient costs as the biggest impact on their businesses in Q3, while 71% of those polled cited increased packaging costs.
The former shareholder and chief executive of Druckers has dismissed media reports that he is planning to make an offer or acquire shares in Patisserie Valerie.

Restaurateur David Scott issued a statement following news stories that suggested he was sounding out shareholders about a possible takeover of the cafe chain, which bought Druckers in 2007.

Despite the media reports, I have not appointed nor do I intend to appoint, a company to liaise with shareholders on my behalf and I have no interest in making an offer for or acquiring shares in Patisserie Valerie or any related companies, said Scott.

Earlier this month the crisis-hit business discovered serious accounting irregularities and admitted it needed a 20m capital injection to avoid calling in administrators.

Last week Patisserie Holdings, which operates more than 150 Patisserie Valerie outlets and around 50 sites under other brands, announced that Chris Marsh had resigned from his position as finance director.

Patisserie Holdings

Total number of sites: 206 *

Brands: Patisserie Valerie (153 sites), Philpotts (22), Druckers (20), Baker and Spice (4), Flour Power City Bakery (1)

Employees: 3,200

Food/drink split (2017): 57/43

Eat in/takeaway split (2017): 65/35

Turnover: 60.5m (six months to 31 March 2018)

EBITDA: 13.6m (six months to 31 March 2018)

HQ location: Birmingham

Key management: Paul May, CEO; Luke Johnson, chairman

Patisserie Holdings has a vertical supply chain, producing goods in-house at seven bakeries and delivering them to stores. Products are also sold online.

Since acquiring the Patisserie Valerie business in 2006, the business has expanded rapidly through acquisitions and openings to more than 200 sites. In its current financial year, the business has been aiming to open 20 stores.

Timeline

1926: First Patisserie Valerie cafe opened in Frith Street in Londons Soho by Madame Valerie to introduce Continental-style patisserie to the English

1939-1945: Cafe destroyed by bombing in Second World War, and Madame Valerie opens new Patisserie Valerie on nearby Old Compton Street

1945-2005: Patisserie Valerie grows to eight sites in central London

2006: Luke Johnsons private equity firm Risk Capital Partners backs acquisition of Patisserie Valerie by Patisserie Holdings

2007: Acquires Druckers  Vienna Patisserie

2009: Acquires Baker & Spice, which operates sites in London and Oxford

2013: Acquires London-based organic bakery Flour Power City Bakery

2014: Acquires the Philpotts food supply and cafe chain

2014: Patisserie Holdings listed on Alternative Investment Market

2016: Annual sales exceed 100m for the first time

2017: Launches trial partnership with Sainsburys, selling branded products on 12 supermarket counters. Partnership is a success and has since been expanded to 70 stores.

2018

10 October (AM): Share trading suspended as company launches investigation into serious accounting irregularities. Chief financial officer Chris Marsh suspended.

10 October (PM): Winding-up petition filed at the High Court relating to 1.14m owed to HMRC by Stonebeach Limited, the companys principal trading subsidiary.

11 October: Patisserie Holdings reports it cannot continue to trade in its current form without immediate cash injection.

12 October: Chris Marsh arrested by police and released on bail.

15 October: Share offer raises 15.7m to help Patisserie Holdings continue trading, while chairman Luke Johnson provides 20m in loans.

24 October: Stonebeach winding-up order is dismissed.

26 October: Chris Marsh resigns from finance director role.

1 November: Former shareholder and chief executive of Druckers dismisses media reports that he is to acquire shares in Patisserie Holdings.


N.C. Supreme Court justices meet in an Aug. 17, 2018, conference. Photo posted at N.C. Judicial Branch Twitter page.

In the heat of partisan battle, much discussion about North Carolina's Supreme Court election focuses on the current split between the court's Republicans and Democrats.Democrats hold four of the high court's seven seats today. They have a chance to extend their advantage to 5-2.That's significant. But a closer look at the state Supreme Court's recent record suggests that campaign rhetoric tends to overstate the impact of partisan affiliation.Republican incumbent Justice Barbara Jackson holds the only seat up for election this year. Democrat Anita Earls is trying to unseat Jackson. (A second Republican in the race, Chris Anglin, complicates matters. But Anglin has spent little campaign time promoting his own candidacy. Instead he has focused on complaining about partisan judicial elections and the GOP-led General Assembly.)A Jackson win would maintain the court's status quo. So it's useful to look beyond campaign ads and news reports. Let's investigate the justices' actual track record with Jackson on board.The N.C. Supreme Court has issued 137 opinions in the nearly two years since Democrats gained their 4-3 majority. As a Republican justice on a court dominated by Democrats, Jackson must have spent most of her time in the minority, right?Not exactly. Jackson has voted with the court's majority 133 times, a whopping 97 percent. Only Justice Sam Ervin IV, a Democrat, rivals Jackson's record over the past two years. Sitting out a single case, Ervin has voted with the majority in 131 of 136 cases, or 96 percent.To be fair, all seven justices vote with the majority most of the time. Even the most frequent dissenter, Democratic Justice Cheri Beasley, has voted with the majority in 123 cases (90 percent).While the differences remain small, Jackson still stands out slightly from the court's other two Republicans. Justice Paul Newby has voted with the majority in 130 cases (95 percent), and Chief Justice Mark Martin has cast his vote with the prevailing side 129 times in 136 cases (also 95 percent).Given the numbers cited above, it might not surprise you to learn that Jackson also has been the justice least likely to take up her pen in opposition to her colleagues. While she has cast four dissenting votes over the past two years, she has authored only a single dissenting opinion. That was in 2017. Jackson is the only one of the seven current justices who hasn't written a single dissent this year.In contrast, Beasley has written seven dissents this year alone and eight over the two-year period. Martin has written five dissenting opinions, the most among the Republican justices.The lack of dissenting opinions from Jackson does not indicate an unwillingness to write. With seven majority opinions this year, she trails only Ervin's 10. Over the two-year period, Jackson ties Beasley and Martin in total majority opinions (11), trailing Ervin (20), Newby (13), and Justice Robin Hudson (12). The court's most recent addition - Democratic Justice Michael Morgan - has written the fewest majority opinions (seven).The numbers also show that the court's Democratic justices tend to agree more often with Jackson than with either of the other two Republicans. In both 2017 and 2018, Jackson was the Republican justice most likely to agree with Beasley, Hudson, and Morgan.Though Ervin agreed more often with Martin than with Jackson in 2017 (the difference was a single case out of 57), Ervin has agreed more often with Jackson this year than either Martin or Newby. In fact, the Democrat Ervin has agreed more often with Jackson this year (76 of 79 cases) than he has with any of his fellow Democrats.The bottom line: Nothing in the record from the past two years suggests that Justice Barbara Jackson pushes a partisan agenda from the bench. To the extent that the court has an ideological center, the numbers suggest she occupies it.It's important to note that just one case during the last two years has focused on a political battle with partisan implications. In January's 4-3 Cooper v. Berger ruling , the court's Democrats joined together against their Republican colleagues, including Jackson. Democratic justices ruled in favor of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper in a dispute involving the state board overseeing elections and ethics enforcement.Partisan Democrats hope - and their Republican counterparts fear - that Earls would provide a reliable fifth vote in future political disputes. If so, Cooper could enjoy a greater advantage in his ongoing court fights against Republican legislators.That's entirely possible. And the prospect of that partisan shift has helped drive much of the energy in this fall's Supreme Court election campaign.But as far as typical business is concerned, the numbers point to a different conclusion: A state Supreme Court without Barbara Jackson will have lost its most striking example of bipartisan collegiality.
"It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family, never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to make than to buy...What is prudence in the conduct of every private family, can scarce be folly in that of a great kingdom."

"Trade raises the general wage level by expanding the opportunity for Americans to work in sectors where productivity and pay exceed the average. Because of comparative advantage, American workers tend to be most productive in those sectors that are the most capital intensive - those that require large investments in physical and human capital and intellectual property. Examples of such industries are pharmaceuticals, chemicals, civilian aircraft, sophisticated machinery, microprocessors, and professional services in finance, insurance, accounting and other sectors."

Imagine yourself cut off from the rest of society. Not from all social interactions, however, just from all economic exchanges. No more going to the grocery store for food, or trips to Home Depot for home repair supplies, or -gasp!-no cell phones available for purchase.Total self-sufficiency. You grow your own food, build your own shelter, make your own clothes and create your own cell phone, laptop and flat screen TV. And remember, you can't buy or otherwise trade for any of the inputs to make these items. You have to create them all yourself, using only the inputs you can find and figure out how to transform into something useful.Good luck.Pretty miserable existence, right? But the notion of self-sufficiency is one of the foremost arguments used by proponents of crony protectionist policies to limit free international trade.goes the mantra.They believe economic isolationism is the pathway to jobs and economic growth.But is it?As Adam Smith wrote nearly 250 years ago in his treatise "The Wealth of Nations":Smith was pointing out the folly of self-sufficiency, whether discussing an individual, family or a country.Prosperity grows when the amount of goods and services being produced by a given set of resources increases. The division of labor is one significant way to increase productivity.The division of labor enables individuals, communities and nations to specialize in doing the work in which they have a comparative advantage.Comparative advantage is not, however, just something in which you are more productive than another. Opportunity costs must also be taken into consideration when discussing comparative advantage.Take the example of a heart surgeon and his secretary. The heart surgeon can earn, say, $200 an hour performing surgery. Meanwhile, the secretary is paid $15 an hour to file the necessary paperwork for the office. But if the doctor can more efficiently file paperwork than the secretary, should he fire the secretary, save $15 an hour and do the paperwork himself?Of course not, because every hour he spends filing paperwork he foregoes the opportunity to make $200 an hour performing surgery (not to mention saving lives). That $200 in foregone revenue would be his opportunity cost of filing paperwork, a cost far higher than the $15 an hour he pays his secretary. Even though the doctor has an absolute advantage over the secretary in both heart surgery and paperwork filing, he is far better off focusing his scarce time engaging in the work in which he has a comparative advantage, and purchase the paperwork services for only $15 an hour.This concept can be applied beyond individuals. Because all economic resources - like tools, raw materials, labor, etc. - are scarce, it makes little sense to employ resources that could earn $100 to instead build something that could be bought from another community for $20.As Smith wrote:So when protectionists call for self-sufficiency in manufacturing and production, what they are really calling for is for the U.S. to sacrifice more valuable production to create goods that we could otherwise purchase elsewhere for less. We are made worse off as a result.But if the U.S. produced everything domestically, wouldn't everyone have jobs?The key to understanding the benefits of international trade is not to just look at jobs, but the quality of jobs. Poverty-stricken nations can have full employment, but what good is that if the work is back-breaking toil that barely allows people to feed themselves?Buy freeing international trade, U.S. consumers can purchase basics like clothing and children's toys at a low price from overseas countries who have a comparative advantage in those industries, thus freeing up domestic resources like labor to engage in more highly productive, and lucrative, jobs.As author Daniel Griswold wrote in his 2009 book "Mad About Trade":Conversely, overseas countries have a comparative advantage in more labor-intensive jobs like toys, sporting goods or clothing manufacturing. Because of their lower levels of education and job skills, along with less investment in capital goods, workers in such countries have lower opportunity costs and as such accept lower wages.Allowing for free trade to enable greater division of labor enhances the American worker's outlook for better jobs. As Griswold noted,It is also important to note the importance trade plays in supplying U.S. manufacturers with needed inputs at a low price. Taking away this option due to tariffs and other protectionist measures destroys profits and business' ability to hire and pay workers.Economic self-sufficiency is not a path to more jobs. Rather it is a path to economic decline. It makes no sense to tie up scarce resources in low-wage, labor intensive jobs making goods that can be purchased at a far lower cost from other countries. To do so wastes resources and destroys jobs  not create them. Making matters worse, such calls for self-sufficiency deny U.S. workers better, higher paying opportunities. While a select few companies may benefit from crony protectionist measures, far more American workers are harmed.


Angus Konstam, author, historian and pirate expert, spoke to an audience in ECUs Wright Auditorium on Oct. 25 for the kick-off event in the 2018-19 Voyages of Discovery Series. (Photos by Cliff Hollis)



Angus Konstam (right) looks on as Sarah Watkins-Kenney (left), from the QAR lab, describes artifacts retrieved from the Queen Annes Revenge. Also pictured (left to right) are ECU chemistry professor Jack Pender, and THCAS Deans Advancement Council members Phil Hodges, Wayne Holloman and Mitchell Hunt.

On Oct. 25, Angus Konstam, historian and pirate expert, led an audience of Greenville community members and East Carolina Univerity faculty, staff and students through a brief history of the pirate Blackbeard during his discussion, "Blackbeard at 300: New Findings on North Carolina's Most (In)famous Pirate."said Dr. William M. Downs, dean of the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, in his welcoming remarks at the kickoff event for the 2018-19 Voyages of Discovery Series at ECU.senior and Harriot College student worker Madison Laney said.While curating artifacts for the Royal Armouries at the Tower of London, Konstam began to wonder what items could be linked to pirates and how to distinguish fact from fiction. Thus began his research on pirates.Konstam described how he visited the British archives to locate any historical records on pirates, including Captain Edward Teach (Teague, Thack, Thatch or Thatcher in various documents), also known as Blackbeard.Konstam said.Stories indicate that Blackbeard may have been born in either Jamaica or Bristol, England, though no records have been discovered at this time to prove the exact location or date of his birth.During the War of Spanish Succession from 1701-1714, privateering was a form of legalized piracy approved by the government. Once the war ended, privateering ended and ex-privateers who did not want to give up their way of life became pirates.In 1715, a ship filled with treasures was attacked, looted and sunk off the coast of Florida, beginning the age of the pirates. From 1716-1718, New Providence Island, a small island in the Bahamas, served as the base for salvagers and pirates to rid themselves of cargo they did not want - other than gold, currency or alcohol, said Konstam.The first historical record attributed to Captain Thatch describes a pirate attack in December 1716 with a crew of 70-90 men and 7 guns. Later, in the spring of 1717, another attack is reported referencing Thatch. It was not until the fall of 1717, however, that Konstam said a record of a pirate attack by Captain Thatch or Teach is then referred to as Blackbeard.Konstam said in a meeting with students earlier in the day.Blackbeard was said to have attacked the slave ship La Concorde on Nov. 17, 1717. He discarded the cargo and converted the ship into the Queen Anne's Revenge, a snub to the royal establishment.Konstam said that Blackbeard attacked a few ships off Antigua, later hid out in the Caribbean and went off the radar until mid-1718, when he began picking off shipwrecks on the coast from Florida to South Carolina, stopping ships, capturing people, stealing money and in effect holding the port for ransom.Konstam said. He indicated that Teach's long, black beard, which was unusual for the time period, was most likely an intimidation tactic that made him "look scary," causing people to surrender.Konstam said.Pirates were interfering with the trade business in various ports, said Konstam. So the British governor offered a majority of pirates a pardon in 1718, eliminating New Providence Island as a refuge and allowing the government to hunt for any remaining pirates, including Blackbeard.The Royal Navy was after Blackbeard, and Konstam said he needed to downsize his operation, which is why historians believe Blackbeard may have decided to run his ship aground in the Topsail Inlet and captain a smaller, faster ship known as a sloop. Historical debate continues over whether the grounding of the Queen Anee's Revenge was intentional.Blackbeard traveled to Bath, North Carolina, seeking a pardon, but while trying to establish a legitimate life in Ocracoke, it is said Blackbeard continued to lead attacks in the Delaware River. The governors of Delaware and Philadelphia hired Naval officers to hunt down Blackbeard, and on Nov. 22, 1718, they came to Ocracoke, and upon his sloop, attacked and killed Blackbeard, captured his crew, and delivered them to Virginia, where they were put on trial and executed in mass hangings.Konstam said.According to Konstam, there are many parts of Blackbeard's life that are still unknown, including where and when he was born, whether he really took a teenage bride in Bath and how old he was when he died. No historical records have surfaced to answer these questions.Earlier in the afternoon, Konstam visited the Queen Anne's Revenge laboratory, where he had the opportunity to view artifacts recovered from the wreckage of the ship.Konstam said he was "blown away by the material on display," and that the lab provides aTwenty ECU students, whose majors ranged from biology and chemistry to archaeology, criminal justice, English, political science and philosophy, also had the opportunity to meet informally with Konstam during the day. They asked Konstam about his research findings, how historically accurate the portrayal of pirates are in Hollywood (not very), and why Blackbeard named his ship the Queen Anne's Revenge (a sign of rebellion).While meeting with the students, Konstam emphasized that a lot of pirates operated during the 18th and 19th centuries from various nations, including France, Spain and China, and that Blackbeard might not have been the most successful pirate of his time but is better known than others because of his story and intimidating appearance.Konstam is a former naval officer, underwater archaeologist and museum curator who specializes in maritime and military history. Konstam is best known for his work on piracy and is the author of more than 100 books, including "History of Pirates and Blackbeard: America's Most Notorious Pirate."
Jeffrey Tarte, Republican. (Three-term incumbent). Occupation: Founder and chairman emeritus of Applied Revenue Analytics, a multimillion-dollar consulting firm. Education: University of Illinois, economics degree. Attended executive education courses at Duke University Fuqua School of Business, and Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. Career Highlights: Former partner, Ernst & Young. Three-term mayor of Cornelius. Co-author of book on IT for health systems. Former chief information officer at Johns Hopkins Health Center, and at New England Medical Center-Tufts University.

Natasha Marcus, Democrat. Occupation: Assistant director of development, Ada Jenkins Center, a nonprofit, anti-poverty community center. Education: Duke University School of Law, juris doctorate. Hamilton College, bachelor's degree in public policy. Career highlights:Former litigation attorney, and clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Frank Bullock. Community activist including work with Moral Mondays, Women's March, and efforts to curb gun violence. Volunteer with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton campaigns. Ran for N.C. House District 98 in 2014.

Senate District 41 (Northern and western Mecklenburg County).Natasha Marcus of Davidson hopes to help fellow Democrats break the Republicans' supermajority hold in the N.C. Senate, but to do so she has to foil incumbent Republican Jeffrey Tarte's bid for a fourth term in Senate District 41.Marcus said Tarte's time is up.Marcus said.Tarte is a Cornelius resident seeking a fourth two-year term. He said his proven record is why he is a better choice to continue to represent the district.He said while he has been in office the past six years he has been instrumental in eliminating annual budget deficits, raising teacher and school principal compensation, reducing and flattening income tax rates, fixing outdated Superior Court and District Court districts, funding local fire and police, and placing broadband internet and EpiPens to treat allergic reactions in every school.Tarte said.Republicans hold 35 of 50 Senate seats. Democrats need to pick up six seats to break the veto-proof supermajority. Senate District 41 could be vulnerable to a flip. It is rated competitive by the N.C. FreeEnterprise Foundation, which closely tracks state elections and voter behavior patterns.The district covers north Mecklenburg County. It was remapped in 2017 to comply with a federal court order that said 28 House and Senate districts were unconstitutionally drawn because they relied too heavily on race. The district's new shape makes it more favorable to Democrats. It replaced a thin eastern band of precincts to South Charlotte with a narrow band of western precincts to the state line.Marcus and Tarte both expressed opposition to toll lanes that have been a major topic in the county.Marcus opposes the I-77 toll road contract that has become an explosive issue in north Mecklenburg County. She called it "the worst" toll road contract ever in the state.she said.Tarte said over the next two years some of his legislative priorities would be to eliminate managed toll lanes as well as root out fraud in insurance, taxes, and Medicaid to save taxpayers money.Marcus said she is the most effective choice for voters, and wants to debate the issues with her opponent.Marcus said.Both agree health care costs are continuing to rise, and that is a top priority.But Marcus said Tarte and other Republicans have shown a lack of concern for North Carolinians who go without health insurance.Marcus said.said Tarte. That is a delivery model in which doctors generally don't accept insurance, instead collecting a nominal monthly fee for unlimited visits, and charging lower treatment rates because they've eliminate insurance paperwork and overhead.Tarte said.When it comes to drawing legislative district lines, Marcus favors a nonpartisan redistricting commission.Marcus said.said Tarte. Judges have settled a number of redistricting cases that were subject to litigation, and some lawsuits are still working their way through the courts.Tarte supports educational options including charter schools.he said.Tarte would like to see more vocational classes taught in charter and traditional schools.Tarte said.Marcus said she is not opposed to all charter schools because parents appreciate having a variety of choices to determine what is best for their children. However, she is opposed to school vouchers because they take away funding from public schools, and "teachers don't have to be held to any standards whatsoever."Marcus said.Marcus said.
PHILADELPHIA, Penn. / MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Get Your Rear in Gear  Philadelphia started in 2009 as grief therapy for a Mount Laurel, NJ resident. To combat the cancer that claimed the lives of her loved ones, Maria Grasso gathered and challenged a few hundred people to get their rears in gear during March, national colon cancer awareness month.

Over the next 10 years, this community gathering grew to include than 4,000 people, all impacted by colon cancer. Under Grasso's leadership it has raised over $2.5 million for colorectal cancer education, research, and screening efforts in the City of Brotherly Love.

Greater Philadelphias largest colon cancer awareness event will return Sun., March 24, 2019, at Memorial Hall / Please Touch Museum. This 4-mile run, 2-mile walk, and Kids Fun Run raises money to increase colon cancer screenings and early detection of the disease, as well as supporting those living with a colorectal cancer diagnosis. Registration for the 11th annual Get Your Rear in Gear run/walk in Philadelphia is now open.

Unfortunately, my father was a late stage diagnosis and lost his battle after only 10 months. Losing him to colon cancer at the young age of 67 was the worst time of my life, recalls Grasso. Initially, I did not see myself as an advocate, I was grieving. Then, after his death, I decided to take the focus off my own grief and attack this disease head on to help others. Now, I produce this annual event in his memory."

Grasso firmly believes that lives can be saved through important conversations and increasing on-time screening for a disease that has a 90% survival rate if found early. It is critical that we educate on the life-saving importance of colorectal cancer screenings.

The funds raised from Get Your Rear in Gear  Philadelphia have been used to help address disparities in screening rates for low income and minority populations and fund quality of life research for patients through programs at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Division of Colorectal Surgery and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center, the American Association for Cancer Research, the University of Pennsylvania/Penn Medicine, and others.

It has been a privilege for Jefferson to partner with Get Your Rear in Gear - Philadelphia from day one, says Kelly Austin, Director of Development at Jeffersons Kimmel Cancer Center. The support provided by these grants helps us to do extraordinary, life-saving work.

We are grateful to Get Your Rear in Gear - Philadelphia for supporting the research at Fox Chase Cancer Center that improves the quality of life for colon and rectal cancer patients, said Dr. Jeffrey Farma at Fox Chase Cancer Center. This partnership is helping to improve outcomes not just for Philadelphia residents, but for colorectal cancer patients across the country.

Funding is also extended in the form of travel grants to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) for young colon cancer research scholars to attend AACRs annual meeting, the worlds foremost gathering of scientists dedicated to preventing and curing cancer through research, education, communication, collaboration, funding and advocacy.

We are so thankful for the work Maria Grasso has done in Philadelphia, said Anne Carlson, President of the Minneapolis-based Colon Cancer Coalition, with whom Grasso connected to start the annual event. The time she dedicates to colorectal cancer awareness and screening is making an impact in a city with one of the lowest screening rates in the country. Maria has mined the strength and dedication Philadelphians have for helping their neighbors. We look forward to working with her to make an even larger impact in the next decade.

Four years ago, to tee up even more awareness and support for the main event, Grasso created a companion event known as On the Runway for a Cure, a fashion victory show featuring survivors and caregivers as models. This event highlights the survivors and allows them the opportunity to feel strong, stand tall, look good and most importantlyshow that this disease has not beaten them. It is powerfully inspirational.

2019 is the 11th year that the colon cancer community will gather in Philadelphia to celebrate patients, survivors and caregivers, and to remember those who left us too soon. They will be able to walk the Blue Mile filled with tributes to those lost to colon and rectal cancer or visit the giant inflatable colon to see what a doctor sees during a colonoscopy  a healthy colon wall and how a polyp progresses from benign into Stage IV colorectal cancer. There will be an educational pavilion, live music and most of all, hope.

Registration is available at ColonCancerCoalition.org/Philadelphia . Information about volunteering, fundraising, sponsoring the event, or forming a team can also be found on the website.

About the Colon Cancer Coalition / Get Your Rear in Gear

The Colon Cancer Coalition is a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis, Minn. dedicated to encouraging screening and raising awareness of colon cancer. The organizations signature Get Your Rear in Gear and Tour de Tush event series are volunteer-driven in communities throughout the United States. In 2017 the Colon Cancer Coalition granted over $1 million dollars to local communities that will build and sustain programs promoting early prevention, screening, and patient support services for this disease. By making the words colon, colorectal and colonoscopy a part of the everyday language, we believe we can overcome the fear and decrease deaths from this largely preventable cancer. For more information visit ColonCancerCoalition.org

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Jim Burgin, Republican. Occupation: President and owner of C&D Insurance. Partner, John Hiester Automotive. Education: University of Tennessee, bachelor's degree in business administration. Career Highlights: Two-term Harnett County commissioner. New Horizon Insurance Group board chairman. B.C. Property real estate development president. Central Carolina Community College board vice chairman. Member State Health Coordinating Council, and State Retirement Board.

Jean Sivoli, Democrat. Occupation: Retired restaurant/catering business owner. Education: N/A. Career Highlights: Harnett County Democratic Party Chairwoman. Former food service industry sales and marketing executive. Worked at U.S. Agency for International Development.

Senate District 12 (All of Lee and Harnett counties, and part of western Johnston County.)As chairwoman of the Harnett County Democratic Party, Jean Sivoli has worked with political candidates. A few months ago she found herself unexpectedly becoming one.Retired Air Force Maj. Howard Baldwin surprised party leaders when he withdrew his candidacy for the open Senate District 12 seat in July. He had advanced unchallenged from the spring Democratic primary to the Nov. 6 general election.Democratic Party leaders unanimously selected Sivoli over Kiara Johnson to take Baldwin's place on the ballot.Sivoli had only three months to pull together a campaign for her first run for office, though she has not given up her party's Harnett County chairmanship.Jim Burgin, a principal in multiple business interests who served as chairman of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners during portions of his two terms, is the Republican nominee. Incumbent Republican Ron Rabin chose not to seek re-election to a fourth term, and endorsed Burgin.The largely rural district leans Republican, according to the N.C. FreeEnterprise Foundation, which closely tracks elections and voter behavior patterns. Rabin won by 15 percent over Democrat Susan Byerly in 2016.Sivoli did not conduct an interview with Carolina Journal. She briefly spoke on the phone to say she hadn't received questions that were sent to her by email. She did not respond to three subsequent email requests, and multiple phone attempts.Burgin said he's running because, as a former county commissioner, he knows some problems can only be solved at the state level, and sometimes the solution will involve less government. Burgin thinks he'd be an effective senator because he knows how to get things done. He cited his experience as a businessman who has grown companies to hundreds of employees serving thousands of clients.he said.As an example, he said, when he became a county commissioner the reserve fund balance was down to 8.8 percent of the general fund. He said it should be at least 15 percent, but was told that would take the county five years. The fund balance reached 15 percent in 18 months.As chairman, he saw to it that every check written on behalf of the county was posted online.As a senator, one thing he would like to do is create tax-free Agricultural Zones. About 40 percent of the people in his district commute to other counties for work. Agriculture is strong now, but produce is shipped elsewhere for added value. He wants to provide incentives for agricultural manufacturing businesses that would turn locally grown potatoes into chips or apples into applesauce.Burgin would also like to reform the state's mental health system. He tells stories of tragedies, along with rules and procedures that lead to trouble for patients. Care is inadequate, and it makes no sense for people in crisis to go be taken to hospital emergency departments, the most chaotic place in the health care system. Patients might be kept in a bed there for up to a week before a slot in an appropriate facility opens.Overhauling the system will not be simple, but a lot of low-hanging fruit isn't being addressed, he said.Education is another area where there are ample opportunities for improvement, Burgin said. He would support evidence-based programs that train students and teachers for success, and he's happy to talk at length about several he'll enthusiastically support.Though she chose not to do an interview, Sivoli's online presence gives clues to her positions. Her website laments,and adds,Sivoli agrees the state should pay more attention to education. Her website criticizes the legislature's "slight pay increases for some teachers," calling them "inadequate." She opposes offshore drilling, and supports a law creating a livable wage.Sivoli emphasizes improved health and welfare. She wants to expand Medicaid, and she'll support "comprehensive efforts" to interdict the opioid crisis. Her statements frequently use the term "fight for," and those issues include sensible ways to prevent and contain industrial pollution, more and better-paying jobs, and women.she told Lillian's List, a North Carolina political training organization for pro-choice, progressive women.
President Trump with the First Lady, the President's Jewish daughter, his Jewish son-in-law, and with members of the Jewish community at the Tree of Life Synagogue: Above. (White House photo) Click image to expand.

Over the weekend, the press began a narrative drumbeat suggesting that President Trump was somehow responsible for the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh on Saturday - the deadliest anti-Semitic shooting in American history. On Monday, key members of the press amplified that message by quoting supposed Pittsburgh Jewish leaders saying the same thing. Here, for example, was Maggie Haberman of The New York Times:Bend The Arc, the group quoted here, wrote a letter stating:So, is Bend The Arc really a group of "Jewish leaders"? Only in name. The group is merely a Leftist political action group with a Jewish label. Their stated mission is "rising up in solidarity with everyone threatened by the Trump agenda to fight for the soul of our nation." Their missions include the election of "progressive champions" and the implementation of "progressive legislation and policies, like criminal justice reform and economic equity."Who runs Bend The Arc? Alexander Soros, George Soros' son. When he started the PAC, Politico noted, "Soros, who formed his own foundation in 2012 to promote social justice and human rights, has given $1.2 million to Democratic candidates and groups in the last three elections." (It should be noted here that criticism of the political viewpoint of major Democratic donors is not anti-Semitism; it is normal politics.) The director of Bend The Arc was Hadar Susskind, formerly a staffer at the anti-Semitic front group J Street, which spends its days attempting to undermine the safety and security of the state of Israel.None of the headlines mentioned what Bend The Arc actually is: a far-left political action group with little relationship to Judaism itself. Instead, the media just ran with the headline.Washington Post:The Hill:Newsweek:Here's the real headline: Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Synagogue told CNN this morning,
English Danish

Announcement No. 08/2018

1 November 2018

Lars Rasmussen steps down as CEO of Coloplast A/S. The Board of Directors appoints Kristian Villumsen as new CEO of Coloplast A/S.

Coloplast A/S announces today that after 30 years in Coloplast, of which 17 years in the Executive Management and 10 years as CEO, Lars Rasmussen has decided to step down as CEO of Coloplast A/S as of December 4th, 2018. Lars Rasmussen has been nominated by the Board of Directors to assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors of Coloplast A/S, succeeding Michael Pram Rasmussen who will not stand for re-election at the next Annual General Meeting on December 5th, 2018.

Commenting on the departure of Lars Rasmussen, Michael Pram Rasmussen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Coloplast A/S, said: Succeeding Lars, who during 10 years as CEO of Coloplast has spearheaded Coloplasts successful transformation and development into a global, highly profitable and respected MedTech company, is a tall order. On behalf of Coloplasts Board of Directors and Coloplasts employees I want to thank Lars for his outstanding leadership and engagement in Coloplast through good and difficult times during his 30 years with the company.

Reflecting on his long career in Coloplast, Lars Rasmussen said: It has been a great pleasure to work here for more than 30 years and to serve as CEO during a period where we have been able to create one of the worlds most profitable MedTech companies. Coloplast has undergone a transformation and is today a user-focused MedTech company with a strong innovation pipeline. We have launched products that makes life easier for people with intimate healthcare needs, I am very proud of this.

Commenting on the nomination to become Chairman of the Board Lars Rasmussen continued: I am honored that the Board has nominated me to become Chairman of the Board, and I look forward to taking part in the continued development of the company.

Deputy Chairman Niels Peter Louis-Hansen said: Since 2006 Michael Pram Rasmussen has served Coloplast as Chairman of the Board of Directors. I am very grateful for his many contributions and relentless commitment to Coloplast. I look forward to welcoming Lars Rasmussen when he assumes the position of Chairman and will, together with the other Board members, lead Coloplast into the future.

The Board of Directors has appointed Kristian Villumsen, currently Executive Vice President, Chronic Care, as new CEO as of December 4th, 2018. The process to find a successor for Kristian Villumsen has been initiated.

Reflecting on the appointment of Kristian Villumsen, Lars Rasmussen said: With Kristian Villumsen as CEO, the company will have a strong leader, who will safeguard Coloplasts continued competitiveness. Kristian is a talented businessman with many years of insights into the company and the industry. Together with the other members of the Executive Management, Anders Lonning-Skovgaard and Allan Rasmussen, and the rest of the organization the company is well equipped for the future.

Kristian Villumsen said that he is both proud and humble to be offered the job as CEO in a company that year after year has delivered strong results. Coloplast has never had a stronger product portfolio, organization and is currently standing on a very strong platform. We have a strategy towards 2020 that will ensure that we continue to take market shares across regions and business areas. We will move even closer to our customers and we want to deliver clinically differentiated innovation  I cant think of a more exciting time to be offered the job of CEO in Coloplast.

About Lars Rasmussen

Lars Rasmussen joined Coloplast in 1988 and has been part of the Executive Management for 17 years and CEO for 10 years. Prior to becoming President & CEO Lars was responsible for a number of corporate functions such as global sales, innovation and production, where he was based both in Denmark and in the USA.

Lars Rasmussen is Chairman of the Board of H. Lundbeck A/S, a member of the Board of Directors of William Demant Holding A/S and Chairman of the Committee on healthcare issues under the Confederation of Danish Industry. Lars Rasmussen holds a BSc in Engineering from Aalborg University and an E*MBA from SIMI. Lars is a Danish citizen and was born in March 1959.

About Kristian Villumsen

Since joining Coloplast in 2008, Kristian has been Head of Global Marketing, Europe and Emerging Markets. In 2014 when the Executive Management team was expanded from two to four members, Kristian Villumsen was appointed Executive Vice President, Chronic Care with responsibility for Global Marketing, the sales regions and the innovation pipeline within Ostomy Care and Continence Care.

Kristian Villumsen is a member of the Board of Directors of Chr. Hansen A/S. He holds an M.A. in Political Science from Aarhus University, Denmark, and a Master in Public Policy degree from Harvard University, US. Kristian is a Danish citizen and was born in December 1970.

Conference call

Coloplast will host a conference call on 1 November 2018 at 15.00 CET. The call is expected to last about one hour. To attend the conference call, call +45 3515 8049, +44 (0)330 336 9127 or +1 323-794-2575. Conference call reference number is 5470238. A webcast will be posted on www.coloplast.com shortly after the conclusion of the conference call.





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Editors note: Earlier this year, Sam Northern, a National Board-certified Teacher-Librarian at Simpson Elementary School in Franklin, Kentucky, traveled to Finland as part of the The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching (DAT) Program . While there, he observed classroom instruction and studied best practices in phenomenon-based learning, which allows students to study real-world issues and explore their curiosities.

Finland, a geographically remote country in Northern Europe, consistently tops the rankings of the worlds education systems. Not bad for a nation that mandates just one standardized exam at the end of 12th grade. Despite the Finnish education systems success, in 2016, the country underwent a national curriculum reform. Since then, Finnish students receive periods of phenomenon-based learning (PhenoBL), a type of inquiry-based learning. A phenomenon is defined as something that exists and can be seen, felt, tasted, etc., especially something unusual or interesting. Examples of phenomena include scientific discoveries, trends in technology, and natural disasters. Learning about or witnessing phenomena sparks our curiosities. With PhenoBL, students interact around real-world issues to investigate a problem or explore a curiosity from multiple vantage points. Students study phenomena as complete entities in their real contexts along with related interdisciplinary [or intersecting] information and skills. It is the process of exploring questions using evidence collected from research. The information that is gathered is studied with and against existing models and theories. The insight gained from their investigations lead students to new understandings. Finnish students use this hands-on approach to explore themes ranging from entrepreneurship to space exploration.

Figure 1 outlines learning strategies for each phase of the inquiry process, as adapted from the American Association of School Librarians . Through investigative research and product design, students master learning standards and develop passions that last a lifetime.

PhenoBL in Action

In Finland, I observed The English School in Helsinki conduct a phenomenon week that centered on the concept of time. The English Schools entire student body from pre-school to grade six participated in the phenomenon-based learning event. Students approached it from many angles: First and second grade classrooms learned about Finnish clockmakers and then constructed their own grandfather clocks out of cardboard. Third grade students created calendars from different cultures throughout history. Fourth and fifth graders projected the future of their city by designing blueprints and maps. Sixth grade classrooms used the phenomenon of time to create visual itineraries for their annual class trip to England. Every single project was the result of questions posed by students. Students inquiries about time motivated and directed the learning process.

Benefits of PhenoBL

Phenomenon-based learning gives students the opportunity to explore. I observed a sixth grade class in Finland use high-tech virtual reality equipment to explore Google Earth . Students viewed locations from around the world in three dimensions. They even interacted with the environment using motion-tracked handheld controllers. For the countries selected, students prepared detailed itineraries and travel brochures based on their research.

During PhenoBL, students create. Finnish students explored design during their phenomenon-based learning week. After researching famous Finnish designers, students used Tinkercad , a 3D design program, to make their own creations. Designs ranged from the practical (furniture) to the imaginative (new modes of transportation).

Students use PhenoBL to advocate. Some Finnish seventh grade students researched the amount of water usage in their community and in their homes. They created graphs depicting this information along with facts and statistics to show the need for conservation. In addition to the research, students programmed LEGO robots to solve a set of missions that pertained to waterhow we find, transport, use, or dispose of it. At the end of the project, groups presented their research, programmed robotics, and proposed water conservation solutions to a panel of judges. The project began with students desire to explore real life phenomenon and create their own models, which led them to advocate for action.

PhenoBL also promotes teacher collaboration. At Espoonlahti School in Finland, teachers from different disciplines team up to develop and implement interdisciplinary phenomenon projects. For example, art and physics classes collaborate to learn how to use lighting when photographing. Biology and cooking classes collaborate on projects to learn about marine life before preparing special seafood dishes.

A Lasting Impact

The results of PhenoBL extend beyond a final presentation. Students will experience the inquiry process, develop 21st-century skills, and discover a new or renewed passion for learning. Still, a culminating product is a major component of inquiry-based learning because it gives students the opportunity to share their learning with an audience.

There are a number of formats students can choose from to demonstrate their learning. PhenoBL encourages students to consider new alternatives for sharing their projects. I have seen students create digital and physical posters, three-dimensional models, graphic designs, and short videos. All of these presentation methods are visible and, therefore, acceptable. The presentations turned out to be a lot of fun and, hopefully, positively affected someone in the crowd.

Yes, a fascinating phenomenon is at the center of Finlands newest instructional model. Yet, without students engaging with the elements of inquiry, the phenomenon is like the Sun without orbiting planets. Students curiosities about the topic, their quest for information, and their efforts constructing products that demonstrate learning is what makes the phenomenon so interesting. PhenoBL sparks students to do more than shoot for the stars. It challenges them to pursue their dreams through a new way of learning that was previously left uncovered.

Connect with Sam , Heather , and the Center for Global Education on Twitter.

Table by created and used with permission of the author.

Photo taken by and used with permission of the author.
DORADO, Puerto Rico, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GSRX Industries Inc. (OTCQB: GSRX) (GSRX or, the Company), announced today that, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pure and Natural CBDs, LLC, it intends to enter into the CBD retail market with a planned chain of GSRX-branded retail stores offering premium quality all-natural health and wellness Hemp CBD-based products. The Company is currently in the process of identifying potential locations for its first Pure and Natural CBDs retail store in the Austin, Texas area.



According to Hemp Business Journal, 2017 sales for the U.S. hemp industry were $820 million overall, with sales of hemp-derived CBD products contributing $190 million to that total ( Hemp Business Journal ). In a study released earlier this month by MJBizDaily ( MJBiz Daily Report ), U.S. Hemp-driven CBD retail sales are projected to exceed $3 billion by 2022. In an article published in Rolling Stone last month, a new estimate from cannabis industry analysts The Brightfield Group indicates the overall Hemp-CBD market could hit $22 billion by 2022 ( Rolling Stone ).

Through its proposed Pure and Natural CBDs stores, the Company plans to offer a broad selection of proprietary all-natural branded Pure and Natural CBDs Hemp CBD products in major product categories, including: oils; gummies; candies; edibles; sub-linguals; baked goods; topicals; pet care products; hair care; skin care; coffee and tea; vape products; bath and beauty products, and more.



About GSRX Industries Inc.

GSRX Industries Inc. (OTCQB: GSRX), through its subsidiaries, is in the business of acquiring, developing and operating retail cannabis dispensaries, and is in the process of expanding its business to include the cultivation, extraction, manufacture and delivery of cannabis and cannabinoid products. Currently, GSRX operates five cannabis dispensaries in California and Puerto Rico, and has six additional pre-qualified locations in Puerto Rico, all of which are in various phases of development and construction.

Websites:

Green Spirit RX https://www.greenspiritrx.com/

Spirulinex https://www.spirulinex.com

Sunset Connect https://www.sunsetconnect.co

Instagram:

Spirulinex https://www.instagram.com/spirulinex/

Sunset Connect https://www.instagram.com/sunsetconnect/

The Green Room https://www.instagram.com/greenroommendo/

Facebook:

Green Spirit RX (Puerto Rico) https://www.facebook.com/Green-Spirit-Rx-746194692378429/

Spirulinex https://www.facebook.com/spirulinex/

The Green Room https://www.facebook.com/greenroommendo/



Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements include statements regarding our expectations, hopes, beliefs or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to statements regarding our market, strategy, competition, development plans (including acquisitions and expansion), financing, revenues, operations, and compliance with applicable laws. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in any such statement. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include the risks described in greater detail in the following paragraphs. All forward-looking statements in this document are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except where applicable law requires us to update these statements. Market data used throughout this prospectus is based on published third party reports or the good faith estimates of management, which estimates are based upon their review of internal surveys, independent industry publications and other publicly available information.
A man noticed an empty, broken-down house in Sydney, Australia and poked around the neighborhood to find out more about it. Turns out the occupant, who had been renting it since around the 1940s, had died earlier that year. So Bill Gertos, a tax accountant at the time, decided it was okay  and ethical  to pretend it was his. He fixed it up, changed the locks, and rented it out.

This was 20 years ago, and now Gertos is the lawful owner. The real owners  heirs of the previous owner, who died in 1947  tried to fight it in court, but Gertos won under squatters' rights, even though he wasn't the one squatting.

According to the BBC:
I like bright yellow and orange equipment because it's easy to find. I'm less likely to leave something on a hotel room bedside table if it isn't black. I always thought pencils were yellow because it made them easier to spot on a cluttered desk, but the real reason turns out to be a lot more interesting.

From The Little-Known Reason Pencils Are Yellow, by Gabrielle Hick

A number of pencil manufacturers, including Hardtmuth, now sourced their graphite from Siberiathe vast Russian province which shares borderland with China. That geographic proximity was key for Hardtmuth as it devised its marketing scheme. In China, yellow had long been tied to royalty. The legendary ruler considered the progenitor of Chinese civilization was known as the Yellow Emperor; thus, centuries later in Imperial China only the royal family was allowed to wear yellow. Eventually, the shade came to represent happiness, glory, and wisdom. Hardtmuth settled on yellow to communicate the graphite's geographical origins, while also linking its product to the long-held Chinese associations of royalty, and therefore superiority. To further emphasize the point, Hardtmuth dubbed its new line of yellow pencils "Koh-I-Noor" after the world-famous diamond from the British Crown Jewels. "Diamonds are graphite, and the name Koh-I-Noorbeing the name of such an exquisite diamondwas deliberately chosen to suggest the quality of graphite in the pencil," Petroski noted. So popular was its yellow pencil that the company actually changed its own name to Koh-I-Noor Hardtmuth.

Image: Shutterstock/Valentin Kundeus
- South Africa's Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba, is accused of lying under oath

- Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane found Gigaba lied during the case between him and Fireblade Aviation

- Mkhwebane wants President Ramaphosa to tell her what to do within 20 days

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Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba is accused of lying under oath. Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, now wants President Ramaphosa to advice her on what to do.

According to Mkhwebane, Gigaba's lying under oath breaches the Executive Ethics Code and Parliament code.

Mkhwebane also says that Gigaba violated the constitution, according to a report by eNCA.

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The alleged lying happened when Gigaba testified during the case between him and Fireblade Aviation.

The owners of Fireblade Aviation, Nicky Oppenheimer and his son, Jonathan had to appear in court and explain how it was that they could operate a private terminal at the OR Tambo International Airport.

Gigaba denied giving them permission to do so. In 2017, the Pretoria High Court ruled that Fireblade Aviation may run the terminal.

Mkhwebane gave the president 20 days to tell her what action to should be taken against Gigaba.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

The trial of suspended University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice Chancellor Levi Nyagura, who is accused of illegally awarding former First Lady Grace Mugabe a PhD, failed to kick off yesterday after he sought a further postponement because his lawyer was still engaged at the Constitutional Court.Through his lawyer Advocate Sylvester Hashiti, Nyagura asked for a postponement on the basis that the matter, which was supposed to be heard at the Constitutional Court before Chief Justice Luke Malaba last Friday was postponed to yesterday.Mr Lazini Ncube remanded the matter to today for ruling.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A COUPLE died while their child sustained injuries when the trio was run over by a car as they walked along the BulawayoBeitbridge Road at Esigodini.The accident occurred at the 30km peg on Saturday. Sources said the driver of a Toyota Wish lost control of the vehicle due to speeding and it veered off the road. The car knocked down three pedestrians resulting in the death of the couple.Mr Tafadzwa Kamanura (24) of Masvingo was driving towards Bulawayo with two passengers on board at around 4PM when disaster struck.The vehicle finally stopped after hitting a tree.Ngqabutho Ndlovu (31) and Nokuthula Tshuma (26) of Plot No 3 Woodlands Farm, Esigodini died on the spot while their son, Terrence Tshuma (3), sustained injuries on the legs. One of the passengers in the car, Miss Sandisiwe Ncube (21), sustained bruises all over her body.The two injured persons were rushed to Esigodini District Hospital while the bodies of the deceased persons were taken to the same hospital's mortuary, enroute to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for postmortem.Matabeleland South acting police spokesperson Sgt Thandolwenkosi Moyo referred questions to the national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi. Asst Comm Nyathi said he had not yet received the report and was checking on the matter.Negligent driving and speeding have been blamed for a majority of accidents on the country's roads.
News / National

by Mandla Ndlovu

A shocking Poll result of a survey conducted by ZiFM Stereo on whether they would buy Prophet Walter Magaya's HIV and cancer "cure" revealed 66% of the respondents are willing to buy it while a meagre 335 said they would not.ZiFM had posted the Survey asking, "Would you buy Prophet Magaya's "cure" for HIV and Cancer?"The respondents who supported Magaya's 'cure' area adamnt that The self-styled Prophet has found the cure for the world's most incurable diseases.One respondent KyptoniteZW said, "I think the problem with most Zimbabweans is that we pray for an answer and when the answer is given to us we start rising the bar high.It's like refusing a cure to your sickness when you know for a fact you need it the most or it's just that we scared to tryout new things"Listair Mhonde responded, "I would buy the cure not because I am a member o PHD ministries or a son of the prophet, but because I know the pain of loss of a relative from the epidemic and wish there was a time machine to go back to when I had my uncle but he died before a cure was found."A critic of the 'cure' CTezzy asked, " Is Magaya a prophet or a scientist ?...coz a real prophet will never sell medicine (even Jesus healed people for free ). If he consider himself to be a scientist- where in the world did he get his medical knowledge from?? This is a scam guys."Magaya who has come under attack from the Ministry of Health and other Health practitioners claims an American firm offered him money to reveal the source of the herb that he uses."I was offered $56 million by an American company for me to show them the Aguma plant, I turned them down."
News / National

by Staff reporter

As long as Finance minister Mthuli Ncube doesn't play the politics of his appointing authority as well as of the ruling Zanu-PF party he will keep on tripping over himself, analysts contend.These sentiments come after Ncube recently appointed Acie Lumumba as chairperson of the ministry's Communications Taskforce, only to fire him three days after political pressure was brought to bear on him.The Lumumba incident followed on the heels of Ncube's announcement of the infamous two percent tax which triggered price increases and saw the shortage of basic goods and fuel.The two percent tax was met with resistance from some quarters in Zanu-PF and left the Cabinet divided as most accused Ncube of rushing to make policy decisions without consulting them.Crisis Coalition spokesperson Tabani Moyo believes it's a problem for one to think he or she has the powers to change the ruling party from its character and passage."Many have tried before without success. In the end the party reminds the people who joined it later that they are merely guests and that by their nature guests are expected to bid farewell."The ruling party is yet to press a reset switch and still trying to calibrate internal success battles. This plays out in the critical areas of the government such as finance as is happening now," said Moyo.Opposition politician and lawyer Obert Gutu says Ncube is coming straight from the world of private business and academia."This is pretty much his very first experience in public service as Finance minister in a troubled economy."Initially, he will have to go through a crash programme in handling a highly sensitive political office."You can't be a Cabinet minister and completely ignore playing the politics of your appointing authority as well as of the ruling party at the time. It simply doesn't work that way."Gutu said he has been a deputy minister before in the inclusive government and knows precisely what he is talking about."Ncube will eventually get it right, but make no mistake about it, he will have to learn very, very fast and also to adjust to the political dynamics within Zanu-PF."The guy is anything but stupid. It's only the politics around him that he doesn't seem to understand at the moment."If he doesn't navigate his way swiftly and smartly, he might actually be toppled by the political waves that are circulating around him," said Gutu.Political analyst Maxwell Saungweme believes Ncube has a clue in terms of economics but he has no clue on how politics drives everything including economics in Zimbabwe."Most of his pitfalls and blunders are due to poorly managed politics. He needs to understand the art of statecraft and Zimbabwean politics."Political analyst Vivid Gwede said the fact is Ncube has no clue how this system is rotten starting from the head like a fish."Most of the problems start from the high echelons of government. Now he has to plod along tripping over himself. The national crisis is not just economic, it is political first and foremost."It has to do with entrenched patronage networks, corruption and capture of critical institutions. That system needs overhaul and cannot be cleansed by Mthuli's CV," said Gwede.He added that the introduction of a two percent tax and appointment of Lumumba are terrible signs of desperation from the Finance ministry."The five strategic clusters of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme include governance, and I think that is the alpha and omega. Without a new governance culture, these projections of a middle-income country by 2030 are all pipedreams," said Gwede.Political analyst Piers Pigou said the Lumumba hiring and firing incident suggests a level of desperation from Ncube."To hire someone who has the reputation of a snake oil salesman does not instil confidence."This has also reinforced perceptions of internal factionalism within the executive and underscores the importance of greater transparency in the country's political economy; who controls what sectors of the economy and how are they related to the political and military leadership and their respective interests."Social analyst Rashweat Mukundu believes the ministry of Finance has failed to present a coherent message on its plans and actions leading to mistrust and chaos in the economy."The events of the past two weeks indicate that the minister of Finance has hit the ground running unfortunately to nowhere. Mthuli is caught between his ill-advised actions and the political system he seeks to change," said Mukundu.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Government insiders have alleged that President Emmerson Mnangagwa's special advisor Christopher Mutsvangwa, was hammering Sakunda Holdings boss Kudakwashe Tagwirei because he was keen to replace dominance of Sakunda with MOGS Oil & Gas Services - a Johannesburg-based fuels company which owns and operates pipelines, fuel storage facilities and other oil and gas infrastructure across Africa and further afield, according to Zim Techreview forums MOGS is controlled by Royal Bafokeng MOGS (Pty) Ltd, a company part of a group of entities which fall under Royal Bafokeng Holdings (Pty) Ltd.Mutsvangwa, who has been vocal about breaking Sakunda's monopoly in the fuel industry, was said to be MOGS' front, and reportedly approached Mnangagwa with a proposal to have the pan-African leader in the oil and gas midstream infrastructure sector to build a second fuel pipeline from Feruka.He was said to be in partnership on the MOGS deal with former senior MDC official Eddie Cross.The Daily News heard that towards elections, Mutsvangwa reportedly told Mnangagwa that he had been working with Cross on the MOGS deal since the coup and that Cross will no longer root for opposition leader Nelson Chamisa in the elections.Cross has since exited the MDC Alliance after pouring scorn on the party.Reached for comment, Cross said "there is a measure of truth" in the claims.He said he has been involved in talks to have MOGS build a second pipeline since the days of the government of national unity (GNU), a project he said was mooted by then Energy minister Elton Mangoma."During the GNU, I was asked by Mangoma to find a company which could build a new pipeline from Beira to Harare to supply regional states from regional fuel pool in Harare, centred in Mabvuku, where we have a large fuel storage facility that can take 400 000 cubic metres of fuel," Cross told the Daily News.He said he embarked on a programme to find a suitable partner and opened talks with MOGS.Cross said the deal was put on ice after the dissolution of the GNU.Then after the coup, Cross said he was asked by Mnangagwa as part of his 100-day plan to revive the deal with MOGS.He said a deal was reached on December 13, 2017 with MOGS.Cross said at the end of January, the deal was put to Cabinet but was blocked by "senior elements"."The reason given was that the pipeline was a strategic asset and (a) private company can't own shares," Cross said.Mutsvangwa rubbished the allegations made against him yesterday."I have completely nothing to do with this except promoting those who want to invest. Ask (the) permanent secretary in the ministry of Defence. This company MOGS has been here since 1994. All companies come to my office. It's one of many; there are 15 other companies that are interested," Mutsvangwa told the Daily News.Asked if he was in a partnership with Cross, Mutsvangwa said: "It's nonsense."Asked if Cross was a front for MOGS, Mutsvangwa said: "I don't know, I can't speak for other people. I can only speak about companies that come to my office. Why don't you speak to Eddie, I can't speak about Eddie's business."The Daily News revealed that Mnangagwa met with Errol Gregor, the chief executive officer of MOGS, on Monday to tie up the deal to start work on the second pipeline, with the project said to be worth $800 million.The meeting was also attended by Joram Gumbo, the minister of Energy.This has heightened tensions with Sakunda.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE Zanu-PF youth league has said President Mnangagwa should serve his two five-year terms as enshrined in the constitution.The league held its annual national assembly in Harare this week and launched "2023 ED-PFee" slogan, making it clear that Mnangagwa was their preferred candidate for the next elections."This slogan 2023 ED-PFee has a meaning which you will get to understand in future," said deputy youth secretary Lewis Matutu.Mnangagwa hailed the youths for pioneering several slogans that saw the ruling party winning resoundingly in the last harmonised elections. He said it was the youths who coined the slogan ED: Pfee and #edhasmyvote Political commissar Godfrey Tsenegamu said the league is backing Mnangagwa to run for a second term in office as permitted under the country's constitution.He dismissed those opposed to the idea as "dreaming"."Those who were saying Mnangagwa will rule for only one term are lost," he said.Meanwhile, Mnangagwa warned some Zanu-PF party members behaving like loose cannons discussing internal issues outside party structures to stop such behaviour or risk being kicked out of the party. He said the revolutionary party had a clear channel of airing out grievances that should be used by all members who feel aggrieved.
Linear Speed Measurement a Key Factor in the Companys Rail Inspection Portal

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (Duos or the Company) (OTCQB: DUOT), through its operating subsidiary Duos Technologies, Inc., a provider of intelligent security and analytical technology solutions, has been awarded a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its Linear Speed Measurement (LSM) technology. The LSM technology allows the stitching of images that are a single pixel wide into an accurate high-definition image of a train with up to 100 or more cars. Without this technology, images may appear compressed or stretched, reducing the effectiveness of both operator inspection and algorithmic detection of mechanical issues.

The Companys proprietary design significantly increases the accuracy of the speed information compared to commercially available measurement devices and can detect speed differences down to less than 0.01 MPH. The LSM has undergone extensive field testing through deployment in the Companys growing base of rail inspection portals. The LSM is also an important underlying technology as the Company advances its artificial intelligence capabilities.

This patent represents a confirmation of the advanced nature of our intelligent technologies which we are continuing to bring to the market, stated Gianni Arcaini, Chief Executive Officer of Duos. Expanding our technology portfolio and incorporating leading technologies is consistent with our short-term as well as mid-term strategic plan. We expect to bring more innovative technologies to market in the future, which we expect to have a positive impact on our long-term revenue stream. With this award. Duos now has 10 patents granted in total.

About Duos Technologies Group, Inc.

Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (OTCQB: DUOT), based in Jacksonville, Florida, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Duos Technologies, Inc., provides advanced intelligent security and analytical technology solutions with a strong portfolio of intellectual property. The Companys core competencies include intelligent technologies that combine machine learning, artificial intelligence and advanced video analytics that are delivered through its proprietary integrated enterprise command and control centraco platform. The Company provides its broad range of technology solutions with an emphasis on mission critical security, inspection and operations within the rail transportation, retail, petrochemical, government, and banking sectors. Duos Technologies also offers professional and consulting services for large data centers. For more information, visit www.duostech.com .

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking terminology such as believes, expects, may, will, should, anticipates, plans, or similar expressions or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause Duos Technologies Group, Inc.s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A in Duos Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, and other factors as may periodically be described in Duos filings with the SEC.

Contacts: Duos Technologies

Corporate

Tracie Hutchins

Duos Technology Group, Inc.

904-652-1601

tlh@duostech.com



Investor Relations

Matt Glover or Tom Colton

Liolios

949-574-3860

DUOT@liolios.com


News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Land Commission wishes to advise its Stakeholders and the General Public that it will be carrying out a National Comprehensive Agricultural Land Audit from the 22 October to 24 November 2018.The audit will be carried out in all the gazetted categories of agricultural land which include Old Resettlement Schemes, A1 villagised, Al Self-Contained, A2 (Small, Medium and Large Scale), Pen-urban Farms, Large Scale Commercial Farms, Small Scale Commercial Farms (Matenganyika), Commercial Farm Settlement Scheme, Commercial Agricultural Plots, 3 Tier Farms and Institutional farms.The Land Audit will be carried out in phases.In phase 1, it will be carried out in respective districts as indicated below;
News / National

by Mandla Ndlovu

The Ministry of Information, publicity and Broadcasting has cleared air on the rumours that RBZ Governor Dr. John Panonetsa Mangudya has been fired from his job."We have had a lot media enquiries about change of leadership at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). Government wishes to inform the public that there has not been any change in the Governor's Office," the ministry said in a statement.Yesterday rumours were circulating that Dr John Mangudya had been fired, with a senior World Bank official being tipped for the post, reports suggest.Sources who circulated the rumour quoted Alternate Executive Director at World Bank Group representing Africa, Anne Kabagambe saying the incoming Zimbabwe Reserve Bank Governor is Andrew Bvumbe who has since left his position as Executive Director at World Bank.Anne Kabagambe had posted on her twitter handle @akabagambe bidding farewell to Bvumbe saying, "Farewell ceremony for the outgoing Executive Director, Andrew Bvumbe at WorldBank. Working to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity."
News / National

by Staff Repolrter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially announced oil and gas deposits discovery in Muzarabani, Mashonaland Central province, following a study carried out by an Australian company, Invictus Energy Limited.In a televised address to the nation late afternoon today, President Mnangagwa said, government in the last few months worked with and facilitated Invictus, which is quoted on the Australian Stock Exchange, to undertake oil and gas exploration studies in Muzarabani.He revealed that government has been advised by Invictus that the findings "are positive and point to oil and gas deposits in this area", adding that Invictus and their partners will be making a statement to their shareholders through the Australian Stock Exchange in a few hours."Invictus is utilising data which was generated by Mobil Oil in the early 1990s when extensive oil and gas geophysical work was undertaken in the greater Muzarabani area."As part of its exploration studies, Invictus has engaged a number of world-wide professional companies with extensive experience in oil and gas," said President Mnangagwa.President Mnangagwa said the findings by Invictus are an exciting development for the country, adding that government will work closely with the firm."The govt of Zimbabwe will work very closely with Invictus to ensure that the Invictus realises its plans to sink an exploration well by mid-2020. After exploration well, the next stage will be commercial exploitation of the resource," he said.The President further highlighted that in the interim, additional geophysical work is on-going to identify further exploration targets, while updates will be given as and when the planned exploration work results come in.He noted that, on its part, Invictus has committed itself to enter a production-sharing agreement will the government of Zimbabwe, which will be applicable when the project proceeds to commercial production stage.Invictus Energy Limited is an independent oil and gas exploration Australian firm focused on high impact energy resources in sub-Saharan Africa.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The death of one Sekuru Muswere of St Mary's house number 1263 has left the family divided.The dispute, which has spilled to the courts, started after the late Sekuru Muswere's relatives demanded that his body be taken to Rusape were he originally comes from while others want him laid to rest in Mhondoro where he had constructed his new home where his in-laws come from.It is claimed two graves have been dug, on in Rusape and another Mhondoro for Sekuru Muswere's final resting place.Sekuru Muswere's wife was not present when H-Metro visited their house while there were debates among family members."Right now, in Rusape they are digging a grave for him same as in Mhondoro."Moto wakatobatidzwa kwese kuri two. Hameno kuti vachaita sei."Mukadzi wacho anotonga, vana havana kana neremuromo saka hapana zvavangakwanise kutaura," said a neighbour.However, there were many versions to the story.The Musweres were saying their relatives had gone to the Harare Magistrates courts to resolve the issue while Rebecca's family said they had gone to the funeral parlour to collect the body."Muswere was living in Mhondoro with his in-laws and that's where the problem emanated. Now they want to take his body back for what?," said a disgruntled Muswera family member."Anga asina kurambana nemukadzi wake asi aigara kumusha kwana vatezvara," the source said.Another source who spoke to H-Metro said the funeral had taken long and they don't think it would be resolved anytime soon."He was staying in Mhondoro while his wife was staying at his St Mary's house with his five children."He comes from Rusape and his family wants him to be buried there whilst his wife wants him to be buried at his Mhondoro homestead."The wrangle has been going on for the past six days. Atori ma1 hakuna chinobuda apa."What has been happening is that when one part went to the funeral parlour the other part would follow to block those that had gone to collect the body."Officials at the parlour told them to solve their differences and come back when they had resolved their issues," another source said.The family members told H-Metro to stick around and see that they indeed had resolved their differences since the body was on its way."You are wasting your time. We are very much okay. Hapana chiri kunetsa apa. If you think we are lying wait by 6pm the body will be here but we don't know if we will be able to take it to Mhondoro tonight or he will lie in his house tonight," said a family member."Whoever told you those lies is up to something."They want to divide this family. It is a family issue don't publish it. said one sekuru Bhonzo who is believed to be the deceased's son."By late last night there was still a standoff between the two parties.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Some A2 farmers in Goromonzi have been evicted from the land allocated to them in 2007 and are now living in the open.The farmers were issued with offer letters by former Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement, Cde Didymus Mutasa in 2007 but the letters were withdrawn by Cde Mutasa's predecessor, Dr Douglas Mombeshora after a court challenge.And recently, the Sherriff told the farmers to vacate their places and their properties were destroyed, while agricultural implements were thrown out of Watermount Farm, leaving them now living under deplorable conditions.Of major concern is that the farmers who were holders of genuine offer letters had their tenure documents withdrawn following a court ruling that land belongs to some indigenous business people after almost 12 years of occupation.The ZBC News came face to face with both sides with the farmers enduring the scotching weather and under threat from the rains, pleading for urgent government intervention."This is our offer letter which we received in 2007. As you can see, they were officially signed by then Minister of Lands, Didymus Mutasa, but unfortunately the other former minister withdrew them, so our goods are now scattered everywhere. We hope our president will rescue us," said Mai Mukwamba, one of the affected farmers.According to documents availed by Watermount Estate Private Limited, the estate is registered under deed of transfer number: 8745/98, but Mutasa allocated the land to Rashmore Mukwamba, Cephas Hodzi, Charles Machoba and Alvin Msengezi.The Watermount farm dispute spilled into the High Court with owners seeking an eviction order of all settlers, leading former minister Mombeshora to withdraw the offer letters.
News / National

by Mandla Ndlovu

Acting Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi has alleged that the justice system in Zimbabwe is captured by powerful cartels who include lawyers, media and powerful political figures.Hodzi was speaking during the interviews to search for a substantive Prosecutor General on Thursday.Said Hodzi, "The National Prosecuting Authority is captured by some corrupt elements. There are lawyers who are corrupt, they operate as a cartel we have intelligence on them. We have identified the main characters and we are working on a dossier."We have identified a section of the NPA which was captured right up to the top. We are going to take brutal action because we are cutting off cancer."When Hodzi was questioned on his assertion that the NPA had a dossier of 27 high profile cases, why were they not being set down for a hearing he said, "I get instructions from the executive for prosecutions to be done."The Acting PG said the cartel involves the media who deliberately plant stories to say that so and so will be arrested."The Cartels are so powerful to the extent they rival government. We have traced these cartels to high ranking political figures who appear untouchable. Documents were delivered to my office, it's a matter of life and death but I am a fighter, I am innovative and creative in dealing with challenges I am not a mourner."Hodzi was sworn in as Acting PG after the dismissal of Former PG Ray Goba.
Opinion / Book Reviews

Brian Maregedze is a historian, author and columnist.

Author of, A Guide to Sources of African History: For Advanced Level Examinations (2018).

Feedback, email: bmaregedze@gmail.com

The need to account for multiple narratives in the history of the liberation struggle compelled Andrew Ndlovu's autobiography to proffer his narrative from the front. The book serves to demonstrate the continuation of the 'struggles within the struggles' during the liberation struggle from the nationalists and the disappointments which culminated to war fighters from the front. The emotive land redistribution issue forms the main theme which manifested as "the delayed revolution" in which Andrew Ndlovu was among the pioneers and or leading figures in kick-starting the farm invasions with the late Dr. Chenjerai 'Hitler' Hunzvi. Ndlovu demonstrates the experiences of a war veteran who formerly served within the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZPRA) forces and later on more conflicts which led to the revival of revived Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU).The first to third chapters account for the "volunteer" which fits well with Andrew Ndlovu's war name "volunteer." Ndlovu's call to join the struggle was that of responding to the 'patrolling of Rhodesian police with dogs on leash' in Magwegwe formerly Curtis Farm (p.14). The journey to Botswana and its role in assisting in the cause for Zimbabwe's liberation struggle was accounted for. Regional countries which Ndlovu travelled include not only Botswana, but also Zambia and Tanzania. More notable is that in 1975, Ndlovu was trained in Tanzania and later on moved to Ukraine Republic for further training. It is also the Soviets who gave Ndlovu the name "Volunteer."The fourth to eleventh chapters brought to the fore the entry of Ndlovu into Rhodesia using the Zambezi River route until ceasefire in 1979. Some challenges encountered in the execution of the struggle are addressed but with the hand of the peasants and role of nature, some of the problems were put down. The Tinda battle in Binga received attention. The experiences of surprise attacks from the Rhodesian forces, survival, avenging, loss of guerillas and enemy counter-attacks characterized the complex unpredictable events in the struggle.In chapter twelve to fifteen, Ndlovu's narrative remained complex in that conflicts continued mainly as a result of the need to integrate into the Zimbabwe National Army. The author was suspicious of the way ZANU PF won the 1980 elections pointing to the involvement of an external hand mainly Britain and the Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] (p.51). Soon after independence, the arrests of Dumiso Dabengwa and the late Lookout Masuku caused intensified tensions between ZAPU and ZANU. The role of the Fifth Brigade in Midlands and Matabeleland regions are dealt with. The events which followed pushed Ndlovu to exile in countries such as Botswana and Liberia. Experiencing being a refugee as a security threat in Liberia also made it complex for Ndlovu to survive as he was perceived as a spy in the civil war which had erupted in that country. However, other skills of dealing with conflicting war spaces empowered Ndlovu to leadership roles and studying in Liberia was made possible as well. The story of a consultant in demobilization and rehabilitation programs back in Zimbabwe emerged and leading the war veterans with the late Dr. Chenjerai Hunzvi.Chapter sixteen focuses much on Ndlovu the leader, being 'instrumental in conducting and directing the farm invasions' (p.64). Also formerly a human rights founder of the ZIMRIGHTS, Ndlovu served as a treasurer for five years. Among other prominent leaders within these circles included Garfield Todd, Nicholas Ndebele and the late former Prime Minister Morgan R. Tsvangirai who served from 2008-2013. The issue of who is a national hero also emerged with Ndlovu disappointed by the ZANU PF bias in according hero status. The conflicting narratives on the impact of war veterans in land invasions were articulated. The death of Chenjerai Hunzvi was another blow which however gave him chance to be at the helm of leadership for the war veterans.The last two chapters focused on Ndlovu's views on first, reflecting "the marriages of convenient" from 1987 Unity Accord and 2008-2013 Government of National Unit (GNU) and the resolution to pull out of ZANU PF. From page eighty three of the book, over thirty photographs were inserted showing Ndlovu and his family as well as some notable experiences he had in and outside Zimbabwe. Some of the photographs of figures in Zimbabwe's national memory include the former President Robert Mugabe speaking at Dr. Hunzvi's funeral, and the late vice President Joseph Msika, among many.The book positively contributes to narratives of the armed struggle in Matabeleland North and covering districts such as Nkayi, Lupane, Tsholotsho, Binga and Hwange. This adds to narratives which demonstrate the supportive role that the peasants played in the liberation struggle, confirming K. D. Manungo's (1991) observations that the guerillas and peasants where like fish and water. The Sunday News in a way possibly fulfills Andrew Ndlovu's quest for narratives from the front and especially coming from former ZPRA cadres.However, the work suffers from sketchy narratives on some aspects such as the everyday life in training camps, the almost fictional narrative which the author survived an arm bush in 1978 manifests (p.34), and some claims are made without substantiated evidence (p.51).Although Andrew Ndlovu is a professional accountant, his book is an important contribution which academics, students of history, general readers with interest in Zimbabwe's war history and heritage studies experts can benefit from. The autobiography has pointers to some areas that professional historians can research more on, such as the voices of Zimbabwean war refugees in unexplored countries such as Ukraine, Botswana and Liberia.
Opinion / Columnist

A statement made by Dexter Nduna in parliament yesterday is unfortunate, disgusting and exposes his party for what it represents. 24 hours later he has not corrected his statement, the MDC gave him a window period to appeal to his own conscience so as to realize that his rant was uncalled for.A member of parliament must be honorable in approach, this must include tolerance as opposed to revealing hate and even the hunger to take people's lives.Nduna must know that he is a beneficiary of daylight robbery, benefiting from incompetence on the part of the electoral commission and suspicious adjudication of the dispute. He must at least redeem himself by using the stolen privilege to push for progressive legislation not spew his dreams of firing squads.The man probably wants to use parliament to make up for the time he should have been using toy guns as a young boy. Everyone missed something in their childhood, national institutions cannot therefore be used to compensate for such misfortunes.His utterances expose his misunderstanding of the supremacy of the constitution. A parliamentarian who pushes for legislation which is inconsistent with the constitution is not fit for purpose.Section 48 of the constitution is clear on the imposition of the death penalty, "A law may permit the death penalty to be imposed only on a person convicted of murder committed in aggravating circumstances."We therefore condemn his attempt to scare Zimbabweans especially dissenting voices through a threat to bring an unconstitutional penalty especially for those who call for honest re-engagement which must be supported by reforms back at home.We are aware that Nduna's utterances which must be reversed are targeting a position on re-engagement which is mischievously labeled a call for sanctions for political expediency.Anyone who wants to weaponise the law against dissent is an enemy of democracy.Jacob MafumeMDC National Spokesperson
Opinion / Columnist

Nelson Chamisa's ascendancy to the MDC Alliance leadership was controversial, questionable and undemocratic at best and led to the formation of a splinter group led by the former Deputy President, Thokozani Khupe, who argued that she instead of Chamisa, was the rightful person to succeed the late MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.Chamisa's followers though, are adamant that their leader's rise to the helm of the party's leadership was above board and democratic as the decision to appoint him President was taken by that party's supreme decision making body, the National Council.A simple definition of democracy states that, it is the control of an organization or group, in this case, the MDC, by the majority of its members through an electoral process, whereas a dictator means a ruler with total power, typically one who has obtained control by force.Tsvangirai's death left a vacuum in the MDC leadership considering that his death came at a time there was no clear succession plan in place therefore opening a tug of war among the three vice presidents of the party.Of the three Vice Presidents, only Thokozani Khupe had been elected to that position with the other deputies having been mere appointees, Chamisa included.The Chamisa scheme to grab power started by him alleging that he had met Tsvangirai on his death bed where he endorsed him to succeed him, a lie that was later exposed by Tsvangirai's family, declaring that Chamisa never met with Tsvangirai.The second step was to make sure that even before Tsvangirai's body was expatriated back to the country, Chamisa was busy rallying his sympathisers and holding clandestine meetings at that party's headquarters in Harare seeking endorsement as the party and the Alliance Presidency.After having successfully elbowed Elias Mudzuri and Thokozani Khupe in the party's presidency, Chamisa blocked the party from holding an emergency elective congress which would have put to rest the conundrum involving the vacant presidency, arguing that the party should focus on the harmonised elections.Now that elections have come and gone, the scheming Chamisa is at it again.Reports of Chamisa and his proxies clandestinely working on a move to block all other members aspiring to challenge for the party's presidency are circulating.Chamisa intends to go through the party's elective congress uncontested, an unlikely scenario given that the likes of Elias Mudzuri and Douglas Mwonzora have already expressed keen interest to contest for the party leadership position.Other cases of dictatorial tendencies by Chamisa includes the imposition of Joana Mamombe as the legislative candidate for Harare West at the expense of senior party member, Jessie J Majome and now Chamisa has ordered the MDC Alliance Victoria Falls mayor, Councillor Somvelo Dlamini, to step down for his choice, Margaret Valley.It's the same hullabaloo in Bulawayo; Chamisa insisting his choice was not respected and has ordered the winning Mayor to step down for his preferred candidate.Chamisa has in more ways than one exposed himself as a dictator despite preaching about democracy and misleading the nation that the MDC Alliance stands to champion democracy in the country.Chamisa was never voted in power and his brief stint as party president has brought out a ruthless leader who will descend on any dissenting voices.
Opinion / Columnist

One of the issues that has dominated the Zimbabwe political landscape for a while is the matter of sanctions, with campaigners for their removal saying they are holding back Zimbabwe, but I argue this is nothing but a red herring from people who really do not want to confront the biggest problem that the country is facing.Sanctions are inherently bad and must be condemned. But there is a context and calling for the removal of sanctions without addressing why they were put in place in the first place is akin to treating symptoms, a disingenuous exercise.The worst sanctions that Zimbabwe faces are inflicted by the government s inaction when it comes to fully implementing the constitutionWithout going into semantics or the debate on whether we really have sanctions the sanctions that have the biggest effect on Zimbabwe are those that were slapped by the US, commonly known as ZIDERA.The US has said the best way for Zimbabwe to get rid of sanctions is for the African country to implement its constitution. Quite simple and straight to the point, right? But it seems nobody wants to engage with that part of the deal and instead are more preoccupied with the unconditional removal of sanctions.The easy way in all this would be to say look America, we have implemented our constitution, now remove your sanctions.But no, we just want sanctions to be removed and to hell with everything else, including the constitution, which is supposed to be the very foundation on which the country is built on.If those that were calling for the removal of sanctions were genuine, then they would also show what the government has done to implement the constitution and what timelines there are for ironing out outstanding issues.But the debate is one-dimensional and clearly unhelpful.Let s have a quick look at ZIDERA for instance. The first dictate of ZIDERA, which we can say is the first step towards removing sanctions, says the government should establish, without cost in both paper and digital formats a biometric voter registration that is endorsed by all registered political parties.Can anyone tell me what is wrong with this demand and why can t our government do this.The voters roll was a contentious issue during the 2018 elections because the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chose opacity rather than transparency and with that further prolonged the sanctions on Zimbabwe.ZIDERA also calls for the army to not to participate in campaigning for any candidate, but we have the exact opposite of that happening in Zimbabwe and this is an anathema for democracy.The US also said candidates should be allowed free and full access to state media, which must afford equal time and coverage to all registered parties, in an impartial manner. This is in our constitution that we signed up to five years ago, but it is inconvenient to mention and we have found a convenient scapegoat in sanctions.Other demands are quite straightforward, but Zimbabwe is deaf to them. For example that civil society organisations be free to carry out voter education exercises, that Zimbabwe should be open about diamond revenues since 2000 and to acknowledge and deal with past human rights abuses such as Operation Murambatsvina, the violence of 2008, and Gukurahundi.America also wants Zimbabwe to hold an immediate inquiry into the disappearance of prominent human rights activists such as Patrick Nabanyama, Itai Dzamara, and Paul Chizuze.Can anyone tell me what is wrong with these demands? I hear some saying we are a sovereign nation and America cannot dictate to us what to do, and so is America, a sovereign nation which can choose who to deal with and who not to conduct business with.These are legitimate demands, which are enshrined in our constitution, but surprisingly those that want sanctions removed are mum about such violations of our constitution.If Zimbabwe is serious about the removal of sanctions, then it knows what it has to do, instead of hollow pronouncements that in the end count for nothing.The worst form of sanctions that Zimbabwe suffers from is the failure by its own government to uphold the rule of law and implement the constitution.As any person would know, any strategist would say let s deal with what is in our control first and then take on external factors next. Instead, we are more preoccupied with external issues instead of putting our house in order.
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OAKVILLE, Ontario, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the holiday season quickly approaching, and with cannabis legalized just a couple of weeks ago, MADD Canada is kicking off its Project Red Ribbon sober driving campaign today in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Our awareness campaign, featuring our iconic red ribbon, runs from the beginning of November until January 7, said Patricia Hynes-Coates, MADD Canada National President. Hundreds of volunteers will be out in communities across the country to remind people about the risks and consequences of driving impaired by alcohol, by cannabis or any other substance that impairs ones ability to drive.

Helping MADD Canada launch this years campaign are: Halifax Mayor Mike Savage; Halifax Regional Police Superintendent Don MacLean; RCMP Chief Superintendent Marlene Snowman, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada Agency Manager Matt Conrad; and Mike MacMichael from Irving Oil. Allstate Canada and Irving Oil are campaign Title Sponsor and Official Sponsor, respectively.

This year marks the 31st annual Project Red Ribbon campaign. While great strides have been made over the years to reduce impaired driving, it continues to be a deadly problem on Canadas roads. Continued awareness efforts are crucial, especially now that cannabis is legal.

The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction sent a message of support for the campaign and highlighted the risks of cannabis-impaired driving, saying The Government of Canada is proud to partner with MADD Canada to raise awareness of the dangers of impaired driving. Even though cannabis is now legal in Canada, drug-impaired driving is not. Law enforcement are trained to detect drug-impaired drivers and they enforce drug-impaired driving laws every day. I urge all Canadians to plan ahead to make sure they have a safe ride, to never drive impaired and to never get in the car with an impaired driver.

Throughout the campaign, MADD Canada volunteers in communities across Canada distribute millions of red ribbons and red ribbon car decals for the public to use as a symbol of their commitment to always drive sober. The ribbons also serve as a powerful tribute to the thousands of Canadians killed and injured in crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs each year.

MADD Canada thanks its national 2018 Project Red Ribbon sponsors for their generous support, including: Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, Irving Oil Limited, BMO Financial Group, Continental Tire Canada Inc., RTL Westcan Group of Companies and Cascades Canada ULC. For a full list of this years Project Red Ribbon sponsors, visit www.madd.ca .

Our agents and staff are committed to helping MADD Canada spread the sober driving message, said Allstate Canada President and CEO Ryan Michel. We are proud to be part of this effort to help make our roads safer, during the holiday season, and all year long.

Our Irving Oil fleet logs up to five million miles every year in the Maritimes alone, so keeping our roads safe is paramount to us, said Johnny Grant, Director of Irving Energy. We are dedicated to making safety a part of our workplace culture, and we know that through Project Red Ribbon, more public awareness, education and reporting of potentially impaired drivers not only makes our roads safer, but ultimately saves lives.

MADD Canadas red ribbons and car decals are available through the MADD Canada web site at madd.ca , Chapters and Community Leaders, and participating sponsor outlets. Anyone who wishes to support Project Red Ribbon with a donation can do so online through the web site, by calling 1-800-665-6233 or by texting RIBBON to 45678 (a one-time $10 donation is added to the donors cell phone bill and payable to his or her service provider.)

However you are celebrating this holiday season, make a sober ride home your priority. Call an Uber or a cab, arrange a designated driver, take public transit or stay the night. Revelers looking for a safe, sober and reliable ride home at the push of a button can check out Uber, MADD Canadas Official Designated Driving App. For more information, visit: https://www.uber.com/partner/en-ca/madd-canada/ .

About MADD Canada

MADD Canada is a national, charitable organization that is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime. With volunteer-driven groups in more than 100 communities across Canada, MADD Canada aims to offer support services to victims, heighten awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and save lives and prevent injuries on our roads. To learn more, visit www.madd.ca .



About Allstate Insurance Company of Canada

Allstate Insurance Company of Canada is one of the countrys leading producers and distributors of home and auto insurance products, serving Canadians since 1953. The company strives to keep its customers in "Good Hands" as well as its employees, and has been listed five years in a row on the Best Employers in Canada list. Allstate Canada is committed to making a positive difference in the communities in which it operates and has partnered with organizations such as MADD Canada, United Way and Junior Achievement. To learn more about Allstate Canada, visit www.allstate.ca .
Technology / Mobile phone

by Mandla Ndlovu

MDC's Treasurer General Charlton Hwende has come under fire on Twitter for suggesting that MDC supporters boycott Econet service provider.In a Tweet on Thursday Hwende said, "What if MDC encourages its supporters to ditch Econet, Netone or Telecel? If the owner of Econet is aiding repression why should our 2.6 million supporters who voted Nelson Chamisa continue giving money to Strive Masiyiwa."The tweet angered many Zimbabweans on social media who vented out their anger on him.Mmatigari said,"Try it. let us see who will listen to you. You want to overstate your influence when you have none. I challenge you to go for it. Let us see."ZANU PF Deputy Secretary General Mabutho Moyo called for Hwende's resignation from the ICT Parliamentary portfolio, "Hwende must step down as Chairperson of the ICT committee in parliament, he is clearly conflicted and biased. Econet is clearly disadvantaged going forth."Journalist Maynard Manyowa weighed in saying, "Hwende is an unrepentant and unrelenting dunderhead. This he has proven time and time again."Another user Cde A. Maimba lashed at the legislator saying, "If ever Econet is called to the Portfolio Committee of ICT that Hwende chairs, they must be like Obert Mpofu and refuse to cooperate until he recuses himself. If he failed to mobilise MDC supporters to vote for a 3/4 majority in Parly...izvo angazvigona."Hwended later deleted the tweet but it had been screen grabbed and gone viral.
Massachusetts Voters Need To Stand Up For Trans Rights By Voting #YesOn3

At BUST, weve been loud about the importance of voting November 6of flipping the House and Senate, of showing up for candidates who will support women and oppose fascism. But one specific ballot question that deserves a spotlight, especially given recent reports that the Trump administration is aiming to cut back on rights for the transgender community, is Massachusetts question three.

If you havent heard already, question three marks a statewide vote on whether to keep in place a 2016 law that upholds protections for trans individuals. The legislation prohibits any kind of public discrimination against trans people, and allows them to use bathrooms that align with their gender.

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Unsurprisingly, the No on 3 campaign is led by a transphobic organization, titled Keep Massachusetts Safe, that believes allowing trans individuals to use bathrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms that align with their gender identity puts women and children in some kind of danger, The Guardian reports. The Guardian also notes that the anti-discrimination law currently in place did not lead to more criminal or unsafe incidents in bathroomsbut did prevent harassment and other acts of transphobia, as per a UCLA School of Law study.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker released a statement several weeks ago endorsing the anti-discrimination law in place. In 2016, I signed An Act Relative to Transgender Anti-Discrimination, outlawing discrimination on the basis of gender identity in all public accommodations. I am grateful to the hundreds of committed activists who worked tirelessly to advance this cause because it was the right thing to do, he wrote in a Rainbow Times exclusive. I look forward to voting Yes on Question 3I am confident that voters will join me, to re-affirm that the Commonwealth will not tolerate discrimination against our fellow citizens who are transgender.

Though Yes on 3 has widespread support across the state and even across party linesa crowd of thousands took to Bostons City Hall Plaza on Sunday to rally for the trans community, reports The Washington Post, and Baker himself is a Republicantheres a lot at stake. According to Freedom for All Massachusetts, an organization fighting to keep the anti-discrimination law in place, 65% of transgender individuals in the state reported public discrimination in a year leading up to the laws implementation. Its a real fear that, without protections, the trans community will face even worse maltreatment today from Trump and those emboldened by his rhetoric, particularly given The New York Times' recent report that the present administration is looking to alter legal ideas of gender and eradicate federal recognition of the estimated 1.4 million Americans who have opted to recognize themselvessurgically or otherwiseas a gender other than the one they were born into, the Times wrote.

Massachusetts is a state that has always been at the forefront of supporting LGBTQ+ rights, and theres something scary about what it means that even such a liberal state could be facing any kind of push to repeal anti-discrimination policies at all. As author and trans advocate Mimi Lemay told the Human Rights Campaigns magazine Equality, Hate groups across the U.S. see the ballot measure in Massachusetts as a potential catalyst that will help them strip rights from LGBTQ people nationwide. If Massachusetts, one of the most progressive states in the union, falls, what happens to the rest of the country?

To learn more about question three, Yes on 3, and how to protect trans rights in Massachusetts, check out Freedom for All MAs website. Support for keeping the law in place is pretty highthe most recent numbers state that only 28% of voters want to repeal the legislation, with 68% trying to uphold it, as the Post wrotebut your vote still matters. Its important for us to keep protections in place for the transgender community, but its just as important to send a message that transphobia and discrimination wont be tolerated in Massachusettsor anywhere in America.

Top photo via Wikimedia Commons / Laurel Wreath of Victors

More from BUST

#WeWontBeErased: The LGBTQ Community Mobilizes Against Trump's Transphobia

Mike Pence Continues To Prove His Homophobia By Becoming First VP To Speak At Anti-Gay "Values Voter Summit"

Vermont's Christine Hallquist Just Became The First Transgender Nominee For Governor

Lydia Wang is a writer, a Pisces, and one of BUST's digital editors. Find her on Twitter or say hi: lydiaw@bust.com.
A Trip Down Cynical Lane With The Watch Snob

Should You Spend $200 Or $2,000 On That New Timepiece? The Watch Snob Weighs In

A Tough Nut To Crack

I am looking for a travel watch with a world timer function. Looking for one which is slightly casual/sporty with a water resistance of 5 ATM. My budget is 2000 USD, although I can wait it out and push it to 3500 USD as well. I know there arent many options at this price for a mechanical watch, but no harm in asking.

Since I live in India, I am looking for one which displays one of the Indian cities [doesnt have to display a major city in every timezone though]. Its 5 hr 30 mins ahead of GMT. There are watches by Vacheron [Overseas World Time] and De Bethune [DB25], both of which are way out of my budget.

Related: Can't Decide On A New Timepiece? The Watch Snob Has Some Advice

As you have clearly discovered, this is a rather tough nut to crack. Mechanical multi-time zone watches generally content themselves with the ability to show a second time zone, only in full-hour increments and the addition of half-hour or fifteen minute increments requires considerably greater complexity and cost. In your price range I am afraid there are not a great many possibilities  in fact I cant think of a single true Cottier-style world time watch anywhere near that, that also offers the functionality you seek. Given the increasing importance of your illustrious sub-continent for mechanical watchmaking perhaps the dearth of choices in this price range, is something someone will at some point address.

The only partial solution I can suggest is a wristwatch with a hand for a second time zone and  here is the key feature  an inner rotating bezel; the Bremont Alt1-ZT is an example. After resetting to local time upon arrival at your destination, you can use the inner bezel to read off home time to any offset you like.

Of course, if you were willing to accept something in a quartz watch, there are any number of them which will happily show you the time in every time zone there is for about a tenth of your minimum budget or less. Time zones are always an amusing thing to see watch brands struggle with  all it takes is one impulsive decision on the part of an attention-seeking despotic government and lo and behold, we have a new time zone (or a change to an existing one) which renders every attempt to make a comprehensive world time mechanical watch obsolete at a stroke.

Best Buds Birthday On A Budget

I stumbled upon your blog while searching for watches, and I decided to send you a message in hope I'll get an answer for my question.

My friend's birthday is near, and I wanted to offer him a watch. But I absolutely have no knowledge when it comes to watches. So I was hoping you could help me with some suggestions.

From what I could see on your blog, you always opt for big brands. But as I'm a 22 years old who just recently started working, I can't afford anything for more than 200 Euros (maybe a little bit more). My friend has a Casio Edifice and a Lotus (in case this can help more).

I read your query with some amusement. A Casio Edifice and a Lotus  one assumes you mean a Lotus watch but I like to think that you might have meant the flower, or possibly the car. Either would be an interesting juxtaposition with the watch, though perhaps less informative in terms of your chums tastes.

In any case, at $200 and under there are actually a number of interesting choices  nothing with any pretensions to haute horlogerie, you understand, but then you probably dont know what that means anyway (and I urge you, both in the interests of your peace of mind, and purse, to probe no further). From Casio we have of course the legendary, world-renowned timepiece extraordinaire known to all and sundry as the G-Shock, which has the glorious distinction of being the only wristwatch in history to have been tested by being repeatedly thrown out of a fourth floor bathroom window (which is how its inventor tested the prototypes).

Your chum appears to have nothing in their possession that emits that seductive siren song known as ticking and may I commend to you, therefore, the ever-delightful and reliable wristwatch known as the Seiko 5, which has started many an unsuspecting watch enthusiast down the royal road to financial and mental ruin. Generally available online for less than one hundred dollars, and capable of running for many years without any human intervention.

Or you can do as many who love watches have done when trying to decide between two watches, and just buy both  one of the beauties of the Seiko 5 and the G-Shock is that for two hundred dollars, you can do that and still have enough left over for a bottle of something to celebrate.

Is It Hip To Be Square Again?

I honestly find your column entertaining, but I miss your thoughtful cynical answers recently. My wife and I are thinking to buy watch for our daughter who will soon enter into college for communication and also photography. She loves square watches and sometimes happily wears my wife's JLC Revero (small) or Cartier Tank in certain occasions. But she wears none for her daily and let her Citizen Eco Drive Square collecting dust on her table. If we have to find a decent budget friendly square watch to "substitute" for the Reverso or Tank for her daily use what is Snob recommendation? Thank you and we appreciate your recommendation.

Cynicism for its own sake is a mere pose which exists only to inflate the ego of the writer, and to persuade those who prefer stereotypes to thinking that the writer is sincere. It is a plague of discourse on the internet that to be rude by default denotes authenticity, and that to be thoughtful and measured shows at best spinelessness, and at worst, an undisclosed conflict of interest. I have always been, and remain, more than happy to deplore the deplorable but rewarding reader stupidity with attention, and shoddy watchmaking with the same, has over the last few years increasingly seemed to me to merely encourage the very same idiotic and unapologetically unthinking discourse and watch design which we would all be far better off without.

Also, the NOMOS Tetra is a very nice watch indeed and is, in fact square. It is an under appreciated model from the firm, and underexposed; should your daughter abjure the Eco-Drive (which is a perfectly fine watch, by the way) for not being mechanical, the Tetra should fill the bill nicely.

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By Susan Heavey and Joseph Campbell WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping both expressed optimism on Thursday about resolving their bitter trade disputes ahead of a high-stakes meeting planned for the two leaders at the end of November in Argentina. Trump said on Twitter that trade discussions with China were "moving along nicely" and that he planned to meet with Xi on the sidelines of the G20 leaders summit, after the two had a "very good" phone discussion. In comments to state media, Xi said he hoped China and the United States would be able to promote a steady and healthy relationship, and that he was willing to meet with Trump in Argentina. "The two countries' trade teams should strengthen contact and conduct consultations on issues of concern to both sides, and promote a plan that both can accept to reach a consensus on the China-U.S. trade issue," Xi said on CCTV state television. Xi was quoted by CCTV as saying after the call with Trump that the two leaders had hoped to expand bilateral trade cooperation. Neither leader specified any details of potential progress in their first known direct discussion in several months. Trump administration officials have said that trade talks with China cannot resume until Beijing comes up with specific actions it is willing take to meet U.S. demands for sweeping changes to policies on technology transfers, industrial subsidies and market access. The two countries already have imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of each other's goods and Trump has threatened to slap tariffs on the remainder of China's $500 billion-plus exports to the United States if the disputes cannot be resolved. But Trump struck a more upbeat tone on Twitter after the phone call with Xi. "Just had a long and very good conversation with President Xi Jinping of China. We talked about many subjects, with a heavy emphasis on Trade," Trump tweeted. "Those discussions are moving along nicely with meetings being scheduled at the G-20 in Argentina. Also had good discussion on North Korea!" U.S. LAWMAKERS IN BEIJING Earlier on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told a group of visiting U.S. politicians that China and the United States could overcome their differences and get relations back on track if they worked together in a spirit of mutual respect. China and the United States are locked in an increasingly bitter trade war, and both countries have already placed tariffs on some of each others' imports. Meeting a group of Republican lawmakers in Beijing, China's Li noted the China-U.S. relationship's "ups and downs" over the past four decades of diplomatic ties. "We do hope that China and the United States will meet each other halfway and work together in the spirit of mutual respect and equality," Li told Trump's fellow Republicans. U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee told Li that the delegation was there "to show our respect to a great country and a great people," and that the two countries "are competitors but not adversaries." Alexander said he would be discussing trade with Li, though neither of them mentioned the ongoing tariff war in remarks in front of reporters. Earlier this week, Trump said he thought there would be "a great deal" with China on trade, but warned that he had billions of dollars worth of new tariffs ready to go if a deal did not materialize. The United States has already imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods, with duties on $200 billion of the total set to increase to 25 percent from 10 percent on Jan. 1, 2019. China has responded with retaliatory duties on $110 billion worth of U.S. goods. (Reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington, Joseph Campbell, Yawen Chen and Michael in Beijing and Brenda Goh in Shanghai. Ben Blanchard and David Lawder; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Rosalba O'Brien and David Gregorio)
Austria will follow the United States and Hungary in backing out of a UN migration pact over concerns it will blur the line between legal and illegal migration, the Austrian government said on Wednesday.

Conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz took office last December in a coalition with the nationalist, anti-migration Freedom Party. Austria currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency, and Kurz has made curbing unregulated migration a priority.

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, which won't be legally binding, was finalized under UN auspices in July. It is due to be formally approved at a December meeting in Marrakech, Morocco.

Kurz and Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache said Austria won't sign the document or send an official representative to Marrakech. They cited, among other things, fears about a possible watering-down of the distinction between legal and illegal migration.

"There are some points that we view critically and where we fear a danger to our national sovereignty," Kurz said.

"Some of the contents go diametrically against our position," added Strache, the Freedom Party's leader.

"Migration is not and cannot become a human right. It cannot be that someone receives a right to migration because of the climate or poverty."

Pact 'inconsistent with U.S. policy'

Austria took in roughly one per cent of its population in asylum seekers in 2015 during a migration crisis in which more than a million people travelled to Europe, many of them fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere.

That experience dominated last year's parliamentary election and helped propel Kurz's conservatives to power. He has said he will prevent any repeat of that influx and has implemented policies that include restricting benefits for new immigrants.

In September 2016, all 193 UN member states, including the United States under former president Barack Obama, adopted a declaration saying no country can manage international migration on its own, and agreed to launch a process leading to the adoption of a global compact in 2018.

Story continues

Leonhard Foeger/Reuters

But last December, the U.S. said it was ending its participation in negotiations on the compact, stating that numerous provisions were "inconsistent with U.S. immigration and refugee policies" under President Donald Trump.

In July, Hungary said it would withdraw from the process.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said then that the pact was contrary to his country's interests because while it had some positive aims, like fighting human trafficking, overall it considered migration an unstoppable and positive phenomenon worthy of support.

Poland, which has also clashed with Brussels by resisting national quotas for asylum seekers, has said it is considering the same step.

The non-binding UN pact addresses issues such as how to protect people who migrate, how to integrate them into new countries and how to return them to their home countries. The United Nations has hailed it as a historic and comprehensive pact that could serve as a basis for future policies.

Austria's interior minister, Herbert Kickl, denounced what he called "an almost irresponsibly naive pro-migration tone."

Kickl contended that "it is simply not clear whether this pact, if we were to join it, would not at some point or somehow influence our body of law, even by the back door."

Austria's opposition criticized the decision.

In Brussels, Natasha Bertaud, a spokesperson for the EU's executive commission, said it regrets Austria's decision and is seeking more details from Vienna.

"We continue to believe that migration is a global challenge where only global solutions and global responsibility sharing will bring results," she said at a regular briefing.

EU heavyweight Germany reaffirmed its support for the pact, which foreign ministry spokesperson Rainer Breul said is "necessary and important."
OSWIECIM, Poland (Reuters) - David Olere, a former Auschwitz prisoner who helped dispose of bodies at the Nazi death camp, depicted his trauma of the horrors he witnessed in haunting drawings and paintings. Now more than 80 of those artworks have gone on display at an exhibition at the Auschwitz Memorial in Oswiecim, Poland. "David Olere: The One Who Survived Crematorium III," shows the extermination process which took place at Auschwitz during the Holocaust through the late painter's own eyes. A French Jew of Polish descent, Olere was part of a special unit of male Jewish prisoners, dubbed the Sonderkommando, chosen by the Nazis to discard the bodies of those killed in gas chambers. "He is the only witness who documented this unimaginable cruelty in the form of paintings and drawings," Agnieszka Sieradzka, an art historian at the Museum Collections and one of the curators of the exhibition, said in a press release. Born in Warsaw in 1902, Olere studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in the Polish capital before eventually settling in Paris. He was arrested in 1943 and deported to Auschwitz, one of several concentration camps operated by the Nazis on Polish soil during the Holocaust in which some six million Jews were killed. His grandson Marc Oler described the artist, who died in 1985, as "very, very tough, very, very talented, very, very traumatized". "David Olere wanted the next generation to be aware so they could be ... (spared) the horrors that he had been through and know peace," Oler, who attended the exhibition's opening on Tuesday, said. The exhibition, which runs until March, displays its own collection of Olere's artwork as well as many others on loan from Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and France's Memorial de la Shoah. (Reporting by Reuters Television and Joanna Plucinska; Editing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian)
Paper and Packaging  How Life Unfolds Campaign Taps Six New York City Designers for

Out-of-This-World Packaging Design

MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imagine if some of lifes everyday challenges could be solved by creative, new innovations made out of cardboard packaging. The Paper & Packaging  How Life Unfolds campaign today unveils its first ever Paper & Packaging  How Life Unfolds  The Next Great Package  challenge to put this idea to the test. The Next Great Package is a three-part video series that documents the journey of some of the countrys smartest engineers and designers as they compete head to head to develop solutions to three very different problems using paper and cardboard as the foundation for their creations.

The video series is hosted by design and technology commentator, Adesina Sanchez. Each episode tackles an important theme and partners with a leading industry brand, including Zappos , Yotel and Moes Southwest Grill . Participants were challenged to flex their innovative muscles to develop practical, yet forward-thinking packaging solutions to enhance consumer experiences.

Each submission was judged by company representatives considering the assignment, brand solution, design elements and wow factor. Designs had to be inspiring, innovative and secure using papers unique properties to solve the business challenge. Whether packaging is delivering goods safely or breathing new life into everyday experiences, each episode celebrates the versatility of paper-based packaging solutions.

Design For Purpose with Zappos

People with disabilities often struggle with everyday tasks that most take for granted. Online shoe and clothing retailer, Zappos, teamed up with Paper & Packaging  How Life Unfolds for the Design For Purpose category to design an easy-to-open shoe box to align with the companys existing adaptive fashion products for those with special needs. The two competitors include mixed media designer, Alex Moncada, and structural packaging and graphic designer, Asia Davidson.





People with disabilities often struggle with everyday tasks that most take for granted. Online shoe and clothing retailer, Zappos, teamed up with Paper & Packaging  How Life Unfolds for the Design For Purpose category to design an easy-to-open shoe box to align with the companys existing adaptive fashion products for those with special needs. The two competitors include mixed media designer, Alex Moncada, and structural packaging and graphic designer, Asia Davidson. Design For Food with Moes Southwest Grill

To address the issue of food waste and deliver quality family dining experiences, our two designers were tasked with improving ineffective takeout packaging, using paper materials to deliver food fresh and minimize waste. Fast casual restaurant chain, Moes Southwest Grill and Paper & Packaging  How Life Unfolds asked designers to create paper-based food packaging that helps eliminate waste and gives consumers peace of mind that their food will arrive home intact. The two competitors include product and packaging designer, Marti Zabell, and senior cosmetics consultant, Christina Ghiloni.





To address the issue of food waste and deliver quality family dining experiences, our two designers were tasked with improving ineffective takeout packaging, using paper materials to deliver food fresh and minimize waste. Fast casual restaurant chain, Moes Southwest Grill and Paper & Packaging  How Life Unfolds asked designers to create paper-based food packaging that helps eliminate waste and gives consumers peace of mind that their food will arrive home intact. The two competitors include product and packaging designer, Marti Zabell, and senior cosmetics consultant, Christina Ghiloni. Design For Tech with Yotel

Urban hotels are often short on space, so having items fit multiple needs is key. No one understands that more than the Yotel hotel group, with hotels in New York, San Francisco, Boston, London, Singapore, Paris and Amsterdam. Yotel and Paper & Packaging  How Life Unfolds asked two competitors to create a high-tech tissue box to fulfill multiple needs for hotel guests. Designers could add electrical or mechanical components, like a smartphone charging station, to demonstrate how tech and analog can coexist to maximize function while celebrating form. The two competitors include industrial engineer, Isis Shiffer, and industrial designer, McKay Nilson.

We are always looking to celebrate unique, innovative paper-based solutions to packaging challenges, so we couldnt be more excited about this fresh approach, said Mary Anne Hansan, president of the Paper and Packaging Board. We hope that The Next Great Package series will encourage others to use paper packaging to inspire creativity and innovation in their everyday lives.

Who will win each challenge? Tune into HERE to find out!

About Paper & Packaging  How Life Unfolds

The Paper & Packaging  How Life Unfolds national marketing campaign shows how paper and paper-based packaging enhance business and personal productivity, creativity and learning, and help protect and deliver the food and goods we want. Learn more about the industry-funded campaign at www.howlifeunfolds.com .

Contact information: Kelly Kaufman ( kelly@praytellagency.com )

Videos accompanying this announcement are available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a4861ee1-c0e4-4bb7-a9f3-1159cb7f2bf8

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2b3b4f26-b510-4516-92d9-6329772629ae

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ce16d6e1-9025-4f74-ae47-7818dc9ae475
A train rolled into Churchill, Man., on Wednesday evening for the first time in more than a year after spring flooding damaged the tracks and severed the town's only land link to the rest of the province.

The train pulled in just before 6:45 p.m. CT on Wednesday ahead of a photo-op with government officials and media. Freight and passenger service is expected to resume to the northern community later this fall, with heavier loads beginning in the spring.

Still, its arrival surprised many of the residents, who hadn't expected it to arrive until the next day.

People, including many kids in Halloween costumes, rushed down to the tracks to watch the arrival. Many smiled and took pictures, while others hugged each other.

Rhoda de Meulles was handing out candy to trick-or-treaters at her home when she heard the blast of the train's horn.

"Our hearts are just filled with joy right now," she said.

So many people left the small northern community because having no rail service made it too challenging for them, de Meulles said.

"We just want them to come home," she said.

"Everybody's very close. This is where I am. I love this town."

To celebrate on Thursday, the community is planning a street party and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to attend. Jim Carr, federal minister of international trade diversification, is also scheduled to announce support for business development in northern Manitoba later in the afternoon.

Patrick Foucault/CBC

The train that rolled in Wednesday night was a locomotive and caboose  for light freight and passenger traffic, with heavier loads expected for the spring.

Prices for basic necessities in the town such as groceries and fuel have soared because planes were needed to bring supplies to the town of about 900 people. The lack of train access has also cut down on the number of tourists.

CBC

Many people in the community are already planning trips south or to host family from out of town.

Story continues

"I can't put it into words. It's an overwhelming feeling, it's definitely what we've all been waiting for," said Adelia Spence, holding her baby daughter. "She'll be able to have her family from Norway House come in from south so it will be good to bring them to recreate home."

Patrick Foucault/CBC

Georgina Oman lives in Churchill with her husband.

"It's so exciting, awesome feeling, that I could just cry, you know, joy," she said. "It means we're alive. We'll be able to go on a train, take our grandkids to see their other grandparents, which they haven't seen in 2 years."

Earlier this month, rail inspection vehicles arrived after the last of the washed-out portions of the track were repaired. It marked the first rail traffic to arrive in the town since May 2017.

The community has endured soaring costs and economic uncertainty as the federal government and an assortment of interested buyers wrangled a deal to buy the Hudson Bay Railway and the Port of Churchill from Denver-based company Omnitrax.

A deal was finalized in late August by Arctic Gateway Group Limited Partnership, a private-public partnership that includes Missinippi Rail Limited Partnership, Fairfax Financial Holdings and AGT Limited Partnership.

Patrick Foucault/CBC

With files from Patrick Foucault and Information Radio
Former governors general must be more accountable on spending, Trudeau says

Canada's governors general deserve continued financial support once they retire but they need to be more transparent and accountable for their expenses, Justin Trudeau said Wednesday.

The prime minister made the comment after a Postmedia report revealed that Adrienne Clarkson, who was governor general from 1999 to 2005, has billed more than $1 million in expenses since leaving the viceregal job.

Besides their pensions, former governors general get lifetime public funding for office and travel expenses through a program that has existed since 1979, on the premise that governors general never truly retire.

Trudeau said the federal government will review the program to determine "best practices" for supporting former governors general.

"These are people who've stepped up and offered tremendous service to this country but Canadians expect a certain level of transparency and accountability, and we're going to make sure we're moving forward in a thoughtful way," Trudeau said on his way into the Liberals' weekly caucus meeting.

Watch Prime Minister Trudeau promise to review supports for former governors general:

Clarkson has billed more than $100,000 to the government nine times in the 13 years since she left Rideau Hall.

That's the threshold for reporting the billings separately, including identifying the claimant, in the federal government's annual Public Accounts. The Public Accounts disclose no detail about the nature of the expenses.

Expenses of less than $100,000 billed by former governors general are lumped together in a general "temporary help services" category and do not identify who claimed them. The Public Accounts include about $228,000 spent that way, divided among five unnamed payees.

Conservative MP Gerard Deltell called on Clarkson to publicly explain her expenses.

"When you spend a penny of the public money, you have to explain yourself, and especially when you have been governor general," he said.

Story continues

Clarkson's executive assistant did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

While he's "not a big fan" of the amounts of money Clarkson has claimed in expenses, Deltell said it's premature to call for a cap on such expenses in future.

"Let's see the explanation of what she has done with that money. It's a case by case. Sometimes it's right, sometimes it's wrong, you know."

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he didn't know enough about the issue to comment, other than to say, in general, the expenditure of public funds should always be "respectful" of taxpayers.
The years of Halloween falling on October 31 may be numbered!

Over the summer, the Halloween & Costume Association started a national petition asking that the White House move the annual holiday from October 31 to the last Saturday in the month.

The petition claims that moving the date would make the holiday safer, longer, and stress-free for parents and children.

Because many kids walk around without adult supervision and often in the dark, the petition suggests moving Halloween to a Saturday would help prevent some of the 3,800 Halloween-related injuries that occur each year.

Jack O' Lantern display

RELATED: These Decorative Skeletons Are Taking Halloween to a Whole New Level

In addition to safety concerns, having the holiday on a weekend would help parents who are too busy with work during the weekdays to take their children out for candy.

70% of parents dont accompany their children trick-or-treating, reads the petition. Youre never too old to trick-or-treat! Grab a costume and take advantage of some good ol fashioned family bonding!

Some parents also argued that moving it to a Saturday would prevent any stress they experience to get their children back home and into bed for school the next day.

RELATED: 31 Creepy-Cute Treats You Can Actually Make for Halloween

Since its creation in July, the petition has garnered over 34,000 signatures.

Halloween first began as an ancient tradition approximately 2,000 years ago, according to The History Channel. Since the eighth century, All Hallows Eve has been marked on Oct. 31 so because of its long-standing history, some feel that moving the holiday would be disrespectful to the ancestors who started it so long ago.

If the petition were to go through, it would not be the first time a national holiday has moved its date to accommodate the general public.

RELATED VIDEO: Fiona The Baby Hippo And Family Celebrate Halloween At The Cincinnati Zoo

George Washingtons birthday was originally celebrated on February 22 for more than a century (though records indicate he was born on Feb. 11) However, in 1968, Congress passed the Monday Holiday Law, which moved the commemorative date to the third Monday in February.

The law was put into effect so more people could observe the holiday with a three-day weekend, which was believed to bring more substantial benefits to the nation, according to the National Archives.

Labor Day was also previously changed, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. It originally was observed on September 5 but has since been moved to the first Monday in September.
By Sangameswaran S (Reuters) - William Hill Plc has offered to buy Swedish-listed Mr Green & Co AB (MRG) for around $308 million as the British gambling company expands its digital businesses and strengthens its European operations ahead of Brexit. The deal would combine William Hill with MRG's Mr Green and Redbet brands and reduce the London-based company's reliance on Britain as regulations are tightened in its home market. William Hill shares rose more than 8 percent by 0930 GMT on the back of a deal that comes after European gambling companies had been looking to expand across the Atlantic as U.S. states ease curbs on betting. MRG shares soared 47 percent to 68.40 Swedish crowns, close to the offer price of 69 crowns. The company operates in 13 markets and has an international hub in European Union member Malta, an added incentive as Britain prepares to leave the EU. "We get a ready to go international hub," Philip Bowcock, William Hill's chief executive officer told Reuters "As a part of Brexit, we have to create an international hub outside of Gibraltar operations." The British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar has like Malta become an important center for online gambling. Gambling companies have expanded in the internet age but their online and more traditional operations have attracted closer scrutiny from the British authorities. In this week's budget, British Finance Minister Philip Hammond said remote gaming duty -- tax on betting via offshore sites -- would increase to 21 percent from 15 percent. William Hill's familiar chain of high street betting shops also faces pressure from a cut in the maximum stakes on fixed-odd betting terminals from October next year. Mr Green holds remote gambling licenses in Denmark, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Britain and Ireland and expects to obtain Swedish licenses by the end of the year. The company, which was founded in 2007 after its entrepreneurs created the character Mr Green and developed the casino site, currently operates in 13 countries. William Hill offered a near 49 percent premium to MRG's closing price of 46.5 Swedish crowns on Tuesday. The deal has been recommended for approval by Mr Green & Co's board and shareholders who own over 40 percent of MRG accepted the offer. Mr Green & Co reported strong results for the third quarter, with revenue increasing nearly 51 percent. ($1 = 9.1737 Swedish crowns) (Reporting by Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr/Keith Weir)
Yukon opposition leader Stacey Hassard took the government to task on Tuesday, saying the premier isn't even sure whether a carbon tax will achieve anything.

Hassard referred to a TV interview Premier Sandy Silver gave this week in Ottawa, where Silver was asked whether it was too late to undo the impacts of climate change.

"He was asked if the carbon tax would actually be effective in meeting our environmental goals and his response was, 'Time will tell,' ... 'We'll see,'" said Hassard in the Legislature.

"The premier doesn't even know if this tax scheme will work, so why did he sign on to this tax scheme in the first place?"

Silver  whose party came to power in 2016 on a promise to support a carbon tax  shot back, saying that he has no doubts about the plan.

Steve Hossack/CBC

"Yes, time will tell, based upon a scientific approach to dealing with the effects of climate change," he said.

"We will see  that's exactly what I said, and that's exactly what I mean. We will see the results."

'Decision-based evidence making'

Hassard kept up the attack, asking what kind of analysis the government has done to determine how carbon pricing will work and what the impacts will be in Yukon.

"The premier just says and does what Ottawa asks him to do," he said.

"The premier likes to brag about evidence-based decision making, a lot ... instead, what the premier is doing here is decision-based evidence making."

Silver also met with federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna this week to discuss carbon pricing in Yukon, which takes effect next July.

He says the plan is still in the works.

"Conversations are definitely ongoing, no announce-ables yet," said Silver.

- With files from Nancy Thomson
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to the Gulf nation of Oman on Friday  the first by an Israeli leader in over two decades, and a sign of warming ties between the Jewish state and the Sunni Arab world.





On Friday afternoon, his office surprisingly announced that Netanyahu and his wife Sara had just returned from an official diplomatic visit to Muscat, during which they met with Sultan Qaboos bin Said. []





The Netanyahus were invited to Oman by the sultan, who has been ruling the Gulf state since 1970, after lengthy contacts between the two countries, the statement said.





A joint statement issued by Jerusalem and Muscat said the two leaders discussed ways to advance the peace process in the Middle East as well as several matters of joint interest regarding the achievement of peace and stability in the Middle East.





Netanyahu and his wife were accompanied to Muscat by Mossad Director Yossi Cohen, National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat, Foreign Ministry Director-General Yuval Rotem, the head of the Prime Ministers staff, Yigal Horowitz, and the Prime Ministers Military Secretary, Brig.-Gen. Avi Bluth.
Wyoming-based service provider sees new levels of success through personalized, targeted marketing campaigns supporting a sales-focused company culture

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today announced Triangle Communications has won the inaugural Innovations in Marketing Award at the recent Calix ConneXions 2018. Awarded to a Calix service provider who has taken the most creative approach to reaching and engaging their subscribers, Triangle exemplified marketing excellence over the last two years, by executing marketing objectives through personalized campaigns. With the assistance of Calix Marketing Cloud, Triangle has forever transformed their company and marketing processes and is looking forward to continued success in 2019.

We are absolutely thrilled to have been recognized with this honor from Calix, said Bethany Chinadle, vice president of customer operations at Triangle Communications. With the changes in both USF support and our decline in rural member population, we knew we had to market smarter in order to grow our business, but we were lacking the data we needed. Once we had Calix Marketing Cloud in place, our approach changed as we knew exactly where to market and when, maximizing our marketing investment and delivering better results, including $35,000 in new revenue per month. Now, with our entire company focused on sales and marketing, the future is brighter than ever for Triangle.

Serving 23,000 square miles in rural Montana, Triangle has over 15,000 access lines and over 11,000 members who subscribe to its Internet service. Over the last 18 months, Triangle has seen the following marketing results:

Exceeded goal of Internet speed upgrades by more than 37 percent two years in a row

Increase in marketing efficiency by 26 percent, reducing marketing expenses by more than $130,000 per year

Impressive take rates on individual efforts, including a 25 percent conversion rate on a phone campaign for Internet upgrades and reaching target ROI for a direct mailer campaign in only three months

Calix customers are blazing new trails in marketing around the world, and we are so pleased to recognize such a stellar example with Triangle in our inaugural Innovations in Marketing Award, said Matt Collins, chief marketing officer at Calix. I continue to be impressed by the results they are achieving with the subscriber insights unveiled through Calix Marketing Cloud. Bethany and her team are setting the pace for the industry by showcasing how data-driven marketing campaigns can deliver unprecedented results. Congratulations to the entire Triangle team for all they have accomplished through their marketing transformation. We cant wait to see what comes next.

About Calix

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX)  Innovative communications service providers rely on Calix platforms to help them master and monetize the complex infrastructure between their subscribers and the cloud. Calix is the leading global provider of the cloud and software platforms, systems, and services required to deliver the unified access network and smart premises of tomorrow. Our platforms and services help our customers build next generation networks by embracing a DevOps operating model, optimize the subscriber experience by leveraging big data analytics and turn the complexity of the smart home and business into new revenue streams.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based upon management's current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calixs business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix's results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

Press Inquiries:

Dale Legaspi

408-474-0056

dale.legaspi@calix.com




Palestinians have protested weekly since 30 March in what they call the Great March of Return, demanding that Arabs who fled or were expelled around the time of Israels creation in 1948 to be allowed to return to their homes. Demonstrators have also focused on a crippling decade-long Israeli-Egyptian blockade that has trapped much of the strips population and devastated its economy.

Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh. blogspot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work.

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..UK Media Watch..31 October '18..British media reports about economic problems in Gaza are as predictable as they are ubiquitous, with most outlets attributing the Palestinian controlled territorys poverty  and the slow pace of reconstruction  solely to Israels crippling blockade. Weve often noted that this myopic Israel-centered explanation denies Palestinian agency, and conflates the trueof Gazas woes (Hamass decision to use scarce resources to import weaponry, produce rockets, build attack tunnels and launch terror) with theof that decision (the Israeli and Egyptian blockade).This narrative has been woven into coverage of the weekly border riots known as The Great Return March. Despite the fact that stated goals of the Hamas organised violence is to achieve the Palestinian right of return to Israel, more often than not reporters tell news consumers that the unrest is driven in large measure by opposition to Israels blockade.The following paragraph, in a Sept. 29threport on two Palestinians killed during protests, is typical:Well, it turns out that thereporters failure to even mention Hamass role in Gazas devastated economy would likely elicit criticism by a majority of Gazans, according to a new poll released by Bethlehem-based Palestine Center for Public Opinion.
They listed their apartments on Airbnb without having a municipal license to operate as tourist accommodation, and the city of Barcelona fined them with amounts of between 30,000 and 60,000.

Around 100 people who have come together via an association named ACABA have now brought a class-action suit against Airbnb, claiming that the company encouraged them to advertise their homes without warning that they could be sanctioned.

Members of ACABA listed and rented their own homes (or rooms) only sporadically

The claim, which has been admitted by the court, accuses the company of creating confusion  by encouraging them to list their homes without warning that doing so is illegal without a license, and failing to demand this license  and of unfair competition because they could be hosts and guests simultaneously. Plaintiffs are seeking damages over the fines they had to pay the city.

Members of ACABA listed and rented their homes or rooms only sporadically, according to the president of the association, Neal Shanahan. He only rented his own residence once for two weeks, earned 1,500 and declared the amount to the Tax Agency. We rented our homes convinced that it was allowed, he complains.

Dylan Tarin, the lawyer for ACABA, wants the city to provide information about the 5,000 fines it has sent out, in the hopes that this list could help attract new plaintiffs to the suit.

An Airbnb spokesperson said that the company is concerned about every person who has been affected or confused by obsolete tourism legislation. We will continue to support the view that families who share their homes should be heard and should have a voice. Airbnb wants to be a good partner to the Barcelona community and we will keep working with government agencies to achieve fairer, clearer regulations.

Barcelona city officials reached an agreement last May with Airbnb to delete all listings without a license. In November 2016, Barcelona fined homesharing websites Airbnb and Homeaway 600,000 each for advertising and renting out apartments to tourists without a license as part of a crackdown on unregulated tourism in the city. Barcelona is run by the leftist mayor Ada Colau, herself a former housing activist.

English version by Sofia Alonso, Marc Ferrer and Mariona Rodriguez.
A report launched last month by CBI member the City of London Corporation and Peoples Bank of China reveals that Chinese currency transactions in London have increased significantly year-on-year.

The London RMB Business Quarterly report shows that daily RMB foreign exchange market transactions averaged roughly 70 billion in the second quarter of this year, up nearly 14 per cent on the previous quarter and over 30 per cent on 2017.

The news comes as the City Corporation relaunches its influential Renminbi business initiative, a campaign which ran from 2012 to 2015 that helped London become the leading offshore RMB trading hub outside of Asia.

The joint publication, which is backed by HM Treasury, is part of the City of London Corporations Asia Next Decade campaign, which has identified there is increasing demand in the capital for more information on Londons RMB landscape.

The aim of the reports, which will be published every quarter, is to help cement Londons position as an RMB hub, by encouraging the issuance of more RMB denominated products and transactions in the City.

Below are some key facts from the report:

The UK is a leading offshore RMB hub: The UK remains the country with the largest share of RMB payments outside of greater China. By the end of June, the total actual cross-border RMB settlement between China and the UK amounted to RMB176.2billion, an increase of 143% YoY.

Global market developments are supporting the internationalisation of the RMB: The bond connect is only one year old, and has made a significant impact in helping overseas investors to access the CIBM. Future developments will allow UK and global institutional investors to achieve improved returns and diversification benefits. The inclusion of A-shares in MSCI EM has clear implications for the UK as a global asset management and capital markets centre.

China is continuing to open up the financial sector: The PBoC announced in April the implementation of a range of measures to further open the financial sector. In August, activity from the CSRC indicated that the Shanghai London Stock Connect would be launched soon.

For further facts and information please read The City of London Report as enclosed below:

Download London RMB Business QuarterlyIssue 1
It is fair to say that Prime Minister Scott Morrison would not be the first Prime Minister we have ever had claiming to be a Christian.

Out of the 30 Prime Ministers we have had since Federation, only six have professed to be either Agnostic or Atheist. We have seen the observant Christians, the regular churchgoers, people like almost-a-priest, Tony Abbott, Kevin Rudd, who was regularly seen going to Church in Canberra while he was Prime Minister.

There was the conventional ones like Menzies and Keating, that were occasional churchgoers and the nominal ones that only went on formal occasionsour first Prime Minister Edmund Barton was believed to be a nominal Christian.

Our newest Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, is a totally different kettle of fish altogether.

The difference in Morrison

Morrison is the 30th Prime Minister and first we have ever had from the Evangelical Pentecostal side of the Church.

In a country largely viewed as secular, Morrison openly references his faith. He and his wife Jenny are also regularly involved in ministries at his home church; Horizon in the Sutherland Shire of Sydney.

He and his family have been members of that church for over a decade and his wife and daughters are regularly involved in the kids program at the 2,000 strong Pentecostal Church in Sydney.

Morrison and his wife also met through church as teenagers. In fact, the Senior Pastor of Horizon Church, Brad Bonhomme confirmed their attendance and involvement in the Church in an interview with another publication.

In his maiden speech to parliament, Morrison referenced his faith and how it shaped him at an early age.

It is quite clear that Morrison is different to a lot of Prime Ministers who have professed faith in Jesus publicly.

While many have kept their faith largely private, Morrison openly expressed it in his maiden speech, speaking out against the stereotype of Christians in Parliament as extreme.

He said in 2008 in his maiden speech:

In recent times it has become fashionable to negatively stereotype those who profess their Christian faith in public life as extreme and to suggest that such faith has no place in the political debate of this country.

Australia is not a secular countryit is a free country. This is a nation where you have the freedom to follow any belief system you choose. Secularism is just one. It has no greater claim than any other on our society. (Morrison, maiden parliamentary speech)

He is not afraid to stand up for his beliefs

Morrison is clearly not afraid to stand up for his faith and if you have doubts about his beliefs, then an endorsement from his Senior Pastor should dispel any doubts you might have.

Then there are the circumstances in how he came to be in power. Morrison publicly supported Turnbull in the week leading to his demise. There is in fact a very famous photograph of Mr Morrison sticking his arm around Turnbull in a public show of solidarity.

It was largely expected to be a contest between Dutton and Turnbull, but in an unexpected twist, after Dutton revealed the 43 signatures needed to bring a spill in the Liberal Party, Julie Bishop and Scott Morrison entered the race for the top job.

Then there was doubts over Duttons eligibility to sit in the parliament following revelations that Dutton had a potential conflict of interest over his wifes childcare business.

Following a solicitor-generals investigation, the Solicitor General ruled that Dutton was not incapable of sitting in the parliament (August 23, 2018).

During this time, it is believed that Turnbull urged his supporters to support Morrison during the leadership. Turnbulls support ensured that Morrison became Prime Minister.

You can say Morrison held his integrity and was loyal to his leader until the end. I understand this may be treated with cynicism, but you cannot deny that no leadership spill was brought on by him and his elevation was hardly tainted.

God is in control

In the Bible it says, And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans chapter 8 verse 28)

No matter what you believe about Morrison we have to believe that God is in control and given the circumstances behind his elevation, his clear evidence of Christian beliefs, we have to believe that God is using him for something special.

Ben Kruzins lives in Tweed Heads Australia. Ben is a Pastor in The Hub Baptist Church, a growing multi-site Church with four campuses across the Northern Rivers in New South Wales. Ben has two degrees, including a Degree in Journalism and has written articles that have appeared in The Canberra Times and Sydney Morning Herald
DENVER, CO, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE  Advantego Corporation (OTCQB: ADGO) today announced the rollout of its Business Services Divisions first financial reporting tool, a specialized Business Process as a Service (BPaaS), offered as the Convertible Note Disclosure Report (CNDR) portion of audited reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for publicly-traded companies.

Advantegos Business Services Division will provide a unique suite of products powered by the Companys Intelligent Solutions Platform to address specific niche functions within targeted industries, one of which happens to be convertible note disclosures.

We have identified several opportunities where utilizing our platform can greatly increase operational efficiencies with tremendous cost savings, according to Robert W. (Rob) Ferguson, Advantego CEO.

The CNDR uses key details found in a Convertible Note and generates the pertinent supporting information needed for various financial reports and disclosures required by the SEC. It automatically propagates relevant Stock Price History from publicly-available sources and formulates the applicable Trading History and Adjusted Closing Prices specified in the Convertible Note for its calculations. These calculations can then be used by a companys accounting teams, CFO's and auditors as supporting documentation for the creation of journal entries and, ultimately, various public disclosure reports.

The CNDR generates the following based on the information submitted: Debt Premium and Debt Discount calculations, Share Related allocations, Principal and Note Premiums booked to Common Stock and Paid in Capital, a Corresponding Amortization Schedule, appropriate Accounting Journal Entries and the Footnote text to be incorporated with SEC filings.

Ferguson also said: As a fully-reporting public company, we have been able to assess firsthand the extraordinary value of this new product. We are excited to offer this product to other SEC reporting companies, third party consultants and auditors to help streamline their reporting and accounting procedures, minimizing their costs and to help mitigate the need for untimely extensions to file; all problems which we have found to be common in the industry.

Ferguson continued: The is the first of a number of financial reporting products we plan on releasing over the next several months. We expect to include modules that address Rolled-up Equity, Rolled-up Debt, Diluted Weighted Average Shares and other components that contribute to a Consolidated Financial Statement.

SEC reporting companies can visit http://www.advantego.com/CNDR to obtain more information about the tool and obtain a complimentary Convertible Note Disclosure Report.

ABOUT ADVANTEGO CORPORATION

Advantego Corporation designs, develops and implements digital communications and intelligent software solutions as specialized Business Process as a Service (BPaaS). The elite, custom business solutions are available to large enterprises, affiliate networks and franchise operations. The Company also offers a variety of stand-alone products specific to targeted industries. Company website: www.advantego.com .

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act. As a general matter, forward-looking statements may reflect our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. These statements may be identified using forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expects", "plans", "estimates", "anticipates", "projects", "intends", "believes", "outlook and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon our historical performance, current plans, estimates, expectations and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. The inclusion of this forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of which might not even be anticipated. Future events and actual results, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking: our business and investment strategy; our projected operating results; estimates relating to our ability to make distributions to our stockholders in the future and economic trends.
At the height of the Cold War, the Brazilian Roman Catholic Archbishop, Dom Helder Camara, said, When I feed the poor they call me a saint; when I ask why the poor have no food they call me a communist (https://bit.ly/2Ck3CaT).

Camara was lamenting the fact that Christians were not known for asking uncomfortable questions that threaten the status quo. We are not bad at feeding the poor, but when it comes to asking the hard questions that challenge our lifestyles, the language all of a sudden becomes political.

Today we find the same language amongst Christians when we talk about dealing with poverty or injustice. The difference is that these days the word communist is replaced by leftie, liberal, progressive or some other similar label.

The Australian context

Since the ascension of Scott Morrison to the Prime Ministership of Australia and the media coverage of his Christian faith, I have seen Christians become too mixed up in the pure politics of some of his positions. People are called lefties or bleeding heart liberals when they denounce Morrisons stance on asylum seekers or his recent openness to moving the Australian Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Similarly, Christians who support these moves are labelled as being on the Right, or conservative, or even bigoted.

I am a Christian who is convinced that biblical justice is central to the Gospel. So, when I say that we cannot possibly support the current Governments stance on asylum seekers or that a possible move of the Australian Embassy to Jerusalem will put the Middle East peace process back decades, I do so because those positions so clearly do not align with the Jesus I read about in the gospels. My resistance to these moves does not come out of a supposed left-leaning political persuasion.

I dont care anymore for labels like left or right among Christians. I am highly politically minded, but I hope that I am more Jesus-minded. I wish Christians would stop with political labels and justifications when we take a stand on something. I wish we would instead discuss and debate whether or not our stand is in line with Jesus.

When you read the Bible and see that care for the outcast, the widow and the stranger are central, that speaking truth to power is an obligation and that loving your enemies is paramount, you are not being a leftie, you are being a follower of Jesus. And when you talk about the importance of the physical resurrection of Jesus as a historical fact, you are not being conservative, you are being true to historical probability and biblical theology.

Politics and labelling will never build the kingdom

When we make political decisions based on following Jesus, we will find ourselves sometimes leaning to the political left and sometimes to the right.

As Christians, we are called to an alternative kingdom, not to the kingdoms of the world. Politics will never build the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Only God will accomplish that. We play our part, but we only contribute to it; we don't actually build the kingdom.

This is not to say that we should not be involved in politics. But if we think politics can build the kingdom of God, we are following the wrong saviour. We can (and should) try to build a world of peace and justice and righteousness, but that won't change the human heart. Only the Holy Spirit transforming our inner selves can do that. The kingdom of God is not a type of socialist utopia; it is the transformation of everything in existence to the will of Jesus.

Ultimately, this is about where our allegiance lies. We cannot be for a particular political party or person and try to follow Jesus at the same time. At some point the two will clash. In the spirit of the early Christians, this is about living a life that declares that Jesus is Lord and our political position is not. When the kingdoms of the world propose and enact policies that are in direct conflict with the way of Jesus, it is clear which way we are to go, no matter which political party we follow.

Justice because of Jesus

I long for the day when we Christians have stopped making our stands because we are seen, either by ourselves or by others, as lefties or conservatives. Let us live out the courage of our conviction that Jesus is Lord; let us challenge the status quo because Jesus is Lord; let us make our stands for justice and righteousness because Jesus is Lord - and not because we are on a particular part of a spectrum that is really about politics and not about where our true allegiance is to lie if we are followers of the Lord of the universe.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Long belittled as inconsequential, the appendix is hardly the rock star of body organs. But its reputation may get a boost from new research that suggests that removing it may lower the risk for Parkinson's disease.

The finding follows an analysis that examined how appendix removal surgery (appendectomy) affected Parkinson's risk among 1.6 million Swedish residents.

The study couldn't prove cause and effect, but it found that appendectomy lowered Parkinson's risk by roughly 20 percent.

"This is a tissue that most people consider to be a useless organ. It's attached to the large intestine, and it's removed as a very common surgical practice," said study author Viviane Labrie. She's a neuroscientist with the Center for Neurodegenerative Science at the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The new findings suggest, "that the appendix may be a tissue site that plays a role in the initiation of Parkinson's disease," she said.

Why? "The hallmark pathology of Parkinson's disease in the brain is Lewy bodies, which is characterized by a clumped form of a protein called alpha-synuclein," Labrie explained.

What's more, clumps of this protein are found in the intestinal tract and are "present in the appendixes of all of us," sometimes years before Parkinson's symptoms arise, she said.

So, "we think that if in rare events [such protein clumps] were to escape the appendix and enter the brain, this could lead to Parkinson's disease." How? Simply by traveling up the nerve that connects the intestinal tract directly to the brain, Labrie said.

Parkinson's attacks the nervous system and results in a progressive loss of both motor function and many non-motor functions.

Common among the complications of Parkinson's is the onset of gastrointestinal dysfunction -- including constipation -- which can actually precede mobility loss by as much as 20 years. This signaled a potential link between Parkinson's onset and the appendix, the researchers explained.

To investigate, researchers pored over data previously collected by the Swedish National Patient Registry. The registry is unique because since 1964 it has maintained a full record of diagnoses and surgeries for a huge swath of the Swedish patient pool.

Of the 1.6 million covered patients, more than 550,000 had undergone an appendectomy.

After following Parkinson's incidence for up to 52 years post-surgery, investigators found that Parkinson's was ultimately diagnosed in 1.2 out of every 1,000 appendectomy patients, compared to a risk of 1.4 out of every 1,000 people in the general Swedish population.

That meant that Parkinson's risk had dropped by 19.3 percent among those who had had their appendix removed.

What's more, after honing in on the specific experiences of about 850 Parkinson's patients, the researchers determined that appendix removal was also associated with a 3.6-year delay in the onset of Parkinson's among those who had the surgery and still developed the disease.

Still, Labrie stressed that "we are not saying that having an appendix causes Parkinson's disease, and that all people should go out and remove their appendix."

Rather, "we think that what actually distinguishes a person that goes on to develop Parkinson's from one that does not is not the presence of this pathology, but rather the factors that trigger departure from the appendix." That raises the prospect for developing new therapies designed to prevent such protein clumps from escaping the appendix.

The findings were published in the Oct. 31 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

Dr. Rachel Dolhun is vice president of medical communications for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. She described the link between Parkinson's and the appendix as "particularly interesting."

"But it's important to stress these are associations and do not establish causation," she said. "In other words, having an appendectomy will not definitely decrease [the] risk of Parkinson's."

Dolhun added, "Investigating the association between the gut and brain further could potentially lead to deeper understandings of the causes of Parkinson's, as well as how Parkinson's starts and progresses, and how to intervene to stop it. But much work remains to be done."

More information

There's more on Parkinson's disease at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
THURSDAY, Nov. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- More than 100 dogs used by U.S. agencies for border patrols, search and rescue, drugs and explosives detection and guarding federal buildings are infected with a parasite that could cause potentially deadly heart problems, according to a new study.

The parasite Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas disease, a tropical infection spread by the blood-sucking "kissing bug." Previously seen only in Mexico, Central America and South America, Chagas is now appearing in the United States, infecting humans and dogs. But the extent of the risk is not clear, researchers explained.

This study was prompted by evidence of Chagas in dogs working on the Mexican border.

The researchers tested blood samples from 1,660 federal government working dogs in 43 states and found that 121 dogs (more than 7 percent) had signs of an ongoing T. cruzi infection. Many of the infected dogs also had signs of Chagas-associated heart abnormalities that can be fatal.

The findings were presented Wednesday at the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene annual meeting, in New Orleans.

"We were surprised to find that so many dogs, including those working outside of the kissing bug range, had been exposed to the parasite T. cruzi and were exhibiting heart abnormalities associated with the disease," said study author Alyssa Meyers, a doctoral candidate at Texas A&M University.

Meyers said the relatively high rate of Chagas infections in the dogs doesn't mean there's an increasing threat to people.

"A positive dog usually signals that infected kissing bugs are in the environment," she noted in a society news release. "But the risk to humans is likely not equal to dogs, in part because dogs have a tendency to eat bugs that could be infected with the parasite and dogs spend more time outdoors.

"Not all dogs that are exposed to the parasite develop cardiac disease. Many can live a happy, healthy life," Meyers added. "We are trying to understand why some dogs remain asymptomatic, while others develop Chagas cardiomyopathy. These dogs play a critical role in our country's security, and we want to make sure we are doing everything we can do to keep them healthy."

Kissing bugs can thrive in locations such as kennels. The dogs used by U.S. agencies train at facilities in Texas and Virginia, two states with known populations of kissing bugs that carry the Chagas parasite, and it's likely that some dogs were exposed while at these facilities, the study authors said.

"From previous studies we knew that shelter and stray dogs were at risk for exposure, likely because of their time spent outdoors, and perhaps the dogs working along the U.S.-Mexico border who spend long hours outside often at night might be equally exposed," Meyers said.

"We were not expecting infection in dogs that spend most of their time working along the border with Canada or in airports in Nebraska," she added.

Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until it has been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on Chagas disease.
THURSDAY, Nov. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Babies who are prescribed antibiotics before they're 2 years old may be more likely to become obese children, new research suggests.

Acid reflux medications may also up the risk, though that connection was not as strong.

The findings come from the tracking of infant medication histories and childhood obesity incidence among hundreds of thousands of children up until age 8. All had received care through the U.S. military health care system.

As to why a link was seen, investigators theorized it could have to do with the impact such medications have on the delicate microbial environment (microbiome) found in a growing child's gut.

"We did not evaluate the microbiome status of these children," stressed study author Dr. Cade Nylund, a lieutenant colonel with Medical Corps of the U.S. Air Force. "And this was an observational study, so we can only demonstrate the findings of an association, not a specific cause.

"So we presume this has to do with changes in a child's microbiome brought on by these medications," he added. "But it could also just be the result of having an infection. Or having a fever, maybe with or without taking antibiotics. Or it might have something to do with the psychosocial dynamics of a family. We don't yet know."

As to what parents should make of these findings, Nylund said the most important thing is to ensure that children take the medications they need, but not when it isn't warranted.

For example, Nylund noted that acid reflux medications -- such as histamine blockers and proton pump inhibitors -- "are often prescribed in infants when they're not indicated. Acid reflux is normal in infants, and not really a good reason to put them on reflux meds. And most infants grow out of the problem by 12 months."

On the other hand, Nylund acknowledged that "antibiotics play a big role in treating infections, and they always will.

"And I would certainly hate for a parent to not treat a child with antibiotics for an infection out of a concern for obesity," he added.

In the study, published Nov. 1 in the journal Gut, researchers followed roughly 333,000 children born between 2006 and 2013.

More than 241,000 had been prescribed antibiotics before the age of 2. Nearly 40,000 had been prescribed histamine blockers, while more than 11,000 had been prescribed proton pump inhibitors. Almost 6,000 kids had been prescribed all three drugs.

Based on an average of four pediatrician visits after age 2 and up until age 8, investigators determined that nearly 47,000 children (14 percent) became obese. Of these, about 9,600 had never been prescribed an antibiotic or acid reflux medication while an infant; the rest had.

After stacking medication histories up against obesity incidence, the research team concluded that infants prescribed antibiotics faced a 26 percent greater risk for childhood obesity by the age of 3. That risk rose the longer an infant had taken antibiotics, and among infants who had taken medications in multiple antibiotic classes.

Acid reflux medications also appeared to raise childhood obesity risk, though the connection was characterized as "weak."

Dr. Ruchi Gupta, a senior scientist in child health research at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said the findings are interesting because they raise "questions about factors such as antibiotics and medications that alter gut microbiome and can potentially influence other health conditions." She was not involved with the study.

But Gupta cautioned that for now the findings should only be viewed as an "important association." More research will be needed "to truly understand cause and effect, as it is a complex condition influenced by many environmental, behavioral and genetic factors," she said.

More information

There's more information on obesity and obesity risk factors at U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
LONDON, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Ship Lease, Inc. (NYSE:GSL) (GSL or the Company) has made available a presentation with supplemental information related to the Companys recently announced strategic combination with Poseidon Containers. The presentation is available on the Company's website at http://www.globalshiplease.com/events-and-presentations .



About Global Ship Lease

Global Ship Lease is a containership charter owner. Incorporated in the Marshall Islands, Global Ship Lease commenced operations in December 2007 with a business of owning and chartering out containerships under mainly long-term, fixed-rate charters to top tier container liner companies.

As of September 30, 2018, Global Ship Lease owned 19 vessels with a total capacity of 85,136 TEU and an average age, weighted by TEU capacity, of 13.7 years. All 19 vessels are fixed on time charters, 17 of which are with CMA CGM. The average remaining term of the charters at September 30, 2018 was 2.0 years or 2.4 years on a weighted basis.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements provide the Company's current expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements include statements about the Company's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions, assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. Words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "ongoing," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "will" or similar words or phrases, or the negatives of those words or phrases, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that may be incorrect, and the Company cannot assure you that the events or expectations included in these forward-looking statements will come to pass. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including the factors described in "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F and the factors and risks the Company describes in subsequent reports filed from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Investor and Media Contact:

The IGB Group

Bryan Degnan

646-673-9701

or

Leon Berman

212-477-8438
Iconic brand introduces new skill for Amazon Alexa to help cooks Host Like a Boss

GARNER, N.C., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line is officially open for the holiday season; and this year, the experts are empowering cooks with more turkey resources than ever. With more than one in five American households1 turning to their smart speakers for guidance, its the perfect time to integrate Butterballs holiday expertise into their new hands-free, in-kitchen helper: Amazon Alexa.

For more than 65 years, Butterball has empowered cooks to shake off the stress of holiday meal prep and host like a boss. The Turkey Talk-Line has already evolved to offer support through text, email, live chat, and this year, the Turkey Talk-Line is extending its presence to the voice space with the help of Amazon Alexa.

Through the new Butterball skill for Amazon Alexa  now available on Alexa-enabled devices  a simple voice command (Alexa, ask Butterball) allows cooks to hear trusted Turkey Talk-Line experts share answers to frequently asked questions and provide turkey preparation advice. Users can also watch how-to videos on compatible devices like Echo Show, Echo Spot and Amazon Fire TV Cube. To use the Butterball skill for the first time, Alexa users can say Alexa, enable the Butterball skill to their Alexa-enabled device or enable directly by visiting the Alexa Skills Store through the Alexa app or on Amazon.com.

The Turkey Talk-Line is focused on one-on-one help for cooking turkey  whether its a first-time cook or a 20-year Thanksgiving veteran, said Nicole Johnson, Co-Director of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. Nothing will ever replace a phone call with an expert; but our goal is to reach cooks where its convenient for them and give them the confidence to Host Like a Boss through as many means as possible.

Teaming up with Alexa enables the Turkey Talk-Line to deliver expert advice via the voice service, Alexa. To learn more about the skill and the ways the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line is supporting cooks everywhere, visit Butterball.com or Butterballs social channels, like Facebook , Instagram and Twitter .

The new Butterball skill for Alexa lets customers tap into years of expert cooking advice on how to prepare a turkey  even when their hands are full in the kitchen, said Rob Pulciani, Vice President, Amazon Alexa. Were excited that Alexa can help make the holidays a little easier for our customers.

Expert Advice Anytime, Anywhere: Butterball Turkey Talk-Line experts are available Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, with extended hours the week of Thanksgiving. With decades of Thanksgivings under their belts, Butterballs experts are a holiday staple and a source of vital turkey knowledge. With Butterball experts taking care of the turkey questions, hosts can spend more time putting their own stamp on the day and truly Host Like a Boss. You can reach the Turkey Talk-Line via:

NEW! Butterball Skill for Amazon Alexa: Starting Nov. 1, users can enable the Butterball Skill for Amazon Alexa . Once enabled, just ask the Butterball skill your cooking questions and hear trusted Talk-Line experts share answers. Users can even watch how-to videos on compatible Alexa-enabled devices (Echo Show, Echo Spot and Amazon Fire TV).

Starting Nov. 1, users can enable the Butterball Skill for . Once enabled, just ask the Butterball skill your cooking questions and hear trusted Talk-Line experts share answers. Users can even watch how-to videos on compatible Alexa-enabled devices (Echo Show, Echo Spot and Amazon Fire TV). Text (844-877-3456) : With nearly one in three first-time cooks saying theyd text the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line for cooking help, it only makes sense that, for the third year in a row, the Turkey Talk-Line offer text support in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.

: With nearly one in three first-time cooks saying theyd text the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line for cooking help, it only makes sense that, for the third year in a row, the Turkey Talk-Line offer text support in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. 1-800-BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372) : Turkey Talk-Line experts will be available this season starting Nov.1 through Dec. 24, 2018, to answer questions and assist all holiday cooks.

: Turkey Talk-Line experts will be available this season starting Nov.1 through Dec. 24, 2018, to answer questions and assist all holiday cooks. How-To Videos : Need a visual guide? Check out our fun and helpful instructional videos at Butterball.com and YouTube .

: Need a visual guide? Check out our fun and helpful instructional videos at and . Facebook and Twitter: Help is available through the Butterball Facebook and Twitter pages with tips, special savings and more.

Help is available through the Butterball and pages with tips, special savings and more. Pinterest: Find Thanksgiving recipe inspiration for your holiday celebration on the Butterball Pinterest page.

Find Thanksgiving recipe inspiration for your holiday celebration on the Butterball page. Instagram: Follow Butterball on Instagram to get a behind-the-scenes look at recipe inspiration for your Thanksgiving meal and more.

Follow Butterball on to get a behind-the-scenes look at recipe inspiration for your Thanksgiving meal and more. Live Chats: Engage with turkey experts through live chat on Butterball.com during November and December and receive real-time suggestions and advice.

Engage with turkey experts through live chat on during November and December and receive real-time suggestions and advice. Email: Email Butterball using this form and receive helpful tips right to your inbox.

Email Butterball using this and receive helpful tips right to your inbox. Website and Mobile App: With coupons, trusted recipes, step-by-step how-to videos and key tips for success, everything you need is accessible at Butterball.com and the Butterball Cookbook Plus App .

About the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line

One of the first national, toll-free consumer help lines, the Turkey Talk-Line has helped almost 50 million consumers since its first season in November 1981. Each November and December, professionally trained turkey experts assist more than 4 million cooks through the Turkey Talk-Line, Butterball.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, live chat and emails in the United States and Canada. With more than 50 staff members, the Turkey Talk-Line has the resources to answer questions from both English- or Spanish-speaking callers and respond to questions via email.

About Butterball

Headquartered in Garner, N.C., Butterball is the largest producer of turkey products in the U.S.  producing more than 1 billion pounds of turkey each year. For more than 65 years, the company has provided foodservice and retail products to customers and consumers around the world. As an industry leader in quality, food safety and animal well-being, the company employs numerous processes to ensure the health of flocks and implements recognized prevention measures to exceed food safety standards. Butterball products are currently distributed throughout the U.S. and in more than 45 countries. Butterball operates seven processing plants located in North Carolina, Arkansas and Missouri.

For consumer questions or information, please visit Butterball.com or call 1-800-BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372). Visit ButterballCorp.com for corporate information about the company.

Visit the Digital News Room for more materials and assets.

1 Smart Speaker Consumer Adoption Report. Voicebot.ai, March 2018. https://voicebot.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/smart_speaker_consumer_adoption_report_2018.pdf

CONTACT

Shelby Montgomery

Edelman

312-BB-MEDIA

(312-226-3342)

ButterballMedia@Edelman.com

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One of only two men to be jailed over the 9/11 terror attacks is back in his home country as a free man  where he is being given a hero's welcome.The Daily Mail tracked down Mounir el-Motassadeq to a suburb of Marrakesh where he is now living in the family home with his wife and children.In the first sighting of him since he was deported from Germany following his early release from prison, he was seen being greeted by well-wishers as he returned from prayers at his local mosque.A friend of the family described scenes of jubilation on his return and said people were coming from all over Morocco to see him.El-Motassadeq, 44, who was described in German courts as the 'treasurer' for the 9/11 hijackers, spent less than 15 years in prison for his part in the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon which killed 2,977 people in September 2001.He was friends in Germany with Mohamed Atta, who crashed a plane into the North Tower and was one of the ringleaders of the Hamburg Al Qaeda cell who planned the atrocity.The only other man convicted over 9/11, Zacarias Moussaoui, is serving six life sentences in a maximum security prison in the US after admitting to being part of the plot.El-Motassadeq grinned and said he was too busy to speak as he shook hands with old friends in the street outside his home, a three-storey semi-detached house which belonged to his deceased father Ibrahim.Wearing a bright blue polo shirt and dark trousers, he was seen holding hands with an old friend in a djellaba robe on the way back from the mosque.The pair discussed prayers as they laughed together on the dimly-lit street lined with orange trees in the middle-class Dawdiyat neighbourhood.El-Motassadeq was later seen wearing glasses and a red top, getting into a BMW with his bearded brother, who was wearing a black robe and carrying a walking stick, and two other men.A couple of hours later he returned carrying a bottle of water and his mobile phone, and headed straight back into the house.There was no obvious surveillance at the property, although police sources said he would be watched.His sister, who lives in the same house, said 'hamdullah'  Arabic for 'praise be to God'  when asked by the Mail if she was happy about his release.Neighbours said they were 'very happy' to have him back. One  Hayat, a former model for Louis Vuitton  said there were jubilant scenes after his return on Friday.She said: 'We are very happy. The neighbours were not afraid to find out he was back. During the first and second day after he was released the streets were full of people coming to see him.'His family were coming from different cities to greet him. They were really happy that he is back. His mum was crying tears of joy. His siblings were really happy.'She said el-Motassadeq had rarely emerged from the property, other than to greet relatives and attend mosque.She continued: 'We have been neighbours for years. I knew him before he went to Germany. He goes to the mosque to pray. There's nothing suspicious. People come and see him and sleep over at his house.'She said el-Motassadeq was 'very well brought up' and did not believe he had done anything wrong, adding: 'I understand he was just friends with people who did.' She said his parents were 'very kind and pious'.Hayat said el-Motassadeq's wife, Maria Pavlova, a Russian Muslim convert, is a 'stay-at-home mum' who lives in the house with his mother and sister and her children. She added: 'She wears the veil and does her prayer and is very kind.'Miss Pavlova had lived with el-Motassadeq and their two children in an apartment in Hamburg, Germany, where they both studied before his arrest.They had a third child together before he was jailed. They have a daughter, now 18 and at university, and two sons, 17 and 12.El-Motassadeq was released on October 15 before completing his 15-year sentence on the condition he agreed to be deported to Morocco. This allows Germany to re-arrest him if he ever returns. It is understood he was meant to be released in January.Escorted by special forces officers and snipers, he was blindfolded and shackled as he boarded a Puma helicopter from Fuhlsbuttel prison in Hamburg to Frankfurt.He was flown on Royal Air Maroc flight AT811 to Casablanca the same evening.Pictures taken on board showed him grinning as he sat in seat 31E during the commercial flight, flanked by two federal police officers, and was served chicken and vegetables alongside members of the public.At the time, it had been unclear what would happen to him once he touched down in the North African country.El-Motassadeq's involvement in the September 11 attacks was the subject of five years of trials, with multiple convictions, appeals and overturned verdicts.He had arrived in Germany as a 19-year-old student in 1993, and studied electrical engineering at Hamburg's Technical University.German prosecutors believe he met Mohamed Atta there and stayed friends with him while Atta founded a radical Islamic group with links to Al Qaeda.El-Motassadeq was arrested in Germany two months after 9/11. Investigators discovered he had power of attorney over a bank account owned by Marwan al-Shehhi, the pilot of one of two planes flown into the World Trade Center.He also arranged a bank transfer for some of the cell's members and knew when they were in the US, where they acquired their flight training.That led prosecutors to label him the group's treasurer and an accomplice to their attacks.He was first convicted in 2003 of membership of a terrorist organisation and 3,066 counts of accessory to murder related to the 9/11 deaths.After several overturned verdicts and appeals he was finally jailed in 2006, with the number of counts limited to the 246 people killed aboard the four planes.The courts ruled he was aware Atta, al-Shehhi and Ziad Jarrah  three of the 9/11 hijackers  planned to take over and crash the planes, even though he might not have known the specifics of the plot.Prosecutors said he had helped 'watch the attackers' backs and conceal them' by paying their tuition fees and rent and transferring money.This was so they could keep up appearances as students in Germany as they plotted, it was said.El-Motassadeq, who always maintained he was not aware of the plots, shouted in German at a sentencing hearing: 'I swear by God that I did not know what they wanted to do.'He had admitted attending an Al Qaeda training camp sponsored by Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan in 2000 and having signed Atta's will.The US government made more than 1,200 arrests in the months after 9/11. But others suspected of being involved in the planning of the attacks have been stuck in legal limbo.The only other man to be tried and convicted of criminal involvement is Zacarias Moussaoui.The French-Moroccan is serving six life sentences in a maximum security prison dubbed the 'Alcatraz of Colorado' after pleading guilty to being part of the plot.He had been arrested less than a month before the attacks on August 16 on a minor immigration charge.He had aroused suspicion while taking flight lessons in Oklahoma, and was questioned by FBI agents.At his December trial he denied involvement in the plots but four years later confessed to being part of the 9/11 terrorist plot and said had been planning to fly a fifth plane into the White House.The case against the alleged mastermind of 9/11 and his co-plotters could drag on for years.Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-described architect of the attacks, and his four alleged co-conspirators, are still awaiting trial. Mohammed  who was arrested in 2003  is currently at the US jail in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and prosecutors say jury selection in his trial could start in January.It is alleged the other men  Walid bin Attash, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, Ammar al-Baluchi and Mustafa al-Hawsawi  trained hijackers.El-Motassadeq is banned from re-entering Germany until 2064. Hamburg's interior minister Andy Grote said: 'It's a good feeling to know that Mr Motassadeq is out of the country.'The Hamburg cell he was part of was a group of radical Islamists including students based in the German city who eventually became key operatives in the 9/11 attacks.Important members included Atta, who led the four hijacking teams and piloted American Airlines Flight 11, which flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center; al-Shehhi, who piloted United Airlines Flight 175 which hit the South Tower; and Jarrah, who flew United Airlines Flight 93 which crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers thwarted an attempt to attack Washington DC.
The Austrian government said Wednesday that it won't sign a global pact to promote safe and orderly migration, citing concerns about national sovereignty as it joined neighboring Hungary and the U.S in backing out of the agreement.The UN's Global Compact for Safety, Orderly and Regular Migration, which isn't legally binding, was finalized in July and is due to be formally approved at a meeting in Morocco from December 11-12.Austrian's conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz took office last December in a coalition with the nationalist, anti-migration Freedom Party.The country currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency, and Kurz has made curbing unregulated migration a priority.The Austria Press Agency reported that Kurz and Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache said Austria won't sign the document or send an official representative to the meeting in Marrakech.They cited fears about a possible watering-down of the distinction between legal and illegal migration.'There are some points that we view critically and where we fear a danger to our national sovereignty,' Kurz said '...such as the mixing up of seeking protection with labour migration.'Kurz's position is that migrants rescued in the Mediterranean should not be allowed entry into Europe.Austria took in roughly 1 per cent of its population in asylum seekers in 2015 during a migration crisis in which more than a million people travelled to Europe, many of them fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere.Concerns linked to those arrivals dominated last year's parliamentary election and helped propel Kurz's conservatives to power.He has said he will prevent any repeat of that influx and implemented policies that include restricting benefits for new immigrants.'Some of the contents go diametrically against our position,' added Strache, the Freedom Party's leader.'Migration is not and cannot become a human right,' Strache said. 'It cannot be that someone receives a right to migration because of the climate or poverty.'In September 2016, all 193 U.N. member states, including the United States under President Barack Obama, adopted a declaration saying no country can manage international migration on its own and agreeing to launch a process leading to the adoption of a global compact in 2018.But last December, the U.S said it was ending its participation in negotiations on the compact, stating that numerous provisions were 'inconsistent with U.S. immigration and refugee policies' under President Donald Trump.Trump prefers to act unilaterally and has withdrawn the U.S from a number of international agreements - most notably the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris Agreement on Climate change.Hungary said it would withdraw from the process in July, when Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that the pact was contrary to Hungary's interests.Szijarto said that while it had some positive aims, like fighting human trafficking, overall the pact considered migration an unstoppable and positive phenomenon worthy of support.Poland, which has also clashed with Brussels by resisting national quotas for asylum seekers, has said it is considering the same step.The compact has 23 objectives that seek to boost cooperation to manage migration.It contains numerous actions ranging from technical issues like the portability of earnings by migrant workers to reducing their detention, as well as how to protect and integrate them.
A Gold Coast family is desperately trying to get their baby girl home after she was struck down with meningococcal while on holiday in Thailand.Eight-month-old Lilliana Sheridan has been fighting for life in a Phuket hospital for six days and may need to have part of her right leg amputated if her condition does not improve, her parents say.The family had been in Phuket for two weeks when parents Elisha Roberston, 23, and Jai Sheridan, 25, noticed that Lilliana had become unwell last Thursday.However, Lilliana's parents were still concerned enough to take her to Patong Hospital where doctors gave her paracetamol to bring down her fever before sending her home.But later that day the fever came back, so Ms Roberston followed the doctors' instructions to put her in the shower to bring the fever back down, Mr Sheridan said.'As soon as Elisha put Lilliana in the shower she went purple all over with a massive rash,' he said.'We threw her in the car and went to the local doctors but the doctor wasn't there and all these Thai people came running to help us.'Lilliana was rushed in a local ambulance back to Patong Hospital where doctors put her on oxygen.From there Lilliana was transferred to the private and more advanced Bangkok Phuket Hospital where doctors told the devastated parents that she had a slim chance of survival.'Then they saved her life and we found out it was meningococcal. We were then told it was 50/50,' Mr Sheridan said.'After that we were told she was going to lose three fingers on her left hand because they were all cold and blue. But she proved them wrong in that too.'Everything they have said she has gone nope, that's not happening to me.'Lilliana was now in a stable condition, but an infection under her skin on her right leg was causing doctors to become concerned, he said.'If it travels a bit deeper it could be a possible amputation,' Mr Sheridan said.The family is now hoping to have Lilliana flown by medivac to Bangkok, and then back to the Gold Coast.Adding to the family's stress is the fact that Ms Roberson has herself become unwell in the past few days, contracting influenza type B.The illness means the mother has been quarantined away from her daughter in a separate hospital room.'That's been the hardest thing for Elisha now, not being able to be with Lilliana,' Mr Sheridan said.'I don't think there are any words to describe the stress. We just want to get her home to our country.'The family were originally told it would cost $120,000 for a medivac back to Australia, but have since been quoted a price of $70,000 by Medical Rescue on the Gold Coast.Although the family have travel insurance, which will cover the medivac to Bangkok, it was not yet clear if they will have to pay for the costly journey to Australia.Family and friends have started an online fundraiser to help cover the medivac and Lilliana's rehabilitation costs.Contact reporter Emily McPherson at emcpherson@nine.com.au.
The mother of alleged Sydney murder victim, Cecilia Haddad, has choked back tears as she told a Brazilian Court of her final, harrowing conversation with her daughter.'After that, I never spoke with her again. 186 days,' Milu Muller told the judge.Mrs Muller told the court she was on the phone with her daughter on April 28 this year, during one of their regular chats between Sydney and her hometown in Brazil.She testified she heard a man she identified as Cecilia's former boyfriend, Marcelo Santoro.Mrs Muller, became emotional as she told the court that she heard 'banging on Cecilia's door like someone was trying to break in.''I heard him scream, open up, I want to talk to you,',' she said.Milu Muller told the court she asked Cecilia 'what is that guy doing there?' Asking if her building had any security, urging her to call the police, or even get a security guard for protection.Mrs Muller testified that Cecilia assured her she was okay, and was going to meet a friend for lunch in Sydney.'As soon as you get with your friend for lunch, text me,' the mother recalled she told her daughter, concerned for her safety.Cecilia's mother never got that text message and never spoke to her daughter again.Brazilian-born, Cecilia Haddad had been living and working in Sydney and Perth for more than a decade.The 38-year-old had been friends with fellow Brazilian national Mario Marcelo Santoro for years - they'd been in a relationship for just over a year, when she tried to end it.A court has already been told Cecilia had expressed concern to her family about Santoro's behaviour in the days and weeks before she died.Today, her close friend Rita Maciel also gave emotional testimony via video-link from Perth, saying Cecilia was living in fear of Marcelo.Cecilia was in 'total panic,' Ms Maciel told the court. 'She was afraid to go out,' she said crying.Rita remembered her friend Cecilia as someone who 'brought happiness' and was 'always ready to help.'But Marcelo, 'made her life hell,' she claimed, telling the judge he was abusive and inflicted psychological terror, when Cecilia tried to break up with him.Ms Maciel told the court Marcelo had followed Cecilia when she was driving her car.It was Rita Maciel who reported Cecilia missing when she didn't return several messages.Rita recalled seeing news coverage of a body found in Sydney's Lane Cove River on April 29, 2018. She feared it was Cecilia - and she was right.Cecilia Haddad had allegedly been strangled, and gym weights had been placed in her pockets.The same morning her body was found, her ex-boyfriend Mario Marcelo Santoro, 40, allegedly fled the country, arriving at Rio de Janeiro international airport in his homeland of Brazil.Local authorities in Rio believe Santoro did so, believing he could avoid the Australian legal system, as there is no extradition agreement between Australia and Brazil.Santoro remained on Australia's most wanted list for more than two months, as the NSW Homicide Squad built its case.Brazilian police, however, conducted their own investigation and uncovered enough evidence to charge him with murder and concealing a body.Rio de Janeiro police allege Marcelo couldn't accept that Cecilia wanted to end the relationship.But this is where the diplomatic issues arose.The physical evidence gathered by police in Sydney is vital for the case to proceed through the Brazilian justice system.In its current form, the Rio police case file consists largely of circumstantial evidence, WhatsApp messages provided to Rio police by Cecilia's family.Santoro's legal team has already revealed a plan to attempt to have the case thrown out due to a lack of evidence.After months of negotiations and navigating a foreign legal system, Australian police finally have the go ahead to travel to Brazil, early this month.Three police officers from the NSW Homicide Squad will take with them them evidence, either the physical items, or photographs of evidence uncovered at the crime scene, and in Cecilia's apartment which will bolster the case Rio police have built.The matter returns to court next month.
Donald Trump's announcement that up to 15,000 troops could be deployed to the border of Mexico would see more many military personnel sent there than in some of the world's conflict hot spots.In a move which sidelined the Pentagon, Mr Trump took a tough line on border control and said current troop numbers were not enough to counter the estimated 7000 people travelling in a caravan destined for the US border.'As far as the caravan is concerned, our military is out,' Mr Trump said.'We have about 5800.'We'll go up to anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Patrol, ICE and everybody else at the border.'A deployment of this number would bring the military commitment on the border to roughly the same level as in war-torn Afghanistan.It is also roughly half of the total number of troops deployed to South Korea and the flashpoint of the demilitarised zone (DMZ).The figure of 15,000 US troops would be more than 10 times that deployed in Australia.PENTAGON BLINDSIDEDThe troop numbers have been changing at a dizzying pace, with Mr Trump drawing a hard line on immigration in the lead-up to the midterm elections.Mr Trump's estimate is double the number of military personnel the Pentagon said it currently plans for a mission.Pentagon officials said 'more than 7,000' troops were being sent to the Southwest border to support the Customs and Border Protection agents.Officials said that number could reach a maximum of about 8000 under present plans.Just last week officials were indicating that about 800 to 1000 might be sent.Then on Monday, officials announced that about 5200 were being deployed. The following day, the Air Force general running the operation said more than the initially announced total were going, and rejected a news report that it could reach 14,000, saying that was 'not consistent with what's actually being planned.'General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, the commander of US Northern Command, said the number would exceed the initial contingent of 5200, but offered no estimate of the eventual total.Just 24 hours later, Mr Trump thrust new uncertainty into the picture, catching the Pentagon by surprise.POLITICAL FIGHTMr Trump said that the move would be aimed at preventing the entry of a caravan of migrants traveling from Central America.With his eyes squarely on next Tuesday's midterm elections, Mr Trump has rushed a series of immigration declarations, promises and actions as he tries to mobilse supporters to retain Republican control of Congress.His own Republican campaign in 2016 concentrated on border fears, and that's his focus in the final week of the midterm fight.Mr Trump's tough stance also comes as some of the caravan are attempting to finish the journey by bus, having grown tired from the long journey by foot.Caravan organisers say the buses, if they do materialise, would take the estimated 4000 migrants to Mexico City for meetings with legislators, not to the still-distant US border, though some would probably continue to the border after reaching the capital.Mr Trump insisted that the number could go as high as 15,000.He also tweeted: 'We will NOT let these Caravans, which are also made up of some very bad thugs and gang members, into the U.S. Our Border is sacred, must come in legally. TURN AROUND!'Worn down from long miles of walking and frustrated by the slow progress, many migrants have done just that, dropping out and returning home or applying for protected status in Mexico.The initial group is also significantly diminished from its estimated peak at more than 7000 migrants. A caravan earlier this year ultimately fizzled to just about 200 people who reached the US border at San Diego.- with the Associated Press
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auramex Resource Corp. (the Company or Auramex) (TSX.V: AUX) announces that its geological team is now compiling and interpreting preliminary results from an extremely successful field season. Geological mapping, prospecting and sampling was conducted across the Companys extensive (200 square km) land holdings in the Stewart Camp of British Columbias Golden Triangle. The Auramex properties extend from south of Stewart, 40 km up the Bear Valley to Bear Pass.



The program was conducted in conjunction with Mountain Boy Minerals Minerals Ltd (MTB-TSXV) under a cooperative exploration agreement by which the companies pooled their extensive geological data bases and explored their adjacent properties in a coordinated manner. Auramex was operator of the program, which was directed by Dr. Paul Metcalfe, director and vice president of exploration, who has 30 years of experience in the Golden Triangle. Other members of the six-person geological team also have extensive experience in the region.

Pooling of historic data and working across property lines provided the geological team the first-ever comprehensive view of the geological settings that produced the numerous gold-silver occurrences in the region. Results of the recent field work, together with the extensive data base of previous results, are being interpreted with leading-edge scientific approaches, leading to refined interpretations of the geological systems. The team is now beginning to outline broad and robust mineralizing systems capable of generating large deposits.

Over the coming weeks, the geological team will receive analytical results from more than 500 samples. Those results and the other results of the summer program, will be integrated into a comprehensive data set. Further geophysical surveys are planned to complete coverage of the area. The work over the next few months is expected to generate multiple exploration targets in advance of next summers program.

Auramex will be seeking joint venture partners on some of the target areas to provide funding for the work next season.

About Auramex

Auramex is exploring a large and highly prospective property portfolio in the Stewart Camp, at the southern end of the Golden Triangle in British Columbia. Auramex has 200 square km of mineral rights, located on or near roads within 45 km of the deep-water port of Stewart.

The Golden Triangle is beginning to be recognized as one of the most highly mineralized geological settings with excellent exploration potential for future discoveries. The Golden Triangle region has matured dramatically over the past few years, with two mines now in production, road access greatly improved, and a quantum leap in terms of geological understanding of the processes that created some of the largest, and highest-grade metal deposits on the planet.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Lawrence Roulston

President & CEO

(604) 914-2142

For further information, contact:

Nancy Curry

VP Corporate Development

(604) 220-2971

www.auramex.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/94c5209a-f1d8-47d4-99a3-52f91f390230
UPDATED 11/10/2018

Pivot was first introduced in Apache Spark 1.6 as a new DataFrame feature that allows users to rotate a table-valued expression by turning the unique values from one column into individual columns.

The Apache Spark 2.4 release extends this powerful functionality of pivoting data to our SQL users as well. In this blog, using temperatures recordings in Seattle, well show how we can use this common SQL Pivot feature to achieve complex data transformations.

Examining Summer Temperatures with Pivot

This summer in Seattle temperatures rose to uncomfortable levels, peaking to high 80s and 90, for nine days in July.

Date Temp (F) 07-22-2018 86 07-23-2018 90 07-24-2018 91 07-25-2018 92 07-26-2018 92 07-27-2018 88 07-28-2018 85 07-29-2018 94 07-30-2018 89

Suppose we want to explore or examine if there were a historical trend in rising mercury levels. One intuitive way to examine and present these numbers is to have months as the columns and then each years monthly average highs in a single row. That way it will be easy to compare the temperatures both horizontally, between adjacent months, and vertically, between different years.

Now that we have support for PIVOT syntax in Spark SQL, we can achieve this with the following SQL query.

SELECT * FROM ( SELECT year(date) year, month(date) month, temp FROM high_temps WHERE date BETWEEN DATE '2015-01-01' AND DATE '2018-08-31' ) PIVOT ( CAST(avg(temp) AS DECIMAL(4, 1)) FOR month in ( 1 JAN, 2 FEB, 3 MAR, 4 APR, 5 MAY, 6 JUN, 7 JUL, 8 AUG, 9 SEP, 10 OCT, 11 NOV, 12 DEC ) ) ORDER BY year DESC

The above query will produce a result like:

YEAR JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 2018 49.7 45.8 54.0 58.6 70.8 71.9 82.8 79.1 NULL NULL NULL NULL 2017 43.7 46.6 51.6 57.3 67.0 72.1 78.3 81.5 73.8 61.1 51.3 45.6 2016 49.1 53.6 56.4 65.9 68.8 73.1 76.0 79.5 69.6 60.6 56.0 41.9 2015 50.3 54.5 57.9 59.9 68.0 78.9 82.6 79.0 68.5 63.6 49.4 47.1

Well, looks like there are good years and bad years. The year 2016 seems a rather energy-friendly year.

Pivoting in SQL

Lets take a closer look at this query to understand how it works. First, we need to specify the FROM clause, which is the input of the pivot, in other words, the table or subquery based on which the pivoting will be performed. In our case, we are concerned about the years, the months, and the high temperatures, so those are the fields that appear in the sub-query.

Second, lets consider another important part of the query, the PIVOT clause. The first argument of the PIVOT clause is an aggregate function and the column to be aggregated. We then specify the pivot column in the FOR sub-clause as the second argument, followed by the IN operator containing the pivot column values as the last argument.

The pivot column is the point around which the table will be rotated, and the pivot column values will be transposed into columns in the output table. The IN clause also allows you to specify an alias for each pivot value, making it easy to generate more meaningful column names.

An important idea about pivot is that it performs a grouped aggregation based on a list of implicit group-by columns together with the pivot column. The implicit group-by columns are columns from the FROM clause that do not appear in any aggregate function or as the pivot column.

In the above query, with the pivot column being the column month and the implicit group-by column being the column year, the expression avg(temp) will be aggregated on each distinct value pair of (year, month) , where month equals to one of the specified pivot column values. As a result, each of these aggregated values will be mapped into its corresponding cell of row year and column month.

It is worth noting that because of this implicit group-by , we need to make sure that any column that we do not wish to be part of the pivot output should be left out from the FROM clause, otherwise the query would produce undesired results.

Specifying Multiple Aggregate Expressions

The above example shows only one aggregate expression being used in the PIVOT clause, while in fact, users can specify multiple aggregate expressions if needed. Again, with the weather data above, we can list the maximum high temperatures along with the average high temperatures between June and September.

SELECT * FROM ( SELECT year(date) year, month(date) month, temp FROM high_temps WHERE date BETWEEN DATE '2015-01-01' AND DATE '2018-08-31' ) PIVOT ( CAST(avg(temp) AS DECIMAL(4, 1)) avg, max(temp) max FOR month in (6 JUN, 7 JUL, 8 AUG, 9 SEP) ) ORDER BY year DESC

In case of multiple aggregate expressions, the columns will be the Cartesian product of the pivot column values and the aggregate expressions, with the names as <value>_<aggExpr> .

year JUN_avg JUN_max JUL_avg JUL_max AUG_avg AUG_max SEP_avg SEP_max 2018 71.9 88 82.8 94 79.1 94 NULL NULL 2017 72.1 96 78.3 87 81.5 94 73.8 90 2016 73.1 93 76.0 89 79.5 95 69.6 78 2015 78.9 92 82.6 95 79.0 92 68.5 81

Grouping Columns vs. Pivot Columns

Now suppose we want to include low temperatures in our exploration of temperature trends from this table of daily low temperatures:

Date Temp (F)   08-01-2018 59 08-02-2018 58 08-03-2018 59 08-04-2018 58 08-05-2018 59 08-06-2018 59  

To combine this table with the previous table of daily high temperatures, we could join these two tables on the Date column. However, since we are going to use pivot, which performs grouping on the dates, we can simply concatenate the two tables using UNION ALL . And youll see later, this approach also provides us with more flexibility:

SELECT date, temp, 'H' as flag FROM high_temps UNION ALL SELECT date, temp, 'L' as flag FROM low_temps

Now lets try our pivot query with the new combined table:



SELECT * FROM ( SELECT year(date) year, month(date) month, temp, flag `H/L` FROM ( SELECT date, temp, 'H' as flag FROM high_temps UNION ALL SELECT date, temp, 'L' as flag FROM low_temps ) WHERE date BETWEEN DATE '2015-01-01' AND DATE '2018-08-31' ) PIVOT ( CAST(avg(temp) AS DECIMAL(4, 1)) FOR month in (6 JUN, 7 JUL, 8 AUG, 9 SEP) ) ORDER BY year DESC, `H/L` ASC

As a result, we get the average high and average low for each month of the past 4 years in one table. Note that we need to include the column flag in the pivot query, otherwise the expression avg(temp) would be based on a mix of high and low temperatures.

year H/L JUN JUL AUG SEP 2018 H 71.9 82.8 79.1 NULL 2018 L 53.4 58.5 58.5 NULL 2017 H 72.1 78.3 81.5 73.8 2017 L 53.7 56.3 59.0 55.6 2016 H 73.1 76.0 79.5 69.9 2016 L 53.9 57.6 59.9 52.9 2015 H 78.9 82.6 79.0 68.5 2015 L 56.4 59.9 58.5 52.5

You might have noticed that now we have two rows for each year, one for the high temperatures and the other for low temperatures. Thats because we have included one more column, flag , in the pivot input, which in turn becomes another implicit grouping column in addition to the original column year .

Alternatively, instead of being a grouping column, the flag can also serve as a pivot column. So now we have two pivot columns, month and flag :

SELECT * FROM ( SELECT year(date) year, month(date) month, temp, flag FROM ( SELECT date, temp, 'H' as flag FROM high_temps UNION ALL SELECT date, temp, 'L' as flag FROM low_temps ) WHERE date BETWEEN DATE '2015-01-01' AND DATE '2018-08-31' ) PIVOT ( CAST(avg(temp) AS DECIMAL(4, 1)) FOR (month, flag) in ( (6, 'H') JUN_hi, (6, 'L') JUN_lo, (7, 'H') JUL_hi, (7, 'L') JUL_lo, (8, 'H') AUG_hi, (8, 'L') AUG_lo, (9, 'H') SEP_hi, (9, 'L') SEP_lo ) ) ORDER BY year DESC

This query presents us with a different layout of the same data, with one row for each year, but two columns for each month.

year JUN_hi JUN_lo JUL_hi JUL_lo AUG_hi AUG_lo SEP_hi SEP_lo 2018 71.9 53.4 82.8 58.5 79.1 58.5 NULL NULL 2017 72.1 53.7 78.3 56.3 81.5 59.0 73.8 55.6 2016 73.1 53.9 76.0 57.6 79.5 57.9 69.6 52.9 2015 78.9 56.4 82.6 59.9 79.0 58.5 68.5 52.5

Whats Next

To run the query examples used in this blog, please check the pivot SQL examples in this accompanying notebook.

Thanks to the Apache Spark community contributors for their contributions!
Tamil Nadu: 17 fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy

November 01,2018 | Source: The Hindu

The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 17 fishermen  11 from Rameswaram and Mandapam and six from Jagadapattinam in Pudukottai district  for trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. It has also seized three mechanised boats. The fishermen were fishing on the high seas near the Delft island when naval personnel in fast gun boats arrested them. While six fishermen from Pudukottai district were arrested on Monday evening, 11 fishermen from Ramanathapuram district were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday.



A calculated move



The fishermen were handed over to Fisheries Department officials for further action. They were produced before a magistrate court in Kayts for judicial remand, said U. Arulanandam, president of the Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen (ARIF).



Condemning the arrest, fishermen leader P. Sesu Raja said the arrest, ahead of Deepavali, was a calculated move on the part of the Sri Lankan Navy to harass the hapless fishermen. After striking work for more than two weeks in protest at the hike in diesel price, the fishermen had gone for fishing to make some money during the festival season. But the Sri Lankan Navy arrested them, he rued.
Sri Lanka: Fish Exports top Rs. 39 Bn in 2017, Ornamental Fish Exports at Rs. 2.2 Bn

by Devendra Francis

November 01,2018 | Source: BIZ

In 2017, total fish and fishery export amount of Sri Lanka was reported to be 24,827 mt (Metric Tonnes) with an export value of Rs 39. 2 billion whilst Ornamental Fish exports earned Rs 2.2 billion during the same period, the latest data outlines. Latest annual review of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development notes that the lifting of EU fish ban in June 2016 paved the way to 7,550 mt of fish exports marks the prospects of gradual stabilization of the Sri Lankan fish exports industry.



The total fish production during 2017 recorded to be as 531,310 mt showing an increase of 0.07% in contrast to the fish production during the previous year. This increase was made possible due to the contribution of 449,440 mt and 81,870 mt of fish production respectively generated by the marine and inland sectors, according to the Ministry. Fish consumption is paramount as a high source of protein in enhancing the nutritional condition of the public and developing the good health of Sri Lankans.



Even though per capita fish consumption in 2016 was 43.4g per day, it has been increased up to 45.4g in 2017. Sri Lankan fisheries sector mainly consists of 517,000 km sea area enriched with abundant fish resource and 489,000 hectares of lagoons, estuaries and reservoirs that show high potential for development.
West Bengal: Fishermen protest merchant shipping corridor

November 01,2018 | Source: The Statesman

The fishermen community belonging to different organisations in the state came together on Tuesday to protest against the proposed Merchant Shipping Corridor (MSC) along the coastal regions of the country, expected to paralyse the fishing industry in West Bengal as well. The protesting fishermen, whose livelihood is mainly dependant on marine fish, demanded withdrawal of the MSC project of the central government, which is presently underway from the West Coast up to some distance beyond Kanyakumari.



The stretch meant only for merchant ships, however, is soon to be extended till the Eastern Coast, covering parts of West Bengal, including Tajpur in East Midnapore where mapping work has already been started. According to members of the Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum (DMF), one of the major fishermen associations in the state, the proposed shipping corridor will mean confinement of fishing activities within 15 nautical miles or 27.78km from the coast. Beyond this stretch, the proposed corridor of 20 nautical miles or 37.04 km wide will be used by merchant ships only and fishing activities would be strictly prohibited.



As this part of the coastline harbours most of the marine fish of various edible species, the fishing industry along the corridor is expected to be affected badly. The project will hit the livelihood of 1.4 lakh fishermen in the state who are fully dependent on this marine stretch for their livelihood, said Milan Das, general secretary of DMF.



The corridor if it materialises will also destroy the marine ecological balance in the Sunderbans, where lakhs of people are directly or indirectly dependent on this portion of the sea, he added. Underscoring how the development projects in the coastal areas are adversely affecting the fishermen, Debashish Shyamal, member of National Fishworkers Forum, said: The development of a deep sea port at Tajpur, and other places under the Sagarmala Project, will mean that not only will the corridor be used by the ships, but also the inner coastline will be occupied with commercial activities. Such extensive industrial use of the part of the sea which accommodates the maximum percentage of useful marine organisms, will not only destroy the marine life but will also take away the livelihood of about 80 per cent of fishermen in the state and four crore fishermen along the MSC. A letter has been sent to the Centre on 10 September and a memorandum has been filed with the state government today. However, the state government instead of solving our problems of livelihood is working in close association with the Centre. The state fisheries minister denied getting any formal intimation on the issue.
Hong Kong, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New Frontier Data, the authority in data, analytics and business intelligence on the global cannabis industry, releases its Asia-Pacific Hemp Brief: 2018 Industry Overview, which highlights key developments shaping the hemp market in China and Asia-Pacific. The report studies the marketplace as the production and use of hemp-based products grows substantially in a restrictive, but quickly evolving, legislative landscape. This Asia-Pacific Hemp study further examines Chinas massive hemp industry, the development of hemp markets in other nations in the region, and innovative applications being introduced into major global industries.



We are seeing so much growth and industry development in Asias hemp sector, if exportation of hemp-based products, hemp-derived CBD, and hemp-based technologies continue to evolve with China and India leading the way, we may be looking at a modern-day East-West Silk Road, with material global economic implications, in the not too distant future, said Giadha Aguirre de Carcer, Founder and CEO of New Frontier Data.

China is todays global hemp production powerhouse, leading in cultivation, processing, manufacturing and exports. In 2017, Chinese domestic sales of hemp were estimated at $1.1 billion, over one-third of the global market. South Korea, the cultural center of Asia has a booming beauty and personal care market which represented over $8.5 billion in sales in 2016. Australias MCG Pharmaceuticals entered into a $40 million (USD31.3 billion) supply agreement to provide Korean company Varm Cosmo with 15,000kg of CBD skin care products per month for three years. Other markets in the region are also exploring loosening restrictions on industrial hemp and medical cannabis, including Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and other countries.

The opportunities are endless for hemp-based products and technology expansion in this region which is home to 60% of the worlds population. As the international community increasingly addresses cannabis reform and engages with the legalized cannabis industry, many opportunities will appear in places where not long ago such activity seemed unimaginable, added Aguirre de Carcer.

Among the reports key findings:

Hemp will play a major role throughout several Asian countries in the coming years.

China is the world leader in hemp cultivation, processing, manufacturing and exports. It has a substantial hemp textile industry and a burgeoning CBD market which is poised for dramatic growth as consumers become more familiar with the products applications and versatility.

South Korea, the epicenter of cultural trends in Asia with its booming beauty industry, is beginning to see CBD-infused cosmetics enter the market. Once CBD personal care products establish their niche, they could create a significant market opportunity among billions of consumers across Asia.

If Thailands national experiments with medical cannabis legalization and global CBD exportation are successful, other countries in the region will predictably follow suit.

Canada is expected to be a major exporter of CBD but would be challenged over the long run to compete with Southeast Asias low-cost producers.

Visit NewFrontierData.com/APACHEMP to download the full report - Asia-Pacific Hemp Brief: 2018 Industry Overview. New Frontier Datas online intelligence portal, Equio, provides readers with reports on global markets and a series of country profiles which offer an introduction to various markets, trends and recent investment activities in the cannabis industry.

About New Frontier Data:

New Frontier Data is an independent, technology-driven analytics company specializing in the cannabis industry. It offers vetted data, actionable business intelligence and risk management solutions for investors, operators, researchers and policymakers. New Frontier Datas reports and data have been cited in over 69 countries around the world to inform industry leaders. Founded in 2014, New Frontier Data is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with additional offices in Denver, CO, London, UK, Bogota, Colombia, and Hong Kong.

New Frontier Data does not take a position on the merits of cannabis legalization. Rather, its mission and mandate are to inform cannabis-related policy and business decisions through rigorous, issue-neutral and comprehensive analysis of the legal cannabis industry worldwide. For more information about New Frontier Data please visit: http://www.NewFrontierData.com.

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The factory of Samsung Electronics Vietnam in Thai Nguyen Province in northern Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Le Dang

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has suggested that Samsung expands its scale to make Vietnam the groups largest strategic base.

Receiving Lee Jae Yong, vice chairman of Samsung Group, in Hanoi on Tuesday, Phuc said Samsung should not just stop at making Vietnam its largest smartphone production base.

He suggested the South Korean giant expands its business to other major fields like semiconductors, infrastructure and energy in Vietnam rather than focusing mainly on manufacturing and assembling electronic products, as it has been doing so far.

A statement posted on the governments website cited the prime minister as saying that Samsung should work towards building its largest strategic base in the country.

He also wanted Samsung to continue providing practical support in terms of training and technology transfer to assist Vietnams supporting industry.

As Samsung is making a significant contribution to developing e-government in South Korea, the PM suggested it does the same for Vietnam.

He promised that the Vietnamese government will keep creating favorable conditions for Samsungs operations in the country.

Samsung Electronics Co. has invested $17.3 billion in eight factories and one research and development center in Vietnam, creating jobs for more than 160,000 locals.

Exports from Samsung Electronics factories in Vietnam totaled $54 billion last year, it said.

In April, CEO Koh Dong-jin of Samsung Electronics told PM Phuc that the company was determined to further expand production in Vietnam, Reuters reported.

He said Samsung will recruit more Vietnamese employees and develop electronics in smart cities in Bac Ninh province in the northern region and other places.

Samsung is the largest foreign investor in Vietnam and accounts for around a quarter of the countrys total export revenue. It operates two cellphone factories in Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen provinces in northern Vietnam.

The factories produce around half of all the cellphones that Samsung supplies to the global market.
Vingroup has invested VND13.6 trillion ($583.3 million) in its auto subsidiary VinFast in the first nine months of the year.

VinFast, Vietnams first indigenous car manufacturer, is expected to eventually receive investments of $4.2 billion from the parent firms internal resources and loans.

VinFast has already unveiled its first two cars, a sedan and an SUV, causing both excitement and skepticism among Vietnamese.

From a standing start, it will create an annual capacity of 250,000 cars within the next five years or so, equivalent to 92 percent of all cars sold in Vietnam last year, according to data from the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association.

VinFast will also produce 250,000 electric scooters a year in an ambitious production target that is set to eventually increase to 1 million.

In the first three quarters of this year Vingroup recorded over VND23.456 trillion ($1.01 billion) in net revenues, a nearly 7 percent rise year-on-year. Profit before tax topped VND2.6 trillion ($111.52 million), up 41 percent.

As of September 30 it had total assets of VND268.23 trillion ($11.5 billion), an increase of nearly VND55 trillion ($2.35 billion) from the beginning of this year.

Vingroup, Vietnam's biggest property conglomerate, dominates the housing and property markets with Vinhomes. It has entered the healthcare market with Vinmec, runs a chain of supermarkets called Vinmart, and entertains tourists at Vinpearl resorts.
Vietnam drops one place in ease of doing business ranking

Employees work at an office in Vietnam. Photo by Shutterstock/Jimmy Tran

Vietnams ease of doing business ranking fell one place to 69th among 190 economies, according to a World Bank report released Wednesday.

Among ASEAN countries, it was ranked higher than Indonesia (73), India (77), Laos (154) and Myanmar (171), according to a World Bank report titled "Doing Business 2019: Training for Reform."

Even though Vietnam has been striving to improve its business environment in recent years, its ranking fell in some key areas.

The steepest decline was in paying taxes, which fell 45 places from last year. Protecting minority investors dropped 8 places, trading across borders, 6, resolving insolvency 4 and accessing credit, 3.

Vietnam was ranked 21st for getting construction permits and 27th in getting electricity connections. It had low rankings in paying taxes and resolving insolvency, at 131 and 133 respectively.

To start a business in Ho Chi Minh City, an individual would have to go through 8 procedures over 17 days and pay 5.9 percent of his/her annual per capita income. Corresponding figures for Thailands Bangkok were five procedures, 4.5 days and 3.1 percent; and in Singapore, just two procedures, 1.5 days and 0.4 percent.

However, the World Bank report noted that in the last decade, Vietnam has made starting a business easier by publishing the notice of incorporation online and reducing the cost of business registration.

Dau Anh Tuan, head of the Legal Department under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said that although the World Bank has noted Vietnams reforms in three areas: starting a business, paying taxes and enforcing contracts; this was lower than last years five areas.

Tuan told local media that authorities should make stronger and more practical changes in the business environment.

New Zealand was the easiest country to do a business this year, followed by Singapore, Denmark, Hong Kong (China) and South Korea.

The report ranks an economy based on 10 topics: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.
By 2025, the demand for material to make packaging paper in Vietnam is expected to rise to 13 million tons. Photo by VnExpress

Vietnamese paper makers are worried they will lack raw material for production if mixed paper waste import is banned.

The Vietnamese paper industry expects to import increasing amounts of paper waste to keep up with rising demand, particularly of packaging. This year, more than 2 million tons of paper waste are expected to be imported.

"By 2025, the demand for material to make packaging paper will rise to 13 million tons, but domestic trash collection can only provide 4.3 million tons, meaning we will have to import 8.9 million tons of paper waste, Hoang Trung Son, vice chairman of Vietnam Pulp and Paper Association (VPPA), said at a recent workshop in Hanoi.

Among all kinds of paper waste that Vietnamese firms import to make paper, demand for mixed paper waste is highest, making up 30-40 percent of the total.

Data from the General Department of Customs shows more than 100 paper, packaging, and import and export firms in Vietnam are importing mixed paper waste.

But in a new draft regulation on scrap imports, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has suggested removing several types of scrap from the list of permitted imports, including mixed paper.

Businesses and experts are worried about the impacts that this restriction can have on the production of paper in Vietnam, given the heavy reliance of the industry on this source of raw material.

Mixed paper waste accounted for 37 percent of the total amount of paper waste imported into Vietnam in the first half this year. Prices of mixed paper waste are $90-100 per ton while that of other types of paper waste are around $150 per ton, said Pham Dinh Thuong, a policy analyst.

If Vietnam bans mixed paper waste imports, producers will have to switch to importing other kinds of paper, which could lead to annual losses of $37 million per year, he said.

Thuong said the environment ministry has suggested banning mixed paper waste imports because it believes that this type of paper is the one that has yet to be categorized, making it difficult to manage.

However, most of the mixed paper waste that Vietnam has imported so far is from Europe and the U.S. and has been assessed in accordance with international standards, he added.

Check quality

Thuong suggested Vietnam should be flexible and check the quality of the imported paper waste instead of banning it outright.

The authorities should make sure that the mixed paper waste imported into Vietnam has been recognized to have impurities as regulated and at the same time, inspect the paper factories to see how their operators deal with environment pollution when treating paper waste, he said.

A sudden ban on mixed paper import will push companies into a passive position and have negative impacts on other sectors such as packaging and exports, he said.

Thuongs analysis was supported by businesses, which said the domestic supply of paper waste cannot meet current demand. So far, domestic paper waste has only met less than 40 percent of local demand, while the global average rate is 56 percent. It is as high as 80 percent in Japan.

Vietnamese people do not have the habit of categorizing waste. The government does not have any policy to encourage people to collect and recycle paper waste. The collection of paper waste is not well-organized, resulting in high collection costs and low efficiency, said Son of VPPA.

Pollution concerns

The draft regulation drawn up by the environment ministry has followed the Prime Ministers directive to tighten management of scrap imports because of huge environmental pollution problems.

The ministry said mixed paper waste comes from too many different sources and is usually used to make into low quality paper. Worse, the manufacturing process would dump dangerous wastewater into the environment.

Environment Minister Tran Hong Ha told a ministry meeting in July that the ministry will only allow companies that can equip themselves with warehouses and standard technologies to treat waste properly to import scrap.

In a directive issued in September, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc instructed the Finance, and Industry and Trade ministries to review and make required changes to the temporary ban on the import, re-export, transit and transshipment of scrap.

The PM also instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment not to issue new licenses or extend existing licenses to units allowed to import scrap via third parties and those that import scrap merely to process and resell.
The expulsion and suspension of seven high school students in central Vietnam for criticizing their school and teachers on a Facebook group chat has sparked a debate of privacy. Photo by Shutterstock/pixino

The expulsion and suspension of high school students in central Vietnam based on their private conversations has sparked controversy.

Eight 15-year-old students from the same class in Nguyen Trai High School, Thanh Hoa Province, were punished for using social networks to tarnish teachers dignity and credibility, negatively affecting the schools educational functions, its principal Bui Nguyen Tien said Wednesday.

Tien said a female student was caught using a mobile phone in class on October 1. The phone was confiscated by the teacher present in the class at the time and given to the classs homeroom teacher.

The homeroom teacher noticed that the phone was unlocked, checked its contents and discovered a Facebook group chat in which the students criticized the school and its teachers.

This was brought to the notice of the School Board which informed the representative of the schools Parents Association and the parents of the students involved. The students were asked by the board to write a report on the matter.

The school decided to expel three students for a year and suspend four students for a week. Another student was publicly chastised in front of the whole school.

The students did not repent their actions, Tien said.

It hurts the school to discipline our students. But the strict punishments serve to warn and educate other students as well, he said.

They cant, they can

Vietnamese netizens have since flocked to debate this issue on cyberspace.

Who gave the teacher the right to check a students phone? asked Quy Nguyen Ngoc, a VnExpress reader.

A group chat is private. How can a teacher be allowed to see its contents? opined another reader, phamthanh Son.

While ones privacy should be respected always, using that to commit a crime or do something bad is not sanctioned by law, said Viet Dung.

"An expulsion is in order," 'NSB Viet Nam' said, without elaborating.

Some justified the homerooms teacher action, saying that since the phone was unlocked, her checking the content was unintentional.

If [the group chat] is right in front of your eyes, its okay to see it, said Trung.

Its counterproductive

Professional psychologists, meanwhile, feel the principal and teachers have overreacted, instead of trying to understand teenagers better.

High school students have more rebellious streaks than their younger selves, and are also more likely to display their independence. As such, they are more judgmental of adults, said Pham Thi Thuy, a sociologist and psychologist in Ho Chi Minh City.

They will only respect adults based on reason, not intimidation, she said. Therefore, adults need to let them express themselves and learn why they did what they did, rather than punishing them outright.

Echoing Thuy, Tran Thanh Nam, head of the Department of Education Science under the Vietnam National University in Hanoi, questioned the effectiveness of expelling the students.

Instead of educating the students, this would breed feelings of resentment, he said.

"If it were me, I would look back and see if I did something that caused them to misunderstand, then try to explain that and let them have a chance to think about their actions," he said.

The debate is likely to rage on in the coming days.

The number of Facebook users in Vietnam is the seventh highest in the world with over 58 million people this year, an increase of 16 percent from the same period last year, said an April report by social media marketing and advertising agency We Are Social.

Vietnamese are online seven hours a day and spend a daily average of 2.5 hours on social networks, it said.

To criticize is normal

It is not surprising, then, that most young people in the country also use the social media extensively.

Adults, including teachers should focus on how to manage this use, instead of punishing it, for whatever reason, said Le Khanh, an expert from the HCMC-based Psycology-Family-Children Counseling Clinic.

It's normal to criticize others, she said, adding that both children and adults do this all the time.

Students using social media has increased in recent years and it is a trend that cannot be stopped, Thuy said.

"If children are forbidden [to use social media], it would only get more dangerous if they use them sneakily. Instead of telling them how dangerous social media is, instruct them instead on behaving properly online, and being responsible for what they write online."

Breaking News: The province's education department has ordered the school to revoke its decision to expel and suspend the students.

The department director Pham Thi Hang said on Thursday the punishment was "too haste and harsh," given the students' first-time violation. Hang also asked the school to review its responsiblity for making such "unreasonable" decision.
LUBBOCK, Texas, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A West Texas optometry center has opened its second office in Lubbock. The VisionCenter of West Texas has announced that its new location at 12122 Salisbury Boulevard is now receiving patients. According to Dr. Nolan C. Riley, one of the clinic's four optometry practitioners, the second will provide area residents with greater convenience and readier access to a wide range of optometric care services. "It's our goal to make ourselves as available as possible to the Lubbock families who need high-quality eye care," says Dr. Riley. "We're simply taking a tradition for excellence and growing it outward."



The original office of this eye care center, whose motto is "Care Beyond Vision," was established in 1991. The Central Lubbock office, located at 3104 Indiana Avenue, has received KCBD's "Best of the West" award for eye care on several occasions. Dr. Riley states that the second office will continue to uphold the ongoing standard of care maintained by the original location. "It's the same variety of primary eye care services, administered by experienced, caring optometrists who understand the ocular needs and challenges faced by Lubbock residents of all ages," he says.

The optometrist notes that bringing the new office to par with its predecessor has involved equipping it with similar tools, technologies, and equipment. The VisionCenter of West Texas has always provided diagnostic services such as comprehensive eye exams, including eye function testing and retinal evaluation equipment, as well as a range of corrective lenses that include eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses. The new office, notes Dr. Riley, will offer all of the same services and techniques as the Central Lubbock office. He emphasizes that patients need not worry about which location will better serve their eye and vision needs, saying, "Whichever office the patients choose, we want to make sure they're experiencing the same care and being offered the same options."

Dr. Riley adds that the South Lubbock branch of The VisionCenter of West Texas will also provide same accessories and assistance as the Central Lubbock branch. These include items such as lens cleaners, contact lens solution, eyeglass cases, designer frames, and professional fitting at the hands of the clinic's experienced opticians. Customers are encouraged to make use of this part of the office on a walk-in, as-needed basis.

Operating hours for our Central Lubbock office are 8:00 am to 5:30 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. 8:00 am to 7:00 pm on Tuesdays and 8:30 am to 1:00 pm on Fridays.

Operating hours for our South Lubbock office are 8:00am to 5:30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. 8:00am to 7:00pm on Tuesdays and 8:30am to 1:00pm on Fridays.

Both offices are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Interested area residents can reach the South Lubbock branch by calling 806-793-1928.
Fourteen Vietnamese fishermen have been detained and three vessels seized by Thai authorities for illegal collection of sea cucumbers.

On Monday, a Royal Thai Navy boat found and seized three fishing vessels in the Gulf of Thailand, The Nation reported.

The fishermen were caught scraping for sea cucumbers, around nine nautical miles north of Losin Island.

The crew of the vessels were from Kien Giang and Ca Mau Provinces in southern Vietnam.

Legal action against the fishermen is anticipated before they are deported, naval officials said.

The Vietnamese Embassy has been informed of the incident.

According to Thai Navy officials, four other Vietnamese fishing vessels along with 14 fishermen had already been detained in October, the beginning of Thailands 2019 fiscal year.

The last fiscal year witnessed the seizure of 40 Vietnamese boats and detainment of 216 crew members in Thai waters for illegal fishing.

Many Vietnamese fishermen have recently been charged with fishing violations in neighboring countries waters.

In late September, the Royal Brunei navy captured four Vietnamese fishermen. Early October, two vessels and 39 Vietnamese fishermen were apprehended for fishing illegally in Malaysian waters.

Vietnamese authorities have been seeking measures to improve knowledge of fishermen of territorial boundaries and international maritime laws.
Vietnamese American man Kevin Long Nguyen stands in court on Wednesday in Binh Duong Province where he gets 10 years jail term for car theft. Photo courtesy of Binh Duong Police

A court in Binh Duong Province Wednesday sentenced a Vietnamese American car thief to 10 years in jail.

Kevin Long Nguyen, 30, was arrested in August last year when he was driving his stolen car.

The owner of the car was Pham Viet Anh, a resident of Binh Duong which neighbors Ho Chi Minh City. But at the time of the theft, it was being driven by a young woman who had stopped to withdraw cash from an ATM on August 6.

According to the indictment, Nguyen had gone to the Becamex Tower shopping mall in Thu Dau Mot Town in Binh Duong to apply for a job but failed, local media reported.

When he was leaving the mall, he noticed the white Honda Civic with the key in the ignition, jumped in and drove off. This was captured by the CCTV camera.

Vietnam jails American car thief for 10 years Police arrest car theft suspect in southern Vietnam

Three days after the theft, a group of vigilantes patrolling their neighborhood spotted him driving the stolen vehicle on the street and chased him down. They captured him and handed him over to the police.

Long admitted to the police that he had tried to sell the car for VND470 million ($20,600) but was unable to find a buyer because he didn't have the registration papers.

Police said Long had returned to Vietnam in 2016 after losing his job in the U.S. and stayed homeless for a long time before ending up in jail for car theft.

In another case, in April this year, American Moon Atfri, 32, was sentenced to seven years in jail for attacking a Grab driver and stealing his motorbike.
The government is stepping up efforts to combat fake news on social networks, information minister Nguyen Manh Hung has told the National Assembly.

Hung, the newly appointed Minister of Information and Communications, was among ministers questioned by legislators at a session Wednesday.

In response to a question regarding the spread of false information, culturally inappropriate images and fraudulent activities on the internet and social networks, he said it is a growing global issue plaguing both large countries such as the U.S. and small ones like Timor Leste.

"We have been living in cyberspace for only a decade, so we don't have much experience and the internet is still growing, but in real life we've had thousands of years in experience. So some logic from real life could be applied to cyberspace to tackle the issue of false information."

To achieve this Vietnam must first establish the legal definition of false information by amending laws and then set up a tool to monitor and analyze Vietnamese messages on social networks, he said. But since some 100 million such messages are sent daily, this task cannot be done manually and requires the help of technology, he said.

"The Ministry of Information and Communications has, as a first step, already set up a national center ... that can read, analyze, evaluate, and categorize 100 million messages a day."

Besides, authorities need a "garbage sweeping tool" to remove violating contents and should step up their efforts to persuade foreign social networks to comply with Vietnamese laws, especially with requests to remove content.

"We could learn from international experience, such as how the EU and some ASEAN nations have done it."

He concluded that Vietnam must resolutely enforce the rule of law and punish people for uploading false information online.

"Social networks are no longer virtual but are real, so we cannot not fight this battle. People and the government must spend more time in cyberspace; if the good increases, the bad will decrease.

"[We must] step up communication to the people that information on social networks is not censored and so they cannot blindly trust everything they read."

Around half of people in Vietnam are online. An April report by social media marketing and advertising agency We Are Social showed that Vietnamese are online seven hours a day and spend a daily average of 2.5 hours on social networks. Facebook and Google's YouTube are the most accessed sites with user ratios of 61 percent and 59 percent, respectively.

Hung, former CEO of military-run telecom giant Viettel, has been leading the information ministry since July in replacement of Truong Minh Tuan, suspended for violations in a TV acquisition deal. Hung's appointment was formalized last week during the ongoing National Assembly session.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in September, he also called for strong measures to manage social networks in Vietnam.

Vietnam needs to create its own networks to compete with other tech giants like Google and Facebook, and to force the foreign companies to comply with Vietnamese laws, he said.

He proposed that new policies are developed to facilitate the creation and growth of homegrown social networks, aiming to garner at least 60 million accounts and 60-70 percent of the social network markets pie in Vietnam by 2022.
Che lam, a traditional dessert for centuries, has acquired new looks and flavors from the ancient Duong Lam Village.

In Vietnam, che lam is delicacy that consistently remains under the radar of gourmet raves. Its main ingredients are similar everywhere it is made: sugar, malt, fresh ginger, roasted glutinous rice flour and peanuts.

But the residents of one of the oldest villages in the country, Duong Lam, have come up with several new variances of che lam by adding ingredients like gac fruit and pandan leaves, making it more fragrant, colorful and flavorful.

Duong Lam, in Hanoi's rural town of Son Tay, is about 44 kilometers to the northwest of the capital city's center.

Previously, people only made che lam for Tet (Lunar New Year holiday) or at the end of autumn, when harvest season was over and they had some spare time. But now, Duong Lam welcomes about 17,000 visitors every year, so they make che lam throughout the year as well. Visitors can actually learn how to make the dessert to take home or enjoy it on the spot.

The rice used to make che lam is the golden flower glutinous rice, one of best varieties in Vietnam, grown only in the north of the country. First, the rice is roasted and ground into a smooth flour. Then it is cooked with water, sugar and ginger, stirred continuously to get the mixture thick.

When the mixture is still hot, peanuts are added to give it a buttery, crunchy taste. The amount of rice flour in the mixture is important. If there is not enough rice flour, the che lam will be very sticky and soft. On the other hand, too much rice flour can make it hard as a rock.

When finished, the mixture is poured onto a tray of flour to avoid it from sticking to the tray and to add more fragrance. With the pandan che lam, the leaves are boiled and the water is added when making the mixture. With gac che lam, the fruits flesh needs to be cooked before it is added to the mixture. All of these steps take around 10 minutes.

The last thing to do is to sprinkle some roasted sesame on top.

After the mixture is left to cool for an hour, it is ready to be served.

People in Duong Lam Village wake up at 5 a.m. every day to make new batches of che lam to serve visitors. Normally, one batch can be kept for three to five days.

A good che lam must be a little bit soft and chewy, lightly sweet and gingery, carrying the fragrant flavors of pandan or gac and the richness of peanuts.

Its best to enjoy che lam on a windy day, when the weather starts getting colder, with some hot green tea to go with it.

A lot of visitors get car sick, so we give them some green tea and che lam to make it go away, and it really works. These people often buy more to take home because they are impressed with how effective it is, said Hung, a Duong Lam resident.
Thousands of people flocked the streets dressed up in elaborate costumes and wearing fearsome make-up

Halloween flushes out Saigons ghouls Saigon backpacker street goes all out for Halloween

The bustling scene at Saigon's walking street Bui Vien

In the evening of Wednesday, October 31, Bui Vien Street in District 1 had become Halloween Central. From 7:00 p.m, thousands had been thronging the area. The parking lots had maxed out and the huge crowds brought traffic to a halt, especially at the intersection with De Tham Street.

Since a week prior to Halloween, bars and restaurants in this backpacker area had already begun to put up ghoulish decorations.

Many people could be seen on the street sporting scary masks or with their face painted. This girl chose both.

Peter, a visitor from Australia, sported the Joker look.

Others, like this group of friends, opted for cute rather than scary.

Even staff at bars joined in the fun, like this ghostly bride and groom.

Tu, 22, who stands over 2 meters tall, was hired to play Poseidon. He said: I walked up and down Bui Vien Street, went into restaurants and took photos with customers all night. Halloween was an opportunity for me to earn some money."

On Nguyen Hue walking street in District 1 too there were many people, locals and foreign visitors

Adults and children alike embraced the western festival and dressed up in costumes for the night.

Some wore elaborate costumes and were the cynosure of all eyes.

The scarier the costume is and the more horrified people are, the more fun I have, Dung, 19, said.

Face painters offered their services on walking-only streets. Their prices ranged from VND50,000 to VND80,000 ($2.1 - 3.4).

A face takes roughly 15 minutes," 22-year-old Tan, one of the painters, said. "During Halloween I would paint around 200 faces.

Halloween, also called All Hallows Eve or All Saints Eve, is celebrated to remember the dead. Since its import into Vietnam 10 years ago, it has become one of the favourite festivals for young people.
Rangers release the baby turtles onto the beach and into the sea, where myriad predators await. Photos by AFP/Ye Aung Thu

Peril plagues the lives of Myanmar's baby turtles: if crabs don't get them before they scramble to sea, poachers or fishing trawlers might finish them off.

Myanmar's waters boast five of the world's seven sea turtle species, including the critically endangered hawksbill, the endangered green turtle and the olive ridley, leatherback and loggerhead turtles -- all listed as vulnerable.

Peril plagues the lives of Myanmar's baby turtles: if crabs don't get them before they scramble from beach to sea, then poachers or fishing trawlers might finish them off instead.

Myanmar's waters boast five of the world's seven sea turtle species, including the critically endangered hawksbill, the endangered green turtle and the olive ridley, leatherback and loggerhead turtles -- all listed as vulnerable.

"If we don't conserve the turtles properly, they will all disappear in the near future," head ranger Phone Maw tells AFP on Thameehla island in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta.

The 56-year-old has devoted most of the last two decades to the creatures, scouring the island's 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometre) long coastline three times a night for nesting females.

Ranger Phone Maw watches a staff member dig up turtle eggs in a protected area.

The reptiles, which can grow to more than a metre in length and weigh as much as a large piano, lay around 100 eggs in a hole dug with their hind flippers before covering the clutch with sand and returning to the water.

The 56-year-old has devoted most of the last two decades to the creatures, scouring the island's 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometre) long coastline three times a night for nesting females.

The reptiles, which can grow to more than a metre in length and weigh as much as a large piano, lay around 100 eggs in a hole dug with their hind flippers before covering the clutch with sand and returning to the water.

Poachers are the first danger, even at this conservation site dedicated to the marine reptiles.

Turtle eggs can sell for a dollar each, around 10 times the price of a chicken egg.

Crab gauntlet

So Phone Maw and his colleagues dig up the newly laid eggs and rebury them in a protected area until they hatch 50 to 60 days later.

Putting them back at the right depth is crucial.

Sea turtles have temperature-dependent sex determination -- warmer temperatures produce more females while cooler temperatures result in more males.

The reptiles can grow to more than a meter in length and weigh as much as a large piano.

Once hatched, the rangers release the baby turtles onto the beach and into the sea, where myriad predators await.

AFP watched as an army of red crabs scuttled to drag away some hatchlings while more fortunate siblings floundered to the frothy waters, the first hurdle of their existence complete.

But trawler nets are the biggest culprit in the turtles' dwindling population, entangling the creatures which must surface to breathe.

Illegal dynamite fishing and sand dredging are also lethal and the effect of marine pollution has been devastating.

Southeast Asia's waters are choked with plastic and more than half of the eight million tonnes dumped into the world's oceans each year comes from just five countries: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand.

Trawler nets kill large numbers of turtles, entangling them and leaving them unable to surface to breathe.

In June, a dead green turtle washed up on a Thai beach, its stomach jammed with plastic shreds, rubber bands and other debris.

Days before, an autopsy of a pilot whale revealed 80 plastic bags inside.

This week a WWF report warned that unbridled human consumption had destroyed much wildlife worldwide, wiping out 60 percent of all fish, birds, amphibians, mammals and reptiles in the last half century.

Just two out of every 1,000 turtle hatchlings used to survive until adulthood, Phone May says.

"Now it's even lower because of all the pollution," he adds sadly.
Ukraine to use in claims against Russia testimonies of ship captains about inspections in Sea of Azov

Such inspections by Russian coast guards are illegal, the deputy minister claims.

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Poroshenko urges Ukraine's parliament to speed up consideration of business ombudsman bill

This will add transparency and efficiency in protecting property rights in Ukraine.

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WOG builds some of gas stations, using Firtash's funds  media

Now Firtash's investment in WOG is estimated at US$200-250 million.

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Washington, D.C., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) is pleased to welcome Ms. Rachel Maleh as Executive Director of the nonprofit railroad safety education organization. Maleh has served as OLIs Interim Chief Operating Officer since February 2018.





Chair of the OLI Board of Directors Jo Strang says, Rachel Maleh is an accomplished senior executive who has helped lead the OLI team in her previous role. Her experience working with our state partners, and financial supporters, is invaluable. Im confident that her impressive skillset, and dedication to our mission, will lead to even greater success in this new position.

Ms. Malehs extensive experience in non-profit management and fundraising will be a great asset to our organization, says the Board of Directors Vice-Chair and Treasurer Mark Schulze. Were very pleased to have her lead OLI and deliver our important safety message.

Maleh runs a communications consulting firm in the greater D.C. area. Previously, she was the Deputy Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region of the American Heart Association.

Im looking forward to growing our safety effort, and expanding funding, so our valuable safety messages reach even more people, says Maleh. We have an excellent team in place to do so, working with established state programs across the county. I cant wait to get started.

Maleh has advanced degrees in International Relations and International Communications from Boston University, as well as a Master of Science in Marketing from Johns Hopkins University. Shes been honored to serve as a judge for numerous industry competitions.

Maleh succeeds Interim President Wende Corcoran who has helped lead OLI in various positions for two decades. Corcoran returns to her previous role of Vice President.

Maleh resides in Montgomery County, Maryland where she is an active volunteer for numerous groups.

About Operation Lifesaver - Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit public safety education and awareness organization dedicated to reducing collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail crossings and preventing trespassing on or near railroad tracks. A national network of trained volunteers gives presentations on rail safety and a public awareness campaign, See Tracks? Think Train! provides the public with tips and statistics to encourage safe behavior near the tracks. OLI leads an international observance of Rail Safety Week each September. Learn more about Rail Safety Week; follow OLI on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

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Attachments
NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The following statement is being issued by Levi & Korsinsky, LLP:



To: All Persons or Entities who purchased Newfield Exploration Company (Newfield or the Company) (NYSE: NFX) stock prior to November 1, 2018 .

You are hereby notified that Levi & Korsinsky, LLP has commenced an investigation into the fairness of the sale of Newfield to Encana Corporation (NYSE: ECA). Under the terms of the transaction, Newfield shareholders will receive 2.6719 Encana shares for each share of Newfield stock they own. The transaction is valued at approximately $5.5 billion, with Encana assuming $2.2 billion of Newfield net debt. To learn more about the action and your rights, go to:

https://www.zlk.com/mna/newfield-exploration-company

or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972. There is no cost or obligation to you.

The Newfield merger investigation concerns whether the Board of Newfield breached their fiduciary duties to stockholders by failing to adequately shop the Company before agreeing to enter into this transaction, and whether Encana Corporation is underpaying for Newfield shares, thus unlawfully harming Newfield shareholders.

Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, Connecticut, California, and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities lawsuits and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. For more information, please feel free to contact any of the attorneys listed below. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
I wasnt expecting the queen at my wedding. But there she was. Looking down on my partner and I in near life-sized proportions as we said our vows. Wed traveled 10 hours by bus, crossed a rain-swept airport by foot and seemingly entered a different world to get married. Or so it felt when we crossed into Gibraltar, a curious British wonderland in the south of Spain.

The amount of paperwork involved when getting married in Spain is Monty Pythonesque in its scale

So long tortillas and 11pm dinners, hello fish and chips and PG Tips tea. In one long walk wed gone from the old-school Spanish bars in La Linea de la Concepcion, with napkins thrown on the floor, cigarette vending machines and cranky barmen, to the red telephone booths and freshly baked scones of Gibraltar. For my Spanish partner, the contrast was particularly surprising.

So, why then did we  two people (one Australian, one Spaniard) who have zero relationship to England  decide to get married in Gibraltar? In a word, time.

We live in Madrid, where getting married can take months. First you need to book an appointment to hand in your paperwork, then you have to wait to be called back for an interview (yes, interview), then you have to wait for an available slot at the civil registry, if like us you wanted a simple ceremony. Its true that how long you have to wait depends whereabouts you live. If you are registered as a resident with a small city hall the process is much faster. But even so, the amount of paperwork involved is Monty Pythonesque in its scale. Faced with this bureaucratic rigmarole, we looked for another option. With a little research, we discovered that the waiting time to get married drops from six months to two days if you opt for The Rock, with just one bus ride, and a windy walk across an airport.

In Gibraltar, there are few requisites to get married. You need to provide a copy of your birth certificate, passport and request form ahead of time and present the copies one day before the ceremony. There is one interesting caveat: you need to prove that you will stay at least one night in Gibraltar, immediately before or after the ceremony. This can be at a hotel or at a locals house. But this was a small ask and Gibraltar was the fast, fuss-free option we were looking for.

You may now kiss the groom.

And it turns out we were not the only ones. According to 2015 statistics from the Gibraltar government, 85% of all marriages in Gibraltar were between foreigners. Back in 1984, the split was more even: 175 weddings were between Gibraltar residents compared with 223 for foreigners. But in 2015, the last year for which there are records, this divide jumps to 195 versus 1,098. (Keep in mind just over 32,000 people live in Gibraltar.)

Were all these couples looking for a way to sidestep Spains wedding bureaucracy? According to wedding planner Monica, from Hour Wedding Gibraltar, most people are attracted to the idea of Britain under the sun.

Its easy access from Britain, its easy access from the coast, she says. Its easy because you only have to stay in Gibraltar for one night.

Chamaine Cruz from Sweet Gibraltar Weddings says 25% of the 250 weddings organized a year are between Spanish nationals or Brits residing in Spain. She agrees the no-fuss process is a big draw. Unlike in Spain, there are no residency restrictions, and you can marry within 48 hours under a special license, she says. Gibraltars location is also an advantage, given it is strategically situated at the entrance to the Mediterranean yet only 2.5 hours from the UK.

John Lennon famously married Yoko Ono at the Gibraltar registry office in 1969

John Lennon famously married Yoko Ono at the registry office in 1969 (we stayed in the same hotel as they did) and while we were handing in our paperwork, there was a couple from Italy, a US marine and his fiancee and of course my partner and I getting ready to follow the Beatles example. Gibraltar is very popular, the registry is constantly busy, says Monica.

But will Brexit dampen this thriving industry? Monica hopes not and Chamaine is certain of it: Gibraltar was already a popular destination for weddings way before the EU was formed, so nothing is going to change after Brexit, she says.

We chose Gibraltar because it was easy. If this changes, its hard to imagine that the rocky outpost will have the same appeal. But whos to say. We came to Gibraltar to save time but were charmed by the monkeys, curries and seaside views.

During our ceremony we were told, from this day forward Gibraltar will be in your hearts forever. And perhaps thats true. Even if we only stayed for a night.
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
Eduard Sharmazanov: There is no difference in the takeover of the Police Patrol Regiment building, the attack against the Armenian border, and the attack on our soldier in Artsakh (video)

The NA Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov started his speech saying that amnesty is naturally a humanistic act. "Here, the opinions of me and my beloved authorities match," he said, adding that he has a reservation. "I have mentioned numerous times that the takeover of the Police Patrol Regiment building was an attack on Armenia. There is no difference in the takeover of the Police Patrol Regiment building, the attack against the Armenian border, and the attack on our soldier in Artsakh, there is no difference. Colonel Vanoyan, who was killed in the takeover of the Police Patrol Regiment building, defended us all, defending the interests of the Republic of Armenia, from Nikol Pashinyan to Eduard Sharmazanov. And today, with what eyes do we look at the families of those people, when the members of regiment are released by the amnesty act?"
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
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has approved the introduction of the mandatory liquidity requirement  liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) from December 1, 2018, the central bank has reported on its website.

The respective decision is approved by NBU Board resolution amending the rules of regulating activities of banks in Ukraine and resolution No. 732-rsh amending the rules of calculating liquidity coverage ratio (LCR). The documents will take effect on December 1, 2018.

The initial minimum requirement for LCR is set at 80%. Then it will be increased step by step in line with the following schedule: from June 1, 2019  to 90%, and from December 1, 2019  to 100%.

Banks will be required to calculate LCR on a daily basis starting December 1, 2018. The value of the LCR standards will be defined as a 30-day moving average. Thus, the first reporting date for LCR standards was determined December 31, 2018.

The LCR standard is set for all currencies, as well as separately for a group of foreign currencies. Banks will also calculate LCR in hryvnias, but the National Bank does not determine its minimum required value.

"The decision of the board takes into account the results of the LCR test calculations, which were conducted from June 1, 2018. In addition, the proposals of banks expressed during a number of meetings of NBU experts and representatives of the banking community were taken into account. In turn, the schedule developed by the NBU will allow banks to complete the preparation for work in the conditions of new liquidity requirements with comfort," the NBU said.

From January 2019, the National Bank will begin publishing information on the implementation of LCR in the context of banks in the same way as today data on the implementation of other standards by banks are published.
MONTREAL, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- I-MED Pharma Inc., a Canadian company specializing in dry eye diagnosis and management, is pleased to announce the signing of an exclusive distribution agreement with Iogen Oy for its I-DROP  and I-LID N LASH  product lines, as well as the I-RELIEF TM HOT & COLD THERAPY EYE MASK with THERMABEADS TM and the I-PEN  Tear Osmolarity System .

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/79e63011-9c51-4efd-955d-e5344050359d



I-MED Pharma continues to expand access of their cutting edge OSD line through a new distribution partnership with Iogen Oy in Finland. This is in alignment with the international growth strategy that the company has defined moving forward.



Tero Rinne, Chairman of the Board of Iogen Oy commented, "We are exceedingly happy about starting our cooperation with I-MED Pharma, whose category defining products will provide great value to Finnish ophthalmologists. The diagnostic platform will also allow us to better serve our patients with more accurate therapeutic planning."

Daniel Hofmann, President of I-MED Pharma stated, We are thrilled to be partnering with Iogen Oy, a company that shares our vision for providing both eye care professionals and dry eye patients with innovative, value-added products. We are excited that this partnership will allow for expanded access of our dry eye product line in the Finnish market and we look forward to working closely with Iogen Oy over the next several months to ensure a successful launch.

About I-MED Pharma

I-MED Pharma Inc. is a privately held Canadian company, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, servicing Canadian ophthalmologists, optometrists and the global eye care community. Established almost thirty years ago, I-MED Pharma creates and distributes innovative medical, surgical and veterinary eye care products worldwide. It continually researches, develops and sources the most effective and advanced solutions to eye disorders like cataracts, corneal degeneration, dry eye, glaucoma and meibomian gland dysfunction.

I-MED Pharma is proud to have been at the forefront of managing Dry Eye Syndrome as a serious disease and invests heavily into education and developing effective dry eye products. I-MED Pharmas ocular surface disease product range includes diagnostic tools, dry eye drops, ocular hygiene, nutrition and therapeutic accessories.

About Iogen Oy

Iogen Oy is the largest independent supplier in Finland for ophthalmic medical and surgical devices. The primary focus is on delivering innovations and high technology, complemented by customer-centric, consultative salesmanship based on true expertise. We are constantly looking for companies that fulfill our requirements of being innovative and bringing added value to our customers.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has diverted UAH 200 million foreseen for support of livestock breeding in 2018 to the program to cheapen loans for farmers.

According to an explanatory note to the draft resolution, a copy of which has been forwarded to Interfax-Ukraine, the funds would allow farmers to raise UAH 3 billion of loans.

According to the document, the government also redistributed funds between livestock support programs. The government sends UAH 15 million from the program to partially compensate the credit rates from credits taken to cover expenses in sheep, goat breeding, beekeeping and raising rabbits and other segments to the program to issue subsidies for keeping cows. Thus, the revised estimate for the first program was UAH 185 million and the subsidy for keeping cows  UAH 515 million.

In addition, the Cabinet of Ministers increased funding for the program to compensate for the construction and reconstruction of livestock farms, complexes and enterprises for processing agricultural products by UAH 0.5 billion (to UAH 1.7 billion), while reducing by almost 66% the compensation for loans for such construction (to UAH 400 million).
Russian sanctions were imposed against businessman Victor Pinchuk and his EastOne Group Ltd.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a resolution imposing special economic measures on 322 individuals and 68 legal entities. The resolution imposes special economic measures, such as blocking [freezing] of accounts and deposits, uncertified securities, and assets in the territory of Russia, and a ban on transferring funds [exporting capital] from Russia.

The Russian Finance Ministry has the right to grant temporary permits for operations with respect to legal entities subject to the special economic measures.

The full list of sanctioned individuals and legal entities (in Russian) can be found at http://static.government.ru/media/files/AHKW1WfDGrhdKbhzH1dkMLZM8gchGjla.pdf
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine deputy (People's Front faction) Anton Gerashchenko has said Ukraine should introduce new point sanctions aimed at the economic interests of Russian President Vladimir Putin, businessmen and officials from his entourage.

Regarding new Russian sanctions against Ukrainian individuals and companies, Gerashchenko said: "The list is composed, in my opinion, of three groups: Political and public leaders who are really fighting against Russian aggression, Ukrainian businessmen who have property in Russia and in the territory of the occupied Ukrainian Crimea and Donbas, and persons who are agents of Russia in Ukrainian politics and economics who want to be 'legalized' before the parliamentary elections," Gerashchenko said on Facebook.

According to him, for persons sanctioned who do not have assets and the need to travel to Russia on personal or commercial matters, the Russian sanctions are "rather symbolic."

"This will be a real problem for businessmen and politicians who have property in the occupied Crimea and Donbas. Their property will be frozen and confiscated," the deputy said.

Gerashchenko said in response to the package of Russian sanctions, Ukraine "needs to introduce new precise sanctions aimed at the economic interests of Putin, Russian businessmen and officials from his closest circle."

"We must begin with the confiscation of the property of those deputies and senators who voted for the annexation of Crimea in March 2014. Ukraine's SBU Security Service and the National Security and Defense Council know whom I am referring to," he said.
Naftogaz Ukrainy CEO Andriy Kobolev has been put on the list of individuals against whom sanctions of the Russian government were imposed in pursuance of the decree of the president on application of special economic measures over unfriendly Ukrainian actions towards citizens and legal entities of the Russian Federation.

"I am not ready to comment on my inclusion in the Russian sanction list, as I did not have and do not have assets there. I am not planning to travel to Sochi," he wrote on his Facebook page.

The list also includes President and majority shareholder of the Galnaftogaz Concern (including the OKKO filling station network) Vitaliy Antonov, co-owner of the Continuum group of companies (including the WOG filling station network) Stepan Ivakhiv and the owner of the large private gas producing group Burisma, Mykola Zlochevsky.

The list also includes acting Head of the parliamentary committee on fuel and energy complex Oleksandr Dombrovsky; businessman Konstantin Grigorishin (Energy Standard Group); and Smart Holding CEO Oleksiy Pertin.
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) does not expect that the sanctions imposed by the Russian Federation would considerably affect macroeconomic stability of the country.

"How will this affect the macrofinancial stability? I want to believe in no way. Most of the sanctions are applied to natural persons, respectively, they relate to blocking non-cash funds, assets, and securities - everything that is on the accounts of banks in Russia. Considering that the list is mainly composed of people's deputies, state officials, I want to believe that they do not keep money in Russia after the Russian military aggression. If we talk about legal entities, there is only Bank Credit Dnepr among the banks. Again, I hope that the bank does not have any operations with the Russian Federation," First Deputy Governor of the NBU Kateryna Rozhkova said, answering to the question of Interfax-Ukraine during the BEPSinUA forum in Kyiv.

At the same time, she added that the central bank will be able to provide a more serious assessment later, after a detailed analysis of the persons included in the sanction list.

Speaking about possible counter sanctions, Rozhkova recalled that Ukraine imposed sanctions against the Russian Federation in 2017.
PJSC Azot (Cherkasy), PrJSC Rivneazot, PrJSC UkrAgro NPK (distribution of mineral fertilizers) of Dmytro Firtash, PJSC Dniproazot of Ihor Kolomoisky, state-run PJSC Sumykhimprom have been placed to the list of legal entities against which the Russian government imposed sanctions.

Along with producers of nitrogen fertilizers, the list also includes enterprises involved in titanium production. Along with Sumykhimprom, the list includes PSC United Mining-Chemical Company, its branches Vilnohirsk Mining and Metallurgical Combine (Dnipropetrovsk region) and Irshansk Mining and Processing Combine (Zhytomyr region), as well as Mezhyrichensk Mining and Concentration Complex LLC and Valki Ilmenite LLC.

As reported, Ukraine in 2017 increased exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrate in kind by 26% compared with 2016, to 583,772 tonnes, in monetary terms - by 25.3%, to $105.235 million. The main exports were to the Czech Republic (16.87% of supplies in monetary terms), the United States (15.46%) and Turkey (14.68%).
Germany will issue EUR 2 million to Ukraine to create centers of excellence, German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel has said.

"We are trying to provide support in the matter of cooperation for the sake of development, as well as economic assistance ... This contribution is also important. Given the difficult budget situation, we are talking about attracting investment, we are saying that we will provide assistance of EUR 2 million to create centers of excellence That is, peculiar innovation clusters will be created, since this issue is one of the most important," Merkel said at a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman in Kyiv.

She also noted that a German expert had been sent to Ukraine to assist in the improvement of decentralization.
Ukrainian businessman Viktor Pinchuk has announced that the fact that his name and his company EastOne Group Ltd (London) and his Bank Credit Dnipro (Kyiv) have been included in the list of individuals and businesses on which the Russian government imposed sanctions is an expected course of events.

"I deeply regret to say that such a form of treatment is of no astonishment. This is a natural course of events, a development in relations between our two countries. For us, this [the sanctions] is, of course, unpleasant but absolutely natural, and no sanctions and no losses will be able to stop us," he told Interfax-Ukraine, speaking on the sidelines of the opening of the first joint space for non-governmental organizations working in veteran affairs, named Veteran Hub.

The businessman said that the sanctions will most likely cause discomfort and bring losses; however, they cannot be compared to "the losses and sacrifices experienced by people who are going to the front."

As was earlier reported, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on November 1 signed a resolution to introduce special economic measures against certain individuals and legal entities in Ukraine.

The sanctions will affect 322 individuals and 68 legal entities.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was not as critical as Kyiv about the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and was in favor of Ukraine preserving its transit role after 2019.

"We know that Ukraine is against this project. I am less critical about the project and I am in favor of Ukraine having guarantees, that Ukraine will preserve its transit role," she said at a meeting with the Ukrainian parliament speaker, Andriy Parubiy, and the heads of parliamentary groups in Kyiv.

She noted that the negotiations on Nord Stream 2 are being conducted with both Russia and the European Commission.

"The matter concerns creating a transit agreement. We want Ukraine to remain an important transit country," Merkel emphasized.

The chancellor noted that in addition to North Stream there is also TurkStream.

"Thus, gas flows are expanding from Russia to the European Union, but this does not mean that we want to reject the transit role of Ukraine. I think that gas transit revenues are extremely important for the budget of Ukraine," she said.

Merkel noted that Berlin "very seriously" considers the strategic opinion of Ukraine on the issue of Nord Stream 2.

"We want to see Ukraine as a partner with respect to transit," she said.

Prior to this, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy called on Merkel to study in more detail the arguments of Ukraine against the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

"The construction of Nord Stream 2 could bring imbalance and threaten the security of not only Ukraine but the entire European space. And this is the position of the Ukrainian parliament. I would ask that the arguments of the Ukrainian side be studied more in detail," Parubiy said during a meeting with the German chancellor in Kyiv.

The speaker called for supporting the position of the Ukrainian parliament on the Nord Stream 2 issue.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman expects that Ukraine and Germany could reach trade turnover of EUR 10 billion per year.

"German businesses are increasingly coming to work to Ukraine, and our bilateral trade is growing systematically. I think that in the near future we could have a turnover of about EUR 10 billion in bilateral trade," Groysman said at a meeting with German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kyiv.
Goodman & Nekvasil, P.A. Law Office Announces a $360,800 FINRA Arbitration Award against Wells Fargo



CLEARWATER, Fla., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Goodman & Nekvasil, P.A., announces they have won a $360,800 FINRA arbitration award against Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC ("Wells Fargo") on behalf of Kathryn A. Schmierer, f/k/a Kathryn A. Pearson ("Schmierer"), formerly a resident of Fargo, North Dakota.

Ms. Schmierer alleged that in 2011 and 2012, Raymond Kvalvog ("Kvalvog"), then the branch manager for Wells Fargo's Fargo, North Dakota branch office, recommended that she invest a significant amount of her net worth in "junk bonds". Ms. Schmierer, a 67 year old unemployed divorcee, alleged that these recommendations were unsuitable for her because Kvalvog knew that she was living on the income from her Wells Fargo account, virtually all of her savings were in her Wells Fargo account, and Ms. Schmierer could not afford to risk these monies.

Ms. Schmierer also alleged that Kvalvog misrepresented these junk bonds as safe investments, failed to disclose the risks involved in these investments, and that Kvalvog did not himself understand these investments. Ms. Schmierer sought compensatory damages of $172,000.

The arbitration panel found Wells Fargo liable for securities fraud and common law fraud and also found evidence of breach of fiduciary duty and gross negligence in the handling of Ms. Schmierer's accounts. The panel awarded $360,800 to Ms. Schmierer, which included $100,000 in punitive damages, $68,800 in attorney's fees, $172,000 in compensatory damages, and $20,000 in costs.

"The arbitration panel was influenced by a number of factors, including Ms. Schmierer's lack of investment experience and investment knowledge, Kvalvog's completion of a new account form for Ms. Schmierer that contained materially inaccurate information concerning her financial situation and investment experience, and Kvalvog's sale of more than $2 million in Quicksilver Resources, Inc. ("Quicksilver") notes to Ms. Schmierer and other investors from Wells Fargo's inventory right after Standard & Poor's issued a highly negative research report on Quicksilver's outlook," opined Kalju Nekvasil, Esq., of Goodman & Nekvasil, P.A., the Clearwater, Florida, law firm representing Ms. Schmierer. "Brokerage firms must deal fairly with investors," says Nekvasil.

On September 28, 2018, another client of Goodman & Nekvasil, P.A., Robert J. Anderson of Moorhead, Minnesota was awarded $75,383.75 by a FINRA arbitration panel against Wells Fargo and Kvalvog. Mr. Anderson alleged that Wells Fargo and Kvalvog recommended that he invest $150,000 in a Quicksilver note and falsely represented that this was a safe investment. Mr. Anderson also alleged that this investment recommendation was unsuitable for him because he wanted only safe investments.

Important Contact Information

Attorney for Schmierer and Anderson

Kalju Nekvasil, Esq.

Goodman & Nekvasil, P.A.

4585 140th Avenue North, Suite 1010

P.O. Box 17709

Clearwater, FL 33762

727-524-8486 (office)

727-524-8786 (fax)

727-288-6581 (cell)

Email address: gnmain@gnfirm.com Attorney for Wells Fargo

Demian J. Betz, Esq.

Vice President & Senior Counsel

Wells Fargo Law Department

MAC D1053-300

301 South College Street, 30th Floor

Charlotte, NC 28202

Direct: 704-383-9577

Fax: 336-796-8674

Cell: 704-305-9425

Demian.Betz@wellsfargoadvisors.com

Attorney for Raymond Kvalvog

Michael E. Rowe, Esq.

J. David Jackson, Esq.

Dorsey & Whitney, LLP

50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500

Minneapolis, MN 55402-1498

612-340-2600

Rowe Direct: 612-492-6724

Fax: 612-340-2868

Jackson.J@dorsey.com

rowe.michael@dorsey.com




Owner and President of DCH Oleksandr Yaroslavsky, included in the Russian sanctions list, considers the introduction of restrictive economic measures by the government of the Russian Federation to be a political issue.

"This is a political issue. And I do not deal with politics. My issues are budgets and wages in my companies, taxes that we pay, social projects," reads a statement on DCH's website.

As reported, Russia has put the largest Ukrainian businessmen, including Yaroslavsky, on the sanctions list.

At the same time, sanctions were also imposed on the companies belonging to DCH, in particular, INGO Ukraine insurance company and Kharkiv Tractor Plant.
Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger believes that the United States and the European Union ought to join negotiations on settling the conflict in the south-east of Ukraine.

The U.S. and the EU as a whole should be represented at this negotiating table, Ischinger told reporters in Minsk on Thursday.

Broadening or altering the format of talks on Ukraine could help settle the situation, he said, adding that progress would actually be achieved when there was both sides' political will for that.

An election campaign is currently under way in Ukraine, and one should not expect any headway to be made in this process until it is over, Ischinger said.

Innovative proposals that were put forth by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Wednesday may give a fresh impetus to these talks and bring more energy into them, he said.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has proposed considering the deployment of a joint UN-OSCE peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.

"We need to continue to look for a mutually acceptable solution to the deployment of peacekeepers in Donbas. Perhaps it makes sense to consider the deployment of a joint UN and OSCE mission in Ukraine," Lukashenko said at a Munich Security Conference Core Group Meeting in Minsk on Wednesday.

This mission could comprise military service members, police members, and civilian personnel from countries that have been contributing as much as they can to the conflict's resolution, he said.

"It must be ensured that this mission is deployed in a phased manner," Lukashenko said.

Lukashenko also proposed deploying a technical office of the Trilateral Contact Group for Ukraine in Minsk. "We stand ready to consider the establishment of a technical office of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk," he said.

Lukashenko said he believes no one has been able to handle the conflict in southeastern Ukraine so far.

"We have to admit now that nobody has been able to resolve the problem of ending the hostilities in southeastern Ukraine. Neither the Normandy Quartet, nor the Trilateral Contact Group, nor the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, nor the Volker-Surkov format," he said.

"Let's be honest: a solution to the conflict in Donbas could have been found long ago if desired. It's necessary to keep on working to empower the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and the Trilateral Contact Group," he said.

"It is important to complement the diplomatic dialogue with interrelations between parliamentarians, members of regional administrations, civil society and experts," he said.
Ukraine will close airspace over the Black Sea in Kherson region for several days this week due to tests of intermediate-range missiles, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force Dmytro Strutynsky said.

"The Ukrainian Air Force is starting flight tests of intermediate-range missiles for its air defense systems in Kherson region," Strutynsky told Interfax-Ukiraine on Wednesday evening.

The tests will be carried out "during this week, until Sunday," presumably from November 1 through November 4, but an official statement on their beginning and the closure of airspace is to be made on Thursday, he said.
Ukraine and Qatar have completed all the formalities for a start of a full-fledged visa-free regime on November 2, 2018, Interior Minister of Ukraine Arsen Avakov has said.

The simplification of the visa-free regime was discussed at the meeting between Avakov and Qatar Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani in Doha, the press service of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine said on Wednesday.

In addition, Ukraine strengthens cooperation with Qatar in law enforcement, in particular the joint fight against cybercrime.

"New world - new challenges. We will create a strong chain of competent players in the field of cyber security and will become stronger together. Now we are effectively and in-depth working with the U.S., Canada, Germany and, despite the distance, with Australia. In addition, we have strong contacts with Europol and Interpol. In your region, we want to rely on work with your country," said Avakov.

The message notes that Ukraine will also help Qatar in the training of law enforcement specialists, in particular, will share the experience of training police special forces.

As reported, on March 20, 2018, an agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the State of Qatar on the mutual abolition of visa requirements was signed in the wake of talks between Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The agreement stipulates that citizens of Ukraine and citizens of the State of Qatar who use passports for traveling abroad valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the state of the other Party may enter, leave, transit and stay without a visa on its territory for up to 90 days within 180 days.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a resolution imposing special economic measures on Ukrainian individuals and legal entities.

The sanctions will apply to 322 individuals and 68 legal entities.

The resolution imposed special economic measures, such as blocking [freezing] of accounts and deposits, uncertified securities, and assets in the territory of Russia, and a ban on transferring funds [exporting capital] from Russia.

Judges of the Ukrainian Constitutional Court, deputies of the 8th Verkhovna Rada, major Ukrainian businessmen, members of the Ukrainian presidential administration, heads of Ukrainian executive authorities, and executives of big Ukrainian companies will fall under sanctions.

The blacklisted legal entities are controlled by major Ukrainian businessmen.
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko will pay an official visit to Turkey on November 3-4, during which he will take part as a co-chairman at a meeting of the high-level strategic council, the presidential press service has reported.

"The 7th meeting of the high-level strategic council will be held in Istanbul on November 3 under the chairmanship of the presidents of Ukraine and Turkey. The agenda of the event involves discussion of key issues of bilateral political dialogue, the current state and prospects for the development of Ukrainian-Turkish cooperation in trade and economic, scientific technical, military-industrial, energy, transport, cultural, humanitarian, educational and tourist spheres," the message reads.

Poroshenko will hold separate talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

It is planned that the head of the Ukrainian state will open a memorial plaque on the former building of the UNR diplomatic mission (1919-1922), visit Istanbul University, where there is a department of the Ukrainian language and literature, and open an exhibition of archival documents dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Ukrainian-Turkish diplomatic relations.

As part of his visit to Turkey, Poroshenko will also visit Antalya, where he will participate in the inauguration ceremony of the Ukrainian Consulate in Antalya and the Ukrainian House culture center.
Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko notes that the sanctions list against Ukrainian politicians and businessmen, introduced by the Russian government, is not worth discussing and will not intimidate anyone in Ukraine.

"Frankly, I would not attach value to this list. I think that it is not worth discussing it seriously. We are on our own land, with our own laws and with our rights. And what the Kremlin puppets think about it I am least interested in. At least, until they leave our territories," said Lutsenko, speaking at the Catholic University in Lviv on Thursday.

Lutsenko said that he had not been to the Russian Federation since the 1990s and does not plan to visit this country.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has described Russia's sanctions on Ukrainian individuals and legal entities as Moscow's attempt to affect Ukraine in the run-up to elections in the country.

"Even an absolutely superficial analysis of Russia's so-called sanctions list and the time of its publication indicates the start of a multi-episode soap opera to try to influence Ukraine in the run-up to the elections and after them. But in fact this is not even the first episode, this is only a teaser," Klimkin wrote on Facebook.

Russia's list does not include Klimkin or his deputies.
Live-fire shooting exercises and approval air trials of surface-to-air missiles of medium and small ranges started in the state firing range Yahorlyk in Kherson region on November 1. They are being carried out within Ukraine's airspace only, in keeping with all the norms of international law.

"Live-fire shootings are being carried out exclusively in Ukraine's airspace, over an open sea, with strict adherence to all the norms of international law," the command of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has written in a post on their page on Facebook.

As part of the arrangements for live shootings, the dimensions of the danger launch area in the northwestern part of the Black Sea area have been specified, as a result of which there are no threats. Also, all the risks have been calculated and all the safety measures have been taken to ensure that the actual phase of the firings is secure.

The airspace restriction zone was specified on a temporary basis (UKD-200 A, B, C). In addition, the timeframe and flying altitudes in which flights are banned have been announced. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has been properly informed. Also, relevant requests and aviation alerts have been sent to Ukraerocenter.

"Any attempts to interfere with [the exercises] and accuse the Ukrainian party in creating threats against the population and infrastructure facilities in the area in which the live firings of surface-to-air cruise missiles are to be carried out can only be done for provocation purposes," the command said.

Crews of military aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, radio engineering troops, communications troops and unmanned aircraft units of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as air defense units of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, are involved in the exercises.

As part of the exercises, in order to acquire combat experience in the use of anti-aircraft missile systems and test the quality of restored ammunition, combat teams of the units involved have to work on practical tasks meant for combat (and simulated) launches of anti-aircraft cruise missiles using airborne targets  unmanned aerial vehicles.
Denver, CO, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PCL Construction welcomes Deron Brown to the role of president and chief operating officer, US Operations. Deron takes over responsibility for PCLs US buildings and civil operations from Shaun Yancey, who will retire in February of 2019. Deron is also a member of the PCL Board of Directors and joins the Office of the CEO, which provides PCLs top senior executive management and leadership.

With over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, Deron brings with him passion and a wealth of knowledge, said Dave Filipchuk, PCLs president and CEO. His leadership has been instrumental in growing the US operations, and his drive for innovation will ensure that PCL remains a leader.

Deron joined PCL in 1996 as a project engineer in the Orlando office and shortly after, became vice president and district manager, directing PCLs southeast building operations. Hes worked on iconic theme parks throughout his career, which has led to the creation of lasting relationships with PCLs high-value clients. As Deron transitioned to a senior management role at PCLs US Head Office in Denver in 2012, he shifted his focus to advancing innovation and technology in the construction industry.

In 2018, Deron was named a Top 25 Newsmaker by Engineering News-Record (ENR) for his leadership in the creation of PartsLab, an Autodesk Revit add-in that automates the process of changing virtual models and allows multiple collaborators access. Deron made the decision to share the PCL product with the construction industry free of charge in the hope of revolutionizing the way the industry creates and manages construction documentation.

Deron exemplifies the qualities of a visionary, and I believe his strong relationship-building skills will allow him to take PCLs US Operations to a new level of success, said Shaun Yancey.

Along with Derons passion for technology and innovation, hes committed to making a difference throughout his community. Hes served on many boards, including that of the Edgewood Childrens Ranch in Orlando, an organization aimed at changing the direction of troubled childrens futures, and the Parent Development Board for Student Affairs at Auburn University; he was Tocqueville chair for the Heart of Florida chapter of United Way. Deron is currently a Tocqueville member of Mile High United Way in Denver and a board member of the Make a Wish Foundation of Colorado.

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About PCL Construction

PCL is a group of independent construction companies that carries out work across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and in Australia. These diverse operations in the civil infrastructure, heavy industrial, and buildings markets are supported by a strategic presence in 31 major centers. Together, these companies have an annual construction volume of more than $6 billion, making PCL one of the largest contracting organizations in North America. Watch us build at PCL.com.

Attachment
German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel declares her position as to the support of the extension of the sanctions imposed by the European Union on the Russian Federation.

"Germany will stand for the extension of the sanctions," Merkel said at a joint briefing with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko after their meeting in Kyiv on Thursday.

Yet, the German chancellor said the sanctions could be relaxed if there was progress in resolving the situation in Donbas.

"It has been said at the press conference that the Minsk agreements are not being fulfilled. If something [positive] happens, it is only a millimeter. There is a rollback from time to time... Unfortunately, there is no stable truce and soldiers are dying. We need to intensify the [ceasefire] efforts," Merkel said.
Leonid Kuchma, the second President of Ukraine (from 1994 to 2005) has said that it is very unlikely that the United States will get involved in talks in Minsk to settle down the situation in Donbas.

"I don't think something will come out of it. But the proposal is a good one. The fact that [President Alexander] Lukashenko [of Belarus] has come up with such a proposal [is welcome], and I would like to thank him for that," Kuchma told journalists in Kharkiv on November 1.

At the same time, he called to use all the opportunities available. "If there is an opportunity to invite someone else, I will be most happy. However, I don't think that someone will be willing [to step in]. Do you really think that Trump will wish it? He must be thanked for Kurt Volker doing a very big positive job for Ukraine. However, there will be nothing else. They will respond that they have been already involved," Kuchma explained his stance.

Also, he doubted that the European Union can be involved in the Minsk format. "If the European Union wishes to support Ukraine, it does not need to enter this format as it has already got all the opportunities to do everything that is needed. Let them just do it. But you can see how big contradictions are within the European Union. And there is no need to hope that it will assign a commissioner to take the actual part [in the talks]," Kuchma said.

As was earlier reported, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus on October 31 said there is a need to get the United States involved in the talks to settle down the situation in Donbas.

On November 1 Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference, said that the United States and the EU must get involved in the negotiations to settle down the conflict in the south-east of Ukraine.
If parliamentary elections were held in Ukraine right now, the Batkivshchyna Party would garner more votes than any other party or bloc of parties, as seen from a public opinion poll conducted jointly by the Social Monitoring public opinion survey service, the Oleksandr Yaremenko Ukrainian Institute of Social Studies, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology and the Rating sociological group, which presented their findings at the Interfax office in Kyiv on Thursday.

In particular, 13.9% of the respondents would vote for Batkivshchyna, 7.2% for the Opposition Bloc, 6.9% for Civic Position, 6.4% for the People's Servant party, 5.9% for the Petro Poroshenko Solidarity Bloc, and 5.2% for the Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko.

No other parties would overcome the 5% election threshold, the poll showed.

The party For Life would be supported by 3.5% of those polled, Samopomich by 3.3%, Svoboda by 2.2%, the Agrarian Party and UKROP by 1.1% each, and other parties would garner less than 1% of the vote.

Another 2.4% of the respondents would vote for some other party, 20.3% were undecided, and 14.7% would not vote.

Among those who have decided for whom to vote and are determined to vote, 21.4% would vote for Batkivshchyna, 11.3% for the Opposition Bloc, 10.5% for Civic Position, 9.8% for People's Servant, 9.1% for the Petro Poroshenko Solidarity Bloc, 8.1% for Radical Party, 5.4% for the party For Life, 5% for Samopomich, and 3.4% for Svoboda.

As many as 72.3% of those polled are determined or inclined to cast their ballots in parliamentary elections, while 21.9% are not planning or are not inclined to do so.

The poll of 13,684 respondents was conducted in all regions of Ukraine except Russian-annexed Crimea and the Russian-occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions on September 28 to October 16.

Parliamentary elections in Ukraine are scheduled for October 2019.
All the internally displaced persons who have left Donbas to live in other regions of Ukraine should be allowed to vote in the elections in Donbas that are stipulated by Minsk agreements meant to settle down the situation in the east of Ukraine, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said.

Speaking with students of the Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University on November 1, when asked whether it is possible to expect that part of territories in Donbas, which are currently beyond control of the Ukrainian authorities, can be reclaimed in two to three years time, she said that "the Minsk agreements are showing the way how to reach that. And, first of all, a ceasefire must be reached there. Then decent, legitimate, and fair elections must be arranged there with the help of OSCE observers."

"Of course, all the parties must take part in those elections, and internally displaced persons must be given an opportunity to take part in the vote. Even those who no longer live there and have left [for other places]," the German politician said.

At the same time, Merkel said that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission must get access to the entire region, and now "they are having big problems with that." "And after those elections, a structure may appear that will represent people's will in that region," she said.

Speaking further, she reiterated that the illegitimate elections that are scheduled for November 11 to be held in certain parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions that are beyond the control of the Ukrainian authorities cannot be recognized: "Some elections have been planned there for November 11. They cannot be recognized as this will aggravate the situation."

The politician also said that the Minsk plan envisages an amnesty and this "should be taken into consideration so that no-one would be willing to take revenge" there.

"With the Minsk agreements, we have been able to devise a plan, a difficult one; however, at present, I cannot see a better one. It aims to allow Ukraine to regain control of the entire territory towards the border with Russia," Merkel concluded.
On October 29 members of the UNIC Integrity Network exchanged practical business cases and tools for efficient implementation of compliance during UNIC Members Get-Together: Integrity Connects Business meeting. Among the speakers were the representatives of the companies Kyivstar, Myronivskyi Hliboprodukt, YouControl, Ethicontrol, Sandoz, Arricano.

Compliance is relevant for various business units immediately affecting the general model of management in each company. For example, in Arricano company compliance is associated with reputation, which allows to interact effectively both within the company and with partners, financial institutions and governmental authorities. The representatives of "Myronivskyi Hliboprodukt" shared their conclusions about influence of business reputation and existing practices over the prospects for formation of international relations and entering new markets. In Kyivstar compliance is an integrated part of educational HR programs for employees and partners.

Olena Obukhivska, communications manager at Arricano, presented the communication case of cooperation of the company with the UNIC Integrity Network. "The principles of integrity of UNIC correlate with the philosophy and the corporate principles of Arricano. Therefore, our company was one of the first to support UNIC at the stage of formation. During 2017-2018 we continued to develop non-government collaboration in the field of compliance

Integrity is the law in action and a confident reasonable personal position of the company, employees and partners. This is trust-based people2people relationship. Using the example of Arricano, one can understand how to work together, generating new ideas of compliance, gaining additional reputational benefits and increasing ratings of mentioning in mass media. After all, both representatives of UNIC and of Arricano company have something to tell the media market and the business community of Ukraine, Olena commented.

"We are grateful to the invited speakers for their willingness to share their experience in the field of promotion and development of business ethics. It is interesting to note that various business units are involved into this process. Therefore, lawyers, PR managers, marketing specialists, business consultants and business advisers discussed the best practices and tools in compliance. Synergy of different ideas and experiences is a great environment for new discoveries and inspirations," Anna Herasymchuk, Head of the UNIC Secretariat is sure.

Mykhailo Merkulov, CEO of Arricano, noted that the initiative proposed by the Business Ombudsmans Council to integrate the business community of Ukraine into a single Network of Integrity and Compliance a year ago has become a tool for business interaction and a practical educational platform. "Today we are witnessing the desire of many companies to reach a new level of business cooperation. Thats why, the idea of business compliance has been harmoniously accepted by the corporate sector and is increasingly affecting the development of relations with potential investors, partners and consumers," CEO Arricano said. "And this, in turn, raises the reputational rating of Ukraine in the world, while if the country's business community declared its intention to be respectable, this means that a trust marker has appeared. This is a signal to the state that the business is interested in creating and developing a positive image of the state."
An Iranian Parliamentary official says financial corruption is widespread "in all of the ministries of the Iranian government."

Amir Khojasteh, MP and chairman of the parliamentary group for combating financial corruption has accused "some state officials" of "spreading corruption" and failing to curb it while it was still possible to do so, alluding that the situation is beyond rescue.

At the same time, in the latest cases of financial corruption two local officials were arrested on charges of embezzlement and bribery on Thursday October 31.

Addressing the ministers of President Hassan Rouhani's cabinet, Khojasteh said, "There is widespread corruption in all of the ministries and that is where combating corruption should start," The Parliament's news agency, ICANA, quoted him as saying.

Earlier, Vice-President Es'haq Jahangiri had said that "corruption is so widespread that it has reached some top state officials."

In a reference to the fact that well-connected individuals receive special treatment at government offices, Khojasteh pointed out that corruption among government officials has engulfed the banks and the customs administration where some individuals benefit from special privileges.

He called on cabinet ministers to start combating financial corruption from their own offices regardless of corrupt individuals' political affiliation.

Former MP, Ahmad Tavakoli had said earlier that there was systematic financial corruption in the Islamic Republic, charging that the "Children of many state officials are financially corrupt."

However, in the past, parliament speaker Ali Larijani and his brother Judiciary Chief Sadeq Amoli Larijani had ruled out systematic corruption in the Islamic Republic.

This comes while in two recent cases on Thursday October 31, the chairman of Mining and Industry Organization of Northern Khorasan province was arrested on charges of embezzlement, and the local governor of Chabahar in Sistan and Baluchistan province has been jailed for taking bribe, Iranian Labor News Agency, ILNA, reported.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei previously called for more serious punishments for corrupt officials. This is contrary to his advice to the media about "not making a fuss about corruption."

The fact that many senior officials are openly speaking about corruption could signal a desire from the top to unmask and clamp down on some corrupt officials, to show concern at a time when economic hardship has drastically reduced living standards for ordinary Iranians.

During repeated popular protests this year people came out accusing the regime of corruption. Now, with U.S. sanctions making the situation more volatile, the Islamic Republic needs to placate public anger and reduce the chances for more mass unrest.

But whether the anti-corruption slogans by officials is too little, too late to be convincing, remains to be seen.

MP Gholam Ali Jafarzadeh Imanabadi has recently pointed out that "corruption in Iran is so widespread that the law cannot do anything about it."

Imanabadi has said in a controversial equivocal remark that "Combating financial corruption had better start from the Supreme Leader's office." It is not clear whether he meant Khamenei should be the flag-bearer of anti-corruption measures, or he wanted Khamenei to combat corruption in his own office.

Outspoken regime insider turned critic Abolfazl Qadiani has accused the Islamic Republic of "A widespread, deep-rooted financial corruption unprecedented in Iran's modern history, and systematic plundering of public assets by regime officials," and called for "reforming the laws that give way to despotism, and putting an end to tyranny," as the "definitive solution to Iran's problems."

In a highly critical open letter released in the Summer of 2018, Qadiani said, "Ayatollah Khamenei chants slogans in support of social justice, but gives hefty privileges to individuals close to him or linked to his office in order to buy their loyalty," warning that that the practice destroys productive economic activity.

The latest ranking by the International Transparency Organization has put Iran in the 131st position in terms of economic corruption among 178 countries.

According to the ITO, the Islamic republic is 113 steps more corrupt than the United Arab Emirates, 56 steps than Turkey and stands 23 points lower than Egypt.
Baku, Azerbaijan, November 1

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

The sixth meeting of the Commission on Legal Affairs and International Relations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-speaking States (TurkPA) was held in the Parliament of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Parliament said in a statement November 1.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Ismet Ucma, Chairman of the TurkPA Commission on Legal Affairs and International Relations and member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and was attended by representatives of the parliaments of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey, as well as experts.

Ucma noted the importance of the fact that over the past ten years, the cooperation between the fraternal countries has been expanded at the parliamentary level.

"On November 20 of this year, the 10th anniversary of TurkPA will be celebrated in Izmir," he said.

The chairman of the commission expressed hope that the work carried out over ten years could become a road map for further activities.

Then the Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament Javanshir Feyziyev and the Secretary General of TurkPA Altynbek Mamaiusupov made speeches.

The meeting discussed the "Financial Status of the Secretariat of TurkPA", "Regulations on Medals for Merit and Medal Certificates", "Summary Report on Developing a joint Position on the Anti-Terrorism Legislation of the Member States of TURKPA", etc.
Details added (first version posted on 12:19)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

As a result of Armenias non-constructive position, the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is being delayed, Head of the Azerbaijani State Security Service, Colonel General Madat Guliyev said.

Guliyev, who is also the chairman of the Azerbaijan State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Citizens, made the remarks at a meeting of the commission in Baku on Nov. 1.

Thanks to cooperation with international organizations, in particular with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 1,480 prisoners and hostages were released, he added. But according to the ICRCs information, 871 Azerbaijani citizens are still among hostages and in captivity.

According to the information, Armenians tell prisoners and hostages that they "fully occupied Azerbaijan" and that "such a country no longer exists," exert psychological pressure on them, Guliyev said.

"Of course, Azerbaijan continues to take necessary measures to release these people and those detained in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region Dilgam Asgarov, Shahbaz Guliyev and Elnur Huseynzade, he said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev focuses on the issue of the release of these people," he added. "During the meetings and discussions the president always brings this issue to the attention of international structures.

Despite that ICRC put forward a proposal to release the individuals registered by the committee who are hostages and in captivity, to transfer prisoners and hostages to the parties [Azerbaijan and Armenia] as soon as possible, Armenia did not express its attitude to this humane proposal, remains indifferent to the fate of the victims of the war and takes no steps forward, he said.

"The reason is that from the very beginning of the conflict, Armenia is trying to politicize the humanitarian issue and represent the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh as a party to the conflict," Guliyev 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, Nov. 1

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Armenia neglects commitments undertaken at the international level, Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament, member of the State Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons Bahar Muradova said at a meeting dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the State Commission on Nov. 1.

Muradova noted that Armenia committed crimes against humanity and mankind.

"Crimes committed by Armenia are not only against Azerbaijanis, but also against all mankind. Azerbaijan consistently reveals the aggressive nature of Armenia to the world community. And we witness that this does not cause the serious concern of international organizations," she said.

She also stressed that the prevention of crimes against humanity and the punishment of their perpetrators are the commitments undertaken by the Azerbaijani state.

"The work carried out by the State Commission over the past 25 years should be valued in this context," Muradova added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Details added (first version posted on 12:19)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

As a result of Armenias non-constructive position, the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is being delayed, Head of the Azerbaijani State Security Service, Colonel General Madat Guliyev said.

Guliyev, who is also the chairman of the Azerbaijan State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Citizens, made the remarks at a meeting of the commission dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the commissions activity in Baku on Nov. 1.

He stressed that Azerbaijani great leader Heydar Aliyev knew about the farfetched Nagorno-Karabakh problem since his work in the State Security Committee.

Therefore, both during his work in Nakhchivan and Baku, he paid special attention to the fate of the Azerbaijani citizens who became victims of the conflict, Guliyev said.

He stressed that after the great leader returned to power in the country in 1993, this issue was also a priority.

"The whole world knows that Azerbaijan has been subjected to aggression by Armenia, Guliyev said. Besides the state independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan are under serious threat, hundreds of thousands of our compatriots have become refugees and IDPs. Thousands of people are held hostage by Armenians today."

He stressed that Heydar Aliyev always worried about the impunity of the war crimes committed by Armenia.

"Therefore, in the order, signed on March 1, 2001, he set before the state commission the task of carrying out purposeful and consistent work on updating the world community about documents on the genocide and ethnic cleansing policy against Azerbaijanis by Armenia, files about prisoners, missing people and hostages," Guliyev added.

He added that Heydar Aliyevs political course was successfully continued in Azerbaijan after 2003.

"The issue of war victims is one of the areas to which worthy successor of this course President Ilham Aliyev pays special attention," Guliyev said.

Thanks to cooperation with international organizations, in particular with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 1,480 prisoners and hostages were released, he added. But according to the ICRCs information, 871 Azerbaijani citizens are still among hostages and in captivity.

According to the information, Armenians tell prisoners and hostages that they "fully occupied Azerbaijan" and that "such a country no longer exists," exert psychological pressure on them, Guliyev said.

"Of course, Azerbaijan continues to take necessary measures to release these people and those detained in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region Dilgam Asgarov, Shahbaz Guliyev and Elnur Huseynzade, he said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev focuses on the issue of the release of these people," he added. "During the meetings and discussions the president always brings this issue to the attention of international structures.

Despite that ICRC put forward a proposal to release the individuals registered by the committee who are hostages and in captivity, to transfer prisoners and hostages to the parties [Azerbaijan and Armenia] as soon as possible, Armenia did not express its attitude to this humane proposal, remains indifferent to the fate of the victims of the war and takes no steps forward, he said.

"The reason is that from the very beginning of the conflict, Armenia is trying to politicize the humanitarian issue and represent the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh as a party to the conflict," Guliyev 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.
Partnership restores prairie, supports largest monarch migration in 10 years and new revenue model for generating clean, renewable energy

Photos: Dropbox folder to download photos of monarch butterflies, prairie habitat, biogas facilities, hog farms and various experts (no credit necessary).

Video: YouTube video: Three unlikely allies are innovating to save the monarch butterfly; Dropbox folder to download video, b-roll and interview clips (no credit necessary).

SMITHFIELD, Va., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield Foods, Inc. is the first food company to participate in a new program with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) to restore key prairie habitat for monarch butterflies , as described in this video . Their efforts are helping bring back the iconic insect, which has experienced a 95 percent population decline since the 1980s and could be listed as a threatened species in June 2019. However, the monarch is currently undergoing what is anticipated to be the largest migration in 10 years .

Were excited about the potential of this unique partnership to support recovery of the beloved monarch butterfly and other pollinators that rely on healthy prairie habitat, said David Wolfe , director of conservation strategies at EDF. In addition to providing habitat for bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife, this program offers multiple other environmental and financial benefits. The economic savings come from the benefits prairies have for helping hold water and nitrogen in the soil, and reducing potential waste. There are also added revenue opportunities that come from appropriately timed harvesting of the prairie for biomass that can be used for biogas generation of clean, natural gas.

Attracted to the programs dual benefits, Smithfield contributed $300,000 to fund the planting of native grasses and monarch-friendly native milkweed and wildflower species on 1,000 acres of land on and surrounding its hog farm in Missouri.

We recognize that prairie is both an environmental and economic force, said Kraig Westerbeek, senior director of Smithfield Renewables for Smithfield Foods. While helping to protect the environment surrounding our farms, prairie is creating a new revenue opportunity as an alternative source of clean, renewable energy.

Since the 1990s, Smithfield has explored ways to transform hog manure into renewable energy. Smithfield recently announced the nationwide expansion of these efforts through Smithfield Renewables, a platform that unifies, leads, and accelerates the companys carbon reduction and renewable energy efforts, while helping meet its industry-leading goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2025. In Missouri, the food company has worked with RAE since 2014 to transform manure into renewable natural gas and is now looking to prairie grass as an alternative feedstock, particularly useful during the winter months.

Generating energy from manure, prairie, or other biomass is pretty simple, said Rudi Roeslein, founder and president of RAE. Manure is captured in the underfloor of the hog buildings where scrapers are used to move and flush waste to an anaerobic digester or a covered lagoon, where anaerobic digestion takes place and solids are broken down to release methane gas that is transported to a central processing facility to be converted into renewable natural gas. Harvested prairie is used to supplement hog manure as an alternative source of energy. Prior to harvest, native prairie and cover crops provide an essential ecological service as critical habitat for pollinators and wildlife. This is an exciting new vision for renewable energy production.

Together, Smithfield, EDF, and RAE are creating a compelling ecological and financial model for the growth and management of native prairie across the agricultural landscape. Ultimately, the unlikely collaborators are working to achieve a more resilient and ecologically diverse agricultural landscape.



About Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathans Famous, Farmland, Armour, Farmer John, Kretschmar, John Morrell, Cooks, Gwaltney, Carando, Margherita, Curlys, Healthy Ones, Morliny, Krakus, and Berlinki. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental, and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com , and connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn .

About Environmental Defense Fund

Environmental Defense Fund ( edf.org ), a leading international nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook and our Growing Returns blog .

About Roeslein Alternative Energy

Roeslein Alternative Energy was founded in 2012 as an operator and developer of renewable energy production facilities that converts agricultural and industrial wastes, along with renewable biomass feedstocks to renewable natural gas and sustainable co-products. RAE engages in these business operations with a focus on incorporating native prairie restoration. RAE is a limited liability corporation with its principal office located in St. Louis, Missouri. To find out more, please visit www.roesleinae.com .

Contact:

Lisa Martin

Smithfield Foods, Inc.

(757) 365-1980

lvmartin@smithfield.com

Chandler Clay

Environmental Defense Fund

(202) 572-3312

cclay@edf.org

A video accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c3e65686-011a-4806-aef5-3548ae5cb583
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Armenians are brutally torturing Azerbaijani prisoners and hostages, Azerbaijans military prosecutor Khanlar Valiyev said at a meeting dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Azerbaijani State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons.

He noted that during the investigation carried out on a criminal case regarding the crimes committed by the Armenian armed forces and illegal armed formations in Nagorno-Karabakh, it was established that Armenian nationalists with particular cruelty killed thousands of Azerbaijanis only because of their national identity in Nagorno-Karabakh and the adjacent areas, that is, in the Azerbaijani lands.

Hundreds of Azerbaijanis, who tried to escape, were shot, their houses were looted, national architecture monuments were destroyed, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were deported from their homes, civilians and servicemen of Azerbaijani Armed Forces, serving in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, as well as in the territories bordering Armenia, were taken hostage - the hostages were subjected to brutal, inhuman treatment and tortures, he added.

For the comprehensive investigation of these crimes, the identification of the perpetrators, the collection of evidence and bringing the perpetrators to investigation, cooperation was established between the investigating body and Azerbaijans State Commission, he said. Thus, 1,636 persons testified on the criminal case and, according to the information of the State Commission as of October 23, 2018, out of 1,480 prisoners and hostages who were subsequently released, 1,113 people were interrogated, and 1,057 of them were recognized as victims.

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, Nov. 1

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Azerbaijans State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons established in 1993 to eliminate the problem of prisoners of war and missing persons operates as part of the norms of international humanitarian law joined by Azerbaijan, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other relevant international bodies, secretary of the commission Ismayil Akhundov said Nov. 1 at the commissions meeting.

He said that in 1993, all information available at state and non-governmental organizations were collected and a preliminary list regarding 4,000 people was compiled.

As a result of the work done, together with the ICRC and other relevant international organizations, 1,480 prisoners and hostages were released, and the necessary measures were taken on their rehabilitation, Akhundov added.

He noted that in order to investigate the crimes committed by Armenians, a Joint Operational-Investigation Group to investigate crimes committed by the armed separatist forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian military units was created, which continues its activity in the Military Prosecutors Office of Azerbaijan.

Akhundov also noted that after the implemented reforms to improve the activity of the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons of Azerbaijan, the situation in this area was analyzed, and the Azerbaijani president put forward a number of serious requirements before the working group to speed up the implementation of certain tasks, systemic approach to the work and defining of priorities.

It was noted that the list of missing persons was clarified as a primary task, and 3,888 missing persons are registered in the State Commission. Their photos were collected and added to the updated database, and the necessary measures were taken to compile identikits for those who had no photo.

The GPS coordinates of the graves of 195 unknown persons who went missing during intensive military operations and buried in the territory of Azerbaijan were indentified.

At the instruction of the Azerbaijani president, based on the testimony of the released persons, a book was published in Azerbaijani and English, as well as other instructions were fulfilled.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

On November 1, 2018, Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) held a graduation ceremony for a new group of the alumni of School of Project Management (SPM), a joint initiative of BHOS and TwentyEighty Strategy Execution (Stratex) company, UK. It was attended by top managers of BP, SOCAR and other guests.

The SPM teaching programs are based on the curricula of the George Washington University (GWU), USA. GWU awarded Masters Certificates to 47 SPM graduates representing managers and specialists of 12 companies and organizations. They include, among others, SOCAR, BP, EY, WorleyParsons, Azneft Production Union, Azerkimya Production Union, SOCARs Oil and Gas Construction Trust, OJSC Azersu, Caspian Business Management and Consulting LLC, Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping CJSC, and Gate Baku LLC.

BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov extended his congratulations to the SPM alumni and noted that the School of Project Management was functioning at the Higher Oil School for nearly two years. In his words, many of the graduates already achieved significant professional growth in the course of their study.

SOCAR Vice-president for HR, IT and regulations Khalik Mammadov emphasized that SOCARs Baku Higher Oil School became a leading technical higher educational institution attracting the most talented young people and providing them with excellent education. The language of instruction is English, and all teaching programs are based on curricula of international universities, he said. Khalik Mammadov told that SPM is an important initiative for professional development of young specialists and their efficient integration into business environment. He congratulated the graduates and wished them every success.

Ed Hughes, Business Development Manager at Stratex Company, which played an important role in the project development, also extended his congratulations to the SPM alumni. In their turn, the graduates spoke about the value of the gained knowledge and practical skills for their career. Then the SPM graduates received Masters Certificates of the George Washington University and memorable gifts.

The School of Project Management attracts growing interest from state agencies and private companies, which send their most talented staff members to study at SPM. The training program is based on modern teaching methodology. It consists of seven modules including, among others, courses on Project Management; Risk Management; Project Leadership, Management and Communications; Scheduling and Cost Control; Quality for Project Manager; Project Management Applications; and Negotiation Skills for Project Manager.
Baku, Azerbaijan, November 1

Trend:

A regular railway service will connect Dagestan and Azerbaijan, the Head of the Republic of Dagestan (a federal subject of the Russian Federation), Vladimir Vasilyev said Oct. 31 during a briefing in a live television broadcast on central TV channel of Dagestan, TASS reported.

We have huge transport potential that havent been utilized yet. We will now arrange a regular railway service to Baku. Its very convenient, comfortable, Vasilyev said.

I see no obstacles for this to function for the convenience of the people. And it will develop our economy, the head of the region added.

At the beginning of April 2018, the issue of a new railway service along the Makhachkala - Baku route was considered by the authorities of Dagestan and Russian Railways OJSC following the results of the trip to Derbent through the North Caucasus Railway.

At present, the Moscow-Baku, Rostov-Baku and Kharkov-Baku trains run through Makhachkala.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.1

By Huseyn Veliyev  Trend:

In 2018, the volume of money supply in the economy of Azerbaijan has grown by more than eight percent, Elman Rustamov, the Chairman of the Central Bank, said at a meeting with members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AMCHAM) Oct. 31.

Rustamov noted that despite the fairly large liquidity in the banking sector, there are still problems in redirecting these funds to the country's economy.

"Although there is activity in the banking sector, it is uneven, that is, it does not fully cover the entire sector. In general, the upcoming tasks should be aimed at deepening financial stability in the banking sector and further enhancing financial intermediation," Rustamov said.

"The increase in government investments and external liabilities supports economic growth. We are now taking serious steps in key sectors of the economy, especially in the sphere of trade, non-oil sector and agriculture. In addition, a 13 percent increase in non-oil exports shows that the strategy of diversifying the economy and exports has already started," Rustamov said.

From the point of view of macroeconomic stability, sustainability and economic development, the current year will demonstrate good performance, Rustamov noted.

"We understand that the business circles are interested in more long-term prospects and what will happen in the coming years. In general, our message is positive, and further deepening of macroeconomic stability and sustainability has been scheduled for the coming years. The acceleration of economic growth is expected. The intensification of non-oil exports and foreign exchange earnings from various sources allow us to predict the provision of the balance in the foreign exchange market next year. The Central Bank believes that the proper harmonization of monetary and fiscal frameworks is necessary for the implementation of the plans. In general, the implementation of a number of important reforms is required in the monetary and financial sphere," Rustamov said.

In addition, it is also planned to carry out significant reforms in the field of external debt optimization, and to implement the transition to the medium-term expenditure strategy and to the concept of targeted budgeting, the chairman of the Central Bank said.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.1

By Taleh Mursagulov - Trend:

Exclusive interview of Trend and Azernews with 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.
Baku, Azerbaijan, November 1

Trend:

The 14th meeting of the Uzbek-Japanese and Japanese-Uzbek Economic Cooperation Committees, organized by the State Investment Committee of Uzbekistan, with the support of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Japan, was held in Tokyo, UzDaily.uz reported.

More than 180 representatives of Japanese business circles representing 52 companies, including Mitsubishi, Marubeni, Sumitomo, Itochu, Toyota, Kawasaki, Sozhitz Corporation, Mitsui, Nissan, Hitachi, and others took part in a discussion of prospects for cooperation with Uzbekistan.

Following the results of the meeting, the documents were signed on the implementation of joint projects in the area of electric power industry, petrochemical industry, and light industry with the Mitsubishi Corporation, Atomix company, as well as with the JICA agency.

The agreement was reached with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) on joint implementation of projects in the telecommunications sector.

The agreement signed between Sumitomo Mitsui Bank and the NBU Bank will open up new opportunities for the implementation of the Uzbek-Japanese economic projects.

For the period from January to September 2018, the trade turnover between Japan and Uzbekistan amounted to more than $300 million.

At present, 17 enterprises with participation of Japanese investments, including seven companies with 100-percent Japanese capital are functioning on the territory of Uzbekistan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, November 1

Trend:

On October 31, a meeting was held in Tashkent under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on issues of the integrated development of agriculture, the widespread introduction of innovative technologies in this sphere, and the enhancement of export of products, Podrobno.uz reported.

At the meeting, special attention was paid to the issues of introduction in agricultural sector of the innovative technologies, scientific developments, and especially drip irrigation technology.

"The Israeli experience in this matter was noted. In this country, agriculture is completely based on drip irrigation, thanks to which there is no saline lands and there is no need for collector-drainage networks and expenditures on land-improvement activities in Israel," the press service of the head of state reported.

The insufficiency of the work on the introduction of water-saving technologies was also criticized, as a result of which large sums were spent on the maintenance of the collector-drainage network with a total length of 140,000 kilometers.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Matanat Nasibova  Trend:

The conclusions on Azerbaijan, indicated in the World Bank Group's Doing Business-2019 report are an objective assessment of the country's current economy, Azerbaijani Deputy Economy Minister Sahib Mammadov told Trend.

The analysis made by international experts and financial structures is based on real indicators that confirm the noticeable growth of the Azerbaijani economy, he said.

"The improved indicators of the Azerbaijani economy are the result of successful reforms being implemented in Azerbaijan and a thought-out economic policy of the government, Mammadov said. The development of small and medium enterprises today is one of the priorities of Azerbaijans state policy. A lot of work has been recently done in the country aimed at raising the non-oil sector to a new level."

He stressed that the Agency for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises was established to support entrepreneurship and improve the business sphere in Azerbaijan.

"This agency gradually renders assistance to entrepreneurs beginning from the creation of their business and ending with the start of production, Mammadov said. At the same time, the work is carried out to enlighten people engaged in business, they are provided with soft loans and other services are rendered to them. In order to support the business, certain changes have been made to the country's legislation. All conditions are created for improving the business climate in Azerbaijan."

He added that all the efforts are already yielding positive results, which is confirmed by the ratings of international organizations and world-class financial structures.

Azerbaijan has significantly improved its positions in the World Bank Group's Doing Business ranking.

Thus, Azerbaijan ranks 25th among 190 countries in Doing Business 2019, while it was 57th in Doing Business 2018.

According to Doing Business 2019, Azerbaijan has entered the list of countries with the most noticeable improvement in the economy.

Doing Business authors said that Azerbaijan has carried out a record number of reforms aimed at simplifying doing business in 2017-2018 among 10 economies that have shown significant improvement.

Doing Business is annually published by the World Bank Group, which assesses regulatory standards in entrepreneurial activity.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

Uzbekistan has lifted restrictions on the export of products in eight product groups, Uzbek media reported.

Starting from Jan. 1, 2019, it will be allowed to export pork, meat and poultry by-products, pork fat and poultry fat, vegetable oil, sugar, bakery products, tungsten ore and concentrates, as well as silk waste without any restrictions.

On Oct. 30, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree On measures to further liberalize trade and promote competition in commodity markets.

By his decree, from Jan. 1, 2019, the Uzbek president abolishes the licensing of wholesale activities and the special taxation of trade enterprises, as well as a special procedure of recording revenues from the sale of certain types of excisable goods (cars, vegetable oil, etc.).
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TORONTO, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are advised by Siskinds, LLP; Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman that journalists and other readers should disregard the news release, $49.8 Million in Class Action Settlements Approved for Distribution for CRT Price-Fixing issued November 1, 2018 8:00 AM ET over GlobeNewswire. An updated release will be issued today.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Taleh Mursagulov - Trend:

The process of real estate registration in Azerbaijan will be simplified, according to a memorandum signed by the State Real Estate Register Service and the National Archive Department of Azerbaijan.

From now on, when citizens apply to the State Register for obtaining records, the availability of archival documents will be checked online.
Baku, Azerbaijan, November 1

Trend:

Azerbaijan has significantly increased exports of fruits and vegetables, says the article of the Minister of Agriculture Inam Karimov, published in the official press.

It is noted in the article that during 2003-2017, the real increase in manufacture of agricultural products in general amounted to 166.4 percent, in particular, in the field of crop production  to 156.7 percent, in the field of animal husbandry  to 177.8 percent.

According to the data of the World Bank, over these years, the real growth in the sphere of agriculture in Azerbaijan was above the average world indicator, as well as above the corresponding indicators of the countries in the region.

The article says that the dynamic development in the field of agriculture continued this year, and for the first nine months, the total volume of agricultural products increased by 4.3 percent compared to the same period last year, in particular the volume of manufacture of the crop farming products increased by 5.8 percent, and the livestock breeding products - by 2.7 percent.

It is emphasized that high dynamics has been achieved in the area of export of agricultural products.

"Over the past 15 years, the volume of export of agricultural products increased 6.3 times, in particular the exports of fruits and vegetables increased 10.4 times, and in the eight months of this year, the exports of vegetables increased by 8.4 percent, fruits - by 32.5 percent, raw cotton - 2.2 times," the article says.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Taleh Mursagulov - Trend:

Azerbaijan will put an end to the work of illegal real estate brokers, Head of the Real Estate State Register Service of Azerbaijan Hikmat Mustafayev said Nov. 1 during the signing of a memorandum of cooperation with the National Archive Department of Azerbaijan.

He said that from now on, when citizens apply to the State Register for obtaining records, the availability of archival documents will be checked online at the National Archive database.

Mustafayev noted that citizens can be completely sure that the falsification of archive documents by illegal real estate brokers will be completely prevented.

At the same time, Mustafayev stressed that in the Doing Business 2019 rating, in terms of real estate registration, Azerbaijan advanced by four positions and ranked 17th among 190 countries.

In turn, Head of the National Archive Department of Azerbaijan Asgar Rasulov noted that the majority of citizens appeals to the national archive are related to real estate issues.

Over the past year, more than 47,000 appeals of citizens to the National Archive Department of Azerbaijan were registered, said Rasulov. Approximately 19,000 (41 percent) of these appeals are related to real estate issues.

He added that the signed memorandum will make it possible to significantly reduce the time of receiving a record from the National Archive Department.
Baku, Azerbaijan, November 1

Trend:

An Uzbek-Chinese business forum was held in Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan), under which a number of agreements were reached with leading Chinese companies on the implementation of long-term projects for the production of building materials, Podrobno.uz reported.

The forum was organized with the assistance of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in China.

As it was noted at the forum, the Kungrad Soda Plant is one of the advanced enterprises in this region. It was built with the participation of Chinese partners. Today, the cooperation is reaching a new level. The eight new enterprises were established in the past nine months alone.

The issues of increasing the investment potential were discussed, the tax and customs benefits were addressed at the forum. The proposals on the implementation of new joint projects in the area of industry, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and tourism were outspoken.

The parties agreed that the past business forum was an important step towards strengthening the mutually beneficial cooperation.

At the end of the forum, as a result of negotiations in the B2B format, a number of agreements were reached with leading Chinese companies on the implementation of long-term projects for the production of building materials as well as projects in the area of agriculture.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

Uzbekistans share accounted for 82 percent of the cement exported by Iran over the seven months of this Iranian year (started March 21, 2018), Mohammad Hadi Ziaei, director general of Irans Khorasan Railways, said in an interview with IRNA.

He said that 247,000 tons of cement were exported by rail to Central Asia during this period, adding that 227,000 tons of this volume were exported to Uzbekistan.

He noted that the export of this product increased by 243 percent, and the main reason for this was the increase in construction projects in Uzbekistan and the need for cement.

He added that 1,254 tons of export, import and transit products have been exchanged in 21,000 wagons between the Central Asian countries and the Sarakhs border railway terminal in Iran in the first half of this year.

He noted that 26 percent of this figure is related to export, and cement accounts for 60 percent of exports.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

Nobel Oil and Wood have entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement to provide engineering and operations support services to the oil and gas market in Azerbaijan.

The JV will combine Woods engineering and technical services capabilities with Nobel Oils knowledge and expertise in the Caspian region. It will primarily support in the delivery of brownfield engineering, procurement and construction management contracts across a range of assets offshore Azerbaijan.

The JV was completed in an official ceremony in Baku on 31 October, attended by senior representatives from Wood, Nobel Oil and other companies operating in the market as well as UK Trade & Investment and the British Ambassador Dr. Carole Crofts.

Dave Stewart, CEO of Woods Asset Solutions business in Europe, Africa, Asia & Australia, comments: Wood is committed to expanding our presence in Azerbaijan, seeking new opportunities to provide our services and building partnerships to become a leader in the local supply chain, supporting the needs of our customers. Joining forces with Nobel Oil will not only grow our engineering capabilities in-country but also provide training and development opportunities for the Azerbaijani workforce.

Vugar Samadli, CEO of Nobel Oil stated: Establishment of the joint venture is a significant step which will contribute to the future development of the oil and gas industry of Azerbaijan. The new joint venture will unite the expertise and capabilities of both companies in order to provide customers with high-quality services. I believe this partnership will be beneficial for both companies and the whole industry.

Wood is a global leader in the delivery of project, engineering and technical services to energy and industrial markets. Wood operates in more than 60 countries, employing around 60,000 people, with revenues of over $10 billion. In 2016, Wood secured a $500m five-year contract to deliver engineering services across eight BP-operated facilities offshore Azerbaijan, creating 200 jobs.

Nobel Oil Services is a diversified group of companies specialized in oil and gas industry. Companies operating within Nobel Oil Services provide drilling, construction and project management as well as equipment maintenance, procurement and enhanced oil recovery services, successfully expanding their activities in these fields. Nobel Oil Services adheres to the highest standards of both operational and financial performance.
Baku, Azerbaijan, November 1

Trend:

The State Road Agency of Ukraine (Ukravtodor) has signed a contract with the Azerbaijani AzVirt company regarding the repair of the section extending from Kyiv city to Kipty village in Chernigiv region of the M-01 Kyiv - Chernigiv - Novy Yarylovychi road, the press service of Ukravtodor said in the statement.

The cost of work will amount to 131.55 million euros, and the period of implementation of the repair work will be 730 days.

The scope of repair work includes the 18-kilometer section of the Brovary towns bypass road (31.2 million euros), the 24-kilometer section extending to the administrative border with the Chernigiv region (47.1 million euros) and another 37-kilometer section extending to Kipty village (53.3 million euros), the message says.

The repair of sections of the M-01 road is carried out within the framework of the implementation of the Pan-European Corridor project, which is financed by the credit funds of the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

In the first half of the Iranian year (started March 21, 2018), 600 tons of frozen chicken were exported from customs office in Irans Dogharun town to Afghanistan, Mohammad Ali Kamil, director of the Veterinary Department in Irans Khorasan Razavi province, said in an interview with IRNA.

He said that so far, the chicken has been exported in frozen condition. However, given the short distance from Iran to Afghanistan, fresh chicken can also be exported, he added.

Frozen chicken is exported to Afghanistan at the price in Iranian markets, he said.

Last year, 1,200 tons of frozen chicken were exported to Afghanistan via Dogharun customs, he noted.

In the first half of this year, more than 100 tons of goat wool were exported to Afghanistan via Dogharuns customs, he said.

He added that during the six months, 2,400 tons of cow skin were transited to Turkey via Dogharuns customs, while 1,200 tons of goat skin entered Dogharuns customs from Afghanistan to be transited to China.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.1

Trend:

Several sectors of Turkmenistans economy are rapidly evolving now thanks to recent investments of around $50 billion. There are about 1,700 large construction projects underway with a total cost of more than $42 billion. That amounts to more than 32% of the countrys GDP in Q1 of 2018.

One of the most important of these investment projects is the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline. Construction of the Afghan segment began in February 2018. Several other important construction projects have already been completed, including the Turkmenbashi seaport, a polyethylene and polypropylene production plant, and the Galkynysh Gas Field.

All these investments are creating significant opportunities to turn Turkmenistan into a strategic maritime logistics hub for the Trans-Caspian Sea area.

It is therefore not surprising that a town with one of the newest and largest Caspian Sea ports was a recently a platform for a transport and logistics conference called HEAVY TURKMENISTAN 2018. From October 1-3 2018, Turkmenbashi hosted the event which covered topics related to the transport and installation of overweight and project cargos in an independent, politically neutral, and business-friendly Turkmenistan. The conference was a unique opportunity for experts from international transport-logistics group AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG to visit the country and explore the infrastructure of Turkmenbashis new port.

At first sight, this project has striking modernity. The port is new and completely ready to achieve ambitious plans. For fully servicing bulky loads, the terminal has a conveyor system for unloading wagons and loading vessels. The finishing touches are now being made and the terminal will be operational soon. This successful project of global importance will open new logistics prospects for the transport industry, improve the regions transport infrastructure, and strengthen Turkmenistans international relations in the process. There's no doubt about it," Oleg Sysolyatin, Head of Break Bulk Division at AsstrA, describes the regions largest infrastructure investment.

Svetlana Palkina, Head of AsstrA Fertilizers Logistics Division further comments:

At HEAVY TURKMENISTAN 2018, representatives of various public sector organizations and state-run companies gave presentations. The large infrastructure and industrial facilities that have been launched here in recent years can drive significant growth in exports of chemical products and fertilizers from Turkmenistan. The conference provided an opportunity to organize many working meetings with partners and companies that can be involved in logistics in this unique region. We were able to meet representatives of the administration of the seaport of Turkmenbashi and get acquainted with the infrastructure of the port and its technical capabilities.

We were impressed, in the first instance, by the modern infrastructure of the port, its equipment, and the opportunities it has opened for the transshipment of general cargo. AsstrA is interested in the seaport of Turkmenbashi as the optimal base for transshipment of fertilizers  especially carbamide and sulfur.

The AsstrA Fertilizers Logistics Division has already taken its first steps in Turkmenistan in a sulfur transportation project. During this trip, we were able to see the cars with "our" sulfur waiting for the ferry in the port.

We would like to express our thanks to the organizers of the conference for the opportunity to visit Turkmenistan and see everything with our own eyes. It is for a good reason that this proverb exists: "It is better to see once than hear a hundred times."

AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG leads an international group of logistics and transportation companies from its head office in Zurich. It has an excellent reputation and more than 20 years of industry experience. The company is represented in 18 countries across the CIS, Europe and Asia.

AsstrAs wide range of offerings includes the organization of international transportation by various modes of transport, import and export support, cargo insurance, project logistics, as well as trade, warehousing and customs services.

Thanks to wide geographical reach and cooperation with professionals, AsstrA offers optimal, attractively priced logistics solutions that take into account the needs of each client and partner.



AsstrA is a member of FIATA and ASMAP and holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 certificates.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are interested in fully using their transit potential, Azerbaijans Prime Minister Novruz Mammadov said in an interview with Egemen Qazaqstan newspaper, Kazinform reported.

The multilateral cooperation established in culture, science, sport and others spheres is of paramount importance for our country, he said. Being a platform for discussing regional and international issues, the CIS contributes hugely to the implementation of measures of fighting crimes and modern challenges. Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the regular meeting of the CIS Heads of State Council scheduled for November 2, 2018 in Astana in terms of economic, financial and humanitarian issues.

He noted that both countries value common roots, common culture and spirituality. He highly assessed the level of relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan and assured he will further take efforts in the interests of the two fraternal countries.

He reminded that Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are located along the international transport corridor running from China to Europe and both states are eager to fully use the potential of this transit route.

Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad commissioned in October 2017, the new Baku Sea Port and railroads connecting west and east Kazakhstan as well as Kuryk Sea Port will serve to further enhancing transport potential of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, he said.

Cargo transportation en China-Europe route has increased to date, he noted. I am sure that in the oncoming period the frames of regional cooperation between our countries will broaden and this cooperation will give fruitful results at a global scale.
DUBLIN, Calif., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giga-tronics Incorporated (OTCQB:GIGA) will release results for the second quarter ended September 29, 2018 on Thursday November 8, 2018 after the close of trading on the OTCQB Market.

Also on November 8, 2018, Giga-tronics will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. EDT to discuss the results and provide an update on Company operations.

To participate in the call, dial: (888) 517-2470 or (630) 827-6818 and enter PIN Code 9583857#. It is recommended that you call in five to ten minutes prior to the start time. You may also listen to the call via the Giga-tronics website at www.gigatronics.com .

A replay of the call will be available later on the Giga-tronics website under Investor Relations. This conference call will reflect management views as of November 8, 2018 only.

Giga-tronics produces electronic warfare instruments used in the defense industry and YIG RADAR filters used in fighter jet aircraft.

Headquartered in Dublin, California, Giga-tronics is a publicly held company, traded on the OTCQB Market under the symbol GIGA.

Source: Giga-tronics Incorporated
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Matanat Nasibova - Trend:

The improvement of Azerbaijan's position in the World Banks Doing Business 2019 report is primarily associated with deep institutional transformations and fundamental reforms that have been systematically carried out over the past three years, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Elshad Mammadov told Trend.

He noted that the improvement of economic indicators in Azerbaijan was largely due to the implementation of such important projects as ASAN xidmet, ASAN imza, and in general, increased access of citizens to small and medium-sized businesses.

"To this end, a purposeful state policy was carried out to improve the institutional component of the Azerbaijani economy. As a result, access to government services and communications was significantly improved, and fiscal services became more accessible for business participants," Mammadov said.

Azerbaijan has significantly improved its positions in the World Bank Group's Doing Business ranking.

Thus, Azerbaijan ranks 25th among 190 countries in Doing Business 2019, while it was 57th in Doing Business 2018.

According to Doing Business 2019, Azerbaijan has entered the list of countries with the most noticeable improvement in the economy.

Doing Business authors said that Azerbaijan has carried out a record number of reforms aimed at simplifying doing business in 2017-2018 among 10 economies that have shown significant improvement.

Doing Business is annually published by the World Bank Group, which assesses regulatory standards in entrepreneurial activity.

Azerbaijan joined the WB Group in 1992.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Fikret Dolukhanov  Trend:

Russias food retailer X5 Retail Group, which owns one of the largest retail chains of supermarkets and shops in Russia, plans to strengthen partnership with Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan and expand the range of imported products, Maxim Novikov, the director general of RVI, a subsidiary of the X5 Retail Group, told Trend.

According to him, increasing the volume of imports of fruits and vegetables from the countries of Central Asia, in particular, from Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan is an important area of work for the X5 Retail Group.

Novikov noted that fruits and vegetables from Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are represented in most stores of X5 retail chains, including Pyaterochka, Perekrestok, Karusel and Perekrestok Express.

The company purchases watermelons, persimmons, pomegranates, grapes, melons, nectarines, peaches, apricots, lemons, apples, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, beets, cabbage, feijoa, plums, corn, garlic in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, Novikov said.

It was earlier reported that Uzbekistan will expand the supply of agricultural products for the X5 Retail Group in line with the partnership agreement signed by the Uztrade Company, a subsidiary of the Foreign Trade Ministry of Uzbekistan, and the Russian RVI, which is a leading subsidiary of the X5 Retail Group.

X5 Retail Group is a leading Russian food retailer. The company operates several retail formats: proximity stores under the Pyaterochka brand, supermarkets under the Perekrestok brand, hypermarkets under the Karusel brand, and convenience stores under the Perekrestok Express brand.

On Sept. 28, 2018, the Russian edition of Forbes magazine published a rating of the largest private companies, in which X5 Retail Group ranked second after Lukoil.

Russia is the second largest foreign trade partner of Uzbekistan. In January-September 2018, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Russia amounted to $4.18 billion, of which $1.53 billion accounts for exports from Uzbekistan and $2.65 billion for imports from Russia.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia for the same period amounted to $1.69 billion, of which $443 million accounted for exports from Azerbaijan and $1.25 billion for imports from Russia.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Taleh Mursagulov - Trend:

Azerbaijan has been consistently carrying out reforms to improve the business climate since 2006, the World Bank (WB) expert Hulya Ulku told Azerbaijani reporters during a video link with the WB headquarters in Washington DC.

According to her, Azerbaijan can be attributed to the list of countries conducting an incredible number of reforms.

The expert stressed that according to Doing Business 2019, Azerbaijan entered the list of countries with the most noticeable improvement in the economy.

Azerbaijan has implemented a record number of reforms (eight) aimed at simplifying business among 10 economies that have shown significant improvement.

In particular, Ulku noted that Azerbaijan has simplified the process of obtaining building permits, connecting to power grids, registering property, obtaining loans, taxation, international trade and also carried out reforms in the labor market and reforms aimed at protecting minority investors.

Azerbaijan ranked 25th among 190 countries in Doing Business 2019, while it was 57th in Doing Business 2018.

Doing Business is annually published by the World Bank Group, which assesses regulatory standards in entrepreneurial activity.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, November 1

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

The price reporting agency Argus Media is holding a seminar on Natural gas monetization strategy organized in Ashgabat with the assistance of the British Embassy, the Turkmengas State Concern said in a statement.

The Senior Analyst of the company Anastas Gatunok delivered his presentation. At the first session, the participants in the event, in which the employees of the country's fuel and energy complex were involved, were familiarized with the basics of the natural gas market.

In particular, this referred to the fundamental indicators of supply and demand, the main directions of world trade, as well as the price indicators and approaches to pricing.

The second session dealt with the processing of natural gas into fertilizers. In the framework of this session, an overview of the main types of fertilizers and value chain was presented.

It was noted that the demand for natural gas processing products - methanol, urea and ammonium nitrate - has increased in the world. In this regard, it was noted that Turkmenistan has great potential in this area, the message says.

The analyst drew attention to the capabilities of the recently commissioned plant for production of urea by deep processing of natural gas in the city of Garabogaz of the Balkan region of Turkmenistan. The third session was dedicated to the processing of natural gas into methanol and chemical products, in particular, olefins.

The growing global demand for ethylene, which is a product of the methanol-to-olefins process, was noted during the discussions. According to the data of the Argus Media company, recently, the global demand for ethylene has increased by an average of three percent annually.

The analyst emphasized the potential of the polymer plant which was commissioned recently in Kiyanly settlement in the western region of Turkmenistan, designed to produce 386,000 tons of polyethylene and 81,000 tons of polypropylene per year.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR is in talks with Russias Rosneft, Gazprom and Novatek over the development of an oil field in Russia, SOCAR Vice President Elshad Nasirov told reporters Nov. 1 in Minsk, Reuters reported.

Nasirov also said that SOCAR had proposed extending its gas contract with Gazprom to 2020.

It is envisaged that the volumes of purchases will be defined on the basis of commercial interests and wont exceed one billion cubic meters per year.

The previous contract was signed in 2017 and expires at the end of 2018.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.1

Trend:

Top management of AzerTelecom LLC, the backbone internet provider which connects Azerbaijan to the international Internet network, expressed its satisfaction with the participating as a speaker and expert-moderator in the "Global Influencer Day" event held at Heydar Aliyev Center within the framework of "Innovation Week" in Baku on October 26-29.

Thus, the speaker of the official part of the event was Jeyhun Ali, Head of Corporate Communication Department of "AzerTelecom" LLC. A panel discussion on Blockchain technology was held by Samir Nuriyev, Director General for Commercial Issues of "AzerTelecom", a Blockchain expert, and detailed information about this technology was provided. Samir Nuriyev spoke about the use of Blockchain technology in various fields of economy, the advantages of this technology, and the use of Blockchain in the banking sector in Azerbaijan. The guests participating in panel discussions - heads of various leading banks in our country, in their turn, provided detailed information on the application of Blockchain technology in our country and made various proposals.

"Global Influencer Day" gathered together the representatives of Google, Facebook, Oculus, Gezimania, Vispera, Vogue, Booking.com, Joi and other most recognized companies of the world, influencers, business and brand owners in Baku. Well-known speakers exchanged valuable views on influencer marketing, data marketing, electronic commerce, and Blockchain technology and other areas. The humanoid robot Sophia developed based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), also spoke at the event.

It should be mentioned that "Global Influencer Day" was organized by "Keepface DMCC" and "FA International Trade Events".

AzerTelecom LLC is a dynamically developing telecommunication operator of Azerbaijan. The company was established in 2008 and Bakcell, the first mobile operator of Azerbaijan is the main shareholder of AzerTelecom. The company provides wholesale internet, leased line services, mobile backhaul, international transit, SIP telephony, FTTx (Fiber-to-the-x), Data Center services, VSAT services, Corporate network, Backbone services, Leased line over GSM, VPN (Virtual Private Network), VoIP services, DDoS protection, etc.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

The production of 3D printers and unique robots has been launched in the Tashkent technopark Yashnobod, Uzbek media reported.

Presently, 10 innovative projects have received the status of resident in our technopark, said Farhod Jumaev, head of directorate of Yashnobod. There are robot manufacturers among the residents. One of the products is Adbot, which helps people with navigation, answers questions, broadcasts promotional materials and remembers everyone with whom it communicates. It is intended for crowded places.

He noted that for now, such robots are produced for export, but if there is a need in the domestic market, the company is ready to launch the production of robots for Uzbekistan. In particular, one of the banks has already ordered such a robot and now it is at the assembly stage, he said.

Another interesting project is the production of 3D printers, which are new to the Uzbek market. Green Code has been producing 3D printers for the domestic market for almost half a year.

We are in talks with the Uzbek Healthcare Ministry on the manufacture of products for medical universities, he said. For example, a 3D printer can print an item in the form of a heart, jaw, human skeleton, etc. There are many companies in the world that produce 3D printers, but in Uzbekistan, Green Code is the first and only company producing such printers. During their production, 70 percent of local raw materials and 30 percent of imported ones are used.

Projects of residents of the technopark can be from different areas: chemical technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, energy saving, robotics, food industry and so on.
Baku, Azerbaijan, November 1

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

In September 2018, 195,850 tourists from Georgia visited Turkey, which is 25.32 percent less compared to the same period in 2017, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey told Trend November 1.

The ministry stated that the share of Georgian citizens in the total number of foreigners who visited Turkey in September 2018 is 4.09 percent.

For comparison: in September 2017, this indicator amounted to 6.43 percent.

According to the data of the ministry, in January-September of the current year, 1,639,277 tourists from Georgia visited Turkey, which is 11.82 percent less compared to the indicator for the same period in 2017.

The share of Georgian citizens in the total number of foreigners who visited Turkey in January-September 2018 is 5.15 percent.

In September 2018, Turkey was visited by a total of 5,425,845 tourists, which is 15.64 percent higher than the indicator for the same month in 2017.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

The healthcare ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Turkey have agreed to increase the quota for the treatment of Kyrgyz citizens in Turkish clinics to 150 people, Kabar news agency reported.

Since 2014, Turkey has started to annually provide a quota for free treatment to 100 Kyrgyz citizens as part of an agreement between the governments of the two countries on cooperation in healthcare.

In accordance with the agreement, 50 people are selected by the commission of the Healthcare Ministry of Kyrgyzstan, and 50 people are selected by the Turkish Embassy in Kyrgyzstan.

Only treatment in Turkish clinics is free, and the patients pay for all other expenses themselves.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 1

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Turkmen government is ready to host the second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference in Ashgabat, said Aksoltan Ataeva, permanent representative of Turkmenistan to the UN, at a joint event with the international organization, Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message.

The first UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference was held in Ashgabat in November 2016.

Recently, at the initiative of the Permanent Mission of Turkmenistan to the UN, together with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), a round table meeting was held on the issues of sustainable transport and mobility for all.

The event took place with the participation of the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and the Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), the World Bank and the International Center for Transport Diplomacy (ICTD). The event was attended by the heads of the UN secretariat, representatives of regional commissions, permanent representatives and diplomats of missions of the UN member states, representatives of non-governmental and public organizations.

Ataeva informed that after the conference held in Ashgabat certain work was done in the sustainable transport development.

In particular, a five-sided agreement was signed on the creation of the Lapis Lazuli transport corridor, the opening of the international sea port in Turkmenbashi took place, and a resolution of the UN General Assembly on sustainable transport was adopted.

Ashgabat is involved in a number of large-scale transport projects. The Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan railways, automobile and railway bridges across the Amudarya River, airports, highways, international sea port of Turkmenbashi are the important links in the international transport network in the region.
Sign the petition today, support the passage of Bill S-238

TORONTO, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With Canadian filmmaker and ecological activist Rob Stewarts Sharkwater Extinction showing on screens across the country, many Canadians are wondering how they can play their part in ending the cruel and ecologically disastrous practice of killing sharks for their fins. This month, Oceana Canada is calling on concerned Canadians to sign its petition to support the passage of Bill S-238, the Ban on Shark Fin Importation Act, which has just passed in the Senate and is now under review in the House of Commons.

Rob devoted his life to changing the public perception of sharks, to protecting the oceans and to ending the horrible practice of shark finning, said Brian and Sandy Stewart, Rob Stewarts parents. The shark fin ban is one step closer to Rob's vision of a sustainable beautiful planet for everyone; we encourage all Canadians to be part of Rob's mission, to support the legislation and set an example for the world to follow."

Every year, the fins of up to 73 million sharks end up on the global market. The process of shark finning is a brutal and wasteful practice. It involves cutting the fins off the shark  often still alive  and then tossing the animal back into the ocean where it either drowns, bleeds to death or is eaten by another animal. Though the process of finning is illegal in Canadian waters, it remains legal to import fins.

Canada is the largest importer of shark fins outside of Asia," said Kim Elmslie, Campaign Director, Oceana Canada. "In 2017, Canada imported 60 per cent more fins than it did in 2012. Bill S-238 is crucial in our fight to save these graceful predators. Theres no coming back from extinction, but theres still time to help save sharks."

Research by the University of Guelph found fins of several endangered and vulnerable sharks  including whale sharks, great hammerhead sharks and short fin mako sharks  have been sold in Canada. Of the fin and gill plate samples collected, more than half were species listed as endangered or threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Shark populations are now dwindling. One of the main causes of this devastation is the market for their fins, says Senator Michael MacDonald who introduced Bill S-238. This devastation isnt just dire for sharks  it should be alarming for humans too. Many of the large shark species are top apex predators and impact ecosystems in significant ways. The onus is on us as legislators to take action.

Bill S-238 was passed by the Senate last week, now it needs to be reviewed and passed by the House of Commons before it becomes law. Canadians can encourage members of parliament to ban the import and export of shark fins from our country by signing Oceana Canadas petition ( change.org/FinBanNow ) and speaking out on social media using #FinBanNow.

For more information, please contact: David Berry, Pilot PMR, 416-462-0199 x248, 416-738-8730, david.berry@pilotpmr.com

About Oceana Canada

Oceana Canada is an independent charity and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Canada has the longest coastline in the world, with an ocean surface area of 7.1 million square kilometres, or 70 per cent of its landmass. Oceana Canada believes that Canada has a national and global obligation to manage our natural resources responsibly and help ensure a sustainable source of protein for the worlds growing population. Oceana Canada works with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canadas formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canadas oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits, and protect our future.
Tehran, Iran, Nov.1

Trend:

Although the US Department of State announced that US sanctions against Iran do not include items such as medicines and food, but in practice Iranians were prevented from attending the largest food exhibition in France, IRNA reported.

International food exhibition SIAL welcomed over 7,200 exhibitors from 119 countries to Paris this week to showcase the latest products from across the food and drink industry.

SIAL did not allow the presence of Iran, and even the Iranians who only wanted to visit the exhibition, faced a message, that said due to sanctions they were not allowed to attend, IRNA reported on Wednesday October 31.

"Many Iranians go to this biennial exhibition. Iran seizes many opportunities there, in case with saffron and dried fruits," member of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Ali Shariati told IRNA.

Iran has always had a section in this exhibition, but this year, a few months before the exhibition, and despite registration of Iranian companies, Iran's stand was removed from the list due to US sanctions, he said.

"The US always claimed that Iran is not sanctioned in the food and medicine sector, and the SIAL exhibition was a specialized food exhibition," he said.

Referring to the ICJ ruling against the US sanctions, Shariati said Iran can file suit in International Court.

"However, the ban on the presence of the food industry, food companies or individuals is not legal in a country that considers itself the guardian of civilization and democracy, he said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says he has no knowledge of any telephonic contact between the Saudi foreign minister and Iranian authorities, IRNA reported.

He said this while talking to reporters at the conclusion of his Pakistan visit in Islamabad.

Replying to a question Zarif said, 'I do not have any information about telephonic contact between Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir and Iranian authorities, as far as I know there is no such contact'.

He further added that Saudi Arabia should review its policy in the region. He said no neighbor of Iran can achieve anything from tensions with the Islamic Republic. The foreign minister said Iran believes that its neighbors would change their anti-Iran policies.

According to Al-Khalij website Saudi Arabia has established some contacts with Iranian authorities to normalize bilateral ties.

The Iranian FM was in Pakistan to discuss issues of mutual interest with Pakistani officials, including the recovery of abducted Iranian border security guards.

Zraif said during the visit he had meetings with Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss bilateral ties and release of Iranian border guards.

On October 16, Irans Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said terrorists had kidnapped the Iranian forces, including local Basij volunteer forces and border guards, near the town of Mirjaveh on the Pakistani border.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Saudi strategy in the oil markets is dictated by a number of forces including the changing geopolitical environment brought about by the requirements to cut off Iran from the international market place through sanction, Dr. Theodore Karasik, Senior Advisor Gulf State Analytics Washington DC, told Trend.

He noted that if Saudi is required to boost production in order to maintain pressure on Iran this will be the case.

"Russia, is cognizant of requirements on the global market that allows for Moscow to play a key role in conjunction with Saudi Arabia. Moscow of course gets the pleasure of playing all sides in the energy market as the Kremlin and its energy subsidiaries pursue grander plans to use energy prices to Russias advantage," said the expert.

Karasik noted that at key junctures, Saudi and Russia policy work hand in hand. "Yet on the Iran sanction front, there appears to be a case by case basis emerging in terms of "exceptions" which may complicate a blanket sanctions action."

He believes that although China and the rest of East Asia have dropped their import of Iranian oil further and further, the 100 percent mark may not be met.

"Saudi Arabia can be the so-called swing producer in this market especially in terms of the continuing of illicit trade which needs to be halted by maritime interdiction," he said.

In regards to US sanctions against Saudi Arabia as a result of the Khoshoggi issue and its aftermath, the expert believes that there is a high possible of actions taken against individuals through US Congressional action but in terms of energy, there appears to be a reassessment ongoing about US energy policy and the Saudi oil industry.

"It is safe to say that perhaps a healthy strategic reassessment may benefit both Washington and Riyadh to make the marketplace healthier depending on the length of US sanctions that may come into play later in the year or in early 2019," he concluded.

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.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Last month, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian accepted the resignation of the country's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as well as the country's government, Sputnik reports.

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian signed on Thursday a decree to dissolve the parliament and set new elections to the legislative body for December 9, his press service said in a statement.

"To set early elections for December 9, 2018. The decree comes into force from the moment of publication," the document says.

The parliament of Armenia at a special meeting on Thursday failed, for the second time, to elect the prime minister and, according to the law, should be dissolved.

In April, a political crisis and anti-government protests broke out in Armenia after Serzh Sargsyan, who had served as the country's president for 10 years, was appointed as the prime minister, which was regarded by people as his attempt to stay in power. Sargsyan was forced to resign and Pashinyan became the country's prime minister instead, pledging to implement a number of economic and political reforms.
A US airliner collided with a French plane in Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Sputnik reported citing local media.

The accident occurred on Wednesday when a wing of a Delta Air Lines aircraft clipped a plane of the Air France company as the French airlines aircraft was moving from the airport apron to the runway for performing a flight to Saint Martin, Le Parisien newspaper reported.

No people had been injured in the accident, the reports added, noting that the French airlines flight had been rescheduled for Thursday.

The French Bureau of Inquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) has launched an investigation into the accident, the newspaper noted.
Canada was the leading source of US total petroleum imports in the month of August, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a press release, according to Sputnik.

"Canada remained the largest exporter of total petroleum to the United States in August; exporting 4.2 million b/d [barrels per day]," the release said on Wednesday. "The second largest exporter of total petroleum was Saudi Arabia with 1.0 million b/d."

Russia exported 515,000 barrels of total petroleum per day to the United States in August, the release added, making it the fifth largest source after Mexico and Venezuela.

In terms of US imports of crude oil, the top five sources in August included Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Iraq, according to EIA data.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

As a result of a collision of a passenger bus with a truck in Turkeys northern Kastamonu province, according to the preliminary data, two people were killed, 31 were injured, the Turkish media reported on Nov. 1.

According to the message, about 20 draftees are among the injured.

The injured were taken to the city hospital.

A criminal case was filed.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

A terrorist attack was prevented in Turkeys south-eastern Mardin province, the Turkish media reported on Nov. 1.

As a result of a special operation being conducted by the provincial police, a truck loaded with 250 kilograms of explosives was revealed.

Reportedly, during the operation, five people who were planning to commit a terrorist attack in the city center were detained.

The names of the detainees, as well as other details of the operation were not disclosed.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

As many as 15,153 people were dismissed from the Turkish Armed Forces as part of the fight against the FETO terrorist movement (the movement of Fethullah Gulen), Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said, Turkish media reported.

He said the purge in the ranks of the Turkish Armed Forces will continue.

On Oct. 30, 40 servicemen of the Turkish Ground Forces were detained as part of the fight against FETO.

Fethullah Gulen and his supporters are accused of a military coup attempt in Turkey.

On July 15, 2016, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. The death toll as a result of the coup attempt stood at over 250 people, and more than 2,000 people were wounded.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 1

Trend:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has talked on the phone with his US counterpart Donald Trump, a source in the Turkish presidential administration told reporters, TASS news agency reported.

During the conversation, issues of the bilateral agenda, developments in Syria and settlement of issues in Manbij and Idlib were raised, said the source.

Erdogan and Trump expressed their determination to take constructive measures to improve and strengthen bilateral relations.

The source noted that the parties also agreed to continue contacts on the necessary bilateral and regional topics in the near future.

In addition, the Turkish president conveyed his condolences to the relatives and friends of those killed during the attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

It was earlier reported that the Turkish and US servicemen started to jointly patrol Syrias Manbij city on Nov. 1.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Satellite Industry Association is very pleased to congratulate Doreen Bogdan-Martin on being elected as Director of the United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Bureau of Telecommunication Development (BDT). The leadership elections took place at the ITUs Plenipotentiary Conference currently taking place in Dubai, UAE. Ms. Bogdan-Martin is the first woman to be elected to one of the five leadership positions in the ITUs 153-year history.



Doreen Bogdan-Martin has dedicated more than 25 years to promoting telecommunications and connectivity and has a proven track record of accomplishment. She began her career as a telecommunications policy specialist at the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunication and Information Administration or NTIA. She joined the ITU in 1994, where she led the policy and regulatory reforms program. Over the past decade, Ms. Bogdan-Martin served as the ITUs Chief of Strategic Planning and Membership.

SIA is very pleased to congratulate American Doreen Bogdan-Martin on her historic first ballot victory and becoming the new head of the ITUs BDT, said Tom Stroup, President of SIA. Ms. Bogdan-Martin has dedicated much of her career as a public servant with the focus of advancing global connectivity, a goal that is shared by many within the satellite industry. Because satellites have the unique capability of providing ubiquitous global connectivity, the industry can play an instrumental role in helping the ITU and BDT achieve Ms. Bogdan-Martins campaign goal of providing Internet to the worlds nearly 4 billion unconnected.

The ITU is the UNs specialized agency governing information and communications technologies (ICT) and is vital for American satellite industry interests. The ITU is responsible for telecommunications and international information including the allocation of global radio spectrum and satellite orbits. The Telecommunications Development Sector fosters international cooperation and solidarity in the delivery of technical assistance and in the creation, development and improvement of telecommunication and ICT equipment and networks in developing countries.



About The Satellite Industry Association

SIA is a U.S.-based trade association providing representation of the leading satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. For more than two decades, SIA has advocated on behalf of the U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business. For more information, visit www.sia.org .

SIA Executive Members include : AT&T Services, Inc.; The Boeing Company; EchoStar Corporation; Intelsat S.A.; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Ligado Networks; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Maxar Technologies; Northrop Grumman Corporation; OneWeb; SES Americom, Inc.; Space Exploration Technologies Corp.; Spire Global Inc.; and Viasat, Inc. SIA Associate Members include : ABS US Corp.; Analytical Graphics, Inc.; Artel, LLC; Blue Origin; DataPath Inc.; Eutelsat America Corp.; ExoAnalytic Solutions; Globecomm; Globalstar, Inc.; Glowlink Communications Technology, Inc.; HawkEye 360; Hughes; Inmarsat, Inc.; Kymeta Corporation; L3 Technologies; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Planet; Telesat Canada; TrustComm, Inc.; Ultisat, Inc.; and XTAR, LLC. SIA Affiliate Members include : The Aerospace Corporation; AQYR Technologies; COMSAT; Phasor; RUAG Space; and Wiley Rein LLP

SIA Media Contact: Dean Hirasawa

Endeavour Communications

dhirasawa@sia.org
Turkish and U.S. troops began joint patrols in northern Syria on Thursday aimed at averting clashes between Turkey and Washingtons Kurdish allies, but Turkey pressed on with a new threatened offensive nearby to crush the Kurds, Reuters reports.

Turkish military advances into northern Syria over the past two years have put U.S. forces directly in the path of advancing troops from Turkey, Washingtons main Muslim NATO ally.

The two countries have been working to avert direct confrontation, even as Turkey aims to crush the Kurdish YPG militia. The YPG forms the main part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that Washington backs with arms, air support and around 2,000 special forces troops on the ground in the fight against Islamic State.

To avert more fighting, the United States and Turkey agreed three months ago to hold joint patrols around the town of Manbij on the west bank of the Euphrates, under a deal that also saw Kurdish fighters withdraw from the city.

But even as the joint patrols were due to begin this week, Turkey announced a new offensive against the Kurds on the opposite bank of the river, into territory where the SDF is backed by U.S. troops to fight against Islamic State.

Turkeys defense minister and the U.S.-led military coalition in Syria confirmed the start of the joint patrols in Manbij, about 30 km (19 miles) from the Turkish border, on Thursday. Previously, U.S. and Turkish forces have held coordinated but separate patrols there.

A Reuters journalist saw a convoy of six military vehicles, some flying the U.S. flag and others flying the Turkish flag, driving on Thursday about 20 km from Manbij city.

The patrols are taking place along the dividing line between territory controlled by the SDF-allied Manbij Military Council and a Turkish-controlled area in northern Syria.

However, the U.S.-Turkish cooperation in Manbij does not seem to have succeeded in averting what would be the first Turkish offensive across the Euphrates.

Turkey has been firing across the border for five days in preparation for what President Tayyip Erdogan says will be an offensive soon to crush the Kurdish forces along the breadth of the Turkish frontier.
To share with friends and brethren The Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (the Everlasting Gospel), and to prepare a people to stand when He returns to redeem His remnant. Also, to share relevant information of current events, and to show how they relate to prophecy; By means of articles, editorials, opinions, scripture readings, and poetry.

Disclaimer

Endrtimes does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article/video posted on this site. The information provided here is done so for personal edification; It's up to the reader to separate truth from error, and to examine everything (like the Bereans) from a Biblical perspective. Let the Holy Scriptures be you guide! - - - FAIR USE NOTICE: These pages/videos may contain copyrighted () material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, POLITICAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, economic, DEMOCRACY, scientific, MORAL, ETHICAL, and SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes.
By Mariko Tamura, KYODO NEWS - Nov 6, 2018 - 10:07 | All, Feature, Japan

In a fashionable area of Shizuoka city, an hour west of Tokyo by bullet train, is a teahouse where a young French woman is attempting to spread her passion for Japanese tea to the world, especially to youth unfamiliar with its place in their cultural heritage.

Marie Roux, 24, has been working at Maruzen Tea Roastery cafe for less than a year. She greets customers with flawless Japanese, brewing them tea at custom-ordered temperatures and serving them tea-infused gelato.

Roux, from Besancon in France's Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region, never expected to find her life consumed by her passion for Japanese tea. As a university student, she was only interested in studying Japanese after reading manga and watching anime as a teen. She wasn't even sure if she would ever go to Japan.

A chance encounter at her university with a senior student who had just interned at a Japanese tea farm sparked her curiosity. It was soon followed by a tea tasting organized for students studying Japanese.



"I had a revelation. I had never tasted anything so good. I wanted to learn more," Roux said.

She decided then and there to reorient herself toward studying Japanese tea. She flew to Japan where she did a three-month internship at a tea farm, studied for a year at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto to improve her Japanese, and after graduating in France, returned east to delve even further into the world of tea.

She was hired as the cafe's self-appointed "kanban musume" -- an old-fashioned word that means a young girl who attracts customers to a shop.

The beauty of tea is multi-faceted, she says, and she would like to show her appreciation to the fullest, not just embracing the feelings that tea evokes for her but also the science underpinning it.

"Tea has great health benefits. A lot of people focus on coffee to stay alert but tea actually has the ability to make you alert and relaxed," she says, explaining its dual benefits.

Roux also cherishes the special way that tea creates a setting for people to come together, regardless of their backgrounds. She references the Japanese term "ichigo ichie," which describes the cultural concept of treasuring meetings with people and is closely associated with Japanese tea ceremonies.

It translates as "one chance in a lifetime," as in, the same gathering will never happen twice. "Even if you speak different languages, even if you drink tea with people from different countries, you can always share something through tea," she says.

These are the types of things that Roux would like to impart to others. Speaking about her native country, she says that the French understanding of Japanese tea is "still cliched," with a superficial knowledge of matcha ice cream and the tea ceremony as a symbol of Kyoto similar to geisha. "We don't really hear about Japanese sencha or hojicha. Only connoisseurs do."

Even Japanese drinkers of hojicha are unsure of its origin, according to Roux, tripped up by its reddish brown color.

"A lot of people are surprised to hear that hojicha is actually green tea. It only becomes hojicha after you roast the leaves," she says. "They don't realize that both teas are derived from the same plant."

Japanese tea leaves go through a process of being steamed, rolled and dried, although hojicha leaves go through an extra step of being roasted. The steaming prevents the leaves from becoming oxidized, retaining their green hue throughout the processing. In the case of hojicha, the leaves take on a reddish color as they are roasted. The roasting also removes nearly all of the caffeine.

"You ingest lots of good elements when you drink green tea. When we talk about green tea, we talk a lot about catechins and anti-oxidants, but that's not all they have. We rarely talk about the caffeine-theanine combination which simultaneously relaxes and makes you alert."

Roux's immediate focus is to impart to Japanese youth a deep appreciation for tea, which she feels has become increasingly neglected.

"People ask 'Do you want to export this culture of tea to (France)?' Yes, but it's not really my principal goal," she says. "What I want to see is Japanese people realizing how tea has a great importance in their culture and is something that needs to be cherished."

Young people have an image of tea as "something rather old" and drab which she says is a shame. People have been drinking tea since their childhood and it's become as "common as water," so they do not know the chemistry behind the tea, or even that all types of tea come from the same plant.

"I want everything about tea to become second-nature to the Japanese, especially the young," she says.

She does public relations for the cafe but her Instagram account shows a realm beyond its products as she adds photos and text to teach people about tea, wanting them to learn the background and "the details" such as how tea is made.

Aware that people scroll past photos quickly, she puts up "classy" pictures that are eye-catching enough for people to stop and hopefully read the accompanying text, which she carefully crafts in both English and Japanese.

She admits it is a difficult task, as neither is her native language, and she tries to synthesize as much information as possible into a few words.

Now she is studying to pass an exam to become a "Japanese tea advisor" and reads books on tea. "They are in Japanese so it takes time but it's very interesting," she says.

Read also...

Young tea enthusiasts on mission to save industry in Japan

Maruzen Tea Roastery

2-2-5 Gofuku-cho, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Japan

+81-54-204-1737
KYODO NEWS - Nov 1, 2018 - 22:42 | All, Japan

Japan Airlines Co. said Thursday one of its pilots was arrested by British police for exceeding the alcohol limit before a flight from London to Tokyo, leaving the airline to operate the flight with two pilots rather than the normal three.

JAL said an alcohol level more than 10 times the legal limit set under British aviation law was detected in the 42-year-old co-pilot's system, after he drank two bottles of wine and five cans of beer over six hours from 6 p.m. the night before the flight.

JAL Flight 44's departure for Haneda airport scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday local time was delayed by 1 hour 9 minutes.

The driver of a Heathrow Airport crew bus noticed the smell of alcohol on the co-pilot's breath and reported it to police, according to JAL.

JAL said the pilot is suspected of improperly clearing the alcohol check, as the airline's breath-testing equipment did not detect a problem. The two pilots who took the test with the co-pilot did not notice anything wrong with his behavior.

The case came to light a day after All Nippon Airways Co. apologized for five flight delays in Okinawa last week because a pilot became unwell after a night of drinking.

In May, a JAL flight attendant was caught sneaking a beer into a plane restroom and drinking it mid-flight.

The transport ministry on Thursday issued a document directing all Japanese airlines to report by month-end measures being taken to control drinking by flight staff.

Following the incident, JAL said it will introduce new breath-testing equipment at overseas airports. It will also prohibit pilots from drinking alcohol 24 hours prior to flights, compared to the current 12 hours.

Hiroshi Sugie, a former JAL captain, said, "Instead of setting stricter rules, what they should do is improve pilots' self-management and provide thorough education."

JAL normally operates long-haul routes connecting Japan with the United States or Europe with three pilots in the cockpit -- two captains and a co-pilot -- so they can take breaks in turn.

Under its internal rules, JAL limits two-pilot flights to routes of up to 12 hours. From Haneda, it takes about 12 hours and 30 minutes to fly to London, but 11 hours and 45 minutes for the return flight.

For London-Tokyo flights, the airline operates the route with three pilots aboard although the flying time is under 12 hours.

ANA apologizes for flight delays by pilot's drinking
KYODO NEWS - Nov 1, 2018 - 15:37 | World, All

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged Seoul on Thursday to take steps to ensure a court ruling ordering compensation for wartime forced labor does not affect Japanese businesses and indicated that Tokyo would take the case to the international stage if necessary.

"To manage difficult issues between the two countries, South Korea's efforts are indispensable. We strongly expect the South Korean government to take positive measures against the ruling," Abe said during a session of the House of Representatives' Budget Committee.

South Korea's Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a lower court decision that ordered Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. to compensate four South Koreans who were victims of forced labor during Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.

Calling the ruling an "unbelievable judgment," Abe said, "We will take resolute action with an eye on all possible options, including international adjudication." He suggested Tokyo could take the case to the International Court of Justice.

The Japanese government maintains that the right to seek compensation was terminated under a 1965 bilateral treaty stipulating issues relating to property and claims between the two countries and their peoples had been settled "completely and finally."

Tuesday's top court ruling could pour cold water on improving relations between Japan and South Korea, which need to work together in dealing with North Korea. Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae In visited each other's countries earlier this year.

Bilateral ties have often been rocked by issues related to territory and history, including Korean women who were forced to work in Japanese wartime military brothels.

Abe expressed his "deep regret" over a series of recent events that "run counter to efforts to build forward-looking bilateral ties."

He cited as examples South Korea's request for Japanese Self-Defense Force vessels not to fly the rising sun flag, used during World War II, in an international naval review and a recent visit by South Korean lawmakers to Seoul-controlled islets claimed by Tokyo in the Sea of Japan.

During phone talks on Wednesday, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono requested his South Korean counterpart, Kang Kyung Wha, to take measures so that Japanese nationals and companies are not subjected to detrimental treatment as a result of the ruling.

The government has started contacting Japanese companies involved in similar lawsuits in South Korea to seek understanding over its stance that they should not abide by rulings upholding individual compensation claims by South Koreans, sources close to the matter said.

A senior Foreign Ministry official told a meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Wednesday, "If even one Japanese company abides by (a compensation order), it would make no sense."

The LDP on Thursday adopted a resolution urging the government to study countermeasures, including taking the case to the ICJ.

In South Korea, 14 similar suits have been filed against Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp. and Hitachi Zosen Corp.

South Korea top court orders Japan firm to compensate for forced labor
Though authorities had banned pilgrimage to Sabarimala citing hazardous conditions, new orders on Saturday saw it withdrawn. However, with news that dam shutters are raised, questions linger.
Dublin, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Fire Protection System Market by Product, Fire Suppression, Fire Sprinkler, Service, Vertical - Global Forecast to 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The fire protection system market is expected to grow from USD 57.33 billion in 2018 to USD 88.94 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2018 to 2024.



The growth of the market is fueled by rise in deaths and loss of property due to fire breakouts, stringent government regulations and mandates, rising demand for wireless technologies for fire detection, and technological advancements in the construction industry. However, unexpected failure of fire alarm systems, high installation and maintenance costs of fire protection systems, and high costs involved in replacing traditional fire detectors with smart detectors are hindering the growth of the market.



Fire detectors are available for residential, commercial, and industrial use. Fire detection systems are permanently installed manual and automatic systems to detect fires at an early stage and quickly inform the relevant emergency service. Fire detection products such as flame detectors, smoke detectors, and heat detectors alert the occupants through alarms, as well as trigger automatic fire extinguishers such as sprinklers. Smoke detectors are designed to provide early warning of a potential fire, involving ordinary combustible materials. The installation of smoke detectors in buildings to identify fires has been in practice much before that of flame and heat detectors. Fire creates smoke that spreads faster than the actual fire; therefore, smoke detectors can detect fire, trigger fire alarms, and warn occupants about the fire.



The market for fire analysis is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. Fire analysis is an important part of fire protection, which facilitates informed decisions that lead to maximum efficiency. Fire analysis uses fire mapping and analysis software, and fire modeling and simulation software. Fire mapping and analysis software provides an interactive map display with a real-time system for decision makers to efficiently and quickly make decisions during fire-related situations. Moreover, with increasing need for sophisticated fire analysis, which helps in proper decision-making and fire prevention, the need for fire analysis software is expected to grow during the forecast period.



The fire protection system market for the oil, gas, and mining vertical is expected to grow at a high CAGR from 2018 to 2024. In the oil, gas, and mining vertical, flammable and combustible materials such as petroleum, crude oil, flammable gases (such as butane), and coal are used. These materials are susceptible to fire; therefore, to avoid fire accidents, advanced fire protection systems are installed in this vertical. Additionally, high-quality fire protection is an integral part of responsible risk management strategies; oil & gas facilities require the best fire protection systems available in the market.



The fire protection system market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2018 to 2024 owing to rapid industrialization in emerging economies such as China and India. New construction and real estate projects are driving the demand for fire protection systems and equipment. The government in this region is expected to come up with strict laws and regulations that would make the installation of fire protection systems mandatory in buildings. These factors are fueling the growth of the fire protection system market in this region. Also, growing urbanization has increased construction activities, contributing significantly to the growth of the fire protection system market in APAC.



Key Topics Covered:



1 Introduction

1.1 Study Objectives

1.2 Definition

1.3 Study Scope

1.4 Currency

1.5 Limitations

1.6 Stakeholders



2 Research Methodology

2.1 Research Data

2.2 Market Size Estimation

2.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation

2.4 Research Assumptions



3 Executive Summary



4 Premium Insights

4.1 Attractive Opportunities for Fire Protection System Market Growth

4.2 Fire Protection System Market, By Product & Service

4.3 Fire Protection System Market, By Product

4.4 Fire Protection System Market, By Fire Detector Type

4.5 Fire Protection System Market, By Vertical

4.6 Key Regions to Invest in During Forecast Period



5 Market Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Market Dynamics

5.2.1 Drivers

5.2.1.1 Modernization and Technological Advancements in Construction Industry

5.2.1.2 Rise in Deaths and Loss of Property Due to Fire Breakouts

5.2.1.3 Stringent Government Regulations and Mandates

5.2.1.4 Rapid Development in Wireless Technologies for Fire Detection

5.2.2 Restraints

5.2.2.1 High Installation and Maintenance Costs of Fire Protection Systems

5.2.2.2 Unexpected Failure of Fire Alarm Systems

5.2.2.3 High Costs Involved in Replacing Traditional Fire Detectors With Smart Detectors

5.2.3 Opportunities

5.2.3.1 Increasing Use of Water Mist Systems

5.2.3.2 Rapid Development of Smoke Detectors, Along With IoT and Big Data

5.2.3.3 Revision of Codes and Mandatory Standards

5.2.4 Challenge

5.2.4.1 Amalgamation of User Interfaces With Fire Protection Solutions



6 Industry Trends

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Value Chain Analysis

6.3 Latest Trends in Fps Market

6.3.1 Internet of Things (IoT) in Fps Market

6.3.2 Cloud-Based Technology

6.3.3 Video Image Smoke and Flame Detection Systems

6.4 Codes and Standards Related to Fire Protection Systems

6.4.1 Codes and Standards Related to Fire Detection

6.4.2 Codes and Standards Related to Fire Suppression



7 Fire Protection System Types

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Active Fire Protection Systems

7.2.1 Active Fire Protection Systems Protect Human Lives and Minimize Infrastructural Losses

7.3 Passive Fire Protection Systems

7.3.1 Passive Fire Protection System Prevents Spreading of Fire



8 Fire Protection System Market, By Product

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Fire Detection

8.2.1 Flame Detectors

8.2.1.1 Single IR (Infrared)

8.2.1.1.1 Single IR Flame Detectors Expected to Continue to Hold Largest Size of Flame Detector Market During Forecast Period

8.2.1.2 Single Ultraviolet (UV)

8.2.1.2.1 Single Ultraviolet Flame Detectors Used Especially for Indoor Applications

8.2.1.3 Dual UV/IR

8.2.1.3.1 Requirement of Dual UV/IR Flame Detectors to Reduce Industrial Emissions of Hydrocarbons

8.2.1.4 Triple IR (IR3)

8.2.1.4.1 Use of Triple IR Flame Detectors Owing to Their Highest Immunity to False Alarms at Longer Distances

8.2.1.5 Multi IR

8.2.1.5.1 Multi IR Flame Detectors Designed to Detect Hydrocarbon Flames in Industrial Plants

8.2.2 Smoke Detectors

8.2.2.1 Photoelectric

8.2.2.1.1 Growing Residential Sector Demands Photoelectric Smoke Detectors

8.2.2.2 Ionization

8.2.2.2.1 High Demand for Ionization Smoke Detectors Owing to Their Cost-Effectiveness and Ability to Detect Smaller Amounts of Smoke Produced By Flaming Fires

8.2.2.3 Dual-Sensor Smoke Detectors

8.2.2.3.1 Market for Dual-Sensor Smoke Detectors to Grow at Highest Rate in Coming Years

8.2.3 Heat Detectors

8.3 Fire Suppression

8.3.1 Chemical

8.3.1.1 Dry Chemical

8.3.1.1.1 Dry Chemical Fire Suppression Systems Provide Excellent Fire Coverage

8.3.1.2 Wet Chemical

8.3.1.2.1 Wet Chemical Systems Prevent Major Fire Damage in Commercial Cooking Areas

8.3.2 Gaseous

8.3.2.1 Clean Agent

8.3.2.1.1 Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Clean Agent Fire Suppression System

8.3.2.1.2 Fm200 Clean Agent Fire Suppression System

8.3.2.1.3 Other Clean Agent Fire Suppression Systems

8.3.3 Water

8.3.3.1 Water Mist

8.3.3.1.1 Water Mist Suppression Systems Protect Industrial Assets While Minimizing Potential Water Damage

8.3.4 Foam

8.3.4.1 Foam Water

8.3.4.1.1 Foam Water Suppression Systems Provide Faster Water Penetration Into Flammable Substrates and Controlled Foam Expansion for Predetermined Time

8.4 Fire Sprinkler System

8.4.1 Wet

8.4.1.1 Wet Pipe Fire Sprinklers Likely to Continue to Command Fire Sprinkler Market During Forecast Period

8.4.2 Dry

8.4.2.1 Dry Pipe Sprinkler Systems Designed for Cold Spaces Wherein Freezing of Sprinkler Pipes is Highly Possible

8.4.3 Pre-Action

8.4.3.1 Pre-Action Systems are Mostly Deployed in Water-Sensitive Environments

8.4.4 Deluge

8.4.4.1 Deluge Fire Sprinkler Systems to Exhibit Highest Market Growth During Forecast Period

8.4.5 Other Fire Sprinkler Systems

8.5 Fire Analysis

8.5.1 Fire Mapping and Analysis Software

8.5.2 Fire Modeling and Simulation Software

8.6 Fire Response

8.6.1 Emergency Lighting Systems

8.6.2 Voice Evacuation and Public Alert Systems

8.6.3 Secure Communication Systems

8.6.4 Fire Alarm Devices



9 Fire Protection System Market, By Service

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Engineering

9.2.1 Need for Guidelines on Fire Safety Measures and Ways to Prevent Fire Accidents Drives Demand for Engineering Services

9.3 Installation and Design

9.3.1 Growing Commercial and Industrial Sectors Boost Requirements of installation and Design Services

9.4 Maintenance

9.4.1 Necessity of Timely Maintenance and Inspection of Fire Protection Systems Surge Demand for Maintenance Services

9.5 Managed

9.5.1 Managed Services Ensure Security of Business Information and Smooth Functioning of Business Operations

9.6 Others



10 Fire Protection System Market, By Vertical

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Residential

10.2.1 High Demand for Fire Protection Systems in Residential Sector Owing to Increased Risk of Death Or Injury From Fire

10.3 Commercial

10.3.1 Academia and Institutional

10.3.1.1 Installation of Fire Protection Systems Minimizes the Risk of Any Fire Hazard in Educational Or Academic Buildings

10.3.2 Retail

10.3.2.1 Rise in Number of Retail Shops and Malls Drives Fire Protection System Market Growth

10.3.3 Healthcare

10.3.3.1 Renovation and Expansion of Hospital Facilities Lead to High Demand for Fire Detection and Suppression Systems

10.3.4 Hospitality

10.3.4.1 Deployment of Fire Sprinkler and Detection Systems in Hospitality Sector as A Provision for Fast Response to Fire Events

10.3.5 Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI)

10.3.5.1 Use of Fire Protection Systems in BFSI for Safeguarding Physical Assets and Infrastructure From Fire Hazards

10.4 Energy & Power

10.4.1 Increased Need for Energy Generation Proves to Be Great Opportunity for Fire Protection Companies

10.5 Government

10.5.1 Need for Fire Protection Services Dominates Government Sector

10.6 Manufacturing

10.6.1 Fire Analysis to Grow at the Highest Rate in Manufacturing Sector

10.7 Oil, Gas, and Mining

10.7.1 Oil, Gas, and Mining Sector to Witness Highest Growth Rate in Fire Protection System Market During Forecast Period

10.8 Transportation & Logistics

10.8.1 Transportation & Logistics Require Fire Protection Services Due to Life Safety Challenges Faced By This Sector

10.9 Others



11 Geographic Analysis

11.1 Introduction

11.2 North America

11.2.1 US

11.2.1.1 US to Hold Largest Share of Fire Protection System Market in North America in Next Few Years

11.2.2 Canada

11.2.2.1 Fire Protection System Market to Grow at Highest CAGR in Canada During Forecast Period

11.2.3 Mexico

11.2.3.1 Fire Protection System Market in Mexico is Still in the Initial Phase

11.3 Europe

11.3.1 UK

11.3.1.1 Rising Demand for Wireless Fire Detection Systems Drives Market Growth in UK

11.3.2 Germany

11.3.2.1 Fire Protection System Market in Germany to Grow at Highest CAGR During Forecast Period

11.3.3 France

11.3.3.1 Significant Contribution of France in European Fire Protection System Market Owing to Stringent Government Regulations

11.3.4 Rest of Europe

11.3.4.1 Italy and Spain Considered as Evolving Markets for Fire Protection Systems

11.4 APAC

11.4.1 China

11.4.1.1 China to Dominate Fire Protection System Market in APAC

11.4.2 Japan

11.4.2.1 Japan Proved to Be One of the Significant Contributors to Fire Protection System Market in APAC

11.4.3 South Korea

11.4.3.1 Fire Prevention and Safety Initiatives to Boost Fire Protection System Market Growth in South Korea

11.4.4 Rest of APAC

11.4.4.1 India is One of the Developing Markets for Fire Protection Systems

11.5 Rest of the World (RoW)

11.5.1 Middle East and Africa

11.5.1.1 Middle East to Lead Fire Protection System Market in RoW Owing to Highly Hazardous Environment in Oil and Petroleum Business

11.5.2 South America

11.5.2.1 Lower Adoption of Fire Protection Systems in South America Compared to Middle East & Africa



12 Competitive Landscape

12.1 Overview

12.2 Market Player Ranking Analysis

12.3 Competitive Situations and Trends

12.3.1 Agreements, Contracts, Collaborations, and Mergers (2015-2017)

12.3.2 Product Launches and Developments (2016-2017)

12.3.3 Expansions (2015-2018)

12.3.4 Acquisitions (2015-2017)



13 Company Profiles

13.1 Key Players

13.1.1 Johnson Controls

13.1.2 United Technologies

13.1.3 Honeywell

13.1.4 Siemens

13.1.5 Halma

13.1.6 Robert Bosch

13.1.7 Hochiki

13.1.8 Minimax Viking

13.1.9 Gentex

13.1.10 Securiton AG

13.2 Other Key Players

13.2.1 Encore Fire Protection

13.2.2 Sterling Safety Systems

13.2.3 Fire Suppression Limited

13.2.4 Schrack Seconet AG

13.2.5 Napco Security Technologies

13.2.6 VFP Fire Systems

13.3 Fire Protection Service Companies

13.3.1 S&S Fire Suppression Systems

13.3.2 Fireline Corporation

13.3.3 ORR Protection

13.3.4 Argus Fire Protection Company Ltd

13.3.5 Firetrol Protection Systems, Inc



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/dsjbsd/fire_protection?w=12

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SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorneys from Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP, today filed suit against InnoGrit Corporation, its co-founder Zining Wu, its parent company Shanghai Yingren Chuang Information Technology Co., LTD., and 100 as yet unnamed other defendants in California Superior Court , Santa Clara County.



The Complaint on behalf of InnoGrits co-founder Yuhui (David) Chen alleges breach of contract, promissory fraud, retaliation, wrongful termination, and shareholder direct and derivative claims.

Chen is represented by a Sanford Heisler Sharp team led by Nashville Managing Partner Kevin Sharp and San Francisco-based Senior Counsel Qiaojing Ella Zheng. Nashville-based Leigh Anne St. Charles and Washington-DC based Rob Van Someren Greve are also on the team.

Mr. Wu has utterly failed to perform his contractual obligations and duties under the binding agreement he reached with his co-founder David Chen, said Qiaojing. We believe Wu fraudulently induced David to leave his previous employment and lead InnoGrit based on false promises and intentional misrepresentations that interfered with Davids economic wellbeing and promising career opportunities.

InnoGrit Corporation is a startup focused on developing and marketing data storage and data transport technology for artificial intelligence and other big data applications through integrated circuit and system solutions. InnoGrit Corporations headquarters and main office are in San Jose; Shanghai Yingren Chuang Information Technology Company is registered in Shanghai, China.

Prior to co-founding InnoGrit, Chen and Wu had a strong personal and professional relationship as colleagues at Marvell Technology Group, a global leader in storage, networking and connectivity semiconductor solutions headquartered in Santa Clara.

The Complaint chronicles the lengthy process by which Wu made numerous false representations and promises to Chen about a founding equity stake in InnoGrit, which prompted Chen to leave his highly compensated position at Marvell. Wu then made Chen a fraudulent offer of a 10% ownership stake in their new company  substantially below the 20% ownership position he had previously promised.

Wu assured David that his initial stake in InnoGrit would be increased after David joined their new company, said Sharp. We believe Wu made these representations knowing they were false, and knowing their personal relationship would induce David to trust him and honor his word. Relying on misrepresentations about equity and responsibilities, Chen joined InnoGrit as its President in March 2017.

Chen believed he would soon earn a larger ownership stake in InnoGrit based on his position and contributions to the company. He fully devoted his industrial knowledge, resources, connection and reputation to building the company. In return, Wu quickly reduced Chens duties and responsibilities, ultimately cutting him out of the company entirely.

The Complaint asserts Wu never intended to give Chen an equal or comparable ownership stake or make Chen a member of InnoGrits Board of Directors, although he had represented to Chen he would do so. When Chen sought legal representation to protect his rights, Wu terminated Chens employment with InnoGrit in April 2018, in violation of the California Labor Codes prohibition of retaliatory termination.

Chen seeks economic, non-economic, special and punitive damages, civil penalties under California Labor Law, reasonable attorneys fees and legal costs, and permanent injunctive relief including an injunction restraining the defendants from continuing any policy or practice that discourages employees from making disclosures or complaints to their employers of government agencies regarding their working conditions.

About Sanford Heisler Sharp

Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP is a public interest class-action litigation law firm with offices in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, as well as New York, San Francisco, San Diego, and Nashville. Our attorneys have graduated from the nations top law schools, clerked for judges throughout the United States, and amassed extensive experience litigating and trying cases that have earned over one billion dollars for our clients.

The Firm is committed to civil rights and general public interest cases, representing plaintiffs with claims of employment discrimination, sexual violence, labor and wage violations, predatory lending, consumer fraud, and whistleblowing, among other claims. Along with a focus on class actions, the Firm also represents individuals and has achieved extraordinary success in the representation of executives and attorneys in employment disputes.

For more information, go to www.sanfordheisler.com or call (646) 402-5650 For the latest news, visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @sanfordheisler .

For more information, contact Jamie Moss, newsPRos, 201-493-1027, jamie@newspros.com
New Delhi: Pakistan and China are all set to start a bus service as part of the USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. To this India on Wednesday registered a strong protest with the two nations over the proposed service. India has opposed to the fact that the bus service would pass through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Worth mention here that India has turned down to join the broader Belt and Road Initiative by China as the CPEC project, which is a part of the BRI, passes through PoK.

Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), stated the proposed bus service breaches India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The MEA spokesperson stated India's consistent and well-known position is that the "so-called China-Pakistan 'Boundary Agreement' of 1963 is illegitimate and invalid, and has never been recognized by the Government of India."

"Therefore, any such bus service through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Ravish Kumar added.

The bus service is due to be launched between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China. There are opposing reports on the date of the launch, while some say the inauguration is on November 03, others have given out November 13 as the date.

The USD 50-billion CPEC, began in 2015, is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects connecting China's resource-rich Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region with Pakistan's strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea.
Dublin, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Industrial Vacuum Cleaner Market by Type (Dry and Wet & Dry), Power Source (Electric & Pneumatic), Industry (Food & Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, Manufacturing, Metalworking, and Building & Construction), and Region - Global Forecast to 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The industrial vacuum cleaner market is expected to grow from USD 536.9 million in 2018 to USD 681.3 million by 2023, at a CAGR of 4.88%.



Benefits offered by industrial vacuum cleaners include the removal of tough deposits and hard stains from industries, continuous cleaning operations, and saving on the labor and man hours, which drive the industrial vacuum cleaner market growth.



The awareness about safety and hygiene at workplaces is increasing day by day. Industries have their own unique set of cleaning challenges. Dirty and contaminated areas in industries can significantly impact the health of employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an agency of the United States Department of Labor, has stated the rules for clean and hygienic workplaces. Therefore, many industrial cleaning equipment manufacturers offer industrial vacuum cleaners that comply with OSHA standards.



Moreover, the increased labor cost in developing countries, such as China, fuels the adoption of industrial vacuum cleaners. High machinery cost and heavy structure of industrial vacuum cleaners act as a restraining factor for the industrial vacuum cleaner market growth.



"Metalworking industry is expected to account for significant share of industrial vacuum cleaner market"



The metalworking industry requires rugged vacuum cleaners for the continuous removal of dust and debris. In metalworking facilities, during several processes, such as milling and grinding, very small metal particles get accumulated on the machines, and fugitive dust in the form of fine metal powder is gathered, which need to be removed regularly. These facilities require different types of industrial vacuum cleaners on a large scale to handle the toughest materials, as well as withstand nonstop operations. Further, water or oil is used as a coolant in a few metalworking processes. Hence, the metalworking industry prefers three-phase wet & dry vacuum cleaners with high suction power that can clean both metal particles and oily surfaces.



"Europe held largest share of industrial vacuum cleaner market in 2017"



Europe is a leading region for the industrial vacuum cleaner market as it is a hub for various manufacturing industries, such as automotive and aerospace. European automobile manufacturers are highly competent in designing, developing, and manufacturing automobiles. With the adoption of advanced mechanized cleaning solutions, Europe captured the largest share of the market for industrial vacuum cleaners.

Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Nilfisk A/S (Denmark), and Tennant Company (US) are a few major players in the market.



Moreover, other players such Comac SpA (Italy), Nederman Holding AB (Sweden), Suiden Co., Ltd. (Japan), Hako GmbH (Germany), Diversey, Inc (Tasky) (US), Numatic International Ltd. (UK), Delfin Industrial Vacuums (Italy), Ruwac Industriesauger GmbH (Germany), Kraenzle (Germany), Debus GmbH (Germany), RGS Vacuum System (Italy), and Depureco Industrial Vacuums (Italy) play a significant role in the industrial vacuum cleaner market.



Key Topics Covered:



1 Introduction



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Premium Insights

4.1 Attractive Opportunities in Industrial Vacuum Cleaner Market

4.2 Electric Industrial Vacuum Cleaner Market, By Phase Type

4.3 Market in Europe, By Type

4.4 Market for Food & Beverages Industry, By Type

4.5 Wet & Dry Industrial Vacuum Cleaner Market, By Region and Industry

4.6 Market in Europe, By Country



5 Market Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Market Dynamics

5.2.1 Drivers

5.2.1.1 Benefits of Industrial Vacuum Cleaners

5.2.2 Restraints

5.2.2.1 High Machinery Cost and Heavy Structure of Vacuums

5.2.3 Opportunities

5.2.3.1 Demand for Industrial Vacuum Cleaners From Emerging Economies

5.2.4 Challenges

5.2.4.1 Highly Competitive Market



6 Industrial Vacuum Cleaner Market, By Type

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Dry

6.2.1 Dry Industrial Vacuum Cleaners Expected to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period

6.3 Wet & Dry

6.3.1 Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaners Can Suck Oily and Water Residues Owing to Its High Suction Power



7 Industrial Vacuum Cleaner Market, By Power Source

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Pneumatic Vacuum Cleaners

7.2.1 Key Supplier of Pneumatic Vacuum Cleaners

7.3 Electric Vacuum Cleaners

7.3.1 Single Phase

7.3.2 Three Phase



8 Industrial Vacuum Cleaner Market, By Industry

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Metalworking

8.2.1 Use of Industrial Vacuum Cleaners in Metalworking Industry for the Removal of Dust, Debris, Metal Chips, and Oil

8.3 Pharmaceuticals

8.3.1 Adoption of Industrial Vacuums to Maintain Hygiene, Increase Production, and Avoid Cross-Contamination in Pharmaceuticals Industry

8.4 Food & Beverages

8.4.1 Food & Beverages Industry Held the Largest Share of the Industrial Vacuum Cleaner Market in 2017

8.5 Building and Construction

8.5.1 Integration of Vacuum Cleaner With Other Construction Tools is One of the Significant Use

8.6 Manufacturing

8.6.1 Automotive, Shipbuilding, Semiconductor, and Aerospace Industries Offer Lucrative Opportunities

8.7 Others



9 Geographic Analysis of Industrial Vacuum Cleaner Market

9.1 Introduction

9.2 North America

9.2.1 US

9.2.1.1 US Expected to Capture the Largest Share of the North American Market in the Coming Years

9.2.2 Rest of North America

9.3 Europe

9.3.1 Germany

9.3.1.1 Germany Holds A Significant Share of the European Market for Industrial Vacuum Cleaners

9.3.2 France

9.3.2.1 France is One of the Significant Market in Europe for Industrial Vacuum Cleaner

9.3.3 UK

9.3.4 Rest of Europe

9.4 APAC

9.4.1 China

9.4.1.1 Industrialization in China Propels Growth of the Industrial Vacuum Cleaner Market in the Country

9.4.2 Japan

9.4.2.1 Japan to Witness Steady Growth in the Vacuum Cleaner Market During the Forecast Period

9.4.3 Rest of APAC

9.5 Rest of the World

9.5.1 South America

9.5.2 Middle East and Africa

9.5.2.1 Diversification of Businesses Other Than Oil & Gas in Middle East Countries



10 Competitive Landscape

10.1 Overview

10.2 Ranking of Players, 2017

10.3 Competitive Scenario

10.3.1 Product Launches



11 Company Profiles



American Vacuum Company

Comac S.P.A.

Debus GmbH

Delfin Industrial Vacuums

Depureco Industrial Vacuums

Diversey (Taski)

Eureka Forbes Limited

Exair

Ghibli & Wirbel

Hako Group

Kaercher

Kranzle

Michael Williams Engineering Ltd.

NSS Enterprises

Nederman

Nilfisk

Numatic International Ltd.

RGS Vacuum Systems

Ruwac Industriesauger GmbH

Sibilia S.R.L.

Suiden Co., Ltd.

Tennant

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Niwot, Colorado, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Healthcare REIT, Inc. (OTC:GBCS) (the Company) announced that effective October 15, 2018, it consummated the First Closing of a private offering of Units, each Unit consisting of an 11% Senior Secured Note and one warrant for each $1.00 in principal amount of Note with a strike price at $0.50. The Offering is being conducted through a registered broker-dealer acting as a Placement Agent.

In closing the Minimum Offering, the Company sold an aggregate of $660,000 in Units to new cash investors, and also sold an additional $1,075,000 in Units to holders of existing 10% senior notes and warrants that were exchanged for Units in the Offering. After payment of Placement Agent and Escrow Agent fees, the Company realized net proceeds of $619,400.

Effective October 31, 2018, the Company consummated a Second Closing of the Offering having sold an additional $385,000 in Units. After payment of Placement Agent fees, the Company realized net proceeds of $361,900.

The Company and Placement Agent have agreed to continue the Offering until the earlier of (i) the sale of the Maximum Offering of $1.75 million or (ii) the mutual agreement to terminate the Offering.

Additionally, effective November 1, 2018, the Company called and retired the remaining $4.45 million Tulsa County Industrial Authority (TCIA) Bonds outstanding with a First Commercial Line of Credit that was established on October 31, 2017. Since April 2017, the Company repurchased $1.62 million bonds for $1.17 million in cash through open market purchases and various tender offers at discounted prices. The First Commercial Line of Credit will now convert into an amortizing loan. The refinancing saves the company $92,000 in annual debt service payments while providing low cost capital to fund the renovations at our Tulsa ILF.

The Company also announced that in two separate privately negotiated transactions it has repurchased an aggregate of 371,399 shares of common stock for consideration of $108,508. The repurchased shares have been cancelled and are no longer outstanding.

Zvi Rhine, the Companys President, stated As part of our capital allocation program, we will seek to make additional share repurchases through privately negotiated transactions in concert with completing our renovation project at our Tulsa ILF. Retiring the TCIA Bonds exemplifies leveraging our strong senior lending relationships to reduce our interest expense and significantly improve our capital structure.

Lance Baller, the Companys CEO, added We are extremely pleased with the progress we have made in making additional capital available to support our aggressive property upgrades and new acquisition strategy. Our stock repurchases underscore our belief that the market price for our stock is significantly undervalued.

For Further Information Contact:

Zvi Rhine, President

303-449-2100
English French

Revenues at $3.420 billion, up 18.6%

Net earnings at $163.1 million, down 11.9%

Adjusted net earnings at $163.1 million, down 12.0%

MONTREAL, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saputo Inc. (TSX: SAP) (Saputo or the Company) reported today its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2019, which ended on September 30, 2018. All amounts in this news release are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated, and are presented according to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Revenues for the quarter amounted to $3.420 billion, an increase of approximately $536 million or 18.6%.

Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, acquisition and restructuring costs (adjusted EBITDA*) amounted to $318.5 million, a decrease of $11.3 million or 3.4%.

Net earnings totalled $163.1 million, a decrease of $22.1 million or 11.9%.

Adjusted net earnings* totalled $163.1 million, a decrease of $22.3 million or 12.0%.

Net earnings per share (basic and diluted) were $0.42 for the quarter, as compared to $0.48 and $0.47 for the corresponding quarter last fiscal year, a decrease of 12.5% and 10.6%, respectively.

Adjusted net earnings per share* (basic and diluted) were $0.42 for the quarter, as compared to $0.48 and $0.47 for the corresponding quarter last fiscal year, a decrease of 12.5% and 10.6%, respectively.

(in millions of Canadian (CDN) dollars, except per share amounts)

(unaudited) For the three-month periods

ended September 30 For the six-month periods

ended September 30 2018 2017 2018 2017 Revenues 3,420.4 2,884.2 6,688.2 5,776.3 Adjusted EBITDA* 318.5 329.8 626.0 685.0 Net earnings 163.1 185.2 289.1 385.5 Adjusted net earnings* 163.1 185.4 323.4 385.7 Net earnings per share Basic 0.42 0.48 0.74 1.00 Diluted 0.42 0.47 0.74 0.99 Adjusted net earnings per share* Basic 0.42 0.48 0.83 1.00 Diluted 0.42 0.47 0.83 0.99

Revenues increased mainly as a result of the contribution of recent acquisitions.

All recent acquisitions contributed positively to adjusted EBITDA.

The combined effect of the USA Market factors**, as well as lower international dairy ingredient and cheese market prices negatively impacted adjusted EBITDA by approximately $25 million, as compared to the same quarter last fiscal year.

Higher warehousing, logistical and transportation costs, as well as higher Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) expenses had an unfavourable impact on adjusted EBITDA of approximately $31 million, as compared to the same quarter last fiscal year.

The fluctuation of the Canadian dollar versus foreign currencies during the quarter had a positive impact on adjusted EBITDA of approximately $5 million, as compared to the same quarter last fiscal year.

On October 26, 2018, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire the activities of F&A Dairy Products, Inc. (F&A Dairy Products Acquisition). The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2018.

The Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.165 per share payable on December 14, 2018 to common shareholders of record on December 4, 2018.

________________________

* Non-IFRS measures described in the Glossary section on page 20 of the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of fiscal 2019. ** Refer to the Glossary section on page 20 of the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

Additional Information

For more information on the second quarter results of fiscal 2019, reference is made to the condensed interim consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto and to the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of fiscal 2019. These documents can be obtained on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and in the Investors section of the Companys website, at www.saputo.com .

Conference Call

A conference call to discuss the fiscal 2019 second quarter results will be held on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. To participate in the conference call, dial 1-888-223-5152. To ensure your participation, please dial in approximately five minutes before the call.

To listen to this call on the Web, please enter http://www.gowebcasting.com/9674 in your Web browser.

For those unable to participate, a replay of the conference will be available until 11:59 p.m., Thursday, November 8, 2018. To access the replay, dial 1-800-558-5253, ID number 21897333. A webcast will also be archived on www.saputo.com , in the Investors section, under Newsroom.

About Saputo

Saputo produces, markets, and distributes a wide array of dairy products of the utmost quality, including cheese, fluid milk, extended shelf-life milk and cream products, cultured products and dairy ingredients. Saputo is one of the top ten dairy processors in the world, the largest cheese manufacturer and the leading fluid milk and cream processor in Canada, the top dairy processor in Australia and the second largest in Argentina. In the USA, Saputo ranks among the top three cheese producers and is one of the largest producers of extended shelf-life and cultured dairy products. Our products are sold in several countries under well-known brand names such as Saputo, Alexis de Portneuf, Armstrong, COON, Cracker Barrel*, Dairyland, DairyStar, Devondale, Friendship Dairies, Frigo Cheese Heads, La Paulina, Milk2Go/Laits Go, Montchevre, Murray Goulburn Ingredients, Neilson, Nutrilait, Scotsburn*, Stella, Sungold, Treasure Cave and Woolwich Dairy. Saputo Inc. is a publicly traded company and its shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol SAP.

*Trademark used under licence.

Media Inquiries

1-514-328-3141 / 1-866-648-5902

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements are based, among other things, on Saputos assumptions, expectations, estimates, objectives, plans and intentions as of the date hereof regarding projected revenues and expenses, the economic, industry, competitive and regulatory environments in which the Company operates or which could affect its activities, its ability to attract and retain customers and consumers, as well as the availability and cost of milk and other raw materials and energy supplies, its operating costs and the pricing of its finished products on the various markets in which it carries on business.

These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to the Companys short and medium term objectives, outlook, business projects and strategies to achieve those objectives, as well as statements with respect to the Companys beliefs, plans, objectives and expectations. The words may, should, will, would, believe, plan, expect, intend, anticipate, estimate, foresee, objective, continue, propose or target, or the negative of these terms or variations of them, the use of conditional or future tense or words and expressions of similar nature, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from the conclusion, forecast or projection stated in such forward-looking statements. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statements will materialize. Assumptions, expectations and estimates made in the preparation of forward-looking statements and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations are discussed in the Companys materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time, including the Risks and Uncertainties section of the Managements Discussion and Analysis included in the Companys 2018 Annual Report.

Forward-looking statements are based on Managements current estimates, expectations and assumptions, which Management believes are reasonable as of the date hereof, and, accordingly, are subject to changes after such date. You should not place undue importance on forward-looking statements and should not rely upon this information as of any other date.

To the extent any forward-looking statement in this document constitutes financial outlook, within the meaning of applicable securities laws, such information is intended to provide shareholders with information regarding the Company, including its assessment of future financial plans, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Financial outlook, as with forward-looking information generally, is based on current estimates, expectations and assumptions and is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and other factors.

Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Saputo does not undertake to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether written or verbal, that may be made from time to time by itself or on its behalf, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Consolidated revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 totalled $3.420 billion, an increase of approximately $536 million or 18.6%, as compared to $2.884 billion for the corresponding quarter last fiscal year. Revenues increased due to higher sales volumes mainly derived from the inclusion of the recently acquired activities of Murray Goulburn Co-Operative Co. Limited (Murray Goulburn) (Murray Goulburn Acquisition), Betin, Inc., doing business as Montchevre (Montchevre Acquisition), the activities of Shepherd Gourmet Dairy (Ontario) Inc. (Shepherd Gourmet Acquisition) and the extended shelf-life dairy product activities of Southeast Milk, Inc. (SMI Acquisition), as compared to the same quarter last fiscal year. This increase was partially offset by a lower average block market* per pound of cheese and a lower average butter market* price per pound, which decreased revenues by approximately $42 million. Lower international selling prices of cheese and dairy ingredients also negatively impacted revenues. Moreover, the fluctuation of the Canadian dollar versus foreign currencies decreased revenues by approximately $35 million.

For the six-month period ended September 30, 2018, revenues totalled $6.688 billion, an increase of approximately $912 million or 15.8% in comparison to $5.776 billion for the same period last fiscal year. Higher sales volumes mainly due to the recent acquisitions increased revenues, as compared to the corresponding period last fiscal year. This increase was partially offset by lower international selling prices of cheese and dairy ingredients. Also, a lower average block market per pound of cheese and a lower average butter market price per pound decreased revenues by approximately $8 million. Additionally, the fluctuation of the Canadian dollar versus foreign currencies decreased revenues by approximately $160 million.

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of fiscal 2019 totalled $318.5 million, a decrease of $11.3 million or 3.4% in comparison to $329.8 million for the same quarter last fiscal year. The combined effect of the USA Market factors, as well as lower international dairy ingredient and cheese market prices negatively impacted adjusted EBITDA by approximately $25 million, as compared to the same quarter last fiscal year. Contributing to the adjusted EBITDA decrease were higher warehousing, logistical and transportation costs of approximately $27 million. Also, higher administrative expenses, mainly due to the ERP initiative, of approximately $4 million, decreased adjusted EBITDA. These decreases were partially offset by the favourable impact of adjusted EBITDA generated from recent acquisitions. Finally, the fluctuation of the Canadian dollar versus foreign currencies had a favourable impact on adjusted EBITDA of approximately $5 million, as compared to the same quarter last fiscal year.

For the six-month period ended September 30, 2018, consolidated adjusted EBITDA totalled $626.0 million, a decrease of $59.0 million or 8.6%, as compared to $685.0 million for the corresponding period last fiscal year. The combined effect of the USA Market factors, lower dairy ingredient and international cheese market prices, as well as lower international dairy ingredient and cheese market prices negatively impacted adjusted EBITDA by approximately $26 million, as compared to the same period last fiscal year. Furthermore, higher warehousing and logistical costs of approximately $51 million related to additional handling and external storage expenses, as well as higher transportation costs negatively impacted adjusted EBITDA. Higher administrative expenses, mainly due to the ERP initiative, of approximately $9 million, also decreased adjusted EBITDA. These decreases were partially offset by the favourable impact of adjusted EBITDA generated from recent acquisitions. Lastly, the fluctuation of the Canadian dollar versus foreign currencies had an unfavourable impact on adjusted EBITDA of approximately $8 million, as compared to the same period last fiscal year.

________________________

* Refer to the Glossary section on page 20 of the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

OTHER CONSOLIDATED RESULT ITEMS

Depreciation and amortization for the second quarter of fiscal 2019 totalled $77.0 million, an increase of $25.2 million, in comparison to $51.8 million for the same quarter last fiscal year. For the six-month period ended September 30, 2018, depreciation and amortization expenses amounted to $151.2 million, an increase of $45.7 million, as compared to $105.5 million for the corresponding period last fiscal year. These increases are mainly attributed to additional depreciation and amortization expenses related to recent acquisitions, additions to property, plant and equipment, which increased the depreciable base, and trademarks for which amortization started in fiscal 2019.

Acquisition costs amounted to $48.9 million for the six-month period ended September 30, 2018. Acquisition costs are related to the Murray Goulburn Acquisition, including $38.6 million in stamp duty taxes, as well as to the Shepherd Gourmet Acquisition.

Net interest expense for the three and six-month periods ended September 30, 2018 increased by $9.9 million and $19.3 million, respectively, in comparison to the same periods last fiscal year. The increase is mainly attributed to the additional debt related to the Murray Goulburn Acquisition.

Income taxes for the three-month period ended September 30, 2018 totalled $56.0 million, reflecting an effective tax rate of 25.6% compared to 30.2% for the same quarter last fiscal year. Income taxes for the six-month period ended September 30, 2018 totalled $95.1 million, reflecting an income tax rate of 24.8% in comparison to 30.8% for the same period last fiscal year. These decreases are mainly due to the reduction of the federal US tax rate further to the USA tax reform*. The income tax rate varies and could increase or decrease based on the amount and source of taxable income, amendments to tax legislations and income tax rates, changes in assumptions, as well as estimates used for tax assets and liabilities by the Company.

Net earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2019 totalled $163.1 million, a decrease of $22.1 million or 11.9% in comparison to $185.2 million for the same quarter last fiscal year. For the six-month period ended September 30, 2018, net earnings totalled $289.1 million, a decrease of $96.4 million or 25.0% as compared to $385.5 million for the same period last fiscal year. These decreases are due to the above-mentioned factors.

Adjusted net earnings totalled $163.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, compared to $185.4 million for the same quarter last fiscal year. For the six-month period ended September 30, 2018, adjusted net earnings totalled $323.4 million, as compared to $385.7 million for the same period last fiscal year. These decreases are due to the above-mentioned factors.

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* Refer to the Glossary section on page 20 of the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(in millions of CDN dollars, except per share amounts)

Fiscal years 2019 2018 2017 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Revenues 3,420.4 3,267.8 2,744.4 3,021.8 2,884.2 2,892.1 2,719.8 2,966.1 Adjusted EBITDA* 318.5 307.5 261.7 318.0 329.8 355.2 284.1 346.6 Net earnings 163.1 126.0 130.0 337.0 185.2 200.3 165.2 197.4 Acquisition and restructuring costs1 - 34.3 5.3 25.1 0.2 - - - USA Tax Reform** - - - (178.9 ) - - - - Adjusted net earnings* 163.1 160.3 135.3 183.2 185.4 200.3 165.2 197.4 Net earnings per share Basic 0.42 0.32 0.34 0.87 0.48 0.52 0.42 0.50 Diluted 0.42 0.32 0.33 0.86 0.47 0.51 0.42 0.49 Adjusted net earnings per share* Basic 0.42 0.41 0.35 0.47 0.48 0.52 0.42 0.50 Diluted 0.42 0.41 0.35 0.47 0.47 0.51 0.42 0.49

* Non-IFRS measures described in the Glossary section on page 20 of the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of fiscal 2019. ** Refer to the Glossary section on page 20 of the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of fiscal 2019. 1 Net of income taxes.

Consolidated selected factors positively (negatively) affecting adjusted EBITDA

(in millions of CDN dollars)

Fiscal years 2019 2018 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 USA Market factors* 1 (7 ) 2 (3 ) (19 ) (6 ) 3 Inventory write-down - - (11 ) (2 ) (3 ) (1 ) Foreign currency exchange1, 2 5 (13 ) (5 ) (14 ) (8 ) 9

* Refer to the Glossary section on page 20 of the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of fiscal 2019. 1 As compared to the same quarter last fiscal year. 2 Foreign currency exchange includes effect on adjusted EBITDA of conversion of US dollars, Australian dollars and Argentine pesos to Canadian dollars.

INFORMATION BY SECTOR

Canada Sector (in millions of CDN dollars)

Fiscal years 2019 2018 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 Revenues 1,047.7 1,011.0 980.9 1,057.2 1,032.6 999.2 Adjusted EBITDA 104.4 105.5 108.1 127.9 122.9 117.0

* Non-IFRS measure described in the Glossary section on page 20 of the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

The Canada Sector consists of the Dairy Division (Canada).

USA Sector (in millions of CDN dollars)

Fiscal years 2019 2018 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 Revenues 1,618.0 1,594.6 1,435.1 1,591.3 1,528.1 1,578.3 Adjusted EBITDA* 133.8 154.3 128.3 153.9 170.7 196.5

* Non-IFRS measure described in the Glossary section on page 20 of the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

Selected factors positively (negatively) affecting adjusted EBITDA

(in millions of CDN dollars)

Fiscal years 2019 2018 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 USA Market factors*, 1 (7 ) 2 (3 ) (19 ) (6 ) 3 Inventory write-down - - (7 ) - - - US currency exchange1 7 (8 ) (6 ) (9 ) (7 ) 8





* Refer to the Glossary section on page 20 of the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of fiscal 2019. 1 As compared to same quarter of previous fiscal year.





Other pertinent information (in US dollars, except for average exchange rate) Fiscal years 2019 2018 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 Block market price* Opening 1.555 1.530 1.540 1.735 1.525 1.520 Closing 1.690 1.555 1.530 1.540 1.735 1.525 Average 1.605 1.603 1.524 1.627 1.660 1.575 Butter market price* Opening 2.268 2.215 2.208 2.315 2.643 2.108 Closing 2.320 2.268 2.215 2.208 2.315 2.643 Average 2.264 2.339 2.160 2.254 2.568 2.312 Average whey powder market price per pound* 0.387 0.279 0.241 0.310 0.403 0.465 Spread* 0.095 0.135 0.148 0.072 0.066 0.039 US average exchange rate to Canadian dollar1 1.307 1.290 1.268 1.270 1.256 1.344





* Refer to the Glossary section on page 20 of the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of fiscal 2019. 1 Based on Bloomberg published information.

The USA Sector consists of the Cheese Division (USA) and the Dairy Foods Division (USA).

International Sector (in millions of CDN dollars) Fiscal years 2019 2018 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 Revenues 754.7 662.2 328.4 373.3 323.5 314.6 Adjusted EBITDA* 80.3 47.7 25.3 36.2 36.2 41.7





* Non-IFRS measure described in the Glossary section on page 20 of the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

Selected factors positively (negatively) affecting adjusted EBITDA (in millions of CDN dollars) Fiscal years 2019 2018 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 Inventory write-down - - (4 ) (2 ) (3 ) (1 ) Foreign currency exchange1 - (7 ) 2 (4 ) (1 ) 1





1 As compared to same quarter of previous fiscal year.

The International Sector consists of the Dairy Division (Australia) and the Dairy Division (Argentina).

Outlook

The Company benefits from a solid balance sheet and capital structure, supplemented by a high level of cash generated by operations. This financial flexibility allows the Company to continue to grow with targeted acquisitions and organically through strategic capital investments. Profitability enhancement and shareholder value creation remain the cornerstones of the Companys objectives. The Company has a long-standing commitment to manufacture quality products and will remain focused on operational efficiencies.

The Company will continue planning, designing and implementation activities for the migration to the new ERP system, which has been implemented in Argentina, Australia and the Dairy Foods Division (USA). As its next step, the Company will deploy its ERP program within the recently acquired activities of Murray Goulburn, which will ensure that the Dairy Division (Australia)s operations are aligned under a single system. We anticipate this phase will be completed in fiscal 2020, after which the remaining North American divisions will proceed with ERP implementations, expected to be completed in fiscal 2022.

The renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement, now known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), was announced on September 30, 2018. The Company is currently reviewing the proposed changes and their specific impacts on its Canada, USA and International sectors. Saputo operates in different geographical locations around the world and exports its products to over 40 countries. The Company does not foresee significant impacts on its operations upon formal adoption of the USMCA.

In Canada, the Company will continue to focus on reviewing overall activities to improve operational efficiencies in order to mitigate pressure on margins, low growth and competitive market conditions. The Dairy Division (Canada) will undertake capital projects aimed at increasing efficiencies and maximizing its manufacturing footprint in order to maintain a leadership position. As part of the Companys capital expenditure plan, it will build a new facility, in Port-Coquitlam, British Columbia to better serve the market in Western Canada and benefit from a state-of-the-art facility. Consequently, the Company sold its existing facility in Burnaby, British Columbia, in October 2018, for an amount of $209.0 million that will generate an after-tax gain of approximately $167 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 and has entered into a lease agreement for that same facility until the construction of the new facility is completed, which is expected to be in fiscal 2021.

The Division will complete the integration of the Shepherd Gourmet Acquisition. The acquisition enables the Dairy Division (Canada) to increase its presence in specialty cheese and expand its yogurt offering in Canada.

The Cheese Division (USA) will continue to focus on increasing operational efficiencies and controlling costs in order to mitigate the negative impact of dairy commodity markets and competitive market conditions on adjusted EBITDA. During the upcoming quarters, the Division will continue its intensified efforts to achieve blue cheese manufacturing efficiencies within the short-term at its newly constructed Almena, Wisconsin facility. The Company remains confident that the capital expenditure project will allow the Division to continue to strengthen its position within the blue cheese category.

The Division will also benefit from the integration of the Montchevre Acquisition which enables the Cheese Division (USA) to broaden its presence in specialty cheeses in the USA.

The Company expects to be in a position to complete the F&A Dairy Products Acquisition by the end of 2018. The acquisition will add to and complement the activities of the Cheese Division (USA). F&A Dairy Products, Inc. manufactures a variety of natural cheeses, including mozzarella and provolone, which are distributed in the United States and Mexico.

The Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) was implemented in California on October 17, 2018, with publication of the announcement of advanced prices and pricing factors on November 1, 2018. Had the FMMO in California been in effect at the beginning of this fiscal year, the resulting additional cost of milk would have totalled approximately $9 million based on actual milk prices. The Sector will continue to monitor dairy markets and take appropriate decisions to mitigate the impact on its operations. In order to address the negative impact of an incremental cost structure, the Company intends to take a disciplined approach by reviewing its strategy with respect to customer pricing.

The Dairy Foods Division (USA) will continue its optimization and investments in its existing network in order to benefit from new production capabilities. Also, the Division will focus on its supply chain planning, warehousing and logistics activities to meet customer demand and increase efficiencies.

The dairy ingredient markets have continued to be depressed during the second quarter of fiscal 2019 and we anticipate these market prices will remain low for the remainder of fiscal 2019, which will continue to put downward pressure on the Canada and USA Sectors margins.

The International Sector will continue to pursue sales volume growth in existing markets, as well as develop additional international markets. The Sector will continue to evaluate overall activities to improve efficiencies and aim to maximize its operational flexibility to mitigate fluctuations in market conditions. As volatility in dairy markets persists, we do not expect a significant recovery in the international cheese and dairy ingredient prices in fiscal 2019. As such, we will continue to focus on controlling costs and increasing operational efficiencies in order to mitigate their impact on adjusted EBITDA.

In Australia, the Company will continue its integration of the Murray Goulburn Acquisition. The combination of its two Australian operating units into one single platform is progressing well. The Company remains focused on growing milk intake, reviewing operations and maximizing the network at its disposal.

The Company intends to renew its normal course issuer bid expiring on November 16, 2018. The Company also intends to renew its MTN Program, which expires in January 2019.

Finally, the goal remains to continue to improve overall efficiencies in all sectors and pursue growth organically and through acquisitions.

PDF available: http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/c797a00e-88f6-413c-a237-bd98d900a8f3
At TropMed 2018, researchers report Chagas disease, known to be on the Southern U.S. border, in working canines across the country; outfitting dogs with ECG monitors reveals hidden Chagas-related cardiac problems

NEW ORLEANS (October 31, 2018)--More than 100 working dogs employed by the federal government across the United States have been infected with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the cause of Chagas disease, which may lead to heart problems, according to a new study presented today at the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) Annual Meeting. Chagas disease is a tropical infection spread by a blood-sucking triatomine or "kissing bug" that may pose a growing threat in the United States.

Once known only in Mexico, Central America and South America, Chagas is now making tentative incursions into the United States, infecting canines and humans. But the extent of the risk, for either, is not clearly defined.

"We were surprised to find that so many dogs, including those working outside of the kissing bug range, had been exposed to the parasite T. cruzi, and were exhibiting heart abnormalities associated with the disease," said Alyssa Meyers, a PhD candidate at Texas A&M University who presented the findings.

The T. cruzi parasite is transmitted through the feces of kissing bugs, so called due to their tendency to feed around the mouth. Infections in humans or dogs initially can produce a fever and fatigue. But even infections that produce no symptoms can lead to an enlarged heart or abnormal heart rhythms that can cause sudden death.

Meyers said that because kissing bugs can thrive in locations with high concentrations of hosts, like dog kennels, dogs in training facilities could be at risk for exposure. These dogs train at facilities in Texas and Virginia, two states with known populations of kissing bugs that carry the Chagas parasite, and it is likely that some dogs were exposed while training in the South.

"From previous studies we knew that shelter and stray dogs were at risk for exposure, likely because of their time spent outdoors, and perhaps the dogs working along the U.S.-Mexico border who spend long hours outside often at night might be equally exposed," she said. "We were not expecting infection in dogs that spend most of their time working along the border with Canada or in airports in Nebraska."

Meyers and fellow researchers at Texas A&M University worked with colleagues from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collect and test blood samples from 1,660 working dogs in 43 states whose duties include border patrol, search and rescue, detecting drugs and explosives, and assisting officers who guard federal buildings. The testing--which was prompted by evidence of Chagas in dogs working on the Mexican border--revealed that 121 dogs, or more than 7 percent tested, had antibodies to T. cruzi, indicating an ongoing infection. Many of the infected dogs also showed signs of heart abnormalities associated with Chagas that can be fatal.

Meyers said that in South America, dogs have served as effective sentinels to provide early warning of Chagas risk to humans, though dogs themselves pose little direct risk of infecting humans. But Meyers added that uncertainty about where the infected dogs picked up the parasite--including dogs now working in states within the kissing bug range--makes it difficult to say what the findings mean for human risks.

Most human cases diagnosed in the U.S. are believed to have been caused by infections picked up in Latin America. But there have been documented cases of locally acquired infections in some of the southern states--Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. In some states this has prompted regular surveillance. Kissing bugs are now found in 27 states and as far north as Delaware. And a growing number of those bugs are known to be carrying the Chagas parasite.

Risks for Dogs May Not Mean Dangers for Humans

Meyers said the discovery of a relatively high rate of Chagas infections in working dogs is not necessarily an indication of an increasing threat to people. "A positive dog usually signals that infected kissing bugs are in the environment," Meyers noted. "But the risk to humans is likely not equal to dogs, in part because dogs have a tendency to eat bugs that could be infected with the parasite and dogs spend more time outdoors." Also, unlike the kissing bugs that transmit Chagas in Mexico and Central America, studies show the varieties found in the U.S. are less likely to infest houses, significantly reducing encounters with humans.

Meanwhile, there is concern about how the disease may affect working dogs exposed to the disease, given the many important functions they provide. For example, in 2009, several military working dogs serving alongside U.S. troops conducting bomb detection work in Iraq had to be evacuated due to heart problems linked to Chagas infections, leaving troops without an important member of their team.

"Not all dogs that are exposed to the parasite develop cardiac disease. Many can live a happy, healthy life," Meyers said. "We are trying to understand why some dogs remain asymptomatic, while others develop Chagas cardiomyopathy. These dogs play a critical role in our country's security, and we want to make sure we are doing everything we can do to keep them healthy."

To learn more about the effect of Chagas on the DHS dogs, a subset of the infected dogs were outfitted with wearable electrocardiogram or ECG monitors that allowed researchers to obtain 24 hours of data on cardiac performance. "We just pulled the dogs aside for a few minutes to put on the monitors and then they went right back to work," Meyers said.

The monitors revealed that over two-thirds of the infected dogs were showing early signs of cardiac problems associated with Chagas.

The dogs are now being monitored for any signs of progression of cardiac problems. But there are no treatments available specifically for dogs infected with Chagas disease, and the researchers said that medications used to protect dogs from fleas and ticks are not known to repel either kissing bugs or the Chagas parasite. There are drugs available to treat human infections, but their efficacy varies and is especially low for infections that have been lingering for a long period undetected.

A follow-up study is planned to explore interventions that can help the DHS dogs avoid exposure to kissing bugs. The researchers also are collecting additional cardiac data from the dogs in an effort to better determine whether the abnormalities detected pose an immediate risk.

"This silent killer Chagas has posed a real risk to humans in certain parts of the country," said ASTMH President Regina Rabinovich, MD. "Ongoing support for research to track where this disease is and how it got there is crucial, as is enhanced education and training for those in the health sector to better recognize this disease."

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About the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, founded in 1903, is the largest international scientific organization of experts dedicated to reducing the worldwide burden of tropical infectious diseases and improving global health. It accomplishes this through generating and sharing scientific evidence, informing health policies and practices, fostering career development, recognizing excellence, and advocating for investment in tropical medicine/global health research. For more information, visit astmh.org.
Some 3,500 years ago, there was already a brisk trade in fish on the shores of the southeastern Mediterranean Sea. This conclusion follows from the analysis of 100 fish teeth that were found at various archeological sites in what is now Israel. The saltwater fish from which these teeth originated is the gilthead sea bream, which is also known as the dorade. It was caught in the Bardawil lagoon on the northern Sinai coast and then transported from Egypt to sites in the southern Levant. This fish transport persisted for about 2,000 years, beginning in the Late Bronze Age and continuing into the early Byzantine Period, roughly 300 to 600 AD. "Our examination of the teeth revealed that the sea bream must have come from a very saline waterbody, containing much more salt than the water in the Mediterranean Sea," said Professor Thomas Tutken of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). The geoscientist participated in the study together with colleagues from Israel and Gottingen. The Bardawil lagoon formed 4,000 years ago, when the sea level finally stabilized after the end of the last Ice Age. The lagoon was fished intensively and was the point of origin of an extensive fish trade.

As demonstrated by archeological finds, fishing was an important economic factor for many ancient cultures. In the southern Levant, the gilthead sea bream with the scientific name of Sparus aurata was already being fished by local costal fishermen 50,000 years ago. More exotic fish, such as the Nile perch, were already being traded between Egypt and Canaan over 5,000 years ago. However, the current study shows the extent to which the trade between the neighbors increased in the Late Bronze Age and continued for 2,000 years into the Byzantine Period. "The Bardawil lagoon was apparently a major source of fish and the starting point for the fish deliveries to Canaan, today's Israel, even though the sea bream could have been caught there locally," stated co-author Professor Andreas Pack from the University of Gottingen.

Fish teeth document over 2,000 years of trade

Gilthead sea bream are a food fish that primarily feed on crabs and mussels. They have a durophagous dentition with button-shaped teeth that enable them to crush the shells to get at the flesh. For the purposes of the study, 100 large shell-cracking teeth of gilthead sea bream were examined. The teeth originate from 12 archeological sites in the southern Levant, some of which lie inland, some on the coast, and cover a time period from the Neolithic to the Byzantine Period. One approach of the researchers was to analyze the content of the oxygen isotopes ^18O and ^16O in the tooth enamel of the sea bream. The ratio of ^18O to ^16O provides information on the evaporation rate and thus on the salt content of the surrounding water in which the fish lived. In addition, the researchers were able to estimate the body size of the fish on the basis of the size of the shell-cracking teeth.

The analyses showed that some of the gilthead sea bream originated from the southeastern Mediterranean but that roughly three out of every four must have lived in a very saline body of water. The only water that comes into question in the locality is that of the Bardawil lagoon, the hypersaline water of which has a salt content of 3.9 to 7.4 percent, providing the perfect environment for the growth of sea bream. The Bardawil lagoon on the Sinai coast is approximately 30 kilometers long, 14 kilometers wide, and has a maximum depth of 3 meters. It is separated from the Mediterranean by a narrow sand bar.

"There was a mainland route from there to Canaan, but the fish were probably first dried and then transported by sea," added Tutken. Even back then, sea bream were probably a very popular food fish, although it is impossible to estimate actual quantities consumed. However, it became apparent that the fish traded from the period of the Late Bronze Age were significantly smaller than in the previous era.

According to the researchers, this reduction in body size is a sign of an increase in the intensity of fishing that led to a depletion of stocks, which is to be witnessed also in modern times. "It would seem that fishing and the trade of fish expanded significantly, in fact to such a degree that the fish did not have the chance to grow as large," continued Tutken, pointing out that this was an early form of the systematic commercial exploitation of fish, a type of proto-aquaculture, which persisted for some 2,000 years.

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Geoscientist Professor Thomas Tutken of the Department of Applied and Analytical Paleontology at JGU received an ERC Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council in 2016. The current research study was undertaken jointly with another ERC project of his colleagues in Israel. Dr. Guy Sisma-Ventura, who currently works at the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR), stayed for a month in Mainz, where the researchers performed the major part of the oxygen isotope analyses.
Urine leakage can get in the way of life and exercise; results point to potential importance of routine screening

Nearly half of women over 50 say they sometimes leak urine -- a problem that can range from a minor nuisance to a major issue -- according to a new national poll.

Of more than 1,000 women between the ages of 50 and 80 who answered the poll, 43 percent of women in their 50s and early 60s said they had had experienced urinary incontinence, as had 51 percent of those age 65 and over.

Yet two-thirds of these women hadn't talked to a doctor about the sometimes embarrassing, little-discussed issue. And only 38 percent said they do exercises that can strengthen the muscles that can help keep urine in.

The poll shows they're finding ways of coping on their own - from using pads or special underwear to wearing dark clothing and limiting fluid intake.

The new findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging suggest that more physicians should routinely ask their older female patients about incontinence issues they might be experiencing. The poll of 1,027 women between the ages of 50 and 80 was conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, and sponsored by AARP and Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center.

"Urinary incontinence is a common condition that may not be routinely screened for in primary care, yet it can impact a woman's quality of life and health, and is usually treatable," says Carolyn Swenson, M.D., a urogynecologist at Michigan Medicine and IHPI member who helped develop the poll questions and analyze the findings. "It's not an inevitable part of aging and shouldn't be over-looked."

Swenson studies delivery of women's health care, especially related to the pelvic floor - the structures and muscles that support the bladder and reproductive organs. She notes that there are non-surgical and surgical options for treating incontinence.

Of the women who said they'd experienced at least some urine leakage, 41 percent described it as a major problem or somewhat of a problem. One-third of those with leakage experienced an episode almost every day. Nearly half worried that it would get worse as they got older.

The most common triggers were coughing or sneezing - experienced by 79 percent - and trying to get to a bathroom in time, experienced by 64 percent. But 49 percent said they'd leaked when laughing, and 37 percent said it had happened when they exercised.

"The last thing that older women should be doing is avoiding exercise or not being able to enjoy other activities that make life worthwhile," says Preeti Malani, M.D., director of the poll and a professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School who has special training in geriatric medicine. "We hope these findings will help spur conversations between women and their health care providers, so that activities aren't limited."

Coping strategies

Women reported doing many things to cope with incontinence, including 59 percent who said they'd bought special pads or undergarments. Sixteen percent had cut down on the amount of fluid they drink, and 15 percent said they'd changed what they wore to hide accidents in case they occurred.

But only 38 percent had done Kegel exercises, which involve squeezing and releasing the muscles of the pelvic floor. Such pelvic floor muscle exercises can be an effective treatment when done correctly and consistently, especially as part of pelvic floor physical therapy with a specialized physical therapist.

"It's both surprising and disheartening to see that so many women seem to believe that incontinence is just a normal part of aging because it's not," says Alison Bryant, Ph.D., senior vice president of research for AARP. "A lot of women are unnecessarily limiting their daily activities and not enjoying life fully because of a condition that can often be remedied."

Consulting with providers

Women older than 65 were more likely to have talked with a medical provider about their incontinence than younger women. So were women who reported being embarrassed by their urine leakage or said it was a problem for them.

Among women who didn't talk with their doctor about their urinary incontinence, 22 percent said they didn't think of urine leakage as a health problem, so they didn't discuss it with their doctor. But Swenson notes that many treatment options now exist for urinary incontinence, and that Medicare and private insurers routinely cover both medical and surgical treatments.

Swenson is part of the Pelvic Floor Disorders treatment team at Michigan Medicine's Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital, which offers a full range of treatments for urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor issues. Such treatments range from physical therapy and pessary devices to nerve stimulation, injections done in the office to prevent exercise-related incontinence, and minimally invasive surgery.

The poll results are based on responses from a nationally representative sample of 1,027 women ages 50 to 80 who answered a wide range of questions online. Questions were written, and data interpreted and compiled, by the IHPI team. Laptops and Internet access were provided to poll respondents who did not already have it.

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A full report of the findings and methodology is available at http://www.healthyagingpoll.org, along with past National Poll on Healthy Aging reports.
Alibaba is scheduled to report earnings Friday morning. The companys share price (BABA) has been in free fall since June, as the trade tension between Washington and Beijing escalates. Analysts arent very excited about the upcoming results.

The Chinese e-commerce giant is expected to report revenue of 86.5 billion yuan ($12.4 billion) and adjusted EPS of 7.5 yuan ($1.08), according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The core commerce growth is likely to soften to mid-50% from the previous quarters 61%. The slowdown is mainly due to the macro economic environment in China. Data from the Ministry of Commerce shows Chinas online retail sales in July and August expanded by 25.2% on a year-over-year basis, slightly down from the growth rate of 26% in the second quarter.

The downward pressure in consumer confidence and spending is more significant than in the previous quarter, analysts at China Renaissance wrote in a note earlier this month.

Alibaba has limited exposure to trade-war concerns since about 75% of its revenue is generated inside China. But there are growing concerns about the slowdown of Chinas economy, which could dampen domestic consumption growth. Management at Alibaba is expected to provide more color on the macro situation. They may also offer some highlights of its upcoming annual shopping bonanza Singles Day on November 11.

Alibabas chairman Jack Ma and CEO Daniel Zhang. (Photo: South China Morning Post)

This will also be the first earnings call since its founder and Chairman Jack Ma announced his succession plan. Ma, who will be succeeded by current CEO Daniel Zhang in a year, rarely speaks to investors on earnings calls.

Further downside risk in the near term

Alibaba stock has plunged in recent months. (Yahoo Finance)

Analysts expect Alibabas net profit in the quarter to continue to decline due to its continuous investments into the New Retail initiative, an ongoing effort to expand its physical footprint and build an ecosystem to capture consumers.

Ele.me, the food delivery app Alibaba acquired in April, has signaled potential spending of up to 3 billion yuan to subsidize its summer campaign in a battle with Tencent-backed Meituan. Investment in the video website Youku and the depreciating yuan could also contribute to narrower gross margins.

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Alibaba with a market cap of almost $400 billion has lost more than one-third of its valuation, and analysts, though most remain optimistic about its long-term strategy, see risks in the short term.

The share price might fall further before it goes up, analysts at JPMorgan wrote in a September note, forecasting a further decline in the next three to six months. Longer term growth potential further improves as Ali drives digitization in offline retailing to transform the brick-and-mortar. We believe Alis new retail strategy essentially expands its addressable market to China total consumption, quadrupling its current TAM (Total addressable market) of online shopping consumption.

What do you want to know about Alibaba and China? Write to Krystal Hu at krystalh@yahoofinance.com or follow her on Twitter.

Read more:

Why the $375 billion US-China trade deficit can be totally misleading

Foxconn executive: Make products in the U.S. and sell them to China

Why you wont feel much pain from Trumps tariffs this holiday season
BHC tag_1K

RAPID CITY, S.D. - Nov. 1, 2018 - Black Hills Corp. (BKH) today issued 6.37 million shares of its common stock related to the conversion of the equity units that were issued in November 2015 to partially fund the acquisition of SourceGas Holdings LLC. Gross proceeds from the transaction of approximately $299 million will be used to repay the $250 million Senior Notes due January 2019 and short-term debt.

"The planned issuance of common stock today marks the completion of the successful financing of the SourceGas transaction," said Rich Kinzley, senior vice president and chief financial officer. "Our investors and customers have benefitted from the SourceGas acquisition and the significant value we have created over the last three years."

The common stock issued today is in settlement of the stock purchase contracts underlying the 5.98 million equity units issued at $50 per unit. The equity units converted to 6.37 million shares of common stock at a rate of 1.0655 shares per unit. The purchase of the common shares was funded by proceeds from the successful remarketing on August 14, 2018, of the junior subordinated notes that constituted a component of the units. Upon completion of today`s equity issuance, Black Hills has approximately 59.97 million shares of common stock outstanding.

###

Black Hills Corporation

Black Hills Corp. (BKH) is a customer focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves 1.25 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com, www.blackhillscorp.com/corporateresponsibility and www.blackhillsenergy.com.

Investor Relations

Jerome E. Nichols

605-721-1171

jerome.nichols@blackhillscorp.com

24-Hour Media Relations Line

888-242-3969

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Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statement

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward looking statements. This includes our ability to repay indebtedness in a timely manner. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions which we believe are reasonable based on current expectations and projections about future events and industry conditions and trends affecting our business. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that, among other things, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, the risk factors described in Item 1A of Part I of our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, and other reports that we file with the SEC from time to time.

New factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward looking statements emerge from time-to-time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors, or the extent to which any such factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We assume no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.







This announcement is distributed by West Corporation on behalf of West Corporation clients.



The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Black Hills Corporation via GlobeNewswire

HUG#2223635


FILE PHOTO: Larry Fink, Chief Executive Officer of BlackRock, takes part in the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit in New York, U.S., February 8, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

By Trevor Hunnicutt

NEW YORK (Reuters) - BlackRock Inc Chief Executive Larry Fink said on Thursday the United States is on a path to a full-fledged trade war against China as the world's two largest economies engage in tit-for-tat tariffs.

Fink is one of the most influential figures in global finance, who keeps up relations with politicians in many countries as leader of the world's largest fund manager, overseeing $6.4 trillion in assets from sovereign debt to corporate equity.

"If the path remains the same in the next few weeks, we're going to have a full-fledged trade war," Fink said at the New York Times Co's DealBook conference.

"China is a very strong, very proud nation. I think they're going to stand pretty firm."

The United States has imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods, and China has responded with retaliatory duties on $110 billion worth of U.S. goods.

U.S. President Donald Trump has long threatened to impose tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports into the United States if Beijing fails to meet U.S. demands for sweeping changes to Chinese trade, technology transfer and industrial subsidy policies.

In a tweet on Thursday Trump said he had a "very good" talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping on trade and North Korea and that the two planned to meet at the G20 summit in Argentina which starts at the end of this month.

Fink said he had traveled to China in recent weeks and defined a "full-fledged trade war" as meaning U.S. levies on all Chinese imports.

He said China will likely not buy more U.S. Treasuries as the trade war goes on. That would put pressure on Washington, which has financed its growing debt by selling bonds, often to China and other foreign governments.

Just days after a gunman killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue, Fink said his company has privately engaged with gun makers on how they plan to respond to the social backlash from mass shootings.

BlackRock is the largest shareholder in several gun makers through its massive index funds, which generally hold shares in all companies in a certain index.

Fink in January wrote a letter to corporate executives saying that companies need to show how they make "a positive contribution to society" in addition to delivering financial performance, as his company faces such demands from shareholders and customers.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Bill Rigby)
Baltimore, MD, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- November 1, 2018 - Baltimore, Maryland  ArmadaHealth, a leading provider of consumer healthcare access solutions, announced today that Susan Torroella is joining the ArmadaHealth management team as Chief Operations Officer. Leveraging her experience in the delivery of consumer-facing healthcare services, Torroella will fuel ArmadaHealths mission to improve access to the healthcare system through patient-provider matching data science and services.

Susan Torroella is an accomplished, award-winning healthcare executive whose work has spanned the globe and the healthcare sector, from public health programs in Africa to corporate wellness programs. Most recently, Torroella was Executive Vice President of Wellness Corporate Solutions where she oversaw all strategic partnerships, direct clients, program management and operations. During her leadership, the company experienced exponential growth, new product launches and enhanced operational capabilities. Prior to this, Torroella was President of FrontierMEDEX Medical Assistance Services, where she oversaw the delivery of both healthcare prevention services and treatment coordination for employers' workforces during their international assignments. She was involved in orchestrating rescue operations following the Haiti earthquake, Arab Spring and other international incidents. Torroella served as Vice President of United Healthcare International following the acquisition of FrontierMEDEX.



The addition of Susan to our leadership team will help us maintain world-class service at unlimited scale. Susan will oversee ArmadaHealths expansion to be the starting point for consumers to get and stay healthy, commented Steve Schaefer, CEO of ArmadaHealth.



In her new role, Torroella will manage client relationships, program development and operations including ArmadaHealths Tiered-Advocacy Navigation delivery model. This delivery model uses the latest advances in data science combined with a human touch. White-glove service through an advocacy-on-demand approach is driven by the needs, goals and preferences of the consumer.



Im thrilled to join ArmadaHealth and to continue my professional goal of helping empower consumers with tools to obtain high-quality healthcare, commented Torroella.



Torroella's leadership extends into her work helping others. She is the former president of the Healthcare Business Women's Association (HBA), a global community of 50,000 healthcare leaders dedicated to improving the impact of women in healthcare worldwide and was also founder of the Mid-Atlantic chapter of the HBA. She is on the Board of the American Heart Association and Executive Leadership of the Go Red for Women Mission in Maryland, which is devoted to reducing cardiovascular disease for women.



Torroella is a graduate from Franklin & Marshall College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and earned an MBA from the Thunderbird School of International Management, where she was valedictorian of her class. She has also attended INSEAD (France) and Wharton's executive management programs. Known as a dynamic and successful leader, Torroella has won multiple awards such as FORTUNE Small Business/Wall Street Journal "Boss of the Year," The Daily Record's "Top 100 Women in Maryland," Ernst & Young "Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist," and PharmaVoice's "100 Most Inspiring Leaders in Life Sciences."

About ArmadaHealth

ArmadaHealth is a rapidly growing health data science and services company. We connect people to the right provider through our consumer offering, SpecialtyCare Connect, providing intelligent and personalized access to the healthcare system facilitating provider and/or healthcare delivery recommendations wrapped in a High Tech, Right Touch consumer experience. Our solutions are powered by our proprietary provider-patient matching platform, ArmadaHealth SIENATM, and can be leveraged through private-labeled services to enhance the consumer experience. The result is improved health outcomes, reduced healthcare expenses, more efficient networks, higher-performing providers and exceptional consumer satisfaction. Please visit ArmadaHealth.com for more information.



Press Contact: Teresa OKeefe, tokeefe@armadahealth.com | (410) 308-6782
FILE PHOTO: The Citigroup Inc (Citi) logo is seen at the SIBOS banking and financial conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada October 19, 2017. REUTERS/Chris Helgren

(Reuters) - Citigroup (C.N) said on Wednesday it was planning to move 63 jobs out of London, as it prepares for the possibility of a hard Brexit.

The Wall Street bank was looking to relocate 45 employees from its trading unit and 18 from its private bank to other countries within the European Union where it already has a presence, Citigroup said in an internal memo.

The bank said it would try to retain as many staff members as possible, through permanent relocations to countries within the EU.

Alongside a number of its peers, Citi has already opted to bolster its operations in Frankfurt, where its EU trading business will be based after Brexit.

It has also applied for a markets licence and hired senior staff in France, while setting up a unit in Luxembourg to support its private bank.

(Reporting by Ishita Chigilli Palli in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
By Tom Arnold and Hadeel Al Sayegh

DUBAI, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group (IMG), the Dubai-based operator of the world's largest indoor theme park, has hired Moelis & Co to advise it on a debt-restructuring, four banking sources told Reuters.

IMG has been in long-running talks with banks to extend the term and size of a 1.2 billion dirham ($326.7 million) syndicated loan taken in 2014.

The loan, led by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and including participation from Al Hilal Bank, Commercial Bank International, Noor Bank and Sharjah Islamic Bank , was partly used to build its Worlds of Adventure theme park.

IMG did not respond immediately to a request for comment, while New York-based boutique investment bank Moelis declined to comment.

Several theme parks have sprung up in the United Arab Emirates in recent years aimed at catering for the roughly 9 million population and the millions of foreign tourists.

IMG opened Worlds of Adventure in August 2016, with capacity for more than 20,000 visitors a day, and in December of that year announced plans to build IMG Worlds of Legends, based on children's TV and gaming characters. At the time, there was no timetable for building the park. ($1 = 3.6728 UAE dirham) (Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar Editing by David Goodman)
2018 Third Quarter Revenues of $231.1 Million, up 20.2% year over year

Q3 Diluted EPS (GAAP) of $0.43, down from $0.60 in Q3 of 2017

Q3 Adjusted Diluted EPS (Non-GAAP) of $0.71, up from $0.69 in Q3 of 2017

NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ExlService Holdings, Inc. (EXLS), a leading operations management and analytics company, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Rohit Kapoor, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, EXL generated revenues of $231.1 million, up 20.2% year-over-year. Our adjusted diluted EPS was $0.71. EXLs revenue growth was led by a 53.9% increase in Analytics revenues driven by an 18.2% increase in organic revenue and the acquisition of SCIO Health Analytics. Our operations management businesses revenues grew by 7.1%, which was driven largely by revenues growth in Insurance and Finance & Accounting.

Our differentiated Digital Intelligence strategy is resonating well in the marketplace and is driving a strong pipeline. Additionally, the integration of SCIO is on track and will create a compelling offering across the Analytics and healthcare markets.

Vishal Chhibbar, Chief Financial Officer, said, We are narrowing our revenue guidance for 2018 to $877 million - $885 million from $878 million - $892 million. The mid-point of our guidance is now $881 million driven by foreign exchange headwind of $4 million at current exchange rates. Our guidance represents annual revenue growth of 16% to 17% on a constant currency basis. We are narrowing the range of adjusted diluted EPS guidance for 2018 to $2.72 - $2.78 from $2.70 - $2.80, with the mid-point unchanged at $2.75. Our cash and short-term investments were $242.5 million on September 30, 2018.

Financial Highlights: Third Quarter 2018

We have six reportable segments: Insurance, Healthcare, Travel, Transportation & Logistics, Finance & Accounting, All Other (Banking & Financial Services, Utilities and Consulting) and Analytics. Reconciliations of adjusted (non-GAAP) financial measures to GAAP measures are included at the end of this release.

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Revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 increased to $231.1 million compared to $192.3 million for the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 20.2% on a reported basis and 21.4% on a constant currency basis from the third quarter of 2017, as well as an increase of 10.0% sequentially on a reported basis and 10.7% on a constant currency basis, from the second quarter of 2018.

Revenues Gross Margin Three months ended Three months ended Reportable Segments September

30, 2018 September

30, 2017 June 30,

2018 September

30, 2018 September

30, 2017(1)(2) June 30,

2018 (dollars in millions) Insurance $ 64.3 $ 59.6 $ 64.8 32.3 % 34.3 % 32.1 % Healthcare 20.4 18.9 19.8 22.5 % 36.0 % 15.7 % Travel, Transportation & Logistics 17.3 18.5 18.6 42.4 % 46.0 % 42.7 % Finance & Accounting 24.5 21.6 24.2 39.2 % 41.6 % 40.0 % All Other 21.9 20.0 23.1 34.7 % 32.1 % 34.7 % Analytics 82.7 53.7 59.6 35.1 % 33.7 % 35.2 % Total revenues, net $ 231.1 $ 192.3 $ 210.1 34.2 % 36.0 % 33.5 %

Operating income margin for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was 8.5% compared to 10.9% in the third quarter of 2017 and 8.1% for the second quarter of 2018. Adjusted operating income margin for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was 14.1% compared to 15.9% in the third quarter of 2017 and 13.6% for the second quarter of 2018.

Diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was $0.43 compared to $0.60 in the third quarter of 2017 and $0.41 for the second quarter of 2018. Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was $0.71 compared to $0.69 for the third quarter of 2017 and $0.67 for the second quarter of 2018.

______________________

(1) (2) Refer to the notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income for details.

Business Highlights: Third Quarter 2018

EXL closed the acquisition of SCIOInspire Holdings, Inc. (or SCIO Health Analytics). The aggregate merger consideration was $236.5 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments.

Won 14 new clients, including eight in our operations management businesses and six in Analytics.

Appointed Jaynie Studenmund to EXLs Board of Directors.

Recognized as a Leader in the ISG Provider Lens for FAO Digital Outsourcing Services 2018.

Positioned as a Major Contender in the Everest Group Finance and Accounting Digital Augmentation Suite Solutions PEAK Matrix Assessment 2018.

Post-Third Quarter Highlight

As previously announced, subsequent to the third quarter of 2018, on October 4, 2018, EXL sold $150 million in an aggregate principal amount of 3.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 to Orogen Echo LLC, an affiliate of The Orogen Group LLC. Vikram Pandit, Chairman and CEO of The Orogen Group LLC, was appointed to EXLs Board of Directors at closing.

2018 Guidance

Based on current visibility, and a U.S. Dollar to Indian Rupee exchange rate of 74.0, British Pound to U.S. Dollar exchange rate of 1.32, U.S. Dollar to the Philippine Peso exchange rate of 54.0 and all other currencies at current exchange rates, we are providing the following guidance:

Revenue of $877 million to $885 million, representing an annual revenue growth rate of 16% to 17% on a constant currency basis.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $2.72 to $2.78.

Conference Call

ExlService Holdings, Inc. will host a conference call on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 8:00 A.M. ET to discuss the Companys quarterly operating and financial results. The conference call will be available live via the internet by accessing the investor relations section of EXLs website at ir.exlservice.com , where an accompanying investor-friendly spreadsheet of historical operating and financial data can also be accessed. Please access the website at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

To listen to the conference call via phone, please dial 1-877-303-6384, or if dialing internationally, 1-224-357-2191 and an operator will assist you. For those who cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available on the EXL website ir.exlservice.com for a period of twelve months.

About ExlService Holdings, Inc.

EXL (EXLS) is a leading operations management and analytics company that designs and enables agile, customer-centric operating models to help clients improve their revenue growth and profitability. Our delivery model provides market-leading business outcomes using EXLs proprietary Business EXLerator Framework, cutting-edge analytics, digital transformation and domain expertise. At EXL, we look deeper to help companies improve global operations, enhance data-driven insights, increase customer satisfaction, and manage risk and compliance. EXL serves the insurance, healthcare, banking and financial services, utilities, travel, transportation and logistics industries. Headquartered in New York, New York, EXL has more than 28,000 professionals in locations throughout the United States, Europe, Asia (primarily India and Philippines), Colombia, Australia and South Africa. For more information, visit www.exlservice.com.

Continuing Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on those statements because they are subject to numerous uncertainties and factors relating to EXL's operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond EXLs control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning EXLs possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of its business strategy. These statements may include words such as may, will, should, believe, expect, anticipate, intend, plan, estimate or similar expressions. These statements are based on assumptions that we have made in light of management's experience in the industry as well as its perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. You should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although EXL believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect EXLs actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors, which include our ability to successfully close and integrate strategic acquisitions, are discussed in more detail in EXLs filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including EXLs Annual Report on Form 10-K. These risks could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by forward-looking statements in this release. You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which it is made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible to predict these events or how they may affect EXL. EXL has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by federal securities laws.

EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017(1) (2) 2018 2017(1) (2) Revenues, net $ 231,124 $ 192,345 $ 648,209 $ 564,435 Cost of revenues(3) 152,157 123,077 429,907 365,883 Gross profit(3) 78,967 69,268 218,302 198,552 Operating expenses: General and administrative expenses 28,704 26,545 85,610 75,007 Selling and marketing expenses 16,490 12,196 45,593 38,631 Depreciation and amortization 14,099 9,582 35,185 28,489 Total operating expenses 59,293 48,323 166,388 142,127 Income from operations 19,674 20,945 51,914 56,425 Foreign exchange gain, net 1,385 637 3,414 1,905 Interest expense (2,475 ) (482 ) (3,719 ) (1,380 ) Other income, net 2,466 2,796 8,232 8,495 Income before income tax expense 21,050 23,896 59,841 65,445 Income tax expense 5,739 2,819 6,796 7,202 Loss from equity-method investment 62  176  Net income attributable to ExlService Holdings, Inc. stockholders $ 15,249 $ 21,077 $ 52,869 $ 58,243 Earnings per share attributable to ExlService Holdings, Inc. stockholders: Basic $ 0.44 $ 0.62 $ 1.53 $ 1.72 Diluted $ 0.43 $ 0.60 $ 1.50 $ 1.66 Weighted-average number of shares used in computing earnings per share attributable to ExlService Holdings, Inc. stockholders: Basic 34,458,520 33,838,374 34,472,232 33,834,392 Diluted 35,207,991 35,043,987 35,217,814 35,048,672

(1) The Company early adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-12, Derivative and Hedging (Topic 815), Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. Pursuant to this adoption, effective January 1, 2017, the Company recorded settlement gain/(loss) on cash flow hedges in cost of revenues and operating expenses, as applicable, in the consolidated statements of income for each of the quarters of 2017. In prior periods, such gain/(loss) were recorded under Foreign exchange gain, net in the consolidated statements of income.

(2) On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715), Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Post Retirement Benefit Cost. Pursuant to this adoption, effective January 1, 2017, the interest cost, expected return on plan assets and amortization of actuarial gains/loss, have been reclassified from cost of revenues and operating expenses, as applicable to Other income, net in the consolidated statements of income for each of the quarters of 2017.

(3) Exclusive of depreciation and amortization.

EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

As of September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (Unaudited) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 97,636 $ 86,795 Short-term investments 144,878 178,479 Restricted cash 4,679 3,674 Accounts receivable, net 164,307 135,705 Prepaid expenses 10,325 9,781 Advance income tax, net 7,700 8,801 Other current assets 24,302 29,582 Total current assets 453,827 452,817 Property and equipment, net 67,675 66,757 Restricted cash 3,499 3,808 Deferred tax assets 12,201 8,585 Intangible assets, net 114,799 48,958 Goodwill 357,533 204,481 Other assets 32,779 36,369 Investment in equity affiliate 2,824 3,000 Total assets $ 1,045,137 $ 824,775 Liabilities and Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 4,310 $ 5,918 Current portion of long-term borrowings 12,318 10,318 Deferred revenue 7,600 10,716 Accrued employee costs 46,638 55,664 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 67,084 61,366 Current portion of capital lease obligations 221 267 Total current liabilities 138,171 144,249 Long term borrowings 288,309 50,391 Capital lease obligations, less current portion 261 331 Income taxes payable 8,721 13,557 Deferred tax liabilities 13,352  Other non-current liabilities 21,875 16,202 Total liabilities 470,689 224,730 Commitments and contingencies Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized, none issued   ExlService Holdings, Inc. Stockholders equity: Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 37,703,974 shares issued and 34,253,291 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and 36,790,751 shares issued and 33,888,733 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2017 38 37 Additional paid-in capital 344,720 322,246 Retained earnings 480,387 427,064 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (114,330 ) (45,710 ) Total including shares held in treasury 710,815 703,637 Less: 3,450,683 shares as of September 30, 2018 and 2,902,018 shares as of December 31, 2017, held in treasury, at cost (136,609 ) (103,816 ) Stockholders equity $ 574,206 $ 599,821 Non-controlling interest 242 224 Total equity $ 574,448 $ 600,045 Total liabilities and equity $ 1,045,137 $ 824,775

EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS, INC.

Reconciliation of Adjusted Financial Measures to GAAP Measures

In addition to its reported operating results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), EXL has included in this release certain financial measures that are considered non-GAAP financial measures, including the following:

(i) Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income margin;

(ii) Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin;

(iii) Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share; and

(iv) Revenue growth on a constant currency basis.

These non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Accordingly, the financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations from those financial statements should be carefully evaluated. EXL believes that providing these non-GAAP financial measures may help investors better understand EXLs underlying financial performance. Management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when read in conjunction with EXLs reported results, can provide useful supplemental information for investors analyzing period-to-period comparisons of the Companys results and comparisons of the Companys results with the results of other companies. Additionally, management considers some of these non-GAAP financial measures to determine variable compensation of its employees. The Company believes that it is unreasonably difficult to provide its earnings per share financial guidance in accordance with GAAP for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, the Companys inability to predict its future stock-based compensation expense under ASC Topic 718, the amortization of intangibles associated with further acquisitions and the currency fluctuations and associated tax impacts. As such, the Company presents guidance with respect to adjusted diluted earnings per share. The Company also incurs significant non-cash charges for depreciation that may not be indicative of the Companys ability to generate cash flow.

EXL non-GAAP financial measures exclude, where applicable, stock-based compensation expense, provision for litigation settlement and acquisition-related expenses. Acquisition-related expenses include, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, changes in the fair value of earn-out consideration liabilities, charges for impairment of acquired intangible assets and other acquisition-related costs such as external deal costs, integration expenses and direct and incremental travel costs. In addition to excluding the above items, our adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS also excludes the effect of incremental income tax expense related to the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the Tax Reform Act) and income tax impact of the above pre-tax items, as applicable. The income tax impact of each item is calculated by applying the statutory rate and local tax regulations in the jurisdiction in which the item was incurred.

A limitation of using non-GAAP financial measures versus financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP is that non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect all of the amounts associated with our operating results as determined in accordance with GAAP and exclude costs that are recurring, namely stock-based compensation and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets. EXL compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from non-GAAP financial measures to allow investors to evaluate such non-GAAP financial measures.

Effective second quarter of 2018, EXL excludes other acquisition-related costs such as external deal costs, integration expenses and direct and incremental travel costs pertaining to successful acquisitions from its non-GAAP financial measures, wherever applicable. Considering EXLs frequent acquisitions of varying scale and size, and the difficulty in predicting expenses relating to acquisitions, EXLs management believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures that exclude such expenses allows investors to make additional comparisons from period-to-period and between EXLs operating results and those of other companies. Other acquisition-related costs are excluded in the period in which an acquisition is consummated. To facilitate comparison, the previously reported periods presented have been adjusted with the effects of the exclusion of these other acquisition-related costs.

The information provided on a constant currency basis reflects a comparison of current period results translated at the prior period currency rates. This information is provided because EXL believes that it provides useful comparative incremental information to investors regarding EXLs true operating performance. EXLs primary exchange rate exposure is with the Indian Rupee, the U.K. pound sterling and the Philippine Peso. The average exchange rate of the U.S. Dollar against the Indian Rupee increased from 64.45 during the quarter ended September 30, 2017 to 70.67 during the quarter ended September 30, 2018, representing depreciation of 9.6%. The average exchange rate of the U.S. Dollar against the Philippine Peso increased from 50.82 during the quarter ended September 30, 2017 to 53.53 during the quarter ended September 30, 2018, representing a depreciation of 5.3%. The average exchange rate of the British Pound against the U.S. Dollar remained flat at 1.31 during the quarter ended September 30, 2017 and 2018.

The following table shows the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and the three months ended June 30, 2018:

Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted EBITDA

(Amounts in thousands)

Three Months Ended September 30, June 30, 2018 2017

(Restated) 2018 Net Income (GAAP) $ 15,249 $ 21,077 $ 14,462 add: Income tax expense/(benefit) 5,739 2,819 5,510 subtract: Interest expense, foreign exchange gain, net, loss from equity-method investment and other income, net (1,314 ) (2,951 ) (2,882 ) Income from operations (GAAP) $ 19,674 $ 20,945 $ 17,090 add: Stock-based compensation expense (a) 5,344 5,708 6,893 add: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles (b) 6,718 3,487 3,761 add: Acquisition-related expenses (c) 855 457 841 Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP) $ 32,591 $ 30,597 $ 28,585 Adjusted operating income margin as a % of Revenues (Non-GAAP) 14.1 % 15.9 % 13.6 % add: Depreciation 7,381 6,095 6,821 Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 39,972 $ 36,692 $ 35,406 Adjusted EBITDA margin as a % of revenue (Non-GAAP) 17.3 % 19.1 % 16.9 %

(a) To exclude stock-based compensation expense under ASC Topic 718.

(b) To exclude amortization of acquisition-related intangibles.

(c) To exclude acquisition related expenses. Effective second quarter of 2018, EXL excludes acquisition-related costs such as external deal costs, integration expenses and direct and incremental travel costs pertaining to successful acquisitions from its non-GAAP financial measures. The previously reported periods presented have been adjusted with the effects of exclusion. See descriptions above for more information.

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended September 30, June 30, 2018 2017

(Restated) 2018 Net income (GAAP) $ 15,249 $ 21,077 $ 14,462 add: Stock-based compensation expense (a) 5,344 5,708 6,893 add: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles (b) 6,718 3,487 3,761 add: Acquisition-related expenses (c) 855 457 841 subtract: Tax impact on stock-based compensation expense (d) (1,460 ) (5,564 ) (1,891 ) subtract: Tax impact on amortization of acquisition-related intangibles (1,435 ) (942 ) (679 ) subtract: Tax impact on acquisition-related expenses (218 ) (183 ) (12 ) Adjusted net income (Non-GAAP) $ 25,053 $ 24,040 $ 23,375 Adjusted diluted earnings per share (Non-GAAP) $ 0.71 $ 0.69 $ 0.67

(a) To exclude stock-based compensation expense under ASC Topic 718.

(b) To exclude amortization of acquisition-related intangibles.

(c) To exclude acquisition related expenses. Effective second quarter of 2018, EXL excludes acquisition-related costs such as external deal costs, integration expenses and direct and incremental travel costs pertaining to successful acquisitions from its non-GAAP financial measures. The previously reported periods presented have been adjusted with the effects of exclusion. See descriptions above for more information.

(d) Tax impact include $288 and $3,488 during the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 respectively, and $323 during the three months ended June 30, 2018 related to discrete benefit recognized in income tax expense on adoption of ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation.

Contact: Steven N. Barlow

Vice President, Investor Relations

(212) 624-5913

steven.barlow@exlservice.com
Google CEO Sundar Pichai sent an internal email on Tuesday condoning an employee protest planned for Thursday in the wake of a New York Times report highlighting the ways the company shielded some employees from accusations of sexual misconduct.

Pichai said that managers would be "aware of the activities planned for Thursday" and that employees would have the "support" they needed.

Google GOOGL CEO Sundar Pichai sent an internal email on Tuesday condoning an employee protest planned for Thursday in the wake of a bombshell New York Times' report about sexual misconduct at the company, a source tells CNBC.

Pichai's note, previously obtained by Axios , follows up on a memo he sent staff last week, where he wrote that the company had made changes in recent years to take "an increasingly hard line" on inappropriate conduct at work, and had fired 48 people, including 13 senior managers, in the last two years, without exit packages.

In his latest memo, Pichai clarifies that the company also had not provided exit packages to employees who resigned while the company was investigating claims of sexual harassment.

The original New York Times report alleged that Google gave former Android leader Andy Rubin a $90 million exit package despite finding sexual misconduct claims against him credible (Rubin denied misconduct through a spokesperson and on Twitter).

Richard DeVaul, another one of the employees named by the Times' as having exhibited inappropriate behavior , resigned earlier on Tuesday .

In light of the Times' reporting on how Google shielded some of its executives, a group of employees are organizing a walk-out to take place on Thursday. Pichai said in his latest note that Google's head of people operations, Eileen Naughton, would make sure that managers "were aware of the activities planned for Thursday" and that employees would have the "support" they needed.

Pichai also said in his memo that he'd heard from many employees, some of whom raised "constructive ideas" to improve Google's processes and policies around sexual misconduct, and that the company would take action on some of them. He also said that it was clear that the apology from a previous all-hands meeting wasn't enough and he reiterated that he was "deeply sorry" that past actions had "caused pain."





More From CNBC


(Bloomberg) -- Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai says the companys controversial project to develop a search engine for the Chinese market was an experiment.

The search engine for China, nicknamed Project Dragonfly, was revealed earlier this year in news reports, spurring criticism from U.S. politicians, human-rights activists and some employees at the Alphabet Inc. unit. Company workers said a search engine that facilitated censorship would be in conflict with Googles values.

Pichai, who had previously said the project was in its early stages, seemed to have rolled it back further on Thursday when he characterized the search engine for China as an experiment. The CEOs comments contradicted reporting by The Intercept suggesting the project was in its mature stages.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gerrit De Vynck in New York at gdevynck@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack, Molly Schuetz

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

2018 Bloomberg L.P.
Google (GOOG, GOOGL) employees have documented dozens of allegations of harassment at the company that have yet to be made public, an employee told Yahoo Finance at a company walkout in New York City on Thursday.

The move follows a New York Times report that Google shielded Android creator Andy Rubin against a sexual misconduct claim, awarding him a $90 million severance package and a fond farewell on his way out.

On Thursday, Google employees around the globe protested the companys positive treatment of Rubin and other executives who were reportedly protected against harassment claims. The walkout follows a string of reports of misdeeds, hubris and harassment at some of Silicon Valleys most high-profile companies.

Google employees marching across Googles Mountain View headquarters. Source: JP Mangalindan/Yahoo Finance

We have a list of numerous examples so far that have been collected internally, a female Google employee told Yahoo Finance, requesting anonymity to discuss the matter.

I know there are at least 30, and theres definitely more than that. That speaks exactly to that point where complaints have been raised and the recommendations have been that, for instance, transfer to a different team and putting the response on the victim and not going after the actual person who is being accused of the harassment, the Google employee stated.

There have been at least dozens of examples collected that I dont believe have been represented in any of the communications that have been made public to date, she added.

Worldwide walkouts

Google employees walked out of Mountain View headquarters on Thursday. Source: JP Mangalindan/Yahoo Finance

Employees began streaming out of Googles New York City headquarters at a little past 11 a.m. as part of the protest that had the backing of Googles top brass.

I think many of us want to support our colleagues who feel like theyre not sufficiently respected or represented, said Doug Rohde, an engineering manager at the tech giant.

Three hours later, thousands of Google employees gathered at the companys Mountain View headquarters to hear and support organizers, who rallied the crowd with chants like, Hey hey, ho ho. Harassment has got to go. Many employees expressed their disappointment, as well as their own allegations of sexual harassment.

Story continues

My dream from when I was a very young person was to come work at Google in a community of academics, and technologists, and intellects, where I could bring my whole self to work, where I could be safe, where I could exceed, and I am fed up, because Google has not been that place, Demma Rodriguez, head of equity engineering at Google, told the crowd in New York.

One human resources employee in Mountain View read aloud the written statement of a Google employee who chose to remain anonymous and contended the company did not keep her complaint confidential.

Organizers provided Google employees with tables, posters and markers to create their own signs for the protest. Source: JP Mangalindan/Yahoo Finance

When I reported my [sexual harassment] incident and said something, I specifically asked the incident not be described to other employees, the statement read. But sure enough the man who harassed me approached me 7 days later, complained about my escalating the incident, making me look bad. This man decides whether I get promoted.

Another employee who spoke at the Mountain View protest said another member of her team grabbed her without her consent. When she shared the incident with her manager, she didnt get the reaction she was expecting, she said.

My manager thought I was overreacting and said that I should get over it, recalled the employee, who added that she continues to work alongside the employee who harassed her to this day.

In New York, employees walked two blocks from the entrance of Googles building on 8th Ave. to a rallying point at the 14th Street Park near 10th Ave. At that point, the leaders of the walkout, who wrote an op-ed in New York Magazines The Cut outlining their demands for Google, took center stage and discussed where they thought the company needed to change.

It is not that place for women, it is not that place for people who are differently-abled, it is not that place for people of color. And to be honest with you, when its not that place for those groups, that means that the company is failing everyone.

Meredith Whittaker, the founder of Googles Open Research group, addresses a crowd during a walkout of Google employees protesting sexual harassment at the company.

Meanwhile in Mountain View, thousands gathered at the heart of Googles headquarters for 45 minutes, before walking several blocks down Charleston Road, signs in hand.

Tanuja Gupta, one of the Google employees who authored the op-ed for The Cut, said she was leading the protest for other employees.

Ive been at Google for 7 years. I have both a sexual harassment and sexual discrimination case, and I was forced to use arbitration, Gupta said.

Ive blocked out some memories of it, but I dont think anyone should have to do that anymore, she added. So this is really not just for myself, its for everyone here. We also know that we have the eyes of many companies looking at us, and weve always been a vanguard company, so if we dont lead the way, nobody will.

A list of demands

The Mountain View employee walkout was a peaceful protest with tables for making signs and a slow march through the campus. Source: JP Mangalindan/Yahoo Finance

In their op-ed, the Google employees laid out their demands for the company including an end to forced arbitration; a publicly disclosed sexual harassment transparency report; a clear, uniform, globally inclusive process for reporting sexual misconduct and for the companys chief diversity officer to answer directly to Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Following the New York Times piece detailing Googles treatment of Rubin, Pichai released a statement asserting the company had been working to stop sexual harassment and that it had already fired 48 people for offenses.

But employees took little stock in Pichais statement for its lack of a concrete apology. Pichai issued a follow-up statement explaining that he recognized that the companys apology didnt come through.

I understand the anger and disappointment that many of you feel, Pichai said in a statement obtained by Axios. I feel it as well, and I am fully committed to making progress on an issue that has persisted far too long in our societyand, yes, here at Google, too.

Protesters at the New York walkout were surprisingly tight-lipped about why they were marching out of their offices, but held signs in support of better treatment of women and minorities. In Mountain View, the

For now Google employees say they have additional events planned including a walkout in its Asia Middle East Africa region next week, and internal groups seeking to address harassment.

Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@oath.com; follow him on Twitter at@DanielHowley.Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, andLinkedIn.

JP Mangalindan is the Chief Tech Correspondent for Yahoo Finance covering the intersection of tech and business. Email story tips and musings to jpm@oath.com. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook.
MONTAGUE, Prince Edward Island, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A sea of candles will light the way as MADD Canadas Prince Edward Island Chapters host their annual Candlelight Vigil of Hope and Remembrance for victims of impaired driving on November 3rd.



With photos and the lighting of a candle for each victim, the Candlelight Vigil helps people honour a loved one who has been killed or acknowledge injuries caused by the senseless and entirely preventable crime of impaired driving.

The Vigil offers a meaningful way to pay tribute to those who have been impacted by impaired driving, and serves as a poignant reminder of the terrible, tragic toll this crime takes on families and communities, said MADD Canada Atlantic Regional Manager Susan MacAskill.

Media are welcome to attend:

Event: Candlelight Vigil of Hope and Remembrance Date: Saturday, November 3, 2018 Time: 11 a.m. Location: Ferguson Logan Funeral Home, 668-40 Wood Islands Hill, Montague PE



The vigil takes impaired driving beyond the numbers and statistics to recognize the real people and families who are tragically and permanently affected.

Crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs continue to be a very serious problem on Canadian roads, claiming hundreds of lives and injuring tens of thousands of people every year.

MADD Canada is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting victims/survivors of this violent crime. Among the services MADD Canada offers to victims/survivors: grief and bereavement support, support through the criminal justice system, assistance with victim impact statements, help with understanding victims rights, information brochures, community referrals and trained victim service volunteers.
FILE PHOTO: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk talks to his workforce as he announces the world's first private passenger scheduled to fly around the Moon aboard SpaceX's BFR launch vehicle, at the company's headquarters in Hawthorne FILE PHOTO: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk talks to his workforce as he announces the world's first private passenger scheduled to fly around the Moon aboard SpaceX's BFR launch vehicle, at the company's headquarters in Hawthorne, California, U.S. September 17, 2018. REUTERS/Gene Blevins/File Photo

By Eric M. Johnson and Joey Roulette

SEATTLE/ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) - SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk flew to the Seattle area in June for meetings with engineers leading a satellite launch project crucial to his space company's growth.

Within hours of landing, Musk had fired at least seven people on the program's senior management team at the Redmond, Washington, office, the culmination of disagreements over the pace at which the team was developing and testing its Starlink satellites, according to two SpaceX employees with direct knowledge of the situation.

Known for pushing aggressive deadlines, Musk quickly brought in new managers from SpaceX headquarters in California to replace a number of the managers he fired. Their mandate: Launch SpaceX's first batch of U.S.-made satellites by the middle of next year, the sources said.

The management shakeup and the launch timeline, previously unreported, illustrate how quickly Musk wants to bring online SpaceX's Starlink program, which is competing with OneWeb and Canada's Telesat to be first to market with a new satellite-based Internet service.

Those services - essentially a constellation of satellites that will bring high-speed Internet to rural and suburban locations globally - are key to generating the cash that privately-held SpaceX needs to fund Musk's real dream of developing a new rocket capable of flying paying customers to the moon and eventually trying to colonize Mars.

"It would be like rebuilding the Internet in space," Musk told an audience in 2015 when he unveiled Starlink. "The goal would be to have a majority of long-distance Internet traffic go over this network."

But the program is struggling to hire and retain staff, the employees said. Currently, about 300 SpaceX employees work on Starlink in Redmond, the sources said. According to GeekWire, Musk said in 2015 the Redmond operation would have "probably several hundred people, maybe a thousand people" after 3-4 years in operation.

Story continues

So far this year, about 50 employees left the company "on their own accord," one of the SpaceX employees said, though the reason for those departures was unclear. Overall, SpaceX employs more than 6,000 staff.

As of Tuesday, there were 22 job openings - including a job making espresso drinks - for the Redmond office, according to SpaceX's website.

SpaceX spokeswoman Eva Behrend told Reuters the Redmond office remains an essential part of the company's efforts to build a next-generation satellite network.

"Given the success of our recent Starlink demonstration satellites, we have incorporated lessons learned and re-organized to allow for the next design iteration to be flown in short order," Behrend said.

She noted the strategy was similar to the rapid iteration in design and testing which led to the success of its rockets.

After this story was published, a second SpaceX spokesperson said two of the managers left the company on their own accord as part of the re-organization within two weeks of the Musk visit in June. The spokesman did not provide additional details about their exit.

Among the managers fired from the Redmond office was SpaceX Vice President of Satellites Rajeev Badyal, an engineering and hardware veteran of Microsoft Corp and Hewlett-Packard, and top designer Mark Krebs, who worked in Google's satellite and aircraft division, the employees said. Krebs declined to comment, and Badyal did not respond to requests for comment.

The management shakeup followed in-fighting over pressure from Musk to speed up satellite testing schedules, one of the sources said. SpaceX's Behrend offered no comment on the matter.

Culture was also a challenge for recent hires, a second source said. A number of the managers had been hired from nearby technology giant Microsoft, where workers were more accustomed to longer development schedules than Musk's famously short deadlines.

"Rajeev wanted three more iterations of test satellites," one of the sources said. "Elon thinks we can do the job with cheaper and simpler satellites, sooner."

A billionaire and Chief Executive Officer of Tesla Inc, Musk is known for ambitious projects ranging from auto electrification and rocket-building to high-speed transit tunnels.

A Musk trust owns 54 percent of the outstanding stock of SpaceX, according to a 2016 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing, SpaceX's most recent.

JUNE 2019 LAUNCH GOAL

SpaceX has said it would launch its satellites in phases through 2024. It goal of having Internet service available in 2020 is "pretty much on target" with an initial satellite launch by mid-2019, one of the sources said.

OneWeb aims for a first launch between December and February 2019, while Telesat was targeting 2022 for broadband services.

SpaceX employees told Reuters that two Starlink test satellites launched in February, dubbed Tintin A and B, were functioning as intended. The company is refining the orbital path of the satellites after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, which oversees satellites in orbit, approved a request from SpaceX to expand Tintins' altitude range, one of the sources said.

The FCC confirmed SpaceX's modifications, which have not been reported previously, but declined further comment.

"We're using the Tintins to explore that modification," one of the SpaceX employee sources said. "They're happy and healthy and we're talking with them every time they pass a ground station, dozens of times a day."

SpaceX engineers have used the two test satellites to play online video games at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California and the Redmond office, the source said.

"We were streaming 4k YouTube and playing 'Counter-Strike: Global Offensive' from Hawthorne to Redmond in the first week," the person added.

MORE SATELLITES

In March, the FCC approved Musk's plan to beam down Internet signals from 4,425 small satellites launched into standard low-Earth orbit - more than two times the total number of active satellites there presently.

One SpaceX engineer told Reuters the company has studied plans to add roughly 10,000 additional satellites after its first array is live to meet bandwidth demand in the coming 20 years. Behrend declined to comment on the plans and referred to a previous FCC filing, which states an additional 7,518 satellites are under consideration.

Such a move would keep it in the race to expand affordable high-speed Internet access to billions of people in rural or suburban areas globally. The Satellite Industry Association, a lobby group, estimates the global market for satellite-based broadband and television services is worth $127.7 billion, dwarfing the roughly $5.5 billion satellite launch services market.

McLean, Virginia-based OneWeb is working to provide internet service from roughly 900 satellites after raising more than $2 billion from SoftBank, the Coca-Cola Company and others.

Telesat, backed by Loral Space & Communications Inc, said on Oct. 23 it conducted the first-ever live test of in-flight broadband via a satellite in low-Earth orbit, and was targeting 2022 for broadband services from a constellation of some 300 satellites.

SpaceX aims to provide Internet service by linking its satellites to ground stations and mountable terminals about the size of a pizza box at homes or businesses, according to the FCC filing. The U.S. market for broadband is already dominated by several incumbent communications companies, including Comcast Corporation. Comcast declined to comment on the potential new competition.

While SpaceX's model of reusing rockets has generated cash, it is not enough to cover the roughly $5 billion cost to develop its Big Falcon Rocket that Musk wants one day to fly to Mars.

"There had to be a much bigger idea for generating cash to basically realize the Mars plans," said one of the SpaceX employees. "What better idea than to put Comcast out of business?"

(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle and Joey Roulette in Orlando, Florida; editing by Greg Mitchell and Edward Tobin)
CAIRO, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on Shi'ite Muslim pilgrims in Iraq on Tuesday, the Sunni Islamist militant group's news agency Amaq reported.

The roadside bomb killed three pilgrims as they walked to a holy site near the northeastern Iraqi city of Khanaqin. (Reporting by Nayera Abdallah; editing by Andrew Roche)
(Corrects spelling of Khashoggi's name in headline, no change to text)

* Investigators find possessions of journalist in car

* Erdogan rejects official Saudi version

* Avoids direct reference to crown prince

* Says the Khashoggi operation was planned days in advance

By Gulsen Solaker and Ece Toksabay

ANKARA, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Turkey's president on Tuesday dismissed Saudi Arabia's efforts to blame the killing of a prominent journalist on rogue operatives, calling it a planned, "savage killing", and demanded Riyadh punish those responsible, no matter how highly placed.

But Tayyip Erdogan stopped short of mentioning Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the powerful de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia who some U.S. lawmakers suspect ordered the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Turkish investigators meanwhile found some of Khashoggi's personal possessions during a search of a Saudi consulate vehicle in Istanbul on Tuesday, broadcaster CNN Turk said.

Erdogan said the person who orchestrated the killing must "be brought to account". The comments were his most explicit yet in a case that has sparked global outrage.

Turkish officials suspect Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and critic of the crown prince, was killed and dismembered inside the consulate by Saudi agents on Oct. 2. Turkish sources say authorities have an audio recording purportedly documenting the killing. Erdogan made no reference to any audio recording.

"Intelligence and security institutions have evidence showing the murder was planned," Erdogan told members of his AK Party in parliament.

"Pinning such a case on some security and intelligence members will not satisfy us or the international community," he said.

"The Saudi administration has taken an important step by admitting to the murder. From now on, we expect them to uncover all those responsible for this matter from top to bottom and make them face the necessary punishments," Erdogan added.

"From the person who gave the order, to the person who carried it out, they must all be brought to account."

Story continues

Riyadh initially denied knowledge of Khashoggi's fate before saying he was killed in a fight in the consulate, a reaction that has met with scepticism by several Western governments, straining their relations with the world's biggest oil exporter.

The kingdom has since changed parts of its official narrative about the killing, further deepening international concern. A host of Western executives and governments have pulled out of a high-profile Saudi investment summit that started on Tuesday.

A Saudi cabinet meeting chaired by King Salman said Riyadh would hold to account those responsible for the killing and those who failed in their duties, whoever they were.

MAJOR POWERS

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) nations called for a thorough and credible investigation, saying Saudi Arabia must ensure such an incident could never happen again.

U.S. President Donald Trump will ultimately decide whether to impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia once all the facts were available "based on the values of the American people and our vital national interests," Vice President Mike Pence said at an event hosted by The Washington Post.

The Saudi king and crown prince received Khashoggi family members including his son Salah bin Jamal Khashoggi in Riyadh, state news agency SPA reported.

Erdogan said the killing was planned from when the 59-year-old Khashoggi first went to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Sept. 28 to obtain documents necessary for his marriage. He was told he would need to come back later to collect the documents.

On Oct. 1, a day before Khashoggi's death, agents arrived from overseas and began to scout locations, including the Belgrad Forest near Istanbul and the city of Yalova to its south, Erdogan said. Police have searched both areas for evidence of Khashoggi's remains, Reuters has reported.

On the day Khashoggi arrived for his appointment and was later killed, the hard disk in the consulate's camera system was removed, Erdogan said.

"Covering up a savage murder like this will only hurt the human conscience. We expect the same sensitivity from all parties, primarily the Saudi Arabian leadership."

"We have strong signs that the murder was the result of a planned operation, not a spontaneous development."

SAUDI VERSION

On the day of the killing, 15 people came to the consulate, including security, intelligence and forensic experts, Erdogan said. Consulate personnel were given the day off.

"Why did these 15 people meet in Istanbul on the day of the murder? We are seeking answers to this. Who are these people receiving orders from?" Erdogan said. He added he wanted Saudi Arabia to send the suspects to Turkey for trial.

The White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Erdogan's remarks.

Trump has played down any suggestion that the crown prince was involved in the killing but has also warned of possible economic sanctions. Trump has also repeatedly highlighted the kingdom's importance as a U.S. ally and called Prince Mohammed a strong and passionate leader.

King Salman, 82, has handed the day-to-day running of Saudi Arabia to the 33-year-old prince.

Trump spoke with Prince Mohammed on Sunday. He told reporters on Monday that he had teams in Saudi Arabia and Turkey working on the case and would know more about it after they returned to Washington on Monday night or Tuesday.

CIA Director Gina Haspel was travelling to Turkey on Monday to work on the Khashoggi investigation, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

On Saturday, Saudi state media said King Salman had fired five officials over the killing, including Saud al-Qahtani, a top aide who ran social media for Prince Mohammed. Riyadh is also working with Turkey on a joint investigation

Erdogan spoke as hundreds of bankers and company executives gathered in Riyadh for the Future Investment Initiative, an annual event designed to attract foreign capital under reforms designed to end Saudi dependence on oil exports.

(Additional reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara; Ezgi Erkoyun, Daren Butler, Ali Kucukgocmen and Sarah Dadouch in Istanbul and Susan Heavey in Washington; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Jon Boyle and Andrew Roche)
Workplace Experience Platform Named to MountainWest Capital Networks 2018 Utah 100 List

SILICON SLOPES, Utah, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teem , a WeWork company and developer of cloud-based meeting solutions and analytics, announced today it was named to the 2018 Utah 100, MountainWest Capital Network (MWCN)s annual list of the fastest-growing companies. Teem ranked No. 3 out of 100 companies in the state and was honored at the 24th annual Utah 100 Awards program, held at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.

At Teem, we feel its our responsibility as workplace experience leaders to create new technologies that surface meaningful, real-time data and produce significant results for our customers and community, said Shaun Ritchie, CEO of Teem. Our commitment to this mission is the key driver of our growth, and were excited to be among the top companies bringing innovation and opportunity to Utahs economy.

This honor is a late addition to a year of tremendous growth and success for Teem, as the Utah-based office management startup was acquired by WeWork this past September. The acquisition is a testament to the business and team Teem has built, which has grown exponentially in the recent years, helping companies recognize the reality of a great workplace through employee-focused technology solutions and analytics. In joining WeWork, Teem has found a true partner to support its continued growth and scale.

Together with Teem, were improving the experience of booking and optimizing space for an enterprise's entire campus, said Shiva Rajaraman, WeWorks chief product officer. Were thrilled to have Teem as part of the WeWork family and grow our presence in the strong tech hub of Utah.

Recipients of the Utah 100 were chosen by the percentage of revenue increase of each company between 2013 and 2017.

About Teem

Teem is a developer of cloud-based meeting tools and workplace analytics helping companies improve workplace experience while optimizing their use of space. Teems platform integrates a dynamic suite of tools into the physical and digital workplace, including scheduling tools to help employees book the best places for their work, indoor wayfinding solutions help employees locate available spaces, and Teem visitor management to create secure and welcoming experiences for visitors. Additionally, Teems platform offers robust data analytics and actionable insights to improve workplace experiences and improve the use of real estate. Innovative companies like Box, LinkedIn, GE, Boston Consulting Group, Airbnb, and others use Teem to improve employee productivity and facilitate data-driven decision making. Teem was acquired by WeWork in September 2018 to help create better, more productive workplaces for people and enterprises around the globe. For more information on Teem, visit Teem.com .

About MountainWest Capital Network

MountainWest Capital Network (MWCN) is the largest business networking organization in Utah, consisting of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, consultants, legal professionals, bankers, and educators. MWCN seeks to promote and recognize business growth and capital development in the state through a variety of award programs and activities.
WASHINGTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump in a tweet on Thursday said he had a "very good" talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping on trade and North Korea and that the two planned to meet at the upcoming G-20 summit.

"Just had a long and very good conversation with President Xi Jinping of China. We talked about many subjects, with a heavy emphasis on Trade," Trump wrote. "Those discussions are moving along nicely with meetings being scheduled at the G-20 in Argentina. Also had good discussion on North Korea!" (Reporting by Susan Heavey)
Hulk Hogan is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during ceremonies at Universal Amphitheatre. (Photo by Chris Farina/Corbis via Getty Images)

The WWE (WWE) is doubling down on Saudi Arabia: Not only are they going ahead with its November 2nd Crown Jewel pay-per-view event in Riyadh, but the wrestling empire is also bringing back disgraced WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan to host the event.

The WWE has received pushback from fans and others over its refusal to cancel the event in the wake of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Turkey. Some of this pushback has even come from within the WWEs locker room: Superstars John Cena and Daniel Bryan refused to participate at Crown Jewel, despite both having a prominent role in the event.

John Cena (C) celebrates defeating Triple H (R) during the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Greatest Royal Rumble event in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah on April 27, 2018. (Photo: STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)

Hogan is not without his own controversy. Friday will be the first time that the Hulkster will be a part of the company since his exile in 2015 for making racially insensitive remarks on tape which were posted on now-defunct celebrity website Gawker.

WWE in Saudi Arabia is about business

The WWE recently signed a 10-year business contract with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Since signing the deal in March, the American organization has been criticized for omitting female wrestlers from all its Saudi Arabian events, in accordance with the countrys strict laws, in addition to following through with the Crown Jewel event after Khashoggis death. At the same time, WWE stock is up more than 130% this year.

(Photo: Yahoo Finance)

Many companies and high profile CEOs and business leaders have such as Bill and Melinda Gates, and Virgin founder Richard Branson suspended business ties with the country until further notice. The Trump Administration recently took heat for allowing U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to meet with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in early October.

Trump and the WWE also have some history. Trump participated in Wrestlemania 23 in 2007 (and other publicity stunts). And his current Administrator of the Small Business Administration, Linda McMahon, is the former CEO of WWE and the wife of WWEs current chairman Vince McMahon.

Story continues

GREEN BAY, WI  JUNE 22: Vince McMahon (L) and Donald Trump attend a press conference about the WWE at the Austin Straubel International Airport on June 22, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo: Mark A. Wallenfang/Getty Images)

Hogan will undoubtedly be tasked to use his astounding charisma to make sure that the evenings focus is on the events in the ring and not the geopolitical events happening outside of it.

READ MORE: WWE gets slammed for its upcoming Saudi Arabia event
Auckland-based cryptocurrency savings and trading platform Vimba has gotten a $330,000 grant from a government entity Callaghan Innovation.

Lauding the largesse of the grantor, Vimba CEO Sam Blackmore commended Callaghan Innovation for its belief in the startup.

This is a truly significant investment from Callaghan Innovation and a real show of faith in the future of this very exciting asset class, he remarked in a press release.

Founded in 2014 by a duo of kiwi bitcoin enthusiasts and formerly known as MyCryptoSaver, the rebranding reflected the broad range of services offered by the Auckland-based platform.

The platform currently enables users to use the New Zealand dollars in purchasing bitcoin or Ethereum. While giving an insight into plans of expanding the range of services being offered, Blackmore noted that the company was considering the prospects of expanding the range of cryptocurrencies.

There was a sense of disillusionment among many traders following Bitcoins significant depreciation from almost US$20,000 in mid-December to an amount below US$5,000. There was an air of uncertainty about the prospects of the most popular digital asset, and this ultimately led to pessimism about other digital assets as well.

Amidst the gloom that doused the enthusiasm of many investors, Blackmore urged people not to feel discouraged by the recent volatility but rather endeavor to latch onto the digital assets positive trend at the long-term.

We believe Bitcoin will at least reach the market cap of gold as it is more efficient, more accessible, more secure version of that rare asset. For it to reach the market cap of gold, one Bitcoin would be worth around $600,000  more than 60 times what its worth today, Blackmore enthused.

In his view, its never too late to start investing in cryptocurrencies as its long-term prospects provide leverage for anyone to join the crypto ship while it is still sailing.

Vimba Chief Operating Officer Matt Gibson disclosed plans to use the grant obtained from Callaghan to promote technological innovation that will make it possible to transfer little amounts of bitcoins to hundreds of thousands of customers in one fell swoop. This according to him will give the company a mark of distinction from its competitors.

Story continues

The company also contemplates on penetrating the UK market  where Blackmore has been able to obtain a temporary residence. He intends to launch into the market within the next couple of weeks.

Featured image from Shutterstock.



The post New Zealand Government Issues $330,000 Grant to Local Bitcoin Startup appeared first on CCN.


STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Both of Colorados major-party candidates for governor have made big bets on their own campaigns  and they have the means to do it. But while its clear that Democrat Jared Polis and Republican Walker Stapleton are wealthy men, thanks to their business successes, they have refused to tell voters how wealthy  and government rules dont make them.
CAMPBELL, Calif., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KULR Technology Group , Inc. (OTCQB: KUTG), (the Company or KULR), today announced that it will provide specific-use thermal management material to Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) for ongoing testing, research and development on defense-related projects.



Details of the agreement, the specific materials, and proposed projects are under security restrictions and will not be released but company leaders highlighted the importance of the relationship to continued programs within Leidos and with other partners.

Whether in space, aerospace, defense or in consumer electronics, managing the heat of high-performance, high-demand components is always mission critical  too much heat, or not enough of it, in the wrong place at the wrong time can impair system performance or in the worst case be catastrophic, said Dr. Timothy Knowles, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at KULR. We are proud to continue our work on safe and efficient thermal solutions with industry and research leaders such as Leidos.

The design and development of next-generation products and systems requires next-generation energy management or thermal management solutions, said Vice President Billy Schaefer, Leidos Business Manager for Directed Energy. Partnering with KULR will help us create these innovative products from conception to implementation for the customer.



Though its not the companys only thermal product, KULRs core technology is a space-used, vertically-aligned carbon fiber material that is lighter, more flexible, and more efficient than traditional thermal management products. As pure carbon, KULR fiber is perfectly heat efficient and because it behaves like a flexible fabric it can fit with just about any power or electronic configuration in extremely demanding spaces with minimal contact pressure. Partners, including NASA and multiple defense agencies and contractors, have contributed decades of research and development on KULRs thermal technology solutions.

New areas of defense technology like directed energy systems, for example, require upgraded, optimal thermal systems, even just to test them, said Michael G. Carpenter, Vice-President of Engineering at KULR Technology. Thats why agreements with companies such as Leidos are so exciting for us. Directed energy research programs are similar to those being promoted by the Directed Energy Professional Society .

About KULR Technology Group, Inc.

KULR Technology Group, Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary KULR Technology Corporation ("KULR"), develops and commercializes high-performance, space-used thermal management technologies for electronics, batteries and other components across an array of applications such as electrical vehicle, autonomous driving, AI/Cloud computing, energy storage and 5G communications technologies known collectively as e-Mobility. KULR's proprietary, core technology is a carbon fiber material with roots in aerospace and defense that provides superior thermal conductivity and heat dissipation in an ultra-lightweight, pliable material. By leveraging this break-through cooling solution, and its longstanding development partnerships with NASA, the Jet Propulsion Lab and others, KULR makes e-Mobility and other products safer and cooler. https://www.kulrtechnology.com
A Colorado Springs woman arrested in the shooting death of her 2-year-old son had loaded the gun to protect herself from her methamphetamine dealer, an arrest affidavit says.

Melissa Adamson, 32, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of child abuse resulting in the death of Lokhi Richard Bloom. She posted $10,000 bail and was released.

Adamson told police that she had received a text from her methamphetamine dealer sometime on Oct. 21 regarding a dispute over a drug deal, the affidavit says. She loaded her pink and black .380-caliber handgun and chambered a round to protect herself from the dealer, whom she identified as Beast.

In the afternoon or early evening, Adamson saw her drug dealer outside her home in the 1500 block of Hartford Street on her surveillance cameras. After he left, she placed her gun inside a home office and went to the garage to call her sister.

While in the garage, she told police that she heard something, possibly a gunshot, arrest records say.

A video recording system showed the boy walking down the hallway and entering the office alone at 5:18 p.m. A short time later, a man in the home  Terry Bloom  got up from watching TV, went to the office and came out carrying Lokhi, who appeared to be injured, arrest records say.

When deputies arrived, the child was in Adamsons arms, said El Paso County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Jacqueline Kirby. Lokhi died at a hospital.

Investigators determined that the boy found the gun and apparently shot himself. His death is not considered a homicide.

Adamson was found guilty of child abuse knowingly/recklessly causing bodily abuse in September 2015, before Lokhi was born, court records show.

Randy Hays, who lives in a nearby unit, told The Gazette that the boy had two older brothers.

Twitter: @lizmforster Phone: 636-0193
Colorado anti-tax activist Douglas Bruce was set to make a tidy sum two years ago when he sold a dilapidated home in Old Colorado City. But then the buyers stopped paying, and now Bruce has begun the foreclosure process to repossess the house.

Bruce still appears in the black on his investment in 1326 W. Kiowa St. He bought the house in 1993 for $9,500, and he sold it in October 2016 for $159,900. But his profits have dwindled as mortgage payments arrived late or not at all.

When Renovation Management Group 106 bought the house from him, the El Paso County assessor listed it in below-average condition with a market value of $17,458. Representatives of the group could not immediately be reached for comment.

Bruce said he received a down payment, and court documents show he lent the buyer $119,000. The buyer still owes Bruce $90,000, the documents show.

They made payments for roughly a year, and then they didnt pay, Bruce said.

He began the foreclosure process on the skeletal structure in July. His attorney, Howard Morrison, said the property might go to auction with the county Public Trustees Office in November.

If nobody bids on it, Bruce will assume ownership again, said Thomas Mowle, the countys trustee.

Bruce said he wants his money back, and hell cancel foreclosure if he receives payment.

It was in disrepair when I bought it, and I started to fix it up, he said. I did a lot of work to it, and then I sold it to somebody.

But city code enforcement officials have listed the property as condemned since 2007, confirmed Mitch Hammes, head of code enforcement.

The roof of the residence is riddled with huge holes, and the exterior walls have been removed, leaving the frame exposed to the elements for years.

Its in a neighborhood and block thats really done a lot to take care of itself and its the one property that just gnaws at you when you drive by, said City Council President Richard Skorman, whose District 3 includes Old Colorado City. Thats been a complaint for two decades.

The property poses a health and safety risk to neighbors and any children who might wander near, Skorman said. Skunks and raccoons have also made it their home.

If Bruce regains the ramshackle structure, hell own three buildings in Colorado Springs, county property records show.

Bruce, the high-profile author of the Colorado Taxpayers Bill of Rights, is no stranger to foreclosures.

Pleading for his early release from prison in 2016, Bruce said he would sell his properties, pay overdue taxes and lead a quiet life in retirement in Colorado Springs. But of dozens of properties he owned across the country, Bruce has sold only a few while tax liens and fines multiplied.

In 2015, Bruce owed more than $80,000 in delinquent property taxes, liens and fines.

By this time last year, those debts exceeded $120,000. Three counties in Ohio each had foreclosed on a Bruce house, and a fourth foreclosure was pending in King County, Wash.

Bruce was convicted in 2012 of felony tax evasion, filing a false tax return and trying to influence a public servant. He served 104 days in jail but then was sentenced to two years in the Delta Correctional Facility for violating his probation. He served less than six months in Delta, gaining early release that September.

None of Bruces debts violated the terms of his parole, which he completed this June, confirmed Mark Fairbairn, spokesman for the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Whoever winds up owning the Kiowa property faces enormous challenges. Hammes said the city has begun stages of an enhanced enforcement process to determine how we need to proceed, given the current conditions.

Skorman said he wants Hammes to follow whatever procedures are needed to rid the neighborhood of the skeletal building.

I would like to see him do whatever it takes to get rid of that eyesore and source of health issues for that block, he said.

conrad.swanson@gazette.com @conrad_swanson
Democrat Jared Polis holds an 8-percentage-point advantage over Republican Walker Stapleton in the Colorado governors race, and an even wider advantage among people who have voted, according to a poll from two Colorado firms released Thursday.

The live telephone survey of 517 Colorado adults was conducted Oct. 25-30 by Telluride-based Keating Research and Denver-based OnSight Public Affairs along with Martin Campaigns. Keating and OnSight often work for Democrats running for office.

Fifty percent of those surveyed said they had voted for, or planned to vote for Polis, while 42 percent said they support Stapleton, 4 percent back Libertarian Scott Helker, 1 percent favor Bill Hammons of the Unity Party, and 4 percent said they were undecided.

The pollsters noted that of several public surveys conducted in the 2018 Colorado governors race since the June primary election, all of which showed an advantage for Polis, theirs is the first to show the Democrat with support at or above 50 percent, although that conclusion is within the latest surveys margin of error.

The survey was one of two released Thursday. The other poll, from Republican firm Magellan Strategies, found a narrower, 5-point split among likely voters between the two candidates, with 45 percent favoring Polis and 40 percent for Stapleton. The Magellan survey also found a much larger pool of undecided voters: 11 percent of those polled.

However, David Flaherty, Magellan Strategies CEO, said that, given the trend of higher participation by Democrats this year than in previous midterm elections, we completely understand that the final voter turnout by party may be less Republican than this survey indicates.

Veteran pollster Chris Keating of Keating Research, in releasing the Keating-OnSight-Martin Colorado Polls results, all but declared the election for Polis, the Boulder congressman and internet entrepreneur.

In 23 years of polling in Colorado, a statewide candidate with this type of consistent 7- to 8-point lead in the polls has never lost the election, Keating said, referring to previous Polis-Stapleton poll results as well as his.

Our statistical model gives Jared Polis a 98 percent chance of winning.

It also shows that the pool of undecided voters does not appear to be large enough to cover the spread between Polis and Stapleton, the state treasurer and businessman.

The poll comes as ballot returns show a higher voting rate by Democrats when compared to Colorados last midterm election in 2014.

A report accompanying the new poll says that while Republicans strongly support their partys candidate  87 percent for Stapleton versus 8 percent for Polis  Democrats also overwhelmingly support their candidate, and the weak Republican turnout and robust unaffiliated voter support for Polis (53 percent vs. 32 percent for Stapleton) will drive Polis to victory on election night.

The report also cites nearly 2-1 support for Polis in Arapahoe and Jefferson counties, two bellwether Denver-suburban counties that tend to determine the outcome of Colorado elections.

The poll results show that 54 percent of those surveyed had already voted. Thirty percent of likely voters surveyed said they had voted for Polis, and 19 percent said they had voted for Stapleton.

Twenty percent of the 517 people surveyed said they had not yet voted but planned to vote for Stapleton, while 18 percent said they planned to vote for Polis.

The poll also asked about support for President Donald Trump, whose presidency has been a major election issue in Colorado and across the nation.

Of those Coloradans surveyed, 39 percent said they have a favorable opinion of Trump, while 59 percent said they regard the president unfavorably.

At the extremes, 22 percent of poll respondents said they view Trump very favorably, but more than half  52 percent  said they regard him very unfavorably.

The poll found strong support for Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper  a 59-to-33 percent favorability margin. The term-limited Democrat is leaving office in January and signaled Wednesday that he is strongly considering a 2020 run for the presidency.

Hickenlooper has an eight-year track record of bringing Coloradans together, said Curtis Hubbard, an OnSight partner and a former Denver Post editorial page editor. (Hickenloopers last gubernatorial campaign was a client of Hubbards firm.)

Surveyed Coloradans were more split on U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, with 42 percent saying they view the Colorado Republican favorably and 43 percent with an unfavorable impression, while 16 percent said they dont know one way or the other or are unfamiliar with Gardner. He is up for election in 2020.

Asked about their political affiliation, 40 percent of those surveyed said they think of themselves as independent, 30 percent call themselves Democrats, and 29 percent identify as Republicans. But as far as official party registration goes, the voters surveyed came down as 33 percent Democrat, 33 percent Republican and 33 percent unaffiliated.

The Keating-OnSight-Martin Colorado Poll has an estimated margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percent. Live interviewers reached voters by phone: 61 percent on mobile phones and 39 percent via land lines.

Those surveyed were people who voted in November of 2014, 2016 and 2017 and who told pollsters they either already voted or planned to vote in the election that ends Tuesday .
A Colorado Springs felon was on the hunt for rent money when he fatally shot a 30-year-old man during a heist at a drug den, prosecutors alleged Wednesday during opening statements at a murder trial.

Arquinn DeAndre Stafford, 37, faces the potential of life in prison without parole in the Jan. 7 shooting of Benjamin Sharkey, the first homicide of the year in Colorado Springs.

Stafford also faces sentence enhancers alleging he has at least three prior felony convictions.

The first witness at his two-week trial was an admitted drug dealer who said the killing occurred shortly after 7 p.m., moments after Sharkey and Stafford arrived at his house in the 100 block of Motor Way in the Ivywild neighborhood south of downtown.

Jeffrey Ross told jurors he welcomed Sharkey inside before a second man he didnt recognize walked in behind him, brandishing a long-barrel revolver.

When Sharkey saw the weapon, he uttered two words in a tone of surprise: Really, n---?

Thats when he shot him, Ross testified. Blew him away right there.

Ross said Stafford then pointed the weapon at him and demanded money and drugs, collecting methamphetamine and about $500 cash before he ran out.

Prosecutors said Stafford also stole $1,000 in cash from the victims pocket  money he needed to put a deposit on a new apartment for him, his wife and two children.

Staffords court-appointed attorneys say Stafford is the victim of a wrongful arrest, and Ross identification of Stafford was influenced by a mug shot that police distributed as part of a news release.

Before Staffords picture circulated on Facebook, Ross had described a light-skinned black man with a gap between his front teeth  nailing Staffords complexion but missing his prominent facial tattoos and the fact that he has several front teeth missing.

Aside from a tainted ID, prosecutors built their case on inconsistent, uncorroborated evidence, public defender Jennifer Chu told the jury. She said another man who implicated Stafford later told a friend that he fed police a story, and they ate it up.

Prosecutor Andrew Hug said evidence will show that Staffords wife put down just more than $1,000 cash for a new apartment one day after the killing.

Sharkey was a parolee who had been released from prison 12 days earlier, leading relatives and supporters to question whether resources are sufficient to help parolees reintegrate into society.

The victim told family members he wanted to escape the lure of gangs and drugs and hoped to be placed at Soaring Hope Sober Living in Colorado Springs. Instead, he was rejected at the last minute and alternated between living on the streets and staying with friends.

During an earlier proceeding in the case, police testified that Sharkey had meth in his system, despite wearing an ankle monitor that tracked his whereabouts every minute.

Ross called Sharkey a friend, and suggested his desire to change was sincere.

We talked about life and doing better for ourselves and trying to get ahead without hurting people, Ross told the jury.

In testifying about the killing, Ross acknowledged that he sold a little bit of drugs, but said he mainly provided for himself by working as a tree trimmer.

He told police Sharkey had come to his house to retrieve a food stamp card that Ross had purchased for $50. Attorneys for Stafford say Sharkey owed a debt to Ross and was trying to pay it off.

Ross denied any role in the shooting, and prosecutors played a recording of a 911 call in which he reports Sharkeys death in a panicked voice.

Testimony is expected to continue Thursday before 4th Judicial District Judge Thomas Kelly Kane.
Two employees at a Colorado Springs post office were taken to a local hospital after they had allergic reactions to a white powder later identified as a Korean-manufactured pre-workout supplement.

About 7:15 a.m., Colorado Springs firefighters were called to the post office at 1540 S. Eighth St. for a medical emergency, Colorado Springs Fire Department spokesman Capt. Brian Vaughan said in a news release.

Four employees who were exposed to the powder after its packaging broke, described their symptoms as itchiness, Vaughan said. They were hosed off, and two of them were kept isolated until hazmat investigators could identify the substance. The other two were experiencing intensifying symptoms and were taken to a hospital as a precaution. Their breathing was not affected, Vaughan said.

After learning that employees had been exposed to an unknown, but possibly toxic substance, fire officials requested a full hazmat response, including two engines, three ambulances, Colorado Springs Utilities and police, Vaughan said in the news release.

The incident happened with the nation still on edge after a series of pipe bombs were mailed late last month to several prominent Democrats, including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and other opponents of President Donald Trump.

The hazmat investigation closed Eighth Street between Arcturus Drive and Brookside Street for three hours. Twenty Postal Service employees who werent exposed to the substance stayed in a city bus for warmth during the hazmat investigation, Vaughan said.

Hazmat team members photographed the white plastic bag, which an employee had placed outside the building after it broke and the powder spilled out. Inside a hazmat apparatus, other members of the team cross-checked the information gathered with a hazmat database, he said.

The team screened the substance using a six-step process and found that it wasnt lethal.

By 10:40 a.m., authorities had determined there was no criminal activity, Vaughan said.
Barry Fagin is a Senior Fellow at the Independence Institute in Denver. His views are his alone. Readers can write Dr Fagin at barry@faginfamily.net.
In voting for secretary of state, Coloradans should choose a proven competent leader over someone espousing irrelevant doctrinaire politics.
As many as 200 Fort Carson soldiers were ordered to head south, Army Secretary Mark Esper and Colorado Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner used stops in Colorado Springs on Wednesday to voice approval for the Trump administrations move to use thousands of troops to seal Americas border with Mexico.

The local soldiers  attached to a pair of logistics companies from the posts 4th Sustainment Brigade  will be joined on Operation Faithful Patriot by planners from U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base, which is overseeing the border mission.

Sources at Fort Carson say the entire units may not ship out, with just elements of the companies assigned to border duty. That move could significantly cut the number of troops involved. Exact numbers were not released.

The troops arent heading to the border with loaded rifles. Instead, they will support Border Patrol efforts, a news release from Northern Command said.

The command said troops will provide planning, engineering, transportation, logistics and medical support to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The border mission is the first of its kind in more than a century, dating to when Gen. John J. Pershing led Army forces against Mexican rebel leader Pancho Villa, and comes as Fort Carsons forces are heavily committed overseas. The post has about 10,000 soldiers deployed, mostly in Afghanistan. Another 5,000 troops from the post are about to head overseas to Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Esper, who spent Wednesday visiting with Fort Carson leaders, troops and families, said the border mission wont interfere with the Armys combat readiness and efforts to modernize its formations.

We get missions all the time and its something we have to manage, Esper said.

The border mission initially will involve more than 5,000 Army troops, with most of them coming from Fort Hood, Texas.

Gardner, who has been a critic of some Trump administration moves, said he likes the border plan.

We have to have a secure border, Gardner said after his meeting with Esper.

For Fort Carson, securing the border means sending two units that can help manage supplies for other Army units.

The headquarters company of the 4th Sustainment Brigade and the headquarters of the brigades 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion were ordered to the border. The 4th Sustainment Brigade has trained with Northern Command to provide assistance in natural disasters, with its troops helping with relief after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in 2017.

At the border, the Fort Carson soldiers and their comrades from other posts will assist the Border Patrol, but wont be directly busting undocumented immigrants. Thats because the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 forbids use of active-duty troops to enforce U.S. laws.

While the active-duty Army is new to border work, part-time troops have been active on the border over the past 12 years.

In 2006, President George W. Bush authorized the call-up of more than 32,000 National Guard troops to back the Border Patrol in its efforts to stem illegal immigration from Mexico. That $1.2 billion, two-year program saw Guard members keep watch on the ground and in the air while also providing logistic and administrative support to law enforcement.

In 2010, President Barack Obama sent another contingent of Guard troops to the border to help catch undocumented immigrants.

Trumps mission, while drawing wide praise from Republican lawmakers, has drawn criticism from Democrats and immigrant rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Fort Carson deployments come as Trump offers another immigration plan, which would deny citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants born on U.S. soil.

Addressing that move, Gardner said adequate border security must come first.

I think the way we address this has to be through border security, Gardner said. If we make our border security work, this isnt an issue.

Contact Tom Roeder: 636-0240 Twitter: @xroederx

Sources at Fort Carson say the entire units may not ship out, with just elements of the companies assigned to border duty. That move could significantly cut the number of troops involved.
CLEARWATER, Fla., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Thursday October 18th, the monthly Swing Dances for Charity kicked off the 2018-2019 season in the Fort Harrisons Crystal Ballroom in downtown Clearwater. The dance floor was packed and the spirits high, but more importantly, funds were raised for Bees Learning, a mobile tutoring program in St. Petersburg. The Fort Harrison is the international religious retreat for the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, who sponsors this monthly event.



After refreshments, career dancer Ms. Arleene Bowles of Savoy South Dance Hall taught new dancers East Coast Swing. Based on six counts, East Coast Swing originated in dance schools in the 1940s when the Lindy Hop was found too difficult to teach beginners. Guests took their new-found skills to the dance floor, swinging to live music performed by the Flag Band. Expert dancers provided additional assistance to the beginners.

At intermission, guests were invited to participate in an old-fashioned cakewalk. Similar to musical chairs, cakewalk dancers strut around in a circle single file until the music stops, then scramble to stand on numbers laid out around the dance floor. Those not landing on a number are eliminated. Cakes were awarded as prizes to winners in the categories of Best Dressed, Best "Strut" and Last Person Standing.

Illiteracy is at the root of many of todays problems, said Lisa Mansell, the Public Affairs Director for the Church. Surveys have shown that 75% percent of those incarcerated are illiterate. Illiteracy costs American businesses and taxpayers more than $225 billion annually, through lost wages, unemployment and government assistance. Bees Learning is tackling illiteracy in the neighborhoods where needed.

The November Swing Dance will be held on the 15th and will benefit the Herman and Mary G Allen Outreach and the December 20th Swing Dance will benefit the Childrens Home Network of Tampa Bay. The cost is $15 and includes refreshments and the dance lesson.

The dance lesson starts at 7pm, with open dancing at 8pm to the Flag Band. Partners are not required and experienced dancers will be on hand to assist Ms. Bowles. For more information about the event, please call (727) 467-6860.

The Fort Harrison:

Since completing construction in 1926, the Fort Harrison has been the home to many events for charitable organizations. The latest owner, the Church of Scientology, completed a top to bottom restoration of the Fort Harrison in 2009, and since then has hosted over 320 community events there. Scientology is an applied religious philosophy, founded by L. Ron Hubbard. The Church of Scientology makes its facilities available to non-profit groups as a service to the community.

For Information:

Lisa Mansell

(727) 467-6860

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8b0e36bf-2490-4f8d-947b-5f7e51a66cbb
LANCASTER, Pa., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI) today announced it will provide a live webcast of its Investor Day being held on November 7th in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.



Armstrongs Investor Day will be hosted by Vic Grizzle, Chief Executive Officer. The agenda for the day includes:

Whats Next: Strategic Initiatives

Vic Grizzle, CEO

Segment Review and Product Innovation

Charlie Chiappone, SVP Ceiling and Wall Solutions

Nicholas Taraborelli, VP Commercial Marketing

Financial Review and Value Creation

Brian MacNeal, CFO

The presentations and an audio webcast will be available in real-time from the event and can be accessed on the Investor Relations page of www.armstrongceilings.com from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET or by clicking directly on the following link: https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/fsr3h8j6 .

A replay of the call will be available via webcast on the Investor Relations page of www.armstrongceilings.com for up to one year after the date of the call.

Contacts

Investors: Thomas Waters, twaters@armstrongceilings.com or (717) 396-6354

Media: Jennifer Johnson, jenniferjohnson@armstrongceilings.com or (866) 321-6677

About Armstrong and Additional Information

Armstrong World Industries, Inc. is a global leader in the design and manufacture of innovative commercial and residential ceiling, wall and suspension system solutions. For more information, visit www.armstrongceilings.com .

Source: Armstrong World Industries
PHOENIX, Oct. 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global PoleTrusion Group Corp. (OTCQB:GPGC) (The Company) is an engineering firm that caters to the needs of utility companies, providing poles and towers that outperform their steel, wood, and concrete counterparts. President and CEO, Ramiro Guerrero, talked with Stock Days Everett Jolly.



Guerrero started off by explaining that Global PoleTrusion Group Corp. has been doing engineering for structures for the past 30 years, related to telecom, utility towers, and distribution poles. Beginning ten years ago they made the switch to their composite material pole.

These poles weigh a fraction of the cement poles and the wooden poles, and it has a lot of other utilities on its side, like weight reduction, no rust, and nonconductive, explained Guerrero.

The company is located in Florida, the manufacturing is being done at their plant in Ohio, and the engineering is done in Montreal, Canada. Guerrero explained the composite tower design arose out of a need to combat rust and weight of traditional towers.

We had to move forward so we started doing designs using fiberglass and different types of structural resin. The result was great. We got very good reception and three years ago we decided to start the commercial activities. This brought us to projects in Panama, potential projects in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Peru and Brazil. We are now also starting to develop Africa.

Jolly then asked Guerrero to bring the listeners up to speed on the Panama project. A new company has been formed with GPGC in Panama, Los Santos Energy Corp. They had previously announced that GPGC entered into an agreement with an electrical distribution company under contract to the government of Panama for the installation, maintenance, and operation of a 5 Megawatt (MW) solar plant in Los Santos Province, Panama.

One of the ways for us to start showing our own product was for us to do solar and renewable energy products, explained Guerrero. We will be backing up that 5 Megawatt of solar energy with biomass. We will be delivering what we call reserve energy to the energy group, so we can deliver energy 24 hours a day.

Jolly then asked how the company finds their clients, and for an example of some of their clients. Guerrero explained that North America and Canada are in the process of renewing their networks. South and Central America are in the process of delivering energy to rural areas.

So, what we do is very simple for us. There arent that many utility companies, maybe 20 in the U.S.A. 10 in Canada, Brazil there are 4. Our clients are not many, so we are able to meet with them through our connections and own experience. I have done a lot of the structures in Brazil. We have delivered poles in El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Brazil.



Jolly then mentioned that hes read that 1.4 billion people in the world still do not have electricity.

Its true, Guerrero said. The urban areas are well developed and even those areas I Central and South America dont necessarily get electricity 24 hours a day. When it comes to the rural areas, the cost of bring that electricity is expensive due to the cost of transporting heavy steel towers. We are making a difference on that side because of the transport and instillation of our towers is a fraction of the cost of steel.

Jolly then asked how the company is funding their new poles and asked about revenues for the future.

As of now we are starting to deliver poles for that contract in Brazil, so those revenues should start within the next month and a half or 2 months. As far as the solar energy for Los Santos, we hope we will be able to start construction of the solar networks by January, which puts in the revenues by June/July of 2019.

To hear the entire interview with Global PoleTrusion Group Corp. listen here: https://upticknewswire.com/featured-interview-president-ramiro-guerrero-of-global-pole-trusion-group-corp-otcpink-gpgc/

About Global PoleTrusion Group Corp.

Global PoleTrusion Group Corp. (GPGC) is an engineering firm that caters to the needs of utility companies, providing poles and towers that outperform their steel, wood, and concrete counterparts. They are stronger, lighter, easier to install, environmentally safer, and longer lasting. GPGC provides customized solutions for varying needs all over the world.

Contact:

Ramiro Guerrero

President and CEO

Phone

888-976-7462

Email

info@globalpoletrusiongroup.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain  forward-looking statements,  as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future.

About Uptick Newswire and the Stock Day Podcast

Founded in 2013, Uptick Newswire is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Uptick provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. Uptick is the sole producer of its Stock Day Podcast, which is the number one radio show of its kind in America. The Uptick Network Stock Day Podcast is an extension of Uptick Newswire, which recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona.

Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of Stock Day, and Uptick Newswire encourages listeners to visit the companys message board at https://investorshangout.com/
Almere, The Netherlands

October 31, 2018

ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) today reports its third quarter 2018 operating results (unaudited) in accordance with IFRS.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

EUR million Q3 2017 (restated) Q2 2018 Q3 2018 New orders 160.4 175.9 258.0 Net sales 178.1 208.7 195.7 Gross profit margin % 38.8 % 42.1 % 40.9 % Operating result 20.8 38.3 28.0 Result from investments (excluding amortization intangible assets resulting from the sale of ASMPT stake in 2013) 32.1 21.6 16.8 Amortization intangible assets (resulting from the sale of ASMPT stake in 2013) (5.4 ) (3.0 ) (3.1 ) Result from sale of ASMPT shares - - - Net earnings 37.3 59.4 39.1 Normalized net earnings (excluding amortization intangible assets resulting from the sale of ASMPT stake in 2013 and result from sale of ASMPT shares) 42.6 62.4 42.2

2017 results were restated for the effects of IFRS 15.

New orders received of 258 million, at the highest level in history, increased 47% compared to Q2 2018 and were 61% higher compared to Q3 of last year.

Net sales for the third quarter 2018 were 196 million, a decrease of 6% compared to the previous quarter and an increase of 10% compared to Q3 last year.

Gross profit margin was 40.9% in Q3 2018 compared to 42.1% in the previous quarter and 38.8% in Q3 of last year.

Operating result decreased to 28 million compared to the previous quarter. The decrease is mainly the result of the lower sales level.

Normalized net earnings for the third quarter 2018 decreased by 20 million compared to Q2 2018.



COMMENT

Commenting on the results, Chuck del Prado, President and Chief Executive Officer of ASM International said:

"In Q3 we realized sales of 196 million and an order intake of 258 million. Sales were within our guidance of 180-200 million while order intake was well above the  200-230 million that we earlier indicated and was 25% above our former highest level. The high order intake is driven by logic, foundry and analog. The gross margin in Q3 remained in the range of low to mid 40's. During the third quarter we returned approximately 380m to our shareholders in the form of share buybacks and a tax efficient capital return."

OUTLOOK

For Q4, on a currency comparable level, we expect sales of 220-250 million and an order intake of  240-260 million. Q4 still reflects some uncertainty around the exact timing of individual tools.

For 2018, general expectations for growth of the wafer fab equipment market remain at mid to high single digits. Based upon this current market development we expect to outgrow the wafer fab equipment market in 2018.

SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAM AND CAPITAL REPAYMENT

On June 5, 2018, ASMI announced the start of a new share buyback program of its common shares for an amount of up to 250 million. On September 30, 2018, 83.7% of the program was repurchased. We completed this 2018 share buyback program on October 11, 2018. In total, we repurchased 5,443,888 shares at an average price of 45.92, including expenses, under the 2018 program.

This share buyback program was executed by a third party. ASMI has the intention to reduce its issued share capital by withdrawing the shares repurchased as part of the 2018 share buyback program, save for such number of treasury shares as maybe necessary to fund ongoing share and option programs for employees and board members. This withdrawal of shares is intended to be proposed to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2019. The repurchase program is part of ASMI's commitment to use excess cash for the benefit of its shareholders.

On August 10, 2018, ASMI distributed 4.00 per common share to its shareholders through a tax efficient repayment of capital. The ex-date of the distribution was August 7, 2018. This capital repayment was previously approved by the 2018 AGM.

On August 1, 2018, the withdrawal of 6 million treasury shares, which was previously approved by the 2018 AGM, became effective and administered. Following this withdrawal the total number of issued shares decreased to 56,297,394 as per August 1, 2018.

About ASM International

ASM International NV, headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, its subsidiaries and participations design and manufacture equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM International, its subsidiaries and participations provide production solutions for wafer processing (Front-end segment) as well as for assembly & packaging and surface mount technology (Back-end segment) through facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASMI's website at www.asm.com .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, epidemics and other risks indicated in the Company's reports and financial statements. The Company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

ASM International will host an investor conference call and web cast on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 15:00 Continental European Time (10:00 a.m. - US Eastern Time).

The teleconference dial-in numbers are as follows:

United States: +1 646 828 8193

International: +44 (0)330 336 9126

The Netherlands: +31 (0)20 703 8211

Access Code: 1767055

A simultaneous audio webcast and replay will be accessible at www.asm.com .

CONTACT

Investor contact:

Victor Bareno

T: +31 88 100 8500

E: victor.bareno@asm.com

Media contact:

Ian Bickerton

T: +31 625 018 512
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX.V: XLY) (OTCQX: CBWTF) ("Auxly" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to the binding interim agreement announced on January 30th, 2018, the Company has received approval from the Secretaria Nacional para la Lucha contra el Lavado de Activos y el Financiamiento del Terrorismo (SENACLAFT), the government body overseeing foreign direct investments in Uruguay, for the Companys acquisition of 80% of the issued and outstanding common shares (the Transaction) of Inverell S.A. (Inverell). The SENACLAFT approval represents the final Uruguayan regulatory milestone required for the closing of the Transaction (the Closing).

Strategic Rationale



Inverell is a federally licensed Cannabis Operator based in Montevideo, Uruguay. Led by Dr. Raul Urbina, Inverell is a large-scale outdoor producer of hemp plants for CBD extraction operating on an initial footprint of approximately 300 hectares. Inverell has recently commenced the planting of its feminized seeds on 150 hectares (approximately 16.1 million square feet) which it expects to complete by early December and harvest in mid-April of 2019.



Dr. Urbina completed his post-graduate studies in Molecular Biology at Princeton University and obtained his PhD in Agronics and Rural Development at the University of Almeria in Spain. Dr. Urbina was previously the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Stevia One, where under his leadership, the company operated a 1,000 hectare cultivation operation in Peru. During this time, Dr. Urbina and his team developed superior strains of stevia which allowed Stevia One to achieve the highest yielding and lowest cost production of stevia in the world. Dr. Urbina has significant experience managing high-tech, large-scale agricultural projects with a strong focus on innovation having previously designed and managed the fully mechanised stevia plantation and high throughput extraction facility at Stevia One. Dr. Urbinas track record of innovation has continued at Inverell where his breeding program has continually improved Inverells genetic library and his engineering team has recently completed the design of its proprietary, commercial scale, GMP compliant extraction facility using cold ethanol and chromatography purification.



Inverell provides the Company with a highly efficient, low-cost source of cannabinoids to address expanding global demand for cannabinoid-based products. The Companys ownership of Inverell gives it a cornerstone asset through which to effectively exploit emerging international distribution channels, including through the Company's strategic partnership with ICC International Cannabis Corporation Inc. (CSE: WRLD) which provides the Company access to 16 markets through a network of 35,000 pharmacies. Importantly, the low cost, high purity CBD produced by Inverell gives the Company a long-term and stable supply of CBD to support the research, development and manufacturing of cannabis-derived products at Dosecann Inc., the Company's wholly-owned Licensed Processor facility located in Prince Edward Island, Canada.



The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Kolab Project, a Licenced Cultivator pursuant to the Cannabis Act, has also applied for a permit to import proprietary cannabis genetics from Inverell for use in the Companys Canadian operations. The Company expects that, upon receipt of the permit to import, the Company will be able to import proprietary high CBD yielding genetics from Uruguay created through the breeding program at Inverell. The ability to import unique cannabis genetics will provide the Company with a competitive advantage for its Canadian operations through differentiated product offerings and efficiencies related to the Companys cultivation and extraction efforts, particularly as the Company looks to ramp up its larger scale facilities and outdoor cultivation projects.



Management Commentary



Hugo Alves, President of Auxly commented: I couldn't be more excited to announce the closing of the Inverell transaction. Not only is Auxly acquiring an incredible project, but we are welcoming one of the world's foremost experts in large scale outdoor cultivation and the extraction of high value molecules from plants into the Auxly family. I speak for myself and everyone at Auxly in saying that we are thrilled and honored to have Raul and the whole Inverell team as our friends and business partners. Inverell is a hugely important asset for Auxly and our strategic vision. Through Inverell, Auxly is perfectly poised to play a leading role in the global CBD economy and establish itself as a leading manufacturer of value-added cannabinoid-based products for domestic and international markets. Our ability to exercise strict QA/QC controls along every point of the supply chain from cultivation to extraction to product manufacturing, all within jurisdictions where cannabis is federally legal, ensures that we will be able to meet the quality assurance and supply chain demands of increasingly sophisticated and institutional purchasers. I love it when a plan starts to come together and the acquisition of Inverell is a big piece of our plans so today is a very exciting day for our company."



Dr. Raul Urbina, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Inverell commented: We could not be more pleased to have reached this historic milestone and to formally join the Auxly family. We are very excited to partner with a company that shares our core values and vision and one that will allow us to better deliver cannabis products under our 3 'P' philosophy: People, Planet, Profit.

Transaction Overview

Under the terms of the Transaction, the shareholders of Inverell are entitled to receive aggregate consideration of approximately USD$15,000,000, to be paid as follows:

USD$2,000,000 in cash on the date of the Closing;

USD$3,562,500 which will be paid via the issuance of 1,562,500 common shares of the Company at a price of CDN$2.28 on the date of the Closing; and

USD$9,437,500, which will be paid via the issuance of 4,139,253 common shares of the Company at a price per share of CDN$2.28 per share, to be held in escrow pending the achievement of certain milestones following Closing, including the successful registration of Inverells cannabis genetics and the successful exportation of CBD products.

In connection with the Transaction, the Company has agreed to extend to Inverell up to an additional USD$5,000,000 by way of a secured loan repayable through cash flows generated by Inverells cultivation operations.

Closing of the Transaction remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

ON BEHALF OF THE AUXLY BOARD



"Chuck Rifici" Chairman & CEO



About Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX.V: XLY) (OTCQX: CBWTF)

Auxly Cannabis Group is a collective of entrepreneurs with a passion for the cannabis industry past, present and future. Our mandate is to facilitate growth for our partners by providing them with financial support and sharing our collective industry experience. Our partners all have different visions, voices and brand values, and all share a common goalto build a world-class industry based on ethics, diversity, quality and innovation.

Investor Relations:

For more information about investing in Auxly Cannabis Group Inc., please visit: http://www.auxly.com or contact our Investor Relations Team:

Email: IR@auxly.com

Phone: 1.833.695.2414



Stay Connected:

Follow up on Twitter @AuxlyGroup

Media Enquiries (only):

For media enquiries or to set up an interview please contact:

Sarah Bain, VP External Affairs

Email: sarah@auxly.com

Phone: 613.230.5869



Notice Regarding Forward Looking Information:

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. This information is only a prediction. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking information throughout this news release. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to: the satisfaction of all outstanding conditions to the completion of the Transaction, including receipt of the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, Company's ability to obtain all requisite regulatory approvals for the production and export of cannabinoid products from Uruguay and/or import of such products to other federally legal jurisdictions, political changes in Canada, Uruguay and internationally, future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis in Canada, Uruguay and internationally, the Companys ability to secure distribution channels in international jurisdictions, competition and other risks affecting the Company in particular and the cannabis industry generally.

A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from a conclusion, forecast or projection contained in the forward-looking information in this release including, but not limited to, whether: Inverell is able to maintain its cannabis operator license, the Company is able to successfully develop international distribution channels for cannabis products, Inverell is able to successfully cultivate and harvest outdoor hemp crops in Uruguay, Inverell can obtain all necessary governmental and regulatory permits and approvals for the Inverell extraction facility, and whether such permits and approvals can be obtained in a timely manner,, and general economic, financial market, regulatory and political conditions in which the Company operates will remain the same. Additional risk factors are disclosed in the revised annual information form of the Company for the financial year ended December 31, 2017 dated May 24, 2018.

New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all of those factors or to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information in this release is based on information currently available and what management believes are reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking information speaks only to such assumptions as of the date of this release. In addition, this release may contain forward-looking information attributed to third party industry sources, the accuracy of which has not been verified by the Company. The purpose of forward-looking information is to provide the reader with a description of management's expectations, and such forward-looking information may not be appropriate for any other purpose. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained in this release.

The forward-looking information contained in this release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements and is made as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise.

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.
OAKVILLE, Ontario, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For those who take the risk of driving after consuming alcohol or cannabis, there could well be no tomorrow. That is the hard-hitting and emotional message delivered in a new School Assembly Program from MADD Canada and generously supported by Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC).



The program, titled No Tomorrow, educates students in Grades 7  12 about the risks and consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis or other drugs.

No Tomorrows tour of Newfoundland and Labrador schools is being highlighted with a special screening at Villanova Junior High in Conception Bay South on Monday.

Media are welcome to attend the screening and speak with special guests, students and staff.

Date: Monday, November 5, 2018 at 8:15 a.m. Location: Villanova Junior High, 2698 Topsail Road, Conception Bay South, NL Guests: Darrell Smith, Manager of Marketing & Communications, Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation Patricia Hynes-Coates, MADD Canada National President

NLC generously sponsors 10 presentations to schools around the province, enabling MADD Canada to deliver the education program to thousands of students.

No Tomorrow tells the story of bandmates Marcus, Corey, Trevor and Lee. After winning a contest to record a demo, they get an incredible chance to audition for a music school. Before their audition, Trevor has a few drinks. He is affected more than he thinks, and makes mistakes during the audition. Marcus is offered a spot at the school right away, and Corey and Lee are given an opportunity to re-apply next year. But Trevor, who was obviously impaired during the audition, is not offered a spot or chance to re-apply. The school has a zero tolerance policy for alcohol or drugs. Trevor storms off to the car. Marcus tries unsuccessfully to take the keys. Realizing he cant stop Trevor from driving away, Marcus jumps in the car. What happens next changes all of their lives forever.



This fictional story is followed by powerful interviews with real-life victims who talk about their loved ones who were killed or seriously and permanently injured in impaired driving crashes.

For more information, or to check out a clip from No Tomorrow, please visit https://madd.ca/pages/programs/youth-services/school-programs/no-tomorrow/.
TORONTO, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mandalay Resources Corporation (Mandalay or the Company) (TSX:MND, OTCQB:MNDJF) today announced that its third quarter 2018 financial results will be released after market close on November 7, 2018, followed by a conference call with Dominic Duffy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mandalay, for investors and analysts on November 8, 2018 at 8:00 am (Toronto time).



Analysts and interested investors are invited to participate using the following dial-in numbers:

Participant Number: (201) 689-8341 Participant Number (Toll free): (877) 407-8289 Conference ID: 13684820

A replay of the conference call will be available until 23:59 (Toronto time), November 22, 2018 and can be accessed using the following dial-in number:

Encore Toll Free Dial-in Number: (877) 660-6853 Encore ID: 13684820

For Further Information:

Dominic Duffy

President and Chief Executive Officer

Greg DiTomaso

Director of Investor Relations

About Mandalay Resources Corporation:

Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based natural resource company with producing assets in Australia and Sweden, and care and maintenance and development projects in Chile. The Company is focused on executing a roll-up strategy, creating critical mass by aggregating advanced or in production gold, copper, silver and antimony projects in Australia, the Americas and Europe to generate near-term cash flow and shareholder value.
Vancouver, Canada , Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matthew Stowe, Top Chef Canada Winner, Joins JOEY Restaurant Groups Culinary Team

The Famed Chef Joins Chris Mills, JOEY Restaurant Groups Executive Chef, in the Upscale Casual Dining Scene





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vancouver, BC, November 1, 2018  JOEY Restaurant Group today announced Matthew Stowe, Food Networks Top Chef Canada winner, has been appointed Executive Director of Culinary. Stowe joins Executive Chef and culinary legend, Chris Mills, as half of a power duo that will oversee the culinary direction of the popular restaurant group, which now has 37 locations across North America.

I am thrilled to be joining the talented team at JOEY Restaurant Group and to have the opportunity to help refine some of the iconic menu items guests have come to love across our restaurants, said Stowe. JOEY, LOCAL Public Eatery and Saltlik restaurants have a rich history and I look forward to also bringing new dishes and ideas to the tables of our loyal guests.

After discovering his love for cooking as a teenager, Stowe attended New Yorks prestigious Culinary Institute of America. He continued to hone his craft at famed restaurant Lutece, in New York City before moving back to his native British Columbia, where he became Executive Chef at Sonora Resort. Stowe then went on to win the title of Top Chef Canada in Season 3, defeating 15 of the countries most talented Chefs.

He joins esteemed Executive Chef Mills whose culinary training crosses cultures from Loire Valley to Tokyo, Mexico, London, Whistler and Chiang Mai. Highly regarded for his globally-inspired cuisine, Mills has made a name for himself as the original Iron Chef Tokyo and ranking fifth in the prestigious Bocuse dOr competition. Amongst his many accolades, Mills was also three times a guest chef at the James Beard House in New York City.

Im very excited to have Matthew joining the JOEY team, said Mills. Anytime you get to work with someone who is as passionate and skilled at the craft as Matthew is, the possibilities are endless. We look forward to continually elevating the experience for our customers.

JOEY Restaurant Group has become known for its globally-inspired menu, often pioneering and showcasing menu items from across culinary cultures. Mills and Stowe will be working closely on the culinary vision as the group continues to grow the brand, with their new flagship BC location in North Vancouver opening in 2019 and including the expansion into the California market with two new Los Angeles locations opening in Downtown LA and Manhattan Beach.

-30-

About JOEY Restaurant Group:

Whether the inspiration comes from just around the corner or a continent away, the JOEY Restaurant Group believes in handcrafted, locally and globally inspired menu offerings. With 37 locations across Canada, Washington and California, our highly-skilled and passionate culinary and hospitality teams are ready to serve you.

CONTACT

JOEY Restaurant Group

Britt Innes, VP Marketing

604-699-5637

binnes@joeyrestaurants.com

Attachment
San Francisco, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Securitize, a compliance platform for the issuance and lifecycle management of digital securities on the blockchain, has announced a new partnership with BnkToTheFuture, a global financial technology investment platform that has hosted funding rounds and invested in companies such as BitStamp, Kraken, ShapeShift, BitFinex, BitPay, and over 100 others.

This partnership gives Securitizes customers access to one of the most effective and established investment platforms in the space, while also providing BnkToTheFuture with preferred status for their fundraising customers on the Securitize platform. BnkToTheFuture has also agreed to adopt and advocate for Securitizes Digital Securities Protocol (DS Protocol) on their upcoming securities token exchange launch, which allows for compliant trading across multiple marketplaces and exchanges. The partnership with BnkToTheFuture continues the trend of rapid adoption across the digital securities ecosystem.





Securitize has successfully issued multiple digital securities on the Ethereum blockchain, including 22X Fund, SPiCE VC, and a recent upgrade of the Blockchain Capital BCAP token. Securitize has also previously disclosed that it has over 19 signed customers, with many more coming online in the next few quarters.





We are very excited to partner with BnkToTheFuture. Much like Securitize, it executes on its mission and has proven to deliver on its products promise. BnkToTheFuture is a pioneering thought leader in the crypto space, and has been selling securities for Bitcoin and Blockchain companies since as early as 2011, said Carlos Domingo, CEO of Securitize.

Having invested in over 100 companies in the industry, and opening those offerings up to our network of qualifying crypto investors with securities laws in mind from the beginning, we are impressed with the pace and technology that Securitize is bringing to market, as well as their focus on compliance and innovation. We are happy to both partner with Securitize and also make a strategic investment through one of our syndicates of crypto investors on BnkToTheFuture.com.





About BnkToTheFuture

BnkToTheFuture is an online investment platform that has invested over $625m in funding rounds listed on its platform including Kraken, BitStamp, BitFinex, ShapeShift, and BitPay. It is a registered securities business with ownership stakes in other licensed companies, including a U.S. broker-dealer and an SEC-registered Alternative Trading System (ATS), among others. To learn more about the platform, please visit bnktothefuture.com.





About Securitize, Inc.

Securitize is a software compliance platform for issuing and managing digital securities (security tokens) on the blockchain, including dividends, distributions, and share buy-backs. Securitizes innovative Digital Securities Protocol (DS Protocol) enables seamless, fully compliant trading across multiple markets simultaneously. As a market leader, Securitize is heavily invested in the overall security token space, and actively partners with exchanges, broker-dealers, custodians of crypto, escrow services, and other financial infrastructure for security tokens. For more information, visit securitize.io.




gmatquant25 wrote:

A minority of the US scientists assessed view atomic power stations as unsecured at present but that they will,or could ,be made adequately secure in the future



A)that they will,or could,



B)that they would,or could,



C)they will be or could



D)think that they will be or could



E)think the power stations would or could

Why no option C, why THINK THAT is necessary??
michiko107 wrote:

Just had my Skype interview today. Lasted for 32 minutes.

I applied for 1-year program/early action

Questions:

Introduce your academic background and work experience

Why MBA at this time

Why one year program

Why Cornell

How you solved a conflict in workplace

Have you started to build your network in the target industry

Have you reached out to any Cornell students or alumni

What clubs do you plan to join

What is your plan B

How will you prepare for your 1-year MBA study

Tell me one thing about you that is not shown or mentioned in your application

Any questions for me?

Hi michiko107,Thanks for your detailed review. I had almost the same questions. They asked me what is greatest achievement in my professional life.Who was your interviewer? Mine was Kim Szpiro. She was nice and professional.Where are you from? I'm from SingaporeCheers!
Grand Old Partisan celebrates Nevadas 154th birthday. This day in 1864, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation admitting the Silver State to the Union.

Seven months earlier, the GOP-controlled 38th Congress had passed a law establishing the procedure for statehood. This territory would become a state once the President approved its constitution.

With a 90% vote, residents had approved the constitution, which banned slavery. They telegraphed the text to Washington.

Congress left the decision up to him to avoid delay. Republicans, knowing their party to be in the majority there, wanted to be able to count on Nevadas electoral votes for Lincolns re-election eight days later. They also sought three additional votes in Congress for passing the 13th Amendment, to abolish slavery.

Here is a Video Version of this article on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vQvPJMzcwHY

Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement.

Each day, his Grand Old Partisan blog celebrates more than sixteen decades of Republican heritage. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states so far.

Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision.

Buy the book at Amazon

See www.youtube.com/q?v=IzxKCiXc5Qc for a brief video of a Texas Republican praising Back to Basics for the Republican Party.

"This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!"

"Michael Zak wrote the definitive history of the GOP."

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan."

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before."

and

"one of the best books I ever read"
Grand Old Partisan salutes George Spencer, born in upstate New York this day of 1836. He graduated from Montreal College, then relocated to Iowa and studied law. Republicans named him secretary of the state senate.

Outbreak of civil war found Spencer prospecting for gold in Colorado. He enlisted as captain on the staff of a brigade commander. September 1863, he was commissioned colonel of a Unionist regiment, the 1st (U.S.) Alabama Cavalry. Peace restored, he remained in the state.

In 1868, the GOP-controlled legislature elected this "gallant and meritorious" veteran to the first of two U.S. Senate terms. Spencer chaired the Committee on the District of Columbia and the Committee on Military Affairs. He effectively investigated postal fraud, and two-cent postage was established thanks to his leadership.

Spencer also served as Republican National Committeeman. He retired to a ranch in Nevada. Interment was at Arlington National Cemetery.

Here is a Video Version of this article on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2G2bixabTVY

Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement.

Each day, his Grand Old Partisan blog celebrates more than sixteen decades of Republican heritage. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states so far.

Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision.

Buy the book at Amazon

See www.youtube.com/q?v=IzxKCiXc5Qc for a brief video of a Texas Republican praising Back to Basics for the Republican Party.

"This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!"

"Michael Zak wrote the definitive history of the GOP."

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan."

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before."

and

"one of the best books I ever read"
HERSHEY, Pa., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Did you forget? Theres no wrong way to eat a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. There never has been, and there never will be. In March 2019, Reeses brand will give you one more way to eat a Reeses, with the launch of Reeses Thins.



America, were excited to give you another way to enjoy that irresistible, delicious, salty, sweet combo that can only come from Reeses, said Veronica Villasenor, Senior Director, Reeses Brand. Were giving you what you want, for every part of your day, and you can have more than one. Youre welcome.

The new Reeses Thins are 40 percent thinner than your regular Reeses. Never a replacement. Just another option. Oh and this option comes individually wrapped in a bag, perfect for you to hide Reeses Thins around your house, your work, your car. You get the gist. Remember, theres no wrong way. Theres just more ways.

Be on the lookout in early 2019. More information to come. #NoWrongWay #NotSorry

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company, headquartered in Hershey, Pa., is a global confectionery leader known for bringing goodness to the world through its chocolate, sweets, mints and other great-tasting snacks. Hershey has approximately 18,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 80 brands around the world that drive more than $7.4 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers and Brookside. Building on its core business, Hershey is expanding its portfolio to include a broader range of delicious snacks. The company remains focused on growing its presence in key international markets while continuing to extend its competitive advantage in North America.

At Hershey, goodness has always been about more than delicious products. For more than 120 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on giving underserved children the skills and support they need to be successful. Today, the company continues this social purpose through 'Nourishing Minds,' a global initiative that provides basic nutrition to help children learn and grow. From neighborhoods across the United States to the streets of Shanghai and Mumbai and villages of West Africa, our goal is to nourish one million minds by 2020.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ec72c4ad-f0a4-41cc-a2c0-a104fe0eeeaa
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cabo Drilling Corp. (TSX-V: CBE) (the Company or Cabo) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a share purchase agreement (the RTO Transaction Agreement) dated as of October 27, 2018, with Phoenix Capital Enterprises Ltd. (Phoenix), pursuant to which Cabo will effect a business combination and reverse takeover transaction that will result in, among other things, Cabo acquiring all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Tengri Resources Pte. Ltd. (Tengri Resources Pte), a corporation incorporated under the laws of Singapore, in exchange for cash and newly issued common shares of Cabo (the RTO Transaction). Phoenix is a corporation incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and controlled by Messr. Khurlee Ankhbayar, a resident of Mongolia. See below for additional information on Messr. Ankhbayar.

The RTO Transaction will be subject to relevant regulatory and stock exchange approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV), standard closing conditions, the approval of the directors of each of Cabo and Phoenix, approval of Cabo shareholders, the completion of due diligence investigations to the satisfaction of each of Cabo and Phoenix, as well as the satisfaction of the conditions described below. Cabo, following completion of the RTO Transaction, is referred to herein as the Resulting Issuer.

Tengri Resources Pte, a private company wholly owned by Phoenix, owns 100% of the securities of Tengri Resources LLC (Tengri LLC), which is the 100% owner of Richfluorite LLC (Richfluorite), which is the 100% owner of Jonsht Gazar LLC (Jonsht Gazar). Tengri LLC, Richfluorite and Jonsht Gazar are corporations incorporated under the laws of Mongolia.

Richfluorite is the registered and beneficial holder of seven (7) fluorspar mining licenses and two (2) quartz mining licenses in Mongolia and Jonsht Gazar is the registered and beneficial holder of two (2) fluorspar mining licenses in Mongolia, hereinafter together referred to as the Mining Licenses.

The nine (9) fluorspar mining licenses held by Richfluorite and Jonsht Gazar cover an area of 3,004 hectares over three (3) project areas. The mining licenses have various expiry dates from October 2035 through to July 2047, which can be extended for another 40 years if supported by mineral reserves. Within the nine (9) licenses, there are twenty-two (22) known epithermal style fluorspar vein and vein breccia prospects. The fluorspar mineralization is hosted by veins, vein breccia and stockwork vein zones in granitic and volcanic host-rocks. Individual fluorspar veins range from 1 cm to 2 m wide and typically dip steeply, from vertical to -65 degrees. In the zones of interest, these veins cluster together forming vein breccia zones that are up to 60 m wide.

Twenty (20) of these epithermal style prospects are located on seven (7) mining licenses in two (2) of the three (3) project areas in eastern Mongolia. Tengri Resources Pte has completed extensive exploration on these seven (7) licenses, including 131 drill holes (6,877 m) and assaying of 668 samples. The twenty (20) prospects within these two (2) project areas contain fluorspar mineralized zones ranging from 0.3 m to 30 m wide and have been traced along strike for 30 to 700 m. Individual assays from channel and core samples range from 18 to 87% CaF 2 . The average grade from all samples collected from these seven (7) mining license areas is 40.2% CaF 2 . Tengri Resources Pte has registered mineral resources on these licenses as a condition of converting them from exploration to Mining Licenses. These resources are not reported herein, since a qualified person has not done sufficient work on the Prospects to classify them as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and the issuer is not treating them as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.

Tengri Resources Pte has completed detailed work programs in one (1) of the three (3) project areas, covering the remaining two (2) mining licenses. This area is located west of the town of Choyr, in central Mongolia. Tengri Resources Pte has completed 171 drill holes for a total of 20,577 m of exploration drilling on these two (2) licenses. Drilling has outlined two (2) fluorspar deposits  Ikh Bichigt and Bumbat prospects  containing historical resources totalling 16.5 million tonnes (Mt) grading 18.2% CaF 2 as shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Ikh Bichigt and Bumbat prospects, historical resources.

Prospect Cut-off grade Mineral Resource Category Tonnes CaF 2 SiO 2 CaCO 3 Ikh Bichigt 11% for Open Pit; 7% for Underground Measured 1.5 17.8 63.4 0.8 Indicated 4.0 19.1 62.0 0.8 Sub-total Measured & Indicated 5.5 18.7 64.3 0.7 Inferred 5.6 14.7 66.1 0.7 Bumbat 2 11% for Open Pit; 7% for Underground Measured 0.2 17.7 65.1 0.8 Indicated 2.4 22.4 59.8 0.8 Sub-total Measured & Indicated 2.6 22.0 60.2 0.8 Inferred 2.8 20.7 61.6 0.8 TOTAL Measured & Indicated 8.1 19.8 63.0 0.7 TOTAL Inferred 8.4 16.7 64.6 0.7

The historical resource estimate for the Ikh Bichigt and Bumbat prospects was based upon a plan to mine both deposits, initially from open pits using a cut-off grade of 10% CaF 2 , and later by underground mining using a cut-off grade of 7% CaF 2 . The historical estimate used a bulk density of 2.68 t/m3 for mineralization and 2.50 t/m3 for wallrocks, and utilized a block model approach to a maximum depth of 250 m. The historical resource estimate was prepared by Xstract Mineral Consultants, a reputable Australia based company in December 2013. The categories used are very similar to those recommended for Canadian classification, as outlined by CIM guidelines; however, they require reconciliation to CIM classification to meet the requirements of NI 43-10 guidelines. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources or reserves and this resource estimate is not being treated by the company as a current resource.

Tengri Resources Pte plans to complete a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) to study the possibility of constructing a central processing facility that would upgrade the material produced from the Ikh Bichigt and Bumbat prospects, as well as potential mineralization from the other seven (7) mining licenses in the region.

The quartz project consists of two (2) quartz mining licenses held by Richfluorite covering 320 contiguous hectares in southeastern Mongolia. The quartz licenses have expiry dates of April 2036 and August 2048, and can also be extended for another 40 years, if reserves are demonstrated. The licensed area includes a historical resource estimate of 4.4 Mt at 98.9% SiO 2 using a cut-off grade of 98.0% of SiO 2 (1.5 Mt at 99.19% SiO 2 using a lower cut-off grade of 98.0% SiO 2 ). The historical resource estimate was prepared by Xstract Mineral Consultants in July 2012. It utilized the results from four (4) drill holes and surface exposure covering approximately 600 m of a 2.5 km long quartz vein. A specific gravity of 2.65 was used for the estimates. The quartz deposit requires additional drilling and a reconciliation of the mineralized material into the CIM classification system recommended by NI 43-101 guidelines. A qualified person has not done sufficient work on the Prospect to classify the historic estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and the issuer is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.

A processing plant which purifies quartz and produces Solar Grade Silicon Metal (SoG Si) is proposed by Tengri Resources Pte to increase the purity levels to plus 99%.

Tengri Resources Pte has commissioned an independent consultant to update the resource calculations for the historic fluorspar and quartz resources pursuant to NI 43-101 reporting requirements, which reports are expected to be delivered to Tengri Resources Pte and Cabo in December, 2018, and detailed in a subsequent news release.

Cabos President and CEO John A. Versfelt states, the proposed RTO Transaction with Phoenix represents an opportunity for Cabo to enhance shareholder value, and, in my opinion, will enable Cabo to transform from an operating drilling company into an industrial mineral mining and drilling company, with primary operations in Mongolia and Canada, as well as subsidiaries in Latin American and Europe. Mr. Versfelt notes that as a result of equity financing agreements of CDN$330 million, which are subject to standard conditions noted below, Tengri Resources Pte and Cabo shareholders will be positioned to develop two strategic mineral deposits, with funding in place to build two processing plants for the production of high quality acidspar and solar grade silicon metals, should the economic viability and technical feasibility of the project be established.

On May 13, 2018 and June 14, 2018, Tengri Resources Pte entered into agreements (the Share Subscription Agreements) for a total of CDN$330 million in equity financings with GEM Global Yield Fund LLC SCS and GEM Investments America, LLC (together, GEM) for the development of the fluorspar and quartz projects. Pursuant to the terms of the Share Subscription Agreements, the Resulting Issuer will have the right to draw down under the facilities from time to time for a term of three years from the date of the agreement. Common shares of the Resulting Issuer will be issued to GEM at a price per share equal to the higher of (i) the floor price set by the Resulting Issuer and (ii) 90% of the average closing price for common shares trading on the TSXV or TSX, as the case may be, over a period of 15 consecutive trading days preceding the closing date for the draw down. Each draw down shall be conditional upon the number of shares issued not exceeding 700 percent of the average daily trading volume over a 15-day period preceding the date of the draw down notice. Each draw down is subject to certain market out rights of GEM and approval of the TSXV or TSX, as the case may be. GEM will hold freely trading common shares of the Resulting Issuer through a share lending facility provided by certain shareholders. The Share Subscription Agreements specifically contemplated the completion by Tengri Resources Pte of a RTO transaction and the accession to the agreement by the Resulting Issuer.

Pursuant to the Share Subscription Agreements, the Resulting Issuer will pay a total fee of CDN$6,600,000 to GEM Investments America, payable, upon the soonest of: (i) the occurrence of the first few placements under the Share Subscription Agreement; (ii) 12 months from the date of the RTO Transaction; (iii) a change of control of the Resulting Issuer; and (iv) the occurrence of a material change in ownership of the Resulting Issuer. The Resulting Issuer shall also issue warrants exercisable within five (5) years of the date of the Share Subscription Agreement. The warrants shall be priced at the closing price of the Resulting Issuers common shares on the first day of trading upon completion of the RTO Transaction and shall be equal to up to 9.9% percent of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Resulting Issuer, on a fully diluted basis, on the first day of trading upon completion of the RTO Transaction.

The RTO Transaction

Pursuant to the RTO Agreement Cabo shall purchase Tengri Resources Pte from Phoenix for a total consideration of US$300,000,000 in cash and shares as follows:

US$50,000,000 paid in cash prorated over five (5) years, commencing on the second anniversary of the date of Closing the RTO Transaction. An aggregate of 158,227,848 post-Consolidation shares in Cabo, which represents two thousand one hundred and ten (2,110) post-Consolidation shares for each one (1) issued and outstanding shares of Tengri Resources Pte held by Phoenix (the Exchange Ratio), which shares represent 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Tengri Resources Pte. The deemed share value of the RTO Transaction being US$250,000,000 (US$1.58 x 158,227,848 post-Consolidation shares).

It is agreed between Phoenix and Cabo, that immediately prior to the closing of the RTO Transaction, Cabo will complete a consolidation (the Consolidation) of all of its outstanding common shares (the Cabo Securities) on the basis of one (1) security for each nineteen (19) outstanding Cabo Securities. Upon completion of the RTO Transaction and the consolidation of the Cabo Securities, Cabo Shareholders will hold 4,941,531 post-Consolidation shares.

A US$500,000 bridge loan facility will be advanced by Phoenix to Cabo for Working Capital required during the RTO Transaction approval process. In the event Cabo requires additional working capital, Phoenix may provide a line of credit of up to US$500,000 from the date of this Share Purchase Agreement, at terms to be agreed upon between Phoenix and Cabo.

The Company will pay a finders fee of 500,000 consolidated common shares concurrently with the closing of the RTO Transaction, which shares will be subject to a four (4) month hold period under applicable securities laws.

Cabo intends to apply to list its common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX), graduating to the TSX from its current listing on the TSXV, as it is anticipated that the Company will satisfy the TSXs minimum listing requirements, including working capital, financial resources and property requirements. The Company also trades on the Frankfurt Exchange.

None of the Non-Arms Length Parties to Cabo has any direct or indirect interest in Phoenix, Tengri Resources Pte or their respective assets nor are they insiders of Phoenix or Tengri Resources Pte. The RTO Transaction is an Arm's Length Transaction" as defined in the policies of the TSXV.

Subject Conditions to RTO Transaction

The completion of the RTO Transaction will be subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions prior to closing, including, but not limited to, the following:

Phoenix shall provide current reports, licenses and other documentation required by the TSXV, as set forth in the RTO Transaction Agreement;

Cabo Securities shall be consolidated on a 1 new for 19 old shares basis;

Approval of the board of directors and shareholders of Cabo and Phoenix; and

All requisite regulatory approvals relating to the RTO Transaction, including, without limitation, TSXV or TSX approval, will have been obtained.

The Resulting Issuer  Summary of Proposed Directors and Officers

Upon completion of the RTO Transaction, each of the current directors of Cabo, being John A. Versfelt, Peter Freeman and Tom Oliver, shall remain on the board of the Resulting Issuer and Phoenix will have the right to nominate two (2) directors.

The parties anticipate that the senior management of both Cabo and Tengri Resources Pte will be combined following completion of the RTO Transaction. John A. Versfelt will continue as President and CEO, Mr. Khurlee Ankhbayar will become the Chairman and a Director and Mr. Erdenebileg Bulidan will become a Director of the Resulting Issuer.

Mr. Khurlee Ankhbayar is founding shareholder, Chairman and CEO of Tengri Holdings, which was founded in 2007. He has 30 years of experience building businesses in tourism, agriculture, construction and mining in Mongolia. He received his undergraduate degree in Foreign Languages from the Humanitarian University of Mongolia and his postgraduate diploma in Tourism & Marketing Management from Klessheim Management Institute, Austria. In recognition of his outstanding work and contribution in the private sector of the country, he was awarded the Polar Star Order of Mongolia by the President of Mongolia (2009) and he was also awarded the Leading Tourism Industry Employee Title by the Ministry of Tourism, Mongolia (2007) & Leading Trade & Industry Employee Title by the Ministry of Trade & Industry, Mongolia (2011).

Mr. Erdenebileg Bulidan is also a Shareholder, and a Member of Board of Directors of Tengri Holdings. He has 30 years of experience building businesses in the food & beverage industry, airline industry and construction and mining, in Mongolia. In recognition of his outstanding work and contribution in the private & public sector of Mongolia, he was awarded the Polar Star Order of Mongolia by the President of Mongolia (2004) and he was also awarded the Leading Food Industry Employee Title by the Ministry of Food & Agriculture, Mongolia (2006), Leading Aviation Employee Title by the Civil Aviation Authority, Mongolia (2008), Asian International Business Award Golden Fish (2008), and Leading Construction Employee Title by Ministry of Construction of Mongolia (2010).

Financial Information Regarding Tengri Resources Pte. Ltd.

Financial information regarding Tengri Resources Pte is currently not available. Cabo intends to disclose relevant financial information regarding Tengri Resources Pte in a future press release once it becomes available.

Sponsorship

The TSXV may require sponsorship of the RTO Transaction, unless exempt, in accordance with TSXV or TSX policies, and Cabo shall include any information regarding sponsorship in a subsequent news release.

Mongolia

Mongolia, with its democratic government, wealth of mineral resources and growing economy, is attracting international investors. According to the World Banks July 2018, Mongolia Economic Update , despite a slowdown in the economy between 2014 and 2016, real GDP grew by 5.1 percent in 2017, supported by the 133 percent growth in coal exports in 2017. The Asian Development Bank, in its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2018 , projects GDP growth of 3.8% for 2018 and 4.3% for 2019, due to large investments in mining and a significant increase in foreign direct investment, which is expected to exceed US$1 billion in 2018 and 2019.

The Government of Mongolia has been making continuous efforts to improve the investment environment and raise the efficiency of foreign investment in Mongolia. In February 2018, JLTs Risk Outlook newsletter concluded, Mongolias economy is rallying, following a fiscal and balance of payments crisis in 2016. This is being driven by resurging investment in the countrys mining sector, as the current government pursues a business-friendly policy agenda. Sovereign credit risks will continue to recede as government debt levels fall. John A. Versfelt, the Companys President and CEO, noted, legislative changes and revisions to Mongolias tax policy in 2017 opened the doors to a three year, $5.5 billion, multi-party financing, led by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in May 2017, and these government led changes have been the catalyst for a flow of mining investment back into the country. We are excited to enter into Mongolia at this time, and we are thrilled to do so in partnership with a management team with decades of experience in Mongolia, a strategic vision to enhance the progress of Mongolian people and a portfolio of projects that have taken over ten years to consolidate.

About Phoenix

Phoenix is a corporation existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and is the registered and beneficial owner of all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of Tengri Resources Pte, which is a corporation incorporated under the laws of Singapore having its head office at Suite 1706, Romana Office, Mahatma Gandhi Street 33, Khan Uul District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Tengri Resources LLC owns all of the issued and outstanding common equity in the capital of Richfluorite, and Richfluorite owns all the issued and outstanding shares of Jonsht Gazar. Richfluorite is the registered and beneficial holder of seven (7) fluorspar mining licenses and two (2) quartz mining licenses in Mongolia and Jonsht Gazar is the registered and beneficial holder of two (2) fluorspar mining licenses in Mongolia.

About Cabo Drilling Corp. (TSX-V: CBE)

Cabo Drilling Corp. is a drilling services company headquartered in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. The Company provides mining specialty drilling services through its divisions in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada, with branches in Surrey, British Columbia and Springdale, Newfoundland; as well as Cabo Drilling (America); Cabo Drilling (Panama) Corp.; Balkan States Drilling SH.P.K. of Tirana, Albania; and Cabo Drilling (International) Inc. The Companys common shares trade on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol: DHL and on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol: CBE.

Seymour Sears, P.Geo, a qualified person as defined by Nation Instrument (NI) 43-101, reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

Further Information

All information contained in this news release, with respect to Cabo and Phoenix, was supplied by the parties respectively, for inclusion herein. Each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

John A. Versfelt

John A. Versfelt

President and CEO

Further information about the Company can be found on the Cabo Drilling website (http://www.cabo.ca) and SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or by contacting Mr. John A. Versfelt, Chairman, President & CEO of the Company at 604-527-4201.

Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Cabo should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, potential mineral recovery processes and other business transactions timing. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.
Fake news is not a new thing. With the return of its annual list of censored stories Project Censoreds vivid cover art recalls H.G. Wells War of the Worlds. The situation today may feel as desolate as the cover art suggests.



But Project Censored is about fighting fake news, editors Andy Lee Roth and Mickey Huff observed.

Illustrations by Anson Stevens-Bollen, Santa Fe Reporter

In the end, they argued that critical media education  rather than censorship, blacklists, privatized fact-checkers, or legislative bans  is the best weapon for fighting the ongoing fake news invasion.Project Censoreds annual list of censored stories is one of the best resources one can have for such education. Censorship and fake news are intertwined issues they write.Project Censored has long been engaged in much more than just uncovering and publicizing stories kept down and out of the corporate media. Over the years it has added new analytical categories: sensationalist and titillating Junk Food News stories.Through it all, the list of censored stories remains central to Project Censoreds mission, which, the editors point out, can be read in two different ways, as a critique of the shortcomings of U.S. corporate news media for their failure to adequately cover these stories, or as a celebration of independent news media, without which we would remain either uninformed or misinformed about these crucial stories and issues.According to the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2017-2018, released in January 2018, a striking worldwide decline in basic human rights has driven an overall decline in the rule of law since October 2016, the month before Trumps election. Fundamental rights  one of eight categories measured  declined in 71 out of 113 nations surveyed. Overall, 34 percent of countries scores declined, while just 29 percent improved. The United States ranked 19th, down one from 2016, with declines in checks on government powers and deepening discrimination.Fundamental rights include absence of discrimination, right to life and security, due process, freedom of expression and religion, right to privacy, freedom of association and labor rights.All signs point to a crisis not just for human rights, but for the human rights movement, Yale professor of history and law Samuel Moyn told The Guardian the day the index was released. Within many nations, these fundamental rights are falling prey to the backlash against a globalising economy in which the rich are winning. But human rights movements have not historically set out to name or shame inequality.This reflects the thesis of Moyns most recent book, Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World.Constraints on government powers, which measures the extent to which those who govern are bound by law, saw the second greatest declines (64 countries out of 113 dropped). This is where the United States saw the greatest deterioration, World Justice Project stated in a press release. While all sub-factors in this dimension declined at least slightly from 2016, the score for lawful transition of power  based on responses to survey questions on confidence in national and local election processes and procedures  declined most markedly, the press release stated.The WJPs 20172018 Rule of Law Index received scant attention from US corporate media, Project Censored noted.In March 2017, WikiLeaks released Vault 7, a trove of 8,761 leaked confidential CIA files about its global hacking programs, which WikiLeaks described as the largest-ever publication of confidential documents on the agency. It drew significant media attention. But almost no one noticed what George Eliason of OpEdNews pointed out.Sure, the CIA has all these tools available, Eliason pointed out. Yes, they are used on the public. The important part is [that] its not the CIA thats using them. Thats the part that needs to frighten you.As Eliason went on to explain, the CIAs mission prevents it from using the tools, especially on Americans.All the tools are unclassified, open-source, and can be used by anyone, Eliason explained. It makes them not exactly usable for secret agent work. Thats what makes it impossible for them to use Vault 7 tools directly.Drawing heavily on more than a decade of reporting by Tim Shorrock for Mother Jones and The Nation, Eliasons OpEdNews series reported on the explosive growth of private contractors in the intelligence community, which allows the CIA and other agencies to gain access to intelligence gathered by methods theyre prohibited from using.In a 2016, report for The Nation, Shorrock estimated that 80 percent of an estimated 58,000 private intelligence contractors worked for the five largest companies. He concluded that not only has intelligence been privatized to an unimaginable degree, but an unprecedented consolidation of corporate power inside U.S. intelligence has left the country dangerously dependent on a handful of companies for its spying and surveillance needs.In November 2017, Credit Suisse released its 8th Annual Global Wealth Report which The Guardian reported on under the headline, Richest 1% own half the worlds wealth, study finds.The wealth share of the worlds richest people increased from 42.5 percent at the height of the 2008 financial crisis to 50.1 percent in 2017, The Guardian reported, adding that, The biggest losers  are young people who should not expect to become as rich as their parents.[Despite being more educated than their parents,] millennials are doing less well than their parents at the same age, especially in relation to income, home ownership and other dimensions of well-being assessed in this report, Rohner Credit Suisse Chairman Urs Rohner said. We expect only a minority of high achievers and those in high demand sectors such as technology or finance to effectively overcome the millennial disadvantage.No other part of the wealth pyramid has been transformed as much since 2000 as the millionaire and ultra-high net worth individual (known as UHNWI) segments, the report said. The number of millionaires has increased by 170 percent, while the number of UHNWIs (individuals with net worth of USD 50 million or more) has risen five-fold, making them by far the fastest-growing group of wealth holders.There were of 2.3 million new dollar millionaires this year, taking the total to 36 million.At the other end of the spectrum, the worlds 3.5 billion poorest adults each have assets of less than $10,000, The Guardian reported. Collectively these people, who account for 70 percent of the worlds working age population, account for just 2.7 percent of global wealth.Tremendous concentration of wealth and the extreme poverty that results from it are problems that affect everyone in the world, but wealth inequalities do not receive nearly as much attention as they should in the establishment press, Project Censored noted. The few corporate news reports that have addressed this issue  including an August 2017 Bloomberg article and a July 2016 report for CBSs MoneyWatch  focused exclusively on wealth inequality within the United States. As Project Censored has previously reported, corporate news consistently covers the worlds billionaires while ignoring millions of humans who live in poverty.Are cellphones and other wireless devices really as safe as weve been led to believe? Dont bet on it, according to decades of buried research reviewed in a March 2018 investigation for The Nation by Mark Hertsgaard and Mark Dowie.The wireless industry not only made the same moral choices that the tobacco and fossil-fuel industries did, it also borrowed from the same public relations playbook those industries pioneered, Hertsgaard and Dowie reported. Like their tobacco and fossil-fuel brethren, wireless executives have chosen not to publicize what their own scientists have said about the risks of their products. On the contrary, the industry  in America, Europe, and Asia  has spent untold millions of dollars in the past 25 years proclaiming that science is on its side, that the critics are quack, and that consumers have nothing to fear.Their report comes at the same time as several new developments are bringing the issue to the fore, including a Kaiser Permanente study (published December 2017 in Scientific Reports) finding much higher risks of miscarriage, and a study in the October 2017 American Journal of Epidemiology, finding increased risk for glioma (a type of brain tumor).On May 1, 2017, the Washington Post introduced a policy prohibiting its employees from criticizing its advertisers and business partners, and encouraging them to snitch on one another.A new social-media policy at the Washington Post prohibits conduct on social media that adversely affects the Posts customers, advertisers, subscribers, vendors, suppliers or partners, Andrew Beaujon reported in The Washingtonian the next month. In such cases, Post management reserves the right to take disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Beaujon also cited A clause that encourages employees to snitch on one another: If you have any reason to believe that an employee may be in violation of The Posts Social Media Policy  you should contact The Posts Human Resources Department.At the time, the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, which represents the Posts employees, was protesting the policy and was seeking removal of the controversial parts in a new labor agreement.A followup report by Whitney Webb for MintPress News highlighted the broader possible censorship effects, as prohibiting social media criticism could spill over into reporting as well.Among the Washington Posts advertisers are corporate giants like GlaxoSmithKline, Bank of America and Koch Industries, Webb wrote. With the new policy, social media posts criticizing GlaxoSmithKlines habit of making false and misleading claims about its products, inflating prices and withholding crucial drug safety information from the government will no longer be made by Post employees.Corporate news coverage of the Washington Posts social media policy has been extremely limited, Project Censored noted.Is Russiagate a censored story? Not exactly. This entry reflects a well-intentioned effort to critically examine fake news-related issues within a censored story framework. What Project Censored calls attention to is important: Corporate media coverage of Russiagate has created a two-headed monster of propaganda and censorship. By saturating news coverage with a sensationalized narrative, Russiagate has superseded other important, newsworthy stories. As a frustrated journalist with omnivorous interests, I heartily concur  but whats involved is too complex to simply be labeled propaganda. On the other hand, the censorship of alternative journalistic voices is a classic, well-defined Project Censored story, which suffers from the attempt to fit both together.In April 2017, Aaron Mate reported for The Intercept on a quantitative study of MSNBCs The Rachel Maddow Show from Feb. 20 to March 31, 2017 which found that Russia-focused segments accounted for 53 percent of these broadcasts. Mate wrote:Maddows Russia coverage has dwarfed the time devoted to other top issues, including Trumps escalating crackdown on undocumented immigrants (1.3 percent of coverage); Obamacare repeal (3.8 percent); the legal battle over Trumps Muslim ban (5.6 percent), a surge of anti-GOP activism and town halls since Trump took office (5.8 percent), and Trump administration scandals and stumbles (11 percent).This is not so much propaganda as Project Censoreds broader category of news abuse, which includes propaganda and spin, among other forms of distraction to direct our attention away from what we really need to know.The worlds agricultural and degraded soils have the capacity to recover 50 to 66 percent of the historic carbon loss to the atmosphere, according to a 2004 paper in Science, actually reversing the processes driving global warming. A set of practices known as regenerative agriculture could play a major role in accomplishing that, while substantially increasing crop yields as well, according to information compiled and published by Ronnie Cummins, director of the Organic Consumers Association in May 2017.For thousands of years we grew food by depleting soil carbon and, in the last hundred or so, the carbon in fossil fuel as well, food and farming writer Michael Polin wrote. But now we know how to grow even more food while at the same time returning carbon and fertility and water to the soilCummins, whos also a founding member of Regeneration International, wrote that regenerative agriculture offers a world-changing paradigm that can help solve many of todays environmental and public health problems. As The Guardian explained:Regenerative agriculture comprises an array of techniques that rebuild soil and, in the process, sequester carbon. Typically, it uses cover crops and perennials so that bare soil is never exposed, and grazes animals in ways that mimic animals in nature. It also offers ecological benefits far beyond carbon storage: it stops soil erosion, re-mineralizes soil, protects the purity of groundwater and reduces damaging pesticide and fertilizer runoff.If youve never heard of it before, dont be surprised.Regenerative agriculture has received limited attention in the establishment press, highlighted by only two recent, substantive reports in the New York Times Magazine and Salon, Project Censored wrote.On March 21, House Republicans released a 2,232-page omnibus spending bill. It passed both houses and was signed into law in two days. Attached to the spending provisions that made it urgent must-pass legislation was the completely unrelated Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act of 2018, also known as the CLOUD Act.The CLOUD Act enables the U.S. government to acquire data across international borders regardless of other nations data privacy laws and without the need for warrants, Project Censored summarized.It also significantly weakens protections against foreign government actions.It was never reviewed or marked up by any committee in either the House or the Senate, the Electronic Frontier Foundations David Ruiz wrote. It never received a hearing. It was robbed of a stand-alone floor vote because congressional leadership decided, behind closed doors, to attach this unvetted, unrelated data bill to the $1.3 trillion government spending bill. Congressional leadership failed to listen to citizen concerns, Ruiz wrote, with devastating consequences:Because of this failure, U.S. and foreign police will have new mechanisms to seize data across the globe. Because of this failure, your private emails, your online chats, your Facebook, Google, Flickr photos, your Snapchat videos, your private lives online, your moments shared digitally between only those you trust, will be open to foreign law enforcement without a warrant and with few restrictions on using and sharing your information, privacy and human rights, concluded Greene Robyn Greene, who reported for Just Security.In March 2017, the government of New Zealand ended a 140-year dispute with an indigenous Maori tribe by enacting a law that officially recognized the Whanganui River, which the tribe considers their ancestor, as a living entity with rights. The Guardian reported it as a world-first, although the surrounding Te Urewera National Park had been similarly recognized in a 2014 law, and the U.S. Supreme Court came within on vote of potentially recognizing such a right in the 1972 case Sierra Club v. Morton, expressed in a dissent by Justice William O. Douglas. In addition, the broader idea of rights of nature has been adopted in Ecuador, Bolivia and by some American communities, noted Mihnea Tanasescu, writing for The Conversation.The tribes perspective was explained to The Guardian by its lead negotiator, Gerrard Albert.We consider the river an ancestor and always have, Albert said. We have fought to find an approximation in law so that all others can understand that, from our perspective, treating the river as a living entity is the correct way to approach it, as an indivisible whole, instead of the traditional model for the last 100 years of treating it from a perspective of ownership and management.At the same time that white supremacists were preparing for the Unite the Right demonstration in Charlottesville, which resulted in the murder of Heather Heyer in August 2017, the FBIs counterterrorism division produced an intelligence assessment warning of a very different  though actually nonexistent threat: black identity extremists. The report appeared to be the first time the term had been used to identify a movement, according to Foreign Policy magazine, which broke the story.But former government officials and legal experts said no such movement exists, and some expressed concern that the term is part of a politically motivated effort to find an equivalent threat to white supremacists, Foreign Policy reported.The use of terms like black identity extremists is part of a longstanding FBI attempt to define a movement where none exists, said former FBI agent Mike German, who now works for the Brennan Center for Justice. Basically, its black people who scare them.
click to enlarge Peter Glatz preparing Thai squash curry for a NuWave infomercial on Bertha Bus.

This past summer I received a Facebook message from my old musician friend Eric. He wrote: You will have to meet my girlfriend Cathy  she works for a company called NuWave doing infomercials  she works with a lot of cooks and is always looking to film. I told her to send you a friend request. So we connected through Facebook, and Cathy explained that her company, NuWave, makes air-fryers and induction cooktops. She produces promotional videos of chefs working with NuWave appliances, and she was interested in filming me doing a cooking demonstration on Bertha Bus. Erics bluegrass band would be performing at an upcoming music festival in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Cathy wondered if I would be willing to drive my bus up so she could film me preparing food in Bertha Bus for the musicians and volunteers using NuWave products. The idea sounded fun, so I agreed.



The following week a tall stack of boxes of NuWave products showed up at my front door. Like an anxious kid on Christmas morning, I opened up a NuWave Mosaic Precision Induction Wok, a NuWave Brio Air Fryer, a NuWave Precision Induction Cooktop and a NuWave Duration Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set. Cathy wanted me to be able to work with the products before the film shoot and everything was mine to keep. She thought they would be useful on my bus. I eyed all the boxes scattered around my living room and was skeptical; my storage space on my bus is very limited and it already has a propane oven and three-burner cooktop.



Bertha Bus does not have air conditioning, so using the stove in hot weather can run the inside air temperature to more than 100 degrees. I quickly discovered that induction cooktops hardly give off any heat. As long as I had access to electricity, the NuWave products could potentially improve the quality of life on the bus.

Scarlett Selinger demonstrates the safe way to open a winter squash.

Kenoshas Peacetree Music Festival is a family-friendly event that takes place in August in a city park on the Lake Michigan lakefront, so we decided to bring the grandkids along. Cathy had made arrangements for us to park the bus inside the festival grounds. I arrived early and was met by a six-member film production crew. The first couple hours were spent lining up the camera angles and testing recording levels. Crowd noise from the outside kept showing up on the playback audio so we had to close all the windows. It was in the high 80s already, so I worried how hot it would get when I started cooking. Because of the noise, we couldnt use any fans.By lunchtime we had only completed filming the introduction and testimonials. They especially liked my endorsement of their NuWave Mosaic Precision Induction Wok, so it was decided that for the afternoons filming I would demonstrate making a Thai curry.While the production crew was at lunch, my sous chef Ann and I began prepping vegetables for the curry. Escaping the midday heat inside Bertha Bus, Ann set up a table outside under a shade tree and began cutting up a kabocha squash with my freshly sharpened chefs knife. Kabocha, like acorn and butternut squash, is an extremely hard-skinned winter squash. Just as she was attempting to break through the tough skin, her granddaughters ran up to ask for money to buy treats from the vendors. As she turned to respond, the knife slipped and cut totally through her thumbnail. The festivals paramedic was summoned and he suggested she go to the E.R. Realizing that I couldnt watch her grandkids while filming the cooking demo, she opted to remain at the festival and control the bleeding with Band-Aids and the exam gloves I had the foresight to bring along from my dental office.The filming of the cooking demonstration went smoothly, and to finish up, the production crew rounded up some of the festival goers, had them sign releases, and then filmed me handing them bowls of curry out the window of the bus. They then filmed the recruits enjoying my curry at the picnic table outside the bus. When a father and his little boy came up for their filming, I was concerned, because I had the spiciness of the curry ratcheted up fairly high. Off camera, the little boy was told to taste the curry and smile in approval. Like a trooper, he took a big spoonful, smiled and gave thumbs up. As soon as he was off camera, he spit out the curry and screamed that his mouth was on fire!At a recent visit to the Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, I asked squash farmer Mac Condill for his advice on safely cutting up hard squash. He told me that if the squash is to be used as a puree, simply roast it whole; the skin will soften. If you want raw cubes to cook in a stew, he recommends spreading newspapers, raising the squash up over your head and hurling it to the floor.Serves 4-61 tablespoon coconut oil1 onion, diced1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt2 red bell peppers, seeded and cut into small strips4 garlic cloves, finely chopped1 tablespoon peeled and finely chopped ginger (from about a 1-1/2-inch piece; use the side of a spoon to remove the peel)3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste1 can unsweetened coconut milk1 tablespoon soy sauce1 medium kabocha or butternut squash (about 2 1/2 pounds) peeled, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch cubes1 tablespoon lime juice1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantroHeat the coconut oil in a wok over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and 1 teaspoon of the salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes translucent but not browned. Add the peppers, garlic and ginger, and stir-fry another minute.Push the vegetables away from the middle of the wok and add the curry paste and stir-fry until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the coconut milk, soy sauce and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt, stir to combine, and bring to a simmer.Add the squash and continue to simmer until the squash is slightly firm, about 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in the lime juice. Taste and add salt as needed.Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice.
Theres no Jeff like California Jeff, and we say that with the full confidence hes a one-of-a-kind folk-singing, storytelling and entertaining performer who says it like it is and is as he does. Honest and sincere with a strong and healthy penchant for devilishly dark humor and a blessed belief in the craziness and spirituality of these wacky humans we hang around with all our lives, Jeff brings it on in a good and telling way. He spends his free time traveling from gig to gig around the Midwest, most recently sharing his talents with the good folks in places like Maryville, Tennessee; Winona, Minnesota; Batesville, Indiana; Shawano, Wisconsin; and Beulah, Michigan. His first full-length CD, Midwestern Folk, done at Springfields Southtown Sound (California Jeff pledged to their Kickstarter project to finance the deal), consists of 10 original songs, recorded live, no edits/overdubs, minimal production, completely self-funded, as the man himself describes the process. So go spend time with California Jeff and be sure to pick up his new CD. California Jeff Sunday, Nov. 4, 2pm Vixen Hill Winery Palmyra CD Release

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Sangamon County sheriffs deputy Travis Koester may soon need a tattoo removal specialist.



Then again, Koesters colleagues might be willing to do the job themselves, judging by an Illinois Labor Relations Board case that reveals deep animosity between the deputy and his fellow cops.



The labor board last month ruled against Koester, who had claimed that he was wrongfully removed from the departments tactical response unit in 2016.

These are the cops who go after barricaded gunmen, rescue hostages, serve search warrants and otherwise engage in the type of law enforcement that calls for cool heads, quick thinking and teamwork. Members are known for their tattoos: Often tested, brothers forever. But Koester, who has one of those tattoos, is a brother no more, having been thrown off the team after deputies told him, to his face, that he could not be trusted.Koesters fellow cops arent the only ones with doubts about the deputy. Koesters credibility and judgment also have been questioned by judges, defense attorneys and department brass.In 2008, the sheriffs department, citing concerns about how the deputy dealt with the public, told Koester that he couldnt respond to calls alone and that his courtroom testimony would be monitored by higher-ups. Koester protested, and an arbitrator ruled that the department had improperly disciplined the deputy. In 2010, charges against a suspected drug dealer were dismissed after Koester testified under oath that the investigation started with a Crimestoppers tip, but that wasnt true. Hes also clashed with Joe Roesch, a lawyer who is the departments second in command, about requirements for obtaining search warrants.Koesters days as a DUI enforcement officer ended in 2012 after judges questioned his veracity in cases that crumbled after the deputy took the stand. After viewing video of Koester tasing a woman in 2011, U.S. District Court Judge Sue Myerscough rejected the deputys explanations, opining that the video spoke for itself. The county settled for $150,000.Koesters fellow deputies also have turned on him.In 2014 and again in 2016, Koester, without union help, filed grievances, claiming that promotions that went to other deputies should have gone to him. Two of the three deputies who got promotions that Koester sought were on the tactical response unit, and if Koester had won his grievances, they likely would have returned to lesser positions with lower pay. After Koester filed his second grievance, unit members confronted him.It was the equivalent of a players-only meeting, with no command staff present. Team members told Koester that they thought he was selfish and didnt care what happened to anyone else. In addition to grievances that could have resulted in rescinded promotions for other deputies, they cited Freedom of Information Act requests that Koester had made for internal affairs files on his colleagues, including deputies on promotion lists. In one case, Koester had persuaded his fiancee to make a FOIA request for him  he explained that he feared retaliation if the department knew that the request came from him. His colleagues told Koester that at some point in their careers, other deputies could have filed grievances but accepted decisions they didnt like and carried on.Travis became angry and defensive and said if we were such a tight family, then why didnt any of us go knock down the door of the administration for his benefit to be a voice for him since he was wronged by the entire department, Deputy Darric Miller wrote in a memo memorializing the meeting.Koester was posed a question: If you knew previously how other members would feel about your grievances and FOIA requests, would you do it again?Travis, without hesitation, replied that yes he would because he has to look out for himself no matter what, Miller wrote in his memo to Lt. John Hayes, the units commander. It appears Travis has a narcissistic ability to attempt to explain, defended (sic) and justify his egotism and his selfishness. Lack of trust in an incredibly reactive and dynamic environment is extremely dangerous for anyone involved.Hayes then prepared a memo, signed by 16 team members, recommending that Koester be removed from the unit. With Sheriff Wes Barr making the final call, Koester was pulled from the team. The deputy filed a grievance, claiming that the department had wrongfully removed him from the team in retaliation for prior grievances.An administrative law judge last spring sided with Koester, recommending that the deputy be returned to the team and awarded pay and benefits he would have received had he stayed on the unit. Ten members of the 17-member team, including Hayes, submitted resignation letters when the recommendation came down, with some writing that they wouldnt quit the squad if Koester stayed off the team. Koester knew all about it, having submitted a records request for the resignation letters.I will not serve on the team in any capacity with Deputy Travis Koester as a member, wrote Lt. Audie Prange, who resigned after 11 years on the team. I understand the departments moral dilemma in this matter when it concerns public safety. Seven of the 10 deputies who submitted resignation letters last spring remain off the 17-member team.The state labor board on Oct. 17 rejected the recommendation issued last spring, ruling that Barr didnt know about Koesters grievances when the sheriff yanked him from the team and that a lack of trust, not grievances, triggered the deputys dismissal from the elite squad. And so, for now at least, Koester remains off the team. He can appeal the boards decision in court.
click to enlarge PHOTO BY LARRY D. MOORE Jim Hightower

Ideally, elections are about ideas.In our dark times of money-soaked and bitterly negative campaigns, however, policy discussions are being shoved aside by raw partisanship and vitriol. This not only means that good ideas are ignored, but also that downright bad ideas can become public policy without the public knowing it.For example, one idea floating around would snuff out your constitutional right to free speech and assembly by putting an exorbitant fee on public protests in our nations capital city. In other words, youd still be free to rally for or against any issue or policy  but not for free. Believe it or not, this is an actual proposal by the Trump team. Apparently, theyre offended by all the mass demonstrations against their policies. So they want to make each protesting group pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to the government for policing and other costs associated with guaranteeing the right of Americans to rally together and speak out about public policies.And if youre wondering where Congress next truly bad idea will come from, keep tabs on a secretive far-right-wing group called ALEC.The American Legislative Exchange Council runs a legislative brothel with an exclusive corporate clientele. The Koch brothers, AT&T, ExxonMobil, Pfizer, UPS and other giants pay ALEC to arrange private rendezvous between them and Republican state lawmakers who are ... well, on the make. In exchange for promising to sponsor special-interest bills for the corporate johns, ALECs bawdy house of state legislators gains corporate sugar daddies to fund their future campaigns. Now comes ALEC pushing a very bad proposition that is an absolute corporate wet dream, for it would remove the peoples power to elect our United States senators, letting state legislators choose them instead. We dont know which corporate powers are embracing this regressive, anti-democratic idea because ALEC promises favor-seeking corporations that it will hide their identities. This maneuver to take power from the people and turn it over to for-hire legislators would return America to the days of outright auctioning off senate seats. Until the people passed the 17th Amendment in 1913, senators were named in backroom deals between corporate bribers and crooked lawmakers. ALECs draft proposal is bluntly succinct: The 17th article of amendment ... is hereby repealed. Back to the future!This idea of ripping off the peoples democratic power is being touted by such intellectual giants as Rick Oops Perry, the corrupt former governor of Texas whos now turning tricks for energy conglomerates as Trumps energy secretary. Perry wails that the 1913 law letting the public elect senators took the states out of the process. So now Rick and other corporate supremacists want to take the people out of the electoral process so the state can control it  the corporate state, that is.
Detroit, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UHY International (UHYI), a worldwide network of independent professional services firms that provide audit, tax and advisory services around the globe, gathered their leadership in Detroit, Michigan from Wednesday, October 24 through Friday, October 26 for the 2018 annual meeting of international members. The meeting was the largest gathering of UHY International partners in history with representatives from nearly 100 countries coming together to discuss developments in the marketplace, exchange ideas, experience the economic revitalization in Detroit and network in iconic American venues such as the Henry Ford Museum and the Detroit Institute of Arts.



UHYIs meeting this year highlighted our firms global growth and reach while reflecting the local community roots and values of our firm, said Rick David, chief operating officer of UHY Advisors, a founding member firm of UHYI with offices throughout the United States. It was a chance for our partners to discuss the rapidly changing nature of our business and accounting space while celebrating our firms history and potential.

Guests included Samuel Abuelsamid, senior analyst at Navigant Researchs Mobility Research Service, Ron Quaranta, chairman of the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance, Tom McMakin, CEO and Partner of Profitable Ideas Exchange and author of How Clients Buy, Barry Melancon, president and CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants and other industry-renowned C-suite executives and business leaders.

Previous international meetings have been held in Brussels, London, Munich, Paris and Singapore, to name a few.

Combining our UHY International meeting with the National Leadership Conference in Detroit was a great opportunity for both our partners and local businesses said Tony Frabotta, chief executive officer of UHY Advisors. Hosting these meetings in tandem in Detroit, the Motor (and Comeback) City, was a chance for our colleagues from a diverse array of backgrounds to discuss the latest strategies and tools in our business, as well as enjoy the rich history of Detroit.



Delegates also took advantage of a networking evening with international enterprises based in the Detroit area, which enabled partners to learn directly from these executives on how pioneering and entrepreneurial businesses are thriving in Detroit.

UHYI colleagues also socialized at local cultural attractions including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Motown Museum, and the Henry Ford Museum  venues that highlighted the entrepreneurial and innovative history of the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan and the United States.

About UHY LLP

UHY LLP, a licensed CPA firm, provides audit and other attest services to publicly traded, privately owned and nonprofit organizations in a number of industry sectors.

UHY Advisors provides tax and advisory services to entrepreneurial clientele and other organizations, principally those enterprises in the dynamic middle market.

Together, UHY Advisors, operating in an alternative practice structure with UHY LLP, form one of the largest professional services firms in the US.

UHY Advisors and UHY LLP are members of UHY International (UHYI), a worldwide network of independent professional services firms that provide audit, tax and advisory services around the globe. UHYI is ranked among the top international accountancy networks and is a member of the Forum of Firms.



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Ill be a check on the Pritzker-Madigan agenda, Republican attorney general candidate Erika Harold says in her latest TV ad about Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner J.B. Pritzker and Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.



And now a similar line of attack is cropping up elsewhere. In southern Illinois, for instance, state Rep. Jerry Costellos Republican opponent David Freiss says hell always put southern Illinois first, and then an announcer claims of Rep. Costello (D-Smithton), Hed rubber stamp the Madigan/Pritzker agenda.



Lots of folks have certainly heard about the polling that has Gov. Bruce Rauner trailing Pritzker by double digits, so even if they are voting for Rauner, many figure he probably cant win. And if the polls are right, lots more folks have decided that they cannot vote for Rauner no way no how, but some of them are still uneasy about the future. Republican polling reportedly shows that independents and even a significant minority of Democrats want a check on whatever Pritzker and Madigan may do together.

Pritzker has never really pushed back hard against Rauners constant claims that Madigan will subjugate him if he becomes governor. And Rauner has birthed and nurtured those assumptions with millions of dollars in TV ads. Pritzker has only once countered that charge in a TV ad, mocking the governors claims: Mike Madigan hates puppies. Mike Madigan hates sunshine. J.B. Pritzker and Mike Madigan are Democrats. So J.B. Pritzker must hate puppies and sunshine. He hasnt addressed it since.Personally, I dont think Pritzker will be Madigans underling. Madigan cant just call a bunch of labor union leaders to steer them away from Pritzkers next fundraiser (a favorite tactic) because the billionaire doesnt need anybody elses money. Madigans progressive caucus is steadily growing and may grow further with this election, so stymying or slow-walking or undercutting the wealthy Pritzker and/or his agenda could cause him real grief with his own membership.And Pritzkers strategy has never been to win by being likeable. Its clear that the Democrats plan from the very beginning was to bury Rauner under an overwhelming avalanche of brutal ads that call him a failure and a liar. Just keep the governors negatives sky high, never take that foot off his throat and call it a day.Property tax fraud allegation? Write another check and run a new anti-Rauner ad. Racial discrimination lawsuit by campaign staff? Write another check and run a new anti-Rauner ad. A buzzy TV ad showing an unholy marriage to Madigan with an F-bomb thrown in for good measure? Write another check and run a new anti-Rauner ad. Blam, blam, blam. Never let him gather enough strength to even stand up, let alone make a real fight of it.These new Republican ads, therefore, might help down-ballot Republicans take advantage of a gaping hole that Pritzker has never bothered to close. At least, thats the theory. Well know if it works come Election Day. And even if it doesnt, the underlying theory aint bad at all and is probably all that at least some of them have left.That new Freiss ad, by the way, also attaches the Republican as closely as possible to President Donald Trump. Freiss says in the ad that hell drain the Springfield swamp, and the announcer claims Rep. Costello, by backing the Madigan/Pritzker agenda, would block Trumps policies in Illinois. The ad also claims that Costello is funded by anti-Trump lobbyists. Drain Springfields swamp and liberal Jerry Costello is the conclusion.As I write this, Trump is preparing to visit southern Illinois and area Democrats are bracing themselves for a possible regional Trump bounce. So the ad is timely. This is not to say I think Rep. Costello will lose, mind you. Hes a smart campaigner and has been very popular.
One of the most bitter child custody battles in state history ended Tuesday as Jennifer Watkins agreed to give up custody of her daughter Sidney to the girls paternal aunt.



Watkins wept as she signed the paperwork in the courtroom of Cass County Circuit Court Judge Robert Hardwick, Jr. Just one reporter was present to witness the end of a case that once drew national attention and was the subject of a Dateline episode.



This has been an emotional, turbulent time for everybody, Hardwick said at the conclusion of proceedings that lasted less than 30 minutes. If, 10 or 12 years ago, somebody said wed end up where we are, youd say, Its impossible.

The improbable saga began a decade ago when Steven Watkins, Jennifers estranged husband and father of Sidney, now 11, was gunned down from behind when he went to the Ashland home of his in-laws to pick up his daughter for a court-ordered visit. Shirley Skinner, Jennifer Watkins grandmother, was convicted of murder and is serving a 70-year sentence. Neither Jennifer Watkins, who was present in the home when her estranged husband was killed, nor relatives who also were there, cooperated with police. During the 2010 trial, prosecutor Michael Vujovich called the murder a family affair, committed because Jennifer Watkins and her kin considered Sidney their property, and they feared that Steven Watkins might gain custody, or at least substantial visitation rights, during divorce proceedings.After the murder trial, Dale and Penny Watkins, parents of Steven Watkins, won a court case granting them the right to visit Sidney. Rather than allowing visits, Jennifer Watkins moved to Florida with her daughter, remaining there for years, apparently beyond the reach of local authorities, who failed in a 2011 extradition attempt after Watkins was arrested, jailed and, ultimately, freed. In 2016, Jennifer Watkins moved to Massachusetts and was arrested again. This time, Sidney was sent to live with her aunt, Ashley Clement, who is now the girls permanent guardian as a result of Tuesdays court action.Michael Goldberg, Jennifer Watkins lawyer, says he knows of no other case that began as a grandparent visitation matter and morphed into a custody case pitting a birth parent against in-laws. The case hinged in part on whether Sidney, a well-nourished, outgoing girl with no evidence of physical abuse who is a top student, was neglected by her mother. Judge Hardwick determined that Sidney was, in fact, being neglected by virtue of her mother refusing to allow visits between the girl and her grandparents.Goldberg said that he had figured that his client would regain custody of her daughter. If you had told me two years ago that this is where wed be at, I would have been shocked, Goldberg said. I didnt expect this would happen, and neither did Jennifer. Im not sure theres a legal precedent for what happened.It could have been worse for Jennifer Watkins, who looked drawn at the conclusion of proceedings. Under terms of the agreement signed Tuesday, she will retain her parental rights, meaning that she can request modifications to a visitation arrangement that will allow her supervised visits with her daughter every other week for five hours at time and one weekly 15-minute phone call. Sidney will be free to call her mother as often as she likes. During Tuesdays proceedings, Jennifer Watkins said that she doesnt know her daughters phone number.If Jennifer Watkins had fought to have her daughter returned, she risked being stripped of parental rights, which could have resulted in her never again seeing Sidney, Goldberg said. The agreement also spared Sidney, who has said that she wants to live with her aunt instead of her mother, from having to testify in the case.While Hardwick and Goldberg professed shock, at least one person in the courtroom said that she wasnt surprised. Absolutely not, said Penny Watkins, Sidneys grandmother. To me, its an answer to a prayer, to do whats best for Sidney. I guess what I want to say is, Im a full believer: When you ask God for something, you want to have whats right. And that, Watkins said, means what is right for Sidney, not necessarily what those who love her might want for themselves.If it was what I wanted, Id still have my son, Penny Watkins said.
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NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of Fast Companys Innovation Festival, full-service agency Chemistry hosted a Fast Track, entitled, Move Out of the Way NY and LA: How Brands Can Tap Into the Cultural Diversity of the Southeast.



The event served as a guide to marketers looking to bolster their creativity through the cultural diversity of emerging cities like Atlanta. By offering-up an insiders look into Atlantas own diverse culture and showcasing how the city acts as an ideal backdrop for creative ideas, the Chemistry team provided a unique look into what drives creativity outside of big cities like New York and Los Angeles.

Joining Chemistrys Chief Creative Officer, Chris Breen, on stage was Atlanta-based visual and performance artist Fabian Williams , who has worked with brands including Nike, Warner Bros. and HBO, along with Jean Tanis, Combs Enterprises VP of Creative who oversees all creative, branding, and marketing efforts across Combs Enterprises companies and new business opportunities. The trio drew on their own experiences with creativity, including Chemistrys work with Red Bull and YouTube, to highlight how marketers can stay true to emerging cities when creating work for a national brand.

In a lot of ways, Atlanta is influencing pop culture globally as much, if not more than any city in the world right now. Whether its fashion, film, music or art  the community and its diversity always seem to manifest through its creative output, said Breen. Its something we often see replicated around the globe, but the culture comes from here. It cant be manufactured.

In Atlanta fashion, the Fast Track included a one-of-a-kind VR experience that put participants in the driver's seat of an ATV, a popular pastime in this Southeastern city and just one of the ways Atlantanians find their creative spirit.

In addition, Williams own work was highlighted in an exhibition-style room, allowing attendees to walk right-up to his art while simultaneously immersed in a visual and sonic experience.

The Fast Track was held at DiGennaro Communications NYC office and left attendees with an Atlanta-style parting gift -- a Bless Your Heart t-shirt.





About Chemistry

We are 100 doers and makers united by the belief that an ounce of action is worth a pound of theory. Everything we do is centered around connecting culture, technology and insight to drive results. This is where brands must live. This is where we live every day. To learn more, visit the lab at http://chemistryagency.com

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the worlds leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, leadership, world changing ideas, and design. Written for, by, and about the most progressive business leaders, Fast Company inspires readers to think beyond traditional boundaries, lead conversations, and create the future of business.

A video accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b73fe7ff-de04-4b0f-aed3-f30e5c7c38ef

Media Contact:

Alyssa Kehoe

DiGennaro Communications
WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd) announced that Raj Chetty from Opportunity Insights will be speaking at the 2018 National Summit on Education Reform on Thursday, December 6 in Washington, D.C. ExcelinEds flagship event brings together educators from across the country and internationally to discuss ideas on how to improve education equity for all children.



Is the U.S. a land of opportunity? That depends tremendously on where you grow up, according to research by Raj Chetty. One of the worlds leading economists, Chetty is addressing important social and economic questions regarding inequality and opportunity. Through Opportunity Insights, Chetty uses big data to understand how we can give children trapped in disadvantaged communities a better chance to succeed.



Earlier this year, I had the privilege of getting a first-hand look at the groundbreaking work that Raj Chetty, John Friedman and others are doing through Opportunity Insights  a team of talented scientists working to analyze hyper-local demographics to improve upward mobility for Americans across the nation," said ExcelinEd Founder and Chairman Jeb Bush. "With education and economic success so closely intertwined, Raj has a lot to offer to those of us in education reform.



Chetty is a Professor of Economics at Harvard University, where he researches empirical evidence and economic theory to design more effective government policies. He is the recipient of a MacArthur Genius Fellowship and the 2013 John Bates Clark medal. He is one of the youngest tenured professors in Harvards history.



During the 2018 National Summit on Education Reform, ExcelinEd and Governor Jeb Bush will host more than 1,000 legislators, state superintendents, policymakers and thought leaders working to build a brighter future for our nations families. The packed two-day event will feature notable keynote speakers and in-depth strategy sessions on evolving laws, new trends, successful policies and the latest innovations that are transforming education for the 21st century.



#EIE18 is the only conference of its kind to feature a broad range of quality, innovation and opportunity policies that prioritize student success.



Visit the National Summit website for details on this years event. Follow @ExcelinEd on Twitter for the latest news and updates, and use #EIE18 to join the National Summit conversation.



Attachment
Hossein Rahimi, the commander of the Tehran Police Department, tried to paint his own picture of the incident with a story of an officer immediately hitting the brakes, but if so, then why does the footage show the van pushing the woman several metres?

The woman, a student at Azad University in Tehran, bravely stood up to the morality police who tried to kill her on October 27, but the Iranian mullahs, as always, failed to act appropriately (i.e. fire or arrest the police officers).

Instead even the regimes former presidential candidate,Mohammad Reza Aref , called this a violation of the sovereignty of universities, citing several incidents over the past decade where plainclothes agents have stormed university campuses to quell student unrest. Does he know that they tried to kill someone? Thats attempted murder.

The Iranian people are furious over the response and social media is aflame with comments comparing this woman to Tank Man, who stood up to the Chinese military in Beijings Tiananmen Square during the 1989 massacre. Others compared the morality police with ISIS, accused the Regime of savagery, and used the popular Persian hashtag our camera is our weapon.

The photography campaign urges the Iranian people to document police mistreatment with photos and videos, but also to show the Iranian people defying the ridiculous laws of the Iranian Regime, i.e. mandatory hijab.

This outrage is yet more evidence of the Iranian peoples contempt for the Regime; as evidenced by the nationwide protest movement that sprung up in January. The Iranian people have made it clear that they want the mullahs out by any means necessary; with slogans that call for regime change, point out that there is no difference between the so-called reformists and hardliners.

The rest of the world should support the Iranian peoples protests and their legitimate desire for regime change, rather than appeasing the murderous mullahs in order to get cheap oil or favourable deals. The Iranian Regime has waged war on its people for nearly 40 years and its time that they were stopped.
These new sanctions would be more stringent than those lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump pulled out of in May, and those sanctions are already tough.

The US withdrawal triggered the return of sanctions against Irans purchase of US dollars, gold trade and automotive sector in August and Irans oil and shipping sectors and its central bank in November. Trump has vowed to cut those who continue to do business with Iran after November 4 off from the US financial system and his administration is reluctant to issue sanctions waivers to countries purchasing Irans oil.

This has already caused many companies (i.e. Total, ENI, British Airways) to end deals with Iran and countries (i.e. Japan, South Korea) to stop importing oil from the Gulf State.

Total CEO Patrick Pouyanne said: [We] cannot afford to take the risk to be banned from using the US Financial system.

While a statement from ENI read: We have no presence in Iran anymore and our trading contract will naturally expire in November.

As the deadline fast approaches, it seems likely that more will do the same. Even attempts to save the Iranian Regime from the consequences, i.e. the EUs Special purpose vehicle that proposes to skirt the sanctions by allowing payments for Iranian goods to be made in Euros rather than dollars, would not work in practice according to experts.

Currently, the International Monetary Fund estimates that Irans GDP will fall by 3.6% in 2019, despite forecasting a growth of 4% in April.

US National Security adviser John Bolton said: I think the return of the sanctions has had a devastating effect on their economy and I think its going to get worse.

This is what the US wants, as itll bring the Iranian Regime back to the negotiating table for a new nuclear deal, but it is also what the Iranian people want.

The Iranian people are the biggest victims of the Iranian Regimes malign behaviour, dealing with a failing economy after years of the mullahs corruption, major environmental crises that the Regime has failed to do anything about, and a healthcare system that cannot cope with the conditions that are caused or exacerbated by poverty and pollution.

Since last December, the Iranian people have been out in the streets demanding regime change and the economic situation is not going to quell their protests. If the situation declines more, then protests will grow and the mullahs maybe toppled before the 40th anniversary of the Iranian Regime.
When Obama was in office, he went out of his way to concede to Iran on numerous points with regards to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. He turned a blind eye to Irans belligerence and sent the message that he would not react, or act, when faced with malign activities that it is involved with.

Obama promised that with concessions and appeasement Iran would soften its behaviour and would start to act in the way the international community expects it to. However, this completely backfired because Iran was more emboldened than ever.

Trump vowed to call the Iranian regime out whenever necessary and so far he has stuck to his word. He is now in the middle of a maximum pressure campaign and it is already starting to show positive results.

Obama had the almost once in a lifetime opportunity to deal with the Iran threat when the nuclear deal was being negotiated, but he let the opportunity pass.

Now, the Trump administration has the opportunity to take action to bring further results. This opportunity lies in Iraq and Syria.

First of all, the Iranian regime is not legitimate and is not popular  neither at home or abroad. The regime has failed in numerous areas including its own economic collapse and numerous environmental issues such as water shortages.

The people of Iran have been pushed aside while the regime looks for supremacy elsewhere in the region, in particular in Iraq and Syria. The people of Iran are deeply unhappy with this situation and they have been taking to the streets in huge protests and anti-government demonstrations since the end of last year.

The survival of the Iranian regime is dependent on its success in Syria. The Assad regime seems to be getting closer to victory and Iran may have a secure future there. It has invested heavily in the Syrian civil war supporting Assads regime. However, further heavy investment is needed to rebuild the country.

Not so easy when Irans economy is collapsing. Although the United States still has a presence in Syria, it could be doing more to counter Iran. The U.S. has the possibility of providing more support for the anti-Iranian Syrian forces fighting the Assad regime and Iran still can be prevented from becoming stable in areas its proxies and allies occupy. Trade and investment can be diverted from parts held by the Syrian regime and border areas should be held by the opposition.

The U.S. can roll back Irans influence in Iraq too. The U.S. does not have to share power with Iran in Iraq. Many of the leaders in Iraq are weary of Tehran and are more than happy to work with other actors  both at home and abroad  to stave off Irans influence. The U.S. can influence Tehrans banking ties with Iraq and can put an end to illicit economic activities that are taking place.

There are still options and although Trump does not have the same opportunity as Obama did, there are some great opportunities nevertheless.
Two weeks ago, Twitter published content relating to more than 770 such accounts in which more than a million social media posts, videos and photos had been circulated.

The Iranian regime has been involved with misinformation campaigns for very many years. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) have been on the receiving end of its tactics for decades and it is clear that the regime sees the Resistance movement as a very real threat to its survival.

The Twitter campaign blew up after the nationwide protests started at the end of last year. The people have been taking to the streets since December 2017 and have maintained momentum and pressure on the clerical regime.

Many of the posts on Twitter spread false information about the Iranian Resistance and were devoted to demonizing the opposition but it is also very clear that this is only a very small part of its campaign to quash its influence.

The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) revealed that the posts on social media started in 2012. The tweets  at least the most recent ones  have been using media coverage and what it describes as friendly correspondents to spread false information. People were pretending to be foreign journalists in an attempt to disseminate lies.

For example, one such tweet read: NBC On Assignment with #RichardEngel commissioned these exclusive drone shots of the #MKOs secret new base near Tirana in Albania. The #MEK are a shadowy group with a terrorist past they killed Americans in Iran in the 1970s and then fought alongside Saddam Hussein. Widely hated.

Dozens of hashtags such as #BanMEK, #No2MEK, #BanTerrorOrg, and #IranHatesMEK were used at strategic times. In this case they were used before the Resistances grand gathering in Paris in June this year. The regime attempted to make social media users believe that the hashtags were started by people who were against the regime and the opposition.

The Resistance states that it has seen this tactic before: This ploy is commonly used by the mullahs intelligence apparatus and cyber army, and by its mercenaries and sleeper cells, to confuse and to muddy the waters. At the same time, they claim that the PMOI labels anyone who opposes them an intelligence agent without provision of any proof.

Through its social media campaigns alone, it is clear to see how much of a threat the Resistance is to the regime. The Resistance has a huge following both inside and outside the country. Contrary to what the regime tries to portray, it is huge, widespread and has support all over the world.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- McGlinchey Stafford PLLC is pleased to announce national and regional practice area rankings in the 2019 edition of U.S. News/Best Lawyers Best Law Firms.



McGlinchey Stafford received a National Tier 2 ranking in Financial Services Regulation Law, as well as a National Tier 3 ranking in Commercial Litigation and Litigation  Banking & Finance, recognizing the breadth of work and strength of the firms Commercial Litigation and Consumer Financial Services teams.

McGlinchey Stafford received metropolitan tier rankings for 41 practice areas in Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Cleveland, Fort Lauderdale, Jackson, and New Orleans.

The following practice areas were recognized at the Metropolitan level:

BATON ROUGE

Appellate Practice

Banking and Finance Law

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Commercial Litigation

Corporate Law

Insurance Law

Litigation - Banking & Finance

Litigation - Bankruptcy

Litigation  Environmental

Litigation  Real Estate

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Patent Law

Real Estate Law

Trademark Law

BIRMINGHAM

Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law

Commercial Finance Law

Financial Services Regulation Law

Litigation - Land Use & Zoning

Litigation - Real Estate

CLEVELAND

Commercial Litigation

Financial Services Regulation Law

FT. LAUDERDALE

Commercial Litigation

Litigation - Real Estate

Real Estate Law

JACKSON

Commercial Litigation

Litigation - Banking & Finance

Litigation  Municipal

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

NEW ORLEANS

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Commercial Litigation

Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

Employment Law - Management

Labor Law - Management

Litigation - Banking & Finance

Litigation - Bankruptcy

Litigation - Labor & Employment

Litigation - Mergers & Acquisitions

Litigation - Real Estate

Litigation - Trusts & Estates

Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

These city-specific rankings follow the release of The Best Lawyers in America rankings in August, which honored 39 of the firms attorneys and in which McGlinchey Stafford was the top-listed firm in Louisiana in the area of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Additionally, four McGlinchey Stafford attorneys earned Lawyer of the Year recognition, which honors a single attorney per practice area in a designated metropolitan area.

A joint annual publication of U.S. News and Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms is based on a rigorous evaluation process involving client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in specific areas of law, and a review of formal submissions from law firms that provided supplemental information. In-house legal departments and peer lawyers across the country evaluated firms based on their responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, integrity, and civility, as well as whether they would refer a matter to the firm and/or consider the firm a worthy competitor.

ABOUT MCGLINCHEY STAFFORD

McGlinchey Stafford is a full-service law firm providing innovative legal counsel to business clients nationwide. Guiding clients wherever business and law intersect, McGlinchey Staffords 170 attorneys are based in 14 offices in Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, DC. To learn more about McGlinchey Stafford, visit www.mcglinchey.com .

www.mcglinchey.com

linkedin.com/company/mcglinchey-stafford

facebook.com/McGlincheyStafford

Twitter: @mcglinchey

McGlinchey Stafford PLLC in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, DC. McGlinchey Stafford LLP in California.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the organizations annual budget recommendations, the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) recommends that the provincial government should implement policies that help grow the economy and generate resources for social services.

Encouraging the success of B.C. businesses is key to building and sustaining a diversified, vibrant, and healthy economic landscape, said Lori Mathison, president and CEO of CPABC. Improved business productivity not only creates more opportunities for workers, but also more tax revenue for the government. This, in turn, will allow the provincial government to fund education, health, and social services that are vital to B.C. residents.

Any negative tax changes could affect the provinces ability to attract new businesses and investment. CPABC continues to reiterate the need for a competitive tax regime in the province, and two tax policies that warrant further discussion are the employer health tax (EHT) and provincial sales tax (PST) on business expenditures. On the PST, CPABC recommends a full PST exemption or credit on business expenditures to encourage investment, which would improve our provinces business competitiveness and drive productivity that is crucial for economic growth.

While the intention of the employer health tax is to shift health care costs from individuals to businesses, the cost burden will ultimately be placed on workers, as business could shift the added cost back to their employees in forms of reduced benefits, contract employment, and other cost-saving measures, noted Mathison. Reduced financial capacity to pay wages could also have an impact on the ability of many small and medium-sized employers to recruit and retain talent in an already tight market. We believe the employer health tax warrants further research and consultation to fully assess its impact and therefore the government should delay the implementation of the tax until 2020.

The challenge in recruiting talent is another issue affecting business productivity across B.C., and this issue is worsening, as demand for labour is outstripping supply.

For the fourth consecutive year, B.C. CPAs identified the ability to attract and retain skilled labour as the toughest challenge to business success in our annual Business Outlook Survey, continued Mathison. Employers are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit employees with the necessary skills to fulfil business needs. CPABC suggests that the B.C. government make co-operative programs a mandatory component of post-secondary education and work with post-secondary institutions and industry to explore innovative approaches to provide students with a broader-range of opportunities.

And while the final investment decision on LNG Canada and the new in-principle United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement provide some optimism for our export sector, some uncertainty still lingers. Therefore, CPABC encourages the provincial government to continue to support B.C. exporters to find new innovative ways to diversify products and services, as well as maintain trade relations.

About CPA British Columbia

The Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) is the training, governing, and regulatory body for more than 35,000 CPA members and 5,000 CPA students and candidates. CPABC carries out its primary mission to protect the public by enforcing the highest professional and ethical standards and contributing to the advancement of public policy. CPAs are recognized internationally for bringing superior financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight, and leadership to organizations.
WYOMING, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (via Blockchain Wire) - The Blocksafe Holdings Inc. (https://www.blocksafe.network/) shareholders team is pleased to announce Duane Jacobsens appointment as Chief Executive Officer and acting Chief Financial Officer. Jacobsen will assume day-to-day leadership of the company. His main initial focus will be the launch of Blocksafes Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform.





Jacobsen, a veteran executive with more than 34 years in finance and leadership, has served as Blocksafes Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer since he joined the Company in April 2018. Kevin Barnes, Blocksafe Founder, has stepped down from the CEO role and has assumed the role of Board Chairman, where he will continue to serve the Company.





It has been a tremendous honor to serve as the CEO of Blocksafe since founding the company, and I am incredibly proud of the achievements of the team in the past two years, said Barnes. Duane is the right person to build on this momentum. He is a seasoned leader with significant experience in fintech markets and operating efficiently at scale. We are lucky to have him.





Before joining Blocksafe, Jacobsen spent 25+ years in senior leadership roles, including as President and Chief Operating Officer. He has been recognized for his exceptional achievements, including American Expresss Premier Award The Chairmans Award For Quality and the Paybefore Award for Best Government-Funded Program for the BenefitsDirect Platform. His background includes a 10-year tenure at American Express in several senior positions, where his work resulted in several patents in the US, Canada and internationally. Jacobsen is also the co-inventor of TicketTRAX for American Express. Following that, he served in executive leadership roles including Vice President for Total Systems Services (TSYS) and Prepaid Resources.

Jacobsen earned his bachelors in Accounting and Finance from Rutgers University and attended The Wharton School in a special EMBA program with American Express. Jacobsen is a licensed accountant in the State of NJ and a Six Sigma Green Belt.





I know that I speak for everyone at Blocksafe in thanking Kevin for his leadership and tireless dedication to the company, said Jacobsen. I am incredibly excited to assume this new role and for the future of the company. We have a talented team at Blocksafe focused on refining use cases for a platform that will provide value, security, and competitive edge for our clients. I look forward to what the future holds.





About Blocksafe

Blocksafe is a technology company focused on providing blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) to individuals and companies seeking to improve the quality of their data security, storage, and management, including IoT devices. Additionally, Blocksafe is partnering with companies that show a commitment to societal impact and technological innovation. For more information, visit https://www.blocksafe.network/




- Special envoy to China Ramon Tulfo expressed his opinion regarding the controversy involving illegal drugs and Bureau of Customs

- For him, most corrupt officials in Customs must be executed

- He also believes that former Customs chief Isidro Lapena is clean

PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed!

Newly-appointed special envoy to China and radio broadcaster Ramon Tulfo stated that Bureau of Customs (BOC) corrupt officials should be executed just like how pushers are penalized in President Rodrigo Dutertes war on drugs.

KAMI learned from ABS-CBN News that Tulfo was discussing about the multi-billion peso worth of illegal drugs that went past through authorities last August.

Photo from CNN Philippines

Source: Facebook

I would have the most corrupt people in the Bureau of Customs executed. Like what the government is doing to drug traffickers and minor drug players like pushers, Tulfo stated.

If the government can mercilessly execute drug traffickers and drug pushers, why can't it execute the most corrupt personnel in the bureau? he added.

Tulfo also discussed about Customs deputy collector Lourdes Mangaoang, the first to say that the magnetic filters found in GMA, Cavite contained shabu.

 'Yung si Lourdes Mangaoang, the supposed whistleblower, took advantage of that. But Lourdes is probably one of the most corrupt Customs personnel in the bureau. Its like the pot calling the kettle black," Tulfo quipped.

However, for Tulfo, former Customs chief Isidro Lapena had nothing to do with the shabu that slipped past the Customs.

"Lapena was negligent, parang tatanga-tanga, and he has a big heart. Girlfriend niya yung Customs deputy commissioner for administration, si (Gladys) Rosales," Tulfo stated

"Malinis siya, under him tumaas ang collections ng Customs, he added.

In a recent report by KAMI, Tulfo was appointed by President Duterte as special envoy to China. His term will last for six months. Tulfo is a known radio broadcaster for his show, Isumbong Mo Kay Tulfo.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) announced that magnetic filters found in Cavite allegedly contained shabu worth P11 billion. As previously reported by KAMI, PDEA chief Director General Aaron Aquino believed that the magnetic filters contained drugs since the beginning. However, Lapena denied that illegal drugs slipped past them in Customs. Later on, Lapena changed his tune and agreed that the magnetic filters had shabu.

President Duterte transferred Lapena from Customs TESDA. The President also announced that as of the moment, the military will take over the operations of BOC as reported by KAMI.

POPULAR: Read more news about President Duterte here!

Scary Nun Prank Part 2 is already on HumanMeter! Many of you had asked us to shoot the nun prank part 2 and we did it! In this episode, she is going to roam the streets of the Philippines and scare innocent people to death  on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel!

Source: Kami.com.ph
VICTOR, N.Y. and SMITHS FALLS, Ontario, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellation Brands, Inc. (Constellation) (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B) and Canopy Growth Corporation (Canopy Growth or the Company) (TSX: WEED, NYSE: CGC) today announced the closing of Constellations $5 billion CAD ($4 billion USD) investment in Canopy Growth, which was previously announced on August 15, 2018. The transaction was approved by an overwhelming majority of Canopy Growth shareholders and has been granted all required regulatory approvals, including by the Canadian government under the Investment Canada Act.



This investment provides Canopy Growth with significant funding needed to build scale in the more than 30 countries currently pursuing federally permissible medical cannabis programs, while establishing the foundation needed to supply new recreational adult-use markets as cannabis becomes legal in markets around the world.

Were excited to expand our strategic partnership with Canopy Growth and to begin helping them build the global scale needed to win long-term, said Rob Sands, chief executive officer, Constellation Brands. The global cannabis market presents a significant growth opportunity and Canopy Growth is well-positioned to establish a strong leadership position in this fast-evolving category.



With this investment, Constellation Brands increases its ownership interest in Canopy Growth to approximately 37 percent of outstanding common shares of Canopy Growth and has appointed two members of its executive team, as well as two independent directors, to the Board of Directors of Canopy Growth. Constellation estimates the interest expense associated with this transaction to approximate $55 million before tax with an approximate $0.25 impact on fiscal 2019 comparable basis EPS results. Constellation also continues to evaluate the potential equity in earnings impact from the Canopy Growth investment and related items.



Our cash position opens up a world of opportunity for us, said Bruce Linton, chairman and co-chief executive officer, Canopy Growth. Relative to our valuation, we have never been in a better position to create shareholder value. This investment was a landmark moment for the entire sector when it was announced. Now that the capital is Canopys to deploy, were going to quickly get to work increasing our lead by adding strategic assets around the world.



As previously announced, the transaction includes a restructuring of Canopy Growths Board of Directors. Canopy Growth management wishes to thank Chris Schnarr and Murray Goldman for their contributions to the company. Mr. Schnarr and Mr. Goldman sat on the Board as it oversaw a transformative period for Canopy Growth from a small start-up to a global, diversified industry leader. Mr. Schnarr will continue with Canopy Growth and transition into a senior leadership role overseeing medical and therapeutic research commercialization. Subsequently, Canopy Growth management welcomes Constellations President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Newlands and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer David Klein, as well as current Constellation Board Members Judy Schmeling, former HSNi LLC chief operating officer, and Robert Hanson, chief executive officer of John Hardy Global Limited, to the Canopy Growth Board. Their leadership and experience will be invaluable as Canopy Growth continues to grow around the world.

About Constellation Brands

Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B), a Fortune 500 company, is a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, Italy and Canada. Constellation is the No. 3 beer company in the U.S. with high-end, iconic imported brands such as Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra and Pacifico. The companys beer portfolio also includes Ballast Point, one of the most awarded craft brewers in the U.S., and Funky Buddha Brewery. In addition, Constellation is the world leader in premium wine, selling great brands that people love, including Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Kim Crawford, Meiomi, Mark West, Black Box, Ruffino and The Prisoner. The companys premium spirits brands include SVEDKA Vodka, Casa Noble Tequila and High West Whiskey.

Based in Victor, N.Y., the company believes that industry leadership involves a commitment to brand building, our trade partners, the environment, our investors and to consumers around the world who choose our products when celebrating big moments or enjoying quiet ones. Founded in 1945, Constellation has grown to become a significant player in the beverage alcohol industry with more than 100 brands in its portfolio; about 40 wineries, breweries and distilleries; and approximately 10,000 talented employees. We express our company vision: to elevate life with every glass raised. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @cbrands and visit www.cbrands.com .

About Canopy Growth Corporation

Canopy Growth (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) is a world-leading diversified cannabis and hemp company, offering distinct brands and curated cannabis varieties in dried, oil and Softgel capsule forms. From product and process innovation to market execution, Canopy Growth is driven by a passion for leadership and a commitment to building a world-class cannabis company one product, site and country at a time. The Company has operations in 12 countries across five continents. The Company is proudly dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners, conducting robust clinical research, and furthering the public's understanding of cannabis, and through its wholly owned subsidiary, Canopy Health Innovations, has devoted millions of dollars toward cutting edge, commercializable research and IP development. Through partly owned subsidiary Canopy Rivers Corporation, the Company is providing resources and investment to new market entrants and building a portfolio of stable investments in the sector. From our historic public listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange to our continued international expansion, pride in advancing shareholder value through leadership is engrained in all we do at Canopy Growth. Canopy Growth has established partnerships with leading sector names including cannabis icon Snoop Dogg, breeding legends DNA Genetics and Green House seeds, and Fortune 500 alcohol leader Constellation Brands, to name but a few. Canopy Growth operates ten licensed cannabis production sites with over 4.3 million square feet of production capacity, including over 500,000 square feet of GMP certified production space. For more information visit www.canopygrowth.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forwardlooking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forwardlooking statements. The words expect, intend and similar expressions are intended to identify forwardlooking statements, although not all forwardlooking statements contain such identifying words. These statements may relate to business strategy, future operations and growth, prospects, plans and objectives of management, as well as information concerning expected actions of third parties. All forwardlooking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, or implied by, such forwardlooking statements. The forwardlooking statements are based on management's current expectations and should not be construed in any manner as a guarantee that such results will in fact occur. Examples of such statements include but are not limited to those related to the anticipated use of proceeds, future expansion and growth, future success, the realization of Canopy Growths longterm strategic vision, the creation of shareholder value, and estimated interest expense and its impact on EPS results. All forwardlooking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and neither Constellation Brands nor Canopy Growth undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In addition to risks and uncertainties associated with ordinary business operations, the forwardlooking statements contained in this news release are subject to risks and other factors and uncertainties, including that the expected impact and benefits of the transaction may not materialize in the manner expected, or at all; circumstances may warrant that Canopy Growth use the proceeds from the transaction for different purposes than stated above; and other factors and uncertainties disclosed from timetotime in Constellations filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2018 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2018, or in Canopy Growths filings with the Canadian Securities Administration or with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual information form dated June 28, 2018, which could cause actual future performance to differ from current expectations.
NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of NiSource Inc. (NiSource or the Company) (NYSE: NI). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980.



The investigation concerns whether NiSource and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here to join a class action]

On September 13, 2018, dozens of gas explosions destroyed multiple homes in Andover, North Andover, and Lawrence, Massachusetts, killing one person and injuring more than one dozen. Andovers Fire Chief subsequently announced that investigators suspected over-pressurization of a gas main belonging to Columbia Gas of Massachusetts (Columbia), a unit of NiSource.

Following this news, NiSources stock price fell $3.29 per share, or 11.72%, to close at $24.79 on September 14, 2018.

On November 1, 2018, NiSource disclosed that the Company and Columbia are subject to a criminal investigation being conducted under the supervision of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts, and that initial grand jury subpoenas were served on both entities on September 24, 2018.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

rswilloughby@pomlaw.com

888-476-6529 ext. 9980
Hazem Ouf, a restaurant industry veteran, is named Chairman and CEO of Craftworks Holdings

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries announced today that it has acquired Logans Roadhouse and has created CraftWorks Holdings (CWH), a leading multi-brand restaurant holding company platform to be led by Logans current CEO, Hazem Ouf.

The combination of Craftworks Restaurants & Breweries and Logans Roadhouse creates a leader in full-service dining, with a national footprint of over 390 restaurants and breweries in 40 states and the District of Columbia. CraftWorks Holdings is dedicated to providing affordable and unique takes on American fare, offering its customers a differentiated dining experience and compelling value proposition. The companys diverse portfolio of restaurant brands includes Logans Roadhouse, a leading mid-scale steakhouse serving mesquite wood-fire grilled steaks; Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, which specializes in hand-crafted signature pizzas and a wide array of craft beer on tap; and the Brewery Division, a collection of restaurant-brewery brands, including Rock Bottom Restaurants & Breweries and Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants, featuring high quality, locally brewed craft beer paired with a craveable beer-centric menu.

I am excited to lead the new combined enterprise under the umbrella of Craftworks Holdings, and I look forward to leveraging our combined capabilities to deliver unique and memorable dining experiences," said Hazem Ouf, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CraftWorks Holdings. Our name CraftWorks reflects the spirit and high quality of Crafted Signature Food & Beverage and our passion for serving our brands, guests, team members and our communities. We believe that our cumulative restaurant industry experience, the companys extensive infrastructure, and the financial strength of our investors will allow us to drive excellence in service and quality within a scalable full-service dining platform.

We are delighted to partner with Hazem Ouf as the Chairman and CEO of CraftWorks Holdings and welcome Logans Roadhouse and all of their associates to the CraftWorks family, said Matt Kabaker, Senior Managing Director of Centerbridge Partners, L.P., which, through investment funds affiliated with it, controls CraftWorks Holdings. Hazem is an accomplished hospitality industry leader with extensive experience spanning multiple concepts and restaurant segments. He has an impressive track record of driving brand revitalization while delivering strong financial performance, including the recent comprehensive turnaround of Logans. Hazems unique skill set and passion for the business make him an ideal partner for the next stage of growth and development at CraftWorks.

By creating CraftWorks Holdings, we have laid the foundation for a premiere restaurant & brewery holding company to provide long-term growth opportunities for our brands, team members and franchise partners and established a platform that is well positioned for future growth and acquisitions, added Ouf.

Hazem Ouf has held the position of CEO for Logans Roadhouse since January 2017. Previously, he spent eight years leading American Blue Ribbon Holdings (ABRH) as CEO and its multi-casual and upscale causal brands (OCharleys, 99 Restaurant and Pub, Village Inn, Bakers Square, Legendary Baking) which he grew to become the eighth largest full-service restaurant group in the country. Prior to ABRH, Hazem served as President and CEO of restaurant companies including Spectrum Foods, Lyons Restaurants, Constellation Concepts and others. He is the recipient of numerous industry awards, including Top Business Leaders and was nominated by his peers to the Nations Restaurant News 2015 list of Most Influential Power Players.

About Centerbridge:

Centerbridge Partners, L.P. is a private investment management firm employing a flexible approach across investment disciplinesfrom private equity to credit and related strategies, and real estatein an effort to find the most attractive opportunities for our investors and business partners. The Firm was founded in 2005 and as of June 2018 has approximately $28 billion in capital under management with offices in New York and London. Centerbridge is dedicated to partnering with world-class management teams across targeted industry sectors and geographies to help companies achieve their operating and financial objectives. For more information, please visit www.centerbridge.com

About CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries:

Broomfield, CO.-based Craftworks Restaurants and Breweries is the leading U.S. operator of brewery and craft-beer focused casual dining restaurants. The company has 189 corporate and franchise restaurants in 36 states and the District of Columbia, across brands such as Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, Rock Bottom Restaurants & Breweries, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants, and Big River Grille & Brewing Works among other brands. For more information, visit www.craftworksrestaurants.com.

About Logans Roadhouse:

Logans Roadhouse is a leading casual dining steakhouse headquartered in Nashville, TN. Offering mesquite wood-fire grilled steaks, signature yeast rolls and American-inspired signature favorites for over 25 years, Logans has 204 corporate and franchise restaurants in 22 states. For more information, visit www.logansroadhouse.com.

Contact:

Ryan Witherell

615-610-0304

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c54619d5-ac23-48a9-b083-66ed326a21f1
Alex Villanueva Our Vote for LA County Sheriff

In honor of the upcoming general election, the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper spoke with LA County Sheriff candidate Alex Villanueva about his campaign platform and mission to reform, rebuild, and restore the LA Sheriffs department.

Los Angeles County Sheriff candidate Villanueva is running against Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell who has held the position for a four-year-term. Villanueva is stepping into the general election with more than three decades of experience as a law enforcement leader and has worked under four sheriffs. After announcing his retirement in February of 2018, Villanueva was able to completely focus on his campaign for LA County Sheriff.

Throughout his campaign, Villanueva has distinguished himself from his opponent, McDonnell, by addressing the issues that lie within the sheriffs department.

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With 32 years in the organization, I know it like the back of my hand. I know the good things that we are capable of doing and that we have done in the past and I know the bad things unfortunately, that we get involved with periodically, said Villanueva.

He [McDonnell] provides little snippets of information in very selected platforms to give the impression that there is some sort of change going on, said Villanueva. When actually there is no change, it is quite the opposite. He has done nothing. Early on about the first year when he came into office in 2015, he made one significant change to manual policies and procedures.

Villanuevas platform involves fully implementing community policing so the officers can develop stronger relationships with the residents in the communities they are patrolling.

[The officers] getting to know the community and the community getting to know who they are [so] in times of crisis and in times of conflict, we know each other, said Villanueva. If you have a wayward son or daughter who is on psychiatric medication that has issues, they are going to know about it. If you have the deputies pull up [on a 911 call] because [someone is] doing something really bizarre and someones life is in danger, you can call the cops and they will know what the deal is. They [will] know what the behavior is [and how to] contain it and prevent anyone else from being impacted by it. This will improve the odds for a better outcome.

To further address the topic of officers creating stronger relationships with the Black community, Villanueva made it a point to hold local town hall meetings in South Los Angeles. During that time, he heard the voices of concerned voters.

Its been a privilege to meet people from all walks of life in affluent and under-resourced communities throughout the county. Residents at-large all agree on one thing: they want a sheriff who will be transparent and has the institutional knowledge, and leadership skills to bring reform, rebuild and restore the LASD, said Villanueva in a statement. The majority of voters and residents that I spoke with want to put a stop to Sheriff McDonnells current practices of using our county jail system and the department as a testing ground for the Trump administration.

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During the interview, the LA Sentinel asked Villanueva how he plans to increase the African American enrollment of men and women at LASD.

In response to that question, Villanueva stated the following: Our diversity within the organization does not reflect the community. We have been stuck at around eight percent of African Americans and the numbers going into the academy are even lower than that. We are not doing a good job. We have challenges but the entire profession of law enforcement does. That is because the perception today on the millennial generation and younger, the ones coming out of high school, think I can work this nice job or I can work this job where I can end up shot and it is really easy to find some other kind of work [aside from] law enforcement.

Villanueva goes on to say that African Americans do not want to work for a department that has had issues with corruption or where minorities are treated like second class employees.

We lose a lot of quality minority candidates both Black and Latino because of the perception that there is something wrong with us, he said.

Next, the LA Sentinel asked Villanueva his thoughts on racial profiling, jail reform and the policies that he plans to implement to change that.

How we treat people in the community is so important to me and I follow the Nordstrom model of customer service, said Villanueva.

Who is Alex Villanueva?

The sheriff candidate was born in Chicago, raised in New York and grew up in Puerto Rico. His upbringing combined with his military background, four years spent teaching criminal justice courses at California State Long Beach paired with his experience in law enforcement, makes him the ideal candidate to take on McDonnell which is why the LA Sentinel is endorsing him for LA County Sheriff.

To date Villanueva has been endorsed by the following African American community leaders:

Reginald Jones-Sawyer, Member of the California State Assembly and Chairman of the California State Assemblys Select Committee on Boys and Men of Color

Darren W. Parker, African-American Caucus Chair, California Democratic Party

DJ Big Boy, Radio Host 92.3 FM

Rev. John Edward Cager III, Sr. Pastor Ward at AME Church

Rev. Melanie Mayes, Saint John Holy Trinity AME Church

Larry E. Campbell, Senior Pastor at the First AME Church of Pasadena

For more information on Alex Villanueva please visit https://alexvillanueva.org/. Dont forget to register to vote in the general election on Tuesday, November 6!

Los Angeles Sentinel staff writer Kimberlee Buck contributed to this article
NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Quin, located at 57th Street and Sixth Avenue, marks the 5th Anniversary of the hotels popular Quin Arts program with a memorable season finale in November, presenting an exhibition featuring the works of renowned photographer Slim Aarons. Co-curated by DK Johnston and Getty Images Gallery, the exhibition highlights Aarons legendary portraits of A-list socialites and Hollywood stars in glamorous settings from around the world. The exhibition of nearly 20 Slim Aarons works opens to the public in the hotels lobby and drawing room on November 8 and will be on view through January, 2019. The exhibition will also feature a specially created display of the photographers winter scenes with a 13-sceen video art wall installation. All gallery-quality prints will be available for purchase for the duration of the show.



Aarons first brush with fame came following his role as a combat photographer in World War II, when he began photographing stars of the Italian film scene, while working for Life magazine. He moved back to the U.S. in the early 1950s, transitioning to shooting color features for the leading magazines of the day. Alongside his reportage, Aarons kept up with celebrities and socialites, traveling to the French Riviera, the Italian islands, Mustique, Bermuda, Monte Carlo, Monaco, Verbier, and more.

Aarons contributed to publications including Harper's Bazaar, Life, Holiday, Town & Country, Travel & Leisure, and Venture. His portraits of stars ranged from Truman Capote and Gore Vidal to Louis Armstrong and President Kennedy, and almost all the Hollywood greats of his period including Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, Tony Curtis, and Janet Leigh. As a testament to his immersion in the Hollywood movie scene, Aarons even appeared in two films in the 1960s. James Stewart's character as a photographer in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller, Rear Window, was reportedly based on Aarons, with the set a replica of his apartment.

Aarons works have been published in collections including, A Wonderful Time: an Intimate Portrait of the Good Life (1974), Once Upon a Time (2003); A Place in the Sun (2005), Poolside With Slim Aarons (2007); Slim Aarons: La Dolce Vita (2012); and Slim Aarons: Women (2016), among others. Getty Images Gallery is the home to the Slim Aarons archive.

With a physical presence in London and a digital platform bringing the world closer to photographic art, Getty Images Gallery has unique access to the worlds largest privately owned photographic archive.

For more information on Quin Arts, visit www.thequinhotel.com . Information on pre-show sales is available by emailing dkj@concllc.com or Lauren.Katz@gettyimages.com . The Quin is managed by Highgate, a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company whose growing portfolio includes more than 100 properties in gateway cities worldwide.

About The Quin

The Quin, New York Citys quintessential luxury lifestyle hotel, is located on the corner of 57th Street and 6th Avenue. At the intersection of art, music, and fashion, its privileged Midtown location provides effortless access to Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Museum of Modern Art and Fifth Avenue couture. The Quin melds modern opulence with its rich artistic heritage in each of its 208 thoughtfully appointed guestrooms, including 28 suites. Guests enjoy urbane and intelligent services from the Quin concierge team, who curate each guests New York experience, to distinguished amenities such as a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness center, Apple equipped drawing room, Dux beds by Duxiana, and Fresh Spa Products. Guests can also indulge at The Wayfarer, a classic American grille, located adjacent to the hotel. Renowned architecture and interior design firm, Perkins Eastman, has transposed a contemporary masterpiece on the classical foundation that was once home to cultural icons like pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski and artist Georgia O'Keeffe. Follow the Quin @thequinhotel. Reservations are available at 1-855-447-QUIN (7846) or http://www.theQuinhotel.com .

About Getty Images Gallery

The Getty Images Gallery brings you closer to the images that have illuminated modern history, the faces that have defined the times, and the art that inspires, alongside the moments that only the camera can capture. A gallery in London which operates as the citys largest independent photographic gallery, and an online service with unique access to one of the worlds largest privately-owned collections, the Getty Images Gallery both showcases and curates world-class exhibitions. With archives holding millions of negatives, prints and transparencies from the 1850s to the present day, and vast contemporary libraries featuring the most creative photographers of the moment, our aim is to make this incomparable collection accessible to all. http://www.gettyimagesgallery.com

About Highgate:

Highgate is a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in U.S. gateway markets including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu. Highgate also has an expanding presence in key European markets through properties in London, Paris, Barcelona, Vienna and Prague. Highgates portfolio of global properties represents an aggregate asset value exceeding $10B and generates over $2B in cumulative revenues. The company provides expert guidance through all stages of the hospitality property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate has created a portfolio of bespoke hotel brands and utilizes industry leading proprietary revenue management tools that identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the industrys most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York, London, Dallas, Chicago and Seattle. For more information, visit highgate.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Burns Patterson

Hudson PR

(917) 575-9155

burns@hudson-pr.net

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/33ad0bac-890a-4588-915b-c3cfae7f0587




Black Angelenos Likely to Respond to Improving Resources if They Believe Census

It is important for Black people to complete the census because of how much in the way of resources we have to fight for, says Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, Director of California Policy & Research Initiative (CALPRI).

The 2020 Census will ensure there is an accurate count of California residents. A complete count would determine the number of U.S. House of Representatives seats California will receive. The Census is also used to distribute federal financial resources to local communities. According to the CA Census 2020 website, there are 70 CA federally-funded programs in the areas of education, health, and human services that will benefit from a complete count.

The Fall California African American Policy Priorities Survey (CAAAPPS) suggest that 90 percent of Black voters plan to participate in completing a Census form. Additionally, the poll suggested that 71 percent were more likely to participate in the Census now that it can be completed and submitted online.

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Jacqueline Robinson-Baisley, Director of Civic Engagement & Public Policy at the California Community Foundation(CCF) says, count from the census will dictate federal investment dollars that inevitably will come to Los Angeles county and the state as a wholethe poll tells us that we as the African American communityare aware of the census.

Some of Californias African American communities are considered hard-to-reach. These factors include but are not limited to housing conditions, low-income status, citizen and non-citizen status, reliance on languages other than English, mobility, and displacement by disasters. Of particular note are communities of color, children, rural residents, immigrants (including those who are undocumented), LGBTQ+ and people with disabilities as stated by Counting all Californians in the 2020 Census.

In terms of outreachCCF is engaged and invested in the root causes of Californias most vulnerable populations[including]African American communities, says Robinson-Baisley. Despite the challenge of hard-to-reach communities, the CAAAPPS tells us people want to believe and know they can bring in the resources by virtue of filling out their form, says Sebastian Ridley-Thomas. The poll suggests that 73 percent of Black voters feel confident that census participation will impact the amount of resources available to the African American community.

Due to Californias diverse population and size, along with the President of the United States adding the citizenship question, there are known barriers to individuals completing the census. As a solution, Governor Jerry Brown has formed the California Complete Count Committee including 25 volunteer community leaders representative of the diversity of CA.

When you look at a President who actually lost the popular vote but won throughout the electoral college, we can follow the bouncing ball and see how important the connection between census and elections really is, says Dominique DiPrima, host of the Front Page on Los Angeles radio station KJLH 102.3 FM.

California Policy & Research Initiative (CALPRI) is an African American-focused think tank, polling, voter research, civic engagement, and policy analysis organization. We seek to provide critical input on how pressing state and local public policy considerations impact African American Californians. CALPRI convenes thought leaders and media to inform civic, economic, and cultural dialogues. Our policy areas of greatest focus are equal rights, employment, business development, community safety, criminal justice reform, homelessness, healthcare, education, and the social safety net.
Black Education Trailblazers- How Dr. Jeffery A. Clements Became the First Black Mechanical Engineer to Graduate from Cal State Long Beach

For over a century, African Americans have possessed the right to learn, read, write, and attend college. However, just because they had those rights doesnt mean that their road to higher learning as men and women of color was any easier. This is the story of Dr. Jeffery A. Clements who went on to become the first African American mechanical engineer to graduate from Cal State Long Beach and the obstacles he faced to get there.

Dr. Jeffery A. Clements was born and raised in San Pedro, California. His interest in mechanical engineering was first sparked in high school where he spent most of his time drawing and studying the topic. However, he had no idea what the field of mechanical engineering would entail. But before he would embark on that journey, he had to apply, attend, and graduate from college.

A friend of mine wanted to go to college and during that time in the 1960s, I hadnt really thought about going to college, said Clements. But my father, who was a hardworking man said, just get an education.

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After considering his fathers words of wisdom and watching his close friend apply to colleges, Clements began to wonder if he even qualified.

My friend Richard told me it just took 13 As or Bs and I looked at my [grades]. At the time, I didnt have anything close to it. But it was something to shoot for. So I began taking mathematics and science classes, said Clements.

Later, Clements achieved his goal of receiving 13 As and Bs and with slight hesitation, he applied to Long Beach State (which is presently known as California State University Long Beach).

During his time at Cal State Long Beach, Clements stepped into a new world of adversity. Not only was he struggling in school but he also faced racism and the current political climate did not help. Clements attended the university when Martin Luther King Jr. was fighting for social injustices, John F. Kennedy was president, and during the Watts Rebellion. All of these events resulted in a hostile environment for a college student.

In my history class [on] my first exam, I got an F and on the second exam I got an F. I remember the teacher who was lecturing looking at my grade and saying, Mr. Clements, I want you to meet me in my office after class. So I said okay, and began to wonder what was going on, said Clements.

[My professor said], hey you got two Fs in this class so just to be honest with you, you ought to consider going to a trade school and not being here at Long Beach State. Not everybody is college material.

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After meeting with his professor, Clements was devastated and began debating whether or not he wanted to drop out. The conversation that Clements had with his professor, ignited his drive to prove his professor wrong and he continued pursuing his undergraduate degree.

I finally decided that I am not going to drop out, they just gone have to kick me out. I am just going to hang in here, said Clements.

Despite his new found drive to continue pursuing his education, Clements continued to struggle even in his engineering classes. He sought help from his peers however; they denied him which led him to come to the realization that he had to figure it out on his own. So he did.

I ended up getting a lot of Cs but my Cs felt like As because I had to do it all by myself, he said.

After walking across the stage at his college graduation, Clements had no idea that he was the first African American to receive mechanical engineering degree from Cal State Long Beach. In fact, he didnt find out until he was approached by the dean of his program.

He said, do you know you are the first Negro to graduate in mechanical engineering from this school? and I said, well thats nice but [really] I was just glad to graduate, said Clements.

Although Clements graduated in 1967, it wasnt until 2018 that he was honored by the university for his achievement.

I feel more and more happy about it, that I was able to get through the system. But I feel bad that there are still so few Black engineers at the school. But I do feel honored and [happy] that they dont have to go through all the things I went through, said Clements.

Career Accomplishments

After graduating from Cal State Long Beach with his bachelors degree in mechanical engineering, Clements went on to receive in masters of science in mechanical engineering from the same university. Later, he received his doctorate degree from UCLA in mechanical engineering.

In 1972, Clements worked at TRW where he was a key member in building and testing the Viking Meteorology Boom Assembly which was one of nine experiments a part of the Viking Spacecraft that successfully landed on Mars in 1973. Additionally, he performed the dynamic deployment analysis of the Particles and Field Sub-satellite which launched from the Apollo 15 and 16 missions orbiting the moon. In 1984, he designed, manufactured, assembled, and tested one of the companys major space programs called the Airborne Optical Adjunct (AOA) program.

From there, he worked as a lab manager for the engineering development and transition laboratory. While there he invented the Assembly Planning Readiness Procedure. Also, Clements, served on the UCLA Engineering Alumni Association Governing Board, spearheaded the MESA program and worked for Raytheon which is where he retired from in 2006 after a 20-year-long career.

During his retirement, Clements began drawing old houses and various objects, something that he enjoyed doing as child. Today, his art is displayed at different museums, galleries, hosting exhibits and in publications like newspapers and magazines.

His artwork can be purchased by the public at https://www.ebay.com/str/pencilhouse. Additionally, Clements published a science fiction book titled Aphelion, which is available for purchase on Amazon.

When Clements isnt working on his art pieces you can find him spending time with his family.

All in all, Clements believes that he has had a very successful and beautiful career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and he encourages other African American men and women to follow suit.

There is a tremendous amount of opportunity especially now with all the new technology. The door is really opening up and they can use people of all races in particular Blacks. But you just have to prepare for the field and you have to study, said Clements.
Black Students Still Only a Rhetorical Priority

Public education continues to fail African American children with little public outcry and those who do protest strongly are often ostracized by the education establishment. Meanwhile, as has been the case for at least the past fifty years, there are no effective, sustained protests of the pervasive miseducation of Black children. This speaks volumes about Black leadership, in general, and educational leadership in particular. It is also an indictment of those parents and community members who, despite the education establishments severe damage to their childrens lives, have not mounted sustainable protests or held schools accountable. Neither neglect nor indifference adequately describes the egregious fallout from systemic barriers and adults failing their responsibility to demand a quality education for Black students.

Proclamations of concern and rhetorical protests are also insufficient because they have not involved sustained concrete action. African Americans failure to challenge public educations dismal record, as related to Black children, is unacceptable. The ramifications of combined systemic and community neglect include, excessive dropouts (pushouts), early criminalization and disproportionate low-wage unskilled Black workers.

This unfortunate litany is not challenged consistently, and Black students failures are often considered the norm in the inner city. However, Black children are bright, talented, and creative and we must demand their potential be developed to the fullest.

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Student achievement is the goal, or should be, for all educators and all schools. Too many people believe poor student achievement is the result of problems inherent in the students themselves. Another myth is that all students are taught basically the same things, but some, especially African Americans and other students of color, somehow manage to learn less. As the Achievement Council reported decades ago in Unfinished Business: Fulfilling Our Childrens Promise, the facts do not support the myth that all students are taught the same things. Actually, they are taught less of everything officials believe makes a positive difference is put into the education of Black students: Less experienced and well-trained teachers, less instructional time, less rich and well-balanced curricula, dilapidated facilities, and most important, a crippling belief that Black students cannot learn.

The 21st century rolled in on a sea of rhetoric about improving education throughout the nationprobably because U.S. students continue to fall behind those in other so-called developed nations. California is among the leaders in hyperbole about educational reform. In California, even governors and Los Angeles mayors have proclaimed education reform a top priority. However, such proclamations, and related policy proposals, have not improved educational outcomes for Black students. And there is little evidence they will benefit from current education reform efforts.

Teacher improvement criteria, including recruitment, preparation, selection and training, adequate facilities, sufficient textbooks and sustainable direct parent participation, are all critical in the education process, especially in inner city schools with substantial Black student populations. Achievement is universally considered the bottom line, i.e., the ultimate indicator of educational success. And the controversy over teacher evaluation and testing vs. student performance rages on.

Tragically, Black students lag behind in virtually every category, even though educators, and everyone else, understand the Black child has as much potential for learning and achievement as any other. This is not taken into account in their test scores or- and this is often overlooked- their life and educational environment. Even previously non-English-speaking students, within a few years, perform better than African American students. Thats unacceptable

Continuing educational inequities and the achievement patterns to which they give rise pose a serious threat to all students, but especially Black students. During the past half century, most new jobs in California, like the rest of the country, require education beyond high school, as well as greater technological training and expertise. It is well known, however, that California spends more and more on the consequences of its failure to educate poor Black and Latino students.

California does have some predominantly African American and other minority high achieving schools. Invariably, these schools have sustainable and direct parent involvement and broad community support, proving that change is possible, even under the most challenging conditions. But many of these success stories were, and are, mostly, short-lived and not reflective of districtwide priorities.

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Top-down accountability systems are needed wherein schools are obligated to mount sustained efforts to improve achievement among all students, but especially students of color from low-income families. State and local officials must be held accountable for requiring that across-the-board accountability happens. Improvements in recruitment, selection and training of teachers and administrators are also critical. And, an expanded role for parents and community organizations must be part of all education reform efforts.

Finally, African American students are subjected to the so-called race card every day of their lives, even though white people play the race card every day of their lives, with impunity. And white conservatives, especially, promote wrongheaded opposition to any and all efforts that strongly challenge the continuing oppression of Blacks and other people of color.

Now, more than ever, we must remain keenly aware because of continuing systemic barriers that reinforce, for us, an oppressive status quo. This is done in many ways, one of which is Americas double standardone for whites, and one for African Americans and other people of color. Of course, all of these barriers are manifestations of racism and remain detrimental, not only to the success of Black students, but the future of the Black community itself.
Donald Trump, the President and Leader of the Republican Party, Declares Hes a Nationalist, Code Word for KKK

The Republican Party has adopted Trumps Klan Talking Points which makes them Klan supporters too.

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As the White house continues to deny Trumps talking points are making white racist, nationalist, KKK and Alt-Right members embolden, facts give a contrary truth.

If you thought the white supremacy groups were just down south think again. A neo-Nazi Southern California-based militant, white-supremacist group known as the Rise Above Movement (R.A.M.) have reportedly been carrying out violent attacks at political events across Southern California.

The latest members of R.A.M. to be arrested are from Huntington Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance  a city in Congresswoman Waters Congressional District (CA-43). Its also worth noting that earlier this month four additional members of the Rise Above Movement militia group were indicted for attacking counter protesters during the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, VA. One of the men accused of this violent episode was a resident of Lawndale, another city in Congresswoman Waters District.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center the Rise Above Movement is an overtly racist, violent right-wing fight club that attends rallies around the country to do open combat with counter-protesters. The Anti-Defamation also notes that while they consider themselves part of the alt right, R.A.M.s membership has deep roots in Californias racist skinhead movement, and includes individuals who have faced serious criminal charges, including assault, robbery and weapon offenses.

You may ask yourself why does Trump have such an endearing heart towards these groups? Did you know, Trumps father who was from Germany has been rumored to be a member of the KKK and arrested in 1927 for participating in a KKK riot. Although Trump denies the rumor of his father one article written in the Long Island Daily Press, stated that all seven arrestees (Trumps father being one of them) were wearing Klan attire.

Trumps main backing as president are white militias, back woods KKK groups, predominantly poor uneducated Caucasians according to many US polls and David Duke, the former Ku Klux Klan leader who is running for Louisiana Senate and running rob calls to Vote Duke Vote Trump.

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Trump has bashed Muslims with ignorance and used discrimination as his platform for immigration reform. He likes to refer to African Americans when referencing ghettos and is a huge fan of the discriminatory Stop and Frisk.

He has awarded private prisons contracts as they host retreats and his Trump properties. One of the countrys leading private prisons the GEO Group which has prison contracts in California continues gain profit with state and federal funds. GEO recently won a $110 million contract to build a federal immigrant detention center in Texas. The facility is expected to generate $44 million a year.

It should be noted, the Geo Group held an executive retreat late last year at the Trump National Doral property near Miami. The executive meeting was the single-largest source of revenue for the Trump Organization property. The GEO Group also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars supporting the Trump campaign donating $225,000 through a subsidiary to a pro-Trump super-PAC. GEO also gave $250,000 to the presidents inaugural committee.

Another leading private prison CCA-Corrections Corporation of America (which has prisons in California) annual report flagged criminal justice reform and highlighted reduction of mandatory minimum sentencesas a risk factor for its business.

Donald Trumps companies have systematically destroyed or hidden thousands of emails, digital records and paper documents demanded in official proceedings, often in defiance of court orders. These tacticsexposed by a Newsweek review of thousands of pages of court filings, judicial orders and affidavits from an array of court caseshave enraged judges, prosecutors, opposing lawyers and the many ordinary citizens entangled in litigation with Trump, according to Newsweek.

These tactics date back as far as 1973 regarding a Department of Justice case against Trump and his fathers real estate company for discrimination against African Americans. More cases would follow.

A video of Trump bragging about assaulting women at his pleasure has resulted in a man being fired and allegations from multiple women including rape in 1994, mistreating female employees, sexual harassment, kissing women against their will, firing a woman because she was pregnant, telling a group of 14-year-olds hed date them in a couple of years and many other unsettling allegations. His latest attack on Dr. Ford also proves his lack of respect for women and victims of sexual assault.

Trumps administration is also plagued by alleged racist and women abusers.

With all of this the Republican Party not only supports this behavior they hide behind his behavior and continue to pass legislation that is detrimental to blacks and people of color.

With so much at stake the 2018 mid-term election will determine if the United States will stay on this racist path taking us back to a very dark time or if voters will shake Congress up to a path of inclusion and push back to all the racism that this country currently faces.
Ethiopia Elects 1st Female President; Sets The Standard

Ethiopian lawmakers unanimously elected the countrys first female president on Thursday, days after approving one of the worlds few gender-balanced Cabinets as the countrys dramatic reforms continue.

As seasoned diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde assumed the largely ceremonial post, many celebrated Africas only current female head of state. The continents first female president, Liberias Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, left office this year.

Congratulations, Madam President! Women do make a difference. We are proud of you! the female president of the United Nations General Assembly, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, said in a Twitter post.

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In a patriarchal society such as ours, the appointment of a female head of state not only sets the standard for the future but also normalizes women as decision-makers in public life, the chief of staff for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Twitter.

The East African country long has shown some of the lowest indicators of gender equality in sub-Saharan Africa, UN Women has said. Women and girls in Ethiopia are strongly disadvantaged compared to boys and men in several areas, including literacy, health, livelihoods and basic human rights. Female genital mutilation continues in some areas despite the government declaring it illegal.

But the new prime minister has clearly decided to include womens leadership in the sweeping political and economic reforms he has announced in Africas second most populous country since taking office in April.

Ethiopian lawmakers last week approved a Cabinet with women making up a record 50 percent of ministers, including the countrys first female defense minister. A woman also leads the new Ministry of Peace, will oversees the powerful National Intelligence and Security Service and the Federal Police Commission.

The Horn of Africa power joined a handful of countries, mostly European, where women make up 50 percent or more of ministerial positions, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women.

Likely inspired, Rwanda two days later announced its own Cabinet with 50 percent women. The country has received international recognition for female representation in government.

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The African continent is leading the way in showcasing that womens engagement and leadership are crucial to lasting peace, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter.

Sahle-Work called Ethiopias recent transfer of power to Abiy after months of anti-government protests demanding wider freedoms exemplary. The ruling coalition that has led the country since 1991 and with allied parties holds every seat in Parliament agreed earlier this month to have Abiy lead the party until its next congress, a vote of confidence in the reforms.

The new president said she will focus on bringing together all sides to achieve peace in a country where multiple ethnic-based conflicts have simmered in recent months as political dialogue opens up.

Sahle-Work has worked in various United Nations organs and was the first director-general of the U.N. office in Nairobi. Until recently she was the U.N. secretary-generals special representative to the African Union.
Family Of Botham Jean Files Suit Against Ex-Dallas Cop

The family of an unarmed Black man who was shot and killed in his own apartment by a White former Dallas police officer filed a federal lawsuit on Friday.

The suit argues that Amber Guyger used excessive force when she gunned down Botham Jean, a 26-year-old native of St. Lucia, inside his apartment on Sept. 6. According to court records, Guyger reported she mistook his apartment for her own and thought shed encountered an intruder.

Guyger and the city of Dallas are named as defendants in the lawsuit. Jeans parents, Bertrum Jean and Allison Jean, are listed as plaintiffs.

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Guyger was arrested and charged with manslaughter days after the shooting and has since been fired from the Dallas Police Department. The lawsuit contends the department did not adequately train Guyger, who had ended her shift prior to the shooting.

The litigation argues Guyger was acting under her scope as a Dallas officer during the deadly encounter.

Officer Guyger was ill-trained, and as a result, defaulted to the defective DPD policy: to use deadly force even when there exist no immediate threat of harm to themselves or others, the lawsuit said.

There remains conflicting narratives over what led up to the deadly shooting.

An affidavit prepared by the Texas Rangers said Guyger went to the wrong apartment after ending her shift on Sept. 6. The door, according to the document, was ajar and Guyger opened it.

Inside, the lights were off and a figure in the darkness that cast a large silhouette across the room, according to Guyger. She said she thought her apartment was being burglarized and gave verbal commands to the person, who ignored them.

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She then pulled out her firearm and shot two times, hitting Jean once in the torso, according to the affidavit. The lawsuit said Guyger did not give emergency aid to Jean following the gunfire.

Lee Merritt, one of the attorneys for Jeans family, cast doubt on Guygers narrative. Merritt has said that two independent witnesses told him they heard knocking on the door in the hallway before the shooting.

He said one witness reported hearing a womans voice saying, Let me in! Let me in!

Dallas police on Friday declined to comment on the litigation, as did Guygers criminal attorney Robert Rogers.

Jean was not the first person shot by the former officer.

Gugyer shot and wounded Uvaldo Perez, on May 12, 2017, while she was on duty. An affidavit in the case filed against Perez said police were looking for a suspect when Guyger and another officer were called to assist a third. Perez got out of a car and became combative with Guyger and another officer.

A struggle started and she opened fire after Perez wrestled her Taser away from her.

According to the lawsuit filed Friday, Guyger was not required to receive any mental counseling following the 2017 shooting, in which she was not charged.
Holly Hancock For Superior Court Judge #60

Deputy public defender, Holly Hancock is campaigning for Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Seat #60. The attorney believes she is the best candidate for the job and has the qualifications and experience. She speaks about her journey and why voters should consider her for the position this election.

I have had to be a teacher, a counsellor and ultimately, solution-builder, said Hancock. My job as a deputy public defender requires me to know all sides of the issue and the people involved.

I believe this will serve me well on the bench.

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A native of Chicago, Hancock is the oldest child of teachers. She attended the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, receiving her B.A. degree in rhetoric/english. Hancock worked as a flight attendant stationed in Chicago, Denver, New York and London. It would be 9/11 that would change the course of her life.

During 9/11, we fought for tighter safety measures for ground workers, which would ensure the safety of the flight attendants inflight, said Hancock. Later, we fought for the jobs of the flight attendants, who were targeted for workforce reduction, as were all the labor groups when the airline industry sought to cut back.

After the dust settled, I realized that I wanted to enter the field of law and protect constitutional rights for all.

Hancock attended Southwestern University Law School and received her J.D. degree in the accelerated program in two years.

She added, I was the mother of a toddler at the time.

As a deputy public defender, Hancock comes in contact with a variety of people and has to build her case based on the circumstances.

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She currently works in the Inglewood Drug Court, which is an alternative sentencing court for drug users who are getting their life back on track. She describes life as an attorney and what shes learned.

I have had a hands-on approach to the people who will appear before the bench, said Hancock. On the other hand, prosecutors do their job best by dispassionately presenting the facts and the law to a jury.

Most do not get in touch with the victims until trial because they want to be emotionally disconnected. My job is to get to know the client, their motivations and to know the feelings and motivations, if any, of the victims as well.

She continues, I have worked with the people who will come before the bench. I have been open to their plight and that of their families.

In order to do this job best, I have had to come up with the alternatives for sentencing, my job requires me to get both sides of the case.

As a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, Hancock would conduct trials, make rulings on pretrial motions regarding exclusion or inclusion of evidence, hear arguments for requests of experts or other evidence to be turned over and hear preliminary hearings and determine if a case may continue for trial among other duties. Hancock explains her role if she were to win the seat in the coming election.

In the county, I can be placed wherever the needs of the court dictate, said Hancock. So, although my background is in criminal law, I could be placed in family court, juvenile court, civil court or dependency court.

Hancock is ready to serve on Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Seat #60. She states she has a desire to serve, not just as a judge but as a representation of the world we live in today. She wants to set an example inside and outside the court room.

She states, I had a childhood dream of becoming a lawyer and now I dream of serving the community as a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge in Seat 60. In June, my campaign garnered enough votes to move on to the November general election.

In all candor, a part of that desire is fueled when I look at my daughtera newly minted college student. I can see a world ahead where women are fully represented not only in the courtroom, but in every part of industry and all professions.

This is no competition with our opposite gender, because we all bring different qualities to the table. I am hopeful my successful campaign will create that world all the sooner.

Hancock is endorsed by the L.A. Sentinel, members of the Legislative Black Caucus and the L.A. Times. She looks for your vote on Nov. 6.

For more information on Holly Hancock, please visit www.hancock4judge.com. You can also visit on Instagram at www.instagram.com/hollyhancockforjudge/ on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Holly4thebench and Facebook at www.facebook.com/hollyhancockforjudge/.
In Response to Kentucky and Pittsburgh Shootings, L.A. Clergy Preach Love and Reject Hate and Fear

Religious leaders of every faith united in extending prayers of sympathy along with condemning the shocking killings of 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27.

The murders occurred three days after a White man shot two African Americans in Jeffersontown, Kentucky on Oct. 24, after unsuccessfully attempting to enter a nearby Black church.

The appalling hate crimes stirred memories of the mass murders of 26 people at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas in Nov. 2017, nine people at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina in June 2015, and the four young girls killed in the bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama in 1964.

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When houses of worship experience such attacks, apprehension can envelope congregations with some members wondering how to respond and move forward when horrific actions upon sacred institutions occur. But instead of fear, many Los Angeles-area clergy believe the answer rejecting hate with love.

Describing the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting as spiritual terrorism, Pastor Edward Anderson of McCarty Memorial Christian Church declared, We must condemn this vain act of fear and hate birthed from a system of evil and white supremacy which attempts to make our sacred places scared places and our neighbors  the stranger, the migrant, the religious minority- enemies.

Now more than ever, we must turn to one another for healing, faith and love, rejecting the impulse to bow to the altar of fear and hate, knowing we are stronger together made in the image of God.

Offering similar comments, Pastor Mark E. Whitlock, Jr. of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church insisted, The church must not become afraid of fanatics. The fear of fanatics must not dissuade Christian disciples from attending church. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7, But God does not give us a spirit of fear; but of power, of love and a sound mind.

The Rev. Norman Copeland and Rabbi Jonathan Klein, board chair and executive director, respectively, of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), issued a joint statement urging all people, regardless of faith, to remain united against violence and embrace love.

We must remind ourselves of the inherent humanity of all as children of God: Black, Brown, White and beyond; male, female, and gender-nonconforming; Christian and Jewish, Muslim and more; LGBTQ and straight; young and old; rich and poor; all of us. Together, the statement read.

As long as we support one another, as long as we celebrate our rich diversity, and as long as we come together to demand truth, justice, and that which is sacred, the forces of hatred and violence that meet us will never prevail against our spirit of love and compassion.

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Our prayers go out to all the families of the deceased, and we pray that you will continue to build a world of love for all. We believe that love is stronger than hate, and faith is stronger than death, said the CLUE leaders.

Pastor Kelvin Sauls, a well-known advocate for equality and inclusivity, linked the violence to the countrys politically-inflamed ethnic and racial division. But he also stressed the importance of denouncing fear and hate.

In the midst of our tears, we will not be paralyzed by our pain. Instead, we will be mobilized to condemn racist and anti-Semitic attitudes and violence in any form, said Sauls.

We will continue to pursue the moral path of love, strengthen our diverse coalitions, and engage in peacemaking towards a more just and fair society. And, we will vote!
L.A. Area Chamber and UNITE-LAS Annual College & Career Convention

17th annual convention helps thousands of local, low-income students plan for college and maximize federal and state financial aid

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with its affiliate, UNITE-LA, will provide college preparation, financial aid and scholarship training to more than 6,000 students who attend their 17th annual College & Career Convention. They will also award $1,000 scholarships to 20 students who attend the event on Friday, Nov. 9 and Saturday, Nov. 10 at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

A great way to ensure more young adults are able to pursue higher education is to alleviate students financial stress, particularly for those students coming from low income backgrounds, to help them access and succeed in college, said L.A. Area Chamber Executive Vice President of the Chambers Center for Education Excellence and Talent Development, David Rattray. The Cash for College Convention provides available financial aid opportunities to students and their families, as well as help them understand the application process, which often can discourage their participation.

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The two-day convention provides local, college-bound students (whose schools have limited access to counselors and college resources due to budget constraints) with the latest information on how to maximize their financial aid for college. It features financial aid, college and career preparation workshops, with experts from local colleges, providing an inside look at how to pay for school and giving students an edge in completing the FAFSA, California Dream Act, and Chafee Grant applications.

Students also have the opportunity to learn more about the L.A. College Promise, a partnership among the Chamber, UNITE LA, Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and private philanthropy, that provides one year of free enrollment at any LACCD college to all full-time qualifying LAUSD students graduating from and charter high schools.

The Convention is part of a campaign to help students become more familiar with financial aid applications and the resources available to them. The Chamber supports hundreds of workshops walking students through filling out their FAFSA step-by-step.

Cash for College is sponsored by the City of Los Angeles, Kresge Foundation, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, California Student Aid Commission, AT&T, Ralphs, BNSF Railway Foundation, Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation, Deutsch Family Foundation, The California State University, Farmers Insurance Foundation, Lakers Youth Foundation, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles Community College District, Union Bank and supported by media partners Univision Communications, Inc. and 97.1 AMP Radio.

Cash for College is part of the Chambers and its affiliate, UNITE-LAs, body of work, College Ready L.A., that ensures collaboration in assisting all L.A. area students to be prepared, be able to access and be able to complete college.
Study Reveals Disproportionate Police Interaction for Black Kids

The recently released Policing Our Students report revealed that there has been a significant disparity in police interactions with black elementary and middle school students. The report, said researchers shows a need for reform in the arena of school safety. Instead of relying solely on police and security, they said, more funding should be directed toward counselors and community based resources.

Diversions or community-based services and programs offered to students in lieu of arrests or citations are rising, but not rapidly enough, said Terry Allen, one of the lead researchers of the report as part of the Million Dollar Hoods Project.

Many schools within LAUSD rely on school police and other security measures, as approaches to school discipline and safety, he said. But this is counter to much of the promises and rhetoric we hear about schools shifting from punitive approaches to discipline to more restorative approaches. A reliance on school police is ineffective to creating better conditions of learning and safety for students.

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MDH researchers, who usually focuses on arrest and jail records from the Los Angeles police and sheriffs department to examine the costs of mass incarceration, focused for this study, on the school police department, the largest department of its kind in the country and the fifth-largest police force in Los Angeles County.

Two noteworthy features distinguish the practice of police in schools across the Los Angeles Unified School District, said Allen.

The first is its sheer scale. Although arrests and citations are showing a slight decline, and what we call diversions, or alternatives to arrests and citations, are slightly increasing, the sheer number of student interactions with police is at odds with the purpose of education  to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn.

This racial disparity in contact with L.A. school police disrupts opportunities to learn for black students.

Said Allen and his fellow researchers, Los Angeles operates the largest jail system in the world, with more than 17,000 people on average caged nightly in county prisons and city jails.

The Million Dollar Hoods project tracks how Los Angeles billion-dollar jail system budget is largely committed to incarcerating people from just a few neighborhoods, they said.

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Million Dollar Hoods maps reveal that in some communities, local authorities are spending more than $1 million annually to lock up residents, and the results disproportionately affect minority populations. The Million Dollar Hoods team has also released reports breaking down cannabis enforcement by race, access to bail by race, and how authorities police homeless individuals.

As far as students go: Helping schools to change the way they approach discipline and safety will also help encourage them to move away from correcting the behavior of students, they said. For example, many schools are failing our black students by ignoring the underlying causes of their behavior.

Million Dollar Hoods is a project run by UCLAs Bunche Center for African American Studies under the leadership of Kelly Lytle-Hernandez, interim director of the center and professor of history. Using big data, Million Dollar Hoods researchers have documented how hundreds of millions of dollars are wasted every year on ineffective and inequitable law enforcement.
English French

LONDON and OTTAWA, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Royal College) has today taken a vital step towards championing Canadian patient safety, by introducing a digital pioneering assessment and eLearning tool for physicians focused on minimizing medication errors.



Preventable medication hospitalizations cost over $140 million CAD in direct and indirect health care expenditures in Canada, according to the Canadian Patient Safety Institute. Lost productivity, including time off work, adds $12 million CAD to those costs. Further, The World Health Organization estimates the annual worldwide cost of incorrect prescriptions to be over $42 billion USD.

This new technology adopted by the Royal College is being provided by BPS Assessment, the skills and assessment arm of the British Pharmacological Society. Physicians will have access to online prescribing skills modules in Canadas official languages (English and French), tailored for the needs of the Canadian healthcare context. The Prescribing Safely program, which will start in early 2019, follows a successful eight-week trial between the Royal College and BPS Assessment.

These modules align with our priorities to provide our Fellows with engaging, relevant content to keep up to date on skills needed for treating patients in the 21st century, said Dr. Andrew Padmos, Royal College CEO. Were proud to be partnering with BPS Assessment to create solutions to this complex problem.

Also, Royal College Fellows will be offered the opportunity to contribute to the question-writing process for the modules, which will help to continually update and customise the platform for the Canadian medical community.

Its timely that were launching this tool during Canadian Patient Safety Week. Its a subject that resonates with physicians across all specialties and were pleased to provide this tool to help with their lifelong learning, said Dr. Susan Brien, Director of research, innovation and scholarship at the Royal College.

Jonathan Bruun, Managing Director of BPS Assessment, arrived in Ottawa on 29 October to sign the five-year deal.

He said: Were delighted to work with the Royal College in bringing our assessment technology to Canada. We believe this collaboration will provide a significant boost to improving standards in the safe administration of medicines, which we understand to be at the forefront of every prescribers mind. BPS Assessment is committed to improving public health and patient safety, and to helping physicians maintain their skills and standards. Our online training offers a unique contribution to those objectives. We cant wait to get started.

For more information please contact:

David Adams

Acting Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications, British Pharmacological Society

Work: +44 20 7239 0180

Cell: +44 7786 552498

david.adams@bps.ac.uk

Melissa Nisbett

Senior communications specialist, Communications and External Relations

T: 613-730-8177 ext. 426

Cell: 613-218-9570

mnisbett@royalcollege.ca

About the British Pharmacological Society

The British Pharmacological Society is a charity with a mission to promote and advance the whole spectrum of pharmacology. Founded in 1931, it is now a global community at the heart of pharmacology, with around 4,000 members from more than 60 countries worldwide. The Society leads the way in the research and application of pharmacology around the world through its scientific meetings, educational resources and peer-reviewed journals.

About the Royal College

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is the home of specialty medicine in Canada, setting the standards for postgraduate medical education, supporting the continuing professional development of 50,000+ Fellows and affiliates, and supporting health system innovations nationwide. To find out more, please visit royalcollege.ca.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0dea1d3b-a5ce-49fa-b8e1-0482e9d52101
Theres A Pill For That! Los Angeles County Launches PrEP for Women Campaign

Heath professionals, dignitaries, and special guests gathered at the California African American Museum (CAAM) on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 for the launch of the Sister Friends video series for HIV awareness, informing women about a pill that can help stop the spread of the virus.

Spearheaded by Dr. Leo Moore, a clinical scholar and acting medical director of the Division of HIV and STD Programs at the L.A. County Department of Public Health, the campaign is titled Sister Friends: Get PrEPd. The campaign hopes to increase the awareness and use of the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (or PrEP) pill among women who are at-risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In Los Angeles County, women living with HIV are predominantly African American (35.4 percent) or Latina/Hispanic (44.8 percent), along with an estimated 30 percent of transgender women, living with the virus.

Like a birth control pill, PrEP is a daily medicine that can prevent HIV infection for HIV-negative individuals who are at risk of being exposed to the virus. Although it is not a vaccine or a cure for HIV, PrEP can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by as much as 99 percent if taken daily as prescribed.

For the Sister Friends video series, L.A. County tapped Daytime Emmy winner and co-host of The Real, Loni Love as well as Alicia Machado (Miss Universe 1996) and actress Alexandra Grey (Transparent and Glee).

For many women, PrEP can be invaluable in staying healthy and HIV-negative when they have a partner who is HIV-positive. The PrEP pill has been shown to be safe for women to use while attempting to get pregnant and during pregnancy, as well as breastfeeding. Most insurance plans, including Medi-Cal, cover the cost of PrEP.

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To watch the videos and learn more about how to Get PrEPd, visit www.getPrEPLA.com/women. A full directory of PrEP providers is available at www.GetPrEPLA.com.
USC School of Architecture Launches Dean Currys New CreativeTalks Series

In an auditorium at the University of Southern Californias School of Architecture, students, faculty and the general public listened and participated in an interdisciplinary conversation between the Schools first black Dean, Milton S.F. Curry and his longtime colleague, Jason Stanley, a Yale University Professor of Philosophy and award-winning author, on Friday evening.

The motto [of the School] is Citizen Architects, Stanley, the Deans first guest speaker for the Deans CreativeTalks series, shared with the L.A. Sentinel. Especially in Los Angeles, you need someone whos thinking about the relationship of people to places and populations, [and] I think USC Architecture very much does that under the direction of Dean Curry.

Dean Curry and Stanley, two renowned members of academia, discussed the intersection between fascism, aesthetics, and politics by defining the meaning of fascism within the context of Stanleys fourth book, How Fascism Works. Stanley breaks down fascist ideology and government into 10 facets.

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Fascism attacks the truth; it is about power, loyalty, and fear of the other, Stanley cited. Fascists tactics include propaganda that introverts everything, it promotes a dominant perspective, destabilizes peoples thoughts through vehicles like conspiracy theories, and its goal is to create overwhelming fear, disgust, and nostalgia.

Dean Curry and Stanley specifically discussed how the propaganda of 1968 related to the black American experience in the Olympics of that year and the social fabric of the country and spoke about how it was an example of part of the aesthetics used to obtain a more democratic reality, voice, and experience.

In response to a question from Dean Curry about whether the tactics and propaganda used by fascists could be used to open up a new democratic space, Stanley mused that these tactics are neutral because they wear down the Democratic culture that you need in order to effect positive social change. Stanley went on to explain that What was happening with the Civil Rights Movement, what John Carlos and Tommie Smith did in their protests in Mexico City was not to wear down the truth, they werent lying they were actually trying to use the moment to reveal something true.

Dean Curry and Stanley first met as colleagues at Cornell University and have since landed on some of the same panels that addressed similar pointed interdisciplinary discussions on social, political and cultural issues.

Following Fridays dialogue, members of the audience participated in the conversation. Attendees were able to continue the conversation during a book signing for Stanleys, How Fascism Works.

A current USC School of Architecture student questioned how to bring political and social consciousness back into modern-day architecture. Dean Curry, who obtained a Masters Degree in Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University, replied that first one has to acknowledge the existence of certain presuppositions before tackling an architectural brief.

Dean Curry and Stanley implored the audience to confront issues that affect their environment, and their communities well-being. Under Dean Curry, the School of Architecture is seeking to look beyond conventional design education and contemporaneously provide unique cultural and socially relevant experiences for students, faculty and the surrounding Los Angeles community. Further, Dean Curry hopes the School is a place that educates architects but also focuses on the larger goal of creating responsible and thoughtful citizens that reflect on and consider the effects of their work on the environment in which they build.

In the Fascism, Aesthetics & Politics Creative Talk, the focus was on fascism from the vantage point of social and political philosophy, architecture, and urbanism. This conversation launches the fall lecture series moderated by Dean Curry, which seeks to provoke stimulating conversations with leading thinkers from academia, industry and the cultural arts in discussing how architecture affects the space, politics and social and cultural movements in society.
Vote Yes On Measure W  Its Good For Business and for the Black Community

What does LA County Measure W, the $300 million per year Safe Clean Water Ballot initiative have to do with the Black communitys economic vitality?

Turns out, a whole lot.

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Sometimes it takes the threat of an ominous storm to bring together forces that sometimes find themselves in opposition. Measure W is a historic compromise between labor, environmentalists, industries and municipalities that are facing a federal Clean Water Act mandate that requires stormwater controls for municipalities and transportation, warehouse and industrial facilities.

At its core, we support Measure W because of its impact on empowering African Americans and other communities of color in Los Angeles County  making business pay their fair share for the clean water that Black and brown residents are most likely, otherwise, to be deprived of. Measure W is a progressive tax that spreads the compliance burden equally with no groups paying more than their fair share.

The Problem: Stormwater Pollution Has Health and Environmental Costs, Especially in Communities of Color

When the rains come to Los Angeles County, a certain kind of relief sets in. The dust and grit and oil accumulated on parking lots and streets during a dry summer gets washed away, down the drain, and everything gleams anew. The land, wildlife and mountain landscapes spring to life. But this relief comes at a heavy cost.

The stormwater that streams down our streets, curbs, drains, and rivers is heavily polluted. Oil, gasoline, industrial runoff, heavy metals, homeless population debris and thousands of tons of trash are captured by the rain and drain, untreated, straight to our waterways and ocean destroying ecosystems and wildlife, choking our beaches with trash. This polluted water amounts to billions of gallons of fresh water we could capture, clean and save each year  enough water to meet the needs of millions of Angelenos each year.

The Solution: Measure W

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In a few weeks the voters of Los Angeles County will have the opportunity to solve this problem by supporting Measure W, the Safe Clean Water Program, a fair parcel tax that will begin to fund the thousands of backlogged stormwater infrastructure projects that the 88 cities in Los Angeles County, and the County itself, have had stuck in their planning departments for decades. Beyond the environmental, social, and legal benefits arising from Measure W, its also good for business. It will raise $300 million per year to support enforcement of stormwater rules against non-complying businesses and others that contribute to the pollution problem.

For decades Congress has empowered the US Environmental Protection Agency, the California Water Board and the Los Angeles Water Boards to require governments and companies to obtain stormwater permits that allow them to discharge water that they would otherwise have to retain, store, recycle or reuse the rain that falls on their properties. The county and each of its cities will face millions of dollars worth of fines as soon as 2020 for violating this rule; the costs, of course, will ultimately be passed on to taxpayers and business owners. For decades now, the regions administrators have largely ignored these rules, perhaps hoping that the costs of upholding the law can just be passed to the next generation. The thought may be that Its better to pay a 2.5-cent per square foot tax on impermeable surfaces (paved and other areas where water cant seep into the ground) to clean stormwater now, rather than to send our money to 88 distinct cities. In other words, they have been kicking the can down the road for others to deal with later.

Many of the projects that Measure W will fund are multi-benefit, meaning that in addition to treating stormwater, they will capture and recirculate some of the water from the Los Angeles River watershed for future supplies. The economic renewal that follows the creation of soc-called green infrastructure like this is a real economic boon, as anyone in Elysian Valley or Echo Park can attest. That renewal can be extended to areas of intense industrial and manufacturing activity where people of color, especially Blacks, live. Areas like the Crenshaw Corridor, the Slauson Corridor, Watts, Wilmington, Compton Creek, the Lower LA River, Boyle Heights and East LA have the most some of the most impaired waterways in the country. These concrete flood control channels and areas that overlay our drinking water aquifers will receive funding to the extent the funding overlaps with the federal Clean Water Act mandate. Thats not just good for the environment and our communities. Its good for Black businesses and all businesses in Black communities and communities of color that tend to be located near dense populations and the more impaired waterways. The funding will only be possible for the Black communities if Black people vote for Measure W and get actively engaged with the campaign.

And for our coastal communities, home to many Black residents from all economic strata, a successful Measure W represents a future Los Angeles in which the beaches dont close after big rainstorms. The value created by these improvements to property values, quality of life, and tourism is good for business and good for people who enjoy our beaches.

Many hundreds of Black and other business of color have invested significant amounts in stormwater treatment technologies at their facilities in order to meet their discharge permit obligations. But thousands of others have done nothing  essentially rolling the dice that they will avoid enforcement actions as they have in the past. Measure W gives credit for investments previously made by those compliant businesses, and finally brings fairness and a level playing field to a system that currently favors the violators.

And of course, on the mind of every Southern California resident and business-owner: Will our growing communities have a clean, stable, reliable source of fresh water from the Los Angeles River Watershed now and into the future? Measure W is primarily concerned with the treatment of stormwater to meet pollution standards, but many of these stormwater projects have the added benefit of capturing and recharging groundwater, augmenting local water supplies and increasing locally sustainable sources of water. (For instance, about 90% of the storm runoff from the San Gabriel River is already captured, and the remaining amount is already claimed as water supply by downstream users in the Central Basin). Without stable water supplies, Los Angeles would cease to be the economic miracle it is today. The billions of gallons of fresh rainwater that falls here every year is one of our best, mostly untapped, natural resources.

A Rebuttal to the Detractors

There are detractors who disagree with the proposed Measure. Many of the Measures opponents are large, anti-tax real estate holders and developers. Their arguments against the measure fail, however, when one examines the facts.

First, the Measure calls for independent oversight of the funds collected and the projects to be undertaken by municipal, scientific, environmental, social justice, and business leaders.

Second, the property parcel fee does not escalate over time, meaning that a few decades from now, the funding will dwindle in real terms to fund merely the ongoing operations and maintenance of these projects.

Third, each of the 88 cities and the County have listed their priority stormwater projects for all to see  so there is transparency about how the funds will be deployed.

In Conclusion . . .

Every time we pollute the ocean or groundwater we take out a loan that will be paid by our children and their future environment. Theyll pay that debt with greater health risks, polluted outdoor spaces and beaches, and spiraling costs for pollution remediation. In a few weeks, the voters of Los Angeles County will have the opportunity to fix the countys stormwater problem and create a future of safe, clean water by voting YES in support of Measure W.

William Funderburk, Jr. is the co-founder of Castellon and Funderburk LLP, a business litigation, environmental law and policy law firm, where he practices environmental and energy law and policy. He is the immediate past Vice President of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners where he served as Mayor Eric Garcettis appointee from 2013 to 2018. At LADWP, Commissioner Funderburk pushed for greater representation of underserved communities in policymaking, decision-making, employment and supply chain services through the Equity Metrics Data Initiative (www.ladwp.com/equitymetrics). This included the Charge Up Crenshaw to promote electric vehicles and the Watts electric vehicle chargers. He also traveled to Paris, Bonn and most recently San Francisco as a delegate to attend United Nations or California Governor climate conferences. He is a native of Washington, DC, graduated from Yale University and Georgetown Law Center and resides in the La Brea-Hancock neighborhood in Los Angeles

Brian Williams had a 30-year career as an entrepreneur and corporate executive prior to joining the Los Angeles Urban League as its Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2017. He managed a family-owned firm in Kansas City, MO, in the years between graduation from college and attending business school. After receiving his MBA, he was in brand management at Procter & Gamble headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, then joined McKinsey & Company as a senior management consultant in New York. Mr. Williams received a BA from Yale College and an MBA from the Yale School of Management.

Nile K. Malloy is a Climate Equity Strategist and Consultant who brings over 15 years of economic development, public health, community organizing, philanthropic relationship building, climate change, and environmental justice experience. He has participated as a program committee member for both California and National Adaptation Forums and currently serves on the steering committees of the forums. He is also Senior Manager at the Neighborhood Funders Group leading their Democratizing Development Program.
Walter Moselys John Woman Is An Interesting Read

Clothes, as they say, make the man.

So do his language and demeanor  but what else? Did his parents or teachers make him who he is? Is it income, peer pressure, the movies he sees, jobs he holds, or his favorite music?

Or, as in the new novel John Woman by Walter Mosley, is a man-made purely of his actions  including murder?

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Cornelius CC Jones had always adored his mother.

Some of his best memories were of having tea with her in her apartment, listening to her blithely reminisce about past loves, kisses and passion, and the night she was almost killed but instead met CCs father.

Those memories framed one side of CCs childhood, and his father framed the other side. Herman Jones was a slave in Mississippi before he taught himself to read. He had a great love of books and philosophy, and he demanded much from his son: CC learned to speak correctly, to think widely, and to love history. He became a respected, responsible boy who quietly assumed his fathers job when Herman fell ill.

It was a job that saved them both, in many ways, but it wasnt to last. When Herman died and CCs mother vanished, CC left New York, attended college under an assumed name, and then reinvented himself again as John Woman, a professor at New University of the Southwest in Arizona. There, because of his brilliant hypotheses and his cutting-edge deconstructionist history classes, students flocked to his classroom.

But not everyone loved John Woman.

John Woman never fit in, nor did he try. Several of his colleagues wanted him gone from the NUSA, though others were highly intrigued by the way his mind worked. A barely-transparent cult of elites that ran the University had their eye on Woman because they recognized his extreme genius. And then there was the NYPD, which was looking for John Woman for a murder they were sure hed committed.

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The very first thing you need to know is that John Woman is absolutely not an easy book to read.

In many ways, fans of author Walter Mosley will know this: Mosley likes to create unique situations, deep philosophers, and thinkers, and in this book, hes totally accomplished that. Theres a weird super-educated cult, for example, that serpentines through the plotline, but its a largely-unexplained tease. More prominently, the title character here is so deep in his ideas that what he says is sometimes indecipherable but itll still tickle your mind until well, well into the book. At that point, the sheer brilliance of it all becomes clear, as does his next step  and yours, for that matter, as this books meaning lingers and your mind is blown.

Needless to say, despite the drama and bedroom scenes within, this book isnt a fluff-bit that you can set down at a whim. This novel is going to force you to think, as well as gasp, smile, and chuckle. If youre ready for a ten-ton-heavy novel, John Woman will make you very happy.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018

The Oklahoma Supreme Court expressed sympathy for an attorney who was subject to bar complaints for the first time.

The court rejected a proposed six-month suspension in favor of a public censure

The PRT and the OBA recommended a six-month suspension for Respondent's client neglect and her failure to timely respond to the disciplinary inquiries from the OBA. However, the recommendation of the PRT for a six-month suspension is not binding on this Court. State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. McBride, 2007 OK 91,  15, 175 P.3d 379, 386. This Court has imposed a wide range of discipline for similar conduct ranging from public censure to suspension. State ex rel.Okla. Bar Ass'n. v. Chapman, 2005 OK 16,  13, 114 P.3d 414, 416.2 We have consistently held that where an attorney is guilty of client neglect "without affirmative acts of harmful conduct, the appropriate discipline is public censure." State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n. v. Borders, 1989 OK 101,  13, 777 P.2d 929, 930.

The record before us has no evidence of any intentional act of harmful conduct by the Respondent. To the contrary, there is overwhelming evidence of overlapping and potentially devastating life events endured by Respondent that serve to mitigate the severity of discipline to be imposed.

From approximately 2010 through 2017, Respondent had significant family events occur in her life. She had two marriages end in divorce, she lived with domestic violence, she lived without a permanent residence for 3 months after her husband threw her out, she was unable to drive for an extended period of time due to a medical condition, her brother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died, her sister had brain cancer and surgery, and her mother had surgery. Some of the hospitalizations of family members were overlapping. Respondent also had two young children at home. During the periods of time of family hospital stays, Respondent would work all day, come home to care for her children, and then go to the hospital to oversee care for her loved ones. She would then either remain at the hospital all night or return back home late at night and then begin this cycle over again the next day. Respondent also became a foster parent to a teenage mother with an infant and a toddler. The foster teenage mother abandoned her young children with Respondent, leaving her with the sole responsibility for the care of the infant and toddler.

As a result of these events, Respondent developed anxiety and depression. She did not recognize at the time that she was ill and needed assistance. In 2017 she was diagnosed with major depression. She was prescribed medication and began counseling. Since being diagnosed, Respondent has faithfully followed the guidance and treatment recommendations for these conditions.

Today, Respondent's depression and physical health problems are under control and monitored by appropriate health care professionals. Her treating medical providers have opined that she is fit to return to the practice of law. Respondent has altered her lifestyle and has gained necessary coping skills. Once Respondent realized the severity of her condition and gravity of the disciplinary complaints, she has been cooperative and has expressed deep and sincere remorse for her actions.

This is Respondent's first disciplinary proceeding with no prior complaints. In addition, the evidence from multiple witnesses substantiated that Respondent is a dedicated child advocate and has gained the respect of the judges and her co-workers at the Juvenile Justice Center. In fact, the consistent testimony was that while Respondent was employed by the non-profit, Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, she would go above and beyond the requirements of her job to ensure the deprived children were well represented.

Several justices viewed even censure as unduly harsh'

KAUGER, J., with whom Winchester, Colbert, and Reif, JJ join, concurring in part; dissenting in part

I would issue a private reprimand and strike the costs. (Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2018/10/the-oklahoma-supreme-court-expressed-sympathy-for-an-attorney-who-was-subject-to-bar-complaints-the-prt-and-the-oba-recommen.html
Former United States President Jimmy Carter has travelled the world observing elections to find out if they are fair.

Carter also is a former Democratic governor in the American state of Georgia. Now he is turning attention to an election in his home state. He is asking Republican candidate for governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, to resign from his current position as secretary of state.

As secretary of state, Kemp oversees the states elections, including his own for governor against Democrat Stacey Abrams.

Carter wrote, Popular confidence is threatened not only by the undeniable racial discrimination of the pastbut also because you are now overseeing the election in which you are a candidate.

He added in a personal letter sent to Kemp, I urge you to step aside and hand over to a neutral authority the responsibility of overseeing the governors election.

Carter has offered his support to Abrams.

In a recent debate with Abrams, Kemp said that local officials run the elections process. However, Kemps critics have accused him of using his office to make it harder for minorities and other Democratic Party supporters to vote.

They said Kemps office held up 53,000 voter registrations under the states new law for registration by mail. Under the law, a misspelling or a difference between a family name and a married name can cause a registration to be rejected.

Kemp answered that he is carrying out state law. He also said those would-be voters could still vote if they present acceptable identification to clear up doubts. Kemps Republican supporters accused Abrams and the Democrats of wanting to give voting rights to illegal immigrants in advertising seen around the state.

Voting restrictions in America

The state of Georgia is not the only American state with new laws that, critics say, make it harder for people to vote.

The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School says that 24 states passed voting measures after the 2010 election. The center studies issues including voting rights and campaign reform in America.

The group reported that 13 states have passed restrictive voter identification laws. Eleven states have laws that make it harder for citizens to register. Seven states have reduced early voting. And three states have passed laws making it harder to restore voting rights to people who have committed crimes.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to block a North Dakota law requiring voters to show identification with current street addresses. Activists argued that the law could prevent 19,000 Native Americans who live on reservations from voting because they often lack street addresses.

In Kansas, the American Civil Liberties Union is bringing legal action against local officials for moving the only voting place outside of Dodge City. The group says the move makes it harder for the citys Hispanic population to vote. The city also sent new voters, mainly Hispanics, the wrong address.

Kansas, along with Tennessee, Arizona, Alabama and Georgia, have also passed laws requiring proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. The laws are being considered by courts.

Voter fraud

Supporters of the voting restrictions say that these measures are necessary to prevent unlawful voting. And they say the new laws increase public trust in the electoral process.

In 2017, President Donald Trump created a commission to study the issue of unlawful voting. After the 2016 presidential election, Trump had said that millions of illegal ballots had been completed.

The commission, however, ended its work a year later without finding evidence of widespread illegal voting.

Im Mario Ritter.

Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

confidence n. a feeling of being certain that something will happen or that it is true

authority n. people who have power to make decisions and enforce rules and laws

reservations n. an area of land in the U.S. that is kept separate as a place for Native Americans to live


The United Nations refugee agency has condemned an agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar about minority Rohingyas.

Under the agreement, Bangladesh would return thousands of Rohingya Muslims to Rakhine state in Myanmar. The ethnic group began fleeing that area in August 2017 to escape violence.

The return is to begin next month. However, the U.N. refugee agency said conditions in Rakhine are not right for a safe, respectful return.

A UNHCR spokesman said that the UN will not assist with such refugee returns because Rakhine state is unsafe for Rohingyas.

He said Rohingya and other Muslims in three Rakhine towns suffer difficulties and poverty because of restrictions on their movement. He added that the area is filled with fear and mistrust.

Agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar

More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees crossed into Bangladesh from western Myanmar, U.N. agencies say. They fled after Myanmar launched a military campaign in August 2017 to crush Rohingya rebels. U.N. investigators have called the campaign genocide.

Bangladesh reportedly gave Myanmar the names of more than 5,000 Rohingya refugees who had been processed for return.

On Wednesday, Myanmar officials visited camps for Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh. The officials wanted to persuade the refugees that it is safe to return.

A group of about 60 Rohingya community leaders met a delegation of about 12 Myanmar officials in the Kutupalong camp, said two Rohingya men who were present. Kutupalong camp in Bangladesh is the largest refugee settlement in the world.

Myanmar says it has been ready to accept back the refugees since January, and has built camps near the border to receive them.

Myint Thu, permanent secretary at Myanmars Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leader of the Myanmar delegation, said Myanmar had confirmed about 5,000 names of refugees. He said that repatriation would begin with 2,000 returnees in mid-November.

It is unclear if these 2,000 have agreed to return to Myanmar.

We are here to meet with people from the camps so that I can explain what we have prepared for their return and then I can listen to their voices, he told reporters near the camp.

Bangladesh handed over an additional list of more than 22,000 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Abul Kalam told Reuters.

Rohingyas not ready to return

Rohingya leaders said after Wednesdays meeting that they were not convinced they should return.

They told us we dont have to stay (in a camp) for long, but when we asked for how many days they could not say, said Mohib Ullah, an important Rohingya leader in the Kutupalong camp.

Mohib Ullah said Rohingya leaders wanted Myanmar to recognize them as an ethnic group with the right to Myanmar citizenship before they return.

Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as a native ethnic group. They have lived as a stateless people for six generations. Many in the Buddhist-majority country call the Rohingya Bengalis, suggesting they belong in Bangladesh.

A Reuters reporter examined a pamphlet given to refugees by Myanmar officials on Wednesday. It says Rohingya should accept new identity cards as a first step to citizenship. Many Rohingya reject the cards, which they say call them Bengalis and not citizens of Myanmar.

Those with national verifications cards (NVCs) would be guaranteed government assistance, but those without will be stateless," the pamphlet says.

When we asked about our citizenship there was no answer, said Abdur Rahim, another Rohingya at the meeting. They told us to accept NVCs. We are not accepting NVCs. We are not Bengali.

The Rohingya leaders gave the delegation a letter for Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi. It set out their demands, which include payment for the violence they have faced.

International reactions

U.N. rights investigators said in August that Myanmars military acted with genocidal intent during last years violence.

The administration of Nobel laureate Suu Kyi has denied most of the accusations. She says the military was trying to stop terrorism.

China has played an important role in the situation. It sided with Myanmar when the refugees fled. Now China is holding talks with the Bangladesh government to speed up the repatriation.

Western countries and the United Nations have said that all returns must be voluntary. They have also called on Myanmar to take responsibility for the militarys violent abuses.

Many Buddhists from Rakhine state do not want the Rohingya to return. Buddhists are the majority population in western Myanmars Rakhine state.

Than Tun is a Rakhine community leader. He said those who return should be placed in a part of the Maungdaw area close to the border. They should not be allowed to return to the formerly Muslim-majority areas, he added.

We Rakhine dont want them to come back at all, but we understand theres international pressure, he said.

Im Susan Shand.
French officials say famed musician Yo-Yo Ma will perform at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris in a World War I anniversary event.

The war ended 100 years ago on November 11, 1918. More than 16 million people were killed, 9 million of them soldiers.

The fighting lasted almost four years, four months. At the time of the fighting, World War I was often spoken of as the war to end all wars. Now, it is often called The Great War.

Joseph Zimet is director of Frances First World War Centenary Mission. He says Ma will lead a field of "great international artists" during the November 11 ceremony close to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Chinese-American artist Ma, who received the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom back in 2010, was born in Paris in 1955.

A group of young musicians, called The European Union Youth Orchestra, has also been invited to perform. They will play Ravel's Bolero at the event.

Beninese artist Angelique Kidjo is to sing in honor of the colonial troops who fought for France during the war.

Im Dorothy Gundy.





VOA News reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

centenary - adj. the 100th anniversary of something

mission - n. a project or operation
Features that used to be exclusive to high-end smartphones have a habit of making their way to mid-range and budget devices pretty quickly these days.

Case in point: About four months after Oppo launched the first smartphone with front cameras that slide out from behind the screen, Lenovo is bringing a similar feature to a phone that sells for less than half the price.

The Oppo Find X sells for about $755 and up in China. The Lenovo Z5 Pro has a starting price of $290. You probably wont find it outside of China anytime soon though.

Thats particularly impressive when you look at the rest of the phones specs  its not just the slider that makes this handset seem like a bargain.

It features a 6.39 inch, 2340 x 1080 pixel AMOLED display, 6GB of RAM, and at least 128GB of storage. The Z5 Pro features a 3,350 mAh battery dual rear cameras (16MP + 24MP), a 16MP front camera and 8MP infrared camera for facial recognition, and an in-display fingerprint reader.

If theres one feature that makes it clear that this phone isnt in the same class as higher-priced sliders like the Oppo Find X, Honor Magic 2, and Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, its probably the processor: the Lenovo Z5 Pro has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 processor instead of a more powerful chip like the Snapdragon 845.

Engadget noticed at least one other strange thing about the phone: the earpiece speaker is between the selfie camera and infrared camera. That means the earpiece is tucked away behind the screen unless you slide out the cameras  so every time you make or take a call, youll need to slide down the screen to reveal the earpiece.

via Engadget

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Realigns Leadership Structure in Consumer and Wholesale Banking to Drive Enhanced Customer Experience and Operational Excellence

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Horizon National Corporation (NYSE:FHN) today announced executive leadership appointments and a realignment of its consumer and wholesale banking segments to advance its long-term strategic objectives. The realignment is effective immediately and includes the following appointments:

Todd Jones, previously managing director and group head of franchise finance, has been appointed as executive vice president of wholesale banking and will report directly to David Popwell, president of banking for First Horizon. In this newly created role, Jones will be responsible for serving commercial and business banking customers with oversight of treasury management, commercial real estate, corporate finance, syndications and the specialty lending areas. Additionally, Jones will also serve as a member of First Horizons executive management committee.

Tammy LoCascio, executive vice president of consumer banking, will expand her role to include leadership responsibility for mortgage and consumer loan delivery, consumer products and business analytics. Prior to this announcement, LoCascio led retail, private client, wealth management, small business, mortgage and consumer loan delivery, call centers, consumer products and business analytics. Her expanded responsibilities are in addition to these areas of consumer banking. LoCascio will continue to report directly to David Popwell and serve as a member of the executive management committee.

As we continue to successfully execute on our strategic priorities and drive growth, First Horizon is committed to ensuring our leadership and structure advances our objectives, said David Popwell, president of banking for First Horizon. These appointments and realignment streamline decision-making and position the bank to continue delivering operational excellence while enhancing the customer experience. Tammy and Todd bring incredible leadership, as well as enterprise expertise to the roles, having successfully guided the growth of our retail banking and franchise finance businesses. We are confident they will continue our momentum in consumer and wholesale banking and their new roles reflect the advancements we are driving across our organization.

About Todd Jones

Jones brings more than 22 years of experience in the financial services industry. He joined First Horizon in 2016 to lead a newly created franchise finance vertical following the acquisition of a restaurant loan portfolio from a leading sector lender. Under his leadership, the franchise finance team has been established as one of the premier firms in their sector, growing customers and commitments. He has been frequently featured as a keynote speaker at various restaurant industry and individual brand events.

Before joining First Horizon, Jones spent 16 years in various capacities at GE Capital. His experience includes roles of increasing responsibility in capital markets, sales, and marketing. He earned a bachelors degree in business with a major in accounting from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Jones is active in the community with Junior Achievement of Arizona and serves on the Board of Governors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale.

About Tammy LoCascio

LoCascio has served as executive vice president of consumer banking of First Horizon, delivered a strategy that transformed the consumer organization and doubled profitability twice in the last six years. Previously, LoCascio led First Horizons retail line of business working with the markets across the company to provide strategic direction as well as sales and operational support.

Prior to joining First Horizon, she held several retail banking executive leadership roles including mid-south region chief administrative officer at Regions Bank, director of retail banking at Union Planters Bank and training director and retail executive at National City Bank. LoCascio earned a bachelors degree in marketing and business administration from the University of Florida. She was honored as one of Memphis most influential women in business by the Memphis Business Journal, receiving the 2018 Super Women in Business Award.

About First Horizon

First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN) provides financial services through its First Tennessee, Capital Bank, FTB Advisors, and FTN Financial businesses. First Horizon operates approximately 300 bank locations across the southern U.S. and 28 FTN Financial offices across the entire U.S. Our banking subsidiary was founded in 1864 and has the 14th oldest national bank charter in the country. Our First Tennessee and Capital Bank brands have the largest deposit market share in Tennessee and one of the highest customer retention rates of any bank in the country. We have been ranked by American Banker as No. 5 among the Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. Banks. Our FTB Advisors wealth management group has more than 300 financial professionals and provides services to about $4.8 billion in assets under management. FTN Financial is a capital markets industry leader in fixed income sales, trading and strategies for institutional customers in the U.S. and abroad. We have been recognized as one of the nations best employers by Working Mother and American Banker magazines and the National Association for Female Executives. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com .

FHN-G

CONTACT:

First Horizon Media Relations, Silvia Alvarez, (901) 523-4465

First Horizon Investor Relations, Aarti Bowman, (901) 523-4017
Police say a person wearing a Halloween mask shot two people around 2 a.m. in upper Manhattan today. The victims are currently in stable condition.

According to the NYPD, the shooting occurred near West 163rd Street and Broadway in Washington Heights. A 17-year-old girl was shot in the abdomen and taken to Harlem Hospital. A 21-year-old man was shot in three times (in the leg, chest, and groin) and taken to New York Presbyterian.

A friend of the male victim told PIX 11 he had left just before the shooting, "I heard the six shots. Came down running. The girl was laying down with a lot of blood. My friend was laying down, shot in the leg."

While some reports suggest the gunman was wearing a "Michael Myers"-style mask, police sources tell Gothamist the gunman may have been wearing a white mask from the movie "Scream." The shooter was also apparently wearing a green hoodie.

WCBS 2 reports that a dispute may have led up to the shooting.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crimestoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.




Harvey Weinstein allegedly forced a 16-year-old to touch his penis during the course of what she believed to be a job meeting, then launched a vengeful harassment campaign against her after she refused. On Wednesday, the woman joined nine other women named in a class-action lawsuit against the disgraced movie mogul, who also faces a criminal suit for the long list of sexual abuse and rape allegations women have lodged against him.

The woman, identified as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, says she met Weinstein at an event her modeling agency held in 2002, shortly after she moved to the U.S. from Poland. Weinstein allegedly invited Doe to lunch to discuss her acting aspirations, so when he picked her up on the appointed day, she was surprised when his driver brought them not to a restaurant, but to Weinstein's SoHo apartment. She says she told him she was 16, but claims that didn't stop him from making forceful advances.

"Once alone with Jane Doe, Weinstein wasted no time in aggressively and threateningly demanding sex," the suit reads. "He told her that if she want to be an actress, she would have to be comfortable doing whatever the director told her to doincluding losing her inhibitions and getting naked." Positioning himself as a Hollywood kingmaker to whom prominent actors Penelope Cruz and Gwyneth Paltrow owed their careers, and implying he had the power to blacklist her if she didn't do as he said, he commanded Doe to strip.

"Terrified and struggling to hold back tears, Jane Doe said she would not and resisted his demands," the suit continues. "Jane Doe was a virgin, and had no intention or understanding when she agreed to a business lunch that she would be put in this alarming position."

Weinstein proceeded to take off his pants, according to court filings, and "forcibly held Jane Doe while taking her hand and making her touch and massage his penis," ignoring her protests. "Weinstein's demeanor became intense, as if he was hunting prey," the suit says. The situation allegedly escalated into a shouting match, as "Weinstein made clear that, by refusing his sexual demands, Jane Doe was giving up her opportunity to make it in Hollywood" and she firmly declined any kind of sexual activity with him.

Doe did eventually get away, but for the next decade, the mogul allegedly sustained his harassment tactics, regularly texting her to emphasize "that he was the only person who could help her become an actress." When, a few years later and in an effort to get him to leave her alone, she told him she was dating a "wealthy man," Weinstein allegedly became so enraged at her unavailability that he showed up outside her residence. Fortunately, security denied him entrance, but Weinstein kept calling. In 2004, he cast her as an extra in The Nanny Diaries, making it clear that he had orchestrated special treatment for her, and that in return for the favor, she would have to be "very good to him."

In the following years, the suit alleges, more favors came her way, always with the implication that Weinstein was keeping score and expected sex in exchange. Another meeting in 2008 ended when Weinstein noticed Christina Aguilera performing on a TV in his office, and began masturbating in front of Doe: "'Wow, I'd really like to fuck that pussy,'" he allegedly said. "He then unzipped his pants and began touching his penis."

As a result of Weinstein's alleged behavior, the suit says, Doe developed depression and anxiety. Her lawyer, Elizabeth Fegan, told Gothamist that she remains "determined to hold Weinstein and those who empowered him accountable." (Along with Weinstein, various production companies, including Miramax, Disney, and the Weinstein Company, are named in the suit, which accuses the defendants of racketeering, and knowingly abetting Weinstein's pattern of predatory sexual behavior.)

"While Weinstein's lawyers weave tales that the criminal case is falling apart, they fail to mention that our civil class-action lawsuit is moving full-speed ahead," Fegan said. "Even without the benefit of any discovery, it is clear that the decision makers at Miramax and The Weinstein Company knew that Harvey Weinstein was a sexual predator. They were making too much money and having too much fun to do anything about it, and now they will answer for it."

And indeed, headlines have tended to focus on the NYC criminal sexual assault case against Harvey Weinstein, which has weathered a few rocky moments in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance dropped one of the charges against the producer after inconsistencies emerged in an allegation made by Lucia Evans, originally outlined in the New Yorker's #MeToo-catalyzing 2017 report on Weinstein. Prosecutors then learned that an NYPD detective had told an accuser she could delete personal information from her phone before turning it over to prosecutors, which some worrycould jeopardize the entire case. The civil suit, although it has earned less attention, outlines 10 very similar experiences to those described in the criminal case, all of them showcasing a pattern of sexually exploitative and abusive behavior some 87 women have allegedly endured at Weinstein's hands.
New York has become one of the more fascinating battlegrounds for this midterm election cycle, arguably one of the most important in our lifetimes. For Democrats and Republicans, much is at stakeif Democrats can retake the House of Representatives, they will be able to roadblock a great deal of President Donald Trumps agenda, much like conservative Republicans did to former President Barack Obama after 2010. If, somehow, Democrats take control of the House and Senate, impeachment of Trump will become politically viable.

New Yorks State Senate is similarly up for grabs. The upper chamber of the state legislature has been controlled by Republicans, believe it or not, for much of the last half century. While Democrats have held the governorship and the State Assembly, the Republican-controlled Senate has allowed the GOP to have a serious say in negotiating our $150 billion state budget and blocking initiatives long sought by progressives, including stronger tenant protections, tuition assistance for undocumented immigrants, public financing of elections, reforms to New Yorks voting laws, and single-payer healthcare statewide.

For Republicans, the State Senate represents their last bastion of power in New York, a state that is overwhelmingly Democratic and hasnt voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1984. Demographic and voter enrollment trends have long been against the GOP. A Republican has not triumphed statewide since George Pataki won his third term in 2002.

Democrats are one seat shy of a majority in the State Senate and if they are successful next week, it is possible Republicans could be exiled for good. The Independent Democratic Conference, which helped keep the Republicans in power despite their diminishing numbers, is now dissolved.

There is one competitive House seat in New York City, NY-11 (Republican incumbent Rep. Dan Donovan is being challenged by Democrat Max Rose), and one competitive Senate seat, SD-22 (Republican incumbent Marty Golden is fending off a challenge from Democrat Andrew Gounardes). Most of the contested seats lie beyond New York City. Without further ado, heres a guide to the major races in the suburbs and upstate that could decide the future of New Yorkand America.

First, the House seats.



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19th Congressional District: Republican Rep. John Faso vs. Democrat Antonio Delgado

Republican John Faso had been a longtime fixture in state politics, a former assemblyman and gubernatorial candidate, before he was elected to represent the sprawling 19th District in 2016. Obama won the district, spanning the bucolic Hudson Valley and Catskill regions, by six points in 2012 before Trump rolled to victory by almost the same margin over Hillary Clinton four years later.

The district, thanks to an influx of former New York City residents, is trending left, and Faso is now one of the more endangered Republican incumbents in the country after voting for Trumps attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Taking on Faso is Democrat Antonio Delgado, a well-heeled attorney and Rhodes Scholar who won a crowded primary in June. Polls have shown an incredibly tight race; FiveThirtyEight gives Delgado a 57 percent chance of winning, while the Cook Political Report and Sabatos Crystal Ball rates the race a toss-up.

Delgado has been a prolific fundraiser, raising $7 million overall as of the latest available filing. Faso has raised just over $2 million. Delgado, notably, is also blackrace has played a central and ugly role in the campaign. Before he entered politics, Delgado was briefly a rapper known as AD the Voice, releasing a 2007 album with lyrics that criticized capitalism and Americas history of racial injustice. The lyrics also made use of a racial epithet common among rappers of color and critiqued presidents who believe in white supremacy. Gerald Benjamin, a SUNY New Paltz professor and friend of Fasos, told the New York Times that Delgado didnt seem like the kind of guy who lives here in rural New York and reflects our lifestyle and values, emphasizing he didnt consider rap real music. (Benjamin later apologized.)

Faso and national Republicans have bludgeoned Delgado, a native of the region, for his musical past. One ad called Delgado a big city rapper, portraying him as an ominous, threatening outsider. Outside spending has poured in from both sides and the race is now one of the most expensive in the country.

One factor to watch: what role third party candidates play in a race that could come down to a sliver of votes. A Green Party candidate, local activist Steve Greenfield, and Diane Neal, a former Law and Order: Special Victims Unit actress running as an independent, are also in the race.

Watch the candidates' most recent debate here.



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22nd Congressional District: Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney vs. Democratic Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi.

While John Faso votes with Trump most of the time, Claudia Tenney has embraced the polarizing president far more viscerally. A former Assemblywoman, Tenney was elected in 2016, replacing Richard Hanna, a moderate Republican who chose not to seek re-election.

Tenney, a staunch opponent of gun control, claimed ludicrously in February that so many mass murderers end up Democrats, drawing national headlines. Later in the year, Trump came to the central New York district and raised more than $650,000 for her. Hanna broke with his party to endorse her Democratic opponent, Anthony Brindisi.

Before running for Congress, Brindisi was a little-known Assemblyman from Utica. Both Mitt Romney and Trump won the district (Trump netted 55 percent of the vote) but polls and political forecasters show a dead heat. Brindisi is running as a centrist, boasting of his "A" rating from the NRA and his bipartisan credentialslike many moderate candidates and some on the left, he has pledged not to support Nancy Pelosi for House speaker.

The district has historically sent more moderate Republicans to Congress, and Tenneys embrace of the Tea Party ethos could doom her. FiveThirtyEight gives Brindisi, who has raised almost $3 million to date, a 58 percent chance of capturing the seat. (Tenney has raised a little over a million.) The Cook Political Report and Sabatos Crystal Ball both rate the race a toss-up.

Watch the candidates' most recent debate here.

Democratic nominee @Nate_McMurray is here. Reform Party candidate Larry Piegza arrives in a MAGA hat. @RepChrisCollins a no show. pic.twitter.com/kPipu0Blvo  Mike Arena (@MikeArenaTV) October 30, 2018

27th Congressional District: Republican Rep. Chris Collins vs. Democrat Nate McMurray

If Tenney represents the fire-breathing wing of Trump acolytes, Chris Collins is something else: one of the originals. When Trump was still just a raging sideshow sucking up airtime on CNN, Collins became the first member of Congress to endorse his presidential bid. The Buffalo area Republican read his electorate well: though Trump lost New York State to Clinton, he was very popular with Republicans in upstate and western New York.

Since Republicans outnumber Democrats by 40,000 in the district, Collins was assured a safe re-election. His opponent, a local town supervisor named Nate McMurray, was little more than token opposition. Governor Andrew Cuomo tried to strong-arm McMurray out and run Kathy Hochul, his lieutenant governor and a former congresswoman from that district, for the seat.

All of that changed when Collins was charged in August with insider trading and making false statements to investigators from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, Geoffrey Berman. (Berman happens to be a Trump appointee.) Collins initially said he would stop campaigning and step asideeven though he had already petitioned to reach the ballotonly to reverse himself and actively campaign. Collins appeared to be taking a page out of the playbook of Michael Grimm, the Staten Island Republican who won an election under indictment before pleading guilty and heading to prison on tax evasion charges.

Collins's waffling, combined with his unabashed support for Trump, has buoyed Democrats and lifted McMurrays chances considerably. The Democrat, who likes to tweet in ALL CAPS, is running on an openly progressive platform that calls for universal healthcare and legalizing marijuana. After Collins ran a xenophobic ad featuring McMurray speaking Korean (he won a Fulbright Scholarship to study in South Korea), interest in his campaign only intensified. After struggling to raise cash for much of the campaign, McMurray has pulled in $825,000, much of it coming in the last few months.

Still, Collins remains a favorite due to the districts Republican enrollment edge. Cook Political Report and Sabatos Crystal Ball rate the race leans Republican and FiveThirtyEight gives Collins a 69 percent chance of winning re-election.

Now on to the State Senate races.

State Senate District 5: Republican Carl Marcellino vs. Democrat James Gaughran

The road to the Senate majority for Democrats runs through Long Island. For decades, the two counties making up the formidable suburb sent nine Republicans to the State Senate, building a bloc that Democrats struggled to crack. The relative conservatism of Nassau and Suffolks more affluent towns, along with gerrymandering, helped maintain this status quo.

I was honored to be with Mayor Michalis and his wife Nora at an event honoring his 48 years of service to the Village of Lattingtown. pic.twitter.com/ePcZ94NRiM  Carl L. Marcellino (@Senator98) June 26, 2017

Then the Republican majority leader, Dean Skelos, was convicted on corruption charges and replaced by a Democrat. Another Republican senator faced a corruption scandal and narrowly lost his re-election in 2016. The Long Island Nine was suddenly seven.

If theres one Republican incumbent most likely to face retirement this year, its Suffolk Countys Carl Marcellino. Despite Trumps popularity on Long Island, Clinton won the Senate district by three points and Gaughran, the Suffolk County Water Authority chairman, lost to Marcellino by only a single point in 2016.

Great start to the day! Spent the morning at the #Huntington Train Station  talking with commuters about next weeks election with Joan Cergol & Jillian Guthman ( and of course our fantastic volunteers)#BlueWave #Midterms2018 #TrueBlueNY pic.twitter.com/3RhqhCtKQa  Jim Gaughran (@Gaughran4Senate) October 30, 2018

The rematch has been equally heated and expensive. Senate Republicans have spent $435,000 so far to protect Marcellino while Democrats, traditionally underfunded, have buoyed Gaughran with $348,000. Overall, almost $3 million has been spent on the race, with labor unions and allies pouring in additional funding on behalf of Gaughran.

Marcellino, the chairman of the education committee, has drawn the ire of the New York State United Teachers, who fault him for not pushing legislation to untie state test scores and teacher evaluations. A former teacher himself, hes not exactly a radical Republican: the League of Conservation Voters endorsed him over Gaughran, citing his support for environmental issues, and hes been a proponent of gun control. If anti-Trump activists turn out aggressively for Gaughran, as they have for a couple of Long Island Assembly races that sent Democrats to Albany in Trump territory, then Democrats may have their majority

State Senate District 7: Republican Senator Elaine Phillips vs. Democrat Anna Kaplan

This Nassau County seat is viewed as a prime pick-up for Democrats because Clinton won the district by a whopping 13 points in 2016. Phillips, a freshman, eked out a win over a well-funded Democratic challenger, showing the propensity for suburban voters to still ticket-split. After turnout spiked in the September Democratic primary and anti-Trump activism surged in Nassau and Suffolk, Democrats are hoping Anna Kaplan, a North Hempstead councilwoman, can topple Phillips.

Instilling #confidence & #courage in our children has always been important to me & I was thrilled to do just that through a #martialarts demonstration yesterday with #EastWilliston #GirlScout Troop 1076. pic.twitter.com/s17dmtJPO2  Elaine Phillips (@SenatorPhillips) October 19, 2018

Cuomo personally recruited Kaplan to run and she scored an early endorsement from Obama. The race has not been particularly nasty or personalKaplan is a more cautious, centrist candidate and Phillips has been significantly outraising herbut will hinge on whether Democrats can overcome traditional obstacles in the suburbs, where Republicans have accused Democrats of acting as puppets for Mayor Bill de Blasio, a bogeyman among moderate and conservative voters. Cuomo himself has sought to divide city Democrats from suburban Democrats, claiming against all evidence that city government and residents dont properly fund the MTA.

Good morning Port Washington commuters! pic.twitter.com/crREiyAHMb  Anna for State Senate (@AnnaMKaplan) October 31, 2018

State Senate District 8: Democratic Senator John Brooks vs. Republican Jeff Pravato

One reason the Democrats are favored to take the State Senate is the Republicans are defending far more seats than they are trying to take awayfor this same reason, the U.S. Senate is still a long-shot for Democrats nationally. But if the GOP has any hope of keeping power, it starts with dethroning Democrat John Brooks in a seat that spans Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Firefighter. Veteran. Public Servant.



John Brooks has been fighting for our community for decades. Now as our State Senator, he's held down taxes and funded our schools. The Oyster Bay Machine wants to drag his name in the mud. Don't let them. pic.twitter.com/s5TpgNbdKz  John Brooks (@Brooks4LINY) October 25, 2018

Clinton squeaked out a 3 point win here in 2016, while Brooks beat the Republican incumbent, Mike Venditto, by less than 1 percent. Vendittos campaign sank on the corruption charges leveled against his father, a Republican kingmaker in Nassau. Jeff Pravato, a popular mayor of Massapequa Park, is taking on Brooks, who is easily the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in Albany. Republicans and Democrats are fighting equally hard for the seatmore than $1 million combined has been spent on the race.

Spent some time with @JeffPravato on Thursday in #Merrick to canvas a neighborhood and stop by HQ to lend our rockstar volunteers a hand. We cant do this without you! Visit https://t.co/f1jcK3ao2M to get involved now! pic.twitter.com/fDGzy70BBw  Julie Killian (@juliepkillian) October 27, 2018

Pravato is running as a Trumpian outsider, attacking the idea of sanctuary cities and stoking fears of an MS-13 takeover. Brooks is a former insurance executive who has been touting a plan to decouple property taxes from school funding. In the past, he has been a registered Republican and faced criticism over a top aides use of Facebook to like various pro-Trump and right-wing pages. Still, he has tacked left in elected office, backing the New York Health Act, a bill to bring single-payer healthcare to New York State.



The election is Tuesday, November 6th. Find out where to vote and what candidates are on your ballot right here.

Ross Barkan is a political journalist who recently tried his hand at politics: last month he lost the Democratic primary for State Senate in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Read more about his run here.

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Two swastikas were discovered on the Upper West Side on Thursday morning, one day after the NYPD warned of a "troublesome" uptick in anti-Semitic incidents across the city over the last month.

According to a witness who shared photos with Gothamist, the hate symbols were spray-painted onto a concrete outpost in the Hudson River near 72nd Street. Police arrived around 10:45 a.m., the witness said, as a few people stood around taking photos.

The discovery comes in the wake of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, and amid a surge of reported anti-Semitic activity both nationwide and in New York City. On Tuesday night, an unidentified vandal drew several swastikas and racist slurs on a private residence in Brooklyn Heights, according to police. (The NYPD could not immediately confirm Thursday's incident).

During a briefing on Wednesday morning, Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said police had received a wave of similar reports in recent weeks. "Weve seen in the last month an increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes, particularly swastikas, on buildings in part of the city," he noted. "In last 28 days particularly, which is a little troublesome, we have seen an uptick in that category."

Data provided by the city shows that there were a total of 142 anti-Semitic hate crimes reported through October 28th of this yearup from 126 in the same period last year, which was almost double the number reported in New York City in 2016. According to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic incidents soared last year following the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, in which President Donald Trump praised "the fine people on both sides."

Amid this latest increase in anti-Semitic activity and political violence, the president has continued to amplify baseless conspiracy theories about George Soros, a prominent Jewish progressive and frequent target among far-right anti-Semites, including the alleged Pittsburgh shooter and suspected mail bomber. On Wednesday, Trump told Fox News that he "wouldn't be surprised" if Soros was funding the migrant caravan.

TRUMP on whether GEORGE SOROS is funding the migrant caravan:



I dont know who, but I wouldnt be surprised. A lot of people say yes.pic.twitter.com/nnoAioG8SR  JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) October 31, 2018

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crimestoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.


Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Compared with U.S. states with the strictest gun control legislation, gun deaths among children and teenagers are twice as common in states with the most lax gun laws, a study from the Stanford University School of Medicine has found.

In addition, states with laws that restrict children's access to guns have lower rates of firearm-related suicides among youth, even after controlling for other factors, the study said.

The research will be presented in a scientific talk Nov. 5 at the American Academy of Pediatrics 2018 National Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, Florida.

The title of the presentation is "Strict Firearm Legislation Is Associated With Lower Firearm-Related Fatalities Among Children and Teens in the United States."

"A child is 82 times more likely to die in our country of a firearm injury than in any other developed nation," said senior author Stephanie Chao, MD, assistant professor of surgery at Stanford. "We focus a lot on the federal government and the things they can do to protect our children from firearms. But our study shows that what states do at the state level really does have an impact."

The lead authors of the study are former graduate student Sriraman Madhavan and postdoctoral scholar Jordan Taylor, MD.

Chao, a pediatric surgeon, is the medical director of trauma care at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, where her role includes investigating how to prevent serious childhood injuries. "If you look at what causes injury deaths in U.S. children, sadly, firearms are always in the top five," she said.

Gun death data

Chao's team used 2014 and 2015 data on firearm deaths of individuals 0 to 19 years old from the National Vital Statistics System, which is maintained by the Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics. About 2,715 children died of firearm injuries each year. Of those deaths, 62.1 percent were homicides, 31.4 percent were suicides and the remaining deaths were accidental, of undetermined intent or the result of legal interventions.

The researchers examined the firearm laws of all 50 states. They rated the overall stringency of each state's gun laws as of 2014 using a metric called the Brady score, which ranged from -39 in the least strict state, Arizona, to +76 in the strictest state, California. (The score is named for James Brady, who has advocated for gun control since being permanently disabled in the 1981 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan.) The researchers also evaluated whether each state had child access prevention laws, which were classified in two groups: legislation that requires storing guns safely (locked or unloaded, or both), and laws that impose liability for failing to prevent minors from gaining access to guns.

Analyses of the relationship between gun deaths and gun laws were controlled for many socioeconomic and demographic factors, including unemployment rates, poverty, urbanization, alcohol dependence, tobacco and marijuana use, and high school graduation rates. The analyses also accounted for the strictness of gun laws in each state's neighboring states and the number of registered firearms per 100,000 children in each state.

The researchers grouped the states by Brady score. Before adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic factors, the states in the highest quartilewith the strictest lawshad an annual youth firearm mortality rate of 2.6 per 100,000, while states in the lowest quartile, with the least strict laws, had nearly twice that mortality rate, at 5.0 per 100,000. States' Brady scores were still significantly correlated with pediatric gun deaths after controlling for other factors.

States with both types of child access prevention laws had pediatric firearm suicide rates of 0.63 per year per 100,000 children, while states that had no CAP laws had 2.57 pediatric firearm suicides per year per 100,000 children. The relationship was significant even after controlling for other factors, the study found.

Chao hopes the work will inform state-level legislators. "If you put more regulations on firearms, it does make a difference," she said. "It does end up saving children's lives."

Explore further Stricter state firearms laws associated with lower pediatric mortality rates from firearms
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A just-released study found that American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) women are at greater risk of HPV and cervical cancer than their white counterparts.

Naomi Lee, an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Northern Arizona University, was a co-author on the study, "Human Papillomavirus Prevalence Among American Indian Women of the Great Plains," published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases of the Oxford University Press, the largest university press worldwide. The study was predicated on previous findings that incidence of cervical cancer and mortality among AIAN women from the Great Plains was twice as high as incidence and mortality among white women. HPV is a contributor to cervical cancer, but prior to this study there was little information about its prevalence in this community and other AIAN communities throughout the United States.

The study used data from a self-collected vaginal swab of women throughout a Native American reservation along with a self-administered, culturally tailored survey, asking about general health and sexual history, education and living situation, among other demographic questions. The researchers found almost 35 percent of the respondents had one of the 14 high-risk HPV genotypes assessed, compared to almost 21 percent of women in same age range (14-59) in the general population.

The prevalence of HPV infections among women age 21 to 24 years old was comparable to the general population. Approximately 90 percent of infected individuals cleared the infection in two years; therefore, the prevalence of infection typically declines as the population aged.

However, in this AIAN community, the prevalence remained elevated among women older than 30 years.

"Prior studies that included AIAN women from the Great Plains region showed that AIAN women had a higher prevalence than white women from the same area," Lee said. "What we found both surprising and alarming was the increased prevalence, particularly among women aged 30 years and older. In the general population, HPV prevalence rapidly declines across age groups, but in this community the prevalence remained elevated by three- to fourfold compared to other studies."

Specifically, the rate of high-risk HPV among women 50-65 years old was almost four times higher than participants in the same age group in the general population.

"We suggest that the higher prevalence of hrHPV observed in our sample might account for the cervical cancer disparities noted in the Great Plains region of the Indian Health Service," the paper reads. "Although the elevated prevalence of hrHPV and cervical cancer among older American Indian women remains unexplained, findings from low-resource regions around the world suggest that both age-related immune senescence and low rates of screening could be contributing factors."

The researchers also found that prevalence wasn't the same for every community; American Indian women in Arizona had lower prevalence of infection than similar groups in South Dakota.

In addition, according to data from the Indian Health Services, younger participants also were more likely to be vaccinated against HPV.

Lee said the next steps for AIAN communities is for health care workers and researchers to focus on increased cancer screenings, especially among older and higher-risk women. The research team also will evaluate risk factors associated with HPV prevalence and are seeking tribal approval to conduct viral genomic and vaginal microbiota analyses.

"Communities need to continually promote HPV vaccination among adolescents and should participate in clinical trials for next-generation vaccines," she said. "Also, HPV is a main contributing factor to cervical cancer, but future research is needed on contributing factors to HPV persistence and cancer progression."

They also plan to present these findings to the tribal community in the spring.

The project was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Partnerships for Native Health at Washington State University (WSU). Lee took part in the study as part of the Native Investigator Development Program, which is funded by the NIH and sponsored through the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and WSU. Her role in the project was conducting the primary data analyses and drafting the manuscript. Lee and her colleagues plan to conduct further analyses from the study.

Lee's research focuses on novel vaccine development using self-assembling peptides and virus-like particles to target various sexually transmitted infections. She also focuses her work on improving the health care of American Indian and Alaska Native populations through health disparities research, STEM education and mentoring.

Explore further More women need to be screened for cervical cancer

More information: Naomi R Lee et al. Human Papillomavirus Prevalence Among American Indian Women of the Great Plains, The Journal of Infectious Diseases (2018). Journal information: Journal of Infectious Diseases Naomi R Lee et al. Human Papillomavirus Prevalence Among American Indian Women of the Great Plains,(2018). DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy600
Scanning electron microscope image of Vibrio cholerae. Credit: Wikipedia

For most, cholera comes as a mild to moderate form of diarrhea. For others, the diarrhea quickly causes dangerous fluid loss  up to a quart an hour  and has a milky appearance. Then comes hours of vomiting, and possibly death from organ failure.

One of the world's most preventable and treatable diseases is sickening more than 3 million people every year and killing more than 95,000, according to the World Health Organization. But technology developed at Purdue University could help change that.

Researchers have developed a smartphone technology app that provides a 'cholera detection lab.' The technology is being commercialized through a Purdue University-affiliated startup. The founder of the startup believes this technology can do much to save lives.

OmniVis, co-founded by Purdue College of Engineering alumnae Katherine Clayton and three professors, uses a hardware device and consumable test kit to collect and analyze water samples. The technology then maps out the results within 30 minutes, compared with the 3-5 days it may take with conventional cholera detection methods.

More than $2 billion is spent in treatment and lost in reduced productivity due to cholera, which is caused by contaminated food or water.

Women in sub-Saharan Africa spend a combined average of about 200 million hours per day collecting water, and a whopping 40 billion hours per year, according to the United Nations.

"I went to Purdue for my Ph.D. because I knew I wanted to make a difference in global health," Clayton said. "The caliber of Purdue professors and students, along with phenomenal resources like the Purdue Foundry, truly enable researchers to take what they learn in the lab to struggling communities around the world. Working on this life-saving technology and now moving it to the public to help people is a life-changing experience."

The World Health Organization reports that more than 780 million people globally do not have access to improved water sources, and 90 percent of infectious disease deaths are from contaminated water. About 3.4 million people die from water-related diseases such as cholera each year; about 40 percent of those are children.

Members of the team will travel to Haiti, one of the countries with the most cases of cholera over the past decade, in January for a field test of their detection system.

Explore further UN warns of a possible new cholera epidemic in Yemen
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

People who regularly take cocaine cut with the animal anti-worming agent levamisole demonstrate impaired cognitive performance and a thinned prefrontal cortex. These findings from two recent studies at the University of Zurich indicate that levamisole could have a toxic effect on the brain. Drug-checking programs should therefore be expanded, argue the researchers.

Cocaine is the second-most commonly consumed illegal substance worldwide after cannabis. The cocaine sold on the streets is usually cut with other substances such as local anesthetic agents, painkillers and caffeine. Around 10 years ago, however, a new adulterant made an appearance which is now widely spread in street cocaine in Europe and North America: The animal anti-worming agent levamisole. It's not fully understood why levamisole is added to cocaine, but it is assumed that it may increase or prolong the effects of cocaine.

What is known is that levamisole can lead to severe side effects such as changes to blood counts and blood vessels. Initial animal testing also revealed that the substance can attack the nervous system. A team of researchers from the Psychiatric Hospital and the Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Zurich have now researched the extent to which the common cutting agent impairs the cognitive performance and alters the brain structure of people who consume it, thereby increasing the well-described negative effects of cocaine on the brain.

Higher levamisole content, lower brain power

In order to estimate the consumption of cocaine and the amount of levamisole content, the scientists analyzed hair samples of their study participants. Based on this, they examined the cognitive performance of those who had taken cocaine with a high levamisole content (more than 25 percent proportional to the cocaine) and those who had taken cocaine with a low levamisole content (less than 25 percent), and compared the results with a control group who had not taken cocaine.

As expected, the cocaine users showed lower performance than non-users in all areasattention, working memory, long-term memory, and executive functions. However, those who had consumed cocaine that also contained a high level of levamisole showed even greater impairment in their executive functions than those who consumed cocaine with lower levels of levamisole, even though the amount of cocaine they had taken was the same.

Changes in the brain's structure

In a second, independent study, the researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to find out whether there was also a difference in the brain anatomy of people who consumed cocaine containing a higher or lower proportion of levamisole. The same effect was seen in this study: People who consumed cocaine with a high levamisole content clearly displayed a thinner prefrontal cortexthe area of the brain associated with executive functions.

For research leader Boris Quednow, the functional and structural changes observed in the brain clearly indicate that levamisole could have a toxic effect on the brain for cocaine users. "We can assume from our findings that it is not just cocaine that changes the brain, but that the adulterant levamisole has an additional harmful effect. The sorts of cognitive impairment often exhibited by cocaine users may therefore be exacerbated by levamisole." The UZH professor and his research colleagues are therefore calling for public health protection authorities to expand their drug-checking programs. "Such programs mean users can have their drugs tested for purity and therefore avoid taking cocaine that has very high levels of levamisole," says Quednow.

Explore further Adulterated cocaine causing serious skin reactions

More information: Matthias Vonmoos et al, Cognitive and neuroanatomical impairments associated with chronic exposure to levamisole-contaminated cocaine, Translational Psychiatry (2018). Journal information: Translational Psychiatry Matthias Vonmoos et al, Cognitive and neuroanatomical impairments associated with chronic exposure to levamisole-contaminated cocaine,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0279-3
Penn Medicine emergency department physicians are calling for more readily available testing strips to identify the presence of fentanyl in patients experiencing a drug overdose, and a rapid, coordinated response among health care providers and city agencies to help curb overdoses and identify high potency high risk drugs. Fentanyl testing strips are urine drug tests being used off-label to identify fentanyl and fentanyl analogues in the drug supply. In a letter to the editor published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, the authors describe a recent cluster of 18 drug overdoses over a four-day period linked to "crack" cocaine laced with fentanyl that left three people dead.

Use of fentanyl, a synthetic and lethal opioid, has become a growing public health crisis in Philadelphia and other cities across the United States. Fentanylwhich is cheaper to produce than heroin and more addictivehas drenched much of the heroin and "crack" cocaine drug supply and was found in nearly 85 percent of Philadelphia's 1,217 overdoses in 2017.

In the cluster described in the letter, all 18 patients who arrived at Penn Medicine emergency departments via EMS transport had substance-use disorders, but none had used opioids previously. Exposure to fentanyl poses risks of severe respiratory depression and death, especially among patients without opioid tolerance.

"This outbreak is indicative of a larger problem with fentanyl in the city that we need to continue to quickly act on," said Jeanmarie Perrone, MD, a professor of Emergency Medicine and director of the division of Medical Toxicology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "As demonstrated by this cluster, fentanyl overdoses are the leading cause of illness and death associated with opioid overdoses, which highlights the need for more testing strips that tell a user if their drug supply is tainted."

"Having these strips for people who inject drugs is important in curtailing unintentional fentanyl use and reducing the risk of overdose in those who intend to use it," she added. "They can influence people to use less, take slower injections, or not use alone."

The overdose-reversal drug naloxone was administered to the patients, most of who received higher than normal doses. Urine samples taken from 16 of the 18 patients tested positive for cocaine, and 15 had confirmed fentanyl exposure. Survivors were also treated for various medical complications, including acute kidney injury, rhabdomyolysis, and anoxic brain injury.

Most of the patients arrived from the same neighborhood in West Philadelphia, which suggested a point source, the authors said.

Recognizing the atypical overdose history in all of the patients who denied opioid use, lead author Utsha G. Khatri, MD, a resident in the department of Emergency Medicine at Penn, helped develop a coordinated public health response. The Penn team called for an investigation by law enforcement to track down sources of fentanyl-cocaine combinations, and coordinated with colleagues at the Philadelphia Department of Health and the Poison Center to warn other local emergency departments and to educate residents in the affected neighborhood on the dangers of fentanyl.

The teams are continuing to work together to develop methods for better communication and collaboration and are calling for other cities that are affected by outbreaks to coordinate their response efforts with front-line providers, departments of health and poison centers.

"Collaboration and communication across the city are critical to public outreach and education during clustered outbreaks," Khatri said. "Coordinated efforts from city officials encourage fentanyl testing in overdose victims in our region's hospitals, which helps track outbreaks and pinpoint the source, and raises more awareness in the affected communities."

Kendra Viner, Ph.D., MPH, of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, is a co-author on the letter.

Explore further Report: Fentanyl deaths in Alaska quadrupled in 2017

More information: Utsha G. Khatri et al, Lethal Fentanyl and Cocaine Intoxication, New England Journal of Medicine (2018). Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine Utsha G. Khatri et al, Lethal Fentanyl and Cocaine Intoxication,(2018). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc1809521
Chinese adults who have children prefer to receive end-of-life care from family members at home, while those who lost their only child prefer to be cared for in hospice or palliative care institutions, finds a new study led by an international team of researchers and published in the November issue of The Journal of Palliative Medicine. Income, property ownership, and support from friends also influenced individuals' end-of-life care preferences.

"Childlessness greatly influences adults' end-of-life care preferences, as children play an important role in traditional Chinese family-based end-of-life care," said Bei Wu, Ph.D., Dean's Professor in Global Health at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and co-director of NYU Aging Incubator. She is the study's senior author.

Filial piety, or respect for one's parents, is a core value in traditional Chinese culture, and children play a critical role in caring for aging parents and providing end-of-life care. End-of-life care is the support and medical care provided during the days, weeks, or months leading up to one's death.

China's one-child policy has led to a unique situation in caring for aging parents. As of 2010, one million Chinese parents had lost their only child, a number projected to grow to 11.8 million in 2050. Chinese adults who lose their only child are particularly disadvantaged when it comes to family-based end-of-life care.

In Western society, the end-of-life care model relies less on family members, instead using hospice and palliative care institutions and professional health care providers to provide support, reduce pain, and improve comfort. Hospice and palliative care systems are underdeveloped in China and face many structural and cultural challenges, including traditional views toward death, limited public funding, and a shortage of end-of-life care professionals at all levels.

In this study, Wu and her colleagues used data from a survey of 1,400 older adults in Shanghai to explore their end-of-life care preferences. The majority (1,200) were adults aged 60 years and older; the researchers also surveyed 200 adults aged 45 years and older who lost their only child. Participants were coded as having children who live with them, having children who do not live with them, or having lost their only child.

The researchers asked participants to share how they would want to be cared for at the end of their lives: by family, by visiting health care professionals, or in a specialized hospice or palliative care institutions.

They also measured factors related to end-of-life care, including sociodemographic characteristics such as gender, age, marital status, education, income, and property ownership; whether they have a support network of relatives and friends; health status, including chronic diseases, recent hospitalizations, mental health, and limitations in performing daily tasks; and whether they have health insurance.

The researchers found that adults who lost their only child prefer end-of-life care provided by a specialized hospice or palliative care institution (58 percent), while adults with children prefer family care at home (47 percent for adults whose children do not live with them and 49 percent for those whose children live with them).

Additional analyses show that adults with higher incomes and property tend to opt for family care at home. Conversely, those with a supportive network of friends prefer end-of-life care provided by visiting health care professionals or in end-of-life care institutions over family care at home. Health status was not associated with end-of-life care preferences; nor were other demographic factors (age, gender, marital status, and education).

"Our findings demonstrate a need to develop hospice and palliative care in China, both at-home care and care in hospitals and other clinical settings. Health care professionals and policymakers should recognize the particular preferences of those who have lost their only child and should develop tailored care accordingly," said Wu, who is also the director of research for the Hartford Institute of Geriatric Nursing at NYU Meyers.

This study is published in the November issue of the Journal of Palliative Medicine and appeared online ahead of print in July 2018.

Explore further Having hospital palliative care doesn't impact Tx intensity

More information: Yan Liang et al, End-of-Life Care Preference: Examination of Chinese Adults with Children and Those Who Lost Their Only Child, Journal of Palliative Medicine (2018). Journal information: Journal of Palliative Medicine Yan Liang et al, End-of-Life Care Preference: Examination of Chinese Adults with Children and Those Who Lost Their Only Child,(2018). DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0043
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Researchers at Northwestern Medicine have taken the first step in bioengineering the human uterus to treat endometriosis, uterine-factor infertility and endometrial cancer.

The study is the first to demonstrate that induced human pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be reprogrammed to become healthy uterine cells for potential placement in the uterus. Made from a person's own readily available cells, iPS cells can potentially be manipulated to fix defects within other, disease-causing cells. The healthy cells are then optimal for an auto-transplant that won't be rejected by the person's immune system.

The study will be published Nov. 1 in the journal Stem Cell Reports.

Endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. Endometriosis, caused by backward menstruation of abnormal endometrial cells onto the lower abdominal organs, is a painful and persistent gynecological disease that affects approximately 10 percent of women of reproductive age worldwide (about 200 million women). It has no effective long-term treatment and, in some cases, the disease can serve as a precursor to ovarian cancer.

Women with abnormal endometrial cells may experience infertility because these defective endometrial cells are not receptive to an implanting embryo. This study opened the avenue for replacing these defective endometrial cells with normal ones derived from a woman's own skin or blood.

"This is huge. We've opened the door to treating endometriosis," said senior author Dr. Serdar Bulun, who has been researching treatments for endometriosis for the past 25 years. "These women with endometriosis start suffering from the disease at a very early age, so we end up seeing young high school girls getting addicted to opioids, which totally destroys their academic potential and social lives."

Bulun is the chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician.

Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial cells in a woman's uterus do not respond to an adequate amount of an implantation hormone called progesterone. The abnormal cells, called defective endometrial stromal fibroblasts, travel through the fallopian tubes, then onto the lower abdominal tissues and the ovaries. Extra-uterine growth of endometrium-like tissue results in severe pelvic pain, infertility and development of adhesions and increases the risk for ovarian cancer.

Now that this study has demonstrated that these cells can be reproduced and respond properly to progesterone, the next step would be to replace the diseased cells in the uterus with these newly programmed, healthy uterine cells, Bulun said.

As cell-based therapy methods continue to improve, the defective cells that cause inflammation and pain in the uterine cavity of endometriosis patients would be replaced with the normally programmed cells in the future. This way, pain would be eliminated long-term. Moreover, the newly formed normal endometrium would be more receptive to an implanting embryo.

"One day we hope to make a whole uterus using this cell-based treatment employing the patient's own iPS cells," Bulun said.

Uterine transplantation has been tried, but the biggest obstacle to success has been the rejection of someone else's uterus with the patient's immune response. This problem could be solved if a whole uterus can be bioengineered by populating a scaffold with the patient's own iPS cells reprogrammed to form a uterus. However, this is a long shot, Bulun warns.

Dr. Kaoru Miyazaki at Northwestern conducted the key experiments for this study. Both Bulun and Miyazaki consulted closely with their co-author, Dr. Tetsuo Maruyama from Keio University in Tokyo, Japan.

Explore further Understanding endometriosis
(HealthDay)The American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Emergency Nurses Association have released updated guidelines for emergency care of injured and critically ill children. The guidelines were published in a policy statement in the November issue of Pediatrics.

Katherine Remick, M.D., from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and colleagues revised a joint policy statement from 2009 to highlight recent advances in pediatric emergency care.

The authors write that to improve pediatric readiness and the safety and quality of emergency care for children, emergency departments should have a pediatric emergency care coordinator. All emergency departments should be continually prepared to receive, accurately assess, andat a minimumstabilize and safely transfer acutely ill or injured children. In addition, they should ensure the competence of physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and other emergency department providers to evaluate and treat children. Recognition of the unique needs of children, including those with special health care needs, is also important.

"These updated recommendations are intended to serve as a resource for clinical and administrative leadership in emergency departments as they strive to improve their readiness for children of all ages," the authors write.

Explore further All hospital emergency rooms should be prepared for children

Copyright  2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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A major study of mortality across England led by University of Manchester data scientists blames socioeconomic deprivation for sharp rises in deaths among 22 to 44-year-olds living in the North of England.

Professor Evan Kontopantelis, lead author of The Lancet Public Health paper published today, says the data reveals a profoundly concerning gap in mortality between the North and the South, especially in men.

Deaths from accidents, alcohol and drug poisoning increased nationwide, but more quickly in the North, where deprivation tends to be greater and more widespread, find the team.

Over three years between 2014 and 2016, 3530 more men and 1881, more women aged between 25 and 44 died in the North than in the South from 2014 to 2016, when population and age are taken into account.

Accounting for age and sex, northerners aged 25-44 were 47 percent more likely to die from cardiovascular reasons, 109 percent more likely to die from alcohol misuse and 60 percent more likely from drug misuse, compared to southerners.

London had the lowest mortality rates, with the North East having the highest, even after adjusting for age, sex and socio-economic deprivation.

Suicide among men, especially at ages 30-34, and cancer deaths among women were also important factors.

National cardiovascular death rates declined over the study period, though the NorthSouth gap persists.

"Sharp rises in deaths from accidents, suicide, alcohol misuse, smoking, cancer and drug addiction appear to have created new health divisions between England's regions and are profoundly concerning." said Professor Kontopantelis

"These causes of death are all strongly associated with socioeconomic deprivation and in our models two-thirds of the excess mortality in the north was explained by that.

"Alcohol for example, underpins the steep and sustained increase in liver cirrhosis deaths in Britain from the 1990s, when the North-South divide in mortality for those aged 25-44 started to emerge."

Previous research has shown that men aged 25-44 and living the most deprived areas are five times more likely to die from alcohol-related diseases. And the risk for women, is four times greater.

And previous research has also found that unskilled men aged 25-39 are 10-20 times more likely to die from alcohol-related causes, compared to professionals.

It is widely known that mortality rates for cancer are higher in more deprived areas and have worse survival rates where smoking and alcohol abuse is more prevalent.

Heroin and crack cocaine addiction and deaths from drug overdoses are also strongly associated with deprivation.

Mortality data for adults aged 25-44 were aggregated and compared between England's five northernmost versus its five southernmost Government Office Regions, between 1981 and 2016.

It revealed that, although there was little difference between early deaths in the North and the South in the 1990s, by 2016 a gap had opened up nonetheless.

Professor Kontopantelis added: "The reasons for the divide are complex and reach back centuries, with extreme concentration of power, wealth and opportunity in the capital having a malign effect on the rest of the country.

"England's centralist tradition has blighted successive generations, and without major structural change will continue to damage public health.

"Worse health outcomes in the North reflect higher average levels of deprivation, and the sex difference we find in the North-South mortality gap is plausibly related to greater susceptibility of men to those socioeconomic pressures.

"If these recent trends are not stopped, the national gains made from falling cardiovascular deaths will be overridden and excess mortality in the North may exceed 50 percent."

Explore further Alcohol-related death rates much higher in deprived areas of England and Wales
Rick Doblin poses for a portrait in Vista, Calif., on Aug. 15, 2018. The founder and director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, or MAPS, Doblin is pushing for the therapeutic potential of psychedelics including MDMA, best known by its street name, ecstasy. That effort moves into its final stage next month with two large-scale, government-sanctioned studies that will determine whether the Food and Drug Administration approves MDMA for post-traumatic stress disorder. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Growing up amid the tumult of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War, Rick Doblin says he became convinced that humanity was "crazy" and "inherently destructive." As a teenager, he came to see the mind-expanding effects of psychedelicsincluding LSD and magic mushroomsas the antidote to mankind's inner demons.

He set out to prove it. And now, after 32 years of false starts, setbacks and regulatory hurdles, he has brought MDMAthe illegal, all-night party drug also known as ecstasyto the brink of medical legitimacy.

The Food and Drug Administration has labeled the drug a potential "breakthrough" for post-traumatic stress disorder and cleared late-stage studies of up to 300 patients. The studies are to be conducted by Doblin's nonprofit group dedicated to promoting mind-altering drugs, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, or MAPS. Researchers will begin screening patients this month.

The goal is to win FDA approval by 2021. MDMA would become the first psychedelic drugcurrently in the same ultra-restrictive category as heroin and cocaineto make the leap to prescription medicine.

Doblin does not plan to stop there. His aim is the legalization of all psychedelics for recreational use by 2035.

"Psychedelics have been used for thousands of years for healing and spiritual purposes," says Doblin, 64. "I thought my contribution would be to bring them back."

MAPS' work is part of a resurgence of interest into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, a field that captivated researchers in the 1950s and 1960s before the government ban on LSD and other hallucinogens slammed the door shut in 1970.

"This field was so taboo it was essentially erased from the history books," says Stephen Ross, a New York University psychiatrist who is studying psilocybin, the ingredient in magic mushrooms, for depression and alcohol addiction.

Ross and other researchers are largely funded by the Heffter Research Institute, the other psychedelic nonprofit in the field. But Heffter executives adamantly oppose recreational use of psychedelics. They say the drugs are too risky to be used without professional supervision.

"Talking about full legalization of all psychedelics makes quite a number of people uncomfortable," says David Nichols, co-founder of Heffter and a retired pharmacology professor at Purdue University. "But that's Rick, he's got his base of people who give him a lot of money because they want to see him kick down the doors of government regulation."

Spectrum Of Support

Funding MAPS and the MDMA studies has meant relentless fundraising, more than $70 million over the years from by a wide array of wealthy backers.

"Rick has this beautiful vision of healing the cultural divide of the sixties; having veterans and counterculture icons coming together,'" says David Bronner, CEOCosmic Engagement Officer of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, the organic brand known for its quirky labels. Bronner has given $3.1 million to MAPS since 2005 and currently chairs its board of directors.

Earlier this year Rebekah Mercer, the billionaire Republican and co-owner of Breitbart, pledged $1 million to fund the PTSD trials.

"America's veterans deserve the very best care," Mercer said in a statement announcing the grant.

If prescription MDMA is ever approved, revenue would flow to a pharmaceutical company entirely owned by MAPS. According to the company's charter, profits would fund research into new uses for MDMA and other psychedelics.

Back To A Psychedelic Future

The small studies published by MAPS and Heffter are dwarfed by research conducted roughly a half-century ago. Between 1950 and the mid-1960s more than 1,000 papers were published documenting 40,000 patients receiving LSD and other psychedelics for conditions like depression and addiction.

Only later would psychedelics become intertwined with the dayglow hippie culture of the 1960s and figures like Timothy Leary, the ex-Harvard professor who promoted psychedelics as a pseudo-religion.

MDMA had its own medical history before being adopted by the electronic rave culture of the 1990s, thanks to its ability to trigger intense feelings of euphoria, intimacy and connection.

The drug was discovered in 1912 by a German drugmaker researching chemicals to control bleeding. A chemical cousin, MDA, became a drug of abuse in the late 1960s, producing a combination of hallucinations and intensified emotions. Users dubbed it the "love drug."

MDMA was largely forgotten until a handful of psychotherapists reproduced it in the late 1970s to enhance therapy sessions.

Doblin first met some of the drug's proponents at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California in 1982, a seaside mecca for New Age teachers and seekers. In college at the time, Doblin became convinced of the drug's power to enhance communication and healing after an MDMA session with his girlfriend. His original plan was to become a therapist working with MDMA. But the federal government's 1985 ban on the substance pushed him into activism instead.

George Greer, co-founder of Heffter, was among the West Coast psychiatrists who first prescribed then-legal MDMA to treat anxiety and other issues, including domestic problems between couples. Greer and his wife, a psychiatric nurse, treated more than 80 patients with MDMA between 1980 and 1985.

The Brain On Ecstasy

It's not entirely clear how MDMA works, but Greer and others point to its effects on two key brain chemicals: It boosts the feel-good chemical serotonin, similar to antidepressants, and also increases the stimulating brain chemical dopamine, like amphetamines. The effect, Greer says, is that patients feel less fear and more motivation to face their traumatic memories.

The current standard of care for PTSD includes antidepressants and several forms of therapy. But only about a third of patients recover after treatment.

In studies funded by MAPS, more than 50 percent of patients who completed MDMA-assisted therapy no longer had PTSD, compared with 23 percent of patients who received therapy with either a dummy pill or inactive dose of MDMA, depending on the study.

Processing The Past

Nigel McCourry, a lance corporal in the Marines, returned from Iraq in 2004 beset by nightmares of ambushes, exploding mortars and gun battles. For years he suffered insomnia, sometimes standing at his apartment door convinced that someone might break in and kill him.

He was especially haunted by one incident in which he accidentally shot and killed two young girls who were riding in a truck that approached his platoon during a firefight.

"A lot of what was tearing me up was having this viewpoint that I was a monster and dangerous," McCourry says. "On MDMA, I was able to forgive myself in a way that felt meaningful."

After MDMA treatment, McCourry was able to sleep through the night and stop taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety pills.

But MDMA has its own risks. When abused as a party drug it can cause life-threatening dehydration. And heavy, long-term users have shown signs of problems with memory and thinking.

Still, leading psychiatrists are cautiously supportive of MAPS' research, noting the need for new treatments. More than 800,000 U.S. veterans receive disability for PTSD and the risk of suicide among veterans is 22 percent higher than other adults.

Tufts University psychiatrist Paul Summergrad says he wants to see larger, more rigorous trials to confirm the benefits of MDMA and psilocybin.

Doblin says part of MAPS' mission is "harm reduction" to help people use psychedelics safely.

In August, MAPS flew several staffers out to Burning Man, the Black Rock Desert festival that attracts up to 70,000 people each year, including many who use hallucinogenic drugs.

Doblin and his staff trained festival volunteers who counseled 380 attendees through what they call "psychedelic crises," or bad trips.

These days, Doblin says he only occasionally uses MDMA for "therapeutic purposes."

"I don't go to raves and dance all nightalthough I certainly did," he says.

Explore further Psychologists explore potential benefits of hallucinogens for mental health disorders

 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Melanoma in skin biopsy with H&E stain  this case may represent superficial spreading melanoma. Credit: Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0

A multi-institutional research team, led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, has identified specific states of cytotoxic CD8 T cells that are associated with patient response to checkpoint immunotherapy for melanoma. Their report published in the journal Cell also identifies specific marker proteins associated with these cell states, providing data that could help better understand why checkpoint therapywhich enables the immune system to attack cancerous tumorsdoesn't work for all patients and may enable the development of tests to help predict which patients may be helped by the approach. A companion immunotherapy study, led by a separate research team from the Broad Institute and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, appears in the same issue of Cell.

"Checkpoint inhibition therapies have completely changed the way patients with metastatic melanoma are being treated clinically today, and since they were first approved in 2011 they have given new hope to patients who otherwise would have very poor prognosisan average survival of under a yearand few therapeutic options," says Nir Hacohen, Ph.D., director of the Center for Cancer Immunology in the MGH Center for Cancer Research, co-director of the Cell Circuits Program at the Broad Institute, and co-senior author of the Cell paper. "But even though melanoma has one of the highest response rates to checkpoint inhibition, with around 40 percent of patients responding to PD-1 checkpoint therapy, most patients will either not respond or will relapse."

Previous studies of tumor response to PD-1 or other checkpoint inhibitors have focused on tumor-associated factors, including the number of mutations in a tumor, the levels of PD-L1the protein that binds to PD-1the abundance of CD8 T cells and expression of inflammatory genes detected before or soon after treatment began, but have had limited ability to predict patient outcomes. To identify immune-related factors in the tumor and determine their ability to predict checkpoint responses, the research teamled by Hacohen and co-senior author Gad Getz, Ph.D., director of the Cancer Genome Computational Analysis group at the Broad and director of Bioinformatics at the MGH Cancer Centerused single-cell RNA sequencing, which measures cell-by-cell the RNA levels of thousands of genes, to get a clearer picture of the immune landscape of patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors.

An analysis of RNA levels in more than 16,000 immune cells from the melanoma tumors of 32 patients treated with checkpoint therapies identified several subsets of cells with distinct gene expression patterns that were more common in tumors that either did or did not respond to therapy. Because CD8 T cells, which are known to be key components of the mechanisms behind checkpoint inhibition, were abundant in melanoma samples, the researchers focused on those cells. Based on patterns of gene expression, they eventually identified two major cell states. One state that was similar to that of stem-cell-like memory CD8 T cells was predominant in tumors that responded to treatment, while the other state, similar to what is seen in dysfunctional or 'exhausted' T cells, was more common in unresponsive tumors.

Analysis performed on tumors from a separate group of patients treated with a PD-1 inhibitor found that the transcription factor TCF7, known to be important for the maintenance and differentiation of stem-cell-like memory CD8 T cells, was a marker of responding tumors. Co-lead author Moshe Sade-Feldman, Ph.D., of the MGH Center for Cancer Research, says, "Importantly we developed a simple staining assay that uses levels of TCF7 in CD8 T cells to discriminate between responding and non-responding tumors, and are currently working together with clinicians and pathologists at MGH to develop a panel of markers based on our study to more accurately identify patients that would respond to immunotherapy. We also found that tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells that do not express the genes CD39 and TIM3 were positive for TCF7 and play an important role in tumor eradication in response to anti-PD1 therapy in cellular studies."

Using a mouse model of melanoma, they tested the effects of blocking the action of either one or both of those genes and found that blocking CD39 and TIM3 at the same time reduced tumor size and increased 40-day survival. Combining an inhibitor of CD39 with the approved checkpoint inhibitors PD1 or PD1/CTLA4, tripled the percentage of animals surviving at 40 days post-treatment. The team also identified another transcription factor, BATF, that appears to be a marker for dysfunctional/exhausted CD8 T cell states and highly expressed in non-responding tumors.

Co-lead author Keren Yizhak, Ph.D., of the Broad Institute, says, "Our results suggest that increasing the ratio of stem-cell-like memory CD8 T cells to exhausted-like cells may help make checkpoint inhibitors and perhaps other immunotherapies more effective. Our methods may be useful in deciphering the mechanisms of human immunity in the context of any therapy, which will hopefully lead to increasingly rational trials based on improved mechanistic understanding and predictive biomarkers."

Co-senior author Getz, a professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School (HMS), says, "One of the most important future investigations should be examining the clinical significance of these predictors and cellular states in the context of other malignancies and therapeutic combinations. As checkpoint inhibition becomes the standard of care for tens and thousands of patients worldwide, there is an unmet need to apply the strategy used in this study to other types of cancer to discover the specific mechanisms underlying the success or failure of this type of treatment."

Hacohen, a professor of Medicine at HMS adds, "This work couldn't have been done without the close collaboration of the many researchers who contributed expertise in experimental and computational sciences and our amazing clinical partnersincluding surgeons, oncologists, radiologists and pathologists. We also want to thank the many patients who agreed to support our research by allowing us to study samples of their tumors in order to help future patients with melanoma or other cancers."

Explore further Often-overlooked natural killer cells may be key to cancer immunotherapy
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In November 1998, the world was introduced to human embryonic stem cells, the blank slate cells that arise at the earliest stages of development and that go on to become any of the scores of cell types that make up a human.

In a succinct paper published in the journal Science and heralded around the world, University of Wisconsin-Madison developmental biologist James Thomson described the first successful derivation and culturing of the master cells of life. With a capacity to replicate endlessly under the right laboratory conditions, the prospect of an inexhaustible supply of replacement cells for ailments such as Parkinson's, diabetes, heart disease, spinal cord injury and a host of other dire conditions catapulted the cells into the biomedical spotlight and the public imagination.

"When human embryonic stem cells were discovered 20 years ago, researchers and the public were quick to realize the tantalizing promise that these cells provided for therapeutic applications," notes Tim Kamp, a professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and the director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center. "There was now a potential pathway to generate essentially any human cell type in the body in the laboratory and then use it to replace damaged or destroyed cells by disease such as beta cells in the pancreas in diabetes, dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease, and heart muscle cells after a heart attack."

Beginning with just five cell lines derived from surplus embryos donated by patients who had finished undergoing fertility treatments, human stem cell science has mushroomed from just a few isolated labs to a burgeoning global industry and launched the new field of regenerative medicine.

Today, proven therapies based on trading out diseased cells for healthy lab grown cells remains a clinical aspiration. But a growing number of clinical trials, the widespread use of the cells in industry, and a swelling list of basic findings attributable to the Swiss Army knife of cells is contributing to a measured, steady realization of the promise that came with the first lab-grown cells two decades ago.

"What is surprising is how far we've come and how fast we've gotten there," says Tenneille Ludwig, director of the Stem Cell Bank at WiCell, a non-profit affiliate of UW-Madison that studies, distributes and characterizes stem cells for research. Ludwig is the senior author of a paper published today (Nov. 1, 2018) in the journal Cell Stem Cell describing the global scope and economic impact of stem cell science, including the clinical, industrial and research use of the cells.

Not surprisingly, the potential of clinical applications for stem cells has garnered the most attention over time, and while unproven treatments to treat everything from arthritis to Alzheimer's have surfaced in clinics in the United States and abroad, there has yet to be an effective stem cell treatment that has successfully navigated the gamut of clinical trials required for FDA approval.

"If you're looking for a proven embryonic or induced stem cell therapy, there isn't one quite yet," Ludwig explains, noting the timeline from the lab to the clinic is seldom speedy or direct. "We know it takes a long time to go from a basic scientific discovery to the clinic."

Ludwig, who worked as a post-doctoral fellow in Thomson's lab developing and refining the culture media required to grow and nurture the cells in the lab dish, says her survey of the field reveals 29 clinical trials in 10 countries. Twenty-seven of those trials involve cells derived from human embryonic stem cell lines, including some of the original stem cell lines derived in 1998. "We expect the number of clinical trials to balloon over the next five to ten years."

Less publicized is the use of stem cells to develop high-throughput drug screens. Nearly every major pharmaceutical company now has a stem cell program where the cells are used to assess promising new drug candidates for safety and efficacy.

Also flying under the public's radar is the growing scientific contribution of stem cells, both embryonic and induced pluripotent cells. (Induced pluripotent cells are adult cells such as skin that have been genetically reprogrammed to mimic the qualities of embryonic stem cells.) Although the science for embryonic stem cells was slowed by early controversies and limited funding during the Bush administration, the field has taken off as public funding has become more readily available and now nearly 400 embryonic stem cell lines are eligible for public funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Stem Cell Registry.

Drawing on data from NIH, Ludwig and her study co-authors, estimate as much as $1.43 billion has been spent by the agency on research on embryonic and induced stem cells over the past 20 years.

As a result of greater access to stem cell lines and more robust public funding, the science of stem cells has advanced significantly. Scientists, for example, are able to direct the blank slate cells to become many of the cells found in the body. From beating heart cells and insulin-producing beta cells to motor and dopaminergic neurons, scientists are making large quantities of pure cells for research, in many cases creating cells that could not otherwise be accessed for science.

"In the first several years, there were only about 80 papers in the whole field," notes Ludwig. "Now, twenty years in, there are tens of thousands. It is pretty remarkable."

Says Kamp: "Now, after 20 years of ongoing research and development, we are seeing clinical trials emerging that are testing cellular products derived from embryonic stem cells for a variety of diseases including diabetes, ischemic heart disease, age-related macular degeneration, and more. Most of these trials are just the beginning safety studies, but the remarkable new regenerative medicine applications of human embryonic stem cells and their more recent cousins induced pluripotent stem cells are beginning to realize the promise for revolutionary new therapies first identified 20 years ago."

Explore further Improving the neuron factorynew modulator of stem cell identity found
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A senior employee with the Department of Financial Services has sued her boss, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, alleging she was fired for not donating to his campaign or attending a fundraiser event for his reelection.

According to a complaint filed Monday, Christine Taul, a 32-year veteran of the department, received a phone call at work from a third party inviting her to a fundraiser being held for the CFO on Aug. 20. The caller told Taul, a registered Democrat, to "bring a check."

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Tallahassee Wednesday.

Taul was scheduled to leave Tallahassee for a vacation on the day of the fundraiser, but said she wouldn't attend anyway because of her differing political views.

When she returned from her vacation on Aug. 27, she was told she would be terminated. Taul, who had been an administrator for the CFO's risk management program since 1994, resigned instead. In September, Taul's attorneys sent a letter to the CFO's office in demanding she be reinstated with full backpay.

The department's general counsel, Chasity O'Steen, said the department did not know of any third party activity, and that attributing the phone to the CFO's office was an "erroneous assumption." O'Steen said Taul was terminated because she failed to show improvement after mandatory remedial trainings in April 2018. Taul was also responsible for an employee who lied about her hours on a timesheet.

O'Steen said the department was within its rights to discipline Taul for her poor performance, even after counseling and remedial trainings. The trainings were held by an employee relations manager, and were meant to be a "refresher," according to emails obtained from the office.

Taul's personnel file, however, shows she received a "commendable" overall rating in 2017. Her manager wrote that she is a "valued asset to the Division" and that her "experience and knowledge are often utilized in solving complicated issues."

Patronis, a Panama City republican and former state representative, was appointed into the role in 2017 after Jeff Atwater resigned for a position at Florida Atlantic University. He is running against former state senator and Yahoo executive Democrat Jeremy Ring, of Broward County.

"The timing of this ridiculous accusation seems like a sad politically based attack," said Patronis' campaign spokeswoman Katie Strickland.

Taul's attorney denied that the accusation was political.

"If this was a sleazy election tactic, then we wouldn't have tried to be reinstated without litigation," Ryan Andrews. "We wouldn't have asked Mr. Patronis to reinstate with no harm, no foul. "
Armed with ominous hyperbole and the aura of winning, President Donald Trump flew into Southwest Florida on Wednesday night to whip the Republican vote ahead of Tuesdays elections and save America from the Democrats.

Less than a week from an election that could propel him toward reelection in 2020 or ensnare him in a fight for political survival, Trump warned the Sunshine State faithful that an Andrew Gillum governorship would take Floridas purring economy and turn it into a Venezuela-like recession.

He cautioned that a fourth term for U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson would guarantee higher taxes.

And he promised that in Florida, only Ron DeSantis and Gov. Rick Scott can stop the hordes of illegal immigrants waiting to flood into the country if Democrats win.

In less than one week, Americans will go to the polls in one of the most important elections of their lives, he told a raucous crowd of more than 8,000. Though, he said, unable to help himself, not as important as 2016. Id like to say it, but not really.

If anything is true with the president, its that all things lead back to Trump.

And so, with the presidents future directly tied to Florida, Trump came to the Fort Myers area to make the closing pitch to voters on Scotts Senate bid and for DeSantis, a Trump acolyte who won Floridas Republican primary for governor in no small part because the president campaigned for him and gave him his blessing.

Read the rest here.
Some three days ago, the Pew Research center released a report on the European nations' attitudes towards Muslims and other things:







See also the complete report as 30 pages of PDF. The map above is striking, isn't it?







Non-Muslim citizens were asked the question whether they would be "willing" to accept a Muslim as a member of their family. This is a rather well-chosen question when it comes to "maximally extracting the underlying feelings" although the question cannot be interpreted literally. Parents may very well be totally against a new Muslim member of their family but their daughter is independent, has her independence backed by the law, and if she simply wants to marry a Muslim, she will probably be able to, anyway.







In Western Europe, you got some truly striking outcomes. In the Netherlands, 88% said "Yes". In Scandinavia, it was 80%-82%. Spain, France, Ireland, Finland were in the 60s and 70s, Croatia and 3 German-speaking countries in the mid 50s, Slovakia, Italy, Serbia, Bosnia in the 40s, then Russia, Poland, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova around 30%, Ukraine, Estonia, Hungary in the mid-to-low 20s.



At the end, below 20%, you see Latvia at 19%, Georgia at 17%, Belarus and Lithuania at 16%, Czechia at 12%, and Armenia at 7%.



There's a lot of "random group think" that determines the answers  even though the nations may differ much less than the results indicate. It's politically correct in Czechia to agree with any statement that we should better shield ourselves from Islamization in all forms. In spite of that, Czechs happily elect Syria-born mayors for two decades, and purely anti-Islam candidates have almost no chance in any elections. Many Muslims in Czechia will tell you how they consider Czechs friendly.



Some of the the attitudes by the Armenians and Czechs are probably explained by the historical experience with imported religions.



You know, in 1915, the Armenian Genocide took place. 1.5 million Armenians, starting with their elites, were murdered. You know, Armenians were overwhelmingly Christian while the killers were almost entirely Turkish Muslims. So you just shouldn't expect Armenians to welcome a Muslim to their family, should you?



Czechs didn't have similar dramatic experiences so far, thank God even if we don't believe that He exists. But Czechia is one of the true cradles of mass Protestantism in the early 15th century  I mean the Hussites. Most of Czechs became "standard" Protestants of the Western European type when it was possible. Nevertheless, after the Thirty Years' Wars, the Austrian Catholic overlords were capable to re-Catholicize the nation, anyway. The process was basically successful, the 18th century saw Czechs as another Catholic nation again.



But at what cost? The costs were huge and the re-Catholicization was accompanied by the loss of our national power, self-confidence, and even a big drop of the Czech population. John Amos Comenius, the teacher of nations, has been forced to exile (the Dutch Republic). On top of that, we haven't forgotten about these things. So when we abandoned Catholicism and most other religions, we still knew that the religious changes imposed from abroad are almost guaranteed to be a very bad thing for the nation and its individual members' well-being and freedom.



Incidentally, this very report contains lots of data, including those about irreligion. Only one European nation had a majority answering a "pure none" to the question which God or religion they preferred. Our percentage was 72%  everyone else had below 50%. So much for the doubts about Czechs' being the most irreligious nation in Europe. This priority of Czechs is crystal-clear. No one else comes close.



Some people, especially in the U.S. (and I mean people on both sides of the political spectrum), love to mindlessly identify religion with the right-wing politics. But in Czechia, we have nothing of the sort. Religion is a tiny phenomenon  and the proudly religious people in politics are close to the political center and arguably lean to the left. The key people on the right are irreligious. So that religion-conservative link doesn't really work here and there's no good reason why it should.



Also, because the irreligion is being identified with left-wing politics and "welcoming of the Muslims" is an important feature of the contemporary left-wing politics, some people could expect the irreligious Czechs to be welcoming Muslims. But that's rubbish as well  and you should know it's rubbish. Most of us are really irreligious  and it's not a codeword for some extreme left-wing politics. Being irreligious obviously involves being skeptical of (or hostile towards) Islam, too, because Islam is said to be a religion. Well, Islam is also a religiously flavored political ideology  but Czechs are even more skeptical of those things. A big political power demanding the influence over every citizen and his behavior 24 hours a day and using religious justifications for that manipulation is what we really hate.



We actually accept most of the Christian values and traditions that have worked. Czechs just don't feel the urge to pray, attend masses, talk to God, and they wouldn't like some priests to become their rulers again. But this desire to be independent of the religious power and proclamations does not mean that Czechs instinctively stand on the opposite side than Christianity. They mostly stay on the same side  probably much more so than most of the "very Christian" nations. When we don't pray every day, it does not mean that we do all the things that Jesus Christ has labeled as bad! Jesus Christ would be our pal of a sort, He just wouldn't be able to exaggerate His divine credentials because We don't like it much. ;-)



I am sort of shocked by Slovakia's 47%. How did our brothers get these brutally different results? A four times higher percentage of Muslim welcomers than Czechia? It's striking. You can see that the idea of a single Czechoslovak nation clearly had its sharp limitations. We were never quite thinking as a single nation. In the long run, the proportion of left-wing and right-wing attitudes may be similar in Czechia and Slovakia. But our menstruation cycles weren't ever synced. Slovaks are more religious today and they have never been Protestants. Slovakia, perhaps a little bit like Slovenia, partly enjoys to be a good puppy that is thrown some Pedigree Pal from Brussels for its obedience. It's a bit puzzling  in 1990-1992, most Slovaks weren't terribly excited about the Pedigree Pal from Prague. But maybe Brussels sells Pedigree Pal of a better quality than Prague, who knows. The Czech Pedigree Pal probably contains a smaller percentage of real meat and they dislike it etc.



The huge differences in the attitudes to Islam  even when it comes to the simplest question of the type "Islam in Europe Yes or No"  seem very serious and a possible reason for a future big war. At this moment, the Islamic migration is modest again and the huge gaps in the European map are a bit Academic in its implications. But if Europe returns to the conditions in which millions or tens of millions of Muslims will be waiting right behind some European borders and tens of millions of Europeans will brutally differ in their opinion whether the doors should be opened and which doors, the conflict is almost bound to erupt. There are clearly nations that are dreaming about being Islamized (Geert Wilders must obviously have a hard time in his country!)  and nations that are absolutely terrified by it and find it more unacceptable than almost everything else.



It's such a fundamental yet simple social or political question and the differences are so obvious that it's likely to be the cause of the next big conflict in Europe.
The Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in St. Helena celebrates Stevenson Week Nov. 8-16 with activities that include an exhibit, a lecture, a treasure hunt, a whiskey tasting, and a birthday party.

Stevenson was born on Nov. 13, 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland. In his 44 years, he left behind some of the greatest works of literature, and has been read, inspired, and treasured by readers the world over.

All of the events are being held at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum unless otherwise listed. The events are free to the public except Stevensons Whisky Sampling

 Exhibit: Stevenson On Screen opens on Nov. 8 at the St. Helena Public Library, with a reception at 6:30 p.m.

 Annual Treasure Hunt: Saturday, Nov. 10, 1-4 .p.m. Explore downtown St. Helena as you find the clues and discover the treasure of Robert Louis Stevenson. Pick up your map and clues at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. Available in both English and Spanish and within walking distance of the museum. The first five families to complete hunt will win prizes. Free.

 Stevensons 168th birthday: Celebrate Stevensons birthday of the museum with extended hours at the museum from noon to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13. The gallery will be open late with cake and light refreshments to learn about Robert Louis Stevenson after hours. Free.

 Lecture: Stevenson & Scotland: Shaping the Modern Myth. Roger Swearingen leads an evening of learning about the early life and influences of Robert Louis Stevenson from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15. Free.

 Stevensons Whisky Sampling

A special Scottish evening features a single malt whisky sampling from the five distilling regions of Scotland from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16. Tickets are $40 per person and are limited. Guests must be 21 or older to attend.

Admission is free to The Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from noon to 4 p,m. or by appointment, at 1490 Library Lane in St. Helena. For more information, call (707) 963-3757.
For the first time, Nick Cann and Beverly Wilson are teaming with Mark Mattioli and Elizabeth Bush to show their artwork at CIA at Copia in a show called 4 for Art.

There will be an artists reception for the 4 for Art exhibition from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2, at CIA at Copia, 500 First St., Napa,

The reception, hosted by the CIA at Copia, is part of the locals friendly First Fridays, launched in April.

This monthly series celebrates the arts with special exhibitions featuring a talented selection of artists, photographers, musicians, filmmakers, vintners and more with live music, art, food, and wine.

While viewing the art, at the reception, visitors can listen to the featured musicians for the evening, New Era Beats Brigade.

Admission to this event is free, which includes access to the art exhibit and music performance. Food and beverage will be available for purchase. Reservations are not required but helpful for anticipating attendance and planning accordingly, officials said. Walk-ins are welcome.

This show will be the last of the First Fridays events in the 2018 series, according to public events manager Adam Padilla.

We anticipate that First Fridays will resume in early 2019, Padilla said.

The four respected local artists who have come together for this exhibit have long admired each others work, which they have come to know through Open Studios.

Their camaraderie and humor emerged during an interview last week at the home of Mattioli and Bush.

Were all seasoned and strong in our mediums. Weve achieved a level of professionalism and have back stories in common, Bush said when asked about what brought them together.

We all have gray hair. I wanted to call our show Shades of Gray but they wouldnt let me, said Mattioli, shaking his head ruefully as the others laughed.

 Nick Cann







Cann, a pen and ink and monoprint artist with a Hollywood background, said he has always had a passion for drawing.

I like to draw, Cann said. It started at age 6 and continues 70 years later.

As a young man, just out of high school, Cann yearned to practice his art in Europe.

I sold my car to finance a European summer. If I ate less, I could stay longer and become an American in Paris, Cann said. Two years later, and 67 pounds lighter, I let my parents convince me to come home and enroll in The Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles.

For 30 years, he worked in Hollywood in the crazy life of set design and illustrations. Among his designs were sets for Ann-Margret, Diana Ross and Gene Wilder. He also created costume renderings for Michael Jackson and Kathleen Turner.

He has done calligraphy for Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai.

Cann teaches art at Nimbus Arts and at Blue Oak School. He is currently working on the cover art for a new novel by another Nick Cann, who lives in Belfast, Ireland.

 Beverly Wilson







Like Cann, Wilson has been an artist since childhood.

In 1968, Wilson studied many art forms at UCLA School of Fine Arts, including photography, printmaking, animation and sculpture. When she took life drawing and painting classes with Richard Diebenkorn, it confirmed my first love, painting and drawing.

Upon graduation, Wilson saved money for a tour of Europe by working as an advertising illustrator. As her money was running out, after three months of traveling around Europe, Wilson realized she wasnt ready to come home yet, so she began sketching as she traveled through Italy.

Here (in Italy) my love of rural life and wine country was awakened, and I financed my additional six months stay by selling sketches as I traveled in Tuscany and Umbria, Wilson said.

Back in the U.S., she began a career as an illustrator/designer in the commercial art world, which lasted 25 years.

I had no time to paint or draw during these years, Wilson said. It was not until the death of my mother in 1992 that I was motivated to find the fine artist that had always been inside.

Since then, Wilson has been in numerous juried art exhibits and enjoys being a full-time artist in Napa Valley with her partner, western bronze sculptor, Carl Ciliax.

 Mark Mattioli

Mattioli, who considers himself a punster, likes to focus on the lighter side of life in his art. He became well known in the 1980s for his illustrated wine country maps, Mattiolis In Your Pocket Guides

Miraculously, the maps provided support for the family, with the help of all manner of arty graphic side jobs including signs, murals, wine labels and tee shirts, Mattioli said.

Mattioli also supported his family, including two sons, with paintings for the once famous art component, Napa Valley Wine Auction, as well as various invitationals in the Napa Valley and Napa Valley Open Studios.

As a child, Mattiolis interest in art was supported by his parents who supplied him with paper, color pencils, pen and ink and a rapidograph pen set, and he had access to MAD magazine and National Geographic for inspiration.

After getting a BA degree in biology, Mattioli took commercial arts classes at a junior college and worked at Carter Sexton, a famous art supply store in North Hollywood.

When he met and fell in love with Big E, the remarkable Elizabeth Bush, Mattioli moved to Napa and built an art studio next to hers.

Art has been a major focus in our lives and travels generate inspiration, Mattioli said.

In 2017, Mattioli retired from his maps business after earning his livelihood from it for 33 years.

I did it my way, relying on my wits and ingenuity, Mattioli said.

He and Bush are enjoying the now and rediscovering new purpose and meaning for the art spirit within.

 Elizabeth Bush

Bush, best known for her photography, is the only member of the foursome who had little exposure to art as a child, yet she was so strongly drawn to it that she earned a degree in Art History from UC Berkeley in 1972.

My biggest aspiration was to become a practicing fine artist myself, she said.

Bush was inspired by the independence and fierce adherence to creative expression of Georgia OKeefe and Frida Kahlo.

She dabbled in photography but her medium of choice was watercolors.

Needing to pay the rent, my then-husband and I started a fledgling business in 1978 featuring seashells glued to magnets, Bush said.

We stumbled into the wholesale market and began presenting our quirky produce at trade shows around the U.S., Bush said. Who knew this little side line would take over our lives for the next 30 years, evolving into a successful multi-faceted national and international business?

Following a move to Napa in 1980, Bush served as president of the company. Outside of yoga, she found little time for creative pursuits unrelated to the demands of growing and maintaining the business.

She became a certified yoga instructor and taught yoga in Napa for 20 years.

The practice of yoga has provided me with physical, emotional and spiritual sustenance through life transitions of all sorts, Bush said.

In 2008, when the business sold and moved out of state, Bush was able to return to her artistic roots. This time, it wasnt watercolors, it was photography.
On Oct. 23, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and the Lake County District Attorneys Office conducted an undercover sting operation targeting suspected unlicensed contractors near Lake County fire zones.

Ten people, all from Lake County, were cited and could be charged with a misdemeanor count of contracting without a license, according to a CSLB press release. The penalty for a first conviction includes up to six months in jail and/or up to $5,000 in fines.

Additionally, five of the suspects may also face a misdemeanor charge for illegal advertising. Unlicensed contractors can only advertise if the ad states that they are not a state-licensed contractor, and the type of jobs advertised for are worth less than $500.

The CSLB press release states that during the one-day operation, in a home near Copsey Creek, CSLB investigators invited suspected unlicensed contractors to provide bids for home improvement jobs ranging from painting, tree removal or trimming, to building a deck.

Ten people showed up and provided undercover investigators bids that ranged from $800 to $4,000, well in excess of the $500 threshold (labor and/or materials) above which a state-issued contractor license is necessary.

Those arrested include:

Jose Angel Gonzalez-Castro, tree service contractor, Nice, also illegal advertising; Shane Lee Boyd, tree service contractor, Nice; Salvador Estrada, tree service contractor, Upper Lake, also illegal advertising; Dave Edward Elliston, Sr., painting and decorating contractor, Upper Lake; Elijah Wesley Forrey, tree service contractor, Clearlake; Contracting without a license: Jorge Manuel Vieira, Sr., painting and decorating contractor, Clearlake; Ronald Dean Ridley, Sr., painting and decorating contractor, Clearlake Oaks; Robert John Rudolph, siding and decking contractor, Kelseyville, also illegal advertising; Jesus Tecpoyot Pantaleon, siding and decking contractor, Finley, also illegal advertising; Ronny Raymond Waddell, painting and decorating contractor, Lakeport, also illegal advertising;

All suspects were ordered to appear in court on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at the Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport.

During the past three years, nearly 2,000 homes have been destroyed in different parts of Lake County by eight wildfires. The CSLB said it has focused on protecting fire survivors from being victimized by unlicensed or unscrupulous contractors trying to take advantage of people during the rebuilding process.

Consumers should be sure to take some simple steps before hiring anyone to work in or around their home, said CSLB Registrar David Fogt. The fastest way is to make sure they have a state license, and to check the license status using CSLBs Instant License Check. Homeowners should also use CSLBs Find My Licensed Contractor feature to download and/or print a list of qualified licensed contractors in their area.
Mary Luros, seeking a return to the Napa City Council after being voted out two years ago, led a six-candidate field in late-campaign fundraising, financial records show.

The Napa lawyer who served 22 months as a council member in 2015-16 drew $27,926 in contributions from Sept. 23 to Oct. 20, according to state-required Form 460 disclosure forms filed ahead of the Tuesday election. Luros campaign has raised $88,884 overall this year.

Spending by Luros totaled $33,037 for the September-October period and $66,606 during 2018, according to the records. The campaign began the reporting window with $41,320 in hand and ended it with $36,208.

Luros field-leading haul included seven donations of $1,000 or more, tops among council contenders. Napa sculptor and city planning commissioner Gordon Huether contributed $5,000, followed by $2,000 from Anthony Truchard of Truchard Vineyards, $1,500 each from winery owner Lauren Ackerman and the Napa Valley Wine Train, and $1,000 apiece from developer James Keller and the Napa Firefighters Legislative Action Group.

Liz Alessios September-October fundraising was second at $11,966, bringing her contributions for the year to $85,359. Spending by her campaign reached $60,434, for a yearly total of $108,205, highest among council hopefuls.

Early fall contributions to Alessio, senior community program services coordinator for St. Joseph Health, came in the form of more than 40 donations, none exceeding $500.

Councilmember Mott raised $3,841 in September and October, bringing his 2018 total to $42,867. His campaign spent $11,616 for the period and $25,961 for the year.

The top contributors to Mott were Napa IP LLC, which state incorporation records link to the local developer Wayne OConnell, and Holman Teague Roche & Anglin LLC. Each donated $1,000.

Among other candidates, Ricky Hurtado, community engagement manager for the Cope Family Center, reported taking in $4,699 for the filing period and $44,327 for the year, against expenses of $2,547 for the period and $14,302 in 2018. All of his contributions in the September-October window were $500 or less.

James Hinton, a former candidate for Congress and the Napa County Board of Supervisors, took in $4,441 for the period  the bulk of the total coming from a $2,500 gift by First and Main NV LLC, connected by state records to Michael L. Holcomb  to bring his 2018 contributions to $12,993. Hintons spending for September-October was $5,543, bringing his campaign expenses for the year to $12,264.

Trailing in early-fall fundraising was Napa insurance agent Bernie Narvaez, who collected $2,999 for a 2018 total of $52,769 against spending of $11,040 in the filing period ($43,789 for the year). Narvaezs top donor was Adora Communities LLC of San Francisco, which gave $999.

Luros is the only candidate with previous City Council experience other than incumbent Peter Mott, who is seeking a fourth term. With two seats in play, at least one challenger is assured of joining the council by taking over the seat of Jim Krider, who declined to appear on the ballot.

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Pacific Gas & Electric is defending its decision to shut off power to Calistoga as well as parts of the North Bay and Sierra Foothills for two days in mid-October, and stated it will not pay any of the 146 loss claims its customers had filed as of Oct. 24, according to a report submitted Wednesday to the California Public Utilities Commission.

More than 100 customers who filed claims complained of spoiled food, while others said their business operations were stymied and property was damaged, according to the report. Reimbursements were denied because the shutoff was a safety precaution, according to the report.

More than 5,700 Napa County customers lost power, including residences and businesses throughout the city of Calistoga.

Owners of the Calistoga Inn, Palisades Deli Cafe, Calistoga Creamery, and Calistoga Roastery said they lost a combined total of tens of thousands of dollars during the mandatory power shutoff.

A PG&E official will attend a Nov. 7 community meeting in Calistoga, where residents have complained of poor communication, slow restoration times, and argued that weather conditions didnt seem extreme enough to justify the shutoffs.

Clive Richardson, owner of the popular Calistoga Roastery, lost a days business and $1,000 in perishable items. A claim filed with his insurance company was denied because power was shut off as a preventative measure, he said.

Its very frustrating, he said.

De-energized lines were damaged

PG&E began de-energizing its lines under a new policy adopted after last years wildfires that devastated Napa and other parts of Northern California. Cal Fire blamed trees falling on electrified PG&E lines for starting some of the fires that ultimately left seven people in Napa County and 37 people in Sonoma County dead. Cal Fire also determined that some of the fires could have been prevented if the utility had followed various safety codes.

The preemptory shutoff on Oct. 14 was intended to reduce the likelihood of a wildfire starting if predicted high winds swept through the area. No fires were reported during this shutoff.

However, PG&E inspections after the incident determined that the wind had caused 23 instances of damage along de-energized lines, including 15 instances of damage that were apparently caused by falling vegetation, according to the report.

Seventeen residential customers complained to PG&E the week after power was restored, according to the report. Most were related to power restoration times, one was related to customers with sensitive medical needs, and a few others were related to spoiled food and backup electricity generation.

Moving forward, PG&E said it will try to notify customers who may be affected by any future peremptory shutdown between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. It also wants to:

 Give local officials more detailed information and maps of affected areas.

 Notify customers of expected power restoration times more often.

 Restore power faster.

Calistoga reflects

The only other time that Bill Braddock, manager of Calistogas Cal Mart, could recall such losses of produce and deli items was during the wildfires last year.

The power shutoff caught many, including Cafe Sarafornia manager Roger Dierkhising, off guard. He didnt find out about the power shut-off until an employee told him about it the morning of Oct. 15, he said.

Antonia Gutierrez, owner of Calistogas San Marco Cafe, didnt learn of the outage until she was in the midst of it. She said she called PG&E during the outage and was told to buy ice to save perishables. Gutierrez spent $650 for a generator that worked for two hours. The utility texted her after power was restored, apologizing for the inconvenience.

Why PG&E turned off power

PG&E decided to de-energize power lines on Oct. 14-17 after fire risk conditions escalated, including high winds, low humidity, dry fuel and vegetation on the ground, and a red flag warning issued by federal weather officials. Employees gathered to begin notifying roughly 97,000 customers across 12 counties that might be affected, according to the report.

The utility ultimately shut off power to 60,000 customers across seven counties in the North Bay and Sierra Foothills, including Calistoga and parts of Angwin, Deer Park and Pope Valley. Power was first shut off in Napa County around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 14.

The next day after the threat had abated, PG&E crews began inspecting more than 3,400 miles of power lines via helicopters, vehicles and on foot , according to the report. Power was restored to about 40,000 customers by midnight.

PG&E crews continued inspections and repairs on Tuesday, Oct. 16 and restored nearly all customers by 11 p.m., the report stated.

In Wednesdays report to state regulators, PG&E repeatedly described power shutoffs as a last resort.

Ultimately, the decision to shut off power was made for one reason  to keep our communities and customers safe and help reduce the risk of wildfires, the utility wrote.

Calistoga Mayor Chris Canning was planning to attend a briefing on the report by PG&E at State Senator Bill Dodds office Thursday afternoon, Nov. 1, along with Calistogas city manager, police and fire chiefs, and Napa County officials.

Officials have many questions for the power company and we will have them in a closed room, Canning said. This is the second October in a row with a serious incident. We had one actual incident last year (wildfires) and one threat (of an incident) this year. Its not an image we want to continue.

Courtney can be reached at 707-256-2221. You can send her an anonymous tip, and follow her reporting on Twitter and Facebook.

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"I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris," President Donald Trump said last year, when he explained why he was withdrawing from a global climate change accord.

Eleven Pittsburgh citizens were murdered four days ago because they were Jewish, and the president traveled to their city on Tuesday, his wife and children in tow, to pay his respects. He visited despite the fact that leaders of both political parties declined to join him on the trip, and despite requests from many local Jewish residents and community leaders that he stay away.

"The gunman who tore apart our neighborhood believed your lies about the immigrant caravan in Mexico," said a statement from one Jewish group. "He believed anti-Semitic lies that Jews were funding the caravan."

A cluster of Pittsburgh residents gathered Tuesday near the synagogue where the murders occurred, awaiting Trump's arrival. "Words have meaning," they shouted.

Of course they do.

And in the slow, torturous weeks leading up to the midterm elections the president has unleashed a torrent of words. He has packaged them to appeal to his political base, he's crafted them to smack of the racism, vitriol and division he's trafficked in for decades, and he's deployed them in increasingly desperate measures reflecting his frustration and recognition that events - and perhaps the electorate - are conspiring against him.

"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 tweeted recently. "Very unfortunate, what is going on."

Let's parse that tweet. The president - referring to a series of pipe bombs sent last week to a media organization he purports to loathe, CNN, and a handful of Democratic political opponents and critics he has routinely slagged - calls it "this 'Bomb' stuff." He regrets the bomb stuff, but not because lives were at risk. He regrets it because he felt he had favorable political momentum and life - via the actions of an unhinged bomber enamored of Trump's noxious sloganeering - got in the way and changed the discussion. "Very unfortunate."

The bomb threats gave the media a subject to cover that evoked the more virulent contours of the American landscape. They also reminded voters of the political violence Trump has often stoked while also distracting them from two bits of demagoguery he already had been unspooling.

The first of those efforts involved describing a caravan of Central American migrants thousands of miles from the U.S. border as the latest threat to national security ("an invasion of our Country"). Trump, without any evidence, described the migrants in mid-October as populated by "criminals and unknown Middle Easterners." This wasn't his first attempt to sensationalize that threat, either. He warned of a different caravan threat back in April. Although that group eventually dissipated, chatter about it among Trump supporters and friendly media pundits set in motion a new myth that the president never bothered to dispel: The caravan was funded by a wealthy Jewish financier, George Soros.

As attention turned away from Trump's manufactured caravan threat, he recently heightened the drama by ordering more than 5,000 soldiers to the southern border to intercept the "invasion." Operation Faithful Patriot, as the mission is reportedly to be named, promises to be tricky: It's clearly a political ploy (raising the question of why taxpayers rather than, say, the Republican Party, should shoulder the cost of deploying the troops) and the military is largely forbidden from getting involved in domestic law enforcement anyhow.

Trump's second effort to stir up the white voting bloc that shares his fear of outsiders and people of color came early last week when he let it be known that he was a "nationalist." Trump, who once kept a volume of Hitler's speeches by his bedside and has invoked Nazi and Stalinist phrases to smear his critics, surely understands the Aryan echoes that come with labeling himself a "nationalist." But whatever mojo he hoped to gain with voters from mucking about in Nazism ran up against the unexpected specter of bomb threats and, most searingly, a neo-Nazi's murder spree in Pittsburgh.

Trump hasn't been one to let tragedy force him to put self-aggrandizement or politics aside. In the wake of the international outcry that greeted the recent murder of Jamal Khashoggi, Trump was more eager to defend Saudi Arabia against critics wondering about the kingdom's role in the journalist's death than he was about getting to the bottom of the affair.

Whatever sense of goodwill or national unity Trump may have been trying to create on Tuesday by visiting Pittsburgh was tempered by statements that Axios published the same day in which the president said he planned to end birthright citizenship in the U.S. via an executive order. (Because the 14th Amendment deems anyone born in the U.S. a citizen, and Congress is in charge of granting citizenship, the president has no hope of meeting his goal through an executive order; on the other hand, he successfully used the media to telegraph to his supporters that he was still trying to make America a home for his kind of Americans.)

Amid all of this, it appears that Trump advisers don't believe Republicans will keep control of the House of Representatives and are instead targeting their efforts on shoring up vulnerable Senate seats ahead of next week's midterms. That's a scenario the president himself certainly recognizes even if he's unlikely to fully embrace it until election results are in. In the meantime, expect the Nationalist-in-Chief to continue to traffic in the campaign tactics he knows best: Fear, bigotry and exclusion.

O'Brien is the executive editor of Bloomberg Opinion. He has been an editor and writer for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, HuffPost and Talk magazine. His books include "TrumpNation: The Art of Being The Donald."
Please join the Napa Valley Republican Women Federated organization on Nov. 8 at The Runway by Patrick for a special tribute to all military veterans. With Veterans Day on Nov. 11, we are proud to honor all veterans living and dead, and extend a warm welcome to veterans to share this special day with us, as we welcome our Yountville veterans, Travis Air Force base, and especially our veterans living in the Napa Valley.

In the United States, the function of Veterans Day is subtly different from that of other November holidays.

World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. Fighting had ceased several months earlier on Nov. 11, 1918 when the armistice was signed between the Allied nations and Germany.

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as Armistice Day. In May 1938, a bill was signed designating Nov. 11 a legal holiday. This was declared a day dedicated to the cause of world peace, and to honor all veterans of World War l.

On June 1, 1954, a public law proclaimed Nov. 11 a legal holiday now renamed as Veterans Day. Veterans Day continues to be observed on Nov. 11, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls. The focus of Veterans Day is the honoring of veterans for their patriotism and love of country, as well as for their willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good of the country.

Our guest speaker will be Charlie Schaupp, a retired Marine Corps veteran who served in the Gulf and Iraq wars, eventually reaching the rank Lieutenant Colonel. He knows firsthand the needs of our veterans and the importance of our active duty military. Charlie believes, as the Constitution states, that no issue can be more important than to provide for the common defense of our freedoms and liberties.

Charlie is currently running for Californias 3rd Congressional District in the House of Representatives. He is a member of the Yolo County farming family that has been farming in Northern California since the 1880s.

Please invite a veteran to come and share the special tribute that honors all veterans on Nov. 8 at The Runway by Patrick located at 2044 Airport Rd., Napa. Check-in is at 11 a.m. The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m.

For reservations please RSVP at rsvprepwomen@gmail.com or call (707) 255-5613.

Gaylon Kastner

Napa Valley Republican Women Federated
The first wine I ever tasted made by Gary Farrell was a 1978 Davis Bynum Pinot Noir. It was double-blind at a wine competition, and I was wowed.

I was seated next to the great winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff at the 1981 Sonoma County Harvest Fair wine competition, and both Andre and I voted the wine a gold medal, but we were outvoted by the other three judges. The wine wound up with a silver medal.

Later, Andre told me that it was a great wine. Whoever made that wine, said Tchelistcheff, has a great palate.

He said he appreciated the perfect balance and excellent acidity.

I soon learned that in 1978, Davis Bynum had promoted Farrell from assistant winemaker and his son, Hamp, to winemaker. In the next few years, Farrell, a quiet, unassuming but brilliant man, would make mostly startling Bynum wines, many of them Pinot Noirs.

In the early 1980s, he started his own wine brand and eventually made great Zinfandels, Sauvignon Blancs, Gewurztraminers, and some of the industrys most famed, in-demand Pinots.

Wine lovers today know that the visionary Davis Bynum was a Pinot pioneer in the Russian River Valley, that Williams Selyem established a worldwide reputation for some of the finest Pinot Noirs ever made, and that led to an explosion of interest in not only that grape, but also in western Sonoma County as one of the blessed places on earth to grow Pinot Noir.

Truly knowledgeable people know Farrell deserves as much credit as anyone for proving that Russian River Valley was Pinot Noir heaven. He reached for the stars with every bottling, and his efforts over three decades were remarkable.

Not always recognized for their greatness by some East-Coast big-is-better wine freaks, Farrells more elegant wines always captured the spirit of cool-climate wine-growing, a widely appreciated trait in California that calls for a true understanding of Burgundian diversity and balance.

It calls for knowledge of the importance of structure, and why great Pinot rarely conforms to the the broad generalizations demanded by some self-proclaimed Pinot experts.

Gary Farrell Vineyards and Winery, built in 2000, is located in a fairly quiet stretch of Westside Road south of the Wohler Bridge. Ostentation was never its goal. Quality was.

The story of the project is complex, and entails a wine-loving investor and the sale of the project in 2004 to Vincraft Group. Its officers are Pete Scott, former chief financial officer for Napas Beringer; Walt Klenz, former president of Beringer, and William Price III, the owner of two great Sonoma County vineyards (Durell and Gaps Crown), who also owns other wine interests including a partnership in Kistler Vineyards.

After a short stint with prestigious but small Alysian Vineyards nearby, Farrell left the wine industry to pursue other business interests. He remains a resident of Sonoma County.

As for the winery bearing his name, it always pursued his demand for quality, which pleased him. And soon it was time for a new winemaker.

With such industry talent leading Vincraft, it was inevitable the partners would find sensitive Pinot Noir specialist Theresa Heredia, who had made great Pinots at Joseph Phelps western Sonoma County brand, Freestone Vineyards. She soon was hired as the new Farrell winemaker, and as soon as I tasted her first Pinot Noirs under that brand, I knew the project was in great hands.

In 2016, at one of our catch-up lunches, Gary told me he couldnt be more pleased by the new owners choice. The winery style continued to replicate Farrells approach almost as if he had written down instructions.

Whats distinctive about the project is that it never owned a lot of the grapes that produced its terrific wines. What it did have is what Tchelistcheff implied decades ago: a brilliant palate and a style that could maximize the best Sonoma County vineyards Farrell could find  most owned by growers who would work with him.

This meant Farrell could choose only those grapes he knew would work. And that was evident from something Heredia told me in a recent interview in the newly redesigned tasting room with a glorious view of the site:

Even though she works primarily in cool climates, she said, We pick earlier than most of the others who get fruit from the same vineyards. It retains the acidity that I believe is essential for a great wine, and it was ostensibly the same message Farrell gave me when I met him in 1986.

A testament to Farrells adherence to his philosophy of balance and good acidity is the fruit he identified from independent vineyards, usually long before many others.

They include Rochioli, Howard Allen, Bacigalupi, Hallberg (off Highway 116 in Sebastopol), Kent Ritchie, Bob Pellegrinis Olivet Lane, Prices Durrell and Gaps Crown, costal-facing Fort Ross Seaview to the north, and even the great Santa Maria property, Bien Nacido.

Heredia still buys fruit from these great vineyards  another nod to a man whose very first Pinot Nior, made 40 years ago, impressed the greatest of all California winemakers.

Wine of the Week: 2015 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Hallberg Vineyard ($55)  Yes, it is expensive. But with its juicy complex fruit of raspberry jam, red cherry, and Burgundian forest spices, it is simply one of the most impressive Pinot Noirs I have ever tasted on release. Not only is the vineyard one of the finest in California, it was farmed perfectly for Heredias more restrained style. Yet the wine delivers amazing complexity, partially because of perfect, restrained aging in French oak barrels. I compared this wine to three other superb Pinots whose average price is $80. As much as I love the others, I preferred this one. Burgundy collectors may love this wine and could easily rate it a relative bargain!

Dan Berger lives in Sonoma County, where he publishes Vintage Experiences, a weekly wine newsletter. Write to him at winenut@gmail.com. He is also co-host of California Wine Country with Steve Jaxon on KSRO Radio, 1350 AM.
While wine has reigned for decades as the suggested beverage of choice at dining establishments worldwide, there is a new ally, a category that is growing fast and making strong partnerships in the culinary world.

Sake or Nihonshu has arrived and here to stay. Chefs and sommeliers at some of the most influential and celebrated restaurants are championing this historic beverage that calls Japan home.

Due to its ingredients, methods of production and delivery, sake makes for a versatile companion to a variety of cuisines. The possibilities are virtually endless when it comes to finding masterpiece pairings.

It is inevitable to acknowledge the surge of Japanese restaurants led by mom and pop sushi joints, ramen houses and robata/yakitori places that have helped spread the need and availability of sake throughout the world. However, a decent number of non-Asian inspired restaurants and watering holes have paved the way for sake to shine and enjoy a platform where it can be exposed to a diverse group of young and seasoned imbibers. Examples come up every day in our neighborhoods and never cease to amaze.

During a recent visit to New York City, I couldnt help to notice the presence of sake at various establishments, including Enrique Olveras renowned Cosme Restaurant focusing on traditional Mexican dishes full of layers of flavor ranging from sweet to spicy and everything in between.

The thoughtfully curated beverage list features two sakes: the soft, delicate and seductive Gingashizuku Divine Droplets Junmai Daiginjo from Takasago Shuzo in Hokkaido, and the complex and umami driven Mana 1751 True Vision Yamahai Junmai Ginjo Muroka from Manotsuru Shuzo located in Fukui, both available by the glass.

One of the standout pairings is certainly the duck carnitas served with house made tortillas alongside a couple flavorful salsas, Mana 1751 certainly stands up for the dance and marriage of intensity and textures between the confit and braised duck, chilies and touch of sweet from the salsa hugging the sake and creating a seamless festival in the palate.

The West Coast of the United States is no exception, both established and awarded restaurants and new stars alike are incorporating sake into their programs and exposing it to new audiences.

Atelier Crenn, the brainchild of Dominique Crenn in San Francisco, has had great success with sake. When asked about the guests reactions to sake in the Frence-inspired California restaurant, wine director Matt Montrose replies, Extremely positively. Its a great little reset in the middle of the pairing menu, which gets people excited again, and it really forces a bit of a cerebral, introspective approach to the pairing  people tends to examine it a bit more which I find lends to better enjoyment. The younger generation is crazy about sake, and lots of people love the excitement of an interesting pairing.

Matt has been experimenting with sake pairings for quite some time. Some of the most successful styles are Honjozo and Junmai, he generally prefers Honjozo, with any dish with lactic or smoky flavors. Junmai with dishes that have any citrus or fruit elements.

Some of the most popular sakes offered at Atelier Crenn include Inoue Seikichi Sawahime Junmai Ginjo from the Tochigi prefecture, a sake that delivers a bouquet of white flowers with a touch of lime zest and a creamy, Bordeaux Blanc style texture and Tsurunoe Shuzo Aizu Chujo Daiginjo from Fukushima dominated by golden apple orchards on the nose, a layer of intoxicating green melon, a sharp and cleansing profile on the palate and a dry finish.

In the heart of Yountville in the Napa Valley, Chef Thomas Kellers The French Laundry has also featured sake for a handful of years making it an undeniable player in the mainstream world.

Avery, a multi course experience, local ingredient restaurant in San Francisco is going all out in regards of sake, their sake list offers an in-depth exploration of styles and rare bottles rarely encountered.

When we asked sake sommelier Daniel Bromberg how he is featuring sake, he said, We offer a comprehensive sake pairing. We can pair any dish with sake, but some of our favorites are cheese, wagyu beef and dessert.

It is certainly exciting to have a broad stroke approach in regards to presenting sake to guests. We know sake goes great with cheese and richer foods from previous Sake Today articles. But in reality, there arent many restaurants doing this regularly and Avery sure takes a head-on approach.

When asked what Sakes pair best with his cuisine, Daniel says, There isnt a style of sake we dont use or offer. Every style of sake offers a different perspective that is relevant in some way or another. For instance, we are pouring a very lively Spring Arabashiri Nama sake with lobster curry dish that showcases fresh spring vegetables.

Guests are often excited, curious, willing, and adventurous. Most leave with a new appreciation when it comes to sake he adds.

It is undeniably exciting times for sake in the United States and Europe. It seems like Nihonshu is thriving in a wide range of restaurants being recognized by some of the top and most recognized eateries and endorsed by world-class chefs but also a good number of every day more casual joints are making sake part of their offerings.

While strolling through the streets of Napa, one can encounter Melted, an established sandwich shop with plans to expand throughout the country. Since Day 1, sake has been a prominent feature in this place, which specializes in waffles replacing bread and served with a tomato soup to dip in.

The umami-charged soup is a natural friend to sake, which makes it a no-brainer. People get a kick when they see sake, order it and enjoy it alongside a waffle sandwich, they just dont expect it, Melted proprietor Paul Slack said.

A sake drinker himself, Paul thought it was good to showcase sake to a different crowd; he usually has 180 and 300ml bottles available for the adventurous kind.

Another huge factor responsible for the sake awareness in the mainstream is wine bars. Take, for example, High Treason, located in the Inner Richmond area in San Francisco.

On any given day, you can find a concentration of sommeliers and wine-driven professionals enjoying an intellectual conversation.

Aside from the hard-to-find wine selections, founders Michael Ireland and John Vuong have incorporated a number of sakes offered by the glass, on print alongside the wine offerings and meant to be enjoyed on its own or complemented by one of their selections of cured meats, sliders and bar snacks.

Worth mentioning is the bar staffs depth of knowledge and involvement with the program making sake an approachable and natural option. The range of styles and prices allows for a sake exploration for novices and connoisseurs alike.

In the Midwest U.S., chef Grant Achatzs Alinea Restaurant has introduced sake to his followers for a number of years, selections like Sudo Honke Shuzo Junmai Ginjo from Ibaraki have taken part of his creative experience.

I believe sake will be a more present and permanent guest in the mainstream restaurant world for the years to come.

Eduardo can be reached at eduardo@sakedrinker.com.
Synopsys boss pays tribute to Armenian Genocide victims

Russia peacekeepers escort 15 convoys to, from Artsakh in one week

Catholicos Karekin II to Patriarch Kirill: We appreciate your warm attitude towards Armenian Church, people

China fines Alibaba for violating antitrust law

36 new cases of coronavirus reported in Karabakh

UK Premier Johnson considering boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics

Artsakh President visits Askeran city, meets with regional capitals youth

President to Russia Patriarch: Armenian people highly value your efforts aimed at achieving peace in our region

870 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

8 injured in tragic accident on Yerevan-Gyumri motorway are discharged from hospital

China, Russia, US agree to promote political dialogue on Iran

Azerbaijan mother, son commit suicide on same day

One pedestrian dies on the spot, other hospitalized after hit by car in Armenia village area

US beauty consultant is accused of killing woman by injecting silicone into her butt

Brazil Amazon deforestation reaches highest level in 15 years

Newspaper: Armenia soldiers are prohibited from filming episodes from their service, posting them on internet

Newspaper: Armenia opposition is forming large-scale resistance network

Armenia President visits National University of Singapore

Gia, wanted by French law-enforcement authorities, found at Armenia's Bagratashen checkpoint

Leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia agree to meet in Brussels

European Council: Pashinyan and Aliyev agreed to establish direct communication line at level of defense ministers

Armenia's Representative to OSCE speaks about Azerbaijan's recent attack at Permanent Council's session

Armenia serviceman Meruzhan Harutyunyan, killed in Syunik Province, was buried at Yerablur Military Pantheon

Armenian News-NEWS.am's special report: Drive from Kapan to Tchakatashen is 150 km instead of previous 8 km

3 Armenian servicemen killed during Nov. 16 Azerbaijani attack posthumously awarded presidential medals

Left-wing trade unions hold protest against Turkey's Erdogan in Izmir

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
YEREVAN.  Armenia is ready for talks for the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations, acting PM Nikol Pashinyan said in the parliament in response to ARF deputy Ruzanna Arakelyan.

I exclude that our government and our people can make any move with the power of force, threats and blockade, he emphasized.

Pashinyan said linking relations between the two countries to the ties with the third country is absurd.

The Republic of Armenia is ready for normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations without preconditions. No one should assess this in a way that we denigrate the issue of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian Genocide is not a matter of Armenian-Turkish relations. It's not a matter of Armenia but an issue of international security, and it is our contribution to the global movement for the prevention of genocides, acting PM said.

Pashinyan recalled that the Armenian-Turkish border is closed by Turkey because of the Karabakh conflict.

It is a bad policy, because if anyone is hopeful that the Republic of Armenia or the people of Karabakh can be forced to accept this or that version of Karabakh settlement by force and threats, he is simply wrong, Pashinyan concluded.
I wont rape you, because youre not worth the effort, screamed Jair Bolsonaro from a podium inside the lower house of the Brazilian Congress, addressing his fellow Federal Deputy, Maria do Rosario, on December 9, 2014.

Bolsonaro was incensed that Rosarioalso Human Rights Minister under then-President Dilma Rousseffhad lauded the National Truth Commission in honor of Human Rights Day for its investigation into abuses of the countrys 1964 to 1985 military dictatorship.

A retired army captain and current presidential candidate, Bolsonaro held a different perspective: that the biggest mistake of the dictatorship had been to torture rather than kill most of its victims. The next day, Bolsonaro reiterated his disinterest in raping Rosario during a newspaper interview with Zero Hora, explaining that she was very bad, very ugly and not his type. She sued, and ten months later, Judge Tatiana Dias da Silva ordered him to retract his statements publically and to compensate Rosario 10,000 reais for moral damages (danos morais).

The case landed in the Brazil Supreme Court, which ultimately decided in Rosarios favor. But the ruling did little to chasten Bolsonaro. Just last month, the court dismissed Attorney General Raquel Dodges charges that the presidential candidate had used racist language on the campaign trail.

During a 2017 speech at the Hebrew Club of Rio de Janeiro, Bolsonaro had juxtaposed fat and slothful descendants of rebel slaves (quilombolas) and hardworking Japanese-descended Brazilians, who would be too ashamed to beg on the street. He called Native Brazilian reservations a joke (brincadeira), and promised his administration would not demarcate a single centimeter of additional land for indigenous peoples. He described boatloads of Haitians, Angolans, and Chinese arriving to Brazilian shores to siphon off public health care and education, reiterating his opposition to affirmative action (cotas), and reminding listeners that Brazil was for Brazilians. Amidst a mix of applause and heckling, he told a divided audience that despite their possible differences, his heart was green and yellow, just like theirs.

A seven-term Federal Deputy, Bolsonaro (Liberal Social Party, PSL) won 46 percent of the national vote in the crowded first round of presidential elections (and nearly 81 percent among Brazilians voting from Florida), handily defeating twelve other candidates on the Oct. 7 ballot. Subsequent polls indicate that 57 percent of eligible voters will support him on Oct. 28 in the next and final round against second-place candidate, Fernando Haddad (Workers Party, or PT), who currently polls around 43 percent.

Haddad, who holds a law degree and a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Sao Paulo, previously served as Minister of Education (2005-12), and held one term as an unpopular mayor of Sao Paulo (2013-17). He accepted his partys nomination less than one month before the electiononly after Brazils high court banned former President Luis Inacio (Lula) da Silva from running for office. da Silva is serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption and money laundering, and faces additional charges related to a multi-billion dollar bribery scheme involving Petrobras (the national oil company), as well as dozens of businesses and hundreds of politicians across Brazil and the rest of Latin America (and in Miami). While da Silva affirms his innocence, and Rousseff has not been found guilty in the massive web of graft, the ongoing criminal investigation, otherwise known as Operation Car Wash (Operacao Lava Jato), has made the Workers Party and its leadership the target of colossal public outrage since it began in March 2014.

Lacking widespread recognition as a national figure in a country where more than 147 million people are legally bound to vote, Haddad bears the weight of his partys legacy and finds himself in a nearly impossible position. On the one hand, diehard partisans imagine a Haddad presidency might safeguard some of the PTs most popular social policies and help secure a pardon for Lula. (The possibility of pardon is unclear, as President Michel Temer signed a decree in 2017 that altered the Constitutional provision, and has since been challenged and revised by the Supreme Court). On the other hand, any prospect of Haddad pardoning Lula risks alienating middle-ground voters who deeply dislike Bolsonaro, but also deeply distrust the Workers Party.

Anti-PT [voters] against Bolsonaro (Antipetistas contra Bolsonaro), has become a popular Facebook meme that captures the paradox faced by these members of the electorate. The eleventh-hour candidate thus walks a political tightropesporting a Lula t-shirt, while arguing that the former president desires not exoneration, but an opportunity to prove his innocence. Brazil is not for beginners, as composer Tom Jobim famously observed.

The depth and magnitude of anti-PT sentiment have certainly contributed to Bolsonaros popularity and now widely expected victory. Some voters point to the countrys grave socioeconomic crises and choose to look away from the candidates odious rhetoric, rationalizing that they have little left to lose. But antipetismo alone cannot explain how a man with a long and clearly documented history of offending massive swaths of the Brazilian population has catapulted himself to cult-like status at the forefront of the national political scene.

The candidates campaign materials and stump speeches reveal that his most ardent supporters do not look past his hateful and decisive bombast, but indeed celebrate it. Bolsonaros verbal assaults on fellow Federal Deputy, Rosario, for example, appear on his website with the title, Bolsonaro puts Maria do Rosario in her place.

Devotees refer to their candidate as a myth (mito)a frequent online comment and campaign chant that became even more popular after he survived a brutal stabbing attack last month.

Bolsonaros popularity among women, people of color, and residents of the marginalized communities he so often demonizes is nothing short of enigmatic. But clearly, the candidate has hit a collective nerve among a broad cross-section of the population by linking drug-related violence and other public safety concernsboth of which disproportionally impact the poorto the countrys socioeconomic crisis. And he has successfully transformed one of his preferred campaign terms, delinquency (vagabundagem), into a blanket attack on all his declared enemies, ranging from communists and crooks to do-nothings and Indians who have the audacity to resist integration into mainstream society.

Minorities must bow down to the majority or simply disappear! Bolsonaro yells out to his riled crowds.

Blaming backwards peoples for the countrys social ills is an old discourse in Brazil, and Native Brazilians have heard the story many times beforeincluding from the Workers Party, which failed miserably to safeguard indigenous lands or other interests. But Bolsonaro has revived the false charge with tremendous fervor, along with familiar, elusive solutions of miscegenation and racial democracy.

All Brazilians are the same! he blusters time and again, indignant that some indigenous peoples wish to preserve their resource-rich lands for posterity, rather than sell them to mining companies.

Among the newly-elected Congress members riding on Bolsonaros coattails (alongside those representing evangelical Christians and the gun lobby), is the so-called bancada ruralista  legislators backed by landholding elites who see indigenous peoples and conservationists as their archenemies. If a President Bolsonaro is able to follow through on his promise to join the United States in withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, he will find great support for that initiative among this contingent, as well as from a collection of interest groups who characterize environmentalism as either an international plot to take over the Amazon, or a folly that keeps Brazil from realizing its economic potential.

He will also hear at least one new voice of opposition alongside that of Maria do Rosario. Joenia (Wapixana) Batista de Carvalhoa Native Brazilian lawyer who argued successfully before the Supreme Court in 2008 to protect the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Territory in her home state of Roraimawill be the first indigenous woman, and only the second indigenous person, ever to serve in the National Congress. Those who observe the unfolding political scenario with some combination of incredulity, sorrow, outrage, and trepidation might find some small inspiration in remembering that Wapixana and her people have survived the Bolsonaros of Brazil for 518 years.

Tracy Devine Guzman is director of graduate studies in the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, and an associate professor of Latin American studies.
Posted by Mark Williams | October 4, 2016

Thank you, Donald Trump. In response to Trump's attack of Ford Motor Co. for moving small-car production out of Michigan to Mexico, Bill Johnson, United Auto Workers chairman at Ford's Wayne, Mich., plant, confirmed that Ford will produce the new Ford Ranger mid-size pickup truck and Bronco small SUV at the same plant that will be moving Focus and C-Max production to Mexico, where the vehicles will be made less expensively.

According to RoadandTrack.com, there will be many Ford fans anxiously awaiting both a smaller pickup and better Jeep Wrangler competitor.

Ford produces the global Ranger pickup around the world and is quite successful, winning customer loyalty and third-party awards from enthusiast and commercial outlets. Extremely popular in Australia, the new Ranger is likely to shrink in overall size compared to the current global model because it has a footprint similar to that of the current regular-cab long-bed and SuperCab short-bed F-150.

Earlier reports had the Ranger slated to enter the U.S. marketplace by the 2019 model year, meaning that plant upgrades are likely to start sometime next year. We assume the new Bronco SUV would make its debut sometime shortly thereafter.

The new Ranger will go head-to-head with the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado  not to mention a new Nissan Frontier, set to be redesigned for the 2018 model year as well. As the mid-size segment continues to grow, we fully expect more manufacturers to be lured into the downsized pickup arena, offering a variety of options from traditional offerings to more elongated crossovers with storage beds. There's no doubt the new Ranger will be the former.

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surprised about Bird Box getting a theatrical release, but I guess since Bier is an Oscar winner and highly regarded, they'd take the small chance. Good decisions.

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I can't wait to see ROMA.

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I loathe LOVE. The main characters are named Gus and Mickey. I should have known.





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I just cant imagine myself going into NYC to see any of these when the gap between its release and netflix premiere is so small. Maybe Roma because people say its supposed to be seen on a big screen (but most indie theaters in NYC that would show it dont have the greatest viewing experience anyway.)

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From what the guys on We Hate Movies said, Roma deserves to be seen with the full theater experience.

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i might consider bird box to be honest, if it's playing at an amc. then again december is gonna be STACKED so i might just stick with streaming it. i don't care either way about the coens' movie and already saw roma

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Those energy analysts who are not yet bored to death with the whole Iran business must be having a field day making forecast after forecast about how many barrels the country will lose following next Mondays snap-back of U.S. sanctions. There is a lot of space for speculation and guesswork, and even those who are wary of making shocking forecasts dont have a lot of facts to work with. Yet its been six months since President Trump announced the sanctions, and since then a lot of data has accumulatedand is still coming insuggesting that the initial shocking forecasts of losses of between 1.5 and 2 million bpd in Iranian exports were slightly exaggerated.

Data compiled by ClipperData and reported by the Energy Information Administration, for one thing, suggests that Iran exported a little less than 2 million bpd in September. Thats the same month when there was a flurry of media reports about sharp drops in Iranian exports based on conventional tanker tracking, suggesting that Iran had lost as much as 1 million bpd in outbound shipments. As the ClipperData figuresand regular updates based on satellite imaging from TankerTrackers.comshow this is not the actual case.

While Japanese and South Korean refiners said publicly that they have stopped all Iranian oil purchases ahead of the sanctionsin hopes of securing a waiver from the U.S. Department of TreasuryChina and India continued guzzling Iranian crude in substantial amounts. China bought about 440,000 bpd of Iranian crude in September, ClipperData estimated, with India importing 576,000 bpd. Thats down from the average for the first half of the year but not dramatically: the H1 average for China was 644,000 bpd and for India it was 554,000 bpd.

Just yesterday, TankerTrackers.com reported almost all Iranian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf have now switched off their geolocation devices and were moving around back and forth between ports to create confusion.

This basically means the market would have to wait for at least a couple of weeks after November 5 to get any relatively reliable data about how Iranian exports are faring amid the sanctions. Even so, some analysts are once again predicting losses of 1-1.5 million bpd.

Iran, meanwhile, is preparing. Earlier this week media reported that President Rouhani had replaced the economic team of the government and that four cargoes of crude were sold on the Iranian energy exchange. The amount is not a great one at less than 300,000 bpd, but it could be the start of something regular. Related: OPEC's Radical Strategy Change After The Midterms

The idea for the exchange is to have private local entities buy the crude and then resell it to foreign traders. Analysts accurately point out that this would still put the foreign entities on the hook for penalties from Washington, as doing business with Iranian entities would constitute a breach of the sanctions. Yet smugglers would hardly care about Iranian sanctions, so there is a good chance that illegal entities would make use of this option.

At the same time, Washington is looking into waivers, according to a State Department spokeswoman who spoke to S&P Global Platts this week. "Our goal remains to get to zero oil imports from Iran as quickly as possible. We are prepared to work with countries that are reducing their imports on a case-by-case basis."

Although the two parts of this statement are kind of mutually exclusive, chances are even the most hawkish hawks in the Trump administration have realized that they do not have complete control over who buys Iranian crude, and there is such a thing as a black market that Iran must be familiar with given its past sanction experience.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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President Donald Trump has determined there was enough crude oil and oil products supply globally to offset any loss of supply from Iran after U.S. sanctions enter into force next week.

In a memorandum, Trump said there is a sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products from countries other than Iran to permit a significant reduction in the volume of petroleum and petroleum products purchased from Iran by or through foreign financial institutions.

The memorandum also mentioned there was enough spare production capacity globally to allow for any necessary production increase. Amid growing worry about the global economy, however, the necessity for any production increases in oil has been questioned by analysts and Saudi Arabias Energy Minister, Khalid al-Falih, although Falih also separately said the Kingdom will continue to boost production this month.

Earlier this week, Reuters reported that the worlds top three producersRussia, the United States, and Saudi Arabiapumped 33 million bpd combined in September. A month later, Russias production alone hit another post-Soviet record of 11.41 million bpd.

These figures are in line with the sentiment expressed by President Trump and expectations by some observers that the effect of the sanctions entry into effect on prices will be moderate. This is what the Congressional Research Services top Iran expert Kenneth Katzman said, commenting on Trumps memorandum, as quoted by the Washington Examiner.

Recent reports that Irans oil exports ahead of the sanctions were higher than earlier estimated also provided fuel for expectations of a moderate price effect, as did the news that Washington has granted India a waiver from the sanctions, obviously satisfied with the nations efforts to reduce its imports from Iran.

Sanctions against Iran will enter into effect on November 5 at midnight, a day before the mid-term elections in the United States. Keeping a lid on oil prices ahead of the vote has been a priority for the Trump administration.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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I'm tempted to say the following to the writers of two recent pieces (here and here) outlining the continuing negative free cash flow of companies fracking for oil in America: "Tell me something I don't already know."

But apparently their message (which has been true for years) needs to be repeated. This is because investors can't seem to understand the significance of what those two pieces make abundantly clear: The shale oil industry in the United States is using investor money to subsidize oil consumers and to line the pockets of top management with no long-term plan to build value.

There is no other conclusion to draw from the fact that free cash flow continues to be wildly negative for those companies most deeply dependent on U.S. shale oil deposits. For those to whom "free cash flow" is a new term, let me explain: It is operating cash flow (that is, cash generated from operations meaning the sale of oil and related products) minus capital expenditures. If this number remains negative for too long for a company or an industry, it's an indication that something is very wrong.

Only nine of 33 shale oil exploration and production companies reviewed in the report cited above had positive free cash flow for the first half of 2018. This is even though prices had risen all the way from a low of around $30 in 2016 to the mid-$70 range by the middle of this year.

To get an idea of just how bad it has been even through periods when the price of oil averaged above $100 in 2011, 2012, 2013 and most of 2014, here are the annual free cash flows in dollars of those 33 companies combined since 2010 and they are all negative: -14 billion (2010), -21.9 billion (2011), -37.8 billion (2012), -16.8 billion (2013), -33 billion (2014), -34.4 billion (2015), -18.3 billion (2016), -15.5 billion (2017).

Capital expenditures are what companies invest in future productionin this case, the acquisition of new oil deposits and the drilling and completion of new wells and associated infrastructure. Because operating cash flow has not been sufficient to cover the drilling of new wells, companies must either issue new debt or new shares to raise money to do so. The former makes companies more likely to go bankrupt if oil prices turn down and the latter dilutes the value of the company for existing shareholders. Either way, it's not good news for investors.

So, maybe you are asking: "Why don't the companies save up enough money to drill new wells before they go prospecting?" The answer lies in understanding the decline rates of existing wells. After three years most shale wells are producing 70 to 90 percent less oil than when they began. (Compare this to the worldwide decline rate for oil production of between 4 and 5 percent per year which over three years comes to between 11 to 14 percent.) The situation has been likened to trying to run up a down escalator. The faster the escalator is going down (well decline rates), the harder it is to make any progress going up (that is, increase production). In order to keep a company's overall production growing, the company must drill continuously or risk declining production which would lead to a vicious cycle of declining cash flows needed to drill new wells. Related: The Clock Is Ticking: How Much Oil Will Iran Lose?

To avoid this scenario, such companies seek extra money every year in the form of debt and/or stock issuance in order to fund new drilling. Now here's why this is unworkable in the long run. An example outside the industry will help illustrate the problem: A company engaged in manufacturing might be able to justify negative free cash flow for years as it builds out its manufacturing facilities to make more products in more markets.

After a few years if the strategy works, the company could be well-positioned to dominate its markets and make a handsome profit for investors. Things, of course, don't always work out the way companies want them to. But there is a logic to continuous investment in such a company in the face of negative free cash flow. This is because investors have reason to believe they are building long-term profitability. Factories stick around; they suffer wear and tear, but they don't deplete as oil does. And, those who run them tend to get better over time at making their factories more productive, not less.

The same cannot be said for companies which extract shale oil because of its high decline rate. If operating cash flows are not sufficient to fund capital expenditures relatively soon after the company begins its drilling program, then the company must drill furiously simply to avoid a production decline let alone achieve the production increases which are good for stock prices.

Production increases can actually be achieved for a time with a lot of effort and expenditure. But, here's the problem: As the number of producing wells rises sharply, the number of wells that must be drilled each year JUST TO KEEP PRODUCTION LEVEL RISES SHARPLY AS WELL. At some point, the best most productive places to drill are used up. The company must move on to places that are less productive and so must drill even more wells than it otherwise would have (usually at higher costs) just to keep production level.

The shale oil companies say that technology will solve the problem. But so far, the evidence suggests that the decline curves are getting steeper. Production from new wells is falling faster than before, an indication that companies are already moving away from the best prospects to more marginal deposits. The largest independent oil company operating in the shale oil industry, Pioneer Natural Resources, suffered a decline of 56 percent in the rate of production in 2017 from wells in production at the end of 2016. That means that the company had to replace more than half its production last year with new wells BEFORE it could grow production (which it managed to do). Related: Can Russia Relieve The Iranian Oil Crisis?

But as the herculean efforts to grow production face greater and greater decline rates and the need to replace falling production from a larger and larger number of EXISTING wells, it will at some point become impossible to grow production or even to maintain it. The number of new wells which must be drilled will exceed the number of suitable places to drill them and/or the capacity of drilling equipment available.

That's the point at which the jig is up. That moment could be brought forward for companies if the price of oil crashes or if the economy crashes and investment dollars stop flowing to the shale oil companies. If companies cannot finance extensive new drilling continuously, the illusion of success will be shown for what it is.

Meanwhile, top management keeps getting paid bonuses to burn investor cash and consumers get oil for less than the actual long-term cost of production. It's one of those rare instances in which the top 1 percent (and a lot of other suckers) are lured by an incomplete understanding into an investment that subsidizes the lives of the 99 percent.

But don't count on this arrangement lasting far into the future. The day of reckoning is coming. Those who can figure out precisely when or simply get lucky guessing when can make a fortune on the downside by betting against what some have call the shale oil Ponzi scheme. There is a way, however, to profit from any Ponzi scheme if you are already invested in one and you recognize it: Get out before it comes crashing down!

By Kurt Cobb

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Canada has no energy plan beyond pedal-to-the-metal export of its non-renewable energy assets.

Thats the bottom line of a recent opinion piece in Calgary Herald by David Hughes, an earth scientist and research associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

Canada needs a long-term energy plan to wean itself from fossil fuels and move to renewable energy, Hughes writes.

While Canada will continue to rely on oil and gas in the foreseeable future, the country is currently exporting its oil at rock bottom prices, and continues to push for a pipelinethe Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansionto export it to Asian markets. However, Canadian oil wont fetch much higher prices in the worlds fastest-growing oil market Asia, as the federal government and Alberta province hope, Hughes argues.

The costs for sending Albertas heavy oil to the U.S. Gulf Coast are lower than the transportation costs to sell said oil to Asia via an expanded Trans Mountain pipeline and then oil tankers. Albertas oil can sell in the United States for $2-$5 per barrel more than it would sell in Asia, according to Hughes.

Two pipelines to the United States with double the capacity of Trans Mountain are currently under development. These two new pipelines would ease pipeline takeaway constraints before 2022, the earliest possible completion date for the Trans Mountain expansion, if it goes ahead, Hughes says.

Therefore, the current push to save the Trans Mountain Expansion Project and sell off the Alberta oil as fast as possible makes little sense, he wrote. Related: Worlds Cheapest Natural Gas Market Could Be Facing A Shortage

Its the capacity constraints that have been severely depressing the price of Western Canadian Select (WCS)the benchmark price of oil from Canadas oil sands delivered at Hardisty, Albertawhich has been selling for as low as $20 a barrel in recent weeks.

Trans Mountain has faced numerous hurdles for years, including staunch opposition in British Columbia, but the biggest blow to the project came two months ago.

In August, a Federal Court of Appeal quashed the federal governments approval of the expansion project, saying that the NEBs review of the project was fraught with flaws that made it unsuitable as a basis for the governments approval. The court ruled that the NEB failed to adequately consider how increased tanker traffic off British Columbias coasts would affect the environment and First Nations people in the region.

Canadas federal government instructed in September the National Energy Board (NEB) to review the project again, this time also taking into account the impact of the expected higher oil tanker traffic off the British Columbia coast.

The short-term plan to sell off Canadas heavy oil to Asia is one of the reasons why the country needs a long-term strategy to rely more on renewable energy to curb emissions and to meet Paris climate goals, Hughes argues. Another reason is the fact that conventional oil and gas production in Canada peaked years agooil in 1973 and gas in 2001so significant production growth now comes only from emission-heavy oil sands and fracking, he said.

In addition, royalties from oil and gas production have slumped by 44 percent in the past decade and a half, despite the fact that liquids production jumped by 77 percent between 2000 and 2017, Hughes writes, citing data from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). Related: Cold Snap Could Send Natural Gas To $5

Its time to look at the big picture and develop a viable energy plan that will meet Canadas long-term energy needs and emissions reduction targets, Hughes said.

According to Natural Resources Canada, renewable energy sources currently provide around 17 percent of Canadas total primary energy supply, with wind and solar energy the fastest growing sources of electricity in Canada. Of the total renewable energyincluding energy consumed for electricity and heat production and biofuels in the transportation sectorhydropower accounts for 67.5 percent, followed by solid biomass with 22.6 percent, and wind power with 5.4 percent.

Planning for the energy transition and global peak oil demandwhenever this comesis a commendable effort and many countries have such plans with targets in place. In a decade or two, it could make sense for Canada, too. But currently, the oil and natural gas industry is a key part of the Canadian economy. The industry contributed US$83.1 billion (C$109 billion) in direct real gross domestic product last year, or 6.25 percent of Canadas GDP, according to CAPP.



By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Just a few days before U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil exports return on November 5, the keywords about how much of Irans oil will come off the market are lack of clarity.

On the one hand, its unclear how much Iranian oil will really be removed from the market, considering that Iran has already started to switch off transponders on board of some of its cargoes, although ship-tracking data on the tankers that can be tracked shows that Iranian oil exports are falling, but not as steeply as the market and analysts were expecting just a month or two ago.

On the other hand, its unclear whether the United States would grant any waivers, with U.S. Administration officials giving mixed signals.

Yet, one thing is clear, and here analysts were rightIrans top two single largest oil customers, China and India, will continue to import Iranian crude. Although China and Indias Iranian oil intake in recent months has fluctuated, and although some of their companies most exposed to the U.S. financial system have drastically reduced or outright stopped imports from Iran (like Indias Reliance Industries), the countries saw their imports in the first three weeks of October increase or hold steady around the volumes from recent months.

According to S&P Global Platts trade flow data, Irans oil shipments to China between October 1 and 21 averaged 800,000 bpd, up from around 600,000 bpd average for September. Last year, average Chinese imports of Iranian oil were 602,500 bpd, Platts has estimated.

About half of Chinas crude oil and condensate imports from Iran in October, around 400,000 bpd, were bound for a storage hub in Dalian in northeastern China, according to Platts sources and shipping data. The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has reportedly leased some storage capacity at Dalian.

Irans oil flows to India were 600,000 bpd in September and are estimated at around 500,000 bpd in October, Platts oil flow data suggests. Related: Can Russia Relieve The Iranian Oil Crisis?

India has told the U.S. that it would be impossible for India until at least next March to stop importing Iranian oilwhich is cheaper than alternativesbecause of Indias rising energy bill and weaker currency, an Indian government source told Reuters earlier this week.

We cannot end oil imports from Iran at a time when alternatives are costly, the source told Reuters.

The U.S. has reportedly broadly agreed to grant India a waiver from the sanctions, after Irans second-largest oil customer had agreed to reduce Iranian imports by a third in 2018-2019, Indias The Economic Times reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the issue.

Earlier this week, Robert Palladino, Deputy Spokesperson at the U.S. State Department, said at a briefing:

Our goal remains to get to zero oil purchases from Iran as quickly as possible. Thats not changed. And we are determined to implement our policy of maximum pressure on Iran, and thats our strategy. But we are prepared to work with countries that are reducing their imports on a case-by-case basis. The United States government currently is in the middle of an internal process to consider significant reduction exemptions for individual countries.

The lack of clarity about U.S. waivers from sanctions, whos getting such waivers (if at all), and how much reductions would be required for possibly winning a waiver, has been clouding the outlook for Irans oil supply to the market, while the sanctions snap back in just four days. Related: The Clock Is Ticking: How Much Oil Will Iran Lose?

In the first three weeks of October, Irans crude and condensate exports averaged around 1.90-1.95 million bpd according to Platts ship tracking data, but exports could be even higher due to the Iranian tactic to switch off tracking devices to conceal some volumes and destinations of its oil exports, sources say.



Iranian exports that can be tracked dropped to below 2 million bpd as early as in August, and analysts expected at the time that further steep drop-offs were imminent. However, Irans crude and condensate exports held at 1.9 million bpd in September, according to EIA estimates based on data from ClipperData.

Thats significantly lower than the peak of 2.7 million bpd in June this year, but still stubbornly high compared to some analyst estimates that the predicted sanctions could possibly choke off close to 2 million bpd of Irans oil exports.

Lack of clarity is still dominant regarding both Iranian exports and potential U.S. waivers, but Irans top two oil buyersChina and Indiaare not bringing their imports down to zero.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Donald Trumps trade war with China is starting to scare away oil and gas investments, as new trade barriers clouds the long-term outlook on exports.

Australia LNG announced that it would delay a final investment decision on its Magnolia LNG plant in Louisiana until next year, citing trouble securing enough buyers in China. We remain confident in our ability to reach (final investment decision) on Magnolia whether or not China participates, CEO Greg Vesey said in a tweet, before arguing that multiple opportunities with customers in Europe and Asia exist, and our discussions with them are proceeding well.

His company might still move forward, but will need to find buyers elsewhere because the U.S.-China trade war shows no signs of abating, at least as of now. The Trump administration has implemented two rounds of tariffs on China. The first round consisted of about $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods, which was followed by a much more dramatic 10 percent tariff on $200 billion in imports from China. That 10 percent tariff is set to jump to 25 percent at the end of the year.

A possible third and even more dramatic round is still in the cards, which would hit an additional $257 billion in Chinese goods. That would be even more significant because it would amount to just about the entirety of U.S. imports from China and would hit a broader set of consumer goods, and its effects would be felt across U.S. society as everyday items would likely see price increases.

However, as it relates to the oil and gas market, the effects of the trade war are already evident. China retaliated to U.S. tariffs a few months ago by slapping a tariff on U.S. LNG. Without a clear path towards resolution, LNG developers cannot move forward with investment in new export terminals. Related: The Clock Is Ticking: How Much Oil Will Iran Lose?

China is at the center of all global growth forecasts for LNG. The pace of Chinese demand for LNG largely determines the pace of global LNG demand growth. Chinese demand will also heavily influence prices, and thus, project economics, for the next decade or so. Any hiccup in Chinese demand will reverberate in gas markets around the world. The previously anticipated glut in LNG, and the recent tightness, all comes down to faster-than-expected imports of LNG into China.

As a result, a tariff on U.S. LNG into China upends the economics of any LNG export terminal within the United States.

A few weeks ago, Royal Dutch Shell gave the greenlight on a massive LNG export terminal on Canadas pacific coast. The move was made with the tightening market for LNG in mind, but also with a clear eye on China. Critically, however, Shell does not have to worry about tariffs. Developers in the U.S., on the other hand, do.

The delay of an FID on Australia LNGs Magnolia project in Louisiana is the clearest sign yet that the U.S.-China trade war is slowing investment. Chinese LNG demand growth is the largest piece of demand growth out there, and Chinese buyers have got to feel reluctant to commit to U.S. capacity when the U.S. government sees trade as a means of exerting political leverage, Bob Ineson, managing director of North American natural gas at IHS Markit, told Reuters.

Industry sources told Reuters that no Chinese company is signing any long-term LNG deal with American exporters until the trade war is resolved. There are at least six other projects that are either under construction or nearing FID decisions, with several more possible in the next few years.

New pipelines still need to connect the shale fields in Alberta and British Columbia to Canadas Pacific Coast. However, if the region is connected to the coast, then Shell will be able to export large volumes of gas to China. Other regions, including East Africa, Australia and the Persian Gulf are also expanding LNG export capacity.

The delays in the U.S., stemming from Trumps trade war, could be pivotal. This conflict could lead to many developers of U.S.-based projects missing this window, said LNG Canadas chief executive, Andy Calitz, according to Reuters. U.S. projects could end up dead in the water, while smaller LNG projects in Canada may actually move forward. Related: Trade War Puts The Brakes On U.S. LNG Dominance

Meanwhile, the next round of tariffs on China could provoke Chinese tariffs on U.S. crude oil. To date, China has held off on this option. China has increased its purchases of U.S. oil over the past year, but the escalating trade war has also scared away some Chinese companies in recent months. If the Trump administration moves forward with the next tranche of tariffs, Beijing might retaliate with levies on American crude.

US President Trump has again threatened to slap punitive tariffs on all imports from China. It is hardly conceivable that China would continue in this case to exempt US crude oil imports from its counter-tariffs, Commerzbank said in a note. The introduction of a 25% punitive tariff would make US crude oil prohibitively expensive for Chinese consumers and cause demand to shift to other suppliers. New consumers would then have to be found for US crude oil, which would continue to justify a high price discount as compared with Brent.

This is obviously not any sort of existential threat to oil and gas investments. But, the trade war could put an extra discount on WTI, while also acting as a barrier to investment for LNG projects in the U.S. for the foreseeable future.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

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Chinas imports of Iranian crude dropped in September both compared to the same month last year and to August, while crude oil imports from the U.S. doubled year-on-year in September despite the trade war, according to data from Chinas General Administration of Customs, carried by Reuters.

Chinese oil imports from Iran slumped by 34 percent on the year to 518,300 bpd in September. Chinas crude oil imports from Iran averaged 798,423 bpd in August, the customs data showed on Thursday.

Key Asian buyers of Iranian oil dramatically cut their purchases from Iran in September to the lowest level since the previous sanctions on Tehran were lifted in January 2016. While India increased its purchases of Iranian oil compared to September last year, China and Japan significantly reduced their imports from Iran, while South Korea stopped Iranian oil imports altogetherfor the first time since September 2012, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing ship-tracking and government data.

At the same time, Chinas crude oil imports from the United States more than doubled in September compared to a year earlier, to 1.04 million tonsor around 253,000 bpdfrom 495,551 tons, despite the fact that the U.S.-China trade war intensified at the end of the summer with more tariffs slapped by both sides. Most of the increase of Chinas U.S. imports came from Asias biggest refiner Sinopec, which purchases some 80 percent of all U.S. oil imported in China, a Chinese state oil official familiar with the countrys U.S. oil imports told Reuters.



Related: The Biggest Loser From New Fuel Standards

However, imports of U.S. crude oil by Chinese refiners are expected to plummet from October because of the trade war as importers fear that crude oil could be next on Chinas tariff list, according to the official.

Between January and September, Chinese imports of U.S. oil soared by 150 percent to average around 324,600 bpd, according to the customs data reported by Reuters.

In September, Chinese oil imports from its single biggest supplier Russia rose to 1.65 million bpd from 1.54 million bpd a year earlier, while imports from the second-largest supplier, Saudi Arabia, dropped by 12 percent year on year to 919,800 bpd, according to the Chinese customs data.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Canadas Encana said today it will buy Newfield Exploration for US$5.5 billion in an all-stock deal that will also assume Newfields debt of US$2.2 billion net. The deal will increase Encanas presence in the U.S. shale patch, making it one of the largest players in this field.

The acquisition should result in synergies of US$250 million annually, Encana also said, with oil and condensate production shooting up by more than 54 percent and proven reserves by as much as 85 percent.

Encana is firmly on a growth path, its focus on shale, with a solid presence in the Montney and Duvernay shale plays in Canada and now with a bigger presence in the Permian and the Eagle Ford, as well as in the STACK/SCOOP formation in the United States.

The company reported the acquisition along with its third-quarter results, which give it a reason to be upbeat: its cash from operating activities rose by a whopping 148 percent on the year to US$885 million, with free cash flow at US$66 million. The companys net result came in at US$39 million.

Production of petroleum liquids was also up considerably, by 40 percent on the year, to 178,700 bpd. Some 75 percent of this was high-value crude oil and condensate, Encana said in its third-quarter earnings press release.

Despite its strong performance, Encana has not been shielded from the industry-wide problems of Canadian oil producers, bitumen and light crude alike. Pipeline constraints and high carbon taxes have pressured the prices of Canadian grades with both main benchmarksfor heavy crude and for light sweet oilare trending a lot lower than West Texas Intermediate. This recently prompted Encanas chief executive, Doug Suttles, to criticize the government in Ottawa for making the local oil and gas industry uncompetitive. The high carbon taxes were probably taken into account when making the decision to expand in the United States.



By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Washington has granted India a waiver from the sanctions against Iran that snap back this Monday, the Economic Times reports, noting the waiver was secured after India agreed to reduce its Iranian oil imports by a third during financial 2018/19.

India and the US have broadly agreed on a waiver. India will cut import by about 35% from last year (2017-18), which is a significant cut, the Indian daily cited an unnamed source as saying.

Last financial year, India imported some 22 million tons of Iranian crude and had plans to increase this to 30 million tons in the next financial year. Instead, it will have to cut them to between 14 and 15 million tons, the source told the Economic Times.

Indian refiners began cutting their imports of Iranian oil imports a couple of months ago in preparation for the waiver.

Indias Foreign Minister stated earlier this year that New Delhi would not honor unilateral sanctions from the United States, but due to its exposure to the U.S. financial system it has had to lessen its reliance on Iranian crude. India is Irans second-largest oil client after China, which has also stated it will continue buying Iranian crude.

India imports as much as 80 percent of the oil it consumes, which makes it more vulnerable than other importers to price swings. This vulnerability has, in recent months, been heightened by a devaluation in the rupee, which has led to a considerable swelling in its oil bill. In August, government calculations revealed this bill could rise by as much as US$26 billion in financial 2018/2019 if prices remain high.

With such a deep cut to its Iranian oil imports, which came with an attractive discount, Indias oil bill could rise even higher, ultimately weighing on demand. Indian officials have said that U.S. oil could be an alternative to Iranian crude as long as its price was competitive.



By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Libya has restarted three small oil fields and added around 10,000 bpd to its oil productionwhich has been steadily rising over the past two monthsa spokesman for Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC) told Reuters on Wednesday.

Late on Tuesday, Libya restarted the al-Bayda oil field, an engineer told Reuters, while the NOC spokesman confirmed that the company also gave instructions for oil production at the Tibesti and Dor Marada oil fields to resume.

NOC has moved to resume oil production at these three small fields in southeastern Libya, which were shut in June when armed groups attacked the eastern oil ports in Libya, forcing a large part of Libyas oil production to shut in and NOC to declare force majeure for several weeks.

The port closure for more than two weeks in June-July blocked 850,000 bpd of Libyas oil (nearly all Libyan production) from being exported from four ports. As a result, Libyas oil production slumped to just 673,000 bpd in July, as per OPECs secondary sources. In August, production recovered to an average 950,000 bpd, while Libyas production in September further jumped by 103,000 bpd to average 1.053 million bpd, OPEC said in its October Monthly Oil Market Report.

As of the end of September, Libyas oil production hit its highest level since 2013, NOCs chairman Mustafa Sanalla said, adding that if the security situation in the country improves, Libyas production could further rise from the recent 1.278 million bpd.

NOC is holding talks with international oil companies that could result in increased investment and production in Libyas oil industry, if security across the country improves, Sanalla said last month.

Earlier this month, Sanalla told Bloomberg that Libyas oil production could rise by several hundred thousand barrels daily when BP and Eni resume production at a shared field.

BP and Eni will begin exploratory drilling in Libya in the first quarter of next year, BPs chief executive Bob Dudley told Reuters last week.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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As the start date of the U.S. sanctions on Irans oil draws near, key Asian buyers of Iranian oil dramatically cut their purchases from Iran in September to the lowest level since the previous sanctions on Tehran were lifted in January 2016, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing ship-tracking and government data.

Total imports from Iran by the four major Asian importersChina, India, South Korea, and Japanplunged by 40.9 percent year on year in September 2018, to a total of 1.13 million bpd.

India increased its purchases of Iranian oil compared to September last year, but China and Japan significantly reduced their imports from Iran, while South Korea stopped Iranian oil imports altogetherfor the first time since September 2012.

ChinaIrans single largest oil customersaw its imports drop by 41.6 percent in September compared to the same month last year, to 458,184 bpd from 784,060 bpd, according to Refinitiv Eikon oil flow data.

India, the second biggest Iranian oil buyer in the world, imported 527,600 bpd on average in September, up by 27 percent on the year.

Japan cut its oil imports from Iran by 31 percent annually to 148,775 bpd in September, Reuters said, citing Japanese trade ministry data.

According to oil trade flow data, Japan loaded its last Iranian oil cargo in the middle of September.

Japanese refiners have temporarily suspended oil imports from Iran, buying alternative supplies instead, watchful of the situation to see if a waiver is forthcoming, the president of the Petroleum Association of Japan (PAJ), Takashi Tsukioka, said on September 20.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said earlier this month that it would be more difficult for Iranian oil customers to get waivers from the sanctions than it was during the Obama administration, and the United States would issue waivers, if any, only to buyers that have significantly reduced Iranian purchases.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Norways oil and gas major Equinor is considering investment opportunities in Indias oil, gas, and renewables industries, chief executive Eldar Stre told Reuters on the sidelines of an event on Wednesday.

We are looking at India both from oil and gas, but also from the renewables, Stre told Reuters, noting that its a very early stage but we need to be on the ground.

Separately, Equinor is also exploring opportunities for investing in liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, although its not something that the Norwegian firm needs to developits just one of the opportunities that it is considering, the companys CEO told Reuters.

Earlier this month, Equinor and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) agreed to jointly explore unconventional gas opportunities in China and conventional oil and gas production internationally, Al Cook, Equinors executive vice president of strategy, said at a Norway-China energy seminar.

China, alongside India, is the key driver of oil demand growth, and both countries have ambitious plans for natural gas and renewables. India is expected to overtake China some time next decade as the largest growth market for energy, so Equinor has set its sights on investing in India.

In renewables, Equinor is very active in offshore wind, and its current offshore wind portfolio has the capacity to provide more than 1 million European homes with renewable energy.

Yet, Equinorlike all other oil majorsinvests much smaller amounts of money in renewables, while continuing to invest the bulk of its spending into oil and gas.

India, for its part, will see its energy consumption growing at the fastest rate among all major economies by 2040, according to the BP Energy Outlook 2018. India is expected to overtake China as the largest growth market for energy by the late 2020s. Renewables will become the second largest source of domestic energy production overtaking gas and then oil by 2020, BP says. Yet, Indias energy mix is seen evolving very slowly with fossil fuels meeting 82 percent of demand in 2040, down from 93 percent in 2016, according to BP.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Saudi Arabia reported a fiscal deficit of US$1.95 billion (7.3 billion riyals) for the third quarter of the year, down from US$1.97 billion (7.4 billion) in the previous quarter, The National reports, citing official figures from the Finance Ministry. Over the first nine months of the year, the deficit shrank by a hefty 60 percent, driven by the improvement in oil revenues but also thanks to an uptick in non-oil revenues, Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan said.

This [improvement in fiscal performance] has been the case despite the increase in spending on various social initiatives such as the Citizen Account, living allowances, and capital expenses on infrastructure, the official said, adding that the government in Riyadh is determined to stick to its reform initiatives and stimulate economic growth.

Earlier this month, a Finance Ministry official told media that plans were for the Kingdom to break even by 2023 by combining structural reforms with greater employment.

Saudi Arabia was forced to tighten its belt during the last price crash, and it has demonstrated determination to continue with economic reforms despite improving prices. At the same time, it has sought to protect the most vulnerable members of the society from the adverse impact of these reforms by creating a so-called Citizen Account, which basically consists of cash handouts to lower-income families.

When the 2014 price collapse began to take its toll on the oil-dependent Saudi economy, the government was forced to introduce austerity measures, including a cut in the remuneration of its public servants, who constitute a substantial portion of the workforce. As soon as prices began to improve, these measures were reversed to avoid growth in disgruntlement.

In the last quarter, the latest figures showed, public spending rose by 21 percent to US$61.5 billion (230.55 billion riyals), with public debt rising to US$146.6 billion (549.5 billion riyals) at the end of September from US$118.24 billion (443.3 billion riyals) at the end of 2017.



By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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China's rising and "unprecedented influence" in the Indo-Pacific region will challenge American interests, but confrontation must not define relations between the two powers, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned Thursday. In his first major foreign policy speech, Morrison tried to tread a careful line between Australia's alliance with the United States and engaging a rapidly and evermore assertive China. "Inevitably, in the period ahead, we will be navigating a higher degree of US-China strategic competition," Morrison told the Asia Society Australia in Sydney. "It is important that US-China relations do not become defined by confrontation," he said, against a backdrop of the two economic behemoths trading economic sanctions and counter-sanctions in an ever-deeping trade dispute. Australia -- a member of the "Five Eyes" Western intelligence alliance and with long-standing and close military ties with Washington -- finds itself slap-bang in the middle of one of the 21st century's geopolitical hotspots. A quiet battle is raging for influence in the South Pacific -- a region of small island states that is vital to international shipping and provides a stepping stone for Beijing and Washington to project military and economic power across the Pacific region. "As economic power shifts, it's unsurprising that nations will seek to play a bigger strategic role in our region," said Morrison. "China, in particular, is exercising unprecedented influence in the Indo-Pacific," he said. "China is the country that is most changing the balance of power, sometimes in ways that challenge important US interests." While stressing ties with the United States are vital to Australia's security, he said relations with China must be kept on an even keel. Rhetoric between Canberra and Beijing has been heightened by Australia's decision to bar Chinese state-linked telecoms firms from operating Australia's new 5G network on the grounds that they pose a security risk. Morrison described Australia's relationship with China as "vitally important", noting trade, tourism and educational exchanges were at a record high. Beijing has been showering billions of dollars in infrastructure loans to tiny island nations across the Pacific China, and is reportedly talking to Vanuatu about the possibility of opening a military base there. Morrison, who came to office in August, indicated Australia would also push its own influence. He announced an initiative to develop the Lombrum military base in Manus, Papua New Guinea.
As Chinas ruling Politburo wrapped up its October meeting on Wednesday, there was still no word on a key autumn meeting of the Communist Party, which according to party convention should be taking place soon if not convened already.

Analysts said the likely delay of the Central Committee meeting  expected to focus on mid to long-term economic policies  might suggest a lack of consensus among the Chinese leadership over how to battle the growing headwinds facing the worlds second-largest economy.

The autumn plenum that comes a year after the partys national congress is largely seen as the most important full meeting of the partys roughly 400-strong political elite, who gather behind closed doors at least once a year.

In recent decades, it was often an occasion when Chinese leaders revealed major reform programmes and new economic blueprints.

It was at this plenum in 1978, for instance, that late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping launched the reform and opening up that placed China on its path of economic liberalisation. Another autumn plenum in 1993 endorsed the concept of the socialist market economy, which dismantled a large part of Chinas state-owned sector.

But this year, as China reaches the 40th anniversary of Dengs reforms, a cloud of uncertainty and anxiety is hanging over the countrys future path.

Many people are watching its slowing economy, faltering stock markets and the dispiriting retreat of its beleaguered private sector. Their gloomy outlook is exacerbated by the prolonged trade war with the United States, which threatens to spill into all-out conflict in spheres ranging from technology to geopolitics to defence.

Some had hoped the countrys ruling elite would use the plenum to give a clear verdict on which direction China would take, and what it should do to counter the headwinds from the trade war and its economic downturn.

Chinas top leaders prepare for worse as economy takes hits from US trade war

Story continues

But as September and October slipped by, silence around the plenum persisted.

The Politburo meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping on Wednesday delivered a stern warning on the growing downward pressure on the economy and the profound changes in the external environment  the first time the Chinese leadership has publicly acknowledged Chinas economic slowdown since the trade war.

It outlined its aim to be more forward-looking and timely in a new game plan for the private economy and the stock market.

We have to enhance reform and opening up to focus on core problems with targeted solutions ... We must get our own things done and firmly seek high-quality growth, the Politburo statement read.

However, the meeting did not mention anything about the plenum  a noticeable departure from party tradition.

Its the biggest story, or non-story, in China right now, said Trey McArver, co-founder of Trivium China, a Beijing-based research consultancy.

When they didnt set a date [for the plenum] in the September Politburo meeting, I was shocked by that. But what Ive been shocked more by is that in general nobody is talking about the plenum at all.

Usually, a third plenum would take place in the autumn, after the first plenum introduced the partys new leadership immediately after the party congress and the second plenum settled personnel arrangements for state offices ahead of the annual legislative meetings in March.

But since the partys 19th national congress in October, three plenums have already been convened by the new leadership. An extra one was convened at the start of the year to approve a controversial revision to the state constitution which scrapped the term limit that would have required Xi to step down in 2023.

A lot had changed since then, said Chen Daoyin, a political observer in Shanghai. Back in March, Xis administration was still full of confidence about Chinas future development, otherwise he would not have been so unstoppable in consolidating his power since the party congress and pushing through the constitutional amendment, he said.

But now, the ordinary Chinese people have started to lose hope on Chinas economic development.

According to party tradition, the date of a plenum must be announced at a Politburo meeting, which usually takes place towards the end of every month. With Octobers meeting ending with no mention of the plenum, the earliest time it could be held would be near late November, given Chinese top leaders will have a busy schedule throughout November.

The first China International Import Expo, one of the key events of the year for the Chinese government, will be held in Shanghai next week, followed by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on November 17 and 18 in Papua New Guinea and the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of the month.

The delay of a fourth plenum, according to Chen, could be due to a lack of consensus among the partys elite on the solutions to the problems facing China.

Beijing might also be waiting for the results of the US midterm elections and the meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires to make a better assessment, he added.

The key factor that has led to the change of the situation China faces in the past year is the US factor, he said. It is hard for the Chinese leadership to make concrete responses given all the uncertainties at the moment.

But Beijing-based political commentator Zhang Lifan said that even if Trumps Republicans suffered losses in the midterm elections, Washington would not necessarily relax its pressure on China.

[Beijing] might be deferring [the plenum]  and waiting for the midterm results, Zhang said. But I doubt it would have much impact. Suppressing China is a bipartisan consensus.

Key Communist Party plenum set for late October

He also said the Communist Party elites appeared yet to reach a consensus on the future course of the country, citing the sometimes conflicting messages from Xis recent tours of the northeastern rust belt and the liberal southern province of Guangdong.

Are we continuing reform and opening up, or pursuing a self-reliant strategy? There may not be a high degree of consensus among the establishment yet, Zhang said, citing as an example Beijings swaying remarks on the role played by state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Chinas economy.

The silence is also a stark contrast to the high-profile preparations leading to the third plenum in November 2013, a year into Xis administration.

Back then, the meeting was announced with three months notice, after the Politburo meeting in August. Two weeks before the plenum, Yu Zhengsheng  then the fourth-ranking member in the Politburo Standing Committee  promised in public that the closed-door meeting would unveil unprecedented economic and societal reforms.

What is the Chinese Communist Partys sixth plenum and why does it matter?

Indeed, the much-anticipated plenum pledged to allow the market to play a decisive role in the economy, while maintaining the importance of the partys hand and the state sector. A party directive following the meeting listed more than 300 specific reform measures in 60 categories.

But implementation of many reforms has been on a piecemeal basis. While progress has been made in areas such as liberalisation of prices for several crucial commodities, the tougher reforms, such as on SOEs, have seen little progress.

The private sector, although contributing about 80 per cent of the countrys new jobs, is increasingly losing ground to the SOEs, which have been consolidated and strengthened. This year alone, at least 47 distressed non-state companies have disclosed plans to sell stakes to government-backed investors, according to Bloomberg.

McArver, from Trivium China, said the reform measures announced at the 2013 plenum were not on a five-year time frame but on a seven-year one towards 2020.

The reason we dont have much hyping about new reform is that Xi and the broader leadership are not changing course, he said. They see the 2013 plenum as a road map all the way through to 2020.

Additional reporting by Choi Chi-yuk

This article The biggest story in Chinese politics right now  silence over Communist Partys autumn meeting first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told a visiting delegation of seven US Republican lawmakers on Thursday that he hoped their two countries can meet "halfway" amid friction over trade, security and other issues. Relations between Washington and Beijing have grown tense since US President Donald Trump activated new tariffs on roughly half of Chinese imports this summer while Beijing fired back with tariffs on most US products. Some of the US lawmakers attending the meeting with Li in China's leadership compound have expressed concern over Trump's trade tactics. "Over the past four decades, the China-US relationship has had its share of ups and downs, but, generally speaking, it has been moving forward all along," Li told the US delegation. "We do hope that China and the United States will meet each other halfway and work together in the spirit of mutual respect and equality," Li said. The working relationship between the two capitals has been further tested recently by a speech by US Vice President Mike Pence accusing China of military aggression and technology theft. On Wednesday, Washington indicted 10 Chinese, including two intelligence officers, alleging a hacking scheme to steal technology from US companies. Li suggested it was still possible to get relations back on track. "In this way, our two countries will be able to overcome differences and have the wisdom to overcome the obstacles and move our relationship forward on an even sounder track," he said. Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, a critic of the Trump tariffs, led the group of Republican lawmakers. "Your country and our country are competitors but not adversaries. And we believe that with mutual respect we can continue to prosper together," Alexander told Li. "I would like to take this time to, first introduce my delegation, second to make a request that I think will be not easy but not so hard for China to do and, third to discuss trade," Alexander said before reporters were ushered out. This summer the senator lamented the devastating effect the tariffs were having on his home state.
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte joined the Catholic faithful on Thursday, November 1, in observing All Saints' Day, with a call on Filipinos to honor the dead by becoming "advocates of peace and solidarity."Duterte

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte joined the Catholic faithful on Thursday, November 1, in observing All Saints' Day, with a call on Filipinos to honor the dead by becoming "advocates of peace and solidarity."

Duterte was optimistic that the departed and the saints who enriched the Filipinos' faith made an impact in the lives of many.

"I call on the entire nation to honor who have gone before us in the grace of God. Their legacy remains an important part of who we are today and we have much to gain from their virtuous example," the President said in a message for the observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

"May their deeds inspire us to become advocates of peace and solidarity as we do our part in building our nation an in alleviating the suffering of others," he added.

The Philippines annually commemorates All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day every November 1 and 2, respectively.

Last year, Duterte declared November 1 and 2 as special non-working days to give the public more time to commemorate All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

The President wished the faithful a "solemn and meaningful remembrance of their deceased loved ones.

"We Filipinos welcome the month of November with open hearts as we remember our saints and our dearly departed loved ones, whose lives have deeply inspired us to grow in faith, hope, and love. We are reminded that, even in death, our bonds with them remain," he said.

"Together, let us emulate our saints, pray for the eternal repose of souls and deepen our engagement with our communities as we work for real and lasting change," he added. (SunStar Philippines)
CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma has urged the faithful to pray for the blessings they received in 2018 and for President Rodrigo Duterte.He appealed to the public not to cheer on the chief executives unflattering

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte announced on Wednesday, October 31, that he would release the roster of senatorial candidates who will get his endorsement for the 2019 midterm elections.

He said he would pick senatorial aspirants who have the competence and integrity to serve the country.

"Are the other [aspiring] senators not around? Leave it blank then. No, no. Ill come up with a list. I feel like the -- I will choose people well," the President said in Bisaya during a speech delivered before land reform beneficiaries in Cagayan de Oro City.

"You can be sure of that. I have some friends who [want my endorsement], I told them, 'Sorry.' I wont, I really wont. But Ill release that [list of my preferred senatorial candidates]," he added.

Duterte's remarks came after at least six of his allies are running for senator in 2019 polls.

These include reelectionist Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go, erstwhile Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald dela Rosa, then presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., former Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, and Maguindanao Representative Zajid Mangudadatu.

All Duterte's allies who are vying for the Senate seats, except Roque, will run under the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan. Roque will run under the People's Reform Party.

Duterte, who earlier guaranteed a "clean and honest" elections next year, said that his "only requirement" was to ensure that people who are serving the country have the competence and are not involved in corruption.

"I told them that I only have one requirement. Competence and if you have the capability and if you are honest. Thats my only requirement. Thats a standard for all of them to follow," he said.

"Thats what I said. I will support you as long as you are not corrupt and if you have the capacity," the Chief Executive added.

But Duterte stressed that the Filipino electorate still have the final say on their preferred senatorial candidates.

"I will just give you my recommendation. If you won't receive it, then go to [someone you think are deserving to win]. Bahala kayo (It's still up to you)," he said. (SunStar Philippines)
CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma has urged the faithful to pray for the blessings they received in 2018 and for President Rodrigo Duterte.He appealed to the public not to cheer on the chief executives unflattering

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, November 1, announced the impending expulsion from the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) of the three cadets accused of forcing two freshmen to perform oral sex.

Irked by the allegedly "sexualized" initiation of the two PNPA freshmen, the President said the erring police cadets who "dehumanize" people do not deserve to stay in the police service.

Duterte said he would not tolerate any unlawful hazing at the PNPA, stressing that the mandate of a uniformed policeman is to "protect and preserve the nation and to protect the people."

"That's about it. Ito ngayon (Now, the bottomline is), I was reading a report kasi sa aking office (from my office) about that incident of the police [involved in inhumane hazing]," Duterte said in a situation briefing on the onslaught of Typhoon Rosita in Isabela.

"Im warning you, I will never tolerate that kind yung (of) hazing. Pinakain nila yung ari nila doon sa (They had oral sex as punishment for freshmen). They will be dismissed. I will dismiss them. I have no place for those people," he added.

A recent sex scandal rocked the PNPA after three upperclassmen allegedly ordered two younger cadets to perform oral sex on each other as punishment.

The plebes reportedly informed the school authorities about the incident.

The senior cadets tagged in the hazing have already been placed in isolation, while the PNPA head, Chief Superintendent Joseph Adnol, was relieved from his post pending the result of the ongoing investigation.

In June, Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11052, prohibiting all forms of hazing in fraternities, sororities, and organizations in schools, including citizens, military and citizens' army training.

RA 11052, however, notes that the physical, mental and pshychologial fitness of prospective regular members of the police and the military "shall not be considered as hazing."

"The exception provided herein shall likewise apply to similar procedures and practices approved by the respective heads of other uniformed learning institutions as to their prospective members," the law reads.

Story continues

Duterte, who admitted he had also experienced hazing, said oral sex was an unacceptable form of initiation.

"Ako dumaan ako ng hazing (I also experienced hazing), I injured pain, I was hospitalized," he said.

"'Yung ginawa sa akin ok na yun, tapos na yun. 'Yung hampas, bugbog. But itong klaseng hazing na pakainin mo yung tao, puro kayo lalaki, he will go out of that academy almost robbed of his humanity and he will always remember that," he added.

(The hazing I experienced was fine. I was just hit and flogged. But this kind of hazing, oral sex of same sex, they're both men, he will go out of that academy almost robbed of his humanity and he will always remember that.)

The Commander-in-Chief expressed worry that police cadets who experience trauma and lose dignity because of hazing would take it out on other people when they become police officers.

Duterte also warned the aspiring policemen to avoid hazing, telling them that he would not hesitate to dismiss them if they get involved in such an unlawful activity.

"I don't need that kind of policemen, not during my time. in my generation, for the next generation of Filipinos. You do not train a soldier or a policeman who goes out of academy with a trauma. Its a deep psychological insult and stays in the head. That kind of thing is really taboo. Hindi gawain ng lalaki iyan (That's not what a man does)," Duterte said.

"Please 'yung gustong pumasok o nandiyan na (to those who are already cadets and who want to become a police officer), do not ever do that kasi mag aaway lang tayo (we will just fight each other). For me, pag dumating yan sa lamesa ko 'yan (when it reaches my table), it is dismissal. Period," he added. (SunStar Philippines)
Release of a Hollywood action film in which American soldiers rescue a Russian president during a coup attempt has been mysteriously postponed in Russia and Ukraine, with reports suggesting it could be banned due to its content. Released in the US last week, "Hunter Killer" is a thriller starring Gerard Butler as an American submarine captain who tries to prevent World War III after the Russian president is taken hostage by his rogue defence minister. It grossed a modest $6.7 million its first weekend. In Russia, the film was ready for release Thursday but theatres unexpectedly cancelled the screening, citing circumstances beyond their control. Russia's culture ministry confirmed to AFP that it had withheld a screening license for the film because the distribution company did not show confirmation that it "transferred the film for permanent storage in the Russian state film fund." The ministry said the only copy it received from the company in September was "of an insufficient quality". A report in industry outlet Film Distributor Bulletin said distributor Megogo Distribution had to warn theatres not to show the movie just hours before the premiere, due to the ministry's unexpected stalling. Opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov suggested that the ministry could be blocking the movie for suggesting even a fictional possibility that President Vladimir Putin could be deposed. - 'Aggressor state' - "What are these bastards from Hollywood suggesting? That someday (Defence Minister Sergei) Shoigu... comes out quietly and tops Putin? That will not happen," he wrote on Facebook. The movie's troubles in Russia follow its mysterious failure to open in neighbouring Ukraine, with the distribution company telling AFP that the government is preventing the film from screening. "(The state film committee) watched the film, it fell under some law and was banned," said a representative of Kinomania, a Ukrainian film distributor which in August announced the premiere of "Hunter Killer" on October 25. The representative declined to give his name, but the film had disappeared from Kinomania's website and did not open last week as planned. A representative of the State Film Committee, or Derzhkino, told AFP that "the decision to ban the film is currently being reviewed and will be published soon." Though there is no official explanation of the ban in Ukraine, reports have cited a Ukrainian law which bans films popularising a military of the "aggressor state" or "creating a positive image" of its employees. Ukraine considers Russia an aggressor which supports an insurgency in its eastern region, where pro-Russia separatists have declared independence from Kiev. One Ukrainian internet user also saw parallels between real life and the film, which suggests the US submarine strives to rescue a good Russian leader. "Saving Private Putin," Roman Polyoviy wrote mockingly on distributor Kinomania's Facebook page.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Seoul "soon", the South's President Moon Jae-in said Thursday, amid a rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula despite stalled nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington. At their third summit in Pyongyang in September, the leaders of the two Koreas agreed Kim would visit Seoul "in the near future" without giving a specific date. Moon later suggested that the trip was likely to happen this year, and told lawmakers Thursday that the peninsula was approaching "the historic starting line" for peace. "It appears that Chairman Kim Jong Un's trip to Russia and a visit to North Korea by (Chinese) President Xi Jinping will happen soon," Moon said, adding there was an "open" possibility of a meeting between Kim and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "Chairman Kim Jong Un's return visit to Seoul will happen soon," he added. No further detail was given. The remarks came on the day a no-fly zone went into force along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas in line with a military agreement they signed at the September summit in Pyongyang. The 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two sides still technically at war and divided by the DMZ. Under the pact signed by the defence ministers all hostile activities along the border were to cease from November 1, including military drills on land, at sea and in the air, to prevent accidental clashes. - Second summit - But despite the flurry of diplomacy on and around the peninsula differences are emerging between Seoul and its security ally Washington, which stations 28,500 troops in the South to protect it from its neighbour. At their historic Singapore summit, brokered by Moon, Kim and US President Donald Trump signed a vaguely-worded statement on denuclearisation but there has been little progress since then. Washington and Pyongyang have sparred over the exact terms of the agreement, with the US pushing to maintain sanctions and pressure against the North until its "final, fully verified denuclearisation". The dovish South Korean president has long favoured engagement with the North, which is subject to multiple UN Security Council sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. He has dangled large investment and joint cross-border projects as incentives for steps towards denuclearisation. Concerns have been raised that such schemes could violate the sanctions against the North, while the US has been adamant pressure should be maintained on Pyongyang until it fully dismantles its weapons programmes. The State Department said this week that Seoul and Washington would set up a new working group to strengthen coordination between them. Moon said a second Trump-Kim summit was "right before our eyes". "Now the South, the North, and the United States will achieve the complete denuclearisation and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula," he said. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested the next meeting between Trump and Kim will be "hopefully early in the next year, where we can make a substantial breakthrough in taking down the nuclear threat from North Korea". But in September, the North's foreign minister told the United Nations there was "no way" his country would disarm first as long as tough US sanctions remain against his country.
CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma has urged the faithful to pray for the blessings they received in 2018 and for President Rodrigo Duterte.He appealed to the public not to cheer on the chief executives unflattering

To serve the growing consumers of dried mangoes in the world market, Cebu-based Profood International Corp. is eyeing to build a factory in Vietnam.

If realized, this would be the homegrown firms second overseas facility, after Cambodia.

Justin Uy, founder and president of Profood, said that like Cambodia, the Vietnam plant will cater to the requirements of China and the rest of Southeast Asia. He has yet to discuss the details of the planned expansion.

The Chinese market is unlimited, said Uy. We are putting up another factory in Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) because the Philippines doesnt have enough mangoes and we dont want to lose the market to other Asian countries.

He pointed out that despite the premium quality and taste of the countrys mangoes, the lack of supply and the lower price and operating cost in other countries have compelled them to branch out overseas.

China alone demands at least 40 metric tons of dried mango products a year.

China, according to Uy, presents huge opportunities for growth because of its 1.3 billion population, that is 22 times bigger than Korea, another rising market for the countrys dried mangoes.

Our goal is really to control the world market, he said.

Profood products are sold in 54 countries. It exports to major markets like Canada, the United States and Japan.

The Maguikay plant in Mandaue City produces dried mangoes for the US, Japan, Korea, and China. The plant, however, can no longer expand.

In a separate interview, Philippine Exporters Confederation Cebu executive director Fred Escalona identified the mango sector as one of the sectors experiencing a tough ride in 2017 because of the supply issue.

Exporters are now asking where they could get sustainable supply, he said.

According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research titled Processed Mango Product Market  Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 20182026, the global processed mango product market is expected to reach $2,043.1 million and $31,669.0 million for primary processed mango product and secondary processed mango product respectively by 2026.

Story continues

Asia Pacific held the dominant market share of the processed mango product market in 2017.

Increasing consumption of mango products, increasing preference for highly versatile and sweet products, and rising awareness about nutritive products are driving the growth of the processed mango product market.

However, availability of mangoes only during certain seasons, fluctuations in mango prices, and stringent regulations of food processing across the globe are the major constraints for the processed mango products market.

Rise in preference for organic mango products, and increasing consumption across the globe can also increase the export value of mango products, especially in the US and in Europe.

The report said the most commonly used products in the global market are primary processed mango products. These products include dried mango, mango puree, mango pulp, concentrate, and individual quick freezing mango.

Secondary processed mango products are easily available and are preferred across households. These include mango juice, fruit bar and candies, jam, jelly and pickles. KOC
The White House imposed "tough" new sanctions against Venezuela on Thursday, denouncing Caracas as being part of a "troika of tyranny" that also includes Cuba and Nicaragua. National Security Advisor John Bolton told an audience in Miami the sanctions would particularly target Venezuela's gold sector, which "has been used as a bastion to finance illicit activities, to fill its coffers and to support criminal groups." "The troika of tyranny in this hemisphere -- Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua -- has finally met its match," he added, according to prepared remarks. Bolton said the new sanctions came in the form of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. He also announced that the State Department has added new sanctions on more than two dozen entities owned or controlled by the Cuban military and intelligence services. He called the leaders of Venezuela and Nicaragua "desperate" autocrats who had joined Cuban counterparts in the "same oppressive behavior of unjust imprisonment, torture and murder." "The troika of tyranny in this hemisphere will not endure forever," Bolton said. "Like all oppressive regimes and ideologies, it too will meet its demise." In addressing Nicaragua, Bolton said the regime of President Daniel Ortega had "completely eroded" democratic institutions, stifled free speech and imposed a deadly policy against political opponents. Until free, fair and early elections are held, "the Nicaraguan regime, like Venezuela and Cuba, will feel the full weight of Americas robust sanctions regime," Bolton said.
Bumblebee of the species Bombus ephippiatus Say, 1837. Credit: Alejandro Munoz-Urias, Alvaro Edwin Razo Leon

Changes in land use negatively affect bee species richness and diversity, and cause major shifts in species composition, reports a recent study of native wild bees, conducted at the Sierra de Quila Flora and Fauna Protection Area and its influence zone in Mexico.

Having registered a total of 14,054 individual bees representing 160 species, 52 genera, and five families over the span of a year, the scientists conclude that the studied preserved areas demonstrated "significantly greater" richness and diversity.

In their paper, published in the open-access Journal of Hymenoptera Research, a research team from the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, led by Alejandro Munoz-Urias, compare three conditions within the tropical dry forest study site: preserved vegetation, an agricultural area with crops and livestock, and an urbanised area.

The researchers confirm earlier information that an increase in anthropogenic disturbances leads to a decrease in bee richness and diversity. While availability of food and nesting sites are the key factors for bee communities, changes in land use negatively impact flower richness and floral diversity. Thereby, turning habitats into urbanised or agricultural sites significantly diminishes the populations of the bees which rely on specific plants for nectar and pollen. These are the species whose populations are threatened with severe declines up to the point of local extinction.

Aztecanthidium xochipillium (Michener and Ordway, 1964). This bee is known only from Mexico. Credit: Alejandro Munoz-Urias, Alvaro Edwin Razo Leon

According to their data, about half of the bees recorded were Western honey bees (49.9%), whereas polyester bees turned out to be the least abundant (1.2 %).

On the other hand, some generalist bees, which feed on a wide range of plants, seem to thrive in urbanised areas, as they take advantage of people watering wild and ornamental plants at times where draughts might be eradicating native vegetation.

"That is the reason why bees that can use a wide variety of resources are often able to compensate when circumstances change, although some species disappear due to land use changes," explain the scientists.

Tropical dry forest in the dry (left) and rainy season (right). Credit: Alejandro Munoz-Urias, Alvaro Edwin Razo Leon

In conclusion, the authors recommend that the tropical dry forests of both the study area and Mexico in general need to be protected in order for these essential pollinators to be conserved.

"Pollinators are a key component for global biodiversity, because they assist in the sexual reproduction of many plant species and play a crucial role in maintaining terrestrial ecosystems and food security for human beings," they remind.

Explore further Logging site slash removal may be boon for wild bees in managed forests

More information: Alvaro E. Razo-Leon et al, Changes in bee community structure (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) under three different land-use conditions, Journal of Hymenoptera Research (2018). Journal information: Journal of Hymenoptera Research Alvaro E. Razo-Leon et al, Changes in bee community structure (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) under three different land-use conditions,(2018). DOI: 10.3897/jhr.66.27367
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

With 11 people killed in a Pittsburgh synagogue, racially motivated shootings in a Kentucky store, and bombs in the mail, it seems like ethnic, religious, and racial hate are increasingly running unchecked in America.

Harvard leaders expressed shock and sadness this week over the attacks and called on the University community to come together to fight division and bigotry. In comments at Harvard Hillel on Sunday, President Larry Bacow urged his audience to combat hate with good deeds and kindness and to understand that, though people may feel helpless, they can show their power by voting for leaders who'll unite the country.

Mahzarin Banaji, Richard Clarke Cabot Professor of Social Ethics and chair of Harvard's Psychology Department, is an authority on bias that can run so deep that we don't even recognize it in ourselves. Banaji spoke with the Gazette about the roots of prejudice, about public perceptions that it is more acceptable today, and about the relationship of traditional biases to political divisions.

Q&A

GAZETTE: As an expert on bias, what do you see when you survey our society's landscape today?

BANAJI: It depends on what the comparison is. Today's landscape compared to what? Fifty years ago, 100 years ago? If the comparison is distant, we don't look bad at all. But I suspect you are asking this question, as we all are, because of the moment we seem to be in today, and the comparison being pre-2016. Of course, any social scientist will tell you that it is awfully difficult to draw any causal link between a single person, even a president, and the actions of an entire society. But we can say a few things. If you ask me about our perceptions of the state of our country on matters of intergroup relations, the answer is clear: We are not looking as good as we did a few years ago.

Americans today believe that the Trump election has led to a worsening of race relations in the United States. A Pew poll showed that in 2008during the Obama administrationabout 9 percent of Americans said that the presidential election had led to a worsening of race relations. In 2017, 60 percent of Americans believed that the presidential election has led to a worsening of race relations. You don't need a statistical test to say that's a noteworthy difference.

A colleague at the University of Kansas, Chris Crandall, studied 300-something Americans, equal supporters of [Hillary] Clinton and [Donald] Trump. Both groupsboth the Clinton and Trump supportersagree that the Trump election has ushered in greater tolerance of prejudice. The standards for what counts as prejudice have changed, according to him. One could argue that these are mere perceptions. [But] as a psychologist, I would say that perceptions matter; what people believe is their reality, and that matters.

Then there are data on the frequency of incidents like hate crimes. The ADL [Anti-Defamation League] reports a stunning statistic: a 57 percent rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. in 2017 compared to the previous year. This includes bomb threats, vandalism, assaults, and anti-Semitic posters on campuses. And the recent killings in the synagogue in Pittsburgh suggest that it's not just bomb threats.

The NAACP's reports also confirm that anti-black, anti-Semitic, anti-gay, anti-Latino crimes each have risen. Hate crimes rose in 2016 by about 12 percent. And that seems to be an underestimate because the data are from 38 of the largest cities of the country. Ninety of the largest cities didn't report a single hate crime, so that percentage is likely to be an underrepresentation.

GAZETTE: You have spoken and written about implicit bias being deeply rooted. Where does this come from?

BANAJI: This may sound controversial, but when we think about how bad things are today, we have to remember that in most instances on many metrics of peace, we are better off today than we've ever been. Just ask my colleague Steve Pinker. But why are we better? Because we are able to bring sharp critical focus in evaluating ourselves, to regularly say that we are not the people we wish to be. And if we are to look less embarrassed when future generations view us, we have a lot of work to do. So I don't plan on resting on any laurels. That seems to be sufficient to somethe water fountains have been desegregated, I was once toldbut to continue to be critical of just how bad things are today compared to what they could be.

But improvement is not linear. The 20th century is a good example. When you take a bird's eye view of history, sure, we are becoming better people in many ways. I was born 10 years after colonial occupation of India, so I'm acutely aware of just how different my life has turned out because I was born in a self-governed India. This fact is regularly on my list of gratitudes.

But whether it is colonialism or slavery or Japanese internment camps, the underlying feature we must confront is that social group lines matter. And historically and even today those lines are sharp. Life is simply not the same for a woman who, by the throw of the biological dice, is born in Jeddahalthough she can now drive, yeah!or Geneva.

What I've studied are the remnants of old beliefs and attitudes that still remain with us, even though they are invisible to us, even though they are implicit. We need to dig to discover them. But they are there, and responsive to the right probe. In the 1930s, a large number of non-Jewish Americans would just tell you, to your face or at least on a survey, that Jews were mercenary and shrewd. A very small number will say that today. But has the stereotype gone from our consciousness? I'd say it's there, invisible to the holder of the belief, until it seems OK to say so. Bernie Madoff comes along, and then, boom, seemingly out of nowhere you can hear the stereotype in hushed tones in the halls of the most liberal of institutions.

Where does this all come from? The mechanismto experience fear in response to group differenceis a very old feature of humans. Of course, humans have cooperated across group lines for a very long time. But we also are the descendants of people who looked at group difference, assumed that it meant danger, and ran or killed. Some of those roots of tribalism pop up in us today, even though our world has changed so much. Today, if you are a business and you can't approach groups that are vastly different than your own, you are out of business, because you failed to outsource.

The fear that led us to go backwards, toward a worse place, through the Trump election is not just an American phenomenon, although it is sobering that even the so-called greatest democracy in the world can so quickly become attracted to fascist ideas. The fear of new social arrangements is producing similar reactions in so many parts of the world. My own country of origin, India, is a sad example given the political party in power. Most recently, of course, there was the election in Brazil, and the rise of anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant sentiments in France and Germany.

I suspect that this has to do with deep globalization. I don't just mean globalization in terms of who's doing business with whom alone, but the entry of different kinds of people into our societies, and the slow, tentative accumulation of power among those who didn't used to have basic rights, let alone power. There is no question that this is a new moment. And I see our behavior as a reflection of some of those deep-rooted, old fears.

GAZETTE: So, you see people not like you gaining power that people like youor even youused to have?

BANAJI: You see it in subtle ways. Maureen Craig and Jennifer Richeson did a study in which they reminded half the people that by the year2050? I forget exactly which year it wasAmerica would be minority majority. They showed that unaffiliated Americans leaned more Republican and expressed more conservatism if they had been reminded of that fact, compared to a group that had not received that fact.

That's how little it can take to move an attitude, at least a little. So, when you add to the mix life circumstancespeople who have had personal setbacks, who are mentally ill, who generally have higher levels of anxiety and fear, who may be intoxicated, who live in a state where you can buy a gun easily, who may be writing anonymously, who might feel legitimization by their peers, who may not have familiarity with outgroups, who have perceived grievancesmy father could retire at the age of 60 and buy a boat; why can't I?you put these ordinary variables together, and you have a dangerous cocktail.

GAZETTE: What's the relationship between implicit bias and open prejudice? Are they two different animals, or can one become the other in the wrong environment?

BANAJI: That's a very good question, and we struggle with how to describe the relationship. On the surface, it would look like the two are different. One is conscious, and the other you don't even know about; we have to go through some contortions to reveal it.

To the scientist who studies them, they feel very different, and yet the two are connected. There's almost always a correlation between the two, whether it's small or quite significant. A person who happens to be higher on explicit, avowed bias toward, say, African-Americans or Jews or sexual minorities is also a person who is higher on implicit, hidden bias.

You might think about the implicit stuff as fluctuating inside your head at some level. You slam a lid on it with your rational, deliberate, conscious thoughts. But personal environments and life circumstances, societal events like who's in power and what our leaders are saying, can lift the lid. One piece of data we can't run away from: The individual who sent bombs to the Democratic leadership did wear a "Make American Great Again" hat. He wasn't a neutral observer of society.

So yes, I think our stereotypes, our prejudices lie around in some dormant form, and particular events in the world can allow them to escape. I think we're seeing that right now. Why else would the nice town of Harvard, Mass., see swastikas on a city rock in the days after the election? And that's not a single, solitary event.

To folks like me, I would also warn that we can't be susceptible to "availability bias," an increase in our perception of the overall frequency of hate, based on the salience and recency of events like mailed bombs and synagogue killings. We must pay attention to the data.

GAZETTE: When does open prejudice blossom into hatred intense enough to motivate killing?

BANAJI: When somebody sends off bombs in the mail or kills people in a synagogue, those are individual acts that appear to come out of a deep mental instability.

The very fact that millions of us have implicit biases that do not manifest in these extreme forms tells us that a unique set of conditions have to be present for it to reach this form. But those conditions can be ordinary, even trivial. Is there a Dick's Sporting Goods in the neighborhood? Did I just lose a job to somebody with darker skin? And, of course, there are demographic factors such as one's age, gender, urban/rural living, SES [socioeconomic status], owning a passport or not, and so many others that predict outcomes like the direction of voting in elections and for ideas like Brexit.

To show you how irrational fear of others can be, a study done in Hungary is among my favorites. People were asked about how they felt about a particular immigrant group, the Pirez, and something like 60 percent said they were opposed to immigration by Pirez into Hungary. But the Pirez were a fictional group, just made up for the purpose of the survey.

GAZETTE: Is our current political polarization an expression of this? Has politics become a new deep dividing line, where you see the other person not as a member of your society with a different view, but as an actual outgroup?

BANAJI: In my view, absolutely. From the 1970s on, we've been segregating by politics. A book called "The Big Sort" showed that if you look at where people are living in the country, it used to be purple. Sure, we divided by socioeconomic status, but liberals and conservatives used to live in the same neighborhood, marked by a particular SES. Now, for every socioeconomic layer, there is a more liberal and more conservative neighborhood. So people are sorting themselves not just into socioeconomic groups, but by what they believe. That segregation has been going on for a good 40 years or so. And it is absolutely my belief that politics is the new religion. We do see each other as outgroups with our God being superior to the other person's God.

Explore further New data shows US hate crimes continued to rise in 2017

This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The world's first instrument system for Raman-activated cell sorting and sequencing (RACS-SEQ) was recently developed in East China's Qingdao City, allowing functional identification, sorting and sequencing of individual cells, in a label-free manner.

The system, developed by scientists from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was released at the 20th Molecular Spectrum Conference of China and the 2018 Annual Conference of Spectroscopy on October 20.

A single cell is the basic unit of function and evolution for most life forms on earth. To understand why cells differ from each other and to rapidly identify cells and genes in terms of target function, functional profiling and sequencing at the single-cell level are of great importance.

Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) is the most commonly used strategy and instrument for single-cell sorting. However, cells have to be fluorescently labeled (on specific DNA, protein or metabolite biomarkers) prior to flow cytometry. Therefore, cells without known biomarkers, cells that cannot be fluorescently labeled, and cells that are not yet cultured, are all beyond the reach of FACS.

"RACS-SEQ runs in a different way," said Xu Jian, director of the Single-Cell Center at QIBEBT. "It does not require labeling of cells, which overcomes the disadvantages of FACS, and is generally applicable to the plethora of types of cells in nature."

The system is based on the Ramanome concept and the invention of key technologies including Raman-activated gravity-driven cell encapsulation (RAGE) and Raman-activated micro-droplet cell sorting (RADS). It consists of four functional modules, including single-cell Raman imaging, interpretation of Ramanome data for phenotype and function, and RACS-SEQ library construction for the sorted single cells.

The RACS-SEQ system is equipped with an intelligent information system, which consists of the Ramanome Lab Information System (RamLIS), Ramanome Explorer (RamEX) and Ramanome Database (RamDB). Users can acquire Ramanome data for samples rapidly and accurately through RamLIS, process and mine these data online through RamEX, and store all information for future data storage and mining through RamDB. The single cells sorted by RAGE and RADS can then be subjected to single-cell sequencing, via single-cell nucleic acid extraction and amplification in microdroplets.

The system, via novel technologies such as RAGE and RADS, not only retains cell activity post-sorting, but also greatly elevates the quality of single-cell genome assemblies. The genome coverage of a single bacterial cell can reach 95% using the RACS-SEQ system, according to MA Bo, group leader of Microfluidics Systems, Single-Cell Center. The released RACS-SEQ system also includes a number of kits such as the single-cell clinical antimicrobial resistance testing kit, the post-RACS single-cell genome amplification kit and the RAGE microchip kit.

"[This system] will find wide applications in microbiome and synthetic biology research, and support the biomedicine, biosecurity, industrial biotechnology as well as marine biotechnology industries," said Liu Chenli, director of the Center for Synthetic Biology Engineering Research, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Explore further Researchers developed single cell level sorting technology using sound waves
Ted Scudder, chats with a man during his field studies in Africa. Credit: California Institute of Technology

Ted Scudder, a social anthropologist and fixture on the Caltech campus for more than 50 years, is one of the world's foremost experts on large dams. He's also one of their fiercest critics. That wasn't always the case though. Early in his career, he, like many people at the time, saw big dam projects as a societal good and a path to prosperity for developing nations. His experiences over the next six decades, especially with the people who were displaced by the dams, changed his mind.

His new book, which bears the no-nonsense title Large Dams: Long Term Impacts on Riverine Communities and Free Flowing Rivers, chronicles a long career spent studying overlooked peoples in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and his growing disillusionment with the dam projects on which he consulted. We sat down with him recently to talk about the experiences that turned him from dam proponent to opponent.

How did you, a social anthropologist, become an expert on dams?

When I was young, I wanted to be an ornithologist and a mountaineer. I went to Harvard because I wanted to join the Harvard Mountaineering Club. Once I got there, I became the club president and I also was being trained by a professor of ornithology, so I was combining the two careers.

My professor wanted me to shoot and stuff a number of additional species of birds for his collection. To make a long story short, I shot one bird as an experiment, to see how good I was going to be at stuffing the skin. I looked at that bird and I said, "To hell with this. I'm not going to spend time shooting what I love." So, that took care of my ornithology career.

However, I still had every intention of using mountaineering as a career, and in the 1950s I pursued a job with the Arctic Institute of North America, which did a lot of high-altitude glaciology work. But the week before my family and I were supposed to move to the Institute's Montreal headquarters, I got a telephone call saying that my job had been eliminated. Why? Because my future boss's wife and daughter had been staying with him in base camp high on a mountain range in the Yukon where he was conducting research. They insisted on leaving in bad weather so that they could get to New York for the daughter's debutante outing. Their plane took off and it hasn't been seen since. My future boss was so discouraged by the loss of his daughter and wife that he stopped the whole project. So the question I faced was, "What do I do now?" I mean, I didn't go to college to take studies, I went to college to climb mountains.

Your wife suggested that you pursue graduate studies, so you enrolled at Yale studying world religions and Africa, and then at Harvard, studying anthropology. Where did that path lead?

I had decided I wanted to concentrate on Africa, but when I got to Harvard, I found out it had no African courses at that time. Boston University had just started a very good graduate program in African studies, so Harvard allowed me to take one course there. I was planning to write my Ph.D. thesis on the only African tribe that lived in high snow-capped glacial mountains so I could combine mountaineering and anthropology. But my professor and mentor at Boston University, Elizabeth Colson, told me I might want to join her on a benchmark study of the first large dam on the Zambezi River in the African Rift Valley. So, we went to work for the British Colonial Service in Zambia. They gave me a salary of 5,000 and a Land Rover.

Early in your career, you were in favor of big dam projects. What were the benefits you saw?

The magic sentence back then was, "The dams are a wonderful way to carry out integrated river basin development and improve the lives of the people who live in that river basin." Our baseline study began in 1956. We went back in 1962 to see what was happening to these people who had been displaced, and it looked pretty good. Their income was beginning to improve.

Why did you become disillusioned with these projects?

By the mid '70s, I realized all the wonderful things people said could be done with dams weren't happening. The people displaced by these dams are often ethnic minorities with their own religious and social systems. These were people who were very poor to begin with, but they were self-sufficient. It turned out the governments weren't really that interested in the welfare of the very poor, rural people displaced by the dams.

What kind of problems do these dams create?

Why are these people who live along the rivers worse off after a dam is built? The most important resource for them is the river, and especially the rise and fall of the river. As the river level drops during the dry season, they grow crops along the river banks. If they are cattle people, they lose out because during the dry season, when there's no more grass out on the plains, you drive the cattle down to the rivers and they graze on the grass that grows along the banks. When you build a dam, the river level doesn't rise and fall like that, so there is no longer a place for these people to grow their crops or graze their cattle.

In the book, we estimate that today about half a billion people downstream from large dams are worse off because of them. Another 40-50 million have been forcibly relocated. That's a significant number of people who are being disadvantaged by these projects.

Then you have the ecosystems affected by dams, especially the forests in the upper reaches of the rivers and the deltas and wetlands further down. Large dams tend to destroy all three. Look at the Mississippi, for example. Dams have been responsible for many of the hurricane problems affecting the lower Mississippi and the delta is being increasingly destroyed.

In Egypt, because the Aswan High Dam's reservoir annually retains over 95 percent of the river's sediment, the Mediterranean now is encroaching into the Nile Delta. That delta supports somewhere between 40 and 50 percent of the people of Egypt, and it's being destroyed. What is the Egyptian government planning to do? Relocate the people who live in the Nile Delta. And where are you going to relocate them? Back to the desert because there's no other place to relocate them to. It's grim.

With all those problems, why do countries pursue large dam projects?

Some are cost-effective for the first 50 or so years. They're a good source of electricity. And when it comes to irrigation, large dams are pretty hard to replace.

Are there alternatives?

For electricity, I would prefer to see countries use tidal electricity, solar, and wind electricity, and if such options are inadequate, dam, as an example, only river tributaries.

For irrigation though, dams are unfortunately hard to beat. One thing you can do is put more emphasis on ground water, but the trouble with that is that all over the world, whether in China, India, or California, we're not managing our ground water properly. We're just drawing it down, down, down, and we're not recharging it. It's going to be a major problem in agricultural areas like Central California.

Late-developing countries are seeing rapid population increases. Egypt's population is just soaring, but the countries upstream of Egypt also have growing populations, and they want more of the Nile, so they're building their own dams. The Ethiopians have just built a large dam on the Blue Nile which will reduce the water coming into Egypt.

Do you have other concerns?

These dams are terribly threatened by climate change because the weather is becoming more extreme. When you have a hurricane or a typhoon coming, you have to release a lot of water, and that's going to be bad for the people downstream. Or maybe the dam busts and ends up releasing all that water anyhow. A recent typhoon destroyed a dam under construction in a Mekong River tributary in Laos and 13 downstream villages, with over 13,000 residents, were devastated. We also will have more droughts. Lake Mead behind the Hoover Dam is at less than 40 percent of its capacity now. California is going to be more and more in conflict with Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado for the use of the Colorado River.

Climate change is going to make the situation with large dams even worse and I don't really see any good solutions.

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Jennifer Freeman is dedicated to improving the understanding of health risks associated with exposure to environmental contaminants such as MCHM, which is methylcyclohexanemethanol. Credit: Purdue University Rebecca Wilcox

When a chemical spill in Elk River contaminated the drinking water of nearly 300,000 West Virginians in 2014, little was known about the contaminant MCHM, a type of methanol used industrially for cleaning coal. But now that it was in a local water source  is it a safety issue? Would exposure harm brain development in children?

Jennifer Freeman, a Purdue University associate professor of toxicology, wanted to answer those questions, and her group conducted a toxicological assessment on the MCHM mixture that escaped Tank 396 that day.

She is dedicated to improving the understanding of health risks associated with exposure to environmental contaminants such as MCHM, which is methylcyclohexanemethanol. The study, published last year, was the first to evaluate the potential health risks of the Elk River spill.

"With the chemicals we're looking at today, the number one problem we are trying to address is understanding whether there is a health risk from exposure to certain environmental contaminants," Freeman said. "We have almost 90,000 chemicals currently in commerce, and of that number we have decent toxicology data for only a few hundred."

In her lab, Freeman studies an area of environmental toxicology known as the developmental origins of health and disease. She focuses on the adverse health outcomes throughout the lifespan from various levels of exposure to harmful chemicals during different stages of development.

"We look at whether the developmental chemical exposure may make an individual more susceptible to chronic diseases and other adverse health outcomes later in life using the zebrafish model system for translation to human health," Freeman said.

Her health research aligns with Purdue's Giant Leaps celebration, acknowledging the university's global advancements made in Health, Longevity and Quality of Life as part of Purdue's 150th anniversary. This is one of the four themes of the yearlong celebration's Ideas Festival, designed to showcase Purdue as an intellectual center solving real-world issues.

Freeman is focused specifically on contaminants of drinking water and their adverse effects. She wants people to have a better understanding of the chemicals they are exposed to in everyday life. Using a method called transcriptomics, which examines changes in the set of RNA molecules in an individual cell or a population of cells, she tracks how exposure can lead to changes in the genome. The zebrafish model allows her to see the effects of exposure over an organism's lifetime.

"My main focus is on chemicals that contaminate our drinking water. There may be some toxicity information for these chemicals, but there are still questions surrounding our exposures," Freeman said. "Our projects are looking at some agrochemicals that are used here in the Midwest, metals, and other legacy and emerging chemical contaminants."

One of the main metals that Freeman works with is lead, highly toxic and known for causing adverse neurological effects. Young children are particularly vulnerable to experiencing effects from lead poisoning. But the lack of data on many environmental contaminants limits the ability to protect from potentially harmful exposure.

In her zebrafish models, Freeman is able to examine neurotoxicity and other adverse health outcomes such as cancer in hopes of better understandingand ultimately preventingexposure to environmental contaminants.

"For the toxicity data, we historically have looked at high concentrations to identify mechanisms, but we're finding out that's not necessarily the best approach. What we're finding is that as we go lower in concentrations, we sometimes see different adverse health outcomes," Freeman said. "We're trying to understand the true meaning of what we're exposed to today so that we can have a better understanding of what that exposure means for us."

Explore further Childhood exposure to contaminants varies by country and compound

More information: Katharine A. Horzmann et al. Comparative analytical and toxicological assessment of methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) mixtures associated with the Elk River chemical spill, Chemosphere (2017). Journal information: Chemosphere Katharine A. Horzmann et al. Comparative analytical and toxicological assessment of methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) mixtures associated with the Elk River chemical spill,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.09.026
This photo of Ceres and the bright regions of Occator Crater was one of the last views NASA's Dawn spacecraft transmitted before it completed its mission. This view, which faces south, was captured on Sept. 1 at an altitude of 2,340 miles (3,370 kilometers) as the spacecraft was ascending in its elliptical orbit. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has gone silent, ending a historic mission that studied time capsules from the solar system's earliest chapter.

Dawn missed scheduled communications sessions with NASA's Deep Space Network on Wednesday, Oct. 31, and Thursday, Nov. 1. After the flight team eliminated other possible causes for the missed communications, mission managers concluded that the spacecraft finally ran out of hydrazine, the fuel that enables the spacecraft to control its pointing. Dawn can no longer keep its antennae trained on Earth to communicate with mission control or turn its solar panels to the Sun to recharge.

The Dawn spacecraft launched 11 years ago to visit the two largest objects in the main asteroid belt. Currently, it's in orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres, where it will remain for decades.

"Today, we celebrate the end of our Dawn missionits incredible technical achievements, the vital science it gave us, and the entire team who enabled the spacecraft to make these discoveries," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. "The astounding images and data that Dawn collected from Vesta and Ceres are critical to understanding the history and evolution of our solar system."

Dawn launched in 2007 on a journey that put about 4.3 billion miles (6.9 billion kilometers) on its odometer. Propelled by ion engines, the spacecraft achieved many firsts along the way. In 2011, when Dawn arrived at Vesta, the second largest world in the main asteroid belt, the spacecraft became the first to orbit a body in the region between Mars and Jupiter. In 2015, when Dawn went into orbit around Ceres, a dwarf planet that is also the largest world in the asteroid belt, the mission became the first to visit a dwarf planet and go into orbit around two destinations beyond Earth.

"The fact that my car's license plate frame proclaims, 'My other vehicle is in the main asteroid belt,' shows how much pride I take in Dawn," said Mission Director and Chief Engineer Marc Rayman at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "The demands we put on Dawn were tremendous, but it met the challenge every time. It's hard to say goodbye to this amazing spaceship, but it's time."

The data Dawn beamed back to Earth from its four science experiments enabled scientists to compare two planet-like worlds that evolved very differently. Among its accomplishments, Dawn showed how important location was to the way objects in the early solar system formed and evolved. Dawn also reinforced the idea that dwarf planets could have hosted oceans over a significant part of their historyand potentially still do.

This photo of Ceres and one of its key landmarks, Ahuna Mons, was one of the last views Dawn transmitted before it completed its mission. This view, which faces south, was captured on Sept. 1 at an altitude of 2220 miles (3570 kilometers) as the spacecraft was ascending in its elliptical orbit. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA

"In many ways, Dawn's legacy is just beginning," said Principal Investigator Carol Raymond at JPL. "Dawn's data sets will be deeply mined by scientists working on how planets grow and differentiate, and when and where life could have formed in our solar system. Ceres and Vesta are important to the study of distant planetary systems, too, as they provide a glimpse of the conditions that may exist around young stars."

Because Ceres has conditions of interest to scientists who study chemistry that leads to the development of life, NASA follows strict planetary protection protocols for the disposal of the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn will remain in orbit for at least 20 years, and engineers have more than 99 percent confidence the orbit will last for at least 50 years.

So, while the mission plan doesn't provide the closure of a final, fiery plungethe way NASA's Cassini spacecraft ended last year, for exampleat least this is certain: Dawn spent every last drop of hydrazine making science observations of Ceres and radioing them back so we could learn more about the solar system we call home.

Explore further The coincidence between two overachieving NASA missions
Members of a majority group tend to hold negative views of minority-group individuals who claim more than one identity, according to new Yale-led research. The negative bias is driven by fear that dual-identity individuals will be disloyal to the majority, the researchers said.

Yet, the bias can be offset when minority-group members demonstrate their loyalty to the majority or dominant group. The paper was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Increases in immigration worldwide have caused a clash between immigrants who prefer to hold dual identitiessuch as "Arab" and "American"and majority-group members who prefer assimilation. To understand the psychology behind majority-group bias against those with two identities, Yale researchers conducted five experimental studies.

In the first study, through an online platform, the research team recruited study participants who were randomly assigned to different scenarios. The researchers provided half of the participants with information about the 2015 ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in San Bernadino, California; others were given no details about the attack. Then participants were asked to assess the loyalty of a fictional immigrant named Mohammed, who they were told either identified as American only, or as both American and Arab.

The researchers found that the participants felt significantly less positively about the immigrant espousing a dual identity compared to those with a single, common identity. The negative bias was greater for those primed with the example of the terrorist attack, the researchers said.

These findings confirm the researchers' hypothesis that majority-group concerns about the loyalty of a minority group are strongly influenced by the perception of threat, and by minority group preference for a dual identity.

This majority-group fear of a minority's "divided loyalties" was further confirmed in four subsequent studies using different scenarios. Yet, in one of their experiments, the researchers also discovered that the negative bias toward dual-identifiers could be disrupted under certain conditions. Participants felt more positively toward minority-group memberseven those preferring two identitiesif they had been told that the minority individual had risked his or her life for the majority.

Taken together, the experiments offer insight into the underlying psychology of intergroup conflicts. "People value loyalty and they tend to expect it from newcomers," said first author Jonas Kunst. "This can be seen as a natural tendency that people show across contexts."

Yet this understanding of the reasons behind majority-group suspicions of minorities can help improve dynamics between groups, as well as the treatment of immigrants and minorities. "If the common assumption is that immigrant groups are disloyal to the nation they move to, challenging this assumption might offset this kind of skepticism and improve relations across societies," he said.

Explore further Common group identity may motivate Americans to help integrate immigrants
Using environmental DNA (eDNA) to track the presence of fish in waterways is emerging as a powerful tool to detect and understand the abundance of species in aquatic environments. However, relatively few studies have compared the performance of this emerging technology to traditional catch or survey approaches in the field.

Researchers from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center field tested using eDNAtracking the presence of fish by identifying DNA that has been left behind in the waterto detect river herring in tributaries of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. They found that tracking and quantifying herring DNA from the environment corresponded well to more traditional field methods and has great potential to assist future monitoring efforts of river herring abundance and habitat use.

"Sampling a single river, you need a net, crew, permits, it can be expensive," said study author Louis Plough of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. "The eDNA approach is an alternative where you just take water and you get an idea of the abundance of fish."

Accurate information on how many fish are in a river system and where they travel is essential to understanding their ecology and how to manage the fishery in increasingly human-impacted environments. Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling has recently emerged as a powerful, non-invasive alternative to capture-based techniques to detect the presence of a species in their environment.

"You can scoop up water and know what's been there," said Plough. "It captures a snapshot of the DNA that has been around in the past couple of weeks."

The researchers developed a genetic probe that targeted and identified the DNA of two particular fish species, alewife and blueback herring, collectively known as river herring, in the waterways. As they swim, the fish slough off cells and waste that contain DNA.

"The eDNA method is especially powerful because it can identify whether alewife, blueback herring, or both species are present at each site," said study co-author Matt Ogburn of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. "When we use some traditional methods like collecting fish eggs or larvae, we often aren't able to tell which river herring species they belong to, and they might even be from other local species like hickory shad."

River herring, the common name for alewife and blueback herring, were once common in Maryland's rivers, where they came to spawn every spring. One of the oldest fisheries in North America, they play important roles in coastal food websstriped bass, bald eagles and osprey like to snack on themyet the species has declined sharply since the 1970s due to loss of spawning habitat, overfishing, and degradation of water quality.

"These species live in saltwater and spawn in freshwater every spring. They've been hit hard by overfishing and habitat loss, including dams that blocked their way to spawning grounds upstream, so numbers have declined," said Plough. "We need to conserve them, they need help, but it's expensive to monitor them."

The team sampled 196 locations across 12 tributaries in Marylandnearly 500 waters samples-in an effort to understand where they are and how many there are.

They found that the eDNA abundance data corresponded well to other field methods and even gave them a finer looks at species distribution. For example, alewife were more common among eastern shore rivers while blueback herring were more common among rivers on the more developed western shore.

The researchers are among first to use eDNA across the Chesapeake Bay watershed to create a map of where river herring are spawning.

"The only other large-scale surveys of river herring spawning habitats in the Chesapeake Bay watershed were conducted in Maryland and Virginia from the 1960s to 1980s, and different methods were used in each state," Ogburn said. "Our study is the first to use the same method across the watershed, which allows us to study habitat preferences at an unprecedented scale."

"The goal is to do more of this with other species, using new tools to inform conservation and restoration efforts," said Plough.

Explore further Genetic study of river herring populations identifies conservation priorities

More information: Louis V. Plough et al. Environmental DNA analysis of river herring in Chesapeake Bay: A powerful tool for monitoring threatened keystone species, PLOS ONE (2018). Journal information: PLoS ONE Louis V. Plough et al. Environmental DNA analysis of river herring in Chesapeake Bay: A powerful tool for monitoring threatened keystone species,(2018). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205578
Researchers identify 35 genes associated with reproduction, milk composition, growth, meat and carcass, health or body conformation traits in Gir cattle (specimens from herds with selected traits for beef and milk production). Credit: Anibal Eugenio Vercesi Filho and Sertaozinho Animal Science Institute)

Beef cattle improvement programs have focused for decades on promoting the rapid growth of calves. Now, the goal is to improve other traits, such as meat tenderness or ribeye muscle area.

Researchers at Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil who are studying the genome of the Gir breed of Zebu cattle have identified 35 genes associated with reproduction, milk composition, growth, meat and carcass, health or body conformation traits. This identification is a key step toward the development of novel lines with traits desired by producers and consumers.

The results of the study have recently been published in the journal PLOS ONE by the group, which is led by Josineudson Augusto II de Vasconcelos Silva, a professor at the university's Botucatu School of Agrarian & Veterinary Sciences (FCAV-UNESP). The research was supported by Sao Paulo Research FoundationFAPESP. Researchers affiliated with the University of Georgia in the United States and with Brazilian animal science institutes located in Nova Odessa and Sertaozinho, both in Sao Paulo State, also took part.

The Gir breed is of Indian origin and has been successfully introduced into the tropics. It is one of the main cattle breeds farmed in South American tropical countries, especially Brazil. However, the various populations have pronounced differences. Strong artificial selection in recent decades has increased the genetic differentiation among herds in countries of the region.

Gir cattle are mainly farmed for milk in Brazil today, although they were once an option for meat producers, who now prefer Nelore cattle.

To locate the genes associated with beef and dairy production in Gir cattle, the researchers analyzed the genotypes of animals from different populations, including a herd raised between 1976 and 2003 at the Sertaozinho Animal Science Institute.

During this period, the institute's scientists selected animals from the herd to develop traits associated with meat production, such as rapid yearling growth. As a result, calves born to cows in this herd became steadily larger. In 2003, however, the herd was sold in response to a change in preference among farmers, who opted to raise Gir for dairy rather than beef.

At that time, Brazil launched its Dairy Gir Genetic Improvement Program (local acronym PNMGL). Selection for traits associated with milk production led over the years to cows with steadily larger udders that produced increasing amounts of milk.

The genotyping exercise used hair samples collected in 2003 from 173 bulls, cows and yearlings belonging to the herd selected for beef production and from 273 animals belonging to the PNMGL herd, which was selected for dairy production and raised on five farms in Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo State.

The researchers also recorded key lifecycle data, such as birth weight, preweaning and postweaning weight, and slaughter weight.

"We selected a Gir group for beef and another for dairy. The difference in morphology was significant. The animals selected for beef had more muscle mass and were stronger, while cows selected for dairy had very large udders," Vasconcelos Silva said.

"The results obtained are clear and consistent with the history of both populations. Because they were involved in different breeding programs, there was intentional segregation of their genes, leading to complete isolation and this significant genetic variation."

The genomes of the 173 animals selected for beef production were compared with the genomes of the 273 animals selected for dairy production with the aim of detecting the regions in which the respective genes were located.

"We found that 282 genes in the regions concerned could be considered signatures of selection in Gir beef and dairy herds. Of these, 35 were found to be associated with reproduction, milk composition, growth, meat and carcass, health or body conformation traits," Vasconcelos Silva said.

Larger herds

The investigation funded by FAPESP showed that traits associated with fertility, milk production, beef quality, and growth were involved in the process of differentiation between the two populations, one selected for meat production and the other for milk production. Some of these 35 genes were already known to science. The rest are new discoveries.

The next steps will involve larger herds. The group will genotype at least 2,000 animals to understand how the previously known genes are expressed and more precisely how they are associated with the traits investigated.

"We may perhaps discover that some genes are more abundantly expressed in Gir than Nelore, for example," Vasconcelos Silva said.

Another possibility will be a comparison of Gir genes with those of a European breed such as Angus, which is preferred by Brazilian steakhouses.

Explore further Study finds new genomic regions associated with weight gain in Nelore cattle

More information: Amanda Marchi Maiorano et al, Assessing genetic architecture and signatures of selection of dual purpose Gir cattle populations using genomic information, PLOS ONE (2018). Journal information: PLoS ONE Amanda Marchi Maiorano et al, Assessing genetic architecture and signatures of selection of dual purpose Gir cattle populations using genomic information,(2018). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200694
Angola Giraffes (G. g. angolensis) in Northwestern Namibia. Credit: Julian Fennessy

In 2016, virtually overnight, one giraffe species turned into four. Using new, even more extensive genetic tests, Senckenberg scientists have now been able to show that the four giraffe populations identified as separate species practically never interbreed, even where they occur in close vicinity to each other. The negligible number of hybrids serves as additional evidence that the Southern, Masai, Reticulated, and Northern Giraffes in fact constitute four separate species, according to the team's study, published as the title story in the recent edition of Ecology and Evolution. Conservation measures in accordance with these findings are therefore urgently needed.

In 2016, the headline read, "From one to four": Their genome revealed that the Southern, Masai, Reticulated, and Northern Giraffes clearly do not constitute one single species, as documented by a team from the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. However, the issue has not yet been fully settled, since experts disagree just how many different giraffe species should be recognized, and therefore protected. To shed additional light on this question, the researchers from Frankfurt conducted detailed studies to find out just how frequently the four giraffe species interbreed.

In the process, they analyzed 21 sections each from the genome of 137 giraffes from all across Africa to trace the exchange of genes among them. The result: "On average, there is at most one giraffe in every five generations whose parents belonged to two different species. Only Northern and Reticulated Giraffes interbreed a little more frequently, but still at a rate of less than one case per generation in the entire population," explains Sven Winter of the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center.

A Reticulated Giraffe (G. reticulata) in Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. Credit: Julian Fennessy

The decisive factor is the number of hybrids per generation. If there is more than one hybrid (mixed offspring) per generation, the scientists postulate a single species that simply split into separate populations. This is based on the biological species concept, which assumes that two separate species never, or only very rarely, interbreed. "The new study supports our results from 2016. While the four giraffe species identified by us resemble each other rather closely, they show the same genetic differences as Polar Bears and Brown Bears  two separate species that occasionally hybridize with each other," says the study's lead author, Dr. Axel Janke of the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center.

At any rate, distance is not the limiting factor that prevents interbreeding among the four giraffe species. "Masai, Reticulated, and Northern Giraffes all occur in East Africa in adjacent regions; yet they almost never interbreed. This is additional evidence of the fact that they are independent species. It is possible that the giraffes' reproduction depends on the rainy season, whose timing differs from one habitat to another," explains Winter. To gain deeper insight into the resulting extremely rare occurrence of hybrids, the team plans to conduct a further study in conjunction with the Kenya Wildlife Service in the near future.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) still considers all giraffes to be a single species. Due to the relatively large number of individuals resulting from this treatment, the giraffe is only classified as "endangered" on the Red List  the lowest risk category. However, the number of individuals in each of the separate species, and the Northern Giraffe, in particular, gives much greater reason for concern. "Our new study serves as additional proof that there are actually four giraffe species. It would be desirable if this fact were reflected in the evaluation by the IUCN to ensure that each of the species receives an appropriate level of protection," adds Winter in closing.

Explore further Genetic analysis uncovers four species of giraffe, not just one

More information: Sven Winter et al. Limited introgression supports division of giraffe into four species, Ecology and Evolution (2018). Journal information: Ecology and Evolution Sven Winter et al. Limited introgression supports division of giraffe into four species,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4490
The top and middle rows show microchambers without (left) and with (right) incorporated graphene oxide after dissolution of the templates. The bottom row shows microchambers with graphene oxide after peeling away the template, both scanning electron microscopy (left) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (right) images. Credit: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Implantable arrays of microchambers show potential capacity for holding and releasing precisely controlled quantities of drugs on command, report A*STAR researchers with colleagues in Singapore, Russia and the United Kingdom.

A near-infrared laser beam acts to break open selected microchambers at the required time. "This near-infrared light is the perfect way to trigger drug release as it has the maximum penetration into biological tissues," says Maxim Kiryukhin of the A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering. The required wavelengths fall within the 'therapeutic window' that allows light for medical uses to reach safely into the body.

The team make the microchambers from composites of polymers and graphene oxide. "My research group pioneered the manufacture of microchamber arrays using techniques called nanoimprint lithography and layer-by-layer assembly," says Kiryukhin. The lithography step makes templates with a desired pattern of microwells imprinted into their surface. Layers of polymers and graphene oxide are then built up on the templates to make a composite material. The templates can be dissolved or peeled away, creating the polymer/graphene-oxide chambered arrays that can be sealed with a layer of plastic.

If they are to contain drugs for delivery into the body, the chambers need to be mechanically robust. "Failure, followed by sudden release of the entire drug payload, could be catastrophic," Kiryukhin points out. Incorporating graphene oxide layers into the polymer layers is the critical innovation that makes the chambers sufficiently stable and responsive to near-infrared light.

The researchers have already developed techniques that can be used to load the chambers with a range of chemical solutions; selected chambers can then be disrupted using targeted laser light (see image). This would give clinicians fine control over the rate of drug release to suit different patients and conditions.

This proof-of-concept work lays the foundations for moving to tests with real drugs in animals and then humans. Kiryukhin explains that the team are relying on their collaborating research groups in the UK, China and Russia to address this challenge.

Meanwhile the A*STAR researchers are pursuing wider possibilities. "We are interested in using the chambered arrays in sensing technologies, such as detecting the level of freshness of food or diagnosing the condition of wounds and diseased tissues," Kiryukhin explains. The microchambers could release a signal, such as fluorescence, in response to the changes being sensed, for example.

Explore further Understanding properties of polyelectrolytes gives control over responsive polymer microstructures

More information: Alexey Ermakov et al. Polyelectrolyte-Graphene Oxide Multilayer Composites for Array of Microchambers which are Mechanically Robust and Responsive to NIR Light, Macromolecular Rapid Communications (2018). Journal information: Macromolecular Rapid Communications Alexey Ermakov et al. Polyelectrolyte-Graphene Oxide Multilayer Composites for Array of Microchambers which are Mechanically Robust and Responsive to NIR Light,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/marc.201700868
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Scientists from the Higher School of Economics have developed a method that allows physicists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to separate between various types of elementary particles with a high degree of accuracy. The results were published in the Journal of Physics.

One of major unsolved problems of modern physics is the predominance of matter over antimatter in the universe. They both formed within a second after the Big Bang, in presumably equal fractions, and physicists are trying to understand where antimatter has disappeared to. Back in 1966, Russian scientist Andrei Sakharov suggested that the imbalance between matter and antimatter appeared as a result of CP violation, i.e., an asymmetry between particles and antiparticles. Thus, only particles remained after their annihilation (mutual destruction) of resulting unbalanced contributions.

The Large Hadron Collider beauty experiment (LHCb) studies unstable particles called B-mesons. Their decays demonstrate the clearest asymmetry between matter and antimatter. The LHCb consists of several specialised detectors, specifically, calorimeters to measure the energy of neutral particles. Calorimeters also identify different types of particles. These are done by search and analysis of corresponding clusters of energy deposition. It is, however, not easy to separate signals from two types of photonsprimary photons and photons from energetic 0 meson decay. HSE scientists developed a method that to classify these two with high accuracy.

The authors of the study applied artificial neural networks and gradient boosting (a machine-learning algorithm) to classify energies collected in the individual cells of the energy cluster.

"We took a five-by-five matrix with a centre at the calorimeter cell with the largest energy," says Fedor Ratnikov, one of the study's authors and a leading researcher in the HSE Laboratory of Methods for Big Data Analysis. "Instead of analysing the special characteristics constructed from raw energies in cluster cells, we pass these raw energies directly to the algorithm for analysis. The machine was able to make sense of the data better than a person."

Compared with the previous method of data pre-processing, the new machine-learning-based method has quadrupled quality metrics for the identification of particles on the calorimeter. The algorithm improved the classification quality from 0.89 to 0.97; the higher this figure is, the better the classifier works. With a 98 percent effectiveness rate of initial photon identification, the new approach has lowered the false photon identification rate from 60 percent to 30 percent.

The proposed method is unique in that it allows for elementary particles to be identified without initially studying the characteristics of the cluster being analysed. "We pass the data to machine learning in the hope that the algorithm finds correlations we might not have considered. The approach obviously worked out in this case," Fedor Ratnikov concludes.

Explore further New source of asymmetry between matter and antimatter

More information: Viktoria Chekalina et al, Machine Learning approach to /0 separation in the LHCb calorimeter, Journal of Physics: Conference Series (2018). Viktoria Chekalina et al, Machine Learning approach to /0 separation in the LHCb calorimeter,(2018). DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1085/4/042036

Provided by National Research University Higher School of Economics
Evaluation of photos with AI: the node size reflects the frequency of certain tags, the colors stand for different thematic clusters (see detailed caption at the end of the text). Credit: Heera Lee, KIT

Every day, users upload millions of photos on platforms such as Flickr, Instagram and Facebook. A study by researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) now shows that these photos can be used to assess the social importance of certain landscapes. For this purpose, they developed a new image analysis method based on artificial intelligence. The results might be of particular importance for landscape management and presentation. The results are published in the journal Ecological Indicators.

Functioning ecosystems are of crucial importance to humans. They supply major resources, such as food, water or fuel. But they also play a cultural role as resorts, holiday destinations or aesthetic photo motifs. "The many photos published by people on online platforms reveal that landscapes have an enormous cultural importance," says Dr. Heera Lee of KIT's Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In her opinion, this has to be considered in sustainable development and landscape planning. Consequently, Lee and her team have developed a method for landscape planners to quickly and reliably use photos in social media to draw conclusions with respect to the socio-cultural importance of landscapes.

Her study, "Mapping cultural ecosystem services 2.0Potential and shortcomings from unlabeled crowd-sourced images," covers the region of the Mulde basin in Saxony as an example. "Here, the Ore Mountains attract people who want to go hiking, mountain biking or do winter sports," Lee says. The number of photos posted by visitors on different platforms is accordingly high. For her study, Lee and her team collected photos that were posted on Flickr from January 01, 2005 to December 31, 2016. During this period, 725 different persons uploaded about 13,000 photos of the region on the online platform.

The evaluation of the photos reflects in high detail how tourists and the local population use the area of the Mulde basin for leisure activities or for enjoying nature. Now, landscape planners can identify the "hotspots" and better understand the socio-cultural importance of certain areas. On this basis, they can limit access to endangered areas or create offers and facilities to support their activities.

Image Evaluation with the Help of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

To obtain reliable and relevant statements with respect to the socio-cultural use of landscapes, Lee and her team developed a new method that also considers the contents of the photo: "We did not only want to know where and when the photos were taken, but mainly what was photographed. This was the only way to identify cultural hotspots in the region studied."

The researchers obtained information on the photos from the tags given by the users at the time of publication. They show where a photo was taken and what can be seen on it. However, the researchers had to cope with two challenges: the quality of the tags given by the users and the duration of evaluation. Although Flickr suggests tags for photos and videos, they are not used by all users. As 2500 of these photos studied had no tags at all, and 590 had only one single tag, the team of researchers decided to use automatic tags from an image recognition algorithm based on deep convolutional neural networks through a cloud computing platform, Clarifai. This algorithm allocated 20 tags to each photo. In total, 2317 different tags were applied to about 13,000 photos.

"We then assumed that similar photos contained similar tags. If the similar tags co-occurred on multiple photos, we considered this as an indicator of the photos belonging together," Lee says. With the help of social network analyses, the researchers divided the tags into nine thematic clusters and assigned the photos to one or several of these clusters. Close-up views of flowers or butterflies were assigned to the cluster "Existence," as they showed objects existing in the areas studied. Lee and her team then checked the accuracy of the method by means of a manual evaluation: about 20 percent of tags had been assigned wrongly. The researchers, however, expect that reliability of assignment will be improved significantly by the further development of artificial intelligence. In addition, Lee and her team compared the results with empirical studies of the cultural use of agricultural areas with similar results.

The method developed also accelerates evaluation. Allocation of the tags to the nearly 13,000 photos took about three hours. For comparison: manually, a person is able to tag about 140 photos per hour. "With this method, we were able to reliably and quickly classify and allocate photos from social media," Lee says. The method can also be transferred to other regions of which photos have been published on the Internet. The European Union and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany funded Heera Lee's research with two projects, namely OPERAs, and CONNECT of BiodivERsA 2011, respectively.

Explore further Evaluating cultural value of landscapes using geotagged photos

More information: Heera Lee et al. Mapping cultural ecosystem services 2.0  Potential and shortcomings from unlabeled crowd sourced images, Ecological Indicators (2018). Heera Lee et al. Mapping cultural ecosystem services 2.0  Potential and shortcomings from unlabeled crowd sourced images,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.08.035
A new study reveals how coordinated motions of copper (red) and oxygen (grey) atoms in a high-temperature superconductor boost the superconducting strength of pairs of electrons (white glow), allowing the material to conduct electricity without any loss at much higher temperatures. The discovery opens a new path to engineering higher-temperature superconductors. Credit: Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

In superconducting materials, electrons pair up and condense into a quantum state that carries electrical current with no loss. This usually happens at very low temperatures. Scientists have mounted an all-out effort to develop new types of superconductors that work at close to room temperature, which would save huge amounts of energy and open a new route for designing quantum electronics. To get there, they need to figure out what triggers this high-temperature form of superconductivity and how to make it happen on demand.

Now, in independent studies reported in Science and Nature, scientists from the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University report two important advances: They measured collective vibrations of electrons for the first time and showed how collective interactions of the electrons with other factors appear to boost superconductivity.

Carried out with different copper-based materials and with different cutting-edge techniques, the experiments lay out new approaches for investigating how unconventional superconductors operate.

"Basically, what we're trying to do is understand what makes a good superconductor," said co-author Thomas Devereaux, a professor at SLAC and Stanford and director of SIMES, the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, whose investigators led both studies.

"What are the ingredients that could give rise to superconductivity at temperatures well above what they are today?" he said. "These and other recent studies indicate that the atomic lattice plays an important role, giving us hope that we are gaining ground in answering that question."

The high-temperature puzzle

Conventional superconductors were discovered in 1911, and scientists know how they work: Free-floating electrons are attracted to a material's lattice of atoms, which has a positive charge, in a way that lets them pair up and flow as electric current with 100 percent efficiency. Today, superconducting technology is used in MRI machines, maglev trains and particle accelerators.

But these superconductors work only when chilled to temperatures as cold as outer space. So when scientists discovered in 1986 that a family of copper-based materials known as cuprates can superconduct at much higher, although still quite chilly, temperatures, they were elated.

The operating temperature of cuprates has been inching up ever since  the current record is about 120 degrees Celsius below the freezing point of water  as scientists explore a number of factors that could either boost or interfere with their superconductivity. But there's still no consensus about how the cuprates function.

"The key question is how can we make all these electrons, which very much behave as individuals and do not want to cooperate with others, condense into a collective state where all the parties participate and give rise to this remarkable collective behavior?" said Zhi-Xun Shen, a SLAC/Stanford professor and SIMES investigator who participated in both studies.

Behind-the-scenes boost

One of the new studies, at SLAC's Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL), took a systematic look at how "doping"  adding a chemical that changes the density of electrons in a material  affects the superconductivity and other properties of a cuprate called Bi2212.

Collaborating researchers at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan prepared samples of the material with slightly different levels of doping. Then a team led by SIMES researcher Yu He and SSRL staff scientist Makoto Hashimoto examined the samples at SSRL with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, or ARPES. It uses a powerful beam of X-ray light to kick individual electrons out of a sample material so their momentum and energy can be measured. This reveals what the electrons in the material are doing.

An illustration depicts the repulsive energy (yellow flashes) generated by electrons in one layer of a cuprate material repelling electrons in the next layer. Theorists think this energy could play a critical role in creating the superconducting state, leading electrons to form a distinctive form of sound wave that could boost superconducting temperatures. Scientists have now observed and measured those sound waves for the first time. Credit: Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

In this case, as the level of doping increased, the maximum superconducting temperature of the material peaked and fell off again, He said.

The team focused in on samples with particularly robust superconducting properties. They discovered that three interwoven effects  interactions of electrons with each other, with lattice vibrations and with superconductivity itself  reinforce each other in a positive feedback loop when conditions are right, boosting superconductivity and raising the superconducting temperature of the material.

Small changes in doping produced big changes in superconductivity and in the electrons' interaction with lattice vibrations, Devereaux said. The next step is to figure out why this particular level of doping is so important.

"One popular theory has been that rather than the atomic lattice being the source of the electron pairing, as in conventional superconductors, the electrons in high-temperature superconductors form some kind of conspiracy by themselves. This is called electronic correlation," Yu He said. "For instance, if you had a room full of electrons, they would spread out. But if some of them demand more individual space, others will have to squeeze closer to accommodate them."

In this study, He said, "What we find is that the lattice has a behind-the-scenes role after all, and we may have overlooked an important ingredient for high-temperature superconductivity for the past three decades," a conclusion that ties into the results of earlier research by the SIMES group.

Electron 'Sound Waves'

The other study, performed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in France, used a technique called resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, or RIXS, to observe the collective behavior of electrons in layered cuprates known as LCCO and NCCO.

RIXS excites electrons deep inside atoms with X-rays, and then measures the light they give off as they settle back down into their original spots.

In the past, most studies have focused only on the behavior of electrons within a single layer of cuprate material, where electrons are known to be much more mobile than they are between layers, said SIMES staff scientist Wei-Sheng Lee. He led the study with Matthias Hepting, who is now at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Germany.

But in this case, the team wanted to test an idea raised by theorists  that the energy generated by electrons in one layer repelling electrons in the next one plays a critical role in forming the superconducting state.

When excited by light, this repulsion energy leads electrons to form a distinctive sound wave known as an acoustic plasmon, which theorists predict could account for as much as 20 percent of the increase in superconducting temperature seen in cuprates.

With the latest in RIXS technology, the SIMES team was able to observe and measure those acoustic plasmons.

"Here we see for the first time how acoustic plasmons propagate through the whole lattice," Lee said. "While this doesn't settle the question of where the energy needed to form the superconducting state comes from, it does tell us that the layered structure itself affects how the electrons behave in a very profound way."

This observation sets the stage for future studies that manipulate the sound waves with light, for instance, in a way that enhances superconductivity, Lee said. The results are also relevant for developing future plasmonic technology, he said, with a range of applications from sensors to photonic and electronic devices for communications.

Explore further The culprit of superconductivity in cuprates

More information: Y. He et al. Rapid change of superconductivity and electron-phonon coupling through critical doping in Bi-2212, Science (2018). Y. He et al. Rapid change of superconductivity and electron-phonon coupling through critical doping in Bi-2212,(2018). DOI: 10.1126/science.aar3394 M. Hepting et al. Three-dimensional collective charge excitations in electron-doped copper oxide superconductors, Nature (2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0648-3 Journal information: Nature , Science
In two-dimensional tungsten ditelluride, two different states of matter  topological insulator and superconductor  can be chosen at will, MIT researchers discovered. Credit: Sanfeng Wu

A transistor based on the 2-D material tungsten ditelluride (WTe 2 ) sandwiched between boron nitride can switch between two different electronic statesone that conducts current only along its edges, making it a topological insulator, and one that conducts current with no resistance, making it a superconductorresearchers at MIT and colleagues from four other institutions have demonstrated.

Using four-probe measurements, a common quantum electronic transport technique to measure the electronic behavior of materials, the researchers plotted the current carrying capacity and resistance characteristics of the two-dimensional tungsten ditelluride transistor and confirmed their findings across a range of applied voltages and external magnetic fields at extremely low temperatures.

"This is the first time that the exact same material can be tuned either to a topological insulator or to a superconductor," says Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics at MIT. "We can do this by regular electric field effect using regular, standard dielectrics, so basically the same type of technology you use in standard semiconductor electronics."

New class of materials

"This is the first of a new class of materialstopological insulators that can be tuned electrically into superconductorswhich opens many possibilities which before there were significant obstacles to realize," Jarillo-Herrero says. "Having one material where you can do this seamlessly within the same material to transition between this topological insulator and superconductor is something which is potentially very attractive."

Tungsten ditelluride, which is one of the transition metal dichalcogenide materials, is classified as a semimetal and conducts electricity like metals in bulk form. The new findings detail that in a single-layer crystal form, at temperatures from less than 1 kelvin to liquid nitrogen range (-320.4 degrees Fahrenheit), tungsten ditelluride hosts three distinct phases: topologically insulating, superconducting, and metallic. An applied voltage drives the transition between these phases, which vary with temperature and electron concentration. In superconducting materials, electrons flow without resistance generating no heat.

The new findings have been published online in the journal Science. Valla Fatemi Ph.D. '18, who is now a postdoc at Yale, and postdoc Sanfeng Wu, who is a Pappalardo Fellow at MIT, are co-first authors of the paper with senior author Jarillo-Herrero. The co-authors are MIT graduate student Yuan Cao; Landry Bretheau Ph.D. '18 of the Ecole Polytechnique in France; Quinn D. Gibson of the University of Liverpool in the UK; Kenji Watanabe and Takashi Taniguchi of the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan; and Robert J. Cava, a professor of chemistry at Princeton University.

Like a quantum wire

The new work builds on a report earlier this year by the researchers demonstrating the quantum spin Hall effect (QSH), which is the signature physics phenomenon underlying two-dimensional topological insulators, in the same single layer tungsten ditelluride material. This edge current is governed by the spin of the electrons rather than by their charge, and electrons of opposite spin move in opposite directions. This topological property is always present in the material at cold temperatures.

This quantum spin Hall effect persisted up to a temperature of about 100 kelvins (-279.67 degrees F). "So it's the highest temperature 2-D topological insulator so far," says postdoc Sanfeng Wu, who also was a first author of the earlier paper. "It's very important for an interesting quantum state like this to survive at high temperatures for use for applications."

This behavior, in which the edges of tungsten ditelluride material act like a quantum wire, was predicted in 2014 in a theoretical paper by associate professor of physics Liang Fu and Ju Li, a professor of nuclear science and engineering and materials science and engineering. Materials with these qualities are sought for spintronic and quantum computing devices.

Although the topological insulating phenomenon was observed at up to 100 kelvins, the superconducting behavior in the new work occurred at a much lower temperature of about 1K.

MIT researchers Sanfeng Wu, left, a postdoc at MIT, and Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics, have demonstrated for the first time in a single material the controllable appearance of two different states of matter  topological insulator and superconductor. Their experiments used two-dimensional tungsten ditelluride. Credit: Denis Paiste/Materials Research Laboratory

This material has the advantage of entering the superconducting state with one of the lowest densities of electrons for any 2-D superconductor. "That means that that small carrier density that is needed to make it a superconductor is one that you can induce with normal dielectrics, with regular dielectrics, and using a small electric field," Jarillo-Herrero explains.

Addressing the findings of topological insulating behavior in 2-D tungsten telluride in the first paper, and the findings of superconductivity in the second, Wu says, "These are twin papers, each of them is beautiful and put together their combination can be very powerful." Wu suggests that the findings point the way for investigation of 2-D topological materials and could lead the way to a new material basis for topological quantum computers.

The tungsten ditelluride crystals were grown at Princeton University, while the boron nitride crystals were grown at the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan. The MIT team built the experimental devices, carried out the electronic transport measurements at ultra-cold temperatures, and analyzed the data at the Institute.

Simultaneous discovery

Jarillo-Herrero notes that this discovery that monolayer tungsten ditelluride can be tuned into a superconductor using standard semiconductor nanofabrication and electric field effect techniques was simultaneously realized by a competing group of collaborators, including Professor David Cobden at the University of Washington and Associate Professor Joshua Folk at the University of British Columbia. (Their article"Gate-induced superconductivity in a monolayer topological insulator"is being published online at the same time in Science First Release.)

"It was done independently in both groups, but we both made the same discovery," Jarillo-Herrero says. "It's the best thing that can happen that your big discovery immediately gets reproduced. It gives extra confidence to the community that this is something that's very real."

Jarillo-Herrero was elected as a fellow of the American Physical Society earlier this year based on his seminal contributions to quantum electronic transport and optoelectronics in two-dimensional materials and devices.

Step toward quantum computing

A particular area where this new capability may be useful is the realization of Majorana modes at the interface of topologically insulating and superconducting materials. First predicted by physicists in 1937, Majorana fermions can be thought of as electrons split into two parts, each of which behaves as an independent particle. These fermions have yet to be found as elementary particles in nature but can emerge in certain superconducting materials near absolute zero temperature.

"It is interesting by itself from a fundamental physics point of view, and in addition, it has prospects to be of interest for topological quantum computing, which is a special type of quantum computing," Jarillo-Herrero says.

The uniqueness of Majorana modes lies in their exotic behavior when one swaps their positions, an operation that physicists call "braiding" because the time dependent traces of these swapping particles look like a braid. The braiding operations can't change the quantum states of regular particles like electrons or photons, however braiding Majorana particles changes their quantum state completely. This unusual property, dubbed "non-Abelian statistics," is the key to realizing topological quantum computers. A magnetic gap is also needed for pinning the Majorana mode at a location.

"This work is quite beautiful," says Jason Alicea, professor of theoretical physics at Caltech, who was not involved in this research. "The basic ingredients necessary for engineering Majorana modessuperconductivity and gapping of edge states by magnetismhave now been separately demonstrated in WTe2."

"Moreover, the observation of intrinsic superconductivity by gating is potentially a major boon for advanced applications of Majorana modes, e.g., braiding to demonstrate non-Abelian statistics. To this end, one can envision designing complex, dynamically tunable networks of superconducting quantum-spin-Hall edge states by electrostatic means." Alicea says. "The possibilities are very exciting."

Explore further Topological material shows superconductivityand not just at its surface

More information: Ebrahim Sajadi et al. Gate-induced superconductivity in a monolayer topological insulator, Science (2018). Ebrahim Sajadi et al. Gate-induced superconductivity in a monolayer topological insulator,(2018). DOI: 10.1126/science.aar4426 Valla Fatemi et al. Electrically tunable low-density superconductivity in a monolayer topological insulator, Science (2018). DOI: 10.1126/science.aar4642 Journal information: Science

This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching.
Southern Right Whale captured around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Credit: Carlos Olavarria

Scientists have used detailed high-resolution satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies' DigitalGlobe, to detect, count and describe four different species of whales. Reported this week in the journal Marine Mammal Science, this study is a big step towards developing a cost-effective method to study whales in remote and inaccessible places, that will help scientists to monitor population changes and understand their behaviour.

Each species was observed in one of their known aggregation areas, where individuals come together to congregate: southern right whales off Argentina, humpback whales off Hawaii, fin whales in the Pelagos Sanctuary in the Mediterranean and grey whales off the coast of Mexico. Already it has helped whale conservation bodies to identify 10 key inaccessible whale populations that would benefit most from the application of satellite imagery in studies.

Lead author Hannah Cubaynes, a whale ecologist at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and University of Cambridge explains:

"This is the most detailed imagery of whales captured by satellites to date. It's exciting that the improved resolution (now at 30 cm) reveals characteristic features, such as flippers and flukes, which can be seen in the images for the first time.

"Whales live in all oceans. Many areas are difficult to access by boats or planes, the traditional means of monitoring whales. The ability to track whales without travelling to these remote and inaccessible areas, in a cost-effective way, will be of great benefit to conservation efforts for whales."

Grey whales spotted off the coast of Mexico. Credit: DigitalGlobe.

The study also shows some species are easier to identify by satellite. Fin and grey whales are the easiest to identify due to their body colouration, which contrasts with surrounding water. Humpback whales and southern right whales are more difficult to detect as they are a similar colour to their environment. In particular, the acrobatic behaviour of humpback whales makes them harder to see as they splash about so much and so their body shape is often obscured.

The team studied seven huge images of the open ocean taken by DigitalGlobe's WorldView-3 satellite, covering over 5000 km2  an area the size of the UK county of Norfolk or the U.S. state of Delaware.

Whale ecologist Dr. Jennifer Jackson at BAS, an author on the paper, is due to embark on an expedition to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia in December to study southern right whales. She says:

Infographic shows where different whale species congregate around the world. Credit: Hannah Cubaynes

"This new technology could be a game-changer in helping us to find whales remotely. Critically endangered whale populations like the Chile-Peru right whale (thought to winter in Patagonia) could really benefit from this approach.

"My project, looking at southern right whales around South Georgia, will examine if the species has made a recovery following the end of whaling. In recent years, many deaths have been seen on their nursery grounds at Peninsula Valdes. Satellite-based technology could prove very useful for measuring trends in whale populations such as these southern right whales, in future."

Explore further Are these humpback whales too close for comfort?

More information: Hannah C. Cubaynes et al. Whales from space: Four mysticete species described using new VHR satellite imagery, Marine Mammal Science (2018). Journal information: Marine Mammal Science Hannah C. Cubaynes et al. Whales from space: Four mysticete species described using new VHR satellite imagery,(2018). DOI: 10.1111/mms.12544
This map of the Yangtze River basin shows the major dams and the spawning grounds of the Chinese sturgeon. Credit: Huang & Wang / Current Biology

Before the damming of the Yangtze River in 1981, Chinese sturgeon swam freely each summer one after another into the river's mouth, continuing upriver while fasting all along the way. They bred in the upper spawning ground the following fall before returning quickly back to the sea. Now, researchers reporting in Current Biology on November 1 offer new insight into the threat the dams have since posed to the critically endangered fish.

"We have established a novel theoretical framework to study the relationship between dams and the fish and to reveal the quantitative mechanism by which dams impact anadromous fish," says Zhenli Huang of the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research. "We have found that the loss of effective breeding and environmental capacity are two crucial factors resulting in an ongoing decline in adult abundances of Chinese sturgeon in the Yangtze River."

The findings likely aren't unique to the Yangtze River, the researchers note. Most of the world's rivers have been dammed. Those dams have long been considered a serious threat to migratory fish around the world. But, scientists hadn't documented all of the ways in which dams affect fish.

To explore in the new study, Huang and study co-author Luhai Wang combined field observations with theoretical analysis of historical data. They wanted to understand something that had already become clear: why the spawning activity of Chinese sturgeon had become more and more difficult to observe in recent years.

The study shows that since 1981, the Gezhouba Dam has reduced the distance of the Chinese sturgeon's migration by 1,175 kilometers. As a result, the fish reach reproductive maturity more than a month (37 days) later. That's because the flow of water as fish swim upstream during migration is an important factor influencing sexual maturity.

That delayed maturity has in turn reduced the effective population size, as there are fewer breeding individuals. The environmental capacity of the new spawning ground has also been reduced, perhaps by almost a quarter. The building of subsequent dams in the last 10 years has also led to an increase in water temperature, which is known to discourage spawning.

Overall, the researchers report that the cascade dams have led to an ongoing decline in the number of adult sturgeon in the Yangtze River and the sea from more than 32,000 before 1981, to 6,000 in 2010, and about 2,500 in 2015. At this rate, they predict, the natural population of Chinese sturgeon will go extinct, perhaps as soon as the next decade.

"The protection of the wild Chinese sturgeon requires effective measures taken immediately," the researchers write. "Artificial restocking, which China has been doing without maintaining breeding activity, is inadequate and unsustainable."

Despite a poor outlook for Chinese sturgeon, the researchers reserve hope that their findings will lead to targeted measures in order to maintain the wild population of endangered species of fish at an appropriate level. They say that lowering the water temperature to a suitable range of 18C-20C during the breeding season is undoubtedly the top priority. They're now working on a follow-up study to explore the dams' effects on the more complex migration of young sturgeon.

Explore further Wild Chinese sturgeon on brink of extinction: state media

More information: Current Biology, Huang and Wang: "Yangtze Dams Increasingly Threaten the Survival of the Chinese Sturgeon" DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.032 Journal information: Current Biology , Huang and Wang: "Yangtze Dams Increasingly Threaten the Survival of the Chinese Sturgeon" www.cell.com/current-biology/f  0960-9822(18)31227-2
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 76F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 63F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
This week will be more subdued than last, and the energy around us will encourage completion and contemplation. These activities will come in handy because a new cycle of the moon is at hand, just after some energy shifts on the 6th. The suns enthusiasm will connect with Neptunes desire to transcend reality. This is excellent for creative pursuits and romantic relationships, but it can also beg for a dose of realism.

That is likely to be provided by planet Uranus, as it backslides into the fiery sign of Aries. As the new moon on Scorpio approaches on the 7th, expect to deal with a sense of discontent that you only thought had gone on its way and is no longer in your world. Use the energy of the new moon on Wednesday to develop a new attitude that will open your heart and mind to change and transformation.

The moon will be in Leo on Thursday, inciting a sense of drama and flash in most human interactions. Volatility will be added by Mars, as attention will be divided between what is best for oneself versus what is for the good of the various communities with which one might be affiliated. The void of course moon from 12:311:45 a.m Friday is unlikely to affect much. Later, though, further evidence of see-saw-like deliberation could come about due to competing influences from Saturn and planet Uranus. You might think, Watch out! and Why not? in the same moment.

The weekend affords us that extra hour of sleep that many crave, Saturday night into Sunday. This might be most welcome because the moons residency in Virgo on Saturday might insist that people get on with chores they have put off and to tend to details that must be taken care of before the cool weather turns colder. After an extra hours rest on Sunday, the moon will be in Libra, encouraging us to take all the dichotomies we have noticed so far this week and weigh the advantages and downsides of each option.

Monday will be one of those days when people will be less likely to say what they really think. While tact is always a welcome element in any interaction, it will make it difficult to get definite answers. You may detect passive-aggressive behavior as the power of Mars and Pluto interact with the moon.

Tuesday will provide the fuel we need to make decisions, motivated by the (possibly overly idealistic) hope of making everyone as happy as is possible. If a sense of antsiness you thought you had vanquished should return, summon a fresh attitude or start on a new project that will allow you to be true to the passion for life that you hold inside. Accept the waves of change and succumb to the power of transformation. Youll feel a whole lot better.
A new report released by Group-iB revealed that 65 percent of the $882 million in cryptocurrency stolen from exchanges ends up in North Korea.

With sanctions from the United States and Europe continuing to weigh on Pyongyang, North Korea has reportedly turned to cryptocurrencies to generate additional revenue.

According to the report, North Korean hackers have stolen as much as $571 million since January 2017, making up nearly 5 percent of the countrys GDP.

The report notes that many of the attacks are tied directly to neighboring countries Japan and South Korea, including the $534 million hack of Japans CoinCheck, which has only recently resumed operations.

(Click to enlarge)

Though just a few of the attacks that have occurred over the past two years have actually been tied to a specific criminal organization, South Korea expects that North Korean hacker groups are likely responsible for many more.

The three branches of the DPRKs hacking ecosystem

First, and most well-known, is the Lazarus Group, the supposed state-sponsored hacker group responsible for the Sony Motion Pictures hack, and according to some, the WannaCry attack which infected over 200,000 computers across 150 countries.

Lazarus has widely been blamed for many of the attacks associated with the North Korean cybercrime wave, but FireEye suggests that there may be two other groups which are casually flying under the radar.

FireEye believes that there are two groups that are specifically focused on cyber-espionage, targeting infrastructure, media outlets and the general population  the Lazarus Group and TEMP.Hermit  and one other group which is responsible for financial crime  APT38. Related: New UK Tax Plan Targets Tech Giants

Similar toolsets and even overlaps in coding have linked the three groups to one another, offering a surprising insight into how organized and complicated the North Korean governments efforts might be. The FireEye report also uncovers how precise and patient the groups are in their attacks.

(Click to enlarge)

With these tools and techniques, FireEye noted that the first activity from APT38 could be traced all the way back to 2014, the same time that Lazarus first hit the scene. And the attacks are much further reaching than originally thought, directly targeting infrastructure and organizations in at least 12 countries.

(Click to enlarge)

Conclusion

While many of the exact details of the three organizations tied to Pyongyang remain scares, at best, its becoming abundantly clear that North Korea possesses a deep understanding of technology.

Last year, FireEye also reported the country had started mining cryptocurrencies around the same time sanctions on coal trade were enacted, suggesting that the regime could be using their most abundant natural resource to generate revenue despite the economic measures weighed against it.

Additionally, South Korean media outlet, Yonhap News, notes that there has been a significant uptick in cryptojacking activity, most likely tied to North Korean hackers.

While the DPRK has fallen out of favor with many international news outlets in recent months, its clear the country is still very active behind the scenes.

By Michael Kern via Crypto Insider

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[WASHINGTON DC] People in low- and middle-income countries are gaining access to the internet more slowly because progress has stagnated on policies to make going online more affordable.

The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), a not-for-profit organisation based in Washington DC in the United States, had previously forecast that half of the worlds population would be online by now. But its 2018 Affordability Report, issued on 22 October, estimates the milestone would not be reached until mid-2019.

Sonia Jorge, A4AIs executive director, stressed the human impact of the delay. People that dont have access to the internet cant wait to have it, she said.

The importance of internet access is enshrined in the UNs Sustainable Development Goals, which urge universal internet access by 2020. In January this year, the UN said that all 47 least developed countries were on track to deploy 3G mobile networks covering over 60% of their population by that time.

It is unlikely that there will be any significant change or movement in internet adoption by most of the countries surveyed in order to meet the 2020 goals. Michele Marius

However, more two billion people live in countries where 1GB of mobile data is unaffordable to those on average salaries. In many low- and middle-income countries 1GB of data costs more than 5 per cent of monthly income, the report warned, with A4AI defining affordability as 2 per cent or less.

A4AIs report scored national policies on their effectiveness in creating affordable internet access and found that progress on this is slowing. Policy scores increased by just 1 per cent since last year, which is the slowest annual improvement in the five years of A4AIs coverage.

A4AI offers guiding principles for national internet frameworks. For example, encouraging internet service providers to share infrastructure can reduce overhead costs by up to 45 per cent, the report says.

Jorge compared countries without national guidelines to a disorganised circus. Sometimes the acts come together and they work very well, at other times they dont, she explained.

One important part of A4AIs policy advice is the creation of Universal Service and Access Funds (USAFs), which help pay for internet supply to underserved areas and groups. However, some private sector organisations that are required to contribute to USAFs resist doing so, the report said, because the funds have had mixed success.

USAFs have in some cases been quite ineffective, Jorge admitted. Quite a lot of resources have been abused.

Michele Marius, director of Jamaica-based information and communication technology and telecommunications advisors ICT Pulse . called slowing rates of internet access quite worrying.

It is unlikely that there will be any significant change or movement in internet adoption by most of the countries surveyed in order to meet the 2020 goals, Marius observed.

Like the report, Marius stressed the need for regulators to address financial losses that telecom companies typically incur in delivering services to poor areas. She added that natural disasters, like floods, boost the cost of internet access in Small Islands Developing States.

The barriers faced by these companies include the need to comply with standards, such as the GSM/3GPP wireless communication standard, and high taxes and fees.

A4AI

Until these burdens are reduced and governments provide the right type of support to areas where markets are too small, isolated and in very low income areas, the problem will persist, said Mike Jensen, internet access specialist at the Association for Progressive Communications , anmember organisation.

This urgency is compounded by the fact that more and more government services are moving online, which could shut groups without internet access out from political activities and representation. We have the responsibility to ensure that those that are marginalised in societies are not further excluded because of this situation, said Jorge.
Irans strategic network was hit by a new destructive and sophisticated version of the Stuxnet cyber weapon, the Hadashot TV reports.

According to the Hadashot TV, Irans strategic network was hit by a destructive malware-based attack hours after Israel revealed the Mossad had thwarted an Iranian murder plot in Denmark, and days after Irans President Hassan Rouhanis phone was tapped.

Attackers used a malware similar to Stuxnet, the cyber weapon that hit the Iranian nuclear plant at Natanz in 2010 interfering with nuclear program of the Government of Teheran.

Remember Stuxnet, the virus that penetrated the computers of the Iranian nuclear industry? reported Hadashot TV.

Iran has admitted in the past few days that it is again facing a similar attack, from a more violent, more advanced and more sophisticated virus than before, that has hit infrastructure and strategic networks.

Stuxnet is the product of a joint operation conducted by the US and Israeli intelligence agencies along with the alleged help of GCHQ.

The malicious code used in the recent attacks is more violent, more advanced and more sophisticated, and Iran blames Israel for the offensive.

The Israeli officials are not commenting on the attack, in recent months the Mossad intelligence agency conducted several operations against Iran. Early this year the cyberspies smuggled a huge trove of documents (paper and digital files) detailing Irans clandestine nuclear weapons program out of the Islamic Republic with Iranian agents.

In September, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu provided at the UN the alleged details about the activity of the Iranian Governments nuclear inside Iran, in Syria, and in Lebanon.

A few days ago, Gholamreza Jalali, the head of Irans civil defense agency confirmed that government experts have uncovered and neutralized a new strain of Stuxnet

Recently we discovered a new generation of Stuxnet which consisted of several parts  and was trying to enter our systems, Jalali was quoted as saying by the semi-official ISNA news agency at a news conference marking Irans civil defense day.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calls for action against the intensified efforts of Irans enemies in infiltrating his country.

In the face of the enemys complex practices, our civil defense should  confront infiltration through scientific, accurate, and up-to-date  action, Ayatollah Khamenei told civil defense officials, who are in charge of areas including cyber defense.

Pierluigi Paganini

( Security Affairs  Stuxnet, hacking)

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Security experts from Cisco Talos have uncovered two recent sextortion scam campaigns that appear to leverage on the Necurs botnet infrastructure.

Experts from Cisco Talos analyzed the two campaigns, one of them began on August 30, the other on October 5, the researchers named them Aaron Smith sextortion scams after the From: header of the messages.

Attackers use data from numerous data breach to carry out their campaigns, it October researchers from the Cybaze ZLab spotted a scam campaign that was targeting some of its Italian customers, crooks leverage credentials in Breach Compilation archive.

Crooks use email addresses and cracked passwords obtained through phishing attacks and data breaches to send out scam emails to potential victims pretending to be in possession of videos showing them while watching explicit videos.

The scammer demands a payment in cryptocurrency for not sharing the video.

Cisco Talos experts reported that the Aaron Smith campaigns sent out a total of 233,236 sextortion emails from 137,606 unique IP addresses.

Talos extracted all messages from these two sextortion campaigns that were received by SpamCop from Aug. 30, 2018 through Oct. 26, 2018  58 days worth of spam. reads the analysis published by Talos.

Every message sent as a part of these two sextortion campaigns contains a From: header matching one of the following two regular expressions:

From =~ /Aaron\d{3}Smith@yahoo\.jp/

From =~ /Aaron@Smith\d{3}\.edu/ 

In total, SpamCop received 233,236 sextortion emails related to these Aaron Smith sextortion campaigns. The messages were transmitted from 137,606 unique IP addresses. The vast majority of the sending IP addresses, 120,659 sender IPs (87.7 percent), sent two or fewer messages as a part of this campaign. 

Top countries sending sextortion emails include Vietnam (15.9 percent), Russia (15.7 percent), India (8.5 percent), Indonesia (4.9 percent) and Kazakhstan (4.7 percent). I

According to Talos, the number of distinct email addresses targeted in the campaigns was 15,826, each recipient receiving on average a 15 sextortion messages. In just one case, a recipient received 354 messages.

Each sextortion spam message includes a payment demand that randomly varies from $1,000 up to $7,000.

These six different payment amounts appear with almost identical frequency across the entire set of emails, suggesting that there was no effort made on the part of the attackers to tailor their payment demands to individual victims. continues Talos.

Researchers discovered that about 1,000 sending IP addresses used in the Aaron Smith campaigns were also involved in another sextortion campaign analyzed by experts from IBM X-Force in September and that leveraged the Necurs botnet too.

The campaigns allowed crooks to earn a total of 23.3653711 bitcoins (roughly $146,380.31), the bitcoins were distributed across 58,611 unique bitcoin wallet addresses.

Only 83 of these wallets had active balances, in some cases the wallets received payments smaller than $1,000, a circumstance that suggests they were used in other spam campaigns.

Most anti-spam solutions will filter out obvious sextortion attempts like the ones we highlighted in this post. However, that is no silver bullet. When these kinds of spam campaigns make it into users email inboxes, many of them may not be educated enough to identify that its a scam designed to make them give away their bitcoins. concludes Talos.

Unfortunately, it is clear from the large amount of bitcoin these actors secured that there is still a long way to go in terms of educating potential victims.

Further technical details and IoCs are included in the analysis published by Talos.

Pierluigi Paganini

( Security Affairs  sextortion, cybercrime)

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 Notable federal sentencing argument that "nature and circumstances of the offense" includes "rhetorical China shop bull who is now our president" | Main | "The defendant faces a maximum possible penalty of death, or life without parole, followed by a consecutive sentence of 535 years imprisonment." 

October 31, 2018

Guest post series on Chicago "stash-house sting" litigation: Part 3 on "A Path for Future Litigation"

In this prior post, I explained that Alison Siegler, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the University of Chicago Law School's Federal Criminal Justice Clinic (FCJC), sent me an extraordinary update on the extraordinary litigation her clinic has done in response to so-called "stash house stings" in which federal agents lure defendants into seeking to rob a (non-existent) drug stash-house. (In this post last year, I highlighted this lengthy Chicago Tribune article, headlined "ATF sting operation accused of using racial bias in finding targets, with majority being minorities," providing an overview on this topic.) As explained in the prior post, Alison's update is so detailed and interesting, I have divided it into three posts to cover all she has to report. The first post covered "Sentencing Victories," the second covered "Legal Victories" and this final one set out "A Path for Future Litigation":

A Path for Future Litigation The new legal standards forged by these three courts of appeals [discussed in this prior post] make it markedly easier for criminal defendants to obtain discovery in support of racially selective law enforcement claims, which in turn makes it possible for defendants to win motions to dismiss on the merits. The lower discovery standard also supports a lower merits standard for motions to dismiss for racially selective law enforcement than the standard set in Armstrong. Under Armstrong, a defendant must provide clear evidence of discriminatory effect and discriminatory intent to prevail on a selective prosecution claim on the merits. Armstrong, 517 U.S. at 465. As Sellers notes, the Supreme Court explicitly rested that merits standard on the presumption that prosecutors properly discharged their official duties. Sellers, 2018 WL 4956959 at *6 (quoting Armstrong, 517 U.S. at 464). Courts have made clear that such a presumption simply does not apply in the selective law enforcement context. See, e.g., Davis, 793 F.3d at 721; Washington, 869 F.3d at 22021; Sellers, 2018 WL 4956959 at *6. Accordingly, there is no basis for applying the clear evidence standard to a motion to dismiss for selective law enforcement. Instead, courts should apply the ordinary preponderance of the evidence standard. In our Motions to Dismiss, the FCJC asked the district court judges to apply a preponderance of the evidence standard rather than a clear evidence standard. See, e.g., Defendants Amended Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss for Racially Selective Law Enforcement at 24, United States v. Brown, 12-CR-632 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 6, 2017) (Dkt. No. 630). Although the only judge to issue a merits ruling rejected our proposed lower standard, see Brown, 299 F. Supp. 3d at 99597, Sellers supports the FCJCs position that the standard for obtaining dismissal based on a selective enforcement claim must be less onerous than the merits standard for a selective prosecution claim. Lawyers in other jurisdictions can use the litigation and precedents discussed above and in Parts 1 and 2 of this guest post series to fight race discrimination by law enforcement in their own cases. Here are a few ideas: Hire experts and gather data about racial disparities created by law enforcement in fake stash house robbery cases, gun cases, and others.

Litigate motions to obtain discovery regarding selective law enforcement in stash house cases and others, and ask district court judges to apply the lower evidentiary standard set by the Seventh, Third, and Ninth Circuits. Appeal denials of selective enforcement discovery motions and advocate for other courts of appeals to adopt the lower discovery standard.

Litigate motions to dismiss for selective law enforcement in stash house cases and others, and ask district court judges to apply a preponderance of the evidence standard rather than a clear evidence standard. Appeal denials of such motions to dismiss and advocate for other courts of appeals to adopt a preponderance of the evidence standard on the merits.

Use the plea agreements in the Chicago cases to advocate to U.S. Attorneys Offices to dismiss mandatory minimum charges in fake stash house robbery cases.

Use the example of the Chicago U.S. Attorneys Office to convince other USAOs to cease bringing fake stash house robbery cases altogether.

Use the time served sentences imposed in the Chicago cases to advocate for lower sentences in stash house cases elsewhere. Sentencing memoranda prepared by the Federal Criminal Justice Clinic in several of the Chicago cases can be found at these links:

U.S. v. Alexander, 11-CR-148Sentencing Memorandum (redacted): Mr. Alexander was originally facing a 25-year mandatory minimum and sentencing as a career offender. He was released on bond in 2016. In 2018, he was sentenced to 68 months time served.



U.S. v. Cousins, 12-CR-865Memorandum Opposing Leadership Role Enhancement: Mr. Cousins was originally facing a 25-year mandatory minimum. He was released on bond in 2015. In 2018, the judge declined to impose a leadership role enhancement and sentenced him to 28 months time served.



U.S. v. Mayfield, 15-CR-497Sentencing Memorandum: (Mr. Mayfield was originally convicted at trial and sentenced to 26 years in prison. The verdict was reversed on appeal. In 2018, he was sentenced to 114 months time served.)

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October 31, 2018 at 04:20 PM | Permalink

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 "The defendant faces a maximum possible penalty of death, or life without parole, followed by a consecutive sentence of 535 years imprisonment." | Main | Pew reports on persons on probation or parole in US 

October 31, 2018

Latest analysis and discussion of Ohio criminal justice reform ballot initiative known as Issue 1

I have blogged here and elsewhere about the interesting and intricate drug sentencing and prison reform initiative on the November 2018 ballot in Ohio. Originally called the "Neighborhood Safety, Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Amendment," the initiative now is just known within Ohio as Issue 1. The Drug Enforcement and Policy Center (DEPC) at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law has been hosting public panels about Issue 1 under the title Ballot Insights, and has created a Resources Page for Issue 1 and a Commentary Page on Issue 1.

The last pre-election DEPC public panel on Issue 1 is taking place tomorrow, November 1 at 10 am (register here), at the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at The Ohio State University. The all-star panelists who will be speaking are:

Sarah Andrews, Director, Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission

Alex Kreit, Professor, Thomas Jefferson School of Law; visiting professor at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

Carol OBrien, Delaware County Prosecutor

Reginald Wilkinson, President, Connecting the Dots, LLC; former Director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitations and Corrections

Kyle Strickland, Senior Legal Research Associate at the Kirwan Institute will be moderating this great panel. I know Kyle will also be bringing an informed perspective to the discussion because he is a co-author of this great new report titled "Race & Criminal Justice: Ohio Issue 1 and Beyond." Here is part of the conclusion of that report:

Many communities are rightfully asking the question of why is the opiate epidemic the catalyst for modern criminal justice reform? At the core of this question is the notion that broad-sweeping reform efforts are much more politically feasible when the issue also impacts communities with privileged identities  whether that be race, economic status, or party affiliation. In the future, we should not wait for collective tipping points to address systemic inequities because policies that disproportionately harm marginalized communities harm us all. Now that reform efforts are in motion, it is critical that a racial lens be applied to policies moving forward. A reduction in racial disparities in the criminal justice system should not be an assumed outcome of reform. Disparate outcomes will likely re-emerge in the health care system, community based corrections, and all other institutions without intentional effort paid to undoing our legacy of racism and discrimination. A more equitable system will require explicit interventions to address systemic discrimination and interpersonal biases at every level. Regardless of the outcome in November, communities must demand that those implementing Issue 1 or other criminal justice reform efforts be held accountable to reducing racial disparities and repairing the intergenerational harm caused by mass incarceration and decades of disinvestment.

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October 31, 2018 at 08:07 PM | Permalink

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 Guest post series on Chicago "stash-house sting" litigation: Part 3 on "A Path for Future Litigation" | Main | Latest analysis and discussion of Ohio criminal justice reform ballot initiative known as Issue 1 

October 31, 2018

"The defendant faces a maximum possible penalty of death, or life without parole, followed by a consecutive sentence of 535 years imprisonment."

The title of this post is a sentence near the end of this Department of Justice press release fully titled "Pennsylvania Man Charged with Federal Hate Crimes for Tree Of Life Synagogue Shooting: Robert Bowers Indicted on 44 Counts Including Hate Crimes Resulting in Deaths." Here is how the release gets started:

A federal grand jury sitting in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania charged a Pennsylvania man with federal hate crimes, including the murder of 11 people, for his actions during the Oct. 27, 2018 shootings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood. United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore for the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Scott W. Brady, and FBI-Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Robert Jones made the announcement. Robert Bowers, 46, of Baldwin, Pa., was charged in a 44-count indictment returned today. According to the indictment, on Oct. 27, 2018, Bowers drove to the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where members of the Tree of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light Jewish congregations gathered to engage in religious worship. Bowers entered the building armed with multiple firearms, including Glock .357 handguns a Colt AR-15 rifle. The indictment alleges that while inside the Tree of Life Synagogue, Bowers opened fire, killing and injuring members of the three congregations, as well as injuring multiple responding public safety officers. While inside the Tree of Life Synagogue, Bowers made statements indicating his desire to kill Jews. Specifically, the indictment charges: Eleven counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death;

Eleven counts of use and discharge of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence;

Two counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs involving an attempt to kill and use of a dangerous weapon and resulting in bodily injury;

Eleven counts of use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence;

Eight counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs involving an attempt to kill and use of a dangerous weapon, and resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer; and

One count of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs involving use of a dangerous weapon and resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer.

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SINGAPORE (Nov 1): Just a day after an extraordinary general meeting, Mainboard-listed ISR Capital announced that a statement forecasting profits in three years by executive chairman Chen Tong had been mistranslated by his Chinese-to-English interpreter.

At the EGM, where shareholders approved ISR's acquisition of a Madagascan rare earths mining asset, an investor had asked Chen when ISR would see profits.

Chen's reply in Mandarin was translated by his interpreter as: "For rare earths, the technology is very fast, once the licence is in place. So the plan is in three years time, we should be profitable.

ISR acknowledges in its filing that a similar response was provided by the interpreter during a media interview after the EGM.

Subsequently, media including The Edge Singapore reported that Chen expects the company to be profitable in three years.

Shareholders approve ISR Capital's bid to acquire Madagascar rare earth asset

"In response to the media reports quoting Mr Chen Tong, the Board wishes to clarify that ISR Capital believes that the Proposed Acquisition will be able to achieve certain milestones within three years, taking into account the renewal of the Exploration Licence and subject to, inter alia, fulfilling certain conditions," ISR says in its Oct 31 filing.

"The Board would like to further clarify that it does not mean that the Madagascar project nor the Company will be profitable in three years," it adds.

Shares of ISR were halted at 0.3 cent yesterday and resume trading today.
Homeowners and businesses in northeast Singapore will now be able to access the Open Electricity Market.

Special Advertising Feature

The Singapore government has officially launched the Open Electricity Market (OEM) today, in a bid to liberalise the industry and spur competition among local power providers.

Starting today (1 Nov), homeowners and businesses within the northeast of the country residing in areas with postal codes from 58 to 78 will be able to access the OEM, said the Energy Market Authority (EMA), the government agency overseeing the local electricity and gas industries.

These areas include districts in Upper Bukit Timah, Clementi Park, Ulu Pandan, Tuas, Hillview, Dairy Farm, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Lim Chu Kang, Tengah, Kranji, Woodgrove, Woodlands, Yishun, Sembawang, Upper Thomson and Springleaf.

These areas are in addition to Jurong, where the OEM was soft launched on 1 April.

OEM 1

Thereafter, the Open Electricity Market will be implemented progressively in three other geographical zones, with areas within Singapores central business district (CBD) being among the last to access it.

With this set-up, homeowners and businesses will no longer be locked into purchasing electricity from just SP Group, the operator of the electricity transmission and distribution network in the country. As a result, consumers will be able to choose from a variety of competitively-priced power plans from over 10 companies. As observed in the Jurong soft launch, power retailers dangled attractive sign-up discounts, on top of bundling their power price plans with other services and products.

How many power retailers can I choose from?

Initially, 13 electricity retailers are participating in the official launch today, and several more are expected to join later after upgrading their capabilities. These 13 power retailers consist of:

OEM 13 Electricity retailers

How electricity is delivered to consumers homes?

At present, about 95 percent of Singapores electricity supply are generated by power plants fuelled by natural gas. In turn, the current produced by these generation facilities are transported across Singapore via the national power grid, then distributed to various businesses and homes.

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On the financial aspect, generation companies that run power plants offer power in the wholesale electricity market (WEM) every half-hour. They have to bid to sell electricity, and the price of power change every 30 minutes depending on demand and supply. Meanwhile, the electricity retailers purchase power in bulk from WEM and compete with each other to sell power to consumers and enterprises.

With the implementation of the Open Electricity Market, clients have the option to switch to a different power retailer other than SP Group. But they may also opt to continue buying electricity from the company at a regulated tariff that is reviewed every quarter. Choosing a different retailer wont disrupt a homes power supply as SP Group will continue its job to deliver power to everyone.

Moreover, clients should not worry over blackouts or power disruptions as the responsibility for ensuring a reliable supply of electricity across Singapore remains in the governments hands, which falls under the Power System Operator (PSO), a division of EMA.

Notably, SP PowerAssets owns the national power grid which distributes electricity across Singapore, while its appointed agent SP PowerGrid builds and maintains the power grid. Both are members of SP Group.

Types of standard price plans offered by the 13 retailers

Prior to the OEM launch in each zone, homeowners and businesses there will get a notification package and information booklet about the different power price plans offered by electricity retailers. To compare price plans, please visit this website.

Basically, power retailers will offer two kinds of standard price plans. According to EMA, aside from prohibiting power retailers from imposing zero hidden charges, the contract duration of standard price plans is 6, 12 or 24 months. In addition, all electricity retailers are required to post their standard price plans on OEMs official website and honour their terms. The particulars of the two standard price plans are indicated below.

Fixed Price Plan . Under this package, clients will pay a constant rate (e.g. 20 cents/kWh) for their power during the contract period. This plan targets clients who dont want a fluctuating monthly power bill. However, the rate may be higher or lower than the regulated tariff.

OEM Fixed Price Plan

Discount Off the Regulated Tariff Plan . Under this package, the rate changes but clients will be entitled to a fixed discount off the prevailing regulated tariff (e.g. 5.0 percent). This is suitable for those who arent bothered about paying different power rates so long as its more affordable than the regulated tariff.

On the other hand, plans with a different pricing structure from these two are called Non-Standard Price Plans. To know more about these, please contact the power retailer directly.

Which is the best power price plan?

If the rate for the Fixed Price Plan is not too high, it could be more advantageous as the regulated tariff has been mainly on an uptrend since January 2016. Aside from that, SP Group said last month that electricity tariffs will increase by an average of 2.1 percent or 0.48 cent per kWh in Q4 2018 from the previous quarter.

If the rate for the Fixed Price Plan is pricey, opting for a discounted plan is also a good move as your rate will still be lower than the regulated tariff.

OEM Past Household Regulated Tariff

Why choose Geneco?

Power retailers without their own power plants face a greater price risk as they are solely dependent on buying from the Wholesale Electricity Market, where power prices could be volatile if there is an imbalance in the half-hourly supply and demand. Such electricity retailers will also have to mitigate this risk by conducting their own hedging activities.

More importantly, the price of power in Singapore is significantly impacted by the price of natural gas in the global market.

On the other hand, firms operating their own generation facilities have the advantage of mitigating the volatile price risk, as the sale and purchase prices of electricity in the wholesale market are nearly identical.

One of those companies running their own power plants is Geneco, whose parent company YTL PowerSeraya is one of Singapores first and biggest power producers with a licensed generating capacity of 3,100 MW. The group has been in the power generation business since 1971, and has received numerous awards for outstanding customer service.

Geneco offers one of the most competitive electricity plans in the market across all types of price plans with no security deposit required. For example, Genecos 24-month fixed price plan is $0.1680/kWh, which is 30 percent cheaper than the SP regulated tariff rate at $0.2413/kWh. The sign-up process for Geneco is also seamless, ensuring ease of changing your electricity supplier. Thats not all, if you recommend Geneco to your friends and family, youll get a $20 shopping voucher.

For more details, kindly visit Genecos website.

geneco logo
After saving condemned Christian Asia Bibi from the gallows in Pakistan, her lawyer says he is facing the wrath of Islamist extremists -- and wonders who will save him. But despite the threats against him, Saif-ul-Mulook says he regrets nothing, and will continue his legal fight against intolerance. Mulook's latest victory saw the freeing of Asia Bibi -- a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy, who spent nearly a decade on death row -- after the Supreme Court overturned her conviction Wednesday. "The verdict has shown that the poor, the minorities and the lowest segments of society can get justice in this country despite its shortcomings," he told AFP immediately after the verdict. "This is the biggest and happiest day of my life." Demonstrations against the ruling erupted across the country hours later, with extremists calling for mutiny against the army's top brass, and for the assassination of Supreme Court justices. Blasphemy is a highly inflammatory charge in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even the slightest whiff of insulting Islam and its Prophet Mohammed can incite vigilante mobs. Mulook said he feels he is now a sitting duck with no security or escape plan. "I think I have absolutely no safety. No security and I am the easiest target... anybody can kill me," he said. The defence of Bibi was just the latest in a long line of controversial cases taken up by the barrister. In 2011, Mulook was the lead prosecutor against Mumtaz Qadri over the assassination of Punjab governor Salman Taseer -- a prominent critic of the countrys blasphemy laws and supporter of Bibi. Qadri -- one of Taseer's bodyguards -- gunned down his boss in broad daylight, citing the governor's calls for reform of the blasphemy laws as his motive. Mulook said he took on the case as others cowered, fearing reprisals from extremists. His prosecution resulted in the conviction and subsequent execution of Qadri, who was feted by Islamists and later honoured with a shrine on the outskirts of Islamabad. Mulook says his life has not been the same since; he rarely socialises, lives in a constant state of hypervigilance and has been inundated with threats. "If you conduct such cases you should be ready for the results and the consequences," the greying 62-year-old explains. But Mulook said the risks have been worth the reward. "I think it's better to die as a brave and strong man than to die as a mouse and fearful person," he said. "I extend my legal help to all people."
Australia will move all asylum-seeker children off the Pacific island of Nauru by the end of the year, officials said Thursday, but rights groups have called for the government to end the "in limbo" status that accompanies them and their families. Under a harsh policy meant to deter asylum-seekers from reaching Australia by boat, Canberra sends arrivals to remote Pacific camps on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island for processing, barring them from ever resettling in Australia. But the government has been "quietly" transferring children off Nauru, amid a public outcry and mounting concerns for their welfare. "There are hardly any children in Nauru and [Papua] New Guinea and we expect that by the end of this year there will be none," Australia's high commissioner (ambassador) in London George Brandis told British talkback radio station LBC Thursday. Hundreds of children have been moved from Nauru to Australia for treatment in the past few years, accompanied by their families. They are scattered throughout the country under varying restrictions -- some in onshore detention, some in the community with limited working and education rights -- but none are allowed the opportunity to be settled. "Once people have received their medical assistance, then the expectation is that they will return to their country of origin," Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said Thursday when asked about children being moved to Australia. - 'Still in limbo' - But rights groups have slammed the government for the "in limbo" status of those bought to Australia, saying Canberra is not offering genuine options. "They (families) aren't given visas, they are basically held in community detention until their issues (treatment) are resolved, and some of them are actually being held in fenced detention centres," George Newhouse of the National Justice Project told reporters Thursday. "Even when you bring them to Australia, if you leave families with a sense of uncertainty, it is going to be very difficult for the children to recover," he added. The Australian newspaper on Thursday quoted government sources saying there were 40 children remaining at processing centres on Nauru and they would be transferred to Australia by the end of the year. The decision comes amid a string of reports by non-governmental groups and the media of abuse, depression and suicides on Nauru. A recent poll commissioned by Sydney's Sunday Telegraph -- a tabloid that usually supports the right-leaning government -- found 79 percent of Australians surveyed want children and their families transferred off Nauru. Ahead of a crucial Sydney by-election last month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison flirted with the idea of allowing some refugees to be transferred to New Zealand, although they would still be blocked from entering Australia. - 'Respect for Nauru' - On Thursday, he claimed criticism of poor living conditions among the would-be asylum seekers was offensive to the people of Nauru. "I think people need to be very respectful of our neighbours in Nauru. Because it's where their children live, this is where they go to school, this is where they have businesses, this is where they have their lives." The migrants forcibly settled there are from countries as diverse as Iran and Myanmar. Under a deal with former US president Barack Obama, 439 people of a potential 1,250 have so far been resettled from Manus and Nauru to the United States. But more than 600 remain on Nauru, while refugee support groups say some 600 men are still in transition centres on Manus after the camp there was closed late last year. Canberra has long boasted its hardline policy is discouraging asylum seekers from embarking on dangerous sea voyages.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held rare talks with the opposition Thursday, days after its imprisoned leader was given a fresh sentence that will keep her behind bars for 10 years. Hasina's ruling Awami League party had earlier rejected any calls for talks with her opponents and ruled out accepting its demand for the dissolution of parliament before elections next month. In an abrupt about-face, the prime minister hosted members of the opposition coalition at her Dhaka residence late on Thursday to discuss -- but did not back down in her refusal to appoint a caretaker government for the polls. Former foreign minister Kamal Hossain brought a group of 20 opposition officials to the meeting, according to Awami League deputy chief Obaidul Quader. Hasina rejected the delegation's key demand for a caretaker government, Quader said. The visitors were "not satisfied" with the talks, said opposition Bangladeshi Nationalist Party deputy chief Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. The talks came as Hasina's chief rival, former premier Khaleda Zia, was on Tuesday handed a seven year prison term on graft charges, while another appeal court doubled her sentence for an earlier embezzlement conviction. Zia and Hasina have been rivals since the 1980s, when both women allied to force the country's former military dictator from power. The duo alternated power for two decades until Zia boycotted national polls in 2014, sparking violence across the Muslim-majority democracy of 160 million. Zia's is the only inmate in an otherwise abandoned 19th-century jail and her health has deteriorated in custody. Her physician said she was suffering from diabetes and that arthritis had rendered her left hand useless. Lawyers for Zia have accused the government of putting her health at risk by refusing her specialised care in prison.
Brazil's far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro confirmed Thursday the country will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, making the Latin American country the largest after the United States to make the controversial switch. The move from Tel Aviv, which will defy Palestinians and most of the world, is the latest controversial announcement by the former army captain, who has wasted no time implementing his hardline conservative agenda since his election win Sunday. "As previously stated during our campaign, we intend to transfer the Brazilian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel is a sovereign state and we shall duly respect that," Bolsonaro tweeted. He also made waves on the domestic front, naming the judge who has upended Brazilian politics with a massive corruption investigation, Sergio Moro, to be his justice minister. Moro is a hero to many Brazilians for his unrelenting "Car Wash" investigation, which uncovered the large-scale looting of state oil company Petrobras. But for opponents, the move fueled accusations that the judge was politically motivated -- especially against leftist ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whom polls showed would have beaten Bolsonaro in the election had he not been jailed 12 years for corruption. - 'Shared worldview' - Bolsonaro promised in his victory speech to "change Brazil's destiny," and the four days since the election have given a glimpse of the magnitude of the change he has in mind. The president-elect has doubled down on his vow to roll back gun-control laws so "good people" can take justice into their own hands, lashed out at the news media and begun lining up a cabinet of political outsiders, including an army general and an ultra-free-market economist. A favorite with the market, Bolsonaro's election has seen Brazilian stocks gain 3.9 percent in the week since the vote, closing at a record high Thursday. The Sao Paulo stock exchange's Ibovespa index added 1.14 percent for the day to close at a record of 88,419 points, after breaking through the 89,000 barrier for the first time ever earlier in the day. On the diplomatic front, the embassy move squarely aligns him with US President Donald Trump, and bolsters his image as a "Tropical Trump." Israel considers all of Jerusalem its capital, while the Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. "I congratulate my friend Brazilian president-elect Jair Bolsonaro for his intention to move the Brazilian embassy to Jerusalem, a historic, correct and exciting step!" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. Reversing long-standing US policy, the Trump administration transferred the American embassy on May 14. Guatemala and Paraguay followed suit, though the latter announced last month it would return its embassy to Tel Aviv. Bolsonaro's first foreign trips as president will be to Israel, the United States and Chile -- countries that "share our worldview," according to the president-elect's future for chief of staff, Onyx Lorenzoni. - Flip-flopping, for business' sake - Bolsonaro has outraged many with his derogatory comments against women, gays and blacks, and his support for the torture used by Brazil's brutal military regime (1964-1985). He did, however, back down from one controversy on Thursday: a plan to merge the agriculture and environment ministries. The plan had drawn warnings from activists that he was selling out Brazil's natural resources to his backers in the agrobusiness lobby. Bolsonaro said industry insiders themselves had urged him to reconsider, fearing trade sanctions on their products from countries worried over the health of the Amazon rainforest. "To avoid international pressure, among other things, I said I was ready to reverse the decision. But the one who's going to decide the environmental question will also be Mr Jair Bolsonaro. And (the future minister) will not be someone put there under pressure from NGOs," he said, referring to himself in the third person. He repeated his oft-used line that environmentalists are "Shiites," a word he uses to imply extremism. "We want to preserve the environment, but not in the way it's been done lately," he told journalists. - Corruption crusader - Anti-corruption crusader Moro said it was an "honor" to accept Bolsonaro's offer to head a "super ministry" combining the justice and public security portfolios. His investigation has taken out a Who's Who of politicians and executives who colluded to pump billions of dollars from Petrobras into their own pockets or the coffers of their political parties. That has endeared him to many Brazilians fed up with endemic corruption. But although politicians of all stripes have fallen, Moro has been accused of being particularly merciless on the left -- especially Lula, Brazil's president from 2003 to 2010. Moro sentenced Lula -- a hugely divisive but enduringly popular figure -- to jail for taking bribes from a Petrobras contractor. That led the courts to bar Lula's presidential candidacy, dashing his hopes of making a come-back.
AFPTV

For decades, Afghanistans Helmand province has been on the frontline of the countrys conflict, and the landscape bears the scars. Since the departure of US troops in the summer, the remnants of war remain a serious threat to Afghans safety. Since 1989, 41,085 Afghan civilians have been killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance, according to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). In an effort to prevent any further loss of life, demining NGO the HALO Trust is racing against time to "decontaminate" one of the most heavily mined countries in the world.
A synagogue in California was defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti, police said on Wednesday, in an attack that took place just days after 11 people were gunned down at a Pittsburg synagogue. Allen Berezovsky, president of the board at Beth Jacob synagogue in Irvine, south of Los Angeles, said staff discovered the vandalism in early morning. He told AFP the words "(expletive) Jews" and "Jews" were spray-painted on the white facade of the building. Berezovsky said security footage showed an individual wearing a hoodie, sunglasses and a surgical facemask jumping over the fence of the synagogue around 1:18 am and then leaving on a bicycle stolen at the premises. "The Irvine Police Department and our own security have done a full sweep of the entire facility and nothing was found other than the graffiti," he said in a statement to his congregation. "We are continuing to do everything we can to make our campus more secure, and we will continue to promote the message that we are stronger than hate." Police spokeswoman Kim Mohr said the suspect has not been identified and patrols had been increased at all Jewish facilities throughout the city, located in Orange County. "This is an unusual attack," she told AFP. "It is not a normal thing to have this type of crime in Irvine." According to a report released in September by OC Human Relations, a nonprofit, hate crimes have continued to climb in Orange County, the third-largest of California's 58 counties, for the third straight year. It said 56 hate crimes and 94 hate incidents were reported countywide in 2017. The majority of the attacks -- 13 percent -- targeted Muslims, followed by Jews at nine percent.
Monday was a bad day for the worlds wildlife. China announced it will allow scientific and medical uses of tiger bone and rhinoceros horn, reversing a 25-year ban on the practice, and trade in the items, while a new report detailed how mass consumption has decimated animal life in recent decades.

Under special circumstances, trading or using of tiger bone, rhino horn or any products containing them should apply for permission, Chinas cabinet, the State Council, said.

Conservationists sounded the alarm at Chinas decision, despite its restrictions on sourcing and use of the products.

Rhino horn power for medical use can only be obtained from captive bred rhinos, and tiger bones from those of natural death, the announcement said. Scientific researchers can request to use tiger or rhino products, it said, but only for the purpose specified. Antique tiger and rhino products are also permitted if they are given as gifts or are inherited assets.

Margaret Kinnaird, the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) wildlife practice leader, said: With wild tiger and rhino populations at such low levels and facing numerous threats, legalised trade in their parts is simply too great a gamble for China to take.

Audrey Delsink, widlife director of the Humane Society International/Africa, told the Post: We are deeply concerned about China's uplift of the ban and we are battling to comprehend this shocking decision.

Globally, rhinos are on the brink of extinction and this move may well be the final push in this direction. With South Africa's government pushing the supply with its own rhino horn domestic trade policy, and China clearly upping the demand, it seems we are inching closer to the inevitability of rhino extinction.

Despite global opposition to South Africa's legal lion bone trade from a multitude of sectors, South Africa has forged ahead and almost doubled its annual export quota. This simply provides a conduit for a parallel illegal market, further imperiling our wild populations.

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Meanwhile, the WWFs report on global animal populations found that between 1970 and 2014, 60 per cent of all wild animals with a backbone  fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals  were wiped out by human activity.

Based on an ongoing survey of more than 4,000 species spread over 16,700 populations across the world, the population of freshwater fauna declined a staggering 80 per cent over the period.

The situation is really bad, and it keeps getting worse, WWF International director general Marco Lambertini told Agence France-Presse. The only good news is that we know exactly what is happening.

In 50 years of global conservation efforts there have been major success stories, with tigers, manatees, grizzly bears, bluefin tuna and bald eagles saved from extinction thanks to campaigns across the globe, and China has tried to follow suit.

It has tightened its laws on the purchase, production and selling of endangered animals to crack down on the illegal trade in them, and since last year, people who produce, sell or purchase state-protected wild animals and products derived of them for food could face criminal penalties, the Xinhua news agency reported.

However, China lags behind some other countries when it comes to animal conservation and the protection of endangered species.

The pangolin, or scaly anteater, is the worlds most trafficked mammal. Their scales and meat, like tiger bone and rhino horn, are used in traditional Chinese medicine for their supposed healing powers.

Pere Davids deer was first found in China over 2,000 years ago, but had become extinct in the wild by the end of the 19th century, before specimens bred in captivity in Europe were reintroduced by conservationists last century.

While China has devoted considerable resources to preserving the giant panda, which once roamed widely in the country, fewer than 2,000 are left in the wild.

In the past poaching was the largest source of harm for the panda, but in recent years this has given way to deforestation.

The white dolphin population continues to drop as coastal development, overfishing, water pollution and intense marine traffic threaten its existence.



Even in Chinas nature reserves animals are not safe, despite hunting being strictly forbidden. For example, a study by Current Biology magazine found that endangered turtles were being harvested, and that poaching occurred in all of the 56 reserves surveyed in China, resulting in dramatically reduced turtle populations.

According to this study, many Chinese nature reserves are poorly managed, and, although they were created to protect plants and animals, they have become part of the problem due to weak enforcement of rules.

This article Will China ending ban on tiger bone, rhino horn worsen humans decimation of wildlife? first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Troops stationed at the PLA garrisons in Hong Kong and Macau will take part in more overseas drills as they try to improve their skills, military analysts say, after soldiers from Macau joined their first exercise abroad.

At least 250 Peoples Liberation Army troops from the two garrisons joined a 10-day exercise between China, Malaysia and Thailand that ended at Port Dickson in Malaysia on Monday, according to Xinhua.

The drill, named Peace and Friendship 2018, was the first held by the three countries. Troops from Macau and Hong Kong left from Hong Kong International Airport  the first time it had been used to deploy army personnel. While it was the first overseas mission for the Macau soldiers, Hong Kong garrison troops joined their first international war games in 2016.

Being combat-ready and striving to become a modernised army is the PLAs mission, but it doesnt mean they should be limited to where they are stationed. This is an overall direction from President Xi Jinping for the entire army, said military analyst Song Zhongping, who is based in Hong Kong.

Joining these international military drills overseas serves that purpose  for the garrisons in Hong Kong and Macau to boost their capabilities, he said.

Both Song and Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie expected to see troops from the two garrisons taking part in more overseas drills in the future.

These two garrisons serve as windows for the PLA to connect with the outside world. As the PLA steps up its joint drills with other countries, it is reasonable that soldiers from Hong Kong and Macau will also be involved in more of them, Li said.

The PLA is the largest army in the world and has undergone a huge overhaul and upgrades in line with Xis ambition to transform it into a modern fighting force.

Its garrisons in Chinas two special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau, were established after their respective handovers from Britain in 1997 and Portugal in 1999.

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Under the Garrison Law, the PLA must not interfere in local affairs, but troops can be called out to help with disaster relief if requested by the Hong Kong government. The central government would have to approve the request and the troops would have to return to barracks immediately after the tasks were completed.

But earlier this month, 400 PLA soldiers were sent in groups to Hong Kongs country parks to help remove trees felled during Typhoon Mangkhut  without a request for help from the local government. It was the first such action by the Hong Kong garrison since the city returned to Chinese rule 21 years ago. Soldiers stationed in Macau were also deployed on the streets for the first time last year to help clean up after deadly Typhoon Hato wreaked havoc there.

Song and Li both said they did not believe the garrisons role and mission had changed, and that it was unlikely their troops would be summoned to take part in sensitive drills such as those in the South China Sea.

There could be rare exceptions, but it will not be regular, Li said. The main training for troops, and these troops in Hong Kong and Macau, is more focused on local protection.

The Hong Kong garrison, which is equipped with destroyers and warships, is tasked with monitoring and tracking suspicious activity in the territorys waters and airspace and dealing with emergency situations, along with its responsibilities for the city.

Last year, it conducted an air and naval patrol of the waters off Hong Kong just days after a dangerous encounter between Chinese and American military aircraft 240km southeast of the city, which Chinas Ministry of Defence said was a routine patrol.

This article Chinese troops in Hong Kong and Macau will join more overseas war games first appeared on South China Morning Post

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More than one million Venezuelans have crossed the border into Colombia since the start of this year, although 676,000 of those subsequently moved on to other countries, Colombia's migration authority said. Those passing through traveled "mostly to Ecuador, Peru, Chile, the United States and Mexico," said Migracion Colombia in a statement on Wednesday. The authority also said that more than one million Venezuelans are living in Colombia, of which 573,000 have legal documents. "The Venezuelan migrant situation is a lot more than a simple number," said Migracion Colombia director Christian Kruger. The United Nations says 1.9 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2015, as their homeland is gripped in a deep recession that has sent poverty levels spiralling. Every day some 5,000 Venezuelans leave the country in hope of a better future elsewhere, according to UN figures. At the end of September, Colombia President Ivan Duque said the arrival of a million Venezuelan migrants could cost his country more than $1.3 billion, amounting to 0.5 percent of the country's gross domestic product. Venezuela rejects the UN figures, and President Nicolas Maduro has called on the international body to "justify" them.
By Sofia Menchu and Gustavo Palencia

GUATEMALA CITY/TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Cocaine production is beginning to creep into Central America, a development which could bring the supply of the drug closer to the United States and create a new security risk for an already troubled region.

Guatemala made its first official discovery of a field of coca plants this May following the initial find of a plot in Honduras last year. Two more followed in Honduras this year.

"We aspire to have control of our territory, but it's very difficult to root out these actions," Jaime Quintanilla, head of the anti-drug trafficking unit in Honduras, told Reuters.

At around 50 hectares in total, the four coca finds were a tiny fraction of the 171,000 hectares under cultivation in Colombia last year, according to Reuters interviews with local officials and official Colombian data.

Honduras and Guatemala, together with El Salvador, are among the poorest and most gang-ravaged countries in the Americas. Mass migration from the region to the United States has created tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Quintanilla said the fields cultivated in Central America were trials by cartels to explore saving transportation costs and reducing the risks of moving the product from Colombia or other major cocaine-producing countries like Bolivia and Peru.

Authorities expect more to follow.

"This is going to continue," a Guatemalan police official said, requesting anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. Detection is difficult in Guatemala, where some mountain regions have barely been charted, he said.

It took an anonymous tip and a 10-hour trek through the Guatemalan jungle for police to find 75,000 coca plants in May across less than hectare of land in an area known as Alta Verapaz, the official added.

Guatemala's government declined comment on the coca finds, as did the U.S. embassies in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

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Hot and humid, Alta Verapaz is straddled by mountains up to 2,500 meters high, similar to the Andean parts of the Amazon basin where cultivation of coca is most widespread.

Honduras and Guatemala are short of funds, plagued by corruption and have little experience in tracking coca cultivation, making their large tracts of inaccessible land ideal for drug traffickers looking for new hideaways.

"Colombia has teams of eradicators moving around the country ... and laws to restrict import and commercialization of chemical precursors needed to convert coca leaf into cocaine," said James Bargent, an analyst at InSight Crime, a foundation that analyses organized crime. "Honduras has none of that."

(Additional reporting by Diego Ore in Mexico City; Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Dave Graham)
Sinking into a padded leather chair on a government jet, Saudi ambassador Mohammed al-Jaber buckles up for what he calls a mammoth mission -- rebuilding Yemen as it teeters on the edge of catastrophe. After a ruinous three-year conflict, the Arab world's poorest country faces the double whammy of a looming famine and an economic crisis that has sent the Yemeni currency in free fall, as the United States urgently calls for a ceasefire. Saudi Arabia has faced virulent international criticism for leading an intervention in Yemen in 2015 against Iran-aligned Huthi rebels -- and the recent murder of critic Jamal Khashoggi has put its bombing campaign under fresh scrutiny. But Jaber, seen as the most influential Arab diplomat engaged on Yemen, sought to shift the narrative on another front: rebuilding the conflict-scarred country. "Development of Yemen cannot wait until the Huthis accept peace talks," said Jaber, who was appointed ambassador in 2014, just days before the rebels overran the capital. The United Nations said Wednesday it aimed to relaunch Yemen peace talks "within a month", after a previous attempt collapsed in September when the rebels refused to travel to Geneva, saying their conditions had not been met. Jaber, 48, spoke to AFP on an aircraft this week flying to the informal capital Aden to oversee the arrival of a Saudi oil tanker with the first instalment of petroleum products worth $60 million. The fuel is meant for power stations amid chronic electricity outages. As his aides served up pastries, dates and Arabic coffee, Jaber rattled off a list of what he called Saudi-funded "injection projects" related to electricity, education and healthcare. "Our goal in Yemen is not to control it," the Riyadh-based envoy said, asserting the Saudi intervention was unlike the US invasion of Iraq. "This is a war of necessity, not a war of choice." - Khashoggi murder - Saudi Arabia's image has taken a beating globally over its intervention in Yemen, amid rising civilian deaths reported by the UN, war crimes allegations and warnings of an impending famine triggered by the conflict. The kingdom has shrugged off many of the claims as highly exaggerated. But even the US, a close ally which supports Saudi-led forces by refuelling their jets and selling them weapons, finally called Tuesday for a ceasefire and peace talks in Yemen within the next 30 days. Aggravating the situation for the kingdom was Khashoggi's murder in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate on October 2. Saudi Arabia initially attributed his death to a fistfight before accepting what Turkish investigators said all along -- that he was killed in a premeditated murder. "The Khashoggi case has cast a new spotlight on Yemen because it raises doubts over the Saudi narrative," said Elisabeth Kendall, a research fellow at Oxford University. "If Saudi lied over the fate of Khashoggi, at least initially, then its credibility in explaining away the horrors of the Yemen war is also in doubt." But Jaber said extrapolating the Khashoggi affair to criticise Saudi efforts in Yemen was unfair. He said images splashed in global media of emaciated Yemeni children in famine-like conditions "break my heart", but added that Saudi Arabia alone was not responsible. The Huthis, he said, were an intractable foe, repeatedly spurning UN-backed efforts to jumpstart peace talks. A seasoned diplomat, Jaber has consistently sought to emphasise Saudi-funded development projects, "suggesting an aim to shift the shape of the discourse on Yemen", said Adam Baron, a Yemen expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations. - 'Saving from collapse' - In Aden, guards in camouflage fatigues with pistols strapped to the thigh whisked Jaber in an armoured car trailed by militiamen in pickup trucks that careened through streets riddled with tanks, Humvees and checkpoints. In a meeting at the prime minister's office, Yemeni bankers, businessmen and civil society representatives railed about corruption, unemployment as businesses were shutting down, and a dysfunctional government machinery. Jaber took copious notes as they spoke, assuring them of progress. "We are here to support Yemenis... until there is a functioning state," he said. He later sat down in the hilltop presidential palace, chewing qat -- a mild stimulant popular in Yemen -- with another group of government officials. The palace -- a cluster of colonial-era villas overlooking the azure expanse of the Arabian Sea -- bristled with armed militiamen but lacked a president as internationally backed leader Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi is believed to be based in Saudi Arabia. "Yemen has two parallel governments with one currency and one economy," said Yemen's central bank governor Mohamad Zemam, who was at the meeting. "We need peace efforts to unify the two." Showing AFP a bank statement on his phone of Saudi Arabia's recent deposit of $200 million in the bank to support the plummeting riyal, he said some businessmen had little faith the government was solvent until he showed them this proof. Such is the dire state of finances that until the Saudi fuel aid arrived even the presidential palace was crippled by several hours of daily power cuts, he said. "We are trying to survive... and save our (state) from collapse," said Zemam, who took his post in February. Jaber said Saudi support was not equal to a blank cheque. "Our money is not for corrupt people, it is for Yemeni people," he said.
Fintech startup AND Systems gets US$2.8M to grow in the Philippines, Myanmar

The startup focuses on providing microloan products for the unbanked

AND Globals CEO Anar Chinbaatar

AND Global, a fintech startup founded in Mongolia but incorporated in Singapore, has raised US$2.8 million from Korean investment firm Rhinos Asset Management.

This tranche of funding brings the companys total Pre-Series A investment raised to date to over US$18.8 million. The company has been raising money through equity investment and debt financing.

AND Global, which offers a microloans and p2p payment app for the unbanked called LendMN, will use the fresh funding to grow its user base in Myanmar and Philippines next year.

The company is currently in talks with regulators and local partners to secure banking licenses in the aforementioned markets; this is critical for the companys user base growth as around 80 per cent of the population there do not have a bank account.

AND Global will also put money towards product development. It plans to launch LendMN as a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) on the cloud, allowing companies across the globe to license it.

In the near future, AND Global plans to launch P2P payments system via Facebook Messenger, and expand to other emerging markets such as Indonesia.

Founded in 2015, AND Global is one of the rare startup success stories to have come out of the vast, landlocked and mostly rural country of Mongolia.

While eight-digit fundraising rounds may be a dime a dozen in tech hubs like Silicon Valley, China and Singapore, in Mongolia, its a really big deal. According to the AND Globals CEO, Anar Chinbaatar, there arent any VCs in Mongolia. Theres no startup ecosystem; people dont know about startups.

The first US$1 million took six months. We started at the bottom, showing people a one-pager about our crazy idea: lending money with no collateral. People really thought we were crazy, said Chinbaatar.

All of the angel investors were actually traditional investors. We had to explain why there wouldnt be personal responsibility for bankruptcy. But it goes beyond that. Its an opportunity to create a Mongolian brand. An opportunity for the new generation. Different investors respond to different pitches, he added.

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International or even regional expansion was not AND Globals game plan initially; Chinbaatar was focused on only addressing Mongolias poor moneylending infrastructure.

Also Read: Tokopedia, OVO team up to offer the payment service on the e-commerce platform

Informal lending is very common in Mongolia. People were constantly asking to borrow money from me. I lost friends over it. Credit cards are not well developed in this country, he said.

Under-banked people still need access to financing. Because it is difficult for these people to open or maintain bank accounts, they have to use payday loans more often. Interest at Mongolian banks is 28 per cent, and loan sharks charge 10 per day, he added.

To tackle this pain point, Chinabaatar went to work on a product that simplifies the process of applying for loans by fusing in machine learning algorithms. Through LendMN, customers can receive collateral-free loans in less than five minutes.

While allowing lenders to receive loans without putting up collaterals might seem like risky business, Chinabaatar is confident in the products machine-learning abilities to mitigate the risks.

The algorithms predict the ability and willingness to repay based on behaviour. Using algorithmic, AI-driven risk assessment can greatly reduce cost and risk, he said. For example, regular coffee drinkers in Mongolia are 17 times more likely to repay their loans on time, as coffee is still a luxury item in our country, he said.

And this is the kind of information that is easy to find out from social media, for example. We can know people better than their best friends by using machine learning and artificial intelligence to scrape data from all sorts of places, he added.

Investors eventually warmed to Chinabaatars novel idea; by August 2017, AND Global had raised US$4 million in seed movement.

Even retail investors bought into the concept  when the company debuted on the Mongolian Stock Exchange, it was oversubscribed by more than 16 times. AND Global claims that today, its investors are seeing 300 per cent returns within eight months.

The company currently gives out US$10 million across 70,000 loans per month.

In October, AND Global inked two partnerships: first with Rakuten so it can offer microloans via the messaging app Viber; and second with DA5, a Philippines-based Western Union agent.

In the same month, it launched Lend Wallet, which is a mobile wallet with no transaction fees.

Still, as AND Global is the first non-bank financial institution in Mongolia, it faces some regulatory limitations  it is currently only permitted to lend a maximum of US$400 at a time, as an anti-money laundering measure enforced by the government.

However, this will increase to US$800 soon, and starting at the beginning of next year, it will be able to provide micro entrepreneur loans of up to US$10,000 in Mongolia.



Image Credit: AND Global

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Gaza protest leaders are calling for calmer border demonstrations Friday to give a chance to efforts to reach a long-term truce with Israel after months of deadly unrest, a source in the organising committee said. However, previous such hopes for a deal have been dashed since protests and clashes along the border between Israel and the blockaded Gaza Strip began on March 30. It was not clear if demonstrators would heed calls for calm. "Friday's events will be quiet," an official from the committee in charge of organising the marches told AFP Thursday, on condition of anonymity. Egypt and UN officials have been engaged in indirect talks between Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, and Israel. An Egyptian delegation was in Gaza on Thursday for further discussions, meeting with leaders of different factions. After the meeting, a member of the organising committee said the Egyptians would attend Friday's protests. "The Egyptian security delegation will visit one of return march sites tomorrow," Maher Mazhar told journalists. He did not give further details, but it would be the first publicly announced visit to the protests by an Egyptian official. The committee is technically independent from Hamas, but includes representatives allied to the Islamist movement. The unnamed official said the agreement to quieten the border Friday "will give an opportunity for the success of the Egyptian efforts to (achieve) calm and lift the siege." Protests would still go ahead, he said, but demonstrators would be encouraged not to approach the fence too closely, burn tyres or send balloons equipped with incendiary devices across the border. Recent weeks have seen efforts by the UN and Egypt result in Qatari-funded fuel deliveries for Gaza, easing a severe electricity shortage. There have also reportedly been talks with a view to Israel allowing Qatari cash into the Gaza Strip to pay public salaries. But last week, hopes for a deal were dashed by further border violence. Seven Palestinians died in renewed clashes along the border last Friday. Hours later, Islamic Jihad -- a Hamas-allied militant group -- fired dozens of rockets at Israel, which responded with extensive air strikes. In a statement after a meeting of their leaders in Gaza on Thursday, Hamas and Islamic Jihad said the marches would continue. Both groups praised Egyptian and UN efforts to broker a deal. Since often violent protests began on March 30, at least 218 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire. One Israeli soldier has been killed by a Palestinian sniper. Demonstrators are calling for Palestinian refugees to be allowed to return to the homes their families fled or were expelled from in the 1948 war surrounding the creation of Israel and which are now inside the Jewish state. Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008 and the recent unrest has raised fears of a fourth.
Inquiry into shoddy work on Hong Kongs most expensive rail project hears fresh allegations from whistle-blower, who claims station was not earthquake tested

The whistle-blower on a construction scandal involving Hong Kongs most expensive rail project has made fresh allegations about shoddy work on a station platform.

Appearing at the commission of inquiry investigating shoddy work on the HK$97.1 billion (US$12.3 billion) Sha Tin-Central link, Jason Poon Chuk-hung claimed more than 30,000 rebar connections were defective, in addition to about 1,000 faulty steel bars.

Poon, the managing director of subcontractor China Technology Corporation, was hired by main contractor Leighton Contractors (Asia) to do concreting work at Hung Hom station.

Leighton is embroiled in allegations that steel bars were cut short to fake proper installation into couplers on the platform, and supporting diaphragm walls were changed without authorisation.

Commission counsel Ian Pennicott SC, QC asked Poon why he stated in an email to Leighton operations manager Anthony Zervaas in September 2017 that the number of substandard bars exceeded 30,000, yet in his witness statement he estimated more than 1,000 bars had been cut.

Poon clarified that 30,000 referred to suspected defective rebar connections on diaphragm walls concerning the whole site, not just the new platform.

He said that since the station structure needed to withstand an earthquake, a torque meter should be used to install rebars for crimping to maintain their tensile strength. He did not see such a machine and suspected workers only screwed the bars into couplers manually, undermining their ductility.

The torque test is to ensure and secure proper installation of the threaded bars onto the couplers, Poon said.

Pennicott presented a statement from the coupler supplier BOSA that said no special torque amount is required and questioned whether Poon made up his allegation.

You can ask the bar-fixing trade association which couplers dont require torque installation  I dont think the BOSA catalogue is reliable, Poon said.

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Inquiry chairman Michael Hartmann, a former non-permanent judge on Hong Kongs top court, asked whether the only safety issue would be the 1,000 cut rebars if experts proved no particular torque was required.

Poon insisted there were still safety concerns and that all shoddy work needed perspective.

The issue cannot be isolated to bar-cutting alone. Other couplers have fallen off  This is just one [of many] structural safety issues. We cant just look at one area.

He also denied suggestions he used the issue to exert pressure on Leighton into settling a commercial dispute worth more than HK$17 million.

The thing we care about is not money, but responsibility over this project, he said.

Up to now, Leighton owes us about HK$30 million. If I was really so desperate for money, I could have approached the MTR Corporation for payment to Leighton so Leighton could pay back the money to us. It would have been more effective in chasing up the payment, and I wouldnt have wasted so much time writing long emails to Leighton.

Poon added that in September 2017, he signed a confidential agreement with Leighton as the firm promised to repay the money in phases and conduct remedial measures at the site. Due to the agreement requirements, he deleted a substantial number of photos related to bar-cutting on his computer.

Hartmann challenged how he could so easily destroy crucial photos that could prove criminal acts. Poon said the real evidence remained at the site, and nobody could destroy it.

All the facts are inside the structure of the station. No one could hide anything there. It doesnt matter if I have thousands of photos, Leighton could still come up with more excuses to dismiss them.

The hearing continues on Thursday.

This article Inquiry into shoddy work on Hong Kongs most expensive rail project hears fresh allegations from whistle-blower, who claims station was not earthquake tested first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Lee Kuan Yew (1923  2015), the first Prime Minister of Singapore, arrives at London Airport with his wife Kwa Geok Choo (1920  2010) and their daughter Lee Wei Ling, UK, 30 October 1971. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

While it is often perceived (rightly or wrongly) that the late prime minister Lee Kuan Yew brought his son Hsien Loong into politics, Goh Chok Tong says that the elder Lee actually recommended his daughter Wei Ling as a political candidate.

In the first volume of his newly-released memoirs entitled Tall Order: The Goh Chok Tong Story, the Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) revealed that some time in the 1980s, the ruling Peoples Action Party (PAP) was looking for female candidates as there was a shortage of them.

In this regard, Singapores first prime minister recommended his daughter as a potential candidate. He said Wei Ling would make a very good MP, recalled Goh in the book.

This was down to her very strong compassion for the down and out and her very strong sense of justice, said the 77-year-old, quoting the late Lee. Ultimately, after sounding out George Yeo  who went on to become Foreign Minister  and then political neophyte Hsien Loong, Goh decided against it.

(Hsien Loong) did not think she was suitable and he was absolutely right, said Goh, who was Prime Minister of Singapore from 1990 to 2004.

So how did Goh respond to the elder Lee? I never replied to him. I just went mmm, mmm.Then I kept quiet, and Lee Kuan Yew also kept quiet, he wrote.

Goh also asserted in the book that it was he, and not Lee Kuan Yew, who recruited the current Prime Minister into politics. Lee Kuan Yew never suggested Hsien Loong to me. I brought him in.

These are some of the revelations in the 280-page Tall Order, penned by former Straits Times journalist Peh Shing Huei and published by World Scientific Press. It tells the story of Gohs life and career until he succeeded Lee Kuan Yew as prime minister in 1990.

Tall Order will be officially launched next Thursday, 8 November. Yahoo News Singapores review of the book will be released on the same day.

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Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen has been appointed to be the UN envoy for Syria, a UN spokesman said Wednesday, becoming the fourth emissary to take up one of the most difficult peacemaking jobs at the world body. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to the Security Council on Tuesday announcing his intention to appoint Pedersen, 63, currently Norway's ambassador to China. A seasoned diplomat, Pedersen was a member of the Norwegian team to the secret negotiations that led to the signing of the 1993 Oslo accords between Israel and the Palestinians. He will succeed Italian-Swedish diplomat Staffan de Mistura, who announced he was stepping down to spend more time with his family after four years in the demanding post. De Mistura was appointed in July 2014 after veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi resigned following two years in the position. Brahimi stepped in after former UN chief Kofi Annan quit just six months into the role. Annan described the Syria envoy's job as "mission impossible". UN spokesman Farhan Haq announced the appointment and said Pedersen is expected to begin work at the end of November. Pedersen will take over at a time when Syrian government forces have made major territorial gains in the seven-year war, with the military backing of Russia and Iran. UN diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled but the world body leads a massive humanitarian effort to help millions uprooted and in need of medical and food aid. More than 360,000 people have been killed in the war, which began in March 2011 as an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad but has morphed into a complex conflict with myriad armed groups, many of whom are foreign-backed. - UN sidelined - Reporting on his latest efforts, De Mistura told the council last week that the Syrian government had rejected a UN list of members to a proposed committee tasked with drawing up a post-war constitution for Syria. The committee is to be comprised of three groups of members, one proposed by the Syrian government, the second presented by the opposition and the third by the United Nations to include civil society representatives, religious leaders and others. Last year, Russia, Iran and Turkey set up the Astana process to advance diplomatic efforts in Syria, a move that effectively sidelined the UN-led peace process that De Mistura was shepherding in Geneva. Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide welcomed Guterres' decision to appoint one of her country's "foremost diplomats" and stressed that "finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria is one of the most difficult tasks facing the UN." Pedersen has some knowledge of Arabic and is considered a skilled negotiator who can "find solutions and compromises in difficult issues," a Norwegian diplomat said. The father of five served as Norway's UN ambassador from 2012 to 2017 before becoming his country's envoy to China last year. He was special coordinator for Lebanon from 2007 to 2008 and UN envoy for southern Lebanon from 2005 to 2007. He also worked as director of the Asia and Pacific division in the UN political affairs department. Pedersen also served as Norwegian representative to the Palestinian Authority between 1998 and 2003.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  The search for the crashed Lion Air plane has found aircraft debris and passenger belongings on the seafloor but the object thought to be the fuselage is still eluding it, an Indonesian official said Wednesday, as chilling video of passengers boarding the fatal flight emerged.

Search and Rescue Agency chief Muhammad Syaugi said the seafloor findings give the search team confidence they will find the body of the aircraft. The location of the airplane's "black box" flight data recorder has been identified, he said, but strong currents prevented it from being recovered.

"We saw belongings such as life jackets, pants, clothes scattered on the seabed," Syaugi said. "We believe the fuselage will be around there, we hope that our target can be found."

The 2-month-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet plunged into the Java Sea early Monday just minutes after taking off from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

The disaster has reignited concerns about safety in Indonesia's fast-growing aviation industry, which was recently removed from European Union and U.S. blacklists, and also raised doubts about the safety of Boeing's new generation 737 MAX 8 plane.

Syaugi said one of the ships with high-tech equipment being used in the search dispatched a remote-operated vehicle that recorded parts of the aircraft on the seafloor but not the 22-meter (72-foot) -long object detected at a depth of 32 meters (105 feet) that is believed to be the fuselage. He said the area is about 400 meters (1,300 feet) from the coordinates where the airplane lost contact.

Three other objects in separate locations were reached by divers but turned out to be two sunken boats and a fish trap. A remote-operated vehicle was sent to the black box location "but the currents on the seabed were very strong, the ROV was carried away," Syaugi said.

Searchers have sent 57 body bags containing human remains to police identification experts who on Wednesday said they'd identified their first victim, a 24-year-old woman, from a ring and a right hand.

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Anguished family members have been providing samples for DNA tests and police say results are expected within 4-8 days.

Musyafak, the head of Said Sukanto Police Hospital, said nearly 150 samples for DNA testing have been collected but more are still needed, especially from parents and children of victims.

Boeing Co. experts were expected to arrive in Indonesia on Wednesday and Lion Air has said an "intense" internal investigation is underway in addition to the probe by safety regulators.

Data from flight-tracking sites show the plane had erratic speed and altitude in the early minutes of a flight on Sunday and on its fatal flight Monday. Safety experts caution, however, that the data must be checked for accuracy against the plane's black boxes.

Several passengers on the Sunday flight from Bali to Jakarta have recounted problems that included a long-delayed takeoff for an engine check and terrifying descents in the first 10 minutes in the air.

Two interviewed on Indonesian TV recalled details such as a strange engine sound, a smell of burnt cables, and panicked passengers crying out for God to save them as the plane rapidly lost altitude. Later in the flight, a man who was either the captain or first officer walked through the plane and returned to the cockpit with what looked like a large manual.

Lion Air has said maintenance was carried out on the aircraft after the Sunday flight and a problem, which it didn't specify, was fixed.

Indonesian TV broadcast a smartphone video of passengers boarding Flight 610, its mundane details transformed into unsettling moments by knowledge of the tragedy that would transpire.

It showed passengers' boarding passes being checked and people walking along a concourse and then down stairs with bright red and white Lion Air jets visible on the tarmac.

At one point, the passenger who shot the video, Paul Ferdinand Ayorbaba, zoomed in on the flight number on his boarding pass. A part of the video shows passengers walking up the boarding stairs to a Lion jet.

"My husband sent that video to me via WhatsApp. It was his last contact with me, his last message to me," said Inchy Ayorbaba, interviewed at the Jakarta police hospital where she had taken their three children for DNA tests.

The messaging app's timestamp showed the video was sent about 35 minutes before the plane took off, said Ayorbaba, who first saw the message at 6:30 a.m., some 10 minutes after the plane departed, and then went back to sleep.

Lion Air's technical director was removed from duty Wednesday at the order of the Transport Ministry. It also has ordered all Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes operated by Lion Air and national carrier Garuda to be inspected. Lion has ordered 50 of the jets, worth an estimated $6.2 billion, and currently operates nine.

Daniel Putut, a Lion Air managing director, said Tuesday evening the airline has many questions for Boeing.

"Of course there are lots of things we will ask them, we all have question marks here, 'Why? What's the matter with this new plane,'" Putut said.

The crash is the worst airline disaster in Indonesia since 1997, when 234 people died in the crash of a Garuda flight near Medan. In December 2014, an AirAsia flight from Surabaya to Singapore plunged into the sea, 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 of Indonesia's youngest and biggest airlines, flying to dozens of domestic and international destinations. It has been expanding aggressively in Southeast Asia, a fast-growing region of more than 600 million people.

___

Associated Press journalist Andi Jatmiko contributed to this report.
Seattle is the fifth city in the US on SIAs route network, and the fourth to be served non-stop from Singapore after San Francisco, New York (Newark Airport) and Los Angeles. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced on Thursday (1 November) that it will introduce non-stop flights from Singapore to Seattle from 3 September 2019.

Seattle is the fifth city in the US on SIAs route network, and the fourth to be served non-stop from Singapore after San Francisco, New York (Newark Airport) and Los Angeles. SIA also flies from Singapore to Houston with a stop in Manchester, England, said the airline in a press release.

Four weekly flights by Oct 2019

The non-stop Singapore-Seattle flights will initially fly three times per week, with one more weekly flight to be added in October 2019. There will be 42 business class, 24 premium economy class and 187 economy class seats on board the Airbus A350-900 aircraft serving the route.

All Seattle-bound flights will depart at 9.25am (Singapore time) and arrive at 9.05am (Seattle time) on the same day, while Singapore-bound flights will depart at 10.40am and arrive at 5.30pm (Singapore time) the following day.

Flights will initially be scheduled for every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, while the Sunday flights will be added the following month.

Expansion of operations in US market

SIA chief executive officer Goh Choon Phong said the upcoming Seattle flights demonstrate SIAs commitment to expand our operations in the important US market and grow our network reach.

The new services will also further strengthen the Singapore hub by providing customers faster and more convenient connectivity from key markets such as South-east Asia, South Asia and Australasia to North America, he added.

Seattle is home to the headquarters of many major US corporations such as Microsoft, Amazon and Starbucks. It is also a popular tourist destination, with its lush evergreen forests and parks, vibrant arts and cultural scene, as well as for being the gateway for cruises to Alaska.

Non-stop flight to LA from tomorrow

This announcement comes a day before the launch of the non-stop flights from Singapore to Los Angeles using the Airbus A350-900ULR (ultra-long-range) aircraft. The existing non-stop service to San Francisco will also be increased from seven to 10 flights per week from 28 November.

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With the introduction of the Seattle flights next year, SIA will be operating 57 flights per week to the US. Tickets for the non-stop Seattle flights will be made available for sale progressively from 7 November.

Related stories:

Singapore Airlines takes delivery of jet for worlds longest flight

Singapore Airlines stops serving peanuts as snacks on its flights

Singapore Airlines to continue using grid girls at Grand Prix races after F1 stops practice
Sudans President Omar Al Bashir is seen at the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and the Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia January 28, 2018. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA (Reuters) - A U.N. watchdog told Sudan on Thursday to prosecute security forces for attacks in Darfur from 2014-2016 and cooperate with the International Criminal Court, which has issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes.

Executions by crucifixion and stoning should be stricken from its statute books, and authorities should halt prosecutions and intimidation of journalists, critics and activists, it said.

Thousands of people have been killed in Sudan's civil wars, including the western Darfur region where rebels have been fighting against Bashir's government since 2003. In July, the government extended until year-end a three-year-old unilateral ceasefire with rebels in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee, whose independent experts uphold a landmark treaty on civil and political rights, reviewed Sudan's record and issued its findings on Thursday.

"The Committee is concerned that not only has (Sudan) failed to hold to account perpetrators under domestic law, but it has also refused to cooperate with the International Criminal Court, which has issued arrest warrants against Sudanese nationals and officials on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes," the panel said.

The Hague-based ICC issued arrest warrants for Bashir in 2009 and 2010 over his alleged role in war crimes including genocide in Darfur province, which he denies.

"We expressed concerns regarding the fact that large-scale attacks against civilians, including in operations in Darfur between 2014 and 2016, remained unpunished," Sarah Cleveland, panel vice chair, told a news briefing.

Sudan should "ensure that all persons involved in serious human rights violations are excluded from positions of power", she said.

Yuval Shany, panel chair, said: "We did not receive from the state a very specific answer to the question as to whether they are planning to implement the ICC arrest warrant on President al-Bashir. And we draw our conclusions from this lack of information."

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Journalists have been arrested or banned from travel, and newspapers confiscated, including the entire print runs of eight Sudanese newspapers in January, Cleveland said.

"So this was a primary concern with respect to Sudan and one which we asked them to report to the Committee on within two years," she said.

Journalists from Reuters and Agence France-Presse were detained in January while covering protests and clashes with security forces which broke out across Sudan after Khartoum imposed tough economic measures in line with recommendations by the International Monetary Fund.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay, Editing by William Maclean)
The government is aware of the problems faced by taxi drivers, but that it has to look at the issues not only from the perspective of taxi drivers but also that of passengers

Malaysia government will not give in to cabbies demands to ban Grab [Channel News Asia]

The Malaysian government will not give in to the demands of taxi drivers who want ride-hailing services, in particular Grab, to be banned, Transport Minister Anthony Loke reiterated on Wednesday.

He said the government is aware of the problems faced by taxi drivers, but that it has to look at the issues not only from the perspective of taxi drivers but also that of passengers.

He also said that the ministry had come up with a win-win formula to protect the welfare of taxi drivers and drivers who use the services of ride-hailing companies.

Our purpose is to encourage taxi drivers to use e-hailing applications, whether it is from Grab or other companies, he said when winding up the mid-term review of the 11th Malaysia Plan for the ministry.

Hyundai, Yield Capital launch US$100M hydrogen energy-focused VC [DealStreetAsia]

South Koreas Hyundai Motor Company has teamed up with Beijing-Tsinghua Industrial R&D Institute (BTIRDI), a Chinese engineering institute, to jointly raise around $100 million for a fund that invests in hydrogen energy startups.

Hyundai Motor and Yield Capital, an investment unit under BTIRDI, will manage Hydrogen Energy Industry Fund, which will support startups with innovative ideas on hydrogen technology and infrastructure building.

The fund also aims to attract investments from leading venture capital firms based in China, Europe, and the US, according to a joint statement announcing the funds launch.

Rabobanks Food Loss Challenge Asia announces top 5 finalists [press release]

Rabobank announced the five finalists amongst 20 of its Asia-based Food Loss Challenge initiative, which aims to identify innovative agtech startups to help solve global food loss problems.

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The five finalists are CropIn Technology Solutions, Eachmile Technologies, Ecozen Solutions, Elixia Tech Solutions and Pula Advisors. They were selected at the recently held pitch day hosted in Singapore.

Besides vying for the five spots in the finale, the pitch day provided also opportunity to connect the startups to other startups, potential investors and other stakeholders. The teams presenting were diverse with most of their solutions showing a strong market orientation and adoption of technology and data analytics to help reduce food loss in an innovative way.

The top five finalises will present their food loss solutions to a panel of judges at Rabobanks annual Asia Food & Agribusiness advisory board meeting on 15 November 2018 in Singapore.

HK Science and Technology Parks signs MoU with Japans Mizuho [press release]

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Tokyo with Mizuho Financial Group, the financial institution with one of the largest financial services customer base in Japan, to jointly nurture and support high potential technology start-ups from both markets to their next level of development.

Both parties will explore long-term strategic partnerships to support the growth of startups in both Hong Kong and Japans innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystems, and strengthen the cooperation covering key technology fields, including fintech, biomedical technologies, robotics and smart city.

HKSTP and Mizuho will dedicate value-added support to startups extending from exchange of talent and knowledge, support from incubation and acceleration programmes, investment matching, to access-to-market.

HKSTP will introduce a new fintech-focused cohort next year under its Global Acceleration Academy

(GAA) with Mizuho being one of the partners to promote and encourage the development of fintech solutions, projection adoption and commercialisation.

GAA is an initiative HKSTP currently partners with international industry leaders to develop thematic

acceleration programmes.

Budding high-potential fintech startups from around the world can leverage on HKSTPs and Mizuhos networks to receive all manner of services including training, consultancy and mentorship as well as investment activities.

The post Todays top tech news, Nov 01: Malaysian minister says wont give in to cabbies demands to ban Grab appeared first on e27.
President Donald Trump further hardened his pre-election anti-immigration rhetoric in a Florida campaign stop on Wednesday, after threatening to deploy as many as 15,000 soldiers on the Mexican border -- equal to the size of the US contingent in Afghanistan. "They got a lot of rough people in these caravans. They are not angels," he said in Fort Myers, referring to migrants from poor Central American countries moving towards the United States in hopes of a better life or to escape violence. "We're gettin' prepared for the caravan, folks," he said. Brushing aside accusations that his divisive rhetoric on immigration is stoking extremism, Trump made the troop announcement before flying to Florida for the last stage of campaigning ahead of next Tuesday's midterm elections. He will host 11 rallies across eight states in the next six days. Trump hopes to fire up core Republican voters and spur the party to retain dominance of both chambers of Congress. Democrats are threatening to light a fire under Trump's feet if they win even partial control, raising the specter of ever more brutal Washington politics. At the core of Trump's message to his raucous, adoring supporters is the now near daily warning that America is literally under attack from an "invasion" of illegal immigrants and that Democrats would throw open the borders. On Tuesday, Trump announced that more than 5,000 active duty soldiers were being sent. That was already highly unusual, but on Wednesday, he told reporters at the White House: "We'll do up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel." Trump frequently describes illegal immigrants -- a tiny minority of whom have formed groups to attempt walking hundreds of miles to the US border -- as "rapists" and "thugs." "It's a dangerous group of people," Trump said of the latest group of a few thousand migrants, who are still deep inside Mexico far from their goal. "They're not coming into our country." The situation, according to the Department of Homeland Security, is "an unprecedented crisis." However, the department's own figures show that the number of illegal immigrants intercepted in 2018 was only 400,000, a mere 25 percent of the 1.6 million figure in 2000. - Guns, bombs - The president has reveled in his anti-immigrant rhetoric for months. At his "Make America Great Again" rallies, like the one in Florida on Wednesday, Trump leads supporters in chanting "build the wall" -- a reference to his so-far unrealized dream of erecting a partition along the entire US-Mexican frontier. But the nationalist -- or what critics say is the racist-tinged -- policy was engulfed in deep controversy last week when an alleged anti-Semitic fanatic gunned down 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue. According to US news reports, the shooter had taken inspiration from Trump's speeches in his stated desire to fight for white people. Similarly, a Florida man arrested last week on charges of mailing homemade bombs to more than a dozen Trump opponents was an ardent supporter of the president. The alarming escalation of extremist politics threw Trump on the defensive, with opponents claiming that he had helped create an atmosphere in which the two attackers felt comfortable to carry out their plans. On Tuesday, Trump made a politically tricky visit to Pittsburgh, accompanied by his wife Melania, Orthodox Jewish son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka. Trump played the traditional presidential role of healer-in-chief at the Tree of Life synagogue, laying memorial stones and spending more than an hour at a nearby hospital with the widow of one of the slain. The experience was "very humbling and very sad," Trump said. Opponents and noisy groups of local protesters said, however, that he shouldn't even have come. Starkly illustrating the controversy, there wasn't anyone available, beyond the local air force base commander and his wife, to meet the president on arrival from Washington. Pittsburgh's mayor was among those who suggested that Trump stay away. - Brushing off, doubling down - White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders pointed out that Trump "was also asked to come by some" and insisted that he'd gone to "represent the country in this moment." Certainly Trump was back in fighting mood on Wednesday, tweeting that he and Melania "were treated very nicely yesterday in Pittsburgh." "Small protest was not seen by us, staged far away," he said. "The Fake News stories were just the opposite-Disgraceful!" He then explored his latest eye-catching plan for curtailing immigration: removal of a constitutionally protected right to citizenship for anyone born on US soil. The automatic right, which is also given in neighboring Canada and Mexico, has been criticized as outmoded, providing a loophole for the children of illegal immigrants. "The World is using our laws to our detriment. They laugh at the Stupidity they see!" he tweeted. However, the nature and timing of Trump's proposal -- first aired Tuesday -- has been controversial, particularly given his insistence that he can personally overrule something so far protected by the constitution.
You know whats really scary about Halloween? Children between the ages of 4 and 8 are 10 times more likely to be killed by a car on Oct. 31 than on an average evening, according to research published Tuesday.

This is not by any means reason to keep your child inside, on a leash, or dressed as a highway worker. According to the same study, the absolute risk is very, very small: 2.5 fatalities per 100 million Americans in 2015, at the end of a four-decade study period.

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But the data is one more way that Halloween shines a light on the way we built America, for better and for worse. On the positive side, Halloween is the holiday that most venerates good neighborhood design. Tiny ghouls and pumpkins prove to be more astute critics of urban design than the credentialed professionals at City Hall, with their instant recognition of welcoming features like sidewalks and streetlights. A citys best neighborhoods for trick-or-treaters will also have houses that arent too far apart, windows facing the street, and front doors that are easy to find. They might have parking accessed via back alleys, small or nonexistent front yards, or a front porch or stoop rather than the blank door of a garage. Planners call this accidental architectural standard the trick-or-treat test.

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The flip side of that is that Halloween is a moment to reflect on why so few American neighborhoods live up to that standard, and what we can do to build more of themor perhaps more practically, let more people live in the ones we have. Families shouldnt have to commute to go trick-or-treating.

No design feature determines a neighborhoods Halloween potential like the speed of passing cars. The spike in pedestrian fatalities on Halloween is the most vivid example of this. But a more typical one, in some ways, is the response of city governments to the anticipated, extraordinary event of  children walking around the city.

In San Francisco, which is not a forlorn hiking trail but one of Americas most densely populated cities, the Sheriffs Department advises making your children carry flashlights. Virtually every city in America urges parents to drape their children in string lights, glow sticks, or reflective tape. Orange County, California, got the message out with Ready Fox, a vulpine road worker whose workaday neon vest is a perfect fit for this particular Halloween panic.

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For the most part, however, the problem begins and ends with the way Americans drive in residential neighborhoodsfast, and with the expectation no one will be crossing the street. AAA, of all places, has some advice that targets the right people: Slow down. Drive 5 mph under the speed limit. Look for children crossing the street. Watch for people walking in the road.

Better yet, we could build neighborhoods that make cars slow down. That way, on the one day America permits children to walk around their neighborhoods by themselves, we wouldnt have to dress them up like they were repairing subway tunnels. It might be nice on days that arent Halloween, too.
According to new filings in a civil lawsuit, in 2002, disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein forced a 16-year-old Polish model to touch his penis, the AP reports. The case, Geiss et al . The Weinstein Company Holdings LLC et al, is a class action civil lawsuit working its way through the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and in an amended class action complaint filed on Wednesday, a new plaintiff was added: Jane Doe, the model in question. Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.

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According to the complaint, Doe, who had moved to the United States to pursue a career in acting, met Weinstein at the age of 16 at an event in Manhattan held by her modeling agency. Weinstein invited her to lunch, then had his driver take them to his apartment instead.

There, he allegedly followed the same pattern outlined in the other allegations: demanding sex, telling Doe he had made Penelope Cruz and Gwyneth Paltrows careers, and eventually taking her hand and making her touch and massage his penis. A shouting match followed, Doe stormed out as soon as Weinstein would let her, but was then subjected to nearly a decade of sexual harassment and emotional abuse. Weinstein allegedly contacted her every couple of weeks for years, painting himself as her only path to a career as an actress, making advances, getting possessive when she mentioned boyfriends, and even showing up once at the Four Seasons where she was living. Security turned him away. When Weinstein finally threw a part her way despite Doe consistently refusing his sexual advances, it was a role as an extra on The Nanny Diaries, and, according to the court filings, Weinstein poisoned it in advance:

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On the set of The Nanny Diaries in 2004, it seemed to Jane Doe that every person on the crew knew that she was there because of her association with Weinstein. As a result, Jane Doe received special treatmentshe was sent to lunch with the main actors, even though she was only an extra. People made comments to the effect of Harvey said to treat you very well. Still very young and inexperienced, Jane Doe did not understand that people were implying that she had a sexual relationship with Weinstein.

Doe allegedly met with Weinstein again at the Weinstein Company offices in 2008, when she was 23 and making one last attempt to become an actress. According to the court filings, she hoped that her age and experienceat least compared to when she was 16would help her handle him. They did not. To be fair, no amount of age or experience would help handle someone who behaves as Weinstein allegedly did:

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Meanwhile, the television in his TWC office showed Christina Aguilera performing. Weinstein paused their conversation to look up at the TV, and declared, Wow, Id really like to fuck that pussy. He then unzipped his pants and began touching his penis. Jane Doe first froze, and then fled the office.

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At Weinsteins request, Doe signed with a modeling agency he chose, but it was clear to her that she was viewed as a mere favor to Weinstein, she felt embarrassed and ashamed, and like a joke. The complaint gives a concise summary of the way Weinstein allegedly groomed her, ruined her career, and inflicted permanent psychological damage:

240. Weinstein told Jane Doe, starting when she was 16 years old, that she could not be successful without engaging in unwanted sexual contact with him; he was the sole gatekeeper to the industry, and she would have to give him sexual favors in exchange for becoming an actor. 241. Because Jane Doe was unwilling to give Weinstein the sexual favors he demanded, Weinstein never gave her work and made sure others didnt either. 242. In addition to acting as a barrier to her acting career, her encounter with Weinsteinher first sexual encounterwas deeply traumatizing. And the ensuing abuse, harassment, and manipulation has had compounding negative effects on her mental health. To this day, she has suffered from depression and anorexia, and she has found it difficult to maintain healthy relationships with men.

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Weinsteins lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, denied the allegations on his clients behalf, telling the AP, Eventually, just as others have been exposed to be liars, this uncorroborated allegation that is almost 20 years old will be shown to be patently false.

Besides Weinstein, the suit names Weinstein Company Holdings, Miramax, the Walt Disney Company, and corporate officers ranging from ten unnamed Miramax employees all the way up to Michael Eisner, arguing that they knew or should have known what Weinstein was capable of. In addition to this lawsuit, Weinstein is facing criminal charges in New York for an alleged rape in 2013 and a different incident of sexual misconduct in 2006. The first New York Times story about Weinsteins alleged misconduct was published just over a year ago, on Oct. 5, 2017.
Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. In addition to our traditional advice, every Thursday we feature an assortment of teachers from across the country answering your education questions. Have a question for our teachers? Email askateacher@slate.com or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group.

This weeks Ask a Teacher panel:

Brandon Hersey, second grade, Washington

Matthew Dicks, fifth grade, Connecticut

Katie Holbrook, high school, Texas

Cassy Sarnell, preschool special education, New York

My son is 6. Among other things, he loves fairies, unicorns, stories about girls, and the color pink. Good for him, right? My son and my daughter have both been brought up to know that everything is for everyone. Only trouble is the other kids havent been brought up that way. The other night my son couldnt sleep because he really wants to read a unicorn book at school but doesnt want his friends to laugh at him. My question is should I keep asking his teacher to step in and try to teach these kids that your gender doesnt have to determine what you like? Or would I just be setting my son up to be bullied by causing him to be singled out? When it comes to issues like this, does the teacher have any sway, or are they always fighting a losing battle against parental influence?

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My Son the Unicorn

Dear MStU,

Hell. Yes. Keep the pressure up on his teacher. I watched this play out in my classroom this year with one of my students, unicorn book and all. I say watched because after one big classroom conversation, the issue was over, and now all of my boys are fighting over who gets to read the unicorn book next.

Speaking candidly, teachers have a responsibility to build safe and inclusive learning environments, and sometimes we are really terrible at it. Even today I kick myself for avoiding tough conversations with my students during my first year of teaching. And honestly it was mostly due to fear of parent pushback. But now that I have a few more years under my belt, and a better sense of job security, Im much more direct with my students about how they should treat people who might think differently than they do.

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What this really boils down to is courage on the part of the teacher. If your kid is brave enough to be his true self in class, his teacher should be brave enough to support him. And yes, teachers have an incredible amount of sway, because we dictate the classroom culture. I get it: Conversations about this type of issue are often seen as political, and many educators try to avoid addressing it directly. But that doesnt excuse them from their commitment to building an educated and inclusive society.

Mr. Hersey

My seventh-grader is a kind and funny person. The problem? His grades are horrible and have been since first grade. The root of the problem is that he just doesnt do his work, and this extends to test-taking as well. He would rather sit in class and stare at the wall before he puts pencil to paper. I can control the environment at home with homework and make sure hes staying on task and not just sitting there daydreaming, but I cant hand-hold him while hes at school. He does his homework every night, but many times he doesnt bother turning it in, resulting in a missed assignment.

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Over the years, I have tried every imaginable approach ranging from harshly punitive to laissez-faire lenience to over-the-top rewards. I try to stick with each method long enough to be consistent, and a few things have worked for a time, but then he just goes back to old habits and is no longer motivated.

Ive asked his teachers in elementary school if they think there may be something like ADD/ADHD or dyslexia at play, but theyve reassured me that what theyre seeing doesnt indicate that. Ive told his pediatrician about the problem, and its noted in his record, but theyve never recommended further screening for him.

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Teacher conferences are next week, and weve been through this so many times one would think it would stop hurting so much, but I am dreading it, and Im sure my son is too. My son has said a few times recently that he doesnt believe hes capable of being a good student, which breaks my heart. Im at a complete loss for new things to try. I, too, was terrible at completing class work and homework, but I was a great test-taker so that saved me more often than not. What can a parent do to help him? And what is reasonable for me to ask of his teachers when Im enlisting their help?

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12 and Troubled

Dear 12,

This is a critical time for your son. His lack of motivation is undoubtedly affecting the learning that should be taking place in school, and in two years, his failing grades are going to begin affecting the choices that he has in terms of higher education.

I dont know your son at all, but my first instinct would be to return to your doctor and ask that he be screened for ADHD, if only to eliminate this possibility. The testing takes very little time and costs very little, so why not ensure that this is not the problem or one of the problems? This testing can also indicate if issues with anxiety, depression, or executive functioning are contributing to his struggles. My gut also says that your son could benefit from speaking to a school psychologist or outside therapist, and that those mental health professionals might be able to offer some insight. I know many instances in which children are reticent to speak to their parents but are able to open up to a caring outside professional.

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I would also find a mentor for your son. Schools often have mentoring programs in place, but if not, there might be a community-based organization that matches younger children like your son with a high school or college-age mentor. A positive, school-age role model could make a big difference in your sons perception of the future and could offer more concrete, hands-on advice about achieving success in the classroom than a parent or teacher ever could.

As for his teachers, I would make them aware of your concerns and especially of how your son is feeling. No teacher ever wants to hear that a student is unhappy or feeling like a failure. That should be enough for them to take action, but if their response is slow, lackluster, or ineffective, you have every right to call for a meeting of school officials to discuss your sons struggles. In Connecticut, this is called a Planning and Placement Team meeting, or a PPT, but every state by law has a similar system in place to ensure that parents, teachers, specialists, and administrators can come together to determine what students need when they are struggling.

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Lastly, I would propose a tour of some college campuses. Its so hard for human beings to plan far into the future, and for a 12-year-old, trying to imagine life six years from now after graduation is literally half a lifetime away. Connecting effort and achievement today with something tangible in the future can often make an enormous difference to a kid, so bringing him to a variety of college campuses and allowing him to see what life could be like if he works hard might be an excellent motivator. I take my fifth-graders on a tour of college campuses every year for a similar reason, and for many kids, those first steps onto a college campus can be life-changing.

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This was a hard question for me to answer because I know how difficult situations like this can be for parents. My heart goes out to you and your son. I hope you find a path that is right for him and his future.

Mr. Dicks

Why are you doing this? What are the benefits here? High-schoolers are ridiculous and dumb, and you can trust me on this seeing as Im soon going to be one. I know this might be a broad question, and maybe a stupid one, as I can assume you really love teaching, but why did you chose high-schoolers specifically? Theyre capable of higher-level thinking, but I, personally, would rather boss around first-graders.

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Skeptical Eighth-Grader

Dear SEG,

Most high school teachers have a passion for their subject, which is one reason we dont get bored. Ive been teaching Life of Pi for 10 years and students still surprise me with their interpretations. Ive been reading essays for 15 years and still regularly find myself moved to tears, laughter, and amazement. And teaching is important! All grade levels are important, but whats uniquely important about high school is that were trying to prepare young people for adulthood. Were the last stop. And we want students to leave us with the tools they need to be competent, empowered adults.

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One other thing. This may be bold, but I think I used to be a lot like you. Much of the time, I hated high school. Ironically, I was very good at it. I made excellent grades, and most of my teachers liked me. I was involved in lots of things and excelled at some of them. But I wasnt good at making friends; I felt like a misfit. I made statements like the ones youve made, assuming that all the other teenagers were stupid and therefore not worth my time (while simultaneously wishing desperately for their friendship). I couldnt wait until I graduated so I could get the hell out of there.

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Now I should not assume that is your experience. Maybe youre really popular, or maybe youre not. Maybe youre a straight-A student, or maybe school is a struggle for you. I wish I could guarantee that high school will be a wonderful experience, but you might actually find it grueling. Its true that teenagers can be immature and ridiculous and cruel and foolish. But they can also be wise and hilarious and kind and brilliant.

If I could travel back in time and give my younger self advice, I would tell her to give more people a chance. Teenagers may surprise you. They surprise me all the time. Which is one reason I love them.

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Ms. Holbrook

Our 3-year-old, Cleo, is inquisitive, curious, and excited about preschool. Or at least she was! Somehow shes ended up with a teacher who is the one person on the face of the Earth who is not charmed by Cleo. At least thats what I can grasp from the very specific progress reports Miss Jill sends home every Friday, each one telling us nothing about fun things Cleo has done or things she has learned but instead explaining all the things that Cleo has done wrong that week. (Weve asked other parents in the class, and their letters seem normal.) When we asked to speak with the teacher one afternoon, both me and my wife were left nearly in tears as she scolded usin much the same tone as the lettersfor our daughter who doesnt listen, who doesnt put her things away carefully enough, and who talks to her friends when shes supposed to be working. I just dont think theres any way she can continue here if she doesnt change her behavior, Miss Jill said.

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Cleo, for her part, says she still likes school, but her eager chatter at pickup about friends she made and games she played has slowly given way over these past few weeks to chronicles of things Miss Jill said she did wrong. Look, I know that I have a rosy view of my daughter. Im sure there are times she doesnt listen! But the account this teacher gives seems way out of proportion to even the greatest mischief I can imagine my kind, rule-following, eager-to-please child getting up to. (Weve never heard a peep, for example, from any of the day cares in which shes spent her days since she turned 1.) Weve asked the schools director, and shes told us that Miss Jill is her most trusted teacher. Theres no other teacher to switch to, and we live in an area with oversubscribed preschools, which means the only alternative would be to  bring her to work with us, I guess? How do we make peace with this teacher who seems out to get our whole family?

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Peeved Preschool Pop

Dear PPP,

It seems to me that there are two very important conversations that need to occur. The first is about your daughters behavior; if its troubling enough that her teacher has nothing positive to report by the end of the week, then that needs to be addressed. Her teamyou and your wife, the teacher, at least one administrator, and anyone else who regularly interacts with herneeds to sit down and discuss what her behaviors are, how everyone on the team is going to work to address them, and how everyones going to check on that progress. Shes a preschooler, which means that many of her challenging behaviors may be a result of her not knowing what to do, especially if the teacher is busy telling her what not to do. This conversation may be emotionally challenging for you and your wife, but it is important that you address her educational needs as early as possible. Cleo is 3, so she should be chattering about what she did at school, not all the ways she got in trouble with Miss Jill. She needs to feel successful, so something in the classroom has to change to ensure that she does.

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The other conversation is about your daughters teacher and the way in which she is communicating with you. This is another conversation between you, your wife, Miss Jill, and the rest of the team. Without being there and observing your daughter in the classroom, I cant say for sure what is happening. What I can say is this: There is a lack of trust between you and this teacher. The fact that youre worried about either making peace or taking your daughter entirely out of school shows me that you dont trust this teacher.

Now, I dont know Miss Jill, but I do know that teachers are flawed human beings. I have taught children who pushed all my worst buttons and made me want to kick and scream, and when that has happened, Ive been fortunate enough to have co-workers who can tell me when Im not being my best self, and who can help me make the time to put a positive note in every backpack at least once a week. Miss Jill may not be so fortunate as to have such co-workers. Or maybe she doesnt have the training to express what she means about Cleos behavior. It doesnt matter why shes not communicating well with you, but shes not. She shouldnt be telling you in a meeting that Cleo may not be able to stay in the school without administrator approval and a serious amount of data. She shouldnt be bringing you nearly to tears in a first meeting in October. And she shouldnt be writing letters that only contain bad news.

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When you sit down with the team to talk about Cleos behavior, you also need to ask about the schools promotional criteria (or whatever the term the school uses for staying enrolled in preschool here is) and about how communication can change so that everyone is able to celebrate Cleos successes. That means those letters need to say more about what shes learning, and if there is a problem with Cleos behavior, it needs to be reported to you in a way that allows you and your wife to process it, and the team to address it appropriately. If no meaningful changes can be made, you can take more drastic steps (e.g., talking directly to an administrator, without Miss Jill, about your feelings; looking at other preschool options), but the first step is for you and for Miss Jill to address the problem as a team, even if its hard to think of her that way. There are still eight months of school left, and you and Miss Jill need to find a way to work harmoniously, for Cleos sake.

Ms. Sarnell
This piece is part of the Radical issue, a special package from Outward, Slates home for coverage of LGBTQ life, thought, and culture. Read more here.

The Radical Faeries are a queer intentional community and countercultural movement begun in the late 1970s and still flourishing today. To learn more about one of the groups founders, the noted gay activist and theorist Harry Hay, listen to this episode of the Making Gay History podcast.

If youve heard about the work of Taylor Mac, the performance artist, playwright, and MacArthur genius grant winner, you know something about Radical Faerie ritual theater. Macs immersive performances, like the critically acclaimed 24-Decade History of Popular Music, blend politics and the personal through a lens of high camp and witchy rites. But Mac is by no means the only one working in this field today. Countless faeries are constantly working inside this form, blending theater with ritual and casting story- spells intended to change the world.

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To wit: Each August for nearly the past two decades, Radical Faeries from across the Northeast and beyond gather in the woods of Vermont to put on a piece of ritual theaterfor one night onlyas a way to mark the harvest. Its our time to come together, reflect on what we have sown over the year, and reap the rewards as a community. The play is written in the months before the event, but everything elsethe casting, the rehearsing, the making of the costumes, and the building of the setthat all happens in the week leading up to the show, in a mad dash toward communal artistic expression. Frenzy is part of the magic. The chaos energy, the swirl, the late-night costume making in damp tentsthese are what make the play alive. Its a collective fantasy of more than 10 dozen faeries leading up to the ritual act itself: The performance, a singular piece of ritual theater by queers, for queers, in a forest without reliable cell service.

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This year, the play, a series of vignettes introduced by Oscar Wilde (played by me), was helmed by P and B, a fierce duo who wanted to explore legacies of loss through seven different texts, ranging from the Bible to Beauty and the Beast, as a lens for community building and working through personal narratives of trauma. From my perspective as narrator Wilde, I watched as different people in the community were brought to tears by the stories that unfolded in front of them. I watched friends move through the trauma of grieving lovers recently lost to suicide; I watched people decouple themselves from feeling shame around sex work; I saw people hold space inside themselves to interrogate their darkest desires. Afterward, people changed their faerie nameswhich, as radical acts of self-definition, are spells unto themselvesand new friendships unfolded. This is what ritual theater can do.

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Not all theater is like this, of course. But here, inside a play that was really a ritual, we collectively stepped into the possibility of performance and how a performance as a ritual can change you. Having been a part of this ritual several times before, I can say for myself it is the closest thing to transformational community magic I have ever experienced. When you label theater as ritual, it becomes so much more than just playing a character for people looking to be entertained, because everyone is in on the process. Its theater with religious trappings, all of the performance and all of the belief bundled into one experience. The play becomes a container where people reflect on their journey to the faerie gathering and during the week itself, all through the lens of the story. In a way, one could say the process every year feels like a therapeutic group hallucination.

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In my role, each day I felt as if I was being guided by the line-learning process to explore my own desire and to name what that desire was, what I wanted. Late-night primal dancing around the fire. Indulging senses, howling. Becoming larger than life, a Wildean guide to a realm of radical faerie stories. Ritual has the power to remake you when you give in, and this character would leave me changed.

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After a week of stewing in potential, when the performance finally started, it did so to a real clap of thunder and a deluge of rain as Cain, in mud-stained coveralls, crawled through the grass, wailing. With opened skies and wind howling around us, Cain wept over the body of his brother and lover, just slain by a seven-headed God for the sin of his sexuality. As I stood there, watching, I could not help but reflect on the beauty of this moment. Some would call it pathetic fallacy, to think that the Earth was setting our stage for this scene of brotherly love and murder, dressing it in storms. But I have spent enough time around the magic of ritual performance to know that, inside sacred space, the Earth listens to us and responds.

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The performance: a singular piece of ritual theater by queers, for queers, in a forest without reliable cell service.

An hour after this scene, at the climax of the play, I stood on an outcropping of rocks pontificating on desire, delivering lines about sunset skies, rubbed with rouge like a lovers cheek, to a world that matched what I was sayingfor the storm had broken.

I was at that moment not the same person that I was at the start of the play. Baptized in rain, witness to trauma in the name of God, moved by the creative energy I saw pouring out of all the performers, all the costumes and sets, the weeklong collective investment in this story, I felt the words that I spoke through Wilde ring true as a spell: I am your artist. With our art and our imagination, we make more than just these plays. We make ourselves; we make the world. In a play codified as a ritual, we give ourselves permission to be transformed by the experience. We allow ourselves to keep parts of a journey and bring them more fully back to ourselves.

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I have worked in the arts for years but have always felt like a fraud, like I was somehow faking it. But inside this play, inside this role, I heard myself say those words with that childlike determination and belief I thought I had lost. I said it beyond doubt, or fear, but from a place of ownership. It has nothing to do with whether the performance was good or bad or believable or camp, but everything to do with the honesty I felt in myself. The ritual of this theater piece for me was the experience of playing the character I want to be: a shameless artist and flirt. To be witnessed by my community in that moment and to be trusted with the vision of P and B to tell their story: It was the most humbling gift of the summer, being allowed to imbibe magic through a ritual performance.

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Is it really fair to call thisperforming a crazy play in the woods for a bunch of faeriesradical? I cant imagine another word for it. Showing up for community like this, building a piece of art, is hard work. Some might find it campy and indulgent and superfluous, but storytelling is deeply fundamental to the core of who we are as humans. We understand ourselves through narrative, so we need new stories if we are to be radical, to radically change anything. Its clear the old narratives no longer serve us. Stories are the guidebooks to new worlds and to breaking down the status quo. Stories show the way, and group performance like this can show us collectively how we need to work together to make dreams of fantasy worlds a reality. To take some words off the page and build a new place amongst the forest is just a starting place. We can do anything we set our minds to. We can envision new worlds, and then go make themthat is not just a play, its an undeniably radical act.

Read all of Outwards special issue on Radicalism. And queer your ears with a special radical-themed episode of the Outward podcast.
School, says Justin Driver, is largely a Constitution-free zone. In The Schoolhouse Gate: Public Education, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for the American Mind, the University of Chicago law professor casts a critical eye on the Supreme Courts decisionsand its inactionon issues governing public schools. Driver argues that the court, with opinions giving educators the right to inflict corporal punishment, search children without probable cause, and suppress student speech solely for objectionable viewpoints, has abandoned its fundamental responsibility to safeguard students constitutional protections. Whats more, says Driver, lower courtsfollowing the high courts leadhave upheld an array of questionable school actions involving dress codes, off-campus speech, and zero-tolerance policies that suspend, expel, and criminalize children for minor infractions.



I recently spoke to Driver about what the newest Supreme Court justice could mean for constitutional freedoms in public schools and the multiple ways that the court has eroded students rights in recent decades. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.



Melinda D. Anderson: Whats your crystal ball predictionwill the pendulum swing toward protecting public school students constitutional rights in coming years, or will schools come under the autonomous control of principals and school boards?

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Justin Driver: Many people might think the current Supreme Court would be unreceptive to students claims. I have some hope, however, that the constitutional doctrine will move in a beneficial way in future years. Its possible to have a coalition joining liberals and the Libertarian-inflected vision of constitutional law that is dominant in some right-leaning circles. If youre a Libertarian, you have a certain skepticism of state authority. So the First Amendment and free speech, along with the Fourth Amendment forbidding unreasonable searches, are examples that spring to mind where this coalition might be possible and lead to reform.

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Are there issues where Justice Brett Kavanaughs replacement of Justice Anthony Kennedy could mean major shifts in the landscape? One that immediately comes to mind, now winding its way to the Supreme Court, is transgender students bathroom access.



Yes, Kennedys departure may well yield a different result. He never wrote an opinion dealing squarely with transgender people. But the ruling on marriage equality was a 54 decision that Kennedy wrote. We dont know what Kavanaugh believes in this area, but recent GOP-appointed justices have all said that there is no right under the Constitution to same-sex marriage. Extending that logic to transgender students, they may find an unreceptive body at the Supreme Court.

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Kavanaugh could also make a difference in access to school for undocumented immigrants. I could imagine states now attempting to pass legislation designed to have the Supreme Court revisit Plyler v. Doe [a 1982 decision guaranteeing a public education to undocumented children]. And if Chief Justice John Roberts continues to hold the view that he espoused in 1982suggesting that Plyler was incorrectly decidedhe could lead the court to reverse that decision.

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Whats the most striking example today of how the court has allowed schools to infringe on students rights?



The court has been quite lax in its enforcement of the First Amendment in the area of student speech. Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District [a 1969 case in which the Supreme Court ruled that students at school retain their First Amendment right to free expression] represented a huge breakthrough. But the Tinker rule says if educators have a reasonable forecast that a substantial disruption will flow from particular speech, then its permissible to silence or to punish students for that speech.

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In California, students wearing the American flag were told to turn their shirts inside out. This was on May 5, 2010Cinco de Mayoand Mexican American classmates confronted them. To diffuse the conflict, school officials told the students to remove the American-flag clothing or go home. I understand the frustration that Mexican American students felt. Yet this is a classic hecklers veto. That is, particularly sensitive listeners can, if they object vociferously enough, silence otherwise legitimate speech.

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Its far from clear to me that the opposite of a Confederate flag is a Malcolm X hat.  Justin Driver

In another lawsuit, a student was pulled from class for wearing a shirt with Homosexuality is shameful and Be ashamed to protest his high schools day of silence, intended to promote gay equality and draw attention to the violence that is often visited upon sexual minorities. I personally detest that message, but I think that he should have been able to wear that shirt to school.

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What if student expression clashes with schools creating a safe and welcoming learning space? Thats such an ugly, anti-gay message. We now have white students quoting President Donald Trump to bully and harass classmates based on their race and ethnicity. Is that deserving of free speech protection?



Well, there are particular aspects of public schools that distinguish them, lets say, from public parks for freedom of speech. One of the most important is that students are a captive audience, and unable to simply disengage and walk away from people if theyre sitting right behind the student in a T-shirt. One of the arguments I advance is that there should be a beefed-up fighting-words doctrine in schools. So I try to be sensitive to this dynamic that youve identified. One of the other things is that school administrators can draw some pretty curious connections. For example, some schools say you cant wear clothing featuring the Confederate flag, and you cant wear its opposite, which is Malcolm X attire. Its far from clear to me that the opposite of a Confederate flag is a Malcolm X hat.

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Along with student speech, what else tops your list of areas the court has botched or neglected?



The court has fallen down in its responsibility on the Fourth Amendment, relating to student searches and seizures. The cases that I think are the most wrongly decided involve students being required to take a drug test and offer a urine sample simply for participating in extracurricular activities. In most contexts, we would regard this as a dragnet search and almost certainly impermissible because the government doesnt suspect any individual of wrongdoing. The court has validated these practices, and I find them quite disturbing.

I feel the strongest about corporal punishment, though. I write about it throughout the bookbecause of the sheer number of students affected, and because it strikes me as a clear excess of the state exercising dominion over individual students. I think that hitting children with wooden paddles is a violation of the Eighth Amendments cruel and unusual punishment clause. Nineteen states have corporal punishment. Its also worth noting that a disproportionate percentage of students who receive corporal punishment are black and other students of color. The facts of the case that the court heard in the 1970s were truly egregious. And even still, this practice continues today.

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Listen to the Waves by clicking the arrow on the audio player below:

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Listen to the Waves via Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play.

On this weeks episode of The Waves, Hanna, June, and Noreen are joined by Alex Barasch to discuss his article on the Trump administrations efforts to roll back protections for trans people and define the community out of existence. Who would be impacted by this kind of policing of identity, and does HHS biological conception of sex actually match the science? Then, Slate tech writer April Glaser comes on to discuss her experiences reporting on the alt-rights internet of hateincluding the social network Gab, where the Tree of Life shooter had an active account. How does what happens in these spaces spill over into real-world violence, and is the architecture of the internet fixable? Finally, they debate the merits of the Skimm, a newsletter that targets millennial women and has come under fire for flippant superficial coverageand has 7 million subscribers to show for it.

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Slate Plus: Is it sexist to expect Hillary Clinton to change her mind about Monica Lewinsky?

Other items discussed on the show:

  Transgender Could Be Defined Out of Existence Under Trump Administration, by Erica L. Green, Katie Benner, and Robert Pear in the New York Times

 DOJ: Businesses Can Discriminate Against Transgender Workers, by Chris Opfer in Bloomberg Law

 Trump admin wants to remove gender from UN human rights documents, by Julian Borger in the Guardian

 The Real Radical Gender Ideology, by Alex Barasch in Slate

 How the Trump Administrations Radical New Definition of Sex Would Legalize Anti-LGBTQ Discrimination, by Mark Joseph Stern in Slate

 The Internet of Hate, by April Glaser in Slate

 The Moral Bankruptcy of Hate Speech on Gab, by April Glaser in Slate

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 Trumps Caravan Hysteria Led to This, by Adam Serwer in the Atlantic

 The Skimm Has the Ear of Seven Million Subscribers, by Noreen Malone in the Cut

 The Skimm Is the Ivanka Trump of Newsletters, by Christina Cauterucci in Slate

Recommendations:

Hanna: Season 2 of Insecure

June: The First

Noreen: The Cut on Tuesdays and the new season of Serial

This podcast was produced by Danielle Hewitt. Our production assistant is Alex Barasch.

The Waves plugs: Please remember to like our Facebook page. Send your emails to thewaves@slate.com. Tell us what we should cover in the next episode. And come to our live show in Miami on Nov. 17!
On Tuesday, President Trump announced his plan to end birthright citizenship by executive order. It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You dont, he said, falsely asserting that Were the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States  with all of those benefits. In truth, more than 30 other countries in the Western Hemisphere alone have some form of jus soli, where birth automatically confers citizenship.

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Trumps argument is radical, and his proposal is plainly unconstitutional; the president cant simply nullify the meaning of a constitutional amendment. Trumps rhetoric is just thatrhetoric with little bearing on actual policymaking. But he is the president. His words matter. And attacking birthright citizenship as part of a racist hysteria campaign is as close as we will likely get to Trump openly stating his driving belief: that America is a white nation for white people.

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Trump rejection of the constitutional grounding for birthright citizenship echoes a much-derided argument from former adviser Michael Anton. So-called Birthright Citizenship, which costs our Country billions of dollars and is very unfair to our citizens, will be ended one way or the other, the president tweeted on Wednesday. It is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words subject to the jurisdiction thereof. 

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Trump is trying to create an illusion of constitutional dispute and uncertainty around the issue, citing unnamed legal scholars to bolster his point. But birthright citizenship is on firm constitutional ground.

The text of the amendment states that all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. It was understood at the time to include everyone but American-born children of diplomats and Native Americans living on reservations. There have been the debates over the amendment, where opponents raised the issue of citizenship for the children of foreign-born residents and proponents affirmed their intent to provide citizenship to everyone born on American soil. And there is the 1898 Supreme Court ruling that affirmed this understanding when it upheld the citizenship of an American-born Chinese man whose parents had been legally barred by the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act from becoming citizens of the United States.

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Trump is staking a radical position. Legal thinkers on both sides are pushing back, blasting his proposal as unconstitutional, at odds with the plain meaning of the 14th Amendment, and far beyond the scope of presidential power. Our Constitution could not be clearer that it is Congress, not the president, who is in the drivers seat when it comes to immigration. And Congress has already spoken, wrote George Conway and Neal Katyal for the Washington Post, citing a 1952 statute that reaffirmed birthright citizenship.

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Even so, constitutional understandings are not static. A Supreme Court stacked with conservative justicesincluding two Trump nomineesmight revisit our traditional understanding of birthright citizenship, opening a door to the presidents proposal. Theres also the politics. Where Trump goes, the Republican Party follows, and by floating the issue, Trump makes it a partisan concern, the first step in building a constituency for challenging the 14th Amendment. Indeed, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham has already promised legislation to end birthright citizenship, calling the constitutional provision a magnet for illegal immigration in modern times.

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Donald Trump is often derided as a man of impulse and ego, without conviction or belief. But on questions of identity, Trump is an ideologue.

For now, birthright citizenship is secure. Immediate litigation awaits any executive order, and thats if President Trump ever produces onerecent reports suggest he spends less time on the duties of the office, and more on cable news and social media. And yet, his words have weight. They reveal his intentions. If still empowered after the midterm elections, Trump and his allies will continue their assault on undocumented immigrants and their children. They hope to block citizenship, and recent actionslike an investment in denaturalization proceduressuggest a desire to revoke it altogether.

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Donald Trump is often derided as a man of impulse and ego without conviction or belief. This is true on most questions of politics and policy. But on questions of identity, Trump is an ideologue. From his anti-Obama birtherism to his present-day nativism, he has a clear perspective: that race and nationality are the basis for belonging. Its why he refused to denounce David Duke during the presidential campaign; why he similarly refused to condemn white supremacist protesters in Charlottesville; why he uses social media to denounce black athletes and black politicians; and why hes ending this election season with naked appeals to white racial resentment. With his broadside against birthright citizenship, hes as close as hes ever come to stating that outright.

If the 14th Amendment represents the struggle to build inclusive models of national identity untethered from racial caste or classification, then Trump stands for those who see America in opposite terms: as a white democracy, a masters democracy, whose promise will always belong to those who dominate.
Last year, after a neo-Nazi killed a protester during a racist gathering in Charlottesville, Virginia, President Trump defended white people who had rallied with the racists. Critics complained that the president was going easy on racism, but he replied that liberals and the media were soft on Islam. They have a double standard, said Trump. He claimed that in the past, when Muslims had committed terrorism, Barack Obama never said it took place because of radical Islamic terrorists.

Trump was wrong about Obama: The former president did speak out against terrorists who murdered in the name of Islam. But Trump does have a double standard. When Muslims commit terrorism, Trump blames incendiary rhetoric. When whites commit terrorism, such as last weeks attempted pipe bombings and the mass murder at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Trump condemns the killers but excuses the ideologues who inspire them.

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When Trump ran for president, he denounced the extremism that drove jihadis to violence. Containing the spread of radical Islam must be a major foreign policy goal, he declared in April 2016. The struggle against radical Islam, Trump warned, was a philosophical struggle, like our long struggle in the Cold War.

In June 2016, after the terrorist massacre at a nightclub in Orlando, Trump derided Hillary Clinton for calling Muslims peaceful and tolerant. The underlying pathology wasnt just violence, said Trump. It was persecution and intimidation by radical Islamic preachers. Trump demanded strict vetting to block refugees and immigrants who reject our values, share  oppressive views, or support radical groups and beliefs.

Having portrayed all Muslims as dangerous, Trump argued that not all of the whites who had rallied in Charlottesville were bad.

In May 2017, on a presidential trip to Saudi Arabia, Trump celebrated the opening of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology. He applauded the work of Muslim-led governments against radicalization and the online spread of hate. The challenge wasnt just to thwart terrorism, said Trump. It was to defeat the ideology that drives terror attacks, by confronting the crisis of Islamist extremism.

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Trump shows no such concern, however, about white extremism. In fact, he promotes it. On June 16, 2015, Trump launched his presidential campaign with a smear against Mexican immigrants: Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. The next day, a white racist murdered nine black worshippers in a church in Charleston, South Carolina. The killer didnt cite Trump, but he did say he was alarmed by black-on-white crimea concern that Trump, using bogus statistics, has raised repeatedly on Twitter.

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Clinton warned that inflammatory rhetoric like Trumps could trigger unstable people to commit hate crimes like the one in Charleston. But Trump dismissed that suggestion. He called the tragedy in Charleston incomprehensible. And his campaign, in a statement, rejected Clintons attempt to blame words for violence.

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After the killing in Charlottesville two years later, Trump again refused to blame words for violence. Having portrayed all Muslims as dangerousduring his campaign, he declared that Islam hates us, and he proposed a complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United StatesTrump argued that not all of the whites who had rallied in Charlottesville were bad. Some very fine people were there to innocently protest the removal of a very, very important statue of Robert E. Lee, said Trump. He echoed their concerns, lamenting, Youre changing history. Youre changing culture. Later, Trump used the confrontation in Charlottesville to rile up the crowd at a political rally. They are trying to take away our history and our heritage, he warned.

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In the past two weeks, as Trump escalated his rhetoric against immigrants and globalists, the racist and anti-Semitic violence has accelerated: 11 Jews killed in the Pittsburgh synagogue, two blacks killed in a store in Kentucky, and 14 bombs sent to public figuresfive of them blackwhom Trump has vilified at campaign rallies. The alleged bomber, Cesar Sayoc, admired Trump and echoed his ethnic grievances. The alleged synagogue shooter, Robert Bowers, thought Trump was too soft on Jews but shared the presidents distrust of Muslims and immigrants. Two hours before he opened fire, Bowers cited Jewish support for immigration as his reason for going in.

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If these terrorists had been Muslims, and if the grievances that inspired them had been promoted by an imam, Trump would have denounced the imam and demanded that he be prosecuted. But in this case, the propagandist isnt an imam. Its Trump. So the president excuses himself. On Friday, after Sayoc was arrested, reporters pointed out that he loved Trump and that he had a picture of the president on his van. They asked Trump, Are you to blame at all for what happened, Mr. President? The president replied: Not at all, no. Theres no blame.

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The next day, after the synagogue massacre, Trump dismissed Bowers as a random madman, a wacko. He shrugged that the world had been violent for many centuries. On Monday, when Fox News host Laura Ingraham reminded Trump that Sayoc was a fan of yours, the president replied that the suspect was insane a long time before Trump became president. Trump excoriated the Washington Post for having my name associated with this crazy bomber.

At a White House briefing that day, reporters pointed out that Sayoc went to Trump rallies and had a van covered with attacks on the media and praise for the president. They noted that Bowers was provoked, it seems, by the caravan the president has spent so much time talking about. Trumps press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, erupted in indignation. She said it was outrageous to hold Trump accountable for a pipe bomb that was not sent by the president. The only person responsible for carrying out either of these heinous acts were the individuals who carried them out, she declared. You cant start putting the responsibility  on anybody but the individual who carries out the crime.

The double standard couldnt be clearer. When Muslims commit acts of terror, Trump blames radical imams and their ideology. When white racists commit acts of terror, Trump says racial propagandists have nothing to do with it. Thats because Trumps beef isnt really with incitement. Its with Muslims and immigrants. Hes fine with incitementvery fineas long as the incitement is his own.
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Eric Nagourney, an international desk editor for the New York Times, explains the papers decision to publish harrowing photographs of malnourished Yemeni children. And Fatima Alasrar, a Yemeni and a senior analyst for the Arabia Foundation, explains why she thinks assigning blame for Yemens famine is complicated.

Well be piloting What Next in public for the next several weeks. Tell us what you think: whatnext@slate.com.

Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show, our weekend reading lists, and occasional posts about pita chips.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon. Engineering by Terence Bernardo.
Vanessa Arredondo began her teaching career five years ago in Phoenix with about 30 students in her second-grade class and a list of supplies she had to pay for out of her own pocket. In her first year, she watched veteran teachers quit out of frustration or desperation, leaving behind their overstuffed classes to ill-equipped substitutes. Four years later, she moved to a school in the border county of Yuma, Arizona, and again she found students learning with old books and a long-outdated curriculum. She now teaches third grade at a school in rural La Paz County, in the middle of the desert, where the school week runs from Monday to Thursday, mainly to keep the lights on.

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Arredondo, 26, joined the headline-grabbing, weeklong walkout in April, part of an unprecedented wave of teacher activism in red states across the country. She didnt consider herself very politicalshe hadnt even voted until the 2016 electionbut she had seen how desperate her fellow teachers had become. Her political awakening came in the gallery of the state Senate, where she watched the Legislature try to pass a budget. As senators bickered over details of the bill, Arredondo was shocked to see Republicans strike down propublic education amendments proposed by Democrats, as if more than 50,000 teachers and supporters hadnt just swept around the Capitol in the largest outpouring of support for education in the states history.

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The teachers left with nearly $273 million for pay raises within three years. They felt victorious but not wholly satisfied. They had wanted a long-term commitment to fix the systemto return education funding to pre-recession levels, to pay teachers the national average, to be able to buy new textbooks and modern computers and fund field trips and the arts. They knew they needed to harness the energy from the grassroots movement and turn it into something lasting. Arizona lacks the kind of powerful teachers union that in a state like Illinois would have traditionally led the effort, and other attempts at boosting fundingincluding a promising ballot initiative that was thrown out on a technicalityhave largely failed. Now, six months later, the best bet for teachers to turn the unprecedented protest into meaningful change is by flipping the chamber that so infuriated Arredondo.

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This is our shot. I dont think its going to come around again for a very long time. We have to make it count.  Kelley Fisher, a kindergarten teacher

And Arredondo, like so many other teachers, has thrown herself into the challenge. It took me being there and seeing how they do business to know we need to make sure we get the right people in there, she said. She volunteers about once a week, canvassing for Democratic candidates with pro-education platforms or otherwise supporting the grassroots teacher movement known as Red for Ed. The Arizona Senate currently has a 1713 Republican majority, meaning two flipped seats would tie up the chamber.

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One of the candidates Arredondo has supported is not just an education ally but a former state teacher of the year. Christine Marsh, an English teacher in Scottsdale, Arizona, represents many educators hopes that they can carry the walkouts momentum through Tuesdays election. As Marsh sees it, teachers have finally woken up to the reality that their impoverishment is a political creation and not just a matter of hard times. The bottom line is the majority party has been in power for 10 years, Marsh said. And things have not been good for our children.

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Many of Marshs fellow teachers agree. For them, the race to flip the state Senate is the final chance for a major victory. This is our shot, said Kelley Fisher, a kindergarten teacher in Glendale who helps lead the Red for Ed movement. I dont think its going to come around again for a very long time. We have to make it count.

The teacher movement began in February in West Virginia, where thousands of educators went on strike after Gov. Jim Justice signed a bill that would have provided them with just a 2 percent salary hike starting that summer and another 1 percent in 2020 and 2021. Teachers unions complained the raises wouldnt cover cost-of-living increases and that they failed teachersalready among the lowest paid in the countryon other issues related to insurance, health care, and payroll tax deductions. The movement felt spontaneous, as if teachers had suddenly roared into existence as a political group, which was mostly true. The teachers initially coordinated closely with the unions, but the group eventually grew too large and impassioned and ultimately rejected the unions proposed agreement with the governor as selling out. Instead, the force driving the action was the fury of teachers who had found one another on the internet and decided they had had enough.

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Rebecca Garelli watched from inside the Facebook page at the epicenter of the unrest, a group for West Virginia teachers ready for change. Garelli, a sixth-grade science and math teacher in Phoenix, lurked there for weeks, watching the strategizing unfold. After nine days of protest, the West Virginia teachers won a 5 percent pay raise and went back to work, but the movement would soon spread to Oklahoma and Kentucky. I realized all their fights were the same as ours, Garelli said. I was watching what was going on there and asking why no one in Arizona was doing this.

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She started her own page, Arizona Teachers United, on a Friday in early March. By Sunday night, it had 2,000 members, many of whom were calling for a strike. She felt she was suddenly in charge of a movement. I freaked out, she said. Garelli is from Chicago, where she taught for 11 years. She was familiar with more traditional organizing led by a union, and she worried the fledgling movement would fail if it moved forward too quickly. Over the protests of many members, she shut down the page.

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I was watching what was going on there and asking why no one in Arizona was doing this.  Rebecca Garelli, a sixth-grade science and math teacher

Noah Karvelis, a 24-year-old music teacher in Tolleson, picked up the momentum. He created a new page, Arizona Educators United, with eight other teachers (including Garelli) who became the leaders of the grassroots movement they branded Red for Ed. The community grew rapidly, reaching about 55,000 members at its height. The teachers believed they could make public education in the state better with more resources, and the groups leaders polled its members to gauge their priorities: They wanted better pay for themselves and other school staff so they wouldnt need second or even third jobs. They wanted funding for books and supplies, which teachers often paid for out of pocket. And, above all, they wanted to be able to attract and support more teachers, to reduce class sizes that stretched teachers thin and prevented them from being able to give students one-on-one attention.

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The teachers in the group seemed to agree that they needed to take drastic action in the spirit of West Virginia, but some members balked at doing so without a gentler lead-up. The Red for Ed organizers, with advice from union leaders, who tried to stay mostly in the background for fear of distracting from the grassroots nature of the movement, tested the waters with smaller shows of solidarity. Teachers wore red every Wednesday beginning in March, and as they grew confident in one anothers commitment to the cause, they slowly began to escalate. Soon enough, they were holding demonstrations at the Capitol, walk-ins to gather with supporters at the schools, and rallies and marches with hundreds of teachers. One evening in early April, as the governor was on-air at a local radio station calling the teachers political operatives conducting a political circus, 300 teachers gathered outside the station to protest. A dramatic showdown seemed inevitable.

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By the time Arizona teachers held a vote to strike, the public narrative had solidified. The teachers were selfless advocates for their children, pushed to extreme measures by extreme conditions, overcoming their apolitical personalities to fight for their students education. The message worked with the public. Across the nation, the teachers were popular. An NPR poll from the spring found that most Americans supported pay increases and the teachers right to strike. Parents and children in Arizona rallied with the teachers. The enthusiasm seemed to spill out across the country and across party lines. It carried Travis Brenda, a math teacher and Republican in Kentucky who broke from the party on education issues, to victory over the states incumbent House majority floor leader in a May primary.

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Attacks made against the movement or its organizers (such as accusations Karvelis and fellow Red for Ed leader Derek Harris were communist/socialist agitators) fell flat in the face of the overwhelming number of regular-looking teachers telling their heartbreaking stories of hardship to the press and on social media. Some Republicans in the Arizona Legislature tried to paint the teachers as Democratic pawns and as negligent caregivers. Neither tactic worked. (Elsewhere, it backfired spectacularly, as when Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin asserted that children had likely been sexually assaulted because the teachers were on strike. He later apologized.) According to Jon Shelton, who researches unions and education at the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay, even labor historians were shocked by the popular support, given the ways teachers are usually harshly criticized during strikes for what critics see as a crisis of moralityof setting a bad example for their students by breaking the law.

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In Arizona, success came a week into their walkout. When teachers first called for action, the Republican Gov. Doug Ducey offered a 1 percent pay raise. Teachers found it insulting. When the broad popularity of the movement became apparent, Ducey abandoned the plan. Instead, he promised a 20 percent increase in education funding over three yearswithout tax increasesand declared himself a propublic education leader in TV ads. With that concession, teachers went back to work, but they werent done fighting.

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Christine Marsh lives, campaigns, and works in relatively affluent suburbs of Phoenix, but she will tell you that even there, the budget cuts punished her school. In her more than 25 years of teaching, she has seen class sizes creep up as teachers flee the state or the profession after years of low pay. When classes become so big, it becomes impossible, or at least very challenging, to create the bonds you need with kids, she said. You cant give the attention they deserve. She has become frustrated by the conditions over the years, and the low pay didnt help. On three separate occasions, financial hardship nearly drove her out of teaching, and she considered the possibility of going into catering.

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Marsh teaches high school English, a class that allowed her to encourage students to be aware of local politics. She brought in local authors and politicians to speak to classes as source material for their essays, but also because she wanted her students to think critically.

According to Marsh, some local politicians would use the opportunity to speak about education policy, which caused her students to pay attention to the issue for the first time. Her political origin story began there, she said, when she heard one of her students ask why Arizona students were worth less than those in other states.

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Even before she signed up to run for officeand before the Red for Ed movement beganMarsh spoke publicly on behalf of educators. When she traveled to conferences and speaking engagements around the state after being named teacher of the year in 2016, she learned that the conditions in schools were worse than she had realized. She said teachers reached out to her about an array of problems: financial difficulties, class sizes, outdated books, slashed music and art programs, and roles they were burdened with outside normal teaching duties. In impoverished areas, all of the issues my students are facing are magnified and so much more of an extreme, she said. When local Democrats asked her to run in the spring of 2017, she hesitated, convinced it would be impossible to be a full-time teacher and run a campaign. But she eventually agreed. After about six weeks, losing lots of sleep, tossing and turning, I realized Id lose less sleep by running, she said.

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A year later, when the teachers pulled together, Marsh became a face of the movement. Dozens of teachers would run for office in Arizona after the walkout, including two candidates for the state House. Many were eliminated in primaries, but the excitement held. Marsh was already an established candidate and running for a crucial Senate spot, and she became a natural fit for the momenta prescient choice by local Democrats.

Marsh wasnt supposed to be the best hope for Red for Ed, but successive failures in other efforts have redirected attention her way. Teachers biggest action for this election was expected to be a ballot initiative called Invest in Ed. Hundreds of teachers, including Arredondo, Karvelis, and Garelli, spent countless hours in triple-digit heat gathering 270,000 signatures in support of the measurenearly twice the 150,642 needed to land on the November ballot. The initiative, if voted on and passed, would have added a 3.5 percent state tax on the highest earners to raise $690 million annually for education, bringing funding back to pre-recession levels. And until August, it was the primary focus of newly political teachers. But a group of conservatives challenged the phrasing of the initiative (over what the educators describe as a minor technicality about potentially confusing language), and the state Supreme Court threw out the initiative. Educators were devastatedand suddenly stripped of any concrete plan to raise education funding.

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People were just complaining in their classrooms but not connecting the dots of what their vote was doing to their own profession.  Kelley Fisher

Ducey, the most vilified figure from the walkouts, was the next target. Teachers felt he had largely ignored public education in favor of boosting charter and private schools. And he looked vulnerable. Democrat David Garcia, a Red for Edendorsed education professor, challenged Ducey over his reaction to the walkout, accusing him of having stumbled to a funding solution only in reaction to a crisis. In June, an NBC News/Marist poll showed more than half of all Arizonans believed Ducey should not be re-elected. But time seems to have softened those public frustrations with the governor. He now claims to have the high ground on education policy because, he says, he masterminded the solution that appeased teachersand provided them with their most significant salary increase in more than a decadewithout raising taxes. As of the latest polling from early October, he holds a double-digit lead.

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Even if Ducey maintains his advantage, Democrats in Arizona still stand a chance at a major victory in the state Senate. They need two seats to split the chamber, and for the first time in many years, even Republicans are warning that Democrats odds of gaining power are decent. While some of that has to do with Donald Trumps unpopularity, many have credited the momentum from Red for Ed for bolstering Democrats hopes.

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Most of the seats considered flippable reside in suburbs around the Phoenix metro region. In particular, Red for Ed and union leaders have focused on three districts: District 6, District 17, and Marshs district, 28. Each of those races has drawn unusual levels of outside interest and funding from progressive political organizations, and each of the Democratic candidates is focused on public education funding. Even before the races came to be defined by education, local Democrats sought out Marsh because they believed a former teacher of the year stood the greatest chance of drawing votes across party lines. Now, with Red for Ed still in voters memories, the seat seems more vulnerable than ever.

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Kelley Fisher joined Arizonas teachers union immediately after starting work in the state two decades ago, on the advice of a mentor from more union-friendly Illinois. She said the organization in those early years was fairly quiet, in part because the conditions were much better than they are today, and in part because her colleagues didnt always agree with the unions politics. Teachers in the state, like the general population, skewed conservative and voted that way, too. People were just complaining in their classrooms but not connecting the dots of what their vote was doing to their own profession, Fisher said.

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In all that time, she says, she had never seen educators believe in their own collective strength. During the walkout this spring, she saw teachers crying after witnessing their own legislator vote against public education funding. She thinks it was a turning point for many of them. People thought the buck stops at their [local] school board, she said. To see with their own eyes and own ears was a huge change.

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A natural step for mobilizing this feeling would be through a teachers union. And the state has seen a small but significant increase in membership, according to union president Joe Thomas. Roughly 2,000 teachers signed up during the walkout, making the new members about 10 percent of the full union. The sudden interest gave union leaders hope, but they still have to acknowledge their limitations: The union is an entity reliant on Democratic politics in a Republican state.

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Arizona has long been a right-to work state, meaning teachers have to opt in to paying dues to support the union. Without the fees from a majority of teachers, and without the political strength from the many thousands of vocal constituents, the union has remained relatively weak, unable for a decade to effectively pressure Republican lawmakers over funding.

The national political climate isnt warming on organized labor in the public sector, either. States like Arizona could be considered a window into what the rest of the country will look after the Supreme Courts Janus ruling, which in June effectively made the rest of the country right-to-work as well. Many labor advocates have warned the decision could undercut the strength of public-sector unions to the point of almost total inefficacy. Jon Shelton at UWGreen Bay speculated that this could mean a deterioration in public school funding and classroom conditions across the country, possibly causing even more strikes of the scale we saw in the spring.

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Thomas disagrees. He said he thinks that the other states will experience what he said he has in Arizona: It is also an opportunity for unions to be stronger, because now members have to own the fact that theyre in the union. Then you understand you have a role to play in making sure that it is strong and responsive to its membership. Thats what I see my colleagues doing in other statestheyre doubling efforts to listen to membership, trying to identify leaders at the local level, looking for ways to engage younger, newer members.

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Unions in red states where teachers went on strikestates that were largely right-to-workall claimed they had experienced a revitalization during and after the walkouts. I see an opportunity for unions to emerge stronger and more vibrant, the way were coming out a more vibrant, powerful union, Thomas said. Im excited by it.

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But Leslie Finger, who studies interest groups and policy change in education at Harvard University, has found in her research that even strong unions cant really do that much without allies in the statehouse. I think if legislatures change in these states, perhaps there is room for optimism, she said. But I think the real problem is that unions dont have allies right now.

The seat Marsh is running for has been Republican for years. Her opponent, the incumbent Kate Brophy McGee, served in the Arizona House of Representatives for six years before getting elected to the state Senate in 2016. She presents herself as a centrist who knows when to reach across the aisle. She also isnt the anti-education extremist Democrats may wish Marsh were running against.

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Brophy McGee received a better rating from the teachers union than any other Republican in the Senate. With help, she claimed, from the pressure the teachers put on her fellow Republicans in the run-up to the strike, she co-sponsored a bill extending for 20 years a sales tax for educationone Marsh has said was a maintenance of the status quo, but which Brophy McGee says is still a coup with a tax-averse Legislature. After supporting school choice and charter schools, Brophy McGee has called for charter school reform and regulation. (Marsh would say Brophy McGee only became interested once charter schools became a PR nightmare for Republicans.)

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But even if one considers Brophy McGee a pro-education centrist, it doesnt matter to the teachers and their supporters, who are desperate for a change. For the public at large, Marsh is the teacher of the year, a literal spokeswoman for public education. And Marsh, who is also campaigning on the idea of bringing compromise and balance to the Senate, has found that even those annoyed at being bothered by canvassers will stop to listen to a pitch once they know her credentials. Its literally a door stopper, she said.

Teachers and former students, confident that Marsh will represent their interests, have volunteered for her campaign with the same energy they brought to the strike. One elementary school teacher, Jennifer Chastain, became engaged in politics because of Red for Ed and spent the summer on Marshs campaign. She returned on her schools fall break, knocking on more than 1,000 doors in less than a week.

If Marsh wins and Democrats shift the balance in the Arizona Senate, it will be the first concrete victory for Red for Ed since the walkout, and it will prove the movement can motivate the public long after it has returned its attention to day-to-day life. If she doesnt, teachers will still be able to point to unmeasurable gains, of finding their voice and recognizing their power. Its possible these educators will continue to fight and win legislative battles over funding. Its also possible that the public school system will cycle through periods of desperation and agitation, where teachers make progress only through exhausting and emotionally trying interruptions to their lives. For Arizonas teachers hoping to avoid that fate, it comes down to a small group of teacher-backed candidates and the former teacher of the year.

Marsh, for her part, says shes glad the teachers have been empowered, but she hopes the burden doesnt remain on them to force the Legislatures hand. I think its going to change the state, she said. But I would ultimately like to get back to the place where teachers can just close their doors and teach.
Slates expanded voting rights coverage is made possible by the support of Slate Plus members and readers like you.

A federal judge rejected on Thursday a lawsuit brought by Native American voters disenfranchised by North Dakotas draconian voter ID law. The decision likely means that hundreds, perhaps thousands of citizens will not be able to cast a ballot in November because they live on reservations.

Following Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamps narrow victory in 2012, North Dakotas Republican lawmakers passed a new law requiring voters to present an ID that lists their current residential street address. The measure plainly targeted Native Americans, many of whom live on rural reservations with no street names or residential addresses. Previously, residents could vote with a valid mailing address, allowing rural tribal voters to list their P.O. Box. Now they must provide an ID with their exact residencysomething that many Native Americans dont have and cant get.

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For that reason, U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland halted this requirement in April, citing its discriminatory and burdensome impact on Native Americans. But the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision in September, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to reinstate Hovlands ruling. (Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan dissented.) On Tuesday, a group of Native Americans returned to court with a new lawsuit demonstrating that the residential address rule did not merely burden their right to vote; it denied them access to the ballot altogether. Their suit explained how tribal voters simply could not obtain a residential address: The states mapping systems conflict with each other, as do the states different residency databases, meaning many voters cannot secure an official address in time for the election.

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Despite these roadblocks, Hovland refused to block the laws application to these unlucky voters and their tribe, Spirit Lake. Hovland conceded that their claims gave him great cause for concern. But he cited the Supreme Courts Purcell principle, which warns lower courts not to alter voting laws shortly before an election due to the risk of voter confusion. In a jab at the 8th Circuit, Hovland noted that the problems highlighted in this lawsuit were clearly predictable and certain to occur. Yet because early voting has already begunand the election is five days awayHovland concluded that a new injunction will create as much confusion as it will alleviate.

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This assertion is difficult to believe. In his earlier ruling, Hovland found that the new law would prevent about 5,000 Native American voters from casting a ballot. Although tribal governments have scrambled to hand out new IDs for free, voters like Terry Yellow Fat have no recourse. The state wrongly insists that Yellow Fat lives in a liquor store, and must use the stores address to votebut if he does so, he will break the law, because it is not actually his fixed permanent dwelling. Its hard to see how a narrow order protecting people like Yellow Fat wouldve created any confusion.

Regardless, Hovlands decision will almost certainly stand as the final word on this matter before the upcoming midterms. (The 8th Circuit and Supreme Court have already turned their backs to North Dakotas disenfranchised Native American voters.) Thats terrible news for Heidi Heitkamp. This measure was designed to deny her a second term in the Senate by suppressing the votes of tribal voters, who tend to lean Democratic. It now appears that the law will work as intended.
Police are searching for a man wearing a Ghostface mask from the movie Scream who they say shot a teenage girl and 24-year-old man just before 2 a.m. on Thursday in Manhattan.

Just as Halloween celebrations were ending, the masked man shot a 17-year-old girl twice in the torso in Washington Heights. He then shot the man in the leg, chest, and groin. Both victims are in critical condition but expected to survive, according to NBC New York.

While the motivation and nature of the crime are still unclear, police reports describe the masked man as having walked up to a group of people standing outside and opened fire, according to ABC7 in New York.

Ghostface is the identity taken on by characters in the Scream slasher films to conceal murders. The mask was introduced in 1996s Scream and has appeared in three films since.
In 2000, Joseph Hoeffel, then a congressman from Pennsylvania, entered into the congressional record his commendation of HIAS, congratulating the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society on its 118th anniversary and paying tribute to its work helping Jews and people of other backgrounds who are fleeing from persecution. What Hoeffel didnt note is that for most of those 118 years, government officials held a darker view of the organizationa view that better matches Tree of Life suspect Robert Bowers than Hoeffels.

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Before allegedly gunning down 11 Jews in their house of worship last week, Bowers wrote on social media that, HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. Government officials over the years didnt unleash that specific lie; they did, however, argue that HIAS was harming America by encouraging masses of unfit people to come here. For much of its history, HIAS has been tracked, scrutinized, singled out, and threatened by authorities in the State Department, the Labor Department, the Department of Commerce, and Congress. Like Bowers rant, federal officials suspicions have been premised on HIASs championing of immigrants and refugees and motivated by nativist anti-Semitism.

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Reflecting Americans aversion to the arrival of Eastern European Jewish immigrants, efforts to impede HIASs activities began almost immediately after the establishment of the organization in the late 19th century. Back then, the organization collected and distributed information on newly arrived Jewish immigrants for worried family members, helped newcomers find work, provided temporary housing, and offered legal assistance to would-be immigrants who faced unexpected legal entanglements when they tried to enter the country.

In 1909, when the modern iteration of the organization came into existence, HIASs de facto lead counsel Max Kohler tried to assist a group of Jews marked for exclusionthe designation given to those who would be sent back to where they came frombecause they were supposedly likely to become public charges. In response to Kohlers attempt, William Williams, the commissioner of immigration on Ellis Island and avowed immigration restrictionist, wrote a letter to Secretary of Commerce and Labor Charles Nagel about the case, complaining, You may have noticed that within the last few days the number of [immigration] appeals has increased materially. While dictating this letter I learn[ed] that the Hebrew charities have filed twenty additional ones. Commenting on the fact that HIAS had provided financial aid to these Jews, thereby enabling them to enter the country, Williams remarked, As time goes on I shall less and less allow aliens to secure funds from HIAS or other immigrant aid organizations. HIASs efforts to secure admission for people who had been marked for exclusion by loaning them money frustrated government officials so much that they tried to outlaw the practice.

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For much of its history, HIAS has been tracked, scrutinized, singled out, and threatened by authorities in the State Department, Congress, and elsewhere.

Williams frequently discussed the supposedly inferior quality of late 19th-century immigrants, referring to them as diseased and claiming they hurt the economy. Open anti-Semites felt he championed their cause: I am greatly grateful to hear that you have taken steps to check the tide of ignorant, stupid and undesirable immigrants, one fan wrote to Williams. The present immigrants are mostly Slavs, Italians, and Jews.  [They] constitute a menace to labor, civilization, and humanity, and they should be excluded, he reminded the commissioner. Although Williams was careful to not publicly identify Jews as his target, he clearly viewed Jewish immigrants specifically as undesirables and openly worked to exclude them through what he called rigid enforcement of the countrys immigration laws and the creation of related policies.

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World War I prompted HIAS to direct its efforts overseas, transforming it into an international refugee agency. Wartime immigration restrictions, left in place after the conflict, prevented Jewish refugees from coming to America. Accordingly, in 1920, HIAS opened overseas offices, especially in Poland, and began assisting refugees near Americas new borders (its consulates). There were no asylum policies in place, and no recognized definition of refugee, which made the organizations work legally complicated. As HIAS continued to advocate for lifting U.S. immigration restrictions, State and Labor department officials closely monitored its activities, hoping to catch any illegal behavior. Such oversight made HIAS extremely cautious. Fearful of being shut down, it refrained from aiding anyone that may not have fully complied with the legal requirements of immigration.

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Internal State Department memos from this time reveal the governments continued suspicion of the organization and a pernicious view that HIAS was actually in it for the money. In a May 27, 1921, memo written by the Bureau of Immigration, one official warned that HIAS and other Jewish immigrant aid societies were attracted by the pecuniary rewards involved in the business, and accused them of making very considerable sums of money by facilitating Jewish immigration. There were no pecuniary rewards in this business, of courseHIAS, a nonprofit association, was in fact going deeply into debtbut this claim fit in well with the anti-Semitic trope about Jewish profiteering. This same memo then recommended that immigration officials reserve especially harsh treatment for European Jewish visa applicants, encouraging federal inspectors to secretly subject [Jews] to additional searching examination as to the circumstances and how [they] happened to be coming to America.

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Federal officials continued to undermine HIAS privately, reinterpreting the countrys immigration policies so that HIASs activities, such as representing immigrants at hearings, were no longer permitted. As in the past, Jewish refugees were labeled inferior, ready to breed, and unsanitary, and HIAS was accused of fraud for financially assisting them. In response, HIAS beefed up its legal presence in Washington. Soon, anti-HIAS rhetoric reached the halls of Congress as politicians moved to pass quota acts in 1921 and 1924, drastically reducing the numbers of Eastern European Jews who could enter the United States legally.

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Of necessity, in 1927, branches of HIAS outside the U.S. merged with European Jewish organizations in order to fund refugee settlement efforts elsewhere. When the Jewish refugee crisis took on new urgency under the threat of Nazism a few years later, American officials did little to nothing to save European Jewry or help HIASs strenuous efforts. Still, in cooperation with other Jewish humanitarian organizations, HIAS played a crucial role helping approximately 90,000 European Jews escape during the war to homes largely outside of America.

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The postwar era marked a turning point in the relationship between the government and HIAS, as public opinion in general became more receptive to immigrants and to Jews. Federal officials actually turned to private relief organizations, HIAS among them, to gather information about and aid refugees, and in 1965, Congress abolished the quota system and loosened immigration restrictions. After the Vietnam War, the State Department asked for HIASs assistance with the resettlement of Southeast Asian refugees. In 1976, the Justice Department Board of Immigration Appeals granted HIAS authorization to represent individuals who came before it, a major turn-around from previous efforts to block HIAS representatives from representing excluded, would-be immigrants. Since then, HIAS has continually represented immigrants, including Soviet Jewish refugees. When HIAS lawyers showed up in U.S. airports during the recent Muslim ban crisis, they were drawing on more than 100 years experience in lawyering on behalf of immigrants. And now, true to tradition, they have been providing support to asylum-seekers who are part of the so-called migrant caravan.

Throughout its history as Americas oldest continual refugee assistance organization, HIAS has advocated for individuals in desperate circumstances who had no other champions. For a period, the organization was broadly valued for that work. But its not surprising that a man violently fixated on the supposed caravan and filled with anti-Semitic hate was focused on HIAS, and that he interpreted HIASs work as an affront to America and, implicitly, to its whiteness. For more than a century, HIASs detractors, many anti-Semites lodged in the U.S. government among them, did the same.
U.S. ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman has Stage 1 melanoma, he told the Deseret News Thursday. Its just stage 1, he told the Utah newspaper. So well probably get it taken care of, and well be fine. Huntsman said he that he noticed two small black spots on his skin and that he had gotten it checked out in Utah, where he had the moles removed.

Huntsman was Utahs governor from 2005 to 2009, before serving as ambassador to China under Barack Obama and then running for the Republican nomination in 2012. The Deseret News story also revealed that both Vice President Pence and national security adviser John Bolton had asked Huntsman immediately after the infamous Helsinki summit between President Trump and Vladimir Putin if he planned on resigning.

Slates own William Saletan floated Huntsman as the likely author of the anonymous New York Times op-ed by a senior member of the Trump administration criticizing the president, especially on foreign policy and Russia specifically. His spokesman released a curiously not very definitive denial, in which Huntsman said, Anything sent out by me would have carried my name. An early political lesson I learned: never send an anonymous op-ed.
This piece was originally published on Just Security, an online forum for analysis of U.S. national security law and policy.

Election security continues to be an issue of national security. Russia attacked the United States in 2016, and it is doing so again now.

I am from Georgia, and my home state is one of the most vulnerable in the nation. It is so bad that citizen activists filed a lawsuit to try to force Georgia to take action and secure its outdated and insecure voting machines that lack a paper trail. But in September, U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg ruled that, despite valid and serious election security concerns, Georgia can continue using touch-screen voting machines for the midterm elections this year. These machines are known to be vulnerable to hackingan ever more serious concern following Russias 2016 attacks and the assaults it continues to wage today, none of which have been sufficiently addressed.

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Russias role as an aggressor is not debatable. In January 2017, the U.S. intelligence community unanimously concluded that Russia interfered throughout the 2016 election season to help then-candidate Donald Trump. This interference took the form of extensive propaganda campaigns carried out by Russian agents, including thousands of political ads on Facebook that reached a total of 126 million users, 1.4 million tweets on Twitter, and 1,100 videos on YouTube containing Russia-linked content. Moscow also extensively surveilled about 20 U.S. state election systems and, though no evidence has yet emerged to confirm that vote tallies or voter information was manipulated, Russia undoubtedly was in a position to do so for a number of them, according to the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee.

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As Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats confirmed earlier this year, this threat from Russia has not gone away. He recently re-emphasized this fact, saying, The warning signs are there. The system is blinking. And each day brings new stories about these ongoing attacks and our vulnerable election infrastructure, with the Justice Department just the other week charging a Russian woman with conspiracy to defraud the United States for her current acts to manipulate voters on social media.

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In order to push states to improve election security in the midst of such a clear foreign threat, Congress in March passed a funding bill that included $380 million for states to purchase more secure machines, conduct audits, and improve training on election cybersecurity. Yet the majority of states have failed to use the funds to fix glaring security concerns: Most states conducted no post-election audits to search for signs of interference, and only 13 states said they would buy new voting machines. Meanwhile, only 18 states have taken the Department of Homeland Security up on its offer for risk and vulnerability assessments. This inaction is largely due to states requiring additional funding in order to conduct these comprehensive security risk assessments and build or update expensive voting infrastructure, as well as prepare for the future. But then, during the summer, congressional efforts to provide further funding failed, leaving the U.S. Election Assistance Commission without important grants that would have helped to improve the security of our election systems.

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Georgia, in particular, demands a closer look due to its failure to bolster election systems despite known vulnerabilities; the state is a case study in what not to do in order to carry out a secure election. Georgias Secretary of State Brian Kempthe only state election official to refuse security assistance from DHS prior to the presidential electioninsisted that the states election systems were not vulnerable to Russian interference in 2016 and that Georgia was not even targeted. However, paragraph 75 of the July 2018 indictment against 12 Russian intelligence officers revealed that Russia did, in fact, target Georgia.

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Kemps failure to take the cyber threat from foreign adversaries seriously during his time in office was characterized by Judge Totenberg in the September ruling as an example of election officials having buried their heads in the sand. Now, Kemp stands as the Republican nominee for Georgias governor, meaning he is overseeing the very election in which he is a candidate, a fact that prompted former President Jimmy Carter, a global advocate for election transparency, to call for Kemps resignation. At the very least, Kemp should recuse himself from the vote-counting processjust as Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach did in the states primaryand appoint an unbiased person in his stead.

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Evidently, Georgia has in place an especially vulnerable centralized election system, leaving the door essentially wide open for Russian hackers, and the state, with Kemp at its helm, has done little to nothing to secure and upgrade its system. Georgia is one of five statesalongside Delaware, Louisiana, New Jersey, and South Carolinathat rely on paperless electronic voting computers, which top cybersecurity experts say are a serious vulnerability. These touch-screen computers do not have a paper component, making it impossible to conduct a recount or audit of election results, given that no independent record (or paper) to double-check accuracy exists.

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The vulnerabilities in these machines became very clear in August 2016 when cybersecurity researcher Logan Lamb discovered that, due to a misconfiguration on a server, he could easily download records for all of Georgias 6.7 million registered voters. He obtained data such as voters birth dates, driver license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers, as well as county documents with instructions and passwords for workers to use to log in to a central server on Election Day and software files for the devices used by workers to verify a voters registration. Lamb also gained access to databases used to prepare ballots, count votes, and summarize vote totals. The misconfigured server, Lamb determined, could easily be exploited by hackers in order to manipulate Georgias centralized election system.

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The takeaway from Lambs discovery is that any minimally competent hacker could easily have gained access to a server that was wide open to the internet and not only see the private information of every Georgia voter, but also change, steal, or manipulate software that operates the entirety of Georgias election system. Even worse, when Lamb told state officials of the vulnerability, they did nothing, as was made evident when, several months later, in February 2017, another cybersecurity researcher repeated exactly what Lamb had done and was still able to download all the aforementioned information.

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Clearly, this type of system requires, at a minimum, vigilance and sophisticated oversight. Georgia currently has nothing of the kindand that may be true in other states as well.

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We do not know with certainty if vote tallies or voter registrations were changed in Georgia, or in the approximately 20 other states surveilled by Russia in 2016. Yet we know the risk is real and vulnerabilities may have been exploited. For Georgia and the seven other state election systems known to be more than surveilled, but compromised by MoscowAlaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Texas, and Wisconsinthe ability to audit election results is crucial. Election security experts warn that these systems could be manipulated by malicious software designed to remain resident and undetected until triggered. Essentially, that means that hacking that occurred in 2016, or later, could compromise this years election as well as future elections.

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To ensure the security of the United States from foreign interference in our elections, the electronic voting machines, particularly the ones that do not leave a paper trail, should be eliminated, and states should turn back to a paper-based system. According to experts, hand-marked paper ballots with optical scanners to read the ballots and tally the results are the most secure method.

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Direct-recording electronic machines, or DREs, such as the touch-screen machines used in Georgia, that do not leave a paper trail are far too risky and must be retired. Even DREs that leave a paper trail remain open to local as well as remote hacking and still pose a security risk. Online voting, meanwhile, is also very risky, given that ballots are transmitted over the internet, where hackers can manipulate election results much more easily than if they had to gain access somehow to paper ballots, and that there is no paper record for audits. Online voting also opens up a host of issues related to the constitutional requirement of voter confidentiality, since online activity can be tracked and mapped back to specific locations, including a voters home.

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Despite continued doubt from the White House, it is indisputable that Russia attacked our 2016 presidential election and is doing it again now. We must do better to secure our democracy from these attacks by foreign adversaries. That starts with states, supported by the federal government, taking action. Specifically, states should be vigilant in safeguarding their elections, and all states should use paper-based systems (preferably with ballots that are hand-marked by voters) and robust post-election audits.

As has been said, democracy isnt in the casting of the votesits in the counting. We need to ensure that our system is secure and every ballot is counted correctly.

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The mass murder of Jewish worshippers in Pittsburgh by an anti-Semitic gunman has sparked a debate about anti-Semitism in American life and the presidents role in exacerbating it. Indeed, many in the Jewish community itself this week have discussed how much Trump is to blame for hate crimes and whether Jews who support him have a responsibility to stop doing so. As Franklin Foer wrote in the Atlantic, Any strategy for enhancing the security of American Jewry should involve shunning Trumps Jewish enablers. Their money should be refused, their presence in synagogues not welcome. They have placed their community in danger. In response, Rabbi David Wolpe of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles argued, We must call out public voices, from the president on down, who speak in ways we believe endangers or radicalizes the population. But my congregants are not the ones who are dangerous, and manipulating responsibility to turn Jews into perpetrators is ethically appallingand communally toxic. We can only be a Jewish people when we dont excommunicate each otherfor religious reasons or political reasons or cultural reasons.

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I recently spoke by phone about this subject with Abraham Foxman, the director of the Center for the Study of Anti-Semitism at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York and the former head of the Anti-Defamation League. During our conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity, we discussed how much responsibility Trump bears for the countrys current political atmosphere, whether the president is an anti-Semite, and the biggest threat to the worlds Jews.

Isaac Chotiner: There has been a debate about how much the Jewish community should connect what happened in Pittsburgh to the political climate in the U.S. and Trump. Do you think that is a healthy debate, and why or why not?

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Abraham Foxman: I dont think we should politicize what happened in Pittsburgh at all. I dont want to debate whether we should or we shouldnt. I think its wrong. I think this is anti-Semitism, and we should view it as anti-Semitism. There are issues of political rhetoric and violence. They all relate to whats going on. But we are in a very hot political moment now, and therefore I think it would be a disservice to the victims, it would be a disservice to the fight against anti-Semitism, if we connect it to the politics of it.

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Having said thatand its very difficult because everything is intertwinedI would say to you we wouldnt blame the president, but we should hold him accountable.

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What should we hold him accountable for?

We should hold him accountable for the change in the political rhetoric and the lack of civility, because he and what I would call Trumpism destroyed all the taboos we had in this country that protected civil discourse and respect and civility. And so by breaking all these taboos, he needs to be accountable.

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He did not create the anti-Semitism. He did not create the Charlottesville 200. The Charlottesville 200 were always there. There is plenty of anti-Semitism in this country. Fortunately or unfortunately, I was involved in combating it for 50 years. There are millions of Americans who are infected with anti-Semitism. To [say] that he created them is wrong and politicizing it. What he did do is embolden them. His language, his behavior, gave them a license.

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You said he has ripped the Band-Aid off, ornot ripped the Band-Aid off

Ripped the covers off the sewers.

Thank you. And you talked about civility, which is right. But it seems like more than that. He also has an ideology now that is intimately connected with bigotry and is beginning to take over one of two political parties in our two-party system. I dont see how you dont politicize that.

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Is it Isaac I am talking to?

Yeah.

Isaac, look, [Trump] has put forward issues which in the abstract are legitimate issues. Immigration is an issue. It is a legitimate issue. Look at Europe. Look at what is going on in the world with immigration. There was antagonism to Irish immigration, Japanese immigration, Jewish immigration. So it is a legitimate subject for debate today. Two: Globalism is a legitimate issue of debate. Even gun control is a legitimate issue of debate. But at the same time, these issuesespecially globalism and nationalism and immigrationhave played deeply on the agenda of racists. Immigration has always played in the racist camps and anti-Semitism camps. Globalism as well. What he has done by using these issues for his own self-interest, what he believes will serve him and he believes serve America better, is that he has provided a legitimate platform for these bigots. David Duke has announced after all these years, all of a sudden, he says, Oh, these are our issues. You cant take away the right to debate and discuss the issue of immigration just because bigots embrace it.

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In my mind, [Trump] is not an anti-Semite. He takes on issues which anti-Semites love and embrace.  Abraham Foxman

It seems like you are saying that these are legitimate issues that need to be discussed, which I agree with. But it seems like the problem is that Trump is not interested in discussing them. He is interested in demagoguing them. The goal is not to resolve them. And once a demagogue is wielding them, it seems like we have to move beyond simply saying, We need a better political conversation. There is a political party intent on riling up fear and not getting to the bottom of these issues.

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I dont disagree with you. Therefore, American citizens, good people, should deal with it, combat it, vote, etc. We started at a different point: whether the Jewish communitybecause there is anti-Semitism, and because he has now legitimized itshould become politically active as Jews. And I think they should be politically active as good citizens. But for Jews not to politicize anti-Semitism. I think Jews as American citizens should be out there in the political arena fighting for a better America. I have said he is a demagogue and demagogues are dangerous to democracy, and if democracy is in trouble, Jews would be in trouble. Fine. But not as a community per se. I dont want us, on the issue of anti-Semitism, to play Democrat or Republican. I think we should play whats good for America, but also protect the Jewish interest.

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I dont think Jews have more of a responsibility than any group of people. But when you have a president who says nice words about neo-Nazis

Isaac, Jews have spoken out on the issue of Charlottesville more than anybody else, OK?

Its not just about how he responded to Charlottesville. Its that he has kind words for neo-Nazis. This seems a little more existentialmaybe thats the word I am looking for. One of our two political parties is being given over to an ideology that will affect Jews as well as other groups, no?

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Correct. But also dont forget, dont forget, that Democrats make an issue out of this, which they are entitled to. I dont want to be used by either side for their political purposes as a Jewish community. Call on me to act as an American citizengreat, be my guest. I dont want to see the Jewish community being pushed by Democrats or Republicans on issues that, if you will, are existential to us.

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Is there anything a leader of an American political party could say about Israel that you would say, if the party supports this, it is incumbent on Jews to not support that party?

Sure. If a political party stood up to say Israel doesnt have a legitimate right to exist, yeah. But again, I am saying it as a Jew, OK, because Israel is so important to the Jewish present and future. And it deals with anti-Semitism as well. Because if God forbid anti-Semitism continues to rise again, and America closes its doors to all immigrants, Israel becomes even more important in terms of our agenda and well-being.

I guess I dont understand why someone saying Israel doesnt have a right to exist is an existential issue that you would urge people to become politicized by, but the American president speaking up for anti-Semites and neo-Nazis is not.

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You know whatwith all due respect, your analogy doesnt work. This is a political platform which says Israel has no right to exist. The president of the United States does not go out and say, You should go against the Jews. Whatever he is, he is a demagoguehe may be a bigotbut he is not an anti-Semite. Listen, we have had anti-Semitic presidents. It happened to be a Truman, it happened to be a Nixon, it happened to be a Wilson. OK. Hes not.

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Why are you so certain he isnt an anti-Semite?

I spent 50 years of my life fighting anti-Semitism. He may be a lot of things. In my mind, he is not an anti-Semite. He takes on issues which anti-Semites love and embrace. The fact that David Duke loves him or likes him doesnt make him a racist bigot or anti-Semite.

He said there were good people in a group that was yelling Jews will not replace us.

And we criticized him. Hold it. We criticized him. But not in a political sense. Listen, Democrats have a right to do whatever they want, and God bless them if they should do it. But I dont want to do it in that context. I criticized what he said because I thought it was un-American, immoral, un-Christian, unacceptablenot un-Democratic or un-Republican. The political parties are using this. I dont want to be used.
Rep. Steve King, Iowas greatest friend to far-right European political parties, did not respond gently when asked at a public forum why his anti-immigrant rhetoric sounded so much like the Pittsburgh synagogue shooters. The outraged congressman yelled his refusal to answer the question and then pointed out that he supports Israel.

You and the shooter both share an ideology, a man seated at the forum said calmly to King. What distinguishes your ideology? The congressman said, Do not associate me with that shooter. I knew you were an ambusher when you walked into the room. Theres no basis for that. He also said that he was a strong supporter of Israel. When the questioner asked if King identified as a white supremacist, King screamed, Stop it, youre done! and asked for the questioner to be removed from the event.

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Steve King blows up at questioner who pressed him on the Pittsburgh massacre #IA04 pic.twitter.com/7sFQyY9fOW  Iowa Starting Line (@IAStartingLine) November 1, 2018

Kings associations with racist and far-right political movementsas well as his conspiracy-drenched rhetoric about immigration, diversity, and George Sorosarent exactly new, but theyve garnered national attention as he faces a serious challenge for his House seat.

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The chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee Steve Stivers said earlier this week, Kings recent comments, actions, and retweets are completely inappropriate, and We must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms, and I strongly condemn this behavior.

King had said that George Soros was helping to organize a Great Replacement of white Europeans by immigrants. He had also endorsed far-right Canadian media figure Faith Goldy in her run for mayor of Toronto.

On Thursday, King did not back down from his angry effort to silence the questioner. He instead retweeted the video.
On Halloween, President Trump and the Republican Party released a video to define the midterm elections. The minute-long video, essentially a campaign ad, features Luis Bracamontes, a Mexican drug dealer who came to the United States illegally and killed two cops. Democrats let him into our country, says the video. Democrats let him stay. Then the video shows hundreds of other migrants. It concludes: Who else would Democrats let in?

The video echoes the infamous Willie Horton ad of 1988, which used the face of a black rapist to scare voters. But some people question whether the new video is racist. They argue that its content is true (Theres nothing racist about presenting the facts); that concerns about crime are real and legitimate; and that Bracamontes, unlike Horton, is rather pale.

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These arguments dont stand up. The video, like Trumps other demagogic ploys, is an appeal to prejudice. Its a reminder that Trump himself is the central threat and that you should vote his party out of power.

The videos statements about Democrats are false: Both parties were at fault in the Bracamontes case. As to ethnicity, the video doesnt make statements. Instead, like the Horton ad, it sends cues. The audio features the villains heavy Mexican accent. Text atop the screen displays his name: Luis Bracamontes. In case that isnt obvious enough, text below his face shows the same name.

You could argue that these are simply the facts: His name is Bracamontes, and he has an accent. But then youd have to explain the text that dominates the screen for the ads first six seconds: Illegal immigrant, Luis Bracamontes, killed our people! Not killed people. Killed our people. The point isnt the killing. The point is us and them.

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The next character in the ad is a guy labeled Deported Immigrant in Caravan. This man says hes hoping to get a pardon for attempted murder. Hes brown-skinned, and he speaks only Spanish.

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Maybe youd like to believe that the president is using this video to talk about illegal immigration, not ethnicity. Thats a comforting theory, but it doesnt square with his record. Go back and read Trumps words when he announced his candidacy in 2015:

When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best.  Theyre sending people that have lots of problems, and theyre bringing those problems with us. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.

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At no point in that speech did Trump specify that he was talking about illegal immigrants. He was smearing Mexican immigrants in general. In fact, he added, Its coming from more than Mexico. Its coming from all over South and Latin America. (His imputed correlation between immigrants and crime is false.)

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You could argue that Trump was just criticizing the subset of Latin Americans who have come here. Perhaps, in that case, hed be happy to welcome the regions best? But then youd have to explain why, during an Oval Office discussion about migrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and Africa, the president asked: Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here? Later, he groused on Twitter about having to accept people from high crime countries which are doing badly. So Trump seems less interested in welcoming the best than in judging people by their nationalities.

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Well, you might say, that doesnt sound very nicebut in this case, the president is talking about immigration, which every country is entitled to regulate. Hes not talking about dividing Americans by ethnicity, is he?

The distinction between Latinos who are American and Latinos who arent might be clear to you. But it isnt so clear to Trump. Take the case of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was ordered in 2011 to stop using ethnic profiling to detain people in Arizona whom he suspected of being here illegally. Arpaio defied the court order and was convicted of contempt for doing so. Last year, Trump pardoned him.

OK, you might say, but Arpaio was an officer trying to enforce the law. Trump wouldnt go around excusing random violence against Latinos, would he?

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Actually, he has. Early in Trumps presidential campaign, as he was calling for deportation of undocumented immigrants, two men in Boston severely beat a homeless Hispanic man. One of the assailants told police, Donald Trump was right, all these illegals need to be deported. When Trump was asked about the assault, he called it a shame but didnt condemn the assailants. Instead, he boasted, I will say that people who are following me are very passionate. They love this country, and they want this country to be great again. They are passionate. I will say that.

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Perhaps you think that Trumps reply, while callous, wasnt explicitly anti-Latino. But dig through his record, and youll find comments that are more explicit. Consider this tweet from 2013: Sadly, the overwhelming amount of violent crime in our major cities is committed by blacks and hispanicsa tough subjectmust be discussed.

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Do you suppose thats an innocent factual statement? How about Trumps smears against individual Latinos? Do you think its an accident that when he was running for president, he told at least two crowds in Iowawhere evangelicals are crucial in the Republican caucusesthat not a lot of evangelicals come out of Cuba? Trump referred specifically to Ted Cruz. Seven times, Trump told an audience to remember the bit about evangelicals and Cuba.

How about Trumps attack on Jeb Bushs wife, Columba, a legal immigrant from Mexico who has been an American citizen for nearly 40 years? Early in his presidential campaign, Trump retweeted an allegation that Jeb Bush has to like the Mexican illegals because of his wife. Trump implied that anyone of Mexican ancestry would defend illegal immigration. He told CNN, If my wife were from Mexico, I think I would have a soft spot for people from Mexico.

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And how do you explain Trumps comments about Gonzalo Curiel, the Indiana-born federal judge who presided over a fraud lawsuit against Trump University? Trump accused Curiel of incorrigible biasand said the judge should be disqualified from the casebased purely on ethnicity. Were building a wall. Hes a Mexican, Trump explained to one interviewer. To another, Trump argued that Curiels Mexican heritage entailed an inherent conflict of interest.

When you review Trumps record in its entirety, theres no question whats behind his new video. The pattern that runs through his political career isnt national security, public safety, or respect for the rule of law. Its exploitation of fear of Latinos. The exploitation goes beyond immigration. It extends to religious prejudice (in the case of Cruz) and dual loyalty (in the cases of Curiel and Columba Bush).

So dont run away from this video. Watch it. It was designed to scare you into voting, and it should. It will show you a villain worthy of fear. But that villain isnt Bracamontes, whos locked up on death row. Its the president who goes around our country stoking hatred and violence. Republicans let that president into our White House. Republicans let him stay. On Tuesday, you can vote them out.
This story was originally published by Mother Jones and has been republished here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

When Donald Trump swung through Houston last week to stump for embattled Republicans, Rep. John Culberson, who is in one of the most competitive races in the state, was conspicuously absent. As Trump used the speech as an opportunity to retread past comments he has made about Hurricane Harveythe president suggested that many of the 16,000 Texans rescued by the Coast Guard had willingly stayed behind to show their wife how great they are and because they think they have this great boatit became increasingly clear why Culberson might want to avoid being seen with the leader of his party.

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Culberson has represented Texas 7th Congressional District for nine terms, but his re-election this year is a toss-up, with his opponent, Democrat Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, centering her campaign on attacking Culberson over climate change and the flooding issues that Houston will increasingly face.

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Flooding for the Houston area is not a new problem. Within months of Culbersons first term, Tropical Storm Allison hit southeast Texas, flooding over 70,000 homes and killing 23 Texans. But for many voters, Hurricane Harveyone of the worst storms to hit the southeast in recent years, killing 88 Texanswas a wake-up call to how little had changed about the regions preparedness for the storm. That included Fletcher, a trial attorney and lifelong resident of the area who had just launched her campaign for the contested Democratic primary before the storm hit.

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Fletcher, who won a runoff for the Democratic nomination by over 30 percent, has made Culbersons track record on disaster management a key issue during the race. She has hammered Culberson for his support of controversial astronomical research in his role as chairman of a committee that funds science research, his skepticism over climate change science, and his reluctance to criticize Trumps comments on Harvey following the presidents Houston rally last week. Other prominent Republicans in the region, including Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, denied or dismissed Trumps initial claims to the Houston Chronicle.

Fletcher has made Culbersons track record on disaster management a key issue during the race.

The tactic appears to be working for Fletcher. The race is currently a toss-up, with a recent New York Times poll putting Culberson ahead by 1 point. And Fletcher is the first Democrat to be endorsed by the Houston Chronicle for the seat. At a time when plenty of Democrats and Republicans sprint for the partisan hinterlands, Fletcher has reclaimed the center, the paper wrote in its endorsement. She opposes single-payer health care and backs offshore drilling. Her immigration policy models the bipartisan 2013 comprehensive bill that passed the Senate but didnt get a vote in the House.

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The endorsement also leans into Fletchers attack line that Culberson is more concerned with space research than public safety. Its not that Culberson doesnt care about water. He does, the board wrote. But most of the time, he seems to care a bit more about the water on Europa, an icy moon orbiting Jupiter, than he does the water in the Addicks and Barker dams.

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Fletcher has been criticized for twisting Culbersons record in her attack. An Oct. 12 ad released by her campaign accuses Culberson of voting against FEMA funding and dam repair for the area. But the ad was labeled mostly false by Politifact. The funding Culberson voted against had no impact on Houstons federally funded dams that encompass the city, and he approved the final version of the FEMA funding. Fletchers campaign manager Erin Mincberg tells Mother Jones that it stands by the factual accuracy of the ad, referring back to the Chronicles endorsement.

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Culbersons campaign did not respond to Mother Jones request for comment.

While Fletcher has also campaigned on Culbersons record of voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, health care has taken a backseat to disaster relief when it comes to political advertising. As of Friday, FEMA was mentioned 23 times and flood was mentioned 88 times in Facebook ads purchased by her campaign. In comparison, only 23 of the 330 ads run on Facebook discuss Medicare.

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Despite Fletchers offense, Culbersons campaign has touted a record that suggests support of Harvey victims. For instance, in July the congressman passed an amendment that would allow for survivors to continue receiving rental assistance past the amount of time normally restricted by FEMA. Culberson has also called for a probe of the Army Corps of Engineers to investigate whether it had violated any laws in failing to alert the public about concern over Harvey sooner.

In just the first day of early voting, the district has surpassed voting records set in 2010, with more than 63,000 ballots cast in Harris County, where Houston is located. Fletchers team is hoping that the minority-majority district will push them over the top in a tight race.
Thousands of employees at more than 40 Google offices across the world are walking out of work Thursday to protest how it has dealt with accusations of sexual assault and harassment within the company. The protests follow a New York Times investigation that detailed how Andy Rubin, the creator of Android, received a $90 million exit package even after Google concluded that a sexual assault claim against him (for coercing an employee to perform oral sex in a hotel room in 2013) was credible, as well as incidents involving other executives at Google and its parent company Alphabet. One of those men, a director at Alphabets research and development arm X, resigned on Tuesday and did not receive an exit package.

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While Silicon Valleys major companies have always stressed that their workplaces are places where every employee has a voice, there has generally not been much collective action within their ranks. Unions are rare in the tech industry, where salaries are high and perks are abundant. But the weather seems to have changed in recent months, with large groups of tech workers joining together to protest some of their employers business activities. Some of that activity has been fruitful at Google, in particular: Workers successfully petitioned for the company to back out of a project to build artificial intelligence for military drones over the summer, and an employee backlash played a role in Googles decision to fire an engineer who circulated a memo suggesting that female workers are less biologically suited to technical roles. The Google action on Thursday, probably the largest industry protest yet, suggests both a new phase of the trend as well as an example of just how adept tech workers can be in using the tools their companies create to try to hold those companies accountable.

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The walkouts are scheduled for 11:10 a.m. local time in the Google offices where employees are participating, with the first taking place in Googles offices in Singapore. The demonstration was organized by Google employees who started an internal mailing list on Friday, after the Times report was published. On Tuesday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai told employees in an email that he supports the protests and has been receiving useful feedback on ways to address what many employees see as a culture of impunity for executives at the company. One sign from the walkout in New York City read, What do I do at Google? I work hard every day so that company can afford $90,000,000 payouts to execs who sexually harass my coworkers.

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The seven main organizers of the walkout wrote in the Cut on Thursday that the purpose of the demonstration wasnt only to protest Googles reported history of sheltering harassers at the company. A company is nothing without its workers, they wrote. From the moment we start at Google were told that we arent just employees; were owners. Every person who walked out today is an owner, and the owners say: Times up.

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The walkout comes with a set of demands, including that Google fix pay inequities and ensure that women of color be represented at all levels across the company. Protesters are also asking that the company stop requiring employees to agree to engage in arbitration for harassment and discrimination cases that arise within the company, a practice that forces employees to waive their right to sue. They also want Google to issue a sexual harassment transparency report detailing how many incidents of sexual harassment have been reported and what kinds of exit packages employees who left as a result have received. (Pichai revealed in an email to employees last Thursday that that the company had fired 48 people, 13 of whom were senior managers, for sexual harassment over the last two yearsand that none of them received exit packages.) Other demands include a companywide policy for safely reporting instances of sexual misconduct, the promotion of the companys chief diversity officer to report directly to the CEO, and a seat for an employee representative on the board of directors.

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Employees at tech companies have taken on more activist roles over the past year. When thousands of Google employees petitioned the company to back out of developing artificial intelligence for drones for the Department of Defense, the company decided not to renew its contracts. Likewise, staff protested leaked plans that the company had been working with the Chinese government to build a censored search engine. Other than its size, whats most telling about Thursdays protests is that the protesters want permanent, companywide policy changes, not just one-off corrections.

Employee-led activism has been ramping up across the tech industry. Amazon employees have insisted that the companys facial recognition technologies not be sold to law enforcement. Employees at Microsoft and Salesforce have demanded that their companies no longer contract with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, two federal agencies at the heart of the Trump administrations immigration policies. Thousands of security guards at major companies across Silicon Valley, including Google and Facebook, had their unions recognized early last year in an effort to demand wage increases. Those workers currently make between $27,000 and $37,000 a year, according to Gizmodothough they work on campuses in areas where one-bedroom apartments cost more than $3,000 a month.

Some tech workers have been organizing across companiessuggesting the emerging architecture of a movement, not a series of ad-hoc protests. Its in the best interest of executives for us not to organize, reads a statement Thursday from the Tech Workers Coalition, a group that acts as an organizing hub for people who work in the tech industry. Its clear the executives wont do this for us, so were taking matters into our own hands.
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The IPI Executive Board chose to meet here, in Bratislava, to raise its collective voice to demand justice for Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova.

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Scott Griffen is Deputy Director of International Press Institute (IPI)

Over the past ten years, 1,119 journalists have lost their lives around the world in connection with their work, according to statistics kept by the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom.

In Mexico, where the press is regularly targeted in retaliation for coverage of organised crime, corruption and drug smuggling, at least 14 journalists have been murdered in the past year. 11 have been killed in Afghanistan, nine in India and three in The Philippines.

There are thus many places where the IPI Executive Board  a group of top editors from 21 countries on five continents  could have gathered to mark International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists on November 2. And yet the Board chose to meet here, in Bratislava, the capital of an EU member state, and to raise its collective voice to demand justice for Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova.

We know from our experience that impunity for the murders of journalists

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Read also: IPI will demand justice in the murder of Kuciak Read more

perpetuates a cycle of violence that, once put into motion, is difficult to break. This cycle has facilitated the killings of 84 journalists in Mexico alone over the past decade. Despite the ongoing, ceaseless efforts of brave Mexican activists and their allies abroad, Mexican reporters continue to be slaughtered, and the countrys authorities continue to fail in spectacular, scandalous fashion in holding the killers and masterminds accountable. There, as in numerous other countries across the world, fighting impunity often resembles a Sisyphean task, dragged down by the weight of corruption, insufficient expertise, wholly inadequate institutions  and often a simple lack of will.

It is for this reason that, when a journalist is killed in a country like Slovakia, impunity must be smothered before it is allowed to breathe  before it can gain its murderous foothold and cast its shadow over an entire profession. Before it can embolden others who wish to silence criticism and scrutiny.

It is why IPI joined a coalition of five other international press freedom groups in Malta earlier this month to demand justice for investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia one year after her assassination in a car bombing. Much like Slovakia, Malta has faced its share of press freedom challenges in recent years, ranging from the abuse of libel laws to aggressive anti-media rhetoric propagated by those in power. In both cases, these challenges have now been overshadowed by  or culminated in  an unprecedented taking of human life.

And much like Malta, Slovakia now sits at a crossroads, some eight months after Jan and Martinas murder. This moment, as IPI reminded gatherers at a vigil this month in Valletta, the Maltese capital, is not just about individual journalists named Daphne Caruana Galizia or Jan Kuciak. It is also about fundamental questions of law and justice. It is about the type of society that a country like Slovakia will be. Will it be a society in which all individuals are equal before the law, in which criminals  whoever they are  are held to account for their wrongs? Or will it be a society in which the scales are tipped toward a powerful few, in which those who order journalists to be murdered in broad daylight are allowed to roam free?

Failure to achieve complete justice for Jan and Martina would be a cruel and unacceptable result for their families. But it also would risk setting a devastating new precedent in Slovakia: That one can kill a journalist right here in an EU member state and get away with it. That precedent is how the cycle of violence starts.

The public cry for justice following Jan and Martinas murder has been inspiring. It proves that people care, and in the end may well be the crucial ingredient that prevents impunity from taking hold. And, let it be said, the progress made in the criminal investigation so far is welcome and promising.

Unfortunately, IPIs 70-year experience fighting for press freedom around the globe also shows that impunity is a remarkably stubborn foe. In many cases, the murders of journalists simply arent investigated at all. When they are, it is very often only the hired assassins who are found. Identifying, much less jailing, the mastermind is a rarity.

That is why, despite the progress so far, we cannot and must not rest in our demands. Not until every single individual who had a hand in the slaying of Jan and Martina is found and convicted and the metal jail door locks behind them. Until then the risk of impunity looms large. The road to justice remains a long one.
When rival Bettor Trix N was scratched from the featured $17,000 distaff pace at Harrahs Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 31), the A Rocknroll Dance filly Scuola Hanover looked like she would have fairly smooth sailing to her fifth straight victory. But the favourite came up short in the stretch, and Jayes A Lady sprang a $23.40 upset for driver Andy Miller in 1:52.3.

Big City Betty gunned away to the lead in :26.2 despite the outside post 7 before early pocket sitter Cuts Like A Knife moved and gained the lead well before the cutthroat :54.3 half. Scuola Hanover led the outer tier, with Jayes A Lady and Believe In Me behind her, and when Big City Betty tired from her early efforts, Scuola Hanover was able to tuck into the pocket before the blistering 1:22.2 three-quarters. Jayes A Lady, covered to this point, grinded up to take the lead in the lane, then held off Believe In Me by a half-length, with Cuts Like A Knife another length back for third a neck ahead of Scuola Hanover.

The victory was the first of the year for the McArdle mare after eclipsing $100,000 in earnings in 2017. Nancy Johansson trains Jayes A Lady for Caviart Farms.

The Camluck gelding Feeling Cam Lucky turned in the fastest mile of the day in a $12,500 pace for driver George Napolitano Jr., going wire-to-wire in 1:50.4, but its just as likely that people were talking about the second-place finisher afterward. The Somebeachsomewhere gelding Duplicated N, another of the New Zealand pipeline horses for the team of JoAnn Looney-King and Jim King Jr. of Shartin N fame, got away second fromlast from his outside starting position, was ten lengths out at the half, then negotiated his own back half in :53.4 while also shifting stretch course to avoid the drifting winner to finish second, beaten 1-1/4 lengths.

Gilbert Garcia-Herrera, who owns and trains Feeling Cam Lucky, had three training wins on the day, using three different drivers. Tim Tetrick topped the drivers with a hat trick.

(Harrah's Philadelphia)
Alberta-sired pacing fillies headline Saturday afternoon's (Nov. 3) card at Century Downs, the first of 18 programs in the Calgary-area racetrack's winter meet which extends to Jan. 20, 2019.

Among those looking to kick off the meet on a victorious note is Kelly Hoerdt trainee Cusdmagicdragon, who arrives fresh off a win in the $125,000 Don Byrne at Northlands Park in search of a fourth straight win in the $45,700 Alberta Marquis for three-year-old pacing fillies, carded as the day's 10th and final race.

The daughter of Custard The Dragon, who has banked $137,080 this season and has only finished worse than second in two of 14 starts, has been installed as the 7-5 favourite in the Marquis by virtue of her commanding five-length win in last week's elimination at Northlands Park. Hoerdt, who shares ownership of Cusdmagicdragon with breeders Blair and Erna Corbeil, returns to the bike after ceding the lines to Mike Hennessy for her last two starts. The eight-time winner starts from post 6 in the field of nine, which also includes elimination winners Born A Dragon (5-2, post 4, Nathan Sobey) and Blink And Gone (8-1, post 1, Tyler Redwood), along with Don Byrne runner-up Bearcat Josi (10-1, post 5, Jamie Gray).

A pair of $24,900 Alberta Stardust splits for two-year-old pacing fillies serve as supporting events, carded as races seven and eight. In the first division, Alberta Starburst winner Western Summit seeks her third career win, but will have to overcome post 8 at 6-1 morning-line odds after a runner-up finish in her Jim Rogers split at Northlands. Nathan Sobey drives the daughter of Vertical Horizon for trainer Keith Clark.

The second division sees Maxsamian return to a Century track where she won her last two local starts, both against stakes company. David Kelly remains in the driver's seat behind the Mystery Chase filly, who starts at 6-1 early odds from post 7 for Rod Starkewski. A pair of two-time winners will also line up in the second split: Rockin Mystery (8-5, Brandon Campbell, post 1), who won the Jim Rogers at Northlands in 1:57.2 two weeks ago, and June Morning (5-2, Mike Hennessy, post 4), who posted a dominant 7-1/2 length win at The Track on 2 on Oct. 21.

To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Century Downs.
With the recent announcement of Realme's entry to the Malaysia market, the company just did the next big step of having an online store platform and they have signed an official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shopee Malaysia. The new partnership grants Shopee the exclusive rights to Realmes flagship phone, the Realme 2 Pro, in Malaysia and other upcoming devices in the future.

Both Calvin Teng, Category Manager at Shopee Malaysia, and Tiffany Teh, Brand Manager of Realme Malaysia are excited to work with each other for having similar core values of being young (in company years) and committed to offering the best quality and service to their customers. In fact, Realme will also jump on the bandwagon during the Shopee 11.11 Big Sale as well, with the Realme 2 Pro but it's unknown if there will be any exclusive discounts and free voucher codes given. The official price will be revealed on 7 November 2018.

To recap, the Realme 2 Pro features a huge 6.3-inch dewdrop fullscreen display, a respectable Qualcomm Snapdragon 660AIE processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB ROM and more. If we do a direct conversion from the Indonesia pricing, it would cost around ~RM1019 and that's really a valued for money smartphone there.

For more information, you may check out Realme's official online store at Shopee right here. Stay tuned for more Realme news at TechNave.com.
Kathleen Williams .. and a look at Montana by Anne Helen Petersen.. the best political reporter covering Montana

snip

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On Oct. 18, Air Force One touched down in the college town of Missoula, Montana. It was the presidents third trip to Montana  a state of just over a million people  since July. For each of these trips, Trump spent the majority of his Montana-focused time attacking Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, pausing only briefly to introduce Testers opponent, Matt Rosendale, and acknowledge the other Republican running for national office: Rep. Greg Gianforte. Any guy that can do a body slam, Trump said, to escalating cheers, hes my guy.

Trump was referring to one of the more surreal moments in recent political history, when Gianforte  then running in a special election for Montanas sole congressional seat  physically assaulted Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs on the night before Election Day. Jacobs, who had been attempting to ask the famously press-averse Gianforte a question about his support for the GOP health care bill, got audio of the incident. Yet Gianfortes campaign issued a statement blaming the attack on aggressive behavior from a liberal journalist.

Less than 24 hours later, Gianforte was declared the winner of the congressional race. Three weeks after that, he pleaded guilty to assault. He apologized and began modulating his tone with journalists. But a year and a half later, there he was with Trump, as the president reminded Montana voters who Gianforte was: the type of guy who would rather knock a journalist down than answer a question about his own platform.

...
Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla landed Wednesday in The Gambia for the first leg of a week-long African tour aimed at strengthening ties with Commonwealth nations.

The Prince of Wales, heir to the throne, took over as head of the 53-member Commonwealth of Nations in April, succeeding his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

He and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, were received Wednesday by Gambian President Adama Barrow and his wife Fatou Bah-Barrow.

Prince Charles and Camilla were welcomed by Gambia's President Adama Barrow and his wife Fatou Bah-Barrow at the airport in Banjul /  POOL/AFP

The country, which is almost completely surrounded by Senegal along the West African coast, was readmitted to the Commonwealth in February, after abruptly leaving the organisation in 2013.

On Thursday, Prince Charles is to visit the Medical Research Council, a faculty of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, during what is his first visit to the country.

He and Camilla are then expected to visit Ghana before ending their trip in Nigeria on November 6 - 8, a statement said.

As Britain prepares to leave the European Union in 2019, the prince aims to "celebrate the UK's dynamic, forward-looking partnerships" with Commonwealth nations, it said, adding that Charles has already visited 44 of them.
SINGAPORE - Japans Osaka Gas Co Ltd is considering expanding its Southeast Asia operations, a top executive said, tapping a region where natural gas demand is booming but domestic reserves are dwindling fast.

Osaka Gas, one of the worlds biggest gas utilities and importers of liquefied natural gas (LNG), is increasingly turning abroad as it faces faltering demand at home due to a mature market and shrinking population.

One opportunity is Vietnam, Kazuhisa Yano, Executive Chairman and Chief Asia Representative of Osaka Gas, told the Reuters Commodity Summit interview series.

Vietnam is one of Asias fastest-expanding energy markets due to a large population and sharp economic growth, but reserves at its existing oil and gas fields are declining fast.

We will ... study Vietnams gas market, Yano said on Tuesday, talking to Reuters while attending an industry conference in Singapore.

There are several industry parks in Vietnam, and (there is) demand for gas for such kinds of industrial (purposes).

Vietnam does not currently import any LNG, but is planning to start in coming years, like other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said this week that Southeast Asia is at the heart of future LNG demand growth, which it expects to increase by a third globally to 500 billion cubic meters (370 million tonnes) by 2023.

While Osaka Gas reviews Vietnam as a potential market, it will also look into expanding its current operations in the region.

The firm already has subsidiaries for operations such as sales and trading in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, Yano said.

Like Vietnam, domestic gas reserves are running out in the Philippines, and LNG will soon be needed to meet demand from new power generation projects.

Yano said Osaka Gas was considering entering that market as a supplier.

In Indonesia, which is still an LNG exporter but where dwindling reserves and a lack of investment have also resulted in falling production, Osaka Gas in October announced the launch of a natural gas joint marketing business with Indonesias state-owned Pertamina.

Yano said Osaka Gas was also considering investment into LNG receiving terminals and power generation assets in Indonesia.

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In the context of the widespread application of technology in business and daily life, online food ordering is a growing industry attracting dozens of new players in Vietnam.

Ly Le, an office worker in Ho Chi Minh Citys Phu Nhuan District, told Tuoi Tre News that after every lunch break, she and her colleagues discuss whether to order milk tea and other drinks for their afternoon in the office.

It is not uncommon for office workers in Vietnamese cities to indulge themselves in snacks and drinks to wet their whistle during the tiring afternoon hours at work.

According to Le, each colleague on her team has a different food ordering app on their smartphone for this purpose.

We each check on apps like Now, GrabFood, Lala, and Loship to see which is offering the best discount, Le said.

Tran Anh, another office worker who resides in District 9, said that she used to call food stores directly to order snacks, without knowing shippers' information and the delivery process, but the growing popularity of online ordering apps has made huge changes to the way she and young Vietnamese in general purchase food.

A person scrolls the Now ordering app . Photo: Tuoi Tre News

Current competitors

A food ordering app is an online intermediary between customers and restaurants, where the diners can order food online from the menus, and have it delivered directly to their addresses.

According to data by market researcher Euromonitor, the online food ordering market in Vietnam is currently projected to top US$38 million by 2020.

The now $33-million market is shared by a number of major players such as Now by Foody Corporation, GrabFood by Grab, and Lala by the on-demand delivery service Ahamove of logistics provider Scommerce.

Developed by Foody  Vietnam's largest social networking site for reviews and shares about dining venues  and officially introduced in 2016, Now, previously known as Delivery Now, has become the leading app in the market.

In July 2017, Foody's founders shared that Now received nearly 10,000 orders per day. The figure may be much bigger at present.

Now has also expanded their services to include grocery, alcoholic beverage, flower, FMCG (fast moving consumer goods), medicine, and laundry deliveries.

Meanwhile, its parent company Foody, initially founded as a website that merely helped users discover restaurants and eateries with its revenue mainly coming from advertisements, has developed an ecosystem that covers a wide range of food-related businesses  ranging from Now to online reservation platform Table Now and restaurant management software Foody POS.

A newcomer that has entered the race but immediately captured the attention of consumers is GrabFood.

GrabFood was tested in Ho Chi Minh City in May and officially launched a month later.

In early October, GrabFood was also officially present in Hanoi after less than a month of piloting.

Grabs CEO told news website Zing.vn that the number of successful orders GrabFood completed in Ho Chi Minh City in September increased 2.3 times compared to the previous month, while the number of business partners on GrabFood in Hanoi has risen eight times only after one month of testing.

Another player that has been able to leave its mark in the bustling market is Lala.

Lala's CEO revealed that the company already has 6,000 drivers thanks to partnering with Ahamove right from the get-go.

Another notable name includes Vietnammm, which was established in 2011 as a member of Takeaway.com  a Dutch dot-com company specializing in online food ordering and home delivery.

It is not to mention Loship, a platform launched in March and owned by Lozi. The app is associated with CEO Nguyen Hoang Trung, who was named one of the 30 most prominent under-30s in Vietnam by Forbes.

A person scrolls the food ordering tab in the Grab app. Photo: Tuoi Tre News

Former players

However, the online food ordering market has also caused many difficulties for a number of players.

Foodpanda, a global mobile food delivery marketplace headquartered in Berlin, Germany with operations in 40 countries including India, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Singapore and others, is among the prominent former players in Vietnam.

As one of the earliest online delivery service providers in the Southeast Asian country, Foodpanda set up connections with more than 1,000 restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, with a team of about 100 shippers.

The company considered Vietnam a potential market with consistent development in the online food ordering industry compared to other markets it operates in.

But in late 2015, the firm had to sell all business activities in the Vietnamese market to Vietnammm after three years of operation due to the economic crisis and cessation of financial support from investors.

At the time of Foodpandas withdrawal, the main players competing with Vietnammm were Eat.vn and Chonmon.vn, which were both owned by tech firm VCCorp.

Chonmon.vn was targeted at Vietnamese users while Eat.vn was a favorite of foreign customers.

However, Chonmon.vn is no longer in operation and, as of Thursday, Eat.vns homepage reads, Sorry, were down for maintenance.

A special case in which an online ordering app was killed before birth was Uber Eats by Uber.

According to Zing.vn, Uber Eats was set for launch in Ho Chi Minh City exactly on the day Grab took over the Dutch ride-hailing service's activities in Southeast Asia, April 8.

Therefore, Uber's online food ordering platform was never able to offer the service to Vietnamese customers.

The ordering app of The Coffee House is seen in this photo. Photo: Tuoi Tre News

Apps by drinks and food chains

Although they have appeared in various online food ordering apps, many drinks and fast food chains still invest in their own delivery applications.

The local brand The Coffee House was quick to offer its delivery app with a commitment of 30 minutes.

Ten Ren, a Taiwanese milk tea brand that was first brought to Vietnam in 2017, is also housed in the same system as The Coffee House and uses the same delivery application as its sister company.

In the coffee and milk tea segment, Passio and Tocotoco are two brands that have introduced their apps on smartphones as well.

In the fast-food sector, chains of great names in the market such as McDonald's, KFC, and Lotteria have built their own applications, alongside traditional ordering channels through telephones and websites.

In addition to the delivery functions, the mobile applications of the aforementioned chains act as an interactive channel between the brands and consumers where customers can accumulate points, find stores, and receive information, promotions, and discount vouchers from the chains.

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BIDV, one of Vietnams four state-run commercial banks, is seeking shareholders to sell 17.65 percent of its current charter capital to South Koreas KEB Hana Bank.

The Hanoi-based bank, known in full name as the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam, plans to raise its registered capital to more than VND40.22 trillion (US$1.72 billion) by issuing over 603 million shares, the lender said in a document sent to shareholders.

Following the capital raise, KEB Hana Bank will hold a 15 percent stake at BIDV and become its strategic foreign partner.

If the deal goes through, state ownership at BIDV will drop from 95.28 percent to 80.99 percent.

The South Korean lender is barred from transferring the BIDV shares it owns to another party for at least five years after becoming a stakeholder, according to the plan.

The Seoul-based bank, established in 1967, is the fifth largest bank in assets in South Korea.

BIDV also seeks shareholder permission to revise its charter to replace the general director with the chairman of the board as its legal representative.

The bank has not had a chairman since its former chairman Tran Bac Ha retired in September 2016.

BIDVs plans come as Vietnam seeks to reform its fragmented banking sector, which is weighed down with bad debts after a decade of rapid expansion and is overcrowded with many small and under-capitalized operators, according to Reuters.

Vietnamese banks are permitted to have a foreign shareholding of up to 30 percent, with a single strategic partner allowed to hold a maximum 20 percent stake.

Special cases can be made, however, for larger foreign stakes in banks designated as weak by the State Bank of Vietnam.

The Southeast Asian country now has four state-run banks, including BIDV, Agribank, Vietinbank, and Vietconbank, along with a military-run lender, MB Bank.

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Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street has taken over as the new selfie hot spot for local youngsters looking to add a bit of urban flair to their Instagram pages.

Located on the outskirts of the central Vietnamese city of Hue, in the nearly deserted Lang Viet tourist area, Huyen Tran Cong Chua runs past the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, one of the citys many must-see attractions.

Locals say that the graffiti first appeared at the end of April, when 100 artists from Vietnam and abroad took it upon themselves to transform the walls from an eyesore into an urban-chic jewel.

Though the paintings along the road do not seem to follow a particular theme, the unplanned originality of each anime character, text, and random burst of color seems to magnetize visitors.

Nhu Y, a student at Hue University  University of Science, said the street is blowing up her social media feed, with pictures of friends posing in front of the brightly colored walls constantly popping up as she scrolls Facebook and Instagram.

When I realized how many of my friends were taking pictures here I decided to come see it for myself, she said.

Its a unique destination because the quiet road still combines the peaceful spirit of Hue with modern and contemporary art.

Mural villages, mural streets, and even wards filled with mural-featured walls are becoming commonplace as major cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Da Nang, and Hanoi look to clean up their image and beautify their streets.

However, a mural village in Hanoi recently was the brunt of criticism as local painters voiced concerns that authorities are not doing enough to control the local graffiti outbreak.

Below are some photos of the street:

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Thousands of people rushed to Bui Vien Street in Ho Chi Minh Citys backpacker area on Wednesday night to trick-or-treat themselves to the neighborhood's bustling, spooky vibes.

Bui Vien Street, dubbed Westerner Street by locals, has spent years as the citys number-one Halloween hot spot.

By 7:00 pm Wednesday night, every road leading to Bui Vien had been nearly impassible as thousands of people and vehicles descended on the street to celebrate Halloween.

The Westerner Street is packed with Halloween-goers. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Two revelers display colorful and traditional costumes, like those at carnivals, on Bui Vien Street on October 31, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A woman masquerades as No-Face, a character in the 2001 Japanese animated coming-of-age fantasy film Spirited Away. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A foreign tourist enjoys Halloween on Bui Vien Street on October 31, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A man masquerades as a sea god on Bui Vien Street on October 31, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A group of college students with their lips made up to appear sewn shut on Bui Vien Street on October 31, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A kid masquerades as a pirate on Bui Vien Street on October 31, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A boy is shouldered by his parent in the sea of people enjoying Halloween on Bui Vien Street on October 31, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A man masquerades as a beast on Bui Vien Street on October 31, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A stall selling ghost masks in the sea of people enjoying Halloween on Bui Vien Street on October 31, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A Vietnamese woman takes a scary selfie on Bui Vien Street on October 31, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A father shoulders his daughter as they tour the streets in order to protect her from pushing. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A foreign tourist masquerades with spooky make-up on Halloween on Bui Vien Street on October 31, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Two Vietnamese women masquerading as ghost brides make a toast. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Two young men masquerade as ghost doctors on Bui Vien Street on October 31, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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Here are the news stories you should not miss today:

Society

-- A fire broke out in a restaurant near downtown Ho Chi Minh City at around 3:00 pm on Wednesday, only six days after its opening. The fire, which ended an hour and a half later, caused no human casualties but destroyed the building.

-- A court in Vietnams south-central province of Binh Thuan on Wednesday gave prison terms from two to three years and a half to 30 people found guilty of provoking public disorder at a major local government building in mid-June.

-- Police in Can Tho nabbed nearly 100 young people, including women, while they were holding an illegal street race on a national highway on Wednesday. They converged in the Mekong Delta city from neighboring provinces.

-- Authorities in Vietnams southern province of Kien Giang are trying to help two Russian tourists go back to their country after they stayed at a local hospital for a week and only left with strong efforts of persuasion from the institution. One of the visitors is a 25-year-old woman who was seen sitting in a mediation posture, begging in the local streets late last year.

Business

-- Vietnams Southern Airports Authority said the number of flight delays at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City in October climbed 15 percent to 1,240, while the figure for cancellations rose 61 percent to 69, compared to the previous month. The countrys first private-owned Vietjet topped the list of airlines with such problems.

-- Vietnam Register, an agency on vehicle certification and inspection, has ordered nationwide registration centers not to provide quality checks to vehicles retrofitted with accessories not in line with the manufacturers design, like high-power LEDs, TV sets and refrigerators.

-- Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company on Wednesday opened another vaccination center, the largest of its kind in southern Vietnam to date, in Ho Chi Minh Citys neighboring province of Binh Duong, where disease tends to break out due to a high density of factory workers and rental accommodation.

Education

-- The administration in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa required provincial educational authorities to switch to the traditional instructional method from the Vietnam Escuela Nueva model, which local schools has been experimenting with. The model, originating in the 1970s in Colombia for rural public education, has been applied in over 50 cities and provinces in Vietnam.

-- A high school in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa has forced three of its ten graders to leave school for a year and four for a week, after they were found talking ill of their teachers in a Facebook group. A teacher noticed a private message on a mobile phone of one of the students and reported it to the school leader.

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The administration of Nha Trang, the capital of the south-central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa, likes to temporarily cease granting construction licenses to towering hotels as a way to reduce problems in security and infrastructure.

The idea was first presented in their latest proposal to the administration of Khanh Hoa.

The construction of high-rise hotels in the city has mushroomed to the extent that it adversely affects urban security and the environment, putting greater stress on traffic infrastructure, the Nha Trang administration explained.

It is not clear what the proposal means by environment but pundits suggest it refers to the cityscape.

Access to many hotels and apartment blocks is hobbled as they typically sit along alleys, it said.

The building of multi-story hotels will be considered once again when local architecture regulations take effect, the municipal administration added.

But the provincial construction department has yet to issue new regulations, though it was tasked with formulating them in early 2017.

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A Russian woman who was removed from Vietnam last year for begging on Phu Quoc Island off the coast of Kien Giang Province has made her way back to the island and caused another scene, this time with a newfound companion.

The 25-year-old woman, identified as Anastasiia, and a friend have spent the last few weeks on Phu Quoc, causing a headache for local authorities who are working on a solution to return the duo to Russia, officials admitted on Wednesday.

The Russian nationals were reportedly injured in a fight with a hostel owner on Phu Quoc in early October. Following the incident, Anastasiia took her friend for treatment at Phu Quoc Hospital, but she refused to pay the bill.

Even after doctors agreed to exempt them from their hospital fees, the pair declined to leave and insisted on staying at the hospital for another week to recover."

They reportedly led an unsanitary lifestyle and caused discomfort for other patients unlucky enough to share the room, according to a report on Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper.

The two only reluctantly agreed to check out on October 23 after repeated requests from hospital directors.

After leaving the hospital, Anastasiia and her friend wrote a note that reads, They hit my husband. They robbed us. We need money for medicine, food, and survival. We would be glad if you could help, and asked a local to translate it into Vietnamese, according to Thanh Nien.

The two then brought the note to a photocopy shop to have it enlarged and printed, but they were refused by the shop owner, the newspaper reports.

A community leader in Duong Dong Town on Phu Quoc told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday that local authorities are unsure of how to appropriately handle the situation, as there is no precedent.

Van Cong Dau, director of Kien Giangs Department of External Affairs, said the provincial department is waiting for an official request from Phu Quoc authorities for support in the case.

Once the request is received, the department will contact the Russian diplomatic mission to Vietnam to work on a solution to return the unwelcome visitors to their home country.

In August 2017, the Russian woman caused a stir in Vietnam after a photo was posted online in which she appeared to be meditating on a sidewalk on Phu Quoc with a note written in Vietnamese placed in front that read, meditate for luck, need money.

Readers criticized the action, which exemplifies a growing trend of foreign tourists in Vietnam seeking short-term jobs or resorting to panhandling in order fund their trip.

Authorities in Kien Giang managed to return the Russian woman to her home country after the incident, but it is unclear how she has found her way back.

Foreign visitors to Vietnams Phu Quoc Island are not required to obtain a visa if they intend to stay for 30 days or less.

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Two people have been killed and three others injured after an automobile collided with a truck along an expressway in northern Vietnam.

According to preliminary information, the collision occurred along the expressway connecting Ha Long City in Quang Ninh Province with Hai Phong City at around 1:00 am on Wednesday.

The two vehicles, a Mazda 3 and a KIA truck, were traveling in the same direction.

The crash site was about one kilometer away from the toll station at Bach Dang Bridge in Quang Yen Town, Quang Ninh Province.

The Mazda 3 was severely damaged. Photo: Quang Yen Police

The car was carrying three people, including Nguyen Dong Vinh, Do Duc Trung, and Nguyen Duc Anh, who are all 33 years old and from the northern province of Thai Binh.

Nguyen Van Hung, the 50-year-old driver, and Le Van Chung, 51, were in the truck at the time of the collision.

The collision killed Vinh and Hung, while the other three are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital for their injuries.

Both the Mazda and the truck were severely damaged in the crash.

The truck was damaged in the crash. Photo: Quang Yen Police

Competent authorities later arrived to probe the scene and manage traffic on the expressway.

The Ha Long- Hai Phong Expressway opened to traffic on September 1. It stretches a total of 24.6 kilometers and has a maximum speed limit of 100km per hour.

In related news, a Limousine crashed into a motorbike in Quang Ninh Province at around 6:00 am on the same day.

The two people on the motorcycle, a father and daughter, were killed in the accident.

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I just listened to Geraldo Rivera slobber with emotion on "The Five" over the unwillingness of the US Government to allow one and all Latinos to immigrate to the US. One and all! I remember Rivera as the man who said tearily that he cared about 9/11 because he was from New York City. And early in the Afghan War he once broadcast from the field while cowering behind a tank claiming that battle noise that was audible was an action nearby. In fact the fight he referred to was 400 miles away. He later admitted that. Among his blubber points tonight about tear gassed babies he mentioned that the US should try to help the Central American countries. In fact the US has been in the business of promoting development in CA since the Kennedy Administration. I know I was there then, been there did that. Hardly any of this ever works in CA because the latifundistas and other gente decente won't have it. They like their grip on power and the abject dependency of the peones and campesinos. A Jordanian general officer whom I once escorted to Ft. Bliss, Texas visited Ciudad Juarez and then told me that we Americans had a duty to conquer the s-----le countries south of us and rule them justly. I laughed and told him that we had tried similar things several times. pl

**********

"The Alliance for Progress"

" The program was signed at an inter-American conference at Punta del Este, Uruguay, in August 1961. The charter called for:

an annual increase of 2.5% in per capita income,

the establishment of democratic governments,

the elimination of adult illiteracy by 1970

price stability, to avoid inflation or deflation

more equitable income distribution land reform , and

[3][4] economic and social planning.

First, the plan called for Latin American countries to pledge a capital investment of $80 billion over 10 years. The United States agreed to supply or guarantee $20 billion within one decade.[4]

Second, Latin American delegates required the participating countries to draw up comprehensive plans for national development. These plans were then to be submitted for approval by an inter-American board of experts.

Third, tax codes had to be changed to demand "more from those who have most" and land reform was to be implemented.[3]
Swedish drama Greyzone will have its broadcast premiere on SBS next week.

This is a 10 part series about the events leading up to a terror attack in Scandinavia.

Previously available at SBS On Demand it begins with a double episode, in Danish and Swedish with English subtitles.

The series follows Victoria, a drone engineer, who is taken hostage by terrorists while the Secret Services in Denmark and Sweden fight against the clock to prevent an attack. A series of dangerous events are set into motion in this high octane thriller, and Victoria (Birgitte Hjort Srensen, Borgen, Pitch Perfect 2) is soon thrown into a world of danger.

Series One, Episode One: The Takeover

When the Swedish Security Police, SAPO, retains a suspicious truck headed from Denmark to Gothenburg, Sweden, SAPO officer Eva Forsberg makes a terrifying discovery  a fully armed air-to-ground missile.

Episode Two: First Mission

Victoria wakes up confused, scared, and with her hands tied on her back. Iyad shows her a live feed of her son, Oskar. If she doesnt do what he asks her to, Oskar will be killed. A terrified Victoria sees no other way than to do what he tells her.

Tuesday, 6 November at 11.30pm on SBS
Screen Australia and Google Australia recently opened applications for the fifth instalment of the Skip Ahead initiative, to uncover and develop the next generation of YouTube storytellers.

Lee Naimo, Online Investment Manager at Screen Australia said: The success of Skip Ahead alumni such as Aunty Donna, BrainCraft and Superwog is testament to how this initiative can help supercharge careers. Im looking forwarded to reading applications from exciting new scripted narrative and documentary projects and teams.

Daniel Stephenson, YouTube Content Partnerships Manager, Australia and New Zealand said: Over the last four years, Skip Ahead has provided more than $2 million in funding to support the Australian creative industry, and helped local creators to develop their skills and produce more ambitious, longer form content. As we enter year five, we cannot wait to see what stories we might uncover, especially as we branch out and into new formats of online storytelling.

Both scripted narrative and documentary projects are encouraged to apply for Skip Ahead five funding. Applications will be considered from individual content creators (YouTube channels), teams of content creators (multiple YouTube channels), and/or established YouTube channels teaming up with an external producer or production house. Screen Australia and Google Australia will provide a 50/50 joint funding pool of up to $500,000. A maximum of $100,000 will be available per project, with up to six projects to be funded.

To date Skip Ahead has provided over $2 million in funding to support a total of 19 creative teams, whose Skip Ahead-funded projects have accumulated over 42 million views. Skip Ahead alumni include Aunty Donna, Mighty Car Mods, The RackaRacka, BrainCraft, SketchShe, and Superwog.

The initiative has created opportunities for these teams to build sustainable careers in the screen industry. For instance, following on from the success of the Superwog pilot from Skip Ahead three, Princess Pictures confirmed earlier this year that a full six-part series of Superwog would be made. In a landmark move, the series premiered on the Superwog YouTube channel on Sunday 7 October, two days before its broadcast on ABC Comedy and iview.

Australian online content creators who have YouTube channels with a substantial existing subscriber base and/or content that has reached significant viewership are eligible to apply. Collaborations between YouTube creators, as well as collaborations with established production companies, are encouraged.

Screen Australia and Google Australia are particularly interested in supporting content creators from diverse backgrounds in terms of culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, people with disability, geographic and/or socio-economic circumstance.

Eligible applicants can propose the format of the project, including episodic series, a standalone piece of entertainment, or an alternative that is appropriate for their creative concept. The project must premiere on the content creators YouTube Channel by the end of September 2019.

Applications close November 16.
Writer, producer and director Robert Connolly will receive the 2018 Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award later this month.

Connolly (The Slap, Deep State, Barracuda, The Bank, Balibo, Paper Planes) will receive the honour from the APRA Board of Directors at the Screen Music Awards in recognition of his close work with Australian composers.

Robert Connolly said, I remain in awe of the creative insight and impact that composers have contributed to the film and television productions I have worked on. So many times the profound emotional and narrative elements that have eluded me as a filmmaker have been so much more clearly explored by the composer. It is a great honour to receive this award from APRA, providing an opportunity for me to acknowledge the extraordinary contribution screen music has made to my work.

Screen Music Awards will be held on Monday November 19 at the City Recital Hall in Sydney.

Known for producing and directing high quality cinema with a political focus and social themes, Robert has powerfully showcased the work of Australian composers like Lisa Gerrard, Alan John, Bryony Marks, Nigel Westlake, Francois Tetaz, Evelyn Ida Morris and more in his film and television projects. As a producer, Roberts first feature film, The Boys, with the music of seminal experimental group The Necks has gone on to become a classic in Australian cinema. Since then, he has garnered numerous awards and accolades for his work collaborating with an impressive and diverse range of composers on productions including The Bank, Balibo, Paper Planes, The Slap and more. A champion of Australian film and television, Robert served on the Screen Australia board from 2008-2012 and continues to introduce and mentor emerging talent and new creative voices. Robert is well known for taking great care that the score plays a vital role in all of his productions.
National Geographic announced a new adventure documentary series Fiennes: Return to the Nile for 2019.

The three part-series features the Worlds Greatest Living Explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, as he returns to the scene of one of his earliest feats his 1969 expedition along the River Nile. Nearly 50 years later he is joined by famous cousin, actor Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaids Tale, Shakespeare in Love).

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, said: I am delighted to have the opportunity to re-trace the steps of my original expedition in 1969, and this time with my cousin Joe and National Geographic. I know first-hand how fascinating and exhilarating Egypt is for an explorer and I cant wait to show Joe the ropes and to see how much Egypt has changed in the last 50 years.

Joseph Fiennes, addd: I am delighted to be embarking on this adventure with National Geographic and my cousin, Ran. It is every boys dream to go on an expedition with the worlds great living explorer. I am delighted to be going on this journey.

For over 50 years Sir Ranulph has lived through countless escapades and life-threatening experiences. From summiting Everest to discovering a lost city in Oman, hes accomplished more than most men can ever dream of. His cousin, Joseph Fiennes, is an award-winning actor, star of stage and screen, who shot to fame for his portrayal as William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love and is currently starring in Emmy award-winning series The Handmaids Tale. But can Joseph cut it in Sir Ranulphs world, does he have what it takes to be an explorer? Together theyll crawl through the claustrophobic confines of a newly discovered ancient Egyptian tomb in Minya, get to grips with Tachtib  a traditional fighting technique using four foot sticks and come face to face with dangerous snakes and spiders.

Jules Oldroyd, SVP, International Programming for National Geographic commented: Authentic, visceral and highly entertaining, Fiennes: Return to the Nile embodies National Geographics mission to inspire and ignite the explorer in all of us. We are thrilled to be working with legendary explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and critically acclaimed actor Joseph Fiennes on this exhilarating and thrilling expedition.

Derren Lawford, Creative Director and Executive Producer, Woodcut Media, added: This series marks Woodcuts first commission with National Geographic and we are delighted to be co-producing this with The Development Partnership for such an iconic channel. We know that Fiennes: Return to the Nile will take viewers on an incredibly breath-taking and unforgettable journey that will entrance audiences in the US and the world over.

A test of grit, courage and determination, Fiennes: Return to the Nile will also showcase stunningly beautiful and desolate landscapes and reveal the bond between the cousins as they face challenges at every turn.
Renowned Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn was way much more than just a pretty face. Author Robert Matzen reveals information about the actress in his upcoming book titled Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II.

While it was reportedly already known that Hepburn had donated her earnings as a ballerina to the Dutch Resistance, it turns out the star also worked directly with the groups leaders in helping to defeat the Nazis. The book also reveals her trauma at the death of her uncle at the hands of the Nazis in World War II.

The early life of Audrey Hepburn

Hepburn was born in Belgium in 1929 and worked as a ballerina in the UK until the war began and her family brought her back to Holland. Her father, Joseph Ruston, was British and abandoned the family when she was a young girl. Hepburns mother, a Dutch baroness, hoped the Netherlands would remain neutral, keeping her family safe, however, Nazi Germany soon occupied the country.

Audrey Hepburn grocery shopping in Rome (1961) pic.twitter.com/KhiBoZMben  History Lovers Club (@historylvrsclub) October 30, 2018

Hepburn died at the age of 63 in 1993 and the book gives more information about the renowned Hollywood actress. Matzen writes in the book of the proof he has that Hepburn was directly involved in the Dutch Resistance, helping their leaders to defeat the Nazis and running messages for them.

Hepburns son wrote the foreword for the book

As reported by Page Six of the New York Post, Hepburns youngest son, Luca Dotti, was involved in writing the foreword for the book. In that foreword, he wrote that whenever his mother talked about her life and what it had taught her, she never spoke about Hollywood. Instead of mentioning Beverley Hills, Hepburn told them about obscure and often hard to pronounce Dutch locations.

Instead of speaking about the red carpet, she told them about episodes during World War II that she managed to transform into childrens stories.

Sabrina (1954), dir. Billy Wilder pic.twitter.com/ltOH1o4JRE  Audrey Hepburn (@AudreyRare) October 6, 2018

According to Dotti, Matzens new book solves mysteries about his mothers life, saying he now understands why Love and Mercy and Good and Evil were such prominent words in her own story.

It also reveals why she opened up about some facts but kept many more in a secluded area of her being.

Hepburn and the Dutch Resistance

The Scottish Daily Record notes that Hepburn was known to have donated earnings from her work in the ballet to the Dutch Resistance movement. However, new information reveals that she had worked as the assistant to a Dutch Resistance doctor during what was termed the bridge too far battle for the city of Arnhem.

Reportedly the book, set to be released in April, features content that draws together Hepburns reminiscences from that time with wartime diaries, interviews with people who knew her during the war, as well as research into the classified archives in Holland.

The book outlines details from a diary written by Audreys uncle, Count Otto van Limburg Stirum. The 188-page diary was kept by her uncle for the four months in which he was placed in prison by the Nazis, up until his murder in 1942, a death which traumatized Hepburn.

Hepburn and her family, like many people in the Netherlands, suffered through famine and hardships, with Audrey herself suffering from oedema and anaemia in the 1944 Dutch Famine. It was after humanitarian aid eventually arrived that Hepburn noted the impact international aid agencies could have on regions hit by disaster or famine.

It's said this was Audrey Hepburn's favourite photo. pic.twitter.com/o70SvjpXX9  History Lovers Club (@historylvrsclub) October 28, 2018

Due to this, Hepburn dedicated herself during her life to the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), leading to her appointment as a Goodwill Ambassador during 1989. Four months prior to her death, Hepburn received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work.
BERLIN (AP)  The Austrian government says it won't sign a global compact to promote safe and orderly migration, citing concerns about sovereignty and illegal migration.

Conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz took office last December in a coalition with the nationalist, anti-migration Freedom Party. Austria currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency, and Kurz has made curbing unregulated migration a priority.

The non-binding global migration compact was finalized under U.N. auspices in July and is due to be formally approved in Marrakech, Morocco in December.

The Austria Press Agency reported that Kurz and Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache said Wednesday Austria won't sign the document or send an official representative to Marrakech. They cited fears about the loss of national sovereignty on migration matters and a possible watering-down of distinctions between legal and illegal migration.

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FILE PHOTO: Pete Wishart MP (2ndL) and John Swinney MSP arrive at Perth Congregational Church in Perth, Scotland October 18, 2014. A private memorial service was held to commemorate David Haines. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

Thomson Reuters

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - A senior member of the Scottish National Party has questioned his party's backing for a second vote on European Union membership, arguing that it could undermine its Scottish independence goal.

In a rare public sign of dissent Pete Wishart, an SNP lawmaker in Britain's national parliament, said in a newspaper column that supporting a second "confirmatory" referendum could undercut the SNP's goal of secession from the United Kingdom by inviting comparison.

Infighting in Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives is complicating her efforts to reach a deal in time for Brexit day on March 2019. The SNP, Scotland's biggest party, said this month it would back a second referendum on the issue -- although Scotland already voted to keep its EU membership in 2016.

Up to now the SNP had been one of the most unified parties on Brexit, supporting Britain's continued membership of the single market and customs union.

"There is now a view amongst the politicians leading the "People's Vote" (second EU referendum) campaign that all big constitutional referendums should now have a "confirmatory" second vote," Wishart wrote in Scottish newspaper The National.

"By enthusiastically buying into this 'confirmatory' vote for an EU referendum we weaken our hand in resisting unionist calls for a second vote on a successful indyref (independence referendum)."

In the UK's 2016 referendum on EU membership, a majority of voters in Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the bloc, while England - by far the most populous of the home nations - and Wales voted to leave.

May has consistently ruled out the idea of a second Brexit referendum while Labour, whose ranks are also divided, has dithered over the issue.

(Reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary. Editing by Andrew MacAskill)

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The Prince of Wales has begun the first full day of his west African tour by highlighting the important milestone taken by Gambians in turning their backs on 22 years of autocratic rule.

Charles comment came during a welcoming ceremony attended by Gambias president Adama Barrow, whose shock election victory in 2016 brought an end to the authoritarian regime of former leader Yahya Jammeh.

The heir to the throne and the Duchess of Cornwall had a busy day in Gambia where highlights included the princes visit to the Gambian Armed Forces Training School while his wife attended a Commonwealth Big Lunch at the High Commissioners residence.

The Prince of Wales with President Adama Barrow in McCarthy Square as the official welcome ceremony began (Joe Giddens/PA)

Speaking in McCarthy Square, in the capital Banjul, where officials and schoolchildren had gathered to welcome their royal guests, the heir to the throne said: I was delighted to join Her Majesty the Queen in welcoming you, Mr President, to London in April this year for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and, in so doing, to welcome all Gambians back into the Commonwealth.

It was, if I may say so, an important milestone on the new road that the Gambia has chosen in turning your back on 22 years of autocratic rule in order to embrace a new beginning.

The First Lady of the Gambia Fatou Bah-Barrow and the Duchess of Cornwall watch a performance during a visit to St Teresas School in the Gambian capital (Joe Giddens/PA)

Today, the United Kingdom and the Gambia can once again work together to defend our shared Commonwealth values and to promote democracy, human rights, tolerance and the rule of law.

So, too, can we commit ourselves, together, to addressing with all urgency some of the most pressing challenges facing our world, such as climate change, resource depletion, youth unemployment and rapid urbanisation, and to do so by harnessing the remarkable professional expertise and experience upon which the Commonwealth and her member states can draw.

Later Charles and Camilla will attend a state dinner held in their honour.

Charles and Camilla also paid their respects to fallen soldiers during a visit to a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery (Joe Giddens/PA)

The royal tour will also see the prince and his wife visit Ghana and Nigeria.

The couples trip comes hard on the heels of the Prime Ministers high-profile visit to the continent just a few months ago.

Theresa May made a three-nation trade mission to Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria during August and September, in an attempt to bolster Britains post-Brexit fortunes.
Honduras cocaine drug bust

REUTERS/Jorge Cabrera

GUATEMALA CITY/TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Cocaine production is beginning to creep into Central America, a development which could bring the supply of the drug closer to the United States and create a new security risk for an already troubled region.

Guatemala made its first official discovery of a field of coca plants this May following the initial find of a plot in Honduras last year. Two more followed in Honduras this year.

"We aspire to have control of our territory, but it's very difficult to root out these actions," Jaime Quintanilla, head of the anti-drug trafficking unit in Honduras, told Reuters.

At around 50 hectares in total, the four coca finds were a tiny fraction of the 171,000 hectares under cultivation in Colombia last year, according to Reuters interviews with local officials and official Colombian data.

Guatemala cocaine seizure drugs

REUTERS/Jorge Dan Lopez

Honduras and Guatemala, together with El Salvador, are among the poorest and most gang-ravaged countries in the Americas. Mass migration from the region to the United States has created tensions with US President Donald Trump.

Quintanilla said the fields cultivated in Central America were trials by cartels to explore saving transportation costs and reducing the risks of moving the product from Colombia or other major cocaine-producing countries like Bolivia and Peru.

Authorities expect more to follow.

"This is going to continue," a Guatemalan police official said, requesting anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. Detection is difficult in Guatemala, where some mountain regions have barely been charted, he said.

It took an anonymous tip and a 10-hour trek through the Guatemalan jungle for police to find 75,000 coca plants in May across less than hectare of land in an area known as Alta Verapaz, the official added.

Central America drug trafficking map

Adam Isacson/US Southern Command

Guatemala's government declined comment on the coca finds, as did the US embassies in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

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Hot and humid, Alta Verapaz is straddled by mountains up to 2,500 meters high, similar to the Andean parts of the Amazon basin where cultivation of coca is most widespread.

Honduras and Guatemala are short of funds, plagued by corruption and have little experience in tracking coca cultivation, making their large tracts of inaccessible land ideal for drug traffickers looking for new hideaways.

"Colombia has teams of eradicators moving around the country ... and laws to restrict import and commercialization of chemical precursors needed to convert coca leaf into cocaine," said James Bargent, an analyst at InSight Crime, a foundation that analyses organized crime. "Honduras has none of that."

(By Sofia Menchu and Gustavo Palencia; additional reporting by Diego Ore in Mexico City; writing by Daina Beth Solomon; editing by Dave Graham)

NOW WATCH: Here's what $1 billion worth of cocaine looks like

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FILE PHOTO: A general view of Jerusalem's old city shows the Dome of the Rock in the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, October 25, 2015. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo

By Dan Williams

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The race for mayor of Jerusalem, a role shaping Israel's rule over the sacred city at the heart of its conflict with the Palestinians, will go to a run-off between religious and secular Jewish candidates, election tallies showed on Wednesday.

Moshe Lion, a skullcap-wearing bureaucrat favoured by two key members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rightist cabinet, will face off against Ofer Berkovitch, the 35-year-old deputy mayor, after they came out on top of Tuesday's five-man contest - but neither with sufficient votes to win outright.

The ballot was held as part of nationwide Israeli municipal elections in which many candidates run as independents or on non-traditional party lists, making it difficult to gauge any broader political impact from the results.

While Netanyahu's own approval ratings are strong, a senior member of his party and cabinet who ran for Jerusalem mayor with his blessing, Zeev Elkin, came in third in Tuesday's poll.

The Jerusalem vote was largely boycotted by Palestinians who make up a third of the city's population. They live in East Jerusalem, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in a move that has not won international recognition.

Many Jerusalem Palestinians complain of entrenched neglect by the Israeli municipality. A Palestinian candidate who bucked the boycott by running for the administrative Jerusalem City Council failed to garner enough votes to get in.

Both Lion and Berkovitch - whose second-round ballot is on Nov 13 - have vowed to appeal to all sectors of the city. Neither is likely to break with Netanyahu government policy against ceding East Jerusalem for the Palestinians' hoped-for future state.

Trailing fourth in Tuesday's mayoral election was Yossi Daitsh, the sole representative of ultra-Orthodox Jews who, by making up 36 percent of Jerusalem's Jewish Israeli populace, might have been the biggest voting bloc.

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Instead, many ultra-Orthodox voted for candidates outside their close-knit community - a possible gauge of their assimilation in wider Israeli society where their welfare benefits and military draft exemptions are often resented.

On the Jerusalem City Council, however, ultra-Orthodox lists took 14 of the 31 seats - the same presence as previously.

Twenty-one percent of Jerusalem Jews are secular, while 43 percent are not ultra-Orthodox but of various less strict religious denominations.

(Editing by Jeffrey Heller and Andrew Heavens)
TRIPOLI/BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Libya's rival parliaments agreed on Wednesday to work together to reform state institutions in an attempt to unify government authority in the oil producer, officials from both sides said.

The North African country has two governments, the U.N.-backed administration in Tripoli and a rival one based in the east, part of an ongoing power struggle since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

There is a House of Representatives (HoR) based in the east and a consultative body State Council backed by lawmakers from a previous assembly.

Both agreed to work toward a unified Presidential Council (PC) made up of a president, two deputies and a prime minister "to end (the) division," HoR lawmaker Abdulsalam Nusia said on Twitter, posting a joint statement.

Spokespeople from the HoR and the State Council confirmed both sides had signed the agreement.

"The project to reform the executive branch and unify state institutions is a national project to end the division in the country," the statement said.

Tripoli is home to a Presidential Council headed by Prime Minister Fayez Seraj but it is not recognised by the east.

The United Nations, which has been trying to mediate between the two sides to prepare the country for elections, gave a cautious welcome.

U.N. Special Envoy Ghassan Salame "received an update on the progress achieved in the political talks between the two bodies and received a joint document of PC restructuring mechanism," its Libya mission said in a statement.

Unifying state bodies would be a step forward, but questions remain whether militias and armed groups will accept a deal since they benefit from the country's chaos.

Tripoli's government is backed by several armed groups while in the east Khalifah Haftar has emerged as key commander of his LNA troops.

(Reporting by Ahmed Elumami and Ayman al-Warfalli, writing by Ahmed Elumami and Ulf Laessing; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Michael Matheson called on the firm building the road to stop deliberating and start acting.

Scotlands transport secretary has told parliament he is unable to give a definitive date for the Aberdeen bypass opening.

The 745 million road, officially known as the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), has been hit with a series of delays due to weather, the collapse of contractor Carillion and technical problems.

The Scottish Government had most recently hoped it would be completed by late autumn but Transport Secretary Michael Matheson told MSPs in a statement at Holyrood the consortium behind the project, Aberdeen Roads Ltd (ARL), is now targeting a December date for the whole road.

It was just weeks ago that Nicola Sturgeon's #ScotPfG said the #AWPR would open in late Autumn  now we're learning that it will be delayed again! #ScotGov can't confirm whether the NE will now have to wait until 2019 for the bypass to open. Another shambles from the SNP.  Jamie Greene MSP (@jamiegreeneUK) November 1, 2018

He said problems discovered in May at the new Don crossing are more extensive than initially believed but repairs will not add extra cost to the public purse.

Mr Matheson added: However, they were unable to provide a definitive date for the opening of this section as there are number of factors which could influence this date, including technical issues and other physical factors such as the weather.

Well continue to closely with ARL to ensure that everything that can reasonably be done is being done and we will provide a definitive date for the opening of this section as soon as possible.

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Transport Secretary urges #AWPR contractor to stop deliberating and start acting so the people of the north east can benefit from Scotlands newest piece of major infrastructure  Transport Scotland (@transcotland) November 1, 2018

The transport secretary said he is disappointed at the progress of talks to open a near 20-mile stretch of the road between Craibstone to Stonehaven and Charleston, which requires a variation to the original contract.

He said a letter from one of the ARL contractors Galliford Try on Wednesday cast doubt on this, suggesting ARL has not yet agreed to open this section and said it had not yet been brought up with their lenders.

He said this is despite verbal assurances to the contrary and this inconsistency is frustrating efforts to open this part of the road.

It is time for the contractor to stop deliberating and start acting, he said.

It now has to take the necessary steps to open the majority of this road and let the people of the North East enjoy the benefits they have been so patiently anticipating.

Conservative Liam Kerr questioned if the Scottish Government has lost its grip on the process and said management of it has been a disgrace as it was originally due to open last winter.

He added: Todays statement lists various structural, contractual and communication problems that make clear that (Mr Mathesons) latest teaser that it might be December is never going to happen.

Labours Colin Smyth said: Its just not good enough that the Transport Secretary today cannot give parliament today a firm date when this project will open.

He questioned the final cost of the road, which Mr Matheson did not provide.
Oprah Winfrey has been knocking on doors to get voters to make history by backing a black female Democrat to become Georgia's governor.

Voters were given a big surprise as they answered their doors in the Atlanta suburbs on Thursday to one of the most famous women in the world.

Winfrey is campaigning for Stacey Abrams, 44, in the Republican-leaning state of Georgia to become America's first black female governor.

Actor Will Ferrell was seen in the state earlier this week campaigning for the Democrats, and former president Barack Obama is due to make an appearance on Friday to support Ms Abrams.

Sky News' US correspondent, Amanda Walker, said: "You know that it's getting close when you have these big names coming out to campaign.

"Having Oprah Winfrey behind you is about as good as you could hope for."

The actress and talk show host, 64, gave a rousing speech to Democrat supporters ahead of next Tuesday's vote in which she called Ms Abrams a "changemaker".

Speaking to a mostly female audience north of downtown Atlanta, Winfrey said: "I am here today because Stacey Abrams cares about the things that matter.

"I'm here today because of the men and because of the women who were lynched, who were humiliated, who were discriminated against, who were suppressed, who were repressed and oppressed.

"I refuse to let their sacrifices be in vain."

Winfrey, who rarely makes political endorsements, said she is a registered independent who was not in Georgia at anyone's request.

She explained she tracked down Ms Abrams' mobile phone number and called her to say she wanted to offer assistance in the final days of the campaign.

"I paid to come here myself, and I approved this message," she said to cheers.

Denying she would be running for president in 2020, she added: "I'm not here because I'm making some grandstand for myself. I don't want to run. I'm not testing the waters."

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She encouraged women of all races - "sisters not just 'sistahs'" - to remember they would have been "just a piece of property" with no ballot barely a century ago.

The TV star hit out at Republican adverts, which she saw in her hotel room, saying Ms Abrams was "too extreme" and "too radical" for Georgia.

She said the ads were "noise...designed to confound you with fear".
A Syrian-led human rights group says it has documented more than 1,400 incidents in which Russian forces indiscriminately targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure in the three years since Moscow intervened in the Syrian civil war.

The Berlin-based Syrian Archive has created a database of more than 3,000 verified videos of the incidents, reported between September 2015, when Russia began its air strikes on behalf of President Bashar Assads forces, and September 2018.

Hadi al-Khatib of the group said the searchable database is the first visual documentation of alleged Russian air strikes in Syria and is essential for advancing justice.

The database, which includes more than 700 incidents in which civilian casualties were reported and some 35 hospitals were struck, can help lawyers build cases against perpetrators of violence, he said.

A destroyed ambulance is seen outside the Syrian Civil Defence main centre after air strikes in Ansari neighbourhood in Aleppo (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP, File)

The database includes videos from citizens, journalists, humanitarian groups and even the Russian Defence Ministry.

Russia denies targeting civilians and has often said the air strikes are aimed at terrorist infrastructure.

In a recent report on its three-year involvement in Syria, the Russian military lists the number of air strikes and the types of aircraft and weapons used, but does not say anything about casualties.

Syrian Archive said it has documented and verified at least 704 incidents in which there were civilian casualties as a result of alleged Russian attacks. The verified videos show that at least 35 hospitals, 27 mosques, 23 schools and 27 markets were struck in Russian air strikes, it said.

In one incident, Russias Defence Ministry released a video identifying a target as an oil refinery, which upon further investigation turned out to be a water treatment facility, according to the report and other investigations.

A lineup of Russian troops is held before withdrawal at Hemeimeem air base in Syria (Vadim Grishankin/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, file)

The group also identified 63 incidents in which cluster munitions were used and 39 incidents in which incendiary weapons were used. Russia denies using those weapons.

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The whole point of the report is to advance justice, Mr al-Khatib said. Lawyers can use this kind of data, corroborate them with other evidence, to build their cases.

Syrian Archive has been working to document and preserve the history of the civil war, uploaded mostly on YouTube.

As the tech giant introduced new technology to rein in violent content on the internet, hundreds of thousands of videos from the conflict suddenly disappeared. Syrian Archive worked with YouTube to retrieve some of the videos and ensure that violent videos were marked for graphic content.
ISTANBUL/MANBIJ, Syria (Reuters) - Turkish and U.S. troops began joint patrols in northern Syria on Thursday aimed at averting clashes between Turkey and Washington's Kurdish allies, but Turkey pressed on with a new threatened offensive nearby to crush the Kurds.

Turkish military advances into northern Syria over the past two years have put U.S. forces directly in the path of advancing troops from Turkey, Washington's main Muslim NATO ally.

The two countries have been working to avert direct confrontation, even as Turkey aims to crush the Kurdish YPG militia. The YPG forms the main part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that Washington backs with arms, air support and around 2,000 special forces troops on the ground in the fight against Islamic State.

To avert more fighting, the United States and Turkey agreed three months ago to hold joint patrols around the town of Manbij on the west bank of the Euphrates, under a deal that also saw Kurdish fighters withdraw from the city.

But even as the joint patrols were due to begin this week, Turkey announced a new offensive against the Kurds on the opposite bank of the river, into territory where the SDF is backed by U.S. troops to fight against Islamic State.

Turkey's defence minister and the U.S.-led military coalition in Syria confirmed the start of the joint patrols in Manbij, about 30 km (19 miles) from the Turkish border, on Thursday. Previously, U.S. and Turkish forces have held coordinated but separate patrols there.

A Reuters journalist saw a convoy of six military vehicles, some flying the U.S. flag and others flying the Turkish flag, driving on Thursday about 20 km from Manbij city.

The patrols are taking place along the dividing line between territory controlled by the SDF-allied Manbij Military Council and a Turkish-controlled area in northern Syria.

However, the U.S.-Turkish cooperation in Manbij does not seem to have succeeded in averting what would be the first Turkish offensive across the Euphrates.

Story continues

Turkey has been firing across the border for five days in preparation for what President Tayyip Erdogan says will be an offensive soon to crush the Kurdish forces along the breadth of the Turkish frontier.

SDF SUSPENDS CAMPAIGN AGAINST IS

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group and SDF spokesman Kino Gabriel said Turkish forces shelled and fired on an area near the Syrian town of Tel Abyad on the Turkish border. They said one girl died after being hit.

On Wednesday, the SDF said the Turkish attacks had forced it to suspend its U.S.-backed campaign against Islamic State near the Iraqi border.

On Thursday, the U.S.-led coalition spokesman Colonel Sean Ryan told Reuters in emailed comments that the suspension was still in place while talks continue.

In the multi-sided conflict, Islamic State fighters have been driven from nearly all of the self-proclaimed "caliphate" they controlled in Syria and Iraq by a range of foes including the U.S.-led coalition, the Iraqi government, the Russian-backed Syrian government and Iran-backed Shi'ite paramilitaries.

However, last week Islamic State fighters launched one of their deadliest attacks this year against the SDF. The SDF says it lost 14 fighters; the Observatory says the death toll was much higher.

Over the past two years, Turkish forces have already swept into Syria to push YPG fighters out of territory west of the Euphrates in two separate military campaigns.

Past offensives halted at the banks of the river, in part to avoid direct confrontation with the United States.

U.S. relations with Turkey, one of its closest allies in the Middle East for decades, have been strained almost to breaking point in recent months by differences over Syria and a range of other issues.

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke on Thursday with Erdogan. The Turkish leader's office said they stressed their determination to strengthen ties.

(Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun in Istanbul, Rodi Said near Manbij and Tom Perry and Lisa Barrington in Beirut; Writing by Peter Graff; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
By Tom Miles

GENEVA (Reuters) - Austria and Hungary's decision to turn their backs on a U.N. agreement on how to manage migration is bizarre and mistaken, U.N. Special Representative for International Migration Louise Arbour told Reuters on Wednesday.

The Global Compact For Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was approved in July by all 193 U.N. member nations except the United States, which pulled out last year.

Hungary quit in July, and on Wednesday Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said his country would not join either. Poland is considering leaving too.

Arbour, a former U.N. human rights chief, said it was regrettable to see departures because the whole U.N. had managed to find common ground, and Austria - an active participant in the negotiations - should be comfortable with the text and could easily express any reservations that remained.

"What I also find frankly a bit disappointing is that a lot of reasons that are advanced for disengaging are either mistaken or do not reflect what this global compact is all about," Arbour said.

The compact was non-binding and in no way infringed state sovereignty, and suggestions in Austria that it might lead to a "human right to migrate" were unfounded, she said.

"This is coming out of nowhere, its nowhere in the document, its nowhere on the table."

The compact was a framework for cooperation like the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of targets for improving global well-being by 2030, and it would be "bizarre" for countries to declare they were ditching that agreement, she said.

The impetus for the compact came after Europe's biggest influx of refugees and migrants since World War Two triggered fear of foreigners and nationalist tensions.

Arbour said the compact did not affect states' rights to manage their borders, but simply sought to instil order into cross-border movements.

"One of its main objectives is to reduce, if not to eliminate altogether, unsafe, chaotic, illegal poorly managed migration, which is in nobodys interest - not the migrants, not the host communities, not the countries of origin," she said.

"So its not that migration is a good thing or a bad thing. Its a thing thats been with us forever, and cross-border human mobility will be forever with us, but currently some of its poorly managed aspects are a source of genuine concern."

(Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by James Dalgleish)
FILE -- In this March 29, 2018 file photo, a fighter from the U.S-backed Syrian Manbij Military Council looks through his binoculars to Turkish-backed fighters' positions, at the front line of Halawanji village, north of Manbij, Syria. Sharfan Darwish, spokesman of the Manbij Military Council,w said Thursday Nov. 1, 2018, that joint U.S.-Turkish patrols will begin within hours around the northern Syrian town of Manbij, part of a roadmap for easing tensions between the two NATO allies. Ankara and Washington agreed on a roadmap in June amid Turkish demands for the withdrawal of the U.S.-backed Kurdish militia that freed Manbij from the Islamic State group in 2016. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)

ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkish and U.S. troops on Thursday began jointly patrolling areas around the northern Syrian town of Manbij, part of a roadmap for easing tensions between the two NATO allies, Turkey's defense minister announced.

Responding to questions by legislators in Parliament, Hulusi Akar said the patrols began at 3:53 p.m. (1253 GMT) but did not provide further details.

Sharfan Darwish, spokesman of the Manbij Military Council, told The Associated Press earlier that the patrols had started and were taking place on the front lines between his group and those of Turkey-backed rebels in the operation called Euphrates Shield.

Ankara and Washington agreed on a roadmap in June amid Turkish demands for the withdrawal of the U.S.-backed Kurdish militia that freed Manbij from the Islamic State group in 2016.

The U.S. and the Turks have been conducting independent patrols along the front line and joint patrols are considered a way to tamp down potential violence between the various groups in the region. The sides have conducted 68 independent patrols before the combined patrols started.

U.S. Central Command said in a news release that a ground force commander agreed on by both countries will lead the joint patrols.

Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika, deputy commander of operation Inherent Resolve, said recent training by Turkish and coalition forces will help them to protect Manbij civilians.

"We're fully supportive of the road map and the combined joint patrols, and I am confident they will be very effective," he said.

The Manbij Military Council that administers the town says the Kurdish militia, the People's Protection Units, or YPG, which Turkey views as a terrorist group, left Manbij in July.

"The aim of these patrols is to reduce tension and guarantee stability so that there will be no tension along the front line," Darwish said by telephone from northern Syria.

Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist group because of its links to the Kurdish insurgency in southeastern Turkey. It had threatened to storm Manbij to oust the group from the region.

Story continues

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, also said the patrols would follow days of Turkish shelling of positions of the main Kurdish militia.

The Observatory and Kurdish spokesman Mustafa Bali said Turkish troops opened fire on the border village of Tal Fandar killing an 11-year-old girl.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Akar as saying that despite promises that the YPG and other Kurdish militias "will be removed from Manbij, the terror organizations are digging trenches there like they did in Afrin." He was referring to a Kurdish enclave taken earlier this year by Turkish troops and Turkey-backed Syrian opposition fighters.

"The terror organization should know that they will be buried in the trenches when the time and place comes," Akar said.

Last week, Army Gen. Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, told reporters traveling with him in the Middle East that the soldiers' training is expected to last "several more days," and then will transition to combined patrols.

___

Mroue reported from Beirut.
The NHS is spending 3m a year on removing foreign objects from the noses and ears of children (PA)

Youngsters with foreign objects stuck in their ears and noses are costing the NHS a staggering 3 million a year.

A new paper, titled Will Children Ever Learn?, found that youngsters were responsible for the vast majority of hospital cases where medics needed to remove items from ears and noses.

Jewellery was the most common item children inserted into their nose or ears, the study adds.

Researchers in Birmingham and Wales collaborated to examine Englands Hospital Episode Statistics for the numbers of people attending hospital for the removal of something stuck in their nose or ear.

Between 2010 and 2016, 8,752 nasal and 17,325 aural (ear) foreign bodies were removed from adults and children.

Youngsters were responsible for 95% of objects removed from noses and 85% of objects removed from ears.

Jewellery was the most common item children inserted into their nose or ears (Pixabay)

The figures do not include data on GP attendances for similar problems, only those who needed hospital care.

The authors of the paper, published in the The Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons, said an average of 1,218 nasal and 2,479 aural foreign body removals are performed each year at an annual cost of 2,880,148 to NHS England.

The authors wrote: Foreign body removal is a common reason for young children to present to the emergency department.

Analysis of the paediatric data suggested that children aged one to four years are most likely to present with a foreign body in the nose and those aged five to nine years with something in the ear.

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But youngsters aged one to four were most likely to attend hospital.

Story continues

The researchers said: Overall, items of jewellery are the most common foreign bodies requiring removal in children, accounting for up to 40% of cases.

In the nose, jewellery is followed by paper and plastic toys, whereas in the ears, cotton buds and pencils are the most likely culprits after jewellery.

They added: The occurrence of foreign bodies in children is generally attributed to curiosity, a whim to explore orifices and accidental entry of the foreign body.

Youngsters were responsible for 95% of objects removed from noses and 85% of objects removed from ears (Getty/file photo)

In adults, habitual cleaning of ears with cotton buds is likely to be the leading cause.

Author of the paper Dr Simon Morris, an ear, nose and throat specialist who works at Morriston Hospital in Swansea, said: Ask any ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon, and theyll be able to tell about weird and wonderful objects they have retrieved from the noses and ear of children and adults  pretty much anything that fits.

Personally Ive seen green peas, googly eyes and polystyrene balls from bean-bags. In adults, cotton buds seem to be the most common object.

On advice to parents, he said: Obviously prevention is better than a cure, which is why many toys contain warnings about containing small parts  so by stopping your child putting these objects into their noses, ears and elsewhere is a great start.

But otherwise, recognising this early and seeking medical attention is important  particularly if you are worried if this is a battery as these can be very dangerous and have to be dealt with promptly.
Human beings are turning out to be major threat for the survival of wildlife. They will have to change their attitude and embrace an environment that is friendly. WWF has reported that the health of the world is in peril since populations of many animals have fallen by 60 percent since 1970, across the globe. Plastic pollution is playing havoc with the seabirds  they ingest plastics and this has assumed alarming proportions. The world has also lost around half its shallow water corals in just 30 years.

Daily Mail UK reports that the situation warrants positive action.

The loss of thousands of species that include a wide variety of mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and amphibians is a matter of concern. WWF wants a global charter on the lines of the Paris accord on climate change. It feels an action of this nature could help to retrieve the situation and preserve the wildlife.

60%

Populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians have, on average, declined by 60% between 1970 and 2014, the most recent year with available data.https://t.co/yUo7ADSkD3

Planet Grim, population: us (and declining wildlife pop. as well)  PaulF (@soradicchio) October 30, 2018

Cross section of wildlife that is in peril

An analysis of available data shows that the decline is worst in tropical regions.

There is a major drop in the population of species that inhabit freshwater habitats. This is as per the findings of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). The threatened species cover hedgehogs and puffins apart from large animals like elephants, rhinos and polar bears. This, in the opinion of Living Planet, is attributable to various factors like loss of habitats due to urbanization, poaching, and pollution.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

There are also the evils of climate change and plastic pollution

Carter Roberts, president, and CEO of WWF-US has made a very relevant observation. He said, natural systems essential to our survivalforests, oceans, and riversremain in decline. Wildlife around the world continues to dwindle. WWF chief executive Tanya Steele adds that in order to have a world where we can breathe clean air and have enough food for everyone, we must tackle the problem before it is too late.

We must draw up a plan for global recovery.

WWF gives a wakeup call

The damage is done, and as the population of wildlife keeps going down, man must rethink strategies to bring back normalcy. According to Independent UK, we must address issues like overexploitation of the planets resources and consider using unconventional tactics. Tanya Steele chief executive at WWF says nature is threatened and we must evolve a suitable remedy. The present situation is a result of overfishing, deforestation, and the use of pesticides that appear to be normal. However, these are in fact dangers for the survival of wildlife.

Governments must unite and take a decision to save the planet. WWF recommends the ideal time to conclude an agreement to save wildlife would be 2020. At that time, the UN will meet to discuss issues related to the health of the earth like climate change, ocean conservation, sustainable development goals, and biodiversity, etcetera.
ATLANTA  The editor and publisher of The Wild Hunt, Heather Greene, has announced her retirement as of October 31. Greene started with the organization in 2012 as a weekly news writer and took over as editor in 2014 from founder Jason Pitzl. After six years of service to the community as a journalist and editor, Greene has decided to step down in order to spend more time with family and pursue a new career path.

Or, that is how I imagine the news story would start if I or someone else were to write it in that style. But lets try something a bit more personal.

After six years of writing and editing for The Wild Hunt, I have decided to retire and hand the baton over to a new administration. I took over leadership in 2014 after two years of weekly news writing and assisting the editor Jason Pitzl. Since that point, I have worked day in and day out to keep the original dream alive, and to turn the blog into news agency. Together with a growing team of players, we were successful.

But, the wheel turns and life changes.

I have experienced many significant shifts in my personal life that have required much of my attention over the past two years. While I have attempted to juggle these various pieces, I finally realized and accepted that this was no longer possible. Something had to give, as they say. For my personal health and for the health of The Wild Hunt, it was time to make changes.

A leader cannot lead effectively if her attention is pulled in too many places; an organization cannot fully realize its potential if its leader is unable to devote undivided attention to inspiring its people.

And so, with that, I step down.

The past six years have been a journey, a wild ride of ups and downs. When I was first asked to write for The Wild Hunt, I eagerly stood at a threshold, not knowing what was in store. At that time, I had very little knowledge of the vast scope of the Pagan, Heathen, and polytheist worlds. But, that changed very quickly.

Today, I can see this world and its many colors and faces, but in saying that I also know that I dont  I cant  see all of you. While not big in size even as one, the communities making-up global Paganism, Heathenry, and polytheism are deep, dense, and filled with many corners of sacred individuality. And, they are ever shifting and evolving.

That is beautiful to discover and even more beautiful to know. We are not one; we are many. If I leave Wild Hunt readers with any wisdom, it is that. Appreciate and respect the bounty found in our diversity. That is our strength.

Before I say goodbye, I want to thank the people that I have worked with at The Wild Hunt including all the contributing guest writers. There are too many to name. Each person gave their time to the organization and shared a piece of their spirit with our readers. Through their work they supported my vision of a Pagan news agency and bolstered a mission of service that I have come to cherish.

I also want to thank the readers and supporters for joining in that effort. The dream of Pagan-dedicated journalism is alive and well. It is driven by a need for quality reporting on marginalized religious communities. It is also driven by a dedicated passion for journalism and a dedication to service, whether that be to gods or community, or both.

Pagan journalism is needed now more than ever as the global socio-political landscape is filled with tension and fear, and as Pagan, Heathen, and polytheist religions become more visible to the mainstream. The Wild Hunt sits in a place where Pagans can see what other Pagans are doing. You are not alone, we demonstrate.

Today, I hand the drivers wheel over to Dr. Manny Tejeda-Moreno, as editor-in-chief. Moreno has been a columnist with the organization since 2014. In his personal life, Moreno is a professor and social scientist with a doctorate in business. He also has a masters degree in psychotherapy. Moreno was born in Cuba and raised in the American South. He has been in the Pagan community for almost four decades.

Joining him will be Star Bustamonte as news editor. Bustamonte has both media experience as well as management skills. Eric Scott, a longtime Wild Hunt writer, has taken on the role of columnist editor, and has been doing a fantastic job since the spring. Rounding that out is social media manager Stacy Psaros, who will be taking over as technical director.

Please join me in welcoming them as they transition into their positions. I look forward to seeing where they go with The Wild Hunt and how they realize the mission of Pagan journalism. Remember, they cannot do this without community support, financial and otherwise.

As for me, the wheel has made its turn. One journey is ending, but another will now begin. I stand once again at the threshold, but this time the moment bittersweet. I turn around and look back, virtually speaking, into our Wild Hunt offices. I see the faces of the many team members, past and present, staring back and waving at me. My bags are packed; my desk cleaned out; my coat is on. And, just as I hug the last person goodbye, a phone rings in the back offices. Someone runs to pick it up and, when they return, they announce that a reader has called with a big news tip. The new editors head for the phone to take the call, saying as they rush away that theyll be in touch.

And thats how it ends. I move beyond the threshold and into the endless possibilities of the unknown, once again. The door closes; the wheel turns ever on.

Goodbye to everyone. Thank you for reading my writing and for supporting my leadership, and may we all be ever blessed.
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Leslie Harkema at Marginalia Review:

This past summer, migrants from throughout Africa and elsewhere continued to make the journey to Ceuta and Melilla, two autonomous Spanish cities nestled in Moroccos northern coast. As small parcels of European land on the African continent, these cities defy the assumption that the Mediterranean Sea serves as a natural barrier between distinct civilizations. They are sites of border crossing, with all of the charge that this term carries in the contemporary geopolitical climate. Ceuta and Melilla are gateways to Europe, and for that reason they are surrounded by tall fences and kept under surveillancenot only by military guards, but also by the Spanish press.

When tensions rise at these borders, as they did in July 2018, news coverage stirs anxieties about Spains ability to accommodate the influx of displaced people. As in the United States, some outlets use the word invasion to describe the flow of migrants into Spain, bolstering their rhetoric, at times, with a reference to a specific historical event.

more here.
Jennifer Ouellette in Ars Technica:

The first direct detection of gravitational waves was announced on February 11, 2016, spawned headlines around the world, snagged the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics, and officially launched a new era of so-called multi-messenger astronomy. But a team of physicists at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, is calling that detection into question based on its own independent data analysis conducted over the last two and a half years.

As New Scientist reports, the group thinks that the original gravitational wave signal detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) was an illusion. The researchers allege that the collaboration mistook patterns in the noise for a signal. The magazine oddly touts this as an exclusive, but group spokesperson Andrew Jackson has been banging thisparticular drum for a while now, after first experiencing misgivings about LIGOs analysis as presented during the February 11, 2016, press conference in Washington, DC. The groups original paper was published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics in August of that year, and there has been considerable back and forth within the physics community about Jacksons claims since then.

More here.
Ian Sansom in Literary Review:

With The Real Lolita, Sarah Weinman might be said to have invented a completely new genre: true-crime literary criticism, which is not to be confused with truly criminal literary criticism, which, of course, is most literary criticism. The Real Lolita is, by any measure, a unique and very peculiar book.

The sad real-life story of Sally Horner, as recounted by Weinman, goes like this. Born in 1937, Florence Sally Horner lived with her mother at 944 Linden Street, between Ninth and Tenth Streets in Camden, New Jersey. Her father killed himself when she was six. In March 1948, aged eleven, on her way home from Northeast School, where she was a fifth-grade honour pupil and president of the Junior Red Cross Club, she stole a five-cent notebook from the Camden Woolworths on Broadway and Federal. On the way out of the store, she was caught by a man who told her he was an FBI agent. He agreed to let her go if she promised to report to him occasionally.

A few months later, in June 1948, the man caught up with Sally on her way home from school. He told her that she was required to accompany him to Atlantic City. He then telephoned Sallys mother, Ella, pretending to be the father of a friend of Sally, inviting the girl to join him and his family on holiday. On 14 June, Ella dropped Sally at the Camden bus depot. Almost two years later, in March 1950, after an unsuccessful police hunt, Sally telephoned her family from San Jose, California, asking them to rescue her.

More here.
En espanol | Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance marketplaces has begun, and most consumers have until Dec. 15 to choose the plans that will best meet their medical needs.

The open enrollment for coverage beginning in 2021 is happening in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and also as the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to hear arguments Nov. 10 in a lawsuit that could decide the future of the health care law.

"Sign up now if you need coverage for next year and we'll see what happens later, says Karen Pollitz, senior fellow at the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. Pollitz says many consumers are confused about whether the law is still in force, which it is. The lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the ACA was initially brought by Texas and includes 19 other states and two individuals. AARP joined 17 states and many advocacy organizations in arguing that the law is constitutional.

"We did a survey this spring and only 1 in 5 even knew that the ACA is still law, Pollitz says. I think people remain confused. Even though the high court will hear arguments in the case Nov. 10, it will likely be sometime next year before the justices issue a decision.

In the meantime, a Kaiser Family Foundation report estimated that 27 million Americans could lose their work-related health insurance this year because of pandemic-related job losses.

"The ACA offers a really important safety net, Pollitz says. There really is affordable coverage for people, they just have to find out about it. More than 11 million Americans currently get their health insurance through the federal and state marketplaces.

Though open enrollment ends Dec. 15 for consumers who get their coverage through the federal marketplace, 10 states and the District of Columbia have set later deadlines for when people can either make changes to their existing plans or sign up for the first time through state marketplaces:

Minnesota, Dec. 22

Colorado, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Washington, Jan. 15

Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Jan. 23

California, New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C., Jan. 31

New for ACA plans in 2021

Average monthly premiums for ACA marketplace plans are expected to decrease by about 2 percent, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This is a national average; actual premiums will vary based on the level of coverage and where you live.

CMS says the number of insurance plans available on the ACA marketplaces is also increasing. On the federal exchange, 22 more insurers will offer plans in 2021, for a total of 181 health-insurance companies. Only 9 percent of counties will have just one insurer available, compared to 24 percent of counties that had only one plan to choose from in 2020.

Two states that have been part of the federal marketplace  New Jersey and Pennsylvania  have left the federal system and opened their own state-run marketplaces. Consumers in those states have been notified of the change, which means they will have to enroll in those new marketplaces to maintain or change their coverage.

Most eligible for ACA subsidies

The vast majority of consumers who apply for coverage through the ACA are eligible for federal subsidies to help defray the cost of their monthly premiums. For 2021, four states  California, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Vermont  have decided to supplement the federal subsidies. These states all run their own marketplaces, so consumers should check with their individual states to determine if they qualify for the additional help with premiums.

The ACA provides two types of financial assistance: tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies. Eligibility is based on income, and historically more than 80 percent of people who get their insurance through the marketplaces are eligible for subsidies.
New redistricting map heading to Aberdeen City Council

Some minor adjustments were made to the city's four-district map for city council positions using the new 2020 census information.
A former Albuquerque Public School bookkeeper stole over $1,000 from an elementary school, according to a missing funds report  money that was supposed to go toward yearbooks and field trips.

The former bookkeeper at Alameda Elementary School was taking funds for about three months before she was caught, according to an APS report.

The report says another employee was filling in for the bookkeeper  who was not named  and happened to notice some money and checks were not deposited, including a $500 donation check.

A monthlong investigation at the school revealed that $1,352.22 in checks and cash were taken from the school.

When confronted with the missing deposits, the bookkeeper told the APS Police Department that the money and checks were at her house. She would later say her husband, thought the money was theirs so he deposited it, according to the report.

But after APS police investigated and reviewed her bank statements, the bookkeeper admitted taking the money, the report says.

Ben Lubkeman, executive director of accounting for the district, said the bookkeeper never gave a reason why.

In fact, he said her bank statements made the theft confusing.

You could tell by her bank statement, really, why she was stealing this small sum of money made no sense whatsoever, he said. She reimbursed the school.

The money from the school at 412 Alameda NW was primarily made up of yearbook sales, field trip funds and the donation check, Lubkeman said.

You never want to see theft going on anywhere, Lubkeman said. But when they are stealing from the students, it makes it that much worse.

While the report said the missing funds were recovered, it also noted that the district doesnt know if the school took a further loss because checks were found at the bookkeepers home that the school did not realize were missing and were not receipted.

The bookkeeper has been terminated from the district, and the APS police report was forwarded to the District Attorneys Office per protocol, Lubkeman said.

He said that, from there, the DA decides if charges will be filed.

Overall, the accounting director said a theft like this happens one or two times a year in the district.

And he said timing was part of the reason it took three months to notice the money missing in this case.

We have other controls in place, he said. However, due to the timing of the start of the school year,  one item we struggle with, that were still trying to find a better way to approach things is that, at the elementary and middle school levels, everybody is gone by the end of May and doesnt return until August when school begin.

He said that, in the summer months, no one is doing bank reconciliation, and the finance department doesnt have any bank statements from the schools.

At some point, hopefully, we will find some workaround so that does not happen in the future, but it is an ongoing concern here, he said.

When school is in session, there is more regular monitoring of activity funds and they are audited annually, he said.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

The coming months and a new governor could bring big changes to public education in New Mexico.

But what those changes look like depends on whom voters choose as their next governor, since the candidates differ on most education issues, including medical cannabis on school grounds and PARCC.

Yet the governor hopefuls do agree on teacher evaluations.

Both candidates, Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham and Republican Steve Pearce, want to shake up teacher evaluations.

NMTEACH, the current state evaluation tool, has been controversial with teachers unions and others. Opponents say it has contributed to people leaving the education profession, while supporters say its a data-driven way to assess teacher performance in connection with students outcomes.

Teacher ratings

Lujan Grisham told the Journal she would change to an evaluation model that allows holistic measures of teacher performance and focuses on professional growth.

I do not believe that the current model-based system is effectively evaluating teachers or providing the kind of feedback and support teachers need to succeed, she wrote in an email to the Journal.

Lujan Grisham said she will work with the state Public Education Department, teachers and families to develop a system.

Pearce said he will immediately suspend the current teacher evaluation system in which student test scores make up 35 percent of most educators evaluations, and work with teachers, superintendents and parents to replace it.

Ultimately, it will be up to teachers how that system is designed, Pearce spokesman Kevin Sheridan wrote to the Journal.

School grades

However, there are stark differences in their stances on school grades and PARCC testing, two primary tools used to measure progress and proficiency that were implemented during the administration of outgoing Gov. Susana Martinez.

Pearce has said he is cautious about eliminating PARCC but wants to see fixes on turnaround time to get students results faster.

As for school grades, those would stay the same under Pearce.

Although Pearces team says he is open to look for areas to improve the school grading model, the A-F system ultimately would remain.

Lujan Grishams education plan includes eliminating both the PARCC test and the A-F school grading system. She would work with stakeholders to pick the next test to measure student proficiency.

She told the Journal she believes New Mexicos current school grades focus too much on students PARCC scores.

I will support laws that replace the A-F system with a stronger, more student-focused ESSA-compliant school grading system in statute, and will make sure that PED is a partner in these efforts, she wrote.

Education lawsuit

The states next governor will also inherit compliance with a landmark education lawsuit ruling.

Lujan Grisham has vowed to immediately end an appeal to a judges ruling that said New Mexico has fallen short of meeting its constitutional requirement to provide a sufficient education to all at-risk students.

And she has said universal early childhood education in New Mexico is one of her top priorities.

As for other education remedies, she says she wants to get input from teachers, school administrators, parents and students to create a plan to address the courts decision.

Lujan Grisham favors funding the changes through increasing the amount withdrawn from the Land Grant Permanent Fund and is open to other tax revenues.

We also have an opportunity to bring in new revenues through tax code improvements like equalization sales tax on internet purchases, and by improving methane mitigation to bring in millions in severance taxes from natural gas, she wrote.

Pearce has said he agrees that the public education system in the state needs an overhaul, but has not committed either way on the appeal.

We do not know what the appeal will look like by the time hes sworn in as governor, so it may not even matter at that point, Sheridan said in an email to the Journal. He has said many times he agrees with the judges conclusion that the state is not serving students. That said, he did not need the court to tell us that the education system is a mess. It very clearly is broken and upon taking office he will set out to fix it.

One of his top priorities is providing school districts with the funding and autonomy to make decisions that directly affect them. To fund changes in education, Pearce says, he wants to move funding from the Public Education Department and put that money into the districts.

Medical cannabis

In October, mothers spoke to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee to advocate for a law change that would allow medical cannabis on school grounds. Its a medicine these mothers say helps their kids function and combat severe diagnoses.

State Sen. Candace Gould, R-Albuquerque, is working on a bill to change state law, according to Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, vice chairman of the committee.

But if that bill is passed by the Legislature, whether it is enacted will depend on the next governor.

Sheridan said Pearce does not support medical cannabis on school grounds.

The spokesman says Pearce understands and supports the use of medical cannabis in general but not at school.

Should a student or teacher be prescribed medical cannabis, Steve Pearce believes the school district should work with the individual to find a solution that does not include medical cannabis being brought onto school grounds, Sheridan wrote in an email to the Journal.

Lujan Grisham said she supports the medicine on school grounds as long as safety and administrative standards are established.

For many students their ability to use medical cannabis on school grounds is the difference between being able to attend public school or not, she wrote to the Journal.

Merit pay

Both candidates agree teacher pay is low  starting teacher pay is now $36,000  and would re-evaluate how schools and staff are funded, but they differ on merit pay.

Sheridan told the Journal that Pearce supports merit pay, which would provide stipends to teachers who receive high marks on their state evaluations.

Steve Pearce believes good teaching should be acknowledged and rewarded, Sheridan wrote to the Journal.

Two major teachers unions  Albuquerque Teachers Federation and National Education Association of New Mexico  have opposed merit pay, especially if based on the current teacher evaluation system.

Lujan Grisham doesnt believe merit pay is the solution and said raising teachers salaries should aim to improve retention and recruitment.

She said any other pay increases should focus on professional development and appropriate accountability measures.

I do not believe that educators hold back their efforts to educate students and will provide a higher quality of education based on increased standardized-assessment-based merit pay, she wrote in her email to the Journal.

Permanent fund

Lujan Grisham says she supports a constitutional amendment that would divert more money from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to increase funding for early childhood services.

We know high-quality Pre-K education for three and four-year-old children makes a huge difference in cognitive and social development and long-term educational outcomes, she wrote in response to a Journal questionnaire. This investment pays for itself many times over.

Pearce supports improving education but doesnt support using permanent funds to do so.

A raid will jeopardize our bond ratings and escalate our state budget problems, Pearce wrote in his response. We need to do more for childrens education on many fronts and that will require money, but not from this source.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller closed Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a news conference Wednesday afternoon emphasizing the steps his administration is taking to tackle domestic violence, along with city departments and community organizations.

Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home, Keller told a crowd of community members at Enlace Comunitario. This is something fundamental, this is fundamental about who we are as people and who we are as a community, and what the concept of home means. It should come with safety.

Representatives from several local organizations  including Enlace Comunitario, New Mexico Asian Family Center, Domestic Violence Resource Center and Safe House  stood alongside the mayor as he acknowledged that the city has a long way to go.

Authorities say 19,000 New Mexicans reported domestic violence last year in the state and, of those, 7,000 children were directly affected.

Keller outlined the actions being taken to address those numbers across the board  from on-scene first responders, and better access to resources to more funding and breaking the language barrier.

Keller said the Albuquerque Police Department is utilizing community policing to help build trust and relationships within neighborhoods as the Family Assault and Stalking Team goes door to door in vulnerable areas to make sure the right information is available.

Going forward, he said, all APD cadets and Albuquerque Fire Rescue members will be required to undergo domestic violence training.

In a new approach, Keller said all first responders will be equipped with a cellphone app, iSpeak, which connects to a translator and information card that can guide them through the process in a variety of languages.

Language access is so important when it comes to domestic violence and accessing a host of services, he said.

Keller said the app and information cards will allow witnesses or victims to talk with first responders at the scene, rather than have it done at a later time elsewhere.

The idea is to do it as soon as we can, he said.

Various city departments have also taken steps to fight domestic violence.

The Department of Senior Affairs has provided resources and information at their events and centers, Family and Community Services has requested $910,000 in funding for domestic violence services and Kellers administration is co-sponsoring a domestic violence prevention conference with the Bernalillo County Community Health Council next month.

Today is the last day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but sadly domestic violence occurs every day of the year; it is epidemic, said Juliann Salinas, associate director of Enlace Comunitario. Collectively, however, we can have an impact.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

For nearly three decades, judicial campaigns in New Mexico have been largely free of the nasty partisan politics common in an election year.

The races have been generally collegial, with candidates focusing on their own qualifications and almost never attacking each other. Outside groups typically have stayed on the sidelines, respecting the system.

But this fall, a political action committee funded in large part by trial lawyers has unleashed a social media and television advertising attack on five Republican judicial candidates appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez, claiming they are her puppets.

The attack by Safety and Justice for All comes after decades of work by judges and legislators to remove the state judiciary from partisan politics, including a system in which a nonpartisan judicial nominating commission screens applicants and forwards the names of qualified candidates to the governor.

The ad has caused widespread consternation in the judiciary and has drawn condemnation and disavowal  including from the Democratic judicial candidates it would help.

The ad calls Supreme Court Justice Gary Clingman, and Court of Appeals Judges Stephen G. French, Hank Bohnhoff, Emil J. Kiehne and Daniel Jose Gallegos The Susana Five, dancing like marionettes with Martinez holding the strings.

The ads dont mention Court of Appeals Judge Jennifer L. Attrep, a Santa Fe Democrat, who also was appointed by Martinez and is running unopposed to retain her seat on the appellate bench.

Safety and Justice for All raised almost $300,000 from attorneys and law firms, including $50,000 from the Trial Attorneys Association PAC called Committee on Individual Responsibility.

In an email response, Safety and Justice for All said it stands by its 100 percent factual advertisement.

We are certainly not breaking new ground when it comes to advertising in the judicial races, the statement said.

The group also pointed out two mail advertisements, one an attack ad from a previous election, and another supporting Kiehne but not attacking his opponent.

Retired Court of Appeals Judge Roderick Kennedy said the ad was no less false than others run by independent interest groups in judicial races in other states.

He said he found it ironic that anyone would think Martinez pulls the strings of judges.

Having had Gov. Martinez criticize a Court of Appeals opinion that she didnt like to me in Macys one Saturday morning, and given her frequent dissatisfaction with the judiciary, it seems ironic, said Kennedy, a Republican.

Widespread criticism

The campaigns for the four Democratic candidates for the Court of Appeals in contested races said they were unhappy with the attack ad.

District Judge Briana H. Zamora, an Albuquerque Democrat running against Kiehne, said through her campaign chairman, Paul Melendres, We were disappointed to recently learn that there was an attack ad being run in the judicial races. We do not condone these type of ads and believe they have no place in judicial races.

Judge Kiehne said, The suggestion that my fellow judges and I are puppets on a string, that we take orders from someone else on how to decide cases, is an outrageous lie. This is nothing less than an attack on the integrity and independence of the judiciary.

One of the targets of the ad, appellate Judge Hank Bohnhoff, published a response on his campaign website that said, in part, Sadly, the biggest casualty of this attack ad could be our States judiciary. The publics confidence in our judiciarys independence from influence by other branches of our government is crucial to the administration of justice.

His response goes on to say the ad insinuates without a shred of evidence that, contrary to the oath of office that each judge takes to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of New Mexico, five members of our States two highest courts are not independent and instead are beholden to the Governor.

If such lies are accepted as true by some portion of the public, trust in the judiciary will suffer.

Democrat Jacqueline Medina, who is running against Bohnhoff, said through a campaign spokesman that she was disappointed in the ad campaign.

New Mexico has worked hard to create a system that includes public financing and a strong Judicial Code of Conduct, to give its residents confidence in the judiciary and reinforce the impartiality of its judges, Medina said.

Court of Appeals Judge Daniel Gallegos, one of the Republicans attacked in the ad, said, This overt and rancorous appeal to partisanship is antithetical to the concept of judicial independence and the rule of law, and is an end-run around the Judicial Code of Conduct, which prohibits judicial candidates from making these sorts of attacks.

Megan Duffy, who is running against Gallegos, said the advertisement was unfortunate, adding that the campaign had been friendly and collegial.

Democratic candidate Kristina Bogardus said through her campaign that she was dismayed to learn about the negative ad. Her opponent, appellate Judge Stephen G. French, declined to comment, citing the rules governing judicial conduct.

Judicial nominations

Over the past few decades, the Legislature and the Supreme Court have sought to remove judges from the worst aspects of political campaigns.

At the urging of many in the judiciary, New Mexico voters in 1988 amended the state Constitution to create a judicial nomination commission to screen applicants for vacancies on the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, district courts and metropolitan courts.

The commission screens applicants and forwards to the governor the names of applicants it deems qualified.

The sitting governor then appoints a judge from the list to fill the position. The four Republican judges on the Court of Appeals went through this process.

A judge appointed by the governor must run in the next partisan election and if elected then is subject to retention election on a non-partisan ballot in the following elections. Standing for a partisan election was a compromise to get the amendment on the ballot, as some key lawmakers fought to keep the judiciary as part of the political process.

Many judges, including retired Court of Appeals Judge Kennedy, said the initial partisan election devalues merit selection.

The Supreme Court has issued rules governing the conduct of candidates in judicial races restricting how they raise money, what they can and cant say in campaign literature and on the campaign trail, even the conduct of family members. Unless they are on the ballot in a partisan election, their participation in politics and political events is severely restricted. But the Supreme Court cant regulate the free speech of groups like Safety and Justice for All PAC.

The Legislature also approved public financing for judicial candidates. All the candidates in the Court of Appeals election, Democrats and Republicans, chose this option instead of having their campaigns raise money from private donations.

The well-funded attack ads being aired during this campaign could make public financing a much less attractive option for judicial candidates in the future.

It also opens the door to out-of-state interests that could dump big money into New Mexico in 2020, when a majority of the state Supreme Court could be on the ballot.

Not along party lines

The 10-member Court of Appeals and five-member Supreme Court are not intended to operate on party lines.

For example, the Supreme Court was unanimous in its decision refusing to uphold a string of vetoes by Gov. Martinez in a lawsuit brought by a group of legislators.

In another recent case, Republican Clingman wrote the majority opinion joined by the courts three Democrats  Charles Daniels, Petra Jimenez Maes and Barbara Vigil. The lone dissent: Chief Justice Judith Nakamura, the courts other Republican.

And Republican Bohnhoff wrote a recent Court of Appeals opinion joined by Democratic Judges Linda M. Vanzi, the chief judge, and Monica Zamora.
A new online service launched by the New Mexico judiciary lets self-represented litigants in divorce and domestic abuse cases prepare certain documents from home.

Being able to fill out the forms at home should alleviate some of the stress that an extra trip to the courthouse adds to situations that are inherently emotional, such as filing for divorce, said state District Court Judge Nan Nash in a news release.

The new Guide and File service, available at www.nmguideandfile.com, works like tax preparation software, taking users through a series of questions and then generating a court form, which must be filed in person at the courthouse.

In an interview, Nash said the program asks questions that are easy to understand, protecting people from getting tripped up on legal jargon.

Forms available on the site include petitions for protective orders in domestic abuse cases, divorce petitions, responses, finalizations and applications for free case processing. It also offers a self-help guide and lists of information and paperwork necessary to prepare the documents.

Nash said the new program is a better way of doing business, and may mean fewer people seeking help from court employees.

As important as saving the court time  is actually helping the folks who are representing themselves come up with a form that actually addresses what they need from it, Nash said.

Barry Massey, spokesman for the Administrative Office of the Courts, said self-represented litigants are involved in a growing number of civil cases. In fiscal year 2018, around 80 percent of divorce cases involved at least one person who was self represented.
Its often innocently assumed that presidents, by virtue of the office they hold, automatically push aside partisanship in the face of national crises. The slaughter at the Tree of Life congregation in Pittsburgh combined with the pipe bombs sent to President Donald Trumps opponents have certainly created such a moment.

But this wishful thinking overlooks the central fact about Trumps approach to politics: His grip on power depends entirely on splitting the nation in two. Angry division  rooted in race, gender, immigration status, religion and ideology  allowed Trump to become president. Absent a politics of us-versus-them, Trumpism makes no sense at all.

This explains why Trump will sometimes offer presidentially appropriate words of concord  It will require all of us working together to extract the hateful poison of anti-Semitism, he said at an Illinois rally on Saturday  but almost immediately return to baiting and assailing his enemies and also groups against whom he hopes to court a backlash.

The New York Times headline in its Sunday print edition was accurate, and it could have been run at so many other times during his presidency: Trump Makes Call for Unity at Rally, Then Resumes Old Attacks.

And on Sunday afternoon, Trump took to Twitter to ridicule Democratic donor Tom Steyer as a crazed & stumbling lunatic. Never mind that Steyer was targeted by one of the more than a dozen pipe bombs sent to the presidents critics. The tweet came barely 48 hours after Cesar Sayoc, a Florida man whose van was plastered with pro-Trump and anti-liberal messages, was arrested and charged in the mail bombings.

But none of this should have been surprising. Trump took the threats against his foes so lightly that on Friday he tweeted his complaint that this Bomb stuff  yes, he really used that phrase  had slowed Republican electoral momentum.

The legitimation of group hatred in the interest of electoral success is the goal of Trumps hyping an immigrant caravan from Central America  dutifully given extensive coverage by the very same media Trump regularly assails  and the administrations threat to close our southern border. A White House official unapologetically put a partisan spin on what is supposed to be a serious policy, describing Trumps border move as a way to address the Democrat-created crisis of mass illegal immigration.

The failure of Republican leaders to denounce a president who is devoting himself to ripping us apart reflects a ground-level truth about Republicanism in 2018: The party of Lincoln and Eisenhower has been consumed  temporarily, one devoutly wishes  by a narrow and exclusionary form of identity politics.

The importance of the backlash around race and immigration inside the GOP is a central theme of a timely, careful and data-rich new book on the 2016 election by political scientists John Sides, Michael Tesler and Lynn Vavreck. In Identity Crisis, they argue that Trump understood what was happening inside the party in a way his rivals did not.

Trump ignored the many Republicans who criticized him for emboldening fringe white nationalists  and then became the champion of white voters with racially inflected grievances, they write.  Trump tapped into beliefs, ideas and anxieties that were already present and even well established within the party. His support was hiding in plain sight.

As a result, Republican politicians now have an incentive to run on issues connected to identity as opposed to a traditional platform of limited government. And the authors offer what turns out to be a dead-on description of the campaign we are watching now: Trumps positions on immigration, Confederate monuments and national anthem protests have proved more popular with Republican voters than have the GOP tax bill or Republican alternatives to the Affordable Care Act.

The truth of that sentence is brought home in the systematic lying by Republican candidates about what their goal of repealing Obamacare would mean in practice.

Normally, calls to end polarization speak of the need to bring the two parties together to find compromises. But these benign bromides are useless when one party thrives on aggravating mistrust, acrimony and fear.

This is not about blaming Trump for the pipe bombs or the synagogue killings. Responsibility falls upon those who undertook these evil actions. But it is undeniable that the president  with the acquiescence and, too often, the support of his party  has heightened ethnic and racial conflict for his own political benefit.

For Trump and his enablers, national unity is not a noble goal but a dire threat to their political well-being.

E-mail ejdionne@washpost.com. Twitter: @EJDionne. (c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group.
New Mexico universities play vital roles for the entire state.

Theyre huge employers, providing jobs for thousands of New Mexicans throughout the Land of Enchantment. Theyre economic engines, bringing hundreds of millions of research dollars into the state economy. Theyre problem solvers, figuring out such things as the cause of a mystery illness that was killing New Mexicans in the early 1990s; coming up with better medications to treat health issues like high cholesterol; and even dreaming up such things as nicotine patches to help people who are trying to quit smoking.

And, most important, theyre centers of knowledge, training generations to be teachers and doctors, business leaders and social workers, artists, lawyers and much in between.

Perhaps envisioning the vital role New Mexico universities would play some day, the framers of our state Constitution went to great lengths to insulate them from partisan politics and the whims of any one governor.

Sadly, many of those constitutional safeguards have been stomped on as some leaders have chosen to play politics rather than carry out their sworn duty of upholding the Constitution. The shenanigans have included everything from former Gov. Bill Richardson asking sitting regents to resign after he was elected and his own regent appointees for undated letters of resignations he could invoke at any time, to Senate Rules Committee chair Linda Lopez refusing to hold confirmation hearings for many of Gov. Susana Martinezs regent appointees, a move that will allow the next governor to appoint five of seven regents at the University of New Mexico.

This nonsense has been an assault on the Constitution, hurt our universities and weakened our state.

Worse yet, it might continue. Both gubernatorial candidates have been highly critical of UNMs regents. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Democratic nominee for governor, is leaving open the possibility that, if elected, she would seek resignations from regents whose terms do not expire this year. Rep. Steve Pearce, her Republican opponent, has not said if he would ask Regents Rob Doughty and Marron Lee to resign.

Whichever candidate emerges as the winner next week, that individual should respect the system laid out by the Constitution and not demand resignations from Doughty or Lee, who have been confirmed by the Senate, or dismiss without confirmation hearing those appointees who have been waiting for the Senate, its Rules Committee and Lopez to set aside their pettiness and carry out their constitutionally mandated duty of voting regent nominees up or down.

Our states founders spelled out that:

 State universities would be managed by boards of regents  rather than a single Cabinet secretary controlled by the governor. UNM is managed by a seven-member board; all other New Mexico universities are managed by five-member boards.

 No more than four members of the UNM regents can be from the same political party at the time of appointment, eliminating the possibility of a political party having a supermajority on the board. For all other universities, no more than three regents can be members of the same party when appointed.

 Regents are to serve six-year terms, except for the student regent, who serves two years. The six-year terms are staggered to have experienced regents at all times and minimize the possibility that short-term interests drive university agendas.

 Regents are not to be removed except for incompetence, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. And if proceedings are ever launched to remove a regent, the state Supreme Court has final say on whether the regent is ousted.

 And, while they gave the governor the power to appoint regents, they bestowed on the Senate the right of consent, the right to hold confirmation hearings and reject regents deemed unqualified or objectionable.

The framers of our state Constitution rightly wanted boards of regents looking out for the best interests of our universities, not sycophants trying to score political points by giving into the whims of the powerful. Its up to us, as citizens and voters, to demand those we elect adhere to the constitutional safeguards for boards of regents and not use their positions to try to control the affairs of our universities.

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

SANTA FE  With hotly contested races for governor and Congress on the ballot, early and absentee voting levels in New Mexico have eclipsed final 2010 and 2014 early vote levels  with several days to spare.

A total of 300,016 New Mexico voters had cast ballots in early and absentee voting through Tuesday, according to figures released Wednesday by the Secretary of States Office. Early voting runs through Saturday at designated voting sites statewide.

Were looking at record-breaking turnout for early voting in non-presidential election years, said longtime New Mexico political observer Brian Sanderoff.

Registered Democrats have been voting at a slightly higher rate statewide than registered Republicans, though Republicans have been narrowing the gap in recent days, Sanderoff said.

He also said the political party thats more energized in a given election cycle generally tends to vote at a higher clip during early voting.

I think there are a lot of Democrats that want to make a statement and are really angry at Donald Trump, said Sanderoff, president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc.

In 2014, a total of 519,436 registered New Mexico voters cast ballots  or about 40.4 percent of registered voters. A total of 268,310 voters cast ballots via early and absentee voting in that years gubernatorial race between Republican Susana Martinez and Democrat Gary King, which Martinez won easily.

And in 2010, the most recent year before this year that there was an open race for governor, a total of 607,700 voters cast ballots statewide. The total of those voting early or absentee that year was 297,768.

This years increase in early and absentee voting is not necessarily a harbinger of higher final turnout, Sanderoff said, since voters have increasingly been deciding to cast their ballots before Election Day.

In addition, some voters could simply be seeking to be done with the ballot box early this year, since several races have featured hard-hitting attack ads.

That includes the race for governor, which pits Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham against Republican Steve Pearce, and the race for the open southern New Mexico-based 2nd Congressional District featuring Republican Yvette Herrell and Democrat Xochitl Torres Small.

Both contests have featured a barrage of TV advertisements paid for by the candidates and various national groups. Vice President Mike Pence traveled to Roswell last week to stump for Pearce and Herrell.

Overall, the slightly more than 300,000 registered voters who had cast ballots in early or absentee voting through Tuesday represent nearly 24 percent of the more than 1.2 million New Mexicans registered to vote in this years general election.

In three counties  Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Sierra  the turnout has already exceeded 30 percent.

By political party, 27.5 percent of registered Democrats had already voted early or absentee through Tuesday, compared with nearly 26.7 percent of registered Republicans, according to data compiled by Research & Polling Inc.

Roughly 13 percent of independent voters  or those who decline to state a party affiliation  had cast ballots, although independents make up about 22 percent of registered voters statewide.

Meanwhile, 15.9 percent of registered New Mexico Libertarians had cast ballots in early and absentee voting though Tuesday. Libertarians are the states third major political party for this years election cycle and have candidates running for U.S. Senate and two of the states three congressional seats.

Even with the increased turnout, Bernalillo County election officials say voters havent had to wait too long, perhaps eight to 12 minutes at some points in the day. Early voting locations tend to be busiest around lunchtime and as people leave work, and there may be longer lines late in the day Saturday, when early voting ends, Deputy Bernalillo County Clerk Jaime Diaz said.

But overall, he said, The wait is pretty manageable.

Journal staff writer Dan McKay contributed to this report.

At a glance

Early voting runs through Saturday. Friday is the last day to request an absentee ballot. Here are early and absentee vote totals through Tuesday:

Total  300,016

Democrats  158,732 (52.9 percent)

Republicans  102,077 (34 percent)

Libertarians  1,503 (0.5 percent)

Declined to state (independent)  36,201 (12.1 percent)

Other  1,503 (0.5 percent)Source: New Mexico Secretary of States Office




VADO  A Dona Ana County resident suspected of trespassing, stealing pecans and striking a deputy sheriff was arrested Monday.

Gary Tancredi, 45, is charged with one fourth-degree felony count of battery on a peace officer, and misdemeanor counts of assault on a peace officer, criminal trespass and petty misdemeanor of larceny ($250 or less).

Authorities were called to the 600 block of Holguin Road in Vado just after noon on Monday, Oct. 29, to check on a report of a man stealing pecans and placing them in a plastic bag.

The owner of the property alleged that Tancredi jumped over an irrigation ditch to get to his pecan trees. He said he approached Tancredi about the pecans and Tancredi told him he only picked up five pecans, but the property owner said there were about 20 pecans in the bag he was holding.

The owner alleged that Tancredi began ignoring his requests to stop picking up pecans and thats when he called 911.

According to sheriffs reports, Tancredi allegedly became defensive when approached by a deputy and got into a fight stance with closed fists. The deputy and Tancredi then both fell into a ditch and Tancredi allegedly punched the deputy in the face, according to reports.

The report stated that after Tancredi stopped struggling, the deputy was able to restrain him and arrest him.

Tancredi was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center and will have his first court appearance Wednesday, Oct. 31, in Third Judicial District Court.

Last year, Dona Ana County authorities said thefts of pecans were on the rise  sparking concerns among large-scale farmers and backyard growers.

Often, there arent any eyewitnesses to or video footage of the crimes, Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office authorities said at the time. And sometimes even farmers who spot a crime in action are afraid to report it for fear of retaliation.

DASO encourages farmers to keep an eye out for suspicious activity on their properties. The department said options that assist police are to install video surveillance cameras or hire security personnel.

Anyone wanting to report a crime in Dona Ana County can call the Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority. The emergency number is 911; the non-emergency number is 575-526-0795.



2018 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.)

Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com

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LAS CRUCES  Charlies still a good dog.

Thats what Sonny Tex Gilligan said days after Charlie  his 120-pound Rottweiler mix  accidentally shot him.

Gilligan, 74, a Dona Ana County resident, told the Sun-News that Charlie and his two other dogs  Scooter and Cowboy  went with him to hunt for jackrabbits in the desert west of Las Cruces on Thursday, Oct. 25.

Gilligan was in the drivers seat of his parked pickup truck, along with the dogs, when he was shot.

Charlie got his foot in the trigger of the gun and I leaned forward and he slipped off the seat and caught the trigger  and it shot, Gilligan said. It was a freak accident but its true, thats what happened.

The shotgun  in the backseat of the pickup, along with Charlie  fired through Gilligans front drivers seat. The bullet went through Gilligans back, breaking a few ribs and shattering his collar bone, and caused other, severe injuries.

Gilligan said he initially thought someone from outside the vehicle had shot him, but soon realized the shot came from his own gun.

I was very fortunate I could get to my phone, Gilligan said. The DASO (Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office) first-responders saved my life. If they waited 10 more minutes I wouldve died. I lost so much blood. I know I actually passed to the other side just before getting to the hospital but they were able to revive me through CPR and bring me back. I have so much appreciation to the doctors and first-responders who saved my life.

Gilligans 911 call came in at 12:33 p.m. He told dispatchers he was at the railroad tracks near the intersection of County Roads B4 and B5.

Sheriffs deputies, Border Patrol agents and New Mexico State Police went to the scene and found Gilligan next to his truck with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was transported via helicopter to University Medical Center in El Paso.

Gilligan underwent several surgeries, and, though hes in critical condition, he should recover. He said hes being transferred to a rehabilitation center in Las Cruces on Wednesday.

Poor Charlie

Gilligan said Charlie, Scooter and Cowboy were sent to jail  the Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley  following the shooting.

Poor Charlie, hes a good dog, Gilligan said. The sheriffs department said the only one they had trouble with was Cowboy. The other two were friendly. Charlie is the boss, but hes gentle.

Gilligan joked that his son was able to bond out the dogs.

It was an accident, although they tease me asking me if he did it on purpose, Gilligan said. Truth is, (Charlies) a big, loving dog and would never hurt anybody on purpose.

Gilligans son, Mark Gilligan, said he wasnt surprised to hear one of the dogs accidentally shot his father.

Theyre kind of rowdy. Theyre pretty rambunctious and full of energy, Mark said. Thats why the owners gave them up. My dad has four acres of land so they can run free. So, it didnt surprise me at all. When they see a cow or other animal they want to jump in the front.

Gilligan said he still loves all his dogs. He said he rescued them all as puppies.

Theyre all rescue dogs. Charlie was advertised as a free puppy in El Paso, Gilligan said. I got one of them at a flea market for $20 and adopted one.

Jacqueline Devine can be reached at 575-541-5476, JDevine@lcsun-news.com or @JackieIsDevine on Twitter.



2018 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.)

Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
FARMINGTON  As mourners in Pittsburgh attend the funerals for the 11 people who were killed during at shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday, communities around the country are gathering to show their support and to condemn hatred and anti-Semitism.

The attack on Saturday is believed to be the deadliest attack against Jews in the United States in the history of the country.

A candlelight vigil Tuesday drew a small crowd to Orchard Park in Farmington. The gathering at Orchard Park began with the singing of We Shall Overcome and ended with the mourners kaddish, a Jewish prayer of mourning

Laura Marshall, one of the vigils organizers, asked the community to pledge to speak out against hatred and bigotry in the Four Corners area. Marshall, who is Jewish, led the crowd in the mourners kaddish.

At the beginning of the vigil, she referenced the Talmud, saying, Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world, and whoever saves a life it is considered as if he saved an entire world.

Farmington police Chief Steve Hebbe spoke before the mourners kaddish. He encouraged people to look for good in the times of tragedy.

Its our humanity that binds us together, Hebbe said.

Hebbe said the doctors and nurses who saved the shooter Robert Bowers life in Pittsburgh were Jewish.

Fellowship of the Spirit Rev. George Harris encouraged people to look for the love rather than focusing on the hatred and fear.

We talk about love and fear, that all there is is love and fear in our thoughts, he said. We get to choose. But, actually, I like to tell my congregation that all there is is love. The rest weve made up.

Farmington First Presbyterian Church Rev. Megan Cullip quoted a New York Times article describing Bower as a ghost who was virtually unknown to his neighbors.

Though we in no way want to diminish the shooters own grave responsibility for this evil mass murder, one must wonder what we can learn from Mr. Rogers about being a neighbor to the many who are isolated, who are like ghosts living next door, she said.

Legendary childrens television host Fred Rogers, who grew up in the Squirrel Hill community in Pittsburgh, where the shooting took place, was one of three figures Cullip urged people to look to as an example. On his show, Rogers taught children about being good neighbors.

Were all responsible in some way to be light bearers in this world, Cullip said.

Other figures she highlighted as examples were Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and the Biblical prophet Isaiah.

Cullip spoke about visiting Salem, Massachusetts, where infamous witch hunts took place in the 17th century. She said Wiesel dedicated a monument there in 1992. Cullip said in his dedication speech Wiesel said, If I cant stop all of the hate all over the world in all of the people, I can stop it in one place  within me.

Cullip read from a 1936 essay by American author Albert Jay Nock called Isaiahs Job, which was published in The Atlantic. In the essay, Nock distinguishes between the masses, which he described as lost, and the remnant.

Cullip said Isaiahs job, as described by Nock, was to take care of the remnant, who, when everything has gone to the dogs, they are the ones who will come back and build a new society.

Id like to suggest that, like Isaiah, our job is to take care of the remnant, she said.

Hannah Grover covers government for The Daily Times. She can be reached at 505-564-4652 or via email at hgrover@daily-times.com.



2018 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.)

Visit The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) at www.daily-times.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Two Texas cities have landed at the top of a list of the countrys hottest housing markets.

But its not Dallas or Houston that have had the biggest increase in home prices.

Odessa and Wichita Falls were ranked first nationally for home price gains in a new report by Realtor.com

Fueled by the oil and gas boom, home prices in Odessa were up more than 34 percent year-over-year in September, according to Realtor.com.

With a median home list price of $271,400, Odessa residential values are topping Dallas-Fort Worth sales prices.

With all the engineers, truckers, and welders moving here, the number of homes on the market has plummeted by 44 percent over the past 12 months, which is pushing prices ever higher, Realtor.com said.

In Wichita Falls, median home list prices rose more than 27 percent in the past year.

Affordability plays a big role: Many of these places are still under $150,000, Realtor.com said.

While home prices are soaring in Odessa and Wichita Falls, home values are growing much slower in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Median sales prices in 2018 have increased by about 5 percent since last year.

As other markets are starting to level off a bit or go down, some are playing catch-up from a bump in the road, Joseph Kirchner, senior economist at Realtor.com, said in a statement.



2018 The Dallas Morning News

Visit The Dallas Morning News at www.dallasnews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Quantum-dot coated windows could soon be generating electricity for some Wells Fargo buildings, thanks to a $250,000 grant for the Los Alamos-based startup Ubiquitous Quantum Dots.

Wells Fargos Innovation Incubator (IN2) selected UbiQD as one of five startups nationwide to participate in its program, which pays for up to $250,000 in technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Energys National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado. Once a program participants technology is sufficiently advanced, startups become eligible to test their innovations at Wells Fargo buildings, or at partner facilities.

We believe well be ready to deploy our technology in a pilot project with Wells Fargo next year, said UbiQD CEO Hunter McDaniel.

The company has received about $5.7 million in grants and private investment since launching in 2014 with technology licensed from Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That includes about $1 million in new private investment UbiQD received this summer, McDaniel said.

The company has developed a low-cost, low-toxic process for making quantum-dots, which are tiny, three-dimensional structures that manipulate light in unique ways, absorbing it and emitting it back out in different colors. Theyre used in everything from transistors and sunscreen to LCD televisions, tablets and smartphones.

UbiQD is applying the quantum dots as a window coating that captures sunlight and then channels the photons to photovoltaic cells on window frames. In contrast, other companies have applied PV cells directly to windows, which is a more complex and expensive process.

UbiQDs quantum dot window-coating makes its solar-collecting technology a part of the window itself, offering a drop-in solution that could be much simpler and more affordable for users.

Thats what attracted the Wells Fargo incubator, said Ramsay Huntley, Wells Fargo Clean Technology and Innovation Philanthropy Program officer.

Other technologies have had difficulty scaling for commercial use because its too expensive and generally too invasive, Huntley told the Journal. This technology can be truly integrated into a building. Thats game-changing.

Wells Fargo started its $30 million IN2 program in 2014 in collaboration with DOEs renewable energy lab to accelerate development of emerging technologies that advance energy efficiency in commercial buildings. UbiQD is one of 25 companies nationally accepted into the program to date.

The energy lab previously tested the electric-generating efficiency of UbiQDs technology through a $300,000 grant the DOE awarded in 2016. The new funding will now pay for reliability testing on UbiQDs newest solar-window prototypes, McDaniel said.

Were scaling it up now from a 2-foot by 2-foot window coating to a 3-foot by 3-foot one, McDaniel said. We believe thats the critical size needed for commercial use in windows.
DENVER  Apartment Investment and Management Co. (AIV) on Thursday reported a key measure of profitability in its third quarter. The results exceeded Wall Street expectations.

The Denver-based real estate investment trust said it had funds from operations of $99.3 million, or 63 cents per share, in the period.

The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for funds from operations of 61 cents per share.

Funds from operations is a closely watched measure in the REIT industry. It takes net income and adds back items such as depreciation and amortization.

The company said it had net income of $567 million, or $3.61 per share.

The real estate investment trust posted revenue of $242.5 million in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $241.2 million.

For the current quarter ending in December, Apartment Investment Management expects its per-share funds from operations to be 63 cents.

The company expects full-year funds from operations to be $2.47 per share.

The companys shares have declined nearly 2 percent since the beginning of the year, while the Standard & Poors 500 index has climbed 2 percent. In the final minutes of trading on Thursday, shares hit $43, a drop of 3 percent in the last 12 months.

_____

This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AIV at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AIV
Roger Stone was in communication with at least one senior Trump campaign official about upcoming WikiLeaks disclosures during the 2016 presidential race, Stone revealed Thursday.

In an opinion piece for the right-wing Daily Caller, Stone published an exchange he had with Steve Bannon, then the chief executive of the Trump campaign. The emails are among the documents in special counsel Robert Mueller's possession as he investigates whether Stone had an inside-track with WikiLeaks and whether he shared any of that information with then-candidate Trump or Trump's inner circle.

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"What was that this morning???" Bannon wrote to Stone on October 4, 2016. Earlier that day, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange had delivered a speech billed as an "October surprise" announcement and had promised additional Clinton-related leaks. But the event turned out to be a publicity stunt where Assange touted his organization's 10th anniversary. All Assange offered was another promise of more materials before the election, angering some Trump supporters who were hoping for a bombshell.

Stone replied to Bannon that Assange didn't release any documents out of security concerns. Then Stone wrote, "However -- a load every week going forward."

In his column Thursday, Stone said this particular prediction was based on publicly available information.

"More importantly my prediction of 'a load every week going forward' is based on Assange's own public announcement hours before-that there would be weekly releases going through and beyond the election and not any communication with Wikileaks or Assange," Stone wrote in his piece headlined "The Treachery of Steve Bannon."

While Stone says he still hasn't been contacted by the special counsel, nearly a dozen of his associates have been contacted for interviews with Mueller's team or testimony before the grand jury. Last week, Mueller's team interviewed Bannon for a third time, including about his communications with Stone.

Stone's move to publish the emails pre-empted a New York Times story Thursday about Stone's efforts to pitch himself to Trump campaign officials as a WikiLeaks insider.

At least one campaign official told investigators that Stone told campaign officials he had ties to Assange, according to a person familiar with the investigation.

Stone made a variety of pronouncements during the 2016 campaign suggesting he had ties to Assange or advance knowledge about what WikiLeaks was planning to release. The timing of the email exchange between Stone and Bannon could also be of interest to investigators.

Days later, on October 7, 2016, WikiLeaks unveiled the hacked emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta.

It was convenient timing for the Trump campaign. It came about 30 minutes after one of the most damaging moments of Trump's presidential campaign: when a recording became public showing Trump bragging about grabbing women's genitals in previously unaired footage from a 2005 interview with 'Access Hollywood.'

While Stone made a show -- publicly and privately -- of bragging about his close ties to Assange during the 2016 campaign, he has since revised his story. Stone said he relied on publicly available information, tips from journalists and a backchannel source -- progressive New York activist and radio host Randy Credico.

Credico, who has been interviewed multiple times by investigators and testified before the grand jury, has denied that he acted as Stone's backchannel.

It remains unclear what charges Stone could face, if any.

In a separate email published by The New York Times, Stone encourages Bannon to have Trump campaign surrogates tout a story -- without any evidence -- that Bill Clinton has a love child.

Then he asks Bannon to have GOP donor Rebekah Mercer fund his efforts to spread the Clinton story.

"I've raise (sic) $150K for the targeted black digital campaign thru a C-4," Stone wrote. "Tell Rebecca to send us some $$$."

The request could run afoul of federal election law. On Thursday, Stone told CNN he never received any money from the Mercers.
CHICO, Calif. - At midnight on Wednesday, Enloe Medical Center will terminate its contract with Anthem Blue-Cross unless a deal is reached before then.

If Anthem Blue Cross is your provider, there are a few things you need to know. Enloe officials told Debbie Cobb from Action News Now everything they need to know moving forward.

Only commercial contracts are impacted by this, meaning anyone who is employed and their employer carries Anthem Blue Cross.

People who are insured by Medicare and Medical are not impacted.

If you're an anthem customer and you have a surgery or procedure on the books that's already been authorized, you may be covered past Thursday, depending on the plan.

Members may also be eligible to continue their care for terminal or serious illnesses and for pregnant women and babies up to 36-months-old.

Enloe representatives said they're renegotiating because they feel the provider continues to raise premiums and despite profit surges, it's not investing back into the community it's supposed to serve.

Hospital administrators worry that doctors may leave the hospital rather than get short-changed by the insurance company.

To see if your procedure is covered, CLICK HERE.

You can also call the number on your anthem insurance card and they can let you know what is and isn't covered.
OROVILLE, Calif. - The project to fix the Oroville Dam Spillway has met its construction deadline of Nov. 1, according to the Department of Water Resources.

More than 700 construction workers from Butte County and other parts of California assisted with the project.

The main spillway will be ready by Dec. 1 in time for rainy season, according to the department. Dry finishing and site cleanup will continue past the Nov. 1 deadline.

The department also has plans to manage operations during flood season.
You may notice a hole in your California ballot jumping from prop 8 to prop 10 so what happened to Proposition 9?

A hot-button topic earlier this year was a proposal aiming to break California into 3 separate states.

That proposal would have been proposition 9.

Before it could head to the ballot, however, the state supreme court threw out the proposition.

That means all of California stays as California no matter what.

Even if this proposition would have passed the Federal Government would have had to sign off on the split.

So despite the numerous attempt to break apart the golden state it doesnt seem like its going to happen any time soon.
To help navigate parents through the journey of parenting, CNBCTV18.com has launched a podcast titled, Questions That Need Answers. Hosted by Manisha Natarajan, the eminent anchor from CNBC-TV18, who herself is a parent to two energetic teenagers, the podcast will help overcome the challenges of modern-day parenting. The podcast joins a series of existing podcasts by CNBCTV18.com such as MarketBuzz, Money Money Money and Young Turks, which are hosted by other prominent anchors from CNBC-TV18.

Speaking on the announcement of the podcast, Ranjita Sehgal, Business Head at CNBCTV18.com, As a brand, we have always endeavored to provide our audience with a varied set of knowledge on our platform. Our podcast series is one of the many innovative ways we are adopting to disperse information to our users. With our association with Momspresso we intend to reach out to a larger set of audience who can benefit from our podcast.

Manisha Natarajan, Group Editor, Real Estate & Urban Development, CNBC-TV18 and host of the podcast said, With our podcast we wanted to tap into the different spheres of parenting that are often looked over, such as mental well-being and the active role of a father. To do so effectively, the best way forward was to call out the experts in the field. Today, there arent enough digital publications out there, which address parental concerns on such pressing matters. Being a mother myself, I was in the right place asking the right questions, which plague every parent in this day and age.

The 25 minutes parenting podcast features an interaction between Natarajan and experts from various spheres pertinent to parenting and childcare. The podcast aims to tackle the most difficult questions and challenges that parents face in this fast-paced, digitally over-dependent era. With experts onboard, the podcast intends to address parental concerns towards the physical, mental and emotional well-being of their children. Through this offering, the digital platform is looking at reaching out to parents with thought-provoking content that assists them in bettering their parenting behaviour.

In order to provide holistic solutions to listeners, the podcast will cover various facets of parenting through the eyes of experts from the fields of psychiatry, education and counseling. The guests joining the sessions are Dr. Sapna Bangar, a leading child and adolescent Psychiatrist, Pramath Raj Sinha  Founder ISB and Ashoka University, Naveen Chopra - Chairman of The Chopras, Indias leading career and education counselling firm, Meera Ravi  a family counsellor with two decades of experience and Vishal Gupta, Co- Founder and CEO, Momspresso. The interactions will take place over vital topics such as Raising children in a digital age. Setting rules for digital usage amongst young children, Helping children navigate the rapidly changing world of careers, Right time to start preparing for college admissions and steps to cracking admission in a good international college, Parenting a shy or introvert child in an increasingly aggressive environment and Role of fathers in modern day parenting and breaking the gender stereotype.

The riveting podcast series adds to the bouquet of innovative and original content in experimental formats, offered by the digital platform. The weekly podcast will be easily accessible on a raft of platforms such as CNBCTV18.com, Audioboom, Google podcast, Apple podcast, Spotify, Tunein, and Momspresso.
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The National Nuclear Security Administration is "actively working" to get weapons-grade plutonium out of South Carolina as required by court order, an NNSA spokesperson said Tuesday.

About half of the 1 metric ton of weapons-grade plutonium designated for removal will be shipped out this year, and the remaining half will be moved next year, the same spokesperson said.

The plutonium is bound for Texas or Nevada and then New Mexico, according to a 50-page environmental analysis issued by the NNSA in July. The spokesperson referred to the environmental analysis in reference to other questions posed by the Aiken Standard.

More specifically, the weapons-grade plutonium  currently at the Savannah River Site  would be sent to the Pantex Plant "and/or" the Nevada National Security Site for staging, according to the NNSA's assessment.

The plutonium would then be sent to Los Alamos National Laboratory for weapons program integration.

Federal appeals court upholds plutonium removal order from 2017 "It thus did not abuse its discretion or improperly burden DOE by imposing ... two-year removal timeframe," the judge wrote, referencing the l

In December 2017, District Court Judge J. Michelle Childs issued an injunction, which mandated the U.S. Department of Energy remove at least 1 metric ton of defense plutonium from the state by the start of 2020.

The DOE appealed that ruling, citing the task's impossibility.

On Oct. 26, judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the state of South Carolina, reaffirming Childs' injunction. Judge Robert B. King, in his written opinion, described the injunction as "appropriately" and "carefully" crafted and considered.

The NNSA is a semiautonomous DOE agency in charge of the nation's nuclear complex and its related nonproliferation.

Over the summer, SRS manager Michael Budney said the DOE Office of Environmental Management had shifted some of its resources at the site to help the NNSA with its plutonium removal efforts.

"Weve finished the downblend that were going to do for now, and shifted our focus to helping NNSA prepare to move the 1 metric ton," Budney told a nuclear panel at the time. "So were doing some operations to support them instead of downblend."
It seems that the battle of the right-wing parties against the Supreme Court is kicking up a notch as we approach the last year of the current government. The decision of the Supreme Court justices on Oct. 18 to allow (past) boycott, divestment, sanctions (BDS) activist Lara Alqasem to enter the country, reversing the interior ministers decision to deport her, has raised the bar for the right-wing coalitions attack on the Supreme Court. Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan tweeted that the Supreme Court gave the BDS movement a huge victory and has rendered the law to prevent the entry of boycott activists empty of all meaning. Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin called the judges decision shameful and claimed that they were continuing to act against Israeli democracy.

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who is trying to spur a revolution in the Supreme Court by nominating conservative justices, argued several weeks ago, on Aug. 5, that if the Supreme Court rules against the nation-state law it would spell war between the [legislative and judicial] branches. Shaked bases her attacks on the court on the claim that the judges establish a judicial dictatorship and go against the decision of the peoples elected representatives, and thus they hurt democracy  moving from rule of the people to rule of the council of the elders of the law, as she described it in her speech at the Israel Bar Associations annual conference Sept. 4.

By the way, even conservative judges dont necessarily arrive at verdicts that line up with government policy. For example, religious judge Neal Handel, whose nomination was supported by right-wing members of the committee on judicial nominations, was one of the three who ruled against the deportation of Lara Alqasem.

President of the Supreme Court Esther Hayut responded last week to the attacks on the Supreme Court, arguing that although the judicial system suffers criticism bordering on incitement, no legislators have stood up to defend it. Some of the public views this as a license and permission to use the same disparaging and harsh language. As a result of this, a violent discourse is spreading among us that is obtaining a harmful grip on all levels of our lives, said Hayut.

We can assume that Hayut aimed her words especially to the ears of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who, speaking to an audience of voters in south Tel Aviv in August 2017, rejected cries against the Supreme Court. He then said he respects the court even when he doesnt agree with its decisions and emphasized that people should not protest it improperly.

But this was a rare public statement. In April 2018, Justice Esther Hayut met with Netanyahu and heard from him that he opposes damaging the status of the court. Hayut expected Netanyahu to speak this way in public as well.

The tension between the right-wing government and the Supreme Court is expressed in practical terms in the attempts to legislate the override clause, also known as the Supreme Court bypass law. If adopted, the clause will enable the Knesset, in some cases, to approve bills rejected by the Supreme Court.

Shakeds statements on the legitimacy of her action against the Supreme Court, which she says stems from the peoples democratic choice of representatives to the Knesset  for instance, through the override clause  are only partially true. In the past, several versions of the clause have been discussed and promoted. But, for the moment, there isnt a majority in the coalition for any version of the override clause. The Kulanu party has eliminated the possibility of a broad override clause; the ultra-Orthodox parties also have concerns; and theres opposition to it even within the Likud. Its expressed by Knesset member Benny Begin, who recently said that Shakeds words are nonsense that threatens the ability to maintain unity in Israel.

The Israel Democracy Institutes index for public trust offers another interesting angle. According to the index, the Supreme Court receives the trust of 56% of the Israeli population, preceded only by the Israel Defense Forces and Israels president. The politicians are left way behind. The government receives 28%, the Knesset 25% and Israeli politicians a meager 15%. A similar index studied by the Haifa and Ben Gurion universities also indicates that the Supreme Court is highly trusted by Israeli citizens.

The original formulation of the override clause was passed in May 2018 by the ministerial committee for legislation (but not adopted by the Knesset plenum). It stated that if the Supreme Court invalidates a Knesset law because it opposes the principles of the dignity and freedom of man, the Knesset could re-legislate it, and the Supreme Court could not nullify it, although such a law would be in force for only four years. The bill was not advanced to the full Knesset because of the opposition of Finance Minister and Chairman of Kulanu Moshe Kahlon, who declared May 6 that we will not allow radical elements to lead the policy agenda of the state of Israel.

To bypass this opposition, Knesset member Shuli Mualem of HaBayit HaYehudi prepared a narrower version of the law in coordination with Minister of Justice Shaked, according to which the override clause would apply only to legislation on the issue of infiltrators (illegal immigrants) and would apply only to laws that pass with a majority of 61 members of Knesset at least. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit opposes this suggestion, and in an opinion he sent to government ministers he explained that this would mean enabling the Knesset to legislate a law that would violate the most basic human rights of infiltrators  the law does not suit the values of the state of Israel, is not intended for a proper purpose or it would damage rights more than is necessary  defense of the rights of the individual is essential to the existence of a democratic regime.

The new clause bill is supposed to be introduced at an upcoming meeting of the ministerial committee on legislation, and aside from Mandelblit, the main obstacle standing in the way of Shaked, Knesset member Shuli Mualem and other members of Knesset supporting the override clause is Prime Minister Netanyahu. A senior Likud source told Al-Monitor that Netanyahu has no intention of allowing its passage in the current government, despite his support for it in principle. According to the source, Netanyahu supports weakening the broad interpretive authority the Supreme Court applies, but he does not seek a full-on clash with the judicial system and its supporters before the election and while he himself is under investigation.
Dozens of rockets were launched this past weekend at localities in Israels south, sending tens of thousands of residents to protected spaces and shelters. As a result, this population began to organize, via social networks, a civil protest movement.

Seven months have passed since the campaign of incendiary kites began, destroying agricultural tracts in the Israeli communities adjacent to Gaza. Over the past few months, residents of these communities also have been confronted anew with routine of Code Red sirens, warning them against rockets fired from the Strip. However, it seems that only in recent days have the residents of the south internalized the fact that they are in the midst of a war of attrition and that the Netanyahu right-wing government has no plan of action for this war  except, of course, to make public statements.

On Oct. 28, several dozen Gaza-envelope residents made their way to Tel Aviv, where they blocked the Azrieli intersection and tried to make the public understand what their lives have been like. They broadcast Color Red sirens on microphones, lay down on the ground as they would do to protect themselves under real circumstances and brought their children to tell the media about their daily lives in the ongoing nightmare. On the following day they demonstrated at the Kerem Shalom crossing, and on Oct. 30 they blocked the Ashkelon junction. While these protests were covered by the media, it was not done prominently. All this leads us to think that perhaps the residents of the south are paying the price for the governments lack of a real action plan for Gaza.

For months, the government was expected to craft some kind of plan: an arrangement or war. This was especially true in the last two weeks, after the home of the Tamano family in Beersheba was directly hit by a Grad rocket Oct. 17; it was a miracle that no one was hurt. The government of Israel is doing everything it can to dodge a military operation, yet it has had no success in reaching an arrangement, either. In fact, the government has little to offer besides demonstrations of empathy, belligerent rhetoric and measured, limited attacks from the air. In this reality, the Gaza-adjacent residents have come to understand that they are, in fact, being sacrificed on the altar of governmental indecision. Thus, the residents are preparing to escalate their protests.

Several hours after the Grad struck Beersheba, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Israel Defense Forces Gaza Division. After hearing its evaluation of the situation, the prime minister met with the heads of the local authorities in the Gaza-envelope region and told them, Israel views these assaults with great severity.  If these attacks do not stop, we will put an end to them. Israel will act with great intensity.

That night, Netanyahu convened the Cabinet; the session lasted for five hours. Experts assessed that a war in Gaza was only a question of hours or perhaps days. However, the official announcement that was released after the meeting didnt mention anything about a military operation in Gaza, merely stating that a decision was made to intensify IDF responses to events on the fence.

Thus, slowly but surely, the new reality in the Gaza-envelope region is seeping into public awareness: the routine of a war of attrition. On one side is Hamas. The group continues to taunt Israel from the border fence, although it has avoided escalation (in other words, it has not launched rockets toward central Israel). On the other side is the Israeli government. Netanyahus government continues to routinely release militant statements yet does nothing on the ground. It seems that as long as Tel Aviv is quiet, the containment policy is easier to swallow.

On Oct. 29, while the Gaza-envelope residents were organizing more protests, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman addressed the tension on the Gaza border in a meeting of his Yisrael Beitenu faction. Libermans words were fascinating because they stood in contradiction to his featured position in the Cabinet: The defense minister portrayed himself as pushing for a strong operation in Gaza but as continuously being blocked (by Netanyahu) on that.

Liberman began by saying: Anyone banking on an agreement with Hamas is seriously mistaken. Afterward, he justified the protests of the southern residents and explained that the Israeli government had tried all the available options and possibilities, yet the fact is that after seven months, the residents of Israels south have absorbed 43 rockets, 43 Code Red sirens, and its clear that this situation cannot continue. Nevertheless, anyone expecting Liberman to unveil a new action plan was disappointed. As I said, we must follow another plan of action; theres no need for a ground operation, Liberman said. We have enough means to restore the quiet and calm without a ground operation. Even if we kill all of the 40,000 Hamas and [Palestinian] Islamic Jihad activists, it is not worth losing a single Israeli soldier.

The big question that the Gaza-envelope residents are probably asking themselves with regard to these statements is: If the defense minister has such effective tools under his sleeve to restore peace and quiet, why hasnt he used them yet?

If that wasnt enough, the prime minister was simultaneously meeting with political correspondents and told them that Israel is taking action to prevent entry and inroads into its territory and avert harm to soldiers and localities. Netanyahu also said that Israel is acting to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Gaza and thus is willing to accept mediation efforts of the UN and of Egypt for regularizing the Strips electrical supply and achieving peace and quiet. Statements of these kinds have also been heard from others around Netanyahu. A senior political source was quoted as saying that Netanyahu wants to exhaust all possible efforts to bring back peace and quiet to the Strip and is not interested in another war. According to the source, the scenario preferred by Netanyahu includes inflicting serious blows on Gaza (but without occupying the Strip) in order to achieve long-term quiet. The source also noted that the prime minister is aware that should he give the go-ahead for a military operation, everyone will applaud him  for the first two hours. Afterward, public opinion will change in the opposite direction.

In other words, Netanyahu, as opposed to Liberman, believes in the arrangement with Hamas option, but when this does not materialize, it emerges that neither of the two leaders has an action plan. In addition, neither wants a military operation in Gaza.

Netanyahu is the one with direct responsibility for the Gaza conundrum and the fact that Israel has no clear policy. Nevertheless, Netanyahu continues to preserve his image in public opinion polls as Mr. Security. This is in spite of the fact that he has served as Israels prime minister over the last decade, in which the Gaza problem has not been solved, but only worsened.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  The Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA) and Bank of Israel agreed on a new mechanism to facilitate Palestinian bank transactions with Israeli banks. PMA Gov. Azzam al-Shawa announced the news in a statement published by WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency, on Oct. 24.

Under this mechanism, an Israeli state-owned body would be established in order to serve as a substitute for the Israel Discount Bank and Bank Hapoalim in dealing with Palestinian banks.

In the absence of a Palestinian national currency, Palestinian economic processes depend mainly on the Israeli currency, the shekel. The US dollar and the Jordanian dinar are also used.

Since the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations signed between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel in 1994, Israel is responsible for supplying Palestinian banks with banking services through Israel Discount Bank and Bank Hapoalim.

These two banks act as go-between entities processing Palestinian bank transfers between the Palestinian territories and other countries and also between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The Israeli banks supply the PA with services such as credit-card processing, clearing checks and transfers of shekel banknotes.

Shawas statement explained that the new mechanism aims to facilitate approval of checks and wire transfers from banks operating in the Palestinian territories.

Palestinian traders, importers of goods and those working in Israel will benefit from the recently reached agreement. Israel imposes restrictions on Palestinian bank transfers, and financial transfers are often delayed or rejected. Clear details are needed on the purpose and recipient of the transferred amounts.

A senior source at the PMA spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. He said, The two Israeli banks impose restrictions on some branches of banks in Palestine that unknowingly or intentionally carry out bank transfers between the Palestinian territories and other countries, and to and from Palestinian resistance factions such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The source clarified that the Israeli banks would delay or refuse the processing of such bank transfers.

However, these restrictions are not limited to suspicious transfers, but also affect sound financial bank transfers. This includes the transfers made by Palestinian traders and Palestinian workers in Israel within the scope of their commercial and business activities.

The two Israeli banks impose tight restrictions on all Palestinian bank transfers, whether suspicious or not, the source said. They fear getting embroiled in lawsuits in Israel and abroad on counts of transferring funds to and from Palestinian resistance movements.

Bank Hapoalim and Israel Discount Bank had called on Israels government in February 2016 to exempt them from dealing with transfers made by Palestinian banks. They cited the risk entailed from these transfers of facing terrorism financing and money laundering suits both in Israel and abroad.

In January 2017, the Israeli government decided to grant the banks a two-year immunity period from such lawsuits.

In August 2014, around 300 US citizens from among the families of victims killed in military operations by Palestinian resistance factions in Israel and the Palestinian territories between 1995 and 2005 filed lawsuits before the Brooklyn federal court against Arab Bank Plc. The Jordanian bank  based in Amman and operating in Palestine  was accused of financing terrorism and providing banking services to Palestinian resistance movements such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The lawsuits were filed under the US Anti-Terrorism Act allowing victims of foreign entities classified as terrorist organizations by the United States to claim compensation.

On Sept. 22, 2014, the US court convicted the Arab Bank of the charges. The bank appealed the verdict before the US Court of Appeals in Manhattan. On Feb. 9, 2018, the verdict was repealed and settlements of undisclosed amounts were reached with the plaintiffs. The case was dropped.

The PMA source noted that the new mechanism, which will be implemented by early next year, will end the commitment of these two banks to deal with Palestinian bank transfers. This responsibility will be assumed by an Israeli government body.

However, economic expert and editor-in-chief of local Al-Iqtisady newspaper Mohammed Abu Jiyab contended that the new mechanism is a positive change for Palestinian traders and Palestinians working in Israel. It will facilitate the completion of safe bank transfers quickly and without restrictions, he said. Because of these restrictions, Palestinian traders face great difficulty in transferring their funds from and to the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and overseas.

He added, The two Israeli banks impose tight precautionary security measures. They require a proper justification for any transfer. They also demand to attach to the transfer request the tax invoices and documents on the recipients identity. This process causes certain transfers to be delayed or rejected.

Abu Jiyab pointed out that the new mechanism will set apart bank transfers of Palestinian traders and workers in Israel. This category will be exempted from security measures. This will make processing these transactions easier and faster, which is in the best interest of the Palestinian economy.

Palestinians who work in Israel are a major contributor to the Palestinian economy. According to the latest statistics published Aug. 7 by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of individuals employed in Israel and Israeli settlements was 125,600.

Abu Jiyab argued that the new mechanism is part of Israel's policy of preventing the collapse of the Palestinian economy aimed to ease Palestinian hostility toward it. This is why Israel has been employing Palestinian workers and facilitating their bank and commercial transactions, he added.

Meanwhile, the new mechanism of managing the banking system in the Palestinian territories has annoyed Hamas. In a statement published Oct. 25 by Felesteen Online, Hamas leader Abdul Hakim Henini denounced the mechanism as a stab in the back of the Palestinians.

Henini said that this would worsen the siege imposed on the Palestinian people, arguing that the new mechanism undermines all attempts by our good people and nation to provide a helping hand to our people in Palestine.

Atef Adwan, head of the Economy Committee in the Palestinian Legislative Council, told Al-Monitor, The agreement on the new mechanism is part of the PA's efforts to dry up all the sources of money that could revert to the Gaza Strip outside the PAs supervision.

He said, The transfer of responsibility for dealing with Palestinian bank transfers from Israeli banks to an Israeli government body may exempt traders transactions from the Israeli restrictions on the Palestinian banking system. However, this body may tighten these restrictions on transfers made to Gaza from charitable organizations from around the world for the purpose of providing relief to the enclaves population.

In a statement Oct. 16, the Palestinian government denied access of any aid to Gaza without prior coordination with the PA. It claimed the continued entry of funds to the Gaza Strip would strengthen the rule of Hamas and deepen the Palestinian division.
Russian Envoy to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia spoke out Oct. 24 on the need to transport humanitarian assistance to southern Yemen and ensure that all major transportation hubs in Yemen remain open for aid. Nebenzias comments were welcomed in southern Yemen, coming just weeks after Russian Ambassador to Yemen Vladimir Dedushkin described southern Yemen as an important region for the resolution of the conflict. His statement was viewed by some South Yemeni separatists as implicit criticism of the UNs decision not to invite the Southern Transitional Council (STC) to early Septembers ill-fated Geneva peace talks.

Russias concern about southern Yemen, evident in these official statements and a wide array of Russian-sponsored informal mediation initiatives in the region, can be explained by Moscows historic connection to the region and its ambitions on the Red Sea. During the Cold War, the former state of South Yemen was the Soviet Unions strongest ally in the Arab world and the site of major Soviet military installations in Aden and Socotra. The legacy of Cold War-era cultural exchanges between Russians and South Yemenis, fostered by the presence of Soviet researchers in Socotra and South Yemeni civil servants in Soviet educational institutions, has perpetuated Moscows interest in the region.

From a strategic standpoint, Russias willingness to insert itself as a stakeholder in southern Yemen is inextricably linked to its desire to join the inter-state competition for access to the Red Sea. In recent months, Russia has conducted negotiations with senior policy-makers in the Horn of Africa to enhance its economic and military presence in the region. These diplomatic overtures have resulted in serious discussions about the creation of a Russian naval base in Somaliland and a Sept. 1 agreement to establish a logistics center in Eritrea.

If Russia establishes these facilities, a military installation in southern Yemen would be a desirable strategic asset as it would link Moscows presence on the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. This installations potential value for Russia has been articulated by former commander-in-chief of the Russian navy Felix Gromov, who called for the establishment of a naval base near the Gulf of Adens trade routes in August 2017. While these projects are long-term goals, playing a decisive role in stabilizing southern Yemen could give Moscow the bargaining power it needs to secure a Red Sea base.

To enhance southern Yemens stability, Russia has taken an active role in combating threats to southern Yemens economy and ensure the security of its shipping lanes. Since September 2017, Russia has facilitated the transfer of hard currency from the Central Bank of Yemen to southern Yemen to ensure that Yemeni government-aligned civil servants and military personnel are adequately paid. Yemens Ambassador to Russia Ahmed al-Wahishi praised the policy during a recent interview, as he views the Houthis seizure of Yemeni government assets and efforts to dilute the value of the Yemeni riyal as a major source of instability in Yemen. Wahishi also thanked the Russian Foreign Ministry for opposing Houthi militant attacks on Saudi oil shipments that run though the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a chokepoint between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Russia has also acted as an informal arbiter between moderate supporters of southern Yemeni autonomy and the government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. The Russian government has engaged in dialogue with Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP) leader Abdulrahman al-Saqqaf, a coalition partner of Hadi, and the former prime minister of South Yemen, Haidar Abu Bakr al-Attas, to encourage the politicians to continue pushing for expanded South Yemeni representation within legal frameworks. This strategy was effective due to a rift between the YSP and STC, which opposes the YSPs alignment with Hadi, and the cordial relationships between left-wing Yemeni politicians and Russian diplomats that emerged during the Cold War.

Russian officials have also attempted to encourage moderates within the Southern Movement to lay down their arms and defend the rights of southern Yemenis through a multilateral intra-Yemeni peace settlement. In March, Vladimir Dedushkin met with Fuad Rashid, the first vice president of the Southern Movements Supreme Council, and two of his allies within the movement to encourage members of the faction to condemn the violence perpetrated by militant southern Yemeni separatists in Aden. This meeting, in which Rashid urged Southern Movement members to cooperate with the Hadi government against Houthi militants, was successful. Rashid also claimed that the Southern Movements stated goal was to give southern Yemen a greater role in implementing UN Resolution 2216, which calls for the cessation of political violence in Yemen.

Despite these fruitful diplomatic overtures, Russia faces significant obstacles in its quest to install itself as an indispensable stakeholder in southern Yemen. Experts from the STC office in Washington, DC, told Al-Monitor that Moscow might view southern Yemen as a Syria-style power vacuum that is ripe for Russian influence. From the STCs perspective, this evaluation is detached from the reality on the ground, as the UAE retains control over southern Yemens main ports and has a formidable ground presence in the region that Russia cannot realistically displace. The UAEs hegemony, combined with southern Yemens current inability to provide Russia with material incentives, cause the STC experts to view Russia as a friendly partner that helps the organization expand its international presence, rather than a decisive stakeholder.

While it is necessary to consider the limitations of Russian power in southern Yemen, Moscows cultivation of partnerships within the YSP and Southern Movement should not be discounted. As the Southern Movement continues to act as a bulwark against Houthi expansion, the likelihood of STC representation in a Yemeni peace settlement continues to rise and Russias growing presence in southern Yemen could enhance its influence over the resolution of the Yemen conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with the Syrian High Negotiations Committee (HNC) delegation, headed by its chairman Nasr al-Hariri, in Moscow Oct. 26.

During the conversation the parties had a frank exchange of opinions on the situation unfolding in Syria and around it, stressing the need for prompt political settlement of the Syrian crisis, the ministry stated.

Moscow reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria, as well as its determination to contribute to establishing an effective inclusive intra-Syrian dialogue based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and the decisions of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi.

What remains unclear is what lies behind these generalities and just how frank was this conversation that led to mutual understanding. The Syrian delegation pinned considerable hope on the Moscow talks.

I am hopeful of a fruitful meeting," Hariri said at a press conference on the eve of the talks, "and expect it to be a turning point in settling the Syrian crisis and to contribute to improving the situation regionally and worldwide."

Hariri refrained from making any statements after the meeting, nor did he tweet about it. This differs from his behavior after the Riyadh talks a week earlier, when he met with James Jeffrey, US special envoy for Syria engagement. The HNC head characterized the talks as constructive and tweeted a photo of himself with the US diplomat. In Moscow, he restrained himself to outlining the issues under consideration to the journalists waiting for him after the talks at the Foreign Ministry. The issues included the launch of the constitutional committee, the situation in Idlib, efforts to rebuild Syria and the return of refugees.

The HNC formal statement describes the outcome in somewhat greater detail. However, Lavrov is hardly quoted in it. It only says that the meeting is part of Russias efforts to work with all parties to the conflict. Al-Monitor learned from opposition sources that the Russian party voiced concern at the talks about US attempts to build a state on the eastern bank of the Euphrates. As Syrian delegation members emphasized in conversation with Al-Monitor, the HNC stands for preserving the unity of the country and the withdrawal of all foreign forces. Yet, when asked at the press conference about the presence of Russian troops in Syria, Hariri said, If these are states bound by agreements with Syria which do not harm its people, we respect all international agreements and documents. He was referring to agreements on Russian bases in Latakia and Tartus.

During his conversation with Lavrov, Hariri expressed hope that Russia would play a positive role in reaching a political settlement in Syria. He highlighted the situation in Idlib, where a political and diplomatic solution had prevailed over the military one. According to him, the opposition would like to see the same scenario unfold across Syria. Given that Damascus has already re-established its control over other de-escalation zones and it is late to consider their fate, the discussion will most likely focus on the eastern bank of the Euphrates controlled by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, as well as the areas around the US base al-Tanf in southeastern Syria.

The launch of the constitutional committee was a special item on the agenda. Over the recent months there has been no progress in the matter, as Damascus and, later, Moscow and Tehran rejected a third of the committee candidates representing civil society. It was Staffan de Mistura who compiled the third list. Now that he will resign soon, the first session of the committee before his departure looks a forlorn hope. Until recently, it was due to start working in late November. Now the meeting is postponed till the end of the year.

Unlike the West and the opposition, Russia is reluctant to have any timetable for this process. It stresses that committee members must unconditionally be approved by all the parties to the conflict. The HNC has already claimed that the list in which people loyal to Damascus prevail is completely unacceptable. It does not share Damascus opinion that the committee should be headed by representatives of the Syrian authorities. Instead, it suggests a neutral figure.

The future constitution is also subject to controversy. The opposition insists on a new one while Damascus advocates amendments. At the Moscow talks, Hariri sought to explain to Russian diplomats that the regime was the obstacle to a political settlement and that it would never make concessions and would refuse to implement what God wants.

Moscow, however, will never embrace a political settlement that will be completely at odds with the position of Damascus. The situation is compounded by Washingtons greater activity across Syrias political landscape, with the opposition putting high hopes on the United States. In his interview with Kommersant, HNC Secretary-General Safwan Akkash made it clear that an informed and well-thought-out decision was impossible to reach if the United States sat on the sidelines waiting for Russia to resolve the issue. At the same time, he emphasized the infeasibility of a political decision until Russia and the United States forged an agreement.

Of special importance for the Syrian opposition is Washingtons demand for Iran to withdraw from the country  another item on the agenda of the Moscow meeting between Hariri and Lavrov. Showing a map marking the Iran-controlled areas, the chief negotiator for the Syrian opposition said at the press conference that Iran makes its current presence felt in almost 123 regions which used to be under the oppositions sway. It has already established military bases there. Although Hariri must have unfurled the same map at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow is unlikely to change its mind. It has repeatedly called the Iranian presence in Syria legitimate.

Another point that the two sides hardly managed to agree upon is Syrias reconstruction. Actually, the HNC is on the same page as the United States and Europe, saying that free elections and a new constitution should come first. Following the meeting, Hariri concluded his bodys official statement by pointing out that all of us seek to see a refugee return, a renewed and facilitated constitutional process, and UN-monitored elections, which requires some common denominator, as well as a safe and unbiased environment. Nobody can go back to the past.

Interestingly, the delegation was not received by either the Russian presidents special envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, or by Sergey Vershinin, another deputy foreign minister, even though all the settlement-related issues fall within their scope and competence. Yet they may have been busy preparing for a four-nation summit in Istanbul scheduled the day after Hariris visit to Moscow.

In general, whether it was a fruitful meeting can only be established by forthcoming negotiations on Syrias future. Hariri did not rule out the HNCs participation in another Astana meeting.

I do not know how it will happen and what issues will be on the agenda," Hariri said. "Anyway, we, as the opposition, are open for any efforts directed at reaching a political settlement.

Some individual members of the HNC were part of the Astana process, including Ahmad Toma, head of the Syrian armed opposition delegation. As Safwan Akkash made it clear in his conversation with Al-Monitor, the HNC does not oppose the Astana process. Rather, it disapproves of the group solving those political issues that are to be considered by the UN-led Geneva group. This, actually, provided a pretext for the opposition not to attend the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi, which ended in a decision to establish a constitutional committee. Despite the official boycott, some opposition members took part in deliberations. Consequently, the boycott tactics turned sour. The HNC, in one way or another, had to comply with the Sochi decisions when they agreed to work toward forming the constitutional committee.

It remains to be seen which strategy the opposition will opt for now: either wait for Washington to uphold its stance on a political settlement or to work together with Moscow, despite all the differences.
In the aftermath of the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in American history, Israels right-wing government went into overdrive to defend President Donald Trump from charges that his rhetoric helped fuel the massacre.

Trump visited Pittsburghs Tree of Life synagogue on Tuesday to pay his respects to the 11 dead worshippers, despite requests from Democratic Mayor Bill Peduto and at least one victims family that he not attend. Republican and Democratic leaders turned down Trumps invitation to join and instead the president was greeted by protesters.

And the first person to greet Trump at the synagogue was not a grieving Pittsburgher. Instead it was Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer.

The fact that the person who officially greeted the president of the United States at an American city at an American synagogue was the ambassador of another country was stunning, Lara Friedman, the president of the liberal Foundation for Middle East Peace, told Al-Monitor.

In the days since Saturdays massacre, Dermer and Naftali Bennett, Israels minister for diaspora affairs, have gone into overdrive to defend Trump, despite his violent rhetoric and significant support among anti-Semites. The Tree of Life shooting was at least the third instance of violence by white supremacists in a week, including the mailing of pipe bombs to Democrats and the media by an avowed Trump supporter.

I think blaming President Trump for this horrific massacre is unfair; its flatly wrong," said Bennett, brandishing the presidents pro-Israel credentials in an interview today on Fox News. The president moved the embassy to Jerusalem. The president is fighting Israels biggest enemy, which is a terrible regime in Iran. And so, the president is no anti-Semite.

Ironically, Israels own chief rabbi, David Lau, created a stir when he refused to call progressive, non-Orthodox Tree of Life a synagogue, instead calling it a place with a profound Jewish flavor. The remarks triggered an implicit rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who tweeted Monday afternoon that the location was chosen because it is a synagogue. We must never forget that. We are one.

Bennett went on to point to instances of anti-Semitism on both the left and right, highlighting recent comments from Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan comparing Jews to termites. Meanwhile, Israels New York Consul General Dani Dayan pointed to a six-year-old tweet from Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat running for Congress, saying that Israel is hypnotizing the world.

But Israels full-throttled defense of Trump has angered many American Jews, a constituency that overwhelmingly votes Democratic.

Its extremely disturbing how they appear to be totally ignoring the views and concerns of a large majority of American Jews who oppose President Trump and are concerned by his ideology, said Logan Bayroff, the communications director for the liberal group J Street, which lobbies on Israel issues. Instead theyre working overtime to provide cover for the president and for his Republican allies.

The Israeli government has a problem with American Jews because the vast majority of American Jews, including those who support Israel, appear  to have deeper reservations about many of the policies of this Israeli government, said Friedman. And this Israeli government isnt particularly interested in listening to critics of its policies, whether foreign or domestic.

In a departure from his equivocation over white supremacist attacks in Virginia last year, Trump clearly condemned the evil, anti-Semitic attack. But many Jews are quick to point to point to Republicans role in propagating the very conspiracy theories that motivated the shooter.

In an email to supporters on Monday, J Street noted that Trump and other Republicans have dabbled in similar anti-Semitic conspiracy theories ahead of the midterm elections by erroneously suggesting that Jewish billionaire George Soros is funding a caravan of migrants from Central America, who are seeking asylum in the United States. Anti-Semites often invoke Soros and globalists as a dog whistle against Jews  conspiracies parroted online by synagogue shooter Robert Bowers.

Its clear that this kind of anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic thought has been spread not only by far-right groups, but by President Trump and some of his allies in the Republican party, J Street wrote in the email. In the lead-up to next weeks pivotal midterm elections, we have seen a transparent effort by Trump and some Republican candidates to turn bigotry and fear into a political weapon.

Reps. Steve King, R-Iowa, and Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., have both falsely accused Soros of funding the caravan. And House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tweeted  and then deleted  that Soros and other billionaires of Jewish descent are seeking to buy the election for Democrats.

Ironically, Netanyahu himself peddled the same tropes earlier this year when he falsely accused Soros of funding a campaign opposing Israels efforts to deport African asylum seekers.

The Netanyahu government and the right wing in Israel have embraced similar ideology and tactics which weve seen from President Trump in describing their opponents as traitors, attacking political dissent and the media and fear mongering about immigrants and refugees and minorities, Bayroff told Al-Monitor. Theres a clear common thread there between the Netanyahu government and the Trump administration and thats part of why the two are in such close coordination on this. They are providing cover for each other.
Iraqi Turkmens had hoped that political circumstances would turn in their favor after oil-rich Kirkuk passed from Kurdish rule to the control of the federal government. Yet the Turkmens were disappointed when Iraq's newly appointed prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, excluded Turkmens from his Cabinet.

Ali Mehdi, the spokesman for the powerful Iraqi Turkmen Front, said the Iraqi government blatantly ignores Turkmens. He demanded that one of the eight unfilled Cabinet seats be given to a Turkmen.

The ostensible excuse for the exclusion of Turkmens is that Turkmens are politically divided and that the government, which aims to set up a technocratic system, is ignoring nationalistic demands that could aggravate division. But Turkmen representatives speaking to Al-Monitor said other groups are also divided, and that the new Cabinet features political celebrities.

Nine Turkmens elected as deputies in the May 12 elections have set up a Turkmen Group in the parliament to work together.

The names of potential candidates for the vice presidency, ministerial and under-secretarial posts were leaked to the Iraqi media. Yet all the Turkmen names cited in the reports were from Kirkuk, causing anger among Turkmen communities in other regions.

The growing sectarian split among the Turkmens was also felt in their political choices. The Turkmen sphere of influence is naturally divided between Turkey and Iran. The Iraqi Turkmen Front, which rejects Shiite-Sunni division, still insists on being a major party attached to a national and secular identity.

Turkmens who fought against the Islamic State in the ranks of the Popular Mobilization Units after the fall of Mosul in 2014 inevitably entered into relations with the political wings of Shiite militias. That is why Kirkuk-based Turkmens found themselves slots in Shiite bloc lists.

The question is, why did the Turkmens who built such strong ties with Shiite blocs not really make political gains?

Ershad Salihi, the chairman of Iraqi Turkmen Front and a deputy from Kirkuk, said Sairoon Alliance leaders who cooperate with the Victory Alliance and the Reform Front in parliament are not keeping their word. Speaking to Al-Monitor, Salihi said Turkmens are excluded from politics because they advocate and defend a national line instead of sectarian ideology.

According to our political accords, we were to be allotted two seats: one as vice president and the other as a minister," he said. "But now there is no Turkmen minister. If a Turkmen is to be appointed as the vice president, the word is out that they will prefer a Shiite Turkmen, and not me, as the leader of the Iraqi Turkmen Front. If they allot that seat to Turkmens, it will be to a person who advocates a sectarian approach.

He continued: We are paying this price because we dont believe in sectarian projects. If we had subscribed to sectarian projects, Sunni Turkmens could [have the same political clout as the] Sunni Arabs and Shiite Turkmens with Shiite Arabs. The coalition had promised they will give us whatever we wanted, but we joined the Islah [Reform] movement because they did not consider us a national project.

According to Salihi, the British recommendation in the 1920s to keep the Turkmens, seen as remnants of the Ottomans, away from state mechanisms is still valid today. Turkmens who have adhered to a national ideology for about 100 years could not find a place in state decision-making mechanisms," he said. "Even in Saddam Husseins reign the Kurds had a minister and vice president, but not the Turkmens. Iraqi Turkmens will be given critical posts as long as they adhere to a national project. The old recommendation still applies.

Asked if Turkey is using its influence in Iraq, Salihi said, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke several times about how Turkmens should have a say in the decision-making mechanisms. They promise, but this is not what they do.

He added, If this situation continues, new generations may not feel loyal to Iraqs territorial integrity and may opt for a new strategy. If not, Iraqi Turkmens will be eradicated from this region.

Salihi said that the Turkmens had decided to act together on issues that concerned them. He dismissed the pretext that Turkmens were being kept away from the Cabinet because a technocratic government was being set up. He said it was nothing but a rekindling of the 1920 British recommendation.

Turkmen sources summarized the reasons behind their exclusion from the new government:

The primary reason is the split among Turkmens.

Turkmens dont have a supporting political force. Turkey continues to support them but not robustly. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have displayed their support for the Sunni Arabs.

Turkmens are said to be 10-13% of the overall Iraqi population, but that ratio is not reflected in parliament. Some Turkmens moved to Turkey and have not returned. Also, many Turkmens voted for Arab candidates. In Erbil, some Turkmens voted for the Kurds, hence the feebleness of the Turkmen political weight.

Bargaining with Kurds could also play a role in political exclusion. Kurds, who have entered parliament with 70 deputies, have once again become a major power. Shiite blocs feel the need to compromise with Kurds. Barham Salih of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan became the president, while Fuad Hussein, the presidential candidate of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, became the minister of finance. They are now discussing the handing over of Kirkuk to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. All these debates lead to Turkmen concerns of exclusion, as Kurds are known to have excluded Turkmens previously.

There is the widespread opinion that the Iraqi Turkmen Front serves as a channel for Turkeys intervention in Iraq. Denying Turkmens a ministerial post also means excluding Turkey. Yet Turkmens claim they are forced to behave along sectarian lines or else be excluded.
Now that the tension surrounding US pastor Andrew Brunson has blown over, there is speculation that Turkey and the United States will move to improve their troubled ties. For example, cooperation between Ankara and Washington over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi brought US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and CIA Director Gina Haspel rushing to Ankara. Still, differences remain over multiple unresolved issues.

Northern Syria, where the United States has allied itself with the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its military wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG)  two groups that Turkey says are terrorist organizations linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)  may be the site of the next flashpoint.

The United States sees the PKK as a terrorist organization, too, but has refused to use this designation for the PYD and YPG, supporting them instead in their fight against the Islamic State and other radical Islamic groups in Syria.

Disregarding US objections, Turkey launched its Operation Olive Branch in January to capture the YPG-held Syrian city of Afrin near the Turkish border.

A major concern is that if Ankara carries out its threat and enters into an all-out war with the YPG in northern Syria, it could also lead to a confrontation between the Turkish army and US forces deployed in the region.

Ankara is unhappy over reports that the United States is deepening its alliance with the Kurds in order to entrench itself militarily in a large swath of Syrian territory. Statements from Washington indicate that the United States intends to stay in Syria for the foreseeable future in order to contain Iran and maintain Israels security.

The territory in question represents nearly 30% of Syria and stretches from the city of Manbij, just west of the Euphrates River, to the Iraqi border east of the river. It also shares a 600-kilometer (373-mile) border with Turkey in the north.

Ankara is determined to ensure that an autonomous Kurdish entity similar to Kurdish Northern Iraq does not emerge in the region, but the odds are against the effort.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made it clear recently that the United States does not intend to drop the YPG and PYD as its partners in Syria, despite what Ankara wants.

Weve worked closely with the Syrian Kurds now for my entire time in service in this administration. They have been great partners. We are now driving to make sure that they have a seat at the table, Pompeo said during an Oct. 10 event organized by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America.

Ankara and Washington concluded a road map in June to defuse the increasingly dangerous situation developing between the two countries over the YPG presence in Manbij, where the United States has forces deployed.

According to the agreement, YPG fighters were to leave Manbij within 90 days, after which Turkish and US forces would to conduct joint patrols in the city. Those patrols never materialized, and Ankara says the YPG remains in Manbij.

Erdogan has also made it clear publicly that after Manbij is cleared of the YPG, Turkeys next target will be YPG positions east of the Euphrates.

Pompeos remarks prompted Russia to accuse Washington of using the Kurds to create a predominantly Kurdish region within Syria and destroying the unity of the country.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the French media recently that Washington is illegally trying to create a quasi-state in eastern Syria by using the Syrian Democratic Forces, which was established by the United States and has the YPG as its main component, although it also includes Arab, Assyrian, Christian and even Turkmen fighters.

Russia has also refused to outlaw the PYD and the YPG. Its main concern in northern and eastern Syria remains Washingtons long-term plans for the region that are predicated on its alliance with the Kurds.

Otherwise, Moscow has no problem with the Kurds' presence in the region. Like Washington, it also wants the Kurds to have a say in any Syrian settlement, and has been trying to get the PYD to negotiate a political deal with the Syrian regime.

Ankara welcomed Lavrovs remarks despite Turkeys differences with Russia over the nature of the rights to be given to the Kurds under a new Syrian constitution. Analysts believe Lavrovs remarks also encouraged Erdogan into ratcheting up his rhetoric against Washington over the YPG issue.

Meanwhile, the Turkish shelling of YPG positions east of the Euphrates on Oct. 29, although limited in scope, illustrated the volatility of the situation as Erdogan continues to issue his angry warnings.

The shelling was a friendly message to the US, according to Erdogans adviser Ilnur Cevik. Turkey gave these messages in Afrin too and went on to do what it had to. Now eyes are on Manbij and east of the Euphrates, Cevik wrote in a commentary for the news portal Yeni Birlik.

During an address to provincial leaders from his Justice and Development Party on Oct. 26  two days before the YPG was shelled  Erdogan accused the United States of using the Manbij road map to waste Turkeys time and issued a final warning to Washington. We are resolved to turn our attention to the east of the Euphrates, from where Turkey is being threatened, rather than seeing our time wasted in Manbij, he said.

It defies logic that a country like Turkey should be sacrificed for a bloody group whose past is dark and whose members are suspect, Erdogan added, referring to US support for the YPG. These remarks of ours should be taken as our final warning, he cautioned.

The shelling of YPG positions also came a day after the quadrilateral summit on Syria in Istanbul, hosted by Erdogan and attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Erdogan used the occasion to once again underline Ankaras determination to rid northern Syria of the YPG.

A Western diplomat told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Erdogan cant afford a military confrontation with the United States despite his dire warnings regarding northern Syria. He is only rattling his saber, the diplomat said.

Retired Brig. Gen. Naim Baburoglu argued that Turkey has two choices in northern Syria. The first, which he does not consider to be likely, is to cooperate with the United States to eliminate the YPG threat. The second is for the Turkish Armed Forces, together with its allies in the Free Syrian Army, to conduct an operation east of the Euphrates. Baburoglu wrote in an article for the news portal Gercek Gundem.

Turkey may be left with no choice but to launch this operation despite the United States, he maintained.

Few believe that Turkey and the United States can restore their strategic partnership under such conditions. It will be success enough if they can contain potential new crises while important issues between them remain unresolved.
No one talked about the Iranian threat  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus signature trademark  during the campaigns leading up to the municipal elections held throughout Israel on Oct. 30. In the hallways of Elimelech Rimalt grade school, where a polling station was set up for residents of the coastal town of Netanya, there was no talk of the governments ineptitude in dealing with the incendiary kite terrorism plaguing residents of Gazas border communities and setting fire to their fields. Instead, the discourse focused on plans to build new hotels along the beachfront, insufficient spending on education and too much investment in municipal fountains.

Naturally, the agenda of local elections is different from the one expected to engage Israelis during the soon-to-come Knesset elections in 2019. Nonetheless, local voting results provide some insight into the prevailing mood in Israeli society these days.

One takeaway has to do with a crisis of trust in law enforcement authorities. More than a dozen local leaders, suspected and even charged with criminal offenses, won voters trust. In fact, only four of the 13 candidates under a cloud were denied re-election.

For example, Rishon Lezion Mayor Dov Zur, suspected of bribery, garnered enough votes to compete in a second round (as none of the candidates reached the required 40%). Ashkelon Mayor Itamar Shimoni, indicted on charges of bribery, also did quite well in the polling booth, all considering. He lost to his rival by a mere 400 votes. Head of the Tamar Regional Council Dov Litvinoff, who has admitted and been charged with breach of trust, was elected to a second term. The most impressive achievement in this regard is that of Netanya Mayor Miriam Feirberg-Ikar, whom police have recommended indicting for accepting bribes. The recommendation has been awaiting a decision by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit since March 2017. Meanwhile, she was endorsed by Netanyahu and re-elected this week to a fifth term.

The electoral achievements of local leaders tarnished by corruption point to a troubling erosion of public sensitivity to democratic values and ethics. If a mayor accused of corruption can hold on to power, why cant a politician accused of bribery lead the state? This phenomenon also indicates growing public mistrust of the police and state prosecution  with good reason. The proceedings against Feirberg-Ikar have been going on for over 18 months and, as mentioned, there is still no decision on whether to charge her. The mayor of Ramat, Gan Yisrael Zinger, went through a similar experience until the prosecution decided to drop his case in August.

Netanyahu was obviously one of the first to congratulate Feirberg-Ikar, a member of his Likud party. The residents of Netanya know you, the prime minister said, adding, They dont need my recommendation; they know whats good for them. Reading between the lines, the message was clear: The citizens of Israel do not need the police recommendations in the various criminal investigations against their beloved prime minister. They know whats best for them: the right-wing regime with Netanyahu at the helm.

This message reflects the spin Netanyahu promoted in December 2017 in preparation for a possible police recommendation to indict him. So there will be recommendations. So what? Netanyahu told a gathering of Likud activists. He added, More than 60% of the time, police recommendations are thrown in the garbage  and meanwhile, it ruins lives, harms reputations.

A second takeaway suggests Netanyahu might be losing his magic touch: There is no city with which Netanyahus political and personal identity is more closely linked than his hometown of Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. Elections for Jerusalems mayor and city council members carry more of a national political overtone than in any other Israeli city. Netanyahu, who sensed the results of the Jerusalem vote early on, was careful not to get too close. He endorsed Likuds Zeev Elkin only late in the race and half-heartedly. But Elkin did not even make it to the second round. The crushing defeat of Elkin  the Jerusalem affairs minister and a former close associate of Netanyahu  as well as the blow dealt to the Likud faction in the city council  which only won one seat  shows that Netanyahus support isnt necessarily sufficient. On the other hand, the independent faction of young Ofer Berkovitch garnered six seats in the city council. Berkovitch himself garnered enough votes for the second runoff (against candidate Moshe Leon), leaving the ruling partys candidates far behind.

In Israels two other major cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa, voters only left crumbs for the political right. The results in the northern border town of Kiryat Shmona could also indicate that even places intrinsically identified with the Likud are not in Netanyahus pocket or those of his allies (the incumbent, Likud's Nissim Malka, failed to win the first round). Visiting Kiryat Shmona on Oct. 16, Netanyahu told activist Orna Peretz that she was a bore for complaining about the local health services. Judging by the election results, Kiryat Shmonas Likud members were not at all bored by the complaint.

The third takeaway concerns the racism that has seeped into politics. On the 2015 Knesset election day, Netanyahu warned that "Arab voters are heading to the polling stations in droves. Left-wing NGOs are bringing them in buses." Anyone who incites in this manner should not have been surprised at the Likud billboards gracing Tel Aviv streets ahead of the local elections. Its us or them  the Hebrew city or the PLO, read one such billboard, in reference to the Arab population in Jaffa  which is part of the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality. Anyone who whispers in the ear of an important rabbi that Israelis on the political left have forgotten what it means to be Jews  as Netanyahu famously did in 1997  shares responsibility for the Likuds municipal council elections slogan. Its either us, the Likud that will leave Tel Aviv and Jaffa in Israel, or the pro-Palestinian parties that want an Islamic Jaffa and an infiltrators state in the south, read the slogan  a reference to African migrants in the citys southern neighborhoods.

Billboards posted in the central town of Ramle in the run-up to the elections showed a woman with telltale blue eyes covered in a black hijab against a backdrop of Sabbath candles and wine for the Sabbath benediction. The slogan on the billboards plastered all over the mixed Jewish-Arab town read, Only a strong Jewish home will preserve a Jewish Ramle  a reference to right-wing HaBayit HaYehudi, which means "Jewish Home" in Hebrew. They echo the racist insults hurled by right-wing public figures at the recent wedding of popular Israeli-Arab TV presenter Lucy Aharish and Israeli Jewish actor Tzahi HaLevi. Netanyahu was mum when Likud Knesset member Oren Hazan spoke out against the young couples nuptials.

Tarnishing the public space with incitement did not advance HaBayit HaYehudis cause in the Tel Aviv city council. It was Labor Party candidate and incumbent Mayor Ron Huldais and left-wing candidate Asaf Zamirs factions who garnered most of the votes. In Ramles city council, HaBayit HaYehudi got only two seats.

The final takeaway from the elections relates to public sentiments on changing the rule: 3.67 million Israelis  57% of eligible voters  came out of their homes to exercise their right to participate in local elections. The first-time decision to declare a holiday in order to encourage people to vote obviously had something to do with the 6% turnout increase compared to 2013. On their way to the beach or the mall, millions of Israelis exercised their right to vote for politicians who will influence their lives in the coming years. Many also took the opportunity to protest against the current regime and demand change.

The gap between the agenda of local elections and that of national politics has widened over time, fortunately so. Nonetheless, crooked ethical standards espoused by municipal candidates did not prevent them from achieving good results at the voting booth. And so, the municipal elections could certainly point to the direction in which the wind is blowing through Israeli society  the evil wind as well as the propitious one.
Jerusalem has known many masters and many faiths in its 3,000-year history, but one thing has remained a cultural constant: amulets against evil spirits. The modern city abounds with beads, pendants, pictures, strings, jewelry and a wide assortment of talismans  a custom that is shared by Jews, Muslims and Christians alike.

One Israeli artist is tapping into this millennia-old tradition and adapting it for Jerusalems 21st-century streets. In homage to this deep-rooted tradition, Jerusalemite artist Eitam Tubul launched the light-hearted Amulet Authority, an art project that has produced a variety of intricate plaques designed to thwart modern misfortunes.

Tubul said that instead of competing with traditional amulets, he struck on the notion of mystical remedies for the very prosaic problems of modern life. His plaques offer protection against everyday misfortunes such as hangovers, awkward silences and meter maids, or act as good luck charms for finding free Wi-Fi, long cell phone battery life or balanced air-conditioning in the office.

"[These are] things that people know can't really be solved," he told Al-Monitor.

Under the guise of officialdom, Tubul has created absurdity. The art project's website informs visitors that the amulets passed all the necessary and required references  of which, of course, there are none. Tubuls fictitious Amulet Authority bears a logo combining an eye and a fish, two common apotropaic symbols.

Every month or so, somebody tags the Amulet Authority [on Facebook] in a picture, Tubul said, chuckling. Lots of people say these Jerusalemites are totally crazy. They have an Amulet Authority. Whats happening in this city of morons?

The amulets are scattered along central Jerusalems Hillel Street and around the Mahane Yehuda market, placed at eye level on sandy limestone walls.

To use the amulet, photograph it and save it as a picture on the telephone in your pocket, the plaques instruct passersby.

Amulets to ward off evil and ensure good fortune are common to the many peoples who have inhabited the Levant in the past few thousands of years to the present day. Just this week, Apple added the ubiquitous blue eye amulet, common throughout the Middle East and further afield, to its latest batch of iOS emojis.

Over the ages, they have taken on a dizzying variety of forms, from scarab seals with hieroglyphs to inscribed slips of metal or parchment, to colored stones or beads. The oldest known copies of biblical text are etched into two silver amulets dating to the sixth-century BC that were found in a cave outside Jerusalems Old City.

They are a phenomenon in popular culture, and it doesn't really matter who's here  whether it's Christian or Jew or Samaritan or Muslim, Lenny Wolfe, an antiquities dealer and collector of Middle Eastern amulets both ancient and modern, told Al-Monitor.

Among the local Arab population, apotropaic amulets occupy the realm of folk medicine and magic, filling the void between organized religion and science, and are an essential part of the Palestinian peoples cultural heritage, wrote Baha al-Jubeh, a curator at the Palestinian Museum in the West Bank city of Birzeit, in a 2005 article. The museum has an assemblage of 1,400 amulets, talismans and other magical objects from Palestinian communities and around the Arab world collected by Tawfiq Canaan, an early 20th-century collector.

"Arguably, amulets are the ultimate expression of popular culture," Wolfe said, adding, "It's an undercurrent in the culture that lasts hundreds, if not thousands, of years."

The "Amulet Authority" art project was conceived in 2014 during Tubuls artist residency with Beita, a municipal art center in Jerusalem. He was tasked with creating works that span the divide between the home and public space. He decided on amulets because of their intimate nature and his familiarity with them from growing up in a Moroccan Jewish home.

Tubul, who also teaches graphic design at the Musrara School of Art in Jerusalem, said his amulets adhere to a certain intuition. Their eccentric figures combine abstract shapes and lines with Hebrew letters and the occasional word and are inspired by traditional Kabbalistic Jewish designs.

Every time I start to see that the design is starting to look like something that I understand, I throw it out, he said. I make it so that the imagery is meaningless. People really connect to it.

Of the original 14 amulets placed around the city, several have been damaged or pilfered, Tubul said, including one, ironically, to protect against email hacking.

I guess someone really needed it, he said.

Undeterred, Tubul is in the process of designing another seven based on bizarre suggestions submitted by Facebook users. One suggestion is an amulet to to find all the amulets you put up, but until Tubul erects the new series, visitors will have to explore the streets and alleys around downtown Jerusalem to find them.
Jordans Minister of Tourism Lina Annab and Minister of Education Azmi Mahafza submitted their resignations Nov. 1, becoming the first political casualties of one of the kingdoms deadliest incidents in decades.

On Oct. 25, 37 children from an Amman private school, accompanied by seven adults, were on a school outing in the Zarqa Main gorge when flash floods swept away dozens of people, some as far away as the Dead Sea. The floods killed 21 people, including 15 school children, and injured dozens. Local residents, civil defense, police and army personnel took part in a large search and rescue operation that continued late into the night and the next day.

The tragedy of Black Thursday shocked Jordanians nationwide and forced a saddened and angry King Abdullah to cancel a planned visit to Bahrain the following day. The UN secretary-general and several world leaders sent condolences.

Chairing a National Policies Council meeting Oct. 27, the king said, I and all Jordanians are bereaved by this tragedy. He called for drafting a report that determines what took place, stressing the need for transparency to identify who should be held accountable.

Prime Minister Omar Razzaz told lawmakers Oct. 30 that his government should bear the administrative, procedural and moral responsibility for the incident. Razzaz has been under pressure from the public and deputies to fire ministers who were blamed for failing to take measures that could have prevented the tragedy.

The resignations of Annab and Mahafza, which have yet to be accepted, may force Razzaz to reshuffle his Cabinet for the second time in a month. Deputies may still demand more ministerial resignations, which could put the fate of the government in jeopardy. The head of a parliamentary fact-finding committee issued a statement Nov. 1, saying that the interrogation of ministers revealed a dereliction in the performance of ministries.

After the floods, Jordanians were quick to point the finger at various ministries for failing to take measures to prevent the deaths. The Jordan Meteorological Department had issued an advance warning of heavy rainfall and possible flooding in low areas. The incident took place at the lowest point on earth, in a gorge that frequently witnesses flash floods after heavy rainfall.

But in the wake of the tragedy, the ministers of education, tourism, health and public works were quick to deny responsibility for the incident. A bridge near the area had collapsed under the force of gushing water, which had carried boulders from the riverbed. The bodies of most victims were deformed, making it hard for their families to identify them. The Ministry of Water and Irrigation denied on Oct. 27 news reports and social media claims that that the ministry had opened the gates of a new dam near the area of the incident, causing the flash flood.

Under public pressure, the government announced Oct. 25 that it would open an investigation and hold accountable those responsible for the incident. Minister of State for Media Affairs Jumana Ghunaimat told the Jordan Times that it is clear that there is a violation. The school, which organized the trip, did not abide by public safety regulations which stipulate that students must not swim and must be kept away from waterways.

But Jordanians, especially on social media, rejected the government's offer to investigate its own culpability. The Lower House of Parliament decided Oct. 30 to form its own investigation committee into the Dead Sea tragedy, while the public prosecutor initiated a separate inquiry into the incident.

But Ammon News reported Oct. 31 that King Abdullah would call for an impartial committee, including representatives of the victims' families, to be formed soon.

Apart from the grave humanitarian loss felt by Jordanians, the tragic incident also overshadowed the kings historic decision Oct. 21 to terminate parts of the kingdoms peace treaty with Israel. The move  hailed by Jordanians as a national victory  would have given the Razzaz government a short reprieve from public criticism over its economic policies.

Now the government finds itself under scrutiny as a number of lawmakers called on Oct. 28 for the resignation of the ministers of education and tourism.

Following the tragic incident, a number of Jordanians mocked and insulted the victims and their families on social media, claiming they were members of the upper class because they sent their children to private schools. The cybercrimes unit of the Public Security Directorate referred six Jordanians to the public prosecutor Oct. 28 for posting messages on social media that spread hate speech and insulted the victims of the Dead Sea incident and their families.

Expressing rage, the king published a lengthy article Oct. 31 in all Jordanian dailies, titled Social or Anti-Social Media. He wrote, What we witnessed lately with the Dead Sea incident  which has caused deep pain to us all  and some of the commentary that followed indeed prove that this anchor [social media] has been shaken. We must differentiate between those who criticized performance and called for identifying the responsible parties and between those few who have been offensive to the memory of the children we have lost, which makes us question the basis of their relationship with society and the goals behind this negativity that has, unfortunately, robbed them of their humanity. We must also question who is behind these opinions that are far removed from the values of our society.

The kings article came as lawmakers prepared to debate controversial amendments to the cybercrime law this month. The amendments will tighten penalties against purported hate speech, but activists say it will limit freedom of expression.

Stories of heroism also emerged from the Dead Sea tragedy. An off-duty diver with the Civil Defense Department, Zaher al-Ajalin, was hailed as hero when he personally saved the lives of five people and retrieved the bodies of another four.

Meanwhile, Jordanians await the results of the fact-finding committee, though some are skeptical. Writing in al-Ghad daily Oct. 31, Fahed al-Khitan, a political columnist, said that even though at least three investigations are taking place and lawmakers are demanding the firing of those responsible, Jordanians can't help but be reminded of the numerous committees formed in the aftermath of previous national crises that have been forgotten or side-stepped. Such attitudes deepen the public's distrust of governments, but this time, we cant afford not to act, he wrote.
Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered his countrys consulate in Istanbul and his body was then dismembered and destroyed, Turkish authorities said. They accused high-level officials of ordering the murder that has unleashed international fury against the kingdom.

The charges came in a rare statement to the press from Istanbuls chief prosecutor and in remarks by the ruling partys spokesman late on Wednesday in a clear signal that Turkey is not dropping its pressure campaign on Saudi Arabia in the wake of Khashoggis brutal killing in Istanbul Oct. 2.

Khashoggis body was cut up and destroyed after his death in a premeditated attack, the prosecutors office said in its first official confirmation of some of the details of the grisly murder that anonymous Turkish sources have leaked to the media over the past month. The statement was issued after negotiations with Saudi Arabias public prosecutor, who was in Istanbul this week following a pledge to cooperate in the Turkish investigation.

Despite all of our good intentions, no concrete result was obtained from the meetings, the prosecutor said, outlining three central unanswered questions: Where are Khashoggis remains, what evidence has the Saudi investigation unearthed and who is the purported local collaborator that Saudis claim helped dispose of the body?

Turkish officials have complained that Saudi Arabia is failing to fully cooperate, even as the kingdom has succumbed to pressure and reversed its earlier positions to more closely match Turkeys allegations. Initially, it claimed to know nothing about Khashoggis disappearance, then acknowledged he had indeed been killed at its consulate but that his death was accidental. Its next assertion was that rogue security officers were behind the murder, and last week it said evidence indicated Khashoggis killing was planned.

The pivots have done little to assuage Turkey, however, as it seeks an admission of culpability by a senior official  possibly as high as Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman  for the death of Khashoggi, a 59-year-old columnist for the Washington Post and a vocal critic of the crown prince.

This is not the kind of action that could have occurred without orders from a high level, Omer Celik, spokesman for the Justice and Development Party (AKP), told reporters. Where is Khashoggis body? Those who did this are in the hands of Saudi officials, and its impossible that they have not learned this.

A former adviser to the Saudi government, Khashoggi moved to the United States upon becoming disillusioned with bin Salmans rule after he took control of the kingdom in 2017 and began a wide-ranging crackdown on his opponents to consolidate power in the worlds top oil exporter.

Khashoggi vanished after entering the Saudi Consulate to obtain papers to marry his Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, who waited for him for hours outside the building. She told the BBC this week that she wants the international community to support Turkey in its quest to lay bare what happened to Khashoggi.

His murder on Turkish soil has incensed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has previously clashed with bin Salman over Iran, Syria and Qatar. Earlier this year, bin Salman reportedly said Turkey was part of a triangle of evil with Iran and extremist Islamist groups, and Saudi Arabia is joined by the UAE and Egypt in opposition to Turkeys hosting of Arab dissidents, including members of the Muslim Brotherhood who have sought refuge in Istanbul.

The AKPs Celik reiterated Erdogans demand that the 18 men Saudi Arabia has arrested in connection with the murder be extradited to Turkey for trial. Authorities there have refused to turn over the suspects. The prosecution should be in Istanbul.  All of the evidence will emerge and the world will have its questions answered. Unless this is done, this process will not disappear from the agenda, Celik said.

It is down to Erdogans sheer will that the Khashoggi matter has not been swept under the rug, Celik said, adding, He is closed to offers made to him to cover this up.

Erdogan has been dogged in the quest to investigate the murder, and disclosures from the probe have captured global media attention. Turkey has an international responsibility to hold those behind the murder to account, Erdogan has said.

We are entering the second act of this drama, said Soner Cagaptay, the director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and the author of The New Sultan, a biography of Erdogan. There is a larger strategic gain if  MBS is not only embarrassed internationally but could also be sanctioned, he said, referring to the crown prince by his initials.

Erdogan sees MBS as the weakest link in a triple entente in the Middle East, composed of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt, Cagaptay told Al-Monitor. This is a chance to break his isolation. If he can connect MBS to this murder, he weakens him internationally and domestically.

The Turkish president said on Tuesday he shared new details of the Khashoggi case with Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron during their visit to Istanbul for a meeting on Syrias future over the weekend.

Erdogan spoke by phone on Thursday with US President Donald Trump about bilateral issues and the conflict in Syria, according to Erdogans office. The statement did not mention whether the leaders discussed the Khashoggi case.

Bin Salman has enjoyed the support of Trump, who sees the 33-year-old royal as a key player in curbing Iranian influence and resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as a buyer of US weapons and a pliant supplier of oil to global markets. But senators from his own party asked Trump on Wednesday to halt talks to supply Saudi Arabia with US nuclear technology after Khashoggis killing, saying it raises concerns about the judgment of Saudi decision-makers.

The United Nations said this week that it wants an international investigation into Khashoggis murder to avoid the appearance of political considerations.
The family of an autistic man that was allegedly murdered at a care home in Mobile is to take legal action against the company.

Matthew Cox, 21, was allegedly stomped to death by a caregiver at a house run by the New Way Out Corp., a company that offers residential care facilities throughout Mobile. He had the mind of a 4-year-old child, according to family.

Mobile Police Department charged Trent Yates, 27, after Cox was rushed to hospital from a care home facility in West Mobile Saturday. Yates, who was granted a $200,000 bond during a hearing Tuesday morning, was initially charged with first degree assault before the charges were upgraded to murder after an autopsy showed that Cox had died from blunt force trauma.

Group homes are entrusted with the care of some of the most vulnerable people in our society, said attorney Dean Waite, who has been retained by the Cox family. It is incumbent upon us to make sure these group homes are fulfilling their obligations to the residents for whom they are responsible.

Prosecutors believe that Cox was verbally and physically abused before his death. During Yatess bond hearing, the Mobile District Attorney prosecutor said that Coxs organs had been severely damaged in the attack.

A statement from Coxs family released by Waite thanked the community for its thoughts and prayers and expressions of love for Matthew.

They added: His entire life was marked by the innocence and affection that only a child can have. We will miss him dearly.

Waite told AL.com during an interview Wednesday afternoon that he would spend time investigating what happened at the care home when Cox was allegedly attacked by Yates, but would likely not file a civil lawsuit until after the conclusion of a possible criminal trial.

AL.com visited the home where Cox was killed, located on Colonial Drive North, according to publicly available court documents. The building stood out among others on the block. Blinds were fully shut, windows were extremely dirty. Tall fences at the side of the house were in disrepair, while household items such as a TV, what appeared to be a DVD player, and a pile of childrens cuddly toys were in the front yard. Several large dogs also roamed in the backyard.

No one responded at the door.

At New Way Outs primary address, 712 Oak Circle Drive East, an employee of the company said it would not comment on the death of Cox. David Petway, president of the company, according to Alabama Secretary of State business records, was also not available for comment. He did not return calls or messages asking why his company had hired Yates, who had one assault conviction and two domestic violence convictions from municipal court.

At this time, we believe that our investigation will show a pattern of abuse leading up to Matthews death, said Waite. Group home administrators have a responsibility both to thoroughly background check their staff before allowing them to work with residents, and to promptly and thoroughly investigate and address any allegations of abuse, including turning evidence over to police when necessary.

State business records also indicate that New Way Out allows subcontractors to run some of its group homes, an arrangement allowed by the Alabama Department of Mental Health.

There are thousands of Alabamans with developmental disabilities and mental illness in group homes and other care facilities, and it is critical to hold those facilities accountable in order to protect peoples safety, Waite said. This is why were investigating a remedy through the civil justice system  this is how we keep vulnerable people safe.
The last time President Donald Trump rallied his supporters in Pensacola, he told them to, get out and vote for Roy Moore.

Nearly 11 months later, the president returns on Saturday to the Florida Panhandle city located a mere 25 miles from the Alabama line.

But this time he wont have Alabama on his mind.

Hes visiting states with close Senate races and close governors races and in Florida, he has one of each, said Adam Cayton, an associate professor of government at the University of West Florida in Pensacola.

Trump is scheduled to speak at 6:30 p.m. at the Pensacola International Airport. Its part of a pre-Midterm election trip through states with competitive races for Senate or governor. The presidents itinerary also includes a rally Saturday in Montana; Sunday in Georgia and Tennessee; and Monday in Ohio, Indiana and Missouri.

Florida focus

Alabama, according to national pundits, is not considered a battleground state, and neither of the states two Senate seats are up for election next week.

But that doesnt mean the president may not name-drop Alabama during his speech, or mention the governors race between the current officeholder, Kay Ivey, and her Democratic opponent Walt Maddox.

Im certain the president thinks the world of Kay Ivey, but shes not within he margin of error (of losing her race, according to internal polling), and she is not in a battleground race, said Jonathan Gray, a Republican political strategist based in Mobile. He might mention her from the stage, but to be honest with you, Id be surprised if he did.

Said Gray, Florida is the battleground right now. There is nothing in Alabama right now that is on the margin, and certainly nothing the president would care about.

Trumps Pensacola focus will be to give a strategic boost to two Republicans competing in closely-watched races: Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who is looking to unseat incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson; and former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, who is battling Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum in the Florida governors race.

Both Scott and DeSantis attended Trumps rally Wednesday in Fort Myers, Florida.

In Pensacola, the president will have a friendly crowd to boost both Scott and DeSantis, said Sam Fisher, political science professor at the University of South Alabama.

Indeed, the rallys location is surrounded by some of the most conservative counties in Florida and Alabama. While Trump narrowly defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in Florida two years ago, the president won Escambia County (home to Pensacola) with 57.6 percent of the vote. In the surrounding Panhandle counties, he received above 70-percent support.

The president enjoyed near similar numbers in South Alabama, including nearby Baldwin County where he got 76.5 percent support.

Hes always had a lot of support here and in the Panhandle, said Michael Hoyt, the GOP chairman in Baldwin County, who anticipates Alabamians making the trek to Pensacola for the rally.

A Byrne plug?

Jess Brown, a retired political science professor at Athens State University and a longtime watcher of state politics, said the only Alabama connection he can see with Trumps visit to Pensacola is a possible mentioning of the 2020 Senate contest.

U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Fairhope, is eyeing a 2020 Senate run against Democratic incumbent, Sen. Doug Jones, in a race likely to pique the White Houses interest.

He could not only mention Byrne, but he could also talk about defense-related issues and give Byrne a kudos, said Brown, referring to Byrnes support of Austal USA and the inclusion of littoral combat ships within annual defense appropriation spending.

The rally in Pensacola is also taking place near the massive Naval air base and in a city with a large U.S. military presence. It will also earn considerable media attention in Mobile and Baldwin counties, which share a media market with nearby Pensacola.

My question is not does the president deal with the current ballot in Alabama with Ivey, but does he start worrying about the 2020 Senate race and maybe put Byrne on stage or make a comment about Byrne, said Brown.

Byrnes spokesman confirmed that the congressman will not be in attendance.

Future visits

Trump last visited Alabama on September 22, 2017, in Huntsville to support former Senator Luther Strange before last years GOP primary runoff election. Strange lost that contest to Moore.

The president opted not to return to Alabama ahead of the general election, despite polling that showed a close contest. Trump, instead, held the pro-Moore rally in Pensacola three days before the special election.

There is no reason why he will not come back, said Hoyt. He would have more reason to because of that Senate seat, which will be very important to recapture back from Doug Jones. He will definitely want to come here to encourage that.

Gray, the GOP strategist, said he believes Trump will be in Alabama next year, and he believes Byrne  once he announces a run for the Senate  will want to obtain the presidents early support.

I fully expect to see Byrne for Senate signs during Mardi Gras  or Ill give him to Easter, said Gray. If we dont, then Bradley is not doing his job.

Said Gray: I think well see the president 100 percent supportive of Bradley Byrne and they will be out early and often.

Moore reflections

Trumps return to Pensacola recalls the December 8, 2017, rally he held at the citys downtown Bay Center, in which he dedicated about three minutes of a 76-minute speech to the Alabama special Senate election.

The setting begged the question ahead of the event: Why would the president campaign for an Alabama political contest in another state?

Political analysts like Cayton believe that Trump was walking a fine line in not wanting to campaign in Alabama days before the election, largely because of the accusations that Moore pursued sexual relationships with teenage girls decades ago.

Moore was not in attendance at the Pensacola rally.

He didnt really want to associate himself with candidate Moore at that point, said Brown. He felt some pressures  he has strong ties and good relationships with the Christian conservative faction of the Republican Party. Moore is a bit of a hero with Christian conservatives.

Said Brown, But the way it was staged by the White House, that was not a full-throttled and pedal-to-the-metal support of Roy Moore. They wanted a checkmark to say that the president helped Roy Moore, but they wanted to minimize the bad optics.

So was Trumps last visit to Pensacola a political disaster?

Brown and Fisher believe it had little effect on the outcome of the Senate race, which Jones barely won to become the first Democrat from Alabama to win a U.S. Senate contest since 1992.

A lot of times, his rallies, when you think its to support a particular candidate, it eventually revolves around Trump himself, said Fisher. The candidate sometimes gets lost in the mix.
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox on Tuesday reported a total of $150,000 in campaign contributions from six political action committees that received $200,000 from Democratic activist George Soros two weeks ago.

Maddox has previously issued a statement saying that he did not ask Soros for the contributions but appreciated them.

The six PACs are all chaired by Michael Echols of Tuscaloosa and have contributed to the Maddox campaign previously. Maddox pointed out that Echols PACs have also made donations to Gov. Kay Iveys campaign.

Maddox, the Democratic nominee for governor, faces Republican Ivey in Tuesdays election.

The PAC donations were among a total of $160,000 in contributions reported by Maddox on Tuesday.

The Maddox campaign has now raised $2.5 million and reported cash on hand of $250,000 on Tuesday.

The Ivey campaign has raised $6.9 million and reported $60,000 cash on hand on Tuesday.

Soros is a wealthy financier and philanthropist who has supported Democratic candidates, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and has backed liberal causes. Soros was one of the targets of pipe bomb packages mailed to prominent Democrats and others last week. Authorities intercepted the packages and none exploded. A Florida man is suspected of sending the devices.
The future of greyhound racing in Florida will be decided by voters on Nov. 6.

A proposed constitutional amendment in Florida would ban dog racing in the state by December 2020. If voters approve the amendment, dog racing would continue in only five states  Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Texas and West Virginia. Two dog tracks remain in West Virginia with one each in Alabama, Arkansas and Iowa. Three tracks exists in Texas but rotate an annual meet.

Florida, which in 1931 became the first state to approve wagering on dogs is home to 11 tracks.

Amendment 13 would do away with Floridas regulations that limit cardroom and slot machines to places that also allow wagers on dog or horse racing. That type of betting would be allowed to continue on its own, as would betting on dog races outside of Florida. The measure needs 60 percent approval to pass.

Proponents of the measure cite the risk of serious injury and death to the some 7,000 animals involved in the sport in Florida.

Dog racing sought to promote itself as elite and glamorous, but the truth about this so-called sport has now been revealed in state documents, financial reports and testimony from track workers themselves, said Christine Dorchak of Grey2K USA, a group working to end the sport. Broken legs, crushed skulls, snapped necks, paralysis and heat strokes are common. Some dogs have even been electrocuted while racing."

Florida remains one of two states, along with Alabama, where greyhound injury reporting is not mandated, according to Grey2K USA.

The Florida Greyhound Association opposes the measure, saying it will lead to the expansion of gambling in the state.

Amendment 13 will be presented to the voters as an animal welfare bill  to end live greyhound racing. In reality  if it passes it will result in the largest expansion of gambling in Florida by converting Floridas greyhound tracks to casinos," the organization said.

The group maintains the animals are well treated.

Greyhounds are well trained and well treated. Greyhound owners do not get paid unless the Greyhound comes in first, second, third or fourth in a race. Therefore, greyhound owners take immense pride in ensuring that Greyhound athletes receive the very best treatment, the organization said.

More than 50 U.S. dog tracks have closed since the 1990s as the sports revenue continues to decline.
Hurricane Michael caused more than $300 million worth of damage to Alabamas agricultural operations when it rolled through the southeast corner of that state on Oct. 10, and could cost the Wiregrass area about 2,500 jobs, according to a report released Thursday by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

The estimated total agricultural impact of the storm includes the previously reported $204 million in direct losses, as well as the indirect costs of the storm, including job losses, supply chain impacts and lost tax revenue.

Direct agricultural losses total $204 million alone, Paul Brown, the Extensions storm response team leader, said in a news release. " But when you consider associated impacts on agricultural suppliers and the absence of household spending, the total damage done by Michael to Alabamas agriculture industry and communities reaches $307 million."

The estimated 2,500 lost or affected jobs come from decreased agricultural activity in the region and ripples through the supply chain. The Extension estimates that local, state and federal tax revenues in the region could decline by as much as $22.8 million

"There is a direct connection to what happens on the farm and the broader industry and dollars spent in other Wiregrass businesses, such as grocery stores, restaurants and other retail outlets, Brown said.

The estimated $204 million in direct damages to farm operations in the area included lost crops, destroyed buildings and equipment, fencing, and cleanup costs.

Cotton was the hardest hit crop, with an estimated $107 million in lost lint cotton, and a total estimated damage of almost $163 million.

The cotton harvest season had just begun when the storm passed through, meaning most crops had not yet been harvested and the cotton bolls were in their most vulnerable state, having emerged from the protective seed pod.

The storm also caused an estimated $32 million in direct timber losses, including $11 million in lost pine straw, plus indirect costs totaling $53 million. Some of the timber from felled trees can still be recovered if it is harvested in a timely manner, according to the Alabama Forestry Commission.

Houston County was the hardest hit county in the region, with total losses of more than $146 million and 1,200 jobs. Geneva County was the second most affected county with total damages at more than $62 million and a possible job loss of 500. Henry County suffered losses of more than $45 million and potential job losses of more than 340.

The projected economic and job losses do not include possible disaster assistance that could be provided to the Wiregrass. Brown said that these losses would be tempered if disaster programs are provided to affected farmers, creating a positive trickle-down effect for related industries, households and the community.

The Extension will host a number of recovery meetings in the coming months to help farmers and producers move ahead. The first will be a livestock recovery meeting Nov. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. The meeting, which will be at the Alabama Extension Houston County office, will discuss management options for feeding, grazing and fencing as well as updates on federal recovery assistance programs for livestock producers.

The agency has also set up a web site for impacted Alabama farmers to get more information about recovery at michaelrecoveryinfo.com.
Christopher McLawhorn was sentenced today to life in prison for the 2017 fatal stabbing of Tiffany Ferguson, a University of North Alabama nursing graduate.

Ferguson was a 23-year-old nurse at Saint Thomas West Hospital when she was killed at her Nashville condo during the early morning hours of Feb. 28, 2017.

McLawhorn was convicted earlier this year of premeditated murder, especially aggravated burglary and theft, according to The Tennessean. The 26-year-old convict was accused of killing Ferguson to steal a laptop and jewelry.

Fergusons mother and sister spoke at todays sentencing hearing, the Tennessean reported.

She was a bright life in a dark world," said sister Molly Cox, according to the newspaper. "On the morning of Feb. 28, my sister came face-to-face with evil."

A native of Loretto, Tennessee, Ferguson was a 2015 graduate of UNAs nursing program.

Fergusons mother Angie Vaughn spoke at the sentencing hearing. To McLawhorn, she said, You didnt have to hurt her. You are such a coward, a coward to take my childs life while shes sleeping in bed, the Tennesseean reported.
Halloween 2018 came complete with a short celestial show.

A meteor streaked across the sky Wednesday around 7:21 p.m. Dr. Bill Cooke of NASAs Meteoroid Environment Office in Huntsville told WHNT the meteor wasnt a Taurid Fireball  something that would be more common this time of year. It was instead a small piece of a comet.

Found your meteor in 3 of our cameras at 7:21:57 PM  uncommon slow mover (37,000 mph) seen through clouds, traveling almost due north right up the Alabama/Mississippi state line, Cooke told WHNT. Nice flares indicating multiple fragmentations. The meteor burned up about 43 miles above the Mississippi town of Mingo, just across the state line. Orbit and brightness indicate that the fireball was caused by a fragment of a comet about 3 inches in diameter.
A man accused of trying to kill Limestone County sheriffs deputies is facing more charges, including possession of a homemade bomb, authorities said.

Ronnie Tyler Gwynn Parker is held in the Limestone County jail with bail set at $735,000, records show. The 25-year-old from Leighton has been in custody since Oct. 21, when he is accused of firing shots at multiple deputies, taking women hostage and setting a home on fire.

That day deputies were dispatched around 6 a.m. to investigate a report of a stolen vehicle from Piney Chapel Road. A deputy began chasing the vehicle on Alabama 127, said sheriffs spokesman Stephen Young. Parker pulled a .380-caliber pistol and fired at deputies, who returned fire, Young said. No injuries were reported in the incident. At some point, Parker rammed a patrol vehicle, deputies said.

The stolen vehicle was found abandoned in a pasture.

Deputies said they learned that Parker had picked up his girlfriend and forced her to come along after he stole the vehicle. After abandoning the vehicle, the couple walked to a nearby home. Parker took his girlfriend and an elderly resident as hostages when authorities showed up, Young said. Parker released the elderly woman after setting fire to the home, authorities said.

As the fire spread, the smoke became thick and the girlfriend escaped through a window, Young said in a news release at the time. Deputies were also able to pull Parker from the window and take him into custody.

An device found in the stolen vehicle that day has since been identified as a homemade improvised explosive device, Young said today.

Parker is charged with, five counts of attempted murder, two counts of kidnapping, arson, theft, shooting into an occupied vehicle, criminal mischief and possession of a homemade explosive device, records show. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
Alabama voting officials have put unfair hurdles in the way of students from Madison Countys two predominantly black universities who want to vote in Tuesdays election, county officials said this week.

Students registered to vote in good faith, those officials said, but will encounter unexpected road blocks when they go to the polls on Tuesday.

Its voter suppression, and it gives our county a black eye, the countys top voting official, Madison County Probate Judge Tommy Ragland, said Wednesday. Its unnecessary. It should not have happened. Weve got to let people vote, and weve got to let new voters, especially young people, have a good experience.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference announced Wednesday night a press conference on Thursday to expose voter suppression in Madison County.

Ragland and Madison County Commissioner Roger Jones referred to the routine statewide practice of mailing voter I.D. cards to newly registered voters. The cards list information such as the voters address, tell the voter his or her polling place and the public office districts at that address. Voters are asked to check the cards for errors.

If the card cant be delivered and is returned to the Board of Registrars by the U.S. Post Office, the voter goes on the inactive voter list, even if the person is a first-time enrollee whose application is only a few months old. He or she is denied a ballot at the polling place until filling out an updated identification form.

The voter can fill out the form, get back in line and cast a ballot on election day, but critics argue that the extra time involved could discourage voting, especially at a university where students have classes, work or other commitments.

I think there are folks who may be inactive all over the state, Brent Beal, an attorney in the Secretary of States office, said Wednesday. I cant give you an answer about how many of them are students.

Both Alabama A&M University and Oakwood University, with predominantly African-American student bodies, have been the sites of multiple voter registration drives leading up to the next weeks mid-term election. Estimates are that more than 1,100 new voters enrolled at A&M and more than 800 signed up at Oakwood.

They have just registered to vote and this is the first time they will be able to vote and then have to go through an ordeal when they go vote Tuesday, theyll have to fill out paperwork like theyre registering again, Madison County Commissioner Roger Jones said. Its suppressing their right to vote.

Jones said he wrote an email Wednesday to Lynda Hairston, chair of the Madison County Board of Registrars, asking that the students declared inactive be restored to active status. Jones said he copied the office of Gov. Kay Ivey on the email.

Hairston defended the active/inactive practice.

If that card comes back, the mail has been returned by the Post Office, Hairston said. We make them inactive/ID card undeliverable and when they go to vote, we question them. Do you still live there? If they do and the Post Office  the Post Office, not me  made a mistake, they can fill out an updated form and will put them back active and send them another card.

That does not disqualify you, Hairston said. All you need to do is update your address.

When she sent a card out to them, the address at the university, they didnt claim that card, Jones said. It was sent back to Lynda and she took it upon herself since they didnt claim the card to take them off the voter list.

Students at Alabama A&M do not have post office boxes at the campus post office but receive mail to a general delivery address. Larry Abernathy, who runs the university post office, said Monday that A&M sent out several emails to students urging them to pick up their voter cards. But Abernathy said he still has several hundred unclaimed voter cards to return to Hairston if they are not claimed by election day.

I have talked to our attorney, Jones said referring to the countys attorney, Jeff Rich, and according to our attorney, shes not within the law to do what she did. I was told that she said shes been doing it this way for a long time. But I dont care if it is. If its not within the law, its not right.

Rich did not respond to a message left on his cell phone Thursday by AL.com.

Hairston did say that if the application is filled out incorrectly, for example, wrong date of birth, no drivers license number or last four digits of their Social Security number, I cant accept it. Or if they dont mark that they are a U.S. citizen, I cant do that.

Beal said the Secretary of States office, which is responsible for administering elections in Alabama, has provided additional update forms to Madison County that inactive voters can fill out and still vote.

And my understanding is those are going to be disseminated to a lot of folks prior to them even going to the polls so they wont have to fill them out when they get there, Beal said. They can just turn them in.

Asked his reaction to hearing the phrase voter suppression, which critics used to described the situation, Beal said the Secretary of States office follows the same process statewide with the intention to help the voters get the right address on file. We want to help voters. Thats all we are trying to do. We are trying to make sure their record is as accurate as possible to help them.

But former Madison County Democratic Party Chairman Tom Ryan remains skeptical.

Theyve done this before, Ryan said. They did this in the last election, too. The Board of Registrars said they used the wrong address and there were hundreds who were disenfranchised at that point.

Its always kind of coincidental, isnt it, that its students and students of color who are always kicked off the rolls for some reason or another, Ryan said.

Hairston said voters make all kinds of errors in their applications. But when the Post Office sends a registration card based on that application back to her as undeliverable, she said, there is a problem that may have to wait until election day.
There may be talk of a blue wave, but U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, has demographics on his side.

The congressmans district, which encompasses much of the Birmingham suburbs, affluent areas of the Magic City and surrounding counties, is one of the reddest in the country. President Donald Trump won the 6th Congressional District by nearly 44 percentage points  about 16 points higher than he won Alabama as a whole.

But the two-term Palmers Democratic opponent, Free the Hops founder Danner Kline, is the congressmans best funded and most organized rival. For Kline, the 6th Congressional Districts status as one of the most Republican enclaves in America may be a chicken or the egg paradox: Have Democrats not invested in winning the district because its inherently red, or is the district not competitive for Democrats because there hasnt been a legitimate effort to win it?

Its a generally conservative area, but it wouldnt be the No. 16th reddest district [according to the Cook Political Report rankings] if people had invested time and money and run a serious campaign, Kline said in a phone interview. No ones ever done that here, what were doing.

Kline, whose Free the Hops spurred the microbrewery boom in Alabama, said creating the organization laid his foundation for understanding the legislative process.

I just saw something that I thought I had the ability to make a change, he said. That was all volunteer, it was all on my own time. I was working a full-time job in the telecoms field for Southern Progress.

The desire for Kline jump from lobbying the state Legislature to representing the 6th District in Washington came about for two reasons. Kline said he believes President Trump does not have the character to lead the county, and the protesters who flooded Hoover City Hall last year to voice outrage at Palmer made Kline believe that the district was worth fighting for.

I think the thing that was most emotionally resonant and that had the biggest effect on my mindset is when the tape came out with [Trump] bragging about his routine sexual assault and we had audio of him saying those things, Kline said, referring to the Access Hollywood tape. Yet people still voted for him and he still won, and I think that was a shocking experience for me to realize that the United States of America would elect a man on tape who would say those horrible things.

In a 30-minute interview with Palmer, the congressman made no mentions of his opponent. Instead, he has focused on his agenda if he wins a third term and how he will likely get an increased role in the Republican caucus. His colleagues have pushed for Palmer to ascend to chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, which recommends legislative proposals to House Republicans. Palmer is currently a vice chairman of the group and would be the fifth-ranking Republican in the House if he becomes chairman.

A lot of my colleagues have said. Thats where you need to be. They dont see me as political. I dont do a lot of media, I dont do a lot of social stuff. Im a nerd, and I said Id serve five terms  thats 10 years  and I feel like that windows closing, Ive got to maximize whatever time the voters of the 6th District give me to try to do some things that really matter.

One of Palmers top priorities is helping craft a health care bill to replace Obamacare that would end mandates but keep pre-existing conditions while allowing small businesses and industries to create health associations to keep premiums down.

I dont think the American people just want us in one fell swoop repeal the Affordable Care Act. What they want is to see the health care system and the health care insurance industry repaired, Palmer said. One of the reasons that premiums are high for a lot of individuals is they work for small businesses that dont provide health insurance.

The congressman played a key role in the health care bill that passed the House but narrowly failed in the Senate.

Im the one that allowed states to take their Medicaid funds as a block grant. I also got it in that the states could require work requirements for able-bodied adults without children. And then, probably the one that got the most attention was, my amendment to cover people with pre=existing conditions, he said.

Meanwhile, Kline believes Obamacare did not go far enough. The former business telecommunications systems manager and craft beer manager is in favor of universal health care.

Even in this district, where theres a very high rate of people who have employer-sponsored health care, even those folks are seeing their premiums go up and their deductibles go up, he said.

To pay for the program, Kline advocates gutting the Trump tax cut and increasing taxes on millionaires and billionaires.

We had a massive tax cut on millionaires and billionaires. Weve got to undo the tax cut on the rich that the Republicans just passed, Kline said. Inequality is skyrocketing, its at an all-time high. The solution to that is raising taxes on the super wealthy.

Two of Klines other top priorities, he said, go hand-in-hand: Environmental protections and corruption. He was referring to the corruption case against Drummond Coal, its lobbyists and a Democratic state representative who persuaded north Birmingham residents not to get their soil tested so the company could save money on cleanup.

I favor a strong EPA that has an ability to regulate pollution from corporations like Drummond, Kline said. Republicans in this state all supported Drummond in their efforts to not clean up their mess in north Birmingham.

Klines views on the role of government is in stark contrast to Palmers, who wants to make progress on regulatory reform if elected to a third term.

Gary Palmer, his No. 1 focus as far as I can tell, is cutting taxes on everyone, including the rich, and cutting regulations. Hes quote-unquote a limited government guy. I believe there is a place for government in society where it helps people.

Kline is hoping for Doug Jones-like momentum to recapture the seat for Democrats. Jones, and the Democratic National Committee, is credited with updating Alabamas voter file, which helps Democratic candidates with strategic decisions on who to target for campaign mailings and fundraising calls.

His campaign energized a ton of volunteers, people who got out and knocked doors for him, and many of those folks are helping with my campaign, he said. Turnout has been key focus of campaign, putting a lot of resources into knocking on doors and making phone calls.

Palmer said his strategy doesnt deviate between representing the district and being in campaign mode.

My campaign is going fine. I really dont do a whole lot different during the campaign than I do any other time. Weve been doing town halls, weve been having meetings with the mayors and school superintendents, have been doing a lot on school safety, meeting with the superintendents, looking a little bit deeper into the why and not just the how on school shootings, the congressman said.

For his part, Palmer said he believes the blue wave scenario is overblown and that Republicans will maintain control of the House. But hes not focused on the political side of his job, saying that if Republicans have the right policies the politics will work itself out.

I dont care, the congressman said about whether he gets credit for his behind-the-scenes work on bills. My objective is to find solutions.

Kline has raised more than $277,000 as of Oct. 14  nearly a third more than Palmers 2016 Democratic opponent  and had about $100,000 in cash on hand as of that date.

In a sign that Palmer does not believe he is vulnerable, the congressman has given a sizeable amount of his $1 million war chest to Republicans in tough races or to Speaker Paul Ryans PAC.

Im trying to help hold the House, he said. Im a team player.
A 39-year-old man has been arrested in Tuesdays stabbing in downtown Birmingham.

Birmingham police on Thursday announced an attempted murder charge against Samuel Jones.

Sgt. Johnny Williams said the stabbing happened about 1 p.m. in the 1500 block of Fifth Avenue North. North Precinct officers arrived on the scene to find the 21-year-old victim, whose name has not been released, had crossed 16th Street to the 1600 block of Fifth Avenue near Kelly Ingram Park.

Vince Fluker said he was sitting in his work truck finishing paperwork when the victim approached him and asked him to call 911. "He said, Ive been stabbed and he was bleeding,'' Fluker said.

Fluker called 911 and then, at the direction of dispatchers, got a towel from his truck and applied pressure to the victims chest wound. "He was going in and out,'' Fluker said. I just called on Jesus and started praying with him.

Fluker said the chest wound appeared to be at least two inches deep. "I want to thank God I was here at this spot at this time,'' Fluker said. But Im shook.

The victim was taken to UAB Hospital for treatment and is expected to be OK. Williams on Thursday said investigators received information that the victim was involved in an altercation near the playground area with a suspect before the stabbing took place. Investigators also received suspect information and immediately began to search the area. Investigators were able to locate the suspect in the 600 block of 19th Street South and take him into custody with the help of patrol officers.

Jones is being held in the Birmingham City Jail awaiting transfer to the Jefferson County Jail.
In politics, there are things you can just take for granted -- until suddenly you cant. In elections coming up on Nov. 6, uncharted waters are being tested on both sides of Mobile Bay.

Win or lose, challenges for three state house seats may show whether it's safe for one party or the other to keep taking those districts for granted.

House District 94: It's been claimed that Baldwin County is the most conservative in Alabama. That may be hard to gauge objectively, but the fact remains that no Democrats hold elective office in the county. However, some observers see possibilities in Danielle Mashburn-Myrick's challenge to Republican incumbent Joe Faust.

Faust has expressed confidence and recent history is certainly on his side: Baldwin County strongly favored Roy Moore in his U.S. Senate battle against Doug Jones, and Moore won Fairhope as well. Even so, this race may provide a gauge of the extent to which the electorate has been changed by rapid population growth in Fairhope, Foley and Baldwin County in general.

Faust has a distinct fundraising advantage. As of late October, his campaign had spent $114,000 and had $31,000 on hand. Mashburn-Myricks campaign had reported spending of about $38,000 and a balance of about $18,000.

House District 97: Democrat Adline C. Clarke is the incumbent and would seem to be on solid ground: After taking office in a 2013 special election, she was unopposed in the 2014 primary and general election.

There's little track history for Republican challenger Stephen McNair to go by: No Republican candidate ran for the seat in 2014, 2013, 2010 or 2006. McNair has been running an energetic campaign, however. One issue he has raised is a call for the state to pay for a major share of the proposed I-10 bridge. Top issues for Clarke include a call for Medicaid expansion.

As of mid-October, Clarke's campaign reported spending of $34,000 and a balance of $113,000, meaning both her fundraising and her spending were significantly higher than in any past election cycles. McNair's campaign reported spending of $19,000 and a balance of $51,000.

House District 99: In theory this is an open seat, vacated by the retirement of James Buskey after 42 years in the job. In reality Sam Jones shares Buskey's Democratic party affiliation and his unparalleled name recognition: He served as a Mobile County commissioner, was mayor of Mobile for two terms and ran a credible, though unsuccessful, challenge to take that job back in 2017.

How steep a hill does Republican Charles W. Talbert have to climb? Buskey didn't face a GOP challenger in 2006, 2010 or 2014, so he's in uncharted territory. Meanwhile Jones crushed seven challengers without a runoff in the Democratic primary, outstripping his closest competitor 57.3 to 16.1 percent.

As of mid-October, Jones' campaign had spent about $82,000 compared to $2,100 for Talbert's.

AL.com reporter John Sharp contributed to this report
Three dozen people were arrested, and 40 guns seized in a two-month operation aimed at reducing violent crime in Tuscaloosa, authorities announced Thursday.

The arrests were announced in a joint press conference by U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson, Tuscaloosa Police Chief Steven Anderson, Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy and Tuscaloosa District Attorney Hays Webb.

The operation was carried out in September and October. Participating agencies included the Alabama Attorney Generals Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, University of Alabama Police Department, Northport Police Department, the 17th Judicial Drug Task Force, and the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force.

The majority of the 36 people arrested on gun charges have at least three prior felony convictions and a combined prior conviction total of 122. Two of the suspects have 11 felony convictions each, and one has 10. The violent offenses included assault, attempted murder, rape, sodomy and domestic violence.

ATF officials said that of the 40 weapons seized, 12 were found to be stolen.

These indictments represent the hard work of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners and our continued efforts to work together to remove these criminals from our streets with severe punishment and return our communities back to their rightful ownersthe law-abiding citizens, Town said. We have bed space in federal prison for these folks and we will fill it.

The arrests were announced in a joint press conference by U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson, Tuscaloosa Police Chief Steven Anderson, Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy and Tuscaloosa District Attorney Hays Webb. The operation was carried out in September and October. Participating agencies included the Alabama Attorney Generals Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, University of Alabama Police Department, Northport Police Department, the 17th Judicial Drug Task Force, and the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force.

The operation is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated Project Safe Neighborhoods in 2017 as part of the departments renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorneys Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Similar operations have taken place around the state. Authorities say the efforts will be ongoing.

These arrests represent use of ATFs Crime Gun Intelligence partnership with law enforcement and the community to ultimately disrupt the shooting cycle that negatively impact Tuscaloosa County, Watson said. The arrests are part of Operation Focused Remedy which leverages technology and partnerships statewide to provide a safe environment to our neighborhoods.

The Tuscaloosa police chief lauded the assistance from ATF and the other agencies. We are grateful for their assistance in reducing gun violence and making Tuscaloosa a safer place, Anderson said.

The sheriff agreed. This is a great example, Abernathy said, of federal and local agencies working together here in Tuscaloosa.
By Sarah Levin, a native Alabamian and a third year law student at NYU School of Law working on issues of reproductive justice in the United States. All opinions expressed in this piece are her own.

This is an opinion column.

On November 6, the stakes are high for Alabama families. Alabamians will decide whether to add Amendment 2, the Alabama State Abortion Policy Amendment, to the state constitution. Amendment 2 looks like an anti-abortion law. But dont be fooled by its protective language. In reality, it is anti-family. If passed, it will harm women and their families across our state.

I am a native Alabamian. I cherish family and community. Amendment 2 degrades these values. It will have dangerous and sweeping consequences for women and families. The amendment will require that an unborn child have full constitutional rightswithout ever mentioning the rights of the womanallowing its effects to go far beyond abortion. It will be used to justify prosecutions and punishments of pregnant women for the choices and outcomes of their pregnancies.

What does it mean that Amendment 2 will give the state power to criminalize pregnant and parenting women? If Amendment 2 passes, it will be mandatory state policy to protect unborn life and rights in all manners and measures. Because unborn life exists within a woman, enforcing this state policy means government actors can scrutinize the choices a woman and her family make during pregnancy, and can punish a woman for any supposed result. Women could be prosecuted for things like falling down the stairs and safely managing pregnancies.

Alabama already prosecutes women for behavior during pregnancy, even without a finding of harm. Alabamas Chemical Child Engagement law criminalizes exposing a child to a controlled substance. In January 2013, Alabamas Supreme Court ruled that child under this law included unborn children. The result was that any pregnant woman who consumed a controlled substanceeven prescription medicationwas a criminal.

Three years later, the law was modified to exempt pregnant women from punishment, as long as they could prove the medication they took was legally prescribed to them by a doctor. Yet, even where charges are eventually dismissed, families have already been separated, strained and in many cases destroyed.

This amendment represents government intrusion that is inconsistent with the family values that Alabama treasures. The amendment will provide prosecutors with the authority to intrude on maternal health care decisions and micromanage pregnancy, under the guise of protecting the life and rights of an unborn child. Medical consensus shows this kind of scrutiny and punishment deters women from seeking prenatal care and may cause some women to consider avoiding or terminating a pregnancy.

Pregnancy involves complex health decisions. Each year, more than six million women become pregnant and of those, one million women will experience miscarriages and stillbirths. Some women experience major health problems during pregnancy or have to manage pre-existing health conditions. A state policy that inserts government into a womans health choices does not acknowledge the medical and biological realities of pregnancy.

Under Amendment 2, law enforcement will have the authority to scrutinize all of these decisions and investigate the womb as an active crime scene. This will force mothers to make healthcare decisions based on fear of criminal prosecutionrather that what is best for their health or pregnancy.

The Amendments sponsor, Representative Matt Fridy, argues that it ensures that the state constitution does not protect access to abortion.

But Fridys concern is illusory. The composition of Alabamas Supreme Court makes support for abortion very unlikely. Even assuming Fridys concern is genuine, why isnt Amendment 2 limited to the state constitution does not support abortion? The proposed amendment goes far beyond similar initiatives in West Virginia and Oregon, which seek only to restrict abortion.

And why does the amendment recognize a constitutional right to life that extends to unborn children? Giving the state enormous power to intrude on family, to regulate and punish women is contrary to healthy pregnancies and families.

Some suggest that Amendment 2 is a political tactic to get anti-abortion Alabamians to vote in the midterm elections, since voter turnout in the state was about 40 percent in the last midterms. If thats the case, destruction of families, criminalization of mothers and state intervention in medical and family decisions seems too high of a price to pay for a get out the vote campaign.

Wherever your loyalties lie in the abortion fight, please vote no on Amendment 2. Pregnant women should not be punished for what happens during their pregnancies. A similar amendment was on Mississippi ballots in 2011, but after doctors described the initiatives impact on their ability to provide care to pregnant women, the measure was widely rejected by voters. Enforcement of the Chemical Child Endangerment Act is proof of the harms to women and families that can result. Amendment 2 is an insidious threat to our values, and Alabama mothers deserve better. Lets instead protect health, dignity, and family on November 6.
Mobiles port authority suffered minor damage Thursday morning after strong storms rolled through the south and north parts of the state.

On Pinto Island, adjacent to the USS Alabama, 90 MPH winds blew over container terminals while a power pole snapped. Windows were blown out on equipment and structures, according to National Weather Service Mobile and Port Authority officials.

In short, weather damage minimal, said Judith Adams, Vice President of Marketing at the Alabama State Port Authority. We do know that at APM terminals the wind blew over over about 30 containers. That created a safety hazard which required APM terminals to close their gates temporarily while they cleaned it up. No injuries, nothing serious.

Adams said that APM terminals was already back operating. National Weather Service offices in Huntsville and Mobile received numerous reports of storm damage in various parts of the state. It has sent out survey teams in both areas to survey damage and determine if any tornadoes touched down.

A team from Mobile was looking at damage in Mobile County, and if time allows the team will head to Baldwin County as well.
San Salvador Island, Philippines  It is 6:30am on a Sunday morning and Rony Drio, 51, is on his way out into the water.

He tosses his net and snorkelling gear into his small wooden boat, an outrigger canoe called a bangka.

Drio will spend the day in the shallow waters of his island home of San Salvador searching for aquarium fish that he can net, bag, and sell to local dealers for around 20 pesos, about 37 cents a piece.

If hes lucky, hell catch 100 fish by the end of the week, netting him roughly 2,000 pesos ($37).

If you have kids you need to send to school and youre trying to feed them, said Drio, its absolutely not enough.

Not enough for school uniforms, or to buy meat at the market in the nearby town, or for medication.

Aquarium fishing has long been supplemental income for the fishermen and women of San Salvador, an island community in Masinloc Bay in the northern Philippine province of Zambales.

Recently, however, Drio has found himself scouring the nearby reefs any chance he gets.

Scarborough is ours. But if it came down to a fight, it's like we'd be fighting with slingshots and they'd have the guns. We have no chance against China. Rony Drio, fisherman

There was a time a fisherman like Drio could make as much as 7,000 to 9,000 pesos ($130 to $165) in a week, deep-sea fishing in the rich waters around Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

But for the past six years, only the truly brave  or truly desperate  among Masinlocs fishermen have ventured into their ancestral fishing grounds around the shoal.

In April 2012, Scarborough Shoal became a regional flashpoint when China established a naval blockade around the islet.

For Drio, a deep-sea fisherman of 30 years, it was the beginning of the end for his communitys way of life.

The Chinese incursion became the impetus for a landmark international legal case over maritime rights and an implicit rebuke of Chinas colonial ambitions.

But now, a new oil-and-gas deal between China and the Philippines is set to make Chinese control over the Philippine maritime territory essentially permanent.

The deal will reportedly give China exclusive rights for exploration in the South China Sea, essentially undermining the international ruling and making fishing communities like Drios a thing of the past.

China has long argued that it has landmark claims to more than 90 percent of the South China Sea. The region is home to 10 percent of the worlds fisheries, and 30 percent of global shipping trade passes through it.

But perhaps the regions greatest prize lies under the seabed itself: An estimated 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Rony Drio examines his gear before wading into the reefs by his island home to search for aquarium fish [Santiago Arnaiz/Al Jazeera]

In 2016, four years after the Chinese Coastguard first appeared at Scarborough, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines, saying that China had violated the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).

According to UNCLOS, a countrys maritime claim is determined by its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which extends 200 nautical miles beyond its shores. Scarborough Shoal, which is 129 nautical miles from Masinloc, falls well within the Philippine EEZ.

But by the time the PCA ruling was released, China had a new ally in the recently elected President Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration has sought to build friendlier ties with Beijing.

Earlier this week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spent two days in Davao City  the hometown of his most respected friend President Duterte  to meet Filipino Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin Jr and discuss further steps in the two nations joint venture to explore the disputed waters.

This joint development agreement for oil and gas extraction might allow both countries to benefit economically from resources in the South China Sea, but any such agreement would put the Philippines at a major disadvantage.

Closer ties

According to Constantinos Yiallourides, an energy expert with the British Institute of International and Comparative Law who specialises in maritime rights, an oil and gas deal could, in practice, undermine the 2016 PCA ruling.

It would be inconceivable for China to agree to remove its military from the islands, said Yiallourides.

In March 2017, Sansha Communist Party Secretary Xiao Jie, the administrator in charge of Chinas control over the islands in the South China Sea, announced plans to expand their presence.

Speaking with the state-backed Hainan Daily, he explained that environmental monitoring stations were being built on six islands in the maritime region, including Scarborough Shoal.

Later that week, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang and President Duterte met to discuss broadening cooperation in the region.

According to Yuallourides, the upcoming joint development deal would implicitly establish that Chinas claims in the region, no matter where the in the EEZ the drilling took place, seal the fate of communities like San Salvador.

Any deal could be challenged by the Supreme Court, but Attorney Anne Marie Corominas, who worked on the PCA case for the Philippine government, is not hopeful.

The Supreme Court is so stacked with [pro-China] appointees who are now in power, she said. And they are aligned.

Residents of San Salvador travel to and from the mainland on bangkas, or small wooden outriggers. Larger versions of these vessels called lantsas are used for longer journeys in the open sea [Santiago Arnaiz/Al Jazeera]

Its nearing 8:00am and Rony Drio watches as his companions skim the nearby waters for aquarium fish. Theyve only managed to catch a few.

They wont be able to make ends meet without another trip to Scarborough soon, a prospect that worries Drio.

Following the PCA ruling in 2016, the Chinese Coastguard reopened the waters around the shoal to Filipino fishermen, but did not withdraw. Instead, they began to find new ways to discourage Filipino fishermen from venturing into the waters.

First, their ships blocked off the entrance to the islands C-shaped lagoon. Access to the lagoon allowed the fishermen to stay out on the water for several weeks at a time to catch as many fish as possible.

It really seems like theyre guarding something there, said Drio. They only let two bangkas in at a time, and none of the bigger fishing boats. If we get too close they chase us down.

Meanwhile, six years of environmentally ruinous poaching practices by Chinese fishermen, protected by the military presence, have depleted the reefs around the shoal.

We heard that they were looking for oil, said Drio. But all weve seen [the Chinese] do is tear up the reefs, taking the giant clams.

Drio estimates that his hauls from the reef have been halved as a result. And thats before the Chinese Coastguard takes its cut.

In late 2017, reports began surfacing that the Chinese military was forcibly confiscating large portions Filipino fishermens hauls.

San Salvador is one of many fishing communities among the islands in Masinloc Bay. A mix of concrete homes and wooden shacks house the hundred or so residents of the island community [Santiago Arnaiz/Al Jazeera]

The Duterte government downplayed these encounters, saying that barter between the fishermen and the Chinese Coastguard was common.

Drio, however, says that the Chinese Coastguard would act with impunity, confiscating as much as 3,000 pesos ($60) worth of fish and giving only a few small bottles of water, noodles, or rice in return.

It honestly seems like the Chinese are trying to make it economically infeasible for these communities to fish there anymore, said Corominas, the attorney who worked on the PCA case for the Philippine government.

In early June of 2018, Filipino network GMA released a report featuring a mobile phone video, taken by the Filipino fishermen, showing a member of the Chinese Coastguard boarding a Filipino fishing boat and taking a large portion of the catch. The public outcry was immediate.

Bags of aquarium fish line the shelves of a wooden shed by the shore of San Salvador, Masinloc. Locals scour the nearby reefs for these fish in their spare time, bagging and sending them to buyers in Manila and abroad [Santiago Arnaiz/Al Jazeera]

Shortly after the report was released, three representatives from the fishing community, including Drios son, Jurry Drio, 27, were invited to Malacanang, the presidential palace, for a press conference.

Then-presidential spokesperson Harry L. Roque lobbed questions at the fishermen, asking them how their lives had improved thanks to the Duterte administrations China-friendly policies. Only one of the fishermen spoke, largely falling into line with the administrations narrative.

When a Filipino GMA reporter pressed further, Roque ended the press conference.

Im not going to let you make a documentary out of my press briefing, Roque said.

Back in San Salvador, Drio watched the televised event in shock.

I dont know what more proof they need, we have the video, said Drio. We feel the government has abandoned us.

Scarborough is ours

In San Salvador, where work is seasonal, a handful of large hauls can support a family for the better part of a year.

Without this income, they face crippling economic instability with dire consequences.

Maretes Egana is the head of security on San Salvador, registering visitors and liaising with local police. I

Its a job she inherited from her husband who died last year of leptospirosis, an easily treatable bacterial infection. Eganas husband, like most of the men on San Salvador, was a fisherman. When he fell ill money was tight, and the family could not afford the $20 worth of antibiotics he needed.

Now a single parent, she works whatever jobs she can to make ends meet and support her children. Sometimes that means washing clothes in nearby Masinloc, others times its joining Drio in the shallow waters netting aquarium fish.

I keep thinking maybe I should leave, to find work somewhere else, she says. But I cant leave [my children].

For Drio, it isnt the idea of leaving his children, but of keeping them with him in San Salvador that worries him.

I dont want this life for my children, he said. I feel guilty when I take my son to fish, but theres nothing else here for us but that.

For now, Drio and the other fishermen plan to try their luck at the shoal in January. Scarborough is ours, he said. But if it came down to a fight, its like wed be fighting with slingshots and theyd have the guns.

We have no chance against China.
Once a month, thousands of Palestinians make the long journey to various prisons in Israel to meet their detained family members.

On those nights, I can hardly fall asleep. I constantly worry that I will forget something, the permit or my ID, and miss the visit, says Mona Daraghmeh, who lives in Tubas, a village in the occupied West Bank.

Though she can see her son for just 45 minutes, and only through a glass partition, missing the monthly prison visit is a terrifying prospect for 70-year-old Daraghmeh.

Her family tried to dissuade her from taking the 12-hour trip that includes hours of waiting at checkpoints and a rigorous search before entering the prison.

We even tried to lie to her by saying she didnt have the permit, but it didnt help, says her daughter, Kheyreyeh.

For the rest of the month, Daraghmeh goes through old letters, photographs and books trying to fill the looming absence of her child.

More than 100,000 people from the occupied West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem take Red Cross buses every year to visit their relatives detained in Israel, a right granted to the detainees under international humanitarian laws.

This photo essay is provided by ICRC.
Who ordered the brutal assassination of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and why? Did you know there is a link between Jamal Khashoggis murder and Princess Diana? Who really sent pipe bombs to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, CNN in New York, and half a dozen other Democratic opponents of Donald Trump and why?

Was this not a Democratic conspiracy to distract attention from the midterm elections? Are there Middle Eastern terrorists hiding among the caravan of thousands of migrants making its way through Mexico towards the United States? And while we are at it, who killed JFK anyway? And who is behind 9/11? Wasnt that an inside job? And more importantly: Is Donald Trump an alien in a human body  sent by some evil extra-terrestrial monster to destroy the earth?

I walked into New Yorks Met Breuer museum of modern and contemporary art one chilly October morning to see their extraordinary exhibition Everything Is Connected: Art and Conspiracy, wondering whence this penchant for conjuring up bizarre conspiracy theories?

For the last fifty years, the curators of this new exhibition at the Met Breuer inform us, artists have explored the hidden operations of power and the symbiotic suspicion between the government and its citizens that haunts Western democracies. We need no convincing of that in Trumps America, or Europe after Brexit, or the Arab World after the Jamal Khashoggi murder, or Iran after British colonialism, or Turkey after the most recent attempted coup.

We in the Arab and Muslim world live and breathe conspiracy theories. It is a sigh of relief, a measure of our defence mechanism against the frightful sight of the cannibals of ISIL, butchers of Saudi Arabia, the Zionist conquest of Palestine and daily genocide of Palestinians, Erdogan taking selfies as the champion of free press, the ruling clergy in Iran happy no one is paying closer attention to the butchery of their own political opponents. Of course, this is all a conspiracy  how else can one explain all this dance macabre of fact and fiction?

The hidden hand of history

Everything Is Connected: Art and Conspiracy, the first major exhibition to tackle this perennially provocative topic. Citizens of the republic at the heart of the US Empire, lo and behold, are as much prone to such delicious theories as the rest of us mortals at its colonial edges. It is good to know.

This bizarre, ingenious, mesmerising exhibition is divided into two parts  its curators tell us: The first half of the exhibition comprises works by artists who hew strictly to the public record, uncovering hidden webs of deceit  In the second part, other artists dive headlong into the fever dreams of the disaffected, creating fantastical works that nevertheless uncover uncomfortable truths in an age of information overload and weakened trust in institutions.

In this exhibition, we learn much about the history, and the sociopathology, of such conspiracy theories, only to walk out and step into Trumps America  the real, much larger, asylum of such theories wreaking havoc on our fragile planet. Climate change, Trump believes, is a Chinese conspiracy.

An avowed Donald Trump supporter in southern Florida was charged  with sending pipe bombs to critics of the president, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Thirteen of the devices were mentioned on a federal criminal complaint. A 14th device was reported by the billionaire Tom Steyer, who has called for Trumps impeachment. No, this is not from the exhibition I just saw at the Met Breuer. This is from the CNN reporting on something that just happened in the United States.

Cesar Sayoc was arrested at an auto parts shop in the city of Plantation  His white van, which was covered in stickers celebrating Republicans and denouncing the presidents opponents, was parked outside. Sayoc, 56, has an address in the Miami suburb of Aventura and an extensive arrest record. According to his social media accounts, he works as a booking agent for a live events company and is a former wrestler and cage fighter.

Cage Fighter? What is that? I thought I was better off walking back to the conspiracy theory exhibition. Things looked much saner there, more stable. There I was watching and reading history. Here history was watching and reading us.

Flights of fancy

I have had occasions and reasons to suggest, conspiracy theories are flights of fancy and delusional fantasies run amok. But they are also a healthy sign of a public defiance against the establishment media and their conventional opinion-makers left, right, and center.

That assessment, however, is by and large for when people reject the governmental explanations of something, like the official account of the assassination of John F Kennedy, or the official report of the events of 9/11. Distrust in government, in the state narrative, triggers when and how people revolt into flights of fancies.

But under Trump, we have a whole new brand of conspiracy theories. Here, the presidential office itself, the presidents tweets, and by extension his spokespeople, and down all the way to his base  they all actively and relentlessly peddle conspiracy theories, now most notorious among them this character who went around trying to harm the people who were opposed to Trumps militant lunacies.

Conspiracy theories are not peculiar to the American culture of course. Every nation in Asia, Africa, or Latin America has had reasons to resort to such flights of fancies. In Iran, much of these theories has to do with the British colonial designs. A literary masterpiece of modern Persian fiction, Iraj Pezeshkzads My Uncle Napoleon (1973), is entirely rooted in such fanciful attribution of power to British colonialism.

Set during the Allied occupation of Iran in the 1940s, My Uncle Napoleon is narrated around the delusional patriarch of a family, with a negligible military career, who deludes himself, aided by his Sancho Panza-like servant Mash Qasem, to believe that like Napoleon he has been a bulwark of battling against British imperialism.

The ingeniously satirical novel was so deeply rooted in the history of Iranian xenophobic paranoia holding the British responsible for every iota of mishaps in their lives that the term Uncle Napoleon became proverbial to the whole conspiratorial trait in the modern Iranian character. The way the novel works is the fusion of fact and fantasy  the fact of the British interference in Iranian affairs yielding to delusional absurdities.

Historical subconscious of the world

Conspiracy theories are signs of helplessness, the total collapse of any trust in the ruling states or the civic discourses that could hold them responsible. But with the reign of Trump, conspiracy theories have entered a new phase, when the state of mental siege of the white racist delusions sees itself outmanoeuvred by history. They resort to conspiracy theories not to subvert the ruling regime, but to sustain their own losing grip on reality.

As Kathryn Olmsted points put in her excellent essay in the catalogue accompanying the Met Breuer exhibition, History and Conspiracy, the distrust of Americans in their government is a relatively new phenomenon and begins in earnest after the assassination of John F Kennedy on 22 November 1963, when people did not believe the official explanations of the Warren Commission. This was exacerbated in the 1970s with by Watergate scandal, and soon after that by the Iran-Contra affair, later to be capped by the events of 9/11, which many believe to have been an inside job.

As the two main authors of the catalogue, Douglas Eklund and Ian Alteveer, tell us in their learned introduction, the very term conspiracy theory is in fact dismissive by design, for in 1967, the CIA devised and promulgated it in response to widespread scepticism about the Warren Commission report on the assassination of President John F Kennedy. They charge the US government with intentionally having promoted  a paranoid version of reality, one that fractured the national psyche at home and, when put into practice, shaped global conflict.

That paranoid version of reality has today become the modus operandi of US politics all the way to the White House. Today, in fact, conspiracy theories, both for and against the ruling states, have become the functional equivalent of a religion in its sociological functions.

Karl Marx in his Critique of Hegels Philosophy of Right (1843-1844) famously wrote: Religion is the general theory of this world, its encyclopedic compendium, its logic in popular form, its spiritual point dhonneur, its enthusiasm, its moral sanction, its solemn complement, and its universal basis of consolation and justification. It is the fantastic realisation of the human essence since the human essence has not acquired any true reality. The struggle against religion is, therefore, indirectly the struggle against that world whose spiritual aroma is religion.

Conspiracy theories have today become the general theory of this world, its logic in popular form.

Today Marxs famous quip, Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, very much applies to these conspiracy theories. It is much easier to believe Donald Trump is an alien from the outer space whose UFO is parked somewhere in a basement in the Kremlin than to think critically through the factual evidence underlying the rise of democratic fascism.

Conspiracy theories are the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. They are the opium of the masses  their overdose driving some racist paranoid thugs to pure acts of murderous lunacy, while in healthy small doses give the vicious acts of state violence a perfectly plausible explanation.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
The return of Sri Lankas former president to power will roll back the little progress made on post-conflict justice.

Almost a decade ago, the teardrop-shaped island in the Indian ocean brought to a brutal end a conflict that claimed thousands of lives.

Since then, history seems to have come full circle. On October 26, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena made a shock decision to fire the current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe and appoint former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in that role. He also unilaterally suspended Parliament and the cabinet. Many analysts and experts fear a chilling revival of the former abusive regime.

Rajapaksas administration was accused of serious rights violations during the final stages of the conflict between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. It is a matter of record that the Sri Lankan military indiscriminately attacked civilians, hospitals and schools, executed prisoners and interned thousands of Tamils with widespread use of torture and sexual violence. Thousands of Tamils and other minorities with links to the Tigers were also forcibly disappeared.

Sirisena defeated Rajapaksa in 2015 on a broad mandate of reform which included good governance and a process towards transitional justice for crimes committed by all parties. However, the initial good relations between Sirisena and his coalition partner Wickremasinghe soon soured into three years of bickering and deep distrust with very little progress made on justice and accountability issues.

Rajapaksas appointment to the prime ministers seat is not final, as the Sri Lankan High Court has to rule on the constitutionality of the presidential decision. But if its ruling is in favour of the sacking of Wickremasinghe and the former president comes back as prime minister, what does this mean for the future of the country?

The death of post-conflict justice agenda

Rajapaksas return would certainly mean the reversal of the few gains that have been made on transitional justice and accountability. It would also signal the end of a joint process towards transitional justice at the Human Rights Council, which began with a landmark UN resolution in 2015.

This resolution led to the creation of an Office of Missing Persons which gave hope to those desperately seeking information on loved ones, but it never really got off the ground. The resolution also called for a hybrid court involving international judges that would investigate all parties to the conflict. But it lost momentum and the hybrid court was soon relayed into a call for domestic processes only.

In addition, other measures, such as security sector reform never happened and Sri Lanka continues to have emergency laws and regulations which foster a legal framework for violations.

In the face of competing conflicts, international steam for the UN process was already fading fast but Rajapaksas return will certainly sound the death knell for these initiatives. Rajapaksa presided over a government which brutally ended decades of conflict in the country. Coupled with the lack of progress on national efforts for reconciliation within an unchanged repressive framework, this essentially marks the end of any real justice or accountability for the crimes that took place.

Impact on Tamils and Muslim minorities

The profile and role of militant Buddhist groups also pose additional challenges. Rajapaksa is a popular figure among Sinhalese Buddhists and their political influence came to the fore under his leadership from 2012 to 2014. Through using traditional and social media, their influence has continued to grow.

More worryingly, there has been a recent increase in attacks against Muslims by Buddhist militants. Radicalised Buddhist groups have continued to incite violence against Muslim communities and there has been almost no accountability for the harm done. A return to Rajapaksa could see further communal tensions or violence. In all probability, Rajapaksa will continue to court hardline Buddhists to gain support in Parliament and outside.

For a beleaguered Tamil population in the north and east of the country, the concern will be that history could repeat itself with the threat of further discrimination and violence looming. With no real accountability processes for previous crimes committed, Rajapaksas return could see Tamil activists and perceived dissidents targeted once again.

Relations with India and China

The domestic economy is facing several related challenges including sluggish growth, variable foreign investment flows, high external debt and pressures on the Sri Lankan rupee. A prolonged political crisis could deter further foreign investment, raise sovereign borrowing costs, impact debt servicing capacity and negatively impact growth.

Wickremasinghe had moved away from Rajapaksas reliance on Chinese capital to service Sri Lankan debt and tried to find a better balance between engaging with China and India as two dominant powers in the region. However, given the pressures on the Sri Lankan economy, it is unclear whether the return of Rajapaksa will also mean a return to the former cosy relationship with China.

Beijing, for its part, has been insistent that it is observing the ongoing situation and reiterating that it sees the turmoil as an internal issue. But it is quite telling that the Chinese ambassador has already met Rajapaksa and Wickremasinghe, referring to the former as the new prime minister.

India, on the other hand, is already wary of Chinese influence returning to Sri Lanka. Reportedly, Rajapaksa sent out feelers to Indian officials over the past few days but it is likely they will continue to play their cards close to their chest. However, should Rajapaksa prevail, it will take more than a few meetings to get Indian officials on his side. New Delhi will remain concerned about his close links to China.

However events unfold in the coming weeks, one thing is for sure: a Rajapaksas premiership risks plunging the country back into economic turmoil and potential violence. Sri Lanka is one of South Asias oldest democracies, and never before has it so blatantly disrespected its own constitutional norms. As Parliament is set to reconvene in a few days, there is an urgent need to ensure that the democratic processes prevail. Political gains should never be pursued at the cost of democracy. The risks are far too high.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Saudi Arabia has been a strategic US partner in the Middle East for decades, first as a bulwark against the expansion of USSR-friendly regimes during the Cold War, then as an important guarantor of oil sector stability. Successive US administrations have paid special attention to maintaining strong relations with Riyadh. In fact, since the 1973 oil crisis, every US president, with the exception of Ronald Reagan, has paid a personal visit to the kingdom.

US President Donald Trump was the first to choose Riyadh as the destination of his first official state visit, underscoring the importance of US-Saudi relations to his administration. But since his visit in May 2017, Trump has very much departed from Washingtons traditional approach to relations with Saudi Arabia. Despite his repeated claims that he is deriving maximum benefit for the US from his engagement with the Saudi leadership, he has, in fact, gravely mishandled ties with Riyadh.

Over the past year and a half, Trump  with the help of his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner  has formed increasingly personalised relations with the kingdom. As a result, the focus of US foreign policy towards Saudi Arabia has switched from the traditional pillars of its strategic partnership to backing for one member of the royal family and his political ambition  Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

This approach not only threatens to compromise US interests in Saudi Arabia but has also led to a slew of disasters, the latest of which is the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Historical ties and royal rivalries

US-Saudi relations date back to the 1930s when US energy companies discovered oil in the Arabian Peninsula and pushed their government to engage with the Saudi ruler and secure their interests. In 1945, the founder of modern-day Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud and President Franklin Roosevelt met on the board of the US destroyer Quincy.

During the meeting, the leaders laid the foundations of the enduring strategic relationship between the two countries: Washington was to ensure Riyadhs security in return for a Saudi guarantee of US access to its oil reserves.

Since then, this arrangement has been maintained by six kings and 12 US administrations. For Washington, the relationship was grounded in an institutionalised long-term strategy rather than personal ties between individuals and short-term economic gains.

For this reason, the US has consistently steered away from the frequent rivalries within the royal court. In 1953 when the death of Ibn Saud plunged the royal family into a power struggle between his sons Saud, who was crowned king, and Faisal, who became the crown prince, Washington did not intervene. Throughout the ten-year struggle between the two, US Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and then John F Kennedy were more concerned about ensuring the stability of the House of Saud than about choosing sides.

Over the next few decades, this approach strengthened the relationship between Washington and Riyadh, which enabled it to withstand major political quakes, such as the oil crisis in 1973, the Iranian revolution, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the 9/11 attacks, the Arab Spring, and the Iranian nuclear agreement.

These crises were never linked to one Saudi king or prominent member of the royal court, nor were they the result of personal favour that anyone in Riyadh curried with a US president. Even as personal relations soured, as in the case of President Barack Obama, whom the Saudis resented for his position on Iran and the Arab Spring, the strategic relations between the two countries did not suffer. In fact, it was during the Obama administration that Saudi Arabia received some $118bn-worth of US-made weapons.

Personalising relations with Riyadh

But Trump brought a new dynamic into bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia. His electoral victory in 2016 came amid another power struggle within the royal court  one led by the ambitious son of King Salman, Mohammed. Ever since the first visit by MBS to Washington in March 2017 and the subsequent official POTUS trip to Riyadh two months later, relations between Saudi and the US have increasingly borne signs of personal presidential favouritism towards the young crown prince.

Trumps backing for MBS emboldened the crown prince to undertake a number of disastrous political moves. And against the advice of various government agencies and administration representatives, the US president has expressed personal support for most of them, mostly on Twitter. Trump appeared to support the Saudi-led blockade on Qatar in June 2017, and later endorsed the round-up and shake-down of princes, ministers, and businessmen in the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

He praised the crown princes Vision 2030 programme but was silent on the aggressive personalisation of political and economic power he has pursued. He applauded the lifting of the driving ban for Saudi women but failed to condemn the detention of womens rights advocates. He has bragged about concluding billions-worth of deals with Riyadh while staying silent on war crimes committed by the Saudi forces in the disastrous Yemen war, which was launched under MBSs leadership in 2015.

In all this, Trump has allowed his son-in-law, Kushner, to take a lead role in diplomatic contacts with Saudi Arabia, which are increasingly looking like a family affair. The close relations between Kushner and MBS and revelations that the Saudi crown prince had bragged about having Trumps son-in-law in his pocket, have caused growing concern within the State Department, Department of Defense and intelligence agencies. Relying on personal relations rather than official diplomatic and political channels is highly risky, especially if information about these contacts stays private and the wrong political signals are relayed.

Trumps problematic approach to managing relations with Saudi Arabia has encouraged MBSs reckless behaviour. The current political storm surrounding the murder of Jamal Khashoggi is the direct result of Trumps mishandling of the Saudi portfolio. If the US president does not change his approach, he risks damaging the decades-old strategic partnership between the two countries and enabling more political disasters in Saudi Arabia which could destabilise the country and threaten US interests.

The fallout of the Khashoggi tragedy presents an opportunity for the Trump administration to correct its course and return to Washingtons traditional approach to Saudi Arabia. If Trump does not sever his personal ties to MBS, the consequences could be grave.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Far-right former army captains presidential win comes against a backdrop of political, economic and social crises.

Far-right politician Jair Bolsonaro will be given the keys to Brazils presidential palace on January 1.

The 63-year-old far-right former army captain, who vanquished rival Fernando Haddad of the leftist Workers Party (PT) in a runoff vote on Sunday, has pledged to radically reform Latin Americas largest country.

An outspoken advocate of Brazils 1964 to 1985 military dictatorship, Bolsonaros rise from a fringe Rio de Janeiro congressman to president-elect has stunned observers, many of whom until very recently had scoffed at his chances of winning Brazils highest office.

For years, he was best known for his offensive comments about LGBT people, women and minorities.

But amid widespread anger over corruption scandals, economic downturn and rising violence, Bolsonaro managed to position himself as the outsider candidate in an election defined by anti-establishment sentiment.

Bolsonaros task wont be easy: economic recovery is fragile and opposition to his government is strong.

Critics say that his government plan, entitled The Path to Prosperity is vague and lacks concrete proposals.

He has promised his voters a radical change that perhaps he wont be capable to fulfil, said Mauricio Santoro, a political scientist and professor of international relations at Rio de Janeiro State University.

Al Jazeera looks at some of the main objectives Bolsonaro may pursue once inside the Palacio do Planalto.

Government

Bolsonaro plans to stuff his cabinet with military men. He has also spoken of reducing the number of Brazils ministries and nominating generals to briefs such as defence and transport.

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His Social Liberty Party has also consolidated its presence in Brazils Congress, growing from eight to 52 politicians in legislative elections on October 7, making it the second-largest party after the PT.

In addition, Bolsonaro had secured the backing of powerful agricultural, Evangelical Christian and public security congressional caucuses in his campaign.

The conservative Congress wields immense power, having decided the fate of two presidents since 2016: Impeaching Dilma Rousseff for creative accounting and shielding Michel Temer from corruption charges.

Bolsonaro has pledged to avoid the typical pork barrel patronage way of doing politics that has characterised Brazils Congress, but experts remain unconvinced.

Its likely that he will have to govern like every other Brazilian president, making deals and negotiations, said Santoro, the political scientist. This may disappoint some of his voters.

Anti-corruption drive

Bolsonaro has pledged to eradicate corruption from public life  a bold promise after years of corruption scandals that have enraged the electorate and tarnished large swaths of Brazils political class.

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Scores of Brazilian politicians and business leaders were swept up in a major corruption probe known as Lava Jato, or Car Wash, and other interlocking investigations since 2014.

Among those implicated was former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is currently serving a 12-year term in jail.

Lula was the PTs original candidate for the presidential election but had to give way to Haddad after being barred from running by Brazils top electoral court.

Bolsonaro, who said last week that Lula should rot in jail, has also promised to purge Brazil of left-wing criminals and poured scorn on the PT as the epicentre of Brazils corruption problems.

Either they leave or go to jail  these red outlaws will be banished from our homeland, Bolsonaro said on October 21.

It will be a cleansing never seen in Brazilian society, he added.

On Thursday, Car Wash leading judge Sergio Moro  who sentenced Lula to nearly 10 years in prison last year  accepted the position of justice minister in the Bolsonaro government with an expansive role in fighting corruption.

The move was celebrated by Bolsonaro supporters but rebuked by PT politicians, who have long accused Moro of bias and judicial overreach, especially after Bolsonaros vice-presidential pick, General Mourao, revealed that Moro had been invited to the government during the campaign phase.

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It is of an astonishing gravity the revelation of Mourao. Its testimonial evidence of the criminal and perverse relationship between Car Wash and Bolsonaro, PT congressman Paulo Pimenta Tweeted.

Bolsonaros forceful rhetoric aside, his strategy in office may amount to little more than allowing the sprawling Car Wash investigation to run, Richard Lapper, an associate fellow at the UK-based Chatham House institute of international affairs and independent analyst on Latin American politics, told Al Jazeera.

Simply because of the result of the election, a lot of the congressmen and governors who have lost the immunity [from prosecution] they enjoyed as a result of holding elected office could now become victims of legal process with the federal police and judiciary pursuing them, Lapper said.

The latest shake-up of Brazils 594-member Congress, the biggest in more than three decades, in this election has left a number of politicians out of office and exposed to possible corruption charges.

Centralisation of security

Brazil saw more than 63,000 murders last year according to the Brazilian Forum of Public Security, and Bolsonaros vows to crack down on rising crime were front and centre of his campaign for office.

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He pledged to alleviate the crisis by relaxing laws on gun ownership, giving police officers carte blanche to kill criminal suspects and lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 16.

He will also look to centralise control of public security, shifting power away from Brazils 27 separate state-level legislatures towards the central government, Thiago de Aragao, director at the Brasilia-based political consultancy Arko Advice, told Al Jazeera.

Bolsonaro wants to bring more power for the union [federal government] to interfere in public security, Aragao said.

It definitely represents a major shift in relation to what we have seen in public security until now, he added.

Experts fear Bolsonaros hardline discourse of defending police violence will likely lead to more killings.

In 2017, police were responsible for more than 5,000 killings nationwide.

This vision of the enemy to be exterminated, no one paid much attention before because he was so irrelevant in the lower house, said Bruno Paes Manso, a researcher at the Nucleus of Violence Studies at the University of Sao Paulo.

Now hes emerged as a national leader. Its a discourse of war.

Pivot to Washington

On the foreign policy front, Brazils relationship with China, its largest trade partner, appears likely to be in Bolsonaros crosshairs after his repeated warnings about aspects of Beijings investment in the country.

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Bolsonaro has been very critical of China, whom he has accused in the past of trying to buy Brazil. Earlier this year, while still a candidate, he visited Taiwan while on a trip to Asia, ruffling feathers in Beijing.

Luiz Philippe de Orleans e Braganca, an adviser to Bolsonaro who is tipped to lead the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, has warned that the new administration will reevaluate the terms of Brazils membership of Mercosur, a regional economic and political bloc that also comprises Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Today, Mercosur is a hindrance to free trade, Braganca told Bloomberg on October 17, three days before Bolsonaro said he was in favour of bilateralism where possible.

Proposed finance minister Paulo Guedes also told reporters Sunday night that Mercosur would not be a priority.

Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro react after he wins the presidential race [File: Amanda Perobelli/AP Photo]

While seemingly cautious about Beijing and Brazils regional relationships, Bolsonaro has expressed a strong interest in working closely with Washington, DC and US President Donald Trump.

Mirroring a pivot made by the US in May, Bolsonaro has said he will shift the Brazilian embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, according to Brazilian newspaper Globo.

He also said he will close a Palestinian embassy in the capital, Brasilia, on the grounds that Palestine is not a country.

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Following a congratulatory call from Trump on Sunday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the two men had 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.

According to Lapper, this is likely to be the most pro-American administration in Latin America for decades.

But the question is what Brazil gets out of that  because the big problem with being pro-American and following Trumps line on everything is that it potentially brings Brazil into conflict with China, Lapper said.

[And] given the fact that they are in a bit of a bind economically, they dont want to be provoking instability, he added, referring to Brazils stagnant economy, in which millions of people are without work.

Bolsonaros first three trips abroad will be to Chile, the United States and Israel his chosen chief of staff Onyx Lorenzoni confirmed on Monday.

Economic liberalisation

Brazil is barely crawling out of its worst economic recession on record. While unemployment has fallen slightly in recent months, it still remains stubbornly high at more than 12 percent with economists seeing no quick fix for a recovery.

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Bolsonaro has vowed to kick-start Brazils ailing economy by privatising state enterprises, reforming the countrys bloated pension system and amending the national tax system.

To that end he said he will appoint Paulo Guedes, an ultra-liberal economist and banker, trained at the University of Chicago, to head his planned economic ministry.

Guedes hopes to enact a sweeping privatisation programme of state-owned assets. Brazil stocks jumped to a record high Monday and the currency, the real, also saw gains.

It is not yet clear, however, what form the privatisation element of the pairs economic plans may take.

Fearing a Chinese buy-up of Brazilian assets, Bolsonaro has recently rowed back on Guedess calls for a full privatisation of state-run oil company Petrobras and the electric utility company Eletrobras.

We know that privatisation is a general desire of the political members of his [Bolsonaros] team, mainly of the economic members, Aragao said.

[But] the execution of this desire is something more complicated, he added.

Bolsonaro has also vowed to shrink the size of the federal government by cutting the number of ministries in Brasilia from 29 to 15.

Environmental deregulation

Environmentalists have expressed great concern for the preservation of the Amazon during Bolsonaros term in office.

Bolsonaro had previously promised to take Brazil out of the Paris Climate Agreement  following the example of US President Donald Trump  but apparently backtracked last week.

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Another feature of his presidential programme may be deregulation of existing environmental policy.

He has spoken out in favour of the removal of restrictions on mining and other commercial activities on lands currently demarcated as indigenous reserves, many of which are located in Brazilian sections of the Amazon.

The president-elect is hostile to indigenous interests and said at an event in Rio de Janeiro last year that he would not give one centimetre of demarcated land.

He foments hatred and violence against indigenous peoples with a discourse claiming that we are an obstacle for development, ignoring our contributions to environmental balance, said Dinama Tuxa, Coordinator of Brazils Association of Indigenous Peoples (APIB).

About 13 percent of Brazils national territory is Indigenous lands, 98 percent of which is in the Amazon, considered a crucial buffer against the impacts of climate change.

A close ally of the powerful congressional farming lobby, Bolsonaro will also combine the environment ministry with the agriculture ministry, his chosen chief of staff Onyx Lorenzoni said on Monday. On Thursday, Bolsonaro appeared to backtrack on a potential merger, saying his administration may in fact keep the ministries separate.

This is [going to be] a very pro-Agro-business administration, Aragao said.

Bolsonaro wants to create a new federal structure for agriculture and cattle production, he added.

But the proposed move has left members of Brazils agricultural caucus worried, including the leader of the Agricultural Parliamentary Front congresswoman Tereza Cristina, who pointed out that foreign markets are increasingly concerned with environmental standards.
Orvelina Melendez witnessed her husbands murder. Now on US-bound caravan, she hopes to provide for family, sick son.

Tonala, Chiapas, Mexico  Resting in the shade of a row of trees, Orvelina Lizeth Melendez reached into her purse, pulled out a small, clear plastic bag and carefully removed her husbands death certificate. The tattered paper travelled nearly 1,400km with her from her hometown of Tegucigalpa, Honduras to Tonala in Chiapas, Mexico.

They killed him right in front of me, Melendez said, recalling the moment gang members burst into her familys home more than three years ago.

Melendez was pregnant and she and her four children were at home asleep at the time.

The death certificate includes very little information. Fredis de Jesus Ferrera Lemus. Age 31. National identification number. Parents names. Date and location of death. The cause of death is listed as violent, and underneath it, the document briefly expands on the cause, stating that it was craniofacial trauma from a gunshot wound.

But the document could become vitally important as she makes her way to the US border to apply for asylum.

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Melendez is one of thousands of Honduran and other Central American migrants and refugees on a US-bound caravan currently in southern Mexico.

She has no idea why her husband, a rubbish truck worker, was killed, and she does not expect to ever know. Ninety percent of homicides in Honduras go unsolved.

It was left at that. When youre poor, deaths remain in impunity. It is a very dangerous neighbourhood, Melendez said.

Violence, poverty, health

Many Hondurans are fleeing violence, whether it is gang-related, political, or for other reasons. Many are also looking to leave a life of poverty and unemployment. And some migrants and refugees are fleeing because they or their children suffer from disabilities or health conditions that require attention they are unable to obtain in Honduras.

Melendez left for all three of those reasons. Her brother Jimy, who is also travelling with the group, suffers from speech and hearing problems. The cause is unknown and gang members have been trying to recruit the 28-year-old.

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One of Melendezs sons also has special needs due to a primary immunodeficiency health condition, diagnosed two years ago. Now six years old, Joshua Eliel Ferrera Melendez has juvenile onset Stills disease. A form of systemic arthritis with no known cause, the disease affects the entire body, sometimes including internal organs.

Along with her husbands death certificate, Melendez also carries a clinical summary of Joshuas condition and treatment.

The main reason I am travelling today: to give my children a better life and to better feed my family in Honduras. Orvelina Lizeth Melendez, Honduran asylum seeker

There is no known cure for Stills disease, but managing the condition requires ongoing treatment. Joshua requires several medications, but the main treatment is human immunoglobulins administered intravenously every month at the hospital. Manufactured from blood plasma, immunoglobulins contain antibodies Joshua lacks.

My son is very special and I do not have the means to give him the medications. The medicines are very expensive, Melendez said, her voice slightly cracking.

Melendez was forced to leave Joshua, along with three of her other children, with her mother. She said theres no chance he would have survived the journey.

For Melendez, finding work in the US is the best option for making enough money to support her family and provide for Joshuas care.

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Hospital Escuela, the public hospital where Joshua receives his treatment, has been chronically understaffed and under-equipped for years. The building leaks, it is nearly always over capacity and patients and their relatives often have to go elsewhere to buy medications and basic supplies for procedures, including syringes.

Sometime Hospital Escuela has the human immunoglobulins Joshua needs, but sometimes it does not. Each monthly treatment is $830 and the hospital asks Melendez to pay for a quarter of the cost.

Although doctors and social workers sometimes help with the cost, Melendez questioned how a single mother of five was supposed to earn $200 for treatment, in addition to providing for her family.

Thats the main reason I am travelling today: to give my children a better life and to better feed my family in Honduras, she said.

Were not criminals

Melendez, along with her other family members in the caravan, including Jimy, have heard bits and pieces of US President Donald Trump administrations characterisation of the migrant caravan, as well as the measures the US government is taking to stop them from crossing the border from Mexico.

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Earlier this week, the administration announced more than 5,000 US military troops are being sent to the border in preparation of the caravan. Trump said on Wednesday that number could grow to more than 15,000.

Those troops will likely meet a fraction of the caravan participants, most of whom are only carrying a small bag on their backs. Melendez brought a small bag and now also has a few things stashed in the back of a stroller donated along the way. Most of her belongings, including the stroller, are to clothe and care for her four-year-old daughter she brought with her.

A Honduran man carries his two-year-old child while walking with a caravan en route to the United States [Adrees Latif/Reuters]

The caravan is also still more than 1,000km away. And those who do make it, plan on applying for asylum at an official port of entry.

Despite the threat, Melendez and most of the others are undeterred.

We are not criminals. We are not going to commit crimes. We just want to go work, she said.

We are going to continue. We are going to head north.
Rose Asafs journey to becoming a BDS activist started with a racist teacher in high school, who she said had disagreements with her on everything except Israel.

She described the interactions as having prompted a long process of unlearning Zionism and everything she had been taught about the state.

I understood my high school teachers ideology to be right-wing, racist, and all-around bigoted, the American-Israeli student told Al Jazeera, adding: Our politics are a reflection of our morals, so I realised that if I am in full agreement with a racist on something political, there must be something wrong with either him or me.

After a period of research, Asaf came to the conclusion she had been lied to regarding Israel and that she had been a progressive except [on] Palestine.

I felt that my Jewish community was doing a disservice by not telling the truth about what Israel is and what Israel is doing.

Its my responsibility to put myself on that front line.

On Thursday, 21-year-old Asaf joined a group of students in presenting a resolution to New York University (NYU) Student Government Assembly, calling on the institution to sever ties with three companies they say are linked to abuses against Palestinians.





The motion accuses Caterpillar, Lockheed Martin, and General Electric, of complicity in human rights abuses against Palestinians, and call on NYU to implement a socially responsible investment model.

Industrial machinery firm, Caterpillar, produces bulldozers used by the Israeli army, while Lockheed Martin and General Electric produce military hardware.

As an NYU student, it hurts and shocks me that the university would continue to invest in companies that directly contribute to the human rights violations of my family and my people, Palestinian student, Leen Dweik, wrote in a statement released by the activists.

The resolution has the support of 53 student groups, and 34 faculty endorsements.

Asaf said she spoke to more than 100 people in order to rally support for the motion and the majority were supportive.

But the move has also drawn criticism from pro-Israel and conservative groups.

Asaf said she had no knowledge of legal action against pro-Palestinian students this year but previous activism had led to calls by pro-Israel groups to have activist groups expelled from campus.

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Asaf said the groups called on NYU to ban Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), accusing them of violating university statutes by creating a discriminatory atmosphere.

One complaint by the Zionist Organisation of America said students led by JVP and SJP had committed themselves to shunning other NYU students simply because they support Israel.

Anti-BDS measures

The resolution at NYU comes against a backdrop of state-level laws targeting the BDS campaign.

New York is one of 25 states to enact legislation against BDS and the states senate passed further measures in June, which would allow the state to deny public funds to any entity, including campus groups that support the movement.

The legislation targets publicly funded entities and although NYU is a private institution, it receives hundreds of millions of dollars in public grants.

Such punitive measures, if implemented, would be categorically unconstitutional according to Palestine Legal attorney, Radhika Sainath.

The right to boycott is protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and that means that no state can take away your right to engage in a political boycott, she said.

The Constitution is the highest law of the land here, which means its the final word on the matter so what youre really seeing here is an attempt to take away the fundamental right of Americans to protest a policy that they feel violates human rights abuses by engaging in their right to boycott, she added.

According to its founders, the BDS movement aims to apply financial and cultural pressure on Israel to end its violations against Palestinians [Majdi Mohammed/AP Photo]

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Sainath explained that boycotts were a commonly used method of protest in the US but a double standard arose when it came to those protesting violations of Palestinian rights.

A state couldnt say, Im going to take away a contract with you because youre a Democrat, that would be punishing you because of your political speech  thats unconstitutional because its a punishment, she said. A boycott is political speech, it is expressive conduct.

Sainath further argued that proponents of anti-BDS legislation in government were aware of the difficulty they would face in trying to implement any of the measures they have introduced, and no punitive action had been taken so far in New York, that shes aware of.

We want this resolution to be an oppurtunity for NYU to not be on the wrong side of history with this issue Rose Asaf, New York University student

She pointed to two successful cases filed by the ACLU in Arizona and Kansas against anti-BDS legislation there. In Arizona, a federal court blocked the implementation of a law that required state contractors to certify that they would not participate in boycotts of Israel, and in Kansas the civil liberties group dropped its case when the state legislature amended a similar law.

Jack Saltzberg, of The Israel Group, which opposes the BDS movement, described the idea that anti-BDS laws infringed on freedom of speech at colleges and universities as deceitful.

State anti-BDS laws deal with commerce and businesses, not individual rights or free speech, he told Al Jazeera by email.

He argued further that anti-BDS laws in California, for example, had not stopped activists at insitutions there from voting to divest from companies doing business with Israel.

The fact that none of those universities divested from Israel had nothing to do with the state laws or free speech, it was simply because their university governing boards did not agree to divest from Israel, Saltzberg said.

Setting the groundwork

At NYU, any decision to divest will also ultimately rest with the schools governing board.

Thursdays resolution is just the first step in a lengthy process that may not force any practical change in the universitys policies.

The resolution will first be put to the Student Government Assembly on December 6. If its members vote to pass the motion, it will then move to the universitys senate where the institutions administrators, members of faculty, and deans, will vote on the resolution. If it passes there, the universitys Board of Trustees will decide on its implementation.

We dont know if NYU is going to divest this time, Asaf said.

But we need to set the groundwork because a vote like this has never happened at NYU. Theres never been a divestment vote of this nature that relates to Palestine.

We want this resolution to be an oppurtunity for NYU to not be on the wrong side of history with this issue.
Protection of two million square kilometres of pristine Wedell Sea under discussion in Australia this week.

Across the planet, eco-systems are in a dire state. Many believe a mass extinction is under way, the sixth since life first started in the primaeval melting pot billions of years ago.

This chilling fact adds a surging piquancy to the moment when you stand on the deck of an icebreaker and stare out over the vast, remote wilderness that is the Weddell Sea, a huge expanse of icy ocean fringing the Antarctic continent.

It is the coldest sea on Earth, indeed it is the cold water heart of the planet, pumping and driving the deep water currents that circulate around the worlds oceans  a crucial mechanism that helps regulate our climate systems.





Here too exists a spectacular festival of life. It is the realm of blue whales and orcas, of leopard seals and penguins and myriad marine animals, of thousands of species yet to be discovered. It is not yet the realm of man. And many want to keep it that way.

Antarctic expedition

In February this year, I joined a Greenpeace expedition to the western edge of the Weddell Sea on board the icebreaker the Arctic Sunrise. On board, marine scientists were collecting scientific evidence to back the proposal to create what would be the largest protected area on Earth, five times the size of Germany.

The proposal aims to ring-fence almost two million square kilometres of these rich waters, restricting commercial fishing and other human activity including any future attempt to mine the seabed or drill for oil.

Dr Susanne Lockhart of the California Academy of Sciences journeyed down to the ocean floor in the expedition submarine.

We encountered seabed communities that were highly complex, consisting of ancient corals and sponges that provide habitat and shelter for an incredibly rich diversity of marine life, Lockhart said. It is imperative this area is protected.

The proposal has been put forward by the European Union. But for it to come into effect it has to win consensus at the end of this week from all 25 members of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, currently meeting in the Australian city of Hobart. The commission was set up to protect the seas around the Antarctic.

The Arctic Sunrise nudging its way through the icy waters of the Weddell Sea and the proposed Sanctuary zone [Al Jazeera]

Will McCallum, the lead oceans campaigner for Greenpeace, has spent the past year galvanising support for the bid. As the commission meeting opened he handed in a petition with two million signatures in favour of the sanctuary.

We have an opportunity to protect a rare area of ocean wilderness while it is still in a near pristine state, McCallum said. The Antarctic Ocean Commission has given itself the mandate to create this large-scale network of protected areas. We believe the Weddell Sea proposal is absolutely filling that mandate.

Biological richness

On board the Arctic Sunrise, we ploughed through the sea ice to remote, isolated waters where few ships venture. Where biological richness and diversity is comparable to tropical reefs, where nature is on a planetary scale.

You can see why commercial fishing nations with interests in the Southern Ocean, such as Russia, China and Norway, might want a piece of the action.

But research shows whenever well-managed ocean sanctuaries are in place, there is more diverse and more abundant marine life, both inside protected waters and with spillovers outside.

A Commersons Dolphin rings the bow wave of the Greenpeace icebreaker, the Arctic Sunrise, en route for the Weddell Sea [Al Jazeera]

Which means sustainable fisheries can be managed beyond the protected areas, good news for the commercial fishing fleet and for global food security.

Which begs the question, why wouldnt this sanctuary proposal be passed without debate?

National interests

Global environmental imperatives do not always measure up to perceived national interests. And for any proposal to pass at the commission, it needs a unanimous yes vote. China and Russia blocked a similar proposal for East Antarctica in 2017 and its feared the same could happen this year.

Already there are reports of ugly disagreements and stalling, with some saying now the Weddell Sea proposal has come to the table, it has little chance of success. However, there was also doubt and pessimism in 2016 when, out of the blue, consensus was reached for a similar sanctuary in Antarcticas Ross Sea.

If the proposal is blocked, the role of the Antarctic Commission itself may come into question. Its job is to protect the continents seas, which no single country controls, and ensure they do not become a free for all.

In 2011, the commission agreed to create a network of Marine Protected Areas throughout the Southern Ocean by 2020. As it stands near the end of 2018, a mere two have been designated.
Emergency talks end without results amid warnings of corruption as horse-trading between legislators intensifies.

Colombo, Sri Lanka  Sri Lankas president and speaker of parliament failed to resolve a crisis over the abrupt sacking of the countrys prime minister amid fears opposing parties may turn to violence and bribery to break the deadlock.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya held emergency talks with President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday, urging him to recall parliament and let legislators choose between the two men claiming to be the countrys lawful prime minister, according to Chaminda Gamage, a spokesman for the speaker.

But the hour-long meeting in Sri Lankas capital, Colombo, ended without a resolution, said Gamage.

Sirisena said he will consider the speakers request and get back to him soon, he said.

Sri Lanka has been gripped by constitutional chaos since Friday after Sirisena fired Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, suspended parliament, and appointed a controversial leader he had defeated in elections in 2015 to the prime ministers post.

The surprise moves, which critics denounced as a coup, drew tens of thousands of protesters to the streets of Colombo on Tuesday.

A source close to the president, who was present at Wednesdays meeting at Sirisenas official residence, told Al Jazeera while Sirisena was polite, he remained indifferent to Jayasuriyas pleas.

He responded to the speakers request to resume parliament by asking him to recognise newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the official said.

Jayasuriya, a member of the sacked prime ministers United National Party (UNP), previously insisted the decision must be left to the 225-member House. Legal experts argue while a president can appoint a prime minister, he does not have the authority to sack one.

Talks between the president and the speaker were held hours after the independent attorney general declined to comment on the legality of Sirisenas actions.





In a letter responding to the speakers request for his legal opinion, Jayantha Jayasuriya, the governments top legal advisor, said commenting on the matter would be inappropriate.

Corruption of the peoples mandate

Despite the dispute over the legality of his appointment, the newly appointed prime minister continued to consolidate power. On Wednesday, Rajapaksa assumed the finance ministers duties and officials said he was expected to begin work on the state budget for 2018 soon.

Wickremesinghe, meanwhile, remained holed up in the prime ministers official residence at Temple Trees, where Buddhist monks have been reciting prayers throughout the day.

The ousted prime minister, whose popularity is declining amid widespread anger over costs of living, insisted he commanded majority support in the House, and members of his UNP accuse Sirisena of suspending parliament in a bid to shore up support for Rajapaksas appointment.

All eyes are now on the South Asian countrys legislators.

Transparency International Sri Lanka, an anti-corruption group, warned the suspension of parliament has created a climate that is ripe for political horse-trading leading to the corruption of the peoples mandate.

Asoka Obeysekere, the groups executive director, told Al Jazeera closing the doors of parliament to enable deal-making has already led to allegations of monetary inducements for loyalty.

At least five UNP legislators have defected to Sirisenas United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA). They were offered posts in the newly appointed cabinet.

One legislator, Dunesh Gankanda, was sworn in as state minister for environment on Tuesday just hours after posting a photo on Facebook praising protesters for turning up to defeat the evil Sirisena-Rajapaksa gang.

The defections prompted one UNP politician to accuse China of spending millions to buy legislators in Sri Lanka. Beijing, which backed Rajapaksa during the former presidents 10-year rule, has dismissed Ranjan Ramanayakes claim as groundless and irresponsible.

Despite the cross-overs, it was unclear if Rajapaksa has the 113 votes he requires. Prior to the crisis, the UNP had the backing of 106 parliamentarians, and the UPFA had 96.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which has 16 seats in the house, and the Peoples Liberation Front (JVP), with six legislators, have urged Jayasuriya to intervene and reconvene the House.

Targeted sanctions

Alan Keenan, researcher at the International Crisis Group (ICG), said TNA support for Rajapaksa, who is credited with ending the countrys 26-year war against Tamil separatists in 2009, was not likely because of the way his government and military treated members of the ethnic minority during his decade-long rule from 2005 to 2015.





The JVP, meanwhile, was likely to abstain because of anger at both candidates, he said.

ICG, in a statement on Wednesday, urged Western countries to ramp up pressure on Sirisena to select a prime minister through legal means.

Condemning what it called the countrys first-ever illegal transfer of power, ICG said Wickremesinghes ouster threatens instability in Sri Lanka, while the struggle for power jeopardises progress on reforms, reconciliation, and prospects for peaceful and fair elections in 2019.

Governments should consider suspending economic cooperation  including a US government plan to loan US$450m to Sri Lanka  and begin to consider applying targeted sanctions against Sirisena, Rajapaksa, their families and their close associates should Sri Lankas constitutional coup proceed, the statement said.

The crisis, now in its sixth day, appears unlikely to end soon.

Sri Lankan daily Lankadeepa, in a report late on Wednesday, said Sirisena  in a meeting with leaders of his party shortly before talks with Jayasuriya  vowed he would not allow Wickremesinghe to remain as prime minister.

A member of the presidents party confirmed Sirisenas comments to Al Jazeera.

No choice but Rajapaksa

Many Sri Lankans in Colombo said they expected Rajapaksa to come out on top the longer the crisis dragged on.

He is a charismatic man, he will bring legislators to his side, said Jeewaka Perera, a 49-year-old taxi driver.

The father of three said he voted against Rajapaksa in the 2015 elections because of corruption, but the unity government of Sirisena and Wickremesinghe have failed to deliver on promises of economic reform.

Ranil Wickremesinghe hasnt done anything for the people in the last three years, he said, expressing frustration over high fuel costs and taxes. He has failed.

I think what Sirisena has done is wrong, he said referring to Wickremesinghes ouster.

But now there is no choice but Rajapaksa. The UNP can never be elected again.
Figure is almost double the number recorded by the UNs IOM agency, which mainly tracks migration to Europe.

At least 56,800 refugees and migrants have died or gone missing since 2014, almost double the number recorded by the UNs International Organization for Migration (IOM), an investigation by the Associated Press news agency has said.

The IOMs tally, which mainly focuses mostly on migrants heading to Europe, stood at 28,500 as of October 1.

The Associated Press reported on Thursday that an additional 28,300 people had either died or gone missing according to data it compiled from international groups, forensic records, missing persons reports, death records, and interviews with migrants and refugees.





As an example, the AP said that when 800 people died in an April 2015 shipwreck off the coast of Italy, Italian investigators had pledged to identify them and find their families. More than three years later, under a new populist government, funding for this work was being cut off.

Beyond Europe, the AP said information on the fate of migrants was even more scarce.

Little was known about the toll in South America, where migration among Venezuelans was among the worlds biggest today. Or in Asia, the leading region for migration.

No matter where you stand on the whole migration management debate  these are still human beings on the move, said Bram Frouws, the head of the Mixed Migration Centre, which surveyed more than 20,000 migrants and refugees since 2014.

Whether its refugees or people moving for jobs, they are human beings.

More than 16 million migrate within Africa

Despite talk of the waves of African migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean, as many 16 million people migrate within Africa, the AP said.

Since 2014, at least 18,400 African migrants had died travelling within the continent, according to the figures compiled from AP and IOM records. That figure included more than 4,300 unidentified bodies in the South African province of Gauteng.

Zimbabwean migrant Kholakele, who entered South Africa illegally three years ago, said she had heard stories of people going missing.

Afraid that one day they will end up as anonymous bodies in the streets of Johannesburg, where crime rates and traffic accidents are steep, she told the AP that she barely let her five children out of sight.

If one of them stays away for longer than 10 minutes, we phone them, Kholakele said.

With a prosperous economy and stable government, South Africa draws more migrants than any other country in Africa.
Government control falls to 55 percent of districts amid record casualty levels for Afghan forces, says US watchdog.

The US-backed Afghan government has lost control of a number of districts to the Taliban, while casualties among security forces have reached record levels, a US watchdog agency has said.

The latest quarterly report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) underlines the heavy pressure on the government in Kabul even as the United States has opened initial contacts with the Taliban on possible peace talks.

The control of Afghanistans districts, population, and territory overall became more contested this quarter, the agency said in its report.

The Taliban have still not succeeded in taking a major provincial centre despite assaults on Farah in western Afghanistan and Ghazni in the centre this year but they control large stretches of the countryside.

Data from Afghanistans NATO-led Resolute Support mission showed that government forces had failed to gain greater control or influence over districts, population, and territory this quarter, the agency said.

As of September, it said the government controlled or influenced territory with about 65 percent of the population, stable since October 2017, after a year of heavy fighting in Farah and Ghazni as well as other provinces like Faryab and Baghlan in the north.

However, it reported that only 55.5 percent of the total 407 districts were under government control or influence  the lowest level since SIGAR began tracking district control in 2015.

While the districts, territory, and population under insurgent control or influence also decreased slightly, the districts, territory, and population contested  meaning under neither Afghan government nor insurgent control or influence  increased, it said.

Six months before presidential elections, the figures are a sign of the degraded security situation in Afghanistan, even as the US special envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, has met Taliban officials to map out possible peace talks.

As the Taliban have kept up pressure on the government, SIGAR quoted the Resolute Support mission as saying the average number of casualties among Afghan security forces between May 1 and October 1 was the greatest it has ever been during like periods.

The Afghan government no longer releases exact casualty figures but this month General Joseph Votel, head of US Central Command, said Afghan casualties were increasing from last year and were an issue we are paying very, very close attention to.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which has documented civilian casualties in Afghanistan since 2009, said in its latest October report that there were 8,050 civilian casualties during the first nine months of the year, including 313 deaths and 336 injuries caused by US and Afghan air attacks.

The Taliban, who were removed from power by US-led forces in 2001, has been waging a bloody armed rebellion to defeat the Western-backed government in Kabul.
Research by New America Foundation and American Muslim Institution finds high levels of distrust towards Muslims in US.

Washington, DC  A large proportion of non-Muslim Americans think Islam is incompatible with American values, research by the New America foundation and the American Muslim Institution found.

According to the findings announced on Thursday, 56 percent of Americans believed Islam was compatible with American values and 42 percent said it was not. About 60 percent believed US Muslims were as patriotic as others, while 38 percent they were not.

The study said that although a big majority of Americans  74 percent  accepted there was a lot of bigotry against Muslims existed, 56 percent said they were concerned about extremism spreading within the Muslim community.





Researchers found that Republicans were more likely to hold negative perceptions of Muslims and Islam, with 71 percent saying Islam was incompatible with American values. About 56 percent of Republicans also admitted they would be concerned if a mosque was built in their neighbourhood.

A slight majority of Republicans disagreed with the statement that having more than 100 Muslim candidates in the midterm elections was a positive thing.

Robert McKenzie, a senior fellow at the New America foundation and one of the authors of the study, said there were a number of factors that contributed the shaping of anti-Muslim sentiment, and that they were not limited to the political right.

Hillary Clinton, when talking about violent extremism talked about Muslims being on the frontlines, what does that say about Muslim communities? He said, adding: I know she didnt mean that in a derogatory way but if Muslims are at the frontlines, what does that suggest is happening at the local level in the US?

The survey also found that just below half of Americans actually knew a Muslim. McKenzie cautioned, however, against correlating knowing a Muslim personally with a more positive perspective on Muslims.

Rising hatred

Rabiah Ahmed, an American Muslim media relations specialist, told Al Jazeera rising Islamophobia had consequences beyond the Muslim community.

I think Islamophobia is not just a Muslim problem but an American problem, so it needs to be addressed by all sectors of society, she said.

Ahmed argued that Muslims could not afford to not engage with other communities, and had a duty to plug information gaps to dispel negative ideas about the community.

However, she also said politicians, segments of the media, and religious leaders from other communities had played a role in stoking anti-Muslim bigotry.





Fears of Muslims comes from the acts of extremists (and) it comes from the Islamophobia industry, a very well connected, very well funded industry, which makes it their mission to try to marginalise and disenfranchise American Muslims.

Just as Muslims have a responsibility to lean in, other faith based communities also need to lean in. So when they see their priest preaching divisive rhetoric about Islam, they need to stop that.

The New America foundation report comes amid a notable rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric in US political discourse and within the media.

Last month, a report by Muslim Advocates found 80 instances of clear anti-Muslim rhetoric by candidates running for political office.

That included unfounded claims that Muslims were plotting to establish Islamic law in the US.

You have people who are currently in the administration, who are closely connected to the established anti-Muslim hate groups Zainab Arain, CAIR

US President Donald Trump also used anti-Islam rhetoric in his election campaign, and has introduced executive orders targeting Muslims, such as his infamous ban on Muslims from several predominantly Muslim countries entering the US.

Zainab Arain from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said people with anti-Muslim views were found at the very highest levels of government.

There are people who were formerly part of the Trump administration, who are well known anti-Muslim bigots, she said, adding: You have people who are currently in the administration, who are closely connected to the established anti-Muslim hate groups.

Rising anti-Muslim bigotry also comes amid a rise in hatred targeting other religious and ethnic minorities.

Within the last week, there has been a spate of far-right violence in the US, with a foiled pipe bomb campaign targeting anti-Trump politicians and media outlets, a racially motivated shooting of two African-Americans in Kentucky, and the mass killing of 11 Jewish worshippers at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Walter Ruby of the Greater Washington Muslim-Jewish Forum said that while anti-Muslim bigotry and anti-Semitism were unique in their characteristics and causes, there were some shared reasons for their recent rise.

Many people who hate Muslims, hate Jews as well, he said, adding: I absolutely think the rhetoric thats come from President Trump and others has contributed.

I dont want to entirely blame Trump but this movement of hate has coalesced around him, which he certainly helped orchestrate.

Its become a very dangerous situation.
Trumps latest attack on immigrants comes amid accusations that his rhetoric incites violence.

Just five days before the midterm elections, President Donald Trump tweeted an anti-immigrant online campaign video blaming Democrats and suggesting, without evidence, that a US-bound caravan of Central American refugees and migrants includes murderers.

Illegal immigrant, Luis Bracamontes, killed our people! reads the opening line of the 53-second video, referring to a Mexican citizen who was sentenced to death over the 2014 killing of two police deputies in California.

Democrats let him stay, continues the video, which had more than 2.7 million views by midday on Thursday.

The video weaves back and forth between images of Bracamontes and footage showing the Central American migrant caravan.

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Who else would Democrats let in? the ad concludes rhetorically, adding: President Donald J Trump and Republicans are making America safe again.

Trump, who has sought to drum up fear of immigrants before the November 6 vote, tweeted the video with the text: It is outrageous what the Democrats are doing to our Country. Vote Republican now!

He tweeted the video on the same day that he announced that up to 15,000 US troops could be deployed to the US-Mexico border in response to the caravan, which is still deep inside Mexican territory and far from the frontier. More than 5,000 troops are already headed there.

Many of the migrants and refugees on the initial wave caravan, which left Honduras more than two weeks ago, have told Al Jazeera they are fleeing violence, poverty and poor healthcare. Those who do eventually make it to the US border plan to apply for asylum at an official port of entry.

Sickening

Throughout the midterm season, several Republican campaigns and right-wing Super PACs have run controversial anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim ads.

But Wednesdays ad was among the most blatantly racist and drew comparisons to an infamous right-wing PAC commercial for former President George HW Bushs successful 1988 campaign against Democrat Michael Dukakis.

That ad focused on William Horton, a man convicted murderer who committed kidnapping and rape after running away while out of prison on furlough. Civil rights groups later lambasted the ad as a racist appeal to white voters.

In 1988, the controversial Horton ad was produced and broadcast by an outside Super PAC, but unlike the Bush campaign, President Trump endorsed and promoted Wednesdays anti-immigrant video.

Critics lashed out at Trump over the video.

Response of @JeffFlake to this new Trump ad: This is just a new low in campaigning. Its sickening. https://t.co/f6oyjId6O7  Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 31, 2018

According to CNNs Jake Tapper, Jeff Flake, a Republican Senator from Arizona, decried the video as a new low in campaigning and sickening.

University of California Berkeley professor Robert Reich, who served as US Secretary of Labor from 1993 to 1997, called the ad fearmongering on Twitter. This may be the most desperate and vile ad since Willie Horton, he wrote.

This may be the most desperate and vile ad since Willie Horton. Trump and Republicans don't want to talk about the fact that they plan to repeal the ACA, gut Social Security, Medicare, & Medicaid, and cut taxes even further for their donors, so they've resorted to fearmongering. https://t.co/xaXNThEOfb  Robert Reich (@RBReich) October 31, 2018

Escalating rhetoric

Critics have accused Trump of employing rhetoric that incites violence, threats and hatred.

In recent weeks, the president baselessly claimed that the US-bound caravan included unknown Middle Easterners and criminals.

On Saturday, a gunman stormed a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he shot dead 11 Jewish worshipers.

Trump denounced the violence. But the alleged attacker cited as motivation the caravan and recycled far-right conspiracy theories which claim that Jews are behind immigration.

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On the Monday before the massacre, Trump addressed a campaign rally in Texas by claiming he is a nationalist fighting against power-hungry globalists.

Speaking to Al Jazeera at the time, experts pointed out that the term globalist has roots in far-right conspiracy theories that carry thinly-veiled anti-Semitic undertones.

In an interview with Axios, which aired on Tuesday, Trump vowed to do away with birthright citizenship, falsely claiming that he could abolish the constitutional right through executive order.

He also inaccurately claimed that the US is the only country in the world that grants automatic citizenship to people born on its soil.
Far-right president-elect vows to fulfill his promise in an interview with Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom.

Brazils President-elect Jair Bolsonaro has told an Israeli newspaper he intends to defy the Palestinians and most of the world by moving his countrys embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Asked in an interview with Israel Hayom published on Thursday if he would move Brazils embassy, as he had indicated during his campaign, Bolsonaro said Israel should decide where its capital is located.

When I was asked during the campaign if Id do it when I became president, I said yes, the one who decides on the capital of Israel is you, not other nations, he told the paper, which is a firm backer of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.





Brazil would become the second major country after the United States to do so.

Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its united capital, and its annexation of occupied East Jerusalem in 1967 effectively put the entire city under de-facto Israeli control.

The Palestinians, however, see occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

The international community does not recognise Israels jurisdiction and ownership of the city.

The status of Jerusalem

Palestinians say that moving the embassy would prejudge one of the most sensitive issues in the conflict  the status of Jerusalem  and undermine the US status as an honest mediator.

In December, President Donald Trump reversed long-standing US policy and recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, prompting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to boycott his administration.

The embassy was officially transferred on May 14, with Guatemala and Paraguay following suit, though the latter announced last month it would return its embassy to Tel Aviv.

Bolsonaro, 63, who won a runoff election on Sunday, has outraged many with his overtly misogynistic, homophobic and racist rhetoric.

Following his victory, Netanyahu told Bolsonaro he was certain his election will lead to a great friendship between our peoples and the tightening of links between Brazil and Israel.

An official in Netanyahus office told AFP the Israeli prime minister was very likely to attend Bolsonaros inauguration ceremony in January.
US Justice Department announces first indictments in billion-dollar state fund scandal that has roiled Malaysia.

Prosecutors in the United States have unveiled criminal charges against a Malaysian financier and two former Goldman Sachs bankers in connection with the billion-dollar 1MDB sovereign wealth fund scandal.

The three-count indictment on Thursday charges Low Taek Jho of misappropriating money from the state-owned fund and using it to bribe foreign officials and buy luxury real estate, art and jewellery in the US and fund Hollywood films, including The Wolf of Wall Street.

Low, also known as Jho Low, remains at large.

Also charged by the US Department of Justice was former senior Goldman Sachs banker, Tim Leissner, who pleaded guilty to money laundering, and conspiring to violate foreign bribery laws. Another bank official, Ng Chong Hwa, 51, also known as Roger Ng, was arrested earlier on Thursday in Malaysia, prosecutors said.

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Goldman has not yet responded to the indictments.

The investment bank, which generated about $600m in fees for its work with 1MDB, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and said it was cooperating with authorities.

A spokesman for Low, who is wanted by the authorities in Malaysia, issued a statement through lawyers stressing that he had held no formal position at 1MDB and maintaining his innocence.

The bond offerings detailed in the indictment were undertaken openly and lawfully between experienced, well-regulated financial institutions and government entities, the statement said.

US prosecutors previously filed civil asset forfeiture suits for assets allegedly bought with some of the stolen funds.

Epic scandal

The 1MDB scandal refers to a money laundering and bribery scheme that pilfered billions of dollars from a Malaysian investment fund set up in 2009 by former Prime Minister Najib Razak.to promote economic development in the Southeast Asian nation.

The scale of scandal led to Najibs defeat in a general election in May, the first change in government in six decades. Najib is now facing criminal charges in Malaysia with his trial due to start next year.

An estimated $4.5bn was misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Berhad, or 1MDB, by high-level officials of the fund and their associates, the US justice department alleged.

Roughly $681m of that money is alleged to have ended up in private bank accounts belonging to Najib.

The former prime minister admitted that there were things that went wrong in 1MDB during an exclusive interview with Al Jazeeras 101 East, though he maintains he was unaware of malfeasance and his conscience is clear.

Najibs wife, Rosmah Mansor, also appeared in court last month to face 17 charges of money laundering and unpaid taxes.

As the scandal deepened, the countrys opposition united behind former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad, who came out of retirement to lead the coalition to victory in Mays election.
12500 N.E. Tenth Place  Bellevue, WA 98005  JPFO.org  800-869-1884  info@jpfo.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Nov. 1, 2018  Contact Floyd Neeland

SHOULD RABBIS (OR ANYONE) BE LIABLE

IF THEY CREATE THESE "GUN-FREE ZONES" AND

DEFENSELESS PEOPLE ARE MURDERED?

IS YOUR RIGHT TO DEFEND YOURSELF REVOCABLE?

Gun-Free-Zone-Liability Proposals Gain Traction

"Any house of worship is a wide-open exposed soft target for lunatics and hate-filled radicals to exploit, and everyone knows it. Why would your leader refuse guards and insist you be unarmed?"

Arizona has introduced and other states are working on Gun-Free-Zone Liability laws, which, while they allow private places to arbitrarily ban the civil right people have to arm themselves, would hold those places accountable for any harm that causes.

Suspending the right to arms, often by simply posting a we-don't-allow-you-here sign, is an arguably unconstitutional power. The proposed statute, by making the places liable for any harm such policies might cause, would serve as a deterrent to the counterproductive edicts. JPFO calls such areas, "make believe" gun-free-zones, since guns move freely in and out of such spaces. The classic example is the Luby's Cafeteria massacre in 1991, though that ban on sidearms in Texas came from the state itself. The recent tragedy at the Tree-of-Life Jewish temple, reportedly a supposed "gun-free zone," or any house of worship, all of which are wide-open exposed soft targets for lunatics and hate-filled radicals, is a more salient example of harm.

In stark contrast, and receiving only cursory treatment instead of saturation coverage by mass media, a father eating with his teenage kids at a McDonalds the next day in Alabama, shot and killed a wannabe masked mass murderer, ending what could otherwise have been a bloodbath as bad or worse than the synagogue murders in Pittsburgh. The criminal, who opened fire inside the restaurant, later died of his wounds. A McDonalds employee called the dad, "a hero."

Birmingham police spokesman Sgt. Bryan Shelton said the criminal, who was not yet identified, "made a decision that cost his life, and the father made a decision that preserved his and his children's lives." And everyone else's.

The employee, Markus Washington, who was flipping burgers at the time, speaking about the dad, said, ". . . if he wasn't armed, we might not be here. . . " The father is not currently facing charges.

Stories of citizens facing down armed criminals and killing, wounding, or sending them fleeing are common, but not in the mass media, which suppresses such news. One AP bureau chief, in a moment of candor once revealed that if they covered such events, they might inspire copycats, so they don't. The website GunLaws.com carries batches of self-defense stories the mainstream refuses to cover, explained here: https://www.gunlaws.com/TheFirstRespondersReport.htm A simple Google search will locate many similar sites, run by gun-rights advocates and firms.

JPFO believes passage of Gun-Free-Zone Liability laws will increase the safety of the public, deter the denial of basic civil and human rights by dangerously misinformed people, expose the hypocrisy of people who want guns confiscated from the innocent, and end dangerous reliance on police for safety. Everyone knows police are called and show up after a crime has been committed, and that they have no legal duty to protect any individuals (See, for example, Dial 911 and Die). When seconds count, police are just minutes away. You are the first responder.

#####

Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, http://www.jpfo.org is Americas most aggressive civil-rights organization, dedicated to destroying the notion of gun control as any kind of credible public-policy position. So-called gun control does not control guns and doesnt control criminal behavior. What it does do is disarm the innocent, leaving them helpless in the face of criminals, tyrannical governments and genocide. History repeatedly proves this fact. Founded in 1989 by Aaron Zelman as a response to the Holocaust, JPFO speaks with the moral authority and tenacious commitment of survivors of persecution, and knows that surrendering your personal and family safety to government protection courts disaster. You dont have to be Jewish to fight by our side, you just have to love liberty.

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Miguel Diaz-Canel is due to meet Russian counterpart on Friday as part of a tour of Cubas Communist allies.

Cubas President Miguel Diaz-Canel has arrived in Russia for talks expected to focus on strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

The 57-year-old is due to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the capital, Moscow, on Friday as part of his first tour abroad that will also include stops in China, North Korea, Vietnam and Laos.

On Thursday, the Kremlin released a statement saying the two leaders planned to discuss the state and prospects of the further consolidation of Russian-Cuban strategic partnership in various spheres and discuss opinions on current international and regional problems.

During the Cold War, Moscow and Havana were close allies, with the Soviet Union pumping millions of dollars into the small Communist-run island.

But following the collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991 and subsequent economic hardship, Russia withdrew its economic aid to Cuba.

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Putin, who visited Cuba in 2000 and 2014, has sought to revive ties with the Caribbean island. On Tuesday, Russian officials signed contracts worth $260m to modernise Cuban energy facilities and a metal factory.

The two countries have also discussed expanding military ties.

Diaz-Canel, who assumed office in April, is the first person outside the Castro family to lead Cuba since the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

According to Cubas foreign ministry, Diaz-Canel will also transit through some western European capitals during his trip.

John Bolton has criticised Cuba as being part of a troika of tyranny [File: David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters]

No signs of detente with US

The tour comes as Havana is considering far-reaching constitutional reforms, which include liberalising the economy and dropping the goal of building Communism. It was also seen as an opportunity for Cuba to reinforce and revive alliances as relations with the United States continue to deteriorate.

On Thursday, US National Security Adviser John Bolton announced that the State Department had banned transactions with more than two dozen Cuban entities associated with the Cuban military and intelligence services.

Speaking in Miami, which is home to many Cuban exiles, before next weeks mid-term elections, Bolton branded Cuba and its left-wing regional allies Venezuela and Nicaragua a troika of tyranny.

His comments came as the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution condemning the economic embargo of Cuba by the US, while also rejecting proposed amendments put forward by Washington critising the islands human rights record.

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The Assembly voted 189-2 to approve the Cuban-sponsored resolution, with no abstentions. The US and Israel voted no and Moldova and Ukraine did not vote.

While the vote is non-binding, it provides an indicator of the opinion of the international community and allows Cuba an annual stage to demonstrate the isolation of the US position on the embargo.

A similar vote on the embargo  which was imposed in 1960 following the revolution led by Fidel Castro that resulted in the nationalisation of properties belonging to US companies and citizens  has been held annually for 27 years.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla called the embargo a flagrant, massive and systematic violation of the human rights of Cuban men and women and said the US had no moral authority to criticise Cuba and others on human rights.

A waste of time

In the separate decision on the US amendments, which were voted on individually, Ukraine and Israel were the only countries to join the US in voting yes to all eight measures, while the Marshall Islands backed one.

All of the amendments failed after more than 113 countries voted against them. More than 65 countries abstained.

More than 113 countries voted against them and more than 65 abstained.

Outgoing US Ambassador Nikki Haley called the vote a waste of time and said afterwards that the Cuban people have once again been left to the brutal winds of the Castro regime.

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They have been abandoned by the United Nations and most of the worlds governments, but the Cuban people are not alone today, Haley said.

The American people will stand with them until they are restored the rights that God has given us all, rights that no government can legitimately deny its people.

Former Cuban President Raul Castro and then-US President Barack Obama began an historic diplomatic re-engagement in July 2016, which paved the way for improved ties between the two countries.

However, relations have once again soured under current US President Donald Trump, who has announced new trade and travel restrictions against the island.
Number of children held on Pacific island has more than halved in two months with refugee groups saying only 38 remain.

Australia said it wants to remove all refugee children from Nauru by the end of the year, but insisted it will maintain its controversial policy of sending anyone who tries to get to the country by boat to detention camps on remote Pacific islands.

The government has been under mounting pressure over its treatment of the children.

Some have languished on Nauru for as many as five years and doctors and refugee groups have expressed increasing concern about their health and well-being. Some 46 children were born on Nauru.

Activists said there were currently 38 children on the island. Men are sent to a separate camp in Papua New Guinea.

There are hardly any children on Nauru  and we expect that by the end of this year, there will be none, Australias top diplomat in Britain, High Commissioner George Brandis, told the London radio station LBC.

Children have been transferred off Nauru, thats been happening for some time, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Sydney Radio 2GB on Thursday.

Its been done in accordance with our policies, our existing policies, and I obviously dont go into the operational arrangements, he added.

When Morrison took over as prime minister in August, there were 113 asylum-seeker children on Nauru. Last week, the government said that number was down to 52.

Australia has all but stopped people trying to get to the country by boat since it announced five years ago that anyone who tried to claim asylum after arriving by sea would never be allowed to settle.

Instead, people were sent to detention centres in the Pacific.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has warned any asylum seekers who attempt to reach Australia by boat will continue to be sent to Nauru no matter their age.

Pressure has mounted on Australia to make an exception for children, amid reports of serious physical and mental health problems among those held.

Comatose kids

Asylum Seekers Resource Center Director Jana Favero said 47 children, plus 88 adult family members, had been brought to Australia from Nauru in the past two weeks.

The children were provided medical treatment and none of the families were told they could stay in Australia, she said.

The condition of the children has been pretty shocking, Favero said. We have seen children not eating or drinking for days in a comatose state. The mental and physical conditions of these children on Nauru have been devastating.

The United States agreed in 2016 to accept up to 1,250 refugees from Nauru and Papua New Guinea. But after more than a year of screening, only 439 have found new homes there.

New Zealand has also offered to take some of the refugees, but Australia has declined the offer because it fears that would allow asylum seekers to enter through the back door. New Zealanders are allowed to live and work in Australia for as long as they like.

A rally against the treatment of asylum seekers in offshore detention centres in Nauru and Manus Island in Sydney in 2017 [David Gray/Reuters]

A YouGov Galaxy national poll taken last month found 79 percent of respondents wanted the government to take up New Zealands offer to accept 150 children and their families.

Human rights lawyer George Newhouse said his organisation, National Justice Project, had taken court action to bring about 50 children to Australia for medical treatment, including kids who have been taken directly from the airport to intensive care units because their organs were failing.

Its taken court hearings and a groundswell from the community to get the government to act to get these kids off Nauru, Newhouse said.
North Korean officials commit sexual violence against women with little concern for the consequences while the government neither investigates nor prosecutes complaints and does nothing to support the victims, a report said on Thursday.

Unwanted sexual contact and violence are so common in North Korea it had come to be accepted as part of ordinary life, New York-based Human Rights Watch said.

Women interviewed said sexual predators included high-ranking party officials, prison and detention facility guards and interrogators, secret police, prosecutors, and soldiers. Such abuse is rarely reported, not only because victims fear social disgrace in a deeply conservative society, but also retaliation, the 86-page report found.

Former detainees said investigators can easily harass female detainees in such situations [Choi Seong Guk/Human Rights Watch]

Sexual violence in North Korea is an open, unaddressed, and widely tolerated secret, said Kenneth Roth, Human Rights Watchs executive director.

North Korean woman would probably say Me Too if they thought there was any way to obtain justice, but their voices are silenced in Kim Jong Uns dictatorship.

The group interviewed 54 North Koreans who left the country after 2011, when Kim Jong Un became leader, as well as eight former officials who also defected.

Eight former detainees or prisoners said they experienced a combination of sexual violence, verbal harassment, and humiliating treatment.

Twenty-one women traders said they endured sexual assault and unwanted advances by police or other officials as they travelled for their work.

Click, click, click

Yoon Mi Hwa, a former trader in her 30s who escaped North Korea in 2014, said in the detention centre where she was held after a previous attempt to flee to China in 2009, a woman would be forced to heave with a guard and be raped every night.

One guard was feared for his cruelty and would find excuses to beat detainees, she said.

Click, click, click was the most horrible sound I ever heard, Yoon told the rights group. It was the sound of the key of the cell of our prison room opening. Every night a prison guard would open the cell. I stood still quietly, acting like I didnt notice, hoping it wouldnt be me to have to follow the guard, hoping it wouldnt be him.

Police officers routinely conduct searches of female traders belongings, which can be a prelude to a body search [Choi Seong Guk/Human Rights Watch]

In 2014, a landmark UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights in North Korea accused the one-party state of crimes against humanity. It said rape, forced abortion, and other forms of sexual violence were among the unspeakable atrocities that took place in the country, and it was common to see women being beaten and sexually assaulted in public. At the time Pyongyang said North Korea was a heaven for women in response to a call for action from the United Nations on human rights abuses. Oh Jung Hee, a former market trader in her 40s who left the country in 2014, said she had been sexually assaulted many times by market guards or police officials. They consider us [sex] toys, she said. We [women] are at the mercy of men.

Patriarchal society

Park Young Hee, a farmer, was forced back to North Korea from China in the spring of 2010, after her first attempt to flee.

After being released by the secret police and handed over to local authorities for questioning she was touched and sexually assaulted by one of the officers who asked her about the sexual relations she had had with the man to whom she had been sold while in China.

Having escaped North Korea a second time in 2011, she, My life was in his hands so I did everything he wanted and told him everything he asked. How could I do anything else?

The report said the sexual abuse of women was enabled by a deeply patriarchal society and entrenched gender inequality, as well as abuse of power, corruption, the absence of rule of law, and a lack of support and legal services for survivors of sexual violence.
Authorities suspect a faction of the banned group ULFA is behind the killing of five ethnic Bengalis in Tinsukia.

Suspected separatist gunmen shot dead five people they singled out in northeastern Indias Assam state where ethnic tensions are simmering over the governments plans to amend a law on citizenship.

Authorities said they believed a faction of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was responsible for the killings on Thursday, as well as a bomb attack in the states largest city, Guwahati, last month.

ULFA rebels, who want a breakaway homeland for ethnic Assamese people, have threatened attacks in response to proposed amendments to Indias citizenship law granting citizenship to Bengali-speaking Hindus.

Gunmen in military fatigues entered the village in Tinsukia district and ordered ethnic Bengalis out of their homes, officials said.

Four people were killed on the spot and a fifth died in hospital, they said.

ULFA chief Paresh Baruah recently threatened Bengalis who wanted to stage a rally in support of the citizenship amendment bill being pushed in parliament by the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The bill aims to give citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Christian minorities from Indias neighbouring countries who arrived in the country before 2015.

Activists and opposition leaders say the bill discriminates against Muslims and violates the secular Constitution of India.

In protest against the brutal killings in Assam @AITCofficial will organise protest rallies tomorrow ( Fri Nov 2) in different parts of north and south Bengal including Siliguri and Kolkata  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 1, 2018

Political and social groups in Assam have accused the BJP of using the law to naturalise the citizenship of Bengali-origin Hindus to get their votes.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said strong action would be taken against the killers, but he also appealed for calm.

Assams migrants question

The state of Assam has been rocked by protests over undocumented immigration from Bangladesh for decades.

Earlier this year, India published a provisional list of people in Assam eligible for citizenship, called the National Register of Citizens (NRC), in a bid to identify undocumented migrants from Bangladesh.

The draft list effectively stripped nearly four million people of the 32 million in Assam of their citizenship.

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Those who proved they came to the state by March 24, 1971  the cutoff date to be eligible for Indian citizenship  were included on the NRC.

The people whose names were not included on the NRC have been allowed to file their claims and objections by December 15.

Experts, meanwhile, say it will take several years to produce a final version of the list.

Bengali Muslims still fear they could be deported while rights groups have said there could be attacks on Assams ethnic minorities.

In February 1983, more than 2,000 Bengali-speaking people were killed in Nellie in central Assam. In recent years, hundreds of people have been thrown in detention camps in the border state.
Khashoggi case: Trump pressed to take action against Saudi Arabia

A bipartisan group of Senators is calling for an investigation to be carried out as soon as possible into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Nasheed, who had been in exile since 2016, welcomed at Male airport by president-elect and hundreds of supporters.

This article originally stated that Mohamed Nasheed had been jailed for 13 years. This is incorrect. He was sentenced to 13 years in jail, and spent about a year in prison.

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has returned home from exile days after the countrys Supreme Court stayed his 13-year sentence on terrorism charges.

Nasheed arrived at the Indian Ocean nations airport island on Thursday after more than two years in exile, and traveled by boat parade to the capital, Male, where thousands of yellow-clad supporters lined the streets to greet him.

The 51-year-old democracy champions return follows the defeat of President Abdulla Yameen in a September 23 election by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the nominee of Nasheeds Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

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Nasheed was branded a fugitive from justice when he went into exile in 2016 after seeking medical treatment abroad while serving the jail sentence.

He risked arrest if he ever returned to the country under Yameen, who jailed or exiled most of his opponents.

However, the strongman leader suffered a surprise defeat last month in an election and must leave office on November 17.

Nasheed had hoped to run against Yameen but was barred by the election commission.

Since Yameens defeat, political prisoners have been freed and exiles have returned from abroad as the Maldives prepares a transition to new leadership.

The Supreme Court earlier this week suspended Nasheeds prison sentence until it reviews his conviction at the request of the prosecutor general, a move to prevent his arrest on arrival.

Elected president in the countrys first democratic poll in 2008, Nasheed was found guilty of terror-related violence in 2015 in a trial the UN said was politically motivated.
Texan voters under 30 have already seen a 477-percent increase from the 2014 midterm elections.

Data shows that young people are voting early in troves in Texas, where progressive Democrat Beto ORourke is hoping to overthrow incumbent Republican Senator Ted Cruz in the upcoming midterm vote.

Upwards of 332,000 Texans between the ages of 18 and 29 took part in early voting, marking a 477 percent increase from the 2014 midterm elections, according to a survey by the data company Target Smart.

With more than 214,000 people voting for the first time, Target Smarts data also found that the turnout of African American and Latino voters more than doubled since the 2014 midterm.

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Donald Trump won Texas, traditionally a Republican stronghold, by nine percentage points during the November 2016 presidential elections, when he defeated Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

An October 28-30 poll by Emerson College found that Cruz had a narrow lead over ORourke, putting the Republican incumbent at 50 percent support and his challenger at 47 percent.

The website FiveThirtyEight estimates that ORourke only has a 20 percent chance of winning.

But ORourke, who has been tipped as a possible presidential hopeful in 2020, has consistently claimed that the polls are underestimating the Latino vote.

Latino voters leaning Democrat

A recent study, published last month by Texas-based Jolt Initiative, appears to support ORourkes claim, concluding that 32 percent of Latino interviewees prefer the Democrats, while only 13 percent support the Republicans.

Titled We Are Texas: An Analysis of Young Latino Voters in the Lone Star State, the report predicts that Latinos will constitute the states largest ethnic group by 2022.

Around half a million Latino non-citizens in Texas qualify for US citizenship.

With some of the lowest voter registration and participation rates in the country, Texas faces real barriers to building a healthy and strong democracy, it states, explaining that the strength of our democracy will be determined in large part by engaging young Latinos.

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ORourke has campaigned on immigration reform that prioritises a fair path to citizenship for millions of immigrants in the country.

Cruz has largely thrown his weight behind Trumps anti-immigration measures.

With Trump escalating anti-immigrant rhetoric and sending troops to the border in response to a US-bound caravan of Central American migrants and refugees, an ORourke victory would be seen as a strong rebuke to the presidents immigration agenda.

The midterm elections will decide all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the Senate and 39 state and territorial governorships.
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan-led protests take place across the country, a day after Supreme Court clears Aasia Bibi.

Islamabad, Pakistan  Thousands of far-right religious demonstrators continue to block major roads across Pakistan in protest against the acquittal of a Christian woman in a high-profile blasphemy case.

The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) political party, led by firebrand Muslim leader Khadim Rizvi, organised rallies in cities across the South Asian country on Thursday, despite a warning from Prime Minister Imran Khan not to force the government to have to take action.

Aasia Bibi, 53, who was on death row for eight years, was acquitted by the countrys top court on Wednesday, with judges saying the prosecution contained glaring and stark contradictions.

Shortly after the Supreme Courts landmark ruling was pronounced, Rizvi led a major protest outside government buildings in the eastern city of Lahore, with fellow TLP leaders declaring the three judges who acquitted Bibi to be liable to be killed.

The sit-in protest in Lahore remained the largest TLP demonstration on Thursday, with other major demonstrations being held in the southern city of Karachi, Pakistans largest. Protesters are also blockading a major highway into the capital, Islamabad.

Most schools and many businesses remained closed in all three cities through the day, with hospitals on high alert in case the protests turned violent. Highways were partially shut down and the federal cabinet held an emergency meeting to discuss the law and order situation.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a televised address to the nation, accused the TLP of attempting to stir religious sentiments for political gains.

I say to these people: do not confront this state  do not damage this country for your vote bank, said Khan.

If you do this, I promise that the government will do its duty  I ask you: do not force the government to have to take action, he added.

On Thursday, Shehryar Afridi, Pakistans minister of state for interior affairs, told parliament that talks were under way with protesters to end the standoff.

Watershed moment

Blasphemy against Islam and its prophet is a sensitive subject in Pakistan, where the crime can carry a compulsory death sentence.

Increasingly, blasphemy accusations have resulted in mob lynchings and extrajudicial murders.

At least 74 people have been killed in violence related to blasphemy allegations since 1990, according to an Al Jazeera tally.

PM Imran Khan urged calm since Bibis acquittal but his call has fallen on deaf ears so far [Saudi Press Agency via AP]

There are still roughly 40 people on death row or serving life sentences for blasphemy, in Pakistan, according to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Bibis case had become emblematic of fair-trial concerns in cases related to the countrys blasphemy laws, with two senior political leaders who stood up for her gunned down in 2009 for supporting her.

Rights groups have hailed her acquittal as a watershed moment.

Justice has finally prevailed. The message must go out that the blasphemy laws will no longer be used to persecute the countrys most vulnerable minorities, said Omar Waraich, deputy director for South Asia at human rights group Amnesty International.

Tense calm

At the protest at Islamabads Faizabad interchange, roughly 2,000 TLP supporters had gathered to block a major road into the federal capital.

TLP volunteers had visibly beefed up security at the demonstrations entry and exit points. They barred entry to journalists, saying they would only be allowed to pass after surrendering cameras and other equipment.

Among the protesters, a tense calm prevailed, with many young men interspersed among the crowd carrying sticks and metal rods.

Many sat on reed mats, listening to devotional poems and sermons extolling the virtues of loving Islams Prophet Muhammad. The TLP mainly represents the Barelvi sect of Sunni Islam, which places a particular importance on the veneration of the personage and honour of the Prophet.

Overhead, two military helicopters flew low over the crowd, prompting shouts from many protesters. Two young men manning a barricade angrily shook their sticks at the aircraft.

Further protests are expected on Friday following midday prayers, with other right-wing religious groups joining the TLP in its rejection of the verdict.

Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras digital correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim
Bodies of Tala and Rotana Farea were found by the riverbank of the Hudson in New York without obvious signs of trauma.

Police in the United States say they are still investigating the deaths of two sisters from Saudi Arabia whose bodies were found duct-taped together by the riverbank of New York Citys Hudson last week.

The sisters, Tala Farea, 16, and Rotana Farea, 22, were discovered on October 24 on by riverbank of the Hudson, facing each other, fully clothed and without any obvious signs of trauma.

Investigators told reporters that they had not determined the circumstances surrounding their fate, but were puzzled as to how they came to be found dead on a riverbank more than 400km from their familys home.

The day before the bodies were discovered, the sisters mother told US detectives that she had received a phone call from the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington ordering the family to leave the US, New York police said. The sisters had reportedly applied for political asylum in the US.

Saudi Arabias consulate general in New York City did not comment on the claims, saying it had appointed an attorney to follow the case closely.

#Statement from the Consulate General pic.twitter.com/IXfSBvm9L8  Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in New York (@KSAconsulateNY) October 30, 2018

The sisters moved from Saudi Arabia to Fairfax, Virginia in 2015 with their mother, and had a history of running away from home, according to US officials.

The case has received considerable media exposure in the aftermath of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul.

The New York Police Department has sent a detective to Virginia to learn more about the sisters.

Chief of detectives Dermot Shea said they were interested in finding out what happened since they were reported missing, and what led them to New York City.

We are looking at all clues in their past life, Shea was quoted as saying.
Sri Lanka crisis: Rajapaksa says his appointment is legitimate

Sri Lankas new prime minister tells Al Jazeera that his appointment is according to the constitution.
Sri Lankas president has lifted the suspension of parliament and scheduled a meeting of the legislature on November 5, according to his newly-appointed prime minister, in a highly anticipated move observers hope will end a bitter power struggle.

President Maithripala Sirisena named Mahinda Rajapaksa  a controversial former president  as prime minister on Friday after abruptly firing Ranil Wickremesinghe and dismissing his government.

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President has decided to reconvene the parliament on 5th, Rajapaksa said on Thursday, addressing a meeting at the prime ministers office in the capital, Colombo.

There was no official word from Sirisenas office on reconvening parliament.

The move will allow the 225-member House to choose between Rajapaksa and his opponent Wickremesinghe, who has been demanding that his United National Party (UNP) be allowed to prove its majority on the floor of the House.

The peoples voices have been heard, Wickremesinghe tweeted following the presidents decision. Democracy will prevail.

The UNP welcomed the move, with legislator Ajith Perera saying the party was confident of winning support for Wickremesinghe in parliament.

We have 124 legislators with us. When parliament is convened, we will show our majority, he said at a news conference.

Rajapaksa, the newly appointed prime minister, was also confident of winning majority support. He told Al Jazeera he already has the backing of the 113 parliamentarians needed.

On democracys side

The UNP had alleged that the parliaments suspension, which was to last until November 16, was aimed at buying time to shore up support for Rajapaksas appointment.

In recent days, Wickremesinghes UNP, which had the backing of 106 legislators prior to the crisis, has been hit by a number of defections. At least five UNP parliamentarians crossed over to Sirisenas United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), which had 96 legislators before the turmoil began.

With the two parties appearing to command similar levels of support, the stand that minority parties  the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Peoples Liberation Front (JVP)  take on the matter will be critical.

MA Sumanthiran, the leader of TNA, which has 16 seats in the House, said his party would make a decision after parliament reconvened.

The main reason for this crisis was the way in which Sirisena appointed Rajapaksa, Sumanthiran told reporters. The TNA will make its decision after considering violations of the constitution and the law.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the JVP, told thousands of supporters in Colombo that his party was on democracys side.

He accused Sirisena of violating the constitution and acting in a dictatorial manner, but said the JVPs six legislators will abstain from the confidence votes in parliament.

The announcement by Rajapaksa on Thursday came a day after Sirisena held talks with Karu Jayasuriya, speaker of parliament, during which the president asked him to recognise Rajapaksa as the lawful prime minister.

Chaminda Gamage, spokesperson for the speaker, told Al Jazeera the parliaments secretariat informed Jayasuriya they would act according to the presidents orders and treat Rajapaksa as the prime minister.

The secretary of the parliament, the sergeant at arms and other staff are officials of the state and they said have to follow the presidents orders. The speaker will not obstruct that, he said.

The appointment of Rajapaksa, a former president accused of human rights abuses and corruption, drew widespread concern, with critics saying the president did not have the authority to name a new prime minister until the incumbent was defeated in a no-confidence vote.

Tens of thousands of people rallied against Sirisenas actions on the streets of Colombo on Tuesday.

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Despite the opposition to his appointment, Rajapaksa has continued to consolidate power. On Wednesday, he assumed the finance ministers duties and officials said he was expected to begin work on the state budget for 2018 soon.

Wickremesinghe, meanwhile, remained holed up in the prime ministers official residence at Temple Trees, where Buddhist monks have been reciting prayers throughout the day.

Additional reporting by Rathindra Kuruwita from Colombo
US president says hes finalising plan that would deny asylum to those who enter US between official ports of entry.

Less than a week before the midterm elections, US President Donald Trump said his administration is finalising a plan that would deny asylum to individuals who cross the US border between official ports of entry.

Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Trump said the plan is totally legal. Legal experts say, however, it is expected to be challenged in court once announced.

Under US immigration law, any immigrant in the US can apply for asylum regardless of how he or she entered the country.

Trump said he would be signing an executive order sometime next week regarding immigration. He did not detail the proposal or how it would be implemented.

The announcement comes as Trump seeks to stoke fear over a caravan of Central American migrants and refugees making its way to the US-Mexico border. The caravan is still more than 1,100km away and is not expected to make it to the US border for weeks.

Those travelling with the caravan have told Al Jazeera they are fleeing violence, including political persecution, poverty, and poor healthcare. Many have said they plan to apply for asylum at an official port of entry, as other caravans have done in the past.

One Honduran woman, who witnessed her husbands murder three years ago, said she joined the caravan to seek opportunities to send money back home to help provide for her sons expensive medical care.

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Trump also said the US is building massive tent cities to house asylum seekers, including children, while their claims are processed. In the past this could take years.

According to the 1997 Flores settlement, children can only be held in immigration detention for up to 20 days, after which they must either be released to a guardian or placed in a licensed shelter. Trump was forced to end his administrations practice of separating families at the border earlier this year after public outcry.

Rocks to be treated like firearms

On Wednesday, Trump said he could send more than 15,000 US military troops to the border. Some 5,200 troops are already making their way down to the border to provide logistical and other support to US border agents.

When asked on Thursday if troops would use force on migrants and refugees, Trump said if individuals are throwing rocks, they would be treated as if they have firearms.

I hope there wont be that, he said.

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Trump referenced clashes between armed police and caravan participants at Mexicos border with Guatemala. One Honduran man was killed and more than 100 others were injured on Sunday.

Trump has been hitting the campaign trail hard this week as he attempts to energise his Republican base ahead of the midterm elections. Democrats are vying to take control of Congress on November 6 in an election viewed as a referendum on the presidents first two years in office.

Trump was slammed late on Wednesday after he tweeted an anti-immigrant online campaign video blaming Democrats and suggesting, without evidence, that the caravan includes murderers.

During his presidency, he has sought to fulfill a number of anti-immigrant campaign promises, including a wall between the US and Mexico and crackdown on immigration.

Earlier this year, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that generally domestic violence and gang violence would not longer be grounds for asylum.

Additional reporting by Sandra Cuffe from Tonala, Chiapas, Mexico.
When Brandon Straka founded the WalkAway movement in May, hardly anyone imagined that several hundred thousand longtime Democrats could turn against the party of their family and friends. Although it's a big, difficult decision, many Walkaways made videos aggressively explaining their decisions. They often conclude: "I'll never vote Democrat the rest of my life."

What made these people walk away with such passion? Certainly, Trump's success and charisma explain a lot. The "lying media" are also a major factor. One woman attended a crowded Trump rally. When she reached home a half-hour later, CNN was showing a half-empty stadium where she had been standing. She knew that the place had been jammed. At that moment, she walked away from CNN.

Perhaps the most important factor is that leaders on the left, for many decades, became increasingly socialist/communist in their perspectives. The rank and file are more sophisticated now and realize that their party bosses walked away from them long ago.

So here's the picture that Straka has brought into focus. Namely, lots of people are mad as hell and determined not to take it anymore.

We need this exact same spirit in K-12. You're mad as hell and refuse to continue the same destructive relationship. You know what the schools are doing to children: keeping them ignorant and illiterate. You hate this. You don't want it being done in your name. Or with your taxes.

So walk away.

Democrats, heretofore passive, are showing you how to do it. Just do it. The liberal leaders at the top of the Education Establishment are exactly the same people whom working-class Democrats have learned to scorn. (Indeed, studying K-12 education is a great way to understand the warped politics of the party. Same people, same goals, same collectivist thinking.)

You've heard the rumors, or you have seen the results yourself. Kids can't read, not fluently. Incoherent Common Core homework makes them cry. Students don't know the simplest things about geography, history, science, or anything else. Jay Leno, Jesse Watters, Mark Dice, and now Jimmy Kimmel have shown this over and over.

The incompetent, ideological extremists perpetuating this educational malpractice should be rejected or at least rebuked. What's a simple way to do that? You don't need to send them a card. Just walk away...if not physically, at least emotionally.

Parents with kids in a public school have to deal with teachers and school officials. But you can withhold support; you can show disdain for programs you don't like. Let the Education Establishment know that you don't approve of their dumbing-down strategies. You would like to see children educated at the highest level that each one can handle. The main thing is to stop tolerating what you sincerely feel is unacceptable. (Some people say homeschooling is the only option. I argue that being an informed, demanding parent contributes greatly.)

Teachers in particular know the dark secrets about ideological maneuvering and financial chicanery. The result is that textbooks and methods that didn't work 25 and 50 years ago are still used today and still don't work. The dysfunctional gimmicks that made New Math useless can still be found in Common Core Math. Someone is making more money. But the students are losing. Don't support what you wouldn't want for your own kids.

According to one of the popular sophistries of the past 75 years, if you criticize public schools, the professors will say you are "opposed to public education." You may have to spell it out. You're not at all opposed to public education. You're opposed to ineffective, screwed up education that keeps many children as ignorant and illiterate in the 10th grade as they were in the 4th grade.

The point is not to give support to something not worth supporting. Our Education Establishment has grown increasingly wacky and reckless over the past 90 years. The country had near universal literacy in 1915, then Progressives started to take over. By 1955, a book titled Why Johnny Can't Read became a huge bestseller. Apparently, millions of people knew "Johnny" personally. Many social critics wrote books with titles such as Quackery in the Public Schools and Educational Wastelands: The Retreat from Learning in Our Public Schools. Sixty years later, the steady decline slithers on. Prof. Patrick Deneen at Notre Dame recently accused our public schools of creating "cultural illiteracy" intentionally.

Now is a good time for everyone to start being judgmental.

Walk away from dangerous, chaotic schools. Walk away from sight-words and the functional illiteracy they cause. Walk away from Common Core nonsense that makes little children cry. Walk away from dysfunctional theories and methods that never seem to work as promised. Walk away from imperious superintendents who tell the parents what they can have, not what they need.

Walk away from elaborately engineered pedagogy that diminishes children. Walk away from Constructivism, which dictates that children must figure out everything for themselves while teachers stand idly by. Walk away from Self-Esteem, a cute little sophistry that basically freezes every class at the level of the slower students. Walk away from Multiculturalism, which dictates that American children have to know more about foreign rivers than about American rivers. Walk away from all the clever gimmicks that undercut real education and replace it with "progressive"  actually regressive  folderol.

In particular, walk away from so-called educators who see education as indoctrination, not enlightenment. That is John Dewey's malignant legacy. We need to walk away from all that.

Bruce Deitrick Price's new book is Saving K-12: What happened to our public schools? How do we fix them? He deconstructs educational theories and methods at Improve-Education.org.
Few events in history rival the gap between exuberant optimism and tumultuous reality, great dreams and vain illusions, as the spread of socialism. Its rise and fall constituted one of the most tragic episodes of the last century. It has created unparalleled violence, millions of innocent victims, modern slavery, and environmental disasters of biblical proportions. The movement has gone from spectacular triumphs to humiliating defeats  from victory in Russia in 1917 and the conquest of Eastern Europe and China in the 1930s and 1940s to what seemed an unstoppable march in Africa and Latin America in the 1960s and 1970s, and then to the spectacular implosion of the Soviet Union, the liberation of Eastern Europe, and the economic liberalization of China.

What is socialism? Who are American socialists, and what are they fighting for? Socialism is a political philosophy and economic system that promotes egalitarianism  a theory of economic equality. It is usually defined as "common ownership of the means of production," which is in the ballpark of the definition given by Karl Marx.

Lenin defined socialism as a society organized on the principle "from each according to his abilities and to each according to his work [contribution]."

But Barack Obama nailed it. In his speech in Berlin, Germany on July 24, 2008, he declared:

This is the moment when we must build on the wealth that open markets have created, and share its benefits more equitably.

Obama clearly was talking about not wealth creation, which would be capitalism, but wealth distribution, which is socialism.

It was an astonishingly ambitious vision for the future president of the United States. And it was not just a vision; he had a plan, and he had a strategy.

Obama, who adopted Marxism as a young man, grew gradually convinced (he had to) that the general theories of Marx, Engels, and Lenin outlined in Das Kapital, The Critique of the Gotha Program, What Is to Be Done, and other communist publications could not be directly applied to the contemporary United States of America. According to Marxist dogma, the transition to socialism and subsequent distribution of wealth must be accomplished by expropriation of the means of production with the imposition of a "dictatorship of the proletariat." Yet the proletariat  organized masses of working people, who, according to Marx, had "nothing to lose but their chains"  ceased to exist a century ago.

As an ardent Marxist, Obama had read more deeply in Marxism than most contemporary Marxists and came to the conclusion (correctly) that the main purpose for the expropriation of the means of production was not the distribution of wealth, but the subjugation of the population to the government control.

As Leon Trotsky put it, "in a country where the sole employer is the state, opposition means death by slow starvation. The old principle, who does not work does not eat, has been replaced with a new one: who does not obey does not eat."

The acquisition of this knowledge predisposed Obama to the recognition that society does not necessarily require government ownership of the means of production to implement the egalitarian dream. As long as the government controls the economy and is able to replace the free-market capitalist economy with political economy, and subsequently control profits, the objectives of socialism can be achieved. Obama also ascertained that in order to control the economy, the government needs to control only three major sectors  health care, finance, and energy.

An unemotional logician and imaginative tactician, Obama, while preserving the theoretical significance of Marxism, trashed those nineteenth-century Marxist orthodox theories and Lenin's principles that applied to an impoverished country and stood in the way of twenty-first-century American capitalism, and replaced them with his own pragmatic Marxism.

He substituted the dictatorship of proletariat with the dictatorship of government bureaucracy, and the expropriation of private property with statism  i.e., government control of the economy and supremacy of the values of the state that result in domination of the economic and political life of the citizenry. The driving force behind his adroit model was bondage: "The hand that feeds you controls you."

Alarmingly, Barack Obama had come within measurable distance of accomplishing the centerpiece of his strategy. However, not everything went as planned. Obama's reach exceeded his grasp  he and his democratic socialists had grossly underestimated U.S. economic vitality and regional demographics, so critical to securing the Democratic Party's electoral supremacy.

Although Dodd-Frank and Obamacare effectively took the financial and health care sectors under government control, draconian environmental regulations failed to subdue the energy industry. With the discovery of new domestic oil reserves and deployment of innovative technologies, energy production was thriving.

Moreover, not all of Mexico, Central, and South America crossed our open borders into Texas, Arizona, and California, and unlike some European cities, Chicago, Detroit, and New York were not yet annexed to the possession of Islam.

Even more importantly, socialism had not yet attained political meaning and the concept of economic equality still had little reverence in American society. Overall, the implementation of the strategy was taking longer than planned.

It was left to Hillary Clinton, whose ascendance to the presidency of the United States seemed assured, to complete that journey under the ideological guidance of Barack Obama.

However, as with many instances in the political process, what was perceived as obvious and certain at the time only exposed the limitations of human foresight. The election of Donald Trump, perhaps without him being aware of his historic role, redeemed this country and left the socialists in a post-orgasmic swoon. But the ideas of Marx and Lenin did not die. The egalitarian disease is not well, but it is alive and keeps on growing.

Alexander Markovsky is a scholar of Marxism and Leninism and a senior fellow at the London Center for Policy Research. He is an author of Anatomy of a Bolshevik and Liberal Bolshevism: America Did Not Defeat Communism, She Adopted It.
[Expresses concern over HR violations] Complete report at Botom of the Page]

Islamabad, October 31: The All-Party Parliamentary Kashmir Group (APPKG) in the UK Parliament in its report released today expressed concern over the present human rights situation in occupied Kashmir.

The report compiled after receiving various testimonies about the human rights violations perpetrated by the Indian troops in the occupied territory was released by Chairman of the APPKG, MP Chris Leslie, in London.

The report said that violations, most egregiously in occupied Kashmir, frame everyday life for millions of Kashmiris. It further said that excessive state violence, systematized by a legal framework which grants near-wholesale impunity to those responsible, is routine, adding it is, in sum, a reality that warrants far greater attention than it receives.

The report has discussed in detail the draconian laws, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA) as well as enforced disappearances, lack of transparency and use of pellets in the territory.

The report has proposed a number of recommendations to alleviate the sufferings of Kashmiris. They include:

 The Government of India must repeal the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act 1990 and enable prosecution of armed forces and security personnel in the civilian judicial system

 The Government of Jammu and Kashmir must urgently provide a strict and limited statutory basis for administrative detention powers, in line with international legal principles, by repealing or amending the Public Safety Act 1978

 The Government of India must initiate a comprehensive public investigation into the identities of bodies in mass and unmarked graves, with an independent forensic verification process, and provide for a full freedom of information mechanism for the families of suspected victims of enforced disappearance

 The Government of India should immediately ban the use of pellet firing shotguns

 The Government of Jammu and Kashmir must open its prisons to international inspection.

 The Governments of India and Pakistan should work to resume regularised visa-regulated civilian travel across the Line of Control and reunite separated families.

Following is the report released by All-Party Parliamentary Kashmir Group in UK Parliament
There are only two sorts of people roaming this earth: those who just want to be let alone and those who simply cannot keep their hands to themselves. We institute governments to restrain the latter from tormenting the former without relent. Nowhere is the intrusive impulse of the nanny-stater more prominently featured than in the issue of Medicaid expansion.

Medicaid expansion is the bad idea that will not go away. An integral leg of the Obamacare stool, it was intended to the do the heavy lifting for the promised result of universal health insurance coverage. Those Americans who could not be enticed to buy health insurance with wildly generous subsidy offers would then be coerced into doing so under penalty of fine. The remaining uninsured population would be caught in the expanded Medicaid net, ostensibly achieving universal, albeit unsustainable, coverage.

However, the Supreme Court ruled expansion to be voluntary for states, and despite federal offers of mega-dollars, many states wisely avoided this boondoggle. Nebraska was one such state.

For the next six years, Nebraska lawmakers voted down bills to expand Medicaid in our state. This year, funded almost entirely from out of state, with Washington, D.C. lobbyist money, the proponents launched a petition drive to put the expansion question on the November ballot. The question is now up to the voters.

In selling their scheme, many proponents of expansion have found honesty to be a dreadful handicap and promptly abandoned it. They claim that 90,000 Nebraskans are in the so-called "coverage gap," defined as earning too much to get subsidies but not enough to afford insurance without subsidy.

However, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), a favored think-tank of the left, looked at the uninsured populations for each state and helpfully broke down the demographics by eligibility.

KFF estimates that there are 130,000 individuals involved in Nebraska, not 90,000, which by itself throws off the revenue projections cited by advocates. But what is the status of these 130,000, really?

According to KFF, 14% of these are already eligible for Medicaid under existing rules. Another 39% qualify for free or heavily discounted premiums via subsidy on the insurance exchanges already. Thirty-four percent make enough to purchase health insurance without subsidy, are eligible for insurance through their employers, or are ineligible due to immigration status.

This leaves only 12% in the "coverage gap." Fewer than 16,000 people.

Even the remaining "gap" population has access to new policy offerings from Medica, Nebraska's sole remaining ACA insurer, designed especially for them. Having been freed by President Trump from the ridiculous mandatory coverage minimums installed by his predecessor (such as maternity care for men), the free market saw a need and stepped in to meet it. How shocking.

By the left's own sources, using the left's own standards, Medicaid expansion is unnecessary  unless your intention isn't helping people, but rather helping yourself to a fat payday and endless voter dependency.

Once the expanded population is added to the existing Medicaid population, nearly one in three Nebraskans will be on Medicaid. That eye-popping number doesn't include the tens of thousands of folks who currently have policies through their employers who will be unceremoniously dumped onto Medicaid once the businesses realize they no longer need to maintain that expensive benefit, since the bulk of their employees qualify for government insurance.

The allure of Medicaid expansion is its promise of federal dollars to help pay. As proposed, the federal government will reimburse the state 90 cents for every dollar spent on the care of the new expansion enrollees. This compares quite favorably to the 53-cent rate on current Medicaid recipients. But the devil is in the details.

Nebraska is a managed care state, meaning that rather than the Medicaid patient seeing his doctor and the doctor sending the state the bill for services and treatments, Nebraska has chosen to hire a company to whom it pays a flat amount monthly for each enrollee. The managed care company pays the claims, hopefully making a profit by the time all is said and done.

However, when these new enrollees come in from expansion, they are an entirely different demographic from the current recipients upon whom the monthly rate is based. Unlike the current recipients, nine out of ten folks in this new group, according to the Urban Institute, are healthy, able-bodied adults without children, between the ages of 19 and 54. Literally, the demographic that is the least expensive to insure.

This means the managed care company will reap a tremendous windfall, as it will be paid the same freight for the new as for the old, yet the new will require far less expense and bring far higher rates of reimbursement. One managed care company in California saw a 576% increase in profit in the first two years of expansion alone. Consider also that in every state that has adopted expansion, current recipients (who are reimbursed at far lower rates) have been shuffled onto waiting lists for services to make room for the new, better paying enrollees.

Having gained overgenerous payments for covering new enrollees, the managed care company will now reduce its costs dramatically at the same time by paying far fewer claims for its original clients, who, according to an exhaustive accounting by the Federal Government Accountability Foundation, are now dying by the thousands while on waiting lists spawned by expansion.

It doesn't stop there. Our private insurance premiums will increase as well when hospitals, clinics, and providers raise their rates, ostensibly to offset the lost revenue from accepting more Medicaid patients and fewer higher paying privately insured patients, despite the lack of actual claims. This has been the experience in every state that has adopted expansion.

Like private insurers, hospitals, clinics, and providers can base future prices (and premiums) on projections, and you can be assured the insurers will project a need based on current recipients' usage rates, not the actual rates of the new recipients, which will be far lower.

Are you beginning to understand why some self-described Republicans are supporting this at the behest of their medical and insurance industry donors?

Nebraska will be obligated to maintain these needlessly inflated rates due to the provision in expansion's enabling legislation that establishes the inflated rates as the floor in a building with no ceiling.

The tired and shopworn talking points of previous years have been dusted off to convince Nebraskans that spending $100 million in the hopes of getting $90 million back is somehow "economic activity" for our state and that failing to shoulder this unending obligation means that someone else will be getting all our money!

Despite being peddled as Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, (ACA) Nebraska's ballot initiative is a thing apart, boasting a legal structure that is nothing short of a bill of indentured servitude for the citizens of Nebraska  a point that has been shielded from public view, hidden like a crazy aunt in the attic, to avoid disturbing the guests.

Under the ACA, a state may withdraw from Medicaid expansion. States are also given the flexibility to adjust coverages, to fine-tune eligibility requirements for the expansion population, and to otherwise tweak and alter the program to suit the fiscal realities and medical necessities of their states.

Proponents of expansion in Nebraska have been citing this flexibility as a failsafe should expansion critics be proven correct in predicting fiscal catastrophe. This is a lie.

In the enabling legislation for Nebraska's Medicaid Expansion, in addition to numerous poison pills designed to ensure that the state can never reduce coverage, alter eligibility, or reduce services, there is paragraph 5, and it delivers the killing blow.

(5) This section shall apply notwithstanding any other provision of law or federal waiver.

The ACA came within one vote of repeal earlier this year, and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already made clear his intention to take that vote again after the seating of new senators following the midterms. The chances that the federal government will maintain the overgenerous promises made under that failed program are nil.

The ACA and Medicaid expansion are going away, but that won't matter in Nebraska. We will have chained ourselves to an error  condemned to march in endless circles to grind the flour our politicians will dole out to buy votes. This program will become the lash by which the left will whip the rest of us into submission.

When Nebraska voters see the question, "Should Nebraska expand Medicaid?," it should more accurately be read as "Should Nebraska take the health care the profoundly disabled, elderly poor and blind rely on to survive, and instead give it to the young, healthy, and able-bodied in the hopes of buying votes and making campaign donors fabulously wealthy with our tax dollars?"

That is the true question we face in November. Our answer will be to our credit or to our eternal shame.

The author writes from Omaha, Nebraska and welcomes visitors to his website, www.dailyherring.com. A commercial-free broadcast of a radio show covering Medicaid Expansion, hosted by the author is available here.
President Trump's statement on anti-Semitism the day after the Tree of Life massacre truly was "electrifying."

The Jews have endured terrible persecution, and you know that we've all read it: We've studied it. They've gone through a lot and those seeking their destruction...we will seek their destruction...Never again.

It touched my heart deeply. Jews have never, but never, been given this kind of whole-hearted support by an American leader before. Trump told the rally-goers in Illinois, slowly, and with great emphasis:

This evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us. It's an assault on humanity. It will require all of us, working together, to extract the hateful poison of anti-Semitism from our world. This was an anti-Semitic attack at its worst. The scourge of anti-Semitism cannot be ignored, cannot be tolerated, and it cannot be allowed to continue. We cannot allow it to continue. It must be confronted and condemned everywhere it rears its very ugly head. We must stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters to defeat anti-Semitism, and vanquish the forces of hate  that's what it is.



YouTube screen grab.

Jews have never, but never, been given this kind of whole-hearted backing by an American leader before. Jews are used to facing murderous hate alone. We are not used to words that reflect the moral truth. Were used to mealy mouthed pieties condemning hate on all sides.

A dear friend who is active fighting anti-Semitism wrote me, It is the strongest statement in support of Jews ever made by an American president.

President Trump is a promise keeper. He is unique among Presidents in keeping his campaign promises. When President Trump says anti-Semitism cannot be allowed to continue, it sounds like he means it. This may be, let us hope and pray, it may be of real significance.

President Trump is sui generis. He bulls through what everyone knows and takes on the problems that others say are impossible to change. He sees what should be done, and he gets down to do it. Bringing back industrial jobs to America? No problem. Create jobs for unemployed blacks and Hispanics. At historic levels. Dealing with the immigration disaster destroying America? Bring it on.

And now antisemitic murders of Jews have happened in America, on his watch. Trump is putting the evil doers on notice: anti-Semitism will not be tolerated. Anti-Semitism? Its got to end.

The forces of anti-Semitism are concentrated in four groups of our fellow Americans: white supremacists like the man who murdered the congregants of Tree of Life; the Nation of Islam and our black community, Hispanic immigrants and to a lesser extent, native-born Hispanics, and progressives. Three of these four groups are large, significant voting blocs. All three are crucial to Democrat electoral victory.

Democrats are indeed the anti-Trump. He has zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, they have 100% tolerance. They must have anti-Semites votes to get to their 90% bloc voting in the black community, and to kowtow to their progressives. Democrat tolerance of anti-Semitism is a national disgrace. And it is getting worse, far worse.

The number two post in the DNC is held by Keith Ellison, a long-time supporter of Farrakhan. The famous pussy-hat womens march was co-organized and led by an Obama Champion of Change, Linda Sansour, who supports jihad in America and thinks Jewish women should be kicked out of the feminist movement. She was invited to the Obama White House seven times. Thats nothing. Al Sharpton, who has the unholy honor of being the only American to instigate two anti-Jewish riots in New York that led to over a dozen murders, was invited to Obamas White House over a hundred times.

The Democrat party is running anti-Semitic candidates in the midterms. Not one, many. As The Federalists Warren Henry reports, in Michigan Rashida Tlaib wants Israel wiped out as a Jewish state. In Pennsylvania, Scott Wallace has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the anti-semitic BDS campaign. In Minnesota, Ilhan Omar says Israel hypnotized the world and hopes Allah would awaken people to the evil doings of Israel. In Virginia, Congressional nominee Leslie Cockburn wrote a book that whose theme is that Jews control our government, and claims that Israel caused the cold war with Stalin. The leftist Andrew Gillum, running for governor in Florida, supports BDS and the anti-Israel group Dream Defenders. A socialist candidate for Congress in Boston, Ayanna Presley, held an event with Nation of Islam members outside a mosque known for anti-Semitic conspiracy speakers.

Twenty-one members of the Black Congressional Caucus invite and consult with the odious Farrakhan, who has spread Nazi-style anti-Semitism among American blacks for decades, with no pushback by Democrat leaders. This goes far beyond photo ops. According to NRO, one example among many, Farrakhan was invited to speak at the 32nd annual legislative conference of the CBC, where as he held capacity audiences spellbound, and was mobbed by celebrities, supporters and members of Congress. Lower Democrat politicians like the City Councilor in DC blame bad weather on Jewish bankers as a scheme to own the cities.

Anti-Semitism is as much a part of the Democrat left as it is of neo-Nazi skinheads. Skinheads are shunned as pariahs by everyone in America. Leftist anti-Semitism is supported and rationalized by Democrat liberals. If they can, they blame it on Israel. If they cant, they cover their own collusion with evil by screeching like banshees that Republican patriotism is white supremacy.

President Trump says, The scourge of anti-Semitism cannot be ignored, cannot be tolerated and it cannot be allowed to continue. We cannot allow it to continue. It must be confronted and condemned everywhere it rears its very ugly head.

There is a lot that Trump can do. For a start, he  and all Republicans  need to call out the Democrat Party on their antisemitic candidates and supporters. Not once  loudly and consistently. It would be great for President Trump to come up with one of his genius branding names for such Democrats.

On our college campuses, jihadi front groups are protected by left-wing academics, with a vulnerable population of young Jews to attack. Antisemitic incidents on campus doubled in 2015  including 56 violent assaults - and doubled again in 2016. Education Secretary Betsy Devos should send out guidelines that Title IX protects Jewish students.

Trump and Congress must address the problem with social media. Twitter banned gaypatriot but allows Farrakhan continue his account as he tweets that Jews are termites? Termites, extermination, get it?

The social justice warriors who are working overtime as good censors at Google, Twitter and Facebook are fine with anti-semites, as long as they are black or leftist or anti-Israel. This must stop.

This is where Im supposed to start bad-mouthing President Trump as crude or vulgar or intemperate or overly aggressive or non-Presidential  to show Im not a cheerleader or that I personally have good manners. Forget it.

Trump has earned my gratitude by all hes done for America, for all of us. I am a cheerleader. I love that hes a real person. Ill take crude and real and good anytime.

Trump cant let an insult go by when it would be smarter to keep his mouth shut. Men with a lot of testosterone can be like that. Its part of why he does his job like a man, too, a man who cares about getting the hard jobs done. A man who cares about protecting all Americans. I love the guy.

He has my back, and I know it.
President Trump has accomplished a historic triumph of political jujitsu in the face of unprecedented levels of media hysteria directed against him. Unlike every other major GOP figure in my lifetime, he has not caved-in to media-generated waves of criticism, but rather turned his opponents fury against them, using the (borrowed) expression fake news, often supplementing it with the even more inflammatory expression, enemy of the people.

And it has worked.

Rasmussens daily tracking poll, comparing Barack Obamas popularity with Trumps, is instructive:

(source)

Obamas media support was as pervasive as the medias hatred of Trump, and yet both men show nearly identical patterns of approval, with the slight advantage to Trump. But most importantly, Trumps early deficit compared to Obama has now turned to an advantage in levels of approval. I think that the video embedded below (hat tip: Steven Hayward of Powerline) explains a lot about this growing advantage. The medias hysteria has firmly established them as unfair bullies in the minds of a plurality, if not outright majority of Americans. Like Godzilla drawing power from the hi tension electric lines he crossed, the mainstream media is energizing Trumps support.

This video goes on for more than 3 minutes, and the sheer volume of phony, hysterical predictions builds the comedy. I dare you to watch it without breaking out into a smile, or even outright laughter.
Publicly, the top commander in charge of homeland defense will only say the military does not yet have a full understanding of what threats will surface from the caravan. However, some violent acts that have taken place within the caravan and the way it has forced its way through the border between Guatemala and Mexico has raised concerns that the makeup of the population traveling differs from the past.

We are working closely with [Customs and Border Patrol] to understand the makeup and the nature of this caravan, said U.S. Northern Command chief Air Force Gen. Terrence OShaughnessy. This caravan is different than what weve seen in the past.

That would certainly go for the not just the first caravan headed our way, but the chain reaction of the second, third and more groups following. According to the Daily Mail:

The second migrant caravan, believed to be armed with bombs and guns, crossed into Mexico on Monday despite a huge police presence. Hundreds of migrants following in the footsteps of the first caravan heading to the U.S. border crossed a river from Guatemala.

...and...

The second group back at the Guatemalan frontier has been more unruly than the first that crossed. Guatemala's Interior Ministry said Guatemalan police officers were injured when the migrant group broke through border barriers on Guatemala's side of the bridge. Mexico authorities said migrants attacked its agents with rocks, glass bottles and fireworks when they broke through a gate on the Mexican end but were pushed back, and some allegedly carried guns and firebombs.

There was also this:

The standoff at the riverbank followed a more violent confrontation that occurred on the bridge over the river Sunday night, when migrants threw rocks and used sticks against Mexico police. One migrant died from a head wound during the clash, but the cause was unclear.

The first migrant caravan isn't without reports of violence, either. According to Breitbart Texas, they've already begun using their guns:

Mexican authorities arrested two Hondurans who allegedly shot at federal police officers escorting the migrant caravan across the southern state of Chiapas. The attack follows shortly after government warnings about Molotov cocktail attacks around a second caravan near the border with Guatemala. The attack took place near Ignacio Zaragoza, Chiapas, when members of Mexicos Federal Police were escorting the migrant caravan as part of Operativo Caminante or Operation Walker across the southern border state. According to Mexicos Interior Secretariat, two men identified only as 22-year-old Jerson and 17-year-old Carlos spotted the group of police officers guarding the caravan and began firing at them. The attackers pistol jammed, allowing police officers to arrest them without any injuries. Federal authorities seized a .380 caliber Glock with nine rounds still in the magazine.

Meanwhile, back in the U.S., the Border Patrol has warned Texas landowners at the international line to prepare for armed conflict from the caravan:

The U.S. Border Patrol this week reportedly told Texas landowners along the U.S.-Mexico border to prepare for a possible influx of "armed civilians" on their property as the migrant caravan moves closer to the U.S., a report said. The Associated Press reported that these civilians say they intend to support the National Guard and Border Patrol to prevent the illegal migrants from crossing into the U.S.

It's an astonishing departure from the picture the mainstream press has been painting for us about the supposedly harmlessness of the migrant caravans, and it's completely in line with the warnings President Trump has made about the possibility of criminals within the caravan ranks. If that's not reason to distrust the mainstream press's "narrative" reporting, what is?

Image credit: Fox News screengrab
Voters across the country will soon have an opportunity to elect a slew of officeholders to run our government and represent our views, and not a single eligible voter has any excuse, nor evidence of any government-imposed obstacle, preventing him from participating.

It doesn't matter if he's black or white, rich or poor, country mouse or city mouse.

Voting in the United States is likely the easiest and most convenient official interaction between citizen and government ever devised.

But if you watched Comedy Central's news program The Daily Show last month (video here), you probably think thousands of Americans  poor, black Americans, actually  are being deliberately blocked from exercising that right.

Carol Anderson, author of White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide, told the show's host, Trevor Noah, that my home state of Alabama, among others, has erected a series of government hurdles designed to keep some citizens from voting.



Author Carol Anderson appears on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah in October of 2018 to discuss voting rights issues (Comedy Central/YouTube).

"You create an obstacle, and then you create an obstacle to the obstacle, and you make it so difficult for people ... to just access their basic right to vote," Anderson said .

Those obstacles?

Voter ID laws. Most states require some form of identification to vote  17 require photo ID, and another 17 require a non-photo ID, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

While Anderson may have the best of intentions, her accusation that Alabama and other states with voter ID laws are creating obstacles isn't actually true. At least not anymore.

For decades , blacks in Alabama and in other states were indeed denied their right to vote. There were white-only primary elections, literacy tests, poll taxes, and blatant intimidation.

Anderson and others have every reason to be suspicious of laws, regulations, and actions impacting voting rights. They'd be foolish not to be, in fact, because racism is, and will likely always remain, in the hearts of men.

We must study, teach, and learn from that disgraceful part of our past.

But it's just that  the past.

There's no evidence of an institutionally planned and implemented scheme to deny black people, or any people, the right to vote.

The evidence, on the contrary, suggests the exact opposite, but it's evidence that's either unknown or ignored by Anderson and other critics of voter ID laws.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has raised the stakes in his quest for oil from Saudi Arabia with what he called the premeditated murder of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. It was clear that the murder was premeditated.

Erdogan said he would reveal the details of the investigation, but those are already clear. Turkey has its claws in Saudi's oil. Moreover, Erdogan has a strategy to undermine Mohammed bin Salman without going to war with Saudi Arabia.

Erdogan has always been deferential toward the king, whom he respects as the protector of Islam of holy mosques, and has decided to separate the king from his son, targeting only the crown.

But Erdogan cast his net widely. His aim is broad and his lust for power insatiable. He acts like a paranoid schizophrenic with a powerful air force.

Where this will lead is anyone's guess, but Erdogan won't back down, and the king cannot retreat. Trump is up against it, hard pressed for answers yet lost in a quagmire of competing principles.

Trump must be transparent and also stand on principle. Looking over his shoulder is the 900-aircraft deal, one that Trump announced, an important economic breakthrough. Trump is left with high-sounding ideas, low expectations, and a Middle East that could explode.

In this case, it's damned if you do and damned if you don't. It has long been Turkey's dream to recreate the Ottoman Empire. The great powers have stood in the way. Where they stand is not obvious. However, Turkish ambitions should not be underestimated. Turkey makes the best candy in the Middle East, but can the sweetness belie the real taste?

That is the real issue. Erdogan's appetite? How far will he go?

Herbert London is president, London Center for Policy Research.
Claire McCaskill has just been denounced as a white supremacist and worse by one of Missouris most prominent and popular black Democrats, almost certainly dooming her already-faltering campaign for re-election to the United States Senate. Thats reason enough for more schadenfreude today, but understanding the context makes for even better news for Republicans, because this sort of problem is going to happen more and more in the future.

Lets start with the specifics.

A week ago, McCaskills campaign released a radio ad distancing her from crazy Democrats in an effort to pick up some votes from the substantial majority of Missouri voters who chose Trump in 2016. She seems to have seen the left wing takeover of her party and realized that her home state voters would be repelled by the democratic socialism and identity politics obsession that plays well in the Bronx and Berkeley, but which leaves most Missourians somewhere on the spectrum from indifference to anger.

CNN screen grab

Pressed for specifics, McCaskill revealed that she hadnt thought this through very well.

When asked to identify who are the crazy Democrats referenced in her new campaign ad, McCaskill floated the names of Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, but carefully stopped short of directly calling them crazy.

This is a no-win approach, as Warren and Sanders would hardly be mollified by her hedging, while other Dems not named assume the worst. And because so many Democrat office-holders already have been driven insane by TDS, a forceful blowback was all but inevitable. And speaking of insane loudmouths, who could forget Missouri Democratic State Senator Maria Chapelle-Nadal, who last graced these pages in August of last year by openly calling for the assassination of President Trump on Twitter? She quickly deleted the tweet and apologized, but McCaskill called for her resignation, hoping to placate her Trump-supporting constituents.

In creating an enemy in Chapelle-Nadal, McCaskill took on a very popular figure in the black community, someone who won 94.172% of the vote in her last election. And Chapelle-Nadal took the crazy label personally:

McCaskills supporters did not help:

White Supremacy would place a person of color in physical danger. Thats what Claire McCaskill has done to my family. Shame on you, Dixie Claire. There are no more plantations. You are not Madam Massa, Chappelle-Nadal added in another tweet.

The underlying problem extends far beyond McCaskill. The Democratic Party is riven by what Rod Dreher calls a hidden civil war. The base of the party, made up of poor and working class voters, many of them minorities, is not thrilled with the radical economic and social agenda of the urban leftists who have taken over their party.

Whats happening is that the energy in the Democratic Party now is coming from richer educated white liberals who are most motivated by issues that dont resonate with the ethnic minorities who make up the Democratic base. For example, did you know that in the bellwether House race in which newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unseated veteran incumbent Joe Crowley, the challengers strongest precincts were the whiter, wealthier ones, while the incumbent ran strongest in the most heavily minority precincts? It turns out that minority voters tend to care about who can deliver for them on bread-and-butter issues more than making symbolic identity politics statements. Politico reports that this is causing a growing divide within Democratic ranks.

That Politico report can be read here, and is worth a full read.

My take is that by delivering solid economic opportunities and rising incomes, Trump is exposing the Democrats inability to deliver jobs and opportunities. His relentless pursuit of black voters is going to erode turnout for Dems and start to reap black votes in increasing numbers (though I concede the overwhelming institutional support of black political and religious organizations will keep this pace slow  until tipping point is reached).
The Times of Israel is reporting that a new computer virus 'more powerful' than the Stuxnet worm that devastated the Iranian nuclear weapons program in 2010 has been unleashed on Iran's "infrastructure and strategic systems."

While the extent of the damage is unknown, the new virus has been described as more violent, more advanced and more sophisticated" than Stuxnet. That virus, jointly developed by US and Israel, is believed to have set back the Iranian nuclear weapons programs by several months to several years depending on the source. The report came hours after Israel said its Mossad intelligence agency had thwarted an Iranian murder plot in Denmark, and two days after Iran acknowledged that President Hassan Rouhanis mobile phone had been bugged. It also follows a string of Israeli intelligence coups against Iran, including the extraction from Tehran in January by the Mossad of the contents of a vast archive documenting Irans nuclear weapons program, and the detailing by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN in September of other alleged Iranian nuclear and missile assets inside Iran, in Syria and in Lebanon.

It's interesting that the foiled assassination plot in Denmark came after President Rouhani's phone had been penetrated. Was the Iranian leader stupid enough to talk about the plot over his cellphone, tipping off the Israelis?

Referring to Stuxnet, Wednesdays TV report noted that in the past, the US and Israel have been alleged to have worked together on operations. Trying to establish whether Israel had any role in the latest cyberattack, the TV report said: Weve tried to clarify here. Theyre refusing to comment. The TV report noted that behind the scenes lately, the Mossad, under its director Yossi Cohen, has been fighting a real shadow war. Without attributing responsibility to the Mossad, the report mentioned the tapping of Rouhanis phone, noting that the Iranians had to switch it for an encrypted model because they understand that someone has been listening to him for days and weeks. On Sunday, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged intensified efforts to counter enemy infiltration, Reuters said.

The "shadow war" with Iran is being fought jointly by the US and Israel. The IDF has bombed Iranian bases in Syria several times over the last year, trying to prevent Tehran from establishing a permanent presence in Syria. In January of this year, Mossad carried out a daring raid on a warehouse in Tehran, making off with thousands of damning documents showing Iran is still trying to build a nuclear weapon. And the reimposition of sanctions by the Trump administration is putting enormous pressure on the Iranian economy, as evidenced by labor unrest across the country.

The coordinated US-Israeli effort against Iran has but one goal; regime change. It won't be an easy task with the fanatically loyal Revolutionary Guards propping up the regime. But at the very least, keeping Iran occupied back home will slow their drive to dominate the Middle East and bring their putrid "revolution" to other countries in the region.
Have we ever lived under a presidential administration that has found a way to directly connect with the American people on such a personal level? The answer is "no."

Unless you lived during the Franklin D. Roosevelt presidency (and that would make you a dinosaur), you've probably never received direct messages from the president. The technological advances of the last thirty years have allowed everyone from preachers to porn stars to directly communicate with us through social media. So it's no surprise that President Trump found a way to utilize social media better than any of his predecessors. Trump has become the nation's tweeter-in-chief as he fires off daily messages to his followers. Some contain motivating points on the improving economy and declining unemployment, while others are red meat that he uses to stir up the stagnant political swamp in Washington, D.C.

Now Trump has found an even more effective way to connect with his base in the form of his never-ending campaign-style rallies. The man's unceasing energy allows him to crisscross the country and directly speak to the electorate.

Roosevelt's fireside chats became sacred during the 1930s, as they allowed Americans to familiarize themselves with their leader like never before. The Great Depression had created a national mood of despair and uncertainty, but with the turn of a radio knob, people were able to invite President Roosevelt into their homes to join them for supper and a chat. This interpersonal connection with the chief executive endeared Roosevelt to Americans of all political strands across the country because it was personal, and it uplifted their spirits. Like Roosevelt, Trump has turned his larger-than-life rallies into opportunities to connect with any American willing to show up and participate in our democratic way of life. You might not like Trump's message, and not every American liked FDR's politics, but if you didn't like it, all you had to do is turn the radio off.

Tom Copper is a pseudonym.
Honestly, I dont know if President Trump was consciously baiting the media, or if the words that are generating pompous outrage were spontaneously and unselfconsciously expressed. Probably the latter, not that it matters, because Trump has found his groove, and it is working for him.

He said something to Jonathan Karl of ABC News that no other president would ever say: When I can, I tell the truth."

.@jonkarl asked Pres. Trump whether he has 'always been truthful' to the American people:



"When I can, I tell the truth. And sometimes it turns out to be where something happens thats different or there's a change, but I always like to be truthful." https://t.co/X1Noeg7KDI pic.twitter.com/Fe9eEMnY5J  ABC News (@ABC) November 1, 2018

This is the most honest response to the question that could be made. Everyone except children understands that presidents can and do lie to us. I was an adolescent when the United States lied to the United Nations and the world, denying that the Soviet claim to have shot down an American spy plane was true. Subsequently, the Soviets put on display Francis Gary Powers, the pilot of the U2 plane (the very existence of which had been a secret, owing to its ultra-high altitude capabilities and long range), exposing a blatant lie told by a government. At the time, it was a huge shock that our federal government, including a president, would lie to us.

Since those innocent days of the 1950s, a more realistic view has become nearly universal, and most people realize that presidents do not always tell the truth  sometimes for very good reasons.

Trump is therefore telling the truth  and his supporters (and many of those not committed to hating him) understand that.

But CNN doesnt (of course).

President Donald Trump, whose time in office has been defined in large part by his frequent falsehoods and misleading statements, claimed Wednesday he tries to be truthful. "I remember, you remember well in the campaign, you made a promise. You said, 'I will never lie to you,'" ABC News' Jon Karl said to Trump in a new interview. "So can you tell me now, honestly, have you kept that promise at all times? Have you always been truthful?"

[Cough! FakeNews]

CNN sees the comment as proof of Trumps irredeemable status as a liar:

Trump's comments are especially notable coming at the close of a contentious campaign season in which he has repeatedly engaged in smears and falsehoods to advance Republican electoral fortunes, from inflating his rally crowd sizes to accusing Democrats, frequently without evidence, of supporting ruinous immigration policies.

Trump, in speaking off the cuff, often gets the details wrong, exaggerates, and engages in hyperbole. True, past presidents have never done this. They vet their prepared remarks, and stick to script, for the most part. That minimizes the risk of errors. But it also marks the politician as manipulative, a politician who maybe cant be trusted to tell us what he really thinks.

Trump ran against this political tradition. He is real, warts and all. He is spontaneous. And he says what he means, even if he is sloppy with the details.

More importantly, he has kept his political promises to a degree that no other president in human memory has. He didnt lie about moving the US embassy from Tel Avis to Jerusalem. He didnt lie about bringing economic growth well in excess of 3% (facing a media chorus that this was impossible).

Where it counts, Trump tells the truth.

And he is a real guy, somebody who teases, jokes, and yeah, sometimes gets the little stuff wrong. But when he makes a promise, he means it.

After generations of pols that way too slick, he is refreshing. The media gotchas are damaging their own credibility.
16-year-old girl raped in Sunsari

Police have arrested a 25-year-old man on charge of raping a 16-year-old girl at Dharan Sub-metropolis-7 in Sunsari district.
I have been a Democrat since my youth, as were my parents before me. So of course, I understand party loyalty. But as a talk show host and columnist, Im able to spend more time following my party than most Democrats can with their busy personal lives.

So when a Democrat candidate for United States Senate recently ran an ad referring to the crazy Democrats in our party, it didnt surprise me.

A few years ago, I was so alarmed I called for a Democrat Voter Strike, hoping to bring our party leadership to their senses. But now things have gotten radically worse, and I urge Democrats to vote Republican and send a clear message to our leaders.

If this problem was temporary, or affecting only a few in leadership, I would still say vote Republican based on their disgraceful behavior during the Judge Kavanaugh hearings. But this has been going on for a long time  something younger Democrats need to know. And no matter what we hear in the media, our partys current behavior was a problem long before Donald Trump.

In 2004 I ended a column called, My Un-American Democratic Party with the following words about the growing power of the crazy Democrats who increasingly control our party.

Now here is our big problem. These Democrats dont need to win elections the usual way. All they need to do is solidify their angry base  then entrench like an occupying army  and wait until Americans are desperate for a political change. No one can break the stranglehold of a party that has a solid 40-45 percent base (as some experts claim), and few moral limits they can emotionalize debate, use their power to politicize and subvert committees, force damaging scandal hearings  and do all this while networking with their secular media allies to pressure the public. They can campaign perpetually, wage the politics of personal destruction  they can infiltrate, obfuscate, accuse, demoralize and defeat at every opportunity. Call it permanent gridlock  a wrestling stranglehold just waiting for the pin. It doesnt sound very American, does it?

You would think that was written a month ago. Thankfully, other mainstream Democrats are speaking out now as well. I dont think our leadership will listen but I hope regular Democrats voters will.

In his column, No, civility isnt optional, former Clinton advisor Mark Penn warned fellow Democrats about their response to Trump. The idea that if you lose an election, you should delegitimize the winner, is dangerous business that once put in motion, can swing out of control.

This is a time for national self-reflection, especially among Democrats alarmed at the behavior of our party leaders.

But we should understand what were up against, and why voting Democrat simply out of party loyalty has become a dangerous decision.

Other long-time Democrats are waking up, and see that danger as well.

Democrats and many in media now accuse Mr. Trump of totalitarian methods and objectives, wrote Ted Van Dyk recently in the Wall Street Journal. There is much to fault in the Trump presidency, but the totalitarian tendencies appear to flow from our own party.

Those totalitarian tendencies started before most millennials were born. After all, the famous Newsweek Thought Police cover story was published in December of 1990. In that issue, Newsweek exposed the true nature of PC, already rampant on college campuses, calling it both Marxist in origin and totalitarian.

That was a full 3 years before PC rose to the White House with the Clintons and started aggressively corrupting the Executive Branch bureaucracies, all part of their effort to fundamentally transform or re-imagine America.

Where PC reigns, said Newsweek, one defies it at their peril.

If you are a college student currently living on campus, that statement will sound very familiar. But is that what we want? Is that how we want to live  with a gag over our mouths, worried our lives will be ruined if we say the wrong thing?

No wonder a recent study across demographic categories showed that 80% of Americans fear PC. It is a true cancer on our whole political system. In fact, it is grossly un-American!

And lets face it, our Democrat Party is the PC party because of our current leadership  so they must be stopped with a powerful rebuke at the ballot box.

Otherwise, there could be serious trouble. This statement wont surprise you if youve been watching fellow Democrats on TV and wondering, Who are these people?

Yes, I am talking about the various intimidating mobs, but more importantly, I especially include our partys leaders who contort their consciences to fit some absurd talking point strategy  like insisting that accused people must prove their innocence.

Is that what we want America to be like  that anyone can accuse you and you are guilty until proven innocent?

Many Americans have been shocked at the decline of our party but I doubt they could have predicted Democrat leadership would soft-glove thuggish groups like Antifa who go around bashing people and destroying property all in the name of being against fascism.

Even those Democrats who have never liked Hillary Clinton, could they have imagined shed publicly reject civil behavior?

As Democrat President Kennedy said, Sometimes party loyalty asks too much.

That time is now. Vote Republican.
One of the entrance to the Underground City in Beijing. Photo credit: Scott Sherrill-Mix/Flickr

In the late 1950s, relation between the two biggest communist nationsthe People's Republic of China and the Soviet Unionsoured because of differing political ideologies, and for a while it appeared as if a major conflict was imminenta war where neither country would hesitate to use nuclear weapons.

In 1969, amidst rising tension, Chairman Mao Zedong ordered his countrymen to dig tunnels under their houses as protection against Soviet air raids. By the end of 1970, the country's 75 largest cities had reportedly dug enough holes to hold 60 percent of their populations.

In Beijing too, some 300,000 people swung shovels digging an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 bomb shelters and some 30 km of tunnel linking them together. Every able-bodied men, even school children, took part in the effort. Centuries-old city walls and towers that once circled ancient Beijing were cannibalized for supplying construction materials for the complex.

The mostly hand-dug tunnels and bunkers now sprawl across 85 square kilometers stretching all the way to the distant Western Hills on the citys edge. It was speculated that Beijings entire population at that time8 millioncould disappear underneath and stay there for up to four months waiting for the air above to clear from a nuclear or chemical attack.

All this, however, came to naught. Chairman Mao died in 1976 and his successor, Deng Xiaoping, overturned all of Maos hardline ideology-driven policies in favor of economic reforms. The Sino-Soviet split of the 1950s and 60s also lost political importance. Eager not to let the gargantuan effort of tunnel building go to waste, the governments Office of Civil Defense instructed citizens to commercialize the shelters and turn them to profit. Many of these were turned into rented accommodation, others became supermarkets, cinemas, restaurants, clinics, schools, theaters, factories, warehouses, mushroom cultivation farm and roller skating rinks.

The thick air lock doors that stand at its entrance hints at the accommodation's original use as a bomb shelter. Photo credit: Sim Chi Yin

The government still considered underground bomb shelters an essential requirement in cities. So in 1996, it passed the Civil Air Defense Law that required new buildings to contain underground civil-defense shelters, but also stressed that shelters be constructed in such a way as to benefit economic development and use in time of peace. This led to the proliferation of for-profit underground housing.

The management of these buildings is a complicated system involving a number of middlemen. Typically, these shelters are owned by either a private company or the Civil Defense Bureau, who rent them out to Beijingers who in turn lease the basement to migrants.

It is estimated that around 1 million Beijing residents, live in these cramp and often-dank subterranean spaces because they are cheaper than anything else over ground. The locals call them rat tribe or shuzu. Ironically, nearly all of them are young migrants who came to the capital city from rural areas in search of better opportunities. Many of the residents, however, believe that underground dwelling is just a transitional phase of their life until they gain the financial means to rent a better room with windows and sunlight. Wei Kuan, an insurance salesman, says that he lives in a basement apartment because he wants to save money for other things, such as a car.

Many of my colleagues live above ground, but I think its too comfortable; this place forces me to work harder, he told an Al Jazeera correspondent.

In 2010, Beijing municipal authorities announced that the residential use of underground spaces would be illegal by the end of 2012, citing safety hazards, such as the risk of fire or flooding. In 2015, thousands of residents were evicted from their underground housing. In 2017, authorities discovered 400 people living underneath an upscale Beijing apartment complex.

Parts of the tunnel system is open to the public and is operated by the city as a tourist attraction.

These photographs were taken by Chinese visual artist and documentary photographer Sim Chi Yin.

Wei Kuan is an insurance salesman by day and a member of the rat tribe at night. Photo credit: Sim Chi Yin

Chang Wanle works as a taxi driver. Photo credit: Sim Chi Yin

Chen Laxiu and her husband works on the subway cleaning stops. Photo credit: Sim Chi Yin

Du Xiuyan works at a restaurant making dumplings, washing dishes and cooking dough soup. Photo credit: Sim Chi Yin

Duan Shuliang, 49, and his wife, Liu Xinger, 50, work as dishwashers. Their room measures 6 feet 2 inches by 7 feet 10 inches. Photo credit: Sim Chi Yin

Guo Xiaolong, 40, is the manager of a basement in Beijing's eastern suburbs. He is in charge of 72 rooms and about 100 inhabitants. He himself lives in one of the rooms. Photo credit: Sim Chi Yin

Jing Ranming, 18, an actor and performer from Liaoning, sits in his room in an underground residence in Beijing. Photo credit: Sim Chi Yin

Li Yang trained as a car mechanic but is living in a basement, hoping to be an authority on fly fishing someday. Photo credit: Sim Chi Yin
The midterms are taking place next week, November 6. Its not typically a big election year for many States, because these are typically just Congressional seats and State Senate seats, though there are a lot of governor and mayors seats up for re-election right now across the US. And politicians will still say that it is the most important election ever, which is something that is said each election year. This time around, Alexa is going to be able to keep you in the know of whats going on, during Election day as well as the outcome after the Election Day.

Now, Alexa is able to tell you when voter deadlines are (which have passed already), as well as when you can vote early. There are 37 States currently that allow people to vote early, in case you dont have time on Election Day to get to the polls. Alexa can also let you know who is on the ballot including which offices you will be voting for on your ballot. This is all done according to the address that you have on file in the Alexa app. Because Alexa knows where you live, it can easily bring up the ballot for your town or city. After the polls close on Tuesday, Alexa is also able to tell you who won, as well as how many seats each party gained and who will be the majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Alexa is going to be getting real-time data about the election from the Associated Press. So you can ask Alexa Who is winning in California? or see how a particular candidate is doing in real-time by asking Alexa, how is Elizabeth Warren doing in the election?

While you can get voice responses from Alexa as usual, you can also get a visual response from Alexa on an Echo Show or Echo Spot. This is a use-case where having a smart display can really come in handy, as Alexa is able to show you a graphic of how the midterms are going. Including how many precincts are reporting, and which races have been called already. Of course, you can still get that information via voice, but having a visual of this makes it much easier.

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Background: This years election is a pretty important one. Now politicians do say that every single election year, but that doesnt make it any less true. If you are not happy with how things are going in the country, this is your time to speak up and vote for who you think will make a difference. If youre tired of Republicans running this country and think that President Trump needs some checks on his balance of power in the Oval Office, then this is when you can do that. Its really no different than when Obama or Bush were President, you need to vote for people that are going to represent you. Whether thats a republican, a democrat or an independent like Bernie Sanders. In the presidential election back in 2016, only about 58-percent of eligible voters voted. And a large number of those that voted in 2008 and 2012, did not even vote in 2016. Which is why it is important to vote in these elections.

Many will say that this is only midterms, but its still important. Every single seat in the House of Representatives is up for re-election, and a huge number of seats are up for re-election in the Senate as well. Not to mention the over 30 gubernatorial races that are happening, as well as State Legislature seats that are also up for re-election. So this election can really change the landscape of politics in the US. So if you are wanting change, now is the time to make sure you work for that change. And it only takes a few minutes to run to your polling place and vote, even if there is a long line, it usually moves pretty fast. Its important to remember that as long as you are in line before the polling place closes (which is typically 8pm), you will be able to vote. So its okay to go vote after work if you need too.

Impact: Amazon and Google have been working pretty hard to get their personal assistants to work better with election coverage and such. For the 2016 election, Google Assistant wasnt really available. It was exclusive to the Pixel that had just launched a couple of weeks earlier. But they are going to become some pretty useful tools for those that do want to keep up with the election, but dont want to watch CNN all-night with their breaking news bumpers all the time. Being able to get this information from the Associated Press is a big deal for Amazon, as users are able to trust the Associated Press, and not think that it is biased. Though Alexa is not is not providing any commentary with the election, just straight up facts about who is winning the race, which is a good thing here.

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Being able to simply ask Alexa, whats my election update? is pretty impressive, and an easy way to keep up with whats going on with the midterm elections next week. You can also ask Alexa how many seats each party has picked up. Many are hoping to see the Democrats pick up a large number of seats, which is typically what happens in the midterms. The party of the President usually loses out in the midterms and relinquishes control to the other party, which makes it tougher for the President to get his agenda through (especially this one). That doesnt mean its a done deal. But we will find out on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. For those that are looking to keep track of a particular candidate, you can always ask Alexa how that particular candidate is doing, which is pretty cool. And if you dont have Amazon Alexa in your home via an Echo or a third-party speaker, then youll have to resort to just Google-ing for the information, unfortunately.
Posted on: November 1, 2018 4:26 PM

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is travelling to Santiago to officially inaugurate the newest Province of the Anglican Communion. The Iglesia Anglicana de Chile  the Anglican Church of Chile  will become the 40th Anglican Communion Province when it is inaugurated on Sunday. Archbishop Justin will preside over the ceremony, which will be held at the Grange School in the city of Santiago. Usual Sunday services in local churches have been suspended to enable people to take part. The service will also be available to watch via the Facebook Live facility.

The birth of a new province of the Anglican Communion is moment to rejoice and give thanks and praise to God, Archbishop Justin said. It is a hope-filled reminder that Gods vision for the Church is always bigger than we can imagine.

As followers of Jesus we are called to be part of this ongoing revolution of love that transforms lives and changes the world through dealing with sin and opening the way to salvation. Especially at a time when there is so much in our world that needs healing, here is a sign that the Spirit of God points towards Jesus in his obedience to the Father.

The Anglican Communion is a global family of churches, united by the call to worship and obey God as revealed in Jesus Christ. It exists in more than 160 countries from England to Sudan, and Melanesia to Pakistan. This new province  the 40th of the Communion  is a young, vibrant, Spirit-filled Church that has seen huge growth. It is leading people to Christ in Chile and living out His call to serve others.

We marvel and delight in the ways that Gods love is being seen through the creativity, passion and faithfulness of Chilean Anglicans. In all this, we give thanks for the visionary leadership of Archbishop Tito.

Bishop Tito  Hector Zavala Munoz  was the Bishop of Chile, a diocese of the Anglican Church of South America. Recently, he became Bishop of Santiago when the diocese was split into four dioceses in preparation for its move towards Provincial status. The other new dioceses are Valparaiso, Concepcion, and Temuco. As part of Sundays inauguration, he will be installed as Archbishop and Primate of the new Anglican Province.

It is one of the great joys and privileges of my time as Archbishop to be visiting Chile to be with the Archbishop, bishops, clergy and all the people of this new province this weekend, Archbishop Justin said. I am looking forward to it immensely, and I invite Anglicans everywhere to hold the new province, and the whole Anglican Communion, in their prayers at this exciting time.

More than 800 people will participate in the inauguration service, including diocesan and auxiliary bishops, pastors, leaders and lay members from the four dioceses of the new Province. In addition, priests, bishops and archbishops, academics and missionary societies from many Anglican Communion provinces, as well as local religious and governmental authorities, will also participate.

The Iglesia Anglicana de Chile is streaming the service using the Facebook Live service from 10 am CLST (1 pm GMT) on Sunday 4 November, an hour before the formal start of the service at 11 am CLST.
Posted on: November 1, 2018 5:06 PM

A nationwide study of faith and belief in New Zealand has revealed both challenging and encouraging results for the public perception of Christianity in Aotearoa New Zealand, Anglican Taonga reports. Its findings support the disputed words attributed to St Francis of Assisi: preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words, as it finds that the most effective form of evangelism in New Zealand is by Christians who demonstrate Christian actions first, before sharing their faith in words.

Of the New Zealanders who completed the survey, 59 per cent thought they would most likely be influenced to investigate faith by seeing others live out their faith. And if that faith was lived out while caring for people suffering from a personal trauma or life change, the impact of that Christian love and care went up. The survey also found that 54 per cent of Kiwis were open to changing their religious views or exploring other beliefs, Anglican Taonga said.

The Faith and Belief in New Zealand report came from a Wilberforce Foundation commissioned survey carried out by Australian communications company McCrindle Research. It draws on national census records of religious affiliation and used online questionnaires to establish patterns of perception and belief across a group of 1007 respondents.

Just under half of those who completed the questionnaire (46 to 47 per cent) said spirituality was important for wellbeing and mental health, and in the 18-25 age group that edged up to 50 to 52 per cent, making it the majority view for the youngest age group surveyed.

The survey pinpointed what the Wilberforce Foundation termed belief blockers  those aspects of behaviour, belief or reputation that turned people off from pursuing faith. The biggest belief blocker was sexual abuse that had occurred within the church, which was cited by 76 per cent of respondents. Others included hypocritical attitudes or behaviour (69 per cent), negative attitudes on homosexuality (47 per cent) and the perceived mismatch of proclaiming a loving God that would nonetheless send sinners to hell (45 per cent).

The results contained hopeful news for Christians looking to share their faith with those beyond church walls, Anglican Taonga said. Of the non-Christians sampled, 26 per cent were warm towards Christianity, while another 13 per cent saw themselves as Christians, but didnt currently make it to any church.
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Activists submit memorandum to CM Bhatta

The Citizens Struggle Committee along with Nirmala Pants parents submitted a memorandum to the Provincial Government for the second time on Wednesday.
Ailing PM meets ministers in hospital

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who has been admitted to Manmohan Cardiovascular and Transplant Centre at the TU Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj held talks with three ministers on Wednesday and discussed contemporary issues.
MadridIzquierda Unida (IU) [United Left], Alberto Garzon's party, proposed that Congress read an institutional statement to denounce the rise of neo-fascism. In this statement, to which EFE has had access, IU also says that should the declaration be approved the Spanish parliament would urge the Spanish government to "ban neo-fascist and neo-Nazi groups" as well as any other "foundation or association that exalts or glorifies Nazism and Fascism. "

The reading of this declaration would require unanimous approval by all parliamentary groups. The PP, at a press conference in parliament, declined to endorse the statement, a decision that killed the proposal. "We will not subscribe to a biased, neo-communist text that addresses only half of the problem that it intends to deal with," said Jose Ignacio Echaniz, deputy spokesman for the PP in Madrids lower chamber.

Echaniz said that his group is opposed to fascism, hatred, and violence," but they did not want to support the statement because, in their opinion, it is missing nuances, such as an explicit reference to ETA.

In contrast, Ciudadanos decided to support this IU proposal at the last minute, after learning that it would not succeed. Party sources announced their change of heart a few minutes after the PP press conference and confirmed that, whether or not their amendments to add a condemnation of nationalism were approved, they would sign in support of the statement. In the end, however, the statement will not be read due to the lack of unanimity.
The expanded codeshare agreement will extend the travel opportunities for Gulf Air passengers to fly beyond Bangkok on THAI to Hong Kong with immediate effect and to Singapore, Tokyo and Melbourne in the coming months and broaden the commercial partnership between the two companies.

Gulf Airs chief executive officer, Kresimir Kucko said: Gulf Air has a longstanding commercial partnership with THAI that we are proud of. Gulf Air passengers can now have greater choice, convenience and a seamless travel experience from Bangkok to local Thai destinations as well as international destinations in the Asia-Pacific region. Gulf Air looks forward to grow the broader bilateral relationship with THAI.

THAIs President, Mr. Sumeth Damrongchaitham said: THAI continuously works towards making improvements for maximum passenger satisfaction. The codeshare agreement between THAI and Gulf Air will increase our capacity through the route network and sales, as well as to make travel convenient for passengers traveling between Thailand and Bahrain in addition to the Middle East. The codeshare expansion provides more opportunities for THAI passengers to travel to Bahrain and Middle East on Gulf Air. On the other hand, it also makes more traffic volume from Middle East to Asia and Australia by THAI. This cooperation will strengthen a good longstanding relationship between both airlines.

Earlier in the summer of 2018, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, and Chairman of Gulf Air Board of Directors Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani and Gulf Air CEO Mr. Kresimir Kucko met THAI executive management and discussed strategic partnership opportunities and other commercial projects between the two airlines.

Alzayani held a meeting with the Thai Minister of Commerce Mr. Sontirat Sontijirawong at the Ministry premises, in the presence of Thai Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Mr. Thanis Na Songkhla and a Thai economic delegation accompanying the minister. During the meeting, the minister stressed the keenness of the Bahraini leaders and government to enhance economic and trade relations between Bahrain and Thailand.

In November Gulf Air will start operating its latest fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the Bahrain-Bangkok route. This upgrade will enhance the product and service offering to the airline passengers on this popular route. With the THAI codeshare, Gulf Air forecasts to attract more passengers from Europe and the Middle East to fly to Asia-Pacific and the Far East through the airlines hub, Bahrain International Airport.
Besides airport, Nijgadh may also get rail line

The proposed Nijgadh International Airport is likely to be included in the alignment of Kathmandu-Raxaul railway line.
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Digital defence

Going digital is a necessity, but privacy and security concerns must be addressed
Ex-AIG Kayastha appointed security advisor in Province 2

Province 2 government appointed former Additional Inspector General (AIG) Bijay Lal Kayastha as its security advisor on Thursday.
Foreign bidders increased their share of total deal value from 53% in 2017 to 90% in 2018 (AU$36.8bn). They also accounted for 52% of bidders by number.

Foreign bidders demonstrated an increasingly healthy appetite for Australian assets in the last financial year along with a preparedness to deploy significant amounts of capital to secure their targets, said HSF partner Paul Branston, co-author of the report. We expect foreign bidders to continue to underpin public M&A activity throughout FY19, particularly given the depreciation of the Australian dollar against foreign currencies.

Public M&A activity in the last financial year was broadly consistent with the last three years with 56 deals announced, worth a combined AU$40.9b. This compared to 59 deals in FY17 worth $23.4b; 50 deals in FY16 worth $33.2b; and 55 deals in FY15 worth $28b.

Resources lawyer McRobert joins MinterEllison from KWM

Leading corporate and resources lawyer Shaun McRobert has joined MinterEllison as a partner in Perth.
The Law Council of Australia responded positively to reports that all asylum-seeking children will be removed from Nauru by years end, while urging the Australian government to ensure that families are kept together.

The conditions at the refugee processing centre in Nauru has been criticised by several international institutions, according to a recent report from the Refugee Council of Australia. Experts are saying that the people transferred to Nauru by Australia are among the most traumatised they have seen, even more traumatised than those in war zones or in refugee camps around the world, said the report.

For its part, the Law Council welcomed the possibility that asylum-seeking children will be relocated to Australia.
Shaun McRobert, a leading corporate and resources lawyer, recently joined MinterEllison as a partner in its capital markets and corporate division.

Based in Perth, McRobert joins MinterEllison from King & Wood Mallesons and brings with him an excellent track record in advising on major foreign investment transactions. He has notable experience in equity capital markets, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and energy and resources.

"We are delighted to see further expansion of our Perth practice with the admission of such a quality partner as Shaun," said Matthew Knox, managing partner of MinterEllison's Perth office. "Our Perth team is excited about the opportunities across a range of areas, including expansion of our equity capital markets practice that Shaun's admission represents."
SUV

Ever since the Dubai police sanctioned the synchronized car dance earlier this year, with 143 vehicles of all makes creating a moving smiley face, there was a new Guinness World Record to beat: the Largest Synchronized Car Dance.And beaten it was this October when a total of 180 cars, this time all the same make  Nissan Patrol  came together to create the shape of the falcon we mentioned earlier.The synchronized drive was recognized by Guinness as the new record for this category. The procession of SUVs drove in opposite directions around the outline of a falcon in two concentric lines. Led by racing driver Axcil Jefferies, the armada covered a total distance of 1,476 meters.All the other drivers in the convoy were Nissan employees, very happy to be part of this, as you can see in the video attached below.It was a great privilege to give our employees the opportunity to take part in this landmark achievement," said in a statement Juergen Schmitz, managing director of Nissan Middle East.We were so pleased by the enthusiasm displayed by everyone, and single-minded determination they demonstrated towards achieving this goal.This is not the first time the Patrolmakes it into the Guinness Book of World Records in the region.In 2015, a Patrol was crowned the car with the fastest ascent of a 100-meter sand dune, with a time of 4.9 seconds. Two years before that, in 2013, a Patrol towed the world's heaviest aircraft, a fully loaded, 170 tons Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane, for a distance of 164 feet (50 meters) at Sharjah International Airport in the UAE.
According to Manchester Evening News , the proverbial straw that broke the camels back came this summer, when on parole from stealing a specially-adapted Renault Scenic and a mobility scooter (both of which he totaled), he stole a Ford Fiesta and backed it into a cop.Parkinson has a record of 47 convictions for 77 crimes, including assault, robbery, car theft, driving without a license and intimidation. Still, he hasnt spent a day in jail because of his age and his attorneys argument that hes turned to a life of crime because he never had a parental figure to guide him in life.The other day, that excuse no longer served him. As the judge told him, his actions could have cost the police officer his life and, whats worse, he never showed any remorse for it. Parkinson stole the Ford Fiesta and drove it at reckless speeds on the wrong side of the road, before a truck operator used his vehicle to block him.When the Fiesta came to a stop, the cop in pursuit got out of his own car and approached him. Thats when Parkinson backed into the officer, hitting him with the car door and flinging him back on the hood of the cruiser.He pleaded guilty to two counts of disqualified driving, two counts of dangerous driving, twice breaching his criminal behavior order, aggravated vehicle taking, assault causing actual bodily harm and driving without insurance, the publication says. He got 4 years in a young offenders institution, despite pleas from his attorney that he deserved another chance because he was practically raising himself.During the court hearing, Parkinson yawned and stretched his arms, and went out of his way to appear disinterested. Meanwhile, some of the people he robbed of cars or bikes are posting to his Facebook, wishing him the worst behind bars and letting him know that they will be waiting for him when he gets out.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

AMG

BMW of North America singles out the M3 sedan , M4 coupe and M4 GTS, as well as the M4 convertible manufactured between March 2nd and September 30th, 2016. Upon failure, the connection between the flange and driveshaft could break, resulting in a loss of propulsion.The automaker learned of the problem in July 2018 after several owners reported a strange noise coming from the drivetrain, vibrations, and even failure. After collecting the driveshafts for inspection, BMW determined in August that theres a possible problem with the component in August 2018.Engineers determined the flange could separate because of their design, which cant handle the stress. The recall will begin on December 3rd, 2018, and dealers are instructed to replace the driveshaft at no cost to the customer. But curiously enough, BMW didnt mention anything of interest in regard to the flange.In the meantime, owners can call the automaker (800-525-7417),(888-327-4236) or visit the website to check if their BMW is affected. Also worthy of mention is the repair job, which should take a couple of hours to complete.On a related note, the M3 and M4 are living on borrowed time now that the 3 Series has been redesigned for the 2019 model year. Codenamed G20 , the most performance-oriented 3 Series available right now is the M340i xDrive, packing 382 horsepower from the B58.The M3 will level up to the S58, which will replace the S55 in the current generation of the high-performance sedan. The engine in question will  exceed what you know from our competitors  according to Frank van Meel, meaning that the Competition Package should equal or exceed the 503 horsepower (510 PS) of the Mercedes-C 63 S.
This week the United States made two big moves against China in response to Beijing's alleged government-orchestrated theft of intellectual property. Experts believe there will be more U.S. measures to come.

Why it matters: This is a sea change in how Washington deals with China. China is thought to have stolen billions of dollars in intellectual property from U.S. firms over more than a decade through hacking and human sources. The U.S. has never gone all-in on retaliation.

What they're saying: "China is surprised. They never thought we would wake up and push back," said James Lewis, who formerly led the Commerce Department's effort to fight Chinese espionage in the tech industry.

The two big U.S. moves:

On Monday, the Department of Commerce issued an embargo on shipping U.S. technology to the Chinese computer memory manufacturer Fujian Jinhua.

the Department of Commerce issued an embargo on shipping U.S. technology to the Chinese computer memory manufacturer Fujian Jinhua. On Tuesday, the Department of Justice indicted 10 total Chinese intelligence operatives and conspirators for stealing U.S. intellectual property.

These aren't isolated actions.

Just three weeks ago, a Chinese intelligence officer caught in Belgium was extradited to the U.S.

The big picture: U.S. experts charge that China has hacked into U.S. companies to steal anything and everything that could build up its tech industry without having to spend money on research and development.

Micron, the U.S. competitor to Fujian Jinhua, has long complained about theft by that firm.

Obama's Justice Department did indict a handful of Chinese hackers and developed an agreement with Bejing that economic espionage would be out of bounds, but China stopped abiding by the deal after Obama left office.

The posture dating back to the George W. Bush administration has largely been to treat China as more of an inconvenience than a threat.

"Preventing more theft has to be an all-in strategy. For the past 15 years, our strategy has been to ask 'pretty please.' It's time to try something else," said Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder of CrowdStrike, a security firm that companies often bring in to keep China out.

CrowdStrike has seen a steady uptick in Chinese economic espionage since January.

The prognosis: Alperovitch, who has seen the ebbs and flows of Chinese hacking after past attempts to curtail it, thinks that the broad strategy behind these two U.S. moves will work. But he believes Beijing officials would need more U.S. actions and "more pain" before they yield.

"The key thing people need to understand is that this is one step in what will take many steps," he said.

Lewis, a senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, sees "endless opportunities" for future embargoes and charges if the administration is committed to confronting China.

But he also questions whether the Trump administration will know how to play a strong hand. Just a few months ago, when the Department of Commerce placed severe sanctions on telecom equipment maker ZTE, Trump softened the penalty without getting Chinese concessions in return.

The White House isn't out from under ZTE's shadow, even with these actions.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a hawk during the ZTE dust-up, called the indictments "a step in the right direction" but pointed to the ZTE "sweetheart deal" as a sign that the Trump administration might not effectively hold China accountable.

Go deeper:

Editor's note: This story has been updated with an additional quote from Crowdstrike's Dmitri Alperovitch for clarity.
A slim majority of the midterm congressional campaign contributions from America's biggest companies have gone to Republican candidates, an Axios analysis of federal election data shows.

Why it matters: America's wealthy companies are able to influence elections by financially supporting candidates whose positions align with their values  or who they believe can help their businesses. But even more often, they support both sides, ensuring access to whomever ends up in power.

The chart above shows 495 of the 500 largest U.S. companies by revenue. Five were missing from the OpenSecrets database, which Axios used for this analysis.

The companies' size is based on the combined contributions from their political action committees and individual employees who gave at least $200.

is based on the combined contributions from their political action committees and individual employees who gave at least $200. They are grouped from top to bottom according to their economic sector. Sectors that gave a larger share of their contributions to Republicans are on top, while sectors that preferred Democrats are towards the bottom.

By the numbers: Employees and PACs affiliated with Fortune 500 companies have given more than $180 million to congressional candidates in the 20172018 campaign cycle.

Republican candidates received nearly $93 million, or 52% of the Fortune 500's spending. About $86 million, or 48%, went to Democrats.

received nearly $93 million, or 52% of the Fortune 500's spending. About $86 million, or 48%, went to Democrats. The energy sector , which includes fossil fuel companies like Exxon Mobil and Chevron, gave more than four-fifths of its $8.5 million in contributions to Republicans.

, which includes fossil fuel companies like Exxon Mobil and Chevron, gave more than four-fifths of its $8.5 million in contributions to Republicans. But the technology sector gave about three-quarters of its $17.7 million to Democrats. The largest overall contributor, Google's parent Alphabet, gave about 86% of its $4.7 million to Democrats.

The bottom line: Certain industries lean right or left, but major corporations generally hedge their betsfavoring the party in power, but delivering hefty sums to both sidesand on that score, 2018 is no different, said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, the watchdog group that maintains OpenSecrets.

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Things have turned upside down in the closely-watched House race on the tip of Florida: Republicans are running an advertisement alleging that Democratic candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is beholden to dirty coal money and is blocking action on climate change.

Why it matters: The ad shows how climate change is becoming a political concern for the GOP in a district experiencing the real-world effects of it through more frequent flooding. Its also one of the starkest examples of how climate and environmental issues are resonating a bit more this election than previous ones.

Driving the news: The race at hand is the swing district currently represented by two-term Republican Congressman Carlos Curbelo, who has parted from most of his GOP colleagues to introduce legislation taxing carbon emissions. Polling shows the race between him and Mucarsel-Powell is a toss-up.

The details: A narrator in the ad, sponsored by the National Republican Congressional Committee, says Mucarsel-Powell's campaign is flooded with dirty coal money. The very polluters that threaten our way of life in the Keys." His voice is set against a CNN article headline: The Florida Keys...at risk...as a result of climate change.

Reality check: The ad doesn't specify what "coal money" Mucarsel-Powell is tied to. It could be referring to money that billionaire activist Tom Steyer made years ago in hedge funds that invested in coal, according to the NRCC website.

But that's a stretch at best. Steyer is not affiliated with that hedge fund anymore, and he's an ardent environmentalist opposed to all fossil fuels.

For the record: Requests for comment to the NRCC weren't returned.

The big picture: The ad shows how electoral maneuvering is out of touch with reality.

The Republican Party has overwhelmingly opposed action on climate change in Washington while backing fossil-fuel interests. Democrats have to varying degrees tried (but failed) to pursue policy in this area.

Curbelo is an exception to the GOP, while Mucarsel-Powell has indicated shell likely support most climate and environmental policies the Democratic Party is pushing.

"The ad shows how important climate change has become in this race. Of course, its deeply cynical for the campaign arm of the House Republicans  who have blocked climate action at every turn  to run an ad claiming someone is for dirty energy. They should be running positive ads about Congressman Curbelos very constructive record on climate solutions, instead of misleading negative attacks on his opponent."

 Joe Bonfiglio, president of the Environmental Defense Fund Action Fund

EDF is one of the few environmental groups supporting Curbelo, while most others are backing Mucarsel-Powell.

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Cybersecurity is a growing problem in the United States, both as a domestic and international issue  but it's not one that brings people to the ballot box.

The big picture: Candidates who want to make cybersecurity a priority in government can't make the case a centerpiece of an election campaign.

The stakes are high.

The world has already seen a single government-launched malware attack (NotPetya) cause billions of dollars in damage to civilians.

Companies face billions of dollars in losses from corporate espionage conducted by nation states.

Here's how two House candidates with backgrounds in the cybersecurity field, one Democrat and one Republican, are handling the issue.

Upstate New York

How do you think were going to be attacked next? asks Tracy Mitrano, Democratic candidate for New York's 23rd Congressional District.

Mitrano, a former director of information technology policy at in-district Cornell University, says that national cybersecurity is one of the key reasons shes running in 2016.

It just cant be a key campaign issue. That's because, by Mitranos stats, only 4% of her mostly rural district view cybersecurity as a top issue.

In a region still struggling with getting broadband internet access, residents have first hand experience with other needs  mostly, jobs.

The public does not understand the issue enough for it to be the big issue. And I dont blame them. They are not getting the leadership they need from Tom Reed and other legislators, she says, taking a swipe at her opponent.

San Antonio, Texas

Across the country, in San Antonio, a hub for the burgeoning cybersecurity industry, Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) says that hes asked once or twice at each town hall about cybersecurity.

Almost every American has been impacted. Theyve needed to replace a stolen credit card or know someone whose identity has been stolen, he said.

People have been very clear that it is an issue. People are not clear what the issue is, he said.

Hurd is known for his work in cybersecurity and federal IT issues. He is a rare lawmaker with a cybersecurity background, having been a senior advisor to the security firm FusionX.

The bottom line: Both Hurd and Mitrano believe Congress lacks cybersecurity expertise. Neither think it's an issue someone can run on.
Family refuses to receive body, NC warns of protest

The family of slain Nepali Congress (NC) activist Rambilas Mahato has refused to receive his body unless the authorities bring the guilty to book and declare the deceased a martyr.
Israel is concerned that the international pressure on Saudi Arabia over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents will destabilize the Sunni kingdom and the Middle East as whole, Senior Israeli officials tell me.

Why it matters: Until today, Israel refrained from commenting about the crisis publicly. This statement by the senior Israeli officials is very rare and shows Israel is nervous over the reaction of Western countries, including the U.S. The reason is that in the last few years, Saudi Arabia, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has become a staunch secret ally of the government in Jerusalem against Iran.

The senior Israeli officials told me they think the killing of Khashoggi was unacceptable: "Calling it problematic is an understatement." But they added that regardless of the Khashoggi affair, Israel has big interests in Saudi Arabia.

"We have to make sure the stability will be maintained in Saudi Arabia. Just imagine what might happen if the kingdom destabilizes  it will negatively affect the whole region."

 Senior Israeli officials

The backdrop: According to the Washington Post, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu lobbied the Trump administration to take some of the pressure off the Saudi crown prince. Per the report, Netanyahu told U.S. officials he supports the crown prince and argued he is an important strategic partner in the region for Israel.
National Security Adviser John Bolton will declare the election of right-wing firebrand Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil as a "positive sign" for Latin America while denouncing Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua as a "Troika of Tyranny," according to excerpts seen by Axios of a speech he will give at 1 p.m. ET in Miami.

Why it matters: Boltons speech is among the clearest statements of the administrations views on Latin America that weve seen so far, and Bolton depicts it almost as a struggle of good versus evil. That he considers Bolsonaro, who has made numerous homophobic and sexist remarks and spoken fondly of military rule, an ally in the fight to "advance the rule of law and increase security and prosperity" is likely to garner attention. So too will his inclusion of Nicaragua, where President Daniel Ortega has brutally suppressed protests calling for his ouster, alongside Venezuela and Cuba in the "troika."

Jason Marczak of the Atlantic Council notes that "there is a high degree of alignment between the Trump administration's key priorities and those of the incoming Bolsonaro administration," most notably when it comes to Venezuela. Like Trump, Bolsonaro also campaigned in direct opposition to the establishment.

Bolton appears to be evoking communism with his use of the word "troika," and there are parallels between his "Troika of Tyranny" and George W. Bushs "Axis of Evil."

Worth noting: Bolton's remarks come in the lead-up to two crucial elections in Florida  for governor and senator where the Cuban vote could play a significant role.

What he'll say:

"The United States is thrilled to be partnering with nations such as Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and many others to advance the rule of law and increase security and prosperity for our people. The recent elections of likeminded leaders in key countries, including Ivan Duque in Colombia, and last weekend Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, are positive signs for the future of the region, and demonstrate a growing regional commitment to free-market principles, and open, transparent, and accountable governance."

with nations such as Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and many others to advance the rule of law and increase security and prosperity for our people. The recent elections of likeminded leaders in key countries, including Ivan Duque in Colombia, and last weekend Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, are positive signs for the future of the region, and demonstrate a growing regional commitment to free-market principles, and open, transparent, and accountable governance." "Under this administration, we will no longer appease dictators and despots near our shores in this Hemisphere. We will not reward firing squads, torturers, and murderers. We will champion the independence and liberty of our neighbors. And this President, and his entire administration, will stand with the freedom fighters. The Troika of Tyranny in this Hemisphere  Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua  has finally met its match."

and despots near our shores in this Hemisphere. We will not reward firing squads, torturers, and murderers. We will champion the independence and liberty of our neighbors. And this President, and his entire administration, will stand with the freedom fighters. The Troika of Tyranny in this Hemisphere  Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua  has finally met its match." "In Cuba, we continue to stand firmly with the Cuban people, and we share their aspirations for real, democratic changes.  Our concern is with sanctions, not selfies."

we continue to stand firmly with the Cuban people, and we share their aspirations for real, democratic changes.  Our concern is with sanctions, not selfies." "The crisis in Venezuela has led to a massive humanitarian disaster and the largest mass migration in the Hemisphere. More than 2 million desperate Venezuelans have fled Maduros oppressive rule since 2015. Sadly, this human tragedy was entirely preventable. Maduro and his cronies are the singular cause of all of this suffering."

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Experts tell Axios the call from Secretaries Mattis and Pompeo this week for a cease-fire in Yemen within 30 days could change the direction of the war, but only if followed by more significant steps.

Between the lines: The war in Yemen has torn the country apart, and pressure has been mounting on the Trump administration to reconsider its support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Those cries were mostly ignored until the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents, an event that raised significant questions about the U.S.-Saudi relationship. It's still unclear, though, whether the recent statements signal a lasting shift in the U.S. approach to the war.

What they're saying:

Bruce Riedel, director of the Brookings Intelligence Project and longtime CIA employee: "This is an important change in American policy, calling for an end to hostilities, but it is only a first step. The administration will need to follow up with a robust effort to press the Saudis to end the war with or without the Houthis cooperating."

and longtime CIA employee: "This is an important change in American policy, calling for an end to hostilities, but it is only a first step. The administration will need to follow up with a robust effort to press the Saudis to end the war with or without the Houthis cooperating." Perry Cammack, a former State Department official and fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: "The 30-day Mattis and Pompeo ultimatum is highly welcome and long overdue. The considerable military, logistical and intelligence support the Trump administration provides to Saudi Arabia gives it considerable leverage at a moment when the despicable murder of Jamal Khashoggi has back-footed Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. But is President Trump willing to use this leverage to force a change [in] Saudi calculations?"

and fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: "The 30-day Mattis and Pompeo ultimatum is highly welcome and long overdue. The considerable military, logistical and intelligence support the Trump administration provides to Saudi Arabia gives it considerable leverage at a moment when the despicable murder of Jamal Khashoggi has back-footed Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. But is President Trump willing to use this leverage to force a change [in] Saudi calculations?" Aaron David Miller, Middle East Program Director at the Wilson Center: "Seriousness and breakthrough in U.S. policy on Yemen depends on how much leverage we're prepared to use. ... Ending air war will buy time for talking and save lives. It will not settle the crisis or fix Yemen."

"Seriousness and breakthrough in U.S. policy on Yemen depends on how much leverage we're prepared to use. ... Ending air war will buy time for talking and save lives. It will not settle the crisis or fix Yemen." Robert Jordan, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Diplomat in Residence at Southern Methodist University: "[The Mattis and Pompeo statements] suggest that American patience with this war has almost run out. ... [The Saudis] have less leverage, however, right now than theyve had recently because of the Khashoggi episode. ... The war is a major embarrassment to the Crown Prince. He has a lot invested here, and at some point they can have a peace conference and declare victory, but theyre going to have to give the Houthis some kind of political rights."

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On Tuesday, Americans will choose the lawmakers who will try to hammer out privacy rules for major tech players like Google, Facebook and Amazon.

Why it matters: Californias recently-passed privacy law goes into effect in 2020, and the European Union has already started to enforce its General Data Protection Regulation. Leading firms like Apple and Facebook are begging Congress to set rules now that are nationwide and, they hope, friendlier to the industry.

Driving the news: Democrats are poised to take the House majority  and want strict privacy controls.

My colleagues and I have already introduced some good policy proposals in these areas, and a Democratic committee working group has been seriously looking at privacy and data security issues for several months now, said Rep. Frank Pallone, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its likely chairman should his party take the chamber, in a statement.

Rep. Ro Khanna has produced

Go deeper: Speaking with Politico

Although Senate Democrats are unlikely to retake their chamber of Congress, they are also expected to push for stricter rules. What everybody needs to know is that preemption [of state laws] is a very, very big deal, and you dont do it unless youre satisfied that the federal law thats preempting the state law provides significant protections, said Sen. Brian Schatz in September.

Sen. Ron Wyden debuted a draft of his own privacy bill Thursday morning that gives the Federal Trade Commission more power to police and punish privacy violations and creates a national opt-out system for consumers.

The big picture: Key Republicans support some sort of federal privacy law but have made it clear they worry about encroaching too strongly on industry.

Rep. Greg Walden, the current Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said in a statement that now is the time to take action to better protect consumer privacy while still allowing for the incredible innovation that has made Americas tech sector the envy of the world.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune said at a hearing last month that while federal legislation is needed, passing onerous requirements that do not materially advance privacy would be a step backward.

Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, who is seen as a possible replacement for Thune as Chairman should Thune move up in GOP leadership, has said there needs to be a federal privacy law in place by the end of 2019.

There is a real opportunity to do something bipartisan here, and it means everybody's going to have to, at some point, lay down their partisan markers and work on a bill, said Schatz earlier this year.

The bottom line: Lots of things can  and do  change after elections:

Committees get new leaders with new priorities.

Other members shift as lawmakers jockey for a preferred spot somewhere else.

Policymakers get overtaken by news events, shifting their plans.

But for the first time, lawmakers have Silicon Valley asking for federal regulation and a hard deadline in Californias rules. Privacy advocates hope that will be a potent combination, and Democrats taking the House could shake things up further.

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A new Human Rights Watch report released this week uncovers rampant sexual assault throughout North Korea.

Why it matters: While it's not entirely surprising that the imbalance of power in North Korea is drastic, the report provides a detailed account of what women face in the country, which the report describes as "endemic." According to HRW, which spoke with 54 North Koreans who left the country after 2011, sexual violence has become a "part of ordinary life."

The details: One of the women they interviewed, Oh Jung Hee who worked in trade, told HRW that men consider women "[sex] toys," and women "cannot survive without having men with power near them."

Women in North Korea are "socialized to feel powerless, to demand accountability for sexual abuse and violence, and to feel ashamed when they are victims of abuse," the report says.

Women who work in trading  which is an increasingly female-dominated industry  experience a higher risk of abuse and harassment. The women interviewed by HRW said the only way to avoid it is "give up hopes of expanding ones business and barely scrape by, be born to a powerful father with money and connections, marry a man with power, or become close to one."

The big picture: While the #MeToo movement is re-shaping the conversation about sexual assault and harassment around the rest of the world, it hasn't even scratched the surface in North Korea, where women are continuing to suffer under a brutal dictatorship with no end in sight.
Energy Secretary Rick Perry is heading to Eastern Europe next week to make a series of announcements, including a new liquified natural-gas deal with Poland, according to an Energy Department official.

Why it matters: Perrys trip, which includes Poland, Ukraine, Hungary and Czech Republic, comes as the Trump administration is seeking to balance its conflicting goals of protectionist trade policies and American energy exports.

The details: Liquified natural gas will be a big focus of the trip, but Perry is also expected to push American cooperation on nuclear energy, cybersecurity and coal. His trip includes a tour of a Ukrainian power plant that received a shipment of U.S. coal last summer.

Administration officials, including Perry and President Trump himself, have emphasized that European countries should lessen their dependence on Russian natural gas. The U.S., along with Poland, have criticized construction of an underwater natural-gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. Germany has supported the project.

Reality check: Countries and companies will almost always choose the cheapest natural gas, which is often Russia for much of Europe, given the cost of liquefying and shipping American gas overseas. Asia has been Americas bigger customer.

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As many Americans prepare to travel and see loved ones ahead of Thanksgiving next week, developers and sellers of rapid at-home COVID-19 tests say they are prepared to meet an expected spike in demand for their products.

The big picture: The U.S. has been slower to embrace rapid at-home COVID-19 testing than Europe as regulatory hurdles helped make the tests scarce and overpriced. But the Biden administration has recently allocated billions of dollars to buy millions of rapid at-home COVID-19 tests to increase supply.
Days before U.S. secondary sanctions against Irans central bank and oil industry go back into effect, U.S. officials are conceding that they will allow certain countries to continue to import Iranian oil. National security adviser John Bolton, an uber-hawk on Iran, told a Washington audience on Oct. 31, We want to achieve maximum pressure, but we dont want to harm friends and allies either.

Why this matters: After six months of fearsome demands that foreign countries completely stop importing Iranian oil by Nov. 5, the Trump administration is bowing to the hard realities of geopolitics and economics.

Where it stands:

The administration has granted India a waiver to continue to import about 1.25 million tons of oil a month from now until March.

to continue to import about 1.25 million tons of oil a month from now until March. South Korea, Turkey and Iraq have sought and are expected to receive similar exemptions.

have sought and are expected to receive similar exemptions. China bought a huge quantity of Iranian oil  20 million barrels  in October, to tide it over for several months.

Between the lines: The more successful the Trump administrations maximum pressure campaign is against Iran, the higher oil and gasoline prices will rise, hurting U.S. consumers and potentially sparking a global recession. The administration also risks further antagonizing U.S. allies that remain committed to the Iran nuclear deal and want to keep Iran compliant.

More stringent punishments will also incentivize the EU and others to find ways to work around the U.S. financial system. While the efficacy of such mechanisms remains to be seen, they provide an important political and psychological boost for the Iranian government.

Iran, meanwhile, is already employing techniques used during prior periods of heavy sanctions to continue selling oil and reaping the profits. These include turning off the tracking devices on Iranian oil tankers and transferring oil to other ships on the high seas. Iran is also expected to commingle its oil with Russian crude to circumvent sanctions.

The bottom line: Trump's sanctions against Iran will be less successful than those imposed in 2012, when the Obama administration had near universal international support and the sanctions were backed by both the UN Security Council and the EU. Iran will try to wait out the Trump presidency in hopes that a successor will return to the 2015 nuclear deal or seek new negotiations based on more realistic premises.

Barbara Slavin directs the Future of Iran Initiative at the Atlantic Council.
President Trump, in an interview with Axios that will premiere Sunday on HBO, says railing against his enemies in the media helped him win  and that his supporters like him more when he cranks up the "enemy of the people" rhetoric.

Why it matters: In modern American history, no other president argued its not his job to calm people in a moment of high tension and unease, especially in the days following deadly domestic terrorism.

Two exchanges during the interview provide a window into why Trump feels no responsibility for how Americans respond to his words or actions: He both feels wronged by the media, and knows he can whip his supporters into a frenzy by pounding the press:"

1) "Axios on HBO": "You are the most powerful man in the world. And if you say that word  'enemy,' 'enemy,' 'enemy'  think about what enemy means."

Trump : "I think I'm doing a service [by attacking the press] when people write stories about me that are so wrong."

: "I think I'm doing a service [by attacking the press] when people write stories about me that are so wrong." "I know what I do good and what I do bad. I really get it, OK? I really get it better than anybody in the whole world."

2) Axios on HBO": "Tens of thousands of people go into a stadium to listen to you, and then people go on social media and they get themselves so jazzed up. Theres got to be a part of you that's like: 'Dammit, I'm scared that someone is gonna take it too far.'"

Trump: Its my only form of fighting back. I wouldnt be here if I didn't do that.

When asked if people, including his kids, advise him to calm his rhetoric, the president replied: "Not too much. Hey, I'm here! It got me here."

Reality check: White House officials tell us several family members and friends have implored him to tone it down.

Trump, in the interview for Axios on HBO," which debuts Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT, said Republican election momentum was stopped by "two plots"  the Pittsburgh shooting and the mail bombs.

Trump  despite being the world's most powerful man, with the world's most powerful pulpit  portrayed himself as mismatched against a biased press.

 despite being the world's most powerful man, with the world's most powerful pulpit  portrayed himself as mismatched against a biased press. "If they would write accurately about me, I would be the nicest president you've ever seen. It would be much easier."

write accurately about me, I would be the nicest president you've ever seen. It would be much easier." "It's much easier ... for me to be nice than it is for me to be the way I have to be."

Context ... Both attacks last week were carried out by politically charged individuals:

The accused mail bomber, Cesar Sayoc, 56, had decked out his van as a mobile Trump billboard, including a "CNN SUCKS" sticker, and pictures quickly surfaced of him cheering at a Trump rally.

Cesar Sayoc, 56, had decked out his van as a mobile Trump billboard, including a "CNN SUCKS" sticker, and pictures quickly surfaced of him cheering at a Trump rally. In Pittsburgh, Robert Bowers, 46  who is charged with 44 counts in the 11 deaths, including hate crimes  disparaged Trump online but "pushed online conspiracy theories about the migrant caravan," the N.Y. Times reported.

Robert Bowers, 46  who is charged with 44 counts in the 11 deaths, including hate crimes  disparaged Trump online but "pushed online conspiracy theories about the migrant caravan," the N.Y. Times reported. The big picture: An Anti-Defamation League study found that "white supremacists and other far-right extremists" were responsible for 59% of extremist-related fatalities in the U.S. last year, up from 20% in 2016.

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Armenia has improved its standing in the World Banks (WB) latest Doing Business report, moving up from 47th to 41st position among 190 reviewed nations.

The report released on Wednesday covers a period until May 2018 and, therefore, does not reflect the changes that happened in Armenia since last springs government change.

Still, the World Bank has revised Armenias economic growth forecast for 2019 slightly upward, expecting 4.3-percent growth instead of the previous 4 percent.

World Bank country manager for Armenia Sylvie Bossoutrot said that they receive positive messages from the new Armenian government. She said that Armenias economic growth exceeded the World Banks expectations. And this was due to stronger-than-expected exports, more robust credit growth, remittances and investments. Well have to see how things evolve, but the messages that we are hearing  opening businesses, markets, level-playing fields, competition  all are very good messages for investors to hear, said Bossoutrot. But we are in a little bit of a period of transition, so well have to wait for this to pass to look back at how things are evolving.

Investors like predictability, enforcement, clarity, emphasized the WB representative, expressing a hope that positive developments will take place in these areas in Armenia soon.

Bossoutrot also highlighted the importance of a new foreign direct investments law to be finalized and passed in Armenia. I think that that the government is also keen on making sure that it has more targeted investment promotion, she said.

Armenian entrepreneur Samson Grigorian says the fact that corruption has dropped dramatically in Armenia in recent months has been the most visible change for him.

A businessman in Armenia is now convinced that nothing will be fabricated against him, Grigorian said in an interview with RFE/RLs Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).

The businessman, however, does not see any considerable improvement in terms of easing bureaucratic procedures. There is still a lot of paperwork, a businessman wastes a lot of time on that This includes some requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union that does not depend on our government, it is regulated by international agreements, he said.

Meanwhile, the Armenian government sets itself an ambitious goal in terms of facilitating business in the country.

According to acting Minister of Economic Development and Investments Tigran Khachatrian, the governments long-term target is to be ranked among the top 10 nations in the World Banks annual Doing Business report.

We have a good example of our neighbor (Georgia). And we see that even under similar economic conditions it is possible to make that progress, the senior Armenian official said.

Georgia is 6th in the World Banks latest Doing Business rankings topped by New Zealand, Singapore and Denmark.
Fire guts property worth Rs 122,000 in Bhaktapur

Properties worth Rs 122,000 were destroyed after a rented room in a house caught fire at Dhadikot in Bhaktapur on Wednesday.
Armenia very clearly formulated its position on Iran to the delegation led by United States national security advisor John Bolton, who paid a visit to Yerevan last week, acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said in the Armenian parliament on Thursday.

Answering a question from a lawmaker representing the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) on the possible effect of U.S. sanctions against Iran on Armenia, Pashinian reaffirmed his position of special relations that the landlocked South Caucasus nation should have with two of its neighbors  Iran and Georgia, which, in conditions of the absence of diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey, are the only gateways for the country to the outside world.

I reaffirm the position that we should have special relations with Iran and Georgia that would be as far outside geopolitical influences as possible. This position was very clearly formulated also during my meeting with Mr. Bolton, and I think that the position of Armenia was clear, comprehensible and even acceptable to representatives of the U.S. delegation, the Armenian leader said.

Armenias relations with neighboring Iran and renewed U.S. sanctions against Tehran were a major theme of Boltons talks in Yerevan on October 25.

In an interview with RFE/RLs Armenian Service later that day, Bolton said he told Pashinian that the Trump administration will enforce sanctions against Iran very vigorously. For that reason, he said, the Armenian-Iranian border is going to be a significant issue.

Obviously, we dont want to cause damage to our friends in the process, added the U.S. official.

We respect any countrys statement and respect the national interests of any country, but the Republic of Armenia has its own national and state interests, which do not always coincide with the interests and ideas of other countries, any other country, the acting Armenian premier said today. Let no one doubt that we are fully building our activities on the basis of Armenias national interest  be it in our relations with the United States, Iran, Russia, all countries.

Pashinian appeared in the National Assembly today as a candidate for the prime ministers position. He resigned on October 16 to clear the way for snap general elections and the only way to achieve the holding of such elections in Armenia under its current constitution is to have the parliament twice reject a candidate for the post.

After the tactical voting that is to reject Pashinians candidacy the Armenian parliament will be considered dissolved and new elections will be appointed by the president  likely for December 9.
Armenias acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has ordered an examination of a media report alleging a possible corruption case involving one of his deputies, Tigran Avinian.

I have instructed that the matter be examined and I will draw my own conclusion based on the results of that examination. I do have explanations, but I want it to be clear that there can be no manifestation of corruption in Armenia, Pashinian told journalists on Thursday.

On October 29, the Hetq online magazine published a story in which it said that the company founded by Avinian had won a $35,000 grant from the Agricultural Development Fund for developing its production of dry fruits at the time when Avinian already occupied the post of Armenias vice-premier.

The publication further noted that the Agricultural Development Funds former director Gegham Gevorkian was appointed Armenias minister of agriculture in October.

Pashinian promised to present facts concerning the case to the public later.

After assuming the prime ministers office in May, Pashinian declared a fight against corruption as one of the major priorities of his government and vowed to look into any reasonable corruption claim against any official or his or her family, including claims concerning his own family.

In his public speeches Pashinian has repeated stated that government corruption has been eradicated in Armenia.
Snap parliamentary elections are to be held in Armenia after the countrys National Assembly on Wednesday for the second time in two weeks failed to elect a new prime minister in accordance with a political agreement.

The failure of the vote comes amid a push by Nikol Pashinian to force fresh general elections in December in a bid to unseat his political opponents, who have maintained a majority in parliament despite the change of government last May.

Under the Armenian constitution, snap elections can be called only if the National Assembly fails to elect a prime minister within two weeks after the prime ministers resignation. Pashinian resigned for tactical reasons on October 16.

The pro-government Yelk Alliance, which holds only nine seats in parliament, and members of the second-largest parliamentary faction controlled by wealthy businessman Gagik Tsarukian formally nominated Pashinian for the second voting, which was held on the assumption that it would fail due to prior political agreements.

From among 70 lawmakers registered for the session none voted for or against Pashinians candidacy. Thirteen lawmakers abstained from voting.

As a result, Pashinians formal bid did not gather enough votes and the National Assembly will, therefore, be dissolved by virtue of law.

In his speech preceding the vote Pashinian described todays event as historical for Armenia. What is historical about it is not that for the first time a parliament in Armenia is dissolved and we are going to have the first early parliamentary elections in our country. What is historical about it is that after the nonviolent, velvet, peoples revolution that took place in April-May we fully return the power in the Republic of Armenia to its citizens. We return to the citizens and the people of the Republic of Armenia the power to decide the fate of further political processes, Pashinian said.

Under the constitution, new elections shall be held no earlier than within 30 days and no later than within 45 days  approximately in the first half of December.

Later on Thursday, President Armen Sarkissian issued a decree appointing the pre-term parliamentary elections for December 9.

Pashinian will continue to perform his prime-ministerial duties in the interim.

The political team of Pashinian, who came to power on the wave of anti-government demonstrations last spring, is tipped to win the upcoming polls by a landslide.
Armenia has improved its status in an annual report released by a U.S.-based watchdog that believes that the South Caucasus nation now enjoys internet freedom.

In the Freedom on the Net 2018 report released on November 1 Freedom House says Armenia has upgraded from partly free to free nations after citizens successfully used social-media platforms, communication apps, and live-streaming services to bring about political change in the countrys Velvet Revolution in April.

Armenia thus joins another South Caucasus country, Georgia, in the free category.

The report says that Armenias case demonstrates that digital activism fuels political, economic, and social change: the Internet continues to serve as a tool for democratic change.

According to the level of its freedom on the net Armenia is ranked 27th globally. In the region only Georgia is ahead of Armenia in 25th place. Azerbaijan is considered partly free, ranking 60th, while Turkey and Iran are among not free countries.

Russia as well as Armenias two other allies in the Eurasian Economic Union  Belarus and Kazakhstan  are also placed among not free nations in terms of internet freedom.

This year has proved that the internet can be used to disrupt democracies as surely as it can destabilize dictatorships, said Adrian Shahbaz, Freedom Houses research director for technology and democracy, as quoted by the watchdogs website.
By Guy Verhofstadt

BRUSSELS  Far from settling the question of the United Kingdoms future, the 2016 Brexit referendum and subsequent negotiations with the European Union have triggered a full-blown identity crisis and culture war in Britain. Two years after the UK electorate voted by 52% to 48% to withdraw from the EU, it is safe to say that former Prime Minister David Camerons ploy to settle a long-running niche debate within the Conservative Party has backfired spectacularly.

Brexit has left British political and social life more divided than ever. While the Brexiteers are peddling increasingly divisive  even violent  rhetoric, hundreds of thousands of Remainers recently marched through London, calling for a peoples vote to approve whatever exit deal the government proposes.

According to a new report from the UKs National Center for Social Research, support for or opposition to Brexit is increasingly supplanting party affiliation as the defining factor in British political identities. Specifically, the researchers find that, Nearly nine in ten members of our panel said that they were either a Remainer or a Leaver, whereas less than two-thirds of them claim to identify with a political party.

British voters growing emotional attachment to Remain or Leave poses a serious challenge to the countrys main political parties, each of which has deep internal divisions over Brexit. And as the recent demonstration in London showed, these disagreements will not be resolved anytime soon. Ironically, the UK is now home to one of the largest grassroots pro-EU movements in Europe. So, even if the UK government can conclude withdrawal negotiations with the EU in the coming weeks, debates within Britain about the future UK-EU relationship will remain intense and protracted.

One way to bridge the divide and heal Britains fractured politics is to forge a close but flexible association agreement of the kind that the European Parliament has proposed. Association agreements are a proven method of facilitating cross-border cooperation. In the case of Brexit, such an arrangement could protect both the UK governments red lines and the integrity of EU decision-making.

Brexit has had a profound effect on EU politics, too. Polling commissioned by the European Parliament finds that overall support for EU membership has increased significantly since the Brexit referendum. Deepening divisions within the UK and a painful divorce process seem to have raised awareness about the benefits of EU membership and the costs of populism, while galvanizing all those who still favor an open society.

Recent political developments seem to bear out these findings. Although the Euroskeptic Swedish Democrats had been tipped to make significant gains in Swedens general election in September, more moderate parties routed them. And as support for EU membership has increased, the Swedish Democrats have had to back away from advocating a full EU exit.

Similarly, though Italys populists, led by the right-wing League party leader Matteo Salvini, have stepped up their propaganda against Brussels, they have also had to retreat from their previous position of supporting an Italian exit from the EU or the eurozone.

These examples would seem to indicate a shift in continental Euroskepticism. Anti-EU parties have abandoned openly advocating the blocs destruction and begun to focus more on pushing center-right parties toward the populist and nationalist extremes.

To defeat these parties, centrists, liberals, and democrats need to do more than defend the status quo. They also must demonstrate that by opposing solutions to common European problems, populists are putting their narrow personal and political interests ahead of the peoples interests. Even more to the point, pro-Europeans must offer practical solutions to voters concerns about migration and unemployment.

The recent regional elections in Bavaria and Hesse, and German Chancellor Angela Merkels announced retirement, have underscored the crisis of traditional center-left and center-right parties. As mainstream parties struggle to adapt to voters frustrations and the new polarization of European politics, smaller parties have expanded their reach by offering more succinct visions for change.

But these smaller parties are not limited to upstart nationalist movements such as the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) in Germany. Recent municipal elections across Poland have shown that liberal-democratic parties are more than capable of hitting back against populism. Despite the ruling right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) partys politicization of the press, centrist, pro-European candidates made significant gains.

Brexit, the rise of populists like US President Donald Trump, and profound changes in the media through which politicians interact with voters have left established political identities more fragmented than ever. But just as this has created an opening for populists, it also presents opportunities for those seeking to form new national and pan-European movements centered around EU values.

Europes people are hungry for change. Now is the time for the majority of Europeans who still support EU membership to make themselves heard.

Copyright: Project Syndicate: The Brexitization of European politics

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By Trend

Azerbaijan has significantly improved its positions in the World Bank Group's Doing Business ranking published today.

Thus, Azerbaijan ranked 25th among 190 countries in Doing Business 2019, while it was 57th in Doing Business 2018.

According to Doing Business 2019, Azerbaijan ranks 9th in "Business registration", 17th in "Registering property", 22nd in "Getting credit", 2nd in "Protecting minority investors", 28th in "Taxation".

According to Doing Business 2019, Azerbaijan has entered the list of countries with the most noticeable improvement in the economy.

Doing Business authors said that Azerbaijan has carried out a record number of reforms aimed at simplifying doing business in 2017-2018 among 10 economies that have shown significant improvement.

In particular, the authors stressed that Azerbaijan has simplified the process of obtaining building permits, connecting to power grids, registering property, getting credit, taxation, international trade.

The authors also stressed labor market reforms and reforms aimed at protecting minority investors.

Some of these reforms include institutional changes, the authors said.

Azerbaijan has created a "single window" for issuing building permits, which reduces the time to obtain a permit to 80 days. Azerbaijan has also improved access to loans by creating the first credit bureau and a movable property registry.

Moreover, the authors emphasize that the process of connecting to the electricity grids has also been simplified thanks to the ASAN Kommunal centers in Azerbaijan.

Doing Business is annually published by the World Bank Group, which assesses regulatory standards in entrepreneurial activity.

Azerbaijan joined the WB Group in 1992.

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By Sara Israfilbayova

The volume of furniture production in Azerbaijan is expected to reach 72.6 million manats ($42.70 million) in 2018, which is 11.8 percent more than last year.

The concept and forecast indicators of the socio-economic development of Azerbaijan for 2019 and the next three years says that according to government forecasts, furniture production will expand. Thus, in 2019 this figure will be 76.7 million manats ($45.12 million), in 2020 - 82.2 million manats ($48.35 million), in 2021 - 88.2 million manats ($51.88 million), in 2022 - 94.5 million manats ($55.59 million).

Most of all, production of office furniture is expected in Azerbaijan - 17,481 units in 2018. In 2019, the production of office furniture will reach 18,529 units, in 2020 - 19,641 units. From 2021 this figure will reach 20,820 units, and in 2022 - 22,069 units.

Most of all, production of office furniture is expected in Azerbaijan. Thus, in 2018 as many as 17,481 units of furniture is expected to be produced.

Furniture and generally other household items are among the most demanded products in Azerbaijan. Today, there is very wide range of furniture choice, and one can found stores for every taste at every corner of the capital and in the regions.

Tables, chairs, wardrobes, beds  once a bulky share of these items was brought to Azerbaijan from abroad including Turkey, Malaysia, Italy, Spain and Russia.

However, the field began to steadily develop in Azerbaijan about ten years ago and today the country has more than 20 companies operating under the national brand. In addition, many people are turning to private workshops to order the unique furniture.

The rapid growth of the construction sector over the past decade has promoted the development of the furniture market of Azerbaijan. The dynamic building sector development causes enough increase of furniture production demand which is satisfied completely both by local production and importing.

There are very dynamic enterprises in the field of furniture production of Azerbaijan. The enterprises are equipped with the latest facilities. The local furniture production is mainly based on kitchen, office, dwelling and nursery furniture. Azerbaijan exports local production mainly to Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia.

The following countries as Italy, Turkey, Russia, China, Malaysia, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, U.A.E., Iran are the main furniture suppliers to Azerbaijan.

Nowadays there are more than 500 large furniture stores in Baku and regions where local and importing furniture is presented.

The governments support and incentive measures for the development of the furniture industry in the country will have a great impact in this direction.

With the goal of further development of the furniture productions sphere in the country, the Association of Furniture Manufacturers is being created in Azerbaijan, which will obtain Turkish and other countries experience.

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Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is

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By Trend

The conclusions on Azerbaijan, indicated in the World Bank Group's Doing Business-2019 report are an objective assessment of the country's current economy, Azerbaijani Deputy Economy Minister Sahib Mammadov told Trend.

The analysis made by international experts and financial structures is based on real indicators that confirm the noticeable growth of the Azerbaijani economy, he said.

"The improved indicators of the Azerbaijani economy are the result of successful reforms being implemented in Azerbaijan and a thought-out economic policy of the government, Mammadov said. The development of small and medium enterprises today is one of the priorities of Azerbaijans state policy. A lot of work has been recently done in the country aimed at raising the non-oil sector to a new level."

He stressed that the Agency for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises was established to support entrepreneurship and improve the business sphere in Azerbaijan.

"This agency gradually renders assistance to entrepreneurs beginning from the creation of their business and ending with the start of production, Mammadov said. At the same time, the work is carried out to enlighten people engaged in business, they are provided with soft loans and other services are rendered to them. In order to support the business, certain changes have been made to the country's legislation. All conditions are created for improving the business climate in Azerbaijan."

He added that all the efforts are already yielding positive results, which is confirmed by the ratings of international organizations and world-class financial structures.

Azerbaijan has significantly improved its positions in the World Bank Group's Doing Business ranking.

Thus, Azerbaijan ranks 25th among 190 countries in Doing Business 2019, while it was 57th in Doing Business 2018.

According to Doing Business 2019, Azerbaijan has entered the list of countries with the most noticeable improvement in the economy.

Doing Business authors said that Azerbaijan has carried out a record number of reforms aimed at simplifying doing business in 2017-2018 among 10 economies that have shown significant improvement.

Doing Business is annually published by the World Bank Group, which assesses regulatory standards in entrepreneurial activity.

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By Trend

The State Road Agency of Ukraine (Ukravtodor) has signed a contract with the Azerbaijani AzVirt company regarding the repair of the section extending from Kyiv city to Kipty village in Chernigiv region of the M-01 Kyiv - Chernigiv - Novy Yarylovychi road, the press service of Ukravtodor said in the statement.

The cost of work will amount to 131.55 million euros, and the period of implementation of the repair work will be 730 days.

The scope of repair work includes the 18-kilometer section of the Brovary towns bypass road (31.2 million euros), the 24-kilometer section extending to the administrative border with the Chernigiv region (47.1 million euros) and another 37-kilometer section extending to Kipty village (53.3 million euros), the message says.

The repair of sections of the M-01 road is carried out within the framework of the implementation of the Pan-European Corridor project, which is financed by the credit funds of the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

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By Laman Ismayilova

The 50th anniversary of Sumgayit State Drama Theater has been celebrated.

The event was held in accordance with the decree of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the 50th anniversary of the Sumgayit State Drama Theater, Trend Life reported.

Minister of Culture Abulfas Garayev, First Deputy Minister of Culture Vagif Aliyev, head of the Sumgayit Executive Power Zakir Faradjev, prominent public figures, representatives of culture and art attended the event.

At the beginning of the gala evening, a video showing the history of the Sumgayit State Drama Theater was presented to the audience.

Addressing the event, Abulfaz Garayev noted that the anniversary of the theater is a holiday not only for Sumgayit, but also for the whole country.

The minister stressed that the Sumgayit State Drama Theater made a great contribution to the development of Azerbaijani theater art through its activities. Many of the famous theatrical figures, who are now working in other cultural institutions, began their career in the Sumgayit State Drama Theater.

In his speech, the minister, on behalf of the collective of the Sumgayit State Drama Theater, cultural figures expressed gratitude to the state for taking care of the theater arts.

It was noted that in accordance with the relevant orders of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, employees of the Sumgayit State Drama Theater were awarded honorary titles and medals "Tereggi". The minister presented theatrical figures with honorary state awards.

The head of the Sumgayit Executive Authority, Zakir Faradjev, congratulated the theater team on its anniversary and wished further creative success. A number of employees of the theater were awarded certificates of honor by the Executive Authority of Sumgayit.

Some of the employees of the theater were also awarded diplomas of the Azerbaijan Union of Theater Workers.

The Sumgayit State Drama Theater, named after the Azerbaijani theater figure and director Huseyn Arablinski, was created in September 1968.

The theater opened its curtain on March 14, 1969, with Mirza Fatali Akhundzade's "Monsieur Jordan, the Botanist, and Dervish Mastali-shah", directed by Jannat Salimova. On the following day, the British poet John Patrick's work was performed.

In 1974, the theater was given the status of "Sumgayit State Drama Theater" by the decision of the Ministry of Culture.

The repertoire of the theater includes the plays of classic and contemporary Azerbaijani, Russian and foreign playwrights.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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Anil Giri is a reporter covering diplomacy, international relations and national politics for The Kathmandu Post. Giri has been working as a journalist for a decade-and-a-half, contributing to numerous national and international media outlets.
By Abdul Kerimkhanov

Armenia, having seized foreign lands, could not digest these conquests. Occupied Azerbaijani lands are empty. Karabakh Armenians, tired of poverty, lawlessness and expectations of war, prefer to flee from Karabakh wherever they look, but not at all at the captured lands. It is quite understandable because what is left for them to do when the conflict does not find its solution, but only takes lives...

Azerbaijan at all levels has repeatedly stated that the whole region will be liberated, peacefully or militarily. In case of conflict settlement by peaceful means, Baku is ready to grant wide autonomy to Nagorno-Karabakh and secure the civil rights of the local Armenian population. But for that, Armenia should unconditionally withdraw its occupation troops from the territory of Azerbaijan, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan should be restored, refugees and displaced persons returned to their homes.

Bayram Safarov, Chairman of theAzerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan public association declared that Armenians living in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh want to live according to the laws of Azerbaijan, because Azerbaijan is a strong, developing country where social welfare is at a high level.

If the Armenians of Karabakh want to live together with the Azerbaijanis, they must have an identity card of Azerbaijan, if they do not want this, then let them go to Armenia and live there, he stressed.

Safarov noted that for many years the situation in Armenia has been tense.

Moreover, he added that before the election of the new government in the occupying country, the situation will be unstable, and after the election other processes will begin. Armenians will continue to sort things out because of the authority. It might be easy to come to power, but keeping it yet an uneasy task. Especially, for Nikol Pashinyan, who has not any experience in public administration. Until now, the common people in Armenia have fallen victim to a criminal policy. Every year thousands of people leave Armenia. Armenia is actually not a country, but an outpost, said Safarov.

Safarov believes that regardless of who comes to power, the only way to save Armenia from social and economic problems is to abandon its aggressive policy.

Safarov also said that Azerbaijan will never accept the occupation of its lands and will not give up the struggle for the liberation of these lands.

"As a result of successful state policy, diplomatic advantage is on our side. Azerbaijans territorial integrity is supported internationally, Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as a territory of Azerbaijan. Such a large country like Germany recently said this, which also confirms my words," Safarov concluded.

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.

As a result of Armenia's armed invasion into Azerbaijan's legal territory, the two neighboring countries have remained locked in a bitter territorial dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Armenia-backed separatists seized from Azerbaijan in a bloody war in the early 1990s.

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.

Despite Baku's best efforts, peace in the occupied lands remains a mirage in the distance as Armenia refuses to comply with international law.

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By Trend

Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry is studying the issue of the illegal visit of Belgian MPs to Azerbaijans occupied territories, the ministry told Trend Oct. 31.

After that, a decision will be made to include their names in the list of undesirable persons due to the illegal visit, the ministry said.

On Oct. 30, Jean-Jacques Flahaux, a member of the Belgian Federal Parliament, chairman of the Reformist Movement for international relations, and his deputy made an illegal visit to the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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By Trend

The false nature of visits to the occupied Azerbaijani territories by the marginalized people, brought together by Armenian lobbyists under the guise of "prestigious diplomats and politicians", is gradually being exposed, editor-in-chief of the Baki Kheber newspaper, expert Aydin Guliyev told Trend Oct. 31.

He noted that this work, carried out for many years by the Armenian lobby, not only hasn't given any effect, but also has begun to take on an increasingly irresponsible character.

"The Armenians really hoped that they could achieve recognition of the separatist regime established in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan as an independent entity," the expert said.

Guliyev said as a result of revelation of the false nature of the Armenian claims, the Armenians' tactics to arrange visits of emissaries to Karabakh now has begun to work against themselves.

"After each visit, authoritative organizations make unequivocal statements about non-recognition of the separatist regime and demonstrate to the whole world the falsity of the Armenians' intentions. In addition, the number of people whom they lure in Karabakh is rapidly decreasing. Now, the representatives of serious European circles, the MPs do not show interest in such visits," Guliyev added.

The expert noted that it is enough to look at the list of persons brought to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

The activity of these people, who became the last hope for Armenia and turned into puppet politicians, proves once again that the Armenian leadership is well aware that it has lost the diplomatic struggle, and it wants to hide its major defeat by bringing people from abroad to Karabakh, the expert added.

Yesterday, Jean-Jacques Flahaux, a member of the Belgian Federal Parliament, chairman of the Reformist Movement for international relations, and Julie Szmai, deputy chairman of the Reformist Movement for international relations made an illegal visit to the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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By Trend

Armenia neglects commitments undertaken at the international level, Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament, member of the State Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons Bahar Muradova said at a meeting dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the State Commission on Nov. 1.

Muradova noted that Armenia committed crimes against humanity and mankind.

"Crimes committed by Armenia are not only against Azerbaijanis, but also against all mankind. Azerbaijan consistently reveals the aggressive nature of Armenia to the world community. And we witness that this does not cause the serious concern of international organizations," she said.

She also stressed that the prevention of crimes against humanity and the punishment of their perpetrators are the commitments undertaken by the Azerbaijani state.

"The work carried out by the State Commission over the past 25 years should be valued in this context," Muradova added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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By Trend

Armenians are brutally torturing Azerbaijani prisoners and hostages, Azerbaijans military prosecutor Khanlar Valiyev said at a meeting dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Azerbaijani State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons.

He noted that during the investigation carried out on a criminal case regarding the crimes committed by the Armenian armed forces and illegal armed formations in Nagorno-Karabakh, it was established that Armenian nationalists with particular cruelty killed thousands of Azerbaijanis only because of their national identity in Nagorno-Karabakh and the adjacent areas, that is, in the Azerbaijani lands.

Hundreds of Azerbaijanis, who tried to escape, were shot, their houses were looted, national architecture monuments were destroyed, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were deported from their homes, civilians and servicemen of Azerbaijani Armed Forces, serving in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, as well as in the territories bordering Armenia, were taken hostage - the hostages were subjected to brutal, inhuman treatment and tortures, he added.

For the comprehensive investigation of these crimes, the identification of the perpetrators, the collection of evidence and bringing the perpetrators to investigation, cooperation was established between the investigating body and Azerbaijans State Commission, he said. Thus, 1,636 persons testified on the criminal case and, according to the information of the State Commission as of October 23, 2018, out of 1,480 prisoners and hostages who were subsequently released, 1,113 people were interrogated, and 1,057 of them were recognized as victims.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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By Narmina Mammadova

Every year, several 100,000 earthquakes occur on the globe, and about a hundred of them are destructive, causing death to people and entire cities.

Although Azerbaijan is not the most earthquake-prone place on Earth, the country has witnessed a considerable number of earthquakes from the beginning of the year.

Most of the recorded earthquakes occurred in the Shamakhi, Ismayilli, Zagatala, Balakan regions, in the Lesser Caucasus, in the Talysh zone, as well as in the middle and northern parts of the Caspian Sea during the year.

Generally, more than 4,400 tremors have been registered in the country since the beginning of the year. As many as 27 of the earthquakes that occurred were felt, the general director of the Republican Center for Seismological Service (RCSS) of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (ANAS), member of ANAS Gurban Yetirmishli told AZERTAG on October 30.

He noted that since the beginning of the year the strongest tremor had been recorded on the territory of the Zagatala region.

The magnitude of the earthquake that occurred on June 5 at 10:40 pm local time, 16 kilometers south of the Zagatala station, was 6 points on the Richter scale in the epicenter, in the surrounding areas - up to 5-3 points. The epicenter was located at a depth of 10 km. The second strong earthquake on the territory of the republic occurred in Lerik region. The magnitude of the earthquake that occurred on August 28 at 16:57 local time was 5.1 points. In the epicenter at a depth of 15 kilometers, the earthquake was felt as stronger than 5 points, and in nearby settlements - 4-3 points, Yetirmishli added.

Characterized by high seismic activity and situated in the active collision zone of Arabian plate with Eurasian, the territory of Azerbaijan has complicated block structures differing from each other by the level of seismic activity.

Therefore, Azerbaijan is considered to be a seismically active region  a lot of earthquakes occur here every year, however, majority of them are not felt.

The seismogenic zones with potential to produce dangerous force cover the whole country, as the Alpine-Himalayan seismic belt passes through Azerbaijan. Strong and catastrophic earthquakes that took place several times in this area from ancient times till now caused huge destructions.

Currently, more than 35 seismic stations are established in Azerbaijan with the leading station in the Academic Town of Baku. The stations are connected to the satellite system.

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By Trend

On the sidelines of his official visit to Bulgaria Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria Ekaterina Zakharieva, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry told Trend Nov. 1.

The sides emphasized that the bilateral relations between the two states on the level of strategic partnership are based on the norms and principles of international law, particularly on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of international recognized borders, as well as on mutual understanding and trust.

The Ministers highly appreciated the current level of cooperation between the two states and underlined the existence of mutual interest and wide potential for development of cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, agriculture, tourism, ICT and environment.

Minister E.Mammadyarov invited his Bulgarian counterpart to attend the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) to be held on December 14, 2018 in Baku.

After the bilateral exchange the first meeting of the Strategic Dialogue of Azerbaijan and Bulgaria was held between the delegations of the both sides.

At the meeting wide range of issues of the bilateral cooperation agenda, including bilateral economic and trade relations, implementation of the projects in the fields of energy, transport and transit, partnership relations of Azerbaijan with the European Union and the ongoing negotiations on the new Agreement to be agreed between the sides, which will constitute the legal basis of the relations, cooperation of Azerbaijan and Bulgaria within regional and international organizations, as well as the other issues of mutual interest were discussed.

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By Laman Ismayilova

Motivational speaker and best-selling author Nick Vujicic will pay a visit to Azerbaijan.

The speaker will arrive in Azerbaijan as part of YOU CAN project organized by Human Foundation, Sputnik Azerbaijan reported.

The powerful motivational speaker will share his message of hope and positivity with audience in Baku.

The head of the Human Foundation Farida Asgarzade stressed that negotiations are currently under way.

Notably, Human Foundation recently organized a meeting of Nick Vujicic in Ukraine with people who had encountered great difficulties in their life and were able to achieve success.

Human Foundation organizes a number of projects in different directions.

Farida Asgarzade founded the Human Foundation in early 2016 to empower marginalised groups and bring people together regardless of their background or lifestyle choices.

Born without limbs, Nick Vujicic is a shining example of what one can accomplish with faith and self-belief.

He is a powerful motivational speaker that manages to shake his audience to its very core every single time.

Born with no arms and no legs, Nick Vujicic has overcome life's challenges through strength and hope.

Since his first speaking engagement at age 19, Nick has traveled around the world, sharing his story with millions, sometimes in stadiums filled to capacity, speaking to a range of diverse groups such as students, teachers, young people, business professionals and church congregations of all sizes.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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By Abdul Kerimkhanov

South Korean company GS Engineering & Construction Corporation will launch the production of gasoline from methanol in Uzbekistan at the end of 2022.

The presidential decree "On measures to accelerate the development of the chemical industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan" included the organization of high-octane gasoline production at the base of Navoiazot JSC with a preliminary cost of $ 200 million, Uzbek media reported.

GS, Uzkhimprom and Navoiazot intend to sign the constituent documents on the creation of a joint venture for the project implementation in December, according to the schedule. The capacity of the enterprise will be 104,300 tons of gasoline from methanol and 14,400 tons of propane-butane mixture per year.

By the end of 2019 it is planned to prepare a feasibility study of the project.

It is planned to begin construction in May 2020 and in December 2022 to put the enterprise into operation.

Methanol is the simplest monohydric alcohol; in the gas industry it is also used to combat the use of hydrates due to its low temperature and good solubility.

At the end of 2017, the production of motor gasoline and diesel fuel in Uzbekistan continued to decline and amounted to 1.1 million tons (minus 2.5 percent) and 963,000 tons (minus 4.5 percent) respectively. And in 2010-2016, production in the first position decreased by 26.2 percent, in the second - by 8.3 percent.

All this led to the fact that by the end of the year in Uzbekistan periodically there was a shortage of gasoline, including in 2017. To eliminate it in November last year, the country's Finance Ministry allocated an interest-free loan of 2 trillion soums ($8240) for importing hydrocarbons and finished oil products to Uznefteprodukt JSC and oil refineries (refineries) .

In January-April 2018, the production of motor gasoline in Uzbekistan increased by 3.7 percent and reached 378,900 tons, diesel fuel - by 15.4 percent to 387,900 tons.

Until 2020, imported fuel is exempt from paying customs duties, and the refineries are exempted from income tax, with the release of funds released for modernization, technical and technological re-equipment of production facilities.

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By Trend

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said after the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) meeting in Brussels on Wednesday that the alliance was ready to continue a dialogue on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia, Sputnik reported.

"Allies and Russia shared views on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty," NATO said in a statement following the NRC meeting.

In addition, Stoltenberg noted that all allies agreed that the INF treaty has been crucial to Euro-Atlantic security.

"We all agree that the INF Treaty has been crucial to Euro-Atlantic security Allies urge Russia again to ensure full compliance with the INF Treaty without delay. While we stand ready to continue dialogue on this issue with Russia, as an Alliance we are also committed to take effective measures to continue to ensure the safety and security of all Allies," Stoltenberg said.

Russia, on its part, said that INF treaty is important as a factor in maintaining European and global stability, Permanent Mission to NATO noted.

The NATO-Russia Council, which brings together the 29 Allies and Russia, met in Brussels on Wednesday to exchange views on a wide range of topics, including issues related to military activities, reciprocal transparency and risk reduction; the situation in and around Ukraine; Afghanistan; and hybrid challenges. According to the statement released by NATO press service, NATO and Russia provided briefings on major exercises "in the spirit of transparency."

The council was established on May 28, 2002 and was effectively suspended by the alliance in 2014-2016 over the situation in Ukraine. The latest NATO-Russia Council meeting was held in late May at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

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Hundred years on

One hundred years later, is it not time to recognise all that suffering and sacrifice that preserved Nepalsindependence through the tumultuous years of decolonisation?
By Trend

The 14th meeting of the Uzbek-Japanese and Japanese-Uzbek Economic Cooperation Committees, organized by the State Investment Committee of Uzbekistan, with the support of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Japan, was held in Tokyo, UzDaily.uz reported.

More than 180 representatives of Japanese business circles representing 52 companies, including Mitsubishi, Marubeni, Sumitomo, Itochu, Toyota, Kawasaki, Sozhitz Corporation, Mitsui, Nissan, Hitachi, and others took part in a discussion of prospects for cooperation with Uzbekistan.

Following the results of the meeting, the documents were signed on the implementation of joint projects in the area of electric power industry, petrochemical industry, and light industry with the Mitsubishi Corporation, Atomix company, as well as with the JICA agency.

The agreement was reached with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) on joint implementation of projects in the telecommunications sector.

The agreement signed between Sumitomo Mitsui Bank and the NBU Bank will open up new opportunities for the implementation of the Uzbek-Japanese economic projects.

For the period from January to September 2018, the trade turnover between Japan and Uzbekistan amounted to more than $300 million.

At present, 17 enterprises with participation of Japanese investments, including seven companies with 100-percent Japanese capital are functioning on the territory of Uzbekistan.

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By Trend

The sixth meeting of the Commission on Legal Affairs and International Relations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-speaking States (TurkPA) was held in the Parliament of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Parliament said in a statement November 1.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Ismet Ucma, Chairman of the TurkPA Commission on Legal Affairs and International Relations and member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and was attended by representatives of the parliaments of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey, as well as experts.

Ucma noted the importance of the fact that over the past ten years, the cooperation between the fraternal countries has been expanded at the parliamentary level.

"On November 20 of this year, the 10th anniversary of TurkPA will be celebrated in Izmir," he said.

The chairman of the commission expressed hope that the work carried out over ten years could become a road map for further activities.

Then the Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament Javanshir Feyziyev and the Secretary General of TurkPA Altynbek Mamaiusupov made speeches.

The meeting discussed the "Financial Status of the Secretariat of TurkPA", "Regulations on Medals for Merit and Medal Certificates", "Summary Report on Developing a joint Position on the Anti-Terrorism Legislation of the Member States of TURKPA", etc.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower project delayed yet again

The Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project has extended its completion deadline by six months as it will not be able to switch on one of its six turbines by December 2018 and complete the entire plant by April 2019 as planned.
Indian national arrested with illegally brought mobile phone sets

Police have arrested an Indian national along with illegally brought mobile phone sets in Saptari on Tuesday.
Deputies shot and killed a teenager who fired a pellet gun at them Wednesday in northwest Harris County.

The incident began around 3: 50 p.m. when a deputy with the Harris County Sheriff's Office spotted a 17-year-old driver speeding around a stopped school bus on Stuebner Airline Road near Spring Cypress Road , according to HCSO Assistant Chief Tim Navarre.

The school bus was unloading students from a nearby school and had its red lights and stop signs activated, Navarre said.

TEXAS CITY: Authorities recover child's body near Texas 146

The deputy immediately turned on his emergency lights and sirens to pull the teen over, but he sped off, according to authorities.

Several more deputies joined the pursuit, which tore through a quiet neighborhood and eventually reached speeds of 70 miles per hour along Stuebner Airline Road.

The teenager, driving south on Stuebner Airline Road, made a U-turn near Brightwood Drive and crashed into a ditch, Navarre said.

He rolled his driver's side window down, which is when deputies barked orders for him to show his hands.

Instead, he pulled out a pellet gun and began shooting pellets at the deputies.

Navarre originally told media that the teenager used a semiautomatic pistol. Late Wednesday, investigators stated they had determined that the hand gun was 1911 replica carbon dioxide canister-powered BB/pellet airgun.

Five deputies who were involved in the chase opened fire on the teen, killing him where he sat.

Deputies rushed to the car and pulled the teenager out of the driver's seat to see if he was still alive, but he had already died, Navarre said.

The teenager's identity was not immediately released, although investigators said they have already identified him. He had no criminal history and no active warrants.

Navarre was baffled as to why the teenager fled in the first place.

"We have no idea," Navarre said. "All he did was pass a school bus when he shouldn't have."

In all, the teenager pulled the pellet gun's trigger as many as eight times, Navarre said. Deputies fired "multiple" rounds, although Navarre did not have an accurate number when he spoke to reporters Wednesday afternoon. The teenager was hit several times.

Another teen, Jaleigh Sudberry, 17, had just gotten home from school. Her room backs up to Stuebner Airline Road, so she was within earshot of the gunfire.

"I was laying down, about to go to sleep," Sudberry said. "I thought I heard fireworks. People like to pop off fireworks on any holiday. I heard these popping sounds and then police cars go by."

She said she didn't know what to do when the gunfire erupted.

"I wanted to get up," she said. "You kind of freeze when you hear something like that. You don't really know what to do."

Sudberry only learned of what happened when her mother, Jamie Golden, got home.

Golden noticed the commotion along Stuebner Airline Road and pulled up just as deputies were examining her house for any stray bullets. They didn't find any.

"It's very sad," Golden said of the events that transpired 50 feet from her home. "I don't know if (teenagers like the suspect) are given love by their parents or being shown any attention. That's what we push really hard. You never know what that kid is going through."

Deputies had not searched the car as of 6:30 p.m. as they waited for crime scene specialists.

The chase happened right as severe storms were rolling through the Houston area. It was not clear if it was raining as police were pursuing the teenager.

HCSO's homicide and internal affairs detectives are investigating.

The identities of the deputies involved were not immediately released. None of them were injured in the shootout.

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message
Lung cancer can be cured if diagnosed early: Experts

Every year more Nepalis are diagnosed with lung cancer - one of the most lethal cancers. Most patients are diagnosed with it when the disease is in its advanced stage, a city oncologist said.
Who doesn't love free food? Or better yet, free money?

It's the best.

People from around the world came together on Reddit to share stories of the most victorious times they gamed the system and scored.

It started with the question, "What is the best loophole you've ever found?"

The Reddit thread garnered more than 16,000 comments in a day.

One Redditor bragged about a fast food conquest: "Back in the day, two 5-piece chicken nuggets at Burger King cost less than a single 8-piece chicken nuggets. Me and those two extra nuggets were laughing all the way to the piggy bank."

Others explained how they got around school dress codes or won free international vacations.

We collected some of the best and funniest answers in the slideshow above. Click through for some clever loopholes.

Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com.

Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news.
LANSING, Mich. - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson toured a renovated department store here along with the local Republican congressman, who is fighting to keep his seat.

An imperiled House member in a Kansas City suburb took Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on a bus tour of a traffic-choked highway she pledged to expand.

And another Republican in a tight race for reelection, who has kept his distance from President Donald Trump, twice welcomed Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and the acting head of the Environmental Protection Agency to his Iowa district to talk up pro-farmer policies.

The recent visits all served the secretaries' official duties, highlighting projects supported with federal dollars. But they had something else in common: opportunities for House Republicans locked in nail-biter reelection contests to appear in photo-ops with members of Trump's Cabinet.

In the run-up to the midterm elections, Trump administration officials have been turning up in swing districts, not as stand-ins for the president but as under-the-radar emissaries to places where Trump is divisive. They're able to enter what is essentially Trump's no-fly zone, offering a softer pitch that could nevertheless serve as a lifeline for vulnerable Republicans.

Other presidents have deployed their government leaders as midterm campaign surrogates. But the election-season appearances by Trump's Cabinet - coordinated in conjunction with the White House - have been more frequent, according to GOP strategists and former Obama administration officials. And they've raised concerns that the secretaries' stopovers could violate the law prohibiting government officials from engaging in partisan activity.

Several Cabinet offices said they were not authorized to discuss the trips or the White House strategy behind them, or did not return phone calls. They declined to provide The Washington Post with the secretaries' travel schedules. Multiple lawmakers' offices also did not respond to requests for interviews.

"The Cabinet is going to communities all over the country where the President's policies are working and making a difference," Jessica Ditto, a White House spokeswoman, said in an email.

From June 1 through Oct. 25, Cabinet members made more than 40 visits to GOP House districts and staged appearances with a handful of swing-state senators and candidates for governor, an analysis of their Twitter feeds and those of the lawmakers shows.

The stops represent the majority of their official appearances with lawmakers outside Washington this campaign season, the analysis shows. Those logging the most miles are Perdue, Carson, Chao, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, acting EPA chief Andrew Wheeler and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

But the number of visits is likely much higher, as not every one was documented on Twitter. In August alone, Cabinet members and senior staffers - including presidential daughter Ivanka Trump - had made 35 trips to key House districts, an administration official told reporters in a late-summer conference call, noting that they were official events.

For a White House known for chaos, the strategy is surprisingly disciplined, former Virginia GOP congressman Tom Davis said. "They don't always run a disciplined shop in other ways so you didn't expect it out of these folks, but the [midterm] organization is impressive."

It's legal for the Cabinet to play a dual role as agency head and reelection booster, as long as they adhere to the federal Hatch Act, which bans the use of official taxpayer-funded resources for politicking.

Officially, Trump officials are on the kind of government business that's part of the job. There was the town hall meeting with Perdue in Champaign, Illinois, and the Energy Cybersecurity forum with Perry at the University of Texas. There was a ribbon cutting with Chao for a grant for carpool lanes in Santa Clarita, California, and a dedication ceremony with Zinke for a new national monument in Kentucky.

The secretaries also have talked up the fight against opioids or regulations the administration has rolled back for businesses.

Unofficially, though, they've stepped into an indispensable campaign role that's accelerated as Election Day approaches. The appearances just happened to coincide with important priorities of endangered incumbents in Champaign (Rep. Rodney Davis), San Antonio (Rep. Will Hurd), Santa Clarita (Rep. Steve Knight), and Nicholasville, Kentucky. (Rep. Garland "Andy" Barr).

"You've got a grant to announce, a program to unveil," said Michael Steele, a former Republican National Committee chairman. "You just happen to do it in a district with a member who's up for reelection."

"It's a smaller circle of recognition than when the president or vice president shows up," Steele said of the Cabinet visits, "but the benefit is huge. The word on the street is that the congressman brought Secretary So-and-So to the district."

On her trip to Overland Park outside of Kansas City in mid-October, Chao praised Rep. Kevin Yoder as an "unwavering champion" for his district's road needs, according to local media reports. Then he tweeted, "ICYMI: @USDOT @SecElaineChao visited the Third District yesterday to discuss some of the critical infrastructure needs in our community" and direct readers to a YouTube video of local television coverage.

These are not filled-to-the-rafters rallies like the president's, but the opposite: local events designed for local media exposure. When Carson and Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Mich., toured the Knapp Centre apartments in Michigan's state capital in October, no members of the public were on hand. National reporters were not notified.

A few employees of a tech services company in the mixed-use building came out of their offices to say hello, as Carson, with the congressman tagging behind, made his way to the roof for photos and a brief availability with a half-dozen radio and television reporters.

"Anyone would love living here!" the secretary beamed, calling the project an example of the private-public partnerships at the core of an effort to revitalize cities like Lansing.

The event felt manufactured, though, partly because the Knapp Centre was renovated by the Obama administration and opened in 2014.

Asked to describe the benefit of Carson's visit to his reelection campaign, Bishop denied there was a political element. It's "all about Lansing. . . . It has nothing to do with any kind of campaign," he said.

Bishop tweeted a few hours later: "I joined @SecretaryCarson in Lansing to tour the revitalized Knapp Centre Apartments and discuss #OpportunityZones. Created as part of the #TaxCutsAndJobsAct, there are 250+ Zones in Michigan and they have a unique and exciting potential to spur investment across our state."

Experts say the visits allow candidates to showcase the kinds of federal services that may boost their stock with suburban and moderate Republicans, even as Trump himself carries a more anti-government message at his rallies in more friendly territory.

"Their messaging is important for Republicans in areas where Trump has lost support," said David Wasserman, House editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which tracks political races.

Perdue, for example, has tiptoed around Trump trade policies that have angered farmers in rural America, talking up ethanol and the White House rescue plan and asking them to give the administration time to confront China on tariffs.

Some lawmakers have welcomed multiple Cabinet secretaries. Barr got a visit from Wheeler on Aug. 24 to announce the Affordable Clean Energy Rule, another from Chao the same day with city leaders in Lexington, Ky., and was on hand last Sunday when Zinke dedicated a 380-acre national monument at Camp Nelson to honor African Americans' role as soldiers during the Civil War.

Some former Obama administration officials said they reduced these trips to competitive districts during campaign season to avoid the perception that they were mixing official with political travel - and keep from inadvertently violating the law.

"It wasn't as if we never traveled, but I would say or my team would say, even in being responsive to a request, 'It's a close race very close to the election, we probably shouldn't go,' " said Shaun Donovan, who was HUD secretary and budget chief under President Barack Obama.

As Chris Lu, who oversaw Cabinet affairs for the Obama White House, put it, "Even when you're trying to do the right thing, you can get crosswise."

Still, under Obama, former HUD secretary Julian Castro got in trouble for endorsing Hillary Clinton in an interview. Obama's Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius similarly violated the law at a campaign gala for a North Carolina candidate for governor.

This midterm season, a few Trump secretaries appear to have come close to similar missteps, experts in the law say. After a tour of a family farm last week in Belleville, Ill., where Rep. Mike Bost is in a too-close-to-call race, Perdue praised the congressman to a group of farmers and state agriculture officials gathered for a town hall meeting, saying it was good to have someone in the House who could "bring the perspective of working folk" to the Capitol.

The Project on Government Oversight (POGO) filed a complaint Thursday with the Special Counsel's office, which overseas Hatch Act compliance, suggesting Perdue may have improperly promoted Bost's campaign.

Nick Schwellenbach, POGO's director investigations, said Chao's praise of Yoder in Kansas also may have come close to a political endorsement.

"At a minimum, it gets uncomfortably close to the line because she's promoting a partisan candidate and tying her promotion to one of her agency's core responsibilities," Schwellenbach said.

The overall visits also prompted a complaint from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a Washington-based ethics group alleging potential violations of the Hatch Act.

Office of Special Counsel spokesman Zachary Kurz said the office received it but would not say if an investigation is underway.
WASHINGTON - Donald Trump's candidacy, and then presidency, has highlighted deep divides in families and friendships across America. Politics have seeped into our personal lives. Mini civil wars have broken out at dinner tables. Friends with opposing views have been blocked on social media.

Families and loved ones disagreeing on politics is not new, of course. Ron Reagan Jr., son of conservative hero Ronald Reagan, is an outspoken atheist liberal. In fact, a 2015 academic study published in the American Sociological Review dispelled the myth that children get their ideology from their parents.

Differences in political beliefs used to be a private matter. Remember the adage: Never talk religion or politics. But this year, family political disputes are playing out very publicly. And not just between your cousin and grandpa on Facebook. Politicians running for office have family members actively campaigning against them.

That family members feel emboldened, or even obligated, to speak out against their kin - and that this has been the case in at least four races this year - seems to be a sign of the times. Here they are:

1. RepublicanMissouri House candidate Steve West vs. his son and daughter

West's children are warning voters not to vote for their dad. Their father has espoused racist and anti-Semitic views on his radio show, and his election would "legitimize him," his children told The Kansas City Star this week.

"My dad's a fanatic. He must be stopped," said his son Andy West. "His ideology is pure hatred. It's totally insane.

His daughter Emily West told The Star that after her father won the primary in August, she asked him to drop out. When he said he wouldn't, she told him she no longer wanted him to be a part of her life.

2. Rep. Paul A. Gosar, R-Ariz., vs. his siblings

In what is among the most viral campaign ads of this cycle, six of Gosar's siblings cut an ad endorsing their brother's Democratic opponent, David Brill.

In an interview with The Washington Post in September, one of the brothers, David Gosar, said he felt obligated to speak out against his brother because of his far-right views and rhetoric. Paul Gosar has claimed that the Charlottesville white-nationalist march was set up by the left.

"There isn't a kooky, crazy, nutty thing that he isn't a part of," David Gosar said. "What are we supposed to do?"

3. Democratic congressional candidate Randy Bryce vs. his brother

In the race to fill House Speaker Paul Ryan's Wisconsin seat, Bryce had to contend with his police officer brother making an ad for a Republican super PAC. James Bryce accuses his brother of being anti-law-enforcement, showing a 2012 tweet in which Randy Bryce called police "terrorists."

"When people refer to police officers as terrorists, that hits a little close to home," James Bryce says. "I don't think people want to be represented by someone who's shown contempt for those in law enforcement."

But the rift goes deeper. After the ad ran, the Bryce campaign released a letter from the men's mother asking for the ad to be taken down because she doesn't like to see her sons fighting. James Bryce fired back that the campaign had taken advantage of an elderly woman for political gain.

4. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., vs. his son

Goodlatte, one of the highest-ranking GOP lawmakers, is not running for reelection, but he's actively campaigning for the Republican candidate, his former chief of staff, vying for his seat. But in August, his son, Bobby Goodlatte, made headlines when he publicly endorsed Jennifer Lewis, the Democrat in the race; donated to her campaign; and urged others to do the same.

The young Goodlatte criticized his father's questioning of FBI agent Peter Strzok, who had sent anti-Trump texts to a colleague during the 2016 campaign.

"I'm deeply embarrassed that Peter Strzok's career was ruined by my father's political grandstanding," he tweeted. "That committee hearing was a low point for Congress."
Judaism has traditionally been of two minds about capital punishment. It exists in Jewish law, but has rarely been used and is strongly discouraged.

The Torah and other texts of rabbinical Judaism say it's okay, but under only limited circumstances. In the wake of Saturday's shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, both state and federal prosecutors plan to move forward with capital murder charges against suspect Robert Bowers.

Federal death sentences are relatively rare, and most death-penalty activity is carried out at the state or local level. There have been only three executions since the federal death penalty was reinstated in 1988.

Many would say that Bowers, 46, who police say left 11 dead and many others wounded, undoubtedly deserves the death penalty. But not all rabbis from the three major Jewish movements agree.

The Torah has capital crimes from murder to profaning the sabbath; there's a section where a man was put to death for gathering wood on Shabbat.

But Jewish law doesn't start and stop with the Torah's text.

Like the American criminal justice system, the Torah draws a distinction between intentional homicide and non-intentional homicide, instructing that capital punishment is appropriate only in the former.

The text creates a set of Jewish evidentiary standards to prove that the accused truly intended to commit murder.

Capital cases were once heard by a Jewish court known as the Sanhedrin, made up of either 23 or 70 rabbis. Unanimous verdicts were forbidden, for someone always needed to speak on behalf of the accused. Although the tribunal typically rendered a verdict when there was a margin of one vote, capital cases required a majority of plus-two.

The tribunal could not impose a death sentence unless and until they heard from two eyewitnesses. Both needed to see each other at the time of the offense and have warned the assailant of the consequences of his action. Both also needed to hear the perpetrator's verbal assent.

Officially, all prominent Jewish movements oppose capital punishment, most of them in all cases, according to Pew Research Center.

Although many rabbis soft-pedal those positions when an individual commits a horrific act, the proper religious response, they say, is neither to take another person's life nor decide for the state to do so. Even the synagogue gunman, according to them, does not deserve the death penalty.

Barbara Weinstein, associate director of the Religious Action Center, the lobbying arm of Reform Judaism, said the movement opposed the state's use of the death penalty as a matter of principle. Moral concerns have led the movement to worry the justice system applies punishments unequally.

"It's hard to find words to capture the pain felt across the Jewish community, but as broken as our hearts are, we continue to believe there are no crimes where the taking of a human life is justified," she said.

Yet, she added, the gunman should still be held accountable.

According to Shmuly Yanklowitz, a modern Orthodox rabbi and founder of a progressive-minded Orthodox rabbinical association, the Orthodox movement "is certainly in opposition toward capital punishment, with exception."

But, he said, "when dealing with a gentile society and government, we're no longer dealing formally with the Jewish legal system and largely move from law to ethics. There, they become somewhat intertwined with our personal politics. It breaks down more on party lines than denomination lines."

Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, chief executive of the Rabbinical Assembly, the premier international membership organization of Conservative rabbis, similarly told The Washington Post that for decades the organization maintained the committee on Jewish laws and standards, which debates how to apply law and tradition in an evolving contemporary society. A more recent opinion shifted its stance to allow sitting on a jury where the death penalty was being debated.

Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky, a Conservative rabbi and member of the committee, reiterated, "the death penalty has not existed as a judicially appropriate outcome for more than 2,000 years. It is bad policy. In modern states, we shouldn't put people to death unless it's the only way to prevent them from causing more crime," he said.

Kalmanofsky highlights the complex relationship Jews have with the idea of capital punishment through the execution of Otto Adolf Eichmann, a high-ranking member of Nazi leadership responsible for Jewish extermination camps. Eichmann, who was hanged in 1962, is the only person that the state of Israel has ever executed judicially.

"As a Jew, it's hard to argue that Eichmann didn't deserve execution. Killing Nazis in the wake of the Holocaust makes for rough justice," Kalmanofsky said, yet Eichmann no longer presented a threat of future crime.

Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers told The Post that in light of the horror to his congregation, he was not yet ready to talk about Bowers, adding that "in the Conservative movement, each rabbi will make a decision in an individual congregation."

In one sense, that this happened in the open and diverse community of the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh was shocking, but in another sense, this surprises few. American Jews have always been aware that anti-Semitism is a part of Western civilization, Yanklowitz said.

"When you have a moment to step back, you'll have difficulty finding mainstream Jewish rabbis endorsing death," Yanklowitz said.
WASHINGTON  When WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appeared on a video link from Europe a month before the 2016 presidential election and vaguely promised to release a flood of purloined documents related to the race, the head of Donald Trumps campaign, Steve Bannon, was interested.

He emailed political operative Roger Stone, who had been trying to reach him for days about what Assange might have in store. What was that this morning??? Bannon asked on Oct. 4.

A load every week going forward, Stone replied, echoing Assanges public vow to publish documents on a weekly basis until the Nov. 8 election.

The email exchange, not previously reported, underscores how Stone presented himself to Trump campaign officials: as a conduit of inside information from WikiLeaks, Russias chosen repository for documents hacked from Democratic computers.

Bannon and two other former senior campaign officials have detailed to prosecutors for the special counsel, Robert Mueller, how Stone created that impression, according to people familiar with their accounts. One of them told investigators that Stone not only seemed to predict WikiLeaks actions, but that he also took credit afterward for the timing of its disclosures that damaged Hillary Clintons candidacy.

But at the same time, the top tier of Trumps campaign was deeply skeptical of Stone, who has made a career of merging fact and fiction and seems to prize attention over credibility.

Whether Stone was, in fact, a trusted intermediary to WikiLeaks  or simply a master of puffery that made him appear so  remains a paramount question for Muellers investigators, who are examining Russias interference in the 2016 presidential race and whether any Trump associates conspired with Moscows effort.

To tease out the truth, prosecutors have summoned Stones former employees and longtime political allies to testify before a federal grand jury in Washington or be interviewed at the special counsels office. Investigators asked them about a range of issues, including Stones relationship with WikiLeaks, his attempts during the presidential race to raise money for his political causes and whether he tried to persuade one associate not to cooperate with the inquiry.

Stone has repeatedly said that he had access only to Assanges public statements and to secondhand information from journalists or other sources. If he implied that he had more direct sources, he has said, he was simply engaging in political hyperbole.

In an interview Wednesday, Stone insisted he did nothing more than posture, bluff, hype, based on WikiLeaks Twitter feed and miscellaneous tips.

I didnt need any inside knowledge to do that. They keep looking for some direct communication with WikiLeaks that doesnt exist, he said of journalists reporting on the Russia investigation. He added that he had paid for two polygraph tests that prove he is telling the truth.

But some of his previous statements have proved false. Stone told The Washington Post this week that he never discussed WikiLeaks with Trump campaign officials. There are no such communications and if Bannon says there are he would be dissembling, he said.

This article is based on interviews with people familiar with the Russia investigation and the inner workings of the Trump campaign, as well as a review of hundreds of text messages and emails that Stone exchanged over months with several associates, including Randy Credico, a New York comedian, former radio host and left-wing activist whom Stone has repeatedly identified as his source about WikiLeaks.

Besides the confusion caused by Stones penchant for innuendo and outright lies, investigators are hampered by the fact that Assange remains out of reach, holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he has lived for six years in fear of extradition to face possible criminal charges.

Still, Bannons October 2016 email correspondence shows that the perception that Stone knew what WikiLeaks had in store for Clinton spread to the highest levels of the Trump campaign. No evidence has emerged that Trump or his advisers alerted authorities.

As the month began, Stone peppered Twitter with predictions of an October surprise from Assange, whipping up speculation in the U.S. news media and beyond. Assange, too, had been hinting at coming bombshells.

Unable to reach Bannon, Stone communicated with Matthew Boyle, the Washington political editor of the far-right Breitbart News, which Bannon ran before joining Trumps campaign.

Assange  whats he got? Boyle asked Stone on Oct. 3. Hope its good.

It is, Stone replied.

A half-hour later, Boyle emailed Bannon, urging him to call Stone. Bannon replied, Ive got important stuff to worry about.

Boyle continued to press: Clearly he knows what Assange has.

A Breitbart spokesman said in a statement, Matt Boyle acted in his role as a journalist to attempt to uncover the story behind Roger Stones public claims.

The next day, after Assanges news conference via video link, Bannon followed up with his email to Stone. According to one person familiar with Bannons account to prosecutors, the exchange ended with Stones reply, in which he essentially repeated what Assange or his allies had already said publicly.

Three days later, on Oct. 7, Stones prediction of an October surprise came true when WikiLeaks unleashed a trove of emails hacked from the computer of John Podesta, Clintons campaign chairman. The disclosure came just a half-hour after the publication of a recording in which Trump boasted of grabbing womens genitals and was an apparent attempt to divert attention from that explosive story, which threatened to derail Trumps chances of capturing the White House.

The kind of case prosecutors might be trying to build against Stone is difficult to determine. According to people familiar with the inquiry, they are focused in part on whether Stone testified truthfully when he told the House Intelligence Committee a year ago that he had no advance knowledge of the source or actual content of the WikiLeaks disclosures.

Investigators are also examining whether Stone engaged in witness tampering or obstruction of justice stemming from his dealings with Credico, the people said.

In a statement this week, Stone again labeled Credico his source about WikiLeaks. Stone said Credico was emphatic over a 50-day period, insisting that this bombshell was coming from WikiLeaks that would undermine Clinton before the election.

Credico has vehemently denied Stones account. Though he interviewed Assange in August 2016 for a radio show and visited him in London after the election, he has said he never conveyed inside information from WikiLeaks to Stone.

The two men, once friends, have fallen out over the dispute. In one text exchange in May obtained by The New York Times, Credico told Stone, You are an inveterate liar everybody knows that, to which Stone replied, You aint exactly George Washington yourself.

Credico testified before the grand jury in September and has been interviewed in recent weeks by federal investigators. They are reviewing his communications with Stone, including emails and text messages, in which Stone told Credico not to talk to the FBI and to invoke his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself before the grand jury, according to people familiar with the inquiry.

Investigators have also questioned Bill Samuels, a wealthy progressive activist in New York and a friend of Credicos, in what appears to be an attempt to corroborate portions of Credicos account, people familiar with the investigation said. Samuels once accompanied Credico to a media interview in which Credico asserted that he was not Stones link to Julian Assange.

Stone said he pressed Credico only to tell the truth. I didnt urge him to plead the Fifth, I didnt urge him not to testify. He made those decisions on his own, he said. He added that Credico was furious because he had identified him to the House committee as his WikiLeaks source rather than shielding him.

At various points, Stone has also suggested that he gleaned information about WikiLeaks from Jerome Corsi, a conservative journalist who trades in conspiracy theories. A lawyer for Corsi, who was also subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury, did not respond to a message seeking comment. Andrew Miller, another former aide to Stone, was also ordered to testify and is fighting the subpoena.

Muellers investigators have also delved into the operations of Stones political organizations. Stone has said investigators are examining a nonprofit educational fund called the Committee for American Sovereignty Education Fund, which he said produced a film alleging that former President Bill Clinton fathered an illegitimate child, a favorite theme of Stones.

The organization bills itself as a nonprofit social welfare organization that has been designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(4) group. But there is no indication in IRS records that it has that status.

Stones Oct. 4, 2016, email to Bannon suggested another reason prosecutors might be interested in the fund. Asking the campaign to promote his theory of an illegitimate son of Bill Clinton, he wrote: Ive raised $150K for the targeted black digital campaign through a C-4, he wrote.

Tell Rebecca to send us some $$$, Stone added, apparently referring to Rebekah Mercer, a wealthy Republican donor close to Bannon. There is no indication that Bannon replied to him or sought out Mercer, and it is unclear whether Stones solicitation, alone, violated federal election laws. Stone said he was referring to a campaign targeting African-American voters.

Several advisers connected with another organization founded by Stone, the Committee to Restore Americas Greatness, have been questioned before the grand jury in Washington  both about donations to the PAC and how the groups money was disbursed, according to people familiar with the interviews.

The witnesses include Jason Sullivan, whom Stone hired as a social media specialist during the months before the election. Another is John Kakanis, an aide who carried out tasks for Stone as varied as driving him around and doing his accounting.

Kakanis is listed as the president of a Florida firm called Citroen Associates, which received $137,000 of the $561,968 that the super PAC spent in the 2016 election cycle. He has spent hours under questioning by prosecutors as the special counsels team tries to decipher how Stone used the donations.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times
Ministries dither over revising laws

Less than four months remain for the constitutional deadline to amend laws not conforming to the constitution, but 22 ministries, including the Prime Ministers Office, have yet to identify them and report to the Ministry of Law and Justice, leading to fears that Parliament might endorse them in haste.
National park authority has repossessed religious forest from Osho Tapoban

The decision to repossess the religious forest came less than 24 hours after the Post carried the report about retreats centres illegal construction in the buffer zone.
Nepal and Mongolia in 1st bilateral consultation meeting

The first meeting of Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between Nepal and Mongolia was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
FBI agents visited several Pain Management Associates locations during an investigation Oct. 30, WSPA 7News reports.

Here are five insights:

1. FBI agencies seized documents and interviewed staff at Pain Management Associates centers in Spartanburg, N.C., Greenville, S.C., and Easley, N.C. The FBI would not confirm the reason for the investigation to WSPA 7News reporters.

2. Earlier this year, Pain Management Associates' Blake Leche, MD, and physician assistant Amanda Leche were charged with conspiring to illegally distribute hydrocodone and oxycodone prescriptions.

3. However, Pain Management Associates physician Bert Blackwell, MD, told WSPA 7News the FBI investigation doesn't concern Mr. and Mrs. Leche. When asked if investigators could be looking into the practice's billing or recordkeeping, Dr. Blackwell said the practice would take steps to correct errors if any were discovered.

4. The FBI, HHS and Drug Enforcement Administration are involved in the investigation, according to an FBI spokesman.

5. The clinics under investigation were closed Oct. 30 but expected to reopen.

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Medical technologies provider DJO introduced the Empowr Porous Knee System and Empowr Complex Primary Knee System at the 2018 American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons meeting, Nov. 1-4 in Dallas.

Here are three notes:

1. The Empowr Porous Knee System is made of highly porous materials optimized to enhance early implant fixation. It features a bladed keel with bone sparing geometry designed for application without cement.

2. Combined with the Empowr Universal Tibial Baseplate and Empowr Varus Valgus Constraint Tibial Insert, the Empowr Complex Primary Knee System expands DJO's implant solutions for complex primary and revision knee arthroplasty. The technologies are designed to facilitate the transition from standard primary to revision knee procedures with few instruments and trays.

3. Great Neck, N.Y.-based Northwell Health's orthopedic surgeon Eugene S. Krauss, MD, said, "The efficiency of DJO's instrument trays and the streamlined instrumentation enables my surgical team and I to perform up to 12 knee replacements in a single day, making the system well-suited for both hospital and ASC environments."
Four of the top vendors hospitals use to participate in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program are Allscripts, Cerner, Epic and Meditech, according to June 2018 ONC data.

Here are 16 hospitals and health systems that posted job listings during the past two weeks seeking EHR and IT expertise:

Editor's note: This is not an exhaustive list. Job listings were compiled from job seeker websites.

Allscripts

1. Highpoint Health (Lawrenceburg, Ind.): Seeks a clinical applications analyst

2. HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital (Shelbyville, Ill.): Seeks a clinical informaticist

3. Lompoc (Calif.) Valley Medical Center: Seeks an informatics programmer and analyst

4. Methodist Hospital of Southern California (Arcadia, Calif.): Seeks a clinical IT analyst

Cerner

1. Christiana Care Health System (Newark, Del.): Seeks a senior programmer analyst

2. Munson Healthcare (Traverse City, Mich.): Seeks an IT project manager

3. St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center (Phoenix): Seeks a clinical research informatics program manager

4. Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle): Seeks a senior system analyst

Epic

1. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago: Seeks a senior applications analyst

2. Erlanger Health System (Chattanooga, Tenn.): Seek an IT project manager

3. Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee): Seeks a senior systems analyst for population health analytics

4. Rush University Medical Center (Chicago): Seeks a senior applications analyst

Meditech

1. Doctors Community Hospital (Lanham, Md.): Seeks an IT applications manager

2. Gila Regional Medical Center (Silver City, N.M.): Seeks an information systems director

3. Northern Montana Hospital (Havre, Mont.): Seeks a health information management director

4. Stamford (Conn.) Hospital: Seeks a senior integration analyst
Madison, Wis.-based UW Health plans to build a $255 million specialty care clinic on the far east side of Madison, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

The facility, expected to open in 2023, will house several practices, including cardiology, dermatology, oncology and ophthalmology.

"In order to survive, to be sustainable, to be relevant, to craft the future of healthcare, we're going to have to invest," Alan Kaplan, MD, CEO of UW Health, told the Wisconsin State Journal. "This is the right kind of investment."

The new clinic will be UW Health's third location for specialty care in Madison. It will free up space at UW Hospital, which has experienced space constraints in recent years due to increased patient demand.

UW Health officials expect to break ground on the project in 2020.
Minneapolis-based Children's Minnesota, a two-hospital freestanding pediatric health system, is behind on sending medical bills out, according to a 5 Eyewitness News report.

A hospital spokesperson confirmed billing delays to the TV station, saying "the longest delay in statements was four months."

Becky Woitalewicz, acting vice president of finance and CFO, addressed the issue in a statement to 5 Eyewitness News.

She said Children's Minnesota began replacing two existing billing systems with a single system in May as part of improvement efforts.

"This enhancement will reduce the number of statements families receive and will provide a single number to call with questions. Despite some delays in billing, we are making significant progress and believe that families will be better served long term with a single system," said Ms. Woitalewicz.

The hospital spokesperson said families were notified of billing delays beginning in August, and any remaining delays are expected to be resolved in the next week. She said Children's Minnesota will work with patients on payment plans.

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Hospitals in northern California and a union's campaign committee have collectively spent millions related to two ballot measures that aim to curb healthcare costs, according to a Palo Alto Weekly report.

In Palo Alto, Calif., voters will decide for or against placing a 15 percent cap on the amount healthcare providers in the city can charge in excess of direct patient care costs. Hospitals, medical clinics and other Palo Alto providers would have to refund payers for charges exceeding the 15 percent cap within 180 days of each fiscal year.

A similar measure is also on the ballot in Livermore, Calif.

As of Oct. 20, hospitals had spent $4.9 million toward defeating the measures, according to the report.

California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, Stanford (Calif.) Health Care and Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Foundation Health Plan are the top three funders in opposition to both measures. Sacramento-based Sutter Health has also contributed to the opposition effort.

"Sutter Health, Stanford Health Care and Kaiser Permanente are part of a coalition of more than 1,000 doctors, dentists, optometrists, nurses and community members who oppose [the measures]," Duane Dauner, director of the opposition campaign called Protect Our Local Hospitals and Health Care, told Becker's. "Sutter Health's Palo Alto Medical Foundation has been serving the community since 1930. The city councils of Livermore and Palo Alto are unanimously opposed to the measures in their cities as well."

The measures "claim to limit healthcare prices to fixed city-government regulated costs. Instead, according to doctors, nurses [and] public health experts, the initiative will only reduce healthcare quality and access," he said.

The Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West sponsored both initiatives. As of Oct. 20, the union's campaign had spent $2.4 million to promote measures in both California cities.

SEIU-UHW spokesperson Sean Wherley argued in The Stanford Daily the measure will provide accountability for local healthcare providers.

"This is about transparency [and] letting people understand how much [they] are being charged, and why [they] are being charged so much more than the clinic down the street or in the neighboring community," he told the publication. "This is our chance as an organization to get healthcare costs under control."

Voters will decide the measures on Nov. 6.

Editors note: This article was updated on Nov. 2.

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Artificial intelligence is changing the world at breakneck speed. As a result, people often experience a consistency bias in thinking about machine intelligence. Because AI's infrastructure, availability, speed and sheer scale has enabled bolder algorithms to tackle more ambitious problems, humans can easily associate this technology with futuristic innovation  like self-driving cars and robots  and forget that tools they use or encounter in ordinary life  smartphones, online ads, navigation and ride-sharing  are driven by AI.

"Sometimes it's so practical in our everyday lives that we're using it in applications that we don't even think of as AI any longer," said Ashley Allen, Director of Strategy for Waystar.

In mid-September, more than a dozen executives, vice presidents and other senior-level healthcare professionals gathered in Chicago for a roundtable discussion on the relationship between AI and hospitals' revenue cycles as part of Becker's Hospital Review 4th Annual Health IT + Revenue Cycle Conference. The conversation was made possible by Waystar, which formed in 2017 through the combination of Navicure and ZirMed. Waystar reaches 450,000 providers, 22,000 healthcare organizations and 750 health systems and hospitals with its integrated RCM solutions.

Ms. Allen and Dan Ward, Vice President of Strategy for Waystar, led the hour-long roundtable with participants to discover how organizations are leveraging AI in the revenue cycle today, challenges they experience in doing so and AI applications they are clamoring for to strengthen the hospital revenue cycle.

"I want you to push the envelope here and think in your wildest dreams," Mr. Ward said. "If you could poach people from Amazon and Google, bring them into your system and offer them unlimited budgets and two years  what would you want to emerge? What would you really like to see in terms of your revenue cycle and AI applications?"

How hospitals are using AI today

Before the health system leaders answered that question and described their most ambitious AI-RCM aspirations, they began by level-setting and discussing their revenue cycle realities. When Ms. Allen asked participants how AI is used within their organizations today, participants paused to think. The consistency bias  associating AI with the most cutting-edge technologies versus those that are more familiar  was likely in effect. Ms. Allen followed up by asking who in the room leverages propensity-to-pay tools; several participants raised their hands.

"Propensity-to-pay platforms are artificial intelligence," she said. "Many scores rely heavily upon credit score information, but it is still integrated into some sort of algorithm as the foundation for creating that score and leveraging it back to you as an indicator of likelihood of payment.

Machine learning capabilities mean AI has the statistical ability to recognize patterns in vast amounts of data. Given this power, Ms. Allen pointed out how propensity-to-pay platforms can grow more effective over time as they integrate information that can facilitate better understanding the financial health of a hospital's relationship with any given patient or guarantor.

AI and healthcare: Opportunities and challenges

For as much criticism as the healthcare industry withstands for opaque financial interactions and high administrative costs, Mr. Ward reasoned that the data-driven nature of healthcare puts the industry at a significant advantage for AI in the revenue cycle. Financial data is highly structured, and AI is in constant state of dealing with structured versus unstructured  or gray  data. Hospitals don't have to look far to find structured, uniform data that is highly organized.

"Every data scientist I talk to is incredibly envious of what we have in healthcare," Mr. Ward said. "We have CPT codes and ICD codes. We have discharge dispositions. We have DRGs. In other words, a significant amount of the activity is codified. Yes, there is unstructured data in terms of discharge notes, discharge summaries and the physician dictation, but the amount of data we have that is structured is overwhelming compared to other industries."

The amount of codified data within hospitals' reach is promising, but such a wide swath of information can leave hospitals  especially those early on in AI adoption  feeling overwhelmed. One participant recognized how crucial it is for organizations to deploy AI with clear intent, purpose and objectives. "[One challenge is] the overwhelming amount of information, and trying to focus on where you need to start, then following a path so you can continuously use AI," said the former CFO of a 400-physician medical group in the Northeast.

Although healthcare may be laden with the right kind of information for AI, the clash of technology and the employee experience is something participants cited as a concern. The AI revolution is poised to automate millions of jobs over the next decade and create new kinds of employment for those occupations made redundant.

Yet employment is not purely an economical function  it is also tied to our emotional wellbeing. A few participants said they are actively working to lessen anxiety and reassure members of their team worried about be replaced by technology. In doing so, they point out how AI is sifting away redundant tasks to leave employees with work that requires uniquely human capabilities, such as problem solving, critical thinking and creativity.

"There is fear of what they don't know," said the director of revenue cycle quality with one of the top 10 cancer hospitals in the country. "For automation, they think everyone will lose their job. With each new tool, [my job is] educating them on what it is, how it can make their role easier and how it makes their role more rewarding because the mundane widgets are gone, and they are now challenged with critical thinking. That usually challenges the team members you want to keep. For others who want to do things the way it's always been done, it may be ok if they leave the organization."

Discussion participants acknowledged hospital and health system workforces would benefit from more education about AI and how it may affect them in the short-term.

"My biggest thing I tell staff is, 'This will make your life so much easier,'" said the CFO of a nonprofit, multi-facility hospital campus in the Pacific Northwest that includes a 336-bed medical center. "You can be really transparent about how it will make them more resourceful and efficient versus AI being something that [will] eliminate their job."

Where and how hospitals want to put AI to use

After the participants discussed the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into the hospital revenue cycle, they shared how they'd like to see the technology leveraged and the qualities they consider most necessary for AI to truly thrive in the revenue cycle  a distinct space where clinical, financial and consumer concerns merge.

Clinician involvement. Health systems' clinical and financial worlds are crashing together. As a result, attendees expressed need for clinical expertise in AI applications in the revenue cycle space. Mr. Ward recognized this by noting the sophisticated use of technology he has seen in health systems where a CMIO filters AI applications through a clinical lens. "Frequently, people who don't have a clinical understanding or understanding of what they're looking at will arrive at a statiscial conclusion that is contrary to operational reality," said Mr. Ward. "I think that's why where there is an active CMIO is where we see the most interesting applications of AI in the traditional clinical areas, but also as it percolates to the revenue cycle and the intersection of the revenue cycle and clinical areas."

Feedback loop with clinicians. While CMIO engagement and expertise sets great AI-revenue cycle pairs apart, roundtable participants also want AI to communicate and inform care teams on a continuous, ongoing basis. The AI-revenue cycle relationship should not be one-sided. "One thing that would be beneficial and helpful is a feedback loop with physicians," said the CFO from the hospital campus in the Pacific Northwest. "Give them real-time information, like 'Here are the things you can improve on in your documentation and ordering.' We find that quite a bit: If you would have documented 'X,' we could have billed for that. But you didn't, and we can't. We need to educate our physicians on building their skill set."

Price transparency. Although the promise of price transparency has received a lot of attention over the past five to eight years, several participants noted that information about procedures' pricetags remains complex, inaccessible and prone to variation. But what if AI were applied to price prediction? It would put providers in better positions to answer questions like this: "We're frustrated for a lot of our patients, who call and say, 'How much will I have to pay for a CT scan?' It sounds like an easy question, but it's not when you consider all of our payer contracts have different criteria," said the CFO of a 25-bed county-owned hospital in the Midwest. "So, you have to know with a payer if you have fixed fees or are they a fee per service? Is it just a simple CT scan or one with contrast? It's not a simple question. But to the patient, it is a simple question: What am I going to pay?"

Denial prevention. Several roundtable participants declared denial management to be a chief concern, particularly related to prior authorization. They expressed a desire to see AI deployed to help determine the need for a prior authorization based on a historical denials, CPT codes, payer rules and other criteria.

Conclusion

In closing, Mr. Ward and Ms. Allen noted the difficult nature of keeping a conversation about challenges, opportunities, preferences and needs for AI in the revenue cycle to 60 minutes. They encouraged participants to remember AI is not just a futuristic, cutting edge technology, but a tool Americans interact with every day. Think about how we encounter AI in daily life, they encouraged, and leave room for imagination on how its convenience, speed, adaptability and ease of use could carry over to healthcare.

"I just really want to see the rev cycle really embrace AI," Mr. Ward said. "We're talking about improving and saving lives, but somehow technology informing the movie we're going to watch on Friday evening is very often making better use of AI than helping people manage access to care and responsibly controlling the cost of having their lives saved."
Patrick Woodard, MD, associate chief medical officer for IT at Reno, Nev.-based Renown Health, discusses the growing need for physician involvement in system planning and strategy, and why human relationships are critical to healthcare.

Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Question: How has your role as CMIO evolved over the past two to three years? How have your responsibilities changed since you took on the role?

Dr. Patrick Woodard: Before I took this role, my organization did not have a clinician or physician in any similar role. As such, when assuming initial responsibilities a few years ago, the role had a much narrower scope. There was a focus on 'fixing' things in the medical record, whether it was workflow complaints, broken orders or documentation enhancements. This core work will always remain in the CMIO's portfolio as a workflow expert and lean practitioner, but there is a growing need for physician involvement in system planning and strategy. My role has a unique view of both clinical and non-clinical aspects of the health system that has engendered a high level of respect from system leaders.

Q: What do you consider your No. 1 priority as CMIO? How do you ensure you're successful?

PW: Building positive, human relationships will always be critical to health. The question, as algorithms and artificial intelligence improve, will be how to best ensure the 'human touch' can reach our patients, wherever they are. In that way, technology works as an adjunct to human interaction to support the Quadruple Aim. To support that, my top priority is to ensure that our implementation of technology supports that  to be sure we provide value, improve human relationships and support health. Making sure we create happiness and reduce anxiety in the process is important, too.

Q: Which apps and technologies do you find most helpful, and which do you think will be passing fads?

PW: Seamless application at the point of care is the most important element for all clinical applications. I have seen several vendors promoting their 'platform as a service' applications that overlay the EMR. I don't think that's the answer. Instead, apps that work within existing, previously implemented software, such as Epic's App Orchard and Cerner's App Gallery, may have much more utility.

Accordingly, the most helpful applications are directly integrated, including patient-facing portals and integrated clinical communications tools. On the patient-facing side, virtual care will be instrumental in reaching patients where they are and will be critical in reaching population health goals.

Here at Renown, we are also working through the Healthy Nevada Project to personalize medicine and treatment plans for patients by better understanding their genetics.

Q: How do you feel about the use of voice recognition technology, such as Amazon's 'Alexa' and Google Assistant, in healthcare? Is there a place for its use within the EHR?

PW: This is such an exciting time. Voice recognition will definitely make its way into the EHR, as it should, but not until it is consistently more accurate. A good 10 percent of the time, my bathroom lights turn on when I want my bedroom lights to. That's fine in my house, but not fine when we need to know the difference between Inderal, a blood pressure medication, and Adderall. As the technology matures, voice recognition will ultimately be able to make great strides in provider satisfaction with the EMR and greatly improve convenience and clinician-patient relationships.

To learn more about clinical informatics and health IT, register for the Becker's Hospital Review 2nd Annual Health IT + Clinical Leadership Conference May 2-4, 2019 in Chicago. Click here to learn more and register.

To participate in future Becker's Q&As, contact Jackie Drees at jdrees@beckershealthcare.com.
William H. Considine, CEO of Akron (Ohio) Children's Hospital, announced his retirement. He became CEO emeritus, effective Oct. 31, and he will retire from the CEO emeritus position Jan. 1, 2020.

Mr. Considine became president and CEO of the hospital in 1979. During his tenure, he grew the hospital from one with an annual operating budget of $35 million and 900 employees to one with a budget of $1.8 billion and 6,000-plus employees. The organization today has two hospital campuses and 60-plus locations. Currently, there are three regional health centers under construction.

As CEO emeritus, Mr. Considine will continue to work with the Children's Hospital Association and Ohio Children's Hospital Association on child advocacy.

Grace Wakulchik, BSN, MSN, RN, succeeded Mr. Considine Oct. 31. She has served as president of Akron Children's since July 2017. She previously served as COO and helped oversee the implementation of a new EHR in 2012.

In addition to her nursing degrees, Ms. Wakulchik earned an MBA from Kent (Ohio) State University. She has also completed the Johnson & Johnson Wharton Fellows Program in Management for Nurse Executives at the Wharton School and Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health appointed Gino Santorio acting CEO, effective Oct. 31.

Here are six things to know:

1. Mr. Santorio has served as executive vice president and COO of the health system since 2017.

2. He previously served as senior vice president and CEO for Jackson North Medical Center in North Miami Beach, Fla., and was vice president and COO of Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.

3. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

4. Mr. Santorio holds a master's degree in public administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany-State University of New York.

5. He takes over from Beverly Capasso, RN, who abruptly resigned earlier in October. An emailed statement from the health system did not give a reason for Ms. Capasso's decision to step down. She will serve in a consulting role until January 2019 to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

6. Earlier Oct. 31, news broke that Broward Health's board fired its general counsel amid the significant leadership upheaval at the health system. Mr. Santorio is the fourth executive to lead the health system since January 2016. Additionally, five Broward Health officials were indicted in December 2017 for allegedly violating Florida's open-meeting laws.
Nepal, Thailand to hike flight frequency 3-fold

Nepal and Thailand are all set to revise the bilateral air services agreement (ASA) this week to increase the existing 10 weekly flights frequency by more than three folds to meet the growing demand of air travellers between the two countries.
Seventeen-year-old Cole Eicher fought brain cancer when he was 12. Now in remission, Cole oversees a nonprofit that has raised $1 million for cancer research, according to Fox 13.

Four years ago, Cole started the nonprofit Gold Together to raise money for pediatric cancer patients.

"I really wanted to help the cause and just fight back against pediatric cancer," Cole told Fox 13.

Cole raises the money by speaking at community events and encouraging people to donate. Through these arrangements, Cole has raised more than $1 million, which he donated to aid in cancer research, awareness and support.

"My mission is to do the greatest amount of good in the least amount of time for the greatest amount of kids," Cole told Fox 13.

The Gold Together Relay for Life Team is now a nationally recognized program and will have a team across every state in the U.S.

For more information on the Gold Together foundation, click here.

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Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center will begin arming a "select group" of security guards in November, Penn Live reports. The measure is meant to protect nurses and other healthcare professionals from acts of aggression or violence inside the hospital.

Hospital President Deborah A. Berini confirmed the policy change to Penn Live and said officials have also begun placing signs throughout the facility informing patients and visitors that aggressive behavior and speech will not be tolerated.

Ms. Berini said the hospital expanded its security force from 18 to 30 individuals, but only a select group who have undergone special training in dealing with violent situations and firearm proficiency will carry guns. While she declined to tell Penn Live the exact number of security officials who will be carrying guns, those select individuals will be armed 24/7, she said.

The security measures are part part of "a tremendous amount of work that has been underway for several years" to improve security for staff, patients and visitors, Ms. Berini said, adding that the hospital has created a behavioral response team comprising people with training to de-escalate conflict and is developing a "risk assessment tool" to better identify patients and situations that may turn violent.

Ms. Berini said additional security measures will be rolled out during the next few months, including a "panic button" type device enabling nurses to summon help and the hiring of a consultant to help identify technology upgrades Penn State Hershey can make to improve security.

"I believe they are moving in the right direction," a hospital nurse who is part of the institution's security committee told Penn Live. "They are looking to us for our input, and they are looking to make wholesale changes to protect the nurses."

To access the full report, click here.
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic's new master's degree program for physician assistants at the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences received initial accreditation approval from the Higher Learning Commission.

The two-year program leads to a Master of Health Sciences in PA studies. The program includes courses and labs held at the Cascade Meadow facility in Rochester for Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and hands-on clinical experiences at Mayo Clinic.

The second year of the curriculum involves clinical rotations at Mayo Clinic's hospitals and clinics in southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northern Iowa.

"Innovative educational collaborations will play an essential role in creating the highest-quality, patient-centered care," said Fredric Meyer, MD, executive dean of education for Mayo Clinic. "We are committed to developing educational pathways for students that empower them to meet the needs of area patients."
Nurses at Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans, Vt., overwhelmingly voted against forming a union, according to a VTDigger report.

Unionization efforts began earlier this year, with help from the Vermont branch of the American Federation of Teachers. At issue for pro-union workers has been staffing, according to the report. They have argued forming a union would help resolve staffing problems, while the hospital argued unionization was not the answer and would negatively affect the relationship between nurses and hospital administrators.

VTDigger reported that the AFT branch has accused the hospital of "illegal campaigning" before the unionization vote, but Northwestern has denied the assertions.

Access the full report here.

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Chicago-based Saint Anthony Hospital, which recently received designation as a children's hospital, is focusing on pediatric care after several local hospitals closed their pediatric inpatient units, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The hospital, which has 18 pediatric beds, formed a partnership with University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital in 2016. Through the partnership, Comer specialists offer services at Saint Anthony and are available to answer questions from Saint Anthony physicians. Comer medical residents are also training at Saint Anthony, and patients who need more complex services are transferred to Comer and other hospitals.

"So many community hospitals and even some larger hospitals are closing their pediatric units," Saint Anthony CEO Guy Medaglia told the Tribune. "I saw the (children's hospital) designation as a way to say to our community, 'Look, we're serious about staying in pediatrics.'"

Overall, Chicago-area hospitals cut more than 170 pediatric beds between 2012 and late 2017, according to an application Chicago-based Lurie Children's Hospital sent to the state in 2017 to add more beds.

Several of the hospitals cited weak demand as a reason for scaling back on pediatric services, noting certain procedures are increasingly being offered on an outpatient basis.

But partnerships like the one between Saint Anthony and Comer let community hospitals boost pediatric offerings in a more efficient way than by creating their own programs from scratch, said Amy Wimpey Knight, COO of the Children's Hospital Association.
Two former executives from Valeant Pharmaceuticals and mail-order pharmacy Philidor Rx Services were sentenced to one year in prison and ordered to forfeit $9.7 million for defrauding the drugmaker through a secret kickback scheme, according to CNBC.

Gary Tanner, the former executive from Valeant, and Andrew Davenport, the former CEO of Philidor, were convicted on four charges, including honest services wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in May.

Prosecutors accused Mr. Tanner of steering Valeant business to Philidor and concealing a $9.7-million kickback from Mr. Davenport. The $9.7 million was part of a $50-million payment Mr. Davenport received when Valent sought to buy the mail-order pharmacy. To conceal the scheme, Mr. Tanner reportedly used an email account with the alias "Brian Wilson" to communicate with Mr. Davenport.

Prosecutors recommended prison terms ranging from 2.5 to 10 years for Mr. Tanner and 2.5 to eight years for Mr. Davenport.

"[Mr.] Tanner was entrusted to manage Valeant's relationship with Davenport's company," said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman, according to CNBC. "Instead, they devised a scheme to pillage Valeant and share the proceeds."

The case marks the first criminal prosecution arising from federal probes into Valeant's operations. In an effort to save its reputation, the embattled drugmaker overhauled its management team and changed its name to Bausch Health in July.
Chicago Lakeshore Hospital is under federal and state investigation over patient safety concerns and alleged sexual assaults, according to ProPublica Illinois.

Here are five things to know:

1. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigated 16 allegations of abuse and neglect at the psychiatric hospital, which includes claims of staff and patients raping or sexually abusing other patients.

2. Allegations of sexual assaults cropped up in September when the hospital was treating two young pediatric patients who are now in the care of the state's Department of Children and Family. The agency is still investigating the alleged assaults. An employee accused in one of the alleged assaults no longer works at the hospital.

3. Hospital officials did not respond to ProPublica Illinois' request for comment about individual cases. However, David Fletcher-Janzen, CEO of Chicago Lakeshore Hospital, indicated employees identified as the suspects of any allegations are either suspended or moved to a different building while the hospital and DCFS conduct an investigation.

4. The Illinois Department of Public Health has also conducted several inspections of Chicago Lakeshore Hospital on behalf of federal agencies since July and found the hospital failed to guarantee the safety of its suicidal patients and gain patient consent before administering potent medications.

5. Federal authorities said they will cut funding if the hospital does not address these issues by the end of November. Mr. Fletcher-Janzen said the hospital is working with the state and federal authorities to address the hospital's deficiencies in statement to ProPublica Illinois.

"Chicago Lakeshore Hospital takes every allegation of impropriety very seriously and files reports immediately. All allegations, regardless of probability, are reported to maintain a high level of caution and transparency," Mr. Fletcher-Janzen told the publication. "Our goal is to improve the lives of these young patients so they can grow to be healthy adults both physically and mentally."

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A state investigation revealed several hand hygiene deficiencies at the Wanaque (N.J.) Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, where an ongoing adenovirus outbreak has sickened 26 children and killed nine.

Here are four things to know:

1. The New Jersey Department of Health outlined the infection control issues in an inspection report summarizing a surprise visit to the facility Oct. 21. The health department conducted the inspection 12 days after learning of the first cluster of adenovirus infections among patients at the facility

2. Four of six staff members monitored during the failed to meet appropriate hand hygiene standards, according to the report. In one instance, a nursing assistant removed a patient's soiled diaper before attaching a respiratory tube to the child using the same gloves.

3. In a separate situation, a licensed practice nurse used gloves to handle a nutrition tube that fed directly into a patient's stomach. Shen then removed the gloves and touched a ventilator tube connected to the patient's tracheal opening without washing her hands. The report also said a respiratory therapist at the facility failed to wash her hands in between handling three different patients.

4. The state health department prohibited Wanaque from admitting new patients until the adenovirus outbreak, which started Sept. 26, officially ends. Additionally, the department will keep a staff member from its communicable disease service on-site at the facility until the outbreak is over.

"Every single deficiency we find in these facilities is taken seriously," Dr. Elnahal told the North Jersey Record. "We do ask for a plan of correction and look for those deficiencies on subsequent visits.

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Newark, N.J.-based University Hospital hired a new state-ordered infectious disease specialist to investigate current infection control practices at the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, according to NJ.com.

On Oct. 29, the hospital named Joan Heben, RN, from Baltimore-based IPC Consulting Group, to work 36 hours a week observing infection control practices.

The New Jersey Department of Health in October investigated four Acinetobacter baumannii cases in the hospital's NICU after the death of a premature baby. The investigation uncovered "major infection control deficiencies" in the hospital's NICU.

One of the state's requirements for the hospital to remedy these issues was to hire a full-time infection control practitioner.

"University Hospital takes patient safety, including infection control, very seriously," the hospital said in a statement cited by a previous NJ.com report. "We have been in regular communication with the Department of Health and continue to work closely with them to address this issue as quickly as possible."

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Online portal editor arrested for publishing misleading news on PMs health

Police on Tuesday arrested an editor of an online portal for publishing false and misleading news story regarding the health condition of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, police confirmed.
Shopping centre giant Intu, owner of Sprucefield Park, has confirmed a 50m refurbishment of the Lisburn site will go ahead despite the prospect of the firm's takeover. (stock photo)

Shopping centre giant Intu, owner of Sprucefield Park, has confirmed a 50m refurbishment of the Lisburn site will go ahead despite the prospect of the firm's takeover.

Intu, which owns shopping centres in the UK and Spain, said it will deliver 13 retail units, along with new places to eat, an 80-bedroom hotel and landscaping improvements.

It would bring over 200 construction jobs and over 300 retail jobs.

The park is base to retailers including Sainsbury's and Next Home. It is a separate development to Sprucefield Centre, which is home to retailers including Next, Marks and Spencer and Boots.

A spokesman for the company said: "We can confirm that our plans to transform Sprucefield Park are still moving forward.

"In May we ran a public consultation exercise which demonstrated overwhelming support in the local community for our proposals. Since then we have been working to bring forward a planning application incorporating the valuable feedback we received from local people.

"The application has been submitted and was validated by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council on Friday, October 19."

The reassurance comes weeks after Intu said the value of its shopping centres had fallen amid difficult retail conditions.

The group said its net asset value fell 3% in the third quarter. Its portfolio was valued at 9.58bn as of September 30.

Earlier this month Peel Group, Olayan and Brookfield Property tabled a 2.8bn offer for Intu. Between them the Peel Group and Olayan Group already hold 29.9% of the company.

Yesterday the consortium was granted until 5pm on November 15 to make a firm offer or pull out of the deal.

It has been granted access to company documents for due diligence as it considers whether to make a firm offer.

The proposed acquisition price is significantly less than that of rival retail property giant Hammerson. which owns Abbey Retail Park. Hammerson considered paying 3.4bn for the company before it abandoned the bid in April.

Meanwhile, the Beannchor Group have revealed plans to build a 4m hotel at Lisburn Square, creating 75 jobs. The 52-bedroom hotel will be the first to open in the city centre.
Cardboard box maker Smurfit Kappa will seek compensation from Venezuela for the seizure of its operations in that country.

The seizure meant Smurfit - which has a major operation, making corrugated packaging in Lurgan, Co Armagh - had to write down its net assets by 66m (59m).

Chief executive Tony Smurfit told analysts yesterday that he was "deeply, deeply saddened for all of the employees and their families who have benefited from secure and gainful employment during our almost 65 years of operations in that country".

"The actions taken by the government are without precedent for the (company) and Smurfit Kappa will diligently pursue its international rights in this regard, including the right to claim compensation through international arbitration proceedings under the applicable bilateral investment treaty."

The company released a trading update yesterday, covering the first nine months of its financial year. It said underlying revenue was up 7% year-on-year, while Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) before exceptional items was up 27% year-on-year.

Chairman Liam O'Mahony, the former CRH chief executive who has been in the role for 10 years, is to be replaced as chairman by Irial Finan next year, the company said.

Smurfit also announced an agreement to buy a Serbian plant and paper mill for a combined 133m (118m), saying it would increase its European footprint.
Catherine Bond is one of those rare beings who does not want to be famous for her work. The 69-year-old children's author, who only discovered in the last few years that she has a talent for writing, describes herself as too shy to cope with the attention fame would bring.

That's not to say that she doesn't want her work to be widely read and appreciated for its quality, which is why she has gone down the long road of self publishing her first two books.

The response so far to her adventure stories, Moonmirror and Moonglimmer, which are aimed at older children, has been fantastic, and Catherine is delighted by feedback from adults who love her books as well.

Her own life story has some fascinating twists. She grew up one of three children to English parents during the Troubles in a mixed, middle class area of north Belfast.

She met her English husband when he was stationed here with the Royal Navy during the Troubles and followed him to England where they married and settled in Dartmouth in Devon.

Catherine has lived in the same chocolate box cottage surrounded by National Trust woodland for 40 years, where she raised her two children, and it is this idyllic setting which provided inspiration for the adventures in her books.

Her mother, Mary Worrall, is 100 years old and lives in Ballymena and her late father Peter was a respected businessman in the city who ran the Belfast branch of a London-based drapery store.

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Catherine's husband David (70) now works as a marine antique dealer and they have two children, Charles (42) and Suzanne (41), and three grandchildren, Lewis (16), Indi (11) and Rumer (14).

Catherine worked as a physiotherapist and then ran a bed and breakfast from her home for many years.

She grew up on the Antrim Road in the shadow of Belfast Castle and attended Belfast Royal Academy before training as a physiotherapist at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

And Catherine feels fortunate that she was largely shielded from the worst of the Troubles.

"The Troubles didn't affect me personally, apart from road blocks and having your bag searched going into shops," she says.

"We lived in a mixed, middle class area where the neighbours were all very polite.

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"I did hear gunfire sometimes and I remember one guy being blown up while doing a message for his mum which was very sad.

"My parents were both English who came over to Belfast after the war and perhaps that is why we had no religious prejudice and my father was very much admired in Northern Ireland.

"My mum is 100 years old and still lives on her own and is still as sharp as a needle, although she is quite frail and can't get about as much as she would like to. My sister lives near her and I fly home every six weeks to see them."

Catherine was just 19 and training to be a physiotherapist when she met her husband David at a dance at the Boat Club in Belfast.

David was stationed here with HMS Maidstone. When he was transferred to North Wales three months after they met the young couple wrote to each other every day.

Six months later, Catherine left Northern Ireland to join David in England and the couple married two years later in 1972.

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They bought a cottage in Dartmouth 40 years ago which they still live in today.

Catherine ran it as a bed and breakfast business for 11 years and, in what proved to be a strange twist of fate, her business provided a much needed boost when it came to navigating the minefield that is self publishing.

She explains: "I had a lot of foreign visitors over the years and in all that time no one left without paying and there was only one couple I asked to leave.

"They were a young couple here for a wedding and the room they were staying in had just been decorated and they made a mess of it.

"As luck would have it and in an amazing turn of fate I had a couple from Bolivia staying with me. Two years ago they rang me asking to book in and they were absolutely devastated when I told them the house was no longer a B&B.

"But I then invited them to come and stay as friends free of charge.

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Whatsapp All smiles: Catherine with David, son Charles and daughter Suzanne

"It turned out she is a book designer and he is a film animator.

"They read my books and liked them so much that they offered to help.

"She has become a great friend and he did the drawings in my books.

"He works for governments making superb short anti-racist films. His name is Jesus Perez and he is very well known.

"He has won awards for his work and yet he stooped to help little old me. They did fantastic work on my book and if I had not invited them to stay and extended the hand of friendship it would never have happened."

After becoming bored by her B&B business, Catherine wanted a new challenge. She decided she would like to try and write a book, but at first had no idea what to write about.

A friend suggested that she should write about what she knows and she took inspiration from her own life rearing her children in such an idyllic setting.

She says: "The book is set in our cottage where I spent a lot of time with my children alone while my husband was in the Navy. We are surrounded by National Trust woodlands and have a little beach 200 yards away at the end of a creek and for years we have walked there and had our own adventures.

"The children in the book are based on my children and the house is our house so it is a bit autobiographical.

"I wrote my first book in 2000 and was so pleased with myself for finishing it and since then I have written six books.

"I couldn't get anyone to publish it. At that time JK Rowling's had got very big and publishers were swamped. Then, two years ago, my son and daughter said if I didn't publish them myself they would never get published and so I started the long journey of self-publishing."

Moonmirror is about three children who invent a light powered by the moon and at a lunar eclipse find they have tumbled back in time.

They befriend a one-legged seagull, a robin and two mice, and unearth the bones of an old pirate.

Moonglimmer, which is just published, continues the story but does stand alone with a different adventure. A visitor from the dark side of the moon visits Earth, enticed by Eddie's Moonmirror light.

He is just in time to prevent the threat of a cold war, as two Russian submarines have gone missing and the Navy are on alert. The children are the ones who discover what is going on in the ocean and have some unusual experiences with the Moonglimmer.

Catherine's first book is now available on Kindle and the second is soon to follow.

Keen to get her books into Northern Ireland, the grandmother sent a few boxes to the library in Lisburn.

"They have done quite well and my challenge now is to let people know they are available," she says.

"Because I am from Northern Ireland I desperately wanted to get them there and Valerie Christie of the children's library has been so kind and nice to me and has distributed them throughout the libraries.

"I have also been asked by Ballymena library to do a reading sometime to their young readers. I am thrilled that my books have gone to Northern Ireland.

"I've had great feedback and I'm delighted that they are doing quite well. I am a firm believer that if the books have legs, they will walk."

Catherine faces the challenge of trying to get her book into the shops and currently they are available on Amazon.

She writes purely for the love of it and not for fame or fortune.

On this she is adamant: "I don't ever want to be famous, I can't think of anything worse than being famous. I am shy and I don't like talking in public.

"I am well educated and, I like to think, intelligent. Fifty Shades of Grey sold on notoriety and that's not what I'm about, but I would however like the books to be a success and to be recognised as having some literary merit.

"I loved writing the books and I've had so many compliments from people who said the books took them away from Brexit and all the other everyday pressures and I'm totally thrilled by that.

"I find as you get older you realise that if you have food in your fridge and a roof over your head and health for your family then that's all you need in life.

"There are so many rich people who are miserable and I think sometimes people miss what is really important in life."

She adds: "I would love my books to be stocked in bookshops but I don't know how to get them there so hopefully people will go on to Amazon and have a look."

Catherine's books Moonmirror and Moonglimmer are available in paperback, priced 6.99, via Amazon and at www.catherine-bond.co.uk. Moonmirror is also available in Kindle Edition, 1.99
Karen Bradley said it had always been clear the meeting with the parties was a briefing about her bill (Victoria Jones/PA)

A meeting between Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and the regions political parties has been branded a waste of time.

Powersharing government at Stormont has been collapsed since January 2017 following a breakdown in relations between the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein.

Numerous attempts at talks to agree to the return of devolution to Stormont have ended in failure.

Ms Bradley met the largest five political parties in Belfast on Thursday before returning to London.

The meeting is understood to have lasted about 45 minutes.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mrs Bradley said she intended to brief the parties on the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Bill, which is intended to allow time and space for political parties to agree a return to powersharing government.

Speaking after meeting British Secretary of State Karen Bradley, Sinn Fein Negotiator @JohnODowdSF MLA said the British government are treating large sections of society with utter and complete contempt. pic.twitter.com/6uD5IMpRh6  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) November 1, 2018

The Sinn Fein delegation gave a short statement to the media after the meeting, before leaving without taking questions.

Sinn Fein MLA John ODowd accused the British Government of treating large sections of this society with utter and complete contempt.

We attended a meeting this morning with the Secretary of State and the other political parties to establish if there was basis for going forward with a rights based society with accountable government for all, unfortunately that was not the case, he said.

It is quite clear that the British Government is treating large sections of this society with utter and complete contempt.

Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said the meeting had been badly briefed and was badly advised.

Government must be prepared to reintroduce Direct Rule - Swann



Ulster Unionist Leader Robin Swann MLA has called on the Government to reintroduce Direct Rule if it cannot get political agreement to restore... https://t.co/CyzNu0Z0Mx  Robin Swann MLA #StopCovidNI (@RobinSwannMoH) November 1, 2018

I said to the Secretary of State I thought it was simply so that someone in the NIO could tick a box to say they had brought all five parties around a table, he said.

Mr Swann said Ms Bradley must now either take ownership of the process, or introduce direct rule for Northern Ireland from Westminster.

To salvage this now, the Secretary of State needs to take ownership of this process, and actually puts together a five party talks process, irrelevant of the consensus of the five parties on what it looks like, she needs to take ownership and if she doesnt take ownership, she needs to introduce direct rule, he said.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described the meeting as a waste of time.

It is quite clear that the British Government are totally unprepared to take the necessary next steps to get powersharing restored.

Today is an embarrassing day for the Secretary of State. Quite simply, it is not her job to wait for a consensus, her job, alongside the Tanaiste, is to kickstart the talks process.

Alliance leader Naomi Long said relations between parties are at an all time low.

Todays briefing from the Secretary of State was not just a pointless exercise, but I would argue it was actually counterproductive in that relationships between the parties and indeed with the Secretary of State are possibly now at an all-time low, she said.

The reality is, the longer this process continues the further we drift from restoration of the institutionsNaomi Long

The reality is, the longer this process continues the further we drift from restoration of the institutions.

We are not where we were in February when the talks collapsed, we are further away today from restoration than we were then, and with every day that passes, we get further and further away.

She added: The responsibility now lies with the Secretary of State to make a decision to convene the talks and to get us back in the room, and put it up to the parties.

If parties are not willing to come and participate, then let them be held accountable by the public who are sick to the back teeth of this nonsense.

The Democratic Unionists have not yet given a reaction to the meeting.

Speaking earlier, Mrs Bradley said it had always been clear the meeting with the parties was a briefing about her bill.

I have always been clear that this was a briefing for the parties on the bill that will become an act of parliament next week so that they can understand what the debates were in parliament last week and this week in the House of Lords, and so they can see now that it is going to be an act of parliament in the next few days, what that will mean, she said.

That is what I am going to do now because I want to get those parties in a room together and really go through with them how this act will deliver for them.

But they have to do the right thing, come back into government, and I want to see them do that as soon as possible.
A heartbroken couple have hit out at "barbaric" legislation that forced them to travel to England for healthcare after their unborn baby was diagnosed with a fatal foetal abnormality

A heartbroken couple have hit out at "barbaric" legislation that forced them to travel to England for healthcare after their unborn baby was diagnosed with a fatal foetal abnormality.

Their dream of giving their two-year-old daughter a sibling was shattered when the 12-week scan revealed their baby had anencephaly, a condition where the skull and brain do not develop.

The couple from east Belfast had to travel to England for a termination when they decided they could not face the agony of continuing with the pregnancy.

They set up a Twitter account, RatherBeHome, which detailed the reality facing women carrying a baby with a fatal foetal abnormality.

They explained that the trauma of receiving the anencephaly diagnosis was agonising.

However, they described the current legislation relating to abortion as "torture" and said they will never recover from the ordeal that followed.

The woman, who does not want to identified, said: "I knew immediately that I couldn't continue with the pregnancy.

"Having had a baby before and knowing what that's like, the first time around it was such a pleasant experience.

"People are so nice and they ask questions about the pregnancy and the baby and I couldn't go through those conversations every day knowing my baby wasn't going to survive."

The couple's nightmare began in September when they went for their 12-week scan. A scan at eight weeks hadn't shown any problems, so the news their baby had anencephaly was a shock.

The couple also had to wait a week for a firm diagnosis as the only doctor at the hospital who specialised in foetal medicine was on leave. Once they had a definitive diagnosis, both knew a termination was the only option.

However, they said they were met by judgmental comments and incorrect advice from some health professionals, while others provided vague information on what they could do next.

"We felt like we were in the dark; apart from the diagnosis there wasn't much else," said the woman. "We were told the chances were our baby would probably survive to birth but they wouldn't survive much longer.

"We were very clear throughout that we wanted a termination but we felt like we were very much at the mercy of whoever we were talking to and their interpretation of the law on the support and help we were getting."

In the end, while they trying to come to terms with their gut-wrenching loss, they had to make endless phone calls until they were able to make an appointment at Liverpool Women's Hospital.

"It was considered a late termination so there are limited hospitals that can do it," she explained.

At the hospital in Liverpool the couple were treated with kindness and compassion. While they wanted to bring him home for a burial, making arrangements for this was more than they could cope with.

"There was the option to bring him on the airplane but then we would have to get permission from the airline (and) it would have meant ringing up and having to explain the situation over and over to different people," said her husband.

"We decided the best option was for him to be part of a communal cremation with other lost babies, where they would have a little service and all the names are read out.

"It would have been totally different if we hadn't have had to leave Northern Ireland but it took so much strength to just get through the journey that the idea of having more to do to bring his remains home, we just couldn't face it."

They said they had been overwhelmed by the messages of support on Twitter, but had also been trolled.

"We set up the Twitter account because we want people to see what this country is putting women through," the woman said.

"The law here doesn't stop women from having abortions, it just adds to the trauma and horror of what is already an absolute nightmare. It needs to change, the law here is barbaric."
The side of the McCartans home was caved in after the collapse of the adjoining church wall

A couple say they are dreading another winter spent shivering in their home after it was badly damaged in a church wall collapse nine months ago.

John (68) and Noreen McCartan (59) expected the extensive damage caused to their property in February to be repaired within weeks.

But their home is still minus a side wall and they now face a lengthy legal battle.

The church's insurance company is blaming the planner and builder of an extension to the the couple's property in 2015 for underming the wall that collapsed.

"We have been left in limbo and are sitting wrapped in layers and being forced to go to bed early in the evening, it's the only way to keep warm," Mrs McCartan said.

"Another winter is approaching and it's already getting really cold, yet we have a piece of wood and a bit of fibre covering up a gaping hole in our house."

She said the cold and damp had resulted in "very uncomfortable" living conditions.

The Dean of Down expressed sympathy over the McCartans' situation, but said previous inspections of the church wall did not flag up any concerns. Rev Henry Hull said his "hands are tied" and that the legal wrangle had to be resolved properly.

"Our insurance company is of the view that the wall was undermined by building work at the McCartans' side before it fell," he added.

"Nothing in our inspection notes suggested it was ever at risk of collapse, which is peculiar."

The clergyman said he hoped the "unfortunate" situation could be resolved soon, but the McCartans' solicitor is not so sure.

Ross White from Andrea Reid Solicitors confirmed that writs have been issued against a number of parties, including the church, and the builder and architect involved in the extension.

"The case has been filed with the court. We are confident but it is now a waiting game," he said.

Mrs McCartan, whose own home insurer refused to cover the damage and then cancelled her policy because the house is not safe, isn't interested in finger-pointing.

"All we know is that we didn't pull the wall down," she said.

"No one from the church pulled it down either, but it came down and we need it fixed."
A Derry man stopped and searched under anti-terrorism legislation more than 150 times has lost a new High Court challenge to the police actions.

Steven Ramsey claimed the powers were used to detain him in breach of his human rights. A judge found today that PSNI failures to record the grounds for searches under scrutiny were inconsistent with a code of practice.

But dismissing the challenge, Lord Justice Treacy held that evidence established there had been a basis for each incident. Mr Ramsey is a former member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement.

He has stated that he does not belong to any illegal organisation or political party and has no convictions for paramilitary activity.

The case centred on stop and search actions carried out under the Justice and Security (NI) Act 2007.

Mr Ramsey claimed he was subjected to 35 searches in 2009, 37 in 2010, another 23 in 2011, 31 in 2012 and a further 30 up to August 2013.

Notes from some of the searches indicated that he was stopped due to "suspected dissident republican links" or "as a result of confidential briefings".

The applicant, from Derry's Creggan area, contested the power to detain him on the basis that it breached his privacy entitlements under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

His challenge against the Chief Constable and Secretary of State focused on seven incidents after a code of practice was introduced in 2013.

It was contended that the stop and search power is not subject to adequate legal safeguards to prevent it being used arbitrarily.

Although the judge rejected Mr Ramsey's original challenge in 2014, the case was remitted to him on appeal for a fresh hearing.

Ruling on the judicial review application for a second time, Lord Justice Treacy said the PSNI had not recorded grounds for the stop and search, but relied on the authorisation itself as the basis.

"This practice is not in accordance with the Code," he said.

However, the judge confirmed that failure does not automatically render the exercise of the power unlawful or in breach of Article 8.

Written submissions provided by the police set out the basis for the stop and searches.

The court was told one senior officer stated: "Steven Ramsey is a know(n) dissident republican who currently associates with persons engaged in dissident terrorist activity.

"To that end I have ensured that all my operational staff are well briefed on the small number who would seek to do us harm."

Another police officer said they had stopped Mr Ramsey due to confidential briefings, advising him that authorisation was in place due to the current threat in the area.

Lord Justice Treacy concluded: "Save for the acknowledgment that the PSNI, in failing to record the basis for the use of the power, was acting in breach of the requirements of the code of practice, the applicant's extant grounds of challenge are dismissed."

Outside court Mr Ramsey's solicitor, Fearghal Shiels of Madden & Finucane, said: "We will consider the detailed judgment of the court with a view to an appeal to the Court of Appeal."
Province 1 forms planning commission

A Cabinet meeting of Province 1 government has appointed human rights activist Subodh Raj Pyakurel as the vice-chairman of Provincial Planning Commission.
A woman was allegedly shot while being pursued by her brother and father wielding crossbows, the High Court heard yesterday

A woman was allegedly shot while being pursued by her brother and father wielding crossbows, the High Court heard yesterday.

Prosecutors said a bolt went through her arm after she tried to flee from being knocked over and stamped on outside the family's homes in Co Fermanagh.

Charles McDonagh (46), of Coolcullen Meadow, Enniskillen, is charged with attempted murder and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place over the incident on October 14.

Crown lawyer Kate McKay said police encountered him after being called out to disturbances in the area.

She claimed Charles McDonagh was recorded telling an officer: "I meant to kill my daughter with a crossbow."

He allegedly continued: "I'm not afraid of ye or the law, I'm not leaving the estate until I kill someone - I'm mad in the brain."

It then emerged that his 22-year-old daughter had been badly injured by a crossbow bolt.

She was being treated in an ambulance, claiming at the scene that her 23-year-old brother Sean had fired the bolt at her. Wounds were noted on her arm.

Mrs McKay said police gained entry to Charles McDonagh's house and viewed CCTV footage of the suspected attack.

She claimed it showed Sean McDonagh, who lives next door, punch his sister to the head before kicking and stamping on her while she lay on the ground.

When the woman managed to get up and run off he allegedly went into his house before emerging with a crossbow and giving chase.

The footage depicts Charles McDonagh also coming out of his home with a similar weapon and heading in the same direction, it was contended.

"She (the alleged victim) is running off, her brother and father following her with a crossbow each," Mrs McKay added.

Even though Charles McDonagh is not accused of firing the bolt, he is charged with attempted murder based on his alleged pursuit and comments captured on body-worn police recorders.

Mr Justice McAlinden was told he accepted making some remarks but insisted he didn't mean them.

It was also confirmed that the accused's daughter has not made a formal statement of complaint.

Defence counsel argued that some of the alleged comments by his client are not clearly decipherable.

At one point the judge asked: "Why did he chase after his daughter with a crossbow, was he intending to shoot his son to protect his daughter?" The barrister responded by disputing prosecution submissions that the weapon Charles McDonagh was allegedly carrying had been loaded at the time.

He added: "It's also the case that he was running in the direction of both the injured party and his son with a crossbow."

According to the defence, the incident occurred amid a wider dispute in the community which involved neither Charles McDonagh nor his daughter.

Mr Justice McAlinden denied bail.
Health officials have again denied there is a shortage of flu jabs for the over-65s after fresh concerns were raised by an MLA.

Rosemary Barton said she is seeking "urgent clarification" from the Department of Health on why a number of patients in her Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency have "repeatedly been turned away" for flu vaccines.

The Public Health Agency, however, has repeated assurances that the final batch of 90,000 Fluad doses will arrive at the start of this month.

This follows comments made by the Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride in the Belfast Telegraph that everyone eligible for the new flu jab will receive it before the end of November.

It was being delivered in three batches, he explained, due to "manufacturing constraints" in its production.

Yet Mrs Barton said she is concerned that vulnerable patients are being potentially put at risk.

The UUP MLA said she has been contacted by several people who had been asked to return to their GPs at the end of October only to be informed that it will be "two weeks before any vaccines are available".

"There were already major concerns over the future of GP services in the Dungannon area and these delays in receiving the flu jab are now only making the situation even worse," she said.

"For some people the winter flu is nothing more than a mild irritation, yet for some others - such as those aged over 65 or with underlying health conditions such as asthma - it can really be severe and quite dangerous."

Mrs Barton said she has written to the head of the health department for further information on the issue.

When the Belfast Telegraph contacted the PHA for a response yesterday, a spokesperson referred us to a previous statement issued last week by health officials which revealed that nearly 140,000 doses have been allocated locally so far during this year's delayed flu programme.

Admitting that, based on initial feedback, there has been a "high demand" for the flu jab, it outlined that GPs have been allocated a proportion of each batch of the vaccine based on their practice size with patients aged 75 and over given priority.

The PHA statement stressed that while they "fully understand the concerns" of affected patients who may have to "wait slightly longer than they normally would to be vaccinated", the staggered approach should ensure those aged over 65 to 74 receive the most effective flu jab.

"It is important to emphasise that those eligible to receive the flu vaccine will still be vaccinated in advance of when the flu season normally starts to reach a peak, which traditionally is around late December/early January to mid-to-late February," they added. "Supplies of the other flu vaccines, which are used for children and those aged under 65 years of age in an 'at risk' group, are not affected and therefore these programmes are proceeding as normal.

"We would encourage them to attend for their vaccination according to the arrangements at their respective GP surgery."

Each year in Northern Ireland more than 500,000 people are vaccinated against influenza, with the "vast majority" of vaccinations occurring between "October to mid-December", according to health officials.

"We would continue to urge those aged 65 years or over to make sure they get protected against the influenza this winter by ensuring they are vaccinated, when invited to do so by their GP," the PHA said.

Have you had problems getting a flu jab? Email newseditor@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Dominic and Gemma Capparelli were told their right of permanent residence had expired. Photograph: Dominic Capparelli

A woman born and brought up in Northern Ireland has said she has been "left in limbo" after being asked by the Home Office to provide proof she is entitled to permanent residency in Belfast.

Gemma Capparelli, 36, has recently returned to Northern Ireland with her American husband Dominic, 38, and their 10-year-old son, after living abroad for more than 10 years.

Ms Capparelli identifies as Irish, as she is entitled to do under the Good Friday Agreement.

The couple ran into difficulties when Mr Capparelli applied to be in the country as the family member of an European Economic Area national living in the UK.

The form gave him four categories under which to apply, but he says none reflected the status of those in Northern Ireland who identify as Irish citizens under the Good Friday Agreement.

Ms Capparelli also renounced her British citizenship because she was concerned the Home Office would consider her British and force her husband to go through the more stringent and expensive route for non-EU nationals married to Britons.

The couple say their application was refused on the grounds that Ms Capparelli, as the "sponsor", did not show any evidence that she had permanent residency, despite including her birth certificate showing she was born in the UK in 1981.

The couple say the Home Office told them their right to permanent residence had expired because they had been out of the country for two years.

Expand Close Gemma Capparelli said she has been "left in limbo" by the Home Office decision (Kirsty OConnor/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Gemma Capparelli said she has been "left in limbo" by the Home Office decision (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

The Belfast Telegraph understands the Home Office's stance is that the decision on Mr Capparelli's application was not reached on the basis of Mrs Capparelli's citizenship but because it did not meet the criteria under EU law.

Because Ms Caparelli has renounced her British citizenship this means she is now solely an Irish citizen and can exercise her EU treaty rights in the UK under the free movement directive.

The Home Office is contacting Mr Capparelli to assist him with the application.

Mr Capparelli told the Guardian: We were floored by the letter which essentially said you have no right to be in Northern Ireland."

Mrs Capparelli said: The Home Office really are not living up to the Good Friday agreement. They are saying Im not even a resident in my own country. It is mind-boggling. You feel like you are in limbo.

Sinn Fein Seanadoir Niall O Donnghaile said: It is simply ludicrous that the British Home Office is insisting that Gemma Capparelli who was born in the north provides proof that she is entitled to permanent residency in Belfast.

He added: This is a matter of some significance because the Good Friday Agreement, which is endorsed by the Irish and British governments, makes it clear that people born in the north can identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may choose and accordingly confirm that their right to hold both Irish and British citizenship is accepted by both governments.

It is high time the British Home Office, recognised the core legal components of the Agreement, instead of forcing Irish citizens in the north to endure months of trauma and uncertainty simply for exercising their rights as Irish and EU citizens.

The Home Office said it is "absolutely committed" to upholding the Good Friday Agreement" and respects the right of the people of Northern Ireland to choose how they identify.
A young William McCrea and Ian Paisley cutting the first sod at Calvary Free Presbyterian Church in 1973

It was July 21, 1968 when a young preacher first set up camp in Magherafelt.

In the middle of a thunder storm with rain pouring through a leaking roof of the mission tent, those attending to hear Rev William McCrea, then assistant student minister to Dr Ian Paisley, huddled together under umbrellas as the heavens opened.

More than 50 years later Calvary Free Presbyterian Church stands on Mullaghboy Hill looking down on the town, the 600-seat building newly refurbished, debt free and ready to embrace a new generation as Rev McCrea finally steps down as full-time minister of the church he built from the humblest of beginnings.

Born in Stewartstown, Co Tyrone, into a farming family on August 6, 1948, and the youngest of five, his passion for the ministry was there from an early age.

But no matter where he went, the pull of the south Derry market town always proved too strong to resist.

"I suppose I must have done something right in those first days in Magherafelt as a young 19-year-old," Rev McCrea said after delivering his final sermon.

"They invited me back and I never left."

He embarked on a political career as a councillor in Magherafelt which lasted four decades, as he followed in the footsteps of Paisley by stepping onto a bigger political stage.

There was a four-year spell as the DUP's MP for Mid Ulster after a 78-vote win over Sinn Fein's Danny Morrison, before Martin McGuinness unseated him in 1997.

Spells as an MLA for Mid Ulster and South Antrim, then as MP for South Antrim, continued a rollercoaster political career that saw controversies, a three-month stretch in prison for riotous behaviour at an Orange parade in Dungiven in 1971, impassioned speeches as Paisley's right-hand man in the DUP, and parcel bomb and machine gun attacks on his home. But if there's one legacy he wants to be remembered for, it's the church a community grew around.

"I can remember that old Army tent with the holes in the roof like it's yesterday." he said.

"It's amazing where those 50 years have gone to."

That short visit to Magherafelt was followed by similar missions in Scarva and Desertmartin, but blazing that early trail took its toll and a six-month spell on the sidelines to recover from illness ended with a calling back to what would become his spiritual home in Magherafelt.

"I really threw myself into it all in those early days," he said.

"I paid a price. I was exhausted and had to step back.

"It was June 1969 when I returned fully recharged, preaching in a borrowed wooden hut loaned by Rev Beggs of Ballymena.

"We knew that was only on loan. so when the hut had to be returned we understood, but had to do something to keep going.

"We made do with a corrugated iron building - the 'Tin Tabernacle' or 'Hen House' as people called it.

"It was at Mullaghboy Hill in Magherafelt and that site has been our home ever since."

Today Calvary Free Presbyterian is well established and, said Rev McCrea, it's testament to the commitment, sacrifice and spirit of the community built up around it.

"That this church is standing and thriving today is a tribute to all who have put in so much dedication over the years," he said.

"We needed a permanent home and 10 years on from first gathering for missions in Magherafelt we had our new building.

"And when I look back on my life in the church, April 29, 1978 is the memory that stands out. The day the new church building was opened.

"The first sod was cut in 1973, but as most of the work was done voluntarily by members of the congregation, it took a while to complete.

"Some people might have thought it was a foolhardy mission, but within a year of completion the sacrifice of the congregation had paid off and we were debt-free, the building paid for in full.

"That was a milestone for me, telling me I had found my permanent home."

His dynamic preaching style continued to draw in the crowds throughout the Seventies and Eighties and his reputation grew.

"There were a lot of difficult days for Northern Ireland, we all know that, and for me personally," he said.

On 9 April, 1991 in Coagh, the IRA shot dead Derek Ferguson, a cousin of Rev McCrea. And in July 1994 his Magherafelt home was raked with automatic gunfire.

Rev McCrea had been delayed at his Sunday night service.

His wife, three daughters and seven visitors were treated for shock after the attack.

"I'm sure I was the target and murder was their intention," he said.

"It was a miracle nobody was killed or seriously hurt.

"If I'd been a few minutes earlier I would have been dead. I believe God had a hand in saving me that night.

"But from a personal, spiritual point of view, I can now look back and say there were plenty of great times. "Every day was a challenge. A challenge for me, a challenge for the community, a challenge for the country.

"That's why the words of the Gospel above my head every time I preached at Calvary read 'Woe Is Unto Me If I Preach Not The Gospel'.

"Those words served as a constant reminder and they have served me well, as I hope I have served the people well.

"From the day I went into public life, as far as I was concerned if you had a legitimate problem you had a right to be represented, and that was shown to the people who came through the doors of my offices.

"I still believe, during all that time whilst the IRA were murdering, if you had a legitimate argument and case to put forward, then you had a right to be heard."

That was his defence after sharing a platform with notorious loyalist murderer Billy Wright at a public rally in the Brownstown estate in Portadown in September 1996 to oppose a UVF death threat against him.

He added: "First and foremost I am a preacher. Having a preacher's heart is useful in politics. This is a genuine heart that is open to listen to people to show not only that God cares but that I do also and want to help them with whatever problem they come to me about."

The days of firebrand preaching in his home church came to a close with his final sermon earlier this month, handing the reins to Rev Ryan McKee.

And never one to hide his emotions, Rev McCrea admitted he shed plenty of tears.

"It was very moving for me," he said. "Of course I shed tears. These are my friends and I have loved them all. They may have to make do without me as their minister, but they'll never lose my friendship."

Rev McCrea will be back with his family - wife Anne and children Sharon, Ian, Stephen, Grace and Faith - for a final farewell tonight.

"I'm sure there'll be more tears, but it will be a lovely occasion surrounded by family and so many friends I have made over the years," he added.

True to his nature, though, Rev McCrea - now sitting in the House of Lords as Baron McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown - will not be disappearing quietly into retirement.

"I don't think anyone has heard the last of me yet," he laughed. "But every day I can now sit down quietly and thank God for an amazing 50-year journey."
SDLPs Mark H Durkan is concerned over pressures on nurses in NI

A nurse working in a neonatal unit previously caught up in a deadly pseudomonas outbreak did not follow infection control policies, it has emerged.

Erlisa Bautista was working at the neonatal unit at Altnagelvin Area Hospital in 2014 - less than three years after a baby died at the hospital during an outbreak of the superbug.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) found that Ms Bautista failed to follow a series of procedures aimed at protecting the safety of the babies on the unit.

However, the regulatory body also found Ms Bautista, who did not ordinarily work on the ward, was not provided with adequate training or supervision.

SDLP health spokesman Mark H Durkan said he was concerned at the findings of the NMC fitness to practice panel, which he said highlighted the pressures facing nurses as hospitals struggle to staff wards.

"The details from this hearing are extremely concerning because we are hearing more and more about nursing shortages and nurses having to constantly move wards to fill vacancies," said the Foyle MLA.

"In this case, lives of extremely ill and vulnerable babies have been put at risk and it's not good enough.

"It is essential that our nurses are adequately experienced, trained and supervised to ensure things like this don't happen."

Ms Bautista was working in the neonatal unit at Altnagelvin between May and July 2014 when concerns were raised about her infection control techniques.

She was also accused of failing to follow the correct procedures when tube-feeding a baby.

Allegations against her, which were found proved by the NMC fitness to practice committee, included re-sheathing a needle after use, touching a sterile trolley with her bare hands, and not taking off her apron after changing a baby's nappy and before washing her hands.

The NMC panel ruled Ms Bautista's actions "fell significantly short of the standards expected of a registered nurse".

When deciding whether this amounted to misconduct, the panel "bore in mind that infection control was stressed as being of the utmost importance in the hospital and on the unit in 2014, given the previous regional outbreak of pseudomonas in 2012, prior to you working on the unit."

The NMC document continued: "Furthermore, the babies in the unit were highly vulnerable.

"The panel also had regard to the fact that your actions and omissions occurred over a six-week period of time, and had the potential to result in harm to babies, for example if any crosscontamination materialised as a result of poor infection control."

Despite this, the panel opted against finding Ms Bautista guilty of misconduct in relation to her failings regarding infection control.

This was because she was new to the unit, having previously worked on a paediatric ward in the hospital for a long period, and the induction and supervision she received in the neonatal unit "was not particularly thorough".

However, the panel did find her guilty of misconduct as she did not carry out basic and routine safety checks prior to feeding a baby in the unit, as she had "placed the baby at risk of harm".

The panel went on to find her fitness to practise impaired and issued a caution order for three years.

A spokeswoman from the Western Trust said the trust does not comment on individual employment matters.

Pseudomonas is a germ that thrives in moist conditions and can be found in most households.

It is harmless to most people but can be deadly to people whose immune system is suppressed, such as premature babies.

Caolan Campbell was just 10 days old when he died in Altnagelvin in December 2011, just weeks before three babies died from a different strain of the pseudomonas bacteria at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital. Other babies at Antrim Area Hospital were also found to be carrying the bug.

Health officials implemented a range of measures at hospitals across Northern Ireland in a bid to reduce the risk of any further outbreaks of the superbug.
Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann and MLA Steve Aiken in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast following a meeting between Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and the regions political parties. Rebecca Black/PA Wire

Sinn Fein MLAs Mairtin O Muilleoir (left) and John OODowd in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast following a meeting between Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley. Credit: Rebecca Black/PA Wire

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and deputy leader Nichola Mallon in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast following a meeting between Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley. Rebecca Black/PA Wire

Lord Mayor of Belfast Deirdre Hargey, centre left, and Karen Bradley speak to the media at Belfast City Hall (Brian Lawless/PA)

Northern Ireland's politicians have issued scathing criticism of Secretary of State Karen Bradley after she reportedly cut short a meeting to catch a flight.

Ms Bradley met the largest five political parties in Belfast on Thursday before returning to London.

An SDLP spokesperson said the Secretary of State had informed attendees she would have to leave to catch a flight.

The meeting had been announced by the Secretary of State on Wednesday, after she was questioned in the House of Commons on what steps she was taking to restore devolution to Northern Ireland.

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Issuing a statement lasting 20 seconds following the meeting, Sinn Fein MLA John O'Dowd said Karen Bradley was treating "large sections of this society with utter and complete contempt".

In a 20 second statement Mr ODowd said the British Government is treating large sections of this society with utter and complete contempt.  Rebecca Black (@RBlackPA) November 1, 2018

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described the meeting as a "waste of time".

"It is quite clear that the British Government are totally unprepared to take the necessary next steps to get power-sharing restored," said Mr Eastwood.

"Today is an embarrassing day for the Secretary of State. Quite simply, it is not her job to wait for a 'consensus', her job, alongside the Tanaiste [Simon Coveney], is to kick-start the talks process."

Expand Close SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and deputy leader Nichola Mallon in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast following a meeting between Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley. Rebecca Black/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and deputy leader Nichola Mallon in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast following a meeting between Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley. Rebecca Black/PA Wire

UUP leader Robin Swann said the Government should be prepared to introduce direct rule if it is unable to reach an agreement on restoring Stormont.

The Ulster Unionist Party is in no doubt that we need a proper talks process to resolve the issues which are preventing the restoration of a devolved administration at Stormont," he said.

I said to the Secretary of State I thought it was simply so that someone in the NIO could tick a box to say they had brought all five parties around a table UUP leader Robin Swann

We are also in no doubt, that if we cannot get political agreement, then given the level of suffering in the community  not least with regard to hospital waiting lists and school budgets - the Government has no alternative but to bring in direct rule."

Mr Swann also said that Sinn Fein's "belligerent tone and attitude did not help the situation".

Expand Close Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann and MLA Steve Aiken in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast following a meeting between Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and the regions political parties. Rebecca Black/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann and MLA Steve Aiken in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast following a meeting between Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and the regions political parties. Rebecca Black/PA Wire

Leaving the meeting, Alliance leader Naomi Long told the press the restoration was now further away than it was at the time of its collapse.

Mrs Long said the earliest possible date for the start of formal talks to restore devolution would be after Christmas.

Alliance Leader @naomi_long tells press we are now further away from the restoration of the Assembly than when it collapsed, and its time for Karen Bradley to make a decision around the talks process. Reiterates need for all-party talks with independent facilitator. pic.twitter.com/dLHbDF8jSa  Alliance Party (@allianceparty) November 1, 2018

Writing on Twitter on Thursday afternoon, the DUP's Christopher Stalford said there was "no point" in blaming the Secretary of State for a lack of progress, and it was not her or the DUP's job to "tempt or entice SF out of the corner they have painted themselves into".

Mr Stalford later said, in a statement released by the DUP: "Whilst parties are lining up to blame the Secretary of State, Sinn Fein collapsed devolution and is the only party refusing to form an Executive until certain items on its wish-list are checked off. The real problem lies at Connolly House rather than Stormont House.

"Sinn Fein alone blocks the Assembly, Executive, direct rule and even some form of shadow committees to give democratic accountability. The boycotters have been pandered to for too long."

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mrs Bradley characterised it as a briefing on the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Bill which is currently makings its way through Parliament.

The legislation will clarify and extend the decision-making powers of civil servants, and make it so the power-sharing Executive can be returned without the need for elections.

"This was a briefing for the parties on the bill that will become an act of parliament next week so that they can understand what the debates were in parliament last week and this week in the House of Lords, and so that they can see now it is going to be an act of parliament in the next few days what that will mean," she said.

Northern Ireland has been without a devolved assembly since the collapse of Stormont in January 2017 following the resignation of the late Martin McGuinness, who resigned as a response to the RHI scandal.

A UK Government spokesperson: "The Secretary of State's key priority is the restoration of devolved government at Stormont.

"Following the passage Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018 through Parliament, the Secretary of State was keen to meet the parties at the earliest opportunity to look ahead to implementation of the legislation and next steps.

"Her engagement with the parties, and with other key stakeholders in Northern Ireland, will continue in the weeks ahead."
Former Ulster Unionist Party leader Lord Trimble has accused the Irish government of using the Brexit negotiations to undermine the Good Friday Agreement.

The former first minister of Northern Ireland, who won the Nobel prize for his role in the peace process, accused Leo Varadkar's government of "riding roughshod" over the 1998 agreement.

He claimed that the Brexit process could result in Northern Ireland ending up as part of an "effective EU protectorate".

The Conservative peer said in a foreword to a think tank report that the achievements of the Good Friday Agreement were being put at risk.

In the report, produced by the centre-right Policy Exchange, Lord Trimble said: "It is clear to me that the Irish side in the Brexit negotiations is undermining the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, riding roughshod over its terms and violating its spirit. "

The report said the European Union and Irish demands "go well beyond the avoidance of a hard border".

Brexit talks have reached an impasse over the EU's "backstop" plan which would see Northern Ireland effectively remaining in the customs union and single market unless alternative arrangements were found to prevent a hard border.

Lord Trimble said: "There is a genuine risk that Northern Ireland will end up as part of an effective EU protectorate, without the say-so of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

"This would be an appalling breach of the principle of consent, which runs through the (Good Friday) agreement."

The Policy Exchange report suggested that "one possible way out of the current impasse is for both sides to sign a declaration that future trade talks ... will include an 'Ireland chapter' in which both sides undertake to use their best efforts to ensure an invisible border" and preserve existing measures of co-operation.

The report was written by Graham Gudgin, who was an aide to Lord Trimble as first minister, and Ray Bassett, who was on the Irish talks team during the Good Friday Agreement negotiations.

They said: "Following the principles of the Good Friday Agreement should be at the heart of both UK and EU approaches to agreeing future co-operation over the Irish border.

"It is currently Theresa May's stance which is most closely aligned to those principles - while the EU has fundamentally misinterpreted the principle of consent which underpins them.

"The current impasse could be resolved if both sides agree that in future trade talks both sides undertake to use their best efforts to ensure an invisible border and to preserve all existing measures of cross-border cooperation agreed under the auspices of the Good Friday Agreement."
Beatrice Worton and her son Colin holding a photograph of murdered Kenneth and a copy of the letter received from the Public Prosecution Service

The brother of a man murdered in the Kingsmill massacre has claimed that former Sinn Fein MP Barry McElduff has "got away with dancing on the graves of the victims".

It follows a decision by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) not to prosecute Mr McElduff over a video posted on social media in which he posed with a loaf of Kingsmill-branded bread on his head on the 42nd anniversary of the IRA atrocity.

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The video was reported to police, who later questioned Mr McElduff and sent a file for consideration by prosecutors.

The PPS also announced yesterday that it had decided against prosecuting Sinn Fein MLA Mairtin O'Muilleoir, who shared the video when it was published on Twitter on January 5.

PPS assistant director Martin Hardy acknowledged the hurt the video had caused, but said the evidence provided by police had been "insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction".

Last night Colin Worton (58), whose brother Kenneth was among the dead, said victims' families were "disappointed but not shocked" by the PPS decisions.

"Barry McElduff is only the last of a long line of people that have escaped justice," he said.

"He has got away with dancing on the graves of Kingsmill victims."

Mr McElduff resigned as West Tyrone MP in January after families of some of the 10 Protestant workmen shot dead in 1976 expressed outrage at the video.

He maintained he had not meant the clip as a reference to the murders, and was unaware he had posted it on the 42nd anniversary of the attack.

However, Mr McElduff, who had already been suspended by Sinn Fein for three months when he announced his resignation, acknowledged the post had caused unintentional hurt to the Kingsmill families.

Explaining the PPS's decision not to prosecute, Mr Hardy said: "We have given detailed consideration to the evidence provided by police in respect of the two men reported and have concluded that it is insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction against either for any offence.

"The PPS acknowledges the content of the video posted on the anniversary of the Kingsmill murders caused a great deal of hurt to those directly affected by the atrocity and many others in the wider community.

"We have written to the next of kin of the Kingsmill victims, and the attack's survivor, to explain in detail the rationale for the decision.

"Whilst we recognise the outcome is disappointing to those offended by the content and timing of the video, we can offer assurance that these decisions were reached only after the most careful examination of all evidence and information available."

In Mr McElduff's case the PPS said the prosecution team had considered a range of evidence, including CCTV footage from the retail premises where the incident was filmed, as well as the video posted on Twitter.

They revealed that a potential prosecution was considered under Section 127 (1) of the Communications Act 2003 and Article 9 (1) of the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987. However, the test for prosecution was not met.

In relation to Mr O Muilleoir, the PPS said a potential prosecution was considered under Section 127 (1) of the Communications Act and whether the sharing of the video met the offence of sending a grossly offensive message by means of an electronic communications network or any other offence.

Again, the test for prosecution was not met.

In every case it considers the PPS must apply the test for prosecution to make a decision. This has two elements and involves assessing whether the available evidence provides a reasonable prospect of conviction and whether prosecution is in the public interest.

Mr Worton compared Mr McElduff's actions in posing with the loaf to those of a group of men who dressed up as members of the Ku Klux Klan outside an Islamic prayer house in Newtownards at the weekend.

"They are both equally sick," said Mr Worton, whose brother Kenneth was just 24 when he lost his life at Kingsmill.

"It is the same sort of thing -anything that causes someone to feel hurt, damaged or vulnerable."

He added: "What Barry McElduff did was hugely hurtful at the time, especially on the anniversary. The mask slipped. This sends out a message that no matter what you do concerning Kingsmill, nothing is going to go anywhere."

Mr Worton said he had received a letter from the PPS yesterday morning, but could not read beyond the "bad news on the first page".

"It's sad, but that's the way things are. We are disappointed, but not shocked," he said. "I would have been more shocked if they had decided to prosecute. We have no confidence left."

Mr Worton said that his 91-year-old mother Bea, who lost her son 42 years ago, shared his feelings.

"Most of the victims came back to me to say they weren't shocked," he added.

"We still hope, but the hope was a rope, and now we're just left holding onto a thread. I shudder to think what my brother would have thought of this.

"I was just 15 when he died.

"I think if it had been me who was killed he would still be fighting to get justice."

Mr Worton said he believed that Mr O Muilleoir, who is MLA for South Belfast, was "equally to blame", as he shared the video.

Victims campaigner Willie Frazer said relatives were "disgusted" by the PPS decisions.

Announcing his resignation in January, Mr McElduff said his greatest regret was the "deep and unnecessary hurt" his video had caused the Kingsmill families.

Mr O Muilleoir apologised for retweeting the video and retracted the retweet.

He said at the time the retweet was a mistake and he would not have promoted it had he realised the connection to the Kingsmill massacre.

In a statement yesterday, Mr McElduff's solicitor said his client was "satisfied" with the PPS decision yesterday.

He said: "My client is satisfied with the decision of the PPS that there shall be no further action following the unfortunate circumstances of January 5, 2018.

"As he did from the outset, Barry stated that any upset caused was unintentional. He apologised for his actions, and his subsequent resignation from his position as Sinn Fein MP was with a view to accepting responsibility for his actions.

"Today's decision by the PPS can perhaps now draw a line under the situation."

Posting on Twitter yesterday, Mr McElduff's daughter Niamh wrote: "At long last. Abuse, death threats, fear and desecration of our relatives' graves, character assassination and resignation as a result of a terrible accident.

"All undeserved. Still thinking of the families that elements of the media and political unionism were happy to use for their own ends."
Cannabis-based medicinal products will be available in Northern Ireland from today.

The products can only be obtained if they have been prescribed by a specialist hospital doctor. The Department of Health (DoH) says patients must have an unmet clinical need.

The move follows a campaign for the relaxation of regulations around cannabis-based products for medicinal use.

Billy Caldwell (13), of Castlederg, Co Tyrone, made headlines when his medicinal cannabis was confiscated by the Home Office after a trip to Canada to access the medication.

Billy suffers from a severe form of epilepsy and his mother Charlotte says medicinal cannabis products help to ease his symptoms. She spent years campaigning for the law change.

The Home Office then gave him a short-term licence and the DoH issued an emergency licence to allow him access to cannabis oil medication.

Belfast Health Trust secured a licence to administer the medication to Billy at the Royal Victoria Hospital. He was then given permission to receive the medication at his Castlederg home.

Last month Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced a decision to reschedule the products, relaxing the rules around the circumstances in which they can be given to patients.
Province 3 CM Paudel considering sacking Minister Sthapit

Province 3 Chief Minister Dormani Paudel is considering relieving Minister for Physical Infrastructure Keshav Sthapit from the post.
The mother of Co Tyrone teenager Billy Caldwell - a leading campaigner for a rule change on the legality of medicinal cannabis in the UK - has expressed disappointment at new legislation introduced on Thursday.

Patients can be prescribed the products through specialist hospital doctors if they are determined to have an "unmet clinical need".

Billy (13), from Castlederg, was in the headlines earlier this year when medicinal cannabis was confiscated from him and his mother Charlotte on a return trip from Canada. He suffers from a severe form of epilepsy, the symptoms of which can be treated with medicinal cannabis.

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After returning from Canada in June, Billy was admitted to hospital with seizures his mother said were "life threatening".

A short time after this the Home Office granted permission for him to receive the cannabis-based medication.

Reacting to Thursday's rule change, Mrs Caldwell said it was not "job done".

"As it stands, my wee lad Billy would not be able to get a repeat prescription for his medicine in the UK, and it would be very likely if we left the country and came back with a repeat prescription then it would be confiscated at Heathrow again," she said.

"As a mummy who has seen her wee boy go through hell and back, a great deal of hope and belief has gone out the window. There's lots of patients will be extremely disappointed this morning and for a good few weeks or months ahead.

"But promises were made by politicians this summer, and we have to make sure the policymakers keep those promises."

Mrs Caldwell added it was necessary for politicians to realise there are certain conditions which can only be treated with medicinal cannabis.

Blair Gibbs, the policy head for the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis - which campaigned for the return of Billy's medicine during the summer - said the process had "moved incredibly fast", but that there was still progress which needed to be made.
The mother of an 11-month-old baby has warned others to heed their maternal instinct after the little girl was sent home from A&E twice before being diagnosed with pneumonia.

Asta Butviliene (33), originally from Lithuania but now living in Armagh with her partner and two daughters, became concerned after her youngest Karina developed a bad cough and fever almost two weeks ago.

"She was also vomiting and had a runny nose and nappy, so I did what every parent would do and gave her some Calpol," she said.

"That's also what the health visitor advised, but it didn't work and she just got worse."

The following day, October 21 (Sunday), the distraught mum rushed her baby straight to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry.

"An A&E doctor told me it was bronchitis and advised to give her Nurofen in addition to the paracetamol," Asta explained.

"But that night her breathing got really bad and I couldn't leave her side. It was dreadful."

On two occasions the anxious parent attempted to make an appointment with her GP, but was unsuccessful.

On Tuesday she returned to A&E and waited "most of the day" to see a doctor, but was appalled by the quick diagnosis.

"I was told: 'She just has a wee virus, it's normal - if you are worried, then come back tonight'," she recalled.

"I was so upset because clearly I was already worried, that's why I was in a hospital."

She had no choice but to go home, and returned for a third time the following day. "Karina was vomiting so much that she couldn't even keep medicine down, she wasn't really getting any treatment," Asta said.

"I told my partner that I was going back and that I wasn't leaving until they did proper tests because I just knew something was wrong."

It was then that a paediatric doctor who recognised there was an infection intervened.

"He knew straight away and did X-rays, which showed a dark patch on her lungs. Then she went downhill quickly," Asta added.

She praised the attentive medic and all the staff she subsequently encountered for saving her daughter's life.

"Everyone who cared for her was wonderful. But before that, it was like: 'Oh, your child has a cough. God love you, mother'." According to the World Health Organisation, pneumonia accounts for 16% of all deaths of children aged under five.

Karina was released from hospital last Saturday and is finishing her course of antibiotics at home. Now that she is "smiling again", her mum urged all parents to go with their gut instinct if they believe they know better than the experts.

"Lots of parents made to feel like they are worrying for no reason, but that isn't always the case. Doctors should still have to investigate anyway," she said.

"It is terrifying to think what could have happened, but I'm just happy to have my little girl back."

The Southern Trust said it did not comment on individual cases.
A woman has been sexually assaulted in the early hours of Thursday morning in Rathcoole.

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Detective Sergeant Gary Chambers said: I would particularly like to speak to three people who may have seen the victim at the corner of Owenreagh Drive/Green End, Rathcoole at approximately 3.30am.

"They are in no way connected to this assault, however they may have information that would assist us with our investigation.

I would appeal to them to contact PSNI Public Protection Branch on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 295 01/11/18.

"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.
A well-known campaigner for disabled people's rights has slammed the car parking facilities at the Royal Victoria Hospital as disgraceful.

Michaela Hollywood (28), who was named as one of the world's most inspirational women three years ago, has been using the hospital most of her life, but said the situation has never been worse.

The RVH is notorious for its daily long queues of frustrated motorists for whom finding a parking space can often take more than an hour.

It can be even more of a nightmare for people such as Michaela, who has the congenital muscle wasting condition spinal muscular atrophy, and she described the Royal's disabled parking spaces as "rubbish for wheelchair accessible vehicles".

Her other complaints included the drop-off zone outside the Belfast hospital's main building being a 15-minute walk from the clinic she has to visit, and security staff advising her to "park on the Falls Road", even though that is not permitted.

Crossgar woman Michaela, who was born with no ears and is profoundly deaf, regularly attends the hearing aid clinic at the RVH.

The Muscular Dystrophy UK employee drives a Mercedes Sprinter van from her wheelchair using hand controls - but the vehicle is too large for the disabled bays, meaning the drop-off zone is the only place she can park.

"I've made six stressful trips to the Royal in the last month alone, and on each occasion I had to bring my father with me to sit in the van and stop it getting clamped," she said.

"The hospital really needs to sort this out. Because I'm driving a vehicle that has to carry vital equipment for my disability, there's no real drop-off option for me.

"If my van was clamped I'm too tall to fit into a taxi (because of the wheelchair) so I don't know where I would be."

She added: "I actually don't know where I'm supposed to go or what to do. But I know the car parks are totally inaccessible. Multi-storey is out of bounds because of the height of my van. It's an absolute disgrace."

The dedicated fundraiser was named among the world's top 100 most influential woman in 2015 for her services to young disabled people, which included founding the Trailblazers charity. Her sister Martina, who died in 1997 aged 15, had the same condition as Michaela.

She added: "I'm probably more aware than most that time is precious and you don't need to be stressed about parking."

The Belfast Trust said the 73 available spaces for blue badge holders are "usually adequate to meet demand".

"There can, however, be delays in drivers accessing the blue badge spaces, especially those that can accommodate larger vehicles," it said.

"Our security staff try to find a suitable alternative parking location for such vehicles when they can and Shopmobility service provides support for those with limited mobility to access the hospitals from our main car park.

"We are currently reviewing car park provision and traffic management arrangements. This includes an assessment of the location and design of parking for patients with mobility restrictions."

Parking problems at the Royal are such an issue that apology signs about the long waits have been erected, which some disgruntled drivers believe is proof that little is being done to address the situation.

One motorist said it was "like the Wild West" when the main car park operates a 'one vehicle in, one vehicle out' system, with drivers scrambling to find the one available empty space. The Belfast Trust said the 1,850 parking spaces on the Royal Victoria Hospital site "are limited by the size of the site and the ongoing building programme".

"Unfortunately, at peak times demand exceeds the number of spaces," it added.

"We actively manage car park resources to minimise impact on patients and visitors, so if a lengthy queue forms at a car park, our staff redirect motorists to available spaces in staff car parks.

"Additionally, arrangements are made for patients and their relatives, who have to attend for treatment regularly, to use the staff car park. We continually review opportunities to increase and improve car park provision where we can."
A man and woman were in a house in south Belfast when two shots were fired through a window, police have said.

The couple were not injured as a result of the incident which happened at 10.25pm on Wednesday in the Powerscourt Place area.

Two windows were damaged.

Detective Sergeant Gardiner said: "Whoever carried out this attack showed total disregard for not only the safety of the occupants, but also for other residents in this built up residential area.

"I would appeal to anyone who noticed any suspicious activity or vehicles in the area to contact detectives at Musgrave on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 1641 31/10/18.

"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 burnt out cars that were destroyed by arsonists at the Car repairs business in Carrickfergus late on Wednesday. Pic by Peter Morrison

The burnt out cars that were destroyed by arsonists at the Car repairs business in Carrickfergus late on Wednesday. Pic by Peter Morrison

The burnt out cars that were destroyed by arsonists at the Car repairs business in Carrickfergus late on Wednesday. Pic by Peter Morrison

Six cars have been set alight in a Halloween night arson attack in Carrickfergus.

Shortly after midnight police received a report that the cars had been set alight in the Woodburn Road area.

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene and extinguished the flames.

Chief Inspector Stephen Humphries said: "This was a reckless and dangerous act; we are lucky we are not dealing with a more serious incident, as the vehicles were close to petrol vapours.

"This type of criminality affects the whole community.

"The perpetrators have in fact stopped other businesses in the area from being able to trade today - taking away their ability to earn money and bring trade and people into the town.

"Everyone has a right to live and work in a safe and stable community. No one has the right to take this away from anyone."

CI Stephen Humphries said those who had carried out the act "do not represent the people of Carrickfergus" and asked anyone with information about the incident to contact police in Larne on the non-emergency number 101, quoting the reference 19 with the date 01/11/2018.

Alternatively, the public can contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
West Tyrone MP Barry McElduff leaving Sinn Feins headquarters on the Falls Road in Belfast following his suspension from all party activity for three months after he posted a social media video of him with a loaf of Kingsmill bread on his head on the anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre. PA/Niall Carson)

Former Sinn Fein MP Barry McElduff has insisted an incident where he posed with a loaf of Kingsmill bread on his head on the anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre was a bizarre coincidence.

Mr McElduff resigned as West Tyrone MP in January after families of some of the 10 Protestant workmen shot dead by republican paramilitaries in 1976 expressed outrage at the video.

He was interviewed by detectives in April and questioned over alleged improper use of a public electronic communications network under the Communications Act 2003, and two alleged public order offences under the Public Order (NI) Order 1989.

However, earlier this week Northern Irelands Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said there was insufficient evidence to provide a reasonable prospect of convicting the 52-year-old over his controversial social media post.

Expand Close Undated handout video grab taken from the Twitter feed of Sinn Fein MP Barry McElduff (Barry McElduff/Twitter/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook

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In an interview with BBC Northern Irelands The View programme on Thursday, Mr McElduff insisted he had not realised either the brand of the bread or that it was the anniversary of the Kingsmill shootings at the time.

In the interview he says he had called at the petrol station in Omagh to pick up his daughter who worked there, and he realised he needed to pick up some groceries.

He said Kingsmill was the only brand of bread in the shop, and explained he decided to put the loaf on his head as an act of humour, in a play on a previous television advert.

It was just a wee quirk of personality, a humorous trait that I never would have imagined for one second would backfire in the way that it did, he said.

I never made the connection, first of all, I wasnt conscious of the brand name, and even then I wouldnt have made a connection if I had of.

I didnt know it was the anniversary, I didnt know any of those things.

It was genuinely spontaneous, innocent fun.

It sounds bizarre, and it really is a bizarre, cruel coincidence.

Mr McElduff said he took full responsibility for what happened, but insisted he never meant to cause offence.

He also made a public apology to the Kingsmill families.

I genuinely deeply respect you as human beings, I acknowledge your suffering, and having already done it, I would reiterate an apology for unintentional hurt caused, he told the programme.

I will never say or do anything disparaging towards them regardless of how they view me.

The Sinn Fein veteran also revealed he received death threats in the aftermath of the incident on social media and by phone.

But he insisted: I dont want to present myself here as a victim.

Mr McElduff has consistently maintained he had not meant the video as a reference to the sectarian murders of 10 Protestant workmen near the south Armagh village of Kingsmill.

Mr McElduff was suspended by Sinn Fein for three months, but told The View that he received mixed messages from the party with some telling him to step down, and others telling him to apologise and remain.

However Mr McElduff announced his resignation, acknowledging the post had caused unintentional hurt to the Kingsmill families.

He said staying in the job would have impeded efforts to forge reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

Kingsmill is a well-known brand of bread in Northern Ireland.

It shares a name with the village that witnessed one of the most notorious incidents of the Troubles, when gunmen stopped a van carrying textile workers on their way home, identified the Protestant occupants, lined them up at the side of the road and shot them.

Only one of the 11 men gunned down survived the attack.

Sinn Fein easily held on to the West Tyrone seat in Mays by-election, with solicitor Orfhlaith Begley succeeding Mr McElduff.
Sinn Fein had campaigned for a Yes vote in the abortion referendum earlier this year (Brian Lawless/PA)

Sinn Fein politician Peadar Toibin has been suspended from the party for voting against the liberalisation of Irelands abortion laws.

The Meath West TD breached party policy in the Dail last month when he decided to vote No to Government proposals to introduce terminations up to 12 weeks of pregnancy and in limited circumstances thereafter.

Sinn Feins party policy is to support the legislation.

The partys whip Aengus O Snodaigh announced on Thursday that Mr Toibin had been given a six-month suspension for failing to do so.

Peadar Toibin suspended from Sinn Fein for a period of six months https://t.co/DUxOnD8K5b  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) November 1, 2018

The first vote on the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill passed by 102 votes to 12 in the Dail at the end of October.

Sinn Fein had campaigned for a Yes vote in the abortion referendum earlier this year, but Mr Toibin called for a No vote contrary to his partys stance.

The public voted overwhelmingly in favour of liberalising the laws in May.

Mr O Snodaigh said: All TDs were instructed to be present and to vote for the legislation.

Peadar Toibins decision to vote against the legislation is a serious breach of the partys rules.

Mr O Snodaigh added that Mr Toibin had been informed of the decision.

Mr Toibin told RTE Radio One that he could not, in good conscience, vote for the bill.

I believe that TDs are responsible for the votes that they carry out in the Dail and the outcome of those votes, he said.

He added that more than a third of the population had voted No in the referendum and that a fifth of Yes votes did not agree with the bill in its current form.

Its important that those people have a voice in Leinster House, he continued.

Mr Toibin said, if a general election was held while he was suspended, he would not be allowed to stand for Sinn Fein.

He added he had been told that if he stood as an independent while suspended there would be no way back for him to the party.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall arrive for a meeting with the President at the State House in The Gambia, on day two of their trip to west Africa. Joe Giddens/PA Wire

The Prince of Wales has begun the first full day of his west African tour by highlighting the important milestone taken by Gambians in turning their backs on 22 years of autocratic rule.

Charles comment came during a welcoming ceremony attended by Gambias president Adama Barrow, whose shock election victory in 2016 brought an end to the authoritarian regime of former leader Yahya Jammeh.

The heir to the throne and the Duchess of Cornwall had a busy day in Gambia where highlights included the princes visit to the Gambian Armed Forces Training School while his wife attended a Commonwealth Big Lunch at the High Commissioners residence.

Expand Close The Prince of Wales with President Adama Barrow in McCarthy Square as the official welcome ceremony began (Joe Giddens/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Prince of Wales with President Adama Barrow in McCarthy Square as the official welcome ceremony began (Joe Giddens/PA)

Speaking in McCarthy Square, in the capital Banjul, where officials and schoolchildren had gathered to welcome their royal guests, the heir to the throne said: I was delighted to join Her Majesty the Queen in welcoming you, Mr President, to London in April this year for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and, in so doing, to welcome all Gambians back into the Commonwealth.

It was, if I may say so, an important milestone on the new road that the Gambia has chosen in turning your back on 22 years of autocratic rule in order to embrace a new beginning.

Expand Close The First Lady of the Gambia Fatou Bah-Barrow and the Duchess of Cornwall watch a performance during a visit to St Teresas School in the Gambian capital (Joe Giddens/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Today, the United Kingdom and the Gambia can once again work together to defend our shared Commonwealth values and to promote democracy, human rights, tolerance and the rule of law.

So, too, can we commit ourselves, together, to addressing with all urgency some of the most pressing challenges facing our world, such as climate change, resource depletion, youth unemployment and rapid urbanisation, and to do so by harnessing the remarkable professional expertise and experience upon which the Commonwealth and her member states can draw.

Later Charles and Camilla will attend a state dinner held in their honour.

Expand Close Charles and Camilla also paid their respects to fallen soldiers during a visit to a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery (Joe Giddens/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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The royal tour will also see the prince and his wife visit Ghana and Nigeria.

The couples trip comes hard on the heels of the Prime Ministers high-profile visit to the continent just a few months ago.

Theresa May made a three-nation trade mission to Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria during August and September, in an attempt to bolster Britains post-Brexit fortunes.
Reforming the civil services

There should abe no room for mediocrity and complacency in our bureaucracy
Leave.EU founder Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore (left) leave Portcullis House in Westminster, London, after giving evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry into fake news (Philip Toscano/PA)

Leave campaigner Arron Banks is being investigated for suspected criminal offences over 8 million of campaign funding during the Brexit referendum.

The National Crime Agency probe was launched after the elections watchdog said it had reasonable grounds to suspect that Mr Banks was not the true source of the cash.

Mr Banks, one of the founders of the Leave.EU campaign, said he was confident the investigation would put an end to the ludicrous allegations against him.

The Electoral Commission also referred Leave.EU, its chief executive, Elizabeth Bilney, and the organisation that ran it, Better for the Country, to the NCA after carrying out a review.

Bob Posner, the Commissions director of political finance, said: We have reasonable grounds to suspect money given to Better for the Country came from impermissible sources and that Mr Banks and Ms Bilney, the responsible person for Leave.EU, knowingly concealed the true circumstances under which this money was provided.

This is significant because at least 2.9 million of this money was used to fund referendum spending and donations during the regulated period of the EU referendum.

There is no evidence of any wrongdoing from the companies I own. I am a UK taxpayer and I have never received any foreign donations. The Electoral Commission has produced no evidence to the contraryArron Banks

Mr Banks said the Commission had referred him to the NCA under intense political pressure from anti-Brexit supporters.

He said: I am confident that a full and frank investigation will finally put an end to the ludicrous allegations levelled against me and my colleagues.

There is no evidence of any wrongdoing from the companies I own. I am a UK taxpayer and I have never received any foreign donations. The Electoral Commission has produced no evidence to the contrary.

Ms Bilney also accused the Commission of having a biased approach in its investigations and said she was confident she would be exonerated.

She told BBC Radio 4s World At One programme: I hope that the matter will be shortly concluded to demonstrate that no crimes have been committed.

They are looking at it how they want to through their own biased lens, she added.

Mr Banks was criticised by the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee earlier this year for seeming to want to hide the extent of his contacts with Russia.

But Ms Bilney dismissed suggestions that some of the money may have come from the Federation.

I run the group of companies where the money was from and we dont have any transactions that are from Russia, she said.

I completely comfortable that we have done everything above board.

NCA initiates investigation following Electoral Commission referral pic.twitter.com/qSzZfEWSEH  National Crime Agency (NCA) (@NCA_UK) November 1, 2018

The Electoral Commissions review of referendum finances focused on 2 million reported to have been loaned to Better for the Country by Mr Banks and his insurance companies and a 6 million donation he made alone.

It said that, as well as having reasonable grounds to suspect he was not the true source of the cash, loans involved a company, Rock Holdings, based on the Isle of Man, which was impermissible under the rules.

The watchdog said it suspected Mr Banks, Ms Bilney and others involved in Better for the Country and Leave.EU concealed the true details of the financial transactions.

It believes a number of criminal offences may have been committed.

The NCA said its investigation relates to suspected electoral law offences.

A spokesman added: While electoral law offences would not routinely fall within the NCAs remit, the nature of the necessary inquiries and the potential for offences to have been committed other than under electoral law lead us to consider an NCA investigation appropriate in this instance.
A man found guilty of deliberately trying to infect 10 men with HIV has lost challenges against his conviction and sentence.

Hairdresser Daryll Rowe watched proceedings via video link from prison as leading judges rejected his appeal applications on Thursday.

Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with two other judges at the Court of Appeal in London, announced that the grounds presented on his behalf in relation to both conviction and sentence were unarguable.

Rowe, now 28, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 12 years by a judge at Brighton Crown Court in April.

Expand Close Rowe during a police interview where he denied having HIV (Sussex Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook

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He became the first man in the country to be found guilty of intentionally setting out to spread the virus.

Felicity Gerry QC had argued on Rowes behalf during the appeal proceedings that a submission of no case to answer should have been accepted by the trial judge.

She said: Our primary submissions are that the submission of no case to answer should have succeeded.

That not having succeeded, the summing up was inadequate.

But the prosecution argued that there was no merit in the bold submissions made on Rowes behalf.

Rowe was convicted of 10 charges  five of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and five of attempting to do so.

His victims cannot be identified for legal reasons and Lady Justice Hallett emphasised that nothing must be published which could lead to their identification.

At his trial, Rowe was accused of launching a deliberate campaign to infect gay men he met on a dating app after being diagnosed in April 2015 in his home city of Edinburgh.

He had sex with eight of them in Brighton, East Sussex, between October that year and February 2016, and later with two others in the North East.

Rowe told jurors he believed he had been cured of the virus by the time he moved to Brighton, having adopted the practice of drinking his own urine as a treatment, supplemented with natural remedies, including oregano, coconut and olive leaf oils.

Lady Justice Hallett said the court was entirely satisfied that the trial judge was right to refuse to withdraw the case from the jury.

Announcing the decision on the conviction application, she said: We are satisfied that the grounds of appeal are unarguable.

The appeal judges concluded that nothing raised on Rowes behalf had undermined the safety of the conviction.

Lady Justice Hallett said the trial was a thorough review of the evidence and the issues, and the summing up was full and fair.

She added: The issues were straight forward and the jury convicted on a powerful case.

It was argued during the hearing that Rowes sentence was manifestly excessive and wrong in principle.

But Lady Justice Hallett announced: A life sentence is a sentence of last resort, reserved for cases of extreme gravity, but in this case we are satisfied that the judge was right to conclude that the applicant is dangerous.

She added: The nature and seriousness of the offences was such that only a life sentence was justified, despite the applicants age and his previous background.

Rowe was convicted in November last year, and when sentenced by Judge Christine Henson QC in April she told him that statements from victims described living with a life sentence as a result of your cruel and senseless acts.

Victims told how they had considered suicide having suffered physical and psychological damage, needing to take daily medication.

Rowes first victim, who was diagnosed with HIV in January 2016, said: Daryll has destroyed my life. I would rather he had murdered me than left me to live my life like this.

The hairdresser, who had refused treatment, insisted on having unprotected sex with men, claiming he was clean. When they refused he tampered with condoms, tricking them into thinking he was practising safe sex.

He taunted them over text, telling one: I have HIV. Lol. Whoops!

In separate proceedings in Scotland in May, Rowe was sentenced to eight years after pleading guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to four incidents where he intentionally had unprotected sex with partners, while fully aware he was HIV positive.

One of the men went on to contract HIV.
The Duke of Sussex signed off from a lengthy tour with his pregnant wife - their first as a married couple - in brief terms: "It's been great, thanks guys."

Harry and Meghan will head back to the UK today after a 16-day tour, which took in four countries and saw the couple meet koalas in Sydney, try their hand at welly-wanging in New Zealand and take in traditional culture in Fiji.

Kensington Palace announced on the eve of the tour that the couple were expecting a baby next spring.

Harry and Meghan's last stop on the tour was the relatively calm Redwoods Tree Walk, just outside Rotorua in New Zealand.

A royal fan was "blown away" when the Duchess of Sussex recognised her at a public walk in Auckland after having exchanged messages on Instagram two years ago.

Hannah Sergel had exchanged messages with the duchess in 2016. Waiting for Meghan at an event at the Viaduct Harbour, Ms Sergel carried a sign saying: "It's Hannah from Instagram", which prompted Meghan to greet her.
An Iraqi writers debut novel about the everyday struggle of Baghdads people has won an award at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

The Baghdad Clock by Shahad Al Rawi won the First Book Award after being chosen from a shortlist of 49.

It reveals the reality of growing up in a war-torn city and a way of life thats slowly disappearing.

The author, who grew up in Baghdad, said: Im very proud for two reasons  first because this prize came from the Edinburgh International Book Festival itself.

Secondly, because the competition was extremely strong and the books drew on so many different subjects.

I want to thank my readers from all around the world for choosing my novel.

I was so happy to participate in all the activities and very impressed by how well organised it was.

Most of all I was enchanted by the people. I loved everything about the city of Edinburgh and its a great honour to be connected to it by this prestigious prize that carries its name.

I was enchanted by the people. I loved everything about the city of Edinburgh and its a great honourShahad Al Rawi

The Baghdad Clock is set in 1991 in the midst of the Gulf War, as a young Iraqi girl huddles with her neighbours in an air raid shelter  and also deals with the consequences as she grows up.

It was also shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2018 and topped the bestseller lists in Iraq, Dubai and UAE before Luke Leafgren translated the novel into English.

The author appeared at the book festival in August.

Nick Barley, director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: To tell stories is a fundamental part of the human condition.

Even in extreme situations like the one portrayed in Shahads novel, its stories that keep people going.

Maybe thats why her novel is so affecting and so powerful.

The Baghdad Clock is not just a popular winner with Edinburgh International Book Festival readers this year  its also a brilliant winner that will live long in the memory and it establishes Shahad Al Rawi as a force to be reckoned with, in Arabic and English alike.
Creative Scotland will conduct an extensive review of its operations following a year described as challenging.

The arts body has received heavy criticism over its funding decisions and chief executive, Janet Archer, resigned from the job in July.

A review will cover the organisation of Creative Scotland and will examine in full its current funding models  regular funding, open project funding and targeted funding.

Creative Scotland staff and applicant organisations and representatives from the creative sectors will be included in the process.

The review will aim to establish an effective balance between the different models of funding.

Initial work has examined funding models established by the arts council in England and Wales, as well as models internationally.

Documentation will be prepared at the conclusion of the report and sent out for consultation.

Creative Scotland say they will provide ongoing business delivery to deliver current funding routes and communicate proposed new models at the conclusion of the review.

Iain Munro, the acting chief executive, acknowledged the organisation would have to rebuild its reputation.

He said: The organisation is not fundamentally broken. There are many positive things that our organisation continues to support and deliver.

At the heart of this is the human relationships that we have with people, its fundamental.

These reviews are about taking quite a comprehensive stock of the situation across a whole range of areas to reset the organisation.

But thats not a blank sheet of paper, I wouldnt want us to overlook the fact that we do have some very positive things that were doing.

This has been a challenging time for Creative ScotlandCreative Scotland chair Robert Wilson

Mr Munro also said Creative Scotland would look to address concerns that less funding is being provided to individuals outwith Edinburgh and Glasgow.

North Ayrshire received 192,000 of grant funding in 2016/2017  1% of the 19 million awarded to Glasgow.

Glasgow and Edinburgh received 60% of funding awarded  over 40 million out of a total 66 million in Scotland.

Mr Munro said he is hopeful Creative Scotland will be in a position to open a new film studio in 2019/2020, with plans ongoing to develop a screen hub.

An independent company, Open Change, based in Dundee, was appointed to support the organisational review over the next six months.

Creative Scotland chair Robert Wilson, who took up the role in February, said it was the right time to evaluate the state of the organisation.

He said: This has been a challenging time for Creative Scotland and when I came in, it became clear that there were some fundamental changes that we needed to instigate.

This is an extremely impressive organisation, but clearly there are aspects of it that need to be improved.

This is a perfect time to look at an organisation to see where the strengths are, to see where the weaknesses are and to see how we can improve and move on in a much stronger way.
A number of events are held across Scotland over the winter period (Andrew Milligan/PA)

A campaign aiming to share Scotlands shared values and inclusive view of the world has been launched.

The #MakeSomeonesDay campaign will mark the start of Scotlands Winter Festivals, backed by 550,000 from the Scottish Government.

The campaign kicks off the start of the festivals on St Andrews Day, November 30.

The Winter Festivals celebrate Scotlands culture and heritage over the Christmas period and Hogmanay with events across the country, also marking Burns Night on January 25.

BEMIS, the national ethnic minorities-led umbrella body, is also hosting multi-cultural celebrations as part of the festivals.

The Scottish Government is working with the global Fair Saturday Foundation with a programme of more than 70 nationwide events to help raise funds for good causes and promote fairness and sharing, starting on December 1.

Ben Macpherson, Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development, said: This St Andrews Day presents a positive, inspiring opportunity for all of Scotland, in all our diversity, to celebrate the inclusive, outward-looking and compassionate spirit of our nation  by helping others and by showing generosity and kindness.

Whether its on St Andrews Day or St Andrews Fair Saturday, this year we can all show the best of what it means to be Scottish by each of us doing something small to #MakeSomeonesDay.

If each of us does something kind for someone else, together we can make a big, positive impact for the benefit of the whole of Scotland.

Jordi Albareda, Fair Saturday director and founder, said: When we began the Fair Saturday movement, we wanted countries all over the world to embrace its ideals of creating social impact though arts and culture.

It is fitting that Scotland is hosting the first nationwide Fair Saturday festival outside of Spain and we hope the public will mobilise behind our aim of creating a better future for all.
Scotland voted by 62% to remain in the EU when the referendum was held in June 2016 (Victoria Jones/PA)

A Scottish campaign calling for people across the UK to have the final say on Brexit will be launched at an event in Edinburgh on Thursday.

There have been cross-party calls for a so-called Peoples Vote before the UK formally departs the European Union in March 2019.

Scotland voted by 62% to remain in the EU when the referendum was held in June 2016.

Hundreds of campaigners attended a rally in Scotlands capital in August to call for the UK Governments eventual Brexit deal to be put before the country.

Expand Close Nicola Sturgeon has said SNP MPs would support a vote on the terms of Brexit (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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The event in Edinburgh, organised by the Scotland for a Peoples Vote campaign group, will feature speakers including Dr Kirsty Hughes, the director of the Scottish Centre on European Relations and John Edward, the former head of the European Parliament Office in Scotland.

It will be chaired by Mark Lazarowicz, the incoming chair of the European Movement in Scotland.

A similar event was organised in London earlier this month, with an estimated 700,000 people in attendance.

A message from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was broadcast in Parliament Square, where she said: Let me say this loudly and clearly, if the issue comes before the House of Commons, SNP MPs will support a Peoples Vote which includes the option to remain in the EU.
A US Marines general has said his troops will not be indulging in the alcoholic delights of a Norwegian town after they drank Icelands capital dry of beer.

Some 7,000 US sailors and marines stopped in Reykjavik as they made their way towards Norway for the start of exercise Trident Juncture last month.

Major General Dave Furness, the commanding general of the US Marine Corps 2nd Marines Division, said the reaction to their presence in Norway has so far been very positive.

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He confirmed his 1,100 troops played a part in the massive consumption which forced businesses to head to warehouses to meet demand, but said it all passed without incident.

I dont think we are going to have the opportunity to partake in the local pleasures here for alcohol, he told the Press Association when asked if there would be a repeat situation.

He was speaking as the US Marines prepared to stage a mock seizure of the town of Oppdal in central Norway, as part of Natos biggest war games since the end of the Cold War.

Exercise Trident Juncture involves more than 50,000 troops, 65 ships, 10,000 vehicles and 250 aircraft from all 29 member states of the alliance, including the UK, plus Finland and Sweden.

On Thursday, in an area on the outskirts of Oppdal, four M1 Abrams tanks from the US Marine Corps 2nd Tank Division gathered in the car park of a motel complex.

Flanked by snow-capped mountains and sweeping pine forests, they were joined by a Light Armoured Reconnaissance company before engaging in battle with the Spanish and Italians.

Tank platoon commander first lieutenant Luis Penichet, 25, from New York said Trident Juncture as a whole is extremely useful for him and his troops as they develop their skills.

Speaking ahead of the attack, he said: This is the first time we have had an opportunity to go tank-on-tank they will be using the Leopard 2 tank which is similar to ours but not as good.

UK contribution to Ex #TridentJuncture in numbers. With over 50,000 participants from 31 nations, this is NATO's biggest collective defence exercise in over a decade. Find our more here  https://t.co/1bMAvXzyzk pic.twitter.com/n7yfGTxe5K  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) October 23, 2018

He said the seizure of the airfield before they move on to trying to take control of the town is vital because of the flow of logistics, forces and supplies that it offers and enables.

And as they took control of the airfield their actions sent the opposing southern forces of Spain and Italy into retreat, and in the coming days will advance further south.

The exercise will eventually see the Americans, which are part of the northern force, pushed back and Oppdal liberated, with more military manoeuvre due in the town in the coming days.

Oppdal mayor for the past three years, Kirsti Welander, said she was excited about the mock capture, with many of her fellow 7,000 residents curious and interested by the action.

Also participating @Natos exercise #tridentjuncure is the #bundeswehrs special mission aircraft for maritime surveillance, the P-3C Orion. Plays a key role in the maritime part of exercise. #Marineflieger #DeutscheMarine #GermanNavy pic.twitter.com/pgvN2ZMfDQ  Germany at NATO (@GermanyNATO) October 29, 2018

I have not heard one person who is critical, she told the Press Association.

Oppdal Police Chief Finn Skarsmoen said over the coming days the main concern is how the military activity will affect civilian life.

He said that the narrow roads coupled with some vehicles which are almost four metres wide, will create issues with the traffic in Oppdal and the surrounding area.

We are most concerned about if there will be any bad accidents that will involve both civilians and soldiers but we are prepared for it, he added.

Beginning last week, Trident Juncture is taking place in Norway, a country which shares a border with Russia, and comes amid rising tensions between the Kremlin and the alliance.

Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of Nato, said it is a defensive exercise, taking place in central Norway, the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea, and is not directed against any country.

But Russia, which thinks Nato is acting provocatively, recently revealed its navy plans to test missiles between November 1-3 in the international waters off western Norway.

Mother-of-four and Oppdal resident for the past 13 years, Randi Grete Kalseth-Iversen, said they are not too worried about Russia and still sleep at night.

We know they are around the corner and are just flexing their muscles, she said.

We feel more secure because of Nato, because now we see if something happens Nato will rush in and help us.
Detectives believe a van seen leaving the scene of a security workers murder was later involved in a crash before being found burnt out.

Mohammed Abu Sammour was found injured at a housing development under construction near Newarthill in North Lanarkshire at around 1am on Sunday.

The 49-year-old from Caldercruix in Airdrie worked as a building site security supervisor.

His work van was seen being driven away from the scene and police now say the Peugeot Partner vehicle with blue writing on the side was spotted in Claire Street in the nearby village of Newmains at around 1.50am, where it collided with a parked car.

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Detective Chief Inspector David Pinkney said: There were two male occupants of the van and they are described as white and in their early to mid 20s.

I would be keen to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity of Claire Street or Newmains at that time and who may have seen that van to contact police.

The response weve received from the public so far has been good, however, I would urge anyone who has any information regarding this van or these men to come forward to police if they have not already done so.

The victim was found injured at around 1am in Panmuir Crescent, part of a new housing development between Holytown and Newarthill.

He was taken to Wishaw General Hospital where he died a short time later.

The van was found burnt out on waste ground between the A723 and Burn Crescent, New Stevenston.
Tipper ban lifted to spur government projects

The decision to lift the restriction on plying time of tippers and lorries in Kathmandu Valley was taken to expedite the governments infrastructure projects, a senior officer of the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD) has said.
With the US holding midterm elections, both Republicans and Democrats are wheeling out the big guns in Georgia for what could be a defining election to be the states governor.

Oprah Winfrey visited Republican-leaning suburbs in Atlanta to urge voters to make history by backing Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams in next weeks election.

Winfrey called Abrams a changemaker who represents the values of all Georgians.

I am here today because Stacey Abrams cares about the things that matter, she said to a mostly female audience north of central Atlanta.

Stacey Abrams is being bankrolled by Hollywood liberalsMike Pence

Seventy-five miles north, Vice President Mike Pence stood alongside Ms Abrams opponent, Brian Kemp, in Dalton, and mocked the billionaire media figure as just another liberal outsider trying to impose on Republican-run Georgia.

Stacey Abrams is being bankrolled by Hollywood liberals, Mr Pence said.

Mr Pence drew boos from the crowd when he mentioned that Oprah is in town and noted that actor Will Ferrell was recently in Georgia for Democrats.

Id like to remind Stacey and Oprah and Will Ferrell, Im kind of a big deal, too, Mr Pence said, adding a message for all Stacey Abrams liberal friends: This aint Hollywood. This is Georgia.

Winfrey and Mr Pence will not be the last big names to visit the state before the polls open.

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Former president Barack Obama will follow on Friday to campaign for Ms Abrams while President Donald Trump will appear with Mr Kemp on Sunday.

Ive always liked Oprah, he told reporters at the White House.

Oprahs good, but the woman that shes supporting is not qualified to be the governor of Georgia by any stretch of the imagination.

More than 1.5 million of the states almost seven million registered voters have cast ballots already.

Ms Abrams, a Yale-educated lawyer who served a decade in the Georgia Legislature, would be the first black female governor in American history.

She has campaigned as an unapologetic liberal trying to draw new voters to the polls and prove that Georgias growth and diversity make it a legitimate two-party battleground.

I don't want to run. I'm not testing the watersOprah Winfrey

Mr Kemp is a staunch conservative who has embraced Mr Trump and the administrations hard-line on immigration.

He wields guns in his ads and lambastes Ms Abrams as a tool of socialists and billionaires who want to turn Georgia into California.

Both candidates have taken to describing the race as a battle for the soul of our state.

Winfrey has rejected any suggestion she might be preparing the ground for a run for office.

Im not here because Im making some grandstand for myself. I dont want to run. Im not testing the waters, she said.

A former president in Ms Abrams corner is Jimmy Carter, who himself served as governor of Georgia before being elected president in 1976.
Former president Hamid Karzai says that he sees a role for the Taliban after the war in a future, peaceful Afghanistan.

Mr Karzai also said five Taliban leaders freed from the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay in 2014, in exchange for American army Sgt Bowe Bergdahl are good individuals, good Afghans who should participate in negotiations to end the 17-year war.

Hamid Karzai met with @USAmbKabul, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, in his office on Tuesday. Discussed the peace process and regional cooperation. pic.twitter.com/1LPWspN4Ma  Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) October 23, 2018

Mr Karzai, who still wields considerable influence in todays Afghanistan, also supports talks between the Taliban and the United States  but only as a step towards direct talks between the insurgents and Afghans from all walks of life.

Mr Karzai says he knows some of the five freed Taliban personally. The five are now part of the Taliban political office in Qatar.
Israel's envoy to the memorial ceremonies for the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims says it is "unfair and wrong" to link the tragedy to US President Donald Trump.

Naftali Bennett, the Israeli minister for diaspora affairs, lauded Mr Trump's support for Israel and his denunciation of anti-Semitism, saying: "With President Trump, we never have to worry if he has our backs."

His comments on Tuesday came as Mr Trump paid a visit to Pittsburgh amid accusations his fiery rhetoric had contributed to the climate of violence.

Top elected officials avoided him and one of the families of the 11 victims asked not to meet him.
The first democratically elected president of the Maldives has returned home after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term.

The plane carrying Mohamed Nasheed from Sri Lanka landed in Maldives capital, Male, where he was welcomed by his party members and supporters. He planned to address his supporters later on Thursday.

Mr Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in jail in 2015 after being convicted of terrorism for ordering the arrest of a top judge in 2012 while he was president.

Expand Close Former president Mohamed Nasheed receives a warm welcome home (Mohamed Sharuhaan/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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His trial was criticised internationally for lack of due process, along with those of many other political opponents jailed by strongman President Yameen Abdul Gayooms administration.

He was offered asylum in Britain when he traveled there for medical treatment on leave from prison.

Mr Nasheeds return follows Mr Yameens defeat in the September 23 presidential election by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the candidate of Mr Nasheeds Maldivian Democratic Party.

Since Mr Yameens defeat, courts have freed or granted bail to some of the jailed officials.

The Supreme Court earlier this week suspended Mr Nasheeds prison sentence until it reviews his conviction at the request of the countrys prosecutor general, a move to prevent his arrest on arrival.

Two other people  an opposition party leader and a former vice president who was Mr Yameens running mate in the 2103 presidential election  earlier returned from exile.

Mr Nasheed, a former pro-democracy activist, was elected president in the countrys first multiparty election in 2008 after decades of autocratic rule.

He became popular internationally as an environment crusader, holding an underwater Cabinet meeting to highlight the perils of rising sea levels caused by global warming and their impact on the archipelago nation composed of coral masses just a few metres above sea level.

He resigned in 2012 amid public protests against his order to arrest the senior judge and lost the 2103 election to Mr Yameen.
Turkeys justice minister has renewed a call on Saudi Arabia to co-operate in the investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, saying no one can escape responsibility.

Abdulhamit Gul said that Saudi Arabias top prosecutor  who spent three days in Istanbul as part of joint Turkish-Saudi efforts to investigate the killing  had failed to answer Turkish investigators questions about the location of the writers remains as well as who ordered the killing.

We expect these questions to be answered swiftly, Mr Gul told reporters.

No one can escape responsibility. This issue has become a world matter. It is not an issue that can be covered up.

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He added: We want the Saudi authorities to enter into close cooperation with us. They have to support [the probe] so that the entire incident is brought to light.

Istanbuls chief prosecutor announced on Wednesday that The Washington Post columnist was strangled immediately after he entered the consulate on October 2 to collect a document he needed to marry his Turkish fiancee.

His body was dismembered and removed from the consulate, the prosecutors office stated, adding that the killing was premeditated.

The prosecutors statement that Mr Khashoggi was killed immediately conflicted with a report by pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak last month, which cited what it described as an audio recording of Mr Khashoggi being tortured before being killed.

Turkey is seeking the extradition of 18 suspects who have been detained in Saudi Arabia so that they can be put on trial in Turkey.

They include 15 members of an alleged hit squad that Turkey says was sent to Istanbul to kill the 59-year-old journalist, who lived in exile in the United States and had written critically of Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Some of those implicated in the killing are close to the prince whose condemnation of the killing has failed to ease suspicions that he was involved.

Under mounting international pressure, Saudi Arabia has changed its narrative about Mr Khashoggis killing several times, and has recently acknowledging that Turkish evidence shows it was premeditated.
Last week was another bad one for Sinn Fein  and for three main reasons. Former Sinn Fein Finance Minister Mairtin O Muilleoir had to appear before the RHI Inquiry and it exposed something of the inner workings of Sinn Fein. Statements and emails published by the inquiry revealed that O Muilleoir was in close contact with three senior republicans at party headquarters and would not sign a key document until he had cleared it with one of the three.

That person is Ted Howell, who, at 72, can rightly be described as a veteran republican.

He is also a long-standing confidant of Gerry Adams.

In January 2017 O Muilleoir sent an email to Howell asking if he was content if I (O Muilleoir) were to sign off the business plan on Wednesday?

This gives us some insight into the power of veteran republicans based around Connolly House and reminds us, if we needed reminding, that Sinn Fein is far more than a political party: it is simply one part of a wider movement and the real power lies with veteran republicans, who are at the heart of the movement and to whom everyone else is subservient.

Meanwhile, in the Irish Republic, Sinn Fein got it badly wrong in relation to the presidential election. Its vote was cut in half, to just 6.4%, and its candidate, a member of the European Parliament, came in fourth behind the current president and two independents.

Liadh Ni Riada had all the resources of Sinn Fein behind her campaign and yet she could only manage an embarrassing fourth place.

Mary Lou McDonald was left to explain it away and she was helped by the fact that the media seemed more interested in Peter Casey, the controversial independent candidate who came second. But for that there would have been more scrutiny of the collapse in the partys vote.

It would be possible to read too much into this, but it does show that there is nothing inevitable about the rise of Sinn Fein in the Republic and it must have come as a shock to the faithful  especially the veteran republicans who really run the party.

They will, of course, want to analyse the campaign and see where it all went wrong, but will it lead to any change in their strategy? Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, on Saturday afternoon, as the votes were being counted in the Republic, there was a shameful reminder of the callousness of Sinn Fein.

In the heart of republican west Belfast there was a commemoration at Milltown for the IRA bomber Thomas Begley, who murdered nine innocent people on the Shankill Road 25 years ago.

We were told that the event wasnt organised by Sinn Fein, but when it became known that party members would attend, there was no way out for Mary Lou McDonald. As the Sinn Fein president she had to defend the presence of her members at the commemoration.

In the best tradition of republican doublespeak, she talked about the right to remember and, in a free society, people do have the right to remember. But when you put Sean Kelly, the convicted bomber, at the centre of the ceremony, it moves way beyond remembrance.

There was a special focus on this episode because the Shankill bomb was one of the worst IRA atrocities and this was the 25th anniversary. But there is an annual calendar of Sinn Fein-sponsored commemorations for members of the IRA, an organisation that murdered more than 1,800 people during the Troubles.

It was a week in which we learned a little more about the Connolly House cabal that really runs Sinn Fein, a week in which the party had an embarrassing election and a week in which Mary Lou McDonald had to defend the indefensible.

Yes, it was a bad week for Sinn Fein.
There is widespread dismay following the decision by the PPS not to prosecute former Sinn Fein MLA Barry McElduff over his controversial Kingsmill video

There is widespread dismay following the decision by the PPS not to prosecute former Sinn Fein MLA Barry McElduff over his controversial Kingsmill video.

This arises from an incident when McElduff posted a video on social media in which he posed with a loaf of Kingsmill bread on his head during the 42nd anniversary of the massacre in which Protestant workmen were murdered in cold blood.

The PPS also announced that it had decided against prosecuting Sinn Fein MLA Mairtin O Muilleoir, who also shared the video on Twitter.

The PPS assistant director Martin Hardy acknowledged the great hurt which the video had caused to the relatives of the dead man and to the wider community.

He said that the evidence produced by the police had not been sufficient to provide a reasonable aspect of obtaining a conviction.

He also revealed that having considered all the evidence available, the requisite test for prosecution was not met.

The deep hurt of relatives was summarised by the brother of one of the murdered men who claimed that Barry McElduff had "got away with dancing on the graves" of the Kingsmill victims.

As we noted in a leading article on Monday concerning the disgraceful incident when people dressed up in Ku Klux Klan regalia in Newtownards last weekend, it is up to the police and prosecutors to investigate whether or not a hate crime has been committed.

We are not in the business of second-guessing the PPS or the police on these decisions, and when the authorities rule that the test for prosecution was not met, we have to accept that.

Sadly, however, this leaves all of us in a legal no-man's land when the prosecution can accept that a group of people suffered a great deal because of the actions of an individual or individuals, but there appears to be no remedy in law for such behaviour.

McElduff said that out of 26 types of loaf in the shop, he picked the Kingsmill brand at random, and it just happened to be on the anniversary of the atrocity. To any reasonable and fair-minded observer, the sight of a front-line politician balancing a Kingsmill loaf on his head was outrageous, and deeply offensive.

Clearly there is a serious legislative gap in dealing with such situations, and there is a strong case for our politicians to fill this gap if and when they condescend to return to Stormont.
Micheal Martin had said any move north would have to be well planned

When it was revealed, at the end of August, that the SDLP and Fianna Fail were discussing the potential for some sort of electoral pact, or merger, I wasn't particularly surprised.

The SDLP has had an awful time since 1998 (when it actually nudged ahead of the UUP in the Assembly election and became the largest party in terms of votes; the first time the primary unionist party had slipped behind a nationalist rival), but has since lost half their vote, all of their MPs and half of their MLAs.

The latest boundary proposals, which will see the number of MLAs reduced from 90 to 85, is likely to cost them another two MLAs. Fianna Fail, meanwhile, has gone from an average of 43% of the vote and 77-plus TDs, to 24% and 44 seats.

Both parties need a massive injection of electoral and political relevance. They need to do something which makes their existing voters, former voters and potential new voters sit up and take notice.

So, with Sinn Fein a huge threat to both of them and with the prospect of Irish unity not as distant as it seemed just three years ago, it makes sense for them to at least consider pooling their resources and talent.

In an interview with me in February 2014, Micheal Martin addressed the issue of contesting elections here: "The first phase of our engagement was policy. The next stage has to be electoral. But we have to be very incremental: it isn't going to be a big bang. We made mistakes before, saying that we were going north, but frankly, there wasn't anything behind it in terms of capacity. That won't happen under my leadership. When I make a step forward, it has to be with a bit of beef and bodies and a campaign plan."

Two months ago, it looked as though the talks with the SDLP were a way of addressing the beef, bodies and capacity issues. Coming north just to challenge the SDLP would probably have played into Sinn Fein's hands; and, by spreading the electoral choice across nationalism, may also have helped the DUP.

Also: a joint SDLP/Fianna Fail vehicle might have the potential to swing and galvanise voters in the event of a border poll; attracting some pro-unity voters who didn't buy into Sinn Fein's narrative, but who looked upon the SDLP as an irrelevance.

Yes, there would be problems in building a new all-Ireland electoral vehicle, but it was certainly an option worth exploring.

So, it was a big surprise when, on Thursday evening, Sorcha McAnespy was announced as Fianna Fail's candidate for next May's local government elections; standing for the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, of which she is presently an Independent member.

Two senior Fianna Fail figures - Senator Mark Daly and TD Eamon O Cuiv - were introduced as her "joint campaign managers".

Ms McAnespy added: "There is an appetite for change in Northern Ireland and there is an appetite, now more than ever, for Fianna Fail to contest elections in Northern Ireland."

Adding to the impression that Fianna Fail was now running its own show, Daly said he expected the launch to be the "first of many to come".

There was no specific mention of the SDLP, although it was reported that some SDLP supporters were at the launch.

Yet, within an hour, there was a statement from Fianna Fail HQ: "Despite some reports, the party has made no decision with regard to contesting the 2019 NI local elections. The party is continuing its discussions with the SDLP. It follows, then, that it has selected no candidate to contest these elections."

When I spoke to a Fianna Fail source on Saturday morning, he said there were "elements at the centre of the party who are totally focused on strategies that will make Micheal Martin Taoiseach; they look on all of this as a distraction. They are not interested. They have enough other things on their plate".

The problem now is that time is running out to get a deal in place for the elections. That will embolden those in the SDLP who oppose both an electoral pact and a formal merger.

Speaking on BBC NI's The View on Thursday evening, Claire Hanna made it very clear that she would not be comfortable - and unlikely to remain a member - if her party concluded a deal.

John Boyle, the SDLP mayor of Londonderry, told the BBC's Sunday Politics programme that he was a social democrat and would remain a social democrat.

According to pro-pact Fianna Fail sources, there are around 30 or so SDLP councillors who would be willing to run under a joint SDLP/Fianna Fail banner; but that leaves about half who wouldn't.

But if a pact was to lead to high-profile elected figures, like Hanna, leaving the party, it could have as damaging an impact as the departure of Lady Hermon had on the UUP at the time of the UCUNF (UUP/Conservative) deal in 2010.

Back in August, it had been hoped that a deal would be in place by now. It would be too soon to dismiss the prospect of a deal altogether, but it certainly looks much less likely than it did a few weeks ago.

If that is the case, then it is much worse news for the SDLP than for Fianna Fail.

The very fact that it agreed to talks was an admission from the SDLP that it had big problems in terms of role, relevance, purpose and direction. A deal would not, necessarily, have resolved all of those problems: indeed, the UCUNF project ended up doing the UUP enormous internal and electoral damage.

But, at the very least, the whole process of negotiations, followed by internal discussions about a possible deal, might have focused minds in the SDLP; particularly the minds of those who still don't understand exactly why their party was eclipsed and then pummelled by Sinn Fein.

It is now clear that there are important factions in both the SDLP and Fianna Fail who are opposed to a pact, or merger: and the dog's-dinner fiasco that was Thursday's "launch" has helped both those factions.

Colum Eastwood and Micheal Martin have been silent and Sorcha McAnespy has gone to ground.

It's still not entirely clear what happened on Thursday: who approved the launch; who appointed the campaign managers; why the leaders weren't involved; why the respective HQs seemed to know nothing; why it was done while both parties are still negotiating; why the candidate was "deselected" within an hour or so; and, crucially, how much damage has been done to both parties?

Ironically, the very process which was meant to show that both parties should be taken seriously again has done just the opposite.

None of the "beef" that Martin talked about in 2014: just a lot of egg over a lot of faces.
1. Yes. Council members appear to have taken time to review each section carefully.

2. Yes. The council has set up town halls and a public hearing to inform the residents.

3. No. The council should have set up a charter review committee, including residents.

4. No. Some of the items proposed so far benefit the council more than the community.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say until after the public has had more opportunities to weigh in.

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Muhammad Syaugi, chief of Indonesias National Search and Rescue Agency, (second from left) holds the flight data recorder from the crashed Lion Air jet during a news conference onboard a rescue ship in Tanjung Karawang, Nov. 1, 2018.

Indonesian divers on Thursday recovered what they believe is the flight-data recorder of a Lion Air jet that plunged into the Java Sea with 189 people aboard, officials said, a finding that could help investigators piece together the crashs cause.

Navy divers retrieved the box from a depth of 30 meters (about 100 feet), said Muhammad Syaugi, head of the National Search and Rescue Agency.

Soerjanto Tjahjono, director of the National Transport Safety Committee, said the device was most likely the flight data recorder.

Were still looking for the cockpit voice recorder, he told reporters.

It was covered in mud, but is still intact, diver 1st Sgt. Hendra told a local TV news channel.

The black box consists of a cockpit voice recorder, which records conversations between pilots, and a similar looking flight-data recorder, which tracks electronic information such as airspeed, pressure altitude and vertical acceleration.

Ony Soeryo Wibowo, another investigator, said they still hadnt determined if the box pulled from the sea on Thursday was the flight data or cockpit voice recorder, according to the Associated Press.

Their forms are similar, AP quoted him as saying.

The new Boeing 737 MAX 8, which had joined the Lion Air fleet in August, crashed on Monday morning minutes after take-off from Jakartas Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, bound for Pangkal Pinang in Kepulauan Bangka-Belitung province off Sumatra.

All 181 passengers and eight crew members are presumed dead.

Search chief Syaugi said navy divers also recovered a part of the aircraft measuring about 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) in length and half a meter in width, the biggest piece from the wreckage to be found so far.

He said bigger parts of the aircraft were also spotted but were too heavy to lift.

We lowered an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) and saw many debris and several bodies. There were also the aircrafts two wheels and the side of the aircrafts body, he told a news conference.

Dismembered bodies



Senior Commissioner Musyafak, director of the Said Sukanto central police hospital, said 48 bags with dismembered body parts had been examined and lab tests would be carried out to match them with DNA samples taken from the victims families.

The DNA identification effort could take about a week, said Musyafak, who goes by one name.

On Thursday, Lion Air said the remains of one of the passengers, Jannatun Shintya Dewi, had been flown to her hometown Surabaya, capital of East Java province, for burial.

Airline representatives handed over Jannatuns remains to her family on Wednesday after police confirmed her identity through a DNA match, the company said in a statement.

Lion Air has expressed their deepest condolences to all the family and friends of the late Jannatun Shintya Dewi, it said.



Lion Air said it was supporting her family with necessary expenses and offered them a waiting allowance of about U.S. $331, grief money of about U.S. $1,700 and more than 1.2 trillion rupiah (about U.S. $83,000) to compensate for her death.

We will ask for an explanation

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said Thursday he would ask Boeing investigators currently in Indonesia to clarify details regarding the 737 MAX 8, one of the most-advanced planes built by the U.S. aircraft maker.

We will ask for an explanation from Boeing about the aircraft. Perhaps theres a mismatch between its technology and the pilots competence, he told a news conference.

Authorities have not pinned the blame on the aircraft model, which has been in commercial use only since mid-2017.

Budi said the ministry had also ordered Lion Air to suspend the airlines director of maintenance and engineering, the managers of quality control and fleet maintenance, as well as the release engineer, and appoint other people to their posts.

The goal of the suspension is to allow them to focus on supporting the investigation, he said.

The minister said that an inspection of Lion Airs Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet following Mondays crash had found no technical problems, but more checks were needed.

The government was also considering raising the minimum ticket price for low-cost carriers, taking into account a recent increase in oil prices, Budi said.

Lion Air has confirmed reports that the aircraft logged unreliable readings of altitude and airspeed on its previous flight, the night before it crashed.

But the company said the issues had been resolved before Mondays flight.

Robbi Gaharu, who boarded the same plane on Lion Airs Bali-Jakarta route on Sunday, told CNN that the aircraft dropped sharply in altitude and said the passengers felt like they were falling into a really, really deep hole.

I thought maybe it was caused by turbulence. After 10 minutes in the air, the plane dropped as if it was losing power, said Gaharu, a management consultant and frequent flier. People panicked. It dropped about 400 feet.

A spokesman for the airline, however, declined on Thursday to comment about a report that the pilot of the Bali-Jakarta flight had made a distress call about technical problems minutes after take-off from Denpasar, according to Reuters.

Mondays crash was the second deadly accident in 14 years involving a plane from budget carrier Lion Air.



In 2004, an MD-82 from its fleet overshot the runway of the airport in Solo, Central Java. It crashed into a cemetery, killing 25 people. Nine years later, a Lion Air Boeing 737 carrying more than 100 people crashed into the sea while trying to land on Bali island, nearly splitting the fuselage into two. There were no fatalities.
Fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low poses for pictures at the launch of the Global Daily website in Washington, April 23, 2015.

Updated at 4:34 p.m. ET on 2018-11-01

The U.S. Justice Department unsealed a criminal indictment on Thursday against fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low alleging he paid millions of dollars to officials from Malaysias previous government while embezzling billions from state development fund 1MDB.

Another Malaysian national, Ng Chong Hwa (also known as Roger Ng) was named in the three-count indictment filed on Oct. 3 in a federal court in the Eastern District of New York, and has been arrested in Malaysia, according to the U.S. government.

In addition, former banker Tim Leissner pleaded guilty to two charges related to money laundering involving the state development fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), which was established by former Prime Minister Najib Razak and is central to the investigation.

More than $2.7 billion (11.28 billion ringgit) was misappropriated from 1MDB and Jho Low, Ng, Leissner and others conspired to launder this money through the U.S. financial system to pay bribes to foreign officials and for the personal benefit of themselves and their relatives, the government said in a news release about the indictments.

Ng and Leissner both held positions with the investment bank Goldman Sachs, according to media reports, and were described in their indictments as working for U.S. Financial Institution #1.

The government alleges they hid their partnership with Jho Low  whose real name is Low Taek Jho  from the financial institution because compliance and intelligence officers refused to approve the business relationship over concerns about the source of his wealth.

Among those named in the indictment as having received kickbacks are Malaysian Official 1 (MO1) and his wife, referred to as the Madam, in email correspondence among the three. MO1 has not been named in previous lawsuits related to 1MDB filed by the Justice Department, but sources have identified him as Najib.

Since his government was swept out of power in a general election in May, Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, have been arrested by authorities in their home country and charged with a raft of graft-related offenses linked with the 1MDB financial scandal.

The indictment alleges that in June 2014, Jho Low (also known as Low Taek Jho) and an unnamed conspirator discussed through electronic chat, the need to suck up to an unnamed 1MDB official and to send cakes, referring to bribes, to madam boss.

In October 2014, Jho Low and co-conspirators wire transferred $4.1 million (17 million ringgit) to a New York jeweler to pay for gold jewelry for the wife of MO1, U.S. justice officials alleged.

A year earlier, Jho Low was involved in an even bigger payment.

In September 2013, a high-end New York jeweler met with Jho Low along with MO1 and his wife at a hotel to show her a pink diamond necklace the jeweler had designed for her. Three weeks earlier, the necklace was purchased for about $27.3 million (114 million ringgit) from a shell company controlled by Low and others, the U.S. government alleges.

Projects Magnolia, Maximus and Catalyze

The government alleges that the conspirators cooked up three schemes to collect funds from 1MBD and diverted portions for their own use.

The first scheme, named Project Magnolia, began in early 2012. Jho Low, Ng, Leissner and other unnamed conspirators agreed that with the assistance of the financial institution, 1MDB would issue $1.75 billion in bonds guaranteed by an entity owned by Abu Dhabis government.

Low explained to Ng, Leissner and others at that time that, to complete the transaction, bribes would need to be paid to officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi, the government alleged in a news release, adding that millions of dollars were paid to officials in those two countries.

After Project Magnolia closed on or about May 21, 2012, more than $500 million of the bond proceeds were misappropriated and diverted from 1MDB through numerous wire transfers to bank accounts in the name of shell companies beneficially owned and controlled by Low, Leissner, Ng and other co-conspirators, the release said.

Some of the money was used to produce the film The Wolf of Wall Street, the American Justice Department said.

Najibs stepson Riza Aziz, is founder of Red Granite Pictures, the films producer.

Beginning in May 2012 and running through 2013, investigators allege that the trio and unnamed conspirators pushed through a pair of bond transactions, Project Maximus and Project Catalyze, designed to raise more than $4 billion (16.7 billion ringgit) for 1MDB projects.

Following the close of Project Maximus, $790 million (3.3 billion ringgit) was transferred to accounts controlled by Low, Leissner and others, including Malaysian and Abu Dhabi officials.

More than $1 billion (4.17 billion ringgit) were laundered, at Lows direction to bank accounts in the name of entities beneficially owned and controlled by Low, Leissner and others, including 1MDB officials, when Project Catalyze closed.

Also, more than $160 million (668 million ringgit) laundered through the two projects was used to purchase a New York City condominium for Jho Low and high-end art, the government alleges.

Jho Low and Ng were charged with violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by committing bribery and circumventing internal accounting controls along with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Malaysian officials did not confirm the U.S. report that Ng had been arrested.

Fugitive

Jho Low, who is in hiding, has maintained his innocence. Earlier this week, the Malaysian government began a month-long auction to sell his $250 million yacht Equanimity to recoup some of the losses tied to 1MDB.

Former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin said on Thursday that he had been in touch with Jho Low and the fugitive wanted to meet with him in Singapore.

I decided not to meet him at all. We roughly know where he is now. The problem is he has many passports, he can run anywhere, Daim said in an interview with Astro Awani TV. What he likes is his boat. When he had the boat it was easy for him.

Daim, who did not answer Jho Lows most recent call last week, said he told the fugitive to return if he is innocent.

Only guilty people run away, he said.

Also on Thursday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) announced that it was looking for a British man, Paul Geoffrey Stadlen, whose last known address was in Kuala Lumpur, to assist in the 1MDB investigation.

Stadlen had served as a public relations officer for Najib, according to Malaysian media.

The commission was working closely with the Immigration Department to locate the 39-year-old Briton. As of today, the MACC has yet to blacklist Stadlen from leaving Malaysia and we are still in discussion with the Immigration Department on that matter, MACC Chief Commissioner Mohd Shukri Abdull told reporters.

Muzliza Mustafa, Hadi Azmi and Noah Lee in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.
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Leading entails influencing people to think, say and behave in ways that take them from one place to another. Leading can be formal (you hold a position of authority in a group) or informal (you influence people but dont hold a position of authority). It is all too easy for a leader to get wrapped up in the what, when and how of leadership and miss what is even more important than the tangible results of completed tasks and goals met.

The Bible tells the story of how God  Father, Son and Holy Spirit  loves us and wants us to love Him, despite our brokenness and tendency to go our own way (see Isaiah 53:6). This relationship is the main thing about the Bible and its the main thing to keep focused on when leading people. But what exactly does this mean?

What Is Biblical Leadership?

The examples of King Saul and King David are helpful in discerning what type of leader and leadership pleases and displeases God. In 1 Samuel 15, we read of Israels King Saul disobeying Gods instructions communicated to him through the prophet Samuel. In verse 12 we see Saul has drifted so far from God that he set up a monument in his own honor. When Samuel confronted him over disobeying God, Saul lied about why and rationalized his actions. Mincing no words, Samuel tells Saul that because of his rebellion and arrogance, God has rejected him as Israels king and has decided to replace him.

In 1 Samuel 16, God sends Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesses sons as the next king. When Samuel sees Jesses firstborn son he assumes God has selected him but the Lord informs him otherwise:

Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)

Seven sons in all come before Samuel and not one is Gods choice. Samuel then asks Jesse if all his sons are present and is informed that the youngest, David, is off tending sheep. David is sent for and when he arrives, God tells Samuel this one will be Israels next king.

What was it about David that pleased the Lord? David wholeheartedly loved and trusted the Lord, and that was the foundation for his actions. God says, ...I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do. (Acts 13:22).

In 1 Samuel 17, we see that David trusted the Lord so much that he had the courage to take on Goliath, a challenge that looked foolish in the worlds eyes because Goliath, an experienced Philistine warrior who had been taunting and terrifying the army of King Saul for 40 days, was so much bigger and stronger than the young shepherd. Because he placed his trust in the Lord, David defeated Goliath with Gods help.

Davids heartfelt love for God is on display throughout Davids psalms  how he worshiped and adored God, how he cried out to God during difficult times, how he longed to please God, and how he grieved over the times he sinned and even asked God to forgive sins he was unaware of [Psalm 19:12].

David was far from perfect (as we are all far from perfect). Before choosing him, God knew (because of His omniscience) that David would one day abuse his power as king and enter into an intimate relationship with a married woman (Bathsheba) then have her husband (Uriah the Hittite) murdered to cover up his sin. Yet despite Davids brokenness, God knew that he would seek to be close to the Lord and to do His will. He strayed pretty far from the Lords will at times but the arc of Davids life was aligned with Gods will and God blessed him  and blessed Israel  for it.

In addition to loving the Lord, David loved the people he was responsible for leading. Psalm 78:72 (New Living Translation) describes Davids leadership of Israel this way: [David] cared for [Israel] with a true heart and led them with skillful hands. In this succinct verse are two critical aspects of leadership. Both the heart to love the people one leads and leadership skills are important to lead well. David had both.

David had the skills of a leader so that he could perform the tasks of leadership with excellence. Leadership tasks include communicating vision and actions necessary to support it; making wise decisions about issues including strategy, delegation and authority; and selecting leaders and advisors. In addition, David had a true heart that cared for people which allowed him to develop relationship excellence with the people he led.

From the examples of Saul and David, we can glean important wisdom about leadership. David was a God-centered leader; Saul became a self-centered leader. First, like David, seek Gods will and love Him with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. When you sin, and you will, earnestly seek Gods forgiveness. Pray for Gods wisdom and guidance, and when you sense He is calling you to do something, do it. Love the people you are responsible for leading. And finally, develop excellence in the skills of leadership. David, as a leader, developed both task excellence and relationship excellence in his relationship with God and with the people he led.

Bible Verses about Leadership

In Jesus words and example, we gain greater clarity about leaders and leadership. Here are a few key passages that are relevant to Biblical leadership.

When asked by one of the teachers of the law which is the most important commandment, Jesus replied: The most important one is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:29-31)

To his disciples (and it applies to us today), Jesus reinforced the importance of connection to him: I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Fathers glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:5-8)

Jesus prayed to God the Father: My prayer is not for [the disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one  I in them and you in me  so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)

In these and other passages  I highly recommend reading John 13-17 we see that Jesus tells his disciples to love God and stay connected to Him plus love the body of believers and stay connected to them. This reinforces what we see in King Davids example. Notice at the end of John 17:23 Jesus explains why this connection is so important: then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. Jesus is saying being connected through love to God and to the body of believers is the main thing!

Being connected evokes the nature of the Trinity. In the Trinity we have a paradox that God is three  Father, Son and Holy Spirit  while also being so perfectly connected in love that God is one. God is our model and Jesus, as God among us, showed us the way.

What Makes a Good Leader?

Jesus emptied himself [Philippians 2:7] and he came to serve, not to be served [Mark 10:45]. N.T. Wright, the New Testament scholar, expressed an important aspect of Jesus death and resurrection when he observed that it showed that the power of love is greater than the love of power. When you stop and think about that, it makes sense. Both the religious authorities and the Romans ruled with power. The religious authorities felt threatened by Jesus growing influence so they colluded to have him killed by the Romans who crucified anyone who threatened their power. Jesus showed another way to lead. He let them take their best shot at stopping him by allowing them to crucify Him. The power to put Jesus to death was mans ultimate power. But then Jesus showed Gods way is superior to the power of men when he defeated death and rose from the grave, his sacrifice sending a profound message, triumphing over the unseen principalities and powers (see Colossians 2:13-15) and atoning for our transgressions so that we might be reconciled and reconnected with God.

Like Jesus, leaders are called to follow Gods will which calls for staying connected to Him, dying to self and following His will for our lives. Doing so will require faith, for God may ask you to do what is foolish in the eyes of the world (see 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 and Hebrews 11). God called Moses to raise his staff to part the Red Sea. God called Abraham to leave the land of his birth without knowing where he was going. He called Noah to build an ark before any rain had fallen. God called Esther to go before the king although she had not been summoned, a risk that could have led to her death. Biblical leadership often, if not always, entails the call to take a visible step of faith that looks foolish from the worlds perspective.

Much is at stake from how we respond to God. Are we connected or not? Will we obey or not? When Gods people, including leaders, follow His will by staying connected to Him and the body of Christ, and take the steps of faith God calls us to take, then we contribute to creating a reflection of what Jesus referred to as the Kingdom of God (or Kingdom of Heaven) described in Revelation 21:1-3. Seeing this reflection of Gods Kingdom shows people that God loves them as Jesus prayed for in John 17:20-23. When the Kingdom of God comes in all of its fullness, we will live for eternity in Gods presence.

Leading Gods way calls us to lead from love and connection, using our skills wisely. Leading Gods way begins with our relationship with Him. Why not ask Him to help you draw near to Him in a fresh way and to those He calls you to lead?

Michael Lee Stallard is an author, keynote speaker and seminar leader on leadership, employee engagement and organizational culture. He is a leading expert in how effective leaders boost human connection in team and organizational cultures to improve the health and performance of individuals and organizations. Michael is the primary author of Connection Culture: The Competitive Advantage of Shared Identity, Empathy and Understanding at Work and primary author of Fired Up or Burned Out: How to Reignite Your Teams Passion, Creativity and Productivity. Sign up for Michaels monthly email newsletter on connection and free resources on connecting at work at this link .

Additional articles from Michael Lee Stallard:

Why Women Leaders Are Outperforming Men

10 Practices to Create a Workplace that May Lengthen Your Life

6 Ways Leaders Can Dial Up the Level of Value in the Workplace

Photo credit: Thinkstock/KrisanapongDetraphiphat
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, Why is Kamala Harris so Unpopular?

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For Immediate Release, November 1, 2018 Contact: Sarah Uhlemann, Center for Biological Diversity, (206) 327-2344, suhlemann@biologicaldiversity.org

Regina Asmutis-Silvia, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, (508) 451-3853, regina.asmutis-silvia@whales.org

Gwen Dobbs, Defenders of Wildlife, (202) 772-0268, gdobbs@defenders.org

Alison Shapiro, The Humane Society, (301) 721-6472, ashapiro@humanesociety.org

Jake ONeill, Conservation Law Foundation, (617) 850-1709, joneill@clf.org

Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institute, (202) 446-2128, margie@awionline.org

Kari Birdseye, NRDC, (415) 875-8243, kbirdseye@nrdc.org Canada Urged to Expand Fisheries Closures to Save North Atlantic Right Whale OTTAWA Wildlife and animal-protection groups submitted recommendations today urging Canadas fishery management agency to continue and expand protections for critically imperiled North Atlantic right whales. Following an unprecedented 12 right whale deaths in Canadian waters in 2017, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) closed key fishing areas in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including in the entanglement-prone snow crab fishery. The agency is now considering measures for the 2019 season. The right whale population is plummeting as these incredible animals continue to get entangled in Canadian and U.S. fishing gear, said Sarah Uhlemann, international program director at the Center for Biological Diversity and the letters author. Canada and the United States should both do their part to save these endangered whales by closing key habitat areas and moving to ropeless fishing gear. Right whales desperately need quick action. Fewer than 440 North Atlantic right whales likely remain. In 2017, 17 right whales  almost 4 percent of the population  were observed dead, including 12 in Canadian waters. Troublingly, scientists did not document a single right whale birth during the 2017-2018 calving season. At the current rate of decline, the North Atlantic right whale will be functionally extinct within several decades. Entanglement in fishing gear is the single biggest threat to the right whales survival, said Jane Davenport of Defenders of Wildlife. Entanglements can cause immediate death by drowning, or cause longer, drawn-out deaths by injury, infection and starvation. Entanglements also weaken females to the point that they can only calve once every 10 years, instead of every three  if they live that long. In recent years right whales have increasingly been sighted in Canadas cool Atlantic waters, particularly in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, likely due to shifting prey. In response to the 2017 deaths, DFO adopted entanglement risk reduction measures in 2018, including season-long (static) closures and intermittent (dynamic) closures when right whales were present, and in the snow crab fishery, there were line-length limits and gear marking requirements to track the source of entangling gear. Maintaining and expanding closures of key fishing areas is critical given the fact that the right whale population is declining so precipitously, said Kathryn Kullberg, director of marine and wildlife protection for the Humane Society of the United States. It is urgent for Canada and the U.S. to continue to protect these magnificent whales from the suffering they endure while entangled in fishing gear. Highly endangered right whales are in urgent need of increased protections from the Canadian government, said Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of Humane Society International/Canada. We are calling on Fisheries and Oceans Canada to take strong and effective measures to ensure the survival of these majestic whales. It is very likely DFOs actions reduced the risk of right whale deaths this year. However, since DFO adopted the measures in 2018, two right whales have been found dead with injuries consistent with fishing-gear entanglement, and at least three more have been seen entangled in Canadian waters. And last week a representative of DFO attended a meeting with the fishing industry and reportedly indicated that the government is open to weakening protective measures for right whales. Canadas actions this year definitely kept whales alive, but what Canada does next year and beyond will decide the fate of the entire species, said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, executive director of Whale and Dolphin Conservation. It is simply unacceptable that a government fisheries representative would cave to industry demands, said Kate OConnell, marine wildlife consultant for the Animal Welfare Institute. More restrictions, not fewer, are needed if there is to be any hope for right whales in the North Atlantic. In todays letter the groups urged DFO to maintain the closures and expand them into other areas frequented by right whales in 2019, require comprehensive gear marking in all Atlantic Canadian fisheries, and critically, transition trap/pot fisheries to more protective ropeless gear. These measures are needed to ensure Canadian fisheries can continue exporting seafood to the U.S. market, as U.S. law prohibits foreign seafood imports caught in a manner less protective than U.S. requirements for marine mammals. We commend the Canadian government for taking swift action this past summer, but these measures must be continued and expanded. It is also imperative that the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service stop their willful foot-dragging and enact similar protections before its too late to save this majestic species, said Erica Fuller of the Conservation Law Foundation. The ropeless technology is a lifeline the North Atlantic Right Whale needs for survival, said Zak Smith, senior attorney with the Marine Mammals program at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Continued leadership is needed from both Canada and the United States. If we fail, we will lose this iconic species.
Columbia Asia has plans to relocate its employees at the Ahmedabad unit to its other hospitals in the country.

Columbia Asia Hospitals Pvt. Ltd has sold one of its dozen hospitals in India to Zydus Hospitals for an undisclosed amount.

According to Columbia Asia, it has sold its only hospital in Ahmedabad (Gujarat), of 90 beds, set up in 2014. The buyer, Zydus, already has two hospitals in Gujarat: a 650-bed unit in Ahmedabad and another in Anand.

Columbia Asia has plans to relocate its employees at the Ahmedabad unit to its other hospitals in the country. The firm will compensate those who choose to stay back in Ahmedabad.

All the hospitals of Columbia Asia have been set up by the firm itself, which will be open to acquiring hospitals as well.

Columbia Asia's remaining 11 hospitals are mostly in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, the company is planning to open a new hospital in Pune, which will be its largest in India.
By Ruth Anderah.

A city pastor together with his Jubilee Christian Life Church -Mbuya have been dragged to High court Kampala for polluting the environment by emitting Loud sound levels during their daily sermons and worship hours .

According to the documents, Duomo Hotel and Apartments wants court to order Bishop John Ssali Lulenti pay 50 million shillings as damages for inconvenienced loss of business.

They allege that the guests have shunned the Hotel due to the loud noise emitted by the Church.

The Hotel has also sued KCCA demanding that it observes its statutory mandate of maintaining a Health Environment by demolishing the illegal temporal structures erected by Bishop Lulenti to house Jubilee Christian Life Church with out an approved licence.

The Hotel contends that it has decided to seek court redress after several warnings and threatened prosecution to Bishop Lulenti and his Church have yielded no results yet their clients can no longer enjoy quiet possession of the Hotel facility.

Now the Hotel wants court to bar this church from conducting its prayers beyond the legally accepted noise levels else it creates a nuisance for its neighbors .

The High court is yet to summon Bishop Lulenti and KCCA to file their defence .
On Aishwarya Rai Bachchans Birthday, Her Top Fashion Moments Of This Year Bollywood Wardrobe Devika Tripathi

In 1994, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was crowned Miss World and the nation found its most beautiful woman. With her blue eyes, flawless skin, and sharp features, Aishwarya gave a new definition to the word, 'beauty'. However, decades later, Aishwarya still rules our heart as the most beautiful woman in the world. On many occasions, we still have people saying, 'She thinks of herself as no less than Aishwarya Rai Bachchan'. Well, Aishwarya Rai has become synonymous to beauty.

However, apart from her beauty, Aishwarya's fashion sense has also been very individualistic and inspiring. Ever since the beginning of her career, she has wowed us with her style statements. She wears the most experimental gowns in the industry and she is also at the top of her game when it comes to traditional wears. Aishwarya is a muse to a number of ace designers including Manish Malhotra, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla to name a few. She regularly and beautifully represents India at the Cannes Film Festival.

On her birthday, here are a few of her best fashion moments of this year. Take a look.

Manish Malhotra's Showstopper

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan left us speechless as she graced the ramp for Manish Malhotra in Doha recently. She looked resplendent and mirrored the spirit of women, who are unapologetic about their sensuality. The gown was dipped in the shades of ombre and featured sheer cape kaftan sleeves. It was accentuated by 3D embellishments and floral threadwork. The gown featured a long train and we also loved the blue flowers that adorned her hairdo.

The Quirky Number At MxS Launch Party

Aishwarya attended the MxS launch party and wooed us with her quirky number. The actress wore a vibrant exotica coat by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. It was a full-sleeved and structured coat and Aishwarya looked amazing. The prints on the coat were eye-catching and Aishwarya paired it with pencil heels. She rounded off her look with a neon lip shade and wavy hairdo.

The Photoshoot Look

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan dazzled us with her photoshoot looks for Brides Today magazine. The actress pushed the boundaries and surprised us with an architectural outfit by Elie Saab. She wore an off-shouldered maroon-hued dress that was symmetrical, layered, and sharp-edged. It was unbelievable attire and she paired her outfit with Louboutin sandals.

The Longines Event Outfit

The diva upped her fashion game with a black-coloured dramatic gown that was reminiscent of the ball gowns during the post-World War II era. It was a drop-shouldered flared gown that accentuated her slender frame. Aishwarya accessorised her look with a Longines watch. Her makeup was done to perfection and the side-swept wavy tresses spruced up her look.

At Akash Ambani's Engagement Ceremony

For the special occasion, Aishwarya wore a dazzling sari by Manish Malhotra. It was a brown-hued sari with intricate floral golden embellishments. She paired her shimmering sari with the precious ring and delicate earrings. She completed her look with a bold red lip shade and middle-parted wavy tresses.

The Pantsuit At Cannes

We witnessed a lot of pantsuit fashion at Cannes this year and Aishwarya's pantsuit was one of the best. The actress was honoured for completing more than 15 years at Cannes and she wore an all-black Giorgio Armani pantsuit for the occasion. It was structural attire and she looked elegant in it. Aishwarya accessorised her look with a Jimmy Choo clutch and Racine Carree glitzy pencil heels.

Aishwarya's Icy Gown

Fairytale met the contemporary times when Aishwarya Rai donned this icy Rami Kadi gown at Cannes Film Festival. It was an off-shouldered gown that was enhanced by razor-sharp edges and nuanced details. Her gown was beautifully embellished and we were also stunned to see the Oriental hairdo. Her makeup was highlighted by a pink lip shade and smoky kohl.

Aishwarya's 20-Foot Long Gown

The internet lost its calm when they saw Aishwarya Rai Bachchan fluttering down the red carpet in a 20-foot long Michael Cinco's purple-hued gown. Her gown took 3000 hours to finish! This abstract gown of hers was inspired by butterflies and adorned with Swarovski crystals and silk threadwork. Her makeup was bold and the middle-parted sleek tresses rounded off her look.

The Ethnic Look At Sonam's Reception

Aishwarya was a vision to behold at Sonam Kapoor's wedding reception. The actress wore a glittering silver-hued anarkali for the occasion, which was full-sleeved and notched up by meticulous sequins and embellishments. She also draped a matching lightweight dupatta with her outfit and accentuated her look with elaborate jhumkis. She wore a bold maroon lip shade and the side-swept sleek tresses rounded off her look.

So, which fashion moment of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's did you like the most?
PR Newswire

SUZHOU, China, Oct. 31, 2018

SUZHOU, China, Oct. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Adagene, Inc., an innovative antibody engineering and discovery company, today announced the dosing of its first patient in its Phase I trial in American for its lead product ADG-106, a fully human agonistic monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting a novel epitope of CD137. Adagene is also announcing a record speed of review and acceptance of their IND in China for ADG-106. Adagene will investigate the safety and efficacy of ADG-106 therapy as a single agent across a range of solid tumor and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients in the Phase I clinical study.

"I have worked on this target previously and believe 4-1BB agonists have tremendous therapeutic potential in immunotherapy by targeting the costimulatory pathway," said Anthony W. Tolcher, M.D., FRCPC, Founder, CEO and Director of Clinical Research at NEXT Oncology (San Antonio, Texas) and an investigator on the trial. "Our team is eager to evaluate ADG-106 because it has shown both excellent safety and efficacy in numerous native preclinical models, and we look forward to assessing the clinical benefit of ADG-106 via its novel mechanism of action that would potentially expand the opportunity for patients to benefit from a novel IO target in both single and combinational therapy."

"The initiation of a Phase I clinical study of ADG-106 is a pivotal milestone for Adagene and our novel approach to improving cancer care," said Peter Luo, CEO of Adagene. "Also, we are honored to receive the IND approval from the NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) in an expedited time. We believe it shows their commitment to support drugs with novel biology and mechanism of action. The preclinical evidence shows we are targeting a novel epitope and the antibody behaves very differently compared with the other two monoclonal antibodies previously in the clinic."

Additional information will be available shortly on the clinical trial at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About CD-137 (4-1BB)

CD137 or 4-1BB, a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily is a promising immune-oncology target. Ligation of CD137 induces a co-stimulatory signal on activated CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, resulting in proliferation, increased pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and cytolytic function. 4?1BB co-stimulation is the clinically validated pathway for the optimal T cell activation and its anti-tumor response as highlighted by the successful approval of the 4?1BB-containing CART therapy by the US FDA.

About Adagene

Adagene (Suzhou, China and San Francisco, California) is an innovative antibody engineering and discovery company, by utilizing its proprietary Dynamic Precision Library Platform (DPL), Adagene is showcasing its exceptional antibody engineering capabilities by building franchises of products that are second and third-generation antibodies.

The company's management team is composed of industry veterans with a proven track record in therapeutic antibody R&D. Adagene is backed by top notch global venture funds such as F-Prime Capital Partners, Eight Roads Ventures, Wuxi Pharmatech Healthcare Fund I L.P., GP Healthcare Capital, New World TMT Ltd and Sequoia China. The company has raised over $85 million through its series A to C financing.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adagene-announces-first-patient-dosed-in-united-states-and-acceptance-of-ind-in-china-for-adg-106-300741096.html

SOURCE Adagene
By ABUBAKER KIRUNDA.

The Inspector General of Government Irene Mulyagongya has halted the grading work for the Masese housing project in Walukuba-Masese Division costed at Shs 400 million.

The project that was launched in March this year is being implemented by Jinja Municipal council authorities.

The project in question measures 13 acres on plot M24 on Masese hill in Walukuba-Masese Division in Jinja Municipality.

Its meant to accommodate about ninety residents who missed out house allocations in Walukuba housing estate as Municipality authorities streamlined houses for proper ownership.

Over Shs 200 million has so far been spent on the grading work that is yet to be half way.

However, the acting Jinja Municipal Town Clerk Jefrum Waidhuba while while updating councilors on the project during a council meeting in the Municipal chambers revealed that the project is on halt pending investigations by the IGGs office.

He said the IGG official investigating the project asked him to tell the Municipal Engineer Mr Muhammad Seyid, Surveyor Mr Robert Kitimbo and supervisor of works Geoffrey Kaliro also to prepare for interrogations.

The Municipal Speaker Mr Morison Bizitu said the IGGs investigations are timely because the list of beneficiaries had gone high.

Its not good to comment on matters under investigations but I was not also happy that instead of ninty residents meant to utilize this area, the list had been inflated to 180 residents.

He said the IGG should be given ample time to do their investigations for the goodness of the beneficiaries.
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PR Newswire

VANCOUVER, Oct. 31, 2018

TSXV: GGIOTC: GGIFFFrankfurt: RQM

VANCOUVER, Oct. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Garibaldi Resources (TSX.V: GGI) (the "Company" or "Garibaldi") is pleased to announce that assay results for an additional two drill holes at Nickel Mountain have expanded the Discovery Zone to the northwest and southeast.

Highlights:

The Golden Triangle's first magmatic Nickel sulphide system, featuring the Discovery, Central and Northwest Zones, remains open in all directions and drilling continues as Garibaldi crews push further into the fall season than last year.

Dr. Peter Lightfoot, Technical Advisor for Garibaldi, commented: "When compared to magmatic nickel sulphide deposits around the world, massive sulphides at Nickel Mountain have unusually high grades of nickel, copper, cobalt and precious metals.

"The Discovery Zone massive sulphides in the footwall at E&L form a continuous wide sheet of mineralization that appears, despite structural modification, to have been injected as a significant pulse of primary magmatic sulphide," Dr. Lightfoot concluded.

Table 1: Composited grade intervals for holes 24 and 23 (>1% Ni+Cu)

Interval code

Hole #

Interval width (from - to)

Ni

%

Cu

%

Co

%

Pt

(g/t)

Pd

(g/t)

Au

(g/t)

Ag

(g/t)

Ni+Cu

(%)

O

EL-18-24

over 12.0m (147.0 - 159.0m)

0.71

0.90

0.018

0.703

1.315

0.585

8.0

1.62

P

EL-18-24

over 10.5m (184.5 - 195.0m)

3.74

1.60

0.092

0.682

1.695

0.278

3.6

5.34

**including

over 4.47m (187.53 - 192.0m)

8.03

2.87

0.197

1.231

3.126

0.434

4.7

10.90

Q

EL-18-23

over 6.55m (from 70.75 - 77.3m)

6.82

3.16

0.178

0.656

0.799

0.479

9.0

9.99

**including

over 5.57m (71.73 - 77.3m)

7.60

3.36

0.198

0.668

0.814

0.466

9.0

10.97

EL-18-23

over 2.8m (from 77.4 - 80.2m)

0.69

0.43

0.019

0.066

0.107

0.106

1.8

1.12

R

EL-18-23

over 24.5m (125.82 - 150.32m)

0.52

0.62

0.025

0.253

0.657

0.248

3.6

1.14

Combined 1% nickel-copper is a minimum threshold for comparative analysis of composites

**Denotes massive sulphides (>75% sulphides). *Denotes semi-massive sulphides (50% to 75% sulphides)

Intervals are core lengths (true widths unknown at this time)

Table 2: 2018 Drill hole collar co-ordinates for holes 24 and 23

Hole

Zone

Easting*

Northing*

Elevation (mASL)

Azimuth

Dip

Length (m)

EL-18-24

Discovery

396114.983

6271472.485

1882.152

110

-46

387.0

EL-18-23

Discovery

396219.192

6271505.424

1862.025

250

-79

469.0

*UTM Zone 9N WGS 1984, True North azimuths

Maps and Photos

Updated schematic cross-section and plan view maps, plus core photos, will be available on the Garibaldi web site (GaribaldiResources.com), or visit the following URL's:

http://www.marketsmartnewsletter.com/Garibaldi/NickelMountainZonesPlanView.jpg

http://www.marketsmartnewsletter.com/Garibaldi/Oct31PlanViewCrossSectionMaps.jpg

Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)

Garibaldi Resources has applied a rigorous quality assurance/quality control program at the E&L Nickel Mountain Project using best industry practice. All core was logged by a professional geoscientist and selected intervals were sampled. NQ2 drill core was sawn in half and each sample half was placed in a marked sample bag with a corresponding sample tag then sealed. The remaining half core is retained in core boxes that are stored at a secure facility in Smithers, British Columbia. Chain of custody of samples was recorded and maintained for all samples from the drill to the laboratory. All diamond drilling sample batches included 5% QA/QC samples consisting of certified blanks, standards and field duplicates. Two certified ore assay laboratory standards and one blank standard were used in the process and were supplied by CDN Resource Laboratories Ltd., an independent laboratory located in Langley, British Columbia. Samples were submitted to SGS Canada Inc. in Vancouver, British Columbia, an ISO 9001: 2008 certified lab, for base metal, sulphur and precious metal analysis using Inductivity Coupled Plasma (ICP), Fire Assay (FA) and Leco methods.

Samples were prepared by crushing the entire sample to 75% passing 2mm, riffle splitting 250g and pulverizing the split to better than 85% passing 75 microns. Gold, Platinum and Palladium were analyzed using a 30-gram fire assay and ICP-AES. Total sulfur and total carbon were analyzed using a Leco method. Nickel, copper, cobalt, silver and base metals were analyzed by sodium peroxide fusion and ICP-MS.

The performance on the blind standards, blanks and duplicates achieved high levels of accuracy and reproducibility and has been verified by Everett Makela, a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-101.

Qualified Person Data Verification

Mr. Everett F. Makela, P.Geo., Director/VP Exploration Canada for the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-101, has supervised the preparation of, reviewed and approved of, the disclosure of information in this news release. Mr. Makela has verified the data, including drilling, sampling, test and recovery data by supervising all of such procedures. There are no known factors that could materially affect the reliability of data collected and verified under his supervision. No quality assurance/quality control issues have been identified to date.

About Garibaldi

Garibaldi Resources Corp. is an active Canadian-based junior exploration company focused on creating shareholder value through discoveries and strategic development of its assets in some of the most prolific mining regions in Mexico and British Columbia.

We seek safe harbor.

GARIBALDI RESOURCES CORP.

Per: "Steve Regoci" Steve Regoci, PresidentNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/garibaldi-drills-into-nickel-copper-rich-massive-sulphides-northwest-and-southeast-of-discovery-zone-300741759.html

SOURCE Garibaldi Resources Corp.
PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2018

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- After delivering more than five tons of supplies, water, spare parts and experiments to the International Space Station, a Japanese cargo spacecraft is scheduled to depart the orbiting laboratory 11:50 a.m. EST Wednesday, Nov. 7. Live coverage of the spacecraft's release will begin at 11:30 a.m. on NASA Television and the agency's website.

Ground controllers will use the space station's Canadarm2 robotic arm to detach the unpiloted H-II Transfer Vehicle-7 (HTV-7) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) from an Earth-facing port of the station's Harmony module, then move the spacecraft into its release position. Expedition 57 Commander Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency) and Serena Aunon-Chancellor of NASA will use the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm to release the HTV.

A new, small reentry capsule will be deployed from HTV-7 after release. Designed by JAXA and assembled by the station crew, the conically shaped capsule measures 2 feet in height and 2.7 feet in width. The project is a technology demonstration designed to test JAXA's ability to return small payloads from the station for expedited delivery to researchers. HTV-7 will be a safe distance away from the space station after the last of several deorbit maneuvers before the capsule is ejected from a hatchway. The experimental capsule will perform a parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of Japan, where a JAXA ship will be standing by for its recovery.

Named "Kounotori," or "white stork" in Japanese, the unpiloted cargo spacecraft delivered six new lithium-ion batteries and adapter plates to replace aging nickel-hydrogen batteries used in two power channels on the space station's port truss. Flight controllers already have robotically removed the batteries and adapter plates from HTV-7 and stored them on the space station's truss. The batteries will be replaced through a series of robotic operations and spacewalks that will be scheduled at a later date.

Additional experiments and equipment delivered by HTV include a new sample holder for the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (JAXA-ELF), a protein crystal growth experiment at low temperatures (JAXA LT PCG), an investigation that looks at the effect of microgravity on bone marrow (MARROW), a Life Sciences Glovebox, and additional EXPRESS Racks.

HTV-7 will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up harmlessly over the South Pacific Ocean Nov. 10.

The spacecraft lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan on a Japanese H-IIB rocket on Sept. 22 (Sept. 23 in Japan), and arrived at the space station five days later. The cargo spacecraft will have been on the space station for 41 days at the time of release.

Get space station breaking news, images and features on social media at:

https://instagram.com/iss

and

https://www.twitter.com/Space_Station

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-television-to-air-departure-of-japanese-cargo-ship-from-space-station-300742732.html

SOURCE NASA
Canada NewsWire

LONGUEUIL, QC, Nov. 1, 2018

LONGUEUIL, QC, Nov. 1, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques and his crewmates are targeted to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on December 3, 2018.

This new launch schedule will help guarantee the continuity of world-class science and time-critical operations on the Space Station.

David has trained for two years for this mission and during the last five months, he has served twice as part of a backup crew.

David will bring a broad set of skills to the ISS. As a fully trained spacewalker and robotic operator, he will provide critical capabilities during a period when multiple spacewalks and maintenance tasks are required. As a medical doctor, David will ensure the crew is cared for in their remote outpost.

Website: http://asc-csa.gc.caEmail: [email protected] us on social media!

SOURCE Canadian Space Agency
CapMan Infra press release 1 November 2018 at 08.20 a.m. EET

Strong investor appetite for CapMan Infra's Nordic mid cap infrastructure fund with 115 million committed to the first close

CapMan Infra held the first closing of its Nordic infrastructure fund with commitments of 115 million. A diverse investor base participated in the first close, including pension funds, foundations, corporations and family offices. In addition to CapMan, Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Tradeka-invest Ltd and The Church Pension Fund are amongst the largest investors in this close. Investor appetite for the fund has been strong from both existing and new CapMan investors, and it is expected that support from both local and international investors will continue in future closings.

CapMan Nordic Infrastructure I fund invests predominantly in small to mid-cap core / core+ brownfield infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecommunications sectors across the Nordic countries, through either majority or minority equity investments. CapMan Infra leverages its local Nordic presence, the team's long experience in infrastructure investments and asset management, as well as its extensive local network in deal sourcing and value creation in its target companies.

"We see an abundance of interesting investment opportunities in our home markets and the fast first closing for the fund enables us to commence executing on our investment strategy. We focus on investing ca. 20-50 million equity tickets from the fund but can also execute larger deals through co-investments with our fund investors. We are very pleased with the support thus far and the interest that the fund has generated amongst a diversified group of investors," comments Ville Poukka, Managing Partner, CapMan Infra.

"Investor interest in infrastructure investments has increased with investors looking to allocate more capital to the asset class. An infrastructure fund with a local team and Nordic mid-cap focus is an attractive proposition to international infrastructure investors and we are among the first to provide a specialised strategy for the market. Through the establishment of the fund, CapMan Infra has become a significant new business area for CapMan alongside private equity and real estate," says CapMan's CEO Joakim Frimodig.

CapMan's commitment to the fund is 30 million.

For more information, please contact: Ville Poukka, Managing Partner, CapMan Infra, p. +358 50 572 9120, [email protected] Joakim Frimodig, CEO, CapMan Oyj, p. +358 50 529 0665, [email protected]

About CapMan CapMan is a leading Nordic private asset expert with an active approach to value-creation in its target companies and assets. We offer a wide selection of investment products and services. As one of the Nordic private equity pioneers we have developed hundreds of companies and real estate and created substantial value in these businesses and assets over the last 30 years. CapMan employs today approximately 120 private equity professionals and has approximately 2.8 billion in assets under management. We mainly manage the assets of our customers, the investors, but also make investments from our own balance sheet. Our objective is to provide attractive returns and innovative solutions to investors. Our current investment strategies cover Real Estate, Buyout, Russia, Credit, Growth Equity and Infra. We also have a growing service business that currently includes procurement services (CaPS), fundraising advisory (Scala Fund Advisory), and fund management services. www.capman.com, twitter.com/CapManPE
By Ritah Kemigisa.

The Uganda National examinations board has strongly warned schools, parents and pupils who intend to cheat and engage in other forms of malpractice in the forthcoming Primary Leaving examinations that kick off on Monday 5th November 2018.

Addressing journalists at their offices in Ntinda, the executive Secretary of the board Dan Odongo said the board has received intelligence that over 10 schools in Kasese and Wakiso have plans of cheating during the exams.

Odongo has warned and threatened to punish severely these schools and others at large if caught.

He has meanwhile asked all schools to stop teaching pupils at night or any other time after briefing tomorrow.

The police spokesperson Emilian Kayima has meanwhile promised to ensure security prevails during these exams but threatened to arrest and prosecute all those involved in any exam malpractice including the children.

Kayima says police officers will escort exam officials right from storage facilities to the exam rooms and a helicopter shall be provided to help in emergencies like floods and hard to reach areas.
By Ritah Kemigisa.

Over 600,000 students are set to sit for the forth coming 2018 Uganda Primary Leaving examinations that are due next week on 5th and 6th November.

Addressing journalists at their offices in Ntinda, the executive Secretary of Uganda National examinations board Dan Odongo said the board has registered a 3.9% increase of the total number of students sitting for the exams this year majority of whom are females.

Out of the total 671,923 candidates, 346,693 are females while 324,960 are males.

Odongo says to promote integrity of the examination, candidates will not write the names of their schools on the answer booklets but instead will use the Education Management Information system numbers.

He adds that to ensure security prevails, police and other security officials and over 10,000 scouts are to be deployed.

The exams to be held in 13,072 centers will see pupils briefed tomorrow.

On Monday the pupils will sit for Mathematics and social studies and finish with Integrated Science and English Tuesday.
Stumped? Ask us. The FYI column is designed to let readers email (to news@lufkindailynews.com ) or call in (to 632-6637) questions you want answered, whether about road construction, how-to tips, trivia or other information. You do not have to leave your name. You also can use that email address or phone number to give us a news tip  anonymously, if youd like.
A local representative for the Manitoba Metis Federation says its unfortunate that a cancelled $20-million agreement with the provincial government could lead to a potential lawsuit.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/11/2018 (1115 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Manitoba Metis Federation President David Chartrand expressed frustration during a press conference after the Manitoba government announced intentions to step away from the Turning the Page Agreement (TPA), signed by the province, Hydro and the MMF in 2014. (Winnipeg Free Press) 181031 - Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

A local representative for the Manitoba Metis Federation says its "unfortunate" that a cancelled $20-million agreement with the provincial government could lead to a potential lawsuit.

"Everything just seems to be in a deadlock at the present time," said Leah LaPlante, southwest region vice-president for the MMF.

In a letter dated Oct. 30 sent to MMF executive director Donald Roulette and Manitoba Hydro general counsel and corporate secretary Ken Tennenhouse, Crown Services deputy minister Grant Doak said the Province of Manitoba would be terminating the Turning the Page Agreement, a document signed by all three parties in 2014 that would have seen the MMF paid $1 million per year until 2034, for a total of $20 million, as compensation for Hydro development on Metis lands.

The letter said the government is "committed to advancing reconciliation with the Manitoba Metis," but from its perspective, the agreement failed to do so.

"The province is hopeful that Manitoba, Hydro and the Metis can work together, constructively and in good faith, to find means of fostering mutually beneficial relationships."

The agreement will be terminated 30 days from the date of the letter on Nov. 29. The MMF has received $5 million so far as part of the agreement.

LaPlante said she wasnt surprised that the province had sent the letter, but it did surprise her to see who had sent it.

"It was sent to us by the deputy minister. Something thats pretty important in the lives of the Metis and an agreement that has been in place since 2014  approved by the Hydro board, signed by (MMF) president (David) Chartrand and the CEO of Hydro. I would have thought a letter cancelling it might have come from the premier himself or at the very least his minister," she said.

While the letter did mention the provinces commitment to reconciliation, LaPlante said certain causes will not be advanced because of the cancelled agreement.

"So I have to wonder when hes going to make the move to start reconciliation with the Metis people."

A news release from the MMF said the group used the money to repair churches and arenas, support Metis elders and youth, organize cultural celebrations and build veterans monuments.

Speaking in Winnipeg, Chartrand said the group would take the province to court to get the rest of the money, adding at one point that it was "very sinister" for the premier to appoint Colleen Mayer, a Metis woman, as Crown Services minister to dismantle the deal.

Mayer told reporters she was elected to represent all Manitobans, including the Metis, and she stands by the governments decision.

But Chartrand also noted that Hydro did not co-sign the governments letter.

"It just shows that Hydro, obviously, is not either in favour of this or does not support this or is just being told what theyre going to do," he said.

"So really, I dont know why we have a (Hydro) board. I dont know why we have a president of the Hydro board. (Premier Brian) Pallister should just run it under his office."

During question period Wednesday, Pallister called the former NDP governments approach to Indigenous relations "paternalistic" and "colonialistic."

He later told reporters that the government wants a more respectful process and does not want to rely on the "old practices of paying people not to consult."

"That was the origins of the original agreement and thats not how were going to go about things going forward," he said.

"We have too much respect for the Metis people to want to have them do anything but participate in all the hearings, all the public consultations."

LaPlante said it would help for Mayer to sit down with the MMF to discuss the cancelling of the Turning the Page Agreement.

But considering what has happened recently, she didnt expect it to happen, at least for a little while.

"I get the feeling that this letter lays it out there that we are going to court, which is unfortunate," she said.

The MMF has already taken the province to court over a cancelled a $67.5-million agreement that would have compensated the MMF for more than 50 years for Hydro projects, including a Manitoba-Minnesota transmission line.

 mlee@brandonsun.com, with files from the Winnipeg Free Press

 Twitter: @mtaylorlee
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Democrats don't mention that Obama and Hillary caused 2009 coup in HONDURAS Strategos

Against Dystopia

User ID: 455233

11-01-2018 03:51 PM



Posts: 9,916









Post: #1 Democrats don't mention that Obama and Hillary caused 2009 coup in HONDURAS

Advertisement



Only one year into his presidency Deep State puppet Barack Hussein Obama and decades long CIA asset Hillary "Entitled" Clinton



had given the defense contractors and CIA everything they asked for, with Israeli firster Rahm Emmanuel managing the White House.



At the time, only the anti-war crowd (such as myself) and other brought up the 2009 coup d'etat in Honduras which drove democratically elected reformer Zelaya from office and replace him with his political opponent (and also U.S. deep state choice) Lobo Sosa.



Quote: Emails released later show that the 2009 removal was supported by Hillary Clinton's State Department by not recognizing it as coup in order to maintain U.S. aid to the Honduran people. Clinton and her team worked behind the scenes to stall military and economic efforts by neighboring countries through the Organization of American States to restore Manuel Zelaya to office. "The OAS meeting today turned into a non-event  just as we hoped," wrote one senior State Department official, celebrating their success https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Honduran_coup_d'etat



http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/20...olicy.html



Quote: The chapter on Latin America, particularly the section on Honduras, a major source of the child migrants currently pouring into the United States, has gone largely unnoticed. In letters to Clinton and her successor, John Kerry, more than 100 members of Congress have repeatedly warned about the deteriorating security situation in Honduras, especially since the 2009 military coup that ousted the countrys democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya. As Honduran scholar Dana Frank points out in Foreign Affairs, the U.S.-backed post-coup government rewarded coup loyalists with top ministries, opening the door for further violence and anarchy.



...



First, the confession: Clinton admits that she used the power of her office to make sure that Zelaya would not return to office. In the subsequent days [after the coup] I spoke with my counterparts around the hemisphere, including Secretary [Patricia] Espinosa in Mexico, Clinton writes. We strategized on a plan to restore order in Honduras and ensure that free and fair elections could be held quickly and legitimately, which would render the question of Zelaya moot.



This may not come as a surprise to those who followed the post-coup drama closely. (See my commentary from 2009 on Washingtons role in helping the coup succeed here, here and here.)



...



Clintons false testimony is even more revealing. She reports that Zelaya was arrested amid fears that he was preparing to circumvent the constitution and extend his term in office. This is simply not true. As Clinton must know, when Zelaya was kidnapped by the military and flown out of the country in his pajamas on June 28, 2009, he was trying to put a consultative, nonbinding poll on the ballot to ask voters whether they wanted to have a real referendum on reforming the constitution during the scheduled election in November.

Think about that when Democrats defend the right of Hondurans to flow into our country by any illegal manner they choose.



Obama and Hillary are responsible for the plight they are facing today. Talk about the utter hypocrisy and plain ignorance.Only one year into his presidency Deep State puppet Barack Hussein Obama and decades long CIA asset Hillary "Entitled" Clintonhad given the defense contractors and CIA everything they asked for, with Israeli firster Rahm Emmanuel managing the White House.At the time, only the anti-war crowd (such as myself) and other brought up the 2009 coup d'etat in Honduras which drove democratically elected reformer Zelaya from office and replace him with his political opponent (and also U.S. deep state choice) Lobo Sosa.Think about that when Democrats defend the right of Hondurans to flow into our country by any illegal manner they choose.Obama and Hillary are responsible for the plight they are facing today. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 471367

11-01-2018 03:59 PM











Post: #2 RE: Democrats don't mention that Obama and Hillary caused 2009 coup in HONDURAS



No one remembers anything from two years, or more, ago. KingBum

Registered User

User ID: 465585

11-01-2018 04:16 PM



Posts: 4,200









Post: #3 RE: Democrats don't mention that Obama and Hillary caused 2009 coup in HONDURAS

Honduras is a "company" issue that goes back a long time and has to do with surprise the UFC. Blaming these incidents in presidents or parties is asinine and will do nothing to stop the intelligence networks. Idealism is the fools shepherd and the braggarts laurels.



Its time to stop pointing fingers, finger pointing gets us nowhere...Steve.



504100 - My number when not logged in. Strategos

Against Dystopia

User ID: 455233

11-01-2018 04:29 PM



Posts: 9,916









Post: #4 RE: Democrats don't mention that Obama and Hillary caused 2009 coup in HONDURAS

KingBum Wrote: (11-01-2018 04:16 PM) Honduras is a "company" issue that goes back a long time and has to do with surprise the UFC. Blaming these incidents in presidents or parties is asinine and will do nothing to stop the intelligence networks.

It is a "company" issue and all of the rhetoric from the Democrat party is



"company propaganda"



and the MSM are mouthpieces for the company It is a "company" issue and all of the rhetoric from the Democrat party is"company propaganda"and the MSM are mouthpieces for the company KingBum

Registered User

User ID: 465585

11-01-2018 04:37 PM



Posts: 4,200









Post: #5 RE: Democrats don't mention that Obama and Hillary caused 2009 coup in HONDURAS

Strategos Wrote: (11-01-2018 04:29 PM) KingBum Wrote: (11-01-2018 04:16 PM) Honduras is a "company" issue that goes back a long time and has to do with surprise the UFC. Blaming these incidents in presidents or parties is asinine and will do nothing to stop the intelligence networks.

It is a "company" issue and all of the rhetoric from the Democrat party is



"company propaganda"



and the MSM are mouthpieces for the company

No, they are damage control over the issue that has now been created by reckless American foreign policy in S.A. caused mainly by companies owned by people who run the gamut of the political spectrum but are largely "right wing". What is happening in Honduras has more to do with policies in NAFTA that benefited large single source farming in many countries to aid companies like the United Fruit Company and Monsanto. This policies were drafted out of the predecessors to groups like ALEC and PNAC. No, they are damage control over the issue that has now been created by reckless American foreign policy in S.A. caused mainly by companies owned by people who run the gamut of the political spectrum but are largely "right wing". What is happening in Honduras has more to do with policies in NAFTA that benefited large single source farming in many countries to aid companies like the United Fruit Company and Monsanto. This policies were drafted out of the predecessors to groups like ALEC and PNAC. Idealism is the fools shepherd and the braggarts laurels.



Its time to stop pointing fingers, finger pointing gets us nowhere...Steve.



504100 - My number when not logged in. spo snouou

Vocem sine nomine audivit!

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11-01-2018 04:43 PM



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Post: #6 RE: Democrats don't mention that Obama and Hillary caused 2009 coup in HONDURAS





Quote: In the hardback edition of her autobiography Hard Choices, Clinton wrote that the head of the Honduran congress, Roberto Micheletti, and the countrys supreme court claimed to be protecting Honduran democracy against Zelayas unlawful power grab and warned that he wanted to become another Chavez or Castro.



Certainly the region did not need another dictator, and many knew Zelaya well enough to believe the charges against him.



But Zelaya would not have benefited from the proposed referendum, said Christine Wade, associate professor of political science and international studies at Washington College.



Wade, who described Zelaya as an opportunist and pragmatist, [but] definitely not a leftist, said: The referendum would have had zero impact on the November elections. Zelaya could not have extended his power.



Wade argues that Zelayas real crime was to incur the anger of powerful Hondurans by pushing for settlements in the countrys many land disputes.



Clinton has claimed that calling the military coup a military coup would have increased the suffering of ordinary Hondurans as it would have triggered the suspension of US aid.

more:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/a...ta-caceres it did actually receive a bit of attention during the lead up to the 2016 electionmore: Strategos

Against Dystopia

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11-02-2018 03:32 AM



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Post: #7 RE: Democrats don't mention that Obama and Hillary caused 2009 coup in HONDURAS



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SHILO  A social media campaign launched in part by a Canadian Forces Base Shilo soldier is working to ensure no one is left behind.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/11/2018 (1115 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SHILO  A social media campaign launched in part by a Canadian Forces Base Shilo soldier is working to ensure no one is left behind.

Send Up The Count was launched by CFB Shilo Base Master Corporal Daniel McInnis and two others in 2013. The group is based on the idea that military service members should look after their friends, especially when the war is over.

CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Master Corporal Daniel McInnis sits at his desk in CFB Shilo last week.

"I took that idea, I made it into a Facebook group that is very peer support oriented as well as mental health resource and suicide intervention," McInnis said.

The group has grown to include first responders and American service members.

The name Send Up The Count derives from the military, a term used during foot patrols.

While a patrol is out walking, the people at the end start a count, touching the soldier in front of him. Each soldier touches the person in front of them until they reach the end of the line and have a final count.

Once the person at the front knows everyone is there, they can move forward.

"Its about accountability, making sure that you have everybody and we took that term and applied it to keeping in touch with guys that you know; guys that you served with," McInnis said.

During the past five years, Send Up The Count has seen growth in users, with approximately 12,000 now part of the program with similar shared experiences, be it as soldiers or first responders.

Around Remembrance Day and the lead-up to Christmas can prove the most active times of year for the group, with members often looking to connect.

It can be difficult for groups that have served together sharing intense moments and memories to go their separate ways, McInnis said, adding that people need comrades to share these experiences with.

Being alone with these thoughts can lead one to feel lost, so Send Up The Count was created to reach out and touch base and connect people, helping create and maintain peer relationships.

Five years on, McInnis said that the group feels special, adding that he was humbled by the way users have engaged with it.

McInnis has now taken a step back, letting users guide the conversation.

"Im pretty happy with how it evolved into what it is and Im proud of the membership for doing what theyve done over the years," McInnis said. "Im happy it worked out."

From the birth of the Canadian Armed Forces to now, the effects of war have a long history in the country, McInnis said.

Even so, the peer support network created by Send Up The Count is part of what McInnis sees as a tradition not only in the military, but also of humanity in general.

"Its two human beings connecting to hopefully overcome," McInnis said.

Unable to speculate on the number of lives saved by the group, McInnis himself has been involved with interventions of those teetering on the edge in dealing with issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

"I would like to say several lives have, not necessary been saved, but they have been helped." McInnis said.

A change is taking place surrounding mental health, McInnis said, with stigmas that once permeated the conversation slowly beginning to dissipate. He used the example of the dangerous precedent set by encouraging people to "suck it up" when having a difficult time, which is increasingly a foreign philosophy in contemporary conversations.

"The majority of conversations are very support-oriented and not perpetuating any real stigma," McInnis said.

With Remembrance Day approaching, McInnis said it is important to remind people that they are not alone and that resources are available for them.

"Its hard for a lot of people and its easy to seclude and its not necessary," McInnis said. "The phone can be the heaviest thing youve picked up in years, but its still doable  its important and its worth it."

ckemp@brandonsun.com

Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp
Concerns over a hard Brexit and the world economy have seen Irish consumer confidence slip to its lowest point in almost four years.

It is the third month in a row that sentiment is down, according to the latest KBC Bank/ESRI Consumer Sentiment Index.

The modest drop in October was enough to see confidence fall to a 46-month low and means it is the fastest three-month decline since 2010.

Chief Economist with KBC Bank, Austin Hughes, says despite the economy doing well, the bigger picture around Brexit has people concerned.

Mr Hughes said: "They're seeing and hearing about an Irish economy that's doing well and they are probably seeing that in terms of either traffic congestion or higher house prices.

"So there is a sense that life is continuing, but there is just this horrible sense, as there was maybe 10 years ago, that something really nasty could happen if we get a hard Brexit in a few month's time."

However, he said it is not panic stations yet as consumers largely remain positive despite this recent drop.

He said: "Sentiment has come down very sharply, it's the fastest three-month fall since 2010 and it tells you how people's views have changed.

"Now, it isn't that the end of the world is nigh, the reality is that consumers are still generally positive about the economy and about the outlook for their household finances."
By Ann O'Loughlin

Facebooks unprecedented Supreme Court appeal aimed at halting a referral to the European Court of Justice (CJEU) concerning the validity of EU-US data transfer channels will be heard in January.

The court previously set a provisional hearing date of December 19 but, following a case management hearing today (Thurs) it has now fixed January 21 next year.

A UK-based data privacy expert, Kevin Cahill, applied to be joined to the appeal as an amicus curiae, assistant to the court.

Mr Cahill said he worked within the computer industry for 10 years before becoming a journalist writing about the industry. He also worked as an assistant to Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown, was a chair of the Human Rights Committee in the House of Lords and an adviser on surveillance and supercomputers.

The Prism programme, used by the US National Surveillance Agency to collect and store huge quantities of data of internet users, was a big issue in the UK parliament and was also described by the High Court here as involving mass and indiscriminate surveillance, Mr Cahill said.

He also said "issues of fact" published by the UK parliament are "in serious conflict with the way the legal procedure is going" in Ireland.

In reply to Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, Mr Cahill said he was aware the Supreme Court determination agreeing to hear Facebooks appeal concerned a High Court judgment by Ms Justice Caroline Costello of October 2017 and her subsequent referral of issues arising from that judgment for determination by the CJEU.

Ms Justice Dunne said the Supreme Court determination permits an appeal by Facebook on "very limited issues of law".

Mr Cahill said there is clearly a conflict between the facts he has and some of those before the court. "My field is facts, not law".

Giving the three-judge courts ruling refusing his application, Ms Justice Dunne said Mr Cahill appears to have extensive experience in areas of data protection and information technology and has given evidence on behalf of reputable bodies in that regard.

He had accepted the assistance he could provide related to factual issues when the issues before the court were very much tied up with issues of law, she said. In the circumstances, the court would not join Mr Cahill as an amicus to the appeal.

Lawyers for Facebook and Max Schrems, whose complaints that Facebook's sending of his personal data to the US breached his data privacy rights led to the proceedings, opposed Mr Cahill's application while the Data Protection Commissioner adopted a neutral position.

The Facebook appeal, expected to last up to three days, will address issues including whether there is any entitlement in the first place to appeal a reference to the CJEU.

Facebook maintains it can appeal a reference.

It also contends the High Court made incorrect findings of fact including in relation to US law on foot of which it concluded the Data Protection Commissioner had "well founded concerns" about the adequacy of protections in the US for data privacy rights of EU citizens.

It also argues the Supreme Court should find the Privacy Shield agreement between the EU and US means there is no requirement for a reference.

Last May, Ms Justice Costello directed a referral to the CJEU of 11 issues concerning the validity of European Commission decisions approving data transfer channels known as Standard Contractual Clauses.

The questions raise significant issues of EU law with huge implications, including whether the High Court was correct in finding there is "mass indiscriminate processing" of data by US government agencies under the PRISM and Upstream programmes authorised there.
The Finance and Trade Departments expressed their strong objections to the 2019 World Bank Doing Business report that showed a drop in the Philippines ranking by 11 notches from 113th in 2018 to 124th spot in 2019. We demand that the World Bank review the Philippines rating, and make a correction immediately given our countrys increases in the Ease of Doing Business scores, which was, unfortunately, offset by the grossly inaccurate and understated findings in the Getting Credit indicator of the report, the departments said in a joint statement Thursday. The two agencies said the correction should be done soon, as the report could unduly compromise the Philippines standing among the investment community and negatively impact on the countrys development. They said the document was widely used as a reference by investors and survey organizations. They said as a highly respected institution, the World Bank had a responsibility to ensure that an economy was not unduly disadvantaged and that its report reflected the realities on the ground. The DoF has submitted a letter to the World Bank challenging the data used in the report. We believe that the World Bank has gotten this one wrong. This is regrettable considering the significant headway made by the Philippines on the other indicators, they said. They said that while the Philippines registered a +1.36 increase in the Ease of Doing Business score to 57.68, it still received a lower ranking. While the World Bank has taken governments to task by fostering an enabling environment characterized by efficient business regulations, so must the World Bank exercise responsibility and greater transparency in its methodology, they said. The Philippines drastic slide in the rankings was attributed mainly to the countrys Getting Credit indicator where the EODB score significantly fell from 30 to 5, because of the failure of the World Banks survey team to gather the correct information on the countrys credit information database.As a result, the country registered a substantial decrease in the credit bureau coverage (from 8 in 2018 to 2.7 in 2019), and reduced scores on depth of credit information (from 5 to 0). Considering that higher borrower coverage is associated with larger share of adults with credit cards and borrowing from financial institutions, we find the report grossly inaccurate and the coverage severely understated, the departments said. They said the Philippines should have obtained a higher score if the World Bank included data from all the credit bureausthe BAP Credit Bureau Inc., TransUnion Information Solutions Inc. and Microfinance Information Data Sharing Inc. It obtained its data only from the BAP Credit Bureau Inc. which had the smallest database of 1.7 million borrower-entrepreneurs. The Philippines could easily have hurdled the 5-percent coverage, if the World Bank selected the largest credit bureau, as its methodology prescribed. The major credit bureaus with high coverage were included in previous years survey, the two agencies. Moreover, it is ironic that the Philippines Getting Credit score slumped from 30 points in the 2018 survey to only 5 points in the 2019 survey when credit is growing year-on-year by 19 percent mostly to micro, small and medium enterprises, the highest among the ASEAN-5, the two departments said. Unfortunately, this drop in the EODB Score reflected a 42-notch slide in the Getting credit ranking, with the Philippines now at the bottom tier at 184/190 (from 142). This is the reason for our very low overall EODB score of 57.68, and contributed to the steep decline in the countrys overall ranking of 124 [2019], from 113 [2018], they said.
According to a recent survey carried out by Eurobarometer, Irish employees are the most satisfied in Europe with their work/life balance.

47% of Irish people said they have used flexible work arrangements while 26% said there are no flexible work arrangements available at their company.

A further 34% of Irish people surveyed said they are very satisfied with their balance between work/studies and their personal life.

50% are fairly satisfied, while 15% are not. This compares to an average of 20% across Europe who said they are not satisfied.

Such flexible work arrangements are not available for one in three Europeans, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey.

The survey found that only over four in 10 (42%) make use of flexible work arrangements.

Flexitime is the most widespread form of flexible work arrangements, with nearly six in 10 (58%) of those who have access to such arrangements describing it as widespread in the company or organisation they work or used to work. Part-time work (53%) is nearly as common.

Deirdre Clune, MEP for Ireland South said:

It is great to see that Irish people, in general, are satisfied with their work/life balance but I do think there is more to be done to support workers.

"Employers must do more to support women and men in the workforce. The cost of childcare is a major issue for working parents and this is something the current Government is focused on. It is important that businesses play their part too.

With women, in particular, going back to work after having children can be tough and this affects the whole family. I would encourage employers across Ireland to put in place supports for ensuring women and men have more options available to them for flexible work practices should they require them.

Discussions are ongoing too at the European Parliament in relation to better improving the work/life balance for European citizens. This is something I am working with my colleagues on and I will be hoping to move this forward over the coming months.

The survey also found that across the EU, women are slightly less satisfied with their work-life balance than men are.

Only four in ten European men have taken paternity leave and even fewer have taken parental leave Less than half of European men (41%) either have taken paternity leave already or are thinking of taking it.

A smaller proportion of men (32%) gives this answer with respect to parental leave.

Significantly more European women are thinking of taking parental leave (57% as opposed to 32% of European men).

A quarter of Europeans say that it is difficult for employees in their workplace to take family leave, and a similar proportion says that employees are usually discouraged from doing so

When it comes to part-time work across Europe, women are more likely than men to express a preference for part-time work (29% at EU level as opposed to 21% for men).

- Digital Desk
Two Enterprise Ireland-backed fintech companies Global Shares and Know Your Customer have announced new strategic partnerships with Hong Kong partners.

The deals were announced at Hong Kong Fintech Week during Enterprise Irelands trade mission to China which began this week.

In total, fourteen Irish fintech companies backed by the Irish Government, through Enterprise Ireland, are showcasing Irelands fintech capabilities at Hong Kong Fintech Week.

Showcasing under the #IrishAdvantage brand, the Irish companies represent fintech areas including Regtech, Payments, Banking, InsurTech, Cloud Communications and Biometrics.

Participation in this event, provides an important platform for the companies to accelerate their growth in APAC, particularly mainland China and Hong Kong.

Deals announced today included:

Global Shares signs USD 15M deal with Huanying International and announces new Beijing office opening

Know Your Customer contracting with Neat Limited

In addition, Currency Fair formalised their strategic partnership with Hong Kong-based, Convoy Payments.

Global Shares, Deloitte FinTech Company of the Year and leading provider of equity compensation management solutions for global corporations, announced that it will form a strategic partnership with Huanying International, one of the top online brokerage firms in Hong Kong and mainland China, to provide ESOP administration, share dealing, global compliance, financial reporting, and asset management services to economy companies.

The deal will be worth more than $15m (13.2m) in revenue over the next 5 years. Global Shares today also announced further expansion in Asia with the opening of a new office in Beijing, following the official launch of Global Shares' Hong Kong Office earlier this year.

Smart technology client verification solution provider Know Your Customer has finalised a deal with Hong Kong-based fintech company Neat Limited. Neats integration of Know Your Customers onboarding solution through APIs, allows them to process hundreds of applications a day. The KYC solution allows them to carry out all necessary AML and KYC checks much faster and much more cost-effectively while delivering an extremely smooth customer experience.

Irish Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys commented on the breadth of the deals:

Enterprise Ireland client companies are securing new contracts in global markets at an unprecedented level.

The deals weve seen formalised today by Global Shares, Know Your Customer and CurrencyFair at Hong Kong Fintech Week demonstrate how much value Irish fintech companies can deliver to partners worldwide. Its heartening to see recognition from companies the world over for the Irish fintech advantage.

Enterprise Ireland CEO Julie Sinnamon said:

The acceleration of fintech in Asia provides excellent opportunities for Irish companies to grow through strategic partnerships like the ones weve seen formalised here at Hong Kong FinTech week.

These deals represent just some of the ways Irish FinTech can help accelerate growth, beyond revenue. We are seeing services being enhanced, jobs created and growth in combined portfolios.

"Todays announcements highlight Irelands reputation as a significant source of fintech innovation and demonstrates the role Irish fintech companies can play in delivering solutions for our partners in Asia Pacific.

- Digital Desk
ILC Dover has announced its expansion with a new facility in Blarney, Co Cork which is set to create 70 jobs over two years.

The global leader in flexible containment solutions for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry said it is expanding its Irish production footprint and is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Business, Enterprise & Innovation, Heather Humphreys said:

I am delighted to see ILC Dover expand its footprint in Cork. Irelands reputation as a centre of manufacturing excellence continues to grow, due to our experience in this area but also the availability of talent and skills required to manage outsourced production on an international scale.

Ireland is now a major player and a very attractive location for companies like ILC Dover to grow their operations and I look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership developing.

Mary Buckley, Executive Director, IDA Ireland said:

"I welcome the news that this global leader in flexible containment solutions is to expand its production capabilities in Blarney creating up to 70 jobs.

Manufacturing excellence in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceuticals is a hallmark of Ireland's success in the sector and is one of the primary reasons as to why Ireland is home to 10 of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies.

The building will be ready for use in the early months of next year and will be outfitted with 4,000 square feet of ISO 7 cleanroom capacity and 6,500 square feet of Class 8, both dedicated to the companys pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical product lines.

When at full production, the company expects to hire 60 to 70 new ILC Dover employees.

The roles will include management, production, quality, design and support. For more information, visit the ILC Dover Career Center. The companys original operation in County Cork will be relocated to the Blarney site as part of the expansion project.

Fran DiNuzzo, CEO of ILC Dover.

ILC Dover President and CEO Fran DiNuzzo expressed enthusiasm about the new launch:

The expansion of our production capabilities in Ireland will allow us to better serve our global customer base and strengthen our position as the leading single-use powder handling solutions provider to the global pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical marketplace.

- Digital Desk
By Padraig Hoare

A timeline on progress of the long-mooted Cork to Limerick motorway must be spelled out instead of being announced and re-announced by the Government.

That is according to Fianna Fail spokesman for finance, Michael McGrath, after Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said it was not possible to outline a timeframe for the M20, which is expected to cost in the region of 1bn.

Political and business leaders have long campaigned for the upgrade of the road between Cork and Limerick, and the Government inserted it as a key project of Project Ireland 2040 earlier this year.

It was a u-turn from the previous Government, when then Taoiseach Enda Kenny poured cold water on the idea in 2016, saying it was too costly.

The need to upgrade the Cork-Limerick road was first mooted in 1998, but the economic crash of 2008 put paid to the project.

In 2011, the then Transport Minister Leo Varadkar officially declared the project stalled, saying there was no money available.

His successors toed the same line, until Mr Varadkar officially greenlit the project on his first official visit to Cork as Taoiseach.

The favoured M20 route, from the junction with the proposed Cork northern ring road near Blarney to the junction with the N21 at Attyflynn in Limerick would reduce travel time between the cities from 61 to 45 minutes.

In response to Mr McGraths question, TII said it has allocated 1.5m to Limerick City and County Council this year to advance planning and design work on the scheme, and was currently procuring the appointment of technical advisors before the end of the year.

The scheme is at an early stage of development and it is not, therefore, possible at this time to indicate a likely timeframe for construction of the project which will, of course, be dependent upon the satisfactory conclusion of the statutory planning approval process, it said.

Mr McGrath said the response was very disappointing to those of us who have been campaigning and waiting for this much-needed piece of infrastructure.

The M20 project is continually announced and re-announced, yet at every occasion, no actual dates for commencement are ever provided. Communities up and down the preferred route are fed up waiting for confirmation as to when construction will begin, he said.
By Geoff Percival

Providence Resources has reaffirmed plans to reinvest in exploration opportunities outside Ireland.

Speaking at the two-day Atlantic Ireland exploration conference, in Dublin, the companys chief executive Tony OReilly said while international expansion remains a medium-to-long-term plan, Providence is beginning to run out of Irish-based assets to farm out to development partners and is open to new opportunities.

Mr OReilly first suggested a return to drilling for oil and gas in international waters at Providences annual shareholders meeting in June. He said the exact timeline of a move for overseas assets and the location of potential prospects will depend on what opportunities present themselves. He also said the company may still look at further asset opportunities in Ireland.

Providence made offshore Ireland its sole focus in 2012, after selling its offshore assets in Nigeria and the Gulf of Mexico and its onshore assets in Britain.

The company will begin a multi-well drilling campaign, with its Chinese partners, at its flagship Barryroe field off the Cork coast next year.

It is also making progress on signing deals with development partners for its highly-rated Newgrange prospect, off the west coast, and could start drilling there and at three other prospects within the next three years.

Providence has already said investor interest in Newgrange is strong and that drilling could be undertaken relatively cheaply. Positive results from seismic evaluation work has put the asset back in the spotlight in recent weeks.
By Padraig Hoare

The gender pay gap of 14% means that women effectively stop earning in mid-November compared to men.

That is according to the charity Dress For Success Dublin, which is aimed at supporting women entering the workforce, as it launched its third annual #WorkEqual campaign.

The campaign aims to highlight the disparity in the average hourly earnings of men and women, said charity founder Sonya Lennon.

The designer said: Irelands gender pay gap is 14%. This means women in Ireland effectively stop earning, relative to men, in mid-November each year.

This year, were designating November 13 as the day on which the gender pay gap kicks into effect. In essence, women then work for free for the rest of the year.

The campaign will be supported through a number of public events and political engagements, said Ms Lennon, including an afternoon at Leinster House on November 13 to gauge political support.

The organisation is also launching a pay disclosure pioneers initiative, which will see leading businesses committing to early pay disclosure and advancement towards workplace equality, before legal requirement under new laws.

Ms Lennon said the gender pay gap is linked to a wide range of cultural, legal, social, and economic factors.

It is a much more complex issue than the concept of equal pay for equal work. To truly tackle the gender pay gap, we need to look at cultural conditioning and stereotypes, childcare supports, equal parental leave, salary negotiation skills, and the barriers to womens progression at all levels of their career, she said.

Ms Lennon said Dress for Success will be travelling to Brussels to brief MEPs and European Commission representatives on the #WorkEqual campaign, and to research best-practice policies that have been implemented in other EU member states.

It comes as a report by Dublin and Massachusetts-based software firm Globoforce found Irish women are less likely to receive a bonus than men.

The report, which surveyed more than 3,600 people in the US, UK, Canada, and Ireland found 70% of men are more likely to agree that they are paid fairly, compared to 61% of women.

In the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland, half of the women surveyed said they did not receive a bonus, compared to 39% of men.

A Social Justice Ireland report earlier this year found the Republic of Ireland to be one of the worst countries in Europe for gender equality in senior management roles.
Liam Heylin

An eight-year-old boy testified by video in a trial that his father threatened and strangled him, put his hands on him under his clothes and photographed him when he was going to the toilet or coming out of the shower.

This evidence was put before a jury of five women and seven men at Cork Circuit Criminal Court today.

The 42-year-old denied a total of 35 charges. Sixteen of the charges are for sexually assaulting his son and one of the counts is of neglecting him. There are 17 counts of sexually assaulting his daughter and one of neglecting her.

The only evidence put before Judge Brian OCallaghan and the jury yesterday was of a video recording of the defendants son being interviewed by a specially trained member of An Garda Siochana.

He never stops hitting us. He threatens us, the boy said in his evidence.

The young boy said, He put his hand under my clothes. It just feels so weird with his fingers  a bad feeling I would say stop it, he would stop it but then he does it again the next minute. Asked how many times it happened, he replied, Millions.

My dad took pictures of me. He does it often. He would be sending them to his dad and it is really embarrassing. I saw pictures (on his fathers phone) of me going to the bathroom and coming out of the shower.

He would not take it of the upper part, he would take it of the lower part, my privates and my bum.

Asked how he knew his father photographed him coming out of the shower when he was about to get a towel, he replied, He has his phone up. The back of it started flashing. I heard the sound  tsh, like that.

I think he would be sending them to his dad. I dont think he would be just looking at them. His dad does the same to me, the complainant said.

Asked how many times his father photographed him, he said, Thousands. Asked how he felt he replied, Disgusted. I did not like it at all. I keep deleting them day by day. He described another time when he said his father kicked the family dog and that the dog was crying the whole night.

He described another occasion when he said his father called him a pr**k and threw a hot dinner over him.

Opening the case to the jury, Jane Hyland, prosecution barrister, said there were two kinds of offences alleged against the defendant in respect of his son and daughter and that the preponderance of those charges was of sexual assault. She said there was on neglect, or cruelty, charge against him in respect of each child.

The boy testified by video recording when he was eight and he is now aged ten and his sister is 11.

Seamus Roche, defence senior counsel will cross-examine the boy tomorrow. The boy is in a room in the courthouse linked to the particular courtroom by video.
Declan Brennan

The 25-year-old man who abducted a teenage Spanish student from Dublin city centre and raped her repeatedly over a 21-hour period had a 'very very difficult and interrupted upbringing', a court has heard.

Eoin Berkeley of Hampton Wood Way, Finglas, Dublin, who admitted raping the girl at the Irish Glass Bottle Company site, Pigeon House Road on three occasions between July 15 and 16, 2017 was today sentenced to 14 years.

During mitigation the court heard that when gardai arrested Eoin Berkeley they found it difficult to interview him and difficult to discern fantasy from truth in what he was saying.

He told them that everybody in his family was bipolar and reported seeing things that weren't there and making friends with things that weren't there, the court heard.

He was taking 20mg of Denzapine, an anti-psychotic drug, yet spent most of his days hanging around a public place known as the benches near Dame St in Dublin city centre.

There he and other vagrant people would congregate and get into fights, the court heard. He was well known to gardai working in the city and often presented in conditions that caused concern for his mental health.

At one point he walked around the city dressed in a raccoon onesie which his barrister Michael Bowman SC described as bizarre behaviour.

Mr Bowman outlined a life beset by a very very difficult and interrupted upbringing. He said alcohol was a considerable feature of his family life and his mother had considerable difficulties of a psychological nature which were compounded by alcohol.

She knew she couldn't look after him and put him into foster care. By the age of four he was placed permanently in HSE care. Reports from that time showed that by the age of six he was doing well in that environment.

That same year, in 1999, his natural father died. Berkeley also lost his foster father, who he had developed a close bond with, when the foster home marriage broke down.

There were concerns as to how Berkeley was developing and he had contact with a significant number of agencies. He was clinically diagnosed at age of eight with a speech and language impairment and later with a developmental language disorder.

His incapacity to communicate led to him becoming defensive and this affected his progress in school, his lawyers told the court.

Extreme violence and 'a period of flux'

By the age of 12 his behavioural problems had gotten worse and he was taken out of school for extreme violence. He never went back to school and never achieved any formal qualifications.

The records show that by the age of 14 his foster family situation also broke down because he was presenting as being difficult to manage. He was institutionalised at Ballydowd, a facility to deal with unruly individuals.

He reported as having no control over himself during his teenage years. On leaving Ballydowd he began a period of flux, his lawyers said, where he moved between an unconventional family home and homelessness.

There were some accounts that during his difficult upbringing Berkeley had been exposed to sexually abusive behaviour, Mr Bowman said.

Mr Justice White said he had to take all this background into consideration in sentencing Berkeley for his horrific crimes.

He said Berkeley's development was significantly compromised with separation from attachment figures and possible sexual abuse experiences.

The judge noted that he presented to doctors as aggressive and agitated and threatened one doctor with assault.

His counsel told the court that a month before carrying out the abduction and rape, a garda inspector in the Dublin city area directed Berkeley's detention under the Mental Health Act. Under the Act he was seen by a doctor who deemed him fit to be released.

Two days later Berkeley's brother rang a garda station and said Berkeley needed to be detained under the Act. Gardai told him there was no basis for his detention and advised that Berkeley seek medical care.

Earlier: Man who abducted Spanish student and raped her repeatedly gets 14 years

A 25-year-old man who abducted a teenage Spanish student from Dublin city centre and raped her repeatedly over a 21-hour period has been jailed for 14 years.

Eoin Berkeley of Hampton Wood Way, Finglas, Dublin, admitted raping the girl at the Irish Glass Bottle Company site, Pigeon House Road on three occasions between July 15 and 16, 2017.

This morning Mr Justice Michael White said that there 19 incidents of violence or threats of violence during the ordeal. He said the crimes were premeditated and the nature of the rapes were particularly degrading.

He said Berkeley's threats to kill the victim were blood-curdling. He imposed concurrent sentences of 14 years for each rape offence and said he was taking into consideration the threats to kill, sexual assaults and false imprisonment.

He backdated the sentence to July 31, 2017, when Berkeley went into custody. There was no reaction from Berkeley to the sentence.

The then 18-year-old student, described as naive and shy, had come to Ireland two weeks earlier to improve her English and was staying with a host family in Dublin.

Eoin Berkeley

She was a day out in the city centre on a Saturday afternoon when she met Berkeley who told her he lived on the beach and invited her to see where he lived. She agreed and walked with him to a derelict site near Sandymount where he had a number of tents pitched.

Once inside the tent his mood changed, he pushed her to the ground and grabbed her hands. She told him he was hurting her but he laughed and told her she was stupid and that he had done this before.

She left the tent but Berkeley dragged her back in. He tied her hands up behind her back using a dog leash and told her he had previously killed six people and was going to kill her.

He repeatedly tried to strangle her and at one point he picked up a small saw and told her that if she didn't stop struggling he would cut her hands off.

She begged him to kill her in the least painful way possible and he gave her some tablets and he then put some black gloves on. She took the tablets and fell down and he began abusing her.

Over the hours that followed Berkeley raped the woman on three separate occasions. On the Sunday he told her he wasn't going to kill her until Monday.

He told her that if she tried to run away he would throw a rock at her head. He told her that he had stopped having feelings about people since the age of 10 and said he had cut the paws off household pets.

The victim escaped when Berkeley took her down to the beach and he fell asleep. In the meantime, the family she was staying with in Dublin and her parents in Spain had raised the alarm when she failed to make contact on Saturday evening.

On escaping the victim rang her father, telling him she was running from a man and told him: I've been kidnapped. I'm going to be killed. Her father told the court this was the worst phonecall a father could ever get.

The victim told gardai that she was terrified and knew if she tried to escape she had to be successful.

I knew that I would have only one real chance to escape, she said.

"He had total control of my life over these days. I was terrified."

The court heard that medical tests found morphine, codeine and cannabis present in her body after the attack. She suffered bruising to her wrist, arms, legs and neck.

In a victim impact statement read into court by counsel the woman said that she had to take medication for months after the rape in case of infections. She said she thought she was going to be killed during the attack and she is now afraid to sleep in the dark.

She said she thinks about what happened every day, saying: I was afraid, I did not want to be afraid.

Berkeley's 25 previous convictions include unlawful possession of knives and a realistic firearm and threatening and abusive behaviour.

After the hearing at the Central Criminal Court last week Mr Justice White adjourned sentencing to today.

He said that the victim was violated in a horrendous way. He said there was a collective sense of shame that somebody visiting Ireland had suffered in such a vile way.

Before this defence counsel, Michael Bowman SC told the court that his client went into foster care at the age of four as his mother had psychological problems which were compounded by alcohol. At the age of 14 his foster care situation broke down because of his own behavioural difficulties and he was institutionalised at Ballydowd, a facility for unruly youths.

Counsel said that after leaving Ballydowd he had lived in flux mostly in homelessness, often coming to garda attention in situations which caused concerns around his mental health.

A month before the kidnap and rape a garda inspector in the Dublin city area directed his detention under the Mental Health Act. He was seen by a doctor who deemed him fit to be released.

Two days later Berkeley's brother rang a garda station and said Berkeley needed to be detained under the Act. Gardai told him there was no basis for his detention and advised that Berkeley seek medical care.
By Ann O'Loughlin

A dispute between a vegetable grower and a farmer over lands in Co. Wexford has been resolved, the High Court has heard.

The dispute arose between John B. Dockrell Ltd which brought High Court proceedings and secured an injunction against farmer Mr John Kinsella whom it was alleged had trespassed on lands owned by the firm located at Lodgewood in Ferns, Co Wexford.

The vegetable growing company sought the order because it claimed it was unable to access approximately 150 acres of land the firm purchased in June 2017 from a receiver due to Mr Kinsella's actions.

It claimed gates on the property were chained and various vehicles were used to block access to and from the lands, which had previously been owned by Mr Kinsella.

The company of Monroe, Screen, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, also claimed that John Kinsella, who had previously owned the lands, entered the property without its permission and had ploughed the lands.

The dispute came before the courts on several occasions. Mr Kinsella, who represented himself during the bulk of the dispute told the court he took issue with what was alleged against him.

In August Mr Kinsella of Ballywilliamroe, Marshalstown, Enniscorthy, was committed to prison after a High Court judge found him in contempt of court.

Following an application by the company's lawyers, the court found Mr Kinsella had breached the terms of the injunction which prevented him coming within 100 metres of lands, interfering with the property, and from blocking and impeding any entrances to the lands.

Mr Kinsella, spent a few hours in Mountjoy Prison, before being released from custody after he gave undertakings to comply with the orders which were granted last April.

When the matter returned before the High Court today Benedict O Flionn SC for John B Dockrell told Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington that, following talks with a lawyer for Mr Kinsella, what had been "a rather tangled matter," had been resolved.

As part of the settlement, it was agreed the court could make certain orders with the consent of both parties including that all persons acting in concert with him and all persons having knowledge of the order are restrained from trespassing on or attending at the lands at Lodgewood.

It was also ordered that there would be no interference with or obstruction of the lands, including the blocking of the entrances by the defendant.

It was further ordered that all costs orders obtained against Mr Kinsella would be adjourned generally with permission to re-enter in the event of the orders being breached.

The judge granted the orders sought.
PAGC asked to look into tower duopoly

posted November 01, 2018 at 08:25 pm by Manila Standard Business November 01, 2018 at 08:25 pm

A group said it will file next week a case before the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission against presidential adviser Ramon Jacinto for pushing what it described as a felonious plan that would allegedly set unfair practice in the cell tower construction business. Ed Cordevilla, the founding leader of the Filipino League of Advocates for Good Governance, said in a statement Jacintos duopoly proposal for cell tower companies would run counter to President Rodrigo Dutertes program against monopoly or duopoly in the telecommunications industry. While Dutertes IT bright boys are hell-bent in its move to break the telcos duopoly in the country, here comes Jacintos bid to create a duopoly in the tower construction business, said Cordevilla.Cordevilla said the duopoly proposal would be in violation of congressional enactments, which vested in telcos franchises the rights to build, operate and maintain their own cell towers. He said his group would also furnish PAGC with documents which would allegedly reveal Jacintos real motive in pushing for the towercos duopoly.

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By Louise Roseingrave

The owner of a long-established garage in Ranelagh, Dublin 6 died after he was crushed beneath a car while changing a wheel.

Frank Smith (75) of the Sandford Garage in Ranelagh died at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin on November 16 2017. He spent a week in hospital following an incident at the garage in which he sustained catastrophic crush injuries.

The incident happened at the garage on November 9 2017 when Mr Smith was changing oil and a tyre on a vehicle for a customer. Mr Smith was using a two-tonne hydraulic car jack in order to perform the operation under the car, Dublin Coroners Court heard.

However, the jack was gradually losing height over a period of time due to a small oil leak within the mechanism.

Mr Smith had changed the car's engine oil and was about the remove the wheel when the incident happened.

Health and Safety Inspector John Harrington said the wheel had become stuck to the axle due to corrosion over the passage of time and Mr Smith opted to use a hammer to free the wheel. He said Mr Smith would not have noticed the jack losing height as it was happening so slowly.

The car continued to move slowly downwards and its weight was coming to rest on the wheel as Mr Smith used a hammer to remove the wheel from the axle. The car came down on Mr Smith causing traumatic crush injuries to his chest including rib fractures, collapsed lungs and bleeding into the chest.

Mr Smith was rushed to St Vincents Hospital in Dublin where he was unconscious on arrival. He was treated for his injuries but a brain scan revealed he had sustained hypoxic brain damage due to a lack of oxygen.

Mr Smith of Sweetmount Avenue, Dundrum, Dublin 14 died in hospital on November 16, 2017.

An autopsy conducted by pathologist Dr Niamh Nolan gave the cause of death as lack of oxygen to the brain, due to traumatic asphyxia due to crush injuries sustained in the incident at the garage.

The Health and Safety Authority and An Garda Siochana conducted investigations into the incident. No prosecutions were directed.

"That is a big trauma for someone of his years. The crush injuries caused problems for his circulation which in turn caused a lack of oxygen to the brain, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said.

The coroner returned a verdict of death due to an industrial accident.

The Sandford garage has since closed and the premises is for sale.
Ann O'Loughlin

A man who claimed he tripped breaking his hip while Christmas shopping at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre has settled his High Court action.

Grandad Michael Harty was on a day out with his grandchildren when he says he tripped and fractured his hip.

His counsel Marcus Daly SC told the High Court that the haulier and company director had travelled from Galway with his wife in 2012 to Dublin on the traditional big shopping day of December 8.

Michael Harty (63) of Ardour, Kilconly, Tuam,Co Galway had sued Green Property Ltd, trading as Blanchardstown Shopping Centre as a result of the fall on December 8, 2012.

He claimed there was an alleged failure to take any adequate precautions for the health and safety of pedestrians using the common area of the centre and an alleged hazard was in the common area.

The claims were denied and it was contended by Green Property Ltd that Mr Harty had stumbled because of his own actions and he allegedly failed to exercise any reasonable care for his own safety.

Opening the case, Marcus Daly SC for Mr Harty said the Hartys were on a family day out. He said as Mr Harty turned to pick up his grandson, the heel of his shoe became stuck in the recess of the floor tile at the location of an expansion joint.

Counsel said Mr Harty fell and had immediate severe pain. He was helped at the scene and taken to hospital but later had to have a hip replacement operation.

Mr Justice Michael Hanna was told there was CCTV footage of the centre but the fall itself was not recorded.

After a brief recess, the judge was told the case had been settled. The details of the settlement are confidential.
Gardai in Coolock are appealing to the public for assistance in locating 15-year-old Adam Darcy.

Adam was last seen on October 28 on Main Street in Swords, Co Dublin at approximately 6pm.
Gardai in Drogheda, Co Louth have renewed their appeal to locate missing teen Alan Ryan who has been missing for more than five weeks.

16-year-old Alan has been missing from his home in Greenhills, Drogheda since September 22.
A newly-engaged Irish woman who admitted killing her fiance in Sydney was previously convicted of wounding him, a court has been told.

Cathrina Cahill pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of David Walsh, 29, after fatally wounding him in the neck in the early hours of February 18 last year at the home they shared with two other Irish nationals.

The 27-year-old was originally charged with murder, but the Crown accepted her plea to the less serious charge on the basis of substantial impairment due to an abnormality of the mind at the time.

Cahill, from Wexford, gave psychiatrists a history of being in a traumatic relationship with Mr Walsh, hallmarked by physical, emotional and verbal abuse over a period of time.

A sentencing hearing at the New South Wales Supreme Court today heard that Cahill was charged with one count of reckless wounding of Mr Walsh in relation to him being injured after she threw a large candle at him in November 2015.

She was convicted in her absence and placed on a two-year bond in April 2016 at Waverley Local Court in Sydney.

Justice Peter Johnson also heard disputed evidence from a previous housemate of the couple, who testified to seeing Cahill stab Mr Walsh in the back of the head more than 18 months before his death.

Isobel Jennings denied lying when she recalled Cahill saying: "I just wanted to kill him. I just wanted to kill him."

Ms Jennings said that, on the evening of October 3, 2015, after hearing Ms Cahill and Mr Walsh arguing, she saw him sitting on the sofa before Cahill came up the stairs with her hand behind her back.

Cahill suddenly stabbed him to the back of his head three or four times, but Ms Jennings said Mr Walsh did not want her to contact police as he said she had not meant to hurt him.

Under cross-examination from Cahill's barrister, she denied making up the incident but agreed there had been house-related problems after she moved out and before she made her police statement.

According to the agreed statement of facts, Cahill and Mr Walsh argued on the night of February 17, 2017, when they were drinking with others before Mr Walsh was thrown out of a pub and went back to their house in the suburb of Padstow.

After Cahill and their two female housemates arrived home with Matthew Hyde, with whom they had socialised at a pub, Mr Walsh repeatedly attacked the man, wanting to know who he was.

Cahill was punched by Mr Walsh when trying to stop the attack before she took out a "large, very sharp, bladed knife" from the cutlery drawer and stabbed him.

Mr Walsh had five brothers, a sister and parents in Ireland at the time of his death.

One brother, Jonathan Walsh, in a victim impact statement read out on his behalf, said when their father got the news he said: "I don't want him up there on his own son. I am going to be with him soon."

Another, brother Patrick Walsh, wrote that their father died 10 months later "from a broken heart", while their mother had become an empty shell of her former self.

The hearing will continue on Friday.
A married couple from the south of the country have collected a cheque for 4,439,459 after they won the Lotto jackpot on Saturday.

The pair, who wish to remain anonymous, were on a Bank Holiday break with their young family when they decided to stop at Ryans Daybreak store in the village of Milltown, Co. Galway to buy the winning Quick Pick ticket.

Anytime we are away from home we play the Lotto when we are passing through a random town," they said today as they toasted their win at National Lottery headquarters.

"When Saturday night came, we heard that the ticket was bought in Galway and while we obviously dreamed it might be us, nothing really prepares you for the shock when you actually check your ticket to find out that youve won a 4.4 million jackpot. It still hasnt sunk in.

The family say they have drawn up a plan as to how they would be able to help those people nearest to them:

You always think that you will go absolutely wild when you win a Lotto jackpot but it was a very emotional experience.

Following all of the excitement of checking the ticket, genuinely the first thing that we did was to write a list of the family and friends we would be able to help with this amount of money.

"We have also selected a number of charities in our own area who we will be helping out in the coming weeks.

"While we will be paying off our mortgage and securing the futures of our children, we firmly believe that so much good will come from sharing this win among others, they said.

The delighted couple promised that their Lotto fortune would not change their lifestyle drastically as they plan to return to work as soon as possible:

We have absolutely no plans to change our lifestyle and we will continue to go to work as usual.

"It wont change our own family but the only thing that will change is how we can help our extended family and friends and those in need in our community, they added.

Digital Desk
A man is due to be sentenced today for the false imprisonment and repeated rape of a Spanish student who travelled to Dublin to improve her English.

Eoin Berkeley, previously of Hamptonwood Way in Finglas, also threatened to kill the woman after luring her to a tent in July 2017.

The young woman had only been in Ireland for a few weeks when she met Mr Berkeley on the Liffey boardwalk on July 15th 2017.

The court heard she comes from a small town in a remote part of Spain where people leave their homes unlocked and she was described as very trusting

After a brief chat, she decided to go for a walk with him. He said he would take her to the beach and she agreed because she had never seen an Irish beach.

Mr Berkeley then lured her to a tent on the old Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend where he held her against her will for the 21 hours.

During that time, the court heard he raped her three times and threatened to kill her if she did not stop resisting.

She managed to escape and raise the alarm when he eventually fell asleep.

At the time of the attack, Mr Berkeley was on bail after being charged over a homophobic graffiti attack on a gay bar in Dublin.

He will be sentenced for this attack later this morning.
A number of significant changes have been made to the Leaving Certificate appeals process following a recent landmark High Court case taken by student Rebecca Carter.

The Wexford student successfully sued the State Examinations Commission (SEC) challenging its decision not to re-check her points score in time to allow her to obtain a place at UCD.

The changes to the process will be implemented from next year so that students who appeal the results of the Leaving Certificate will be informed by the SEC of the outcome of their appeals much earlier than has previously been possible.

In cases where students have applied for a course via the CAO, and where their appeal result means they could get a higher course preference, they will now be able to begin that course in the current academic year, rather than have their offer deferred by a year.

The institutions will also have better supports in place for those appeal students who begin their course shortly after first year has begun to ensure that they are not at a disadvantage.

The higher education institutions have said that no first year undergraduate classes will begin earlier than the second week of September next year.

In another major change next year, Leaving Cert appeals results will be released to students in the week beginning September 16, a full three weeks earlier than the normal timeframe.

This revision of the appeals process will include a combination of earlier releases of provisional results of the Leaving Cert and of CAO Round 1 offers to students. This means that the process which allows students to view their exam scripts before deciding to submit an appeal will be brought forward.

Appeals examiners will mark scripts on a full-time basis rather than only at evenings and weekends and the overall appeals logistics will be streamlined.

In 2019, provisional results of the Leaving Cert will be issued to students on Tuesday, August 13, while CAO Round 1 offers will be issued to students by Friday, August 16.

The Department of Education says that the exam marking system will move from being paper-based to online over the next three years.

Rebecca Carter's landmark case

The changes announced today follow on from the judgment in Rebecca Carter's High Court Judicial Review case last month.

Ms Carter had claimed that the timeframe for processing Leaving Cert appeals meant that, in the event of a successful appeal of her results which would give her a higher course preference, she would not be able to bein that course in the current academic year, but would instead be required to accept a deferred offer for the following year.

In his judgment, Mr Justice Humphreys stated that the current system is highly unfair to students and cannot be repeated. The judge also ordered the SEC to accelerate completion of the appeal process on behalf of Ms Carter.

Following this accelerated completion of the appeal process, Ms Carter was successful in her appeal and was offered a place in Veterinary Medicine in UCD which she took up last month.

The Department of Education and the SEC say they will be appealing certain Constitutional and legal issues raised by the judgment and findings relating to parts of the examinations system. They say those appeals will not affect Ms Carter.

The announcement was made today by Minister for Education Joe McHugh and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell OConnor.

Speaking today, Minister McHugh said: My Department has engaged extensively with the State Examinations Commission, the Irish Universities Association and the Technological Higher Education Association on this matter over the last number of weeks. Together we have been considering the outcome of the judgment and how best to help our students in the coming years.

The State Examinations Commission is making significant changes to its appeals process as part of this.

Of course, there will be challenges in its implementation and this will require support and assistance from schools and examination correctors to ensure it can be done. I am confident that these changes, together with the measures being introduced by the Higher Education Institutions, will significantly improve the position for students who appeal their results from next year onwards.

Minister Mitchell OConnor said: To help support students who are appealing Leaving Certificate results, the IUA and THEA have agreed that no first year undergraduate academic classes will begin prior to the second week in September in 2019. This will minimise the class time lost by students who are offered a higher preference CAO offer.

As well as this, higher education institutions will offer improved supports for students who begin, or change courses, after the start of first year orientation, including academic supports where needed. This will ensure that students are given the best opportunity in their course," she said.

Digital Desk
READ: Cop linked to Sinaloa drug ops

A Manila police officer was arrested after he was caught sniffing prohibited drugs at the restroom of a posh bar in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig late Wednesday night. The suspect was identified as Police Officer 1 Redentor Bautista, 34, assigned at the Manila Police District Police Station 1 and a resident of Herbosa corner Matiisin Streets, Tondo, Manila. The Taguig City police arrested Bautista around 11:45 pm inside Island Palace Club located at 9th Avenue corner 38th Street BGC Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. Members of the Taguig police community precinct 7 went to the nightclub after the station commander Chief Insp. Joseph Austria received a call from the club security guard Gary Palma who informed them about the suspects illegal activity. Recovered from the suspect was one transparent plastic ziplock containing white substance suspected to be cocaine weighing more or less 0.4 grams and one piece of a small cut straw. The authorities initially detained Bautista at the PCP 7 in BGC then turned him over to the Station Drug Enforcement Unit where he underwent drug testing. They said the suspect would be charged for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.Southern Police District chief Eliseo Cruz said a report had been sent to the office of the MPD Director about the arrest of Bautista for them to initiate the conduct of an investigation and filing of an administrative case against him. The PNP does not tolerate any irregularities of its members and has zero tolerance and no compromise on our personnel involved in illegal drugs. They will suffer the full consequence of their actions and have no reason to stay as members of our organization, Cruz said. Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office chief Guillermo Eleazar assured the dismissal of erring policemen after undergoing due process. No sacred cows to this people who are using drugs and to those who are selling, especially the uniformed personnel, he said. Eleazar said the PNP was serious in its internal cleansing program and continuously conducting intelligence operations to weed out the scalawags and rogue personnel.
by Gordon Deegan

A sales professional at a multi-national company based here has been sacked after sending to its US based chief executive an anti-English YouTube video documenting the events the led to partition In Ireland almost 100 years ago.

In the case, the man - who was with the cleaning products wholesaler for 18 years - was sacked for gross misconduct in May of this year.

The man was sacked after the firm identified him as the sender of the material after a pain-staking investigation requiring the employment of outside forensic IT experts based in the UK.

In the case, the employee sent the offending email on February 1st last in the name of one of the firms pension trustees to the CEO of the firms US parent company.

In the email, the worker complained in crude form of the UK management of its Irish operations, with strong Irish nationalist undertones.

The email also included a link to a YouTube video entitled Why Ireland split into the Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland and subtitled A brief overview of the history of Ireland and the events that led to the political division of the island..

In sending the email, the worker went to great lengths to shield his identify by using an anonymous online email facility, which allows users to insert sender identities other than themselves, and send those mails to other parties.

The man sued for unfair dismissal at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

However, in upholding the companys decision to dismiss the man, WRC Adjudication Officer, Stephen Bonnlander said that he was satisfied that the incriminating email itself is indeed offensive and intimidatory and that it caused the respondent to lose trust in the complainant.

Mr Bonnlander found that the firm was within its rights to sack the worker for gross misconduct.

"The facts which the forensic IT specialists were able to establish with certainty and which are set out in their report are much stronger in terms of pointing to the complainants culpability than the complainants vague and generalised denials are in rebutting it".

The worker strenuously denied sending the email and youtube video link requiring the firm to call in outside IT forensic experts.

The employee handed over his laptop and an examination of the laptop an investigation by them found it highly likely that the worker sent on the email.

The investigators found that the laptops Internet search history shows searches for information in Irish-UK history, including maps, carried out on between 22:18pm and 22:21pm on February 1st 2018 culminating in the user accessing the YouTube video.

The email was sent at 23.45pm on February 1st 2018. The investigators also found that a PDF file of the altered PowerPoint presentation sent by the worker originated on his laptop and was created half an hour before the email was sent.

The investigators also found that the worker searched send anonymous email at 22:34pm on February 1st and send anonymous email with attachment on February 1st 2018.

One of the workers bosses told the WRC that the dismissal for gross misconduct was primarily for the serious breach of trust which had occurred between the parties, although the inappropriate use of the companys laptop and the intimidating content of the email were also factors.
Louise Roseingrave

A 28-year-old Dublin man working on his uncles fishing boat died tragically after the vessel capsized 100m from shore, Dublin Coroners Court has heard.

Jamie McAllister and his uncle Keith McAllister made a desperate bid to swim to safety. Skipper Keith McAllister survived the sinking and he told an inquest into his nephews death how his 8.6m dredging fishing vessel, the 'Shanie Boy', flipped over leaving both men submerged.

The incident happened at Skerries harbour in Co Dublin on May 26, 2017.

Jamie, who was employed as an apprentice electrician, had asked his uncle for a few days' work. The weather was sunny, the sea was calm and the tide was coming in as the pair left Skerries Harbour at 9.30am.

Giving evidence, Keith McAllister said they were dredging and emptying the contents into barrels on deck when the boat began to slow around 12.45pm.

They lifted the dredger and found it was carrying a lot of weight in the form of stones. As it came up out of the water the dredger swung to the starboard side.

The weight shifted the vessel in the water and Keith McAllister ran to the wheelhouse to try to turn the vessel but it flipped over in a matter of seconds.

I ran into to spin the wheel the opposite way and drive her on," he said.

"The TV flew off the wall and hit me in the face, I think it knocked me out. I came to up to my neck in water.

The (wheelhouse) door was closed and everything was jammed up against it. I went down three times to clear the way to get out the door."

When he surfaced he saw Jamie clinging to the hull and the pair decided to swim to the nearest yacht as the boat quickly began to sink.

We tried to swim but every time I looked up we were further away from the yacht, he said.

When the boat went down, the bubbles separated us and that was the last time I saw Jamie.

He tried to continue swimming but said the tide was against him and he grew exhausted and lost consciousness in the water.

Skerries based fireman Michael Woods witnessed the incident from the shore.

About 1.20pm I saw a single boat roll and two heads coming up. They got away from the boat but the stern went down and one disappeared, Mr Woods told the court.

He notified emergency services and Skerries RNLI launched immediately and rescued Keith McAllister from the water. His nephew Jamie was recovered the following morning, May 27.

Garda divers located the body in 9m of water, 60m from the site of the sinking.

A post-mortem gave the cause of death as drowning. Health and Safety Inspector Anthony Morahan noted in his report that neither man was wearing a life-jacket, though two life-jackets were available on board.

A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecution and no prosecution was directed.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane returned a verdict of misadventure and noted the relevant factor that flotation devices were not worn.
There is a call for Ireland to take a stand to make sure journalists around the world are protected.

The National Union of Journalists and Amnesty International are organising a candlelit vigil outside the Saudi embassy in Dublin this evening in memory of Jamal Khashoggi.
Update - 11.25am: There are calls for all schools built after 2008 to be independently assessed.

It comes after news that 17 schools examined for structural defects will now need intervention after on-site inspections.

Thirteen schools are still being reviewed, with a decision expected later today.

Out of 42 schools built by Western Building Systems, the Department of Education said 11 will not need any works carried out and are cleared to open.

Orla Hegarty, a lecturer at the School of Architecture at UCD, said all schools constructed after 2008 need inspecting.

Ms Hegarty said: "I think they should be at this stage, I think parents, teachers and Boards of Management at other schools need that reassurance.

"It will take a program to do that but some initial surveys could be done relatively quickly as we've seen with the schools that have been done this week. They've done quite a number in a short few days."

Earlier: 17 schools need works to reopen after midterm

Just 11 out of 42 schools built by Western Building Systems have so far been given the all clear following structural inspections.

A decision on the final 13 schools is expected later today.

So far, engineers have decided that 11 schools built by WBS will not need any intervention, while 17 other schools will need protective works before they can re-open next week.

Decisions on a further 13 schools are expected later today after a full analysis of structural reports.

The Department has confirmed that students at Ardgillan Community College will take their classes in Phase 2 of the building, but Phase 1 will remain closed due to structural issues.

Ground floor classrooms in three national schools in Tyrellstown and Lucan will re-open, while arrangements are being made to bus children who cannot be accommodated to other schools.

WBS says no details of the building assessments have been shared with them, and it says it is "troubling on a wider scale" that schools certified by the Department now require remedial works.
Without any law requiring mandatory drug testing for students in secondary and tertiary levels, Senator Nancy Binay is pushing for the establishment of a comprehensive program for the prevention, intervention, evaluation, treatment and continuous care for tobacco, alcohol and other drug abuse in all high schools, colleges and universities. In the explanatory note of her Senate Bill 2077 titled An Act Establishing a Comprehensive Substance Abuse Educational Program in Every School, Binay called on concerned government agencies to formulate a program that would address drug problem in all schools nationwide. There is a need to establish a comprehensive program for the prevention, intervention, evaluation and treatment for student alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse [to ensure] the future of our youths intellectual, physical and social well-being, Binay said. The Department of Education has said the proposed mandatory drug testing would also entail additional expenses for parents, who are already complaining of costly school fees. Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, only mandates random drug testing for secondary and tertiary levels. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency earlier recommended mandatory drug testing for all students and teachers, including those from Grade 4 and above as part of the governments drive against illegal drugs. However, the DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education, and other agencies rejected PDEAs proposal requiring surprise drug testing to grade school students.Binays measure mandates CHED, DepEd, the Department of Health and the Dangerous Drugs Board to establish a program of prevention and intervention for student alcohol and substance abuse in all secondary and tertiary schools. The prevention component of the program is aimed at keeping students from using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; reduce or eliminate the incidence and prevalence of abuse; and, actively involve staff, parents and other community members in the development and implementation of prevention program plans, among others. The purpose of the intervention, referral for evaluation and referral for treatment component of the program is to identify students who are at risk for, or who have exhibited, alcohol, tobacco or other drug abuse problems. This component is also aimed at helping students or their parents who have requested assistance for alcohol, tobacco or drug abuse problems. The measure also requires that each school should assure confidentiality of records of students found positive of alcohol and drug abuse.
Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox will leave the country tomorrow after the Bureau of Immigration denied her application for a temporary visa extension for violating her stay in the country. The nun, who vowed to return to the Philippines after President Rodrigo Dutertes term, is included in the bureaus Black List Order which will prohibit her from coming back to the country. In a statement, the National Union of Peoples Lawyers said that Foxs passport was confiscated on Wednesday and would be given back soon as she would be leaving through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. She will be considered an overstaying alien should the nun refuse to leave after her visa expired on Nov. 3. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Foxs voluntary departure had nothing to do with her deportation case. Her voluntary departure, if true, is without prejudice to the resolution of her deportation case. If she wins, then her name will be removed from the blacklist, he said in a statement. The 71-year-old nun has sought to stay in the Philippines, where she has resided for nearly three decades.The BI had ordered her deportation for violating the terms of her visa by participating in political activities. Fox denied the allegations, saying her missionary work involved touching base with farmers and ordinary workers. The NUPL president, lawyer Catherine Panguban, said Sr. Fox would leave the Philippines with a clear conscience that she had done nothing wrong and illegal during her 27 years of stay in the country. After Sr. Patricia Foxs six months of arduous battle in the legal and political arena since her illegal arrest and detention on April 16, the Bureau of Immigration finally denies today her application for the extension of her temporary visitors visa and requires her to leave the Philippines on November 3, the NUPL said. She is and will always be loved by the Filipino people. On the contrary, it is the Philippine government, known for its notorious human rights record, who is in the losing end, the NUPL added.
Shares in embattled wealth giant AMP have rebounded strongly following the company's detailed defence of its controversial $3.3 billion sale of its insurance business.

The deal announcement late last week saw AMP's share price fall as much as 30 per cent, prompting speculation the company could be a takeover target.

AMP has again been the subject of takeover speculation. Credit:Ken Irwin

Rumours that Macquarie Group was running a ruler over AMP helped to further buoy its share price on Thursday, which rose 7 per cent to $2.64. The stock is still well below the $5.47 it was trading at in April before its bruising banking royal commission experience.

But not all investors were cheering AMP's disclosure, with activist shareholder Merlon Capital Partners writing again to AMP to criticise the transaction, describing the numbers AMP was using to sell the deal to shareholders as "farcical".
Earlier this year, ANZs Shayne Elliott foreshadowed the end of a two-decade-long golden era for banking. His own results, and now National Australia Banks, tend to indicate that moment has definitely arrived.

While this round of major bank results will generally be seen through the lens of the royal commission and the massive remediation costs that are flowing through all the big bank profit statements, the longer-term story  in which the impact and ultimate recommendations of the royal commission will be a significant strand  lies within the more conventional settings.

NAB CEO Andrew Thorburn is wrestling with the impact of the royal commission, the subdued environment and the banks own radical restructuring. Credit:Jessica Hromas

In terms of the commission, there are obviously the remediation payments and costs associated with them, a more cautious and rigorous approach to consumer lending, and a surge in compliance costs and investment in compliance systems.

Theres also the planned divestments by three of the four majors (Westpac being the exception) of their wealth management businesses.
Australian software billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes has accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of being dishonest over the cause of rising power bills, as he called on supporters of clean energy to get behind his "Fair Dinkum Power" movement.

"People are saying 'why is my bill so expensive?' and [Mr Morrison] is out there saying 'it's renewables' - that is not true, that is dishonest," Mr Cannon-Brookes told Fairfax Media on Thursday.

Atlassian's Mike Cannon-Brookes has used Twitter to pick another battle over energy. Credit:Josh Robenstone

"Your power bill is expensive for a lot of reasons and the experts agree it is nothing to do with renewables."

Earlier this week, the Atlassian co-founder started a movement on Twitter mocking the federal government's use of the term "fair dinkum power", which became a catch-all term for baseload, fossil fuel energy, after Mr Morrison started using the expression in response to concerns about the reliability of wind and solar power.
The NSW government has unveiled plans to turn hospitals and schools into mini power plants using solar panels and batteries in a bid to cut participating buildings' electricity costs by up to $40,000 a year.

Energy Minister Don Harwin said the government would spend $20 million to install up to 900 smart batteries on government buildings to create a 13-megawatt virtual power plant.

The $20 million investment will make hospitals more self-sustaining. Credit:David Porter

Virtual power plants work by combining multiple rooftop solar and battery installations into a single co-ordinated unit, which is able to supply excess energy back into the grid at times of peak demand.

Mr Harwin said the plan was aimed at hospitals and schools as these departments accounted for nearly half the state governments total energy demand.
I was most unimpressed when my wife told me last week that our two children would be dressing up to go trick-or-treating for Halloween.

As I made my way home from work on Wednesday night I was surprised by the number of households that were embracing the Halloween spirit. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Beyond gorging on sugary sweets, I have just never seen any reason to celebrate this foreign festival.

Yet another American custom to infiltrate Australia. And I dont have much of a sweet tooth anyway.

After all, what business does an agnostic Jewish-Australian family have celebrating Halloween? So I boycotted in protest.
A young male co-star who appeared with Geoffrey Rush in a Sydney Theatre Company production has told the Federal Court the Oscar-winning actor made a jokey "boob-squeezing gesture" above a female co-star's body during rehearsals and "cupped" her breast on stage during a performance.

Mr Rush, 67, is suing Rupert Murdoch's Nationwide News for defamation over two news stories and a newsagent poster alleging "inappropriate behaviour" towards a cast member during the 2015-16 STC production of King Lear. Mr Rush, who performed the lead role, vehemently denies the claims.

Actor Mark Leonard Winter arrives at the Federal Court on Thursday. Credit:AAP/Dean Lewis

His accuser was not named in the stories but was later revealed to be Eryn Jean Norvill, who played King Lear's daughter Cordelia. She did not speak to the Telegraph for its stories.

Mark Leonard Winter, who played Edgar in King Lear, gave evidence on Thursday that he witnessed Mr Rush "doing a bit of a skit over EJ [Eryn Jean]" during rehearsals of a scene in which Lear grieves over the corpse of Cordelia.
The Philippine National Police on Thursday reiterated that it does not condone acts of violence against women. The Philippine National Police abhors any form of violence committed against women. The full wrath of the law definitely awaits anyone found guilty of committing such horrendous crime, PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Benigno Durana said in a statement. Durana made the remark in response to a report of the Center for Womens Resources, which claimed that 56 cops are involved in 33 state-perpetrated VAW cases that it has monitored since the start of the Duterte administration in July 2016. It is therefore absolutely irresponsible on the part of the Center for Womens Resources to even claim that crimes individually committed by a handful of police officers are state-perpetrated. Insinuating in the process that those crimes were in a way condoned by the PNP or the State. A regular reader would immediately recognize such sweeping conclusion against an institution only reveals an utter lack of intellectual honesty of those who interpreted their data, Durana said in a statement. Durana said that the PNP leadership continues to implement a harsh crackdown against rogue policemen. While we can be tough on crimes, we are far tougher against our erring personnel. There has been no other time in the PNPs recent history, except today, that its leadership has been relentless and unforgiving against those who violated their oaths, he noted.Like any other organization, Durana said the PNP has also its own share of personnel considered as bad eggs but said that they do not represent the entire majority of service personnel who are professional, honest and dedicated. Through our PATROL PLAN 2030, institutional reforms are currently in full swing to address some legal, policy and systemic dysfunctions in the PNP in order that it will be become a highly capable, effective and credible police service that the Filipino people truly deserve, the PNP spokesperson said. On Sunday, a cop was arrested for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in exchange for the freedom of her parents who were arrested for illegal drug charges. PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the suspect, PO1 Eduardo Valencia, a rookie cop assigned at the Manila Police District (MPD), will be facing administrative, as well as rape and grave misconduct charges.
The federal government aims to remove all asylum seeker children from Nauru by the year's end as concerns escalate about their deteriorating health after languishing on the tiny Pacific atoll nation for up to five years.

But ministers said the government is maintaining its policy of sending all asylum seekers who attempt to reach Australia by boat to immigration camps on Nauru and Manus Island.

Refugee advocates welcomed the change for children, 46 of whom were born in Nauru.

Activists said there were only 38 children remaining on Nauru by Thursday. Manus Island has male-only facilities and all asylum seekers there are adults.

The news was met with mixed reactions from those who remain on Nauru.
Nancy-Bird Walton's younger brother John was just 15 when the merchant ship he served on in World War II was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-180 off the New South Wales coast. He was one of 19 survivors rescued by the USS Patterson and is the last of them still alive.

Ms Walton went on to become one of Australia's most celebrated pilots, an Officer of the Order of Australia, and her name would one day appear upon Qantas's flagship A380 aircraft.

Pilot Nancy-Bird Walton died in 2009. She was named a National Living Treasure in 1997.

By wars end John Bird had been awarded honours by both Australia and the United States, having served in the merchant navies of both nations. He moved for a time to the Australian protectorate that is now Papua New Guinea, where he married his Papuan wife and had five children before returning to Australia.

Each of the children were immediately registered and granted Australian citizenship, and when they turned six they were packed off to boarding school in Sydney. There they spent their weekends and holidays with their aunt, Nancy-Bird. One of Johns daughters is Mary-Anne, who at 64 remains an active member of the Australian Army Reserve, which she has now served for 29 years.
The popular Jan Powers Farmers Markets at Reddacliff Place will stop trading on December 19.

On Thursday morning Sammy Power received a call from Brisbane City Council and was told her tender was not selected for operating the city market, which ran every Wednesday, from 2019 onwards.

The Jan Powers Farmers Markets have been a staple at Reddacliff Place for almost a decade. Credit:Facebook

Ms Power has a background in radio but returned to Brisbane to run the family's markets, retaining her mother Jan Powers' name.

In an email sent to her staff, she said it had been a torturous six-month wait to hear the outcome of the tender.
A Melbourne cafe owner whose business was inundated with hundreds of negative online reviews following the VCE English exam is taking legal action against the state's curriculum authority.

Tara Conron, who owns the Calmer Cafe in Aberfeldie, is still assessing the fallout from a blunder in Wednesday's exam, which asked students to analyse a scathing review of a cafe that shared an almost identical name to hers.

"I don't know how much damage this is going to do until further down the track when people who don't know it's a joke read the reviews," she said.

Calmer Cafe in Aberfeldie, in Melbourne's north west, bears a similar name to a cafe in the Year 12 English exam. Credit:Justin McManus

The negative reviews started to flood in after the exam finished on Wednesday afternoon.
A vigilante inmate who poured two litres of boiling water over convicted murderer Trudi Lenon, causing serious burns, has been sentenced to five years in a West Australian prison.

Fellow inmate Justine Campbell was standing nearby and also suffered minor burns in the New Year's Day attack at Bandyup Women's Prison.

A court sketch of Trudi Lenon. Credit:Anne Barnetson

Lenon, along with "thrill killer" Jemma Lilley, murdered autistic teenager Aaron Pajich in June 2016 after luring him to a home and stabbing him.

The 18-year-old was then buried in the backyard and concrete was poured on top.
A manhunt is under way in Perth's eastern suburbs after a man was shot in the neck and left fighting for his life.

Police are searching for Anthony John Valentino, who they believe can assist them in relation to an altercation which occurred in Maddington on Wednesday around 6.30pm.

Police are searching for Anthony John Valentino, who may be driving the silver Mitsibishi pictured. Credit:WA Police

Members of the public are advised not to approch Mr Valentino as he may be armed.

He is believed to be driving a silver Mitsubishi 380, registration number 1CYK 355.
Labor's planning minister Richard Wynne is under siege on all sides in Richmond.

The Greens are set to bombard the seat with flyers painting him as an ally of the coal industry and the Liberals are weighing up the prospect of not running in order to starve him of preferences.

Internal Liberal Party polling of more than 500 Richmond voters found the Greens will win the seat if the Liberals dont field a candidate, a senior Liberal strategist said.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 26: Victorian Planning Minister Richard Wynne poses for a portrait on November 26, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Pat Scala/Fairfax Media) Credit:Pat Scala

Our research in Richmond tells us that if we dont run, Labor loses. If we run, Labor wins, the strategist said.
Senior Andrews government minister Richard Wynne's political fate is in the hands of his most bitter enemies, according to Liberal Party insiders.

Internal Liberal Party polling shows the party's preferences would get Victorias planning minister over the line in his seat of Richmond, denying the Greens their campaign to take the marginal inner-city seat.

Victorian Planning Minister Richard Wynne could be in big trouble in his Richmond electorate. Credit:Pat Scala

But the Liberals, who polled more than 500 voters in Richmond last month according to a senior party strategist, have still not decided whether to run a candidate.

The poll results showed Labor will lose the seat if the Liberals do not run.
Facebook continues to play judge, jury and executioner  deleting pages with millions of followers and their owner's personal accounts without warning  as the social media giant purges controversial political content in the run up to next week's mid-term US elections.

As part of the purge, Pennsylvania's Matt Mountain (not his real name) and his wife lost their Facebook accounts along with six high-profile pages including 'Liberal Mountain'. They were some of the most popular left-wing pages on Facebook with a combined following of more than 2 million fans.

The couple had spent three years building up the left-leaning and anti-Trump pages, which were the family's only income apart from Matt's veteran disability pension.

They created their own content for the page rather than merely sharing links, so as not to fall foul of Facebook's spam and link sharing rules which Matt and other page owners say the social media giant applies haphazardly.
Karachi: Pakistan's ultra-Islamist party blocked roads in major cities for a third day on Friday in protest against the acquittal of a Christian woman on death row for blasphemy allegations.

Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) said talks with the government have failed, and called upon its followers to get ready for a show down.

"Talks have completely failed, Federal and provincial representatives and an Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) General Faiz took part in talks," Khadim Hussain Rizvi, the leader of TLP said in a tweet early on Friday morning.

"Government has warned,'we will finish you off'," Rizvi said in his tweet.
The Filipino domestic worker who was spared from death row in United Arab Emirates will finally bemore than a year after being acquitted of murdering her employer, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday. The DFA said Jennifer Dalquez will be released from prison Thursday. Dalquez was convicted and sentenced to death in 2015 after she was found guilty of killing her employer. However, she was acquitted in 2017 without payment of blood money The Department has been informed by Ambassador to Abu Dhabi Hjayceelyn Quintana that UAE authorities are coordinating with the Philippine Embassy for Jennifers flight home this evening, the DFA said, in a statement. A native of General Santos City, Dalquez was arrested on Dec. 12, 2014, days after stabbing her employer who the Filipina worker claimed was trying to rape her at knifepoint.Reports indicated that she was sentenced to death by the Al Ain Court of First Instance on May 20, 2015, but was given an opportunity under Islamic law to have the decision reversed if the victims sons will not swear in the name of Allah that she killed their father and instead opt for the payment of blood money. Dalquezs lawyer moved for her acquittal after the victims sons reportedly failed to appear during the hearings as mandated by the court. READ: Pardoned OFW now home after Abu Dhabi ordeal
One former member of the Finnish parliament, who once served as a border guard officer, has claimed without evidence that Russia had plans to build docks to service its submarines. One theory popular on social media is that the raided islands  which lie near Finnish military installations and important Baltic Sea shipping lanes  were part of an undercover operation by Russia's military intelligence service, the GU, formerly known as the GRU. Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Savonlinna, Eastern Finland, in July 2017. Credit:AP Gastgivar, for one, has long thought something curious was going on at his Russian neighbor's island. "I've been thinking for many years that they are doing something military over there," he said. "Building, building, building, but nobody knows what for." Finland's intelligence service, according to recent reports in the Finnish news media, has long warned that property purchased in Finland by Russian nationals could be used for military purposes.

Finland, anchored firmly in the West but wary of antagonising Moscow, has a long-standing policy of not raising issues, at least in public, that might create friction with Russia, with which it shares a border. This approach, however, has come under strain from Russia's increasing assertiveness. Finland, though not a member of NATO, risked Russian ire this week by sending troops to Norway to join US forces taking part in Trident Juncture, the military alliance's largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War in 1991. The September raids coincided with discussions in parliament of new legislation to strengthen the powers of Finland's intelligence service. Lawmakers are also considering prohibiting people from outside the European Union from acquiring land in strategic areas. The biggest group of foreign property owners is from Russia, including people close to President Vladimir Putin. Two people were taken into custody after the raids  an Estonian of Russian descent and a Russian  and officers seized a stash of cash in multiple currencies, including 3 million euros (about $3.5 million). Also seized were computer discs and flash drives containing more than 100 terabytes of data  more than 50 times the estimated size of the entire print collection of the Library of Congress.

All the targeted properties were linked to Melnikov, the Russian owner of Sakkiluoto island, and a company he helped set up in 2007 called Airiston Helmi. One of nine piers on Sakkiluoto. Credit:NY Times While investing in Finland, Melnikov operated under several different guises. Annual corporate filings variously identify him as Russian, Latvian and Maltese. Finnish news media outlets report he also has residency in Hungary and passports from three tiny Caribbean nations that, like Malta, sell citizenship. When Airiston Helmi first registered in Finland in 2007, the company declared itself engaged in "travel and accommodation services as well as real estate holdings and leasing/renting." It invested millions of euros in buying and developing property on the archipelago between Finland and Sweden but, year after year, reported a loss and had no evident source of revenue.

Kaj Karlsson, a Finnish contractor who supervised much of the construction on Sakkiluoto, said he could never work out what Melnikov was up to, especially after he started building new piers and installed a network of security cameras on an island with no people or crime. "Usually an island has two piers, but how do you explain nine? It makes no sense," Karlsson said. Melnikov, he added, "always made a good impression and seemed legitimate," but never seemed very interested in getting a return on his investment. "No way is this all about money laundering or tax evasion," he said. "You don't put so much effort into a money-laundering case." Even local officials are skeptical. Patrik Nygren, the mayor of Parainen, the archipelago's administrative centre, said he received no advance notice and was out picking mushrooms with his family when the raids happened. The scale of the operation struck him as strange; Melnikov sometimes skirted building codes  like when he installed the helipad on Sakkiluoto  but was never threatening, the mayor said.

"Personally, I don't think this operation was just about money laundering. There has to be something else," he said. Niklas Granholm, deputy director of studies at FOI, the Swedish Defence Research Agency, Division for Defence Analysis, did not rule out that the islands that were raided could have been part of a money-laundering scam. But he added that their helipads, multiple docks, barrackslike structures and location near Finnish military facilities suggested possible preparations for "some kind of hybrid warfare." Airiston Helmi's seafront headquarters has a helipad and multiple surveillance cameras like Melnikov's island, as well as a decommissioned military landing craft that has been converted into a sauna and three other vessels. Standing guard next to the main entrance of the company's office is a fashion mannequin dressed in military fatigues with a cracked plastic head. Its basement, according to a recent report in Iltalehti, a Finnish newspaper, contained a communications centre with sophisticated equipment far beyond what an ordinary tourism or property company would need. Thomas Willberg, a dairy farmer whose land abuts Airiston Helmi's headquarters on the mainland, said he was asked several times by the Russian and his associates whether he would be willing to sell his cow patch. He declined.
Karyda was working on Athens Fashion Week when she learnt her husband had been killed. It's understood she is in shock and has spoken to police. Macris was said to own nightclubs on the island of Mykonos, while his company My Services advertised cleaning, facilities management, money transfers and security services. "I no longer have any underworld affiliation at all," he told the Herald in 2009. John Macris and his wife Victoria Karyda on their wedding day in Mykonos. However, Greek sources have told Fairfax Media that police are working on the initial theory that the shooting was part of a new war between Athens criminal gangs.

They are examining whether Macris had recently been threatened by anyone. They are also examining whether there is a link to the shooting on Tuesday of Vagelis Zabounis, 38, in the nearby port of Piraeus. Zabounis also owns a security company and is reportedly a well-known Greek "mafia" figure and suspected contract killer. John Macris was shot dead outside his Athens home. Credit:Greek City Times A source told Fairfax Media that police believed a "mafia war" might have broken out after well-known Athenian "godfathers" recently issued several execution contracts, including one against a Greek prosecutor. Macris had attracted the attention of the NSW Crime Commission and was jailed in 2003 for two years and six months for commercial drug supply. Some of the drugs were found in a Versace-branded tin in his Surry Hills flat.

But Macris' criminal reputation went far beyond his rap sheet. For many years he was known for his feud with the Ibrahims, the family of Kings Cross identities  although they were hardly alone in their disputes with him. Fadi Ibrahim (right) at the Central Local Court in November last year. Credit:AAP The Herald does not suggest any member of the Ibrahim family  nor any other person named in this article  was involved in the death of Macris. After Fadi Ibrahim was shot five times in his Lamborghini outside his Castle Cove home in 2009, some members of the family came to believe Macris may have been responsible, a court heard in 2015. Fadi, his brother Michael and family associate Rodney Atkinson were later charged with conspiracy to murder Macris. Evidence in court suggested a $1.4 million debt may have started the bad blood.

Rodney Atkinson was acquitted over the conspiracy to murder charge. The charge against Fadi was later dropped, while Michael and Atkinson, the Ibrahims' enforcer, were both acquitted. Atkinson, however, was convicted of weapons offences relating to an attempt to recover an Ibrahim debt from Macris and another man. Police had found at Atkinson's home "a black bag hidden behind the cupboard where the pistol was found, containing two photographs of John Macris and a piece of paper with his address and the Colt pistol". Police officer Jenna-Lee Hughes lost her job and her freedom after she agreed to run a police database search on Macris' car number plate at the request of her then boyfriend, Neil Cummins, who had worked as a bodyguard for the Ibrahim family.

Former police officer Jenna-Lee Hughes, left, was jailed. Credit:James Brickwood Relatives of Macris have also run into trouble with the law. His father faced charges in 2011 after police discovered methylamphetamine oil worth an estimated $13 million in his Ford Falcon station wagon and his Central Coast property. But he was acquitted in 2014 when Macris' brother Alex admitted he had duped his father into holding and moving the drugs on his behalf. It was a "low, dog act", Alex Macris told a court, but he avoided penalty after giving evidence in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Alex Macris married the Ingham Chickens' heiress Jessica Ingham in a $500,000 wedding but the pair separated this year. Sydney solicitor Kiki Kyriacou, who had represented the family in court on several occasions, said "there are no comments to be made in relation to the death of John Macris, either by the family or myself".

Loading A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said it was aware of the Athens shooting and was ready to offer consular assistance to any Australian citizens or their families. A Greek police spokesman said six 9mm bullet shells had been found at the scene and sent to a police laboratory for forensic examination. Police are also looking at CCTV footage from the Macris residence, and believe it is likely to reveal the identity of the attackers. Macris' body was being held at the coroner's office awaiting an autopsy on Thursday evening.
Sydney underworld figure and convicted drug dealer John Macris has been shot dead in Greece, according to local reports.

The Greek-Australian was reportedly shot four times as he was near his car in Athens.

Mr Macris, 46, was ambushed by as many as three assailants as he was getting into his Smart car, Neos Kosmos reports.

John Macris was shot dead in Athens. Credit:Greek City Times

He was gunned down outside his home in the Athens suburb of Voula, the Greek City Times reported.
Washington: The US Justice Department has charged a Chinese state-owned company, its Taiwanese partner and three individuals with stealing trade secrets from an American technology company, the latest move by the Trump administration to crack down on China's "economic espionage".

The indictments come as the United States remains locked in a bitter trade war with China, which the Trump administration has accused of unfair trade practices, including stealing valuable intellectual property and technology from U. companies. The charges filed on Thursday are the latest in a series of indictments that accuse China of elaborate efforts to steal corporate secrets through espionage and hacking.

The Justice Department unveiled charges against Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit, a Chinese state-owned enterprise; United Microelectronics Corp., a Taiwanese semiconductor company; and three Taiwanese nationals. They are accused of conspiring to steal technology from Micron Technology, an Idaho-based chipmaker that does extensive business in Asia.

"As this and other recent cases have shown, Chinese economic espionage against the United States has been increasing  and it has been increasing rapidly," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. "I am here to say that enough is enough."
Rio de Janeiro: The Brazilian judge at the centre of one of the largest corruption investigations in history has said he will become justice minister in the government of President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, a decision that will be hailed by Brazilians eager for a crackdown on graft but also add to deep polarisation after a bruising presidential campaign.

Sergio Moro is wildly popular among conservatives and loathed by many on the left, so his decision to join the incoming administration will feed the suspicion of many Brazilians that the judge was politically biased in jailing ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a conviction that forced the poll-leading leftist out of the presidential race.

Moro met Bolsonaro at the president-elect's home in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday. Upon emerging, Moro did not speak to reporters but soon put out a statement confirming he had accepted an offer to lead both the justice and public security ministries, which will be combined in Bolsonaro's government.

Moro said it would be hard to give up being a federal judge after 22 years, but he saw an opportunity to "implement a strong agenda of anti-corruption and anti-organised crime" in his new role.
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

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A group of brokers and industry professionals have trialled a workshop intended to equip them with the training and insight required when they encounter a client with mental health issues.

Having been met with resounding support by those who attended, the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) have committed to the program for the next 12 months.

It was organised by the industry association in conjunction with Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury and sponsored by Connective.

The half-day pilot events were designed to give brokers a snapshot into what they could do as accidental councillors in terms of identifying an issue, responding and then referring to the appropriate professionals.

Held in Melbourne and Sydney the sessions discussed often confronting topics, such as depression, suicide and domestic violence.

The workshops were delivered by a qualified Lifeline trainer who is also an accredited crisis supporter on Lifelines 13 11 14 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention line.

The MFAA recognised a potential need for sessions such as this, as brokers continue to represent the largest frontline force in the mortgage industry and are responsible for more than half of all home loans, and growing.

Not only customer interaction, but with mental health concerns in the mortgage broking industry itself, brokers are in contact with colleagues who may be struggling, not to mention family and friends outside the industry.

MFAA CEO Mike Felton was at both sessions and said the response was incredible, so much so they committed to another 12 months without hesitation.

A key message iterated at the session and by Felton himself, was that the sessions were not in any way enabling brokers to be counsellors, but simply to provide them with the abilities necessary to identify and respond appropriately.

Felton said, Brokers, in particular, are in a position nearly every day where they are interacting with the public, reviewing personal and financial information, and building relationships of trust.

During these meetings a broker might recognise that someone needs help and, with the right training, they might be able to guide that person to seek assistance that can improve their mental health and wellbeing, potentially making a big difference to those that may be vulnerable within our community.

It's important to remember that these skills do not equip the broker to be a counsellor, but instead provide them with the abilities to recognise someone in crisis, respond in an appropriate and compassionate manner in the moment and refer them to appropriate support.

If you already know someone who might require assistance, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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One of the worlds foremost Nazi hunters is returning to his native borough for a talk in Manhattan Beach on Nov. 18.

Efraim Zuroff, who grew up in the Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach area, is one of the top activists and historians prosecuting Holocaust war criminals with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international organization that researches anti-Semitism. He will be at the Manhattan Beach Jewish Center at West End Avenue to discuss the current resurgence of anti-Semitism and fascist ideology.

He will also talk about his eventful life, covering more than three decades of hunting down some of the most egregious perpetrators of Nazi crimes against humanity, and explain how he has successfully pressed governments to deal with their Holocaust legacies, according one of the organizers.

Efraim Zuroff has been involved in some of the most famous cases involving war criminals, and he has put pressure on so many governments over the years to recognize and come to terms with their responsibility for war crimes and catching war criminals, said the co-president of the Holocaust Memorial Committee Barry Lituchy.

Zuroff moved to Israel after his undergraduate at Yeshiva University in Manhattan and has helped bring several high-level Nazi war criminals to justice, including the Croatian concentration camp commander Dinko Sakic, under whose command thousands prisoners were murdered, and who dodged prosecution for decades by escaping to Argentina.

But Zuroff put pressure on the Argentine government until they finally turned over Sakic for prosecution in 2006.

He also launched Operation Last Chance in 2003, which offers as much as $10,000 to anyone who provides information that enables the prosecution of Nazi war criminals.

Zuroff has been to many Eastern European countries to combat historical distortion, Holocaust denial, and the recent resurgence of fascist ideology, proving instrumental in countering the rise of the far right, according to Lituchy.

If people like Zuroff dont do what theyre doing, by bringing to light the history of war crimes and the Holocaust, it just makes it easier for the anti-Semitism and racism to reemerge, he said.

Dr. Efraim Zuroff at Manhattan Beach Jewish Center [60 West End Ave., between Hampton Avenue and Shore Boulevard, (718) 8918700, www.manha ttanb eachj ewish cente r.org ]. Nov. 18 at 1 pm2:30 pm. $20.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday defended the requirements set by the National Telecommunications Commission for selecting the Philippines third telecommunications player. He said the provisions in the Terms of Reference for the bidding procedures set by the NTC were legal and were not violating any laws. One of the bidders is questioning some provisions in the Terms of Reference before a Manila Regional Trial Court. Guevarra said the legality of the Terms of Reference underwent a thorough review by the Justice department, and that the government had opposed the bid of businessman Mel Velardes NOW Telecom Co. Inc. before the court to strike down the requirements. We are opposing the petition to stop the bidding for a third telco. The OSG [Office of the Solicitor General] has been tapped to represent the NTC in the NOW Telecom case as statutory counsel for the government, Guevarra said. He said the OSG was specifically defending the NTCs position that the terms under its Memorandum Circular 09-09-2018 had a legal basis. In answering NOWs petition before the Regional Trial Court, the government said that the P700-million participation security, the P14 billion to P24-billion performance security, and the P10-million non-refundable appeal fee were all necessary in the determination of the financial eligibility of the bidders and not extortionate as alleged by NOW Telecom. The NTC said the third telecoms player must not only be technically capable but should also have the financial muscle to compete with the telecoms giants Globe and Smart. The NTC, through the OSG, said the participation security was aimed at ensuring the participation of serious contenders who had the required financial capability to be a third player to compete with the duopoly. It said the participant was given certain options on what form it wiched to put up the security such as cash, bank drafts or letters of credit. The performance security seeks to assure the government that the third telecoms player will deliver its commitments for the five-year commitment period. The requirements for cash deposits had been removed and the participant had been given options as to the forms provided in the Terms of Reference. Besides, the NTC said, the appeal or protest fee was a usual item in the procurement processes, which would discourage frivolous motions and protests.The agency also said the securities and fees being imposed were consistent with the bidding and procurement processes, and were actually even lower than those set by Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. The NTC also denied NOWs allegation that the commission did not hold consultations in approving the Terms of Reference, saying it was the result of public consultations and hearings, a review by the Oversight Committee and lengthy and comprehensive studies with international consultants, and that public and stakeholders also had the opportunity to submit their position papers on the matter. Meanwhile, Guevarra welcomed the decision of Manila RTC Branch 42 Judge Dinnah Aguila-Topacio to deny NOWs plea for the issuance of a temporary restraining order. The denial of the application for TRO allows the NTC to proceed with the bidding after the deadline for submission of bids on Nov. 7, he said. NOW Telecom is one of the 10 companies and consortia that have participated in the bidding to be the third telecoms services provider here and has and paid a P1-million participation fee. Its mother firm, Now Corporation, only had an operating income of P6.3 million in 2017. The nine other bidders so far are Chinese state-owned firm China Telecommunications Corp., Austrian firm Mobiltel Holdings GmBH, Dennis Uys Udenna Corp., the joint venture of businessman Chavit Singsons LSC Group of Companies and TierOne Communications, Norways Telenor Group, Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp., former congressman Felizardo Colambos AMA Telecommunications, and two undisclosed companies. Streamtech Systems Technologies Inc. of former senator Manny Villar, which recently secured its franchise to operate, is also reportedly joining the bidding to be the third telcoms services provider in the Philippines. Last month, the Manila RTC denied NOW Telecoms plea for the issuance of 20-day temporary restraining order for lack of urgency in the meantime justifying such a provisional remedy. The court instead heard the case on Oct. 23 and 24 before deciding on the petitioners plea for the issuance of a preliminary prohibitionary injunction.
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The world's largest steelmaker Thursday reported 25 per cent decline in net income at $900 million for the quarter ended September 30.

The company had posted net income of $1.2 billion in the year-ago period, the firm said in a statement.

The company reported "net income of $900 million in Q3 2018 as compared to $1.9 billion in Q2 2018 and $1.2 billion in Q3 2017," it said.

The net income is "attributable to the equity holders of the parent", the company said.

Chairman and CEO Lakshmi N Mittal said that in India, the company has recently been named as the successful bidder for Essar Steel, which provides a unique opportunity to establish a meaningful production presence in the world's fastest growing

The company further said that in line with Essar Steel India Ltd's (ESIL's) "corporate insolvency process, the company's resolution plan must now be formally accepted by India's National Company Law Tribunal before completion, which is expected before the end of 2018".

After completion, will jointly own and operate ESIL in partnership with Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC), Japan's largest steel producer and the third largest steel producer in the world, in-line with the joint venture formation agreement signed with NSSMC in March.

ArcelorMittal and NSSMC expect to finance the joint venture through a combination of partnership equity (one-third) and debt (two-thirds), and ArcelorMittal anticipates that its investment in the joint venture will be equity accounted.

As anticipated market conditions in the third quarter remained favourable, resulting in significantly improved EBITDA for the first nine months compared with 2017, Mittal said.

"We continue to see robust real demand and healthy utilisation rates across all steel segments," he added.

"We continue to make good progress with the implementation of our Action 2020 plan, which will improve the performance of our existing business and targets further growth in higher added value products. We are also expanding our business through the execution of a targeted and disciplined strategy to create long-term value," he added.

The company also announced the completion of the transaction to acquire Ilva.

"Within six months of taking ownership of Votorantim we have captured a significant amount of synergies, and have strengthened our long steel business in Brazil. We are confident we will be similarly successful in integrating and delivering rapid improvement at Ilva, Europe's single largest integrated steel-making facility, which completed today," he said.

The company's EBITDA in the July-September quarter increased 42 per cent to $2.7 billion, over $1.9 billion in the year-ago period.

The crude steel production of the world's leading integrated steel and mining company was at 23.3 million tonnes (MT) in the third quarter of 2018, down 1.2 per cent over 23.6 MT in the year-ago period.

"The progress the industry and our company has made is significant but we remain cognizant of the challenges, including continued global overcapacity, and we remain concerned with the high level of imports in various markets. We continue to prioritise net debt reduction and a strong balance sheet to ensure we can prosper in all market conditions," Mittal said.

The company's gross debt was at $13 billion as of September 30, 2018.

"Net debt as of September 30, 2018 stable at $10.5 billion...net debt is $1.5 billion lower when compared to net debt as of September 30, 2017," the statement said.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Just several days after FAW-VWs introduction of the SUV T-ROC, SAIC-VW, the other joint venture of the German automaker in China, launched a new compact SUV model ,the Tharu, with a price between RMB 169,800 and RMB 229,800.

The grille looks very fashionable with chrome decorations. The model adopts rectangular headlights with LED daytime running lights below them. The Tharu measures 4,453 mm in length, 1,841 mm in width and 1,632 mm in height while its wheelbase stands at 2,688 mm.

The new model is powered by either an EA888 2.0L turbocharged engine paired with DQ381 wet seven-speed DCT or an EA211 1.4L turbocharged engine paired with DQ200 seven-speed wet DCT.

The Tharu features intelligent tire pressure monitoring system, electrical park brake, auto hold and electronic stability program. In terms of driving assistance, the model is equipped with adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, front assist and even fatigue monitoring system.
, most of them drowning and landslide victims in Mountain Province and other parts of Luzon. The death toll from the storm climbed even as President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday he was satisfied with the governments response to the typhoon.I am satisfied with the response of the government, Duterte said in a briefing in Isabela City. Everyone is here and I think everyone is doing his duty. Id like to thank you for that. Duterte, together with several members of the Cabinet, led the briefing to discuss the governments efforts to assess the damage wrought by the typhoon in Region 2 and in the Cordillera Administrative Region. But Duterte expressed concern over the missing people who are feared to have been buried alive inside a Department of Public Works and Highways building in Mountain Province. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 30,734 families were affected by Rosita in 1,019 villages in Regions 1, 2, 3, 8 and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The agency said the families were equivalent to 111,639 people. Meanwhile, at least 23 roads in Region II and the Cordillera Administrative Region were closed to all types of vehicles after those were damaged by Rosita, the Department of Public Works and Highways said. The additional deaths were recorded in Banaue, Ifugao.Eugene Gallangu Nahhog, 25, a backhoe operator, fell into a ravine while clearing a road on Wednesday. The other casualty drowned in Cagayan. Rescuers were racing against time to find more people under the debris two days after Rosita pummeled Northern Luzon, triggering landslides. Soldiers were deployed at ground zero in Natonin, Mountain Province, to hasten the rescue of the people still trapped following the collapse of a slope. A military emergency rescue team from the 525th Engineer Combat Battalion of the Northern Luzon Command provided technical support to the rescue operations. Northern Luzon Command head Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat said his team was doing a rapid damage assessment and need analysis in the landslide area and in other parts of northern Luzon affected by Rosita. Additional personnel from the Naval Forces Northern Luzon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council unloaded 600 sacks of NFA rice for the typhoon victims. A helicopter from Pampanga and two choppers from La Union are being used to aid the typhoon victims who remain isolated. Authorities in Cagayan pegged the total evacuees to 31,671 spread across the province. Rosita whipped Cagayan for the second time, ripping off roofs and toppling power poles. Most areas in Cagayan remained without power except in the municipalities of Baggao, Sta. Praxedis, Iguig and Sta Teresita.
Realty major DLF Ltd on Thursday reported an over 26-fold jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 3.74 billion for the September quarter and announced plans to form a joint venture with a fund managed by US-based Hines to develop a prime commercial project in Gurugram.

The board, at its meeting held on Thursday, also evaluated the company's proposal to transfer properties worth Rs 65 billion to DLF Cyber City Developers Ltd (DCCDL) to settle its dues, the company said in a regulatory filing. DCCDL is its joint venture with Singapore's sovereign wealth fund

DLF's net profit stood at Rs 141.6 million in the year-ago period. The profit rose sharply as it earned a profit of Rs 2.39 billion from associate and joint ventures.

Total income rose to Rs 23.04 billion in the July-September quarter of this fiscal from Rs 17.51 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Last year, DLF formed a joint venture with after its promoters sold stake in the rental arm DCCDL to Singapore's investment firm for Rs 90 billion.

DLF has 66.66 per cent stake in the JV while has the rest in DCCDL, which owns bulk of the commercial assets of the realty group.

"DLF Home Developers, a wholly owned subsidiary of DLF, has entered into a non-binding term-sheet with a fund managed by Hines (a privately owned global real estate investment, development and management firm) for forming a 5l:49 partnership to develop a high-end commercial project on a land parcel of 11.76 acres situated in Gurugram," the filing said.

The transaction documents are under negotiation and subject to all other approvals as might be applicable.

In February this year, DLF bought 11.76 acre land in Gurugram for nearly Rs 15 billion in an e-auction conducted by the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC).

To consolidate its rental/commercial assets within DCCDL and reduce the inter-company payables between the company and DCCDL, DLF said that its board considered a proposal to transfer its interest in certain commercial properties at an estimated enterprise value of Rs 60-65 billion.

The board asked the management to present the detailed proposals to the audit panel.

In August, DLF had said it would settle Rs 85 billion payable to DCCDL by 2020, mainly by transferring certain assets.

DCCDL currently holds about 27 million sq ft of rent-yielding commercial assets, largely in Gurugram, with annual rental income of about Rs 24 billion.

The JV was formed in December 2017 when DLF promoters sold entire 40 per cent stake in DCCDL for nearly Rs 120 billion. This deal included sale of 33.34 per cent stake in DCCDL to GIC for about Rs 90 billion and buyback of remaining shares worth about Rs 30 billion by DCCDL.
India on Thursday said it was engaged with the US, Iran and other stakeholders on the issue of American sanctions on import of Iranian oil, amid indications that the may grant New Delhi waiver from punitive measures.

Asked about reports that the US was going to grant India waiver from the Iran sanctions, Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said the government has not heard anything from Washington.

The US has told India and other countries to cut oil imports from the Gulf nation to "zero" by November 4 or face sanctions.



India has held several rounds of conversations with the US, Iran and and other stakeholders on the issue.

"As far as the US is concern, they are well aware about our expectations of the requirement of oil which is very critical for sustaining our domestic growth. We continue to engage with the US and other stakeholders to ensure that our energy security is not compromised," Kumar said during a media briefing.

There have been indications that India may not totally stop import of crude oil from Iran.



In May, the US brought back sanctions on Iran after withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal which was struck in 2015.

Iran is India's third-largest oil supplier after Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Iran supplied 18.4 million tonnes of crude oil between April 2017 and January 2018 (first 10 months of fiscal 2017-18).

According to sources in the know, India is close to a deal with the US that will allow it to continue buying crude oil from Iran without attracting any sanction after it agreed to cut imports and escrow payments.
on Wednesday lodged strong protests with and over a scheduled to be launched on Saturday between Lahore and Kashghar, a city in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China's far west, through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

"We have lodged strong protests with and on the proposed that will operate through Pakistan-occupied under the so-called China- Economic Corridor," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to queries from the media.

"It is government of India's consistent and well-known position that the so-called China-Pakistan 'boundary agreement' of 1963 is illegal and invalid, and has never been recognised by the Government of India," Kumar said.

"Therefore, any such through Pakistan-occupied will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

While the bus service is an attempt at increasing "friendship" between Pakistan and China, the issue lies in the fact that the bus route passes through Pok, a part of the Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The is a key project under Chinese President Xi Jinping's pet Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

has not joined the BRI on the grounds that it does not respect other countries' territorial integrity and has put participating countries under debt traps.
India has no extra-territorial ambitions, but its aim is to ensure a conducive external and internal security environment for unhindered economic progress and socio-political development, Army Chief General said Thursday.

The contested sovereignty of maritime territories pose a major challenge in East Asia and the South China Sea and these disputed maritime boundaries are threatening international waters, Gen Rawat said, speaking at a seminar on 'Evolving Geo-Politics of the Indo-Pacific Region-Challenges and Prospects'.

Harinder Sidhu, the high commissioner of Australia to India, who also delivered a special address at the seminar, said if invited, Australia is willing to join the

"It makes sense for Australia to exercise with whom we work closely in Indian and Pacific Oceans," Sidhu said.

Malabar is a trilateral exercise between India, the US and Japan, and Australia is keen on joining the naval drill.

She said with shared interest, its strategic location in the Indo-Pacific, Australia should also be considered in the top ranks of India's partnerships.



In his keynote address, Gen Rawat said, "Our security policy flows from two basic cardinals. That is, we have no extra-territorial ambitions and we have no desire to transplant our ideologies on others. Our aim is to ensure a conducive external and internal security environment for unhindered economic progress and socio-political development. Thus, stability in the Indo-Pacific region is essential."





He said within the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Ocean Region remains India's primary area of interest.

India, he said, is committed to uphold and strengthen the rules-based order in Indo-Pacific.



Humanitarian And Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, Search and Rescue (SAR) missions, protection of vital Sea Lanes of Communication, and robust defence of India's island territories are major aspects on which the Army is investing in capability development towards tri-services efforts, he said.

On her part, referring to the maritime disputes in the Indo-Pacific, Sidhu said Australia has been concerned by the pace and scale of China's activities in the South China Sea, including the use of disputed beaches and artificial structures for military purpose.

Batting for a greater military cooperation with India, she said for the first time, in its 2017 Foreign Policy White paper, Australia placed India in the front rank for international partnership.

"While India has always been an important partner for Australia, our strategic partnership has been stronger than it has ever been. But with shared interest, our strengths as a country and strategic location in the Indo-Pacific, Australia should also be considered in the top ranks of India's partnerships.

"To do that we need to work to take the relationship to the next level. To cement our burgeoning military ties, it makes sense for India and Australia to agree on a Mutual Logistics Support Agreement between our militaries," she said.



This will cement the increasing interoperability of defence forces of the two countries.

On Quad, a group comprising India, Australia, the US and Japan formed to promote shared interests in the Indo-Pacific, the envoy said she is often asked whether it is achieving its objective.

"In my view, it is doing exactly what it was intended to do. The purpose of any dialogue is to build understanding and deepen shared interest. The Quad is intended to do no more and no less than that," she said.
The Kerala government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Health Agency on Thursday for the implementation of the Centre's flagship health insurance scheme -- Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Abhiyan (AB-PMJAY) -- in the state.

With Kerala signing the MoU, total 33 states and union territories have become a part of the scheme, said CEO Indu Bhushan.

Bhushan tweeted about the development.

Punjab, Delhi and Telangana are yet to join the scheme.

He further said that more than 3.5 lakh beneficiary e-cards have been issued and 3.8 crore letters have been delivered or on their way to beneficiaries' doorsteps.

The Ayushman Bharat- Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM), renamed as AB-PMJAY, was launched by Prime Minister from Jharkhand on September 23.

Under the scheme, the government aims at to provide a coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually, benefiting more than 10.74 crore poor families for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation through a network of Empanelled Health Care Providers (EHCP).

There is no cap on family size and age in the scheme, ensuring that nobody is left out.

"Around 38,000 people have availed the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana so far," Bhushan said.

According to officials, 98 per cent of the beneficiaries have already been identified.

Over 9,000 hospitals, both public and private, have been empanelled for the scheme.
The Green Tribunal has directed the and governments to inform it within two weeks on the status of setting up full-time committees for cleaning of river

A Bench headed by Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said it may take coercive measures in the event of failure to comply with its order.

The tribunal on July 26 had formed a monitoring committee comprising retired expert member B S Sajwan and former Delhi chief secretary Shailaja Chandra on the cleaning of the

It had also asked the and governments to consult the members of the Monitoring Committee appointed by this tribunal for constituting their own full-time committees.

The tribunal expressed displeasure that despite its specific order the status of the compliance was unknown, and said there appears to be a failure of the authorities in performing their duties, undermining the rule of law.

"This tribunal also directed the States of and UP to appoint full-time committees for execution of directions of this Tribunal and for dealing with the issues of pollution of the river stretches flowing in the said states and joining the

"If the same has not been done, it must be done and the report be filed by the Chief Secretaries of Haryana and UP before this tribunal positively within two weeks. Any failure in this regard may result in coercive measures being taken by this tribunal," the bench said.

The reports of the Chief Secretaries of Haryana and UP would be considered on December 18, the tribunal said.

The direction came while hearing a plea filed by Ghaziabad resident Sushil Raghav and others alleging pollution of river Yamuna on account of polluted Sahibabad drain and Indrapuri drain.

The plea said that Eastern Yamuna Canal meets the Shahdara drain, flowing into the river Yamuna, apart from stormwater drains in the city of Ghaziabad.

It alleged that UP State Industrial Development Corporation has failed to install common effluent treatment plant of adequate capacity to treat the polluted water.

Taking note of the plea, the said that the issue can be looked into by the monitoring committee constituted by the tribunal itself and asked the applicant to furnish a complete set of papers to the panel.
Welcoming the Supreme Court's order to Centre to submit details of pricing of the Rafale fighter jets India is buying from France, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged on Thursday that the Modi government has tried to "cover up" its secret and dishonest activities in the multi-crore defence deal.

Alleging that the was an example of cronyism and corruption, Yechury said he was hopeful that the truth about the deal will come out as the apex court has insisted on facts.

"Modi govt has tried to cover up its shenanigans in the Rafale scam by providing all kinds of excuses. With Supreme Court insisting on facts, the truth about this prime example of cronyism and corruption will fully come out," he tweeted.

The government has denied allegations of corruption in the deal.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre for pricing details of the 36 Rafale jets India is buying from France in a sealed cover within 10 days but agreed that "strategic and confidential" information need not be disclosed.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi gave some leeway to the government, which has argued that pricing details are so sensitive that they have not even been shared with Parliament.

The court was hearing four petitions, including one by advocate Prashant Bhushan and former ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha who are seeking a court-monitored CBI investigation in the purchase of the fighter jets.

The court posted the matter for hearing on November 14.

India signed an agreement with France for 36 Rafale aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment. The Rafale fighter jet is a twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.

Indian Air Force had advanced a proposal to buy 126 fighter aircraft in August 2007 and floated a tender. Following this, an invitation was sent to various aviation companies to participate in the bidding process.
President Rodrigo Duterte says the slain sugarcane farmers in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, had been fooled by Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sisons fake ideals, and that the communist rebels were behind their killing. He said the killing of the nine farmers was the style of the communist rebels. The style of the communists is they kill their own comrades and blame it on the [government]. The New Peoples Army are such fools, Duterte said in a speech in Cagayan De Oro on Wednesday. He also said his scheduled visit to Sagay City did not push through because of a thunderstorm. Police officials said the fatalities, members of the group National Federation of Sugar Workers, had occupied the hacienda where they were killed as part of an agrarian reform assertion campaign called Bungkalan. This means if they see a vacant lot, they occupy it. They forced some people to join their federation, Duterte said. They didnt reach an understanding and so they shot them. I feel very sorry for them. They were fooled by Sisons ideals. He then asked the farmers to give him time to distribute land to the beneficiaries, but warned them not to seize or occupy land by themselves. Just give me some time, but do not confiscate or seize or occupy land that are already owned. Dont do that, dont steal land that already have tenants, Duterte said.The Kadamay would steal even the housing units in Bulacan that I had made for the soldiers and the poor. They tried to get as much as they could. That would make us appear inutile. I wouldnt have a face to show. Im not an inutile President who is unable to settle everything. Just wait, Duterte said. He said he had ordered Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones to give everything for land reform in Bacolod City. For the beneficiaries who were unable to benefit from it, I ordered Secretary Castriciones to give it away. But dont steal and kill people because if you do, my order to the police and the military is to have you evicted, Duterte said. Theyll pick you up and if you resist, you will get bruised. I told them that if a person who is armed resists, kill them. I ordered them to do that. Duterte said he would not hesitate to see 10 to 20 people in a coffin. Dont steal and dont threaten people. Do not intimidate. I will never allow that, Duterte said. He said he would not hesitate to kill people who seize land by pretending to be its owners.
The (CIC) has recommended to the Home Ministry that it should explore whether the status of a martyr can be accorded to

It has also said that in case it cannot be done, the government must give a detailed explanation for that.

Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said government facilitates and gives pension but revolutionaries like are not even given the status of a martyr leave aside any financial support to their families.

The matter pertained to an applicant who had sought to know from the government whether it gave him the status of Shaheed and if not, what must have been the legal limitations.

and his revolutionary comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged by the British on March 23, 1931, in the Lahore Conspiracy case.

The applicant sought information from the Rashtrapati Bhavan which forwarded his request to the Home Ministry which in turn sent it to Archives for a response.

Not getting any satisfactory response, the applicant approached the Commission seeking directions for the disclosure of information.

"A demand to declare Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev as martyrs is made every year during their birth and death anniversaries. Punjab government had declared Sarabjit Singh as a ' martyr', who died in Kot Lakhpat jail, but Bhagat Singh and others were ignored," Acharyulu pointed out.

He said newspapers had reported on May 20 that the Punjab and Haryana High Court held that status of martyr could not be conferred on these three martyrs because there was no statutory basis.

Acharyulu also pointed out that the Punjab government claimed that no official recognition could be given to anybody as a "martyr" as Article 18 of the Constitution does not permit conferring of any title by the state.

He underlined that top-level political personalities are generally given Bharat Ratna, martyrs of war and heroic personalities in the army get Vir Chakra awards, meritorious persons from different civilian services get recognised with Padma awards.

At a different level, the nation expressed gratitude to the and their families by bronze plate and pension, he said.

"When Article 18 of the Constitution of India could not prevent Bharat Ratna and Padma awards, recognising meritorious personalities, pleading it as a ground to avoid official martyr status to Bhagat Singh is not logical," he said.

He said surprisingly great heroes like Bhagat Singh, members of Indian Army under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and other revolutionaries were totally ignored by both Congress and non-Congress governments.

"It's unthinkable that any Indian government is not ready to accord appropriate recognition to these martyrs except offering flowers and paying tributes from tip of mouth," he said.

Acharyulu recommended the "NDA government and the home ministry" to consider the appeal of this appellant, whether Bhagat Singh and others could be officially recognised as Shaheed, and if they feel it could not be done so, the government may have to explain the reasons for the same.
There is no one way of understanding the bases of, or justification for, austerity. If there was, there wouldnt be such voracious debate around the topic.

A recent televised discussion provides a perfect example of this. In it, Labour National Forums Grace Blakeley drew an analogy with a business that fails to invest in the resources necessary to operate successfully: It would be like a bar [saying], Im going through hard times, so Im selling all my bar stools, Im going to close an extra day a week and Im going to stop selling more ...
Environment ministers of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan skipped a crucial meeting called by Union minister Harsh Vardhan Thursday to discuss measures that could stop further deterioration of air quality in the National Capital Region.

Instead of the environment ministers, senior officials from the states joined the meeting.

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain was the only state minister to attend the meeting. He later told reporters that the neighbouring states of Delhi should also show seriousness in curbing the increasing in the national capital.

The air quality is expected to deteriorate further around Diwali due to local factors and regional causes such as stubble burning, mainly in Punjab and Haryana.

Delhi's air quality was on the brink of turning severe Thursday. The overall air quality index was recorded at 393, only seven points shy of falling in the severe category.

The Uttar Pradesh government has asked its western districts, close to NCR, to suspend all construction activities between November 1 and 10 and shut for a week industries using coal and biomass fuel to check a rise in

Vardhan, the Union environment minister, said the issue of should not be "politicised" and everyone should give their full cooperation to protect the environment.

He flagged off 52 teams which would monitor violations that may result in rise in air pollution in Delhi.

On Wednesday, the directed state pollution control bodies of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi to start criminal prosecution against agencies or individuals who do not comply with directives to check air pollution.
China on Thursday sought to defend the proposed bus service with Pakistan through PoK, saying its cooperation with Islamabad has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and will not change its principled stance on the Kashmir issue.

India Wednesday said it has lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan over the proposed bus service between the two countries through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

India's Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday the bus service will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to reports from Pakistan, the new bus service will be launched between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on November 3.



Its launch apparently is coinciding with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's maiden visit to China starting from Friday.

Asked about India's protest, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he was not aware of India's diplomatic protest.

"But on the issue of Kashmir, China's positon is clear cut. We made it clear many times," he said.



China's stand he said is that the "cooperation between China and Pakistan has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and will not affect China's principled position on Kashmir," he said.

China maintains that the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan through dialogue and consultation.

He defended the $60 billion CPEC, saying that it is an economic cooperation project between China and Pakistan.



"It is not targeted against any third party," he said.

The involves a host of projects connects China's Xinjiang province with Pakistan's Gwadar port in Balochistan province.
India reiterated its support for the lifting of all sanctions imposed five decades ago by the US against Cuba, saying the continued existence of the embargo undermines multilateralism and the credibility of the UN itself.

Diplomats representing more than 135 countries including India overwhelmingly called on the to end its economic, commercial and financial embargo against the Caribbean island, saying the nearly six-decade-long blockade impedes Cuba's right to development and its ability to participate fully in the global economy.

"People to people contact holds immense possibilities for fostering better understanding between nations. The international community needs to intensify its efforts to promote an environment free from sanctions and embargoes. India hopes that the embargo will be withdrawn at the earliest," India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Tanmaya Lal said Wednesday.

Lal was participating in the General Assembly session on 'Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial Blockade against Cuba'.

The representatives stressed that the US must heed the Assembly's repeated calls to lift its restrictive policies. Delegates noted that from April 2017 to June this year, the impact of the US embargo on Cuba's foreign trade amounts to more than USD 4 billion.

Lal said that every year, the General Assembly rejected the imposition of laws and regulations with extra-territorial impact and all other forms of coercive economic measures that hurt the progress and prosperity of the people the world over.

Last year, 191 member states voted in favour of the resolution, expressing their strong support to lifting of the embargo.

He said the General Assembly has also called upon all states to refrain from promulgating and applying and to repeal and invalidate laws and measures that have extra-territorial effects affecting the sovereignty of other states, in conformity with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law.

"There can be little doubt that the continued existence of this embargo, in contravention of the overwhelming world opinion as expressed by this Assembly, undermines multilateralism and the credibility of the itself," Lal said.

He said that India stands in solidarity with the General Assembly in its unambiguous rejection of domestic laws having extra-territorial impact.

"Such embargoes have the effect of impeding the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected country, in particular children and women. They also hinder the full enjoyment of human rights, including the right to development, food, medical care and social services among other things," he said.

Lal noted that the embargo, particularly through its extra-territorial effects, has adversely affected the Cuban people and the development efforts of the country and stressed that the continued embargo would severely impact Cuba's ability to implement the comprehensive 2030 Agenda.

Speakers also voiced concern over the recent policy shifts in Washington that are undoing progress made in 2015 and 2016 to normalise bilateral ties with Cuba.

The current US administration is pursuing efforts to strengthen the blockade, they added.
After a high-pitched spat over last week, the (RBI) and the government on Wednesday seemed to agree to continue discussions to resolve their recent disagreements  in public interest.

Speculation was rife on RBI Governor Urjit Patels imminent resignation on Wednesday morning. But by afternoon, he had called a board meeting on November 19 to continue discussions. The also issued a statement, saying the central bank and the government have to be guided by public interest and the requirements of the Indian economy.

The autonomy for the central bank, within the framework of the RBI Act, is an essential and accepted governance requirement. Governments in India have nurtured and respected this, the finance ministrys statement said.

The government and the central bank had disagreed on several issues such as dividend transfer, capital adequacy norms, and liquidity needs of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).





ALSO READ: Govt, RBI must bring in more measures to improve liquidity scenario: Ficci

The RBI for now is focused on providing adequate liquidity to the system. In October, it announced Rs 360 billion of open market operations (OMO) to buy bonds from the secondary market. In November, it plans to buy Rs 400 billion worth of secondary market bonds. The first of such purchases, totalling Rs 120 billion, will happen on Thursday.

The market has taken comfort from the RBIs focus on providing liquidity. The 10-year bond yield closed at 7.85 per cent, marginally up from its previous close of 7.83 per cent. The rupee closed at 73.95 a dollar, up from its days low of 74.15 a dollar on reports of invocation of Section 7 of the RBI Act.

In the first fortnight of October, the department of economic affairs sent three letters to the RBI Governor referring to Section 7 to hold discussions on various regulatory policies. The government gave suggestions and sought the views of Patel on a host of issues, including dividend transfer, stressed power assets, easing prompt corrective action norms (PCA), forbearances for micro, small and medium enterprises, foreign portfolio investors, and NBFC liquidity, among others.



ALSO READ: RBI Governor Urjit Patel may not resign, calls board meeting on Nov 19

The RBI replied to the governments letter within a given timeframe as required in the statute, sources said.

Though the governments letters mentioned Section 7, it did not invoke Section 7(1) that says the Centre may issue directions to the RBI after holding consultation with its governor in public interest, a senior government official said.

Will the government say whether such letters have been written and whether the letters specifically refer to Section 7 of the RBI Act? asked Former finance minister P Chidambaram. The said in its statement that it places its assessment on issues and suggests possible solutions and will continue to do so.

Extensive consultations on several issues take place between the government and the RBI from time to time. This is equally true of all other regulators. The Government of India has never made public the subject matter of those consultations. Only the final decisions taken are communicated, the ministry said.





ALSO READ: Did it or didn't it? FinMin silent over invocation of section 7 of RBI Act

The issue of the government threatening to invoke Section 7 of RBI Act cannot be separated from the current tensions between the North Block and the central bank, which culminated in a full-blown argument between the Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Garg and Governor Urjit Patel in the last meeting of the RBIs board of directors, government sources said. Subject to these directions, this section also talks of superintendence and direction by the central board in the affairs of the RBI. Both the nominees of the government in the central board do not have voting power in the board. The previous board meeting, held last week, went on for about nine hours and was adjourned as no decision was taken on a number of issues flagged by the governments nominees Garg and Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar.

The board members could not arrive at a consensus on several issues and the meeting was adjourned. Sources said the same issues will be taken forward in the next board meeting.





ALSO READ: Amid RBI rift, FinMin says govt nurtured, respected central bank's autonomy

The letters and the disagreements at the board meeting led to the scathing speech by RBI deputy governor Viral Acharya last Friday. Former and serving bureaucrats have slammed Acharyas speech, calling it untimely and even immature.

There are points on even which the government can compromise. However, these discussions are private in nature. Making disagreements public, like Acharya did, was rather uncalled for, said an official.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday asked the Filipinos to remember their departed and encouraged them to help  during the. In his statement, Duterte said he was one with the Christian faithful during the holidays. We Filipinos welcome the month of November with open hearts as we remember our saints and our dearly departed loved ones, whose lives have deeply inspired us to grow in faith, hope, and love, Duterte said.We are reminded that, even in death, our bonds with them remain. Duterte then called on the nation to honor those who have gone before us in the grace of God. Their legacy remains an important part of who we are today and we have much to gain from their virtuous example, Duterte said. May their deeds inspire us to become advocates of peace and solidarity as we do our part in building our nation and alleviating the suffering of others. Duterte, who is known for his criticism of drug addicts and human rights advocates, asked to emulate the saints and pray for the eternal repose of the souls of the dead.Malacanang suspended work in the government offices early Wednesday to give the public full opportunity to observe All Saints Day on Nov. 1. READ: Undas holidays: No work, no pay Memorandum Circular 51, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, said the work suspension would allow government workers to travel to and from the different regions ahead of All Saints Day.. Even with such declaration, Duterte is still expected to visit Benguet following another deadly landslide in the Mountain Province in the aftermath of Typhoon Rosita. The Palace said Duterte would likely join an aerial inspection to assess the damage in the typhoon-ravaged areas. READ: Dont let people turn graveyards into dumps
Mastercard told the United States government in June that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was using nationalism to promote the use of a domestic payments network RuPay, and New Delhi's protectionist policies were hurting foreign payment companies, a document seen by Reuters showed. Modi has in recent years backed India's homegrown payments network RuPay, whose rise has broken the dominance of US payment giants such as Mastercard and Visa. More than half of India's 1 billion debit and credit cards now go through the RuPay payment system, and that means companies such as ...
Stepping up his efforts to build a pan-India alliance to take on the in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP supremo N met NCP chief and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday.

Naidu "coincidentally" also met senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and briefly discussed the need to bring all the non- political parties together, TDP sources said.

The TDP chief is likely to call on Congress president Rahul Gandhi later in the day, to discuss the matter.

This is his second visit to New Delhi in less than a week.

Last week, Naidu had said that "political compulsions" will force non- parties to come together to form a third front against the BJP.

Naidu, a former BJP ally who quit the NDA early this year over the Centre's refusal to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh, met BSP chief Mayawati, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha here in the national capital on October 27.
In his maiden speech as Reserve Bank of India deputy governor, Viral Acharya proposed to create two asset management companies -- one private and another public -- to tackle banks' bad asset problem. It was a radically new thought being proposed by a senior central bank official, even though it was floated outside the realm of central banking before. Acharya himself had research papers on the issue.

At the time of the speech in February 2017, Acharya was just a month into his job and the media was hungry for his views. He did give a glimpse into himself every now and then. He ...
Friedrich Merz, a conservative German politician on Wednesday declared his intent to lead the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) following Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to step down from the post.

Addressing a presser here, Merz stated that the CDU is in need of a "renewal" and "a new beginning" in the wake of the heavy losses suffered by the party in the recently conducted regional polls, Anadolu news agency reported.

"We cannot allow voters turning away from established parties out of frustration and giving their votes to populist parties," Merz said in connection with CDU voters resorting to the Alternative for (AfD) party in the recently conducted polls.

Merz has, in recent months, come out as a strong critic of Merkel's immigration policy, as has let in over a million refugees since 2015.

He had challenged Merkel for the position of CDU chief in 2002 and left politics in 2009. He then joined an investment management firm.

The CDU will hold an election for choosing their next leader at a forthcoming conference in Hamburg in December.

On Monday, Merkel, who has been Chancellor since 2005, had announced that she would not seek re-election when her term expires in 2021. The four-time Chancellor made the announcement during a news conference in Berlin.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday promised support for struggling private firms, pledging more tax cuts and financial aid, underscoring government resolve to support the private sector as growth slows. Xi said the government would reduce corporate burdens including value-added tax cuts and tax exemptions for small businesses and tech startups, according to the official Xinhua news agency, while promising an equal business environment for all firms. The country's private economy could only expand, not be weakened, Xinhua cited Xi as saying. The remarks come ...
The Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi was strangled almost as soon as he stepped into the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul a month ago, and his body was then dismembered and destroyed, the chief prosecutor for Istanbul said on Wednesday, giving the first official explanation from Turkey of how Mr. Khashoggi died. The announcement came as the Turkish and Saudi chief prosecutors ended three days of meetings as part of a joint investigation into Mr. Khashoggis murder without progress and Turkey seemed to be ratcheting up its pressure for answers. The killing of Mr. Khashoggi has ...
Facing the prospects of US sanctions over its deals with Russia and Iran, India has used the annual General Assembly debate on Washington's economic blockade of Cuba to lash out against unilateral embargoes.

"As the world's largest democracy with abiding faith in multi-lateralism, India stands in solidarity with this Assembly in its unambiguous rejection of domestic laws having extraterritorial impact," Tanmaya Lal, India's Deputy Permanent Representative, said on Wednesday.

Year after year, the General Assembly has voted for lifting the sanctions on Cuba and last year 191 of the 193 UN members backed the resolution with only the US and Israel opposing it.

India has always opposed the Cuban sanctions.

"Every year this Assembly has rejected the imposition of laws and regulations with extra-territorial impact and all other forms of coercive economic measures that hurt the progress and prosperity of the people the world over," Lal said.

The Cuban sanctions do not directly affect countries like India that trade with Havana.

Although the US embargo mostly restricts engagement by American companies and individuals with the Caribbean country, it does have spillover effects on companies from other countries.

India and most countries oppose the Cuban embargo on principle and maintain that domestic laws should not have extra-territorial effect on other countries.

Only the Security Council can impose sanctions under the UN Charter as it has done, for example with North Korea.



The General Assembly has called on countries "to refrain from promulgating and applying and to repeal and invalidate laws and measures that have extra-territorial effects affecting the sovereignty of other States, in conformity with their obligations under the UN Charter and law", Lal said.

The US has warned India it could face sanctions under its domestic law, the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), for a deal to buy an advanced air defence missile system, the S400, at an estimated cost of about $5 billion from Russia and other defence purchases.

Mainly motivated by alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections, the US Congress enacted CAATSA that President Donald Trump signed into law.

While that law also has some impact on Iran, Trump has separately acted to impose more stringent sanctions on countries trading with Tehran after reneging the agreement signed by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany and the European Union with Iran to end its quest for nuclear weapons.

The Iran sanctions that come into force on November 4 that could hit India, which buys oil from Tehran and has several projects there like the Chabahar port development.

Trump could exempt India from the sanctions, but has not said so far if he would.

Scores of countries that spoke during the debate attacked the sanctions on Cuba and demanded that they be lifted.

Representatives of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77, as well as regional groups like those representing Latin America, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia called for lifting of the sanctions.
SeoulNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Seoul soon, the Souths President Moon Jae-in said Thursday, amid a rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula despite the stalled nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington. At their third summit in Pyongyang in September, the leaders of the two Koreas agreed Kim would visit Seoul in the near future without giving a specific date. Moon later suggested that the trip was likely to happen this year, and told lawmakers Thursday that the peninsula was approaching the historic starting line for peace. It appears that Chairman Kim Jong Uns trip to Russia and a visit to North Korea by (Chinese) President Xi Jinping will happen soon, Moon said, adding there was an open possibility of a meeting between Kim and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Chairman Kim Jong Uns return visit to Seoul will happen soon, he added. No further detail was given. But despite the flurry of diplomatic activity on and around the peninsula differences are emerging between Seoul and its security ally Washington, which stations 28,500 troops in the South to protect it from its neighbor. At their historic Singapore summit, brokered by Moon, Kim and US President Donald Trump signed a vaguely-worded statement on denuclearization but there has been little progress since then. Washington and Pyongyang have sparred over the exact terms of the agreement, with the US pushing to maintain sanctions and pressure against the North until its final, fully verified denuclearization.The dovish South Korean president has long favored engagement with the North, which is subject to multiple UN Security Council sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. He has dangled large investment and joint cross-border projects as incentives for steps towards denuclearization. Concerns have been raised that such schemes could violate the sanctions against the North, while the US has been adamant pressure should be maintained on Pyongyang until it fully dismantles its weapons programs. The State Department said this week that Seoul and Washington would set up a new working group to strengthen coordination between them. Moon said a second Trump-Kim summit was right before our eyes. Now the South, the North, and the United States will achieve the complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula, he said. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested the next meeting between Trump and Kim will be hopefully early in the next year, where we can make a substantial breakthrough in taking down the nuclear threat from North Korea. But in September, the Norths foreign minister told the United Nations there was no way his country would disarm first as long as tough US sanctions remain against his country.
On October 20, Arabic-language website alawatanews.com published a report that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had been forced out of power. Citing the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), it said King Salman had signed a decree removing the prince against the backdrop of growing pressure that accompanies the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The report was false. The SPA has never published such an article, the wording and picture were lifted from a year-old royal court announcement about the removal of a former crown prince and MbS, as he is widely known, ...
As he barnstorms the country trying to help Republican allies, President Trump has offered voters this fall a litany of misleading statements and falsehoods that exaggerate even legitimate accomplishments and distort opponents views beyond the typical bounds of political spin. In the past couple of weeks alone, the president has spoken of riots that have not happened, claimed deals that have not been reached, cited jobs that have not been created and spun dark conspiracies that have no apparent basis in reality. He has pulled figures seemingly out of thin air, rewritten ...
Hours after he was informed last week that an explosive device had been delivered to his suburban New York home, George Soros, the billionaire investor and Democratic donor, got on a call with colleagues to discuss yet another threat: the authoritarian Hungarian governments crackdown on a university he had founded. The attempted attack in New York  subsequently determined to have been part of a wave of pipe bombs targeting prominent critics of President Trump  did not come up. But it was no coincidence that Mr. Soros would be facing intense opposition and ...
Silicon Valley technology giants such as Facebook and Google have grown so dominant they may need to be broken up, unless challengers or changes in taste reduce their clout, the inventor of the World Wide Web told Reuters. The digital revolution has spawned a handful of US-based technology companies since the 1990s that now have a combined financial and cultural power greater than most sovereign states. Tim Berners-Lee, a London-born computer scientist who invented the Web in 1989, said he was disappointed with the current state of the internet, following scandals over the abuse ...
Secretary of State on Wednesday stated that the murder of Saudi "violates the norms of law."

Speaking to Fox News Radio's Brian Kilmeade, Pomepo said, "The death of is tragic. It's an awful thing that took place. The killing, the murder of in the consulate in violates the norms of law. That much is very, very clear."

"There are still many unanswered questions about precisely how this came to be. We are working diligently, our team, to get the facts, the facts that the Americans can learn. We won't rely on others; we'll take their information, we'll make sure and develop our fact pattern," Pompeo added.

Khashoggi went missing on October 2, after stepping into Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, to collect documents that would allow him to get married to fiancee Hatice Cengiz, who was waiting outside the consulate for Khashoggi.

Owing to his support for Riyadh, which is a key cog to the US' interests in the Middle East, US has come under considerable pressure. While Trump condemned the murder, calling it "one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups," he stated that the US should not criticise the Saudi regime owing to the impending multi-billion dollar arms agreement between the two counties.

Echoing similar thoughts, Pompeo said, "There are long, since FDR long, strategic relationships with the Kingdom of Military, commercial ties, important relationships with the of America. And it's very important for us to keep that in mind as we continue to ensure that accountability is had for all those who were involved in committing this murder."



Pompeo's comments come in the wake of chief Turkish prosecutor Ifran Fidan confirming in a statement that the former Washington Post scribe was strangled to death soon after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, while his body was 'cut into pieces'.

A few weeks after the October 2 incident, Saudi had accepted the fact that the group of 15 Saudi agents were behind the murder of the former Washington Post journalist, leading to an furore and complicating the already delicate relations between Saudi, and the US.

Turkish authorities have repeatedly accused of causing hindrance in the ongoing investigations into the case by denying key pieces of evidence, including the whereabouts of the body. On Tuesday, Turkish called upon the Gulf country to expose the people who sanctioned the murder.

In wake of the murder, suspended export licenses to Saudi, while US Secretary of State invalidated visas of Saudi officials who are believed to be part of the plot to murder the


India and South Korea agreed with the US on the outline of deals that would allow them to keep importing some Iranian oil, according to Asian officials with knowledge of the matter. No final decision has been made and an announcement is unlikely before US sanctions on Iran are reimposed Nov. 5, the officials said, asking not to be identified because the information is confidential.

That opens the possibility that the terms could still be modified or the deals scrapped entirely. The waivers would ensure at least some Iranian oil continues to flow to the global market, potentially ...
US national security adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday the Trump administration wants sanctions on Iran's crude exports to strain Tehran, but does not want to harm countries that depend on the oil. The United States is preparing to impose the new sanctions on Iran's oil industry after Washington withdrew from a nuclear deal between Tehran and other global powers earlier this year, but is also considering offering waivers to some allies that rely on Iranian supplies. "We want to achieve maximum pressure but we don't want to harm friends and allies ...
The US has asked Pakistan to swiftly enact a legislation that formally proscribes both Hafiz Saeed-led JuD and FIF, even as it criticised the recent removal of the ban on the two outfits which it said runs counter to Islamabad's commitment to the FATF to fight terrorism.

The US said the removal of the ban on the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation would jeopardise Pakistan's ability to meet its commitments to fight terrorism under the UN Security Council resolution.

"The expiration of the ban on JuD and FIF runs counter to Pakistan's commitment to work with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to address weaknesses in its counter-terrorism financing regime," a State Department spokesperson told PTI.

The spokesperson was responding to a question on the recent lapse of an ordinance issued by Pakistan's president that led to the lifting of the ban on the two outfits.

Mumbai attack mastermind Saeed's JuD and FIF are no longer on the list of banned outfits in Pakistan as the ordinance that proscribed them under a UN resolution has lapsed and the new Imran Khan-led government did not extend it, a Pakistani media report said last week.

"As we have said before, the United States is deeply concerned that this development will jeopardise Pakistan's ability to meet its commitments under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 to freeze and prevent the raising and moving of funds belonging to or associated with UN-designated terrorist groups," the spokesperson said.

The development underscores the importance of Pakistan "urgently enacting legislation that formally proscribes" both JuD and FIF, the spokesperson said.

India has been pushing Pakistan to bring to justice the planners of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Saeed is the co-founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was responsible for the attacks in which 166 people were killed.
SydneyChinas rising and unprecedented influence in the Indo-Pacific region will challenge American interests, but confrontation must not define the relations between the two powers, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned Thursday. In his first major foreign policy speech, Morrison tried to tread a careful line between Australias alliance with the United States and engaging a rapidly and evermore assertive China. Inevitably, in the period ahead, we will be navigating a higher degree of US-China strategic competition, Morrison told the Asia Society Australia in Sydney. It is important that US-China relations do not become defined by confrontation, he said, against a backdrop of the two economic behemoths trading economic sanctions and counter-sanctions in an ever-deepening trade dispute. Australiaa member of the Five Eyes Western intelligence alliance and with long-standing and close military ties with Washingtonfinds itself slap-bang in the middle of one of the 21st centurys geopolitical hot spots. A quiet battle is raging for influence in the South Pacifica region of small island states that is vital to international shipping and provides a stepping stone for Beijing and Washington to project military and economic power across the Pacific region. As economic power shifts, its unsurprising that nations will seek to play a bigger strategic role in our region, said Morrison. China, in particular, is exercising unprecedented influence in the Indo-Pacific, he said.China is the country that is most changing the balance of power, sometimes in ways that challenge important US interests. AFP While stressing ties with the United States are vital to Australias security, he said relations with China must be kept on an even keel. Rhetoric between Canberra and Beijing has been heightened by Australias decision to bar Chinese state-linked telecoms firms from operating Australias new 5G network on the grounds that they pose a security risk. Morrison described Australias relationship with China as vitally important, noting trade, tourism, and educational exchanges were at a record high. Beijing has been showering billions of dollars in infrastructure loans to tiny island nations across Pacific China and is reportedly talking to Vanuatu about the possibility of opening a military base there. Morrison, who came to office in August, indicated Australia would also push its own influence. He announced an initiative to develop the Lombrum military base in Manus, Papua New Guinea.
Union Minister for Environment and Climate Change Harsh Vardhan has directed officials from and to ensure prompt action against incidents of as data point out only 30 per cent decline since last year.

Vardhan held a review and action plan meeting on air pollution here on Thursday which was participated by Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain and concerned government officials of Delhi, and

Following the meeting, Vardhan told media: " and have been informed to take more action on Data revealed that compared to last year there has been a 30 per cent reduction in But we are not satisfied with it. To stop stubble burning, the financial aid of Rs 5.91 billion out of about Rs 10 billion has already been provided. We have now directed the officials to be more proactive on the issue."

Sharing details of other measures being taken on the issue, he informed that 35 air-filter equipped vehicles are being launched today. "As many as 35 air-filter equipped buses, 'Bus Pariyantra', are being launched today which will go around the capital. In broad principle, they would take polluted air from the front and would settle down pollutant matter through the filtration process, and would release clean air. This is part of our initiative to fight increasing air pollution in the region. As many as 300 sprinklers are being used; mechanised cleaning machines are also working regularly," he said.

He also appealed to all citizens to indulge in a green good deed every day.

The minister further informed that different teams have been formed to implement various measures to tackle air pollution. "We have formed 41 teams of (CPCB), which have now gone up to 52. These teams will survey different parts of the city to assess causes of the pollution in the Delhi/NCR region and take necessary action. The teams have been on field inspection for about last one-and-half months. Forty-four of these teams will be working in Delhi and eight teams will be posted in different nearby areas of NCR including Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad. From today onwards, more teams will be sent to different parts of Delhi and would ensure that for the next 10 days we speed up our action. This campaign will be initially for five days and we intend to extend it for next five days till November 10," Vardhan said.

He also lauded the decision of Supreme Court allowing usage of only Green firecrackers.

The minister, however, informed that there is no chance of improvement in the air quality in the next few days although efforts are on.
With Rajasthan assembly elections around the corner, the political battle in the state has intensified- not just between the political parties but within the parties as well.

As many as 42 workers of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are in the fray to seek party ticket from the Sri Dungargarh assembly constituency of Bikaner district.

All of them reached the party office in Jaipur on Wednesday to claim their candidature for the assembly seat. What is even more interesting is- all of them travelled together to the state capital and are even staying at the same place.

However, the candidates said that there is no internal conflict among them.

One of the contenders, Krishna Ram told ANI, "As many as 42 of our party workers have applied for the ticket from Sri Dungargarh assembly constituency. We have conveyed it to our party leaders that all will support whosoever is given a ticket. We are all dedicated workers of the party."

Rajasthan is slated to go for polls on December 7, and counting of votes will be done on December 11.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Delhi court on Thursday extended interim protection from arrest granted to former finance minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti, in connection with the Aircel-Maxis deal case.

The court had extended their interim protection on October 8 while hearing anticipatory bail pleas of the father-son duo seeking protection from arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case. Earlier, the ED had filed a petition in the top court seeking cancellation of interim relief granted to the two.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has refused to give an urgent hearing on Karti's plea seeking permission to travel aboard from November 3. "Karti Chidambaram going abroad is not a matter that needs to be taken up tomorrow," the apex court said.

The Aircel Maxis case, which emerged out of the 2G spectrum cases, pertains to a grant of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to firm M/S Global Communication and Services Holdings Limited, Mauritius for investment in Aircel. The FIPB approval was allegedly granted in the year 2006 when Chidambaram was the finance minister.

As per the rules and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy of the government, Chidambaram was only empowered to give approval to proposals involving foreign investment up to Rs 600 crore only. However, he approved the foreign investment proposal of Global Communication and Services Holdings Ltd worth Rs 3560 crore approximately.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Aparna Yadav, daughter-in-law of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, has said that the Ram Temple should be constructed in Ayodhya.

Speaking to reporters in Barabanki on Wednesday, Aparna said, "I have trust in the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court has said that it would hear the case in January then we should wait for it. My opinion is that Ram Temple should be constructed in Ayodhya."

On October 29, the apex court adjourned the hearing of the Ayodhya title suit case until January 2019.

The apex court had adjourned the matter, which challenged the Allahabad High Court verdict of 2010 that ruled that the disputed land in Ayodhya should be divided into three parts for each party - the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lala.

The Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished on December 6, 1992, allegedly by a group of some Hindu activists, claiming that the mosque was constructed by Mughal king Babur after demolishing a Ram Temple that originally stood there. Since then, several hearings have been held in the top court to resolve the issue.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday called on all national institutions in the country to support the Supreme Court on the recent decision to clear Asiya Bibi of blasphemy charges.

"The Supreme Court is our national institution. All other institutions, including the National Assembly, should stand with the Supreme Court. We cannot run the country from the streets. We can (only) run this country according to the Constitution and law," Dawn quoted a statement from Bilawal as saying.

Bilawal is the first chief of political party in Pakistan to stand with the Supreme Court decision. Also, PPP members Sherry Rehman and Farhatullah Babar had earlier hailed the verdict.

Bilawal's remarks come in the wake of scores of people taking to streets and launching massive protests in opposition to the verdict. Protestors, including workers of political parties, gathered outside the Punjab Assembly after pronouncement of the verdict.

The protests also witnessed violent outbursts as agitators burned tyres in areas of Karachi. The Punjab Home Department had imposed Section 144 in the province from October 31 to November 10 owing to the violence.

Asiya Bibi, a Christian woman, was convicted in a blasphemy case for her alleged comments against Mohammed Prophet during an argument with three Muslim women. Bibi had categorically denied all the allegations against her.

A three-judge special bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel heard Bibi's 2014 appeal against her conviction and death sentence.

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At least five workers, including an engineer of a construction company, were killed in Gunz area of Jiwani in Balochistan's Gwadar district on Wednesday afternoon.

Armed men attacked personnel of the construction company in Gunz area of Jiwani, about 80 kilometres from the port city of Gwadar. The deceased were reportedly working on a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-related housing scheme.

Meanwhile, spokesperson of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Azad Baloch, called media sources and accepted responsibility for the Gwadar and Rajanpur attacks.

Azad Baloch said that China and Pakistan are building around 70 housing schemes under the exploitative CPEC project to colonise the Baloch land. "The site attacked today was part of CPEC project," he added.

The BLA spokesperson said that Pakistan has organised a conference of twenty six countries in the name of 'Asian Parliamentarian Assembly - APA' in its attempt assert the legality of its illegal occupation in Balochistan.

"Today's attack is a clear message to China and all other countries that Balochistan is an occupied territory. We warn China to halt working on all the projects including a planned naval base in Jiwani, Balochistan. The BLA will continue to resist against the occupation of Baloch Ocean and coastal belt," Azad Baloch said.

The spokesperson further said that according to international laws bringing demographic changes to an occupied territory is against the law, adding that, "China and Pakistan are settling Punjabis and Chinese in Gwadar and other areas of Balochistan's coastal belt to turn the Baloch into a minority under their expansionist designs."

He said it was the responsibility of the international community to act against colonisation of Baloch land according to international laws.

"If the international community fails to fulfil their responsibilities and turn a blind eye to the Pakistani and Chinese colonisation of Balochistan, then the Baloch nation will have no other option but to target all non-Baloch settlers in Balochistan," he said.

He said any agreement with China and other countries by Pakistan, without the consent of the Baloch nation and before the freedom of Balochistan, has no legal standing.

"Hence, we warn all military and other constructions companies to immediately stop working on their projects in Gwadar or they will be targeted by Baloch fighters," Azad Baloch said.

He also said that Baloch fighters have earlier targeted a Pakistani security force vehicle in Dalla Thal area of Rajanpur on Tuesday evening, killing at least five Pakistani soldiers and injuring one. Azad Baloch accepted responsibility for targeting the Pakistani forces.

He claimed that five Pakistani forces were killed in this attack and several others were wounded.

Azad Baloch said that Pakistani forces and their death squads have intensified abduction of Baloch women and young girls.

"The abduction and torture of a 14-year-old girl from Panjgur shows that Pakistani state is unaware of the rule of war and it proves that Pakistani army and intelligence agencies are committing war crimes in Balochistan," the BLA spokesperson said.

He said, "The BLA vows to protect Baloch land and its resources and continuously resist against those who violate the Baloch code of honour and secular Baloch values.

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"Ive got one word for you, Donald Trump: Despicable." "Ive got one word for you, Donald Trump: Despicable."

The US economy advanced an annualized 3.5 percent in the third quarter of 2018, beating market expectations of 3.3 percent. It follows a 4.2-percent growth in the previous period which was the highest since the third quarter of 2014. Reacting with disgust to the favorable GDP growth figures, the nations Democrats united to slam President Donald Trump for Americas booming economy. The US economy is on fire. This is totally unacceptable and, wouldnt you know, typical of Republican policy, Nancy Pelosi said at a press conference. What happened to the good ol days, when decent Americans couldnt find a job for the life of them? Drive down Main Street in small-town America these days and all you see are Now Hiring signs. Ive got one word for you, Donald Trump: Despicable. Pelosis staff also confirmed the dangerous booming economy would likely result in millions of deaths. Another thought leader of the left, democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, tweeted her disdain in response to the GDP figure, and reminded her followers of the perilously low unemployment at present. 3.7-percent unemployment and record-low joblessness across several minority demographics is dangerous, dangerous territory, she warned. Whats next? Upward mobility? Fewer people relying on the government for their well-being? We simply cant let that happen. Besides, unemployment is only low because people are working two jobs. Theyre working 60, 70, 80 hours a week. This makes sense if you think about it long enough. #ShameOnTrump, she added in a second tweet. Democrats are now deeply engaged in planning their 2020 challenge to Trump, desperately hoping to get someone in the White House who could turn the prosperous economy around. *** Laying their cards on the table with the November midterms approaching, US Democrats have united to send a clear message: socialism is Americas only hope of ending the current nightmare of economic prosperity. Were living in a hellscapebut there is an escape, 2020 presidential hopeful Joe Biden said at an event recently. Democratic socialism, which is socialism, with democratic also in the name, youll notice, which makes a big differenceremember, Republicans gonna put yall back in chains, which is something that could never literally happen under socialismdemocratic socialism is whats going to free us from our horrific, flourishing, present condition. You do the math. Listen, we have a unified message. And that message is please, oh please, well do anything to regain powerwell flirt with communism. Communism! Biden said to roaring applause as Nancy Pelosi heaved into a brown paper bag behind him.Together we can end this terrible, profitable national nightmare by implementing a historically proven method for utterly destroying a nation forever! Pelosi stepped up to offer a brief endorsement: Its true, Ive been pushing back against the socialite uprising. But I want you to know Ive seen the light, and I now agree that demographic social science is the future of our party. Kill anyone who disagrees! Maxine Waters bellowed from the background. Biden, Pelosi, Waters, and the other event speakers were seen huddled together on stage, sobbing. *** In case you didnt know, thousands of migrants from Central America are trudging north towards the US-Mexico border. They say they are fleeing persecution, poverty, and violence in their home countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Meanwhile, another migrant caravan full of American leftists, desiring to enter the socialist paradise of Venezuela, departed the United States recently and began marching toward Venezuela through Mexico, stating they will demand asylum so they might experience the far better life that socialism offers. The migrants claim they are leaving America because of its high standard of living, strong economy, and record employment numbers, and hope to find a better life in Venezuelas much more equitable system. Everyone there has the same quantity of possessions and food, said one marcher. Everyone makes millions of dollars, and very few people work. Its a real paradise. The refugees have complex motivations, but the vast majority simply want to see everything socialism has to offer after suffering the amazing benefits of capitalism for too long. Caravan organizers dispelled rumors that they were funded by democratic socialist Bernie Sanders and George Soros, claiming the caravan was an organic grassroots movement. At its current pace, the caravan is expected to arrive just in time for Venezuela to run out of food entirely. [email protected]
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, was informed about two memoranda signed with Russia last month.

The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) respectively.

While the MoU was signed with the Russian transportation ministry for the development of cooperation in transport education, the MoC between the two counties was reached with the Joint Stock Company "Russian Railways" (RZD) for technical cooperation.

The India-Russia instruments are aimed at providing a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector.

They are also expected to facilitate the exchange of technical experts, reports and technical documents, training and seminars. Workshops focusing on specific technology areas and other interactions for knowledge sharing also form a part of the memoranda.

Indian Railway Ministry has signed such documents with various counties. The identified areas of cooperation include high-speed rail, speed raising of existing routes, development of world-class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure etc.

The cooperation is achieved through an exchange of information on developments in areas of railway technology and operations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training, seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest.

The MoU will envisage cooperation in the priority areas for the development of transport education. This would enable the preparation of specific proposals in this area including their implementation within the framework of the Intergovernmental Russian-Indian Commission on Trade-Economic, Scientific-Technical and Cultural Cooperation.

The MoC will enable technical cooperation in various fields, including the upgradation of the Nagpur- Secunderabad section; implementation of a Single Traffic Control Center to manage mixed traffic at the regional level.

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The Bar Council of Delhi has issued a legal notice to Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, Everest Masala, YouTube, and a media house for using a lawyer's attire in an advertisement.

The notice stated that respondents have failed to take due precautions before using the lawyer's attire and are liable for legal action for telecasting the advertisement without any authority.

'You are required to immediately stop all such advertisements and also give an undertaking to the Bar Council of Delhi, Bar Council of India and other states Bar Councils that the lawyers' attire shall not be used in any advertisement in future,' read the notice.

The Bar Council also asked the respondents to furnish an undertaking in 10 days, failing which further action will be initiated.

In the commercial, Big B can be seen sitting in his dressing room, wearing a lawyer's suit, as two junior artists enter and offer him Pav Bhaji. After eating the meal, the actor applauds the food and the spices used in preparation.

The veteran faced a similar situation when a jewellery advertisement featuring him and his daughter Shweta Bachchan had to be withdrawn after legal action was threatened against them for portraying bank employees in a negative light.
Keeping in view the worsening air quality in Capital Region and Delhi, the Delhi Metro Rail Network (DMRC) has introduced 21 additional numbers of trains on its network which will provide 812 additional number of trips starting from Thursday.

This increased number of trains and trips also include the movement of the metro on the newly-opened Trilokpuri-Sanjay Lake to Shiv Vihar section of line-7. 14 trains will make 730 trips every day on this line.

With all these additional trips combined, DMRC for the first time will be running 4831 trips in a day, the highest ever so far.

The capital and its adjoining areas have been reeling under poor air quality since past few months.

Earlier on Tuesday, Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) chairman Bhure Lal said that private vehicles may not be allowed to ply on roads if air pollution continues to worsen in the capital.

Speaking to ANI, Lal said, "We had a meeting with Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal on Monday. He has directed all officials to take strict action if required. We might have to stop the functioning of private cars if air pollution increases in the city. I hope it does not, but if need be we will have to do this.

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Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday condemned the attack in Tinsukia, where United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) terrorists killed five people and directed the law enforcement agencies to take stern action against the perpetrators.

The attack took place around 7 pm on Thursday in Bishnoimukh village near Dhola-Sadiya bridge in Tinsukia district. The victims were identified as Ananta Namasudra, Abinash Namasudra, Subal Das, Dhanai Namasudra and Syamal Biswas.

"We will take the strongest action against perpetrators of this heinous crime. I have directed all law enforcing agencies to maintain peace and take stern action against anybody trying to destabilise our peaceful society and state," Sonowal said.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly condemned the attack and slammed the BJP-led government saying, "Is this the outcome of recent NRC development? We have no words to express our deep sorrow to grieving families. Perpetrators must be punished at the earliest."

This comes after ULFA-I claimed responsibility for a bomb blast in Guwahati on October 13, in which five people were injured.

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra on Thursday said that while India is witnessing an era of Ease of Doing Business under Prime Minister Narendra Modi government, an era of "Ease of doing corruption" prevailed during Congress regime.

"This is ease of doing business vs ease of doing corruption, this is clarity vs confusion," Patra said at a press conference here.

The BJP spokesperson said that India witnessed improvement in the Ease of Doing Business rankings because the country's policy decisions are going in the right direction under Prime Minister Modi's leadership.

He said, "India's Ease of Doing Business witnessed improvement in its ranking, which shows country's policy decisions are going in the right direction under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership."

Patra also said that the Congress party appears to be upset when the country moves forward. "When our country moves forward, Congress party appears to be upset and depressed. Why was Congress not able to achieve this, even when they had an economist Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) leading their government," he said.

India on Wednesday recorded a jump of 23 positions against its rank of 100 in 2017 to be placed at 77th rank among 190 countries as per the World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business' report.

Launched in 2003 by the World Bank, the 'Ease of Doing Business' report is an independent objective assessment of business regulation across 190 economies which covers the lifecycle of a business from end to end in 10 indicators - starting a business, construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

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Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler will head a delegation of over 100 French company leaders to Nagpur on November 2 to enhance France's cooperation with India in all aspects of sustainable urban development.

Ambassador Ziegler will lead the French corporate delegation from the key sectors of defence and aerospace, smart mobility and logistics, sustainable development, and infrastructure to the Indo-French Investment Conclave.

French Ambassador is also scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the 11th Urban Mobility India Conference, the flagship event of the Ministry of Urban and Housing Affairs.

He will highlight France's technical and financial support to India's urban transformation through collaboration in various metro, urban mobility and smart city projects through the French Development Agency (AFD).

Talking about his Nagpur visit, Ambassador Ziegler said, "France provides expertise and financial aid to Nagpur's projects under the Smart Cities Mission. Collective work on urban mobility, the metro - a project being conducted alongside our German partners - and the rejuvenation of the Nag riverbanks is in progress. French companies see great potential in the Indian economy. They invest, manufacture, and innovate in India. Maharashtra is emerging as a very promising investment destination, and I am confident that this Conclave will prove to be a very fruitful moment for the Indo-French trade relations."

Organised by the Embassy of France in collaboration with Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI), the Conclave will also be attended by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis and Minister of Energy, New and Renewable Energy, and State Excise Chandrashekhar K. Bawankule.

The event will enhance the India-France relationship and open many avenues for a bilateral trade partnership between the two nations.

Over 300 visitors and around 30 French companies are expected to participate in the discussions leading to an enabling environment for boosting the Indo-French partnership. The event will also bring together Indian and state authorities, policymakers, top private sector players from India and France, multilateral agencies, and eminent industry experts.

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On completion of Swachhta Pakhwada activities on Wednesday, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal distributed prizes for cleanliness among mega food parks and cold chain units for maintaining, promoting and encouraging 'Swachhta Culture'.

Patanjali Food and Herbal Park (P) Ltd. in Haridwar was given the first prize, followed by Satara Mega Food Park (P) Ltd., Satara District, Maharashtra and Pagro Frozen Foods Pvt.(P) Ltd. (Cold Chain Project) in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, on the second and third position, read a statement.

The winners were selected by Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management based on 'Swachhta Audit' conducted by it of 11 Mega Food Parks and 11 Cold Chain Units.

Swachhta Pakhwada, a 15-day observance of cleanliness campaign by the ministry, came to an end on Wednesday. It saw encouraging participation from various industry chambers as well as food processing companies.

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State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert has been offered the job of the US Ambassador to the United Nations (UN).

President Donald Trump offered Nauert to replace the outbound Nikki Haley as the ambassador, a senior administration official confirmed to FOX News, adding that it is still not clear whether Nauert has accepted the role.

A number of other officials, including the U.S. Ambassador to France - Jamie McCourt, have also been singled out as possible candidates. Trump held a meeting with Nauert to discuss the offer in the Oval Office on Monday.

Earlier this month, Haley, a former governor of South Carolina, had announced her decision to quit the post at the end of the year.

A former Fox News journalist, Nauert was appointed as the spokesperson for the State Department in April 2017. She has served under former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as well as the incumbent Mike Pompeo.

Nauert was also selected as the replacement for Steve Goldstein as the acting undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs following his removal earlier this year.

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Claiming that Muslims are not against construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is building up the issue since Lok Sabha elections are approaching, Congress Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Shivajinagar Roshan Baig on Thursday said that "if the temple is not built in India, will it be constructed in Pakistan?"

Speaking to ANI, Baig said: "Muslims are not against the construction of Ram Mandir. If Ram Mandir is not built in India, will it be constructed in Pakistan? It should be built in India only."

The Congress leader sharpened his attack on BJP saying that it is trying to create a rift between Hindus and Muslims. "The Ram Mandir matter is in the court. They are just trying to create a rift between Hindus and Muslims."

He claimed that BJP is trying to bring an ordinance as parliamentary elections are approaching. According to him, the Ram Mandir issue is being raked up as people are unhappy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi led central government's policies such as Demonetisation and Good and Services Tax (GST).

"They are trying to bring ordinance now, why didn't they do it in the last four and a half years? This (Ram Mandir) issue is being raked up because they know people are not satisfied with them."

On Monday senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram had also accused the BJP of polarising views on the Ram Mandir issue. While addressing the media Chidambaram had said, "This is a familiar story. Every five years before elections, BJP tries to polarise views on Ram Mandir (issue). The Congress party's position is that the matter is before the Supreme Court. Everyone should wait until the Supreme Court decides. I don't think we should jump the gun."

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday had adjourned the Ayodhya title suit till January 2019 to fix the date of hearing in the matter.

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Australia's High Commissioner to on Thursday said the two countries are natural partners and that should consider doing more with in the military and strategic relations.

Speaking at a seminar on 'Evolving Geo-Politics of the Indo-Pacific Region-Challenges and Prospects', Sidhu asserted that there is a lack of confidence in about Australia's strategic value despite the rapid expansion of the strategic partnership between and India. "Perhaps, this is because there is low or outdated understanding of what can bring to this strategic equation," she said.

"The capabilities and projection of Hard Power by Indo-Pacific states are rapidly increasing so that Asia is now the second largest region in terms of Military Expenditure at 447 Billion US Dollars in 2017. This rose from approximately 17 per cent of global expenditure to 27 per cent of global expenditure on military material in just 10 years. Of the top 10 states with the highest military expenditure, six are in the Indo-Pacific and India, as we all know, has been one of the largest arms importers in recent years," Sidhu added.

Commenting on China's influence in the international system, Sidhu said that Australia is concerned by the pace and scale of Beijing's activities including the use of disputed features and artificial structures for lots of purposes.

Talking about the military, Sidhu revealed that Australia would increase defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP from 2020 to 2021.

"The Australian government is investing 200 billion dollars over the next decade to build all of our future submarines, major surface combatants and minor war vessels in Australia. We are increasing our submarine force from 6 to 12, and bringing on nine new frigates optimised for anti-submarine warfare from the late 2020s," she said.

Sidhu further explained that Australia's defence cooperation is at the "highest tempo".

Australia has gone from 11 defence exercises, activities and meetings in 2014 to 29 in 2017 and 38 in 2018.

Sidhu also talked about Quad's progress and said, "In my view, it (Quad) is doing exactly what it was intended to do. The purpose of any dialogue is to build understanding and deepen shared interest. The Quad is intended to do no more or no less than that."

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"You are poor because you are in the wrong birth place (like Africa), you are young, and were denied opportunities. Most probably, you are uneducated and were malnourished when young, making you stupid today." "You are poor because you are in the wrong birth place (like Africa), you are young, and were denied opportunities. Most probably, you are uneducated and were malnourished when young, making you stupid today."

You can say life is unfair. The world is unfair. In a population of 7.7-billion, the world has only 42.2-million dollar millionaires, an increase of 2.3-million in one year. These 42.2-million millionaires or high net worth individuals own 85 percent of global wealth. There will be 55-million dollar millionaires by 2023; 5.6 million will come from China. For mid-2018, a Credit Suisse wealth study estimated that there are 42.0-million HNW adults with wealth between US$1 million and US$50 million, of whom the vast majority (37.1 million) fall in the US$15 million range There are 3.3-million adults worth between $5 million and $10 million, and another 1.6 million have assets in the $1050 million range. North America now accounts for 18.6-million millionaires (44 percent of the total), compared to 12.4 million (30 percent) in Europe. Asia-Pacific countries, excluding China and India, have 6.6-million millionaires (16 percent), and a further 3.5 million are found in China (8 percent of the global total). The remaining 976,000 HNW individuals (2 percent of the total) reside in India, Africa or Latin America. Credit Suisse counts 149,890 adults worldwide are UHNW individuals, with net worth above $50 million. Of these, 50,230 are worth at least $100 million, and 4,390 have net assets above $500 million. In the year up to June 2018, UHNW adults rose 4 percent (5,790 adults). The US leads with 70,540 UHNWs, 47 percent of the world total. China is second with 16,510; Germany third (6,320, down 710), the United Kingdom (4,670, up 400) and Japan (3,580, up 100). Also in the Top Ten are India: (3,400), Italy (3,220), France (3,040), Canada (3,010) and Australia (2,910). By 2023, adults with wealth above $50 millionwill increase by 55,000 to 201,000 individuals; half will reside in North America. The global wealth middle class  those with net worth between $10,000 and $100,000increased from 14 percent from 2000 to 27 percent and by 2023, to nearly 196 million, 29 percent of all global adults. The upper middle segment, covering those with wealth between $100,000 and $1 million, will grow by 88-million adults between 2018 and 2023. About one in 10 adults will then belong to this group. The bottom half of the worlds adult population of five billion own less than 1 percent of total wealth. To be fair the percentage of the adult population with wealth of less than $10,000 was 80 percent in 2000, equivalent to 3.2-billion people. Today, the ratio is 64 percent and will decline further, to 63 percent of the adult population, in five years. Their share of total wealth is small, $1.9 trillion. Those with low wealth are disproportionately found among the younger age groups, those who live in regions where prospects for wealth creation are very limited (most notably Africa) and where opportunities are sometimes constrained, notes Credit Suisse. So there: You are poor because you are in the wrong birth place (like Africa), you are young, and were denied opportunities. Most probably, you are uneducated and were malnourished when younga, making you stupid today.Another 1.3-billion adults (27 percent of total adults in the world) have wealth of between $10,000 and $100,000. Their combined wealth exceeds $50 trillion. Combined net assets: $44 trillion. Average wealth per person of this group: $31,100. Most of these people (with $10,000 to $100,000 wealth) are Chinese, 641 million of them, and 59 percent of Chinese adults. The wealth of the rich just keeps rising. During the 12 months to mid-2018, aggregate global wealth rose by US$14 trillion to US$317 trillion, a growth rate of approximately 4.6 percent. The 4.6-percent growth in wealth is greater than the 3.2-percent growth of the adult population. The $317 trillion will swell by 5 percent per year over the next five years, to reach $399 trillion by 2023. Credit Suisse explains or justifies why a few people are far wealthier than many others. Its wealth report says: Wealth differences between individuals occur for many reasons. Variation in average wealth across countries accounts for much of the observed inequality in global wealth, but there is also considerable disparity within countries. Those with low wealth are disproportionately found among the younger age groups who have had little chance to accumulate assets. Others may have suffered business losses or personal misfortune, or live in regions, most notably Africa, where prospects for wealth creation are very limited. Opportunities are also sometimes constrained for women or minorities. At the other end of the spectrum, there are many individuals with large fortunes, acquired through a combination of talent, hard work and good luck. If you want to get rich, you to the United States. The US has 17.3-million millionaires, 41 percent of the worlds total. More than 878,000 became new millionaires in the US last year, 40 percent of the global increase. China comes next in most number of millionaires, 3.4 million or 8.2 percent of the worlds total. China eclipsed Japan which now has only 2.8 million, 6.6 percent of worlds total. Still, mean wealth per adult in China, $47,810 as of mid-2018 is much lower than Japans $227,240. France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy each added 200,000 millionaires last year. In China, the number of millionaires rose by a modest 186,000 and in Japan 94,000. The main explanation for these increases in millionaire numbers within countries lies in the real wealth growth, rather than in exchange-rate movements. Millionaire numbers fell in very few countries [such as Turkey and Brazil], and by relatively small amounts, the main driver being currency depreciation, explains Credit Suisse. Some good news about the women. They now account for 40 percent of global wealth.. Says Credit Suisse AG Chair Urs Rohner: During the 20th century, their share of wealth rose considerably and, since the year 2000, the level of womens wealth has risen along with all household wealth, especially in Asia alongside the rise of Chinas wealth. The tendency shows that more self-made women are succeeding in business and are entering the highest wealth ranks.
The armies of India and Japan on Thursday began their joint military exercise called 'DHARMA GUARDIAN - 2018' at Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengete, Mizoram.

While the Japanese contingent is represented by 32nd Infantry Battalion, the Indian side is represented by 6/1 Gorkha Rifles. Approximately one platoon strength each of both the battalions is participating in this exercise. The opening ceremony saw a patriotic start with both contingents singing their anthems.

Being first of its kind, the 14 days long joint exercise is being conducted from November 1 to 14. The exercise will consist of both indoor and outdoor training activities. The objective of this exercise is to build and promote army-to-army relations in addition to exchanging skills and experiences between both the militaries. Due emphasis will be laid on enhancing tactical skills to fight against global terrorism and on increasing interoperability between forces of both countries which is crucial for the success of any joint operation.

Both sides will jointly train, plan and execute a series of well-developed tactical drills for neutralisation of likely threats that may be encountered in urban warfare scenario. The exercise will contribute immensely in developing mutual understanding and respect for each other's military, Defence Ministry said in a press release.

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The Centre on Thursday approved the agreement between India and Morocco on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

The Union Cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The agreement will provide a broad legal framework for bilateral cooperation between India and Morocco in investigation and prosecution of crime, tracing, restraint, forfeiture or confiscation or proceeds and instruments of crime.

It aims to increase effectiveness in the investigation and prosecution of crime, and in providing the necessary peaceful ambience which is a pre-requisite for the development of society as a whole.

It will further be instrumental in gaining better inputs and insights in the modus operandi of organised criminals and terrorists, which in turn can be used to fine-tune policy decisions in the field of internal security.

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An Outside Broadcasting (OB) van of Asian News International (ANI) came under attack after an encounter with terrorists broke out in the Budgham district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Stone pelters smashed the windshield of the OB-van even as the vehicle was identifiable with a large dish antenna fitted atop its roof and 'Press' placard posted on the front.

The crew was on an assignment covering the encounter in which two terrorists were gunned down by security forces in the Zagoo Arizal area of Budgam district on Thursday morning.

Security personnel soon provided a cover to the reporters and cameramen, forcing the stone pelters to retreat.

In a video of the incident, a mob can be seen hurling stones at security forces and media crew.

The attack on the media has come just two days after a video journalist working for state broadcaster Doordarshan was killed in a Naxal attack in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh state.

The Editors Guild, in a statement, said, "Creating a safe environment for media professionals to discharge their duties will be critical for ensuring freedom of the press."

Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, said, "We salute all those media persons who go for coverage in such dangerous situations, remember their bravery."

Journalists working in Jammu and Kashmir risk their lives while covering the news, especially in dangerous situations like Thursday's terror attack and the ensuing stone pelting by the locals.

Last week, Army chief General Bipin Rawat said that stone pelters in Kashmir should be termed as over ground workers (OGW) of terrorists after unidentified persons hurled stones at the convoy passing through the Anantnag bypass tri-junction, killing a soldier of army's Quick Reaction Team.

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The Congress on Thursday launched a fresh salvo at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, asserting that the Jan Dhan Yojana is just another 'jumla' (fake promise) and an exercise in mass deception.

Addressing a presser here, former finance minister P. Chidambaram said, "The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (BSBDA). Until May 2014, 25 crore accounts had been opened. Under the Modi government, the BSBDA scheme was renamed to Jan Dhan Yojana. Instead of pursuing genuine financial inclusion, the Modi government's aim appears to just grab headlines."

"Whenever Modi talks about Jan Dana Yojana, he deliberately forgets to mention 25 million accounts opened before 2014. Why so? It was the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government that sowed the idea of financial inclusion. The truth of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana is that it is just another 'jumla' and an exercise in mass deception by the Modi government. The funds were supposed to be cost-free for struggling banks, but they are required to bear the cost of the accounts," he added.

Chidambaram alleged that the Jan Dhan accounts were used to launder money after demonetisation. "A humongous sum of Rs 42,187 crore were deposited in Jan Dhan accounts between November 8, 2016, and December 30, 2016," he claimed.

He asserted that the financial programme was itself a "big-scale fraud" and the banks were struggling to maintain crores of such accounts.

"Banks have, without the consent of the account holder, converted Jan Dhan accounts into regular savings accounts and are charging exorbitant fees for failure to maintain a minimum balance. Apart from this, there was 'some balance' in 15 to 20 per cent accounts because bank officials were told to deposit one rupee in these accounts," Chidambaram said.

He recalled that his successor Arun Jaitley "also gave a threat to take strict legal action against those who deposit money in these dubious accounts, but the Finance Secretary clarified that no such action will be taken."

Chidambaram further claimed that those withdrawing money from their accounts were only allowed four times a month and if any account holder withdrew money for the fifth time, then an additional fee is to be paid.

"The Jan Dhan self-praise is an elaborate exercise in deception. By December 2016, 24 per cent of the accounts were zero balance accounts. No data is available for the subsequent period. Of the remaining accounts, 15-20 per cent have a 'balance' only because bank managers were encouraged to deposit Re 1 in the account," he added.

Continuing his tirade, the senior Congress leader alleged that the poor were exploited when the Jan Dhan Yojana came into being. He said that according to the World Bank's 2017 paper, one in five persons had to pay a middleman to open an account.

"The government has talked up the life and accident insurance benefits available with a Jan Dhan account but failed to mention that the Rs 30,000 life insurance feature applies only to those who opened a Jan Dhan account between August 15, 2014, and January 31, 2015. This incentive was introduced only to generate record account openings rather than offering a real benefit. The government has failed to disclose how many account holders have got the insurance after an accident or death," Chidambaram remarked.

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The Japanese Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu reaffirmed India and Japan's deepening relationship during his speech at the South Asia Regional Connectivity Conference 2018.

At the high-level conference held on Thursday, Hiramatsu brought attention to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Japan, during which 32 agreements were announced, including those on connectivity.

"They (India & Japan) affirmed the need for quality infrastructure and I'm pleased to learn that the conference will further deepen discussions based on these points later today," the Ambassador said at the conference.

"India-Japan have agreed to cooperate on a specific project contributing to better connectivity in the region. For example, in Bangladesh, India will construct roads while Japan will provide bridges to better connect them," Hiramatsu said during his speech.

He also mentioned that India and Japan will work towards establishing a business platform to enhance exchanges between businesses and to develop an industrial corridor network in the region, including Africa.

Bringing attention to trilateral partnerships, Hiramatsu said, "Trilateral partnerships also play a crucial role. Notably, Japan, India and USA are engaged on how we can move forward on the promising road of better connectivity."

He also talked about India and Japan's cooperation in India's North-East region.

"India's Northeast is full of promise. It bears a possibility to be a gateway to South East Asia," the Ambassador said while tracing the deep-rooted history between the region and Japan.

The Japanese Ambassador, in his concluding remarks, talked about the various sectors in which Japan and India are cooperating.

The conference also saw the participation of US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and a speech by Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday blamed the central government for not taking adequate actions in controlling the deteriorating air quality in the capital.

Kejriwal underscored that the air quality in New Delhi usually remains between 150 and 200 due to the combined factors of pollution such as dust, transport and industries.

But this time around, the air quality in the capital has crossed 400, especially after October 25, mainly due to stubble burning in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab.

"Union Minister Harsh Wardhan promised to provide machines to the farmers in the state of Haryana and Punjab. But it seems as if the Centre has not taken adequate steps to mitigate the issue," the Chief Minister said during a press conference in Chandigarh.

Kejriwal further said that satellite imageries mainly focus on the northern regions of Haryana and some parts of Punjab, including Amritsar and Bhatinda.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un strongly criticised international sanctions against his country while slamming "hostile forces" that are hampering his country's efforts in improving the lives of people.

Kim made the statement during a visit to the construction site of the Wonsan-Kalma tourist area, Yonhap News Agency reported, quoting Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"The hostile forces are foolishly keen on vicious sanctions to stand in our way towards promotion of people's wellbeing and development and to lead us to change and submission," the North Korean leader said.

Kim also claimed that North Korea has been built by its own strength, technology, and efforts while saying, "They will be made to clearly see over time how our country that has built its strength hundreds of times defying hardship to build its own country as a powerful nation by its own strength, technology, and efforts," he mentioned.

KCNA quoted Kim as stating that "on-target impact" on hostile forces will be made through the large-scale construction project.

Kim's comments are largely being viewed as a precursor to the tone of the impending talks between North Korea and the United States which are slated to be held next week. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is scheduled to visit North Korea next week to meet with his North Korean counterpart to further denuclearisation talks and push for inspections at the latter's nuclear and missile sites.

Meanwhile, North Korea and South Korea have completely stopped "hostile acts" against each other, fulfilling a set of confidence-building measures in a comprehensive military agreement signed in September this year. No-fly-zones have been fixed along the demilitarised zone, while both countries have been restricted from undertaking live-artillery drills within five kilometers of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). Regiment-level field maneuvering exercises have also been prohibited within five kilometers of the MDL, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Yonhap quoted South Korea's Ministry of Defence as saying, "North Korea has implemented measures to stop hostile acts in accordance with the military agreement, including the recent closure of coastline artillery."

Both the countries have also established peace zones near the Yellow Sea border.

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In increasing crackdowns on the LGBT community in Tanzania, Paul Makonda, the Governor of Dar es Salaam vowed to arrest citizens belonging to the community by next week.

"I have received reports that there are so many homosexuals in our city, and these homosexuals, are advertising and selling their services on the internet," CNN quoted the Governor as saying.

He further asked Tanzanians to report members of the community in a video where he was heard speaking in Swahili. "Therefore, I am announcing this to every citizen of Dar es Salaam. If you know any gays ... report them to me," he said at a news conference.

Makonda has a history of ordering anti-gay clampdowns in a country which has other government officials supporting the anti-gay narrative.

People from the LGBT community face a 30-year jail sentence according to Tanzanian laws, while homosexual acts attract the death penalty in other African nations like Sudan, Somalia, and Mauritania.

Tanzania's health ministry had previously discontinued HIV/AIDS services in about 40 clinics last year, citing that the establishments had promoted homosexuality.

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Masood Azhar, Jaish-e-Muhammad chief and Kandahar hijacking mastermind, has confirmed the killing of his nephew, Usman Ibrahim by the Indian security forces in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Tral.

Azhar himself has confirmed this in an audio recording as he has asked the Kashmiris to stand against India and launch an offensive.

In the audio clip, Azhar said, "My beloved nephew Usman Ibrahim and a Kashmiri fighter, Shaukat Ahmed have sacrificed their lives. A large number of people gathered to pay tribute to Shaukat Ahmad and still Indians claim that Kashmir is an integral part of India? They should feel ashamed."

Jaish-e-Muhammad militant Usman Ibrahim is the second nephew of Azhar to be killed in Kashmir in a span of less than a year.

Azhar while praising the "sacrifice" of his nephew said, "18-year old Usman Ibrahim has sacrificed his life at this young age. Usman's visit to Kashmir is not illegal, but India's entry into Kashmir's territory is illegal."

He asked the Kashmiris to unite against India and launch a jihad. "Kashmiri youth, isn't Usman's sacrifice not enough to make you stand. Dying a life of a slave is against any Muslim. India has given you an option to live as a slave and die as an oppressed. You must handover both things to them and get ready to sacrifice themselves. How long will you stand alone. You must stand together and get India uprooted," he added.

Azhar's audio message confirms Pakistan's ongoing acts of cross border terrorism against India. It also highlights the fact that Pakistan-based terrorist outfits continue to send armed terrorists to Jammu and Kashmir with an aim to kill innocents in Jammu and Kashmir, the very people that Islamabad professes to support.

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South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for the South Korean parliament's support for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

Addressing the National Assembly on Thursday, he said, "I earnestly request that the National Assembly work with us on the Korean Peninsula denuclearisation and peace process."

"We have to combine our strength to keep this opportunity alive," Moon added.

He also announced North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia, while mentioning that Chinese Premier Xi Jinping is expected to visit North Korea in the near future, according to Yonhap News Agency.

"A second North-U.S. summit is just around the corner. A visit to Russia by Chairman Kim Jong-un and a visit to North Korea by Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to take place in the near future. The possibility of a North-Japan summit also remains open. A return visit to Seoul by Chairman Kim Jong-un will also take place soon," the South Korean President said.

Terming the ongoing peace process in the Korean peninsula as a "historic starting point for co-prosperity", Moon also mentioned that it is an opportunity that should not be missed.

"A historic starting point for co-prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia is just ahead of us. We will be going beyond the Eurasian continent by train and moving toward a multilateral peace and security regime through a railway community (of nations)," he said.

"This is an opportunity that came like a miracle. This is an opportunity that we should never miss," Moon noted.

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday took a dig at Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his recent statement on the latter's son's name figuring in the Panama Papers.

While addressing a public rally in Jabua on Monday, Rahul Gandhi said that Kartikey Chouhan was named in the Panama papers. However, the very next day, the Congress president clarified that he got confused when he leveled allegations against the chief minister's son.

On Wednesday, Kartikey filed a criminal defamation case against the Congress chief .

Reacting to the allegations levelled by Rahul Gandhi , Chouhan said, "After Rahul Gandhi put allegations on me and my son, media asked him for proof. However, he said that he got confused. If you will keep getting confused like this, then how will you run the country?"

He further alleged that Rahul Gandhi went to a restaurant in Indore on Tuesday to have ice cream and referred to senior Congress leader, "Kamal ice cream bohat achi hai tum bhi khao. (Kamal the ice cream is really nice. You also should have it)."

Chouhan added, "Kamal Nath has worked with his (Rahul's) father (Rajiv Gandhi). Is this Indian culture to address a man of 70-75 years by his name?"

The Congress, which has been out of power in the state since 2003, is leaving no stone unturned while targeting the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state which was going to polls on November 28.

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Tourists regardless of any age loves a unique blue and white soft ice cream that a shop in Osaka sells.

There are many people who come specifically to try this ice-cream and this idea gave birth to a co-operation between soft ice-cream company "Nissei" and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan.

Shoji Atsumi, an official at Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, said, "One of the great ways to enjoy yourself in Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is to experience first-hand watching the actual size of a whale shark. We also focus on developing products so that visitors can enjoy more and more."

The ice cream is made in a way that it resembles a whale shark in terms of design by using blue colour for soda taste and white colour for vanilla taste.

Another aspect loved by many people is being able to share the unique product on their social media page.

"I took this photo to post on my Instagram as a way to share this unique ice cream from the aquarium with my friends," said a visitor from Thailand.

Shiro Ohama, an official at Kintetsu Retailing Corporation said, "We asked soft-ice cream maker Nissei if it was possible to develop a blue ice cream. It was eventually completed and it has got a very good feedback, often being referred to as 'unique' or 'delicious' by many people. Our aquarium welcomes all people to enjoy interacting with sea life and try this unique soft-ice cream."

The brains behind developing such unique ideas to revitalise Japan's attractions are various companies who are leaving no stone unturned in providing enjoyable time to the people.

The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is one of the world's largest aquariums. It contains a huge water tank that is able to accommodate a whale shark, which is the largest known fish species in the and is a major tourist attraction.

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has asserted that no one in the country has the power to abolish reservation provision.

Addressing his party's, Janata Dal-United (JDU), Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe workers here on Wednesday, Kumar said: "No one in this country has the power to scrap the provision of reservation. We will sacrifice whatever may be required if needed, but no one has the power to scrap reservation."

Dwelling on the issue, the Chief Minister said the marginalised section will not be able to uplift itself in the society without reservation. "If there won't be reservation then how will those at the margins come to the mainstream?" he emphasised.

He also spoke about policies and schemes introduced by his government for the welfare of minorities, backward classes and weaker sections of the society. The event was attended by JD(U) general secretary and Member of Parliament RCP Singh, state minister Ramesh Rishidev and legislator Abhay Kushwaha.

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Spell Bee League is all set to take your child's dream of getting into aviation industry a notch higher. Want to know how? Spell Bee League has recently joined hands with NRN Aerospace Systems Private Limited who is coming on board a presenting partner.

Aeromodelling is the fastest growing educational hobby amongst Schools and Colleges as kids this days have a greater passion to get educated and equip with aviation skills. NRN has carved a niche and is a known name as a seasoned aeromodeller.

They also conduct workshops where they provide kits and accessories along with technical and theoretical sessions for aeromodelling. After joining Spell Bee Hive the team is aiming at giving benefits such as practical applications of science concept improves hand-eye coordination, a pathway to the aerospace sector, encourages team-work and improves leadership skills.

"We at NRN are glad to make awareness about the aero models in today's generation kids. In this world full of computer games and digital age we are happy in re-creating buzz for this classic way of enjoying childhood filled with experiential and recreational activities. Here our main motto would be to make today's kids understand that how pre-computerized generation kids used to enjoy their gala time and give trick and tips related to aviation," said Adarsh Kumar CMO, NRN Aerospace Pvt. Ltd.

"The uniqueness of spell bee league also lies in the fact that it is going to be an experience where children will learn about humility and spirit of giving. We are also opening our completion to the students from schools at underprivileged sectors which cannot afford to participate in such competition. Along with this we are also bringing out childhood safety awareness and elements of kindness and keeping animals safe through our associations and exercises." says Co-founder Madhu HS, Spell Bee League.

"We at NRN are aiming at being world leader in providing high-performance lightweight materials for Aerospace, Defence and space applications via our passion and capabilities to replace virgin carbon fibre with recycled carbon fibre and to make it environmentally feasible and Green plant in APAC region," said Narasimha Sharma Narayanam Founder & CEO, NRN Aerospace Systems Pvt. Ltd.

"Parents and the Educational institution will be introduced to few more innovative contests like Bee Blog a creative writing contest, Bee Hive a unique talent showcasing platform leading up to program days," added Sowjanya BadariNarayan one of the Director of Spell Bee League.

Along with NRN Aerospace, the initiative is supported by many other national and international partners brands such as Smart Kidz Club USA, Kydz Adda, School Travel App, Sanrakshan Pvt. Ltd. Singapore faith foundation, people for animals Bangalore, Compassionate Clowns and many more.

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The Karnataka Police on Thursday morning detained Kalyan Karnataka Horata Samiti workers here for holding a protest and hoisting a new Kannada flag demanding a separate statehood for north Karnataka region.

The protest was organised on the Kannada Rajyotsava Day or the Karnataka foundation day which is celebrated all across the state on November 1 marking the formation of the state in 1956.

More than 10 people were detained by the police when they were on their way to hoist the new flag in the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel circle here. Some seers also participated in the protest.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kalyana Karnataka member Vinod Kumar told ANI, "We will hoist a new Karnataka flag on Kannada Rajyotsava. We are demanding a separate state for the north Karnataka region comprising of six districts as there has been no development in this part of the state."

The issue over separate statehood for north Karnataka has come up on numerous occasions. Earlier this year, the Uttara Karnataka Pratyeka Rajya Horata Samiti observed a bandh in several districts of the state to raise their demand for separate statehood for north Karnataka region.

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More than 100 passengers on board a Qatar Airways flight had a narrow escape at the Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport after the plane hit a water tanker during its arrival from Doha.

The incident took place at 01:52 am on Thursday when Qatar Airways flight number QR 540 had just landed.

According to an airport official, belly of the aircraft was damaged in the accident. All passengers and crew members were safely evacuated.

The official also added that a team of engineers is inspecting the air conditioning system of the aircraft to ascertain the intensity of the damage.

The plane has been taken away to the cargo area for repair.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up state governments and the High Courts for not filling up the vacancies in the subordinate judiciary and cautioned that it may go for a "centralised recruitment process" if vacancies are not filled in time.

The bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice UU Lalit and Justice KM Joseph sought personal presence of Registrar Generals of various High Courts and the authorised representatives of the Chief Secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and the North-Eastern states on November 15 in this regard.

Justice Gogoi said all the states are under its gaze. "If you can't fill up the vacancies, we will take over that task from you and we will make it a centralised process," Justice Gogoi said while hearing the case relating to filling up of vacancies in judiciary across the country. The apex court added that the idea was to expedite the ongoing and the future processes of judges recruitment.

The top court said that it will examine the status of recruitment process by the different High Courts in batches. It also pulled up the Delhi High Court for delay in completing the recruitment process of 200 judges in the courts and asked "what's this laid back attitude?"

"It is taking over two years to complete the selection and recruitment when the numbers are only 200? This casual attitude is not justified," said the bench.

On October 22, the Supreme Court while taking into note that 5,133 posts were lying vacant in the subordinate judiciary across the country, had said existence of these vacancies is "wholly unacceptable".

The court had taken suo motu cognizance of the filling up of the vacancies in lower courts and sought information from High Courts and state governments. The top court while perusing the information collected by the apex court Registry from the Registries of different High Courts had said that it indicates that recruitment process to fill up 4,180 posts are presently underway and the said recruitment processes are poised at different stages in different states.

The bench had directed the High Courts and all state governments to submit the information about the dates on which the recruitment process for the two categories of posts - higher judicial service and lower judicial service - had been initiated and are expected to be completed and appointments made. It had also sought information whether the infrastructure and man-power available in the different states is adequate if all the posts that are borne in the cadre are to be filled up.

Chief Justice Gogoi before taking oath had said that he will take on the burgeoning pendency figures on a priority during his 13-month long tenure as the next Chief Justice of India.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Centre for failing to provide a report of the survey conducted of houses in South Delhi's Amar colony to ascertain illegal constructions.

Additional Solicitor General ANS Nadkarni apologised to the court for the time taken by the officers from the Centre to confirm how many houses were surveyed in south Delhi's Amar Colony.

A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur said, "don't be sorry, Delhi is sorry. Look at your officers' efficiency. This is why Delhi is where it is."

After waiting for at least 15 minutes for the officer to convey the details of the survey, the bench further said, "This is the efficiency of your people. You would have been exposed if there was live broadcasting. Your people are not doing their jobs and that's why the allegations are made about their connivance and corruption."

At this, Nadkarni replied that people don't need live broadcast, they already know (how the officers work).

"You (government) take months to finalise data, months to analyse it, months to issue show cause notice, months to adjudicate. By then Delhi will collapse and then you will say the petition is infructuous," said the court while hearing plea related to sealing of unauthorised and illegal construction in the capital.

The court had earlier ordered the Centre and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to conduct a survey to find out illegal construction.

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On the occasion of Maharashtra government's fourth anniversary, Shiv Sena, in its mouthpiece Saamna, launched a blistering attack at the Devendra Fadnavis government and criticised it over a number of issues.

Shiv Sena downplayed achievements claimed by Fadnavis during his tenure and asked his government to look at issues such as malnutrition and Maratha reservation.

"The chief minister claimed that in last four years he has brought Maharashtra on the top spot. In what segments did he achieve the first spot? Price rise, unemployment, hollow work or anything else? The statistics of malnutrition in Maharashtra is continuously increasing. Who will take the responsibility of Bhima-Koregaon violence, Maratha reservation march and social unrest?" read the editorial in Saamna, published on Thursday.

The Shiv Sena also debunked the speculations of a possible alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming elections and said, "In his fourth year, the chief minister has started talking about friendship and merger. He claims that come whatever there will be a coalition. He has said that to stop the fragmentation of Hindu votes, the merger is important. The key of Shiv Sena is not at BJP's office but with lakhs of dedicated Shiv Sainiks. Two years ago, at the committee meeting of the Shiv Sena, a resolution for fighting and winning Maharashtra elections alone was adopted unanimously."

The editorial further claimed that the fifth year of the Maharashtra government will be marred with problems.

It also emphasised that Shiv Sena will itself decide on which direction it will take and added that it doesn't need anyone's supervision to make the decision.

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On the occasion of the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Wednesday, Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave a clarion call to all the youngsters to build a unified modern India.

Talking to media after inaugurating the run for unity program in Chennai, Sitharaman blamed the Congress party for sidelining the memoirs of a great personality like Sardar Patel.

She said that this was the first time when India celebrated Sardar Patel's birthday on a whole. The Defence Minister said that he was a towering personality who was instrumental in bringing together all the princely states.

The run for unity event to celebrate Sardar Patel's birthday was held in all the districts of the State by various groups and associations.

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated the 182-metre tall Statue of Unity as a tribute to the iconic freedom fighter, Sardar Patel.

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is on her maiden visit to Kuwait, on Wednesday held a series of meetings with leaders in Kuwait to strengthen the bilateral relationship between India and the Middle East country.

In the morning, the External Affairs Minister called on the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and discussed positive developments in bilateral ties between the two countries. She also raised issues of concern to the Indian community.

Later, Swaraj called on Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Jabar Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah, and discussed issues of bilateral concern and explored avenues for enhancing and further strengthening economic and investment cooperation.

She also held delegation-level talks with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah.

Swaraj was accompanied by Ambassador K Jeeva Sagar for all the meetings.

On Tuesday, Swaraj had interacted with the Indian Community in Kuwait. She also paid floral tributes to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Indian Embassy here.

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US Ambassador to India Kenneth Ian Juster on Thursday said that President Donald Trump's visit to India was cancelled only due to "scheduling issue".

"It's completely a scheduling issue. Right now there is no Speaker of the House that has even been selected," Juster told ANI on the sidelines of the South Asia Regional Connectivity Conference 2018.

Earlier on October 30, the White House confirmed that the US President would not attend India's Republic Day celebrations due to "scheduling constraints".

"President Trump was honored by Prime Minister Modi's invitation for him to be Chief Guest of India's Republic Day on January 26, 2019 but is unable to participate due to scheduling constraints," a statement from White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders read.

"The President enjoys a strong personal rapport with Prime Minister Modi, developed through two meetings and several phone calls, and remains committed to deepening the U.S.-India strategic partnership. The President very much looks forward to meeting Prime Minister Modi again at the earliest opportunity," the statement added.

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Tyco's second edition of its annual partner conference - Converge'18 saw 45 partner firms participate and more than 50 partner delegates.

Held in Sri Lanka, the conference serves the dual purpose of knowledge exchange, learning and team building. Tyco is a leader in security solutions and is a unit of Johnson Controls.

Tyco's senior executives took the stage to present the awards to the company's top performing partners. The presenters included, Kenneth May, Vice President, Sales-APAC and Rajeev Samanta, Regional Sales Director, South Asia.

"The security solutions market is on a high growth trajectory owing to emerging trends such as smart homes and smart cities. We have been able to capture and deliver on this market demand time and again due to the support and excellence of our partner network," said Kenneth May, Vice President, Sales APAC.

"It's an honour to recognize the 2018 partners who represent the best and most forward-thinking innovators coming out of our partner community. We thank all our partners for their contributions and congratulate the award winners for their ongoing leadership," he added.

Rajeev Samanta, Regional Sales Director, South Asia said, "Converge is the biggest annual event for Tyco Security India and all our eminent partners. It offers us an invaluable opportunity to come together and share our thoughts with each other. The discussions during this event have been a good collaborative process wherein all present have been able to learn from the best practices and challenges faced by each other. The next steps will involve applying our mutual learnings to deliver on our ultimate vision."

Winners Gallery

Tyco Elite League Awards were awarded to the follow partners:

South Asia Partner of the year - Transit Electronics Pvt. Ltd.

Integrated Solutions Partner of the year - Building Technology & Solutions

The Rising Star of the year - Corporate Infotech Pvt. Limited

Strategic Partner of the year - Systematic Communications Pvt. Ltd.

Enterprise Partner of the year - ICD Security Solutions

Video Partner of the year - Building Technology & Solutions

Innovative Partner of the year - Spectra X-Stream

Intrusion Partner of the year - Asia Traders

Passion Plus - 2018 - Acktron Security System

ACVS Partner of the year - Compuage Infocomm.

Domain Master - Devi Karam Associates.

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Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday said that party chief Uddhav Thackeray is going to Ayodhya to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government that Ram Temple needs to be constructed.

Raut also informed that all preparations have been made for Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya on November 25. "All preparations have been done for Uddhav Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya on November 25. He is going there to remind Modi ji and the BJP government that Ram Temple needs to be constructed," Raut told ANI.

"It will take 1000 years if we wait for court's verdict on Ram Temple," he added.

On October 29, the apex court adjourned the hearing of the Ayodhya title suit case until January 2019.

The apex court had adjourned the matter, which challenged the Allahabad High Court verdict of 2010 that ruled that the disputed land in Ayodhya should be divided into three parts for each party - the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lala.

The Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished on December 6, 1992, allegedly by a group of some Hindu activists, claiming that the mosque was constructed by Mughal king Babur after demolishing a Ram Temple that originally stood there. Since then, several hearings have been held in the top court to resolve the issue.

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United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday stated that as many as 15,000 troops could be deployed to the southern border to deal with the caravan of migrants from Central America, many of who seek asylum.

"As far as the caravan is concerned our military is out, we have about 5,000-8 (thousand), we'll go up to anywhere between 10 (thousand) and 15,000 military personnel on top of border patrol, ICE and everybody else on the border," CNN quoted Trump as saying.

This follows the Pentagon's move to deploy over 5,200 additional active duty troops to the southern border and has identified a further 2,000 that could be sent. While there are 2,100 National Guardsmen deployed at the border, another 2,000 could be sent if the need arises.

"The number of troops deployed will change each day as military forces flow into the operating area, but the initial estimate is that the DOD will have more than 7,000 troops supporting DHS across California, Arizona and Texas," a statement from Pentagon read.

The migrants are around 1200 kilometres away from the US border and will take weeks to reach.

Trump is also "very seriously" considering severing aid to countries where the migrants are coming from.

"Nobody's coming in. We're not allowing people to come in. If you look at what happened in Mexico two days ago with the roughness of these people in the second caravan that's been forming, and also frankly in the first caravan, and now they have one forming in El Salvador. We are thinking very seriously, immediately stopping aid to those countries because frankly, they're doing nothing for the American people," Trump stated.

"Immigration is a very, very big and very dangerous, a really dangerous topic and we're not gonna allow people to come into our country that don't have the well being of our country in mind," Trump added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The United States has said that while their goal remains to completely put an end to Iran's oil exports, it is considering exemption of certain nations, that purchase oil from Iran, from their proposed sanctions.

"The United States is in the midst of an internal process to consider significant reduction exceptions for individual countries. We are working with countries on a case-by-case basis," State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told ANI.

"Our goal remains to get to zero oil purchases from Iran as quickly as possible," she added.

Nauert had earlier said that the import of Iranian oil and the signing of the recent S-400 Triumpf air defence missile deal are not helpful for the ties between India and the United States.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan had stated that despite the possibility of US sanctions, Indian companies have made nominations to purchase oil from Iran.

"Two days ago, two of our companies made nominations to purchase Iranian oil in November. We do not know if we will get a waiver (from US sanctions) or not. Isn't it new diplomatic power and recognition of the new leadership of India?" Pradhan said earlier this month.

November 4 is the deadline for the US announcements regarding
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met Congress president Rahul Gandhi to discuss Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-Congress alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.

The two leaders discussed about forming an alliance for the December 7 Assembly elections in Telangana and also form a grand alliance for the Lok Sabha polls next year.

Addressing a joint press conference, Naidu said, "We are coming together to save the nation. We have to forget the past. Now, it is a democratic compulsion to unite. All opposition needs to be one."

Taking a dig at the BJP, Naidu said, "I have been into for over 40 years but have never seen such a government, the situation in the country demands coming together of all opposition parties."

Gandhi, on the other hand, announced that his party would work together with Naidu's TDP in order to "defend democracy and future of the country".

"We had a very good meeting. The gist was that we have to defend democracy and future of the country. So, we are coming together to work. All opposition forces must unite," the Congress president said.

The Congress and TDP rivalry is now in the past and what matters now is the present and the future, he added.

Naidu has been meeting leaders of non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in view of the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

On October 27, Naidu had met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and veteran leader Sharad Yadav.

Earlier, he had also met former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah, and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has been extremely vocal and straight-forward about his critical opinions against the Centre. He had earlier said that the country needs a national-level alliance to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming elections.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Mainland China equity market inclined for third straight session on Thursday, 01 November 2018, after Chinese Communist party leaders signaled a fresh round of stimulus measures, in a bid to shore up support for the stock market and private enterprises amid the slowing economy. At closing bell, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index added 0.13%, or 3.45 points, to 2,606.24, meanwhile the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, rose 0.93%, or 12.09 points, to 1,306.31. The blue-chip CSI300 index grew 0.74%, or 23.21 points, to 3,177.03.

The Communist Party's Politburo, China's top policymaking body headed by President Xi Jinping, said on Wednesday it would stimulate market dynamic and facilitate the long-term healthy development of capital markets, as the economy is under growing downward pressure. The government has rolled out a flurry of policies since a week ago to aid the tumbling market weighed down by the escalating US-China trade war and a slowing economy. The Shanghai gauge has slumped more than 20% since the beginning of this year.

China should attach great importance to the current situation and be more proactive in taking measures to cope with the issues, China's official news agency reported, citing a meeting of the Politburo, chaired by President Xi Jinping. The meeting coincided on Wednesday with the release of disappointing manufacturing data, which saw expansion in the sector grow at its slowest rate in more than two years, missing economist forecasts.

It also came on the heels of reports that the Trump administration is preparing to impose new tariffs on Chinese goods within the next several months.

Stocks related to artificial intelligence (AI) were up, after Xi voiced support for the industry in a separate Politburo meeting on Wednesday. A number of stocks surged to the 10% daily limit, including Shenzhen Sunwin Intelligent Co, an intelligent system solutions supplier, Beijing AriTime Intelligent Control Co, a manufacturer of industrial automation products, as well as Shenyang Yuanda Intellectual Industry Group

Securities brokages stocks also surged in the wake of a proposed tax legislation that caps securities trading tax unchanged at 1%. Guosen Securities climbed 8.4% to 9.08 yuan, Huatai Securities rose 5.7% to 17.59 yuan, and Nanjing Securities climbed 3.6% to 10.53 yuan.

ECONOMIC NEWS: The latest reading of Caixin Purchasing Managers' Index, a gauge tracking smaller private firms released on Thursday, edged up to 50.1 in October from 50 in September, showing little signs of improvement in China's manufacturing sector growth.

China's official manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI)- produced by China's National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) - was stood at 50.2 for October, down from 50.8 in September, and slightly above the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction, as factory activity in the world's second largest economy slowed amid the ongoing US-China trade war.

CURRENCY NEWS: China's yuan depreciated against the U. S. dollar on Thursday, after soft mid-point fixing by central bank. Prior to market open, the People's Bank of China set the midpoint rate at 6.967 per dollar, weakened by 24 basis points from 6.9646 mid-point set previous day. At 07:36 GMT, the yuan was quoted at 6.9496 per U. S. dollar, 0.35% firmer than the previous close of 6.974.

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The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that India's stability, consistency, transparency and reform agenda coupled with a safe and structured financial system makes India one of the most attractive FDI destinations. He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Global Expo Botswana 2018, in Gaborone, Botswana yesterday.

This year's Expo holds special significance to India this year as 25 Indian companies are taking part in the event making it the largest participation from a single country. The Vice President said that the annual Business to Business Expo creates an opportunity for the world community to engage with the Africa and deepen the feeling of commonality and sense of purpose among participating nations.

Emphasizing that India's engagement with Africa has gathered an unprecedented pace over the last four years, the Vice President reiterated that India supports the industry to invest in Africa and keeps its markets open for investments. Informing the global business community about India's economic progress, the Vice President highlighted the transformative changes taking place in India.

The Vice President said that India's steady growth rate of over 7% presents multiple opportunities for Botswana entrepreneurs in various sectors and invited them to seize current and emerging business opportunities. He further said that transformative taxation reforms such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) made India a transparent and an integrated market with greater ease of doing business.

India is moving rapidly on the path of economic transformation with an annual growth rate of over 7%. It presents multiple opportunities for Botswana entrepreneurs in various sectors. There is an encouraging swing in stock market indices, foreign exchange reserves, and public investments in infrastructure and welfare measures. As per World Bank's Ease of Business Index, India has climbed 42 places.

Transformative taxation reforms like the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) has made India a transparent and an integrated market with greater ease of doing business. Aiming to make India the 3rd largest consumer market in the world, we are moving forward to build a five trillion dollar economy by 2025. As you have seen, our multi-party democracy has demonstrated stability coupled with a safe and structured financial system which makes India one of the most attractive FDI destinations, he noted further.

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Prabhat Telecoms (India) has initiated talks and signed Memorandum of Understanding with Tiitan Holding Company, based in Hong Kong, China for the development, design and procurement of mobile phones, tablets, POS Devices & other similar electronic devices, designing of PCBs, etc. and act of Original Equipment Manufacturer for supply to Government Tenders in India.

This business relation will help the Company grow stronger and make its presence felt in the electronic goods tendering market which largely caters to Central, State and Semi-Government entities in India.

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Two advocates -- Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee and K. Raghavacharyulu -- on Thursday opposed the appearance of each other as the CBI's counsel in the Delhi High Court which was hearing a corruption case against the agency's Special Director Rakesh Asthana.

Both the counsels told Justice Najmi Waziri that they were representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the matter.

Banerjee, who on Thursday appeared in the case for the first time, told the court that he had got instruction from the "competent authority" to represent the CBI in the case.

But Raghavacharyulu opposed the appearance of Banerjee and told the court that he had been appointed as Special Public Prosecutor in the matter by the investigating agency.

Raghavacharyulu has been appearing in the case since the High Court began hearing Asthana's plea on October 23.

However, the court did not comment anything on this issue and extended the interim protection from arrest granted to Asthana till November 14 and ordered to continue the maintaining status quo in the case till the next date of hearing.

The court was hearing Asthana and suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Devender Kumar's pleas seeking quashing of FIRs against them, saying the cases were registered against them in an illegal manner with a mala fide intention.

According to the CBI, Kumar had fabricated the statement of Sana Sathish Babu, a witness in the businessman Moin Qureshi case, showing he recorded the statement on September 26 in Delhi. However, investigation revealed that Sana was not in Delhi on that day. He was in Hyderabad and joined the investigation only on October 1.

The CBI registered an FIR against Asthana, Kumar and two others. The CBI has alleged that bribes were taken at least five times between December 2017 and October 2018.

Asthana, a 1984-batch IPS officer of Gujarat cadre, is accused of accepting a bribe of Rs 2 crore from a businessman who was being probed in the Qureshi case to "wreck" the investigation. The case was being examined by a special investigation team headed by Asthana.

On October 24 CBI chief Alok Verma was divested of his charge and Joint Director M. Nageshwar Rao was made the interim Director. Asthana was also divested of all his supervisory responsibilities.

The government took the decision after Verma and Asthana accused each other of taking bribes.

--IANS

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Two Jordanian ministers has resigned amid public pressure after flash floods killed 21 people last week, media reported.

Jordan's Minister of Education Azmi Mahafza and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Lina Annab submitted their resignations on Thursday following public uproar in the aftermath of the deadly flash floods that killed 21 Jordanians and Iraqis, mostly schoolchildren on a school trip, Xinhua reported.

King Abdullah II of Jordan ordered the formation of a committee to conduct an investigation into the accident, which occurred last Thursday near the Dead Sea area.

The two ministers' resignation came after demands by citizens on social media and calls by lawmakers and activists for the resignation of those who are responsible for the accident.

The Ministry of Education said the school, which organised the trip to the Dead Sea area, violated the law as it received approval to hold the trip to Al Azraq area, but later changed the route to the Dead Sea area despite warning by the Civil Defence Department and the Jordan Meteorological Department of heavy rainfall last week that caused the flash floods.

--IANS

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BJP President Amit Shah's outburst over the Sabarimala temple issue "must be seen as a direct challenge to the Constitution and the Supreme Court", the CPI-M has said.

"The significance of his remarks lay in his peremptory tone of intimidation and veiled threat to the judiciary," said an editorial in the CPI-M journal "People's Democracy".

During a visit to Kannur in Kerala, Shah declared: "I want to tell the (state) government and those who pronounce orders in court that you should issue orders that can be implemented, not the ones that break the faith of the people."

He also threatened to pull down the Kerala government if it persisted in implementing the Supreme Court verdict.

The editorial said that Shah's remarks were an illustration of the RSS and the BJP's outlook that the Constitution and its institutions must be subordinate to the goal of a Hindu Rashtra.

It noted that Amit Shah's pronouncement came three days before the Supreme Court hearing on the appeals on the Ayodhya judgement of the Allahabad High Court.

"The speech can be seen as a warning to the Supreme Court that only such a verdict on Ayodhya would be acceptable which is implementable (in the opinion of the BJP-RSS) and that which does not 'break the faith of the people'."

On October 29, the Supreme Court stated that there was no urgency to hear the petitions on the Ayodhya row and said the bench to be set up for hearing the case would decide in January the dates for the hearing to begin.

This led to calls from the BJP and RSS for an ordinance for early construction of a grand Ram temple at the Ayodhya site where the Babri Masjid was razed in 1992.

"The Modi government is in no position to pass an ordinance or to bring any legislation on the Ayodhya issue as the dispute is being dealt with by the judicial process and has now reached the Supreme Court," the editorial said.

"There is no way the government, or, the ruling party can circumvent this process.

"But for the RSS and the BJP, Ram temple has to be made into a burning issue in the run up to the Lok Sabha election. That is why the orchestrated attempts to bring the temple issue to the fore will continue."

--IANS

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Apple is the most-preferred smartwatch brand for consumers in the US, followed by Samsung and Fitbit, Counterpoint Research said on Thursday.

According to the market research firm's latest "Consumer Lens" study, two in every three potential Apple Watch buyers said they will choose a Series 4 device and over half of the potential Apple Watch buyers are interested in buying an LTE version.

"Consumer Lens" is Counterpoint's global research programme that aims to help the industry better understand the consumer's perspective across different markets, channels and product categories.

"Apple was the top smartwatch brand last year. With the Apple Watch Series 4 the company further enriches its position as a preferred smartwatch brand for a consumer's next purchase.

"Samsung was the second most preferred smartwatch brand followed by Fitbit. Responses by consumers who are interested in buying an Apple Watch in the next six months are overwhelmingly positive towards buying the latest iteration of the Apple Watch," Maurice Klaehne, Research Analyst, Counterpoint Research, said in a statement.

"Two out of every three potential Apple Watch buyers said they will choose a Series 4. However, consumers are not very decisive on the colour preference so far," Klaehne added.

Apple was facing competition from its older devices last year as users were still buying Apple Watch Series globally.

However, the scenario is softening with tighter control on the supply chain along with a mixed portfolio of feature-rich Watch Series 4.

"Apple Watch Series 4 was a significant improvement from the previous generation with innovative features like ECG, fall monitor and haptic feedback. LTE connectivity captured the highest consumer interest followed by the faster S4 chipset and improved heart rate sensor," said Pavel Naiya, Senior Analyst, Counterpoint Research.

The study further noted that Apple Watch is pitching itself as a health monitoring device with emergency life saving features to position itself as a necessary wearable device for all.

--IANS

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The lawyer of Christian woman Asia Bibi, who was acquitted of blasphemy charges by the Supreme Court, on Thursday said that his client should leave Pakistan for her safety amid widespread protests by radical Islamist groups, a day after her death sentence was annulled.

"She is not safe in Pakistan and she will have to leave the country," Saif-ul-Malook told Efe news, adding that he might also have to leave the country to protect himself.

The apex court ruling on Wednesday set off violent protests and sit-ins by hardliners who support strong blasphemy laws. Radical Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) called for the death of the judges who passed the verdict.

The hardliners continued to protest and block highways for the second consecutive day in Pakistan.

The Christian woman's lawyer said that she had not been released from Multan prison yet and the process could take many days, the report said.

"I don't know where she goes," said Malook, when asked about possible countries where his client could seek refuge.

Despite having two bodyguards, Malook said he feared for his own life too. "I don't regret defending Asia, but I am scared. I don't think I am safe in Pakistan."

In major cities such as Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, members of the TLP continued to block highways, despite Prime Minister Imran Khan warning them not to confront the state, Dawn online reported.

Around 250 protesters blocked the main entry to the capital on the highway connecting Islamabad with Rawalpindi. The protesters burned tyres and also cut off a number of other roads and highways connecting Islamabad to other parts of the country.

In Lahore, stick-wielding protesters chanting religious slogans outside the Punjab police chief's office attacked policemen in riot gear who were attempting to disperse the agitators.

The demonstrators resisted the police personnel and some attacked officials, after which the policemen resorted to baton-charging the protesters, reports say.

The railway network in Lahore suffered disruptions due to protests and suspension of mobile signals.

Educational institutions remained closed on Thursday in the provinces of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Asia Bibi, a mother of five, was accused by two women of insulting Prophet Muhammad in 2009 and a court sentenced her to death in 2010.

Bibi maintained her innocence, but spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The Prime Minister defended the top court's judgment in a televised address, saying it was in accordance with the Constitution and appealed to the protesters not to challenge the state.

At least two public figures -- former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and minority minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian -- were assassinated in 2011 for supporting Bibi and opposing the blasphemy law.

--IANS

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The Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) has been honoured with 'University of the Year' award by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the 14th FICCI Higher Summit 2018: A Global Conference & Exhibition, held in Delhi on October 30.

The ADBU received the prestigious award among all the universities in India, which are in existence for one to ten years. The award was received by Pro Vice Chancellor, Fr Joseph Nellanatt, on behalf of the university.

R Subrahmanyam, Secretary-Higher Education, MHRD, gave away the awards to 13 educational institutions and eminent personalities in the field of

"It is indeed a proud moment for our university, which also received a certificate of special mention for social commitment. At Don Bosco University, we want to make social commitment as our institution's distinctiveness," said Fr Joseph Nellanatt.

"If we compare the national scenario of literacy, at least 20 per cent of our polulation cannot read and write. Only 10 per cent of the country's total population has passed Class X. So, we believe, it is our responsibility to contribute to the society," he said.

The ADBU is already engaged in significant activities in the university's neighbourhood, said Fr Joseph Nellanatt. "It is our commitment to ensure that the villages located near our university also develop as our university develops," he said.

--IANS

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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Tencent has currently formed a business matrix in the smart mobility domain that integrates four major business unitsTencent Auto Intelligence, autonomous driving, location-based service and the QR code passenger app Tencent Passenger Ride Code, as well as its content platform and security support system, the China's Internet titan announced at the Tencent Global Partner Conference 2018 on October 31.

The company said the Tencent Smart Mobility is an integrated solution offered to its partners that covers individual, sharing and public travelling scenarios, providing users with convenient, efficient, entertaining and safe driving experience.

At the conference, Tencent Auto Intelligence launched the TAI intelligent in-car system to help partners develop systematic industrial solutions with flexibility.

The Wechat-based app Tencent Passenger Ride Code has spread into over 100 cities in China, including such megacities as Shenzhen, Shanghai and Xiamen, and has by far gained more than 50 million users. It is available for abundant mobile payment scenarios of public transportation, such as BRT, bus, subway and ferry, etc.

Tencent's autonomous driving arm will supply partners with HD map and positioning solutions as well as analog simulation services for autonomous driving R&D to help them shorten R&D period and lower testing cost.

Tencent has currently been given green light by local authorities of Shenzhen and Beijing to test autonomous vehicles on public roads. The company is exploring the L4 and L5 self-driving technologies after its L3 driverless product hit the road.

The Internet giant has already formed strategic partnerships with many automakers, including BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, GAC Group, Changan Automobile, FAW Group, Geely, Dongfeng Motor and has successfully implanted its technical applications into such volume vehicle models as the Geely Boyue, Trumpchi GS4, Trumpchi GE3 and Changan CS35 PLUS.
L. Chandrashekar, the BJP candidate in the by-election to the Karnataka Assembly from Ramanagara on November 3, on Thursday announced that he had quit the party to return to the Congress.

Chandrashekar, 49, who was earlier a Congress leader, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on October 10 to contest the Ramanagara by-poll on the party ticket.

"BJP leaders had promised their support to me when I decided to contest on the party ticket from Ramanagara. However, none of them (BJP leaders) even came forward to campaign for me. So, I made the decision to quit the party and return to Congress," he told reporters here.

Chandrashekar was contesting against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's wife Anitha Kumaraswamy of the JD-S.

As Chandrashekar's decision comes two days ahead of the by-poll and post the last date of withdrawal of candidatures, an Election Commission official said his name will continue to remain on the Electronic Voting Machines.

The by-election to the southern state's two Assembly segments -- Ramanagara and Jamkhandi -- and three Lok Sabha constituencies -- Ballari, Shivamogga and Mandya -- will be held on Saturday. The vote count will take place on November 6.

Coalition partners Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and Congress are contesting the by-election together in a bid to defeat the BJP.

--IANS

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The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved an agreement between India and South Korea for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism.

The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations with an objective to expand bilateral cooperation in tourism by increasing the exchange of information and data related to the sector.

The objectives of the deal include encouraging cooperation between tourism stakeholders including hotels and tour operators; investment in the tourism and hospitality sectors; participation in travel fairs or exhibitions in each other's country and promoting safe, honourable and sustainable tourism.

With the signing of this bond, the two countries will exchange visits of tour operators, the media and the opinion makers for promotion of two-way tourism.

They will also exchange experiences in the areas of promotion, marketing destination development and management.

South Korea is one of the leading tourist generating markets for India from East Asia.

--IANS

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Chile is set to join China's mammoth global investment programme, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Chilean Foreign Minister announced during a business forum here on Thursday.

Roberto Ampuero said Chile will sign a memorandum of understanding on Friday with the Chinese government to advance and develop the BRI in the context of bilateral relations.

"It is a very important decision, also much anticipated by China, which was taken by (Chilean) President Sebastian Pinera," Ampuero told Efe news during the inauguration of a "Chilean Week" in China.

The minister said that the BRI was an additional element to strengthen comprehensive bilateral relations, which opens tremendous prospects of cooperation, especially in infrastructure.

Ampuero dismissed the doubts expressed by some countries about joining the BRI -- due to the fear of their interests being dependent on Beijing -- by saying that Chile thoroughly analyzes agreements and only signed when it was convinced that the pact was in the country's interests.

He added that China was Chile's main trade ally and said that Santiago was interested in strengthening these ties in different spheres.

"One of the areas where we agree with China is defending multilateralism and free, open and transparent markets," the minister said, adding that the BRI will help them work at a better rhythm and within a broader conceptual framework.

Chile's annual trade with China is worth nearly $35 billion, which amounts to around 26-27 per cent of Chile's total foreign trade.

Trade between the two countries has grown 37 per cent this year.

--IANS

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Chinese Human Right Defenders (CHRD) on Thursday alleged that China's government has become more aggressive in the last four years in reprisals against activists and organizations that cooperated with the UN in the country and abroad.

The NGO in a statement said that the representatives of the Chinese government at the UN were "methodically obstructing UN human rights operations, weakening UN mechanisms and distorting universal human rights standards", Efe news reported.

It added that "the Chinese government had taken harsh measures to prevent HRDs from attending international human rights trainings and meetings with independent UN human rights experts, and to block HRDs from sharing information with UN treaty bodies and special procedures, punishing those who seek such engagement and cooperation".

CHRD said that the government used intimidation, harassment, travel bans, physical assaults, enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary detention and had also revoked the licenses of human rights lawyers, among other things.

Chinese agents intimidate and threaten the human rights defenders with kidnappings, assaults along with harassing them online either openly or anonymously, the NGO said.

The reprisals against the activists became more emboldened since activist Cao Shunli's death in custody in March 2014 after being kidnapped and tortured, the statement said.

Cao had to undergo such a treatment "as punishment for seeking to participate in the first and second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on China".

A UPR analyzes the human rights situation of the member nations.

"Reprisals were now part and parcel of the government's campaign to mold international human rights institutions and norms to its own liking," said the NGO.

The organization urged the UN representatives to hold the government accountable in the upcoming UPR meeting on November 6 with China in Geneva.

All detained or imprisoned human rights defenders in China, who promoted the protection of human rights through engaging with the UN, must be freed immediately and unconditionally, the NGO said.

--IANS

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Of the 13 novels longlisted for this year's Man Booker Prize, six writers hailed from the UK, three from the US and two each from Ireland and Canada. In the shortlist, there were two novels from the US, three from UK and one from Canada. Does this imply that the prize has little regard for diversity? The Booker Prize Foundations Literary Director Gaby Wood contested the charge, pointing to the values that remain at the heart of the much-coveted annual prize.

Wood, who was herself a judge for the Man Booker Prize in 2011, the year Julian Barnes won with "The Sense of An Ending", said that the Booker Prize "cares very much about diversity", and this is achieved through its judges who have "a variety of reading experiences and literary tastes".

"First of all, it's important for the judges to not all be -- and not even predominantly be -- white and male. Secondly, they must, between them, have a variety of reading experiences, and a variety of literary tastes. Diversity is not just to do with how things look to the outside world -- its real significance in this case is in how receptive judges are to diversity of geography and genre, as well as to diversity of race and gender, in the books under consideration," Wood told IANS in an email interview from London.

She was appointed as the Literary Director of the Booker Foundation "after a careful selection process" in April 2015, following the death of her predecessor, British editor, publisher and author Ion Trewin.

She said that if the balance of judges is right -- with a good chair and mutual respect all around -- then every good book stands a chance of finding its ideal reader on the panel. "Once that's established, you have to let them get on with the job of identifying what they consider to be the best fiction of the year," she explained.

Wood shared that senior figures in the UK publishing industry are quick to note how relatively un-diverse that industry has been.

"A couple of years ago, the Man Booker Prize longlist was said in some quarters to have a relative lack of diversity, yet a (quick, unofficial and confidential) glance at the submissions list revealed that the longlist was, proportionally, far more diverse than the collection of books under consideration. Because these details are confidential no outsider is in a position to know, but we are confident that our judges are selecting the best fiction from what they're sent," she maintained.

She went on to say that the last couple of prize cycles have been judged by majority-female panels, there has been a wide range of ages, they have been chaired, consecutively, by intellectuals of African descent. These facts, she reminded, have not been emphasised.

"Because the age, gender or ethnicity of those people are not their qualifications for judging the prize," she asserted.

As for this year's longlist and shortlist, Wood maintained that it's impossible to draw conclusions of that kind -- that the prize has little regard for diversity -- from one year alone. She added that it's actually quite difficult to discern any sort of trend over a few years because the judges change annually.

"Also, I'm a little wary of criticisms that might lead to dangerously tokenistic defences: Are we to point out, for instance, that the two Canadians on the longlist are of Sri Lankan and Ghanaian descent, respectively? No: They are Canadian, and to rhetorically strip them of their citizenship in an attempt to point out the Prize's high regard for diversity would be antithetical to the Prize's purpose," she said.

Wood was previously the Head of Books at the Daily Telegraph. In her stint with the newspaper, she reinvigorated the paper's literary coverage, was instrumental in its sponsorship of the Hay Festival, and profiled leading cultural and public figures from Toni Morrison to Boris Johnson.

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is one of the most coveted literary prizes, awarding a whopping 50,000 pounds annually. Apart from the international recognition that the Prize brings to the winning novelist, it also tremendously boosts the sales of the winning novel. In the week following the 2016 winner's announcement, for example, sales of "The Sellout" by Paul Beatty increased by 658 per cent.

(Saket Suman can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in)

--IANS

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Telangana's main opposition Congress party on Thursday decided to contest 95 Assembly seats and leave the remaining 24 seats for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and other constituents of the grand alliance.

Under the seat sharing agreement, the Congress has allotted 14 seats to the TDP while the remaining 10 will go to the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the Communist Party of India.

Elections to the 119-member Assembly are scheduled to be held on December 7.

President of the Telangana unit of the Congress Uttam Kumar Reddy announced the decision in New Delhi on Thursday.

The Congress' Central Election Committee discussed the list of candidates sent by the party's state unit.

Reddy said the candidates will be announced on November 8 or 9.

--IANS

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In what can be seen as remarks targeting China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Thursday said that regional connectivity projects should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.

"Physical hardware of connectivity across nations can only sustain itself in a common and universally applicable rules-based world order," Gokhale said while addressing a regional connectivity conference on South Asia in the Indo-Pacific context organised by the Cuts International think-tank, the Washington-based East-West Centre, industry body Ficci and the US State Department here.

"Such an order must uphold sovereignty, territorial integrity and equality of all nations," he said.

The Foreign Secretary's remarks came after India on Wednesday lodged strong protests with Pakistan and China over a bus service scheduled to be launched on Saturday between Lahore and Kashghar, a city in the Xinjiang region in China's far west, through Pakistani Kashmir.

"It is the government of India's consistent and well-known position that the so-called China-Pakistan 'boundary agreement' of 1963 is illegal and invalid, and has never been recognised by New Delhi," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

"Therefore, any such bus service through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

While the bus service is an attempt at increasing "friendship" between Pakistan and China, the issue lies in the fact that the bus route passes through Pakistani Kashmir, a part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is a key project under Chinese President Xi Jinping's pet BRI project.

India has not joined the BRI on the grounds that it does not respect other countries' territorial integrity and has put participating countries in debt traps.

"All nations must respect their international commitments," Gokhale said in his address on Thursday.

"This is the foremost requirement, and therefore a pressing need in our part of the world (Indian Ocean) and any such arrangement must naturally accord due primacy to the states located in the geography of the Indian Ocean."

Secondly, Gokhale said, "connectivity can be meaningful only when everyone has equal access under international law to the use of global commons that would require freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law".

"Third, connectivity efforts in the region must be based on principles of economic viability and financial responsibility," he said.

The Foreign Secretary stressed that all connectivity initiatives must follow universally recognised international norms, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality.

He said that incorporation of ecological and environmental standards and skill and technology transfer makes connectivity and infrastructure sustainable in the long term.

"Fourth, connectivity initiatives that straddle national boundaries must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations," Gokhale said.

Stating that regional connectivity in South Asia is today very much of relevance to the wider Indo-Pacific and the world at large, Gokhale said that this is because physical connectivity is "only a part of the larger web of trade and economic interaction, digital connectivity, people-to-people links and knowledge connectivity that are the defining parameters of the Indo-Pacific region".

"India views the Indo-Pacific as a positive construct of development and connectivity, in which India can play a unique role by virtue of its geographical location and economic gravity," he said.

In this connection, he referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in June in which he said that India believed in a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific Region, which includes all nations in this geography and others who have a stake in it.

US Ambassador Kenneth Juster, who was also present, highlighted the need for private sector-led development in South Asia.

While enunciating the US-led initiatives for regional connectivity, he also expressed the need to have a well thought out legislation on data localisation and to manage connectivity efficiently so that risks emanating from greater connectivity can be better managed.

It is noteworthy that the US is focusing on digital economy, infrastructure and energy as new areas to better position the US government to support private sector growth in the region.

Japanese Ambassador Kenji Hiramatsu enunciated specific regional connectivity projects being jointly executed by India and Japan and stressed upon "quality" infrastructure as a prerequisite to sustainable regional connectivity.

He spoke of Tokyo's cooperation with New Delhi in development and infrastructure projects in northeastern India.

"Like China's Belt and Road initiative, Japan too steers a Partnership for Quality Infrastructure or PQI and is working closely with India in her Act East (Policy) pursuits," Hiramatsu said.

"Most recently, India and Japan have conceived Asia-Africa Growth Corridor which marries India's Act East Policy with a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and seeks to bring out economic gains for Africa through its integration with India, South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia and the Pacific region," he said.

--IANS

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Darren Aronofsky has cast several stars like Natalie Portman, Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman in his directorials, but the Oscar-nominated filmmaker hasn't worked with them more than once. He says sometimes it gets tricky to line up "big movie stars" in his films.

Actors like Mark Margolis and Jennifer Connelly have had the chance to re-team with Aronofsky, but that's not the same with most of his lead actors.

Why doesn't he repeat his lead actors in films directed by him?

"The problem with movie stars is that getting their schedules... to line up when you are ready to go, is always really hard. Also, when you do work with a big movie star, you have to have a role that they are interested in... that makes sense for them," Aronofsky told IANS here.

"So getting all that stuff to line up, is tricky sometimes. But I have worked with a lot of same supporting actors," he added.

He is now looking forward to finally work with Hollywood star Brad Pitt, who had dropped out of Aronofsky's 2006 film "The Fountain".

The news of the two uniting for a film based on a book titled "The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival", as producers came out in 2010. After a long gap, the film is back in news.

Asked about the delay, the "Black Swan" director said: "It's been a very hard project to get the script right. We finally have a very good director (Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi) on it. Hopefully, we will figure out a way to make it."

Aronofsky, known for movies like "Requiem for a Dream", "Noah"and "mother!", also spoke about working with actors during a masterclass as part of the ongoing Jio MAMI 20th Mumbai Film Festival with Star.

"It's about communication and trust. It also helps to have a decent track record with actors so that other actors say 'Oh! he's going to help me get to this place so, I can trust him'.

"As far as young filmmakers out there, it's very much about spending time with actors, trying to figure out what they are going to need to feel safe. What you try to do is create an environment where they can take risks.

"Your job as a director is to make them open up as much as possible and to not hold anything back."

He feels the best way to do this is by being honest and trustworthy.

"Sometimes little tricks can help, but you only want to trick actors if they want to be open and want to be tricked," said the filmmaker, who has also taken classes in acting.

While sipping masala tea mixed with the content of an "ayurvedic" sachet in it and talking about filmmaking at the iconic Liberty Cinema here, the American filmmaker also opened up about his love for India. He has been in the country for about six times.

He said he likes to "get lost" here.

"When you are directing, you are a complete control freak... but when you come to India you can't control anything," said Aronofsky, who has been friends with Indian cinematographer Faroukh Mistry for long.

Along with Mistry, actors like Ali Fazal and Ishaan Khatter also attended the masterclass on Wednesday.

(The writer's trip to Mumbai is at the invitation of the festival organisers. Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalia.n@ians.in)

--IANS

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Even sex-workers have a right to refuse their services and seek redressal when forced, the Supreme Court has ruled, overturning a 2009 Delhi High Court judgement and restoring the 10 years jail awarded to four persons by a lower court.

The apex court judgement on Tuesday came on a 1997 gang-rape case in the national capital, asking the convits to surrender within four weeks to serve the remaining sentence.

"Even assuming that the woman was of easy virtue, she has a right of refuse to submit herself to sexual intercourse to anyone," the court observed.

A bench of Justices R. Banumathi and Indira Banerjee held that the High Court erred in brushing aside the evidence of the victim by substituting its views and freeing the accused on the ground of they being falsely implicated, since they had lodged complaint accusing her of being a woman of bad character, who indulged in prostitution.

It also set aside the High Court ordering its registry to lodge complaints against three police personnel for prosecuting them for falsely implicating the four persons.

The Bench said the trial court had rightly held that "even if the allegations of the accused that the woman is of immoral character are taken to be correct, the same does not give any right to the accused persons to commit rape on her against her consent".

It observed that it is now a well-settled principle of law that conviction can be sustained on the sole testimony of the prosecutrix if it inspires confidence.

It held that even in cases where there is some material to show that the victim was habituated to sexual intercourse, no inference such as the victim is of a "loose moral character" can be permissibly drawn from that fact alone.

It noted that "a woman of easy virtue also could not be raped by a person for that reason."

--IANS

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Rapper French Montana has funded two pre-school classrooms in Morocco.

The "Unforgettable" rapper is working with the Sabae School of Fida-Mers Sultan district. According to tmz.com, his donation will be able to provide supplies and sustain the classrooms for at least a few years.

Montana grew up in Morocco and moved to the US when he was 13. In June, he became a US citizen.

His investment in comes on the heels of the $500,000 he raised to help build a hospital in Uganda. The hospital opened in March and it is now servicing more than 300,000 women in 40 villages.

--IANS

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European research into the realisation of carbon-free fusion energy has generated a series of core benefits for the industry worldwide. These include the breakthroughs in magnetic resonance spectroscopy and advances in explosive metal construction that have helped the aeronautics industry.

Petra Nieckchen, the communications head of EUROfusion, pointed out that 30 national fusion research institutes and 150 universities of 28 European countries are working together to achieve the ultimate goal of the European Fusion Roadmap that outlines the R&D required to provide the basis for an electricity-generating fusion power plant, the "world's largest science experiment".

The key research infrastructure is the upcoming International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in Saint-Paul-les-Durance in southern France that aims to develop fusion technology to make commercially-viable fusion energy, the world's clean energy, a reality by the second half of this century.

"The breakthroughs we have made in magnetic resonance spectroscopy have helped to save lives and create an industry worth almost $20 billion," Nieckchen told this IANS visiting correspondent in an interview about one of the spin-offs from the research.

The development of remote handling techniques has led to major advances in power decommissioning and has enormous potential for use in other hostile or mega- and micro-scale environments where direct human operation is sub-optimal.

Asked about the other benefits European industry and laboratories are reaping from the construction of the ITER project, she said: "Advances in explosive metal construction have helped the aeronautics industry to create the next generation of aircraft cockpits.

EUROfusion is the consortium of 28 European countries that guides the research of its members to achieve fusion power. This includes 26 European Union nations plus Switzerland and Ukraine.

The ITER members, China, the European Union, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the US, are engaged in a 35-year collaboration to build and operate the ITER experimental fusion device, proving the feasibility of a fusion power station.

Nieckchen said the EUROfusion consortium plays a crucial role in fusion research.

Since 1983, this is done through EUROfusion's JET fusion experiment, designed by the very same engineer who designed ITER. Despite being considerably different in size, the similarities of shape are striking.

"This allows JET to perform experiments and tests for ITER before the international reactor sees the light in 2025," she said. "That way, JET paved the way for ITER decisions on materials choices, and designs for crucial parts of the machine."

No material on earth can withstand particles heated up to 100 million degrees Celsius.

But plasma consists of negative electrons and positive nuclei and charged particles are attracted by magnetic fields.

The art of fusion is to build a three-dimensional magnetic cage which traps the particles and allows them to fuse. Heating up the particles to these incredible high temperatures and confine them is routinely done all over the world.

The ITER facility is going to demonstrate that this can be done sufficiently long for a power plant.

ITER is not designed and will never supply energy to the grid. It is being built as a proof-of-principle experiment to demonstrate that the principle works -- that is to generate energy using fusion processes.

EUROfusion Programme Manager Tony Donne believes fusion is not in competition with other renewables. "It is needed as back-up and as part of the energy mix."

"To make fusion work on earth we need to overcome a number of challenges. The Fusion Roadmap is the master plan how to solve the challenges and achieve electricity from fusion," he added.

At a cost of over $24 billion, the ITER facility could be the answer to the world's clean energy needs -- but that won't be possible till 2035.

"The ITER project is very much on track. By the second half of this century this fusion technology will be available," ITER Director General Bernard Bigot told IANS.

"Fossil fuel will not be so easy to use any more. We will have a competitive fusion technology which will be available for the whole world," he said.

(Vishal Gulati's visit to Cadarache in France was at the invitation of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). He can be reached at vishal.g@ians.in)

--IANS

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After announced last week it fired 48 people for sexual harassment since 2016, nearly 1,500 workers were planning a walk-out at the company's offices globally on Thursday, the media reported.

According to a report in The New York Times, more than 1,500 -- most of them women -- plan to walk out of almost two dozen company offices around the world to protest Google's handling of sexual harassment and its workplace culture.

"We don't want to feel that we're unequal or we're not respected anymore," Claire Stapleton, 33, Product Marketing Manager at Google's YouTube, was quoted as saying.

In a letter to employees last week, Chief Executive said the tech giant was taking a "hard line" on inappropriate conduct.

The letter was in response to a New York Times report that Android creator received a $90 million exit package despite facing misconduct allegations.

"We want to assure you that we review every single complaint about sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct, we investigate and we take action," said Pichai.



Over the past week, Pichai and Larry Page, co-founder of and CEO of its parent company Alphabet, "have taken several steps to calm its agitated 94,000-person workforce".

According to the NYT report, two unnamed executives said then-Chief Executive Page asked Rubin to resign after the company confirmed a complaint by a female employee about a sexual encounter in a hotel room in 2013.

A Google investigation found the woman's complaint to be credible, the paper reported.

Rubin has said he did not engage in misconduct and left Google of his own accord.
Hundreds of Google employees in the city here walked out of the company's Big Apple offices on Thursday as part of a global protest against the tech giant's handling of sexual harassment cases.

The mobilisation followed a report in The New York Times saying that Android creator Andy Rubin received $90 million in severance when Google fired him in 2014 over accusations of sexual misconduct that the company deemed credible.

Thursday's first protests took place at Google offices in Singapore, Tokyo and other Asian locations, spreading to European cities such as London, Berlin and Zurich as the day wore on, reports Efe.

After the reaction to the story in The Times, Google CEO Sundar Pichai sought to reassure employees about the company's stand against sexual harassment.

"Over the past two years, we have terminated 48 people, including 13 senior managers and above for sexual harassment," Pichai said.

"None of these people received an exit package. And to clarify: in that time, we have also not provided any exit packages to executives who departed voluntarily in the course of a sexual harassment investigation," he added.

Organisers of #GoogleWalkout published a list of demands for management, including an "end to Forced Arbitration in cases of harassment and discrimination for all current and future employees" and a "clear, uniform, globally inclusive process for reporting sexual misconduct safely and anonymously."

--IANS

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Unidentified gunmen on Thursday shot dead senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and party's state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Jashmir.

Police said unidentified gunmen shot and killed Anil and his brother Ajit Parihar in Tapal Gali Mohalla of Kishtwar town.

In view of the mounting tension in the area, curfew has been imposed in Kishtwar town.

Ajit Parihar was an employee of the state Financial Corporation.

"Anil and Ajit Parihar were shot and killed in Kishtwar town by unidentified gunmen on Thursday evening. A manhunt has been launched to trace the assassins," the police said.

--IANS

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State-run Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Himachal Pradesh is all set to make new DNA technology upgrades to its state and two range forensic science laboratories (RFSLs) that will increase the number of cases being analysed, an official said on Thursday.

The FSL in Junga near here is the first in the country to initiate well-equipped DNA facilities in all its labs.

The aim is to accelerate the DNA profiling process that will lead to quicker investigation and trial, thus fast-tracking the criminal justice system, FSL Director Arun Sharma told reporters here.

According to a three-year data shared by the FSL, sexual assault and rape makes up for 44 per cent of the total cases received for DNA profiling.

A total of 900 cases are still pending for DNA analysis and 14 per cent of this number is samples from victims of sexual assault, he said.

These new DNA technology upgrades will essentially bring down the number of unsolved sexual assault crimes in the state.

"In the light of the state of heinous crimes in Himachal Pradesh, we are already working on upgrading our systems. To start with, we have invested over Rs 1.50 crore on a new 24 capillary DNA sequencer that will replace the older four-capillary sequencer," Sharma said.

He said a Robotic DNA Extraction System with an outlay of Rs 30 lakh would enhance the quantity and quality of DNA extraction.

Sharma said the new upgrades are already in the process of procurement and that they are in the final stages of monetary bid evaluation with the suppliers. These new equipment will be a part of FSL inventory within the next four to eight weeks.

Underlining the crime situation in the state, Assistant Director (DNA) with the FSL Vivek Sahajpal said: "A DNA database is crucial to solve crimes involving repeat offenders."

For example, he said, serious heinous repeat crimes such as the rape and murder of a teacher in Paonta Sahib and the infamous Gudiya gangrape and murder case reported recently indicated that a DNA database would have helped fast-track these cases.

"In fact, if we had a DNA database, cases such as the recent Navi Mumbai rape and murder case that took eight years and 900 DNA profiles to nab the criminal could have been solved in a shorter period, thus saving many lives in the process," Sahajpal added.

The Founder and President of public affairs consultancy firm Gordon Thomas Honeywell -- Governmental Affairs, Tim Schellberg, said Himachal Pradesh has taken a great step forward by upgrading its forensic facilities.

"This amazing initiative is in the right direction, aiding to facilitate more DNA casework, and create more DNA yield in a really short span of time, thus reducing backlogs and pendency in cases of heinous crimes."

--IANS

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The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) on Thursday said it will operate a special help desk at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) to help businesses registered outside Delhi, including foreign companies, to easily complete their GST-related obligations.

It said the decision was taken since a large number of businesses from all over India and abroad were expected to participate in the event from November 14 to 27 at Pragati Maidan here.

Most of these businesses would fall under either non-resident taxpayers category (foreign businesses not registered anywhere in India) or casual taxpayers (those registered outside Delhi), a statement said.

"We want to assure all foreign businesses travelling to New Delhi for IITF 2018 that all kind of technical and procedural support will be provided to them with regard to GST... Our prompt and very friendly help desk will be willing to provide hands-on support to any taxpayer who needs help at the exhibition venue," GSTN CEO Prakash Kumar said.

However, he also advised all companies visiting from outside Delhi to not wait till arriving here but to start registering themselves with the GST Portal at the earliest so that they do not "face any last minute hassle or delay that may hamper their trade opportunities".

--IANS

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Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra on Thursday called for creation of a special National Security Administration Services, and advocated formulation of a National Security Policy.

Delivering the first K.P.S. Gill Memorial lecture on "National Security: Some Concerns" at the Indian School of Business (ISB) campus in Mohali near here, Vohra advocated that a special security administration services should be constituted by the Centre to deal with national security.

Lauding the role of K.P.S. Gill as a police officer and a leader, Vohra said that Gill was an able and courageous police officer who played a historic role in rooting out militancy from Punjab.

Vohra suggested that special forces should be constituted in all states to deal with the threats to national security.

He emphasised that personnel from the special forces should be specially trained, as lawlessness by vigilante groups was causing social tension.

Vohra said that incidents of lawlessness created by a few self-styled religious gurus should also be under the scanner.

"Police is the first line of defence and should be firm in response to a situation to maintain public order," he said.

Vohra lamented the inadequate number of police personnel vis-a-vis population of the country. He said that the police, prosecution and judiciary are understaffed and hence causes lawlessness.

He said that budgetary support to all wings of the police is low and mostly spent on paying salaries and not on modernisation and training.

--IANS

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Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Thursday sought to allay fears of the business community in the wake of migration of workers from north India claiming that there was complete industrial peace and the state continued to be an ideal investment destination.

Speaking at the national executive committee meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Chief Minister said: "There is zero unrest in Gujarat and the state has always had a business friendly environment."

Rupani exhorted the FICCI's delegates to organize conventions and conferences of their business establishments near the 'Statue of Unity'. He added that industries were thriving in Gujarat due to positive atmosphere and the state government's business-friendly policies.

The chief minister's appeal to trade and industry also coincides with the hectic preparations for the Gujarat government's big-ticket Vibrant Gujarat Global Investment Summit (VGGIS) in January 2019 to attract domestic and global investment in the state.

It is also the time when the BJP at the Centre and in north Indian states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh faces crucial elections soon and in 2019. "At such time, it is vital for Rupani to ensure that Gujarat's image in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state is not tarnished, a BJP leader told IANS.

An alleged rape by a Bihar origin man on September 28 had sparked off attacks on migrant workers in the state forcing thousands of them to flee to their home towns in north India well ahead of Diwali festivities.

Though the state Government claimed that it had initiated swift action, it was not before the migration of workers had already started.

--IANS

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Unidentified gunmen on Thursday shot dead senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and party's state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Jashmir, police said.

Unidentified gunmen fired at Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit from close range when they were on their way to home, according to the police.

"Both were shifted to a hospital where doctors declared them dead on arrival. A manhunt has been launched to trace the assassins," a police officer said, adding that it was premature to say whether the attack was carried out by militants.

Ravinder Raina, state BJP president, however, said it was a militant attack and that it was a big failure on the part of security agencies.

Protests broke out in the town as the news about the assassination of Ajit and Anil Parihar spread.

Ajit Parkar was an employee of state Financial Corporation.

Authorities have imposed curfew in the town and also suspended mobile Internet services as a precautionary measure.

Condoling the killings, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted: "Shocked and pained by the killing of J&K state BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother. My heart goes out to the bereaved family. Spoke to Advisor to J&K Governor Vijay Kumar regarding the incident. The police will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice."

Jammu and Kashmir is under Governor's rule currently.

--IANS

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One illuminated key principles in brain development. Another enabled new hope for detecting cancer at its earliest stages. And another volunteered years of his time to advance the cause of Stanford Medicine.

Together, they are the 2018 recipients of the highest honor bestowed by the School of Medicine, the Deans Medal, which is presented to individuals whose contributions have significantly advanced the mission of Stanford Medicine.

The recipients are Carla Shatz, PhD, the Sapp Family Provostial Professor, the David Starr Jordan Director of Stanford Bio-X and a professor of biology and of neurobiology; Don Listwin, founder and chairman of the Canary Foundation, which supports programs for early cancer detection; and Ron Johnson, founder and CEO of Enjoy, a company that hand-delivers technology products and helps customers set them up.

The collaborative effort to advance the biomedical revolution in precision health takes many forms, said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the School of Medicine. This years medal recipients have used their passions for science, philanthropy and service to help bring about exceptional progress in research and clinical care. Im proud to honor their work.

Improving brain plasticity
Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday said a joint task force set up by the Commerce Ministry and Karnataka government will address the concerns of southern state's flood-hit coffee growers.

"I have spoken to the Chief Minister (H.D. Kumaraswamy) and we have decided to set up a task force along with the Karnataka government to deal with the issues being faced by the coffee planters as a result of the recent floods," Prabhu told a coffee planters' gathering here through a video address from New Delhi.

The Minister was addressing the 60th anniversary of Karnataka Planters' Association (KPA), the apex decision-making body in the state for coffee, tea, rubber, pepper and cardamom plantations.

Due to the heavy rains and floods in the coffee-growing districts of Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan in August, the loss and damage caused to coffee estates, coffee crop and infrastructure is estimated to be Rs 3,000-crore, according to the KPA.

The Commerce Ministry will do everything to ensure the planters' issues are addressed, Prabhu said.

With about 45,000 growers producing 40 per cent of India's coffee, Kodagu contributes a major quantity of the aromatic beverage. With its adjacent districts - Chikkamagaluru and Hassan -- the region in the southern state's Western Ghats accounts for 70 per cent of the country's bean production.

As many as 20,000 of the growers in Kodagu have lost about 70 per cent of their crop due to the recent floods.

With 3.43 lakh coffee growers in the southern state facing pending loans cumulatively amounting up to Rs 6,000-crore, the KPA and the Coffee Board have been seeking interest waiver from the Ministry on the loans.

--IANS

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At least five persons were killed in Tinsukia district of Assam after militants fired indiscriminately at a group of people on Thursday evening, police said.

The incident took place at a remote location called Kherbari under Dhola Police Station in the district that borders Arunachal Pradesh in eastern Assam, the police said.

Locals said the armed militants came in Army fatigue and started firing at the people who were playing Ludo in front of a Dhaba on late Thursday evening.

The police suspect the hand of anti-talk action of ULFA militants behind the incident.

Condemning the Dhola incident, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal asked state Water Resources Minister Keshav Mahanta and Minister of State for Power Topon Kumar Gogoi to rush to the incident site to take stock of the situation.

Sonowal also asked Assam DGP Kula Saikia and ADGP Mukesh Agarwalla to immediately visit the site to tackle the situation, said an official statement.

The Chief Minister said that perpetrators of the crime would be dealt with firmly. He also directed all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to remain alert.

He condoled the death of innocent people and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families, the statement said.

--IANS

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Security forces shot dead two militants on Thursday in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir's Badgam district, triggering street protests in Badgam and Pulwama districts that left a woman badly injured, officials said.

A soldier was also injured in the gun battle.

Police said in a statement that the dead militants in Bugoo village in Arizal area of Badgam were identified as Mukhtar Ahmad of Badgam and Muhammad Amin Mir of Pampore.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the site. "They were both involved in a series of attacks on security establishments," the statement said.

The militants were killed after the security forces started a cordon and search operation following a tip off.

"The militants fired at the security forces, triggering the gunfight," a police officer said.

As news of the killings of the militants spread, slogan-shouting civilians poured out of their homes in Arizal in Badgam and pelted security forces with stones, police sources and witnesses said.

Young men also smashed the windshield of a media OB van when reporters reached the village.

Simultaneous protests broke out in Pampore town in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

In Pampore, stone-throwing youths blocked traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. Security forces used tear smoke to disperse the demonstrators.

A woman was hit by a stone on her head during the protests in Pampore town. She was shifted to a hospital, police said.

Authorities urged civilians not to venture inside the encounter zone "since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials.

"People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any," the statement said.

--IANS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday wished the people of Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka and Kerala on their Founding Day.

Greeting Madhya Pradesh, the second largest state currently election bound, Modi said that it has shown unparallel development in the past 15 years.

"Madhya Pradesh is India's heartland and it had always played leading role in country's development," Modi tweeted.

Greeting people on Kerala Piravi, Modi said that he prayed for the progress and prosperity of the people of the state.

"Kerala Piravi greetings! Kerala has a wonderful culture and has always emphasised on human empowerment. It's people have brought immense pride to India. May all their aspirations be fulfilled in the times to come," Modi said.

He wished Haryana, calling it a land of courage, hard work and a dedicated state.

"Haryana is the land that gives India its farmers and soldiers."

Modi credited late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for envisioning and forming Chattisgarh.

"With time, Chattisgarh has developed especially in agriculture," he said.

The Prime Minister called the people of Karnataka bright people who have distinguished themselves in various fields".

"Greetings to my sisters and brothers of Karnataka on the special occasion of Karnataka Rajyotsava. I pray for the happiness and wellbeing of the people of the state."

--IANS

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The Jio MAMI 20th Mumbai Film Festival with Star concluded with a star-studded award ceremony on Thursday. It will return with its 21st edition, which will be held here from October 17-24 next year.

Hosted by actors Bhumi Pednekar and Vicky Kaushal, the closing ceremony of the fest was attended by celebrities like Rajkummar Rao, Rasika Dugal, Anjali Menon, Sean Baker, Parvathy, Renuka Shahane, Bejoy Nambiar, Zoya Akhtar, Vishal Bhardwaj, A.R. Balki, Gauri Shinde and Boney Kapoor.

Bhardwaj presented the Excellence in Cinema Award to American filmmaker Darren Aronofsky.

"I have been to Mumbai a few times. I've always loved Mumbai because it's completely insane...more insane than New York City. It has incredible people and food...to get an honour in Mumbai means a lot. I am thankful and excited that people watch my films here," said Aronofsky, an Oscar nominee.

Among other winners, director Aadish Keluskar's 'Jaoon Kahan Bata Ae Dil' bagged the Young Critics Choice award.

The Golden Gateway for the Best Short Film, 5-9 years, in the Half Ticket category went to 'Listen' by Astrid Bussink.

The winner of the Golden Gateway, 9+ years, Short Film, was given to 'Amelia' by directors Maribeth Romslo and Cristina Pippa.

Priya Ramasubbana's 'Chuskit' received the Golden Gateway for the Best Feature (5-9 years), Half Ticket.

The Golden Gateway for the Best Feature, 9+ years, in the Half Ticket category went to Denis Do's 'Funan'.

An Oxfam special jury mention went for 'Sivaranjani and Two Other Women' by Vasanth S Sai for representing gender equality.

'Jonaki' by Aditya Vikram Sengupta received the second Oxfam special jury mention for gender equality.

The Oxfam Best Film on gender equality went to 'Soni' by Ivan Ayr.

'Soni', directed by debutant director Ivan Ayr and starring Geetika Vidya Ohlyan and Saloni Batra, explores the lives of two Delhi policewomen.

"Winning the Oxfam Best Film On Gender Equality award is a big honour and brings a great amount of credibility to the film's intentions and its achievement. As a filmmaker it encourages me to continue to tell stories that are about the human condition and human experiences, oblivious to the gender of the character," said Ivan.

Pranav Bhasin for 'New Years Eve' won the Royal Stag Large Short Films.

The Book Award for Excellence in Writing on Cinema, Language in Focus, was presented to Madhu Eravankara for his work, '100 Varsham, 100 Cinemakal'.

The Special Jury Mention for Excellence in Writing on Cinema, the English Book Award went to 'Start Action: Musings of a Moviemaker' by Balachandra Menon.

The Book Award for Excellence in Writing on Cinema was given to actress Soha Ali Khan for 'The Perils of Being Moderately Famous'.

Soha said: "It's an incredible honour to receive this award. I've been part of the industry for about 12-13 years as an actor. But it's great to be recognised for my writing.

"I feel fortunate to be part of that family. We live in a country which is crazy about films, but we don't write so much about cinema."

Actress Parvathy and filmmaker Bejoy Nambiar handed over the certificate for Special Jury Mention in the Dimensions Mumbai category to Gilroy Rodrigues for his film 'Metaphor'.

Nishtha Sadwelkar's film 'Yadav Ji' won the Silver Gateway in the Dimensions Mumbai category.

And the Golden Gateway for Dimensions Mumbai went to 'Sheher Ya Tum' by Karan Asnani.

The Grand Jury Prize for the International Competition went to 'The Island of Hungry Ghosts' by director Gabrielle Brady.

The Silver Gateway from the International Competition category was given to 'The Heiresses' by director Marcelo Martinessi.

"I come from a country with very little cinema. We have started our cinema history quite recently. So, it's very important to tell stories from Paraguay. It was wonderful it got me to understand that even though we are far from each other, the struggles, desires and aim for freedom are the same," Martinessi said.

The Grand Jury Prize for India Gold went to 'Mehsampur' by Kabir Chowdhry.

There was a tie for the Silver Gateway, India Gold. The winners were 'The Gold Laden Sheep and The Sacred Mountain' by Ridham Janve and 'Jonaki' by Aditya Vikram Sengupta.

Last year, Rima Das had won the India Gold, Golden Gateway Award for 'Village Rockstars', India's official entry to the upcoming edition of Oscars. She has again won the award. This year for 'Bulbul Can Sing".

She and her mother got emotional on stage.

'Reza' by Alireza Motamedi got a Special Jury Mention in the International Competition category.

While the award winners walked away with a smile on their faces, filmmaker Gauri Shinde got emotional when she took the stage to pay tribute to her 'English Vinglish' actress Sridevi.

She passed away in February by accidentally drowning in a bath tub in a Dubai hotel.

Soon after her tribute, Sridevi's husband Boney Kapoor walked out of the venue. It seemed like he was having a hard time fighting back his tears.

Kiran Rao, Chairperson, MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, concluded the fest by saying: "We started the book award three years ago. This year was the last year of book award at MAMI. We are taking it to the next level by starting an imprint that will commission and put great books on cinema on your bookshelves.

"The 21st edition is from October 17 to October 24."

--IANS

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Efforts to forge a broad unity among opposition parties to defeat the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections received a boost on Thursday with TDP leader N. Chandrababu Naidu meeting Congress President Rahul Gandhi and the two leaders stating that opposition forces will work together to "defend India, our institutions and democracy."

Naidu, who had a joint meeting with Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah in the afternoon, said that a meeting of anti-BJP parties will be convened to evolve an action plan against the BJP-led government and a common minimum programme will also be worked out.

He met Samajwadi Party leader leader Akhilesh Yadav and his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, in the evening.

The TDP leader's meeting with Gandhi, the first such meeting between leaders of two parties in over three decades, marked realignment of political relationships in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Gandhi alluded to the two parties having been rivals in the past and said they were "not going to get into the past" and noted that they had "a very good meeting."

"We are going to talk about the present and we are going to talk about the future because it is critical for our country. Because what is happening in the country, because of the situation in the country all opposition forces (would) get together and provide a vision to the country," he said.

"We have to defend the democracy in this country, we have to defend the institutions of this country and we have to defend the future of this country. So we are coming together, we are going to work together and all opposition forces are going to work together to defend India, our institutions and our democracy," he added.

Naidu, whose party quit the Modi government and the NDA earlier this year, said that he along with Gandhi wanted to forge a common platform "save nation, save democracy" for the opposition parties to defeat the BJP.

"We want to chalk out a programme for future to protect democracy and also the institutions. You are all watching what is happening in the country. I am in since last 40 years but have never witnessed this type of administration and attempt to demolish institutions like RBI, CBI, ED and Income Tax one by one."

Asked who will be the face of the opposition camp, both Gandhi and Naidu stressed that the issue will be decided later as their primary aim was to remove the BJP from power.

"We have agreed with the principle idea of defeating the BJP and to defend democracy and the institutions. All other ideas will be discussed later. Everybody is going to work together," said Gandhi.

On his part, Naidu said: "It is a reality that the Congress party is the principle opposition party and other parties are backing it. We will sit together and chalk out a programme for the future."

Gandhi also raked up the Rafale issue and said "it is very clear that corruption has taken place" and this sentiment was shared by all opposition leaders.

Naidu had visited the national capital last week and met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BSP leader Mayawati, Loktrantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav, former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha and CPI leaders D. Raja and S. Sudhakar Reddy apart from Abdullah.

After his meeting with Pawar and Abdullah on Thursday, Naidu said the country was facing a lot of problems and the situation was "deteriorating day by day".

"We will have a meeting in Delhi and then chalk out the future (plan of action)."

He said they were not coming together out of any greed for power. Abdullah said "Democracy is in danger. People are in danger. The country was going through a great crisis", he said.

Pawar said that institutions were being attacked. "If we work collectively to save democracy, we can save the institutions", he said.

"We will call a meeting of (opposition) leaders and discuss specific programmes," he said.

The leaders said they were convenors of the proposed meeting of opposition parties.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also made efforts to bring opposition parties together against the BJP.

--IANS

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"Narcos: Mexico" stars Michael Pena and Diego Luna will be coming to India later this month to meet the country's filmmakers from .

Showrunner of the Netflix show Eric Newman will also be coming to Mumbai with the lead starcast, a statement to IANS.

The "Narcos" franchise holds a very significant spot in the minds of the Indian audience. The title was number one on the list of the most binge-watched Netflix shows in India last year.

The team of the show will also be meeting fans of the series.

"Narcos: Mexico" is scheduled to premiere on November 16, most likely at a Netflix fan event in Mumbai earlier that week.

It will explore the origins of the modern drug war by going back to its roots, beginning at a time when the Mexican trafficking world was a loose and disorganised confederation of independent growers and dealers.

It will showcase the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s as Felix Gallardo (Luna) takes the helm, unifying traffickers to build an empire. When DEA agent Kiki Camarena (Pena) moves his wife and young son from California to Guadalajara to take on a new post, he quickly learns that his assignment will be more challenging than he ever could have imagined.

"Narcos: Mexico" is produced by Gaumont Television for Netflix. Newman is executive producer and showrunner.

--IANS

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday announced the appointment of Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen as his new special envoy to Syria, media reported.

Pedersen will replace Staffan de Mistura, who plans to leave the post at the end of November, after just over four years of unsuccessful attempts to mediate negotiations to end the conflict in the Arab country.

Currently Norway's ambassador to China, Pedersen has had an extensive diplomatic career that includes high-level posts in the UN Secretariat, reports Efe.

In a statement, Guterres stressed that the new envoy "brings to the position decades of political and diplomatic experience."

In 1993, Pedersen was part of the Norwegian team that participated in the negotiations leading to the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Pedersen will be the fourth special UN envoy to Syria since the war in that country started in 2011.

The first envoy, former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, left the post after only a few months, frustrated by the lack of cooperation from the parties to the conflict.

His successor, Lakhdar Brahimi, held the post for a little less than two years.

Meanwhile, De Mistura, a veteran diplomat, said that he was resigning for family reasons, but during his four years in the post he was not able to achieve much progress either.

--IANS

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The Kolkata unit of Narcotics Control Bureau on Thursday seized more than 1,300 Yaba tablets, also known as madness drug, from West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district and arrested an suspect, an NCB official said.

The drug containing methamphetamine and caffeine was initially seized by a team of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel from a house in North 24 Parganas district's Hakimpur which was later handed over to the NCB team.

"1370 tablets of Yaba were seized from the house of Kamaluddin Khan of Hakimpur village on Thursday. The cost of the seized drug is about Rs 7 lakh in the international illegal market," said Dilip Kumar Srivastava, zonal director of NCB's Kolkata unit.

According to the official, the drug was sourced from Myanmar via Manipur and was destined to Bangladesh.

"The accused and the seized contraband will be reproduced in court on Friday. The NCB will ask for his remand for a further probe," he said.

The Bangladesh government has last month approved a draft law prescribing the death penalty for producing, smuggling, distributing and using more than 5 grams of yaba.

--IANS

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Even as Ram V. Sutar, the sculptor behind Sardar Patel's 182 metres statue on the Sabarmati in Gujarat, is feted and lionised, there's another artist who has done challenging work in the heart of Delhi and carved granite stones to immortalise the names of 34,884 martyrs in the police and para military forces.

In Chanakyapuri, where the world's embassies occupy sprawling spaces, stands a 30-foot tall structure dedicated to those who laid down their lives in the line of duty. The National Police Memorial has been designed and conceptualised by one of India's prominent sculptors, Adwaita Charan Garanayak, who is also the Director-General of National Gallery of Modern Art.

Coming from a small village in Odisha, Garanayak grew up in the lap of nature and says that for him nature is the biggest teacher as it has "spiritual power" within itself. "Stones, trees, water, have vibrations which I feel and represent through my work," he told IANS in an interview here.

Talking about the concept behind the structure, he said: "When we look at the sky, mountains, ocean, we feel so vast... and if one sees the tall structure of the memorial, one would be able to feel its vastness. While looking up to it, our heads will automatically bow down to it in respect."

The front of the memorial depicts a "soul rising from the human body". The back of it depicts drops of nectar falling from the sky and at the base runs a 60-foot long river. On a "Wall of Valour" along the sculpture are engraved names of over 30,000 persons from almost 65 organisations who were killed in action after the 1962 China war.

These include people from the police forces, the CRPF, the CISF and the BSF, among others, says Garanayak who explained that they did not want to "categorise a martyr" so the name of the organisation is not written on the wall. He said the nectar depicted in the statue is like "God's blessings" to us.

While brainstorming on the design of the structure he said he wanted to make sure that it represented everyone in the country. "I wanted to make it symbolic so that everyone merges into it and have a sense of affinity towards it," he added.

The carving of the monolithic black granite stone, mined from Khammam district of Telangana, started in the first week of August. "We completed a task meant for two years in under three months. It was quite a challenge. The carving was done on the spot in a continuous process," Nivedita Misra, Garanayak's wife, who was also a part of making the memorial, told IANS. The Prime Minister opened the memorial on October 21.

From the beginning, a team of about 40 people were associated with it, though later many more were involved, including those who mined the stone and those who helped to keep the area clean. "There were lots of changes in the initial design. We worked day and night to complete the work before the deadline," an artist from the team said.

"The final structure is far better than what we had conceived. Team work was very important. We did not even let nature stop us...rain, heat or dust... we worked 24/7," Misra said.

"Since we were carving on stone, we could not afford to make a mistake. Everything had to be perfect at one go," she added.

But why black granite?

"Granite is our oldest family member on the planet. We chose it because it has witnessed the history of mankind. If we surrender to it, it comes to life and when we embrace it, we'll be able to talk to it," says Garanayak.

"The colour black absorbs everything. When you come to share your feelings with the memorial, it will absorb it all. The families of the slain soldiers can come and share their sadness with it and the stone will take their messages to the supreme power," he said with complete seriousness.

"We want people to talk to it, feel it, embrace it and salute it," Garanayak said.

For him sculpting means everything. "After completing the sculpture it feels like I have taken a rebirth," he said.

(Muskan Aggarwal can be contacted at muskan.a@ians.in)

--IANS

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Radical Islamist groups continued to protest and block highways for the second consecutive day in Pakistan on Thursday, a day after the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of Christian woman Asia Bibi, who had been convicted in 2010 of blasphemy.

In major cities such as Lahore, Karachi and the capital Islamabad, members of the radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) party continued to block highways, despite Prime Minister Imran Khan warning them to not confront the state.

Responding to the threats made to the judiciary by the religio-political parties over the acquittal, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar asked how the court could punish someone if the charges against them could not be proven, Dawn online reported.

"I and the bench (members) are all lovers of the Prophet (peace be upon him). We are ready to sacrifice ourselves for the Prophet's honour. But we are not judges only for Muslims. If there is no proof against someone, how can we punish them?"

Around 250 protesters blocked the main entry to the capital on the highway connecting Islamabad with Rawalpindi, city police spokesperson Abdul Rehman told Efe news.

He added that the protesters, who were burning tires, had also cut off a number of other roads and highways connecting the city to other parts of the country.

In Lahore, stick-wielding protesters chanting religious slogans outside the Punjab police chief's office attacked policemen in riot gear who were attempting to disperse the agitators.

The demonstrators resisted the cops and some attacked the officials, after which the policemen resorted to baton-charging the protesters, reports say.

Around 600 people had gathered in front of the provincial Assembly of Punjab in Lahore since Thursday night and protests by smaller groups were going on in other parts of the city, police spokesperson Shafique Hussain said.

The railway network in Lahore suffered disruptions due to protests and suspension of mobile signals.

Educational institutions remained closed on Thursday in the provinces of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Protests began on Wednesday immediately after the apex court judgment and leaders of the TLP -- which supports the anti-blasphemy law and its implementation as part of its agenda -- called for the death of the judges who passed the verdict.

Asia Bibi, a mother of five, was accused by two women of insulting Prophet Muhammad in 2009 and a court sentenced her to death in 2010.

Bibi maintained her innocence, but spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The Prime Minister defended the top court's judgment in a televised address, saying it was in accordance with the Constitution and appealed to the protesters to not challenge the state.

--IANS

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The Punjab Police on Thursday said it has busted a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist module, Khalistan Gadar Force, with the arrest of one of its members.

"Cracking down on the violence, arson and terror unleashed by the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) under the guise of Sikh Referendum 2020, the Punjab Police on Thursday busted the Pakistan-sponsored terror module with the arrest of one Shabnamdeep Singh from Patiala," Director General of Police (DGP) Suresh Arora said here.

"Shabnamdeep was planning to attack police stations/ posts and crowded places in the ongoing festival season. A pistol, hand grenade, CT-100 Bajaj Platinum black motorcycle and letter pads belonging to Khalistan Gadar Force and other banned terrorist organisations have been recovered from him," Arora said.

"With this arrest, the Punjab Police has blown up Pakistan ISI (Inter Services Intelligence)'s nexus with Gurpatwant Singh Pannu's campaign for Sikh Referendum-2020, and the conspiracy hatched by ISI-backed SFJ to spread mayhem in Punjab and other parts of India," the DGP said, giving details of the arrest.

He said the arrest of Shabnamdeep has shown that the New-York based SFJ continues to spearhead and promote the Sikh Referendum 2020 campaign through violence and arson.

"The organisation is patently preying on the poor, illiterate and devout Sikh youth from the Punjab countryside and radicalising them. The youth are being exploited by SFJ, which is using their poverty as cannon fodder to unleash violence and promote secessionist acts in the state," the DGP said, appealing to Punjab's youth not to fall into the trap of such anti-national and secessionist forces out to destroy their lives by pushing them into violence and arson.

"Shabnamdeep's arrest, and that of his associates found to be working for SFJ leaders, has also once again exposed the claims of Gurpatwant Singh Pannu that their campaign for self-determination did not have any room for violence, and that SFJ and its leaders were not funding any terrorist activity in Punjab," he added.

On May 31, the Punjab Police in Batala had arrested two radical operatives, Dharminder Singh (a Territorial Army soldier) and Kirpal Singh, who had set two liquor vends on fire in Harpura Dhandoi and Panjgrian villages in Sri Hargobindpur block of Batala police district.

Arora said that Shabnamdeep Singh hailed from Daftari Wala Burar village in Samana in Patiala district. He was out on bail in a petty crime case in Rajasthan.

"Shabnamdeep was operating a Facebook account under the fake name of 'Lahoria Jatt Gill' with a profile picture of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale," Arora said.

"Investigations so far have revealed that in July, he was contacted by one Javed Khan Wazir, a suspected Pakistan Intelligence Officer (PIO), from Pakistan, and was introduced to a Pakistani Sikh 'Gopal Singh Chawla'. He was further introduced to two other persons, who told Shabnamdeep that they were also supporters of SFJ and asked him to join more associates and propagate Sikh Referendum-2020 in a big way," the DGP said.

Preliminary investigations by the police have revealed that Shabnamdeep was further introduced to one Nihal Singh who identified himself as a hardcore SFJ operative.

"Nihal and the PIOs started communicating regularly with Shabnamdeep, and kept inciting him to indulge in arson involving liquor vends. They asked Shabnamdeep to videograph such acts of arson and share videos along with details of news reports relating to these incidents," he said.

Acting on these directives, Shamandeep and his associate set on fire several liquor vends and shacks, along with a house, last month and sent the videos to the three. Shabnamdeep purchased one CT-100 Bajaj Platinum Motorcycle and a new mobile phone with the funds transferred to him by Nihal, police investigations revealed.

Shabnamdeep was also in touch with one Sukhraj Singh, who was indulging in violent activities and was arrested by the Amritsar police recently.

The police said Shabnamdeep and his handlers created a Facebook page in the name of "Khalistan Gadar Force" to popularise the newly-formed terrorist outfit and propagate its actions.

"Javed Khan tasked Shabnamdeep to carry out targeted killings and also promised him Rs 10 lakh for each such act," the DGP stated.

"In the second week of October, Shabnamdeep was tasked by his handlers/ mentors based in Pakistan to procure a new phone and install a new messaging application for further communication. The handlers promised to provide him pistols and grenades. Around October 24, the pistol and grenade were delivered to Shabnamdeep. He was advised to use this grenade on some police stations/posts and crowded places during the ongoing festival session," the DGP claimed.

--IANS

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Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday held discussions and decided to move ahead to unite the like-minded opposition parties to oust the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

After an hour-long discussion, both leaders stressed the leadership issue will be discussed later and said their primary motive was to defeat the BJP as democracy and the institutions were being "attacked" by the Modi-led BJP government.

"We have to defend the future of the country. So, we are coming together. Both of us agree that we are going to talk about the future. The country is passing through a critical phase. Because of the situation, all opposition forces have to get together and provide a vision to the country," Gandhi told reporters with Naidu by his side.

Naidu said he along with Gandhi wanted a common platform "save nation, save democracy" for the opposition parties to defeat the BJP.

"We want to chalk out a programme for future to protect democracy and also the institutions. I am in for the last 40 years, but have never witnessed such attempts to demolish institutions such as the RBI, CBI, ED and Income Tax -- one by one.

"You name any institution... even governors in the state and Supreme Court. You can see what happened in Rafale deal. We are very happy we are working together," Naidu said.

Asked who will be the face of the opposition camp, both Gandhi and Naidu stressed that the issue will be decided later as their primary target was to remove the BJP from power.

"We have agreed with the principle idea of defeating the BJP and to defend democracy and the institutions. All other ideas will be discussed later. Everybody is going to work together," said Gandhi.

On his part, Naidu said: "It is a reality that the Congress is the principle opposition party and that other parties are backing it. We will sit together and chalk out a programme."

As reporters insisted on clearing the air about leadership issue, Naidu said: "You are more interested in candidate, while opposition parties are interested in the nation".

"You also think about nation first. Save nation, save democracy. Then, we will think about anything (leadership). Our main motive is to save the nation," he said.

Gandhi said : "Your motive is sensationalism...But, we have to work together and deliver on people's aspirations. The principle challenge is to work together to defend India's institutions and democracy. Everything else is secondary."

To a question on Rafale, Gandhi said: "It is very clear that corruption has taken place. Institutions that can investigate Rafale are being attacked. If there is a proper inquiry in Rafale, it will become very clear what exactly happened...where the money went and who was involved in corruption. I believe the nation needs to know where corruption in Rafale has taken place. And that sentiment is shared by all opposition leaders."

Asked whether other opposition parties share the same sentiment on the Rafale controversy, Gandhi turned the mike towards Naidu and said: "Chandrababu can comment on that."

Naidu then said: "In Andhra Pradesh, we have our own issue on bifurcation (of the state) for special status. On that Rahul-ji has supported us. We are all in agreement. We are all concerned. Rahulji is taking lead on Rafale and other issues. Some other parties are also talking about it. But at national forum, only one voice will be raised, which will have tremendous effect."

--IANS

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Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on Thursday introducing special economic measures against 322 Ukrainian citizens and 68 companies amid a prolonged row between Moscow and Kiev.

The sanctions, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin in October, included freezing non-cash funds, non-documentary securities and property in Russia and banning transfer of funds (withdrawal of capital) outside Russia, Tass news agency reported.

The sanctions targeted Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's elder son Alexei, Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Arsen Avakov, Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy and Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak among other key ministers and important businessmen.

The blacklist also included EastOne Group and Toledo Mining Corporation registered in Britain and Ferrexpo registered in Switzerland.

"The decree is aimed at countering unfriendly actions against Russian citizens and legal entities on the part of Ukraine and at lifting restrictions imposed earlier by the Ukrainian side on these persons, as well as normalizing bilateral relations," said a government statement.

The Russian government said it could lift the sanctions if Ukraine cancels its own restrictive measures against Russia.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow have deteriorated since early 2014 over Crimea and armed conflicts in eastern Ukraine. Kiev has imposed a series of sanctions against Russia since then.

--IANS

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Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has decided to convene Parliament on November 5 to settle the ongoing political crisis, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse said on Thursday.

Speaking at an event at the Presidential Secretariat, Rajapakse said Sirisena had informed him of his decision, reports Xinhua news agency.

The move comes after Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya met Sirisena on Wednesday and urged him to convene Parliament to solve the ongoing political crisis which erupted after the President appointed Rajapakse as the Prime Minister following the sacking of Ranil Wickremesinghe from the post last week.

Jayasuriya said he had received the signatures of 125 legislators, urging him to convene parliament to vote as to which party had the majority support.

On October 27, Sirisena prorogued parliament till November 16.

--IANS

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Sri Lanka's sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday said he had the support of Parliament as the island nation grappled with an unprecedented constitutional crisis following his ouster by President Maithripala Sirisena.

"I still remain the Prime Minister and I have the confidence of the majority of members of the House," Wickremesinghe told the BBC from his official residence Temple Trees.

The President removed Wickremesinghe, sacked the Cabinet and suspended Parliament last week and appointed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister.

However, Wickremesinghe has refused to leave office, calling the move illegal. The crisis sparked protests and violence in the country that is facing an extraordinary situation where two people are claiming to run the government.

"The Constitution states that the President must appoint as Prime Minister the person who commands the confidence of Parliament and I am the person who has that. We have asked for the summoning of Parliament so I can prove my majority in the House," Wickremesinghe said.

His United National Party (UNP) demanded that the House be convened soon and Rajapaksa suggested that this could happen at the start of next week. No date has yet been confirmed, the BBC reported.

Wickremesinghe's supporters had been gathering at Temple Trees since the day he was sacked. The BBC cited his aides as saying that it was a way to prevent any use of force to remove the ousted Prime Minister from the house.

Meanwhile, in another part of Colombo, Rajapaksa has begun work. The official website of the Prime Minister has been updated to show his photo and profile. Posters congratulating him have been put up all over Colombo's streets.

In a statement released earlier this week, Rajapaksa said: "I was aware that at this moment of national peril, the people expected our leadership and protection.

"Hence, I accepted the invitation extended to me by the President to assume the position of Prime Minister."

Rajapaksa is a popular but controversial figure who ended Sri Lanka's civil war in 2009 but faced criticism for the means by which he achieved victory. Many thousands of Tamil civilians are said to have been killed by government forces in the final months of the fighting.

--IANS

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From being a romantic hero who made women weak in the knees to playing his own fanatic fan, a bootlegger, a psychologist and now a vertically challenged man in "Zero" and an astronaut in the Rakesh Sharma biopic -- Shah Rukh Khan, who turns 53 on Friday -- has been experimenting and reinventing himself by taking risks, say experts.

The risks may have not always reaped praises, especially with films like "Dilwale" and "Jab Harry Met Sejal", but that hasn't deterred the actor from trying something new.

Superstar Aamir Khan has vouched for Shah Rukh's "Zero", after watching its trailer at a special event.

"SRK, you have outdone yourself," Aamir tweeted, impressed by a glimpse into the Aanand L. Rai directorial which also stars Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma.

The film's trailer will be officially launched on Friday afternoon. Trade analysts who have already had a sneak peek into it have said the movie, which is likely to have a "strong undercurrent of emotions", promises "hardcore commercial drama and melodrama at its best".

While "Zero" will release on December 21, according to filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, who directed Shah Rukh in the gritty "Raees", the actor's energy and appetite to experiment is still like that of a 23-year-old.

"At 53, he is hungry. Still very hungry. And he has so much to offer that I am not surprised as to why he is trying different roles, and I am really glad he is open to that.

"He can play intense scenes as easily as he could charm and romance. He has the biggest, widest and most convincing range than any other actor in the industry," Dholakia told IANS over phone.

Asked about the impact of the rise of actors like Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao and Vicky Kaushal, who are scoring big with offbeat films, Dholakia said: "I don't think Shah Rukh's work will be affected. If at all, he will reinvent himself to suit, match and excel at new scripts and narratives that are emerging and getting popular.

"For actors like Shah Rukh, it's going to be about picking different parts and right scripts. He is very smart and hardworking. He has got the passion and drive of a newcomer."

Shah Rukh, who entered the industry via the small screen route with "Fauji", went on to win the audience's heart with films like "Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge", "Dil To Pagal Hai" and "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai". Not only in terms of love stories, Shah Rukh garnered a huge fan following for his villainous roles in movies like "Darr", "Baazigar" and "Anjaam".

In the past five years, the actor has featured in movies like "Chennai Express", "Happy New Year", "Dilwale", "Fan", "Dear Zindagi", "Raees" and "Jab Harry Met Sejal". While some scored success, some stories did not strike the right chord with the audience.

Shah Rukh had even reportedly refunded distributors of "Jab Harry Met Sejal" after it failed to generate the expected response.

Trade expert Vinod Mirani feels Shah Rukh should take a career break.

"Instead of doing same romantic roles again and again, Shah Rukh should do something different. Like Rishi Kapoor took a break in his career and then rediscovered himself, SRK should also do the same," Mirani said, adding that mediocre scripts are responsible for the actors' films which have not performed well.

He said: "It has been more than 25 years since SRK is a part of this industry. With each of his projects, his fans expect something new from him. He should do stories which are different and don characters which people could relate with."

Shah Rukh himself wants no mediocrity -- so suggested one of his latest tweets in which he wrote: "I am okay to die of excess... I welcome starving because of want... just don't let me succumb to an accident with mediocrity."

Actor Sonu Sood, who worked with the 'Bollywood Badshah' in "Happy New Year", finds Shah Rukh's process of "rediscovering" himself interesting.

"He always tries to explore himself, with the kind of body work he has. He has done everything. He is discovering new projects. That is the journey of a true actor... when you keep trying new things and try to rediscover yourself. He is doing that and he is a well-read man. I am sure whatever he will do, will be something he will always be proud of," Sonu told IANS.

(Simran Sethi is in Dharamsala to cover the film festival. She can be contacted at simran.s@ians.in)

--IANS

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The team of forthcoming film "Thugs of Hindostan" have joined hands with Google Maps in India, where superstar Aamir Khan's character from the film "Firangi" will be guiding commuters with directions.

" As people gear up for Diwali and to watch 'Thugs Of Hindostan', we wanted to do our bit by making their driving journeys more fun and playful. We wish the movie all the success," Neha Waikar, Product Manager, Google Maps, said in a statement.

Beginning on Thursday, commuters will have the option to drive along with Firangi on their Android or IOS smartphones. In the navigating app, users will find Aamir riding his pet donkey from the film throughout the journey.

Google and Yash Raj Films (YRF) have also incorporated Firangi's catchy dialogues from the film that have been loved by audiences such as "1-2-3 quick march".

"It's not only the biggest Bollywood movie produced till date but also for the first time ever brings together the two legends of Indian Cinema, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and Mr. Aamir Khan. We were aware that no marketing idea that we implement can eclipse this.

"So we had to think of creating a first time, unparalleled and unrepeatable marketing idea to promote this film. And in Google Maps we found a perfect partner to do so," Manan Mehta, Vice President - Marketing and Merchandising, YRF, said.Slated to release on November 8, the movie stars Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Sheikh. Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, the film will release in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

--IANS

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US President Donald Trump slapped new sanctions targeting Venezuela's gold exports on Thursday, as his National Security Adviser John Bolton unveiled a hard-line policy toward Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.

Trump informed US lawmakers that he has signed an executive order to bar US citizens and entities from involvement in the gold export trade from Venezuela, according to a letter released by the White House on Thursday.

In a speech delivered in Miami, the US state of Florida, Bolton elaborated the new US sanctions as he lashed out at Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, Xinhua news agency reported.

Labeling the three nations as "the troika of tyranny in this hemisphere," Bolton accused Cuba of helping Venezuela, saying the State Department will sanction over two dozen entities owned or controlled by the Cuban military and intelligence services, with which US persons are banned from doing business with.

The goal is to prevent money from being gotten by the Cuban military, security and intelligence services, Bolton said at Freedom Tower, a local landmark to the Cuban community as it received many Cuban refugees in 1960s.

He also said that the US administration would review whether to allow US citizens whose property was seized by the Cuban government to sue foreign companies that have invested in the properties in Cuba.

Bolton's speech is believed to further press the two nations that the Trump administration have seen as adversaries, and to consolidate votes for the upcoming high-stakes midterm elections in the state home to many migrants from the two nations.

Bolton also threatened Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, saying unless the country hold "free, fair and early" elections, "the Nicaraguan regime, like Venezuela and Cuba, will feel the full weight of America's robust sanctions regime."

Last year in August, Trump has said that he would not rule out a "military option" in Venezuela "if necessary," despite his aides' opposition. The US side has announced several rounds of sanctions against Venezuelan government officials ever since.

Several US media outlets reported last month that that the Trump administration has talked secretly with rebellious Venezuelan military officers several times to discuss their plans to stage a coup in the South American country.

For its part, Venezuela has slammed the "warmongering" declarations of Trump as "threats to peace" and a "violation" of UN and international laws, instructing the military to prepare to "shoulder arms" in case of a US invasion.

Over 20 US diplomats in Cuba suffered from what Washington called "acoustic attacks" between November 2016 and August 2017.

The incidents led to the partial closure of the US embassy in Havana, expulsion of 15 Cuban diplomats who worked at the embassy in Washington, and a halt to issuance of US visas in Havana.

Cuba rejected the accusation, initiated an investigation, and urged the US to present evidence of the alleged attacks.

Though denying the US accusation, Cuba reiterated its commitment to cooperating with the US authorities to clarify this situation and its willingness to guarantee the health and safety of Cubans and foreign citizens in the island nation.

--IANS

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In the most racially charged national political ad in 30 years, US President Donald Trump and the Republican Party have accused Democrats of plotting to help Central American "invaders" overrun the nation with police killers, CNN reported on Thursday.

The new spot, tweeted by the President on Wednesday five days before the midterm elections, is the most extreme step yet in the most inflammatory closing argument of any campaign in recent memory.

The ad -- produced for the Trump campaign -- features Luis Bracamontes, a Mexican man who had previously been deported but returned to the US and was convicted in February in the killing of two California deputies.

"I'm going to kill more cops soon," a grinning Bracamontes is shown saying in court as captions flash across the screen reading "Democrats let him into our country. Democrats let him stay".

The ad also flashes footage of the migrant caravan of Central American asylum seekers that is currently in Mexico.

"Who else would Democrats let in?" a caption asks.

The ad recalls the notorious "Willie Horton" campaign financed by supporters of the former President George H.W. Bush's campaign in the 1988 presidential election.

Horton was a man and convicted murderer who committed rape while furloughed under a programme in Massachusetts where Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis was Governor.

The ad has since been deemed as one of the most racially problematic in modern political history since it played into white fear and African-American stereotypes, CNN said.

Reacting to the ad, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said on Wednesday night the ad was a sign of desperation and suggested that Trump was losing the argument over health care that is at the centre of the Democratic campaign.

"This is distracting, divisive Donald at his worst," Perez told CNN.

"This is fear mongering... They have to fear monger and his dog whistle of all dog whistles is immigration. This has been Donald Trump's playbook for so long."

--IANS

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Security forces shot dead two militants on Thursday in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir's Badgam district, triggering widespread street protests in Badgam and Pulwama districts, police said.

The militants were killed in Bugoo village in Arizal area after the security forces started a cordon and search operation following a tip off.

"The militants fired at the security forces, triggering the gunfight," a police officer said.

As news of the killings of the militants spread, slogan-shouting civilians poured out of their homes in Arizal in Badgam and pelted security forces with stones, police sources and witnesses said.

Young men also smashed the windshield of a media OB van when reporters reached the village.

Simultaneous protests broke out in Pampore town in south Kashmir's Pulwama district amid speculation that one of the slain militants belonged to Pampore town.

In Pampore, stone-pelting youths blocked traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. Security forces used tear smoke to disperse the demonstrators.

Authorities have suspended mobile Internet facility in Badgam district.

Police said the exact identity of the militants killed in Badgam was being ascertained.

--IANS

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The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces have announced a pause in their campaign against the Islamic State (IS) terror group following clashes with Turkish forces, according to American military officials.

The US-led coalition fighting the IS has conducted scores of air and artillery strikes in recent weeks as it has sought to drive the group from its last stronghold east of the Euphrates River in Syria, CNN reported on Thursday.

The IS has been driven to just a few towns in the area and the US and its coalition allies conducted 184 air and artillery strikes last week targeting the terror group's last remaining territory, striking command and control centres, weapons caches and vehicles.

"Turkish attacks in the north and IS attacks in the south against our troops had forced us to stop our current operation temporarily against ISIS in the last pocket of it," the SDF said in a statement.

"We also call the international community to condemn the Turkish provocations in the safe areas in Syria, and we demand our partners in the International Coalition to show a clear attitude and stop Turkey from launching attacks on the region," it added.

The halting of the operation is a major setback for the US and its allies and comes after Turkey threatened a new military operation targeting the Kurdish-led SDF.

Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Sean Robertson told CNN that the US was encouraging "all parties to avoid escalation and focus on the most important task of defeating IS", adding that "the campaign against IS is not over and the fight remains very difficult".

The approximately 50,000-strong SDF are a mix of Kurdish and Arab fighters and have been the primary ground force fighting IS in much of the country.

The US has some 2,000 troops in Syria, many of whom work with the SDF.

--IANS

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The US has urged Pakistan to immediately enact a legislation that formally ban radical religious groups, a media report said on Thursday.

The US' suggestion on Wednesday followed a decision announced last week for ending a ban on Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and the Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), which Washington designates as terrorist groups, the Dawn report said.

The Pakistani media late last month had reported that the two outfits, that manage a large charity network with the help of thousands of volunteers, temporarily came off the list of banned outfits in Islamabad because the ordinance that proscribed them under a UN resolution had lapsed.

The Imran Khan government is working on a proposal to extend the ban.

The development underscores the importance of Pakistan "urgently enacting legislation that formally proscribes" both JuD and FIF, a spokesperson for the US State Department told reporters in Washington on Wednesday.

"The expiration of the ban on JuD and FIF runs counter to Pakistan's commitment to work with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to address weaknesses in its counter-terrorism financing regime.

"As we have said before, the US is deeply concerned that this development will jeopardise Pakistan's ability to meet its commitments under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 to freeze and prevent the raising and moving of funds belonging to or associated with UN-designated terrorist groups," the spokesperson said.

In February, former President Mamnoon Hussain signed an amendment to the antiterrorism law that allowed the state to ban charities linked to Saeed.

The Constitution, however, requires a presidential amendment to be ratified or renewed by the parliament within four months of its issuance.

Recently, Saeed filed a petition, arguing that the amendment to Pakistan's antiterrorism law had become unconstitutional as the parliament failed to ratify it, Dawn said.

Saeed initially headed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), formed in the 1980s, which was designated a terrorist outfit by the US, the UN, Britain, Russia and the European Union.

In 2012, the US announced a $10 million bounty for Saeed's arrest. Pakistan has also banned the group.

--IANS

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Indian Vice President M. Venkaiah has said that India and Botswana were amongst the fastest growing economies in the world, with growth rates of over 7 per cent a year, adding that their bilateral trade had increased by an impressive 27 per cent over the period of one year.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the 13th Global Expo Botswana, the largest business meet in the southern African country organised by the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), here on Wednesday.

He was accompanied by his Botswanian counterpart Slumber Tsogwane and Botswana's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Bogolo J. Kenewendo, who, at 31years, is the youngest woman member of Botswana's Parliament and also the youngest member of the Botswana cabinet.

"We are quite impressed by Botswana's political stability and its consistent status of being the fastest growing economy in Africa. We have about 25 Indian companies present at this forum to look at investment opportunities, the largest-ever delegation from India to Botswana," Naidu told the gathering.

Most of the companies from India came from the state of Gujarat and from south India and cover sectors such as health, ITC, food processing, energy, textiles, education and manufacturing.

"India and Botswana already collaborate in terms of security, defence, trade, business, health and the bilateral trade has grown to $1.75 billion in 2017-18 - an impressive growth of 27 percent over the previous year," Naidu added.

The Vice President also spoke of the contribution of the Indian diaspora to the development of Africa.

"Lots of Indian diaspora have been based in Botswana since its independence and they contribute to employment generation and to the local economy," Naidu added.

Representing 40 per cent of Botswana's GDP and 70 per cent of its exports, diamonds remain the principal sector of collaboration between India and Botswana.

"We want the Indian companies to invest in Botswana and set up their units for polishing, cutting and innovative processing of diamonds in here. This will be the best way to forge a long, stable and a win-win relationship," Minister Kenewendo, told this correspondent.

About 8,000 persons of Indian origin currently live in Botswana and nearly 3,000 of them are believed to have taken the Botswanian nationality.

"I came in 1988 from Chennai. I was hired as a teacher and soon after I started a business in the manufacturing sector. In the span of 30 years, a lot of investors have come in the country and it has modernised tremendously. We are mainly into imports but since it is a landlocked we rely on countries like South Africa and Namibia where there are seaports," said Rajamanickam Baskar, Director of Madura Enterprises that is in the FMCG and healthcare sector.

Jagadessan Naidu, who hails from Coimbatore, set up his business, Nira Holdings that is active in the fields of borehole pumps, electrical installation and maintenance and fluid control systems, in 2000. He says that he made profits quite quickly and has grown his business tremendously within 10 years.

"The growth rate of Botswana is just like in india; I never faced any corruption issues. Also money is safe; banking is strong and a number of Indian banks like SBI, BOI and Bank of Baroda are also present here. What we need though is to develop logistics but everything is to be done and this is what makes it exciting for investors from India," he explained.

With a population of barely 2,3 million, the need for skilled personnel is high in the country, explains Vijay Naik, Managing Director at Flotek Pipes Tanks and Irrigation, who migrated from Surat in 1983.

"We are probably the largest manufacturing company in private sector in Botswana. We manufacture pipes and tanks and fittings used in water projects, sanitation and agriculture. We need easier ways to receive work permits and resident permit for staff from India. Government is quite flexible but we hope that with the stronger links between the two countries and the official visit of Venkaiah Naidu, doing business will be even easier," Naik said.

Another attractive aspect of investments in Botswana is that it offers immediate and duty-free and quota-free access to several key markets including the European Union and the Southern African Development Community, a group of 15 Southern African nations with a population of nearly 300 million and a combined GDP of nearly $600 billion.

--IANS

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City-based non-banking finance company Veritas Finance on Thursday said it has raised Rs 200 crore from a group of investors.

In a statement issued here, the company said it has raised the sum from Norwest Venture Partners along with CDC Group Plc, a development finance institution owned by the UK government and an anchor investor P. Surendra Pai.

Veritas Finance is focussed on lending to Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises (MSME). The fresh funds raised will be used for deployment is the MSME sector.

"Through this round of funding, besides expansion, we will also strengthen our technology which will help us achieve higher productivity and bring down the cost of servicing micro-businesses," Arulmany. D, Managing Director and CEO, Veritas Finance was quoted as saying in the statement.

Veritas Finance has created a loan book of Rs 500 crore since inception in 2015, having a customer base of more than 21,000 present across seven states with over 132 branches backed by 1,125 employees.

India is home to more than 60 million MSMEs who contribute to 45 per cent of the exports and it forms the highest share of employment sector in India, contributing around 69 per cent to it, the company said.

--IANS

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Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut on Thursday said waiting for the Supreme Court to settle the Ram Janmabhoomi issue was fruitless as it could stretch on for a "thousand years."

In the temple town of Ayodhya to assess the preparations for the November 25 visit of party chief Uddhav Thackeray, Raut said the only way for the construction of a grand Ram temple was "the ordinance route".

Shiv Sena is BJP's ally both at Centre as well as in Maharashtra.

Raut, a Shiv Sena MP in the Rajya Sabha, said Thackeray's Ayodhya visit later this month was aimed at "reminding Prime Minister Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of their commitment to the cause dear to millions of Hindus."

Raut said Prime Minister Modi has overcome many hurdles in his political career and that he was very hopeful Modi would successfully cross the hurdles around the Ayodhya imbroglio, also.

--IANS

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For the third time in six years, the drought-hit regions of Marathwada will receive water released from dams in Nashik and Ahmednagar districts in Maharashtra.

Armed policemen were posted at strategic locations as water from two dams in Nashik and one in Ahmednagar was released early on Thursday for the 150 km long journey to Jayakwadi dam in Aurangabad.

"Over the next two days, we shall release a total of 2.64 TMC water to Jayakwadi dam. This will include around 2.04 TMC from Darna and Mukane dams and another 0.60 TMC from the Gangapur dam," Nashik Irrigation Department Executive Engineer R.S. Shinde told IANS from the dam site.

The move came a day after the Maharashtra government declared drought in 42 per cent of the state, portending ill-tidings ahead of the election season and the winter session of the Maharashtra Assembly starting in Mumbai on November 19.

The drought-hit regions include 26 of the total 36 districts, spanning 151 out of 358 talukas (sub-districts).

Severe drought has gripped 112 talukas just as the monsoon bowed out, as there was barely 77 per cent rain in the state.

The decision to release the dam waters was taken after the Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an appeal filed by Padmashri Vitthalrao Patil Sugar Mills against an order of the irrigation authorities to release 8.22 TMC water from Nilwande dam in Ahmednagar to Jayakwadi dam.

Jayakwadi dam is situated on the Godavari river in Aurangabad and the fresh inflow of water would quench the thirst of the people in Aurangabad city, parts of Beed, Parbhani and Osmanabad, said Shinde.

This is the third time after 2012, 2015 that the decision under the ambit of equal distribution of water rules of the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) was taken.

Shinde hinted that with Thursday's release of excess water from the Nashik-Ahmednagar dams, some parts may face "regulated supply" especially during the summer months, though shortages are not anticipated as apprehended by the farmers.

Already 10 out of 14 sub-districts of Nashik were facing drought in 2018, but owing to good rain in the catchment areas the dams were filled to the brim, he added.

However, the grim drought conditions hitting 44 sub-districts in Marathwada and 33 in North Maharashtra, has raised the spectre of shortfall in agriculture, spiralling prices owing to shortages, problems of drinking water and fodder for man and cattle, migration to urban centres and others.

--IANS

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Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday urged people to celebrate the birth of girl child by ending the evil practice of female foeticide.

"It's unfortunate that in a country like India where girls are worshipped as 'devi' that they feel insecure," she said in the Himachal Pradesh capital.

Addressing girls under Mission Sahasi, an initiative of the ABVP to make girls fearless and self-confident, Irani said: "No matter what a girl wears or which family she belongs to, respect is her birth right.

"It was an absolutely enthralling experience to witness 1,300 young school and college girls perform martial arts in Shimla as part of self-defence training programme being organised by ABVP across the country," she said in a tweet.

--IANS

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BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rakesh Sinha on Thursday asked opposition leaders if they will support a private member bill that he is mulling to bring in Parliament on Ram temple in Ayodhya.

"Will Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechury, Lalu Prasad, Mayawati support the private member bill on Ayodhya? They frequently ask the date (as to when construction of Ram temple will start). Now the onus on them," Sinha said in a tweet.

He said a legislation for building a grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya had been necessitated as the Supreme Court, which was hearing the matter, was taking too long to decide.

"How many days the Supreme Court took to give verdict on Article 377, Jallikattu, Sabarimala? But Ayodhya is not a priority for decades and decades. It is a top priority of Hindu society," Sinha said.

--IANS

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Kenya Airways inaugural flight to the United States has landed at the John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday, completing a historic flight that will shave up to seven hours off the tortuous journey that usually involves long layovers in Europe or the Middle East.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and some government officials were at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport where a flagging off ceremony was held for the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner before it departed for New York.

Speaking shortly before the departure, President Kenyatta said that the direct flights will open up Kenya to the rest of the world.

Normal flights from Kenya to the US take up to 22 hours for the 11,849 km between Nairobi and New York.

In September, Kenya Airways was awarded a permit to operate direct flights to the US, paving the way for the Sunday nights inaugural flight.

The newly commissioned flights are envisioned to bolster trade and tourism activities between the two countries. New York customers will be able to connect to more than 40 onward African destinations via Kenya Airways hub in Nairobi.

Only eight other African countries have direct flights to the US, namely: Senegal, Ghana, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Cape Verde.
Actress Karisma Kapoor, who was a celebrity guest on the fourth season of dance based reality show "Dance+", wishes to get choreographed by director-choreographer Remo D'Souza one day.

In an episode of the show, one of the participants paid a surprise tribute to D'Souza, the show's 'super judge', capturing his inspiring journey as a background dancer to an accomplished choreographer and filmmaker in Bollywood, read a statement.

After the act, reminiscing about his journey, he shared a fact with Karisma that he was a part of her song "Sundara sundara" from "Rakshak" as a background dancer.

Appreciating his hard work and his successful journey, she said: "I wish Remo choreographs me some day."

The 44-year-old actress acknowledged the importance of the background dancers in the industry.

"Back up dancers are such a big support to us actors and their contribution in the song is immense," she added.

The show airs on StarPlus.

--IANS

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Yemen's internationally recognised government On Thursday welcomed a call from the US for peace in the conflict-torn country, state-run news agency Saba said.

"These calls are coherent with the political leadership's will ... to establish peace and put an end to the suffering of the Yemeni people as result of the coup d'etat by the Houthi militias," the government said, according to Saba, Efe reported.

The Yemeni government said that it was ready to pursue "all possibilities" to rebuild confidence among the warring parties and demanded the release of everyone held captive by the rebels.

"It is time to end this conflict, replace conflict with compromise, and allow the Yemeni people to heal through peace and reconstruction," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement released on Tuesday.

A coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen in 2015 to back the government after it was toppled by the Houthis.

In his statement, Washington's top diplomat put the onus on the Houthis to suspend missile strikes on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while adding that "subsequently, coalition airstrikes must cease in all populated areas in Yemen."

The rebels, however, on Thursday said that the US should end its support for the Saudi-UAE forces to make negotiations possible.

"The US has to lift the political cover it gives to the aggression against Yemen and stop the logistical and intelligence support (to the coalition) to demonstrate the sincerity of the latest calls by its officials," Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam told Al-Masira television.

Washington's appeal comes at a critical moment for Saudi Arabia, which has been under increasing pressure in the wake of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at its consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

The Swedish government said it was ready to host the UN-sponsored negotiations on peace in Yemen.

--IANS

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Accusing the BJP of attacking Constitutional institutions, National Conference leader said on Thursday that "democracy is in danger" as he met NCP leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

"Democracy is in danger. People are in danger," he told the media, as he announced that he along with Naidu and Pawar would convene a meeting of opposition parties to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The country was going through a "great crisis", he added at Pawar's residence.

Naidu said the country was facing a lot of problems and the situation was "deteriorating day by day."

He said they wanted to discuss the issues with leaders of other political parties including Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

"We will have a meeting in Delhi and then chalk out the future (plan of action)."

The leader said they were not coming together out of any greed for power.

Pawar said that institutions were being attacked. If "we work collectively to save democracy, we can save the institutions", he said.

"We will call a meeting of (opposition) leaders and discuss specific programmes," he said.

During his visit to Delhi last week, Naidu met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BSP leader Mayawati, Loktrantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav, former Union Minister and CPI leaders D. Raja and S. Sudhakar Reddy apart from Abdullah.

The meetings are seen as part of efforts to bring together the opposition against the BJP-led alliance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
A 30-year-old cab driver was arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl, whom he used to drop her to school everyday from the past two-three months, police said Thursday.

The incident was reported from east Delhi's Madhu Vihar and the accused, victim's neighbour, was hired by her parents to drop her to school, they said.

According to a complaint received by the police on Wednesday, the alleged incident took place in September.

The incident came to light after the school teacher informed the girl's parents that she missed the school on one occasion in September, police said.

Her parents confronted her about bunking school and she narrated her ordeal, they added.

The accused had befriended the girl and one day instead of dropping her to school, he took her to his house where he allegedly raped her, a senior police officer said.

A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the IPC and POCSO (Protection of Children From Sexual Offences) Act, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir Thursday, police said.

"Security forces launched an operation based on credible inputs about the presence of militants in the Zagoo locality of the Khansahib area in the district," a police official said.

He added that during the operation, the militants fired on the search party, which was retaliated by the security forces.

"In the exchange of fire, two militants were neutralised. Their identities are being ascertained," the police official said.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, he added.

Meanwhile, an outdoor broadcasting (OB) van of a media organisation was damaged in a stone-pelting incident in Budgam district, the police said.

The windscreen of the OB van of a television agency was damaged after it was attacked by a stone-pelting mob while the media crew was on its way to cover the encounter, a police official said.

There were no reports of anyone getting hurt in the incident, he added.

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The US on Thursday revoked duty-free concessions on import of at least 50 Indian products, mostly from handloom and agriculture sectors, reflecting the Trump administration's tough stand on trade-related issues with New Delhi.

The federal register issued a notification, listing out 90 products which were so far subject to duty-free provisions under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).

President Donald Trump issued a presidential proclamation on Tuesday, leading to the removal of these products from the privilege beginning November 1.

As of November 1, these products "will no longer qualify for duty-free preferences under the GSP programme but may continue to be imported subject to regular Most Favored Nation duty-rates," an official of US Trade Representative told PTI.

A review of the products indicates that the presidential proclamation is not country-specific, but product specific.



ALSO READ: Arvind Panagariya bats for better deals with US on trade front

With India being the largest beneficiary of the GSP, it has been hit the most by the latest decision of the Trump administration.

The GSP, the largest and oldest US trade preference programme, is designed to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for thousands of products from designated beneficiary countries.

A count of these products indicated that at least 50 of them are from India. Notably, India is the largest beneficiary of the GSP. In 2017, India's duty-free export to the US under the GSP was to the tune of more than $5.6 billion.

The volume of India's export to the US impacted by the latest move of the Trump administration is not known yet, but the list of products from which duty-free import provision has been removed reflects that a large number of small and medium-size business could be impacted, in particular handloom and agricultural sector.



In his presidential proclamation, Trump said that certain 'de minimis' waivers will no longer be granted for any product, regardless of the country source, that exceeds the GSP's Competitive Need Limitation (CNL) thresholds. The CNL thresholds are quantitative ceilings on GSP benefits for each product and designated beneficiary country.

Trump said he had determined in 2017 certain beneficiary developing countries exported eligible articles in quantities exceeding the applicable competitive-need limitations.

"I hereby terminate the duty-free treatment for such articles from such beneficiary developing countries," he said.

Products from other countries like Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, Suriname, Pakistan, Turkey, the Philippines, Ecuador and Indonesia have also been removed from the GSP list.



Some of the prominent Indian products removed from the duty-free provisions of the GSP include dried pigeon pea seed; areca nuts, fresh or dried, in shell; turpentine gum; mangoes, prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid; sandstone, merely cut into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape; tin chlorides; barium chlorides; salts and esters of tartaric acid, nesoi; and trimethyl phosphite.

Full grain unsplit or grain split buffalo hide or skin; grain split whole buffalo leather, without hair on; whole buffalo skin leather (not full grain unsplits/grain splits); and full grain unsplit buffalo leather (not whole), have also been removed from the duty-free the GSP list.

Dyed, plain weave certified hand-loomed fabrics of cotton, containing 85 per cent or more cotton by weight; plain weave certified hand-loomed fabrics of cotton, containing 85 per cent or more cotton by weight, hand-loomed carpet and other textile floor coverings, not of pile construction, woven, made up of man-made textile materials have also been removed.



Base metal clad with gold mixed link necklaces and neck chains and keyboard musical instruments, like harmoniums and similar keyboard instruments with free metal reeds are among the other products.

These products can still be exported to the US from India but they will be subject to regular tariffs.

In April, the US announced eligibility review of India for the GSP. According to the USTR, the total US imports under GSP in 2017 was $21.2 billion, of which India was the biggest beneficiary with $5.6 billion, followed by Thailand ($4.2 billion) and Brazil ($2.5 billion).

The programme has now been renewed through December 31, 2020.



FICCI in a submission to the USTR had said that the termination of the GSP would be contrary to the legislative objective and the history of the Trade Reform Act of 1974 of furthering the economic development of developing countries.

It would cause significant distress to the export-oriented sector leading to increased cost for US industries that use products under the GSP, it said.

In June, India urged the Trump administration not to withdraw it from the GSP.
Academician and Founding Vice Chancellor of O P Jindal Global University (JGU) C Raj Kumar has been felicitated with the Global Leaders Award for his contributions to research, innovation and institution building in higher at the India-UAE Partnership Summit 2018 in Dubai.

Kumar was felicitated by UAE Cabinet Minister of Tolerance Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan and Navdeep Suri, Ambassador of India to the UAE.

Kumar, who is a Rhodes scholar and an alumnus of the Oxford and Harvard University, said: "I am truly humbled that the exemplary achievements of JGU has been truly recognised in the international arena. I have received this award on behalf of the faculty, students and staff of JGU as it is they who have enabled us to reach where we are today."



He also addressed the summit on three different thematic sessions.

At the two-day summit, attended by over 400 delegates from the academia of India and UAE, Kumar highlighted the expansion of the Indian higher sector and how it is being developed through critical initiatives that focusses on providing autonomy to universities.

"India is a young nation that has a significant demographic dividend and is now empowering its universities to build a knowledge society," he said.

He also said that there was enormous potential for partnerships between UAE and India in the areas of research, student and faculty mobility, dual degree programmes, and immersion programmes in both the countries.

"The Indian diaspora in the UAE can play a significant role in leading these efforts to build strong and substantive partnerships between universities in India and the UAE, Kumar said.

He said that Indian universities need to focus on critical aspects such as recruiting and retaining faculty, producing world-class research, building partnerships and collaborations among leading universities around the world.

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Thursday questioned the absence of ministers of neighbouring states in a crucial meet called by the Centre to discuss the poor air quality in the national capital, as his cabinet colleague Imran Hussain asserted that these states need to take the issue "seriously".

The ministers of four neighbouring states including Punjab and Haryana, where stubble burning is rampant, did not take part in the meeting called by Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, and instead sent their officials to attend the meet.

"Why didn't ministers from other states attend? Its a collective problem and I urge everyone to please work together. Only then can we find a soln (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted after the meeting.

Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan also did not attend the meeting.

Hussain, who was the only minister to attend the meeting, said neighbouring states of the national capital need to take the air pollution issue "seriously".

Calling Delhi's air pollution a regional problem, Hussain asked for cooperation from all the neighbouring states in combatting deteriorating air quality.

"We have been urging the central government to intervene and give farmers resources so they do not have to depend on stubble burning," he told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting held by Vardhan to discuss measures that could stop further deterioration of air quality in the National Capital Region.

"Today also, you saw that ministers from Haryana, Punjab, UP and Rajasthan did not attend the meeting by the Union Environment Minister. Seriousness is needed to deal with the issue of increasing pollution in the national capital," Hussain said.

The national capital's air quality was on the brink of turning severe on Thursday due to stubble burning in the adjoining regions and unfavourable meteorological conditions, authorities said.

The overall air quality index of Delhi was recorded at 393, which falls in the 'very poor' category and is just eight points from turning severe.

Union environment minister Harsh Vardhan said the issue of air pollution should not be "politicised" and everyone should give their full cooperation to protect the environment.

He flagged off 52 teams which would monitor violations that may result in rise in air pollution in Delhi.

On Wednesday, the Central Pollution Control Board directed state pollution control bodies of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi to start criminal prosecution against agencies or individuals who do not comply with directives to check air pollution.

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Manipur Chief Minister N has said it is time the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or the AFSPA, in the northeastern state is reviewed but added security concerns over the state sharing borders with foreign countries should also be considered.

The Army said that though the situation in the state was now under control, the is a requirement to ensure peace.

"Manipur is a peaceful state now, but the country's security must be a priority... The financial health and arms supply by foreign countries cannot be ruled out," Singh told a group of visiting journalists here on Wednesday.

Major General V K Mishra, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 57 Mountain Division of the Army, which spearheads counter-insurgency operations in Manipur, said the is a prerequisite for the Army to operate for maintaining peace in the militancy-affected state.

Citing the example of seizure of sophisticated arms from an insurgent camp, he said it takes two months of efforts and lengthy operations -- from intelligence gathering to locating and search of suspects -- to recover arms and ammunition. Such operations can be carried out only with the in place.

"If we do not have AFSPA, how do we do this?... It is not just an enabler, it is a prerequisite. AFSPA is a requirement for the Army to function."



He said that the situation is under control but pressure needs to be maintained on the insurgent groups to ensure peace in the northeastern state, which has been been hit by militancy for several years.

Advocating a review of the act that gives wide powers to the security forces, the chief minister, however, admitted that the situation in Manipur was very complex.

"It's not like Kashmir, where Pakistan is involved. Here it is our own people and as such it is very difficult for the security persons also. I am not supporting the security forces, but it is a very critical and complex issue and has to be solved."



"Time has come to review AFSPA, but since we share our border with foreign countries when the review takes place this point has to be considered also," he said.

Asked about extortions by insurgent groups, he said that talks are on with these entities and once these are completed, the problem will be solved, he said.

He said that there has not been any major insurgent attack in the state since his government took over one-and-a-half years ago.

"There is peace in the state. Night life has started in Imphal and there is lot of activity in the evenings unlike in the past," the chief minister said about the state capital from where the stringent AFSPA has been lifted.

He also expressed confidence that a solution to the vexed Manipur insurgency problem will be arrived at soon.

Regarding allegations of human rights violations by the force in the state, GOC Mishra said that the Army is very sensitive on the matter.

"Right from training, our conditioning, in our process of equipping, human rights are in-built. We are sensitive on human rights," Maj Gen Mishra said.

The Supreme Court is hearing a PIL seeking a probe into alleged cases of extra-judicial killings in Manipur and had on July 14 last year constituted an special investigation team (SIT) to probe such cases.

Over 300 Army personnel have also petitioned the apex court challenging the registration of FIRs against them for operations in areas where the AFSPA is in force.
The United Nations Security Council has voiced serious concern over the impact of deteriorating security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on the response to the deadly Ebola outbreak and fears that the virus could spread further into the country and the wider region.

A large country in central Africa, DRC has been plagued by violence and insecurity for decades. Across the country, local populations and humanitarian workers assisting them have come under attacks by armed groups, necessitating the deployment of a large UN peacekeeping mission.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2439 (2018), the 15-member Council demanded that all armed groups in the region respect international law and ensure full, safe, immediate and unhindered access for humanitarian and medical personnel, and their equipment, transport and supplies to the affected areas.

Humanitarian response teams and hospitals providing life-saving assistance and relief to those in need must be respected and protected, and that they must not be a target, said the Security Council in the resolution.

The UN body stressed the need for gender-sensitive response to the Ebola outbreak that addresses the specific needs of both men and women, given that men and women are affected differently by the socio-economic impacts of the outbreak.

The Council likewise stressed the importance of the full, active and meaningful engagement of women in the development of such responses.

In the resolution, the Council noted that the Government of the DRC bears the primary responsibility to protect civilians subject to its jurisdiction and stressed the need for the international community to remain engaged in supporting national health systems, as well as maintaining financial, technical and in-kind support for efforts to control the outbreak.

According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), as of 22 October, over 200 cases have been confirmed and at least 150 people have lost their lives since the outbreak was declared in DRCs North Kivu and Ituri provinces in August. This is the tenth outbreak in the country in the past 40 years.

In its latest assessment, the UN health agency also warned of the potential for the virus to spread into Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi, and called on these countries to step up readiness efforts.
A Delhi court on Thursday extended till November 26 protection from arrest to former Union minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case filed by the CBI and the ED.

The Enforcement Directorate filed a reply to Chidambaram's plea for anticipatory bail in the case on Wednesday, maintaining that his custodial interrogation was necessary as he was evasive and non cooperative in the probe.

On Thursday, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and A M Singhvi, appearing for Chidambaram, submitted that they will argue on the anticipatory bail application and also respond to the ED's reply.

Taking note of Chidambaram's submission, Special Judge O P Saini extended till November 26 the protection from arrest granted to him.

Chidambaram filed his anticipatory bail application in May this year. His protection from arrest has been extended from time to time.

"We have to meet a deadline and he (Chidambaram) is not cooperating," Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI and the ED, told the court.

"From the conduct of the petitioner, which gets amply demonstrated from the records available, the investigating agency has reached a bona fide conclusion that in the absence of custodial interrogation, it will not be possible to reach the truth of the allegations as the petitioner has chosen to be evasive and non-cooperative," the ED said on Wednesday.

It sought Chidambaram's custodial interrogation, saying he has not been cooperating with it in the probe and therefore making it difficult to complete the investigation in a time-bound manner as directed by the Supreme Court.

The senior Congress leader's role has come under the scanner of investigating agencies in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore.

In its charge sheet filed earlier in the case against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others, the CBI alleged that Chidambaram granted FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) approval in March 2006 to Mauritius-based Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of Maxis.

The Maran brothers and the other accused named in the CBI charge sheet were discharged by the special court, which said the agency had failed to produce any material against them to proceed with the trial.

The ED is also probing a separate money-laundering case in the Aircel-Maxis matter, in which Chidambaram and Karti have been questioned by the agency.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said he has no prime ministerial ambitions and would rather work for upliftment of his state Uttar Pradesh.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister was speaking at a panel discussion here, which included BJP leader Ram Madhav, National Conference's Omar Abdullah, Sachin Pilot of the Congress and Jayant Choudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, at the release of a book of journalist-author Priya Sahgal.

As the discussion turned towards 'Mahagathbandhan' or the grand alliance that opposition parties are trying to forge to take on the ruling BJP at the Centre ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year, moderator Vir Sanghvi asked how such an alliance will work when all opposition leaders have prime ministerial ambitions.

To this, Yadav replied he does not have any such aspirations.

Answering a pointed 'no?' from Sanghvi, Yadav replied, "No". When the moderator asked 'never?", the Samajwadi leader said, "Never".

Yadav said he would rather work to improve conditions of his state and cited examples of the development work done during his tenure as the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

Yadav, who was UP's chief minister from 2012 to 2017, talked about the work done for the Gomti river as also on the Agra Expressway, saying aircraft like Sukhoi, Mirage and Hercules landed on that expressway, which was proof of the good work that was done there.

"Now, you can land your Rafale also," Yadav said tongue-in-cheek looking at the BJP's Madhav.

Yadav's statement that he had no prime ministerial ambitions was also seen as being directed towards Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, apparently as a bid to placate her ambition of the prime ministerial role.

Congress leader Pilot said one should not start his life with an ambition to become the prime minister as several events play a role in shaping a political career and nothing was anyway permanent in

While Yadav had talked about not being interested in prime ministerial role in February last year also, his statement now assumes significance in the wake of intensified efforts by various opposition parties to forge an anti-BJP alliance to give a strong fight to the ruling party.

However, there have already been some cracks visible in the opposition unity, even before a grand alliance gets formed, with BSP and some other parties going separate ways in some states such as Chhattishgarh and Madhya Pradesh, including due to their differences with the Congress, the main opposition party.

Trying to reach out to various non-BJP parties, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, even as he called his party's alliance with the Congress a "democratic compulsion" to protect the country.

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French ambassador Alexandre Ziegler will head a delegation of over 100 French company leaders to Nagpur on November 2 to enhance the country's cooperation with India in all aspects of sustainable urban development, according to an official statement.

The French ambassador to India will also deliver the keynote address at the 11th Urban Mobility India Conference, the flagship event of the Ministry of Urban and Housing Affairs (MoHUA).

According to the statement, Ziegler will highlight France's technical and financial support to India's urban transformation through collaboration in various metro, urban mobility and smart city projects through the French development agency AFD.

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Armenia will hold early parliamentary polls in December after parliament was dissolved following the failure to elect a prime minister for the second time over the past week.

The move came as a result of political manoeuvring by acting prime minister Nikol Pashinyan who has long sought to hold snap parliamentary polls and tighten his control over the chamber.

He said the election had been set for December 9.

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Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today held crucial talks with the newly-formed opposition National Unity Front (NUF), which includes the BNP of jailed former prime minister Khaleda Zia, ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for December.

The talks with the 21-member delegation of Jatiya Oikya Front, led by Kamal Hossain, chief of the new political alliance, are expected to ease political tensions between the Hasina-led administration and the opposition groups.

The ruling Awami League's decision to hold talks with the NUF at Ganobhaban (PM's official residence) was a dramatic development as the party had earlier rejected scopes for such talks exclusively with BNP, but responded quickly to the NUF's proposal for the dialogue four days ago.

The NUF emerged earlier this month as an opposition platform and floated a seven-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament to pave way for a poll-time interim government for holding a credible election.

The BNP stayed away from the last parliamentary election in 2014 and waged a violent street campaign in subsequent three years that saw deaths of several people.

The Awami League-led 14-party ruling alliance, however, said no proposal contradictory to the constitution would be acceptable.

Six BNP leaders including its secretary general Fakhrul Islam Alamgir joined the dialogue as NUF team members but media reports suggested leaders of the main opposition party were speculative about the government's intention in view of unexpectedly quick response to the NUF's call on October 28 for the dialogue.

Ahead of the closed-door meeting, Hasina expressed hope that the work of the Awami League government in socio-economic development and the continuation of democracy would play a significant role in expediting the country's development.

But this country is for all of us. Our prime goal is to change people's fate by taking the country forward through overall development, she was quoted as saying by the bdnews.

I will leave it to you to judge. Nine years and 10 months of our government have passed. You will surely consider the country's development in this period. What I can say is that the people of Bangladesh are better-off now. Their fate has changed, Hasina said.

Several BNP leaders preferring anonymity expressed fear that the government actually wanted to keep Zia and her fugitive son and acting party chief Tarique Rahman away from

Zia is now serving a 10-year prison term in two graft cases and Rahman is staying in London to evade justice as a court in Dhaka last month sentenced him to life imprisonment for masterminding the August 21, 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally.

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.

Despite being the main opposition, the BNP, apparently exposed to a political wilderness, remained just an ordinary partner of the alliance with its chairperson Zia serving prison term on graft charges and its acting chief Rahman staying in London to evade justice.

Hossain is 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.

He was a former Awami League leader who led a parliamentary group in framing the post independent Bangladesh's Constitution.

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An independent committee's probe into the alleged sexual harassment charge against BCCI CEO Rahul Johri got underway Thursday with the BCCI submitting "relevant" documents to it and the panel setting November 9 as the deadline for any fresh complainants to come forward.

The three-member committee -- comprising former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Rakesh Sharma, former Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Barkha Singh and lawyer Veena Gowda -- met in Mumbai to discuss the terms of reference. It was set up by the Committee of Administrators (COA).

Johri has already replied to the showcause notice served by the COA where he has denied all allegations levelled against him.

"The BCCI submitted the relevant documents in their possession to the committee. The Committee shall hear and scrutinise the material before it for the next two days," a BCCI release stated.

A separate e-mail address has been created for anyone to lodge a formal complaint with the committee.

"...any person whether from BCCI or otherwise, who may have any complaint/information/evidence to address the Committee concerning allegations of sexual harassment may send the same to the Committee at bcciinquirycommittee@gmail.com within 7 days i.e. 9th November 2018," the statement read.

Once the complaints are received, it will be the committee's discretion to call anyone for a deposition.

"The proceedings and the deliberations of the Committee, including the name and identity of any complainant, who shall depose before the Committee, shall be kept strictly confidential," the BCCI said.

The committee's next meeting has been set for November 10 and 11 and it will scrutinise any information that is brought to its notice.

The Committee has been mandated to submit it final report within 15 days of its appointment.

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The Congress on Thursday alleged that the BJP government in Chhattisgarh, which goes to polls later this month, did not act against chit fund companies which duped investors to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore in the last nine years.

Around one crore people lost their hard-earned money in these scams, the opposition party alleged.

As many as 161 chit fund companies in the state are accused of cheating investors of a total of Rs 5,000 crore, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said at a press conference here.

He alleged that the dubious firms were shielded by the BJP government.

As many as 310 FIRs were registered against chit fund companies in the state but no action was taken in any of these cases and no victim ever got back a single rupee, Surjewala claimed.

Even the banned chit fund companies were allowed to operate in Chhattisgarh, he alleged.

Offices of some of the chit fund companies were sealed when people complained, but these firms soon resumed operations, thanks to the political patronage they enjoyed, the Congress spokesperson said.

Over 50 agents of chit fund companies allegedly committed suicide while some were killed, but the government did nothing, he alleged.

A Congress government will conduct a time-bound probe into all this, Surjewala said.

He took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his photograph in front of the gigantic monument of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which the latter inaugurated in Gujarat's Narmada district on Wednesday.

"He was trying to prove as if he was greater than Sardar Patel. No one can replace Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel and no one can be bigger than them," Surjewala said.

"If he (Modi) wants to become as great as Sardar Patel, then (he should) quit the of dividing the country, quit the language of hatred and jealousy," the Congress spokesperson said.

The assembly elections in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases on November 12 and November 20, respectively.

The counting of votes will be held on December 11.

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A senior BJP leader and his brother were shot dead by militants in the communally-sensitive Kishtwar district Thursday night, prompting the Jammu and Kashmir administration to impose curfew and call out the Army as people staged angry protests and started manhandling senior police personnel, officials said today.

BJP state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet were returning home from their shop when they were fired upon from close range at a dark, narrow lane leading to their house, the officials said, adding this was the first such political killing in Jammu region in recent years.

The assailants were apparently waiting for the brothers to return home and used pistols to target them, they said.

They were rushed to a hospital where doctors declared them brought dead, they said.

Immediately after the attack, people started assembling outside the residence of Parihar and refused entry of senior police officers, who were even manhandled.

The mourners refused to hand over the body to police and did not allow them to gather evidence from the Parihar Mohalla where the two brothers were shot dead.

Kishtwar district magistrate A S Rana made a request to call out the Army in the town and its adjoining areas to control the internal security situation arisen due to "assassination of Anil Parihar and Ajeet Praihar by some militants".

Rana took the decision as he apprehended that violence might erupt and thus result in law and order problem, endangering life and property of citizens of Kistwar town.

Police had announced curfew in Kishtwar, Doda and Baderwah, besides imposing prohibitory orders, banning assembly of more than four people in Ramban, Banihal, Poonch, Kathua, Rajouri and upper reaches of Gool Gulabgarh.

Kishtwar is communally sensitive and the district had witnessed communal clashes in the past as well. The recent one was in August 2013.

Militants have in the past attempted to create communal tension in the region by targeting Hindu community, especially in higher reaches. In 2001, the terrorists killed 17 Hindu nomads.

The killings of Parihar brothers drew severe condemnation from all quarters.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed shock and pain over the killings, saying the police will leave no stone unturned to bring perpetrators of the crime to justice.

"Shocked and pained by the killing of J&K State BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother. My heart goes out to the bereaved family," he said in a tweet.

The home minister also spoke to K Vijay Kumar, the advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor, and took stock of the incident.

"Spoke to Advisor to J&K Governor, Sh Vijay Kumar regarding the incident. The police will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice," he said.

In a tweet, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it was a "very sad news" and offered condolences to the families of Parihar brothers.

"Very sad My condolences to Anil & Ajit Parihar's family & colleagues. May their souls rest in peace," he said.

BJP general secretary Ashok Koul condemned the attack and called for punishment to the culprits involved in it.

CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami and state Congress president Gulam Ahmed Mir also condemned the killings of the BJP leader and his brother.

Mir termed the attack "barbaric and unfortunate" and pointed towards the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

National Conference's Jammu province chief Devender Rana strongly condemned the killings as "barbaric, inhuman and most unfortunate".

"Violence has no place in a civilised society," Rana said and hoped that the people will unitedly face the challenge posed by elements inimical to peace and tranquillity.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Janata Dal (Secular) Thursday accused the BJP of "unnecessarily misleading" people by seeking Opposition parties' support for the construction of Ram temple to reap political dividends ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which did not believe in the ideology of Ram, was playing in the name of the lord, JDS national spokesperson Danish Ali alleged.

"BJP leaders are unnecessarily misleading common people of the country by asking the opposition parties to support the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya," he said.

"The apex court is hearing a title suit (on the division of disputed land), not construction of Ram temple," he said.

BJP MP Rakesh Sinha had earlier on Twitter hinted that he may bring up a private members bill for the construction of the temple and asked if the Congress, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) and other opposition parties will support it.

Speaking to PTI over phone, Ali also said the verdict in cases like Section 377 and Sabarimala did not take that long, but the issue on Ayodhya was pending for decades.

Describing BJP leaders as "hypocrites" for not raising the issue for the last four-and-a-half years, he said, "the party is raking it up now to reap political dividends ahead of Lok Sabha elections next year and cover its anti-people policies".

He said JDS has taken a consistent stand by saying that it would respect Supreme Court's decision on the issue.

"JDS, from day one, is of the opinion that whatever the Supreme Court decides, we all should, as citizens of this country, respect it," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP MP Rakesh Sinha on Thursday said he will bring a private member's bill seeking construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya and asked whether opposition leaders including Congress chief will support it.

In a series of tweets, Sinha, a Rajya Sabha MP, asked if leaders such as chief Akhilesh Yadav, BSP supremo Mayawati and CPI(M) general secretary and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, who kept on asking the BJP and RSS about the construction of temple, will support his bill.

"Will Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechury, Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati and Lalu Prasad Yadav support private member bill on Ayodhya? They frequently ask the date (of Ram temple construction) from RSS and BJP, now onus is on them to answer," he tweeted.

Sinha said he is asking a clear-cut question as now is the time to separate truth from lies.

He said the Ram temple issue is not a priority for the Supreme Court and questioned how many days the apex court took to give verdict on Article 377, Jallikattu and Sabarimala.

"But Ram temple is a top priority of Hindu society," he said.

Sinha's remarks came days after the apex court postponed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case to first week of January next year when an appropriate bench will decide the schedule of hearing.

Following the court's order, the chorus for an ordinance on construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya had grown among saffron outfits including the VHP and the RSS.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said that the government should acquire the land and hand it over for the construction of Ram temple.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said that Hindus cannot wait eternally for a court judgement on the Ayodhya land dispute case and asked the government to bring in a law for building a Ram temple.
huKenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Tuesday, refuted claims that his party is interested in amending the countrys constitution to allow him to stay in power after his second term in 2022.

Im not interested in a third term, Kenyatta, told international broadcaster, CNNs Richard Quest. He said he would not go for the Presidency again even if given a chance to do so.

Kenyatta is serving his second and final term and is expected to retire in 2022 as the Constitution demands a Head of State should serve only for a maximum of two consecutive 5-year terms.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who lost the 2013 and 2017 presidential elections to Kenyatta, has been leading calls for a referendum to amend the constitution.

Odinga lost a bitterly contested election to Kenyatta last year. He mounted a successful court challenge which ordered a fresh poll. He, however, boycotted the second contest citing a biased electoral commission.

Calls for a referendum to reduce the number of representatives in the country continue to spark sharp division among elected leaders and even ordinary citizens.

According to Kenyatta, the leaders who are calling for a referendum are doing so due to an urgency to reduce the cost of living for Kenyans, and not to extend his term in office.
Abdellatif Kechiche, the director of Palme d'Or-winning director of film "Blue Is the Warmest Colour", has been accused of sexual assault.

According to Deadline, an anonymous woman has alleged that the 57-year-old director assaulted her at a dinner party in Paris in June.

Paris' public prosecutor's office has opened an inquiry into the allegation which was brought to them on October 6 by the 29-year-old woman actor.

Kechiche, who is currently shooting the sequel of "Mektoub, my Love: Canto Due", has categorically denied the allegation through his lawyer Jeremy Assous.

In the past, actors Lea Seydoux and Adele Exarchopoulos, the stars of "Blue Is the Warmest Colour", had criticised the director for the uncomfortable sex scenes in the film.

They had admitted that working with Kechiche was extremely difficult, which led some to question his handling of the sex scenes during production.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The is slated to hear Friday the politically-sensitive Rs 640 million Bofors pay-off case in which earlier this year filed an appeal after a 13-year delay against the decision quashing charges against all the accused.

The matter would come up for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice K M Joseph.

The probe agency filed an appeal on February 2 this year against the May 31, 2005 verdict of the

BJP leader and advocate Ajay Agrawal, who is pursuing the matter for over a decade, had filed an appeal in the top court in 2005 itself after the had failed to challenge the high court's order within the mandatory 90 days period.

Agrawal, who contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Rae Bareli against the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi, had filed the appeal in which he had also made as one of the respondents.

His appeal was already admitted and is pending.

After the came to power, there were speculations that CBI would take a call to either respond as respondent in Agrawal's petition or prefer a separate appeal.

After a lot of deliberation, the CBI this year got the nod from the to file an appeal in the apex court.

The filing of the appeal assumes significance as Attorney General Venugopal in January had advised the agency against moving a petition against the high court verdict after a delay of more than a decade.

Later, after consultations, law officers were in favour of the appeal as the CBI came out with "some important documents and evidence" to challenge the high court order.

Sources in February had said the agency swung into action after the Attorney General orally gave it a go-ahead to file the appeal in the case in which it cited the October 2017 interview of private detective Michael Hershman, who alleged that the then Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government had sabotaged his investigation.

Hershman, who is the president of the US-based private detective firm Fairfax, had claimed in television interviews that Rajiv Gandhi was "furious" when he had found a Swiss bank account "Mont Blanc".

He had also alleged that the bribe money of the Bofors gun scandal had been parked in the Swiss account.

The CBI in its appeal stated that further investigation was necessary in view of the reports relating to Hershman's interviews.

Before the 2005 verdict of Justice R S Sodhi (since retired), another judge of the Delhi High Court, retired Justice J D Kapoor, had on February 4, 2004, exonerated the late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in the case and directed the framing of charge of forgery under section 465 of the IPC against Bofors company.

The Rs 14.37-billion deal between India and Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors for the supply of 400 155mm Howitzer guns for the Indian Army was entered into on March 24, 1986.

Swedish Radio on April 16, 1987, had claimed that the company had paid bribes to top Indian politicians and defence personnel.

The CBI on January 22, 1990 had registered the FIR for alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery under the Indian Penal Code and other sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Martin Ardbo, the then president of AB Bofors, alleged middleman Win Chadda and the Hinduja brothers.

It had alleged that certain public servants and private persons in India and abroad had entered into a criminal conspiracy between 1982 and 1987 in pursuance of which the offences of bribery, corruption, cheating and forgery were committed.

The first charge sheet in the case was filed on October 22, 1999 against Chadda, Ottavio Quattrocchi, the then defence secretary S K Bhatnagar, Ardbo and the Bofors company.

A supplementary charge sheet was filed against the Hinduja brothers on October 9, 2000.

A special CBI court in Delhi on March 4, 2011, had discharged Quattrocchi from the case saying the country could not afford to spend hard-earned money on his extradition which had already cost Rs 250 crore.

Quattrocchi, who had fled from here on July 29-30, 1993, never appeared before any court in India to face prosecution. He died on July 13, 2013.
Brazil's president-elect has told an Israeli newspaper he intends to defy the Palestinians and most of the world by moving his country's embassy from Tel Aviv to

would become the second major country after the US to do so.

Asked in an interview with Hayom published on Thursday if he would move Brazil's embassy, as he had indicated during his campaign, Bolsonaro said should decide where its capital is located.

"When I was asked during the campaign if I'd do it when I became president, I said 'yes, the one who decides on the capital of is you, not other nations'," he told the paper, which is a firm backer of Israeli Prime Minister

Israel considers the entire city its capital, while the Palestinians see east as the capital of their future state, with consensus being that the status of the whole city must be negotiated between the two sides.

Israel occupied east in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the community.

In December, President Donald Trump reversed longstanding US policy and recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, prompting Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to boycott his administration.

The embassy was officially transferred on May 14, with Guatemala and Paraguay following suit, though the latter announced last month it would return its embassy to Tel Aviv.

Bolsonaro, 63, who won a run-off election on Sunday, has outraged many with his overtly misogynistic, homophobic and racist rhetoric.

Following his victory, Netanyahu told Bolsonaro he was certain his election "will lead to a great friendship between our peoples and the tightening of links between and Israel."



An official in Netanyahu's office told AFP the Israeli premier was "very likely" to attend Bolsonaro's inauguration ceremony in January.
Brazil will move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro has said, making the Latin American giant the largest country after the United States to make the controversial switch.

"As previously stated during our campaign, we intend to transfer the Brazilian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel is a sovereign state and we shall duly respect that," Bolsonaro tweeted Thursday, a move that will defy Palestinians and most of the world.

In interviews, Bolsonaro said Israel should have the right to decide where its capital is located, just as Brazil moved its capital from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1960.

Israel considers the entire city its capital, while the Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, with international consensus being that the status of the whole city must be negotiated between the two sides.

Israel occupied east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.

In December, President Donald Trump reversed longstanding US policy and recognised Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, prompting Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to boycott his administration.

The embassy was officially transferred on May 14. Guatemala and Paraguay followed suit, though the latter announced last month it would return its embassy to Tel Aviv.

Bolsonaro, 63, who won a run-off election on Sunday, has outraged many with his overtly misogynistic, homophobic and racist rhetoric.

Following his victory, Netanyahu told Bolsonaro he was certain his election "will lead to a great friendship between our peoples and the tightening of links between Brazil and Israel".

An official in Netanyahu's office told AFP the Israeli premier was "very likely" to attend Bolsonaro's inauguration ceremony in January.

Bolsonaro, meanwhile, plans to make Israel one of his first foreign trips as president, along with the United States and Chile -- countries that "share our worldview", according to the president-elect's future for chief of staff, Onyx Lorenzoni.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The BRICS nations have signed a declaration to accelerate creative and sustainable cultural cooperation.

The declaration, signed here on Wednesday, will see Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa cooperating in fashion, culture and animation.

Calling for speedy implementation of the declaration, South African Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa said, "This declaration is a clear signal where we want to go and areas where we emphasise and practical steps we need to take.

The declaration, which was signed by the BRICS ministers of culture, followed several months of consultations on importance and role of culture as one of the drivers of economic opportunities.

The culture ministers also agreed to engage the New Development Bank, established two years ago by the BRICS partners, to fund cultural and creative industry programmes.

They also endorsed the establishment of the BRICS cultural working group comprising senior officials from the member countries.

Asserting that the cultural working group will boost people-to-people interaction in the creative industries, Mthethwa said, "Cultural diplomacy has to be accelerated. This must not be confined to the boardrooms but should go to the people."



Earlier, South Africa's Department of Arts and Culture hosted a three-day inaugural BRICS Fashion Show and Fashion Business Forum from October 24, coinciding with the meeting of the culture ministers.

Organised in partnership with the South African Fashion Week, the BRICS Fashion Show and the Fashion Business Forum was aimed at showcasing textile and retail opportunities in the member countries and collaborating on fashion-related issues.

"The BRICS Fashion extravaganza was in line with the department's commitment to build sustainable business to business collaborations amongst the fashion designers of the BRICS countries as a means to access markets across the fashion industry," Mthethwa said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The on Thursday approved renaming Jharsuguda aerodrome in Odisha as 'Veer Surendra Sai Airport', according to an official release.

Veer Surendra Sai is a well-known freedom fighter of Odisha.

"Renaming of the in his name will fulfil the long-pending demand of the Odisha government, which reflects the sentiments of the local public of the respective area," the release said.

The renaming of the airport as 'Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda' was cleared by the Union chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it added.



ALSO READ: Air Odisha gets govt notice for discontinuing flights from Jharsuguda

Modi inaugurated the airport on September 22.

The airport has been developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in collaboration with the Odisha government at an estimated cost of Rs 2.1 billion, with Rs 750 million contribution from the state.



ALSO READ: Govt may cancel routes awarded to Air Deccan and Air Odisha under UDAN

Spread across over 1,027.5 acres of land with a 2,390-metre long runway, the area of terminal building of the airport is 4,000 square metres.
The Thursday gave ex-post facto approval for moving a resolution for opening up of (ISA) membership to all UN countries, an official statement said.

ISA is an alliance of more than 121 countries initiated by India, most of them being sunshine countries, to work for efficient exploitation of so as to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

and co-hosted the first summit here in March this year.

"The chaired by Prime Minister has given ex-post facto approval for moving a resolution in the first assembly of the ISA for amending the Framework Agreement of the ISA for opening up the ISA membership to all countries that are members of the United Nations," the statement said.



Opening the membership of the ISA will put in global agenda with the universal appeal for developing and deploying

"It will make ISA inclusive, whereby all member countries that are members of the could become members. Expanding membership will lead to ISA initiative benefitting the world at large," it added.
Campaigning for the November 3 bypolls to three Lok Sabha and two assembly constituencies in Karnataka came to an end Thursday, with a BJP candidate pulling out of the contest and returning to the Congress.

In a major embarrassment for the BJP, two days before the Ramanagara assembly bypoll, its candidate against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's wife quit the contest on Thursday and returned to the Congress.

With BJP's L Chandrashekhar withdrawing his candidature, Kumaraswamy's wife Anita Kumaraswamy, is expected to have a smooth sail facing a virtual no-contest.

Bypolls for three Lok Sabha constituencies-Shivamogga, Ballari and Mandya and two assembly constituencies- Ramanagara and Jamkhandi, will take place Saturday.

Counting of votes will be on November 6.

Congress and JD(S) that are ruling coalition partnersin Karnataka have decided to fight the bypolls unitedlyagainst the BJP.

Congress has fielded its candidates in Jamkhandi and Ballari and JD(S) in Shivamogga, Ramanagara and Mandya.

While Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy remained away from campaigning on the last day as he had take part in the "Karnataka Rajyotsava", state formation day celebrations, in Bengaluru, most leaders from different political parties made a last attempt to woo the voters.

Former chief ministers Siddaramaiah and Jagadish Shettar campaigned in Jamkhandi for Congress candidate Anand Nyamagowda and BJP candidate Srikant Kulkarni respectively.

State BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa campaigned for his son and party candidate B Y Raghavendra who is pitted against another former chief minister S Bangarappa's son Madhu Bangarappa ofthe JD(S).

While senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar campaignedfor party candidate V S Ugrappa, considered an outsider for Ballari, BJP's Sriramulu sought votes for his sister JShantha.

JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister was in the party's bastion of Mandya Thursday to campaign for Shivarame Gowda, who is pitted against a fresh face Dr Siddaramaiah, a retired Commercial Tax officer from the BJP.

However, in a twist to the poll campaign on the last day in Ramanagara, BJP candidate LChandrashekhar withdrew his candidature.

Announcing his decision to return to his "mother party," the Congress, Chandrashekhar accused BJP and its leaders of "abandoning" him after giving him the ticket.

The development just ahead of polls is being seen as senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh's response to the BJP's alleged attempts to weaken the coalition government by trying to "poach" Congress MLAs.

Upset and embarrassed BJP workers staged a protest in Ramanagara and vented their anger against Chandrashekhar.

Chandrashekhar, son of a senior Congress leader C M Lingappa, had joined BJP as the Congress decided to support the candidate of its ruling coalition partner, JD(S).

Within days after joining the BJP, he was announced as the party's candidate.

During campaigning in the last couple of weeks openexpression of displeasure by congress workers was seen in the Vokkaliga bastion of Ramanagara and Mandya constituencies that come under old Mysuru region, as a large section of localparty leaders and workers are opposed to their party decisionto support JD(S) candidate in both segments.

Congress and JD(S) that had fought bitterly against each other in the assembly polls, especially in the old Mysururegion, decided to join hands to form a government as the May 12 assembly polls threw up a hung verdict.

There are 31 candidates in the fray.

By-elections have been necessitated after BJP's B S Yeddyurappa (Shivamogga) and B Sriramalu (Ballari), and C S Puttaraju of JD(S) (Mandya) resigned as MPs on their election to the assembly in May this year.

Bypolls to Jamkhandi assembly seat was caused by the death of Congress MLA Siddu Nyamagouda, while Ramanagara fell vacant after Kumaraswamy gave up the seat preferring Chennapatna, the other constituency from where he had won.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Election Commissioner OPRawatThursday reviewed the ongoing preparations for the Chhattisgarh assembly polls scheduled to be held in two phases on November 12 and 20.

In a series of meetings, the CEC, accompanied by senior officials, also reviewed the law and order situation specially in the naxal-affected areas that will go to polls on November 12.

"The state election officials have been directed to ensure strict compliance of the Model Code of Conduct and to carry out impartial action against any complaint regarding its violation," Rawat said in a press conference this evening.

The commission is committed to conduct a free, fair and transparent election, he said.

During his visit to the state, meetings were held with representatives of different political parties.

Besides, district-wise preparations were reviewed during meetings with collectors and superintendents of police and officials engaged in electioneering, he said.

State election machinery has been directed to carry out effective steps to address issues raised by political parties.

"The state election machinery was also asked to carry out effective supervision and vigilance so that the apprehensions can be removed from the mind of political parties and a trust develops among the voters that they can participate in election process," he said.

Responding to a question, the CEC said the poll watchdog has taken a serious cognisance of the recent Naxal incidents in Bijapur and Dantewada districts in Bastar.

Discussions were also held with the administrative and police officials in this connection (naxal attacks) and they have been directed to ensure peace and security of the voters so that they can come out and exercise their franchise without any fear, he said.

Several other points regarding the Left wing extremism were also discussed and directives were issued accordingly, but these matters cannot be divulged, he added.

Officials have been asked to use Central Armed Police Force for confidence building measures so that people can fearlessly participate in the process, he added.

Responding to a query on the use of indelible ink on the index finger of voters in naxal affected areas, he ruled out relaxation of norms.

"A proposal was received in this connection. The commission had very well examined it from every aspects. After holding talks with all the stakeholder, it was found that nothing had happened due to applying indelible ink mark. If we stop applying ink mark that it will lead to chances of other irregularities to take place. In such places where such violent people are there, they can do anything," he added.

He informed that of the total 90 Assembly segments, 51 are general while 10 segments are reserved for Scheduled Caste and 29 for Scheduled Tribes.

As per the final electoral rolls, a total 1,85,59,936 voters including 92,95,301 male, 92,49,459 female and 1059 third gender voters are expected to exercise their franchise.

Also there are 14,177 service voters in the state. There are 19545 polling centres having 23,678 polling booths with 46 supporting polling booths.

The full bench of election commission, headed by the chief election commissioner, had reached Raipur Wednesday evening to review poll preparedness.

The polling will be held in the state in two phases on November 12 and November 20.

Eighteen constituencies in 8 naxal-affected districts will witness polling in the first phase while the rest 72 seats in the second phase.

Counting of votes will be taken up on December 11.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
qhThe five-member countries of the regional G5 Sahel on Tuesday announced an ambitious program to ward off poverty, which they consider as the main cause of extremism in the region.

Violent extremist organizations have expanded their ambitions, capacities, and geographical reach into the Sahel region in recent years.

The implementation of the Program of Emergency Development and Infrastructures Development of Proximity will help counter extremism in the region, said the representatives of Mauritania, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad, in a final communique released at the end of a meeting in Niamey on Tuesday.

Among the structuring projects foreseen in the Priority Investment Program (PIP) are railway lines to link the five capitals, the creation of a common airline to improve the service and mitigate the difficulties of mobility of populations, as well as projects in the field of energy.

The cost of the Priority Investment Program is estimated at US $14.8 billion, officials said.

Citing accelerating terrorist attacks, spikes in displacement and increasingly grave humanitarian challenges, the officials have called on the international community to help them address the root causes of such threats to prevent further deterioration in the region.

Violent extremist groups continue to threaten communities across the Sahel. The G5 Sahel Joint Force has received 100 million in financial support from the E.U. However, the 400 million pledged at an international donors conference in Brussels on February 23 has been slow to materialize.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has pledged to pursue support for the force. Guterres, as well as France, have lobbied for regular UN funding, in addition to already agreed support from UNs Minusma mission. The USA has pledged $60 million to the joint force in the form of bilateral aid for the individual countries.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Thursday alleged that the Modi government was "destroying" various institutions, amid reports that Reserve Bank was being forced to resolve differences with the Centre which has cited powers that were never used before.

AAP spokesperson Sanjay Singh also claimed the Centre has "invoked" a rare provision under section 7 of the RBI Act to "pressurise" the apex bank in its bid to benefit some businessmen, who he said are close to Modi government.

"The government is destroying various institutions. Invoking section 7 of RBI Act would end the 83-year-old autonomy of the RBI. Through this step, the Centre will direct the RBI to release funds to the banks so that they could compensate the deficit created due to huge loans given to big businessmen who are close to Modi government. This will push the country towards recession and bankruptcy," Singh alleged.

Questions are being raised over autonomy of the RBI, with the RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya last week warning that undermining central bank's independence could be "potentially catastrophic".

However, the government Wednesday said the RBI's autonomy is "essential" and will be "nurtured".

The government is believed to have sent at least three letters on different issues under Section 7 of the RBI Act that gives it powers to issue any direction to the central bank governor on matters of public interest.

Singh said, "Those who take small loans of Rs 2-5lakh from banks have to mortgage their entire assets. But as the government fails to recover big loans from industrialists, such bad loans are recovered from people. The NPA of big industrialists has gone up to Rs 10.25 lakh crores and section 7 has been involved to compensate this".

Singh also alleged that the Rafale fighter jet deal is a "Rs 36,000-crore scam".

"Government has not been disclosing the price of Rafale fighter jet because they have purchased a plane costing Rs 526 crore at an inflated price of Rs 1670 crore," he alleged.

He said there is a secret understanding between the Congress and the BJP in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, "as Prime Minister Narendra Modi never goes to campaign in the Lok Sabha constituency (Chhindwara) of state Congress president Kamal Nath".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is trying to unite the opposition parties to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections next year, will meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi here on Thursday, sources said.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) sources said Naidu will meet Gandhi at his residence around 3:30 pm and they are likely to hold discussions for an alliance for the December 7 Assembly elections in Telangana.

They said the two parties are engaged in talks over seat sharing.

Naidu, a former BJP ally who quit the NDA early this year over the Centre's refusal to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh, met BSP chief Mayawati, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha here in the national capital on October 27.

According to TDP sources, Naidu "coincidentally" met senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here earlier on Thursday.

The TDP chief is playing the role of a "facilitator" to bring together all opposition parties to stop the BJP juggernaut in the 2019 general elections, a party leader said.

So far, Naidu has kept his cards close to his chest on seeking support of the Congress to forge a united front ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

He had earlier said that his party would play a pivotal role in the 2019 polls and that regional parties would form government at the Centre, though he had ruled himself out of the prime ministerial race.

After BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa resigned as Karnataka chief minister before a no-confidence vote just two days after being sworn in, Naidu had termed the saffron party a "back door party" trying to enter south India by "unfair" means.

The Andhra Pradesh government has also accused the Centre of not supporting it in the construction of the Polavaram irrigation project, Kadapa steel plant, building a new capital city, and doing a flip flop on special package for the state on the lines of Bundelkhand region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan on Thursday rejected protests by India against a bus service to China, passing though PoK under the ambitious CPEC project, even as Beijing defended the proposed service saying its cooperation with Islamabad has nothing to do with the Kashmir dispute and will not change its principled stance on the issue.

According to reports, the new bus service will be launched between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on November 3.

"We reject the Indian Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) purported protest and statement regarding bus service through China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)," Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) said.

India on Wednesday said it had lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan over a proposed bus service between the two countries through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in New Delhi that the bus service will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Kumar said it has been India's consistent and well-known position that the "so-called China-Pakistan 'Boundary Agreement' of 1963 is illegal and invalid, and has never been recognised by the Government of India."



"Therefore, any such bus service through Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added.

The USD 60 billion CPEC, launched in 2015, is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking China's resource-rich Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with Pakistan's strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea.

Meanwhile, China on Thursday sought to defend the proposed bus service with Pakistan through PoK, saying its cooperation with Islamabad has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and will not change its principled stance on the Kashmir issue.

Its launch apparently is coinciding with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's maiden visit to China starting on Friday.

Asked about India's objections, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in Beijing that he was not aware of New Delhi's diplomatic protest.

"But on the issue of Kashmir, China's position is clear cut. We made it clear many times," he said.

China's stand he said is that the "cooperation between China and Pakistan has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and will not affect China's principled position on Kashmir," Lu said.

China maintains that the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan through dialogue and consultation.

He defended the CPEC, saying it is an economic cooperation project between China and Pakistan, and is not targeted against any third party.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing on Thursday, just months after the small Central American nation broke its diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

The state visit comes one day before that of the president of the Dominican Republic, whose country also switched allegiances from Taiwan to China this year.

El Salvador and the Dominican Republic are among a growing number of countries that have cut ties with Taiwan in favour of resuming or establishing relations with China, which considers the self-governing island democracy to be part of its territory.

Only 17 mainly small, developing countries now recognise Taiwan as a sovereign nation.

Taiwan split from mainland China during a civil war in 1949, and Beijing has been steadily ratcheting up diplomatic and economic pressure since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016.

Beijing's aggressiveness is largely driven by Tsai's refusal to endorse Beijing's "one-China principle," which maintains that Taiwan is part of China and that the Communist Party-ruled administration in Beijing is China's sole legitimate government.

Taiwan has long been a wedge between China and the United States, which has formal relations with Beijing but maintains robust unofficial military and diplomatic links with the island.

Washington's de facto ambassador to Taiwan, Brent Christensen, said Wednesday that the US would be opposed to "unilateral attempts to change the status quo" in Taiwan a reference to increasing Chinese military intimidation.

China's wooing of Taiwan's allies in what the US considers its backyard has rung alarm bells in Washington.

The US pulled out its diplomatic envoys last month from El Salvador, Panama and the Dominican Republic after those countries cut ties with Taiwan.

At a conference in Washington attended by Salvadoran Vice President Oscar Ortiz last month, Vice President Mike Pence said El Salvador and other Central American countries should strengthen bonds with the US "even as countries like China" try to "expand their influence in the region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese President Xi Jinping greeted El Salvador's President Salvador Sanchez Ceren on Thursday, pledging aid to the Central American country months after it switched allegiance from Taiwan to Beijing.

Xi is hosting Sanchez Ceren and the leader of another country that recently ditched Taiwan -- Dominican President Danilo Medina -- this week.

The Chinese leader welcomed Sanchez Ceren with a ceremony at the gargantuan Great Hall of the People, where a military band serenaded the two presidents with their respective national anthems.

The two countries then inked deals pledging to cooperate on development, including on Xi's pet Belt and Road trade infrastructure project.

Beijing also promised aid for education, health and drought relief.

Sanchez told Xi he was "representing the El Salvadoran people to show you how grateful we are and our satisfaction now that we have restored our diplomatic relations".

El Salvador recognised Beijing in August, becoming the third country to abandon Taiwan this year, following the Dominican Republic and Burkina Faso.

Medina will be hosted at the Great Hall of the People on Friday.

He will also inaugurate the Dominican Republic's embassy in Beijing during his visit.

Only 17 countries remain in Taiwan's diplomatic circle as the self-ruling democratic island struggles to fend off Beijing's growing influence around the globe.

China and Taiwan have been governed separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949, but Beijing sees the island as part of its territory to be brought back into the fold.

Taiwan and China have been engaged for years in a diplomatic tug-of-war in developing countries, with economic support and other aid often used as bargaining chips for diplomatic recognition.

Central America has been a key bastion for Taiwan, with Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua still recognising Taipei rather than Beijing, which has used its economic muscle and promises of investment to entice governments.

But Panama broke ties with Taiwan last year.

The recent defections have irked the United States, which recalled its envoys from El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and Panama in September.

The United States recognises Beijing but is congressionally bound to ensure Taiwan's defence, with President Donald Trump's administration especially vocal on defending Taipei diplomatically.

A Chinese government spokesman said on Thursday that the diplomatic tie-up between Beijing and El Salvador "does not target any third party".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Governments worldwide are stepping up use of online tools, in many cases inspired by China's model, to suppress dissent and tighten their grip on power, a human rights watchdog study found Thursday.

The annual Freedom House study of 65 countries found global declined for the eighth consecutive year in 2018, amid a rise in what the group called "digital authoritarianism."



The Freedom on the Net 2018 report found online propaganda and disinformation have increasingly "poisoned" the digital space, while the unbridled collection of personal data is infringing on privacy.

"Democracies are struggling in the digital age, while is exporting its model of censorship and surveillance to control information both inside and outside its borders," said Michael Abramowitz, president of Freedom House.

"This pattern poses a threat to the open internet and endangers prospects for greater democracy worldwide." Chinese officials have held sessions on controlling information with 36 of the 65 countries assessed, and provided telecom and surveillance equipment to a number of foreign governments, Freedom House said.

The accusations made by Freedom House are "without basis, unprofessional, irresponsible, and have ulterior motives," said Chinese foreign ministry official spokesman Lu Kang at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

Cyberspace is complex, he added, and requires "the global community, including governments, businesses, think tanks and media to adopt a constructive attitude to maintain it."



The report found 17 governments approved or proposed laws restricting online media in the name of fighting "fake news," while 18 countries increased surveillance or weakened encryption protection to more closely monitor their citizenry.

According to the researchers, declined in 26 countries from June 2017 to May 2018. Gains were seen in 19 countries, most of them minor.

One of the greatest threats, Freedom House said, is efforts by to remake the digital world in its "techno-dystopian" image.

It cited a sweeping Chinese cybersecurity requirement that local and foreign companies "immediately stop transmission" of banned content, and compels them to ensure that data on Chinese users is hosted within the country.

This has been followed by "hundreds" of new directives on what people can and cannot do online, and tighter controls on the use of VPNs to evade detection.

The report said leaked documents and other evidence suggest as many as a million Muslims may be held in internment camps in Xinjiang, many as a result of nonviolent online activities.

appears to be using its big tech firms involved in telecom infrastructure to extend its dominance and gain an edge in surveillance, according to Freedom House.

Companies such as Huawei -- largely banned from contracts in the US and Australia -- are building infrastructure in many parts of the world including Africa and Latin America, according to Freedom House board chairman Michael Chertoff, a former US secretary of homeland security.

"This opens up a potential for exploiting information in these countries by having technological backdoors that can be used by the Chinese government to collect intelligence," Chertoff said.

The researchers said online freedom is facing threats in democratic and authoritarian states.

India led the world in the number of internet shutdowns, with over 100 reported incidents in 2018 so far, claiming that the moves were needed to halt the flow of disinformation and incitement to violence.

Similar actions were taken in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. "Cutting off internet service is a draconian response, particularly at a time when citizens may need it the most, whether to dispel rumors, check in with loved ones, or avoid dangerous areas," Freedom House researcher Adrian Shahbaz said.
A Christian woman who was convicted of blasphemy and was acquitted by Pakistan's Supreme Court is likely to be flown out of the country as the landmark verdict sparked countrywide protests and death threats from hardline groups.

Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The apex court's judgement, which was pronounced Wednesday, triggered protests across Pakistan with protestors led by Islamic political party Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan and other groups blocking major highways and roads in different parts of the country.

Bibi's husband Ashiq Masih has reached Pakistan along with his family from the UK to shift her abroad, The reported quoting sources.

Masih was provided complete security by the law enforcement agencies, it said.

Officials also said Bibi might be flown out of Pakistan due to threat to her life.

However, it was not clear where she will go as several countries, including Canada, have offered asylum to her.

The timing of her release was not been shared due to security reasons. She was kept in Sheikhupura jail near Lahore.

Bibi's case has been deeply divisive in Pakistan where there is strong support for the controversial blasphemy laws.

The blasphemy laws were promulgated by former military dictator Ziaul Haq in 1980s. A person convicted under these laws is given death sentence.

Bibi was the first woman who was given death sentence under the blasphemy laws.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Christian woman, who was convicted of blasphemy and acquitted by Pakistan's Supreme Court, was released from a jail in Multan City on Thursday morning and is likely to have flown out of the country as the landmark verdict sparked countrywide protests and death threats from hardline groups.

Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The apex court's judgement, which was pronounced Wednesday, triggered protests across Pakistan with protestors led by Islamic political party Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan and other groups blocking major highways and roads in different parts of the country.

An official of the New Central Jail Multan for Women told PTI that Bibi was released from the jail, about 350 kms from Lahore, in early hours of Thursday after meeting all legal requirements.

"Aasia Bibi was released after we received her release order from the trial court," the official said.

When asked who came to receive her, he said: "Some of her family members and lawyers had come at the jail to receive her."



It has not been confirmed yet whether she moved to an undisclosed location in Pakistan or flew out of the country. "I cannot confirm whether she left the country or not," an official of the Punjab government said.

To a question as when Bibi who was languishing in the Sheikhupra Jail (some 50kms from Lahore) was "secretly" shifted to the women jail in Multan, the official said: "Aasia Bibi was shifted to the Multan jail quite sometimes ago because of her security."



A source in the government said Bibi might have flown out to a European country by now.

Her all family members including husband and five children have shifted to the UK.

The had reported that Bibi's husband Ashiq Masih had reached Pakistan along with his family from the UK to shift her abroad.

However, it was not clear where she will go as several countries, including Canada, have offered asylum to her.

Meanwhile, the Imran Khan's government in a statement said: "The federal government has no plans to place the name of Aasia Bibi on the exit control list (to stop her from flying out of the country) or to file an appeal for a review against the apex court's verdict.

Bibi's case has been deeply divisive in Pakistan where there is strong support for the controversial blasphemy laws.

The blasphemy laws were promulgated by former military dictator Ziaul Haq in 1980s. A person convicted under these laws is given death sentence.

Bibi was the first woman who was given death sentence under the blasphemy laws.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court as a "public institution" needed to be opened for common people on Saturdays barring holidays, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said Thursday.

The CJI also inaugurated the Centre for Research and Planning, an "in-house think tank" and launched a portal through which citizens can book their visit to the court, which will be open from 10 AM to 1 PM every Saturday, except on declared holidays.

The common public can now have a guided tour of courtrooms, judges' library on Saturdays.

The think tank would carry out "cutting-edge research" into fundamental jurisprudence and the principles and doctrines of law as well as on judicial reforms for improvement in justice delivery system.

"As my colleagues are concerned I really seek a post-facto approval. The decision was entirely mine. I did not consult any of you. I apologise for it but I hope you will approve of it," the CJI said candidly when discussing the aspects to be covered by the 'think tank'.

In a function organised at Judges' lounge, Justice Gogoi said, "The in-house centre will be a very small body but it will be meant for domain experts all over the country who will be contributing their line of thoughts."



The main mandate of the think tank would be to collect, assimilate and disseminate inputs for judicial reforms, legal education and development of jurisprudence of the Supreme Court of India.

Dealing with the aspect of throwing open the gates of apex court for common public, Justice Gogoi said, "It is an experiment, a very limited exposure to the Supreme Court, a public institution that I thought should be opened up in a limited way."



Professor Mohan Gopal, academician and former vice chancellor of National Law School of India, Bangalore, also spoke at the programme.

He said the think tank could play an important role in better explaining to the general public, the work of the Supreme Court.

"We are setting out on a very important venture to create a permanent body of knowledge that can be accessed by the entire legal fraternity and by the public that will improve the better understanding of the working of the judiciary and the justice system," he said.

He said the centre would mark a "quantum leap in building the knowledge infrastructure of the judiciary".

The Centre will create a network of leading independent scholars in key domain areas.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Thursday said while the Congress, INLD and the BJP regimes had failed to perform in Haryana, his AAP government had brought "revolutionary" changes in the national capital.

Speaking here on the state's foundation day, being celebrated as 'Haryana Diwas', Kejriwal said every section of the society in the state was unhappy with the Congress, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who have ruled the state for over 50 years now.

"Today is November 1 which is observed as 'Haryana Divas'... 52 years have passed since the formation of Haryana but still the requirements and expectations of people remain unfulfilled," the Delhi chief minister told the media.

He said every section of the society in Haryana was unhappy with the political parties which have been in power in the state for over 50 years.

"Farmers are unhappy as they are not getting compensation for their damaged crops, they are not getting remunerative prices for their crops, youths are disappointed, schools, hospitals are in dilapidated condition. Haryana is in ruins and all the political parties are guilty for this," claimed Kejriwal.

The Delhi chief minister alleged that under the erstwhile INLD government, the state's law and order went for a toss while Congress regime was no better and indulged in land grabbing and corruption.

"Now the BJP government is known as 'Khattara' (ineffective) government," he said taking a jibe at chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Kejriwal also accused all the three parties of diving the state on caste lines by either wooing Jats or non Jats.

"Till now INLD and Congress were seeking votes from Jats and BJP from non jats. Not even a single party had sought votes for providing good education and hospital services, better infrastructure and power," he claimed.

The Delhi CM said his government had brought "revolutionary" changes in Delhi which even his political opponents have acknowledged.

"We have improved the condition of government schools and hospitals in Delhi, besides providing water, power services and generating employment etc," he said, appealing to the people to decide whether they want to vote for temple or mosque or for those who provide good schools and hospitals.

On the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal issue, Kejriwal said his party will abide by what the Supreme Court decides as he slammed the BJP and the Congress of failing to resolve the contentious issue despite having governments in Punjab, Haryana and Centre.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Police Official Sentenced to 7 Years in Absentia

By Gvantsa Gabekhadze

Georgias former head of the Constitutional Security Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, David Akhalaia was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison on Monday by the Tbilisi City Court for the murder of Sandro Girgvliani back in 2006 and for kidnapping of several individuals for personal revenge when he served in the high role.Akhalaia was found guilty of abuse of power, illegal deprivation of liberty and humiliation of human dignity. Akhalaia was finally sentenced to seven years and six months imprisonment for the episode with Sandro Girgvliani, Levan Bukhaidze, Kakha Dabrundashvili and Vamehk Abulashvili, and was deprived of the right to work in public service for one year and six months, read the press release of the Tbilisi City Court.Girgvliani was head of the United Georgian Bank's Foreign Department when he was tortured and killed on January 28, 2006. He had been severely assaulted and his body was found with multiple injuries near Tbilisi.According to different sources, the 28-year-olds death was connected with a situation that developed at Sharden Bar, an elite Tbilisi bar earlier that evening.It was alleged that the former Inspector General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Vasil Sanodze was holding his birthday party with colleagues at the bar, accompanied by then-Interior Minister Vano Merabishvilis wife Tako Salakaia. She was a friend of Girgvliani's girlfriend Tamar Maisuradze, who was also present at the party. Sources alleged that Maisuradze was the reason why Girgvliani had an argument with the Ministry representatives that evening. Later that night Girgvliani was found dead.In 2006 several then-Interior Ministry employees were held accountable for their involvement in the murder but Irina Enukidze, late Girgvlianis mother, said she would not stop fighting until all involved, including higher officials linked to the case, were punished.During her plight Enukidze became ill; she was diagnosed with cancer and died in 2007.Her family and friends continued her fight, which reached a peak in April 2011 when the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg partially satisfied a lawsuit filed by the Girgvliani family against the Georgian government.The Court ruling said the investigation into Girgvlianis death "clearly lacked the requisite, independence, impartiality, objectivity and thoroughness. The Court ordered the Georgian government to pay 50,000 (141,000 GEL) compensation to the Girgvliani family for moral damage.The Georgian Dream government renewed the case investigation when they came to power in 2012.Former Interior Minister Ivane Merabishvili has also been sentenced for the case.
Congress Lok Sabha MP Mausam Benazir Noor Thursday advocated alliance between Congress and Trinamool Congress in the next general election to stop the march of BJP in West Bengal.

West Bengal state Congress president Somen Mitra reacting to Noor's statement said the issue of alliance will be decided by the party high command.

"We (Congress) are trying to forge an alliance of all like minded opposition parties across the country to defeat BJP (in the next Lok Sabha election). In Bengal too I feel in order to stop the march of BJP, we should forge an alliance with TMC," Noor said addressing a party programme in West Bengal's Malda district.

"In our party everybody has the right to express their opinion. She has also expressed her opinion. The final decision on this issue will be taken by the AICC," Mitra later told PTI.

The TMC leadership too declined to comment on Noor's statement.

The BJP state leadership mocked the statement and said Congress is desperately looking for allies as it is "confident" that it will not be able to win a single seat on its own.

"Just like in other parts of the country where Congress is looking for allies, in Bengal too it is doing the same thing as it is confident that it won't be able to win a single seat on its own," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress would contest 95 seats in the coming elections to the 119-member Telangana assembly, leaving the remaining to partners of the proposed grand alliance, AICC In-Charge of the state R C Khuntia said Thursday.

The list of the party candidates would be released on November 8 or 9, he told reporters in New Delhi.

The Congress, Telugu Desam Party, Telangana Jana Samithi and CPI have decided to forge an alliance for the December 7 elections and are currently engaged in seat-sharing talks.

"We will fight in 95 seats and the rest will go to the other alliance partners. Of the 95 seats, we were supposed to take up 62 seats for discussion today, but took up only 57 seats. Rest will be taken up latter. The full list will be declared on November 8 night or November 9," Khuntia said.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Uttam Kumar Reddy and other senior leaders are camping in Delhi for talks with AICC leaders, including party president Rahul Gandhi.

Party sources said the Telangana leaders submitted a list of probable candidates to Gandhi for his approval.

Reddy said discussions were held on the seat sharing and candidates and the final decision will be taken by Gandhi.

He also said the Congress chief has formally approved the alliance in the state.

On seat sharing, he said an agreement had been reached with TDP under which it would contest 14 seats. Discussions were still on with reagard to the seats to be allocated to the TJS and CPI, he added.

The ruling TRS party has announced 107 candidates so far while the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has declared nominees for eight seats. The latter was expected to declare candidates for another two or three seats shortly.

BJP, which is positioning itself as the alternative to the ruling TRS, is going it alone in the polls.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Connectivity initiatives that straddle national boundaries must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said Thursday, asserting that such projects must promote trade and not tension.

His remarks assume significance with India boycotting China's One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative on the grounds of territorial sovereignty, as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, OBOR's flagship connectivity and trade project, passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Gokhale, in his address at the Regional Connectivity Conference here, said India's connectivity to its west remains "blighted" and it has sought to bypass an "unwilling regime" in Pakistan by establishing in June last year an air freight corridor between India and Afghanistan, which it plans to expand to more cities.

India is seeking to develop the Chabahar Port as a gateway for onward connectivity to and from Afghanistan and Central Asia, he said.

"Since its inauguration last year, we have shipped about 110 thousand metric tonnes of much-needed wheat and 2,000 metric tonnes of pulses from India to Afghanistan through this port.

"To tap its full potential for the benefit of Afghanistan, we might also need to pursue the development of a rail line from Chabahar to Zahedan at some future stage. There is also potential for the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor which will considerably reduce time and cost of transport from India to Central Asia," Gokhale said.

Regional connectivity in South Asia is of much relevance to the wider Indo-Pacific and the world at large, he said.

He, however, cautioned that "connectivity initiatives that straddle national boundaries must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations".

"They should promote trade, not tension," the foreign secretary asserted.

Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at this year's Shangri-La Dialogue, Gokhale said India believes in a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific Region, which includes all nations in this geography and others who have a stake in it.

US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, in his remarks at the conference, said, there were several benefits of stepping up connectivity, but cautioned that it also carries significant risks such as illicit trade, political interference and vulnerability to cyber attacks.

He also emphasised increasing digital connectivity in South Asia and asserted that the free flow of information across borders via the internet drives productivity, growth, and innovation.

"For that reason, we urge India and other countries to remain cautious in enacting data localisation and data privacy legislations which certainly can address legitimate privacy concerns, but if not done carefully under the involvement of all stakeholders, can also unnecessary restrict data flows, cause unnecessary regulations, and disrupt connectivity," Juster said.

He also emphasised on the role of the private sector in enhancing connectivity in the South Asian and Indo-Pacific regions.

He said increased connectivity must be managed effectively and with responsible governance.

Japanese Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu said there were substantive discussions between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Indian counterpart at the recently-concluded summit in Japan and the two leaders vowed to strengthen cooperation for promoting connectivity.

He said India-Japan have agreed to cooperate on specific projects contributing to better connectivity in the region and cited the example of Bangladesh, where India will construct roads while Japan will provide bridges to better connect them.

Hiramatsu emphasised on cooperation in India's northeast region, ranging from connectivity to people-to-people exchanges.

Gokhale, in his remarks, said, "Connectivity efforts in the region must be based on principles of economic viability and financial responsibility."



They should promote economic activity and not place nations under irredeemable debt burden, the foreign secretary said.

Gokhale also said "physical hardware of connectivity" across nations can only sustain itself in a common and universally applicable rules-based world order.

"Such an order must uphold sovereignty, territorial integrity and equality of all nations. All nations must respect their international commitments.

"This is the foremost requirement, and therefore a pressing need in our part of the world (Indian Ocean) and any such arrangement must naturally accord due primacy to the states located in the geography of the Indian Ocean," he said.

He asserted that connectivity can be meaningful only when everyone has equal access under international law to the use of global commons that would require freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.

He also listed several connectivity projects that India is involved in the region -- from Nepal to Sri Lanka.

"The Indian Ocean has a vital role to play as a connector of the littoral nations. Sri Lanka and Maldives are the focus of our maritime connectivity efforts in the Indian Ocean," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday alleged that assistance provided by the Centre was never utilised optimally by successive governments in the state, where corruption and nepotism were "at their peak".

Addressing a lecture at Patna University, he also asserted that "Pakistan has no role to play in Kashmir" and made it clear that there shall be no talks with those who intend to make the neighbouring country a party -- an oblique reference to separatist groups.

"The Centre has been generously doling out funds for the development of Jammu and Kashmir, which is essential to bring about peace in the state. But those at the helm of affairs in the state have never been up to the mark. The twin evils of corruption and nepotism are at their peak in Jammu and Kashmir," Malik said.

He was earlier the Governor of Bihar before taking up the gubernatorial assignment in the restive northern state.

"Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. Pakistan has no role to play in any problem that concerns the state. And, we cannot deal with anybody who seeks to make Pakistan a party in matters relating to Jammu and Kashmir," Malik said.

He also admitted that he was anxious when offered to be the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir amid political turmoil, which followed Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's resignation and imposition of Governor's Rule.

"But it took me little time to realise that it was a challenge worth accepting and enjoying," Malik added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Curfew was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district Thursday night after a senior state BJP leader and his brother were shot dead by suspected militants, triggering protests by residents, officials said.

An order for imposition of the curfew was issued by Kishtwar District Magistrate A S Rana late in the night, they said.

State secretary of BJP Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet were returning from their shop in Kishtwar when they were fired upon from close range at a dark, narrow lane leading to their house in Parihar Mohalla, the officials said.

The assailants were apparently waiting for the brothers to return home and used pistols to target them, they said.

Tension mounted in the town



as residents staged protests and manhandled policemen, including senior officials, prompting the authorities to clamp prhibitory orders under CrPC Section 144.

BJP general secretary Ashok Koul condemned the attack and called for punishment to the culprits involved in it.

CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami also condemned the attack.

J&K Congress president Gulam Ahmed Mir also condemned the killing of the BJP leader and his brother.

He termed the attack "barbaric and unfortunate" and pointed towards the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana strongly condemned the killings as "barbaric, inhuman and most unfortunate".

"Violence has no place in a civilised society," Rana said and hoped that the people will unitedly face the challenge posed by elements inimical to peace and tranquillity.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Doordarshan employees are serving the country just like Army jawans, Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said Wednesday, while condoling the death of DD cameraman Achyutanand Sahu in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh on October 30.

He was speaking at a condolence meeting for Sahu organised by the Prasar Bharti here.

"There are many media houses, but Doordarshan and DD are national broadcasters. Just like Army jawans are involved in serving the country, we are also involved in serving the nation.

"We have to cover a lot of difficult domains through our camera or our pen. You have the responsibility of disseminating to the entire country," Rathore said.

Slowly, people were getting to know about the kind of difficulties journalists faced to bring news to them, he added.

"He (Sahu) lost his life at a place from where the country's enemies wished to give a message that they wanted to stop the country from progressing. His family should not feel that they have been left alone," the information and broadcasting minister said.

Prasar Bharti Chairman A Surya Prakash said journalists were always living on the edge.

"I know of the courage and bravery of our colleagues in DD news when they are out on various assignments. As a person who has been on the field, we journalists are living on the edge. Whether it was Punjab in the 1980s and later Kashmir or going out on our own assignments, it is always a matter of touch and go.

"Anything can happen. It requires a great amount of guts and professionalism to be on the spot and go and do that thing," he said.

Surya Prakash saluted the "bravery and commitment" of Sahu and his colleagues, who had gone to cover a story about a village that had not voted in the last 20 years.

"Not only conflict zones, I have seen tsunamis, earthquakes. In Gujarat, many years ago, it was very risky to go and cover stories but reporters go out and want to get the best story out. The courage and professional commitment of our colleagues in Doordarshan are as good as you can get anywhere in the world," he said.

Doordarshan staffer Mormukut Sharma (35), who was accompanying Sahu in Chhattisgarh, said he felt they would also not survive the Naxal attack.

"I was dehydrated during the attack. I had managed to dig a hole with my hands so that I could hide there. If I raised my head, bullets would come flying and while lying there, I was being bitten by red ants," he recalled.

Sharma, a lighting assistant with DD News, and journalist Dhiraj Kumar survived the gunfire after a Naxal ambush on a police convoy in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district Tuesday. But their colleague, Sahu, tragically died in the early minutes of the ambush when he was hit by a bullet while riding pillion with a policeman on a motorcycle.

The three-member crew from New Delhi was in the state for the coverage of the upcoming Assembly polls and had joined the police party travelling on eight motorcycles through a desolate and forested area on their way to Nilawaya village, about 450 kilometres from state capital Raipur.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the challenges to notifications related to control over services, setting up of Commission of Inquiry and power of Anti-corruption Bureau in the ongoing tussle between Delhi and Centre.

A bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan reserved the verdict after hearing rejoinder arguments from the counsels for Delhi government.

"Hearing concluded. Judgement reserved," the bench said.

During the earlier hearing, the Centre had told the apex court that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) has the power to regulate services in Delhi.

The powers are delegated to the administrator of Delhi and the services can be administered through him, it had said.

The Centre also said that unless the President of India expressly directs, the LG, who is the administrator of Delhi, cannot consult the Chief Minister or the Council of Ministers.

On October 4, the Delhi government had told the apex court that it wanted its petitions relating to governance of the national capital be heard soon as it did not want "stalemate to continue in administration".

The Delhi government had told the top court that it wanted to know where it stands with regard to the administration in view of the Constitution bench verdict of apex court on July 4.

The five-judge bench had on July 4 laid down broad parameters for governance of the national capital, which has witnessed a power struggle between the Centre and the Delhi government since the Aam Aadmi Party came to power in 2014.

In the landmark verdict, it had unanimously held that Delhi cannot be accorded the status of a state but clipped the powers of the Lieutenant Governor (LG), saying he has no "independent decision making power" and has to act on the aid and advice of the elected government.

On September 19, the Centre had told the apex court that administration of Delhi cannot be left to the Delhi government alone and emphasised that it has an "extraordinary" position by virtue of being the country's capital.

The Centre had told court that a five-judge constitution bench of the apex court had categorically held that Delhi cannot be accorded the status of a state.

The Centre had said one of the basic issues was that whether the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) has the legislative and executive powers so far as 'services' were concerned.

"Delhi has an extraordinary position as it is the capital of the country," it had said.

It said that the national capital houses several institutions of vital importance like Parliament, the Supreme Court and foreign diplomats also resides here.

The Delhi government had earlier told the court that they have executive power to constitute a commission of inquiry.

Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party government had told the apex court that its functioning was "completely paralysed" and it cannot order transfer or posting of officers despite the constitution bench verdict on the national capital's administration.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had been at loggerheads with incumbent LG Anil Baijal and his predecessor Najeeb Jung.

Kejriwal had accused both of them of preventing the functioning of his government at the behest of the Centre.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Workers -- skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled -- in the city will get raised wages from this month under the Delhi government's minimum wages rules notified in March this year, AAP minister Gopal Rai said Thursday.

Talking to reporters here, the Delhi labour minister said unskilled worker will get a total of Rs 14,000 this month, which includes three months of dearness allowance (DA), while semi-skilled and skilled worker will get Rs 15,400 and Rs 16,792, including DA, respectively.

Rai said that the Supreme Court Wednesday allowed operation of the March notification for three months.

The government will launch a 20-day campaign on November 10 to create awareness among the workers about the Minimum Wages Act amendments, which was approved in May by President Ram Nath Kovind.

According to the Act, employers violating the laid down rules will face a fine of up to Rs 50,000 besides a jail term of three years.

He said that in December, the government will start taking strict action against violators.

The minister said the government has formed a four-member committee to propose new minimum wages later this week.

The minister said that once the four-member committee gives its report on new minimum wages, it will be forwarded to 'Delhi Minimum Wages Advisory Board'. The proposed wages will be put out in public domain for objection and suggestions for two months.

"In January next year, a report on proposed minimum wages after getting objections and suggestion will be submitted to the Supreme Court," Rai said.

Meanwhile, the Bonded Labour Liberation Front has welcomed the Delhi government's move to restore minimum wages notified in March.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The ruling AIADMK Thursday flayed rebel leader T T V Dhinakaran for saying it would "struggle" to secure deposit in the bypolls to 20 Assembly seats, including those of the 18 disqualified party MLAs, and said those in the rival camp were in a "confused state of mind."



It said Dhinakaran's statement showed how much the family of deposed AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, including Dhinakaran, was "against" former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

On Wednesday, Dhinakaran had said in Madurai that the 18 disqualified MLAs will not appeal against the Madras High Court verdict upholding their disqualification, as decided by them originally, and face the elections, seen as a U-turn by his critics.

AIADMK ridiculed Dhinakaran for his volte-face and said the disqualified MLAs were in a "confused state of mind."



"They have perhaps decided against appealing since it is clear that they might not win the case in the Supreme Court.

Two judges (of the Madras High Court) had upheld the disqualification," party spokesperson R M Babu Murugavel, also an advocate, told PTI.

Dhinakaran had exuded confidence that his Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) will trump the AIADMK in the bypolls.

"We are not going for an appeal. We will be facing the polls... AMMK will secure a grand victory in all 20 seats and AIADMK has to struggle to even secure deposit," he had said.

While the 18 segments have fallen vacant following the disqualification process, two other seats-- Thiruvarur and Thirupparankundram, are also vacant due to the death of the respective MLAs, then DMK chief M Karunanidhi, and AK Bose of the AIADMK.

Opposition parties, including DMK, have demanded that bypolls should be immediately held for all 20 seats.

Earlier, following the October 25 High Court order upholding their disqualification by Speaker P Dhanapal last year, the MLAs had decided to move the apex court, after holding consultations with Dhinakaran in Madurai.

The Madras High Court had upheld the June 14 order of the then chief justice disqualifying them.

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 Thursday, Murugavel took exception to Dhinakaran's remarks that AIADMK would 'struggle' to secure deposit in the 20 seats if bypolls were held there.

"When he himself says that AIADMK will lose deposit, it shows how much they (Sasikala's family) were against the party and Amma," he said.

Jayalalithaa is addressed as Amma by party supporters.

To a query, he said his party was prepared to face the polls anytime.

This was evident from the fact that it had recently named election in-charge for all 20 seats, including AIADMK coordinator and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, for the respective segments.

Murugavel expressed confidence that the ruling party would emerge victorious in all 20 seats, if the elections were to be held "even tomorrow.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Diego Luna and Michael Pena, the stars of Netflix's "Narcos: Mexico", will be landing in India's financial capital Mumbai to promote the show.

The streaming giant has hit a reset with the popular series whose first three seasons dealt with Colombian drug Pablo Escobar and Cali cartel.

With the fourth season, the story moves from Colombia to Mexico and the focus will be on the country's Guadalajara drug cartel.

Showrunner Eric Newman along with the show's lead actors will be in Mumbai this month and will meet with fans and filmmakers from India.

The new season is scheduled to premiere on November 16.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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We Spend More and More on Low-Quality School Education

From 2011 to 2018, the state funding on school education almost doubled in Georgia. However, international studies and official statistics show that the quality of education remains critically low.According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Georgia ranked 60th among 72 countries and economies in terms of quality of school education. As for the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum, Georgia was 106th among 137 countries.In 2016-2018, on average 77% of students could successfully pass the final school exams, while this number was 84% in 2011-2015. Physics, mathematics and foreign languages are the most difficult subjects for Georgian students.Approximately 67 000 teachers are employed in Georgian schools. As of the end of 2017, only nine teachers had the highest - mentors status and 257 teachers  lead teachers rank, one-step lower status.As of 2017, only 30% of teachers were certified ones. In 2010-2017, only 25% of teachers who participated in certification exams could overcome the minimum threshold. The teachers of elementary schools, physics, information technologies, and mathematics have had the lowest scores.In 2011-2017, an average nominal monthly salary in public schools (including teachers) has doubled and reached GEL 548. However, this number is almost half of an average salary in all sectors of the economy in Georgia. Salaries in public and private schools do not vary significantly. According to the latest data, an average nominal monthly salary is GEL 631 in private schools.Lack of correlation between funding of school education and its quality is caused by the nonexistence of proper quality-oriented public policy. This fact is proved by the school education program of the Ministry of Education budget. This program does not aim at raising the education quality and no proper measurement indicators are given.
The Centre on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that it has amended its Haj policy and differently-abled people are no longer barred from performing the annual pilgrimage.

The submission was made before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice I S Mehta, which was also told that only people with serious illnesses, like cancer or tuberculosis, are barred from the pilgrimage.

Central government standing counsel Ajay Digpaul, appearing for the Ministry of Minority Affairs, told the court that the Haj Committee of India (HCOI) has "unanimously decided to allow persons with special needs to apply" for the pilgrimage under the general category.

Digpaul said on selection, such a person with special needs can perform Haj if he or she can undertake the journey on their own or else they may be accompanied by an able-bodied person who will have to be a blood relation and will take responsibility of the differently-abled individual during the pilgrimage.

The central government lawyer also placed before the bench an affidavit giving details of the changes made in the new Haj policy for 2018-22 by the HCOI.

The amended policy has made it clear that "physical disability of a person will not be construed as an adverse physical health".

The amended policy states that "those with severe medical conditions such as terminal cancers, advanced cardiac, respiratory, liver or kidney diseases, infectious tuberculosis disease or senility" cannot apply for the pilgrimage.

Earlier the provision also barred persons with disabilities or special needs.

The affidavit was filed in response to a PIL by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal seeking quashing of the provisions in the Haj policy that barred differently-abled persons from undertaking the annual Haj pilgrimage.

Taking note of the submissions made on affidavit, the bench said the issue raised in the plea has been addressed and the petition has become "infructuous".

The court disposed of the plea, but granted liberty to Bansal to challenge the amended policy if he was aggrieved by it.

The petition had said that some provisions of the policy violated Articles 14, 21 and 25 of the Constitution, pertaining to equality and freedom to practice religion.

Earlier, the ministry had told the court that bar on differently-abled people from undertaking Haj was retained in the new policy as was the practice for the past 30 years, since the journey is physically demanding.

The purpose was also to strictly screen the disabled due to instances of them indulging in begging, which is prohibited in Saudi Arabia, it had further said.

The unamended policy guidelines under the 'eligibility for Haj' had mentioned that any Indian citizen who is a Muslim can apply for the pilgrimage, except those "who do not have the mental or physical health to perform the pilgrimage, persons whose legs are amputated, who are crippled, handicapped, lunatic or otherwise physically/mentally incapacitated".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress' social media head tweeted a controversial comment along with a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi standing next to Sardar Patel's 'Statue of Unity', evoking a sharp reaction from the BJP which slammed it as the "language of arrogance."

Spandana tweeted a picture of Modi standing next to Sardar Patel's 182-metre-tall statue in Gujarat, which was unveiled on Wednesday, with the comment: "Is that bird dropping?"



Asked about the tweet, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hit out at the opposition party, alleging that "this is the real culture" of the Congress party. They miss no opportunity to abuse the prime minister of India, he said.

"It is the same party which called the prime minister 'neech'. Shashi Tharoor called him a scorpion and now says that he is a bird's dropping," Patra said.

"This is nothing but language of arrogance from the Congress party for the normal Indian who with his sheer hardwork become the prime minister of the country," he said.

A normal Indian appears bird's dropping to them, while a dynast is power centre for them, Patra said.

"This is arrogance of dynasty which is abusing the democracy of India," he alleged.

Despite criticism from the ruling party and Twitterati, Spandana remained defiant. "When you're done huffing & puffing take a breath & hold a mirror to yourselves. My views are mine. I don't give two hoots about yours. I'm not going to clarify what I meant and what I didn't because you don't deserve one," she tweeted.
The Delhi University will cite a 1943 letter written by an official in the government of British India to argue in the Supreme Court against construction of a highrise building on its north campus, varsity officials said Thursday.

The varsity in the apex court will oppose the construction of the 37-storey building on a public land sold to a private firm, they said.

The university has been opposing the construction on its north campus saying it will be in violation of the 2021 Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) and compromise with the safety of students.

The varsity had even approached the Delhi High Court earlier in this connection which dismissed the petition in 2015 saying the land was not part of the university's north campus.

The varsity again approached the high court this year challenging its order but the plea was dismissed as the court questioned the delay on DU's part.

According to a varsity official, Clause 11.3 of the 2021 Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) says, "Restrictions on tall buildings would be necessary in important areas like Lutyen's Bungalow Zone, Civil lines and North Delhi campus. In case of Urban Extension, areas for specific Urban Design projects and tall buildings should be identified."



The building is proposed to be constructed on a land which the DMRC sold to a private firm.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had bought the land from the Defence Ministry for Rs 42.4 crore, said a varsity official, adding a portion of the land, which was for public and was even acquired on public money was subsequently sold to a private builder for Rs 218 crore.

However, a varsity official said when they had petitioned in the high court, they did not have the copy of the 1943 letter written by the then joint secretary to the Government of India, the Department of Education, Health and Lands. The letter to the then chief commissioner of Delhi on October 25, 1943, stated that the university should be informed about any kind of construction activities.

The varsity is likely to file a petition in the apex court citing this letter.

The letter, a copy of which is with PTI, had also said that an area of approximately 582.44 acre should be considered to be the university enclave. The letter was written with a view to ensure that no "unseemly buildings are erected in the neighbourhood of the Delhi University and its colleges on the Old Viceregal Lodge Estate".

"The area of 81.78 acres should lie considered to be a protective belt and the Civil Station Notified Area Committee and the Delhi Improvement Trust (now DDA) should consult the university before building plans are approved by them in respect of land under their control and the president of the Delhi Municipal Committee should be asked to ensure that buildings erected on the land under the committee's control are of good type," the letter said.

It also said the Civil Station Notified Area Committee (now North Delhi Municipal Corporation) should inform the university of all applications for permission to construct additional buildings in the area of 25.78 acres (in the north of the proposed enclave) which is under private ownership, so that the university may have an opportunity of considering whether it may not desire to acquire the sites by purchase.

The Delhi Improvement Trust should inform the university of any scheme which the trust might contemplate for the development of the areas adjoining the enclave, the letter said.

Bipin Tiwary, the deputy dean, Works and OSD, Equal Opportunity Cell in the DU said, "We have presented the matter to the PMO and are hopeful that the prime minister will get the matter investigated.

"How can public land acquired for public purposes can be converted to private use for constructing the tallest building in an area which is under zone C, where such construction is prohibited. Also as per the letter, the university's consent should be taken. How can the DDA, the DMRC, UD, MCD flout the regulations? We demand an independent enquiry to protect the public interest at large," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday in a presidential memorandum that he had determined there was sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products for countries to "significantly" reduce their purchase of crude oil from Iran, which is going face US sanctions from November 5.

In May, Trump had pulled out of the 2015 landmark nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) terming it as "disastrous". Under the Obama-era deal, involving five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany, Iran had agreed to stop its nuclear programme in exchange of relief from economic sanctions.

Moments after coming out the deal Trump had signed fresh set of sanctions against Iran and warned countries against any cooperation with Tehran on its controversial nuclear weapons programme.

In his presidential determination, Trump said "there is a sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products from countries other than Iran to permit a significant reduction in the volume of petroleum and petroleum products purchased from Iran by or through foreign financial institutions."



Trump's presidential determination, not an executive order but a kind of directive issued by the White House to the members of his adminstration on some policy matters, comes less than 100 hours before the deadline set by him for countries like India to bring its purchase of oil to zero from Iran by November 4.

India has expressed its difficulties in doing so given the galloping energy needs of its 1.3 billion people. More than 80 per cent of India's energy needs are imported. But at the same time, India has taken steps to reduce its oil purchase from Iran, which has already declined substantially.

Recently, senior US officials were in India for talks in this regard. However, US officials are tightlipped on the issue.

The White House also did not immediately responded to question if India's oil purchase reductions from Iran would be considered significant. Trump said he will continue to monitor the situation.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said, on the Laura Ingraham Show, that on November 5, the US will put back in place sanctions that will be very severe on the leadership of Iran. He hoped that this will convince them to change their ways.

Pompeo, on the another show, said that Iran was the world's largest state sponsor of terror. "They were squandering the people's money, the Iranian people's money, on these silly malign activities. And our effort is to get them to change that behaviour".

State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Paladino told reporters that on November 5, at 12:01, sanctions that were lifted under the Iran nuclear deal will come back into full effect.

"The sanctions that are reimposed on November 5th will target critical sectors of Iran's economy, such as energy, shipping and the ship-building sectors, as well as the provision of insurance and transactions involving the Central Bank of Iran and designated Iranian financial institutions," Paladino said.

The Iranian regime is the world's leading state sponsor of terror, and these sanctions are meant to cut off revenues that the Iranian regime uses to conduct terrorism and fund terrorist groups around the world, and that includes Lebanese Hizbollah, Hamas, Kata'ib Hizballah and the Taliban, he added.

"These groups foment global instability, they use these funds to support their nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and these funds are used to line corrupt Iranian leaders' pockets rather than help the Iranian people, who are the longest-suffering victims," Paladino said.

Meanwhile, in its report dated October 29, the independent CRS said India reduced its imports of Iranian oil substantially after 2011, lowering purchases to six per cent of its oil imports by 2013, from over 16 per cent in 2008, in the process incurring significant costs to retrofit refineries that were handling Iranian crude.

"However, since sanctions were eased, India's oil imports from Iran increased to as much as 800,000 bpd in July 2018well above 2011 levels. Indian firms ended or slowed work on investments in Iranian oil and gas fields during 2012-2016, but reportedly resumed work after sanctions were lifted," it said.

After international sanctions were lifted, India reportedly also paid Iran the USD6.5 billion it owed for oil purchased during 2012-2016.

"The degree to which Indian firms and the government of India will cooperate with reimposed US sanctions is not certain. Indian leaders assert that Iran did not violate the JCPOA and sanctions should not be reimposed on it," the Congressional Research Service (CRS) report said.

In June 2018, India and Iran agreed to use the rupee in order to maintain economic engagement. Nonetheless, major Indian refiners Reliance Ltd. and Indian Oil Corporation Limited - citing a decision by the State Bank of India to cease transactions with Iran as complicating efforts to stay engaged with Iran - have announced they are considering cutting oil buys from Iran.

"India's purchases of Iranian oil fell sharply from July to August 2018, and press reports say that the country might try to cut Iranian oil imports dramatically in November 2018, when US energy sanctions go back into effect," the CRS report said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Richa Chadda despises the term "female-oriented" films but the actor says the phrase will continue to be relatively novel till such movies become a norm.

The 31-year-old actor says she started hearing the term when Sridevi's "English Vinglish" released in 2012 but adds actors like Nutan to Rani Mukerji have been the face of their films from a long time.

"I never buy this 'women-oriented' term. I don't like it. I have been hearing this term since 2012 that 'English Vinglish' is coming. I always turn around and say 'You never call the other things male-oriented'. But I guess it'll be a thing, till it becomes a norm.

"Be it Nutan, Nargis Sridevi or Rani (Mukerji), these women have done films which they have carried on their shoulders completely. There was an entire alternate cinema movement with Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Deepti Naval, Mita Vashisht and Neena Gupta... These are great actresses and they have done some excellent work," Chadha told PTI in an interview here.

The actor is currently in the city shooting for her next, "Shakeela", the eponymous biopic on the popular Malayalam adult star.

Directed by Indrajit Lankesh, the film narrates the rags-to-riches-to-rags story of Shakeela Khan, who ruled the South Indian cinema of the '90s. She has acted in several adult films in languages spanning Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.

Year 2018 saw films like "Padmaavat" and "Raazi", fronted by women, emerge as some of the biggest money-spinners and Chadha says the audience has always been ready for a female star who would drive the crowd towards the theatres.

"I think it's the producers, distributors and exhibitors who have not been ready. It is an issue.

"Men control the business and they say the film is female-oriented and it won't work till its ti*s and as*. But you don't know, a good story connects somewhere," she adds.

"Shakeela" is already being compared to Vidya Balan's critically-acclaimed hit "Dirty Picture".

Inspired by southern star Silk Smitha's life, the 2011 film explored the journey of a woman who dreams to be a star, goes on to become a sex symbol and following repeated failures, commits suicide.

Many claim that "Shakeela", the film appears to have been cut from the same cloth but Chadha disagrees.

"Comparisons will happen but we can't do anything about it. I can't escape that. I thought about it but now I'm not going to fight it. Shakeela became a star when Silk Smitha killed herself. Within two years of Silk's death, Shakeela was a superstar.

"She was a ready replacement of somebody who had just passed away. It's the same period, the aesthetics, the visuals and technically too things are same. The two films will appear similar to the inexperienced eye. But the two are very different. It's in a different zone. At least they will compare me to Vidya Balan and the film to a blockbuster like 'Dirty Picture'."



The actor says Shakeela, who has been an integral part of the biopic from the outset, is a living example of feminism in practice.

"She knows her career and personal life have suffered because of the courageous decisions she has taken to stand up against oppression of any kind. She knows she's paying the price for it.

"I could imagine any person in her place as being bitter, angry, suicidal or dependent. Going to school and learning feminism is one thing and living feminism is another. She has done the latter."



Shakeela will also have a cameo in the movie.

The film also stars Pankaj Tripathi and the makers are eyeing a release date post March 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After nearly 12 hours, the massive fire that engulfed two buildings of a private plastic manufacturing unit at nearby Manvilla was doused early Thursday, police said.

At least 50 fire tenders from the city, Kollam and Kanyakumari battled for hours to bring the blaze under control.

According to sources in the factory, the two buildings were gutted in the fire.

However, the workers managed to remove plastic chairs, buckets and other finished products from the factory.

Kerala Fire and Rescue Services DGP A Hemachandran told reporters that a detailed probe would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the fire.

Director General of Police (DGP) Loknath Behara has constituted a special investigation team to probe the incident.

"We will investigate. A forensic probe will be held," he said.

At least 120 employees were inside the unit when the flames were noticed. They managed to run out of the unit, averting a major tragedy.

Two persons were rushed to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital Wednesday night as they showed signs of uneasiness after inhaling the toxic fumes.

District Collector K Vasuki has declared a holiday for the educational institutions in Manvilla and Kulathoor wards Thursday.

Fire department sources said the factory workers tried to put out the fire soon after it broke out and alerted them only after things went out of their hand.

Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan and Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V K Prashant visited the area Wednesday night to take stock of the situation.

Two days ago, there was a minor fire in the unit which was brought under control by the workers themselves.

There are two other buildings of the unit, in which large quantities of finished plastic products were kept stored.

People were evacuated from the nearby areas as a precautionary measure Wednesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ground, air and naval units from five Arab nations are arriving in Egypt to join their Egyptian counterparts for war games, according to the Egyptian military, in the first sign that a military alliance proposed by Washington for its Middle East partners may be gaining traction.

A military statement late Wednesday said forces from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan will take part in the November 3-16 exercises codenamed "Arab Shield" and to be held in western Egypt. Lebanon and Morocco are taking part as observers.

The announcement came a little more than a month after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met in New York with the foreign ministers from the six nations participating in this month's war games plus those from Oman and Qatar to advance the idea of creating a Sunni alliance uniting America's Middle East partners against Shiite and non-Arab Iran.

However, the Egyptian military statement made no link between the war games and the proposed alliance, which Egypt may be approaching with caution given its sectarian undertones.

Egypt, however, has become heavily dependent on financial assistance and investments from Gulf heavyweights like Saudi Arabia and the UAE and that might in turn influence its decision on whether to join the proposed alliance.

A prominent Egyptian analyst on Thursday warned against such an alliance, framing its creation as part of an ongoing process to replace Israel with Iran as the Arabs' chief enemy and emphasizing that differences between the Arabs and Iran can be politically settled.

"Israel is not a friend and this is a fact despite all attempts to ignore it," wrote Abdullah el-Sinnawy in the independent al-Shorouk newspaper.

"The most dangerous thing here is to create an Arab NATO that includes countries bound by diplomatic relations with Israel like Egypt and Jordan and Gulf region nations like Saudi Arabia."



The US proposed alliance, dubbed "Arab NATO," follows the derailment three years ago of efforts to create a joint Arab force agreed on at a 2015 Arab summit held in Egypt.

That force was supposed to be led by an Egyptian and headquartered in Saudi Arabia.

But a meeting of military chiefs of staff that was to iron out details of the force was cancelled in the last minute and another one was never scheduled.

Saudi Arabia then unilaterally announced the creation of an Islamic alliance that grouped its Gulf Arab allies along with Muslim majority countries in Africa and Asia. That also came to nothing.

Egypt is a member of a Saudi-led, US-backed coalition that has been fighting Shiite rebels in Yemen since 2015, but its role in the conflict is known to be limited to reconnaissance and the deployment of warships off Yemen's Red Sea coastline to secure shipping lanes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra Thursday expressed concern over "growing violent activities" of agitating groups, like the ones campaigning against cow slaughter.

Delivering the first K P S Gill Memorial lecture on ''National Security-Some Concerns'' at Indian School of Business here, he said it is essential to ensure that sustained normalcy prevails in the country as in its absence it would not be possible to achieve growth and development.

"We also need to be concerned about yet another species of threat to maintain law and order. This relates to the growing violent activities of varied community groups which have been launching agitations to press their demands in respect of issues they have chosen to espouse," Vohra said.

He said there have been massive agitations in several states, particularly in north India, against cow slaughter and the sale and consumption of buffalo meat, which caused loss of livelihoods of thousands.

"Some of these agitating groups took the law in their hands, held roadside trials of innocent persons, beat them mercilessly and even lynched them..." Vohra said here.

He said followers of godmen are another species which indulges in lawlessness.

''A court in Haryana recently pronounced judgement indicting the immoral activities of a popular godman. Before the court order was announced thousands of his devotees indulged in organised violence, resulting in loss of several lives and loss to public and private property," he said.

Such agitations have the propensity to trigger inter and intra-community tensions leading to bigger conflicts, he added.

Vohra said destabilisation of societal harmony provides ready-made opportunities to adversary external agencies to perpetrate large scale conflagrations, like Pakistan did in Punjab in the early 1980s.

He said Pakistan's role in undermining India's national security is going to be a permanent feature.

He suggested formulation of a national security policy by the Centre in consultation with the states and constitution of special forces in all states.

He also called upon the police officers to eliminate narcotics and drug trafficking from Punjab.

Vohra said it is regrettable that even after seven decades of attaining independence, most of the states have still to give due attention to ensure the satisfactory functioning of their constabularies.

He said the shortcomings in functioning of police organisations arise from failure of states to provide optimum budgetary support on regular basis to enable police to be properly trained, equipped and maintained in required strength.

Vohra also expressed concern over growth of cyber and information warfares, pointing out that its emergence is most dangerous instruments of non-military attacks.

"Cyberspace and digitisation have made time and distance altogether irrelevant. Terrorist and radical groups, operating at great distances, from different countries, have been utilising the cyberspace for carrying out their propaganda, recruitment and training," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


EALA Speaker admires a memento as Ms Rachel Muyoboke representing ESAFF, Rwanda and Hon Mathias Kasamba, Chair of the EALA Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources (ATNR) look on.



The ESAFF delegation in talks with the EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Ngoga Karoli Martin earlier today.



Mr Alfayo Kurunah, ESAFF Board Member, Kenya (left) addresses as Hakim Baliraine, ESAFF, Uganda and Richard Kipara from Muungano wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Wadogo (MVIWATA), Tanzania look on. ESAFF Board officials today paid a courtesy call on the EALA Speaker, Rt hon Ngoga Karoli Martin.



EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Ngoga Karoli Martin (centre) in dark suit with representatives of the East Africa Small Scale farmers Forum who paid him a courtesy call this morning in Arusha





East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, Tanzania: 30thOctober, 2018: Small scale farmers under the aegis of the East and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF) are set to petition the EAC Heads of State to galvanize for increased financing for agricultural sector in the EAC region to ensure food security, reduce poverty and increase public awareness on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). This morning, officials of the ESAFF paid a courtesy call on Rt Hon Ngoga Karoli Martin, Speaker of EALA, in Arusha and made a plea for the petition, when ready, to be forwarded for the attention of the Summit of EAC Heads of State.



Rt Hon Ngoga assured the ESAFF officials of the Assemblys support towards initiatives that leverage agriculture to ensure food security and raise the regions GDP. He pledged to work closely with the EAC Council of Ministers and the EAC Secretary General to ensure the petition, once done by ESAFF is given attention and channeled appropriately to the EAC Heads of State. Rt Hon Ngoga further said time was ripe for the establishment of an institution dealing specifically with matters of agriculture and food security. The Speaker noted that the Assembly would champion Partner States to set aside public spending for agriculture at 10% as envisaged under the Malabo Declaration.



Speaking on behalf of the Forum, Mr Alfayo Kurunah, a farmer from Kenya and board Member of ESAFF reiterated his organization was keen to collaborate with EALA in organizing a high-level meeting to deliberate on the status of commitment by Partner States in achieving the commitments under the Malabo Declaration. According to Mr Kurunah, the meeting which is expected to bring together Ministers for Agriculture and Ministers for Finance from the Partner States, as well as legislators from the National Legislatures and EALA would lead to a regional position on the progressive implementation of the Malabo goals reflected to national budgets



We hope that this meeting would take place in the coming sitting of EALA in November or December 2018 and that the review will be done during the next agriculture summit in May 2019, Mr Kurunah said.



The Malabo declaration of June 2014, hopes to accelerate agricultural growth and transformation. It among other things calls for commitment to ending hunger by 2025 by at least double productivity while focusing on inputs, irrigation and mechanization.

The Malabo Declaration further anticipates commitment towards enhancing resilience in livelihoods and production systems to climate variability and other shocks and to boosting intra-African trade in agricultural commodities and services by tripling intra-Africa trade in agricultural commodities and fast-track of the continental free trade area. Further envisaged is a commitment to halve poverty, strengthen inclusive Public-Private Partnerships on agricultural commodity value chains and creation of job opportunities for at least 30% of the youth in agricultural value chains.



According to the ESAFF, the EAC region is doing quite well, but has fallen short on budgetary allocation in the agriculture sector to reach the 10% target, ending hunger including malnutrition and stunting among children under 5 years whose statistics was deemed as shocking.



The Farmers organization thus put a strong case and emphasis for the region to focus its (EAC) industrialization on agriculture.



In attendance was the Chairperson of the EALA Committee on Agriculture Tourism and Natural Resources, Hon Mathias Kasamba and officials from ESAFF Members in the Partner States; Ms. Rachel Muyoboke, Apui Petit Peysant et Envirnement (APEE), Rwanda, Hakim Baliraine ESAFF, Uganda, Obeid Girukwayo, ESAFF, Burundi, Justus Lavi Mwololo, Kenya Small Scale Farmers Forum (KESSFF) andRichard Kipara, Mtandao wa Vikundi Vya Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA). Others were Martha Makenge, EACSOF and three officials from the ESAFF Secretariat, Joe Mzinga, Stella Henry and Irene Ngao.
GST collections in October crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore mark, after a gap of 5 months, on the back of festive demand, anti-evasion measures.

The Finance Ministry Thursday said 67.45 lakh businesses filed goods and services tax (GST) returns in October and deposited Rs 1,00,710 crore as taxes.

"GST collections for October 2018 have crossed Rs 1 lakh crore. The success of GST is lower rates, lesser evasion, higher compliance, only one tax and negligible interference by taxation authorities," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted.

The states which achieved "extra-ordinary growth" in total taxes collected include Kerala (44 per cent), Jharkhand (20 per cent), Rajasthan (14 per cent), Uttarakhand (13 per cent) and Maharashtra (11 per cent), an official statement said.

GST revenue had first crossed the landmark figure in April when the collections were Rs 1,03,458 crore. Since then collections have maintained above Rs 90,000 crore mark.

The collections stood at Rs 94,016 crore in May, Rs 95,610 crore in June, Rs 96,483 crore in July, Rs 93,960 crore in August and Rs 94,442 crore in September.

Of the Rs 1 lakh crore total gross GST revenue collected in October, central GST is Rs 16,464 crore, state GST is Rs 22,826 crore, IGST is Rs 53,419 crore (including Rs 26,908 crore collected on imports) and cess is Rs. 8,000 crore.

The October revenue collections reflect the purchase and sales activities conducted in the month of September.

The government has settled Rs 17,490 crore to CGST and Rs 15,107 crore to SGST from IGST as regular settlement.

Further, Rs 30,000 crore has been settled from the balance IGST available with the centre on provisional basis in the ratio of 50:50 between centre and states.

"The total revenue earned by central government and the state governments after regular and provisional settlement in the month of October, 2018, is Rs 48,954 crore for CGST and Rs 52,934 crore for the SGST, the statement added.

Deloitte India Partner M S Mani said "it appears that GST collections have turned the tide and the increased collections would be on account of the stabilisation of GST processes and the anti-evasion measures taken. The fact that September heralds the festive season has also helped in improving collections".

EY Tax Partner Abhishek Jain said that while a possible reason for an upsurge in September could be fiscal 2017-18 closing adjustments, this trend could be expected to continue with implementation of anti-evasion measures like TDS/TCS.

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In the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Gujarat BJP on Thursday appointed three-member in-charge teams for each of the 26 constituencies in the state.

State BJP chief Jitu Vaghani made the appointments, a party release said.

The BJP had won all Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat in 2014.

However, in the 2017 state elections, the party won 99 out of the 182 seats in the Gujarat Assembly, managing to retain power by a thin majority.

"These in-charge teams will work hard to retain all 26 seats. We will work as a team under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah," Vaghani told reporters.

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Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani claimed Thursday that the state has "zero-level unrest" and is considered an "ideal state" for migrants.

His comments came weeks after thousands of Hindi-speaking migrants, many of them factory workers, fled the state following attacks targeting them.

Speaking at an event organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here, Rupani said there is "industrial peace" in the state.

"Gujarat has business-friendly atmosphere and zero-level unrest. As a result, Gujarat is considered an ideal state for migration," he said, addressing business delegates of the National Executive Committee of FICCI.

"Gujarat has industrial peace. Due to this favourable working atmosphere, industries are not facing any difficulties here. Industries are reaping benefit of the industrial peace prevailing in Gujarat," Rupani added.

He listed various initiatives of his government to encourage investment, and said efforts are also being made to ensure that more local people are employed by the industries.

An alleged rape of a 14-month-old girl and the arrest of a worker from Bihar in the case sparked off attacks on Hindi-speaking migrants in the state a few weeks ago. It led to thousands of migrant workers fleeing the state.

During the week-long unrest, mostly in north and central Gujarat, protesters also targeted some factories, alleging that they preferred migrants over the local youth.

The chief minister also appealed the FICCI and industrialists to hold their conferences or conventions at the facilities built at the site of the Statue of Unity at Kevadiya, inaugurated by the prime minister Wednesday.

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Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday urged Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik to send a report to President Ram Nath Kovind about the "dismal law and order situation" in the state.

Yadav alleged that the women and girls in the state are not safe while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is busy in of hatred and vendetta.

"It is unfortunate that the Governor has maintained silence even in the wake of deteriorating law and order situation. He needs to immediately send a report on the dismal law and order situation of the state to the President in keeping with his constitutional duties," the SP president said in a press release.

"It seems that actual 'Ram rajya' has been established under the BJP chief minister (Yogi Adityanath)...people belonging to the BJP and (Rashtriya Swayamsewak) Sangh are ruling the police stations," he said.

Citing recent cases of crime in the state, Yadav said when people in Uttar Pradesh venture out of their homes, they do not know what condition they will return in.

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Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has been accused of sexually assaulting a Polish model and actor.

According to People Magazine, the woman, identified as Jane Doe, has filed a lawsuit, claiming that former The Weinstein Company boss subjected her to abuse for over a decade beginning in 2002 when she was 16.

The woman claimed she met Weinstein at an event, and then three days later, went to his apartment in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan for what she believed was a business lunch.

The suit alleged that Weinstein "lured her to his apartment and sexually assaulted her, and he continued to emotionally abuse and sexually harass her for nearly a decade".

She alleged Weinstein "aggressively and threateningly" demanded sexual relations with her and that he forced her to touch his genitals despite her protests, according to the court documents.

She is the tenth woman to file a class action lawsuit against Weinstein, the Weinstein Company and Miramax, accusing them of assault, battery and racketeering.

In a statement, Weinstein's attorney Ben Brafman dismissed the new allegations as "preposterous".

Once one of the biggest power centres in Hollywood for independent cinema, Weinstein had a spectacular fall from grace after a New York Times investigation unveiled his history of sexual misconduct. The number increased further in another investigation by Ronan Farrow for the New Yorker.

More than 80 women, including prominent Hollywood celebrities such as Gywneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Ashley Judd, Uma Thurman and Asia Argento, have publicly accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct, including rape with some allegations dating back to decades.

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Haryana Roadways employees on Thursday extended their ongoing strike by another two days and announced a rally in



Jind district on November 4.

The employees are on strike since October 16 against the government's decision to hire 700 buses from private owners. There are about 19,000 employees in the Haryana Roadways.

The Haryana Roadways Employees Coordination Committee Thursday decided to extend the stir till November 4, committee leader Dalbir Kirmara said.

"On November 4, the protesters will hold a 'save roadways protect employment' state-level rally at Jind," he said.

Holding the BJP government "directly responsible" for the strike, Kirmara said, "The present dispensation is least bothered about employees and people of the state and its only aim is to benefit the chosen ones."



He said the employees will announce their next course of action at the Jind rally.

"Activists of the Sarv Karmachari Sangh and the Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh and gram panchayats and khap leaders have been invited to attend the rally," Kirmara said.

The employees had last Thursday decided to extend their strike till October 29 after their talks with the government failed to make anyway headway. The strike was later extended till November 2.

Several rounds of talks between the government and Roadways employees to end the stalemate have remained inconclusive.

The employees allege that the government's move to induct 700 private buses is a step towards privatisation of the department.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, however, has denied the allegations.

Opposition Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) have already extended their support to the protesting employees.

The stir has hit the public transport services despite the state government making alternate arrangements, including appointing drivers and conductors and hiring buses.

The roadways, having a fleet of 4,100 buses, cater to about 12 lakh passengers daily.

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The Allahabad High Court Thursday asked Pilibhit's district magistrate to probe into the veracity of a claim that many alleged criminals and convicts in the district were receiving pensions meant for political activists jailed during Emergency.

A bench of Justice A P Sahi and Ajit Kumar directed the district magistrate to apprise it of the findings of his probe on a personal affidavit within six weeks.

The bench issued the direction on a lawsuit filed by one Ashok Kumar and several others on behalf of 'Loktantra Rakshak Senani Sangathan'.

The lawsuit alleged that the district adminstration was paying the Loktantra Senani pension worth Rs 20,000 per month to at least 23 alleged criminals lodged in district jail.

The petitioners said the 'Loktantra Senani' pension was started by erstwhile Samajwadi Party government in 2006, but was discontinued during the subsequent Bahujan Samaj Party government.

They said the pension was restarted by the Smajwadi Party government in 2016, while the present BJP government in the state hiked its amount to Rs 20,000 from Rs 15,000 in June this year.

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The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition of BJP MLA O P Sharma that challenged his suspension from Delhi Assembly for two sessions for allegedly making derogatory remarks against AAP MLA Alka Lamba in November 2015, noting that the ethics committee of the House had in its report recorded that Sharma remained "unrepentant" and his conduct caused obstruction of the legislative function.

The court, however, made it clear that it was not examining the question by Sharma as the period of suspension got over during pendency of the petition, and thereafter the MLA has also attended the subsequent sessions of Assembly.

The high court said no person can be permitted to speak in a derogatory fashion against another and Sharma not only used unparliamentary language but made derogatory remarks against a woman member of the House during a debate on a public issue in the legislative assembly.

Sharma had sought setting aside of the Motion passed by the Assembly on March 31, 2016, by which he was suspended from the House for next two sessions.

"There was no interim stay of the Motion of the Legislative Assembly dated March 31, 2016. The period of suspension got over during pendency of the present petition and thereafter the petitioner attended the sittings of the assembly in the subsequent sessions.

"Since, the period of suspension got over during the pendency of the present petition, I am not examining the questions raised by the petitioner with regard to second punishment and proportionality of punishment and leave the same open," Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva said in a 50-page verdict.

The court also said it was of the view that the facts of this case do not justify any interference by it, in exercise of powers under Article 226 of the Constitution and dismissed the petition.

It noted that Sharma not only used derogatory remarks but stood by them and sought to justify the same.

It said the ethics committee of the Delhi Assembly in its report had recorded that Sharma in his depositions remained consistently defiant and unrepentant even when the Deputy Chief Minister asked him to apologise to the House and assure it that he would not repeat such misbehaviour, he walked out.

"The derogatory remarks were made on the floor of the House during a debate on a public issue. It has a direct connection and bears proximity to the duties, role and functions of the petitioner as a legislator. His conduct caused obstruction of the legislative function of the House as it led to disruption of the proceedings of the House for two days," the court noted.

The court had in June 2016 asked both Lamba and Sharma to appear before it "with an open mind" to resolve the issue.

Delhi government had told the court that Sharma has not "regretted" what he had said about Lamba.

Sharma had earlier said "my intention was not to hurt Lamba as she is like my sister, but if she felt offended I express regret over it".

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Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) Ltd Thursday posted a loss of Rs 1,525.23 crore for the July-September quarter, hit by an exceptional loss of Rs 2,011.13 crore due to impairment charges related to Lavasa Corporation.

The company had reported a profit of Rs 11.60 crore during the same quarter a year ago, the company said in BSE filing.

"HCC has written off its entire investment of Rs 1,046 crore in Lavasa Corporation as a matter of prudence pursuant to the admission of its 68.7 per cent owned subsidiary into NCLT under IBC," HCC said in a statement.

A wholly-owned subsidiary, HCC Real Estate Limited (HREL), holds 68.7 per cent stake in Lavasa Corporation.

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Mumbai on August 30 admitted an application filed against Lavasa Corporation Limited (LCL) by an operational creditor and initiated the resolution process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

Accordingly, the company has impaired its exposure in both the companies, HCC said.

Besides writing off investments and financial assets of Rs 1,265.19 crore in the two group companies, HCC has also taken over liabilities aggregating Rs 745.94 crore pursuant to settlement agreements with the lenders of LCL, the BSE filing said.

During the said quarter, the company said, its total income fell to Rs 994.40 crore from Rs 1,031.93 crore in July-September of 2017-18 fiscal.

However, its total expenses were lower at Rs 988.78 crore as against Rs 1,014.43 crore in the year-ago-quarter.

The company emphasised that the write-off has no impact on HCC cash flows.

HCC has fully accounted for all of its contingent liability obligations given to Lavasa lenders, including corporate guarantees and put options, it mentioned.

"The sum total impact of all write-offs in the quarter, adjusted for tax is Rs 1,531 crore. Having comprehensively accounted for its entire exposure to Lavasa, HCC expects no further impact on account of its erstwhile subsidiary."



HCC's Board of Directors also approved a rights issue of up to Rs 500 crore to strengthen the company's financial profile and to refocus the its efforts on its core engineering and construction business.

Arjun Dhawan, Director and Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) said, "It was a busy quarter which we sold a material BOT (build operate and transfer) asset, ring-fenced HCC from the potentially adverse consequences of Lavasa's insolvency, kick-started our rights issue process, drew down our fresh operational bank guarantee limits, further deleveraged, and won a marquee contract."



The company's gross debt reduced to Rs 3,616 crore as of September 30, 2018, from Rs.4,072 crore as on September 30, 2017.

HCC's order book currently stands at Rs 19,114 crore, the company said.

The company, in a joint venture with Hyundai Development Corporation (HDC), has been awarded a Rs 2,126 crore contract by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to build the Coastal Road, it noted.

Shares of the company Thursday ended 3.98 per cent up at Rs 12.79 apiece on the BSE.

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After Jaipur and Ahmedabad, the Union Health Ministry has now sent a team of experts to Madhya Pradesh to confirm and verify reports of Zika virus cases in the state.

A central team comprising of experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Emergency Medical Response (EMR) have gone to the state following information about three persons being detected with Zika virus, a Health Ministry official said.

"The team will verify the facts and if the information is true, it will assist the Madhya Pradesh government to replicate the measures and action plan, implemented in Jaipur and Ahmedabad, there, to prevent any possible outbreak of Zika," he said.

"Because the symptoms of Zika infection is similar to that of dengue and spreads through mosquito bites, it raises concerns," the official added



He said the state health department has been asked to keep a close watch on people suffering from symptoms of the mosquito-borne disease.

Meanwhile, an intensive screening exercise is being undertaken and vector control measures have been intensified at Ahmedabad after the first case of the mosquito-borne disease was detected this year in Gujarat.

Zika virus, transmitted through the aedes aegypti mosquito, causes fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain. It is harmful to pregnant women, as it can lead to microcephaly, a condition in which a baby's head is significantly smaller than expected, in newborn children.

The state health department has advised pregnant women not to visit the affected areas.

During the latest outbreak of the virus in the country, the first case surfaced on September 22, when an 85-year-old woman with no recent travel history tested positive for the virus in Jaipur. Since then, the number of Zika cases have risen to 153 in Rajasthan.

In India, the first outbreak of Zika virus was reported in Ahmedabad in January 2017 and the second in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district in July that year. Both these outbreaks were successfully contained through intensive surveillance and vector management.

The disease is under surveillance of the Union Health Ministry although it is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the WHO notification since November 18, 2016.

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Amid political uncertainty in Sri Lanka, India Thursday said it was "very closely" following the developments in the island nation and hoped that democratic values and the constitutional process there will be respected.

India on Sunday had also made similar observations about the political turmoil in Sri Lanka.

"We are following the developments very closely. We do hope that democratic values and the constitutional process in Sri Lanka will be respected," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a media briefing.

"India and Sri Lanka enjoy strong bonds of friendship and we will continue to extend our developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka," he said.

In the latest turn of events, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has summoned Parliament, officials said Thursday, a move which could resolve the political crisis arose after he sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and installed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa.

To another question on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend attend Maldives president-elect Ibrahim Solih's swearing-in, Kumar said the elements of the swearing-in ceremony were being finalised by Maldives and the two sides were in close touch.

On another question on possible return of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar, he said: "We welcome the agreement reached between the foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and Myanmar. This was on October 29...Once the movement starts, I think it is a good beginning. We hope this process gathers momentum as confidence grows in Rakhine state for the safe speedy and sustainable return of the displaced persons."



To a question on an whether the body of an Indian boy, who died after being swept away into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following a fall into a river, will be brought back to the country, Kumar said the Indian side had taken up the matter with Pakistan foreign Office, but was yet to get a "satisfactory" response" on the matter.

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Expressing anguish over the killing of Nagesh Kumar, a local boy from Solan, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur Thursday announced a financial aid of Rs three lakh for the bereaved family, an official spokesperson said.

The twelve-year-old boy was allegedly kidnapped for ransom and murdered by a Nepalese youth near Solan on Tuesday.

Talking to the deceased boy's father Bhagat Ram over phone on Thursday, Thakur expressed grief and offered his condolences.

"The people of the state are with them in this hour of distress and I am personally pained to know about the dreadful killing," the official said, quoting the chief minister.

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Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) Thursday reported a 37 per cent drop in its second quarter net profit on the back of lower refining margins and foreign exchange losses.

Net profit in July-September fell to Rs 1,092 crore from Rs 1,735 crore in the corresponding period of previous financial year, HPCL Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh K Surana told reporters here.

"The profit was impacted on account of increase in crude prices and consequent increase in the fuel and loss component besides exchange rate fluctuations," he said.

The company earned USD 4.81 on turning every barrel of crude oil into fuel in the second quarter, down from USD 7.61 per barrel gross refining margin in the year ago period.

Also, the company had a foreign exchange loss of Rs 887 crore as compared to a gain of Rs 20 crore in July-September 2017, he said.

But, these were balanced by inventory gain of Rs 1,276 crore in Q2 as opposed to a gain of Rs 792 crore last year.

Inventory gain arise when a refiner buys crude oil at given price but by the time it is able to process it and take the fuel to the market, rates would have gone up. And since the pump rates are benchmarked to prevailing international prices, the fuel gets a higher price, resulting in inventory gain. Inventory loss arises when reverse of this happens.

Because of the rise in oil prices, HPCL saw turnover zoom to Rs 73,065 crore as compared to Rs 54,143 crore for the period July-September, 2017.

Surana said the domestic sales of petroleum products increased to 8.83 million tonnes registering a growth of 4.8 per cent as against industry average of 4.3 per cent.

The sales of petrol increased by 5.9 per cent, diesel by 2.4 per cent, LPG by 4.5 per cent and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) by 27.3 per cent.

The company's refineries in Mumbai and Visakh processed 4.76 million tonnes of crude during July-September, 2018 as against 4.64 million tonnes last year.

"GRM has been impacted mainly on account of increase in crude price resulting in higher fuel and loss component and lower cracks for some of the products like LPG, bitumen, lubes, furnace oil and exchange rate fluctuations," he said.

During April-September, HPCL recorded a net profit of Rs 2,811 crore, up from Rs 2,659 crore in H1 of previous fiscal.

HPCL, he said, strengthened the supply infrastructure by completion of various projects during the quarter, including bottling capacity augmentation at Unnao LPG plant in Uttar Pradesh and additional tankage at Suryapet terminal in Telangana.

It also signed joint venture agreement with Oil India Ltd (OIL) to set up city gas distribution networks in Kolhapur in Maharashtra and Ambala-Kurukshetra in Haryana. In addition, HPCL has received authorisation for setting up CGD (City Gas Distribution) networks in Jind and Sonipat districts of Haryana.

Surana said the company commissioned 131 new petrol pumps to take the number of retail outlets to 15,255.

"To expand non-fuel offerings at retail outlets, HPCL has launched re-mineralised nano-filtered packaged drinking water, 'REMINERO' in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR IICT)," he said.

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Actor Hugh Grant has boarded the cast of filmmaker Guy Ritchie's next, "Toff Guys".

The 58-year-old actor, who most recently featured in BBC One series "A Very English Scandal", joins Matthew McConaughey, Henry Golding and Kate Beckinsale in the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The film, set around the modern marijuana industry, follows a British drug lord attempting to cash out on his highly profitable empire by selling it off to a dynasty of Oklahoma billionaires.

Grant will be playing a British tabloid reporter.

Ritchie, who is currently directing the upcoming live-action take on "Aladdin", has penned the script along with Marn Davies and Ivan Atkinson.

The film is set to start shooting later this year in the England.

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Keen on promoting innovative modes of transport, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Thursday said the government may induct hybrid aeroboats in the upcoming Kumbh fair and also for ferrying people to Taj Mahal (Agra) from the national capital.

He said the government is exploring the use of new kinds of vehicles like hybrid aeroboats that combine land, water and aviation technology and can run on land, water and air at speeds greater than 80 km per hour.

"Hybrid aeroboats from top Russian companies could be roped in for Kumbh and we may start a pilot project also before January 26 for taking people to Taj Mahal," Gadkari said addressing here at a function.

The remark comes after top Russian companies, which manufacture these aluminium aeroboats, have made presentations before the Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation minister earlier this week.

Gadkari said that the government is also looking at the possibility of using aerial transport systems like ropeways, pods etc, especially for hilly terrains and as a last mile connectivity option in congested cities.

Earlier an official source told PTI that a company, which manufactures these aeroboats at St Petersburg, has been asked to demonstrate these vehicles at an early date, possibly along with the inauguration of a multi-modal terminal at Varanasi.

The source said that though manufacturing of these boats is done largely in St Petersburg, there is no problem of spares etc as its engine is of Toyota's.

"The company manufactures small boats (hybrid aeroboats) for inland waterways. They are all-terrain boats that can run on water, marshy land with just 10 cm water, snow or ice. The boats run on petrol or electricity, methanol can also be used. The speed of the boats is nearly 170 km per hour - about three times the speed of normal boats," the source has said.

The boats are made of aluminium, they take about 15 minutes to assemble, the source said, adding the passenger capacity is 11.

They also have bigger boats of 60-person capacity that lift into the air.

"Maximum lift is 3 metres so it is outside the ambit of civil aviation regulations," the source has added.

Skolkovo Foundation is the principal agency responsible for the Russian Skolkovo Innovation Centre, a scientific and technological body for the development and commercialisation of advanced technologies.

Founded in 2010, it is a non-profit organisation with a mandate to create new science and technology development centre in the Moscow - suburb of Skolkovo.

Talking about Ganga the minister said about 70 to 80 per cent work of Ganga cleaning will be done by March and the entire cleaning will be done by March 2020.

Also, he said, steps have been taken to ensure flow of the river throughout the year.

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India on Thursday said it was engaged with the US to decide when President Donald Trump can visit the country, days after he declined an invite to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations citing scheduling issues.

Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) Raveesh Kumar said high-level exchanges are integral part of the strategic partnership between the two countries, and both sides are engaged in discussions on when Trump can visit India.

"Both India and the US are in talks to decide when President Trump can come to India," Kumar said at a media briefing.

He was asked about the US President turning down India's invite to grace next year's Republic Day celebrations as chief guest. The White House has said Trump's inability to participate was a "purely scheduling issue".

Earlier this week, a White House spokesperson, when asked about Trump's decision, had said, "President Trump was honoured by Prime Minister Modi's invitation to him to be the chief guest of India's Republic Day on January 26, 2019, but is unable to participate due to scheduling constraints."



Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited Trump to visit India during their talks in Washington in June 2017.

Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations.

In 2015, the then US president Barack Obama had attended it as the chief guest, which was his second visit to India as the American president.

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India is the biggest commitment country for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) which is interested in funding rural roads and transmission lines projects in the country, a top official of the Beijing-based multilateral development bank has said.

Yee Ean Pang, AIIB's Director General for Investment Operations Department, also underlined the multi-lateral bank's focus in India on development of rural roads, transmission lines and green projects among others.

"India is the largest country that we are supporting," Pang told PTI at the ongoing Singapore International Energy Week 2018.

Describing Amaravati as a unique greenfield development, Pang said the AIIB is working with the Andhra Pradesh government on basic infrastructure and would then move on with projects such as sanitation.

The AIIB aims to support the building of infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region. The bank currently has 87 members, including India.

The bank, which has a target capital of USD 100 billion and has grown to 87 member countries over the 2.5 years of its being formed, is also looking at financing private sector participants.

He noted the challenges of getting investment through Public Private Participation model for developments but assured, "We will be glad to support any private sector participant actively involved in Amaravati.

Pang expressed the AIIB's interest in rural roads and transmission lines as well as environmental projects in India.

"We are committed to rural roads, because it brings access to the last village out there which is very important for India. It ensures higher productivity, higher income and gender equality, (especially for) looking after our women folks and enable them to carry out their daily tasks," he stressed.

"We recognise there is a need for a huge amount of support in that area (rural roads)," said Pang, underlining AIIB's project-based focus.

Though a China-initiative for funding infrastructure development in Asia, the AIIB has grown to be "truly multilateral" institution which raises private sector investments to fund projects, Pang stressed.

The bank was proposed by China in 2013 and the initiative was launched at a ceremony in Beijing in October 2014.

The bank has to date has financed over USD 6 billion worth of 32 projects, over 40 per cent of which are in the energy sector.

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India and Botswana on Thursday decided to expedite work on establishing the India-Africa Diamond Institute in the southern African country as the two nations also agreed to enhance cooperation in defence and security.

This was stated by Secretary (Economic Relations) T S Tirumurti after a meeting between Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and his Botswanian counterpart Slumber Tsogwane, and delegation-level talks between the two countries here.

This is a bilateral initiative to contribute to skills development in the diamond industry in Africa, Tirumurti said.

Botswana is recognised worldwide for producing some of Africa's most sparkling diamonds.

"Botswana had sent a delegation to India. The Surat-based Indian Diamond Institute is the nodal institute. Of the around 20 diamond companies operating in Botswana, eight to 10 are Indian companies engaged in polishing and cutting. That is the type of expertise Botswana wants," Tirumurti said.

Both leaders referred to the close defence cooperation between the two countries from 1978 to 2012 when Indian Army and Air Force training teams were stationed in Botswana, he said.

"We have also agreed to enhance cooperation in defence and security sectors," Trimurti said.

"Tsogwane warmly recalled India's contribution to the freedom struggle of many southern African nations, including Botswana," he said.

Botswana appreciated the assistance given by India in capacity building, particularly under ITEC, he said.

The Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) is a fully-funded programme run by the Indian government with the goal of encouraging cooperation and partnership among developing countries, for mutual benefit.

Naidu also expressed India's willingness to enhance ITEC slots to more than the 140 currently being extended to Botswana, he said.

During his meeting with the Botswana vice president, Naidu referred to the stable democratic environment which Botswana provides and appreciated its important role in the context of Southern African Development Community (SADC), Tirumurti said.

Both the countries agreed to further develop and diversify trade and economic engagement, he said. Botswana expressed keenness to have Indian companies, particularly the private sector, invest in Botswana, he added.

"Many Indian companies are already present in Botswana including three Indian banks," he said. Both sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in areas like copper mining, he added.

The two sides also decided to enhance cooperation in a range of areas including agricultural, IT, energy, health, capacity building and judicial cooperation, he said.

Botswana also announced its decision to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) framework for building and enhancing capacity of solar rich countries to develop solar technologies, he said.

"This is a very significant development and was welcomed by our side. We also expressed our happiness over Botswana's continuous support in multilateral fora, reflecting the enduring spirit of friendship between the two countries," he said.

"Both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as a global menace. The various dimensions of counter terrorism steps, including terror financing were discussed. The Botswana side indicated the various laws enacted to counter terrorism, money laundering, trafficking and cyber crime," he said.

India and Botswana agreed that the UN Security Council needs to be reformed to make it more representative in response to the geopolitical realities of the 21st century, he said.

After a request from Botswana for India's support in tele-medicine, the Indian side conveyed the decision of the government to extend e-learning and e-health project to all countries in Africa, Tirumurti said.

Naidu spoke of India's strength in traditional medicine, particularly Ayurveda and Yoga and offered to extend cooperation in these important areas, he said.

The vice president will be addressing and interacting with members of the Indian community in Botswana on Thursday evening. "This is a community of over 7,000 whose contribution to Botswana's development has been deeply appreciated," Tirumurti said.

Naidu, who is on a tour to Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi, will on Friday meet prominent CEOs of Indian and Botswana companies and visit the Diamond Trading Centre.

After the meeting between Naidu and Tsogwane, a communique was signed by Krishan Pal Gurjar, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment and R Shamukuni, Acting Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Botswana.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
is close to a deal with the that will allow it to continue buying from without attracting any sanction after it agreed to cut imports and escrow payments, sources in know of the development said.

sanctions on Iran's oil buyers snap back Monday, forcing importing countries to negotiate with the for waivers by making cuts in purchases or risk getting blocked from the US financial system.

India, which is the second biggest purchaser of Iranian oil after China, is willing to restrict its monthly purchase to 1.25 million tonnes or 15 million tonnes in a year (300,000 barrels per day), down from 22.6 million tonnes (452,000 barrels per day) bought in 2017-18 financial year, sources said.

US appears to be satisfied with this reduction and is willing to give the waiver provided payments for oil purchases are parked in an escrow account which can be used for purchases from India, they said, adding the US does not want any money to reach

Sources, however, said no final decision has been made and an announcement is likely just before sanctions on are reimposed on November 5.

had continued to import from Iran despite the threat of sanctions. Two of its refiners - (IOC) and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) - have even made nominations to buy 1.25 million tonnes of oil from Iran in November.

India, the world's third-biggest oil consumer, meets more than 80 per cent of its oil needs through imports. Iran is its third-largest supplier after Iraq and Saudi Arabia and meets about 10 per cent of total needs.

US President Donald Trump in May withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, re-imposing economic sanctions against the Persian Gulf nation. Some sanctions took effect from August 6, while those affecting the oil and banking sectors will start from November 5.



Currently, pays its third largest oil supplier in euros using European banking channels. These channels would get blocked from November.

During the first round of sanctions when EU joined the US in imposing financial restrictions, India initially used a Turkish bank to pay Iran for the oil it bought, but beginning February 2013 paid nearly half of the oil import bill in rupees while keeping the remainder pending till the opening of payment routes. It began clearing the dues in 2015 when the restrictions were eased.

Besides, New Delhi sought to get around the restrictions by supplying goods, including wheat, soybean meal and consumer products, to Iran in exchange for oil.

Sources said this time around the entire 100 per cent of Iranian oil import bill can be paid in rupees through the escrow account.

Iran was India's second biggest supplier of after Saudi Arabia till 2010-11 but Western sanctions over its suspected nuclear programme relegated it to the seventh spot in the subsequent years. In 2013-14 and 2014-15, India bought 11 million tonnes and 10.95 million tonnes respectively from it.

Sourcing from Iran increased to 12.7 million tonnes in 2015-16, giving it the sixth spot. In the following year, the Iranian supplies jumped to 27.2 million tonnes to catapult it to the third spot.

Iranian oil is a lucrative buy for refiners as the Persian Gulf nation provides 60 days of credit for purchases, terms not available from suppliers of substitute crudes -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Nigeria, and the US.

Besides blocking of banking channels from November, the absence of payment mechanism may pose a challenge to the transportation of the oil as Iranian crude is bought on a CIF basis and shipped on Iranian tankers.

Under Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) mode of shipping, the seller assumes the responsibility of transportation and insurance. The liability and costs associated with successful transit are paid by the seller until the goods are received by the buyer.

Also, insurance companies may not be willing to provide cover to refineries processing Iranian oil.

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Armies of India and Japan began their first ever joint military exercise Thursday at a jungle warfare school in Mizoram's Vairengte with a focus on strengthening counter-terror cooperation, officials said.

The focus of the two-week-long exercise 'Dharma Guardian-2018" will be to enhance tactical skills against global terrorism and increase inter-operability between the two forces, the Army said in a statement.

The Japanese contingent is represented by 32nd Infantry Battalion, while the Indian side by 6/1 Gorkha Rifles, it said.

"The objective of the exercise is to build and promote Army to Army relation in addition to exchange skills and experiences of both the armies," the statement said.

The exercise will comprise a balance of indoor classes and outdoor training activities.

Both the armies will jointly train, plan and execute a series of well developed tactical drills for neutralisation of likely threats that may be encountered in urban warfare scenario, it said, adding that the exercise will contribute immensely in developing mutual understanding and respect for each other's military.

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Scientists using data from India's first dedicated astronomy satellite, AstroSat, and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have found that a black hole in the binary star system 4U 1630-47 spins close to the maximum possible rate.

Relatively smaller black holes are exotic end states of massive stellar cores, said astronomers led by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai.

The gravity of such a collapsing core is so strong that its entire mass is crushed into a point, according to the research accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal.

This point, however, cannot be directly seen, because nothing, not even light, can escape from a region around it, thus justifying the name of the object.

Surprisingly, astronomical black holes are the simplest known objects in the universe, because they can be fully characterised by only two properties, mass and spin rate.

Therefore, measurements of these two properties are uniquely important to probe some extreme aspects of the universe, and the fundamental physics related to them, researchers said.

"The scientific measurement of the spin rate of the black hole, an extremely exotic but the simplest object of the universe, comes out to be close to the maximum possible value," Sudip Bhattacharyya, Associate Professor at TIFR told PTI.

"This is generally very important to probe some extreme aspects of the universe, and the fundamental physics (for example, the theory of gravitation) related to them," said Bhattacharyya, who is the Principal Investigator of the AstroSat Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT).

"Such measurements, especially of the spin rate, are very difficult to make, and can be done only by high-quality X-ray observations in the correct state of the binary stellar system, in which the black hole is gobbling matter from its companion star," said Mayukh Pahari, who started this work at TIFR, before joining the University of Southampton in the UK.

"The SXT and the Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) aboard the first dedicated Indian astronomy satellite AstroSat played a key role to measure the black hole spin rate, which was consistent with results from our contemporaneous Chandra satellite data," Bhattacharyya added.

"From this first joint AstroSat-Chandra study of a black hole, that may lead to further such cooperations, we have found that the black hole in 4U 1630-47 spins very rapidly, with a rate not much less than the maximum possible rate, which makes it even more exotic," added Professor A R Rao of TIFR.

AstroSat was launched in 2015 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is the first dedicated astronomy satellite of India, and the SXT aboard AstroSat is the first Indian X-ray telescope.

"In fact, apart from Japan, I believe, India is the first Asian country to build an X-ray Telescope (for example, China could not build such a telescope till now)," Bhattacharyya said.

He noted that this "first cooperation of India and US using AstroSat and Chandra satellites regarding black hole studies should open up ways for future such collaborations.

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The Jammu and Kashmir government has amended Municipal Laws, paving way for election of mayors of Srinagar and Jammu, and heads of local urban bodies (ULBs) through secret ballot.

The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here Wednesday under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik approved 'The Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018', an official spokesman said.

The amendment will pave the way for election of mayors and deputy mayors of the municipal corporations and presidents and vice presidents of the municipal councils, municipal committees through secret ballot, the spokesman said.

The meeting was attended by Advisers, B B Vyas, K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai and Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam.

The decision, in this regard, has been taken in order to remove the anomalies between the provisions of the Municipal Acts, after their amendments through the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2010, and relevant Regulations/ Bye-laws framed in the year 2005 under the original Act of 2000, he said.

The four-phase polling, starting October 8 and ending on October 16, for all urban local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir ended on Tuesday, recording an overall 35.1 per cent voter turnout in the state.

The decision to amend the Act to incorporate secret ballot in election process has been questioned by the Congress, which has sought a clarification from the government over the move.

Reacting to the proposed Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2018, the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) hit out at the government for bringing new amendment, saying the new municipal law should have come into force before holding ULBs elections.

"Although the said amendment is not going to make any big difference, but it is indicative of something that has been drawn in hurry" a JKPCC spokesman said.

He said since the Assembly stands intact, the Bill should be debated, so that the parties know its pros and cons.

In a statement, the spokesperson expressed surprise over the Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2018 and said the government should have brought the amendment before holding the ULB elections.

The process of elections to the ULBs has completed, what was the need for bringing the new amendment at this time, the JKPCC spokesperson said.

Bringing amendment at this time is "highly objectionable", he said, adding that the elections to mayor should be conducted as per the existing law.

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Scores of journalists took out a candle march on Thursday, condemning the killing of a DD cameraman in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh earlier this week.

Also, journalists held a meeting at the Press Club of India here to pay tributes to the slain DD cameraman Achyutanand Sahu.

Senior Journalist Ashok Srivastava said that sufficient financial help to the family of Sahu should be assured.

The candle march was taken out from the Press Club of India to the India Gate in the evening.

Two policemen and Sahu were killed and two others were injured in the Maoist attack on Tuesday in poll-bound Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.

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A Dutch court Thursday slapped down Ryanair's plan to transfer more than a dozen Dutch pilots elsewhere in Europe, saying the no-frills airline "abused its power" in deciding to close its Eindhoven base.

The under-fire Irish airline announced early last month it was shuttering its base in the southern Dutch city and pulling out its four aircraft on November 6.

Ryanair added that it would seek to minimise job losses by slotting in Dutch pilots elsewhere in its continental network.

Sixteen Dutch pilots however sued the budget operator, asking the judges in an urgent injunction to rule against the decision.

"Ryanair may not transfer 16 pilots from their home base in Eindhoven abroad," the Den Bosch District Court said in a statement.

"The judge ruled that Ryanair abused its power when deciding to close its base," the court added.

While the judge couldn't reverse the company's decision to close its Eindhoven base, the ruling means Ryanair must continue paying the pilots.

The judge also set a 250,000 euro penalty for each pilot should the Dublin-based carrier indeed decide to ignore the ruling and transfer them.

Ryanair's lawyers argued its decision was based on financial considerations -- the airline has cut the forecast for its annual net profit by 12 per cent after it was hit by a raft of recent strikes.

The airline made the announcement after warning its its bottom line had been hit by walkouts in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Spain that forced it to cancel hundreds of flights in the summer season.

"Ryanair said it is closing the Eindhoven base because of financial reasons," the court said.

"But the judge did not accept this reason. It rather seems that Ryanair took the decision to penalise previous strike action," the court said, referring to two strikes by Dutch pilots in August and September.

Ryanair staff have been striking to obtain higher wages and an end to the practice whereby many have been working as independent contractors without the benefits of staff employees.

A key complaint of workers based in countries other than in Ireland is the fact that Ryanair have been employing them under Irish legislation.

Staff claim this creates huge insecurity for them, blocking their access to state benefits in their country.

While the judge acknowledged in this case that Ryanair and the pilots agreed on Irish legislation to govern the employment contracts "that doesn't mean that an employer can deny Dutch employees the protection they're entitled to under Dutch law," the court said in the statement.

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The Bombay High Court Thursday rejected the bail pleas of the owners of two eateries in central Mumbai's Kamala Mills compound which were gutted in a fire last December in which 14 people were killed and many injured.

Justice Prakash Naik Thursday dismissed the bail applications filed by Yug Pathak, owner of Mojo Bistro, and the owners of 1Above pub - Kripesh Sanghavi, Jigar Sanghavi and Abhijit Mankar.

The four accused were arrested in January and are currently in judicial custody.

In February, the police filed its charge sheet against 12 accused, including owners of the two restaurants where the fire broke out, owner of the Kamala Mills compound and BMC officials.

The 12 accused have been named in the charge sheet under sections of IPC including those for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing grievous hurt by act endangering life and personal safety of others.

In April, the high court had rejected the bail plea of Yug Tuli, co-owner of Mojo Bistro.

In May, the high court granted bail to Ramesh Gowani and Ravi Bhandari - owners of Kamala Mills compound - after observing that they cannot be held liable for acts of the restaurant owners.

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Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has summoned Parliament on Monday, officials said Thursday, a move which could resolve the political crisis arose after he sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and installed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sirisena was under increasing political and diplomatic pressure to reconvene Parliament which he had suspended till November 16, apparently to allow Rajapaksa to engineer crossovers from Wickremesinghe's side.

The President has agreed to call a parliamentary session on November 5, officials at Rajapaksa's office said.

Prior to the crisis, Wickramasinghe's United National Party (UNP) had the backing of 106 parliamentarians while Rajapaksa and Sirisena combine had 95 seats.

Rajapaksa has so far managed to rope in five lawmakers from Wickramasinghe's party to bolster his strength to 101. One UNP lawmaker has offered his support to him.

It was, however, not immediately known if Rajapaksa has managed to secure 113 votes required to prove the majority.

Wickremesinghe, who has refused to accept his dismissal claiming to be the country's legitimate premier, welcomed the development and said that democracy will prevail.

"The people's voices have been heard. Parliament will be reconvened on the 5th of November. Democracy will prevail," he said in a tweet.

Talking to the BBC from his official residence Temple Trees, Wickremesinghe said: "I still remain the prime minister and I have the confidence of the majority of members of this house.

"The Constitution states that the president must appoint as prime minister the person who commands the confidence of Parliament and I am the person who has that. We have asked for the summoning of Parliament so I can prove my majority in the house," he said.

Sirisena replaced Wickremesinghe with Rajapaksa in a dramatic turn of events last Friday and suspended Parliament after the sacked premier sought an emergency session to prove his majority.

On Wednesday, Sirisena and Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuria discussed the issue.

Sirisena later indicated that he may call the session next week.

Jayasuriya's office, however, said that seat for the prime minister in Parliament would be reserved for Rajapaksa as the parliamentary officials are bound by the government gazette issued naming as the premier.

Sirisena swore in a new Cabinet under Rajapaksa on Monday despite a warning from the parliament speaker of possible violence if lawmakers were not summoned immediately to resolve the crisis.

Wickramasinghe argues that he cannot legally be removed until he loses the support of Parliament and called for a floor test to prove his majority.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has 16 seats in the house and the People's Liberation Front (JVP) has six legislators.

On Tuesday, angry protests rocked Sri Lanka's capital as thousands of demonstrators gathered for a rally organised by Wickremesinghe's party against what it said was a "coup" by President Sirisena.

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The Gujarat High Court Advocates' Association has given a call for indefinite strike from Friday to protest against the transfer of Justice Akil Kureshi of the Gujarat High Court.

The association, led by its president and senior counsel Yatin Oza, passed a resolution in this regard at a meeting Thursday.

"We also resolved to file a petition challenging Kureshi's transfer," Oza said.

The Supreme Court collegium recommended transfer of Justice Kureshi to Bombay High Court Wednesday.

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Les lunettes de marque ne sont pas ce qui manque dans les commerces. Il y en a de toutes les sortes dont les lunettes de []
Lieutenant General P C Thimmaya took over as the 21st General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) here on Thursday, an Army official said.

After passing out from the Indian Military Academy with the sword of honour, he commissioned into the 5th battalion Mechanised Infantry Regiment (14 KUMAON) on June 13, 1981.

An alumnus of Sainik School Bhubaneswar and National Defence Academy Pune, Thimmaya commanded his battalion during operation Parakram and an Independent Mechanised Brigade in the deserts.

As a major general, he commanded a strike formation and subsequently, as a lieutenant general, he commanded a Corps in the western theatre. Prior to his assumption of command of ARTRAC, Lieutenant General Thimmaya was posted as the Commandant of Army War College, Mhow.

He has had international assignments as military observer in UN Mission (UNAVEM, Angola) and Defence Attach in Bangladesh.

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In a break from tradition, the Maharashtra Assembly will convene for the Winter session from November 19 in Mumbai instead of Nagpur for the first time in 57 years.

Traditionally, the Monsoon and Budget sessions of the Maharashtra legislature are held in Mumbai while the Winter session is held in Nagpur, the state's second capital.

This will be the first time since 1961 that the Winter session will be held in Mumbai, an official of the Assembly said on Thursday.

As per the Nagpur Pact of 1953, which eventually led to the creation of the state of Maharashtra, Nagpur was accorded the status of second capital.

It was decided that one of the sessions of the legislature each year will be held in Nagpur.

However, the pact did not specify which session would be held in Nagpur. It was decided later that it will host the Winter session, the official said.

The upcoming Winter session will be two-week long, ending November 30, the official said.

At a meeting of the Assembly's Business Advisory Committee on Thursday where the duration of the session was decided, the opposition Congress and NCP wanted the session to be three-week long but it was rejected by the government, the official said.

The Winter session is conventionally two-week long, the official noted.

The number of working days will be eight as two public holidays -- Eid and Gurunanak Jayanti -- fall in this period.

"We sought one more week's time to discuss pressing issues like agrarian crisis, drought management, delaying tactics of the government on reservation demand of Marathas, Dhangars and Muslims, Mumbai development plan and other important urban issues," Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said.

"But the government rejected the demand," he added.

He said by refusing to extend the session, the BJP-led government was running away from debating important issues.

The drought situation in the state is alarming and the government is not ready with a contingency plan to deal with it, the Congress leader said.

NCP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Council Dhananjay Munde too said that the opposition wanted the session extended by one week.

State NCP president Jayant Patil, who is the group leader of his party in the Assembly, alleged that the government wanted to avoid discussion on important issues.

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A day after the BJP-led Maharashtra government declared drought in 26 districts, the opposition Congress Thursday demanded a Central assistance of Rs 5000 crore while accusing the ruling dispensation of fiscal mismanagement.

Addressing a press conference here, state unit Congress president Ashok Chavan accused the BJP-led government of not making any fiscal provisions to fight drought.

The state government Wednesday declared drought in 151 talukas in 26 of total 36 districts in the state.

As per a government order, 112 talukas are facing severe drought and 39 talukas a moderate drought.

"The BJP government has declared drought, but has made no budgetary allocations. Maharashtra is reeling under a debt of almost Rs 5 lakh crore. How will the government pay for drought relief? We demand Rs 5,000 crore central assistance for relief measures in Maharashtra," he said while addressing reporters.

Chavan said the ongoing "Jan Sangharsh" yatra of his party in the Marathwada region has been receiving huge response from the people.

He claimed that AICC general secretary in charge of Maharashtra Mallikarjun Kharge rang a symbolic "last bell" to mark the end of the Devendra Fadnavis-led government in Maharashtra.

"As this government only believed in making false promises and issuing grand advertisements, they have no chance of returning to power next year," he said.

Chavan demanded the government spell out specific measures for drought relief.

The Central government had released Rs 3050 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to tackle drought in 2015, when 20 districts in Marathwada and Vidarbha were classified uner that category.

"The state government had spent Rs 16,000 crore on drought relief measures then. Given the government's mismanagement of financial resources in the past four years, mobilising funds to tackle the current drought seems difficult," Chavan alleged.

He alleged that only private contractors from the BJP and the Shiv Sena have benefitted from the Jalyukt Shivar scheme of the state government.

He alleged the chief minister was wasting public money on issuing advertisements of his government.

On the World Bank report on improvement in India's position in the 'Ease of Doing Business Index', Chavan said Maharashtra's rankings have fallen.

"Maharashtra, which used to be number one in the 'Ease of Doing Business in India', has slipped to number 13. This is a result of the incompetence of the state government," he said.

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The winter session of the Maharashtra legislature which is set to start here from November 19 will go on for two weeks, it was announced today, with the opposition slamming the government for its 'short' duration.

The two-week session will be unique as it will be held in Mumbai instead of Nagpur after 57 years.

The opposition Congress and NCP demanded at the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of both houses here Thursday that the session should be extended by one week.

However, the government rejected the demand, a legislature officer said. Conventionally, the winter session is two-week long.

As announced at the end of monsoon session, the winter session will start on November 19. It will go on till November 30, the official said.

The number of working days will be eight as two public holidays -- Eid and Gurunanak Jayanti -- fall in this period.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said that by refusing to extend the session, the BJP-led government was running away from debate on important issues.

The drought situation in the state is alarming and the government is not ready with a contingency plan to deal with it, the Congress leader said.

"We sought one more week's time to discuss pressing issues like agrarian crisis, drought management, delaying tactics of the government on reservation demand of Marathas, Dhangars and Muslims, Mumbai development plan and other important urban issues," he said.

"But the government rejected the demand," he added.

NCP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Council Dhananjay Munde too said that the opposition wanted the session extended by one week.

State NCP president Jayant Patil, who is the group leader of his party in the Assembly, alleged that the government wanted to avoid discussion on important issues.

Generally, monsoon and budget sessions of the Maharashtra legislature are held in Mumbai while the winter session is held in Nagpur, the state's second capital.

For the first time since 1961, the winter session will be held in Mumbai this year. The monsoon session was held in Nagpur this time after 47 years.

As per the Nagpur Pact of 1953, which eventually led to the creation of the state of Maharashtra, Nagpur was accorded the status of second capital. It was decided that one of the sessions of the legislature will be held in Nagpur.

However, the pact did not lay it down which session will be held in Nagpur. It was decided later that it will host the winter session, the legislature official said.

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A major fire broke out at a chemical factory on Thursday in Vishwakarma industrial area here, injuring the owner and leaving goods worth lakhs of rupees gutted, a Fire Department official said.

A dozen fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames, Chief Fire Officer Jagdish Phulwari said.

He suspected that the fire spread due to a blast in drums filled with liquid chemicals.

The factory's owner has been identified as Mukesh Agarwal.

The exact cause of the fire was not yet known, the official said.

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Noted Malayalam novelist and short story writer M Mukundan has been selected for the Kerala government's highest literary award 'Ezhuthachan Puraskaram' for this year.

The 76-year old writer has been chosen for his overall contributions to the Malayalam literature, an official release said here Thursday.

In his reaction, Mukundan said the award was an acknowledgement of the "stern stand" taken by him on various social issues.

The award, named after Ezhuthachan -- the father of Malayalam literature, carries a cash prize of Rs five lakh and a citation.

Considered as one of the pioneers of modern Malayalam literature, Mukundan is known as "Mayyazhiyude Kathakaran" (storyteller of Mayyazhi - Mahe).

Hailing from Mahe, a former French colony and an enclave of Union Territory of Puducherry in Kerala, Mukundan's works include novels, short stories and non-fiction.

"Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil", "Daivathinte Vikrithikal", "Kesavante Vilapangal" and "Delhi Gadhakal" are among his popular works.

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Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed returned home from exile Thursday, two days after the country's Supreme Court withdrew a warrant for his arrest.

Nasheed, who had been jailed for 13 years on a controversial terrorism charge, was welcomed at Male airport by president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and hundreds of supporters.

It was not immediately clear what role he will have in the new government to be constituted by Solih this month.

The Supreme Court had ruled that Nasheed could not be detained until his appeal against the jail sentence for terrorism is heard.

The 51-year-old democracy champion was branded a fugitive from justice when he went into exile in 2016 after seeking medical treatment abroad while serving the jail sentence.

He risked arrest if he ever returned to the Maldives under President Abdulla Yameen, who jailed or exiled most of his opponents.

However, the strongman leader suffered a surprise defeat last month in an election and must leave office on November 17.

The president-elect is a nominee of Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Nasheed had hoped to run against Yameen but was barred by the election commission.

Since Yameen's defeat, political prisoners have been freed and exiles have returned from abroad as the Maldives prepares a transition to new leadership.

Elected president in the country's first democratic poll in 2008, Nasheed was found guilty of terrorism in 2015 in a trial the UN said was politically motivated.

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A 26-year-old man was arrested for allegedly killing four members of a family over a monetary dispute three years ago at Northeast Delhi's Wazirabad area, police said Thursday.

The accused was identified as Abhishek Pal alias Mintu, a resident of Wazirabad village, Delhi, they added.

In July 2016, the body of Naina, a school teacher in Wazirabad, was recovered from a canal in Hapur by Uttar Pradesh Police. Her car was also found abandoned near the canal, A K Singla, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) said.

During investigations by UP Police, the family members of the deceased her father, mother and her brother -- were also found missing and they could not be traced. It was then suspected to be a case of honour killing, the officer said.

Later, the Delhi Police Crime Branch received information that the main accused in Naina's case would come at Outer Ring Road, near Sanjay Akhada to meet his associates. Later, a trap was laid and the accused was successfully apprehended, the officer added.

During interrogation, Pal, a small-time contractor, disclosed that he was well acquainted with Ved Prakash, Naina's father, and his family, the officer said.

Pal's close friend Ritesh Katiyar was an employee of Prakash at his garment shop at a Monastery, Majnu Ka Tila. Later, Prakash transferred his business to Ritesh and gave his shop to him on rent, the senior officer said.

Due to financial crisis, Ritesh took a loan from Prakash through Pal as a guarantor, in August-2015. As Ritesh could not pay back the loan, a dispute had arisen between them and Prakash was regularly pressurising Pal and Ritesh for his payments, the officer added.

Pal was upset and shared his problems with his friend Sonu, the nephew of Prakash. Sonu had previous enmity with his uncle and wanted to grab his business and property. He instigated Pal to eliminate Prakash and lured him for a share in his property and business, Singla said



Thereafter, Pal planned to kill Prakash and his family and roped in Manoj, resident of Wazirabad, Delhi (who was only 16-year-old at that time) in his plan, Singla added.

At that time, Shubham, Prakash's son, was learning driving from Pal, he said.

On July 15, 2016 at around 11-11.30 am, Pal called Prakash stating that the tyres of the car had to be changed. Prakash came outside his house and they asked him to sit in the front seat of the car which was being driven by Pal.Manoj strangled him to death. After killing Prakash, they put his body in the trunk of the car, the senior officer said.

Later, the accused persons got suspicious that Shubham had seen them with his father. They called Shubham and killed him in the same way at around 2 to 3 pm. They also put his dead body in the trunk of the car, the officer said.

The accused switched off their phones after the killings and shifted the bodies to Pal's house, the officer added.

As Prakash's wife Sadhana had seen Pal taking her son with him, they planned to kill her too and strangled her using the clutch wire. Thereafter, the accused persons called Naina and killed her in a similar way in the Swift car on the same day at around 9 pm, the officer said.

They put the bodies of Naina and her mother in their Swift car and covered the glass with black colour curtains. Later, in the intervening night of July 16 and 17, 2016, Pal and Manoj took all the bodies in the Santro car and reached the Upper Ganga canal in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh and threw all bodies in it. The other three bodies have not yet been found, the officer said.

Pal said that Manoj has died in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh. One countrymade pistol and 2 live cartridges were recovered from his possession, Singla said.

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A man was arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend after she threatened to expose their relationship to his wife, police said Thursday.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (City) Dharmendra Chauhan said the mother of the woman had on October 19 filed a complaint regarding the disappearance her daughter at Kotwali G T Road police station here.

After a detailed investigation, a man, identified as Deepak, of Garhi Katiyya village of the Loni area here was arrested from his house Wednesday, he said.

Deepak, while confessing to the crime, said he had met the woman at a discotheque and became friends with her, the SP said.

After a few days the girl began demanding money from him and threatened she will expose their relationship to his wife if he failed to do so, Chauhan said.

Deepak planned to eliminate her and took her to Mangalore town near Haridwar in Uttarakhand on September 29. He strangled her and threw the body in a canal, he said.

The body was recovered next day by the Uttarakhand Police from the canal after some passersby informed it, the SP said.

Following his arrest, Deepak has been been sent to jail, Chauhan said.

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Argentinian filmmaker Lucrecia Martel says the #MeToo movement is a powerful time for women where the men in the film industry will introspect and behave in a better way.

The director, best known for her films such as "Zama" and "The Headless Woman", said the industry will only become safer thanks to the #MeToo movement.

"What will happen now as a consequence of this is a lot of males will stop over-reaching... Many men within the industry will realise that this is not right and they'll stop behaving in this manner. This way the industry will become safer," Martel told PTI.

The acclaimed filmmaker says sometimes there could be collateral damage too, but it is necessary for the larger good.

"It's a process where a lot of injustice will occur. There will be sometimes a reaction that's a bit exaggerated to events. But all of these moments are necessary because it has been many years of this occurring."



Martel says it is an incredible reminder that when women come together as a collective, things are shaken up.

"I think so (it's a powerful time for women). Because what is also uncanny in a way is that currently any joint action has a lot of weight. So as women we have discovered that if we come together, band together, we actually have a lot of power."



The director was speaking on the sidelines of the 20th edition of JIO MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star.

In a conversation with writer Dennis Lin on Tuesday, Martel had revealed how she was one among other female directors who was considered to direct Marvel's "Black Widow" featuring Scarlett Johanson.

The superhero film is now being directed by Australian filmmaker Cate Shortland.

When asked if she was sad she could not do the stand-alone film, Martel said, "Actually I had imagined that I wouldn't be selected and I was still very happy to experience the meeting.

"It's not so much sadness but of course I would love to make a film like that. A film about heroes, not necessarily a film like the one Marvel makes."



Martel has directed four feature films since her debut in 2001 with her last film "Zama" being Argentina's national entry for Best Foreign Language Film for Oscars last year.

Though Martel is often regarded as the most critically acclaimed auteur in Spanish-language art cinema, the 51-year-old filmmaker says, she still finds it difficult to find financiers for her projects.

"It is still quite difficult for me to make my films. When I was looking for financiers for 'Zama' in Berlin film festival's film market, I was amidst many 20 and 40-year old filmmakers, some even older, all looking for financing. The auteur cinema is not easy to make," she added.

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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 []
Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel called upon corporate leaders on Thursday to explore opportunities of investment in the emerging field of senior care.

In her keynote address at the 1st Annual Senior Care Conclave organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Patel said the rapidly changing global demographics have resulted in a sharp rise in the demand for senior care services.

This, coupled with an increased life expectancy of the population and an increased tendency globally to have nuclear families, has further accelerated the growth in the senior care sector, she said.

"Health services are to be designed in such a way that there is a complete coordination across the thread of care providers to cure acute conditions and symptoms," she said.

Highlighting the initiatives of the Health Ministry, Patel said the National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE) addresses various health- related issues of the elderly people and the programme is an articulation of the international and national commitments of the government.

The programme is state-oriented and basic thrust of the programme is to provide dedicated health care facilities to the senior citizens (above 60 years of age) at various levels of primary, secondary and tertiary health care.

"The basic aim of the NPHCE is to provide dedicated, specialised and comprehensive health care to the senior citizens at various levels of state health care delivery system, including outreach services. Preventive and promotive care, management of illness, health manpower development for geriatric services, medical rehabilitation and therapeutic intervention and IEC (information, education and communication) are some of the strategies envisaged in the NPHCE," she said.

The minister further stated that NPHCE was launched in 100 identified districts of 21 states and eight regional geriatrics centres were set up in selected medical colleges as referral units during the 11th Plan period.

As on March 2018, 520 districts in 34 states and union territories had been sanctioned for provision of geriatric care services. Besides, 19 regional geriatric centres in government medical colleges of 18 states sanctioned for specialised care and training purpose.

Two National Centres for Ageing (NCA) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi and Madras Medical College in Chennai have been sanctioned to be developed as centres of excellence for geriatrics.

"In 2018-19, 79 more districts have been recommended, taking the number of districts sanctioned for provision of geriatric care services to 599 districts," the minister said.

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Over 55 tons of garbage and waste were removed from the Ganga by a 40-member team during its month-long expedition in the river, said its leader Everester Bachendri Pal.

The team found the Ganga polluted all through its 'Mission Gange' expedition route of 1500 km from Hardwar to Patna, Pal told reporters here Wednesday.

"We have pulled out over 55 tons of garbage and waste from the river in course of our month-long expedition which began from Hardwar on October 5 last," said the country's first woman who reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1984.

The team left Jamshedpur on October 01.

The garbage and waste pulled out of the river were disposed of by respective municipalities of the seven towns the team reached, she said.

"We had a good experience in making aware hundreds of people, including school children, who joined us at every destination about the need for clean Ganga ," she said.

She advocated intense awareness campaign to clean the river and said the central government had already taken up several measures for the purpose.

The 40-member team, which included Everesters Premlata Agarwal, first Indian woman to climb all the seven summit of the world, Hemant Gupta, Binita Soren, favoured 'Shramdaan' (voluntary work) by the common people to make the river free of pollutants, she said.

The team sailed through the river along Bijnor, Farukhabad, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Buxar and Patna.

The 40-member team also included 26 employees of the Tata Steel, the sponsor of the event.

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The apex body of Bru refugees in Tripura has appealed to political parties in Mizoram to refrain from visiting the relief camps for poll campaigns, ahead of the November 28 elections to the 40-member Assembly.

R Laldawngliana, the vice president of Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), said the community members were not keen on attending public meetings by parties from Mizoram.

"We do not welcome poll canvassing inside the camps. The members here are not looking forward to attending public meetings by the parties, just before the polls," he said.

The general secretary of the outfit, Bruno Msha, said unorganised campaigns by political parties could lead to a law-and-order situation.

He, however, clarified that political parties have to approach the MBDPF leadership if they wish to carry out campaigns in the region.

"If any political party wishes to hold a public rally, it should get in touch with the MBDPF leadership. We do not wish to create any law-and-order situation in the camps, where one group could be pitted against another," Msha said.

He also noted that no campaigner from Mizoram has visited the relief camps so far, but flags of different political parties were on display in a number of households.

Thousands of Bru community members fled Mizoram and took shelter in Tripura following ethnic clashes in 1997. Violence broke out after a forest official was killed by Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) militants.

The Centre, in association with the governments of Mizoram and Tripura, had been trying to repatriate the displaced Brus in phases.

Though several Bru families have returned to Mizoram over the years, many refused to leave Tripura citing security reasons and inadequate package.

The MBDPF had recently appealed to the Election Commission of India to establish polling stations in the relief camps for the Bru voters.

It was countered by NGO Coordination Committee, a conglomerate of major civil societies in Mizoram, which urged the EC to defranchise all Bru voters who chose to stay back in Tripura and did not return to Mizoram.

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The Congress on Thursday released its manifesto for the upcoming Mizoram Assembly polls on Thursday and promised to provide free laptops to students who have cleared Class tenth and above if it returns to power in the state.

In the election manifesto released by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla here, the party also pledged to continue with its two flagship programmes for farmers and youths.

Mizoram is the only state in the northeast where the Congress has a government and BJP leaders have asserted they would make concerted efforts to oust the opposition party from the eight northeastern states.

Thanhawla, also the party's state unit president, has been the chief minister since 2008.

If voted to power in Mizoram for the third consecutive time, students who clear the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) exam for Class tenth and above will be given laptops every year, the party manifesto said.

Initially, however, they would be distributed among those students above the HSLC without jobs, it said.

The party also promised to continue with its New Land Use Policy (NLUP) for the farmers and New Economic Development Policy (NEDP) for unemployed youths.

The NLUP was launched in January 2011 to end the wasteful practice of shifting or 'jhum' cultivation -- process of clearing land by burning its natural vegetation before growing crops.

A beneficiary of the NLUP gets around Rs 100,000. The party said the grant would be raised.

It said the NEDP would also be continued with special thrust on entrepreneurship development for the youths.

The Congress manifesto also promised housing for the poor in rural areas and residential quarters for employees of police and education departments.

It also promised to set up more rehabilitation centres for drug addicts and alcoholics across the state.

Polling will be held in Mizoram on November 28.

Results will be declared on December 11 along with four other states.
A 17-year-old Bollywood actor who had accused a co-passenger of molesting her onboard a flight in December last year testified before a local court here on Thursday.

The proceedings were held in-camera.

While the prosecution questioned the actor on Thursday, she will be cross-examined by defence lawyers on Friday, court sources said.

The girl had alleged that she was on a Vistara flight from Delhi to Mumbai when the co-passenger, sitting behind her, put up his feet on her armrest and touched her inappropriately.

She recorded the incident on her mobile phone and uploaded the video on social media along with a post in which she shared her alleged ordeal.

"He kept nudging my shoulder and continued to move his foot up and down my back and neck," she wrote in the social media post which had gone viral.

A case was registered against the co-passenger at Sahar Police Station here under IPC section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

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Religious leader Computer Baba, a friend-turned-foe of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in Madhya Pradesh, has been expelled by the 'Akhada' to which he belongs.

Digambar Ani Akhada, a prominent denomination of Vaishnava sect, has expelled him, said Mahant Narendra Giri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, Thursday.

Reacting to the development, Computer Baba, whose original name is Namdeo Das Tyagi, said he would continue his work notwithstanding "conspiracies" of the BJP government.

Mahant Giri told PTI that the Parishad, which represents 13 Akhadas, had recommended Computer Baba's expulsion.

"He behaved against the dignity of saints, jumped into political arena, sometimes speaking in favour of BJP, sometimes backing Congress for his vested interests," Giri said.

The decision to expel him was taken at a high-level meeting of Digambar Ani Akhada at Ujjain, Giri informed.

Computer Baba will no longer be able to participate in ceremonies of Digambar Ani Akhada including its Shahi Snan (ceremonial bath) during the coming Kumbh Mela, he said.

Computer Baba reacted to the development through a video statement.

"Whatever conspiracies Shivraj's BJP government may hatch, I will not allow the Narmada river to be polluted and the plight of cows to worsen. I will continue to work for the protection of Hindu Dharma," he said.

The saint community is being neglected in the state and their shrines are being destroyed, he alleged.

Computer Baba was accorded the status of Minister of State by the state government in April this year by appointing him to a committee for the protection of the Narmada river.

However, last month he resigned, accusing chief minister Chouhan of not fulfilling his promises and alleging that the government did little to stop illegal sand mining in the Narmada.

Ahead of November 28 Assembly polls in the state, he has been holding congregations of religious leaders and calling for ouster of the BJP government.

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Aiming to forge an anti-BJP front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Thursday met heads of several opposition parties, including Rahul Gandhi, and termed his party's alliance with the Congress a "democratic compulsion" to protect the country.

Addressing a joint press conference, Gandhi and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president Naidu said the primary challenge before all the opposition forces was to work together and defend India's institutions and democracy, but they parried queries on who would lead the anti-BJP alliance.

"Everything else is secondary. We will do what is our primary challenge. You are interested in candidates, we are interested in the nation," Gandhi told reporters.

However, Naidu added, "It is a reality you have to understand that the Congress is the main opposition party. All other parties are necessary. So, we will work on these things. Our main motive is save nation."



This is for the first time Naidu met Gandhi since the TDP broke away from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Gandhi and the TDP leader had shared the dais at the swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in May.

The TDP leader also held meetings with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) patron Faqooq Abdullah and Samajwadi Party's Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav during the visit here, his second within a week.

"Today we have to save this nation and democracy. That's why I discussed with Rahulji also. In principle, we have agreed (to tie up). Some of you have doubt about our past. It is a democratic compulsion now, we are joining together to protect this country," Naidu said.

This is for the first time the southern party, which was floated by N T Rama Rao in the early 80's, primarily to defeat the Congress in the undivided Andhara Pradesh, will work with the national party.

In the past, the TDP has been a part of the NDA-I as well as NDA-II dispensations till it exited in March this year.

The TDP supremo met Gandhi in the presence of top party leaders Ahmed Patel and Ashok Gehlot.

After the meeting, Gandhi said forgetting the past, the Congress would work together with the TDP to defeat the BJP and defend the country, its institutions and democracy.

"We are coming together, we are going to work together and all opposition forces are going to work together to defend India, our institutions and our democracy," Gandhi told reporters.

The BJP hit back, saying the TDP is desperate as cases of corruption are being investigated against the party leaders.

"TDP Govt in AP is mired in many scandals (IT, PD accounts, Irrigation scam etc.) MPs are being probed for misappropriation, tax evasion. Reason why Chandrababu Naidu is running from pillar to post to forge a 'Corrupt Alliance' in Delhi (sic)," BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao tweeted, using the hashtag "TDPisDesperate".

Naidu also said that he would meet leaders of all parties that are against the BJP and try to forge a unity amongst them.

"Those who are all against BJP, I want to meet everybody. I want to convince the need for unity and also to save democracy. Day by day, it is becoming from bad to worse. Collectively we have to work together. Finally, we want to chalk out a programme," he said.

On the alliance with the Congress, Naidu said it is a "democratic compulsion" to get together and added, "We had differences with Congress. We had differences with BJP. At national level, TDP had always played a very crucial role whenever there was a need."



The chief minister said though some parties have alliances at state-level, efforts would be made to bring those parties together at the national level to provide an alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Gandhi asserted that during the meeting they have decided "not to get into the past" but talk about the present and future as it is "critical" for the country.

After meeting Naidu, Pawar said non-BJP parties would come out with a common minimum programme to take on the government as he expressed concern over "assault" on institutions such as the CBI and the RBI.

"If we collectively work to save democracy, we can definitely save the institutions. Chandrababu (Naidu) will talk to other state political leaders in this regard," the NCP chief told reporters, adding that a common minimum programme will be drafted once the non-BJP parties come on board to discuss the matter.

Claiming that the country was going through "difficult" times, Abdullah, after his meeting with Naidu, said, "Today, democracy is in danger and people are in danger. That is why we all met and decided to work out a common minimum programme to save democracy, institutions and the nation."



Naidu's meeting with Gandhi comes amid seat-sharing talks between the two parties for the December 7 assembly election in Telangana.

The TDP chief pointed out that he had never seen this type of attack on institutions such as CBI, RBI, ED and I-T in his political career of 40 years.

"I have asked Rahulji to discuss in the party and proposed all-party meeting to chalk out a programme for future," he said.

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With an aim to promote indie cinema and give aspiring filmmakers a platform to showcase their work, the 7th edition of the Dharamshala International Film Festival kick-started here Thursday.

The film extravaganza was opened by Ukrainian filmmaker Dar Gai's critically acclaimed feature "Namdev Bhau: In Search of Silence".

The black comedy about a 65-year-old chauffeur and his quest to find silence received thundering response at DIFF, after receiving rave reviews at festivals like BFI London Film Festival 2018 and Busan International Film Festival 2018.

The film was screened at the Hermann Gmeiner Auditorium in the Tibet Children's Village School.

The evening began with junior and senior students of the school singing a Tibetan song.

Co-director of the festival, Ritu Sarin said she was happy with the interest cinema enthusiasts have been showing in DIFF.

"Our aim is to support indie filmmakers and we will always stick by that. We want to keep DIFF an intimate affair and are happy with the way more people are joining with each passing year. It's an honour to present some of the best films at DIFF this year," Sarin told PTI.

"Namdev Bhau" was presented by the film's director, Dar Gai.

"Coming to DIFF is a pleasure. This film has helped me evolve a lot as a director and as a human being. My aim as a filmmaker has never been to give a social message. My cinema is more about personal journey and this film is a perfect example of the kind of cinema I believe in," she told PTI.

This year at DIFF, Indian programming highlights include fiction features-- Devashish Makhija's "Bhonsle", Lijo Jose Pellissery's Malayalam feature "Ee.Ma.Yau", Anamika Haksar's "Ghode ko Jalebi Khilane Le Ja Riya Hoon" and Dominic Sangma's Garo language film "Ma'ama" and docu feature "Raghu Rai: An Unframed Portrait" by Avani Rai.

The festival will also hold Indian premieres of Hiroshi Sunairi's "48 Years: Silent Dictator" (Japan), TIFF 2017 Official Selection "Waru" (New Zealand), Tashi Gyeltshen's "The Red Phallus" and Luc Schaedler's "A Long Way Home".

This year's edition of the DIFF Film Fellows initiative will focus specifically on up-and-coming filmmakers from Himachal Pradesh.

The selected fellows are Rahat Mahajan, Aman Sharma, Mrinali Singha,Vaasu Soni and Kesang Thakur, who will be mentored by award-winning filmmakers Gurvinder Singh and Anupama Srinivasan.

Festival directors Ritu and Tenzing's fiction feature, "The Sweet Requiem", which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 2018, will have its Asian Premiere at DIFF.

The closing film of the festival is "Hamid", directed by Aijaz Khan. The Kashmir-set drama became the closing film for DIFF after the festival organisers decided to drop Ere Gowda's debut directorial venture "Balekempa" following sexual harassment allegations against him.

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Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener on Thursday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat against deletion of names of "lakhs" of voters in the capital allegedly "at the instance of the BJP".

He sought an appointment from Rawat to discuss the matter.

"It has come to our notice that names of lakhs of voters in Delhi have been deleted after last assembly elections. Most names...have been deleted with mala fide intention. Procedure prescribed under law for deletion of names has not been followed," he wrote in the letter.

A "cursory look" on the deleted names showed that "most of them" were AAP or Congress voters, Kejriwal claimed, alleging it might have been done by some officers "at the instance of BJP" to prevent them from voting.

"It appears to be a huge scam. Its implications on democracy are grave. Elections in Delhi would be a farce if conducted through these voters lists," he wrote.

Kejriwal demanded a time-bound and transparent enquiry by the Election Commission and also adding back of the deleted names.

Recently, AAP in-charge for the South Delhi Lok Sabha seat, Raghav Chadha had alleged that around one lakh names were deleted from voters' list in the constituency in the past six months to one year.

Kejriwal said that an enquiry conducted by him revealed that in nine cases, names were deleted in July 2018, after a door-to-door survey by booth-level officer(BLO) who could not locate addresses of the voters.

After the enquiry, the officers got Form 6 filled for enrolling five of the persons in the voters list and assured that remaining persons will also be included in the list.

"If the BLO could not locate the houses during the door-to-door survey in July 2018, how could he locate houses so easily after enquiry was ordered?," he questioned.

The Delhi Chief Minister also said it was noticed that most names were deleted after the previous Assembly elections in Delhi.
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh Thursday stressed on the need to converge the existing programmes to address concerns of climate change at the village level.

The government's research body Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is implementing the National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) to help enhance resilience of the Indian farm sector.

Speaking at a parliamentary consultative meeting held here, Singh said several states have shown interest in replicating the climate resilient village models.

For example, the Maharashtra government through World Bank funding formulated a project by the name PoCRA with a budget outlay of Rs 4,500 crore being implemented in 5,000 villages in the drought-prone Vidharbha and Marathwada regions.

Several other state governments like Karnataka, Odisha and Telangana too have initiated similar projects of climate resilient agriculture.

The minister emphasised on "the need to bring convergence of these programmes at the village level so as to enhance the adaptive capacity of communities to effectively address the concerns of climate change".

The minister further said a few pilots may be taken up in identified climatically most vulnerable districts of the country by selecting few villages/mandals/blocks as implementing units.

The experiences of such pilots can be used for the spread of climate resilient villages in the country, he added.

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Noting that India has done well in generic pharmaceuticals, and ensured that all treatments are available within the country, a senior Union Health Ministry official said Thursday the need was now to ensure emergency medicine and universal health coverage.

Secretary to the Department of Health Research in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Balram Bhargava, averred India has witnessed phenomenal growth in several fields, including Information and Technology, Space, Nuclear and farming sectors.

He said the Green Revolution has been among the most significant of these which has turned the country from being a food grains importer to exporter.

"Not only that, we have done phenomenally well in pharmaceuticals. 50 per cent of the generic drugs in the world are of Indian origin, we have also done well in medical sciences and our generation has ensured that no one has to go out of this country for any treatment. It is all available in this country, he said.

Bhargava was speaking here at the convocation event of the Amity University, which conferred honorary doctorate degrees on him and Shashank Sharad Kale, Head of Department (Neurosurgery), AIIMS and Vaidya Devendra Triguna, a former honorary physician to the President of India Thursday.

"Having said that we still have two major frontiers as far as healthcare is concerned and they are emergency medicine and universal health coverage, which is being tackled by the Prime Minister in the Ayushman Bharat Programme. The programme has two pillars of developing the wellness centres 150,000 and the insurance scheme for 10 crore families, which is nearly half the population of India for Rs five lakh every year, Bhargava said.

He exhorted the students and institute to contribute more in medical and bio-medical research so as to create and nurture the new leaders for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for healthcare of the people.

Congratulating the passing out students, he remarked it is a "stellar example of the soft power" that India is developing for the world.

Triguna, a Padmashree and Padmabhushan awardee, stressed that Yoga and Indian medicine system have started to gain global recognition. "Now, the aim of the Indian government is to provide cost effective healthcare through Ayurveda to every citizen," he said.

Veteran neurosurgeon Kale exhorted the students to consistently work hard to achieve the aim they have set for themselves saying, "success is entirely possible through unswerving dedication and persistence to accomplish the goal".

As many as 2,409 students were awarded degrees and diplomas on the first day of the three-day convocation event, Amity Education Group's founder president Ashok K Chauhan said Thursday.

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A 38-year-old Nigerian was arrested here Thursday in connection with the seizure of a narcotic substance, the Narcotics Control Bureau said.

Based on a tip-off, NCB officials Wednesday seized 200 gm of methamphetamine, a stimulant drug, concealed in small machine parts in a parcel, a release from the bureau said.

"The parcel was booked by the arrested person to Doha in Qatar in September. However, it was not delivered in Doha and was returned to Chennai," it said.

The release did not disclose the Nigerian's identity and where the seizure was made.

The drug was sourced from another Nigerian living in Delhi, it added.

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Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam Thursday alleged that Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Ajoy Mehta had facilitated inclusion of iconic Dhobi Ghat in Mahalakshmi area under an SRA scheme, which he claimed would benefit private builders.

He alleged that this move amounted to destroying "national heritage" of the site.

However, the BMC has denied the allegations, saying the SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority) is the planning authority in this case.

Touted as the world's largest outdoor laundry and a popular tourist attraction, the Dhobi Ghat was built in 1890. It was upgraded to a Grade-IIB heritage site in 2016.

"Mahalakshmi's Dhobi Ghat is a 140-year-old heritage site. How can the Dhobi Ghat, Shri Ram and Hanuman temple and the fish market be recognised as slums? It is the plan of the BMC to demolish these elements of national heritage which is in turn depriving the locals of their sources of livelihood and their houses too.

"Instead of redeveloping the actual slums of Mumbai, why are they redeveloping a heritage site?" questioned Nirupam.

Nirupam shared a letter dated August 13, 2018 with the media persons, which was purportedly written by Chief Engineer of Development Plan S.P. Darade to architect Anand Dhokay proposing that the entire Dhobi Ghat, the existing temple and the surrounding open spaces spread over a total area of 2650 sq. mt, be amalgamated and redeveloped under the SRA scheme.

"If the history of Mumbai is to be written, it cannot be complete in a true sense without stating the significance of the Dhobi Ghat. The BMC commissioner and some officials have formed a nexus with the private builders for their own vested interests," he alleged.

When contacted, a senior civic official of the BMC, refuted the charges and said that entire matter falls within purview of the SRA.

"Development of Dhobighat issue raised by Sanjay Nirupam pertains to SRA which is the planning authority for this area. BMC is concerned only with certifying the eligibility of hutmen dwellers. It is not understood, when entire matter falls within purview of SRA why he is raising fingers towards MCGM?," the official replied in a written response.

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The Janata Dal (United) said on Thursday that Nitish Kumar was the chief minister by popular choice and he shall continue to be in office till the time people of Bihar wanted him as their leader.

The JD(U) was reacting to a claim by Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha Wednesday that during a personal conversation with him, the chief minister had expressed his reluctance to run for another term after his ongoing tenure ends in 2020.

"We do not have to say anything about the veracity of Kushwaha's claim. What we wish to underscore is that Nitish Kumar became the chief minister not out of his own personal desire but because the people of Bihar wanted to see him in that role. And they have been reaffirming their faith in his leadership by voting him back to power," JD(U) national general secretary Shyam Rajak said.

Rajak, who is the party's deputy leader in the state assembly, also took a swipe at Kushwaha who had been critical of Kumar for some time but has started calling him a "big brother" of late.

"It is true that Kumar and Kushwaha have been like brothers. I hope that the RLSP chief remains true to the sentiment and cooperates with Kumar," Rajak said.

A former JD(U) leader, Kushwaha had quit the party and floated his own outfit in 2013. His party comprises, largely, disgruntled elements from within the JD(U) and some of them such as RLSP working president Nagamani have been quite vocal against Kumar, even demanding that Kushwaha be made the chief ministerial candidate in the next assembly polls.

Kushwaha, who had caused a flutter a few months ago by saying that he was in favour of Kumar voluntarily giving up bid for another term, had on Wednesday come out with the fresh claim at a function organised here by his party on the occasion of birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The development came a day after Kushwaha expressed displeasure in Delhi over his party not getting a ministerial berth in the state government despite being an NDA constituent.

The RLSP chief has also been evidently unhappy over the diminution in his party's clout within the NDA after Kumar returned to the coalition last year.

The opposition Congress, however, chuckled at the recent developments, saying it saw a likelihood of the Bihar chief minister having expressed such sentiments as he looked "tired and out of his depth".

Senior Congress leader and MLC Prem Chandra Mishra said, "We would not be surprised if it turns out that Kumar is reluctant to continue as CM."



"His current tenure is far from satisfactory. He looks tired and jaded and no longer enjoys the grip on administrative machinery which he considered to be his USP," Mishra said.

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The Central and Kerala units of the Congress are not "confused" over the Sabarimala issue, actress-turned-party spokesperson Khushboo said here in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh Thursday.

Her remarks came two days after Congress chief Rahul Gandhi acknowledged that his view to allow all women to enter the Sabarimala shrine was different from that of his party's Kerala unit.

"We are not confused on the issue of Sabrimala though there are different opinions (between the Kerala and Central units). For us, the historic decision of the supreme court to grant the entry to women of menstrual age to the Sabarimala temple is supreme.

"At the same time (we are aware) that the thinking of people of Kerala is different on the issue because of the centuries-old tradition (wherein the entry of women of menstrual age is banned)," Khushoo told reporters.

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its agitation over the Sabarimala issue in Kerala by observing a one-day fast in Thiruvananthapuram on October 30 even as the remarks of Gandhi created ripples in the southern state.

Khushboo said the Congress believes in gender parity.

"We are against differentiating between men and women on the basis of gender, however, we have to understand that traditions and religious beliefs of every region are different," said the national spokesperson.

She said, "Even many women in Kerala are supporting the ancient tradition observed at the Sabrimala temple. It will take us time to understand each other's view points on this issue".

Khushboo accused the BJP of "polarising" voters on the issue, with the motive to carve out a political space for itself in the southern state.

"However, doors of the people of that region are closed for the party (BJP)," she said.

When asked about the growing chorus for construction of a Ram temple on the dispute site in Ayodhya, Khushboo said, "there are more important issues in the country than focusing on constructing a temple or a mosque or renaming Allahabad".

The BJP government Uttar Pradesh last month cleared a proposal to rename Allahabad as Prayagraj.

The Congress spokesperson also targetted the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in Madhya Pradesh for the "spurt in crime against women".

"Though chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan calls himself 'mama' (maternal uncle), he has failed to protect the half of the state's population. During last 15 years under the BJP, crime against women including rapes have gone up," she said, adding that the rate of conviction in rape cases stood at mere 27 per cent in the state.

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NCP supremo on Thursday said non-BJP parties will come out with a common minimum programme to take on the government, while expressing concern over "assault" on institutions like the and the RBI.

He said Chief Minister and TDP president N will take the initiative and talk to other non-BJP parties, including the Congress, on the matter.

Thereafter, a meeting will be convened in the national capital to chalk out a plan, Pawar said after meeting Naidu and National Conference (NC) president

"If we collectively work to save democracy, we can definitely save the institutions. Chandrababu (Naidu) will talk to other state political leaders in this regard," the NCP chief told reporters.

Alleging that the situation in the country seems to be "deteriorating" day by day as there is "assault" on institutions like the and the RBI, he said there is a need to work for the common cause of "saving the country and democracy".

A common minimum programme will be drafted once the non-BJP parties come on board to discuss the matter, Pawar said.

It was Naidu's suggestion that all non-BJP parties should meet, discuss the current situation in the country and take some steps, he added.

Voicing concern over the "difficult" times the country is going through, Abdullah said, "Today, democracy is in danger and people are in danger. That is why we all met and decided to work out a common minimum programme to save democracy, institutions and the nation."



Naidu, a former BJP ally who quit the NDA early this year over the Centre's refusal to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh, said he will meet non-BJP political leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, and convince them about the need to fight collectively against the BJP.

Earlier, Naidu "coincidentally" also met senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here and briefly discussed about the need to bring all non-BJP parties together, TDP sources said.

This is the chief minister's second visit to New Delhi in less than a week.

Last week, Naidu had met BSP chief Mayawati, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president and former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha here in the national capital.
The Odisha Havildar, Constable and Sepoy Confederation on Thursday threatened of launching an agitation, if the state government failed to take action in an incident relating to alleged assault of two police personnel by some advocates.

Confederation President Santosh Satpathy told reporters that two of their colleagues, who were escorting the state's Advocate General inside the high court on Monday, were assaulted by a few advocates.

"Although, written complaints were made at the local police station, no action has been taken. We are giving 48 hours to the state government and if nothing happens, we will be forced to resort to the agitation path," he said.

"We may resort to cease-work agitation and stage silent protests throughout the state and if required, we shall withdraw from security services as well," Satpathy said.

Lawyers in Odisha have been agitating since August 29, demanding the arrest of two policemen, who had allegedly assaulted a Cuttack-based lawyer on August 28.

In a joint meeting held here on Thursday, executive members of over 100 bar associations of the state expressed unanimous support to the High Court Bar Association, and announced that they will abide by whatever decision it will take with regard to the ongoing strike.

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More than 3,000 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu were chased away by the Sri Lankan Navy, who also hurled stones at them and snapped fishing nets of 50 vessels for fishing in their territorial waters, a fishermen association leader claimed on Thursday.

Rameswaram Fishermen Association President, P Sesuraja said fishermen from this town and Mandapam region had ventured into the sea Wednesday morning in over 700 mechanised boats and were fishing near Katchatheevu when Sri Lankan naval personnel arrived there and threatened them.

They also snapped the fishing nets of 50 boats and pelted stones at the fishermen before driving them away, he alleged, adding all the fishermen returned early Thursday morning without a catch.

Sesuraja urged the Centre to take up the issue with the island nation's government to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Referring to the 1974 India-Sri Lanka agreement on fishing, he claimed that they had rights to fish in Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to the neighbouring country under the agreement.

Seventeen fishermen from Ramanathapruam and Pudukottai districts were arrested on Tuesday by the Sri Lankan Navy for fishing off Neduntheevu.

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Over seven million children face a serious threat of famine in Yemen and ending the country's war will not save all of them, the UN children's agency said.

"Today, 1.8 million children under the age of five are facing acute malnutrition, and 400,000 are affected by severe acute malnutrition," said Geert Cappelaere, regional director of UNICEF.

"More than half" of the 14 million people at serious risk of famine in the impoverished country are children, Cappelaere told AFP late on Wednesday.

"Ending the war is not enough," he said, referring to a more than three year conflict that pits the government supported by a Saudi-led military coalition against Huthi rebels.

"What we need is to stop the war and (to create) a government mechanism that puts at the centre the people and children.

"The war is exacerbating the situation that was already bad before because of years of underdevelopment" in the Arab world's poorest nation, Cappelaere said.

He welcomed a call by the UN on Wednesday to relaunch peace talks within a month.

He said efforts to come up with a solution in the next 30 days were "critical" to improving aid distribution and saving lives.

Cappelaere said that over 6,000 children have either been killed or sustained serious injuries since 2015.

"These are the numbers we have been able to verify, but we can safely assume that the number is higher, much higher," he said.

Saudi Arabia and its allies entered the war to bolster Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Iran-backed rebels took over the capital Sanaa.

Since 2015, more than 10,000 people have been killed and some 22 million -- three quarters of the population -- are in need of food aid, according to the UN.

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MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Thursday questioned the credentials of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in taking the initiative for an opposition alliance to take on the NDA, saying he was a supporter of BJP till recently and during the 2002 "Gujarat pogrom".

Naidu's TDP was part of the Narendra Modi government when the deaths of research scholar Rohith Vemula, Mohammed Akhlaq (lynching victim) and others happened, he said.

"@ncbn supported BJP when Gujrat Pogrom happened in 2002, was part of @PMOIndia cabinet while Akhlaq, pahlu khan, Rohit,JUNAID, Aleemuddin where murdered,during his tenure as CM erstwhile AP many communal riots happened, AZIZ & AZAM killed in encounter NOW Saviour of Secularism WAH," Owaisi tweeted.

Naidu, who quit the NDA in March this year over the Centre's refusal to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh, has been in talks with leaders of non-BJP parties to put up a united fight against the saffron party.

On Thursday, he met Congress President Rahul Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Delhi.

Pawar said Naidu would take the initiative and talk to other non-BJP parties, including the Congress, on formulating a common minimum programme to take on the Modi government.

Gandhi said opposition parties will work together to defeat the BJP to defend India, its institutions and the democracy.

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Pakistan on Thursday rejected protests by India against a bus service between Pakistan and China passing though PoK under the ambitious CPEC project.

According to reports, the new bus service will be launched between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on November 3.

"We reject the Indian Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) purported protest and statement regarding bus service through China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)," Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) said.

India on Wednesday said it had lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan over a proposed bus service between the two countries through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said the bus service will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Kumar said it has been India's consistent and well-known position that the "so-called China-Pakistan 'Boundary Agreement' of 1963 is illegal and invalid, and has never been recognised by the Government of India."



"Therefore, any such bus service through Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added.

The USD 50-billion CPEC, launched in 2015, is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking China's resource-rich Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with Pakistan's strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea.

The FO said India's repeated regurgitation of claims over Jammu and Kashmir can neither change the facts of history nor the legality of the Kashmir dispute.

It said as per the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution, the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is disputed, the final status of which is to be determined through a democratic and impartial plebiscite to be held under the auspices of the UN.

The FO said Indian Kashmir was the most militarised zone in the world.

Pakistan also asked India to allow the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommended by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to investigate human rights violations.

It also called on India to resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

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Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Thursday explored the possibility of a rail-road corridor to enhance connectivity and trade between the two nations.

Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, who was leading a high-level delegation to Islamabad, and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi also discussed possibility of collaborations in several areas of mutual interest like agriculture, tourism and culture, Pakistan's Foreign Office said.

"Uzbek Foreign Minister proposed ground-breaking initiatives like rail-road between Uzbekistan and Pakistan passing through Afghanistan. The project will add to Pakistan's potential as the regional transit hub, enhance connectivity with Central Asia and beyond and aid in regional development and prosperity," the FO said.

The two sides also expressed readiness to facilitate and support peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

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Hundreds of radical Islamists poured onto the streets and blocked major roads across Pakistan as they held protests for the second day on Thursday against the acquittal of a Christian woman sentenced to death for committing blasphemy, defying Prime Minister Imran Khan's stern warning.

The government said that negotiations were being held with the protestors to convince them to disperse peacefully.

Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi told the National Assembly that negotiations were underway with the agitators to resolve the matter amicably.

"The nation will soon hear good in this regard.We do not want use of force against the protestors, he said.

Asia Bibi, 47, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The apex court's judgement, which was pronounced Wednesday, triggered protests across Pakistan with protestors led by Islamic political party Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan and other groups blocking major highways and roads in different parts of the country.

Afridi assured that full protection would be provided to Asia and the judges who acquitted her.

According to media some reports, the Christian woman is likely to be flown out of the country due to threat to her life. Her husband has reportedly reached Pakistan along with his family from the UK to shift her abroad.

It is not clear where she will go as several countries, including Canada, have offered asylum to her.

The timing of her release has not been shared due to security reasons. She was kept in Sheikhupura jail near Lahore.

On Wednesday, following the protests, Section 144 was imposed till November 10 across Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan barring the gathering of more than four persons in public places as well as pillion riding.

Prime Minister Khan and Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa held a meeting Wednesday night to discuss "the overall situation in the country and other important issues".

The decision to make efforts to resolve the issue peacefully was taken in the Cabinet meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Khan, according to information minister Fawad Chaudhry.

We want that the matter is resolved peacefully, so we are showing tolerance towards protestors, he said.

The information minister however said the state's intent to avoid use of force to remove protesters must not be construed as a sign of weakness and none would be allowed to make a war on the state of Pakistan.

To a question about possibility of use of force against protestors, Chaudhry said consultation were being held at various levels but government's preference was to end protests peacefully.

He also said that a delegation of government held talks with Pakistan Muslims League-Nawaz president Shehbaz Sharif and chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari the leaders of two main opposition parties to discuss the latest protests.

"The opposition leaders assured the government of support in the efforts to resolve the issue of protests, he said.

Traffic officials said major disturbance was witnessed on Thursday in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad where dozens of protestors were enforcing the blockade of major roads and burning tyres. Traffic was also suspended on major motorways due to the presence of demonstrators.

The largest province of Punjab, which was facing major protests, decided to close down schools for a day and also cancelled supplementary Secondary School Certificate examination.

Private schools in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces also remained shut. However, educational institutions were open in Islamabad.

Hospitals were on high alert due to fear of clashes as police and paramilitary forces tried to contain the disturbance. Long queues of traffic were witnessed in Lahore, Islamabad and other cities due to blockade of several major roads. Mobile phone and internet services were also suspended in different parts of the country.

Protests were also being staged in Gujranwala, Mansehra, Faisalabad and other cities across the country.

Bibi's case has been deeply divisive in Pakistan where there is strong support for the controversial blasphemy laws.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar said blasphemy is not acceptable to anyone, but the judiciary cannot punish someone if there is no proof against that person.

Talking tough, Prime Minister Khan Wednesday told hardliners not to "confront the State" and refrain from vandalism.

The opposition on Thursday criticised Khan's address to the nation.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah accused Khan of "running away" from the parliament at a time when the country is threatened by unrest, and said his body language was "aggressive" when he addressed the nation.

"Prime Minister Imran Khan should have been [here in the Parliament] today. The roads are blocked, people have been restricted to their homes, there is [violence]. He should not be running away. The prime minister and the interior minister should have been present here today, Shah said.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Saad Rafique, voicing similar views, said a ruler's attitude should not be so aggressive and the prime minister should have taken the House into confidence over the matter.

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Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Thursday said here the statue of unity showed the strength of the people of India which was well demonstrated under the 'dynamic' leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The unveiling of the statue by Modi was a glorious and historic event, he said.

"This is the strength of Indians. This is strength of our people and this is a strength well demonstrated under the dynamic leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said, referring to the unique features of the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat.

The prime minister Wednesday unveiled the 182-metre statue, the world's tallest, at Kevadiya.

Sonowal said he was proud to be working under Modi's leadership, adding in the march towards development there was a need to work together "hand in hand like a family...with a national spirit," for development.

After inaugurating the 'Assam Bhawan,' here, Sonowal said such initiatives would also aid national integration in sync with the goals of the Centre's "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat," programme which was for integration in the spirit of Sardar Patel's vision.

Also, the prime minister's "noble objective" was national integration from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Sonowal said.

Calling it a memorable day for the people of Assam, he said Assam Bhawan here would serve the cause of the people of his state for years to come.

The new facility would not only provide lodging facilities but also further foster friendship between Assam and Tamil Nadu.

"Now this (Bhawan) will develop a bridge between Assam and Tamil Nadu to promote our friendship," he said, adding it would also aid working together of both the States for mutual benefit in sectors including tourism and industry.

He thanked the Tamil Nadu government for its support and for providing the land.

"We are ready to offer suitable plot of land (for Tamil Nadu) in Guwahati as you have offered here...this is the way we have to integrate our beautiful nation," he said.

Referring to Assam's development work, he said his government was working to make Guwahati not only the gateway of northeast India but the gateway of south east Asia.

"So this is the bigger vision we are working," he said and expressed confidence that with the support of the people and the Centre the dream would fructify.

Assam has become a "suitable destination" for both the global and national investors, for its "potentiality, possibilites and prosperity."



Sonowal said between February and October about Rs 8,000 crore worth of investments have landed in Assam, following the investors summit (February 2018) which saw a commitment of Rs 79,000 crore through 240 MoUs.

He assured his government's whole-hearted support for investors from Tamil Nadu.

Assam Bhawan is a five-storied building with a built up area of 1474.69 sq m at Pallikaranai here with facilities including a conference hall, guest rooms and dormitories.

The Tamil Nadu government had allotted 1,100 square metres in 2010 but work could not be taken up immediately due to some litigations over the land.

Sonowal said he has urged Tamil Nadu minister D Jayakumar to take care of Assam Bhawan. He was confident that the minister will be "happy to shoulder the responsibility," for the people of Assam, Sonowal said.

Jayakumar assured the full cooperation of his government to the people and government of Assam.

The Assam chief minister wanted 'quality maintenance,' of the new building, and he hoped that the Assam Association in Tamil Nadu would pitch in to ensure it.

Members of the Tamil Sangam of Guwahati and natives of Assam living here participated.

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Punjab police Thursday claimed to have busted a Pakistan-backed terrorist module operating in the state with the arrest of a person from Patiala.

Shabnamdeep Singh alias Maninder Lahoria was asked by his Pakistan-based handlers to target police posts and crowded places during the upcoming festival season, they said adding a pistol, a hand grenade, a motorcycle and letter pads in the name of "Khalistan Gadar Force" and other terrorist outfits were seized from his possession.

DGP Suresh Arora said Singh's arrest has exposed the nexus between Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency and Gurpatwant Singh Pannu's fringe outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as one of his handlers had identified himself as an SFJ operative.

Arora said Singh hails from Daftari Wala Burar village in Patiala district and was out on bail in a case registered in Rajasthan.

Singh was operating a Facebook account under a pseudonym "Lahoria Jatt Gill". The account had a profile picture of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the DGP said.

A preliminary investigation has revealed that Singh was contacted by Javed Khan Wazir, a suspected Pakistani intelligence officer, in July 2018 and was introduced to a Pakistani Sikh, the DGP said.

Singh was then introduced to Nihal Singh, who identified himself to him as an SFJ operative, Arora said.

Nihal and Wazir communicated regularly with Singh and used to incite him to indulge in arson, he said adding they asked him to record his acts of arson and share with them the videos with details of reports about the incidents.

Wazir shared the logo and name of "Khalistan Gadar Force" with Singh and asked him to get letter pads printed to use them for issuing statements claiming acts of arson, the DGP said.

Singh and his handlers created a Facebook page in the name of "Khalistan Gadar Force", he said.

Wazir asked Singh to carry out targeted killings and also promised him Rs 10 lakh for each act of violence, he said.

In the second week of October 2018, Singh was asked by his handlers to procure a new phone and install a new messaging application for further communication, the DGP said.

Around October 24, a pistol and grenade were delivered to Singh, the DGP said.

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The Delhi Police Thursday filed a charge sheet against former BSP MP's son Ashish Pandey, who was arrested for brandishing gun in a hotel here.

Court sources said that in the charge sheet, Pandey has been accused of intimidating a man and his woman friend with a pistol in his hand.

Police have said that a case under the Arms Act is made out against the accused, who brandished pistol at a hotel.

The court has put up the final report for consideration for tomorrow.

Pandey had allegedly brandished a pistol at guests of a five-star hotel threatening them in the foyer, a video of which went viral on the social media.

The charge sheet was filed under sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act and sections 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

If convicted, Pandey may be awarded maximum seven years jail term.

Ashish is currently in judicial custody.

A plea was filed by Delhi Police which had registered an FIR on the complaint of the assistant security manager of The Hyatt Regency alleging that one person took put a pistol in the porch of the hotel after a tiff with a guest.

A video of the incident, which occurred early on October 14, went viral on social media resulting in public outrage. It prompted the police to step in and launch a hunt for the accused who had gone missing after the incident.

An FIR was filed on October 16 at R K Puram police station under various provisions of the IPC and the Arms Act relating to criminal intimidation and misuse of fire arms.

He hails from Lucknow and is the son of former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Rakesh Pandey. His brother, Ritesh Pandey, is an MLA in Uttar Pradesh.

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Political incitement to violence against journalists is 'toxic', a group of independent, UN-appointed human rights experts have said as they called on nations to take firm steps to ensure accountability for attacks against scribes.

They particularly highlighted the killing earlier this month of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and condemned the response of UN member states, the international community and the United Nations itself, for the failure to address his enforced disappearance and apparent murder.

Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Saudis, under intense pressure to explain Khashoggi's whereabouts, have offered conflicting accounts.

They initially said he had left the consulate on October 2, but later admitted that he had been killed in a fight.

"The only way forward is to establish an independent, transparent and credible investigation into his murder, one authorised by and reporting to the United Nations. Anything short of a complete investigation, recognised as such by the international community, will make a mockery of government claims of commitment to the safety of journalists," they said.

Ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, marked on November 2, the experts said in a statement that "these last weeks have demonstrated once again the toxic nature and outsized reach of political incitement against journalists, and we demand that it stop."



The experts include David Kaye, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; and Bernard Duhaime, Chair of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances,



They strongly urged nations to take firm steps to ensure accountability for violence and attacks against journalists, reversing and resisting the appalling trend of impunity.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) says that, between 2006 and 2017, over 1,000 journalists were killed for reporting the and bringing information to the public; an average of one death every four days.

In nine out of ten cases the killers go unpunished, and this impunity, say the UN experts, triggers further violence and attacks: perpetrators must be brought to justice, and victims and families should have access to remedies.

High-level international commitments already exist, such as a resolution on the safety of journalists, adopted by the Human Rights Council in September. The UN experts called on world leaders to implement such resolutions and end their role in inciting hatred and violence against the media.

On this year's International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the UNESCO is launching a new campaign, Truth Never Dies', to raise awareness of this situation, and is calling for media partners to support the initiative by publishing stories by, and about, journalists killed as a result of their work.

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Pakistan was tense on Thursday as countrywide protests against the acquittal of a Christian woman sentenced to death for committing blasphemy entered the second day despite Prime Minister Imran Khan's warning to defiant hardliners.

Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The Supreme Court overturned the conviction, a landmark verdict on Wednesday that sparked nationwide protests, death threats from hardline groups. She was set free after the apex court found that the evidence against her was insufficient.

Protestors led by Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan and other groups responded with anger and blocked major highways and roads in different parts of the country.

Traffic officials said major disturbance was witnessed in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad where dozens of protestors were enforcing the blockade of major roads. Traffic was also suspended on major motorways due to the presence of mobs.

The largest province of Punjab, which was suffering major protests, announced to close down schools for a day and also cancelled supplementary examinations of Secondary School Certificate.

Private schools in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces also announced to remain shut. However, educational institutions were open in Islamabad.

Hospitals were on high alert due to fear of clashes as police and paramilitary forces tried to contain the disturbance.

Long queues of traffic were witnessed in Lahore, Islamabad and other cities due to blockade of several major roads.

Mobile phone and internet services were also suspended in different parts of the country.

There was no official word on the plan to clear the mobs but security sources said all options were being considered.

"We are ready to take action and restore the writ of the state," a senior police official told PTI.

Talking tough, Prime Minister Khan Wednesday told hardliners not to "confront the State" and refrain from vandalism after the Supreme Court acquittal of Bibi.

He addressed the nation through a video message and his address was solely focused on the Asia Bibi verdict.

Bibi was accused of committing blasphemy in 2009. She was convicted in 2010 by a trial court and her death sentence was maintained by the Lahore High Court in 2014.

She appealed against the conviction in the Supreme Court, which for the first time heard the case in July 2015.

Bibi's case gained prominence when former governor of Pakistan's Punjab province Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 for supporting her and criticising the blasphemy laws.

A month after Taseer was killed, Pakistan's religious minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian who spoke out against the blasphemy law, was shot dead in Islamabad.

Critics say strict blasphemy laws have often been used to get revenge after personal disputes, and that convictions are based on thin evidence.

Dozens of people have been charged under the laws.

Though Bibi is being released, there is fear that she might be at risk of being attacked by militants.

In 2012, around 14 people were killed and scores injured when violent protests broke out over an anti-Islam and blasphemous videos circulated on YouTube.

There are fewer than four million Christians in Pakistan out of a total population of 197 million.

The vast majority of the population is Muslim, with Hindus being the biggest religious minority.

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Home Minister Rajnath Singh Thursday expressed shock and pain over the killings of a BJP leader and his brother in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the police will leave no stone unturned to bring perpetrators of the crime to justice.

"Shocked & pained by the killing of J&K State BJP leader Sh. Anil Parihar & his brother. My heart goes out to the bereaved family," he said in a tweet.

The home minister also spoke to K Vijay Kumar, the advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor, and took stock of the incident.

"Spoke to Advisor to J&K Governor, Sh Vijay Kumar regarding the incident. The police will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice," he said.

State secretary of BJP Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet were returning from their shop in Kishtwar when they were fired upon from close range at a dark, narrow lane leading to their house, the officials said.

They were rushed to a hospital where doctors declared them brought dead, they said.

The Army was called out for maintenance of law and order in Kishtwar town following the killings.

Earlier, the district authorities imposed curfew as the killings triggered protests by residents.

Tension mounted in the town as residents staged protests and manhandled policemen, including senior officials, prompting the authorities to clamp prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144.

As the situation deteriorated, the Army was called out to maintain law and order, they said.

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In a major embarrassment for the BJP, two days before the Ramanagara assembly by-poll, its candidate against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's wife quit the contest on Thursday and return to the Congress.

With BJP's L Chandrashekhar withdrawing his candidature for the November 3 polls, Kumaraswamy's wife Anita Kumaraswamy, is expected to have a smooth sail facing a virtual no-contest.

Announcing his decision to return to his "mother party," the Congress, Chandrashekhar accused BJP and its leaders of "abandoning" him after giving him the ticket.

"After welcoming me to the BJP by giving party flag, Yeddyurappa (state BJP chief) or any other leaders did not join me for campaigning. They neglected Ramanagara due to internal squabble between the leaders within the party," he told reporters.

Alleging Yeddyurappa did not even answer his phone calls, Chandrashekhar said, he was worried about his political future in the BJP and hence decided to withdraw from the poll fray.

"Saddened about the attitude of leaders and system that exists within the BJP, I have decided not to have any association with the party, I'm returning to my mother party Congress," he said, with Bengaluru rural Congress MP D K Suresh seated next to him.

Chandrashekhar, son of a senior Congress leader C M Lingappa, had joined BJP as the Congress decided to support the candidate of its ruling coalition partner, JD(S).

Within days after joining the BJP, he was announced as the party's candidate.

"By remaining in the Congress party, I will extend my support to the coalition candidate..." Chandrashekar said.

This development just ahead of polls is being seen as senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh's response to the BJP's alleged attempts to weaken the coalition government by trying to "poach" Congress MLAs.

Reacting to the development, Yeddyurappa alleged that Chandrashekhar has been brought for money by Shivakumar.

"Shivakumar and brother (D K Suresh) have brought (him) back, by giving money. I got the information just now. God bless them," he told reporters in Shivamogga.

By-election to Ramanagara was necessitated as it fell vacant after Kumaraswamy gave up the seat preferring Chennapatna, the other seat he had won in the May assembly polls.

By-polls for three Lok Sabha constituencies- Shivamogga, Ballari and Mandya and two assembly constituencies, Ramanagara and Jamkhandi, will take place on November 3.

The counting of votes would be on November 6.
Private sector lender RBL Bank Thursday announced the appointment of Vikas Muttoo as the chief executive of its subsidiary Swadhaar Finserve.

Muttoo joins from microlender Bharat Financial where he was the chief business officer, it said in a statement.

******************** Tech Mahindra, Bionest tie up for pharma, biotech research *



Fifth largest software services exporter Tech Mahindra Thursday tied up with state-run Bionest to drive research and co-innovation in pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.

Tech Mahindra will help with digital technologies to develop new platforms and solutions in the space, an official statement said.

Bionest is a bio-incubator formed with the support of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Government of India enterprise under the Department of Biotechnology.

******************** Greaves Cotton Q2 net flat at Rs 49 cr *



Engineering solutions major Greaves Cotton Thursday reported a flat net profit at Rs 49 crore in the quarter ended September.

The company's revenue grew at 9 per cent to Rs 495 crore, compared with Rs 452 crore in the corresponding quarter last year, a company statement said.

The EBITDA for the quarter grew by 8 per cent to Rs 73 crore, against Rs 68 crore last year.

******************** ICICI Bank launches instant credit facility *



Amid the festive season, private sector ICICI Bank Thursday announced the launch of a facility through which customers can get instant credit for their shopping.

In a statement, the bank said the product christened 'Paylater' is targeted at young customers who can be new to credit.

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Anil Ambani-led has raised long-term financing of Rs 40 billion, investment banking sources said.

The funds have been raised through securitisation of asset pool of the group's two firms -- Reliance Home Finance and Reliance Commercial Finance, they added.

When contacted, a spokesperson declined to comment on the development.

The assets have been purchased by several public as well as private sector banks.

State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank, Central Bank, and Bank of India were among the participating banks, sources said.

last month said it was aiming to reduce its debt by exiting all non-financial businesses in its portfolio in the next 12-18 months.

"We want to dramatically reduce debt at the Reliance Capital, the parent company, level, considering it is a core investment company," the company's chairman Ambani told shareholders at the company's 32nd annual general meeting.

"It will be driven by value creative divestments of all our non-core businesses, best described as every business that is not related to the financial services business will not be in our portfolio in the next 12-18 months," he had added.

Reliance Capital is engaged in businesses of asset management, insurance, commercial and home finance, and equities and commodities broking.

During April-June quarter of the current fiscal, the firm reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 2.72 billion for the compared with a net loss in the same quarter last year.
Filmmaker Rima Das' Assamese feature "Bulbul Can Sing" bagged the prestigious Golden Gateway Award at the 20th edition of Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star on Thursday.

The film marks her second consecutive win at MAMI, after her last year's victory run with "Village Rockstars", which is India's entry to Oscars.

"Bulbul Can Sing" is a coming-of-age drama about a teenage girl, Bulbul, living in a village in Assam, fighting her way through love and loss as she figures out who she really is.

Dedicating the award to her mother, Das sought "blessings and love" for the Oscar journey of "Village Rockstars".

American filmmaker Darren Aronofsky was presented the prestigious Excellence in Cinema award by filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj.

"I have been to Mumbai a few times and I love the city because it is insane. It's more insane than New York. (It has) incredible people and food. More important, it is a great fountain of movies. I am thankful for this honour. I am very happy that my films are watched here," Aronofsky said.

The Silver Gateway, India Gold award was shared by "The Gold Laden Sheep and The Sacred Mountain by Ridham Janve and "Jonaki" by Aditya Vikram Sengupta. "Jonaki" also got a special mention for the Oxfam award.

Kabir Chowdhry's "Mehsampur" bagged the grand jury prize for India Gold.

The awards were presented by filmmakers Lucrecia Martel, Martin Sulik and Soudade Kaadan.

In the International Competition category, the Golden Gateway Award went to "Manta Ray", directed by Phuttiphong Aroonpheng.

Paraguayan drama "The Heiresses" directed by Marcelo Martinessi bagged the Silver Gateway award.

The International Competition grand jury prize went to "The Island of Hungry Ghosts" by Gabrielle Brady. The special jury mention went to "Reza" by Alireza Motamedi.

In the Dimensions Mumbai category, the Golden Gateway award went to Karan Asnani's "Sheher Ya Tum".

"Yadav Ji" directed by Nishtha Sadwelkar bagged the Silvery Gateway Award while Gilroy Rodrigues' "Metaphor" got a special mention in the Dimensions Mumbai.

The jury for the category included Bejoy Nambiar, actors Parvathy and Renuka Shahane, among others.

The special award for Discovering India went to "Lovesick" directed by Ann S Kim and Priya Giri Desai. The 70-minute documentary follows Padma Shri recipient Dr Suniti Solomon, who discovered India's first case of HIV in 1986.

"Lovesick" chronicles her way to help fight the epidemic by becoming a matchmaker to the spouses for her HIV+ patients.

The Oxfam Award for best film on gender equality was bagged by Ivan Ayar's "Soni".

The film, starring Geetika Vidya Ohlyan and Saloni Batra, explores the lives of two Delhi policewomen and how the two female officers react to the rise of sexual violence in the capital of the country.

"Winning the award is a big honour and it brings a great amount of credibility to the film's intentions and its achievement. As a filmmaker it encourages me to continue to tell stories that are about the human condition and human experiences, oblivious to the gender of the character," Ivan said.

"Sivaranjani and Two Other Men" by Vasanth S Sai and "Jonaki" directed by Aditya Vikram Sengupta got Oxfam special jury mention for gender equality.

The award for the Best Large Short Film went to "New Year's Eve" by Pranav Bhasin. The Young Critics choice award went to "Jaaon Kahan Bata Ae Dil" directed by Aadish Keluskar.

The Golden Gateway for the Best Short Film, 5-9 years, in the Half Ticket category went to "Listen" by Astrid Bussink while "Amelia" by directors Maribeth Romslo and Cristina Pippa was adjudged the winner of Golden Gateway, 9+ years category.

Priya Ramasubban's "Chuskit" received the Golden Gateway for the Best Feature (5-9 years) in the Half Ticket section whereas the best feature, 9+ years, in the Half Ticket category went to Denis Do's "Funan".

Actor Soha Ali Khan's debut novel "Perils of Being Moderately Famous" bagged the Book Award for Excellence in writing on Cinema (English).

Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and Nirupama Kotru, Director Films, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting presented the award to the actor.

The Book Award for Excellence in Writing on Cinema, Language in Focus Malayalam went to Madhu Eravankara for his "100 Varsham, 100 Cinemakal." The Special Jury Mention went to "Start Action: Musings of a Moviemaker" by Balachandra Menon.

This year the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star commemorated the life and incredible career of Sridevi and honoured her with the MAMI Tribute for her exceptional contribution to Indian cinema.

At the closing ceremony, filmmaker Gauri Shinde gave the "English Vinglish" star an emotional tribute.

MAMI Chairperson Kiran Rao announced that the 21st edition of the festival will be held from October 17 to 24.

The opening film of this year's edition was Vasan Bala's "Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota" while "Widows", directed by Steve McQueen, closed the festival.

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Russia on Thursday imposed financial sanctions on hundreds of Ukrainian individuals and dozens of companies, in what it described as countermeasures for Kiev's actions against Moscow.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed the document published on the government's press service that called for Russian assets of 322 Ukrainian citizens and 68 businesses to be frozen.

On the list are Yulia Tymoshenko, a former prime minister who is among the favourites for president in polls next year, and Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

The defence minister and the parliament speaker also feature, along with several chemical and mining companies.

Moscow said the sanctions were linked to "unfriendly actions by Ukraine in relation to Russian citizens and legal entities".

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter feud since the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Moscow has been accused of fuelling a rebel conflict in eastern Ukraine that has cost the lives of some 10,000 people.

Last month a region in western Ukraine voted to ban the public use of any Russian-language "cultural products", provoking outrage in the Russian media.

The US and Europe have already brought in several rounds of sanctions against Moscow for its actions in Ukraine.

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A 48-year-old Russian national was detained here while trying to cross over to India without a valid visa and passport papers, officials said Thursday.

He was subsequently sent back to Nepal, they added.

Gordeev Raudhah from Russia was detained during routine checking while he was roaming in the Sonauli area near the Indo-Nepal border Wednesday, K N Prasad, Checkpost Officer, Sonauli said.

As Raudhah was carrying only a Nepali identity card and no valid visa or passport papers, he was detained, Prasad said, adding that subsequently, the Russian national was sent back to Nepal.

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Santa Claus has already begun his preparations in Lapland -- by protecting himself from winter viruses and making sure he hires enough elves.

On Thursday nurse Tiia Kahkonen administered an anti-influenza vaccine to Santa, at his village in the Arctic Circle town of Rovaniemi, northern Finland.

The jab is likely to be a sensible precaution, as the flu season coincides with the busiest time of the year by far in Lapland.

In December last year 390,000 foreign visitors spent a night in Finnish Lapland, an increase of almost ten percent on the previous Christmas.

By far the largest group of Christmas holidaymakers were Brits, followed by Russian, French and German tourists, according to official statistics.

Meanwhile a recruitment agency in Finnish Lapland, inside the Arctic circle, has put out a call for Christmas elves to look after the hordes of tourists who come to visit Santa in his natural habitat during the winter months.

Prior experience is not essential as the advert, posted by the firm Lapland Staff, promises that training will be provided in "the required elfing and communication skills." Successful applicants will also be given tips on how to deal with the cold in northern Finland where temeratures rarely rise above zero degrees Celsius, and can drop as low as minus 40.

Although handling Santa's reindeer is not listed among the job's duties, elves will need to herd groups of visitors on and off buses, as well as keep tourists entertained. "Looking after the fireplace and pouring hot juice" are also required, as is supervising the toboggan hill.

Tourism to Lapland has reached an all-time high in recent years, with visitors spending 3.5 million nights in Lapland across the whole year, up from 2.6 million a decade earlier, according to Statistics Finland. Much of the recent growth has been driven by tourism from Asia.

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The on Thursday declined urgent hearing on a plea by senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram, who is facing several criminal cases, seeking its permission to go abroad.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India said the issue of visiting abroad is not an "important matter" requiring an urgent hearing.

The top court also observed that judges have more cases "than they can handle".

" going abroad is not so important that it will get precedence over other (cases)," the bench, also comprising Justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph said.

The apex court had allowed to travel to the UK between September 20 and September 30, despite the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) objection that he has been "blatantly misusing" the liberty granted to him by the court.

The had alleged that he has been "blatantly misusing" the liberty granted by the court in allowing him to travel abroad and has been using the same to protract the investigation in the case.

It had said the liberty granted to Karti Chidambaram by the apex court is "blatantly and brazenly hampering, subverting, jeopardising and protracting" the probe pending against him in the case, which the agency has to complete in six months.

The apex court had earlier allowed him to visit the UK, France and the US from July 23 to 31, while making it clear that he has to abide by the conditions imposed by it in an earlier similar order.

Karti Chidambaram has been facing several criminal cases including the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance in the INX-Media case.

In the INX Media case, the CBI had registered an FIR on May 15 last year against alleged irregularities in the clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when P Chidambaram was the Union finance minister.
The Supreme Court on Thursday declined urgent hearing on a plea by senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram, who is facing several criminal cases, seeking its permission to go abroad.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said the issue of Karti Chidambaram visiting abroad is not an "important matter" requiring urgent hearing.

"Karti Chidambaram going abroad is not so important that it will get precedent over other (cases)," the bench, also comprising Justices U U Lalit and K M Jospeh said.

Declining urgent hearing, the top court observed that judges have more cases "than they can handle".

Karti Chidambaram has been facing several criminal cases including the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance in the INX-Media case.

In the INX Media case, the CBI had registered an FIR on May 15 last year against alleged irregularities in the FIPB clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when Chidambaram was finance minister.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Thursday took strong note of tardy recruitment process by high courts and state governments in filling up vacant posts of over 5,000 judicial officers and said instead of leaving the issue to them, it may undertake this exercise.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had on its own had taken note of the problem and directed all 24 high courts and 36 states and UTs to apprise it of vacancies and the time frame for filling them up.

The bench on Thursday summoned the registrar generals of 10 high courts including Delhi and Allahabad along with others to apprise it of ongoing recruitment process and issues of infrastructure.

"If any cannot do it, we will do it. We will have a centralised system. If you do not want us to do it, then you do it. You will be in our constant gaze. We want in place," said the bench, also comprising Justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph.

It perused the reports of registries of various high courts including that of Delhi, Allahabad and Punjab and Haryana.

The top court said it has divided all the 24 high courts and 36 states and Union Territories into four categories and would take up the issue of vacancies and infrastructure one by one.

The bench said it would monitor the on-going selection process so that the same is brought to its earliest conclusion.

The court said it would oversee the recruitment drive "to ensure initiation and timely completion of selection processes for vacancies which are yet to be subjected to any such process(es)."



The monitoring has been undertaken to "understand the extent of inadequacy of the infrastructure and supporting staff/manpower if all the vacancies are to be filled up and to take steps to ensure that such infrastructure is made available at the earliest by the concerned state governments", it said.

The bench said firstly, the issue of vacancies in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and the North-Eastern states would be taken up.

"The Registrars General of the High Courts i.e. High Courts of Allahabad, Bombay, Calcutta, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gauhati, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Tripura) will be present in court in person to assist this court. Needless to say the Registrars General are expected to be fully acquainted with all aspects of the ongoing selections, vacancies, etc. so as to be able to answer all such queries that may be put to them by the Court," it said.

It asked the Registrar Generals to appear in person along with a government officer, authorised by the chief secretary on November 15 to asssist it dealing with the aspect of vacancies and the steps needed to fill them up within a stipulated time period.

It said in states where recruitment is undertaken by the State Public Service Commissions, the Secretary of the commission shall also be associated in the process.

The Registrars General, the Secretaries of the state public service commissions and the government officer will interact the issue of timely appointments and to also draw up a plan to deal with lack of infrastructure and manpower, it said, adding that they will have to consult senior advocate Shyam Divan, who is assisting it as amicus curiae.

During the hearing, the apex court was critical of the Delhi in particular for not filling up the posts in higher judicial services.

"You have overshot your schedule (in filling up the vacancies). Now, you are saying that you will do it by December, 2018. But, you are not making any commitment on when the appointments will be made. You have just stated that the process is expected to be complete by December 2018," it told lawyer A D N Rao, representing the high court's registry.

It was also not impressed by the fact that only Additional Registrar of Delhi was present in the court and not the Registrar General.

"Why Additional Registrar? Where is the Registrar General? He should have been here. Is he too busy to assist this court?," the CJI asked.

The bench said the high courts are not taking the issue of filling up of vacancies in lower and higher judicial services with due "seriousness" and examination schedule and the time line fixed by the apex court were not being adhered to.

The bench, while referring to the recruitment drive of Punjab and Haryana High Court, said the process was started and then examination was cancelled.

It was again started and over 32,000 law graduates applied for around 100 odd vacancies and then the site "crashed and you people went home and did nothing thereafter".

"The level of indifference is astounding", the bench said.

It then referred to the lack of infrastructure including the courtrooms for the judicial officers in the country and said that a lot has to be done to deal with it.

"There are around 23,000 posts in lower judiciary. Infrastructure must be able to sustain the Why to appoint so many when you do not have the courtrooms to sit," the bench said.

Earlier, the apex court had on its own taken note of the over 5,000 vacant posts of judicial officers in lower courts and had sought responses from all the high courts and states on vacancies and the time frame within which they can be filled up.

It had said there were 22,036 posts of higher and lower judicial officers in lower courts in the country and, as on date, 5,133 posts are vacant.
The Supreme Court Thursday came down heavily on the Delhi Development Authority and other civic agencies for keeping "their eyes closed" on misuse of residential premises for commercial purpose since 2006 that has led to a "mess" in the national capital.

The apex court said authorities, including the court-mandated monitoring committee, should be allowed to seal a property being misused and if its owner does not furnish documents showing permission or licence to run the business.

A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur also slammed the Centre for not giving requisite information to the court about the survey conducted in south Delhi areas to ascertain misuse of residential properties.

"There cannot be a compelling reason for misuse. It is a mess. According to newspapers, around 56,000 properties are being misused. From 2006 onwards, the DDA and the municipal corporations of Delhi have not done anything and that is why we are facing these problems," the bench, comprising justices M M Shantanagoudar and S Abdul Nazeer, said.

"The Supreme Court had said way back in 2006 that there is connivance and corruption but DDA and MCDs have not learnt a lesson. They have kept their eyes closed," the bench said.

It said that if the owner of a property, which is being misused, is unable to produce relevant documents within 48 hours before authorities, the premises should be sealed.

The bench observed that subsequent to its orders, there does not seem to be any agreement between the Centre and the counsel assisting the court as amicus curiae on the sealing matter on the issue of giving advance notice to the owner of a property before sealing it.

Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, assisting the court as amicus curiae, gave suggestions for sealing of premises that were being misused.

"The concerned municipal authorities, accompanied, if necessary, by the representatives of the monitoring committee, will visit the premises which are allegedly being misused for unauthorised activity. The team will videograph the unauthorised activity in the presence of the persons who are misusing the premises for unauthorised activity," the proposal given by Kumar stated.

He said people misusing premises for unauthorised activity would be asked to produce permission or licence to carry out that activity and if such a document was produced, "the matter closes then and there".

The proposal also said that if a person was unable to produce any permission or licence, he or she would be given 48 hours to produce the same.

It said that after 48 hours, the team which had videographed the misuse would visit there again and if the owner produces the licence or permission, the matter would end there.

"However, in the event the persons are unable to produce any permission or licence, the premises will be sealed due to the unauthorised misuse," it said adding that if the owner would give an undertaking that he would stop the misuse, then another 48 hours would be given to him.

The bench noted in its order that the entire process of stoppage of unauthorised user would be completed within 48 hours in some circumstances and on the outside within 96 hours.

"Amicus curiae points out that laxity in sealing is giving an opportunity to misusers to clean up their act," the bench said.

Additional Solicitor Generals A N S Nadkarni and P S Narasimha, appearing for the Centre and DDA respectively, told the bench that they would take instructions with regard to the suggestions given by the amicus.

The bench has posted the matter for hearing on Friday.

The apex court had in July said that a show-cause notice should be issued to the owner of building where unauthorised construction or misuse was found and 48 hours time be given to him or her respond to it as to why action be not taken.

The monitoring committee Thursday told the court that issuing advance notice creates more problem as people "hoodwink" with agencies which perpetuates corruption.

ASG Nadkarni told the court that if misuse was found, the owner be given notice and if after that the misuse remains, "there is no need to serve second notice" to the defaulters.

ASG Narasimha told the court that if owner of a property being misused furnishes documents in this regard, the DDA needed some time to scrutinise them.

The top court is dealing with the issue of validity of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006 and subsequent legislations which protect unauthorised constructions from being sealed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Shiv Sena in Maharashtra Thursday sought intervention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) into the "attack" by Karnataka police personnel on the activists of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) in Belgavi over a border dispute between two states.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party is a constituent in the BJP-led governments in Centre and Maharashtra.

In a released issued here, Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe said she apprised Maharashtra Revenue minister Chandrakant Patil about the issue and requested him to write to the NHRC over the lathicharge by Karnataka police.

Karnataka and Maharashtra are locked in a bitter dispute over inclusion of Belgavi and other Marathi-speaking villages into Maharashtra.

The matter is pending before the Supreme Court.

Patil, a senior BJP leader, heads a coordination committee set up by the Maharashtra government to find a solution to the dispute.

"I also requested that talks should be held with Home minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Ministers of both the states hold a meet to discuss the issue," she stated.

Gorhe said Patil has informed her that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would discuss this issue with his Karnataka counterpart H D Kumaraswamy Friday.

According to reports, MES workers were caned by police Thursday when they took out a "black day" procession opposing the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations and demanded inclusion of Marathi speaking areas of Karnataka into Maharashtra.

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Sri Lanka's suspended Parliament will not be convened before November 16, President Maithripala Sirisena's party said on Thursday, hours after officials at Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's office indicated that the House will meet on Monday.

Susil Premjayantha, a senior parliamentarian from Sirisena's United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), said Parliament is unlikely to meet on November 5.

He said that Parliament needs time to prepare to meet and there is not enough time to meet on Monday.

Premjayantha said reports claiming Parliament will meet on Monday were misleading and the House was most likely to meet on November 16, as announced by the president earlier.

Sirisena had suspended Parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority.

The president is facing increasing political and diplomatic pressure to reconvene Parliament which he had suspended apparently to allow Rajapaksa to engineer crossovers from Wickremesinghe's side.

Earlier in the day, officials at Rajapaksa's office said that the President has agreed to call a parliamentary session on November 5.

Prior to the crisis, Wickramasinghe's United National Party (UNP) had the backing of 106 parliamentarians while Rajapaksa and Sirisena combine had 95 seats.

Rajapaksa has so far managed to rope in five lawmakers from Wickramasinghe's party to bolster his strength to 101. One UNP lawmaker has offered his support to him.

It was, however, not immediately known if Rajapaksa has managed to secure 113 votes required to prove the majority.

Wickremesinghe, who has refused to accept his dismissal claiming to be the country's legitimate premier, had earlier welcomed the announcement about summoning of Parliament on Monday, saying the democracy will prevail.

"The people's voices have been heard. Parliament will be reconvened on the 5th of November. Democracy will prevail," he had tweeted.

Talking to the BBC from his official residence Temple Trees, Wickremesinghe said: "I still remain the prime minister and I have the confidence of the majority of members of this house.

"The Constitution states that the president must appoint as prime minister the person who commands the confidence of Parliament and I am the person who has that. We have asked for the summoning of Parliament so I can prove my majority in the house," he said.

Sirisena replaced Wickremesinghe with Rajapaksa in a dramatic turn of events last Friday and suspended Parliament after the sacked premier sought an emergency session to prove his majority.

Meanwhile, Sirisena sworn in three more Cabinet ministers, four state ministers and a deputy minister, this evening.

Wickremesinghe maintains he still commands the majority and remains the legally appointed prime minister.

The ousted premier has already suffered five defections to Rajapaksa.

Sirisena swore in the new Cabinet under Rajapaksa on Monday despite a warning from the parliament speaker of possible violence if lawmakers were not summoned immediately to resolve the crisis.

Wickramasinghe argues that he cannot legally be removed until he loses the support of Parliament and called for a floor test to prove his majority.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has 16 seats in the house and the People's Liberation Front (JVP) has six legislators.

On Tuesday, angry protests rocked Sri Lanka's capital as thousands of demonstrators gathered for a rally organised by Wickremesinghe's party against what it said was a "coup" by President Sirisena.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sri Lanka's suspended Parliament will not be convened before November 16, a senior leader from President Maithripala Sirisena's UPFA said on Thursday, hours after officials at Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's office said the House will meet on Monday.

Susil Premjayantha, a senior parliamentarian from Sirisena's United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), said Parliament is unlikely to meet on November 5.

He said that Parliament needs time to prepare to meet and there is not enough time to meet on Monday.

Premjayantha said reports claiming Parliament will meet on Monday were misleading and the House was most likely to meet on November 16, as announced by the president earlier.

Sirisena had suspended Parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority.

The president is facing increasing political and diplomatic pressure to reconvene Parliament which he had suspended apparently to allow Rajapaksa to engineer crossovers from Wickremesinghe's side.

Meanwhile, Sirisena has sworn in three more Cabinet ministers, four state ministers and a deputy minister, this evening.

The president is keeping open government positions to lure Wickremesinghe lawmakers to join him and provide Rajapaksa with 113 seats to prove the new prime minister's majority.

Wickremesinghe maintains he still commands the majority and remains the legally appointed prime minister.

The ousted premier has already suffered five defections to Rajapaksa.
Sri Lankan President has lifted the suspension of parliament and convened a meeting of the legislature on Monday to end the current political stalemate in the country over the sudden sacking of prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, officials said Thursday.

President Sirisena replaced Wickremesinghe with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in a dramatic turn of events last Friday.

Sirisena also suspended Parliament until November 16, which experts said was meant to buy time to engineer crossovers from Wickremesinghe's side to Rajapaksa in the 225 member parliament to reach the 113 majority mark.

Sirisena and parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuria discussed the issue on Wednesday. Sirisena later indicated that he may call the sessions next week.
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has lifted the suspension of parliament and summoned a meeting of the legislature on Monday to end the current political stalemate in the country over the sudden sacking of prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, officials said Thursday.

Sirisena replaced Wickremesinghe with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in a dramatic turn of events last Friday.

Sirisena also suspended Parliament until November 16, which experts said was meant to buy time to engineer crossovers from Wickremesinghe's side to Rajapaksa in the 225 member parliament to reach the 113 majority mark.

He was under increasing political and diplomatic pressure to reconvene Parliament and resolve the crisis.

The president has agreed to call a parliamentary session on November 5, officials at Rajapaksa's office said.

Sirisena and parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuria discussed the issue yesterday. Sirisena later indicated that he may call the session next week.

Jayasuriya's office, however, said that seat for the prime minister in the assembly would be reserved for Rajapaksa as the parliamentary officials are bound by the government gazette issued naming as the premier.

Sirisena swore in a new Cabinet under Rajapaksa on Monday despite a warning from the parliament speaker of possible violence if lawmakers were not summoned immediately to resolve the crisis.

Wickramasinghe, who has refused to accept his dismissal, argues that he cannot legally be removed until he loses the support of parliament.

He has called for a floor test to prove his majority in parliament.

Rajapaksa has so far managed to rope in five lawmakers from Wickramasinghe's party to bolster his strength to 101. Despite the cross-overs, it was unclear if Rajapaksa has the 113 votes he requires to prove the majority. Prior to the crisis, Wickramasinghe's United National Party (UNP) had the backing of 106 parliamentarians, and Rajapaksa had 95 legislators of the United Peoples' Progressive Alliance (UPFA).

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has 16 seats in the house and the People's Liberation Front (JVP) has six legislators.

On Tuesday, angry protests rocked Sri Lanka's capital as thousands of demonstrators gathered for a rally organised by deposed prime minister Wickremesinghe's party against what it said was a "coup" by President Sirisena.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Madras High Court Thursday clarified that its order restraining online sale of medicines will only apply to firms which do not have valid licences.

Justice R Mahadevan, who Wednesday issued the interim order against online sales on a petition by the Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association, gave the clarification when traders having licences approached the court seeking to vacate the stay.

The judge directed the traders to file their petitions and agreed to hear them Friday.

He had given the interim order restraining online sale of medicines on a petition by the association which contended that purchasing medicines from unlicensed online stores can be risky as they may sell fake, expired, contaminated or unapproved drugs that are dangerous to the health of patients.

Counsels representing the traders explained that medicines ordered online were sourced from licensed pharmacies and they were only delivering them to the customers.

Denying the contentions of the chemists and druggists association, TNMEDS, one of the online traders, submitted that the present plea was nothing but an outcome of a gross misconception about the working of online sale of medicines.

TNMEDS has obtained a valid drug licence from the Assistant Director of Drugs Control and also complied with all the existing rules and regulations of the government in relation to sale of medicines, counsel for the firm said.

Besides, people supplying medicines through online mode were presently regulated by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, the Pharmacy Act, 1948 and the Information Technology Act, 2000 in addition to several other legislations in force.

Noting that such sales were carried out in a completely regulated manner, TNMEDS submitted that the consumers were also required to upload the prescriptions and the entire process was supervised by a registered pharmacist as per the rules.

Most of the online sale was carried out only by sourcing the medicines from registered pharmacists.

In the case of TNMEDS, it has been provided with a valid licence to sell, stock or exhibit or distribute drugs by retail.

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The Uttar Pradesh government has asked the state's western districts, in and around the Capital Region, to suspend all construction activities between November 1 and 10 and shut for industries using coal and biomass fuel for a week to check pollution.

It has also asked them to ensure strict compliance with other Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) guidelines.

"All authorities are requested to bear in mind the seriousness of the issue and ensure strict implementation of the orders," Anup Chandra Pandey, the Chief Secretary to UP government, said in a letter Wednesday to the Divisional Commissioners Meerut and Saharanpur.

A copy of the letter was sent to the district magistrates of Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut, Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Bulandshahr and Shamli.

All construction activities involving excavation, civil construction (excluding internal finishing/work where no construction material is used) to remain closed in NCR districts from November 1 to 10, the letter stated.

Al stone crushers, hot mix plants generating dust pollution to remain closed in the districts during the period, it said.

The capital's was on the brink of turning severe on Thursday due to stubble-burning in the adjoining regions and unfavourable meteorological conditions, authorities said.

The overall index of Delhi was recorded at 392, which falls in the 'very poor' category and is just eight points from turning severe.

The UP government letter said that all industries using coal and biomass fuel (excluding thermal and waste to energy plants) should remain closed in the NCR districts from November 4 to November 10. However, the industries using natural gas as fuel can continue to operate, it stated.

The government has also directed the transport departments and traffic police in these districts to intensify checking of polluting vehicles and control traffic congestion in Delhi and other NCR districts during the period.

"There should be no tolerance for visibly polluting vehicles. This will require stringent monitoring and on-spot fines," it said.

It has sought intensification of patrol including in the night in industrial areas and other 'hot spots' in cities so that there is a complete control on waste burning as well as industrial emissions.

"The EPCA has already brought to your attention that it has found cases of waste burning and industrial emissions, which is a gross violation of GRAP (Graded Responsibility Action Plan) conditions," it added.

The government has also asked the districts to raise awareness among the public for the need to minimise their exposure to pollution and also advise people to reduce their travel using private vehicles as much as possible.

It has also asked local administrations to publish a list of penalties that have been imposed and actions taken against people or industries found polluting.

'This information will provide deterrence and help improve enforcement," the letter stated.

Meanwhile, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration has directed local authorities the Noida Authority, the Greater Noida Authority and the Yamuna Expressway Authority -- to ensure strict implementation of the government order, officials said.
A man and two others have been arrested for allegedly killing his wife -- a 38-year-old school teacher -- in northwest Delhi's Bawana area, police said Thursday.

The accused were identified as Manjeet (38), husband of the deceased, his girlfriend Angel Gupta alias Shashi Prabha (26) and Rajeev (40), they added.

Manjeet was in a relationship with Angel and his wife, Sunita, objected to it, so they conspired to eliminate her, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Rajneesh Gupta said.

Sunita was shot dead on Monday morning by unknown assailants while she was on the way to her school. She was shot thrice and was declared brought dead at the hospital, police said.

She is survived by a 16-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son, they said.

A manhunt is underway to nab the persons who were hired for the murder, Gupta said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The Madras High Court ordered on Thursday an interim stay on the proposed 24-hour strike by '108' ambulance workers' union in Tamil Nadu on November 5-6 to press their demand for Deepavali festival bonus.

A division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice SM Subramonium Prasad gave the order on a public interest litigation filed by P Selvarajan who sought to declare the strike call as illegal.

The judges referred to a October 13, 2017 order of the high court restraining the workers from going on strike and warning that those who refuse to drive an ambulance would be penalised for gross contempt of the court.

The union has decided to go on strike for 24 hours from 8 pm on November 5 demanding a 20 per cent bonus for Deepavali, which falls on November 6 in Tamil Nadu.

The ambulance services in the state are run by GVK EMRI, a non-profit organisation, under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the state-owned Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project.

The petitioner submitted that ambulance service has been declared as a public utility service under section 2(n) of the Industrial Disputes Act by the state government.

He said the high court in 2015 had observed that the strike by ambulance workers had become an annual event on the eve of Deepavali.

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One by one, five to a grave, the coffins are buried in the red earth of this ill-kept corner of a South African cemetery.

The scrawl on the cheap wood attests to their anonymity: "Unknown B/Male."



These men were migrants from elsewhere in Africa with next to nothing who sought a living in the thriving underground economy of Gauteng province, a name that roughly translates to "land of gold."



Instead of fortune, many found death, their bodies unnamed and unclaimed more than 4,300 in Gauteng between 2014 and 2017 alone.

Some of those lives ended here at the Olifantsvlei cemetery, in silence, among tufts of grass growing over tiny placards that read: Pauper Block. There are coffins so tiny that they could only belong to children.

As people worldwide flee war, hunger and a lack of jobs, global migration has soared to record highs, with more than 258 million international migrants in 2017.

That is an increase of 49 per cent from the turn of the century, according to the United Nations.

Far less visible, however, has been the toll of this mass migration: The tens of thousands of people who die or simply disappear during their journeys, never to be seen again.

A growing number of migrants have drowned, died in deserts or fallen prey to traffickers, leaving their families to wonder what on earth happened to them.

At the same time, anonymous bodies are filling cemeteries around the world, like the one in Gauteng.

In most cases, nobody is keeping track: Barely counted in life, these people don't register in death, as if they never lived at all.

An Associated Press tally has documented at least 56,800 migrants dead or missing worldwide since 2014 almost double the number found in the world's only official attempt to try to count them, by the UN's International Organisation for Migration.

The IOM toll as of October 1 was more than 28,500.

The AP came up with almost 28,300 additional dead or missing migrants by compiling information from other international groups, requesting forensic records, missing persons reports and death records, and sifting through data from thousands of interviews with migrants.

The AP's tally is still low.

Bodies of migrants lie undiscovered in desert sands or at the bottom of the sea.

And families don't always report loved ones as missing because they are illegal, or because they left home without saying exactly where they were headed.

The official UN toll focuses mostly on Europe, but even there cases fall through the cracks.

The political tide is turning against migrants in Europe just as in the United States, where the government is cracking down heavily on caravans of Central Americans trying to get in.

One result is that money is drying up for projects to track migration and its costs.

For example, when more than 800 people died in an April 2015 shipwreck off the coast of Italy, Europe's deadliest migrant sea disaster, Italian investigators pledged to identify them and find their families.

More than three years later, under a new populist government, funding for this work is being cut off.

Beyond Europe, information is even more scarce. Little is known about the toll in South America, where the Venezuelan migration is among the world's biggest today, and in Asia, the top region for numbers of migrants.

The result is that governments vastly underestimate the toll of migration, a major political and social issue in most of the world today.

"No matter where you stand on the whole migration management debate....these are still human beings on the move," said Bram Frouws, the head of the Mixed Migration Centre , based in Geneva, which has done surveys of more than 20,000 migrants in its 4Mi project since 2014.

"Whether it's refugees or people moving for jobs, they are human beings."



They leave behind families caught between hope and mourning, like that of Safi al-Bahri.

Her son, Majdi Barhoumi, left their hometown of Ras Jebel, Tunisia, on May 7, 2011, headed for Europe in a small boat with a dozen other migrants.

The boat sank and Barhoumi hasn't been heard from since.

In a sign of faith that he is still alive, his parents built an animal pen with a brood of hens, a few cows and a dog to stand watch until he returns.

"I just wait for him. I always imagine him behind me, at home, in the market, everywhere," said al-Bahari.

"When I hear a voice at night, I think he's come back. When I hear the sound of a motorcycle, I think my son is back."



Of the world's migration crises, Europe's has been the most cruelly visible.

Images of the lifeless body of a Kurdish toddler on a beach, frozen tent camps in Eastern Europe, and a nearly numbing succession of deadly shipwrecks have been transmitted around the world, adding to the furore over migration.

In the Mediterranean, scores of tankers, cargo boats, cruise ships and military vessels tower over tiny, crowded rafts powered by an outboard motor for a one-way trip.

Even larger boats carrying hundreds of migrants may go down when soft breezes turn into battering winds and thrashing waves further from shore.

Two shipwrecks and the deaths of at least 368 people off the coast of Italy in October 2013 prompted the IOM's research into migrant deaths.

The organisation has focused on deaths in the Mediterranean, although its researchers plead for more data from elsewhere in the world.

This year alone, the IOM has found more than 1,700 deaths in the waters that divide Africa and Europe.

Like the lost Tunisians of Ras Jebel, most of them set off to look for work.

Barhoumi, his friends, cousins and other would-be migrants camped in the seaside brush the night before their departure, listening to the crash of the waves that ultimately would sink their raft.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump has alleged that the "far-left media" in the US uses tragedy to sow anger and division in the society, saying it spreads fake which is the enemy of the people.

The President, who has been at loggerheads with several mainstream media outlets including CNN, ABC News, The New York Times and The Washington Post, has quite often described them as "fake media".

Referring to his visit to the Pittsburg synagogue where 11 people were killed, Trump said: "Yesterday's visit to Pittsburgh was about coming together as a nation to comfort and to heal. After this day of unity and togetherness, I came home and sadly turned on the and watched as the far-left media once again used tragedy to sow anger and division".

Chants of "CNN sucks" broke out at Trump's election rally in Florida Wednesday night as Trump doubled down his attack on what he said are the "far-left media".

"Sadly, they took a small group of protesters, far away from where we were, because we could not have been treated better, the first lady and myself, but we're representing the presidency. And they did everything in their power to try to play it up and push people apart. That's what's happening. They're pushing people apart," the President rued.

It was fake and it was make-believe, what they said, he claimed.

"I came home, looked forward to seeing it, and it was sad. And when we talk about division, this is a big part of the division right there.

"The far-left media has spread terrible lies and stories about the Trump administration and the tens of millions of people who make up our great movement, the greatest political movement in the history of our country," Trump said as the audience booed the media.

He claimed that this is the greatest movement in the history of the US, and the media don't even refute that fact.

Trump said he has taken aggressive measures against the terrorist groups that seek the slaughter of innocent people all around the world for lots of different reasons.

"It's terrible. We've taken unprecedented action to confront the regime in Iran, and we have ended the horrible, one-sided Iran nuclear catastrophe," he said.

Iran is a much different country today than the country that started off at the beginning of his administration almost two years ago, he said.

"We have forcefully condemned hatred, bigotry, racism, and prejudice in all of its ugly forms, but the media doesn't want you to hear your story. It's not my story. It's your story. That's why 33 per cent of the people in this country believe the fake is, in fact -- and I hate to say this -- in fact, the enemy of the people.

"The left-wing media doesn't want to solve problems. They want to stoke resentment. It has to stop. They believe that progress isn't good for profit or for whatever reason it is they're playing their game. Our movement is about safe homes, great jobs for every citizen," Trump added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump's national security adviser warned US adversaries on Wednesday that the US is prepared to respond offensively to on the United States.

John Bolton said that even before the administration released its cyber strategy last year, Trump had issued a classified executive order effectively reversing the Obama administration's approach to offensive cyber operations.

He said Trump has reduced red tape and procedural restrictions to make it less cumbersome for the US to take offensive action in response to

"I think that's critical, because I think that if our adversaries can take steps against us in cyberspace and feel no consequences, feel no pain, bear no costs, they have no incentive to stop attacking us in cyberspace," Bolton said at an event in Washington hosted by the Alexander Hamilton Society.

"The objective is not to have unrestricted cyber warfare, the object is to create structures of deterrence by making our adversaries understand that when they engage in offensive cyberactivities themselves, they will bear a disproportionate cost so they think about it a lot harder before they launch a cyber operation to begin with."



At the event, Bolton answered questions on a wide-ranging number of issues.

On Iran, Bolton said that while Tehran has been able to mitigate the impact of earlier sanctions, it is feeling heavy consequences from the sanctions the US has re-imposed since May when Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal Iran signed with the US and other world powers.

Blaming the United States, President Hassan Rouhani warned Iranians on Wednesday they could face more economic difficulties in the months ahead.

On Monday, the US is re-imposing more sanctions on Iran's oil, gas and banking industries. The US also is imposing penalties for countries and companies in Europe, Asia and elsewhere that do not halt Iranian oil imports.

Bolton said the US knows that some countries can't quickly stop buying oil from Iran altogether, indicating that the US will be willing to give them more time.

"We don't want to harm friends and allies either," Bolton said. But he added:



"The president has said unmistakably that our goal is maximum pressure and that it would drive Iranian oil exports to zero."Bolton also said the Trump administration expects the Saudi government to fully investigate the death of Saudi critic and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed Oct 2 at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

He did not disclose details of any actions the US might take in response to the killing, which has strained relations with Saudi Arabia, a close ally of the United States.

"We expect there to be accountability for what happened, which was criminal without any question, and they have promised to do that," Bolton said. "They have promised to do that. They have gone a long way already and we'll see what the next steps are.
US President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the Syrian conflict during a phone call on Thursday, the Turkish presidency said in a statement.

The statement was released not long after it was announced that Turkish and American troops had begun conducting joint patrols in the northern Syrian city of Manbij.

The leaders discussed the cooperation agreement in Manbij, which is held by a US-backed Kurdish militia that Turkey deems a terrorist group, the statement said.

They also spoke of Idlib, the last major area in Syria still outside the control of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, where a demilitarised zone has been planned.

The presidents agreed to maintain "close contact" and maintained their "determination" to "further strengthen bilateral relations", according to the statement.

Washington's support of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria has strained already tense relations between NATO allies Turkey and the US.

Ankara considers the YPG to be a "terrorist offshoot" of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody insurgency in Turkey since 1984 with the goal of forming an independent Kurdish state.

To ease ties, the countries agreed to a road map in June that included the YPG withdrawing from Manbij and establishing the joint patrols in the city.

However Turkey has repeatedly threatened a new offensive in northern Syria and has shelled YPG positions there in the past couple of days. The US-led coalition against IS said on Thursday it was working to "de-escalate" fighting between Turkey and the Kurdish militia.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Can all those people accusing of lying cut him some slack? He really is trying to tell the truth, he says.

"I try, I do try," he told ABC television late Wednesday.

"I always want to tell the truth. When I can, I tell the truth. And sometimes it turns out to be where something happens that's different or there's a change, but I always like to be truthful," Trump said.

The Republican is famous for going off script during frequent impromptu press gatherings at the and at campaign rallies in the final run-up to next Tuesday's midterm congressional elections.

A billionaire former real estate magnate and reality TV host, Trump keeps even his own aides on their toes with surprise announcements and headline-grabbing declarations.

On frequent occasions, Trump also makes statements that are clearly exaggerations, plain wrong or at minimum unaccompanied by evidence.

These include his recent claim that "unknown Middle Easterners" had infiltrated a group of several thousand poor Central Americans trying to walk through Mexico to attempt to immigrate to the

After heavily suggesting that he was equating "Middle Easterners" with terrorists, Trump later conceded that there was "no proof" of people from that region joining the migrant caravan at all.

Even then, he added that "there could very well be." The Washington Post has a project which attempts to track all of Trump's false claims. At the last count in September, the number was above 5,000.

Trump has backup from top officials, though.

His lawyer, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, told NBC in August that "truth isn't truth." Earlier, Giuliani had told CNN that "nowadays" facts depend on the eye of the beholder.

Arguably, the Trump administration's slippery grip on facts dates right back to his 2017 inauguration, when then-spokesman erroneously claimed that the crowd had been "the largest audience ever" at such an event.

Top Trump aide Kellyanne Conway addressed the ensuing controversy by announcing that Spicer was not lying. He was supplying "alternative facts.
US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster Thursday said President Donald Trump's inability to participate as the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations next year was a "purely scheduling issue".

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 on January 26.

Asked if Trump declining India's invitation had something to do with India signing a deal with Russia on S-400 missile defence systems, Juster, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, said, "No, that is a purely scheduling issue."



Earlier this week, a White House spokesperson, when asked about Trump's decision, had said, "President Trump was honoured by Prime Minister Modi's invitation to him to be the chief guest of India's Republic Day on January 26, 2019, but is unable to participate due to scheduling constraints."



Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited Trump for a visit to India during their talks in Washington in June, 2017.

Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations.

In 2015, the then US president Barack Obama had attended it as the chief guest, which was his second visit to India as the American president.

On whether India will get a waiver from the US on Chabahar amid sanctions on Iran, Juster said, "These are matters that our two governments are discussing and we are working together on that.

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US President Donald Trump on Thursday had "a long and very good" talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the escalating trade issues between the two countries.

Just had a long and very good conversation with President Xi Jinping of China. We talked about many subjects, with a heavy emphasis on Trade, Trump tweeted.

"Those discussions are moving along nicely with meetings being scheduled at the G-20 in Argentina. Also had good discussion on North Korea! Trump said after he talked to Xi over phone.

The two world leaders are scheduled to meet in Argentina on the sidelines of the G-20 summit on November 30 and December 1.

Later, the White House's Chief Economic Advisor, Larry Kudlow told reporters that the scheduled meeting between Trump and Xi would be more than formal on the sidelines of the G-20 summit and might include a dinner.

He described the phone call as very positive.

"It looks like they are focusing on trade. That's a good thing," he said.

Although there's no hundred per cent certainty, it does suggest that when they meet again in Buenos Aires, they have a bilateral. There may be more. The plans are still evolving, and the trade will be on the agenda, he said.

Kudlow said that Xi will be giving a speech at a trade conference in Shanghai later this month. I look forward to seeing what's in there regarding trade, he said. So, there may be a little though going on here. I don't want to take it too far. There may be a little though in that, he added.

Responding to a question, Kudlow said the president has said if US gets a good satisfactory deal, he would not impose new taxes on China.

He might even remove some tariffs. But that requires a very satisfactory deal. Those are his words, not mine, he said.

Kudlow clarified that Trump now is not removing tariffs at all.

He is just saying if the Chinese respond and improve, and they deliver the goods -- technology, ownership, IP, tariffs -- and they start playing by the rules, then yes tariffs could be removed, he said.

But that's a big if. I don't want to get ahead of the story, Kudlow said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed and a soldier injured Thursday in an encounter with security forces in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

"The security forces launched a search operation based on credible inputs about the presence of terrorists in Zagoo locality of Khansahib area of the district," a police official said.

He said during the operation, the militants opened fire on the search party, prompting the security forces to retaliate.

"In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were neutralised. The security forces also recovered various incriminating material, including arms and ammunition from the site," he added.

The slain militants were identified as Mukhtar Ahmad Khan, a resident of Arizal in Budgam and Mohammad Amin Mir of Pampore in Pulwama district.

"They were both involved in a series of terror attacks on security establishments in the area," the official said.

He said an Army jawan also suffered injuries and was evacuated to the hospital for treatment.

"The injured jawan is stated to be stable," he said, adding the police has registered a case and started investigation.

Meanwhile, an outdoor broadcasting (OB) van of a media organisation was damaged in a stone-pelting incident in Budgam district, the police said.

The windscreen of the OB van of a television news agency was damaged after it was attacked by a stone-pelting mob while the media crew was on its way to cover the encounter, a police official said.

There were no reports of anyone getting hurt in the incident, he added.
Two Nepalese men were arrested with over 3 kg of charas at Sumaropa in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district Thursday, police said.

The accused were identified as Tejinder Bahadur and Lal Bahadur. As much as 3.26 kg charas was recovered from their possession during searches at Sumaropa checkpoint, Kullu Superintendent of Police Shalini Agnihotri said.

A case was registered against the accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Kullu police station, she said.

Both of them were arrested and further investigation into the matter is on, the SP said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) on Thursday opened a criminal inquiry into key groups and leaders behind the pro-Brexit campaign in the 2016 European Union (EU) referendum.

Arron Banks, a businessman and political donor who had bankrolled the 'Leave' campaign in the lead up to the referendum, was referred to the NCA by the UK's Electoral Commission alongside fellow pro-Brexit campaigner Elizabeth Bilney and the Leave.EU and Better for the Country (BFTC) groups.

The commission said it suspected that money donated to pro-Brexit campaign groups may have come from sources that are not permitted within electoral rules of the country.

"We have reasonable grounds to suspect money given to Better for the Country came from impermissible sources and that Mr Banks and Ms Bilney, the responsible person for Leave.EU, knowingly concealed the true circumstances under which this money was provided," said Bob Posner, the Electoral Commission's legal chief.

"This is significant because at least 2.9 million pounds of this money was used to fund referendum spending and donations during the regulated period of the EU referendum. Our investigation has unveiled evidence that suggests criminal offences have been committed which fall beyond the remit of the Commission," he said.

The NCA said that while electoral law offences would not routinely fall within its remit, the nature of the necessary inquiries, and the potential for offences to have been committed other than under electoral law, lead the agency to consider an investigation appropriate.

"Our investigation relates to suspected electoral law offences covered by that referral, as well as any associated offences. This is now a live investigation, and we are unable to discuss any operational detail," an NCA statement said.

Banks, who was the co-founder of Leave.EU, has denied any wrongdoing and said he welcomed the investigation to put an end to the "ludicrous" allegations.

"There is no evidence of any wrongdoing from the companies I own. I am a UK taxpayer and I have never received any foreign donations. The Electoral Commission has produced no evidence to the contrary," he said.

The controversial businessman also claimed the Electoral Commission had acted "under intense political pressure from anti-Brexit supporters".

Leave.EU was set up as a separate campaign group over and above the official 'Vote Leave' organisation in the lead up to the 2016 referendum.

Under UK law, loans and donations to registered campaigners can only come from permissible sources, which excludes overseas or foreign funding.

The 'Leave' campaign emerged victorious in the referendum, when Britain voted 51.9 per cent to 48.1 per cent in favour of Brexit. The UK has since been negotiating its formal exit from the European economic bloc, with a departure date set for March 29 next year.

With just five months left to secure a deal for Britain's future relationship with the EU, there is growing anxiety in political and business quarters over the continued uncertainty.

Prime Minister Theresa May's chief Europe adviser, Oliver Robbins, is continuing negotiations in Brussels with the hope to conclude talks by the end of this month.

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The UN General Assembly on Thursday called for an end to the decades-old US embargo on Cuba, adopting a resolution by an overwhelming majority and rejecting US moves to criticize Havana's human rights record.

It was the 27th time that the 193-nation assembly has issued the call to lift the embargo imposed in 1962.

The resolution presented by Cuba was adopted by a vote of 189 to 2 with no abstentions. The US and its ally Israel voted against while Ukraine and Moldova did not vote.

The United States failed to win support for eight amendments criticizing Cuba's human rights record. Only the US, Israel and Ukraine voted in favor of those amendments. The Marshall Islands joined them in one vote.

At least 65 countries including many European nations abstained and at least 113 voted against the proposed US call to Cuba to fully uphold its citizens' rights.

President Donald Trump's administration points to Cuba's repression of political opponents and curbs on freedom of expression as a reason for maintaining the economic embargo.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley dismissed the vote on the US embargo, which has been an annual exercise since 1992, as a "waste of everyone's time" because it did not address Cuba's human rights situation.

"It's one more time that countries feel they can poke the United States in the eye," Haley told the assembly.

Applause broke out in the chamber after the adoption that highlighted Washington's isolation on its Cuba policy. The resolution is non-binding but carries political weight.

Haley declared that the United Nations had "rejected the opportunity to speak on behalf of human rights" and described the outcome of the vote as a reminder of "why so many people believe that faith in the United Nations is often misplaced."



In a 35-minute address ahead of the vote, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez slammed the Trump administration as a "government of millionaires that imposes cruel policies," citing US treatment of migrant children separated at the border with Mexico and "locked in cages."



"The US government does not have the least moral authority for criticizing Cuba or anyone else with regards to human rights," said the foreign minister, urging countries to back his measure.

Rodriguez argued that the embargo was a "flagrant, massive and systematic violation" of human rights in Cuba, notably by denying access to US-produced medicines and medical technology.

Last year, the resolution was adopted by a vote of 191 to 2. The United States and Israel were the only two countries that voted "no." That vote took place after Washington for the first time abstained in the vote in 2016 as former president Barack Obama pursued a thaw in relations with Havana.

Ties between Cuba and the US have been in decline under Trump, who has rejected the previous administration's moves to improve ties with Havana.

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The BJP Thursday sharpened its attack on the Kejriwal government, accusing it of failing to protect the people from high levels of air pollution, with Union minister Vijay Goel staging a protest at the Jantar Mantar here demanding a "Pollution Free Delhi" and the "Right to Breathe" clean air for Delhiites.

President of Delhi BJP Manoj Tiwari launched the #Mask4Life campaign and asked the media team of the party to tweet photos wearing masks and tag people.

"At present the air is really bad ,Wear the Mask. If the AAP continues to be in slumber, then sadly all of us in Delhi will have to wear a #Mask4Life. It's time we take steps on our own to fight this (sic)," he tweeted.

Goel, who wore a mask himself during the protest, said Delhi's air pollution could not be blamed on stubble burning by farmers in other states alone.

"As per TERI reports, 60 per cent of the sources of Delhi's pollution are located within the city. The real cause of the air quality crisis in Delhi is dust, vehicular pollution, thermal power plants, open waste burning and other infrastructure and industrial activities which the Arvind Kejriwal government has completely failed to tackle," he said.

He claimed that Delhi hospitals were seeing a surge of patients suffering from respiratory and breathing complications due to the pollution.

"With doctors advising people, specially the elderly and children, to stay indoors, more than 2.2 million school children in Delhi are threatened with irreversible lung damages," Goel added.

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The US Justice Department on Thursday charged a fugitive Malaysian financier in a money laundering and bribery scheme that pilfered billions of dollars from a Malaysian investment fund created to promote economic development projects in that country.

The three-count indictment charges Low Taek Jho, who is also known as Jho Low, of misappropriating money from the state-owned fund and using it to bribe foreign officials and to pay for luxury real estate, art and jewelry in the US and to fund Hollywood movies, including "The Wolf of Wall Street."



Also charged was a Goldman Sachs banker, Tim Leissner, who pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and to conspiring to violating foreign bribery laws. Another bank official, Ng Chong Hwa, 51, also known as Roger Ng, was arrested earlier Thursday in Malaysia, prosecutors said.

A lawyer for Leissner did not return multiple messages Thursday.

The charges are the first arising from a global scandal over the epic corruption scandal at the state investment fund known as 1MDB. The Justice Department in 2016 moved to recover more than USD 1 billion that it said had been stolen, filing a civil complaint that sought the forfeiture of property including a Manhattan penthouse, a Beverly Hills mansion, a luxury jet and paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet.

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United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions has announced an initiative that will deal with Chinese trade theft cases, saying there should be an end to "cheating".

His comments on Thursday come after he announced charges against Chinese and Taiwan companies of stealing more than USD 8 billion worth of trade secrets from Micron -- a US-based company that produces semiconductor devices, mainly dynamic random-access memory (DRAM).

"Chinese economic espionage against the United States has been increasing -- and it has been increasing rapidly. We are here today to say: 'Enough is enough'. We're not going to take it anymore," Sessions said.

The attorney general said he had ordered the creation of a "China Initiative" that would identify priority Chinese trade theft cases and bring those to effective and quick conclusion.

"This will help us meet the new and evolving threats to our economy. Today, we see Chinese espionage not just taking place against traditional targets like our defense and intelligence agencies, but against targets like research labs and universities, and we see Chinese propaganda disseminated on our campuses," he said.

It will be led by Assistant Attorney General John Demers, who heads the National Security Division of the Department of Justice. The team is composed of a senior FBI Executive, five US attorneys, several other Department of Justice leaders and officials.

The new initiative, Session said, would address two major responsibilities of the National Security Division: review of investments and licenses in the country's infrastructure and telecommunications; and counter covert efforts to influence leaders and the general public.

"International trade has been good for China, but the cheating must stop. And we must have more law enforcement cooperation; China cannot be a safe haven for criminals who run to China when they are in trouble, never to be extradited. China must accept the repatriation of Chinese citizens who break US immigration law and are awaiting return," he said.

The US will continue to charge wrongdoers based on carefully-conducted investigations done with integrity and professionalism, not politics, Sessions said. "To be prosperous trading partners, integrity and cooperation are essential.

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Joint US-Turkish patrols will begin within hours around the northern Syrian town of Manbij, part of a roadmap for easing tensions between the two NATO allies, an official with a US-backed militia said Thursday.

Sharfan Darwish, spokesman of the Manbij Military Council, told The Associated Press the patrols will begin later Thursday.

He said they will take place on the front lines between his group and those of Turkey-backed rebels in the operation called Euphrates Shield.

Ankara and Washington agreed on a roadmap in June amid Turkish demands for the withdrawal of the US-backed Kurdish militia that freed Manbij from the Islamic State group in 2016.

The US and the Turks have been conducting independent patrols along the front line and joint patrols are considered a way to tamp down potential violence between the various groups in the region.

The Manbij Military Council that administers the town says the Kurdish militia, the People's Protection Units, or YPG, which Turkey views as a terrorist group, left Manbij in July.

"The aim of these patrols is to reduce tension and guarantee stability so that there will be no tension along the front line," Darwish said by telephone from northern Syria.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, also said the patrols will begin Thursday adding that they follow days of Turkish shelling of positions of the main Kurdish militia.

CNN-Turk television quoted Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar as saying that training for the joint patrols between the Turks and the Americans have ended but it was not clear yet when the patrols will start.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Akar as saying that despite promises that the YPG and other Kurdish militias "will be removed from Manbij, the terror organisations are digging trenches there like they did in Afrin."



He was referring to a Kurdish enclave taken earlier this year by Turkish troops and Turkey-backed Syrian opposition fighters.

"The terror organisation should know that they will be buried in the trenches when the time and place comes," Akar said.

Last week, Army Gen Joseph Votel, head of US Central Command, told reporters travelling with him in the Middle East that the soldiers' training is expected to last "several more days," and then will transition to combined patrols.

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US officials unveiled criminal indictments Thursday against an intermediary to scandal-plagued Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB and a former Goldman Sachs banker involved in an elaborate alleged bribery scheme.

They are the first US criminal charges in the case which spawned investigations around the world.

The US Department of Justice arrested former Goldman Sachs banker Ng Chong Hwa in Malaysia on Thursday, while the 1MDB intermediary, Low Taek Jho, remains at large, officials said in a press release.

Another ex-Goldman official, Tim Leissner, pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $43.7 million in restitution of ill-gotten gains.

The 1MDB scandal has roiled politics in Malaysia, leading to criminal charges against former Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The men were charged with conspiring to launder billions of dollars from 1 Malaysia Development Berhad, a sovereign wealth fund set up for development of the country, and conspiring to bribe officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi, violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Ng was also charged with conspiring to violate the internal controls at Goldman Sachs, which underwrote about $6.5 billion in bonds issued by 1MDB, the US government said.

The funds were intended "for the benefit of the Malaysian people" but more than $2.7 billion went to kickbacks and bribes, according to the charges.

Goldman Sachs, which garnered $600 million in fees and revenues from three 1MDB bond transactions detailed in the indictments, has said previously it is cooperating with the probe. A Goldman Sachs spokesman did not have immediate comment Thursday.

Goldman Sachs wasn't named in the DOJ criminal documents, but was referred to as "financial institution #1." The DOJ filings say Ng and Leissner repeatedly circumvented Goldman's oversight tools for countering fraud, adding that the "business culture" at the firm, "particularly in Southeast Asia, was highly focused on consummating deals, at times prioritizing this goal ahead of the proper operation of its compliance functions," according to the Low-Ng indictment.

Under one scheme involving a 2012 "Project Magnolia" bond offering by 1MDB, Low allegedly told the ex-Goldman bankers they needed to bribe officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi to guarantee that the transaction went through.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes were subsequently paid to officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi. After the bond transaction was executed, more than $500 million of the bond proceeds were misappropriated into shell companies controlled by Low, Leissner, Ng and other co-conspirators, the government alleged.

Some of the funds went to finance the movie, "The Wolf of Wall Street," a 2013 Oscar-nominated film about Jordan Belfort, a corrupt stockbroker who was sent to prison for fraud, the government said.

Ng and Leissner's efforts in the scheme dated to 2009, when they began cultivating a relationship with Low, who allegedly "worked as an intermediary in relation to 1MDB and other foreign government officials" but did not hold a formal position at 1MDB and was never employed by the government. A DOJ press release refers to him as a "Malaysian financier."



Ng, a managing director at Goldman, and Leissner, who worked as Southeast Asia chairman and managing director at Goldman, sought on three occasions to make Low a formal client, but were rebuffed because officials in the compliance group had "concerns" about the source of the person's wealth and deemed he would not be a "suitable" client.

As the bond offerings proceeded, the two men concealed Low's involvement from officials in the compliance and intelligence groups at Goldman Sachs.

The transactions were structured as bond deals "rather than other forms of financing, because doing so generated much higher revenues and fees for (Goldman Sachs), improved the bank's reputational standing in both the Southeast Asian region and globally and provided Leissner and other bankers with increased remuneration and professional prestige, even though the bond financing was more expensive for 1MDB," the DOJ said in the criminal information document. Leissner is free on a $20 million bond and pleaded guilty before a US judge in



August, in Brooklyn Federal Court, a Justice Department spokesman said. He is cooperating with DOJ investigators, reported The Wall Street Journal, citing a person familiar with the matter. Lawyers representing Low and Leissner did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Low is being represented by Marc Kasowitz, according to a DOJ spokesman. Kasowitz is an attorney who has long represented US President Donald Trump.

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The US has warned of "swift" and "severe" retaliatory action in case of any foreign meddling in the crucial mid-term polls as the America's intelligence community Wednesday expressed its concern over ongoing election interference campaign by foreign actors, in particular Russia, China and Iran.

In the November 6 mid-term elections, Americans would elect 435 members of the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 Senate seats in Congress.

The US has said that the foreign interference in the US elections is a threat to America's democracy.

The intelligence community is concerned about ongoing interference campaigns by Russia, China, and other foreign actors, including Iran, to undermine confidence in the democratic institutions and influence public sentiment and government policies, a senior intelligence official told reporters.

And, as such, identifying and preventing this interference is a top priority for the federal government, the official said.

The US has said that it will take severe action against those trying to interfere with the polls.

"If there is interference in that, that fundamentally wrecks the natural process that we have established in this country, and really undermines what we would be looking at. That has to be met with swift and severe action," the official said.

A senior official said that by foreign influence, they mean activities that are designed to affect voters or the American public.

Those activities can occur completely separate from an election because it could be just influencing people on devices, social issues, and so forth that we see, whether it's election season or not, the official said.

The US intelligence agencies have taken a slew of measures to prevent any such attempt on the election day.

For instance, on November 6, the FBI will manage a national election command post which will include participation from the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.

The purpose of the command post is to assist FBI field officers across the country and ensure that allegations related to violations of federal criminal law and security threats to the election are appropriately handled, the official said.

A senior administration official said that the White House will be monitoring the execution of all the processes on the day of the election.

"This is not a top-down push or order. We're not trying to run elections out of the White House here. What we are trying to do is make sure that all of those partners are well informed of activities on the ground," the official said.

Another intelligence official said that the US wants to send a strong message to foreign adversaries that interference with America's elections will not be tolerated.

The President signed an executive order earlier this year, mandating sanctions in the event of election interference.

"This is something that has happened since the dawn of the republic. Foreign nations have always tried to influence the way that the US will act through a variety of means. That could be advertising, that could be lobbying. And we see those means evolve over the years," the official said.

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World Anti-Doping Agency President Craig Reedie says his wife threatened to divorce him if he didn't resign from the organisation amid the furore over the Russia investigation.

Critics say because Reedie is a member of the International Olympic Committee his objectivity has been compromised.

Reedie told The Associated Press, "I don't think the world gets better by me not being there."



Despite WADA investigators finding a state-sponsored doping program was run from Moscow, the Russians haven't had to accept the full findings before being readmitted to the agency, which allows them to test athletes again.

Reedie says "it's not particularly comfortable to continually read in the papers ... that you should resign or you're not doing (the job) properly."



It's affecting his home life.

Reedie says "my wife gave me an option a few days ago, resignation or divorce.

Fortunately she calmed down." Asked how he persuaded Rosemary Reedie, the Scotsman said, "I decided to develop a new kitchen which is very nice.

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A water bowser hit a stationary Qatar Airways aircraft at Kolkata airport early Thursday when passengers were boarding the plane, but no one was injured, an official said.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was immediately grounded for assessing the damage caused by the impact, a spokesperson of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said.

At around 2.30 am, when passengers were boarding the plane, the water cart hit the belly of the Doha-bound flight, near the landing gear, she said.

"All 101 passengers and 12 crew, including two pilots, of flight QR 540 have been provided accommodation at a nearby hotel. They will be taking the 3 am flight to Doha tomorrow (Friday)," the AAI official said.

She said the bowser was meant to refill the water tanks of the aircraft's washrooms.

Initial inspection suggests that the water cart had technical issues, the brake wasn't functioning properly, she said, adding that the damaged aircraft will be ready for operations after repair.

Meanwhile, a source in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) told PTI that an inquiry has been initiated into the incident.

"We will take corrective measures based on the inquiry report," he said.

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Off-spinner was Thursday ruled out of the upcoming three-match T20 series against India, weakening further a outfit that struggled through the tour.

The 29-year-old picked up a niggle in his shoulder in the previous match in Mumbai and looked in discomfort, rendering him unavailable for the fifth and final ODI against India.

"He (Nurse) is ruled out for the entire tour. I wish him well. Hopefully, he can recover quickly for the next tour," skipper Jason Holder said at the toss.

was seen using an arm-pouch to rest his shoulder on the team's arrival in the city for the last series' game.

After experiencing pain in the fourth game, Nurse was off the field for a while, only to come back and bowl a few more overs overs with great discomfort.

India lead the ODI series 2-1.

They two sides next clash in a T20 series with the first match scheduled in Kolkata on Sunday.
A Guatemalan woman travelling with a US-bound caravan of Central Americans gave birth in Mexico, a human rights group said.

It was the first birth recorded during the journey by these people fleeing poverty and gang violence, the National Human Rights Commission said Wednesday.

The woman had a baby girl while the caravan was travelling through the southern state of Oaxaca.

The mother and the child are fine, the commission said without specifying which day the baby was born.

The caravan once had as many as 7,000 people but its coordinators now say it numbers fewer than 4,000. Most of them are from Honduras.

These travellers have infuriated President Donald Trump and fuelled his anti-immigrant message ahead of next week's congressional election in the US.

The caravan set out from Honduras on October 13. As of Thursday it was in a town in Oaxaca called Juchitan.

It is still weeks and many hundreds of miles from the US border.

A second, smaller group is on the move further to the south.

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A 20-year-old woman was allegedly raped by her neighbour on the pretext of providing her a job, police said Thursday.

The incident took place in September in southeast Delhi's Badarpur area and the complaint was lodged in the early hours of Wednesday, they said.

The victim lives in Madanpur Khadar area and few years ago, her father died forcing her to hunt for a job as the financial condition of the family was not good, police said.

The 22-year-old accused got to know of this and took the victim to his uncle in Noida, assuring her of a job, police said.

In September, when the accused's uncle, who had shifted to Badarpur, was out for some work, he took the woman to his place and raped her, they said.

He continued to force himself on her on several occasions and threatened to harm her if she told anyone about it, police said.

However, the victim finally narrated the ordeal to her mother and filed a complaint with the police, they added.

A case under relevant sections of the IPC was registered against the man who was arrested from his residence, police said, adding that he was in judicial custody.

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YSR Congress chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has approached the Hyderabad High Court seeking a direction to the Andhra Pradesh government to transfer the probe into the recent attack on him at the Visakhapatnam airport, to an independent agency.

Andhra Pradesh Home Secretary, DGP and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu were among those who were made respondents in the plea, the petitioner's counsel said Thursday.

On October 25, Reddy was injured on the left shoulder when he was attacked by a man with a small knife, at the airport in Visakhapatnam. The assailant, J Srinivas was employed at the airport canteen, police had said.

Jagan, the Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, submitted that he has no confidence in the investigation being conducted by the state government and added that it ought to be conducted by an independent and impartial agency which is not under the government.

Alleging that the attack on him was part of a "criminal conspiracy" to eliminate him, Jagan said it indicated a clear effort to "dilute" the investigation and "divert" it in a wrong direction.

Justice A V Sesha Sai has posted the matter to next week.

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(Reuters) - Activist investor Carl Icahn sued https://carlicahn.com/commenced-litigation-against-dell-technologies Dell Technologies on Thursday, alleging that the computer maker did not disclose financial information related to its plans to go public by buying back its tracking stock.Icahn, who owns 9.3 percent of Dell, called the proposed deal a "conflicted transaction that benefits the controlling stockholders, at the expense of the DVMT stockholders".Dell said in July it would pay $21.7 billion in cash and stock to buy back shares tied to its interest in software company VMware Inc, ...
By Vijaykumar VedalaBENGALURU (Reuters) - A weaker baht pushed rice export prices in Thailand lower this week, although there were expectations of new deals with the Philippines and China, while rates in India languished at the 21-month lows hit last week due to sluggish demand. In Thailand, benchmark 5 percent broken rice prices were quoted at $380-$400 per tonne, free on board (FOB) Bangkok, dropping from $400-$402 last week. The weakening of the baht against the U.S. dollar was the main factor behind the drop in prices this week, Bangkok-based traders said, adding that overseas demand for ...
(Reuters) - Barclays Plc has picked Nigel Higgins, the deputy chairman of Rothschild & Co, as the company's next chairman, Sky News reported on Thursday.Higgins has been chosen to succeed John McFarlane, the current chairman, and is in advanced talks with Barclays, Sky News reported. The Rothschild veteran is expected to take over as chairman of Barclays after the 2019 annual general meeting, the report said, adding that the exact timing is unclear.Regulators are said to have been informed about the board's decision, said Sky News.Activist fund Sherborne Investors , which has a 5.4 percent ...
(Reuters) - Top global miner BHP on Thursday said it would buy back shares and pay a special dividend to return $10.4 billion to shareholders, sticking to a promise to hand back all of the proceeds from the sale of its U.S. shale business.Investors cheered the massive return and the split between a $5.2 billion off-market buyback and a $5.2 billion special dividend, sending BHP's Australian shares up as much as 6.2 percent.BHP had promised to return all of the net proceeds from the $10.5 billion sale of its U.S. shale business to shareholders when the deal was announced in July. British oil ...
By Meng Meng and Chen AizhuBEIJING (Reuters) - China's crude oil imports from Iran in September fell sharply from the same month last year in a sign that China has curbed its purchases from the Islamic republic as Washington prepares to re-impose sanctions on Tehran's oil sector.Data from China's General Administration of Customs showed China brought in 2.13 million tonnes of Iranian crude oil in September, or 518,300 barrels per day (bpd), down 34 percent from 3.22 million tonnes last September, Chinese customs made a surprise announcement earlier on Thursday on its website that it was ...
By Tom DalyBEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese imports of scrap metal from the United States fell in September, according to customs data on Thursday, spelling out the impact of tariffs imposed by Beijing, while India and Iceland benefited from a boom in Chinese alumina exports. China's General Administration of Customs said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday that it was making available to the public monthly data on the import and export of commodities, including the country of origin for imports and destination for exports. Customs had previously provided such data for a fee but ...
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - New York-based activist hedge fund Hudson Executive Capital LP has taken a stake in Deutsche Bank to become one of the German lender's largest investors.Deutsche Bank's Chief Executive Christian Sewing said on Thursday that he welcomed the investment, which is led by former JPMorgan Chase finance chief Douglas Braunstein."Doug Braunstein and Hudson Executive come with deep backgrounds investing in financial services companies," he said in a statement. "We appreciate Hudson Executive's confidence in our ability to execute on our strategic objectives."Deutsche Bank did not ...
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Anglo-French oil company Perenco and Russian financial firm Gazprombank are the two companies identified in testimony by a former Venezuelan state oil company official as having payed millions of dollars in bribes, a source with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday. Abraham Ortega, a former financial executive at state oil company PDVSA, accepted $5 million in bribes from a French oil company and from a Russian bank, U.S. prosecutors in Florida said on Wednesday in a statement, which did not name either company. Prosecutors said that in exchange, Ortega helped the ...
By Nick CareySMYRNA, Tenn. (Reuters) - At points along the assembly line at Nissan Motor Co Ltd's largest U.S. factory, workers wheel trolleys past shelves selecting parts wherever they see a green or blue light.Nissan calls the system "pick to the light," and it helps workers get the right part for whichever of six different vehicles built at the plant, according to Ryan Fulkerson, director of new model engineering during a walk along the line. "No matter which model comes down the line, the right parts are waiting for it," said Fulkerson.Designing assembly lines to build more than one type ...
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is likely to announce new steps to support small and medium-sized businesses, such as increased access to credit and financial markets, at an industry event on Nov. 2, the finance ministry said in a tweet.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a programme to support the businesses in New Delhi on Friday, the finance ministry said.Modi's government is pushing the central bank to relax lending norms for small businesses and pump more liquidity into the market to bolster economic growth before key state elections due in the next few weeks and a general election ...
By Paulina DuranSYDNEY (Reuters) - National Australia Bank (NAB) posted a 14 percent fall in annual cash earnings on Thursday as the country's fourth-largest lender grapples with the costs of compensating customers and improving compliance following revelations of wrongdoing.The lender maintained its high dividend but the lower-than-expected profit underscored the costs NAB and other major Australian banks have incurred since a public inquiry exposed major flaws in their governance and accountability.Cash earnings came in at A$5.7 billion ($4 billion) for the year ended Sept. 30, compared ...
BEIJING (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Thursday to extend losses from the previous session, pressured by signs of rising supply and by growing concerns that demand may weaken on the prospect of a global economic slowdown. Brent crude futures for January had dropped 37 cents, or 0.49 percent, to $74.67 per barrel by 0527 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures declined 29 cents to $65.02 a barrel.Both benchmarks posted their worst monthly performance since July 2016 on Wednesday, with Brent down 8.8 percent for the month and WTI shedding 10.9 percent. Thursday's drops came after U.S. ...
By Koustav SamantaSINGAPORE (Reuters) - Southeast Asia is a potential hotspot for renewable energy, yet the region has not met expectations because it lacks policy frameworks that would encourage investment, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) told Reuters. Renewables across the world have typically been boosted by policies like price subsidies and guaranteed grid takeoff. In Southeast Asia, though, barring some exceptions such as in Thailand, support for renewables has been smaller, and the region lags far behind others in renewable output despite its potential, especially for ...
By Sarah N. LynchWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday unveiled an indictment against two companies based in China and Taiwan and three individuals, saying they conspired to steal trade secrets from U.S. semiconductor company Micron Technology Inc relating to its research and development of memory storage devices.The charges against Taiwan-based United Microelectronics Corp, China state-owned Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co Ltd and three individuals who once worked for a unit of Micron mark the fourth case brought by the Justice Department since September as part ...
Its hiring day at Rolls Royces jet-engine plant near Petersburg, Virginia. Twelve candidates are divided into three teams and given the task of assembling a box.

Twelve Rolls Royce employees stand around them, one assigned to each candidate, taking notes. The box is a prop, and the test has nothing to do with programming or repairing the robots that make engine parts here. Its about collaborative problem solving. We are looking at what they say, we are looking at what they do, we are looking at the body language of how they are interacting, ...
As an investment banker at the now-defunct Lehman Brothers, Song Hoi-See, founder and chief executive officer of Plaza Premium Group, which claims to be the largest independent airport lounge operator globally, used to typically travel in the business class. Back in 1990s, travelling in business class gave passengers access to the airport lounges of the airlines where they could recharge laptops and send fax. A few years later when he started his own business, he began travelling in the economy class, and realised there was no much inconvenience for economy passengers.

Song says that 85 per cent of the air travellers travel economy class, and just 15 per cent travel business or first class. "The airlines were taking care of only 15 per cent, and nobody was looking after the needs of the remaining 85 per cent. Out of my frustration, I came up with the idea of building airport lounges," he says.

Hong Kong-based Song approached the airport authorities in his home country just at a time when they were starting a new airport. He pitched the idea and got a go ahead. The first six months were tough, and he had to go back to airport authority to give him some relief with rentals. "I nearly exhausted all my money. All my investments had come from my savings. But I was convinced that it will work," he says. Soon, the business took off and Song is currently operating 171 lounges across 26 international airports.

Song says that it's just tip of the iceberg. "There are 2,000-odd international airports globally. We need airport to have about 6-7 million passengers every year to open a lounge. There are an estimated 1,100 airports that are worthwhile to go in, and I am covering a small fraction of the market. I am not saying that I am going to take care of 85 per cent [economy passengers], just one per cent [of the 85 per cent] is more than enough for the economies to work," he says.

In India, Plaza Premium has opened its 15th lounge recently in Ahmedabad after Hyderabad, Bangalore and New Delhi. It employs close to 1,000 people in the country and serves over 9,000 passengers every day. Song says that there's an evolution of the airports over the years. Going to airports is no longer just about catching flights. "Airports are spending a lot of money in enhancing the passengers' experience and technology upgrades. It's not easy for the airport authorities to run airports now because they have to continuously upgrade the quality expectations," he says.

In the recent years, the company has moved into related verticals - airport transit hotels, meet-and-greet services and airport dining. The idea to start airport hotels is targeted towards passengers who arrive early in the morning and passengers who have an early morning flight to catch. For instance, typical hotels don't allow check-in before 2pm. After an overnight flight, passengers want a quick nap before they head to their meeting or other work. Airport hotels, which sell rooms for a minimum of just six hours, offer amenities like a regular hotel - private toilets, shower, beds, pillows, sound-proof rooms - except that the rooms are not as big.

While there are no official figures on the size and structure of the airport lounge market globally, Song says that the market has several small operators - with 10-20 lounges - across different regions.

But the rise in costs - rentals, labour and food & beverages - is posing a big challenge for independent lounge operators. It's a low-margin business where operators have to rely on high volume. Having a big global network helps because the operator can do large-scale procurement. "When we buy Coca-Cola, we don't sign deal with local vendors, we sign with Atlanta. Plaza Premium is serving over 40 million people a year. We are in a position to do bulk procurement," says Song.

Besides opening up its own lounges, Plaza Premium is managing lounges for airlines and alliances such as Sky Team, American Express, Star Alliance, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. "Lounges are not their forte. They are trying to find somebody to manage their lounges," he says.

Last year, Plaza Premium earmarked investments of $100 million in markets like India, US and China. India, Song believes, has a huge potential due to the high double-digit growth in the aviation sector.
LOTS Wholesale Solutions, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Thailand-based Siam Makro PCL, which is a part of $50 billion Charoen Pokphand Group, on Thursday, launched its second store in Delhi-NCR region in Akshardham.

The company, which forayed into India this year, had launched its first distribution centre in July in Netaji Subhash Place, New Delhi. The newly launched store will cater to over 45,000 registered business customers which include hotels, restaurants and caterers (HoReCa), kirana stores, corporates, MSMEs and institutions such as government agencies, educational institutes and hospitals.

The company has over one lakh registered customers so far in both its stores. Spread over an area of more than 53,000 sq ft, the store also offers last mile delivery to its registered members.

The store was launched by Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog in an inaugural event in New Delhi. "The facility is all set to cater to the requirements of our members in East Delhi and nearby catchment areas. Through this store, the business customers of LOTS Wholesale Solutions will have a wide range of more than 5,000 food and non-food products to select from," Tanit Chearavanont, Managing Director, LOTS Wholesale Solution said commenting on the launch of the new store.

LOTS Wholesale Solutions operates in wholesale cash and carry segment and plans to open 15 wholesale distribution centres across North India with an investment of over Rs 1,000 crore in the next five years.

It has already opened two stores in the NCR regions and now plans to open a third one in Noida by the end of this financial year. The company, which invests on an average Rs 60-70 crore in one centre, is also looking at opening stores in Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Jalandhar, and Kolkata. It already has in place a collection centre in Haryana to collect fresh produce from farmers.

"From our first store, we have exceeded whatever expectation we had set. We have been getting very good responses and at peak time we are getting over 1500 walk in customers," Tanit Chearavanont, Managing Director, LOTS Wholesale Solution told Business Today.

Because of the real estate challenges in the country, the company has decided to open 25,000-50,000 sq ft stores inside the cities instead of outskirts. "If we build centres out of the city, it is very difficult for the people to travel. That is the reason why we continue to focus on building stores where the catchment is," he added.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to place before it in a sealed cover within 10 days the pricing details of 36 Rafale fighter jets India is buying from France. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also said that details, including the steps in the decision making process for the procurement of jets, which could "legitimately" be brought into public domain, be made available to the parties who have filed petitions before it in the matter.

After the court dictated the order, Attorney General K K Venugopal told the bench that pricing details of these jets were not even shared with Parliament.

The bench, which also comprised Justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph, told the Attorney General that if the pricing detail was "exclusive" and could not be shared with the court then the Centre should file an affidavit in this regard and say so. "If pricing is something exclusive and you are not sharing it with us, please file an affidavit and say so," the bench told Venugopal in its oral observations.

The bench made it clear that at this stage, details which might be considered to be "strategic and confidential" by the government be placed before the court and might not be given to the advocates appearing for the petitioners.

The court noted in its order that pursuant to its October 10 direction, the government has placed before it in a sealed cover a note giving the "details of the steps in the decision making process leading to the award of 36 Rafale jet-fighters/fighter aircrafts".

"At this stage, we would not like to record any finding or views with regard to the contents of the said report. Rather, we are of the opinion that such of the core information conveyed to the court in the aforesaid confidential report which can legitimately be brought into the public domain be made available to the counsels for the petitioners in all the cases, as well as, the petitioners-in-person," the bench said.

It said further details that could legitimately come in public domain with regard to induction of Indian offset partner, if any, be also furnished to the petitioners. "Such of the details in this regard which may be considered to be strategic and confidential may, at this stage, be placed before the court and may not be furnished to the counsels for the parties or the petitioners-in-person," the court said.

"The court would also like to be apprised of the details with regard to the pricing/cost, particularly, the advantage thereof, if any, which again will be submitted to the court in a sealed cover," the bench said in its order.

When Venugopal told the bench that report which the Centre has already placed before the court was covered under the Official Secrets Act and could not be shared, the bench made it clear that confidential and strategic information need not be shared.

The apex court also observed that in none of the public interest litigations (PILs) filed before it in the matter, the "suitability" of Rafale fighter jets and its "utility" to the Indian Air Force have been questioned. "What has been questioned is the bona fides of the decision making process and the price/cost of the equipment at which the same is to be procured," it said.

The bench said that necessary details be communicated to the advocates for the parties before it and the petitioners-in-person. It also said that "the rest of the details in terms of the present order be submitted to the court in a sealed cover in the next ten days. The parties may file their response to the information that would be conveyed".

The bench has posted the matter for further hearing on November 14.

During the brief hearing, advocate Prashant Bhushan, who along with former Union ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha has filed a petition in the matter, said they were seeking a court-monitored CBI probe into the Rafale jets deal.

"That you will have to wait," the CJI said, adding, "Let CBI put its house in order first."

Shourie was present in the court during the hearing of the four PILs filed by lawyers M L Sharma and Vineet Dhanda, one by Sinha, Shourie and Bhushan and another by AAP leader Sanjay Singh.

Advocate Dheeraj Kumar Singh, appearing for AAP MP Sanjay Singh, said he has also filed a plea seeking setting up of an special investigation team under the court's supervision to probe the Rafale deal. "What is his (Sanjay Singh) interest? We do not have to entertain so many petitions," the bench said and asked the counsel if the petitioner was aware of the pricing.

When the lawyer said Sanjay Singh knows the price, the bench said, "You keep it to yourself. You are one of the fortunate who know the price".

Advocate M L Sharma, also a petitioner, said he has filed an application seeking hearing on his plea after upcoming assembly elections in five states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana. "Which elections?," the bench asked, adding, "Business of this court cannot be stopped for elections". When Sharma again referred to the elections, the bench said, "How are you concerned with elections?"

The bench then told Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, "We are proposing to pass some order. Please listen to it very carefully".

India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment.

The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.
Successive RBI Governors have perpetuated the myth that the country's central bank and the sector's regulator is an independent and autonomous institution. They idolised the US Federal Reserve and its autonomy and patterned their actions on the lines of the US banking regulator. They were wrong.

Last week, Urjit Patel, the current Governor of the Reserve Bank of India found he is not as autonomous as the Federal Reserve, after all, as the Centre supposedly took the unprecedented call of invoking Section 7 of the RBI Act, 1934 for the first time in history to direct, not suggest, the RBI on three issues plaguing the economy. First, to ease RBI's tight norms on prompt corrective action against 12 banks; reclassification of non-performing assets for power generation firms; and to transfer Rs 50,000 crore in dividend to the Centre this year.

"The Central Government may from time to time give such directions to the Bank as it may, after consultation with the Governor of the Bank, consider necessary in the public interest," says Section 7 (i) of the RBI Act of 1934.

Deputy Governor Viral Acharya's lecture in Mumbai on Friday likening the government's myopic view of the economy to a T20 match, as against RBI's long-term view akin to a test match, is believed to be RBI's reaction to the Centre invoking Section 7.

Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has alleged that the NDA dispensation is "hiding facts" about the economy and is "desperate". Slamming the Modi-led government in a series of tweets, the senior Congress leader said the governments he was a part of in the past had never used Section 7 of the Reserve Bank of India Act. "We did not invoke Section 7 in 1991 or 1997 or 2008 or 2013. What is the need to invoke the provision now? It shows that government is hiding facts about the economy and is desperate (sic)," he said.

The furore against the supposed unprecedented move forced the ministry of finance to issue a clarification which cleverly didn't mention 'Section 7' but had a give-away: "Both the government and the Central Bank, in their functioning, have to be guided by public interest and the requirements of the Indian economy."

The statement, however, also indicated that the government was in no mood to back off. "The Government, through these consultations, places its assessment on issues and suggests possible solutions. The Government will continue to do so," the statement said emphatically.

BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, who has been vocal in his critique of the government, tweeted if the RBI Governor resigns, then it is a direct consequence of the FM blaming him publicly on Tuesday for the NPAs.

The question is: who will blink first? There may be indications that it's going to be the RBI. RBI has now called a meeting of the full board on November 19 to discuss the Centre's suggestions.

While the government and the RBI have had differences in the past, this is the first time in history when the RBI and the Centre have been so confrontational.

The chasm between the two has been widening ever since the RBI issued a circular in February which directed banks to acknowledge every loan delayed beyond the 90th day as a non-performing asset (NPA) and provision for it. This alone raised India's NPAs by nearly 25 per cent to more than Rs 10 lakh crore.

Second, the RBI's decision to put the 11 weakest banks under prompt corrective action (PCA) and its intransigence over the government's suggestions to relax the norms has them sparring. But it all began with the RBI bearing the brunt for the botched and awfully delayed execution of re-monetisation even though by all accounts the decision appears to have been thrust down its throat. It was also at the receiving end of the Nirav Modi scam.
While speculations are rife about his exit, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel has called an emergency meeting of the RBI Board on November 19 to discuss the central bank's ongoing tiff with the finance ministry. The issue came out in the open after a statement by his confidant and Deputy Governor Viral Acharya warning the government against curbing the independence of the central bank. This ruffled feathers in North Block. On Tuesday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley retaliated saying the RBI had failed to halt the excessive bank lending between 2008 and 2014 which eventually led to a surge in non-performing assets in the banking system.

An RBI board member told BT that the meeting will discuss all issues which are creating a rift between the government and the RBI. The board has government nominees as well; recently, the government had nominated three independent directors who are close to the RSS.

Meanwhile, two top finance ministry officials confirmed that instructions were issued to the RBI in three different cases under the RBI Act's special provisions under which the central bank has no option but to toe the government line. These provisions empower the Union government to issue instructions, as it may consider necessary in public interest, after consultation with the governor. There provisions have never been used before in 84 years of RBI history. The instructions related to reinitiating discussions on reclassification of non-performing assets in case of power plants, easing of the prompt corrective action, or PCA, framework, providing liquidity to non-banking finance companies, or NBFCs, and directing the central bank to transfer dividend of Rs 50,000 crore (63 per cent more than in the previous financial year) to the central government.

Though Viral Acharya, in his speech, had batted for central bank autonomy, finance ministry officials said the autonomy of the RBI is within the framework of the RBI Act and is not absolute.

In the last nine months, the RBI had had a run in with several ministries such as the power and renewable energy ministry, the MSME ministry as well as the Department of Industries over issues. The BJP's ideological parent, the RSS, is also upset with the RBI over its reluctance to ease capital adequacy norms for public sector banks, bring some of them out of the PCA framework, lend to MSMEs and help NBFCs tide over their current crisis with a special liquidity window. They believe the RBI is squeezing the appetite of SMEs to take debt and this impacting their growth.
Telecom operators like Airtel and Vodafone are finally pushing back Reliance Jio's disruptive pricing strategies. These operators are planning to roll out minimum recharge plans to weed out low-spending customers. Airtel and Vodafone are looking to boost their average revenue per user (ARPU) and focus on profitable customers.

As per the minimum recharge plans, there will a couple of different tariffs, starting at Rs 35 and including Rs 65 and Rs 95 packs. As per a report in The Economic Times, customers who do not recharge on these plans will see their outgoing calls barred in 30 days, following which incoming calls will be stopped in 45 days.

Analysts believe that these operators have finally realised that there have been way too much price disruption over the past two years after Reliance Jio entered the market. Sanjiv Bhasin, Executive Vice President, markets & corporate affairs, IIFL, told the daily that not only are these players looking to boost ARPU, they also do not mind losing low-spending customers who do not generate much revenue for them anyway. He added that they are likely to bank on middle- and upper-tier customers who do not switch services overnight like base-level users.

A person in the know told Livemint that letting go of customers who recharge less than Rs 35 a month will also free up Airtel's network and ease congestion, leading to good quality service for high-paying customers.

On the other hand, rural subscribers have significantly helped Reliance Jio increase its subscriber base. From 46.6 million in end-March to 73.11 million in end-August, Reliance Jio has managed to almost double it rural subscriber base, thanks to its cheap 4G phone and low tariffs.

According to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) data, Airtel holds the largest rural subscriber base with 33.23%, followed by Vodafone with 23.15%, IDEA with 23.10% and Reliance Jio with 12.14%.

Reliance Jio's pricing strategies since September 2016 has forced other telcos to revisit their pricing structure. Needless to say, customers emerged victorious in this price war. But many mobile companies got hit with some even exiting the sector and others merging.
Almost 9 in 10 Irish SMEs (88%) feel the government should be providing them with more support. This is according to the latest SME Ireland Confidence Tracker published by Bibby Financial Services Ireland.

The SME Confidence Tracker is a national survey of over 200 small and medium sized enterprises across the Republic of Ireland.



Irish SMEs believe that this support should come in the form of tax breaks (81%), a lower VAT rate (78%), additional funding (58%), subsidised staff training (55%) and assistance in growing their company (55%).

The survey finds that small to medium enterprises in Ireland have returned to investing in their businesses, with 81% of those surveyed saying they have done so in the third quarter of 2018. The key areas for investment are staff training and development (45%), IT (39%), recruitment (39%) and machinery and equipment (25%).

Eighty percent of SMEs plan to invest in their business over the next three months; in addition to staff training and development (43%), IT (33%) and recruitment (31%). Significant areas for investment are new products or services (23%) and overseas trade (14%).



The report finds that confidence in the Irish economy among SMEs remains a concern however, with more than a third (36%) claiming that uncertainty around the countrys economic environment is preventing them from investing in their business before the end of 2018.

Uncertainty arising from the UKs departure from the EU is also cause for unease with Irish SMEs; a further 36% say it is a key factor preventing them from investing in their business in the third quarter. Other barriers to investment include cash flow (36%), rising costs (36%) and the uncertain economic environment within Europe (23%).

More than half of Irish SMEs are planning to take steps in advance of Brexit (56%), with 38% saying they are exploring new markets, 26% are working to diversify their business and a further 24% are getting cash flow in order. Twenty nine percent of Irish SMEs are however not planning on taking any steps in advance of the March 2019 Brexit deadline.



Commenting on the report, Managing Director at Bibby Financial Services Ireland, Mark ORourke said, "One factor that is very clear from this research, is that Irish SMEs are feeling exposed and would like more support from the government. As we approach the end of 2018, we are facing into a number of unknowns economically, namely the UKs exit from the EU, cash flow issues that SMEs are still facing, the rising costs of running a business in Ireland and other political factors from Europe."

He added, "The government currently has a number of initiatives in place to help SMEs in advance of Brexit including the Strategic Banking Corporation of Irelands Brexit Loan Scheme. The many Irish SMEs facing challenges with funding are perhaps not fully aware of the broad range of funding options available even though many funding solutions, including invoice financing, are far more suited to their needs than traditional lending options. As financiers, we need to ensure that Irish SMEs understand the options available to them."



Source: www.businessworld.ie
European Union finance ministers will discuss next week a watered down proposal on an EU-wide digital tax, a document seen by Reuters shows, trying to persuade reticent governments to agree on the plan by the end of the year.

Under a proposal from the European Commission in March, EU states would charge a 3 percent levy on the digital turnover of large firms such as Google and Facebook that are accused of routing their profits to the bloc's low-tax states.

While France and some other big EU states are pushing for a quick introduction of the tax, smaller countries such as Ireland or Luxembourg oppose the measure, fearing it could cut their tax revenues.

To overcome opposition, Austria, which holds the EU's presidency, has proposed to set a "fixed expiry date" on the tax, the document said.

The levy was always intended as a temporary solution on capturing revenues from digital companies which escape many taxes thanks to their cross-border and virtual business.

A "sunset clause" has already been backed by most of the 28 EU states, but has been so far linked to a global deal on tax reform. Under the Austrian proposal, the levy could end at a predefined date.

A lengthy global debate on the overhaul of digital taxation has produced no results as states tend to have different stances on the issue, and sometimes compete with each other on rates and other benefits to attract firms.

Austria has also proposed excluding the sale of users' data from the activities covered by the planned tax, softening the Commission's proposal. Only revenues from online advertising services, in which Google and Facebook excel, and from virtual marketplaces, such as Amazon, would be subject to the new tax under the plan.

EU finance ministers will discuss the Austrian "options" in their monthly meeting on Nov. 6 in Brussels.

EU DIVIDED

A third of EU states, including France, Italy and Spain, supported the Austrian plan in a meeting on Wednesday, diplomats told Reuters, calling for a deal by December.

They pushed for an EU-wide deal because many states are planning to introduce similar national levies which could fragment the EU's common market. Britain, which will leave the bloc in March, announced its plan to tax online platforms on Tuesday.

But a large number of states, including Germany, Sweden, Ireland and Malta, raised objections, diplomats said. All EU states must back the plan for the tax to be introduced.

After initially backing the plan, Berlin has grown more skeptical, fearing that Washington will retaliate on the tax, which would hit mostly U.S. tech giants.

"A tax should be based on income, not sales, and should not single out a specific industry for taxation under a different standard," U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last week, urging a global solution instead of "unilateral action."

Echoing U.S. concerns, Nordic EU countries have expressed concerns the tax could damage the bloc's competitiveness as it would be imposed on revenues rather than profits, which is the traditional way of taxing companies.

Other legal and technical issues have also been raised by some states in an attempt to derail the plan, diplomats said. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
China has entered the World Banks list of the top 50 countries where doing business is easiest.

Thanks to a series of regulatory reforms, China leapt from 78th in 2017 to 46th in the rankings this year, which the World Bank published in its annual report on Wednesday.

The Doing Business 2019 Report compared business regulations for domestic firms in 190 economies, describing China and India as two economies with impressive reform agendas.

Both governments took a carefully designed approach to reform, aiming to improve the business regulatory environment over the course of several years, the report said.

Graphic: Gao Baiyu/Caixin

China is the only economy from the East Asia and Pacific region to make the reports list of top 10 improvers. The country has made substantial progress in streamlining the process for registering a company, making it easier to pay taxes and strengthening protections for minority investors, the report said.

Getting access to electricity has also become easier. For example, in Beijing and Shanghai, the time it takes to obtain a new connection to the power grid has fallen from more than three months in 2017 to about 30 days in 2018, due to a new mobile phone application for customers.

Contact reporter Charlotte Yang (yutingyang@caixin.com)
In just a few days, China will lift the curtain on its very first International Import Exposition in Shanghai. It will be a highlight in Chinas political calendar. After 40 years of opening-up and reform policy, this event will provide further opportunities for a range of commercial announcements between Chinese and international businesses. Along with many other countries, Germany and France will showcase their goods and services in Shanghai. With more than 300 companies, our two countries will be among the most significant exhibitors. Some of these companies are newcomers to China, but most of them have been doing business in China for a long time and have contributed to the Chinese success story. They want to present their firms and show future-oriented commitment to China and its customers.

French and German companies are looking forward to China demonstrating that it will not waver and will deepen its opening-up and reform policy in order to create a level playing field for foreign businesses in China. Following President Xis speeches in Davos and Boao, we have already seen a number of promising steps like the gradual lifting of equity requirements in the automotive and finance industries and a substantial reduction of import duties.

But more needs to be done. European businesses should have the same opportunities in China as Chinese industries enjoy in Europe. International businesses operating in China are awaiting a more holistic reform agenda to increase international investment and resolve the existing challenges. These expectations were formulated by President Macron and Chancellor Merkel during their visits to China this year, as well as at the EU-China Summit.

We encourage China to address these issues through concrete and systematic measures that go beyond tariff adjustments. To name but a few:

More than reducing the level of import taxes, China should take steps to enhance its reputation as an open and reliable export destination for producers. Such steps would also support Chinese consumers demand for diversity and quality. China could for example  in accordance with WTO standards  introduce quicker and scientifically-based procedures for agricultural products (SPS).

With regards to stimulating FDI inflows in China, it would be a significant step to abolish joint venture requirements across all sectors. This would send a strong signal to foreign investors and underline Chinas dedication to opening-up. Such a move should come with greater access to operational licences and other secondary-level reforms in sectors that are formally opened to foreign investors.

Another important measure would be to ensure that the implementation of cybersecurity legislation follows the principle of proportionality and does not lead to market access barriers or discriminatory practices against foreign businesses.

A fourth example would be to replace provisions in technology import-export and joint venture regulations that restrict foreign ownership and freedom to exert IP rights, to lift burdens on IP rights holders suffering infringement and to show real commitment to preventing and fighting massive counterfeiting.

Finally, our companies would be gratified if the ongoing reform of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) were to take up their concerns about the preferential treatment of SOEs and existing competitive disadvantages for private companies. Such measures should be taken as soon as possible and along concrete timelines. They should be interlinked with other measures in order to lead to a meaningful, comprehensive structural reform and business opportunities.

Opening-up should spread on the international arena. Business opportunities could be further broadened by a comprehensive agreement on investment with the EU. A positive milestone has been reached in that regard during the latest EU-China Summit with a first exchange of market access offers. But ongoing negotiations need to be accelerated and deepened. China could strengthen its European partners trust if it showed genuine dedication to opening its markets further to investors from Europe.

Together with China, the European Union is firmly committed to a strong multilateral trading system. But we all know that the current system needs bold reforms. These reforms are about ensuring that the WTO can perform its functions effectively, especially when it comes to settling disputes, as well as making WTOs rule-making power, regular work and monitoring function more effective. China is the worlds second-largest economy. As such, it should show real commitment to making these reform efforts a success.

The Shanghai expo comes at just the right time. Forty years after their inception, China should give the reform and opening-up policies fresh impetus and create new political and economic momentum for foreign business.

Jean-Maurice Ripert is Ambassador of France to the Peoples Republic of China. Dr. Clemens von Goetze is Ambassador of Germany to the Peoples Republic of China.
Because it is in the semiconductor business, one of the high-tech industries that China seeks to dominate, Jinhua helps support the controversial Made in China 2025 program. Photo: VCG

Taiwan semiconductor giant United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC) has said it will suspend research ties with a Chinese mainland chipmaker that the U.S. government has banned from buying American high-tech products on national security grounds.

UMCs decision to halt its research and development (R&D) partnership with Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co. Ltd. provides a glimpse into how Washingtons sanctions could hamper Beijings Made in China 2025 program. The program, designed to support the countrys efforts to upgrade its manufacturing sector to be more high-tech, has been a sticking point in the ongoing China-U.S. trade war.

In UMCs decision, first reported late Wednesday by Reuters, the chipmaker promised to adhere to U.S. sanctions and suspend R&D activities with Jinhua until they receive approval from the appropriate authorities. UMC will comply with all applicable laws and regulations and will place on hold the R&D activities that it has been performing for Fujian Jinhua under the joint development project, which was duly approved by the authorities, Lanfu Tsau of UMCs Corporate Communications Department told Caixin in a statement Thursday.

The U.S. Department of Commerce sanctioned Jinhua on Monday when it placed the company on a list that will effectively ban it from buying commodities, software and technology from the U.S. The department had accused Jinhua, a manufacturer of DRAM memory chips, of producing products whose technology likely originated from the U.S., threating the long term economic viability of domestic U.S. suppliers to the countrys military.

Because it is in the semiconductor business, one of the high-tech industries that China seeks to dominate, Jinhua helps support the Made in China 2025 program, though it relies on Taiwans leading chip technology to do so.

Jinhua entered a DRAM memory chip cooperation agreement with UMC in May 2016. Under the deal, UMC would develop the DRAM technology and share it with Jinhua. In return, Jinhua would provide related equipment and fees, according to UMCs annual report filing in 2017.

However, the arrangement has been controversial. For several years, Micron Technology Inc., a top U.S. chipmaker, has accused UMC engineers of attempting steal intellectual property on behalf of its partner Jinhua.

Contact reporter Tang Ziyi (ziyitang@caixin.com)

Read more about the China-U.S. trade war.
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The redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial will be designed to honour modern veterans, as much as commemorate past wars, director Brendan Nelson says. The ambitious nine-year project, which will cost $498 million and has bipartisan support, will include demolishing and rebuilding Anzac Hall over three levels, a substantial increase to exhibition space, a new entrance and new research centre. Therell be a complete redesign of the memorial's lower ground floor and a new underground exhibition hall to display large items such as helicopters and jet fighters. The redevelopment will also include a live feed of current defence activities, an area for quiet reflection and a display of the nation's cenotaphs and memorials. But Dr Nelson maintained the buildings original facade would remain unchanged, as a symbol, in direct line of sight from Parliament House, of the price paid for the freedoms that we enjoy and too often we take for granted. Speaking at the unveiling of the plans at Parliament House on Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the memorial could never be a static institution, and needed to reflect the changing story of Australias veterans. It is sacred to us all. It transcends politics, it transcends all of us, he said. [P]eople are very passionate about the memorial - its past and, importantly, its future. As in the future, we look to ensure that the stories of an entire new generation of service are told and remembered for future generations. Because, sadly, there will be future generations of service as well. He said when the memorial was first opened in 1941, it stood out, as it does today, not for its size but its simplicity, its restraint, its humility. It was not a tribute to war or a nation's power or strength. It was a simple, humble memorial to the fallen and a home for their memory. But Dr Nelson said that today, the memorial, in its current state, was not able to adequately tell the stories of Australian personnel who have served overseas in the past two decades. Todays servicemen and servicewomen are returning home to a country that has no idea what they have done, does not understand their service or the sacrifices they have made, he said. Young servicemen and women are barely able to explain it to their families, let alone the rest of the nation. Their story must be told to help them understand the impact service has had on them, to help them transition to life back home, and to heal. He said he had been approached that morning by a Vietnam veteran who thanked him for doing what hadnt been done for previous returning soldiers in his day. The opportunity, and the responsibility our nation now has, is to proudly tell the stories of what has been done in recent years in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Solomon Islands, and East Timor, and in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, he said. We must tell these stories not years or decades after they have occurred, but now. It is also the stories of families who love and support them. He also defended the cost of the redevelopment, maintaining that the funding was not at the expense of existing services to veterans. What the government is investing in the Australian War Memorial is one quarter of 1 per cent of what our nation will invest in defence over the next 10 years, he said. Not one cent of it is actually coming in any way from veterans entitlements. This is for veterans, it is for them, it is for their families.

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Police are investigating the murder of little Safa Annour, a two-year-old Canberra girl who died of internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma. Detective Superintendent Scott Moller, who described it as an absolutely horrendous case, said Safa had been taken to Canberra hospital about 1.50pm on Monday, April 30, and died despite resuscitation attempts. "A post mortem examination established Safa died as a result of blunt force trauma and fatal internal bleeding. These injuries were caused by another person," he said. "Police have identified two people responsible for Safa's care during the time she is suspected to have received her fatal injuries." He would not say what relationship those people had with Safa, but did say police had not ruled out any suspects in her death. "The exact details of the investigation I won't be revealing today," he said. "At the time of her death, we made a decision not to release those details to the public. Since that time, the investigation has taken us along a line of inquiry and we have decided to release these details." Police will publish footage taken about 8.40am in Stuart Street, Griffith, the day Safa died. She appeared to be uninjured and waved happily to a bus driver. Detective Superintendent Moller said police were investigating several lines of inquiry in what was a "heartbreaking" case for officers. "It is absolutely horrendous. Any child in any circumstance that is murdered is absolutely tragic," he said. "ACT Policing believes there are people in the community who have information relating to what we believe is Safa's murder and we are asking anyone with information about the toddler's death to come forward. "We are trying to get any information we can ... we would be calling for anyone who has seen anything suspicious. "Any piece of information no matter how small would be able to assist our investigation. "We have a dedicated team of investigators who will be accepting information relating to Safa's murder directly." Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators directly on 0427 598 207, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the website. Please quote reference 6261136. Information can be provided anonymously.

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A bushfire burning west of Canberra grew to 113 hectares overnight Thursday, and is just 8 kilometres from the nearest suburb. A watch and act warning has been issued for the fire, which started from a car fire on Laurel Camp Road at Pierces Creek at 5.45pm on Thursday. More than 25 appliances battled the out of control bushfire at Paddy's River overnight and aircraft were expected to take to the skies and dump water on the blaze on Friday morning. The Emergency Services Agency has warned embers may be blown ahead of the fire, which could cause spot fires up to two kilometres ahead of the fire. Residents in the Tuggeranong valley are being urged to monitor the situation. "The fire is burning erratically and is heading in a south easterly direction," an Emergency Services Agency spokesperson said. "There is a chance people may die or be injured. Some homes and businesses may be damaged or destroyed." The Emergency Services Agency is working with the Education Directorate to evacuate students from Miles Franklin Primary School who were on Thursday night camping at Birrigai Outdoor School. The 150 year 3 and 4 students were expected to be brought out by bus at 9.30am Friday with the help from firefighters. The students are safe and will be back at their school by 10.30am. Parents of the students are being contacted. As the fire danger rating reaches very high, ACT Emergency Services Agency Commissioner Dominic Lane has declared a Total Fire Ban for the whole of the ACT from 9am until midnight. The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a hot day with strong NW winds expected throughout the morning, with gusts up to 60km/h. The wind is inspected to intensify about 1pm. ACT Fire and Rescue Commander Paul Flynn said the terrain had made gaining access to the fire difficult and that conditions overnight had been extraordinarily warm and dry, making fire-fighting harder. "The fire has spread a lot quicker than what we would have liked it too," Mr Flynn said. "At this stage, homes are not under threat but there are some houses near the tracking station that I wouldnt call in threat at this point in time, however, were taking steps to give them early warnings to either leave or protect their property." Mr Flynn said a number of aircraft were on the way to help extinguish the fire from above and NSW Fire and Rescue were on standby. "We're all working together to do what we can do and make sure people of Canberra are as protected as we can make them," he said. Although there is currently no threat to property, firefighters are urging people in the area to activate their emergency fire plan. As a precautionary measure, the Mount Stromlo Observatory has been closed. ACT Rural Fire Service, ACT Fire & Rescue, ACT Parks and Conservation Service are on the scene. Paddy's River Road is closed between Cotter Road and Tidbinbilla Road. The Boboyan Road and Brindabella Road remain open to through traffic. During the fire ban, a number of reseres and roads will be closed including: Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, selected roads within Namadgi National Park including Apollo Road, Orroral Road, Old Mill Road, Warks Road, Mount Franklin Road and the Corin Dam Road, Googong Foreshores, Kowen Forest, Lower Molonglo River Corridor, Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve, Mulligans Flat Woodlands Sanctuary and the Centenary Trail between Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve and Hall. The Tidbinbilla and Namadgi Visitors Centres will remain open. The bushfire follows a grass fire in the same area on September 1, which burnt three hectares and took two hours to extinguish.

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There are cat videos and then there are cat videos. The rescue of a poor moggie trapped in the hot engine of a car in Canberra on Thursday is absolutely mesmerising. The video was posted on Facebook by Sarah Hart who also said she noticed the cat when walking past the vehicle at Westfield Woden on Thursday. She was returning from the ticket booth at the carpark near the centre loading dock and the car was on enough of an incline for her to see under. "I saw a fluffy cat tail and part of a leg sticking out from the engine underneath the car. It was dead for sure - stuck hanging, near a hot engine on a hot day,'' she wrote on the Canberra Notice Board Group's Facebook page. She posted on the page to alert the owner of the car and also had them paged inside the centre. Some desperate meows from the stuck cat established it was alive. The owner of the car turned up, but did not own the cat. The owner opened the bonnet and allowed security from Westfield Woden to extricate the frightened puss, even permitting some parts of the car to be dismantled. It took an hour but the cat - hot, thirsty, scared - was finally rescued alive. Sarah told the Canberra Notice Board Group community that a lot of "don't usuallys" happened that helped with the cat being detected and rescued. She didn't usually shop during the week and, if she did, she usually went to Tuggeranong, not Woden. If she did shop at Woden, she parked underground, but on Thursday, there were not enough parks, so she went to the outside carpark. "I was only there [because] I had finished work training in Stirling,'' she told the group. "I had the afternoon off and Woden was close. I cut through the car park and lucky there was an empty space in front of the car otherwise I wouldnt have seen it.'' Sarah, 35, of Calwell, said the cat was comfortable around people and did not appear to be feral. It was receiving veterinary care and being checked for a microchip with the hope of being reunited with its owner. "Safe to say I came home and hugged my cat,'' she told The Canberra Times. Two women who drove the car to Woden work in Symonston and usually go for a walk around Symonston on their lunch break but this time decided to go for a drive to Woden. Had they not, the cat quite possible could have been struck in the engine until at least 5.30pm and unlikely to have survived the heat. Neither woman owned the cat but did all they could to ensure the rescuers got access to the moggie, who now has eight lives to go with.

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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will travel to China and South Korea this weekend on a trade mission. Ms Palaszczuk will meet executives from the online retail giant Alibaba, which has sales that total more than eBay and Amazon combined, and plans to open 1000 supermarkets across China in the next five years. "The opportunities for Queensland producers from that meeting alone are extraordinary," she said. Ms Palaszczuk will host a dinner with Chinese tourism investors to investigate further opportunities to lure tourists to Queensland. China is also the biggest source of tourists to Queensland, with more than 500,000 Chinese visitors last year, spending $1.3 billion. "If our tourism operators have access to Alibaba as a payment platform, it will make those transactions easier and make holidaying in Queensland all the more attractive," Ms Palaszczuk said. Ms Palaszczuk said she was travelling to China on the invitation of the Chinese government, which was organising the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai, from November 5 to 10. "This import expo is a priority of President Xi," she said. "Maintaining a constructive and productive relationship with our most important trading partner is vital for Queensland." The Expo will feature 2800 companies from 130 countries, with an expected 180,000 attendees. There will be 14 Queensland companies taking part, including a Kilcoy meat producer, seafood operator, The University of Queensland and James Cook University, and a pharmaceutical company that produces a drug used by multiple sclerosis patients. China is Queensland's largest trading partner, with exports to China rising by $4.8 billion in the past year to $23.7 billion, out of the state's total exports of $76.7 billion. Excluding coal, China is still Queensland's biggest customer, spending $13.8 billion. Ms Palaszczuk will also sign an agreement to export "one of Queensland's greatest cultural claims to fame". In November, Li Cunxin will lead the Queensland Ballet on a tour to Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an and Suzhou. After China, the Premier will make her first official trip to South Korea, Queensland's fourth-largest trading partner. "While the Republic of Korea loves us for our primary products, they also love us for our minds and Queensland's leading edge in renewable energies including hydrogen," Ms Palaszczuk said. Near Townsville, Korea Zinc has built one of the southern hemisphere's biggest solar plants for its Sun Metals refinery. Ms Palaszczuk will meet with them to explore new opportunities. She said she was leading an outward-looking, export-oriented, future-focused government. "It's a simple fact that in the past, my government's trade missions have secured companies like Rheinmetall and JFE Steel to Queensland," she said. "These are just two deals worth bills of dollars and hundreds of jobs."

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Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact.

Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here.

Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing.

You are our people. You Care. We Care2.
Photo: The Canadian Press The Toronto Star building is shown in Toronto, Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Torstar Corp. reported a loss of $18.8 million in its third quarter as its revenue fell by 13 per cent.

Torstar Corp. reported a loss of $18.8 million in its third quarter as its revenue fell by 13 per cent.

The publisher of the Toronto Star newspaper says the loss amounted to 23 cents per share for the quarter ended Sept. 30.

The result compared with a loss of $6.6 million or eight cents per share in the same quarter last year.

Revenue totalled $126.4 million, down from $145.9 million.

On an adjusted basis, Torstar says it lost 22 cents per share in the quarter compared with an adjusted loss of eight cents per share in the third quarter of 2017.

Analysts on average had expected a loss of eight cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon.

Torstar chief executive John Boynton, who joined the company in March 2017, has undertaken a number of initiatives including the rebranding of its free daily newspapers in various cities under the Star Metro banner and the introduction of a paywall at the flagship Toronto Star.

The paywall limits the number of full articles available to view without a subscription.

Besides the Toronto Star newspaper and its affiliated website, Torstar owns daily and community newspapers throughout Ontario, a 56.4 per cent interest in VerticalScope and minority interests in a number of other companies.
Photo: The Canadian Press A real estate sign is shown in Victoria, B.C., on Friday, June 1, 2018.

They say breaking up is hard to do  and that most often can be the case when it comes to leaving your realtor.

Although not overly common, there may come a time when you want to ditch the real estate agent you have entrusted to help you sell or buy a home.

However, if you have signed a contract to work with your agent, chances are you're stuck with them, at least for awhile.

Realtor Andre Pasche says the top reason why a client may want to dump their listing agent before their contract ends is that they blame them for not being able to sell their property.

"You can find yourself at a standstill," said Pasche, who is with Norman Hill Realty in Markham, Ont.

"The house isn't selling, the real estate agent isn't going to cancel the agreement, so nothing is going to happen. Basically everybody is wasting time because they're mad at each other."

Other reasons why a homeowner may become unhappy can include a realtor over-promising in their pitch, convincing the owner the home is worth more than market value or added services such as staging and marketing materials were not delivered to their standards.

Alternatively, homebuyers can become frustrated if they keep losing out on bids, or begin to not trust the expertise or advice given to them by their buying agent.

In these scenarios, there is little recourse for someone who wants to back out of a contract, says Pasche.

The first step an unhappy client should take is to express their concerns with their agent to see if they'd be willing to break the contract.

If that's not possible, they can speak with the agent's manager and ask to work with another salesperson in the company. Switching agents within the same brokerage does not contravene the original contract, which is usually signed with a brokerage, not an agent, for anywhere from 60 to 90 days.

Lastly, the homeowner can reach out and file a complaint with the regulating real estate body in their province, like the Real Estate Council of Ontario, which can often be laborious and time-consuming.

Pasche says the simplest way to stop working with an agent is to wait until the contract expires, pull the property off the market and relist it with a new realtor.

Listing agents are often reluctant to let clients break their contracts because they typically spend hundreds of dollars on staging the property, creating a website and hiring a professional photographer. Some realtors may agree to void the contract, but will insist on being reimbursed for these costs.
Yes, it seems that the friendship between Dian and Valentina You will not survive the end of confinement in Itapeserica...
On Election Day, Nov. 6, Emory will provide shuttle transportation for students, staff and faculty who are exercising one of the most foundational rights of citizenship in our democracy: the right to vote.

Emory Votes What: Election Day shuttle bus transportation When: Polling places are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6. The Emory Votes shuttle route will operate from 6:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. Where: Emory Votes shuttle buses will transport voters from Woodruff Circle to the five polling locations below. In addition, four of the five locations are also served by Emory Cliff Shuttles regular routes. View more information on regular shuttle schedules. Druid Hills High School (1798 Haygood Dr., NE): Emory Votes shuttle. Also, Cliff routes 1525/VA, C, E and Loop. Every 5-10 minutes. Routes also serve Clairmont Campus. Emory Presbyterian Church (1886 N Decatur Road, NE): Emory Votes shuttle. Served also by the same Cliff shuttles serving nearby Druid Hills High and by CCTMA route at corner of N. Decatur and Haygood. Every 30 minutes. Briar Vista Elementary School (1131 Briar Vista Terrace, NE): Emory Votes shuttle. Served also by Cliff Executive Park route at the corner of Briarcliff and Briar Vista Terrace. Every 20 minutes during peak; 40 minutes off-peak. Clairmont Presbyterian Church (1994 Clairmont Road): Emory Votes shuttle only. No Emory Cliff service. North Decatur Presbyterian Church (611 Medlock Rd) (1886 N. Decatur Road). Emory Votes shuttle. Also served by Emory Cliff North DeKalb route at Medlock Road and N. Decatur (Meltons App and Tap shopping center). Varies from 10 to 30 minutes. Track Emory Votes shuttles in real time via the TransLoc app or online. Confirm your status and polling place at Georgia Secretary of State website. Find a location to vote before Nov. 6:

If you are registered to vote in DeKalb County  regardless of the precinct in which you are registered  early voting is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Friday, Nov. 2. A list of locations can be found here. Sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Emory Campus Life, Department of Political Science, SGA and Graduate SGA.

On Election Day, Emory encourages students, staff and faculty to exercise one of the most foundational rights of citizenship in our democracy: the right to vote.

Many Emory undergraduate students have recently reached voting age and will be casting a ballot for the first time this year. Others have voted in previous elections but consider this years midterms to be of special, even historic, significance.

Many of us lead very busy lives planned down to the minute. But we must always make time for the important things in our lives, says Lori Steffel, an Emory sophomore who serves as speaker of the Student Government Association legislature. The results of this election will impact us for years to come. There is nothing more important that we could do next Tuesday than to participate in our democracy and vote to ensure that our voices are heard.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6, the Emory Votes initiative will offer shuttle transportation for members of the university community who are registered to vote at any one of five designated polling places in the vicinity of Emorys Druid Hills campus.

Emory Votes eliminates obstacles to voting, something all institutions should do, says Julia Bittencourt, a senior with a double major in international studies and philosophy. Voting translates into policy-making, which impacts all our lives and the lives of our loved ones.

Although Bittencourt lives off-campus and drives, she says she is likely to take a shuttle from campus for the convenience and for the camaraderie of sharing the experience with other Emory students.

Polling places are open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Election Day. Shuttle buses displaying Emory Votes signage will operate on a continuous basis from 6:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters may board shuttles at Woodruff Circle and return to that location.

To vote at one of the polling places on the Emory Votes shuttle route on Election Day, a voter must be registered at that location, per state law. Voters may confirm their voting status and polling place on the Georgia Secretary of State website.

Although the university is providing transportation on Election Day, voters are encouraged to vote early when possible. Reports compare early voter turnout this year to 2016, a banner year for voting nationwide, with turnout expected to also be very high on Election Day. A number of early voting locations are provided for DeKalb County voters on this website.

The importance of voting

Emory Votes follows a voter education and registration drive hosted at numerous campus venues from August through October, supported by multiple university organizations and individuals. The drive helped hundreds of students to register and provided information for many others.

Like the registration drive, Emory Votes represents a broad partnership, according to David Clark, associate vice president of Campus Life.

We are delighted to partner with the provosts office, political science faculty, the undergraduate and graduate student government associations, transportation and other organizations on the Emory Votes campaign, Clark says. In the spirit of One Emory, this effort encourages students and all members of our university community to exercise the right to vote and help shape the future of our state, nation and world.

Emorys commitment to encouraging students to vote, regardless of their political views, reflects the universitys tradition of nurturing students who become leaders in their professions and communities, as well as the nation and world, according to Alex Bolton, assistant professor of political science.

Voting is an important way for students to participate in the political process and can serve as a foundation for broader engagement here in the metro community and beyond, says Bolton.

I am encouraged by the growing interest in civic engagement among people across the political spectrum  especially young people, he adds. Voting is a tangible expression of our support for our democratic institutions.

Sydney Kaplan 19L, president of the Graduate Student Government Association (GSGA), agrees.

Young people are the future of this country, so it is critical that their voices are heard by our elected officials. The best way to make sure our voices are heard is by going to the polls, she explains. I want to encourage all students to vote.

Three steps to be ready for Election Day

The University Senate is also conducting Get Out the Vote efforts to encourage faculty, staff and students to vote.

The governance group is distributing flyers encouraging the campus community to take three easy steps:

1. Find your polling location. Use the Georgia Secretary of States My Voter Page to confirm you are registered, find early voting locations and find your polling place for Election Day.

2. Create your voting plan. If you are voting early in-person, try to take advantage of scheduled days off. If you requested a mail-in absentee ballot, mail it back as soon as possible, because ballots must be received by Election Day. Or plan to vote in-person on Nov. 6.

3. Vote! Remember to bring your government-issued photo ID. If your polling place is served by Emory Votes shuttles, decide if you are going to use this amenity or take other transportation to the polls. If you are an Emory employee, know that Emorys Voting Policy allows requests for time off up to two hours to be considered if your work schedule would prevent you from voting. And if poll workers notify you of unexpected issues with your ability to vote, ask for a provisional ballot.

The theme for the University Senate this year is Engagement & Visibility, says Jason Schneider, president of the University Senate and an associate professor in the School of Medicine. The leadership of the Senate viewed a Get Out the Vote campaign as a timely and impactful project that complemented our focus for the year, encouraging our constituents to engage in our collective civic duty.
Being active most days is a pro move for managing diabetes.

You dont get really good at dealing with diabetes overnight. But over time, youll figure out how to go from getting it done to taking it in stride. See if any of these tips are familiar (or worth trying!).

Remember when you first found out you had diabetes and learned the basics of taking care of yourself?

Make and eat healthy food.

Be active most days.

Test your blood sugar often.

Take medicines as prescribed, even if you feel good.

Learn ways to manage stress.

Cope with the emotional side of diabetes.

Go to checkups.

One way or another, youve had to try to make it all fit with family, work, school, holidays, and everything else in your life. Heres our short list of tips to help  youre probably familiar with many, but some may be new (feel free to use!).

Eat Well

Take the time to cook. Youre not saving time by sitting in the drive-thru anyway.

Look online for budget-friendly, easy-to-make recipes. Many are so good youll want to eat right out of the pan.

Write down or take photos of all your meals and snacks. This one trick makes you much more aware of everything you eat and helps you stay in control.

You cant go wrong with veggies. Take a free online cooking class to learn the secrets of making them taste delicious.

Skip diabetic foods. They often cost more than regular food, and they dont taste very good anyway.

Make the same food for you and your family. Healthy eating for everyone!

Try Meatless Monday (or any day of the week). Beans and lentils are cheap, tasty, and really good for you.

Make family favorites with a twist: substitute veggies for some of the rice or pasta, or blend veggies until smooth and add to sauces.

Learn more about healthy eating.

Be Active

Exercise is still one of the best tools for managing diabetes, and its free!

Break a sweat regularly, but also find little ways to be active throughout the day, like climbing stairs and walking.

Work out with a friend. Youre more likely to stick with it because you wont want to let them down.

Try an activity tracker (many apps are free). Its very motivating to watch your steps add up.

Check out all the online workout videos. Theres something for everyone, at every level of fitness.

Learn more about getting active.

Menu ideas, cooking videos, and thousands of recipes are just a few clicks away.

Manage Stress

Try meditation or yoga to slow down and relax. Choose from thousands of free videos online to get started.

Get moving! Taking a walk can help you unwind, and the effect can last for hours.

Call or make plans to get together with a friend who understands you.

Learn more about diabetes and mental health.

Do Things You Can Keep Doing

For new habits, start small. Little successes make it easier to take on bigger goals.

Make goals specific. Instead of Im going to get in shape, think Im going to walk after dinner on weekdays.

Make good choices easier. Stick to just one or two healthy breakfast options, bring your lunch instead of buying, leave the dogs leash by the door.

Keep Learning

Diabetes self-management education and support services can help you learn skills to manage diabetes when youre first diagnosed, and at these other key times as well:

During checkups with your doctor.

When a new event or health problem affects how you take care of yourself.

When any other big life event, like changing your job or home, affects your diabetes care.

Ask your doctor to recommend a diabetes educator, or search the American Association of Diabetes Educators nationwide directoryexternal icon for a list of educators in your community.

See the Big Picture

Whats most important to you? Being fit for yourself and your family? Having fun? Having energy? Everything you do to take care of yourself gives you more of what matters most. Heres to making diabetes a part of life instead of life being all about diabetes!
Calicom Industries applies to acquire Dandot Cement

01 November 2018

Dandot Cement Co Ltd (DCCL) has informed Pakistan Stock Exchange that the company has received a firm intention from Calicom Industries (Pvt) Ltd, Lahore to its acquire control of DCCL and 63,542,787 voting shares (67 per cent of paid up capital) of DCCL beyond the thresholds prescribed under Section 111 of the Securities Act 2016 (the "Act").



This intention was notified to DCCL's board of directors on 31 October 2018, stated by Mr Muhamamd Kamran, Company Secretary to PSX.

Calicom Industries has already appointed Pervez Ahmed Capital (Pvt.) Ltd to act as Manager to acquire Dandot Cement in accordance with the provisions of the act and the regulations.



9MFY17-18 performance

The company incurred a net loss of PKR375m during this period and officials attribute losses to high input costs, power shutdowns with voltage fluctuations, frequent repair and maintenance and alternative fuel testing cost.



Plant history

The company was incorporated in 1980 in Pakistan as public limited company and started its production in 1983 Dandot RS, Jhelum district, Punjab. The plant was supplied and erected by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Japan. The kiln was designed for a rated capacity of 1000tpd of clinker. The company was acquired by Chakwal Group of Companies in 1992. That management contacted FLSmidth Denmark to increase the capacity upto 1600tpd. The installation work for optimisation of the plant was completed in 1994 which enabled it to produce 504,000tpa of cement.

Afterwards the company was sold to Gharibwal Cement Co Ltd in 2000 and remained under its control upto 2007. In 2007, company was acquired by Three Star Group of Companies, the current management.



After five years of operations, the management arranged an investment/loan in 2013 for major maintenance and BMR of the plant. After the BMR the plant is running commendably with enhanced efficiency. Further negotiations with FLSmidth Denmark are also in process to increase the production capacity upto 1800tpd of clinker. Furthermore, the management is also considering various options to make the machinery more proficient especially by replacement of old electric installations/equipments to reduce the power and fuel cost.

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Arkan's 9M18 results are stable at AED676.9m

01 November 2018

Arkan Building Materials Company (ABMC) reported that it achieved a net revenue of AED676.9m (US$184.3m) in 9M18 compared to AED677.6m during the 9M17. The growth in pipes, blocks and dry mortar sales offset the decline in clinker sales. Clinker sales were impacted by stiff competition, cheap imports from Iran and a slowdown in summer construction.

Higher production costs also affected ABMC's profit margins, as the plant continued to import limestone from Oman, while a sustainable solution with the authorities to restart mining at the Al Ain quarry remains unresolved.



Commenting on the results, Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, chairman of Arkan, said: "We are currently having on-going discussions with the authorities to resolve our quarry issue in Al Ain, which, once resolved, will eliminate our need of importing limestone from Oman and help in reducing our cost of production.



"We continue to implement our strategy of developing a diversified portfolio of products that balances our business through market cycles and we are pleased to see significant growing interest in our specialist products, especially pipes and dry mortar. Pricing across our cement division remains challenging and we are looking forward to seeing the construction market improve as expected by the latter part of this year.



The group is currently in the process of selling Emirates Cement Factory's assets.

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With over 50 arts events scheduled at Emory in November, there is a lot to be thankful for this month. Highlights include multiple performances featuring Emory student dancers, actors and musicians.

With over 50 arts events scheduled at Emory in November, there is a lot to be thankful for.

Here are some of the highlights of this months arts calendar:

Films

The Department of Film and Media Studies continues its fall Film Cinematheque Series, Hitchcock/Hitchcockian, Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in 208 White Hall with North by Northwest (1959), Psycho (1960), and The Birds (1960). All screenings are free and open to the public.

Music

Watch some of Emorys most outstanding undergraduate students from the Department of Music perform in ECMSA: Emorys Young Artists on Friday, Nov. 9, at noon. This event takes place in Ackerman Hall at the Michael C. Carlos Museum. Opportunities to hear talented Emory and regional students perform continue with a chamber music concert on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. and an Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra concert on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m. Both events take place in Emerson Concert Hall at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. All of these concerts are free.

Bradley Howard, tenor, and Lee Thompson, piano, perform Songs of Love and War on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 8 p.m. The concert is free. Another critically acclaimed guest makes an appearance this month, with Lise de la Salle playing piano on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 8 pm. Tickets are $45 for general audiences and $5 for Emory students.

Theater

Theater Emory continues its Fall Repertory through Sunday, Nov. 11. Theater Emory presents three unique plays in rotating repertory, with shows featuring professional Atlanta actors and Emory students. Tickets are $15 general admission, $12 discount categories and $5 students. Pay-what-you-wish nights are also held. Performances are held in the Mary Gray Munroe Theater in the Alumni Memorial University Center.

On Friday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m., visiting artist Sara Juli presents her solo performance Tense Vagina: an actual diagnosis about motherhood  its beauty, challenges, isolation, comedy and influence on the human experience. This event takes place in the Schwartz Theater Lab and is free to the public. Reservations requested.

Dance

Emory Dance Company performs new contemporary works by New York artist Kendra Portier, Emory Dance alumnus Andre Lumpkin, Atlanta Ballets Nadia Mara and Emory Dance faculty artists Gregory Catellier and George Staib. Performances run from Nov. 15 to Nov. 17 in the Dance Studio of the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $8 for all students.

Museum and literary events

Dont miss the last opportunity to tour the exhibition Divine Felines: Cats in Ancient Egypt with Melinda Hartwig, curator of ancient Egyptian, Nubian and Near Eastern art. This free tour occurs Sunday, Nov. 4, from 2-3 p.m. at the Carlos Museum.

Commemorate the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day with a reading of World War I poetry written by Shaw-Stewart, Robert Graves, Wilfred Owen, Isaac Rosenberg and others with Ron Schuchard, Goodrich C. White Professor of English Emeritus, Garth Tissol, professor of classics, and Geraldine Higgins, associate professor of English. This free public event takes place on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 4 p.m.
Brian Jones, 47, of Old Fort, Tn., was sentenced on Wednesday by Superior Court Judge Scott Minter to serve a total of 39 years in prison followed by one year on probation as required by Georgia law on certain sexual offense sentences. Standard sex offender conditions were also imposed and Jones will have to register as a sex offender.

Jones was convicted by a Murray County jury on Oct. 18 of three counts of child molestation and one count of sexual battery against a minor.

The case involved abuse against two children and the offenses were indicted separately in two different indictments by the Murray County Grand Jury in March.

The allegations against Jones were investigated by Detectives Eric White and Brett Morrison of the Murray County Sheriffs Office and by Detective Andy Dill of the Chatsworth Police Department with assistance from The GreenHouse, child advocacy center which serves both Murray and Whitfield Counties. In addition to law enforcement, numerous family members testified at trial as did Melissa Wells, forensic interviewer for The GreenHouse who interviewed both children. The investigation began in the Spring of 2017 following both childrens disclosures of abuse to their families. Jones had access to the children through a relationship with another family member but was not himself a relative of the victims.
Daniel Boling, balladeer and songwriter, will perform at Charles and Myrtle's Coffeehouse on Saturday at 8 p.m. The coffeehouse is inside Christ Unity Church at 105 McBrien Road. There is a $10 suggested donation at the door.

Review for Daniel Boling,

Daniel Boling, the 2014 winner of the prestigious Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk songwriter contest, shares experiences from a life well-lived in places as far-ranging as Japan, Okinawa, and Padre Island, Texas. With his well-crafted story songs and friendly tenor this balladeer /songwriter delights audiences coast-to-coast in over 100 shows a year, from house concerts and listening rooms to major festivals (Kerrville, Winfield, Woody Guthrie, and others).
Twenty-two top aquariums across the United States  including the Tennessee Aquarium  have already eliminated five million straws in their coordinated campaign to reduce sources of plastic pollution. Now, this unprecedented coalition, the Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP), is upping its game by encouraging individuals, businesses and cities around the country to cut back on single-use plastic  starting with plastic straws  by Earth Day 2019 on April 22.

Banding together in a joint #FirstStep to plastic-free waters, the ACP is seeking commitments from 500 more businesses, pledges from individuals, and policy action by municipalities to reduce this growing source of single-use plastic waste, which harms freshwater and ocean wildlife around the world.



The campaign will kick off during #NoStrawNovember, a nationwide movement asking people who dont need them to refuse plastic straws for 30 days.



In early October, German chemistry professor Dr. Andreas Fath, visited the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute to announce the findings of a comprehensive analysis of the Tennessee Rivers water quality. Dubbed TenneSwim - a Swim for Science, Fath swam the entire 652-mile length of the Tennessee River during the summer of 2017. Along the way, he and his team collected water samples, which they spent the last year analyzing. Despite finding the river in generally good health, Fath revealed that his analyses found staggering levels of microplastics.



The concentration of microplastics Dr. Fath recorded was alarming, especially considering that his team was only sampling the water closest to the surface, said Dr. Anna George, the Tennessee Aquariums Vice President of Conservation Science and Education. Based on this information, we believe there are even more particles along the riverbed where the heavier plastics would end up.



Dr. Fath and his team identified a plastic problem in our river, but it will take additional research to fully understand how that impacts aquatic life and human health. But we dont need to wait on that research to know that right now, everyone can contribute to improving the health of our rivers by reducing single-use plastic. Cutting back on plastic straws wont solve the problem, but its an important first step. It helps people become more mindful of the single-use plastic that passes through our hands for a short period, but lasts a lifetime in the environment.



The #FirstStep campaign includes:



 Recruiting 500 new businesses to partner with aquariums across the country by committing to offer straws only on request, for a total of 1,000 businesses committed by Earth Day 2019



 An online pledge site (pledge.ourhands.org/) where individuals can commit to make the last straw their first step to plastic-free waters

 Initiatives by partner aquariums to inspire cities in their regions to pass straws-on-request ordinances and other local measures to reduce single-use plastic

 An opportunity for individuals to get tips via text message on ways to cut back on single-use plastic in their daily lives, by texting InOurHands to 49767

Since the 2017 launch of the ACP, 22 partner aquariums in 17 states  located on the coasts and in the heartland  have eliminated more than 5 million straws a year, stopped using plastic shopping bags, and have committed to significantly reduce or eliminate plastic beverage bottles by 2020. Nearly 500 businesses, including United Airlines, the Chicago White Sox, Dignity Health hospitals and Farmer Brothers Coffee, have made plastic-reduction commitments in collaboration with ACP aquariums.



Municipalities in aquarium communities, and California on a statewide basis, have enacted laws either banning single-use plastic from many foodservice operations or requiring businesses to offer plastic straws only when customers request them. ACP partner aquariums are supporting these efforts in a variety of ways.



Theres new scientific evidence, almost on a weekly basis, about the ways that plastic pollution is harming marine and aquatic wildlife, said Monterey Bay Aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard. I find it so encouraging that people are responding quickly to the threatby changing their habits, and asking businesses and governments to step up and take action.



The health of our lakes and rivers is important not only to the wildlife that live there  they are a recreation and economic resource for us all, said Bridget Coughlin, president and CEO of Chicagos Shedd Aquarium. Beyond inspiring the public to take action, its our duty to empower businesses and community leaders to raise the issue of plastic pollution taking place in both freshwater and marine habitats, lead by example and make long-lasting, impactful change.



A sea change is underway, and people want to do their part to ensure the future of our ocean planet, said National Aquarium President and Chief Executive Officer John Racanelli. All 22 of the aquariums that make up the ACP are committed to reducing single-use plastics, and it is now our hope to inspire and serve as a model for other organizations and companies as well as individuals. The reality is that if everyone does their part, we can make a meaningful impact.



ACP's initiative has already expanded globally. Its work sparked the European Commission and United Nations Environment Program  with support from five international partners, including ACP  to announce a commitment by European Union Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella at the 5th international "Our Ocean" conference October 29-30 in Bali, Indonesia to coordinate a global coalition of 200 aquariums by 2019 to raise public awareness about plastic pollution.



For more information about the #FirstStep campaign or to take the pledge, visit pledge.ourhands.org/.


TV LATINA is pleased to announce the 2019 edition of the only annual guide exclusively devoted to the programming distribution business in the region. Here are 12 advantages to being included in this guide: 1) The TV LATINA DISTRIBUTORS GUIDE is the only guide exclusively devoted to the business of programming distribution in Latin America, the U.S. Hispanic market and Iberia. It is the most targeted source for buyers and sellers of programming in the region. 2) The TV LATINA DISTRIBUTORS GUIDE is an annual source of valuable information to program buyers in the region, giving your company continued exposure throughout the year. 3) The TV LATINA DISTRIBUTORS GUIDE offers advertisers a full page of information next to their advertisement. This page includes the companys logo, address, names and titles of executives, email addresses, website address and a list of top programs. This page also includes a message from the distributors regional manager, together with his/her color image. Companies that advertise spreads or multiple pages will get a corresponding amount of editorial pages. 4) The TV LATINA DISTRIBUTORS GUIDE is a portable guidemeasuring 4 x 8 inchesproviding recipients with easy access to its information. 5) The TV LATINA DISTRIBUTORS GUIDE is extensively distributed at the two most important events for Latin American programming executivesNATPE and the L.A. Screenings. While other companies directories are rarely seen at the markets, with limited distribution mostly targeted to advertisers, ours is everywhere! 6) The TV LATINA DISTRIBUTORS GUIDE is mailed to TV LATINA's circulation list, consisting of 3,000 programming decision-makers at terrestrial, cable and satellite services in Latin America, the U.S. Hispanic market and Iberia. 7) The TV LATINA DISTRIBUTORS GUIDE is written in Spanish and edited by the same company that brings you WORLD SCREEN, TV LATINA and the TV LATINA CHANNELS GUIDE. The company behind our titles is the most respected publisher in the international television industry. You can be assured the information in it will be accurate and relevant. 8) The TV LATINA DISTRIBUTORS GUIDE contains a variety of information and research on programming trends, and exclusive interviews with the top executives in the business. 9) The TV LATINA DISTRIBUTORS GUIDE is designed and printed by the same award-winning team that publishes our 17 other publications, 16 newsletters and the International Emmy Magazine. We provide an uncluttered, elegant and beautiful environment that helps readers as they search for information. The guide is printed with the best paper and the best printing equipment available, ensuring that your message has the highest quality resolution. 10) All the companies included in the TV LATINA DISTRIBUTORS GUIDE will have their own Screening Room in TVLatinaScreenings.tv, our innovative video portal. 11) We will also post each company profile printed in the TV LATINA DISTRIBUTORS GUIDE in TV LATINA SEMANAL, our weekly online newsletter reaching 8,000 media executives in Latin America, the U.S. Hispanic market and Iberia. 12) The TV LATINA DISTRIBUTORS GUIDE will also be available as a digital publication, sent to 35,000 media executives a week before NATPE, and available on our website throughout the year. To see the 2018 digital edition, please click here. You can trust us to provide you with a targeted, attractive and extremely effective way to reach your target audience all year long. ADVERTISING DEADLINES:

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Ive wondered why Phil Bredesen would leave the comfort of his Nashville mansion to run for the U.S. Senate. Ive seen his clever ads where he eats a fake lunch with actors reading lines or heard about his applying for the job and supporting whats good for Tennessee. This all sounds comforting in a time of turmoil. But the turmoil didnt just suddenly start with Hillarys loss.

Recently at a rally held for Rep. Marsha Blackburn, the audience was asked to observe a moment of silence for those tragically murdered in Pennsylvania. During that silence, the dignity and respect of that moment was deliberately interrupted by a presumed Bredesen supporter screaming Marsha Blackburn is a white supremacist. It was so like the maniacal screaming in the U.S. Senate Chamber during the Kavanaugh vote. And if anyone speaks out against their issues they will get called vicious names or lectures on civility from the subjective media experts.

Where has Phil been in all of this turmoil? Has he condemned the bullying and even rioting by masked mobs? Did Phil condemn Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhans reference to Jews as termites shortly before the Pennsylvania shooting? (Nazis often referred to Jews as termites). I guess Phil, and people like Howard Dean, who is no stranger to maniacal screaming himself, hope weve forgotten about Farrakhan. They hope weve forgotten about Michael Sanford, an illegal who tried to kill Trump during the campaign in Las Vegas or the Bernie Sanders volunteer who shot and nearly killed Rep. Steve Scalise because he was a Republican.

And has anyone wondered why gun control is not their mantra right now? Its because theyre gleefully pushing the climate of hate scenario, only minus the dangerous and vicious things theyve said and done for more than the last two years.

As time passed weve learned a little more about what Phil really believes and his motives for running. He opposes a border wall. He calls his solution to the migrant caravan a chance to show we are grown ups. He even revealed a plan for dealing with those who in the caravan who show up at our border seeking asylum.

The problems with his plan include additional judges to hear the cases of the thousands showing up at the border which he doesnt address. Statistics tell us only 20 percent of those seeking asylum actually receive it. So if 7,000 arrive 1,400 are let in. If its 14,000, thats around 2,800 given asylum. So then whats Phils plan for the other 5,000 to 10,000 hungry and weary people? Grown ups would have thought that one through to its logical conclusion. But he needed a quick press release.

Democrats desperately want to control the senate so they can resist Trumps federal judge and Supreme Court Justice appointees and his legislation. Thats why a man who will be 81 years old when his term ends could be coaxed into running right now. That explains why Phil will dance around some issues or say what he thinks independents and moderate Republicans want to hear from him. He doesnt have to keep promises especially if hes not running again in six years.

What Phil might consider is seriously looking at whats happening with his party and his nation. Im still wondering if he has a fence around his stately Nashville mansion. Maybe he needs to sit on his porch there behind his fence, if he has one, and allow the President to continue making our nation safe and prosperous.

Ralph Miller

* * *

Ralph,

I read your piece with an optimistic mind and I can't help but notice that you seem colorblind. No, not the kind of colorblind that blocks out all colors, but the kind where the red has overtaken your ability to see any other color.

I feel sorry for you based on your outlook of this race. You see, your whole approach to politics is "NOT HIM." You've spent nearly 600 words telling us why not to vote for Phil Bredesen, but did not use one word to triumph your de facto candidate. Everything that you detest in Mr. Bredesen is similar, but in a different color, to your candidate. If we boil down partisan politics, we can see that both the Red and the Blue candidates are equally unpalatable and for the same reasons.

I would encourage you to go back and rewrite your opinion piece to praise the good things in Marsha Blackburn. After all, the old saying goes, "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar." We saw this play out with Hillary when the blue folks used the same script you are using and...well... look how that turned out!

If you find that you cannot write 600 words praising your candidate, I would suggest your reevaluate your support.

Tim Giordano

* * *

Thanks Mr. Miller. I have said Bredesen is nothing but a politician claiming to work with both sides to resolve issues. If it smells, go around it. His ads are easy to see through and phony as well. He also allowed thousands of illegals to obtain Tennessee driver's licenses.

He and Al Gore need to set around their campfires and dream on about playing educated people as fools.

Jack Varner






Chattanooga lawyers, local military advocates and area churches have launched a legal partnership effort dubbed Operation Gospel Justice in order to help the growing number of individuals who go without legal help "simply because they cannot afford an attorney."

"An estimated 1 million Tennesseans face some type of civil legal issue each year and many are unable to afford legal representation, qualify for low-income assistance or simply dont recognize that they have a legal issue that requires the help of an attorney. That equates to one in three people in Tennessee who go without professional legal assistance every year," officials said.



The Chattanooga Gospel Justice Initiative, Chattanooga Area Veterans Council, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Tennessee Faith and Justice Alliance and Christian Legal Society are among those working together on a growing effort to expand Access to Justice in Chattanooga by offering legal assistance programs in area places of worship.



A general legal clinic is set for Nov. 14 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Ridgedale Baptist Church, 1831 Hickory Valley Road in Chattanooga. The clinic is open to the public. Volunteer attorneys will be available to meet with individuals seeking help with any civil legal issue. Local advocates will also be available to help military veterans struggling with legal issues and other needs.

More clinics are being offered every month at White Oak United Methodist Church in Red Bank. These clinics are offered on the third Saturday of each month. More information about both of these events is available below.



"Local houses of worship have recognized the importance of supporting social justice ministries as a means of reaching the poor and hurting in our communities," officials said.

Last Thursday, White Oak United Methodist Church was awarded the Alexander Hamilton Award of 2018 from Legal Aid of East Tennessee for the churchs justice partnerships with the Family Justice Center and Chattanooga Gospel Justice Initiative. It is the first time a church has received the award. "Currently it is estimated that less than 1 percent of churches in the United States offer such services or recognize the critical connection between spiritual restoration and the need for better access to help with legal issues," officials said.



Improving equal access to justice was declared a priority by the Tennessee Supreme Court, and the Access to Justice Commission was formed in 2009 in an effort to expand equal access to justice across the state. The Access to Justice Commission created the Tennessee Faith and Justice Alliance on the premise that many individuals with legal issues will first seek assistance at their local houses of worship. The TFJA offers training of local pastoral leadership to bridge the legal gap and build better legal referral networks.



Attorney Nancy Cogar established the Chattanooga Gospel Justice Initiative last year in Chattanooga. She has offered pro bono legal clinics through Chattanooga GJI and spearheaded the partnership efforts. She was honored last week with the Bruce Bailey Volunteer Lawyer of the Year Award from Legal Aid of East Tennessee and the Tennessee Supreme Court also recognized her as a Justice Attorney for 2018 for her work to assist the poor and vulnerable in our community.



All of the clinics are open to anyone with a civil legal issue or question. People interested are advised to call in advance so that attorneys with an expertise in the specific area of concern can be available to assist. No appointments are necessary for the clinic on Nov. 14 at Ridgedale Baptist Church. Each attendee will be screened to determine if they are eligible for Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET). If they are eligible for LAET there is no charge. If they are not eligible for LAET, a $30 administrative fee is customarily charged through the Chattanooga Gospel Justice Initiative, which goes to support the legal ministry which is qualified by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity. No one will be turned away based on an inability to pay and no other fees will be required to consult with an attorney.



Appointments are recommended for those interested in meeting with a lawyer at the monthly office hour clinics at White Oak United Methodist Church. The next office hour clinic will be held on Nov. 17 from 9 a.m.-noon at White Oak United Methodist Church, 2232 Lyndon Ave. in Chattanooga. Walk-ins are also welcome, but will be served on a first-come basis.



For information about this event or the partnership, contact Attorney Nancy Cogar, Chapter -president of the Chattanooga Gospel Justice Initiative at 423-521-5410 or 423-269-7460, or email her at Chattanooga@gji.org.
Northside Neighborhood House has received a $9,000 contribution from AT&T to support their Community School work at Hixson Middle School and Red Bank High School.The NNH is so grateful for this generous gift from AT&T, says Rachel Gammon, chief executive officer of the Northside Neighborhood House. Our Community School work builds on each school's capacity and helps meet the needs of students and parents during school and through out-of-school time activities like tutoring, clubs, life skills development, workshops and more.As part of the Chattanooga 2.0 initiative, the NNH began a partnership with Red Bank High School in summer of 2016 to start the first ever Community School in Hamilton County.The NNH employs a Community School Coordinator and support staff who are present in the school providing additional support to students, teachers and parents. With the success the NNH has seen at Red Bank High, they decided to expand their work to serve the Hixson community and opened a Community School at Hixson Middle School in August 2018.Funding from AT&T will support students at both Red Bank High School and Hixson Middle School, by connecting resources to students, teachers, and families. Programming will support academics, enrichment, parent engagement, basic needs, mental health and connectivity events like Health Fairs and Family Dinner Nights.Our companys future, as well as the countrys, is dependent on todays young people. Through Aspire, we support programs that invest in students, especially those who need it the most, so they can walk across the graduation stage ready for their future, said Dennis Wagner, director of external and legislative affairs, AT&T Tennessee. We are focused on building a viable, creative and adaptive workforce that is prepared to face the changing needs of employers and customers and programs like those offered by Northside Neighborhood House are critical in the development of students.
The Chattanooga Heart Institute at CHI Memorial announces the hiring of Kelly Richardson, M.D. Dr. Richardson received her medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She completed her residency and internship in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and completed fellowships in cardiovascular medicine, electrophysiology and biodesign innovation at Stanford Medical Center in Standford, Ca. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, American Board of Cardiology and the American Board of Electrophysiology. Originally from Chattanooga, Dr. Richardson is returning to her hometown from a cardiology practice in California.



"The Chattanooga Heart Institute has 27 highly-trained cardiologists - including specialists in interventional procedures, electrophysiology, imaging and vascular disease and two cardiothoracic surgeons on staff," officials said. "This practice offers a comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach to cardiac care with a team of physicians providing recommendations on specific areas of treatment."



At The Chattanooga Heart Institute, cardiologists work in collaboration, aided by the latest technology, to diagnose heart problems and provide advanced interventional procedures for the treatment of heart disease. Rehabilitation services are available at CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga for those with an elevated risk of a cardiac event and for those who have experienced a cardiac event.



"The Chattanooga Heart Institute at CHI Memorial offers access to the regions leading cardiologists in six locations convenient for you - Chattanooga, East Brainerd, Hixson, Cleveland, and Jasper in Tennessee and in Ringgold," officials said.

For more information or appointments, call 423-697-2000.
State suspends Pueblo VitalPoint Urgent Care from vaccination program

VitalPoint Urgent Care was suspended from administering COVID-19 vaccinations after an unannounced site inspection found "several irregularities."
Despite an Islamic terrorist groups violence, thousands in Nigeria are becoming Christians, a missions group said.

Todd Nettleton, of Voice of the Martyrs, said Islamists in the Fulani tribe raided a village in the city of Jos in late September. Twenty people were killed in their homes.

The Fulani are not all Islamists, he added, but there are radicals in the tribe.

"Nigerians are frustrated that these attacks keep happening, because they think there should be security," Nettleton said.

Emeka Umeagbalasi, board chairman of the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, said Christians have been shot to death, but homes and churches have also been destroyed.

Still, according to The Christian Post, thousands of Fulani are committing their lives to Jesus.

"Thousands of Fulani are following Jesus Christ. So this traditionally Muslim tribal group, ethnic group, thousands of them have left Islam behind and are now following Jesus Christ. So the Church there sees that and that tends to bridge some of these gaps," Nettleton said.

Nettleton added that the Voice of the Martyrs is helping to provide food, sleeping mats and mosquito nets to Christians who have been forced to flee because of the violence.

"We should care because this is our family. These are our brothers and sisters, they are going through a very difficult time, they are being attacked." Nettleton said.

"I have two brothers and I often think if one of my brothers was being attacked, of course, I would be upset about it and I would be like, 'Wait a minute, I'm going to help, I'm going to step in, I'm going to bang the drum and make sure everyone knows my brother is being attacked.'"

Photo courtesy: John Mark Smith/Unsplash
A Raleigh, TN pastor is urging churches to consider getting armed security given the current climate in America.

Pastor Bill Adkins of Greater Imani Church in Raleigh, a suburb in Memphis, Tennessee, hired armed guards to protect his church 11 years ago, and now he is encouraging other churches to consider doing the same.

Its a shame when we cant go into Gods church and pray and not have to turn around and look at our backsides and wonder whos coming up behind us, Adkins told Fox 13 in an Interview.

Reportedly, the pastor received criticism from his community and congregants when he decided to bring trained armed guards to his church over a decade ago. The pastor told Fox 13 that some people even argued with him saying that armed security was not appropriate to have at a place of worship, but Adkins said he made the decision to protect his almost 2,000 congregants and to assure that they can worship without having to watch their backs.

These are just times in which we have to make a decision, either were going to look out for ourselves and protect our people or were going to remain soft targets, Adkins said.

The Greater Imani Church security team, known as the Greater Imani Watchmen, is made up of trained professionals that were either former military or law enforcement officers and who frequently work with local law enforcement for training.

There has to be a certain degree of training and how you will protect Gods house, what aisles you will go down, the strategies youll use, paths of firing, he said.

Adkins said the recent Pittsburgh synagogue shooting should serve as a wakeup call for churches around the country.

Another horror story, another sad tragic event in America where we seem to not be able to understand why theres so much hate in the world today, the pastor concluded.

Photo courtesy: Debby Hudson/Unsplash

Video courtesy: Fox 13
A known terrorist who is connected to the 9/11 attacks in the United States on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the White house, was released early from prison this week in Germany.

The Daily Mail reports that Mounir el Motassadeq, 44, was convicted of accessory to murder in connection with the September 11attacks in 2006. Investigators determined that the Moroccan man handled the money for the Al Qaeda cell that was responsible for the plane hijackings and attacks, deeming him the cells treasurer. He was sentenced to 15 years for the aiding and abetting of the murder of the 246 passengers killed in the planes that crashed into the Twin Towers on that fateful day.

According to Fox News, el Motassadeq was released several months early because of time he served in 2001 when he was originally arrested for the acts of terror. The man was set to be released in January 2019. After being released early this week, el Motassadeq was deported to his home country of Morocco where he was welcomed home to what many are calling a heros welcome.

On Wednesday, el Motassdeq returned to his suburban town in Marrakesh, where he was greeted by his wife and kids. The terrorist who helped set the attack that killed 2,996 people into action was reportedly greeted by elated community members and well-wishers who were celebrating his return.

The Daily Mail reports that el Motassadeq became friends with a jihadist named Mohamed Atta, who crashed the plane that impaled the North Tower and was one of the leaders of the Hamburg Al Qaeda cell which planned the attacks. El Motassadeq has also admitted to attempted an Al Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan in 2000 sponsored by Osama Bin Laden.

Despite making around 1,200 arrests in connection with the tragedy, the only other man who was convicted of participating in the terror attacks is Zacarias Moussaoui, who is currently serving six life sentences in a maximum-security prison in the United States.

Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Robert Giroux/Staff
The prayers of Christians around the world for Asia Bibi have been answered, but many more are needed for her and for all Pakistani Christians.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan overturned the conviction of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy.

The acquittal was not only a just ruling, it was an incredibly courageous act by the Court. And still, we should be clear that until Asia Bibi is out of the country, shes not out of danger. Even more, all Pakistani Christians face a very volatile and dangerous situation there now.

Heres the background: In June, 2009, Asia got into a dispute with her Muslim neighbors. Her family was the only Christian family in that village, and her neighbors had objected to a non-Muslim using the same cup to fetch water from a well as they did.

A few days later, her neighbors successfully petitioned the local cleric to charge her with insulting the prophet Muhammad. What she actually said was Im not going to convert [to Islam]. I believe in my religion and in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sins of mankind. What did your Prophet Mohammad ever do to save mankind?

She was then arrested and imprisoned while awaiting trial. Sixteen months later, a judge found her guilty and sentenced her to death.

Then matters got even worse.

When she appealed her case to the highest court in her native Punjab province, the provincial governor there, Salman Taseer predicted that she would be pardoned by Pakistans president.

A few weeks later, Taseer was killed by his own bodyguard.

He wasnt the only politician to be killed for defending Bibi. Two months later, Shahbaz Bhatti, a member of the cabinet, was also assassinated for speaking up on her behalf.

Bibi was to spend nearly eight more years in jail waiting to learn if she would be executed. In the meantime, her family was forced to flee their village because they too were threatened with death.

Finally, on Wednesday, Pakistans Supreme Court rendered a 56-page opinion citing, among other things, the Quran, Islamic scholars and Shakespeare. In it, the Court overturned the guilty verdict and ordered her release.

Besides finding that Bibis accusers had not proved her guilt, they pointed out something long obvious: Blasphemy allegations are often used in Pakistan to settle scores and provide a pretext for vigilantism.

About Asia Bibi the Court said, She appears to be a person, in the words of Shakespeares King Lear, more sinned against than sinning.

While she may have finally prevailed in Court, neither she nor her family are safe. As soon as the verdict was announced, protesters took to the streets and merchants shuttered their shops. The leaders of one Islamic group called for the judges to be killed, which as we have seen, isnt an idle threat.

Another cleric said, Now the decisions will be taken on roads and not in court, adding that anyone who kills Bibi will be a hero to Muslims.

Bibi and her family are expected to leave Pakistan as soon as possible. But thats easier said than done. While several Western countries have offered her family asylum . . . they are understood to be moving cautiously. Apparently, theyre too afraid of a backlash against them . . . if they are seen as interfering in the case.

Given the perfidious history of the Pakistani military and police, which are both riddled with Islamist radicals, only a fool would expect them to adequately protect Asia Bibi and her family. Thats why we need to pray today for Gods protection on this family.

We also need to pray for the estimated 2.5 million Pakistani Christians. Being a Christian in Pakistan is dangerous even in less-charged circumstances. Today, however, Muslim radicals have an excuse to satisfy their bloodlust for Bibi by turning on the Christian community.

Yes, we should rejoice at Asia Bibis legal vindication. But her case must remind us just how much our brothers and sisters need our prays and our advocacy on their behalf.

BreakPoint is a Christian worldview ministry that seeks to build and resource a movement of Christians committed to living and defending Christian worldview in all areas of life. Begun by Chuck Colson in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on todays news and trends via radio, interactive media, and print. Today BreakPoint commentaries, co-hosted by Eric Metaxas and John Stonestreet, air daily on more than 1,200 outlets with an estimated weekly listening audience of eight million people. Feel free to contact us at BreakPoint.org where you can read and search answers to common questions.

John Stonestreet, the host of The Point, a daily national radio program, provides thought-provoking commentaries on current events and life issues from a biblical worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN), and is the co-author of Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview.

Publication date: November 1, 2018

Photo courtesy: Rawpixels/Pexels
When the Emmy Awards honored Fred Rogers with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997, he did something that took everyone in the room off guard. The beloved public television star (and ordained Presbyterian minister) refused to make the moment about himself.

So many people have helped me to come to this night, Rogers told the audience of celebrities. Some of you are here; some are far away; some are even in heaven. All of us have special ones who have loved us into being. Would you just take, along with me, 10 seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are? Those who have cared about you and wanted what was best for you in life. Ten seconds of silence. Ill watch the time.

Those in the audience began their brief invitation for reflection with laughter. But by the time their 10 seconds were up, many were wiping their eyes.

Whomever youve been thinking about, how pleased they must be to know the difference you feel theyve made, Rogers said.

In a culture that lauds self-made success, a lasting gift of Fred Rogers's work is his subtle denial of the myth of self-sufficiency. He reminds us of what we all intuitively know after 10 seconds of silence: We arrive where we are because of Gods work in our lives, manifest in the relationships in which God places and calls us.

Lives Lived Together

For the past few years, Ive been working with university students at UC Berkeley to develop an integrated vision of vocation, one that refuses to bifurcate Gods call on their lives from their work and relationships on a college campus or wherever their future leads. One unique aspect of our theological exploration of vocation is the insistence that calling and vocation are best understood within a residential Christian community. Living together presents its challenges, but several years in, I am now more confident that vocation is best explored in lives lived together.

Scripture and history both offer examples of Gods call revealed to individuals directly, of course. At times, Gods call on an individuals life challenges their community (the prophets, for example). However, discerning and living into Gods call is, by and large, communal work. One reason we need Christian community to discern Gods call on and for our lives is that we are mysteries to ourselves. Seeing ourselves rightly happens in community.

I know who I am only in relation to others, theologian Stanley Hauerwas writes. And, indeed, who I am is a relation with others.

The Quaker writer Parker Palmer builds on this idea of the relational self by emphasizing our blind spots when it comes to personal giftings. Our strongest gifts are usually those we are barely aware of possessing, he writes in Let Your Life Speak. A sign of our greatest strengths is that we assume these giftsbe they listening, writing, or seeing patternscome just as naturally to everyone else. Its only in relation with others that the unique contours of Gods giftings in my life are revealed.

What are some of those things that come naturally to you that, with a little reflection, dont come naturally for others? I encourage students to consider. Likewise, how can we pay attention to what comes naturally to others and reflect that back to them?

This year has convinced me of the paramount importance of human relationships, Jessica, a UC Berkeley student, shared after her first year in our residential vocation exploration. Throughout my adolescence, I became pretty enamored by the myth of self-sufficiency. As scary as it has been at times to choose relationships this year, Ive seen the ways God has brought joy and healing and richness and depth to my life in new ways through those relationships.

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In UC Berkeleys hyper-competitive academic context, an environment where some of our countrys brightest students are molded by subtle, insidious narratives of scarcity and individualism (theres not enough to go around; we all earn it here), Jessicas reflection is equal parts counter-cultural and correctively Christian.

Created in Gods relational image, it follows that our understanding of Gods call will be revealed in relationships with others. In 1 Samuel 3, the young Samuel is only able to discern Gods call in the temple rightly with the elder Elis help. Likewise, and in a helpful move away from only understanding Gods call in terms of our strengths, Moses hears Gods call rightly only after naming his insecurities in communication and his brother Aarons giftings in the same area (Ex. 6:307:7). Here and elsewhere, Gods call manifests in and through community.

We cant address vocation without addressing our relational nature, Jessica concluded after a year of studying and discussing vocation.

For my own part, writing is something I now consider central to my vocation, though 10 years ago I was too timid to share my writing aspirations even with friends. It wasnt until my wife shared my writing with others, and I heard their encouragement to take this work more seriously, that I began to think this could be a path I was being called to pursue. But I was still afraid.

You are a writer, Debbie, an artist friend, assured me one summer, after confessing that I didnt feel I had the right to call myself a writer until I was published. In that conversation, I realized writing was somehow reflective of who God had created me to be, of how I interacted with the world, regardless of the achievements I had or hadnt accomplished.

Where self-doubt cripples and isolates, a community that encourages us to courageously steward our God-given gifts becomes essential. If these initial affirmations encouraged me to get going, others continued encouragement helped me persist amidst so many closed doors.

Keep going, my great-grandma May told me at the end of her life, with directness I will never forget. We need all you can put out. Her words came during a time when I wasnt sure where my next paycheck was coming from and I was once again doubting the path I was on. In those trying seasons of uncertainty and closed doors, when the temptation to bury my God-given treasure in fear was crippling (cf. Matt. 25:1430), it was overcome only because of Gods call to persist, heard through Christian community.

Christian community also helps us separate the sound of Gods call from the voice of our own egowhich is, for my money, the greatest challenge on the topic of calling. There are all different kinds of voices calling you to all different kinds of work and the problem is to find out which is the voice of God rather than of Society, say, or the Super-ego, or Self-Interest, Frederick Buechner writes.

Naming and delineating the voice of pride or ego from the voice of the One who says Follow me is another essential role of Christian community.

During a season when my own understanding of Gods call had grown myopic, self-centered, and patriarchal, it was the voice of an older, godly friend, Carol, who called me back to faithfulness.

Over dinner late one summer, after my first year of graduate school, Carol asked if we had any news about when we might be expecting our first child. Knowing that my wife had been longing for children for years and that she considered motherhood central to her vocation, Carol was rightly curious. But having recently left a stable career to study theology, with no serious steady income to speak of, I was dragging my heels.

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It feels irresponsible, given our situation, I confessed across the dining room table. Dont you think?

Ryan, I think it would be irresponsible not to, Carol told me in a firm voice, now leaning over the table.

When my own understanding of Gods call became inseparable from my personal desires or even sources of pride, when I was blinded to my wifes sacrifice and vocational longings, I needed the help of godly friends. Those who know and love me and who are also seeking Gods call are able to encourage me back to a path of faithfulnesswith God and with the one I was sharing this journey.

It was part of Gods genius to incorporate us as one body, Barbara Brown Taylor writes in The Preaching Life, so that our ears have other ears, other eyes, minds, hearts, and voices to help us interpret what we have heard. Together we can hear our calls, and together we can answer them.

From a Distance, They Saw and Greeted Them

The community that helps us hear and live into Gods call isnt confined to contemporary relations. Were indebted to those who came before us, and were asked to steward Gods call for the sake of those who will come after us. The portrait of calling in Hebrews 11 and 12 offers a long-tailed understanding of calling, extending both backward and forward in time.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth, the author of Hebrews writes, after recounting a litany of the great sisters and brothers of the faith (Heb. 11:13).

From a distance. Not quite the Promised Land, but almost. The model we see in the Letter to the Hebrews is one of faithfulness to God in unfulfilled callings. For Christians struggling to see the fruition of Gods call, even as they steward their God-given gifts in direct response to the needs of their community, Hebrews offers an invitation to slow down, to remember that faithfulness doesnt always mean satisfying our desires for completion, and to trust that God will use this work in ways we cannot yet see fully.

Fred Rogerss invitation to express gratitude for those who have invested in us, as well as Hebrews reminder of Gods saints who died without seeing the full fruit of their work, remind us of the vital role of those who came before us for our own call. These voices also encourage us to consider those who will one day, likely without our knowing, be nourished and encouraged by our own stewardship of Gods call.

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, the author of Hebrews continues, referring to our place among Gods faithful that span generations, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Heb. 12:1).

Converging at the Kilns

On my first night in Oxford last summer, where I was attending a conference hosted by the C. S. Lewis Foundation, I received a memorable tour of the Kilns, C. S. Lewiss home from 1930 to 1963. Though I had lived in the home as a scholar-in-residence several years earlier, leading tours for hundreds of guests from around the world during that season, this was my first time receiving a tour from Kim Gilnett. A long-time partner of the C. S. Lewis Foundation, Kim had been involved with the homes restoration since that work began in the 1990s.

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Walking from room to room with a half-dozen guests, Kim told us stories of the yard work and interior work done by summertime volunteers from the States, restoring the home to look as it had during Lewiss time. This labor of love took about a decade. Entering the kitchen, Kim invited us to notice the Headington Quarry tile floor, which had been covered over by a layer of asphalt by the homeowners following Lewiss death. They topped it off with green linoleum flooring.

The slow, careful work of removing the layers of asphalt and linoleum was painstakingly carried out by hand, he told us, preserving the original tile underneath.

Two years earlier, I had hoped to meet Kim at the Kilns during our overlapping stays. Just before I landed in the UK, however, Kim received news of his wifes sudden and unexpected health decline. He flew home immediately to be with her. By the end of the week, she had passed.

Many of those who began this work never got to see its completion, Kim told us, pausing now, still staring at the tile floor.

In that moment, and many times since, I have thought of this story and given thanks for so many who have taken the time to help me get down to my own God-given foundation, without whom I would not be who I am today. I think of my grandfather whose initial response to our decision to move to England in pursuit of Gods call (leaving behind work, home, and family) was to say, Thats the worst news Ive heard in a long time, but who would eventually become our biggest supporter. I think of my friend David whose confidence in my writing enabled me to continue stringing words together when, with so many closed doors, I felt like giving up. I think of my wife, whose persistent faith in a God who provides when I see no way forward has buoyed me countless times. Without their vision, confidence, and investment in every way, I would not have clarity on my God-given gifts nor the courage to live into them. When it comes to my grandfather, I often wish he were still here to see the fruits of his investment. Somehow, someday, I hope he will.

This memory of pausing to stare at the tile floor in the former kitchen of a man whose writing continues to inspire so many long after his death has been a helpful reminder that we are deeply indebted to those who came before us. And those who come after us will, in ways we cannot now imagine, be shaped by our own response to Gods call. Reflecting on the legacy of his work, Lewis once remarked to his friend Owen Barfield that five years after he had passed, no one would be reading his writing.

Gods call comes to us in relations with the great cloud of witnesses who came before us, who surround us now, and who will come after us. Seeing ourselves as a link in this backward- and forward-facing chain of relations, gratitude is a means of hearing our relational Gods call.

Ryan J. Pemberton is the minister for university engagement at First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley. He is the author of Called: My Journey to C. S. Lewiss House and Back Again (Leafwood Publishers). Follow Ryan at @ryanjpemberton.
We live in a cultural milieu where maturing congregations frequently consider closing their doors while a surge of young, under-resourced church plants are without a set of doors to call their own. The former group often under-utilizes their facilities while the latter struggles to find affordable space. By partnering together, these two groups are discovering that they can meet one anothers needs.

According to a recent Barna study of multisite and planting churches, 18 percent of the pastors surveyed reported sharing a facility and resources with another church. That number is likely to keep growing as congregations of various traditions, ages, and cultures decide to share space with one another.

These relationships arent simple, however. They often come with frustrations that could be avoided by renting from a secular landlord. Why would a growing church choose to rent space from another congregation?

Stephen Redden of New Denver Church has many church planter friends who ...

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There is no doubt that some of the practices of ancient Hebrew worship bear remarkable resemblance to the worship practices of the pagan nations around them. Other nations practiced similar sacrificial systems, had temples and priests, and many scholars note the the idea of covenants established by God with his people is virtually identical to that of other peoples of the ancient near east.

How can we account for these similarities?

There are at least three possible ways to explain similarities between Hebrew worship and pagan worship. First, some argue that Israel simply borrowed ideas from their neighbors and adapted them. This idea is usually espoused by those who discount the possibility of direct revelation from God, however. In fact, the biblical accounts tell us that every time Israel did that sort of thing, it always led them away from the worship of Yahweh.

The second possibility, one that accounts for the fact that the people's worship came by way of divine revelation, says that when God instituted worship forms for Israel, he "contextualized" worship in cultural forms and practices they would understand. Andrew Hill argues this for example, saying that the institution of sacrifices "demonstrates God's willingness to accommodate his revelation to cultural conventions. Human sacrifice was practiced in ancient Mesopotamia, and Abraham was no doubt familiar with the ritual since he came from Ur of the Chaldees (Gen. 11:21)." However, God clearly says that Israel's worship is patterned after the worship of heaven (Exodus 25:8-9), not after the worship of the other nations.

A final possibility, and one that I believe to be the best, says that the similarities exist because the basic elements of worship existed since the beginning of human history. For example, the practice of sacrificing and the idea of covenant can be traced as far back as the Fall, indicating that these kinds of ideas would have been passed down to future generations and would have been in the consciousness of all people from the beginning. The pagans were borrowing ideas from true worship, not the other way around. With the Law, God was simply codifying the structure that had been in place since Adam sinned and that was patterned after the worship that takes place in heaven itself.

Similarities do exist, but the differences are far greater. For one thing, every other nation we know of at the time was polytheistic, while Israel was uniquely monotheistic. For pagans, worship was meant to appease angry, selfish gods; for Israel, worship was a response of gratitude for acts initiated by a kind God himself. For the pagans, immoral acts such as murder and fornication were part of the worship acts; such was not true for the Hebrews.

The central difference between Hebrew and pagan worship is that Hebrew worship is a response to God's gracious works, while pagan worship is an attempt to appease spiteful gods. Yahweh initiates Hebrew worship. The pagans initiate pagan worship.

No, Hebrew worship, or Christian worship for that matter, is not merely an attempt to worship the true God using forms familiar from the worship of unbelievers.

Hebrew (and Christian) worship is a God-initiated privilege whereby God himself provides a way for communion with him, and his people respond with hearts of thanks and praise.
In its 23rd year of publishing excellence, TV LATINA, with its NATPE edition, will illustrate, yet again, why we are the most-trusted, reliable and respected provider of Spanish-language news, interviews and analysis on the media business in Latin America. The January edition of TV LATINA will be available both inside WORLD SCREEN and as a separate publication, with its own magazine bin and distribution at the Fontainebleau. When you advertise in TV LATINA, it's like being in two magazines for the price of one. This edition also includes our magazines TV NINOS (for kids' programming) and TV SERIES (for the television drama business). Here are some of the articles we are publishing at NATPE 2019: TV LATINA

 DIGITAL SHIFT: A look at how OTT is changing the content production and distribution business in Latin America. TV SERIES

 BY THE BOOK: There are a number of series based on books available across the Spanish-language scripted sector. TV NINOS

 TWEEN DREAMS: Live-action drama for tweens is in high demand. Here are the TEN value-added benefits you will derive from advertising with us at NATPE 2019: Your advertisement in TV LATINA, TV SERIES or TV NINOS also appears inside WORLD SCREEN, reaching its circulation of programming executives worldwide. When you advertise in TV LATINA, it's like being in TWO magazines for the price of one! We will also run your advertisement in the digital editionreaching 35,000 media executives a week before the marketat no charge. You can see the NATPE 2018 digital editions here. Your company will also get a profile up front in the magazine. The profile includes a color image of a program, the headshot of your executive, and his/her highlighted quote. The company profile will also be published in DIARIO TV LATINA before the market. You will receive invaluable social media exposure by having your

profile tweeted to @tvlatina's followers. You will also get your complete program listings in a digital edition of TV LISTINGS, which will be available to our online database of 35,000 readers a week before the markets. You can see the 2018 NATPE edition here. You can feature up to ten video clips in your own Screening Rooms for NATPE during the months of January and February on our video portals WorldScreenings.com and TVLatinaScreenings.tv. We will also run your complete program listings in the WORLD SCREEN APP (English language) and the TV LATINA APP (Spanish language). Both apps are available for iOS and Android devices. We will place your electronic button ad in any of our targeted websitesTVLatina.tv, TVCanales.tv, TVSeries.tv, TVNinos.tv, TVFormatos.tv, TVFactual.tv, TVDatos.tv, TVProduccion.tv, TVHispana.tv and TeveBrasil.comfor two months. Your company's product news will receive priority treatment in our English-language and Spanish-language online newsletters (four dailies and ten weeklies) and websites. The deadlines for the NATPE editions are:

Space: January 7. Materials: January 8. For more information about all our online advertising opportunities, please click here. For the 2019 World Screen media kit, click here. For more information about advertising opportunities in our Spanish-language services, please click here. Please keep in mind we have the best articles, the best interviews, the best design, the best paper, the best printing, the best distribution and the best circulation. We hope the above proposal will give you the incentive to join the most important, respected and influential publishing group in international media. For more information, please contact Ricardo Guise at rguise@worldscreen.com or call (212) 924-7620.
Houston's Apache Corp. aggressively pushed for growth in its Permian Basin developments to deliver a third-quarter profit.

Despite some negative tax impacts, Apache reported an $81 million net gain for the quarter that jumped up from $63 million last year. Minus the tax impacts, Apache said it would have made $244 million in adjusted earnings.

Apache operated 18 rigs in the Permian Basin during the quarter -- eight in its developing Alpine High region, six in the Midland Basin and four more in the Delaware Basin outside of Alpine High.

"Apache continued our strong performance in the third quarter of 2018, delivering 31 percent growth in U.S. production year over year," Apache Chief Executive John Christmann said. "The Permian Basin continues to be the key driver, with oil production up 16 percent and total production up 38 percent year over year."

RELATED: Multibillion-dollar deals show Permian's dominance
In perhaps the most significant hiring of an arts leader in Houston this year, the Alley Theatre has selected Rob Melrose as its new artistic director.

The hire, announced Thursday, represents a significant departure from former artistic director Gregory Boyd. Melrose is the founder of the Cutting Ball Theater, an experimental, avant-garde theater based in San Francisco.

His hire comes at the end of a six-month search for a leader for Houstons largest theater company. Boyd, who had led the Alley for 28 years, retired abruptly in January as the Houston Chronicle began investigating allegations that he had fostered an abusive working environment and had singled out female actors for harassment.

NEW PERSPECTIVE: Rob Melrose wants the Alley to have a comfortable environment

Under Boyds tenure, the Alleys budget grew and the company received a Tony Award for Best Regional Theatre.

Alley Board members Ken Kades and Kathryn Ketelsen, working with the consulting firm Albert Hall & Associates, led the search process.

The artistic director isn't just in charge of planning out the theater season and hiring directors, writers and actors -- he or she represents the vision of the company, which includes demeanor, professional conduct and artistic style.

Melrose will place an emphasis on growing and strengthening the Alley Resident Company, increasing internal collaboration, continuing new play development, and producing work that is bold, innovative, and inclusive, according to a statement by the Alley Theatre.

Melrose once said, in an interview with Princetons Lewis Center for the Arts, that he saw surrealist paintings by Rene Magritte and Salvador Dali as a child and asked himself, Who wrote plays like these paintings?

That question led to a career in experimental theater  theater that does not adhere to the traditional standards of naturalism and formalism. He often directed works written by absurdist, existential playwrights.

Melroses sensibility might be most closely compared to the Catastrophic Theatre in Houston. His resume features writers such as Will Eno, Suzan-Lori Parks, Richard Foreman and Martin McDonagh, and adaptations of writers such as August Strindberg, Eugene Ionesco, Henrik Ibsen and Shakespeare.

THE AFTERMATH: Where Alley Theatre's management says the organization is going after the scandal

Boyd, on the other hand, was known more for a more conventional, "masterpiece" style of theater.

Melrose stepped down from his role as artistic director of Cutting Ball in 2016 to focus on freelance directing. Paige Rogers, his longtime wife and collaborator, replaced him.

Melrose has directed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Guthrie Theater and the Public Theater.

He will move to Houston early next year to plan the 2019-20 season at the Alley. Longtime Alley company member James Black will remain as interim artistic director during the 2018-19 season.

wchen@chron.com
Albany

The demolition that caused Jerome Johnson and Lenora Graham to lose their home may have exposed the family to a dangerous carcinogen.

If you've been following the family's plight, you know Jerome and Lenora lost their home in the Sheridan Hollow neighborhood when the city hurriedly demolished a house adjacent to theirs. Albany officials were apparently unaware the couple's home lacked a west-facing wall and was therefore structurally dependent on the condemned house, which has been vacant since a fire 18 years ago.

When 172 Orange St. came down Oct. 20, it forced the neighboring family to flee and may have exposed them to any asbestos released into the air. Jerome and Lenora's house at 170 Orange St. was razed a few days later, and the city has told the couple they are on the hook for the $36,800 demolition cost.

Jerome, Lenora and their daughter, Shirley Graham-Johnson, who lived in the house with her children, have plenty to worry about. They lost their longtime home, which they owned. They don't yet know how they will rebuild their lives.

Asbestos exposure is one more reason to worry.

The razing of the neighboring house was an asbestos project, a designation that triggered a host of federal and state regulations. But because it was also considered an emergency demolition, those rules aren't as strict as they otherwise would be.

A spokesman for Mayor Kathy Sheehan told me the city "has a blanket variance" from the state "to demolish condemned buildings with the asbestos in place."

More Information Contact columnist Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse

As of this writing, it's unclear to me if the city was legally obligated to tell neighbors of the potential presence of asbestos, but the question is almost irrelevant. I believe the city and its contractor certainly had at least an ethical obligation to inform the neighbors of the potential health risk.

As I've detailed in prior columns, the city officials say Jerome and Lenora were told to leave their home during the demolition of the next-door house. The couple says they were told no such thing, and that's why family members, including small children, were in the house when the wall came down.

The owner of 174 Orange St. also says he and his wife were never told to leave, even though his home also abutted the condemned house. Robinson Talbot said he wasn't even told a demolition would occur.

"I didn't know until it was happening," Talbot said. "I came out of my house when I started hearing all this noise."

Was he then notified of the asbestos risk?

"Nope," he said Wednesday. "No. No."

Members of the Graham-Johnson family said much the same.

"No, they did not mention asbestos to us," Lenora told me Wednesday, adding that the family was surprised to see red tape warning of asbestos put up after the demolition.

To me, the big question of this terrible situation this: Would the city have taken more care with an affluent family's home? Would that family at least have been told of an asbestos risk?

Jerome and Lenora, both retired, believe everything would have been different were they not poor. Some city officials acted as though they were squatters, they say, instead of homeowners.

"I don't want to think it's a black-white thing," Lenora said. "It's a poverty thing."

The mayor's office did not answer questions Wednesday about whether it is legally or ethically required to notify neighbors of an asbestos demolition.

Michael Cristo, owner of the demolition company that did the work, M. Cristo Inc., said the neighbors were told that asbestos was present.

"They were both notified," Cristo said. "They were told verbally, but they were notified."

Why did neighbors say otherwise? He didn't have an answer.

Cristo also said that he "100 percent" followed the regulations required for asbestos projects, which includes having his workers wear masks and hazmat suits. "I always do," he said.

In July, Cristo's company pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act in connection with an unrelated emergency demolition in Troy in 2013. The company admitted an employee falsified federal documents by claiming asbestos was not present at a King Street site. The misdemeanor plea agreement indicated the worker did so with the company's knowledge.

Back on Orange Street, Robinson said he and his wife have been so worried about an asbestos risk in recent days that they reached out to the state Health Department for guidance on its dangers.

Members of the Johnson-Graham family are also concerned because they had small children in the house when the wall came down. Shirley Johnson-Graham said she took her 5-month-old son to the doctor two days after the demolition next door had shook the family's house and filled it with dust.

"He had a hoarse, loud cough and he couldn't stop," she said.

In an interview earlier this week, Sheehan and Rick LaJoy, head of the building department, insisted the city could not have known Jerome and Lenora's home did not have a west-facing wall. They also said Jerome and Lenora's house was structurally unsound before the demolition  a contention the couple disputes.

"There was no mistake," the mayor said. "This is an unfortunate situation, but there was no mistake."

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
Comcast

This evening, Lone Star Veterans Association and Comcast are hosting a ribbon cutting for a computer lab dedicated to the veteran community.

According to Comcast, the lab is the first to be built for veterans in Houston. The lab, at the nonprofit Combined Arms at 2929 McKinney St., has 20 computers and video conferencing equipment.
Southwest Airlines, the largest carrier at Hobby Airport, is now offering free movies aboard its aircraft.

The airline announced Thursday that it will provide up to 30 movies on its WiFi-enabled jets. These movies, previously requiring a payment, can be viewed through the Southwest mobile app downloaded onto travelers' personal devices. The free movies should be available to most customers by the end of this week.

At HoustonChronicle.com: Southwest Airlines, citing passenger allergy concerns, bumps the peanut

Last month, Southwest began offering free messaging through iMessage or WhatsApp. And in May, it began providing access to the iHeartRadio library of music and podcasts.

"Our research shows that a positive experience on board the aircraft can greatly influence the decision to come back to Southwest," Ryan Green, vice president and chief marketing officer, said in the news release. "We listened to our customers."
Japanese consumer goods companies are increasing investment in factories at home, with an eye to exporting to China and other Asian markets where "Made in Japan" products have cachet.

The trend marks a major shift in strategy for household goods producers, whose focus had always been Japanese customers. It also breaks with the textbook approach to overseas expansion, where establishing local production and securing distribution channels were usually the first steps.

Cosmetics maker Shiseido will spend 140 billion yen ($1.23 billion) by 2022 to expand domestic production capacity -- a 45 billion yen increase from previous plans for spending through 2020.

By 2021, the company intends to build an addition to its Kakegawa plant southwest of Tokyo that makes lipsticks and eye shadows, and will cancel the planned closure of an Osaka factory whose products include skin toner.

Shiseido is on course to log its highest-ever operating profit and sales in 2018, thanks in part to purchases by tourists visiting Japan.

The company plans to open new Japanese plants for the first time in over three decades -- one north of Tokyo in 2019 and the other in an Osaka suburb the following year. But production capacity is still expected to fall short of demand, so it is earmarking additional investments which will lift its global capacity by 80%.

Cosmetics rival Kose's skin care unit Albion plans a 10 billion yen upgrade to a Tokyo area plant by 2020. The brand is popular among Chinese tourists -- an estimated one-fifth of Albion's fiscal 2017 sales of 68 billion yen came from visitors to Japan.

The large-scale investments by Shiseido and Kose show how health and beauty items, a domestic-market-focused sector once thought to have little in common with export-driven industries like automobiles, are emerging as a new face of Made in Japan.
Canada's Encana Corp. said Thursday it will buy The Woodlands-based Newfield Exploration Co. for $5.5 billion in an all-stock deal.

The deal greatly bolsters Encana's U.S. presence with Newfield's strengths in oil-producing regions, especially in Oklahoma and North Dakota. The expanded Encana would immediately become one of the top handful of shale producers in North America.

While Encana is Calgary-based, the company actually has more oil and gas activity in Texas than Newfield with operations in both the Permian Basin and the Eagle Ford shale.

RELATED: Newfield Exploration sells Texas assets for $380 million

The goal is to create a combined company with the best mix of shale oil assets in the U.S. and Canada combined, said Encana Chief Executive Doug Suttles.

In announcing the merger, Encana also said it is raising its dividend payout to investors by 25 percent and growing its share buyback program in order to appease shareholders.

Newfield CEO Lee Boothby called the deal the best path forward for the company, selling at a premium and returning more value to shareholders. The acquisition also includes the assumption of $2.2 billion in Newfield debt.

"Throughout our 30-year history, Newfield has worked to create a strong portfolio of assets managed by some of the best and brightest people in the business," Boothby said. "The merger will accelerate the development of these assets and as a result, capture full value for our owners."

ANOTHER DEAL: Houston driller WildHorse acquired by shale pioneer

Newfield's prime operating area is about 360,000 net acres in Oklahoma's oil-rick SCOOP and STACK shale plays. Encana was a little more balanced toward natural gas production while Newfield is oil-focused, so the combination weights the expanded Encana more toward the more valuable crude oil.

Newfield shareholders will receive 2.67 Encana shares for each share of Newfield stock. Encana shareholders will own 63.5 percent of the combined company and Newfield investors will hold 36.5 percent. Newfield will gain two spots on the Encana board.

The deal is expected to close by the end of March.
Sprouts Farmers Market plans to hire more than 140 workers at its new store under construction in Sugar Land.

The Phoenix organic grocer announced Wednesday it is looking for a variety of full- and part-time workers, including department managers, cashiers, clerks and administrative coordinators.
Appraisals, amortization and escrow are some of the many terms bandied about the offices of Cornerstone Lending.

But theres one word you wont hear at the Houston-based company: employee.

We banned the word, CEO Marc Laird said. We use team members, because were all on the same team helping families with the biggest asset theyre going to buy.

Cornerstones focus on the team and its mission has helped the company earn its No. 4 ranking among large businesses on this years Top Workplaces list, based on an employee survey conducted for the Chronicle by Energage.

TOP WORKPLACES: See the winners of the 2018 Top Workplaces competition

Started in 1988 with five employees in one small office, Cornerstone today is one of the largest mortgage lenders nationally, with 1,575 employees across 175 offices in 23 states. Cornerstone annually issues about $8 billion in home loans averaging $280,000 each.

Cornerstone employs a higher ratio of underwriters to loan officers, which allows the the company to have faster home closings. The company has 250 loan officers and 100 underwriters who, with other support staff, close 8.8 homes per month, exceeding the industry average of 4.5 homes per month.

It also helps that Cornerstones loan officers have an average experience of 12.3 years in issuing mortgages.

To retain employees and encourage productivity, Cornerstone rewards longtime employees with anniversary presents and monthly raffles. On the 25th anniversary with the company, Laird rewards his staff with Rolex watches and diamond bracelets. Every month, everyone in the company has a chance to win a gift card worth $50 for every year of service.

Thats our No. 1 opened email, Laird said of the monthly giveaway. It does cost the company money, but its important to create a happy workplace.

Smaller gestures matter, too, Laird said. Cornerstone hosts a number of fun events every year, such as a Halloween costume contest, holiday luncheon and an employee talent show. For more than 30 years, Laird has sent annual birthday cards or emails to everyone in his company.

Its a personal touch that says when youre here, youre family to us, Laird said.

The support goes beyond a birthday card or anniversary present. Since 1994, Cornerstone has managed the Cornerstone Cares Fund, which collects donations from employees to help co-workers in need. Employees can receive up to $5,000 to pay for emergencies, such as funeral costs for a family member.

When Hurricane Harvey flooded the homes and cars of 36 Cornerstone employees, the company fund paid out more than $200,000 to affected workers, Laird said.

Were more than just a company or a job. Were a family that cares for each other, Laird said.

paul.takahashi@chron.com

twitter.com/paultakahashi
Bayou Land Conservancy has selected of Northwest Harris County Municipal Utility District 10 Board of Directors as 2018 Conservation Champion.

The award will be presented at the organizations Annual Gala on Saturday, Nov. 10.

Northwest Harris County MUD 10 is the landowner of the Cypress Wildlife Preserve, located on Little Cypress Creek in northwest Harris County, adjacent to Fritsche Park. BLC holds a perpetual conservation easement on the preserve since 2012. The board is being recognized for protecting and defending the conservation values of the preserve. The award will be presented by Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner R. Jack Cagle.

Each year BLC also recognizes a volunteer with the Trailblazer award. The 2018 Trailblazer is outgoing board chair, Lisa Graiff. Ms. Graiff is being recognized for her extraordinary dedication to the mission of land preservation during her tenure on the board. Her award will be presented by 2017 Trailblazer John Stacy.

The keynote speaker will be acclaimed Dr. Sam Brody, director of the Center for Texas Beaches and Shores. Brody is a regents professor and holder of the George P. Mitchell Chair in Sustainable Coasts in the Department of Marine Sciences and Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University. His keynote will be Protecting Open Spaces: A pathway to flood-resilient communities.

Among the events scheduled for the evening are a land conservation trivia game; Dr. Mark "Merriwether" Vorderbruggen, Foraging Texas, will provide foraged foods from the local area for attendees to sample; Riki's Reptile Relocations will bring reptiles to pet; and Wild South Tea is providing Native Yaupon Tea tastings.

There will be a silent auction and raffle featuring mountain bikes donated by Bike Lane, camping gear donated by REI, and a kayak donated by Dicks Sporting Goods

Those interested in attending the Bayou Land Conservancys Land Lover Gala should contact Melissa Carter at mcarter@bayouland.org.
After the mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, the Houston Jewish community is pulling together to honor and pray for those lost and thinking about ways to keep their people safe.

The shooting Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Tree of Life Synagogue left 11 people dead and six wounded in what is thought to be the deadliest attack on Jews in United States history.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston is an independent nonprofit that, according to spokesperson Taryn Baranowski, works to raise funds for programs like Meals on Wheels, to connect the younger generations with Israel and most importantly to make sure that Houston is a city where Jewish life can flourish.

We are horrified and saddened by the senseless, violent atrocity that targeted innocent people practicing their faith in their spiritual home. We stand in solidarity with an outraged world who condemn this and all terrorist attacks, read a statement issued by the federation.

Baranowski said people should be able to feel safe in the places where they worship and that the rise in anti-Semitic behaviors across the nation is unacceptable.

The federation partnered with the Jewish Community Center and the Anti-Defamation League to host a candlelight vigil that was led Sunday, Oct. 28, by the Houston Rabbinical Association. According to Baranowski, about 1,500 people attended.

You know, you really need to give people time to process and grieve and heal, she said. And we thought that was important to show our support for the Pittsburgh community in that way, and we saw, you know, Houston is a special place. We saw how people from other faiths came out to support the Jewish community in Houston during that time.

Jerrad Bloome is the president at Congregation Beth Yeshurun in Meyerland. With approximately 1,800 families, Beth Yeshurun is the nations largest conservative synagogue, Bloome said.

Bloome was at the synagogue helping two boys celebrate a Bnai Mitzvah when the attack in Pittsburgh happened, so his first reaction was to make sure the congregants there at the time were safe and that security was on high alert.

Bloome said following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the property has been pretty secure with a perimeter fence, security gates and off-duty police officers stationed on-site. However, he said President Donald Trumps comments that having an armed guard at Tree of Life might have changed things lacked sensitivity and were not realistic.

There are a lot of very small Jewish communities with not many resources. I mean were a big synagogue, and we have a lot of resources we can draw from when it comes to security, Bloome said. But there are a lot of small synagogues just like there are small churches and communities that really dont have the ability to arm themselves all of the time.

Coming home after the shooting, Bloome faced his 15-year-old daughter who had questions like why some people hate them so much. Bloome really did not have a lot of answers but encourages those who do not understand the Jewish faith to check out his synagogue to learn more.

I would tell them to come sometime and see what were actually about and the things that we do and that our values and our traditions would welcome them to try to make their lives better and make them a better person and to hopefully make their lives happier and not so angry, Bloome said.

He doubts the Tree of Life Synagogue is at a place where they can receive a lot of help but said Jewish communities will be ready to jump in at that point. Until then, Bloome said Beth Yeshurun plans to hold a special Shabbat (Jewish Sabbath) on Friday, Nov. 2, to remember and honor the victims lost at Tree of Life.

When Hurricane Harvey flooded Beth Yeshurun last summer, Bloome watched as Jewish communities around the nation and world stepped in to help them rebuild. He believes the tragedy in Pittsburgh will ultimately have the same effect at Tree of Life and in the Jewish community as a whole.

It brought our community together - it made it stronger. It made us realize across all the Jewish organizations how much we help each other and need each other, he said.
The city of Deer Park has loosened its policy on education requirements for police officer applicants to include those without a bachelors degree as long as they have 60 hours of college credit and meet certain criteria for either military service or experience as a peace officer.

The previous policy instituted in 1998, required applicants to have a bachelors degree to be hired, Police Chief Greg Grigg said.

But Griggs began to consider a change to include those who have some college credit along with previous military or law enforcement experience after he ran into challenges when hiring applicants who earned a college degree without work experience.

They never had a job, they were not working out at all, he said of inexperienced grads. Being a police officer should not be your first job, we found that out. We were locked into a four-year degree; so we were locked into that demographic.

Under the new requirements, applicants must either hold a bachelors degree in any field or qualify under one of the following exceptions:

They must have earned 60 college hours and a minimum of two years of military service with an honorable discharge. They must have earned 60 college hours and a license from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement or the ability to obtain a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement license if certified in another state, and at least two years of experience as a full-time certified peace officer from an agency at least comparable in size, complexity and duties to Deer Parks department.

A TCOLE license allows a candidate to work as a peace officer and is conferred once an applicant has graduated a police academy, passed an exit exam and been hired by a police department, Grigg said.

They have to have substantial life experience and work history to hire them. Its not worked out too many times where theyve not done it, and they cant handle the responsibilities, he said. If you have the four-year degree and no work history, were not going hire them. They can apply, but Im not going hire them.

Grigg said Deer Park PD is authorized to have 65 officers and has six openings. But that may dwindle to two openings in the coming weeks when some recent hires come on staff who applied before the change.

The salary range for police officers in Deer Park is from $55,348.80 to $62,774.40, depending on experience, Grigg said.

Grigg said hes comfortable hiring someone with previous military or police officer experience as long that experience was with a department of equal or larger size to Deer Parks.

The chief noted that the department already has some officers with a military background who qualified under the previous requirements.

If theyve been deployed, theyve definitely faced some hardship and theyre coming in here with life experience, he said of candidates with military experience.

As for those with experience as law enforcement officers, he said, I dont want somebody coming out of a town with 300 people, it s a totally different job. But if I know theyve had two years of being a police officer, theyre going to come to with us with some experience.

Deer Park has a population of 33,891, according to 2017 U.S. Census Bureau information.

Grigg said another contributing factor in the general decline in qualified applicants coming straight of universities is what he believes are negative attitudes toward police officers and law enforcement on college campuses across the country.

A large part of the negativity about police was being picked up by college professors, he said. Many of those (police confrontations) were happening on college campuses.

He thinks an antipolice attitude reduced the number of applicants, adding, and what applicants we got, we didnt need that coming in.

Another problem was applicants with a history of drug use or lying on the application, which means automatic disqualification, Grigg said.

City Council accepted Griggs proposed changes in requirements on June 20.

He said he informed his officers of the possible change before going to City Council to make sure his staff understood the need and that the newcomers with less time and money invested into education should be received well.

The two things that we picked  coming out of the military and another police department of comparable size  we know theyve been out on the street and doing the job, thats going to go a long way with these folks looking at them as a colleague, he said.

The decision to shift away from college degrees as the primary criteria was big, Grigg said. But he doesnt think hell have to reconsider it any time soon.

I dont even see on the horizon going back to the four-year degree. Where our country is, I dont see that changing or changing quickly.
Erin Walper, 46, was in her hotel room in Austin when she heard the news that a man had allegedly walked into a Pittsburgh synagogue and killed 11 people during Shabbat services.

Walper, whos Jewish and has lived in her home in the Green Trails subdivision in the Katy area for eight years, once had ties to Squirrel Hill  the neighborhood in which the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27 took place. She lived just a few blocks down the road from Tree of Life and up until she graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, called Squirrel Hill her home.

Its very surreal to turn on the TV or to listen to the news and have the place that youre most familiar with in the world be talked about when discussing these things, the mother of two said. Its just weird. Its the last place that I would have expected for this to happen.

The Katy-area Jewish community, while shaken, was not surprised by the anti-Semitic Pittsburgh attack that for many felt close to home. They are standing strong, with head rabbis sending messages of solidarity to their own congregants and outward to the Houston community.

On Friday, Congregation Or Ami and Temple Sinai  two Katy-area synagogues  will participate in Show Up For Shabbat, a worldwide call for action in response to the Pittsburgh shooting put on by the Global Jewish Advocacy.

Walper, who is a board of trustee at Congregation Or Ami, a conservative synagogue in West Houston, said she is completely blown away by the anti- Semitic attacks on the congregants at the Tree of Life synagogue.

I never thought that would happen in Squirrel Hill, but I hate to say this in general  me and many other people have gotten numb to these kind of attacks, she said.

Congregation Or Ami Head Rabbi Gideon Estes and others in the Houston Jewish community lead a vigil Sunday night in honor of the 11 congregants killed in Pittsburgh. On Monday, he was at temple tending to the family of a member of his congregation who had just died.

Personally, it causes for a gamut of emotions  anger, fear, sadness. Resolve to fight for a better world and to stand up to all kinds of injustice, Estes said in regards to the shooting. Its a sadness; a desire to comfort and help those who are suffering.

Estes said he was comforted by the responses and support he received by friends, family, members of other religious communities and law enforcement who came out to Sunday nights vigil and stood with us shoulder to shoulder.

My answer to all of this is that I maintain hope, he said. Thats where my faith comes in and my trust in God is that we have to have hope and hope sustains us, because if I lose hope then they win.

The deaths of the congregants hits close to home, because of how similar the two congregations are to each other, he said. Both are relatively small and on the suburbs of larger cities, he said.

The attacks felt personal and close because its an attack on a place where were supposed to be safest. Literally, inside the sanctuaries of the synagogue, Estes said.

The 46-year-old man who is alleged to be responsible for the attacks pleaded not guilty in a federal courtroom Thursday after a grand jury issued a 44-count indictment that charged him with murder, hate crimes and a slew of other charges, according to the Associated Press. During the attack, he is reported have shouted at all Jews must die as he began shooting at congregants.

Its unnerving to know that someone wants to murder me in my house of worship just because Im a Jew, Estes said. There arent words. I did not expect that. I knew always there are anti-Semites in this country, but that they feel emboldened to leave their basement dungeons thats whats scary to me.

Following the fatal anti-Semitic attack Saturday, Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt called it the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States.

It is simply unconscionable for Jews to be targeted during worship on a Sabbath morning, and unthinkable that it would happen in the United States of America in this day and age, Greenblatt said.

Temple Sinai Head Rabbi Annie Belford was hesitant to point fingers at any political party or political situation, because I think that thats far too simplistic.

There are a lot of things that are happening in our society and I think it really wont be until we have the benefit of hindsight and a little bit more calm in peoples mind until we can say this is why this is happening, said Belford, who has lived in the Katy area for 10 years.

The fatal attacks on the Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh is heartbreaking, but sadly not surprising, Belford said.

A spike in anti-Semitic violence proven by FBI data two years in a row and the recent pipe bomb incidents where top Democrats and George Soros were targeted; and the fatal shooting of two Black men at a Kroger last week in Kentucky has left her concerned. she said.

Im personally so sad and angry, but that this is how our society has become, Belford said. This is not how our world should be.

But Belford is all too familiar with anti-semitism in the Katy area, she said. Shes dealt with it with children who attend her youth program since shes moved into town.

Every single child that graduates from our program, that graduates from high school - every single one - has faced some kind of anti-Jewish or anti-Semitic incident, she said. Some of it is religious faith, that were going to hell because we dont believe in Jesus. And some of it happens when theyre very young, when theyre in elementary school.

Walper agrees.

There is not a lot of understanding about Judaism, Walper said, adding that her children have faced similar experiences in school.

But the reason that (the shooting in Pittsburgh) is scary is that could have happened to any of us, Belford said.

Tree of Life synagogue is every synagogue. We are all of them, Belford said. The people that were killed at Tree of Life synagogue are the people that come to all of our synagogues. We didnt know them, and yet we know them. They are our grandparents, and our doctors and the members of community who we love and I think thats why its so painful. We are all connected in that way.

She encourages her congregants to stay true to their values of inclusion and to move forward without hate; to put out kindness and love.

Because that matters, she said. It matters in this world today.

The Katy area has three synagogues, but no synagogues are within the Katy city limits, said Taryn Baranowski, chief marketing officer at the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston.

Congregation Or Ami and Temple Sinai are both in West Houston. Chabad of West Houston is the other Katy area synagogue. Rabbi Dovid Goldstein did not respond to a request for comment.

Were all on heightened alert ... and we're in the initial phases, said Baranowski, said in regards to security at local synagogues. Groups have been in contact with law enforcement and we're going to be having some conversations within the community just to provide resources to people.

Temple Sinai and Congregation Or Ami have armed guards for Shabbat services. Estes said due to the recent attacks in Pittsburgh, the administration decided to have an armed guard for Friday Shabbat services as well. It also has a gate.

I think I feel safer at synagogue in some ways, Walper said. And because it also makes me sad that (extra security) is required.

michelle.iracheta@chron.com
Melissa Taylor / Melissa Taylor

It was just before curtain time when Dan Knechtges, the very enthusiastic Artistic Director of Houstons Theatre Under the Stars, stepped on stage to welcome the audience of the current run of the new TUTS production of the Charlie Smalls musical, THE WIZ . Mr. Knechtges promised the audience it was in for a treat, and I am sure many would agree when the final curtain came down. With its creative book by William F. Brown, this 1975 Broadway success was a pioneer in the use of an all-black cast. In this edition, the able direction of Robert OHara, cute and flashy choreography of designer Byron Easely, witty costumes of designer, Dede Ayite, and Darryl G. Iveys fine Musical Direction with full orchestra, all combine to deliver the treat that had been promised.

Im sure no-one needs a recap of L. Frank Baums iconic American tale of The Wizard of Oz, with its legendary heroes, the Tin Man, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and their young teenaged farmgirl friend, Dorothy, all of whom passed into legend via the classic 1939 film starring Judy Garland. They all return to us here in this fun-filled and funky rendition of the story that has been making the rounds on stage and in film for nearly 40 years. Readers who may have longed for a chance to hear the kinds of powerhouse vocalists that headline world-renowned gospel choirs need look no farther. Delivering sensational solos that could reach the upper balconies without the aid of a microphone, we have the talents of Salome Smith (Dorothy), Marva Hicks (The Wiz and Uncle Henry), Simone Gundy (as Addaperle, The Good Witch of the North), Allyson Kaye Daniel (as the Lion), and Yvette Monique Clark (in a triple-role as Aunt Em, the Wicked Witch, Evillene, and as Glinda, the Good Witch of the South). Christopher Campbell as the Scarecrow, and Paris Nix as the Tin Man bring along vocal magic of their own.
After being placed on administrative leave last month, Montgomery County Animal Shelter Director Aaron Johnson and Assistant Director Mark Wysocki are back at work after investigators found no wrong doing after the shelter euthanized 78 animals in August.

Johnson and Wysocki were put on administrative leave with pay last month pending the outcome of the investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office and Montgomery County District Attorneys Office.

Aaron and Mark have made great strides towards improving the Montgomery County Animal Shelter. Said Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack, who recently had oversight of the shelter placed under his supervision by Commissioners Court. Their continued efforts will help find loving homes and reputable rescue organizations for the more than 700 dogs and cats currently in the shelter.

I am confident that their leadership, combined with the dedicated staff and volunteers, will ensure that all the animals are well taken care of while at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter.

The ordeal began Aug. 17 when the shelter was asked to help facilitate the surrender of 84 dogs and cats from a home in the 18000 Block of Quail Run Circle near Conroe, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Lt. Scott Spencer said in a previous article.

The owner, a 65-year-old woman, had contacted an out-of-state rescue group to surrender her animals, who in turn contacted the shelter to make the initial seizure.

Animal shelter employees, including shelter Director Aaron Johnson, went to the Conroe-area property and initially took six healthy and friendly dogs, who were almost immediately adopted out to loving families, Spencer said.

Then, on Aug. 20, Johnson and his employees returned to the property for the remaining 78 dogs and cats.

Animal control officers took the remaining animals to the Montgomery County Animal Shelter, where each were euthanized, Spencer said.

Days later, a doctor at the shelter notified officials with the sheriff's office of the mass euthanizing, sparking the investigation.

The operations at the shelter have been under scrutiny since early 2015 when volunteers approached county officials and reported conditions that they said resulted in the deaths of hundreds of animals, according to earlier reports in The Courier of Montgomery County.

Volunteers had claimed the conditions went downhill after commissioners approved the reorganization of Care Corporation in January 2015. Former Precinct 3 Constable Tim Holifield and his wife, Amy, founded Care Corporation in 2012 to provide management for the shelter but sold it shortly before commissioners approved the reorganization in 2015.

Commissioners later terminated the county's contract with Care Corporation and began a search for a third-party vendor to manage the shelter. After rejecting all bids and ending the search, the county took over management of the shelter.

Jackson took over the shelter last November after interim director Todd Hayden quit. Hayden had stepped into the role in March 2016 after his predecessor, Michael White, resigned in February after only one week on the job.

Johnson took over Jackson's role after he suddenly quit in May 2017.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
Months after a Texas prisoner accused corrections officers of planting drill bits in his cell, investigators have closed the case without any arrests.

But, according to the Office of the Inspector General, the primary suspects are among the officers already facing charges for planting evidence in another inmate's cell.

"The case is closed only because we couldn't make an affirmative link to the planting of the drill bits," said Joseph Buttita, deputy director for the Office of the Inspector General. With the exception of one person who ultimately did not cooperate, he said, "everybody else that was involved wouldn't answer our calls because they're already indicted."

The trouble at the Ramsey Unit in Brazoria County began to emerge in May, when the Houston Chronicle revealed a short-lived disciplinary quota system apparently put in place by prison officials who ordered officers to write-up inmates or face consequences themselves.

As officials probed the matter, an inmate's mother read about the claims and came forward with her own allegations that some of the same officials had planted screwdrivers in her son's cell and then wrote him a disciplinary case. The Office of the Inspector General investigated, and four officers were indicted for felony tampering and misdemeanor official oppression.

READ MORE: 4 Texas prison officials indicted after alleged screwdriver-planting incident at Brazoria lockup

It's still not entirely clear what motivated the alleged set-up.

One of the prison officials facing charges  former Major Juan Jackson  was also part of a leaked email thread discussing the quotas. His lawyer on Wednesday did not respond to a request for comment.

As the case surrounding the screwdriver-planting allegations began winding its way through the courts, another evidence-planting claim  this time involving drill bits  sparked a second investigation.

The inmate at the center of those claims, Johnny Reyes, had already been disciplined and transferred, but some men still at Ramsey reached out to the Chronicle, recounting what they'd seen and heard and asking for an investigation.

Another man also wrote state Rep. James White, R-Hillister, who forwarded the matter to the Office of the Inspector General, which opened an investigation only to close it in July. But after "acquiring sufficient information," officials confirmed in August that they'd opened another case.

In recent weeks, that investigation also came to a close, but investigators said they'd open the matter again if they could find a witness willing to talk or a new lead.

"The MO was the same (as the screwdriver case), but we just weren't able to make that affirmative link in this one," Buttita said, "because the major players in that are under indictment and would not cooperate."

But even with the criminal case closed, the inmate apparently targeted with the planted hardware had his disciplinary case tossed, prison officials confirmed. But his family said he's still facing disciplinary charges in connection with unrelated cases that weren't thrown out.
Japan has launched a new GPS service accurate to within several centimeters thanks to its Michibiki satellites.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and former astronaut Naoko Yamazaki attended a ceremony in Tokyo on Thursday to mark the start of the location service.

Government officials say the around-the-clock service was made possible by the launch of 4 Michibiki satellites between 2010 and 2017.

Devices able to pick up signals from the satellites can greatly reduce the margin of error from the current 10 meters.

The government plans to launch 3 more satellites by fiscal 2023 to beef up the system.

Abe said GPS is now indispensable, as more and more gadgets like car navigation systems and smartphone map apps come to rely on it.

He said Michibiki is turning a new page in history and that he is thrilled to witness how the new service will bring positive changes to people's daily lives.

The government aims to make use of Michibiki satellites in the development of self-driving vehicles, fully automated farm machinery, and drone delivery services.
The YMCA of Greater Houston is giving parents and guardians a little help on Nov. 6 by offering free child care if they need it to go and vote in the mid-term elections.

Dubbed Election Day Child Watch, the YMCA says the goal is to encourage civic engagement. Drop-in care is only for a maximum of 2 hours and available for children ages 6 months to 11 years old.
Drew Angerer, Staff / Getty Images

Novembers Christian Business Luncheon will be dedicated to honoring those who served in the United States Military.

The annual Honor our Veterans Luncheon invites military veterans to enjoy a free lunch at the Lone Star College Beckendorf Conference Center in Tomball on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. The lunch and program begin at 12 p.m. The event ends at 1 p.m.
The controversial proposal to construct a six-lane underpass tunnel on Research Forest Drive at the intersection of Grogans Mill Road appears to be dead  at least for the time being.

On Thursday, Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack issued a press release stating that he had decided against submitting the project to the Houston-Galveson Area Council for consideration for federal funding by the Oct. 31 deadline.

In a telephone interview on Thursday, Noack said he decided to take more of a leadership role with the project, including commissioning the new traffic flow study, which will be done by an independent engineering firm, as well as soliciting feedback from the thousands of residents along the corridor and also engaging in more collaborative efforts with elected officials from entities along the projects edges.

Although the project was not submitted to H-GAC for funding consideration, Noack said in a press release that officials will conduct a joint mobility study of the entire Research Forest Drive corridor from Gosling Road to Interstate-45 in conjunction with The Woodlands Township, the City of Shenandoah, The Woodlands Road Utility District No. 1 and Montgomery County Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley. The study  being done by Strand Associates engineering firm in Brenham  will examine traffic flows, the number of vehicles using the corridor and congestion and safety issues, according to the release. It will also include turning movements of vehicles, data which had not been included in previous H-GAC studies.

We want the citizens to be heard. Were glad to go back to the drawing table once we find out new traffic counts. The whole process could have been done better, in a more open manner, Noack said in the telephone interview. We will all be working collectively on this new solution and we will be meeting collectively with the new engineering group, because collaboration is important.

Gordy Bunch, the chairman of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors, said on Thursday that he was happy with Noacks decision, and said putting a hold on the project in order to examine options and statistics was the best move for all parties concerned.

I think it would have been wrong to submit the project (to H-GAC) with the opposition, Bunch said. We now have time to work together. The information (presented to the township) warranted a pause. Absent the persistence of our board and residents, this project would have been submitted for funding. I am proud of the board and residents.

Project drew opposition from locals

The move to not submit the project for the current H-GAC federal Transportation Improvement Project funding cycle comes after months of staunch opposition to the project from hundreds of residents in the immediate surrounding neighborhoods, notably a community called Prosewood. Many of those residents said the project was not the best solution for traffic congestion and safety issues at the intersection; they also cited possible lowering of home values, increased noise from the traffic and other issues.

The residents of the immediate area, though, are not the only people affected by congestion and dangerous safety issues on the Research Forest Drive corridor, said Robert Heineman, who was one of the designated spokespersons for the project originally sponsored and devised by The Woodlands RUD No. 1.

Heineman, vice president of planning, The Woodlands Development Co., had made several presentations about the project at meetings of the township board in September and October. After the board refused to support the underpass by tabling a proposed resolution of support for the project, the development icon who has been part of The Woodlands since 1971 urged the township to do a study of residents in the villages of Cochrans Crossing as well as Alden Bridge, which are further west.

Noack recognized the need for the improvements at the intersection and explained his decision in the press release distributed on Thursday.

We recognize the necessity to incorporate more traffic lanes under Interstate-45, as well as turn lanes to ensure that traffic flow greatly improves at Research Forest and Interstate 45 and support Shenandoah in its efforts add lanes under the freeway, Noack wrote in the press release. In addition, the independent study will include the Lake Woodlands Drive-Grogans Mill (Road) intersection, which also is considered a prime location for a grade separation project. The 2018 H-GAC traffic projections show 52,000 vehicles travel that intersection daily, with just over 80,000 expected by 2025 and a little more than 95,000 by 2045.

Those who were opposed to the project, which was designed by officials at The Woodlands RUD No. 1 and supported by Noack and Montgomery County, lobbied against the underpass at a series of meetings of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors as well as during a last-minute forum hosted by township board Chairman Gordy Bunch on Oct. 23.

Residents, as well as Bunch, had asked why adding more turn lanes to the intersection and widening portions of the two roads was not viable. There were also concerns raised about improving another equally thorny intersection  the one at Grogans Mill Road and Lake Woodlands Drive. Bunch had theorized from past studies and data that at-grade, lane improvements could be made at both critical intersections with a total cost of only $7-8 million which The Woodlands RUD No. 1 has on hand.

Heineman and engineers from Brown and Gay rejected that premise, stating it was merely a temporary band-aid fix that would be outdated in several years.

Much of the confusion over the underpass project, as well as the need for it, stemmed from wildly varying traffic flow statistics and projections  some dating back to 2014  that were presented by project officials, including Heineman as well as engineers from Brown and Gay Engineering, the company hired to develop the plans for the underpass project. Bunch had asked numerous pointed questions about the fluctuating and seemingly weekly changes to traffic flow statistics during all of the meetings, expressing his confusion and later using the lack of accurate data as one reason why he was against supporting the project.

Bunch said the different sets of data presented to him and the board were one of the main concerns with the project.

The information and presentation all the way up to Tuesday (Oct 23) were made using aged data that when updated (on Oct. 24) showed a 20 percent reduction in traffic flows, Bunch explained. And it showed there were alternate, at-grade solutions that were long term solutions and provided improved levels of service for many years down the road.

Andy DuBois, a spokesperson for Noacks office, said the commissioner had become aware of the debate about the statistics, and that was one factor in obtaining an outside engineering firm to do a new study. Included in the analysis will be new 2018 traffic flow numbers from H-GAC as well as data from other sources. The new statistics will include turning movements of vehicles traveling north on Grogans Mill Road and who are turning right and left onto Research Forest Drive, as well as data for drivers on Research Forest Drive who are turning left or right onto Grogans Mill Road, he added.

Turning movements are not typically including in (H-GAC) statistics, Dubois said.

As for the complaints from residents in the immediate proximity to the intersection and proposed project, both DoBois and Noack said the commissioners office received less than 20 emails from residents with complaints or objections to the project. Among the reasons cited by residents opposed were the removal of trees that make The Woodlands more scenic, the nesting American Bald Eagles that reside about a mile way in the Hughes Landing area and other reasons.

(The complaints) Were the same thing you hear any time a road is built or expanded, Noack explained.

What is next?

Although Noack did not submit the project for funding by the Oct. 31 deadline, that does not mean the project will not happen, Noack noted.

The South Montgomery County Mobility Study, which was completed in 2015 and involved input from all affected communities, identified an underpass at the Research Forest Drive-Grogans Mill Road intersection as the best project to improve the level of service for traffic and vehicle safety with the least impact on residents and the environment, he wrote in his initial press release. Considering that the City of Shenandoah previously rejected an overpass at that intersection, an underpass was the recommended project listed on the South Montgomery County, Shenandoah and WRUD No. 1 implementation workbooks for the South County Mobility Study in 2015.

The underpass project had a total estimated cost of $24 million, of which $17 million was being sought from H-GAC, which distributes federal funding to area governments and entities for road improvement projects. The remaining $7 million in funding for the underpass was to come from The Woodlands RUD No. 1.

DuBois said the next opportunity to submit the project to H-GAC for federal funding was not known, because often times the TIP projects are based on when federal funding is made available.

It may be one year, two years or four years, DuBois said of the next opportunity to submit the project to H-GAC.

Meagan Coughlin, manager of Public Outreach for the Houston-Galveston Area Council, said the Transportation Department and H-GAC typically administer the Call for Projects and application process every two to three years. She added that the next Call for Projects is expected to occur in 2020 or 2021.

To help put things in perspective, longer term projects start in the Regional Transportation Plan, (which) looks out 25 years, and then through the Call for Projects application process, (then we) move into the Ten-Year Plan (which) looks out 10 years, then (we) move into the Transportation Improvement Program (which is) four years, Coughlin explained.

Coughlin said that in the most recent Call for Projects, H-GAC received 194 of proposed projects from various sponsors within the eight-county Transportation Management Area seeking federal funding. About $920 million of flexible funding was available for disbursement, including the federal, state, and local match that is authorized for transportion-related programming in the next 10 years, she added.

Bunch said he was happy with the developments, and noted that now all affected parties, residents and entities can work together to find a solution.

Rather than all these various groups meeting individually, we will all meet so everyone is on the same page, Bunch said. And all the issues are discussed together. I am happy our board and township residents were persistent in questioning this study.

jeff.forward@chron.com
The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee will have a new look at the committees first meeting of 2019, as two positions on the seven member committee are up for re-appointment and one member of the committee recently announced he is resigning from the group that hears and rules on design and other issues in the community.

Walter Lisiewski, the chairman of the DSC, said the terms of two members of the committee  himself and the newest member, Arthur Bredehoft  end on Dec. 31 and that the township is accepting applications for those two seats.

In addition to Lisiewskis and Bredehofts seats, a third seat will be open after another member of the committee  township board member Brian Boniface  announced this week that he is resigning from the committee for unstated reasons. Boniface is currently seeking re-election to the townships board in the Nov. 6 election, facing off against opponent Treva Taglieri for the Position 2 seat.

I intend to step down and give our residents a chance to serve, Boniface said in an email to The Villager.

Boniface has only been on the committee less than a year, having been appointed to the position in December 2017 and joining the committee in early 2018. Boniface and fellow township board member John Anthony Brown had joined the committee together after two other members terms expired and were not renewed by the board.

Boniface and Browns appointments to the committee were a result of the townships board of directors unease with former DSC Chairperson Deborah Sargeant and another member, Chris Florack.

Sargeant and Florack had been criticized throughout 2017 by both residents and township board members over claims the duo mishandled a controversial dispute between St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and residents in the nearby neighborhood of Laurelhurst. The dispute, which continued into June 2018 before being resolved, involved arguments over the churchs expansion efforts and the alleged improper chopping down of trees in a forest buffer area.

During previous meetings, township board Chairman Gordy Bunch had expressed his thanks for the work of Boniface and Brown, in addition to the leadership of newly appointed chairman, Lisiewski, in helping to finally bring the St. Anthony situation to an amicable resolution. Boniface and Brown were also considered very helpful in the committees handling of the infamous monster house on Longspur Drive, which had generated its own controvery in 2017 and 2018 after nearly four years of contentious disputes over construction of the unusually large home.

Lisiewski said that he was planning to apply for his seat on the committe, and said that he had also been informed by Bredehoft that he would also apply to renew his appointment to the committee.

Arthur and myself, our terms end on Dec. 31, Lisiewski said in a telephone interview. Neither of us plan to resign, it is just the end of our terms. We both plan to apply again for the committee.

Members of the DSC generally meet twice a month to discuss external development and design issues within the townships boundaries, resolving disputes between neighbors and issuing rulings on improvements such as repainting a home, removal of trees and even signs and exterior elements of local businesses. The committee does not issue occupancy permits or deal with internal inspections related to electricity and plumbing. Another primary duty of the DSC is enforcement of the townships convenants, as well as resolving appeals made to the lower-level Residential Design Review committees.

Anyone who may want to apply for one of the three open seats on the committee can submit an application to The Woodlands Township offices, located at 2801 Technology Forest Boulevard. Applications cna also be submitted online at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/covenants. Applicants must reside in The Woodlands, and are required to prove their background or experience in fields such as engineering, contractual issues and law, architecture, building code enforcement and other areas of construction and development.

Applications are due no later than 5 p.m., Monday Nov. 12, 2018. For more information, applicants can visit the township website or telephone 281-210-3800. Members of the committee serve two-year terms and are not pair or compensated in any manner for the work.

jeff.forward@chron.com
MANAUS, Brazil - On a steamy February morning, Bernardino Albuquerque - a doctor in charge of combating infectious diseases in Brazil's vast Amazonas state - received the text message he had been dreading for weeks.

We have two patients with symptoms.

That alert from Brazilian doctors near the Venezuelan frontier marked the start of an imported measles epidemic that is still ravaging the Brazilian Amazon. It was the first time in nearly two decades that the highly contagious virus had appeared in this tropical region, home to a growing number of Venezuelan migrants. The disease has also spread to Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

The economic and social crisis in Venezuela is increasingly spilling over its borders, with disease becoming the newest symbol of the disaster. Venezuela's health-care system has virtually broken down, allowing once-eradicated illnesses such as measles and diphtheria to reemerge in a population facing acute shortages of food and medicine. Now, a historic outflow of migrants is helping spread infections to other countries.

"Venezuela's crisis has become our own," Manaus Mayor Arthur Virgilio Neto said.

Brazil's patient zero for measles was a 1-year-old Venezuelan child brought over the border in February. Eight months later, more than 10,000 patients have contracted suspected infections in Amazonas state alone, as the virus hopscotched across a local population that was not sufficiently vaccinated. New cases are growing at the rate of 170 a week.

Seen as a manageable childhood illness in the United States, measles has taken a high toll in the crowded shantytowns and remote villages of the dense Amazon jungle. Amazonas state declared a health emergency in July, and hundreds of people have been hospitalized with complications including pneumonia. So far, two adults and four infants have died.

"We hadn't had a single case of measles in 18 years; most of our doctors only knew it from text books," said Albuquerque, recalling the start of the measles outbreak. "We were prepared for routine problems. But this was extraordinary."

- - -

Venezuela, an oil-rich nation of about 31 million, is in the midst of a societal collapse - the product of a five-year-long depression sparked by lower oil prices, failed socialist policies, government mismanagement and corruption. Aid agencies project nearly 2 million Venezuelans will abandon their nation this year, on top of 1.8 million who left over the past two years. They are leaving a country where food is scarce and the public health system is withering, with little money for drugs, outreach campaigns, epidemiological surveillance or insecticides.

Decades ago, Venezuela was lauded as a global pioneer in combating malaria, eradicating the disease from vast sections of the nation. But malaria cases have tripled in three years to 406,289 in 2017. Brazilian authorities cite that surge, and the increase in migrant flows, for a 50 percent spike in malaria in Amazonas state last year, to 72,000 cases. Peruvian health authorities have reported a new outbreak in a transit region for migrants where no malaria cases had been recorded since 2012.

"We're facing a [malaria] epidemic in places that didn't have it anymore, that were clean of it," Albuquerque said. "They have not been doing effective malaria control in Venezuela, especially in the past few years."

In Colombia, at least eight cases of diphtheria - a bacterial infection that can block airways and cause death - were confirmed in 2018, that nation's first instances since 2005. All eight were recorded in border regions with a large flow of migrants from Venezuela, where a diphtheria outbreak has raged since 2016, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a United Nations body.

Hospitals in countries that border Venezuela, particularly Colombia and Brazil, are already overwhelmed by a surge of sick Venezuelans, seeking treatment for grave illnesses from cancer to HIV that their home nation is increasingly unable to treat.

The PAHO said in a statement that Venezuela's health-care system - including disease-prevention programs - had been continually deteriorating because of economic and political problems. "This has led to an increase in the number of outbreaks of infectious diseases, particularly of measles, diphtheria and malaria. The situation is being aggravated by population movements both within the country and to neighboring countries," it said.

- - -

No illness has spread more rapidly from Venezuela than measles. Viruses containing the same genetic markers as in the outbreak in Venezuela have spread across the continent, from neighboring Colombia to distant Argentina. Outside of Venezuela, the vast majority of the patients are in Latin America's largest nation: Brazil.

Venezuela's health ministry did not respond to repeated requests for comment. PAHO records, however, show hundreds of suspected measles cases were reported there in 2016. The government launched a targeted vaccination campaign in the most affected area - the illegal mining zones in Bolivar state - after cases were recorded there in mid-2017.

But vaccination programs had been slipping nationwide for years, according to Venezuelan doctors - providing a recipe for disaster even as the government was slow to respond to new outbreaks.

Two Venezuelan physicians familiar with the country's vaccination program said failing infrastructure has contributed to the problem. At Caracas University Hospital - one of the capital's largest - there are holes in doors in the infectious disease ward where measles patients are kept, compromising containment efforts, according to doctors. Refrigerators are often broken in Caracas clinics, making storage of vaccines challenging. Also, cars used to deliver vaccines are frequently out of service because of a lack of spare parts, according to the doctors, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of government reprisals.

The Venezuelan government, with the aid of the PAHO, launched a more comprehensive, nationwide measles vaccination program this year. But the damage, doctors say, had already been done.

"When a virus enters a country, what you do is protect the population, and the government simply didn't," said Julio Castro, professor at Caracas University Hospital's Tropical Medicine Institute. "Once the virus was here, they did nothing to truly stop it from spreading. Knowing that so many of our kids weren't vaccinated, they should have raised a national alarm. They didn't."

International agencies - including the PAHO and the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. government's overseas development organization - have launched emergency health programs in Venezuela's neighboring countries to contain the outbreaks, including ramped-up vaccination and detection operations in Colombia and Peru. But nowhere has the response been more massive than in Brazil.

- - -

The road to Venezuela passes by Northside Emergency Hospital in Manaus, a sprawling city of 2.1 million that boomed under 19th-century rubber barons.

Here, 600 miles from the Venezuelan border, the hospital's littlest patients are struggling for breath in an infectious disease ward that was converted months ago into a measles isolation wing. In one room, Talia Miranda, 21, stroked the hand of her 4-month-old son, Theo.

When he had come in nine days earlier, his measles-related pneumonia had been so bad he needed to be incubated. He was still not out of danger - but doing better than an infected infant in the room next door who doctors said might not pull through.

Authorities have strung up measles advisory posters around town, and the outbreak is constantly in the news. Miranda had been counting the days until her son was 6 months old - the date when doctors said it would be safe to vaccinate him. But then she caught measles herself and passed it on to him.

"I don't blame the Venezuelans; they're just looking for a safe place," she said, fighting back tears. "I blame myself. I wasn't vaccinated. He got it from me."

Indeed, the spread of illnesses like measles has underscored the dangerous weakness of the vaccination programs in countries like Brazil. When measles swept in from Venezuela, almost one-third of Amazonas state's 4 million inhabitants were unvaccinated.

Officials have scrambled to respond. The government set up a situation room in Manaus, with dozens of maps on the wall, and tracked the disease as it invaded the city. Doctors unfamiliar with measles underwent urgent training. Health authorities went to universities and medical schools, recruiting more than 1,000 trainees who were taught how to give vaccinations. A door-to-door operation began - from moss-covered colonial buildings and teeming slums to jungle settlements reachable only by days-long trips in canoes.

Yet the mobilization failed to prevent a major outbreak - by late summer, medical personnel were receiving 900 suspected measles victims a week. Overwhelmed, health workers moved from sending patients to hospital isolation wards to recommending home containment for all but the worst cases. Emergency vaccination points were set up at schools and churches.

After the delivery of 1 million vaccinations, the number of suspected new cases is dropping - down to 170 a week.

Few in Manaus are angry at the Venezuela migrants, who generally have been met with sympathy here. Residents are, however, blaming the Venezuelan government.

"The epidemic is the result of a despotic, incompetent government in Venezuela," said Virgilio, the Manaus mayor. "Their lack of attention to national health care has created these negative consequences, and we have to pay the price."

- - -

Krygier reported from Caracas.
A special fundraising event to support the Foundation 4 Orphans, a non-profit organization founded by former New Milford resident the Rev. Wayne Lavender, Ph.D., will be held Nov. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Ridgefield.

F4O is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that raises awareness and resources to help orphans and vulnerable children in the United States and around the globe.

The event, to take place at the Lounsbury House at 316 Main St. in Ridgefield, will include music, hors doeuvres, a presentation by Lavender and a special guest speaker from Africa.

Lavender is a Ridgefield native, a pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in North Haven and a past longtime pastor of the New Milford United Methodist Church.

He recently returned home from Mozambique, Africa, where he was a guest speaker at the Annual Conference for the Methodist Church in Mozambique.

While there, he addressed church leaders and discussed how F4O can further help transform the lives of orphans there and around the globe.

Bishop Joaquina Nhanala, resident bishop of Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Madagascar, has asked F4O if in the coming years it can help construct up to a dozen new community-based orphanages modeled after the Carolyn Belshe Orphanage in Cambine, Mozambique, built more than a decade ago under the leadership of Lavender and the New Milford United Methodist Church.

An estimated 150 million orphans are alive today, mostly in developing nations of the south. Approximately 16,000 children die daily from the effects of extreme poverty.

The plight of orphans is real, said Lavender, executive director of F4O. Its an ongoing humanitarian crisis. And our collective neglect of these precious children is, in essence, a crime against humanity.

We lift communities by serving orphans, he said. We know that we lift both the donor community and those receiving the aid. We lift donor communities in that when we give, we receive more than we give, and when we help someone else, our own path is illuminated. And we help communities that receive aid where there are an abundance of orphans by providing jobs in building orphanages and in caring for these precious children.

Lavenders book Who Will Care for the Orphan?, was recently translated into Portuguese, the national language of Mozambique. Bishop Nhanala has requested each of her clergy members read the book.

The Foundation 4 Orphans serves the educational, emotional, physical and spiritual needs of orphans and vulnerable children, the very thing these children lose when their parents die, Lavender said.

Lavender, who is also a professor at Quinnipiac University, has participated in four mission trips to Mozambique, as well as mission trips to Brazil, Iraq, Egypt and Vietnam, since 1998. In 2016, he took on a five-month journey running, walking and driving across the country to raise awareness about orphans and vulnerable children and funds for future projects around the world.

F4O recently celebrated the construction of an orphanage for nearly 50 children in Dondo, Mozambique. Plans are in the works to build additional orphanages in northern Mozambique and in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In addition to building orphanages, a chapter of F4O operates a mentoring program for orphans and vulnerable children in the Kurdish city of Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, where Lavender served as a visiting professor at the University of Human Development from 2011-2013. During his time there, Lavender worked with students from the university and other nearby colleges to create the program to help children affected by war.

F4O continues to work throughout the region and has expanded its mission from mentoring children in need to also visiting refugee camps for those fleeing either the Syrian regime or areas overrun by ISIS.

There is no admission for the Nov. 2 event. For more information or to make a donation to F4O, visit www.f4o.org or follow the organization on Facebook.
The ending of World War I is 100 years old this month and only historians remember The Great War. But sometimes journals have survived, written by young men who fought in that war. Harry Gay was one of them and this is his story.

Harry Gay was born in 1893, the fifth child of nine born to Ida and Frank Gay. Farming produced a meager living for the family and when Harry was 10 years old, his mother passed away after calling him to her bedside and whispering, Harry, be a good boy.

Frank Gays life changed the day Ida died. The loss of a wife. The care of seven children (The two older girls had married). Harry remembered being beaten by his father and he remembered his older brothers leaving home rather than live with the father Frank Gay had become. When Harry was 12, he left home, too. Large for his age, he was able to pass as a young man and managed to get enough work to exist. Harrys life changed when he got a job on a farm owned by Ida Nims. He attended school, learned to farm and met Ida Nims niece, Kittie Wilson, the love of his life.

In 1914, Harry was 20 years old and unaware that the world was going to change on June 28. The Archduke of Austria-Hungary, Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated by a 19-year-old Serbian named Gavrilo Princip, hired to kill Franz Ferdinand, a man he never knew. On that day, the tinderbox of World War I was ignited.

On May 5, 1915 Harry enlisted in the Marines for four years. Harrys Regiment served first in Haiti and Cuba. Then on April 6, 1917 President Woodrow Wilson signed a declaration of war against Germany. Two groups were now at war: the Allies and the Central Powers. The Allies were Great Britain, France, Italy, Russia, Belgium, Serbia and now the United States. The Central Powers were Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire (the Turks).

After serving in Haiti and Cuba, Harrys Marine Regiment returned to the United States only to hear they were to be shipped to France as part of the American Expeditionary Force under Major General John J. Pershing. Harrys journal noted that his contingent landed in St. Nazaire where they stayed for the next two months before being transferred to Bordeaux. A camp and a hospital were set up there but the Company was then transferred to the Verdun Sector. Harry wrote in his journal that the French called it a bon sector meaning it was a good sector.

It was there that the Marines were introduced to trench warfare. Harry wrote, It was pump or drown. The trenches were filled with 2 feet of water with the men putting poles in the bottom of the trenches so they would have something to stand on and not sink in the mud. That was the winter and spring of 1917-1918, December, January, February, March and early April.

A kitchen was about 3 miles distance from where the Marines and soldiers were. Young men who were the cooks packed the food on their backs and walked the 3 miles there and back to make sure the men in the trenches were fed. Harry remarked that the food was always cold.

Raids between the enemy trenches continued night and day. Sometimes the Germans raided their side and sometimes they attempted to raid the Germans in their trenches. It was a different sort of war. While narrow trenches had been used in the Civil War, they were nothing compared to what the men in World War I had to contend with.

Poison gas was also being used by the enemy and every man had a gas mask. Harry wrote that the gas masks were used nearly every day.

In April, their Company was called to help the English troops out and they went by truck. Harry wrote, I cant tell you where we went but we got to where we were supposed to go. But new orders came that they were to help the French in the Chateau Sector. The Germans had driven the French back 20 miles. Harry wrote, We were rushed to the front to stop them.

On the May 29, 1918, they were unloaded from trucks and given orders to go forward until we were stopped. Now the Marines and some of the Army found themselves fighting in Belleau Woods. That battle lasted from June 1 to June 26, 1918. It was during this battle that Harry was wounded on June 12.

He was shot with the bullets entering through the right shoulder and going out through his back on the left side. He was taken to Paris to Hospital Number One where he remained for three months. Released from the hospital, he was immediately sent back to his Company on Sept. 20. The battle of St. Mihiel was coming to an end. Harry wrote, We drove them back 14 or 15 miles. Took some prisoners, some artillery. Lost a few men in that drive.

Now Harrys Marine Company received orders to help the French soldiers in the Meuse-Argonne Campaign. On Oct. 1, 1918 they were ordered to go over the top to attack the Germans and they did. Called the Hundred Days War, it involved 1.2 million American military personnel. A total of 26,277 Americans were killed and 95,786 were wounded. Twenty-eight thousand Germans were killed. (No figures available for number wounded in the German army and no figures available for the French Army losses.)

Harry was wounded during an artillery barrage this time. He wrote, I was knocked off my feet and filled with pieces of shrapnel. He had to walk back to the field hospital that was 4 miles away. There they dressed his wounds and he was later sent to a hospital on the outskirts of Paris.

After recuperating from the flu and his wounds, Harry was sent back from the Western Front where he had guard duty and drills. He wrote, That was play compared to the trenches.

World War I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Harry was discharged from the Marines on June 13, 1919. He had ended his military career participating in the occupation of Germany after the war ended.

A bronze Veterans Administration plaque is on the grave of Harry A. Gay telling the reader that he was a gunnery sergeant with the 5th Regiment of the United States Marine Corps 2nd Army Division in World War I. Harry Gay was proud of being a Marine and he made their motto Semper Fidelis part of the fabric of how he lived the rest of his life.

The hunter is home from the hill.
An elementary school student in Austin appears to have gotten a little too into the Halloween spirit last week.

According to the Hays County Sheriff's Office, the student had a rabid bat in their jacket pocket Oct. 26 while on campus at Sycamore Springs Elementary School in the 14000 block of Sawyer Ranch Road.
KABUL - A new report by a U.S. government watchdog paints a discouraging portrait of Afghanistan in recent months, detailing continued Taliban gains, record civilian casualties by pro-government airstrikes and insurgent attacks, a disappointing performance by U.S.-funded anti-corruption agencies, and soaring drug production and addiction.

In a tense political season, when hopes for change have inspired millions of Afghans to vote for a new parliament and hopes for peace have spurred new efforts at dialogue with Taliban insurgents, the report released Thursday by the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR) casts a sobering eye on persistent setbacks in the fight against the Taliban and cumulative failures in the wars on corruption and drugs.

The report stressed that Taliban control and influence continued to expand nationwide in recent months, while Afghan government control or influence over national territory has "reached the lowest level" since late 2015, declining slightly to 55 percent of 407 districts. It said government forces "made minimal or no progress in pressuring the Taliban" in the past three months, and also "failed to gain greater control or influence over districts, population and territory."

The report also highlighted the sustained high rate of war-related deaths and injuries among both civilians and security forces: 2,798 civilians were killed and 5,252 injured between May and September, a record high. It also said the average monthly number of casualties among Afghan military and police forces, while not officially released, was "the greatest it has ever been" in similar periods of time during the conflict, probably between 30 to 40 killed per day.

The report found that during the first nine months of 2018, there was a dramatic increase in suicide attacks by insurgents, which rose by 38 percent over the same period last year, and in casualties caused by airstrikes by Afghan and coalition forces, which rose by 46 percent to 313 deaths and 336 injuries. The report noted that U.S. and coalition officials have disputed the latter set of figures, reporting that far fewer civilians were killed or injured.

The SIGAR report also described a number of "discouraging developments" in the past several months, including the four-day Taliban siege of Ghazni city in August and the insurgents' rejection of a second truce offered by President Ashraf Ghani the same month. Also on that list was the Oct. 18 shooting attack in Kandahar at a meeting of U.S. and regional officials that killed the regional police and intelligence chiefs. The top U.S. military commander in the country, Gen. Scott Miller, escaped unharmed in the attack, which the Taliban took credit for carrying out.

In an especially critical look at U.S.-funded efforts to combat narcotics, the report described a rapidly escalating problem of opium production and drug addiction that has defied years of expensive programs and investment.

"These efforts have cost U.S. taxpayers more than $8 billion since 2002, yet Afghanistan's opium crisis is worse than ever," John Sopko, the special inspector general, wrote in an introduction to the 250-page document.

The report said that Afghan opium poppy cultivation has reached an "unprecedented high" of about 820,000 acres, and that opium accounts for 19 to 32 percent of the country's gross domestic product and provides half a million jobs, representing "a backbone" of the Afghan economy.

It also noted that addiction to opioids among Afghans has skyrocketed, reaching several million people. Overall, it said, the drug trade has become "an existential threat to the Afghan state" by fueling corruption and crime, and by financially benefiting the insurgency.

Despite these alarming developments and the large sums spent by U.S. agencies to combat drugs in Afghanistan since 2002, the report found that U.S. officials have played down the narcotics problem in recent years and no longer see it as a "mission objective or a priority." The inspector general called for a "deep review" of U.S. anti-drug policies and efforts in the country.

A more surprising aspect of the SIGAR report was its sharp criticism of the Afghan attorney general's office and its highly touted foreign-funded initiatives to combat corruption and crime in Afghan civilian government and military sectors. The report blasted the attorney general, a respected former human rights advocate, for having a "poor record of prosecuting powerful and influential corrupt actors" and failing to cooperate with U.S. officials.

The report cited criticisms by the U.S. Department of Justice that the Afghan attorney general's office is "unproductive, corrupt and patronage-laden."
President Donald Trump's vows to end birthright citizenship and dispatch a growing number of troops to the border have scrambled the final days of the midterm campaign for both parties - repelling moderate House Republicans in swing districts but prompting some red-state Senate Democrats to align themselves with Trump's hard-line stances.

Those shifting alliances reflect how much Trump - while his party would like to focus on the economy and Democrats want the on spotlight health care - has dictated the rhetorical terms of the campaign. Trump on Wednesday launched a six-day, eight-state swing that will take him to conservative states as he seeks to retain GOP control of the Senate - with immigration sure to remain front and center.

Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric propelled him to the GOP presidential nomination and the White House in 2016, and he is counting on similarly inflammatory words and images to help the GOP hold its congressional majorities.

The president tweeted a video Wednesday that featured Luis Bracamontes, a Mexican immigrant in the United States illegally who was sentenced to death this year after he was convicted of killing two police officers in California - using the image to make the demand: "Vote Republican now!"

Before taking off for a campaign swing to Fort Myers, Florida, Trump also floated the idea of deploying as many as 15,000 troops to the border - just days after the Pentagon said it would send about 5,200 active-duty troops there, in addition to the 2,000 National Guard members already present. He also claimed without evidence that the population of immigrants in the country illegally could be as large as 25 million or 30 million. The nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute puts the estimated size of the undocumented population at 11.3 million.

Trump also dismissed suggestions that he was fearmongering with his increasingly aggressive immigration rhetoric, such as hi frequent references to a caravan of migrants heading north, including many destitute families, that is still hundreds of miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border.

"Oh they'll be here fast. They're trying to get up any way they can," Trump told reporters shortly before leaving for the first of his 11 campaign rallies through Election Day. "We're going to be prepared. They're not coming into our country."

Trump's legally questionable call to revoke birthright citizenship through a unilateral executive order has drawn opposition from House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. - prompting a presidential rebuke Wednesday, delivered via Twitter - as well as rejections from House Republicans in competitive reelection contests, such as Reps. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., and Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla.

But another Republican candidate in a closely contested House race, Maria Elvira Salazar, said Wednesday that the clause of the 14th Amendment that provides the constitutional underpinning for birthright citizenship "needs to be reviewed," according to the Miami Herald.

"I think the president is saying what I think my community shares, the fact that we do not want abuses," said Salazar, who is running for election in the district that is being vacated by retiring congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla. - and that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in 2016 by 19 percentage points. "The Constitution says very clearly that those that are born here are citizens, but we need to see to what extent."

On the Democratic side, Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., a moderate running for reelection in a conservative state, appeared to leave the door open to legislation that would end birthright citizenship, the concept that nearly anyone born on American soil is automatically a citizen of the United States.

"We have to take a look at that legislation," Donnelly said during a debate Tuesday evening about a bill that would revoke the right, adding, "I'd want to see that legislation and make sure it was constitutional and review it first."

Asked about those comments Wednesday, Donnelly's campaign released a statement from the senator saying the 14th Amendment is "clear" - and "what's also clear is that our immigration system is broken."

"As I have done in the past, I will work with both parties to find a solution that secures our borders and fixes our broken immigration laws," Donnelly said.

But Donnelly is far from the lone Democratic Senate candidate in recent days to adopt immigration stances that seem almost Trumpian in nature.

In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., urged Trump to "use every tool he has at his disposal" to halt the caravan of migrants traveling north to the United States, adding, "I 100 percent back him up on that."

Calling for a speedier process for migrants seeking asylum, McCaskill said, "I do not want our borders overrun, and I support the president's efforts to make sure they're not."

And in Tennessee, Democrat Phil Bredesen released an ad Tuesday that promoted his decision as governor more than a decade ago to deploy 1,600 members of the Tennessee National Guard to the southern border. That ad was accompanied by an op-ed in the Tennessean that warned both parties against using the caravan issue to "inflame passions" over the sensitive topic.

"Actions speak louder than words," the ad says. "In 2006, when the president said he needed help to secure the border, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen didn't wait to be asked. And he didn't play any politics."

Immigration has become an increasingly central issue for the GOP in other closely watched Senate races. A CNN poll released Wednesday showed that immigration is now the top issue for Republican voters in Nevada and Arizona, with 42 percent of Republicans in Nevada now saying immigration is the most important issue in their Senate vote, while 50 percent in Arizona say the same.

In Tennessee, immigration has risen to the second-most-important issue for voters there in internal Republican polling, according to one official with knowledge of the numbers.

"I'm not surprised to see the scramble [among Democrats]. I think at this stage, it's a little inauthentic," said GOP strategist Josh Holmes, a former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Immigration "has a significant resonance within the base of the Republican Party, but it has more independent pull than one would think."

The contrast between the parties has become sharper this year, Holmes added, particularly as leading Democratic politicians increasingly embraced liberal positions on immigration, such as abolishing the federal agency that enforces U.S. immigration laws.

Tyler Moran, the director of the Immigration Hub, which advises a wide range of progressive organizations on immigration policy, said that the moderates taking a more conservative tack on immigration were the outliers and that congressional and gubernatorial candidates nationwide were largely "rejecting Trump's strategy of lies and division."

"First of all, every single one of those Democrats voted for immigration reform," said Moran, who worked on immigration issues under then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and in the Obama White House. "Yes, in their tough races, I wouldn't agree with the way they're approaching this. But we have a big-tent approach to immigration."

Democratic officials also said that moderates in closely watched Senate races this fall have long touted their border-security bona fides - far before Trump amped up his focus on the issue as part of his closing argument in the midterms.

"Among Republicans, we've certainly seen that immigration more regularly tops the list of issues," said Lauren Passalacqua, the communications director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "But I think what we have seen that is consistent is that among independents, obviously Democrats but even among Republicans, the Venn diagram is still health care."
Istanbul

Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi was strangled almost as soon as he stepped into the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul a month ago, and his body was then dismembered and destroyed, the chief prosecutor for Istanbul said Wednesday, giving the first official explanation from Turkey of how Khashoggi died.

The announcement came as the Turkish and Saudi chief prosecutors ended three days of meetings as part of a joint investigation into Khashoggi's murder without progress and Turkey seemed to be ratcheting up its pressure for answers.

The killing of Khashoggi has significantly raised tensions between Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Western intelligence analysts and Turkish officials have maintained that the operation could not have been carried out without the consent of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has refused Turkey's demand that it extradite 18 Saudi officials who have been detained in their home country in connection with Khashoggi's murder so they can stand trial in Turkey.

Mohammed sent his chief prosecutor to Istanbul for talks this week, but a statement from Irfan Fidan, the chief prosecutor for Istanbul, said that the meetings with his Saudi counterpart were largely unproductive. "Despite all our well-intentioned efforts to uncover the truth, a concrete outcome was not obtained from the meetings," the statement said.

The Saudi chief prosecutor, Saud al-Mujeb, left for the airport and was scheduled to return to Saudi Arabia.

Turkish officials had previously revealed details about the Oct. 2 death of Khashoggi, including the strangling and dismemberment but always anonymously and usually through leaks to the Turkish media.

The decision to release information, on the record, about Khashoggi's death was an indication of Turkey's frustration with the failure of the Saudis to answer three key questions: Where was Khashoggi's body? Had Saudi investigators uncovered evidence of premeditation? And who was the "local collaborator" who is said to have disposed of his remains?

The Saudi prosecutor promised an answer Wednesday. Instead, the Turkish prosecutor was invited to visit Saudi Arabia with his evidence and conduct joint interrogations of the 18 Saudis who have been detained in connection with the killing.
Washington

At an apparent turning point in one of its hardest foreign policy challenges, the Trump administration is demanding a cease-fire and the launch of U.N.-led political talks to end the Saudi-Iran proxy war in Yemen.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called for a halt to hostilities within 30 days.

The renewed diplomatic drive reflects a convergence of political pressures: international outrage over the slaying of a U.S.-based Saudi journalist and a Yemeni humanitarian crisis fueled by the dual threats of war and hunger in the Arab world's poorest country.

"The time is now for a cessation of hostilities," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement late Tuesday. His plea came shortly after Mattis spoke in unusual detail about diplomacy to end a crisis that has put vast numbers of Yemenis on the brink of starvation.

The administration's new push comes amid mounting fears of a fresh Arab coalition assault on the Red Sea port of Hodeida, the entry point for 70 percent of food imports and international aid to Yemen.

"Yemen has more problems than any people deserve," Mattis said.

The conflict in Yemen began with the 2014 takeover of the capital, Sanaa, and the toppling of the government by the Houthis, a Shiite Muslim minority in the country. The Saudi-led coalition allied with the government has been fighting the Houthis since 2015.

An estimated 10,000 people have been killed. The war has also left around two-thirds of Yemen's population of 27 million relying on aid, and more than 8 million at risk of starvation.

The fact that the Pentagon chief offered detailed thoughts on the urgency for diplomatic progress, even before Pompeo had weighed in, strongly suggests that the administration has reached a turning point in its approach to Yemen. At stake is not only the humanitarian crisis in Yemen but also the future of the American relationship with Saudi Arabia, long the linchpin of U.S. policy in the Persian Gulf.

"It's about time," said Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. "After more than three years of war, thousands of dead, millions on the brink of starvation, and growing pressure from Congress, the Trump administration is finally calling for an end to the Saudi-led war in Yemen," Khanna said in a statement.

The Oct. 2 killing of Jamal Khashoggi in a Saudi consulate in Turkey has prompted critics of the Saudi ruling family to urge an end to American arms sales to the kingdom and a reappraisal of U.S. military support for the Saudi-led Arab coalition that has been bombing Iranian-supported Houthi rebels, sometimes at the expense of killing civilians.
The night began with a late-night pizza craving.

It was about 10:20 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2016, when Steven Vigneault got in his unmarked police car, a Chevy TrailBlazer, at the Springfield, Massachusetts, Police Department and drove to Primo's Pizzeria to grab dinner for the narcotics squad.

Everything might have gone differently if not for one decision he made in the parking lot: Vigneault left the car running, according to a federal lawsuit. When he came back out, it was gone.

The chase was on. The alleged thieves, a group of teenagers, were apparently looking for a joyride. And for nearly four hours they got one, until a strip of spikes laid by police stopped the speeding TrailBlazer in its tracks. The doors flung open and the suspected thieves jumped out, fleeing through the woods with police dogs on their heels. They made it as far as the porch of a multifamily home.

And that is where, according to the lawsuit filed by one of the teenagers and a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday, the boys were bitten by dogs, handcuffed and kicked in the face by officers, allegedly including Vigneault and Officer Gregg Bigda. Bigda, according to the indictment, ended the attack by spitting on a 14-year-old boy, who was Hispanic.

"Welcome to the white man's world," said Bigda, who is white, according to the indictment.

Bigda and Vigneault were arrested by federal authorities Wednesday for deprivation of rights under the color of the law, both accused of using excessive force. Bigda also faces additional charges for abusive interrogation of the teenagers once they were jailed, "so abusive it shocks the conscience," according to the indictment. Both Bigda, who has been suspended indefinitely, and Vigneault, who resigned in 2016, have denied all the charges, according to the Republican.

In a 30-minute fit of rage, surveillance videos captured Bigda threatening to kill and beat two teen boys, ages 15 and 16, as well as plant drugs on them, if they didn't tell him who was driving the TrailBlazer and where a bunch of coins found in their pockets and the car had come from. Bigda apparently either did not know or care that surveillance cameras in the jail cells were rolling.

He told one 15-year-old that he could do whatever he wanted to him and get away with it, including "crush your . . . skull," according to video footage published jointly by the Republican and MassLive.

"I'm not hampered by the . . . truth because I don't give a f---!" Bigda told the teen suspect. "People like you belong in jail. . . . I'll stick a . . . kilo of coke in your pocket and put you away for . . . 15 years."

The videotaped interrogations and alleged beating prompted the Department of Justice to begin probing possible civil rights abuses within the Springfield Police Department, making it the first Massachusetts police department to come under a DOJ investigation, the Boston Globe reported.

Neither of the men's attorneys could immediately be reached for comment. But after court Wednesday, Vigneault's attorney, Daniel D. Kelly, told the Republican, "There is a tendency to rush to judgment in cases like these. We would ask that the public not rush to judgment."

After the alleged beatings, one 14-year-old boy was transported to the hospital with a fractured nose, two black eyes and numerous head contusions, according to the federal lawsuit he filed, while at least two others were brought to a youth jail in neighboring Palmer, Mass.

Once there, Bigda played the bad-cop role, going back and forth to the two teens' cells seeking to force information out of them, mostly by threatening to beat them to the point of hospitalization. According to the indictment, he did not read them their Miranda rights, and their parents were not present.

Two civil lawsuits have alleged that Bigda had spent the night drinking rum at his desk before the incident - an allegation made by Vigneault, the Boston Globe reported. It was why Vigneault thought Bigda might need pizza.

The first thing Bigda did when he arrived in the first teen's cell was point to the blood on his boot. He warned the kid that his blood might end up on his other boot, if he didn't cooperate.

"You see that camera right there? They don't . . . exist [in Springfield]," where the boys were headed to jail next, Bigda said. "So anything that happens to you at my place never happened. If I don't write it in the report, it never . . . happened."

He later added: "You know I'm gonna beat the . . . out of you when we get back to Springfield."

He appeared particularly fixated on the dozens of coins mysteriously left in the back seat of the Chevy TrailBlazer. It was his "pet peeve," he said, believing the kids stole them from somewhere. When the second boy, 15, said he didn't know where they came from, Bigda exploded.

"Don't even . . . speak to me if you're gonna lie to me, because I'll f----- kill you in the parking lot," he said.

As MassLive reported, controversy has followed Bigda for more than 20 years. In 1997, the NAACP called for his dismissal after he was caught on video standing by while his colleague kicked a black man in the face, the paper reported. According to the federal lawsuit filed by one of the teens, Bigda has been accused 24 times of misconduct since 2000. He allegedly held a civilian's leg against a police cruiser's hot tailpipe, broke the jaw of a mentally disabled person and struck a pregnant woman in front of children, according to the lawsuit. He's denied all wrongdoing.

None of the 24 complaints were upheld, which the lawsuit claims is the result of a systemic problem within the police department. Since 2006, the city has settled 25 police misconduct lawsuits, the Globe reported.

Bigda was suspended for 60 days when video footage of his terrific interrogations came to light in 2016, the Republican reported.

A Springfield Police Department spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment regarding whether the police commissioner plans to fire Bigda, but spokesman Ryan Walsh told the Republican he has been suspended without pay indefinitely.
Law enforcement officials Wednesday night announced they had recovered the body of a small child near State Highway 146 in Texas City.

It was not immediately clear whether the child was the 2-year-old who the College Station Police Department has been searching for and was reported missing Sunday morning.

Investigators are working to determine the identity of the child, according to a statement from the Department of Public Safety.

The statement added: "This is an active and ongoing collaborative investigation with the assistance of the Houston and Bellaire Police Departments. Further details are not available for release at this time."

OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING: Teen shot after firing pellet gun

The Texas Rangers (DPS), College Station Police Department, Bryan Police Department, and Galveston County Sheriff's Office are working the case, according to DPS

Authorities have been asking for the public's help with any information on the recent activity and/or travels of Tiandra Christon or her daughter.

Christon has been charged with child endangerment and false report to a police officer, according to reports of online jail records.

According to television reports earlier this week, police have been working with local, state and national agency to pursue any leads in locating the missing girl.

As police were searching Gabbard Park for 2-year-old Hazana Anderson, they found clothing and an object in a black bag in a nearby dumpster, according to an affidavit. The clothes were the same ones that Hazana was reportedly wearing when she went missing.
A federal appeals court this week rejected the case of a Houston man who's long professed his innocence in the 1992 stabbing death of an elderly woman.

More than 25 years after the killing that put him on death row, Charles Raby could be one step closer to an execution date after Wednesday's ruling from the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

"We're disappointed," said attorney Sarah Frazier, highlighting concerns about the unscientific expert testimony used in his case and laying out plans for more appeals moving forward.

Now 48, Raby was a young parolee with a violent history when he was sentenced to die in 1994 for the murder of Edna Franklin - his friends' grandmother.

SEEKING HELP: Texas death row inmate pleads for help in pen pal posting

On the night of her killing, the 72-year-old's two grandsons found her dead on the living room floor, according to court records. She'd been beaten and stabbed, then left half-naked with her throat slit. Her purse was emptied out in the bedroom, and it looked like the killer had come in through a window.

Days later, Raby confessed while high and no physical evidence ever linked him to the crime. But, his current legal team argued, it was early bad lawyering that landed him on death row.

"The record is replete with trial counsel's errors  lack of preparation, fundamental

misunderstanding of the law and facts, and fundamental incompetence," his attorneys wrote last year. "His ineffectiveness all but ensured the outcome in the punishment phase."

The defense neglected to put together any mitigation evidence to show Raby could have deserved a life sentence, and instead called a highly damaging witness - former prison psychiatrist Dr. Walter Quijano - who dubbed Raby a psychopath.

Last year, Quijano's racially charged testimony in another case was at the center of a Supreme Court decision that led to the overturning of death row inmate Duane Buck's death sentence. Although race wasn't at issue in Raby's case, Frazier expressed concerns about the unscientific methods used in both cases.

ANOTHER LOOK: Evidence clears condemned Houstonian, lawyer says

"Walter Quijano's methods are unsound whether he is making conclusions based on race or making other unscientific conclusions," she said.

After Raby's trial counsel apparently hurt his case by putting Quijano on the stand, another set of attorneys failed to launch appeals about the earlier ineffective counsel, thus compounding bad lawyering with more bad lawyering, according to court filings.

Despite all that, Raby was later able to convince the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 2005 to allow for more DNA testing on certain evidence, including underwear, a bloody nightshirt, and fingernail scrapings. Although the lab turned up DNA material, none of it was Raby's.

While the courts sorted out the new testing results, prosecutors asked for a delay - then filed an expert report casting doubt on a Houston police crime lab worker's findings presented at trial more than a decade earlier. At the time, the lab worker had described results from testing on the fingernail scrapings as "inconclusive" - but, in fact, testing showed conclusively that it wasn't Raby's DNA under the slain woman's fingers, which meant that the lab worker's trial testimony was false.

With claims of a coerced confession, concerns about inconsistencies and allegations of withheld evidence, Raby's attorneys hoped the new revelations would win him a new trial. But - citing other evidence against him - the courts didn't agree to that.

Now that a federal court has rejected his bad lawyering claims as well, Frazier said she plans to take the case up to the Supreme Court. At the same time, Raby's defense is working on another federal appeal raising broader concerns surrounding the DNA evidence.

Raby does not currently have an execution date. So far, the Lone Star State has executed 10 men this year, and another six are scheduled to die in the coming months.
Three days after election workers barred translators from asking Korean-American voters if they needed assistance inside a Spring Branch polling place, Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart met with a group of Korean-Americans to find a way to avoid a similar outcome on Election Day.

At the end of the hour-long meeting, which was brokered by Houston Councilwoman Brenda Stardig, the two sides were unable to agree on a solution that would allow volunteer translators to efficiently help Korean speakers cast ballots while following Harris Countys interpretation of the Texas Election Code. Stanart and the Korean-Americans agreed to work together on a fix, and each proposed a set of rules for translators.

I want them to be successful, Stanart said of the voters, who are largely elderly naturalized U.S. citizens. But I want it to be within the law.

Local Korean-language outlets had encouraged voters to turn out at the Trini Mendenhall Community Center in Spring Branch on Sunday because members of the Korean American Voters League had volunteered to translate. Thousands of Korean-Americans live in the west Houston neighborhood, and comprise a fraction of the more than 30,000 who reside in the region.

Election workers asked the translators to leave the building because they were not permitted inside the 100-foot buffer zone at polling places. Though permitted to approach voters in the parking lot, translator Dona Kim Murphey said they were unable to assist the Korean-American voters already waiting in line.

As a result, the translators were only able to help 40 to 50 voters instead of the hundreds they had hoped. In some cases, they said Korean-American voters cast ballots without help and were unsure if they selected the candidates they intended.

The Harris County Attorneys Office said the problem was that the translators were approaching voters instead of being requested. The county considered the group to be loitering, which is prohibited at polling places under the Texas Election Code.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Korean-Americans and their supporters sat around a table in the Korean Community Center in Spring Branch with Stanart, Stardig, and members of their staffs. Stardig invited each side to share ideas on how to improve the voting experience for Korean speakers.

Stanart said groups like the Korean American Voters League should inform the county when they plan to take voters to the polls so election workers can be prepared. He suggested the translators could set up a stand outside the 100-foot buffer zone and solicit voters there.

Some of the Korean-Americans said that would be impractical, since polling places are often crowded and non-English speakers are unsure where to go. They said making translators shuffle in line for an hour or more in some cases, instead of being available on an ad-hoc basis when voters reach the booths, is inefficient.

Others objected to being called loiterers by the county, noting that label is not applied to journalists and exit pollsters, who are free to work inside the 100-foot zone. They said Harris County is unfairly applying the Texas Election Code, which is silent on what a loiterer is and does not explicitly state where translators may or may not stand.

Its really not that clear, said Sang Shin, Houston branch president of the Asian American Bar Association. There are different opinions to that, legally.

Stanart said he believes the intentions of the voters league are good, but said he must keep unauthorized people outside of the 100-foot zone because in the past, groups have tried to intimidate voters waiting in line.

There is nothing were doing to single out any group here, he said. I can assure you of that.

K. Casey Youn of the Korean American Voters League said Harris County needs to adopt clear guidelines for translators, because Koreans are far from the only group in need of assistance at the polls.

Houston is getting more and more diverse, so youre going to have many, many, different ethnic groups coming into vote, Youn said. Handling it on a case-by-case basis, that is not effective.

Harris County offers four languages on its ballot: English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. Voters who primarily speak another of the more than 140 languages used in the Houston area are permitted to bring a translator when they vote.

Voters who experience problems at the polls or have questions can call the countys voter help line at 713-755-6965.

Early voting runs through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day is Nov. 6.

Zach Despart covers Harris County for the Chronicle. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at zach.despart@chron.com.
Houston firefighters are on the scene of a building that collapsed in east downtown on Thursday morning.

Authorities arrived at the building near Bastrop and Congress around 6:51 a.m.
The wife of a former Mexican government official who was convicted last year of federal bank fraud in a south Texas court has been cleared of all charges by a federal appeals court.

A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in an opinion Tuesday that that federal prosecutors failed to present sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction for Silvia Beatriz Perez-Ceballos.

Even viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, the appeals court held that the testimony of fraudulent conduct by a single witness unconnected with the bank was insufficient for any reasonable trier of fact to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Perez-Ceballos persuaded Chase Bank to believe what was false.

The court will clear Perez-Ceballos, 50, of Sugar Land, from her remaining sentence of supervised release, said her attorney Federico Andino Reynal.

Officials at the U.S. Attorneys Office did not respond to a request for comment about the ruling.

The case is among the first forfeiture actions the Justice Department has brought against foreign government officials and their family members claiming that money invested in the in the Southern District of Texas is the proceeds of public corruption, Reynal said. He said it is the first such case to go to trial in the district headquartered in Houston.

Silvia Perez-Ceballos was a child psychologist in Mexico and is married to Jose Manuel Saiz-Pineda, a former finance secretary for the Mexican state of Tabasco who was indicted with her in May 2017. His business associate, Martin Alberto Medina-Sonda, is also named in the indictment. Both men are incarcerated in Mexico and the U.S. has not yet sought to extradite them.

Prosecutors argued in a 10-day trial in Corpus Christi trial that the former finance secretary was the mastermind of a $40 million money laundering scheme. The jury acquitted Perez-Ceballos of money laundering.

But they found her guilty of falsifying bank records when opening a bank account. Witnesses at her trial had testified Perez-Ceballos withheld facts when she tried to transfer $2 million to an offshore account in Bermuda. A federal jury convicted her of submitting fraudulent documents and trying to conceal the fact that she owned a pricey Sugar Land home by using a fictitious company name.

Her defense lawyers told jurors that her co-defendants may have broken the law but their client did not.

Reynal said previously that the prosecuting of Saiz-Pinedas wife was a clear cut case of government overreach, which he suspected was done with the goal of retrieving funds for the U.S. and Mexico.

gabrielle.banks@chron.com
UPDATED at 4:15 p.m.

DALLAS -- The Thursday morning session of the Neil Armstrong personal collection auction has ended, bringing in about $568,000.

The second session begins at 6 p.m., where Heritage Auctions will be auctioning off items that have flown to the moon, including pieces of the Wright Flyer and an American flag.

To participate in the auction, visit the website here.

UPDATED at 3:00 p.m.

DALLAS -- The flight suit worn by NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong during the Gemini program was just sold for $87,500.

The total amount brought in for the auction so far -- about 4 hours in -- is about $435,000.

The woman who bid on the flight suit is one of just a few individuals actually bidding from the Heritage Auctions showroom floor. When she won the bid, the man sitting next to her said: "She's going to wear it to bed tonight."

UPDATED at 12:30 p.m.

DALLAS -- Now two hours into the auction of Neil Armstrong's personal collection, bidders have dropped $100,000 on the first man on the moon's memorabilia.

Armstrong's Cessna Altimeter went for $13,000 and an ashtray he used was sold for $1,700.

The majority of the sales still are happening online or on the phone. Though a few more in-person bidders have walked into the Heritage Auction showroom, the room, largely, remains quiet.

UPDATED at 11:30 a.m.

DALLAS -- Bidders dropped about $60,000 on Neil Armstrong's Boy Scout memorabilia an hour into the sale of the first man on the moon's personal collection.

Some of the big items sold Thursday morning include Armstrong's Boy Scouts of America cap, which went for $10,000 and a picture of flowers he drew for his mother that sold for $12,000.

The auction, hosted by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, runs Thursday and Friday.

It is the first major sale of Armstrong's personal collection that comes amid a growing demand for space collectibles as the 50th anniversary of the moon landing approaches. Two other auctions of Armstrong's collection are planned in the next year.

GIANT LEAP: Neil Armstrong's personal collection goes on auction block

Mark Armstrong, Neil Armstrong's son, said Thursday that he and his brother, Rick, were sharing this collection with the public "in the hopes of inspiring future generations and reminding us all of what we can accomplish when we all have a shared common vision."

The majority of the winning bids went to those participating online. Only about 10 people were in Heritage's showroom to bid in person.

The items up for auction span Armstrong's life, from the Boy Scout cap to fragments of the Wright Flyer that Armstrong carried to the moon in 1969.

Thursday morning's auction focused on Armstrong's youth. Big ticket items, such as the Wright Flyer pieces and a small American flag that went to the moon and back with Armstrong, will be auctioned off Thursday night.

Heritage has auctioned items for 20 astronaut's families, but officials called the Armstrong collection "the holy grail."

Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
Russian officials say they plan to move up the date of the next launch to the International Space Station now that they have determined why and how the aborted launch last month occurred.

On Wednesday, Russian officials confirmed that a malfunction sensor caused the first and second stages of the rocket launching their Soyuz spacecraft to the station to crash into each other, breaking the second stage and forcing an emergency landing.

On Thursday, Russia state space corporation Roscosmos announced that the sensor was damaged during the rocket's assembly at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where the Soyuz is launched.

"The nozzle lid of the oxidizer tank in the block D did not open as a sensor of the stages' separation was deformed (a 6-degree bend) during the assembly of the 'package' at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which was the cause of the off-nominal separation," said Oleg Skorobogatov, deputy director of the Central Research Institute of Machine-Building who led the investigation into the failed launch.

In October, American astronaut Nick Hague, 43, and his crew mate, Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, were aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft rocketing to the space station when the launch was aborted, forcing an emergency landing. It was the first aborted launch of a Soyuz spacecraft in 35 years. Both Hague and Ovchinin were safe and in good condition after the landing.

Roscosmos has developed a set of measures to make sure this doesn't happen again, officials said.

And now that they know where and when this happened, Roscosmos said the commission investigating this matter has approved the next human spaceflight to the space station -- originally intended to launch Dec. 20 carrying NASA's Ann McClain -- to occur Dec. 3.

Moving the next Soyuz launch up to Dec. 3 will allow the crew currently living on station, including NASA's Serena Aunon-Chancellor, to return home Dec. 20, Roscosmos said.

NASA officials said the agency is working closely with Roscosmos to move forward on crew launch plans.

"Roscosmos plans to launch the Progress 71 resupply mission on Nov. 16, and is targeting the launch of the Expedition 58 crew including NASA astronaut Anne McClain for Dec. 3, pending the outcome of the flight readiness review," the agency said Thursday.

" NASA formed its own team to work alongside Roscosmos to gather insight from the investigation to inform NASA's decision on launch readiness that will be made during the flight readiness review."

NO FEAR: NASA astronaut Nick Hague ready to fly again after aborted Soyuz launch last week

Since NASA's space shuttle program was shuttered in 2011, the agency has relied on Russia to ferry American astronauts to the station. NASA has spent billions of dollars on the space station in its 20-year lifetime, but the agency has no other way to reach it.

The failed mission earlier this month would have been Hague's first spaceflight since being tapped as an astronaut in 2013. NASA officials aren't sure when he will get to fly again, but Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Roscosmos, has said he and Ovchinin would get to fly again in spring 2019.

How that would work still is unclear. The Soyuz' April 2019 launch already has an assigned crew and NASA has yet to offer insight into the development.

Russian officials still are investigating another Soyuz-related problem that occurred in August, when astronauts discovered an air leak-causing hole in a different Soyuz attached to the station. The hole was plugged, but Russia continues to investigate how it happened.

NASA expects that investigation to conclude in December.

Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
Throughout the early voting period, Texans reported problems at the polls. With that in mind, we've rounded up the all the voting issues that happened during the early vote period and what to do if you encounter them when you try to cast your ballot.

Straight-ticket votes have changed

What happened:

Voters across the state complained to election officials that voting machines were changing their votes when they tried to cast a straight ticket ballot. The problem has been reported most by voters in counties, including Harris and Travis, that use the Hart eSlate voting machines that feature a selection wheel and an "Enter" button. The Secretary of State's office calls the problem a user error and advised voters to make sure they are not spinning the wheel and hitting the "Enter" button at the same time. State officials also urged voters to check over their ballots before submitting them.

What to do:

The Secretary of State's office has instructed counties to post signs up in polling places reminding voters to check their ballots over before they submit them. As of Wednesday, there were multiple reports of signage missing in many polling places.

To make sure your vote is cast correctly, either do not choose a straight ticket ballot or make sure you check your ballot before submitting it to ensure your choices are accurate.

VOTER GUIDE: Study the issues, hear from the candidates, and research what's on your ballot

***

Voter intimidation

What happened:

Election officials in Dallas, Mesquite and Richardson counties reported complaints of voter intimidation at early vote polling places. People were screaming at those walking to the polling place to cast their ballots. In Mesquite County, a partisan poll watcher asked voters about their politics and looked over their shoulders as they tried to cast ballots. The poll watcher was removed by the Mesquite Police Department after refusing to leave.

What to do:

Talk to the election judge if electioneering is happening within 100 feet of a polling location. People cannot tell you who to vote for or hand out political literature within that perimeter. If people are harassing those going to the polls or making anyone feel unsafe outside the 100-feet perimeter, you can call the local police department for assistance. But electioneering is allowed outside of that 100-feet perimeter.

Poll watchers are not allowed to ask you who you're voting for or see which candidates are receiving your vote. If a poll watcher is doing that, you can report it to a poll worker or the election judge.

***

Electioneering issues

What happened:

In Harris County, election officials sent out instructions to poll workers to look out for electioneering from three progressive groups. The county reversed those instructions once the Houston Chronicle asked about it.

In the city of Houston, firefighters and their supporters advocated for Proposition B, which would grant them pay "parity" with police, while wearing union T-shirts. Some election judges asked those wearing the yellow shirts to turn them inside out. Other groups of firefighters were asked to get outside the 100-foot electioneering barrier.

What to do:

Do not wear political clothing or take political signs or literature to the polls. You'll be turned away from the polling place or be asked to change clothing in order to vote. If you're unsure if it's political, play it safe and don't wear it.

***

Volunteer translators kicked out

What happened:

At a Harris County polling place, a election judge told volunteer Korean translators to stay behind the 100-foot perimeter. The election judge said the volunteers were loitering by going up to voters in line and asking if they needed translation services.

When the volunteers protested, the election judge called sheriff's deputies to remove them.

What to do:

If you need translation services, bring the person with you to the polling place. If you would like to volunteer translations services, contact county election officials. If you want to provide assistance to those who need it at the polls, offer the assistance outside of the 100-foot perimeter, just to be sure.

***

Polling places on college campuses

What happened:

Students at Prairie View A&M and Texas State pushed their county election officials to either extend polling hours during early voting or have an early voting location on campus. Rice University and the University of Houston did not have early voting locations on campus either.

At Prairie View, students successfully lobbied election officials so they could cast a ballot without having to file a change of address form first. The campus has one mail box for all students on campus. Instructions to students on how to register properly had changed about a month before Election Day. The county's accommodation allows the 1,000-plus students to cast their ballots like everyone else.

What to do:

Most major college campuses in Texas, including Prairie View A&M and Texas State have Election Day polling places. If you're a college student, make sure you have a valid ID with an address that matches your registration address. If that's not possible, be prepared to fill out a provisional ballot so your vote will be counted.

***

Long lines

What happened:

Turnout was up all across Texas during the early voting period. The increased interest led to long lines at many polling places. Expect a similar situation in the final days of early voting and on Election Day, particularly at popular polling places.

What to do:

Check your county's election page for the location and hours of your polling place. Polling places are typically busiest during rush hours and lunch time. Make sure to leave yourself extra time so you can vote if there are lines.

The Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News are 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

matt.dempsey@chron.com

Twitter.com/mizzousundevil
BRIDGEPORT  Homicide victim Myoshi Bagley was known to loved ones as someone with a perpetually positive attitude who would help anyone in need.

She was just a beautiful soul, said Bridgeport resident Shaquia Hewitt, self-described as Bagleys cousin. She was well known, well loved and well liked.

Police have not released the name of the person killed by gunfire Wednesday night, but friends and family confirmed the woman shot while standing on Howard Avenue was Bagley, 41.

Bagley was shot shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday. Police Capt. Brian Fitzgerald said the bullets that killed her were probably intended for another target, likely the 28-year-old man she was with whose name was not released by police.

He was also shot and was listed in extremely critical condition Thursday, Fitzgerald said. An updated condition was not available by 6 p.m.

He got hit four or five times, maybe more, Police Chief Armando Perez said.

The two were taken to St. Vincents Medical Center by ambulance where Bagley succumbed to her injuries, Fitzgerald said.

Bagley became the citys eighth murder of 2018, and the first since August. Last year, the city saw 23 killings.

Perez said police were looking at excellent video footage in the area that might have captured the shooting.

Its inconceivable, a terrible act of violence like that, Perez said.

Thursday afternoon, at the site of the shooting in the 800 block of Howard Avenue, two candles stood as a tribute to a life fondly remembered.

According to Bagleys Facebook page, she attended Housatonic Community College. The page indicated she lived in Stratford and had previously lived in Bridgeport. Her page also said she was a licensed cosmetologist.

Hewitt said Bagley was a great sister and a great mother to two children  a son and a daughter. She said she didnt know the exact age of Bagleys children.

No one can say anything bad about her, Hewitt said. Shes just one of those people that you would love to have in your life.

Hewitt said her family was heartbroken when they heard Bagley was killed.

Like everyone else, I was shocked, she said. This is very devastating to our family. Everyone cared for her, just like she cared for everyone else. She was just a great person, a great friend.

But Hewitt said her family will do their best to accept Bagleys death and push forward.

She was all about encouraging people to live their best life and move forward. She was just so positive, Hewitt said. She would want us to move forward and live our best lives. We have to be strong.

Police continue to investigate.

I cant bring her back, but Ill definitely get justice for her family, Perez said.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective Cintron at 203-581-5227or call the Bridgeport Police Department Tips Line at 203-576-8477.
Republican Bob Stefanowski has inched ahead of Democrat Ned Lamont by 2.4 percentage points in the governors race, which remains a statistical tie heading into the final weekend before Election Day, the latest Hearst Connecticut Media Group/Sacred Heart University Poll finds.

The poll, which was released Thursday, shows that Stefanowski is now up 40 percent to Lamonts 37.6 percent, with unaffiliated candidate Oz Griebel of Hartford at 9 percent.

Just over 12 percent of those surveyed remain undecided. Stefanowski gained a 5.8 percentage point swing over two weeks, the poll finds.

The landline and cell phone survey was conducted by GreatBlue Research, among 500 likely voters between Oct. 29 and 31, and has a margin of error of 4.32 percentage points for the full sample  larger for subgroups.

This is the fourth Hearst/Sacred Heart poll since Lamont and Stefanowski won their respective primaries on Aug. 14, and Stefanowski has advanced in the last two.

While unaffiliated voters are supporting the Republican (43.6 percent), 20 percent of them are still undecided, and the race continues to be highly competitive, said Lesley DeNardis, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy and director of Sacred Heart Universitys master of public administration program. High taxes, the state budget crisis and low economic growth continue to be the major factors the race will hinge on. Ultimately, the candidate the voters believe will do a better job of returning Connecticut to economic health, creating new jobs and offering more long-term solutions tied to improved quality of life and cost-of-living issues will prevail.

It's clear voters are rejecting Lamont's false attacks and scare tactics and they are rallying behind Bob Stefanowski's positive message of tax cuts, responsible government and stronger economic growth, said Kendall Marr, Stefanowskis spokesman.

The only poll that counts is the one on Election Day and it's only five days away, said Marc Bradley, Lamonts campaign manager. Bob Stefanowski has a reckless, Trump-like scheme to cut health care, decimate education and jack up property taxes across the state. This is someone who received an A grade from the NRA because he would roll back Sandy Hook gun laws, gives Donald Trump an A grade for job performance, opposes the Affordable Care Act, and questions the value of common-sense mandates on vaccinations for children in public schools.

In the previous Hearst/Sacred Heart poll, conducted between Oct. 13 and 17, voters gave Lamont, a Greenwich investor, a 39.5 percent to 36.1 percent edge, 3.4 percentage points, over Stefanowski, a Madison consultant and former corporate executive. Both the new poll and the last one have been within the margin of error and show the two major-party candidates are locked in a close race.

Much of Stefanowskis gains were among women, who in the earlier poll showed 50 percent support for Lamont. That has dropped to 40.8 percent, the new poll finds, with 34.8 for Stefanowski. Griebels support among women was 9.2 percent. Stefanowski leads among men, 45.2 percent to 34.4 percent, with 8.8 percent of male likely voters picking Griebel.

Unaffiliated voters support Stefanowski by 43.6 percent to 22.8 percent, similar to the 43.2 percent to 24 percent in the previous poll. Griebel clocked in at 12.1 percent of unaffiliated voters, and showing is stronger among Democrats than Republicans, indicating more of his voters might otherwise favor Lamont than Stefanowski.

On Monday, the Quinnipiac University poll found that Lamont held a 47-43 percent edge over Stefanowski, with 7 percent for Griebel, a former Hartford economic development executive. That survey contacted 1,201 likely voters from Oct. 22 to 28, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The top issues for voters contacted by the Hearst/Sacred Heart poll remain the high overall tax burden and the state budget crisis, each by 17.6 percent of those surveyed.

State voters who approve of President Donald Trump increased more than 3 percentage points over the previous poll, for a total of 38.4 percent.

While 48.2 percent of voters overall say they will support Democrats in the race for Congress, nearly 41 percent of unaffiliated voters support Republican congressional candidates compared to about 35 percent for Democrats.

The most recent state registration data shows there are 460,279 Republicans, 785,615 Democrats and 870,171 unaffiliated voters eligible to cast ballots on Election Day, Nov. 6.
Are we truly Earthlings? Is terra firma unequivocally the birthplace of humanity?

Maybe not. A new paper by a trio of Harvard University researchers argues that we all might be immigrants from deep space, brought to Earth via a mechanism called panspermia.

While the conventional wisdom from biologists has long been that life on Earth began on Earth, science fiction isnt so fuddy-duddy. Prometheus, Ridley Scotts 2012 prequel to the blockbuster Alien franchise is one of many films positing that our planet was seeded by extraterrestrial life.

In the movies, aliens use some sort of engineered transportation system to get here  rockets or wormholes, for example. Panspermia makes no such technical demands. Heres the basic idea: A meteor slams into a planet where life exists, and the collision lofts into space a microbe-containing dirt clod. The clod eventually slams into another world and infects it with life.

Many space scientists think panspermia could work within a solar system. For example, its possible that life arose on Mars more than four billion years ago, and  thanks to panspermiasent microbial emissaries to Earth, where they evolved into the flora and fauna you enjoy today.

But panspermia has long been seen as having limited reach. Even though microbes are tougher than cheap steak, it seems unlikely they would survive a journey between star systems. Theyd be dead on arrival, indeed dead before arrival  killed off by the radiation that permeates space and the lack of liquid water en route. And the odds that a germy dirt clod from one star system would actually hit a planet in another are comparable to the odds of downing a clay pigeon a trillion miles away.

Oumuamua changed things. When this cosmic visitor (scientists arent sure if the 700-foot-long object is a comet or an asteroid) sailed through our solar system last year, the Harvard scientists realized that large objects might be able to seed life over light-years of distance  even across the Galaxy. This is possible, they suggest, because there are ways to accelerate the bio-package to velocities far greater than any dirt clod, and have it gravitationally captured by some other star system where it hangs around, eventually collides with a planet, and delivers its protoplasm-filled package.

This game of catch would work best for double star systems. Roughly half of all the stars in the Milky Way have stellar buddies, and the gravitational fields in these systems are ever-changing. The systems occasionally sling-shot asteroids, comets and even moons or planets into deep space at high speed. Double star systems are also adept at grabbing large objects coming their way.

After some deft mathematical calculations, the researchers concluded that there could be hordes of ejected asteroids, comets, moons and planets sailing the galaxy. They could cover interstellar distances in millions of years. Thats a long ride, but some bacteria are known to remain dormant and viable that long.

If this scenario is right, that report you got from Ancestry.com or 23andMe could be incomplete. Instead of being Bosnian or Bengali, your real ancestry might trace back to an as-yet-undiscovered planet. It would also imply that life is ubiquitous.

But its still unclear that life could really make such a trip. Rocco Mancinelli, a senior research scientist at NASAs Ames Research Center, is among those who are skeptical that any bacteria could survive such a panspermian pilgrimage. If the journey took millions of years, then that life would die and it doesnt matter if it is Earth life or non-Earth life, he told me. Why? Because it would be destroyed by cosmic radiation. And even if it could survive that, the radiation given off by the mineral in the rock itself would destroy it.

Such objections aside, the idea of panspermia is perennially popular. Perhaps thats because we want to see biologys good news spread to as much of creation as possible. Then again, maybe its because we arent entirely happy with the idea that our distant ancestors were low-grade pond scum. Its more gratifying to think that we have more exotic origins. If were not descended from the gods, at least we might be descended from ancestors on a planet far, far away.

Seth Shostak is an American astronomer, currently Senior Astronomer and Director, Center for Seti Research, in Mountain View, California, which searches for extraterrestrial intelligence. He is also host of the "Big Picture Science" podcast.
Canada extends immigration targets into 2021 with prominent roles for Express Entry, PNPs 1.3 million new permanent residents to be welcomed under immigration plan's targets

Canada extends immigration targets into 2021 with prominent roles for Express Entry, PNPs 1.3 million new permanent residents to be welcomed under immigration plan's targets

Canada extends immigration targets into 2021 with prominent roles for Express Entry, PNPs 1.3 million new permanent residents to be welcomed under immigration plan's targets Stephen Smith Eman Katem Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Canada is increasing its immigration targets for 2019 and 2020 and will extend its multi-year immigration levels plan through 2021, setting the stage for the arrival of 1.3 million new permanent residents between 2018 and 2021.

The changes were announced as part of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)s 2017 report to Parliament that was made public October 31. The report coincides with the first anniversary of IRCCs original multi-year levels plan, which was introduced to guide Canadas immigration planning from 2018 through 2020.

Increasing targets and extending the plan by another year positions Canada to now welcome more than 1.3 million newcomers through the countrys various economic, family and refugee and humanitarian immigration categories between 2018 and 2021, based on its annual targets.

The new 2019-2021 plan calls for gradually increasing admissions targets each year up to 350,000 in 2021. The targets for 2019 and 2020, originally set at 330,000 and 340,000, respectively, have now been increased to 330,800 and 341,000.

Under this plan, Canada will welcome more talented workers with the skills and expertise our economy needs, reunite more family members and accommodate more refugees looking to start new lives, Canadas Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed Hussen, said in his introduction to the report.

Prominent roles for Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs

The economic immigration programs managed by the federal Express Entry economic system and Canadas Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) will continue to play important roles under the plan, which expands the potential number of admissions through each program in 2019.

The Express Entry system manages the pool of candidates for Canadas three main federal economic immigration categories  the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and the Canadian Experience Class.

Of the 1.3 million new permanent residents that Canada is planning for by the end of 2021, nearly a quarter  331,000  are projected to come through the three economic immigration classes managed by Express Entry, based on their annual targets.

To find out if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool, fill out a free assessment.

PNPs, meanwhile, have a combined target of 255,100 over the four years, which accounts for almost 19 per cent of the 1.3 million total admissions over that period.

These programs allow participating Canadian provinces and territories to nominate a set number of immigration candidates for permanent residence each year based on local labour market needs.

Looked at year-over-year, PNP admissions grow from nearly 18 per cent of the overall admissions target for 2018 to 20.2 per cent of overall admissions target for 2021.

Hussen highlighted the role of PNPs in IRCCs extended immigration levels plan, noting that it was developed in close consultation with provinces and territories, allowing them to bring in more people through their provincial nominee programs.

Looking for more information on Canadas Provincial Nominee Programs? Use the interactive Canada PNP Finder to explore programs, filter your search, and keep up to date on all PNP-related news.

Economic immigration programs as a whole will be responsible for the majority of newcomers between 2018 and 2021, with around 60 per cent of the 1.3 million new permanent residents arriving through one of Canadas Economic Class programs. Other programs in this class include the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and economic immigration programs administered by the province of Quebec.

Hussen said this emphasis on economic immigration addresses the new challenges that Canada is facing today, namely an aging population and a declining birth rate.

Growing immigration levels, particularly in the Economic Class, will help us sustain our labour force, support economic growth and spur innovation, Hussen says.

Notably absent from the Economic Class targets in the updated immigration levels plan were targets for Quebec, which are listed as to be determined.

IRCC attributed this to the recent general election in Quebec, which saw the provinces Liberal government fall to the Coalition Avenir Quebec.

IRCC said the timing of the election meant Quebecs planned levels for 2019 and beyond could not be finalized in time to be included in the updated plan, and will be established in consultation with the new government.

Potential Family Class admissions expanded

The immigration levels plan also reflects the federal governments stated commitments to family reunification.

IRCC is expanding the range of potential admissions through its spouses, partners, and children sponsorship category while maintaining its targets for 2018 through 2020. The target for 2021 through this category is 70,000.

IRCC also expanded the range of potential admissions through its Parents and Grandparents sponsorship program but will maintain its established targets for 2019 and 2020 (20,500 and 21,000, respectively). The admissions target for this program in 2021 is set at 21,000.

All in all, Canadas extended immigration levels are good news for people looking for opportunities to start a new life in this country, said David Cohen, senior partner with the Campbell Cohen Canadian immigration law firm in Montreal.

In a world that seems to be closing its doors to immigrants, this plan reminds us that Canada remains a welcoming beacon of hope.

To find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration program, fill out a free assessment.

 2018 CICNews All Rights Reserved
Manitoba aims to harness 'new ideas, global connections' with new International Student Entrepreneur and Graduate Internship pathways

Manitoba announces two new immigration pathways for international graduates Manitoba aims to harness 'new ideas, global connections' with new International Student Entrepreneur and Graduate Internship pathways

Manitoba announces two new immigration pathways for international graduates Manitoba aims to harness 'new ideas, global connections' with new International Student Entrepreneur and Graduate Internship pathways

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Manitoba has unveiled two new fast track immigration pathways for international graduates of post-secondary institutions in the province.

The International Student Entrepreneur Pathway and Graduate Internship Pathway are part of the provinces International Education Stream, which was created a year ago as part of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)s renewal program.

The MPNP allows the province of Manitoba to nominate a set number of immigration candidates for permanent residence each year. The popular Provincial Nominee Program has welcomed more than 130,000 newcomers to the province since its creation in 1998.

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 International Student Entrepreneur Pathway is for international graduates who have completed a minimum two-year program at a Manitoba post-secondary institution and who want to establish and operate a business in Manitoba. Candidates are expected to invest in and actively manage the business.

Those selected under the International Student Entrepreneur Pathway will receive a temporary work permit as part of a two-year pilot program, the Government of Manitoba says.

The Graduate Internship Pathway is for international students who have completed either a Masters or Doctoral degree at a university in the province within three years and an eligible internship.

Candidates who complete an Accelerate or Elevate internships organized through Mitacs, a non-profit organization that links universities and industries across Canada and internationally, with eligible industry and research enterprises in Manitoba can apply with or without a job offer from an employer in the province.

Both pathways are designed to attract and retain more talented innovators and entrepreneurs from all over the world, Manitobas Minister of Education and Training, Kelvin Goertzen said.

International students bring new ideas, global connections and an entrepreneurial spirit to our province and when they create opportunities for themselves, Manitoba becomes more competitive and innovative.

To find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs, fill out a free assessment.

 2018 CICNews All Rights Reserved
The Charity Commission's new strategic plan contains some good elements, but an aspect that has drawn criticism is the intention to use our voice more strongly to encourage the behaviour that people expect of charities.

On one level there is a logic to this. The public has been dissatisfied with recent issues at some charities regarding safeguarding, sexual misconduct and fundraising practice, and justifiably so. As a result, those charities have needed to change.

And in general, I would argue that all charities should seek to operate to the highest standards, whether that be in terms of their governance, how they treat staff and suppliers, their approach to diversity and equality, or their environmental footprint.

However, there are problems with asking charities to do what people expect.

The public dont speak with one voice, and morality is highly contested. People have different views of how charities should behave, and different charities may reflect the values of different people. The views put forward in elements of the national press do not necessarily reflect majority opinion, and even if they do, charities have a right to disagree.

Examples of 'uncharitable behaviour'

It is possible that the reality will be relatively benign. Commission chair Baroness Stowell gave three examples of uncharitable behaviour in a recent speech, and all are fairly uncontroversial.

Exploitation of vulnerable people is not something anyone would defend.

Aggressive fundraising practices are also not particularly defensible  competition for funds can lead to excesses which needed to be curbed now and then, though there remains a problem in defining what is aggressive.

And while it is debatable whether a single-minded pursuit of organisational growth is really a widespread problem, in itself it isnt desirable if it is to the detriment of beneficiaries.

However, questions remain. What themes might the Commission choose to focus on in the future? Will it always exercise its moral judgement in an acceptable way? To what extent is it seeking to move beyond simply enforcing the law?

As Jay Kennedy, director of policy and research at the Directory of Social Change, put it: The new strategy statement seems to envisage a regulator less tethered to its legal anchoring, moving into realms of behaviour and expectations, which is highly problematic.

Can unpopularity be a virtue?

I would also argue that sometimes charities absolutely should be unpopular.

Fundraising inevitably means making people feel guilty if they choose not to donate to a worthy cause, no matter how sensitively it is conducted.

And promoting the rights of minority groups or causes frequently means coming into conflict with others who wish to restrict them.

Just look at Stonewall. It was set up to oppose the Conservative government's infamous section 28 clause, which prohibited the promotion of homosexuality in schools.

At that time, the British Social Attitudes Survey found that 75 per cent of the population believed homosexual activity was "always or mostly wrong".

So section 28 had popular support, but Stonewall nevertheless campaigned for what was right.

Another example is the the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, which works to rehabilitate sex offenders in order to prevent them reoffending.

Theirs is not a cause that generates much in the way of public support, so instead the charity relies to a large extent on government funding, but their work is vital.

Now I might be taking the argument a little far here. Baroness Stowell has not talked about going beyond the Commission's usual regulatory role in determining the causes that charities are allowed to support. Her focus appears to be very much on how charities achieve their aims rather than what those aims are.

But the examples I've given do serve as a reminder that the court of public opinion is not always the best arbiter for charity practice.

Trust

The big problem here is one of trust. Stowells status as a Conservative grandee who was appointed via a disputed selection process means she already had an uphill battle in proving to charities that she does not represent a partisan view.

Her decision last month to speak in sweeping terms about the sectors conduct and its possible demise did little to help.

Some charities do some things well, and some charities do some things badly. Tarring them all with the same brush seems like an attack on the fundamental character and motives of the sector, which is bound to get people's backs up.

And if the sector is so rotten, then perhaps there is a structural issue? Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if charities were replaced by social enterprises, crowdfunding and ethical businesses?

I don't think the sector is rotten, and history suggests it is unlikely to wither away anyway. While charities shouldn't be complacent and should always seek to improve, the sector has been remarkably resilient over the decades and centuries. It has always found ways to adapt to new circumstances and challenges.

To suggest it is now on the precipice is unhelpful hyperbole that undermines Baroness Stowell wider intentions. If she is to achieve real change in the culture of the charity sector, then she must find the right tone to win hearts and minds.

Gareth Jones is editor of Charity Finance magazine
Tracey Crouch, the minister for sport, civil society and loneliness, is on the brink of quitting over a delay to changes to betting rules, according to the Telegraph.

Crouch, who is also responsible for gambling policy, had announced earlier this year that the maximum stakes on fixed odds betting terminals would be slashed from 100 to 2 as part of measures to tackle problem gambling.

But in the Budget on Monday the chancellor, Philip Hammond, said the move would be delayed until October 2019 to allow betting shops to prepare.

The Telegraph reported that two of Crouchs friends had said she is considering her position and that she is understood to be furious about the Treasury's decision.

Crouch became the minister for sport and civil society following the June 2017 general election. She had the loneliness brief added to her portfolio in January. She is the MP for Chatham and Aylesford, and was first elected in 2010.

She recently launched the Civil Society Strategy which set out the governments vision for working with charities, social enterprises and others on social issues.

Charity leaders have taken to social media to express disappointment at the possibility of Crouch leaving government.

Karl Wilding, director of policy at NCVO, tweeted: Oh dear. Tracey Crouch is also the (excellent) minister responsible for charities and sport.

Keiran Goddard, director of policy at the Association for Charitable Foundations added: That would be a sad loss, but totally understandable given the outrageous u-turn on FOBT.

That would be a sad loss, but totally understandable given the outrageous u-turn on FOBT  Keiran Goddard (@keirangoddard1) October 31, 2018

No show in Parliament

Crouch did not attend Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport questions in Parliament today. This meant it fell to her boss, culture secretary Jeremy Wright, to defend the governments position around the timing of FOBT changes, further fuelling speculation that she may resign later today.

Wright said that Crouch had been let down by public transport, in order to excuse her absence. He repeatedly dodged questions from MPs about whether Crouch had threatened to quit, and insisted that she was doing a great job.

He also claimed that there had been no change to government policy and that it was wrong to describe the change in the expected date as a delay.

MPs of all parties suggested Crouch would be right to quit over the delay. Conservative MPs who raised concerns about the FOBT policy in parliament have included Damian Collins, chair of the DCMS committee, and Iain Duncan Smith, the former secretary of state for work and pensions.

Tom Watson, Labours deputy leader and shadow minister, accused Wright of giving in to the gambling industry.
Remember him? This summer, the US and its media were still scurrying to keep up with Special Counsel Robert Muellers unfolding investigation into Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. On August 1, Rudy Giuliani, one of Trumps many attorneys, told a Republican campaign event in New Hampshire that the upcoming midterms would amount to a referendum on whether to impeach the president. At the time, Giuliani was hardly alone in that thought. Later that month, former campaign chair Paul Manafort was convicted, Trumps personal lawyer Michael Cohen testified that Trump had directed him to commit a crime, and Giuliani himself infamously told NBCs Chuck Todd, Truth isnt truth.

In the weeks since, however, Mueller has gone under the radar. His investigation is reportedly eschewing the spotlight to avoid giving the impression that it has its thumb on the electoral scale. On the media side, meanwhile, a succession of huge stories has submerged the probe: the deaths of John McCain and Jamal Khashoggi, the confirmation hearings of Brett Kavanaugh, natural disasters, mass shootings, and now, Trumps relentless focus on the migrant caravan.

ICYMI: Washington Post kills freelancers story over retweet

Below the tumult, the Mueller beat has continued to drum a steady pace. Most days have seen a juicy tidbit somewhere in the mediasphere. Weve learned, for instance, about longtime Trump associate Roger Stones alleged ties to WikiLeaks, with Mueller reportedly bearing down on whether the Trump campaign had prior knowledge of the October Surprise dump of emails from inside Hillary Clintons camp. The scoops have not stopped there. In the last week alone, Bloomberg reported that the Cohen grand jury is investigating other individuals, former campaign aide George Papadopoulos told Fox & Friends he might reverse his plea deal, and The Washington Post revealed that Steve Bannon sat down for yet another interview with Muellers team.

Over the last few days, the investigation has resurfaced because of a smear campaign against it involving planted allegations of sexual assault against Mueller. A story that briefly appeared on the right-wing Gateway Pundit blog Tuesday was swiftly debunked when journalists linked it to a firm tied to 20-year-old Twitter troll Jacob Wohl. When reporters rang the phone number on the firms website, it redirected to Wohls moms voicemail.

Yesterday, more serious stories appeared. In addition to further developments in the Stone case, Politico published an analysis by a former federal prosecutor suggesting that Mueller may already have subpoenaed Trump. The articles speculative nature drew some skepticism on Twitter, but it was shared widely, including by Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Trump attorney Jay Sekulow messaged a rebuttal to the Timess Maggie Haberman. Later on, Trump himself denied the report during a pool spray.

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With so many big stories fighting for airtime, itll likely take something more concrete than a leak or bungled hoax for Muellers investigation to cut back into the narrative ahead of Tuesdays elections. Credible reporting from the Post and others, however, suggests that the special counsel is preparing to re-enter public life once polls close. The midterms have not proven to be a referendum on Mueller, but the Mueller news cycle is far from over.

Below, more from the quiet Mueller beat:

The rolling Stone probe: Jerome Corsi, a conspiracy theorist and former DC bureau chief for Infowars, has emerged as a key figure in Muellers investigation of Stone. ABCs Ali Dukakis reported last night that Corsi may have had advance knowledge of WikiLeakss Clinton campaign email dump.

Jerome Corsi, a conspiracy theorist and former DC bureau chief for Infowars, has emerged as a key figure in Muellers investigation of Stone. ABCs Ali Dukakis reported last night that Corsi may have had advance knowledge of WikiLeakss Clinton campaign email dump. The back catalog: Archivists yesterday released a long-withheld report that formed part of the Watergate investigation in the 1970s. The Post reports the document was unsealed following appeals from a former Nixon defense lawyer and three legal analysts who have argued that it could serve as a road map for Mueller.

Archivists yesterday released a long-withheld report that formed part of the Watergate investigation in the 1970s. The Post reports the document was unsealed following appeals from a former Nixon defense lawyer and three legal analysts who have argued that it could serve as a road map for Mueller. Mueller time: Also in the Post, columnist Paul Waldman writes: Its looking as though the special counsels investigation is approaching its climax. Even if Trump doesnt have to answer questions, well learn what Mueller has discovered about what he and his aides did in 2016. Even if Trump gets a new attorney general after the midterms and orders that person to fire Mueller, it will probably be too late. And then itll be up to the political systemCongress and the votersto decide what to do about it.

Also in the Post, columnist Paul Waldman writes: Its looking as though the special counsels investigation is approaching its climax. Even if Trump doesnt have to answer questions, well learn what Mueller has discovered about what he and his aides did in 2016. Even if Trump gets a new attorney general after the midterms and orders that person to fire Mueller, it will probably be too late. And then itll be up to the political systemCongress and the votersto decide what to do about it. The sound of silence: Another reason Muellers investigation has been pushed down the midterms news cycle is that politicians dont want to address it. In late August, an analysis by FiveThirtyEight suggested that Congressional Democrats were largely avoiding talk of impeachment. And in mid-October, Politicos Darren Samuelsohn reported that operatives from both parties have intentionally skirted the issue on the campaign trail because voters dont want to talk about it either.



Other notable stories:

In a first official statement nearly a month after the fact, Istanbuls chief prosecutor said the Saudi dissident writer Jamal Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered his countrys consulate in the city, before his body was dismembered and disposed off by a local collaborator in a premeditated attack. The search for Khashoggis remains continues.

Forbess Madeline Berg and Lauren Debter asked the 11 board members of 21st Century Foxall but one of whom were born abroad, are immigrants, or have immigrant parentsabout Fox Newss recent anti-immigrant rhetoric. Not one would give comment. In The Washington Post, meanwhile, Erik Wemple writes that the moderation of Shep Smith cannot save the network as a whole: Nothing that Smith says during his Fox News programno matter how sick his burns on Trump might beneutralizes the impact of [Lou] Dobbs or Sean Hannity or Tucker Carlson or dozens of other Fox talking heads. Nothing.

For CJR, Philip Eil offers a series of pointers for citizens on how to criticize the work of the press in a responsible way. In a world in which reporters are called scum, disgusting, enemies and much worse, its worth statingand restatingthat journalists are human beings, Eil writes. We are flesh-and-blood people with spouses, friends, parents, children, pets, memories, hobbies, and mortgages. We like pizza. We pay taxes. We go to the gym and take out the trash.

A worrying pair of updates from the Committee to Protect Journalists: Two unidentified gunmen killed radio reporter Abdullahi Mire Hashi in Somalia six days ago, while in Cameroon, authorities have now detained Michel Biem Tong, the editor of a news website, for a week without charge.

Profiling CBS anchor Gayle King for The New York Times, Amy Chozick asked King whether media men taken down by #MeToo scandals, including Kings friend and former colleague Charlie Rose, might make a comeback. Amy, murderers are walking around People who kill people are walking around. They might not be able to get [their] jobs back, but surely there must be room for some redemption somewhere, King replied. I dont know what the answer is to that, and it might be too soon. Maybe people dont want to hear that.

In the UK, the editor of a supermarket food magazine is stepping down after countering a pitch from a vegan journalist by suggesting a series on killing vegans, one by one.

For CJR, Marie Doezema spoke with journalist turned novelist Omar El Akkad on his dystopian book American War and the dialectic between reporting and fiction-writing. Im much more comfortable in the world of fiction than journalism, or any other style of writing or thought, because my defining characteristic as a human being is doubt, El Akkad told Doezema.

And as Megyn Kelly continues to negotiate a messy exit from NBC, her character may have been axed from Showtimes upcoming series about late former Fox Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, The Hollywood Reporters Tatiana Siegel reports.

ICYMI: Getting scoops is great, but not if they perpetuate a Trump lie

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 Lion Air jet that crashed into the Java Sea off Indonesia earlier this week had experienced problems with the sensors used to calculate altitude and speed on its previous flight, an issue that could help explain why the plane dove into the water.

Pilots on the nearly new Boeing Co. 737 Max 8 reported the issue after flying from Denpasar to Jakarta the night before the accident, Lion Air spokesman Danang Mandala Prihantoro said Wednesday. The instruments were checked by maintenance workers overnight and the plane was cleared to fly, Prihantoro said.

While it will be days or weeks before definitive information emerges in the crash shortly after takeoff with 189 people aboard, discrepancies in speed and altitude readings can cause confusion on the cockpit and have led to accidents in the past, including the 2009 crash of an Air France plane in the Atlantic Ocean.

Flight-tracking data before the two-month old Lion Air jet crashed showed the plane was varying its altitude and speed, a possible indication that the pilots werent getting accurate information from the aircrafts air-pressure sensors.

Erroneous sensors could be an explanation for the flight track data, said John Cox, president of Safety Operating Systems and a former airline pilot. But Cox and others cautioned that its too soon to say what happened on the Lion Air flight and some of the flight data  such as speeds that werent extreme and none of the highly abrupt maneuvers that preceded the Air France jets loss of control  may suggest some other cause.

Indonesias National Search and Rescue Agency has picked up signals from so-called pingers on the Flight JT610s crash-proof flight recorders.

We have located the area where we strongly believe the planes black box is located. The large parts of the aircraft should be nearby, National Military Chief Hadi Tjahjanto said.

Inspections of the 737 Max 8 aircraft operated by Lion Air and Garuda Indonesia since the accident found no technical issues, according to a statement by the countrys Transport Ministry. A review of maintenance documents found no additional issues were reported on the airspeed and altimeter system in the past 3 months.

Investigators from around the world, including a team from Boeing, are onsite poring over evidence. For now, the planemaker has told 737 Max operators that it doesnt recommend they take any action at this time.

Even with modern GPS tracking, planes need to calculate their precise speed through the air. To determine airspeed  which can vary substantially compared to the speed over the ground due to winds  aircraft rely on Pitot tubes which measure the air rushing into them.

By comparing that pressure against the ambient air pressure  which is obtained by what are known as static ports  aircraft can determine airspeed.

If either of the pressure sensors are blocked, it can cause erroneous readings. In the case of the Air France flight, investigators concluded that a high-altitude ice storm clogged the Pitot tubes.

Jetliners are equipped with three separate airspeed sensor systems as backups. If one goes bad, pilots are trained to check the other readings and disregard the one thats incorrect.

United Technologies Corp. is a supplier of the systems to the 737 Max, according to Airframer.com, a website that tracks suppliers of aircraft components. A company representative said she wasnt immediately able to confirm whether its equipment was on the Lion Air plane.

Lion Air and investigators havent provided details about the issue on the previous flight Sunday night. Data provided by flight tracking company FlightRadar24 showed that the jet took off and reached an altitude of 5,550 feet (1,692 meters), then dropped to 4,625 feet, an unusual altitude loss at a time when aircraft normally climb steadily.

The plane then resumed its climb, but never exceeded 28,000 feet. Jetliners usually dont fly below 30,000 feet because cruising at the lower altitudes is less fuel efficient. However, planes with partially malfunctioning altitude sensors arent allowed above 28,000 feet.

Every aircraft that we have will go through transit, pre-flight and post-flight checks, said Lion Airs Prihantoro. We are conducting inspection and maintenance if needed on every aircraft.

Air France

Indonesias National Transportation Safety Committee, which is leading the investigation, has interviewed pilots from the previous flight, Ony Soerjo Wibowo, an investigator, told a news conference on Tuesday.

In the Air France accident, investigators concluded that the Pitot tubes had become clogged with ice and all three of the planes speed indicators failed at different times, according to the final report of Frances Office of Investigation and Analysis.

The routine flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris was interrupted with a cacophony of alarms and confusing information. Their autopilot disconnected, speed indicators went haywire and warnings sounded indicating they were going too slow. We havent got a good display, one of the pilots said, according to the accident report.

Other Crashes

Completely flummoxed, the pilots abruptly climbed and then lost control, allowing the plane to plunge for about four minutes until it slammed into the water.

While such failures happen fairly frequently and pilots should be able to continue flying the plane until the problem resolves itself, a handful of airline accidents such as the Air France crash show they can be confusing if pilots are startled and dont react properly.

A charter flight leaving the Dominican Republic in 1996 crashed, killing 189 people, after the captains airspeed became inaccurate. While it was never proven, a wasps nest in the Pitot tube was suspected as the reason for the error.

An Aeroperu flight that crashed in 1996, killing 70, was blamed by the Peruvian government on tape that had been left over the static ports. Shortly after takeoff, pilots received nearly simultaneous cockpit warnings that they were going too fast, too slow and too close to the ground, according to the investigation.

While its too early to know if airspeed indicators will prove to be related to Mondays accident, the possibility underscores the need for better and more consistent pilot training, said David Greenberg, an industry consultant and former operations executive at Delta Air Lines Inc.

Greenberg, who also served as chief operating officer at Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd., said U.S. airlines drill pilots for such contingencies in the classroom and flight simulators.

Partially as a result of the Air France crash, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in recent years revamped pilot training for how to handle unusual speeds and cases in which the plane goes out of control. Its now common for airline pilots to receive simulator training on how to handle a failure of the planes speed indicators.

A veteran U.S. airline captain recalled a recent training exercise in the simulator in which the planes airspeed became inaccurate. The problem was hard to detect and occurred simultaneously with other control issues, said the pilot, who asked not to be named because he wasnt authorized to speak by his airline.

The copilots speed readings were accurate and control was turned over to the junior pilot, but the captains instruments continued to behave erratically, which was distracting, the pilot said.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
Understanding Pedestrian and Crosswalk Laws in All 50 States

Every year approximately 76,000 pedestrians suffer injuries when they are struck by a moving vehicle. Beginning in 2016, America experienced a significant increase in the number of pedestrian fatalities, and in 2017 alone, there were nearly 6,000 pedestrian deaths in the U.S. Five states alone account for 43 percent of all pedestrian deathsCalifornia, Florida, Texas, New York, and Arizona. Pedestrian deaths now make up 16 percent of the total traffic deaths in the U.S. A 2018 National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) study reveals that in 2016, 5,987 pedestrians were killed on U.S. roadsan average of 16 per day. The worst states were New Mexico, Florida, South Carolina, Delaware, Arizona, Nevada, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia. Interestingly, nine of the ten worst states are located in the South. It is impossible to effectively handle personal injury and workers compensation subrogation claims without becoming familiar with the mosaic of proliferating laws which govern the liability of motorists and the duties of pedestrians when crossing the street.

Children under 13 years of age have the lowest pedestrian death rate of all ages  4 per million. Elderly pedestrians, although struck even less frequently than children, are more likely to die after being struck. Victims over the age of 70 account for 13 percent percent of pedestrian deaths. Male pedestrians of all age groups are more commonly killed in collisions than female pedestrians. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Pedestrian deaths increased 54 percent in urban areas, which include both cities and what most people consider suburbs. They also increased 67 percent on arterials  busy roads designed mainly to funnel vehicle traffic toward freeways  50 percent outside of intersections, and 56 percent in the dark. Although pedestrian crashes most frequently involved cars, fatal single-vehicle crashes involving SUVs increased 81 percent, more than other type of vehicle.

In an effort to address this growing public safety concern, state legislatures are scrambling to pass new laws which regulate and define who is at fault when a pedestrian is struck. These laws cover circumstances when a vehicle must stop or yield to a pedestrian crossing the street at an uncontrolled crosswalkone where there is no traffic control device governing and/or directing when it is safe to cross the street. For example, a growing number of states require motorists to stop and yield to pedestrians in an uncontrolled crosswalk; an obligation many motorists have had a hard time adjusting to. In Minnesota, the law now requires a vehicle to stop when a pedestrian is in any portion of the roadwaycontrolled or uncontrolled. Drivers in that state must now stop for crossing pedestrians at marked crosswalks and at all intersections without crosswalks or stop lights. Although Minnesota pedestrians must not enter a crosswalk if a vehicle is approaching and it is impossible for the driver to stop, there is no defined distance that a pedestrian must abide by before entering the crosswalk. Furthermore, when a vehicle is stopped at a Minnesota intersection to allow pedestrians to cross the roadway, it is illegal for drivers of other vehicles approaching from the rear to pass the stopped vehicle.

Interestingly, at common law, the rights of pedestrians and motorists at crossings were equal and neither had a superior right over the other. Bartlett v. Melzo, 88 N.W.2d 518 (Mich. 1958). Today, however, most states treat pedestrian rights and vehicle obligations at controlled and uncontrolled crosswalks differently. Controlled crosswalks are typically striped and delineated as such; but an unmarked crosswalk could be either marked or unmarked. The language and definitions differ from state to state. In general, vehicles must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at plainly marked crosswalks and at intersections where stop signs or flashing red signals are in place. On the other hand, pedestrians must generally yield the right-of-way to vehicles when crossing outside of a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. The laws do vary from state to state, however.

In New Jersey, vehicles must stop for a pedestrian within a marked crosswalk but must only yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Nineteen states put the burden on vehicles to stop and yield if a pedestrian is located anywhere in the roadway. Other states, like Louisiana, require a vehicle to yield only if the pedestrian is on their half of the road, but not if they are on the other half; requiring the pedestrian to stop and wait as traffic passes. Nebraska requires yielding if the pedestrian is on the same half of the roadway or within one lane of the vehicle. Massachusetts is an example of a state that requires the vehicle to stop and yield if the pedestrian is on the same half of the roadway or within ten (10) feet of the motorist. Despite this, some statesincluding Hawaii, Georgia, Oregon, South Dakota, Virginia, and Washington treat controlled and uncontrolled crosswalks the same.

In general, drivers of motor vehicles must exercise reasonable care to avoid striking a pedestrian. The laws of many states impose a higher duty of care when it comes to pedestrians who are children. At the same time, a pedestrian cannot blindly walk into the roadway without exercising reasonable care and keeping a proper lookout. A pedestrian who fails to do this is guilty of contributory negligence.

A legal culture sea transformation is underway and claims and subrogation professionals must be aware of this change. The University of Minnesota recently conducted research at high-risk intersections in St. Paul as part of a study to track pedestrian and driver behavior. Only 31 percent of drivers yielded to the pedestrians as required by Minnesota law. Minnesota refers to it as the Stop for Me campaigna public campaign to protect pedestrians and educate drivers that they must stop and let pedestrians cross, even when there isnt a red light. From 2013 to 2017, 835 pedestrians in St. Paul were struck by vehicles. Of those, 17 died and 747 were injured. Of those hurt, 87 were children 10 years of age and under, and 100 were ages 11 to 17. In Minnesota, pedestrians are allowed to cross the street wherever they choose, so long as they (1) act reasonably to ensure their own safety, (2) follow traffic laws and rules, and (3) are not otherwise prohibited from crossing in a specific location. Minn. Stat.  169 (Minnesota Statutes Traffic Regulations chapter). When crossing at a marked crosswalk where traffic control signals are present, pedestrians must obey the signals and may only cross the road within the marked crosswalk. Minn. Stat.  169.21, subd. 1, 3(c). If crossing at a marked crosswalk or at an intersection without a marked crosswalk where no traffic control signals are present, both motor vehicle drivers and bicyclists must allow pedestrians already crossing the road to cross the entire road first before driving further through the intersection. Minn. Stat.  169.21, subd. 2(a). Similarly, pedestrians must allow traffic in the roadway to pass before attempting to cross at locations without traffic signals, such as at crosswalks, intersections, and undesignated locations like the middle of the street where there is no crosswalk. Minn. Stat.  169.21, subd. 2(a), 3(a).

Complicating matters even more are some of the more complex traffic control signs and devices which assist pedestrians in crossing the street. Pedestrians in many states are considered to be lawfully crossing the road within an intersection or crosswalk with traffic control signals when doing so according to a defined set of rules. In Minnesota, these rules are as follows according to the Public Health Law Center:

Where there is only one set of lights applicable to all traffic, the following rules apply: Green Signal: Pedestrians facing any green signal (except when the only green signal is a turn arrow) may proceed across the road within any marked or unmarked crosswalk. Every driver of a vehicle must allow pedestrians to cross the road first  except, pedestrians must allow vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that the green signal indication is first shown to proceed before crossing. Steady Yellow Signal: Pedestrians facing a circular yellow signal are notified that there is not enough time to cross the road before a red signal is shown and are prohibited from starting to cross the road. Steady Red Signal: Pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone must not enter the road.

Whenever special pedestrian control signals with the words Walk or Dont Walk or symbols of a walking person or upraised hand are in place, the signals or symbols indicate as follows: Steady Walk signal or the symbol of a walking person: A pedestrian facing either of these signals may proceed across the road in the direction of the signal, possibly in conflict with turning vehicles. Every driver of a vehicle must allow pedestrians to cross before driving further  except that the pedestrian must let vehicles that are lawfully within the intersection at the time that the signal indication is first shown to pass first. Dont Walk signal or the symbol of an upraised hand (flashing or steady): A pedestrian is prohibited from starting to cross the road in the direction of either signal.



BUT  Any pedestrian who has partially crossed on the Walk or walking person signal must proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the signal is showing.

Distracted Walking Laws

Closely related to the laws regarding pedestrians and street crossing is the growing body of laws which regulate what a pedestrian can and cant do while crossing a street. These laws are referred to as Distracted Walking Laws, but more creative names such as Phones Down, Heads Up Act have been used. The use of headphones, smartphones, or other electronic devices while crossing the road has contributed to pedestrian/vehicle accidents, injuries, and deaths. A 2018 Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) study has revealed that smartphone use, alcohol, and marijuana use has contributed to drastically-increased injuries and deaths to pedestrians. The reported number of smartphones in active use in the U.S. rose 236 percent from 2010 to 2016, said the report, which cited an increase in cell phone-related emergency room visits. While this might instinctively bring to mind a distracted pedestrian crossing the road without keeping a proper lookout, the rise in these pedestrian accidents is also caused in large part by distracted drivers. The report also noted that there was a 16.4 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities in the seven states that legalized recreational marijuana use between 2012 and 2016. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable.

A growing number of municipalities across the country have criminalized the ordinary act of walking by making it illegal to walk across the street while using smartphones or wearing earphones. This movement is sweeping the nation the same way the campaign against drunk and distracted driving proliferated. Cities, towns, and villages across America are passing ordinances making it illegal to cross the street while involved in a phone call, viewing a mobile electronic device, or with both ears obstructed by personal audio equipment. While public safety is certainly a concern across the country, some of these laws border on the absurdboth in terms of enforceability and failure to reflect the realities of everyday life. A 2017 Honolulu ordinance makes it illegal to cross the street and even look at a cellphone, an innocent act no more distracting than looking at ones watch and quite normal for those who rely on smartphones in place of a wristwatch.

Some people have suggested legislation making use of a device called a textalyzer, under development by a firm in Israel, that can scan a drivers phone for activity like texting, Facebooking, and Snapchatting in the moments leading up to a collision. One such bill in New York proposed that anyone who refused to hand over their phone would surrender their license, much like refusal to submit to a breath test is grounds for a license suspension.

Critics of the growing number of distracted walking laws claim that these laws do not target the real public safety threat. They argue that people slow down their walking when theyre looking at electronic devices, enabling them to avoid obstacles and not walk into trouble inadvertently. They claim that you cant legislate common sense. A report from the Office of Ontarios Chief Coroner revealed that a mere 7 out of 95 pedestrians killed in 2010 were distracted by a cell phone or handheld device  roughly 7 percent. They argue that jaywalking is already against the law, so if someone crosses an active roadway illegally, notwithstanding the use of a handheld device, theres already a law for that. Besides, they say, many pedestrian laws allow the pedestrian to rely on the fact that a vehicle will not violate the law and strike them when they have the right-of-way. Whats more, in only 23 percent of collisions with pedestrians was the driver found to be driving properly. They argue that the most serious cause of pedestrian accidents is driver inattention or reckless driving.

White Cane Laws

Complicating the pedestrian mosaic further is the fact many states and municipalities have enacted laws and ordinances with the objective of protecting pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired. When a pedestrian is yielding a white cane, an entire new body of laws and duties enter the picture. Each state handles the situation differently, with some states requiring that the driver yield to a white cane, some requiring that the driver come to a complete stop, some requiring only caution be used by the driver, and still others providing for no extra rights and protections to the visually-impaired. Obviously, as with distracted walking laws and ordinances, white cane laws are also part of the legal mosaic which is created when there is a pedestrian injury. The American Council of the Blind offers a chart detailing the white cane laws.

It should be remembered that individual cities and villages may also have ordinances which affect the duties and liabilities of drivers and pedestrians. Claims adjusters and subrogation professionals should not automatically assume that a pedestrian is at fault merely because he or she was struck while crossing the road. Society is changing and the burden and duty to avoid a collision is rapidly shifting to the driver of the motor vehicle.

View a chart, Pedestrian and Crosswalk Laws In All 50 States, representing an amalgamation of laws from all 50 states that regulate the relationship between and the duties of motor vehicles and pedestrians crossing the street.
The Trump administration has stepped up scrutiny of asbestos trust funds, concerned that the pots of money intended to help people exposed to the hazardous substance are being depleted by fraudulent claims, harming victims, businesses and the government.

The Justice Department in the last two months has demanded trust documents as part of a civil investigation, opposed the creation of another trust it said lacked sufficient safeguards, and argued against the appointment of a lawyer it said was too conflicted to represent victims.

The actions take aim at a system that over decades has paid out billions of dollars to the sick and cancer-stricken, but that critics say is opaque and prone to fraud and manipulation by well-connected lawyers. The governments intervention aligns it with business groups who have long complained about the process.

We have an interest in fraud and consumer protection, so if there is fraud happening out there that is cognizable under federal law, thats the type of thing the Justice Department tends to get interested in, acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio said in an interview.

But plaintiffs lawyers and asbestos victims advocates say theres scant proof of widespread fraud, particularly for a system that has accommodated millions of claims. And University at Buffalo law professor S. Todd Brown said the additional government oversight, while not a bad idea, could lead to money going to complying with this oversight rather than going to the victims.

The trusts started emerging in the 1980s, formed by makers of asbestos-containing products who sought bankruptcy protection in the face of lawsuits from people who feared they had been exposed. The maneuvering enabled the companies to shield themselves from lawsuits while setting aside money to pay pending and future claims for asbestos, an environmental hazard once found in everyday products that can lead to the deadly mesothelioma cancer and other illnesses.

The model flourished. A 2011 Government Accountability Office report identified 60 trusts formed between 1988 and 2010 that it said had paid about 3.3 million claims valued at more than $17 billion.

Lawyers for asbestos victims say the process enables people to obtain compensation for catastrophic illness without drawn-out lawsuits.

There is incredible irony in the fact that an industry that covered up the dangers of a known carcinogen for decades, leading to the ongoing deaths of 15,000 Americans a year, is now claiming that its victims are committing systemic fraud against the trusts  even though no court has ever found evidence of such fraud, Peter Knudsen, spokesman for the plaintiffs lawyers group American Association for Justice, said in a statement.

Business groups and defense lawyers contend otherwise.

They say weak oversight allows people to collect payments with minimal evidence they were harmed by a particular companys product, and for illnesses far less serious than mesothelioma and lung cancer. They argue trust overseers are often tied to well-connected plaintiffs firms, raising concerns of favoritism and cronyism.

And they say the meager amount of publicly available information makes it hard to know how decisions on payments are made, how much a given individual is receiving or whether the exposure evidence submitted to one trust is consistent with whats submitted to others.

In 2014, a judge in the bankruptcy case of an asbestos gasket maker described a startling pattern of misrepresentation by alleged victims and their lawyers. The judge found that plaintiffs repeatedly told Garlock Sealing Technologies that it was responsible for their exposure and struck large settlement agreements with the company, only to later file claims with multiple other trusts over injuries and exposures they hadnt previously disclosed.

Plaintiffs lawyers say asbestos victims are routinely sickened by multiple companies, often making it hard to pinpoint precisely whos to blame and leaving them with no choice but to seek compensation from anyone who may have harmed them.

The Justice Department stepped up its oversight in the last few months.

In September, it challenged the creation of a new trust it said lacked details about how it would guard against fraud and abuse. The department said in a letter to state attorneys general that it would object to plans for asbestos trusts that fail to include critical information on how asbestos claims will be evaluated, paid and reported or that dont do enough to prevent fraud.

It later challenged a different trust, Duro Dyne, over the appointment of a lawyer it said was too conflicted to represent interests of people who may later become ill. A judge rejected that request, and Jeffrey Prol, an attorney for the trust, said he was taken aback by what he called the departments effort to make this bankruptcy case a referendum on the asbestos trust system.

At least one trust, DII Industries, has disclosed receiving an administrative subpoena, to produce records of settlements as part of an investigation into whether Medicare is being properly reimbursed for trust payments. A trust spokesman said it was complying.

Harold Kim, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, a pro-business legal organization, said the system has long been broken.

Having more oversight and taking a closer look in terms of how these trusts operate and whether theyre violating federal law will hopefully keep these trusts honest.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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.

Boots 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.

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. Its 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.

Boots 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.

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 FSUs driving simulators.

Then Boots team enlisted 189 drivers to get behind the wheel of the simulators. They tested participants reactions to real-life highway situations.

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 someones eyes and attention, and all of the most effective countermeasures used that technique, Boot said. Peoples 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 FSUs research will help guide future work with traffic signs and pavement markers to mitigate wrong-way crashes.

Its 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.

Source: Florida State University
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A Boy Scouts of America employee in Ohio was arrested Thursday and charged with secretly filming underage boys changing in locker rooms and bathrooms.

Thomas Close, 39, of Shelby, is charged with producing child pornography, as well as receipt of child porn. Federal prosecutors say Close recorded children changing at the YMCA in Sandusky, a Boy Scout camp in Wakeman and in his own bathroom when children were at his home to swim in a pool in his backyard.

Close, who is associated with Troop 406 in Richland County and is also known as Aqua Joe, admitted to filming boys changing between 2011 and this year. He also said he had downloaded child pornography since he was 16 years old, and that his sexual preference was for boys between the ages of six and 16, according to an affidavit written by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations agent Benjamin Shaw.

Close made his first appearance in front of a federal magistrate judge on Thursday afternoon. He waived preliminary and detention hearings and is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

His federal public defender declined comment.

Marc Ryan, scout executive and CEO of the Boy Scouts Lake Erie Council, said in a statement Thursday night that the organization was disturbed to learn about the allegations against Close. He said the Boy Scouts will continue to cooperate with authorities.

Nothing is more important than the safety of our youth members, Ryan said in the statement. Upon learning of the investigation by Homeland Security, we removed this individual and prohibited him from any future participation in our programs.

Shaws affidavit says investigators in Cleveland received a tip in May about online child porn videos that may have been filmed in Sandusky. Investigators were able to identify the manufacturer of the plastic lockers shown in one of the videos, which led them to the YMCA in that city, the affidavit says.

A Sandusky YMCA executive confirmed that images shown to them were taken at one of its facilities. Executives told agents in a separate interview that its pool is sometimes rented out for parties, including by the Boy Scouts, the affidavit states.

In August, agents talked to officials at the Boy Scouts' Lake Erie Council in Cleveland. They showed a director cropped images from some of the videos, and the director said it appeared they were shot in teepees at the Firelands Scout Reservation in Wakeman, five miles west of Oberlin. Scouts sometimes change clothes in the teepees, the affidavit states.

The director said other videos look like they were shot in locker rooms at the Wakeman camp, investigators say.

Since all the photos appeared to pertain to changing before and after swimming, a director provided agents with a June 2017 report regarding an incident at the Wakeman camp that may be related. A den leader made a complaint about Close, the affidavit says, and the director told Close that he would be fired if it happened again.

Agents went to Closes house on Thursday. Close gave an agent consent to use his bathroom, which is the same as one in one of the video, the affidavit says.

They showed Close cropped images from the videos, and Close told agents he recognized all the boys but could not identify all of them by name. He then admitted to creating the videos between 2011 and this year, the affidavit states.

He said he filmed some of them with a spy watch camera he placed in changing areas, while he shot others with a video recorder, authorities say.

He also said he had about five terabytes of child pornography files on his computer, the affidavit states.

Close faces a minimum of 15 years in federal prison if convicted.

Homeland Security Investigations is still investigating Close. Anyone with information on other potential victims can call (216) 749-9602.

If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Thursdays crime and courts comments section.
Cleveland Police bodycam

A first responder helps a 16-year-old Cleveland boy who was shot twice Aug. 25, 2018. The boy is the younger brother of a 19-year-old man accused of being a high-ranking gang member.

What's at stake?

Cleveland.com believes cities should have the right to enact their own gun laws, that local leaders know best how to keep their neighborhoods safe, and that local regulations designed to reduce gun violence don't trample on an individual's Second Amendment gun rights.

The Republican-controlled state legislature thought differently when it passed Substitute House Bill 347 in 2006. The bill, among other things, required that gun laws be uniform across the state. As a result, dozens of gun laws, including those that prevented the concealed carry of handguns and the open carry of firearms in general, were wiped off the books in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and other urban areas.

In light of the continued onslaught of gun violence in Cleveland and communities across the country (but before the recent slayings at a synagogue in Pittsburgh), cleveland.com asked several legislators who voted for HB 347, and for the override of Gov. Bob Taft's veto of that bill, why they supported legislation that Cleveland leaders believed would help reduce gun violence. We also asked them if their views had changed since then and to discuss their views on other commonly debated gun reforms.

One of the legislators is no longer in the General Assembly but is running for office this year. We also included the opinions of three Democrats who are running against Republican opponents who voted for HB 347 in 2006.

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Jeremy Pelzer jpelzer@cleveland.

Matt Dolan

Ohio Sen. Matt Dolan, 53, was a Republican state representative from Chagrin Falls -- a suburb of Cleveland -- in 2006 when he voted for Substitute House Bill 347, which called for making gun laws uniform across the state.

He then contributed to a successful override of Gov. Bob Taft's veto of the bill. As a result, dozens of local gun laws in neighboring Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and other urban areas across the state were preempted.

Dolan said he supported the bill because someone traveling across the state shouldn't have to worry about being in compliance in one place and suddenly out of compliance in another. The question for Dolan was not one of Second Amendment rights but whether home rule should apply to gun laws. His answer? No.

"Uniformity of laws is what I was going for," he said.

Dolan said he believes in home rule, which is a municipality's right to govern itself, for some things, such as collecting taxes and enforcing speed limits and noise ordinances. He also said there are valid exceptions, writing gun laws for example, but also controlling setbacks for wind turbines and protecting rights to fracking, both of which are important to the overall economic development of the state.

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New York City Police Department, AP

Dolan, who received an A rating from the National Rifle Association in 2006, said his views on gun rights are pretty much the same now as they were then.

"I would not support any legislation that bans guns," he said, but he might support red-flag legislation that calls for seizing guns from people who are mentally impaired or a threat to harm themselves or others, as long as the people are given adequate due process

He also would like to see improved background checks, but isn't sure that would require new laws or better enforcement of current laws. The biggest issue as he sees it is how the mental-health community can make relevant information available so that it shows up on a background check.

Bad intent is causing gun violence, Dolan said, "and to me that is where we should start."

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The Plain Dealer

Kenny Yuko

Ohio Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko, 68, of Richmond Heights is known as a progressive Democrat, and he believes in sensible gun regulation, and yet when it came to a crucial piece of gun legislation up for vote in 2006, he sided with conservative Republicans.

Yuko was an Ohio state representative at the time House Bill 347 came up for vote. The bill prevented local governments from passing their own gun laws.

Asked why he supported the bill, Yuko told the following story. He said he met a man at St. Mary's Parish in Collinwood who told Yuko that he had begun feeling unsafe living in his neighborhood and had started carrying a pistol, acquiring a concealed carry permit in the process. Later, the man got a call that his brother downstate had a heart attack. On the way to see his brother, the man's car broke down. A law enforcement officer who arrived on the scene noticed a bulge under the man's clothing and asked if he was carrying a gun. The man said, yes, and after being detained, he missed seeing his brother one last time before he died.

"As I thought about it, here we're taking a citizen, telling him that he must abide by state law, which he did, and upon meeting completion of all the terms and conditions was awarded a CCW permit, but it wasn't recognized all throughout Ohio," Yuko said.

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Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer

Students walkout of Cleveland Heights high school on April 20, 2018 to protest gun violence in schools and demand changes in gun laws.

Yuko said House Bill 347 prevented what he calls "legislation by zip code," something he opposes in most instances.

"We do too much legislation by zip code," he said. "And that was one of the perfect cases."

"If we're going to have a law," he said, "let's make it uniform. If we're going to have a law that limits the size of weapons we can have, lets make it universal, where it covers all 88 counties and all of the municipalities and cities and villages and townships within."

Yuko said today that he's a firm believer in Second Amendment rights, and being able to defend one's home, but that he would agree to more statewide regulation of guns.

"I don't think our forefathers when they wrote the Constitution had everything in mind that we're experiencing today," he said. "High-powered rifles that rattle off bullet after bullet after bullet. And when you can have as many deaths as we have in a matter of minutes or seconds, I don't think that's what their intentions were. I think their intention was to provide for a military for our country when we really didn't have a military But with that being said, you know, right now we have access to too many guns."

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Joe Uecker

Joe Uecker, 63, is another Republican lawmaker in Ohio who isn't looking to further regulate gun laws. As an Ohio state representative in 2006, he voted for House Bill 347, and now that he's an Ohio state senator he's not about to change his views.

"I don't believe gun control in any fashion is the problem here," said Uecker, a lifetime member of the NRA. He believes recent mass shootings are indicative of a systemic problem with mental health, and that federal law should be amended to make relevant information about a person's mental state more available.

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John Kuntz, cleveland.com

A mother and daughter pause a memorial for victims of the Chardon High School shooting February 29, 2012.

Uecker, who represented upper-to-middle class suburbs east of Cincinnati in 2006, believes there may be some areas open for discussion, such as penalizing people who fail to properly enter relevant data into computer databases so that instant background checks can flag potential problems. If people followed existing laws and did their job, he said, "I think a lot of this would have been thwarted."

He believes television and video games show too much violence, desensitizing society, including children, to the sacredness of life.

"You can't say we value life when we routinely show instances that we don't," he said, including through legalized abortion.

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Handout

Jim Trakas

Jim Trakas, a 53-year-old Republican seeking a return to the Ohio House of Representatives, believes public safety laws should be the domain of the state, which is why in 2006 as a state representative he voted for legislation that stripped cities, including Cleveland, of their ability to regulate guns. Back then, he represented the state's 17th District, which included multiple Cleveland suburbs, including Seven Hills to Chagrin Falls. Now he wants to be elected to the 6th District seat, which covers roughly the same territory and is held by term-limited Republican Marlene Anielski.

Trakas would return to the statehouse with the same views on gun laws, although he's not a member of the National Rifle Association or the Buckeye Firearms Association, he said, and he doest recall if he was lobbied by either organization in 2006.

So don't look for him to fall in step with gun control advocates. "I think they're blaming the weapon for the personal behavior of the human being," Trakas said. He cited restrictive gun laws in Chicago and the enormous gun violence that city experiences.

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Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer

A male shooting victim gives the thumbs up as he is carried out on a stretcher after being shot at SuccessTech Academy in Cleveland on Oct. 10, 2007.

Trakas believes the problem of gun violence has more to do with a breakdown in values in America, including the loss of "Judeo-Christian ethics."

"I also think that we have a popular culture with respect to music and television and movies that encourage violence," he said. "There are absolutely no consequences. You can go to the next level by killing 300 people in your video game."

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Phil Robinson (Democrat running against Trakas)

Democrat Phil Robinson also wants the 6th District seat, and if voters are looking for a difference of opinion between he and Trakas, look no further than gun reform.

Robinson said he would not have voted for HB 347 or the subsequent override and that it was a mistake for the legislature to pass a law that nullified gun laws in Cleveland that the mayor, city council, police and others had agreed to.

Robinson believes there is too much Republican control in Columbus and that he thinks bi-partisan cooperation in the legislature could result in reforms everyone could agree on, as well as others that individual communities should be given autonomy to enact.

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Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer

Catherine Fleck, a fourth grade teacher at Clark Elementary, talks about inside feelings. The Cleveland school district made helping students with their social and emotional well-being a priority after the SuccessTech shooting 10 years ago. October 2, 2017.

Robinson describes himself as a moderate when it comes to gun reform, choosing to collaborate rather than dictate, so that the right to bear arms is balanced with safety.

The NRA is not the only voice, he said. "I think we have to have more voices heard both in the statehouse and in our communities."

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The Plain Dealer

Kirk Schuring

Kirk Schuring, 66, was an Ohio Senator in 2006 when he voted for HB 347, which nullified local gun laws. He did it for one reason, he said. The legislature had approved concealed carry statewide in 2004 and HB 347 would make sure law-abiding citizens with weapons traveling across the state "would have the peace of mind knowing they were legal wherever they went."

Schuring declined to go more deeply into his views on gun reform, but did say the state should revisit some of the more sensible proposals, such as better background checks, and probably others that he didn't name.

He said outlawing bump stocks might make sense, but that he didn't know enough about high-capacity magazines to comment.

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Roadell Hickman

Cleveland Police hosted a gun buyback at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center on Nov. 12, 2007.

Schuring is term-limited from running for the Ohio House again, but he hopes to remain in the legislature by winning election to the Senate. He is running against Democrat Lauren Friedman for the 29th District Senate seat, which includes most of Stark County.

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Lauren Friedman (Democrat running against Schuring)

Lauren Friedman, 38, understands the concern of those who voted for House Bill 347 - that local gun laws could make it hard for people traveling the state with a weapon to stay in compliance - "but I don't think an issue of convenience should preempt people's safety," she said.

Friedman, who is running against Kirk Schuring, believes municipalities should have the right to make their own gun laws because their leaders know what's best for their communities.

And lest you think Friedman doesn't understand the gun culture, consider this; growing up in Stark County, her Air Force-veteran father made sure she and her brother knew how to safely fire a weapon at an early age. And Friedman fired plenty of guns after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy and spending nine years as a Navy intelligence officer, serving in the Persian Gulf and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

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Jeff Darcy, Cleveland.com

President Trump says the Texas church mass shooting reflects a mental health problem, not a guns problem, wrote cleveland.com cartoonist Jeff Darcy on Nov. 7, 2017.

Friedman said she supports the second amendment but believes it should be tempered with common sense regulation. Nobody should own a gun without being properly trained, she said, and there should be background checks across the board.

Bump stocks that convert semi-automatic weapons to rapid fire and high-capacity magazines are not necessary, she said, and that should be a bi-partisan position as far as shes concerned. She's okay with people owning semi-automatic weapons, which some on the left would outlaw, but only if they are properly trained.

"We should go back to a very basic focus on community safety," she said.

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Aziz Ahmad (Democrat running against Thomas Patton)

Thomas Patton, 64, a Republican from Strongsville, voted for HB 347 in 2006 while representing House District 7. After a subsequent eight-year stint in the Ohio Senate, Patton is back in the House and is now running for re-election. He did not respond to interview requests, but his Democratic opponent, 23-year-old Cleveland public school teacher Aziz Ahmad, did.

Ahmad sees benefit in having local communities set their own gun laws and would like to see a study of gun violence before House Bill 347 was passed and after. Research shows that tackling gun violence is best done at the local level, he said, "because it really is different in every city." Absent a community's right to make gun laws, the state should make sure local concerns are addressed in laws they make, he said.

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Tony Dejak, Associated Press

People embrace after the SuccessTech Academy shooting in Cleveland on Oct. 10, 2007.

Ahmad also wants to examine whether concealed carry laws have contributed to more homicides and believes open carry should be restricted because it triggers anxiety among the public, especially given recent events. He said he has no objection in principle to somebody owning a handgun, but that his reading of the Second Amendment, especially the reference to a "well-regulated militia," means society should "regulate" gun ownership to prevent people with mental health issues, anger management or lack of impulse control to own a gun.

Ahmad, who teaches second grade at George Washington Carver Elementary School, said he is against arming teachers with guns and that even providing weapons to security personnel should be carefully considered because it makes students uncomfortable.

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Bill Seitz

Ohio Rep. Bill Seitz may not own a gun, but his legislative record includes a long history of pro-gun votes that earned him an "A" rating from the Buckeye Firearms Association.

The Republican represented a suburban Cincinnati district in 2006 when he voted for H.B. 347. He served in the Senate from 2007 to 2016 before returning to the House in 2017.

Seitz said he supported H.B. 347 because it created uniform gun regulations across the state. Different rules in different cities could create confusion, he argued, and his constituents let him know that.

"They would go to work in the city, and want to go to a range on the way home from work," he said. "What were they supposed to do [with their gun] in the meantime?"

Before H.B. 347 passed, Cincinnati had regulations banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Cheviot had a law requiring a local license for firearms or handguns, according to the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Protesters during the March for our Lives rally on Public Square, in Cleveland on March 24, 2018.

Seitz described his district as being comprised largely of "gun-rights advocates," and even though his district this time around includes a part of Cincinnati, he has not been pressured to change his position.

Seitz said he has supported statewide standards for other types of laws, rather than just gun regulations. He offered traffic cameras, such as the ones used in Lyndhurst and Newburgh Heights, as an example.

Seitz called gun violence an "ongoing problem" that needs to be addressed, but he said it should be done by effectively enforcing the laws already in place.

He's against creating a registry for gun owners and also does not support an assault weapons ban, because he has spoken to hunters who have argued they use those guns for legitimate purposes.

He did, however, allow for the possibility that a city like Cleveland could pass gun regulations that would only apply to its own residents. It's unclear if such laws could be enforced; Seitz said he believes they could.

"If you want to pass local laws and make them applicable only to residents, that might be something I can live with," he said."If you think it's such a good idea, make it apply to [only] your own residents -- the very people who can vote you in or out."
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Firefighters on Wednesday helped save a life and also helped a new one begin.

First, firefighters responded to a house fire at about 8 p.m., helping a man and his dog escape the home before putting out the blaze.

The man was treated at the scene for burns to his legs before he was sent to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, WLWT Channel 5 reports.

As they brought the dog out of the house, a woman ran up to firefighters saying a family member had gone into labor in a house across the street, according to Local 12.

Firefighters and EMS workers then went to the home and helped deliver a baby girl. The mother and child also were taken to UC Medical Center.

No other injuries were reported.

To comment on this story, visit Wednesdays crime and courts comment section.
Gov. John Kasich proposed modest gun reforms in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., earlier this year and the legislature has been mulling over numerous bills, including Republican-introduced legislation that calls for a means to flag people with mental health issues who should not own guns.

As it stands, Ohio has some of the loosest gun laws in America, but not for a lack of trying by some urban communities. The city of Cleveland, for one, passed numerous gun regulations, only to have them nullified in 2006 by a General Assembly lobbied heavily by pro-gun groups such as the Buckeye Firearms Association and the National Rifle Association.

Cleveland tried to pass new laws in 2015, but its attempt to create a gun registry, among other regulations, was disallowed. The reason; the 2006 law, which required that gun laws be uniform across the state.

Below is a timeline of some of the more important events in the history of gun regulation in Ohio.

1993  The Ohio Supreme Court upheld Clevelands assault weapon ban, which had been challenged by a citizen lawsuit. It is undisputed that legislative concern for public health and safety is a proper police power objective, the court wrote at the time. This court has recognized as constitutional gun control legislation which has regulated the manner in which a weapon may be borne.

2004  Gov. Bob Taft signed House Bill 12 into law. It allows for people at least 21 years old to carry a concealed handgun if properly permitted.

2006  House Bill 9 passed. It allowed journalists to view the registry of concealed-weapons licensees, but not to copy them. This followed The Plain Dealers decision to publish all the names of Ohio residents who had concealed carry permits. The bills went into effect in 2007.

2006  The Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 347 that preempted local gun laws by requiring that any gun law be uniform across the state. Gov. Bob Taft vetoed the bill, but it was overridden by the General Assembly. The bill resulted in section 9.68 of the Ohio Revised Code. It negated all or parts of 38 gun-related ordinances, some of which date back to the mid-1970s. The most important laws that were overturned included a ban on assault weapons, which included in its definition a semiautomatic weapon rifle that takes a magazine of at least 20 rounds.

Another critical law eliminated was the ban on possessing certain weapons in public places. That prevented someone, for example, from walking down the street or through a park with a handgun, shotgun or a rifle, among other weapons. The bill went into effect in 2007.

2007  Cleveland sued to overturn the section of House Bill 347 that preempts local gun laws. The case is assigned to then-Judge Timothy J. McGinty of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.

2008  Senate Bill 184, which approved the Castle Doctrine, says that a person is presumed to have acted in self-defense if shooting someone who has illegally entered their home or vehicle.

2008  McGinty ruled that O.R.C. 9.68, the preemption statute established by H.B. 347, is a general law and therefore does not violate the home rule amendment to the Ohio Constitution.

2009  Cleveland appealed McGintys decision to the 8th District Court of Appeals. The court reversed McGintys ruling saying that O.R.C. 9.68 is not a general law and therefore it unconstitutionally limits municipalities home rule powers, and that it violates the separation of powers doctrine of the Ohio Constitution.

2010 - The Ohio Supreme Court has the last word, reversing the appeals court and siding with the trial court, which upheld the state law. At this point, Cleveland is required to stop enforcing its local gun laws as they have officially been displaced.

2011 - Senate Bill 17 goes into effect. The law, introduced by Tim Schaffer, a Republican from Lancaster, allows someone to take a concealed handgun gun into a bar, restaurant, museum or stadium.

2011  Also this year, House Bill 54 restored the right to possess a weapon to those convicted of certain drug-related misdemeanors.

2015  House bill 234 allowed concealed carry permits from specific other states to be recognized in Ohio, reduced waiting periods in Ohio for buying guns, removed restrictions on gun purchases by otherwise qualified buyers who have misdemeanors, and allows for silencers while hunting.

2015  A budget bill passed by the legislature included language that prevents journalists from viewing sheriffs department lists of persons with concealed carry permits.

2015  City of Cleveland passes several gun laws, including one that created a firearms registry, another that required people who arent gun dealers to report their weapons sales, and a stricter definition of automatic weapons.

2016  Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland-Saffold upholds most of Clevelands gun laws enacted the previous year.

2017  Senate Bill 199 goes into law. It allowed a concealed weapon to be carried onto a college campus or government building if authorized by the governing body. Immunizes schools from civil liability stemming from a handgun being brought legally on campus. Allows guns to be carried into day-care centers. Limits no-gun sections of an airport to those beyond passenger screening or other restricted areas. Allows a properly permitted concealed handgun carrier to bring a weapon into a school safety zone left in a car. Prohibits businesses, property owners and employees from preventing a properly licensed person from keeping a handgun in their vehicle.

2017  The 8th District Court of appeals struck down most of the gun laws enacted by Cleveland and upheld by the trial court. A restriction on selling guns to people who are intoxicated and another that prohibits giving guns to a minor were allowed to stand.

2018  The Ohio Supreme Court refuses to hear Clevelands appeal of the 8th District ruling.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mass shootings that traumatized suburban communities like Parkland, Florida and Santa Fe, Texas grab headlines, but its the everyday gun violence that plagues urban neighborhoods, creating a slow trickle of death with no signs of letting up.

Gun-related homicides in Cleveland totaled 96 in 2007, and after dropping to 61 in 2011 have risen to 115 in 2016 and 114 last year.

But theres only so much the city itself can do to prevent the carnage because state law keeps it from passing its own laws regulating gun possession. Little more than a decade ago, Cleveland had dozens of gun regulations on its books, only to have them wiped away by one act of the Ohio General Assembly.

In 2006, pro-gun legislators, fueled by the NRA and Buckeye Firearms Association, took exception with urban communities taking gun regulation into their own hands and passed House Bill 347, which declared that all gun laws must be uniform across Ohio.

The House voted 74-14 with 57 Republicans and 17 Democrats supporting the bill. The Senate voted 19-10 with no Democrats in support and three Republicans in opposition. It was a mighty blow to home rule that left cities like Cleveland fuming.

But the drama didnt end there.

A governor votes his conscience

Gov. Bob Taft broke ranks with fellow Republicans and vetoed H.B. 347. He took heat, but as governor, Taft said he took a broader view of the issue than did the GOP legislators.

I had to think about the concerns of municipalities, concerns about personal safety, as well as the rights of gun owners, and try to balance that as best I could, he said during a recent interview with cleveland.com.

The bill eroded the tradition of home rule in municipalities across Ohio, Taft said, adding that he was more likely to support uniformity when it came to matters that would affect the economy directly, business regulation for example, taxation, those types of issues.

Taft, who recalls having a BB-gun as a kid, but was never a hunter, believed then as he does now that municipalities should have the flexibility to tailor gun laws to respond to their own circumstances. It was not an issue that cried out for statewide uniformity," he said.

The legislature, however, would override Tafts veto, putting H.B. 347 into law.

Republican v. Democrat or Urban v. Rural

Rep. Jim Aslanides, a Republican from Coshocton who was the primary sponsor of H.B. 347, said the gun debate is more urban versus rural than it is Republican versus Democrat. People who live in the country or even suburbia dont want to depend on law enforcement for protection, he said, so they want their own guns.

Aslanides, who is now president of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, said he pushed for H.B. 347 because the absence of such a law would force gun owners to learn and abide by specific gun regulations for hundreds of municipalities across the state.

Another benefit of the law from a pro-gun standpoint is that it eliminated the need to individually challenge the many local laws across the state.

Before sponsoring H.B. 347, Aslanides successfully pushed for a law that allowed for concealed carry of a handgun, something Cleveland and other cities restricted. Before the law was enacted, anyone caught with a concealed weapon had to justify their actions to avoid prosecution, Aslanides said.

The pro-gun lobby was ecstatic. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson was not.

The Buckeye Firearms Association heralded the uniformity called for in H.B. 347 as the bills most momentous accomplishment, saying at the time that it will eliminate problems for all gun owners who have been unduly burdened by local ordinances such as the Columbus so-called assault weapons ban or the unjust firearms confiscation and convictions in Toledo. This is crucial to anyone who owns a firearm in Ohio.

Clevelands response to H.B. 347 and the override of Tafts veto was to sue the state. The case wound up in the court of then-Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Timothy J. McGinty, who would later become Cuyahoga County Prosecutor.

McGinty sided with the legislators. He ruled that the new law was constitutional because it was a general law and therefore did not violate the states home-rule amendment. The 8th District Court of Appeals disagreed, concluding that H.B. 347 was not comprehensive enough to be a general law and that it was an unconstitutional limitation on home-rule powers.

The Ohio Supreme Court reversed the appeals court in 2010 and for Cleveland that was the end of the road. The city could no longer enforce its 38 gun-related laws, some going back decades, including a ban on assault weapons and a prohibition on carrying guns in public places. When the Republican National Convention was held in Cleveland in 2016, pro-gun demonstrators made a point of parading around Public Square with their AR-15s and AK-47s, along with their handguns.

Even though weve made progress in Cleveland, gun violence is a very real threat that we face, particularly our young people, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said in statement issued after the Supreme Court ruling. Our inability to enforce laws that are right for our city flies in the face of home rule and takes power away [from] the people at the local level.

Cleveland was rebuffed again after passing several gun laws in 2015, including one that created a firearms registry, another that required people who aren't gun dealers to report their weapons sales, and a stricter definition of automatic weapons. The 8th District Court of Appeals overturned the laws in 2017, citing the requirement that gun laws be uniform statewide.

Jackson, again, felt frustrated.

Are legislators having second thoughts?

In the wake of the Parkland and Santa Fe school shootings earlier this year, and the Las Vegas massacre last year, we wondered if legislators who voted for H.B. 347 to see if they might think differently today.

One who does is Marc Dann. He was a Senate Democrat from the Youngstown area at the time, but would go on to serve as Ohio Attorney General before having to resign amid a scandal in his office. He recently acknowledged that his support of H.B. 347 went against his conscience and was meant to appease the powerful gun lobby in the state.

But Dann is out of public office and doesnt have to worry about the gun lobby anymore. One Democrat who does is Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko of Richmond Heights, who was a state representative in 2006 when he voted for the bill.

Yuko, who is now the Senate minority leader and running for re-election, said several months ago that he still supports H.B. 347, but not because the Buckeye Firearms Association wants him to. He tells the story of a guy from Collinwood with a concealed carry permit who was rushing downstate to see his ailing brother who had suffered a heart attack. On the way, the mans truck broke down. A local law-enforcement official stopping to help spotted the bulge beneath the mans clothing and took him into custody because it was a no-carry community. The delay prevented than man from reaching his brother before he died.

Yuko said that story left an impression on him.

As I thought about it, here were taking a citizen, telling him that he must abide by state law, which he did, and upon meeting completion of all the terms and conditions was awarded a CCW permit, but it wasnt recognized all throughout Ohio, Yuko said during an interview with cleveland.com.

If were going to have a law, lets make it uniform, Yuko said. If were going to have a law that limits the size of a weapon we can have, lets make it universal, where it covers all 88 counties and all of the municipalities and cities and villages and townships within.

If not H.B. 347, then what?

Yuko said circumstances have changed since he voted for H.B. 347, and while he still does not believe municipalities should be allowed to pass their own gun laws, he believes its time to do something statewide.

Im a firm believer in the Second-Amendment rights, he said. You should have that right to protect your home, but that right can go too far.

I dont think our forefathers when they wrote the Constitution had everything in mind that were experiencing today, high-powered rifles that rattle off bullet after bullet after bullet, Yuko said. And when you can have as many deaths as we have in a matter of minutes or seconds, I dont think thats what their intentions were. I think their intentions was to provide for a military for our country when we really didnt have a military. But with that being said, right now, we have access to too many guns.

Yuko said earlier this year that its time for sensible laws, which could include upping the age of gun ownership or restricting assault weapons. He suggests that Senate Majority Leader Larry Obhof bring legislators of both parties together along with groups for and against gun reform, to craft some new laws. It happened with gerrymandering and with medical marijuana, he said.

But can it happen with guns?

Perhaps not without some serious change of thinking. Taft said several months ago that if anything the demand for gun rights in Ohio is more pronounced and that the grass roots power of the NRA applied to both Republicans and Democrats in the state has grown even stronger.

Obhof did not return a call seeking comment, but his spokesman, John Fortney, said Obhof wants to allow individual bills introduced in the legislature to run their course, including a red flag bill promoted by State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, a Democrat from the Mahoning Valley, and a bump-stock bill pushed by Sen. Cecil Thomas, a Democrat from Cincinnati.

Fortney said that unlike gerrymandering or medical marijuana, the issue of gun control has a variety of elements, touching on both the Second Amendment and the Fourth Amendment, that dont lend themselves to inclusion in a single bill.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said the Trump administration, though in a delicate situation, needs to act soon in response to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Gates, the keynote speaker for Cuyahoga Community Colleges annual Presidential Scholarship Luncheon, served under eight presidents and served as Secretary of Defense for George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Gates also served as the president of Texas A&M University.

Gates said possible action in Saudi Arabia must balance a strategic relationship with a need for consequences.

Former Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove moderated Thursdays conversation, touching on Gates' historic rise from entry-level position to director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Gates was charismatic and blunt, often drawing laughs in the ballroom of the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, especially when he capped off the event by telling a story about being brought to a scene where someone thought they had found Noahs Ark. (It was actually a large ice formation, after inspection by a U.S. satellite.)

Gates' wife, Becky, who worked in higher education administration long before he accepted the role of Texas A&M president, served 24 years at the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.

TriCs annual scholarship luncheon, which has featured former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush as well as public figures like Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou and Magic Johnson, raised $1.3 million for Tri-C student scholarships. The event was sold out.

Heres what Gates said about his past, the present and what the future holds.

Responses are edited for brevity and clarity.

On Saudi Arabia

Theres a lot going on (in the Middle East) and we have a long-standing strategic relationship with the Saudis, but how do we make clear that this kind of behavior has very real consequences? Im not sure we have figured out how to do that yet. The administration says theyre waiting on the results of the investigation and thats fair -- this isnt something where you need to act overnight or irrationally -- but it needs to be pretty clear.

Frankly, if I was advising the administration I would say you better to do it sooner rather than later because among other things Congress might take the initiative away from you. Just as the Congress has passed much more severe restrictions on Russia than the administration might have preferred, I think they may well do the same thing on Saudi Arabia, and the problem is ... Congress has no fine motor skills. It doesnt do anything delicately.

On keeping the photos of Osama Bin Ladens body confidential

Gates served as Secretary of Defense during the 2011 raid where Osama Bin Laden was killed.

A 2011 photo of the White House Situation Room during the Osama Bin Laden raid. Robert Gates referenced this photo in a 2018 Q&A. (White House photo, AP file) AP

That photograph -- someone Photoshopped it and sent it to me almost real-time, with all of us in superhero costumes. Obama was Superman, Biden Spiderman, Hillary was Wonder Woman. For some reason, I was the Green Lantern.

We all had a good laugh but then I held it up and I said, "Mr. President, this photograph is exactly why you must never release the photographs of the dead Bin Laden. Because people will Photoshop them and you will anger a billion Muslims, even those who hated Bin Laden. As a result ... those photographs are the only thing from that raid that never leaked.

On how serving in the Air Force, entering at the height of the Vietnam War, gave him perspective as Secretary of Defense

First of all, it gave me an appreciation of what its like to be at the bottom of the chain of command as well as at the top and to realize how many stupid directions came down from the top. If the guys at the top listened more often to guys at the bottom, wed be better off. It became very important to me as Secretary of Defense to go to Iraq, to go to Afghanistan and sit down with the troops. I heard from them things I never would have heard in the Pentagon or in Washington, which I would come back and talk about.

On serving as president of Texas A&M

Faculty dont expect to run the place. Because they deliver the mission of the institution they expect to be involved and consulted and to have a say in the way it gets run. By reaching out to the faculty, to listening, by including them in the decision making process, by getting their input, by adjusting my plans ... I had a very productive relationship. Of course, it didnt hurt that in four years I added 450 tenure, tenure-track faculty positions.

It goes back to my point about listening to people ... I find that leaders that can get things done are the ones who are smart enough to surround themselves with smarter people, listen to them, and then integrate what you learn and what hear with your own instincts and your own judgement and your own vision. You have to be the decider ... but an inclusive decision-making process is one I think contributes to making lasting change at an institution.
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio  A state commission declined Thursday morning to designate eight Lake Erie watersheds as distressed, which would have set in motion requirements to protect the water against toxic algae blooms.

The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission instead decided that the rules to protect Lake Erie should be written with input from the agriculture community before the distressed designation will be approved at a Feb. 15 meeting.

The decision is the latest in the tug-of-war over the protections between Gov. John Kasich -- whose administration called Thursdays move a delay tactic -- and members of the agriculture community -- who praised it.

In July, Kasich signed an executive order to reduce agricultural runoff that contributes to the algae blooms in the lake, affecting 7,000 farmers in Northwest Ohio. Millions of Ohioans rely on the lake for drinking water, and algae levels were so harmful in 2014, Toledo residents were advised not to drink or use the water.

But Kasichs plan needed approval from the commission.

Weeks later, the commission delayed implementing his order. It instead wanted to study the issue after Republicans and some farmers raised concerns.

Meantime, Kasich fired his Department of Agriculture director for opposing Kasichs plans to improve water quality in the lake.

Our members are going to think this is a wise decision that theyre going to maintain on the path that theyre on, which is making decisions and improvements in areas of water quality in the state of Ohio," said Ohio Farm Bureau Federation President Frank Burkett, a dairy farmer from Stark County.

He said hes looking forward to discussions about how the state can provide money to help farmers reduce runoff.

After the meeting, members of Kasichs administration said its pretty common for a government body to make a declaration, then write the rules to address the situation afterward.

You have to make the tough decision first," said Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Jim Zehringer.

Before you cloud the issue about implementation and rules you have to get to this point to say, Yes, these watersheds are in distress, said Ohio EPA Director Craig Butler. "That then frees up all of the principals here to have discussions about how much its going to cost and where the money is going to come from and the authorities you need to do this.

He described the delay as an excuse.

I think its frankly just a delay tactic," he said.
COLUMBUS, OhioDemocratic gubernatorial nominee Rich Cordray worked to rally support from Ohio State University students Thursday, bringing in Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts to energize a group of younger supporters.

The potential 2020 presidential contender didnt disappoint, calling Cordray the nerd we need and touting his work as the former head of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which Warren helped to create.

Not many people get to run for office on a record of saying I returned $2 billion directly to people in this state when they got cheated, Warren said of Cordray during a rally at a coffeehouse and bar near the Ohio State campus.

Warren also said the shadowy groups that have been running scores of ads against Cordray and in support of GOP opponent Mike DeWine show how much of a reformer Cordray would be as governor.

They know he fights from the heart. They know he cant be corrupted. And they know -- worst of all from their perspective -- he is effective, she said. Theyre in the fight to knock him out.

Cordray and running mate Betty Sutton, speaking before Warren, urged students to get out and vote ahead of the Nov. 6 election, saying young people  who traditionally tend to vote Democratic but turn out in low numbers  have the power to put him in the governors office. If you step up and vote, Ohio will be the more progressive state we want it to be, Cordray said.

Cordray sounded at times more like a national candidate than a state-level one, saying the tone of division contributed to recent shootings at a Pittsburgh synagogue and a Kentucky grocery store.

In a country like ours, if we stoke hatred, if we stoke division and if we pit people against one another, these things will happen, he said. It matters the tone that we set in our communities, and it matters the tone of our leadership. And we need to bring people together.

Republican National Committee spokeswoman Mandi Merritt wasnt impressed with Warrens ability to help Cordray beat DeWine in what polls show to be a neck-and-neck race.

Bringing in an already failing presidential contender that wants to raise taxes, give government control of health care decisions and over-regulate small businesses will only further prove how out-of-touch the Democratic Party is with hardworking Ohioans, Merritt said in a statement.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There's a saying in Ohio politics that Democrats vote early, while Republicans vote on Election Day.

But a cleveland.com analysis of state data suggests that compared to recent comparable elections, Ohio's suburban areas, many of which lean Republican, will represent a larger share of this year's early vote, at the expense of more urban, Democratic areas. Key examples include Butler, Delaware, Medina and Warren counties -- all of which historically have been reliably Republican. Some swing or Democratic-leaning areas where early voting is up include Summit, Lake, Lorain and Stark counties.

Mike Dawson, an expert on Ohio elections statistics who provided some of the data used for this story, said he thinks the early-vote numbers at face value appear favorable for Republicans.

"But you don't know how people are going to vote," said Dawson, a former aide to Republican Gov. George Voinovich.

So, whether this translates to a victory on Nov. 6 remains to be seen. There's anecdotal evidence that Democratic energy is uncharacteristically high in the suburbs, said Kyle Kondik, an elections analyst with the University of Virginia and Ohio native.

It's also possible that Republicans, who under state party Chairman Jane Timken are placing an increased focus on mobilizing early voters, are simply shifting reliable voters from Election Day to the early votes.

But Republicans, conditioned to expect having to make up ground on Election Day, are encouraged by what they see, given that most state-level races are expected to be close. They also feel confident in their ground game, which has benefitted from support from the Republican National Committee and decades of success at state-level elections.

"We feel great about where we are on absentee ballots because we've had an aggressive program that Chairman Timken has put together and executed exceptionally well," said Bob Paduchik, a top leader in both the Ohio and national Republican parties. "And I think our candidates up and down the ticket are going to benefit from that both in early vote and on Election Day."

Democrats, meanwhile, say they believe they're mobilizing early voters who don't normally participate in non-presidential years, driving up their margins across the state. They also believe they'll over-perform in suburban areas.

"Based on what we've seen... voters that are requesting in those areas aren't such reliable Republicans anymore," said Simon Vance, the deputy campaign manager for Democrat Richard Corday's campaign for governor.

On to the numbers.

In the simplest terms, Republicans have a raw numbers advantage when it comes to absentee ballot requests.

In Ohio, 1.2 million voters have requested absentee ballots, as of Tuesday night. Of those, 407,348 (34 percent) are Republicans, 347,737 (29 percent) are Democrats and 447,641 (37 percent) have no party affiliation. For comparison, at the same time in 2014, about 819,000 people had requested absentee ballots, of which 38 percent were Republicans, 31 percent were Democrats and 31 percent were unaffiliated.

"I'm not saying this is going to be a blowout. But as a percentage, the numbers we're running are comparable to what was done in 2014," said Paduchik, the top Republican Party official.

But party affiliation can be unreliable as an indicator, since voters in Ohio can change parties at will. All they have to do is request a particular party's ballot during a partisan primary. And if they don't vote in a partisan primary for more than two years, the state converts them to unaffiliated.

So a more reliable approach often is to examine the volume of early-vote requests on the county level, and consider how those counties normally vote.

Compared to the 2010 election, when Republican John Kasich defeated then-Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, by two points, the proportionate share of early-vote requests this year are down in some key Democratic areas.

Most notable is Cuyahoga County, which requested nearly 20 percent of Ohio's early ballots in 2010. This year, that number is 15 percent. Franklin County has dropped from 15 percent to 11 percent.

Meanwhile, some of the biggest increases in early-vote share over the same time are are a cluster of mostly suburban counties -- Summit County (3.7 percent to 4.9 percent), Warren County (1.7 percent to 2.5 percent), Delaware County (1.5 percent to 2.2 percent) Lake County (1.9 percent to 2.5 percent) and Butler County (2.2 percent to 2.8 percent.)

And compared to the 2014 election, which was historically uncompetitive, some of the biggest increases in vote requests are Butler County (up 65 percent) Medina County (up 65 percent and Warren County (up 99 percent). All are Republican strongholds.

Cuyahoga County remains the largest share of early votes, even though its overall proportion is down compared to previous years. But Democrats, after modeling the electorate, believe a larger percentage of Democrats are showing up to the polls than in previous comparable elections.

Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper said the party is projecting that more women and a greater number of sporadic voters -- people who don't normally participate in midterms -- are showing up to the polls. This is important, since Democrats struggle to mobilize their voters in non-presidential years, and polling shows women are more likely to support Democrats this year.

"We're loving the numbers we're seeing in Cuyahoga, Franklin and Hamilton counties. The vote is clearly up everywhere, but we're seeing narrower margins for Republicans than is typical," he said.

"I think it's all risky to say, but when we model voters, we feel like we're on track," he said.
[November 01, 2018] Genpact and Bayer to Co-innovate to Leverage Artificial Intelligence Capabilities for Patient Safety NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Genpact (NYSE: G), a professional services firm focused on delivering digital transformation, today announced it has signed a multi-year agreement with Bayer, under which Genpact's Pharmacovigilance Artificial Intelligence (PVAI) suite of capabilities will be applied to Bayer's existing pharmacovigilance database and IT systems. "We believe the ability to apply advanced AI technologies, with significant process and domain expertise, will usher in a whole new era of pharmacovigilance by serving as a single machine learning system that can be utilized across the industry by life sciences companies, healthcare providers, and regulators," said Balkrishan 'BK' Kalra, business leader, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Genpact. "We expect safety issues can be identified more rapidly, and resources can be freed up to focus on advanced and effective risk minimization measures. We are thrilled to be working with Bayer to leverage their excellence in pharmacovigilance and together create a better future with increased collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem." Genpact's PVAI solution, which incorporates the Genpact Cora PharmacoVigilance software product, has the ability to identify and analyze patient safety data by facilitating a faster detection of trends within large data volumes. As a result, PVAI has the potential to uncover new drug-related side effects earlier, and therefore could potentially improve pharmaceutical companies' ability to better ensure patient safety. "With Genpact, we have found a partner whose innovative capabilities in the area of applying advanced AI and machine learning technologies to pharmacovigilance provide us with an opportunity to further increase the efficiency of our pharmacovigilance operating model and case processing, while maintaining our high quality and compliance standards," said Michael D. Levy, Global Head of Pharmacovigilance for Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Health, Bayer AG. "We believe that Genpact's PVAI solution can help us to continue strengthening our position as a leading pharmacovigilance organization, focusing on patient safety." Genpact has won recent competitive proof of concept trials conducted by large pharmaceutical companies, in which the Genpact PVAI solution demonstrated industry-leading performance in automated extraction of adverse event data from source documents, as well as superior machine learning capacity over other solutions. Bayer, as an early adopter, is among the first companies going live with Genpact's AI-based Case Management module of the PVAI solution suite. Genpact has been investing heavily in combining its deep process and domain expertise with AI-led digital capabilities to further build its end-to-end pharmacovigilance solution, most recently with the addition of Commonwealth Informatics to the Genpact PVAI team. Interested parties can learn more about how we expect Genpact's suite of PVAI capabilities to help transform pharmacovigilance operations. About Genpact

Genpact (NYSE: G) is a global professional services firm that makes business transformation real. We drive digital-led innovation and digitally-enabled intelligent operations for our clients, guided by our experience running thousands of processes for hundreds of Global Fortune 500 companies. We think with design, dream in digital, and solve problems with data and analytics. We obsess over operations and focus on the details  all 80,000+ of us. From New York to New Delhi and more than 20 countries in between, Genpact has the end-to-end expertise to connect every dot, reimagine every process, and reinvent companies' ways of working. We know that rethinking each step from start to finish will create better business outcomes. Whatever it is, we'll be there with you  putting data and digital to work to create bold, lasting results  because transformation happens here. Get to know us at Genpact.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook. Safe Harbor

This press release contains certain statements concerning Genpact's future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking terms such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "could," "may," "shall," "will," "would" and variations of such words and similar expressions, or the negative of such words or similar expressions. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include but are not limited to the risks detailed in our reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Genpact's Annual Report on Form 10-K. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Although Genpact believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's current analysis of future events and should not be relied upon as representing management's expectations or beliefs as of any date subsequent to the time they are made. Genpact undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of Genpact. For more information:



Gail Ferrari Marold (Genpact Media Relations) gail.marold@genpact.com +1 919-345-3899 Abby Trexler (for Genpact U.S.) atrexler@hotpaperlantern.com +1 212-931-6179 Laura Brooks (for Genpact U.K.) Laura.Brooks@hotpaperlantern.com +44 207 680 7113

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Austin Mack, Ohio State's fourth-leading receiver with 26 catches for 331 yards, is out for at least the rest of the regular season after having surgery on his left foot for an injury suffered in the Purdue game.

What will Ohio State do? Maybe get better at receiver.

Mack is a fine player who has played well, though the junior didn't emerge as the breakout star many people, including me, predicted.

Ohio State's six-man receiver rotation has been ...

* Mack and Ben Victor (combined 40 catches, 567 yards, 4 TDs) at the X receiver position.

* Terry McLaurin and Johnnie Dixon (combined 42 catches, 682 yards, 12 TDs) at the Z receiver position.

* Parris Campbell and K.J. Hill (combined 101 catches, 1,256 yards, 11 TDs) at the H-back slot receiver position.

To clarify Wednesday night, I asked Campbell for a quick receiver tutorial.

"H-hack is kind of our scatback player," Campbell said. "I would consider our Z to be our deep ball guy, to take the top off of coverages. We try to get those guys some shots each and every game. And I feel like X is our isolation, outside, one-one-receiver."

What will happen now?

McLaurin, a deep ball Z receiver, is going to play a lot of X. Campbell, an H-back, will play some X.

They'll both have chances at more one-on-one matchups. That's a good thing.

They'll join Victor. That means 6-foot-1, 170-pound freshman Chris Olave will get some work with Dixon at the deep ball Z receiver spot.

So far, most Ohio State receiver sets have been Mack-Campbell-McLaurin or Victor-Hill-Dixon. Now? You could see McLaurin-Hill-Dixon. You could see Campbell-Hill-Olave. You could see Victor-Campbell-McLaurin.

You could have heretofore unseen receiver combinations, including Campbell and Hill on the field together, which never happens and is a look I've been waiting to see again. (The Buckeyes did it at times last year.)

The veteran receivers can play multiple spots, no problem. So McLaurin and Campbell moving at times is a plus, not a minus. Both Urban Meyer and McLaurin expressed confidence in Olave, a three-star recruit from California with two catches. Everyone has talked for weeks about Victor's emergence.

The Buckeyes would take Mack back in a heartbeat. But if they're forced to try some new combos, and let some guys who know what they're doing try new things, that's not a problem. It's an opportunity.

Buckeye Take is a quick 300- to 400-word column on a single aspect of Ohio State football. We're trying to replicate in written form the feel of our Buckeye Talk Podcast, where we drop a multitude of opinions every week. We know not all of you listen to the pod (though you should), and we don't want you to miss out on what we're thinking about the Buckeyes.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Good things come to those who wait  including vibrant fall color, which is finally expected to peak across Ohio this weekend, about two weeks later than normal.

Fall color trackers across the state this week are reporting peak or near peak conditions at Ohio state parks and wildlife areas throughout Ohio.

Greg Smith, fall color forester for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, said the delay in fall color has been caused by wet weather and above-average temperatures in late summer and early fall.

Finally, in recent weeks, the temperature has dropped and hours of daylight have decreased  key ingredients for color change.

The biggest threat now: Strong wind and rain that may pull the leaves down before weve had a chance to enjoy them.

Some color watchers feared that Septembers above-average temperatures would mute the range of hues this fall. That doesnt appear to be the case, said Smith, at least in most locations. Surprisingly, were seeing a lot of bright colors, he said.

But not everywhere. Smith reported that the leaves on a persimmon tree in his own yard near Chillicothe went from green to frosted to lying on the ground.

Theres a lot of factors that influence how the leaves are going to show, said Smith, including weather, soil, microclimate and more.

One more unusual fall color phenomenon this year: Unlike most years, when northern Ohio trees change color before the rest of the state, leaves across Ohio are changing at roughly the same time. It might be because of the extended period of warmer weather in September, said Smith, and then everybody shared the cooler temperatures at one time.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources tracks fall color throughout the state: fallcolor.ohiodnr.gov. Need ideas on how to enjoy fall color? See ohio.org/fallidays.
CHERRY CREEK, New York  Cockaigne, the long-shuttered ski resort in the heart of western New Yorks snowbelt, wont reopen this winter after all.

New owners of the park, closed since 2011, updated Cockaignes website this week to include this statement: Despite a lot of hard work and investment, we are not able to get slope lighting and lifts operational. There have been many people involved to this point, however, the scope of work that needs to be done on the slopes has grown significantly and is beyond the point that we can complete prior to this season.

Julia Anderson, marketing manager for the resort, declined to elaborate on the statement, other than to say, Were all very upset about it.

Cockaigne, located in Chautauqua County about two hours east of Cleveland, was closed in 2011 after a fire destroyed its lodge, the former Austrian Pavilion for the 1964 World Fair in New York City. The parks long-time owner at the time, Jack Van Scoter, didnt have insurance and didnt rebuild.

Last year, new owners stepped forward to purchase the 425-acre property and set about trying to bring it back. As recently as last month, park officials were selling season passes, planning for a December opening.

Its not clear what has changed in the past month. A spokeswoman for the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau said she didnt know the reason for the delay.

In the meantime, work continues on the new 10,0000-square-foot lodge under construction on the property. Anderson said the lodge, with a restaurant and bar, should be finished later this year. She said the resort, in the heart of Chautauqua Countys network of snowmobile trails, is hoping to host some special events this winter.

In September, the resort hosted an inaugural Brewgrass Festival featuring Ricky Skaggs. For information: cockaigne.com.
The Danish foreign minister, Anders Samuelsen, said the foiled attack was "completely unacceptable" and that his government "will respond to Iran and is speaking with European partners on further measures".

Tehran rejected statements made by the head of the Danish Intelligence and Security Service (PET) about the illegal activities of Iranian intelligence services in Denmark, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Kasemi said as quoted by IRNA.

The head of Denmark's security service said on Tuesday he suspected an Iranian intelligence service had attempted to carry out an attack on an individual in Denmark.

Analysts have pointed out that hardliners in Iran's intelligence services may plan plots in Europe without the knowledge or control of Iran's government led by President Hassan Rouhani.

In May, the U.S. secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, claimed that Iran's Revolutionary Guard was carrying out "assassination operations in the heart of Europe", an allegation that at the time bewildered security experts, given that there had been no recent killings in Europe officially attributed to the Iranian state.

Referring to a huge manhunt that took place last month, Finn Borch Andersen, head of the Danish PET, said it had been part of a multinational effort to stop an Iranian intelligence operation against an opposition figure.

"As the PET boss said earlier today, it has been evaluated that an Iranian intelligence agency has planned an assassination of a person on Danish soil". More details on Denmark's reaction to the news would come in a 6.30pm press conference, Samuelsen said.

The Danish government reacted swiftly to the revelations, calling home its ambassador in Tehran, and demanding that Iran be punished with new sanctions.

A Norwegian citizen of Iranian origin was arrested on October 21 in Sweden in relation to the plot and extradited to Denmark, Swedish authorities said. Denmark will push for fresh EU-wide sanctions against Iran over the development.

"It is totally unacceptable that Iran or any other foreign state plans assassinations on Danish soil", Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen wrote on Twitter.

Iran's ambassador to Denmark was summoned to the foreign ministry Tuesday for an explanation. All three members of the group live in the Danish city of Ringsted.

In late September, Tehran accused Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom of "harboring some members of the terrorist group" that Iran claimed was responsible for the Ahvaz bombing. "We call on our allies and partners to confront the full range of Iran's threats to peace and security", he wrote on Twitter.

France accused Tehran this month of orchestrating an abortive attempt to bomb an exiled opposition group's rally in Paris.

In November 2017, an Iranian exile who established the ASMLA, was killed in the Netherlands, prompting Danish security officials to increase police protection of several ASMLA officials.

Another Arab opposition group, the Ahwaz National Resistance, and the Islamic State militant group both claimed responsibility for the parade attack, though neither has provided conclusive evidence to back up their claim.
CNBC's John Harwood on Friday talked with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who is up for re-election on Nov. 6. Here, they discuss the increasingly heated political climate in the U.S.

John Harwood: We've had this spate of now a dozen potentially explosive devices mailed to people in politics. What do you make of that? I was with your longtime colleague in Ohio politics, John Kasich, yesterday. And he was putting some of the blame on President Trump for things he's said. Do you see it that way?

Subscribe to John Harwood's Speakeasy podcast on iTunes

Sherrod Brown: I don't want to point fingers. I have a debate tonight with my opponent. And I will ask him to join me in asking the president to try to unify the country. I remember when President Bush, with whom I vehemently disagreed on trade policy, on tax cuts for the rich, on the Iraq War, right after Sept. 11, went to a mosque because he wanted to unify the country. And I wish this president would stop the divisive rhetoric. And I wish this president would respect your profession. And I'm not saying that because I'm sitting with someone from your profession.

Harwood: You might be married to someone from that profession.

Brown: I am also married to a journalist. But long before that, I never believed that the media were the enemy of the people, or that they don't play an important role. In fact, if anything, the media's role in keeping politicians and business honest has fallen back. There aren't enough reporters at the statehouse in Columbus or at the Capitol in Washington.

There are not enough investigative reporters nosing around on Wall Street or at capitals. That, to me, is the biggest shortcoming of the media. Not that in any way, they're enemies of the people, but there are not enough of them. The big media companies are making money, but they're not hiring reporters and they're not paying them well. And they're not hiring investigators to do what needs to be done to keep our democracy strong and vibrant.

Harwood: You hear a lot of pessimism these days about the state of our democracy and the political debate. Are you pessimistic, or not?

Brown: I'm really never pessimistic. I think this is a troubled time. I think this president has added to the divisions  I mean, we were a divided country before Donald Trump, but he's made it much, much worse. We have one network that doesn't really believe in truth-telling, frankly. And the number of people that still believe Barack Obama wasn't born in this country, or the number of people that think John McCain wasn't a hero because he left Vietnam and used his father's connections, when it was exactly the opposite  that comes from a news organization that has put out those untruths.

My biggest concern for the country is how we govern. My biggest long-term concern is, first, climate change and this government now, the Republican leadership, has simply failed to acknowledge it. That worries me. I'm worried about the long-term impact on the judiciary, of young, very far-right, very much out-of-the-mainstream judges from district court all the way up to the Supreme Court. It's hard to govern when a quarter of the country gets its news from a source that's not really news. And so, we've got to figure that out as a nation.
An airport in Kenya is set to have a ground-mounted, 500-kilowatt solar system installed.



In an announcement earlier this week solar business Solarcentury said it had signed a contract with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to undertake the work at Moi International Airport, in Mombasa.



Solarcentury said the photovoltaic system would produce 820,000 kilowatt hours of energy per year and offset 1,300 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually.

The firm added that the installation would make Moi International Airport the first in East Africa to have a solar photovoltaic system installed. Photovoltaic cells directly convert the light of the sun into electricity.



Construction is expected to take 10 months, with the systems set to produce solar electricity by 2019.



The work is part of a 6.5 million euro ($7.4 million) initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by the ICAO. The program is targeting 14 countries with the aim of cutting CO2 emissions in the aviation sector.

In a statement Tuesday, Jonny Andersen, managing director for the Kenya Airports Authority, said that "the expected savings on electricity as well as reduction in carbon emissions" would "contribute towards the efficient operations of Moi International Airport."



Moi International Airport is the latest airport to turn to solar power. In July, for example, Hawaii's Department of Transportation said it would install 4,260 new solar modules at Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.



At the time, the Department of Transportation said solar energy produced by the panels would be used at the airport and help to cut the overall electricity bill by almost half.

Elsewhere, India's Cochin International Airport, in the state of Kerala, claims to be the first in the world to be "fully powered by solar energy." Its system has more than 46,100 solar panels.
In 1993, Bob Young was unemployed and working out of his wife's sewing closet on a new company he co-founded. On Tuesday, IBM officially closed its deal to buy that company for $34 billion in the tech giant's largest acquisition ever. "It's, no question, an out of body experience," Young told CNBC Make It in November, when the deal was first announced. Young, the co-founder and former CEO of Red Hat, the open-source, enterprise software provider IBM is using to expand its cloud computing business, is now 64. He stepped down as Red Hat CEO after the company went public in 1999. He also left the company's board in 2005 to launch Lulu.com, an online self-publishing company, where he is still the CEO. But it was Young who first started the company that would become the multi-billion dollar Red Hat roughly 25 years ago. At the time, Young tells CNBC Make It, he had no job and was out of money after selling his previous business, a computer leasing company. "I'm an entrepreneurial businessman, that's just how my mind is wired. It's not that I'm a smart guy or a risk-taker. I was actually a terrible student," says Young, who majored in history at the University of Toronto. Because of his poor track record in school, Young assumed he would have more luck starting his own company instead of applying for jobs, he says. "So, in my case, starting a business was the low-risk activity to do in my career."

In fact, Young started a string of businesses after graduating from college in 1976. He first rented out typewriters from an office outside of Toronto that happened to be next-door to a factory farm raising fishing worms. Meanwhile, his college friends were beginning careers as accountants and lawyers at large firms. "My friends were not overly impressed with my career choices back then," he says. He transitioned to leasing computers by launching Vernon Computer Rentals in 1984. After struggling financially during the 1989 recession, Young sold the company to Greyvest Capital for roughly $20 million, from which he got a cut of about $4 million as the CEO, he says. But, the deal called for Young to work at Greyvest and use his share of the proceeds to take a stake in the acquirer. Unfortunately, only months after the deal closed, Greyvest found itself in "serious financial distress" and the company's stock declined dramatically, leaving Young with a stake in the company that was practically worthless, he says. Greyvest eventually laid Young off. "Now, I'm unemployed with three kids, a big mortgage and a net worth of something below what it had been when I graduated from college 15 years earlier," Young says of that period in 1993. "But for that disaster, though, I wouldn't have stumbled into the open-source opportunity and founded Red Hat, and the rest is history." Fortunately, Young's experience in the computer business allowed him to spot a hole in the software sales market for a product that let tech businesses modify and customize software to fit their needs. "The benefit that having the source code, and a license to modify the source code, gives you as an engineer, is it gives you control over the technology that you are using," Young says.

In the early 1990s, Young says, Red Hat was the only company offering open-source software, as larger competitors like Oracle, Microsoft, and even IBM, were reluctant to relinquish the valuable source code to clients. "I'm an old typewriter sales guy," Young says. "I like selling things my customers can't get anywhere else." In 1993, Young started a business out of his home selling software on the open-source Linux and Unix operating systems. Young joined forces with North Carolina-based software engineer Marc Ewing (who gave the company the name Red Hat, a reference to a red baseball cap Ewing wore in college). Young merged his fledgling company with Ewing's own open-source Linux software distributor and moved to Durham, North Carolina (Red Hat is currently headquartered in Raleigh). Young served as CEO, using his sales background to focus on the company's operations, while Ewing handled the software engineering. Because of his lack of money, Young had to get creative when it came to funding this bootstrapped venture. So, he took steps that, in hindsight, might seem ill-advised: he and Ewing racked up credit card debt. "The banks used to spam the world with credit card applications, and I would fill them out and send them in and they would send me another $5,000 credit card," Young tells CNBC Make It. "And, I would use the $5,000 to pay off the previous credit card I had signed up for. I got these credit cards up to $50,000, which in 1994 was a lot of money." Young's credit card debt eventually reached about $50,000, spread across at least eight different cards. "I thought of it as creative finance," Young says. His wife thought he should "go to jail," he jokes. In fact, it was Young's wife, Nancy, who made the credit card ploy work, thanks to the fact that she had a better credit rating than Young. Young now calls his wife "probably the single-most important contributor" to the initial success of Red Hat. "Without my wife Nancy's sterling credit rating, I wouldn't been able to raise the money that got us to profitability," he says. Young and Ewing were able to fund the company with their mounting credit card debt through the fall of 1995, when the company released a new version of its open-source software that first started turning a profit, which allowed them to finally pay off the cards. By 1998, Red Hat was generating sales of more than $5 million per year, and that number doubled to more than $10 million by the following year. Young remained CEO through Red Hat's 1999 IPO, which gave the company a multi-billion dollar valuation. Young stepped down as CEO after the IPO, handing the reins to Matthew Szulik, who had helped take the company public as Red Hat's president. (Szulik led Red Hat until 2007, when former Delta Airlines COO Jim Whitehurst took over.) Despite his success, Young has no problem expressing humility and a sense of humor about his career (his LinkedIn profile lists his title at Lulu.com as "Coffee Mug Washer"), and he is quick to give the credit for Red Hat's massive exit to his partners and successors, including Ewing, Szulik and current CEO Whitehurst. "The $34 billion success has nothing to do with me. I will take some credit for spotting the initial opportunity. The actual execution of that opportunity, the credit goes to much smarter guys than me." Young also left Red Hat's board of directors for good in 2005, explaining at the time that he was better suited to the life of a serial entrepreneur than a corporate director with a less hands-on role. For that reason, Young founded Lulu.com in 2002 and he continues to serve as the company's CEO. The following year, he bought his hometown Canadian Football League team, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. And, he's also spent his time investing in projects like drone technology company PrecisionHawk (where he served as CEO from 2015 to 2017) and his wife's craft supplies company, Needlepoint.com. Young sold all of his shares in Red Hat after leaving the company, he says, so he cashed out at a time when the company was worth a fraction of what IBM is paying. Young, who still walked away from Red Hat with a net worth of several hundred million dollars, tells CNBC Make It that he does not regret selling his Red Hat shares years before the company's big sale to IBM. He used that money to do "a huge number of fun things," he says, from founding Lulu.com to supporting his local CFL team. "Had I hung on to my Red Hat stake, I might have done better than I did by selling when I did," he says. "But I do not regret for five minutes my decision, because my last 15 years have [gone] very differently than if I had just been a manager of a big Red Hat investment." Don't Miss: 3 things Oculus co-founder Palmer Luckey splurged on when Facebook bought it for $2 billion How these billion-dollar businesses started as happy accidents and side gigs
The trade conflict between the United States and China could get much worse if things don't change, BlackRock's Larry Fink said Thursday.

"I was in China a few weeks ago, and I do believe if the path remains the same in the next few weeks, we're going to have a full-fledged trade war," the CEO of the largest asset manager in the world said at the DealBook conference in New York. "Let's hope I'm wrong."

The U.S. has slapped tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Chinese imports. China has retaliated with its own levies on U.S. goods. This skirmish has been going on for most of 2018 and has investors around the globe fearing tougher trade conditions could diminish corporate profits.

"China, a very strong, very proud nation, I think they're going to stand firm. Privately, I think they will negotiate, but I don't think that has worked for them at the moment," Fink said. "We had similar problems in our negotiations with Mexico and Canada. That was stalled and stalled and stalled until we came to a resolution."

Fink's comments come ahead of an expected meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Nov. 30-Dec. 1 G-20 summit of world leaders in Buenos Aires. In a tweet, Trump said he talked with Xi about trade and that the conversation was "long and very good."

WATCH: Twelve US execs explain how Trump's trade war affects their bottom lines
Canadian oil and gas producer Encana said on Thursday it will buy Newfield Exploration Co. for $5.5 billion, for greater access to North America's biggest oil patches and making it one of the largest shale oil producers in the region.

As part of the all-stock deal, Encana will get greater access to the Anadarko basin as well as the Permian and Montney areas.

Encana is focusing on high-margin, liquids-rich production from the Montney and Duvernay oilfields in Canada and the Eagle Ford and Permian in the United States as part of a five-year plan to boost output.

"This strategic combination advances our strategy and is immediately accretive to our five-year plan," Chief Executive Officer Doug Suttles said in a statement.

EnCana said liquids production will contribute over half of the combined company's production and help expand margins. Under the terms of the deal, Newfield shareholders will receive 2.6719 Encana common shares for each share of Newfield common stock.

Separately, the Calgary, Alberta-based company said total production rose 33 percent to 378,200 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d) in the third-quarter ended Sept. 30.

Oil and oil equivalent production rose 40 percent to 178,700 barrels per day.

Shares of Newfield rose about 19 percent to $24.06 in pre-market trading. U.S. listed shares of Encana were trading slightly up at $10.30, having closed at $10.24 on Wednesday.
China is planning more tax cuts to help spur domestic consumption, Vice Finance Minister Zou Jiayi told Reuters on Thursday.

The finance ministry has pledged a more active fiscal policy to help bolster China's slowing economy.

China will provide $30.72 billion in new funding to poor areas from 2018 to 2020, Zou said on the sidelines of a forum in Beijing.


A contractor guides a steel beam into place while working on the Korean Air Lines Co. Wilshire Grand hotel and office building in downtown Los Angeles, California.

The Commerce Department's internal watchdog has launched an audit of waivers that companies have received from tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum.

The agency's system for granting such exclusions has come under heavy fire. The tariffs were imposed in late May, and Commerce was initially overwhelmed by companies seeking relief from the 10 percent tariff on aluminum and 25 percent tariff on steel. Nearly 50,000 requests for exclusion have been filed so far, according to the agency.

In addition, a New York Times analysis found that Nucor and United States Steel, two major domestic steel companies with strong ties to the Trump administration, successfully blocked hundreds of company requests. The NYT also reported that Commerce granted a waiver to Rusal America, the domestic division of a Russian firm that was under U.S. sanctions. Commerce eventually reversed its decision.

A Commerce spokesman said the agency has brought on additional staff, including 70 contractors, to accommodate the increased workload.

The chaotic process caused an uproar on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers calling for reforms. Even Republican senators have questioned the usefulness of the tariffs and highlighted the collateral damage in other sectors of the American economy.

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren had called for the Commerce inspector general to open an investigation into the exclusion process. Her office reviewed 900 submissions submitted in the first month of the process and found that 81 percent of the waivers granted were to foreign-owned firms. It also discovered the exclusion for Rusal.

"President Trump said that his tariffs would help American steel manufacturers, but investigations by my office showed that Chinese- and Japanese-owned companies have received hundreds of exemptions," the Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement to CNBC. "I asked the independent Inspector General to open an investigation into this mess, and I'm glad that they are doing so."

The inspector general's announcement did not provide a timeline for the audit. The notice said it will evaluate whether Commerce followed proper procedures in granting the exclusions and whether the decisions were made in a "consistent and transparent manner."
WikiLeaks published USA diplomatic and military secrets when Assange ran the operation.

Ecuador's government contended the requirements are aimed at peaceful cohabitation in tight quarters in the small embassy, where Mr Assange takes up more than a third of the space.

The Wikileaks founder had said the new guidelines were created to push him into leaving the building in London where has has been holed up since 2012.

The court of Ecuador, rejected the claim of the founder of WikiLeaks Julian Assange, who complained about the new policies in the Embassy of Ecuador.

The new rules bar Assange from commenting on affairs that could harm Ecuador's foreign relations, set new guidelines on visitation privileges and require him to clean up after his cat.

Assange's lawyer Carlos Poveda vowed to appeal against the decision: "The Ecuadorian state has an worldwide responsibility to protect Mr Assange".

But a judge in Quito rejected the lawsuit over Assange's living conditions.

A protocol governing Assange's stay at the embassy - revealed by Ecuadoran internet site Codigo Vidrio and never denied by Quito - warns that further breaches will lead to "termination of asylum".

Court officials told journalists they could not record any of the statements made during the hearing.

At the same time the Prosecutor inigo Salvador said: "If Mr Assange wants to stay and follow the rules... then he can stay in the Embassy for as long as you want". If his asylum comes to an end, the British might confront him with an outstanding warrant for his arrest, and extradition to the USA means Assange could face charges related to the Espionage Act due to Wikileaks' publication of sensitive government information. The diplomats underlined that he will also have to pay for and clean up after his pet cat.

The U.K., where he's wanted for skipping bail, earlier this year informed Ecuador that, were Assange to abandon the embassy, he would not be extradited to a country where he could face the death penalty, Ecuador's Attorney General Inigo Salvador said. That case has been dropped, but supporters have said that Assange fears he could be extradited to the United States if he leaves the embassy.

United States 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.
On July 26, 2017, after a series of tweets by President Donald Trump proposing to ban transgender people from military service, thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets in opposition.

More than 50 companies representing over $2.4 trillion in annual revenue took a stand Thursday for legal protections for transgender people following a report that the Trump administration is considering limiting the definition of gender to birth anatomy.

Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google are among the companies spanning tech, consumer products and financial services that signed a statement supporting the protections.

The move is a response to an Oct. 21 New York Times report that the Trump administration is considering limiting the definition of gender to birth genitalia.

"Sex means a person's status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth," the Department of Health and Human Services proposed in a memo obtained by the Times.

If legislation were to move forward, it would jeopardize legal protections for an estimated 1.4 million Americans who identify as a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth, the Times said.

The statement from the companies, which have nearly 4.8 million employees, said "diversity and inclusion are good for business."

"Transgender people are our beloved family members and friends, and our valued team members," the statement said. "What harms transgender people harms our companies."

Out Leadership and the Human Rights Campaign mobilized the 15 LGBTQ community organizations that sought signatures for the statement.

This is the full statement along with the list of signatories:
CULPEPER, Va.  Wearing a dress shirt emblazoned with a huge bald eagle and an American flag, Steve Mourning is the kind of voter that Republicans in this part of Virginia need more of this year: a fired-up conservative. Pulling up to a congressional debate here earlier this month, Mourning said he was excited to help get incumbent GOP Rep. Dave Brat re-elected to a third term. "The economy is going great, tax cuts are good for everyone, and we want more of that going forward," Mourning told CNBC. But about 60 miles south, in Goochland County, Virginia, CNBC met another kind of Republican, named Dave. He said he voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 but will vote for Brat's Democratic opponent, retired CIA operative Abigail Spanberger, in Tuesday's election. "I voted for Trump 'cause I didn't want another Clinton in the White House," said Dave, who declined to give his last name so as not to alienate his neighbors in this conservative farming community. "But I don't think people in Washington, D.C., care about anyone outside Washington, D.C.," Dave said. "Nobody gives a darn about anything else. So I'm voting for Abigail Spanberger, 'cause she seems like she's actually gonna do something. And I'll tell you what, if I were a richer man, I'd donate some money to her candidacy." The 7th District, which stretches over 100 miles from the rolling farmland outside Culpeper in the north to the suburbs south of Richmond, has never been represented in Congress by a woman. And Republicans have held the seat for almost 50 years. The last Democratic congressman from the district retired in 1971. In the most recent election here in 2016, Brat trounced his Democratic opponent by 15 points, and Trump carried the district by 7 points. But this year, a tide of political and demographic forces has put the solidly Republican 7th District in play for the first time in recent memory. And not just in play  it's a dead heat between Brat and Spanberger, according to the most recent polling averages. Democrats need to flip at least 23 seats to win a majority in the House. If Brat, a former economics professor, hangs onto his seat, it will be in part because of people like Steve Mourning, solid conservatives who credit Brat and his fellow Republicans in Congress for the strong economy. But if Spanberger defeats Brat in a huge upset, it will be in part because of people like Dave, registered Republicans who feel Brat has chosen Washington, D.C., over Goochland County, and who see in Spanberger a candidate who is singularly focused on their needs. It wouldn't be the first time, however, that an outsider has upset politics in the 7th District.

A unique place

Swing districts have received a lot of attention this election cycle, but the 7th is not one of them. The widely respected Cook Political Report ranks the electorate as favoring Republicans by 6 points. Instead, the 7th represents a political frontier, the outer limits of how far some analysts predict that the so-called blue wave of Democratic victories in the House could stretch this fall. "This district has a significant structural advantage for Republicans," said Rachel Bitecofer, assistant director of the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University, which released a poll Monday showing Brat and Spanberger in a statistical tie. "But that advantage can be overcome with strong turnout in the Richmond suburbs. Democratic turnout will determine which candidate prevails on Election Day," Bitecofer wrote in a report accompanying the poll results. Voter turnout is closely linked to voter enthusiasm. And by that measure, Spanberger holds a commanding lead. The Wason Center found that Spanberger has a 16-point enthusiasm advantage over Brat, with 78 percent of Democrats telling pollsters they were "very enthusiastic" about voting on Tuesday, versus 62 percent of Republicans.

Abigail Spanberger, Democratic candidate for the 7th congressional district of Virginia, speaks during the Women's Summit in Herndon, Va., on Saturday June 23, 2018. Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call Group | Getty Images

This enthusiasm gulf was visible on the ground across the district during the three days that CNBC spent there earlier this month, talking to voters and attending candidate events. Along more than 250 miles of mostly rural roads, an unofficial tally of political yard signs found that out of about 40 signs CNBC drove by, two-thirds of them were Spanberger signs. Ed Dunphy was waving one such Spanberger sign by the side of the road outside the Oct. 15 debate between Brat and Spanberger in Culpeper. Dunphy was one of about 50 Spanberger supporters all waving signs and cheering as cars entered Germanna Community College. CNBC did not see any Brat signs outside the event, but Brat campaign spokeswoman Katey Price said the campaign "did have supporters waving signs off the property" of the college. A Culpeper resident for over 30 years, Dunphy laughed when asked whether this election felt different than the 2014 midterms. "Oh my God, yes! And it's because of the energy on the part of the Democrats, and all the people who are in opposition to Trump," he said. Dunphy said he recently retired from a career spent working at the Culpeper Farm Center, "and I know a lot of farmers around here who are Republicans, and they said this year they just can't do Trump anymore." To be sure, Trump has helped to shape the race in the 7th District this year, as he has in nearly every congressional race. Louisa resident Donald Goetz, who is in his late 60s, said he voted for Brat in 2016. But this time, Trump has poisoned his view of the GOP. "I'm a conservative, but the Republican Party, I don't even know who they are!" Goetz said. "My view is that we've got to get as many Republicans out of there as possible to stop Trump. And Brat is a blind follower of Trump." Goetz estimates that in a lifetime of voting, he has only cast a ballot for a Democrat "about 5 percent of the time." This year, he said, "I already voted early for Abigail Spanberger."

Despite the huge shadow that Trump himself casts over this year's elections, the issues his administration has championed  tax cuts, immigration crackdowns and tariffs  are not especially popular among voters here, said Lauren Bell, a political science professor at Randolph-Macon College and the co-author of "Slingshot," a book about Brat's first run for Congress in 2014. "There isn't one kind of geography here, there isn't one industry, and there's not even one city. So a successful candidate needs to connect with lots of different blocs of voters. And what people really want here is for their member to be visible, accessible, and listen to them," Bell told CNBC in a recent interview. "Trump's national issues are not as motivating and not as important here in the 7th as the question of, 'Is my member here?'" she said.

A question of access

The criticism that Brat has not been sufficiently accessible to his constituents has hung over the lawmaker for more than a year. Brat stopped holding open, in-person town hall events after he was met with a hostile crowd at a town hall in May 2017. A spokesman for Brat told Politico this summer that the representative had found better ways to connect with his constituents than in-person town halls.

Rep. Dave Brat, R-Va., leaves the Capitol after the House passed a fiscal 2018 budget resolution on October 26, 2017. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call Group | Getty Images

CNBC visited the Brat campaign headquarters in mid-October, but senior campaign strategist Phil Rapp declined to discuss the state of the race. For many voters in the 7th, Brat's retreat from the town halls represented more than just a shift in his preferred event format: It meant that Brat was becoming inaccessible. And people here remember what happened to the last politician who was not accessible enough to his constituents. In 2014, Brat was a relatively unknown professor at Randolph-Macon College when he mounted a surprise primary challenge to Rep. Eric Cantor, the powerful House majority leader. Cantor, who spent the vast majority of his time in Washington, failed to take Brat's primary campaign seriously  until it was too late. Cantor's defeat stunned observers inside the Beltway.

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) (L), U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) (C) and U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI). Getty Images

It also represented a sort of apex moment for the tea party movement, which had arisen largely out of dissatisfaction with establishment Republicans such as Cantor, whom they saw as too politically moderate. For Brat, an unknown, ideological conservative, to have taken down the No. 2 Republican in the country made him nothing short of a kingslayer. Read more: These tea party House Republicans face tough challenges But Brat's victory owed more to the way he ran his campaign than it did to sweeping political forces like the tea party, according to Bell, the political science professor. "In 2014, Dave was out there listening to people, and how they felt neglected, and that's when people started to think about him as a real contender," she said. Dave, the Goochland County voter, agreed. "I never liked Dave Brat more than I did the day he beat Cantor, because Cantor was even worse than Brat," he said.

"But now Brat's moved back into the Cantor camp, and he's waiting for the political action committees, and he'll entertain them at the lavish hotels in D.C. I don't see him come to town hall meetings here, and he doesn't speak to women, or come to women's focus groups," Dave said. Brat's perceived avoidance of female voters has become especially problematic for him ever since he was caught on tape in January 2017 saying to a group of constituents: "Since Obamacare and these issues have come up, the women are in my grill no matter where I go." "The 7th District has again made it clear that they want a representative that is attentive to them, and they don't want a representative who is not accessible to them," said Bell. "It's been tragic to see how he's approached the work of being a member of Congress," said a longtime friend and former colleague of Brat's, who requested anonymity in order not to run afoul of their employer's policies about talking to the media. "The same thing that happened to Cantor in the course of a decade has happened to Dave in just a few years. Just as Dave has failed to learn the lessons of his own primary campaign, Spanberger has taken a page from his playbook."

Rep. Dave Brat, R-Va., speaks with reporters after a news conference with members of the House Freedom Caucus at the House Triangle, where they criticized the House Republican's new healthcare plan, American Health Care Act, March 7, 2017. Tom Williams | CQ Roll Call | Getty Images

Price, the Brat spokeswoman, pushed back on the notion that Brat had been absent from the district. "Over the past two years, Dave has attended 500 events, including visits at town hall meetings, service organizations, community gatherings, schools, veterans groups, law enforcement and much more throughout the 7th District and talked to thousands and thousands of people throughout Central Virginia," she said.

A unique race

A career CIA officer who was born and raised in the 7th District, Abigail Spanberger is a formidable opponent by any measure. But Spanberger is also running a very different kind of race than the one Brat is running. Hers is a hyperlocal campaign, characterized by hundreds of public events she has held at community centers, county fairs, public libraries and people's homes. Spanberger's campaign website features an extensive calendar of events, detailing where voters can meet her and where her supporters will hold phone banks and canvassing events. For the month of October, the calendar lists 97 unique events. Brat's campaign website does not include a candidate calendar, although on Wednesday, a fundraiser on Thursday with special guest second lady Karen Pence was being advertised on the site. Tickets started at $100. At the bottom of the invitation, it said, "This is a Private Event. We reserve the right to ask you to leave." Spanberger, meanwhile, is hosting a free, public meet and greet at a restaurant in rural Louisa on Thursday, according to her campaign calendar. "Abigail will be there to listen to your story, your concerns, and share how she can make a positive difference in your life as a member of Congress," the event notice says. The Oct. 15 debate between Brat and Spanberger only highlighted the differences between Brat's hypernational, party-focused campaign, and Spanberger's local, almost nonpartisan campaign.

Rep. Dave Brat, R-Va., and his Democratic challenger Abigail Spanberger participate in the Virginia 7th Congressional district debate at the Germanna Community College in Culpeper, Va., on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call Group | Getty Images

During the 90-minute debate, Brat mentioned House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi 25 times, repeatedly seeking to paint Spanberger as a rubber stamp for what he called "the Nancy Pelosi liberal agenda." Spanberger, meanwhile, said she would not support Pelosi for speaker if she is elected and Democrats take the House. She also sought to put distance between herself and national Democrats, telling the sold-out crowd of 400, "I am not my primary opponent, I am not Nancy Pelosi, and I am not President Barack Obama." Spanberger also hammered Brat over his vote in favor of the massive GOP tax-cut bill. She accused the Republican of abandoning his commitment to fiscal responsibility by supporting a bill that will add trillions of dollars to the deficit. One thing was notably absent from the debate: Donald Trump. Spanberger did not try to hang Trump's foibles on Brat, and Brat didn't seek to tie himself to the president. The following night, however, at a Spanberger meet and greet that CNBC attended, hosted by the Democratic Latinos of Virginia group, it was clear that Trump and his immigration policies were front and center for some Spanberger supporters.
Christian Sewing, the new CEO of Deutsche Bank, speaks at the Deutsche Bank annual shareholders' meeting on May 24, 2018 in Frankfurt, Germany. Shareholders, frustrated by years of poor performance by Deutsche Bank, are calling for Achleitner to step down.

A former J.P. Morgan Chase executive turned activist hedge fund investor has taken a 3.1 percent stake in Deutsche Bank as the beleaguered German lender works on a turnaround story.

Douglas Braunstein, founder and managing partner of Hudson Executive Capital and J.P. Morgan's former CFO, said in an interview that the firm has taken on the stake over the last few months. It is Hudson's third financial services investment, after Comerica and CIT, and would make Hudson one of Deutsche Bank's biggest shareholders, according to FactSet. The buyout firm Cerberus Capital took a similar-sized stake last year.

Shares of Deutsche Bank jumped nearly 3 percent Thursday, but they are still down more than 46 percent this year.

Deutsche Bank has made several key changes, announcing a restructuring and a new CEO, Christian Sewing, earlier this year. Deutsche Bank is now focused on its retail and asset management businesses in Germany and its corporate banking services for European companies, after retreating from several markets including the U.S. "People were so negative on this name that they lost the forest through the trees," Braunstein told CNBC.

He said the firm studied the bank as a possible investment for a year before jumping in.

"We worked on this for 12 months, and eight of those months, we had done our work and didn't think the value was right and there wasn't a clear path to success," Braunstein said.

The CEO change in the spring was the catalyst. "My comfort level in making the investment is Christian's reputation, his history, his capabilities, all revolve around execution. So you've got the right strategy and the right guy in place to execute," the investor told CNBC.

"Before we made our investment, we were actively engaged as you'd expect any potential investor to be, talking with senior management about their strategic agenda and to an incredibly high degree, our agenda lined up with the agenda the new CEO and CFO were articulating," Braunstein said.

In a statement on Thursday, Deutsche Bank said, "We welcome Hudson Executive's investment in Deutsche Bank. Doug Braunstein and Hudson Executive come with deep backgrounds investing in financial services companies. We appreciate Hudson Executive's confidence in our ability to execute on our strategic objectives."

Braunstein's Hudson has $1.4 billion of assets under management. It has a roster of former finance executives advising it on investments, including former J.P. Morgan CEO William Harrison, former Wells Fargo CEO Richard Kovacevich, and New York Private Bank & Trust's Howard Milstein. In addition to being CFO, Braunstein also once ran J.P. Morgan's investment bank.

WATCH: Five strategies you should use to protect your portfolio
A horrible October for energy stocks sent the group sharply lower for the year, but the sell-off has not deterred all investors from the oil trade.

One market watcher says the sector could in fact provide some safety in an unpredictable market.

"Their very defensiveness makes them very attractive right now in a volatile tape," Boris Schlossberg, managing director of FX strategy at BK Asset Management, said on CNBC's "Trading Nation" on Wednesday. "For example, Chevron and Exxon are both yielding more than 3 percent at this point and with higher crude they should actually print better numbers going forward."

The XLE energy ETF offers a 2.65 percent dividend yield, above the 1.85 percent yield for the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust. Chevron yields 4 percent, while Exxon yields 4.1 percent.

"If you basically assume that energy is not a secular short, that we're still going to be using oil going forward, both of these companies should bounce really nicely going forward," said Schlossberg.

The XLE closed October with a monthly loss of 11 percent, its worst month since September 2011. Prior to October, the ETF had surged 5 percent.

Craig Johnson, chief market technician at Piper Jaffray, also sees the sector offering some protection against a volatile market.

Investors are "looking for the escalators down, not the elevators down in this market. It's been a rough October," Johnson said on "Trading Nation" on Wednesday. "When you look at the energy names, it's a sector that hadn't performed very well but we're starting to see the relative performance of energy pick up."

Exxon Mobil's performance, in particular, suggest building momentum that could turn into a breakout, says Johnson.

"Exxon Mobil looks like a name that's been consolidating when you look at that chart over the past couple of years," Johnson said. "From our perspective, those kinds of charts usually resolve themselves to the upside, not the downside."

Chevron and Exxon could see some near-term volatility following their earnings releases Friday morning. Analysts expect Chevron to post a nearly 30 percent increase in sales, while Exxon is forecast to report 14 percent sales growth.
European stocks rose on Thursday, as investors digested stronger-than-anticipated corporate earnings, while sterling rose sharply after a reported Brexit breakthrough.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 finished provisionally up by 0.24 percent with sectors and major bourses almost evenly split between winners and losers.

Europe's telecoms stocks led the gains on the back of robust earnings results. BT was the top sectoral performer, after raising its company outlook. Shares were 8.6 percent higher at the close.

On the other hand, oil and gas stocks fell under pressure. Tgs-Nopec Geophysical fell more than 9.8 percent after posting weaker-than-anticipated third-quarter operating profit.

Looking across the European benchmark, ASMI surged near the top of the European benchmark on Thursday, up 10.8 percent, after strong third-quarter results.

Meanwhile, Credit Suisse dropped nearly 2.1 percent after missing forecasts, despite a 74 percent increase in net income from a year ago.
Crown Prince and Defense Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman (R) meets with Microsoft founder Bill Gates (L) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 14, 2017.

A youth charity founded by Saudi Arabia's crown prince just lost an influential backer, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in the latest sign of fallout after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The charitable organization started by the Microsoft co-founder and his philanthropist wife is canceling much of its $5 million pledge to the MiSk Foundation, a Saudi youth empowerment nonprofit chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Last week, a Saudi prosecutor acknowledged for the first time that agents of the kingdom planned Khashoggi's slaying at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. The prosecutor initially said the Washington Post columnist and U.S. resident was unintentionally killed during a physical altercation. The Saudis earlier claimed Khashoggi, a critic of Prince Mohammed, left the consulate unharmed.

The "current situation" played a part in the Gates Foundation's decision, a spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news.

"Jamal Khashoggi's abduction and murder is extremely troubling. We are observing current events with concern," the foundation said in a statement.
Central banks around the world have upped their spending on gold to the highest level in almost three years, according to the World Gold Council (WGC).

More than 148 metric tons of gold were bought by the national banks in the three months to the end of September, a rise of 22 percent on the same period last year.

Using the current spot price of $1,223 per troy ounce, the gold purchases by the banks added up to a $5.82 billion spending splurge on the precious metal.

Russia's central bank led the buying, purchasing more than 92 tons of gold. This marked the country's biggest quarterly net purchase on records that stretch back to 1993.

In May this year, the Russian central bank's First Deputy Governor Dmitry Tulin told lawmakers in the lower house of parliament that gold was "a 100 percent guarantee from legal and political risks."
The Tech Workers Coalition, an employee activist group, says that it's seen an increase in interest and events over the last year.

"We stand in solidarity with Google workers," an organization spokesperson says.

Here is the full statement from employee organizers:

Time's up at Google.



As Google workers, we were disgusted by the details of the recent New York Times article, which provided the latest example of a culture of complicity, dismissiveness, and support for perpetrators in the face of sexual harassment, misconduct, and abuse of power. Sadly, this is part of a longstanding pattern, one further amplified by systemic racism. We know this culture well. For every story in the New York Times, there are thousands more, at every level of the company. Most have not been told.



As the recent article and the executive response make clear, these problems go all the way to the top. While Google has championed the language of diversity and inclusion, substantive actions to address systemic racism, increase equity, and stop sexual harassment have been few and far between. ENOUGH. Reassuring PR won't cut it: we need transparency, accountability, and structural change.



On Thursday, November 1st, Google employees and contractors will walk out in protest, standing up for each other, fighting for equity, and demanding real change:



1 - An end to Forced Arbitration in cases of harassment and discrimination for all current and future employees, along with a right for every Google worker to bring a co-worker, representative, or supporter of their choosing when meeting with HR, especially when filing a harassment claim.



2 - A commitment to end pay and opportunity inequity, for example making sure there are women of color at all levels of the organization, and accountability for not meeting this commitment. This must be accompanied by transparent data on the gender, race and ethnicity compensation gap, across both level and years of industry experience, accessible to all Google and Alphabet employees and contractors. Such data must include, but not be limited limited to: information on relative promotion rates, under-leveling at hire, the handling of leaves, and inequity in project and job ladder change opportunities. The methods by which such data was collected and the techniques by which it was analyzed and aggregated must also be transparent.



3 - A publicly disclosed sexual harassment transparency report, including: the number of harassment claims at Google over time and by product area; the types of claims submitted; how many victims and accused have left Google; any exit packages and their worth.



4 - A clear, uniform, globally inclusive process for reporting sexual misconduct safely and anonymously. The process today (i.e. go/saysomething) is not working, in no small part because HRs' performance is assessed by senior management and directors, forcing them to put management's interests ahead of employees reporting harassment and discrimination. The improved process should also be accessible to all: full-time employees, temporary employees, vendors, and contractors alike. Accountability, safety and an ability to report unsafe working conditions should not be dictated by employment status.



5 - Elevate the Chief Diversity Officer to answer directly to the CEO and make recommendations directly to the Board of Directors. In addition, appoint an Employee Representative to the Board. Both the CDO and the Employee Representative should help allocate permanent resources for demands 1-4 and other equity efforts, ensure accountability to these demands, and suggest propose changes when equity goals are not met.



-----



WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?



For every story in the New York Times, there are thousands more, at every level of the company. Many have not been told. We are part of a growing movement, and we are not going to stand for this anymore.



WHY ARE CONTRACT WORKERS INCLUDED IN THE DEMANDS?



Many temps, vendors, and contractors (TVCs) are doing business-critical work without the benefits or recognition, and several do so in the hopes of being able to convert to full-time employment. Coming forward with sexual harassment concerns or other HR complaints (salary/recognition) can significantly jeopardize conversion opportunities, let alone continued employment as a TVC. Remember, TVCs are paid hourly, have very limited benefits, and likely make significantly less than their FTE counterparts.



The power structure that inherently diminishes TVCs is rooted in the same foundation of inequality. If we want real change, we have to take action together.



WHY ARE PRIVILEGED GOOGLE WORKERS WALKING OUT?



This is part of a growing movement, not just in tech, but across the country, including teachers, fast food workers, and others who are using their strength in numbers to make real change. We know that it can be more difficult for other workers to stand up which is why we stand in solidarity with the temporary and contract workers here at Google, but we encourage everyone who feels this injustice to take collective action.
It's been a big year for open-source software. Microsoft bought GitHub. IBM bought Red Hat. Elastic went public. Cloudera and Hortonworks merged.

Now another open-source company is getting a big vote of confidence. Start-up HashiCorp announced Thursday that investors have joined in on $100 million funding round valuing the company at $1.9 billion.

HashiCorp  sometimes referred to informally as Hashi, Japanese for "bridge" and a reference to founder and chief technology officer Mitchell Hashimoto  isn't public, and it's not a household name. But the company has been gaining traction. The open-source tools HashiCorp maintains, with unconventional names like Vagrant, Consul and Terraform, have been downloaded more than 45 million times in the past 12 months, up from 22 million the year before.

"Hashi is a good bet," John Mitchell, chief architect for platform at SAP's Ariba business, told CNBC. While a few dozen people inside Ariba  not to mention other parts of SAP  actively use the HashiCorp tools, Mitchell said a great many more people use them indirectly as they deploy software onto public clouds like Amazon Web Services or in SAP's own data centers.

HashiCorp, founded in 2012 and based in San Francisco, has 330 employees and hundreds of customers, including Adobe, Barclays and Walmart's Jet.com. As adoption of HashiCorp tools increases inside companies, they tend to reach out to HashiCorp to start a business relationship, rather than the other way around, CEO Dave McJannet said.

"We strongly believe the different cloud providers have different value propositions," McJannet said. And many companies will end up using more than just one of the big clouds, he said. HashiCorp's Terraform system fits in with that approach because it provides a way to procure the computing resources that will be needed for applications in multiple clouds.

HashiCorp works with the cloud providers to ensure that Terraform can take advantage of their latest capabilities. Google and Microsoft have full-time employees who are dedicated to contributing to the HashiCorp tools, a spokeswoman said.

When it comes to competition, McJannet said some companies offer more traditional ways to solve the same problems HashiCorp is trying to solve. But HashiCorp is younger and smaller and now will be staffing up in many departments, including customer success.

"I've never seen a market move this quickly," said McJannet, who has previously worked at Microsoft and VMware.

IVP, which invested in GitHub and MySQL, among others, led the round in HashiCorp, which has now raised $174 million. Other investors that participated in the new round include Bessemer Venture Partners, GGV Capital, Mayfield Fund, Redpoint Ventures and True Ventures.
Just how much money do you need to be among the global 1 percent?

According to the 2018 Global Wealth Report from Credit Suisse Research Institute, you need a net worth of $871,320 U.S. Credit Suisse defines net worth, or "wealth," as "the value of financial assets plus real assets (principally housing) owned by households, minus their debts."

More than 19 million Americans are in the 1 percent worldwide, Credit Suisse reports, far more than from any other country, while "China is now clearly established in second place in the world wealth hierarchy," with 4.2 million citizens among the world's top 1 percent.

To be among the top 10 percent worldwide, you don't even need six figures: A net worth of $93,170 will do it.

And even if you have just $4,210 to your name, you're still richer than half of the world's residents.

These numbers reflect the extreme level of persistent wealth inequality. As Credit Suisse reports: "While the bottom half of adults collectively owns less than 1 percent of total wealth, the richest decile (top 10 percent of adults) owns 85 percent of global wealth, and the top percentile alone accounts for almost half of all household wealth (47 percent)."

The good news is, "there are signs that wealth inequality is no longer rising," Credit Suisse says.

The share of financial assets among many of the richest people and richest countries "peaked in 2015 and has been declining since then. In previous reports, we predicted that wealth inequality would follow suit  possibly with a slight lag  and there is evidence that this is now the case. The share of the top decile and the top 5 percent remains at the same level as in 2016, while the share of the top 1 percent has edged down from 47.5 percent to 47.2 percent according to our best estimate."

It's too early to conclude that wealth inequality is on a downward trend, Credit Suisse reports, but "the prevailing evidence suggests it may well have leveled out, albeit at a very high level."

Don't miss: Here's how much money the top 1 percent have in savings

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The Turkish leader noted that his country is finished preparing for operations in Syrian Kurdish-held territory in northern Syria, located east of the Euphrates River. "We have finished all our preparations, plans, programme regarding the issue", he added.

The YPG, the dominant group and leader of the US -allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), controls almost all of the territory east of the Euphrates, including regions along Syria's border with Turkey. We will soon crush the terrorist organization with more comprehensive and effective operations.

The offensive did not come as a surprise as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had made several warnings since mid-September about impending full-blown military action against the YPG positions on the east of the Euphrates.

The plan foresees the withdrawal of the YPG from the region where American and Turkish soldiers were expected to conduct joint patrols.

It's unclear how a potential Turkish offensive east of the Euphrates would affect USA troops operating with Kurdish fighters there. Meanwhile, Turkey regards both the YPG and SDF as threats located directly on its southern border with Syria.

Turkey considers the YPG to be an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a deadly insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 and is listed as a terror group by Turkey, the USA and the EU.

The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

The Turkish government also demanded that Kurdish forces leave the northern town of Manbij, which was freed from IS by Kurdish-backed forces in August 2016.

"The training process has been completed, and joint patrols will begin today or tomorrow", Hulusi Akar, Turkish minister of defense, said Tuesday.

But, Turkish president said, Turkey would never allow them to drag Syria into chaos and bloodshed by inciting the regime or reviving Daesh in the region.

Meanwhile, an American military committee arrived in Tel Abyad midday Wednesday to "mediate between the [Kurdish] leadership and Turkey in order to work towards de-escalation", the SDF spokesperson told Syria Direct. "We continue going towards this direction", Akar continued.

This weekend, Turkey's military fired artillery shells across the border, targeting areas east of the Euphrates River.

"We encourage all parties to avoid escalation and focus on the most important task of defeating IS", he added. Erdogan said the Turkish prosecutor repeated to his Saudi counterpart Turkey's extradition request of 18 suspects detained in Saudi Arabia for the October 2 killing to be put on trial in Istanbul.

"Turkish attacks in the north and ISIS attacks in the south against our troops had forced us to stop our current operation temporarily against ISIS in the last pocket of it", the SDF said in a statement.
Italian banks will be under particular scrutiny by investors Friday, as European regulators prepare to release their latest assessment of European-based banks. The entire European banking sector is down more than 23 percent in the last 12 months. But in Italy the picture is even more negative. The FTSE Italy banking index is down 22 percent since the start of the year and 34 percent lower from a peak on April 24.

European banks performance in the last 12 months. CNBC

Italian banks have been hit by market concerns over the country's politics. The anti-establishment government, which took power in June, has promised to increase public spending in the coming year, raising worries about the stability of the Italian economy given its massive debt pile. Domestic banks hold significant amounts of government bonds. Italian banks holdings of local government bonds stood at 10.7 percent in March of this year, a note from ABN AMRO said. As a result, the increase in bond yields on the back of concerns over Italy's politics have brought problems for Italian banks. This is because when yields rise it means there's a higher perceived risk. It also means that the chances of seeing a return on their Italian bonds are reduced. So, troubled times for Italian debt also extends to those holding it too.

Italian bank shares year to date.

There is "the risk of a double whammy," Ricardo Garcia, chief euro zone economist at UBS told CNBC via email, ahead of Friday's results. "Banks are already under pressure due to losses on their Italian BTP holdings. If you add potential issues in ECB bank stress tests, the banks would be under pressure from two sides," he explained. Out of the 48 banks under analysis, four are Italian. They are: UniCredit, Intesa Sanpaolo, Banco BPM and Unione di Banche Italiane. "The Italian banking sector will be under particularly scrutiny given market concerns about the still relatively high stock of non-performing loans," Fabio Trussardi, banking analyst at UBS Global Wealth Management, told CNBC via email. The European Banking Authority (EBA) said in a report that non-performing loans (NPLs) have fallen in the last year, coming down to an average of 3.6 percent in the second quarter of this year across the region. However, the same report showed that the ratio of NPLs in Italy was 9.7 percent in the same period, much higher than the EU average. "While this year macro assumptions will be harsher, we would expect an overall reassuring set of results," Trussardi said about Italy's banks. He noted that the NPL ratio, though high, has come down from last year and the macro assumptions for Italy are not particularly harsh compared to other countries.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella voiced his support for privacy as a "human right" and called on tech companies to protect users from cyber threats in a keynote address Thursday.

Speaking at the Microsoft Future Decoded conference in London, Nadella said the tech industry and governments need to collectively consider the unintended consequences of every business becoming a digital company. He highlighted three major considerations: privacy, cybersecurity and AI (artificial intelligence) ethics.

"All of us will have to think about the digital experiences we create to really treat privacy as a human right," Nadella said.

Nadella praised Europe's new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that sets stringent privacy standards for any company with business in the EU. Apple CEO Tim Cook also recently applauded the law, calling for similar federal privacy regulation in the U.S.

"GDPR as a piece of legislation, a piece of regulation is a great start," Nadella said. "We think about it as something that sets the standard, the bar, for how people need to think about privacy worldwide."

Tech CEOs like Nadella and Cook are getting increasingly vocal about their support for regulation amid ongoing data privacy concerns. In a speech in Brussels last week, Cook blasted tech companies saying personal information is being "weaponized against us with military efficiency."

Nadella said common citizens and small businesses are most vulnerable to cyber threats.

"We need to use our collective prowess and power to protect these most vulnerable of populations, and it requires not just our industry but also nation states to be part of that," he said.

Nadella added companies need to develop ethical standards around AI. He said Microsoft and other technology creators have a responsibility to tackle the unexpected consequences of this new technology.

"When you have some AI capability and it's trained for one purpose but used for another purpose, that's an unethical use of it," he said.
Denmark's Novo Nordisk reported weaker-than-expected earnings on Thursday, citing currency headwinds and also announced its plans to cut more than a thousand jobs.

The drugmaker on Thursday said it plans to cut 1300 jobs by the end of the year in what it described as a "restructuring initiative", but what many saw as a means to cut costs amid an increasingly competitive market.

Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jrgensentold explained the company's vision, speaking to CNBC's Squawk Box Europe on Thursday.

"It's important to say that the majority of these job cuts have already been done, so we are simply explaining today that when we get to the end of the year we'll have reduced our workforce by 1300 people," he said.

"We do it to really strengthen our strategic execution, so by being sharp on how we allocate resources, we believe we can grow our strategic brands, our innovative products even stronger in the future, and we can set up our R&D function even stronger going forward."

The world's top maker of diabetes drugs posted net profit of 9.037 billion Danish krone ($1.374 billion) for the three-month period ending Sept. 30 on Thursday. Analysts at data firm Refinitiv had been expecting third-quarter net profit to come in at around 9.565 billion Danish krone.

The company also saw its operating profit decrease 6 percent in Danish krone and increase 2 percent in local currencies to 36.5 billion Danish krone on the back of "significant depreciation of the U.S. dollar and related currencies versus the Danish krone in the first half of 2018 compared with same period in 2017."

In the third quarter of 2017, Novo Nordisk reported net profit of 9.77 billion Danish krone.
China's President Xi Jinping (L) and US President Donald Trump attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping amid concerns about escalating trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.

In a tweet, the president said he had a "long and very good conversation" with the Chinese leader, "with a heavy emphasis on trade." He added that "those discussions are moving along nicely" ahead of planned face-to-face meetings at the G-20 summit in Argentina later this month.

Trump tweet: Just had a long and very good conversation with President Xi Jinping of China. We talked about many subjects, with a heavy emphasis on Trade. Those discussions are moving along nicely with meetings being scheduled at the G-20 in Argentina. Also had good discussion on North Korea!

It is unclear how much progress Trump and Xi made toward breaking an impasse over how they will assuage Trump's grievances with Beijing and move toward reducing tariffs. Talks between the two countries have recently stalled as the White House pushes for an end to alleged intellectual property theft by Chinese companies and a reduction in the U.S. trade deficit with China. Beijing has so far appeared unwilling to make major concessions.

Xi spoke with Trump at the U.S. president's request, Chinese state media said in a readout of the call, according to NBC News. Xi said the U.S. and China should push for "mutually acceptable solutions" on economic and trade issues and added that he looks forward to meeting with Trump in Argentina.
The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) said on Thursday it had started an investigation into British businessman Arron Banks, who financed one of the main campaigns for Britain to leave the EU.

Banks, who was pictured with Donald Trump and leading Brexiteer Nigel Farage outside a gilded elevator soon after Trump's 2016 U.S. presidential election victory, said he welcomed the investigation.

"It is an opportunity for us to clear up the matter," Banks told Reuters.

"The Electoral Commission have said offences may have been committed but have provided no evidence."

Banks said he had written to Prime Minister Theresa May to ask for an investigation.

The National Crime Agency, which investigates serious and organised crime, said the investigation comes after an referral from the Electoral Commission but will extend to offences other than breaking electoral law.

Banks, who ahead of the 2016 Brexit referendum financed Leave.EU, a campaign led by Farage, then the leader of the UK Independence Party, has faced questions in parliament about the source of his wealth.

"Rock holdings is a company I own and control and I'm a U.K. tax payer, no Russian or foreign money has ever come into it," Banks said.
The United States has charged companies in China and Taiwan and three individuals with stealing trade secrets from a U.S. semi-conductor company, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

The prosecution comes amid heighted trade tensions between China and the U.S., and as American officials raise alarms about the threat of Chinese economic espionage.

The Justice Department says the defendants, including a Chinese-owned company singled out this week by the Trump administration, targeted Idaho-based Micron over a technology it produces that stores memory in electronics.

The Trump administration this week imposed restrictions on technology exports to one of the indicted companies, Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit.

The administration has characterized China, along with Russia, as a strategic competitor of the United States. The U.S. has taken an increasingly tough and confrontational stance toward what it characterizes as China's "predatory" economic policies. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo set the tone in a June speech where he accused China of an "unprecedented level of larceny" of intellectual property.

Tensions over trade in particular have exacerbated relations between the two world powers. President Donald Trump has slapped tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese products in an effort to narrow the U.S. trade deficit with China. Those steps are also motivated by suspicions of China's plan to transform itself into a global leader in robotics, artificial intelligence and other technology industries. China has retaliated with tariff hikes on $110 billion of American products.

The tensions have extended into security issues. China has strongly criticized U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, and the U.S. has renewed its criticism of Beijing's island-building in the disputed South China Sea. Trump has opened up a new line of criticism in recent weeks, accusing China of meddling in U.S. elections but without presenting substantive evidence of interference.

In a tweet Thursday, Trump said he had spoken with China President Xi Jinping. Trump said the two talked about many topics, but mostly about trade.

He said U.S.-China discussions on trade are "moving along nicely" with a meeting being scheduled at the G-20 summit in Argentina, which begins late this month.
Meanwhile, the government said Thursday that initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 214,000 for the week ended Oct. 27. Signals of a healthy economy tend to push investors away from relatively safe fixed-return investments like government debt.

The update on the employment situation, due out Friday morning, will come amid other economic metrics that have suggested a "robust" labor market. ADP and Moody's Analytics said in a report Wednesday that companies continued to hire at a quick pace in October, with private payrolls rising by a better-than-expected 227,000.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was slightly lower at 3.134 percent, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was down at 3.377 percent. Bond yields move inversely to prices.

U.S. manufacturing activity fell short of expectations in October with a gauge of new orders easing to its lowest level since April 2017.

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said its index of national factory activity dropped 2.1 percentage points to 57.7 last month from 59.8 in September. A reading above 50 indicates growth in manufacturing, which accounts for about 12 percent of the U.S. economy.

Economists polled by Refinitiv expected the ISM manufacturing index to hit 59 in October. An index tracking new orders registered 57.4 percent, a decrease of 4.4 percentage points from the September reading of 61.8 percent.

In oil markets, crude futures dropped amid signs of rising supply and growing concerns that demand might weaken on the prospect of a global economic slowdown. Brent crude traded at around $74.72 a barrel on Thursday morning, down 0.3 percent, while U.S. crude was at around $65.01 a barrel.
Many Chinese military scientists working on strategic research at Western universities have deliberately concealed their ties to the army, according to new research. That's sparked concerns of host institutions unknowingly contributing to Beijing's defense prowess.

In a report this week, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) said it discovered two dozen new cases of scientists from the People's Liberation Army (PLA)  the umbrella term for China's ground, naval and air forces  traveling abroad "using cover to obscure their military affiliations."

"These scientists use various kinds of cover, ranging from the use of misleading historical names for their institutions to the use of names of non-existent institutions," the Canberra-based think tank found.

Most were Australia-bound and studied topics such as hypersonic missiles and navigation technology, according to the study. The majority came from top Chinese military academies such as the National University of Defense Technology, which is led by the state-run Central Military Commission.

Other popular destinations included the European Union and the United States  countries that view Beijing as an intelligence adversary. These nations, however, may be oblivious to their inadvertent role in China's military advancement, according to the report's author Alex Joske: "Helping a rival military develop its expertise and technology isn't in the national interest, yet it's not clear that Western universities and governments are fully aware of this phenomenon."

ASPI's findings come amid widespread fears of Beijing using education, spying, political donations and people-to-people diplomacy to gain a greater clout abroad. The issue threatens to further strain relations between China and Western economies at a time when Beijing is dominating the global trade conversation.
India climbed 23 spots from a year ago to rank 77 out of 190 countries in the World Bank's latest report on the ease of doing business.

It was also among the top 10 most improved economies along with countries such as China, Djibouti and Azerbaijan, according to the "Doing Business 2019" report.

The ease of doing business in India improved notably after a series of reforms made it easier for companies to get construction permits, pay taxes and trade across borders, the report said.

Entrepreneurs were able to start a business more easily after India integrated multiple application forms into a general incorporation form, the World Bank noted. Reforms also "streamlined the process of obtaining a building permit and made it faster and less expensive to obtain a construction permit."

Last year, the country amended its insolvency and bankruptcy code which prevented willful defaulters from buying up any of their own troubled assets at discounted rates. That strengthened access to credit as "secured creditors are now given absolute priority over other claims within insolvency proceedings," the World Bank report said.
Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST

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On Monday she announced that she would not contest her Christian Democratic party's leadership at its conference this December.

But Merz was careful not to rule out working with Merkel, who has dominated European politics for 13 years, shaping the bloc's response to the euro zone debt crisis and the 2015 immigration crisis that ultimately proved her undoing.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel believes that her step-down from the post of the head of the German ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) would not affect the German position in the global talks.

Now facing opposition from both her centre-left coalition partner and the right wing of her own party, the alliance she has led is hemorrhaging support across the country, most recently in a string of disappointing regional elections. The pro-government columnist points out that Chancellor Merkel will have a say in the succession in the CDU. She also stated that she intends to remain chancellor until Germany's next scheduled federal elections in September 2021. If Merkel stays on as a chancellor (at least for some time) this might also help the European Union to adjust to a change of leadership in Germany. The party chairman would be in line to be chancellor if Merkel did resign.

Other analysts underscored uncertainty over who - from loyal allies to fierce critics - will replace Merkel as head of the center-right CDU party in December and secure a chance to succeed her as chancellor.

She subsequently played down concerns that her decision to step down as CDU would leave her a lame duck unable to deal effectively with world leaders such as US President Donald Trump or Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan. Armin Laschet, the governor of North-Rhine Westphalia state, said he didn't want to endanger the work of his state government for the sake of a job in the party.

Tempting as it is from a British perspective to see everything through the lens of Brexit, this really doesn't change that much. "I will accept any democratic decision taken by my party", she said. Merkel long enjoyed the support of German voters as a guarantor of stability and prosperity.

Merkel presented her decision to open Germany's borders to refugees fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East as well as Africa as an unavoidable necessity driven by the vast scale of the human tide.

"We are encouraging him to develop civil society and see that as an opportunity", she said, but stopped short of criticizing the country's human rights situation.

"Right now it is not in anybody's interest for the grand coalition to split apart in Berlin", she added in reference to Merkel's ruling coalition with the center-left SPD party. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text.
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The official announcement is expected to come over the next few days. That opens the possibility that the terms could still be modified or the deals scrapped entirely.

India's Foreign Minister stated earlier this year that New Delhi would not honor unilateral sanctions from the United States, but due to its exposure to the USA financial system it has had to lessen its reliance on Iranian crude.

Several countries "may not be able to go all the way to zero" right away on purchases of Iranian oil after U.S. sanctions take effect, White House National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday at an event in Washington.

"November 4 sees a new injustice from the Americans, but our nation has always stood strong and on November 4 it will stand strong again", stated the Iranian president.

Nearly all buyers have been negotiating with the USA for waivers. Currently, Iran provides its tankers as well as insurance for oil cargoes to India.

The White House also did not immediately responded to question if India's oil purchase reductions from Iran would be considered significant.

"The sanctions that are reimposed on November 5th will target critical sectors of Iran's economy, such as energy, shipping and the ship-building sectors, as well as the provision of insurance and transactions involving the Central Bank of Iran and designated Iranian financial institutions", Paladino said.

India prefers Iranian oil as it comes cheap and suits many refineries' technical configuration.

"These groups foment global instability, they use these funds to support their nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and these funds are used to line corrupt Iranian leaders' pockets rather than help the Iranian people, who are the longest-suffering victims", Paladino said. "India will cut import by about 35% from past year (2017-18), which is a significant cut", the Indian daily cited an unnamed source as saying.

Iran began selling crude oil to private companies for export on Sunday, part of a strategy to counter the planned sanctions. "The people of Iran should know with certainty that the government has no fear of the new American threats".

The US has broadly agreed to grant India a waiver from Iran sanctions after the Indian side chose to cut oil imports from Tehran by about a third in 2018-19, sources familiar with the matter said, adding that an official announcement could be made over the next few days.

Besides, New Delhi sought to get around the restrictions by supplying goods, including wheat, soybean meal and consumer products, to Iran in exchange for oil.
Adolescent and young adult cancer patients face some different challenges than older patients. One young cancer survivor in Columbia hopes the book he's writing with his mother will help shine a light on what it's really like.
The Israeli army claimed that "the children were trying to tamper with the security fence and apparently planted an explosive device".

"The three were acting the same way as during previous incidents in which the terrorists had placed explosives in the same place", said the israeli army.

Ibrahim al-Satari, the father of 13-year-old Mohammed, said he couldn't understand it. "They said they were going to catch birds".

"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. "I do not know why they killed my only son and his friends".

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "deplores" the deaths of the three Palestinian children, a spokesman said.

In their school classrooms on Tuesday, teachers marked the boys' seats with notes with their names. "Such tragedies must be avoided at all costs", he wrote on Twitter.

"The targeting of children or exposing them to risk leading to violence is utterly unacceptable", Stephane Dujarric said.

The situation in Gaza remains volatile, with recurrent clashes along the perimeter fence with Israel and regular exchange of rocket fire and missiles between armed groups in Gaza and the Israeli military. The latest was shot dead on Monday.

At least 217 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the months of demonstrations.

Israel justifies its blockade by the need to contain Hamas and accused the islamist movement that runs the enclave of orchestrating the protests for "terrorists".

Israel and Hamas battled three wars since 2008, and are observing a ceasefire regularly questioned since the last conflict of the 2014.

Palestinian officials and organizations of Human rights argue on their side that protesters were targeted while they accounted for only a small threat. On Friday and into Saturday, Palestinian militants fired dozens of rockets into southern Israel, which responded with extensive airstrikes.
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
It seems someone didn't get the memo that Halloween is supposed to be fun...

Talk about a killjoy! Yeah, yeah, we know some people in the country are congressmen; that doesn't mean you get to squash the Halloween fun. Like a dentist giving out tooth brushes, South Carolina Representative, Mark Sanford (R) gave out paper copies of the Constitution to trick-or-treater's on Halloween.





media.giphy.com

It was bad enough to actually do it but then he went ahead and posted it on social media as if it were a good thing.

You can imagine the response. Actually, you don't have to imagine it, we'll show you.









Did he forget the "trick" part of trick-or-treat?





















Some folks had other ideas for what Sanford should be handing out after his extramarital affair.









It's supposed to be fun, remember?

















Maybe he needed this little reminder.

We can't wait to see what the kids get in their stockings for Christmas.

H/T: Mashable, Charlotte Observer
Singapore-based real estate portal PropertyGuru raises SGD200 million funding from KKR

For expanding its services, Singapore-based real estate portal PropertyGuru has secured an investment of SGD200 million from private equity firm KKR and Co.

PropertyGuru has secured an investment of SGD200 million from private equity firm KKR and Co. Screenshot of PropertyGuru website

The company will utilise the fund to take full ownership of Vietnamese property portal Batdongsan.com.vn, in which it already owns a stake since 2016.

Interestingly, the number of people visiting Batdongsan has doubled to four million a month since that investment.

Hari Krishnan, chief executive officer of PropertyGuru, said, The capital we raised is in excess of what we need to take that stake, the rest we are keeping essentially as a bit of a war chest for other inorganic growth opportunities.

Hari Krishnan, Chief Executive Officer of PropertyGuru. Photo courtesy: Linkedin profile of Hari Krishnan

He also said the firm was looking at providing more mortgage-related services and customised products to users.

Speaking about the new investment, Krishnan added, This new investment is a great validation of the technology-driven growth that PropertyGuru has delivered. Backed by a decade of market leadership in Southeast Asia and delivering a record year for business performance  today the group is profitable, cash flow positive and has revenues growing more than 25 per cent year-on-year.

PropertyGuru is the largest real estate portal which helps users with property-related decisions, search listings online and photos of homes.

During the last funding round in 2015, PropertyGuru raised SGD175 million from US private equity firm TPG, Indonesian media company Emtek and venture capital firm Square Peg Capital.

Ashish Shastry, Member & Head of Southeast Asia of KKR. Photo courtesy: Linkedin profile of Ashish Shastry

Private equity firm KKR has recently backed other technology firms in Southeast Asia, including Indonesian ride-hailing firm Go-Jek and the Philippines' Voyager Innovations, a digital payments firm.

Ashish Shastry, Member & Head of Southeast Asia at KKR, said, With rapid online migration well underway across many industries, the PropertyGuru team, led by Hari V. Krishnan, has clearly established itself as the Southeast Asian champion in the online property space. We look forward to partnering with them to help take them to the next level.

PropertyGuru has recently unveiled a successful brand refresh with revamped websites and mobile apps that are powered by Artificial Intelligence  an industry first in Southeast Asia.

The real estate portal operates in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam with 25 million property seekers visiting monthly.
"Other reforms in India included strengthening access to credit as well as making it easier and faster to pay taxes and trade across borders", the World Bank said. "We are unwavering in our commitment towards economic reforms, which will ensure an environment that fosters industry, investment and opportunities", Modi tweeted.

"This year's top 10 improvers, based on reforms undertaken, are Afghanistan, Djibouti, China, Azerbaijan, India, Togo, Kenya, Cote d'Ivoire, Turkey and Rwanda". In categories in which Israel scored well in the past, it has declined, falling seven places (from 16th to 23rd) for protecting minority investors, and eight places (from 37th to 45th) for starting a business.

India was ranked 100th in World Bank's Doing Business Report previous year, moving up from 131th position that it recorded in 2016.

Modi had vowed to improve the ease of doing business when he came to power in 2014. Pakistan is placed at 136.

"It was a big corruption issue, but there has been a record improvement in ranking", Jaitley said, also noting that India needs major reforms in the "Starting of Business" criterion, in which it takes up the 137th spot, only a few notches higher than 158th in 2014.

The country improved on six of the 10 metrics tracked by the World Bank, including "obtaining credit" and "construction permits". The organisation factored in the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax while forming this year's index.

- India continued its reform agenda and advanced 23 spots to 77th place. "India made paying taxes easier by merging diverse sales taxes into a single GST". The World Bank's latest Doing Business Report 2019 was released in New Delhi on Wednesday.

"India has improved in rank in 6 out of 10 indicators and has moved closer to global best practices.The most dramatic improvements have been registered in the indicators related "construction permits" and "trading across borders", the ministry said. Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion secretary Ramesh Abhishek said the government was incentivising those who were doing honest business.

In 2017, the World Bank had noted in its last report that India lagged in areas such as starting a business, enforcing contracts, registering property, trading across borders and dealing with construction permits. Last year, Israel was ranked 130th (and nearly last) for registering property, 99th for paying taxes, and 92nd for enforcing contracts. "In a joint presentation with the relevant ministries, we showed the World Bank the data and the measures carried out in recent years in five of the ten components of the index".

Getting electricity was made cheaper and faster in Delhi with the cost for low voltage connections reduced by more than 30% of the income per capita, while the time needed was reduced to 31 days, from 39 days.
So far as I can gather, much of David Camerons success as Prime Minister relied on getting Oliver Letwin to actually cause policies to be implemented. To every practical difficulty that dreary old Sir Humphrey came up with, the indefatigable Sir Oliver could be trusted to provide an answer. Perhaps for the very reason that Cameron used him such a lot, his services have been in less demand by Theresa May  in fact he been relieved of Ministerial office.

However Letwin has not been entirely idle. Amidst concerns about land banking he was tasked by the Government with seeing what could be done to speed along the process of delivering new homes.

In June his draft analysis could not find any evidence that major developers are holding land as a purely speculative activity. Rather inconvenient politically as the Government would have rather liked the chance to give greedy property developers a bashing if some justified way of doing so had been offered. However the conclusion was not really surprising  the profit maximising conduct for a developer is to proceed with building.

Anyway, all was not in vain as Letwin did manage to work out the real culprit: the Government. The developers are operating within the constraints of the planning system. Letwin said:

I found that the main reason developers are slow to complete building on large sites is that there is only a limited demand each year for the highly uniform properties they are building on those sites.

My final report sets out some policy levers that government can use to increase the variety of homes on sites, so they can be built out more quickly.

The report calls a change in the planning rules so that we see the sort of homes built that people actually want to live in  rather than units to meet some grand scheme that accords with the planning officers ideological whims.

Letwin says:

If either the major house builders themselves, or others, were to offer much more housing of varying types, designs and tenures including a high proportion of affordable housing, and if more distinctive settings, landscapes and streetscapes were provided on the large sites, and if the resulting variety matched appropriately the differing desires and financial capacities of the people wanting to live in each particular area of high housing demand, then the overall absorption rates  and hence the overall build out rates  could be substantially accelerated.

He adds:

All large housing sites above 1,500 units must strive to achieve sufficient housing diversity to support the timely build out of the site and high quality development. Housing diversity includes housing of differing type, size and style, design and tenure mix. It also includes housing sold or let to specific groups, such as older peoples housing and student accommodation, and plots sold for custom or self-build.

The indications have been that the Government will accept the proposals. James Brokenshire, the Communities and Local Government Secretary, said:

There is no mission more urgent than making our housing market work, and building the homes our country needs.

Sir Oliver has found that it takes 15 years to complete building on some of the largest sites, which is far too long.

It is clear action is needed so developers work with us as partners to deliver 300,000 properties a year by the mid 2020s. We will consider the recommendations in Sir Olivers report to determine next steps to ensure we build the homes our country needs.

The report declares we cannot rely solely on small individual sites. This cannot be a question of either/or. We will continue to need more new housing both on smaller sites and on large sites.

It is proposed that a new National Expert Committee to be set up to advise councils on the different types of properties that should be offered on large sites; they would also handle appeals where there is a dispute between developers and local authorities. It would arbitrate where councils dispute whether developers are offering the right range of properties. Of course whether it resulted in beautiful or ugly properties being built would rather depends on whether the experts appointed to the committee happened to prefer beauty or ugliness. It couldnt be much worse then the design codes typically being imposed at present by municipal planners.

It would be naive to imagine that the imposition of dreary, standardised, uniform housing will easily be lifted. But this report is the latest evidence of rebellion. We are no longer so willing to shrug at the inevitability that new developments will be soulless.
George Trefgarne is CEO of Boscobel & Partners and the author of Norway then Canada, a new strategy for avoiding a Brexit smash.

Jean-Claude Piris, the former head of the European Commissions legal service, is not a natural hero for British Eurosceptics. So it is ironic that those hardliners who oppose our Norway then Canada or Norway for Now plans to fall back on membership of the European Economic Area Agreement in order to avoid a Brexit smash seize with delight upon his apparent hostility to the idea as set out on Twitter and in a letter to The Times.

For those new to the EEA, it extends the Single Market to certain non-EU European nations. But it is outside the Common Agricultural Policy, the Common Fisheries Policy and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. It includes potential limits to freedom of movement. The UK signed it in 1992, and it would deliver Brexit in the short term, plus legal rights for the UK (including rights of veto and the ability potentially limit freedom of movement) which the Government has bizarrely not taken up and discarded in its transition arrangements.

Piris is a very distinguished EU lawyer, and his objections merit an answer.

In fairness, he has already qualified his views, after it was pointed out by our Parliamentary cheerleader, Nick Boles, that even Michel Barnier has suggested that this so-called Norway option as a Brexit route. Piris said: I completely agree with Michel Barnier that EEA is legally possible for UK as a permanent for good solution, but certainly not for now (as an interim solution) and as avoiding the need of a transition period and thus of having first a Withdrawal Agreement.

Well, nobody is suggesting that there should be no Withdrawal Agreement. What our plan entails is modifying the draft Withdrawal Agreement to replace the proposed transition with the UKs membership of the EEA. This is possible because the Article 50 Withdrawal letter sent by May didnt mention the EEA, which has a separate withdrawal mechanism  and we consequently remain a contracting party to it.

Joining EFTA

Once we leave the EU, the UKs membership of the EEA can be made operable by joining the other governance pillar, the Surveillance Authority and Court of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). EFTA has proved to be a congenial club for its members.

What for now means

There are those on the Conservative backbenches who say only a hard, legally enforceable deadline for leaving the EEA in 2021 (a year before the next scheduled general election) would be acceptable. I dont agree with them. Such a deadline would create another cliff edge which would be against our interests and, as Erna Solberg suggested this week, it would be a little bit difficult for other EEA+EFTA members too.

But we dont need to ask for any treaty changes or new legal safeguards. The UK can simply rely on the flexibility of the existing, relatively permissive, exit mechanism of giving 12 months notice under Article 127 of the EEA Treaty. Rather than a hard stop, regular reviews should be conducted, giving Parliament the opportunity to decide whether to stay in the EEA or not. If the EEA has not worked for the UK because we are indeed reduced to mere EU-rule-takers, as some understandably fear, we can leave for a Canada style free trade agreement (FTA).

My own opinion is we should give it a go, pause and see how it works. It may be that, with our participation, both the EEA and EFTA will develop positively, to our mutual benefit. The Norwegians can see this opportunity too.

The legal arguments marshalled by Piris are, however, an indication of how some hawks in the EU, determined to extract a Carthaginian peace, might react to an application by the UK to take up our legal rights in the EEA. For that reason, if we do go down this route, we should immediately assemble a team of top international lawyers to gear up for possible international dispute resolution processes. The brilliant Geoffrey Cox could lead it.

I am not a lawyer, but having spoken to some likely candidates for such a team, this is my understanding of what they are likely to say.

1. We remain a contracting party to the EEA

This is the critical point, about which Ministers are evasive. The EEA is a mixed agreement, signed by the EU and member states individually. As Sir Richard Aikens (a former Lord Justice of Appeal), Professor George Yarrow, and Professor Guglielmo Verdirame have argued on the Briefings for Brexit site, we have not sent a withdrawal notice from the EEA, ergo we remain contracting parties.

There is no provision in international law for withdrawing from an international treaty by implication, ie via our Article 50 letter to the EU. Nor are there any provisions in either the EEA itself or the EU treaties which mean withdrawing from one means you are withdrawing from the other.

2. We are supported by the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties

The 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties sits above the EUs institutions. Under the VCLT it is theoretically possible for the other contracting parties, including the EU, to kick us out of the EEA. But to do that they would need first to be unanimous, and then prove there had been a material breach of the Agreement, which plainly there would not have been.

Article 62 of the VCLT gives the other parties the right to terminate membership if there is a fundamental change of circumstances. But case law demonstrates that the bar for this is set very high and Brexit would not satisfy it. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled, for instance, that not even the end of communism was enough to negate a treaty between Hungary and Slovakia.

3. The EU has to make it work

Given that we remain contracting parties to the treaty, we can rely on established good faith obligations in international law to get agreement. The maxims include pacta sunt servanda  the treaty must be complied with; and res magis valeat quam pereat, the thing must be made to work rather than fail. So while our application to join EFTA and minor amendments to the EEA Treaty would obviously require the consent of the other parties, they are bound by their own Treaty commitments and international law to give consent. If they refused, we could appeal to arbitration and ultimately the ICJ.

4. A temporary customs arrangement is feasible

Piris is right that the EFTA states have their own FTAs which we would have to join, and this means we cannot stay in the Customs Union. The EFTA states have their own trade policy. We have only suggested remaining temporarily in the EU Customs arrangements as a workaround, while the systems are put in place and we port across either the EFTA FTAs or the EUs. This would ultimately be a political decision, but it is one which Barnier has already himself suggested by talking of Norway Plus.

In fact, the trade provisions of the EEA are among its many attractions. We could sign our own FTAs, as Norway is doing with China. It is a commercial treaty, between sovereign nations. Just the sort of international agreement with which the UK is most happy.

5. Removing the backstop

Piris says whatever we decide to do the Irish backstop remains necessary. Well, we beg to differ. The Norwegian border with Sweden works very well without one and, if the UK remained a member of the single market, it is hard to see why it would be required. On the contrary, the EEA would create a legal duty  and trust  on both sides to make the border work smoothly, and provide the legal and technical agreements to make possible the hi-tech, behind the border solutions advocated by David Davis & company.

Plan B

Just imagine. If the Prime Minister (whoever it may be), wrote to the EU and its members saying: Sorry about this, change of plan. Wed like to assert our rights under the EEA and apply to re-join EFTA, the legal balance of power in the negotiations would be shifted dramatically in our favour. It would, I believe, command support in Parliament and the country.

From the EUs side, there would no longer be any challenge to their legal order. In the very unlikely event that Barnier did not mean what he said about the Norway option, we could go to international arbitration. Such a course is not without legal risk for the EU, as its institutions have never been tested by a higher court.

We are not pretending the Norway then Canada, or Norway for Now strategy is perfect, or that it will not be accompanied by negotiation and argument. Like any plan it will not doubt have to evolve in execution. But reasonable political and legal opinion suggests it is by far the best alternative path out of both the dark and tangled Chequers woods and the economic quick sand of No Deal. Just why the UK Government will not take it is a mystery.
Six years ago, the TaxPayers Alliance reported that in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories.

Since then, the figures have varied, and some Conservative members or supporters have been selected to fill important posts.

Nonetheless, it remains the case that, since it took office in 2010, our Party has punched beneath its weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply dont apply in the same number as Labour supporters.

To help remedy this, every week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives might be aware of the opportunities presented.

         

HS2 Ltd  Non-Executive Directors

As Non-Executive Director, you will champion the HS2 vision and objectives, challenging Board decisions where appropriate to maintain the aspired strategic direction and culture of the organisation whilst holding the leadership team to account for effective and efficient delivery against the agreed strategy and business plan. This will include offering alternative perspectives to the sector norm, with the ability to consider strategic, complex and often sensitive issues from an informed and balanced perspective. You will need recent and relevant Executive Board or Non-Executive Director experience with the tenacity and interpersonal skills to operate in a high profile organisation tasked with delivering against demanding objectives.

Time: Two days per month.

Remuneration: 950 per diem.

Closes: 01 November

         

Home Office  Immigration Services Commissioner

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen to become the new Commissioner of the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). The OISC is an independent executive non-departmental public body with approximately 60 staff. The Commissioner is the head of the organisation and is appointed by the Home Secretary. The role of the OISC is to regulate individuals or organisations who provide immigration advice to members of the public and who are not practising lawyers and are therefore not regulated by another body. The primary way in which the OISC performs this function is by ensuring that these immigration advisers are registered with them and that action is taken against those who provide advice or services without being registered. The regulatory scheme applies to over 1500 organisations and over 3000 immigration advisers.

Time: Three days per week.

Remuneration: 66,000 per annum.

Closes: 11 November

         

British Transport Police Authority  Members

Members of the BTPA play an active role in working towards ensuring that an effective and efficient police service is provided on the railways. Collectively, the BTPA will be accountable for the discharge of the responsibilities set out in the legislation. Members primary responsibility will be to the work of the BTPA as a whole rather than as a representative of any area from which they may come. In order to fulfil this role, the Secretary of State expects that a Member will be required to commit 30 days a year to BTPA business, although this may not necessarily arise in a regular pattern. Whilst the majority of the work will take place in Camden in London, where both the BTPA and BTP Force headquarters are based, there may be some requirement to travel to other parts of the country where the BTP operates.

Time: 30 days per annum.

Remuneration: 16,497 per annum.

Closes: 12 November

         

Ministry of Justice  Her Majestys Chief Inspector of Probation

The Chief Inspector has a duty to ensure the inspection of probation and youth offending services in England and Wales and provide independent scrutiny of the quality of work undertaken with individual offenders. Probation provision is currently delivered by Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) which are subject to contract management oversight by Her Majestys Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the National Probation Service (NPS), which is directly line managed as part of HMPPS. HMI Probation is responsible for delivering and developing programmes of inspection and the inspection methodology or framework against which both probation services provision and Youth Offending Teams are inspected. The Chief Inspector is actively engaged in leading the day to day inspection process.

Time: Full-time, three years.

Remuneration: 135,000 per annum, pensionable.

Closes: 12 November

         

Health and Care Professions Council  Chair of Council

We are seeking to appoint a Chair of Council. You will have experience of providing strong non-executive leadership and be able to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in all of the HCPCs activities. You will act as an ambassador for the HCPC, influencing and building effective relationships internally and externally with a range of senior level stakeholders, inspiring confidence in the organisation and promoting the organisations central commitment to public protection. The Chair of Council appointment is open to both Lay and Registrant candidates. The HCPC is committed to equality of opportunity and actively guards against unfair discrimination on any grounds (including sexual orientation, religion or beliefs, race, sex, age or disability). We are a UK-wide regulator and encourage applicants from all countries of the UK.

Time: Three days per week approx.

Remuneration: 65,000 annual allowance.

Closes: 19 November

         

Met Office  Non-Executive Directors

The Met Office employs around 1900 people in sites across the UK and overseas. It operates as a Trading Fund, meaning that, whilst it is sponsored by HM Government, it self-funds through the services it provides to its diverse client base. The Met Office steering Board has a vital role in advising and supporting the Chief Executive and the Executive Team to deliver the organisations strategic priorities and ensuring that resources are allocated effectively for their delivery. The Board reviews the management and performance of the Met Office and ensures high standards of corporate governance are maintained As a Non-Executive Director (NED) on the Met Office Board, you will have an important and demanding role and will provide a valuable external perspective to the organisation. This includes providing influence and access to networks which the organisation would otherwise not have.

Time: 27 days per annum.

Remuneration: 15,000 per annum.

Closes: 26 November

         

Office of Tax Simplification  Chair

We are looking for a motivated individual to Chair the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS). This role offers a unique opportunity to participate in tax policy-making at the heart of government. The Chair will lead the OTS boards bimonthly meetings and the Offices engagement with HM Treasury ministers. The OTS board is responsible for shaping the strategy and priorities of the OTS, deciding on proposals for potential reviews to put forward to the Chancellor and agreeing key recommendations in the reviews. The Chair will also represent the OTS at public engagements and can be requested to present evidence on the Offices work to Parliamentary Committees. The recommended candidate for the Chair role will require approval by the Chancellor of the Exchequer before the appointment can be confirmed and will be subject to a post-appointment hearing held by the Treasury Select Committee.

Time: Up to two days per month.

Remuneration: 400 per diem.

Closes: 27 November
Cox agrees to meet campaigners against witch-hunt of Ulster veterans

Geoffrey Cox, the Attorney General, has been enjoying a rapid ascent to fan-favourite status after a star turn on the conference stage and some high-profile leadership against bids to fudge the Irish backstop.

This is only likely to be furthered by the news that, as reported in the Sun, he has agreed to meet representatives of the strong Tory campaign against the witch hunt of ex-servicemen who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

Over 150 Conservative MPs and peers have signed a letter to May attacking proposals for another round of historical investigations into the conduct of British security forces in the Province, calling for veterans to be offered lasting legal protection from further harassment  and accusing the Government of breaking the Military Covenant.

Mark Francois, a former defence minister, has joined the chorus of MPs urging the Prime Minister to take action, according to the News Letter.

The prosecution of now-elderly former soldiers is especially fraught in the aftermath of the revelation that many on-the-run terror suspects had been granted a de facto amnesty by the Government under the so-called comfort letter scheme.

May invites Plaid leader for talks in Downing Street

Wales Online reports that Adam Price, the newly-elected leader of Plaid Cymru, held face-to-face talks with Theresa May in Number Ten this week.

The Welsh nationalists currently hold four seats in the House of Commons, and may have a crucial role to play in what could be knife-edge Brexit votes. However, Price apparently reiterated his partys commitment to a second referendum, which doesnt suggest its likely to back the Government.

He also issued the inevitable request for yet more devolved powers, this time a range of economic tools and an expanded ability to borrow, and had a dig at the Labour-led Welsh Government for failing to exert adequate influence at Westminster.

In other Plaid news, a former nationalist member of the Welsh Assembly has avoided prison after pleading guilty to making indecent images of children.

Bradley mulling external mediator for Northern Ireland

Karen Bradley is actively considering whether and how an external mediator could help to get the Provinces devolved settlement up and running again, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

The Northern Irish Secretary has been come in for fresh criticism after the Government once again ducked the prospect of direct rule, instead opting to grant civil servants the power to make decisions normally made by elected and accountable politicians.

Sam McBride, of the News Letter, reports that the local Attorney General has already had to stop them literally making up criminal offences, and questions remain as to how long Westminster can continue to put off taking up political responsibility for Northern Ireland  especially in light of concerted efforts by mainland MPs to drive through changes to sensitive areas of social legislation such as abortion and gay marriage.

Wishart urges Sturgeon to drop support for second referendum

The EU referendum has posed a number of strategic challenges for the Scottish National Party, the latest of which is what to do about the campaign for a rematch.

On the one hand, Brexit has struck a major blow to Scotlands easiest path out of the Union  independence in Europe. For all that hardline remainers such as Guto Bebb still extol the old orthodoxy, it is greatly in the interest of the separatist parties to see the 2016 vote overturned.

Yet to do that would be to set a very dangerous precedent that a referendum result should be revisited and ratified by the electorate after the negotiations. The danger this poses to SNP aspirations is obvious.

This explains why a row has broken out this week amongst the normally iron-disciplined Nationalists. Pete Wishart, who now has the distinction of being the Partys longest-serving MP, accused Nicola Sturgeon of undermining the independence campaign by backing a Peoples Vote, campaigners for which have in turn urged the First Minister to distance herself from him.

In other Nationalist news, this week the party was forced to suspend a member after he authored a xenophobic and antisemitic blog which was shared by SNP social media channels, according to the Herald.

DUP challenged over Budget role

The Ulster Unionists have claimed that the Government has called the bluff of its Democratic Unionist allies, after the latter backed the Budget despite threats to withhold their support over the Irish backstop, the News Letter reports.

Lord Empey, who previously led the UUP and helped to forge its ill-fated alliance with the Conservatives at the 2010 election, said that the DUP were retreating with their tail between their legs.

In response Sammy Wilson, the DUP MP for East Antrim, has reiterated that his party might still withdraw support from the Prime Minister at a future date.

This comes as more details emerge about the Northern Irish partys influence. A report in todays Daily Mail indicates that regular high-level meetings between the DUPs Commons leadership and senior Government figures, including David Lidington and Julian Smith, have been taking place on a monthly basis.

The party has also been keen to take credit for several measures in the Budget, both Ulster-related  such as the 350 million city deal for Belfast  and UK-wide measures such as the Armed Forces Covenant donation.
Mobilising some 50,000 troops, 65 ships and 250 aircraft from 31 countries several hundred kilometers (miles) from Norway's border with Russian Federation in the Arctic, the exercises have angered Moscow, which had vowed to "retaliate".

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has rejected the comparison of "Trident Juncture 18" to the alliance's exercises during the Cold War.

The alliance is conducting its largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War in central and eastern Norway, the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea until November 7.

50,000 troops engage in largest NATO drills in decades (VIDEOS) Massive NATO drills called Trident Juncture 2018 are underway in Norway, involving thousands of troops and vehicles.

Reportedly, this NATO-led defensive exercise has been described as its largest military maneuvers since 1980s.

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation said Tuesday the alliance will not change its plans for its biggest military exercise since the end of the Cold War in Norway after Russian Federation announced to test missiles later this week in nearby worldwide waters. He did not elaborate. Russian Federation has said its navy plans to test missiles Thursday through Saturday in global waters off western Norway.

"There's a strong deterrent message here that will be sent", Admiral James Foggo, head of US Navy forces in Europe and Africa and commander of Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy, told reporters earlier this month.

The Marines carrying out the landing are part of the 24th MEU embarked aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima.

Four days after their start, the ongoing NATO military maneuvers in Northern Atlantic have already taken their toll on Iceland in another, rather less anticipated fashion - as the USA representatives' predilection for alcohol caught local bar owners flatfooted.

In conjunction with Trident Juncture, the USS Harry S. Truman, a massive aircraft carrier, was leading a US strike carrier group conducting air, surface and underwater exercises in the rough Arctic seas, Foggo said.
CORNWALL, Ontario  The Cornwall Community Police Service (CCPS) is requesting the assistance of the public in locating a missing person. Brittany Mussgnug, 29-years-old, was last spoken to by family on Oct. 23, 2018.

Police would like to speak with anyone with information concerning Brittany or her whereabouts to verify her wellbeing. She is described as 55 tall, with medium-to-long length red hair and brown eyes.

If you have any information that could assist, please contact CCPS dispatch at 613-933-5000 ext. 2418.
The Nigerian Army has said troops of Army Headquarters Garrison escorting ammunition and missiles from Abuja to Army Central Ammunition Depot in Kaduna State was attacked by some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) at Zuba bridge, Abuja.

"The Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (AFIMN) objected and rejected the baseless claims made by the Police that followers of Sheikh Zakzaky were arrested with explosives and at the same time, we are calling on the public to please ignore the allegation".

The number of people killed since Saturday in the protests hit at least 48, according to the IMN, contrasting with the military's official death toll of six. The army has said that three IMN members were killed on Monday.

In the process, some of them were killed, many sustained injuries while over 400 IMN members were arrested.

They are likely to be charged for inciting violence and carrying unsafe weapons, according to Abuja police commissioner Bala Ciroma.

The latest clashes and the military's use of deadly force against civilians have raised fears that the IMN could become radicalised in the same way as the Islamist group Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria, who were subject to a crackdown in 2009.

The rift between the army and the Islamic group started off on Saturday when the soldiers embarked in a shoot out with the Shiites members. Since then, however, the government has remained largely silent on accusations it has used excessive force against the group.

Supporters of an imprisoned Shiite cleric on Wednesday said they had begun burying dozens of people they say were killed in clashes with the Nigerian security forces. Although virtually all of them are Sunnis, Zakzaky has attracted an estimated 3 million followers as a preacher of Shi'ite Islam since being drawn to that sect by the 1979 revolution in Iran.
Moscow Russia's only aircraft carrier was damaged when a crane crashed on to it as it was undergoing repairs near the Arctic city of Murmansk.

A floating dry dock PD-50 sank at the shipbuilding plant which performed repairs on Admiral Kuznetsov, according to the spokesperson.

According to a report by news agency Sever Post, four people were injured and one person missing when the floating docks sank due to an accident.

Aleksei Rakhmanov, head of the state-run United Shipyards Corporation, said experts are assessing the damage but that "the vitally important parts of the aircraft carrier were not affected".

The accident took place on the night of Monday to Tuesday near Murmansk (north), where the Admiral Kuznetsov is immobilized since the beginning of 2017 for maintenance work and upgrades expected to last until 2021.

The head of the press service of the Center for ship fix "Zvezdochka" (by contract) Yevgeny Gladyshev said that the fallen structures damaged repaired part of the aircraft carrier.

Network mock another incident with the ship of the Russian Navy "Admiral Kuznetsov", the fix of which drowned the world's largest floating dock, reports the Chronicle.info with reference to the Apostrophe. "Unfortunately, one person is still not found", she said. Ship's underwater hull probably is damaged, too - underwater survey to be carried out asap.

"The floating dock has already sunk completely", the source said.

The PD-50, one of the world's largest floating docks, was built in 1980 in Sweden.

It added that the accident could be the result of "violations in the operation" of the ship fix facilities.
Zarif arrived in Istanbul on Monday to attend a trilateral ministerial meeting between Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan and the opening of Istanbul's third airport.

This comes as the sanctions on Iran's energy and banking sectors work to eliminate oil purchases from the Islamic Republic.

The foreign minister's visit comes in the wake of the kidnapping of border guards of Iran near its border with Pakistan earlier this month.

The foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran began their sixth trilateral meeting yesterday, during which they discussed opportunities to enhance cooperation and exchange views on regional issues.

Iran is continuing to condemn US imposed sanctions days before they take effect on Tehran's oil exports.

While welcoming his Iranian Counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed his desire to strengthening the existing strong bilateral relations. "The neighboring countries and European nations have resisted against Washington's unilateral measures".

The abduction caused friction between the two countries, as the Iranian foreign ministry summoned the Pakistani envoy in Tehran to convey its concerns over the issue.

European signatories of the nuclear deal are still committed to the accord and will soon launch a mechanism aiming to sidestep the USA financial system by using an EU intermediary to handle trade with Iran.

Turkey has asked for exemptions from the USA before reimposing sanctions on Iranian finance and energy sectors.
After four years of planning and a 23 month construction period, the 2,900-guest Celebrity Edge was delivered today at Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. At the same time, the yard laid the keep for the next Edge-class ship in the Celebrity Apex.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain and Celebrity's President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo hosted a ceremony aboard Celebrity Edge, while docked in the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The Celebrity Executive Team were also in attendance along with shipyard officials, including General Manager Laurent Castaing, and 1,377 crew members from 72 different countries.

"The Celebrity team has done an outstanding job and I cannot thank the Chantiers de l'Atlantique team enough for delivering this game-changing ship and for their ongoing partnership," said Fain. "Their work continues to transform the way our guests experience the world."

"Today is a very special day for all of us as we have been eagerly anticipating this moment for more than four years," said Lutoff-Perlo. "There are so many aspects of Celebrity Edge that are more groundbreaking than we could have ever imagined, and it is all a testament to the hard work, creativity and talent of everyone who helped bring this magnificent ship to life."

"Thanks to the confidence Celebrity Cruises granted us and to the exceptional level of cooperation between our respective teams, we are proud to have designed and built one of the most innovative cruise ships ever," added Castaing. "This achievement demonstrates once again our capacity to deliver right on time ships of the highest quality to our most demanding customers."

Following the Celebrity Edge check-signing and delivery ceremony, attendees made their way across the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard for the ceremonial keel laying of Celebrity Apex, where a 762-ton block was lifted in the air and a lucky coin was placed on the dock before the block was lowered into position.

On November 6, 2018, Celebrity Edge will begin her transatlantic voyage to her home port at T25 at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Her inaugural season will be spent sailing alternating seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruise itineraries.
Carnival is very confident and optimistic on the China cruise market, said Roger Chen, chairman in China for Carnival Corporation.

We are here to stay in China, said Chen, speaking at China Cruise Shipping in Shenzhen.

He elaborated that Costa had successfully operated in the Chinese market dating back to 2006, when the Costa Allegra debuted.

Next year, Costa will take it up a notch with the debut of the new made-for-China Costa Veneiza.

A second newbuild follows in 2020. Meanwhile, this winter, Costa maintains a year-round presence in China with the Atlantica and Senera.

Princess, he said, had been in the market since 2014 offering a premium experience. Princess is not leaving China; Princess is still in China seasonally, he noted.

Regarding 2018s market fluctuations, he said exaggerations were being made, and it was natural for any industry to have adjustment periods.

We are collaborating with China State Shipbuilding Corporation, building the largest made-in China vessel as part of the joint venture, and we will also operate this vessel in the Chinese market, Chen said.

The newbuild program will touch a large industrial supply chain in China, he said.

In terms of mark challenges Chen pointed to limited itinerary options, geopolitical issues and weather concerns such as typhoons, as well as the charter model.

We know people have been complaining about the distribution model, he added. We are moving to sell tickets directly to consumers and expand our distribution model.

On the demand side, he said there was a huge potential market to be tapped with a relatively low penetration rate.
The 13th China Cruise Shipping Conference and International Expo was the center of attention on Thursday in Shenzhen with a full conference program for an estimated 800 attendees, as well as an adjacent trade show exhibition area.

The Chinese cruise industry is entering a transition period, according to many speakers, with many referring to it as a readjustment.

2030 Goal

A 2018-2030 China cruise development plan is in the works, according to Qiang Wu, co-chairman of the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association (CCYIA) and former president of China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The plan includes everything from maritime policies to the future of the sales model in the country, while also trying to discourage an ongoing price war.

The charter cruise model is a transitional business model and we should move on to new formats, he said.

As far as a future outlook, some projections show China having between 80 to 100 large cruise ships in the market year-round by 2030, which would add up to a conservative estimate of 20 million Chinese cruise passengers annually.

Readjustment Period

The consensus among key officials and cruise operators was that the cruise industry in China has entered a period of needed transition and readjustment.

Supply concerns combined with a charter-based business model and pricing issues are todays concerns, but the industry is moving quickly to adjust itself, adopting new sales channels and working to maintain pricing integrity.

Shenzhen Development

Shenzhen will continue to promote cruise tourism  we will also contribute to improve the policy framework and the environment for the cruise industry so we can play a key leading role, said Yihuan Wu, vice mayor, peoples government of Shenzhen municipality.

Shenzhen inaugurated its new cruise terminal at the end of 2016, and has quickly become among the leading homeports in mainland China.

Wu, pointing to Shenzhens strategic location, said the cruise industry could drive economic gross in many sectors.

CMG

China Merchants Groups wide-ranging portfolio of business activities may soon include a cruise line to go along with ports, shipyards, banking and more.

The company is said to be considering entering the cruise market, and Chairman Jianhong Li noted China Merchants Group was looking at research and development and innovation, while also exploring new business models.

Cut Throat

The Chinese cruise industry has entered a new era, underscored by a natural period of market adjustment, said Wenxue Wu, former vice director, National Tourism Administration, speaking at China Cruise Shipping in Shenzhen.

He said that with cruise still a relatively new vacation product, the industry needs to focus on driving market demand while being given fair policy framework.

He attributed the slowdown in the business to a lack of itinerary options and a competitive pricing environment he called cut throat.

He said cost is the first criteria for Chinese cruise passengers, and that the competition and price war was challenging.

The cruise market is developing too fast and is immature, he said. We need to break up the chartering business model.

In addition, he urged cruise operators to design new and longer itineraries, pointing out Gentings effort to send the Explorer Dream from Shanghai on short cruises to Russia next summer.

Govt Support

Its encouraging to see so many documents from the central government supporting the cruise industrys development in China, said Shenglin Li, former minister for the Ministry of Transport.

The cruise industry in China is still at an early stage of development, he said.

Shorepower

Deli Luo, vice inspector, water transport bureau, Ministry of Transport, said that his agency has a three-year cruise plan, including adding more shorepower installations at all key ports.

Shorepower is currently offered in Shanghai and Shenzhen, where the SkySea Golden Era plugged in last year.

He said China needs to target building cruise vessels customized for Chinese guests.

Among other focus areas has been the quality and availability of fuel; and working with other government agencies to expedite customs clearance.
The Port of Seattle has announced that it welcomed 1,114,888 revenue passengers through its cruise terminals in 2018, the second year in a row the port exceeded the one-million passenger mark.

While celebrating 20 years serving the cruise industry, more growth is expected next year with the arrival of the Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas  a 4,180 passenger vessel that will be the largest on the West Coast in 2019  and the addition of the Norwegian Joy, sister ship of the Norwegian Bliss, a 4,000-passenger vessel.

This year, Port of Seattle is proud to celebrate our 20 years of serving the cruise industry, while also handling over one-million passengers for the second year in a row, said Commission President Courtney Gregoire. This continued growth points to a bright future for cruise in Seattle, and we are proud that each homeported cruise vessel brings approximately $2.7 million for our local economy. Through innovation and collaboration, we continue to work with our partners to make this the greenest port in the nation.

The Port saw a 4-percent increase in cruise passengers over 2017, which brought 1,071,594 revenue passengers. Seattles cruise business  currently said to be leading all cruise homeports on the West Coast in passenger volume  is responsible for over 4,000 jobs, $501 million in annual business revenue, and $18.9 million annually in state and local tax revenues.

In 2019, the Port of Seattle will host 11 homeported ships for Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess and Royal Caribbean.
In the four years since thousands of people crowded the streets of Ferguson, Missouri to protest police brutality, two prominent figures in the movement have turned up dead. So when Danye Jones, the son of activist Melissa McKinnies, was found dead in the backyard of his mother's St. Louis County home last month, the tragic discovery added new fuel to the unproven theory that Ferguson protesters are being targeted because of their activism.

But contrary to viral headlines that reference an "alleged lynching," Jones' death is being investigated as a suicide. Police said Wednesday that there were no signs of foul play, the Riverfront Times reports.

Jones, 24, was found dead on Oct. 17. His death began attracting attention on social media over the weekend, after McKinnies shared graphic photos that appear to show Jones hanging from a bedsheet.

"They lynched my baby," McKinnies wrote in a Facebook post that has since been removed. "I'm sick and losing my mind, but I had to let the world know what they did to my baby!"

McKinnies told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that her son was upbeat, not suicidal, and that she believes he was killed in retaliation for her activism. She said that he had been hung from a tree with a bedsheet that didn't match any of the ones that the family owns, and that he didn't know how to tie the types of knots that were used. Also, McKinnies told the paper, Jones had packed an overnight bag and left it on the patio, indicating that he had been planning on going somewhere with the person who killed him.

But St. Louis County Police Sgt. Shawn McGuire told the Post-Dispatch that Jones' family reported a suicide when they called 911. The 24-year-old's body was on the ground when officers arrived, he said, and there were no indications of struggle or trauma. As a result, the death is being considered a suicide, though, according to the Post-Dispatch, the cause of death won't be determined until toxicology tests have been completed.

The St. Louis County Medical Examiner's Office told the Associated Press that it does not issue preliminary findings, and it could take several weeks to have an official cause of death.

Three untimely deaths in St. Louis County over the past four years have inspired speculation that Ferguson protesters are being systematically murdered, although so far there is no evidence to suggest that the parallels are anything more than coincidental.

The first took place in November 2014, when riots broke out after a grand jury declined to indict police officer Darren Wilson for fatally shooting Michael Brown in August of that year. The next morning, Deandre Joshua, 20, was found dead inside his car not far from the apartment complex where Brown had been shot. Joshua had been shot in the head and his body had been lit on fire. Police investigated his death as a homicide, and told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that they were not discounting the possibility that the murder was linked to the rioting. According to the Riverfront Times, the case remains unsolved.

Two years later, Darren Seals, 29, was found dead inside a burning car. He, too, had been fatally shot. Seals was one of the first protesters to take to the streets after Brown's death and had become a prominent anti-violence advocate, The Washington Post's Wesley Lowery reported. His death, which was also investigated as a homicide and remains unsolved, led other activists to fear that Seals had been targeted for his advocacy.

In May, Edward Crawford, 27, died of what police said was a self-inflicted gunshot. Crawford was best known as the man wearing an American flag tank top and hurling a smoking tear gas canister in a 2014 photograph that came to be associated with the Ferguson riots. His father contested the police's account, telling the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Crawford had been in good spirits two days before his death and that he believed his son had shot himself by accident.

"Every few months an activist from Ferguson losses their life or loved one," said Ohun Ashe, a St. Louis-based activist, in a Sunday tweet that contained a graphic photo of Jones' body. "Oct 17, a well known activist, Melissa (Missy) Mckinnies found her son hanging from a tree in her backyard. They are trying to rule it a suicide but it's not that. Its not."

Brittany Packnett, who along with other Black Lives Matters activists created Campaign Zero, a policy platform that aims to end police brutality, wrote, "#DanyeJones is at least the 4th person related to the #Ferguson uprising to die in more than suspicious circumstances. This is a pattern."
The world's oceans have been soaking up far more excess heat in recent decades than scientists realized, suggesting that Earth could be set to warm even faster than predicted in the years ahead, according to new research published Wednesday.

Over the past quarter century, the Earth's oceans have retained 60 percent more heat each year than scientists previously had thought, said Laure Resplandy, a geoscientist at Princeton University who led the startling study published Wednesday in the journal Nature. The difference represents an enormous amount of additional energy, originating from the sun and trapped by the Earth's atmosphere - more than 8 times the world's energy consumption, year after year.

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In the scientific realm, the new findings help to resolve long-running doubts about the rate of the warming of the oceans prior to the year 2007, when reliable measurements from devices called "Argo floats" were put to use worldwide. Before that, different types of temperature records - and an overall lack of them - contributed to murkiness about how quickly the oceans were heating up.

The higher-than-expected amount of heat in the oceans means more heat is being retained within the Earth's climate system each year, rather than escaping into space. In essence, more heat in the oceans signals that global warming itself is more advanced than scientists thought.

"We thought that we got away with not a lot of warming in both the ocean and the atmosphere for the amount of CO2 that we emitted," said Resplandy, who published the work with experts from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and several other institutions in the U.S., China, France, and Germany. "But we were wrong. The planet warmed more than we thought. It was hidden from us just because we didn't sample it right. But it was there. It was in the ocean already."

Wednesday's study also could have important policy implications. If ocean temperatures are rising more rapidly than previously calculated, that could leave nations even less time to dramatically cut the world's emissions of carbon dioxide, in hopes of limiting global warming to the ambitious goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

The world already has warmed 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) since the late 19th century. Scientists backed by the United Nations reported earlier this month that with warming projected to steadily increase, the world faces a daunting challenge in trying to limit that warming to only another half degree Celsius. The group found that it would take "unprecedented" action by leaders across the globe over the coming decade to even have a shot at that goal.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has continued to roll back regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions from vehicles, coal plants and other sources, and has said it intends to withdraw from the Paris climate accord. In one instance, the administration relied on an assumption that the planet will warm a disastrous 7 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 4 degrees Celsius, by the end of the century in arguing that a proposal to ease vehicle fuel-efficiency standards would have only minor climate impacts.

The new research underscores the potential consequences of global inaction. Faster warming oceans mean that seas will rise faster and that more heat will be delivered to critical locations that already are facing the effects of a warming climate, such as coral reefs in the tropics and the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica.

"In case the larger estimate of ocean heat uptake turns out to be true, adaptation to - and mitigation of - our changing climate would become more urgent," said Pieter Tans, leader of the Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gases Group at NOAA, who was not involved in the study.

The oceans absorb more than 90 percent of the excess energy trapped within the world's atmosphere.

The new research does not measure the ocean's temperature directly. Rather, it measures the volume of gases, specifically oxygen and carbon dioxide, that have escaped the ocean in recent decades and headed into the atmosphere as it heats up. The method offered scientists a reliable indicator of ocean temperature change because it reflects a fundamental behavior of a liquid when heated.

"When the ocean warms, it loses some gas to the atmosphere," said Resplandy. "That's an analogy that I make all the time: if you leave your Coke in the sun, it will lose the gas."

This approach allowed researchers to recheck the contested history of ocean temperatures in a different and novel way. In doing so, they came up with a higher number for how much warming the oceans have experienced over time.

"I feel like this is a triumph of earth system science. That we could get confirmation from atmospheric gases of ocean heat content is extraordinary," said Joellen Russell, a professor and oceanographer at the University of Arizona. "You've got the A-team here on this paper."

But Russell said the findings themselves are hardly as uplifting.

"(It) does have implications for climate sensitivity, meaning how warm does a certain amount of CO2 make us," Russell said, adding that the world could have a smaller "carbon budget" than once thought. That budget refers to the amount of carbon dioxide humans can emit while still being able to keep warming below dangerous levels.

The scientists calculated that because of the increased heat already stored in the ocean, the maximum emissions that the world can produce while still avoiding a warming of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) would have to be reduced by 25 percent. This represents a very significant shrinkage of an already very narrow carbon 'budget.'

The U.N. panel of climate scientists said recently that global carbon emissions must be cut in half by 2030 if the world hopes to remain beneath 1.5 Celsius of warming. But Resplandy said that the evidence of faster warming ocean "shifts the probability, making it harder to stay below the 1.5 degree temperature target.

Understanding what's happening with Earth's oceans is critical simply because they, far more than the atmosphere, are the mirror of ongoing climate change.

According to a major climate report released last year by the U.S. government, the world's oceans have absorbed about 93 percent of the excess heat caused by greenhouse gases since the mid-20th century. Scientists have found that ocean heat has increased at all depths since the 1960s, while surface waters also have warmed. The federal climate report projected a global increase in average sea surface temperatures of as high as nearly 5 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100 if emissions continue unabated, with even higher levels of warming in some U.S. coastal regions.

The world's oceans also currently absorb more than a quarter of the carbon dioxide emitted annually from human activities - an effect making them more acidic and threatening fragile ecosystems, federal researchers say. "The rate of acidification is unparalleled in at least the past 66 million years," the government climate report stated.

Paul Durack, a research scientist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, said Wednesday's study offers "a really interesting new insight" but is "quite alarming."

The warming found in the study is "more than twice the rates of long-term warming estimates from 1960s and 70s to the present," Durack said, adding that if these rates are validated by further studies, "it means the rate of warming and the sensitivity of the earth's system to greenhouse gases is at the upper end." He said that if scientists have underestimated the amount of heat taken up by the oceans, "it will mean we need to go back to the drawing board" on the aggressiveness of mitigation actions the world needs to take promptly to limit future warming.

Beyond the long-term implications of warmer oceans, Russell added that in the short-term, even small changes in ocean temperatures can affect weather in specific places. For instance, scientists have said warmer oceans off the coast of New England have contributed to more intense winter storms.

"We're only just now discovering how important ocean warming is to our daily lives, to our daily weather," she said.
The U.S. said talks to end the war in Yemen must start in November, pressuring Saudi Arabia to dial back its aggressive foreign policy following the murder of a vocal critic of the kingdom.

In separate remarks, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary James Mattis said the Saudi-led coalition which entered the conflict in 2015 and Iran-backed Houthi rebels must move toward a political resolution to a war that has created one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. Mattis said the warring parties should meet in Sweden in 30 days.

British Prime Minister Theresa May told lawmakers the U.K. is backing efforts to reach a political agreement. "A nationwide cease fire will only have an effect on the ground if it's underpinned by a political deal between the conflict parties," she said.

The killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a former Saudi court insider, has focused international attention on the policies of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. In addition to the war in Yemen, the 33-year-old has led an unprecedented political and economic embargo against neighboring Qatar and engaged in diplomatic confrontations with Germany and Canada.

"The time is now for the cessation of hostilities," including missile and drone strikes by Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia and its ally the United Arab Emirates, Pompeo said in a statement. "Subsequently, coalition air strikes must cease in all populated areas in Yemen."

While the statements are the strongest yet from U.S. officials against the war in Yemen since the Saudi campaign began, forcing the Houthis into an agreement at a time when their chief backer, Iran, is increasingly isolated by American sanctions could prove difficult.

"The question becomes what enforcement measures the U.S. has in mind?" said David B. Roberts, an assistant professor at King's College London who studies the Gulf.

Saudi Arabia assembled a coalition of mainly Sunni-ruled countries to restore the government of Yemen President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi after it had been forced out of much of the country by the Shiite Houthis. The war has created a humanitarian catastrophe in the impoverished country, with thousands of civilians killed, and displacement, hunger and sickness rampant. Three-quarters of the country's 28 million people need aid to stave off hunger and disease, and half of those require it urgently to survive, according to the UN.

Hadi's forces have since regained large parts of Yemen, yet the Houthis still control the capital, Sanaa, and have resisted attempts to force them to negotiate a solution that would diminish their influence. Mattis in a speech on Tuesday said Saudi Arabia and the UAE were ready for talks.

"We've got to move toward a peace effort and we can't say we're going to do it some time in the future," he said. "We need to be doing this in the next 30 days."

Warring parties must "meet in Sweden in November and come to a solution, not talk about subordinate issues," Mattis said at the U.S. Institute of Peace event. Discussions should focus on demilitarizing the Yemeni border and placing Iranian-provided Houthi missiles "under international watch and parked somewhere where they can be accounted for."

The killing of Khashoggi has led to growing pressure from both parties in Congress for the U.S. to punish Saudi Arabia, including even halting weapon sales to Riyadh, something President Donald Trump has ruled out.

"Both the Trump administration and the Saudis have little choice but to accept the inevitable and agree to a cease-fire," said Fawaz Gerges, professor of Middle Eastern politics at the London School of Economics.
While the contest for governor, as well as for federal, local and other state offices, understandably dominates the debate as Connecticuts Election Day approaches, two questions that dont involve an office are also worth your attention  and action.

They are two proposed amendments to the Connecticut State Constitution.

One is creation of a so-called lockbox to make sure money intended for the states transportation infrastructure  the Special Transportation Fund  goes and stays there.

A second ballot question, though, has rustled up less attention, but is also worthy of support.

It is technically titled SJR 35, Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the State Constitution to Protect Real Property Held or Controlled by the State.

In short, this proposal would require a public hearing before the state could transfer ownership of public property to a private entity.

And if the property is under the jurisdiction of either the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or the Department of Agriculture, it would require a two-thirds supportive vote from the state legislature to complete the transfer.

Supporters rightly note the amendment would increase transparency by bringing these transactions under far more intense scrutiny.

As it is, the General Assembly can allow the sale of buildings, state parks, forests and other valuable public lands like watershed protection areas with no public input through the use of so-called conveyance bills, which require no public participation.

These are properties that have been set aside to protect both our environment and the aesthetic quality of life in Connecticut.

If the legislature or a state agency wants to sell land  or swap it  to a developer, particularly state park or riverfront land, as has happened, residents of the state should have the opportunity to speak up.

In fact, one of the precipitating events that led to SJR 35 was just such a conveyance act that became known as the Haddam Land Swap, in which some 17 acres of scenic property purchased by the state in 2003 for conservation purposes, was going to be turned over to a private developer in exchange for an 87-acre parcel owned by the developer.

The issue became a flash point for environmentalists, politicians and residents of the area. It subsequently fell apart under the weight of dramatically different appraisals of the value of the two parcels.

After a year-long battle, the deal collapsed.

Nevertheless, SJR 35 would be an important buttress against any future proposal to sell off  or swap land in which we all have an interest.

In all matters having to do with governmental agencies  state, federal or local  more transparency is always better.

You can familiarize yourself with the basics of both referendum questions at the website of the states Office of Legislative Research at https://www.cga.ct.gov/2018/rpt/pdf/2018-R-0230.pdf.

These are two good proposals for the future of life in Connecticut.
Looking at your paper I cant help but believe it is more Democratic party campaign literature than newspaper.

Headlines like: Benefits of a wave and Future of Connecticut cities in the balance plus your failure to label opinion pieces as such make it difficult to know whether Im reading news or opinion.

Let me state an opinion: If Republicans take control of the governors office and the legislature, we will not be in any more danger from crazed gunmen than we are now. Your children will still be educated.

Democracy in America will continue  no matter what Senator Murphy says  and bombs will not have won over ballots  Senator Blumenthal.

Its ironic that Joe Biden was speaking about lowering the temperature of political discourse while our two senators were turning it up.

Ive come to expect this from Sen. Blumenthal and it was strongly confirmed during the Brett Kavanaugh Senate hearings. I imagine Sen. Murphy is just following in his footsteps.

By the way, does any Democratic candidate have a plan they are willing to share before election day to address the thousands of foreign nationals who are planning on entering our country illegally?

Paul D. Hunter

Norwalk
The Wall Street Journal is the best paper in America but if all you did was read the Journal, you could be forgiven for thinking that credit unions, as opposed to the megabanks which simply ignore BSA requirements and then pay large fines, are the biggest weakness in the countrys anti-money laundering framework.

The latest CU to find itself in the WSJs crosshairs is $24 billion PenFed Credit Union. According to the article in the WSJ, in 2016 and 2017 staff members at the credit union were concerned enough about inadequacies in the credit unions AML compliance framework that they raised their concerns with senior staff and regulators. Specifically, the Journal reports that concerns were raised about understaffing, gaps in reporting of potentially suspicious transactions to the government, insufficient monitoring of wire transfers, a lack of anti-money-laundering training for senior leaders and inadequate scrutiny of potentially high-risk customers. The Journal points out that many of these concerns are raised during a time of fast growth by the credit union which is the third largest in the country.

Buried a little deeper in the article we find out that PenFeds program was subject to a document of resolution and there is no suggestion that the problems highlighted in the article havent been addressed or resulted in money laundering activities.
The NCUA awarded $2 million in grants to 203 low-income credit unions, funding from the agencys Community Development Revolving Loan Fund (CDRLF). CUNA strongly supports full funding for the CDRLF, and successfully fought to restore funding when the fund was zeroed out for fiscal year 2018.

Grant awards ranging from $1,300 to $20,000 were made to credit unions in 42 states and the District of Columbia. Forty-four credit unions are first-time grant recipients. Twenty-eight are minority depository institutions. A total of 243 credit unions made grant requests of $2.5 million in this years grant round.

The NCUA made awards in three categories:
NCUA headquarters

The NCUA issued October prohibition notices Wednesday that banned four former employees, including two CEOs, from participating in the affairs of any federally insured financial institution.

Savannah Yang, a former employee of the $2.2 billion Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union in Saint Paul, Minn., who opened a fraudulent account in the name of a member she knew had an intellectual disability, pleaded guilty to embezzlement in November 2017, according to federal court documents. Yang created the fake accounts in the names of members to steal money from the credit union. In March, she was sentenced to 21 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $286,665 in restitution.

Krista Putman, a former president/CEO of the G.H. Woodworkers Federal Credit Union in Aberdeen, Wash., who set documents ablaze to conceal her theft during an NCUA examination last year, pleaded guilty to theft in November 2017. She was sentenced in January to 14 months in prison and was ordered to pay $335,758 in restitution. GH Woodworkers Federal Credit Union was merged into the $142 million Great NorthWest Federal Credit Union also based in Aberdeen in January.
Community banks and credit unions have special appeal for cyber criminals. Why? Smaller financial institutions maintain large amounts of financial and personal data, but are perceived to lack the same well-fortified defenses that big banks use.

In 2017, 58 percent of data breaches targeted small businesses, up from 53 percent in 2016, according to the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report. One reason for the spike is that criminals have become more organized and sophisticated, leveraging dark web chat forums and government-grade software tools. Even financial institutions with strong security protocols can be tripped up through spearfishing and social engineering threats that target an individual employees credentials.

The good news? Financial firms of all sizes may be able to sharply reduce their exposure with the following proactive measures:

Combine Multiple Layers of Monitoring and Response Protection

Single solutions, such as a strong firewall or antivirus measures, cant protect against every threat. Comprehensive, around-the-clock protection requires advanced end-point detection, ransomware and malware blocking, network defense, threat intelligence, and an orchestrated real-time response. While it would be costly for the typical community bank or credit union to acquire the technology and specialized talent to maintain that level of coverage, managed service options exist today that offer equivalent or better support for less than the cost of hiring one experienced full-time cybersecurity professional.
North Korea Is Using The Internet Like The Mafia

North Korea has long been known as a hermit kingdom, but it is learning to embrace the Internet. The Asian country has dramatically changed its Internet use patterns, according to a new report, which could make imposing sanctions and defending American networks more difficult.

North Korea is using cyber operations to conduct low-level financial crimes and the countrys leaders are increasingly using the Internet as a part of their daily life, according to a new report from threat intelligence firm. Recorded Future.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is quick to embrace technology and then cast it aside, directing hacking operations along the way as he runs the country like a criminal syndicate,according to the Recorded Future report.

One example of North Koreas technological experimentation is its use of social media. In recent months, it appears North Korean leaders are embracing LinkedIn, although it is not clear what their goals are.

Hackers from the country have also developed an asset-backed cryptocurrency scam, according to the report, which helps to raise funds for the Kim regime.

North Korea has begun to professionalise their use of the Internet, and the web has become a more regular tool for top officials, according to Recorded Future. The development will exacerbate existing challenges in sanctions enforcement and computer network defense.

Although North Korean hackers have been accused of dramatic cyber operations that include stealing $81 million from the Bank of Bangladesh and hacking into Sony Pictures, from a numbers prospective, those operations are a small percentage of what North Korean operators do every day, according to Priscilla Moriuchi, the director of strategic threat development at Recorded Future.

The majority of their average day-to-day work is this kind of low-level financial crime because they have a salary that they have to earn every year.

There was no change in North Korean cyber activity following Kims June meeting with President Donald Trump, Moriuchi said.

Recorded Futures report comes as senior US officials have identified North Korea as one of its main threats in cyberspace, and the Department of Justice has brought legal action against accused hackers.

Along with Russia, China and Iran, North Korea is operating beyond the bounds of what we would consider reasonable, Rob Joyce, senior adviser to the National Security Agency, said during an Oct. 23 event hosted by Palo Alto Networks. Joyce described North Korea as a nation state stealing hard currency  they are bank robbers.

The Department of Justice indicted Park Jin Hyok, a North Korean hacker, Sept. 6 for his role in crimes that include the WannaCry 2.0 global ransomware attack. North Koreas government is responsible for hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars worth of damage, assistant attorney general John Demers said when the charges were filed.

US officials have found it is difficult to deter North Koreas profitable hacking activity. Because North Korea is not widely connected to the Internet, there are not many digital targets for US Cyber Command, according to a former US intelligence official.

For years, US officials were cautious about hacking North Korea because a large portion of its Internet travels through China, current and former White House officials have told Fifth Domain.

There was an apparent fear that if the Americans were caught in the act of hacking by the Chinese, officials from Beijing might think they were being targeted, instead of North Korea.

But Moriuchi said there were other ways of digitally deterring North Korea. Stopping North Korean cyber activity will require taking them out at the knees, she said, and treating the countrys digital operations as if it were a criminal syndicate.

It means arresting North Korean hackers if they travel outside the country, indicting officials and working with partner law enforcement agencies.

Fifth Domain:

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N Korea Is A Bigger Cyber Threat Than Russia
Moroccos Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his French peer Jean-Yves Le Drian held their first ever meeting in Paris, an opportunity to celebrate the longstanding ties of win-win partnership and cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting between the two ministers was held in Le Chateau de La Celle-Saint-Cloud where in November 1955, the agreements marking the end of the exile of the late King Mohammed V and the royal family were signed and initiating Moroccos transition to independence.

This is a very symbolic venue in Moroccan-French relations that embodies the shared history between the two countries, said Bourita.

He said the meeting was a chance to exchange views on a range of issues of mutual concern, adding that the two countries are called upon to discuss important regional issues, such as the situation in Libya on the eve of an important meeting in Italy.

The two officials who have been coordinating stands at international forums also discussed a set of global issues including challenges relating to migration ahead of the UN Global Compact for Migration to be held in Marrakech in December.
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."
Lake City, FL -- Today (Thursday, 11/1/18), President Donald Trump declared November 2018 the second annual National Veterans and Military Families Month to salute the brave and dedicated patriots who have worn the uniform of the United States, andcelebrate the extraordinary military families whose selfless service and sacrifice make our military the finest in the world.



Beginning in 2017, President Trump proclaimed November Veterans and Military Families Month, marking the first time America celebrated Veterans and military families for the entire month and not just on Veterans Day, in keeping with the Presidents strong focus on improving care and benefits to our nations heroes.

That tradition continues again this year with more than 300 events at VA hospitals, benefits offices and cemeteries across the country, including:

senior leader visits to VA facilities

open houses

town halls

benefits claims clinics

volunteer recognitions

homeless Veteran initiative events

suicide prevention events

faith-based community events

flag planting tributes at national cemeteries

To celebrate Veterans and Military Families Month locally, the Malcom Randall and Lake City VA Medical Centers of the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS) will hold the following events honoring Veterans and their families throughout the month of November:

Lake City VAMC (619 South Marion Avenue, Lake City, FL 32025):

Annual Veterans Day Ceremony, Friday, November 9, 2018 @ 10:00 a.m., front Lawn to include special Veteran recognition by the Veterans Canteen Service.

Veterans Canteen Service: Cake and Ice Cream during lunch time to honor Veterans and Military Families

Malcom Randall VAMC (1601 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608):

Alachua County Veterans Day Ceremony, Sunday, November 11, 2018 @ 10:00 a.m. and Welcome Home and VA Outreach Event  both at Alachua County Veterans Memorial Park

Veterans Canteen Service: Cake and Ice Cream during lunch time to honor Veterans and Military Families at the Medical Center

Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary visiting inpatient Veterans November 11 at the Medical Center

University of Florida Student Nurses Association visiting inpatient Veterans November 11 at the Medical Center

Soldiers Angels and many other visits from Organizations are planned throughout the remainder of November. Please call Voluntary Service at 352-548-6068 for more information.
Local Problems, Global Tech Fog-collecting CloudFisher nets on Mount Boutmezguida, Morocco. Photo: Copyright aqualonis

Mount Boutmezguida, a mountain in southern Morocco that is part of the Anti-Atlas range, gets less than 5.2 inches of rainfall a year. For context, last year New York City got 45. The region is still feeling the effects of a devastating drought in 1986, compounded with increasingly frequent drought cycles due to global warming.

Historically, local communities have collected rainwater in household cisterns, and supplemented their water supply in the summer months by collecting water on foot from wells as far as three miles away. Over the past few decades, however, cisterns and wells have begun to run dry, with most households now having to buy water to be delivered by truck, even during the wettest months.

What Boutmezguida lacks in rainfall, though, it makes up for in fog. Thanks to the cold air current coming off the Canary Islands mixing with the high-pressure Azores High system over the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Morocco, there is an abundance of stratocumulus clouds that hang low to the ground, enveloping the mountain in a thick coat of fog.

And so, in a nation that is leading the push for renewable energy in Africa, its no surprise that a local organization has taken stock of the natural resources and found a new way to bring water directly into households  by harvesting fog.

It sounds futuristic, but the practice of harvesting fog can be traced back to precolonial times on the Canary Islands, a short 62 miles offshore from Morocco. And the technology being used, in the simplest terms, is pretty easy to envision  giant nets collecting precipitation from fog into troughs, that then use gravity to send pure, potable water through miles of piping and straight into peoples homes.

The first modern fog-harvesting nets were built in the Atacama Desert in Chile, after a severe drought in the 1950s. A retired physics professor from the University of Chile started experimenting with sheets of nylon as a way to collect condensation, and found that fog could provide sustainable water alternatives for desert communities. The nets in the Atacama Desert are now more sophisticated, and the water is used not only for homes, but also to brew beer for a local brewery.

When Dar Si Hmad, a nonprofit based in Sidi Ifni, in southwestern Morocco, first learned about the fog nets in Chile, members immediately thought of their own Mount Boutmezguida, which averages 143 fog-coated days a year. Dar Si Hmad was originally founded to promote educational opportunities and strengthen basic infrastructure in the region, but its members recognized the increasing importance that renewable resources would play in years to come, and the basic necessity of more sustainable water practices in local communities.

It was started with the idea that we need to have a much larger kind of reach with many issues, infrastructure and education being our most important, said Jamila Bargach, the director of Dar Si Hmad.

They created a new branch focused on fog research, and in 2006 began studying the possibility of bringing fog nets to the mountain. After pairing with WasserStiftung, a German organization that works to provide clean and accessible water to communities around the world, the first nets were installed in 2013.

The nets themselves are large, standing almost 20 feet tall with four mesh panels that span a combined 581 square feet, and held up by metal frames anchored to the ground with steel cables. Condensation builds up on the mesh netting and drips into a trough below, which is then funneled into reservoirs through a vast network of piping. While fog collection varies depending on the time of year, in June nets regularly produce 50 liters a day.

During the first iteration of the fog harvesting project, Dar Si Hmad ran into a major problem. Winds on the mountain can reach up to 75 miles an hour, and the nets were being severely damaged. The mesh panels were frequently ripped, and the poles would be bent out of shape, forcing Dar Si Hmad to replace nets every three or four months.

Each time the nets needed to be replaced, Dar Si Hmad faced the logistical nightmare of getting parts imported and then transported up the steep mountain. WasserStiftung went back to the drawing board, and engineer Peter Trautwein created CloudFishers, fog nets that can withstand the winds on Mount Boutmezguida. While designing the new nets, he also kept future maintenance in mind  the CloudFisher nets only require a wrench and a socket wrench for all assembly and upkeep.

At first, local communities were skeptical.

Having the water from fog was a bit of a stretch for them in the beginning, said Bargach. Fog had long been a nuisance, seeping into homes and clothing to create a pervasive dampness that was seen as something only worth enduring, not celebrating. It was difficult to have the communities be part of the implementation, because of their attitude towards fog as being something negative, not a positive.

All it took to get locals on board, though, was turning on the first tap. The project began by servicing four villages in 2015, but word spread quickly and now around 800 people in 15 villages have fog water pumped directly into their homes. With 5,520 square feet of netting, Mount Boutmezguida is now the largest fog-harvesting park in the world, and villages across the region have been asking Dar Si Hmad to connect them to fog water.

Today, individuals in homes connected to the fog nets each receive about 18 liters of water a day, a huge jump from the eight liters they were confined to before. Bargach frequently gets requests from other organizations for advice on how to implement their own fog-harvesting parks, and shes especially excited about the talks shes had with prospective organizations in Lebanon and Afghanistan. As research into fog harvesting continues, she hopes that people will look into harvesting not only in areas of dense fog like Mount Boutmezguida, but ways to harvest the thin fog that can be found in most regions of the world.

[It has become] so normalized, opening a tap for water and not thinking about where that is coming from and whether it is sustainable within 10 years or 20 years, said Bargach. For her, the fog project isnt just about finding alternatives for water collection. [Its about] being in a real relationship with our natural world and not having that separation  a sort of integral and holistic approach to water.

An earlier version of this article incorrectly calculated the size of WasserStiftungs fog nets.
Local Problems, Global Tech Photo-Illustration: Getty Images

Talea de Castro is a four-hour drive through winding mountain roads from the capital of Oaxaca, Mexico. In 2013, the indigenous Zapotec town launched Mexicos first nonprofit, community-run cell-phone network. Now, Indigenous Community Telecommunications (TIC for its initials in Spanish) provides low-cost cell-phone service to more than 3,400 users in underserved areas across Oaxaca.

Commercial cell-phone companies like Telcel and Movistar had declined requests to extend service in this mountainous area known as the Sierra Norte. Talea de Castro, along with other nearby towns, petitioned the federal government for the right to use the radio frequency for their own cell network.

Since then, TIC has expanded to 16 other Oaxacan communities, beat a costly lawsuit filed by the Mexican government, and is planning to launch in four more states. Communities that were overlooked by telecommunications companies can now access health services and employment, and talk to far-off family members.

TIC picks up the slack in areas that commercial telecommunications companies have overlooked. Rural Mexico lags in both internet and cell-phone connectivity. According to Mexicos demographic agency, only four in ten rural Mexicans are internet users, compared to 64 percent of the general population. And while 72 percent of Mexicans are cell-phone users, in Oaxaca, a largely rural state, just over 50 percent are.

Mexicos telecommunications sector is dominated by Grupo Carso, a consortium of companies owned by Carlos Slim, a Mexican mogul who is the richest person in Latin America, and currently sits at No. 7 on Forbess billionaires list. In 2013, Grupo Carsos cell-phone service, Telcel, controlled 71 percent of the market. A telecommunications reform was passed in 2014, and competitors like Movistar and Unefon now have a growing share of the market.

For Telcel, its not profitable to come out to these communities, says Erick Huerta, of Rhizomatica, a nonprofit that supports the cell-phone network. They have a very low profit margin. When they have to do repairs, its very costly because they are so remote.

Huerta says the Sierra Norte was fertile ground for the project.

These communities already govern themselves through the usos y costumbres system, he says, referring to the process in which indigenous communities select their own leaders outside the political-party system.

Many rural communities in Oaxaca, accustomed to being ignored by the central government, manage their own resources through assemblies, where community members discuss and vote on issues of common interest like government environmental programs or resolving land disputes. Huerta had experience setting up indigenous radio stations and partnered with social entrepreneur Peter Bloom to launch the cell-phone network.

A paper by Huerta, Carlos Baca-Feldman, and Daniela Parra describes TIC as a project where two communities converge: the indigenous communities of Oaxaca and hackers, two sometimes overlapping groups. Since the project began in 2013, independent programmers have contributed to developing the open-source software necessary to operate the cell-phone network.

Each community within the network installs a base transceiver station, which can operate with solar energy. The station transmits local calls and connects to Wi-Fi to make calls outside of the network.

Each user pays 42 pesos ($2.18 USD) a month for unlimited minutes within the network. Twenty-five pesos stays in the community, 15 pesos goes to TIC, and 2 pesos go into an emergency fund for repairs. Calls outside of the network have an additional cost but are cheaper than on a commercial cell-phone plan. With Telcel, a monthlong prepaid plan starts at 200 pesos ($10.33).

Huerta says there are currently 3,400 registered users on the network. TIC also has a decision-making assembly, which consists of representatives of the communities that use the cell-phone network and the technical support staff and volunteers.

Its a nonprofit network, which the community manages. Were not seeking to make money, so our costs are lower, says Huerta. Repairs are handled within the network, which is cheaper than commercial companies that send technicians from urban areas. The network not only provides communications services but is building local technical capacity.

The Mexican government did not accept the project without a fight.

In May 2014, Mexicos Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) granted TIC an experimental permit. In July 2016, TIC received a permanent license to operate its cell-phone service on public radio frequencies. The legal victory was short-lived; IFT then slammed TIC with a million-peso ($50,000) fee for use of the radio spectrum in 2016 and 2017. In April of this year, a federal court ruled in favor of TIC. Now, the IFT is only seeking fees for use of the radio spectrum during the launch in 2016.

Its been a constant struggle for recognition of indigenous peoples rights to have their own forms of communication, says Huerta.

Another nonprofit, Redes por la Diversidad, Equidad, y Sustentabilidad (Networks for Diversity, Equity, and Sustainability), manages the cell-phone networks legal and permitting processes with the federal government.

Connecting indigenous communities in states like Oaxaca to phone and internet service is a game changer to help people access employment, education, and health services. The change has been radical, says Huerta. Weve talked to taxi drivers who say their business has gone up 30 percent because now people who live outside the town have a way to call them to order a cab.

Huerta says, in other cases, that people have been able to access lifesaving medical care, whether it is a woman who has complications during labor, or someone bitten by a snake while farming. But there are complex challenges to replicating the experience in other places, he says, like scaling TICs open-source technology in a way that can compete with the telecom industry.

Even so, just this year, TIC secured a new concession to expand satellite-based phone and internet service in Puebla, Veracruz, Guerrero and Chiapas. TIC is working with communities in Brazil that have recently launched their own cell-phone networks. Redes published a detailed manual, explaining how to launch community cell-phone systems.

What started as a small experiment in Oaxaca could soon grow globally to connect communities passed over by commercial cell-service providers.

If we really want to connect the next billion people in the world who are incommunicado, we need to start doing things differently, the manual reads, and build the technical, economic and regulatory framework to do so.
Here behind the Westminster ramparts, Speaker Bercow let PMQs dribble 20 minutes over time.

This is when Bercow's cruelty becomes most apparent. To extend such a dull event is the act of a hellbent goblin.

The Commons ached to be free. Backbenches showed swathes of green leather where less dutiful Hon Members had skedaddled for some nosebag.

Still the Speaker refused to call halt. In front of me a small moth took the route of desperation and aimed straight for a metal strut.

The closer it got to its target, I swear it accelerated. Clunk. Ouch! Yet the moth failed to knock itself senseless.

Poor creature, it could still hear Dame Caroline Spelman (Con, Meriden) warbling about a visit to London by a choir of German politicians.

And so the little creature did a small circuit and again flew at that strut, repeating its head-on collision. After that I saw my moth no more.

Here behind the Westminster ramparts, Speaker John Bercow (pictured) let PMQs dribble 20 minutes over time, writes QUENTIN LETTS

By recent measures, yesterday's PMQs was actually one of the better ones, at least in its main exchanges. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn had their weekly grapple, Mrs May taking the bout with ease.

Mr Corbyn tried to establish the slogan 'a broken-promise Budget' but made the mistake of mentioning Budget tax cuts that have split the Labour Party like a pair of Oliver Hardy's trousers.

Mrs May capitalised on those Labour disagreements. Mr Corbyn should make up his mind and support the Budget, averred Mrs May. Big Tory hurrahs. Mr Corbyn narrowed his eyes. It was the look of a man accepting a suppository.

In the next exchange Mrs May had her loyalists chanting 'up! up! up!' in response to a list of things she said the Government had achieved (support for public services, growth, wages). Much mooing from Tories. Labour MPs looked a bit 'uh-oh'.

But that was the best of it. Much of the rest was stodgy fare, not least because Mrs May was so stuttery, her delivery jagged and indecisive.

Pictured: Prime Minister Theresa May addresses MPs at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday

At such moments she could be Barbara Edwards, who did BBC TV weather forecasts in the 1970s. Do you remember Barbara? Neat, correct vowels, decent sort, but prone to frightful mid-sentence gulps.

In a week which has seen the election of a sharply Right-wing president in Brazil and the crumbling of Germany's Chancellor, you might have expected Tom Tugendhat (Con) to raise foreign policy. After all, he chairs the select committee on foreign affairs.

Instead he talked about, er, home-spun poppies. This led us into an excruciating minute when Mrs May chewed over the different types of Remembrance poppy one can wear.

Amber Rudd (Con, anti-Brexit) jawed about a sauce-manufacturer in her constituency.

Peter Bone (Con, pro-Brexit) had a question of such strained prolixity, it had onlookers shrugging to one another in bafflement. Chuka Umunna (Lab, Streatham) wanted money for black cultural archives.

The Commons ached to be free. Backbenches showed swathes of green leather where less dutiful Hon Members had skedaddled for some nosebag. Still the Speaker refused to call halt. Pictured: MPs gather for PMQs yesterday

Victoria Prentis (Con, Banbury) publicised a charity concert she is helping to organise. Cornishman Steve Double (Con) talked of space exploration.

Mark Francois (Con, Rayleigh & Wickford) caused a flicker of panic on the Government bench by again demanding that Whitehall stop persecuting Army veterans with investigations about long-distant service in Northern Ireland.

Mr Francois urged Mrs May to 'defend those who defended us' and bawled at her, directly, 'are you with us?'

Mrs May, startled, stalled through some civil service bluster. Her appalling ineloquence and her reliance on officialdom's blame-dodging advice spoke volumes.

The treatment of those Army veterans is widely opposed yet senior civil servants persist with it. Across the land, black-metal silhouette figures are being erected to remind us of the gallant dead. What about gallant survivors?

The final question, from doughty Philip Davies (Con, Shipley), offered more of the same.

Why was spending on overseas aid rising faster than spending on 'hard-pressed schools and police and fire services'? Most people, said Mr Davies, thought 'this warped priority crazy crackers'.

Indeed so. But our political elite snootily regards the electorate as 'crazy crackers', and eminently easy to ignore.
You've ditched the cigarettes and thrown away the lighter, but what about your beauty regime?

As tens of thousands of Brits celebrate going a month smoke-free - a challenge dubbed 'Stoptober' - a dental expert has revealed how to nurse your skin and teeth back to good health after years of puffing on cigarettes.

Nicotine in cigarettes yellows and stains teeth and depletes collagen and elastin, ageing the skin of some 9.4 million smokers across the UK.

Jordan Kirk, a dental expert for dental brand White Glo, says: 'Congratulations, you've completed Stoptober, the 28-day non-smoking challenge. This makes you five times more likely to quit for good.

'You are now carbon monoxide free, can breathe easier, and reap the benefits of improvements to lung function and circulation.

While the damaging health effects of cigarettes are widely known, there is also a long list of side effects that can impact the appearance of your teeth and skin. Here, Jordan Kirk, White Glos resident dental expert, gives his top tips for fixing your beauty regime (file photo)

'Unfortunately, aesthetic improvements are more difficult to naturally recover. Smokers are more susceptible to premature ageing, sagging skin, stained teeth and hair loss. Reward your smoke free body with a new healthier look.'

'As a consequence of smoking, teeth yellow, discolour and stain due to the tar and nicotine contained within cigarettes.

'The porous properties of teeth mean these products are easily absorbed, often penetrating stains deep into the tooth enamel making them stubborn to remove.'

Get your pearly whites sparkling again

'Using an activated charcoal toothpaste to eradicate pestering tooth stains. High absorbent charcoal technology can instantly trap coloured particles, bad breath and whiten teeth.

'Whilst activated charcoal particles remove stubborn stains and de-toxify the mouth. Suitable for everyday use, this toothpaste has a low abrasion formula which protects teeth against cavities.

Smokers are more susceptible to premature ageing, sagging skin, stained teeth and hair loss, says Jordan Kirk, White Glos resident dental expert (file photo)

'Smoking exposes your skin to 4,000 chemicals, making it even more damaging than sunbathing. Premature ageing is one of the main reasons smokers look 1.4 years older than their actual age.

'Nicotine contained within cigarettes causes vasoconstriction, the narrowing of arteries which limits the blood supply to smaller blood vessels.

'This suboptimal blood supply deprives the skin of anti-oxidants, moisture, oxygen and vitamin C which help to keep skin looking healthy, young and supple.'

Get your skin supple and smoothe

'A smokers skin is also subject to sagging and wrinkles due to a high exposure to free radicals which break down collagen and elastin.

'Rejuvenate your skin by consuming foods with a high concentration of antioxidants such as spinach, almonds and oranges to support collagen production and improve skin elasticity.

'Moisturise daily and drink plenty of water to quench the thirst of your dehydrated skin. Look out for moisturisers that contain retinol a form of vitamin A which encourages a high cell turnover and stimulates collagen and elastin production.'
An 85 coat from River Island is flying off shelves after being given the nod of approval from a range of style bloggers.

The highly Instagrammable vinyl trench is sweeping the fashion world thanks to its flattering tie waist and expensive appearance.

Part of River Island's AW18 collection, the tawny brown number draws inspiration from pricier pieces by the likes of Marc Jacobs, Fendi and MSGM - and could easily pass for a designer coat despite costing just a fraction of the price.

The triumphant high street giant told MailOnline this week that sales of the trench were up by 40 per cent, with just under 100 units now left in stock.

Style plaudits: Dubbed 'the coat that everyone's talking about', River Island's 85 brown vinyl tie waist trench has been spotted on style bloggers including ellenbrockygirl (pictured)

It is now cropping up all over social media and winning plaudits from the style set, with River Island declaring it 'the coat that everyone's talking about'.

Made from polyurethane in an autumnal brown hue, it boasts notch lapels, side slip pockets and long sleeves with buttoned cuffs.

Blogger Naaomi Ross said she loved the coat because she can be 'as clumsy as I like' in it thanks to the water-resistant material.

It has also been spotted on the likes of Ellen Brockyard, Megan McCoig, Lauren Patricia Black and Amy Fuschia in recent months.

Style expert Megan McCoig (pictured at Cammas Hall Farm, Hertfordshire) is also a fan of the River Island trench, which comes in a vibrant orange/ brown hue that's perfect for autumn

Instagrammer @imlaurenblack, pictured in London earlier this month, teamed her vinyl River Island coat with chunky trainers and check trousers, joining the hoards of influencers who have given the item the nod of approval - and the retailer says it's flying off shelves

Naaomi Ross said she loved the 85 River Island coat, pictured, because she can be 'as clumsy as I like' - she teamed the vinyl number with a snakeskin dress, bag and white trainers

Instagrammer Amy Fuschia, pictured, is just one of a handful of bloggers who have given this 85 vinyl trench coat from River Island the nod of approval in the past few weeks

A River Island stylist (left) and blogger Afsheen Malik (right) try on the 85 vinyl dress from River Island that's sweeping fashion circles as the weather gets colder

London-based designer and blogger sister duo Olivia and Alice have also endorsed the vinyl coat from River Island and were seeing wearing it on the streets of the capital (pictured)

Vogue Polska's online fashion and beauty editor Michalina Murawska, pictured in Budapest, has been spotted in the 85 River Island trench that's sweeping social media this season

Pop star sisters Anna and Sofia Kuprienko - also known as the Bloom Twins - were also seen checking out the vinyl trench from River Island that's won over the fashion set

It is far from River Island's first foray into high fashion territory; in September this year the store released its first ever homeware collection inspired by expensive designer pieces.

It has also enjoyed huge success thanks to collaborations with the likes of A-lister Rihanna and designer Holly Fulton.

The superstar collaboration, which came to an end in 2013, raised the store's profile abroad and enabled them to expand internationally.
To hold back the years, you could spend a fortune on anti-ageing creams, costly Botox injections and even more expensive fillers.

But the most powerful and best-value tool in your beauty armoury could be a device that costs just a few pounds  a tongue scraper.

Bizarre as it sounds, new scientific research suggests that getting a healthy balance of bacteria in your mouth  particularly on your tongue, which has more than 200 different kinds  may be the key to looking younger.

This is because good oral bacteria appear to help production of a molecule called nitric oxide, which in turn plays a crucial job in regenerating damaged and old cells.

And according to the worlds leading expert on nitric oxide, Dr Nathan Bryan, scraping the back of your tongue for five seconds every day with a curved metal scraper will remove significant amounts of food particles and debris and help good bacteria to flourish.

Tanith Carey spoke to experts who claim tongue scrapers (Pictured: An Amano tongue scraper) can help slow the signs of aging. Dr Nathan Bryan claims tongue scraping helps the process that protects all the tissues in the body from advanced ageing

Dr Bryan, a specialist in molecular medicine from Baylor College of Medicine, Texas, says: Our data suggests that the bacteria on the tongue contribute about 50 per cent of the bodys total nitric oxide production. Tongue-scraping may allow for more diversity, so the good bacteria flourish and generate more nitric oxide.

Most tongue scrapers consist of a U-shaped piece of metal that is sometimes attached to a plastic handle or handles. The scraper is then gently dragged across the surface of the tongue, forward from the back of the mouth, after brushing, either in the morning or at night.

They are said to be more effective than cleaning your tongue with a toothbrush, which have softer bristles that just move debris around rather than remove it like the rigid edge of a scraper.

So how does nitric oxide help keep you younger? Scientists now say that ageing is caused by three factors. As we age, the telomeres at the end of our chromosomes, which help our DNA replicate accurately, dont work as well.

Over the years, we produce poorer, more faulty copies of our DNA. At the same time our mitochondria  the power packs inside cells  stop working as hard as they used to, so our cells dont get as much energy. And the third reason is that stem cells also become less efficient at helping the body to repair damage.

Dr Bryan, who is soon to publish a further study on the link between the bacteria in our mouths and better health, says nitric oxide helps to regulate all three of these processes  and slows down the decline in these functions.

He explains that good oral bacteria produce chemicals called nitrites, which build up in your saliva. When you swallow, the nitrites mix with the acid of your stomach and turn into nitric oxide. And he adds that this process protects all the tissues in the body from advanced ageing.

Tongue scraping is said to be able to help clean the palate for taste buds to function better (file image)

Over time everything from your organs to your skin could age more slowly, Dr Bryan says.

So the older we get, the more important it is to get the right balance of oral bacteria, he says.

As we age, we gradually lose our ability to produce nitric oxide. So by the time we reach 40 or 50, we only have about half the amount we had when we were younger.

Although the latest scientific findings are new, tongue-scraping is not. The practice dates back thousands of years.

In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, practised by celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Sarah Ferguson, regular cleaning of ama  the supposedly toxic coating on the tongue  is recommended for good health. So could Gwyneth be onto something?

That tongue scraping can help to clean the palate allowing 'taste buds to function better' is a view endorsed by the Governments Malnutrition Task Force  an independent group of experts aiming to help older people eat better.

Dental hygiene expert Ramona Petri, argues tongue scraping risks causing damage to the nerve endings of taste buds (file image)

Up to our middle years our taste buds are renewed every ten days or so, a spokesman said. However after middle age renewal rates slow so there is a rapid decline in the number of taste buds we have and their efficiency. And as we age our saliva production reduces. When we combine both lower saliva levels and fewer taste buds, we can see why (being able to taste less) can become a reality for many.

Tongue scraping, some experts say, can also help with bad breath. According to a study in the Journal of Peridontology, about half of bad breath cases are caused by a build-up of bacteria on the tongue. While brushing teeth removes half of the microbes to blame, tongue-scraping has been found to reduce them by three-quarters.

Gum specialist Dr Reena Wadia says tongue-scraping should be just as much a part of keeping our mouths healthy as brushing our teeth.

Many bacteria live on the tongue as it provides the perfect environment for them to thrive. We usually find the back part of the tongue harbours the most bacteria, compared with the tip.

Tongue scraping removes the bacteria that cause bad smells. It also helps remove remnants of food and enhances your taste buds and the flavours you experience.

Mano Manoharan who makes Amano tongue-scrapers claims some people are embarrassed to admit tongue scraping as they associate it with solving problems with bad breath (file image)

Some experts even say tongue-scraping could help your teeth look whiter, too. A study by the Journal of American Dentistry found counts of streptococci  one of the main bacteria that forms yellowing plaque  increase dramatically when the tongue is not cleaned.

However Ramona Petri, a Brighton-based dental hygiene expert, is more sceptical. She says: Tongue scraping addresses a limited area. Aggressive removal of the coating may cause damage to the nerve endings of the taste buds, resulting in a temporary lack of taste.

Despite her scepticism, perhaps its no surprise that sales of tongue scrapers are booming, with high-end stores Harrods and Selfridges now stocking them. Other products hitting the market include a stilo- brush which acts like a tongue suction cleaner.

Even a high-end tongue scraper wont cost much more than 20. Company director Mano Manoharan starting making Amano tongue-scrapers in the early Nineties after late nights at work as a record company executive left him with a coated, furry tongue. After a friend gave him a scraper, he noticed a dramatic improvement.

Mano, 60, says: Its becoming more mainstream  toothpaste manufacturer Colgate even has a ridge on the back of some toothbrushes for tongue scraping.

Yet many are still embarrassed to admit to tongue scraping. Most still associate it with solving problems with bad breath.

If Nathan Bryan is right, then a tongue scraper could soon be as much a feature of the bathroom cabinet as anti-ageing potions.
Running into a chapel to stop a bride and groom from saying 'I do' seems like a scene better suited for the big screen than real life, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

An inquisitive person took to the question-and-answer website Quora to ask if anyone has ever witnessed someone object at a wedding, and there were more than a few people who were willing to share their dramatic stories.

People recalled witnessing everything from a bride reading her cheating groom's texts to his mistress as her vows to a Kenyan father stopping a ceremony because the bride's family didn't pay a dowry.

Drama: Wedding guests are detailing the real-life objections they witnessed mid-ceremony

Cheating groom

A woman named Dommie Namasaka shared that she once attended a wedding where the groom's secret girlfriend insisted the ceremony be stopped before trashing the venue.

'This groom happened to have a woman with a kid on the side,' she explained. 'I think he was double dating then settled on marrying the one without a kid.'

According to Dommie, the woman walked in with her four-year-old son and politely said the wedding should be stopped.

People tried to ignore her and move with the wedding, but she 'totally lost it' when some guys went to talk to her.

'She put her baby down and tore down the place, broke chairs, threw the cake on the ground, brought down the tents, scattered the flowers,' Dommie recalled. 'I understood what they meant by hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.'

The ceremony had to be stopped, and the bride ended up leaving in a car.

'Yeah, it was the best wedding I have ever been to,' she admitted.

Disgruntled mother

Isotta Strega recalled a similar situation that took place when she was working as a caterer at a loft wedding in a 'trendy' neighborhood in New York City.

'They wheeled the mother of the groom in [while she was] seated in a wheelchair,' she said. 'At the part where they ask if anyone had any objections to the union, she piped up, "She isn't good enough for him!"'

Isotta said 'felt so bad for the bride on her special day,' especially because she was 'stuck a with a mother-in-law like that.'

Angry bride

Of course, it isn't always a bystander who stops the wedding. Nikki Travis said she attended a ceremony where the bride shocked everyone by revealing the groom was unfaithful.

'She read his cheating comments from his phone account as her vows, said he didn't deserve her and that he needed to excuse himself from the venue,' Nikki explained. 'We all watched him tuck tail and leave stunned in silence.

'She then addressed his family stating, "All of you have been so good and kind to me over the past four years. My respect and love for you has not changed. Please join all of my family and friends at the reception for a celebration of truth, love and freedom to make the right decisions even though they hurt."'

Nikki said the groom's brother and two friends were the only guests who didn't go to the reception, while 'everyone else attended and had a blast.'

Dowry issue

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Stewart detailed how he witnessed a father trying to stop a wedding in Kenya over a dowry.

'Here in Kenya you have to negotiate a dowry with the bride-to-be's parents before you can marry her,' he explained.

'Well, we had a wedding and before the vows were said the girl's dad walked forward and led the bride away, saying to the groom, "You didn't pay the bride price!"'
Most women can admit to 'accidentally' taking their boyfriend's oversized t-shirts or hoodies every now and again, particularly in the chillier months.

It seems to be a token 'girlfriend' trait to enjoy wearing items from your significant other's wardrobe, and even though she's now married, the Duchess of Sussex is clearly not immune to the charms.

Her husband Prince Harry - who joined her on a 16-day royal tour of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific - wore a $698 (GBP 387) black Norrna 'Oslo' coat to walk around the Abel Tasman National Park on Monday.

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The royal couple visited the Abel Tasman National Park on Monday, with Prince Harry sporting the $698AUD (387) black Norrna 'Oslo' coat

Two days later Meghan was spotted in The Redwoods forest in Rotorua, New Zealand, wearing the exact same jacket, albeit a bit oversized on her slender frame, while Harry opted to wear some 7 For All Mankind chinos

Two days later Meghan was spotted in The Redwoods forest in Rotorua, New Zealand, sporting the exact same jacket, albeit a bit oversized on her slender frame.

And nobody really noticed she'd recycled a look from the Duke's wardrobe.

According to sexologist Dr. Yvonne Fulbright the interchangeable nature of clothing is a sign of affection.

Pregnant Meghan, 37, threw the coat from Norwegian label Norrna over a bespoke Givenchy jumper for the outing to Whakarewarewa Forest

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wore wet weather jackets as they walked through Abel Tasman National Park

'Giving somebody something of yours that is special or of value has long been a part of courting and dating rituals,' she told Thrillest in 2016.

'Movies from the 1950s are well known for men making gestures like giving his girl his Letterman's jacket, or a girl wearing a guy's class ring on a chain around her neck.'

It can also give off the impression you're staking your claim on a man, while acting as a powerful aphrodisiac (because it smells like your partner).

To complete the dressed down ensemble Meghan wore $252 (140) black jeans from Australian brand Outland and a pair of Blackbird slippers from Birdies.

Strolling hand-in-hand, the couple appeared in awe of the 117-year-old redwood trees in Whakarewarewa Forest as they explored the area on the final day of their 16-day royal tour

The soon-to-be parents paused to take in the stunning scenery of the New Zealand forest

Strolling hand-in-hand, the couple looked up in wonder at 117-year-old redwood trees as they made their way along a 700m-long walkway of suspension bridges.

The couple also admired a natural spring and met with members of a local mounting biking club, who make use of the rugged paths through the forest.

The engagement rounded off a busy final day of the royal tour for Harry and Meghan, who have spent the last 16 days touring Australia, Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand.
Singled out 5 dress that even 'charity shops would snub' due to its quality

'Meal deal' offer previously just for students, has been extended to all shoppers

Boohoo offers a 'starter' of shoes, 'main' of a dress' and a 'dessert' bag for 30

Fashion e-tailer Boohoo has announced it's to extend a student 'meal deal' offer of an entire outfit for 30 to all customers - just days after it was named and shamed in Parliament for fuelling a throwaway clothes culture.

The online giant is offering shoppers the chance to snap up a pair of shoes as a 'starter', a dress for their 'main', and a handbag for 'dessert' - all for 30.

It comes after an expert singled out a 5 Boohoo dress that even 'charity shops would snub' while telling MPs about the negative impact of cheap, fast fashion on the environment.

Boohoo told FEMAIL that it 'acknowledges its responsibility to be a sustainable business', but added: 'We do not apologise for offering our customers great prices.'

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Describing the deal [pictured] Booohoo said: 'For starter the customer can choose from heels, flats and trainers while the main course is a dressy or casual boohoo dress.'

Known for its sales and cheap and cheerful prices, Boohoo originally released the 'meal deal' for students but have since brought it back to extend it to all customers.

The budget collection features a 'starter', 'main' and 'desert', which are shoes, dresses and bags - with a mix of dressy and casual pieces.

A dress from the collection averages for around 15, shoes can retail for 12 and bags 8 - making a full outfit 35, giving shoppers the chance to save up to 5 by buying more clothes.

Describing the deal Booohoo said: 'For starter the customer can choose from heels, flats and trainers while the main course is a dressy or casual boohoo dress.'

'And who can resist dessert? Weve got a selection of bags to finish off the look.'

On Tuesday Stella Claxton, senior lecturer with the Clothing Sustainability Research Group, Nottingham Trent University told the the environmental audit select committee on Tuesday that 'fast fashion' retailers like Boohoo and ASOS are fuelling a culture in which an eye-watering 400,000 tonnes end up in UK landfill sites.

'It is very much the kind of low value end, particularly the success of the online retailers such as Asos and Boohoo who are competing on low prices and fast turnaround,' she said at the time.

I saw a dress on Boohoo retailed for full price at 5 at the weekend.

So we have a market  these garments are mainly aimed at young women who are...getting pleasure from what they wear and getting pleasure through their clothing.

The actual value of the item is very low in real terms and in quality terms and in emotional terms to them,' she said.

The criticism is not slowing down Boohoo, who saw sales soar this year to a whopping 560 million despite selling things at a very cheap price

Boohoo was named and shamed in Parliament for producing 5 dresses which one expert warned would be of such low quality charity shops would snub them

A Boohoo spokeswoman told FEMAIL: 'We do not apologise for offering our customers great prices. The Meal Deal is a promotion that allows a customer to put an outfit together from a limited number of styles to create a killer outfit.

'The boohoo Group acknowledges its responsibility to be a sustainable business continuously working towards improvement.

She continued: 'We are proud to cater for a wide variety of customers with something for everyone, from value to premium collections.

'We look at other ways in which we can contribute to a sustainable future. We pride ourselves on our global supply base and a significant portion of our products are manufactured in the UK, which dramatically reduces the carbon footprint of our garments to our customers.

'We recognise our responsibilities and sustainability sits at the heart and in the DNA of the boohoo brands.'
The owners of a terminally ill dog are fundraising to create a book commemorating their beloved pet's final days.

Cynthia and Robert Peterson, from Burlington, Vermont, discovered Finn the golden retriever had terminal cancer last May and decided to create a bucket list for him.

The children's book is the final goal on Finn's list, and his owners are hoping his story can help other families dealing with the loss of a pet.

They've already ticked off plenty of items, including getting a Superman costume to wear to chemotherapy, and riding in a hot air balloon.

Cynthia and Robert Peterson, from Burlington, Vermont, are fundraising so they can create a children's book to commemorate their dog's life. Pictured: Earlier this month Finn the golden retriever ticked off bucket list item number 18 by going for a hike with Seymour and Yogi

Back in August, Finn went on a hot air balloon ride, pictured. Finn's owners discovered the six-year-old pooch had terminal cancer in May this year

Earlier this month six-year-old Finn got a tour around the local fire station (number 29), and last month he went apple picking (number 49).

Other adventures Finn has experienced include meeting a celebrity (number 39) and going on TV (number 24) - which were both completed in one day when a local news crew came to film Finn meeting Waffle Nugget from The Dogist.

The pooch also got to have a beer with his owners (number 47).

Writing on their GoFundMe page, Finn's owners said: 'The goal of this book is to tell Finn's story of courage and adventure to a younger audience with this children's book.

Terminally ill pup Finn was also treated to a steak dinner - which he looks utterly mesmerised by in this picture - in September

At the end of September Finn took advantage of the apple picking season and crossed off number 49 from his bucket list

'Finn's family wants to commemorate Finn with this children's book to raise awareness for pet cancer and create it as a resource for children and families confronting pet loss or pet cancer in their lives.

'With your support for this book project, Finn's bucket list adventures can live on for generations to come and can continue to inspire families everywhere.'

The fundraiser currently has a goal of $15,000 to create and publish the children's book.

Any money leftover from the fundraiser will be distributed between the National Canine Cancer Foundation, the Live Like Roo Foundation, and the Emma's Foundation for Canine Cancer.

His owners hope they can give him the best final days possible and are documenting their journey on Instagram. Pictured: Finn after a tour of the fire station

His owners also bought Finn a superman costume to wear at chemotherapy

Cynthia adopted Finn in 2012 when he was just six weeks old. He supported her throughout her 20s and when he father died

Cynthia said: 'We will look back on this and think we made his final days the best we could. We're making the most of what we've got'

Finn even got to have a beer with his owners last month (although it was only a little taste)

Cynthia and Robert Peterson, from Burlington, Vermont, are fundraising so they can create a children's book to commemorate their dog's life (pictured: Finn, who is terminally ill)

Speaking about the decision to create the bucket list last month, Cynthia told the BBC: 'We know he's dying, but we are trying to make him happy.

'We will look back on this and think we made his final days the best we could. We're making the most of what we've got.'

Cynthia adopted Finn in 2012 when he was six weeks old, and since then the precious pooch has supported her through the toughest of times.

She added: 'He helped me through the grief when my dad died and now he's dying of cancer, too.

'It's a hard blow but really powerful to look back at how he got me through those times and now I'm going to help him.'

You can donate to Finn's GoFundMe here.
Prince Charles and Camilla were given a royal welcome in The Gambia tonight - as their hosts rolled out the red carpet for a glittering black tie reception.

Charles and Camilla donned their glad rags for a state dinner at the Coco Ocean Hotel on Thursday night as they wrapped up the first full day of their west African tour.

The Duchess of Cornwall looked resplendent in a pistachio green kaftan-style gown, while her husband was dapper in a double-breasted navy suit.

Earlier on Thursday, the couple were given the VIP treatment with a personalised number plate on their car.

Charles, who turns 70 later this month, and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived at the State House in The Gambia this morning for a meeting with President Adama Barrow, as they began their first full day of engagements as part of their African tour.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall step out for a glittering evening reception at the Coco Ocean Hotel in The Gambia on Thursday evening

Charles and Camilla were joined by President Adama Barrow and his wife arrving for a state dinner and reception at the Coco Ocean Hotel on Thursday night

Style queen: The Duchess of Cornwall looked resplendent in a pistachio green kaftan-style gown, while her husband was dapper in a double-breasted navy suit

Camilla, 71, looked chic in a turquoise tunic, which she teamed with white wide-leg trousers for the engagement.

She finished off her ensemble with a pair of wedges and a cherry-printed clutch, while carrying a parasol.

The couple attended an official welcoming ceremony at McCarthy Square in Banjul, Gambia, where Charles delivered a short speech.

The Prince of Wales congratulated The Gambia for turning its back on 'autocratic' rule at home and returning to the Commonwealth fold in February, after the country's exiled authoritarian former leader Yahya Jammeh fled the country last year.

Charles said: 'We are friends and partners, and once again we are both members of the Commonwealth family of nations.

The royal added that The Gambia was'turning its back on 20 years of autocratic rule in order to embrace a new beginning.'

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall join their hosts for a drink at tonight's glittering state dinner, held at the Coco Ocean Hotel

Prince Charles and Camilla were given a royal welcome today as they arrived at the State House in the Gambia for a meeting with President Adama Barrow

The royal couple arrived in a car with the number plate 'VIP', as they began their first full day of engagements as part of their African tour

Charles, who turns 70 later this month, and Camilla, 71, looked in high spirits as they arrived at the State House in The Gambia today

Camilla, 71, looked chic in a turquoise tunic, which she teamed with white wide-leg trousers for the engagement

Charles and Camilla were given the red carpet treatment as they arrived at the State House in The Gambia today

Following the welcome ceremony, Charles and Camilla visited a medical research facility run by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Charles then went to an armed forces training centre, where Gambian troops are preparing for a peacekeeping mission in Sudan.

The couple touched down in The Gambia last night to begin their nine-day tour of Africa.

They will also go on to visit Ghana and Nigeria on behalf of the British government, Clarence House announced last month.

Yesterday, Charles and Camilla were greeted with a ceremonial welcome from dancers in colourful dress and a long line of dignitaries on arriving at anjul International Airport.

Prince Charles and Camilla were joined by Gambian president Adama Barrow (right) today during an official welcome ceremony in Banjul

The couple looked in high spirits as they took their seats next to the Gambian president at McCarthy Square, Banjul

Prince Charles and President Adama Barrow inspected the guard of honour on arriving at McCarthy Square for the welcome ceremony

Crowds of schoolchildren gathered at the official welcome ceremony for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall

The couple were met on the red carpet by President Adama Barrow, who practices polygamy and has two wives.

Charles' Gambia visit will highlight the key role the centre plays in the global fight to eliminate malaria, Clarence House said.

Camilla's programme in the countrywill include a visit to a school to meet young people aspiring to enter the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition, which is the world's oldest schools' international writing competition, managed by The Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883.

For the past few years the Duchess has presented certificates to winners and runners up of the Commonwealth Essay Prize, on behalf of the Queen, at a formal awards ceremony that takes place at Buckingham Palace in November.

Following their engagements in The Gambia, Charles and Camilla will go on to Ghana on Friday, before touring Nigeria.

The couple will return to London just in time for Prince Charles' landmark 70th birthday on November 14.

Charles later visited the Armed Forces Training School in Banjul, The Gambia, where Gambian troops are preparing for a peacekeeping mission in Sudan

The Prince of Wales wore sunglasses and was sheltered by a parasol, in a bid to shield him from the heat in Banjul, The Gambia

Charles spoke to soldiers as he visited the Armed Forces Training School, Banjul, today

Charles watched soldiers as they performed an armed combat exercise demonstration during the visit today

Prince Charles also laid a wreath at the Commonwealth War Graves in Banjul, The Gambia, during the visit today

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were seen look at the gravestones during a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves

Charles and Camilla visited the Commonwealth War Graves during their first full day of engagements in The Gambia today
Brian Kemp, Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate and opponent of outside agitators. Photo: Jessica McGowan/Getty Images

Last summer, the conservative writer David French wrote an essay for Time defending the political culture of his native South. While northern liberals believed race is still the dominant political and cultural factor of Southern political life, French argued, that was too simplistic.

French had in mind a case study for his theory: a Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate named Brian Kemp. Here was a truly Southern man, which meant he was skeptical of elites and never ashamed of his faith.

French was articulating a more nuanced version of a bedrock premise of Republican political identity. Republicans believe almost unanimously that the sins of the Jim Crow past have no bearing on their modern incarnation. The strongest and most absurd version of this argument, associated with Dinesh DSouza, identifies Democrats as the eternal party of slavery and segregation (white southern conservatives used to be Democrats). Few conservatives take the argument to the absurd extremes of DSouza, but weaker versions of it recirculate constantly, by such figures as Kevin Williamson, Gerard Alexander, and others.

Even anti-Trump conservative intellectuals like French persist in seeing racism as a vestigial trait, rather than the dominant characteristic of modern conservatism (and its white southern heart). Todays culturally traditional, antibig government conservatives fervently believe they are in no way the heirs to the culturally traditional, antibig government of the Jim Crow era. They insist  and, I think, truly believe  that if brought back to 1965, they would be on the side of the good guys.

The appearance on the scene of Donald Trump has, shall we say, complicated the theory. What enabled Trump to outflank his rivals was his instinctive ability to see through the Republican Partys story about its innocence, and by evading these comforting delusions, to speak to the true soul of its base. That is why his closing campaign message is about a race war against swarms of threatening criminal brown people. That is why Trumps argument on behalf of his protege, Ron DeSantis, is to call the black Democrat a thief while praising DeSantis as a Harvard/Yale educated man. A Harvard man and a Yale man! So much for Frenchs belief that the true bedrock of southern political identity is distrust of elites.

But if I were to pick the most historically resonant symbol of modern southern conservatism, I would select the same figure that French singled out: Brian Kemp. Like most Republicans, Kemp benefits from a variety of methods designed to suppress the votes of nonwhites: reducing the number of polling places, reducing early voting, imposing cumbersome bureaucratic requirements  which, in combination, discourage or disqualify a significant number of voters, of whom they know will disproportionately constitute minorities. Unlike most Republicans, Kemp has the benefit of holding the office of secretary of State, which gives him the power to shape the battlefield of his own personal election.

Kemp has seized the opportunity with gusto. As Josie Duffy Rice observes in a devastating op-ed, Kemp has cancelled 1.4 million voter registrations since 2012. Prosecutors in Georgia, acting in concert with Kemps agenda, have relentlessly pursued picayune or completely fanciful legal charges against people for the crime of trying to help the victims of his policies overcome the hurdles he has placed before them and cast votes. He charged one woman with two felonies for helping her partly blind father fill out an absentee ballot. He charged another organizer with the invented crime of improper assistance in casting a ballot.

In a written statement, Kemp attacked his critics as outside agitators, which of course is the exact language Jim Crow officials used against civil-rights organizers. It is also the same concept: In both cases, conservative white southern officials design policies to suppress the political power of their nonwhite residents, and activists from outside the state are among those who work to help them. Then as now, the principle of states rights and local autonomy is used to preserve an arrangement in which whites use undemocratic methods to maintain power.

It is certainly true that, as a matter of degree, the vote-suppression methods used by todays Republicans pale beside those used by yesterdays Jim Crow Dixiecrats. As a matter of principle, though, the cases are essentially identical. The conservative movement has mounted essentially no dissent whatsoever against the systematic use of vote suppression in Georgia or anywhere else, which is now a cornerstone of the partys political formula. For all their self-delusional belief that they would be on the side of the civil-rights angels, the Republican who support or tolerate the Kemps of the world have made the same choices as the Jim Crow whites of the past.
Two mothers got into a heated debate on This Morning over whether children of primary school age are too young to date.

Journalist and mother-of-one Nilufer Atik said she was horrified at the idea of two young children left without adult supervision, claiming that dating is only 'to forge romantic relationships or to have sex'.

Fellow broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer insisted there was nothing sinister about it, saying that it could help children to develop communication skills and relationships.

The debate follows news of a ten-year-old boy who took his 'girlfriend' on a date to Nando's but was asked to leave the restaurant because they were under the required age of 13 to dine without an adult.

Mother-of-one Nilufer Atik worried that dating could lead to sex and porn habits, while fellow mother Julia Hartley-Brewer said that it helped develop relationships

Many viewers disagreed with Nilufer's comments that dating was sexualising children and took to Twitter to say she was 'overreacting' and that it was totally 'innocent'

Others agreed that ten years old was too young to go on dates, especially as the two youngsters had been left without adult supervision

Some viewers vehemently disagreed with Nilufer, with one tweeting: 'Why does everything have to be so sexualised? Drop the porn and sex chat! THEIR INNOCENT KIDS[sic].'

'Shes so overreacting. not being funny but when i was 10 if i went on a date it wouldnt be about the romance itd more be spending time with someone i like,' wrote another.

One tweeted: 'This woman is ridiculous. Just because nobody wants to date her doesnt mean that 10 year olds want to date. Its not about sex its about getting to know each other and good practice.'

However, others supported the mother-of-one's stance with one adding: '10 is far too young to date. Let children be children! There is plenty of time to date when you are an adult. Why do children feel the need to grow up fast?! Make the most of being young and without any responsibilities!'

'There is no way in hell I'd let my 10 year old child go to a restaurant with another 10 year old without adult supervision,' fumed one.

Nilufer claimed that dating was only for adults who wanted to forge a romantic relationship or go on to have sex with each other, and that young children should not be thinking about it yet

Julia said that it was 'sad' that children were being sexualised and that a date was totally innocent however Nilufer suggested that encouraging children to act like adults could be damaging

Nilufer said during the debate on ITV: 'Why would a ten year old want to date? Why do we date? We date because we are attracted to the opposite sex or the same sex, we want to forge a romantic relationship or to have sex.'

'They date for one of those two reasons they want to take it further than a friendship or they want to have sexual intercourse. At the age of ten that is the last thing they should be thinking about.'

Nilufer went on to say that this could lead children to watch porn and sexually assault each other: 'We are encouraging children to act like adults, they are not mature enough.'

But Julia said that it was 'sad' that Nilufer was 'sexualising' children and that 'a date doesnt have to be about sex, they are just being nice to each other'.

A ten-year-old boy was kicked out of a branch of Nando's while trying to impress his 'wee girlfriend' with some spicy chicken wings and Peri Peri fries, with the story going viral

His plight was revealed on Twitter, when his older sister took to the social networking site to shame Nando's for hindering his romantic overture (file image)

The primary school pupil and his female friend were not allowed to eat alone at the Nando's branch in Edinburgh, and had been asked to eat outside instead.

Why weren't the 10-year-old's allowed to eat at Nandos? It is unclear what type of licence Nando's in Edinburgh holds but it is known to have an alcoholic beverage licence which would restrict under 14s from being in the premises unaccompanied. Pubs were allowed to introduce special 'children's certificates' that would allow 14-year-old's and younger to be accompanied by an adult in licensed premises. A children's certificate permits a person under the age of 14, if accompanied by a person of not less than 18 years of age, to be present in a bar of licensed premises at any time between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. for the purpose of the consumption of a meal sold or supplied on the premises. Advertisement

His plight was revealed on Twitter, when his older sister took to the social networking site to shame Nando's for hindering his romantic overture.

She wrote: 'OMG I can't!!!!!!!! My wee brother is 10 years old and he took his wee 'gf' on a date to Nando's and they didn't let them sit in cause they had to be 13 so they made them eat a takeaway out side on a bench!!!!!!! and he paid I cannnnntttttt.

'Shame on Nando's.'

He was made to eat his spicy chicken wings and Peri Peri fries outside on a bench after being told they were not allowed to eat inside the shop.

She also revealed that the youngster even insisted paying for their date.

Nando's apologised for 'cramping the little guy's style' but confirmed it was a legal requirement with alcohol licence laws in place.

A spokesman said: 'We know that nobody wants to go on a date with their parents in tow but unfortunately it's a legal requirement of our alcohol license in Scotland that all under-13's must be accompanied by an adult.'

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With a dizzying 41 outfit changes over the course of 16 days on the royal tour, it's no wonder the Duchess of Sussex managed to showcase no fewer than 74 designer labels on her journey through four countries.

While royal women are expected to practice 'diplomatic dressing' while abroad by showcasing fashion from the host nation, it's also a chance to fly the flag for British fashion by wearing UK designers.

However, Meghan fell short of championing UK labels during the royal tour, wearing only 20 British designers out of 74 labels - the value of almost 118K.

Designers from the US were LA-born Meghan's go-to, wearing 25 different American brands - and some on multiple occasions.

Celebrity stylist Lucas Armitage told Femail that Meghan seems to have missed a trick in not taking the opportunity for more obvious promotion of her adopted home.

'The UK fashion business is in a state of crisis,' he said. 'We have seen huge fashion business with the Royal Warrant such as House of Fraser close stores and undergo major financial issues.

Its no secret Meghan like Kate has a the power to boost any brand by choosing to wear a certain piece or designer so it would have been great to Meghan choose more British brands to showcase on a global scale.'

For her speech at Government House on 28th October, Meghan wore a navy cocktail dress by New York-based Gabriela Hearst; a necklace by British designer Jessica McCormack; earrings from Canadian jeweller Birks; shoes by US brand Stuart Weitzman and carried a clutch by French design house Dior

This gown was certainly Meghan's most breathtaking fashion moment of the tour, but she chose US-based Oscar De La Renta for her most standout look, teamed with pumps by Italian label Aquazzura

The British brands that received a seal of approval from Meghan during the royal tour include Stella McCartney and Antonio Berardi as she wore both designers twice - although two of these dresses were recycled and had been seen before.

When the Duchess did add a UK label to her outfit, it was often in the form of an accessory of pair of shoes, rather than a focal point such as a Burberry coat or Roksanda dress.

Of the 19 British labels she wore, 11 were a coat or dress while the rest were jewellery, footwear or hats.

It's not the first time that Meghan has missed an opportunity to champion the best of British design.

The Duchess took the opportunity to showcase her wedding designer, the French label Givenchy on a walkabout in Rotorua on the final day of the royal tour, teamed with Italian Manolo Blahniks

On a visit to Maranui Cafe in Wellington, Meghan wore a trench by Canadian label Club Monaco, a sweater and jeans from Australian labels Jac + Jack and Outland, and boots from US brand Stuart Weitzman

The Duchess of Sussex wore a coat by Italian design house Armani, a skirt by German favourite Hugo Boss and a shirt from Scandi brand & Other Stories for her first official visit to the county that inspired her name

On her first official visit to Sussex, the county that inspired her royal title, she opted for a cream coat from Italian design house Armani, believed to have cost around 2,000, and a 369 leather skirt by German brand Hugo Boss.

She teamed the ensemble with a 69 shirt from & Other Stories, which is part of the Swedish H&M group and carried a 1,685 handbag from trendy New York designer Gabriela Hearst.

Meghan's preference for North American brands has been evident since her wedding to Harry in May 2018.

The labels Meghan wore on the royal tour AMERICAN Stuart Weitzman Krewe J. Crew Rothy's Adina Reyter Sarah Flint Brandon Maxwell Misha Nonoo Serena Williams Altazzura Mother Illesteva L'Agence 'Brea' Reformation Kayu Figue Theia Veronica Beard Banana Republic Adina Reyter Oscar de la Renta Theodore Scanlan Cuyana Gabriela Hearst Birdies FRENCH Dior Pascale Monvoisin Maison Kitsune Veja Givenchy ITALIAN Gucci Manolo Blahnik Aquazzura Prada Loro Piana GERMAN Boss by Hugo Boss NEW ZEALAND Karen Walker Maggie Marilyn BRITISH Philip Treacy Shaun Leane Roksanda Emilia Wickstead Tabitha Simmons Stella McCartney Winser London Jimmy Choo Stephen Jones SAFiYAA Pippa Small Self Portrait Antonio Berardi ASOS Jessica McCormack Seasalt Cornwall Muck Boots Company Lavender Hill Clothing Burberry Emily Mortimer CANADIAN Club Monaco Birks Jason Wu SPANISH Castaner AUSTRALIAN Karen Gee Martin Grant Natalie Marie Dion Lee Outland Orton Zimmerman Jac + Jack SPANISH Castaner AUSTRIAN Wolford NORWEGIAN Norrna SWEDISH & Other stories

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In September it was reported that out of the 22 outfits she had appeared in since she joined the Royal Family, only two were by British labels.

Shes mostly to be seen clad in North American designs - usually blue-chip brands including Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta.

She has also favoured legendary European fashion houses such as Prada, Dior and Givenchy.

It's believed that the influence of her best friend Jessica Mulroney may be the reason for Meghan's loyalty to little-known Canadian labels such as House of Nonie and Judith & Charles, which are closely associated with the Canadian stylist.

These brands that were hitherto unknown to the British public are naturally thrilled by the publicity boost.
Princess Madeleine of Sweden has shared a sweet photograph of her with her children dressed up for Halloween.

Madeleine, 36, wore a black cat costume as she and Leonore, four, Nicolas, three, and baby Adrienne celebrated their first Halloween in the US together.

Seven-month-old Adrienne looked cute in a pumpkin ensemble in the family snap, posted by Madeleine on Instagram.

Leonore, meanwhile, wore a mermaid costume, while brother Nicholas was dressed as Batman.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden has shared a sweet photograph of her with her children dressed up for Halloween. Pictured from left to right: Prince Nicolas, three, Princess Leonore, four, and baby Adrienne

Sharing the family snap on Instagram with her 160,000 followers, Madeleine simply wrote: 'Happy Halloween'.

It comes after Madeleine re-located to Florida earlier this year with her financier husband Chris ONeill, and their three children.

And it seems their fully embracing their new American lifestyle, with Madeleine posting a number of sweet snaps of her eldest children Leonore and Nicholas visiting a pumpkin patch last week.

The photographs showed her two eldest children dressing up in witch and wizard hats as they visited the pumpkin patch.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden has shared sweet snaps of eldest children Princess Leonore, four, and Prince Nicolas, three, visiting a pumpkin patch in the US

Young Nicolas (left) is seen showing off a cheeky grin in one of the snaps, while elder sister Leonore (right) pulls a funny face

Sharing the snap on Instagram with her 156,000 followers, Madeleine captioned the snap: 'Sunday Funday'

The Swedish royal palace announced that Madeleine and her family would be moving from the London to the US, following the birth of baby Adrienne in March.

A spokesperson said in a statement: 'The time and opportunity for the United States is good for the family when the children are still in pre-school age.

'Princess Madeleine has a great commitment to childrens rights and will continue working with the World Childhood Foundation and, through the move, be able to focus more on the activities in the United States.'

The statement added: 'Mr. Christopher O'Neill has previously been working in the United States but will continue his business in Europe. The family thus leaves the accommodation in London.'

Madeleine re-located to Florida earlier this year with her financier husband Chris ONeill, and their three children Leonore, Nicolas and baby Adrienne (pictured at Solliden Palace, the Swedish summer residence, earlier this year)

Christopher, 44, was born in London but has dual UK and US citizenship. Madeleine lived in New York from 2010, where she met her husband, with the pair moving back to Europe in 2014.

Despite the family appearing to have settled down well in Florida, other members of the royal family have admitted they are missing their presence.

Crown Princess Victoria described the 'awful' heartache of being so far away from sister Madeleine during a recent visit to US.

When asked whether she had managed to visit Madeleine during her trip, Victoria replied: 'I wish! It would have been great fun to meet both her and her family, but it may be another time.'

However, Madeleine - who is seventh in line to the throne - was reunited with her mother Queen Silvia at a World Childhood Foundation gala in New York earlier this month.
A teenager with eight siblings has become an online sensation after dressing up as a 'tired mom' for Halloween.

Jillian Schnerch, a 13-year-old from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, was inspired by her own hardworking mom, Lindsay Hartsock, who is a professional photographer as well as a mother-of-nine.

A photo of Jillian's brilliant costume was shared more than 70,000 times after it was posted on the family business' Facebook page, The Hartsocks' Photography.

Brilliant: Jillian Schnerch, a 13-year-old from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, dressed up as a 'tired mom' for Halloween

Exhausted: The teen was decked out in a loose cardigan sweater, a baggy T-shirt, and black leggings. She carried a Starbucks coffee cup and a Target bag filled with bottles of wine

Lindsay continued to share pictures of her daughter's costumes in the comments section of the post, where thousands of people agreed that the teen nailed the look.

Jillian's blonde hair was pulled up in a messy bun, she had smudged makeup on her face, and she was decked out in a loose cardigan sweater, a baggy T-shirt, and black leggings.

Her mom had taken her shopping for supplies, and they came up with incredible additions to her costume, including a nursing pad sticking out of her shirt and Cheerios falling out of her hair.

The teen held a baby doll cradled close to her, a Starbucks coffee cup in her hand, and a Target bag hanging from the crook of her elbow. Inside the shopping bag were diapers, wipes, and three bottles of wine.

Added touches: Jillian's blonde hair was pulled up in a messy bun and Cheerios were falling out of it. She also had a nursing pad hanging out of her shirt

Influence: Jillian was inspired by her own hardworking mom, Lindsay Hartsock, who is a professional photographer as well as a mother-of-nine

Dedicated: Lindsay said her daughter was in 'full character' during their Halloween photo shoot. She cradled a baby doll and had a life-size toy toddler hanging on to her Ugg boot

Naturally, there was spit-up all over her shirt, and she topped off her costume with a life-size toy toddler hanging onto one of her Ugg boots.

After receiving such an overwhelmingly positive response to the images, Lindsay thanked her daughter's Facebook fans for being so kind to her.

'We took these on her 13th Birthday. We have received so many wonderful, amazing and kind comments and messages about her photo!' the mom explained.

'We are excited that so many of you can relate loving so much your kids, but being totally exhausted at the same time. When she came downstairs like this I couldn't stop laughing! She was in full character and it was so entertaining.'

Going viral: A photo of Jillian's costume was shared more than 70,000 times after it was posted on Facebook

Big sister: Jillian is the fourth oldest out of nine children, and she often helps take care of her younger siblings

Although she is only 13 years old, Jillian understands how tiring childcare can be. As the fourth oldest in her family, she often helps take care of her younger siblings.

'Jillian sees me trying to manage our big, active family and also our profession,' Lindsay told Good Morning America in a statement.

'[Jillian] helps a lot so she knows exactly what it's like to be a tired mommy (and sister) and she thought it would be a perfect costume for her.'

Not only is Jillian a helpful big sister, but she is also a natural in front of the camera.

Experience: Lindsay said her daughter 'helps a lot so she knows exactly what it's like to be a tired mommy'

More Halloween fun: Lindsay and her husband, Kyle Hartsock, dressed their youngest child as a Frappuccino while her big sister and brother donned barista costumes

'I told her to smile in one [picture] and she said, "I'm happy, but I'm a tired mom, so I have to keep this look so I don't break character,"' Lindsay recalled.

'I think that's what it comes down to, being a mom is so much work, but it has these little rewarding moments during the day that make it all worth it.'

Of course, Jillian wasn't the only member of the family who had a great costume.

Lindsay returned to Facebook on Halloween to share a heartwarming photo of herself posed with her husband, Kyle Hartsock, and three of their younger children at Starbucks.

Their little baby was dressed up as a Frappuccino while her big sister and brother donned barista costumes. The family looked so cute the actual baristas offered to take a photo of them all together.
A woman has sent out a desperate Twitter plea after her 'beautiful' John Lewis salad bowl was taken by trick-or-treaters on Halloween.

Lyndsey Harvey, from Salisbury, believes the kitchenware - which was a wedding gift - was pilfered by a child after she left it outside with a note reading: 'Help yourself to a treat'.

She has since seen her tweet go viral and received a flood of responses, with even John Lewis offering to help out with the hashtag #FindLyndseysSaladBowl.

Writing on Twitter on Thursday, the marketing and publicity professional said: 'If anyone in Salisbury had a child return home from tick or treating with a BEAUTIFUL JOHN LEWIS SALAD BOWL, that is mine and I want it back.

The Salisbury mum's tweet asking for the bowl's safe return, pictured, has since gone viral

'"Help yourself to a treat" did not mean help yourself to my kitchenware. Halloween is the worst.'

Lyndsey later took to Twitter to explain that she had been bought the expensive salad bowl as a wedding present and was 'stupid enough' to leave it outside while she put her two-year-old daughter to bed.

She also shared a picture of the bowl 'in happier times' on her dining room table.

Replying to her tweet, John Lewis wrote: 'Oh no! Maybe it was a g-g-g-ghost! Can you share with us which of our salad bowls it was? #FindLyndseysSaladBowl.'

The thread sparked hilarity on social media with many blaming the disappearance on 'the Russians'.

Lyndsey's Twitter plea has since gone viral and received a flood of responses, with even John Lewis offering to help out with the hashtag #FindLyndseysSaladBowl

Mike Hunt wrote: 'I saw two dodgy looking Russian blokes carrying one just like it. They said they were on their way to the beautiful cathedral.'

Another quipped: 'Putin has gone too far this time. He's underestimating this country if he thinks we're going to sit back and remain passive while our John Lewis salad bowls are going missing.'

It is thought the supermarket is in the process of arranging a replacement.

Another wrote: 'This is what happened when you help indoctrinate children they can go around with their hands out and get free stuff. Next thing you know you find your favourite salad bowl becomes the free stuff as well.'
A middle school boy was sent to the principal's office because his jeans had an 'emerging' hole in them, and now his mom is fighting back against the dress code.

Laurens Middle School in Laurens, South Carolina, was performing a dress-code inspection when a teacher noticed 11-year-old Ethan Orr had an 'emerging' hole in his jeans. This meant there was an area of the pant was frayed to the point where it would eventually form a hole.

Ethan was then taken to the public school principal's office where his mother, Lori Orr, was called to bring him a new pair of pants.

Upset: Ethan Orr, 11, was called into the principal's office at Laurens Middle School in Laurens, South Carolina, for an 'emerging' hole in his jeans

Minute: School officials told Lori, Ethan's mom, she needed to bring new pants for him because the 'emerging' hole went against the dress code

The interaction first gained traction after Lori posted a picture of the 'damaged jeans' on Facebook.

She revealed the school told her she needed to bring a new pair of pants for her son otherwise she would have to pick him up because the jeans went against the dress code.

'These clothes were bought in August for the new school year,' Lori wrote an outraged post on Facebook. 'Excuse me, but my children play. And stuff happens.'

Frustrated: Lori posted the interaction online and expressed disappointment in the policy where school officials 'nitpick' what the students wear

The 'emerging' hole was on the back side of Ethan's pants underneath his knee. But school officials said it was unacceptable for him to continue with the day wearing the pants.

Lori revealed online that she and her husband can't afford to update Ethan's wardrobe at the moment as they focus on paying rent and buying groceries. Since the hole wasn't even actually a hole, she believed purchasing new clothes was unnecessary.

'I DO NOT have the money to go buy my kids a whole new wardrobe every month or two bc they might get a tiny hole or tear or blemish on their clothing,' the frustrated mom wrote at the time.

On her Facebook page, she shared with followers a video showing the pants so they could see for themselves the 'emerging' hole.

Lori revealed in an interview with WCNC how her son getting punished for wearing the pants was just another added stressor for him.

'As a mother, that broke my heart,' she said.

What she wanted the takeaway to be from her post is for school officials to not feel the 'need to nitpick like they do' about students' clothing.

Not right: The mom shared her son's outfit and said she didn't feel like she should have to replace his wardrobe after ever scuff and tear

Controversy: The school has since responded to complaints from the mom and said they would look into altering the 'emerging' hole section of the dress code

Since the story gained traction, the school has decided to update its dress code to accommodate students whose wardrobe might have 'emerging' holes due to budget constraints.

Edward Murray, director of public relations for Laurens County School District 55, told Yahoo Lifestyle: 'The rule about emerging holes deals with the fashion industry and clothes that come with preexisting holes, When it comes to normal wear and tear, we certainly want to work with parents.'

In an official statement from the school district, the district's superintendent Stephen Peters said, 'We consider parents to be our partners in the education of the whole child in Laurens County School District 55, and we are always happy to discuss any questions or concerns a parent may have.'

People who heard about the story have since offered to donate clothes to Ethan to help his budget-conscious parents. But Lori wrote that she was not accepting clothes for fear it would send the wrong message.

When speaking to DailyMail.com, she said: 'I'm thinking about asking the school if we can start a closet at the school and possibly all schools in the district...so many people want to donate.

'But I think it would be more beneficial to have all these wonderful, thoughtful people to donate to the "closet". The school would be able to help all sorts of kids in our situation discreetly and no more kids would have to be humiliated.'

She hopes this incident can help create some good within the Laurens community for all students.
Men should start a family before they age of 35 to avoid risk to their unborn babies, researchers claim.

A study tracking 40million babies found the risk of birth complications start to increase when fathers are in their mid-30s, and significantly rise from the age of 45.

For decades women have been told they will put their children at risk if they pursue a career first and leave it until they are older to have a family.

But the new study, published in the British Medical Journal, shows men should also take responsibility.

Ticking clock: A study of 40million babies found the risk of birth complications started to increase when fathers are in their mid-30s - and continue as they age

Researcher Professor Michael Eisenberg, of Stanford University School of Medicine, said: 'We tend to look at maternal factors in evaluating associated birth risks.

'But this study shows that having a healthy baby is a team sport, and the father's age contributes to the baby's health, too.'

He said once a father hits 35, there's a slight increase in birth defects, but the risk increases more sharply as men age into their 40s and 50s.

This is because with every year that a man ages, he accumulates on two new mutations in the DNA of his sperm.

Compared with fathers between the ages of 25 and 34, infants born to men between the age of 35 and 44 were about five per cent more likely to be born premature or of low birth weight.

For men aged 45 or older they were 14 per cent more likely to be admitted to intensive care, 14 per cent more likely to be born prematurely, 18 per cent more likely to have seizures and 14 per cent more likely to have a low birth weight.

If a father was 50 or older, the likelihood that their infant would need ventilation upon birth increased by 10 per cent, and the odds that they would require intensive care increased by 28 per cent.

Obvious? Data published in British Medical Journal shows decline in sperm quality as men age

Professor Eisenberg added: 'What was really surprising was that there seemed to be an association between advanced paternal age and the chance that the mother would develop diabetes during pregnancy.'

For men age 45 and older, their partners were 28 per cent more likely to develop gestational diabetes, compared with fathers between 25 and 34.

He said the possible biological mechanisms at play on this point are unclear, but he suspects that the mother's placenta has a role.

Some 18 per cent of children born in England and Wales have a father aged 40 and above, according to the Office of National Statistics.

The average age of fathers in 2016 was 33.3, nearly four years older than 1974, when they were 29.4.

The age of mothers have increased at almost exactly the same rate - they had an average age of 30.4 in 2016, and 26.4 in 1974, also a rise of four years. But Professor Eisenberg said the absolute risks are still relatively low.

The absolute risks are still relatively low

Did you know? For men age 45 and older, their partners were 28 per cent more likely to develop gestational diabetes, compared with fathers between 25 and 34

He compared the increased risks to buying lottery tickets. 'If you buy two lottery tickets instead of one, your chances of winning double, so it's increased by 100 per cent,' he said.

'But that's a relative increase. Because your chance of winning the lottery started very small, it's still unlikely that you're going to win the lottery. This is a very extreme example, but the same concept can be applied to how you think about these birth risks.' The researchers wrote: '

A significant number of these negative birth outcomes were estimated to be prevented if older fathers had elected to have children before the age of 45 years.

'The risks associated with advancing paternal age should be included in discussions regarding family planning and reproductive counselling.'
Doctors will be able to prescribe cannabis products to patients in the UK from today following the landmark move by the Government.

The Home Secretary announced last month that cannabis could be prescribed from November 1 for medicinal use in England, Scotland and Wales.

These products will only be prescribed on a case-by-case basis by specialist doctors - not GPs - after all other treatment options have been exhausted.

The dramatic change to policy followed a review into several high profile cases of patients who were denied products containing THC - the psychoactive compound in cannabis that causes a 'high'.

The mother of Billy Caldwell, who was given a special licence by Sajid Javid after his supply of cannabis oil was confiscated at Heathrow airport, has today spoken of her joy.

Epileptic boy Billy Caldwell was banned from taking cannabis oil that was prescribed to him abroad. In an interview on Loose Women this morning, his mother Charlotte described the move to make medicinal cannabis products legal as being absolutely incredible

She said: The Home Secretary listened, he made a promise, he kept his promise and he moved with speed, and for that he has to be applauded for' (pictured on the panel)

In an interview on Loose Women this morning, Ms Caldwell described the move to make medicinal cannabis products legal as being absolutely incredible.

She said: The Home Secretary listened, he made a promise, he kept his promise and he moved with speed, and for that he has to be applauded for.

Ms Caldwell admitted she has yet to read the guidelines, which she branded a minefield because of the swathes of jargon.

She fears her own son Billy, who she fought to get medicinal cannabis for, may still not come under the guidelines because she is unclear on what they mean.

Ms Caldwell told Sky News: 'For me what started off as a journey which was about the needs of my little boy actually turned into something, proved to be something, a lot bigger. It proved to be the needs of a nation.

'Medicinal cannabis gave me back my right as a mummy to hope, but the most important thing medicinal cannabis has done is given Billy back his right to life.'

In desperation to ensure he can get hold of the THC-containing cannabis oil that is helping him with his seizures, she is flying to Canada to stock up on Billys supplies.

The Home Secretary has insisted today's change is not the first step towards the broader legalisation of cannabis.

While the evidence supporting medicinal cannabis builds, Mr Javid added the Government believes it is important that access to these medicines remains strictly controlled to prevent misuse.

Prescriptions will therefore only be made by doctors on the specialist register of the General Medicine Council, a statement claimed.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced last month the UK law will change to allow cannabis-based products to be prescribed for medicinal use in England, Scotland and Wales

Cannabis-based products can only be prescribed by doctors on the specialist register of the General Medicine Council, which is thought to include neurologists, who typically treat epilepsy. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil can already legally be bought on the High Street (stock)

These medics are thought to include neurologists, who generally treat epilepsy patients, among others.

Dr Saoirse O'Sullivan, an associate professor at the University of Nottingham, told Sky News many people will likely be disappointed by the strict prescription regulations around medicinal cannabis products.

Many use the drug to combat mental-health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, which are typically managed by their GPs, who will not be able to prescribe these treatments, she added.

Clark French, of the United Patients Alliance, added specialists are going to be inundated with requests for cannabis products and hopes the law will be expanded to allow prescriptions to be made by general practitioners.

Blair Gibbs, policy head of The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis, said: 'This has moved incredibly fast - leading to possibly the biggest ever overnight change in prescription medicine.

'It has been a brave decision to start with this, but as research and understanding is accrued, the decision to broaden the access and availability of cannabis-based medicines will become less difficult.'

He added the CMC is putting together policy proposals for the use of medicinal cannabis in the UK, which will be published in the coming weeks.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Professor David Nutt (left), a former Government drug tsar, called the law change a 'revolution'. However, pain medicine consultant Dr Rajesh Munglani (right) argued it is not easy to predict who will respond to cannabis-based medicine, with up to four times as many patients being harmed by the treatments as those helped

Dr Munglani argued 28 people have to be treated with medicinal cannabis products before one person benefits. Of these 28, four people experience side effects, such as psychosis, he said

Co-host Richard Madeley asked Dr Munglani if doctors may become 'inadvertent drug dealers'. The medic admitted this is a concern due to doctors struggling to tell who legitimately needs cannabis products for pain relief and who just want access to the drug

But not everyone thinks the law change is a positive move.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, pain medicine consultant Dr Rajesh Munglani said: 'At the moment we have this issue that we can't easily predict who is going to respond and we could easily harm four times as many people as we help.

'The latest evidence suggests you have to treat 28 people before one person gets significant relief from cannabis.'

He added that of those 28 people, four would be 'significantly' harmed due to the development of mental-health issues, such as psychosis.

Dr Munglani also worried doctors may become 'inadvertent drug dealers'.

He argued it will be difficult for medics to tell which patients are coming to them because they legitimately need pain relief and which just want access to the drug.

But Professor David Nutt, a former Government drug tsar, called the law change 'a revolution', arguing any side effects are short lived.

He added the legislation will allow scientists to more easily study cannabis to better understand its benefits.

THE LANDMARK CASE OF BILLY CALDWELL THAT PROMPTED THE GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE ITS STANCE ON MEDICINAL CANNABIS Billy Caldwell's mother Charlotte (pictured together) had seven bottles of cannabis oil confiscated at Heathrow Airport customs, prompting a row over cannabis oil Cannabis oil was thrust into the limelight when epileptic boy Billy Caldwell's mother had seven bottles confiscated at Heathrow Airport customs. The 12-year-old sparked a row over the medicinal status of the oil, prompting the Home Office to step in and grant his mother Charlotte an emergency licence for the product that was calming his seizures, which contained THC. Billy's bottles were confiscated on June 11 after Ms Caldwell brought them in from Toronto. On the back of the cases of Billy and fellow epileptic boy Alfie Dingley, six, Home Secretary Sajid Javid called for a review into medicinal cannabis. In a major shift of policy, he announced in July that some products containing the drug would be available on prescription in the UK from the autumn. On the back of today's change to the law, Ms Caldwell said she wept with joy. 'For me what started off as a journey which was about the needs of my little boy actually turned into something, proved to be something, a lot bigger,' she told Sky News. 'It proved to be the needs of a nation. 'Medicinal cannabis gave me back my right as a mummy to hope, but the most important thing medicinal cannabis has done is given Billy back his right to life. 'Only relatively recently did our Government and country really start to appreciate just how many wee children and people of all ages were affected by the difficulties associated with accessing medicinal cannabis. 'But it became clear it wasn't just about what was perceived to be a small number of very sick children and that medicinal cannabis could make a life-changing or life-saving difference to more than a million people.' Although thrilled by the law change, Ms Caldwell hopes regulations will be expanded to allow more people to benefit from cannabis-based treatments. 'This is new ground for everybody. We did in a few days what successive UK governments failed to do in more than half a century and made medicinal cannabis legal,' she said. 'Then, as now, politicians didn't realise the complexities involved. 'There's a wide range of conditions, each of which can only be treated by certain forms of medicinal cannabis.' Advertisement

Mr Javid announced on 19 June that the Misuse of Drugs Regulations act of 2001 was being reviewed in a two-part investigation to allow for the prescription of medicinal-cannabis products.

In the first part of the review, the chief medical advisor, Professor Dame Sally Davies, concluded there was evidence that medicinal cannabis has therapeutic benefits.

The second part, carried out by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), recommended drugs that meet a clear definition of a cannabis-derived medicinal products should be placed in Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.

Cannabis was previously considered Schedule 1. Drugs in this class are thought to have no medicinal value and therefore cannot be legally possessed or prescribed.

Schedule 2 drugs, such as ketamine, are those that can be prescribed and supplied by doctors and pharmacists. They can also be legally possessed by anyone with a prescription.

According to Mr Javid, cannabis drugs will only will be re-classed as Schedule 2 if they meet the following:

Contain cannabis, cannabis resin, the compound cannabinol or a cannabinol derivative

Are produced for medicinal use in humans

Are a medicinal product or used as an ingredient in a medicinal product

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil can already legally be bought on the High Street due to it not containing the psychoactive compound THC.

'I have been clear my intention was always to ensure patients have access to the most appropriate course of medical treatment,' Mr Javid said in the statement, which was delivered by Baroness Williams of Trafford, minister of state at the Home Office in the House of Lords.

'I stressed the importance of acting swiftly to ensure that where medically appropriate, these products could be available to be prescribed to patients.

'I have been clear this should be achieved at the earliest opportunity whilst ensuring the appropriate safeguards were in place to minimise the risks of misuse and diversion.'

THE SIX-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO WAS ALSO ALLOWED CANNABIS OIL TO TREAT HIS EPILEPSY AFTER THE HOME OFFICE'S INITIAL REFUSAL Another British boy with epilepsy was given cannabis oil treatment in September after a landmark Home Office ruling. Alfie Dingley, six, suffers from a rare form of the disease that can cause up to 30 seizures a day. His mother Hannah Deacon, of Kenilworth, Warwickshire, begged the Home Office to let her treat her son with marijuana, but they refused. However, the youngster became the second UK epilepsy sufferer to be allowed cannabis treatment after the Home Secretary Sajid Javid's intervened in September. Ms Deacon wept with joy during an interview on ITV News when she was told the Government granted a licence for Alfie to receive cannabis oil. Alfie Dingley, six, suffers from a rare form of epilepsy that can cause up to 30 seizures a day. His mother Hannah Deacon, of Kenilworth, Warwickshire, begged the Home Office to let her treat her son with marijuana, but they refused (both are pictured) Alfie is pictured with his mother, father Drew Dingley and sister Annie, as well as actor Sir Patrick Stewart, when the family took their campaign to Downing Street earlier this year. The Star Trek star revealed he uses cannabis products to treat his arthritis Advertisement

Hannah Deacon called the law change 'momentous'.

Her six-year-old son Alfie has a rare form of epilepsy, which can cause him to have up to 30 seizures a day.

'Today is a momentous day for every patient and family with a suffering child who wish to access medicinal cannabis,' Ms Deacon said.

'We urge the medical world to get behind these reforms so they can help the tens of thousands of people who are in urgent need of help.

'I have personally seen how my son's life has changed due to the medical cannabis he is now prescribed.

'As a family we were facing his death. Now we are facing his life, full of joy and hope, which is something I wish for each and every person in this country who could benefit from this medicine.'

Mr Javid insisted, however, the re-scheduling of cannabis products will not led to the drug being legalised for recreational use.

'I have been consistently clear that I have no intention of legalising the recreational use of cannabis,' he said.

'To take account of the particular risk of misuse of cannabis by smoking and the operational impacts on enforcement agencies, the 2018 Regulations continue to prohibit smoking of cannabis, including of cannabis-based products for medicinal use in humans.

'These regulations are not an end in themselves.

'The ACMD will be conducting a long-term review of cannabis and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been commissioned to provide advice for clinicians by October next year.

'The Government will monitor the impact of the policy closely as the evidence-base develops and review when the ACMD provides its final advice.'

Mr Javid added his officials are working closely with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, 'which intends to mirror these legislative amendments'.

Genevieve Edwards, director of external affairs at the MS Society, said: 'This is a landmark moment as the UK comes closer to joining countries around the world to offer access to cannabis for medicinal use.

'MS is often painful and exhausting, and this change in the law could have a huge impact for up to 10,000 people with the condition to relieve their pain and muscle spasms.

'It's crucial that specialist doctors can prescribe it in a fair and timely way on the NHS for everyone who could benefit, and we welcome robust guidance being put in place to help them make their decisions.'
Halloween has come and gone for another year but the horror doesn't stop there.

Doctors in Italy have revealed the case of a man who went to hospital because he was crying blood from both eyes.

The man, who is not named, had not injured his face and wasn't in any pain but blood had suddenly started leaking from his eyes.

After close examination, medics discovered he had haemolacria, a rare condition which causes people to produce tears containing blood.

The unnamed 52-year-old is believed to have gone to hospital in Messina, Italy, where doctors discovered he had haemolacria, a rare condition in which the body mixes blood into the tears

The man's bleeding happened two hours before he made it to the hospital and only lasting for a few minutes.

However, it started again while he was in the waiting room.

Medical examinations revealed the man had non-cancerous tumours underneath his eyelids.

The man is believed to have visited a hospital in the Italian city of Messina, in the north-east of Sicily.

His peculiarly gruesome case was reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

When he arrived at the hospital, he couldn't explain why his eyes might be bleeding, as he hadn't injured either eye, nose or any other part of his head.

The bleeding had never happened to him before, and he didn't suffer from nosebleeds, bleeding gums or easy bruising.

WHAT IS HAEMOLACRIA? Haemolacrica is a rare condition in which the body mixes blood with tears, which are then cried out. It is not clear how many people are affected by the gruesome-looking condition, and it can be caused by a number of things. Infections in the eyes, facial injuries, swelling, tumours in or around the eyes, or nosebleeds can all produce tears containing blood. The blood can come from a bleeding injury and mix with tears, from being pushed through the tubes connecting the eyes and nose, or from leaking blood vessels inside the tear ducts. The condition likely looks worse than it is, and it can usually be treated by tackling the underlying infection or other cause. But it can be caused by high blood pressure, cancer or a serious injury so should be examined by a doctor. Advertisement

He was already taking medication for high blood pressure and, although his blood pressure was normal in the hospital, it was high in his eyes, tests showed.

Doctors realised the source of his bleeding was non-cancerous tumours beneath each of his eyelids  called haemangiomas.

These are extra growths made of blood vessel cells, which are commonly seen on the skin of children and are sometimes known as strawberry marks.

The man was given eye drops containing timolol, which are used to treat glaucoma and reduce pressure in the eyes.

After he was treated with the drops, he did not report another incident of tears of blood for a year, which is when he went back to the hospital for a check-up.

Crying blood has been reported in medical journals in the past and has various different causes.

It can occur as a result of infection, injury, swelling, tumours or as a side effect of nosebleeds.

One 56-year-old woman suffered the phenomenon after pinching her nose for two hours to try and stem a bleeding nose.

In the case reported in the British Journal of Opthamology in 2003, the woman pinching her nose had caused the blood to flow backwards into the eyes and leak out.

The blood was soaked up with a sponge until the nosebleed stopped and she made an 'uneventful' recovery.
A 94-year-old woman was stung 74 times by yellow jackets, sending her to the hospital.

Bernice Arline Patterson told KPTV she was doing maintenance on a trail near her home in Oregon City, Oregon, when she came upon an underground nest.

In just a few seconds she was swarmed by yellow jackets.

As she tried to run away, Patterson tripped and fell, which is when the wasps began attacking.

Bernice Arline Patterson, 94, of Oregon City, Oregon, was doing maintenance on a trail near her home when she came upon an underground nest

She tripped while trying to get away and a swarm of yellow jackets attacked her. She did not have a can of wasp spray with her and screamed for one of her sons. Pictured, left and right: The stings on Patterson's legs

'It was terrible. I was just [swatting] trying to get them off my face,' she told the news outlet. 'It hurt like heck.'

Although Patterson usually carries a can of bee or wasp spray with her, she was not on this day. So she screamed for her son, David.

'I can't remember what I did after that. I just felt like I was shaking,' Patterson said.

Her son heard the screams and used a broom to swat at the yellow jackets, which also stung him.

He told KPTV he then grabbed a can of yellow jacket spray, which he soaked the insects in and scared them off.

David rushed his mother to the emergency room, where doctors found a total of 74 stings, mainly on her face and legs.

Unlike a bee, which can only sting you once because their stinger is injected into you, a yellow jacket can sting you several times.

The stinger injects a poisonous venom into the body, which causes pain, redness and inflammation around the site.

Her son, David, first used a broom to swat the yellow jackets away before using a spray. He took his mother to the emergency room, where doctors found 74 stings all over her body. Pictured, left and right: Cellphone video shows the nest where Patterson was attacked

According to a 1998 article from the University of Florida, it would take about 1,500 yellow jacket stings to kill an adult man and about 300 to 400 stings to kill a child. Pictured: Patterson

A 2012 study from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany found that up to 25 percent of people can develop an allergic reaction from yellow jacket stings.

However, if you are not allergic, it would take hundreds of stings for the toxic effects of the venom to kill you.

According to a 1998 article from the University of Florida, it would take about 1,500 stings to kill an adult man and about 300 to 400 stings to kill a child.

If you are stung, experts recommend using an ice pack or taking an antihistamine to reduce pain and swelling.

Some home remedies include mixing baking soda and water to form a paste. Baking soda counteracts the acidity of the yellow's jacket's venom.

Patterson says she now wants to warn others to be more observant about insects if they plan on doing outdoor activities and to carry insect spray with them.

When asked by KPTV if she will continue doing yard work, she replied: 'Yes but I will try to much more aware of my surroundings from now on.'
The enormous number of Indian citizens working in the CRA phone scam racket is revealed in this CBC report. Indian police have made raids in recent days but all sources agree that there are dozens of such criminal businesses still toiling away to rob Canadians of their money with threats and fabricated stories. The video shows crowds of young men rounded up from just a couple of such call centres. The actual number of people working in the racket seems beyond guessing.

Crowds of young men arrested in just two raids speak about the huge business this racket represents in India
A mass funeral for children killed in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition. Photo: STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images

On Tuesday, both Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called for an end to the brutal war in Yemen. Weve got to move towards a peace effort and we cant say were going to do it some time in the future. We need to be doing this in the next 30 days, Mattis said. Pompeo added, The time is now for the cessation of hostilities.

Taken together, the statements amount to the strongest language yet from the U.S. since the war began three years ago. And theyre a part of a coordinated push to bring an end to what the U.N. calls the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, according to several reports.

The Trump administrations souring on the war is attributed largely to two things: the killing of Jamal Khashoggi and increasing congressional opposition to the starvation and murder of children.

The Washington Post reports that Khashoggis killing, and Saudi Arabias dishonest response to it, has some in the administration unable to trust Riyadh. Theyre questioning what Saudi Arabia is telling U.S. officials about its conduct of the war in Yemen, especially its role in civilian casualties and human rights violations. Of course, its absurd that it took Khashoggis murder for anyone to see what has been obvious for far too long  Saudi Arabia, in its ongoing fight against Houthi rebels, is massacring and starving civilians.

Its that humanitarian crisis that has led to increasing congressional opposition to the U.S. role in the war. The U.S. provides refueling to Saudi jets, along with battlefield intelligence and weapons sales. That makes the U.S. complicit in the crisis, which was described at the U.N. last week, as the BBC reports:

At least 6,660 civilians have been killed and 10,560 injured in the war, according to the UN. The fighting and a partial blockade by the coalition have also left 22 million people in need of humanitarian aid, created the worlds largest food security emergency, and led to a cholera outbreak that has affected 1.1 million people.

The Trump administration believes that bipartisan outrage in Congress over the war is making it increasingly difficult for President Trump to back Saudi Arabia, according to The Wall Street Journal.

CNN reports that Trump also feels compelled to act because the New York Times is publishing photos of starving children. But its not the pictures themselves that bother Trump, or U.S. complicity in the suffering of the children. Rather, CNN reports, Trumps worried that the Times is making the American public more aware of Yemens starving babies, and unlike him, theyll want to stop it.
Premature birth rates in the US have risen for the third year in a row, a new report has found.

This is after almost a decade of decline between 2007 and 2014, according to the 2018 premature birth report card from March of Dimes, a nonprofit that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.

In 2017, the rate of preterm birth increased to 9.93 percent, up from 2016's rate of 9.85 percent and 9.6 percent in 2015.

While the increase might appear to be negligible, this equates to about 27,000 more babies born prematurely, Stacey Stewart, president of March of Dimes, told Daily Mail Online, and this is a 'worrying trend'.

Researchers did not find one primary cause of preterm birth, but they say the findings suggest that racial and economic disparities have a negative effect on these rates.

Premature birth rates in the US rose for the third year in a row. The rate rose to 9.93 percent in 2017, up from 9.85 percent in 2016 and 9.6 percent in 2015. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia all had failing grades and Vermont was the only state to get an 'A'

The March of Dimes says that preterm birth - when a baby arrives prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy - is the largest contributor to infant death in the US.

Babies born prematurely suffer a greater risk of breathing problems, feeding problems and are more susceptible to contracting infections.

A 2015 study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that survival rates of preemies have increased between five and nine percent in the last three decades due to improvements in neonatal care.

'But, if even if they survive, those babies are experiencing lifelong health challenges,' Steward said.

'They're at a higher risk of suffering from physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy and visual problems. And if they even if they don't appear in childhood, they may show up in early adulthood.'

The US received an overall 'C' grade when it came to premature birth rates, but some states fared much worse.

States in the south were generally found to have worse rates. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia all had preterm birth rates above 12 percent, which translated into a failing grade.

Vermont was the only state to earn an 'A' with a rate of 7.5 percent.

Unequal access to healthcare and maternity care remains a big issue in the disparities between states, Stewart said.

'Right now, 10 million women lack health insurance and we know if a woman is not as healthy as she can be, that increases the risk of premature birth,' she explained.

'But even if you have health insurance, that doesn't do any good if you don't have access to a good doctor. More than 10 million women live in counties with limited access to maternity care.'



However, one promising trend in the report was that the rates between 2016 and 2017 improved in 16 states.

The risk of having a premature baby also depended on the mother's race and ethnicity.

Black women had the highest risk of giving birth to a preemie at a rate of 13.4 percent, while the lowest rate was among white women at 8.9 percent.

This means that black women in the US were 49 percent more likely to have a preterm birth than other woman of all races and ethnicities.

'There could be multiple drivers, but we believe one is chronic stress and anxiety,' said Stewart.

'This is often due to stress of living in a society around racial discrimination that affects women on a daily basis.'

A 2004 study from Northwestern University and the University of Illinois found that the stress of racial discrimination put African American women at a higher risk of low birth weight, preterm infants.

Another 2004 study found that 50 percent of black women with preterm deliveries reported having experienced racial discrimination compared to five percent of white women.

Black women in the US were 49 percent more likely to have a preterm birth than other woman of all races and ethnicities

'Research shows that there is some intersection between racial discrimination/bias and that could be affecting health,' said Stewart.

'It could also be stress from housing conditions or some other environmental injustice or risk.'

Black women are also three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although the cause for this difference is unclear, some doctors speculate it could be because chronic illnesses such as obesity and hypertension - both of which are pregnancy risk factors - are higher in black women.

Others say it could be because of socioeconomic disparities between black and white women including housing, healthcare access, insurance, and health education.

Stewart says a big way to drive this rate down 'as a country' is by participating in next week's mid-term elections.

'We're asking for everyone to get involved in what we are referring to as a "blanket change agenda",' she said.

'This includes calling on candidates to expand healthcare access and passing legislation about maternal mortality and morbidity. This is the only thing to do if we're going to see any meaningful changes in premature birth.'
The first prescription drug made from marijuana is now available for prescription in all 50 states - a milestone that could spur more research into a drug that remains illegal under federal law.

In June, the Food and Drug Administration approved the twice-daily oral medication, Epidiolex, to treat two rare forms of epilepsy that begin in childhood.

Today, the drug became available for prescription.

The move was hailed by the medical marijuana industry as a sign of acceptance - though Epidiolex is not quite medical marijuana.

The strawberry-flavored syrup is a purified form of a chemical ingredient found in the cannabis plant - but not the one that gets users high. It's not yet clear why the ingredient, called cannabidiol, or CBD, reduces seizures in some people with epilepsy.

Epidiolex is now available in all 50 states. GW Pharmaceuticals studied the drug in more than 500 children and adults with hard-to-treat seizures, overcoming numerous legal hurdles that have long stymied research into cannabis

'Because these patients have historically not responded well to available seizure medications, there has been a dire need for new therapies that aim to reduce the frequency and impact of seizures,' said Justin Gover, CEO of Epidiolex manufacturer, the British firm GW Pharmaceuticals.

'We are committed to ensuring that these patients can access this novel cannabinoid medicine that has been thoroughly studied in clinical trials, manufactured to assure quality and consistency, and is eligible to be covered by insurance for appropriate patients.'

GW Pharmaceuticals studied the drug in more than 500 children and adults with hard-to-treat seizures, overcoming numerous legal hurdles that have long stymied research into cannabis.

FDA officials said the drug reduced seizures when combined with older epilepsy drugs.

The FDA has previously approved synthetic versions of another cannabis ingredient for medical use, including severe weight loss in patients with HIV.

Epidiolex is essentially a pharmaceutical-grade version CBD oil, which some parents already use to treat children with epilepsy. CBD is one of more than 100 chemicals found in marijuana. But it doesn't contain THC, the ingredient that gives marijuana its mind-altering effect.

Physicians say it's important to have a consistent, government-regulated version.

'I'm really happy we have a product that will be much cleaner and one that I know what it is,' said Dr Ellaine Wirrell, director of the Mayo Clinic's program for childhood epilepsy. 'In the artisanal products there's often a huge variation in doses from bottle to bottle depending on where you get it.'

Side effects with the drug include diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue and sleep problems.

Several years ago, Allison Hendershot considered relocating her family to Colorado, one of the first states to legalize marijuana and home to a large network of CBD producers and providers. Her 13-year-old daughter, Molly, has suffered from severe seizures since she was 4 months old. But then Hendershot learned about a trial of Epidiolex at New York University.

'I preferred this to some of those other options because it's is a commercial product that has gone through rigorous testing,' said Hendershot, who lives in Rochester, New York.

Since receiving Epidiolex, Hendershot says her daughter has been able to concentrate more and has had fewer 'drop' seizures - in which her entire body goes limp and collapses.

CBD oil is currently sold online and in specialty shops across the U.S., though its legal status remains murky. Most producers say their oil is made from hemp, a plant in the cannabis family that contains little THC and can be legally farmed in a number of states for clothing, food and other uses.

The immediate impact of Monday's approval on these products is unclear.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb suggested the agency would be scrutinizing CBD products with 'uncertain dosages and formulations.'

'We are prepared to take action when we see the illegal marketing of CBD-containing products with serious, unproven medical claims,' Gottlieb said in a statement.

The FDA previously issued warnings to CBD producers that claimed their products could treat specific diseases, such as cancer or Alzheimer's. Only products that have received formal FDA approval can make such claims, typically requiring clinical trials costing millions.

Most CBD producers sidestep the issue by making only broad claims about general health and well-being.

Industry supporters downplayed the impact of the FDA approval.

'I don't know a mom or dad in their right mind who is going to change what's already working,' said Heather Jackson, CEO of Realm of Caring, a charitable group affiliated with Colorado-based CW Hemp, one of nation's largest CBD companies. 'I really don't think it's going to affect us much.'

Jackson's group estimates the typical family using CBD to treat childhood epilepsy spends about $1,800 per year on the substance.

A GW Pharmaceuticals spokeswoman said the company would not immediately announce a price for the drug, which it expects to launch in the fall. Wall Street analysts have previously predicted it could cost $25,000 per year, with annual sales eventually reaching $1 billion.

For their part, GW Pharmaceuticals executives say they are not trying to disrupt products already on the market. The company has pushed legislation in several states to make sure its drug can be legally sold and prescribed.

The FDA approval for Epidiolex is technically limited to patients with Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, two rare forms of epilepsy for which there are few treatments. But doctors will have the option to prescribe it for other uses.

The new medication enters an increasingly complicated legal environment for marijuana.

Nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Another 20 states allow medical marijuana, but the U.S. government continues to classify it as a controlled substance with no medical use, in the same category as heroin and LSD.

Despite increasing acceptance, there is little rigorous research on the benefits and harms of marijuana. Last year a government-commissioned group concluded that the lack of scientific information about marijuana and CBD poses a risk to public health.

Before sales of Epidiolex can begin, the Drug Enforcement Administration must formally reclassify CBD into a different category of drugs that have federal medical approval.

GW Pharmaceuticals makes the drug in the UK from cannabis plants that are specially bred to contain high levels of CBD. And the company plans to continue importing the medicine, bypassing onerous US regulations on manufacturing restricted substances.
NHS hospitals will pay for the visas of nearly 1,300 EU staff to keep them in London after Brexit, it has been revealed.

University College London hospitals, St George's Hospital, and Guy's and St Thomas' are among the trusts preparing to foot the bill to keep their foreign workers.

This is expected to cost UCLH alone, which has nine treatment centres in central London, more than 100,000.

More than one in ten of the capital's NHS staff are from other European countries, according to figures.

Guy's Hospital (pictured) is among one of many London hospitals that has offered to pay for the visas of nearly 1,300 EU staff to keep them in the capital after Brexit on March 29 2019

Professor Marcel Levi, chief executive of UCLH, has reportedly written to nearly 1,300 staff offering to cover the cost of their 'settled status' applications.

This allows an immigrant to stay in the UK for as long as they like and could make them eligible for British citizenship.

Professor Levi, who is from the Netherlands, told staff: 'Regardless of Brexit, we want you to stay with us.'

UCLH unusually had 76million left over at the end of the last financial year, however, most NHS trusts struggle to cover their costs.

Jacqueline Totterdell, chief executive of St Georges, in Tooting, is also due to send similar letters to her 1,000 EU staff next week.

A spokesperson from the hospital said its European workers are valued members of the team and make an 'enormous contribution' to its care.

Siobhan Harrington, chief executive of Whittington Hospital, Archway, has also offered to pay for staffs' visas, saying EU workers should be supported through this period of uncertainty.

'Valuing our staff who do such a great job to care for patients is key to our future NHS,' she told The Evening Standard.

Imperial College London, which runs five west London hospitals, and London North West Healthcare, which runs four, are considering similar action.

The chief exec of St George's Hospital (pictured) is due to make a similar offer to her 1,000 EU staff next week. A spokesperson said foreign workers are valued members of the team

An 'early bird' settlement application for NHS workers comes into play on November 29 and costs 56. The general population will have to wait four months longer.

UCLH has said it will give staff 85 to cover the cost of each application, as well as the money they will lose after tax.

It is also arranging for specialist employment lawyers to offer staff advice sessions.

The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29 next year. Those without settlement status may have to leave by December 2020.

This comes after Simon Stevens, NHS England's chief executive, urged people to 'hug an EU nurse' to let them know they are welcome.

'We need everybody across the NHS in London to put your arm around a friend from the rest of the European Union and make sure they get that message,' he said.

Mr Stevens even claimed he sought out Spanish nurses at St Thomas', Lambeth, where his wife is being treated, to thank them for their services.

London has around 8,000 nursing vacancies, with NHS England's chief nursing officer Professor Jane Cummings previously saying she was concerned about how Brexit would affect staffing levels.

Recruiting foreign staff currently costs the NHS 150 million a year.

The Royal College of Physicians has warned this could more than triple if Brexit cuts off freedom of movement.

Earlier this year, the NHS was accused of 'haemorrhaging' nurses as 33,000 quit in 12 months.

One in 10 nurses in England are leaving their position every year, which is enough to staff more than 20 hospitals and means quitters outnumbered joiners by 3,000 in 2017.
Streets which have leisure centres, pharmacies and libraries are ranked higher

Those with more takeaways, tanning salons and betting shops are ranked worst

Royal Society for Public Health ranked 70 of Britain's high streets by healthiness

Grimsby has Britain's unhealthiest high street, a league table of the worst town centres across the country has revealed today.

Streets with more fast food shops, bookmakers, tanning shops and off-licences score lower, while leisure centres, pharmacies and libraries improve the areas.

Towns and cities in the north of England and the Midlands fared worst, with Northampton the furthest south in the list of the 10 unhealthiest.

Meanwhile, those in the south, plus Edinburgh in the top spot, make up most of the UK's top 10 healthiest high streets.

Experts say there should be more pressure to make sure high streets are healthier and 'we shouldnt underestimate how important the British high street is'.

Health on the High Street, a report published today by the Royal Society for Public Health, has ranked 70 high streets across the UK.

Behind Grimsby, shamed as the worst, come Walsall, Blackpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland, Northampton, Bolton, Wolverhampton, Huddersfield and Bradford.

At the top of the table, behind Edinburgh, are Canterbury, Taunton, Shrewsbury, Cheltenham, York, Brighton, Eastbourne, Exeter and Cambridge.

The high streets were rated by how many businesses they have which encourage healthy or unhealthy living, to give an overall score.

And people living in the 10 healthiest areas live an average of two-and-a-half years longer than those with the unhealthiest high streets, the report found.

The RSPH report also charts how high streets have changed in recent years  libraries and pubs are closing down, while fast food shops, vape shops and convenience stores are on the up.

On average a new vape shop has opened every day since 2015, whereas 18 pubs are now closing each week in the UK.

The number of payday lenders has dropped by a third since 2015 in the 70 studied towns and cities, and there are fewer betting shops nationwide than there were in 2012.

Edinburgh, which has been named as having the UK's healthiest high street

Other end of the scale: Grimsby, which was ranked the least healthy high street in the UK

Experts warn more deprived areas tend to have more shops encouraging unhealthy living, whereas the opposite is true of richer neighbourhoods.

The high streets were rated by how many businesses they have which encourage healthy or unhealthy living, to give an overall score.

The report said 4,000 new fast food outlets have opened across the UK in the past five years - predominantly in poorer areas.

Deprived areas now have five times more fast food shops than wealthy neighbourhoods.

The 10 healthiest high streets in the UK 1. Edinburgh 2. Canterbury 3. Taunton 4. Shrewsbury 5. Cheltenham 6. York 7. Brighton & Hove 8. Eastbourne 9. Exeter 10. Cambridge Advertisement

The 10 unhealthiest high streets in the UK 1. Grimsby 2. Walsall 3. Blackpool 4. Stoke-on-Trent 5. Sunderland 6. Northampton 7. Bolton 8. Wolverhampton 9. Huddersfield 10. Bradford Advertisement

The research also showed that vape shops have doubled to 2,000 in the last three years.

Shirley Cramer CBE, chief executive of the RSPH said: 'Our rankings illustrate how unhealthy businesses concentrate in areas which already experience higher levels of deprivation, obesity and lower life expectancy.

'Local authorities, who are well placed to make changes, are currently operating with one hand tied behind their backs due to ongoing funding cuts, particularly in some of the more deprived areas that feature prominently in these rankings.'

London's unhealthiest high streets: Haringey tops the chart as the worst offender (but the best is just three miles away... in the same borough) London's unhealthiest high streets have today been named  with one in Haringey being shamed as the worst in the capital. West Green Road was found to score worst in a league table of the streets with the most betting shops, takeaways, payday lenders, tanning shops and off-licences. At the other end of the scale of 146 high streets in London, Muswell Hill  also in Haringey just a few miles away  was listed as being the healthiest. Researchers found poorer areas tended to have more shops encouraging unhealthy living, whereas the opposite is true of richer neighbourhoods. A report by the Royal Society of Public Health has ranked the most and least healthy high streets across London, with both the best and worst  Muswell Hill and West Green Road  both in the northern borough of Haringey Roman Road (West) in Tower Hamlets and Thornton Heath in Croydon were also named in the worst three offenders. South Norwood and New Addington, both in Croydon, placed fifth and sixth, while Angel Edmonton in Enfield ranked fourth. The rest of the top ten unhealthiest high streets in London were scattered around Brent, Newham and Havering. In contrast, Hornchurch in Havering was unearthed to be the second healthiest high street in the capital, followed by Pinner in Harrow. St John's Wood in Westminster ranked fourth, pipping Temple Fortune in Barnet and Hampstead in Camden. Health on the High Street, a report published today by the Royal Society for Public Health, has ranked high streets across London. The high streets were rated by how many businesses they have which encourage healthy or unhealthy living, to give an overall score. People living in areas with healthier high streets live longer than those surrounded by unhealthy shops. The difference in life expectancy between Muswell Hill and West Green Road, for example, is approximately four-and-a-half years, the Evening Standard reported. Shirley Cramer CBE, chief executive of the RSPH said: 'Our rankings illustrate how unhealthy businesses concentrate in areas which already experience higher levels of deprivation, obesity and lower life expectancy. 'Local authorities, who are well placed to make changes, are currently operating with one hand tied behind their backs due to ongoing funding cuts, particularly in some of the more deprived areas that feature prominently in these rankings.' The RSPH's rankings of towns and cities across the entire UK will be published tonight. Advertisement

LONDON'S LEAST HEALTHY HIGH STREETS W. Green Rd/Seven Sisters, Haringey Roman Road West, Tower Hamlets Thornton Heath, Croydon Angel Edmonton, Enfield South Norwood, Croydon New Addington, Croydon Neasden, Brent Harlesden, Brent Canning Town, Newham Rainham, Havering Advertisement

LONDON'S HEALTHIEST HIGH STREETS Muswell Hill, Haringey Hornchurch, Havering Pinner, Harrow St John's Wood, City of Westminster Temple Fortune, Barnet Hampstead, Camden Kingsbury, Brent/Harrow Whetstone, Barnet Teddington, Richmond Beckenham, Bromley Advertisement
For devout hot coffee drinkers who can't stand cold brew: you have been vindicated.

Scientists have declared hot-brewed coffee is better for you than iced because it has higher levels of antioxidants.

After comparing the two, chemists at Philadelphia and Thomas Jefferson Universities say the quick heating-up process for hot coffee creates more total titratable acids, which help pump oxygen around the body.

The fact that cold brew is brewed over hours using room temperature water deprives it of that extra health kick.

What's more, the team found there is little merit to the widespread claims that cold brew is less acidic than an americano: in fact, their pH levels are almost identical.

While the benefits of hot-brewed coffee are well-documented (from lowering diabetes and depression risk to lower the risk of some cancers), the researchers found barely anything on no-heat coffees. Now they have concluded hot is healthier

The paper, published on Tuesday in the journal Scientific Reports, is the first ever to analyze the widely touted health benefits of the cold brew market, which grew 580 percent between 2011 and 2016.

It also offers fresh insight into why coffee is continually held up as healthy.

Time and time again, studies show coffee can do no wrong. Yes, too many cups can make a caffeine novice jittery, but according to scores of health organizations - including the American Heart Association - there is no limit to the benefits of a cup of Joe.

Last year, the AHA published a paper which found every extra cup further boosted heart health. Asked by DailyMail.com how much is too much, the answer was: just keep drinking as much as you want until you feel like you should stop.

But the new research by chemistry professors - and coffee lovers - Niny Rao, PhD, and Megan Fuller, PhD suggests those turning to coffee for heart-healthy benefits should stick to a toasty brew.

Drs Rao and Fuller (partial to both cold and hot coffee) had been noticing more and more health claims made about cold brew.

The most ubiquitous claim is that cold brew is less acidic and therefore lowers your risk of gastrointestinal issues such as acid reflux and heartburn.

While the benefits of hot-brewed coffee are well-documented (from lowering diabetes and depression risk to lower the risk of some cancers), they found barely anything on no-heat coffees.

They sought to dig deeper.

First, they found nothing to support the claim that cold brews are lower in pH.

Both hot- and cold-brewed coffee oscillated between pHs of 4.85 and 5.13.

Next, they found the hot-brewed coffee method had more total titratable acids, which may be responsible for the hot cup's higher antioxidant levels.

'Coffee has a lot of antioxidants, if you drink it in moderation, research shows it can be pretty good for you,' Fuller said. 'We found the hot brew has more antioxidant capacity.'

In conclusion, Rao warned coffee drinkers that cold brew may not be a 'silver bullet' for their health.
BOOK OF THE WEEK

BEFORE WALLIS: EDWARD VIII S OTHER WOMEN

by Rachel Trethewey (The History Press 20 320 pp )

A petulant, self-pitying Prince of Wales? Weve heard a bit about these characteristics recently in new biographies of our current P of W, some of which claim he gets tetchy if his office is not exactly the right temperature or if hes forced to fly in incredibly uncomfortable first class.

Well, the Prince of Wales before him, the young Edward VIII-to-be, certainly scored high in the petulant, self-pitying stakes, as this fascinating book by Rachel Trethewey about his women before Wallis recounts.

Perhaps being king-in-waiting brings out the worst in people, causing, as it does, a toxic mixture of dread and entitlement.

Rachel Trethewey recalls the love life of Edward VIII (pictured) before he met Mrs Simpson in a new book. She recalls how the Prince of Wales had a fondness for prostitutes and dominatrix

What this book reveals is Edwards whingeing, clingy, needy ways with women and especially Freda Dudley Ward, No 2 in this chronicle of the three main women before Wallis Simpson (not counting the prostitutes). What if hed married the first one, Rosemary Leveson-Gower! He so nearly did. There would have been no abdication, no Queen Elizabeth II.

Rosemary, daughter of the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland, was an English rose: high-born, high-spirited, good, kind, charitable and beautiful.

Edward started courting her when she was working as a nurse in France in 1917 in a Red Cross hospital set up by her mother and he was visiting, aged 23, with his parents.

This was in the dawn of the era when it was (at last) becoming acceptable for a royal prince to marry a commoner, rather than being forced to marry a foreign princess.

Edward proposed; Rosemary accepted. She would have made an excellent 20th-century queen: a woman with a strong social conscience, trained to do charitable work through a childhood of helping her do-gooding mother, Millicent.

How bitterly must Queen Mary later have regretted forbidding this marriage! She had heard there was a strain of madness in Rosemarys mothers family. Also, her uncle was a gambler and her mother a divorcee  this would not do.

Little did she know that Rosemary would be the last aristocratic single girl Edward would ever seriously consider as a possible wife and that he would go on to marry not the daughter of a divorcee, but a twice-divorced American.

Edward proposed to Rosemary Leveson-Gower (pictured), daughter of the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland however Queen Mary forbade the relationship

There was one hitch in his relationship with Rosemary: he liked to be dominated. Sweet, innocent Rosemary was (one gets the feeling) not quite dirty enough for him. While courting her in France, he was also driving to Deauville in his open-top Rolls-Royce each evening to spend the night with a Parisian courtesan called Maggy, a dominatrix whom he called his bebe. He made sure he was back with his parents by 7am.

Sacked from her position of royal-wife-to-be, Rosemary went on to marry Lord Ednam. They had three sons, one of whom was run over and killed on his bicycle aged seven.

Rosemary was tragically killed in an air crash over Kent, aged 36. All parties were cancelled as a mark of respect, writes Trethewey, giving a flavour of the brittle party-going world in which they all lived.

In March 1918 came a coup de foudre for Edward  almost literally, because it happened during a deafening Zeppelin raid. A young married woman called Freda Dudley Ward happened to take refuge from the raid in the doorway of a house in Belgrave Square where the Prince of Wales was at a party. She was welcomed in and the chemistry was instant.

Edward had a passionate affair with Freda Dudley Ward (pictured) who was married to MP William Dudley Ward

Freda was a dream of beauty, an angelic waif. They embarked on a passionate affair. He called her his precious darling little Mummie and signed off letters: Your very, very own little David. He was her little slave and cried when he had to be away from her on his long royal travels. King George, horrified on hearing of the affair, was snooty about middle-class Freda, referring to her as the lace-makers daughter.

Fredas husband, the MP William Dudley Ward, graciously put up with it in order not to rock the boat.

When all this became too difficult (Freda wanted a divorce, but dreaded her husband having custody of her two daughters), she tried to break the deadlock by embarking on another affair, with an American polo player called Rodman Wanamaker. This caused Edward to go off the rails completely and he began drinking heavily.

To allay his misery, Edward started an affair with Thelma, Lady Furness. The two met at an agricultural show in 1926, when Edward was pinning a blue ribbon on to a prize cow. Thelma had briefly married an abusive alcoholic the first time round, but was now married to Marmaduke Furness, 20 years her senior and the owner of a shipbuilding firm. Like Dudley Ward, Duke Furness took his wifes affair in his stride  he, too, had a roving eye.

Edward also had an affair with Thelma, Lady Furness (pictured) who introduced him to Wallis and Ernest Simpson

Its clear Edwards relationship with Thelma was more superficial than his one with Freda  which carried on. Thelma joined the prince on a safari in Kenya, which she remembered as blissful, but Edward was still writing love letters every day to Freda.

Thelma and Edward did have their own soppy side: when they were separated, they had a ritual of exchanging tiny pink and green Harrods teddy bears, so that they would each have something to remind them of the other.

George V had a stiff word with his eldest son in 1932. He pointed out that England had never had an unmarried king and that Edward would feel lost in Buckingham Palace if he had to live there alone. This did not do the trick.

A year earlier, Thelma had made the mistake of introducing Edward to Wallis and Ernest Simpson.

BEFORE WALLIS: EDWARD VIII S OTHER WOMEN by Rachel Trethewey (The History Press 20 320 pp )

Sensing that she was about to be replaced, Thelma sailed to America, where she had an affair with Prince Aly Khan, and returned to find that her surmise was correct: Edward was now in thrall to Mrs Simpson.

Fredas days were numbered, too. The end of her 16-year relationship with the prince was brutally abrupt. She rang him as usual, but was told: I have orders not to put you through. They never spoke again.

Thelma, when asked towards the end of her life whether she had any regrets, said: Id do it all again. The only thing I would not do again is introduce Wallis Simpson to the Prince of Wales.

When she died of a heart attack in 1970, one of those threadbare Harrods teddies was found at the bottom of her handbag  a souvenir of the love affair of her life.
A former teacher was tricked into handing over most of her savings to a scammer masquerading as an employee of the taxman who threatened her with arrest and legal action if she didn't hand over money for 'underpaying her taxes'.

Lauren Steyn*, 38, a married mum-of-two, from London said she responded to an automated message from someone claiming to work for the Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

They told her that she must 'call them back immediately' as she'd been 'randomly selected for auditing'.

The call ended up costing her 2,900 - and she wants to warn This is Money readers about the elaborate ruse.

Sick scam: HMRC says that if you can't verify the identity of the caller, you should not speak to them (picture posed by model)

She said: 'I called back straight away and he alleged I owed them money from a few years back.

'I'd had a new-born at the time they said they sent me a letter so I honestly thought it was an oversight on my behalf.

'They asked me to get a computer to verify their details. They sent me through to a fake HMRC website [where I was told to] scroll down to this, press that, read this, all leading me to believe that what they were saying was true.

'Basically they said that as I missed my notice of payment and although I hired an accountant to do my tax return it was ultimately my responsibility to check their work. I started to freak out when he said I was being arrested today.'

At one stage Lauren became suspicious and accused the caller of trying to scam her. But his assertiveness made her doubt herself.

She said: 'He was so assertive and condescending and made me believe I had made a mistake by not checking my accountant's figures carefully enough.'

She was given two options: arrest or fight it out in court. She adds: 'He broke down the cost of this plus the time I needed to stay in prison.

'Or I could try to stop the court order before it was seen by a judge by paying my outstanding balance immediately.

'But he said this would not get me out of trouble as I needed to meet with a case worker to discuss my case. Basically instilling fear and panic. Totally breaking me down psychologically.'

Figures show that 145m was taken in authorised push payment (APP) fraud between January  June 2018. APP fraud is where the customer is tricked into sending money to a fraudster

Lauren said that she then, in floods of tears, left her child in the care of a neighbour and went to her local HSBC bank branch to transfer the money.

'I asked the teller to transfer the money. The teller did not ask questions even though I had bloodshot eyes. I was so emotionally scarred. It was honestly like a ransom movie.'

The teller did not ask questions even though I had bloodshot eyes. I was so emotionally scarred. It was honestly like a ransom movie.

HSBC, however, maintains that it had done its due diligence.

A HSBC UK spokesperson said: 'Our branch staff are trained to ask appropriate questions to help detect if a customer is being coerced into making a transaction, and take the necessary action if they believe that to be the case, including calling the police.

'We are confident that the correct HSBC procedures were followed and when we were notified of the scam we acted quickly to notify the recipient bank to secure the funds, which have been returned to the customer.'

Lauren, who earns an income managing summer holiday camps for children, has received a refund since This is Money begun investigating.

It is not clear how she - or her details - ended up in the hands of scammers.

HSBC: The bank says that branch staff are trained to ask appropriate questions to help detect if a customer is being coerced into making a transaction

She admits that she was ignorant about this type of fraud as her husband typically takes care of all the finances.

'They knew just what to stay. I feel like a fool in hindsight. He took me hostage that day.

Beat the Scammers In 2016, This is Money launched its Beat the Scammers section, in a bid to help readers stay one step ahead of the latest fraud trends. This HMRC prison scam is yet another example of how criminals adapt and attempt to play on fear in order to deceive people out of their hard-earned cash. Have a story? Get in touch: editor@thisismoney.co.uk

'He told me I can't discuss this with anyone as then I've broken the terms and agreements.

'I was tricked into transferring thousands of pounds to the "lawyer" that was appointed to represent me.

'The whole plot worked so well because he took me through a fake websites to authenticate his details, made me write down his name and number and got me to call back on the HMRC number on the website.

'He basically scared the life out of me by saying they're going to arrest me unless I act quickly.

'The cherry on top of this manic day is that I wasn't able to talk to anyone or else I would jeopardise my case.

'So I alienated myself from all my family and friends.

'He was assertive, knowledgeable and made out like he was doing me a favour.

'When I eventually put the phone down, they called back several times, sent emails, and then, when I wasn't answering, posed as the fraud prevention team from my bank.

'I aged 10 years from the stress. I'm still shaken up. But hugely relieved I'm not going to prison.'

HMRC told This is Money it is aware of these types of scams and that it does sometimes call people for outstanding bills.

An HMRC spokesperson said: 'Phone scams are widely reported, and [criminals] generally attempt to target elderly and vulnerable people.

'We are a well-known brand, which criminals abuse to add credibility to their scams.

'If someone calls you claiming to be from HMRC saying that you will be arrested, that we are filing a lawsuit against you, or even that you are owed a tax refund, and asks for information such as your name, credit card or bank details then it's a scam.

'If you can't verify the identity of the caller, we recommend that you do not speak to them.'

*Name changed in this article upon request
How far can electric cars really travel between charges?

That's one of the most common questions asked of zero-emissions models, with motorists rightfully dubious of the figures manufacturers claim their vehicles can go before needing a fresh dose of electricity.

A new controlled test has revealed the true distances today's most popular EVs can cover - with some falling short of their claims by as much as 100 miles.

How far will they really go? What Car? has started testing the real-world ranges of electric cars on sale today to challenge the claimed figures advertised by manufacturers

The real-world ranges for 12 of today's electric models on sale in the UK have been published as part of What Car?'s new real ranges test.

The automotive title already produces a 'true MPG test' for petrol, diesel and hybrid machines to challenge the 'official' figures from test cycles that are advertised by manufacturers.

This new test aims to reflect the way people actually drive and allows anyone considering an EV to directly compare the ranges of different models.

In addition, it also tells potential buyers what to expect a full charge to cost and the efficiency of each car in miles per kWh.

The 12 cars already reported on are the first to be tested, with the magazine continuously updating the standings as more electric vehicles are tested in the future.

Currently topping the table is the new 35,656 Hyundai Kona Electric, with a range of 259 miles, closely followed by the 63,000 Jaguar I-Pace and 31,000 Kia e-Niro, both of which managed 253 miles  the equivalent of travelling from London to Snowdonia.

Difference between claimed and real range shows the latest WLTP test cycle is more realistic than the replaced NEDC, but is still some way off providing motorists with realistic electric-vehicle range figures

The Hyundai Kona Electric was named as the electric car with the longest range tested. It is capable of 259 miles before the batteries are completely depleted

The Model S 75D is the only Tesla What Car? has put through the real range test so far. It fell short of the NEDC cycle claims it has on its website

All three provide more than adequate ranges, though fall some way short of what car makers would lead you to believe.

While the Kona, I-Pace and e-Niro have impressive ranges, they are all some way off the figures used by car makers to advertise them.

Respectively they fall short by 33 miles, 39 miles of 48 miles - and that's using the official claimed range produced in the latest WLTP test procedure.

How are the electric-car ranges tested? At the start of the test the car's battery is fully depleted and then recharged via a smart charging cable with a built-in meter. Driving measurements are taken at a test track so traffic conditions don't affect the result, with the car following a route that simulates a mix of town, A-road and motorway driving. Testing is conducted with the lights on, climate control set to 22 degrees and when the ambient temperature is between 10 and 15 degrees. Finally, the car is recharged using the smart cable so that the amount of energy expended can be measured and the Real Range extrapolated.

Jaguar hinted in September that the realistic range of it's I-Pace SUV was closer to 250 miles rather than the 292 claim.

This is Money crunched the figures after the British manufacturer published information about a long-distance drive across Europe in the vehicle.

By it's own figures, we calculated that the range was 252 miles.

The 70,100 Tesla Model S 75D - the car with the fourth longest range between charges - has a real range of 204 miles, which is 100 miles shorter than Tesla advertises on its website, according to the old NEDC test cycle.

Arguably a more realistic range figure would be produced under the latest WLTP test standards, but Tesla is still knowingly telling potential customers that this particular car can cover 304 miles between charges.

What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said: 'Our true MPG test has always been the best way to cut through the official noise and see how economical a car will really be.

'But with the surge in interest in electric cars, now is the time for us to provide the same service to EV buyers.

'One of the few remaining concerns for people considering an EV is range anxiety  the fear that their battery will run flat and leave them stranded.

'Real range gives them the information they need to choose the right car for their needs.'

The Jaguar I-Pace was tested by What Car? and found to have a more than respectable range compared to its claims

Official figures would lead you to believe that the Nissan Leaf could cover 168 miles before needing a charge. The reality is, according to What Car?, it can only go for 128 miles

'Most UK drivers wouldn't need to charge an electric car during the week', says new study (but they would)

While range anxiety is one of the biggest electric-car concerns among drivers, new research suggests that the majority of UK motorists could use an EV for a full week without needed to plug it into a charger.

Independent EV consumer advice website DrivingElectric analysed the journey habits of almost 500 drivers.

It found that the total average mileage covered by most drivers in a typical week - including travel for social and leisure (89 miles), shopping (82 miles), school runs (24 miles) and commuting (70 miles) - falls well within the claimed ranges of the latest generation of electric cars.

DrivingElectric calculated the higher weekly average total mileage of UK drivers is 265 miles, meaning the latest electric cars - according to their claims - don't need to be charged during the week

But while it said the higher weekly average total mileage for the sample of drivers was 265 miles was achievable without a recharge for the rangiest of EVs by their claimed abilities, the What Car? results show that none could cover this distance without needed a fresh dose of electricity.

'So-called range anxiety is consistently named by motorists as a main barrier to going all electric, but the facts suggest that range really shouldn't worry most of us,' said Vicky Parrott, associate editor the the electric car site.

Research into typical UK driving habits shows that today's electric cars are perfectly poised for a breakthrough into the mainstream. Vicky Parrott, DrivingElectric

'So while many people worry about being able to easily charge-up during a journey, the truth is that electric cars now need charging less frequently for normal use than many of us realise.'

She added: 'We are now seeing a widening gap between the perceptions of consumers about the range of electric cars and the capability of the cars themselves.

'We suspect this is because the earliest affordable electric vehicles, like the first Nissan Leaf, enjoyed so much publicity that their shorter ranges have stuck in people's minds.

'Just a few years ago the earliest Nissan Leaf could only manage 124 miles. In the same conditions, today's Leaf will do 235 miles.

'Our research into typical UK driving habits is exciting news because it shows that today's electric cars are perfectly poised for a breakthrough into the mainstream.'
The City of London Corporation has confirmed which street will be used as a pilot scheme that will ban all but electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles from gaining access.

Moor Lane near Moorgate and within the Square Mile was named as the first road in the capital to ban all non ultra-low emissions vehicles, with the restrictions being implemented from April 2019.

However, petrol and diesel cars won't be banned entirely - non-compliant vehicles will still be able to enter the north end of Moor Lane, though the south-access side will remain closed to all but plug-in vehicles.

Zero emissions zone: London's first street to ban petrol and diesel cars from entering has been announced

Moor Lane near Moorgate will only allow full access to those driving or riding ultra-low emissions vehicles

The new measure is part of The City of London Corporation's Low Emission Neighbourhood project, which is jointly funded by the Mayor of London.

The trial is out for public consultation from November and all parties have the opportunity to have their say on the restriction.

As it stands, only drivers of pure-electric cars and ultra-low emissions plug-in hybrids with CO2 emissions of less than 75g/km will be allowed full access to the road.

This is unlikely to cause issues regarding the access to underground parking facilities at the north side of the street, though could create some headaches for those living in Willoughby House.

The entrance to the residents' 218-space parking garage is at the south entry to Moor Lane.

A spokesperson for City of London Corporation told This is Money: 'There are no restrictions to vehicles entering Willoughby House Parking Garage, which can be accessed through the north end of Moor Lane.'

The impact on emissions in the area will be reviewed as part of the pilot to decide whether similar measures are suitable for other streets in the City of London.

What is still yet to be confirmed is when restrictions will be in place.

The first option is an absolute measure, meaning the zero-emissions zone would be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The second option would be for the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles to apply from Monday to Friday from 7am to 11pm.

All cars will have access to the road on the north side, but petrols and diesels will be banned from the south entrance. The latter has entry to a residents parking garage with 218 spaces

The pilot will be used to see if similar bans should be put in place to reduce London air pollution

Jeremy Simons, chairman of the City of London Corporation's Environment Committee described the move as 'an important step towards cleaner air'.

'It will deliver the results we need when considering radical targeted action to drastically reduce air pollution on our streets,' he said.

'Nobody should have to breathe in dirty air, and we will continue to take bold and ambitious steps to ensure that the health of Londoners is protected.'

Shirley Rodrigues, deputy mayor for the Environment and Energy added: 'Local projects such as Low Emission Neighbourhoods are a crucial addition to the Mayor's London-wide plans to tackle pollution, these include introducing the Ultra Low Emission Zone and upgrading London's buses into one of the greenest fleets in the world.'

Operators said the area would have clear street signage in place a month before the trail begins to warn drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles that they will no longer have access to the street via the south entrance.

More information about the restriction will also be spread via social media, leafleting and direct discussions with businesses in the area before April.

Clear signage will be put in place in March to ensure drivers are given early warning about he ban

Those caught flouting the restriction in the first 4 weeks of operation will receive a warning letter. From May, drivers of non-compliant vehicles will be fined

For the first four weeks of the trial, those who drive through the zone with a non-compliant vehicle will be issued with a warning letter.

Following this Penalty Charge Notices will come into full effect with all funds generated through the scheme to be 'held in reserve and as required by legislation directed towards highway or road maintenance improvements', the city council said.

The street will be monitored by Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to ensure the ban is tightly governed.

The City Corporation's Planning and Transportation Committee has already backed proposals to turn parts of the Square Mile into zero-emissions zones by 2022 and cut the speed limit to 15mph as part of its new Transport Strategy.

It has already banned the purchase of diesel vehicles from its own fleet of 300 vehicles if there is a clean market alternative and is one of the councils leading the scheme of fining drivers caught parked with their engines running.

In August it also implemented an emissions-based charging system for on-street parking in the area - 'high polluting transport' face higher charges to park while drivers of low emission vehicles pay lower tariffs.
Facing the music: Boss Luke Johnson

Patisserie Valerie boss Luke Johnson will today face angry shareholders in the wake of an accounting scandal that has rocked the cafe chain.

Johnson and the firm's directors will be questioned by investors who will want to know how a 40m black hole appeared in the company's accounts.

They will demand answers about two secret overdrafts that were discovered as the scandal deepened. Bosses will also be quizzed about extra bonus payments to executives without the approval of shareholders.

The meeting has been called by parent company Patisserie Holdings to seek shareholder approval for a 15.7m rescue deal. Investors are expected to vote in favour but want answers.

Shareholder advisory group Glass Lewis has already called on executive chairman Johnson, 56, to step down as head of the audit committee, saying he has a conflict of interest.

Johnson is chairman of the group's remuneration and audit committees and its largest shareholder, with a 37 per cent stake. He is also listed as having more than 40 director roles at other companies. As chairman of the audit committee he is overseeing an investigation being carried out into suspected fraud. Glass Lewis said: 'Should Johnson continue to serve on the audit committee, we will continue to recommend against his re-election on that basis.'

Campaign group Share Action urged shareholders to ask tough questions. Spokesman Beau O'Sullivan said: 'They should absolutely be asking how nearly 40m goes missing from a balance sheet in a matter of months, who is responsible, and why no one picked up on such a gross oversight. Was the oversight to do with the fact that Johnson was too close to the issue?

'Shareholders should quiz him on the flagrant conflict of interest of being a 37 per cent shareholder at the same time as serving on the audit committee.'

But Tim Ward, chief executive of the Quoted Companies Alliance, said investors should have raised questions regarding Johnson's governance long before the alleged fraud came to light.

Ward said: 'Codes can give guidance and point people in the right direction but it's the investors that should be testing whether the board can justify the way they're going about things.

'It's for the board to answer the question 'Why did you constitute your audit committee in that way?' But it's equally a question as to why the investors weren't asking these things beforehand.'

The company earlier this month revealed it had discovered 'significant, and potentially fraudulent, accounting irregularities'.

The former finance director, Chris Marsh, was arrested on suspicion of fraud and released on bail after the black hole was discovered. He has since resigned.

Stock market filings also revealed Marsh and chief executive Paul May received twice as many share options as expected, allowing them to cash in a combined 4.6m. Yesterday, restaurateur David Scott denied reports he was looking to make a swoop for the troubled firm.

The 68-year-old used to run Druckers Vienna Patisserie before it was bought by Patisserie Valerie 11 years ago. Scott said: 'I have not appointed nor do I intend to appoint a company to liaise with shareholders on my behalf and I have no interest in making an offer for or acquiring shares in Patisserie Valerie or any related companies.'
She reports, Trump decides. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Heather Nauert has decades of experience as a television journalist, months of experience as government spokesperson, and no experience whatsoever in the field of diplomacy.

And Donald Trump (reportedly) wants her to be Americas next ambassador to the United Nations.

According to ABC News, the president has offered the former Fox & Friends host Nikki Haleys old job (CNN and The Wall Street Journal separately reported Thursday afternoon that Nauert is Trumps top choice for the position). Since the spring of 2017, Nauert has served as the State Departments spokesperson. In that time, she has not always demonstrated full command of all relevant subject matter; in October of last year, she tweeted that North Korea will not obtain a nuclear capability. Whether through diplomacy or force is up to the regime, (a promise that the Trump administration would need a time machine to keep). Nor has Nauert evinced a commitment to the values that are supposed to ungird the United Nations, and American global leadership, more broadly. Back in August, the Canadian government called on Saudi Arabia to release womens-rights activists whom Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had jailed. The Saudis responded by ostensibly threatening to orchestrate a 9/11style attack against Canadian civilians.

When asked to take a position on this dispute  which is to say, on the question of whether Canada deserved to be threatened with a terrorist attack for asking Riyadh to end the imprisonment of women who had protested for the right to drive  Nauert replied, Its up for the government of Saudi Arabia and the Canadians to work this out. Both sides need to diplomatically resolve this together. We cant do it for them.

But Nauert has proven herself an unshakably loyal surrogate for Donald J. Trump. In fact, her former boss Rex Tillerson reportedly complained to allies that Nauert was more loyal to the West Wing than the State Department. And so, Trump wants her to represent the United States on the world stage.

Which, as the Daily Beasts Asawin Suebsaeng argues, is probably fine. Nauert might not be conventionally qualified for a top diplomatic role  but the president is even less so. And anyhow, Nauert appears to have all the skills necessary to do the job that Nikki Haley was doing  which, by all appearances, consisted of little more than delivering indignant, Youtube-ready speeches about why Irans affronts to international law are unacceptable, while Israels are actually good.
Single people in Britain are finding it the hardest to save for retirement as opposed to those who are married or co-habiting, research shows.

More than six million single adults are under-prepared for retirement with more people now living alone than ever before, according to a new Scottish Widows report.

It found that just 47 per cent of single people are saving enough for their future and a quarter are not putting away anything at all into their pension, in comparison to 17 per cent of the adult population.

Pension problems: Two thirds said it's unlikely to that they'll ever be able to save more than they do now for retirement

Scottish Widows analysed figures from its recent retirement report - which monitors pensions savings behaviour annually - and research carried out by YouGov in April 2018, to ascertain how many single people are currently struggling with saving for their future.

The 2011 Census showed that 31 per cent of households were made up of just one person as opposed to the 1961 Census where just 13 per cent were single households.

This trend is set to continue, according to government projections, with the total number of single-person households in England alone expected to rise by 23 per cent by 2039.

Aside from single people not saving enough for retirement, they also don't feel optimistic enough about their financial future.

Two thirds say it's unlikely they'll ever be able to save more than they do at present for retirement with three in 10 admitting that they feel pessimistic about it.

Robert Cochran, retirement expert at Scottish Widows, said: 'Society has changed over the last 60 years and we're now more likely to stay single for longer and to be in a relationship at a later age.

'This trend is affecting the savings habits of the nation, with 6.3million single people not able to put enough money away for a comfortable retirement and more than 2.8million single people not saving at all.'

Multiple reasons were given for why single people were struggling to save for their future.

One big reason is that 66 per cent of single people earn below 20,000 a year.

Many cited paying back student loans - 28 per cent - as a reason for the struggle, whilst more than a quarter said they had credit card debt.

Another quarter also said they couldn't afford to put any more money into their workplace pension than they already do.

The research also found that married couples and widows are the most prepared for retirement, with 60 per cent saving efficiently.

Cochran added: 'As the trend for staying single for longer continues to grow, it is clear that greater awareness needs to be raised to help single people start preparing for the life they want in retirement.

'As the role and form of the single finance guidance body begins to take shape, we urge it to consider the challenges this particular group faces when it comes to long-term savings.'

The single financial guidance body will bring together the services currently provided by the Money Advice Service, the Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise.
A court heard devastating testimony about how a four-month-old baby boy's maggot-infested body was found after he died of extreme 'diaper rash' at the start of his father's trial for murder.

Sterling Koehn had been in the same diaper for nine to 14 days when his body was found in the swing August 30, 2017, at his parents' apartment in Alta Vista, jurors were told.

The baby's father, 29-year-old Zachary Paul Koehn, is charged with murder and child endangerment.

An Iowa father's murder trial has begun after his infant son Sterling (pictured) was found maggot-infested in a baby swing after dying from diaper rash last year

Zachary Koehn, center, is flanked by attorneys Les Blair III and Steven Drahozal, as he sits in court in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, on Tuesday

Courtesy of KCRG

The boy's mother, Cheyanne Harris, is also charged and faces a separate trial at a later date.

Assistant Iowa Attorney General Coleman McAllister told jurors on Tuesday that the child 'died of diaper rash.'

In opening statements, McAllister said the baby's heavily soiled diaper had attracted bugs that had laid eggs, which had hatched into maggots.

The resulting diaper rash led to ruptured skin, and e.Coli bacteria set in.

'He died of diaper rash. That's right, diaper rash,' McAllister said.

The four-month-old Sterling Koehn (above) had been in the same diaper for nine to 14 days when his body was found dead in the swing

Koehn's two-year-old daughter was also in the apartment at the time the baby was found dead

Zachary Paul Koehn and Cheyanne Harris' (pictured together) baby Sterling Koehn had been in the same diaper for nine to 14 days when his body was found in the swing August 30, 2017

The baby's father Zachary Paul Koehn (left) is charged with murder and child endangerment. His mother, Cheyanne Harris (right), is also charged and faces a separate trial at a later date

A coroner's report showed the baby died of malnutrition, dehydration and the infection.

An autopsy found the infant was underweight at 7 lbs. It also uncovered maggots on the childs skin and clothes, indicating he hadnt been washed, changed or removed from the swing in more than a week.

The medical examiner ruled the child's death a homicide by failure to provide critical care.

In opening statements Tuesday, Koehn's attorney said the baby's death was a tragedy, but not a crime.

McAllister denied the defense's claims, saying Koehn was an experienced parent.

He noted that Koehn's two-year-old daughter was also in the apartment and was healthy, and that Koehn had money to buy food and baby supplies. He stated Koehn was a drug user.

Jordan Clark, a former friend of Koehn's, testified he wasn't even aware the man had a baby

Assistant Iowa Attorney General Coleman McAllister told jurors on Tuesday that the couple's (pictured) child 'died of diaper rash'

Nurse and county rescue squad EMT Toni Friedrich testified on Tuesday that she was the first to arrive at the apartment after Koehn called 911 to report the baby had died.

Friedrich said Koehn showed no emotion when he led her to the dark, hot bedroom where the baby's body was.

The baby's 'eyes were open, and it was a blank stare,' she said.

Friedrich said when she touched the baby's chest, his clothing was crusty. When she moved his blanket, gnats flew up, she said.

According to reports, Koehn told police and medics that Harris fed the baby at 9am that morning and the child was fine.

But he claimed that when he checked on his son at around 11am or 11.30am, he found the baby dead.

Jordan Clark, a former friend of Koehn's, testified that he wasn't even aware the man had a baby.

Cheyanne Harris' (pictured) baby's heavily soiled diaper had attracted bugs that had laid eggs, which had hatched into maggots

Koehn's trial was moved from Chickasaw County to Henry County to counter pretrial publicity.

After the couple's arrest in October last year, it emerged that both have a history of drug use including meth.

Department of Correctional Services reports indicated Koehn, an over-the-road trucker who had just started a new job, was in substance abuse treatment.

He had last used methamphetamine about two months ago before his arrest.

Harris, who had moved to live with a relative in Riceville after Sterling's death, was also in treatment for substance abuse when she was arrested, the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reported at the time.

She last used meth two or three weeks before her arrest, it was reported.

Harris, who had moved to live with a relative in Riceville after Sterling's death, told officials she was being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the Courier.
Former Home and Away star Dan Ewing will face court next week after he allegedly assaulted his ex-wife's new husband during a custody handover.

Ewing, 33, is due to face Manly Local Court on Tuesday after police took out an apprehended violence order (AVO) on behalf of David Robertshaw - the new husband of his ex-wife Marni Little.

Daily Mail Australia understands the AVO against Ewing was made after he allegedly assaulted Mr Robertshaw on October 21 during the custody exchange of his and Ms Little's son Archer.

Kate Fox, a close friend of all three involved, said police were called to the handover point at Neutral Bay, on Sydney's north shore, after Ewing initially refused to give up custody of his son.

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Home and Away star Dan Ewing (pictured) will face court next week in relation to an AVO that was taken out against him by police after an alleged altercation with his ex-wife's new husband

Ewing (left) allegedly assaulted David Robertshaw (right), the new husband of his ex-wife Marni Little (pictured), during a custody handover on Sydney's north shore on October 21

The alleged incident between Ewing and Mr Robertshaw occurred as the Home and Away star was dropping off his young son after his regular Saturday night custody.

'Dan was dropping Archie off to Marni, but Dave went instead because she wasn't feeling well,' Ms Fox said.

It's understood that Ewing refused to hand over his son to Mr Robertshaw as Ms Little was not present.

After a dispute that lasted close to an hour, an altercation allegedly occurred between the child's father and step-father.

Police were called to the handover point, at which time the dispute was resolved.

Mr Robertshaw then took the young boy and returned to the home he shares with Ms Little.

Ms Little and Ewing separated in December 2015, and it is understood the actor now has custody of his son on Wednesday and Saturday nights.

The alleged incident came just days before Ms Little and Mr Robertshaw's wedding.

It's alleged the incident between Ewing and Mr Robertshaw occurred during a handover of his young son (pictured are Ewing and Ms Little at a separate custody handover)

The incident came just days before Ms Little and Mr Robertshaw married in Victoria (pictured)

The couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at Strath Creek, in central Victoria, last Sunday.

Ms Little last week told New Idea of her excitement over her second wedding.

'I've been Marni Ewing for so long now and just didn't want that identity anymore,' she said.

'Dave is so wonderful with Archie and loves him like his own, so it was only a matter of time before he popped the question.'

Ewing made a cryptic social media post on Monday, just hours after his ex-wife had remarried.

Sharing a photo to Instagram, his post included a quote that read in part: 'May all the negative energy trying to bring you down come to an end.'

Following his split from Ms Little, Ewing (right) began dating actress Kat Risteska (left) in 2016

Ewing (pictured with Ms Risteska and his son Archer) starred on Home and Away for more than a decade as a member of the 'River Boys', before finally departing from the show in 2017

A spokesperson for Ewing told Daily Mail Australia 'Mr Ewing was accused of poking Marni Little's partner David Robertshaw in the chest, I can confirm that no charges will be laid by police for the alleged assault.'

Ewing starred on Home and Away as a member of the troublesome 'River Boys' for more than a decade until his departure from the show in 2017.

He has since turned his attention to the big screen, appearing in a number of small-scale local and international movies.

In 2016 Ewing began dating actress Kat Risteska.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Robertshaw for comment.
A South Carolina chef who exposed his genitalia and buttocks at an event showcasing women-owned businesses was arrested for it on Wednesday after stepping down in shame.

Mike Ray, 48, was arrested in Charleston on Wednesday for indecent exposure.

On October 26, he pulled down his pants to expose his buttocks and genitalia at an event to honor female entrepreneurs.

Chef Mike Ray was arrested on Wednesday for indecent exposure. On October 26, he pulled his pants down and flashed a group of women who had rented out his artisan bakery in Charleston

It shocked attendees and he apologized for it afterwards, making the concession that while he had 'always been the life of the party', the stunt 'didn't go so well'.

Around 40 people had gathered Friday at Ray's One Broad restaurant for the reception featuring designers and high-end artisan goods dealers when the disturbing incident happened.

Ray, pictured posing with a penis shaped loaf of bread, apologized for the stunt on Wednesday and said he was always the 'life of the party' . He is pictured in an old social media photograph

The women had rented the restaurant out for the event and were horrified by his behavior.

'We were quite offended. We felt very disrespected, and embarrassed for our clientele,' Erin Reitz of The Shelter Collection told The Post and Courier.

According to the police report, one of the three women in the photo booth where Ray allegedly exposed himself said Rays 'bare buttocks (were) approximately five inches from her pelvic region'.

Afterwards, instead of calling the women to apologize, Ray phoned the husband of one woman and the boyfriend of another. The move sparked further fury.

'I cant figure out which is worse. The behavior or the "Lets Call The Husband/ Oh My Bad, Everyone Usually Loves My Creepy Criminal Party Stunts" non-apology for it,' pastry chef Cynthia Wong said on Instagram afterwards.

Ray said he would seek counseling to improve himself afterwards.

'I know that I am better than my actions. I hope to recover and come out a much better and healthier person,' he said in a statement before he was arrested.

Ray further vowed to take flashing out of his 'repertoire'.

According to Charleston's Post & Courier, it's not the first time Ray has caused controversy.

Citing a source close to the situation, in 2016 Ray 'sent two bags of penis-shaped loaves to a restaurant client who placed an order with another bakery. The incident immediately became part of Charleston food-and-beverage lore, but Ray was never called out publicly for it'.

He was released without bond after his arrest on Wednesday and is awaiting a court date .
A former PBS Newshour journalist is suing the news station after he was allegedly fired last year for looking at a picture of Meghan Markle and calling her, 'not bad.'

Hugh Heckman, 72, filed a complaint against the outlet in a U.S. District Court in New York last Thursday, claiming wrongful termination and sex discrimination.

Heckman claims he was terminated because of 'sex and sex stereotyping' after his 'innocuous remark' was only interpreted to constitute sexual harassment because of his gender.

Former PBS journalist Hugh Heckman is suing the news station for wrongful termination after he was fired for calling Meghan Markle, 'not bad'

PBS 'assumed incorrectly that a male must be guilty of a sexual harassment if a female employee complained, even though the remark was a stray and isolated remark that had no sexual intent nor harassing intent and was not direct at any co-workers,' the suit states.

Heckman was working on a news story regarding the Royal Family, specifically, Prince Harry and the duchess on November 25, 2017, when he and another male employee viewed a picture of Markle.

According to the suit, he said, 'not bad' to his co-worker in a lone tone of voice, which he claims intended to convey Markle had 'charm and beauty and was a suitable match for her fiance.'

However, two female employees sitting nearby, heard the remark and criticized Heckman for being inappropriate after all employees had recently attended training about sexual harassment in the workplace.

Heckman, 72, was hired as a writer and editor at PBS Newshour in 2015. He made what he described as 'an innocuous remark' about Meghan Markle while looking at a picture of her on November 25, 2017. He was fired two days later

One of the women then said to him, 'haven't you learned?' in a disparaging tone, according to the suit.

Heckman claims he was 'embarrassed and upset' by this criticism and immediately explained his words were not intended to be sexual in anyway.

He was fired two days later.

The New York-based journalist alleges PBS did not conduct a investigation on the matter and failed to get his side of the story before terminating him.

PBS allegedly stated that Heckman was fired because 'his services were no longer needed' yet proceeded to hire another person to take over his job shortly after.

He also accused the station of holding a double standard claiming the same two women who complained had previously looked at a picture of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and said he is 'hot,' the suit states.

Heckman is seeking unspecified damages for lost wages, emotional distress, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life, damage to his professional reputation, and other losses.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, his New York-based attorney Jillian T. Weiss said: 'This was a knee-jerk reaction and does not serve the #MeToo movement. It makes real cases of sexual harassment look frivolous.

'His comment had no sexual intent, he was working on the story about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and figuring out which photograph was appropriate to use.

'It is not right under our law to say, "We are assuming you committed sexual harassment because you are a man" and the women who have made equivalent types of statements are just going to be left off the hook. That's a double standard.'

Ms Weiss said her Emmy Award-winning client would be happy to return to PBS.

She said: 'He had been enjoying his time there and they were very pleased with him. Then this happens to him. But he would be happy to go back.'
Two Massachusetts police officers have pleaded not guilty to federal charges that they used excessive force while arresting two Latino teenagers, who were allegedly beaten while restrained and threatened with death during interrogations.

Gregg Bigda and Steven Vigneault, of the Springfield Police Department, appeared in US District Court on Wednesday following their arrests earlier in the day.

According to a newly unsealed federal indictment, Bigda kicked one of the boys in the head, spat on him and said: 'Welcome to the white man's world.'

Springfield police officer Gregg A. Bigda leaves the Springfield federal courthouse Wednesday, after pleading not guilty to federal charges of using excessive force, abusive interrogation and filing a false report

Bigda (left) and former detective Steven Vigneault (pictured in 2017, right), are accused of violating the rights of two teenage suspects following their arrest in Palmer, Massachusetts

Bigda is also charged with threatening one of the teens during an interrogation with violence and filing a false police report.

Vigneault, a former detective, is charged with using unreasonable force against the second teen during the February 2016 incident following a pursuit.

Vigneault has retired from the force. Bigda remains an officer after serving a 60-day suspension.

Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri said in a statement Wednesday that Bigda will be suspended again without pay.

The two men were released without bail following their initial court appearances. They are due back before a judge in January. If found guilty, they could face more than 10 years in prison each.

According to the indictment, on February 27, 2016, a group of teenagers, identified in the documents only by their initials, allegedly stole an unmarked police SUV that had been left idling outside a Springfield pizza shop where Vigneault was picking up his order.

Police gave chase and eventually cornered the suspects at a home in Palmer.

While they were lying handcuffed on the ground, Bigda kicked a boy identified as 'E.P' in the documents in the head and made the 'white man's world' remark, prosecutors said.

Vigneault was charged with using excessive force on another teen.

Vigneault (pictured in court in 2017) has retired from the Springfield police force

Both teens sustained injuries, according to the indictment.

Bigda faces additional charges in connection with the obscenity-laden threats he made during a subsequent interrogation, which was recorded on surveillance video inside the Palmer police station and obtained by The Republican in 2016.

The indictment described the tone of the teens' questioning as 'so abusive that it shocks the conscience.'

One of the interrogation videos disseminated by MassLive.com shows Bigda pointing to blood on his boot and warning the teenage suspect that if he lied, his blood would be on the boot, as well.

While questioning another boy, Bigda unleashes a foul-mouth rant threatening to frame him for various unrelated offenses.

'Motherf***er, I'll charge you with killing Kennedy and f***ing make it stick,' Bigda yells at the suspect in the video. 'I'm not hampered by the f***ing truth because I don't give a f***.'

After informing the teen that people like him belong in jail, the officer boasts that he could charge the teen with whatever crime he wants.

'I'll stick a f***ing kilo of coke in your pocket and put you away for f***ing 15 years,' he says.

'Even in the face of adversity, law enforcement officers are expected to conduct themselves professionally, respectfully, and with integrity,' US Attorney Andrew Lelling said in a statement.

'They are ambassadors for the rule of law, and when they themselves break those laws, they violate not just the rights of their victims, but compromise the public's trust in law enforcement.'

Daniel Kelly, an attorney for Vigneault, said outside of court Wednesday that he expected his client to be exonerated, MassLive.com reported.

'There is a tendency to rush to judgment in cases like these,' Kelly said. 'We would ask that the public not rush to judgment.'

Bigda has racked up more than two dozen civilian complaints over the years, including for allegedly assaulting a pregnant woman and telling her, 'I hate Puerto Ricans.'

He also has been accused of pepper-spraying puppies to death.
Construction work has been stopped on a statue of Mahatma Gandhi being built in Malawi after protesters complained he was racist.

More than 3,000 people signed a petition arguing against the statue because Gandhi referred to black people as 'savages' and 'kaffirs' - an offensive term for a black African - in his writings.

A judge granted an injunction on Wednesday saying that construction should be halted until a hearing could be carried out, or another court order was given.

Construction work on a statue honouring Gandhi in Malawi has been halted after thousands of campaigners claimed he was a racist (pictured, a building bearing his face in Delhi)

In their court application, activist group 'Gandhi Must Fall' said the pacifist's remarks on black people 'have invited a sense of loathing and detestation.'

The statue was being built in the city of Blantyre, Malawi's commercial capital, as part of a $10million construction project in conjunction with the city of Delhi.

The site was due to host a concert hall which would also be named after the Indian independence fighter, and was due to be inaugurated by India's Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu.

Gandhi spent 21 years living and working as a human rights lawyer in South Africa, starting at age 23, where he developed his political and ethical views.

Gandhi pictured as a law student in London, shortly before he went to South Africa, where he lived for 21 years

While there he faced persecution because of his race and served four prison terms totalling seven months for resisting racially-biased laws.

The statue site was deserted by Wednesday afternoon, according to AFP, and a police officer said workers had been ordered home after the injunction was issued.

Foreign ministry official Isaac Munlo previously defended the statue, saying 'Gandhi promoted values of simplicity, fight against social evils'.

'Gandhi is a role model of a human rights campaigner for both Africa and India,' he said.

Malawi and India established diplomatic ties in 1964 and New Delhi is one of the country's leading aid donors.

Statues have sparked charged debates in Africa in recent years as the continent wrestles with the legacy of colonialism and history of racism.

In 2016 Ghana's government said it wanted to relocate a statue of Gandhi on a university campus after professors launched a petition claiming he was racist.

Students in South Africa successfully campaigned in 2015 for the removal of a statue of Cecil Rhodes, a notoriously racist mining magnate who died in 1902, from the University of Cape Town campus.
Two passenger planes almost collided in mid-air when they flew just over two miles passed each other over Spain.

The Ryanair planes were at risk of colliding during flights close to Pamplona in northern Spain earlier this month.

But flight crews avoided a mid-air disaster by taking evasive action when warning alarms sounded in the cockpit, crash investigators said.

One of the Ryanair planes was travelling from the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela to Palma de Majorca and the other was flying from Seville in southern Spain to the French city of Toulouse.

The aircraft were just 2.4 miles (4 km) apart while flying horizontally and 400ft (122 meters) apart vertically as they passed each other over northern Spain at around 2.30pm on October 2.

National Air Traffic Services (NATS) defines a 'loss of separation', more commonly known as a 'near-miss', as when aircraft come within 1,000ft vertically and 15 nautical miles horizontally of each other while travelling over water.

The two Ryanair planes were at risk of colliding mid-air as two planes crossed paths close to Pamplona in northern Spain

A preliminary report from the Spanish Civil Aviation Accidents and Incidents Investigation Commission found that once alarms sounded warning a collision could occur, the flight crew corrected their courses and the flights continued without any further incidents.

According to the report by crash investigators, the 'serious' incident occurred when the Boeing 737-800 jets flying to Palma de Majorca crossed paths with the other Ryanair aircraft flying to Toulouse, around 18 miles from Pamplona.

The planes were 'on the frequency of the Madrid control center' when the anti-collision alert systems on both planes sounded, aviation authorities said.

An investigation has been launched into how the two Boeing 737 aircraft were forced to take evasive action after being involved in a 'loss of separation' incident.

The two aircraft were just 2.4 miles (4 km) apart while flying horizontally and 400ft (122 meters) apart vertically as they passed each other over northern Spain

In a statement about the Spanish Civil Aviation Accidents and Incidents Investigation Commission's report, Ryanair said there was no 'near collision'.

A spokesman said: 'As the details of this incident confirm, there was no "near collision" as both aircraft took appropriate diversion measures when they were separated by more than 2 miles and 400 feet of vertical air space.'

The report by Spanish investigators states: 'During the event, warnings of Conflict Resolution of the anti-collision system in flight (TCAS RA) were activated on both aircraft, which were executed by the respective crews.

'After resolving these the two flights continued to their destination without any incidents. Neither of the two aircraft were damaged and no-one was injured.'

An investigation into the incident is said to still be ongoing.

An investigation has been launched into how the two Boeing 737 aircraft were forced to take evasive action after being involved in a 'loss of separation' incident over Spain

In July a Ryanair plane made an emergency landing in Germany after losing pressure and dropping from 12,000 metres (7.4 miles) of altitude to 3,000 metres (1.8 miles) during a flight from Dublin to Croatia.

Last month Ryanair was forced to cancel 190 flights after staff across Europe took industrial action and took part in a walkout.

The Irish company reported a 7 per cent fall in profits for the first half of the year following the strikes as well as a campaign by angry customers to boycott the budget airline.

The firm also became embroiled in a race row after British passenger, David Mesher, was recorded making racist slurs to Delsie Gayle on a flight from Barcelona to London.
Cross-dressing soldier Logan Kyle threatened to kill his lover and her two children if she didn't help him dispose of his wife's body, her family claims.

And instead of facing decades in jail, Sarah Parker, 24, should be hailed a hero, her father and aunt both told DailyMail.com in separate exclusive interviews.

If it wasn't for her driving around for hours, father Jackie Parker and aunt Wanda Kerr say, cops could still be looking for Shelena Kyle's corpse.

But despite their claims, Parker is in jail in the casino resort town of Lake Charles, Louisiana, facing charges that could potentially see her serve 40 years, while Kyle is being held by the military.

'Logan Kyle said he would kill her and her kids  and probably me too,' Sarah's father Jackie Parker told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview at his home in Moss Bluff, Louisiana.

'But she kept calm and stalled and stalled knowing the police would eventually come.'

Cross-dressing soldier Logan Kyle threatened to kill his lover Sarah Parker and her two children if she didn't help him dispose of his wife Shelena's (pictured together) body, Parker's family claims

Sarah's family insists Kyle threatened to kill the 24-year-old and her two young children if she didn't help him dispose of his wife's body, they told DailyMailTV

Sarah's father said Kyle came to Lake Charles and helped her move out of her children's father's home and back into his house. Somehow Kyle managed to transfer his wife's body from his car and into the trunk of Sarah's car (pictured), allegedly without Sarah's knowledge

Authorities believe Kyle may have killed Shelena because she was threatening to go to his Army superiors with tales of his secret cross-dressing habit.

On Wednesday, DailyMailTV exclusively published pictures of the fire team leader, who had served a tour of duty in Iraq in full make-up and women's wigs.

DailyMailTV also revealed that Kyle had talked to friends about having a sex change once he left the Army.

Sources say that while Shelena could not accept his life in drag, Parker embraced it and told him she could love him whoever he was.

Parker's family said she and her kids were basically being held hostage by Kyle after he killed Shelena, but cops insist she was a willing participant and are pressing ahead with charges.

Parker and Kyle were both arrested on October 21 as they drove around Lake Charles, after police got a tip that a body was in the trunk of Parker's red Ford Taurus.

Local sheriff Tony Mancuso told DailyMailTV the couple was looking for a place to dump Shelena.

'We have evidence to suggest she was not threatened,' he told DailyMailTV in an interview in his wood-paneled office in the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Department headquarters in Lake Charles.

'I can't go into that evidence but it shows there were events that transpired that absolutely do not include that she was threatened or coerced,' he said.

Sarah's aunt added to the intrigue.

DailyMailTV exclusively published pictures of the fire team leader, who had served a tour of duty in Iraq in full make-up and women's wigs. DailyMailTV also revealed that Kyle had talked to friends about having a sex change once he left the Army

Authorities believe Kyle may have killed Shelena because she was threatening to go to his Army superiors with tales of his secret cross-dressing habit

Kyle and Sarah met on a dating site and met up once he returned from Iraq, but they allegedly split after Shelena wanted to make her marriage work with Kyle

'I can't tell you who, but someone in law enforcement  not the lead detective  told a member of our family that Logan Kyle was definitely threatening her,' Kerr told DailyMail.com at her home in Spring, Texas.

'She was in fear not only for her life, but for the lives of her two young children.'

The question of whether Parker is a heartless femme fatale willing to risk the lives of her kids or the heroic victim of a horrific crime now divides the two camps.

Whichever version is right, Sarah Parker is no longer the stay-at-home mom she has been for more than two years. Instead she is inmate number 193645 in Calcasieu Parish jail.

She is on $60,000 bond, facing charges of obstruction of justice, failing to report a homicide and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

District attorney John DeRosier is considering adding child endangerment counts.

Kerr, 46, said she has spoken to Parker in jail. 'She's holding up OK,' she said. 'She is doing what she has to do. One guard told her ''Your mother raised a very polite young woman.''

The Parker family's nightmare started after Kyle, 22, a corporal with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, allegedly killed his wife in their on-base home at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Authorities are not saying how he killed her, but DailyMail.com understands she was strangled in their bathroom.

Sarah's father Jackie Parker said: 'Kyle said he would kill her and her kids, and probably me too. She kept calm and stalled and stalled knowing the police would eventually come'

'We don't know whether they were waiting for the next day or whether they were planning to dump the body in the river that night,' said Sheriff Mancuso. Pictured: General view of Calcasieu River in Louisiana, which may have been the possible dumping ground where Kyle and Sarah may have been heading before police stopped them not too far away

He then drove an hour and a half south to Jackie Parker's single-story house with Shelena's body in the trunk of his Nissan sedan, both family and law enforcement agree.

Kyle spent most of Sunday with Sarah, helping her move her belongings out of her children's father's apartment and back into the family home, using her car, said her father.

'They were in and out of the house all day,' Jackie Parker said.

'It's the only time I ever met him. I found him polite and respectful and, of course, clean-cut being in the Army  a very good-mannered young man.

'What I didn't know when I shook his hand is that he had used that very hand to kill his wife just hours earlier.'

Kyle and Sarah connected on an online dating site and met once he returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. But family members say they split after Kyle said Shelena wanted to give their marriage another chance.

Mancuso described Parker as Kyle's mistress, but her family disagree.

'Sarah wasn't his mistress. She wasn't his girlfriend,' aunt Wanda told DailyMail.com. 'They dated and then stopped dating when his wife came back into the picture.

'The wife wanted to make it work and Sarah told him he should go back to her. When I saw her last she said they were no longer in communication. She said they hadn't spoken in weeks.'

Sarah's dad Jackie, 51, agrees. 'This was not a boyfriend-girlfriend situation,' he said.

Parker is on $60,000 bond, facing charges of obstruction of justice, failing to report a homicide and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile

Parker's two children were initially taken into custody by Child and Family Services but are now being cared for by their father, Eric Dayton, 23, (pictured) who did not return calls for comment

LOGAN KYLE'S LOVE FOR CROSS-DRESSING MAY HAVE LED HIM TO KILL HIS WIFE, SOURCES CLAIM While Sarah Parker is facing a civilian trial, Logan Kyle will be dealt with in a court martial. His case is being investigated by the US Army CID and he is in military custody. Like Parker, Kyle had no prior criminal record before his arrest last weekend. He joined the army four years ago and served one tour of duty in Iraq, Fort Polk spokeswoman Kim Reischling told DailyMail.com. He was an infantry fire team leader. He married his high school sweetheart Shelena Gayler in 2016. They had been classmates at William Henry Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana. But the marriage was rocky because Shelena had difficulty accepting her husband's cross-dressing and they separated while he was in Iraq. When he returned to Fort Polk, Shelena said she wanted to give their marriage another go, but the cross-dressing remained an issue. He went to the Ulta store in Lake Charles with Parker for a lesson in make-up soon after returning to the States. He bought $240 worth of eyeshadow, blush, setting spray, foundation, brushes, lip gloss and mascara from brands including Urban Decay, Tarte and NYX. He then went on to dinner  in full make-up and women's clothes  at the buffet at L'Auberge casino in Lake Charles. 'He was wearing a frilly blouse and lady's pants,' a source said Logan and Shelena Kyle did not have children. Members of her family were reluctant to talk about what had happened when approached by DailyMail.com. They referred all inquiries to her mother Carrie Campbell who did not return calls. But just like Sarah's father Jackie, they never doubted Logan Kyle's character. 'We thought he was very good, in fact outstanding,' Shelena's grandfather Gary Gayler said. While Shelena was not in the military, she and other spouses are considered part of the army family, Reischling said. Colonel Kendall Clark, the 3rd Brigade commander said: 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of this Patriot Family member. She was a member of our family and her death affects us all. We send our most sincere condolences to her family and friends.' Advertisement

After moving her stuff back, Sarah decided to take her children, Jakob, 2, and 18-month-old Lisette, to visit her grandmother June Duhon who lives an hour north on Bundick Lake. She took Kyle with her.

Somehow Kyle managed to transfer his wife's body from his Nissan and into the trunk of Sarah's car, allegedly without Sarah's knowledge.

But by the time she reached the home on the outskirts of DeRidder, Louisiana, Sarah was aware of the body in the trunk and managed to tell her grandmother, knowing she would call police once they were gone.

'She told her something like 'I have a crazy man in my car and a body in my trunk,' ' Jackie Parker, a delivery driver, said.

Police won't confirm who called to report a body being driven around  but the call went to the sheriff's department in Beauregard Parish, where grandma Duhon lives, rather than to Calcasieu Parish.

Duhon, 67, suffered a fall shortly after sheriff's officers visited her at her home, her husband Gerald told DailyMail.com and was not fit enough to comment.

By the time Sarah had driven back to Lake Charles, cops were on the lookout and eventually stopped her on North Franklin Street, close to the alligator-infested Calcasieu River.

'We don't know whether they were waiting for the next day or whether they were planning to dump the body in the river that night,' said Sheriff Mancuso.

But Jackie Parker insists that was not the case. 'The whole time she was driving around, stalling for time, hoping that the police would eventually come and arrest them  and that is exactly what happened,' he said.

'Her plan worked, but they arrested her anyway.

'My daughter has been diagnosed bipolar,' Parker added. 'She kept her head, but this whole thing wouldn't just have hit her like a ton of bricks  it'd be more like two tons of bricks.'

Parker's two children were initially taken into custody by Child and Family Services but are now being cared for by their father, Eric Dayton, 23, who did not return calls for comment.

Sheriff Mancuso said the possibility of child endangerment charges comes because his officers would likely have approached the car with their guns ready, after being told there was a murdered woman in the trunk.

'They put the children in harm's way because we could have had arms drawn and if shots were fired the children could have been in the line of fire,' he said.

And that is exactly why the family believes Sarah is innocent. 'I have complete faith that Sarah would not willingly place her children in danger,' Wanda Kerr  Jackie's ex-wife's sister  said.

'It's not a case of me looking at this with rose-tinted glasses because she's my niece, it is because it is what we have been told.'

Jackie Parker agreed. 'She was terrified for the sake of her children. Those kids couldn't run.

'There is no way she would have put them in the position that they may be shot.'
Republican lobbyist and conservative radio host Jack Burkman is in the news after being involved in the alleged plot to smear Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

The smear campaign centers around a claim, written in an email sent to multiple news outlets on October 17, in which a woman named Lorraine Parsons alleges that she was offered a five-figure sum to say Mueller sexually harassed her at the law firm they both worked at in 1974.

She mentions that the man who contacted her with the offer told her he works for Jack Burkman. Burkman has a history of peddling conspiracy theories including the death of the Democratic staffer Seth Rich.

Republican lobbyist Jack Burkman has been connected to several conspiracy theories

Reporters efforts to contact the woman were fruitless and the law firm in question says it has no record of a Lorraine Parsons ever working there. Burkman denied any involvement, but later tweeted that Lorraine Parsons doesnt exist.

Around the time the email was sent, Burkman posted a video on Facebook on his Behind The Curtain page in which he claimed that seven women told him that they were harassed by Bob Mueller.

On October 30, Burkman tweeted: Some sad news. On Thursday, November 1, at the Rosslyn Holiday Inn at noon, we will reveal the first of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's sex assault victims. I applaud the courage and dignity and grace and strength of my client.

The alleged smear campaign featured a private investigations firm called Surefire Intelligence, which was supposedly conducting the investigation into Mueller and the allegations.

Burkman told the Hill Reporter that he knew the company, saying: Surefire is a real company, an intel operation in Los Angeles. We have known them for a long time. The guys name is Jacob Wohl.

Wohl is a fervent Trump supporter who was banned by the National Futures Association and was accused of violating the Securities Act by the Arizona Corporation Commission.

A Bellingcat investigation found that Surefire Intelligence is indeed a sham, with so-called employees LinkedIn pictures actually being of celebrities such as Bar Refaeli and Christoph Waltz.

After the journalists contacted Special Counsel, Robert Muellers team referred the matter to the FBI.

'When we learned last week of allegations that women were offered money to make false claims about the Special Counsel, we immediately referred the matter to the FBI for investigation,' Mueller spokesman Peter Carr told the Atlantic when it broke the story.

Since the story broke, Burkman remained resolute about going ahead with the announcement, tweeting: 'mueller wants to deflect attention from his sex assault troubles by attacking me.'

He then sent an email saying: 'on Thursday 1200 NOON ROSSYLN HOLIDAY INN we will present a very credible witness who will allege that Mr. Mueller committed against her a sexual assault.'

This is not the first controversy that Burkman is connected to. Back in 2014, he tried to promote a bill in Congress that would ban gay players from playing in the NFL.

He announced as CEO of the lobbying firm Burkman Associates LLC that he had several members of Congress ready to back his anti-gay bill. In an interview with HuffPo, Burkman said five Congressmen and one Senator were interested, and that the number would rise six-fold within three weeks.

Burkmans own brother Dr Jim Burkman, an openly gay man, publicly rebuked him. 'He is not a legislator and he cant really push legislation. I dont think there are any cosponsors for a bill. It is just an attention grab and a media grab to pander to those folks who pay him to lobby on their behalf.

Two years later Burkman became involved in the conspiracy surrounding the death of the DNC staffer Seth Rich. On July 10, 2016, Rich was shot twice in the back in what is thought to be a robbery-gone-wrong.

The murder occurred just two weeks before the WikiLeaks leak of the 20,000 DNC emails, leading to far-right conspiracy theorists to concoct bizarre stories of Rich being assassinated by everyone from the Clintons to Russian agents.

Burkman launched his own private investigation into the matter, complete with a five-figure reward for information

Burkman appeared on Fox 5 in 2017, eight months after the murder to claim that Rich was killed after he discovered that the Russians had been hacking.

In 2018, on the two-year anniversary of the murder, Burkman organised a press conference in which he called his source on the phone, who wove a bizarre story involving assassins from various branches of US law enforcement. Burkman also alleged that he was shot by a man he hired to work on the investigation. The case remains unsolved.

In 2017, Burkman also hosted a fundraiser for Trump aide Rick Gates who was indicted by Robert Mueller and ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of false statements and one count of conspiracy against the United States.
Be afraid. Photo: Screenshot via Twitter

The Willie Horton ad is among the most infamous campaign commercials in American history. Developed by allies of George H.W. Bush in 1988, the ad accused the Democratic presidential nominee of supporting a policy that allowed convicted murderers to leave prison on weekend furloughs  and claimed that said policy had enabled an African-American convicted killer named William Horton Jr. to rape a woman, and stab her boyfriend.

These claims were all technically accurate (Massachusettss furlough program had been established by a Republican governor, who had modeled it on the policy of an obscure California governor named Ronald Reagan, but Michael Dukakis had supported it). But the fact that the commercial appealed so nakedly to fears of African-American criminality (and called Horton Willie, when he went by William) led most contemporary observers to see it as shamefully racist and unethical. Bushs own campaign viewed the attack as too beyond the pale to directly endorse, and thus, outsourced it to a putatively independent organization.

Thirty years later, the United States has grown far more tolerant  of wildly racist and unethical campaign advertisements.

On Wednesday, the president of the United States released a web video that accuses Democrats of trying to flood America with psychopathic cop killers. Specifically, the ad recounts the story of Luis Bracamontes, an undocumented immigrant who was deported twice before reentering the U.S. and killing two sheriffs deputies in Sacramento, California, in 2014. In the video, Bracamontes brags about his crime, and vows to kill more cops if hes ever let out of prison. Viewers are then treated to footage of (ostensibly) Central American asylum-seekers who are headed to the U.S. border, and implies that there are many men like Bracamontes among them.

It is outrageous what the Democrats are doing to our Country. Vote Republican now! https://t.co/0pWiwCHGbh pic.twitter.com/2crea9HF7G  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018

In 1988, the Republican presidential nominee felt compelled to distance himself from an advertisement that accurately described a controversial policy that his rival had endorsed  and an adverse consequence of said policy  because the commercial cultivated racialized fears.

In 2018, the Republican president felt comfortable tweeting out a video that baselessly accuses the entire Democratic Party of allowing a Mexican criminal into the United States, and then suggests that, because one undocumented Mexican immigrant commited a horrific crime, we should presume that a caravan of Central American families  who are traveling to the U.S. border to seek legal admission to our country through the asylum process  is a major threat to American national security.

Trumps video has been met with justified outrage. Even (some) conservative commentators have denounced it as racist, while CNN describes it as the most racially charged national political ad in 30 years and the latest example of the presidents willingness to lie and fearmonger in order to tear at racial and societal divides. Countless other news outlets and pundits have described it as Trumps Willie Horton ad.

But the suggestion that Trump is reviving a brand of racial demagoguery that his party abandoned in 1988 is plainly untrue. In reality, the presidents web video probably isnt the most racially charged Republican ad of the last three months, let alone the past three decades.

In September, Republican congressman Duncan Hunter released an ad that claims his Democratic rival is working to infiltrate Congress on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood, and is, therefore, a security risk. The entire basis for this claim is that Ammar Campa-Najjar, a former Labor Department official (and practicing Christian), is the grandson of a Palestinian man who was involved in the terrorist attack at the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Meanwhile, in upstate New York, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has aired multiple commercials attacking an African-American House candidate for having once been a rap musician. Antonio Delgado is Rhodes scholar and a Harvard Law grad  but according to the NRCC, his inoffensive, erudite persona masks his true, hip-hop self.

In its first ad, the committee juxtaposes Delgados current messaging with excerpts from a music video in which he uses curse words.

In the second, a series of conspicuously white, upstate New Yorkers express their concern about the rap lyrics, saying, among other things, Antonio Delgado would be fine in Los Angeles, maybe New York City, but nobody talks like that around here.

Elsewhere in the Empire State, (indicted) Republican congressman Chris Collins is airing an ad that simply features his Democratic rival Nate McMurray speaking Korean for 30 seconds, while bars of text make unsubstantiated claims insinuating that McMurrays first loyalty is to China.

And this only a small sampling of the many flavors of racial paranoia that Republican congressional candidates have been serving voters this fall.

In many respects, the United States is a less racially intolerant country than it was 30 years ago. While our country has made scant progress on redressing the structural disadvantages that plague nonwhite communities (among them, residential segregation, employment discrimination, and the racial wealth gap), its attachment to ideological racism has loosened. In 1990, 63 percent of nonblack Americans said they would be opposed to a close relative marrying a dark-skinned individual, according to polling from Pew Research; by 2016, that figure had fallen to 14 percent. And when Americans are asked to contemplate interracial marriage as a general concept, roughly 87 percent approve, according to Gallup  up from 48 percent in 1995, and 4 percent in 1959. Meanwhile, racially and ethnically motivated hate crimes fell by nearly 50 percent between 1994 and 2015, according to FBI data.

But America is not governed by national opinion polls. It is (for now) governed by the Republican Party. And over the past three decades, the arc of the GOPs history has bent toward unashamed racist fearmongering. The dog whistles have become foghorns  and the foghorns are becoming human rights violations.
Pugsley is a Kennel Club-registered dog who was bought for 1,000

This is the horrifying moment a pet pug was brazenly snatched by dognappers outside a store in London on Wednesday after its owner tied it up to go shopping.

Pugsley, the beloved family pet of Barbara Nicholson, 62, was taken from outside West 9 Food and Wine in the upmarket Maida Vale district at 9pm on October 18.

Pugsley was tied up alone outside the newsagents for just a few minutes when two young men passing by spotted him and seized their opportunity. CCTV from West 9 Food and Wine in Harrow Road shows one backpack-carrying suspect walk off with the pup, while his accomplice smirks.

Ms Nicholson has now called on Londoners for help to track down their 'baby' who has been missing for two weeks.

Ms Nicholson, who has lived in the area for more than 40 years, said: 'My grandson is devastated. The whole of me is grieving, I've not slept a wink.

The two men could be seen on the store's CCTV smirking as they casually untied the dog and walked off

'I feel so awful. I cried more when I lost this dog than when my husband died  he is my baby. We tie him outside that shop every day, I go in and out. I just want him back. I keep waiting to hear his little nails clipping along the floor.'

Her daughter Betty Nicholson, 24, urged the dognappers to return the two-year-old pup. She said: 'With our area everyone knows everyone, everyone knows our dog. You never expect something like that to happen here.'

The Kennel Club-registered pedigree was bought from a breeder for 1,000 as a gift for Kane, who lives with his grandmother, when the boy was nine.

It comes amid a reported rise in dog thefts in London from search organisation Dog Lost, which has assigned a caseworker to Pugsley.

A Metropolitan police spokesman said they were called to the incident at about 9pm on October 18. Inquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made.
A Muslim extremist who is set to be released from prison within months will be free to roam Australia without being monitored.

The prisoner, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was declined parole earlier this year, but now the government is facing increased pressure to pass tougher laws to keep tabs on terrorists.

Under Division 104 of the Criminal Code Act 1995, Australian Federal Police are able to apply for a control order from the court, which allows restrictions to be imposed on a person for the purpose of protecting the public from a terrorist threat.

But as the law stands, they are unable to apply for a court-sanctioned supervision order to monitor convicted terrorists.

A Muslim extremist who is set to be released from prison within months will be free to roam Australia without being monitored (stock image)

Tamim Khaja (pictured), 20, is currently serving 14 years behind bars for planning an attack in Sydney when he was 18

Police can instead can apply for extended detention orders which keep criminals in jail for longer than the term of a sentence.

The extended detention order can only be applied if authorities believe the offender continues to pose a serious threat to the community.

Attorney-General Christian Porter told The Australian the government was working towards introducing legislation for Extended Supervision Orders (ESO) as soon as possible.

'The Attorney-General and Minister for Home Affairs have been working on this issue and consider it a significant priority,' he said.

'This is a complex area that requires detailed consideration and close collaboration between the commonwealth, operational agencies and state and territory jurisdictions.

'Consultation and drafting is taking slightly longer than expected, but it is hoped the effort will produce a result that can be more swiftly passed through the parliament.'

Attorney-General Christian Porter said the government is working towards introducing legislation for Extended Supervision Orders (ESO) as soon as possible (stock image of prison)

Abdul Nacer Benbrika (pictured) plotted attacks in Sydney and Melbourne and is currently serving 15 years' jail

The paper reported that there are currently 36 people jailed under commonwealth terror laws, of which 33 would be eligible for extended detention orders or supervision orders once the amendments are in place.

The AFP and ASIO are worried that any future attacks will come from the nation's prison system.

Some of these prisoners include Tamim Khaja, 20, is currently serving 14 years behind bars for planning an attack in Sydney when he was 18.

Khaja was sentenced to a maximum of 19 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 14 years and three months.

Abdul Nacer Benbrika, over 18 months plotted attacks against the 2005 AFL grand final, Melbournes Crown casino during Grand Prix weekend in 2006 and Sydneys Lucas Heights nuclear reactor, The Australian reported.

He was arrested in 2005 and was sentenced to 15 years jail, or 12 years with parole.

Talal Alamaddine, 25, pleaded guilty to supplying a pistol to someone unauthorised to possess it, which resulted in the killing of accountant Curtis Cheng.

He will be eligible for parole in August 2029.
WeWork has instituted a four-beer limit for its tenants just weeks after a female ex-employee who complained of sexual assault by colleagues sued the company.

The office sharing giant is limiting its members to four 12-ounce pours of beer - a reversal of its previous policy of allowing unlimited beer consumption.

WeWork announced the change in policy in an email to its users.

The change, which is part of a pilot program, went into effect in its New York City offices on Tuesday, according to MarketWatch.

Members will only be able to obtain beer through taps by using the same key card that enables them to enter the building.

The taps will only be available between the hours of 12pm and 8pm in order to prevent early morning and late-night drinking.

WeWork has been working on piloting an innovative, software-driven mechanism to help manage the provision of alcohol in our spaces for some time, a company spokeswoman told MarketWatch.

WeWork has instituted a four-beer limit for its tenants just weeks after a female ex-employee who complained of sexual assault by colleagues sued the company

The office sharing giant is limiting its members to four 12-ounce pours of beer - a reversal of its previous policy of allowing unlimited beer consumption. The above image shows an event at WeWork's New York City headquarters on June 14, 2016

In addition to the supervision already provided by our community management team, mechanized tap controls will enhance this amenity we provide to our members.

On October 11, Ruby Anaya, 33, filed suit in Manhattan Supreme Court alleging that the company fostered a frat house work environment.

Anaya alleged that she was sexually assaulted by two different male co-workers in separate incidents in August 2017 and January 2018.

When she reported the alleged incidents to human resources, the company decided not to take disciplinary action.

According to the lawsuit, Anaya reported the incident to WeWork co-founder Miguel McKelvey.

Anaya says she was fired from the company on August 3 after she expressed disagreement and distress over the decision not to fire the second alleged assailant.

She also protested what she claims was the company policy of unequal pay based on gender.

Anaya joined the office rental company's technology department as a director of product management in 2014 and became WeWork's director of culture in 2017.

The suit claims she had just finished presenting an award at a company-wide 'Summit' event in January of this year when she tripped over one of her heels as she tried to 'navigate the large and alcohol-infused crowd'.

Anaya put her hand on a man's shoulder to regain her balance, and as she apologized and explained that she'd stumbled, the man grabbed her waist and 'forcibly kissed her', the suit says.

On October 11, Ruby Anaya, 33, filed suit in Manhattan Supreme Court alleging that the company fostered a frat house work environment

She promptly shoved the man away and slapped him, but he 'just smiled at her'.

The suit alleges that during Anaya's interview, WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann asked whether she drank tequila, and then poured her shots after she said yes.

The company also stocks free beer at its locations and pressures employees to attend a 'mandated happy hour every Friday', according to the suit.

WeWork responded to the suit, calling Anaya's allegations 'meritless'.

'WeWork has always been committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive and safe workplace,' a spokesperson said in a statement.

'WeWork investigated this employee's complaints, took appropriate action, and this employee was terminated solely because of her poor performance.'

The spokesperson said Anaya had 'received negative performance reviews, including one more than a year before she was terminated,' and that she was 'rated as one of the lowest performers on her team, based on feedback from her peers and managers'.

'Upon being terminated, she acknowledged her poor performance and that she hadn't been showing up to work regularly,' the statement said.

'She even expressed concerns about her performance to a colleague shortly before her termination.'

The lawsuit, however, says Anaya 'received almost exclusively positive feedback on her work efforts and performance' and 'only positive performance reviews' up until her firing.

WeWork is a global company with offices in 64 cities that cater to 175,000 users.
President Donald Trump got in one last furious encounter with his former White House Counsel Don McGahn in which he blamed his lawyer for Robert Mueller's appointment as special counsel.

In a face-to-face Oval Office meeting, the president complained to his outgoing counsel about Mueller's appointment, CNN reported.

The two men have had a rocky relationship since McGahn became White House counsel when Trump took office, most of it center around Mueller's probe of Russia role in the 2016 election.

President Trump blamed former White House Counsel Don McGahn for Robert Mueller's appointment as special counsel in one last argument

McGahn has cooperated with the Russia investigation and threatened to quit last year when Trump contemplated firing Mueller

McGahn has cooperated with the investigation and threatened to quit last year when Trump contemplated firing Mueller.

The president, meanwhile, repeatedly claims he is a victim of a 'witch hunt' by Mueller

The latest argument between the two was said to reflect Trump's continued frustration with the Russia probe and is an example of his shifting the blame for the investigation.

However, Trump was also said to credit McGahn for his successes, which included getting Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch confirmed to the Supreme Court.

McGahn has left the administration before the background investigation was complete for the incoming White House counsel Pat Cipollone.

He had been expected to stay through the midterms but both he and the president realized it was time for him to go.

'Typically you would have the incumbent stay until the successor was ready to take his place. But in this case, McGahn was tired of the President and the President was tired of McGahn,' a source told CNN. 'He didn't want to stay on and the President didn't want him to stay.'

Trump surprised McGahn months ago by announcing his upcoming departure on Twitter and then go him again when he announced his successor in an interview with the Associated Press.

McGahn has cooperated with Mueller's investigation, participating in several interviews.

In August, he reassured the president that he didn't implicate him in any legal jeopardy during his 30 hours of testimony to Mueller's team.

Mueller is probing Russia's role in the 2016 presidential campaign, whether the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow and whether the president obstructed justice.

McGahn has told the Special Counsel's investigators about Trump's responses to the Russia investigation, the president's firing of FBI Director James Comey, and attempts to pressure Attorney General Jeff Sessions to reassume control over the probe after he recused himself.

The White House counsel also told Mueller's team about Trump's attempts to fire the Special Counsel.

The president went in a tweet-filled rage when the New York Times reported in August McGahn had spoken to Mueller's team.

Trump charged Mueller with 'looking for trouble,' claiming that the 30 hours of testimony by McGahn shows 'anybody needing that much time when they know there is no Russian Collusion is just someone.... ....looking for trouble.'

He also claimed the special counsel's investigation is political and designed to hurt the Republican Party in the upcoming midterm elections.

Trump and McGahn have had a rocky relationship, mostly centered around Robert Mueller's (above) probe of Russia

McGahn has had his successes, which included getting Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch confirmed to the Supreme Court; he's seen here with Kavanaugh's parents during a White House swearing-in ceremony for Kavanaugh

Finally he claimed collusion is a 'phony crime' being used against him because he is fighting back at the investigation. In July, the president and his legal team began the arguments that collusion is not a crime.

'Disgraced and discredited Bob Mueller and his whole group of Angry Democrat Thugs spent over 30 hours with the White House Councel, only with my approval, for purposes of transparency. Anybody needing that much time when they know there is no Russian Collusion is just someone....,' the president tweeted in August.

'....looking for trouble. They are enjoying ruining people's lives and REFUSE to look at the real corruption on the Democrat side - the lies, the firings, the deleted Emails and soooo much more! Mueller's Angry Dems are looking to impact the election. They are a National Disgrace!,' he added.

'Where's the Collusion? They made up a phony crime called Collusion, and when there was no Collusion they say there was Obstruction (of a phony crime that never existed). If you FIGHT BACK or say anything bad about the Rigged Witch Hunt, they scream Obstruction!,' Trump tweeted.
Passengers got the fright of their life after their plane made an emergency landing due to a severe hailstorm.

The Latam Brasil Airbus A320-200 was set for Santiago, Chile when it took off from Sao Paulo, Brazil at 3am (UTC) on Wednesday.

Only 80 minutes into its flight, the plane flew through a severe hailstorm over the province of Misiones, Argentina.

The Latam Brasil Airbus A320-200 had only taken off from Sao Paulo in Brazil and was on course to Santiago, Chile when it flew into the wild weather at 4.30am on Wednesday morning

Wind gusts of up to 200km/hr battered the plane and the aircraft was forced to descend 1,500 metres before it made an emergency landing at Ezeiza airport at Buenos Aires.

The plane was left with shattered flight deck windows and a sorely dented nose.

Argentinian's Accident Investigation Board confirmed nobody was injured on the flight.

Its passengers were promptly transferred to other flights and made it to their final destination in Chili.

The damaged plane has been kept at the airport in Buenos Aires where it is undergoing mechanical checks.

The plane managed to land safely at Buenos Aires in Argentina with shattered flight deck windows and sorely dented nose

Argentinian's Accident Investigation Board confirmed nobody was injured on the flight
A group of friends from New Zealand have waded through waters off the coast of Victoria to reach a minuscule island and claim it for their home country.

The group of six shared their experience to social media, reaching out to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to get her professional opinion on the need for foreigners to obtain a visa before visiting the newly claimed territory.

The young pioneers claimed the island was 'there for the taking' and they wanted to do it for their country.

While the land is not yet charted on Google Maps, the team are working on getting their newly settled land the recognition they say it deserves.

The group of six reached out to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to get her professional opinion on the need for foreigners to obtain a visa before paying the newly claimed territory a visit

'The permanently visible landmass is currently unnoticed by Google however contact has been made to ensure that recognition of this lustrous landscape is upheld,' adventurer Jeremy Shanks wrote on Instagram.

'Today, six pioneers, Lucy McRae, Liana Clark, Jeremy Shanks, Jacob Real, Tanika Brown lead by expedition leader Nicholas Fausch ventured into the unknown depths of the Eildon Pondage to discover and claim a thriving landmass for New Zealand.

'As decided by majority the team, the name of this island will be known as New New Zealand Island or NNZI for short.'

The group, who were bored at the time they decided to embark on the adventure, erected a flag on the north-east side of the island

A bunch of Kiwi friends waded through waters off the coast of Victoria to settle on a minuscule island and claim it for their home country

'NNZI has multiple attractions such as it's thriving supply of mint, black swans and very slippery rocks.'

The group, who were bored at the time they decided to embark on the adventure, erected a flag on the north-east side of the island.

'A New Zealand flag was erected to ensure proper recognition of the island. To ensure New Zealand's laws are upheld, any visitors from other than Australia must apply through New Zealand's immigration website,' the post read.

A bunch of Kiwi friends waded through waters off the coast of Victoria to settle on a minuscule island and claim it for their home country

New New Zealand's founders have followed in the footsteps of the pioneers who founded Sealand, a micronation on an abandoned sea fort from WW2 near Britain.

Frestonia, which popped up in London's Freston Street, is another example of a micronation that forced its way into existence.

The Frestonian community, comprised primarily of squatters, forged their own path as a sovereign state.

They created a national anthem and applied for induction into the United Nations to certify their sovereignty.

While the six founders of New New Zealand Island are yet to discuss their big ideas for the little island, officially located in the heart of Eildon in Victoria, they have already confirmed they will be heading back to monitor the island as soon as possible.
An unexpected setback in the search for the submerged body of doomed Lion Air plane has delayed investigations into what caused flight JT610 to fall from the sky.

Initial ocean searches for the missing fuselage of the Boeing 737-MAX 8 were unsuccessful, with the location of its data pinging 'black box' still unknown.

Experts detected what they thought was the 22-metre-long part on the ocean floor - but unfortunately it turned out to be debris and passenger belongings.

Workers sift through the belongings of people killed in the doomed flight from Jakarta on Monday - a black box is yet to be found among the debris

Hundreds of people watched as more items collected form the ocean floor were brought to shore to be examined

Experts detected what they thought was the 22-metre-long part from the Lion Air plane (pictured) but it turned out to be passenger belongings and debris

Investigators have battled the elements in their recovery of aircraft fragments, but remain confident they will eventually find the black box.

Pings in regular intervals had been detected in early searches, but have since been lost due to the strength of currents.

The head of Indonesia's Search and Rescue Agency Muhammad Syaugi said on Wednesday teams were confident they would locate the missing hull.

Data from flight-tracking sites showed the plane was unstable during the first minutes of its second last flight, showing erratic speeds, altitude and direction just after take off.

There was a devastating scene of footwear earlier worn by passengers on flight JT610 which had been laid out on white canvas and numbered

Heartbroken families gathered at the harbour where wreckage had been brought ashore

Workers clad in orange uniforms and gloves were pictured arranging evidence on a white mat

That data is similar to information transmitted in the first minutes of Monday's fatal flight, but could be put down to errors in the site's tracking software.

To confirm their suspicions, investigators would have to match it against data stored in the plane's black box flight recorders, which are yet to be found.

Lion Air confirmed the plane suffered a technical issue on Sunday, but stated the problems had been 'resolved according to procedure'.

The priority is finding the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to help determine the cause of the disaster, safety experts said.

The Indonesian passports of two passengers were held up by a worker at the harbour

There was a devastating sight of aircraft debris scattered on large sheets of white in the wake of the crash

Crews set off on a mission out to the site of the crash in the hope of finding more missing parts

Just 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta on Monday, flight JT-610 bound for Pangkal Pinang, an island north of the capital, lost contact with air control about 6.33am.

The Boeing 737 Max 8 was released in 2011 and was the fastest selling passenger aircraft in history, becoming the most-commonly used aircraft in the world.

Passengers on the plane's second last flight recalled a horror flight after passengers waited 30 minutes inside a sweltering cabin, then another 30 on the tarmac before take-off.

Some people vomited due to the heat and others likened the flight to a roller coaster ride as it constantly rose and fell throughout its duration.

Parts of the aircraft including a rogue un-inflated life jacket was pictured among the debris

Investigators stood by as families of passengers inspected the items that had been recovered

Piles of clothing were placed on a white canvas near rows of shoes of deceased passengers

The technical director of Lion Air who gave the green light for the plane to be flown on Monday has been given his marching orders by Indonesia's transport minister.

'Today we will remove Lion's technical director from his duties to be replaced by someone else, as well as technical staff' who cleared the flight to depart,' Budi Karya Sumadi told reporters on Wednesday.

He said the airline would undergo a ministry inspection and an industry-wide investigation into Indonesia's low-cost airlines would be conducted.

Two women embraced and sobbed at the harbour where items from the wreckage were recovered

Women aided in the identification of belongings of passengers that had been brought ashore
The mother of murdered Brazilian woman Cecilia Haddad has broken down in tears in a Rio de Janeiro court as she told of a frantic final phone conversation with her daughter in Sydney before she disappeared.

Milu Muller, 70, said that during the call she heard ex-boyfriend Marcelo Santoro, 40, who is accused of Haddad's murder, banging on her daughter's apartment door.

'I could tell his voice clearly,' she said.

'He was shouting "open the door" and "I want to talk to you". Cecilia told him she did not want to talk and twice threatened to call the police.'

The suspect, who was not present at the pretrial hearing at a court in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, is accused of the 38-year-old's murder in Sydney in April.

Marcelo Santoro, 40, (right) is charged with the murder of Cecilia Haddad, 38 (left)

Milu Muller, Ms Haddad's mother, told the court her daughter considered hiring a security guard for protection but it was too costly (pictured: Cecilia Haddad)

Ms Haddad's fully clothed body was discovered floating in Sydney's Lane Cove River on April 29.

Santoro allegedly returned to his native Brazil to avoid arrest on the same weekend her lifeless body was found.

The pair had dated but Cecilia had told family she felt frightened because he did not accept the end of their courtship.

Muller told the court on Wednesday her daughter told her that Santoro had initially treated her like a princess but after they broke up he became obsessive and 'persecuted her'.

The crucial phone call happened at lunchtime on Saturday, April 28 (Sydney time).

Haddad had previously told her mother, who had recently had heart surgery, about her concerns about Santoro, but the older woman believed she was being careful about what she said to avoid alarming her.

A friend and colleague of Ms Haddad's from Perth, Rita Maciel, earlier told the hearing Santoro (pictured) had 'stalked' her friend

According to Mrs Muller, she could hear a noise as if someone was trying to knock down a door while the pair spoke the night before Haddad was found dead.

Mrs Muller said she heard Santoro telling her daughter to open the door as he wished to speak with her.

'I said: "What horror! What is this creature doing there, has he gone away?"' the sobbing mother told a court on Thursday, News Corp reported.

'I told her to go to the window to check that he had left, but she said she was sure he had. I asked her to hire private security, but she said it would be too expensive. She said he had a flight booked on Monday to return to Brazil, so there would not be any need to worry about him after that.'

'I never heard from her again,' she added, breaking down in tears.

After her daughter did not check in with her the next day as they had agreed, Muller sent a series of increasingly desperate messages on Facebook Messenger.

'Then I received a message from her account telling me that she was going to the mountains until Thursday. It was obvious from the tone and content that it was someone pretending to be her.'

Ms Haddad's fully-clothed body was discovered floating in the Lane Cove River on April 29, with Santoro flying back to his native Brazil on the same weekend her lifeless body was found

A friend and colleague of Ms Haddad's from Perth, Rita Maciel, earlier told the hearing Santoro had 'stalked' her friend.

Ms Maciel said Santoro (right) would follow and threaten Ms Haddad (left)

The 37-year-old was emotional when she spoke to the court in Portuguese over a video link from Perth.

'She was afraid to leave her home, she was afraid to go to work, but she was a strong person and dedicated so she did go to work. She was afraid to leave her house in her car. He made her life a psychological panic with his abuse,' Ms Maciel said.

Ms Maciel said Santoro would follow and threaten Ms Haddad.

When Ms Haddad went to Perth to visit her friend, Ms Maciel begged her to stay a week longer until Santoro was scheduled to leave.

'She couldn't wait for him to leave, she had a good heart and even tried to help him,' said Ms Maciel.

It has been alleged by Rio de Janeiro police that Santoro flew back to Brazil because he was of the belief that country's constitution would not allow citizens to be extradited, meaning he could not be prosecuted by authorities in New South Wales

According to Ms Maciel, Ms Haddad had been in her house saying she couldn't wait to be freed from Santoro - five days before she was found floating in a river.

She told the court Santoro was a 'monster' who didn't want Ms Haddad to be happy.

Police in Rio arrested Santoro at a relative's house in July, after he had apparently fled Australia. He is expected to appear in court to testify on December 17.

Judge Daniel Werneck Cotta will decide if Santoro will face a full trial. If he does, the result will be decided by a jury of seven. If convicted, he could face a sentence of 30 years.
Australian farmers have been forced to buy grain from overseas for the first time in a decade as local suppliers double their prices.

The Department of Agriculture has assessed five applications of bulk grain imports from the USA and Canada.

Agri-lender Rabobank said this year's wheat harvest would 'go down as one of the worst in Australia's history'.

Western Australia is expected to produce more than half of Australia's grain supply but have increased prices to meet production costs

Western Australia is expected to produce more than half of Australia's grain supply but prices have been increased to meet production costs.

Australian farmers last resorted to purchasing grain overseas during the 2006-07 drought.

GrainCorp, a company which manages the receival and storage of grain, has closed off silos in Queensland and New South Wales as farmers struggle to create more produce.

New South Wales farmers had only provided 1,000 tonnes of grain to GrainCorp this year but 330,000 tonnes were handed out just two years ago.

Exporters are expecting to ship half as much grain as last year after crop yields fell 23 per cent to just 30 million tonnes.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics spokesperson Dr Hatfield-Dodds said the 2018-19 winter crop production is forecast to be down 15 per cent from the 33.2 million tonnes expected in September.

New South Wales farmers had only provided 1,000 tonnes of grain to GrainCorp but 330,000 tonnes were given just two years ago in 2016

Farmers are pleading for strict import protocols due to the high risk overseas grain poses to biosecurity.

'Our concerns are really around the potential for weed seeds and fungal disease to be brought in on the grain,' Grain Producers Australia chairman Andrew Weidmann told ABC News.

NSW Farmers said imports grain should only be allowed as a final resort, given a 'demonstrated shortage of grain stocks in Australia'.
Philip Flower (pictured) has said that genuine hate crimes are abhorrent and have no place in civilised society

Genuine hate crimes are abhorrent and have no place in a civilised society.

But are hate crimes generally worse than burglary, arson, assault and rape?

Are the psychological injuries suffered by the victims of hate crime worse than the psychological and sometimes physical scars carried by those who have been physically or sexually assaulted, or had their homes ransacked and precious belongings stolen?

Certainly, where hate is an aggravating factor in serious crime it must be taken into account.

But how much investigative effort should our overstretched police forces be expected to invest in dealing with minor verbal or written abuse that someone perceives to be a hate crime?

Abuse

It is a debate that must be had, which is why I welcome the intervention by Sara Thornton, head of the National Police Chiefs Council.

As the Mail reports today, Ms Thornton is calling for a refocus on core policing, for officers to be allowed to prioritise todays crime such as burglary and violence rather than hate crimes such as misogyny, and historical sex abuse.

Its about time we heard a police chief speaking common sense because it has been a sorry few weeks for the reputation of the Thin Blue Line.

First, an influential committee of MPs warned that the failure of many forces to cope with everyday offences and to curb violent crime means that policing is at risk of becoming irrelevant to many people.

If that wasnt damning enough, a frontline officer then claimed victims of theft could soon be asked to carry out their own investigations.

At the same time forces are reported to be ignoring crimes such as cannabis possession and fuel theft, while the number of targeted stop and searches in London  where knife crime is soaring and there have been more than 100 murders this year  has fallen.

Philip Flower has welcomed the interventions of Sara Thornton (pictured) who is the chairman of the National Police Chief's Council

This national crisis in policing seems to have passed ministers by. How else can one explain the launch yesterday of a 1.5 million publicity campaign focusing on hate crime to reassure those vulnerable to it that it is taken seriously?

Meanwhile, my old force, the Met, loudly boasts that it has over 900 specialist hate crime investigators working across Londons dedicated hate crime Community Safety Units. How much safer that community would be if those 900 officers were returned to the beat.

Ill say it again. Genuine racial and religious abuse must be clamped down on; likewise abuse on account of someones sexuality or gender identity.

But the police are now having to contend with the ludicrous situation by which large numbers of individuals whove experienced what can only be classed as perceived slights wolf whistles, rude jokes, swearing  report their grievances to the police and, because it is policy, officers are compelled to follow them up.

In contrast, when it comes to burglary and assault, police can screen out incidences where the chances of identifying the perpetrator or securing a conviction are slim.

Philip Flower has said there needs to be a refocus on core policing

Police logged a record 94,098 hate crime offences in 2017, up 17 per cent in a year. At the same time, the Office of National Statistics last month reported overall violence rose by 19 per cent in the year to June 2018, while the murder rate increased by 14 per cent and robberies by 22 per cent.

Surely, it is the restoration of law and order to counteract these truly depressing figures for violence, murder and robbery that must be the Governments top priority.

Ultimately, this means more resources for the police. Cuts imposed on forces since 2010 have undermined the states capacity to tackle criminality, with a 20,000 fall in the number of officers.

According to the independent watchdog the National Audit Office, police funding fell in real terms by 19 per cent over the past eight years, compared with a 31 per cent increase between 2001 and 2010.

No wonder so many forces are struggling to cope with even the basics of crime fighting as Simon Kempton, a National Police Federation representative and a Sergeant in the Dorset constabulary, outlined so vividly this week.

At a conference in London, Sergeant Kempton suggested that instead of calling the police, victims of theft should scour websites such as eBay and Gumtree to try to find their belongings, because local police have neither the staff nor the technology to do detective work.

Police officer Simon Kempton outlined that many forces across the country are struggling to cope

As a police officer who served for 32 years, latterly as a Chief Superintendent with the Met, this makes me deeply uncomfortable. Urging the public to take the law into their own hands weakens the very foundation of policing. It encourages vigilantism and contempt for authority.

But I do understand Sergeant Kemptons despair. It illustrates the desperate position the police find themselves in, caused not only by underfunding but also by the ever-growing burden of red tape imposed on them, the posturing of politicians and police chiefs, lenient sentences and soft prison regimes.

Burden

Real improvements in police performance could be achieved without additional cash, if there was the will to deal with the destructive influences of intrusive officialdom, wasteful mismanagement and warped political correctness.

Philip Flower said when he was a young constable e would arrest and process a prisoner for theft in about an hour

Take excessive paperwork. When I was a young constable I could arrest and process a prisoner for theft in about an hour. Today the same case would take at least a day-and-a-half, so we have the ridiculous situation in which most police officers now spend more time doing paperwork than patrolling the streets.

In the same vein, computer databases, which should be a vital police tool, have been turned into yet another administrative burden.

When the Met introduced the Crime Report Information System in 1992 to store crime reports, I predicted it meant an effective loss of 1,000 officers a year in London alone because so much time would be lost inputting data.

Equally damaging to current policing is the fashionable approach to recruitment, with its emphasis on academic qualifications.

I am disturbed to see long-serving sergeants and constables replaced by fast-tracked, jargon-spouting inspectors and superintendents with neither experience of policing nor an appreciation of the true nature of the job.

Crimes

We are told this will enhance management skills at senior levels, but that is a deceit. While vital streetwise wisdom has declined, the increase in managerial effectiveness has been negligible.

Just as depressing is the growing politicisation of the police, where the focus has shifted from the protecting the public to propagating a politically correct agenda  such as the new campaign to publicise loosely defined hate crimes.

It is typical of the distorted priorities of our Government and the authorities with their desperate virtue signalling.

And in the rare cases where criminals are locked up, the state is reluctant to treat them accordingly.

This week we learned that Feltham Young Offenders Institution in West London is spending 36,000 on therapy igloos, where inmates will have a quiet space for sensitive conversations.

Proof if any more were needed that British law enforcement is in the grip of cowardice where the demands of criminals come before the needs of the law-abiding public.

We need real change. More Government funding would be a start, but to fix our broken policing system we need to facilitate our police officers to concentrate on what theyre best at  policing.
Photo: David Spiegel.

New York Media CRO and publisher Avi Zimak announced today that David Spiegel (@davidzspiegel) has joined the company as head of sales, working across the companys premium brands, which include New York Magazine, the recently launched thought-leader site Intelligencer, Vulture, the Cut, the Strategist, and Grub Street. Spiegel will lead advertising and event-sponsorship sales efforts, with an emphasis on strategic partnerships and 360-degree programs that take advantage of the full range of New York Medias offerings.

David joins us with a wealth of sales experience in both digital and legacy channels, says Zimak. As adept at creating market strategy as he is at developing sales talent, David is a great asset to our team.

Ive been a fan of New York Medias properties for years, says Spiegel, and Im excited to be an advocate for these iconic brands, with a fast-growing audience, industry accolades, and innovative new offerings.

Spiegel joins New York Media from Inverse, where he served as the start-ups chief revenue officer. Prior to that, he was the SVP of sales and brand strategy for Turners Great Big Story, helping to launch that brand and build its monetization strategy and team. Earlier, he was a founding member of BuzzFeeds sales team, and held leadership roles over his tenure there, including as vice-president of brand strategy and partnerships and the VP of branded video strategy. He received his bachelors degree from the University of Southern California and a masters degree from New York Universitys Stern School of Business. Originally from Dallas, he now resides on the Upper West Side with his wife and two children.
Putting down a hefty deposit and owning a property may seem like just a dream for many millennials.

Yet a few simple changes like getting a lender, budgeting and giving up takeaway lunches could help you achieve your home ownership goals in the next 12 months.

Today, we reveal inside tips from senior brokers and property experts - and even first home owners themselves - to help you get a foot on the property ladder.

Jennifer Crosbie, senior broker

Jennifer Crosbie a senior broker at Aussie Home Loans says first home buyers need to take their savings goals seriously.

Ms Crosbie told the Telegraph that home buyers can start by making a solid savings plan so they can pay their deposit.

Jennifer Crosbie a senior broker at Aussie Home Loans has shared her tips to securing a property for first home buyers. Ms Crosbie recommends first writing down all weekly expenses and then making a solid savings plan

What is the new first home owner grant? The grant refers to tax exemptions for first home buyers From July 1, 2017 first home buyers were eligible for new measures to help them enter the property market Abolish stamp duty on all homes up to $650,000  Saving up to $24,740 on a $650,000 home

Give stamp duty relief for homes up to $800,000

Provide a $10,000 grant for builders of new homes up to $750,000 and buyers of new homes up to $600,000 Source: NSW Government Advertisement

Ms Crosbie recommends sitting down and writing all weekly expenses to see where all the money is being allocated.

'Set a budget to save for the deposit you require and look at your living expenses and work out what you can do without to achieve your goal,' she said.

She she also said potential buyers could reduce unnecessary spending by not buying lunch and coffees out and shopping around for competitive rates to reduce water and electricity bills.

Ms Crosbie said picking the right lender will help get your home loan approved.

She also warned that homeowners should to be wary about applying for a home loan too many times because it can affect their credit rating.

Ms Crosbie said: 'Some people dont realise that if they apply for a home loan too many times with different lenders, this can affect their credit rating.'

She also suggests investing in an independent broker who can help give personalised advice, like saving more for a deposit and paying off debt, to boost your chances of getting a home loan approved.

Ms Crosbie said choosing the right lender is most important and refers to choosing a bank which best works for your home savings goals

For first homeowners, the senior broker also recommends reading up and getting access to the first home owner grants.

The grants refers to stamp duty exemptions for first-time home owners which came enforce from last July.

Anthony Dart, 23, property owner

23-year-old Anthony Dart first got on the property market a few years ago and hasn't looked back.

Mr Dart now owns multiple properties in Queensland and just recently sold an investment property making a gross profit of $101,000 after picking a prime location and only mowing the lawn twice.

He now reveals the three tips he'd offer to young people wanting to jump in the property market.

23-year-old Anthony Dart (pictured) first got on the property market a few years ago and hasn't looked back. Mr Dart now owns multiple properties in Queensland and just recently sold an investment property making a gross profit of $101,000

Mr Dart said he bought the last block of available land (pictured) in Tallebudgera, in Queensland because of it's location and investment potential

Mr Dart told Daily Mail Australia that young people need to remember that land appreciates in value.

He said: 'A lot of young people try and build small blocks with homes to live in but the lesson here for me was that land appreciates in value.'

Mr Dart also recommends having local knowledge by doing your research and speaking to experts.

Mr Dart recently sold an investment property making a gross profit of $101,000

Mr Dart said: 'This was the last block (pictured) of available land in the suburb with views and it had a new road opening within the 12 month period to make this even more accessible for families'

A third tip was to buy in areas of potential demand. Before Mr Dart bought his last investment property in he researched the future infrastructure projects in the Queensland suburb of Tallebudgera to scope it's potential.

Mr Dart said: 'This was the last block of available land in the suburb with views and it had a new road opening within the 12 month period to make this even more accessible for families.'

Kylie Smith*, 24, first home owner

Daily Mail Australia previously spoke to Kylie Smith* - a government policy officer based in Canberra.

The 24-year-old impressively bought her flat in the nation's capital in 2016 when she was 22 after renting for her first 18 months in the city.

The police officer said she was determined to save as much as she could in her first year in Canberra since starting her new job in early 2016.

Twice as many female first-home buyers as males (22 per cent versus 11 per cent) said they were considering buying an investment property in the next five years, according to the latest Westpac Home Ownership report

'I started thinking about it when I got my first full-time job and my plan was seeing how much I could save in the first year with the intention of buying sometime in the second year,' she said.

She cut the costs of transport altogether when she was saving up for her property. 'I don't think I caught a bus for my first year in Canberra - or maybe once,' she said.

'When I was renting, I made sure that my place was walking distance to work and the city which saved more than you would think - $4 a trip so close to $50 a week.'

The first home buyer said she was a vegetarian which helped reduce her grocery spending. She also limited unnecessary costs like getting coffee out and finding the best phone plan deals. 'It's all the little things that add up,' she said.

While paying for the house deposit was the most difficult part, she says paying off the mortgage is 'like paying rent.' (stock image)

And she set up a high interest savings account  in which she deposited a small amount of money each month. She recommended 'figuring out how to make money on the money your saving such as a high interest account, term deposit or whatever works for you.'

While paying for the house deposit was the most difficult part, she says paying off the mortgage is 'like paying rent.'

She also made sure to buy a place with two bedrooms so she had the option to rent out the second room. Her boyfriend now rents out the second room in her apartment.

Felicity Duffy, financial services expert

Head of women's markets Felicity Duffy recommends gives her tips on how first home buyers can work to owning a property

Earlier this year Felicity Duffy, the head of women's markets at Westpac, shared her top tips on how aspiring first home buyers, particularly women, can work to buying their own property.

Ms Duffy told Daily Mail Australia the first step is 'taking control' of your own money which includes knowing your spending habits and weekly expenses.

She said next setting a budget and making realistic savings goals is the next step.

Ms Duffy recommends first making a budget spreadsheet to monitor your income minus your everyday expenses. She said this will be an indicator of how much you'll be able to commit to repayments.

She said even if buying a property isn't in the immediate future, starting to set money aside on a regular basis to help alleviate the stress of making a first house deposit will pay off in the long run.
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A daredevil husband and wife perched precariously on the edge of a rock face almost 5,000ft above a busy road.

Brave Mustafa Tor and his wife Berrin relaxed while overlooking the terrifying drop, after 'carefully inching' to the ledge and sitting down.

Mr Tor and his wife took the stomach-turning pictures of each other while visiting the Gulek Keep near Mersin, southern Turkey.

The 62-year-old admitted it was 'really scary' with his legs overhanging the rock face, but said it was worth it for the incredible view of the sunset he got.

Mr Tor, of Adana, also in Turkey, is seen in a blue coat, perched on the ledge before removing the coat and sitting in just his grey shirt and jeans.

Perilous: Berrin Tor sat on the rock as she was pictured leaning back against the sheer cliff, looking down on the busy traffic below

Precarious: Mustafa Tor sat on the edge of Gulek Keep in southern Turkey with his legs dangling over the edge of the well-known beauty spot

On the edge: Many locals and tourists visit Gulek Keep to check out the panoramic views around southern Turkey with many getting very close to the edge

His daredevil wife, 57, is seen leaning back against the cliff in a red jacket and cream trousers as she looks down on the traffic below.

Retired railway worker Mr Tor said: 'The Keep is a well-known place, but the trend of taking photos right at the edge has only really become popular in recent years.

'To reach the top you have to drive along a four mile dirt road to the Keep's gate and then take a ten minute walk.

'When we got there, we carefully inched to the edge of the rock. Once you're on the edge the nervousness goes away, but it really is scary to approach the edge.

'The fear of intensifies as you start to question what if the rock breaks or what if there's a strong wind.

'But once you are taking in the sights, any other thoughts disappear from your mind. You can see all around you and the sunset is especially beautiful.'

Gulek Keep is a well-known sot in the area for locals and tourists to view the panoramic views and get a breath-taking selfie.

Dangerous views: Sightseers venture out to the edge of Gulek Keep to peer over the edge of the cliff face which has a 5,000ft drop

Daredevils: Some intrepid visitors climb down right to the edge of the cliff and look down at the huge drop with many trying to take a dangerous selfie

Drone footage shows the height of the precarious ledge and the distance from the ground as visitors check out the sheer drop.

Some sightseers were captured in one video posted on YouTube standing close to the edge and peering over the 5,000ft cliff edge.

Travel bloggers Vishnu Viswanath and Meenakshi Moorthy fell to their deaths at Yosemite National Park in Californias Sierra Nevada mountains on Sunday night.

The couple were pictured perilously close to the edge of the 800ft drop at Taft Point where there are no guards or rails to protect visitors.

Jishnu Viswanath said his brother, Vishnu, and wife Moorthy had set up their tripod near the ledge when they plummeted to their deaths.

Meenakshi Moorthy, 29, blogged about depression and spoke about mental health on social media before her death.
An ex-con claims federal officials wanted to 'get rid of' notorious Boston mob boss James Whitey Bulger and transferred him to a violent prison on purpose just 24 hours before he was found beaten to death.

Bulger was found dead on Tuesday after being transferred a day earlier in a wheelchair to the high-security Hazelton penitentiary in West Virginia.

The 89-year-old, who was a longtime FBI informant, had been savagely beaten and had his tongue cut out when he was found.

Many questions remain unanswered in relation to his death, including why Bulger was moved to the prison and why he was placed in the general population.

James 'Whitey' Bulger was found dead on Tuesday after being transferred a day earlier to the high-security Hazelton penitentiary in West Virginia. He is pictured above in 2011

Ex-con Richard Stratton, who is now a TV producer, told the New York Post it was hard to believe that Bulger would not have been placed in protective custody given he was a known snitch.

'He's going to be exposed in a way where he can easily be killed, and then one day later he's murdered,' Stratton said.

'It's not like Whitey's going to stop f**king scamming because he's in prison.

'It's so obvious that they wanted to get rid of him, that he was a pain in the a** to them.'

Stratton, who was jailed for eight years for drug smuggling, once had a contract put out on him but he went to Bulger for help and he squashed it.

Cameron Lindsay, a former federal prison warden who now works as a jail security consultant, also expressed concern about placing Bulger in the general population.

Ex-con Richard Stratton (right), who is now a TV producer, said it was hard to believe that Bulger (left) would not have been placed in protective custody given he was a known snitch

Bulger had just arrived Monday at USP Hazelton, a high-security prison in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia before he was killed

'What I don't understand is why the Federal Bureau of Prisons would transfer a super high-publicity inmate, who is a known snitch, to general population of a high-security prison,' he said.

'You've got to be smarter than that.

Fotios 'Freddy' Geas, a Mafia hitman who is said to hate 'rats', is under investigation for Bulger's murder

'If I was the warden of Hazelton, I would have never, ever allowed him to be put within my general population. It is just too risky.'

Bulger had lived a double life as one of Boston's most notorious mobsters and as a secret FBI informant before going on the run for 16 years.

He was convicted in August 2013 of 11 murders, among other charges, and sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus five years.

Bulger had just arrived Monday at USP Hazelton, a high-security prison in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. He had previously been in a prison in Florida, with a stopover at a transfer facility in Oklahoma City.

Federal Bureau of Prisons officials and his attorney declined to comment on why he was being moved.

Fotios 'Freddy' Geas, a Mafia hitman who is said to hate 'rats', is under investigation for Bulger's murder.

These 1980s FBI handout file photos show Massachusetts mobster James 'Whitey' Bulger

A police evidence photo shows a car riddled with bullet holes in connection with one of the 19 murders Bulger was charged with. He was convicted of 11 murders

Geas and at least one other inmate are believed to have been involved.

Two men were seen on surveillance footage entering Bulger's cell, according to a prison employee. Bulger's body was later discovered wrapped in a sheet and had been beaten so badly that blood had come out of his ears.

Attorney Hank Brennan, who represented Bulger during his 2013 trial, said Bulger had a hip injury and was in a wheelchair when he was attacked.

Authorities have not disclosed the cause of death.

An FBI spokeswoman in Pittsburgh declined to comment on Geas and federal officials said only that they are investigating the death as a homicide.

Geas and his brother were sentenced to life in prison in 2011 for their roles in several violent crimes, including the 2003 killing of Adolfo 'Big Al' Bruno, a Genovese crime family boss who was gunned down in a Springfield, Massachusetts, parking lot.

Private investigator Ted McDonough, who knew Geas, told The Boston Globe: 'Freddy hated rats.'

'Freddy hated guys who abused women. Whitey was a rat who killed women. It's probably that simple,' McDonough told the newspaper, which first reported that Geas was under suspicion.

Bulger's death was the third killing in the past six months at the prison with two inmates being killed in fights with other prisoners in September and April.
A cafe turned back time for its 70th birthday celebration, offering punters dishes from its postwar menu at postwar prices.

There was only one catch, customers had to pay with postwar money.

Mack's Snacks, in Warrnambool, brought back their artery-busting 1948 menu on Wednesday, which included 'bacon and steak' and 'bacon and spaghetti'.

Owner Diane Coates said: 'There are mixed grills, bacon and eggs, there's sausages...lots of old-fashioned food. It's a lot of meat and a lot of eggs.'

A beautifully quaint cafe in Warrnambool turned back time for its 70th anniversary celebration on Wednesday

'Steak and Bacon' and 'Bacon and Spaghetti' were just some of the period-style dishes on offer at the cafe

Mack's Snacks served up a post-war 1948 style menu to happy customers

But before customers could tuck in they had to make sure they had the right tender.

Ms Coates insisted all food be paid for in old-fashioned currency, which included shillings and pence.

The cafe-goers had to ensure they came with the appropriate change - in this case, shillings and pence

The shilling was part of the currency of the former British Empire and used in Commonwealth countries including Australia.

Twenty shillings made up one Australian pound.

They began to be replaced by 10-cent coins from 1966 and are now out of general circulation.

Mack's Snack's first opened in 1948 and the current owners have kept it much the same as back then.

The decor and menu remain very traditional and there is not a smashed avo in sight.

Mss Coates told ABC News: 'I think people come here because we do homestyle foods rather than trendy foods.

'We have traditional vegetable soup, which we still make from the 1948 recipe.'
At least three universities are on the brink of going bust with growing numbers dependent on short-term loans just to survive, experts warned last night.

They said falling numbers of 18-year-olds, increased competition for students and tighter immigration controls on foreign students are pushing universities closer to collapse.

Several institutions are being forced to rely on bridging loans to stay afloat.

Three UK universities are on the brink of collapse according to experts as student numbers decline (file photo)

Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute think-tank, said: A university going bust is more likely than at any other point in the last generation.

What is of concern is those universities that are resorting to taking out bridging loans to tide them over until their student fees come in. They are borrowing just to survive.

It is understood that a university in the North West and two on the South Coast are under significant financial strain.

One is believed to be in talks with insolvency lawyers, the i newspaper reported.

Falling numbers of 18-year-olds, increased competition for students and tighter immigration controls on foreign students are also factors (file photo)

The removal of the cap on the number of students universities can accept has led to frenzied competition for recruits.

The trebling of tuition fees, which has discouraged some youngsters from going to university, has also played a major part.

Matt Robb, an education specialist for management consultancy EY Parthenon, said conditions had become much more difficult for universities.

I would say there are about three or four universities where it is possible [they could go bankrupt], he said.

They are universities that are in places that are not attractive for students to study, or they are smaller universities that are close to more popular institutions.

Mr Robb warned that a number of universities in London were also at risk, because they have recently seen a dramatic drop in student numbers.

He said: Some of them may never have been financially viable in the first place, in which case if they are about to go bust, then if there is no compelling public interest let them go bust.

He said universities under financial strain should look to sell off land and properties to try to avoid insolvency.

Matt Waddup, head of policy and campaigns at the University and College Union, which represents teaching staff, warned that a university going under would be devastating for the local area.

Along with schools and colleges, universities are the beating heart of their local communities and it is difficult to overstate just how important the spending power of staff and students is for local economies, he said.
Nine in ten people have changed the way they use plastic in response to campaigns such as the Daily Mails Turn the Tide on Plastic and nature series Blue Planet II.

Images such as an albatross feeding plastic to its young, together with growing frustration at the waste caused by unnecessary plastic packaging, have triggered a remarkable change in shopping habits, Waitrose has revealed.

The supermarket, which stopped selling plastic drinking straws in September, said a new era of environmentalism has taken hold. It added: More than 60 per cent of people use reusable water bottles more often than they did in 2017  and this figure rises to over 70 per cent among those aged 18 to 24.

This stellate puffer fish was captured eating plastic in the ocean

This dolphin's fin had been caught in a plastic bag while it was trying to swim

In the Atlantic Ocean this sperm whale was caught playing with plastic waste

Its 2018-19 Food and Drink Report also showed that sales of its own-brand reusable water bottles are up by 24 per cent year on year, while 60 per cent more regularly hand over a reusable cup when buying a takeaway coffee.

Natalie Mitchell of Waitrose said: Weve seen a big shift in consumer behaviour  now [customers] get actively involved.

Waitrose stopped selling plastic drinking stores in September and said a 'new era of environmentalism has take hold'
President Donald Trump railed against the 'far-left media' for playing up what he described as a 'small' protest during he and first lady Melania Trump's visit to Pittsburgh to mourn the victims of a deadly-assault on a synagogue.

Trump addressed the shooting in his opening remarks at a rally in Estero, Florida, on Wednesday evening after '11 Americans were brutally murdered in an evil anti-Semitic attack' in Pennsylvania over the weekend.

'We reaffirm our unbreakable solidarity with the Jewish people,' he said, pledging to remove the 'vile poison' of anti-Semitism from American society.

But then, ripping into the 'far-left media' as his audience chanted 'CNN sucks' and booed at the event's press section, a stone-faced Trump griped that the media had zeroed in on a 'small group of protesters, far away from where we were' during his trip the day before to the synagogue.

'They did everything in their power to try to play it up and push people apart,' he claimed. 'That's what's happening. They are pushing people apart.

He added: 'It was fake and it was make believe what they said.'

President Donald Trump railed against the 'far-left media' for playing up what he described as a 'small' protest during he and first lady Melania Trump's visit to Pittsburgh to mourn the victims of a deadly-assault on a synagogue

An estimated 4000 people gathered to march for solidarity in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood while Trump was visiting on Tuesday

He accused journalists of spreading 'lies' about him as he referred to press as the 'the far-left media' for a second time in a matter of minutes.

'And when we talk about division, this is a big part,' he said to booing. 'The far left media has spread terrible lie and stories about the Trump administration and the tens of millions of people who make up our great movement, the biggest political movement in the history of our country.'

An audience member shouted loudly for media to, 'Tell the truth.'

'But the media doesn't want you to hear your story - it's not my story, it's your story,' Trump said a couple minutes later. 'The fake news is in fact, and I hate to say this, in fact the enemy of the people,' he said to deafening cheers.

He said, 'They don't want to solve problems they want to sow resentment, and it has to stop.

Whether the oppose 'progress' or something else, he claimed, 'For whatever reason it is, they're playing their game.'

An estimated 4,000 protesters were in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, where the synagogue is located, to confront the president during his Tuesday visit. He may not have been able to seem them behind security barriers, but professional photos depicting protests were massive.

Twice the president complained at his rally and on Twitter that the protest surrounding his stop was 'small' and 'far away' while blaming the 'fake news' for the way his visit to the Tree of Life synagogue and to the UPMC Presbyterian hospital, where the wounded are recovering, was panned by the media.

'Melania and I were treated very nicely yesterday in Pittsburgh. The Office of the President was shown great respect on a very sad & solemn day. We were treated so warmly. Small protest was not seen by us, staged far away. The Fake News stories were just the opposite-Disgraceful!' he wrote.

Video footage emerged of the Trump family visit to a Pittsburgh hospital that is believed to have been taken by staff in which they were greeted warmly

Later in the day video footage surfaced of the first family visiting UPMC Presbyterian hospital with staff telling first daughter Ivanka Trump, 'We love you.'

The press was banned from covering the president's conversations wtih recovering first responders and the video appears to have been taken by hospital staff who called out to the Trumps as they walked by.

'There they come,' a person said as President Trump, Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner walked down a hospital hallway.

'Thank you,' the staff called out. The first family backed up and came over to thank the staff for their work.

'Thank you for coming,' a person told Trump as he approached the group. 'Thank you. Great job,' the president said as he shook hands.

Melania Trump also said, 'Thank you.' Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump stood back while the first couple expressed their gratitude.

When the party was departing, one person called out, 'We love you, Ivanka.'

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump placed stones and white flowers Tuesday on memorials to 11 members of the Tree of Life Synagogue who a Pittsburgh gunman mowed down on Saturday; Rabbi Jeffrey Myers accompanied them

President Trump complained about the media coverage of the Trumps' visit to Pittsburgh

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump were with the president  her father  on Air Force One. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders highlighted the couple's Orthodox Jewish faith on Monday

President Trump stopped, pointed to his daughter, and said: 'Nobody ever heard of her.' Bystanders laughed at his response.

'Great choice,' Kushner, giving them a thumbs up and putting his arm around his wife. 'Thank you all very much,' Ivanka Trump added.

Protests were gathered not at the hospital but in the Pittsburgh neighborhood where the synagogue is, which the Trumps also visited, a fact noted in the news coverage from the day and by TV correspondents delivering reports from the scene of the crime.

Images of the first couple meeting with Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who was leading the Saturday service where the shooting took place, were interspersed with scenes of protesters marching, singing and waving signs.

The president's complaints about the coverage came as he was hit for visiting the Steel City as the first funerals for the victims we taking place.

Congressional leaders declined to join the first couple in paying their respects.

The Trumps were joined by Israel's ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer, the first daughter and her husband. Jared and Ivanka are Orthodox Jews and serve as presidential advisers.

Protesters had gathered in the Squirrel City neighborhood as the Trumps' visited and shouting could be heard as the first family paid homage to the 11 people slain in the most deadly episode of anti-Semitic violence in American history.

The Trumps and Dermer went with Rabbi Myers into the vestibule of the synagogue to light candles in the martyrs' memory when they arrived. They laid stones and white flowers at each of the 11 memorial sites outside.

Myers said earlier in the day that the interior of the synagogue, still an active crime scene, was too bullet-riddled to be used for worship.

The emotional, dissonant scene reflected the increasingly divided nation that Trump leads, one gripped by a week of political violence and hate and hurtling toward contentious midterm elections that could alter the path of a presidency.

A crowd estimated at 2,000 people gathered to counter the president's presence. With police trying to clear them from city streets, they marched behind a banner urging the president to 'fully renounce white nationalism' and sang hymns.

The larger of two protest marches was organized by a group called IfNotNow Pittsburgh, along with a coalition that included local branches of Democratic Socialists of America and the International Socialist Organization, according to The Forward.

'We certainly don't want Trump to feel welcome,' IfNotNow activist Ella Mason told the paper.

As the presidential motorcade snaked eastward through the city, a few Pittsburghers offered 'the thumbs down, or a middle finger up.' One man shouted: 'We didn't invite you here!' Another held a sign that read 'Trump  Nazis.'

President Trump brought Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer (2nd right) for the afternoon; they went with Tree of Life Synagogue Rabbi Jeffrey Myers into the vestibule of the temple and then laid stones at the 11 memorial sites outside

Pointing the finger: Protesters linking Donald Trump's rhetoric to the massacre carried out on Saturday at the Tree of Life synagogue gathered in Pittsburgh

Senate and House members from both sides of the political aisle declined to join the president and first lady, while the mayor questioned the timing of the first couple's visit honoring the 11 victims of Saturday's mass-shooting.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi all declined invitations to join the Trumps on Tuesday.

Mayor Bill Peduto told CNN Monday evening that he tried to tell the White House the city's first priority on Tuesday will be the funerals  not the first couple's visit.

'I do believe that it would be best to put the attention on the families this week and if he were to visit choose a different time to be able to do it,' Peduto said. 'Our focus as a city will be on the families and the outreach they will need this week and the support they'll need to get through it.'

Peduto said 'all attention' on Tuesday 'should be on the victims.'

White House senior advisers Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump spoke with Rabbi Myers (left) as the president and first lady paid their respects outside the synagogue

Message: Huge numbers of protesters gathered close to the Tree of Life synagogue to demonstrate against the president's presence and actions

He also pointed to the logistical problems brought on by a presidential visit, which requires heavy security.

'We do not have enough public safety officials to provide enough protection at the funerals and to be able at the same time draw attention to a potential presidential visit,' Peduto said Monday.

But the president began a heavy campaign schedule on Wednesday  11 rallies in six days in the lead-up to next Tuesday's election - and his advisers didn't want to mix a national tragedy with politics.

Funerals will continue to take place through Friday.
A teacher from Michigan ended up taking the two daughters of a father who died this summer to the school's daddy-daughter dance.

Steve Culbert is a fourth grade teacher at Gates Elementary in Davidson, Michigan.

When the father-of-four he learned that two of his former students, Avery Reece and then her younger sister, Alivia, had lost their own dad just weeks before the event, he decided to take them to the dance himself.

'I tell all of my students right from the get go, right from day-one when you start building a relationship with them, that they're like family,' Culbert told CBS News. 'I get to know my students, I get to know their families.'

Steve Culbert is a fourth grade teacher at Gates Elementary in Davidson, Michigan took two of his former students to a daddy-daughter dance just weeks after their father passed away

Avery and Alivia lost their father Luke from medical complications in August

Culbert took the girls out for a bite to eat before the big event. All four girls seemed happy

Culbert said that he got to know the Reece family when their father, Luke, became ill in September.

His medical condition lead to multiple blood clots and at the end of August, a blood clot caused a cardiac arrest and Luke was hospitalized.

'I got to know him,' Culbert said of the father. 'I asked Shelley, his wife, if I could visit him in the hospital.'

Culbert went to see the family at the hospital and brought gifts from other teachers at the school. 'It was just really unsettling seeing him laying there.'

He then took them all to the hair dressing salon for them to get made up like princesses

Like any good dad, he ensured all the girls had corsages on their ballgowns

Culbert and the four girls went out to Tim Hortons for milkshakes and ice cream beforehand

Teacher Steve Culbert wanted to make sure the girls along with his own two daughters were able to attend

'When I got home that night, they had just announced the date to the daddy-daughter dance a few weeks later. At the time I thought Luke won't be coming home in time,' Culbert said. So he thought of a plan to give Avery and Alivia the daddy-daughter dance they deserved.

Culbert said both families wanted the girls to experience the daddy-daughter dance and hoped it would bring them some joy during the difficult time they were going through.

Culbert spoke with his own daughters first about the possibility of inviting the Reece girls to go with them.

First grade Aliyah and Hailey who is in third grade thought the plan was a good one and hand-delivered invitations to the both of them.

The very same day, Luke was taken off life support. He died two weeks before the dance.

Culbert booked a stretch limo for the girls to arrive in style. Members of the community also helped to contribute pay for the treat

The girls were very excited at being able to travel in style. They had their hair done beforehand

'As a kid, when I was in school, I lost a brother to cancer ... I'm not trying to say I know how these girls feel or how any other students feel when they go through something like that, but I just don't want any of my students to feel like they're alone. That's what drives me, that's what motivates me,' Culbert said.

Culbert went all-out to make it extra special.

He booked a stretched limo for the girls. A hairdresser donated her time and did the Reece girls' hair and nails.

One parent at the school even donated cash to help buy the Reece girls dresses for the dance.

At the end of the night Culbert had nearly $500 more than he needed, which he gave which he gave to Shelley Reece, the girls' mom.

Culbert treated the girls as if they were his own. On the morning of the dance, he took the girls to their favorite breakfast spot, Tim Hortons, before heading out to get their hair and nails done.

When Culbert and his daughters arrived to pick up Alivia and Avery in stretch, the girls were in shock.

'Avery, the eldest of the sister's jaw fell wide open. 'That's what we're taking?' Her excitement was so cool,' Culbert said.

Before walking into the school dance, they released some balloons with their father's name on. #BeLikeLuke it read. Their father's organs helped save 65 people in some way or other

Culbers own two girls have grown even closer to Avery and Alivia

Just before stepping out of the limo, Culbert told the girls that their father was with them. 'I wanted to let them know their dad is here with them today. And I'm not trying to be their dad, I'm just trying to be here with them,' he said.

As they got out, they released four heart-shaped balloons into the night sky which had #BeLikeLuke written on them.

Culbert wanted to honor Luke Reece on that special day.

Luke Reece was an organ donor and helped up to 65 people after his death.

'Somebody already has his eyes. They can see because of him,' Culbert said. 'If anyone is inspired by this story, I want them to be inspired by him.'

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help start a college fund account for both Avery and Alivia.
When hungry pizza-lovers have ordered their meal, the priority when it arrives is probably to tuck in without delay.

However, if they took a few moments to survey the offering from a restaurant or takeaway, then they may find they have been short-changed on the toppings.

For those who pick pepperoni, the number of meat pieces they receive is something of a lottery, a survey reveals.

A new survey has revealed for those who pick pepperoni as a topping, the number of meat pieces they receive is something of a lottery

This is despite most chains having a formula for the key ingredients topping their pizzas, including a specific quantity of slices of pepperoni.

For example, Prezzo promises 25 pieces. But sample purchases of its Vesuvio from three outlets found none matched this, with the actual number ranging from just 13  half that advertised  to 20.

The figure advertised by Pizza Hut Delivery was 48 slices, but in reality the number on its large Pepperoni Feast ranged from 31 to 51.

Staff at branches of ASK Italian and Papa Johns could not agree on how many slices should be on their pizzas.

When the toppings were counted, totals for ASK Italians Prima Stromboli ranged from 33 to 47.

Meanwhile for the large Papas Double Pepperoni from Papa Johns, it was 40 to 56.

Dominos appeared the most consistent based on a promise of 40 slices. Its outlets delivered large Pepperoni Passions with 39, 40 and 41 slices.

Pizza Express says there are 30 pieces on its American with a Romana base, and two outlets were generous with 36  but a third offered only 26.

Prezzo said: All our pizzas are made to order so occasionally we might miscalculate which would be in no way deliberate.

Pizza Hut Delivery said: We are very disappointed our service wasnt up to scratch in this case and will make every effort to ensure a similar situation doesnt happen again.

The figures come from a survey by Leeds Beckett University commissioned by Channel 5 show Shop Smart Save Money, on tonight at 8pm.
The head of the armed forces has admitted he is worried young people will not support the military in the future.

General Sir Nick Carter, 59, has questioned whether young people in Britain appreciate the importance of the military and understand 'the notion of service'.

Speaking at an annual defence industry dinner in support of Ssafa, Britain's oldest armed forces charity, he suggested that a generational divide meant that young people take the principle of service for granted.

General Sir Nick Carter, 59, has questioned whether young people in Britain will support the military in the future

According to the Times, he said: 'I think my generation understand the notion of service all too well, naturally recognising that freedom, without the commitment to service, without charity, duty, or pride in one's country, is unworthy of our British values and unworthy of those who have died in their defence.'

He compared his generation to the younger one and admitted that he wonders whether they will still offer the same level of support to the army as they are 'less likely to have been exposed to military service.'

He added that young people have grown up in an 'increasingly complex world' and face many distractions, meaning that their attention spans are fleeting and they may be less open to the military.

The general did, however, pay tribute to the record levels of support and financial assistance the public have show to the army in recent years.

The general said the current young generation doesn't understand the notion of service like his generation did (file photo)

General Carter became chief of the defence staff in June and this marks the second time he has questioned the committment of Britain's youth to the military.

Last year, he slammed the young generations and accused them of prioritising instant gratification and selfishness rather than thinking about how they could contribute to the country.

Young people weren't the only group addressed by the general who also had words for politicians.

He said that policy-makers must do more to improve the image of soldiers and ensure that service personnel were not merely seen as victims by society.

He also warned that any decision to take Britain to war must be well-thought out with the consequences considered carefully.

General Carter (pictured) also called on politicians and policy-makers to do more so armed forces personnel are not seen as victims by society

He said: 'When they do take us to war, they have a responsibility to make sure the country believes in the cause we are fighting for and understands the context.'

This played in to his warning about the image of service personnel in society and he added: 'Soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen and airwomen do not want to be regarded as victims and they certainly do not want to be pitied.'

He also spoke about the importance of broadening the outlook of the military and ensuring that it is reflective of Britain's multicultural society.

The general has places an emphasis on making the armed forces more inclusive to make sure that more people are aware of the military's importance.

He added that this means the armed forces must reach out to a 'much broader range of cultures and ethnicities'.
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Auburn University aquatic ecologist Alan Wilson and a team of biological, molecular and environmental scientists from three other U.S. institutions are taking on toxic cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae or pond scum, in a five-year, $2 million National Science Foundation project.

In recent years, harmful outbreaks of noxious cyanobacteria have reached extreme levels in freshwater lakes, ponds and reservoirs worldwide. In addition to depriving freshwater aquatic plants and animals of sunlight and oxygen, toxic cyanobacterial blooms pose substantial health risks to people, livestock, pets and wildlife.

Potable water is necessary for life, and algal blooms poison drinking water, said Wilson, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences associate professor. In this work, we will explore interactions between cyanobacteria and other, co-occurring species of bacteria.

Our theory is that complex bacterial communities have a mutually beneficial relationship with cyanobacteria and may actually support the growth, persistence and control of toxic freshwater cyanobacterial blooms.

Joining Wilson in the collaborative investigation are Dave Hambright and Lee Krumholz, University of Oklahoma; Hans Paerl, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and Morgan Steffen, James Madison University. Researchers from Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel and New Zealand also will be involved in a global survey of cyanobacterial blooms throughout the phases of the bloom.

For his role in the project, Wilson will run field experiments across Alabama to determine the importance of bacteria and cyanobacteria associated with toxic algal blooms.

The investigations goal, Wilson said, is to discover new waysbased on community, evolutionary and microbial ecologyto predict and mitigate harmful cyanobacterial blooms that threaten humans, animals and plants.

This collaboration is one of 10 newly funded projects supported through the National Science Foundations Dimensions of Biodiversity program.
A split between Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell has been exposed, after the Labour leader slammed tax cuts for 32 million Britons in the budget, just a day after the shadow chancellor talked up the plans.

The tax split between the two has been been laid bare after Jeremy Corbyn vowed vowed to 'claw back' tax cut money from top earners at prime minister's questions on Wednesday.

The Labour leader's spokesman said the 5 per cent of workers with highest incomes - those on 80,000 and above - would be stripped of any benefits from the income tax threshold changes.

The declaration came amid a day of chaos in Labour's ranks as Mr Corbyn insisted the party would not vote for the Budget tax cuts just a day after shadow chancellor John McDonnell insisted it would.

John McDonnell (pictured left) and Jeremy Corbyn (pictured right) listening to Philip Hammond present his budget on Monday in Parliament

The confusion was prompted by Philip Hammond's giveaway to 32 million workers - by raising the personal allowance to 12,500 and the higher rate threshold to 50,000 - which has torn Labour in two.

A Labour source said the approaches Mr Corbyn and Mr McDonnell make are sometimes at odds.

A source told The Times: 'It's definitely true that John McDonnell is desperate not to create the impression of being seen to clobber middle earners on tax, whereas Jeremy is less concerned.

'Jeremy does not want to offend the left.'

The 9billion package of income tax cuts was unveiled by the Chancellor on Monday.

At PMQs this afternoon, Mr Corbyn asked Mrs May (pictured) why the government had chosen 'not to end the benefit freeze for 10million households

Speaking after PMQs, Mr Corbyn's spokesman was asked directly if he will reverse the Budget measures.

He said: 'We will claw back in the sense that we will raise taxation to that 5 per cent group, and exactly how that is done, we spelled out how we would do it in the last election about obviously deepening on when the next election is held that will need to be assessed at the time.

'But obviously in relation to any benefit they get form this measure, that will be clawed back and more by the measures we have set out already and however we develop them.'

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) tore into Theresa May over the handouts for higher-rate taxpayers in a stormy PMQs session

He added: 'We have said, in terms of income tax, that the income tax increases will only affect the top 5 per cent.'

Labour is set to abstain when the plan is voted on in the Commons today as it cannot vote against moving the higher rate threshold without also voting down tax cuts for the low paid.

Basic-rate taxpayers will gain 130 a year from next April as the personal allowance rises to 12,500, while an increase in the higher rate to 50,000 will put hundreds of pounds more in the pockets of the better off.

The morning after the Budget, Mr McDonnell said: 'We will support the tax cuts at the moment on the basis that it will inject some demand into the economy.'

He added: 'We're not going to take funding away from people. Some are middle earners  headteachers and people like that who've had a rough time.'

But at PMQs yesterday, Mr Corbyn asked Mrs May why the government had chosen 'not to end the benefit freeze for 10million households but instead field a tax cut for higher earners'.

Mrs May shot back: 'On Monday he said that cutting taxes for 32m people was 'frittering money away on ideological tax cuts'.

'Yesterday, his shadow chancellor said what we've always known, that the tax cuts were for 'middle earners, head teachers and people like that'.

Mr Hammond (pictured on a visit to Gainsborough yesterday) announced that he was bringing forward a Tory pledge to raise the thresholds for both basic-rate and 40p rate taxpayers to next year

'So when he stands up, perhaps he can tell the House whether he will back the tax cuts and vote for the Budget?'

Mr Corbyn's official spokesman said after PMQs: 'Our commitment is that there will only be income tax increases on the top 5 per cent of earners.'

Asked directly if he will reverse Mr Hammond's income tax cuts for the top 5 per cent of earners  roughly equating to those earning 80,00 or more a year - the spokesman said: 'We will claw back in the sense that we will raise taxation to that 5 per cent group, and exactly how that is done, we spelled out how we would do it in the last election about obviously deepening on when the next election is held that will need to be assessed at the time.

Labour chaos as Corbyn condemns Budget tax cuts for the better-off at PMQs - a day after McDonnell backed them Labour was plunged into chaos today as Jeremy Corbyn condemned Budget tax cuts for the better off - the day after his shadow chancellor backed them. Mr Corbyn tore into Theresa May over the handouts for higher-rate taxpayers in a stormy PMQs session. The leader's spokesman also made clear after the clashes that he is determined to 'claw back' the money from top earners if Labour wins power. But he was derided by Tory MPs in the chamber as John McDonnell had previously endorsed the increase in the tax threshold. The shambolic scenes came as Labour signalled it will abstain on the tax changes in crucial Budget votes, to avoid the threat of a mass revolt by MPs. The 9billion package of income tax cuts was unveiled by Chancellor Philip Hammond on Monday. Advertisement

'But obviously in relation to any benefit they get form this measure, that will be clawed back and more by the measures we have set out already and however we develop them.'

He added: 'We have said, in terms of income tax, tha the income tax increases will only affect the top 5 per cent.'

Senior Labour have been queuing up to condemn Mr McDonnell's decision to back the tax cuts.

Labour MP Jess Phillips said: 'When Philip Green gets more from the budget than a midwife might I suggest we are on shitty ground.'

Former Labour Cabinet minister Andy Burnham described them as 'morally indefensible when some people are struggling to feed and clothe their children'.

Mr Burnham, now the Labour mayor of Manchester, said he was 'at a loss to understand' why Labour was backing the package.

He suggested Labour leaders were 'spooked' by polls showing the Tories ahead, adding: 'I honestly can't see how Labour's position will hold.

'It is not just that the distribution is so unfair. I can't see how tax cuts for the wealthiest can be the priority when police are so stretched and people dying on British streets for want of a roof over their head.'

Education spokesman Angela Rayner said tax cuts for those on higher incomes were 'the wrong priority', while shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry described them as 'tax cuts for the rich'.

Former minister Yvette Cooper said: 'People on 90,000 to 100,000 a year will get tax cuts worth 860 in April, those on 125,000 will get 600  far more than low-paid workers, at a time when child poverty is going up, benefits are being cut, vital council services are being cut, and the police are badly overstretched. This is wrong  I cannot support it.'

Ex-minister David Lammy said: 'We should not be supporting tax cuts that disproportionately help the wealthy. Tory cuts will benefit rich families 14 times more than the poor.'

Mr Hammond announced on Monday that he was bringing forward a Tory pledge to raise the thresholds for both basic-rate and 40p rate taxpayers to next year.

The Chancellor said it was 'right and moral' for the Government to deliver on its manifesto tax pledges.

He said many middle-income workers in schools, hospitals and the police had been dragged into the higher rate of tax, adding: 'It's important to raise all of these thresholds.'

Labour misgivings were fuelled by analysis by the centre-Left Resolution Foundation think-tank, which claimed the cuts would 'overwhelmingly benefit richer households', with 45 per cent set to go to the top 10 per cent of households alone.
Notorious Sydney gangster John Macris has been shot dead in Greece.

The millionaire nightclub owner, who once dated PR maven Roxy Jacenko, was shot four times in the chest outside his home in Voula, a seaside suburb in Athens shortly after 9pm local time.

The 46-year-old Greek Australian was in his smart car, outside his house, when the attack took place.

Sydney underworld figure John Macris (pictured right with wife Viktoria Karida) was shot dead outside his home in Greece

The Sydney underworld figure, who was also known to police in Greece, was shot multiple times before his assassin yelled: 'I'm going to finish him off'

The killer had been waiting for Macris and shot him from the passenger side seat of his car, the Greek City Times reported.

Witnesses to the brutal murder say they heard the gunman shout out: 'I'm going to finish him off', the Daily Telegraph reported, and a final, fatal shot was fired as Macris tried to exit the car.

Two of his young children were reportedly inside the house when he died.

He was known to both Australian and Greek authorities, the Greek City Times reported, and had been splitting his time between Australia and Greece, where he was referred to as 'Australo', for the past seven years.

Greek authorities believe Macris had been involved in a drug deal, and are hunting three gunmen.

In Greece, Macris was part-owner of My Services, a company offering private security, hospitality and cleaning staff, Greek-Australian website Neos Kosmos reported.

Macris was a prominent figure in the underworld scene for years. He was a business partner of John Ibrahim, The Australian reported, and the pair owned a club on Oxford Street in Sydney together before their business relationship dissolved into a bitter feud,

Macris had been alternating between living in Greece and Australia for the past seven years

The Sydney underworld figure was shot in his smart car outside his home (pictured) on Wednesday night

Macris is believed by some to have been behind an attack on the Ibrahim family which saw Fadi Ibrahim, brother of nightclub owner John Ibrahim, and his wife Shayda Bastani, ambushed by a gunman.

John's younger brother Fadi was shot five times and Ms Bastani was hit once while they sat parked in a Lamborghini outside their Castle Cove home in Sydney's north in 2009.

While nobody was ever officially charged over the attack, the family believed Macris was behind it.

Only two weeks prior to the shooting, Fadi and Macris' brother, Alex, had a falling out that resulted in blows at Sydney nightclub Ivy, an unnamed witness told a court during a 2011 hearing.

The hearing was in response to allegations Fadi and his other brother, Michael, were planning a revenge attack against Macris.

He was shot repeatedly while in his car, before a final, fatal shot was fired as he tried to get out

The Sydney man was a former business partner of John Ibrahim, but the partnership dissolved into a bitter feud

The two families were said to have fallen out over a drug debt in excess of $1.4 million, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting the Ibrahim family played a role in Macris' death.

Macris has been linked to the Comancheros and is the son of Stelios Macris, who was arrested in 2014 after police found 50kg of methamphetamine oil in his car.

The haul was enough to make $12.5million worth of ice, but the father was acquitted after his son Alex stepped forward to admit he had duped his father into carrying the haul, thinking he would never be pulled over.

Stelios, now 82, was the first to arrive at the crime scene on Wednesday, the Telegraph reported, and exclaimed: 'Whats happened to my son? Please tell me hes not dead'.

Macris is a former partner of PR maven Roxy Jacenko. The pair reportedly dated off and on for three years before the 46-year-old settled down with Viktoria Karida.

Ms Karida is a former playboy model and is the mother of Macris's daughter, Alexandra.

When Ms Jacenko's current husband, Oliver Curtis, was jailed for insider trading, she was seen having coffee with Alex, John Macris's brother.

Police remain at the scene of the shooting and an investigation is underway.

The father-of-two's funeral is understood to be scheduled for Friday.

Macris has two children with model Viktoria (pictured), who stars on Greek reality show My Style Rocks
Aladdin of 2018 has a new magic carpet and takes to the streets instead of the airways.

Incredible video shows a college student riding through the streets of New Jersey on his electric skateboard that he transformed into a red magic carpet.

Neil, a junior at Rutgers University, dazzled up his board and donned Disney's Aladdin costume to give the carpet its magic.

A college student dazzled his electric skateboard to transform it into a magic carpet

Neil, a junior at Rutgers University, donned Disney's Aladdin costume, remaking the Whole New World scene from the 1992 animated film

The video shows Neil zooming and weaving through the streets and sidewalks of campus Monday night.

It's unclear how fast he goes, but he appears to hit incredible speeds as he rides through Rutgers' College Avenue campus dressed in Aladdin's signature white pants and purple vest.

Disney's 1992 animated film is about an Arabian street rat named Aladdin who frees a a genie from a lamp and falls in love with Princess Jasmine.

The iconic scene where the duo sing A Whole New World takes place on a magic carpet ride through the sky as the two fall in love.

Neil was missing his Jasmine from this ride - but alongside him filming was friend and senior classmate Brandon.

Neil is a junior at Rutgers in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and according to social media they are both skating fanatics.
Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein allegedly sexually assaulted a 16-year-old Polish model and aspiring actress just days after they met.

The woman, identified as Jane Doe in a new legal filing, alleges that Weinstein forced her to touch his penis in his New York City apartment in 2002.

Court papers filed in Manhattan on Wednesday claim Weinstein went on to harass and emotionally abuse the woman for nearly a decade and blocked her from having a successful career.

Weinstein's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, slammed the allegations as 'preposterous'.

The woman, identified as Jane Doe in a new legal filing, alleges that Harvey Weinstein (above this month) forced her to touch his penis in his New York City apartment in 2002

The woman claims she met Weinstein at an event for her modeling agency Next and three days later agreed to meet him for a business lunch.

She alleges Weinstein took her to his SoHo apartment where he 'wasted no time in aggressively and threateningly demanding sex', according to the court documents first obtained by the New York Post.

'Weinstein threatened and pressured Jane Doe, saying that he had made the careers of Penelope Cruz and Gwyneth Paltrow, and that neither would be working without him.

'He then took off his pants and forcibly held Jane Doe while taking her hand and making her touch and massage his penis.'

Weinstein's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, slammed the recent allegations as 'preposterous'. The pair are pictured above leaving a Manhattan court in October

The woman said she told Weinstein at the time that she was only 16.

Over the next decade, the woman said she continued to resist Weinstein's requests for sex.

The allegations from Jane Doe were included in an amended complaint in a class action lawsuit that accuses Weinstein's movie studio board of enabling and covering up his alleged sexual misconduct.

Doe's lawyer said she was brave to come forward.

Weinstein is facing criminal charges involving two other women. That case was roiled recently by allegations that a police detective acted improperly.
A 74-year-old New Mexico man was accidentally shot after his dog's paw caught the trigger of his gun and blasted off in his direction during a jackrabbit hunting trip.

Sonny 'Tex' Harold Gilligan suffered three broken ribs, an injured lung and a broken collarbone after the incident which occurred while he was alone in the middle of the desert west of Las Cruces last week.

The man initially believed he'd been targeted by a sniper but then realized he was shot in the chest by his 120lb Rottweiler mix named Charlie.

Tex Harold Gilligan suffered three broken ribs, an injured lung and a broken collarbone after being accidentally shot by his dog last week. He was airlifted to a hospital in El Paso, Texas

Gilligan was shot after Charlie (right) stepped on the trigger of a gun during a hunting trip near Las Cruces, New Mexico. Scooter appears left in the forefront and Cowboy left at the back

'It went through my ribs my lung and busted up my collarbone on the right side,' he told ABC News. 'I had a gaping hole, you know, and a lot of blood there too. I could see the blood and I felt it.'

The pet was sitting in a passenger seat of Gilligan's truck and fell onto the weapon.

The shotgun bullet tore through the driver's seat and into Gilligan's back.

'I leaned forward and he slipped off the seat and caught the trigger  and it shot,' Gilligan told the El Paso Times. 'It was a freak accident but it's true, that's what happened.'

As the rifle was facing upward and in his direction, Gillian was injured, Dona Ana County Sheriff's spokeswoman Kelly Jameson explained.

'Apparently Mr. Gilligan ... had placed his gun in the floorboard of the truck with the butt of the gun on the floorboard,' Jameson said.

Gilligan was able to call 911 that day but usually doesn't take his mobile phone hunting

Surrounded by his other dogs named Scooter and Cowboy, the victim was lucky to have a mobile phone on him that day to call 911.

He usually heads out without one but opted to keep a way for his child to contact him if he got caught in heavy rain.

When emergency responders arrived Gilligan was lucky to be found alive.

'I was very fortunate I could get to my phone. The first responders saved my life. If they waited 10 more minutes, I would've died,' he said.

'I lost so much blood. I know I actually passed to the other just before getting to the hospital but they were able to revive me through CPR and bring me back.'

Gilligan was airlifted to a hospital in El Paso where he underwent multiple surgeries to repair the bullet's damage.

He has to keep the bullet inside him so not to tear his lung and is expected to make a full recovery.

Gilligan (pictured with cousin Carol) has to keep the bullet inside him so not to tear his lung and is expected to make a full recovery

He added to ABC News that it at least gives him a good tale to tell: 'It's an interesting story: "a dog shot a man!"'

The hunter joked that his three dogs were transported to 'animal jail' (the Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley) after the incident.

'It was an accident, although they tease me, asking me if [Charlie] did it on purpose,' Gilligan said.

'Truth is, he's a big, loving dog and would never hurt anybody on purpose.'

He added to ABC News that it at least gives him a good tale to tell.

'I never thought that this would happen,' he laughed. 'It's an interesting story: 'a dog shot a man!''

He added Charlie 'did not mean to do it. He's a good dog.'
Ministers have been having regular meetings with members of the DUP, it was revealed last night.

Minutes published quietly on the Cabinet Office website suggest meetings have been taking place around once a month.

The six-strong 'co-ordination committee' was attended by Theresa May's de facto deputy, David Lidington, chief whip Julian Smith and Treasury minister Mel Stride on the government side.

The DUP members were Nigel Dodds, the Westminster leader, his chief whip Jeffrey Donaldson and Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson.

Meetings have taken place between Government ministers and the DUP every month, attended by leader Arlene Foster and Westminster leader Nigel Dodds (pictured together)

Although DUP leader Arlene Foster is not on the committee, she has attended every meeting except the first, in July 2017.

Other ministers to have briefed the committee include ex-Brexit Secretary David Davis, Security Minister Ben Wallace and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.

The confidence and supply agreement between the two parties, which was signed after the last election, gives Mrs May her effective majority.

On Monday, the DUP withdrew its threat to bring down the Budget after the Chancellor pledged millions for Ulster. The party had threatened to vote it down if a Brexit deal treats the province differently to the UK.
Insurance firms who are sneakily over-charging families 350 a year are facing a crackdown from regulators.

Experts claim some insurers are 'exploiting' loyal customers who stay with the same provider by keeping year-on-year price increases hidden.

This so-called loyalty penalty is estimated to be costing UK households more than 4billion a year.

Meanwhile families in Britain who shop around for new policies are often given far more competitive rates.

The Financial Conduct Authority warned yesterday that people are at risk of being seriously disadvantaged by hidden pricing practices with not enough being done to protect vulnerable customers.

Insurance firms who are sneakily over-charging families 350 a year are facing a crackdown from regulators. File image used

They claim customers who stay with the same car or home insurance firm year after year are routinely charged hundreds of pounds more than those who shop around.

The FCA will also investigate concerns that some insurers are breaking rules, introduced in 2016, and not making clear last year's price when they offer a renewal quote so customers can compare costs.

The probe is a major victory for Money Mail which has long campaigned for an end to the loyalty rip-off.

Gareth Shaw, money expert at consumer group Which?, said: 'For years, loyal policyholders have been exploited by insurance providers, punished by excessive premiums and have had to battle with unclear pricing that makes it difficult for people to understand whether or not they're getting a fair deal.

'Customers who prefer to stay with one provider are at risk of being hit with vastly overpriced premiums when little has changed in the service they receive.

Experts claim some insurers are 'exploiting' loyal customers who stay with the same provider by keeping year-on-year price increases hidden. File image

'It's right that the regulator tackles this sector to ensure customers aren't punished for their loyalty and that pricing is clear and transparent across the industry.'

The regulator said firms may deliberately target customers they thought were unlikely to switch with enticing teaser deals.

This means insurers may be earning a bigger profit from customers who could be vulnerable or older.

Often these customers believe they will get a better deal by remaining loyal to one insurer, forget to shop around before their policy renews or may have been encouraged to stay put because the price increase is presented in a way that suggests action is not needed and they are getting the best deal, the regulator added.

The FCA also raised concerns that some insurers may use personalised information to price premiums that is protected against by the Equalities Act such as their ethnicity, gender or whether they are married.

It said it had written to the chief executives of insurers to warn firms that it expects them to treat customers fairly.
One of the BBC Radio 4's most popular shows has been found guilty of anti-Tory bias after a gag about Theresa May by a Strictly Come Dancing star.

Susan Calman is a regular on popular BBC comedy panel shows such as The News Quiz and I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue.

The 43-year-old also sashayed her way to seventh place in Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, partnered up with Kevin Clifton.

Comedian Susan Calman got producers on BBC's The News Quiz in hot water after a joke about Theresa May

But, during an appearance on Radio 4's The News Quiz, broadcast in June this year, she called Theresa May a 'coward' over her failure to challenge the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) over abortion rights in Northern Ireland, according to The Times.

The comedian said: 'There's been a lot of chat about if Theresa May's a feminist she needs to step in. This is not a feminist issue.

'You don't need to be a feminist to say that women should have equal rights,'

'What she is is a coward.'

Unlike in other parts of the UK the 1967 Abortion Act does not extend to Northern Ireland.

The episode was broadcast just after the Republic of Ireland voted to overturn its abortion ban.

Producers on The News Quiz were thought to have been rebuked by senior executives for breaking impartiality rules.

Susan Calman is a well-known, popular comedian and also appeared in 2017's Strictly Come Dancing partnered with Kevin Clifton

A BBC spokesman said: 'Our comedy programmes have a long history of panellists making satirical comments aimed at politicians from across the spectrum.

'Clearly, the expectations around impartiality in a comedy series are different to a news programme, and audiences don't tend to turn to comedy as a political guide.

'Expression of a personal and political view is not a breach of the BBC's editorial guidelines but they require all programmes to show due impartiality especially when dealing with topical, controversial issues.'
A prisoner who was arrested just days after he was released on bail despite being considered a 'terrorist risk' has been sentenced to further jail time.

Greg Ceissman, 24, faced Central Local Court in Sydney after breaching new anti-terrorism laws, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

He was sentenced to 11 months in jail with a non-parole period of eight months on Wednesday.

Central Local Court magistrate Robert Williams said there was an 'overriding risk of Mr Ceissman committing terrorist offences or a terrorist offence, and that it [sic] the reason behind these orders being made.'

Greg Ceissman (pictured) was accused of nursing extremist views, but was released on bail on April 15 under strict conditions

Ceissman used Google Maps to locate places like Goulburn Correctional Centre (pictured)

Ceissman is the first man in NSW to be jailed under the Terrorism (High Risk Offenders) Act.

Under the act, authorities can detain prisoners who nurse extremist beliefs even after their sentence ends. They can also monitor them after their release.

Ceissman originally served four years and four months for a combination of joyriding, dangerous driving and assaulting police.

During his imprisonment, Ceissman was allegedly radicalised and took up Islamic State ideology.

He was accused of telling an inmate he planned to move to Syria for weapons training before returning to Australia to attack Marrickville Police Station in Sydney's inner west.

Despite the allegations, Ceissman was released on April 15, with strict conditions on top of an interim supervision order.

Ceissman was thrown back in custody five days after he failed to inform authorities of downloading apps on his phone, including the dating app 'F***book'.

What's more, a police investigation uncovered encrypted messages on Whatsapp and Facebook, a photo of Ceissman with a raised index finger in the trademark Islamic State salute, and places like the Police Academy in Goulburn, Goulburn Correctional Centre and Silverwater Correctional Complex pinpointed in Google Maps.

Ceissman also searched for Silverwater Correctional Centre (pictured) using Google Maps

Ceissman, 24, faced Central Local Court in Sydney (pictured) after breaching new anti-terrorism laws, according to The Sydney Morning Herald

AAP reported that the court heard Ceissman tried to flee from police officers during the arrest.

While Central Local Court magistrate Robert Williams said there was no 'direct harm' when Ceismann breached his supervision orders, he posed an 'overriding risk' of 'committing terrorist offences'.

Ceissman has not been charged with a terror offence and has gone on to deny harbouring extremist views.

He will be up for parole in mid-December, with the sentence starting back to when he was arrested on April 20.

Supreme Court judge Stephen Rothman has since put Ceissman on a two-year extended supervision order.
Salvatore Mannino, 52 (pictured) was found in Edinburgh St Giles Cathedral by police in a seemingly confused state and suffering from memory loss

A 'lost' tourist who was found wandering around Edinburgh and claimed to have no memory of who he was or how he got there has admitted to faking his amnesia to avoid his 'nagging' mother-in-law, it was reported last night.

Salvatore Mannino, 52, was found in Edinburgh's St Giles Cathedral by police in a seemingly confused state and suffering from memory loss.

His disappearance from his native Pisa soon raised suspicion when concerned Italian police officers tracked his searches on his computer, which showed that he had looked up terms such as 'how to disappear' and 'how to fake memory loss', the Sun reported.

Yesterday the father-of-four was forced to drop his facade, admitting to British police: 'I did it to get away from my nagging mother-in-law.

'I never lost my memory. I wanted to show my family I was important to them.

'I wanted to regain my position as a husband and father as I felt my mother-in-law had taken that from me.'

It transpired that Mr Mannino had escaped from Pisa and travelled to Scotland in mid-September.

Before leaving the family home, he left a briefcase with 10,500 (9,350) and a sheet of paper with a numerical sequence - a code which was deciphered by his eldest son, 18.

After that and before he went to Scotland, it emerged he had gone to the Tuscan town of Prato to work in a supermarket in the local Chinatown.

When he was returned back to Italy by police and confronted by his family (wife Francesca and daughter pictured) Mr Mannino (left) kept up his elaborate lie and pretended he did not know them

Investigators initially believed he was in Scotland on the run from the Chinese mafia, but this baffled his family, who said it was 'news to them'.

Family lawyer Ivo Gronchi told local media: 'He can't give an explanation. He asks his wife if she can explain what happened.

'This has all been a bolt from the blue for the family. If he was threatened by the Chinese mafia, he never mentioned it to them.'

He was identified by his tattoos by Scottish police who found him in the cathedral in Edinburgh and they subsequently flew his wife, Francesca, and his children over.

But even when confronted with his family Mr Mannino kept up his elaborate lie and pretended he did not know them.

He was taken back to Italy where doctors said there was nothing wrong with him or his memory.

Yesterday it was revealed Salvatore has been charged by Italian police for abandonment.

A spokesman told the Sun: 'The waste of time and money hasn't gone down well.' A source close to the family said: 'Francesca is not happy at all.

'He's caused a lot of anguish and her mother isn't even that bad  I've heard of worse.'
With summer on the way, parents are being warned to make sure their children aren't being left in locked cars as an increasing number of calls are made to ambulances.

On a typical Australian summer day, the temperature inside a parked car can reach as much as 30 to 40 degrees hotter than outside.

Each year emergency services rescue more than 2,000 unattended children in cars, but with the rise of self-locking doors, experts warn this figure could increase.

With summer on the way, parents are being warned to make sure their children aren't being left in locked cars as an increasing number of calls are made to ambulances

75 per cent of the temperature increase occurs within five minutes of closing the car

In some instances, distressed parents have been trapped outside their vehicles after the car doors have locked without warning as they left the keys inside.

On a 30C day the temperature inside a car can reach up to 70C in under an hour, according to Kidsafe NSW.

The majority of the temperature increase occurs within five minutes of closing the car.

One terrifying incident in January saw a child left in a hot, locked car for three hours on Sydney's north shore.

Police were forced to smash in the window of the car to rescue the toddler who was found dehydrated and visibly distressed.

Richard Ligault, the boy's father, said he had a 'rough night' the night before and simply forgot about his three-year-old son.

One terrifying incident in January saw a child left in a hot, locked car for three hours on Sydney's north shore (pictured, the car the toddler was left in after police rescued him)

'I went to drop off my kid at the school, he fell asleep in the car ... I went straight to work,' Mr Ligault told media.

In another dramatic case caught by Channel 9's show Paramedics, the RACV, police, ambulance officers and firefighters were called to rescue two-year-old Charlotte from a locked Jeep.

Shannon Peyton-Bell put her handbag, which contained the fob to the car, on the passenger seat before walking around to get in the driver's side door.

In another dramatic case caught by Channel 9's show Paramedics, the RACV, police, ambulance officers and firefighters were called to rescue two-year-old Charlotte (pictured) from a locked Jeep

While making her way around, the self-locking function was triggered, the Herald Sun reported.

After she couldn't find anything to break a window, the distressed mother called emergency services, who freed Charlotte 35 minutes later.

In February, a woman posted online after finding a child locked in a car at a popular shopping centre in Perth on a scorching hot day.

Crystal Hughes saw a young boy in a ute on a day where temperatures reached 34C.

In February, a woman posted online after finding a child locked in a car at a popular shopping centre in Perth on a scorching hot day (pictured)

'Sweating his little head off, I have no idea how long he had been there before I arrived,' she said.

The concerned passerby spoke to the boy for 12 minutes while waiting for his father to return from shopping, to make sure he was okay.

In September 2017, a barber rescued a young boy from a hot car after his father allegedly left him inside so he could go to the pub across the road.

Issa Khadem heard the distressed three-year-old boy while he was locked inside the car as temperatures rose to more than 35C.

Mr Khadem was unsure if he could legally smash a window and called the local Bankstown police, who broke the glass on the driver's side to free the boy and treat him for dehydration.

Police and paramedics repeatedly warn parents of the potentially deadly consequences of leaving children in cars, especially in summer.

The quick rise in temperature inside locked cars can cause damage to body cells which leads to unconsciousness, shock, organ failure and even death.

Self-locking doors are extremely common in modern cars, with many locking if keys are left inside to prevent the vehicle being stolen.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will 'soon' visit Seoul.

Moon didn't provide any other details about the trip during a speech on the economy given before the parliament Thursday.

Moon has previously said that Kim told him he would visit Seoul within this year when the leaders met in Pyongyang in September.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in (pictured right) says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (left) will 'soon' visit Seoul

It wasn't immediately clear whether Moon was repeating his previous statement or if he had new details about Kim's trip.

Moon also says a second North Korea-U.S. summit is 'near at hand.'

He says Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit North Korea and that Kim is to travel to Russia soon.

Moon has shuttled between North Korea and the United States to arrange nuclear talks.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (pictured) made history by meeting his South Korean counterpart this year

South Korea's presidential office said it had no further details to add to Moon's speech about the impending trip.

When the pair came together for a historic meeting in September, the North Korean leader had agreed to several concessions on denuclearization and even discussed a joint North and South Korea Olympic bid in 2032.

Moon said the North had agreed to dismantle missile sites and take other steps such as closing its main Yongbyon nuclear complex if the United States took reciprocal measures.

North and South Korea also reportedly agreed the Korean Peninsula should turn into a 'land of peace without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats,' Moon said following the conclusion of his summit talks with the North Korean leader.

When Kim does visit South Korea he will become the first North Korean leader to cross the border since the end of the Korean War in 1953.
A mother and her boyfriend have been indicted for the torture and murder of her 10-year-old son who was found severely beaten with cigarette burns all over his body.

Heather Maxine Barron, 29, and her boyfriend, Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 32, have both pleaded not guilty to Anthony Avalos' murder in Lancaster, California in June.

The couple are also accused of torturing Anthony, as well as two other children, in the days leading up to his death.

The grand jury indictment for the capital murder charges was unsealed on Wednesday in court.

Ten-year-old Anthony Avalos died in June in Lancaster, California after being found severely beaten with cigarette burns all over his body

Anthony was found unresponsive in the family's home on June 20 when his mother called 911 to say he had fallen down the stairs.

First responders found the little boy suffering from severe head injuries with cigarette burns all over his body.

Anthony died the following day in hospital when he was taken off life support.

Homicide detectives quickly deemed the boy's death suspicious and child protective services said there were signs he had been severely beaten and was malnourished.

Prosecutors have said Anthony was severely tortured in the five or six days before he died.

Court documents say he was whipped with a belt and cord, had hot sauce poured on his face and mouth and was held up by his feet and repeatedly dropped on his head.

Heather Maxine Barron, 29, and her boyfriend Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 32, have both pleaded not guilty to murdering the little boy

First responders found the little boy suffering from severe head injuries with cigarette burns all over his body. Anthony died the following day in hospital when he was taken off life support

It emerged after the boy's death that child protective services had received at least 16 calls alleging that Barron and Leiva were abusing Anthony and the other two children, aged between 11 months and 12 years old.

School administrators and family members, as well as a teacher and a counselor, had all called in to voice their concerns.

They reported that the children were allegedly being sexually abused, beaten, forced to fight one another and made to eat from the trash.

The callers also reported that the children were being denied food and water and were forced to crouch for hours.

A Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman revealed that child protective services had come to the house at least once for child abuse allegations involving one of Anthony's siblings.

Barron and Leiva are due to face court in Lancaster on November 27.
Canada may soon become the first country in the world where health hazard labels are printed on each cigarette consumed by smokers.

The federal government in Ottawa is looking into new regulations that would force tobacco companies to apply labels not just on the packaging but also on the cigarette itself, CTV News is reporting.

The new labels would be variations of messaging in the spirit of smoking causes cancer.

Proponents of the policy hope that mandating a label on each individual cigarette would dissuade more Canadians from smoking.

Canada may soon become the first country in the world where health hazard labels are printed on each cigarette consumed by smokers

The federal government in Ottawa is looking into new regulations that would force tobacco companies to apply labels not just on the packaging (similar to the label above) but also on the cigarette itself

There is recent but limited research showing that health warnings placed directly on a product, such as cigarettes, could be effective in making the product less appealing to users, a government document read.

The government also hopes that having labels on each cigarette would make it easier for authorities to track down illegally manufactured cigarettes.

Contraband tobacco is considered one of Canadas most pressing problems.

Canadians who buy cigarettes legally pay between $70 and $110 for a carton of 200 cigarettes which is taxed by the government.

But an illegally produced carton of the same number of cigarettes can be bought on the black market for as little as $20.

Every year, the government loses tens of millions of dollars in tax revenues due to illegally manufactured cigarettes.

Illicit tobacco is one of the major sources of funding for organized crime in Canada, according to law enforcement officials.

Canadian tobacco products have had the same warnings on their packaging since 2012

Labeling cigarettes could also help authorities combat contraband tobacco. Canadians who buy cigarettes legally pay between $70 and $110 for a carton of 200 cigarettes which is taxed by the government. But an illegally produced carton can be had on the black market for $20

The Canadian government is considering new ways to spread the message warning against the hazards of smoking.

Another option could be mandating new warning labels each year in order to keep the message fresh.

Canadian tobacco products have had the same warnings on their packaging since 2012.

The government is also thinking of requiring labels for tobacco products that do not currently have them, including water pipe and heated tobacco products.

Each year, 45,000 Canadians die of smoking-related health defects, according to the government.
Britons are facing a ban on morning drinking at airports as the government considers pushing forward with new plans to keep bars shut until 10am.

The measures are being considered in an effort to combat drunken behaviour on flights.

Bars and restaurants at airports could be forced to apply for a licence if they want to continue to sell alcohol.

It could mean pubs, restaurants and duty free shops would have to delay serving alcohol until 10am- ending the early morning tradition of a pre-flight pint.

Licensing laws that prevent the sale of alcohol to drunk customers or outside permitted hours do not apply to outlets once passengers have cleared security.

Ministers are considering a crackdown on binge-drinking at airports after a surge in bad behaviour on flights

Airlines say this 'airside' exemption encourages binge drinking.

Today the Home Office is expected to issue a 'call for evidence' on whether airside bars and restaurants should be licensed.

The Civil Aviation Authority says there were 417 reports of disruptive passengers last year, up from 195 in 2015.

Extending the licensing laws would not necessarily mean an end to early morning or late night drinking at airports.

But it would mean the bar or restaurant would have a 'designated premises supervisor'  a manager who would need a personal licence.

Number Ten today scrambled to try to play down the prospect that passengers will face a morning alcohol ban.

Theresa May's official spokesman said: 'While disruptive or drunk behaviour is unacceptable, we have no intention to ban the consumption of alcohol in airports.

'Most passengers behave responsibly when flying, but the problem of drunk or disruptive passengers has gained prominence in recent years.

'Much of this evidence has been anecdotal, so this is simpy a call for evidence which aims to establish the scale of the problem and seek views from industry and consumers.'

Some airlines have resorted to running 'dry' flights, or suspending the sale of alcohol for part of the journey. Cabin crew are also refusing to hand over duty-free alcohol purchased on board to drunk passengers.

Number of reports of drunk passengers on UK flights soar 400 per cent in four years The number of reports of drunk airplane passengers soared by 400 per cent in just four years, officials revealed. The UK Civil Aviation Authority said it received some 417 complaints in 2017 - up from just 98 in 2013. While 202 complaints had already been sent in as of July this year. The figures have fuelled calls for a crackdown on drunk passengers and the free flow of alcohol in airports. Revealing the figures in August this year, Richard Stephenson, Director of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: 'Everyone wants their holiday flights to be enjoyable and trouble-free. Drunken and abusive behaviour on an aeroplane is totally unacceptable. Not only does it upset everyone else, but it can also jeopardise flight safety. 'Criminal charges should be brought against offenders more often to act as a deterrent - passengers need to know they will face the full weight of the law should they be found guilty of disorderly behaviour.' Advertisement

In a separate move, the Department of Transport is considering plans to force retailers to put duty-free alcohol in sealed plastic bags.

Currently licensing laws that prevent the sale of alcohol outside permitted hours do not apply to 'airside' sales  once passengers have gone through security.

Airlines have for years described this as a 'legal loophole' which enables retailers to sell alcohol irresponsibly at any time of the day or night.

Unlike high street pubs and restaurants, they do not have the threat of being stripped of their licence if they behave irresponsibly  such as selling alcohol to drunk passengers.

Some airside bars have encouraged binge drinking by selling 'two-pint measures'  even though it is a criminal offence to be drunk on a plane.

Last year pub fi Wetherspoon, which has locations at airports across the country, said it 'did not believe extra regulation was needed' at airports and said staff 'understand their responsibility' not to serve drunk passengers.

There are already tough penalties for drunkenness on an aircraft  a maximum of two years in prison or an unlimited fine.

But airline Ryanair has previously called for more restrictions on alcohol sales at airports.

It proposed a two-drink limit for passengers and a total ban on alcohol sales in airports before 10am.

It said in a statement: 'It is incumbent on the airports to introduce these preventative measures to curb excessive drinking and the problems it creates, rather than allowing passengers to drink to excess before their flights.

'It's completely unfair that airports can profit from the unlimited sale of alcohol to passengers and leave the airlines to deal with the safety consequences.'

In a separate move earlier this year the Department of Transport said it is considering plans to force retailers to put duty free alcohol  such as miniature bottles of spirits  in sealed plastic bags.

This proposal follows concerns about passengers stocking up on duty free and binge drinking before they get on a flight.

Last year a House of Lords Committee recommended airport bars and restaurants have similar trading hours rules under the Licencing Act 2003 after a spike in 'air rage'.

The changes mooted by the Home Office would see pubs, restaurants and duty free shops delay serving alchohol until 10am- ending the early morning pre-flight tradition of a pint

The Lords committee report said: 'No one travelling on an international flight can fail to notice that, once they have gone through customs, control of the sale of alcohol seems to be relaxed, and the permitted hours even more so.

'This is because the Licensing Act 2003 is expressly disapplied from such areas.

'The incidents occurring on flights are notorious, sometimes requiring flights to be diverted, and more often than not such incidents are the consequence of alcohol consumed airside before the flight.

The report added: 'Many also had the opportunity to drink heavily at the airport before they get on the flight.

'The Civil Aviation Authority report a 36 per cent increase in disruptive passenger incidents in the UK between 2014 and 2015. This is a large number of incidents for a relatively small airline.

'Alcohol Concern told us of a survey of holidaymakers which found that nearly 1 in 5 passengers said they began their holiday drinking at the airport.'
The names of two climbers that perished following an avalanche in New Zealand on Wednesday morning have been released.

Professional mountain guides Wolfgang Maier, 58, and Martin Hess, 50, died after being crushed by a wall of ice and snow.

They were climbing Aoraki/Mount Cook with their client Jo Morgan  wife of millionaire Gareth Morgan  when the avalanche struck.

Ms Morgan was miraculously able to dig herself out and was rescued, but Mr Hess and Mr Maier both tragically passed away.

Professional mountain guides Wolfgang Maier (right), 58, and Martin Hess (left), 50, were climbing Aoraki/Mount Cook with their client Jo Morgan when the avalanche struck

Both Mr Hess and Mr Maier were originally from Germany but had become New Zealand residents.

The avalanche struck Mt Hicks peak on Aoraki/Mt Cook at around 6am, and emergency services arrived at about 7.30am.

Mid-South Canterbury Area Commander Inspector Dave Gaskin told media he believes that 'one of them was killed pretty much instantly, and one of the probably perished before the team got there'.

Jo Morgan (pictured) was miraculously able to dig herself out and was rescued, but Mr Hess and Mr Maier both tragically passed away

Mr Maier (pictured) lived in Lake Tekapo and was an internationally qualified mountain guide

The inspector said CPR was carried out on both men until further help arrived.

A Westpac paramedic told Newshub that the victims had likely suffocated under the snow, but full autopsies are due to be carried out in Christchurch.

Both men were well-known in the area and the inspector said their deaths would have a dramatic effect on the community.

Mr Hess had lived in New Zealand for 20 years and had been a member of the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association (NZMGA) since 2006.

Mr Maier lived in Lake Tekapo and was an internationally qualified mountain guide.

The avalanche struck Mt Hicks peak on Aoraki/Mt Cook at around 6am, and emergency services arrived at about 7.30am

Ms Morgan managed to raise the alarm by setting off her personal locator beacon, a piece of equipment police have said is 'absolutely vital' for anyone climbing in the area

It is understood that all three climbers were tied together when the avalanche hit, with Ms Morgan likely in the middle.

Ms Morgan allegedly survived by 'swimming' through the avalanche, a standard technique which allows the person to keep as close to the surface as possible.

The inspector said Ms Morgan then managed to raise the alarm by setting off her personal locator beacon, a piece of equipment he says is 'absolutely vital' for anyone climbing in the area.

'I can't stress enough the importance of personal locator beacons  had there not been the beacon, they would not have been found as quickly as they were,' he said.

Ms Morgan had been in the process of climbing the last of the 20 peaks over 10,000 feet in New Zealand, and said she felt 'lucky to be alive'.

'We all got thrown down the hill tied together,' she told Stuff.

'They were buried and I was buried too, but I had my face out so I could continue to breathe.'

Ms Morgan had been in the process of climbing the last of the 20 peaks over 10,000 feet in New Zealand, and said she felt 'lucky to be alive'

Jo Morgan is the wife of Gareth Morgan (pictured, left) who formed the political party The Opportunities Party

At 3,724 metres, Aoraki/Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand and the Mt Hicks peak sits on its western side at about 3,198 metres.

Avalanche Advisory New Zealand (AANZ) has warned of rapidly changing volatile spring conditions in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park area.

Avalanches can happen at this time of year as the warmer temperatures, combined with rain, increased risk.

Mr Morgan was the leader of the political party The Opportunities Party, and is also a well known philanthropist.

The couple's son, Sam Morgan, is the founder of e-commerce site TradeMe.
A sham marriage syndicate that allegedly tried to obtain 164 visas for foreigners in fake romantic relationships has been busted by police.

The visas allegedly organised by Jagjit Singh, 32, were declined by the Australian Border Force after the documents were linked to this syndicate operating in Sydney.

Vulnerable young women were allegedly approached on social media and offered large sums of money if they agreed to marry a foreigner wanting to enter Australia.

Jagjit Singh (pictured) was the alleged head of the sham marriage syndicate operating in Sydney

'Non-citizens seeking to live in Australia who had exhausted all other options to remain lawfully were paying a significant amount of money to enter into a fake marriage,' Australian Border Force Investigations commander Clinton Sims told The Daily Telegraph.

Many of the women allegedly exploited by the syndicate came from disadvantaged backgrounds, have suffered substance abuse and a history of family and financial hardship.

Mr Singh appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday charged with arranging four fake marriages in order to obtain residency in Australia between May 2013 and and February 2015.

But the alleged head of the syndicate said outside court he will be defending the charges made against him.

Many of the women exploited came from disadvantaged backgrounds, have suffered substance abuse and have a history of family and financial hardship

'I don't know the guy who was arranging these things, I am just sometimes helping them,' he said.

Four Sydney women in their 20s also appeared in court charged with one count each of aiding, abetting or procuring the arrangement of a marriage to help foreigners gain Australian residency.

Nicole Flower, 25, pleaded guilty to helping arrange a sham marriages in December 2013 and will face court next month.

Two sisters from the Central Coast of New South Wales Brooke and Jordan-Lee Evans, aged 21 and 24, did not enter pleas.

The Evans sisters allegedly assisted two fake marriages to obtain a visa in February 2015.

Police will allege Casula woman Suzanne Akkari, 24, helped arrange a fake marriage in May 2013.
Most American billionaires are ultra-conservatives who are more concerned with cutting taxes and hoarding their wealth, a new study has found.

An analysis of the 100 wealthiest Americans found that the vast majority of them are unlike high-profile industrial giants such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, and Michael Bloomberg.

The aforementioned have given or have committed to giving a large portion of their wealth toward philanthropic and charitable causes.

But they are the exception to the rule, according to The Guardian.

While most media attention is focused on the likes of Gates, Bezos, and Bloomberg, who are left-of-center politically, other uber-wealthy Americans are quietly using their influence behind the scenes to change laws that work in their favor.

An analysis of the 100 wealthiest Americans found that the vast majority of them are unlike high-profile industrial giants such as Bill Gates (above), Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, and Michael Bloomberg

Charles and David Koch, whose father founded Koch Industries, the largest privately owned company in the United States, fund a vast network of conservative activists and donors who seek to influence campaigns on the local, state, and federal levels.

The Koch brothers have actively been lobbying lawmakers to slash taxes for the wealthy - including the estate tax.

Their network has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in races across the country in an effort to help Republicans maintain their majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The Kochs supported the tax overhaul signed last year by President Donald Trump.

The law slashed corporate taxes as well as the estate tax.

Charles (left) and David Koch (right), whose father founded Koch Industries, the largest privately owned company in the United States, fund a vast network of conservative activists and donors who seek to influence campaigns on the local, state, and federal levels

The Walton family, which founded Walmart, has also given to Republican politicians who advocate business-friendly positions like deregulating the financial industry, promoting free trade, and curbing labor rights. Left to right: Rob Walton, Alice Walton, and Jim Walton

While the Kochs are perhaps the most politically engaged conservative billionaires, they are hardly alone.

The Walton family, which founded the Walmart chain of stores, has also given to Republican politicians who advocate business-friendly positions like deregulating the financial industry, promoting free trade, and curbing labor rights.

Unlike Gates, who has made it a goal to eradicate poverty and disease in Africa, the Kochs and the Waltons prefer to focus on domestic economic issues that benefit them directly.

They also prefer to shun the media limelight, whereas billionaires like Bloomberg - who is a fierce advocate of gun control and combating climate change - have made it no secret where their policy preferences lie.
Mark Leonard Winter, 35, told the Federal Court on Thursday he saw Geoffrey Rush (pictured) cup Norvill's breast for about five seconds during her characters death scene

A King Lear co-actor said Geoffrey Rush, 67, squeezed the breast of a young female actress during a dress rehearsal, the court heard.

Mark Leonard Winter, 35, told the Federal Court on Thursday he saw Rush cup Eryn Jean Norvills breast for about five seconds during her characters death scene.

Winter, who played Edgar in King Lear, told the court Rushs cupping of the actresss breast was something he hadn't seen before on stage.

The touch was long enough for Winter to have 'a series of thoughts,' he said.

Winter told the court he had a vague recollection of Rush doing a Three Stooge-like bit over Norvill and making a 'jokey gesture [...] a boob-squeezing gesture' during rehearsal.

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'I know that people laughed [...] I was talking to somebody at the time so I sort of tuned in late,' he said.

Winter said he recalled Rush cupped Norvill's left breast with his right hand.

Yet Norvill in her evidence earlier this week said she'd been touched on her right breast.

Actor Mark Winter (pictured), who played Edgar in King Lear, told the court Rushs cupping of the actresss breast was something he hadn't seen before on stage

When Rush's lawyer, Bruce McClintock SC, put it to Winter that audience members must have seen the alleged breast cupping, Winter said: 'I can't speak for the audience, I can only speak for myself.'

He agreed he was friends with Norvill and he'd spoken with her lawyers in preparing his outline of evidence.

He also agreed he'd told Rush's solicitor that the Oscar winner had led the company well and taken on his role with great enthusiasm.

Mark Leonard Winter, 35, told the Federal Court on Thursday he saw Rush cup Eryn Jean Norvills (pictured, centre) breast for about five seconds during her characters death scene

'I would say he was an exemplary company leader,' Winter said.

When asked if he had sufficient respect for Rush, Winter said: 'Of course.'

'I mean, there's also a tendency in this to paint people as black and white [...] people aren't just black and white, and Geoffrey Rush is a respected figure and a friend,' he said.

The trial continues.
Don Lemon has doubled down on his statement that white men represent the biggest terrorist threat in the country, with the CNN host saying there are 'cold hard facts' that back up his remarks.

Lemon has attracted criticism from conservative circles ever since he made the initial statement on Monday night in a guest appearance on fellow CNN host Chris Cuomo's show.

The CNN Tonight host started out by talking about the negative attention given to a caravan of potential refugees currently making their way from Mexico to the U.S.

They also discussed the fatal shooting of two black shoppers in Kentucky last week and the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre where both the suspects are white men.

Don Lemon doubled down on his statement that white men represent the biggest terrorist threat in the country by saying there are 'cold hard facts' that back up his remarks

'We have to stop demonizing people and realize that the biggest terror threat in this country is white men, most of them radicalized to the right, and we have to start doing something about them,' Lemon said.

Lemon was again speaking about right-wing extremist threats on Wednesday's show when he acknowledged the anger and criticism he has received over his initial statement.

'I made some comments about that in a conversation with Chris. I said that the biggest terror threat in this country comes from radicals on the far right, primarily white men. That angered some people,' he said.

'But let's put emotion aside and look at the cold hard facts. The evidence is overwhelming. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office shows that.

'Even though more people died in attacks connected to Islamic extremists, the vast majority of deadly attacks in this country from 2001 to 2016 were carried out by far-right violent extremists.'

Lemon went on to quote a number of reports and flashed graphics up on the screen related to domestic attacks by right-wing extremists.

Lemon went on to quote a number of reports and flashed graphics up on the screen related to domestic attacks by right-wing extremists

Robert Bowers (left) is charged with killing 11 people after storming the Pittsburgh synagogue. Gregory Bush (right) is charged with shooting dead two black shoppers in Kentucky

In the latest attack, Robert Bowers stormed the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh and murdered 11 people

Lemon was discussing the murders of Maurice Stallard, 69, (left) and Vickie Jones, 67, (right) who were shot dead in a grocery store last Wednesday in a Jeffersonton, Kentucky

'So let me break that down for you even further. Their analysis shows that for every eight deadly attacks by right-wing extremists, there were one by left-wing extremists,' he said.

'Those are the facts. So people who were angered about what I said are missing the entire point.

'We don't need to worry about people who are thousands of miles away. The biggest threats are homegrown. The facts prove that.'

CNN has declined to comment about Lemon's remarks.

His initial comments from Monday were not widely noticed until Ryan Saavedra, a reporter for the conservative news outlet Daily Wire, posted a clip of the exchange on Twitter late Tuesday.

It quickly drew backlash from the right.

'Disgusting! Imagine the outrage if you changed 'white men' with any other demographic?' tweeted Donald Trump Jr.

'I too cant understand why traditional media continues to lose credibility, when Megyn Kelly is fired over questionable references to Halloween costumes, but Don Lemon is given a national platform to spew overt racism to an audience of literally dozens on his low rated show,' joked Steve Deace, a conservative host for CRTV and The Blaze.

Lemon has attracted criticism from conservative circles ever since he made the initial statement on Monday night in a guest appearance on fellow CNN host Chris Cuomo's show

CNN's Don Lemon: "We have to stop demonizing people and realize the biggest terror threat in this country is white men, most of them radicalized to the right, and we have to start doing something about them." pic.twitter.com/OFu9fL3eHn  Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) October 31, 2018

Other Twitter users pointed out that Lemon's boyfriend is a white man.

In a column, Federalist Senior Editor David Harsanyi lamented that Lemon's remarks were 'unsurprising' in the age of 'identity politics'.

'The notion that a persons race predisposes him to act violently is unequivocally racist,' Harsanyi wrote. 'Its also easily debunked by a cursory reading of history.'

However, Lemon's supporters also took to Twitter to defend his remarks.

'Maybe @donlemon has a point!!!!! What IS lunatic is ALL of the massacres created by the White man against Native Americans and Blacks,' tweeted user @independusa.

'People of color STILL fear for their lives walking down the streets in 2018! Its an American tragedy! Reprehensible!'

Lemon's original comments came in the middle of a conversation between the two CNN hosts about recent tragedies that have been classified as hate crimes.

Maurice Stallard, 69, and Vickie Jones, 67, were shot dead recently in a grocery store in Jeffersonton, Kentucky.

Both victims were black and police say the suspected white shooter, Gregory Bush, had tried to get into a predominantly black church before shooting up the supermarket instead.

The story received little coverage because it was overshadowed by the spate of suspicious packages targeting critics of President Donald Trump.

The suspect in that case, Cesar Sayoc, is half Filipino and half Italian. He falsely proclaimed himself to be a Native American and member of the Seminole tribe.

Sayoc, an apparent ardent fan of Trump who had a van plastered with stickers supporting the President, was quickly labeled a 'white supremacist' after his former employer at a pizza shop told CNN that he was 'anti-gay, anti-black, anti-Jewish.'

In the latest attack, Robert Bowers stormed the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh and murdered 11 people.

Bowers was charged on Wednesday in a 44-count indictment with murder, hate crimes and other offenses that could bring the death penalty.
An Adelaide schoolgirl charged with stabbing a fellow student allegedly had a list of other potential targets, it can now be revealed.

The 14-year-old allegedly stabbed the student as 'practice' and planned to kill five others with knives and scissors.

On Thursday the South Australian Youth Court lifted a suppression order on a second charge the girl is facing - possessing objects with an intent to kill or endanger life.

The court heard the girl had possession of knives and scissors and her alleged targets were a group of five girls who had subjected her to bullying, including physical violence.

An Adelaide schoolgirl (in the car) charged with stabbing a fellow student allegedly had a list of other potential targets, it can now be revealed

The 17-year-old female (pictured) was allegedly stabbed in the shoulder by the other student

Magistrate Oliver Koehn lifted the suppression because of what he said was a strong public interest in responsible reporting of bullying in schools to allow for 'proper debate' about the issue.

He said the bullying by the girl's alleged targets may have contributed to her offending.

The court also heard on Thursday that the girl would abandon an application to vary her strict bail conditions to remove the need for electronic monitoring.

Defence counsel had previously argued the girl had complied with all the conditions of her release and by removing the one condition, that she be electronically tracked through an ankle device, would allow her to better engage socially with friends and take part in other activities during summer.

However, the court was told that application was not now pursued.

The teenager has been charged with aggravated intentionally causing harm over the stabbing, which took place during school hours on August 1.

It was previously alleged the girl's 17-year-old victim had been standing at a hand basin in a bathroom when she felt a sharp pain through her upper back.

St Dominic's Priory College (pictured) was placed into lockdown following the stabbing

A police prosecutor said the accused told her victim 'I'm sorry' before running from the toilet block.

Following the alleged stabbing police found three knives and scissors in the young girl's bag.

Prosecutor Paul Tate told the court the young girl admitted to stabbing the victim for practice.

'She intended on killing five students. She admitted she intended to kill these students at 3pm that day with the use of knives and scissors,' Prosecutor Tate said.

Police seized the schoolgirl's phone, which had the words 'special day' written under August 1 in her calendar, with a love heart and knife emoji.

Her case will return to the Youth Court on November 30.
A glamorous former Playboy model will have to raise her two children without their gangster father after he was shot dead in Greece.

Notorious Sydney gangster John Macris was fatally shot in the chest four times in Greece.

The millionaire nightclub owner spent the past seven years splitting his time between Sydney and Athens where he lived with his model girlfriend Viktoria Karida.

Pictured: glamorous Playboy model girlfriend of slain gangster John Macris who was shot dead in Greece

Notorious Sydney gangster John Macris was fatally shot in the chest four times in Greece

he millionaire nightclub owner spent the past seven years splitting his time between Sydney and Athens where he lived with his model girlfriend Viktoria Karida (pictured)

The 46-year-old Greek Australian was in his smart car, outside his house in Voula, when the attack took place.

Witnesses to the brutal murder say they heard the gunman shout out: 'I'm going to finish him off', the Daily Telegraph reported, and a final, fatal shot was fired as Macris tried to exit the car.

Macris is a former dating partner of PR maven Roxy Jacenko who he reportedly dated off and on for three years before settling down with the former playboy model.

According to People Greece, Ms Kadira is married to businessman Yiannis (John) Macris.

The 'showbiz' pair wedded in an intimate ceremony in the Santa Marina in Mykonos, sometime during 2016.

The model wore a minuscule lace dress with an extravagant tail.

Macris is a former dating partner of PR maven Roxy Jacenko who he reportedly dated off and on for three years before settling down with the former playboy model

According to People Greece , Ms Kadira is married to businessman Yiannis (John) Macris

The 'showbiz' pair wedded in an intimate ceremony in the Santa Marina in Mykonos, sometime during 2016

The model wore a minuscule lace dress with an extravagant tail (pictured)

Ms Kadira has two children with Macris - Alexandra and Achilles - who were both in attendance at their wedding.

More recently, the model has starred as a contestant for My Style Rocks were 14 contestants battle out by presenting their personal style.

Ms Kadira brought her seven-year-old daughter Alexandra on the catwalk with her last month, People Greece reported.

Greek authorities believe Macris had been involved in a drug deal, and are hunting three gunmen.

In Greece, Macris was a property developer and ran nightclubs in Mykonos and Athens, Nine News reported.

Ms Kadira has two children with Macris - Alexandra and Achilles - who were both in attendance at their wedding

The model has starred as a contestant for My Style Rocks were 14 contestants battle out by presenting their personal style

Macris was a prominent figure in the underworld scene for years. He was a business partner of John Ibrahim, The Australian reported, before their business relationship dissolved into a bitter feud.

There is no suggestion that Ibrahim is linked to Macris death.

Macris has been linked to the Comancheros and is the son of Stelios Macris, who was arrested in 2014 after police found 50kg of methamphetamine oil in his car.

Stelios, now 82, was the first to arrive at the crime scene on Wednesday, the Telegraph reported, and exclaimed: 'What's happened to my son? Please tell me he's not dead'.

Police remain at the scene of the shooting and an investigation is underway.

The father-of-two's funeral is understood to be scheduled for Friday.
A Bronx bishop has been removed from his ministry by the Catholic Church after decades-old sexual abuse allegations brought by a parishioner were deemed credible.

John Jenik, an auxiliary Catholic bishop, was removed after Michael Meenan, 52, came forward and accused him of inappropriate conduct.

Bishop Jenik, 74, has denied the allegations. He is the first active bishop in the United States to be removed from his ministry because of accusations brought forth by a parishioner.

I continue to steadfastly deny that I have ever abused anyone at any time, Jenik wrote in an October 29 letter to his parishioners.

John Jenik, an auxiliary Catholic bishop, was removed after Michael Meenan, 52, came forward and accused him of inappropriate conduct

Therefore I will ask the Vatican, which has ultimate jurisdiction over such cases to review the matter, with the hope of ultimately proving my innocence.

In the letter, Jenik asks parishioners to please pray for the person who brought this allegation against me, and for all those who are victim-survivors of abuse.

The Vatican will investigate the matter.

Meenan, who first notified the Archdiocese of New York in January of Jeniks alleged behavior, says that the incidents took place between 1980 and 1986.

He says he and Jenik met through confession. From there, Jenik became close with the boys family and gained the trust of his parents, according to The New York Times.

Meenan alleges that Jenik took him on dozens of occasions to a home he owned in Tivoli, New York, an upstate town located on the east bank of the Hudson River.

His parents approved of these overnight stays because they implicitly trusted Jenik, who was a priest at the time.

During their time alone together, Jenik allegedly took the boy out for dinners and movies and even served him alcohol, even though Meenan was just a teenager, according to the Times.

Although the alleged incidents occurred decades ago, the Lay Review Board has concluded that the evidence is sufficient to find the allegation credible and substantiated, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said in a statement on Wednesday

On one occasion, Meenan alleges that Jenik snuck into the same bed with him and began rubbing and patting the sides of his body over the blankets.

The weirdest, creepiest part was how he was putting his mouth next to my mouth, as if he was taking my breath, he told the Times.

Although the alleged incidents occurred decades ago, the Lay Review Board has concluded that the evidence is sufficient to find the allegation credible and substantiated, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said in a statement on Wednesday.

This is the first time that allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct have been made against Jenik.

Meenan said the experiences with Jenik have left him psychologically traumatized.

He was thinking, I can do whatever I want and get away with it, Meenan said.

I can no longer live with this rage. It has got to go.

Pope Francis waves as he arrives for the weekly general audience at Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican on Wednesday. The Jenik case is just the latest scandal plaguing the Catholic Church in a series of revelations of widespread abuse and cover-up by clergy

Jeniks removal comes as a shock because of his high-profile role in community affairs.

He famously wore a bulletproof vest as he walked the streets of the Bedford-Fordham area in the Bronx and confronted drug dealers, according to the New York Daily News.

Jenik will not face prosecution because the statute of limitations expired long ago.

The Jenik case is just the latest scandal that has plagued the Catholic Church.

Last month, the Justice Department opened an investigation into child sex abuse by priests in Pennsylvania, six Roman Catholic Church dioceses said.

The investigation is the first statewide probe by federal authorities of allegations of sex abuse and cover-up by the Catholic Church in the United States, according to groups representing abuse victims.

The Church in Chile, Australia and Ireland is also reeling from crises involving sexual abuse of minors with surveys showing the scandal has eroded confidence in the Church and Pope.

The Pennsylvania dioceses said they had received federal subpoenas following a state grand jury report that alleged over 300 Catholic priests in Pennsylvania had sexually abused children over 70 years.

Prosecutors in about a dozen states have announced that they, too, are investigating alleged instances of sex abuse and attempts to cover them up by the Catholic Church.

More states are expected to follow.
Rev. Christopher Foxhoven, 45, (pictured) was charged with face eight counts of sexual battery

An Ohio priest is facing charges after his diocese said he admitted to having a relationship with 17-year-old girl who is now pregnant.

Father Christopher Foxhoven, 45, was the pastor at Holy Cross and St. Mary of the Hill parishes in the Diocese of Steubenville near Pittsburgh, 10TV reports.

According to the Athens County prosecutor, the teen was an altar girl at Holy Cross in Glouster.

Both Foxhoven and the girl told her parents that she was pregnant.

Foxhoven is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with the girl between August and October of this year, however the prosecutor said their relationship lasted three years.

The Diocese in Steubenville reported the allegations to the Athens County Sheriff's Office when they became aware of them on October 27.

Foxhoven was immediately suspended from taking any kind of religious service and was barred from coming into the church.

Courtesy: WBNS-10TV

Foxhoven, 45, admitted to having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, who is now pregnant with his child including having sex on church property including Holy Cross Church

The priest is now barred from church property, held on $1 million cash bond. Foxhoven is facing allegations of sexual abuse of a minor

A spokesman for the diocese said Canon Law prohibits anything but except a suspension by the diocese.

Shortly after the suspension, Foxhoven's home was searched whereupon police allegedly found evidence of criminal activity.

Several used condoms and a used pregnancy test with a positive results were found.

Foxhoven was charged with eight counts of sexual battery. The state requested a $1 million bond. He will appear for a review hearing on November 26.

Foxhoven was ordained in 2004 and previously worked in St. Clairsville and Wintersville. There are no other reported issues with the priest's behavior in the past.

Foxhoven's home was searched whereupon police allegedly found evidence of criminal activity. Several used condoms and a used pregnancy test with a positive results were found

It's alleged that some of the sexual activity occurred at the St. Mary Of The Hills Church, pictured

In a statement from Ohio's office of public assistance called the suspension 'the first step towards making things right.

'Bishop Monforton, the bishop of the Diocese of Steubenville, should aggressively reach out to parishioners especially those at parishes where Fr. Foxhaven spent time, and urge anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered abuse to come forward and make a report to authorities,' said SNAP's Executive Director, Zach Hiner.

'The Bishop should urge Ohio's attorney general to immediately open an independent investigation into not only his diocese, but all those throughout the state, and help expose the depth of clergy sex crimes and cover-ups in Ohio.

'By openly asking for an investigation and then allowing independent law enforcement officials to do their jobs, Bishop Monforton can show that he is as committed to both the truth and the prevention of future cases of abuse as he says he is,' continued Hiner.

Anyone with additional information pertinent to this case, is urged to contact Detective Ryan Gillette with the Athens County Sheriff's Office at (740) 593-6633.
Cahill's charge was downgraded to manslaughter based on her suffering PTSD

Judge Peter Johnson admitted their relationship was 'volatile' on 'both sides'

A court heard Cahill had previously wounded him after an incident at their home

Irish woman Cathrina Cahill admitted to the unlawful killing of her fiance in 201

An Irish woman who stabbed her tradesman partner to death previously wounded him after an incident at their home, a court has heard.

Killer Cathrina Cahill sat quietly as details of her violent past were heard, ahead of being sentenced for the manslaughter of her fiance David Walsh, 29.

The 27-year-old Irishwoman last week pleaded guilty to the charge after it was downgraded from murder, for Walsh's stabbing death in February 2017.

Killer Cathrina Cahill (pictured) sat meekly as details of her violent past were heard, ahead of being sentenced for the manslaughter of her fiance David Walsh (pictured)

Cahill stabbed her tradesman partner to death previously wounded him after an incident at their home

The parents of Cathrina Cahill, Rita Cahill (second from left) and Daniel Cahill (second from right) are seen with supporters outside the New South Wales Supreme Court on Thursday

In the New South Wales Supreme Court on Thursday, Judge Peter Johnson admitted the pair's relationship had been 'volatile' on 'both sides'.

It was then revealed Cahill had a previous conviction for being violent toward the father-of-four.

In April 2016, Cahill was convicted of recklessly wounding Mr Walsh, 29, following an incident at their Sydney home and placed on a two-year good behaviour bond.

Cahill was due to face a murder trial in the NSW Supreme Court on October 23, but the charge was downgraded to manslaughter.

She then pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of substantial impairment by abnormality of the mind.

She fatally stabbed Mr Walsh in the neck with a bottle following an argument outside their home in Padstow, in Sydney's south-west on February 17 last year.

The pair had been engaged for just five weeks.

Cahill (pictured leaving court on October 22) and Mr Walsh were both from County Wexford in southeastern Ireland
Retail giant IKEA has been ordered to pay a woman $8,000 in compensation after one of their mugs exploded in her face.

The Chinese woman, who only wanted to be named as Mrs Wang, said she was drinking a hot drink from the mug when it exploded in her face in May of 2017.

The explosion of glass broke one of the Beijing woman's front teeth, split her lip and knocked her unconscious.

Retail giant giant IKEA has been ordered to pay a woman $8,000 in compensation after one of their mugs exploded in her face causing injury and mental trauma

The explosion of glass broke one of the woman's front teeth, split her lip and knocked her unconscious

Mrs Wang said she had to visit the hospital a dozen times after the incident and received four stitches in her bottom lip.

IKEA's lawyers submitted lab results claiming they proved the integrity of the mug, however the Beijing court ruled that the company had to pay the victim $8,000 in compensation.

On top of the compensation payout, IKEA was also ordered to refund the victim 80 cents for the mug itself.

Mrs Wang told local media outlet, Shanghaiist that she still suffers mental trauma from the incident.

IKEA's lawyers submitted lad results claiming they proved the integrity of the mug however the Beijing court ruled that the company had to pay the victim $8,000 in compensation

On top of the compensation payout IKEA was also ordered to refund the victim 80 cents for the mug itself

'I panic whenever I hear any loud, sudden sound, if Im woken up in the night by a sound, Im not able to get back to sleep,' she said.

'During the day, Im very depressed, it has even come to affect my work.'

Mrs Wang initially sought $158,000 in compensation claiming the retail giant had sold her a faulty product.

Both parties appealed the compensation decision however the Beijing court of appeal upheld the original ruling.
Fed-up residents along a busy road prone to car accidents have had to fortify their front yards with boulders to protect their homes from the vehicles.

Patricia Bourke is a resident on South Pine Road at Everton Park, a suburb north of Brisbane.

She told the Courier Mail cars have slid off the main road and hit her property five times since 2009.

Patricia Bourke has installed boulders in her front yard to protect her home from car crashes

Peter James said a boulder was placed in the front yard when he and his family first moved into their home, but they have since removed it

One crash sent bricks flying from her fence and into her living room. The close brushes have left her living in fear.

'To be honest, I've had enough. This is my home.'

Neighbour Peter James told Daily Mail Australia Ms Bourke had spent $3,000 installing boulders at the front of her yard for protection.

He said when he and his family first moved into their own house on the busy road, a big granite boulder sat at the front of the house.

'We had just moved in and needed the space for parking, so we removed it. We didn't even know why it was there at the time.'

Even though Mr James removed the boulder from the front yard, he said he hasn't experienced an incident yet.

Though like the other residents, he knows how dangerous the road can be.

Between October 10 and 14, four vehicles have skidded and left the road.

Mr James a few years ago, a truck was driving down the hill headed south along the road, when the driver had to slam on his brakes. The trailer slipped off and swung around into one of the fences.

'There is a sharp right hand band where traffic queues and you can't see it until you get there,' he said.

He added wet weather and unawareness of the road played a part.

'A lot of the accidents come from younger drivers who are less aware of the particular conditions.

'The person who drove the truck was even a trainee.'

Mr James said the road had been upgraded in the past, including a new speed limit sign and a widened right-hand turn lane.

Mr James said the road had been upgraded in the past, including a new speed limit sign and a widened right-hand turn lane

While he believes the upgrades have reduced the number of accidents, he said Ms Bourke told him that's when the accidents started

While he believes it has reduced the number of accidents, he said Ms Bourke told him that's when the accidents started.

'She told me she only had accidents since the median strip was widened outside the servo on the corner of Halle Street.

'It makes sense as it would reduce the curve radius and make the corner tighter.'

Liberal MP for Everton Tim Mander supported the comment and said he had lived in the area for 20 years without incident. It was only when the island was installed in 2009, the accidents started happening.

Residents have put out a call for Transport and Main Roads Department (TMR) to step up their game.

Ms Bourke said the department had spiked ideas for guard rails as it would increase the risk of injuring the drivers.

Patricia Bourke has had to rebuild the fence in her front yard countless times after cars have repeatedly crashed into it

Mr Mander stepped in and said the department's solutions had so far been a 'band-aid'.

'Its a public safety issue and to have five accidents in a period of a week  there is something systemically wrong with the road.'

TMR did install a non-slip surface in 2014, though Miss Bourke said the road was only accident-free for three years.

A spokesperson said the department were listening to the concerns.

'Works include improvements to signs to alert motorists of the road's curve and slipper

The spokesperson went on to say the department would continue to look into how it could improve the safety of the road.
A man who stabbed his mother to death because he was allegedly having a bad dream has been found not guilty of her murder.

Lanell Latta, 50, was found stabbed to death in her home in Avalon, on Sydney's Northern Beaches, two days after a celebration for her partner Geoff Robson-Scott's 60th birthday.

Ms Latta's son Joel Woszatka, 25, was arrested nearby and charged with his mother's murder.

Woszatka faced the New South Wales Supreme Court on Thursday and was found not guilty by reason of mental illness.

Sydney woman Lanell Latta, 50, (right) was found stabbed to death in her bed and her son Joel Woszatka, 25, was found not guilty of her murder by reason of mental illness

Justice Helen Wilson ruled Woszatka 'cannot be held criminally responsible for the death of Ms Latta, or for the assault upon Mr Robson-Scott'.

'It is very clear that the accused has been severely ill since, at least, 2015, when he first presented in a psychotic state to Manly Hospital.

'He harboured homicidal ideation towards Mr Robson-Scott, and having given voice the previous day to an hallucination that God had told him to kill his mother.

'Whilst there have been occasional improvements to his condition as it manifested at that time, when treated assertively with anti-psychotic medication, it is also clear that the condition has endured, despite treatment.'

Officers are photographed returning to the scene of the killing to collect evidence after Lanell Latta was found dead in her bed

She was found stabbed to death two days after she celebrated her partner Geoff Robson-Scott's (pictured together) 60th birthday with a big party

Woszatka ceased taking his anti-psychotic medications in March 2017 because he 'never saw himself as requiring medication, and was content to take it no longer.'

Woszatka consistently had trouble keeping on his medication.

In February 2015 hospital notes showed that Ms Latta reported to staff that her son had told her that 'god' was told him to kill her which lead to him reaming in hospital.

Court documents stated that based on the evidence there was 'no doubt' that Waszatka did indeed stab his mother once in the chest which directly lead to her death.

His insistence on not taking his medication for an extended period of time was also a contributing factor in his mental illness at the time of his mother's death, the court stated.
Fans of right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos have been left outraged after the controversial speaker's Australian tour in November was unexpectedly canceled.

An email from the event's promoter on Monday informed would be attendees, some of whom spent $499 on tickets, that Yiannopoulos and guest speaker Ann Coulter would not be making the trip down under.

His supporters were less than impressed and so was Yiannopoulos, who claimed he had no knowledge of the cancellation until the email was distributed.

Fans of right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos (pictured) have been left outraged after the controversial speaker's Australian tour in November was canceled out of the blue

Yiannopoulos' AE Media promoter announced the tour was cancelled due to 'unforeseen circumstances' and informed that cities and dates may be changed.

'Fortunately however we've arranged an agreement with Penthouse to take on Tommy Robinson from our tour and honour your ticket for the Penthouse event with Tommy Robinson and Gavin McInnes,' the email read.

While it went on to state people would be refunded the money they spent on copies of Yiannopoulos's books, there was no mention of ticket refunds.

Yiannopoulos, who became infamous for criticising feminism, political correctness and Islam, told fans he was 'committed' to getting fans their rightful refund.

'Yesterday, I woke up to the news that my Australian tour with Ann had been cancelled and the promoter was 'transferring' tickets to another series of events. This is illegal,' he wrote to Instagram on Wednesday.

An email from the event's promoter on Monday informed ticket holders Yiannopoulos (left) and guest speaker Ann Coulter (right) would be replaced by two alternatives

While it (email pictured) went on the state people would be refunded the money they spent on copies of Yiannopoulos's books, there was no mention of ticket refunds

'If you're a ticket holder and want a refund, they are obliged to give you one and I will make sure that happens. (Of course, if you do want to attend the other tourgo ahead! Two great speakers.).'

He added he was working with lawyers to ensure promoters would fulfill their obligation to offer a refund, and would be touring in Australia in 2019 instead.

The outspoken planned to cause uproar, claiming the tour will guest star Julia Gillard,Malcolm Turnbull, Clementine Ford, Waleed Aly, Yassmin Abdel Magied and Jacinta Ardern, 'although they don't know it yet'.

Yiannopoulos said his second tour was to 'save glorious Australians' from 'bonkers feminists of the American culture wars and the wacky social justice warriors who want to hand Western civilization over to Muslims and race-baiters'.

The controversial star sparked violent protests at his sold out shows last year across Australia.

Yiannopoulos' AE Media promoter announced the tour was cancelled due to 'unforeseen circumstances' and informed that cities and dates may be changed

The controversial star sparked violent protests at his sold out shows last year across Australia

During his Sydney show, Yiannopoulos attracted 100 protesters who chanted 'F*** off Nazi' in violent scenes that led to seven arrests. Inside the venue, an audience member threw a shoe at him during his speech.

It is not clear whether Yiannopoulos plans to pay back the bill he was ordered to pay by Victoria Police to cover the costs of manning the protests outside his talk in Melbourne.

Last year, Clementine Ford declined Mr Yiannopoulos' invitation to debate on controversial issues and said, 'I would never legitimise Milo's existence or Nazi links by appearing anywhere with him'.

Mr Yiannopoulos has labelled her 'vindictive, spiteful' and 'particularly unintelligent'.

He also said he watched The Project through 'gritted teeth', and found Waleed Aly to be an 'intellectual lightweight' and 'insubstantial'. He has also labelled the panelist on Network Ten as a 'coward' for avoiding to interview him on live TV.

Yiannopoulos has labelled Clementine Ford 'vindictive, spiteful' and 'particularly unintelligent.'

In an appearance on the Bolt Report, Mr Yiannopoulos announced his new book coming out called 'Australia, You're My Only Hope,' which he described as a last-ditch effort to save Australians from 'the cancers of public life'.

Ann Coulter, an American conservative commentator, has written a succession of high-selling books on U.S. politics and culture.

Ms Coulter is a regular guest on Fox News programs and has made provocative appearances on liberal shows such as Real Time and The View, where she commonly raises the hackles of hosts and audiences.

The tour is advertised as 'an evening of hysterical, irreverent comedy and incisive political commentary with two undisputed queens of American conservatism'.

General admission to the Milo and Anne: Live tour begins at $89 and go up to $499 for VIP Tickets.

The price for a VIP Cruise ticket has been set at $999, which includes a 1.5h private mingle with Ann & Milo in a private yacht cruise, food platter and drinks, photo with the speakers, and signed merchandise.
Puppies that were just hours old were stuffed into a plastic bag and then left to die in woods near Denver, Colorado.

The helpless newborns were dumped in a remote area of the woods in Garfield County late last week, but now the police are determined to track down whoever decided to leave them there.

At about 3pm on October 26, deputies with the Garfield County Sheriffs Office were called to County Road 244 near Rifle after campers in the area discovered nine puppies inside an open plastic trash bag.

The Garfield County Sheriffs Office is looking for the person who a dumped a plastic bag full of puppies to die in a wooded area. Nine of the little dogs were in the bag, just two have survived (pictured)

A couple camping nearby found the bag. It was left open and a total of 9 puppies that were less than 24-hours old were inside. Two of the puppies were already dead when they were found

The puppies were immediately taken to the Divide Creek Animal Hospital for care by one of the Sheriffs Animal Control Deputies. Once at the clinic, the puppies were immediately placed in warm towels under a surgical lamp with several bulbs to bring their body temperatures back up to a normal range. The puppies from were given formula

Two of the puppies were already dead and veterinarians say that the entire litter would have perished had they not been found when they were.

A deputy took the surviving puppies to the Divide Creek Animal Shelter for care.

Once at the clinic, the pups were placed in warm towels under a surgical lamps with bulbs designed to bring their body temperatures back up to a normal range.

Veterinarians then bottle-fed the puppies with formula every two hours.

Unfortunately, as of Thursday morning, only two of the puppies remain alive.

The abandonment of any animal, whether it lives or dies, is a Class 1 Misdemeanor in the state of Colorado and carries a minimum fine of $500 and the possibility of up to six months in jail.

In this case, the sheriffs office said the charges could be made for each of the nine puppies making the potential fine $ 4,500 or more

If the two remaining puppies continue to do well, they will be placed in foster care and could be eligible for adoption at a later date.

The investigation into the crime is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Garfield County Sheriffs Office non-emergency number at 970-625-8095

The puppies slightly dried umbilical cords were still attached and their eyes were closed. Only two of the babies survived
Sheets of paper displaying the words 'It's OK to be white' have been plastered across the office of Australia's first female Muslim MP.

The A4 pieces of paper taped to the front of Dr Anne Aly's office in Perth reference a slogan One Nation leader Pauline Hanson tried, but failed, to pass in parliament last month.

Dr Anne Aly was born in Egypt and has been a Labor politician since the 2016 when she was elected to represent Cowan in Western Australia.

Sheets of paper displaying the words 'It's OK to be white' have been plastered across the office of Australia's first female Muslim MP (pictured)

Dr Aly (pictured) was elected to represent Cowan in Western Australia in the 2016 election

Dr Aly told the Sydney Morning Herald she found the posters when she arrived at work on Thursday morning.

She said the words were a 'loaded slogan' that has a long history within the white supremacist movement.

'It's OK to be whoever you are, but the point of this slogan 'it's OK to be white' is not saying that,' she said.

'It was actually made famous as the title of a song by Aggressive Force. One of the lines of the song is that the holocaust is a 'holohoax'.'

But Dr Aly's office was not the only place targeted.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young also found a poster with the same slogan outside her office in Adelaide.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young also found a poster with the same slogan outside her office in Adelaide. She has reported the incident to police

Ms Hanson-Young posted a picture of the sign on Twitter, saying whoever had placed it there should be 'named and shamed'.

'Pro-nazi slogans like this are not welcome in Adelaide. Go back to the rock you crawled out from and stay there,' she said.

Ms Hanson told The Advertiser she had reported 'this vile racism' to the police.

Dr Anne Aly (pictured) was born in Egypt and has been a Labor politician since 2016

The slogan in the photo is the same motion One Nation leader Pauline Hanson (pictured) tried and failed to get through parliament last month

Last month, Ms Hanson told Parliament 'anti-white' racism is on the rise, but her motion of 'it's OK to be white' was defeated 31-28, despite the support of government senators.

'It is indeed OK to be white. Such a simple sentence should go without saying but I suspect many members in this place would struggle to say it,' Ms Hanson said.

'People have a right to be proud of their cultural background whether they are black, white or brindle.'

The motion was only narrowly unsuccessful, but a number of opposition MPs criticised Ms Hanson's proposal.

'It could have been written on a piece of toilet paper,' Crossbench senator Derryn Hinch said.

'This sort of racism is not only wrong, it could be dangerous.'

The slogan, which if often used by white supremacy groups, originated in America.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dr Aly for comment.
Despite the international belief that Australians are laid-back, fun-loving and easygoing, they have been found to be quite the opposite.

Ex-Google data scientist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz' new book reveals some telling statistics about Aussie's most frequent key words on the search engine.

'Australians make more searches, looking for help with anxiety, than anyone else in the world, Stephens-Davidowitz told NewsCorp.

He said while people aren't always honest in face-to-face discussions or on online surveys, their search history reveals plenty their true opinions, thoughts and ideas.

Ex Google data scientist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz' new book reveals some telling statistics about Aussie's most frequent key words on the search engine

And the analyst, who was been studying data since 2004, said Australians are the most frequent in sharing their anxieties to Google.

And while he understands the necessity of privacy, Mr Sephens-Davidowitz believes the use of this data is crucial in understanding why and how people use the search engine.

The results aren't due to a recent spike, either. Mr Stephens-Davidowitz said the numbers have been relatively high for some time now, and believes Australians are more anxious and insecure than they lead people to believe.

Many Australian celebrities have been vocal about their battles with their mental health.

The Australian Bachelor nation resident presenter, Osher Gunsberg, penned an open letter to the Huffington Post only last year detailing his uphill battle with his anxiety disorder.

The Australian Bachelor nation resident presenter, Osher Gunsberg, penned an open letter detailing his uphill battle with his anxiety disorder

He described the day he 'lost his mind' after coming off anti-depressant medication and while living in California.

'The part of my brain that was able to rationalise the distorted thoughts had stopped working, and now I was believing every irrational fear that came into my brain as if it were absolute fact,' he wrote.

'I descended rapidly into paranoid delusions which had me convinced that the world was going to end that very day -- and I was the only one who knew about it.'

'Often when people think of mental illness they picture that homeless man on the beach. They don't think of me in a nice tailored suit counting roses and playing cupid on television.'

'I live with a mental illness, just like hundreds of thousands of Australians who also have a different kind of brain. In fact, there are more than four million people in Australia who are affected by complex mental illness.'
Hunters could be financially rewarded for killing pigs under proposed legislation.

The Queensland State Government is making a push for a $5 bounty to be awarded to anyone who kills a feral pig within the state.

Deeming the hogs a 'pest', the bounty has been backed by the state's councils, who say the 'humane killing' of the pigs is a fair solution to a larger problem.

Wild pigs are among Queensland's most widespread and damaging pests

Feral pigs are infamous for spreading weeds, damaging crops and livestock and carrying diseases, local councils argue.

In a state already ravaged by drought, they argue the threat of a wild pest needs to be dealt with immediately.

The push follows discussion at the Local Government Association of Queensland's (LGAQ) annual conference on Wednesday, the Courier Mail reports.

Called the 'snout bounty', the LGAQ proposed both councils and the State Government offer matched funding to get it underway.

While many regional residents support the bounty as a solution to the infestation, others say it is inhumane.

Hunters have proposed a $5 bounty per pig to help manage the problem

Those opposing the bill say control methods - including shooting, poisoning and trapping - should be combined with appropriate land management practices.

Should the bill pass in Queensland, those lobbying for it hope it will eventually be implemented nation-wide.

Australia's feral pig population currently stands at about 24million.
A kind-hearted lawyer is giving away 82 suits from his own wardrobe to needy men to help them find work.

Daniel Hua from Brisbane has managed to collect an excessive amount of suits while working as a criminal lawyer.

Now he plans to give the suits, the majority by designer label Hugo Boss, to men in need.

'I want them to be put to good use,' he wrote on Facebook.

A kind-hearted lawyer is helping men trying to find work by giving away 82 suits from his own wardrobe, insisting they're good quality items

While working as a criminal lawyer in Brisbane, Daniel Hua has managed to collect an excessive amount of suits

Mr Hua posted to Facebook on October 29 and has already received more than 100 comments and 78 shares.

'I've got more than I'll ever need in this lifetime so I'm going to give 82 of them away,' the post read.

Mr Hua has two conditions to his kind-hearted giveaway: the men mustn't already own a suit, and they must also be wanting to advance their career or studies.

'Apart from a few of them they're all Hugo Boss Black Label, varying in condition from good to new/never worn, in various colours and patterns,' he said.

Mr Hua said the idea came to him months ago, as a 'voice in his head' as he was falling asleep.

'They aren't cheap suits,' he told the ABC.

Mr Hua's family came to Australia from Vietnam as refugees with no possessions, so he thought this would be a good way to give back.

'This great country has been really good to me and good to my family, and I thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to pass it on,' he said

'This great country has been really good to me and good to my family, and I thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to pass it on,' he said.

Mr Hua blames his extensive suit collection to having to appear in court every day as a criminal lawyer.

Since the suits are still in great condition, Mr Hua wants to give them to people who would benefit from them the most.

'I'm not interested in giving them to guys who want to look sharp,' he said.

Mr Hua, who is 183cm and 85kg, wears 40R suits.

Mr Hua plans to select the recipients himself in the coming days before removing the Facebook post on November 5.
One hundred sheep and a luxury vehicle have been seized by police after being reported stolen four years ago.

The flock of sheep and a Mercedes Benz were found on a rural property in Mees Lane, Wantiool, near Junee in New South wales at about 9.15am on Wednesday.

Detectives said the Mercedes Benz is valued at $100,000 and was confirmed to be a stolen vehicle.

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One hundred stolen sheep have been seized by police on a rural property in New South Wales

The Rural Crime Prevention Team have taken the sheep to another property for further investigation.

Further forensic testing will be carried out on the vehicle.

Authorities have discovered the Mercedes Benz has links back to Sydney.

'To get a high-end luxury Mercedes vehicle on a rural location such as the one we're at today is a little bit unusual,' said Sargeant Damian Nott.

Police have seized a Mercedes Benz valued at about $100,000 and was confirmed to be stolen

Police will aim to identify the rightful owners of the flock after further investigations on the sheep.

The Rural Crime Prevention Team consists of officers from the Riverina, Murray River and Murrumbidgee Police districts.

New South Wales Police told Daily Mail Australia they are still in the process of trying to identify who was behind the crime.

Inquiries into the matter continue.
Jannatun Cintya Dewi, a 24-year-old civil servant, was the first victim of the crash to be identified

The first funeral has been held for a passenger of the Lion Air Jet which crashed off Indonesia's northern coast on Monday and killed 189 people.

Jannatun Cintya Dewi, a 24-year-old civil servant, was the first victim of the crash to be identified.

Only body parts have been found so far and the passengers' remains have been sent to a hospital for DNA testing in order to identify them.

It comes after investigators recovered one of the two black boxes from the Lion Air Jet, which could be critical to establishing why the brand new jet plunged into the Java Sea shortly after take-off.

Forensic experts identified Dewi as the first victim of the crash on Wednesday evening.

Her coffin was carried by pallbearers through the streets of her East Java home town of Sidoarjo on Thursday.

Dewi's mother collapsed and had to be carried into their home, while friends and relatives wiped away tears as the casket was laid in a freshly dug grave sprinkled with flowers. A bowl of fruit and two palm branches lay at one end.

Earlier divers plucked the orange data recorder from the ocean and placed it in a plastic tub as search teams continued to scour the seabed for the fuselage of the Boeing-737 MAX 8.

Many other victims have yet to be located and analysts hope further victims could still be found with the bulk of the wreckage.

'I assume that there will be a lot of bodies still strapped into the seats,' aviation analyst Dudi Sudibyo told AFP.

The coffin of Jannatun Cintya Dewi, 24, is carried through the streets of Sidoarjo in Indonesia after the civil servant was the first victim to be identified as a victim of the Lion Air crash

Dozens of divers are taking part in the massive recovery effort along with helicopters and ships, but authorities have all but ruled out finding any survivors.

The plane crashed off Indonesia's northern coast on Monday and had only been in service a few months.

The black boxes, which airlines are required to install, offer investigators their best chance of discovering why such a new jet crashed.

The devices record information about the speed, altitude and direction of the plane as well as flight crew conversations.

'The good news is we have found one of the black boxes,' search and rescue agency head Muhammad Syaugi told reporters.

Authorities say a flight data recorder was recovered, but they were still looking for the cockpit voice recorder.

On a Jakarta dockside Thursday, Boeing and US National Transportation Safety Board officials joined the Indonesian team in sifting through twisted metal plane parts and piles of passengers' torn clothing, shoes, wallets and mobile phones.

The single-aisle Boeing plane, which was on its way from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang city, is one of the world's newest and most advanced commercial passenger jets.

Relatives carry the coffin containing the remains of Jannatun Cintya Dewi during her funeral in Indonesia today, after she was identified as one of the 189 people killed by the plane crash

The coffin is lowered into the grave by relatives of Jannatun Cintya Dewi, who was among the passengers killed when the Lion Air jet crashed off the Indonesian coast on Monday

Despite the name, black boxes are in fact bright orange with reflective stripes. They are built to survive at vast depths and in extreme heat, and are fitted with a beacon which can emit a signal for one month.

Black boxes help explain nearly 90 percent of all crashes, according to aviation experts.

'Data from the plane -- the engine, all the instruments -- are recorded there,' Sudibyo said. 'If there is an anomaly, some technical problem, it is recorded there too.'

Lion's admission that the jet had an unspecified technical issue on a previous flight - as well its abrupt fatal dive - have raised questions about whether it had faults specific to the newly released model.

The accident has also resurrected concerns about Indonesia's poor air safety record which until recently saw the country's carriers facing years-long bans from entering European Union and US airspace.

Lion Air has been plagued by safety concerns and customer complaints over unreliable scheduling and poor service.

The budget carrier 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.

In 2014, an AirAsia crash in the Java Sea during stormy weather killed 162 people.

Divers retrieved one of the plane's two black boxes, which could hold vital clues to the cause of the deadly accident

Authorities are sending recovered remains to hospital for DNA comparison to passengers' relatives
A sexual predator posing as a model scout has used a Muslim fashion retailer's Instagram page to blackmail and send crude messages to teenage girls.

The Australian Federal Police are now investigating the online scam after Hijab House went public this week to warn other girls and parents.

The retailer released some of the shocking messages, including one sent to a 13-year-old who was blackmailed into sniffing her mother's shoes.

With stores in Sydney, Melbourne and the Middle East, Hijab House (pictured) has more than 523,000 Instagram followers

'Taking a break from the horror to give you a happy photo,' Hijab House posted on Wednesday as it spreads the word about the online scam it's been caught up in

Hijab House has publicly released some of the shocking messages (pictured) from a predator posing as a model scout for the Muslim fashion retailer

'You just need to achieve an orgasm, sensualness while smelling and kissing your mother's shoes. Nothing has to show. And these are 100 per cent private,' the message read.

When girl questioned why the request was relevant, she was told that 'every model has done it'.

In another message, a girl was threatened with blackmail.

'Remove your story please or all the videos you sent will be posted online,' the message stated.

About 900 girls and young women have been in touch with Hijab House since it became aware of the scam a fortnight ago, when it began getting 30 to 40 messages daily.

'An account has been pretending to work for us and has been manipulating young hijabis into sending inappropriate things via DM,' the Instagram post stated.

A scammer has targeted Hijab House's Instagram page (pictured), where young followers have been blackmailed, asked for personal details, intimidated, bullied and sexual harassed.

'The account has been blackmailing young hijabis: forcing them to do things using threats, asking them for personal details, making stalking claims, intimidation, bullying and downright harassment including sexual harassment.'

The 13-year-old girl that was blackmailed into smelling and kissing her mother's shoes was left humiliated after the image was sent to her friends, according to Hijab House owner Tariq Houcher.

'It caused her to skip school and suffer an anxiety attack. For a 13-year-old that could ruins someone's life. Their reputation is everything at school,' he told Ten Daily.

One girl told Hijab House that she was told to wear tight clothing so they could see her body shape while another girl's photo was posted on a pornographic website.

With stores in Sydney, Melbourne and the Middle East, Hijab House believes the scammer is a man who is working his way through the retailer 523,000 followers.

Many young girls were blackmailed in messages sent by the predator posing as a model scout

Mr Houcher said Instagram, the Office of the eSafety Commissioner, Crime Stoppers and NSW Police were all alerted about the scam, which wasn't taken seriously until Australian Federal Police were contacted.

'The conversations often go for weeks and they're done in a way where trust is built up. It's all tailored to each specific girl, her life, and her online presence,' he told 10 Daily.

'If this scammer is getting through to some girls then he's going to keep doing it, but if he's constantly getting blocked, then he won't be able to find fresh victims.'

Australian Federal Police confirmed it's aware of young teenage followers of the Instagram account being groomed online and is investigating.

Hijab House posted this photo on Wednesday to thank everyone for the overwhelming response since going public about the online scam

'We have received reports of an individual posing as an employee of the company and asking the young people  many aged between 13 and 17  to provide sexualised images of themselves,' a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

'These photos are then used to blackmail the victims into sending further images.

On Wednesday, Hibjab House took to Instagram to post a happy photo of young hijabs to thank everyone for the overwhelming response in recent days and hopes that 'this horrible saga' will hopefully stop.

'We chose this photo because it so beautifully captures the spirit of the online hijab community, thank you for your help and thank you for trusting us,' the post states.

'You honestly helped so many young girls and probably even saved a life. Before our post, about 30 girls a day were DMing us about the scam asking if it's real. Today that number has dropped to zero.'


Cahill's charge was downgraded to manslaughter based on her suffering PTSD

Judge Peter Johnson admitted their relationship was 'volatile' on 'both sides'

A court heard Cahill had previously wounded him after an incident at their home

Mr Walsh's former fiancee Cathrina Cahill stabbed him to death early last year

The mother of slain Irishman David Walsh's daughters has taken aim at his killer

The mother of slain Irishman David Walsh's three daughters has taken aim at his killer saying she 'took away' their lives too.

A father-of-four, Walsh was stabbed to death by his fiancee Cathrina Cahill at their Sydney home, just five weeks after he proposed on New Year's Eve 2016.

In an impassioned victim impact statement read by a representative, Caroline O'Brien wrote how Cahill's diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder was offensive to Mr Walsh's bereaved family.

'To say you have PTSD is a joke, you are a joke,' she wrote in the statement read to the New South Wales Supreme Court.

'Murder is murder to us and that will always be your title.'

Cahill, 27, last week pleaded guilty to manslaughter after it was downgraded from murder, for Walsh's stabbing death in February 2017.

The mother of slain Irishman David Walsh's three daughters has taken aim at his killer Cathrina Walsh (pictured) saying she 'took away' their lives too

Cahill stabbed her tradesman partner to death previously wounded him after an incident at their home (pictured are the couple)

The parents of Cathrina Cahill, Rita Cahill (second from left) and Daniel Cahill (second from right) are seen with supporters outside the New South Wales Supreme Court on Thursday

'Once you picked up that knife you took my children's lives away too,' Ms O'Brien wrote.

Ms O'Brien, who had been in a relationship with Mr Walsh in their native Ireland for more than seven years, said he was a devoted family man who 'loved and gave and had the biggest heart'.

Speaking of her daughters' grief, Ms O'Brien revealed looking at photos of Mr Walsh 'just brings (the girls) sadness.'

'All they see is you and a knife.'

Mr Walsh had five brothers, a sister and parents, all of whom lived in Ireland at the time of his death.

As his family's statements were being read out, killer Cathrina Cahill began to weep, hours after details of her violent past were told to the court.

In court on Thursday, Judge Peter Johnson admitted the pair's relationship had been 'volatile' on 'both sides'.

The pair had been engaged for only five weeks before Walsh (right) was stabbed to death

Cahill (pictured leaving court on October 22) and Mr Walsh were both from County Wexford in southeastern Ireland

Mr Walsh's distraught father died only months following his son's death.

In his witness statement, Mr Walsh's brother, Jonathan, said their father told him he didn't want David 'up there on his own'.

David's other brother, Patrick Walsh wrote that their father died 10 months later 'from a broken heart', while their mother had become an empty shell of her former self.

Cahill's parents Rita (left) and Daniel (right) Cahill stood in court in support of their daughter

According to facts read in court, the couple argued on the night of February 17, 2017, when they were drinking with others before Mr Walsh was thrown out of a pub.

Cahill and their two female housemates arrived home with a man they had met at the bar.

Mr Walsh then attacked the man, demanding to know who he was.

Cahill says she was punched by Mr Walsh when trying to stop the attack, before she took out a 'large, very sharp, bladed knife' from the cutlery drawer and stabbed him.

Cahill had a previous conviction for being violent toward the father-of-four, it was then revealed.

In April 2016, Cahill was convicted of recklessly wounding Mr Walsh, 29, following an incident at their Sydney home and placed on a two-year good behaviour bond.

The court heard that Mr Walsh displayed 'controlling, degrading, psychologically damaging and violent behaviour' in the weeks leading up to his death

Cahill was due to face a murder trial in the NSW Supreme Court on October 23, but the charge was downgraded to manslaughter.

She then pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of substantial impairment by abnormality of the mind.

She fatally stabbed Mr Walsh in the neck with a bottle following an argument outside their home in Padstow, in Sydney's south-west, on February 17 last year.

Isobel Jennings denied lying when she claimed Cahill said: 'I just wanted to kill him. I just wanted to kill him.'

The pair had been engaged for just five weeks.

The hearing continues on Friday.
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Thousands of booze-fuelled revellers hit bars and clubs across the country for Halloween last night wearing their spookiest attire - but all that partying may have left some feeling pretty ghastly this morning.

There were scary ghosts, evil nurses and vampires all visible on the streets of Portsmouth, Birmingham, Bristol and Newcastle alongside escaped prison inmates, scary clowns, and even a Black Death doctor.

And despite the chilly temperatures people were determined to have a good time, parading through city centres in their frightening garb.

Some may have had too much deadly poison however, with pictures showing boozed up party-goers sitting slumped on pavements, and being taken away in ambulances.

Others risked breaking the law by letting off fireworks near large crowds, something police forces across the country have repeatedly warned against.

Meanwhile, on social media things became political, with partygoers sharing photos of their cheeky Brexit memes.

Cities across Britain were thronging with Halloween revellers, including Portsmouth, which witnesses several evil nurses and a rather naughty nun

These Portsmouth students put on an impressive coordinated effort, with the eight of them sheltering from an imaginary bomb

Birmingham saw its own host of scary ghosts, evil nurses, clowns and vampires as thousands of people enjoyed a big night out

This group of women in Birmingham dressed up as American prison inmates as they braved the chilly temperatures

A man sits on the shoulders of a leprechaun while feeding lemonade to his friend while a suited Guy Fawkes calls for help in this Portsmouth scene

Evil nurse outfits were particularly popular in Portsmouth, while one woman wore coloured contact lenses for an impressive effect

Who you gonna call? The Ghostbusters on their way to tackle horror in Portsmouth, where they had plenty of ghouls to deal with

Two friends, including a man dressed as a nun, enjoy a bite to eat on a kerb in Portsmouth following their Halloween night out

A grinning cleric and a blood-spattered woman being taking a cigarette break were just some of the wacky sights in Newcastle last night

Two nuns take a moment during their lively Newcastle night out to pray together in one of many amusing scenes in Britain's cities yesterday

There were plenty of impressive fancy dress efforts in Newcastle, including a teenage mutant ninja turtle and a man pulling a 'Lightning Bolt' pose

Coloured contact lenses and creative face paint were used to impressive effect by these two women in Newcastle last night

A Christmas elf took a bit of time out to answer his messages in Birmingham, (left) while a woman helps her worse-for-wear friend

Revellers dressed up in everything from The Ghostbusters, an evil nurse, and a ninja turtle during Halloween in Newcastle

A woman dressed as Cruella de Vil from The Hundred and One Dalmatians walks alongside a friend in Newcastle city centre

Religious fancy dress was particularly popular in Newcastle last night, while others slipped on a cheer-leading costume with some blood for added effect

Two pub crawls saw over 3,000 partygoers in fancy dress and face paint spilling out onto nightclub strip along Birmingham's Broad Street

And despite the chilly temperatures people were determined to have a good time, while one killer clown (right) looked rather more glum

Halloween doesn't necessarily have to be scary, as this banana running down the street with his pals in Portsmouth proved

One Birmingham reveller dressed as a Black Death doctor while these two women dressed as military personnel, a rather less terrifying choice

It was a busier Wednesday night than usual for many British cities thanks to Halloween. Pictured: Revellers chat in Portsmouth

Claire Moore and Belinda Taylor from Amersham (left) and two Halloween revellers out on the streets of Newcastle

Two women with bloody face paint enjoy an evening out in Newcastle city centre to mark Halloween, which is always popular among revellers

Portsmouth saw two escaped American convicts strolling alongside a burglar... and a man wearing a blond wig and skimpy skirt

Another unconventional effort from this pair of 'old men' in Portsmouth (left) and another reveller in a more conventional pirate outfit

There were plenty of ghouls about last night, but this man in Newcastle put on an especially impressive effort with a full-body skeleton costume

No one would want to bump into this scary lot in Newcastle (left) while this knife-wielding assassin and vampire looked slightly friendlier

A Ghostbuster looks on as an evil nurse is apparently arrested by a man dressed as a skeleton in this bizarre scene from last night in Newcastle

Halloween revellers in Newcastle pose for the camera last night while wearing their finest ghoulish fancy dress outfits

Two women pose for the camera in Newcastle (left) while another reveller opts for a chic (if blood-spattered) white suit

Portsmouth's Halloween Block Party saw more than 5000 Portsmouth University students in Halloween fancy dress

Even ghosts need a bite to eat after a night out, as these revellers in Bristol popping by a takeaway van showed

These were strong fancy dress efforts all round in Portsmouth, including this fork-wielding devil and a bloodied woman with a scary mask

A blood-spattered doctor drinking a can of Fosters and a vampire were just some of the strange and wonderful sights in Portsmouth yesterday

A woman dressed as a nun chats with her friend as she nibbles on a takeaway after the end of a big night out in Bristol

Some people in Birmingham risked breaking the law by letting off fireworks near large crowds, something police forces across the country have repeatedly warned against

Despite the scale of last night's antics, including here in Portsmouth, the weekend is set to see even more people heading out

There was plenty of fun to be had in Newcastle last night, although one reveller looked like she was opting for a particularly risky journey home

Friends walk each other home after going out for Halloween in Portsmouth city centre, which was a lively sight last night

Newcastle is known for its going out scene, and there thousands of revellers on its streets yesterday enjoying Halloween

Other fancy dress in Portsmouth included two fallen angels and a combination of a Father Christmas costume and a sailor's cap (right)

Two women dressed as a vampire and a devil take a cigarette break during their Halloween night out in Newcastle

These friends out in Portsmouth opted for blood-spattered white shirts and peaked hats during their Halloween celebrations

In one of the more unusual fancy dress choices, a group of friends show off their banana costumes with a Halloween twist in Portsmouth

Others may have had too much deadly poison however, with pictures showing boozed up party-goers sitting slumped on pavements, and being taken away in ambulances

A blessing of pink unicorns dressed in identical outfits runs onto the road in Portsmouth, where a block party attracted hundreds of students

One of the less scary scenes from last night in Portsmouth, with three men dressed in fabric beer costumes that mimicked popular brands

A group of friends in fancy dress stroll to a bar in Portsmouth, where the university has more than 23,000 students

Mario characters were a popular dressing up theme in Portsmouth, although most opted for scarier attire to fit the occasion

Two friends - one dressed as Scooby Doo and the other as a soldier - share a quiet moment outside a bar in Portsmouth

Halloween typically sees some of the most creative fancy dress outfits of the year, with no requirement to actually appear scary. Pictured: Revellers in Portsmouth

Thankfully, there were street pastors on the streets of Portsmouth last night to make sure everyone got home safe

Halloween revellers in Newcastle dress up for their night out, including a man in an ever-popular Ghostbusters costume (right)

A man in night-out garb is taken away by paramedics in Birmingham, who will be concerned there will be more casualties to deal with come this weekend

A man is wheeled into an awaiting ambulance outside PRYZM in Birmingham. Ambulance services have warned people to take care and ease pressure on their services

A reveller takes a rest on the pavement outside Rosie's nightclub on Birmingham's Broad Street during last night's Halloween celebrations

Halloween has become one of the biggest nights out of the year, although Friday and Saturday are likely to see more people out. Pictured: Two women in Birmingham

The busiest club of the night in Portsmouth was The Astoria, where hundreds of Portsmouth University students gathered in a long queue on the pavement outside

A chilled-out vampire greets the camera as he walks with three friends through Portsmouth during yesterday's night out

Portsmouth's Halloween Block Party was attended by hundreds of students who came in a strikingly diverse selection of outfits

Blood-spattered outfits were unsurprisingly a popular fancy dress choice for Halloween. These people were seen out in Portsmouth

A group of women wearing devil horns and a slightly more unconventional halo (middle) during their Halloween night out in Portsmouth

A man dressed as an angel waits in a queue of people waiting to get into one of Bristol's many packed bars last night

Two friends show their affection for each other during their Halloween night out in Portsmouth on England's south coast

A group of revellers holding red cups stroll along the pavement in Portsmouth against a backdrop of blue-jacketed security personnel

Celebratory scenes in Newcastle as two friends walk hand in hand near the northern city's central railway station

A scary gang of assassins with fake chainsaws and blood-spattered shirts and a friendly pumpkin in Newcastle yesterday

A woman in a Superman costume enjoys a takeaway with two friends after their night out in Bristol city centre yesterday

These two revellers in fancy dress had clearly decided there night was over and headed back home in Bristol via a takeaway

A group of partygoers chat on the street as they go from bar to bar during a lively night out in Portsmouth to celebrate Halloween

This kebab shop in Bristol was a rather more scary sight than usual yesterday, although strangely as many people were wearing cones as witches' hats

People on a night out for Halloween in Bristol, where the city's two universities - University of Bristol and the University of the West of England - contribute to the lively atmosphere

Friends comfort a worse-for-wear reveller after their night out in Portsmouth, where six venues were available to enter for just one 10 ticket

Police in Portsmouth warned people to take care and avoid calling 999 on one of the busiest nights of the year for the emergency services

An impressive line-up of fancy dress choices in Portsmouth, where partying went on for long into Thursday morning

Two women with fake blood face paint next to a man wearing a SWAT uniform during Halloween in Newcastle yesterday

On Twitter, many leapt on the Halloween theme to make a political point, with this post by the Liberal Democrats depicting Nigel Farage, Theresa May and Boris Johnson as threats to Britain's future

Labour MP Neil Coyne, who represents Bermondsey & Old Southwark, posted a photo of three skeletons around a table and quipped, 'Photo of the Cabinet still waiting for that "Brexit dividend" to arrive'

Jo Marney, the girlfriend of former UKIP leader Henry Bolton, dressed up in a red vinyl costume and joked, 'I went as Bad Girl of Brexit'

This Instagram user dressed up in a black dress with a sash reading 'Brexit'. 'One good thing to come out of Brexit, political costumes that no French person can understand,' she wrote

These friends alternately wore Union Jack and EU flag dresses. One of them wrote in the caption: 'I personally cannot think of anything scarier this Halloween'

John Beach joked that he would be dressing up a 'Brexit' so people would become confused. He would then reply, 'Because no one understands Brexit'

Michael S Sturrock carved 'No-Deal Brexit' into a pumpkin because he said it was 'the scariest thing I could think of'

Another Twitter user showed a photo of a man dressed as Alistair Campbell next to a woman resembling a 'sexy dead invocation of Article 50' and asked, 'Who's the hero, who's the villain'

Louise Bee tweeted a photo of someone dressed as an old man carrying a metal bowl and quipped, 'When you finally get to the end of Brexit'

Another Instagram user dressed up as Theresa May, complete with her famous heels, and joked that he was 'ready for my Brexit negotiations'

Another effort at Theresa May from an Instagram user in Instagram, who wrote, 'Theresa just wanted to wish you an especially forlorn All Hallows' Eve'
A pit bull has been filmed attacking a Siberian husky at a pet show in Thailand as both were being judged in the arena.

At the show, in Chiang Mai on Sunday, the people who filmed the doggy duel said: 'Handlers had difficulty releasing the dogs.

'Neither sustained serious injuries.

'Vets were nearby and stopped the bleeding, saying the husky would be fine,' they added.

The pit bull launches an attack on the husky at the Thai dog show while they were both being judged. The handlers had difficulty pulling the dogs apart

The pit bull goes for the head of the husky. On hand vets said neither of the dogs sustained serious injuries at the show in Chiang Mai on Sunday

Pit bulls are notorious for attacking other dogs.

Last week, a Canadian family's beloved husky had to be put down after being attacked by two other dogs.

Sharon Clow let out her daughter Samantha's 13-year-old lab-husky mix Louie, when she heard the pet yelp, the Guardian newspaper of Charlotte Town, Prince Edward Island, reported.

When she got back to the door, she saw two pit bulls attacking Louie.

'I tried to hit them with my cane, but they would not let go,' she said.

One of the handlers grabs the pit bull by the ear as the husky tries to fend off its attack. The husky's handler also tries to keep the duelling dogs apart
Neighbors were left speechless as a Florida woman decorated her home with skeletons doing Nazi salutes and an Auschwitz sign.

Susan Lamerton had skeletons 'tattooed' with the Star of David and identification numbers, as well as the notorious 'Arbeit Macht Frei', 'Work sets you free', sign - a Nazi slogan which was prominent at concentration camps.

The New Port Richey resident claims her obscene display is a protest against her landlord.

Susan Lamerton's obscene display of an 'Arbeit Macht Frei' sign in her yard with a skeleton doing a Nazi salute placed on top of it at her home in New Port Richey, Florida

The skeletons had identification numbers and Star of David's drawn on them to mimic the grim procedures carried out at Third Reich concentration camps

An identification number is written on a skeleton's arm to replicate those tattooed onto victims of the Holocaust

Police speak to concerned residents in the background as a skeleton doing the Hitler salute can be seen on full display in Lamerton's front yard

Her neighbors told WFLA of their disbelief. 'It sickens me.' Mitchell Katz told the broadcaster, 'I'm Jewish, this says she hates Jews and we should die.'

His wife Bonnie said: 'It sickens me that we can have this, you know, with what happened in Pittsburgh.'

On Saturday America grieved as 11 were shot dead at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Robert Bowers, 46, used three pistols and an AR-15 in the atrocity, and is said to have told SWAT officers, 'I just wanted to kill Jews.'

The timing of Lamerton's stunt caused huge distress to neighbor Iris Hookway who wept as she said, 'It sickens me, it sickens me. I couldn't fall asleep the first night I found out about it.'

Another skeleton with a Star of David drawn on its chest and its arm outstretched in the notorious salute

The perverse Halloween decor went up just days after Robert Bowers massacred 11 worshipers at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Saturday October 27

Another skeleton has its hand raised in a Nazi salute with a Star of David attached to an apron draped around its neck

The front of Lamerton's home continued to display the shocking decorations despite her neighbors complaints

When asked why she had done it Lamerton told WFLA: 'Because they're trying to take my house,' she yelled. 'Don't you understand?'

She claims she is Jewish and it was her way of protesting the homeowners association: 'I have freedom of speech, they have freedom of speech. They need to leave my property.'

Police have said Lamerton's conduct is completely legal as they decorations remained in place, despite her claim that she has received death threats.
A vegan woman has publicly slammed her own mother online for supporting Australian dairy farmers.

Debbie Kalnins and her daughter Nakita Kayte have been having a very public family dispute over the treatment of dairy cows.

The tiff was sparked when Ms Kalnins shared her admiration for dairy farmers on social media.

Nakita Kayte (pictured) became a vegan three months ago, which has caused a rift in her family as her mum admires dairy farmers

Ms Kayte shared her frustration with her mother on social media. Posting what her mum had said to a group for other vegans

Ms Kayte, 35, who became a vegan three months ago after watching documentaries, then posted her mother's comments on the Vegans in Australia Facebook group.

'I'm so freaking pissed at my mum right nowArghh the ignorance,' she said.

Her mother wrote that she had seen 'so much love and beauty...and healthy and happy cows'.

Veganism dominates Ms Kayte's social media profiles.

'Veganism is the new age. Be kind to all living Earthlings. Don't eat animals,' she said on her pages.

She has also posted a number of videos of cows in a milking shed.

Ms Kalnins said she had urged her daughter to learn more about the dairy industry in Australia.

Nakita Kayte (pictured) became a vegan three months ago after watching documentaries about the treatment of animals

Nakita Kayte's social media sites are filled with posts about veganism since she stopped eating animal products three months ago

Ms Kalnins told the Daily Mail she thought her daughter was too trusting.

'My girlie....she's terribly gullible when it comes to the internet and sadly believes everything she sees without actually doing further research.

'All farmers work their guts out, doing hours we wouldn't dream of so that people can get their bread, milk, cheese, veggies etc.'

She said her daughter will 'happily take her kids to the zoo', which she thinks is far more disturbing.
The main suspect in the killing of James 'Whitey' Bulger believed the mobster had framed his friend for murder, a lawyer has claimed.

Bulger, 89, was killed in the high-security Hazelton penitentiary in West Virginia on Tuesday a day after he was transferred from Oklahoma.

The 89-year-old, who was a longtime FBI informant, had been savagely beaten and had his tongue cut out.

Fotios 'Freddy' Geas, a Mafia hitman who is said to hate 'rats', is under investigation for Bulger's murder. Geas and at least one other inmate are believed to have been involved in the killing.

Today, Geas' former lawyer said he did not know if Geas was involved but said Geas believed Bulger had helped frame his friend Frederick Weichel.

James 'Whitey' Bulger was found dead on Tuesday after being transferred a day earlier to the high-security Hazelton penitentiary in West Virginia. He is pictured above in 2011

Fred Weichel arrives in a courtroom in Brockton Superior Court on Aug. 15, 2016, as his lawyers present evidence seeking to overturn his 1981 murder conviction

Weichel, who operated on the fringe of Bulger's South Boston criminal gang, was convicted in the 1980 shooting of Robert LaMonica on a street in Braintree and served 36 years behind bars.

A witness saw a man fleeing the scene and later picked out Weichel from a police array.

Fotios 'Freddy' Geas, a Mafia hitman who is said to hate 'rats', is under investigation for Bulger's murder

Last year Weichel's conviction was overturned when a judge ruled the witness was unreliable and officials failed to give the defense a police report suggesting another possible suspect.

Weichel's release was not to be considered an acquittal, the judge said, but prosecutors decided against a re-trial because six witnesses had died.

While Weichel was behind bars, Bulger wrote letters from jail to Weichel's lawyers claiming he knew Weichel didn't kill LaMonica.

In the letters Bulger, said a friend of Weichel's told him he was afraid because he had beaten up a man in a fight and the man's friend, LaMonica, was promising retribution. Bulger said he told the man to 'get him first, kill him.'

Bulger said what Weichel was going through was a 'fate worse than death'. He wrote that LaMonica's killer is a boxer who was friendly with Weichel.

But Bulger refused to sign an affidavit or testify on Weichel's behalf. He told Weichel's defence team: 'I have never testified against any man, have never caused any man to be put in prison.' He called it a 'waste of time' to testify.

Bulger, who led the Bostons Winter Hill Gang for more than 20 years, said he didn't even testify in his own case, let alone Weichel's.

Why was Frederick Weichel's conviction overturned? Weichel operated on the fringe of Bulger's South Boston criminal gang. His role was to 'put marijuana dealers in line'. In 1980 a man called Robert LaMonica was shot dead in the street in Braintee. A witness saw a man fleeing the scene, drew a sketch of the man and later picked out Weichel from a police array. The witness, 21-year old John Foley, admitted he was drunk and only caught a split-second glimpse of the fleeing killer. Weichel maintained his innocence but was convicted and jailed. In 2016, Weichel's lawyers presented a memo from a Braintree detective that said at least prison 10 guards identified the person in the sketch as Rocco Balliro, who died in 2012. Weichel's conviction was overturned and he was released after 36 years behind bars. The judge said Weichel's release was not to be considered an acquittal but prosecutors decided against a re-trial because six witnesses had died. Advertisement

He also claimed he had been 'falsely accused' of crimes and was able to empathize with Weichel but could help no further.

When he was released last year, Weichel said: 'I think everybody in the world knew that Whitey screwed me.'

Weichel and Geas spent time together in a Massachusetts prison but Weichel said he didn't think he spoke to Geas about Bulger during that time.

Daniel Kelly, a lawyer who represented Geas, told the Boston Globe: 'He referenced that [Weichel] was framed.'

It comes after an ex-con claimed federal officials wanted to 'get rid of' Bulger and transferred him to a violent prison on purpose just 24 hours before he was found beaten to death.

Many questions remain unanswered in relation to his death, including why Bulger was moved to the prison and why he was placed in the general population.

Ex-con Richard Stratton, who is now a TV producer, told the New York Post it was hard to believe that Bulger would not have been placed in protective custody given he was a known snitch.

'He's going to be exposed in a way where he can easily be killed, and then one day later he's murdered,' Stratton said.

'It's not like Whitey's going to stop f**king scamming because he's in prison.

'It's so obvious that they wanted to get rid of him, that he was a pain in the a** to them.'

Stratton, who was jailed for eight years for drug smuggling, once had a contract put out on him but he went to Bulger for help and he squashed it.

Cameron Lindsay, a former federal prison warden who now works as a jail security consultant, also expressed concern about placing Bulger in the general population.

Ex-con Richard Stratton (right), who is now a TV producer, said it was hard to believe that Bulger (left) would not have been placed in protective custody given he was a known snitch

Bulger had just arrived Monday at USP Hazelton, a high-security prison in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia before he was killed

'What I don't understand is why the Federal Bureau of Prisons would transfer a super high-publicity inmate, who is a known snitch, to general population of a high-security prison,' he said.

'You've got to be smarter than that.

'If I was the warden of Hazelton, I would have never, ever allowed him to be put within my general population. It is just too risky.'

Bulger had lived a double life as one of Boston's most notorious mobsters and as a secret FBI informant before going on the run for 16 years.

He was convicted in August 2013 of 11 murders, among other charges, and sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus five years.

Bulger had just arrived Monday at USP Hazelton, a high-security prison in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. He had previously been in a prison in Florida, with a stopover at a transfer facility in Oklahoma City.

Federal Bureau of Prisons officials and his attorney declined to comment on why he was being moved.

These 1980s FBI handout file photos show Massachusetts mobster James 'Whitey' Bulger

A police evidence photo shows a car riddled with bullet holes in connection with one of the 19 murders Bulger was charged with. He was convicted of 11 murders

Two men were seen on surveillance footage entering Bulger's cell, according to a prison employee. Bulger's body was later discovered wrapped in a sheet and had been beaten so badly that blood had come out of his ears.

Attorney Hank Brennan, who represented Bulger during his 2013 trial, said Bulger had a hip injury and was in a wheelchair when he was attacked.

Authorities have not disclosed the cause of death.

An FBI spokeswoman in Pittsburgh declined to comment on Geas and federal officials said only that they are investigating the death as a homicide.

Geas and his brother were sentenced to life in prison in 2011 for their roles in several violent crimes, including the 2003 killing of Adolfo 'Big Al' Bruno, a Genovese crime family boss who was gunned down in a Springfield, Massachusetts, parking lot.

Private investigator Ted McDonough, who knew Geas, told The Boston Globe: 'Freddy hated rats.'

'Freddy hated guys who abused women. Whitey was a rat who killed women. It's probably that simple,' McDonough told the newspaper, which first reported that Geas was under suspicion.

Bulger's death was the third killing in the past six months at the prison with two inmates being killed in fights with other prisoners in September and April.
The dog who was tied up at the scene of a 24-year-old's murder on a sleepy beach in Queensland was 'tied up so tight it couldn't sit down'.

David 'Prong' Trimble, a family friend of Toyah Cordingley, who was killed on Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns, last week, told Daily Mail Australia the animal, believed to belong to her boyfriend and named Jersey, is doing fine now, but was in a predicament when it was found.

Ms Cordingley was walking the dog along the quiet beach on the afternoon of October 21. She was reported missing that night, and her body was found with 'violent and visible' injuries by her father the next morning.

'They're terrible,' Mr Trimble said of the young woman's family. '[The situation] is absolutely horrific.'The dog Toyah Cordingley was walking along Wangetti Beach when she was murdered last week was found safe and well shortly before her body was recovered

The dog Toyah Cordingley was walking along Wangetti Beach when she was murdered last week was found safe and well shortly before her body was recovered

While the dog was not harmed, and is doing well, the animal had been found 'tied up so tight it couldn't sit down'

Family friend David 'Prong' Trimble is leading a search party of more than 1500 on Sunday to help find clues that will bring Ms Cordingley's killers to justice

Mr Trimble says the pharmacy worker's family is extremely close, but they are struggling to come to terms with their grief - as is he.

'I've seen a lot of things in my life but never anything like this,' he said. 'I've seen blokes hit by motorbikes and picked them off the road and I've still never seen anything like this.

'When I heard I was away with no reception. I didn't believe it at the time.

'Cairns doesn't need this. No place needs anything like this. It's got the community up in arms, but it's really brought us together too.'

Mr Trimble has used that collective grief to help get justice for Ms Cordingley.

On Sunday, he and 'at least' 1,500 others will scour Wangetti Beach from end to end, looking for the 24-year-old's phone, wallet, keys, and items of her clothing.

They will use metal detectors, nets, and drones, and will be accompanied by officers from Queensland Police and SES volunteers.

Wangetti Beach is about 40km north of Cairns, and is considered to be a fairly quiet area. Locals revealed her body had been found in a reception black spot, which is frequented by 'odd bods' and vagrants

Toyah Cordingley's father Troy (pictured together) was the one to find her brutally murdered on a quiet beach as part of a search party frantically looking for her. Family Friend David 'Prong' Trimble said her relatives, who share a close bond, were struggling to come to terms with their grief

More than 1500 people will join forces to search Wangetti Beach on Sunday for Ms Cordingley's wallet, phone, keys, and items of her clothing

'The northern and southern car parks are four kilometres apart, so it's a fair stretch,' Mr Trimble explained. 'We're expecting about 1500 people minimum, it's really blown these coppers here out.'

Mr Trimble, who is now retired but an active charity fundraiser in the area, said people were keen to jump on board because, like him, they felt helpless and were desperate to see Ms Cordingley's killers caught.

'I've been retired nine months,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'I knew this girl and I know her family. And I was sitting on my front deck, doing nothing.'I thought: "bugger this", and got on my bike to go have a look.

'I got to Ellis Beach, rang a couple of mates to see if they wanted to come, and had a chat to some people at the bar about it, and it snowballed from there.

'There's a lot of people who haven't been doing anything and we all wanted to do something, so we got this walk together.'

People taking part in the walk will meet at Ellis Bar and Grill at 7am on Sunday for a complimentary breakfast, before Amazing Grace plays on the bagpipes and a minute's silence is held.

Toyah Cordingley's body was found on the beach on October 22, about 800 metres from where she had left her car in the southern car park. Investigators are still looking for her personal belongings

Detectives pieced together Ms Cordingley's movements on the day she died and released CCTV footage of her just two hours before her murder

They'll travel 15km to the beach, and split equally between the northern and southern ends.

'You never know what comes out of it,' Mr Trimble said. 'I said to the coppers, "[I hope] we're not tripping on your feet", but they're really on board.'

After the walk, the group will return to the bar and grill, and later in the day a tattoo artist will be raising money for Ms Cordingley's family in Cairns city by selling flash tattoos designed in memory of the beloved young woman.

A lot of mysteries surround Ms Cordingley's death, and police are yet to publicly identify any suspects in her murder.

Locals have said vagrants and 'odd-bods', some who take hard drugs, populated the sand dunes area where Ms Cordingley was found.

Mr Trimble says these people have been moved on by Queensland Police, and the area is currently free of campers as locals and investigators search for answers.

Despite hundreds of tips to CrimeStoppers, police are still yet to publicly announce any suspects in the murder or arrests

An animal lover, some who knew Ms Cordingley may have drawn a small amount of comfort from the fact the dog she'd been walking was found safe and well, but the question of how it came to be tied up has left Australia baffled.

Mr Trimble is less shocked by the strange detail, and said the dog she was with in her final hours was incredibly friendly, and not at all violent.

'The dog was big and used to being around a lot of people,' he said. 'It's not savage. [whoever killed her] could have just walked that dog up to that tree and tied the dog up just like that.'

Mr Trimble said he cared for Ms Cordingley like a daughter of his own, noting he had his own daughter who was little more than a year younger.

'I saw her often at the bar at grill - she'd put her thumb up and say "hi Prong" and I'd say "hi Toy",' he said.

'We didn't need to do anything more than that - it was just like family.'
EU nationals will still be able to move to Britain and work for a 'transition period' even if there is no Brexit deal, Sajid Javid last night said.

The Home Secretary said free movement will effectively continue - directly contradicting remarks made just days ago by his deputy Caroline Nokes.

In a car crash appearance in front of MPs, Ms Nokes said EU nationals would not have an automatic right to work in Britain and would have to undergo new checks.

But last night the Home Office said EU nationals would only have to show their passport or ID card to work, and employers would not be expected to differentiate between those arriving before and after Brexit.

And Mr Javid appeared in front of the cameras to say there would not be an immediate crackdown on EU nationals.

Appearing on ITV's Peston Show, he said: 'We've just got to be practical.'

Sajid Javid (pictured last tonight on ITV's Peston show) EU nationals will still be able to move to Britain and work for a 'transition period' even if there is no Brexit deal

The Home Secretary (pictured last night on ITV's Peston) scrambled to try to reassure employers they would not have to carry out sweeping new checks within months if Britain crashes out of the bloc

Mr Javid added: 'If there was a no-deal, we won't be able to immediately distinguish between those Europeans that were already here before March 29, and those who came after  and therefore as a result I wouldn't expect employers to do anything different than they do today.'

What have Home Office ministers and civil servants said about EU workers rights and no deal Brexit Here are the different statements made by Home Office ministers and civil servants on the rights of EU nationals to live and work in Britain if there is no Brexit deal: Immigration minister Caroline Nokes: 'We will have brought forward the future immigration system and EU citizens will not have an automatic right to work in the UK unless they have been through the same processes that we are gin to apply to the rest of the world.' Shona Dunn, Second Permanent Secretary at the Home Office: 'If [no-deal] were the case, the prime minister has been very clear that she would want free movement turned off at that point in time.' Home Secretary Sajid Javid: 'If there was a no-deal, we won't be able to immediately distinguish between those Europeans that were already here before March 29, and those who came after  and therefore as a result I wouldn't expect employers to do anything different than they do today.' Advertisement

He added: 'There will need to be some kind of sensible transition period.

'I mean, these are the kinds of things I've been working on for months and months.'

He said ministers will unveil the length of the transition period within the next few weeks.

His comments came after Ms Nokes suggested that employers would be expected to bring in a whole new suite of checks on EU nationals.

Asked by Labour MP and HASC chairwoman Yvette Cooper if a no deal Brexit would mean a change in the rights of EU nationals to work in the UK this time next year, she said 'yes'.

She added: 'We will have brought forward the future immigration system and EU citizens will not have an automatic right to work in the UK unless they have been through the same processes that we are gin to apply to the rest of the world.'

While the department's second most senior civil servant also suggested there would be sweeping changes on the horizon.

Shona Dunn, told the committee: 'If [no-deal] were the case, the prime minister has been very clear that she would want free movement turned off at that point in time.

'So it would be our intention to have it done at that point in time. There will be a number of bits of secondary legislation, I would imagine.'

Theresa May is facing a race against time to get a Brexit deal done amid growing fears that the UK could crash out of the bloc.

Caroline Nokes (pictured in front of the select committee on Tuesday) said EU nationals would have to face new checks if there is a no deal Brexit

Ms Nokes (second right during Tuesday's committee) said British tourists travelling in Europe could be face long waits in 'rest of the world' queues' in major EU airports

Number Ten still says that they hope and expect to get a deal done by the end of Autumn, which falls on December 21.

But Britain and the EU remain at loggerheads over the sticking point of the Irish border.

The EU wants a deal which includes a Northern Ireland backstop which would mean that part of the UK has different single market rules and checks to the rest.

But the PM has repeatedly ruled this out, saying this mounts to hiving off Northern Ireland and putting a borer down the Irish Sea.

Mrs May says this is something neither she nor any other British Prime Minister could ever sign up to.
Chinese villagers have made a passionate plea at a Dutch court for the return of a 1,000-year-old Buddha statue which apparently encases the remains of their ancient religious master.

The villagers, from the small eastern Chinese village of Yangchun, claim that the golden, human-size statue was stolen from their temple in late 1995 and bought by Dutch collector Oscar van Overeem in Hong Kong in 1996.

Judges of the high-profile case are due to hand down a ruling on December 12.

Chinese villagers have demanded a Buddha statue be returned at a Dutch court. The statue is pictured being displayed at the Natural History Museum in Budapest March 4, 2015

A scan of the statue in 2015 revealed a skeleton inside - said to be that of Zhanggong Zushi, a Chinese monk who lived nearly a millennium ago during China's Song dynasty

The Chinese villagers appeared at the Amsterdam District Court yesterday and insisted their idol be returned.

'We grew up with the statue. He was there day and night. He is our spiritual leader,' Yangchun village spokesman Lin Wenqing said shortly after lawyers closed their arguments.

'For us, it is the most important thing to have him back,' said Lin, 42, through an interpreter. He was one of six villagers who had travelled from Yangchun to attend the hearing in the Dutch capital.

The village is asking Dutch judges to rule that the Buddha statue be sent back to their temple after having been worshipped there for centuries.

The statue at the centre of the case depicts a roped monk in a sitting position and measures 1.2 metres tall (3.93 feet).

A scan of the statue in February, 2015, revealed a skeleton inside - said to be that of a Chinese monk who lived nearly a millennium ago during China's Song dynasty (960-1279).

HOW WERE MONKS MUMMIFIED IN CHINA? According to Master Du at China's Dinghui Temple, ancient Chinese monks preserve their master's body using 'natural means'. Master Du said usually a Buddhist master could feel it when he is about to pass away. He would then tell his disciples if he would like his body to be cremated or preserved. After the master passes away, the disciples would put his remains inside a large ceramic jar filled with natural anti-corrosive substances. After three years, the disciples would remove the body from the jar. If the master had reached 'a certain spiritual level', his body would not rot. The disciples would then cover the body with a special paste made with stick rice to produce a so-called 'meat body Buddha'. Advertisement

Controversy about the Buddha arose the same year when a villager of Yangchun saw the statue on TV as it was being displayed at the Hungarian Natural History Museum in Budapest.

The statue was subsequently withdrawn from the exhibition.

The villagers claim the mummified body is that of Zhanggong Zushi, a local monk who helped treat disease and spread Buddhist belief. When he died at the age of 37, his body was mummified and placed inside the statue.

After the statue was stolen in 1995, the only things left behind were the hat and clothes which are still in the temple, according to the villagers.

They said they were convinced that the statue which Van Overeem bought was their missing idol.

'There is a very special bond between the villagers and the statue,' their lawyer Jan Holthuis told the judges.

In 2015, Mr van Overeem said he bought the statue for 40,000 guilders (around 16,000) in 1996 from another collector, who had acquired it from a Chinese artist friend in late 1994 or early 1995, according to a report on DutchNews.

But Van Overeem again reiterated yesterday in court that he did not have the statue, which he said he exchanged in a swap with a Chinese collector in 2015.

The Chinese villagers claim the statue was stolen from their temple in south-east China in 1995 and was bought by Dutch collector Oscar van Overeem in Hong Kong a year later

'I swapped the statue in a transaction. I was happy to hear that it would go back to China,' Van Overeem told the judges, adding he did not know the identity of the collector with whom he did the swap.

He also furiously refuted Holthuis' claims that he was in fact a dealer in Chinese art, and bought the statue in Hong Kong in 1996 - a known destination for stolen artefacts.

'I'm an architect and a passionate collector. But I'm not a dealer,' an angry Van Overeem said. He said he did not know where the statue was.

But Holthuis disagreed.

He accused Van Overeem and the statue's new owner of 'conspiring to make the Buddha mummy disappear to make sure that the claimants cannot take action.'

The closely-watched case could mark one of the first successful retrievals of Chinese relics in court.

Previous retrievals of Chinese artifacts have been done through diplomatic channels.

Beijing in recent years has vehemently protested the sale of artefacts that it said were stolen, particularly in the 19th century when European powers began encroaching on Chinese territory.
Kadir (pictured) claimed that he did not understand the UK benefits system

A benefits scrounger who pocketed almost 30,000 in handouts while holding down four jobs has gone free after a judge agreed to let him pay the money back - over the next 11 years.

Rassul Kadir, 31, claimed incapacity benefit for his 'bad back' and said he was unfit for work - yet worked at a grocery firm, a cake-makers, a job agency and a vitamins company.

His scam went on for four years after he was quizzed following a tip-off.

He claimed he did not realise he had done anything wrong as did not understand English or the UK benefits system.

At Preston Crown Court, Kadir, from Blackpool, admitted two charges of fraudulently failing to disclose information about his work to the DWP and one of making a false statement to claim Council Tax Benefit.

He was given a 30-week jail sentence suspended for 12 months after Judge Beverley Lunt said he could pay back the remaining money at 175 a month. It means the sum may not be fully paid back until May 2030.

He has already paid back 3,000 after opening his own car wash. Former Afghan asylum seeker Kadir had arrived in the UK with his father when he was 16 in 2003 after they fled the Taliban and moved to Preston before settling in Blackpool.

Prosecuting, Fiona McNeill, said: 'The defendant claimed 28,979 in benefits over the course of four years. He was in receipt of income benefit between April 6, 2008, and May 1 2012. He said he was sick as and unable to work due to a back complaint.

'During this time, he held down a number of jobs. At first, he was working on a temporary basis with a company through the Best Connections group. He was a temporary worker, working on a transient basis, not a permanent one.

'Between August 2009 and May 2012, he worked for the Palmer and Harvey wholesale grocers, a cake maker at Lathams and he was packing vitamins at the Nutrition Group.

'He was arrested following an investigation by the Department for Work and Pensions. In interview with the police, he was at first reluctant to accept his failings, but once it had been explained to him he did accept that he was at fault. He was interviewed twice - once in February 2017 and and again in March 2017.

'He stopped claiming benefits around October 2013 after declaring himself self-employed.'

Kadir (pictured) held down a number of jobs while he was claiming benefits after fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan

In interview Kadir at first denied doing any paid work but when confronted with evidence admitted what he had done claiming he did not understand the claims system or understand English.

Judge Beverley Lunt told him: 'I am going to pass a suspended sentence for this.If he is actually earning money now and paying it back, then thats better than paying back through benefits.

'I think a sentence of 30 weeks custody suspended for 12 months would be appropriate. I also take into account the previous good character and the fact that he stopped claiming benefits.

'What you did, Mr Kadir, was very wrong, you obtained money that you were not entitled to. But you stopped this a while ago and have now set up your own business and are paying back into the system.

'It must be a prison sentence so people realise how serious benefit fraud is, but I am going to suspend that sentence. I am also making a compensation order for you to pay back 25,000 at 175 a month. You must keep out of trouble, Mr Kadir, or you will be back before the court and likely go to prison.'

The judge declined to hear mitigation but at an earlier hearing Kadirs lawyer Gerry Coyle said his client had fled Afghanistan with his father because of the Taliban regime.

Mr Coyle added: 'He was 16 at the time and very inexperienced when it came to living in the UK. He now realises he did the wrong thing and found himself in a lot of lumber.

'He has since turned his life round and has a car wash business which employs six people. He has started to repay the money he had on a monthly basis.'
Australians have been warned not to fall for a fake email that threatens to release footage of them watching adult websites.

On Thursday, Queensland Police said they have received multiple reports of the fake email - dubbed the cyber 'Sextortion scam' - being sent to unsuspecting people.

In the note, hackers claim they've gained access to someone's computer and have taken over the built-in webcam, enabling them to record videos of the user.

Australians have been warned not to fall for a fake email that threatens to release footage of them watching adult websites

The fake email alleges the hackers videoed the user watching adult websites and witnessed them doing 'nasty things'.

The hackers then threaten to release the footage of the user watching the questionable material on social media unless they make a payment using Bitcoin.

Police said hackers trick unsuspecting users into handing over money by using victims' real names and passwords to make them think the email is genuine.

'The email includes a password that is familiar to the recipient, which may have been hacked in a website data breach and in most cases is an old email password,' a police spokesperson said.

An example of what a typical 'Sextortion scam' email might look like - provided by the Queensland Police - has been posted on the myGC website.

According to the example, the fake email often starts by claiming the hackers have accessed someone's personal information and is aware of their passwords.

The fake email alleges the hackers videoed the user watching adult websites and witnessed them doing 'nasty things'

'I'm aware that (*****) is your password,' the website states the email might say.

'First part recorded the video you were viewing (you've got a fine taste haha), and next part recorded your webcam (Yep! It's you doing nasty things!),' it stated.

'If I don't get the payment, I will send your video to all of your contacts including relatives, coworkers, and so forth,' the example said.

Police said anyone who receives the hoax email should treat it as spam and delete it because responding to it often validates someone's confidential information.
German health minister Jens Spahn has said the CDU party, which he hopes to lead, needs to go back to its roots and take a harder line on unregulated migration

Germany's health minister has said the country's main center-right party needs to go back to its roots and be tougher on migration as he competes to succeed Chancellor Angela Merkel as its leader.

Jens Spahn, 38, is one of three candidates vying to take over Merkel's role as leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

He and onetime Merkel rival Friedrich Merz are seen as likely to take the party to the right, while CDU general secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer - sometimes called 'Mini Merkel' - is more in line with the Chancellor's centrist course.

Spahn has long talked tough on migration, which he described in a guest article for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) newspaper as a problem 'neither ended nor solved'.

'The elephant in the room is the question of migration', he wrote on Thursday.

The issue of asylum and migration in Germany has been a determining factor in elections since 2015 and has bolstered the prospects of the anti-immigrant party Alternativ fur Deutschland (AfD).

The AfD made Merkel's removal one of its main goals and has campaigned on opposition to her decision to open the borders to asylum seekers in 2015.

Since then, Merkel's governing CDU has been in a bitter debate with the right-wing populists over the question of whether Merkel's decision was the right one.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, 64, announced on Monday she plans to step down as party leader in December but remain chancellor until the next election in 2021

Merkel, 64, became party leader in 2000 (left). She resigned after her party, the Christian Democratic Union, took a hammering in a local election on Sunday

Spahn is now saying he will clarify these questions comprehensively.

The Germans are cosmopolitan, 'but not naive,' wrote Spahn.

'The pious request to simply stop talking about September 2015 is going nowhere,' he wrote, adding that images of that time and the impression that the state has lost control, 'will not simply disappear from their heads'.

Spahn is urging the party to make clearer what it stands for.

'First and foremost, it's about becoming recognizable again,' he wrote.

'The party has to find its way back to its old strength. This means reformulating the core of its policy.

'We are losing a lot of trust,' he added.

Merkel, 64, announced on Monday she plans to step down as party leader in December but remain chancellor until the next election in 2021.

Critics said this makes her a lame duck and that she may be ousted before the end of her term if a rival takes charge of her party.

Bundestag President Wolfgang Schaeuble (pictured earlier this month) today said Merkle was safe in her job

But Bundestag President Wolfgang Schaeuble said yesterday the veteran leader was safe in her job.

He told Deutsche Welle's Conflict Zone: 'Once elected as chancellor, you can only be thrown out without your own agreement if there is a majority in parliament who elects another chancellor.'

'That's unthinkable in this parliament. So her position is constitutionally strong.'

Merkel resigned after her party, the Christian Democratic Union, took a hammering in a local election on Sunday.

WHO WILL REPLACE MERKEL? Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer The current secretary general of the CDU and a close ally of Merkel. 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

She has been in power for 13 years and at the helm of her party for 18.

The three main candidates to replace her are CDU general secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, health minister Jens Spahn and former chief of the party's parliamentary group Friedrich Merz.

Another name touted by German media is Armin Laschet, who is also the state premier of Germany's most populous region North Rhine-Westphalia.

Laschet said Monday he has not declared his candidacy as it was 'more important at this time to reflect, to see what (Merkel's departure) means for the party and how the party can be kept united'.

'If Merkel's favourite Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer wins in December, then Merkel's chances at staying in power are good,' wrote Der Spiegel.

But if a critic like Spahn or Merz gets the top job, 'then Merkel's chancellorship will likely be over more quickly.'

According to Bild, five CDU heavyweights have already for weeks been plotting against Merkel.

The group had planned to hold talks to get Merkel to leave if she failed to do so at her own initiative after the regional vote in the state of Hesse, reported Bild.

Merkel announced her decision to leave the political stage a day after the CDU was given a hammering during Sunday's Hesse vote.

She has said she would not back any candidate, adding that she 'will accept any democratic decision taken by my party.'

Merkel had enjoyed the support of Germans as a guarantor of stability and prosperity, having steered the country through financial crises and keeping Europe's biggest economy humming with unemployment striking post-reunification record lows month after month.

But her 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 left a deep rift in German society, and fuelled the rise of the far-right AfD, fundamentally redrawing the political map.

Besides the CDU internal power struggle that could determine her future, her departure could also be precipitated if her junior coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party, pulls the plug prematurely.

Plummeting support for the SPD has left the party torn internally over whether to stay in the government.

After a drubbing at two regional polls in as many weeks, the SPD has signalled it may walk away if Merkel's centre-right alliance of CDU and Bavarian allies CSU fails to meet its demands.

By September 2019, the party 'will be able to see whether this government is still the right place for us', SPD chief Andrea Nahles said.
This is the shocking moment yobs launch a sickening firework attack on moving traffic and pedestrians - and then flee the scene.

The footage, shot in Harrow, comes after days of chaos that has seen firework attacks across London.

Incidents were recorded in Harrow, Enfield and Haringey with officers reporting multiple cases of confiscating fireworks from teenagers.

Haringey police said that since 2pm on Wednesday one of its response teams received over 60 calls that required immediate response - 50 percent of which related to fireworks and anti-social behaviour.

This video was taken on Cumberland Road in Queensbury and shows the two youths on what is one of the busiest nights of the year for police up and down the country.

In other distressing reports coming from East London, gangs of youths turned a neighbourhood in Hackney into a 'war zone' as they used fireworks as weapons, shooting them at each other - with one young man even suffering injuries from a direct hit.

In Enfield, police confirmed that they arrested a 14-year-old for possession of fireworks at Edmonton Green. The legal age to buy any firework is 16 for the lowest category firework.

A firework explodes in the middle of a busy junction in Harrow - putting pedestrians in danger

The yobs were filmed fleeing the scene after their dangerous behaviour

While officers also confiscated fireworks and dispersed teenagers on Poppy Drive.

The force tweeted: 'Thanks for the call at Poppy Drive, youths dispersed fireworks confiscated.'

The footage comes after more shocking footage was shot in the borough last month showing youths setting off fireworks on a main street.

A call was made to police on Saturday October 20 at 6.33pm to reports of 'a number of youths' setting off fireworks at a car park in Kymberley Road, according to GetWestLondon.

The Harrow firework flies through the junction. Incidents have been reported throughout the capital with a 14-year-old even being detained in one case that came from Enfield

It was the third day in less than a week officers had been called to youths setting off fireworks there, with a 14-year-old boy handed a community resolution after the first incident on October 16.

On this occasion the yobs were gone by the time officers arrived at the scene but the video highlights the shocking behavior of the youths.

Snapchat footage shot in a street in Harrow last month also shows fireworks being launched

Teens ran around the busy street in Harrow aiming fireworks at one another among traffic

A spokesman for the force in Harrow said: 'Fireworks can be extremely dangerous, and anyone caught using them improperly and endangering themselves or the wider public can be arrested on suspicion of public order and assault-related offences, depending on the circumstances.'

The problem is a theme throughout London during the Halloween period, with many people voicing their anger, and fear, at the dangerous activity.

A Twitter user going by the name of Aimas revealed that even adults are taking part in dangerous firework related behaviour.

She tweeted: 'North London is cancellllled how am I driving 50mph on the north circular and some grown ass adults ignite fireworks out of their car window, my life flashed before my eyes.'
The fight between traditional drug sellers and online e-pharmacies took a new turn as the Madras High Court has granted an interim injunction restraining online sale of medicines till further orders, based on a plea from the Chennai-based Tamil Nadu Chemists & Druggists Association. The court has directed the Centre to respond and posted the matter for further hearing on November 9.

The association demands to block links of websites selling medicines online as purchasing medicines from unlicensed online stores can be risky. These websites may sell fake, expired, contaminated, unapproved or unsafe products that are dangerous to patients and which might put their health at risk. Rules for selling drugs in India are based on Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, Drugs and Cosmetics Rule, 1945 and Pharmacy Act, 1948 and these were written prior to arrival of computers and India does not legalise online sale of medicines, the petition said.

"We came to know from the media that some order was passed by the Honourable Madras High Court and we would not be in a position to comment on this till our legal team examines the implications of the ruling", said Pradeep Dadha, founder and CEO of Netmeds.com, one of the largest e-pharmacies operating in the country.

In the last two years, the 6-8 lakh odd traditional medical shops, under the banner of All India organization of chemists and druggists (AIOCD) have been protesting against proliferation of e-pharmacies in the country.

It is estimated that about 250-280 online pharmacies have come up in the country and they have cornered over Rs 800-1000 crore of the Indian drug market worth over Rs 1.2 lakh crore a year. Online pharmacies, like in other e-commerce business models, offer deep discounts ranging from 25 per cent to 60 per cent, besides offering value added services and free home delivery. Sources say half a dozen leaders like netmeds, 1MG, Lifecare, Medlife and Pharmeasy have so far raised over Rs 1,700 crore from venture capitalists and are aggressively marketing their business.

Following the protests, last year the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) had formed a seven-member panel to look into the issue of online drug sales and had suggested licensing the pharmacies. As per the draft guidelines which are yet to be legalised, e-pharmacies have to register with the DCGI for a fee of Rs 50,000, which will be valid for three years. E-pharmacies will not be allowed to sell narcotic drugs, tranquilisers, and Schedule X drugs and are also not allowed to advertise any drugs.

In the west, the drug regulators have devised mechanism to monitor and regulate e-drug sales. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), the apex pharmacy body in the US, gives registration and certification for e-pharmacies and they have to display the certification logo on their website.
A quick-thinking nurse is lucky to be alive after miraculously surviving a late-night hit-and-run.

Jesse Fraser, 30, was on her way home from a night shift at Northern Hospital in Melbourne's northern suburb of Epping when her car was struck by a Subaru with its headlights off.

While many would panic under pressure, Ms Fraser kept her cool and managed to call emergency services while trapped in her car.

Quick-thinking nurse Jesse Fraser (pictured) is lucky to be alive after a horrific car crash

Ms Fraser was on her way home from work when a reckless driver slammed into her car

Locals rushed to help the young woman when they heard the crash, which happened in a residential street just before midnight, Nine News reported.

But as one bystander said, Ms Fraser had helped herself, calling Triple-Zero from the confines of her wrecked Honda CR-V four-wheel-drive.

An off-duty nurse was one of the first on the scene to comfort the woman, whose cool-headedness quickly dissipated into panic.

'She seemed pretty freaked out, she said she couldn't feel her legs,' another witness Ryan Flynn said.

The throng of locals could only reassure the victim that help was on its way through the exposed boot of the car.

The collision left her car upturned, forcing Ms Fraser to call emergency services while trapped

Residents came to the young woman's aid, reassuring her through the open boot of the car

Ms Fraser was freed by emergency crews and taken to Maroondah Hospital with minor leg injuries. She remains there in a stable condition.

Her sister, Sally Lake, praised the actions of the bystanders and called the outcome of the traumatic night a 'miracle'.

'It's unbelievable she walked away from it, it's a miracle really.'

She is currently recovering from minor injuries in hospital, her sister saying it's a 'miracle'

Ms Fraser's alleged hit-and-run driver was quickly tracked down by the dog squad after he fled

As for the alleged hit-and-run driver, he was quickly tracked down by Victoria Police dog squad.

They tracked the 25-year-old male to a nearby residence and questioned him on Thursday.

Charges are yet to be laid and police are now investigating whether there was anybody else in the Subaru.
A double-murderer will be executed in the electric chair on Thursday evening after a last meal of pickled pig knuckles and tails.

Edmund Zagorski is set to die after a court late on Wednesday rejected a last-minute appeal to stop his execution.

The 63-year-old was sentenced to death in 1984 for murdering two men inside a drug den.

Zagorski chose the electric chair after his legal challenge to Tennessee's midazolam-based lethal injection protocol failed.

His lawyers argued the method would cause prolonged agonizing pain, after a series of botched executions using the drug in recent years.

But the 6th Circuit Court of Appeal said it found the legal challenge arguing the use of the electric chair was unconstitutional to be 'meritless,' The Tennessean reports.

They said he could not choose his method of execution and then also challenge it.

Edmund Zagorski (left, in a 1981 booking photo and right, more recently) will be executed in the electric chair on Thursday evening after a last meal of pickled pig knuckles and tails

He chose pickled pig knuckles and pig tails as his last meal on Wednesday. A stock photo shows cooked pig tails

He said he he would rather have 35 seconds in total of two 1,750 volt shocks over an excruciatingly painful death by the lethal injection that could take up to 18 minutes to kill him.

His attorneys say he believes death by electrocution will be quicker, but they maintain that both methods are unconstitutional.

Zagorski feasted on pickled pig knuckles (pictured, stock photo) before he dies

Zagorski's attorney Kelley Henry said she planned to appeal the court's decision to the Supreme Court on Thursday morning, the Tennessean reports.

A request for an execution stay based on claims of ineffective counsel at trial also remains open.

His execution is now scheduled for Thursday evening.

The Tennessee Department of Correction announced Wednesday that Zagorski's last meal will be pickled pig knuckles and pig tails.

Death row inmates are allowed $20 for a special meal before they're executed.

Zagorski was originally scheduled to be executed October 11, but that got delayed due to legal challenges and a last minute reprieve from Governor Bill Haslam.

At that time, Zagorski chose to forgo having a final meal and instead eat what the rest of the inmates would eat for dinner.

PICKLED PIGS FEET RECIPE In a large stainless steel pot, place pig's feet and enough water to cover. Boil feet 2 hours or until tender; drain. Rinse feet in hot water to remove excess fat. Remove as many bones as you can. Put 1 chili pepper and 3 pig's feet in each one quart jar. In a separate bowl, mix salt and vinegar together. Pour vinegar mixture over pig's feet to cover. Seal jars and refrigerate for at least 3 days to 1 week before eating. Source: www.allrecipes.com Advertisement

Zagorski was sentenced to die in 1984 for the murder of two men in a drug deal.

He asked for death by electrocution on October 8 after Tennessee's Supreme Court upheld the state's controversial lethal injection cocktail.

Experts have said it would cause an extremely painful death.

Zagorski will be only the second person put to death by electrocution in Tennessee since 1960. Daryl Holton chose to die in the electric chair in 2007.

The last person to be executed by electrocution in the United States was Robert Gleason, who was put to death in Virginia in 2013.

Tennessee's electric chair was inspected on October 10 of this year and found to meet the criteria for an execution, state documents show.

Tennessee's electric chair is seen in 1999. Ricky Bell, the warden at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, gives a tour of the prison's execution chamber. The chair, which hasn't been used since 2007, was inspected on October 10

Attorney Kelley Henry argues before the Tennessee Supreme Court that the latest three-drug cocktail used in executions will cause excruciating pain on October 3, 2018

But the self-taught execution expert who built it is worried the device will malfunction.

Botched executions by lethal injections The United States executed 8,776 people between 1890 and 2010 - and 276 of those were botched, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Death by lethal injection had the highest rate of botched executions during that period at 7.12 per cent. Electrocution, in comparison had a 1.92 per cent rate. In recent years, the drug midazolam has been the subject of multiple legal challenges over its use as a sedative in lethal injection executions. Medical experts warned the drug may not be strong enough to keep a prisoner unconscious once he starts to feel pain. In several recent executions the drug failed to render prisoners fully unconscious, causing them intense suffering prior to death. Ohio halted executions in 2014 after the botched execution of Dennis McGuire (pictured) using midazolam Ohio halted executions in 2014 after the botched execution of Dennis McGuire using midazolam. The prisoner gasped for air for some 25 minutes before dying. In a lawsuit filed after the execution, McGuire's family said he experienced 'repeated cycles of snorting, gurgling and arching his back, appearing to writhe in pain.' The lawsuit said: 'It looked and sounded as though he was suffocating.' A federal appeals court in 2017 granted Ohio permission to resume executions, after officials increased the dose of the drug by a factor of 50. Ronald Bert Smith, Jr. heaved, gasped and coughed while struggling for breath for 13 minutes after the lethal drugs were administered in Alabama on December 8, 2016. He was pronounced dead 34 minutes after the execution began. In February, Doyle Lee Hamm's execution by lethal injection failed in Alabama In February this year, Doyle Lee Hamm's execution by lethal injection failed in Alabama. Despite warnings from Hamm's defense counsel that it would be impossible to find a vein as Hamm suffered from advanced lymphatic cancer and carcinoma, the state went forward with the execution. For two and a half hours, the executioners tried in vain to find a vein. Hamm with numerous puncture marks, including six in his groin and others that punctured his bladder and penetrated his femoral artery before the execution was called of as a midnight deadline that prohibited further attempts approached. Meanwhile, the state of Nevada last month postponed an execution after midazolam-manufacturer Alvogen successfully sued to stop its product from being used in executions. Advertisement

Fred Leuchter had a successful career in the execution business before his reputation was tainted by his claim that there were no gas chambers at Auschwitz.

He is no longer welcome in the prison system.

Tennessee's chair is just one of many execution devices Leuchter worked on between 1979 and 1990, according to an article by Fordham University professor Deborah Denno in the William and Mary Law Review.

In addition to electric chairs, Leuchter built, refurbished and consulted on gas chambers, lethal injection machines and a gallows for at least 27 states.

But after his comments about the Holocaust, it came to light that he had neither an engineering degree nor a license, even though he promoted himself as an engineer. His rise and fall was portrayed in a 2000 documentary.

Nonetheless, Leuchter stands behind the electric chair he rebuilt in 1988, relying on skills picked up designing navigational and surveillance equipment and a careful study of documents describing early executions.

But his concern is that Tennessee's chair will fail because of changes others made to it after he was no longer allowed to service it.

'What I'm worried about now is Tennessee's got an electric chair that's going to hurt someone or cause problems. And it's got my name on it,' Leuchter said. 'I don't think it's going to be humane.'

Governor Haslam said he is confident the execution can be carried out without problems.

'I have a great deal of confidence in our Department of Correction folks. ... We've spoken with them regularly and they've assured us' the chair is ready.

Tennessee asked Leuchter to refurbish its chair in 1988, when it was facing the possibility of its first execution in decades.

'It looked like it was made for a midget or something,' Leuchter said.

So he built a new chair that incorporated wood from the original, which he was told was from the old gallows, and replaced the chair's electrodes.

He also replaced the old leather straps that tether prisoners to the chair with quick-release nylon belts, to aid guards tasked with removing bodies after executions.

He trained prison workers and gave them certificates as 'electrocution technicians.'

Leuchter said he sold the original chair.

A collector of 'murderabilia' listed it on eBay in 2000. It now resides in the Alcatraz East Crime Museum in the Smoky Mountains.

Denno said electric chairs have 'a history of botches that has only gotten worse.'

In two Florida executions in the 1990s, smoke and flames shot from the condemned inmates' heads. In 1999, blood spilled from under an inmate's mask.

Shortly afterward, the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether the electric chair violates the 8th Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

But the case was dropped after Florida switched to lethal injection.

Tennessee has executed only one person in Leuchter's electric chair. Daryl Holton died that way in 2007.

In preparation, an electrical engineer reduced the voltage from 2,640 to 1,750 and raised the amperage from 5 to 7.

The timing was also changed, from two, one-minute jolts with a 10-second pause between, to a 20-second and 15-second jolt with a 15-second pause between. The execution was successful.

But Leuchter said he feels the chair now is 'defective and shouldn't be used.'

'It worked the first time, but I think they were lucky,' he said.
Leo Durrington, three, was hit by a stolen van which was being followed by police

A 16-year-old boy who left a young child fighting for his life after running him over in a stolen van told police, 'I was going to hand myself in after watching Love Island', a court heard today.

The youth, who cannot be named because of his age, was arrested at his home by officers hours after ploughing into three-year-old Leo Durrington.

The 16-year-old was in a Ford Transit being pursued by police when he lost control on a bend in Leigh, Greater Manchester, on Tuesday morning.

The child from Wigan was 'ripped from his mum's hands', police said, and catapulted 55ft (17m) across a pub car park in the incident at about 10.35am.

He was put in an induced coma and it is suspected he may have a 'significant' brain injury. His family are at his bedside in hospital. His prognosis is not known.

The driver admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving at Wigan Youth Court, where he welled up with tears and kept his head down, mumbling his guilty pleas to the court.

The scene of the hit and run outside a pub in Leigh, Greater Manchester, where Leo was hit

He also admitted failing to stop for police, driving without a licence, failing to stop after a collision, driving without insurance and a handling charge for the stolen van.

He was already accused of separate motoring offences before the van incident.

The court heard magistrates had to grant him bail, by law, until he is sentenced later this month.

A second youth, aged 15, was also bailed after pleading guilty to being carried in the stolen vehicle.

Police and crime scene officer cordoned off the scene of the incident on Tuesday morning

James Gore, prosecuting, earlier told the court a Ford Transit Connect van was stolen on Monday, and the 16-year-old was spotted driving it at around 10am the next day in Leigh.

It was followed by a police car but 'reacted' by accelerating up to 50mph or 60mph and overtaking other vehicles.

As the van made a right turn it left the road outside a pub and mounted the pavement.

Mr Gore continued: 'On the footpath at that time is a mother and a three-year-old.

Greater Manchester Police released photos of a van recovered near the scene of the incident

'The mother is clipped by the wing mirror of the vehicle but the three-year-old is hit and ejected 17 metres into a nearby car park.'

The van failed to stop and was later found abandoned. The 15-year-old, after contacting his solicitor, handed himself in to police that evening.

Around two hours later, at 9.30pm, a police officer went to the 16-year-old's home to arrest him.

The defendant told the officer: 'It's all right, I was going to hand myself in after watching Love Island,' the court heard.

He later told police he did not see the youngster or his mother when he drove away.

Kevin Liston, defending, said: 'The demeanour of the defendant in court is understandable. He is 16 and has no previous convictions.'

Both youths were bailed on condition they do not contact each other and do not enter a vehicle unless it is a taxi or is driven by an adult relative, a social worker or a member of the youth offending team.

The older boy must observe a 7pm to 7am home curfew. Both will be sentenced on November 15 at Wigan Youth Court.

A white van collided with the three-year-old boy, leaving him in a critical condition

Lawyers said the case cannot be transferred to crown court so the maximum sentence the 16-year-old can face is two years' detention.

Previously, Greater Manchester Police said Leo had suffered life-threatening injuries and remained in a critical condition in hospital.

Sergeant Lee Westhead, of the serious collision investigation unit, said: 'The vehicle mounted the pavement and took the three-year-old out of his mother's hands.

'He was projected along the car park of the public house, and the van made off from the scene.'

Leo suffered life-threatening injuries and remains in a critical condition in hospital

He added: 'Thanks to the quick work of our officers, and information received from the public, we have managed to make two arrests following this horrendous incident earlier today.

'I would like to thank everyone who has come forward to police with information so far, but our investigation does not stop here.

'And I would ask anyone with information about what happened to please get in touch with police.

'Leo is still in a critical condition in hospital, and my thoughts are with him and his family at this incredibly difficult time.'

The incident was referred to the force's professional standard's branch 'in line with normal force policy', a spokesman said.
A mother who was caught driving while six times over the limit with two young children in the car has described her actions as 'disgraceful'.

Penrith mother Kasey Garner, 32, was caught driving drunk with a six-year-old and four-year-old in the backseat in Sydney in April, 9News reported.

She appeared in the Penrith Local Court for sentencing on Thursday, having entered an early guilty plea.

She covered her face from television cameras with a black jacket as she fled from the courtroom.

Casey Garner (pictured), 32, was caught drunk driving with two kids in the back. The Penrith mother was six times over the legal limit when police stopped her

According to court documents, a witness saw her car stall at an intersection at 11.30am on April 29.

When the person approached the car, they saw Garner behaving erratically and said she appeared 'spaced out'.

Garner slapped a police officer's hand away after refusing a road side breath test. She was arrested and taken to a police station.

Her blood alcohol reading was 0.308 - six times the legal limit of .05. She told officers she had consumed two vodka's before leaving her home.

Garner has been disqualified from driving for six months, must serve 50 hours of community service, and was ordered to continue with her alcohol rehabilitation.

Magistrate Geoff Hiatt said Ms Garner had shown 'strong and clear' remorse and had made genuine efforts to change her behaviour.

Her lawyer told the court Ms Garner understood how serious her offence was and called her own behaviour 'disgraceful'.

She appeared in the Penrith Local Court on Thursday wearing a tight green and grey patterned dress, she covered her face from cameras as she left court
A mother has spoken about the horrifying moment she and her family had to escape to safety just moments before their Vauxhall Insignia blew up.

Nicole Pearson, 30, from Witcham in Cambridgeshire, was driving home with her fiancee and three children on the A142 around 6.30pm on October 30, when her eldest child said he could smell something.

It was only when another motorist began flashing his lights that she understood something was wrong. She pulled over and managed to get out along with her children just seconds before flames spread the vehicle exploded.

The incident comes after the car manufacture announced it was recalling 47,000 Zafira B cars built between 2005 and 2014, following concerns over blazes originating from the heater motor.



Nicole Pearson was on her way home with her fiancee and three children on the A142 around 6.30pm on October 30 when her eldest children said he could smell something. They were lucky to escape just moments before their Vauxhall Insignia blew up (Pictured: Interior of the family car just after it caught fire)

Ms Pearson said: 'We had just visited my dad and we were travelling home at a snail's pace because it was so busy.

'My eldest was sitting in the back and said he could smell 'garlic', but didn't think anything of it. It's the harvest season, so I thought they were just doing the fields...'

'Then a car behind kept flashing his lights and put on the indicator to tell me to pull over.

'A woman passing by started screaming hysterically 'get out of the car, it's on fire'...

'We jumped out, got the kids out, then we didn't get 10 metres and it went 'bang', the bonnet flew up in the air, the windows shattered and the car started sparking from the side.

'My kids were just screaming, they were hysterical. If we didn't get out there and then we'd be dead.'

The fire service and police attended the scene and managed to contain the fire.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue said the cause of the fire was 'accidental'.

A spokeswoman for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue said: 'On Tuesday (30) at 6.40pm, one crew from Ely and one crew from Soham were called to a car fire on the A142 near Stutney.

Nicole, her fiancee and three children (pictured) went home after the accident. The mother put a brave face on, gave the children some dinner and put them to bed, despite being in shock

'Crews arrived to find the car well alight. Wearing breathing apparatus, firefighters used two hose reels to extinguish the fire, before returning to their station by 7.50pm.'

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire police said: 'We were called at 6.45pm yesterday (30 October) with reports of a car on fire on the A142 near Ely.

'Officers attended the scene along with representatives from the fire service. The road was closed while the fire was put out.

'The car, a Vauxhall Insignia, was recovered later that evening.'

Ms Pearson bought the 2014 registration family car from a local dealer on finance for 9,000 just a year ago, thinking it was a 'sturdy' family car.

Now she says she will never buy a Vauxhall again.



She said: 'The car is quite hi-tech so if anything went wrong with the car I could see it, but there was no warning light at all.

'You think you are getting a good car for the money but people couldn't look for signs even if they wanted to.

Nicole understood something was wrong when another motorist started flashing his lights. She and her family jumped out of the car and just after that it blew up

'I want to know what caused it to happen. I wasn't aware that fires could start in the Insignias.'

Nicole says as they got home she put a brave face on, gave the children some dinner and put them to bed, but she is still in shock.

The car company first recalled Zafira models in 2015.

Vauxhall Motors were contacted for a statement about the incident, but were unable to confirm whether the fire was due to a fault with the Insignia model.

They said they would like to inspect the wreckage.

A spokeswoman said: 'Vauxhall Motors considers the safety of its customers very seriously.

'Through continual testing, we are launching a recall of some Vauxhall Zafira models to replace the heater blower motor and regulator.

'These are the second generation models - Zafira B - built between 2005 and 2014, that were fitted with electronic climate control (ECC). There are 47,000 such cars in the UK.

'In agreement with the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), we will write to owners using the keeper address data from the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) advising them to contact a Vauxhall Retailer to arrange to have the work carried out free of charge.

'Letters will start to be sent out from the end of this week.'

Vauxhall recalls another 47,000 Zafiras over safety fears - just three years after calling back 234,000 of the family cars due to 'fire risk'

By Henry Martin for MailOnline

Vauxhall are recalling 47,000 Zafiras that were excluded from a previous recall three years earlier which was meant to protect the vehicles from 'the risk of fire'.

Some of the cars being called back are 13 years old, leaving owners wondering what took the company so long to recall them.

Between 2015 and 2016 Vauxhall, who were investigating 161 Zafira B fires, called back 234,000 models in two separate recalls due to rising safety concerns.

Models with electronic climate control were excluded, but 47,000 of the Zafira B, constructed between 2005 and 2014 and fitted with the climate control, are set to be recalled on Friday to replace the heater blower motor and regulator, ITV reported.

A Vauxhall spokesperson said: 'We are launching a recall of some Vauxhall Zafira models to replace the heater blower motor and regulator.

Model B Vauxhall Zafiras constructed between 2005 and 2014 will be recalled on Friday

'These are the Zafira B models, built between 2005 and 2014, fitted with electronic climate control. There are 47,000 such cars in the UK.

'We will write to owners using the keeper address data from the DVLA advising them to contact a Vauxhall Retailer to arrange to have the work carried out free of charge.'

Vauxhall said the recall was not for the same reason as previous alerts and it takes the safety of its customers 'very seriously'.

The company wrote to 234,000 owners in December 2015 to ask them to arrange for their cars heating and ventilation system to be inspected by a local dealer.

The initial recall came following reports of nearly 200 of the model bursting into flames, and subsequently all Zafira B owners were offered a free safety inspection in light of the fires.

Five months later, the company issued a second recall and made the following statement: Vauxhall today announces that owners of the Vauxhall Zafira B models will be invited to bring their vehicles back to Vauxhall dealerships so that a preventative action can be carried out to protect the vehicles from the risk of fire.'

The launch of a criminal investigation into Vauxhall Zafira fires was confirmed earlier this year by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Models affected by Vauxhall's recall If your vehicle is a second generation Vauxhall Zafira model B built between 2005 and 2014, fitted with electronic climate controls between these dates, it will be affected by the recall on Friday, November 2, 2018. There are 47,000 affected cars in the UK. The recall seeks to replace the heater blower motor and regulator. Vauxhall says it will write to owners using DVLA keeper address data. The company will advise owners to contact a Vauxhall retailer to arrange the replacements free of charge. Owners can contact Vauxhall on 0800 026 0037. Advertisement

A Parliament select committee published a damning report in April last year which described the company as showing 'a reckless disregard for safety', adding that the manufacturer was 'too slow to begin a full investigation'.

The report said: 'Vehicle fires can be terrifying for vehicle occupants and other road users, some of whom are seriously or fatally injured as a result of such fires.

'In 2015 there was a sudden increase in vehicle fires involving Vauxhall Zafira B models.

'Vauxhall was too slow to begin a full investigation into the fires affecting Zafira B models and too quick to attribute the problem to improper and unauthorised repair.

'Vauxhall does not appear to have grasped the seriousness of the issue, placing the blame on third parties and addressing the problem, in the first instance, through a non-coded action rather than a recall.

'A fire cannot occur in a Zafiras heating and ventilation system solely because the resistor controlling the speed of the blower motor has been improperly repaired; another fault, such as corrosion of the blower motor due to water ingress, would also need to be present.

'Vauxhall has been reluctant to accept the part that corrosion in blower motors in the affected models has played in causing the fires.'

The report states that the company's initial investigation did not identify all the failings that could cause a fire in the model B Zafira's heating and ventilation system, which led to vehicle fires.

'Its initial recall reduced the risk of the fire, but owners were left thinking their cars were safe when the reality was that some were at risk,' the report said.
English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson is at the centre of another visa row after he announced plans for a speaking tour of Australia.

Robinson was freed from a UK prison in August after judges quashed a contempt of court finding against him, but the British Attorney General is currently looking at whether to continue the case.

Now on bail, he is planning trips to speak in the U.S. and Australia, which some have estimated could see him rake in hundreds of thousands of pounds to fund his activism.

Tommy Robinson is hoping to speak at a series of meetings in Australia, but his planned trip has caused anger among some in the country, who want him barred from appearing

Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley Lennon, has been invited to speak at meetings in Washington on November 14 by the US group The Middle East Forum.

He is meanwhile billed to appear alongside Gavin McInnes, the Canadian founder of the alt-right group Proud Boys, at a series of speeches in Australia in December.

The pair say they will appear in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Sydney between December 5 and December 16.

But the plans have sparked concerns in Australia over possible violence after some members of McInnes's Proud Boys group were filmed brawling with counter demonstrators in New York last month.

Australia's Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich has called on the country's Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to deny Robinson a visa, saying his 'race-baiting promotes religious bigotry'.

Australia's Labor party immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann has meanwhile written to immigration minister David Coleman asking for Robinson's co-speaker McInnes to be barred from the country.

Robinson is set to appear alongside Gavin McInnes, a Canadian conservative whose group Proud Boys has been kicked off Facebook for violence in the US

Who is Gavin McInnes? Gavin McInnes shot to fame in the early nineties as a co-founder of VICE, but after leaving the magazine, he became better known for his political commentary. He frequently appeared on Fox News and TheBlaze - an American conservative news network - and is a former contributor to Canadian right-wing channel Rebel Media. Mr McInnes has referred to himself as a 'western chauvinist' and started the men's club 'Proud Boys' According to their website, The Proud Boys' values centre on minimal government, anti-political correctness, closed borders, pro-free speech, and pro-gun rights to name a few. Facebook has banned the alt-right group after its members clashed with Antifa protesters in New York earlier this month. Advertisement

A spokesman for British campaign group Hope Not Hate said: 'Far right figures like Stephen Lennon and Gavin McInnes are building an international network. They're seeking new platforms to fundraise, get media attention and recruit supporters. Where they go, violence isn't far behind. Australia should keep this hate out.'

They say the speaking tours will open up new sources of funding to the 35-year-old.

Robinson posted a video on Facebook on Tuesday hitting out at claims in Australia that he is a white supremacist, and saying lies were being spread about him to prevent him from travelling.

He added: 'Australia thinks they've seen scenes when they've had talks and guest speakers there. You ain't seen nothing like the scenes you're going to get if I'm allowed to come to your country and tell you the real score on what's heading your way.'

More than 19,000 have signed a petition calling for Robinson and McInnes to be allowed into the country.

Meanwhile, it is unclear whether Robinson's previous convictions will prevent him from travelling to the US later this month.

Robinson appeared on Facebook this week urging his followers to sign a petition calling for him to be allowed into Australia
An airliner carrying up to 126 passengers was just 50ft away from smashing into a drone over central London as it came in to land at Heathrow, a report has revealed.

The Swiss International Air Lines flight from Zurich was flying at 1,300ft when the drone passed beneath it over the Richmond area in south west London.

The near miss happened as the Airbus A319 was flying at around 250mph on its final approach to Heathrow at 6.11pm on June 17 this year.

A Swiss Air Airbus A-319, similar to this one, was on final approach to Heathrow Airport when the pilot spotted a drone flying on this flightpath some 50 feet below its altitude

The drone was at 1,250 feet above Richmond, south west London on the approach to Heathrow Airport. Investigators said there was a serious risk of a collision between the drone and the jet

The Swiss Air jet was over Richmond when the pilot reported seeing the drone

According to the pilot, the drone was more than three times the maximum legal height of 400 feet when it passed beneath the jet.

A report by the UK Airprox Board which investigates near misses rated it as a Category A incident meaning there was a serious risk of collision.

The incident is the latest disclosed in a series of close calls between airliners and drones in UK airspace, raising fears of a potentially catastrophic collision.

Last month a report by the UKAB revealed that a Virgin Atlantic jet on the same flightpath came within 10ft of hitting a drone near Clapham Common on June 25.

The crew on the Swiss aircraft reported seeing the drone 'just below their flight path, on the extended centreline' when they were four miles east of Heathrow.

The report said: 'The vertical distance was hard to judge, but they estimated 50ft below them, it was close enough to see that it was white, had 4 propellers and had blinking filaments.'

The drone's operator could have faced a prison sentence of five years for endangering an aircraft, but was apparently never traced.

The report concluded: 'The drone was being flown in an airfield approach lane such that it was endangering other aircraft at that location and altitude.

'The Board agreed that the incident was therefore best described as the drone was flown into conflict with the A319.

'The Board considered that the pilot's overall account of the incident portrayed a situation where providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of collision had existed.'

A spokesman for Swiss International Air Lines said: 'I can confirm that there was an approach of a drone on the mentioned date, but this did not require an evasion manoeuvre.'

It was reported in March that near misses involving drones had tripled over the last two years with 92 reported last year and just 29 in 2015.

A recent study, part-funded by the Department for Transport, found that a mid-air collision between a 4lb drone could 'critically damage' a plane windscreen.
Lion Air boss Daniel Adi insisted there is 'no reason' people should be afraid to use his airline after the crash which killed 189

The boss of Lion Air says he has no idea why people wouldn't want to fly with the airline just days after a crash which killed 189.

Daniel Adi, managing director of the budget airline, said on Thursday that there is 'no reason' to fear getting on one of the company's planes.

At the same time Adi admitted that he doesn't know what caused Flight JT610 to fall from the sky on Monday, marking the fifth Lion Air plane to crash in the last 20 years.

Adi told ABC that he has full confidence in his pilots and engineers, and is at a loss to explain Lion Air's safety record.

'These are the same questions with me, he said. 'We have already tried to do our best to evaluate what happened.'

'Now is the second time we've been audited by IOSA (International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit) and we've passed, so for sure, why we have to be scared or don't want to fly with us? I don't know. There is no reason for that.'

Adi spoke out as the first images emerged of wreckage of Flight JT610 sitting on the sea bed near Jakarta, where it was departing from when it came down.

The pilot had radioed air traffic control shortly after take-off and asked to return to the airport before losing contact.

Divers recovered one of the plane's black box recorders on Thursday (pictured) which may help solve the mystery of how the plane crashed, as Adi admits he has no idea what happened

Divers also released the first images of the wreckage of the plane on the sea bed, where they found the recorder

A large debris field was found floating on the surface shortly after the crash, but the underwater wreck had not been seen until now

A large debris field made up of passengers' possessions was found floating on the sea surface the same day, but wreckage had not been found underwater until now.

Among the twisted hunks of metal and broken pieces of fuselage, divers located one of the black box recorders which could help solve the mystery of what happened.

All commercial airlines carry two of the boxes - one voice recorder which tapes everything said inside the cockpit - and another which records flight tracking data.

It is not known which of the boxes the divers found on Thursday.

There were also conflicting reports about whether the main fuselage of the plane had been located.

Analysts using radar initially said a 22m piece of the plane had been identified on the seabed, before divers said they had seen the wreckage.

Divers are still trying to find the main body of the plane, with conflicting reports about whether they know its exact location

Only a few dozen bodies have so far been recovered from the crash site, with the majority believed to still be inside the fuselage

Rescue workers sift through a huge pile of personal belongings from passengers which were found floating in the ocean

However, other reports suggested it was only a large pile of passenger's luggage and other belongings.

Engine failure is the most likely explanation for the accident after Lion Air confirmed the same jet had suffered an issue on a flight the day before it crashed.

While Lion Air would not give exact details of the fault, passengers on that flight reported hearing an 'unusual roar' from the engines and said the plane was delayed taking off while a fault was fixed.

When the jet did get into the air, it felt as if it was stalling and losing power, one passenger said.

The technical director of Lion Air who gave the green light for the plane to be flown on Monday has been given his marching orders by Indonesia's transport minister.

'Today we will remove Lion's technical director from his duties to be replaced by someone else, as well as technical staff' who cleared the flight to depart,' Budi Karya Sumadi told reporters on Wednesday.

He said the airline would undergo a ministry inspection and an industry-wide investigation into Indonesia's low-cost airlines would be conducted.

Ningsi Ayorbaba, 35, weeps as await news of her husband Paul Ferdinan Ayorbaba, a victim of Lion Air crash
An NHS nurse is on the verge of bankruptcy after being sent over 300 letters in just three months demanding she pay 7,000 parking fines.

Astra Farmer, 34, said she occasionally parked in private spaces outside her flat in 2014 and 2015 when she couldn't find a spot after exhausting night shifts.

She said she would leave a polite note and ignored fines and letters from a private parking firm after researching the underhand scare tactics similar companies use.

NHS nurse Astra Farmer, pictured in a car park behind her old flat in Exmouth, Devon where she ran up a debt of 7,000 from unpaid fines and added legal bills

Ms Farmer claimed she found it difficult to locate a parking space when coming home after a night shift and only used the carpark as a last resort

Ms Farmer, pictured with her 12-year-old son Thai, left, said she may have to declare herself bankrupt because of the 7,000 fine and added legal costs

Ms Farmer said she only had a 'few letters' and thought she got away without paying when 'no action' was taken.

She later moved but four years later she started getting calls and letters from a law firm.

In three months she had received 300 letters - and was getting up to 30 calls an hour, she claims - from solicitors 'harassing' her for cash.

The hospital nurse is happy to pay the 2,300 fine - but BW Legal has added on a 4,500 legal bill and she is considering declaring herself bankrupt to cope.

Ms Farmer from Exmouth, Devon said: 'I'd just be shattered and wanting to get home to my son. I was just sick of driving round.

'I've always thought that private parking companies can't do anything like this and I've been told to just ignore them before.

'The stress and harassment has been horrific. I honestly thought I'd end up with bailiffs at my door.

The car park in Crudges Lane, Exmouth, pictured, can only be used by permit holders

Ms Farmer said a legal firm working on behalf of Premier Parking Solutions has been ringing her up to 30 times an hour and submitted 300 letters over the course of a month

'It's so threatening, it's ridiculous. Someone who's vulnerable could commit suicide because of something like this.

'I'm going to appeal each fine based on the harassment. I'm prepared to fight it.

'The way it has been handled is barbaric.

'But I am prepared to pay the fines because I shouldn't have parked there and that's my fault.'

The car park, in Crudges Lane, Exmouth, did feature signs warning motorists that 'permit holders only' were authorised to park, she said.

Between 2014 and 2016, the mother-of-one lived in a flat without space, and would park in the private car park in Exmouth town centre 'very, very occasionally' when she was desperate.

Ms Farmer says she would find herself driving round for up to an hour looking for a space, and left her car there as a last resort.

Ms Farmer received 23 parking fines each demanding and initial 60 between 2014 and 2016. When the fines were not paid, the amount increased to 100 each. When the 100 was not paid, BW Legal were instructed to collect the debt - adding 4,500 in legal fees to the amount

She recalls 'nearly falling asleep' at the wheel of her Volkswagen Beetle, as she searched for a parking space following a hectic 12-hour shift at a local hospital.

She ignored 23 60 parking fines from Premier Parking Solutions over a two year period between 2014 and 2016, and they increased to 100 each.

But in July this year she began to be hounded by law firm BW Legal - who are acting on behalf of the private parking firm - for 7,000.

She was ordered to pay up or she would be issued with 23 County Court Judgements (CCJs).

A CCJ is a court order that limits people's ability to take out loans, apply for mortgages and take out direct debits for failing to repay money owed.

Ms Farmer admits she was 'wrong' to ignore the fines and is now embarking on a legal battle to challenge the bill.

She said she was never notified about CCJ judgements and therefore never had the chance to appeal.

Ms Farmer, who has since moved to a different rented house in Exmouth, said: 'The car park had really poor signs.

'It did say that permit holders only could park there but I just ignored them.

Ms Farmer was saving for a mortgage to buy her own house, but those plans are in jeopardy after seeing her credit rating plummet.

She has received a letter from the High Court apologising for how she was hounded with letters by BW Legal.

The High Court has advised Ms Farmer of her power to appeal, and she has already begun civil proceedings against the law firm.

Any CCJs already filed against Ms Farmer have been removed she said.

Ms Farmer said she is willing to settle the fines but does not want to pay the court costs

Ms Farmer said: 'I'm going to say that I'm willing to pay the fines, that's not a problem. But I shouldn't have to pay any court courts.

'They spent money on the CCJs before I could appeal. I shouldn't have to pay for that.

'I'm hopeful of being successful and I hope this changes how other people are dealt with in the future.

'It's just been ridiculous.'

A Premier Parking Solutions spokesperson said: 'It would appear that the motorist incurred 23 parking charge notices by parking not in accordance with the advertised permitting conditions.

'This includes parking in areas that they have not been authorised to do so and failing to correctly authorise their car to park in a pay and display area.

'The motorist has naively ignored all of the PCN's and subsequent correspondence sent to them which would have amounted to hundreds of documents.

'The size of the sums being required to pay by BW Legal our solicitors reflects the seriousness of this matter and the cost involved in pursuing these unpaid charges.

'The terms and conditions of parking at our site are not at all controversial and are very easy to follow and have been approved by our governing bodies.

'Motorists must understand that flagrantly disregarding these conditions of parking which are in place to ensure that those who are entitled to park can do so and they are not affected by fly parking.'
President Donald Trump said Thursday said trade discussions with China were 'moving along nicely' and that he planned to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming G-20 summit after a 'very good' talk with his counterpart.

'We talked about many subjects, with a heavy emphasis on Trade. Those discussions are moving along nicely with meetings being scheduled at the G-20 in Argentina,' he tweeted. 'Also had good discussion on North Korea!'

Trump's top economic adviser had said the two presidents were likely to meet at the end of this month at the conference for world leaders in Buenos Aires, however a firm commitment had not been made.

President Donald Trump said Thursday said trade discussions with China were 'moving along nicely' and that he planned to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming G-20 summit after a 'very good' talk with his counterpart

Xi said Thursday after speaking with Trump that he hopes China and the United States will be able to promote a steady and healthy relationship, Chinese state media reported

The U.S. president said Wednesday that he'd like to sit down and make a 'fair deal' with China on trade that would eliminate the need for the massive tariffs he's put on the nation.

China and the U.S., the world's two largest economies, are in a bitter trade dispute.

The United States has already imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods, and China has responded with retaliatory duties on $110 billion worth of U.S. goods.

Trump has long threatened to impose tariffs on all $500 billion-plus goods that the United States imports from China if Beijing fails to meet his demands for sweeping changes to its policies on intellectual property, technology transfers, industrial subsidies and local market access.

Xi said Thursday after speaking with Trump that he hopes China and the United States will be able to promote a steady and healthy relationship, Chinese state media reported.

In the phone call with Trump, Xi also said he and Trump hoped to expand bilateral trade cooperation, he was quoted as saying on CCTV state television.

'The two countries' trade teams should strengthen contact and conduct consultations on issues of concern to both sides, and promote a plan that both can accept to reach a consensus on the China-U.S. trade issue,' Xi said.

In the phone call with Trump, Xi also said he and Trump hoped to expand bilateral trade cooperation, he was quoted as saying on CCTV state television

The Chinese president was also quoted as saying that he was willing to meet Trump in Argentina during the G-20 summit.

On Thursday Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also told a group of visiting U.S. politicians that China and the United States could overcome their differences and get relations back on track if they worked together in a spirit of mutual respect.

Meeting a group of Republican lawmakers in Beijing, China's Li noted the China-U.S. relationship's 'ups and downs' over the past four decades of diplomatic ties.

'We do hope that China and the United States will meet each other halfway and work together in the spirit of mutual respect and equality,' Li told Trump's fellow Republicans.

Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander told Li that the delegation was there 'to show our respect to a great country and a great people,' and that the two countries 'are competitors but not adversaries.'

Earlier this week, Trump said he thought there would be 'a great deal' with China on trade, but warned that he had billions of dollars worth of new tariffs ready to go if a deal did not materialize

Alexander said he would be discussing trade with Li, though neither of them mentioned the ongoing tariff war in remarks in front of reporters.

Earlier this week, Trump said he thought there would be 'a great deal' with China on trade, but warned that he had billions of dollars worth of new tariffs ready to go if a deal did not materialize.

'Were going way up, and China has been hurt over the last number of months. And theyre having a hard time, and theyll be fine,' Trump said Wednesday. 'But we have a chance to make a fair deal, because China has been hurting us and trade deals have been hurting us. And were changing them.'

Trump warned that if China doesn't 'treat us fairly, were not going to treat them fairly' in remarks at an event for American workers at the White House.
Indian central bank RBI's directive on data localisation is a sour pill for many multinational payment companies. RBI had set a deadline of October 15, 2018, for all payments companies to start storing data on Indian soil; it wants processing of payments to happen locally for a variety of reasons. Companies such as Visa and MasterCard have been fighting the move, citing many challenges.

One of the reasons often cited is the technology challenge, the fact that it is too difficult to do, and run processes efficiently.

Not all multinational companies agree with that view-certainly not the technology infrastructure players who stand to benefit through the sale of more hardware and software required for such localisation. Dell EMC, for instance, says the technology to do localisation exists and it is only a matter of multinational companies saying "Yes, we got to do this".

Business Today spoke to Amit Midha, President APJ Commercial and EVP, Global Digital Cities at Dell EMC. He said the company is committed to supporting the regulations of every country.

"We believe that this trend of data being the new currency is going to happen in more places. More governments are going to want control and access to their citizen's data. In that context, we will be ready with the technology framework," he said.

What is that framework? Companies protesting localisation moves are arguing they need all the data in one place, at one central location, in a centralised data-processing warehouse. This currently happens to be abroad for some multinationals. If all the data is centralised in a location, it is easier to run analytics and do fraud detection. Nevertheless, Midha said, today, companies can run analytics on the Edge.

"If a transaction is going through and is considered fraudulent, instead of saying that the data has to go to the core (a centralised centre), you can analyse the data at the Edge or in a distributed form. And send a signal saying the transaction has a problem," the executive said.

Edge Computing is an emerging paradigm where data is processed near the edge of the network or closer to where the data is being generated. This could be at the device capturing the data as well, such as cameras.

"Distributed analytics will be the norm of the future. Edge Computing will take off. If you have thousands of cameras in Delhi to analyse who is a good person and who is not, there is not enough bandwidth in the world to feed all these data into one centre, analyse, and then react," he explained.

Similarly, cars with driver assistive technologies will generate a lot of data. Such data needs to be processed at the Edge to be effective. "If someone is saying there is no technology solution, we are saying that is not correct. We have technology solution for edge analytics, distributed analytics."

Large multinational companies, nevertheless, may need more time, Midha said, and added that it is a three to six months process for any large company to implement.
Tony Blair has called for a 'transatlantic alliance' with the US to force tech giants like Facebook and Google to obey 'ethical standards'.

The ex Prime Minister said the EU and America should set up new regulators to force the companies to pay fairer tax rates and do more to protect people's data.

His intervention comes amid growing alarm that Silicon Valley giants are paying paltry amounts of tax in countries where they rake in huge revenues.

While the Facebook data harvesting scandal, which saw the profiles of 87 million people improperly shared, sparked calls for stronger privacy laws.

Philip Hammond announced on Monday that Britain is set to become one of the first countries in the world to impose a new 'digital tax' on tech giants.

And in an article, Mr Blair has called for the two Western blocs to go further and fundamentally rewrite 'the rules for the internet age'.

Tony Blair (pictured in London earlier this month ) has called for a 'transatlantic alliance' with the US to force tech giants like Facebook and Google to obey 'ethical standards'

But his comments could spark a backlash with Donald Trump's administration which is protectionist of American business interests.

Mr Blair said the regulators should focus on making the big tech giants stick to a new ethical code which places a 'new responsibility on these firms, with standards built in unison with the communities they serve'.

He said that big firms should also be prevented from quickly buying out smaller start-ups - using heir immense economic power to squeeze out any up and coming competition.

UK LEADS THE WAY WITH DIGITAL TAX The UK Digital Services Tax will make the UK the firm developed country to impose such a levy. The announcement comes as dozens of countries are contemplating taxes on digital services sold by companies such as Google and Facebook. Companies typically pay their taxes where they are based. But while local governments can impose a sales tax on physical goods in shops and restaurants, that has not been the case with online service providers. And in the European Union, foreign companies like Amazon, Google and Facebook pay what tax they owe in the country where they have their regional base - usually a low tax haven like Ireland. So their business generates little to no tax revenue in countries, like the U.K., where they have significant operations. Advertisement

While firms should have to pay tax to a country according to how many users and customers it has there, rather than being allowed to funnel their profits around the world to cut their tax bills.

He wrote: 'I would focus on the rights and well-being of consumers, with more powers handed to the individual to understand how their data is being used and by whom.

'It would also renew competition policy to be relevant for the economies of today.

'Practically, this means a stronger process to stop large companies buying out potentially competitive start-ups.

'With international tax reform unlikely to be forthcoming in the near future, it would also be given powers to place companies temporarily in a corporate-tax regime which allocates profits geographically in proportion to active users.

'Together the reforms would place the US and the EU at the forefront of setting ethical standards for tech worldwide. But importantly, they would encourage, not stifle innovation.'

He made the comments in an article called 'Introducing A New Deal for Big Tech: Next-Generation Regulation Fit for the Internet Age'.

He said that the growing influence of tech giants means that 'now, more than ever, the private incentives of firms need to align with the public interest'.

The ex Labour leader added: 'Many parts of the developing world have begun to converge economically with Europe, while China is vying with the US.

'This should not be a zero-sum game; it is simply the new reality.'

He said that politicians have been 'complicit' in allowing the Silicon Valley giants to run rampant.

And he said: 'Today, the internet is not just another sector: it has escaped into and disrupted all of them.

The Facebook data harvesting scandal, which saw the profiles of 87 million people improperly shared, sparked calls for stronger privacy laws (pictured, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg at a conference in May in California)

'To find a sustainable solution, policymakers need to understand how the world has changed. Instead of quick-fixes or knee-jerk reactions, we need regulation fit for the internet age.'

His call for global reform comes after the Chancellor announced in Monday's Budget the UK would impose a new 2 per cent digital tax on big tech giants.

Mr Hammond 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 the Chancellor's tax 'risks undermining the UK's reputation as the best place to start a tech business or to invest'.
A Paris bus driver has been hailed as a hero after ordering all his passengers off the vehicle after they refused to make room for a wheelchair user to get on board.

Francois Le Berre, who has multiple sclerosis, was waiting patiently at a bus stop in Porte de Clichy in the French capital's suburbs.

When the bus arrived the access ramp was put up but passengers on board did not move to allow him space, leaving him stranded outside.

Spotting the problem, the driver shouted 'Terminus', instructing everyone to get off, before allowing Mr Le Berre on board and driving off with him and his brother as the only passengers.

Francois Le Berre, pictured, who has multiple sclerosis, could not get on a Paris bus because other passengers refused to move, until the driver forced everyone else off

Mr Le Berre said: 'Yesterday while waiting for the bus in Paris, I laughed because no-one wanted to budge.

'When nobody moved the driver got up and said: "Terminus! Everybody off the bus!"

'After that the driver came to see me and said, "you and your helper, you can get on, and the others, you can wait for the next one!'

Speaking to France's Huffington Post, he said the bus driver had told him that 'everyone might need a wheelchair one day'.

After waiting for passengers to disperse he had come down to talk to Mr Le Berre and his brother and tell them they could get on the bus.

The driver did not know him and had no disabled family members but had simply chosen to show 'a little civility', he said.

Spotting the problem, the driver shouted 'Terminus', instructing everyone to get off, before allowing Mr Le Berre on board and driving off. File photo: a bus in Paris

A group called Accessible Pour Tous - meaning Accessibility For All - shared the touching story on Twitter.

Paris's bus company asked for details so they could pass the group's good wishes on to the driver.

The tweet has been retweeted more than 5,000 times and liked more than 10,000 times and many users praised the driver's intervention.

One said: 'The bus driver is a hero!', while another wrote: 'Congratulations to the bus driver, but shame on the passengers'.

Another user said: 'Bravo to the driver who emptied his bus to allow allow the disabled person to get on.

'Good lesson. I hope the other passengers understood.'

A further comment read: 'I hope this action will be followed by lots of others. Let's change the view of those who don't see others.'
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Fascinating unseen photos of the disastrous Gallipoli campaign have emerged alongside a battlefield message from a British officer urging his own side to stop firing at us.

The unknown major hurriedly penned the note to his commanding officer at the rear after an incident of friendly fire.

The note is further evidence of the chaos of the First World War campaign which has gone down in history as one of Britains biggest military disasters.

Colonel Galbraith urges his own side to stop shooting at him after an incident of friendly fire. The scrawled not sheds light on the chaotic legacy of the devastating battle on the Turkish peninsula and in it the commanding officer pleads for more supplies to see the fight through

Fascinating photos show British soldiers marching on the western front as the disastrous Gallipoli campaign is brought to life in pictures that show live on the frontline. The images surfaced alongside a note in which a commanding officer urges his own side to stop firing at his troops

In a note that emerged alongside the photographs, a commanding officer pleads for more ammunition, water and tools as his soldiers battle the Ottomans during the First World War. The documents offer a unique insight into the disastrous battle of Gallipoli in Turkey (pictured: Indian soldiers on the frontline)

A British soldier inspects a gun while smoking a pipe. The picture is one of many that shed light on the First World War battle as the conflict's centenary approaches in the coming days. Images surfaced alongside a hand-written note that offered insight into the mayhem experienced by fighters on the frontline

British soldiers are pictured assembled on the Western Front during the Battle of Gallipoli in the First World War. Troops can be seen clutching pick axes as their comrades smile at the camera despite the harrowing and chaotic conditions which they were forced to endure

In the message the officer also pleads for more water, tools and ammunition for his beleaguered men as they fought the Ottomans.

He writes: 'You are firing into us please stop - as we are in a bad enough trench and need water - tools - ammunition.'

The note, addressed to Colonel James Hardie Galbraith, of the 7th Highland Light Infantry, is being sold as part of an archive that includes a photo album featuring rare snaps of Turkish prisoners, Sikh soldiers and captured weapons.

In addition, there are photos of the rugged terrain of the Gallipoli peninsula and haunting images of cemeteries filled with wooden crosses bearing the names of fallen Allied soldiers.

A British soldier stands among the graves in Gallipoli in a poignant reminder of the lives lost fighting in one of the most devastating and chaotic battles of the disastrous First World War. Photographs that were until now unseen show Army life on the frontline

The note not only instructs soldiers to stop firing on their own side, but requests much-needed ammunition as supplies ran short on the frontline at Gallipoli

The pictures also show the lives of Turkish soldiers in the First World War. They can be seen here huddled behind a barbed wire fence while British troops in the background keep watch. The photographs offer a gritty insight into the hash realities of battle-scarred life

According to a newspaper cutting in the album, these wooden crosses would be removed from the ground by the Turks and burnt as fire wood.

There is also a photo of ANZAC Cove, a 2,000ft long cove where the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian soldiers landed at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

The archive, which also features snaps taken on the Western Front later in the war, has been consigned for sale by a private collector with C&T Auctions, of Ashford, Kent.

Indian soldiers (pictured) contributed a great deal to the First World War effort, fighting on the side of the Allied forces during the devastating conflict. Harrowing pictures show the troops huddled together in harsh conditions on the front line on the Turkish peninsula

Guns pile up in Gallipoli as a British soldier keeps watch over the arsenal during the disastrous Battle of Gallipoli, one of the most infamous episodes of the First World War

It is tipped to sell for 300. Matthew Tredwen, specialist at C&T Auctions, said: 'Gallipoli is recognised both as a military disaster and an iconic part of the Great War.

'This is a fantastic note which captures the chaos of the situation as this unknown British officer is trying desperately to get a message to his commanding officer to stop shelling them.

'There are very good pictures of Turkish prisoners, captured weapons and the Gallipoli trenches. Photos of the campaign are rare so they provide a fascinating insight into one of the most famous actions of the war.'

The ill-fated Gallipoli campaign, which ran from February 1915 to January 1916, resulted in 213,000 troops from Britain and the Empire being killed.

More than half perished due to sicknesses such as dysentery and diarrhoea caused by the unsanitary environment. The sale takes place on November 6.
Russian Twitter trolls are more interested in stirring up anti-Muslim sentiment after terror attacks than in influencing Brexit, according to new research.

A Russian group called the Internet Research Agency (IRA) is widely believed to be another wing of Vladimir Putin's propaganda machine, using social media posts to undermine the confidence of citizens of rival countries.

Last month, Twitter released a cache of nine million tweets from accounts thought to be controlled by the shadowy group, which operates so-called 'troll factories' in Russia.

Analysis of the tweets related to the UK shows an huge increase in activity following terrorist attacks in Britain.

A Russia-linked Twitter account put this inflammatory tweet after the Westminster terror attack. It later emerged that the shocked woman was calling for help. Analysis released today suggests the tweet was just one of hundreds put out by Russian trolls after the terror attacks

Last year, it emerged that a tweet which accused a Muslim woman of supposedly 'ignoring the victims of the Westminster terror attack' was from an account linked to Russia.

It read: 'Muslim woman pays no mind to the terror attack, casually walks by a dying man while checking phone #PrayForLondon #Westminster #BanIslam'

The tweet sparked a backlash against the woman until the photographer revealed that the image had been taken out of context and that she was calling for help.

It then emerged that the Twitter account was on a list of Russian 'bots' and the social media firm shut the account down.

The analysis released by the group Demos today suggests more than 815 tweets were put out by Russian-controlled accounts after the Westminster attacks, and 32,501 retweets.

Similar surges in Russian activity were seen after the suicide bombing in Manchester and the London Bridge attack.

A graph showing Russia bot activity shows an initial burst when the accounts are set up (black spike in left-hand side). Tweets slightly increased around the time of Brexit (centre), but retweets spiked hugely after terror attacks (in box on right-hand side)

Many of the tweets attacked London mayor Sadiq Khan and claimed Muslims were celebrating the attack.

The report states: 'There is a period of six weeks where UK-related Tweets sent by the Russian state-operated accounts were most widely shared.

'They coincide with the terror attacks carried out in London on the 22nd March and 3rd June 2017 and in Manchester on 22nd May 2017.

'During and after each attack, messages sent by Russian state-operated accounts were widely shared on the platform.'

The report found the Russia-linked accounts regularly put out comments attacking Islam; 1,159 between March and June last year.

Over half of the 9792 tweets posted by the account which put out the photo of the woman after the Westminster attack, @SouthLoneStar, related to Islam.

This otherwise average office block in St Petersburg is widely reported to be a so-called 'troll factory', where workers post tweets aimed at destableising other countries

Between 1 st March and 30th June, Russian-linked accounts sent 9,365 messages of which 1,159 were categorised as being related to Islam

By comparison, the Russian bot accounts appear much quieter around the time of the Brexit vote.

Messages headed 'we want our country back' and equating the EU with 'political correctness and tolerance' were among the most retweeted.

Commenting on the findings, Demos' Alex Krasodomski-Jones said: 'Hostile actors have identified online news and media as a weak spot in our democracies, and this data is a window into how they have looked to exploit it.

'It shows the moments we as a society are most vulnerable to falling for lies and disinformation  after a tragedy or an outrage, influence operations were at their most successful.

'As accusations of interference in democracies around the world continue to fly, it's vital we can continue to unpick and analyse the tactics, strategies and impact of influence operations online.'
A diverse group of women stripped off for photographs with just a ballot covering their privates as part of a campaign to urge people to vote Democrat in the upcoming midterm elections.

Ten women took part in the series called 'Grab Them By The Ballot' hoping the powerful images will encourage people to cast their ballot on November 6.

Dawn Robertson, 48, decided to organize the photo shoot with a cast of diverse women of different sizes, sexual orientations and races after #MeToo allegations against prominent figures continued to rise.

She said the Republican party's attack on women's reproductive rights and transgender people's rights also played a part.

And she named her campaign with a play on President Donald Trump's now-infamous comments while aboard an Access Hollywood bus.

A diverse group of women stripped off for photographs to urge people to vote Democrat in the upcoming midterm elections

They posed with just a ballot covering their privates for a 'Grab Them By The Ballot' campaign

The Harvard Law graduate found her models, including a transgender woman, a Latina, an abduction survivor and one who is pregnant on social media and the street.

Melodi Blackbird, 44, Susan Lipkin, 65, Gina Carerra, 56, Tara Beach, 34, Alexandra Martin, 31, Nyla Smith, 22, Gina Higgins, 37, Courtney Blasius, 31, a transgender woman who goes by the initial Z, 28, and Robertson all posed nude with ballots placed strategically in front of their genitals.

They also took part in solo portraits with a single prop to represent themselves as part of the shoot on October 28.

Robertson, the founder, of a recruitment company, said: 'With the Kavanaugh nomination and MeToo and Trump, women are rising everywhere.

'What the Republicans are doing to transgender rights, the way they are attacking women's reproductive rights and the collective trauma means that women are really coming to the forefront now.

They also took pictures with a single prop to represent themselves during the shoot last month

Pregnant Gina Higgins and 22-year-old Nyla Smith pose nude for one of the photos in the series

'I hope that the pictures encourage women and marginalized communities to vote. I want them to know that their voice matters and this is serious s***.'

Robertson, who writes about sexuality and relationships, said she was inspired by photographer Anja Shutz's 2016 series of nude photographs - called Grab Him By The Ballot - where women posed naked with strategically positioned ballots.

That series was in response to Trump's infamous remark that he could 'grab women by the p****.'

Robertson said 'The difference is we are saying it's not just Trump, it's Kavanaugh and all the alleged abusers who have been exposed by the Me Too movement.'

She recruited her models on social media and even at a grocery store.

'I pounded the pavement the night before the shoot because a woman had cancelled,' she said.

Dawn Robertson (left) and a transgender woman who goes by the initial Z (right) in their solo portrais

'I went up to a woman in a market and asked her to pose for me and she said yes. People in real life were actually far more receptive to the idea than communities online.'

She also said she faced backlash for the shoot.

'I faced a lot of backlash when I tried to recruit a diverse group of women,' she said.

'I was told I was objectifying women, that nudity equals promiscuity and even that I was playing the part of a white savior. But I don't think that the pictures oversexualise the women.

'Nudity is fine, being naked is a natural expression. Men have sexualized and monetized women's bodies but these pictures give the power back to the woman.'

Robertson, who writes about sexuality and relationships, said she was inspired by photographer Anja Shutz's 2016 series of nude photographs. Pictured, Gina Higgins

Melodi Blackbird (left) and Tara Beach (right) were among the women who posed nude

Z, a Jewish transgender woman, said that she took part in the risque shoot to raise awareness of how the Trump administration is treating the transgender community.

She said: 'I'm doing this to raise awareness about the impact voting has on the lives of people who are the target of erasure, violence, bigotry, oppression in all of its forms.

'Donald Trump's administration is aggressively trying to define transgender, intersex, and gender non-conforming people out of existence.

'I'm optimistic that this photo shoot will serve as a starting point for more women to claim their bodies.'

Last week, the administration announced it was considering legally defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth.

Trump has also sought to ban transgender people from serving in the military.

Gina Carerra, 56, a Latina artist, said she had taken part in the photo shoot to raise awareness of the vulnerability of minorities under the Trump presidency.

She said: 'I identify as Latina although I am blended with Egyptian, indigenous and Italian as well.

'I think these times merit that everybody gets out and votes. This is a time when millions of marginalized people, disabled, elderly, people of colour and indigenous women are all being negatively affected by this current regime.'

Democrats are vying for control of Congress with a narrow chance that they could take back control of the Senate too in the midterm elections next week.
Jailed property developer Salim Mehajer has made a last-ditch effort to secure his release from prison ahead of Christmas.

Appearing before the New South Wales Supreme Court on Thursday, Mehajer's solicitor claimed the 32-year-old's bipolar diagnosis made his client 'delusional'.

Mehajer, who appeared via video link from Cooma Correctional Centre, says the diagnosis, which he has 'accepted', spurred his extravagant wedding three years ago - shooting the former Auburn Mayor into the spotlight.

Salim Mehajer has blamed a bipolar diagnosis which he says made him 'delusional' at the time of his extravagant 2015 wedding (pictured) for election fraud offences that landed him in jail

The court was told Mehajer was in a state of 'hypermania' at the time of his 2015 wedding, News Corp reported.

It is estimated the 'wedding of the century' to his now ex-wife Aysha Learmonth cost him $25million.

The disgraced former deputy mayor is applying for bail on an 11-month conviction handed down in June 2018 for election fraud.

His defence counsel Michael Finnane said while the bipolar diagnosis is recent, it's impossible to determine how long it has afflicted his client.

'This man has a diagnosable mental illness,' Mr Finnane said.

'There is no indication how far back this mental illness commenced.'

Mehajer's (pictured) solicitor says it's impossible to determine the duration of the condition

Mehajer liked to show off his wealth on social media (pictured with boxer Floyd Mayweather), but has now been declared bankrupt

Crown prosecutor Jennifer Single disagreed that the wedding proved the mental illness had existed during the election fraud offence.

She said there was no evidence the disorder was 'causal at the time of offending'.

The court also heard that Mehajer's offences behind bars have escalated in recent months.

Since his last bail application in August, he has committed nine offences, including the alleged assault of a police officer.

A 56-day penalty was imposed by the Cooma Correctional Centre governor - the highest that can be handed down before taking the matter to court.

Mehajer was silent for majority of the proceedings, looking up from a notebook he was writing in only twice to ask: 'May I interrupt?'

Both times, Justice David Davies replied 'no'.

Mehajer has appeared in court regularly in recent years for a variety of different matters

A further appeal launched on Mehajer's behalf will contest his non-eligibility for Legal Aid funding for his legal costs, the court was told.

Mehajer was allegedly stripped of his assets after being made bankrupt.

Mr Finnane said they were intending to apply to have the bankruptcy annulled.

Mehajer also allegedly owes a large sum of money to the Commissioner of Taxation, which Mr Finnane alluded to their intention to challenge.

Mehajer's father, Mohamed Mehajer, was in court to support his son, but declined to comment to reporters after the proceedings.

The court will reconvene next week, where Justice Davies will make his decision on whether to grant Mehajer bail.
Diane Abbott warned that police should not have to 'pick and choose' between crimes today - after a senior officer said they had to focus on tackling serious offences.

The shadow home secretary signalled her backing for forces recording misogyny - highlighting that she personally received vile letters.

She also delivered a stark warning that hard Brexit could turn the UK into a 'safe haven' for the Mafia and terrorists.

The comments, in an appearance at the National Police Chiefs' Council and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners summit this morning, came after former police chief Sara Thornton said catching burglars and violent offenders should be prioritised above recording incidents that are not crimes.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott (pictured today) signalled her backing for forces recording misogyny - highlighting that she personally received vile letters

Ms Abbott said forces should not be expected to 'pick and choose' between crimes, and called on the Government to provide proper resources to officers.

Speaking at the National Police Chiefs' Council and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners summit on Thursday, the Labour MP referenced remarks made by NPCC chairwoman Sara Thornton on yesterday.

Ms Abbott said: 'As usual, Sara spoke robust common sense but what I would say is, it's not a question of de-prioritising hate crime for instance.

Hard Brexit could turn UK into 'safe haven' for Mafia, Abbott warns Hard Brexit could turn Britain into a 'safe haven' for the Mafia and terrorists, Diane Abbott claimed today. The shadow home secretary warned that failure to get a deal with the EU on security could cause chaos. In her speech, Ms Abbott said: 'Put simply, the government's hard Brexit and its lack of progress on security matters contains a real risk that this country could become a safe haven for the terrorists, the Mafia type criminals, the smugglers and the paedophiles on the run from the EU 27. 'This is not a prospect either this country or the EU should contemplate.' Advertisement

'I know Sara wasn't actually saying that. But it is a question of saying that the police should not have to pick and choose between crimes.

'If society sets certain objectives, if society wants to promote certain behavioural norms, then it is for Government to provide the resources so the police can play its part.

'The police cannot pick and choose between crimes.'

Asked, during a question-and-answer session, if she thought allegations of misogyny should be recorded by police, she said: 'Just yesterday the police came to my office to collect some of the letters that we receive on a daily basis, threatening rape, threatening violence, hate-filled letters.

'I am in favour, because it is the right thing to do, to take the most serious action against hate crime. But we cannot give the police more responsibilities without providing the resources.'

Ms Thornton, former chief constable of Thames Valley Police, warned yesterday that forces are too stretched to take on all 'desirable and deserving' issues, such as logging misogyny reports even when no offence has been committed.

Calling for a 'refocus on core policing', she also said she is 'unconvinced' it is appropriate to commit significant resources investigating allegations against the dead.

In July, chief constables debated whether allegations such as misogyny should be logged even when no crime is committed.

Ms Abbott was making an appearance at the NPCC conference in central London today

On Wednesday the Home Office launched a national campaign to highlight examples of potential hate crimes.

The Government has commissioned a review to examine whether laws should be extended to cover offences motivated by hostility towards a victim's sex or age.

We are asked to provide more and more bespoke services that are all desirable  but the simple fact is there are too many desirable and deserving issues,' she said.

For example, treating misogyny as a hate crime is a concern for some well-organised campaigning organisations.
A Brit has revealed how he is suing travel giant TUI after losing two stone in just seven days after becoming severely ill on a luxury holiday to Mexico.

Kevin Mayo, 55, claims he suffered the dramatic weight loss after contracting a crippling sickness bug which left him in hospital.

The self-employed plasterer was on a dream 3,000 trip to Cancun when the illness left him making up to thirty toilet trips a day.

He says he was so ill he had to be rushed to hospital by taxi and was then unable to leave his room at the five-star Riu Caribe Resort for most of his holiday.

Kevin Mayo, 55, claims he suffered the dramatic weight loss after contracting a crippling sickness bug which left him in hospital

Mr Mayo (pictured with his wife Karen) says he was so ill he had to be rushed to hospital by taxi and was then unable to leave his room at the five-star Riu Caribe Resort for most of his holiday

Mr Mayo, from Poole in Dorset, says his fuming wife later emailed TUI ten times to tell them about his illness but he says she is still waiting for a reply.

The self employed plasterer said he was also forced into thousands of pounds of debt for the first time in his life as the debilitating illness left him unable to work.

My Mayo, who had holidayed with the firm for six years until his illness, said: 'I have never been so ill in all my life. It really knocked me for six.

'This has been a massive strain on our family and TUI just don't seem to care. It put us in debt as I was so ill I couldn't work and had no money coming in as I work for myself.

'We are still waiting for an apology. They sent us out there knowing there had been previous outbreaks in the same area and didn't warn us.

'If I had known I would never have gone. It was supposed to be a romantic getaway and our second honeymoon but it was ruined.

Two nights after arriving the couple had a letter shoved under their door informing them of a bug that was going around and advising what precautions to take

The couple claimed the poolside buffet area was plagued by small birds that had defecated over all the table and chairs

'The only time I left the resort was to go to hospital and the rest of the time was spent in and out of the bathroom.

'We have always gone away with them but now we will never travel with them again.'

Mr Mayo booked the 10-day luxury holiday with wife Karen at the five-star Riu Caribe Resort near Cancun expecting a relaxing romantic break with top quality dining.

He said: 'It was our first holiday on our own without my step daughter so we were really excited.

'When we got there I saw the number of restaurants and joked to my wife that I would be putting on a few stone - little did I know I would be sick as a dog and lose two stone instead.'

Despite a good first impression he soon discovered that standards of food hygiene among staff appeared to be poor.

Mr Mayo submitted a photograph to TUI which he claims shows how someone took a bite out of a burger pate and put it back in the buffet

The 55-year-old added: 'On two occasions we saw a chef refilling food containers while taking his mobile out of his pocket before looking at it and handling food.

'He didn't wash his hands and wasn't wearing gloves. When the fresh food was brought out it was just put on top of the old stuff in the containers.

'Also someone had taken a bite out of a burger and put it back on the buffet plate. It was disgusting.'

He also said the poolside buffet area was plagued by small birds that had defecated over all the table and chairs.

The couple took a taxi to the hospital but when they arrived Mr Mayo spent two hours sat on the floor as the hospital demanded 2,000 in advance to treat him

He added: 'All the chairs and tables had bird droppings on them. It was very unhygienic.'

Two nights after arriving the couple had a letter shoved under their door informing them of a bug that was going around and advising what precautions to take.

Hours later he started to feel ill with stomach cramps and when he went to the pool the next morning he had to keep dashing to the toilet with severe diarrhoea.

He said: 'As the day went on I started going to the toilet and then never stopped. I had hot and cold shivers, ached and felt totally drained.'

Over the next two days he tried to go to the pool but spent his time going backwards and forwards to the toilet and his bathroom.

On one trip back to his room he passed reception and was spotted by a rep who said he 'looked like a zombie' and immediately told them to call out the on site doctor.

He came up to their room and after an examination him told him to get to hospital in Cancun.

The couple took a taxi but when they arrived Mr Mayo spent two hours sat on the floor as the hospital demanded 2,000 in advance to treat him.

After their insurer agreed to pay he was put on the 'strongest possible' antibiotics and IV saline drips before being diagnosed with an unknown 'parasite'.

The rest of the holiday was spent in his room but wife Karen made sure the rep detailed his illness in a report.

After their insurer agreed to pay Mr Mayo was put on the 'strongest possible' antibiotics and IV saline drips before being diagnosed with an unknown 'parasite'

He said: 'I have never been so ill in my life and i just wanted to go home.

He claims that when he got home in June 2016 he was so ill he had to take time off work as it it took him three months to fully recover.

UK Health officials have issued repeated warnings about visiting the resorts of Riviera Maya and Cancun in Mexico.

Nick Harris, head of travel law at Simpson Millar Solicitors said: 'Mr Mayo suffered a horrendous illness and this has greatly impacted his life.

'Tour operators need to do more to ensure standards of food hygiene are higher in resorts where they are sending tourists.'

A spokesperson for TUI UK said: 'We're sorry to hear of Mr and Mrs Mayos' experience.

'As this is now subject to ongoing legal proceedings it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.

'We'd like to reassure customers that we regularly audit all of the hotels we feature in respect of health and safety, including hygiene.'
The former head of a British private school has apparently been fired from a Canadian school after a Nazi version of 'The Merchant Of Venice'.

Judith Carlisle, 59, became head of Toronto's Bishop Strachan School in August 2017 after leaving Oxford High girls' school on good terms the month before.

Pupils and parents in the audience were apparently encouraged to shout 'Hallelujah' and 'Burn The Jews' in response to slogans about persecuting Jews and Shylock.

Judith Carlisle, 59, while head teacher at Oxford High girls' school in 2013, she left the $22,000-a-year private institution in July 2017

A letter signed by 24 parents was written to the school slamming the one-man show, performed on October 17.

They said it contained demeaning, derogatory and inappropriate language with anti-Semitic sentiment that was offensive to Jewish students.

Complaints from parents allegedly led to Ms Carlisle being sacked on Friday.

The letter added that Jewish students whose families were personally affected by the Holocaust felt uncomfortable.

'The Box Clever production was meant to provide a modern spin to the Merchant of Venice play and link the anti-Semitic messages to those that Hitler used in the Holocaust,' the letter wrote.

'Instead, as described below, Box Clever materially exaggerated the anti-Semitic sentiment of the original version of the play and sadly introduced the Holocaust in a humorous light that minimized its impact and offended many of the Jewish students whose families were personally affected.'

Bishop Strachan School in Toronto's affluent Forest Hill area (pictured) where Ms Carlisle (inset) has sparked outcry from parents

Ms Carlisle joined the Bishop Strachan School for girls in August 2017, parents who send boarders their pay over $44,000 a year

Bishop Strachan said it was 'an error to present that particular version of the play', adding that 'the appropriate context was not provided to students to prepare them'.

In a statement, Carlisle said: 'I would never deliberately offend students entrusted to my care or their parents.

'I deeply regret that that there was not a plan in place to ensure that teachers were fully prepared to engage the students on the play.

'As head, the responsibility for that oversight ultimately rests with me. I deeply regret any hurt or offence that has been caused by this.' Until October 2017 she was also a director of Box Clever, according to Companies House records.

The theatre group performed its adaptation of Merchant of Venice at Oxford High previously - although the British school says it was a different version.

Oxford High said it 'does not recognise the description of the performance at BSS as similar to that performed in Oxford'.

Box Clever Theater apologized to any students upset by the adaptation and said it has been performed since 1998 without complaint, including at a major arts center in Jerusalem.

A statement added: 'The production seeks to challenge hatred in all its manifestations and remind audiences of the dangers and consequences of unchallenged discrimination.

'The company was, is and will remain opposed to anti-Semitism and all other forms of discrimination.'

Carlisle added: 'As an educator, I believe that it has never been more important for us as to equip our daughters to deal with uncomfortable social issues and learn how to participate effectively in the often contentious debates that surround them.

'If our shared goal is to nurture a generation of strong, independent female leaders, we must stick to these core principles even in the face of occasional controversy.'
The Saudi Arabian sisters whose duct taped-together bodies washed up in the Hudson River last week, were alive when they entered the water and had not been dead long, it has emerged.

Tala Farea, 16, and Rotana Farea, 22, were found on October 24 on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Their bodies were found at Riverside Park near the pier at 71st street.

At first, police said the pair may have jumped from the George Washington Bridge in a suicide pact but that theory was scuppered by the fact that neither body showed any sign of trauma.

They had been taped together face to face, with their arms outstretched so that together the bodies made the shape of a cross.

On Wednesday, the medical examiner said the girls were alive when they entered the water but they have not been able to give further details about the way they died.

They refused to give the cause of death and police have not indicated when the examiner is likely to release their report.

Their bodies were not decomposed when they were spotted by a bystander, leading investigators to believe they had not been dead long.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said they were continuing to 'unravel' what happened in the months before the girls' deaths.

' I think we've made significant progress in piecing together pieces of this puzzle to find out what happened,' he said.

He added that interviews being carried in Virginia 'are really unraveling, in some way, a piece of the puzzle of behind the scenes.'

Tala Farea, 16, (left) and Rotana Farea, 22, (right) were found washed up on October 24. Police released these photographs of the sisters on Wednesday. These are the passport images they likely used when entering the US in 2015

On October 23, a day before the were found, the girls' mother Wafa'a received a phone call from an official at the Saudi Arabian consulate who ordered the entire family to return to their home country.

The AP reported that it was in response to an application by the two sisters for political asylum in the United States.

A Saudi Arabian spokesman at the embassy in Washington DC however told Arab News that that was not true.

'Any/All communication with the mother had nothing to do with a supposed asylum claim, they said.

The sisters parents, Wafa'a and Abdulsalam, live in Virginia with their brothers who are 18 and 11. Abdulsalam often traveled back to Saudi Arabia for work but no information about his job has emerged.

In August, the family reported 16-year-old Tala missing after she disappeared from Virginia but the search was called off when they learned she had gone to stay with her sister in New York City.

She had recently been awarded a spot at a top private school in Saudi Arabia with a full scholarship but was desperate not to go. It was the second time they broke off from the family.

These are the sketches that were issued when the girls bodies' were found last week

In December last year, the pair fled to a shelter in Fairfax. The family reported them both missing.

When officers tracked them down, the sisters begged them not to tell the family where they were. What led to them returning home remains a mystery but police are focusing their investigation on the circumstances surrounding it.

Despite their repeated attempts to live independently from their parents, the family was described as 'happy' by Arab media outlets and were the 'apples of their father's eye'.

'They were just like any one of us, they were a happy family. They were comfortable and at ease with everyone, and so the rumors that they ran away from home were beyond us. Its impossible.

'Their mother was naturally protective, but in no way was their household problematic for them to run away,' they told Arab News.

The sisters' bodies were spotted by a passer by at 2.40pm on October 24th . They had not been in the water long and the girls were alive when they entered the river

The bodies were found washed up at the Riverside Park on the Upper West Side on October 24. They were duct taped together and the sisters were fully clothed and facing each other. The medical examiner will not yet reveal what the cause of death was but says they were alive when they entered the water. There is a pier next to where they found in the park

They said the family was happy with Tala living with her sister who she missed dearly when she left Virginia.

They were a happy family... they were the apple of their father's eye Saudi Arabian relative

'Tala was upset for quite some time after her sister decided to continue her studies in NYC. Yes, it did cause a problem for the family as the mother had to file a missing case report to the police over her daughters disappearance, but the search was called off later when they found Tala was with her sister, Rotana.

'The police told their mother that since her younger daughter was safe with an adult, its safe to call off the search.'

TIMELINE OF SAUDI SISTERS' LIVES AND DEATH 2015: Family moves to Fairfax, Virginia from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia December 2017: Sisters run away and beg police not to tell mom where they were. They return back to Virginia at some stage afterwards May 2018: Oldest sister attends final classes at George Mason August 2018: Tala is reported missing. The search is called off when police learn she is with her sister in New York City. October 17: Mother's last known contact with the sisters, according to relatives October 23: Mother receives call from Saudi Consulate ordering the family home October 24: The girls bodies are found washed up in the Hudson River Advertisement

The girls only ever used Snapchat, they said, and communicated with their relatives in Saudi Arabia through it.

'They were private and kept to themselves most of the time, but we communicated mostly via Snapchat and it wasnt a surprise to any of us that they wouldnt have any accounts on other social media apps,' the unnamed family member said.

'They were calm and always polite. All families have problems. What kind of sibling relationship would it be without fights every now and then?

'But that didnt push them to the edge as the Western media is portraying,' they added.

The NYPD has not ruled anything out. Shea said on Tuesday: 'We are looking at all clues in their past life.'

The family in Virginia is yet to speak out about their disappearance despite DailyMail.com's repeated attempts to contact their representative.

Rotana dropped out of George Mason in May this year after two years of studies. George Mason, a public university with 35,000 students has close ties to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission has gifted the college $63 million and has paid for the education of 270 of its 370 Saudi students.

Rather than live on campus like many of her classmates, Rotana traveled back to her home in Falls Church, Virginia where she lived with her parents, brother and Tala.

We are looking at all clues in their past life, NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea

Rotana attended classes at the Volgenau School of Engineering and sources say she planned to major in bio-engineering when she returned this fall.

But the University told DailyMail.com that Rotana never returned in August to complete her education.

Problems arose for Rotana when she learned her whole family would have to return to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Rotana Farea dropped out of the University's engineering college in Fairfax, Virginia, before she could begin a major in bioengineering in August

A source at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Washington, DC told DailyMail.com Rotana's sister Tala had won a full scholarship to study at Dar Al-Fikr, a top private school in Jeddah.

Tala had briefly studied in 2017 at Fairfax High School, close to George Mason University. Rotana and Tala's mother contacted The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on August 24 after Tala went missing from home.

She then called off the search after learning Tala was with Rotana in New York. 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.

The family lived here at the Skyline Apartments in Falls Church, Virginia. The girls are however thought to have been in New York City since late August

In a statement released today, the Saudi Arabian Consulate General in New York said the Farea sisters were 'citizens accompanying their brother in Washington' and it had 'appointed an attorney to follow the case closely'.

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.

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.

The sisters' father has since arrived in New York following news of their death.

It remains unclear what he did for a living but he frequently traveled between the US and Saudi Arabia for work.

The family moved to Virginia in 2015. It is not known why this was where they chose to settle.
OnePlus 6T is now available online on OnePlus' e-store and Amazon India. The much-hyped smartphone will be available offline on Reliance Digital from November 3.

The OnePlus 6T is an upgrade to the OnePlus 6, which was launched earlier this year. The OnePlus 6T arrives in three variants 8GB/256GB priced at Rs 45,999, 8GB/128GB priced at Rs 41,999 and 6GB/128GB priced at Rs 37,999.

The smartphone features a smaller waterdrop notch on its display along with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 processor powering the device. The smartphone will arrive with the latest software upgrades like a redesigned UI, night mode in camera, and more.

Here are a few ways to get it for a discounted price:

Exchange old smartphone: One can get up to Rs 16,000 off on OnePlus 6T through exchanging your old smartphone; however, the discount may vary depending on the condition of the ole smartphone.

Payment with ICICI Debit or Credit Card: Through making a payment with ICICI bank's debit card or credit card on Amazon India's official website Amazon.in, the customer can get an instant discount of Rs 2,000 on the purchase of new OnePlus 6T.

Payment with Citi Bank Credit Card: Using Citi Bank's credit card on Amazon India's official website Amazon.in for purchasing a OnePlus 6T, the customer can avail flat Rs 2,000 instant discount.

Amazon Pay Cashback: By selecting prepaid payment option during checkout, one can quickly get Rs 1,000 cashback in the form of Amazon Pay balance. But this offer is only available during the Amazon's sale period, from November 1, 2018, to November 5, 2018.

Jio Instant Cashback: Reliance Jio has offered an instant cashback of Rs 5,400 on the flagship device, OnePlus 6T. This cashback will be available on the first recharge of Rs 299. Users will get the cash back in the form of vouchers in the MyJio app. Jio's offer will be available for both new and existing Jio customers getting the new OnePlus 6T.

Cashback under this Jio's offer will be in the form of 36 coupons of Rs 150 each in the MyJio app and which can be availed on subsequent recharges of Rs 299. The recharge will also give access to 3GB 4G data per day for 28 days, topped with unlimited voice calls, SMS and Jio's premium apps. Subsequently, the offer will bring overall 3TB of 4G data over 36 recharges.

Customers will be able to avail the offer with the first prepaid recharge of Rs 299 done through Jio's website- jio.com, MyJio app, Reliance Digital stores, MyJio Stores and Jio retailers.

(Edited by Vivek Dubey)
A Nigerian zoo is accused of mistreating its animals after a visitor posted a photo of a sick and malnourished-looking camel online.

The camel, which is housed at National Children's Park and Zoo in the capital city of Abuja, appears extremely frail and its coat is faded and patchy.

Tunde Sawyerr visited the zoo on Saturday with his three-year-old daughter. He took the photo and uploaded it on Twitter, writing: 'Saw this former camel at the Abuja Zoo.'

A visitor to the National Children's Park and Zoo in the Nigerian capital Abuja posted this photo on Twitter on Saturday, showing a very frail and clearly underfed camel

Sawyerr told CNN that the camel was so ill that his daughter, who can readily recognize the animal on television, was unable to identify it.

The post has since been liked and retweeted over 2000 times.

'If there was any animal that stood out in terms of it being malnourished, and it not being taken care of, it was the camel,' Sawyerr told CNN.

The zoo's deputy director of wildlife, Aminu Muhammed, refuted the animal cruelty allegations and said instead that the camel had a skin condition, which the zoo is now attempting to treat.

A monkey sitting in its small cage is seen drinking a fizzy drink at the National Children's Park and Zoo in Abuja

The National Children's Park and Zoo in Nigeria's capital has been accused of animal cruelty. Here a bird of prey is seen in a barren, rubbish strewn landscape

He said that heavy rains had negatively affected the animal's health as it tried to acclimatize, and added that this particular camel is albino.

But photos from the zoo's Facebook page show the cramped, bare and sometimes dirty conditions of the animals there, and an expert on Animal Rescue contacted by CNN disagreed with the zoo's statement.

Environmental and botanical scientist Jon Justin Williamson, who is also the lead investigative officer at the International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa, said the camel had much more than a skin infection.

'This is a dromedary, a juvenile Arabian camel, which I can see is very sick and very malnourished,' he said.

The animals have no toys to play with or green spaces to exercise in. Instead they huddle up in the corner's of their small enclosures

A snake sleeps in the corner of its dirty enclosure, which is empty except for some rubbish

'There's little suitable food on the ground for the animal to even graze on, which unfortunately will eventually lead to its slow and painful death,' Williamson told CNN.

Arabian camels are desert animals which eat a variety of salt bushes, grass, acacia and shrubs in the wild.

The size of the camel's hump also points to undernourishment. The animals humps act fat stores, and when food is scarce they get their energy from their reserves.

A small hump means that the animal has not eaten well for a while as it is burning through its ever-depleting reserves.

The photos taken from the National Children's Park and Zoo Facebook show big cats locked together in cramp spaces
Three people have been detained in central China for stealing a dead patient's eyeballs from a hospital mortuary, Chinese media reported.

The man, surnamed Li, died of organ failure on Tuesday morning at Ningxiang Peoples Hospital in Hunan province and was discovered in a mutilated state by his horrified sister several hours later.

'Cotton balls were stuffed in the left eye and a surgical tool used to expand the eye socket was in the right eye. Both his eyeballs were gone,' the woman wrote in a social media post appealing for justice.

Local police investigating the incident told BTime the suspects could have been part of an organ trafficking ring.

Three people have been detained in Ningxiang, central China's Hunan province for stealing a dead patient's eyeballs from a hospital mortuary, Chinese media reported (file photo)

Ningxiang People's Hospital confirmed to reporters that police officers had questioned several of their medical staff members.

Police have also set up a task force of 30 officers to carry out investigations. Three people were detained on Wednesday for alleged theft and desecrating a corpse amid ongoing investigations.

'It is unlikely the three suspects acted on their own. They are believed to be part of an organ trafficking gang,' a police officer told BTime.

'Please give my elder brother back his dignity. This gruesome and inhumane act occurred to our family at a time when we were overwhelmed with grief,' the patient's sister appealed.

The patient's eyeballs were stolen as he lay in the morgue at Ningxiang People's Hospital (pictured), in downtown Ningxiang, Hunan province. His sister has appealed for justice

The supply of human organs falls far short of demand in China due in part to a traditional belief that bodies should be buried or cremated intact

Article 302 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic stipulates that anyone involved in the theft or desecration of corpses, bones, ashes could be jailed up to three years.

The supply of human organs falls far short of demand in China due in part to a traditional belief that bodies should be buried or cremated intact.

An estimated 300,000 patients are wait-listed every year for organ transplants, and only about one in 30 ultimately receives a transplant, according to Reuters.

That shortage has driven a trade in illegal organ trafficking, and in 2007 the government banned transplants from living donors, except spouses, blood relatives and step- or adopted family members.

China also ended its practice of harvesting organs from executed criminals in 2014, leaving donations as the sole source for transplants. In 2015, 2,776 people across the country donated organs after their death. This rose to 4,080 in 2016 and 5,135 last year, according to South China Morning Post.
Hitman Kristopher Love, 34, has been found guilty of capital murder for shooting Kendra Hatcher in Dallas in 2015

A hitman who killed a jealous woman's love rival in the parking lot of her upmarket Dallas apartment has been given the death penalty.

Kristopher Love, 34, was found guilty of capital murder in a Dallas courtroom last Thursday for shooting Kendra Hatcher, 35, in the head in September 2015.

Jurors heard how Love was recruited for the killing, allegedly by 36-year-old Brenda Delgado who wanted revenge after Hatcher began dating her ex Ricardo Paniagua.

On Wednesday, a jury took three hours to vote to condemn him to death by lethal injection.

Love becomes the first man sent to death row from Dallas county since 2013.

His trial heard how Delgado and Paniagua began dating in 2012 and were an item for two and a half years before Paniagua decided to break it off.

But Delgado 'could not let go', prosecutors said, and began following Paniagua around.

Hatcher (left) was killed after she began dating Ricardo Paniagua (right) as part of a revenge plot allegedly cooked up by his ex-girlfriend

'I would go running at the Katy Trail and sometimes when I was running she would be running the opposite direction,' Paniagua claimed.

When Hatcher came on the scene in May 2015, Delgado's attentions focused on her instead.

Paniagua told the court that their relationship progressed quickly and the pair had set up a wedding fund by August that year.

That convinced Delgado that she had to kill her love rival, prosecutors argued.

Ex Brenda Delgado (left) is now facing her own capital murder trial. Friend Crystal Cortes (right), who acted as the getaway driver, has already pleaded guilty to murder with 35 years in jail after agreeing to testify against Love and Delgado

Prosecutors are now seeking the death penalty for Love, with hearings to begin on Monday

Evidence showed that she shopped around for someone to kill Hatcher, before landing on Love and her friend Crystal Cortes, who was to act as the driver.

Jurors heard how Cortes was given $500 while Love was paid in 'drugs and money' for the hit.

The pair went to confront Hatcher at her apartment on September 2, 2015, the day before she was supposed to leave for a romantic getaway in Mexico with Paniagua.

Lawyers said Love walked up to Hatcher and shot her in the head with a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson which was later found stashed in his car.

Paniagua was waiting inside the apartment as she was killed.

CCTV images show a black Jeep containing Love and Cortes which pulled into the parking lot of Hatcher's apartment building before she was killed

During the trial, lawyers for Love tried to argue that he had only robbed Hatcher of her purse and that Cortes had been the one to pull the trigger.

But jurors swept that argument aside and found him guilty of murder.

Delgado fled to Mexico after the killing but was caught and returned to Texas, where she now faces trial for capital murder.

Cortes was initially going to be tried for the same crime, but it was downgraded to murder and her sentence reduced to 35 years as part of a plea deal after she agreed to testify against Love and Delgado.

Hatcher's mother, Bonnie Jamseon, cried in court after the verdict was read and hugged the Dallas homicide detective who investigated her daughter's death.

A trial date has not been set for Delgado, but she will not be eligible for the death penalty as part of the extradition agreement with Mexico.
Philip Hammond tax raid on internet giants like Amazon, Google and Facebook could undermine hopes for a US trade trade deal with Brexit Britain, it was claimed today.

The Chancellor put Britain ahead of virtually all other countries by announcing a Digital Services Tax in his Budget despite previously insisting he wanted it to be an international shift. Only Spain and India have made similar moves.

Mr Hammond's move will levy a 2 per cent tax on revenues of big social networks, online market places and search engines in a bid to protect consumers.

But amid concern the proposal will only capture American giants, US politicians have attacked the plans.

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

Theresa May has cultivated hopes of a US-UK trade deal with Donald Trump but faces warnings today her work could be undermined by the new Digital Services Tax

Rufus Yerxa, president of the National Foreign Trade Council, warned it could 'complicate the United Kingdom's push for deeper US-UK trade relations'.

He said: 'This proposal could disproportionately affect American companies and may ultimately wind up interfering with the UK's trade commitments.'

And Congressman Kevin Brady, a Republican from Texas, called the measure 'troubling', the BBC reported.

He said: 'If the United Kingdom or other countries proceed, that will prompt a review of our US tax and regulatory approach to determine what actions are appropriate to ensure a level playing field in global markets.'

The warnings echo comments from US Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin who warned against unilateral action on tech giants last week.

UK LEADS THE WAY WITH DIGITAL TAX The UK Digital Services Tax will make the UK the firm developed country to impose such a levy. The announcement comes as dozens of countries are contemplating taxes on digital services sold by companies such as Google and Facebook. Companies typically pay their taxes where they are based. But while local governments can impose a sales tax on physical goods in shops and restaurants, that has not been the case with online service providers. And in the European Union, foreign companies like Amazon, Google and Facebook pay what tax they owe in the country where they have their regional base - usually a low tax haven like Ireland. So their business generates little to no tax revenue in countries, like the U.K., where they have significant operations. Advertisement

While the Secretary has not intervened since the Budget, he said: 'I highlight again our strong concern with countries' consideration of a unilateral and unfair gross sales tax that targets our technology and internet companies.

'A tax should be based on income, not sales, and should not single out a specific industry for taxation under a different standard.

'We urge our partners to finish the OECD process with us rather than taking unilateral action in this area.'

In the Budget speech, Mr Hammond insisted his new tax would not be levied on online purchases and that tech start ups would be protected.

Mr Hammond said: 'The UK has been leading attempts to deliver international corporate tax reform for the digital age.

'A new global agreement is the best long-term solution. But progress is painfully slow. We cannot simply talk forever.

'So we will now introduce a UK Digital Services Tax.'

He added: 'The Digital Services Tax will only be paid by companies which are profitable and which generate at least 500m a year in global revenues in the business lines in scope.

'We will consult on the detail to make sure we get it right, and to ensure that the UK continues to be the best place to start and scale-up a tech business.'
A Japanese pilot has admitted being almost 10 times over the alcohol limit shortly before a flight from Heathrow Airport, police said today.

First officer Katsutoshi Jitsukawa, 42, was arrested at the airport after failing a breath test just 50 minutes before Japan Airlines flight JL44 to Tokyo was due to take off with him in the cockpit as a co-pilot.

Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that the driver of a crew bus alerted police after smelling alcohol on his breath.

Japan Airlines' airplane flies near Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan (file image). A flight from London Heathrow to Tokoyo Haneda was delayed on Thursday after a pilot was arrested for being drunk

The flight was operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft which holds up to 244 passengers.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said Jitsukawa pleaded guilty to exceeding the alcohol limit at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Tests revealed he had 189mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in his system, almost 10 times the 20mg limit for a pilot.

The drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on November 29.

JAL issued an apology and pledged to 'implement immediate actions to prevent any future occurrence', adding that 'safety remains our utmost priority'.

The flight departed after a 69-minute delay.

In June an experienced British Airways pilot was jailed for eight months for being caught on duty while more than four times the alcohol limit.

The plane departed London Heathrow (pictured) after a delay of one hour and 9 minutes, and the airline operated the flight with two pilots rather than the customary three

Julian Monaghan drank three double vodkas in his hotel room on an empty stomach before he was due on board a flight from Gatwick Airport to Mauritius on January 18.

JAL executives told reporters that Jitsukawa cleared an in-house breath test but aroused the suspicion of a bus driver taking him to the plane from Heathrow airport on Sunday.

After a second breath test before takeoff showed that he had consumed 'excessive alcohol', the co-pilot was arrested by British police and required to undergo a blood test which confirmed those results, the company said in a press release.

'We are certain (the in-house breath test) wasn't conducted properly,' Muneaki Kitahara, JAL's head of communications, told a press conference.

The plane departed London for Tokyo's Haneda airport after a delay of one hour and 9 minutes, forcing the airline to operate the flight with two pilots rather than the customary three.

Long haul flights, particularly those longer than 12 hours, are normally piloted by two captains and a co-pilot so they can rotate breaks.

'The company sincerely apologises to the passengers and to all affected by the employee's actions,' JAL said in the press release.

The incident comes only a day after All Nippon Airways revealed a hung-over pilot had caused multiple flight delays.

The male pilot in his 40s called in sick after a night of drinking on the remote resort island of Ishigaki in southern Okinawa prefecture, the company said.

The last-minute sickie forced the airline to delay five flights linking Okinawa island and smaller regional islands, affecting 619 passengers.

Following the two incidents, the transport ministry urged airline companies to strictly comply with rules on drinking.
Hazel Georgina Bradley was found hanged in her wardrobe

A schoolgirl died when she sleepwalked into her bedroom wardrobe and accidentally hanged herself, an inquest heard.

Hazel Georgina Bradley, 13, had a history of sleepwalking and was scared of her wardrobe after watching the cartoon movie Monsters, Inc.

The talented musician hugged and kissed her mother goodnight before going to bed on May 23.

But her father found her body hanged in her wardrobe the following morning.

A coroner ruled her death was an accident after her parents told police they were certain she had been sleepwalking.

Her mother Rebecca, 43, said she had a 'lovely chat' with Hazel around 9.20pm on the night of May 23.

Mrs Bradley said Hazel had 'issues with her wardrobe' because of a 'childhood obsession' with the 2001 film Pixar Monsters, Inc in which characters emerge through closet doors to scare children.

Talented musician Hazel had gone to bed as normal but was found dead the next morning at her home in Caerphilly, South Wales

Georgina's mother said she had hugged and kissed her daughter goodnight after a 'lovely chat' on May 23

At 6.45am Hazel's father Graham, 44, found her hanged at their home in Caerphilly, south Wales.

The 13-year-old's mother said in a statement: 'She always had to have the wardrobe door shut.

'Hazel had issues with wardrobes, so I am convinced she was sleepwalking. She had so much to live for.'

The hearing at Gwent Coroner's Office in Newport was told Hazel had a 'vivid imagination' and was an academically bright, talented musician who enjoyed swimming.

But she had a history of sleepwalking and company director father Graham had found her walking around their home in her sleep several times.

Shortly before her death, musician Mrs Bradley found Hazel sleepwalking in the kitchen.

The 13-year-old's parents are convinced her death was an accident because she 'had issues with wardrobes'

Why do some people sleepwalk? Sleepwalking can start at any age but is more common in children. It's thought 1 in 5 children will sleepwalk at least once. The exact cause of sleepwalking is unknown, but it seems to run in families. Some episodes of sleepwalking may involve just sitting up in bed and looking around, briefly appearing confused, while in others they may get out of bed and walk about, open cupboards, get dressed or eat, and may appear agitated. The NHS recommends sleepwalkers keep their home free of breakable or harmful objects and items they could trip over. Source: NHS Advertisement

But she said Hazel did not have on her spectacles, which she put on when she got out of bed so she could see properly.

A post mortem examination confirmed the cause of death was hanging and evidence from police indicated that there were no signs of disturbance or of anything suspicious in their home.

Senior Gwent Coroner Wendy James said: 'Hazel left no note nor had she communicated any such intention to her parents.

'Hazel had a history of sleepwalking and based on the evidence I cannot be certain of her intentions, and I cannot rule out the possibility that death arose as a result of a tragic accident.'

Miss James gave a conclusion of accidental death.

After her death, friends and family raised more than 2,500 for a children's charity.
This is the horrifying moment a Missouri high school assistant principal was tackled to the ground and beaten up by students when he tried to break up a fight.

In a video obtained by DailyMailTV's affiliate Fox 2 in St Louis, shocking footage shows students laughing and clapping while teenagers repeatedly kicked Oakville High School Vice Principal Brian Brennan on the floor after he got pulled into the brawl.

Teenagers filmed the scuffle in the cafeteria of the St. Louis school and posted it on Snapchat instead of getting help or calling 911.

Three students - one aged 15 and two aged 16 - were arrested as a result of the confrontation.

Vice Principal Brian Brennan (wearing white pants) at Oakville High School attempted to split up three fighting children in a cafeteria Monday but got pulled into the altercation

Police say Brian Brennan (pictured) was taken to Urgent Care after the vicious brawl

'Administrators and a school resource officer intervened to break the fight up. All students and staff are okay,' Assistant Superintendent, Dr Jeff Bressler told Fox 2.

'Obviously we take all fighting serious. We would love to see fighting stop in all high schools.

'Safety is our priority and we're always looking into how we can support students so they don't resort to violence.'

Police say Brennan was taken to Urgent Care, reports KGNS.

The Mehville School District says that their mission is to build a culture of improvement for staff and students.

A school administrator (blue shirt) jumped in to help disperse the brawl after Brennan was hurt

A source resource officer later came to help break up the attack on the teacher too

The three students were taken into custody after the incident however they won't be charged as they are juveniles.

The case has been taken to St. Louis County Family Court.

Principal Jan Kellerman sent a letter to parents to reassure them their children were safe attending the school after they received a string of calls from those anxious about students and staff.

The students involved may be expelled from school.

A 15-year-old and two 16-year-olds were taken into custody after the incident however they won't be charged as they are juveniles (pictured is Oakville High School)

The students involved may be expelled from school and the case has been taken to St. Louis County Family Court

'We are investigating the matter and discipline will be rendered as detailed in our district disciplinary policy,' she wrote before thanking mothers and fathers for their concern.

She added to KGNS that all administrators are trained in restraint.

'Its the most important thing we do here and all our students are safe,' she said, adding that they are looking at their current policy for handling physical altercations.

'After any kind of altercation we always discuss things like is there something else we need to be doing.'

Brennan appeared to be in high spirits at the school in the days following the incident as a post he retweeted from Oakville showed him smiling in a selfie with students.

DailyMail.com was able to reach someone at Oakville High School Thursday morning but was not immediately able to receive comment.

Principal Jan Kellerman (left) sent a letter (right) to parents to reassure them children are safe attending the school after they received a string of calls from those anxious about students and staff
The Gold Coast lifesaving community has been rocked by the sudden death of a popular patrol captain, who has been remembered as a devoted family man with a free spirit.

The family of Nicholas Dornan made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support on Wednesday after he suffered a major cardiac arrest on Sunday.

He was just 36 and leaves behind wife Kat and two young daughters Summer and Lillian.

Nicholas Dorman (centre) was a patrol captain at Northcliffe Surf Lifesaving Club

Young Gold Coast lifesaver and father-of-two Nicholas Dornan (pictured) tragically lost his fight for life on Wednesday, three days after suffering a heart attack. He was just 36

The day after his tragic death, his shattered widow publicly paid tribute to her late husband in The Gold Coast Bulletin.

She described him as a beautiful, kind, generous person who adored his two beautiful girls.

The beach was Nick Dornan's (pictured) life. He had been part of lifesaving community since he was eight-years-old

'He had a contagious personality and a love for life,' Ms Dornan said.

'His heart was just too big.'

Ms Dornan also paid tribute to paramedics and staff at Gold Coast University Hospital who desperately tried to keep her husband alive.

He was a patrol captain at Northcliffe Surf Lifesaving Club, where he oversaw one of Gold Coast's busiest and most treacherous beaches.

He had been with the club since he was an eight-year-old Nipper.

His brother Charles (left) described Nicholas (right) as the life of every party who captivated every audience with his infectious smile and hilarious laugh

A GoFundMe page to help the young family left behind has raised more than $16,200 within 24 hours.

'We have each been touched by the love, light and laughter Nick brought to our lives with so many honoured to experience his charm, charisma and kindness,' the page states

'A story of adventure, devotion and dirt bikes, his wild and free spirit has allowed each of us to be part of his beautiful family.'

'His love and pride as a family man will guide his wife Kat and his little girls, Summer & Lillian (pictured) through this new chapter of their story while surrounded by their families and friends' the GoFundMe page in Nicholas' memory states

Commenters on the page expressed their shock.

'Still cant believe its real! After nearly 30 years in our lives we will miss you forever mate,' one wrote.

Another added: 'Thank you for your joyful spirit, kind heart and gentle soul. Will miss you.'

Devastated family and friends have also taken to social media to pay tribute.

Brooke Nilsen and Nicholas Dornan (pictured together) had been friends since high school. She described the friendship with her 'darling Doz' as like no other

'Today I lost my best friend and my younger brother who was so loved by so many people,' his brother Charles posted.

'He was the life of every party and would always captivate an audience with his infectious smile and hilarious laugh. I will always love and miss you my brother and your memory will never be forgotten.'

Former All Saints Anglican College classmates also shared their memories.

'How do I find the words to explain our friendship and what he meant to me. His leaving me feels like the colour and life has been sucked out of my soul,' longtime friend Brooke Nilsen wrote.

Nicholas' brother James (right) posted this photo of the pair in memory of his late brother

'We created so many memories together and shared so many moments that I will never forget. And I just cannot comprehend a world without him in it.'

Ms Nilson described the friendship with her 'darling Doz' as like no other.

'Some people come into our lives and leave imprints on our hearts and we are never the same again. And my beautiful friend, in your death, a little part of me has died too.and is now with you. So wherever you are, know that you are not alone,' she wrote.
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Google employees across the globe are taking part in a mass walkout in protest over the company's protection of Android mobile software creator, Andy Rubin (pictured in New York in June), who has been accused of sexual assault allegations

Google employees around the globe are taking part in a mass walkout on Thursday to protest the company's protection of a former executive who has been accused of sexual misconduct.

The Google protest, which has been dubbed the 'Walkout For Real Change,' is scheduled for Thursday at 11.10am local time across the globe, one week after sexual assault allegations against creator of its Android software, Andy Rubin, were first reported by the New York Times.

Rubin denied the allegations in a tweet, saying the article contained 'numerous inaccuracies' and 'wild exaggerations'.

But Rubin is believed to have received a considerable exit package in 2014, valued at approximately $90 million, and was also loaned $14 million in 2012 to buy a seaside villa in Japan.

People briefed on the transaction said the loan was offered at an interest rate of less than one percent.

Google X director Richard DeVaul and former senior vice president Amit Singhal were also named in the Times report, as alleged perpetrators of sexual misconduct.

'Its been a difficult time,' Google's chief executive Sundar Pichai said on Thursday during his scheduled time to talk at the New York Times DealBook conference.

'Theres been anger and frustration within the company. We all feel it. I feel it too. At Google, we set a very high bar, and we clearly didnt live up to our expectations.'

The demonstration on Thursday is the latest expression of a year-long backlash against exploitation of subordinates across all industries.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA

Rubin is accused of coercing a woman into performing oral sex on him while in a hotel room in 2013; As the mass protest moved to the west coast, Google employees gathered in the San Francisco Bay area outside of Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California

The demonstration on Thursday is the latest in the year-long backlash against exploitation of subordinates across industries

Google X director Richard DeVaul and former senior vice president Amit Singhal were also named in the Times report, as alleged perpetrators of sexual misconduct; Thousands of employees are shown after walking out of Google's office in San Francisco, California on Thursday

The New York Times report that inspired this day of protest by Google employees came out on October 25, and revealed that Rubin resigned after a woman came to the company to report an alleged sexual assault; Thousands of Google employees are shown outside of the San Francisco Google office during the global walkout on Thursday

No mention was made of the accusations against Rubin to the public, and he was praised by executives on this way out in 2014; Google employees are shown outside of the San Francisco Google office during the global walkout on Thursday

Rubin was also reportedly paid $90 million in an exit package, even though Google wasn't legally required to pay him anything upon his depature; Google employees are seen here as they walk off the job to protest the company's handling of sexual misconduct claims on Thursday at the flagship office in the San Francisco Bar area in Mountain View, California

Google employees are shown outside of the San Francisco area Google office during the global walkout on Thursday

Rubin's promised a $90 million severance package was paid out over time with the last payment scheduled for November; Google employees are shown walking out of work in Mountain View, California to protest Rubin's massive handout despite sexual assault allegations that the company deemed to be credible

The San Francisco area was one of the last to join the demonstration which was scheduled to take place across the globe at 11.10am local time at each Google office location on Thursday

One protester in San Francisco held a sign that read, 'Happy to quit for $90M, no sexual harassment required'

A sea of people fill the main quad on Google's Mountain View campus in the San Francisco Bay area during a walkout that took place at 11.10am local time at global locations of the company's offices on Thursday

A San Francisco Bay area Google employee holds a sign that reads, 'Don't be evil. Protect victims, not harassers,' on Thursday

Two Google employees face out to a crowd of colleagues in San Francisco on Thursday holding signs that read 'Speak up, speak out' and 'Sexual harassment stops here' during a global protest against the handling of sexual misconduct claims

Workers protest against Google's handling of sexual misconduct allegations outside of the company's Mountain View, California, headquarters on Thursday

A Google employee faces out to a crowd of colleagues in San Francisco on Thursday holding a 'Don't be evil' sign

Google employees fill Harry Bridges Plaza in front of the Ferry Building during a walkout on Thursday in San Francisco

Google employees march down the Embarcadero during a walkout on Thursday in San Francisco

As the mass protest moved to the west coast, Google employees gathered in the San Francisco Bay area where the main headquarters is located in Mountain View, and Los Angeles to protest the company culture.

Shortly before noon in Los Angeles at Google's Venice Beach location, there were about 150 people standing in the blaring heat, as temperatures felt warmer than reported in direct sunlight.

The protesters there were gathered in a courtyard area at the Google office behind a big fence.

A female employee on a microphone was speaking to the crowd, encouraging those who wished to have a turn to talk to speak up.

The woman said the company has a lot of women in it and the group would look out for them.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Shortly before noon in Los Angeles at Google's Venice Beach location, there were about 150 people standing in the blaring heat, as temperatures felt warmer than reported in direct sunlight

A female employee on a microphone was speaking to the crowd, encouraging those who wished to have a turn to talk to speak up at the Venice, Califorrnia Google office

The Google employee protesters in Venice, California were gathered in a courtyard area at the Google office behind a big fence as a female co-worker woman said the company has a lot of women in it and the group would look out for them

Thursday's workout could signal that a significant number of the 94,000 employees working for Google and its corporate parent Alphabet Inc. remained unconvinced the company is doing enough to adhere to Alphabet's own mantra, urging all employees to 'do the right thing.'

A Silicon Valley congresswoman tweeted her support of the Google walkout using the hashtag '#MeToo' that is now synonymous with a global movement for fighting sexual misconduct.

'Why do they think it's OK to reward perpetrators & further violate victims?' asked Representative Jackie Speier, who represents an affluent district where many of Google's employees live.

Rubin said he had no knowledge of any investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct that was being conducted at the time of his departure from Google.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Google employees gather in a courtyard as they take part in a walkout from their jobs at the Google campus in Kirkland, Washington on Thursday, which is about 11 miles from the city of Seattle, across Lake Washington

Google employees in Seattle, Washington carry signs that read, 'No one is free when others are oppressed' and 'Did the payoff pay off?' during the global walkout on Thursday

Alice Lemieux (right) addresses fellow Google employees as they take part in a protest against what they said is the tech company's mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations against executives on Thursday in Seattle, Washington

A Google employee in Seattle holds up a cardboard sign that reads '#GoogleWalkout' on Thursday in Seattle during a protest

Rubin said he had no knowledge of any investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct that was being conducted at the time of his departure from Google

Rubin tweeted on October 25:

'The New York Times story contains numerous inaccuracies about my employment at Google and wild exaggerations about my compensation.

'Specifically, I never coerced a woman to have sex in a hotel room. These false allegations are part of a smear campaign to disparage me during a divorce and custody battle.

'Also, I am deeply troubled that anonymous Google executives are commenting about my personnel file and misrepresenting the facts.'

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Google employees are shown here walking out of work in Chicago in protest of the tech company's corporate culture

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

Google Inc., employees stage a walkout in their call for a safe workplace outside the Kendall Square MBTA station in Cambridge, Massachusetts

A Silicon Valley congresswoman tweeted her support of the Google walkout using the hashtag '#MeToo' that is now synonymous with a global movement for fighting sexual misconduct; Google employees walking out in Cambridge on Thursday carry a sign feature the name of their demonstration, 'Walkout for Real Change'

Google employees in Cambridge, Massachusetts carry signs that read 'safe workplace' and 'workers rights are women's rights' during the global demonstration against the company's handling of sexual misconduct claims on Thursday

Allegations that were reported against Rubin to the company before he resigned spurred this protest in part, thanks to a report by the New York Times that named several men at Google who are accused of inappropriate workplace behavior; Google employee protesters are shown in Cambridge, Massachusetts

A Google employee who walked out in Cambridge, Massachusetts carries a sign that reads, 'I support non-hostile workplace'

Employees listen to fellow employee Natasha Ross (left) during a walkout calling for a safe workplace in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Thursday

Ross (with megaphone) speaks to her fellow Google co-workers during a walkout calling for a safe workplace in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Thursday

Despite Rubin's denials, the global walkout was carried on Thursday, with Google employee protesters in New York seen carying signs that read, 'Equity means always getting to keep the change,' and 'OK, Google Really?'

Another protester carried a piece of paper with the words, 'OK, Google Set a time for "Up,"' as they walked out of the office building located in Chelsea on 8th Avenue.

The same story publicizing the claims against Rubin also disclosed allegations of sexual misconduct of other executives, including Richard DeVaul, a director at the same Google-affiliated lab that created far-flung projects such as self-driving cars and internet-beaming balloons.

DeVaul had remained at the 'X' lab after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced about him from 2013, claiming he told an job applicant that he and his wife were polyamorous and invited her to Burning Man during an interview, a festival that takes place in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada and is known for nudity and drug use.

DeVaul resigned on Tuesday without severance and apologized for an 'error of judgment' in a statement.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Google employees walk off the job to protest the company's lenient treatment of executives accused of sexual misconduct on Thursday in New York

The same story publicizing the claims against Rubin also disclosed allegations of sexual misconduct of other executives, including Richard DeVaul, a director at the same Google-affiliated lab that created far-flung projects such as self-driving cars and internet-beaming balloons; Google employee protesters participate in the walkout in New York on Thursday

A massive group of New York Google workers stand outside in a 14th street park after walking out as part of a global protest over workplace issues on Thursday

The crowd from the New York Google walkout was a diverse mixture of men and women standing in solidarity on Thursday

Google protesters walked through an arch at a 14th street park in New York City to gather during their walkout on Thursday

A woman in New York carried a sign that read, 'Respect existence or expect resistance' during Thursday's Google walkout

A large crowd of people gather at a park on 14th street after walking out of New York's Google offices on Thursday

A New Yorker carrying a 'Not OK Google' sign participates in the Google employee walkout over office culture on Thursday

Google employee protestors in New York carried signs that read, 'Equity means always getting to keep the change'

Google employees in New York are shown at the start of their walkout, which kicked off at 11.10am Eastern time on Thursday

The crowd of fed-up New York Google employees are shown crossing the street aware from the office on Thursday

A long line of Google employee protesters line the sidewalk as they left work on Thursday at 11.10am local time in New York

Google employees stage a walkout on Thursday in New York, over sexual harassment within the organization

Women participating in New York's Google walkout carried signs that read, 'Worker's rights are women's rights' and 'Time's up tech' during the global walkout on Thursday, protesting the company's protection of executives accused of sexual assault

The sidewalk in New York is completely filled with Google employees leaving the office to participate in the global protest

A New York Google employee carries a sign that reads, 'Real change means that everyone is accountable' on Thursday

A New York Google employee carries a sign that says, 'OK, Google Really?' while walking out in the global protest on Thursday

Another protester carried a piece of paper with the words, 'OK, Google Set a time for "Up,"' as they walked out of the office building located in Chelsea on 8th Avenue in New York

A few New York Google employees trickle out of the office on Thursday during the global walkout protest

A female Google employee walks out of the office with a look of sadness on her face during Thursday's walkout

A New York Google employee carries a sign reading, '90 million reasons for change' during the walkout on Thursday

Google chief executive Sundar Pichai said in an email: 'In the last two years, 48 people have been terminated for sexual harassment, including 13 who were senior managers and above;' Pichai is seen here speaking at the New York Times DealBook conference on Thursday in New York City

The story also named former senior vice president Amit Singhal, who was accused in 2015 of groping an employee at an off-site event attended by many Google colleagues.

The company investigated the claim and found it to be credible.

Singhal was not fired, but was instead allowed to resign and given millions of dollars in an exit package that included a non-compete agreement.

Singhal's public explanation for his departure came in the form of a blog post from February 2016, which said hewanted to focus more on philanthropy and his family.

In response to the Times story, Pichai and Eileen Naughton, VP people operations, sent a memo to employees, which read in part:

'In the last two years, 48 people have been terminated for sexual harassment, including 13 who were senior managers and above. None of these individuals received an exit package.'

In the joint memo, Pichai said he found the revelations 'difficult to read.'

Pichai said on Thursday at the DealBook confernce that Google is 'a different place' than it has been in years past, and now the company has 'drawn a very hard line' on the kind of inappropriate behavior that has been reported in recent years.

He noted, however, that 'moments like this show we didnt always do it right.'

'Sexual harassment is a societal problem and Google is a large company,' he said. 'We are definitely doing our best.'

TORONTO, CANADA

A Google employee reads from a list of accounts from other employees during a walkout in Toronto on Thursday

The crowd listens intently to accounts from other employees during a walkout in Toronto on Thursday

Google employees came out in the rain to protest against mishandling of sexual misconduct in a walkout in Toronto

Google employees gather under a tree as others read from a list of personal accounts during a walkout in Toronto on Thursday

Google employees around the world walked off the job Thursday in a protest against what they said is the tech company's mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations against executives

Google employees return to the company's office in Canada following a walkout in Toronto on Thursday

But one Google employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told BuzzFeed News:

'Personally, Im furious. I feel like theres a pattern of powerful men getting away with awful behavior towards women at Google or if they dont get away with it, they get a slap on the wrist, or they get sent away with a golden parachute, like Andy Rubin.

'And its a leadership of mostly men making the decisions about what kind of consequences to give, or not give.'

DUBLIN, IRELAND

Google employees at its European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, join others from around the world walking out of their offices in protest over claims of sexual harassment, gender inequality and systemic racism at the company

A Silicon Valley congresswoman tweeted her support of the Google walkout using the hashtag '#MeToo' that is now synonymous with a global movement for fighting sexual misconduct; Google employees walk out of its European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland on Thursday

Thursday's workout could signal that a significant number of the 94,000 employees working for Google and its corporate parent Alphabet Inc. remained unconvinced the company is doing enough to adhere to Alphabet's own mantra, urging all employees to 'do the right thing;' Google employees are shown walking out in Dublin, Ireland on Thursday

Following Rubin leaving Google four years ago in 2014 to create Playground Global, a sexual assault claim was reported to Google's human resources department and subsequently an investigation was opened; Employees are seen here staging for their walkout outside of Google offices in Dublin, Ireland on Thursday

Men and women walk out of the Dublin, Ireland Google office on Thursday in protest of the handling of sexual assault claims

Walkout organizers said they have presented petitions and demanded stricter employee oversights to management, while some even left their positions at the company as way to express their disapproval.

The company executives said Google has taken an 'increasingly hard line' on misconduct by senior managers and offered employees avenues to report harassment anonymously.

'We are committed to ensuring that Google is a workplace where you can feel safe to do your best work, and where there are serious consequences for anyone who behaves inappropriately,' the memo read.

Google said that none of the nearly 50 people fired for sexual harassment in the past two years got an exit package; Employees are shown here walking out of the Google office in Dublin, Ireland on Thursday in protest over claims of sexual harassment, gender inequality and systemic racism at the tech giant

A man wearing a Google slogan T-shirt that reads 'don't be evil' hands out doughnuts to workers standing outside Google's European headquarters after they walked out as part of a global protest over workplace issues, in Dublin, Ireland on Thursday

People embrace outside of the Google European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, during the protest over claims of sexual harassment, gender inequality and systemic racism at the tech giant

A crowd of people smiles in Dubin, Ireland, during the mass walk out of Google employees on Thursday

People in orange vests are seen standing among the crowd, as photographers document the Google walkout in Dublin

'And its a leadership of mostly men making the decisions about what kind of consequences to give, or not give,' an anonymous Google employee told Buzzfeed News; A walkout from Google is shown in Dublin, Ireland on Thursday

Rubin left Google four years ago in 2014 to create Playground Global, an incubator for hardware startups.

Shortly before his exit, a claim accusing Rubin of coercing a woman into performing oral sex in a hotel room in 2013 was reported to Google's human resources department and an investigation was opened.

Just a few weeks into the investigation, Rubin was given an additional stock package of $150million in September of 2014.

According to the Times, that stock package was unusually high by Google's standards.

Eventually, Google officials found the woman's claim to be credible.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND

A Google employee told Buzzfeed News: 'I feel like theres a pattern of powerful men getting away with awful behavior towards women at Google or if they dont get away with it, they get a slap on the wrist, or they get sent away with a golden parachute, like Andy Rubin;' Employee protestors are shown here walking out of Google in Zurich, Switzerland

LONDON, ENGLAND

Organizers said they have presented petitions and demanded stricter employee oversights to management, while some even left their positions at the company as way to express their disapproval; The Google offices in Granary Square, London are shown here, where members of staff staged a walkout as a part of a protest over the company's treatment

Employees are seen here outside of Google's office in London, ahead of their walkout on Thursday

Google executives said the company has taken an 'increasingly hard line' on misconduct by senior managers; Employees are shown in London on Thursday before their walk out in protest of the handling of such claims

A woman wears a shirt that reads, ' Women need more sleep than men because fighting the patriarchy is exhausting'

London Google employees wait outside during the time leading up to a walkout in protest of company culture on Thursday

Google employees stand together outside of the company's office int he United Kingdom on Thursday

Rubin was later asked to resign by Google's co-founder, Larry Page, which he did in October of 2014.

But Page, who was chief executive of Google at the time, praised Rubin upon his departure.

'I want to wish Andy all the best with whats next,' Page said. 'With Android he created something truly remarkable  with a billion-plus happy users.'

And despite the credible claim, Rubin was reportedly paid the $90million exit package in the form of monthly payments ranging from $1.25million to $2.5million over the course of four years.

A large crowd is formed with people carrying umbrellas and braving the weather to walk out of Google in London on Thursday

A woman is seen talking on her phone as people talk and mingle preparing for the Google walkout in London on Thursday

Rubin is accused of coercing the woman into performing oral sex in a hotel room in 2013; Google staff are shown walking out at the company's UK headquarters in London on Thursday

People are shown wearing jackets as they leave the Google office in London in protest over how the company handles claims of sexual misconduct within the organization

London Google employees walk about outside of the office, in the midst of the walkout to protest company culture

London Google employees check their phones and converse during the walkout held at the England office on Thursday

Rubin was also loaned $14 million in 2012 by Google to purchase a luxurious seaside villa in Japan (shown)

People briefed on the transaction said the loan for the estate was offered at an interest rate of less than one percent

The terms of the separation agreement precluded Rubin from working for Google's rivals or disparaging the company in public.

The agreement also delayed repayment of the $14 million loan Rubin obtained from Google, which he used to buy a seaside Japanese villa, which was already offered at the incredibly low interest rate of less than one percent.

The same villa, which is less than 90 minutes from Tokyo and is referred to as Galleria Cost, was listed for rent 126 days ago.

According to the Times, Rubin's ex-wife, Rie, filed a civil suit this month.

In the suit, she claimed he had multiple 'ownership relationships' with other women during their marriage and paid the women hundreds of thousands of dollars. They finalized their divorce in August.

The same villa, which is less than 90 minutes from Tokyo and is referred to as Galleria Cost, was listed for rent 126 days ago

Google Chief Executive's response to sexual misconduct revelations Hi everyone, Today's story in the New York Times was difficult to read. We are dead serious about making sure we provide a safe and inclusive workplace. We want to assure you that we review every single complaint about sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct, we investigate and we take action. In recent years, we've made a number of changes, including taking an increasingly hard line on inappropriate conduct by people in positions of authority: in the last two years, 48 people have been terminated for sexual harassment, including 13 who were senior managers and above. None of these individuals received an exit package. In 2015, we launched Respect@ and our annual Internal Investigations Report to provide transparency about these types of investigations at Google. Because we know that reporting harassment can be traumatic, we provide confidential channels to share any inappropriate behavior you experience or see. We support and respect those who have spoken out. You can find many ways to do this at go/saysomething. You can make a report anonymously if you wish. We've also updated our policy to require all VPs and SVPs to disclose any relationship with a co-worker regardless of reporting line or presence of conflict. We are committed to ensuring that Google is a workplace where you can feel safe to do your best work, and where there are serious consequences for anyone who behaves inappropriately. Sundar and Eileen Advertisement

A screenshot of an August 2015 email Rubin reportedly sent to one woman was also included in the suit.

'You will be happy being taken care of,' he wrote, according to the Times. 'Being owned is kinda like you are my property, and I can loan you to other people.'

A spokesperson for Rubin said he denied any misconduct and he had not been made aware of the claims when he left in 2014.
Brexit bankroller Arron Banks joked he was busy 'fishing in Bermuda' today as Britain's FBI started investigating him over suspected crimes linked to the EU referendum.

The millionaire insurance broker, 52, may have hidden the 'true source' of 8million in loans linked to campaign group Leave.EU, it is alleged.

Banks, nicknamed the 'Bad boy of Brexit', has been dogged by claims he was backed by the Kremlin to help bring about the UK's divorce from the EU - but he has repeatedly branded it 'b*****s'.

The Electoral Commission has today referred him to the National Crime Agency who have launched an investigation into 'multiple suspected offences' including an alleged conspiracy to 'conceal the true details of these financial transactions'.

Police will trace whether the 8million Leave.EU loans came from abroad, which would be illegal, but have not specified the country they believe it was transferred from.

Mr Banks responded by posting a Bermuda selfie on Twitter and blamed 'intense political pressure from anti-Brexit supporters' for the police probe.

Today Remainer and rival Alastair Campbell taunted him by saying: 'Oh dear. Bad boy of Brexit having very bad day. Tickski tockski Bankski'.

Arron Banks is being investigated by police over Brexit campaign funding - and responded with this tweet of himself relaxing in Bermuda today

Liz Bilney, CEO of Leave.EU, pictured in 2015 at a London press conference, is also being investigated by detectives looking into whether the source of funds was concealed

There are reasonable grounds to suspect that Banks, Brexit's biggest financial backer, was not the 'true source' of 8million of loans to the unofficial campaign group for leavers, the Electoral Commission has said.

How Banks has repeatedly dismissed 'b*******' claims he took Russian money to bankroll Brexit campaign Arron Banks has put down his regular Russian visits to seeing his mother-in-law with his wife Ekaterina (pictured together) Ex-Ukip donor Arron Banks says any claims he took Russian money to bankroll the Brexit campaign are 'b*******'. But Mr Banks, 52, has been dogged by the claims, which he says is only because of his Russian wife. This year it emerged he met with Russian ambassador Alexander Yakovenko three times since 2015, and made a trip to Russia shortly before the referendum. Famously they shared a bottle of Joseph Stalins very own and extremely rare vodka when they got catatonically drunk over a six-hour lunch on the first occasion. But Mr Banks said his meetings with the ambassador were innocent good fun. After the cosy lunches he discussed the prospect of investing in gold mines in Russia. He said he decided not to invest in the Russian goldmines after being advised that it was 'fraught with difficulties'. Mr Banks is also said to have given Russian officials telephone numbers for members of Donald Trump's presidential transition team, just days after he and Mr Farage visited Trump Tower in the wake of the shock US election result, according to leaked emails. But Banks insists he never passed on any information to the Russians, and was certainly never remunerated for doing so. He also has ready answers about his not infrequent visits to Russia. They were, he says, family trips to visit his mother-in-law: his second wife, Katya, 45, the mother of his three youngest children, is Russian. Mr Banks claims to have talked with a senior CIA agent in London on his contacts with the Russian ambassador at 5 Hertford Street, a Mayfair club. There he and colleague Andy Wigmore briefed the official 'on everything' pertaining to a meeting with the Russian ambassador in November of 2016, reported the Telegraph. The paper also said the men had kept the agent's business card and are going through their emails to find evidence of their correspondence and meeting. Advertisement

Liz Bilney, CEO of Leave.EU, is also being investigated - but neither she nor Banks have been arrested.

Mr Banks said today he is 'confident that a full and frank investigation will finally put an end to the ludicrous allegations levelled against me and my colleagues'.

He has suggested that investigations into his finances are part of a ploy to derail Brexit.

Responding today Mr Banks said: 'I am pleased that the Electoral Commission has referred me to the National Crime Agency.

'There is no evidence of any wrongdoing from the companies I own. I am a UK taxpayer and I have never received any foreign donations. The Electoral Commission has produced no evidence to the contrary.

'The Electoral Commission has referred me to the National Crime Agency under intense political pressure from anti-Brexit supporters.

'I am already in court with the Electoral Commission. In witness statements the commission has admitted it got its figures wrong in relation to a previous investigation and it even submitted its final report without taking evidence from us'.

Banks is considered Brexit's biggest financial power but was a backer of Leave.EU rather than the official campaign, Vote Leave, whose members included Boris Johnson and Michael Gove.

In June he risked the wrath of MPs by walking out of his committee grilling because he had a lunch date in a Commons bar.

The Leave.EU founder was being quizzed for three hours by MPs over claims he broke the law to win the referendum and has questionable links with Russians.

But when lunch time came he got up and cut the hearing short because he had 'places to be'.

He also celebrated with Donald Trump in the hours after he won the US election in 2016.

Banks personally loaned 2million to Better for the Country, the company used to finance the Leave.EU campaign before the 2016 vote.

Banks also gave a further 6million to the same company, on behalf of Leave.EU and at least 2.9million of this money was directly used to fund referendum spending.

Police will investigate claims that he was not the 'true source' of the money and whether it was from a company or individuals abroad, which could break British electoral law.

The probe appears to be centred on a company called Rock Holdings Limited, which is incorporated in the Isle of Man.

The Isle of Man is not part of the UK so political donations via the tax haven in the Irish Sea are not allowed under electoral law.

According to the Electoral Commission, the main allegations are:

Mr Banks was not the true source of the 8m loans made to Better for the Country;

Loans to Better for the Country, on behalf of Leave.EU, involved a non-qualifying or impermissible company - Rock Holdings Limited, which is incorporated in the Isle of Man;

Arron Banks, Elizabeth Bilney and others involved in Better for the Country, Leave.EU and associated companies concealed the true details of these financial transactions;

The Electoral Commission and National Crime Agency have refused to say who the 'others involved' are.

In June he risked the wrath of MPs by walking out of his committee grilling over Russia because he had a lunch date in a Commons bar

Fellow suspect Liz Bilney accused the Commission of having a 'biased approach' in its investigations and said she was confident she would be 'exonerated', insisting none of the money had come from Russia.

What is the law on political donations? Donations to electoral candidates and political campaigns are governed by the Representation of the People Act 1983. The act gives a list of 'permissible donors' which include: An individual registered on a UK electoral register, including overseas electors.

A Great Britain or Northern Ireland registered political party UK-registered companies, trade unions or building societies.

A UK-based unincorporated association that carries on business or other activities in the UK. What isn't allowed: The law is that loans and donations to registered campaigners can only come from certain permissible sources, which essentially excludes overseas or foreign funding

The Isle of Man is considered as being outside the UK because it is a British Crown dependency so donations via there are not allowed either Advertisement

'I run the group of companies where the money was from and we don't have any transactions that are from Russia,' she said.

'I am completely comfortable that we have done everything above board.'

The PMs official spokesman today refused to comment on the NCA investigation.

Asked directly if there is any evidence of Russian interference in the Brexit vote, she said: There is no evidence to suggest that that is the case. We have said that many times.

Asked if the PM has confidence the referendum was held fair and square, she said: The referendum was the largest democratic exercise in the countrys history, and the PM is getting on with delivering that result.

The Electoral Commission launched its investigation last year before passing it on to police today.

Bob Posner, the Electoral Commission's director of political finance and regulation and legal counsel, said: 'We have reasonable grounds to suspect money given to Better for the Country came from impermissible sources and that Mr Banks and Ms Bilney, the responsible person for Leave.EU, knowingly concealed the true circumstances under which this money was provided.

'This is significant because at least 2.9m of this money was used to fund referendum spending and donations during the regulated period of the EU referendum.

'Our investigation has unveiled evidence that suggests criminal offences have been committed which fall beyond the remit of the Commission. This is why we have handed our evidence to the NCA to allow them to investigate and take any appropriate law enforcement action. This is now a criminal investigation.

'The financial transactions we have investigated include companies incorporated in Gibraltar and the Isle of Man. These jurisdictions are beyond the reach of the Electoral Commission for the purpose of obtaining information for use in criminal investigations or proceedings.'

Arron Banks (pictured in Doncaster in 2015) is today being investigated by Britain's FBI over suspected 'multiple' offences carried out ahead of the EU referendum campaign

Mr Banks said that the Electoral Commission had ignore due process and not spoken to him or Ms Bilney

The National Crime Agency said in a statement: 'The NCA has initiated an investigation concerning the entities Better for the Country (BFTC) and Leave.EU; as well as Arron Banks, Elizabeth Bilney and other individuals. This follows our acceptance of a referral of material from the Electoral Commission.

'Our investigation relates to suspected electoral law offences covered by that referral, as well as any associated offences.

'While electoral law offences would not routinely fall within the NCA's remit, the nature of the necessary inquiries and the potential for offences to have been committed other than under electoral law lead us to consider an NCA investigation appropriate in this instance.

'This is now a live investigation, and we are unable to discuss any operational detail.'

Who is 'the bad boy of Brexit' Arron Banks? How millionaire hit the headlines over the way he bankrolled Nigel Farage's Leave campaign

Arron Banks (pictured with his wife Ekaterina) made his money in insurance before piling some of his fortune into politics

Arron Banks has been dubbed the man who bought Brexit for the way he bankrolled Nigel Farages campaign to leave the EU.

The multi-millionaire has donated millions to Ukip and in 2016 he backed the Leave.EU group to the tune of 8million.

He was pictured alongside Donald Trump when the President met Nigel Farage in New York just days after his shock US election victory.

But far from the political arena, Banks was raised by his mother in Basingstoke while his father managed sugar plantations in Africa.

He was kicked out of school before his A-levels and started selling vacuum cleaners and houses before moving to an entry-level job at insurance market Lloyd's of London; from there to Norwich Union.

He later co-founded insurance company Brightside, which was sold five years ago for 130 million, and more recently GoSkippy, which is now worth an estimated 100 million.

Much of his fortune, though, is held offshore in Belize, the Isle of Man, the British Virgin Islands and Gibraltar, making it difficult to value.

He is married to Russian Ekaterina Paderina and has five children.

Katya, a former gymnast, ice skater, pianist and occasional model who speaks six languages, was once dragged into a parliamentary row about suspected spying involving a Lib Dem MP and his Russian female parliamentary aide.

When a journalist had asked Katya if she had ever had any contact with MI5, she replied: I have never shopped in MFI.

After that, Arron bought her a car with the number plate FBI 5PY and one for himself: X MI5 5PY.

Katya has not enjoyed the publicity of the past two years that has sprung from the acrimonious fallout over the Brexit vote: She hates it, hates it', he has said, but he says he had no choice but to take up the cause against Brussels.

Originally a modest Tory donor, in 2014 he defected to Ukip in desperation at David Camerons stance on Europe.

William Hague made the mistake of describing Mr Banks as somebody we haven't heard of following his defection  prompting him to up his donation to 1million.

He said: I woke up this morning intending to give 100,000 to UKIP  then I heard Mr Hague's comment about me being a Mr Nobody. So in light of that I have decided to give 1million.

Arron Banks also funded Ukip with his friend and MEP Nigel Farage, who backed both Leave.EU and Vote Leave during the campaign (pictured in 2014 when he gave 1m to Ukip
The two-wheeler segment of Eicher Motors, Royal Enfield, on Wednesday stated that it underwent a production drop of 25,000 bikes during September and October because of workers' strike at Oragadam plant, Chennai.

"Due to the strike, the loss of production for September and October 2018, is 25,000 motorcycles," the company stated in a regulatory filing. The facility remained running through October 2018, even when some of the workers remained away from work from September 24, 2018, it added.

Workers at the manufacturing facility were on strike last month asking pay increment, right to organise unions and for job security. However, the company said that the majority of workers continued to work and were sincerely engaged in production at the facility.

The company stated that its facility based forums will solve all concerns amicably and will remain engaged with associated officials.

(Edited by Vivek Dubey)
A father who dedicated himself to fighting Motor Neurone Disease shared a heartbreaking farewell to his son hours before his death.

Dr Ian Davis was diagnosed in 2011 when he was only 33, and worked to raise awareness about the deadly disease 'until his final days'.

He died midday Thursday in a Melbourne hospital bed surrounded by family.

Prior to taking his final breath, Dr Davis posted to Facebook one last time, sharing his 'final moment' with his son Archer.

Prior to taking his final breath, Dr Ian Davis posted to Facebook one last time, sharing his 'final moment' with his son (pictured)

Embracing his son in a hospital bed and with an oxygen tube running from his nose, Dr Davis accompanied the photo with a heartfelt message (pictured)

A strong advocate for raising awareness for Motor Neurone Disease, Dr Davis has encouraged others to take up the battle in his memory

Dr Davis accompanied a photo of himself embracing his son in a hospital bed and with an oxygen tube running from his nose with a heartfelt message.

'Today I say farewell. Thank you everyone for all the support, love, and compassion over the years during my fight. It has been some ride,' he wrote.

'I will leave this broken body with a full heart.

'Please tell my boy I love him and I'm so proud to be his dad. This photo taken yesterday is our final moment together.'

Dr Davis (pictured with his son) was a prominent advocate for raising awareness of MND

He was first diagnosed in 2011 at the age of 33-years-old, writing earlier in 2018 that his affliction had made him a 'burden' on his wife, Melissa (left)

He urged others to continue the fight he started against Motor Neurone Disease.

Dr Davis played a 'profound' role in raising awareness on the debilitating disease, FightMND Chairman Bill Guest said.

Dr Davis co-founded the foundation and was the inaugural chairman before the disease prevented him from continuing.

In his final message on Facebook, he urged his supporters to donate to the organisation in his honour.

In 2014, he co-founded FightMND, an organisation that raised $40million towards research

'Tell my boy I love him and I'm so proud of him,' Dr Davis wrote only hours before his passing

Dr Davis leaves behind a legacy of joining medical experts across the globe in the fight against Motor Neurone Disease.

In March, FightMND hosted the first Australasian Motor Neurone Disease Symposium, which brought together 400 delegates from all over the world.

FightMND has raised more than $40million since its inception in 2014.

At the time, Dr Davis wrote: 'MND is kicking my butt today. I'm in hospital at the moment fighting pneumonia and the beast just might get me this time. I'm not ready to go, I still have so much left to do, but I might not have a choice this time.

'I am such an emotional, physical burden on my family. It's not fair on them.'

He passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends, and is survived by Archer and his wife Melissa.
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Parts of Britain face up to three inches of rain this weekend with strong winds sweeping through the country.

The Met Office has issued a rain warning for Scotland on Saturday as the cold snap continues to bite, with tonight expected to be the fifth night in a row that temperatures fall to at least -6C (21F) somewhere in the UK.

Forecasters say temperatures 'will be close to or above average' for the first half of November, but have warned that the second half of the month 'is likely to turn colder with temperatures becoming below average'.

Heavy rain makes for dangerous driving conditions on the M25 near junction three for Swanley in Kent today

A woman walks under an umbrella during rain in Liverpool city centre this morning as Britain faces unsettled conditions

Beautiful autumn colour and low cloud is reflected today in Loweswater, one of the smaller lakes in the Lake District

After the long summer, colder and more wintery weather has now settled in across the country - including at Loweswater

A stunning autumn scene at Loweswater today as forecasters predicted the weekend could bring heavy rain to some areas

A salmon leaps out of the water as swans fly overhead near Pitlochry boating station in Scotland today

Autumn colours are reflected today in Loch Faskally, a man-made reservoir in Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross

The Met Office warning, running for the whole on Saturday in western Scotland including Glasgow, has warned of spray and flooding on roads making journey times longer and potential disruption to bus and train services.

Heavy rain is expected to spread from the West on Friday evening, before slowly clearing from the North West during Saturday. Up to 2in (50mm) is expected quite widely, especially on high ground, with 3in (80mm) possible.

By the end of the week there are also expected to be strong gales in Northern Ireland , Scotland and the North West, as the remnants of Hurricane Oscar - the eighth hurricane of the Atlantic season - pass over the UK.

The lowest UK temperature over the past three nights has been -6.5C in Aberdeenshire yesterday, -7.3C in Cumbria on Tuesday and -5.9C in Northern Ireland on Monday. Similar lows were expected early this morning and tonight.

But conditions are expected to turn milder next week thanks to a change in the position of the Atlantic jet stream, which will draw in warmer air from the south. Its current position this week has left Britain on its colder side.

Rain has fallen across eastern England today, although some areas could enjoy the odd sunny spell

Tomorrow will bring sunnier conditions for eastern areas, although there could still be some rain in western Scotland

The Met Office has issued a rain warning for most of western Scotland on Saturday as the cold snap continues to bite

Tonight, after any evening showers have cleared from the South East, it is going to be a mostly dry night. There is a chance of some light showers in western Scotland and northern Wales - and it expected to be a cold night.

Tomorrow will be sunny and dry for central and eastern parts, while the West will have a bright start with increasing cloud cover. Rain will move into Northern Ireland during the late afternoon and then towards Scotland.

Saturday will be wet in the North West with heavy rain, while the South East will enjoy sunny spells - although it will be very windy for all. Scotland will be under a rain weather warning, with western parts expected to be worst hit.

Sunday will be wet in Wales, Northern Ireland, northern England, the Midlands and the South-West, with rain that will be heavy at times. However, it will be dry and bright in the South East.
Estate agent and gang leader Roman Shugaibov has confessed to murdering clients and burying them in illegal graves

An evil estate agent has admitted leading a sinister Russian gang that tricked vulnerable elderly people to sell their homes for a profit - then killed them and grabbed the properties, say police.

In some cases, the criminal ring 'buried their victims alive'.

Roman Shugaibov, 34, was shown in shocking crime scene videos confessing to police how he murdered lonely homeowners then buried their bodies in illegal graves in cemeteries.

The estate agent led seven men and eight women in his criminal ring - all of them now detained but not identified.

They are known to have killed at least nine victims, but police fear there are more.

Shugaibov, an estate agent from Tver region, north west of Moscow, made a profit of at least 350,000, according to law enforcement.

The gang 'won the trust' of vulnerable people, many of them elderly and prone to drink.

Gang members posed as buyers and sellers.

They coaxed them to sell their flats close to Moscow and swap for an out of town home, then pocket the cash difference as money to boost their meagre salaries or pensions.

The victim signed over the flat to a buyer and was paid in cash.

Then the victim used the money to immediately 'buy' a smaller place from a seller, also a gang member who was paid in cash.

'His accomplices persuaded the victims to sell their apartments and promised to buy some other property for them, with a profit for them,' said Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk.

Evil estate agent Roman Shugaibov shows the the police one of the graves of an elderly person he and his gang killed. 'I took a cross and flowers from another grave,' he said. This was to 'mask' the unauthorised grave, he added

But once the sale was clinched, the cruel agents signed over the homes to the gang and quickly murdered the homeowners.

The first deal allowed the gang to resell the property and keep the proceeds of the sale.

The victims were either shot dead, drowned in a river, or 'buried alive', according the Russian Investigative Committee.

In one video sequence, Shugaibov tells detectives how he dragged a homeowner from his car, then held him in the water 'with his face down'.

He 'waited for about 10 minutes, until he stopped showing any sign of life.

'After that I drove away.'

Shugaibov demonstrates with a mannequin how he would drag an elderly client to water before drowning them

A mannequin was used to demonstrate the murder.

In other cases, he dug holes in cemeteries and buried the victims in seemingly normal graves, stealing crosses and flowers from other plots to mask his evil crime.

Some were thrown alive into these illegal graves in official cemeteries.

In one case highlighted on video, Shugaibov killed a man called Sergey whose flat had been stolen.

'We arrived in the car,' he said.

'I put a bag on his head and immediately began to strangle him

'When he stopped showing any signs of life, I began to dig a grave  here.'

He showed detectives the spot in the bleak graveyard.

'I took a cross and flowers from another grave,' he said.

This was to 'mask' the unauthorised grave, he said.

The identities of other gang members and their alleged victims have not been made public.
President Trump is defending his 'enemy of the people' refrain in spite of an emphatic warning that it could inspire violence against media.

He told Axios in an HBO special that supporters 'like me more' because of the heated rhetoric after interviewer Jim VandeHei cautioned him that someone could get 'shot' because of the inflamed tensions with journalists.

'It was my only form of fighting back. I couldn't be here if I did that,' Trump responded.

President Trump is shedding light on his 'enemy of the people' refrain amid concerns that it's inspiring violence aimed at the media

He told Axios in an HBO special that his supporters 'like me more' because of the heated rhetoric after interviewer Jim VandeHei told him someone could get 'shot' because of the inflamed tensions

Axios conducted its interview for the special on Monday, after a Saturday mass murder at a Pittsburgh synagogue and days of pipe bomb threats that resulted in no deaths but created an anxious atmosphere two weeks out from the mid-term elections.

'What scares the crap out of me, if you're saying enemy of the people, enemy of the people,' VandeHei told Trump.

Without letting him finish, the president jumped in and said he feels the need to 'fight back - but you're right' in a clip posted on Thursday to the Axios website.

'God forbid that like somebody - you have fervent supporters, they love you, they listen to you, enemy of the people, enemy of the people,' the Axios co-founder said.

Trump plainly tells him, 'They like me more because of that.'

'They like you more, but what happens if all of a sudden if someone gets shot? Someone shoots one of these reporters?' VandeHei asks him. 'I don't think you think we're the enemy of the people, do you?'

'They like you more, but what happens if all of a sudden if someone gets shot? Someone shoots one of these reporters?' VandeHei asks him. 'I don't think you think we're the enemy of the people, do you?'

The president calmly tells him, 'I don't, I don't, but if you gave me false reports, I would say, that's not a good thing for our country.'

'Don't you worry at all? You are like the most powerful man in the world, and if you say that word, enemy, enemy, literally tens of thousands of people go into a stadium to listen to you, and the people go on social media and they get themselves so jazzed up, there's got to be a part of you that's like, "Dammit, I'm scared that someone is going to take it too far." '

The president did not acknowledge the concern for reporter safety. Instead, he jumped in to defend his behavior and said, 'It was my only form of fighting back. I couldn't be here if I did that.'

VandeHei exclaimed, 'You won! You have the presidency!'

To which Trump says, 'No no, but I did this before I won.'

Trump bashed media throughout his campaign but it was not until after he was elected that he started calling the press the 'enemy' in tweets and on the stump.

The harsh language has been picked up by his supporters, who on Wednesday night chanted 'CNN sucks' and booed in the direction of press as Trump ginned them up.

He accused journalists of spreading 'lies' about him as he referred to press as the 'the far-left media' at an Estero, Florida, rally.

'And when we talk about division, this is a big part,' he said to jeering from his fans. 'The far left media has spread terrible lie and stories about the Trump administration and the tens of millions of people who make up our great movement, the biggest political movement in the history of our country.'

The president calmly tells him, 'I don't, I don't, but if you gave me false reports, I would say, that's not a good thing for our country'

An audience member shouted loudly for media to, 'Tell the truth.'

'But the media doesn't want you to hear your story - it's not my story, it's your story,' Trump said a couple minutes later. 'The fake news is in fact, and I hate to say this, in fact the enemy of the people,' he said to deafening cheers.

That was Wednesday. His interview with Axios in which the outlet had warned him of the consequences of the fiery rhetoric was on Monday.

In a transcript of the exchange, Trump tells the outlet, 'I think I'm doing a service [by attacking the press] when people write stories about me that are so wrong.

'I know what I do good and what I do bad. I really get it, OK? I really get it better than anybody in the whole world.'

He claimed his family and advisers do not encourage him to tone it down, even though first lady Melania Trump and first daughter Ivanka Trump have split with him publicly on his Twitter attacks.

'Not too much. Hey, I'm here! It got me here,' he said.

Trump also said that if the media were to write fairer stories, he would drop his fake news claims.

'If they would write accurately about me, I would be the nicest president you've ever seen. It would be much easier,' he said. 'It's much easier ... for me to be nice than it is for me to be the way I have to be.'

In an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network on Wednesday on Air Force One en route to Florida, Trump claimed that the media is biased against him, because's he's a Republican.

'Well I think the media is extremely unfair. It has been from the time I announced and a lot of that has to do with the fact that I'm Republican, I'm conservative, and many other reasons, and probably me too,' he claimed.

He called the press the 'left-wing' media at his event, suggesting that all the reporters who cover him are progressive Democrats.

Trump had harangued the media on Monday prior to the Axios interview, reverting to a claim that the 'Fake News' is the 'true Enemy of the People' in a tweet that accused journalists of fanning the flames of hated and anger.

'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 the first White House press briefing in nearly a month, CNN's Jim Acosta then pushed the president's spokeswoman 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,' Sarah Sanders 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.'

Sanders did not have the 'guts', Acosta accused, to name names at her briefing.
A sound described as a 'sickening pulsing heartbeat' has been booming over the Delaware coast and nobody is sure what it is.

The thumping beat which has been shaking houses as it makes its way across the Delaware coast has polices forces confused.

Monica Morris Lind told NJ on Sunday night: 'It was like a sickening pulsing heartbeat. We turned up our television, but could not overpower the throb.

'The thumping came straight through our front porch to the back of our home in the kitchen. It went on until the wee hours of the morning until around 3am.'

The video taken by Carol Napoleon Hampton on Sunday appears to record music blaring across the river

The rhythm can be heard for 15 miles at Carneys Point, Penns Grove and Pennsville and peaks on weekends.

The video taken by Carol Napoleon Hampton on Sunday appears to record music blaring across the river.

The police have driven across state lines to try and pinpoint the location of the sound but believe it must be more local.

Penns Grove Chief of Police John T. Stranahan Sr. told NJ: 'At this stage Delaware authorities have not been able to locate (the sound).

A view of the Delaware Memorial Bridge from the New Jersey side where the beats can be heard until 4am

'We've had officers, including myself, go to Delaware to attempt to locate the music and we've narrowed it down to a very small area.'

The chief would not confirm where the 'very small area' was but said once it was confirmed the public would be told.

Local and sate police forces have received noise complaints from the residents throughout October.

The county's 911 operators have taken at least 55 calls about the noise - 38 of those coming on a single weekend.

One theory is a nightclub over in Delaware or people gathering to show off car sound systems by the river.
A banker who claims to have lost 120,000 of luxury goods in a burglary at his home says police delayed the investigation so an officer could have a day off.

Sherif Atef, 45, was first alerted to a problem while on holiday in Egypt when CCTV sent automatically to his phone showed man appearing to act suspiciously outside his west London home.

Later that same night, burglars struck at his home and allegedly took his most vaulable items including 60,000 worth of Rolexes, his 4,000 cigar collection and scores of designer goods.

But when Mr Atef called the police to discuss the case he said he was shocked to be told that the investigation would have to wait until a 'very busy officer' returned from a day off.

It was ridiculous, he told Mail Online. 'I was really disappointed with the attitude of the Metropolitan police. They are making a mockery of me.

They actually told me on the phone that there was no rush. I told them, there might be no rush for you, but there is a rush for me. I need to stop these people selling my stuff.'

Sherif Atef, a banker who claims to have lost 120,000 of luxury goods in a burglary at his home, says police delayed the investigation so an officer could have a day off

The 45-year-old was first alerted to a problem while on holiday in Egypt when CCTV sent automatically to his phone showed man appearing to act suspiciously outside his west London home (above). There is no suggestion this man was directly linked to the later burglary

Later that same night, burglars struck at his home and allegedly took his most vaulable items including 60,000 worth of Rolexes, his 4,000 cigar collection and scores of designer goods

But when Mr Atef called the police to discuss the case he said he was shocked to be told that the investigation would have to wait until a 'very busy officer' returned from a day off.

Items taken allegedly included 15 Chanel, Prada, Dior and YSL handbags worth 28,000, 25,000 of jewellery and 8,000 of gold bullion.

Also believed to have been taken were three pairs of Gucci and Prada shoes worth 1,500, two magnums of 80 Moet & Chandon champagne, two Mont Blanc pens, bottles of Chanel and Prada perfume and gold coins worth 2,000.

Mr Atef was enjoying a luxury holiday in Egypt last week with his wife and daughter when the robbers struck last Sunday night.

At 11pm that night, his phone automatically sent him CCTV footage of an apparently suspicious character appearing to try the handle of his front door. There is no suggestion this man was directly linked to the later burglary.

The man, who was wearing a hoodie, could be seen apparently rattling the frame before walking off down the road.

Mr Atef telephoned his neighbour and asked him to investigate, but all seemed quiet.

Later that night, however, the rear window of the four-bedroom property was smashed and the robbery took place.

Items taken allegedly included 15 Chanel, Prada, Dior and YSL handbags worth 28,000, 25,000 of jewellery and 8,000 of gold bullion. Pictured: Mt Atef's 4,000 cigar collection before (left) and afterwards (right)

Also believed to have been taken were three pairs of Gucci and Prada shoes worth 1,500, two magnums of 80 Moet & Chandon champagne, two Mont Blanc pens, bottles of Chanel and Prada perfume and gold coins worth 2,000

Mr Atef was enjoying a luxury holiday in Egypt last week with his wife and daughter when the robbers struck last Sunday night

The rear window of the four-bedroom property was smashed and the robbery took place, with scores of designer goods allegedly stolen

I immediately called the police and they turned up at the house an hour later, he said. A forensic team came four hours later and they found no fingerprints.

I offered them the CCTV footage and they told me to send it over whenever I was back.

There was no sense of urgency at all. So I bought an emergency flight back to London with my family.

He claims he flew back to find his home ransacked and all his valuables gone, including his beloved selection of 100 premium cigars.

While clearing up the mess he found a jacket that did not belong to him which he thought might help the investigation.

But when he asked police to come and investigate and again offered up the CCTV, they said the inquiry would be delayed until later in the week because an officer needed a day off.

At 11pm last Sunday, the night of the burglary, Mr Atef's phone automatically sent him CCTV footage of an apparently suspicious character appearing to try the handle of his front door. There is no suggestion this man was directly linked to the later burglary

The man, who was wearing a hoodie, could be seen apparently rattling the frame before walking off down the road. There is no suggestion this man was directly linked to the later burglary

Mr Atef telephoned his neighbour and asked him to investigate, but all seemed quiet. There is no suggestion this man was directly linked to the later burglary

I wanted them to come and test the jacket for DNA and take the CCTV image. I wanted them to show some motivation to catch the culprit.

Instead, they told me that the officer was very busy and she would be back in touch after her day off.

I said, so send one of her colleagues. Is there only one officer in the Met? They told me that nobody else was available.

The burglars are celebrating by smoking my expensive cigars while the police take the day off.

He added: I pay my tax and National Insurance and for once I need help from the police, but they abandoned me exactly when I needed support.

Mr Atef said he and his family had been traumatised by the burglary and had been living in fear ever since.

After the burglary on the same night Mr Atef (pictured with his wife and daughter) said police came but couldn't find any fingerprints. Having felt there 'was no sense of urgency' he booked emergency flights for his family and came home

While clearing up the mess he found a jacket that did not belong to him but when Mr Atef (with his daughter) asked police to investigate, they said the inquiry would be delayed until later in the week because an officer needed a day off

Mr Atef said he and his family had been traumatised by the burglary and had been living in fear ever since

How can I guarantee that they wont come back and get whatevers left? he said.

Every five minutes I discover that something else is missing. They went through every single room, even my daughters bedroom.

I had 100 cigars in three humidors, two small ones and a big one. The thieves emptied the contents of the big humidor into the small ones and took them away. It is heartbreaking.

Mr Atef said his insurance policy only covers losses of up to 35,000, meaning that the burglary has left him about 85,000 out of pocket.

I never imagined that I would lose everything at once, so I didnt take out the full cover, he said.

Mail Online spent two days requesting a comment from the Metropolitan Police before a spokeswoman replied that the 'officer dealing with the case' was not available.
President Donald Trump made his most audacious attempt yet on Wednesday night to turn a sea of approaching Central American migrants into a midterm voting issue, tweeting a video linking them to a death row inmate who killed two Sacramento, California police officers after being deported twice from the United States and returning each time.

Convicted cop killer Luis Bracamontes famously grinned and swore his way through his trial and sentencing this year, vowing to escape and kill more police officers.

He screamed 'F*** you, judge!' during a late January hearing and was banned from attending the rest of his trial in person, watching the remaining days on video monitors.

Trump's 55.5 million Twitter followers saw his own take on the case, a recap of the trial's most shocking moments titled: 'Illegal immigrant Luis Bracamontes killed our people!'

CNN editorialized through its website: 'Trump campaign releases racist ad.'

Network host Don Lemon, under fire for declaring that 'white men' are the greatest threat to the United States, complained Wednesday night during his show about 'how the ad depicts Latinos and immigrants generally. Why is this blatantly racist ad his closing argument before the midterms?'

How he tweeted it: Trump's message which has been called racist and accused of being worse than the notorious Willie Horton advertisement used against Michael Dukakis

President Donald Trump, pictured Wednesday night in a Florida campaign rally, is making the Republican Party's closing midterm argument a fear-based one, promoting a video that links the coming waves of Central American migrants with a twice-deported Mexican cop-killer

Luis Bracamontes, pictured in court in February, was sentenced to death for the murders of two Sacramento, California law enforcement officers; the twice-deported Mexican national is now the poster-boy for Trump's view of the dangers caused by unchecked illegal immigration

Bracamontes stunned the jury in his case by admitting his guilt as a prosecutor described the crime scene, declaring: 'Only thing I f***ing regret is that I f***ing just killed two. I wish I f***ing killed more of those motherf***ers.'

Bracamontes was convicted in February 2018 of killing Placer Sheriffs Deputy Michael Davis Jr. (left) and Sacramento Sheriffs Deputy Danny Oliver (right)

April Ryan, a CNN contributor who doubles as a White House correspondent for a network of black radio stations, claimed Trump was playing to a 'base that he understands has a certain kind of feeling or misconception or perception, whatever, about minorities  particularly right now Mexicans or those who are coming from the southern border.'

CNN host Chris Cuomo described the ad as 'Willie Horton redux,' a reference to the famous 1988 presidential campaign ad that helped sink Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis.

Dukakis had supported a prison weekend furlough program that allowed Horton, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence, to participate. Instead of returning to prison, Horton escaped and raped a woman the netx year, stabbing her fiance in the process.

'This may be the most desperate and vile ad since Willie Horton,' Clinton administration Labor Secretary Robert Reich tweeted Wednesday.

The video's footage includes the killer Bracamontes telling Judge Steve White: 'They're f***ing dead. I don't f***ing regret that s**t. ... I will break out soon and I will kill more.

Over ounding percussion, the video's graphics proclaim: 'DEMOCRATS LET HIM INTO OUR COUNTRY.'

Bracamontes stunned the jury in his case by admitting his guilt as a prosecutor described the crime scene, declaring: 'Only thing I f***ing regret is that I f***ing just killed two. I wish I f***ing killed more of those motherf***ers.'

That moment, too, is in the video on Trump's Twitter feed.

CNN, two of its hosts and many of its guests complained Wednesday night that the ad Trump promoted is flatly 'racist'

CNN host Don Lemon (left) and commentator April Ryan (2nd right) agreed Wednesday that the ad on Trump's twitter feed was about race, not crime

Former Clinton administration Labor Secretary Robert Reich vented that the Bracamontes ad is 'desperate and vile,' and compared it with the infamous 1988 'Willie Horton' ad

Jamie Weinstein, a former journalist known for a National Review podcast, declared the video 'without question, a racist ad'

And the words on the screen continue: 'DEMOCRATS LET HIM STAY.'

Trump featured Bracamontes in an ad nine months ago, timed to coincide with the first anniversary of his inauguration.

'Democrats who stand in our way will be complicit in every murder committed by illegal immigrants,' said the ad, which argued for his long-promised border wall.

The new effort, though, connects the condemned man to the thousands of people streaming slowly on foot toward Texas and California

Scenes from the northward-advancing caravans show hundreds of Hondurans and Guatemalans streaming past video cameras and breaking down border-fences on their way into Mexico.

One migrant, interviewed late last week by a Fox News Channel reporter, is seen admitting that he was deported fom the U.S. after a conviction for 'Intento de matar'  attempted murder.

'WHO ELSE WOULD DEMOCRATS LET IN?' reads the video's final caption, before claiming that Trump and the GOP are 'Making America Safe Again.'

Trump has made political hay over what he considers a crime spree attached to illegal immigration, and already used the Bracamontes case nine months ago in a separate ad

The digital ad includes no information identifying who created or paid for it, meaning it's not officially a Trump campaign ad or a Republican Party product.

But the ease with which video can be attached to tweets means the President of the United States can circulate practically anything without acknowledging its source.

Bracamontes killed Sacramento County sheriff's Deputy Danny Oliver and Placer County sheriff's Detective Michael Davis Jr. in 2014 while he was high on meth.

A third victim, Anthony Holmes, was shot five times but survived.

When Judge White read his guilty verdict, Bracamontes smirked and softly said, 'Yay,' before warning that he would 'kill more cops soon.'

'It is outrageous what the Democrats are doing to our Country,' Trump tweeted Wednesday along with the video. 'Vote Republican now!'
An emergency medical technician who assisted in the arrest of Heather Locklear earlier this year is set to file a lawsuit against the actress.

TMZ reports that the unnamed woman claims to have suffered 'head and neck injuries' which left her 'confined to a desk job' after the June incident, during which officers were twice called to her residence for 'disturbances' involving an 'intoxicated' Locklear.

The actress, 57, allegedly kicked the EMT while she was being loaded up a gurney to be taken to the hospital before being arrested on two charges of battery and one count of resisting an officer.

Locklear is also accused of 'verbally abusing' the woman in the not-yet filed lawsuit.

This is now the second time that the EMT has threatened to file a lawsuit, with her personal injury lawyer previously telling TMZ back in July that his client was pursuing legal action.

Locklear has entered a not guilty plea to all three criminal charges stemming from this incident and is due back in court later this month.

Locklear's lawyer and the attorney representing the EMT did not respond to requests for comment.

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More troubles: The EMT who Heather Locklear (above in 2013) allegedly attacked back in June during an incident at her Thousand Oaks home is set to file a lawsuit on Thursday

Arrests: She claims to have suffered 'head and neck injuries' which left her 'confined to a desk job' after the June incident, in which Locklear (left in June mugshot, right in February) allegedly kicked her

Scene: The unnamed woman was being loaded onto a gurney to be taken to a medical facility for a check-up before being booked into jail (Locklear's home above)

It was one day after this incident that Locklear was hospitalized following a suspected overdose.

The actress once again was sent to the UCLA psychioatric ward, and from there immediately checked herself into rehab.

She has been frank about her recovery in the months since, and in September shared a post paying tribute to her late friend Josh that read: 'Addiction is ferocious and will try to take you down. Recovery is the best revenge.'

And just this past weekend shared photos as she attended the wedding of her boyfriend Chris Heisser's daughter Jordyn.

A source close to the actress told DailyMail.com: 'The night [of the arrest], she was so hammered. The police came Sunday at six and then left.

'When they came back at midnight, it was because she tried leaving, she tried driving out in her Porsche. She smashed her Porsche into a pylon in her gate.'

The source said Locklear couldn't make it off the grounds because 'she was so wasted.'

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office sources later confirmed to DailyMail.com that the 911 call was made due to a 'disturbance' at Locklear's lavish Thousand Oaks mansion.

That arrest came exactly one week after Locklear was cuffed and taken to the UCLA psychiatric ward for choking her mother Diane, 85, and threatening to shoot herself.

After being released on June 19, the troubled Melrose Place star allegedly checked into a detox center but checked herself out again after completing just two days of a five-day program.

Locklear attended her boyfriend's daughter's wedding this weekend (Chris Heisser and daughter Jordy above)

On the way home from the detox center she purchased a bottle of tequila which she drank before later attempting to drive off in her Porsche according to the source, who said that this all happened despite Locklear being accompanied by a sobriety minder.

It was one day after this arrest that Locklear was hospitalized for an apparent overdose, with the Melrose Place star making the decision to enter rehab immediately after seeking medical attention.

In photos taken just hours after the incident, Locklear was seen with the hood of the sweatshirt over her face as she hastily made her way to a nearby car with lawyer William Haney, who posted her $20,000 bail.

That $20,000 came from a bail bond company a member of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office told DailyMail.com.

Both Haney and his famous client remained silent when asked about the arrest, and quickly sped away from the scene after getting into the lawyer's vehicle.

She could be seen carrying the paperwork from her booking as she headed out of the facility with Haney.

Police arrested Locklear after she allegedly attacked an officer and the EMT who is filing the suit after they responded to a reported domestic disturbance at her Thousand Oaks home.

A member of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office told DailyMail.com that deputies were twice called to Locklears residence on the day in question, first around 6pm and then again at 11pm. Those were both were dispatched as 'disturbance' calls at the time.

Deputies determined no crime had occurred after responding to the first call and left the scene.

Release: Locklear was charged with two counts of battery and one of resisting arrest to which she entered a plea of not guilty (Locklear leaving jail the day after the June incident)

It was when responding to the second call that deputies made contact with Locklear, who allegedly attacked an officer when he tried to separate her from other parties at the residence.

The dispatcher could be heard telling officers that a woman was cursing in the background while a man stated 'get the police here now' during that second call.

'There was a physical earlier with a female. There are no weapons inside the residence. No one else is there,' says the dispatcher.

When a member of law enforcement did arrive and try to remove the actress from a situation, Locklear 'battered that officer by kicking him' according to a fellow member of the force, at which point she was arrested.

That same officer described Locklear as 'extremely intoxicated and uncooperative,' noting that while being checked at the scene she also kicked one of the EMS personnel examining her.

Locklear was first taken to the hospital to be cleared for booking according to the Sheriff's Office.

Locklear was previously arrested in 2008 (mugshot above)

The actress had already been facing four counts of battery upon an officer and emergency personnel along with a single count of resist, obstruct, delay of peace officer or EMT for an incident that occurred back in February.

Locklear was arrested on suspicion of injuring a partner and fighting with sheriffs officers at her home in Thousand Oaks on the night of February 25.

She had just returned from a trip to Boston at the time when she and boyfriend Heisser began to fight.

Locklear's daughter Ava, 21, was also in the house at the time.

A search warrant that was executed at her home by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office revealed that during her February arrest, Locklear told deputies she would shoot them if they ever came to her house again.

Investigators claimed to have information that Locklear had a gun registered in her name, and after hearing this went to seize the weapon.

The warrant states that officers were not able to locate the gun.

On the night of her arrest, Locklear screamed at one officer: 'Get the f*** out of my house!'

She did this while trying to slam a door on the man inside her home according to the Probable Cause Affidavit, which resulted in the five charges she is currently facing in the case.

Another officer reported that Locklear screamed: 'You f***ing deserve your kids to die! You f***ing deserve it! And when you find yourself in that position, think of me!'

Locklear told officers that Heisser had been choking her to the point where she believed she was about to lose consciousness and pass out.

Heisser told a different story, claiming it was Locklear who attacked him, and had red mark on his chest and blood on his nose according to the report.

Locklear checked herself into rehab after the incident, and in late May was seen smiling with Heisser as the two walked hand-in-hand into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in California.

Things took a turn again a few weeks later, when the actress allegedly battered her parents and threatened to take her own life.

That is the incident that landed her in the hospital on an involuntary psychiatric hold on June 17, and she was returning from detox on the day that she allegedly attacked the EMT resulting in her second arrest.

Lockler is facing six charges of battery and two counts of resisting in total from all her arrests this year, and has entered a not guilty plea to all counts.
Chele Garris' first call to police

Dispatcher: Do you need police, fire or medic

Chele: I'm in front of my home, my car is dead and I am calling AAA. You hear this lady? She is bothering me in front of my door. (inaudible) please call the police?!

D: You are talking to police

C: And do you hear this? She is calling us names. I don't understand why you are kind of yelling at me while this lady is responding to me and hitting me.

D: Because you weren't listening to my questions as I was asking for your address and you were continuing to say some police but not giving me the information that I needed. Now that I have that information, if I could ask you a couple of questions, we can get them in route to you.

C: That's ok. The lady (inaudible). But what questions do you need.

D: Ok she is yelling at you, do you know this person

C: No mam, I am standing here outside of my car and she got out of her car and starting calling us names and asking us where we lived. I told her where I live and she got in my face, got in my sister's face. My sister started recording her and I told her not to worry about it and I was calling the police. She said go ahead and call it whatever you want to call it. But I am waiting on AAA to come and she bothered us.

D: Is she black, white, hispanic or asian? What color clothing does she have on.

C: I don't know. I can't even remember what she had on. What did she have on? Was she Caucasian? She asked if she was black, hispanic or what. She's Caucasian and we are African American minding our own business.

D: I am asking for a description so that the officers can locate her when they get there, if they see her running down the street or something. Do you know what color clothes she had on?

C: I can't remember.

D: That's ok Mam. What's the color and make of your vehicle.

C: My car is a Ford Focus 2013.

D: And what color is it?

C: Gray.

D: Ok well you have a call for service and our officers will be there as soon as possible for you.

Chele Garris' second call to police

D: Do you need police fire or medic

C: The reason I am calling back and I called at 11.57 and I am still waiting for police. The lady keeps harassing me still and I don't know what to do at this point.

D: Yes mam we do have officers that are on route to you now

C: And before the other lady that I spoke to said I was over talking her but that's because the lady was pushing me in my face and I am a resident just like she is. It surprised me and I have been living here for a year and have never been treated this way. So when I told her to have a nice day, she ended the call. Just like that. So I don't know what that means.

D: Mam, I understand. Were you hoping to speak to a supervisor or something

C: No I just didn't understand and I was hysterical because this lady was bothering me and calling me out my name. All I'm doing is standing here and waiting for AAA.

D: No, mam. I can understand that but we do have officers that are on their way to assist you now.

C: Thank you very much.

D: Thank you

Susan Westwood's call to 911

D: Do you need police fire or medic

S: Police. There are folks that are trying to break into an apartment

D: The thing is I am trying to do it but in a very quiet and clandestine manner because its actually on Fairview road. They are actually people that I've never seen here before, but they are African-American

S: So hold on

D: I am walking

S: Can I make a statement. They've been hanging out here for a while and they are photographing me because I think they are going to try to get me. They've been going into that apartment and it is really strange. I live here but I don't live in that particular building.

D: Ok now we have a call for service at that exact address.

S: You do, that's interesting.

D: And we have an officer already on scene and another on the way.

S: That's interesting because there is nobody here.

D: I don't know where he is at the apartment complex but he is...

S: But there is a bunch of people here but I don't think they actually lived here because if they lived here, they would have a key and they would be in their apartment. As far as I am concerned but I don't know about you. It's just a weird situation and strange and I have lived here for almost a year and 15 months. But this is really strange to me for this part of town.

D: We have a call for service from a female whose car broke down and other people are upset that she's there, so that's possibly what's going on.

S: Well if you want to know my personal opinion, there is no car broken down. There is somebody trying to cause problems. There is no car that is down. Nobody breaks down their car in the best part of society. I'm sorry to have to do that out loud but nobody breaks their car down on purpose unless they are looking for money. Now that's just my personal opinion and I know that is very odd and awkward but we need to get them out of here because they are causing problems. Right now they are causing problems because they are begging for money and we need to get them out of here. I don't mean to be mean and rude and awful but we need to get them out of here because when I pulled into my parking space, it is just weird to me. They just made me feel intimidated and awful. So whatever you need to do and charge me back, just do it. Because they don't belong here. They are causing problems.

D: Do you know they don't belong there. Do you know if they are visiting anyone out there.

S: Well I wouldn't know that but why would you photograph somebody and put your camera on them to try to intimidate. Just get them out of here. I'll pay for whatever.

D: We are going to get officers out there but if they live there or are visiting residents that live there, we can't remove them from the property.

S: I understand that but why would they photograph me. They are taking people's picture.

D: It is not illegal to take people's pictures.

S: They are trying to cause a problem

D:It's not a crime to take anyone's picture

S: 'I'll tell you what, I'll pay $2,500 to get them out of here. Right now, I will. This is, this is, get them out of here. They're trying to cause a problem. I am not going to stand for it
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a respected university lecturer at his home.

Dr Barry Hounsome, 54, was found dead at the 200,000 home in Gosport, Hampshire, where he lived with his economist wife Natalia, who is also an academic.

The 16-year-old suspect, also from Gosport, was arrested at the scene after police were called to the couple's home on Monday night at around 5.30pm.

A murder inquiry was launched after the death of the health science lecturer, who died of a head injury.

The teenage boy, who cannot be named due to his age, was tonight charged with murder having been questioned by detectives during the course of the day, police said.

University lecturer Dr Barry Hounsome (left) was found dead at the 200,000 home where he lived with economist wife Natalia (right)

Photographs at the scene reveal how a French window at the back of the house had been smashed in the incident

Dr Hounsome, 54, carried out research into dementia and Parkinson's disease, and previously worked for Southampton and Bangor universities.

He lived at the property with his wife Natalia, who is originally from Russia and works at Brighton and Sussex Medical School as a senior lecturer in global health economics, and their son.

A Hampshire Police spokesman said the boy was remanded in custody and will appear in court tomorrow.

He said: 'Detectives investigating the death of a man in Southcroft Road, Gosport, have charged a teenage boy.

'Officers were called to an address shortly after 5.30pm on Monday 29 October where the body of 54-year-old Gosport man Barry Hounsome was discovered.

'A 16-year-old boy from Gosport was subsequently arrested and has now been charged with murder.

'He has been remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on Friday, November 2.'

The property remained taped off this morning as detectives investigate Dr Hounsome's death.

Photographs at the scene reveal the home's back window has been smashed, while a car in the front drive was removed from the scene by officers.

A car in the front drive of the home in Gosport, Hampshire, was removed from the scene by officers today

The property remained taped off this morning as detectives investigate Dr Hounsome's death

Neighbour and friend of the couple, Walter Knight, today said he has been left devastated by Dr Hounsome's death.

Retired Mr Knight said the 'very intelligent' couple have a teenage son who studies at college.

Mr Knight said: 'It's such a shame what's happened, the husband and wife were very lovely people.

'She was from somewhere in Germany, but I'm not completely sure. They were very nice people, they even got me a Christmas card every year.

'I didn't know what they did for a living but they were very friendly, they kept themselves to themselves.

'They were very quiet, but when you did speak to them you could tell they were very intelligent people.

'They had a son, I'm not sure how old he is but I think he is at college - I never really see him.'

The 16-year-old suspect, from Gosport, Hants, was arrested after police were called to the couple's home in Gosport on Monday night

The medical professional previously worked at the University of Southampton, a Russell Group university.

Dr Hounsome, who has also worked at Bangor University, Wales, lectured in health science and has conducted studies into diseases including Parkinson's and dementia.

His wife, who neighbours in the quiet road said is German, is a lecturer in health economics who has worked at several universities in the UK.

Another neighbour in his 50s, who didn't wish to be named, said he is 'heartbroken' after losing his 'friend' Dr Hounsome.

He said: 'It's heartbreaking you know, he wasn't just a neighbour, he was a friend - him and his wife.

'They were such lovely and kind people who could never hurt a soul, I just don't know how something like this could happen. I'm truly devastated by it all.

A retired neighbour said the 'very intelligent' couple have a teenage son who studies at college

'Natalia is not from the UK and all of her family are abroad, I feel so bad for her. To lose a husband is such a tragic thing to have happened.'

The University of Southampton confirmed Dr Hounsome was last employed in 2014.

It is understood he carried out work at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Southampton General Hospital, Hants, during his time at the university.

A spokesman from the university added: 'As this is a matter of ongoing police investigation, the university is unable to comment at this stage.'

A spokeswoman from Bangor University said though Dr Hounsome 'contributed' to studies at the university with fellow medical professionals.

Hampshire Constabulary spokeswoman Nikki Holt said: 'We're investigating the death of a man in Gosport.

'Next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. Formal identification procedures are ongoing.

'A 16-year-old boy, from Gosport, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody.

'There will be a lot of police activity in the area as our investigations into the exact circumstances of the death continue.'
MotoGP. Marquez and Pedrosa Promote Road Safety In Malaysia

Posted by: newsla on Nov 01, 2018 - 06:27 AM MotoGP. Marquez and Pedrosa Promote Road Safety In Malaysia



Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa have already arrived in Sepang, where today they were part of a workshop promoted by Repsol Malaysia to promote the importance of motorcycle safety. The Repsol Honda Team riders explained, among other concepts, the importance of safety equipment, riding safely and adapting speed to different types of road and traffic.



Thirty students from different schools in the Sepang district were in attendance and received instructions from Marquez and Pedrosa on a test track. Practice of cornering and braking safely took place in an area marked with cones. At the end of the event, the thirty boys and girls received a helmet as a gift. Repsol donated mopeds to two of them from disadvantaged families. The scooters are a fundamental means of transport in the daily life of tens of thousands of Malays.



The celebration of this event is the result of Repsol Malaysias commitment to the local population, after learning of the accident rate on Malaysian highways which ranks as the third highest in the world. The objective of this program, in place since 2013 and which has already benefited 11,000 students, is to alleviate the serious problem posed by traffic accidents. It is carried out in collaboration with different agencies in the country such as the Department of Education and the police.



Repsol has had a presence in Malaysia since 2011, supplying lubricants to a variety of local manufacturing industries. In May 2015, Repsol expanded its presence in the Asia-Pacific region to include the Upstream E&P sector with operations in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia and Papua New Guinea.



PaddockTalk Perspective




A Kentucky high school was placed on lockdown after a suspended Spanish teacher showed up on campus and threatened to 'f**k some s**t up', police said.

Dusty Witherspoon, 35, has been charged with terroristic threatening and criminal trespassing.

Witherspoon went to Bullitt Central High School, in Shepherdsville, on Wednesday morning, where she has been suspended for the last 20 days.

A school administrator reminded Witherspoon that she could not be on school grounds.

A Kentucky high school was placed on lockdown after suspended teacher Dusty Witherspoon, 35, (pictured) went on campus and threatened to 'f**k some s**t up', police said

Courtesy: WDRB

The teacher left but then used a different entrance to get in, according to WDRB.

Witherspoon eventually left, but then sent a threatening text message to another school employee.

'I'm about to f**k some s**t up,' the message read. 'If they wanna get ugly it's going to get reeeaaalll [sic] ugly. I'm at my limit, I've put up with enough s**t. I'm done.'

School administrators then decided to place the school on a 'soft lockdown', in which the building is closed to 'all foot traffic' but 'instruction occurs as normal'.

'The threat was not specific toward any of the students or any of the faculty or staff, but obviously it was very agitated, very aggressive, very angry,' said Shepherdsville Police Chief Rick McCubbin.

'The threats definitely met the criteria of terroristic threatening.'

Witherspoon has since been charged with terroristic threatening and criminal trespassing

One student said the principal came on the intercom and told everybody to immediately go to their next class.

'He sounded really nervous on the intercom,' the student said.

'He was like "Everybody go straight to your next period, just wait in there, don't go to lunch, don't do anything.'"

'Everyone was really jittery and nervous and stuff.'

An officer was stationed at the school while police tracked Witherspoon down.

Bullitt Central High School (pictured) was placed on a 'soft lockdown' on Wednesday morning after Witherspoon sent the threatening text message

The lockdown was lifted at 1pm when the teacher was taken into custody and booked into Bullitt County Jail.

Parents were updated during the ongoing lockout through the 'infinite campus messenger program', Superintendent Jesse Bacon said in a letter to the community.

'We had no information at any time to suggest there was an immediate threat to the building, but to ensure that we were doing all we could to maintain the safety and security of our students and staff, we remained on a soft lockdown as a precaution,' he added.

Bacon said the district cannot comment on Witherspoon's 'employment status with Bullitt County Public Schools at this time.

'Appropriate action will be taken pending the outcome of the investigation,' he said.

The school has not disclosed why Witherspoon was suspended in the first place. Her name has not been removed from the high school website's faculty page.

A parent whose child attends Bullitt Central told DailyMail.com that Witherspoon was reportedly 'combative with a student' before the suspension.

The parent said her daughter had told her that friction had been building up between Witherspoon and the student and one day she 'got frustrated and kicked a trash can'.

The student then claimed that the trash can hit him, although a couple students disputed this and said the trash can only 'went in his area'.
Robert Bowers, 46, pleaded not guilty to all 44 counts he faces on Thursday. He requested a jury trial

The Pittsburgh synagogue gunman pleaded not guilty to a slew of charges on Thursday as he appeared in court in Pennsylvania.

Robert Bowers, 46, is facing the death penalty for murdering 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

He was initially arrested on 29 counts including 22 which carried the death penalty but a grand jury piled onto the indictment another 15 charges on Wednesday night.

On Thursday, he made a brief appearance to face the 44-count indictment.

Dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and with a bandage around his upper right arm, Bowers answered 'yes' when asked if he understood the charges against him.

He was on his feet on Thursday. Earlier in the week, he was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair.

Prosecutors have been given 45 days to file pre-trial motions. They said the trial could take as long as a month. Bowers is being represented by two public defenders.

In the 12-page indictment against him, the victims are referred to by their initials.

They are Joyce Fienberg, 75, Richard Gottfried, 65, Rose Mallinger, 97, Cecil Rosenthal, 59, David Rosenthal, 54, Irving Younger, 69, Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, Melvin Wax, 88, Bernice and Sylvan Simon, 84 and 86, and Daniel Stein, 71.

THE CHARGES 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death 11 counts of use and discharge of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence; two counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs involving an attempt to kill and use of a dangerous weapon and resulting in bodily injury 11 counts of use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence 8 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs involving an attempt to kill and use of a dangerous weapon, and resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer 1 count of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs involving use of a dangerous weapon and resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer Advertisement

After the indictment was returned, Attorney General Jeff Sessions described the case as an 'important' one which required swift justice.

'Hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in our society.

'Every American has the right to attend their house of worship in safety. The defendant in this case allegedly murdered 11 innocent people during religious services and injured four law enforcement officers. These alleged crimes are incomprehensibly evil and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation. Therefore this case is not only important to the victims and their loved ones, but to the city of Pittsburgh and the entire nation.

'I want to express my thanks and admiration for the courage and professionalism of those officers who so quickly responded to this event, and especially to those that suffered wounds in the process. Our thanks is also extended to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the FBI, and the ATF for their outstanding response to this violent and deadly attack.

'The Department of Justice, working with our state and local partners, will bring the full force of the law against anyone who would violate the civil rights of the American people and we are resolutely determined to achieve justice in this case,' he said.

Prosecutors have already stated that they will seek the death penalty. President Trump has also made repeated calls for Bowers to be executed soon and not have his case drag through the courts for years

The antisemitic gunman was injured as he exchanged fire with police officers and SWAT team members at the synagogue over the weekend. He surrendered to them after being wounded.

As he prepared for his second court appearance, mourners were preparing to bury another three of his victims.

Bernice and Sylvan Simon, who had been married for 62 years, will be laid to rest in a joint funeral in Pittsburgh.

The couple got married in the Tree of Life in 1956. They had two adult sons and were grandparents. Neighbors said they often held hands and were always smiling.

Richard Gottfried, another of the victims, will also be buried in a separate ceremony.

They are the seventh, eight and ninth victims to be buried this week. Rose Mallinger, 97, was the oldest. Her funeral is on Friday.

Daniel Stein, 71, will be buried in a private ceremony.
The number of EU nationals living in Britain more than doubled from 1.6 million to 3.8 million between 2007 and 2017, a new population survey revealed today.

Those born on the continent rose from 1.9million to 3.7million in the same period - reflecting how some people change nationality after moving here.

The Office for National Statistics figures are part of a regular population survey forecasting there will be 72.9million people living in Britain by 2041.

The number of EU nationals living in Britain more than doubled from 1.6 million to 3.8 million between 2007 and 2017, a new population survey revealed today

Those born on the continent rose from 1.9million to 3.7million in the same period - reflecting how some people change nationality after moving here

Sarah Coates, Centre for Ageing and Demography, Office for National Statistics, said: 'The UK population has doubled over the last 140 years, reaching a new high of 66 million people in 2017. We project there to be almost 73 million people in the UK by 2041.

'This growth is due to there being more births than deaths and more people moving to the UK than leaving.

'As well as growing, the population is also ageing. From looking at past patterns, we project that more than a quarter of UK residents will be aged 65 years or over within the next 50 years.'

Britain's population is already at its largest ever level, the ONS survey reveals.

The Office for National Statistics figures are part of a regular population survey forecasting there will be 72.9million people living in Britain by 2041

Net migration has fuelled growth in the population since the mid 1990s, largely because of EU free movement and the expansion of the bloc.

In 2017, the UK's net migration was around 282,000, with around 631,000 people immigrating and around 349,000 emigrating.

The number of EU nationals arriving in Britain has fallen since the Brexit vote in 2016 - but arrivals are still running at net 87,000 a year according to the latest data.

Government policy is to slash net arrivals from around the world to the tens of thousands, despite years of the actual figure being around three times higher and warnings the economy would be hit by cuts.

Lord Green of Deddington, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: 'The ONS projections show continued rapid increase in the population even on the cautious assumption they have taken for immigration.

'They assume net migration of 165,000 which is nearly 100,000 less than current levels.

'This is important because immigration, together with the children born to immigrants in the UK, has accounted for over 80% of population growth since 2001.'
The jury in the trial of a man accused of killing two schoolgirls dubbed 'the Babes in the Wood' have been shown a blue jumper at the centre of the 32-year-old murder case.

Nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway were found dead after they went missing while out playing in Wild Park, Brighton on October 9 1986.

Russell Bishop - who is accused of strangling and killing the girls after sexually assaulting them - was previously acquitted of the murders in 1987.

But he was put on trial for a second time after a blue jumper found not far from the girls' bodies 'gave up its secrets', in the words of the prosecutor, due to modern DNA testing techniques.

This is the blue jumper at the centre of the new trial of the man accused of killing 'Babes in the Wood' murder victims Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway

Nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows (left) and Karen Hadaway were found dead in woodland in 1986

Today the jury was shown the blue 'Pinto' jumper at the centre of the second trial. It was in packaging designed to preserve it.

Prosecutor Brian Altman previously told the jury that evidence on the transfer of fibres, paint comparisons and DNA suggested the jumper was Bishop's.

Mr Altman said: 'We say you can conclude that the Pinto sweatshirt obviously belonged to him, that it came into recent contact with the girls' clothing and that recent contact can only have been at the time of their murder.'

Yesterday, a lawyer in the case read a News of the World article from the time of the killings in which the girls were referred to as 'the Babes in the Wood'.

Today, the court heard from former Superintendent David Tomlinson, who was in charge of the extensive operation to find the girls.

Mr Tomlinson said that a policeman, Bishop and two teenagers who discovered the bodies were at the scene when he arrived.

The girl's bodies were discovered in this patch of woodland in Wild Park, Brighton

Describing the moment he saw the girls' bodies, he said: 'I walked along the path. I was conscious that I wanted to keep the disturbance of the scene to the minimum.

'There was still an amount of undergrowth. With the position of the bodies it was difficult for me to see what had happened.

Russell Bishop is accused of the murders. Prosecutors say he was wearing the blue jumper when he killed the girls

Mr Tomlinson added: 'I was able to see the two bodies but they were not in a comfortable position. I got the impression one body had been almost thrown or tossed against the other.

'Karen was wearing a grey pleated skirt, a type of school uniform. Nicola had a checked type skirt.'

One of the two teenagers who found the bodies became pale and looked as if he was about to pass out but Bishop 'did not seem to be affected', Mr Tomlinson said.

The retired officer said he ordered the whole scene to be sealed off.

Bishop was acquitted of the murders in 1987 but was ordered to stand trial a second time in light of new evidence following advances in DNA testing.

The court heard that a blue Pinto sweatshirt - allegedly worn by Bishop - was found beside a path behind Moulsecoomb railway station.

The former roofer, now 52, has denied the murders.
President Donald Trump put forward the claim that the caravans are 'a lot' larger than what is being reported  and cited his own skills at estimating crowd sizes to back it up.

Trump, who famously instructed former press secretary Sean Spicer to tell reporters his inaugural crowd bested Barack Obama's, made the claim after days of media reports on the substantial masses of people making their way toward the border.

A caravan that reached Oaxaca in Mexico was around 4,000 people, a drop from an earlier count of 5,000, and still 900 miles away from the U.S.

'You have caravans coming up that look a lot larger than its reported, actually,' Trump told ABC News. And Ill tell you they look a lot bigger than people would think.'

President Donald Trump said in an interview that caravans 'look a lot larger than its reported, actually'

He defended his decision to send up to 15,000 active military troops to the border, and compared them to a 'wall'  although his plan to construct a wall on the border is not yet complete, having received $1.6 billion in funding despite his proposal to spend many times that amount.

'We have to have a wall of people,' Trump said.

Interviewer Jonathan Karl asked about the need for the force, noting that many caravan members are women in children.

"Its a lot of young people, lot of young men -- they are pushing the women right up to the front. Not good  and the kids right up to the front,' Trump said.

Trump spoke about the caravan in an interview with ABC News Wednesday evening

A boy with a US flag joins Salvadoran migrants embarking on a journey in caravan to the United States, in San Salvador. Trump said kids were being pushed to the front of the caravan

On their way: Some 2,000 migrants departed El Salvador's capital of San Salvador Wednesday en route to the US by way of Mexico

This is the fourth Central American caravan to have embarked on the 1,000-mile journey to the US border

Trump also pushed back when his interviewer said the military was restricted in the duties it can perform and that members could not make arrests. The Posse Comitatus Act proscribes what activities the military can carry out on U.S. soil.

'Well, it depends,' Trump responded. 'National emergency covers a lot of terri,' Trump said,' cutting off his thought.

'I think it could be considered an invasion of our country, we can't have it,' Trump added.

Trump has tweeted that the caravan is a 'National Emergency' but has made no formal declaration as required under the 1976 National Emergencies Act, which governors executive powers.

Trump said women and children were being moved to the front of the caravan

He said caravans are 'a lot' larger than is reported

With the election just days away, Trump has called for ending 'birthright citizenship' by executive order, tweeted an inflammatory video, and accused Democrats of 'liquidating the border.'

Following his inauguration, Trump said his his inauguration crowd 'looked like a million, million and a half people' and went all the way to the Washington monument, though it didn't extend that far.

According to an internal investigation, Trump called the head of the National Park Service on his first full day in office to complain about images of the inauguration.

Trump cited his own expertise in counting crowds. Pictures is a view of the crowd at Trump's inauguration

Trump famously sent out his press secretary Sean Spicer to claim a record number of people viewed his inauguration

This map shows the positions of all the caravans headed to the US, including the fourth group that departed El Salvador Wednesday

The official said she 'got the impression that President Trump wanted to see pictures that appeared to depict more spectators in the crowd.' The photos were subsequently cropped in a way that made the crowd look bigger.

Trump said Wednesday he may triple the U.S. military contingent being sent to the southern border to 15,000, as he once again pointed to migrant caravans and what he called 'roughness' among its members.

Trump spoke on the way to a Florida campaign stop as a fourth caravan began forming, and after the Pentagon on his orders was dispatching 5,200 U.S. military forces to the U.S.-Mexico border.

'As far as the caravan is concerned, our military is out. We have about 5,000, eight [thousand], we'll go up to anywhere between ten and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Patrol, ICE, and everybody else at the border,' Trump said.

A force of that size would exceed the number of troops stationed in Afghanistan.

The president also explicitly rejected having a 'fear-mongering' motive when asked about it, having repeatedly tweeted about violent tendencies within the caravan comprised of men, women, and children from Central America, with the elections just six days away.

He also has introduced the issue of ending birthright citizenship through an executive order, a method Speaker Paul Ryan and others have criticized given forceful language in the 14th Amendment.

'No, not fear-mongering at all. Immigration's a very important subject,' Trump said.

Of the caravan he said: 'Nobody's coming in. We're not allowing people to come in.'

The president also pointed to the 'roughness of these people' in the first and second caravans.
Two senior Victorian police officers have been charged with a total of 23 offences after an investigation into alleged fraud involving vacant properties.

The state corruption watchdog charged the inspector and sergeant on Thursday with a range of offences including perjury, misconduct in public office, obtaining property by deception and theft.

The charges follow an IBAC investigation into allegations a police officer fraudulently took possession of a number of vacant properties.

Two Victorian police officers will face court next month and in February after they were charged with a raft of offences, including perjury and misconduct in public office (stock image)

Pictured is the Melbourne Magistrates Court, where a Victorian police inspector will face a number of serious charges later this month (stock image)

The inspector is charged with perjury, making a statement that is false or misleading and failing to produce a document.

The sergeant is charged with 20 offences including misconduct in public office, obtaining property by deception, and theft.

The sergeant faces Melbourne Magistrates' Court on November 26 while the inspector is set to appear at Geelong Magistrates' Court on February 5.

IBAC has declined to make any further comment.
The federal government's latest stance on the remaining asylum seeker children on Nauru has left Waleed Aly shaking his head in frustration.

The Project co-host took aim at the government during Thursday night's program after a surprise admission from Prime Minister Scott Morrison that the 40 children remaining on the tiny Pacific nation will be removed by the end of the year.

'Children have been transferred off Nauru. That's been happening for some time,' Mr Morrison told radio station 2GB on Thursday morning.

'To say they are getting the kids off Nauru how? Where?' The Project's Waleed Aly (left) had some questions for the federal government on Thursday night

'I haven't been showboating about it. I haven't been drawing attention to it. It's being done in accordance with our policies, our existing policies.'

The government had previously staunchly opposed removing refugees from the island.

His comments raised not only Aly's eyebrows, but those of his fellow panellists.

'It's amazing how quickly things can happen when there is a political benefit  so things happening swiftly,' guest Rachel Corbett remarked.

Aly made his strong feelings known when he questioned what was really happening.

'What happened on Monday when we were being told how Nauru is a tropical paradise and people live there and it's not so bad?' he said.

'My head is spinning over this, I don't know what we are watching.'

Earlier this week former prime minister Tony Abbott described Nauru as a 'very, very pleasant island' and urged Mr Morrison not relax his government's asylum seeker policies to allow detainees on the island to leave.

Scott Morrison revealed on Thursday the 40 children that remained on Nauru will be removed by the end of the year

FUTURE OF ASYLUM SEEKERS * Nauru and Manus Island processing facilities cost $1 billion a year to run. * Health and education is being provided to an estimated 38 children left on Nauru. * 439 people have accepted resettlement in the United States, out of 1250 places offered. * Well over 200 children have needed medical assistance in Australia or are part of a family unit where mum or dad needed assistance. * About 700 asylum seekers are in Australia for medical treatment, mostly living in the community, but some in detention because of concerns about their identity or other issues. * Some of the parents are working while others are receiving help from non-government organisations. * 10 children are in hospital. * Government's expectation is people receiving medical assistance in Australia will - after having their health problems treated - be returned to their country of origin, or resettled in the US or a third country. * Many are taking legal action to be resettled in Australia and the government is contesting cases. * New Zealand could be considered as a resettlement option if "backdoor" closing legislation is passed by parliament and intelligence advice shows it won't restart the people-smuggling trade. But NZ deal to take 150 people is currently off the table. Source: AAP Advertisement

'To say they are getting the kids off Nauru how? Where? Are we talking they come here for medical treatment or something and... (they) stay in the community here?' Aly said.

'I thought that was a no-no. Or do we send them back, or is the New Zealand thing happening?

The latest YouGov Galaxy poll commissioned by The Sunday Telegraph revealed 79 per cent of people want children and their families transferred off the island.

Last weekend, thousands of refugee supporters rallied in Sydney and Melbourne calling for the asylum seekers to be moved from the Nauru detention centre.

'Children have been transferred off Nauru. That's been happening for some time,' prime minister Scott Morrison (pictured) told radio station 2GB on Thursday

Meanwhile, up to 500 school teachers are expected to join a mass walkout in Melbourne later this month in protest against the detention of asylum seekers on Nauru.

The Teachers for Refugees group recently announced that contingents of teachers from schools across the city will walk off the job for the afternoon of November 20 for a mass protest outside the State Library.

The planned protest will coincide with Universal Children's Day.
Hollywood blockbuster Hunter Killer has been blocked from release in Russia just hours before its first screening.

Critics say the Kremlin banned it because it shows a Russian president being deposed and kidnapped in a coup before being rescued by American soldiers.

Moscow claimed the film's license was revoked because producers had not provided a good enough copy for its state archive.

Hollywood blockbuster Hunter Killer (pictured) has been blocked from released in Russia just hours before its first screening

Released in the US last week, Hunter Killer is a thriller starring Gerard Butler as an American submarine captain who tries to prevent World War III after the Russian president is taken hostage by his rogue defence minister.

It grossed a modest $6.7 million its first weekend.

In Russia, the film was ready for release Thursday but theatres unexpectedly cancelled the screening, citing circumstances beyond their control.

Russia's culture ministry confirmed to AFP that it had withheld a screening license for the film because the distribution company did not show confirmation that it 'transferred the film for permanent storage in the Russian state film fund.'

The ministry said the only copy it received from the company in September was 'of an insufficient quality'.

A report in industry outlet Film Distributor Bulletin said distributor Megogo Distribution had to warn theatres not to show the movie just hours before the premiere, due to the ministry's unexpected stalling.

Opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov suggested that the ministry could be blocking the movie for suggesting even a fictional possibility that a Russian President could be deposed.

'What are these b******s from Hollywood suggesting? That someday (Defence Minister Sergei) Shoigu... comes out quietly and tops Putin? That will not happen,' he wrote on Facebook.

Opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov suggested that the ministry could be blocking the movie (pictured) for suggesting even a fictional possibility that a Russian President could be deposed

The movie's troubles in Russia follow its mysterious failure to open in neighbouring Ukraine, with the distribution company telling AFP that the government is preventing the film from screening.

'(The state film committee) watched the film, it fell under some law and was banned,' said a representative of Kinomania, a Ukrainian film distributor which in August announced the premiere of Hunter Killer on October 25.

The representative declined to give his name, but the film had disappeared from Kinomania's website and did not open last week as planned.

A representative of the State Film Committee, or Derzhkino, told AFP that 'the decision to ban the film is currently being reviewed and will be published soon.'

Though there is no official explanation of the ban in Ukraine, reports have cited a Ukrainian law which bans films popularising a military of the 'aggressor state' or 'creating a positive image' of its employees.

Ukraine considers Russia an aggressor which supports an insurgency in its eastern region, where pro-Russia separatists have declared independence from Kiev.

One Ukrainian internet user also saw parallels between real life and the film, which suggests the US submarine strives to rescue a good Russian leader. 'Saving Private Putin,' Roman Polyoviy wrote mockingly on distributor Kinomania's Facebook page.
Advertisement

One day after enjoying an all-out Halloween celebration, Mexico is back at it with a three-day Day of the Dead festival.

The national fiesta, which concludes Friday, is not just a gathering of Mexicans dressing up in their best costumes, but a period to reflect and honor the lives of their friends and family who have died and to make sure their spirits 'stay afloat on their unworldly voyage'.

During this three-day national holiday celebration people adopt the skeletal face paint look from the Catrina, a satirical figure borne out of the early 20th century.

Revelers in Mexico celebrate the Day of the Dead festivities which runs from October 31 to November 2 in remembrance of the lives of friends and family members who have died

During the three-day national holiday celebration of Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day in Mexico, people have adopted the skeletal face paint look from the Catrina, a satirical figure borne out of the early 20th century which raised the issue of upper-class ingenuous who sought to incorporate the light skin features of the French

A Wednesday night parade in Juchitan, Mexico featured a bevy of residents who went the extra mile to display their best Catrina-like face paints

'Even though the Catrina it is now very popular, many people do not know its significance and they associate it with something dark, which is a mistake. The Catrina is something spiritual,' arts and craft instructor Marina Lozano said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.

A bevy of youngsters gathered for a festivity honoring the Day of the Dead in Yucatan, Mexico where the celebration stretches out for four days

A woman adds a wedding touch to her costume to go along with her carefully detailed skeletal features over her face

Residents in Mexico City place ofrendas or offerings on a special altar to honor the souls of the dead

A man chose the Charro theme for his Day of the Dead costume during a parade in Mexico City on Wednesday

Zocalo Square in Mexico City became the epicenter of the Day of the Dead celebration on Halloween night

The skeletal designed faces derive from the 1900s satirical sketch of 'The Elegant Skull' or Catrina as they're popularly referenced to, when Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada raised the issue of persons in the upper-class who resented their indigenous ancestry and adopted a French style by using plenty of makeup to make to their skin look lighter.

Since then, the Catrina permanently became etched into the lore of the Dia de los Muertos celebration that is not only celebrated all over Mexico but throughout the world.

Women decked out in traditional Mexican dresses with their faces painted as Catrinas perform a dance routine at a parade in Coahuila, Mexico

A baby featured on an Instagram account celebrates her first ever Day of the Dead festivity

As part of the Day of the Dead tradition, a loaf of sweet bread is left at an altar. It is generally decorated with bones and other features

Children adopt different paintings of the Catrina as they strolled down a main avenue during the yearly Day of the Dead festival in Juchitan, Mexico

Maria Fernandez was one of the many residents in the town of Juchitan that hit the streets for a Halloween parade on Wednesday night. She added a floral headdress to go with the ever so popular face painting of a Catrina

A young child in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo participates in a special vigil during the Day of the Dead parade

The deceased have always been honored during the year three-day festivity of the Day of the Dead

Aside from the wide-range of costumes, Mexicans make sure to honor the dead through a variety of events.

For example, the deceased are honored with a rituals that take place at cemeteries.

The construction and colorful decoration of altars to honor the deceased is a longtime tradition, as is making offerings called ofrendas to the dead, such as toys and candy for deceased children and candles, sports team shirts, alcohol and cigarettes for deceased adults.

Leading up to the Day of the Dead holiday, bakers prepare loads of loafs of bread which are introduced as a special offering for their departed loved ones.

Another popular addition is a skull made out of sugar that is then adorned with special effects such as stones and specifically designed to a person's specialized taste.

The skulls, also known as calaveras, are often bought or created for the event while calacas  decorated, clothed and colorful skeleton figurines  are also displayed throughout Mexico.

A special exhibit commemorated the popular celebration of the Day of the Dead at a plaza in Mexico City

An unique rendering of skeletal figures sits atop the stairs leading to a church in Mexico as the nation celebrates the Day of the Dead
A New York college student has been arrested after she allegedly choked a nightclub bouncer unconscious because she thought he grabbed her buttocks.

Kierah Lagrave, 22, was arrested on Thursday and charged with second-degree strangulation - a felony.

If convicted, she could face up to seven years in prison.

Lagrave, who weighs 125lb, was captured on surveillance footage walking up behind a bouncer - believed to be approximately 175lb - and choking him at the Five1Eight nightclub in Plattsburgh around 10.20pm on October 20.

The video, released exclusively to DailyMail.com by the Plattsburgh Police Department, shows Lagrave and a female friend standing by the bar.

Kierah Lagrave, 22, was arrested on Thursday after she allegedly choked a nightclub bouncer unconscious because she thought he grabbed her buttocks

A bouncer walks toward by Lagrave's right side as the female friend appears to lean toward her left side.

Lagrave then swiftly turns around and follows the bouncer, wrapping her arms around his neck in a chokehold.

She keeps her arms there until he loses consciousness and they both fall to the floor.

Lagrave told DailyMail.com that the night had started out like any other with her friends.

'We were in the club, minding our own business and having fun,' she said. 'And then I feel a full-on grab on my right side butt cheek.'

'My friends weren't on my right side, so I was concerned. I didn't know if he was going to slip something in my drink. I wasn't going to take any chance.'

'My goal was not to hurt him,' she added. 'But to ensure my own safety.'

'I go out in this town frequently and I have never had an issue before. I wasn't looking for trouble.'

Lagrave said she received a call from police two days later and went to the police station voluntarily.

Surveillance video released by the Plattsburgh Police Department shows the bouncer passing Lagrave as she and her friend stand by the bar. Her friend appears to be leaning toward her

Lagrave then turns and follows the man, wrapping her arms around his neck in a chokehold

The man can be seen about to fall as he loses consciousness and Lagrave's friend turns around

'When I was giving my statement, the officer would keep saying things like "He didn't do it", "you're wrong", "sooner or later you will have to pay for this,"' she said.

The police decided to arrest Lagrave, saying that surveillance footage 'clearly shows that Lagrave's friend slapped her on the buttocks', City Police Chief Levi Ritter told the Press-Republican.

But Lagrave saw the footage and said it was 'clear that the bouncer was on my right side where I was grabbed'.

'If my friend hit me, she would have hit my left side. Not grabbed my right,' she added.

Lagrave was charged with second-degree strangulation, which is a felony. If convicted, she could face up to seven years in prison

Lagrave, who weighs 125lb, was captured on surveillance footage walking up behind a bouncer at the Five1Eight nightclub in Plattsburgh around 10.20pm on October 20

'She is positive that she didn't do it. She would have told me she did it and stopped everything from taking place.'

Lagrave said she 'was definitely expecting' the charges.

'People in this town have this mindset that men can do no wrong,' she said. 'The police were just trying to shame me. They never once listened to me.'

Lagrave was arraigned in Plattsburgh City Court and released on her own recognizance.

She then wrapped her arms around his neck and choked him until he lost consciousness and fell to the floor, according to City Police Chief Levi Ritter
Imran Khan to visit China today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will be leaving for China on Thursday (today) on an official visit.



According to the visit schedule, the prime minister will be given a guard of honour at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 2, while he will also meet President Xi Jinping the same evening. A one-on-one meeting between the two leaders will be followed by the delegation-level talks. The prime minister is also scheduled to meet a Chinese business delegation the same evening.



On November 3, the prime minister will attend the foundation laying ceremony of a monument being constructed in the honour of great heroes of China at the Tiananmen Square. Later, he will visit the Great Hall of the People for a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. The meeting will be followed by a lunch hosted by the Chinese premier in the honour of Prime Minister Imran Khan and his delegation. The prime minister will also deliver his reception speech on the occasion. In the evening, the prime minister will interact with top leaders from the Chinese corporate sector.



On November 4, Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit a public school in Beijing and also deliver a speech there. In the afternoon, he will leave for Shanghai.



On November 5, the prime minister will attend the opening ceremony of Shanghai Import Expo 2018 and will also deliver a keynote address. On the sidelines of the ceremony, he will meet heads of Chinese companies. He is also scheduled to meet Vietnamese prime minister on the occasion. In the afternoon, he will address the Pakistan Business Council. In the evening, the prime minister will fly back to Pakistan.
Critics have slammed a move to introduce Indigenous history such as spear throwing and fire starting into science classes across the Australia.

Those in charge of the national science curriculum have opted to shift science lessons across primary and high schools to include a focus on indigenous 'histories and cultures.'

Those opposed to the move have said it is motivated by political correctness, and will dumb down what students are learning in an area where Australia's academic performance already lags behind the rest of the world.

Critics have slammed a move to introduce Indigenous history such as spear throwing and fire starting into science classes across the country

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority has published 95 ways science teachers are being instructed to include aboriginal culture into their lessons, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Some of the changes include Year 10 students learning how indigenous people increased velocity and impact force by using spear throwers and bows and examining their understanding of celestial bodies and the origin of the universe.

Year 10s will also learn about chemical reactions by learning how indigenous people made toxic plants safe to eat, while Year 8 students will learn about the transformation of energy by looking at traditional fire starting methods.

Kevin Donnelly from the Australian Catholic University said the shift was 'the latest egregious example of how political correctness is dumbing down the school curriculum'

Kevin Donnelly from the Australian Catholic University said the shift was 'the latest egregious example of how political correctness is dumbing down the school curriculum.'

'At a time when Australian students are going backwards  one would expect, instead of this latest example of PC cultural sensitivity, that ACARA would focus on ensuring the existing curriculum is academically rigorous and based on the established disciplines,' Dr Donnelly said.

ACARA chief executive Rob Randall defended the move, however, calling the lessons 'scientifically rigorous' and saying they demonstrated how 'indigenous history, culture, knowledge and understanding can be incorporated into teaching core scientific concepts.'
Passengers on board the Carnival Sunshine embarking on a five-day cruise to Eastern Caribbean on Sunday were left terrified after the ship listed to one side just hours after setting sail from Florida, sending furniture sliding across the floor.

Carnival Cruise Line has since issued an apology to its customers, explaining that a piece of equipment called a fin stabilizer was to blame for the listing.

According to a letter sent by the captain of the ship t the passengers Monday, an electrical switchboard malfunction disrupted the fin stabilizers, which are not a safety feature but are designed to make the sea voyage smoother.

Scroll down for video

Chaotic scene: David Crews, a passenger on board the Carnival Sunshine photographed the aftermath of an incident that happened Sunday, in which the ship listed to one side

The cruise ship had just left Port Canaveral, Florida, en route to the Caribbean when it began tilting to one side, which sent plates and cutlery sliding to the floor

Images captured on board the ship show broken plates and merchandise at a store scattered all over the floor

Crews said people were crying and screaming in panic during the incident

The Carnival Sunshine is one of the oldest vessels in the cruise line's fleet, but it was refurbished in 2013

The website MarineInsight.com describes a fin stabilizer as a mechanical device found at the bottom of the hull, whose purpose is 'to provide resistance to the excess rolling of ship in either direction.'

'There was never any issue with the safe operation of the ship and our officers quickly intervened to correct the situation,' the letter continued.

Photos and video taken on board the vessel showed a dining room floor littered with shards of glass, broken plates, cutlery and food.

Images taken by passengers inside their staterooms depicted drawers that had slid out of chests and personal belongings scattered on the carpeted floor.

Passenger David Crews, of Long Island, New York, told News 6 in a message that 'pure chaos' erupted on board the ship as it continued listing, with people screaming and crying in panic.

After the crew leveled off the 102,000-ton boat, Carnival Sunshine continued on its way to the Eastern Caribbean, with stops in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republican, and Grand Turk.

Bottles and cartons of cigarettes are seen littering the floor inside a store on board the ship

Passengers shared images from inside their staterooms, with personal belongings scattered on the floor after the listing

The crew managed to right the ship and it continued on its way Sunday

The captain on Monday sent this letter to all the passengers, explaining that the fin stabilizers were to blame for the mishap

Passengers were later offered $50 in on board credit to compensate them for the 'disruption' of their first evening on the ship.

The ship was scheduled to return to Port Canaveral on Friday, although it's been reported that some passengers have decided to cut their trip short by disembarking in Dominican Republic on Tuesday to catch flights home.

The Carnival Sunshine is one of the oldest ships in Carnivals fleet. It was launched in 1996 under the name the Carnival Destiny, but was rechristened after undergoing a major overhaul in 2013.

A fin stabilizer is a mechanical device found at the bottom of the hull, whose purpose is to provide resistance to the excess rolling of ship in either direction

Sunday's incident came just a week after another mechanical problem on board the same ship resulted in a major delay during the scheduled port of call in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which, in turn, prompted the captain to scrap the next stop in Grand Turk, reported CruiseHive.com.

The nature of the October 21 malfunction has not been disclosed by the cruise line.

Just a day before that incident, the Carnival Sunshine had come out of a two-week dry dock at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport.

During that time, the ship underwent maintenance and had some new features added to it, including an upgraded Internet service and a new deli.

Carnival Cruise Line's website indicates that on November 2, the Carnival Sunshine is scheduled to embark on an eight-day cruise to Southern Caribbean, with ports of call in Aruba, Curacao and Grand Turk
Thousands of Google employees have staged walkouts around the world in the wake of a bombshell report in The New York Times saying that Andy Rubin, a former high-ranking executive who led the companys Android division, received a multimillion dollar severance package upon leaving in 2014 despite facing sexual misconduct allegations.

Though Rubin has adamantly denied the accusations, Google employees from Silicon Valley to Singapore have staged mass walkouts to protest the companys alleged protection of the former executive and to demand change in the workplace.

Heres all you need to know about the ongoing Google walkouts around the world.

Employees have demanded strong workplace oversights in the wake of the bombshell report

What is the Google walkout?

The Google walkout, known as the Walkout for Real Change, is an ongoing employee walkout currently being held at Google offices worldwide in response to a recent report in The New York Times about sexual misconduct allegations made against Andy Rubin, the creator of Googles Android mobile software who was reportedly given a $90 million (69.6m) severance package upon leaving the company in 2014 despite facing credible accusations.

Why did the Google walkout start?

On October 25, 2018, The New York Times published an explosive report saying that Andy Rubin, a former Senior Vice President at Google who helmed the tech titans Android division from 2005 to 2013, had been accused of sexual misconduct and given a $90 million (69.6m) severance package upon leaving the company in October 2014 while the company stayed silent about the sexual misconduct allegations.

The report also stated that other high-ranking Google executives had engaged in a pattern of sexual misconduct and harassment with minimal consequences. At least one executive at the company, Richard DeVaul, has left the company according to new reports on November 1.

The New York Times article, specifically, reported that Rubin had allegedly coerced a woman into performing oral sex on him in a hotel in 2013.

According to reports, Google CEO Larry Page personally asked Rubin to resign, reportedly believing that sexual misconduct allegations made against him to be credible.

Google employees have staged walkouts and even resigned to demand workplace changes

Rubin has strongly denied the allegations, saying on Twitter that The New York Times article contained numerous inaccuracies and wild exaggerations about my compensation.

Google CEO Sundar Picahi addressed the controversy in a recent email to employees shortly after reports detailing the accusations against Rubin broke, saying The New York Times article was difficult to read and that the company was dead serious about providing an inclusive and safe workplace.

In recent years, we've made a number of changes, including taking an increasingly hard line on inappropriate conduct by people in positions of authority: in the last two years, 48 people have been terminated for sexual harassment, including 13 who were senior managers and above. None of these individuals received an exit package.

In 2015, we launched Project Respect and our annual Internal Investigations Report to provide transparency about these types of investigations at Google. Because we know that reporting harassment can be traumatic, we provide confidential channels to share any inappropriate behavior you experience or see. We support and respect those who have spoken out. You can find many ways to do this at go/saysomething. You can make a report anonymously if you wish.

We've also updated our policy to require all VPs and SVPs to disclose any relationship with a co-worker regardless of reporting line or presence of conflict.

'We are committed to ensuring that Google is a workplace where you can feel safe to do your best work, and where there are serious consequences for anyone who behaves inappropriately, Pichai said in the email to employees.

Walkout protesters have presented petitions to the company and demanded increased employee oversight to the companys management. In addition to walking out, some employee have even resigned their positions in protest.

When is the Google walkout?

The Google walkout is currently being held on Thursday, November 1 in many locations around the world.

Where have Google employees staged walkouts?

The Google walkout is global in scope, with walkouts being held not only at the companys headquarters in Silicon Valley in California but also in London, Singapore, Zurich, Dublin, Tokyo and many other cities around the world.

Google employees protest in Zurich, attesting the worldwide scope of the mass walkouts

Who is Andy Rubin?

Andy Rubin is a venture capitalist, entrepreneur and computer programmer known as the father of the Android who formerly worked for Google.

He was born on March 13, 1963 in Chappaqua, New York.

After graduating with a degree in computer science from Utica College in Utica, New York in 1986, Rubin worked for Apple from 1989 to 1992 as a manufacturing engineer and cofounded Danger Inc., a software and IT services company, in 1999 and later cofounded the mobile operating system company Android Inc. in 2003, which was soon acquired by Google in 2005.

He worked for Google from 2005 to 2014 as a Senior Vice President, overseeing the tech giants Android mobile operating system division for most of his tenure until moving to serve as the head of its robotics division starting in December 2013.

On October 31, 2014, he left Google to establish Playground Global, a technology incubator, later that year and also founded the tech firm Essential Products in 2015.

Andy Rubin led Google's Android division from 2005 until December 2013, leaving to take over the tech company's robotics division until his resignation less than a year later in October 2014

Although media reports at the time stated that his departure was amicable and intended to give Rubin more time to focus on his own technology ventures and philanthropic efforts, The New York Times published a report in October 2018 alleging that he had actually been accused of sexual misconduct in 2013 and that Google CEO Larry Page personally asked for his resignation after believing the allegations made against him were credible.

Rubin has adamantly denied any sexual misconduct allegations.

What is Andy Rubins net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Rubins net worth is believed to be about $350 million (270.8m).

Who is Sundar Pichai?

Sundar Pichai is the CEO of Google.

He was born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India on July 12, 1972.

After attending college both in India and the US, including at prestigious institutions like Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania, Pichai joined Google in 2004, leading product management and innovation efforts for Google Chrome, Google Drive and other products and services the company offers.

In 2013, he also took over oversight of the Android mobile operating system and eventually became CEO in October 2015 following the corporate restructuring that made Alphabet Google's new parent company.
President Donald Trump, who often exaggerates, makes unverified claims, or misstates facts, argued that he tries to be truthful when ever he can be.

'I always want to tell the truth. When I can, I tell the truth,' he said.

He also seemed to indicate if his statements aren't the truth, it's because of an outside circumstance.

'I mean sometimes it turns out to be where something happens that is different or there's a change but I always like to be truthful,' the president said.

His astonishing claim was made during an interview with ABC News before his rally in Florida on Wednesday where he also claimed the migrant caravan headed to the U.S. border was made up of mostly young men and women and children were being pushed to the front just to be photographed.

President Trump argued that he tries to be truthful when ever he can be

Trump also claimed the migrant caravan headed to the U.S. was mostly 'young men' with women and children being pushed to the front to be photographed

ABC's Jonathan Karl had pressed the president on a campaign promise from the 2016 election, when Trump vowed: 'I will never lie to you. I will never tell you something I do not believe.'

'So can you tell me now, honestly, have you kept that promise at all times? Have you always been truthful?' Karl asked him.

'I try. I do try. I think you try too. You say things about me that are not necessarily correct. I do try,' the president said.

Fact checkers, such as the Pulitzer Prize winning site Politifact, have consistently rated the president as giving false hoods.

The Washington Post fact checker notes that in Trump's first 100 days in the White House, he had 492 false claims.

And, in his interview with ABC, Trump made the unverified claim the migrant caravan is made up of 'mostly young men' with women and children being used purely for photos.

'It's a lot of young people, lot of young men - they are pushing the women right up to the front - not good - and the kids right up to the front,' Trump said.

But photos show the caravan consists of all ages and genders, including what appears to be families.

And the United Nations has estimated there appear to be 2,300 children among the group.

Trump has, on occasion, admitted he doesn't have proof of claims he's made.

Last week, the president conceded he does not have proof there are Middle Easterners in the migrant caravan - a claim he had made repeatedly - but said there 'could very well could be.'

'There's no proof of anything, there's no proof of anything but they very well could be,' Trump said at a bill signing in the Oval Office.

.@ABC NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Pres. Trump one-on-one with @JonKarl as he sounds off on border build-up, midterms and the truth: "When I can, I tell the truth." https://t.co/7Rj0lcIjHV pic.twitter.com/OYmGV4IXqg  Good Morning America (@GMA) November 1, 2018

Several news organizations offer fact checks of the president's claims with the Washington Post fact checker noting in Trump's first 100 days in the White House, he had 492 false claims

Trump has admitted at times he has no proof of his claims, such as when he admitted last week he has no proof there are Middle Easterners in the migrant caravan

And White House officials are often asked to verify or clarify claims the president has made or to give additional details.

At her press briefing last week, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders was pushed to clarify who the president was referring to when he talked about the media being 'the enemy of the people.'

CNN's Jim Acosta pushed her 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 necessarily specific to a broad generalization of a full outlet at times. I think there's individuals that the president would be referencing.'

Several news organizations and non-profits offer fact checks of the president's claims.

For example, when the president tweeted about voter fraud on Oct. 20, the Associated Press offered a check of his claim.

'All levels of government and Law Enforcement are watching carefully for VOTER FRAUD, including during EARLY VOTING. Cheat at your own peril. Violators will be subject to maximum penalties, both civil and criminal!,' Trump tweeted.

And the AP noted: 'He's exaggerating the extent of voting fraud.

The actual number of fraud cases is very small, and the type that voter IDs are designed to prevent - voter impersonation at the ballot box - is virtually nonexistent.'

White House officials like press secretary Sarah Sanders are often asked to verify or clarify claims the president has made or to give additional details

President Trump was also challenged on his truth telling when he sat down with '60 Minutes' anchor Lesley Stahl earlier in October

Trump has been challenged on this issue before.

When he sat down with '60 Minutes'' Leslie Stahl in early October, she used the occasion to question him on something he often says when making a point, using the generic phrase: 'they say.'

When he did it in talking about climate change, Stahl challenge him on who are 'they.'

'They say that we had hurricanes that were far worse than what we just had with Michael,' Trump said.

'Who says that? 'They say'?,' Stahl asked.

'People say. People say that,' Trump responded, declining to get more specific.

In that interview, Trump also had strong words for Washington D.C.'s political establishment, calling them 'vicious.'

'I always used to say the toughest people are Manhattan real estate guys and blah, blah. Now I say they're babies,' he said.

He added: 'They're babies, the political people. This is the most deceptive, vicious world. It is vicious, it's full of lies, deceit and deception. You make a deal with somebody and it's like making a deal with that table.'

Trump was a political outsider when he was elected, having never previously held public office.

He went to say of the U.S. capitol that 'it's a very deceptive world. The other thing I've really learned is I never knew how dishonest the media was. And I really mean it. I'm not saying that as a sound bite...'

Stahl interrupted him: 'I'm gonna change the subject again.'

Trump snapped at her again: 'Well, no, even the way you asked me a question, like, about separation. When I say Obama did it, you don't wanna talk about it.''

'I'm gonna run your answer, but you did it four times,' Stahl said.

'I'm just telling you that you treated me much differently on the subject,' Trump complained.

'I disagree, but I don't wanna have that fight with you,' Stahl said.

Trump responded: 'Hey, it's okay.'

'All right, I'll get in another fight with you,' she said.

'Lesley, it's okay. In the meantime, I'm president and you're not,' Trump said.
A drunk baggage handler flew from Kansas City to Chicago trapped inside a plane's luggage hold after he fell asleep inside.

The Piedmont Airlines employee, 23, survived 1 hour and 38 minutes in the pressurized and heated cabin of American Airlines flight 737 which took off at 5.52am on Saturday.

He was found when the plane landed and parked at its gate at Chicago's O'Hare Airport around 7.30am on Saturday.

A drunk baggage handler flew from Kansas City to Chicago trapped inside a plane's hold after he fell asleep inside

Police say the handler, who did not have a cell phone during the flight, told them he was intoxicated and had fallen asleep. No charges were filed and he was sent back to Kansas City.

American said it is grateful the handler wasn't injured and is reviewing what happened.

Hold compartments are normally kept at between 60 and 70F (15 and 21C). Animals are often transported inside.

Planes normally have three baggage handlers and they must be accounted for by a supervisor before the plane leaves.

A source told USA Today the sleeping handler was overlooked because 'no bags were loaded into the forward cargo hold and the door was closed.'

In January 2017, a baggage handler flew unharmed in the hold of a United Express flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Washington Dulles.

In 2015, an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Los Angeles turned around when the pilots heard banging and later realised it was a baggage handler trapped below.
Self-taught electrocution Fred Leuchter Jr (pictured in 1993) built the electric chair that will be used Thursday night in Tennessee during an execution

As debate swirled about the use of an electric chair during a Tennessee execution Thursday night, there was even more controversy surrounding the self-taught man dubbed 'Mr. Death' who built the device.

For nearly three decades, self-taught execution expert Fred Leuchter Jr had a successful career in the business where he had a specialty of devising, selling and installing equipment for carrying out executions. Besides building electric chairs, Leuchter also built, refurbished and consulted on gas chambers, lethal injection machines and gallows.

The Massachusetts native was the leading go-to expert in the area.

But that came to an end when he made controversial comments denying the Holocaust claiming it was a hoax or exaggeration.

His statements led to the discovery that Leuchter, now aged 75, did not actually hold a degree in engineering or a professional license  something that he long claimed to.

In 1991, he pleaded guilty to charges of practicing engineering without a license in Massachusetts and signed a consent agreement with the board that licenses engineers agreeing to stop disseminating documents in which he presented himself as an engineer, most critically a document known as the 'Leuchter Report'.

A 1999 documentary by Errol Morris, entitled Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. discusses the self-taught execution expert's life and how his career ended.

For nearly three decades, Leuchter, a self-taught electrocution, had a successful career in the business where he had a specialty of devising, selling and installing equipment for carrying out executions. He provided his services in at least 27 states and was the leading go-to expert in the area. He is pictured above center in an undated photo standing near the control panel for the electric chair he built

But when Leuchter made comments about the Holocaust claiming that the Nazi extermination of six million Jews and others during World War II was a hoax or exaggeration led to the discovery that Leuchter did not actually hold a degree in engineering or a professional license  something that he long claimed to. He pleaded guilty to charges of practicing engineering without a license and signed a consent agreement with the board that licenses engineers in 1991. He is pictured above in an undated photo

Born on February 7, 1943 in the suburbs of Malden, Massachusetts, Leuchter was exposed to the prison system at an early age since his father worked as a prison guard. From the age of four to 16, Leuchter would accompany his father to his job as superintendent of transportation in the Massachusetts state prison during the 1940s and 50s.

As a teen, he helped his father move the state's old electric chair when the prison relocated.

Leuchter, who graduated from Boston University in with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1964, recalled that they completed the job on a Sunday because the warden didn't want the news media to know.

'I helped put the chair in the truck. We covered it up with canvas,' he said.

Years later, when it looked as though Massachusetts might restart capital punishment after a long hiatus, a prison steward who knew Leuchter's father asked Leuchter to come in and see whether the old chair was still usable.

It was from this point forward that Leuchter's name 'was given to other states' to use his services. He launched the Fred Leuchter Associates in Boston, Massachusetts, a firm specializing in gas chambers and executions and used the title of Chief Engineer.

He said many of their electric chairs were 'decrepit, defunct, didn't work properly  if they ever had in the first place.'

Leuchter would accompany his father to his job as superintendent of transportation in the Massachusetts state prison during the 1940s and 50s. He helped his father move the state's old electric chair to the new prison. Years later he was asked by a state official to examine the chair to see if it was usable. It was from this point forward that Leuchter's name 'was given to other states' to use his services. Leuchter is pictured above right during an appearance on The Phil Donahue Show displaying parts from one of the electric chairs he designed

In 1988, he was asked by the state of Tennessee to refurbish its chair when the possibility of its first execution in decades could happen. He built a new chair that was used in 2007 during the execution of Daryl Holton. Pictured above is the electric chair Leuchter built as Riverbend Maximum Security Institution Warden Ricky Bell gives a tour in 1999

Fordham University professor Deborah Denno, who has studied execution methods for more than 25 years, said Leuchter filled a void. Often 'the most qualified people don't want to be involved' in executions, she said.

In 1988 he was asked by the state of Tennessee to refurbish its chair when the possibility of its first execution in decades could happen.

Leuchter said when he saw the device, 'it looked like it was made for a midget or something.'

He then built a new chair in 1988 using the skills he learned while designing navigational and surveillance equipment and studying early executions.

The electric chair Leuchter built for Tennessee is now set to be used Thursday evening for the execution of a convicted murderer. Leuchter is pictured above in 1993

Leuchter used wood from the original device, which he was told was made from the old gallows. He also replaced the chair's electrodes and the old leather straps that tie prisoners to the chair with quick-release nylon belts to help guards with removing bodies after executions.

Leuchter even trained prison employees on how to use the device properly and distributed certificates as 'electrocution technicians.'

That same year, German-Canadian neo-Nazi Ernst Zundel was being tried in Canada for publishing works of Holocaust denial and hate propaganda. He hired Leuchter to investigate and testify as an expert witness at his trial for a fee of $30,000.

Leuchter traveled to Auschwitz and Birkenau and allegedly examined the structures identified as gas chambers. He concluded that the spaces could not have been used for mass murder and testified under oath on behalf of Zundel.

The court dismissed Leuchter's testimony, because he lacked the credentials to prove his expertise on gas chambers. Zundel was convicted of the charges.

After the trial, Leuchter began lecturing to Holocaust denial supporters and groups, despite receiving bad publicity.

In 1990 it was discovered that Leuchter didn't have an engineering degree or professional license.

As a result, states began denying his contracts on the basis that he lacked the necessary qualifications.

In 1991, he pleaded guilty to charges of practicing engineering without a license in Massachusetts and signed a consent agreement with the board that licenses engineers agreeing to stop disseminating documents in which he presented himself as an engineer, most critically a document known as the 'Leuchter Report'.

He also served two years of probation and has been largely shunned ever since.

In 2007, Daryl Holton became the first person to die in Tennessee using the electric chair that Leuchter designed.

Leuchter said he feels the chair now is 'defective and shouldn't be used.' The chair was inspected on October 10 of this year and found to meet the criteria for an execution, state documents show. Leuchter is pictured above with his wife in an undated recent photo

To prepare, an electrical engineer reduced the voltage from 2,640 to 1,750 and raised the amperage from 5 to 7. The timing was also changed, from two, one-minute jolts with a 10-second pause between, to a 20-second and 15-second jolt with a 15-second pause between.

Now, 63-year-old Edmund Zagorski was executed Thursday night after being sentenced to death in 1984 for murdering two men inside a drug den.

Zagorski asked for death by electrocution on October 8 after Tennessee's Supreme Court upheld the state's controversial lethal injection cocktail.

Experts have said it would cause an extremely painful death.

Zagorski said he would rather have 35 seconds in total of two 1,750 volt shocks over the injection that could take up to 18 minutes to kill him.

The chair was inspected on October 10 of this year and found to meet the criteria for an execution, state documents show.

Prior to the execution, Leuchter said he felt the chair was now 'defective and shouldn't be used.'

'It worked the first time, but I think they were lucky,' he said.

'What I'm worried about now is Tennessee's got an electric chair that's going to hurt someone or cause problems. And it's got my name on it. I don't think it's going to be humane.'
Funeral arrangements are pending for Boston mob boss James 'Whitey' Bulger

A convicted felon priest has reportedly been tapped to officiate the funeral service of murdered mob boss James 'Whitey' Bulger in Boston, which a source tells DailyMail.com will likely be a private mass for family only.

Bulger is survived by two brothers, William and John, who both live in the Boston area. Bureau of Prison policy specifies that the disposition of an inmate's remains is determined by a next-of-kin who is specified by the inmate.

Bulger's longtime girlfriend, Catherine Grieg, remains incarcerated in a low-security federal prison in Minnesota. It's unclear whether she would be allowed temporary release for the funeral, as the pair never married and prison policy allows for release only to bury a relative.

Grieg has declined to comment on Bulger's death when reached by Boston media, and her former attorney did not immediately return a message from DailyMail.com.

A funeral director who provides burials for poor Irish-Americans has already approached a famed New York priest, Reverend Pat Moloney, to officiate the funeral for Bulger, according to the New York Post.

Rev. Pat Moloney, 86, (above in 2015) was approached by a funeral director to say the funeral mass for Bulger. Moloney served time for his role in an armored car robbery

Moloney has devoted his life to helping runaway teens in Manhattan's East Village.

The staunch IRA supporter also served four years in federal prison for his role in hiding some of the $7.4 million stolen by masked gunmen from a Brink's armored-car in 1992.

He has always claimed his innocence - and now says convicted murderer Bulger deserves a chance at redemption in the afterlife.

'As far as I'm concerned, he'd be entitled to a Catholic burial. I'd have no hesitation,' Moloney told the Post of Bulger's funeral.

'I don't know the particular position of the church on a known criminal. But then the Lord is plentiful with redemption,' Moloney said. 'In his own heart and soul, [Bulger] may have changed.'

Though Moloney has no known ties to Bulger's old criminal gang, he did meet a former Bulger lieutenent behind bars - John 'Red' Shea.

It is unclear whether Moloney has accepted the request to travel to Boston for the funeral, and he did not immediately return a phone message from DailyMail.com.

The funeral 'will most likely be a private mass for the family,' Phyllis Karas, the author of the new book Women of Southie: Finding Resilience During Whitey Bulger's Infamous Reign, told DailyMail.com.

Karas, who has co-authored several books with associates of Bulger's notorious Winter Hill Gang, said that details of the funeral service were not yet finalized.

Mob boss Bulger was serving two life sentences for his role in 11 murders when he was killed hours after he was transferred to USP Hazelton in West Virginia.

Meanwhile, questions continue to swirl about the timing of the prison transfer, after an ex-con claimed federal officials wanted to 'get rid of' Bulger and transferred him to a violent prison on purpose.

James 'Whitey' Bulger was found dead on Tuesday after being transferred a day earlier to the high-security Hazelton penitentiary in West Virginia. He is pictured above in 2011

Bulger, who was a longtime FBI informant, had been savagely beaten and had his tongue cut out when he was found.

Many questions remain unanswered in relation to his death, including why Bulger was moved to the prison and why he was placed in the general population.

Ex-con Richard Stratton, who is now a TV producer, told the New York Post it was hard to believe that Bulger would not have been placed in protective custody given he was a known snitch.

'He's going to be exposed in a way where he can easily be killed, and then one day later he's murdered,' Stratton said.

'It's not like Whitey's going to stop f**king scamming because he's in prison.

'It's so obvious that they wanted to get rid of him, that he was a pain in the a** to them.'

Stratton, who was jailed for eight years for drug smuggling, once had a contract put out on him but he went to Bulger for help and he squashed it.

Cameron Lindsay, a former federal prison warden who now works as a jail security consultant, also expressed concern about placing Bulger in the general population.

Bulger had just arrived Monday at USP Hazelton, a high-security prison in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia before he was killed

'What I don't understand is why the Federal Bureau of Prisons would transfer a super high-publicity inmate, who is a known snitch, to general population of a high-security prison,' he said.

'You've got to be smarter than that.

Fotios 'Freddy' Geas, a Mafia hitman who is said to hate 'rats', is under investigation for Bulger's murder

'If I was the warden of Hazelton, I would have never, ever allowed him to be put within my general population. It is just too risky.'

Bulger had lived a double life as one of Boston's most notorious mobsters and as a secret FBI informant before going on the run for 16 years.

He was convicted in August 2013 of 11 murders, among other charges, and sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus five years.

Bulger had just arrived Monday at USP Hazelton, a high-security prison in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. He had previously been in a prison in Florida, with a stopover at a transfer facility in Oklahoma City.

Federal Bureau of Prisons officials and his attorney declined to comment on why he was being moved.

Fotios 'Freddy' Geas, a Mafia hitman who is said to hate 'rats', is under investigation for Bulger's murder.

These 1980s FBI handout file photos show Massachusetts mobster James 'Whitey' Bulger

A police evidence photo shows a car riddled with bullet holes in connection with one of the 19 murders Bulger was charged with. He was convicted of 11 murders

Geas and at least one other inmate are believed to have been involved.

Two men were seen on surveillance footage entering Bulger's cell, according to a prison employee. Bulger's body was later discovered wrapped in a sheet and had been beaten so badly that blood had come out of his ears.

Attorney Hank Brennan, who represented Bulger during his 2013 trial, said Bulger had a hip injury and was in a wheelchair when he was attacked.

Authorities have not disclosed the cause of death.

An FBI spokeswoman in Pittsburgh declined to comment on Geas and federal officials said only that they are investigating the death as a homicide.

Geas and his brother were sentenced to life in prison in 2011 for their roles in several violent crimes, including the 2003 killing of Adolfo 'Big Al' Bruno, a Genovese crime family boss who was gunned down in a Springfield, Massachusetts, parking lot.

Private investigator Ted McDonough, who knew Geas, told The Boston Globe: 'Freddy hated rats.'

'Freddy hated guys who abused women. Whitey was a rat who killed women. It's probably that simple,' McDonough told the newspaper, which first reported that Geas was under suspicion.

Bulger's death was the third killing in the past six months at the prison with two inmates being killed in fights with other prisoners in September and April.
Guy Fawkes Night 2018 is just days away, meaning its time to stock up on fireworks, get out your thickest scarves and hats and prepare to enjoy a night of sparklers, colourful flashes in the sky and toffee apples.

Every year on Bonfire Night families across the UK gather outside to enjoy firework displays commemorating the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Here is all you need to know about Guy Fawkes Night including when is it, what was the Gunpowder Plot and why we celebrate it every year.

Guy Fawkes Night is an annual celebration of the plot to blow up Parliament and kill the king

When is Guy Fawkes Night?

For those who dont remember, Guy Fawkes Night is on the 5th November. This year, Guy Fawkes Night falls on a Monday.

The famous rhyme goes: Remember, remember!/ The fifth of November/ The Gunpowder treason and plot;/I know of no reason/ Why the Gunpowder treason/ Should ever be forgot!

What is the Gunpowder Plot?

The Gunpowder Plot refers to the 1605 plot by Catholic zealots to blow up Parliament in order to assassinate King James I and overthrow Protestant rule.

Although Guy Fawkes is the most famous conspirator, he was by no means the one who conceived the plan.

Fawkes was drafted in by Thomas Wintour, the cousin of the plots mastermind Lord Robert Catesby. Fawkes distinguished himself in military matters during the 80 Years War, where he fought on the side of Catholic Spain against the Protestant Dutch, and developed an intimate knowledge of gunpowder and explosiveswhich were crucial to the plot.

After the initial meeting in May 1604, where Catesby, Fawkes, Wintour and Thomases Percy and Wright swore an oath of loyalty, the final tally of conspirators grew to 13 by March 1605.

The conspirators rented a basement storeroom in the Palace of Westminster, to which 36 barrels of gunpowder were transported. The plot was supposed to be executed months before the final 5th November date, but Parliament continued to be delayed, forcing the conspirators to wait.

Despite being the most famous conspirator, Guy Fawkes was not the mastermind of the plot

Crucially, the plot remained secret all that time, until late October 1605, when the nobleman Lord Monteagle received an unsigned letter that read: My lord, out of the love I bear to some of your friends, I have a care of your preservation, therefore I would advise you as you tender your life to devise some excuse to shift of your attendance at this parliament . . . for though there be no appearance of any stir, yet I say they shall receive a terrible blow.

Monteagle passed the letter to King Jamess spymaster Robert Cecil and at midnight on 5th November, Guy Fawkes was discovered in the storeroom holding long fuses and matches after a second search of the Palaces.

Giving his name as John Johnson, Fawkes was tortured for two days straight before he broke and revealed the details of the plot. He was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered alive in January 1606the standard punishment for those convicted of treason.

However, he defied his sentence by jumping from the gallows and snapping his neck. On principle, his corpse was hanged, drawn and quartered anyway.

Why do we celebrate Guy Fawkes Night?

Celebrations started early and were originally to celebrate the fact that King James survived the attempted assassination. The theory is that celebrations started on 5th November when Parliament passed the Thanksgiving Act in the same month as Fawkess death.

The Act established annual church celebrations to commemorate the foiling of the plot, which over time evolved from official ceremonies to feature bonfires and fireworks.

By the time of the Victorians, 5th November became known as Guy Fawkes Day and by the 1870s included regulated community activities.

By the start of the 20th century, fireworks manufacturers began getting in on the act, branding 5th November as Fireworks Night, which saw their sales jump by 20 per cent. Several decades later, Guy Fawkes Day and Fireworks Night became indistinguishable.
A babysitter is accused of leaving two young children in a hot car with a bag of meth, just feet away, while she went shopping in Dollar Tree.

Nicole Kaylan Buffington, 24, from Port Richey, Florida, who was caring for the children, was arrested after she was found by sheriff's office deputies in the nearby store.

At around 3 pm on Tuesday, Pasco County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to reports of two children left alone in a car, parked outside a Dollar Tree in Hudson.

Nicole Kaylan Buffington, 24, is accused of leaving the children in the hot car with the bag of meth while she went to Dollar Tree

A seven-year-old boy and a one-year-old girl were found inside the vehicle with a small bag of methamphetamine that was in plain view on the driver's seat, according to deputies.

The children were in the back seat.

Deputies said the car's windows were cracked open but it was still warm in the car.

Buffington was arrested and charged with child neglect and possession of methamphetamine.

A seven-year-old boy and a one-year-old girl were found inside the car with a small bag of methamphetamine, that was in plain view on the driver's seat, according to deputies.

Buffington, seen here in happier times, was arrested and charged with child neglect and possession of methamphetamine
A Long Island man and his two grown sons recovered a skeleton in his parents' basement on Halloween, 57 years after his father went missing under mysterious circumstances.

George Carroll, a Korean War veteran, vanished without a trace in 1961 - six years after moving into the home with his wife and four children on Olive Street in Lake Grove.

Mike Carroll, now aged 57, says his mother, Dorothy, provided vague details about how his father just left one day 'to do something' and never returned.

Mike Carroll is pictured standing on the porch of his parents' old home, where on Wednesday he discovered skeletal remains he believe are his missing father's

Mr Carroll, now 57, was eight months old in 1961 when his father, Korean War veteran George Carroll, vanished without a trace

Carroll and his two grown sons found remains in the basement of this Lake Grove, New York, home on Halloween

Suffolk County police department locked down the scene as they examined the remains, they said there was no record of George Carroll ever being reported missing

A grisly family rumor suggested the father was buried in the basement of the residence where his wife went on living until the 1990s.

'In my mind, I always thought that I was going to find that,' Mike Carroll said Wednesday. I'm glad this is over and I don't have to break up my house anymore.'

George Carroll vanished when Michael, the youngest of the family, was just eight months old and his siblings were five, seven and nine. After their mother, Dorothy, died in 1998, the Carroll children inherited the home.

Steven Carroll talks to reporters outside the home where the remains were found

Dorothy Carroll (center), pictured with daughter Patricia and one of her brothers, passed away in 1998

Michael Carroll's grown sons, Michael Jr (right) and Christopher (left), helped with the macabre excavation

Mr Carroll said there had always been a grim lore that his father's body was interred deep in the basement.

'It didn't just come up overnight, it's something that's been talked about for years,' he told ABC 7. 'This is something as we grew up, you know. We heard multiple stories.'

If it does turn out to be his father's skeleton, he said he has an idea who might be responsible, but would not elaborate any further and said that person was long dead.

Authorities said they had not been able to find any record of George Carroll being reported missing.

Mr Carroll began excavating the basement of the house three years ago but had to abandon the process when it became too dangerous.

This Olive Street has been in the Carroll family since 1955, and Mike and his siblings inherted it in 1998

But the process resumed recently after better technology was employed to scan deep into the earth beneath the property.

At 2pm on Wednesday, as the town filled with trick-or-treaters in Halloween costumes, Mike and his sons came upon remains about 6 to 8 feet down in the cellar around cement walls.

His older brother Steven expressed confidence that the skeleton is that of his long-lost father.

'I feel great that my dad is free from that crappy hole,' he said.

Steven wants his father to be laid to rest honorably at the Calverton National Cemetery in New York, saying: 'I want him to be a soldier. I want him to get what he needs.'

DNA testing will be performed on the remains to prove whether or not they are George Carroll's, and the county medical examiner will determine a cause of death.
Iran FM met PM-Pak FM

ISLAMABAD: Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday met his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the Foreign Office.



FM Qureshi welcomed Zarif at Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Detailed discussions on all issues of mutual interest, including ways to enhance cooperation took place, FO Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal tweeted. Talks between Iran and Pakistan took place on all issues of mutual interest, he added.



Zarif landed in Islamabad earlier in the day for what marks his second visit during the newly elected Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khans government.



Zarif also met Prime Minister Imran Khan and discussed issues of mutual interest, Radio Pakistan reported.



According to a statement, the two leaders also deliberated on the recovery of 12 Iranian border security guards kidnapped by militants a fortnight ago in Irans Mirjaveh region close to the Balochistan border.



Jaish al-Adl, a terrorist group operating in the region, had claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. Iranian leaders believe that the kidnappers transferred the guards to Pakistan after taking them hostage.



The Iranian diplomat previously travelled to Pakistan on August 31 when he and Khan had discussed matters related to bilateral relations and regional security.



The Pakistani premier, at that time, had said the two countries enjoy historical and religious ties and that the people of both nations needed to extend cooperation in different fields.



Zarif had also met Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Jawed Bajwa at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi where, according to the militarys media wing, the two talked regional security and matters of mutual interest.



The Iranian foreign minister had appreciated Pakistans contributions to the prevention of regional conflict. Islamabad took sincere steps towards peace and stability in South Asia, Zarif had said.
Four men who were members of a gang that groomed and sexually abused vulnerable girls in Huddersfield have been jailed by a judge who told them their abuse 'defies understanding'.

Leeds Crown Court heard on Thursday how some of the three teenage victims of Mohammed Akram, Niaz Ahmed, Mohammed Imran Ibrar and Asif Bashir were plied with drugs and alcohol before being abused against their will.

The four men were convicted of committing offences against the girls between 2004 and 2010 as part of a cycle 'of depravity and exploitation'.

The pattern of exploitation of mainly white girls by groups of men of mainly Pakistani heritage mirrors what has happened in a number of other towns around the country, including Rotherham, Rochdale and Telford.

A judge told them that the girls' victim impact statements made for 'harrowing reading', adding that one girl felt like she was 'used goods' at the age of just 17 and only managed to escape the defendants when she became pregnant.

Mohammed Akram (left) and Niaz Ahmed (right) have both been jailed for their role in a sex gang with operated in the Yorkshire town of Huddersfield

Asif Bashir (left) got 11 years. Mohammed Imran Ibrar (right), nicknamed 'Bully' got three years

The four were members of a 20-strong gang of men that carried out the 'inhuman' abuse of a total of 15 girls over a period spanning from 2004 to 2011.

The gang was split into three separate trials, with Akram, Ahmed, Ibrar and Bashir being found guilty of 10 offences by a jury last month.

It was towards the end of the second of these trials, in May, that English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson was arrested as he reported about the case live on Facebook from outside the court.

The gang was spearheaded by ringleader Amere Singh Dhaliwal, 36, who was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 18 years by a judge at Leeds Crown Court in June, having been convicted of 22 rapes involving 11 different girls.

The four defendants sentenced on Thursday were jailed for a total of 36 years between them, making the total sentence for the 20 gang members 257 years.

Judge Simon Phillips QC told Akram, 33, Ahmed, 54, Ibrar, 34, and Bashir, 33: 'The way that you treated these girls defies understanding, this abuse was vile and wicked.'

Today's sentences mean the 20-man gang have been jailed for a total of more than 250 years

English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson was arrested for contempt of court for endangering the trials of some of the gang. He has since been freed from a jail term

He added that the girls became 'conditioned and immersed' in the abuse, with one saying in a statement read to the court that she felt as though her life was at risk every time she left the house, adding: 'It has basically ruined the rest of my life.'

Judge Phillips told the court how some of the complainants were watching the sentencing on Thursday via a TV link.

Addressing Akram, who was jailed for 17 years after being convicted of two counts of trafficking for sexual exploitation and two of rape, the judge said he had shown a 'complete disregard for the safety of the girls'.

The court heard how, when he crashed his car into the wall of a mosque, he ran away and left two of the victims at the scene of the accident when they 'clearly were in need of medical attention'.

Ahmed, of Huddersfield, was told he was prepared to abuse girls for his own 'sexual gratification' as he was sentenced to five years in jail for sexual assault and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Ibrar, Huddersfield, was jailed for three years after being found guilty of trafficking for sexual exploitation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, while Bashir, Huddersfield, was sentenced to 11 years after being convicted of rape and attempted rape.
Furious residents of Jaywick Sands have defended their village after a Republican Congressional candidate used an image of a run-down street to warn voters of what America could be like if they don't support President Trump.

The seaside area in Essex has twice been identified as the most deprived neighbourhood in England in the past decade but millions of pounds have been spent in recent years on improvements including roads and drainage.

And residents said the village was 'on the up' following the political advert which supported Dr Nick Stella in the 11th Illinois district race against Democrat Bill Foster ahead of the midterm elections.

Some did see the funny side but many claimed the photo was 'annoying and unfair' to everyone particularly as Dr Stella had never been there, while others said it 'hurt' to have their home mocked.

Residents of Jaywick Sands have hit back at an American Congressional candidate over an attack ad against the Democrats using a picture of their village. Pictured is Jaywick today which has recently had many road improvements

The advert, pictured, for Republican congressional candidate Dr Nick Stella used a picture of Jaywick Sands to warn voters of the 'consequences' of supporting the Democrats

Millions of pounds have since been spent on the village infrastructure, pictured, and locals say Jaywick is 'on the up'

Nicole Thomas, 17, left, said it was 'unfair' criticism from Dr Stella given he had 'never been to Jaywick' while Kevin Humphreys, 57, right , said he 'hopes the US ends up looking even worse' because of the advert

The advert, which was shared on Dr Stella's Facebook page but has since been taken down, used a picture of a road in Jaywick Sands, near Clacton, Essex, showing a row of houses on a pothole-strewn road.

It says: 'Help President Trump keep America on track and thriving. A vote for Foster is a vote for a Speaker Pelosi. We can't go back to foreclosures, unemployment and economic recession!'

Across the top of the image, next to a picture of Congresswoman Pelosi, it reads: 'Only YOU can stop this from becoming a REALITY!'

Catherine Roberts, 46, a mother-of-three from Jaywick, said: 'This picture is so offensive.

'I have lived here 17 years, I have brought up my children here and I love living here, so to see my home spoken of like this hurts.

The image was shared on Dr Stella's (pictured) Facebook page, which has since been taken down. His staff have also said there was no intention to 'smear' the village

'We have a great sense of community here. It has everyone in the village angry and we won't stand for it.

'Not a single road here looks so broken and messed up like that.'

Nicole Thomas, 17, a college student from Jaywick, was furious about the attack ad.

She said: 'This photo has really really annoyed me. I am almost 18 and have been down here my entire life and this is unfair to all of us.

'We live down here and don't want to see our village made to look look so terrible by an American who has probably never been here.

'Jaywick is safe and and we all feel comfortable around eachother.

'It was halloween the other day and we all were out in the streets having fun- families, friends and kids, you name it.

'This photo is nothing nothing like what Jaywick looks like now.

If you walk down any street you will see all our roads have been done and a lot of effort has been done to clean the streets up. You won't see any litter or a pothole on my road.'

Parts of Jaywick, such as this road, pictured, are still to be revamped and contain potholes

Mother-of-three Catherine Roberts, 46, left, said the advert was 'offensive' and it 'hurts' to see Jaywick mocked and Darrren Siequien, 55, right, said Jaywick was 'pretty good living'

The town is one of the UK's most deprived, despite being just a few miles down the road from the affluent retirement area of Frinton-on-Sea. Flytipping, pictured, has also previously been a problem in the area

But locals say problems with potholes and litter are largely gone and much of the village is now 'spotless'

Darren Siequien, 55, a warehouse worker, added: 'Its pretty good living here- it is all right.

'Yes, the village has its bad points but its also got its good points but at the end of the day it is what you make it.

'And we have made it a happy community.

'Trump should be ashamed for letting anyone badmouth the UK like that, which is why I prefer Obama - he would never have allowed anything like this to happen under his watch. I hope that photo doesn't get anymore coverage.'

Officials in Jaywick Sands, which was the most deprived neighbourhood in England in 2010 and 2015, have also reacted with fury.

Kevin Humphreys, 57, unemployed, from Jaywick, said: 'I had a good laugh at this when I saw this picture online and I hope after mocking us like this, America ends up looking even worse.

'They deserve it for making Jaywick look so terrible when it is nothing like that.

'That photo is ancient anyway- that was when we were at our worst but there will be places in the States that even today look a lot worse us, that I can assure you.

'Have you seen our new roads? They are spotless.'

Paul Honeywood, who is responsible for Jaywick on Tendring District Council, described the use of the image as 'appalling' and added the council was focused on improving quality of life in the village, pictured

Councillors also challenged Dr Stella to come and visit the area, pictured

Paul Honeywood, who is responsible for Jaywick on Tendring District Council, described the use of the image as 'appalling'.

He said: 'For starters, Dr Stella is very out of date  Essex County Council completed a two-year 6.5million programme to improve the roads and drainage in Jaywick Sands in 2017.

'Since the old image used in this campaign poster was taken support from Government, Essex County Council and other bodies has helped to build upon the work we as a council were already doing to improve the quality of life for residents.

'Now we have new roads, new high quality council homes for local people being built alongside approved plans for top quality apartments overlooking the sea. All supported by a Government-backed project group looking at financing investment in the area. Positive plans for Jaywick Sands, a community that's on the up.

'I know that many Jaywick Sands residents will be outraged at being smeared in this way and rightly so.

'Perhaps Dr Stella would like to come down and visit Jaywick Sands to learn about how we really get things done, rather than engaging in this sort of negative campaigning?'

Kevin Watson, who represents Jaywick on Tendring council, also said progress was being made in the area.

He was stunned to hear the Republican party had been using the one-time resort in such a controversial manner.

Shocking images previously show enormous piles of rubbish springing up near people's homes in the town, but millions of pounds have since been spent on improvements

'I am astounded that the country the size of America and everything that goes on there, that they even know about Jaywick.

'When I heard about this I thought it was a joke. Things are very much on the up here.'

Filmmaker Penelope Read, who made a documentary called Jaywick: A Diamond in the Rough, added she would 'happily show Dr Stella the 'real village' and praised the council for improvements.

She told the broadcaster: 'Jaywick is starting to really go forward and it makes me really cross when it gets this bad publicity.

'Of course there are things that are wrong currently but they are being improved.'

Raquel Mitchell, campaign director for Dr Stella, said there was no intention to 'smear' the town and it was not named in the advert.

She added the village was 'charming' and suggested a visit by Dr Stella to 'exchange ideas between the areas'.

With an overall total of 32,844 it came the second-worst place for employment, 17th-worst for income, 5th-worst for education, and 16th-most crime-ridden in 2015

Earlier this year shocking pictures showed huge piles of rubbish in the village which residents demanded be cleaned up after describing it as a 'Third World tip'.

The sprawling waste pile spreads out across a residential area of over 50ft and even included a stripped down car, sofas, fridge freezers and a boat.

It came after the village had been boosted by a 5million investment in the past two years with major improvements to local roads.

New surfaces have been laid with better drainage to help reduce the risk of flooding in the streets.

In 2015 the small seaside town got the worst score in a nationwide Government assessment of deprivation, income, poverty and crime.

With an overall total of 32,844 it came the second-worst place for employment, 17th-worst for income, 5th-worst for education, and 16th-most crime-ridden.

Seaside: A man is pictured walking along Jaywick Sands Beach, Essex
A single mother who posed as a lonely heart on an Islamic dating site to extort money from a Muslim man looking for a wife walked free from court today.

Zulaikha Bibi, 21, used a false name and fake promises of marriage to lure the besotted victim into sending her cash plus intimate pictures of himself.

Over a two month period, the unnamed man - who is in his 20s - paid a total of 6,900 to Bibi after she said she need the cash to pay rent arrears plus a flight to Pakistan where she claimed her her grandmother was seriously ill.

Zulakiha Bibi, pictured, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation after targeting her victim online and convinced him to sent intimate photographs which she later used for blackmail, claiming if he did not continue sending cash she would forward the images to his very religious family

The man sent Bibi a total of 6,900 - although she later repaid 1,100. She was handed a 18-month jail sentence suspended for two year. She was also ordered to repay her victim 5,500 and was banned from contacting him over the next two years

Bibi established a fake profile on SingleMuslim.com claiming she was called Marion Bhukari from Chorley, Manchester. The court heard Bibi claimed she needed the cash for rent arrears and money to visit her sick grandmother in Pakistan

The man eventually became suspicious about Bibi and said no more money was due - but she vowed to expose him and threatened to distribute the explicit pictures to his devout Muslim family.

He called police when he realised he had been the victim of a 'cyber honey trap' scam but later refused to give a further personal statement about the impact on his life - for fear he would bring shame on his relatives.

Bibi was tracked down and later repaid 1,100.

A Manchester Crown Court she pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and blackmail but escaped with 18 months jail suspended for two years after it emerged she was the primary carer for her three year old daughter.

The court heard the scam began on July 25 last year after Bibi, of Beswick, Manchester set up a fake profile under the name 'Marion Bhukari from Chorley' on the dating website SingleMuslims.com

Prosecuting, Duncan Wilcock, said: 'The complainant joined SingleMuslims.com and soon after engaged in conversations with Marion Bhukari who gave him an address in Chorley.

'While speaking on that website, discussions took place about a longer relationship and he believed that they were working towards a long term relationship.

'It's now conceded that Marion Bhukari was this defendant. She asked firstly whether the conversations could take place on WhatsApp so that her family wouldn't be aware of them.

'There was mention of love and marriage between both parties. But then the defendant began to make requests for money, saying that she had, for example, rent arrears.

'So the defendant provided him with bank details and he put 200 in. She asked for further payments saying her grandmother was ill in Pakistan and asking for money for flights out there.

'Over a few weeks, he paid in the region of 6,900 towards requests made by this defendant. Then, the complainant made a final payment on September 18 last year and he told the defendant, at that stage, said that would be the last payment he was going to make.

'It was at that stage that the defendant became aggressive and said that she wanted more money from him, and said that if he didn't she would send sexual photographs to his family of the complainant pleasuring himself.

'Rather than respond as the defendant wanted him to do, he contacted the police. As a result of that, it was established through bank statements that the defendant was responsible and her true identity was revealed.

'It would appear that the defendant got in touch again and told the complainant that repayments would be made. Once the police became involved, he was asked not to take further payments.

'I have not got a specific figure of what the defendant was repaid but it's about 1,100. The defendant was interviewed. Once the bank statements had been received, she appeared to make further denials, saying she didn't blackmail the defendant.

'The complainant was asked to provide a victim personal statement, but he has declined to do so. I would say on his behalf that he would find himself in trouble with his family and community.'

In mitigation defence lawyer Ronan Maguire, said: 'She is the primary carer for her three year old daughter and she is concerned about what will happen to her. The concerns have been raised as a consequence of this process, but prior to this there was no concerns by social services.

'The child is currently in the care of her father, but she is concerned about what will happen - she doesn't want to be away from her three year old child. Perhaps her best mitigation is her guilty plea and the fact that she has never been in trouble before.'

Sentencing the judge Mr Recorder Thomas Ryan said: 'You created false details to start an online relationship with a man but with the intention to obtain money. You did it because you were in debt.

'It was sophisticated and a man was targeted by you and you got just short of 7,000. When he said that you would no longer get money from him, you threatened to send sexual pictures to his family. These pictures were on Snapchat so it was a hollow threat, but he didn't know that.

'You deliberately targeted a victim who was vulnerable because he believed your lies and was into a false intention of love and marriage. You carries it on for months to get money on a drip. It's a serious case which crosses the custody threshold but I also consider that you are only 21 and this is your first offence. You are a single mother and you have had a difficult background.

'You are sadly in debt and I give you credit as you have attempted to repay some of the money to the victim. So, I will not be sending you to prison today.'

Bibi was also ordered to pay 5,500 in compensation to the victim and complete 100 hours unpaid work. She was also banned from contacting the victim for two years under the terms of a restraining order.

MailOnline has approached SingleMuslim.com for comment.
President Trump's claim that the media is responsible for dividing the nation is resonating with voters, a new survey shows.

Nearly two-thirds, 64 percent, believe the media has done more to divide the country than to unite it. Just 17 percent of voters who were polled by Politico and Morning Consult said they believed the media had been a unifying force.

They were more likely to say that Donald Trump had united the country than the media, as well, with nearly double, 30 percent, saying he'd been a uniter and 56 percent saying he'd been a divider.

President Trump 's claim that the media is responsible for dividing the nation is resonating with voters, a new survey shows

Voters are more likely to say that Donald Trump has united the country than the media

The criticism of media was universal, regardless of political party, a deep dive into the survey shows. Only 14 percent of Independents and 28 percent of Democrats said the media has done more to unite than divide. At 9 percent, Republicans were the least likely to say so.

Trump and his White House have said that media has a 'role to play' in lowering the temperature following threats of violence against liberals and the press and a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

The president on Wednesday evening accused the press of playing up a protest this week to embarrass him after he and Melania traveled to the Squirrel Hill neighborhood to pay their respects and visit with survivors.

'They did everything in their power to try to play it up and push people apart,' he claimed. 'That's what's happening. They are pushing people apart.'

He told a crowd of supporters in Estero, Florida: 'The fake news is in fact, and I hate to say this, in fact the enemy of the people.'

Sarah Sanders at her first press briefing in more than three weeks scolded reporters on Monday 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 ABC News' Jon Karl. '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.'

Politico's poll that showed voters believe that Trump and the national news media are inciting hatred and division was taken from Thursday, Oct. 25 through Tuesday, Oct. 30.

The outlet released the finding this morning at roughly the same time as an interview clip dropped of Trump defending his 'enemy of the people' refrain in spite of an emphatic warning that it could inspire violence.

He told Axios in an HBO special that supporters 'like me more' because of the heated rhetoric after interviewer Jim VandeHei cautioned him that someone could get 'shot' because of the inflamed tensions with journalists.

'It was my only form of fighting back. I couldn't be here if I did that,' Trump responded.

Trump called the press the 'enemy' at a rally in Estero, Florida on Wednesday night

'They did everything in their power to try to play it up and push people apart,' he claimed. 'That's what's happening. They are pushing people apart'

Axios conducted its interview for the special on Monday, after a Saturday mass murder at a Pittsburgh synagogue and days of pipe bomb threats that resulted in no deaths but created an anxious atmosphere two weeks out from the mid-term elections.

'What scares the crap out of me, if you're saying enemy of the people, enemy of the people,' VandeHei told Trump.

Without letting him finish, the president jumped in and said he feels the need to 'fight back - but you're right' in a clip posted on Thursday to the Axios website.

'God forbid that like somebody - you have fervent supporters, they love you, they listen to you, enemy of the people, enemy of the people,' the Axios co-founder said.

Trump plainly tells him, 'They like me more because of that.'

'They like you more, but what happens if all of a sudden if someone gets shot? Someone shoots one of these reporters?' VandeHei asks him. 'I don't think you think we're the enemy of the people, do you?'

The president calmly tells him, 'I don't, I don't, but if you gave me false reports, I would say, that's not a good thing for our country.'

'They like you more, but what happens if all of a sudden if someone gets shot? Someone shoots one of these reporters?' VandeHei asks him. 'I don't think you think we're the enemy of the people, do you?'

'Don't you worry at all? You are like the most powerful man in the world, and if you say that word, enemy, enemy, literally tens of thousands of people go into a stadium to listen to you, and the people go on social media and they get themselves so jazzed up, there's got to be a part of you that's like, "Dammit, I'm scared that someone is going to take it too far." '

The president did not acknowledge the concern for reporter safety. Instead, he jumped in to defend his behavior and said, 'It was my only form of fighting back. I couldn't be here if I did that.'

VandeHei exclaimed, 'You won! You have the presidency!'

To which Trump says, 'No no, but I did this before I won.'

Trump bashed media throughout his campaign but it was not until after he was elected that he started calling the press the 'enemy' in tweets and on the stump.

The harsh language has been picked up by his supporters, who on Wednesday night chanted 'CNN sucks' and booed in the direction of press as Trump ginned them up.

He accused journalists of spreading 'lies' about him as he referred to press as the 'the far-left media' at a Florida rally.

'And when we talk about division, this is a big part,' he said to jeering from his fans. 'The far left media has spread terrible lie and stories about the Trump administration and the tens of millions of people who make up our great movement, the biggest political movement in the history of our country.'

An audience member shouted loudly for media to, 'Tell the truth.'

The president calmly tells him, 'I don't, I don't, but if you gave me false reports, I would say, that's not a good thing for our country'

'But the media doesn't want you to hear your story - it's not my story, it's your story,' Trump said a couple minutes later. 'The fake news is in fact, and I hate to say this, in fact the enemy of the people,' he said to deafening cheers.

That was Wednesday. His interview with Axios in which the outlet had warned him of the consequences of the fiery rhetoric was on Monday.

'If they would write accurately about me, I would be the nicest president you've ever seen. It would be much easier,' he told VandeHei. 'It's much easier ... for me to be nice than it is for me to be the way I have to be.'

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 journalists of fanning the flames of hated and anger.

'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 the White House press briefing later in the day, CNN's Acosta pushed the president's spokeswoman to explain why Trump 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.'

Sanders 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.
A prominent Ferguson protester is calling on police to continue investigating her son's suicide - saying there's no way he would have taken his own life.

Danye Jones, 24, was found hanging from a tree in his family's backyard in St Louis, Missouri on October 17. Police ruled the death a suicide.

But Melissa McKinnies believes her son was targeted because of her activism with the Black Lives Matter movement. She says he was lynched.

Prominent Ferguson protester Melissa McKinnies is calling on police to further investigate her son Danye Jones' suicide. McKinnies believes Jones (pictured together) was murdered

Jones, 24, was found hanging from a tree (pictured) in his family's backyard in St Louis, Missouri on October 17

McKinnies said that her family had been receiving death threats for months through social media. And recently, those threats felt even more real.

'They watch my house and when my husband and my son would approach the car they would drive off,' she told KMOV.

McKinnies said the family never reported the threats to police because 'we felt like we had this'.

Family members said bruises were found on Jones' face and the sheets that were used to hang him did not come from the family's house.

They said that the knots used to tie the sheets were advanced and that they don't believe he would have known how to make them.

Rev Darryl Gray, a fellow activist leader in St Louis, said McKinnies believes her son's death 'was meant as a message to her'.

Family members said bruises were found on Jones' face and the sheets that were used to hang him did not come from the family's house

McKinnies said that her family had been receiving death threats for months through social media. Recently, people had come to watch her house (pictured is her neighborhood)

Both the police and Jones' family said a chair was found near his body.

McKinnies said her son had been in 'good spirits' and was starting his own real estate business before his death.

'Suicidal? Ready to leave his mother? No, no, nope,' she said. 'A mother knows her child. He was not suicidal at all. At all.'

News of Jones' death went viral after McKinnies posted photos of her son hanging from the tree, writing in the caption: 'They lynched my baby'.

Facebook later removed the image.

McKinnies said her son had been in 'good spirits' and was starting his own real estate business. 'A mother knows her child,' she said. 'He was not suicidal at all. At all'

It will still be weeks before the St Louis County Coroner's Office completes Jones' autopsy and releases the cause of death

Although she is 'sick with grief', McKinnies said she is 'ready to get up and fight for my baby'.

'What it appears to be to us is that somebody took my son,' she said. 'Saying that he committed suicide? No, you're going to respect him.'

It will still be weeks before the St Louis County Coroner's Office completes Jones' autopsy and releases the cause of death.

Police said they are still investigating the case as a suicide.

Meanwhile, McKinnies is throwing a rally in support of her son and has also planned a news conference for Thursday to reveal more details about the death threats her family has received in recent months.

Police are still investigating the 2014 and 2016 deaths of DeAndre Joshua and Darren Seals, two prominent Ferguson activists who were both found dead inside burned cars.
Corey French, 30, was arrested and charged with two felony counts of unlawful sex acts and is currently out of bail

A teacher in Florida was arrested for allegedly having sex with not one, but two students from a high school in Florida. When they found out about each other- they confronted his wife.

One student from Fletcher High School said she was 17, the other said she had just turned 16, when they each had a sexual relationship with 30-year-old Corey French. They both said he told them he loved them during the course of their trysts.

One believed he would leave his wife for her, and even postponed her plans to attend college after high school to wait for him to do so.

The teens had sex in the school and at his home, according to an investigative report released by the Duval County School Board, reports News4Jax.

When the students became aware of each other after learning about it from their mutual friend, they decided to confront Corey's wife, Alexandra French.

The 17-year-old said she met French while hanging out in his class because it was a meeting point for students. She told invesigators students would fawn over him.

When they started communicating over Twitter, he told her to use a different account 'name was 'dry_humor,' because the one they were using was 'checked.'

Corey French (left) was outed by two teens, one who was 17 and the other had just turned 16 when they alleged they had sexual relationships with him, when the teens confronted his wife, Alexandra French (right) who is an elementary school teacher

Courtesy of WJXT

Within weeks, Corey told the teen he has feelings for her beyond the student-teacher relationship.

They first kissed on a hiking trail. A few days later she was in an empty classroom when he came up behind her, kissed her and then they had sex for the first time.

They would have sex at school, at his house and at her stepmother's home.

They continued the liaison until even after she graduated. She helped him set up the classroom for students coming in after she had left the school.

The other student was a sophomore in the school when she had just turned 16.

He told her to come to his classroom for help on a test. He ended up giving her the answers to the test.

One a following meeting, he grabbed her crotch and told her he loved her.

They would continue to touch sexually at the school, until she went to his home where they had sex.

They also had sex in his car during a Homecoming game. She was pictured in the negligee in his bathroom.

Alexandra French told her husband to leave the house after the teens confronted her and then she called his principal at Fletcher High School

Both teens attended Fletcher High School where Corey taught- he left the school back in March

When the teens met with his wife Alexandra at a Dunkin Donuts last March to confront her, they provided her with photos of Corey in his boxer shorts in his bedroom, on a blanket at the beach and a photo of one girl in a negligee in French's bathroom, according to First Coast News.

They also provided Alexandra with screen shots of messages with Corey.

When his wife went home, she told Corey to leave and then called the principal at Fletcher High School.

Both teens said once they turned 18 their relationships ended with the teacher.

Now, police say, they don't want to press charges.

When police tried to arrest him in late September, Alexandra French tried to stop them, police said, and both were charged with resisting arrest without violence.

Both Alexandra and Corey plead not guilty to those charges on October 24.

Their attorney, Melinda Patterson, said her clients are innocent of resisting arrest and Corey French denies having sexual relationships with the girls.

'He is maintaining his innocence across the board,' Patterson said. Corey is out of jail on bond. He pleaded not guilty and faces the two felony charges charges.

His next court appearance is scheduled for November 14.
A poster calling for information on Emanuela Orlandi, who disappeared aged 15 from a Rome street in 1983

The mystery of an Italian teenager who vanished more than 30 years ago could be a step closer to a solution after human bones discovered in Rome were revealed to belong to a woman.

The remains discovered at the Vatican embassy in Rome on Tuesday have sparked fresh interest in the case of Emanuela Orlandi who vanished aged 15 in 1983.

The teenager was one of two 15-year-olds, along with Mirella Gregori, who went missing in Rome in the space of 40 days in 1983.

The two girls' disappearance has sparked a range of theories over the years, especially surrounding Emanuela's case and its links to the Vatican.

Cold War politics, the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II, alleged Vatican links to the Italian criminal underworld and claims of satanic orgies by prelates have all been blamed for the girl's disappearance.

Emanuela, who was last seen on a street in Rome, disappeared after leaving her family's Vatican City apartment to go to a music lesson in Rome. Her father was a member of the Holy See police force.

Rome's chief prosecutor has been called in to investigate the find.

Today researchers said the tests on pieces of pelvic bone which were found at the site revealed the skeleton belonged to a woman, BBC News reported.

Emanuela's brother played down hopes of finding her body saying the family had suffered disappointments in the past.

He said: 'I was amazed the Vatican police immediately came up with the idea that it could be the remains of Emanuela and Mirella Gregori. How did they make the connection?'

One theory suggests she was kidnapped by hostage-takers trying to have Mehmet Ali Agca, who shot the Pope in St Peter's Square in 1981, freed from prison.

Shortly after she disappeared the police are claimed to have received anonymous calls, which said Emanuela would be freed if the Turkish gunman was released.

Forensic investigators are working to determine the age of the bones as well as the date of death.

The Vatican statement did not mention the missing girls but Italian media immediately linked her unsolved disappearance to the discovery of the bones.

The Rome embassy is in the upscale residential neighborhood of Parioli, near the city's Villa Borghese museum.

The last major twist in the case came in 2012, when forensic police exhumed the body of a reputed mobster from the crypt of a Roman basilica in hopes of finding Emanuela's remains too.

However, that search turned up no link.

More recently, a leading Italian investigative journalist caused a sensation when he published a five-page document last year that had been stolen from a locked Vatican cabinet that suggested the Holy See had been involved in Orlandi's disappearance.

The Vatican immediately branded the document a fake, though it never explained what it was doing in the Vatican cabinet.

The document was purportedly written by a cardinal and listed supposed expenses used for Orlandi's upkeep after she disappeared.

The Vatican has repeatedly maintained that it has co-operated fully with police investigating the Orlandi case.
Ethiopia's new supreme court president Meaza Ashenafi

Ethiopia's parliament today swore in the country's first female supreme court president, adding to the 10 women ministers and state president.

New supreme court president, prominent rights campaigner Meaza Ashenafi, recently served as an adviser on women's rights at the Addis Ababa-based United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Her appointment comes two weeks after reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed made Ethiopia the third country in Africa - after Rwanda and Seychelles - to have its cabinet split equally between men and women.

The ministers include defence minister Aisha Mohammed and Muferiat Kamil who leads the newly-created Ministry of Peace, responsible for police and domestic intelligence agencies.

Naming Ms Ashenafi as his pick to head the Supreme Court, Mr Abiy told MPs the court system needed improved capacities 'to successfully implement demands made with regards to justice, democracy and change in our country.

'I have made the nomination with the firm belief that she has the capacity required, with her vast international experience in mind.'

Parliament unanimously approved Mr Abiy's choice.

Under Ethiopia's constitution, the court system operates independently of government.

Last week, the Horn of Africa country named Sahle-Work Zewde to the largely ceremonial post of president, also the first woman to hold that post.

In a unanimous vote, Ethiopian lawmakers picked career diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde, 68, to replace Mulatu Teshome who resigned in unclear circumstances.

Since his appointment in April, Mr Abiy has presided over a series of reforms that have included the pardoning of dissidents long outlawed by the government and diplomatic overtures to long-term enemy Eritrea.

Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde with reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Mr Abiy is seeking to ensure greater gender equality in the country and has already appointed 10 women to his 20-minister cabinet

'If the current change in Ethiopia is headed equally by both men and women, it can sustain its momentum and realise a prosperous Ethiopia free of religious, ethnic and gender discrimination,' Ms Sahle-Work said.

Ms Sahle-Work, who was born Addis Ababa and attended university in France, has been Ethiopia's ambassador to France, Djibouti, Senegal and the regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Just prior to her appointment as president she was the UN's top official at the African Union. She is fluent in English and French as well as Amharic, Ethiopia's main language.

As president she is expected to serve two six-year terms.

'Mulatu has shown us the way for change and hope, he has shown life continues before and after leaving power. I call on others to heed his example and be ready for change,' said Ms Sahle-Work in a speech to parliament.
This is the embarrassing moment New York mayor Mayor Bill de Blasio was shunned by a family friend of a 2017 Halloween terrorist attack victim, after he reached out to shake the mourner's hand during a memorial for the eight people who died.

Hugh Hales-Tooke is a friend of Nicholas Cleves mother Monica. The 23-year-old was mowed down by Uzbekistani Sayfullo Saipovs truck which hit people on a bicycle path on the West Side Highway in Tribeca last October 31.

Hales-Tooke attended in the parents absence on Wednesday because she could not arrange to be there with the short notice given by the mayor's office, but he left the mayor hanging when he offered his palm after his speech.

Cleves was an only child, and his father, Monica's husband Richard Cleves died several years ago.

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Hugh Hales-Tooke (center) refused to shake Mayor Bill de Blasio's hand after he failed to mention the names of those who died in the October 31, 2017 terrorist attack in New York

Nicholas Cleves, 23, was the only New Yorker killed. His mother could not attend the memorial because she was only told about the service by the mayor's office at 4pm Tuesday

De Blassio spoke for 12 minutes without but only mentioned names of 13 officials and cops. He spoke repeatedly about New Yorkers' 'resiliency' on Wednesday's one-year anniversary

Many were outraged that they didn't receive details of the memorial until Tuesday.

'It is so traumatic for her to be in the city today that she is in the Boston area and wasnt told about this memorial service until 4 pm yesterday,' he told the New York Post.

'Shes very hurt. She was very hurt.'

The victim's mother had already planned to be out of town to try to escape the harrowing reminders of the traumatic day and could not rearrange her plans to get back in time to attend.

Friends and family of some of the victims were seated in the front row. Hales-Tooke (center) shouted the correct pronunciation of the victim's name when the mayor got it wrong

This was the rented Home Depot truck terrorist Sayfullo Saipov used to mow down the cyclists and pedestrians on the cycle path October 31, 2017 in Tribeca

He was outraged by the mayor's speech, saying: 'I didnt hear a thing about the lives, the people. Nicholas Cleves was born and bred in New York. He was the only New Yorker among the victims.

'He loved this city. His mothers destroyed by this.

'I thought that was what this was about, that this is a moment where we would say, "You know, we care, we really do care," but I didnt get the feeling. [The mayor] said this attack has been in our hearts for a year... Really, do you believe that?'

Tooke also angrily shouted out the correct pronunciation of Cleves' name when de Blasio got it wrong.

Mayor de Blasio was forced to apologize after failing to mention the victims' names during a 12-minute speech at the service which marked one year since their deaths.

The deceased included six foreign visitors.

New Jersey resident Darren Drake, 32, and Belgian tourist Ann-Laure Decadt, 31, were killed

Five members of this group of Argentinian friends were also killed. They are Hernan Diego Mendoza (far left), Alejandro Damian Pagnucco (second from left), Ariel Erlij (third from left), Diego Enrique Angelini (second from right) and Hernan Ferruchi (third from right)

The seven others were Darren Drake, 32, Ann-Laure Decadt, 31, and friends Diego Enrique Angelini, Ariel Erlij, Hernan Ferruchi, Hernan Diego Mendoza and Alejandro Damian Pagrucco.

During his speech on Wednesday, de Blasio mentioned none of them but managed to cite 13 separate police officers and elected officials by name.

He also repeatedly gushed over the 'resiliency' of New Yorkers and even praised the schoolchildren who witnessed the attack from their building and went back to class the next day.

After his speech, he was approached by an angry loved one of one of those who died and was chastised for the glaring omission.

While de Blasio thanked the family and friends of loved ones who attended, it is not clear exactly whose relatives out of those that were killed were able to get there.

Terrorist Sayfullo Saipov remains in custody

Only two victims were American.

It is unlikely that any of the relatives of the victims from Belgium or Argentina had time to get to New York for it.

Ann-Laure Decadt was visiting from Belgium and friends Diego Enrique Angelini, Ariel Erlij, Hernan Ferruchi, Hernan Diego Mendoza and Alejandro Damian Pagrucco were all visiting from Argentina.

The mayor's office would not clarify whether any of their relatives attended the event.

Despite it being unclear whether any of their families or friends went, de Blasio read a portion of his speech in Spanish for the Argentinian victims.

A spokesman for the mayor's office conceded in a statement to DailyMail.com that his speech and the organization of the event did not go as smoothly as planned.

'The program didnt originally include a reading of the names. When the families raised the issue, the Mayor agreed and read the names.

'And while the event came together very recently, these families should have been invited earlier,' they said.

Saipov remains in custody.
Rumors behind 13-year-old Jayme Closs' mysterious disappearance are swirling the rural town of Barron, Wisconsin.

It's been two weeks since cops responded to a 911 call at the Closs family home on October 15 and found the door kicked in and parents James and Denise Closs shot dead and their daughter no where in sight.

On Thursday Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald announced that authorities have received a declining number of tips and will scale back their ground search in Closs' abduction case. A $50,000 reward has been set for any leads on her whereabouts.

As the desperate search continues, whispers in the small town speculate if Jayme Closs could have been the one to pull the trigger, or she ran away with a secret older boyfriend, or that her parents were targeted for involvement with meth, which is rampant in the area.

Cops dispelled the theory that Closs was behind the murders saying she is not a suspect in her parents' murder and was abducted and is considered in danger.

On Thursday the Barron County Sheriff's Office announced that the ground search for missing girl Jayme Closs, 13, has been scaled back due to a declining number of tips, two weeks after she was reported missing on October 15

Theories behind Closs' disappearance speculate if she killed her parents, or ran away with a secret older online boyfriend, or if her parents were targeted for some involvement with meth

Cops responded to a 911 call at the Closs family home on October 15 and found the door kicked in and parents James and Denise Closs shot dead and their daughter no where in sight.

Authorities said they received a 911 dispatch call and heard yelling and they found the front door kicked in. Closs also was just five feet tall and weighted 100 pounds, casting doubts on how she could have overpowered her parents.

Police also released three vehicles of interest, meaning those drivers could have been behind the horrific murder that has mystified the small Wisconsin town of just 3,300 people.

One vehicle was likely a red or orange 2000 to 2014 Dodge Challenger, based on surveillance footage from nearby homes and businesses. The second car was likely a black 2006 to 2010 Ford Edge or a black 2004 to 2010 Acura MDX, according to the sheriff's office.

Another theory emerged following a tweet from Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald, reporting 'serious unrelated criminal activity' in the Barron area.

Closs' neighborhood had one of the worst methamphetamine problems in the state. Some locals speculate that a drug dealer could have kicked in the door to confront someone in the home, or could have simply had the wrong address, according to Heavy.

Yet another theory is that Closs' parents were killed and the teenager was abducted by a sexual deviant.

Along those lines, some speculate that Closs may have met someone online who showed up to her door and abducted her. Some wonder of Closs had a secret older boyfriend and conspired with him to kill her parents and runaway or he simply abducted her. The Barron sheriff said he had no knowledge that she had a boyfriend.

The bodies of Denise, 46, and James Closs, 56, were found shot dead in their Wisconsin two weeks ago. Some rumors behind their death speculate they were targeted by a co-worker or perhaps for some involvement with meth, which is rampant in the area

Funeral services were held Saturday for the parents of Jayme Closs, the 13-year-old Wisconsin girl who has been missing ever since her parents were found shot to death inside their home

Family and friend's gathered to pay their respects to the Denise and James at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Cameron at their funeral on Saturday October 27

The family of Jayme Closs spoke out in a public appeal on Wednesday in Wisconsin

Others wonder if Closs was taken hostage or if she was a victim of sex trafficking, as there have been some cases in the area. The sheriff said that there was no credible information to point to sex trafficking though.

Another theory says James or Denise Closs could have killed their daughter earlier in the day outside of the home, killed their spouse, then took their own lives.

Or Closs could have witnessed her parents commit murder suicide and fled into the nearby woods where she still hides today.

However the sheriff says that autopsies determined both parents were murder victims.

'Her parents died from gunshot wounds. that's why we are ruling this a homicide. There was no gun found on the scene. We believe Jayme was home based on the evidence in our case. Some of it from that 911 call and some of it is part of the active investigation, and we're not able to comment on why we believe that,' Fitzgerald said in the past.

The timeline that perplexes police and neighbors alike is that the killer and Jayme only had four minutes following the 911 call to when the cops arrived to flee the scene.

Another theory emerged following a tweet from Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald, reporting 'serious unrelated criminal activity' in the Barron area leading locals to wonder if a drug dealer was behind the murder and abduction as meth is a big problem in the town

Pictured are two of the vehicles of interest: A black 2006-2010 Ford Edge and a red or orange 2008-2014 Dodge Challenger

Cops have dispelled rumors that she could have pulled the trigger on her parents. They also said they had no knowledge of Closs having a boyfriend who could've abducted her

However infrared technology and drones found no sign of Closs after they were used following her disappearance.

Some rumors fixate on Closs' parents. Mom Denise seemed close to her daughter on social media, while her husband appeared to be more reclusive.

Denise Closs had a $14,000 money judgement against her for failing to pay her credit card but it was eventually satisfid.

James Closs was divorced back in 1998 and neither he or his wife Denise had a criminal history. They both worked at a Jennie-O turkey plant in Barron and one theory is that they were targeted by a co-worker.

Rumors contemplate whether one of the parents were victims of the severe meth addiction gripping the area or had ties to an Indian casino 10 minutes down the road from their home.

Sheriff Fitzgerald announced Thursday that tips have been declining in the abduction case and authorities will transition their round-the-clock reactive operation to one with a more methodical investigative approach.

'I want to reassure the great residents of Barron County and everyone else across the nation who continue to support and follow this case that we have left no stone unturned,' Fitzgerald said Thursday.

On October 23 two thousand volunteers teamed up with law enforcement agents to search a five mile radius around Closs' home in Barron, Wisconsin

Members of the search party were asked to register and have their driver's licenses scanned for safety and as an 'investigative tool'

Search efforts intensified in Barron,Wisconsin as two thousand volunteers turned out to assist officers from Barron County Sheriff's Department in their attempt to find missing Jayme Closs

Steven Fowler of luck Wis., and his dog Cheeka search a cornfield along 15th Ave. near highway 25 just North of Barron in the search for Jayme Closs

'As of today, we have transitioned our Emergency Operations Center from a 24/7 reactive operation to a more deliberate and methodical effort to progress the investigation. This is based on a declining number of tips,' he added.

Fitzgerald said the multiple law enforcement agencies - including the Barron County Sheriff's Office, FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - investigating the case will continue to follow up with each of the over 2,100 tips that have poured in.

'We will continue to fully investigate those remaining tips and new information we receive going forward. This case remains our number one priority and we will have agents from both the FBI and DCI continuing to support our local investigators until we bring Jayme home,' Fitzgerald said.

Authorities have spent the last 18 days combing through information from social media, phone records, family members, friends and co-workers fishing for a lead on Closs' whereabouts.

Just last week two thousand volunteers helped law enforcement search farm and woodland around Barron to search for the abducted teenager.

Trucks were parked bumper to bumper and hoards of people came out to help in the desperate search.

Investigators suspected it was possible she could be out in the cornfields somewhere.
PPP willing to support govt in the interest of country: Asif Zardari

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday extended a truce offer to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government, saying his party was willing to support the government in the interest of the country.



Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Zardari said his party had begrudgingly accepted Nawaz Sharifs government and had also begrudgingly accepted the PTI government.



Come and sit with us. We should all sit together and prepare a long-term plan for the next 20 to 25 years to bring the country out of the present [economic] crisis, the former president offered.



He said there were no free and fair elections anywhere in the world, not even in the United States or the United Kingdom. Weaknesses exist in democracies [also], he said, adding that it was time we all sat together and stopped undermining one another.



Zardari said the $3 billion aid was not enough to overcome the economic crisis facing the country. Its not a complete cure, he said. He further said that dams are important and should be built but first, steps should be taken for conservation.
The crisis facing Britain's High Street could result in more than 200 shopping centres falling into administration, experts say.

The rising popularity of online shopping combined with the downfall of large 'anchor stores' such as BHS and Toys R Us causes a 'downward spiral', according to Nelson Blackley, Senior Research Associate at Nottingham Business School.

'If centres close, particularly in small towns, it will be catastrophic,' Mr Blackley told the BBC.

'We have too many of them, doing exactly the same - the same range of stores and products - and basically that's not attractive,' he added.

The Broadmarsh Centre in Nottingham (pictured) has been described as 'empty and soulless'

Several centres at risk of closure are owned by US private equity firms with deals that would need refinancing.

Mr Blackley, Senior Research Associate at the National Retail Research Knowledge Exchange Centre, said that online retail in the UK was growing faster than almost all other retail markets in the world.

'If the major anchor store moves out, that has a halo effect on other stores in that centre. It's a downward spiral and you can't fill shopping centres with nail bars and vape shops,' he said.

Figures released in September revealed that up to 100,000 retail jobs had been axed from the High Street over the past three years.

Labour analysis of Office for National Statistics data showed that jobs in retail shops had plunged by 98,000 between June 2015 and June 2018.

Business rates and soaring rents are challenges that face traditional retailers, in addition to the onslaught by online markets.

Jasmin Stephenson, from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, said she would only go to the Broadmarsh shopping centre if she had to

Falkirk's Callendar Square shopping centre in Stirlingshire was bought by Colony Northstar in 2015, but the following year, despite being valued at more than 25million, it sold for little more than 1million, local media reported

The previous week John Lewis admitted that profits had plunged by 99 per cent to just 1.2million in its half-year results.

Poundworld, Maplin and Toys R Us went bust earlier this year.

Mr Blackley highlighted Financial Times research which suggested that roughly 2.5billion worth of shopping centres and retail parks are up for sale in towns and cities across the UK.

Kettering's Newlands Centre (pictured) is backed by private equity and has had a number of its outlets face closure

He added that the trend is moving rapidly and it would be unfortunate to be a shopping centre owner in the current climate.

BHS' collapse two years ago left roughly 200 shopping centres with empty units - more than half of which have still not been filled, Mr Blackley said.

But it's not just big businesses on Britain's High Street feeling the squeeze.

In July this year the Daily Mail reported on family-run and small businesses feeling the pinch over the crisis facing retailers.

Bookseller Georgia Duffy, 28, opened Imagined Things, the only independent bookshop in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, last year.

Ms Duffy, a former radiographer, left her health service role for self-employment but shortly before the one-year anniversary of her store's opening she wrote on Twitter that her shop had only taken 12.34 all day.

'Things have been tough recently  today the worst day ever,' she wrote.

The tweet was read more than one million times and the following day her shop was overrun with orders from across the country, but the comment highlighted the strain that 'conventional' business owners are facing.

Stafford's Guildhall centre has seen several retailers relocating to the new Riverside complex in the town

Richard Hunt, 72, has run Hunt's of Marlow in Buckinghamshire with his wife for 22 years.

The hardware shop owner said: 'We used to do a lot of model railways but the internet killed that stone dead.

'We get people who come in to look, touch and feel. You show them it running and off they go to buy it online.'

The death of the High Street in Britain? Thousands of shops are closing across Britain as record numbers of customers buy on the internet. A total of 1,772 stores disappeared from the UKs busiest town centres in 2017 - meaning almost five closed every day. Foreign internet rivals such as Amazon are taking their business, with 18.2p of every pound forked out by shoppers now spent online. A string of retailers have recently gone bust or are facing an uncertain future. More than 50,000 retail jobs have already been lost this year. This is likely because in 2008, just 4.9 per cent of shopping was done online, but last August the figure was a record 18.2 per cent. Advertisement

Hunt's of Marlow was once sat on the town's high street but relocated to larger premises 11 years ago when rents became too expensive.

Mr Hunt said: 'Marlow itself is a very busy, lively town but there's a total change of trading in the town.

'I couldn't believe how many coffee shops there are in the town and they have always got people in them.'

Shoppers are also noticing the changing face of Britain's High Street.

Nottingham-based mother and daughter Helena Waszczyszyn and Anja Ramsden described their city's Broadmarsh Centre as 'empty and soulless'.

Ms Ramsden said the centre was 'desolate', with shops continuing to leave the centre one by one.

Jasmin Stephenson, from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, said she would only go to the shopping centre if she had to.

Steve Hall, from Essex, said that he likes shopping centres but they seem to be dying out.

The Newlands Centre in Kettering, which has private equity backing, has had several outlets face closure, and Stafford's Guildhall centre has seen several retailers relocating to the new Riverside complex in the town.

Daniel Mead, from asset management firm APAM, said that shopping centres across the country are being affected by the crisis regardless of their location.

But although they are similar in the capital structure behind them, complexes in richer areas could be easier to save, Mr Mead said.

He added that facilities such as libraries, medical centres and schools could all see a future within retail complexes, citing a new school in Richmond which is being built above a Lidl.

But investors have short-term approaches and lack the skills required to embrace a significant change in the way centres operate, Mr Mead said.
Domestic violence charges against Meghan Markle's future sister-in-law could be dropped after Thomas Markle Jr declined to testify in court and the couple cut alcohol out of their lives, DailyMail.com can disclose.

Darlene Blount's trial on two charges of fourth degree assault was due to begin in Oregon on Tuesday but was delayed and could now be dropped after prosecutors spoke to Markle Jr, 52.

Last week, audio obtained by DailyMail.com heard him pleading with a Josephine County judge to have a no contact order against Blount lifted and he has asked the DA not to press on with the case.

Blount, 38, was arrested in late July at the couple's Grants Pass, Oregon, home after she allegedly blacked Markle Jr's eye.

Turning over a new leaf: Thomas Markle Jr, 52, says he and his fiancee Darlene Blount have quit drinking in an effort to repair their relationship which has been beset with domestic violence

Both Blount and Thomas Jr have been arrested multiple times over the years on different charges involving domestic abuse. Blount was arrested in July after 'slugging' her fiance in the eye and Markle Jr was arrested in 2017 for holding a gun to Blount's head

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Markle Jr said he had told District Attorney Michelle Enfield that the couple want to be together and have quit boozing, as well as undergoing therapy.

He said: 'They moved [the case] up to February 26 because they couldn't get hold of me and they couldn't serve me. They couldn't serve me a summons because I was away in Washington [State].'

Markle Jr added: 'On Monday, I called [the DA] and had a long talk with her. She basically asked me if me and Darlene were together, if we were planning on being together and then I said yes absolutely.

'I already bailed [Blount] out and I dropped the no contact order. I went to court to do that. There was never a signed restraining order or anything like that from me.

'I explained to the lady at the DA's office that we've had ups and downs in our relationship, we both have troubled pasts.

'A lot of trauma from our past experiences and that we're both really getting to know each other and sometimes, if we do drink a little bit too much, those buttons get pushed really easy.

'We get in some pretty good arguments and stuff like this happens. But I explained to her, I said we're getting couples' counseling, individual counseling and we've drastically just cut alcohol and beer out of our lives.'

According to Markle Jr, Blount had been nervous about the impending trial and both say they hope Blount's attorney and the DA's office can come to a settlement so they can move on.

Meghan Markle, who is currently on tour with husband Prince Harry, is the half-sister of Thomas Markle Jr and the future sister-in-law of Darlene Blount although remains estranged from her siblings

Big brother: A young Thomas Markle plays with baby Meghan in a family photo

Blount and Markle Jr have been together for more than two years but have endured tumultuous periods that have seen both arrested.

In January 2017, Markle Jr was arrested at his Oregon home after pulling a gun on his now-fiancee during a drunken altercation.

Blount told cops she had been in fear for her life and he spent two nights in the Josephine County Jail as a result, although the case was dropped the following month.

Last January, Blount was collared after another drunken argument and bizarrely accused Markle Jr of hitting himself during a 911 call with local cops.

And in July, the couple had a third brush with the law after an argument got out of hand and Blount accidentally struck her fiance in the eye.

He later told DailyMail.com that the injury had happened after Blount clipped him with the corner of her purse as she attempted to climb out of the car.

Once again, she spent two nights in the Josephine County Jail before being bailed out by Markle Jr  and was later charged with two counts of fourth degree assault.

That case was due to be heard Tuesday but Markle Jr says he never wanted to press charges and hopes it will be ironed out following his conversation with Enfield.

He told DailyMail.com: 'Darlene had been a little nervous about it of course - they should have already dropped it since they couldn't get hold of me.

'It's such a minor little case, I don't know why they would continue pursuing it or whatever. We're working through our problems and we hope to get married soon.'

The 52-year-old has asked the DA not to press on with the case now that the two are receiving counseling to work through their issues

Markle Jr said he hopes to avoid further negative headlines, both for himself and his younger sister, although he told DailyMail.com that she will probably regard Blount's arrest as 'just another embarrassing moment'.

He said: 'Since day one, she's not acknowledged she has any family or anything so maybe it's just another embarrassing moment for her  it's probably embarrassing just to even be associated with her family.'

But despite their current estrangement, he says he will be inviting the Duchess of Sussex to his upcoming wedding  even though he doesn't believe she would come  and will do the same for their father.

'Oh I'd absolutely invite her to my wedding,' he said. 'But if I bet a dollar on her coming, I could retire off of that if she did  those are the odds of her coming.

'I will definitely invite my mother [Roslyn] too. I'll put an invite out there to my dad but he definitely won't come because he didn't come to my first wedding either.'

For now, he says he hopes to concentrate on mending his relationship with Darlene and is hoping for a calm period in the lead-up to the birth of his royal niece or nephew in April.

'Of course, I'd like to see a calm period now,' he said. 'Hopefully by the time the baby is born, things will have worked themselves out and got resolved and got better.

'Maybe, she'll have some sort of reunion for her baby being born. And of course, I'll be a good uncle.'
Daryll Rowe, 28, (pictured arriving at an earlier hearing) has lost a legal challenge against his conviction and life sentence

A man found guilty of deliberately trying to infect 10 men with HIV has lost challenges against his conviction and sentence.

Hairdresser Daryll Rowe watched proceedings via video link from prison as leading judges rejected his appeal applications today.

Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with two other judges at the Court of Appeal in London, announced that the reasons presented on his behalf in relation to both conviction and sentence were 'unarguable'.

Rowe, now 28, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 12 years by a judge at Brighton Crown Court in April.

He became the first man in the country to be found guilty of intentionally setting out to spread the virus.

Felicity Gerry QC had argued on Rowe's behalf during the appeal proceedings that a submission of 'no case to answer' should have been accepted by the trial judge.

She said: 'Our primary submissions are that the submission of no case to answer should have succeeded. That not having succeeded, the summing up was inadequate.'

But the prosecution argued that there was 'no merit' in the 'bold' submissions made on Rowe's behalf.

Rowe was convicted of 10 charges - five of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and five of attempting to do so.

The hairdresser (posing topless left) was convicted earlier this year of 10 charges - five of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and five of attempting to do so. Rowe (pictured right) had sex with eight of the men in Brighton and with two others in the North East

His victims cannot be identified for legal reasons and Lady Justice Hallett emphasised that nothing must be published which could lead to their identification.

At his trial, Rowe was accused of launching a deliberate campaign to infect gay men he met on a dating app after being diagnosed in April 2015 in his home city of Edinburgh.

He had sex with eight of the men in Brighton, East Sussex, between October that year and February 2016, and later with two others in the North East.

Rowe was snared following 'significant' enquiries carried out by officers in Scotland and England.

After his trial in Brighton, Rowe pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to four more incidents where he had unprotected sex with partners despite being fully aware he was HIV positive.

Rowe (left) also pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to four more incidents where he had unprotected sex with partners despite knowing he was HIV positive. Rowe (pictured left arriving at Lewes Crown Court) was given an eight-year prison term by the Scottish court

He was given an eight-year prison term and he was placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

In April he was jailed for life at Lewes Crown Court. The court heard he had sent mocking text messages after sex saying he was 'riddled'.

During the sentencing Judge Christine Henson QC, said: 'You are the first individual to be sentenced for Section 18 offences in the context of infecting others with HIV.

'With the full knowledge of the risk you posed to others and the legal implications of engaging in risky sexual practices, you embarked on a deliberate campaign to infect other men with the HIV virus.

'They describe living with a life sentence as a result of your cruel and senseless acts. Many of those men were young men in their 20s at the time they had the misfortune to meet you.'

One of his victims told the court that he had considered 'committing suicide all the time' adding: 'I don't feel I can trust anyone. Daryll has destroyed my life.'

Rowe told jurors he believed he had been cured of the virus by the time he moved to Brighton, having adopted the practice of drinking his own urine as a treatment, supplemented with natural remedies, including oregano, coconut and olive leaf oils.
President Donald Trump issued a dire warning to would-be immigrants making their way toward the U.S., warning that thousands of U.S. troops being sent to the border would return fire if caravan members throw rocks at them.

Trump has already ordered thousands of troops to the southern border, and was asked after delivering a fiery speech at the White House whether he envisioned them firing on the people making there way approaching the border on foot.

'I hope not. I hope not. It's the military. I hope there won't be that. But I will tell you this: Anybody throwing stones, rocks, like they did to Mexico and the Mexican military, Mexican police  where they badly hurt police and soldiers of Mexico  we will consider that a firearm,' Trump warned.

'Anybody throwing stones, rocks ... we will consider that a firearm,' President Donald Trump warned at the White House Thursday

Trump spoke from the Roosevelt Room of the White House

A 4,000-strong caravan set out before dawn from Juchitan to Matias Romero, at La Ventosa, Oaxaca State, Mexico, after being denied buses

'Because there's not much difference. When you get hit in the face with a rock. Which, as you know, it was very violent a few days ago. Very, very violent,' he added.

The president evoked a potentially violent confrontation at the border, and referenced clashes that have occurred in Mexico with Mexican authorities.

'This is an invasion and nobody's really questioning that,' the president added.

Trump issued the threat after he delivered a long rant about illegal immigration from the White House on Thursday, blasting a clogged court system, called out people who jump the line of legal immigrants, and blasted what he called 'endemic abuse of the asylum system.'

The White House had touted the policy change, but the president was unable to deliver any new executive order, legislation, or other formal action.

Asked at one point about current obligations via U.S. law and treaties to consider asylum claims, the president curtly responded: 'They're going to court, as crazy as it sounds.'

The president once again said the U.S. would build tent cities to manage the problem of would-be asylum seekers, and said: 'We'll be holding the family and the children together' in the tents.

'We have other facilities also. But what's happened is, we are holding so many facilities, so many people that our facilities are overrun. They're being overrun. And we are putting up temporary facilities. Eventually people will not be coming here anymore when they realize they cannot get through,' Trump said.

This map shows the latest positions of the four Central American caravans making their way to the US border

The migrants were hoping to compel Mexican authorities to provide transportation for them to Mexico City, but it did not happen, prompting them to continue walking

TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION STEMWINDER: HIS GREATEST HITS Some of the more memorable moments from the president's November 1, 2018 immigration speech and the Q&A with reporters that followed: ON WHETHER THE MILITARY WILL FIRE ON MIGRANT CARAVANS AT THE BORDER: 'I hope not. I hope not. It's the military. I hope there won't be that. But I will tell you this: Anybody throwing stones, rocks, like they did to Mexico and the Mexican military, Mexican police  where they badly hurt police and soldiers of Mexico  we will consider that a firearm. Because there's not much difference. When you get hit in the face with a rock. Which, as you know, it was very violent a few days ago. Very, very violent.' (AND LATER) 'We will consider that the maximum that we can consider that. Because they're throwing rocks viciously and violently. You saw that three days ago, really hurting the military. We're not going to put up with that. They want to throw rocks at our military? Our military fights back. We're going to consider it  I told them, "Consider it a rifle." When they throw rocks like they did at the Mexico military and police, I say, "Consider it a rifle".' ON WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO MIGRANTS' CHILDREN WHEN THEIR PARENTS ARE HELD IN 'TENT CITIES': 'We're working on a system where they stay together. But I will say that by doing that, tremendous numbers  you know, under the Obama plan you could separate children. They never did anything about that. Nobody talks about that. But under President Obama they separated children from the parents. We actually put it so that didn't happen. But what happens when you do is you get tremendous numbers of people coming. It's almost like an incentive to  when they hear they're not going to be separated, they come many, many times over. But President Obama separated the children from the parents and nobody complained. When we continued the exact same law, this country went crazy.' ON WHETHER FAMILY UNITS WIL BE KEPT TOGETHER IN TENTS: 'We will be holding the family and the children together. Remember this: President Obama separated children from families. And all I did was take the same law, and then I softened the law. But by softening the law, many people come up that would not have come up if there was separation.' ON WHETHER A HARD LINE ON IMMIGRATION IS A PRE-ELECTION PLOY: 'There's nothing political about a caravan of thousands of people, and now others forming, pouring up into our country. We have no idea who they are. All we know is they're pretty tough people when they can blast through the Mexican military and Mexican police. They're pretty tough people. Even Mexico said, "Wow. These are tough people." I don't want them in our country. And women do not want them in our country. Women want security. Men don't want them in our country. But the women don't want them. Women want security. You look at what the women are looking for. They want to have security. They don't want these people in our country, and they're not going to be in our country. It's a very big thing.' ON WHETHER THE CARAVANS ARE BEING ORGANIZED FROM THE OUTSIDE: 'They understand the law better than the lawyers understand the law. You have a lot of professionalism there, you have a lot of professionalism involved with setting up the caravans. You take a look at the way that's happening. Even the countries  you look at Honduras and El Salvador. And you look at what's happening at the different levels and different countries, or what's happening on the streets. There's a lot of professionalism taking place. And there seems to be a lot of money passing. And then all of a sudden, out of the blue, these big caravans are formed and they start marching up. They've got a long way to go.' Advertisement

Asked if the children will be held in tent cities, Trump responded: 'We will be holding the family and the children together. Remember this: President Obama separated children from families. And all I did was take the same law, and then I softened the law. But by softening the law, many people come up that would not have come up if there was separation.'

Asked what would happen to the children, Trump gave a lengthy answer where he mentioned President Barack Obama three times.

'We're working on a system where they stay together. But I will say that by doing that, tremendous numbers  you know, under the Obama plan you could separate children.

'They never did anything about that. Nobody talks about that. But under President Obama they separated children from the parents. We actually put it so that didn't happen. But what happens when you do is you get tremendous numbers of people coming. It's almost like an incentive to  when they hear they're not going to be separated, they come many, many times over.

'But President Obama separated the children from the parents and nobody complained. When we continued the exact same law, this country went crazy. So we are going to continue and try to continue what we're doing. But it is a tremendous incentive for people to try. But it's going to be very, very hard for people to come into out country.'

With the election just days away, the president complained about a 'catch and release' immigration system he said failed because people are choosing not to show up for their court appearances.

'They never show up at the trials. They never come back, they're never seen again,' the president vented.

The president vowed to 'take every lawful action at my disposal to address this crisis,' and emphasized asylum in particular. But he was vague on providing any details.

He said he was 'finalizing a plan to end the rampant abuse of our asylum system.'

He complained about drugs, crime, and a caravan of immigrants making its way toward the border.

'We're not releasing them into our country any longer. They'll wait long periods of time.'

In one of many tangents, he vented: 'Fentanyl is killing our youth.'

The president said members of the caravan would not be getting asylum.

'We will be doing an executive order some time next week ... it'll be quite comprehensive.'

Honduran girls hug while waiting in line for a chance to play on the playground at a camp set up by a caravan of thousands of Central American migrants in Juchitan, Mexico, Wednesday

'These migrants are not legitimate asylum seekers. They're not looking for protection because if they were, they'd be able to get it from Mexico.'

He called human traffickers 'The lowest scum on earth.'

Trump once again went after the people comprising the caravan.

'These are tough people in many cases. A lot of young men, strong men. And a lot of men that maybe we don't want in our country,' Trump said.

But he also acknowledged that many of those drawn to the U.S. were coming to reap the benefits of the U.S. economy.

'We right now have the hottest economy anywhere in the world,' Trump said. 'In some cases they want to take advantage of that,' he allowed.

In give-and-take with reporters, Trump rejected the suggestion he was just making a political move for the elections. Early voting has already begun and Election Day is Tuesday.

'There's nothing political about a caravan of thousands of people, and now others forming, pouring up into our country. We have no idea who they are,' Trump said.

'All we know is they're pretty tough people when they can blast through the Mexican military and Mexican police. They're pretty tough people. Even Mexico said, 'Wow. These are tough people.' I don't want them in our country.'

With the views of female voters holding a potentially decisive role in control of the House with multiple toss-up suburban races, Trump said: 'And women do not want them in our country. Women want security. Men don't want them in our country. But the women don't want them. Women want security. You look at what the women are looking for. They want to have security. They don't want these people in our country, and they're not going to be in our country. It's a very big thing.'

In one of many odd features of his remarks, Trump appeared to thank the crowd when he first entered the Roosevelt Room, even though only reporters and photographers and a few aides were there, and no one had applauded him, which would have been out of the ordinary if it did happen.

'Thank you very much everyone. Appreciate it,' Trump said to the silent room.

The White House in advance touted a coming directive denying asylum to migrants who try to enter the country illegally this afternoon as he takes action to thwart migrant caravans heading toward the United States' southern border.

Trump also said this week that he wants to get rid of birthright citizenship to discourage migrants from coming to America to giving birth to children who will automatically become United States citizens.

'Birthright citizenship' is derived from the 14th Amendment. Trump says that wording of the amendment leaves room for him to exercise his authority as the nation's executive to keep children born to illegal immigrants for immediately becoming citizens.

The Immigration and Nationality Act similarly requires the federal government to follow asylum laws. However, Trump is expected to push the boundaries of his authority on immigration anyway, just like he did with extreme vetting.

It took him three tries, but the proposal was eventually held up in a watered-down form by the Supreme Court. Trump said he barred legal residents of countries with ties to terror from temporarily coming to America, because their entry was a national security threat, not because they were from majority-Muslim nations.

This week, as he plotted executive actions that would make massive changes to the immigration system days before the mid-term elections, he pointed to Barack Obama's 2012 decree that illegal immigrants who were brought to the country as children could stat in the U.S. indefinitely through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Trump made his most audacious attempt yet on Wednesday night to turn a sea of approaching Central American migrants into a midterm voting issue, tweeting a video linking them to a death row inmate who killed two Sacramento, California police officers after being deported twice from the United States and returning each time.

Convicted cop killer Luis Bracamontes famously grinned and swore his way through his trial and sentencing this year, vowing to escape and kill more police officers.

He screamed 'F*** you, judge!' during a late January hearing and was banned from attending the rest of his trial in person, watching the remaining days on video monitors.

Trump's 55.5 million Twitter followers saw his own take on the case, a recap of the trial's most shocking moments titled: 'Illegal immigrant Luis Bracamontes killed our people!'

CNN editorialized through its website: 'Trump campaign releases racist ad.'
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that claims of racism from Democrats are par-for-the-course recurring inconveniences that crop up more as his ideas gain traction.

'The word "racist" is used about every Republican that's winning,' the president told CBN, a Christian cable TV network, aboard Air Force One.

'Any time a Republican is leading they take out the "R" word, the "racist" word,' he said.

Trump has stood his ground in the face of attacks from liberals in politics and on TV who have viewed his opposition to Central American migrant caravans through a racial lens.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he expects Democrats to call him a racist because he's beating them in policy battles

Trump spoke with CBN, a Christian cable TV channel, aboard Air Force One on his way to Florida for a political rally

He told reporters Wednesday at the White House that he is prepared to send up to 15,000 military personnel to the U.S.-Mexico border as a human wall to stop thousands coming on foot from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

'Our military is being mobilized at the Southern Border. Many more troops coming. We will NOT let these Caravans, which are also made up of some very bad thugs and gang members, into the U.S.' Trump tweeted hours earlier.

'Our Border is sacred, must come in legally. TURN AROUND!'

He noted in a separate Twitter post that some men in the first wave of migrants had broken down border gates as they entered Mexico by the thousands without travel documents.

The president is threatening military deployments to prevent thousands of migrants from Central America from entering the southern U.S. via Mexico

Trump is being hammered for tweeting an ad linking the caravans to Luis Bracamontes, an illegal immicrant cop killer who said he regretted not shooting more police officers

'The Caravans are made up of some very tough fighters and people. Fought back hard and viciously against Mexico at Northern Border before breaking through. Mexican soldiers hurt,' he wrote.

As he traveled to Florida for a political rally, the president insisted that 'I'm not anti-immigrant at all. I'm all for people coming into the country legally and people based on merit.'

But 'a caravan that's pouring up to our country with thousands of people' is an unacceptable national security risk, he said.

'Look, we're not going to let them come into our country. We have ten and we might even go up to 15,000 soldiers on our border. We are building a wall in its own way. We're putting up walls and barbed wire and when you look at what we're doing, they're just not coming into our country.'

Trump maintains that narcotics gangsters and other violent criminals have been embedded in the slow-moving seas of humanity as they plod toward Texas.

'These are not angels,' he told CBN.

CNN, two of its hosts and many of its guests complained Wednesday night that the ad Trump promoted is flatly 'racist'

Members of the Central American caravan headed out at dawn for their next destination on Thursday morning in Juchitan de Zaragoza, Mexico; they say they are fleeing violence in their home countries

On Wednesday night the president tweeted a video ad that tied the caravans to illegal-immigrant crime, publicizing the case of a California death row inmate who killed two police officers after being deported twice from the United States and jumping the border a third time.

Luis Bracamontes famously grinned and swore his way through his trial and sentencing this year, vowing to escape and kill more police officers.

Trump's 55.5 million Twitter followers saw a recap of the trial's most shocking moments titled: 'Illegal immigrant Luis Bracamontes killed our people!'

CNN host Don Lemon complained Wednesday night about 'how the ad depicts Latinos and immigrants generally. Why is this blatantly racist ad his closing argument before the midterms?'
A woman has been rescued after getting stuck in her tub for five days, only escaping thanks to a vigilant postal worker who notified the police chief that her mail was piling up.

Alison Gibson, 54, got stuck on October 15 after sitting down in the bathtub in her Chesaning, Michigan home and finding the handrails were out of reach and her cell phone was in the other room, WJRT-TV reported.

'When I get down there, I couldn't get back out,' Gibson told the station. 'Because (the handrail) was behind me, I couldn't get myself turned around to get a hold of it, that I usually use to get out.'

Gibson, who lives alone, heard her cell phone ringing several times. But with no way to answer it, she was forced to wait and pray for rescue.

Allison Gibson (left) speaks with ABC12 reporter Terry Camp about how she survived for five days stuck in her bathtub after she sat down and couldn't reach the handrail to get back up

Gibson sat down in the bathtub on October 15 and was stuck there for five days. She drank bathwater and used the hot water from the tap to stay warm

Monday turned to Tuesday, and then Wednesday and Thursday passed with no sign of help.

Gibson had no food, and had to subsist drinking bathwater as she waited for rescue.

'I basically just sat there,' she said. 'When I got cold, I ran the hot water. When I get thirsty, I took a drink out of the cold water. That's about it, try to find a way to get out.'

Around 11am on Friday October 19, an alert postal worker noticed the letters piling up in Gibson's mailbox, and alerted her neighbors.

Several neighbors walked around to the back of her house, calling out, and called 911 when they heard Gibson yelling back for help.

Chesaning Police Chief Stacey Wilburn and another officer rushed to Gibson's home and gained entry through a window.

An alert postal worker noticed mail piling up outside of Gibson's home (above) and notified the neighbors, who went searching and called 911 when they heard her crying out from the rear

Chesaning Police Chief Stacey Wilburn (above) and another officer rushed to Gibson's home and gained entry through a window, effecting the rescue

Gibson was in good spirits when she was rescued, the police chief said. She is seen above recounting her ordeal and praising the civil servants who rescued her

They found Gibson in the bathtub with the door to the bathroom closed - and mold growing on the inside of the door thanks to the constant moisture for five days.

'The ceiling was dripping because of all of the moisture, but that was the only way she was able to stay warm,' Wilburn said.

'She was in good spirits, actually,' Wilburn told MLive.com. 'She was smiling and talking. We were able to get her dressed and get her warm.'

Gibson was held for observation at a local hospital for four days, but suffered no serious health impact from the ordeal and was released in good condition.

She decided to speak out to thank her neighbors and the public servants who helped her escape the ordeal safely.

Gibson says she plans to have a walk-in bathtub installed as soon as possible
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis today criticised a United Nations migration pact following rejections by the United States, Hungary and Austria.

The Global Compact for Migration, whose final text was agreed in July after 18 months of negotiations, is set to be adopted during a conference in Morocco on December 10-11.

Babis, whose centre-left cabinet is set to discuss the issue next week, said in parliament: 'I don't like the pact. It's not clearly interpreted and it could be abused.'

'The United States have pulled out, Hungary too, now Austria, and Poland is debating it as well,' he added.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis today called into question his country's support for a United Nations migration pact set to be adopted in December

The pact lays out 23 objectives to open up legal migration and better manage migratory flows as the number of people on the move worldwide has increased to 250 million - or three percent of the world's population.

The United States quit talks on the pact last December, Hungary's anti-immigration prime minister Viktor Orban rejected it in July and Austria followed suit on Wednesday.

Babis, a Slovak-born billionaire, has taken a strict anti-migrant stance, refusing to accept a single refugee despite pleas from western European EU partners.

The Austrian government said yesterday that it wouldn't sign the pact, citing worries about national sovereignty.

The UN's Global Compact for Safety, Orderly and Regular Migration is not a legally binding agreement.

Austria's conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz took office last December, forming a coalition with the nationalist, anti-migration Freedom Party.

Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache and President Alexander Van Der Bellen. Austria announced yesterday that it would not sign the UN's Global Compact for Safety, Orderly and Regular Migration

Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache were elected on an anti-immigrant platform. They claim that the UN agreement blurs the lines between refugees and labour migration

The country is the current holder of the European Union's rotating presidency, and Kurz is making immigration policy a priority.

The Austria Press Agency reported that Kurz and Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache said that Austria will not sign the document or send an official representative to the meeting in Marrakech, citing fears over a possible dilution of the distinction between legal and illegal migration.

Mr Kurz said: 'There are some points that we view critically and where we fear a danger to our national sovereignty... such as the mixing up of seeking protection with labour migration.'

President Trump withdrew the US from the agreement last December, saying it inconsistent with his immigration and refugee policies

His position is that migrants rescued in the Mediterranean should be barred entry into Europe.

Austria took in approximately 1 per cent of its population in asylum seekers three years ago during a migration crisis which saw more than a million people travelling to Europe.

Concerns over migration was a central issue of last year's parliamentary election and helped to elect Kurz's conservatives.

Kurz, who has implemented policies which include restricting benefits for new immigrants, has said that he will prevent any repeat of that influx.

Strache, the Freedom Party's leader, said that some contents of the migratory agreement 'go diametrically against our position'.

'Migration is not and cannot become a human right,' he said. 'It cannot be that someone receives a right to migration because of the climate or poverty.'

Spain's Maritime Rescue Service saved 520 people trying to cross from Africa to Spanish shores in the Strait of Gibraltar on Saturday

Barrack Obama's administration adopted a declaration stating that no country can manage international migration on its own in September 2016, agreeing to launch the process leading to the adoption of the 2018 global compact.

But the Trump administration said last December that the U.S was ending its participation in negotiations on the compact, claiming that several provisions were 'inconsistent with U.S. immigration and refugee policies'.

Trump's unilateral style of governance has seen the U.S withdraw from several international agreements - most notably the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris Agreement on Climate change.

In July Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that the pact was contrary to Hungary's interests, declaring that the country would withdraw from the process.

Szijarto said that while it had some positive intentions such as fighting human trafficking, the pact considered migration an unstoppable and positive phenomenon worthy of support.

The UN claims that over 1,960 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year

Poland, which has also gone up against Brussels by resisting national quotas for asylum seekers, said it is considering the same step.

The compact has 23 objectives that seek to boost cooperation to manage migration.

It contains several actions ranging from technical issues like the portability of earnings by migrant workers to reducing their detention, as well as how to protect and integrate them.
The amount of wealth needed to be considered part of the global 'elite' is not a fortune worth billions or even millions of pounds, according to a new report.

According to the Global Wealth Report 2018 by the Credit Suisse Research Institute, only a net worth of 669,735 ($871,320) is needed to be classed as being in the worldwide 'one per cent'.

A person's wealth or net worth is defined by the think tank as 'the value of financial assets plus real assets (principally housing) owned by households, minus their debts'.

More than three million Britons, 17 million Americans and four million Chinese people are in the one per cent worldwide, according to Credit Suisse.

The report published by Credit Suisse this month shows the extreme wealth inequality around the world, but added that the increasing gap between rich and poor might be slowing

To be among the top ten per cent worldwide you do not even need six figures of net worth - just 71,638 ($93,170), and even being worth just 3,237 ($4,210) makes you still richer than half of the world's population.

During the 12 months since the think tank's last report to mid-2018, the aggregate global wealth rose by 10.7 trillion ($14 trillion) to 277 trillion ($317 trillion), which represents a growth rate of around 4.6 per cent.

Credit Suisse reports: 'While the bottom half of adults collectively owns less than 1 per cent of total wealth, the richest decile (top 10 per cent of adults) owns 85 per cent of global wealth, and the top percentile alone accounts for almost half of all household wealth (47 per cent).'

The report published this month shows the extreme wealth inequality around the world, but added that the increasing gap between rich and poor might be slowing.

It says, 'there are signs that wealth inequality is no longer rising' and that 'the prevailing evidence suggests it may well have levelled out, albeit at a very high level'.

How financial assets among many of the richest people and richest countries are distributed, 'peaked in 2015 and has been declining since then', the report states.

The distribution of financial assets among many of the richest people and countries peaked in 2015 and 'has been declining since then', the report said

The authors added: 'In previous reports, we predicted that wealth inequality would follow suit  possibly with a slight lag  and there is evidence that this is now the case.

'The share of the top decile and the top five per cent remains at the same level as in 2016, while the share of the top one per cent has edged down from 47.5 per cent to 47.2 per cent according to our best estimate.'

America still has the highest number of citizens in the top one per cent but 'China is now clearly established in second place in the world wealth hierarchy', the report adds.

After the referendum vote of 2016 caused the exchange rate and stock market to fall sharply in Britain, the following 12 months saw wealth per adult rise one per cent in terms of US dollars and two per cent in British pounds, the report said.

The number of millionaires, which is currently 42.2 million worldwide, is up 2.3 million over the previous 12 months

But the outlook for the UK is now uncertain, 'with the probability of a "no-deal Brexit"', the think thank report authors state.

Total wealth in the UK is the same now as it was in the United States in 1958 and is expected to reach 11.5 trillion ($15 trillion) in 2023, an improvement of only two 'US years', which according to the report was 'reflecting the likely effect of Brexit on the economy'.

The report states Britain has 2.4 million 'US dollar millionaires', which represents six per cent of all millionaires globally.

Among developed economies, Germany and France are expected to see a rise in the number of millionaires by just below 900,000.

Britain has 2.4 million 'US dollar millionaires', which represents six per cent of all millionaires globally, but the US has the most with 17.3 million

Canada and Australia will also experience a significant rise in their numbers of millionaires, but given the lower growth prospects after Brexit, the UK is thought by Credit Suisse to see a smaller rise in millionaire numbers over the next five years.

Russia, which has 74 billionaires, still has one of the most concentrated distributions of assets of advanced nations, with 82 per cent of wealth held by the top ten per cent, which is higher than China with 62 per cent.

Despite household wealth growing by 500 per cent since the Millennium, India has considerable wealth poverty, with 91 per cent of the adult population having below 8,773 ($10,000).

Although India has four times the population of the US, total wealth in the country is comparable to the level for the United States 90 years ago.

It is estimated that women account for about 40 per cent of all global wealth.
Noah Smith, nine, (pictured) was poisoned by his father Dr Vuyo Tame - who then shot himself, an inquest has heard

A British schoolboy taken on a holiday of a life time to South Africa was poisoned by his Doctor father- who then shot himself in their hotel room, an inquest has heard.

Noah Smith, nine, had been flown to Johannesburg in January this year by his South African-born father Dr Vuyo Tame on an annual holiday together.

But Noah, a cub scout who was training for his black belt in Kung Fu, never made it home to the UK.

He was found dead alongside his 47-year-old father by hotel staff in their room at the four star Raddison Blu Hotel in Johannesburg in January, an inquest heard today.

Paramedics pronounced them both dead at the scene and a post-mortem found the cause of Noah's death to be poisoning.

Post-mortem examinations from South Africa show Noah had high levels of Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine, in his system which caused his death.

South African Police Service officers said Noah had bruising round his neck consistent with strangulation, but British detectives have disputed this.

When asked by the coroner if she believed Noah had been killed by Tame, Detective Inspector Kaye Braybrook of Kent Police said 'yes'.

She added that she believed Noah was dead before Tame shot himself in the head.

The inquest was told Tame had a rocky relationship with Noah's mother, Victoria Smith, 42, from Burham, near Rochester, Kent who's life has been 'fractured' by the harrowing events.

Noah (pictured left and right in Scouts uniform) was pronounced dead by paramedics when they arrived at the hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, earlier this year

They met in 2004 working on the high dependency unit at the Nuffield Health hospital in Guildford, Surrey, and their romance blossomed.

He consoled her after the breakup of her first marriage, and they began dating a few years later.

In a statement read to the inquest in Maidstone, Kent, Ms Smith said Tame became distant when she fell pregnant with Noah.

She said: 'Initially, Vuyo seemed happy about the pregnancy, but as time moved on he became cold towards me.

'One colleague congratulated him on the pregnancy, but he referred to it simply as a 'fetus'. As time went on, I was getting more and more concerned about Vuyo's behaviour.

'This was compounded when he said he could not make it to my first scan. To this day, I do not really know why he ended the relationship.'

Noah's mother told the inquest that she became concerned when her son (pictured left and right) did not come home on the agreed date of January 7 and she got in touch with police and Tame's family. Noahs death was confirmed on January 9

The couple broke up but Ms Smith tried to be fair with Tame seeing Noah, though Tame would regularly be late or not turn up when he was due to have him.

When they went to register Noah's birth, Tame became 'verbally aggressive' and shouted at Ms Smith and staff because Noah was taking his mum's name.

He later ordered Ms Smith to take a DNA test to prove Noah was his, the inquest heard.

Tame had taken Noah to Canada and South Africa in the past, and Ms Smith said her worst fear of them going away together was that her ex would 'abduct' him.

Ms Smith said people believed Tame was 'obsessed' with Noah, who loved his father.

The inquest heard Ms Smith last spoke to Noah on the phone on December 30, with him saying he 'was having a good time and he was on a beach at the time of the call'.

But after growing concerned when Noah did not return home on the agreed date of January 7, or have any contact with her, she got in touch with police and Tame's family. Noahs death was confirmed on January 9.

They told her Noah 'had an accident and was in hospital' but then said he 'had been poisoned and was in a mortuary'.

She said she has been 'trying to work out why Vuyo would do this' and noticed he had been 'spoiling' Noah more than usual in the past year. He doted on Noah.'

At the time of his death, Noah's mother issued a tribute to him through the Foreign Office.

She said: 'The family wishes to pay tribute to Noah following his murder on the 8 January 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa by the hand of his father, Vuyo Tame.

'Noah had a rare, unforgettable charisma but also such humility. Noah was a 'fun loving', caring, bright and beautiful boy. He was the kind of child that just shone that bit brighter.

'He was clearly destined for great achievements in life, making his death so much more tragic and so hard for me to bare.

'I loved being his mother and felt privileged to watch him grow into such a beautiful, funny and kind boy. I loved every minute and special moment that I had with him, and I will cherish the memories of him forever.

'All my family and me, feel his loss so very deeply, and we have been truly devastated by his death and we are struggling to deal with the aftermath.'

Coroner Ian Wade said Noah's cause of death was Diphenhydramine poisoning, concluding he was unlawfully killed.

Mr Wade said: 'He (Noah) was healthy, he was lively. Photographs of him in life strongly suggest he was self-confident and very likely to have grown up a handsome, engaging young man.'

He added: 'I am satisfied that he did not die of natural causes. I am satisfied that the medical cause of death is Diphenhydramine poisoning. This had been ingested at a level said to be toxic in a child.

'At the time of this consumption, I find that Noah was in the custody of his father - a doctor of medicine who, of all adults, would have been experienced enough to know and exercise care about the administration of potentially dangerous medicine.

'I find it inconceivable, in the circumstances, that Noah's father would have inadvertently allowed Noah to take an overdose.

'On the evidence that I have heard, the background is that Noah's father had demonstrated a bizarre and changeable attitude to Noah's existence and upbringing.'

The coroner branded Tame's views on Noah's care 'self-obsessed'.

Mr Wade said there was no evidence of third party involvement in the events that happened inside their hotel room.

He said: 'I am quite satisfied that whatever happened inside that room involved only Noah and his father. That father has proved to be deceitful.

'I find Noah could not have been awake or alert at the time Vuyo Tame took his own life with his pistol. On the evidence, it must be that Noah's father administered the Diphenhydramine.'

He said it was not clear why Tame murdered his son, but it 'may have been that he did what he did out of anguish and guilt'.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, or see samaritans.org for details.
Commando raids on heavily fortified Finnish islands have sparked fears they are being used as secret Russian military bases.

More than 400 police officers and soldiers swooped down on Sakkiluoto and carried out a total of 17 raids in the area on September 22.

The sudden frenzy has stirred speculation that the tiny archipelago between Finland and Sweden really belongs to the Russian military.

One of the piers on the island of Sakkiluoto, which was raided 17 times on September 22

The tiny archipelago situated between Finland and Sweden. It is officially owned by the elusive 54-year-old Russian businessman Pavel Melnikov

Sakkiluoto is officially owned by the elusive 54-year-old Russian businessman Pavel Melnikov.

It boasts nine piers, a helipad, a swimming pool draped in camouflage netting and numerous properties equipped with satellite dishes.

It is also dotted with security cameras, motion detectors and 'no trespassing' signs.

Two black speedboats packed with soldiers wearing camouflage gear were seen staking out the island while helicopters and a surveillance plane flew overhead.

One of the villas on Sakkiluoto, which boasts numerous properties and is dotted with security cameras, motion detectors and 'no trespassing' signs

Finnish officials claim the raid was a crackdown on money laundering and tax evasion, the New York Times report.

When Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited Helsinki a few days after the raids he was asked if Russia was preparing landing zones for military helicopters.

But he dismissed the suggestion as 'paranoid', adding: 'I don't know in whose sick mind such a thought could be formulated.'
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Katrina Kraus, 35, was charged with second-degree statutory rape and second-degree statutory sodomy in Schuyler County

A Missouri teacher has been detained for having sex with a teenage boy repeatedly - including once in a local cemetery, according to local authorities.

Katrina Kraus, 35, was charged with second-degree statutory rape and second-degree statutory sodomy in Schuyler County. Both are Class D felonies.

Kraus is said to have had consensual intercourse with the student on multiple occasions from June to October of 2017. He was 14 when they first got together and had turned 15 by the end of their relationship.

Officials claimed that the victim vividly described one of his six incidents with Kraus taking place at the Cone Cemetery in Schuyler County.

The teenager said that the other five occurrences took place in Scotland County.

Officials claimed that the victim vividly described one of his six incidents with Kraus taking place at the Cone Cemetery in Schuyler County

While Kraus is currently facing charges in Schuyler County, Sheriff Joe Wuebker told KTVO that more charges could be pending for Scotland County.

Investigators were first notified about the relationship when they were contacted by a different 17-year-old student from Schuyler County High School in April 2018.

The student claimed that he met the woman while she was a substitute teacher in the Schuyler County R-1 School District.

He was a senior at the time.

Social media pages indicate that the woman is married to a man named Michael and has two children

He claimed that the educator sent him sexually explicit messages via social media that included nude images.

Teenagers who are 17 are considered adults in Missouri, so no charges were made against Kraus in connection to those allegations.

Police were able to get details surrounding the 15-year-old based off the other student's allegations.

Kraus, from Memphis, Missouri, is being held at the Adair County Law Enforcement Center.

Her bond is set at $15,000 in cash.

Social media pages indicate that the woman is married and has two children.
Megyn Kelly has managed to further anger NBC staff members after it was revealed she had apologized to Luann de Lesseps for her blackface remarks.

US Weekly revealed on Thursday that Kelly had texted an apology for dragging the Real Housewives star into the scandal when she shared images of de Lesseps dressed as Diana Ross.

'The countess responded to Kelly to let her know she wasnt mad about anything that happened,' a source told the magazine.

The reality star also 'did not think it was [Kelly's] fault and she totally understood' added the source.

This is not sitting well with her former co-workers, and a source with knowledge of the situation says many are 'livid' that Kelly would go out of her way to contact de Lesseps but offer no personal apology to the people she worked with including Al Roker, Craig Melvin, Sheinelle Jones and members of her own staff.

'NBC staff is shocked that she would reach out to Luann, but say nothing to any of the people she actually offended with her comment,' explains the source.

A rep for Kelly has yet to respond to the report that Kelly contacted de Lesseps while NBC declined to speak on the matter.

Scroll down for video

Do you know, where you're going to?: Megyn Kelly texted Luann de Lesseps to apologize for referencing her Diana Ross costume (above) in the panel about blackface that led to her dismissal from Today reports US Weekly

Disbelief: That report has left NBC staff 'livid,' with a source telling DailyMail.com that a number of people are angry she never personally apologized to her colleagues (l to r: Carson Daly, Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin and Al Roker in August)

De Lesseps found herself in hot water when she used bronzer to darken her features while dressing as Diana Ross.

She later apologized for that act when she was bombarded with criticism on social media and said she 'would not dream' of doing blackface.'

Despite de Lesseps' herself admitting that she was wrong to darken her features, Kelly still elected to defend her on Today last Tuesday during a discussion about Halloween costumes.

It was those remarks that precipitated her swift fall from grace.

'But what is racist? You truly do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface at Halloween or a black person who puts on white face,' stated Kelly during a roundtable discussion on Halloween costumes last Tuesday.

'That was okay when I was a kid, as long as you were dressing like a character.'

She then pointed to de Lesseps darkening her features while dressing as Diana Ross.

'I don't see how that is racist on Halloween,' said Kelly.

In response to Kelly defending de Lesseps, her panel guest Jacob Soboroff said: 'I haven't seen it, but it sounds pretty racist to me.'

Jenna Bush hager then chimed in, adding: 'Me too.'

Kelly then said: 'I can't keep up with the number of people we're offending just by being normal people these days.'

De Lesseps has not appeared to suffer any fallout from Kelly's comments, but Roker and Melvin were both very vocal about the impact her words had on them and why they were so hurtful.

'The fact is, while she apologized to the staff, she owes a bigger apology to folks of color around the country because this is our history, going back to the 1830s,' said Roker.

'Minstrel shows meant to denigrate a race, you know I am old enough to have lived through Amos & Andy where you had white people in blackface playing the black characters just magnifying the worst stereotypes about black people.'

Then, in a pointed barb at Kelly's nonchalant comment about why people were so offended by the practice, he stated: 'And that's what the big problem is.'

Craig Melvin went a step further, adding: 'There was some criticism online that this was political correctness run amok, and that's silly and its disingenuous and its just as ignorant and racist as the statement itself.'

He then went on to say that while Kelly was a friend, her comment was 'indefensible.'

Farewell: 'NBC staff is shocked that she would reach out to Luann, but say nothing to any of the people she actually offended with her comment,' explains the source (Kelly above last Wednesday on her final episode oif Today)

Girl code: De Lesseps (above in August on Kelly's show) has suffered no real fallout from Kelly's comments but both Al Roker and Craig Melvin were vocal in expressing why her comments were hurtful

DailyMail.com spoke to a number of NBC employees last week whose feelings on the subject ran the gamut from 'deeply hurt' to outright 'appalled' at Kelly's behavior and reports that she might claim her coverage of the #MeToo movement played a role in her termination.

'How dare she? Who the hell does she think she is?' said one NBC employee

'Her blackface comments were bad but falsely playing the #MeToo card is the worst form of white privilege I have ever seen.'

And another employee remarked: 'She had no respect for the African American staff on her team and her apology was both fake and dismissive.'

An insider at the network told DailyMail.com that after a meeting with Kelly and her staff on Wednesday, a number of employees of color on the show voiced their frustration and anger with the host to human resources.

'Lots of people were willing to give her a clean slate after the whole white Santa thing, but she showed her true colors this week,' said the insider.

That insider also noted that what Kelly was doing was not only an affront to her black colleagues, but also the men and women of the #MeToo movement.

'If she truly had remorse and felt like she was wrong she should take no money and go into hiding. But shes greedy and entitled,' noted the first NBC employee who spoke to DailyMail.com.

'What the hell does she have to fight for? Shes been fired for being racist on national television. Shes not coming back and she needs to accept that.'

On Thursday, the National Association of Black Journalists responded to Kelly's comments in a statement.

'Megyn Kelly's flip comments on blackface were inexcusable. It is imperative that media organizations work to maintain the trust of audiences,' said Sarah Glover, the president of the organization who is also an NBC employee.

'The media industry has the power to inform, and an awesome responsibility to dispel ignorance and not encourage it.'
Oprah Winfrey shocked a voter in Georgia when she knocked on her door Thursday to ask her if she was voting for gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

Winfrey was canvassing for Abrams before she held a rally for her later in the day, part of a massive get out the vote effort in a race that polls show is too close too call.

But the voter, identified in a video Winfrey posted to Instagram as 'Denise,' was shocked to find a billionaire megastar knocking at her door. Exactly where the canvassing happened was unclear but it was before two rallies in the Greater Atlanta metro area.

Oh my god,' Denise said, clapping her hands over her mouth in shock after she opened her door to find Winfrey there.

'Surprise surprise,' Winfrey said.

'Surprise, I am shocked,' the woman replied, grasping Winfrey's hand.

Oprah Winfrey shocked a voter in Georgia when she knocked on her door Thursday to ask her if she was voting for gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

Oh my god,' Denise said, clapping her hands over her mouth in shock after she opened her door to find Winfrey there

'So I'm canvassing for Stacey Abrams,' Winfrey said. 'Are you voting for her?'

'I am I absolutely am,' Denise said.

'Do you have an early voting plan?' Winfrey said.

'I do,' Denise responded in the short exchange Winfrey posted.

Both sides are pushing their voters to vote early in the governor's contest.

And Winfrey made it clear when she was in Georgia that she was not there to lay the groundwork for a presidential bid of her own.

'I want to make it very clear to all the press  everyone - I'm not here making some grand stand and I'm thinking about running for myself. I don't want to run,' she told the crowd.

'I'm not here to test any waters. I don't wanna go in those waters,' she said, shaking her head and waving her finger.

In a speech Oprah Winfrey made it clear she was not in Georgia to lay the groundwork for a presidential bid of her own

If Stacey Abrams wins, she would be the first black woman governor in the nation

in Washington, President Trump declined to go head-to-head with his fellow billionaire. 'I've always liked Oprah. But the woman that she's supporting is not qualified to be the governor of Georgia by any stretch of the imagination.'

'I'm here today because of Stacey Abrams.'

But in Washington, President Trump declined to go head-to-head with his fellow billionaire.

'I was on Oprah's last week of her show, Oprah liked me very much. I've always liked Oprah. Oprah's very good,' he said, after a speech on immigration.

'But the woman that she's supporting is not qualified to be the governor of Georgia by any stretch of the imagination.

'She is not qualified to be governor of Georgia. Take a look at her past, take a look at her history, at what she wants to do. That state will be in trouble quite quickly.'

Speculation about Winfrey as a presidential candidate began after she accepted an Cecile B. DeMille award at the Golden Globes in January, when she called for a time no woman would have to say 'me too' again.

But she made it clear on Thursday she was there for the 2018 midterms and, particularly, the Georgia governor's race, which has exploded into the national spotlight.

Winfrey lent her star power to Abrams' quest to become the country's first black woman governor.

Lines wound around the block to see the megastar, who focused her remarks on getting out the vote in a contest that polls show is tied between the Democratic Abrams and Republican nominee Brian Kemp.

And star power has poured into the race.

Vice President Mike Pence was in the state on Thursday to campaign for Kemp and counter Winfrey.

'I'd like to remind Stacey and Oprah and Will Ferrell, I'm kind of a big deal too,' he said. 'This ain't Hollywood. This is Georgia.'

Former President Barack Obama is coming to Atlanta on Friday for Abrams and President Donald Trump will campaign Sunday for Kemp.

Winfrey came out to a standing ovation at the Cobb Civic Center in Marietta, a GOP-leaning suburb of Atlanta.

'Georgia you have been on my mind,' she declared.

Winfrey, in her remarks, stressed no one paid her or asked her to come.

'I wasn't asked, I just called Stacy up three days ago. Yes. I didn't even know her,' Winfrey said, noting she had to ask around for Abrams number.

She also said repeatedly that she is a political independent who has voted for both Republicans and Democrats.

'I am an independent woman. I have earned the right to do exactly what I want to do. I've earned the right to do what I want to do when I want to do it. I've earned the right to think for myself and vote fo myself,' she said.

She added: 'Nobody paid for me to come. Nobody even asked for me to come here. I paid for myself and I approved this message.'

Winfrey said she was not asked or paid to campaign for Abrams

Polls show Abrams' race with Republican Brian Kemp is tied

Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp debated last week

Winfrey said she wasn't in Georgia to campaign for herself but she sounded like a candidate as she rallied the crowd, stressing the importance of voting, talking about the oppression of black voters in American history, and urging people to vote as a way to honor their family legacy.

'Every single one of us has the same power at the polls. Every single one of us has something that, if done in numbers too big to tamper with, cannot be suppressed and cannot be denied,' she said.

She said that everyone is equal when they are at the polls no matter the color of their skin, their religion or their sexual orientation.

'It doesn't matter when you are there at the polls. What god we pray to, it doesn't matter who we choose to love. Whether or not we graduated high school or went to college or how much money you have in the bank or whether or not you have a preexisting condition or whether you are elderly or not. Whether you are developmentally disabled. Doesn't matter at the polls. We are all equal in power,' she added.

'We have this incredible opportunity to make history. We have our inalienable right to vote because the place where we are all equal is, where is it? At the polls! I'm here today because I know you know that. I came to remind you of the power. I'm here because I want you to remind others of the power,' Winfrey said as the crowd roared.

STAR POWER: Oprah campaigned for Abrams on Thursday; Former President Barack Obama is coming to Atlanta on Friday for her

STAR POWER: Vice President Pence was campaigning for Brian Kemp on Thursday while President Trump will campaign for him on Sunday

It was a rare campaign appearance for Winfrey, who campaign for Obama but has not been a huge presence in politics despite her influence in the pop culture arena.

Winfrey recounted the history of suppression of black voters as she urged people to go to the polls on Election Day.

'I'm here today I'm here for the men who were lynched and humiliated and discriminated against and suppress,' she said.

Winfrey admitted she didn't take voting seriously until her 20s, when she heard a speech from the Rev. Otis Moss Jr. on how his father was denied the right to vote in the state of Georgia.

The senior Moss went to polling station after polling station, only to be told he was at the wrong one and to go to another location. He was unable to vote before polls closed.

'When I go to the polls and I cast my ballot, I cast it for a man I never knew. I cast it for Otis Moss Sr., who walked 18 miles one day just for the chance to vote. When I go to the polls, I cast the vote for my grandmother who died in 1963 before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and never had a chance to vote,' she said.

'For anybody here who has an ancestor who didn't have the right to vote and you are choosing not to vote wherever you are in this state or this country, you are dishonoring your family,' she said.

'Honor your legacy and honor your right to citizenship in this, which is the greatest country in the world,' she rallied the crowd.

She advised the crowd to ignore the campaign ads, which she called 'propaganda' and fear mongering.

'All the vitriol in the ads, they are designed to confusion and confound you with fear. That's why they are done. They are designed to confound you with fear. They are not designed for people with discernment,' she said. 'When you know the right thing and you can feel it, you can feel what is the right thing to do, you can't be influenced by propaganda and fear.'

More than 1.5 million Georgians already have cast ballots in early voting, according to the Associated Press.
President Donald Trump has offered State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert the job of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, an administration official told DailyMail.com on Thursday.

Fox News Channel and ABC News reeporters first broke the news. It's unclear whether Nauert has accepted the role, which would thrust her onto the world stage in place of outgoing ambassador Nikki Haley  a Trump favorite.

Nauert took over State Department spokeswoman duties in April 2017 after years at ABC News and a stint as an anchor at Fox News.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, pictured during an Oct. 2 press briefing, will become the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations

If the U.S. Senate confirms her, Nauert will replace Ambassador Nikki Haley (left), a former South Carolina governor who has been a favoriteof President Donald Trump

Her current title is acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, a slot she assumed after Trump fired his first secretary of state, Rex Tillerson.

Nauert's deputy, Robert Palladino, was also asked at a news briefing whether she had been offered the job and said any announcement would be the prerogative of the White House.

Haley will leave her post at the end of the year. Nauert will require Senate confirmation to succeed her.

Unlike Haley, she has no practical policy-making or political experience.

Trump met with her Monday in the Oval Office, according to the official.
Ishi Woney, 23, was arrested on Wednesday in New Jersey on federal sex trafficking charges

Investigators have made a break in the case of a Pennsylvania college student who went missing in New York City a year ago, arresting a man they say sex trafficked her.

Ishi Woney, 23, was arrested on Wednesday in New Jersey on federal sex trafficking charges, which relate to the September 2017 disappearance of Corinna Slusser in Queens.

Corinna, a marketing student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, left her small hometown of Bloomsburg in August of 2017 and traveled to New York, where she was last seen a month later.

Now the FBI says that Corinna, then just 19 years old, was staying at a seedy motel in the Bronx that is known for prostitution, where Woney met her soon after she arrived.

Woney, an aspiring rapper, was already sex trafficking another female victim when he met Corinna, according to the FBI. The other female victim called Woney 'daddy' in social media messages.

Until her disappearance, former cheerleader Corinna had been very active on multiple social media platforms.

Corinna Slusser (left and right), has been missing in New York City for over a year. A new arrest in the case seems to confirm she was a victim of sex trafficking

On September 7, she posted photos of a tidy one-bedroom, one-bath apartment on Grand Concourse in the Jerome Park section of The Bronx, tweeting: 'My first apartment all to myself in NYC!!! Never been more happier in my life. Forver [sic] dream accomplished.'

Her final Facebook post from September 8 consisted of a selfie showing the blonde, blue-eyed college student dressed in a lacy white top with a red rose applique.

Her last Instagram post, dated September 10, was a photo tagged in The Bronx.

It shows a woman smoking what appears to be marijuana with the caption: 'cyphin mid day mid road is always good for the soul.'

'Cyphin' is New York City slang for passing a marijuana blunt around a circle.

The woman in the picture is not Corinna, and the image appears unlike the others she has posted before.

Investigators say that Corinna met Woney sometime in September, and records show a flurry of text messages between the two beginning on September 10.

Investigators say that Woney posted an online advertisement offering 'two girl special nunu enterprises' along with a photo of Corinna and the other female victim.

Her last Instagram post, dated September 10, was a photo tagged in The Bronx. It shows a woman smoking what appears to be marijuana with the caption: 'cyphin mid day mid road is always good for the soul.'

'Always ready for fun! Please Be RESPECTFUL & Discreet the TOTAL package SKILLS That will make you melt,' the ad read, according to the indictment.

But things became tense when the other female victim became jealous of Woney's relationship with Corinna, investigators say.

Woney and Corinna had a falling out, and on September 20 he took her to a hotel in Queens, where another man paid for the room where she was planning to stay that night, the indictment says.

That hotel, though not named in the indictment, is believed to be the Haven Motel on Woodhaven Boulevard in the Rego Park section of Queens, where Corinna was last seen in the early morning hours of September 20.

Woney quickly came to the attention of investigators when they found 806 text messages between his phone and Corinna's between September 10 and her disappearance.

Undercover NYPD officers posed as johns to track down Woney, busting him at a motel in East Orange, New Jersey on November 3.

The cops interviewed Woney and the woman about Corinna's whereabouts, but the pair were released for a lack of solid evidence.

Then in February of this year, Woney was arrested at a Jersey City hotel for simple assault and drug possession, after the female victim said he punched her in the face and demanded her money and possessions.

Cops observed the woman with a swollen lip, but she refused to press charges after they arrived.

Last month, NYPD undercover officers conducted a second sting, using a law enforcement database to track down an ad for sex services that featured the female victim.

Slusser is seen here in a photo posted on Facebook in February 2015

Slusser lived in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and had been studying marketing at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

She was a cheerleader at Bloomsburg Area High School in Pennsylvania

An undercover officer met the female victim at a hotel in the Bronx, and agreed to pay her $200 for an hour of sex services, the indictment says. As soon as the agreement was made, officers swooped in.

The woman was arrested, and in a police interview she finally cracked, admitting that Woney was her 'pimp' and that she gave him all of the money from her sexual encounters, according to the indictment.

The information allowed the feds to move in on Woney. He is charged with use of an interstate facility to promote prostitution, transporting a person between states for an illegal sex act, and sex trafficking by means of force, threats, fraud, and coercion.

If convicted Woney faces up to life in prison. He was due to appear in a Manhattan court on Thursday afternoon.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said that Woney 'engaged in a vile form of exploitation, using force and other coercion to compel young women to engage in paid sex for his enrichment.'

Slusser is described as 5-foot-6, weighing 140lbs, with long blonde hair and blue eyes. She has a large black tattoo of a flower in the middle of her chest (right)

'We will continue to work with the FBI and NYPD to protect prospective victims of human trafficking and arrest and prosecute their predators,' Berman said.

Meanwhile, Corinna's mother continues to pray for her safe return.

'Missing my beautiful girl so much...the sadness in my heart is beyond words,' Sabina Tuorto wrote on Facebook in August.

'I wish I could be where she is, thats where I want to be. She is my reason to breathe.. I inhale and exhale trying to keep the faith as I wish for her to be found safely and alive,' the heartbroker mother wrote.

'Its been a year almost and ppl seem to forget about her but I think about her nonstop and I will never let this to rest until her and I are reunited again! My heart aches everyday!'

According to the New York Daily News, weeks before Corinna disappeared, a copy of an order of protection she had sought against a man was sent to her mother's home.

It ordered the man to stay away from her after he was arrested for allegedly beating her at a hotel in Harlem on August 25.

Corinna is described as 5-foot-6, weighing 140lbs, with long blonde hair and blue eyes. She has a large black tattoo of a flower in the middle of her chest.

Anyone with information on Corinna Slussers whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Claire Flynn dressed her daughter Sienna (pictured) as a 'Lookie Lookie' man for Halloween

A mother who blacked-up her daughter for Halloween insists she's no racist and has said anyone that thinks she is 'needs to get a grip'.

Nursery worker Claire Flynn, dressed her three-year-old daughter Sienna as a 'Lookie Lookie' man, a nickname which has previously been given to beach traders in foreign holiday resorts.

The 26-year-old from Scotland posted a picture of Sienna coated head-to-toe in black facepaint on Facebook in a post that read: 'Happy Halloween from Benidorm's finest......lookie lookie.'

But Claire is adamant that the costume choice wasn't intended to be offensive, and says anyone who thinks so needs to 'get a grip'.

Speaking to the Daily Record, Claire said: 'I'm not going to apologise for this or delete my post. If people want to be all PC about it they need to take a look at themselves. It's really not an issue.

'We were in Magaluf on holiday in September and Sienna got a toy monkey from the Lookie Lookie men. She loved them and wanted to go back and see them every day.

'That's when I had the idea. I'm just a creative person and that's what Halloween is all about.

'It's a kid in a costume wearing facepaint. People need to get a grip.

'I'm not going to bow down to anyone that has an issue with this. I'm not a racist and I've not seen anyone calling me a racist and I'm definitely not one.

'People dress up as Jimmy Saville and and no one calls them a paedophile and the people who dress up as Hitler don't get called supporters of Nazi propaganda either.'

Claire, who works at Happy Feet Nursery in Larkhall, Scotland, dressed Sienna up in the staff room at work and says none of her colleagues had an issue with the outfit.

Claire Flynn (left) has insisted she is not a racist for painting her daughter Sienna (seen holding right) black for Halloween

She said: 'My boss at work is absolutely fine about it. She thinks the complaints are ridiculous. I've worked as a nursery nurse for 10 years, with people of all different races and cultures, so I don't have to defend myself.

'Parents from the nursery have been sharing it online too and everyone says it's brilliant.

'No one cared when we went guising round the doors either.'

The 26-year-old mother (pictured left and right) had dressed her daughter for Halloween at the nursery she works at in Scotland

The young mum is adamant that she won't tolerate criticism like that given to a Scottish woman who recently dressed up as Celtic player Dedryck Boyata.

Claire said: 'That woman was so intimidated by the online backlash to her post that she deleted her social media.

Claire had posted the image of her daughter Sienna (pictured) on Facebook, with the caption 'Happy Halloween from Benidorm's finest....lookie lookie

'People were going crazy at her and she was obviously scared. It's ludicrous. I'm not backing down and I'm happy to answer to it.'

However Claire pointed out that many people slamming the Boyata outfit were American and that she doesn't believe Scots will be as offended by her choice of costume for Sienna because racism is 'less of an issue here'.

She said: 'I can understand the Americans being angry, because of the way blacks were treated over there.

'I don't think we have that same problem here in Scotland. I don't think racism exists in the same context and people don't get as upset about it.'

Claire also thinks the world has 'gone PC mad' and that 'Everyone needs to calm down and stop being so sensitive'.

The hundreds of comments on Claire's Facebook post are supportive, including one from nursery boss Shirley Clark.

Posting as Shirls Jets she said: 'That's amazing Claire, funniest one I've seen.'

The Happy Feet managing director also told the Daily Record: 'Claire is always empathetic towards the children, she isn't racist in any way. It was just a fun Halloween costume.'
The North Carolina man who filmed the 2009 viral video that claimed to catch Bigfoot in action is on a mission to prove the sasquatch is real.

Michael Greene is a former army tank commander in Montgomery County desperate to show skeptics that the legend is true and now dedicates his livelihood to taking people around the Uwharrie National Forest on the hunt for the furry creature.

The famous three-minute clip appears to show the viewer a figure in white that reaches for Greene's candy bar before leaving but not everyone is convinced it's genuine.

The famous 2009 Squeaky Thermal clip appears to show the viewer a figure in white that reaches for Greene's candy bar before leaving but not everyone is convinced it's genuine

Michael Greene filmed the three-minute viral video in Montgomery County, North Carolina

In the past Greene's jobs have included being a chief welfare fraud investigator for the State of New Jersey, a forgery expert, National Ski patroller and certified private pilot.

But now he explores 50,000 acres of space in hopes to show others the giant isn't just a mythical creature.

'It was the best night of my life, I guess!' recalled Greene told WFMY News 2. 'I'll be unabashedly stupid and say yeah, I really do have the right credentials for this.'

He generally heads down to Eldorado Outpost once a week to buy 'Bigfoot bait' which could be a Zagnut bar or peanut butter, in hopes of recreating the nights he allegedly saw Bigfoot.

Greene now takes people around the 50,000 acres of Uwharrie National Forest on the hunt for the furry sasquatch (file photo)

'Next thing I heard was this {leaves rustling}. Two seconds later, it was right over my tent - RAWR! RAWR! - and that wasn't nearly as loud as it as,' he told the station's Meghann Mollerus about the encounter. 'Scared the devil out of me, as you can imagine.'

He then apparently saw Bigfoot again two days later but wasn't prepared with a set-up camera calling it the 'biggest mistake of my life, really'.

'And right down there was a Bigfoot walking from right to left. I guessed from the measurements comparing it with trees, it was seven and a half or eight feet tall and striding with that ponderous arm swing,' he recalled.

He eventually got footage of the beast when he returned every week with his 'Bigfoot mobile', furnished with a cot, monitors and several cameras with night vision and thermal technology.

Greene generally heads down to Eldorado Outpost once a week to buy 'Bigfoot bait'for the snack-loving creature (as portrayed here in the 1987 movie Harry and the Hendersons)

'Since the sasquatches are supposedly sensitive to infrared, at night I use thermal imagers,' he explained.

The shot he finally captured nine years ago is named the Squeaky Thermal because he believes Bigfoot likes to play with squeaky dog toys.

The Outpost's owner was shocked to find that groups are dedicated to finding the creature but is happy with the business it brings to his store.

'I was quite surprised there was a research team in the Uwharrie (National Forest) looking for Bigfoot,' Chris Cagle said.

'Over the years, we've had several customers who brought their own ideas and submitted ideas and created different designs for us - even naming him U.W Harrie instead of Uwharrie.

'After that footage came out, it certainly put this region of North Carolina on the map.'
The Macomb County Sheriffs Office in Michigan has released startling body camera footage showing a female driver suspected of leading deputies on a high-speed chase smoking crack cocaine, even as an officer trains his gun on her.

According to the agency, at around 2am last Thursday, a deputy tried to pull over Krisi Rettigs car on Harrison Township for a traffic stop.

Instead of complying, the 36-year-old Rettig sped off and a chase ensued.

Krisi Rettig, 36 (left), and her passenger Alexandra Weed, 28 (right), were arrested in Michigan fr allegedly smoking crack while leading deputies on a chase on October 25

This body camera footage shows a Macombs County sheriff's deputy approaching towards Rettig's car after she refused to stop

Deputies deployed stop sticks, which shredded the tires on Rettigs car. As the officers attempted to box her in, the woman crashed into two patrol vehicles.

Rettigs car then veered off the road and came to a stop.

The driver and her passenger, 28-year-old Alexandra Weed, were ordered several times to show their hands.

The passenger complied, however, the driver had other priorities, a press release from the sheriffs office stated.

The bodycam video released by the agency shows Rettig sitting behind the wheel and lighting up a purported crack pipe. Outside her window, a deputy points a gun at her.

After refusing to open the doors of the vehicle, both Rettig and Weed were dragged out and arrested.

Instead of raising her hands at the officer's command, Rettig is seen lighting up what appears to be a crack pipe

As the deputy trains his gun on her through the window, Rettig proceeds to smoke crack cocaine

The 36-year-old ex-convict was eventually removed from the vehicle and detained

Rettig, of Eastpointe, has been charged with flee and elude, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a controlled substance and operating while license suspended.

Weed, of Melvindale, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Rettig's criminal record dates back to 2005 and includes five previous convictions on charges of drug possession and unlawfully driving a car.

Officials told The Detroit News the 36-year-old had been out on probation but had not reported to her parole officer since March.
Amanda Johnson had risen the ranks at L'Oreal, quickly becoming Vice President of Marketing

A former L'Oreal head honcho is suing the beauty company over allegations that she was racially discriminated against, and that the work environment was so toxic that she even witnessed a male business exec watching pornography in a meeting.

Amanda Johnson, who is a black woman, quickly rose in the ranks at the beauty behemoth after she was first hired at L'Oreal as an assistant vice president of digital marketing. She was soon-after promoted to vice president.

In her federal suit, however, she says her exciting ride to the top was muddied as 'Johnson quickly learned the ugly truth about the beauty giant, including witnessing a male executive openly watching pornography during a business meeting; sex-fueled parties at luxury European hotels during work trips; and racist hostility from the highest levels of management.'

In June, while in Europe, Johnson said she felt physically threatened by fellow Vice President Nicolas Krafft.

She submitted an internal complaint to her boss, Dan Bethelmy-Rada. He promised her he would address the issue when she returned from vacation.

'Johnson confided in her coworkers; she told them she believed that Krafft had disrespected and threatened Johnson because she is black, stating, in sum and substance, "This is not the 1960s,"' the complaint states.

In a federal lawsuit she says that she was racially discriminated against, despite the company utilizing her African American heritage to better connect to and market to people of color

Johnson says that her rise in the company was exciting until she learned of what she calls the 'ugly truth about the beauty giant'

However, instead of the issue being addressed, she says that within just hours of her landing in the US, she was fired over a conference call.

She says L'Oreal tried to hide 'discriminatory and retaliatory motives for firing her.'

Johnson says she was given 'communications issues' as one of the reasons for her ultimate dismissal, and that L'Oreal claimed she was not sufficiently present in the office.

Additionally, Johnson said that L'Oreal told her during her dismissal that her use of 'expletives during the confrontation with Krafft, the racist and sexist confrontation that Johnson complained to Rada about just weeks before her unlawful firing, was inappropriate, stating, in sum and substances, that L'Oreal will not ''tolerate'' executives cursing at one another.'

Among other instances Johnson cites in her complaint of an overall hostile work environment, she says Rada would 'host drunken parties, showing favoritism toward young gay male employees, during business trips. One night in Rome, Johnson said Rada told her to "go and flirt" with a group of young male employees and bring them to Rada's hotel room.'

'Knowing about Rada's less than appropriate parties in his suite during business trips, Johnson told Rada that she was not comfortable making the request,' said Johnson. 'Rada admonished Johnson, stating, "You failed."'

She says Rada also publicly viewed pornography on his cellphone during a meeting with other executives, ignoring a presentation by one of Johnson's colleagues.

'[D]uring the meeting, a female executive whispered to Johnson, "Wow, I feel so uncomfortable right now,"' Johnson said.

'None of the executives admonished Rada during, or, on information and belief, after, that meeting.'

Johnson also says that despite her alleged treatment and the racial discrimination she faced, the beauty company capitalized on her race.

Johnson filed a complaint against fellow Vice President Nicolas Krafft (right) for a racist and sexist confrontation with her boss, Dan Bethelmy-Rada (left). She says she was told the issue would be handled when she returned from vacation- instead, she was fired

Johnson also alleged in her suit that the company has an overall toxic work environment including booze fueled sex parties, and alleges she once witnessed Rada watching pornography in a business meeting

She assisted the Matrix and Biolage brands as an African American woman to help them understand how better to market professional hair care products to women of color.

'Her knowledge and understanding of race in America and attendant cultural sensitivities allowed Matrix and Biolage to sidestep typical communications landmines, i.e. campaigns or projects that might not resonate with, or might even offend, an audience of Americans of color,' the complaint states.

Among the allegations in her suit, beyond claiming racial discrimination and retaliation, she also alleges disability discrimination.

She is suing for all earnings she would have received, as well as compensatory and punitive damages.

Johnson also wants L'Oreal to be permanently restrained from such workplace violations, that the company makes sure the effects of such violations do not continue to affect her employment opportunities.

In a statement to DailyMail.com LOreal addressed Johnson's claims.

'Amanda Johnson was fired for a pattern of unprofessional conduct that surfaced during her final months at the company, including what in our view was abusive and threatening behavior toward colleagues, serious lapses in judgment, and declining performance.

'After she was let go, Ms. Johnson raised some alarming allegations about her manager and certain co-workers through a lawyer.

'We took her allegations seriously and investigated them all with great care, as they had not been reported to Human Resources when she was with the company. We interviewed those at the company who would have been in a position to corroborate the alleged behaviors of her manager and co-workers, including those that Ms. Johnson identified as witnesses,' the statement continued.

The company says that no one that they spoke with substantiated her claims, while adding they are an equal opportunity employer.
Former UFC fighter Stephan Bonnar was arrested and charged with DUI, unsafe moving of a stopped vehicle and resisting a public officer in Las Vegas on Sunday

New disturbing videos of UFC star Stephan Bonnar's DUI arrest on a Las Vegas freeway have been released.

The Nevada Highway Patrol released footage from an officer's dash camera and body camera that show Bonnar barely conscious behind the wheel of his Cadillac on Sunday.

In the body camera video, the officer can be seen arriving at the car and finding Bonnar, 41, asleep at the wheel.

Each of his hands is tied to a door frame, restrained by a group of truckers who heroically helped stop his car on the freeway before he could hurt anyone.

'Was he combative? Is that why you guys tied him?' the officer asks. They nod yes.

'Hey buddy,' the officers tells Bonnar, trying to wake him up.

The truckers then help remove the ratchet ties from one of Bonnar's hands as the cop continues to try and get him out of the car.

'Come out,' he tells Bonnar, trying to drag him from the car. 'Come on.'

The Nevada Highway Patrol has released new footage from an officer's dash camera and body camera that shows Bonnar barely conscious behind the wheel of his Cadillac

In the bodycam video, the officer can be seen arriving at the car and finding Bonnar, 41, asleep at the wheel

The cop tries to get him out of the car, putting cuffs around one of his hands as he continues to lay there, barely conscious

Bonnar, still barely able to move, then falls to the ground as the cop tells him to 'roll over'.

He attempts to get off the ground and the truckers help restrain him on the side of the road.

'You picked the wrong group of guys dude,' one of them tells him as the cop finally gets both handcuffs on him.

Bonnar, once nicknamed 'The American Psycho', was detained after motorists spotted him driving 'erratically' and making unsafe lane changes along Interstate 15 - about 10 miles north of the Las Vegas Strip - around 1.15pm.

The trooper reported that he could smell alcohol while putting handcuffs on Bonnar.

Authorities also found an empty bottle of Smirnoff vodka, a pill bottle for the prescription pain reliever Celecoxib, and an AR-15 rifle in his car.

Bonnar, still barely able to move, then falls to the ground as the cop tells him to 'roll over'

He attempts to get off the ground and the truckers help restrain him on the side of the road

'You picked the wrong group of guys dude,' one of them tells him as the cop finally gets both handcuffs on him

The trooper reported that they could smell alcohol while putting handcuffs on Bonnar

Bonnar was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (third offense), unsafe starting or moving of a stopped vehicle, and resisting a public officer.

He remains in custody following the incident, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department records.

Bail was set at $20,000 for the DUI and $1,000 for each of the other offenses.

Katie Dyer, 29, was part of a convoy moving along the I-15 between Las Vegas and Apex, Nevada, when she saw Bonnar's car dart across the midsection of the road.

Dramatic footage taken by a driver showed Bonnar being pinned down onto the gravel ground by four truckers as the trooper cuffed him

Bonnar appeared flushed as he was held down. The footage shows an orange luggage tie which drivers used to detain him while police arrived

Footage filmed by her ten-year-old son Chance Dyer appears to show Bonnar crawling along, straddling the emergency lane and holding up traffic.

'He didn't stop or wait or anything, he came straight out into the traffic and he was very lucky,' she told DailyMailTV.

Katie Dyer was among one of the drivers who spotted Bonnar driving recklessly. She and six other motorists then boxed around the UFC fighter to force him to stop

'He wasn't sitting up in the driver's seat. He was going from shoulder to shoulder, from the emergency lane all the way across.'

Dyer said she and other members of the convoy went to 'box in' Bonnar and reduced their speed, forcing him to stop.

'Two truckers had slowed down to stop him. We carried on and boxed our Jeeps around him. There were six of us. We slowly stopped with the box around him.'

Passing truckers, meanwhile, arranged their vehicles in a line across the road which brought the convoy to a standstill around 2pm.

'If nobody had stopped him I think he would be dead. He was going to hit something, whether it was a car or a wall, and another person could have died,' she said.

Once they came to a stop, Dyer and the other motorists raced around to the driver's side to pull Bonnar out of the car and take his key.

Bonnar was a 2013 inductee into the UFC's Hall of Fame, known by the nickname 'American Pyscho'. He hasn't fought in the UFC since 2014

The front bumper of Bonnar's red car is now smashed up due to his alleged reckless driving

'By the time we got over there, his eyes weren't open and he wasn't moving,' she said. 'We were trying to find his keys but he wakes up.'

'We were all panicking. He had the car in drive and was hitting the car behind and mine in front. He was ramming into my Jeep. We literally had to tie his arms to his door.'

'We have ratchet straps that we would use for luggage so we tied his right arm to his right door frame and his left arm to his left door frame.'

She said law enforcement arrived around 20 minutes later. Medics performed an assessment but he was considered fit to be taken into custody.

Bonnar was a 2013 inductee into the UFC's Hall of Fame.He hasn't fought in the UFC since 2014, and he went just 8-6 during seven years with the promotion.

The Indiana native still played a significant role in the UFC's growth into the dominant promotion in mixed martial arts.
Shortly before that, Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen announced that the country had recalled their ambassador to Tehran over alleged connection between the Iranian intelligence and an attack on an individual in Denmark.

The attack had been meant to target the leader of the Danish branch of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz (ASMLA), Danish security service chief Finn Borch Andersen told a news conference.

The target was believed to be a member of an Arab separatist movement, Denmark's intelligence service said. "Obviously, we can't and won't accept that", Andersen said.

He added that one suspect, a Norwegian national of Iranian descent, was arrested on October 21.

Samuelsen said in a ministry statement today: 'The government will respond to Iran and is speaking with European partners on further measurements.

The EU is trying to save 2015's Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal with Iran that curbed its nuclear activity in exchange for the lifting of global sanctions.

Tehran and Copenhagen have repeatedly engaged in diplomatic scuffles, each blaming the other for alleged malicious activities.

The Foreign Ministry says it will be discussing "the issue of an Iranian intelligence agency's illegal activities in Europe" with global allies.

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Following the attack, Tehran accused Denmark of harbouring members of the "terror group".

"Pueden seguir esperando DLC para nuestros mas grandes juegos"  Presidente de Nintendo

Link por su parte completa esta lista con las 10 millones de copias que han colocado en el mercado de The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild .

Butchers chain Crawshaws the latest to be put in administration

The company said it did not have "sufficient cash resources" to carry out a restructuring after it failed to raise funds from investors.

Piden millonario rescate por la sobrina de Garcia Marquez

Las autoridades ofrecen una recompensa de mas de 15.000 dolares por cualquier informacion que permita dar con los secuestradores . Su captura fue el 23 de agosto cuando manejaba un auto cerca de la ciudad caribena de Santa Marta , al norte del pais.

Denmark has recalled its ambassador from Tehran and is consulting other European Union countries about imposing new sanctions against Iran.

Denmark says the Iranian government intelligence service had tried to carry out a plot to assassinate an Iranian Arab opposition figure on its soil.

In November 2017, Ahmad Mola Nissi, an Iranian exile who established ASMLA, was shot dead in the Netherlands.

The alleged Iranian intelligence plot in Denmark threatens to add to tensions between Iran and Europe at a time the two sides are seeking to save the Iran nuclear deal following the United States exit from the pact earlier this year.

Iran's ambassador to Copenhagen was summoned to the foreign ministry for an explanation on Tuesday.

The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, congratulated Denmark on arresting "an Iranian regime assassin".

On November 5, USA sanctions on Iranian oil exports are set to go into effect while the EU, China and Russian Federation are still scrambling to establish a payment system outside of the U.S. financial system. For almost 40 years, Europe has been the target of Iran-sponsored terrorist attacks.

In May, the U.S. secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, claimed that Iran's Revolutionary Guard was carrying out "assassination operations in the heart of Europe", an allegation that at the time bewildered security experts, given that there had been no recent killings in Europe officially attributed to the Iranian state. "We call on our allies and partners to confront the full range of Iran's threats to peace and security", he wrote on Twitter.

On Friday, France expelled an Iranian diplomat over a bomb plot against a rally organised by Iranian opposition groups, diplomatic and security sources said.
An unseasonable heatwave is set to sear Australia - as experts warn the scorching temperatures mixed with 'vigorous' winds mean there is a high risk of devastating fires.

Sydney will reach 37C on Friday while parts of New South Wales will hit a high of 41C as summer sets in early.

Coupled with the intense heat are 'vigorous' winds which are set to lash parts of the state.

The scorching temperatures and dry conditions are unusual for this time of year, sparking fears of a particularly devastating bushfire season.

An unseasonable heatwave is set to sear Australia - as experts warn the scorching temperatures mixed with 'vigorous' winds mean there is a high risk of devastating fires

Sydney will reach 37C on Friday while parts of New South Wales will hit a high of 41C as summer sets in early

Hot air is being pushed from the centre of the country towards the east coast by a cold front.

The warm air has been sitting over the interior of Australia, and will settle in over Sydney on Friday and Saturday.

Authorities are warning people to be wary of the danger of heat exhaustion as the temperatures continue to climb heading into summer.

NSW Ambulance chief superintendent Alan Morrison said people needed to look out for those who are most vulnerable.

'Heat can kill which is why it's so important to stay hydrated and look out for the elderly, the young and pets,' he said.

Tibooburra and White Cliffs in NSW's north-west will feel the worst of the heat with temperatures in the low 40s expected.

Very high fire danger warnings have been issued by the Bureau of Meterology for most of NSW.

The Illawarra region south of Sydney has a 'severe' risk of bushfires, while total fire bans remain in place for the greater Sydney area, Southern Ranges, and Greater Hunter areas.

The Illawarra region south of Sydney has a 'severe' risk of bushfires, while total fire bans remain in place for the greater Sydney area, Southern Ranges, and Greater Hunter areas (stock image)

'Vigorous' and 'damaging' winds of up to 110km/h will whip alpine areas in NSW and the Australian Capital territory.

Thredbo Top Station recorded a gust of 104km/h about 2am on Friday.

BOM is warning people to move vehicles under cover or away from trees, secure loose items around their houses and keep away from fallen power lines or fences.

Meanwhile in Victoria, a thunderstorm asthma warning has been issued for Friday.

People who develop systems are urged to avoid exposure to storms or strong winds and have someone who can help them close by.

Very high fire danger warnings have been issued by the Bureau of Meterology for most of NSW

Hot air is being pushed from the centre of the country towards the east coast by a cold front

Ten people died due to thunderstorm asthma in Melbourne in November 2016.

The warm weather will be followed up by rain, threatening to impact the Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne will reach 33C on Friday, but showers are likely for Tuesday's great race.

'For the moment, we believe there'll be a few showers particularly in the first half of the day and temperatures in the low 20s,' meteorologist Chris Godfred said.

Sydney is set to swelter on Friday as temperatures reach 37C in most of the city

Authorities in Tasmania are no longer issuing burn permits and revoking others due to 'very high' fire danger warnings.

Regional fire chief Jeremy Smith said thunderstorms and strong, dry winds are expected on Friday.

'In these conditions only one strong gust of wind or nearby lightning strike could pose a risk,' he said.

An 'erratic' bushfire continues to grow west of Canberra, stretching to 54 hectares by Friday morning.

The inferno started from a care fire on Laurel Camp Road about 6pm on Thursday.

More than 25 fire trucks are struggling to contain the blaze, and airplanes will be using buckets to dump water on it on Friday.

'The fire is burning erratically and is heading in a south-easterly direction,' an Emergency Services Agency spokesperson told the Canberra Times.

Authorities in Tasmania are no longer issuing burn permits and revoking others due to 'very high' fire danger warnings (stock image)
Scotland Yard Commissioner Cressida Dick (pictured) said she backed 'traditional values

A string of police chiefs emphatically backed calls for a 'back to basics' approach to crime-fighting yesterday.

Amid signs of a revolt on the issue, top officers said forces should not be made to waste time on 'trivial' matters against a backdrop of rising violence.

The calls came after Sara Thornton, chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council, said police should be allowed to get back to tackling burglary and violence rather than wolf-whistling.

In the wake of her intervention:

Scotland Yard Commissioner Cressida Dick said she backed 'traditional values' and said police were forced to stand in for other public services;

The leader of the Police Federation said officers are 'not social workers' and must focus on victims of crime;

One senior officer said areas scarred by gang violence resemble the 'Wild West';

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said police 'should not have to pick and choose' as she called for more funding.

Senior officers queued up to echo 'chief of chiefs' Miss Thornton, a former Thames Valley chief constable yesterday. She said on Wednesday that forces lack the manpower to pursue every issue raised by campaigners, adding that officers want to prioritise emergencies and investigations.

She questioned the benefit of a two-year trial to record acts such as wolf-whistling and sexism  a scheme which led to just one conviction. Nevertheless, the Home Office has asked the Law Commission to consider whether groups such as women, the elderly and goths should receive protection under hate crime laws.

Sara Thornton, chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council, (pictured) said police should be allowed to get back to tackling burglary and violence rather than wolf-whistling

Senior policing figures insisted that vulnerable victims, including those singled out because of their race, religion or sexuality, will always be treated as a priority. But West Midlands Chief Constable Dave Thompson said there is a 'limit' to what police can do.

'I think the police service takes violence against women very, very seriously,' he said. 'We think hate crime is important. But we've also got to be careful how many things we begin to add to that list.'

Cressida Dick, head of the Metropolitan Police, said she too was focused on 'traditional values'.

'We are undoubtedly on occasion substituting for other public services,' she added.

'I'm beginning to take a harder and harder line on what we do there and where we do it.

I do some of that with a heavy heart, but I think that the police are being asked to do functions that we are not as well-skilled for.It's not appropriate for us and to get back to the priority and the core we will have to stop doing that.

Conservative MP Tim Loughton said: 'It is good to hear from a senior police officer wanting to catch real criminals ... rather than the usual PC nonsense'

'The mission is getting wider and wider. We do have to make some hard choices and I'm staring down the barrel of several of them as we speak.'

Police chiefs believe they are at a turning point, after years of struggling to meet high public expectations and soaring demand.

Recorded crime has risen by 9 per cent  including rocketing levels of knife crime and robbery  as 22,000 officers were lost from the frontline.

In Bedfordshire, Assistant Chief Constable Jacqueline Sebire said colleagues faced 'constant and sustained' demand. 'Wild West? It can be ... it's happening in broad daylight, they're in public spaces.'

Police want ministers to help them shed responsibilities which do not involve directly catching criminals and protecting the public.

These include helping the mentally ill and tackling social problems after council staff shut their doors for the day.

John Apter, who leads the Police Federation, said 'we are not society's social workers' as he revealed he was once dragged into a dispute over a TV remote control.

'People who expect and deserve a police response often don't get one,' he said. 'We must never and should never ignore those who are victims of serious hate crime.

But the widespread increase in the recording of trivial matters impacts on the ability to answer 999 calls quickly.

It also means that for some victims of crime, we are not with them at their time of need. You can get the most hostile comments made on social media platforms, but police officers should not routinely be dragged into rows.'

Conservative MP Tim Loughton, a member of Parliament's Home Affairs Committee, said the change of emphasis 'makes sense', adding: 'It is good to hear from a senior police officer wanting to catch real criminals and prevent serious crime rather than the usual PC nonsense.

'This leaves ordinary law abiding people scared stiff to open their mouths and exasperated at the 'don't call us, we'll call you' approach that seems to have taken hold.'
This heartwarming footage shows a sheepdog suckling two young lambs after their mother rejected them - alongside her own five pups.

Kezban, the three-year-old Kangal Shepherd Dog, lives in the village of Ihsaniye in Caycuma, which is in the north-western province of Zonguldak, Turkey.

According to Kezban's owner, Suat Karakas, the dog gave birth to five puppies last month while at the same time a ewe delivered two lambs - but refused to feed them.

Luckily, Kezban 'adopted' the lambs and lets them suckle on her teats to build up their strength.

Saban Erol, 46, who works as a shepherd on the farm, told local media that he was stunned to see Kezban caring for the lambs alongside her puppy litter.

He said: 'The lambs are constantly running after Kezban. She takes more care of the lambs than her own puppies.

According to Kezban's owner, the dog gave birth to five puppies last month while at the same time a ewe delivered two lambs - but refused to feed them

'Kangals are very loyal dogs so maybe she acts like this because she spends most of her time with sheep.

'We give extra food to the lambs too. This way, they will grow up to be healthy.

'Even when we try to separate them, they still go after the dog.'

Luckily, Kezban, the three-year-old Kangal Shepherd Dog, took in the two lambs and feeds them alongside her own puppies

The Kangal Shepherd Dog is a large livestock dog originating from the Sivas Province of Turkey and the Caspian region of Iran and Azerbaijan.

They are typically used to protect flocks against wolves, bears and jackals in Turkey.

In recent years, Kangals have been exported to African countries like Namibia and Kenya because of their commanding size and effectiveness as a guard dog.
Sarah Silverman blamed President Trump for the recent acts of terror across the US and mocked his stance on border security in a fiery new monologue for her television program, I Love You, America.

The 47-year-old stand-up comic insisted in this week's half-hour program that the president is responsible for the 'epidemic of domestic terrorism' that broke out early last week.

Silverman said in the new monologue: 'Trump knows the only way they can energize their base is through fear... he riles them up by starting a fake fight with a made up enemy.

'He starts fake fights that he doesn't have to finish because he knows in one way or another, someone will finish them for him. That is his starring role in our current epidemic of domestic terrorism.

'It's how we end up with 14 bombs to 14 people he has publicly targeted over and over again.

'A racist shooting in Kentucky, an anti-Semitic massacre in Pittsburgh... all in less than a week of announcing that he is a nationalist.'

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Sarah Silverman blamed Trump for domestic terrorism and mocked his response to the migrant caravan in a fiery new monologue for her television program, I Love You, America

Silverman suggested the president is responsible for the 'epidemic of domestic terrorism' in the country

Silverman insisted it's because of Trump that 'we end up with 14 bombs to 14 people he has publicly targeted over and over again, a racist shooting in Kentucky, an anti-Semitic massacre in Pittsburgh'

The Punching Henry actress slammed Trump's decision to deploy more than 5,200 troops to the Southwest border this week - just days ahead of the November 6 midterm elections.

The troops will join some 2,000 existing National Guard members who have been servicing US Customs and Border Protection vehicles, monitoring surveillance and installing concrete barriers, among other jobs.

The military personnel will still be restricted from detaining asylum seekers under a federal law that prevents active-duty members from doing so on American soil.

Silverman said in the program: 'Well, Trump is deploying thousands of armed soldiers to the border to stop human beings fleeing danger from legally-seeking asylum.

'Operation Faithful Patriot... that sounds like a directed DVD starring Kevin Sorbo, but an Army ranger who uses the power of prayer to help gun down brown people... it is so pandering,' she quipped.

'Sending troops to the border or floating the idea of overturning birthright citizenship, these are just attempts to motivate his base right before midterms.'

President Donald Trump talks about immigration and border security from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, November 1, 2018

Former Customs and Border Protection commissioner Gil Kerlikowske also called the operation 'a political stunt and a waste of military resources and tax dollars.'

Kerlikowske said: 'To use active-duty military and put them in that role, I think is a huge mistake. I see it as nothing more than pandering to the midterm elections by the president.'

Silverman suggested in another salacious remark that the troops will be doing nothing this month but sitting at the border playing UNO, aka, 'j***ing off'.

The comedienne further encouraged her viewers to get out and vote or face the consequences.

'So next week, you know, think about voting. We've gotta vote leaders into power that will see through the fear mongering and the fake panic... because if it's not immigrants, it will be the media.

'If it's not the media, it will be some other made up enemy... or, the classic fallback: Jews.'

Members of the Central American caravan head out at dawn for their next destination on November 1, 2018 in Juchitan de Zaragoza, Mexico
President Trump says his party is likely to be victorious in Tuesday's election for the same reason that caravans of migrants are barreling toward the border - the United States hot economy.

Voters typically sour on the party that's in charge of the Oval Office in midterm elections, transferring power in Congress to the minority.

'I think we're going to do very well in the election, even though history says that whoever the president may be, it trends the other way,' Trump said Thursday at the end of an immigration address. 'It certainly does seem that way, but nobody's ever been president that has the greatest economy in the history of our country.'

President Trump says his party is likely to be victorious in Tuesday's election for the same reason that caravans of migrants are barreling toward the border

'This is the greatest economy in the history of our country,' Trump said Thursday as the stock market closed more than 250 points up

Trump repeated, 'This is the greatest economy in the history of our country. These are the greatest unemployment and employment numbers in the history of our country.

'Nobody's ever had that to campaign with, so I do,' he declared before he turned around and exited the room, careful to be on time for an early-evening departure.

He's headed tonight to Columbia, Missouri, to campaign for Josh Hawley, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate.

'I think we're gonna do very well in the election, I must tell you,' he told reporters before he left, mentioning the trip to the Show Me State. 'I think we're doing very well in the Senate, and I think we're doing very well in the House.'

Trump admitted that in with 435 lawmakers in the body, though, he wouldn't be able to personally campaign for every Republican.

'The only problem is with the House is there's so many people! I'd like to stop for every one of them but thee's so many people,' he quipped. 'But I think we're doing very well in the House. I think people want to see strong borders. I think they want to see security. They want to see good health care. They want to see the things that we're providing.'

A 4,000-strong caravan set out before dawn from Juchitan to Matias Romero, at La Ventosa, Oaxaca State, Mexico, after being denied buses

The president's address centered on immigration, but he told reporters asking about his closing argument to voters that he believes the GOP tax plan will also sway undecideds.

'The Democrats want to double up your taxes, in some cases you'll have to pay three times what you're paying now in order to get bad health care,' he claimed.

He spent much of the address that the White House suddenly announced on Thursday after days of speculation that Trump could sign an executive order suspending asylum for migrants on the caravans that are heading toward the United States.

'This is a perilous situation, and it threatens to become even more hazardous as our economy gets better and better,' he said. 'A lot of the cause of this problem is the fact that we right now have the hottest economy anywhere in the world, it's doing better than any economy in the world, and jobs, unemployment.'

He added, 'If you look at any number, right now we have more workers than at anytime in the history of our country. We have more people working, which is a tremendous statement, more people working than at any time in the history of our country.'

But it is also a tremendous draw for illegal immigrants seeking better opportunities for their families, he said.

'People want to come in, and in some cases, they want to take advantage of that. And that's OK, and we want them to come in, but they have to come in through merit, they have to come in legally,' he said

He declared in the speech: 'Asylum is not a program for people living in poverty.'

Trump was expected to announce on Thursday that he was issuing an order to restrict asylum and end birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants after deploying the military to the border to confront the caravans. He did no such thing, although he again claimed that an order is in the works that encompasses all of those things.

He spent a rally on Wednesday evening complaining about the border, and press coverage, as he urged Florida voters not to support politicians who will align themselves with former House Speaker and current minority leader Nancy Pelosi or Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.

He warned on Halloween that voters would 'lose a lot of money' if Democrats win control of Congress.

The Dow closed more than 250 points higher on Thursday than the day prior after a tumultuous start to the week, but the average was down at 25,380 from where it was just a month ago when it peaked at 26,828.

'I will say this, they're waiting for the results of the midterms,' Trump declared at a White House event on Wednesday. 'And if the midterms for some reason don't do so well for Republicans, I think you're all going to lose a lot of money.'

Donald Trump warned on Halloween that investors would 'lose a lot of money' if Democrats win control of Congress next week

The president has warned previously that Democrats would reverse his corporate and personal tax cuts if voters put them in charge of the legislative branch. He's also claimed that their leadership would be bad for job creation and would result in policies that would hurt American workers.

Trump said the stock market would suffer, too, on Wednesday as he celebrated the week's gains.

'We have an economy that's the hottest economy right now in the world, and I guess the stock market is up to, getting close to 50 per cent - if you think about it, that's incredible - since the election,' Trump told his CNBC host turned economic adviser Larry Kudlow during an interview. 'It's up another 400 points. It was up 450 or so points yesterday and it's just doing well.'

If Republicans keep control of the House and Senate, the president predicted the market would see improvements.

'If it comes out good, I think the market's going to continue to go through a period like we've never seen before,' he said at his event at the White House on Wednesday.
Mr Banks with his wife Katya in Washington, USA, last year

Minutes after I was introduced to Arron Banks at Claridge's, the smart Mayfair hotel that is his London base, he suddenly delved deep into his briefcase to produce a pouch.

Then he emptied the contents, six sparkling diamonds, into my hand as he proudly informed me they were from his mine in Kimberley, South Africa.

'Keep them,' he said. 'I've got a whole mountain full.'

I declined the generous gesture  they were industrial diamonds of the kind used in computer chips and machinery and worth a couple of thousand pounds.

But I did take him up on his offer of breakfast, and enjoyed a highly entertaining couple of hours with Banks and his business partner and best friend Andy Wigmore, a diplomat from Belize.

The combative Banks, who made his fortune  variously estimated at between 100million and 800million, although concrete figures are hard to come by  in the insurance industry, was a quick-witted, larger than life, pugnacious character.

Over the next six months leading up to the June 2016 referendum, I got to know him well.

From the start he never wavered in his view that the British people would vote to leave the EU.

As co-founder of the Leave.EU campaign, the only time I saw Banks lose his customary swagger was when the Electoral Commission designated the rival Vote.Leave group, backed by Cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Liam Fox, as the lead campaign for Brexit.

It meant Vote.Leave had guaranteed airtime and it soon eclipsed Banks's outfit. Banks made several attempts to join forces with Gove but was rebuffed.

He blamed snobbery but the truth is that, perhaps presciently, Gove and his colleagues regarded Banks as a political accident waiting to happen.

Mr Banks with his business partner and best friend Andy Wigmore in London this year

Claridge's, the smart Mayfair hotel that Mr Banks uses as his London base

Arron Fraser Andrew Banks, 52, is a man of many legends.

His parents decided to name him after the Scottish island of Arran but got the spelling wrong.

Born in Cheshire in 1966, he was brought up by his mother in Basingstoke, Hampshire, and also spent time in several African countries where his father ran sugar plantations.

He was a boarder at Crookham Court in Berkshire which he has described as a 'properly second rate private school', but was expelled for stealing lead from the school roof and selling it on the black market.

He was also expelled from his next school (St Batholomew's, in Newbury) after an epic pub crawl.

He gave university a miss and after a variety of sales jobs, joined Lloyd's of London in a junior capacity, discovering insurance was his true vocation.

Mr Banks at his Bristol home. The 'bad boy of Brexit' is the biggest donor in British political history

Mr Banks with his Russian wife Katya (centre) and his mother-in-law

By the time he was 27 he reportedly ran a division of Norwich Union, and claims to have worked for Berkshire Hathaway, the investment firm of billionaire Warren Buffet.

Eventually, Banks had had enough of working for other people and set up his own insurance companies  he co-founded Brightside and founded brokers GoSkippy  on which his fortune was established.

He has two grown-up daughters from an early marriage to a teacher that lasted a decade, and three children from his second marriage to Katya, a feisty linguist and self-defence expert said to be the daughter of a Russian state official.

They met at a Britney Spears concert, married in 2001 and have homes in Bristol, and Pretoria, South Africa.

Formerly known as Ekaterina Paderina, she was dragged into the so-called Russian spy scandal involving Lib Dem MP Mike Hancock.

In 2010, Hancock faced questions over his Russian parliamentary aide, Katia Zatuliveter, whom MI5 suspected of being a spy (she later won an appeal to stay in Britain).

Hancock had been helping the future Mrs Banks stay in Britain following visa problems.

Mr Banks and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage at a party together in 2014

Banks says when he asked his wife: 'Have you ever had any contact with MI5.' She replied: 'I've never been shopping in MFI.'

One of the couple's proudest acquisitions is a car number plate with the inscription: 'X MI5 SPY' and Katya is said to use 007 in her email address.

Banks's business affairs were always going to be controversial.

He has almost 40 businesses registered at Companies House and uses variations on the theme of his name for his directorships.

Much of his wealth is believed to be held off-shore.

A lifelong Tory supporter and donor, by 2014 Banks had become disillusioned with the EU and David Cameron.

He met Nigel Farage, then leader of Ukip and another irreverent outsider, at the RAC Club in Pall Mall to discuss defecting.

The meeting started badly when Farage, a chain smoker, lit a cigarette in the strict no-smoking club.

The defection  plus a 100,000 donation to Ukip  was planned for the end of the 2014 Tory conference, but would have caused barely a ripple had not William Hague, then foreign secretary, retorted when asked about the defection on Radio 4: 'I've never heard of Arron Banks.'

Incensed, Banks announced he was giving 1million to Ukip, not 100,000. 'Hague called me a nobody,' he said. 'Now he knows who I am.'

He set up Leave.EU at his Bristol HQ which today still boasts a poster on the wall of German chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker bearing the words 'sucking the life out of Great Britain'.

What is the law on political donations? Donations to electoral candidates and political campaigns are governed by the Representation of the People Act 1983. The act gives a list of 'permissible donors' which include: An individual registered on a UK electoral register, including overseas electors.

A Great Britain or Northern Ireland registered political party UK-registered companies, trade unions or building societies.

A UK-based unincorporated association that carries on business or other activities in the UK. What isn't allowed: The law is that loans and donations to registered campaigners can only come from certain permissible sources, which essentially excludes overseas or foreign funding

The Isle of Man is considered as being outside the UK because it is a British Crown dependency so donations via there are not allowed either Advertisement

After Farage failed to win his South Thanet seat in the 2015 election, Banks, his friend Wigmore and Farage drowned their sorrows, almost literally, skinny dipping off Bournemouth pier.

In an interview in 2016, Banks admitted grudging admiration for Vladimir Putin.

'He's a nationalist, in the sense he's trying to look after his country first and others second... I admire his strength as a politician but not necessarily all his policies.'

However, his enthusiasm for Donald Trump knows no bounds.

In November 2016, Banks and Wigmore were taken by Farage to meet Trump after his presidential election victory.

The iconic photograph of them outside the gold-and-diamond front door of the 80million Trump Tower penthouse in New York is on the cover of his book on the EU referendum campaign.

Banks came up with the title: The Bad Boys of Brexit.

Today, just how bad has become an issue for the National Crime Agency.
Arron Banks is now the focus of a criminal investigation which could unfold into a grave political scandal

Arron Banks, the bad boy insurance tycoon, was the financial powerhouse behind the Leave.EU referendum campaign.

The biggest individual donor in British political history, his apparent generosity  at least 8million  helped deliver a Brexit victory; the greatest seismic shift in post-war British life.

But two years on there is a further superlative which could still be attached to his name.

Banks is now the focus of a criminal investigation which could unfold into a grave political scandal.

One which involves the illegal undermining of UK democracy as well as the EU by agents of a state which is hostile to both.

Leave.EU was founded by Banks in 2015. He said it would campaign for Brexit outside the Westminster Bubble.

How far outside the SW1 postcode his Leave.EU donations were originally sourced  Vladimir Putins Kremlin and his oligarch allies loom large in this story  is now the business of the National Crime Agency.

Banks denies any wrongdoing.

Indeed he has always been bullish towards those who have accused him of being a Russian straw man.

His critics are sore Remainer losers, he insists; his Twitter feed is headed with the injunction Get Over It.

Sceptical MPs have been treated by him with public contempt and he is appealing the Electoral Commissions decision earlier this year to fine the Leave.EU campaign for overspending.

In truth the watchdog has enforcement powers akin to those of a toothless chihuahua  a view shared not least by its former chief executive who resigned last month.

But having found reasonable grounds to suspect the tycoon was not the legal true source of the 8million loans he made to Better For The Country  the company which ran the Leave.EU campaign  and that he could have committed multiple other suspected criminal offences, the commission has passed the case on to the National Crime Agency.

Far from being toothless the NCA, founded to fight serious and organised crime, is the investigatory equivalent of a great white shark.

And there is much for its agents to explore, little of which is mundane.

Bankss known Brexit money trail stretches from diamond mines in southern Africa via companies in the offshore tax havens of the Isle of Man and Gibraltar, to the coffers of Leave.EU.

Mr Banks and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage at a party together in 2014

But the NCA will no doubt explore further, delving behind the opaque network of his offshore companies.

This will include allegations of Russian-orchestrated business sweeteners which involved Banks being offered a cut of gold mines in Siberia, Armenia and Guinea.

These inducements were reportedly made to him at the start of the Brexit campaign.

Such questions would not be asked if Banks  who claims a fortune of 100million  was indisputably a member of the global super-rich.

He is undoubtedly wealthy. But for the last 12 months his ability to give away such a large sum of cash to the Brexit campaign has come under scrutiny.

He has said his fortune was built on a raft of business successes. Critics  and yes many of them are pro-Remain campaigners  argue that the figures simply dont stack up.

His four diamond mines in South Africa and Lesotho  a region where he has spent considerable time since 2014  are said to be ailing if not moribund, for example.

His insurance companies have owed millions; his bank on the Isle of Man was performing poorly; his stake in a law firm was far smaller than advertised.

One investigation calculated the money he had supposedly donated to the Brexit campaign constituted half of his lifetimes total earnings, which did not make sense.

Official action has been slow in coming, if not apathetic.

Mr Banks with his Russian wife Katya (centre) and his mother-in-law

The Mail understands that in early 2016 the then home secretary Theresa May declined a request by one of the security services to investigate Banks.

The topic was simply too explosive in the run up to the referendum.

The Mail has also seen a letter which Ben Gummer MP, at that time minister for the cabinet office, wrote to the Labour MP Ben Bradshaw in February 2017.

It was in response to Mr Bradshaws expressed fears of external interference in the referendum campaign.

I can assure you there is no evidence or reasonable grounds for suspicion concerning foreign interference in UK elections or the EU referendum, wrote Mr Gummer.

I am confident that there is negligible risk of a foreign government or agency being able to influence the operational delivery of electoral events in the UK.

Until 2017, stories about Russian influence on Mr Banks extended no further than the fact he was married to Ekaterina Paderina, with whom he has had three children. Miss Paderina, his second wife, originates from the Urals.

But there were whispers behind the scenes at Westminster.

In early 2017 Banks demanded an apology from a Tory MP who, he claimed, told key figures in the team of President Trump  with whom Banks is close  that he had improper relations with the Kremlin.

A number plate reading 'MI5 SPY' on Mr Banks' purple Range Rover

Then, in the summer of 2017 Banks announced he expected to be called to give evidence to the US Senate about alleged ties between the Kremlin, Brexit and Trumps presidential campaign.

That autumn saw Mr Bradshaw go on the attack in the Commons, following the publication of a detailed examination of Bankss fortunes by the Open Democracy website which questioned his professed wealth.

Mr Bradshaw called for an official investigation into Bankss true worth and the use of dark money in the referendum campaign.

The following month the Electoral Commission began its investigation.

While this was ongoing, a number of highly damaging allegations appeared in the press concerning his close ties with senior Russian officials.

In June this year the Observer said it had seen leaked emails which suggested multiple meetings between Banks and figures linked to the Russian government, from November 2015 when Leave.EU launched its Brexit campaign, to last year.

Far more contact than Banks had previously admitted.

Of particular importance was the role of the Kremlins London ambassador Alexander Yakovenko, who at their first meeting treated Banks and his business associate Andy Wigmore to a six-hour boozy lunch at his residence.

What is the law on political donations? Donations to electoral candidates and political campaigns are governed by the Representation of the People Act 1983. The act gives a list of 'permissible donors' which include: An individual registered on a UK electoral register, including overseas electors.

A Great Britain or Northern Ireland registered political party UK-registered companies, trade unions or building societies.

A UK-based unincorporated association that carries on business or other activities in the UK. What isn't allowed: The law is that loans and donations to registered campaigners can only come from certain permissible sources, which essentially excludes overseas or foreign funding

The Isle of Man is considered as being outside the UK because it is a British Crown dependency so donations via there are not allowed either Advertisement

The leaked documents suggested that the day after the Leave.EU launch Banks and Wigmore visited the Russian embassy and were introduced by the ambassador to a Russian businessman with extensive business interests in Russian gold mines.

The Britons were reportedly offered the chance to invest in a scheme which would see the merging of six Russian gold firms into a 6.2billion conglomerate.

Russia has the second largest gold reserves in the world.

The mining amalgamation went through in early July 2016.

A week later Banks tweeted: I am buying gold at the moment & big mining stocks, though it is unclear if his purchases were linked to Russia.

Other leaked emails suggested a proposed financial tie-up with the Russian diamond firm Alrosa.

The question is, why would the Russians be so anxious to enrich an obscure British businessman?

In the wake of these allegations Banks and Wigmore came out fighting. It proved an extraordinary spectacle.

Days after the newspaper revelations the pair appeared before the House of Commons culture select committee which was ostensibly investigating fake news  much of which originated from Russian troll factories.

During their three-hour interrogation Banks was flippant, combative and dripping with disdain for his inquisitors.

Of the fake news claims made against Leave.EU, Banks said: We certainly werent above leading journalists up the country path, making fun of them; same with politicians.

He added: We were running a campaign deliberately aimed at making fun of people.

When questioned about ties with Russian officials Wigmore claimed his initial contact was at the Ukip conference at Doncaster racecourse in 2015 when, as a diplomat accredited to the small central American state of Belize, he discussed the banana industry with someone from the Russian embassy.

Wigmore said it was he who instigated the conversation which led to him and Banks dining at the ambassadors residence.

They thought it would be nice for Bankss Russian wife.

Asked whether Leave.EU was funded by Russia, Wigmore replied nyet - Russian for no.

Banks told the committee that while he had met the gold magnate he had no business interests in Russia  too risky.

He had however given a telephone number for President Trumps transition team to the Russian ambassador .

It was the only thing of significance that came out of the meetings  because the Russians wanted to get hold of the transition team.

The grilling ended abruptly when Banks and Wigmore simply walked out. Weve got places to be, Im afraid, Banks told the MPs.

I really have to insist. I was told a certain time and weve got a lunch appointment that I dont want to be late for. The committee was not impressed.

Damian Collins, the its Tory chairman, said last night: Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore have misled the committee on the number of meetings that took place with the Russian embassy and walked out of the committees evidence session to avoid scrutiny of the content of the discussions with the Russian embassy.

He added: From the emails that we have seen, it is evident that Arron Banks had many meetings with Russian officials, including the Russian Ambassador, Alexander Yakovenko, between 2015 and 2017.

The meetings involved discussions about business deals involving Alrosa, the Russian diamond monopoly, the purchase of gold mines, funded by Sberbank, the Russian-state bank, and the transferring of confidential documents to Russian officials.

'Mr Banks seemed to want to hide the extent of his contacts with Russia... Mr Wigmore is a self-confessed liar and, as a result, little significance can be attached to anything that he says.

'It is unclear whether Mr Banks profited from business deals arising from meetings arranged by Russian officials.

We understand that the National Crime Agency is investigating these matters. We believe that they should be given full access to any relevant information that will aid their inquiry.

Last month in a committee room at the House of Commons before a cross party audience including former home secretary Amber Rudd and Stephen Kinnock MP, the Atlantic Council think-tank launched a report titled Democracy in the Crosshairs: How Political Money Laundering Threatened the Democratic Process.

Arron Banks figured heavily in the paper which stated: When weaponised by hostile states with billions of dollars in offshore centres and large, efficient intelligence services, money laundering poses a grave threat to democratic integrity.

This includes: the use of opaque offshore centres to obscure funds origins, the use of fabricated business transactions to transfer funds or covertly enrich individuals and... the co-opting of straw men who count as permissible donors.

Neil Barnett, one of the reports authors, said last night: The NCAs initiation of a criminal investigation into Arron Banks and his various companies and groups is long overdue.

It has been apparent since 2016 that Banks has nowhere near the necessary wealth to donate about 8million. When invited to explain the origin of the funds he has offered various conflicting stories, before settling on my bank account.

'The law forbids donations from impermissible donors, and only an investigation with legal powers can uncover the truth. Everyone who values democratic integrity should be pleased today.

During his ill-judged select committee appearance, Banks declared: I like to think Im an evil genius with a white cat that controls the whole of western democracy but clearly thats nonsense. Typical Banks.

But the new allegations wont be so easily dismissed.

This week against a background of heightened tension with the Kremlin, the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War has been taking place in Norway.

The frontline of the new hostilities is no longer the preserve of soldiers and tanks, however.

Eight million pounds is a small price to pay for a military superpower for the break-up of the EU, a rival alliance.

The question is, whos paying? Arron Banks insists it is him alone.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured) has unveiled a strategy aimed at reducing the 37billion-a-year cost of serious and organised crime to the British economy

Millions of pounds of foreign aid is ending up in the pockets of organised crime gangs, who smuggle drugs, weapons and illegal immigrants into Britain.

Huge sums of development money siphoned off by corrupt regimes assisted crime kingpins overseas, which then fuelled violence on the streets of the UK, ministers admitted yesterday.

It also emerged that the National Crime Agency, dubbed Britain's FBI, was carrying out a 'number' of investigations into British cash being stolen or even handed to crime syndicates in poverty-stricken countries by their own corrupt regimes.

It raised fresh concerns over the inadvertent harm caused by the Department for International Development's (DfID) 13.9billion aid budget, and how much was ending up in the wrong hands.

The farce was uncovered as Home Secretary Sajid Javid unveiled a strategy aimed at reducing the 37billion-a-year cost of serious and organised crime to the British economy.

The Home Office blueprint was intended to tackle 4,600 crime syndicates profiting from child sexual exploitation, the illegal drugs trade, human trafficking and cyber-crime.

Last night Tory MP Andrew Percy, a critic of the Government's cast-iron pledge to spend at least 0.7 per cent of national income on foreign aid despite fierce opposition from backbenchers, said the findings were 'deeply concerning'.

He said: 'This is very worrying because it shows once again that we have got to get a better handle on foreign aid spending.'

In the strategy, Mr Javid described the illicit trade as the 'most deadly national security threat' faced by the UK  and one that cost more British lives than terrorism or natural disasters.

He said the tentacles of the crime networks stretched to Britain from all over the world, including the cocaine trade in Colombia and people traffickers in Africa.

In a foreword to the report, he said: 'There is a direct link between the drugs being sold on our streets, including the violence linked to that trade, the networks trafficking vulnerable children and adults into the UK and corrupt politicians and state officials overseas who provide services and safe haven for international criminal networks.'

Mr Javid (pictured) said crime networks stretched to Britain from all over the world, including the cocaine trade in Colombia and people traffickers in Africa

The report said some criminals 'think of themselves as untouchable', adding: 'Corruption... overseas it is a cause of conflict and instability which, if not tackled, can increase risks to the UK.'

Launching the Government's Serious and Organised Crime Strategy yesterday, security minister Ben Wallace said: 'Some of the NCA officers [based abroad] are focused on anti-corruption rather than maybe drug dealing or other issues.

So it is something that we are tackling and it is of course a potential threat  criminals do it, members of government steal that money and we need to go after it.'

Lynne Owens, of the NCA, said the agency's international crime unit was working closely with DfID.

Last December the Mail revealed that UK aid to corrupt countries soared by 10 per cent in 2016. Almost 1.39billion was sent to the world's 20 most crooked states  up from 1.26billion in 2015.

n Emergency powers which have been used to strip terrorists of their passports will be aimed at McMafia-style crime kingpins under a crackdown.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid pledged to increase the use of laws to withdraw British citizenship to kick out 'untouchable' organised criminals with dual nationality.
A publishing company has begun producing 'tiny books' in hopes that the cellphone-sized style can re-energize a fledgling printing industry.

The miniature books called 'dwarsliggers' were invented in the Netherlands and have become increasingly popular across Europe as they allow for more convenient reading than a traditional full-sized book.

Designed to be held in one hand, the books are no thicker than a person's thumb and measure at just under six inches tall and about three and a half inches wide.

The pages, which are about as thin as onion skin, can be turned by swiping upward as one would on a smartphone thanks to a hinge-style spine.

Dutton Books for Young Readers, a publisher under the Penguin Random House umbrella, has begun producing 'tiny book' versions of four reissued John Green novels. The cellphone-sized books already popular across Europe are designed to be read with one hand

The new line of 'tiny books' was brought to America by Dutton Books for Young Readers, a publisher under the Penguin Random House umbrella.

The publisher's president Julie Strauss-Gabel described her discovery of the pocket-sized editions as a 'revelation'.

'I saw it and I was like, boom,' Strauss-Gabel told the New York Times. 'I started a mission to figure out how we could do that here.'

Dutton approached best-selling young adult author John Green to be the guinea pig for the experiment, and began releasing its first batch of four reissued novels in October.

Green was familiar with the tiny book phenomenon having lived in Amsterdam, so he immediately jumped on board when he got Dutton's call.

'Like a lot of writers, I'm a complete nerd for book making and the little details that make a physical book really special,' Green told the Times.

'It didn't feel like a gimmick, it feels like an interesting, different way to read.'

The mini versions of Green's novels - 'Looking for Alaska,' 'An Abundance of Katherines,' 'Paper Towns' and 'The Fault in Our Stars' - are priced at a modest $12 each or $48 for a box set

Dutton is hopeful that the books will be particularly popular among younger readers who've grown up in the age of the internet, as the flip-book-style design mimics that of a smartphone.

'Young people are still learning how they like to read,' Green said. 'It is much closer to a cellphone experience than standard books, but it's much closer to a book than a cellphone.

'The whole problem with reading on a phone is that my phone also does so many other things.'

The mini versions of Green's novels - 'Looking for Alaska,' 'An Abundance of Katherines,' 'Paper Towns' and 'The Fault in Our Stars' - are priced at a modest $12 each or $48 for a box set.

They will initially be available at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Target and Walmart as well as independent bookstores, and could later potentially expand to other more design-centric stores such as Anthropologie and Crate & Barrel.

Penguin Young Readers is slated to release several more tiny books in 2019, and should the style be successful, other publishers will likely follow suit.

The book style serves as a glimmer of hope for the publishing industry, which has been experiencing a steep decline over the last several decades since the advent of the internet and the introduction of electronic books.
Figures released this year showed 30 forces dealt with 11,236 'hate incidents' in 2015-16  the equivalent of one every half an hour, if replicated across the country.

As police vent their frustration at being unable to adequately tackle violent crime, consider the incidents they were obliged to investigate:

Minister's speech: Amber Rudd's address to the Tory party conference as home secretary last year was probed as a hate incident following a complaint by an academic.

One of the 'hate incidents' police investigated was a complaint against Amber Rudd's (pictured) address to the Tory party conference as home secretary last year

Miss Rudd set out measures to reduce immigration in her conference speech in Birmingham. Joshua Silver, a physics professor at the University of Oxford, reported it as a hate crime over its anti-immigration message  although he admitted he had not actually watched it.

West Midlands Police confirmed officers had investigated but found no evidence a crime had been committed. It said it would be recorded as a 'non-crime hate incident' in accordance with guidelines.

Wolf whistles: Poppy Smart, then 23, said she was running the gauntlet of 'disrespectful' builders for a month on her walk to work. She compared the wolf-whistling to racial discrimination and said it made her journey in Worcester's city centre an 'awful experience'.

She filmed the men on her mobile phone and passed the evidence to police in 2015, who investigated on the basis that an offence of harassment or public disorder may have been committed. West Mercia Police took no further action after speaking to the building firm's boss.

Poppy Smart, then 23, (left) compared the wolf-whistling to racial discrimination and reported builders (right) for making her journey in Worcester's city centre an 'awful experience'

Attleborough Baptist Church in Norfolk was ordered to remove a poster (left) suggesting non-Christians would burn in Hell after Rob Gladwin (right) complained about it

Church's hell warning: A church was ordered to remove a poster suggesting non-Christians would burn in Hell. Police investigated after a local complained the church was trying to 'scare' people into attending.

Pastor John Rose, 69, had pinned the poster outside Attleborough Baptist Church in Norfolk. It featured a picture of burning flames and the slogan: 'If you think there is no God, you'd better be right!!'

Mr Rose said he regretted that the poster could have been interpreted as inciting religious hatred. A police spokesman said the force had followed national guidelines, and recorded the poster as a 'hate incident' after concluding no criminal offence was committed.

Sugar's tweet: Lord Sugar was investigated by police after he was accused a posting a racist message on Twitter.

The tycoon posted a photograph of a crying Chinese child and joked they were 'upset because he was told off for leaving the production line of the iPhone'.

Shop owner Nichola Szeto, from Liverpool, was offended by the reference to factories in Asia that produce Apple's phones, and complained to police.

Lord Alan Sugar was also investigated after he shared this photo on his Twitter account

Shop owner Nichola Szeto, from Liverpool, (right) was offended by the reference to factories in Asia that produce Apple's phones, and complained to police about Lord Sugar's (left) tweet

The 2013 message was investigated by Merseyside Police's specialist hate crime investigation team, who decided it should be classed as a 'hate incident' although no crime had taken place.

Transgender complaint: Five police officers, including one on horseback, confronted three campaigners handing out flyers raising concerns about transgender rights.

The activists, leafleting outside the Green Party conference in Bristol earlier this month, feared trans rights would come at the expense of those for women. They said the complaint to police was made by a transgender rights activist.

Avon and Somerset Police said officers were called following a complaint but 'quickly established' it was a peaceful protest and that no crime had been committed. The women were allowed to carry on.

Police chiefs back senior officer's call to focus on 'Wild West' violence on Britain's streets instead of 'trivial hate crimes like misogyny', as they demand 'back to basics' approach to policing

Scotland Yard Commissioner Cressida Dick (pictured) said she backed 'traditional values

By Chris Greenwood and Arthur Martin for the Daily Mail

A string of police chiefs emphatically backed calls for a 'back to basics' approach to crime-fighting yesterday.

Amid signs of a revolt on the issue, top officers said forces should not be made to waste time on 'trivial' matters against a backdrop of rising violence.

The calls came after Sara Thornton, chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council, said police should be allowed to get back to tackling burglary and violence rather than wolf-whistling.

In the wake of her intervention:

Scotland Yard Commissioner Cressida Dick said she backed 'traditional values' and said police were forced to stand in for other public services;

The leader of the Police Federation said officers are 'not social workers' and must focus on victims of crime;

One senior officer said areas scarred by gang violence resemble the 'Wild West';

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said police 'should not have to pick and choose' as she called for more funding.

Senior officers queued up to echo 'chief of chiefs' Miss Thornton, a former Thames Valley chief constable yesterday. She said on Wednesday that forces lack the manpower to pursue every issue raised by campaigners, adding that officers want to prioritise emergencies and investigations.

She questioned the benefit of a two-year trial to record acts such as wolf-whistling and sexism  a scheme which led to just one conviction. Nevertheless, the Home Office has asked the Law Commission to consider whether groups such as women, the elderly and goths should receive protection under hate crime laws.

Sara Thornton, chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council, (pictured) said police should be allowed to get back to tackling burglary and violence rather than wolf-whistling

Senior policing figures insisted that vulnerable victims, including those singled out because of their race, religion or sexuality, will always be treated as a priority. But West Midlands Chief Constable Dave Thompson said there is a 'limit' to what police can do.

'I think the police service takes violence against women very, very seriously,' he said. 'We think hate crime is important. But we've also got to be careful how many things we begin to add to that list.'

Cressida Dick, head of the Metropolitan Police, said she too was focused on 'traditional values'.

'We are undoubtedly on occasion substituting for other public services,' she added. 'I'm beginning to take a harder and harder line on what we do there and where we do it. I do some of that with a heavy heart, but I think that the police are being asked to do functions that we are not as well-skilled for.It's not appropriate for us and to get back to the priority and the core we will have to stop doing that.

'The mission is getting wider and wider. We do have to make some hard choices and I'm staring down the barrel of several of them as we speak.'

Conservative MP Tim Loughton said: 'It is good to hear from a senior police officer wanting to catch real criminals ... rather than the usual PC nonsense'

Police chiefs believe they are at a turning point, after years of struggling to meet high public expectations and soaring demand.

Recorded crime has risen by 9 per cent  including rocketing levels of knife crime and robbery  as 22,000 officers were lost from the frontline.

In Bedfordshire, Assistant Chief Constable Jacqueline Sebire said colleagues faced 'constant and sustained' demand.

'Wild West? It can be ... it's happening in broad daylight, they're in public spaces.'

Police want ministers to help them shed responsibilities which do not involve directly catching criminals and protecting the public.

These include helping the mentally ill and tackling social problems after council staff shut their doors for the day.

John Apter, who leads the Police Federation, said 'we are not society's social workers' as he revealed he was once dragged into a dispute over a TV remote control.

'People who expect and deserve a police response often don't get one,' he said. '

We must never and should never ignore those who are victims of serious hate crime. But the widespread increase in the recording of trivial matters impacts on the ability to answer 999 calls quickly.

It also means that for some victims of crime, we are not with them at their time of need. You can get the most hostile comments made on social media platforms, but police officers should not routinely be dragged into rows.'

Conservative MP Tim Loughton, a member of Parliament's Home Affairs Committee, said the change of emphasis 'makes sense', adding: 'It is good to hear from a senior police officer wanting to catch real criminals and prevent serious crime rather than the usual PC nonsense.

'This leaves ordinary law abiding people scared stiff to open their mouths and exasperated at the 'don't call us, we'll call you' approach that seems to have taken hold.'
The clashes pose a test for U.S. diplomacy in northern Syria, pitting two regional USA allies against one another.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is a USA -backed coalition of Kurdish-Arab fighters dominated by the People's Protection Units (YPG). He said then that Turkey would focus its attention on the east of the Euphrates, rather than the Manbij area just west of the river, where USA and Turkish forces agreed in June to carry out joint patrols.

According to the Turkish state Anadolu news agency, Turkish artillery targeted Kurdish forces in the Zor Moghar village in Aleppo on Sunday.

The YPG militia posted a video on Twitter of what appeared to be a Turkish military vehicle being destroyed by a guided missile.

Turkish forces recently struck several targets belonging to the YPG near the town of Kobani in northern Syria.

These attacks have also pulled Kurdish fighters from the front lines of fighting the Islamic State, in order to defend their homes.

Gobierno presenta informe de viaje del presidente Varela a Cuba

El comercio entre los dos paises cayo de 220,8 millones de dolares en 2013 a 67,7 millones en 2017, segun cifras oficiales cubanas.

Fallece Teodoro Petkoff, reconocido politico y periodista venezolano

El editorial de apertura de Tal Cual "Hola Hugo", mostro el acento critico del diario a la revolucion bolivariana. Abandono el Partido Comunista a fines de los 70 y fundo el Movimiento al Socialismo.

Arsenal dealt Guendouzi blow ahead of Liverpool clash

Should he replicate that for a fourth consecutive match , he'll make history by becoming the first player to achieve such a feat. They lie second behind Manchester City on the same number of points but have a far inferior goal difference.

However, SDF officials and civilians told Syria Direct on Wednesday that shelling was ongoing that afternoon. However, according to the SDF spokesperson, "there is a possibility" that a potential agreement could involve the distribution of both United States and Turkish troops along the border. Adopted in June, the agreement was created to defuse tensions between Turkish-backed rebels and YPG fighters in the area.

Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a Turkey-based terror group that has been fighting for greater rights in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast for decades.

The Turkish forces have killed, captured or forced to surrender 1,451 Kurdish militants in the course of counterterrorism operations held over the past year, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Tuesday.

The halting of the operation is a major setback for the USA and its allies and comes after Turkey threatened a new military operation targeting the Kurdish-led SDF. "Ankara thinks that the terror groups on the eastern part of the Euphrates are undermining Syria's unitary structure and threatening Turkey's territorial integrity", he told Arab News.

The Kurdish forces are allies of the worldwide coalition in the war against ISIS.

The possibility of Turkish forces advancing into Kurdish-held areas of Syria hinges upon a U.S. response, al-Omar said, before adding that it is "currently not in the interest of the USA to abandon their strategic partners". Erdogan said the Turkish prosecutor repeated to his Saudi counterpart Turkey's extradition request of 18 suspects detained in Saudi Arabia for the October 2 killing to be put on trial in Istanbul. "The clashes and Turkish bombardment that are happening now are only [designed] to test the reaction of the Americans".
When former Donald Trump campaign chair Steve Bannon wanted information about a promised release of a trove of Clinton documents by WikiLeaks, he reached out to informal Trump advisor Roger Stone.

'What was that this morning???' Bannon asked Stone, in an October 4 email obtained by the New York Times.

Stone's response implied he had knowledge  which could be of interest to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigators as they forge ahead with their Russia probe. ''A load every week going forward,' Stone wrote.

Stone published the full email himself in an op-ed published Thursday in the conservative Daily Caller.

Investigators are focused on Trump informal advisor Roger Stone and his connections to and any communications with WikiLeaks. Stone and the New York Times published emails he exchanged with Steve Bannon

His full response described Assange's apparent concern, while living in the Ecuadoran embassy in London while the U.S. was seeking his extradition: 'Fear. Serious security concern. He thinks they are going to kill him and the London police are standing [down].

'However a load every week going forward,' Stone wrote, according to his op-ed.

Stone also was in email contact with Matthew Boyle of Breitbart News, a site formerly run by Bannon.

'Assange  what's he got?' Boyle asked Stone in Oct. 3 also reported by the Times. 'Hope it's good.'

'It is,' Mr. Stone replied.

Former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon met with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigators Friday

Special counsel Robert Mueller's probers have been interviewing people who were in contact with Roger Stone during the campaign about his statements regarding WikiLeaks

Stone presented himself as having ties to Assange, but his response to the story is that he was puffing up his access.

He told the paper it was 'posture, bluff, hype, based on things Assange revealed publicly.

'I didn't need any inside knowledge to do that. They keep looking for some direct communication with WikiLeaks that doesn't exist,' he said referencing special counsel Robert Mueller's investigators.

He also trashed Bannon, who was interviewed by Mueller's investigators last week.

Stone wrote Bannon's 'animus' toward him was due to a column he wrote saying he had outlived his usefulness to Trump.

'What I am guilty of is using publicly available information and a solid tip to bluff, posture, hype and punk Democrats on Twitter. This is called 'politics.' It's not illegal,' Stone wrote.

Stone has not been revealed to have been interviewed by Mueller.

In newly revealed email communications Roger Stone said WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange had 'a load' of information about Hillary Clinton

Another email published by the times appears to show Stone soliciting Bannon's help getting financial backing for an effort to promote an unverified 'love child' story about former President Bill Clinton.

'I've raised $150K for the targeted black digital campaign through a C-4,' he wrote, describing a fundraising organization.

'Tell Rebecca to send us some $$,' Stone added, in what could be a reference to major donor Rebekah Mercer. The paper said there was no indication Bannon replied to that or followed up.

There have been indications for months Mueller's team was circling Stone. U.S. Intelligence believes Russian hackers obtained the hacked emails that ended up being obtained and dumped by WikiLeaks.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee is pursuing a wide-ranging investigation into former White House adviser Steve Bannon's activities during the 2016 presidential campaign, three sources familiar with the inquiry told Reuters.

The committee is looking into what Bannon might know about any contacts during the campaign between Moscow and two advisers to the campaign, George Papadopoulos and Carter Page, they said.

Papadopoulos, a consultant, initially advised the presidential campaign of Republican hopeful Ben Carson before joining the Trump campaign. Page is also a consultant, who had business contacts in Russia.

On Sept. 7, Papadopoulos was sentenced to 14 days in prison. He had pleaded guilty last year to lying to FBI agents about the timing and significance of his contacts with Russians, including a professor who told him the Russians had 'dirt' on Trump's Democratic presidential rival, Hillary Clinton.

No charges have been filed against Page.

The panel also will examine Bannon's role with Cambridge Analytica, a former data analysis company that the Trump campaign hired to help identify and target messages to potentially sympathetic voters, the sources said.

The Senate committee is working with Bannon's advisers to set a date for him to be interviewed by staff investigators in late November, two of the sources said.

Neither Bannon nor his spokesperson immediately responded to requests for comment.

Bannon recently met for the second time with investigators working for Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating allegations of Russian interference on Trump's behalf in the 2016 presidential election, one of the sources said.

Russia has denied interfering in the election and Trump denies any collusion, frequently describing the Mueller investigation as a political witch hunt.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Bannon was questioned last week by Mueller's team. The newspaper said the interview focused on Trump supporter Roger Stone. In emails to Reuters, Stone has said he did not know about or have access to WikiLeaks materials related to Democrats.

In the run-up to the 2016 election, WikiLeaks published hundreds of emails hacked from the Democratic Party and the personal account of top Hillary Clinton campaign adviser John Podesta.

One of the sources familiar with the Bannon-related Senate panel investigations said Mueller's team does not consider Bannon to be a potential subject of their investigation.

Bannon served as a vice president of Cambridge Analytica from June 2014 to August 2016, at which point he joined Trump's presidential campaign as a senior strategist.

Sources said the Senate Intelligence committee has sought to interview other witnesses about the role played by Cambridge Analytica and affiliated companies in the 2016 election. (Reporting by Mark Hosenball Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and David Gregorio)
A mother-of-six has been sentenced to jail after stealing more than $70,000 from Centrelink which she used to fund extravagant holidays, a new home and IVF treatment.

Amanda Jane Greensill, nee Page, admitted to defrauding $71,602.71 from Centrelink when she appeared in Ipswich District Court, Queensland, this week.

The 40-year-old from Brassall, about 41km from Brisbane, will spend Christmas behind bars for the crimes she committed between April 2013 and November 2016, The Queensland Times reported.

Amanda Jane Greensill, married name Page, admitted to defrauding $71,602.71 from Centrelink in Ipswich District Court, Queensland, this week

Commonwealth prosecutor Aimee Sanderson said Greensill married Mr Page at the Watermark Hotel on the Gold Coast in 2013 before conceiving twins through IVF in 2014.

Greensill has three older children from an earlier marriage and previously received single-parenting payments for the kids as well as disability support due to disability suffered to hands since birth.

Her new relationship with Mr Page was assessed and Greensill declared she would not receive payments because of his earnings.

In April 2013 Greensill claimed her relationship with Mr Page ended and they were no longer living together - but he was living at her sister's home.

'It was misleading as she remained in a relationship with Mr Page, and in August 2013 they were married,' Ms Sanderson said.

The court heard the couple bought a block of land and built a seven-bedroom home which Greenshill moved into in June 2015 but did not notify the department about the change of address.

During the fraudulent period, Greenshill went on a honeymoon to Hawaii and took family vacations to Vanuatu and America

During the fraudulent period, Greenshill went on a honeymoon to Hawaii and took family vacations to Vanuatu and America.

She also held joint bank accounts and insurance with Mr Page.

'It was a deliberate course of conduct to conceal her marriage,' Ms Sanderson said.

Defence barrister Tony Kimmins sought for minimal jail time and told the court Greensill was the primary care giver to her six children aged between three and 13.

'The situation is Mr Page will have to resign from his work. They don't have anyone to look after their six children. They won't be thrown out on the street,' Mr Kimmins said.

Judge Dennis Lynch QC said the 'serious' offending wasn't necessity but to do with providing a better lifestyle for her family.

Greensill was sentenced to two years jail, to serve three months.
A total of 71 asylum seekers on Nauru have turned down the chance to move to the U.S. after discovering they would need to work and wouldn't get welfare.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton claimed those who who rejected the move were not 'genuine' refugees.

Mr Dutton claimed their reluctance to take up the opportunity proved they were simply economic migrants trying to take advantage of generous welfare systems.

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A total of 71 asylum seekers on Nauru have turned down the chance to move to the US after discovering they would need to work and wouldn't get free welfare

He told The Daily Telegraph: 'People who have refused to take a place in the US are not genuine.

'Millions of refugees have gone to the US and may have died trying because it's one of the greatest countries in the world.

'Reports have come back to people on Nauru it's all a bit financially tight there because you have to get a job and there's no welfare there.'

With Prime Minister Scott Morrison announcing on Thursday he aimed to remove all children from Nauru by Christmas, pressure has been growing on the government to accept an offer from the New Zealand government to resettle refugees.

The prime minister has said he would accept such an offer if it meant those sent to New Zealand received lifetime bans on returning to Australia.

But the Home Affairs Minister said people-smugglers would likely keep trying to bring refugees back into Australia.

And that would mean more children could end up back on Nauru, defeating the purpose of the Liberal government pledge.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton claimed those who who rejected the move were not 'genuine' refugees

As of Monday, 40 children of asylum seekers remain on Nauru and an unofficial timeline has been set to have them brought to Australia.

A total of 46 infants have been born to asylum seekers since Nauru was reopened for processing in 2012, an average of about eight a year.

Last week, more than 1,000 people stopped traffic in the heart of Sydney while about 500 protesters in Melbourne rallied against the federal government's offshore detention centres.
More than half of the Afghanistan Invictus Games team are refusing to leave Australia and will instead seek asylum.

Five competitors and one trainer elected to skip their flight to Afghanistan on Sunday while the rest of their team flew home.

The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry in 2014, gives sick and injured military personnel and veterans the opportunity to compete in sports such as wheelchair basketball and to find inspiration to recover.

Invictus Games volunteer, Mirwais Ramaki, who helped the Afghan team during their time in Australia, believes some members of the team may have valid reasons for wanting to stay in Australia, with one expressing concerns for his safety.

More than half of the Afghan Invictus Games team refused to leave Australia and will instead seek asylum in Australia

The six team members all attended the closing ceremony on Saturday night, but by Sunday they had left the team's hotel

The names of players who chose to stay behind after the Invictus Games are currently unknown

'One of them said to me, ''I went and fought, I lost my leg and I lost my brother, my brother was killed, I don't want to be killed, I don't want my children to lose parts of their bodies'',' Mr Ramaki told SBS.

He said the competitors had no intentions of staying in the country, but once they arrived here, everything changed.

'One of them actually said when he came and saw the people here - basically it was his first time coming out of the country, being in a safe and peaceful environment - that totally changed his perceptions,' Mr Ramaki said.

The six team members all attended the closing ceremony on Saturday night, but by Sunday they had left the team's hotel.

Mr Ramaki expressed his concerns for the group of athletes.

Invictus Games volunteer, Mirwais Ramaki (pictured), who helped the Afghan team during their time in Australia, believes some members of the team may have valid reasons for wanting to stay in Australia

The competitors had no intentions of staying in the country, but once they arrived here, everything changed

He has not heard from them since they left the hotel, but says they have disabilities, limited English and limited access to money.

A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said the Invictus Games competitors and officials 'may remain lawfully in Australia until the expiry of their visas. Their visas have not yet expired'.

The visas for all eight competitors and their three trainers were lodged to expire at the end of November.

That means the six people who remained in Australia have almost four weeks before they are required to leave the country.

The revelation comes only days after it was announced Australians have forked out $1.3million to house and feed 220 Commonwealth Games participants who sought asylum in Australia.

This figure, as of September 30, included $300,000 to process the applications for protection visas, but this cost did not include intelligence gathering and support services.

Many of the athletes remain in detention facilities while their asylum applications are being processed.

Five competitors and one trainer elected to skip their flight to Afghanistan on Sunday while the rest of their team flew home
David Cameron was mauled today over claims he wants a return to the Cabinet because he is 'bored s***less'.

The former Prime Minister is said to be hoping for a return to front-line politics - potentially as Foreign Secretary - after Theresa May is replaced as leader.

But the rumour drew ridicule and bafflement from MPs, with some accusing him of a 'sense of entitlement' and others jibing that he has 'done enough damage'.

Former cabinet colleague Iain Duncan-Smith said it would be 'peculiar' if Mr Cameron tried to make a comeback and said he was still 'pretty unhappy' he had abruptly resigned from No10 after losing the referendum.

The reaction on social media was also vicious, with users saying he had 'screwed the country enough' and should 'get an allotment' instead.

Actor Danny Dyer won widespread acclaim when he accused Mr Cameron in a TV rant of 'scuttling off' after the EU referendum and putting his 'trotters up'.

Since resigning he has spent much his time writing his book in a 25,000 shed in his Cotswolds garden.

But at 52 it appears he is ready to return with source close to Mr Cameron said he would not rule out going back to Westminster if a future Tory leader asked him.

It will have to wait until after next spring when he releases his memoirs, which is expected to settle scores with Brexiteers including his former friend Michael Gove and Vote Leave figurehead Boris Johnson.

David Cameron pictured outside No 10 with wife Samantha Cameron and children Nancy, Arthur and Florence as he resigned as PM in July 2016 - but friends have claimed he is plotting his return

Mr Cameron has been spending much of his time writing his memoirs in his 25,000 shed and the book, out next year, is expected to settle old scores especially with Brexiteers

The source told The Sun: 'David is dedicated to public service, and has often said he wouldn't rule out a public role one day, domestically or internationally.

'But he is only 52, and still a young man.'

The source added the 52-year-old is 'bored sh******' and would consider the move back to front-line politics if called on by a future Tory leader.

The former-PM would of course also have to be re-elected as an MP, or take the more likely route of being given a peerage if he wants to take his place in a future cabinet.

The move would be similar to William Hague who after his failed leadership of the Tory party, returned under Cameron's government as Foreign Secretary.

Mr Cameron resigned his premiership after defeat in the EU Referendum.

In part of his leaving speech he said: 'I love this country, and I feel honoured to have served it and I will do everything I can in future to help this great country succeed.'

A spokesman for David Cameron refused to comment last night.

MPs have largely reacted negatively to Mr Cameron's possible return - with many saying he should have stayed on after the referendum

Labour MP Anna Turley said: 'The sense of entitlement is unreal. Please go away and think about what you've done.'

Another senior Labour MP, Yvette Cooper, tweeted: 'What, because it worked out so well last time? Man, you ripped up our closest international partnership. By accident. That makes you even worse than Boris Johnson.'

Former cabinet collague Iain Duncan-Smith said today: 'I actually thought he should have taken the responsibility having called the referendum to have seen it through and not resigned, I was pretty unhappy with him.

David Cameron, pictured testifying during a hearing at the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Capitol Hill in Washington in March 2018, wants a return to front line politics

'It was his responsibility, he called the referendum. Of course, it is always open if he wants to come back whether he comes into Parliament or goes to the Lords, but I would find that rather peculiar. '

Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said: 'It is outrageous, that guy ran away from a referendum result that he put to the country.

'To just consider coming back as if it's just an entitlement was part of our problem with David Cameron in the first place.'

Shadow education minister Angela Rayner has labelled the rumours of his return as 'bizarre'.

Miss Rayner, MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, was among a series of Labour MPs who reacted to reports of the former Prime Minister fancying a tilt at Foreign Secretary.

Ms Rayner tweeted 'No David, please stay in retirement you caused enough damage last time'.

Shadow communities and local government secretary Andrew Gwynne expressed similar opposition on Twitter.

He said: 'God. No.

'Didn't he do enough damage first time round? Please spare us all.'

Meanwhile, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry posted a facepalm emoji - a picture used to display frustration or embarrassment at a certain situation.

Mr Cameron has spent the past two years working on as-yet-untitled memoirs of his time in politics.

The book, published by HarperCollins for an 800,000 fee, is due to be released in September next year.

It was revealed last year he bought a 25,000 garden shed 'to write in'.

The Red Sky Shepherd's Hut includes a wood-burning stove, sofa bed and sheep's wool insulation and sits in the garden of their Cotswolds home.

Despite the comfortable lodgings, he was forced to delay the book's publication in April this year. The initial publication date was in late 2018 but it has now been pushed back to next September.

The ex-Prime Minister admitted he was easily distracted from the task of writing but it was made easier by help from wife Samantha.

Mr Cameron admitted she made all the design decisions about the hut, although their children prefer it as a playroom.
Lime has taken some of its electric scooters off the streets of Los Angeles, San Diego and Tahoe after thousands were found to go up in smoke or flames.

The scooter and bike startup said Wednesday it made the decision after it learned in August of an issue with the batteries in its scooters.

Lime said the issue originated from the batteries made by Ninebot, the parent company of Segway.

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California-based startup Lime has taken some of its electric scooters off the streets of Los Angeles, San Diego and Tahoe after thousands were found to go up in smoke or flames

WHAT ARE LIME SCOOTERS? Founded in 2017, Lime is a California-based startup that runs bike and scooter sharing systems across the US. Rides cost $1 for 30 minutes of use. Each scooter or bike is dockless, meaning riders are able to leave them anywhere when they're done, instead of returning them to a dock. This has proved to be a headache for many cities, as the bikes and scooters have piled up on many street corners. There have also concerns around rider safety, as many aren't using helmets when they ride. Advertisement

'The issue arose in one of the two batteries housed on early versions of the scooter; in several isolated instances, a manufacturing defect could result in the battery smoldering or, in some cases, catching fire,' Lime said in a statement.

Lime estimates that the defect impacted less than 0.01 percent of its scooter fleet.

It has since created a software program to identify potentially affected batteries, as well as another software to make sure no 'potentially faulty scooters' were in operation.

'When an affected battery was identified - with a red code - we promptly deactivated the scooter so that no members of the public could ride or charge it,' the company said.

The statement came after the Washington Post found Lime employees had alerted the company about safety issues and felt they hadn't been adequately addressed.

In one case, the fire department showed up at Lime's Lake Tahoe office in August after a scooter caught fire, the Post said.

The scooter and bike startup said Wednesday it made the decision after it learned in August of an issue with the batteries in its scooters. The firm sources its batteries from Segway Ninebot

Lime, which has millions of riders, also told the Post that a total of about 2,000 scooters were recalled.

'All vulnerable scooters were quickly removed from circulation, minimally impacting service to our Los Angeles, San Diego and Lake Tahoe markets,' Lime said.

'At no time were riders or members of the public put at risk.'

That said, Lime noted that it has received another report that some Segway Ninebot scooters are vulnerable to battery failure.

'Unfortunately, despite our efforts, weve recently received an unconfirmed report that another Segway Ninebot scooter model may also be vulnerable to battery failure, which we are currently investigating,' the firm said.

The company has also faced issues with its scooter manufacturer, Okai.

Baseboards on the Okai scooter have been found to crack or break when 'subjected to repeated abuse,' it said.

The issues seem to occur often when the scooters are ridden off a curb at high speed.

'We are currently studying this issue and incorporating these learnings into our design process,' Lime said.

It's unclear whether or not Lime will continue working with either Ninebot or Okai.

The firm said it will introduce new safety initiatives in the coming weeks.

'Lime takes full responsibility for our scooters,' the company wrote.

'The safety of our riders, Juicers, and community is our highest priority, and we will continue to hold our equipment manufacturers and ourselves to the highest possible standard.'
Very few people can resist smiling at a newborn baby  signalling positive emotions, such as joy and interest - especially for new parents.

One study found that new mothers looked at their 16-hour-old babies 80 percent of the time and smiled at them 34 percent of the time.

Sometimes newborn babies even smile back, creating a magical moment for the parents that is often ruined by someone pointing out that the smile cant be real.

Even textbooks tend to regard neonatal smiling as a reflex rather than an actual expression of joy and happiness. But is this really the case?

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Up to the second half of the 20th century, the behaviour of newborns was considered mostly reflexive. But new research shows that babies are competent enough to smile on their own

CAN BABIES SMILE? Scientists believed newborn babies weren't able to feel and express emotions. It was even believed that newborn babies couldnt feel pain in the same way as adults  meaning they were sometimes subjected to painful surgical procedures without analgesia. It wasnt until the 1980s that medical professionals realised that the stress of the pain actually led to life-threatening shock and complications. Over the past 50 years, data has slowly accumulated suggesting that neonates are more than just reflexive beings. They are competent enough to actively regulate their own states. For example, they can fall asleep to shut out stressful distractions, or fuss and cry if they need stimulation and more interaction. They can also imitate smiles as early as the first 36 hours of life and can even learn from previous experience as early as the first day of life. Advertisement

Up to the second half of the 20th century, the behaviour of newborns was considered mostly reflexive.

Scientists assumed that newborns had a limited ability to feel and express emotions, and did not have enough social experience to interact with their caregivers.

However, data has slowly accumulated suggesting neonates are more than just reflexive beings.

They are competent enough to actively regulate their own states.

However, when it comes to feelings such as happiness and joy, we have continued to question whether newborns can be socially competent beings.

Up until the early 2000s, newborn babies were thought to smile only in response to muscle twitches, penile erections, bowel or bladder movements or for no particular reason at all.

Most studies and textbooks  even in the 21st century  still suggest that the first 'social smile' occurs only.

And there was evidence to support it. In 1872, Charles Darwin argued that emotional expressions were universal and inborn, and documented the first real smiles of his own child at 45 days of age.

My own research has replicated these observations. When we asked 957 parents to observe and record smiling in their children for a study, they reported the first 'social smiles' of their babies just after four weeks on average.

A study from 1959, which defined 'social smiles' as seeking eye-contact before smiling, found that none of the 400 babies in the study smiled during the first week.

Only 11 percent showed a social smile by two weeks of age.

About 60 percent had socially smiled by three weeks, and almost all of them had socially smiled within the first month.

Some researchers still fail to register smiles early on, and many smiles occur during sleep  unrelated to the social world.

A new born imitates a researcher during experiments. Even foetuses, observed within the womb with a 4D ultrasonographic method, smile from at least the 23rd week of gestation

Indeed, even foetuses, observed within the womb with a 4D ultrasonographic method, smile from at least the 23rd week of gestation.

But other studies show that newborns do smile on rare occasions  at most once in every four minutes for some one-day-olds. And the question now is what those smiles mean.

There have long been signs that newborn smiles could signal positive emotions to some extent.

Smiles have been noted in the first few days of life as a response to stroking of the cheek or the belly. Newborns also smile in response to sweet tastes and smells.

These findings were published decades ago when smiles were considered purely as innate reflexes.

The reason that scientists at the time didnt interpret them as emotional was partly because the smiles looked different to social smiles.

'Real' smiles  called Duchenne smiles  involve not only the major muscle that pulls the mouth to the side and upward, but also the muscles around the eyes.

Neonatal smiles were thought to involve only the mouth region.

However, when scientists micro-analysed facial movements, frame by frame, using a dedicated coding system, smiles from as early as one day of age were more often than not accompanied by cheek and eye movements.

CAN BABIES SMILE IN THE WOMB? Recent advances in ultrasound scanning have shown that babies smile, cry and blink inside the womb. Images captured using a 4D scanner suggest that unborn babies exhibit facial expressions as a reflex in preparation for birth, Professor Stuart Campbell said. Professor Campbell, who has observed such expressions since he first started using the revolutionary scanner in 2001, said it was previously thought babies learned to smile after birth by copying their mothers. Babies do not normally smile after birth until they are about six weeks old. 'What's behind the smile, of course, I can't say, but the corners turn up and the cheeks bulge ... I think it must be some indication of contentment in a stress-free environment,' Campbell explained. The 4D scanner, which produces detailed 3D images that move in real time, has shown that babies start making finger movements at 15 weeks, yawning at 18 weeks and smiling, blinking and crying at 26 weeks. Professor Campbell said the machine, which is now used at a few private clinics in the UK, has also made it easier for doctors to detect abnormalities such as cleft palate and to diagnose heart defects. It could also serve as an important research tool in helping to understand more about genetic problems such as Down's syndrome, he added. Advertisement

More and more studies have since suggested that newborn babies do smile when they are awake, and that these smiles closely resemble real social smiles.

And when newborns are in an interactive, awake state, they smile twice as much as compared to when they are asleep - more evidence that social factors could be involved.

Whats more, babies often start moving their cheeks and their brows before they smile, as if focusing their attention on the caregivers face. So it is completely possible that these newborn babies actually mean to smile.

Unfortunately, behavioural studies with neonates are still scarce and require elaborate analyses to interpret the meanings of certain behaviour.

While further studies are needed, it is plausible to assume that these early smiles have a social meaning.

To many of us in the field, it is at the very least clear that these smiles are definitely more than just a reflex.
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NASA has begun the final preparations for its next - and most ambitious - rover landing on Mars.

The InSight probe blasted off on May 5th, and, NASA hopes, will touch down on the Martian surface on November 26th.

If it manages to land on the red planet, it will drill down into the surface of Mars in a groundbreaking study that could reveal how the red planet - and earth - formed.

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The InSight probe blasted off on May 5th, and, NASA hopes, will touch down on the Martian surface on November 26th. Pictured, an artist's impression of the probe on Mars, complete with its remote drilling unit, dubbed 'the mole' that will burrow nearly 16 feet (five metres) into the Martian soil

InSight will study the deep interior of Mars, taking the planet's vital signs, its pulse and temperature, and NASA says it will 'give Mars a thorough checkup for the first time since the planet formed 4.5 billion years ago.

'InSight will teach us about the interior of planets like our own.

'The mission team hopes that by studying the deep interior of Mars, we can learn how other rocky worlds, including Earth and the Moon, formed.'

A slender cylindrical probe dubbed the mole is designed to tunnel nearly 16 feet (five metres) into the Martian soil.

A quake-measuring seismometer, meanwhile, will be removed from the lander by a mechanical arm and placed directly on the surface for better vibration monitoring.

Previous missions to the Red Planet have investigated its surface by studying its canyons, volcanoes, rocks and soil.

INSIGHT'S THREE KEY INSTRUMENTS The rover that could reveal how Earth was formed: InSight Rover set for Mars landing on november 26th Three key instruments will allow the InSight rover to 'take the pulse' of the red planet: Seismometer: The InSight lander carries a seismometer, SEIS, that listens to the pulse of Mars. The seismometer records the waves traveling through the interior structure of a planet. Studying seismic waves tells us what might be creating the waves. On Mars, scientists suspect that the culprits may be marsquakes, or meteorites striking the surface. Heat probe: InSight's heat flow probe, HP3, burrows deeper than any other scoops, drills or probes on Mars before it. It will investigate how much heat is still flowing out of Mars. Radio antennas: Like Earth, Mars wobbles a little as it rotates around its axis. To study this, two radio antennas, part of the RISE instrument, track the location of the lander very precisely. This helps scientists test the planet's reflexes and tells them how the deep interior structure affects the planet's motion around the Sun. Advertisement

But the signatures of the planet's formation can only be found by sensing and studying its vital signs far below the surface.

However, beforethe InSight lander can begin its job on Mars, it will have to survive a treacherous re-entry and landing through the planet's atmosphere.

After travelling over 300 million miles in space and reaching the martian atmosphere, the InSight spacecraft only has seven minutes to land safely on the surface  often referred to as the most treacherous stage of the mission, according to the agency.

'Landing on Mars is hard, and this mission in no different,' said Rob Manning, chief engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory,

'It takes thousands of steps to go from the atmosphere to the surface, and each has to work perfectly.'

The craft will reach up to 13,000 miles per hour as it descends through the atmosphere.

After travelling over 300 million miles in space and reaching the martian atmosphere, the InSight spacecraft only has seven minutes to land safely on the surface  often referred to as the most treacherous stage of the mission, according to the agency.

InSight is scheduled to land on a flat, smooth plain close to the planet's equator known as the Elysium Planitia.

'Where we land is an intentionally dull place,' Neil Bowles, a UK researcher involved in the mission, told the Guardian.

'It's flat, empty and hopefully not very windy. And that is precisely what we need'.

The success rate of landing on Mars, counting orbiters and landers by Nasa and others, is only about 40 per cent.

If the lander survives its landing, the solar-powered InSight will spend two Earth years - about one Martian year - plumbing the depths of the planet's interior for clues to how Mars took form and, by extension, the origins of the Earth and other rocky planets.

While Earth's tectonics and other forces have erased most evidence of its early history, much of Mars - about one-third the size of Earth - is believed to have remained relatively static for more than 3 billion years, creating a geologic time machine for scientists.

'The science we want to do with this mission is really the science of understanding the early solar system,' Bruce Banerdt, InSight principal investigator said during an interview ahead of the launch of the craft.

InSight's primary instrument is a French-built seismometer, a device designed to detect the slightest ground motion from 'marsquakes', even those on the opposite side of the planet.

The instrument is so sensitive, Dr Banerdt said, that it can measure a seismic wave just one-half the radius of a hydrogen atom.

Mars, unlike the Earth, doesn't have tectonic plates, so scientists are interested in learning more about what causes the geological phenomenon.

The InSight probe blasted off on May 5th, and, NASA hopes, will touch down on the Martian surface on November 26th.

Special instruments attached to the InSight lander will help them collect data over the course of two years on the red planet's geologic structure, composition and seismic activity.

InSight is equipped with two solar panels, which unfold 'like paper fans' for a total width of about 20 feet.

It will also deploy a seismometer that will record tremors from geological faults, as well as shock waves created by meteor impacts.

Radio equipment is attached to the lander to track the InSight's position on Mars's surface and deduce how much Mars 'wobbles' as it orbits the sun - a project called the Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment (RISE).

This will provide insights into the size of Mars' iron-rich core and whether it is liquid or solid, as well as which other elements may be present, according to Nasa.

Finally, a heat flow probe will burrow 16 feet into Mars's subsurface, pulling behind it a cable encasing a thermal probe to measure heat flowing from inside the planet.

Scientists expect to see a dozen to 100 marsquakes over the course of the mission, producing data that will help them deduce the depth, density and composition of the planet's core, the rocky mantle surrounding it and the outermost layer, the crust.

Experts say Mars is believed to produce quakes that are smaller than 6.0 on the Richter scale.

InSight is not the first attempt to measure Martian seismic activity.

NASA s latest photo of the red planet is not, by a long shot, its most striking. But, the fuzzy snapshot of a tiny red speck in the sky marks a major breakthrough for low-cost spacecraft. The space agency has shared a look at the first image of Mars to ever be captured by a CubeSat  a briefcase-sized satellite that researchers hope could revolutionize communication options for deep space missions. MarCO-B (Wall-E), snapped the first photo on October 3 with its wide-angle camera as a part of its instrument testing. At the time, the tiny satellite was 8 million miles (12.8 million kilometers) from Mars. Mars can be seen as the tiny red speck at the right side of the photo

The Viking probes of the mid-1970s were equipped with seismometers, too, but they were bolted to the top of the landers, which swayed in Martian winds on legs built with shock absorbers.

Banerdt called those 'handicapped experiments,' joking, 'We didn't do seismology on Mars - we did it 3 feet above Mars.'

Apollo missions to the moon brought seismometers to the lunar surface as well, detecting thousands of moonquakes and meteorite impacts.

InSight is expected to yield the first meaningful data on internal planetary tremors beyond Earth.
Technology giants such as Facebook and Google have grown so dominant they may need to be broken up, the inventor of the World Wide Web has said.

Tim Berners-Lee, a London-born computer scientist who invented the Web in 1989, said he was disappointed with the current state of the internet following scandals over the abuse of personal data and the use of social media to spread hate.

Silicon Valley tech firms may need to be split unless challengers or changes in taste reduce their clout, he said.

The digital revolution has spawned a handful of U.S.-based technology companies since the 1990s that now have a combined financial and cultural power greater than most sovereign states.

Tim Berners-Lee (file photo) says tech giants such as Facebook and Google have grown so dominant they may need to be broken up, unless challengers or changes in taste reduce their clout

'What naturally happens is you end up with one company dominating the field so through history there is no alternative to really coming in and breaking things up,' Berners-Lee, 63, said in an interview. 'There is a danger of concentration.'

But he urged caution too, saying the speed of innovation in both technology and tastes could ultimately cut some of the biggest technology companies down to size.

'Before breaking them up, we should see whether they are not just disrupted by a small player beating them out of the market, but by the market shifting, by the interest going somewhere else,' Berners-Lee said.

Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Facebook have a combined market capitalisation of $3.7 trillion, equal to Germany's gross domestic product last year.

Berners-Lee came up with the idea for what he initially called 'Mesh' while working at Europe's physics research centre CERN, calling it the World Wide Web in 1990.

When asked who had the biggest intellectual influence on him, he said: 'Mum and Dad.'

Berners-Lee, a London-born computer scientist who invented the Web in 1989, said he was disappointed with the current state of the internet, following scandals over the abuse of personal data and the use of social media sites like Facebook to spread hate (stock image)

'They were building computers, so I grew up living in a world where everything was mathematics and the excitement of being able to programme something was very fresh,' he said.

There was, he said, no 'Eureka' moment.

Instead, it was hard work, the experience of working in computer science and an attempt to overcome the frustrations of trying to share information with colleagues and students.

'Eureka moments are complete nonsense. I don't even believe the one about Archimedes. He had been thinking about it for a long time,' he said.

HOW DID TIM BERNERS-LEE CREATE THE INTERNET? The World Wide Web was created by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist born on June 8, 1955. Having studied physics at Queen's College Oxford, graduating in 1976, he started as an engineer in the telecommunications and microprocessor software industry. In 1980, while working as an independent contractor at CERN, Berners-Lee described the concept of a global system based on using hypertext to share information between researchers. Tim Berners-Lee wrote (pictured) the blueprint for what would become the World Wide Web, and said he is alarmed at what has happened to it in the last year He built a prototype system called Enquire, which formed the conceptual basis for the World Wide Web. In 1989 he published his landmark paper, 'Information Management: A Proposal', built the first WWW server and web browser 'WorldWideWeb.app'. In 1994, he founded the World Wide Web Consortium, the main international standards organisation for the internet. Advertisement

Now a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Oxford, Berners-Lee expressed dismay at the way consultancy Cambridge Analytica obtained the personal data of 87 million Facebook users from a researcher.

That scandal, he said, was a tipping point for many.

'I am disappointed with the current state of the Web,' he said. 'We have lost the feeling of individual empowerment and to a certain extent also I think the optimism has cracked.'

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologised after the Cambridge Analytica scandal and pledged to do more to protect users' data.

But social media, Berners-Lee said, was still being used to propagate hate.

'If you put a drop of love into Twitter it seems to decay but if you put in a drop of hatred you feel it actually propagates much more strongly. And you wonder: 'Well is that because of the way that Twitter as a medium has been built?'' (Editing by Mark Potter)
British satellite historians claim to have discovered the true location of an iconic American revolutionary ship which defeated the Royal Navy off the Yorkshire coast.

The famous vessel, the USS Bonhomme Richard, was the first US ship to beat the Royal Navy in British waters before she sank on September 24, 1779.

The location of the wreck has long been a mystery, but now a British satellite historian from Harrogate claims to have found it.

Tim Akers, 60, used pioneering satellite radar techniques alongside British satellite firm Merlin Burrows to track down the buried vessel.

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Tim Akers (left) and his business partner Bruce Blackburn (right) hold a piece of timber which they believe has come from the USS Bonhomme Richard - the first US ship to beat the Royal Navy in British waters

Dives have already recovered timbers which Mr Akers and his business partner Bruce Blackburn claim show evidence of the fire the ship succumbed to.

Mr Akers said: 'Our wreck is littered with objects which can be identified in relation to the battle and burning. Our underwater filming clearly shows the burst guns, multiple artefacts and cannon balls.'

The USS Bonhomme Richard had been involved in a ferocious battle before it eventually succumbed to the sea.

US revolutionary captain John Paul Jones had sailed the 20-gun converted former French ship along the English coast pillaging merchant vessels in the North Sea.

But on September 23, 1779, the 50-gun HMS Serapis engaged the Bonhomme Richard off Flamborough Head close to Filey, North Yorks.

The USS Bonhomme Richard had been engaged in a fierce battle with the Royal Navy HMS Serapis on September 23, 1779. Pictured is an artist's representation of the battle from the Library of Congress

Pioneering satellite technology (pictured) was used to find the precise location of the wreck (in red). Merlin Burrows, the British satellite firm behind he find, said the location of the wreck is near Filey, North Yorkshire

How the USS Bonhomme Richard arrived at the Yorkshire coastline (pictured). It had previously sailed from Lorient to cruise against the British in the Bay of Biscay, but had to return to port after coming under fire. It set out again on August 14, 1779

WHAT WAS THE USS BONHOMME RICHARD? The USS Bonhomme Richard was a warship in the Continental Navy - the navy of the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was originally built as a merchant ship in France for the French East India Company in 1765. But in February 1779, the ship was given to well-known American naval commander John Paul Jones. He sailed the 20-gun converted former French ship along the English coast pillaging merchant vessels in the North Sea. But on September 23, 1779 it encountered the Royal Navy's HMS Serapis and was engaged in a bitter battle. Both ships sustained horrific damage in the fight, but Jones and his fleet was victorious. Despite this the Bonhomme Richard sunk beneath the waves. Advertisement

Within sight of the cliffs of Flamborough Head the two vessels were locked in a vicious firefight.

Realising he was outgunned captain Jones lashed his ship to HMS Serapis in the hope of overcoming her greater firepower with his greater crew numbers.

Both ships sustained horrific damage in the fight, each losing nearly half their crew, but despite staring defeat in the face Captain John Paul Jones refused to surrender.

He eventually won the battle after reportedly responding to his British counterpart who asked if he was surrendering with the immortal line 'I have not yet begun to fight'.

John Paul Jones (pictured in 1781 in a portrait by French artist Jean Michel Moreau) captained the USS Bonhomme Richard

Although Cpt Jones went on to sail another day, the Bonhomme Richard was not so lucky and her flaming body sank beneath the waves.

The battle is seen by many historians as a pivotal moment in US naval history and of the War of Independence and saw Cpt Jones established for many as 'the Father of the American Navy'.

But despite being relatively close to the coast, and even US Navy attempts to recover the wreck, no definitive location has been recorded for her final resting place.

Now Mr Akers, along with British specialist satellite firm Merlin Burrows, believe they found the ship - which is arguably the most important wreck in US naval history and could be worth millions in tourism.

HM Coastguard Receiver of Wreck  which receives reports of new wrecks  has now written to Merlin Burrows to confirm receipt of the find.

Mr Akers, along with business partner Mr Blackburn, believe they have discovered the precise location of the wreck. Dives have already recovered timbers which they claim show evidence of the fire the ship succumbed to.

For now, the site is registered, Merlin Burrows said the location is near Filey, and if correct, it could have implications for tourism and interest in the local area.

Mr Akers said the Bonhomme Richard was the equivalent to the HMS Victory in importance to US history.

Tim Akers (left) and business partner Bruce Blackburn (right) used satellite techniques to find the precise location of the vessel. The find could have huge implications for tourism and interest in the local area

Divers have already recovered timber believed to be from the sunken vessel. To date divers have recovered identifiable wooden timbers (pictured), mast sections and planks with extensive burning evidence

Experts had previously thought the wreck was the remains of another ship, called the HMS Nautilus. But Mr Akers is convinced it belongs to the Bonhomme Richard due to the charred nature of the remains (pictured)

Mr Akers believes this wreck is littered with objects which can be identified in relation to the battle and burning it suffered as a result. Underwater filming shows burst guns, multiple artefacts and cannon balls

Mr Akers said: 'I had long thought this wreck was the remains of the Bonhomme Richard (BHR) but many marked down the site as belonging to the HMS Nautilus, a ship which sank in 1799.

'After researching the Nautilus and her loss, I found it could not be her because the description of her loss differed from this location.

'On our very first dive we knew we had found the BHR. From the finds and identifiable evidence, combined with the descriptions of the battle and both ships logs, we are convinced this is indeed the famous ship.'

Previous diving expeditions on the Filey coast hunting for the BHR had discovered a wrecked wooden warship, but it has never been confirmed as the Bonhomme.

Mr Akers said: 'There are only two wooden warship wrecks in the bay, one is the HMS Nautilus, the other is the BHR.

'The Nautilus broke up in a storm with no loss of life and the Royal Navy stripped the wreck of everything.

'Our wreck is littered with objects which can be identified in relation to the battle and burning. Our underwater filming clearly shows the burst guns, multiple artefacts and cannon balls.

'Ship stern decoration, ships bells, a figure head of a rampant lion and rigging are also all visible.

'It's difficult to give the wreck a monetary value, how do you put a price on the HMS Victory for example, if something like a canon or the lion head were recovered you are probably talking over a million each.'

A satellite image believed to show the precise location of the sunken vessel. The Bonhomme Richard is in green. The elongated green lengths are beams, wood timbers or other objects detected amongst the debris

Mr Akers said the firm had only recovered what they could by hand in accordance with regulations.

He said: 'We have to date recovered identifiable wooden timbers, mast sections and planks with extensive burning evidence.

'Unfortunately, I believe researchers of the area were getting confused over the 36-hour duration after the battle leading them to believe the wreck was further out from the shore.

'I also believe efforts to find the BHR might have been hampered because the currents off Flamborough Head move north counter to the outer sea currents, which move south, so the wreck was actually taken north not south.

'The ships in the battle had no wind beneath the cliffs and were becalmed, locked together in their death struggle.'

Mr Akers said the ship would still be owned by the US Navy and that its discovery after all these years could have a significant benefit to the local area.

He said: 'The local community could benefit profoundly from this discovery bringing in tourism and investment to an area already known for its beauty but with little employment prospects.

'Every American child is taught the history of John Paul Jones so it could become a site of significant historical pilgrimage.'

Mr Akers said Merlin Burrows was working with the local community and had been in contact with American authorities. At present a protection order is being sought for the site to prevent looting.
In his book Sovereignty (1955), the French philosopher Bertrand de Jouvenel observed that one of the significant phenomena in the construction of the modern state was the concentration of the means of communication in the hands of a few. The outcome was an asymmetrical distribution of power. According to De Jouvenel, the more the political power was concentrated in the bureaucracys hands, the more inaccessible became the means of communication for ordinary people. In this way, much of the media became part of the soft power exercised by those who control the modern state. The Internets advent has radically changed this state of affairs.

The victory of the conservative populist Jair Bolsonaro in the Brazilian presidential elections is an example of how the Internet is shaping politics. In a country that has lacked a conservative political tradition in recent decades, Bolsonaro won without a structured political party and against the media and political establishment. The media establishment endlessly attacked Bolsonaro and sought to build the image of the leftist candidate as a champion of democracy.

However, widespread distrust of the political establishment has contaminated the Brazilian media establishment. People no longer rely on conventional newspapers to get information. Thus your neighbor who read something on Facebook is now seen as more reliable than the editor of Folha de Sao Paulo, the largest newspaper in Brazil. In a country where 90 percent of the population has access to the Internet, Bolsonaro used social networks to carry his message to the most remote places in Brazil. It was also through social networks that Bolsonaro fought an information guerrilla war to overcome the media establishments attempt to portray him as intolerant and dangerous men.

Nevertheless, Bolsonaro also won the presidential election because of a generalized revulsion against the corruption and incompetence of leftist political parties. It is no exaggeration to say that this election was about the holders of power and their clients seeking to preserve the status quo against everyone else.

The on-going divorce between those who have political power (the elites) and those who do not have it (the people) is a phenomenon which has been widely debated since Brexit and Donald Trumps election. Nonetheless, it was the American sociologist Christopher Lasch who best conceptualized this political phenomenon in his book The Revolt of the Elites: And the Betrayal of Democracy (1994). Lasch describes how political elites throughout the West detached themselves from the rest of the population and went on to undertake a social engineering program to ensure their power in the long run. The resulting destabilization of the traditional structures that maintains a social cohesion over time is a feeling of social displacement and malaise towards political life.

A common topic in Brazilian political science of the 1950s and 1960s was the idea of the Brazilian Revolution. For Brazilian theoreticians such as Alberto Guerreiro Ramos and Raymundo Faoro, the history of Brazil can be understood as the struggle of the people against the elites or, as they prefer to call it, the bureaucratic establishment. According to the interpretation of these thinkers, all changes in Brazilian politics occurred within the elites. The numerous changes of political regimes were not revolutions, but a political re-articulation that arises when one faction of the bureaucratic establishment overrides the other. The people, then, are the passive agent of the Brazilian historical process. Brazilian political elites, Faoro writes, have always worked to adjust themselves to possible political clashes without ever losing their primacy over the power of command. Once the elites see their influence in jeopardy, they seek to emasculate the people and prevent the rise of new groups. The process by which the elites try to secure control over the historical process results in the revolt of the elites described by Lasch.

Bolsonaros election reflected the populist reaction against these trends in Brazil. His main political argument was concerned with the need to stop the erosion of the community life. He stresses how Brazils social fabric is unraveling and that part of the solution to this problem is a return to the Wests Christian roots.

Bolsonaro has redefined the political debate by prioritizing issues that actually matter to the majority of the population. Instead of wasting time debating whether the government should create an affirmative action program for transgenders, he spoke about uncontrolled violence. Instead of endlessly discussing the feminist agenda, Bolsonaro talked about addressing problems of 13 million unemployed Brazilians. Instead of forever insisting that Brazil is a secular country and should be dominated by secular humanism, Bolsonaro said that the Christian majority have the right to speak about moral questions as Christians and not be constrained by the political correctness and intolerance of the left.

One of the lefts most successful strategies, at least since the French Revolution, has been its ability to set the terms of political debate upon its rivals, on how the political dispute should take place. The shift of the axis of public discussion out of the lefts control is Bolsonaros first great achievement. Bolsonaro, however, grasped that Brazilians are tired of being treated like idiots by conventional politicians and was able to break the control of what always has essentially been a neo-Marxist movement over the terms of political debate.

Bolsonaros new challenge is to turn the spirit of this conservative revolt into a coherent political and economic project that fundamentally recasts the nature of Brazil as a political community. And that, it seems, will be an even greater test for Brazils new president.

Homepage photo credit:Protesto contra a nomeacao do ex-presidente Lula como ministro da Casa Civil, em frente ao Palacio do Planalto. Date: 16 March 2016, 20:50:01. Author: Agencia Brasil Fotografias. Wiki Commons.
Volkswagen and Intel's Mobileye are teaming up to launch an autonomous ride-hailing service in Mobileye's home market of Israel, according to a Reuters report published Monday.

A third company, Israel's Champion Motors, will manage the fleet operations and control Center. The vehicle could kick off with Level 4 autonomy cars, significantly human drivers aren't necessary to drive in almost any scenario. Both Mobileye co-founder and CEO Amnon Shashua and Volkswagen stated in 2017 their intention to reach serial production of autonomous cars by 2021. Volkswagen and Mobileye are forming a joint venture with Israeli auto importer Champion Motors, under which Volkswagen will provide the electric vehicles and Mobileye its autonomous driving technology, the companies said in a joint statement.

While the venture is still "subject to approval by the responsible authorities and bodies", the companies said, the Israeli government has signed off on the project and committed to supporting it in three main areas: legal and regulatory support, infrastructure and traffic data, and access to infrastructure, as needed.

'Crooked & Cream': 'The Five' Suggests Some Anti-Liberal Ben & Jerry's Flavors

She has also expressed the believe that anti-Semitism is less serious a phenomenon than anti-black racism or Islamophobia. Now, just before the midterm elections next week, Ben and Jerry's has launched their newest flavor, "Resist".

Butchers chain Crawshaws the latest to be put in administration

The company said it did not have "sufficient cash resources" to carry out a restructuring after it failed to raise funds from investors.

Take-Two videogame 'Red Dead' makes record opening weekend sales

In this guide, we're going to show you how to retrieve horse when it's too far away to whistle in Red Dead Redemption 2 . In the list, it comes right after Grand Theft Auto V , which was released in 2013.

"We firmly believe that self-driving electric vehicles will offer Israel and cities around the world safe, clean and emission-free mobility, which is accessible and convenient", said Herbert Diess, CEO of the Volkswagen Group.

The new venture, known as "New Mobility in Israel", is somewhat different to other programs around the globe in how accepting the Israeli government is of the service. It is expected to grow substantially over the next decade. Mobileye is an Intel's automobile vehicle tech division, has planned to roll out a commercial driverless auto service in Israel early next year. Cruise is now testing its autonomous fleet of self-driving Chevy Bolt EVs in San Francisco for its own robotaxi service. The automaker is supplying thousands of Chrysler Pacifica minivans for Waymo's commercial ride-hailing service it plans to launch soon in Arizona. It's the same autonomy level Waymo's been testing in suburban Phoenix.
Mona Lisa may not be as pretty as many art lovers like to think, according to research pioneered by the ancient Greeks.

Her enigmatic smile may have bewitched critics and fans alike since 1517 but she is only third on the list of the most beautiful women in art.

The woman in Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece was found to be only 86.6 per cent accurate to the Golden Ratio - the Greeks' interpretation of physical perfection.

The guide marks her down for her wide 'manly' face, poor shaping of her eyes, slight double chin, and the small gap between her lips and nose.

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The woman in Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece was found to be only 86.6 per cent accurate to the Golden Ratio - the Greeks' interpretation of physical perfection

What is the golden ratio? The golden ratio was a mathematical equation devised by the Greeks in an attempt to measure beauty. While the ratio can by applied to anything, and was used by Leonardo Da Vinci for the the perfect human male body in his famous work the Virtruvian Man, it is also applied to the human face. The premise behind this is that the closer the ratios of a face, body or room are to the number 1.62, the more beautiful it becomes. Though it can seem complex these can be fairly simple equations to try on yourself. For example, the simplest measurement is the length of your face divided by the width of your face. Width of lips divided by length and length of nose divided by width are other calculations you can try. Twentieth-century artists and architects, including Le Corbusier and Dali, have used the golden ratio. The golden ratio also appears in some patterns in nature, including the spiral arrangement of leaves and other plant parts. Advertisement

The Mona Lisa is the world's most valuable work of art worth 600 million ($775m) and on permanent display at The Louvre in Paris.

The painting was beaten to first place in the beauty stakes by other well-known female portraits such as Warhol's Marilyn Monroe (89.1 per cent) and The Birth Of Venus by Sandro Botticelli (89 per cent).

The masterpieces were tested with the latest facial mapping techniques by cosmetic surgeon Dr Julian De Silva, who uses the technology in his work.

Dr De Silva, who runs the Centre For Advanced Facial Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery in Harley Street, London, said: 'This new research confirms what many people have thought for centuries - the Mona Lisa is a beautiful painting but she falls short of what the Greeks viewed as physical perfection.

'She misses out on perfection for a number of reasons - her wide 'manly' face, poor shaping of her eyes, slight double chin, and the small gap between her lips and nose.

'The Mona Lisa is the most famous painting in the world by a considerable distance and there is no doubt it changed the whole face of modern art.

'But while we may all love her enigmatic smile and admire the brilliance of da Vinci's brushstrokes, other works of art come far closer to matching what the Greeks considered physical perfection'.

The golden ratio was a mathematical equation devised by the Greeks in an attempt to measure beauty.

While the ratio can by applied to anything, and was used by Leonardo Da Vinci for the the perfect human male body in his famous work the Virtruvian Man, it is also applied to the human face.

The premise behind this is that the closer the ratios of a face, body or room are to the number 1.62, the more beautiful it becomes.

The golden ratio (pictured) was a mathematical equation devised by the Greeks in an attempt to measure beauty. The premise behind this is that the closer the ratios of a face, body or room are to the number 1.62, the more beautiful it becomes

The Birth Of Venus by Sandro Botticelli in the 1480s came second on 89 per cent - scoring highly for her chin, face shape and forehead

Pictured is a close-up of The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli with a close-up graphic of Beauty of Phi research. Dr De Silva said she had the lowest scores for her eyebrows and chin

Fifth place went to the reclining woman in the 1863 work Olympia by Edouard Manet with 85.4 per cent. She scored well for her lips and brow area

Dr De Silva said she scored well for her lips and brow area but does less well for her forehead and face shape

Andy Warhol's screen print of Marilyn Monroe from 1967 had a score of 89.1 per cent - with high marks for her nose shape, lips and eye position.

Dr De Silva said: 'Marilyn was the greatest Hollywood female star of her day and that is because she was incredibly beautiful.'

The Birth Of Venus by Sandro Botticelli in the 1480s came second on 89 per cent - scoring highly for her chin, face shape and forehead.

However, Dr De Silva said she had the lowest scores for her eyebrows and chin.

'Venus has been beguiling art lovers since she was painted by the Italian master Sandro Botticelli way back in 1480.

'She scores highly for her chin, face shape and forehead and is let down by her eye position and a poor brow area', he said.

The golden ratio also appears in some patterns in nature, including the spiral arrangement of leaves and other plant parts

Pictured is a shell with the golden ratio. The golden ratio was a mathematical equation devised by the Greeks in an attempt to measure beauty

The Mona Lisa was beaten to first place in the beauty stakes by other well-known female portraits such as Warhol's Marilyn Monroe (89.1 per cent) (pictured)

In fourth place was the 1665 Girl With A Pearl Earring by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer with 86.3 per cent - scoring well for her eyebrows and the shape of her nose and face

In fourth place was the 1665 Girl With A Pearl Earring by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer with 86.3 per cent - scoring well for her eyebrows and the shape of her nose and face.

'She is beautiful girl who scores highly for her eyebrows, nose and face shape but does less well for eye position and her brow area', said Dr De Silva.

Fifth place went to the reclining woman in the 1863 work Olympia by Edouard Manet with 85.4 per cent. She scored well for her lips and brow area.

'Manet's famous nude of a woman being bought flowers by her servant is one of the famous works of art on display in Paris.

'She scores well for her lips and brow area but does less well for her forehead and face shape.'

According to the research the most beautiful female celebrity is Johnny Depp's former wife Amber Heard who was found to be 91.8 per cent accurate to the Greek Golden Ratio of Beauty.

The most handsome male celebrity was George Clooney with his rating of 91.9 per cent.

According to the research the most beautiful female celebrity is Johnny Depp's former wife Amber Heard who was found to be 91.8 per cent accurate to the Greek Golden Ratio of Beauty

The most handsome male celebrity was George Clooney with his rating of 91.9 per cent
Earth's oceans are soaking up more heat than previously thought, and it may mean the world has less time to tackle climate change.

A study shows the seas have absorbed 60 per cent more heat over the past 25 years than scientists had estimated.

It means Earth is more sensitive to fossil fuel emissions than thought and could be set to warm even faster than predicted in the years ahead.

This would make it more difficult to keep global warming within safe levels this century, piling further pressure on international efforts to cut carbon emissions.

Researchers warned it would take 'unprecedented' action by global leaders over the next decade to keep Earth's average temperature rise below 2C (3.6F), the leading goal set out by the international Paris Climate Agreement.

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A study shows the seas have absorbed 60 per cent more excess heat over the past 25 years than scientists had estimated (stock image)

The last major assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that the world's oceans have taken up over 90 per cent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases.

But the new study shows this was a vast underestimate, finding heat from greenhouse gases pumped up to 60 per cent more energy into the oceans than previous estimates.

We have put about 150 times the amount of energy used to generate electricity globally into the seas every year for the past 25 years, the international team found.

'Imagine if the ocean was only 30 feet [9 metres] deep,' said study lead author Dr Laure Resplandy, a researcher at Princeton University in New Jersey.

'Our data show that it would have warmed by 6.5C [11.7F] every decade since 1991.

'In comparison, the estimate of the last IPCC assessment report would correspond to a warming of only 4C [7.2F] every decade.'

The higher-than-expected heat retention means more heat is trapped in Earth's climate system - rather than released into the atmosphere - than thought.

This could ultimately mean the planet is warming faster than scientists predicted.

'We thought that we got away with not a lot of warming in both the ocean and the atmosphere for the amount of CO2 that we emitted. We were wrong,' Dr Resplandy told the Washington Post.

The find means Earth is more sensitive to fossil fuel emissions than thought and could be set to warm even faster than predicted in the years ahead (stock image)

Ocean temperature records were given a huge boost when reliable measurements from devices called 'Argo floats' were introduced worldwide in 2007.

Dr Resplandy blamed decades of unreliable temperature records prior to this milestone for the field's long history of underestimates.

'The planet warmed more than we thought. It was hidden from us just because we didn't sample it right. But it was there. It was in the ocean already.'

Scientists measured the volume of oxygen and carbon dioxide that has escaped the ocean in recent decades.

This gives an accurate measure of global sea temperature changes as it tracks a fundamental behaviour of liquid when heated.

When the ocean warms, it releases some gas into the atmosphere, and the team believes measuring this run off gives a fresh look at the history of ocean temperatures.

THE PARIS AGREEMENT: A GLOBAL ACCORD TO LIMIT TEMPERATURE RISES THROUGH CARBON EMISSION REDUCTION TARGETS The Paris Agreement, which was first signed in 2015, is an international agreement to control and limit climate change. It hopes to hold the increase in the global average temperature to below 2C (3.6F) 'and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C (2.7F)'. It seems the more ambitious goal of restricting global warming to 1.5C (2.7F) may be more important than ever, according to previous research which claims 25 per cent of the world could see a significant increase in drier conditions. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change has four main goals with regards to reducing emissions: 1) A long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels 2) To aim to limit the increase to 1.5C, since this would significantly reduce risks and the impacts of climate change 3) Governments agreed on the need for global emissions to peak as soon as possible, recognising that this will take longer for developing countries 4) To undertake rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with the best available science Source: European Commission Advertisement

Their finding suggests far more heat than we thought has been pumped into the oceans in recent decades.

Rapidly warming oceans could trigger faster sea level changes as well as accelerated damage to coral reefs and the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica.

And if the planet has warmed more than we thought from the same amount of gas, the planet is likely more sensitive to CO2 than previous estimates.

This has huge implications for nations across the globe as they attempt to meet the goals set out by the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

If society is to prevent temperatures from rising above 2C (3.6F) by 2100, emissions of CO2 must be reduced by 25 percent compared to what was previously estimated, Dr Resplandy said.

'It is a big concern,' she told BBC News.

'If you look at the IPCC 1.5C, there are big challenges ahead to keep those targets, and our study suggests it's even harder because we close the window for those lower pathways.'
A rare jellyfish species that grows to more than six feet (2m) long is being unveiled for the first time in London.

The venomous Rhizostoma luteum, or luteum jellyfish, lives in the eastern Atlantic and at one point had not been sighted in the wild for more than 60 years.

When the jellyfish is fully grown it turns a mesmerising shade of blue.

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A rare jellyfish species that grows to more than six feet (2m) long is being unveiled for the first time in London. The venomous Rhizostoma luteum, or luteum jellyfish (pictured), lives in the eastern Atlantic and at one point had not been sighted in the wild for more than 60 years

WHAT IS THE LUTEUM JELLYFISH? The venomous Rhizostoma luteum, or luteum jellyfish, lives in the eastern Atlantic and at one point had not been sighted in the wild for more than 60 years. The species was first described in 1827 under the name Orythia lutea, based on nine specimens collected from the Strait of Gibraltar (southern Iberian Peninsula). After 60 years no scientific records existed for the species until in 2013. However, a study from last year subsequently revealed that the strange blue jellyfish was not as rare as previously thought. The species grows to more than six feet (2m) long and is relatively venomous. It is most common along the west and south coasts of the Iberian Peninsula and west and north shores of Africa. Advertisement

The species was first described in 1827 under the name Orythia lutea, based on nine specimens collected from the Strait of Gibraltar.

For a period of 60 years no scientific records existed for the species until it was then spotted again in 2013.

A study from last year subsequently revealed that the strange blue jellyfish was not as rare as previously thought.

'Through a citizen science initiative and our own observations, we were able to confirm more than 150 observations of R. luteum over the past 17 years, demonstrating that this medusa is not such a rare species after all', researchers wrote in the paper published in marine Biodiversity.

It is most common along the west and south coasts of the Iberian Peninsula and west and north shores of Africa.

The jellyfish is going on display at Sea Life on London's South Bank this Saturday.

'We're really excited to be able to unveil a never seen before jellyfish in the UK', said Helen Bull, General Manager at Sea Life London.

'The luteum jellyfish is a fascinating yet bizarre creature which until recently was thought to be incredibly rare.

'Our expert aquarists will be continuing to breed this species which will be going on display with thousands of other mesmerising jellyfish.

'We hope guests will be wowed when they get up close to the jellyfish for the first time.'

There are approximately 3,000 jellyfish on display with more being bred behind the scenes.

The species (pictured, young) was first described in 1827 under the name Orythia lutea, based on nine specimens collected from the Strait of Gibraltar (southern Iberian Peninsula)

The jellyfish going on display is currently quite young but when it is fully grown it will turn a mesmerising shade of blue

Earlier this year conservationists expressed concern after more than a third of the creatures at a Sea Life centre died in a single year.

There were 812 deaths out of 2,293 creatures at Great Yarmouth Sea Life centre in 2015-16, a BBC investigation found.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS), which has a sponsorship deal with Sea Life, said the figures were 'a cause for concern'.

The MCS said mortality rates of sharks and rays were particularly worrying  more than a fifth died at Great Yarmouth, which is almost double the average.

Figures across eight Sea Life centres were obtained through a series of Freedom of Information requests by the BBC, with a total of 4,500 creatures dying in 2015-16.

The deaths were at centres in Birmingham, Blackpool, Great Yarmouth, Hunstanton, London, Manchester, Scarborough and Weymouth. No data was provided for Brighton's centre.
A digital border guard will interrogate travellers at some European Union borders in an attempt to ramp up security at crossings.

Dubbed iBorderCtrl, the agent features an AI lie detector that quizzes tourists on their trip, including the contents of their suitcase.

The system is part of a six-month trial run by the Hungarian National Police at four different border crossing points in Hungary, Latvia, and Greece.

Each crossing borders a country outside of the EU.

If successful, the technology could be rolled out to borders across the union's member states.

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A digital border guard will interrogate travellers at some European Union borders in an attempt to ramp up security at crossings. Dubbed iBorderCtrl, the agent features an AI lie detector that quizzes tourists on their trip, including the contents of their suitcase (stock)

'We're employing existing and proven technologies - as well as novel ones - to empower border agents to increase the accuracy and efficiency of border checks,' project coordinator George Boultadakis of European Dynamics in Luxembourg.

'iBorderCtrl's system will collect data that will move beyond biometrics and on to biomarkers of deceit.'

The digital border guard will question people after they have passed through a checkpoint.

It works via your laptop or phone, using your device's camera to record your face when you give answers.

The system then uses AI software to scan the video for 38 'micro-gestures' which it scores to assess whether a traveller is lying.

Questions include, 'What's in your suitcase?' and 'If you open the suitcase and show me what is inside, will it confirm your answers were true?', New Scientist reports.

Those that pass the test will receive a QR code that they can scan to cross the border.

If a traveller doesn't pass the test, the AI will reportedly take a more serious tone, and hand the offender to a human border agent for further questioning.

During the upcoming pilot, iBorderCtrl will quiz real tourists, though it won't affect their ability to travel.

Travellers will be invited to take part in the trial after they have passed through one of the four test crossings.

An early version of the system was tested using 30 volunteers at a fake border crossing.

The system is part of a six-month trial run by the Hungarian National Police at four different border crossing points in Hungary, Latvia, and Greece. Each crossing borders a country outside of the EU (stock)

Half were told to lie to the bot, while the other half told the truth. The AI guessed correctly with an accuracy rate of 76 per cent.

Experts said the AI's accuracy rate in the real world could be lower, as people who are told to lie present clearer facial tells than those who fib earnestly.

'If you ask people to lie, they will do it differently and show very different behavioral cues than if they truly lie, knowing that they may go to jail or face serious consequences if caught,' Maja Pantic, a Professor of Affective and Behavioral Computing at Imperial College London, told New Scientist.

'This is a known problem in psychology.'

With more than 700 million people travel through the EU every year, according to the European Commission, the low hit rate raises concerns over the number of travellers who could get away with lying at the border.

iBorderCtrl team Keeley Crockett, a researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University, said they are 'hopeful' they can bring the accuracy rate up to 85 per cent.
The world's first full-scale robot delivery has been launched in the UK.

Starship Technologies has rolled-out the 'autonomous package delivery' service in the town of Milton Keynes.

It is the first place in the world to use robots developed by the UK-startup and will be joined later this year by San Francisco.

Residents of the Buckinghamshire town will be able to get parcels sent to a robot depot, which will then deliver the item to their door for a monthly fee of 7.99.

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Starship technologies has rolled-out the 'autonomous package delivery' service in the town of Milton Keynes after trials in the US and London

The service is available through the Starship Deliveries app, which is available on iOS and Android.

It has been previously trialled on the streets of London delivering food and at several Californian companies where it was used to deliver lunches.

Customers who opt for the service will be given a 'personal address' that replaces their home address.

Parcels are delivered here in the traditional manner and they are then picked up and transported to the customer's home address at a convenient time via a Starship sorting hub.

Milton Keynes was selected as the ideal testing spot for the technology due to its modern lay-out and wide pavements which make it particularly robot-friendly.

The firm has already partnered with the Co-operative in the town to deliver food with a fleet of 20 robots.

Lex Bayer, Starship's chief executive officer, said: 'We're excited that thanks to our technology, local communities across Milton Keynes will never miss a home delivery again.'

Residents of the Buckinghamshire town will be able to get parcels sent to a robot depot, which will then deliver the item to their door for a monthly fee of 7.99

Customers who opt for the service will be given a 'personal address' which replaces their home address. Parcels are delivered here in the traditional manner and they are then picked up and transported to the customer's home address at a convenient time

The small robots navigate and drive themselves using a combination of radar, GPS and 360 cameras on board.

However, Starship technologies does employ a small number of human drivers to guide the machines remotely should they encounter particularly hazardous conditions.

Each vehicle is 22 inches (55cm) high by 28 inches (70cm) long.

It has a secured compartment where parcels with a maximum weight of 22 pounds (10kg) can be transported, accessible to consumers via a link generated by a smartphone app.

They have six wheels and can travel at speeds up to 4mph (6.4kmh) per hour.

WHAT ARE STARSHIP TECHNOLOGIES' DELIVERY ROBOTS? The London-based company was created by Skype's Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis in 2014. The slow-moving delivery bots have already been trialled across the world, including in Hamburg, Washington and California, delivering everything from groceries to takeout pizza. They have travelled more than 100,000 miles in testing mode in more than 100 cities in 20 different countries. Unlike robots designed to resemble humans, Starship's bot is purely functional with a large compartment to hold deliveries, the equivalent size of two grocery bags. Each six-wheeled 'ground drone' is completely self-driving. Workers can drop a pin on a map (like Uber) to show their location and then select what food they want to order. Each vehicle is 55cm (22 inches) high by 70cm (28 inches) long. It has a secured compartment where parcels with a maximum weight of 10kg (22 pounds) can be transported, accessible to consumers via a link generated by a smartphone app. They have six wheels and can travel at speeds up to 4mph (6.4kmh) per hour. The company plans to distribute thousands of robots across campuses around the world by 2019. Advertisement

Each vehicle is 55cm (22 inches) high by 70cm (28 inches) long. It has a secured compartment where parcels with a maximum weight of 10kg (22 pounds) can be transported

The inner compartment is accessible to consumers via a link generated by a smartphone app. They have six wheels and can travel at speeds up to 4mph (6.4kmh) per hour

In April last year the self-driving robots were deployed on the streets of London as part of their extensive testing.

They trundled along the streets of London delivering Hermes parcels.

Hermes first put the robots to work in Hamburg in 2016 and the London trial was a follow-up to see how quickly they could distribute parcels out for collection.

'The self-driving delivery robots offer a viable alternative to drones, especially in highly developed cities, towns and suburbs where strict aviation laws are in constant operation,' a spokesperson from Hermes said last year.

If a thief attempts to tamper with the robot, or snatch it, the operator can take over - talking directly to the wrongdoer and sending police to the drone's location.

The drone's nine cameras can also capture the criminal's face.

In April last year the self-driving robots were deployed on the streets of London as part of their extensive testing. They trundled along the streets of London delivering Hermes parcels

Hermes first put the robots to work in Hamburg in 2016 and the London trial was a follow-up to see how quickly they could distribute parcels out for collection

In any case, the bot's 'cargo trunk' is sealed throughout the trip- only the customer can open it using a specific app upon the drone's arrival.

The app also allowed shoppers to track the robot's location in real time.

One of Starship's main selling points is the battery-powered bot's zero direct CO2 emission, as opposed to the pollution brought about but too many, short shopping car trips.

'Our vision revolves around three zeroes  zero cost, zero waiting time and zero environmental impact,' said Mr Heinla at the time.
The incredible images are being released as part of a 130th anniversary edition of the National Geographic Magazine, which is being edited by Peake

It is a view that most people will never get to experience in their lifetime but even astronaut Tim Peake admits the scene outside the window of the International Space Station can look a little unreal at times.

From a smoking volcano to mesmerising aurora, these incredible images show Peake's view of Earth during his time on the ISS.

The British astronaut said it was 'impossible not to be mesmerised' by the spectacular views of our 'fragile' planet.

The incredible images are being released as part of a 130th anniversary edition of the National Geographic Magazine, which is being edited by Peake.

Peake is a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut who completed a 186-day mission working on the ISS, landing back on Earth in June 2016.

The station orbits at a height of about 255 miles (410km) and supports a crew of up to six, with crews split into groups of three.

It has a total mass of about 990,000 pounds (450,000kg) and has living space roughly equivalent to a five-bedroom house.

It completes an orbit of Earth every 92.91 minutes and moves at 17,100 miles (27,600km) per hour.

Peake said the experience made him realise we must 'focus our attention on ensuring our planet remains a safe environment to support human life.

It was impossible not to be mesmerised by the fragile beauty of our planet', he said.

As part of an in-depth interview, Peake said he wants to launch long-distance spaceflights to Mars.

He said ahead of human missions robotic probes and rovers will take samples of the Martian soil in the quest to find evidence of life there.

This is happening as part of the ExoMars mission which will launch in Spring 2021 from Kazakhstan.
Nasa is to begin supersonic tests this month for its next-generation passenger airliner, dubbed the 'Son of Concorde' by aviation fans.

The plane, officially known as the X-59 Quiet Supersonic Transport (QueSST), will fire off 'quiet' sonic booms when it is launched for test flights on November 5.

The first flight of the X-59, which could one day fly from London to New York in just three hours without giving off a loud sonic boom, is scheduled for 2021.

The craft could become the first commercial supersonic aircraft to carry passengers since iconic Anglo-French jet Concorde was decommissioned 15 years ago.

Ahead of this the space agency will use a modified combat jet to check the 'acoustic signature' of the engines to be used in the airliner, by sending it into a series of dives.

It has recruited 500 people on the ground to then answer surveys about the noise generated by the the F/A-18 Hornet, to ensure the flight is quiet as it flies over Texas.

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Nasa has announced a series of new tests for its 1,100mph (1,770kph) supersonic commercial airliner tipped to be the follow-up to the legendary Concorde. The plane (artist's impression) aims to cut out the noise associated with supersonic travel

Before the aircraft takes to the skies, Nasa is investigating whether members of the public are put off by the noise produced by X-59 when it breaks the sound barrier.

Tests scheduled for November will see an F-18 fighter jet conduct dive manoeuvres off the shores of Galveston, Texas - an island city near Houston.

The plane will rapidly descend from almost 50,000 feet (15,200 metres), briefly going supersonic and firing off the sound likely to come from X-59 aircraft.

The noise, which Nasa calls a 'sonic thump', should sound more like a car door slamming as opposed to the booms produced by existing supersonic aircraft.

The agency will measure the sounds using sensors on the ground while gathering public reaction through a series of surveys.

Sasha Ellis, a NASA spokesperson for the X-59 mission, told Newsweek: 'Were solely focused on addressing the challenges of quiet supersonic flights over land, reducing that sonic boom to a sonic thump.'

Nasa pilot Jim Less will fire off 'quiet' sonic booms over a small city in Texas this month in a bid to gauge public reaction to the dampened supersonic thuds. Pictured is Less with the F-18 fighter jet aboard which he will perform the research

Alexandra Loubeau, Nasa's team lead for sonic boom community response research at Langley, said in July: 'We'll never know exactly what everyone heard.

'We won't have a noise monitor on their shoulder inside their home.

'But we'd like to at least have an estimate of the range of noise levels that they actually heard.'

X-59, which Nasa is developing with Lockheed Martin's aeronautics branch, is scheduled to make its first flight in 2022.

Originally named the Low-Flight Flight Demonstrator by Nasa, the agency announced in June that the aircraft was to be called X-59 QueSST going forward.

The US Air Force made the name change in-part as a hat tip American X-plane history, which began in 1947 with the world's first supersonic plane, the the Bell X-1.

'For everyone working on this important project, this is great news and we're thrilled with the designation,' Jaiwon Shin, associate administrator for Nasa's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, said in a statement in June.

WHAT IS NASA'S 'SON OF CONCORDE' X-PLANE? Nasa is developing a 1,100mph (1,770kph) aircraft that has been dubbed the 'son of Concorde'. The vehicle is the first in a series of aircraft Nasa is developing with Lockheed Martin in a quest to build a commercially viable supersonic jet. It is designed to fly at Mach 1.4 (925 mph / 1,488 kph) at an altitude of 55,000 feet (10 miles). Dubbed the X-59 Quiet Supersonic Transport (QueSST), the research craft aims to cut out the sonic booms associated with supersonic travel. Pictured is an artist's impression of the Quiet Supersonic Transport (QueSST) low-boom flight demonstrator (LBFD) The aircraft is shaped to separate the shocks and expansions associated with supersonic flight to reduce the volume of the shaped signature, and was developed by Lockheed's Skunk Works over 20 years. The team is hoping to achieve a sonic boom 60 dBA lower than other supersonic aircraft, such as Concorde. Recent research has shown it is possible for a supersonic airplane to be shaped in such a way that the shock waves it forms when flying faster than the speed of sound can generate a sound at ground level so quiet it will hardly will be noticed by the public, if at all. Advertisement

The X-59 project aims to cut out the noisy sonic booms that echoed above cities in the era of Concorde, while travelling at speeds of 1,100mph (Mach 1.4 / 1,700 km/h).

The loud booms that rang out whenever a Concorde broke the sound barrier were often described as 'unsettling' by members of the public, which ultimately limited the aircraft to flights over the Atlantic when it began carrying passengers in 1976.

X-59 is designed to stop shockwaves triggered by the movement of air particles when an aircraft breaks the sound barrier from merging - a phenomenon that gives off the telltale sonic boom of supersonic aircraft.

Nasa hopes to reduce the sound of the sonic boom to a quiet thud, similar to the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance or a neighbour closing their door.

Nasa is developing the aircraft with Lockheed Martin's aeronautics branch with test flights planned for 2022. The plane is dubbed the Quiet Supersonic Transport (QueSST) low-boom flight demonstrator (artist's impression)

'With the X-59 you're still going to have multiple shockwaves because of the wings on the aircraft that create lift and the volume of the plane,' said Ed Haering, a Nasa aerospace engineer at Nasa's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California.

'But the airplane's shape is carefully tailored such that those shockwaves do not combine.

'Instead of getting a loud boom-boom, you're going to get at least two quiet thump-thump sounds, if you even hear them at all.'

Nasa's November tests will produce similar shockwaves using an F-18 fighter jet to conduct sharp manoeuvres in the air.

HOW WILL NASA REDUCE THE SOUND OF SONIC BOOMS? In a conventional supersonic aircraft, shockwaves from the nose, cockpit, inlets, wings and other features come together as they move through the atmosphere into strong shocks emanating from the nose and tail. These are known as bow and tail shocks, respectively. As these shockwaves pass over the ground, air pressure rises sharply, declines, then rises rapidly again. It's this that produces the classic 'double-bang' sonic boom. In a conventional supersonic aircraft, shockwaves from the nose, cockpit, inlets, wings and other features come together as they move through the atmosphere into strong shocks emanating from the nose and tail Reshaping the aircraft to produce a longer, more slender shape is the best way to generate shockwaves of lower, more equal strength that do not form into such strong bow and tail shocks. Nasa and other organisations are working on creating shapes to reduce sonic booms. Stretching the nose to break the bow shock into a series of weaker shockwaves is particularly effective. This lowers and spreads that initial pressure peak and softens the first bang of the sonic boom. Advertisement

The aircraft, pilot by Nasa researcher Jim Less, will dive from 49,000 feet (15,000m) and go briefly supersonic before levelling off at 30,000 feet (9,000m).

Shockwaves produced by the manoeuvre will concentrate directly below the aircraft in the form of a very loud, focussed pair of sonic booms.

A few miles from the dive points, the noise quickly trails off as they spread out and weaken.

Flights conducted by Nasa in November will study the US public's reactions to 'quiet' supersonic noises above their homes. Pictured is an artist's impression of the Quiet Supersonic Transport (QueSST) low-boom flight demonstrator (LBFD)

'The result in that area: a pair of quiet sonic booms  soft thumps, really  which people on the ground, including those Nasa researchers and resident volunteers, might barely notice, if they hear anything at all,' the agency wrote in a statement.

QueSST is the latest addition to the X-series of experimental aircraft and rockets, used to test and evaluate new technologies and aerodynamic concepts.

Their X designation indicates their research mission status within the US system of aircraft naming.

This all dates back to Chuck Yeager's sound-barrier-breaking craft, the X-1, a rocket enginepowered aircraft, designed and built in 1945, that achieved a speed of nearly 1,000 miles per hour (1,600 kmh) in 1948.

The team hopes to reduce the sound of the sonic boom to a quiet thud, similar to the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance or a neighbour closing their door. This graphic compares the F18 sonic boom to the sonic 'thump' that Nasa aims to achieve in the future

Nasa's vision for the X-59 was approved In the latest proposed US budget released by the Office Of Management And Budget In Washington, DC, in February.

The space agency was awarded $19.9 billion (14.3bn) for the next year, $500 million (360m) more than the previous year.

It is not known what proportion of this has been allocated for the supersonic aircraft project.

QueSST will be used as a test bed for technologies that could make their way into commercial planes.

Nasa is hoping to see the first flight tests take place in 2022, with public reaction tests to the final aircraft scheduled for the following year.
Russia's space agency has revealed new video footage of the Soyuz rocket failute that forced astonauts to abandon their mission to the International Space Station 50 miles above Earth.

It shows one of the rockets four boosters failing to release properly, causing the terrifying spin.

Usually, the four boosters fall away perfectly symmetrically, creating a visual phenomenon sometimes referred to as a 'Korolev Cross,' after a Soviet rocket engineer.

Russian investigators say that the rocket itself was sound - and a sensor that sent the signal to jettison the rocket was to blame.

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The Soyuz-FG rocket carrying a NASA astronaut and a Roscosmos cosmonaut failed two minutes into the Oct. 11 flight, sending their emergency capsule into a sharp fall back to Earth.

They landed safely on a steppe in Kazakhstan, but the aborted mission dealt another blow to the troubled Russian space program that serves as the only way to deliver astronauts to the orbiting outpost.

Roscosmos' executive director Sergei Krikalyov said Wednesday the probe found that a malfunction of a sensor which signals the jettisoning one of the rocket's four side boosters caused the booster to collide with the second stage of the rocket, but didn't explain why it didn't work.

(L-R) Roscosmos' Deputy Director General for rockets production, operation of ground-based infrastructure and quality control, Alexander Lopatin, acting TSNIIMASH head Nikolai Sevastyanov, Head of the Roscosmos commission investigating the Soyuz rocket accident on 11 October 2018, Oleg Skorobogatov and RSC (Rocket and Space Corporation) Energia head Sergei Romanov take part in a news conference on causes of Soyuz rocket accident which took place on October 11

Oleg Skorobogatov, who led the probe into the accident, told reporters Thursday that the investigation found that the sensor was damaged during the final assembly at the launch pad in Kazakhstan.

Russian rockets are manufactured in Russia and then transported by rail to the Russia-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Skorobogatov said officials are now taking steps, including putting all assembly staff through competence tests and additional training, to make sure such malfunctions don't happen again.

The rocket producer will also take apart two other rockets that have been recently assembled and are due to launch in the coming weeks and then re-assemble them, Skorobogatov said.

Roscosmos officials on Wednesday met with their counterparts from NASA to give them a full briefing on the malfunction, Roscosmos director general Dmitry Rogozin said Thursday.

FILE - In this Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 file photo, the Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-10 space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, flies in the sky at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. Russia's space agency says an investigation has found that a rocket carrying a crew to the International Space Station failed recently because of a technical malfunction of a sensor.

Russian space officials plan to conduct one more unmanned Soyuz launch from Russia and one abroad before launching a crew to the space station.

Krikalyov said they hope to send the new crew to the orbiting lab on Dec. 3.

That would also mean that the current crew will have to stay there for at least an extra week or two to ensure a smooth carry-over.

Sergei Krikalyov, a senior Roscosmos official, was quoted by state news agency TASS as saying the next manned launch had been planned for mid-December, but that Russia was trying to bring the date forward so that the ISS is not briefly left without a crew.

The three-person crew may return home on Dec. 20, he was quoted as saying.

'The industry is making significant efforts to move the launch to Dec. 3 so that the station does not switch to autopilot mode, and landing is expected around Dec. 20,' he said.

The Soyuz MS-10 spacecraft carrying the crew of astronaut Nick Hague of the U.S. and cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin of Russia blasts off to the International Space Station (ISS) from the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan October 11, 2018 seconds before the mission was aborted
SpaceX boss Elon Musk flew to Seattle in June to fire at least seven of the firm's 'senior management team' working on his pet project to build a constellation of satellites to beam the internet to Earth.

Musk says his 'space internet' plan, called Starlink could eventually bring the internet to three billion people on Earth who currently can't get online - and could also help fund his plans for a city on Mars.



However, he is believed to have become frustrated with the slow progress of the project - which so far has only launched two test satellites.

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Musk flew to Seattle in June to fire at least seven of the firm's 'senior management team' working on his Starlink project to build a constellation of satellites to beam the internet to Earth

Within hours of landing, Musk had fired at least seven members of the program's senior management team at the Redmond, Washington, office, the culmination of disagreements over the pace at which the team was developing and testing its Starlink satellites, according to the two SpaceX employees with direct knowledge of the situation, according to Reuters.

Known for pushing aggressive deadlines, Musk quickly brought in new managers from SpaceX headquarters in California to replace a number of the managers he fired.

Their mandate: Launch SpaceX's first batch of U.S.-made satellites by the middle of next year, the sources said.

The management shakeup and the launch timeline, previously unreported, illustrate how quickly Musk wants to bring online SpaceX's Starlink program, which is competing with OneWeb and Canada's Telesat to be first to market with a new satellite-based Internet service.

WHAT IS ELON MUSK'S PLAN FOR A SPACEX INTERNET? SpaceX wants to launch satellite internet in 2019, with hopes to carry out the initial tests this year. Each satellite in SpaceX's planned group will weigh about 850 lbs (386 kg). They will orbit at altitudes ranging from 715 miles (1,150 km) to 790 miles (1,275 km). From this height each satellite will be able to cover an area on the ground about around 1,300 miles (2,120 km) wide. The satellites will orbit at altitudes ranging from 715 miles (1,150 km) to 790 miles (1,275 km). From this height each satellite will be able to cover an area on the ground spanning about around 1,300 miles (2,120 km). Pictured is SpaceX's satellite internet proposal to the FCC The project, which Musk previously said would cost at least $10 billion (8.03 billion), was first announced in January 2015. The plan hit a roadblock in September 2017 when US regulators expressed worries it will interfere with competing systems. But in February 2018, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai proposed the approval of an application by SpaceX to provide the broadband services using satellites in the United States and worldwide. Advertisement

Those services - essentially a constellation of satellites that will bring high-speed Internet to rural and suburban locations globally - are key to generating the cash that privately-held SpaceX needs to fund Musk's real dream of developing a new rocket capable of flying paying customers to the moon and eventually trying to colonize Mars.

'It would be like rebuilding the Internet in space,' Musk told an audience in 2015 when he unveiled Starlink.

SpaceX chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell: She is seen as a safe pair of hands, something many believe Musk does not have at Tesla

'The goal would be to have a majority of long-distance Internet traffic go over this network.'

But the program is struggling to hire and retain staff, the employees said.

WHO DID ELON MUSK FIRE? A number of the managers had been hired from nearby technology giant Microsoft, where workers were more accustomed to longer development schedules than Musk's famously short deadlines. Although SpaceX is notoriously secretive over its employees, among the managers fired from the Redmond office was SpaceX Vice President of Satellites Rajeev Badyal, an engineering and hardware veteran of Microsoft Corp and Hewlett-Packard, and top designer Mark Krebs, who worked in Google's satellite and aircraft division, the employees said. Krebs declined to comment, and Badyal did not respond to requests for comment. 'Rajeev wanted three more iterations of test satellites,' one of the sources said. 'Elon thinks we can do the job with cheaper and simpler satellites, sooner.' Another senior manager that left SpaceX was Kim Schulze, who was previously a development manager at Microsoft, one of the people said. Schulze did not respond to a request for comment. Advertisement

Currently, about 300 SpaceX employees work on Starlink in Redmond, the sources said.

According to GeekWire, Musk said in 2015 the Redmond operation would have 'probably several hundred people, maybe a thousand people' after 3-4 years in operation.

So far this year, about 50 employees left the company 'on their own accord,' one of the SpaceX employees said, though the reason for those departures was unclear.

Overall, SpaceX employs more than 6,000 staff.

As of Tuesday, there were 22 job openings - including a job making espresso drinks - for the Redmond office, according to SpaceX's website.

SpaceX spokeswoman Eva Behrend told Reuters the Redmond office remains an essential part of the company's efforts to build a next-generation satellite network.

'Given the success of our recent Starlink demonstration satellites, we have incorporated lessons learned and re-organized to allow for the next design iteration to be flown in short order,' Behrend said.

She had no further comment on the reorganization or the launch window, but noted the strategy was similar to the rapid iteration in design and testing which led to the success of its rockets.

The management shakeup followed in-fighting over pressure from Musk to speed up satellite testing schedules, one of the sources said.

SpaceX's Behrend offered no comment on the matter.

Culture was also a challenge for recent hires, a second source said.

A billionaire and Chief Executive Officer of Tesla, Musk is known for ambitious projects ranging from auto electrification and rocket-building to high-speed transit tunnels.

A Musk trust owns 54 percent of the outstanding stock of SpaceX, according to a 2016 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing, SpaceX's most recent.

SpaceX has said it would launch its satellites in phases through 2024.

Elon Musk's SpaceX has launched the first of nearly 12,000 'Starlink' satellites that could bring super-fast internet to billions of people. The devices will form the first in a constellation of thousands of satellites, designed to provide low-cost internet service from Earth's orbit. Pictured is rocket as it launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California

It goal of having Internet service available in 2020 is 'pretty much on target' with an initial satellite launch by mid-2019, one of the sources said. OneWeb aims for a first launch between December and February 2019, while Telesat was targeting 2022 for broadband services.

SpaceX employees told Reuters that two Starlink test satellites launched in February, dubbed Tintin A and B, were functioning as intended.

The company is refining the orbital path of the satellites after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, which oversees satellites in orbit, approved a request from SpaceX to expand Tintins' altitude range, one of the sources said.

The FCC confirmed SpaceX's modifications, which have not been reported previously, but declined further comment.

Musk quickly brought in new managers from SpaceX headquarters in California (pictured) to replace a number of the managers he fired.

'We're using the Tintins to explore that modification,' one of the SpaceX employee sources said.

'They're happy and healthy and we're talking with them every time they pass a ground station, dozens of times a day.'

SpaceX engineers have used the two test satellites to play online video games at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California and the Redmond office, the source said.

'We were streaming 4k YouTube and playing 'Counter-Strike: Global Offensive' from Hawthorne to Redmond in the first week,' the person added.
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These haunting photographs reveal the rotting carcasses of Soviet gulags and a partially built railway where up to 300,000 prisoners died, with their remains still buried in the soil.

The horrific camps were strewn across the Siberian wilderness, just below and above the Arctic Circle, and the prisoners in them were forced to work on a train line dreamt up by Joseph Stalin - the Salekhard-Igarka Railway. His aides knew it was a pointless scheme mapped out in terrain that was impossible to work with, but dared not tell him.

The gulags, part of a network of more than 100 scattered across Russia, were photographed by New Zealand-based Radio Free Europe photographer Amos Chapple, who was tipped off about the macabre mausoleums by an adventurer friend.

New Zealand-based Radio Free Europe photographer Amos Chapple ventured to several abandoned Russian gulags, where prisoners were forced to work on a railway project dreamt up by Joseph Stalin. Above, an aerial view of the incomplete train line running through the wilderness

Stalin's aides knew the Salekhard-Igarka Railway, pictured, was a pointless scheme but dared not tell him

While researching the history of the line, Chapple said that he read 'incredible' survivor accounts of the inhumane conditions inside the gulags. In one testimony, a male prisoner described the punishment for attempting to escape, which involved being tied naked to a pole and left to blood-sucking mosquitoes

Heavy labour on the railway line, parts of which are in the Arctic Circle, was carried out by gulag prisoners, while most of the engineers were from outside the camps

A rusting barbed wire fence in one of the gulags can be seen in the foreground with a watchman's tower lurking beyond

He said he didn't know the names of the camps, located between Salekhard and Nadym, as they were 'unnamed, or their names are lost to history'.

Chapple's images serve as a chilling reminder of Russia's nightmarish past. One particularly poignant shot shows punishment cells with metal-lined doors. Chapple contacted one survivor from the railway project, Aleksandr Snovsky, who told him that this was where starving prisoners received just 200 grams of bread and a cup of water per day.

The cameraman told MailOnline Travel that it was one of the most intense photography projects he's undertaken and that he did lots of historical research before journeying to the crumbling sites.

Describing what it was like when he got to one of the camps, he recounted: 'Standing inside the punishment cells, where people were dumped and given starvation rations was the most powerful moment for me. The whole site is one enormous crime scene. But it's a crime that no one has ever been held accountable for.'

While researching, Chapple said that he read 'incredible' survivor accounts of the inhumane conditions inside the gulags. In one testimony, a male prisoner described the punishment for attempting to escape, which involved being tied naked to a pole and left to blood-sucking mosquitoes.

Apparently, within two to three hours, blood loss would cause the punished prisoner to lose consciousness and perish. Chapple said that another prisoner described throwing love letters into the women's barracks, and even bottles of semen.

The above photo shows one of the gulag's punishment cells with a metal-lined door. One former gulag prisoner told Chapple that those who were consigned to the cells received 200 grams of bread and a cup of water per day

Chapple says with each winter the gulags get shabbier, with buildings succumbing to the weight of the snow

Chapple took this harrowing photo of rotting bunk beds in one of the gulags. Prisoners slept behind barred windows, watched by guards through a peephole

The Salekhard-Igarka Railway, which is located in northern Siberia, was the brainchild of Stalin. The aim was to connect Russia's Arctic waters with its western railway network and the nickel mines in the north with the Soviet factories in the west

The women would then try to get pregnant so they could avoid the back-breaking regimen of hard labor.

The gulag, an acronym in Russian of Chief Administration of Corrective Labor Camps, was a system of forced labor camps first set up in 1919 by communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin after he took control of the Soviet Union in 1917.

The prisons were designed to remove 'counter-revolutionaries' and other 'undesirables' - including gay men - from society by placing them in savagely inhospitable environments, and working them to death.

When Lenin died in 1924 and Joseph Stalin rose to power, the gulags became increasingly widespread. Between 1929 and the year of Stalin's death in 1953, 18 million men and women were transported to Soviet slave labour camps in Siberia and other outposts of the Red empire - many of them never to return.

The Salekhard-Igarka Railway, which is located in northern Siberia, was the brainchild of Stalin. The aim was to connect Russia's Arctic waters with its western railway network and the nickel mines in the north with the Soviet factories in the west.

One of hundreds of railway bridges built by prisoners to span the swampy terrain

A length of rail, which Chapple says was forged shortly before Lenin's Communists took power in Russia in 1917

A building within a gulag subsides into the boggy earth, with the timber support beams scattered at different angles

Chapple was accompanied by an armed huntsman into the wooded areas, as bears are known to frequent the region

A weathered sign on a crumbling exterior wall in one of the gulags. The camps were set up in 1917 by Lenin

Stalin's monstrous gulag camps where prisoners were worked to death in brutal conditions The gulag was a system of forced labor camps that were set up in 1919 by communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin after he took control of the Soviet Union in 1917. The prisons were designed to remove 'counter-revolutionaries' and other 'undesirables' - including gay men - from society by placing them in savagely inhospitable environments, and working them to death. When Lenin died in 1924 and Joseph Stalin rose to power, the gulags became increasingly widespread. Between 1929 and the year of Stalin's death in 1953, 18 million men and women were transported to Soviet slave labor camps in Siberia and other outposts of the Red empire - many of them never to return. In the winter, the gulag convicts were used as slave labour in temperatures that plummeted to -50C in winter, while in summer they were plagued by vicious mosquitoes. The monstrous treatment of prisoners would often start when they were being transported to the camps, by truck, train or boat. In 1942, a Polish teenager recalled how the male prisoners smashed their way into the female compartment and started to rape women. The gulag prisons were designed to remove 'counter-revolutionaries' and other 'undesirables' - including gay men - from society by placing them in savagely inhospitable environments, and working them to death. Above, prisoners of the Vorkuta gulag seen in 1945 'Several men attacked each woman at once,' wrote Janusz Bardach. 'I could see the victims' white bodies twisting, their legs kicking forcefully, their hands clawing the men's faces. The women hit, cried and wailed. When the rapists ran out of women, some of the bulkier men... hunted for young men. These adolescents were added to the carnage...' Many of the testimonies from gulags are reminiscent of Holocaust memoirs. Wagons intended for 18 people would have 48 passengers crammed into them, and the occupants were given pitiful amounts of food and water. On one transport during the bitter cold of December 1944, it was recorded how 'the prisoners were given frozen bread, and for ten days got none at all'. By the time the prisoners - wearing summer uniforms - arrived at the camp, many had frostbite and were covered in lice. They were the lucky ones. Fifty-three prisoners had died on that transport of 1,402 people, and 400 more ended up in hospital. Those who made it alive to the camps met a miserable fate. Many prisoners went on to die with no gravestones, with their bodies left to rot in mass burial sites. The only means of identification was a number tag tied to their remains. The gulag institution was closed by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs on January 25, 1960. However, forced labour colonies for political and criminal prisoners continued to exist and prisoners remained at one the most famous camps, Perm-36, until 1987 when it finally shut its doors. Advertisement

Prisoners from the Soviet gulag system installed bits of track across the country from 1947 until Stalin's death in 1953.

Communist rulers abandoned Project 501, as it was known, soon after he died in 1953, even though it was only 40 miles short of completion.

To get to the abandoned line Chapple flew to Salekhard, which straddles the Polar Circle. He says that some people in the community joke that 'in the right house you can sleep with your head in the Arctic and your feet in the mainland'. From there, Chapple journeyed in an all-terrain vehicle capable of navigating the swampy landscape.

A hatch on one of the punishment cell doors, through which starving prisoners were dealt their meagre rations

Chapple says that some of the gulag remains, like this timber shack that once probably housed guards, have been maintained and are now regularly used by hunters

Chapple took a shot of one of the water-logged roads he traversed, with some kind of tipper truck ahead

In the winter Siberia is freezing cold, while in the summer, mosquitoes are rife. Chapple decided to visit in the autumn in a bid to make his expedition a little easier. Although he did encounter heavy rain

The hardy vehicle Chapple travelled in makes its way across the wilderness

While the gulags are empty, with rotting bits of timber and dismembered lengths of train track nearby, Chapple said one of the gulag buildings he went into was in excellent condition.

He said that hunters appeared to be using the structure as a shelter in the wilderness. It had a functioning metal stove emblazoned with a communist star.

Another interesting discovery the photographer made was a glass jar that once contained stewed pork, left over from the period.

Chapple said he didn't need to seek permission to visit the gulags and the requirement to have a permit was lifted last year.

The photographer mused: 'Now you can just wander right into these places, which is thrilling, but also disheartening: the theft of artefacts is no doubt taking place.'
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
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New photos show how Hard Rock's zany 450ft-high $1.5 billion guitar-shaped hotel is taking shape, with its body already in place.

The 36-storey glass tower, which rises high above the Hollywood, Florida, skyline, is set to open next summer and guests will be able to stay in rooms spanning the width of the instrument and running up along the fretboard.

While some people say the eye-catching complex will boost tourism in the city, others have slammed the building for being a 'ugly' - and so big that it's 'probably visible from outer space'.

Hard Rock's new $1.5 billion guitar-shaped hotel, which is currently under construction, isn't music to everyone's ears, it seems. This photo from September shows how the building is gradually taking shape

The latter comment was made in an article on lifestyle site Miami.com, which also decries the resort complex - called Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - for being 'a blight on our land' and a 'monstrosity'.

The piece adds that the site was hit by lightning earlier in the year, which is proof that 'Mother Nature hates it' too because it's 'so terrible'.

Twitter user 'millenialmuser' agreed with the article, stating that the building is 'completely obnoxious', while 'SinJusticia0Paz' merely described it as 'ugly'.

On a Reddit thread, people shared similar sentiments showing their distaste.

Akoustyk wrote: 'Ugly isn't really the right word... It's just tacky as hell' with another unnamed redittor adding: 'That's the dark side of Post Modernism for ya [sic].'

Despite it not being to everyone's taste, many people have expressed their excitement over the hotel and its wacky design.

The ambitious guitar structure was the vision of James F. Allen, the chairman of Hard Rock International. There is currently a hotel already on the site, but the guitar tower was commissioned as part of its expansion project. Above, an artist's rendering showing what the finished hotel will look like

The 36-storey glass tower, rising high above the Hollywood, Florida, skyline, has come under criticism with some deeming it a 'monstrosity' and 'ugly'

After the Seminole Hard Rock posted an image of its construction project on Facebook last month, Rivera Lucia said in response: 'Yayyy [sic] can't wait looks beautiful.'

And in response to another photo showing the building's progress Danielle Borromeo wrote: 'Flew over it on our way to the airport. Looked so cool from the sky!'

Whatever the verdict, Hard Rock's guitar-shaped complex is set to open its doors in summer 2019.

The ambitious guitar structure was the vision of James F. Allen, the chairman of Hard Rock International.

There is currently a hotel already on the site, but the guitar tower was commissioned as part of its expansion project.

The new complex will include 806 additional guestrooms and suites, with 638 in the iconic guitar hotel tower, where all guestrooms will be 525 square feet or larger.

The new complex will include 806 additional guestrooms and suites, with 638 in the iconic guitar hotel tower, where all guestrooms will be 525 square feet or larger

Despite it not being to everyone's taste, many people have expressed their excitement over the hotel and its wacky design

Other amenities will include restaurants, lounges, a business centre and a 41,000-square-foot spa

An additional 168 guestrooms and suites will be located in a seven-storey 'pool tower' that will flank the pool complex.

It will bring the total number of guestrooms and suites at the Seminole Hard Rock to more than 1,300.

Other amenities will include restaurants, lounges, a business centre and a 41,000-square foot spa.

Meanwhile, the casino will have 3,267 slot machines and 178 table games such as blackjack and baccarat, plus a new 18,000-square-foot poker room.

Marcellus Osceola Jr., who is the chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida - the Seminole is a federally recognized Indian tribe - said he was looking forward to seeing the completed design.

He mused: 'Our ancestors and elders welcomed curious tourists to our Florida reservations, and today's members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida will soon welcome visitors from all over the world to what will become a landmark destination.

'Our guitar tower will attract global attention.'
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For deep-pocketed travellers with a love of the high seas, an apartment on this luxury ocean liner might appeal.

The 971-foot long Utopia, which is currently under construction in South Korea, boasts 190 residential units, with the properties ranging from $4.4 million (3.3 million) to $36 million (27 million).

Artist renderings and showroom mock-ups reveal what the opulent vessel will look like, with the classically-styled apartments boasting ocean views, private hot tubs, sundecks, cinema rooms and walk-in closets.

The Utopia, which is currently under construction in South Korea, boasts 190 residential units, with the properties ranging from $4.4 million to $36 million

Artist renderings reveal what the opulent vessel will look like, with the classically styled apartments boasting ocean views, private hot tubs, sundecks, cinema rooms and walk-in closets

There is set to be an outdoor pool and water slide on the ship, which is over three years away from completion

The rooms will be finished with the finest fixtures and fittings, with one mock-up showing a kitchen decked out with thick marble counter tops and slick stainless steel appliances.

Another shows a bathroom so large that there is a plush armchair to recline in after having a wash. Again, the place is clad with slabs of marble and there is a TV set within a mahogany cabinet.

On decks 15 and 16, the Utopia website states, will be private members club, where residents can mingle.

This will house a luxury restaurant where guest preferences will be registered, so their favourite wines will be 'decanted and ready to pour' and meals will be tailored to tastes.

A showroom mock-up with a bathroom so large that there is even room for a comfy armchair to recline in

The apartments have private balcony areas, so residents can soak up the views while they sail around the world

A rendering shows a lounge area, decked out with plush pieces of furniture. The mirrored wall of a bedroom can be seen through a doorway beyond

Over in the ship's lounge, an array of beverages will be available, from 'properly-shaken martinis' to cups of 'fresh ginger tea'.

Other communal amenities on the residential boat will include a medical centre, stores, a casino, nightclub, and a state-of-the-art gym, with a spread of fitness classes on offer.

For those who don't have a few million spare, the Utopia will also be home to a hotel.

There will be 206 guest rooms aboard the ship, with the categories including 'suites', 'luxury suites' and 'grand suites'.

The Utopia - which is a build project costing around $1 billion - was the brainchild of David Robb, a successful financier and Harvard business school graduate.

Talk of the liner emerged back in 2008 and there has been much excitement about the ship's delivery since.

The Utopia was the brainchild of David Robb, a successful financier and Harvard business school graduate. Talk of the project emerged back in 2008 and there has been much excitement about the ship's delivery since

A rendering showing one of the dining rooms within an apartment, with a cityscape visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows

Many of the apartments are set to have private hot tubs on the balcony areas

According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, dated to 2013, nearly 80 clients had signed or were in the process of negotiating purchase contracts.

So that they could get a taste of what bang they were getting for their buck, a 3,000-square-foot showroom for potential buyers was set up on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California.

In a recent interview with Business Insider, Robb revealed most of the buyers so far are business people and philanthropically-minded individuals.

He also noted that the physical launch of the ship is still three-and-a-half years out.

There is no word on the ship's itinerary but Robb explained that it will travel to 'remote parts of the world'.

He concluded: 'We describe it as the largest private yacht in the world. Cruise ships are built to last approximately 25 to 30 years.

'We're building Utopia to a 100-year specification. There's nothing like that in the world.'

The rooms will be finished with the finest fixtures and fittings, with one mock-up showing a kitchen decked out with thick marble counter tops and slick stainless steel appliances

There is no word on the ship's itinerary yet but Robb explained that it will travel to 'remote parts of the world'
They're planning to walk down the aisle in 24 hours time.

And ahead of their fast approaching nuptials, Lauren Pesce, the fiancee of Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, has revealed she recently underwent a nose job.

The 33-year-old said it was a procedure she's always wanted to get done, as she spoke to Page Six.

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 Slide me  New look: Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino's fiancee Lauren Pesce revealed on Thursday that she had had a nose job ahead of her wedding tomorrow

'I've wanted to do this since I was about 15,' she said.

'Once we got engaged in February, I knew it was the best timing for me to get this done before our big day.'

The publication reported that Lauren underwent a septoplasty procedure, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, corrects a deviated septum, 'a displacement of the bone and cartilage that divides your two nostrils'.

It was time: 'Once we got engaged in February, I knew it was the best timing for me to get this done before our big day'

Pricey! And according to the popular doctor, the average rhinoplasty can cost between $10,000 to $25,000, but it depends on the individual patient

Lauren had the procedure done by celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. John Paul Tutela.

And according to the popular doctor, the average rhinoplasty can cost between $10,000 to $25,000, but it depends on the individual patient.

'The most common things include straightening a nose that is crooked, getting rid of a bump on top of the nose, refining the tip, or a combination of above,' Dr. Tutela explained regarding the two-three hour surgery to Page Six.

Wedding prep: Taking to Instagram, The Situation shared a video of himself getting a Vampire Facial

Last minute touches: Lauren also shared a photo using a sculpting machine to slim down

And it's not just Lauren who appears to have been getting some last minute touch ups before their Thursday November 1st wedding.

Taking to Instagram, The Situation shared a video of himself getting a Vampire Facial.

'Big Daddy Sitch getting Wedding ready with a Vampire Facial,' he captioned.

Married: The wedding will come before the Jersey Shore reality star is sent to prison for eight months for tax evasion, which will begin in 2019

The wedding will come before the Jersey Shore reality star is sent to prison for eight months for tax evasion, which will begin in 2019.

In addition to his time behind bars, Mike has a two year supervised release, 500 hours of community service and was given $123,913 in restitution - which he's already paid off.

He also was served a $10,000 fine that must be paid in 30 days.
She is known for her dry sense of humour.

And Australian comedian was at it again this Halloween... but not everyone has agreed with her joke.

On Wednesday, the 40-year-old posted a picture of herself holding a giant red gummy bear to Instagram, joking in the caption, 'I'm dressing up as diabetes for Halloween.'

'It's incredibly insulting': Comedian Hannah Gadsby's divides social media as she jokes she is 'dressing up as diabetes' for Halloween

She also added the hashtags '#it'ssugar' and '#nos***', referring to the product label.

However, not everyone was impressed with Hannah's humour, with one social media user commenting: 'I'm a type 1 diabetic and "jokes" like this only create further confusion and make light of a disease that impacts every single second of my life. It's also incredibly insulting to people with type 2.'

Another added: After 32 years as type 1 (Australian) diabetic I still dont find diabetes jokes funny.

Meanwhile, others who suffer from the disease saw the light in the post.

Rising star: The Australian, who hails from Tasmania, recently shot to international fame following her comedy special Nanette airing on streaming service Netflix

Im T2 [type two diabetes] and thought your joke was sweet as could be, one user commented in defence of Hannah.

While another said: As a type 1 diabetic I have myself thought of dressing up as diabetes in some form because there is this weird thing I enjoy doing of laughing at my own misfortune to help with the fact my pancreas died when I was eight.

The Australian, who hails from Tasmania, recently shot to international fame following her comedy special Nanette airing on streaming service Netflix.

Before her success with Nanette, Hannah starred in ABC's Please Like Me alongside Josh Thomas, Thomas Ward and Debra Lawrance.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Hannah Gadsby's management for comment.
Model Cheyenne Tozzi says motherhood has made her more confident.

Cheyenne, who welcomed her first child with partner Marlon Teixeira, 26, two months ago, told Who magazine that having her daughter Dahlia has helped her stop comparing herself to younger models.

'There are always going to be more beautiful, younger models out there- but I've learned just to be happy with my success and happy with the way that my life is going,' she said.

'There are always going to be more beautiful models out there': Cheyenne Tozzi says having her baby daughter Dahlia has helped her to stop comparing herself to younger women

The 29-year-old said that although motherhood has left her feeling more confident, her self-esteem still shifts from day to day.

'I think it comes and goes. You can always have a sh**y day, but you have to work on yourself, you have to be the best version of you in order to prevail in life,' she said.

Last week, the doting mother uploaded the first public photo of her baby girl to Instagram.

Bundle of joy! Cheyenne recently shared this 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 new-borns name to her fans.

Cheyenne and Marion confirmed they were expecting their first child 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 underwraps.

Speaking to Harper's Bazaar Australia last month, Cheyenne explained that her pregnancy journey was terrifying.

'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,' she said.

'But I've been terrified. I didn't want anything out there until I knew the baby was going to be healthy.'

Private: Cheyenne, who welcomed her first child with partner Marlon Teixeira, 26, (pictured right) kept details about her newborn secret for months
The search is on for Australia's most interesting families for the upcoming season of Wife Swap.

According a casting call, producers 'are looking for outgoing, fun families with at least one child to take part in the factual television series'.

Wife Swap, which last aired Down Under in 2012, will be tackling 'hot-button issues' next year and same-sex couples are being encouraged to apply.

Would YOU appear on Wife Swap? TV producers are looking for 'outgoing, fun families' for the comeback season... and same-sex couples are encouraged to apply

'The series will feature two families from different geographical and social backgrounds that swap spouses,' reads the casting notice.

The program will 'showcase hot-button issues like politics, classism, gender and race with the end goal of everyone finding common ground.'

Like previous seasons, during each switch, the new spouses must at first adhere to exactly the same rules and lifestyle of the spouses being replaced.

Later on in the experiment, they can establish their own rules before meeting up afterwards to discuss what they learned.

Times have changed! Since the program last aired six years ago on Foxtel, Australians have been introduced to several new 'partner swapping' shows, including Seven Year Switch

Wife Swap is one of the most popular reality TV franchises in the world.

However, since the program last aired six years ago on Foxtel, Australians have been introduced to several new 'partner swapping' shows.

The controversial Seven Year Switch was broadcast on Channel Seven for two seasons in 2016 and 2017.

Remember this? Earlier this year, Married At First Sight featured an 'affair' storyline in which Davina Rankin and Dean Wells briefly left their experimental spouses for each other

The series followed troubled couples as they swapped partners in a bid to fix their broken relationships.

And earlier this year, Channel Nine's Married At First Sight featured an 'affair' storyline in which Davina Rankin and Dean Wells briefly left their experimental spouses for each other.

The new season of Wife Swap Australia is expected to air on Channel Seven in mid-2019.
She recently revealed her struggles to juggle a career with being a princess in the public eye, as well as helping organise her sister Eugenie's fairy-tale wedding.

And Princess Beatrice, 30, seemed keen to have some fun as donned a colourful unicorn wig to celebrate Halloween at Annabel's in Mayfair, London on Wednesday night.

The eighth in line to the throne was joined by Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend, Chelsea Davy, at the private member's club.

Cute: Princess Beatrice, 30, seemed keen to have some fun as she donned a colourful unicorn wig to celebrate Halloween with Chelsy Davy at Annabel's in Mayfair, London on Wednesday

Princess Beatrice slipped into a tiered white midi-dress for the costume party, and drew attention to her slim figure with a black waist belt adorned with an embellished heart buckle.

She kept warm with a longline tailored black jacket and added height to her frame with chic pointed, double cuff stilettos.

Princess Beatrice held onto a sparkling gold clutch and flashed a wide smile for photographers.

The young royal was joined by Chelsy Davy who slipped into a bold ensembles, comprising distressed black skinny jeans and a daring top.

Gorgeous: Princess Beatrice slipped into a tiered white midi-dress for the costume party, and drew attention to her slim figure with a waist belt adorned with an embellished heart buckle

Chic: She kept warm with a longline tailored black jacket and added height to her frame with chic pointed, double cuff stilettos

Creepy crawly chic: Chelsy added dramatic flicks of eyeliner to complete her Halloween look

Turning heads: The blonde beauty's bardot top featured a sheer layer, which allowed her toned stomach to be displayed

The mane attraction: She wore her golden tresses in tousled waves

Having a whale of a time! The socialite giggled with her pal as she left the party

The blonde beauty's bardot top featured a sheer layer, which allowed her toned stomach to be displayed, and she added dramatic flicks of eyeliner to complete her Halloween look.

Meanwhile, Beatrice, who works for business management consultancy Afiniti and splits her time between London, Windsor and New York.

She and sister Eugenie, 28, recently touched on everything from life in the spotlight to fashion and social media in a Vogue interview.

Sizzling: Rihanna ensured that she would stand out on Hallowee in a figure-hugging latex co-ord

Killer look: She rocked a bust-enhancing corset that offered a glimpse at her ample cleavage and cinched in at her slender waist, whilst she layered up with a fitted leather jacket

Wow! Australian model Shanina Shaik, 27, looked incredible in a chain print co-ord set

Looking good: The Victoria's Secret model accessorised with chunky Fila trainers adn a monogrammed Dior bag

Preened to perfection: The brunette bombshell styled her tresses in tumbling ringlets and framed her features with taupe lipgloss (pictured with Tamara Ralph)

Straight to the Nineties: She flashed a peek of her metallic bra and wrapped up in a denim jacket

At one point, they discussed living in the public eye as they say they constantly face mockery and criticism.

Of doing media interviews, Beatrice said: Its hard to navigate situations like these because there is no precedent, there is no protocol.

'It's hard to navigate situations like these because there is no precedent,' said Princess Beatrice, the vice-president of a technology company.

We are the first: we are young women trying to build careers and have personal lives, and were also princesses, and doing all of this in the public eye.'

Going for gold: Vanessa White rocked a gold jacquard dress with a sweetheart neckline and vampy claret lipstick

Taking centre-stage: The Saturdays singer completed her look with dramatic eye make-up (pictured with Betty Bachz)

Vampy chic: Zara Martin donned a velvet cape and ghoulish make-up at the bash

Having fun there? Comedian Jimmy Carr dressed up as a creepy ventriloquist's doll

Glamorous exit: Nancy Dell'Olio, 57, rocked a green pleated skirt and a lace cardigan
Fans of The CW's Arrowverse got a treat last week when Supergirl star Melissa Benoist shared a photo of Ruby Rose in costume as Batwoman.

Benoist is seen in her superheroine costume giggling as she stands with her arm around Rose.

'Indicative of my excitement that she's here and kicking a**,' the actress wrote in the caption on Instagram.

Girl power: Fans of The CW's Arrowverse got a treat last week when Supergirl star Melissa Benoist shared a photo to Instagram of Ruby Rose in costume as Batwoman

The CW confirmed in August that Australian Rose would play Kate Kane, a.k.a. Batwoman and the lesbian character will make her debut in the crossover before getting her own stand-alone series in 2019.

Elseworlds, the three-night crossover between Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl, takes place in Gotham City.

The combined story will air over three nights, starting with The Flash on Sunday, December 9, continuing with Arrow on Monday, December 10 and concluding with Supergirl on Tuesday, December 11.

Season four of Supergirl, which kicked off earlier this month, also introduced TV's first transgender superhero Dreamer, played by 21-year-old Nicole Maines.

Action: Meanwhile, on Wednesday Benoist, 30, was seen hard at work on the Supergirl set in Vancouver, Canada, shooting scenes with Tyler Hoechlin as Superman

Sneak peek: Hoechlin debuted the new black and silver version of Superman's neoprene costume

Meanwhile, on Wednesday Benoist, 30, was seen hard at work on the Supergirl set in Vancouver, Canada.

She was decked out in her iconic Kara Danvers alter ego costume of red blue and gold.

As cameras rolled Supergirl faced her cousin Kal El, AKA Superman.

Played by Tyler Hoechlin, the character once again held a mysterious spell book which has featured heavily in the Vancouver shoot.

Also seen on set was Grant Gustin, who plays The Flash/Barry Allen.
She's been maintaining an incredibly busy schedule with her numerous hosting gigs.

But Maya Jama enjoyed some time off from work as she got into the festive spirit for her Halloween party at London's The Ministry club on Wednesday, accompanied by rapper beau Stormzy.

The radio presenter, 24, oozed sex appeal as she slipped her enviable frame into a sexy bustier dress, which flashed her cleavage and lean legs.

Power couple: Maya Jama got into the festive spirit for her Halloween party at London's The Ministry club on Wednesday, accompanied by beau Stormzy

Upping the style ante, Maya's sultry ensemble featured a semi-sheer skirt, which worked well with her leather evening gloves.

The BBC host added to her frame in a pair of pointed black heels, while accessorising with a flashy bedazzled choker.

Framing her stunning features with poker straight tresses, the Bristol beauty finished off her look with purple and blue jewels which also decorated her decolletage.

Spooky: The radio presenter, 24, oozed sex appeal as she slipped her enviable frame into a sexy bustier dress, which flashed her cleavage and lean legs

Meanwhile, Cold rapper Stormzy, 25, painted half of his face with skull-inspired make-up while opting for comfort in a casual all-black look.

Meanwhile, Maya's broadcasting career has been going from strength-to-strength in recent months after she landed a new weekend show on BBC Radio 1.

She has added another string to her bow as she launches her new collaboration with PrettyLittleThing.

All eyes on her: Upping the style ante, Maya's sultry ensemble featured a semi-sheer skirt, which worked well with her leather evening gloves

Commanding attention: The BBC host added to her frame in a pair of pointed black heels, while accessorising with a flashy bedazzled choker

'PLT has been one of my go-to brands and Ive loved watching the brand grow over the years.

'I know my audience love PrettyLittleThing as much as I do, so I hope that they will be as excited for this collection as I am.'

Proving the couple to be the real deal, the Shut Up hitmaker recently admitted he was keen to marry the model in the future.

He told the Sunday Mirror earlier this year: Im still so young but I want to propose, its going to happen and I will do it right. She is so sick, she is the best.
After months of cancellation rumours, Channel 10 has confirmed all three programs in The Bachelor Australia franchise will return in 2019.

In a press release coinciding with Wednesday's Upfronts, a spokesperson confirmed that The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise had been renewed.

Indeed the CBS-owned network boasted that The Bachelor had 'delivered [its] biggest numbers ever across all screens this year'.

The Bachelorette WILL return in 2019: The dating show has received a lifeline from Channel 10 after Ali Oetjen's low ratings... as it's revealed Bachelor In Paradise will also make a comeback

The announcement comes after a source told News Corp in August that CBS was 'reviewing' a handful of shows believed to be 'too similar to each other' or under-performing in the ratings.

These programs reportedly included I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and game show Pointless.

But Channel 10's Chief Content Officer Beverley McGarvey dismissed the claims at the time as 'naive, false and total nonsense'.

Coming soon! In a press release coinciding with Wednesday's Upfronts, a network spokesperson confirmed that The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise had all been renewed. Pictured: The Bachelorette's Ali Oetjen (left) and Todd King (right)

'To claim Australian Survivor, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! and Pointless are under review is total nonsense,' she told Daily Mail Australia in a statement.

Meanwhile, the network announced this week the first two contestants for next year's Bachelor In Paradise.

The confirmed stars are Cassandra Wood and Brooke Blurton, who are both from Nick Cummins' season of The Bachelor.

Successful: Indeed the CBS-owned network boasted that The Bachelor had 'delivered [its] biggest numbers ever across all screens this year'. Pictured: The Bachelor's Nick Cummins and Sophie Tieman

Also during the Upfronts presentation, Channel 10 unveiled its new youth-focused rebrand and confirmed that Ten Eyewitness News had been renamed 10 News First.

Furthermore, four programs from Pilot Week are being commissioned into full seasons: Trial By Kyle, Taboo, Kinne Tonight and Bring Back Saturday Night.

The Bachelorette continues Thursday at 7:30pm on Network Ten
She is a body confidence advocate who is known for sharing candid social media snaps.

And it was no surprise that Ashley James was flaunting her fabulous figure as she joined BFF Charlotte de Carle at Jonathan Ross' Halloween party in London on Wednesday.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 31, transformed into a saucy Alice In Wonderland jester for the glittering bash, flaunting her ample assets in a monochrome corset.

Monochrome magic: Ashley James flaunted her fabulous figure as she joined BFF Charlotte de Carle at Jonathan Ross' Halloween party in London on Wednesday

Drawing the eye to her toned legs, she slipped on white diamond print tights and boosted her height with black stilettos.

The blonde beauty donned a black and white hat adorned with red tassels.

Her pretty features were enhanced with fairytale inspired make-up including scarlet paint across the nose, smoky shadow and liner, finished with rosy cheeks.

DJ Charlotte, 31, showed off her trim figure in a black vest top paired with a white and black polka dot suit.

Leggy display: The former Made In Chelsea star, 31, transformed into a saucy Alice In Wonderland jester for the glittering bash, flaunting her ample assets in a monochrome corset

Radiant: Her pretty features were enhanced with fairytale inspired make-up including scarlet paint across the nose, smoky shadow and liner, finished with rosy cheeks

Adding a splash of colour with scarlet evening gloves, she slipped on a black and white wig and sported gothic make-up.

Ashley worked hard to achieve her frame with the help of bodybuilder James Crossley, otherwise known as Hunter from Gladiators.

Speaking about her transformation, she gushed: 'I am absolutely thrilled with the results. I have seen such a huge transformation in my body, I feel so energised, toned and healthy, I am in the best shape I have ever been in!'

Explaining her reasons for wanting to indulge in such a drastic method to improve her body and fitness, she said: 'I wanted to train with James initially because I was a huge fan of the Gladiators TV programme and the prospect of training with a real Gladiator was just too cool to turn down!

'It was also a great opportunity for me to learn from a real expert and try new methods and regimes to help improve my fitness and appearance.'
They reportedly split up in June before getting back together a few days later.

And Scott Disick, 35, and Sofia Richie, 20, looked more smitten than ever at Sydney's Marquee nightclub on Wednesday night.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was seen flirting up a storm with his younger girlfriend, while hosting the club's annual Halloween bash.

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The look of love! Scott Disick, 35, gazes adoringly at girlfriend Sofia Richie, 20, at Halloween bash in Sydney

The reality favourite opted for a casual look, wearing a grey hoodie, matching pants and white sneakers.

Sofia meanwhile slipped into a cleavage-baring black minidress, which showcased her petite frame.

The couple danced and laughed in the VIP area as scantily-clad employees held up a 'Scott' sign behind them.

Flirting up a storm: The couple danced and laughed in the VIP area as fans watched on from a distance

Star treatment: Sofia looked impressed as scantily-clad employees held up a 'Scott' sign behind the couple

Casual look: Scott opted for a casual look in a grey hoodie, matching pants and white sneakers

Sofia told The Sydney Morning Herald in September that she and Scott are very happy together.

'We are very happy, very lovey dovey,' she said.

'We are best friends and that is mainly the strongest connection we have. We have always had that best friend connection and from there it has really worked out. I am so happy.'

Jam packed: A large crowd gathered at the club with hopes of catching a glimpse of the stars

Party girl! Sofia put on an animated display in this selfie posted on Instagram ahead of the Halloween bash

On Thursday morning, the pair were seen boarding a private jet ahead of Scott's lucrative gig at Melbourne Cup next week.

The father-of-three is reportedly being paid six figures to a host a bash in the Ultra marquee at Derby Day in Melbourne.

Sofia and Scott reportedly began dating in May last year, roughly two years after his split from the mother of his children, Kourtney Kardashian, 39.

And they're off! On Thursday morning, they were seen boarding a private jet ahead of Scott's lucrative gig at Melbourne Cup next week
During her stint on Love Island, Megan Barton-Hanson garnered A-list fans when megastar Margot Robbie discussed their likeness.

And the stunner gave a nod to her lookalike for Halloween as she dressed up as the Australian star's most famous character Harley Quinn, while joining her beau Wes Nelson at Fran Cutler's Halloween bash in London's MOMO on Wednesday.

Opting for the perfect couples costume, the duo dressed as Marvel lovers, with Wes transforming into Harley's lover and Jared Leto's character The Joker, as they cuddled up close amid claims Megan enjoyed a night at a strip club with Pete Wicks.

Who's that girl? Megan Barton Hanson gave a nod to her lookalike Margot Robbie for Halloween as she dressed up as the Australian star's most famous character Harley Quinn

Megan, 24, looked sensational as super-villain Harley, showcasing her curvaceous figure in a white crop top layered beneath a blue satin bomber jacket at the bash which partnered with CIROC Vodka.

She teamed the garment with sparkling sequinned hotpants and fishnet tights that showed off her pins, whilst a pair of heeled black boots boosted her petite frame.

Megan finished off her look by adding blue and red dye to her blonde locks and painting her face with colourful glitter.

Meanwhile, Wes, 21, looked the spitting image of The Joker with his hair dyed green and a face full of white paint.

Cute couple: She joined her beau Wes Nelson at Fran Cutler's Halloween bash in London's MOMO on Wednesday

Racy display: Megan, 24, looked sensational as super villain Harley, showcasing her curvaceous figure in a white crop top layered beneath a blue satin bomber jacket

While she was in Love Island, Margot was grilled over their likeness after Doctor Alex George pointed out their similarities - much to her delight.

She said: 'The other night we were watching and I think it was Alex who said that, and we all lost it! We were like, 'Oh my God, they know who I am on Love Island!...

'I personally don't see the resemblance. We'd just finished drinking beer and eating crisps and saying, 'We're so disgusting we could never be on Love Island we're such fatties, they would never let us on'.

'They all have some amazing bodies and they are so gorgeous and are always so done up and looking incredible, and then they said I look like her and we were like, "Oh my God!"'

Double trouble: Opting for the perfect couples costume, the duo dressed as Marvel lovers, Harley Quinn and The Joker, and cuddled up close amid claims Megan had enjoyed a night at a strip club with TOWIE's Pete Wicks

Earlier this week, Megan was accused of disappearing with TOWIE star Pete Wicks during a boozy night out at a strip club while Wes was in Belfast doing a PA.

Yet later on, she addressed the claims made by The Sun, calling them 'bulls***'. as she shared an impassioned message to Instagram on Tuesday.

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!'

'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.'

Dressed to impress: Meanwhile, Wes, 21, looked the spitting image of The Joker with his hair dyed green and a face full of white paint

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.

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.
She was branded the 'least exciting sister to look at' during an explosive argument on Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

But Kourtney Kardashian proved she's miles away from that label as she set pulses racing while donning a Victoria's Secret Angel costume for a Halloween bash in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The reality star, 39, was joined by Kim, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie as she caught the eye in a full lace lingerie set, which featured sheer white bra, matching briefs and a suspender belt.

Sultry: Kourtney Kardashian proved she's not the least exciting sister to look at as she donned a Victoria's Secret Angel costume for a Halloween bash in Los Angeles on Wednesday

Turning up the heat, the TV personality displayed a hint of her gym-honed abs and lean legs in the sultry ensemble.

Setting herself apart from the pack, the star completed her look with over-the-top wings embellished with sequins and pearls.

Kourtney swept her wavy tresses into a half up half down style with a side fringe to reveal her glowing complexion, complemented with sparkling make-up in a neutral-toned hue.

Joining forces: The reality star, 39, was joined by Kim, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie as she caught the eye in a full lace lingerie set, which featured sheer white bra, matching briefs and a suspender belt

Looking good: Turning up the heat, the TV personality displayed a hint of her gym-honed abs and lean legs in the sultry ensemble

All eyes on her: Setting herself apart from the pack, the star completed her look with over-the-top wings embellished with sequins and pearls

In August, Kim, 38, called Kourtney the 'least exciting sister to look at' as they attempted to sort out their hectic schedules ahead of their yearly family Christmas card photo shoot.

It wasn't long until things got fiery with the eldest sisters of the Kardashian/Jenner clan, as with Kourtney stating: 'If I'm out by 4, that's all I need and I don't think I'm gonna get there and change my mind.'

To which Kim complained: 'That was when my meeting was. It was supposed to be at my house, unless I do it at 7 in the morning!', with her sister insisting she changes the time.

Radiant: Kourtney swept her wavy tresses into a half up half down style with a side fringe to reveal her glowing complexion

Look at her glow: The brunette complemented her beauty with sparkling make-up in a neutral-toned hue

Awkward: In August, Kim, 38, called Kourtney the 'least exciting sister to look at' as they attempted to sort out their hectic schedules ahead of their yearly family Christmas card photo shoot

But as they continued to argue over the family Christmas card photo shoot, in front of momager Kris and other sister Khloe, Kim lost her temper and explodes at her older sibling.

She snapped: 'No one wants you in the f**king shoot. I'm planning it. I'm planning the shoot, so we don't want you in the shoot.'

Make-up mogul Kim continued to let rip at her sister and goes on to even criticise her appearance in front of Kris and Khloe.

Sibling rivalry: While it has since been claimed there's no bad blood between the sisters, the pair are still exchanging jibes on social media

She added: 'She's the least exciting to look at, so she can be out. She doesn't do s**t. She doesn't know what it's like to actually have f**king work to do!'

Months after the feud, Kim backtracked on her comments with as she declared 'she really IS the most interesting to look at'.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, she penned: 'I lied. She really is the most interesting to look at... @kourtneykardash'.

Gym-honed: Kourtney is known for sharing her grueling workout sessions on social media

While it has since been claimed there's no bad blood between the siblings, the pair are still exchanging jibes on social media.

Kim recently took to Twitter to poke fun at the way her older sister says certain words, when she wrote: 'I hate how @kourtneykardash says issues. She like drags it.'

And Kourtney - who has Mason, eight, Penelope, six, and Reign, three, with former partner Scott Disick - hit back, urging Kim to be kinder.

She quoted the original tweet and wrote: 'Oh wow hate is a strong word. Let's be positive today shall we?!'
She's one of the most sought-after models in the world.

So it's not much of a surprise that Stella Maxwell will walk in the forthcoming Victoria's Secret fashion show, having left their New York office after a fitting on Wednesday.

The blonde beauty looked sensational in her attire as she flaunted her long legs in a pair of shiny black pants while her footwear consisted of army green boots.

She's an angel: Stella Maxwell looked gorgeous as she left a Victoria's Secret fitting in New York on Wednesday

In typical Victoria's Secret style, Stella wore lingerie while exiting the building in a triangular shaped cropped top underneath her black denim jacket.

Her pretty facial features had been enhanced with a radiant touch of makeup while she held on to her star-shaped oversized Victoria's Secret handbag and effortlessly flaunted her toned torso in the process.

Stella curled her blonde tresses near the tips, giving her hair a great amount of volume as she poses for photographs in the streets of the Big Apple.

Stunning: The blonde beauty looked sensational in her attire as she flaunted her long legs in a pair of shin black pants while her footwear consisted of army green boots

She's quite something to look at: Her pretty facial features had been enhanced with a radiant touch of makeup

She had taken to her official Instagram page, gushing about her excitement to try out her outfits for the forthcoming show.

'Fitting Dayyy!!!! @victoriassecret,' Stella had captioned the Instagram Story snap, in clear excitement on getting to work with the brand again.

Later on in the day, the Max Factor ambassador took part in a photoshoot in Columbus Circle wearing the same attire.

This time, however, angel wings were added to her ensemble.

Later that day: Stella posed up a storm wearing her angel wings at the Columbus Circle

Throwing kisses: Stella curled her blonde tresses near the tips, giving her hair a great amount of volume as she poses for photographs in the streets of the Big Apple

Photo shoot While an official announcement has yet to be made, it seems fairly evident that Stella is a favorite among rumored models expected to join her at the fashion show later this year

Given that she's a professional model, it didn't seem all that hard for Stella to find her angles as she worked her toned physique for the shoot.

While an official announcement has yet to be made, it seems fairly evident that Stella is a favorite among rumored models expected to join her at the fashion show later this year.

Last month it was claimed that Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid, and Kendall Jenner had all signed on to take part in the annual occurrence.

Stella is no stranger to working with any of the three girls.

No help needed here: Given that she's a professional model, it didn't seem all that hard for Stella to find her angles as she worked her toned physique for the shoot

Flaunting her midriff: Stella didn't try hard in looking like anything but the supermodel that she is

Here she comes: Also spotted leaving the event was Elsa Hosk, who was showing off her long legs in leather trousers

Chic in plaid: Taylor Hill rocked a tartan miniskirt and thigh-high socks

Just last week, the Irish star had joined the Hadid sisters for Jeremy Scott's Moschino x H&M fashion show.

The girlfriend of actress Kristen Stewart gushed about the experience by posting a photo on Instagram with an endearing message for Scott.

'[Star emoji] @Hm x @moschino [star and heart emoji] u @itsjeremyscott,' Stella captioned her photo, which has since gained over 70,000 likes.

Calling it a night: Jourdana Philips and Stella commanded attention as they headed off after the show

Wow: Lameka Fox looked lovely in a thigh-skimming miniskirt and suede boots

Wow: she showed off Victoria's Secret goodies on her Instagram stories
Liam Hemsworth and Rebel Wilson have teamed up for the new rom-com, Isn't It Romantic.

The actors both took to Instagram on Thursday to share the first trailer for the movie, which is set to be released on Valentine's Day next year.

'Happy Halloween! Eat your heart out for the first ever Isn't It Romantic trailer! Valentines Day 2019,' Liam, 28, captioned the clip.

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Coming soon! Shirtless Liam Hemsworth leaves Rebel Wilson stunned in the first trailer from their upcoming movie Isn't It Romantic

Meanwhile, Rebel celebrated the fact the movie is quite groundbreaking by Hollywood standards.

'Here's a little treat for Halloween! Watch the new trailer for #IsntItRomantic, only in theatres [on] Valentine's Day!' she wrote.

'I'm proud to be the first plus-size girl to be the lead in a studio rom-com... plus this is the first movie I get a producer credit on!'

Rebel, 38, stars as Natalie, a woman who grew up idolising the 1990 film Pretty Woman, only to be told by her mother she is 'no Julia Roberts'.

Co-star credentials: The actor has teamed up with Rebel Wilson for the cute new rom-com

Groundbreaking: 'I'm proud to be the first plus-size girl to be the lead in a studio rom-com... plus this is the first movie I get a producer credit on!' Rebel wrote on Instagram

Unlikely heroine: Rebel stars as Natalie, a woman who grew up idolising the 1990 film Pretty Woman, only to be told by her mother she is 'no Julia Roberts'

After almost completely giving up on ever finding love, Natalie decides she needs to put herself out there more.

But when she's mugged on the NYC subway system, she runs into a pole while trying to escape her attacker, and knocks herself out.

When she finally comes to, she notices 'someone has put a beauty filter across New York City'.

Looking for love: After almost completely giving up on ever finding love, Natalie decides she needs to put herself out there more

Bizarre: After an accident, Natalie wakes up to find herself living in one of the romantic comedies she grew up watching

Good morning! In one scene, she wakes up to a shirtless Blake strolling into her bedroom

Suddenly, Natalie finds herself living in one of the romantic comedies she grew up watching.

And it isn't long before she attracts Liam Hemsworth, who plays the impossibly handsome Blake.

After waking up to a shirtless Blake strolling into her bedroom, Natalie hilariously tackles him to the floor.

The film also stars Priyanka Chopra, Adam DeVine and Betty Gilpin.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky's twin son was recently rushed to hospital following an unfortunate accident.

But the adorable tot looked like he was on the mend during an outing with his famous mother on Wednesday in Byron Bay.

The stunning Spanish actress was spotted on a lunch date with her twin sons, Tristan and Sasha, four.

On the mend! Makeup free Elsa Pataky stuns in bohemian ensemble as she dotes over adorable twin sons Tristan and Sasha in Byron Bay after her four-year-old son is rushed to hospital

Family time! The stunning Spanish actress was spotted on a lunch date with her twin sons, Tristan and Sasha, four, and mother Cristina Pataky Medianu (center) in Byron Bay on Wednesday

Basking in the sunlight, the cherubs appeared to be climbing on the tables as the 42-year-old engaged in a conversation with her mother, Cristina Pataky Medianu.

Clad in a bohemian ensemble, Elsa flaunted her tanned and toned figure.

She opted for a simple grey singlet teamed up with a beige maxi skirt that featured a whimsical print.

The billowing skirt also featured a slit at the thigh, exposing a glimpse of Elsa's slender stems.

Boho in Byron: Clad in a bohemian ensemble, Elsa flaunted her tanned and toned figure

The blonde beauty accessorised the attire with a collection of bracelets and a glitzy watch.

She completed the look with a pair of black boots and a cross-body bag.

Styling her short flaxen tresses in loose waves, Elsa also went makeup free, showing off her naturally radiant complexion.

Details: The blonde beauty accessorised the attire with playful bracelets and a glitzy watch

Hungry boys? Elsa appeared to be chatting to her adorable twin sons at one point

Beauty: Styling her short flaxen tresses in loose waves, Elsa went makeup free, showing off her naturally radiant complexion.

The family was seen entering the outdoor area of the restaurant as Elsa carried a cardboard lunchbox and a healthy juice.

The model's mischievous twins climbed up onto the wooden tables to give their mother a cuddle.

Elsa was later seen engaging with her smart phone while conversing with Cristina, as one of the twins tried to sneak a glimpse of the screen..

Family lunch date: The family was seen sitting in the outdoor area of the restaurant

Cute: The model's mischievous twins climbed up onto the wooden tables to give their mother a cuddle

Shhh! At one point, the mother-of-three beckoned the twins to keep the noise down

One of Elsa's blonde-haired tots sported a cast around his arm following a recent unfortunate accident.

Elsa took to Instagram to share the news of his injury by posting a picture of her son cuddling up to his dad, Chris Hemsworth, 35, over the weekend.

'Nobody tells you how much it hurts when your kids get hurt,' Elsa penned in the caption of the post, adding a sad face emoji.

Elsa shares twin sons and six-year-old daughter India Rose with the Hollywood star.

The smitten couple tied the knot in 2010 and relocated to Australian coastal town Byron Bay in 2014.

What's that? Elsa was later seen engaging with her smart phone while conversing with Cristina, as one of the twins tried to sneak in a glimpse of the screen
She injured her arm last month while preparing for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

But it seems nothing would stop Shanina Shaik from attending a VIP Halloween party in London on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old wore a '90s-inspired costume, which consisted of a brightly coloured plunging bodysuit that exposed her black bra.

'Let's talk about you and me': Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik flashes her bra in a '90s-inspired Halloween costume

Shanina paired the outfit with a thick belt, chunky gold jewellry and white sneakers.

She completed the look with an updo that featured tight curls and a clutch bag.

Shanina, who is from Melbourne, paid tribute to Salt N Pepa in her photo caption.

A little spooky? She revealed she was scared by some of the displays at the party, which were set up like a house of horrors

'Let's talk about you + me,' she wrote, in a nod to the song Let's Talk About Sex.

She revealed she was scared by some of the displays at the party, which were set up like a house of horrors.

Shanina even shared a video of her drink which featured an eye ball.

On the mend: Shanina recently revealed she injured her arm after 'training too hard' for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

In October, Shanina revealed she had injured her arm after 'training too hard' for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show will be held in a matter of weeks in New York City on November 8.

Shanina, who is of Lithuanian and Pakistani descent, is married to DJ Ruckus.
D'Andra Simmons skipped out on LeeAnne Locken's wedding dress shopping trip on Wednesday's episode of The Real Housewives Of Dallas.

The 49-year-old socialite said she 'had a full day already' and couldn't 'change my schedule' for her estranged best friend's big day.

But LeeAnne, 51, and new BFF Kameron Westcott, 35, didn't believe D'Andra's reasoning and both agreed her behavior was 'psycho'.

Skipped out: D'Andra Simmons, 49, skipped out on LeeAnne Locken's wedding dress shopping trip on Wednesday's episode of The Real Housewives Of Dallas

The episode titled Where's Copenhagen opened with 42-year-old Cary Deuber sending off invitations to the other Housewives to join her on a trip to discover her family roots in Copenhagen.

The boxed invites mailed to each recipient included a Danish, a beer, and a jar of pickled herring.

After opening the jar of fish, Brandi Redmond, 40, exclaimed: ''This smells like dirty tw*t. I would know. From my line dancing days.'

Not having it: But LeeAnne, 51, and new BFF Kameron Westcott, 35, didn't believe D'Andra's reasoning and both agreed her behavior was 'psycho'

Shameful: 'Her best friend is getting married. Who is too busy to go to wedding dress shopping?' asked Kameron

LeeAnne is then spotted wedding dress shopping with Stephanie Hollman, 38, and two other blonde friends.

'I know it's weird a person of my age to be so giddy about getting married... but I'm giddy about getting married,' explained LeeAnne.

When an array of dresses are brought out, LeeAnne declares: 'I just want simple, basic, boring'.

Absurd: 'Its psycho, man!' said LeeAnne

Confides: Soon after D'Andra sits down to to talk to her mother Mama D about LeeAnne insinuating she's an alcoholic

She then tries on the most over the top creations which boasted bedazzled lace and rhinestone tiaras.

As D'andra was not a part of the wedding dress shopping, LeeAnne and Kameron decide to dish on the incident at Kameron's house.

'Her best friend is getting married. Who is too busy to go to wedding dress shopping?' asked Kameron.

Stand up! Her mother told her 'Dont take it. Be mean if you have to be mean. You may have to get a little hard skin!'

Bottom line: 'Dont be a patsy! Stand up for yourself!'

'Like for reals,' said LeeAnne.

'Who is this person? It's psycho.' agreed Kameron.

'Its psycho, man!' said LeeAnne.

'Theres something psycho going on, girl.' replied Kameron.

Confronts: At the lingerie party at D'Andra's tore, Mama D confronts the group about her daughter going to Copenhagen

Dead! 'If she comes back and she's hurt. Everyone's dead' she threatened the group

'It's psycho. Everyone calls me psycho. Paleeease child,' said LeeAnne.

'If she comes at you or me once more time, Im gonna karate chop her in the throat.'

Soon after D'Andra sits down to to talk to her mother Mama D about LeeAnne insinuating she's an alcoholic.

She tells her mother how people are talking about her behind her back.

Her mother told her 'Dont take it. Be mean if you have to be mean. You may have to get a little hard skin!'

'Dont be a patsy! Stand up for yourself!'

Basic dress: When an array of dresses are brought out, LeeAnne declares: 'I just want simple, basic, boring'

Tough talk: D'Andra's mom explains that LeeAnne also said Brandi was an alcoholic

At the lingerie party at D'Andra's tore, Mama D confronts the group about her daughter going to Copenhagen.

'If she comes back and she's hurt. Everyone's dead' she threatened the group.

D'Andra's mom explains that LeeAnne also said Brandi was an alcoholic.

Foul stench: After opening the jar of fish, Brandi Redmond, 40, exclaimed: ''This smells like dirty tw*t. I would know. From my line dancing days.'

Even though she was feeling 'under the weather', Cary showed up for the vow renewal ceremony of Stephanie and Travis.

''I know I haven't anything to deserve this, but Im extremely grateful for it all. My husband. My kids. And this house we are in,' Stephanie explained.

The episode ends all the Housewives arriving to the airport to get on the flight to Copenhagen.
Nasser Sultan was photographed leaving the King Faisal Mosque in Surry Hills, Sydney on Thursday following lunchtime prayer - also know as Dhuhr.

The Married At First Sight contestant, who appeared on the Nine reality show earlier this year, was pictured chatting with two other males as he left the place of worship.

Despite identifying as Muslim, Nasser's religion is one area of the 51-year-old's life he does not wish to speak about publicly.

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Prayer time: Married At First Sight's Nasser Sultan embraces his Muslim faith and attends Dhuhr lunch time prayer at a Sydney mosque

Nasser arrived at the mosque with a keffiyeh draped around his neck, while dressed comfortably in jeans and a T-shirt.

The keffiyeh, a black and white scarf with tassels, is often referred to as an Arab headdress for men and worn for prayer by some.

When approached by Daily Mail Australia for comment, Nasser confirmed he was raised with the religion, but declined to comment further.

Before emigrating to Australia as child, Nasser was born in Egypt and previously stated he comes from an 'Arab background'.

Friendly: The Married At First Sight contestant, who appeared on the Nine reality show earlier this year, was pictured chatting with two other males as he left the place of worship

Following the lunchtime prayer, Nasser was seen putting his shoes on at the entrance of the mosque before stepping onto the street.

He had removed his footwear prior to entering the place of worship, which is a requirement and standard Islamic practice.

Nasser then interacted with the two males who had exited shortly after him.

As the group went their separate ways, Nasser then made the journey back to his nearby apartment by foot.

Traditional: Nasser arrived at the mosque with a keffiyeh draped around his neck, which is often referred to as an Arab headdress for men and worn for prayer by some

Since finding fame in January, Nasser has repeatedly hit the headlines.

The reality star 'married' Gabrielle Bartlett on screen, on for their relationship to dramatically collapse.

He has also become a regular on red carpets around Sydney, started a campaign to get verified on Instagram and, most recently, released a rap song.

In August, Nasser also made a cameo on the pilot of Network Ten's Trial By Kyle.

The star is now heavily tipped to be returning to our screens in the New Year by appearing on the upcoming season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
Mariah Carey spent her Halloween performing live in Tokyo, but she still found time to do a little on-stage trick or treating with her twins Moroccan and Monroe, both seven.

Carey, 49, was performing her 1995 hit song Always Be My Baby on stage when she brought out Moroccan (a.k.a. Rocky), who was dressed as Darth Vader, and Monroe, dressed as a ballerina.

At one point, the kids even sing along with mom and say 'Aishiteimasu' ('I love you' in Japanese) before wishing the crowd a Happy Halloween.

Happy Halloween: Mariah Carey brings her twins Moroccan and Monroe, 7, on stage during her live performance in Tokyo, as the kids wish everyone a Happy Halloween

Carey was wearing a shimmering thin black gown with a slit all the way up her right leg, while wearing stiletto heels.

Moroccan was dressed in all black, with a Darth Vader onsie, cape and mask, while Monroe was in all white with her top, leggings, tutu and shoes.

Both kids carried orange pumpkin trick or treat buckets on stage, and at one point, Moroccan appeared to be doing the floss.

Family on stage: Carey was wearing a shimmering thin black gown with a slit all the way up her right leg, while wearing stiletto heels

Carey went to another area of the stage and brought a small pumpkin and some candy and dropped it in their buckets.

As the song came to an end and they wished the crowd a Happy Halloween.

Earlier today, Carey also took to Twitter to reveal a new photo of herself and Rocky watching the iconic 1966 Peanuts Halloween special, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

Mother and kids: Carey went to another area of the stage and brought a small pumpkin and some candy and dropped it in their buckets

In non-Halloween news, Carey also dropped some other big news on social media, unveiling the track list for her album, Caution.

The first half of the 10-song album features the tracks, GTFO, With You, Caution, A No No and The Distance ft. Ty Dolla

The back half of the Giving Me Life ft. Slick Rick & Blood Orange, One Mo' Gen, 8th Grade, Stay Long Love You ft. Gunna and Portrait.

On stage: The first half of the 10-song album features the tracks, GTFO, With You, Caution, A No No and The Distance ft. Ty Dolla

She unveiled the track list today with the help of several fans, who revealed a song title on Twitter on Wednesday.

The new album is currently available for pre-order on MariahCarey.io/Caution, ahead of its November 16 release.

Carey will start her world tour for Caution in February 2019.

Great Pumpkin: Earlier today, Carey also took to Twitter to reveal a new photo of herself and Rocky watching the iconic 1966 Peanuts Halloween special, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
She is currently starring on Ten's hit television show Playing For Keeps and recently split from partner of 13 years Shannon Bennett.

But it appears Madeleine West isn't slowing down, as she opens up about taking her career 'full-throttle'.

The 38-year-old is mother to six children, but told Thursday's Who magazine that they are becoming more independent which means she can focus more on her career goals - despite her hectic family life.

'It's crazy and chaotic, and a nightmare': Madeleine West (pictured) revealed to Who magazine this week the reality of being a mum to six children as she vows to take her career 'full-throttle' after splitting with partner-of-13-years Shannon Bennett

'I'm a very hands-on mum,' she told the magazine.

'But I've reached a point where my kids are a lot more independent and that allows me a new degree of autonomy, and allows me to pursue my career much more full-throttle.

'It's crazy and chaotic, and a nightmare, and the house looks like a pigsty more often than it doesn't.'

'I'm a very hands-on mum': Madeleine (second from right) is juggling being a single parent and her latest show Playing For Keeps. Pictured from left: Annie Maynard, Olympia Valance and Madeleine West on Playing For Keeps

Her desire to further her career comes after she revealed to Stellar magazine on September 8 that she had split from her partner of 13 years and father of her children, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett.

She added that the former couple were 'striving to reconnect as friends and parents'.

Explaining the split, she said: 'Having a public profile, having two high-pressure careers, having a multitude of children  and I will say they are a lot harder to train than dragons  it puts exponential pressures on a relationship, and cracks can form, and things that we don't necessarily plan in the beginning can happen'.

However, Shannon and Madeleine were later sharing a tender kiss in Byron Bay on September 28, sparking rumours of a reconciliation.

In another Who magazine interview published last week Madeleine referred to Shannon as her 'partner' and confirmed reports that the whole family, including Shannon, is moving to Byron Bay.

On her own: Her desire to further her career comes after she revealed to Stellar magazine in September that she had split from her partner of 13 years and father of her children, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett. The pair were later seen sharing a tender kiss, sparking rumours of a reconciliation

Madeleine and Shannon began dating in 2005.

They share six children - Phoenix, 12, Hendrix, ten, Xascha, eight, Xanthe, six, and four-year-old twins Xalia and Margaux.

Madeleine has been a staple of Australia television for many years - including Neighbours, House Husbands and Underbelly.
The Bachelorette's Ali Oetjen told a friend she was 'f**ked up' and 'didn't know what she was doing' on the night she allegedly cheated on her ex-boyfriend Grant Kemp.

Daily Mail Australia has obtained bombshell text messages Ali, 32, sent to Sabrina Jaragosky-Hicks that show her apparent desperation the morning after the incident.

Sabrina claims she was with Grant when they both allegedly walked in on Ali receiving oral sex from another man on his staircase. The supposed cheating incident happened at Grant's LA home in March this year.

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EXCLUSIVE: 'I was so f**ked up and don't know what I was doing': More bombshell text messages have emerged from the day after Ali Oetjen 'cheated on her ex-boyfriend in LA'

In a text message sent on March 13, Sabrina asked Ali, 'Yo, are you okay and safe?'

Ali then replied: 'I'm in a hotel room and [Grant] doesn't want to see me so I've booked a flight home tomorrow night.

'I was so f**ked up and don't know what I was doing. I hate myself for losing the one man I love more than I've loved anyone. Thanks for asking.'

Sabrina responded: 'He will come around I'm sure.'

Later on, Ali wrote: 'It was a horrible night... I don't want to lose him.'

Witness: Daily Mail Australia has obtained texts Ali sent to Sabrina Jaragosky-Hicks (pictured) that show her apparent desperation the morning after the incident. Sabrina claims she was with Grant when they both allegedly walked in on Ali receiving oral sex from another man

Regrets: In a text message sent on March 13, Sabrina asked Ali, 'Yo, are you okay and safe?' Ali replied: 'I'm in a hotel room and [Grant] doesn't want to see me so I've booked a flight home tomorrow night. I was so f**ked up and don't know what I was doing'

Dumped: Later on, Ali wrote to Sabrina: 'It was a horrible night... I don't want to lose him'

It's over! The following day, on March 14, Ali texted Sabrina asking: 'What did he [Grant] say? I'm leaving tonight and he doesn't want to see me.' Sabrina replied: 'He's done'

The following day, on March 14, Ali texted Sabrina asking: 'What did he [Grant] say? I'm leaving tonight and he doesn't want to see me.'

Sabrina, who presumably had spoken to Grant, replied: 'He's done'.

It comes after Daily Mail Australia published corroborative text messages exchanged between Ali and Grant on the night of the alleged cheating.

In a series of SMS conversations leaked last month, the account manager begged for forgiveness and claimed there was 'no excuse' for her behaviour.

'I wasn't even functioning babe!' It comes after Daily Mail Australia published corroborative text messages exchanged between Ali and Grant on the night of the alleged cheating. Pictured on Bachelor In Paradise in 2017

The supposed incident took place in March, after Ali flew to Los Angeles to visit her then-boyfriend Grant, 29.

The couple fell in love on Bachelor in Paradise, which was filmed in 2017 and aired in early 2018.

At the time of the 'cheating' scandal, they were in the middle of a long-distance relationship, with Ali living in Adelaide and Grant based in America.

In happier times: The couple fell in love on Bachelor in Paradise back in 2017 (pictured), before splitting in March amid sensational claims of infidelity

Speaking with The Kyle and Jackie O Show in May, Grant said of the alleged incident: 'I had left to go and find my friends. I came back inside [my house] and a man was going down on her on my stairs. So I kicked her out that night.'

Ali previously described Grant's accusations as 'horrible', but has not denied them.

However, the text messages obtained by Daily Mail Australia appeared to verify Grant's version of events.

'There's no excuses': One of the texts supposedly showed Grant confronting Ali over her 'infidelity'. She did not deny anything and responded, 'I wasn't even functioning, babe'

The text messages highlighted Ali's apparent desperation in the moments after Grant supposedly he caught her engaging in a sex act with another man on his staircase.

'I can't even walk up those f**king stairs again without thinking of that. So f**k no, not seeing u (sic),' wrote Grant.

Ali then replied: 'I wasn't even functioning babe, there's no excuses! And I understand we're over but we should talk'.

In another screenshot, Ali expressed concern that Grant had made an attempt to contact one of her friends.

'How could you? I'm a good person,' she wrote, to which Grant responded, 'Oh f**k off, I walked in on you [receiving oral sex from] my homie in my own house,' before blocking her.

'I'm a good person': In another screenshot, Ali expressed concern that Grant had made an attempt to contact one of her friends

Begging for forgiveness: Later in the exchange, Ali wrote: 'Baby, you know this is not my character to do something like this'

Elsewhere in the exchange, Ali wrote: 'Baby, you know this is not my character to do something like this'.

'Doesn't f**king matter you did it, on a Monday,' Grant swiftly replied. Ali then begged him: 'Pls baby, can I take it back pls'.

The text messages also alluded to problems in Grant and Ali's relationship in the weeks leading up to their break-up.

'I was not in my right mind that night, we should have never gone out partying when we were so emotional and disconnected,' she wrote.

'I was not in my right mind': The text messages also alluded to problems in Grant and Ali's relationship in the weeks leading up to their break-up

The screenshots also featured texts in which Ali begged to see Grant again before she leaves America.

'I'm staying here. Do u never want to see me again? Baby, you know last night was messed up! It's not me!!!!! It's not me!! Pls baby, I can't go without seeing you', Ali pleaded.

'I can't believe this has happened. Me and you were meant to be it! Pls give me a second chance?'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel 10 and Ali Oetjen for comment.

'Can we pls talk': The screenshots also featured texts in which Ali begged to see Grant again before she leaves America

Not on good terms: In the lead up to The Bachelorette's season premiere, Ali claimed she 'felt sorry' for her former flame and accused him of using her name to stay in the headlines

In the lead up to The Bachelorette's season premiere, Ali claimed she 'felt sorry' for her former flame and accused him of using her name to stay in the headlines.

Speaking to Mamamia last month, she said: 'What Grant is saying about me is just horrible. If you have an ex saying stuff about what you discussed in your relationship  someone that you trusted  and now it's out there, it's not very nice.'

Ali added that she had 'definitely' moved on from Grant.

'Its really annoying,' she said. 'I feel like he's just someone who's trying to ride this wave and get his name in the headlines all the time and he's succeeding.'

The Bachelorette airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm on Network Ten
He's known for his bad boy image in the modelling industry.

And on Thursday, Jordan Barrett lived up to his rebellious reputation.

The 22-year-old Australian model was wheeled out of Heidi Klum's Halloween party at Lavo nightclub in New York on a stretcher.

Has he gone too far? 'Bloodied and unconscious' Jordan Barrett was wheeled out of Heidi Klum's Halloween party on a stretcher by New Zealand model Jessica Clarke on Wednesday night in New York City

The Byron Bay-born native was bloodied and unconscious as he was rolled out of the bash, however it was all part of his elaborate Halloween costume.

Jordan pretended to be dead, sporting a toe tag and a large open wound on his chest.

He was dressed in a white hospital gown, which was left open to reveal his 'injured and bloody torso' while his legs were covered with a white sheet.

New Zealand supermodel Jessica Clarke, 25, wheeled Jordan's stretcher while wearing a skimpy nurse outfit and a stethoscope around her neck.

PDA: Jessica was seen giving Jordan mouth-to-mouth, pretending to revive him as they posed for photographs against the media wall

Elaborate: The Byron Bay-born native was bloodied and unconscious as he was rolled out of the bash, however it was all part of his elaborate Halloween costume

The blonde beauty was also seen giving Jordan mouth-to-mouth, pretending to revive him as they posed for photographs against the media wall.

It's not the first Halloween event the Australian supermodel has attended this week.

Last Friday, Jordan was working the room with the coolest kids in town as he attended the V Magazine & Chanel Halloween Party in New York.

Playing dead: Jordan was dressed in a white hospital gown, which was left open to reveal his 'injured and bloody torso' while his legs were covered with a white sheet

Terrifying: The scene was eerily realistic

He posed alongside fellow model Soo Joo Park, who looked eye-catching in a skin-tight red outfit matched with flame-red hair.

The South Korean beauty paired the dramatic look with metallic purple lipstick and elaborate gold and orange eye makeup.

Jordan appeared to be dressed as the Argentine Marxist revolutionary, Che Guevara.

Gruesome: It's not the first Halloween event the Australian supermodel has attended this week
She has had an incredible few years in the modelling industry.

And Winnie Harlow looked absolutely sensational as she arrived in her RuPaul costume at Heidi Klum's 19th Annual Halloween Party in New York on Wednesday night.

Looking identical to the Drag Queen TV personality, the Canadian, 24, showed off her sensational model figure in a skintight lace-up corset which she teamed with thigh-high boots.

Dressing up! Winnie Harlow, 24, looked absolutely sensational as she arrived in her RuPaul costume at Heidi Klum's 19th Annual Halloween Party in New York on Wednesday night

Winnie worked her angles in the sexy ensemble, which showed off her incredible decolletage thanks to its deep plunge.

The corset rested high on her hips, giving way to her lean legs which she teamed with sexy thigh-high PVC red boots.

The former America's Next Top Model tamed her raven tresses in place with a platinum blonde wig, which was teased excessively and styles in flirty manner.

Winnie ensured she commanded attention as she arrived in style with an opulent black coat.

Double take: Looking identical to the Drag Queen TV star (R), the Canadian showed off her sensational model figure in a skintight lace-up corset which she teamed with thigh-high boots

Pose like a pro: Winnie worked her angles in the sexy ensemble, which showed off her incredible decolletage thanks to its deep plunge

Model form: The corset rested high on her hips, giving way to her lean legs which she teamed with sexy thigh-high PVC red boots

Winnie is now dating the rapper Wiz Khalifa, who is divorced from model Amber Rose.

The cover girl and Khalifa confirmed their romance back in August, and Amber has given her blessing.

'I met Winnie on several different occasions. I think she's a f**king sweetheart,' she told Us Weekly.

Glam: The former America's Next Top Model tamed her raven tresses in place with a platinum blonde wig, which was teased excessively and styles in flirty manner

'I love my ex-husband in a way where...it's you know, he's my best friend. In a weird way it's like he turned into my brother. It's like 'God, I love you so much. I want you to be so happy.'

Meanwhile, Winnie's hectic schedule as one of the world's top models doesn't stop, with the Toronto-born beauty recently taking to Instagram to show off her gruelling gym routine as she prepares to walk the Victoria Secret show.

She captioned the clip: '#TRAINLIKEANANGEL means so much more to me than just being in the gym.

Eyes on her: Winnie ensured she commanded attention as she arrived in style with an opulent black coat

'For my first year walking for VS, I want to make sure my body is the best it's ever been AND I want to keep my mind right.

'My goals this year are to stay very hydrated and to read some new books.'

After starting her career as a contestant on America's Next Top Model in 2014, the TV personality will now be taking to the coveted Victorias Secret Fashion Show in November.

Love life: Winnie is now dating the rapper Wiz Khalifa, who is divorced from model Amber Rose
They are both known for pushing the boat out when it comes to a holiday celebration, decorating their homes in style.

And Tamara Ecclestone, 34, and her sister Petra, 29, joined forces on Wednesday night to celebrate Halloween together in style with their children.

Tamara showed off her feline style, wearing an all-black ensemble with a low-cut top and a blazer over the top.

Not so spooky sisters: Tamara and Petra Ecclestone showed off their playful sides as they dressed up for Halloween with their brood... after decorating their mansions in style

She wore cats-ears and matching make-up, with dark eyeliner, black lipstick and a cute little button nose, as well as a choker.

Her look was completed with an expensive Gucci bumbag which was embellished with stars, while daughter Sophia, aka Fifi was dressed as a cute little bee.

Petra wore a glittering blue wig in the style of an LOL doll and a brightly coloured ensemble as she posed with her arms around her beloved sister.

Making memories: Tamara and Fifi posed outside their Kensington home in their costumes - it had been decorated to perfection

Her eldest daughter, Lavinia, five, wore a similar look to her, wearing a unicorn's horn on her head.

Petra's twins, James and Andrew, three, from her relationship with ex husband James Stunt, wore Spider-Man and Superman costumes as they stood by her side.

The pretty blonde's house was decked out with giant cobwebs and spiders, while Tamara's 70m mansion was covered in autumnal leaves with uplighting.

She and Fifi, posed in front of her Kensington mansion in their respective ensembles.

Tamara loves Halloween so much that last year, her home decorations featured on her reality show, Tamara's World.

The display at the front of her house featured 120 to 130 large pumpkins, ranging as well as 100 small mini pumpkins.

Tamara's husband, Jay Rutland said: 'Tamara definitely goes OTT at any kind of party.

And his wife added: 'Im not oblivious to the fact that I go OTT because I look around at the others houses and they dont look like ours, so its a bit of a giveaway.
They have been romantically linked numerous times in the past.

And Ashley James and David Walliams reunited at Jonathan Ross' annual star-studded Halloween bash in London on Wednesday night, where the ex Made in Chelsea star wowed in a sexy harlequin costume.

The model-cum-DJ oozed sex appeal in her incredible spooky get-up as she partied with her rumoured ex at the soiree - with the Britain's Got Talent judge later showing his appreciation for her costume by liking one of her Instagram snaps.

Party time: Ashley James and David Walliams reunited at Jonathan Ross' annual star-studded Halloween bash in London on Wednesday night, where the ex Made in Chelsea star wowed in a sexy harlequin costume

Ashley looked sensational in a bespoke harlequin piece that comprised a black and white corset and raunchy white tights that were emblazoned with the same pattern. A jester hat completed her elaborate costume.

Injecting some sex appeal into her style, the ex Celebrity Big Brother star teamed her ensemble with skyscraper Christian Louboutin stilettos.

The social media savvy star also made sure to document her incredible look on Instagram, with comedian David liking not one, but two of Ashley's costume snaps.

Sizzling! The Britain's Got Talent judge later showed his appreciation for Ashley's sexy costume by liking one of her Instagram snaps

In the past, the duo have been romantically linked after first meeting back in 2015 through mutual friends.

It was reported in November of that year that David had been 'pulling out all the stops' to woo Ashley, but was cautious to embark on another relationship following his split from ex-wife Lara Stone.

However the pair seem to have reconnected as of late with the Little Britain star liking a flurry of the blonde's Instagram snaps, including a recent lingerie picture.

Returning the favour... Ashley also made a point of liking David's Ming the Merciless costume from movie Flash Gordon

Setting pulses racing: David has liked a spree of Ashley's Instagram snaps, including one of her recent lingerie pictures

MailOnline has contacted David and Ashley's representatives for comment.

While the pair have always remained tight-lipped on rumours of a romance, a source previously told The Sun: 'They have great chemistry and have completely hit it off.

'There has been some very obvious flirting going on but theyve enjoyed getting to know each other gradually among a group of other friends they socialise with.'
Susanna Reid was left visibly shocked as Richard Madeley made an awkward comment about her weight live on Good Morning Britain on Monday.

Madeley, 62, had been standing in for host Piers Morgan on the ITV breakfast show and caused a stir as he told Susanna, 47, that she looked like she had lost weight since the last time he saw her.

The presenter turned round to Susanna as the program began its broadcast and declared: 'Haven't you lost weight?' leaving her hugely taken aback by his brazen comment and shooting back: 'I tend not to talk about my weight terribly.'

'Haven't you lost weight?' Susanna Reid was left visibly shocked as Richard Madeley made an awkward comment about her weight live on Good Morning Britain on Monday

Richard had been introducing the latest episode of Good Morning Britain and introduced his guest appearance, as he stood in for Piers, by saying: 'It's just gone 6 o'clock welcome to the program, it's nice to be back.'

Susanna told her co-host it was 'great' to have him back, but was left looking extremely baffled by Madeley, as he then boldly stated live on air after looking his co-host up and down: 'Haven't you lost some weight since I was last here?'

Raising her eyebrows and looking visibly shocked, Susanna was stunned on camera as Kate Garraway was quick to intervene and declared: 'In a good way!'

Trying to soften his previous comment, Richard was quick to add: 'You look amazing, you look great.'

Awkward: The presenter turned round to Susanna as the program began its broadcast and declared: 'Haven't you lost weight?' leaving her hugely taken aback by his brazen comment

Uncomfortable: As Richard continued to probe Susanna on her weight loss, she was quick to hit back: 'I don't tend to talk about my weight terribly'

But instead of moving on from the subject, he then continued: 'Was it hard work?'

Unsure how to respond, Susanna stumbled: 'Errr, I just stopped eating so much,' before saying: 'I did fall off the wagon... I did that this morning, I said I'd fallen off the wagon and Richard Arnold said, "Yay, she's back on the sauce!"'

Susanna revealed that she is still not drinking, but meant she had 'fallen off the wagon' as she had a 'snack in between meals'.

Richard then continued to probe his co-star, as he asked Susanna if she 'weighs herself compulsively', to which she shot back: 'No not at all. I tend not to talk about my weight terribly.'

Painful: Raising her eyebrows and looking visibly shocked, Susanna was stunned on camera as Kate Garraway was quick to intervene and declare Richard had meant it 'in a good way'

Keep digging: Richard then continued to probe his co-star, as he asked Susanna if she 'weighs herself compulsively' and whether it was 'hard work' slimming down

Handling it well: Unsure how to respond, Susanna stumbled: 'Errr, I just stopped eating so much,' before saying: 'I did fall off the wagon...'

Richard joked that he should 'leave now' after the painful conversation, with Susanna quickly deflecting the attention onto him as she commented on his facial hair.

The awkward scenes played out moments before Susanna found herself having to scold guest Aisleyne-Horgan Wallace for swearing live on air.

The former Big Brother star, 39, was sternly told off by Susanna as she dropped the expletive while discussing a Navy commander who had slapped a female officer's behind.

Susanna had been quick to step in as Aisleyne nonchalantly said 'a**e' in conversation and reprimanded the reality star, as she hit back: 'Shall we not use the A-word.'

Blunder: The awkward scenes played out moments before Susanna found herself having to scold guest Aisleyne-Horgan Wallace for swearing live on air

Oops: The former Big Brother star, 39, was sternly told off by Susanna as she dropped the expletive while discussing a Navy commander who had slapped a female officer's behind

Aisleyne had appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss whether Commander Steven Heap should have been taking to military court for slapping a female officer's behind.

He was cleared for the action he described to be a 'prank' and 'not sexually motivated'.

Defending the Navy commander, Aisleyne made the blunder as she said: 'I'm not saying it's right. I'm not saying, "Oh come on, please, slap my a**e, because I'd love that.'

On hearing Aisleyne swear, Susanna made sure to point out her mistake, as she fired back: 'OK, shall we not use the A word at 6.40am in the morning?'

Red-faced: Quick to apologise, Aisleyne said: 'Sorry. Slap my bottom. I'm so sorry,' to which Madeley replied: 'We forgive you for your four language'

Madeley, meanwhile, confessed he hadn't realised the mishap, as he awkwardly responded: 'Sorry that went right over my head.'

It seems the mistake was easily done, as journalist Radhika Sanghani who was debating the topic alongside Aisleyne had made the same mishap moments earlier.

Quick to apologise, Aisleyne said: 'Sorry. Slap my bottom. I'm so sorry,' to which Madeley replied: 'We forgive you for your four language.'

Making sure to clear the air, Aisleyne took to Twitter following her appearance on Good Morning Britain to apologise once more.

She shared a tongue-in-cheek photo of herself posing with her back to the camera and flaunting her derriere, as she popped one leg up into the air. Cutting a glamorous figure, the beauty was clad in a leather pencil skirt, an olive green turtle neck and designer heels.

Making light of the blunder, Aisleyne tweeted: 'What an a**e so sorry if anyone was offended.'
Teresa Giudice's life has not been the same after a judge ordered her husband Joe's deportation.

Now the reality star, 46, is reflecting on the painful last few years, regretful over her husband's decision making and the fact they both missed time with their children due to their prison sentences.

'Of course I'm very angry,' Teresa said of her husband in an interview with People. 'I'm just angry like a lot of things. I wish my husband would have crossed every T, dotted every I.

'I'm very angry': Teresa Giudice reflected on the painful last few years, regretful over her husband's decision making and the fact they both missed time with their children due to their prison sentences

'There was also another person involved and nothing happened to that person, which is very sad. There's a lot of scenarios. I lost my mom. I'm angry about that. You know? I lost time with my mom, because I was away. There's a lot. I lost time with my daughters while I was away. Children need their mom.'

Joe began his sentence in 2016, not long after Teresa was released from prison.

The time away from their children has been incredibly tough on the family.

'He left when Adriana was 6. She's 9 now. Yeah. It's two and a half years. I mean it's going to be three years,' the reality star explained. 'He's lost three years with his children.'

Showing support: The couple held hands as they left court in Newark, New Jersey in 2014

Teresa reveals she did encourage her husband Joe to file for citizenship at one point, and even tried to work on the paperwork herself.

'When I married him, I didn't know. I remember I tried to make him, I tried to fill out the paperwork,' the Bravo star said.

'It was never on my radar. It's not like I married an immigrant and I'm like, "Oh my God, I have to make him an American citizen." Never thought of that at all,' she said.

'I have... to keep everything going as normal as possible': For now, Teresa is trying to stay strong for the sake of their daughters (pictured 2014 with daughter Gia)

For now, Teresa is trying to stay strong for the sake of their daughters.

'My four daughters, they're my main priority. So if I crumble up, its not going to be good for them, you know? I have to keep everything going as normal as possible for my four daughters.'

The couple pleaded guilty in 2014 to 41 counts of fraud. There were also unpaid taxes that totaled $200,000.

Teresa served 11 months, which she has already served in 2015, with Joe serving 41 months, with his sentence up next year.

A judge ordered Joe to be deported to Italy following the end of his prison sentence.

They were allowed serve their time one after the other, so daughters Gia, 17, Gabriella, 14, Milania, 13, and Audriana, nine, would not be left without parents.
Bethenny Frankel is 47-years-old but still has the body of a 20-year-old thanks to yoga and Skinnygirl wine and chocolates.

And on Halloween the RHONY diva showed off her body in a Victoria's Secret Angel Halloween costume.

That is exactly what the Kardashian/Jennifer girls did too - Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie all wore white VS outfits just like the mother of one.

She can fly: Bethenny Frankel is 47-years-old but still has the body of a 20-year-old thanks to yoga and Skinnygirl wine and chocolates. And on Halloween the RHONY diva showed off her body in a Victoria's Secret Angel Halloween costume

At home: Frankel was in her NYC apartment when she modeled the look. The siren had on a white bra, corset frame, undies and large white wings

Frankel was in her NYC apartment when she modeled the look.

The siren had on a white bra, corset frame, undies and large white wings.

And she added furry high heeled slippers.

The star takes every opportunity she can to show off her curves, often posing in bikinis or skimpy yoga wear.

But it's all to sell Skinnygirl products, so there is a financial motive behind it all.

Did she do it better? Kim Kardashian had on a similar outfit for H'ween

Last week Bethenny showed off her bikini body.

The 47-year-old reality TV diva slipped into a sheer dress that covered her swimsuit 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: 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.

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.
They ride together, they die together.

And Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are making good on their promise to be Bad Boys for life.

The two talented stars reunited in Santa Monica as Lawrence, 53, took to Instagram on Thursday to share a snap from their meeting while confirming they are returning to their highly-popular action franchise.

For life: Martin Lawrence reunited with Will Smith in Santa Monica as he shared this snap while confirming that Bad Boys 3 is happening

The former Martin star posted the photo with 50-year-old will alongside the caption: 'Its official. Bad Boys for Life. #teammartymar #badboysforlife @willsmith #weback.'

This comes just weeks after Variety reported Smith is on board to return as Miami detective Mike Lowrey from 1995's Bad Boys and the 2003 sequel Bad Boys II.

Smith's on-screen partner Martin Lawrence has not yet 'come to terms' with the studio, but the comedic actor, 'continues to circle' the project.

They're back: This comes just weeks after a Variety report that the third action film in the series is coming together at Sony; the stars are seen in 2003's Bad Boys II

This project has been in the works for years, which was at one point called Bad Boys For Life, but the plans have recently gained new life, thanks to a new draft of the script.

Chris Bremner (The Wedding Ringer) wrote the most recent draft of the script, which has been with production penciled to begin in early 2019.

While not yet confirmed by Sony, the current plan is to have Bad Boys 3 in theaters in January 2020, over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

Dynamic duo: Smith's on-screen partner Martin Lawrence (seen here in 1995's Bad Boys) has not yet 'come to terms' with the studio, but the comedic actor, 'continues to circle' the project

David Guggenheim (Designated Survivor) and Joe Carnahan (The A-Team) had previously taken a crack at the script, with Carnahan even once set to direct.

The directing duties have now been handed over to Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who are best known for directing the first two episodes of the hit FX series Snowfall.

Columbia Pictures president Sanford Panitch said in a previous interview that, if they wanted to make another Bad Boys movie 15 years later, it would have to be 'next-level great,' which he thinks the new directors can bring.

The Bad Boys return: This project (a sequel to 1995's Bad boys, seen above) has been in the works for years, which was at one point called Bad Boys For Life, but now it has a new lease on life, thanks to a new script

'These guys are amazing,' Panitch said. 'They loved the first movies, but theyre not afraid to change things up.'

Panitch also added that a new Bad Boys movie would be 'inconceivable' without original stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, and while he wouldn't divulge any story details, the executive revealed there will be a 'big idea' at the heart of it.

'With these movies you have to have one big idea for the film,' Panitch said. 'In some ways, this big idea is ultimately more important than the brand itself.'

Lowrey and Burnett: While not yet confirmed by Sony, the current plan is to have Bad Boys 3 starring Smith and Lawrence (seen above in 2003's Bad Boys II) in theaters in January 2020, over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend

The original Bad Boys, which helped launch the film careers of TV stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in 1995, grossed $141.4 million worldwide on just a $19 million budget, which also marked the feature directorial debut of Michael Bay.

Bay returned to take the helm on the 2003 sequel Bad Boys II, which earned $273.4 million worldwide from a much larger $130 million budget.

Sony is trying to compete with Disney by bringing back franchises from their vault, with varying degrees of success.

While Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was a huge hit last year with $962 million worldwide (from a $90 million budget), the studio's Ghostbusters reboot took in $221.9 million worldwide, from a $144 million budget.

The studio also has reboots of Men in Black and Charlie's Angels in the works, with a 21 Jump Street spin-off with female detectives also in development.
They were childhood pen pals who tied the knot after reconnecting in 2011 and are now the proud parents of two children.

And Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford proved they were still inseparable as they went to the BBC Radio 2 studios together in London on Thursday.

The Great Gatsby actress, 33, kept things chic in a plush draped winter coat as she joined her handsome husband of six years, 31.

Cute couple: Carey Mulligan and her husband Marcus Mumford proved they were still inseparable as they went to the BBC Radio 2 studios together in London on Thursday

Carey certainly turned heads in her all-black ensemble, layering a black sweater and wide-leg trousers under her coat.

Sticking to a monochrome palette, she completed her stylish outfit with a simple pair of black suede kitten heels.

Styling her golden tresses in tousled waves, the An Education actress framed her features with minimal make-up.

Marcus, who is the frontman of the Mumford & Sons, kept things casual in a navy waistcoat and a pea coat teamed with leather boots.



Chic: The Great Gatsby actress, 33, kept things chic in a plush draped winter coat as she joined her handsome husband of six years

Looking good: Carey certainly turned heads in her all-black ensemble, layering a black sweater and wide-leg trousers under her coat

Glam: Styling her golden tresses in tousled waves, the An Education actress framed her features with minimal make-up

Carey and Marcus were pen pals in childhood who lost touch, but reconnected as adults in 2011 and tied the knot nine months later in 2012.

Their first child, daughter Evelyn Grace, was then born three years later in 2015.

The couple are famously tight-lipped about their private life and never confirmed their second pregnancy publicly - but Carey was seen stepping out with a prominent baby bump on numerous occasions last year.

Low-key: Marcus, who is the frontman of the country band Mumford & Sons, kept things casual in a navy waistcoat and a pea coat teamed with leather boots

Loved-up: Carey and Marcus were pen pals in childhood who lost touch, but reconnected in later life and tied the knot in 2012

Proud parents: Their first child, daughter Evelyn Grace, was then born three years later in 2015

Reports they were expecting first emerged last July when super-slim Carey was suddenly spotted with a rounded stomach at hot spot Sexy Fish.

US Weekly then announced the pair had welcomed their new arrival in September, with a source claiming: 'They have been loving being parents and their friends and family are thrilled.'

When asked by People magazine about being a mother-of-two at the premiere of her film Mudbound last year, she simply replied: 'It's good, thank you!'

However, Carey has previously spoken about her first daughter with New York Daily News - revealing the life lessons she would teach Evelyn are: 'No make-up, no piercings, no tattoos.'

Family affair: The couple are famously tight-lipped about their private life and never confirmed their second pregnancy publicly - but Carey was seen stepping out with a prominent baby bump on numerous occasions last year
Blanco Blanco has a new addition to her family.

The TV and movie actress has adopted a small white bunny, she revealed on Instagram this week.

And on Halloween the Fabulous Christmas Holidays star posed with the little pet while wearing an eye-catching white swimsuit.

Fuzzball: Blanco Blanco has a new addition to her family. The TV and movie actress has adopted a small white bunny, she revealed on Instagram this week

Darling: And on Halloween the Fabulous Christmas Holidays star posed with the little pet while wearing an eye-catching white swimsuit

'With my sweet bunny #StarStar,' she wrote in the caption as she cuddled up to the little furry wonder.

The cover girl wore her brunette hair down and had on flattering makeup with no jewelry on.

She showed off her figure in a plunging suit that made the most of her curves.

This comes after she got into the Halloween spirit this weekend.

So small: 'With my sweet bunny #StarStar,' she wrote in the caption as she cuddled up to the little furry wonder

A look: The cover girl wore her brunette hair down and had on flattering makeup with no jewelry on

The Washington state native dressed up as Jessica Rabbit from 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit complete with red wig and skintight dress.

The actress was having fun at a Los Angeles pumpkin patch.

The leggy star looked slender and toned as she wore the strapless and sequined bright red gown that had a slit up the front.

It's still warm in LA: She showed off her figure in a plunging suit that made the most of her curves

A view to take in: The siren was posing with the animal on a balcony with a view of LA

Cute pet: Here she posed with the little creature after the Boy Erased premiere

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.

Cute look: Blanco dressed up as Jessica Rabbit when she visited a pumpkin patch in Los Angeles over the weekend

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.

Her inspiration: Jessica made a splash in the 1988 movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit

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.

Date night: Blanca was seen with her boyfriend of 10 years, John Savage, at the Boy Erased premiere last week

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.




Katie Holmes wore a pinky ring on Wednesday that fans assumed was an engagement ring from Jamie Foxx.

Her rep was quick to point out it was just a prop for her new film The Secret.

And the next day the 39-year-old actress was spotted with no rings on as she was on set. The Dawson's Creek alum is staring in the film adaptation of the iconic self-help book The Secret alongside Jerry O'Connell.

The rumor mill: Katie Holmes was spotted filming her latest movie on Wednesday without an engagement ring that her rep claimed was a prop for the film after photos of the star with the accessory sparked marriage rumors

On set, the actress looked the picture of a doting mom while filming The Secret with a young costar in New Orleans.

The film, will carry the popular book's central tenant of the power of positive thinking throughout a story about a young family,

'A young widow with three children who hires a handyman to fix her house, only to realize that, as he grows closer to the family, he carries a secret connection to her past,' said The Hollywood Reporter.

On set, the actress looked like a suburban mom in a yellow floral Oxford shirt, a pair of simple jeans and leather booties.

Time for work: While filming a scene for the flick, Katie was dressed down like a suburban mom but didn't appear with any sort of ring

Power of positivity: The 39-year-old is set to star in the film adaptation of the hit self-help book The Secret

She wore very little makeup and had her brunette bob styled in waves.

Photos show the actress hard at work, heading out of a restaurant in The French Quarter.

The wardrobe department accessorized her character with a small gold necklace and a few layers of bracelets.

The actress was not seen wearing any ring of any sort for the scene.

Plot lines: The film is about 'a young widow with three children who hires a handyman to fix her house, only to realize that, as he grows closer to the family, he carries a secret connection to her past'

Shut it down: Katie's rep was quick to quash rumors on Wednesday that the actress was engaged to Jamie Foxx

In one scene, the actress was spotted with a maternal arm around a young male costar who plays one of her three children in the film.

Also on Wednesday, photos surfaced of the Batman star taking a coffee break in NoLa wearing a diamond ring on her pinky.

While making a call, the mother-of-one flashed the ring on her left hand which sparked a flurry of engagement rumors.

But her publicist later issued a statement, insisting the ring was merely a screen prop.

The ringer: These photos of Katie wearing a diamond ring sparked a flurry of marriage rumors

'Katie's not engaged to anyone besides her fictional movie fiance, played by Jerry O'Connell:' The actress' rep did not play into the engagement rumors

'Katie's not engaged to anyone besides her fictional movie fiance, played by Jerry O'Connell,' her publicist told PEOPLE.

The actress has been quietly dating Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, 50, for the last five years.

Foxx, coincidentally, is nearby his love in the Bayou while shooting his latest Netflix film, Power.
Kate Hudson has been appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

The Rome-based humanitarian agency provides food assistance to more than 90 million people in more than 80 countries, according to a press release shared on Thursday.

The 39-year-old Almost Famous actress' appointment as a WFP Goodwill Ambassador will be celebrated during a special ceremony hosted by Michael Kors on 7 November in Los Angeles, California.

Good job: Kate Hudson has been appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP); seen in June

New one: This comes after she welcomed her third child, daughter Rani, with beau Danny Fujikawa, last month

This comes after she welcomed her third child, daughter Rani, with beau Danny Fujikawa, last month.

She already has sons Ryder and Bingham.

Hudson has championed WFP's mission since 2015 when she first joined Michael Kors' Watch Hunger Stop campaign.

She has lent her talents to advocate for the global fight against hunger through this campaign that raises funds for WFP's school meals programme.

Fun at home: On Halloween she and Danny dressed up as they stayed at home

'As a mother, I understand the vital importance proper food and nutrition play in the life of a child,' said Hudson.

'The work of the World Food Programme is so much more than just feeding people, it's about strengthening families, rebuilding communities, and ensuring everyone, everywhere has access to the food they need to not only survive, but thrive.

'After seeing their work first-hand, I'm sure that if we can get more people involved in this movement we really can move closer to a world with Zero Hunger.'

The little one: Here her friend Erin Foster is seen with the newborn in October

Through her involvement with the Watch Hunger Stop campaign, Hudson visited several elementary schools in rural Cambodia supported by WFP's school feeding programme and met with local family farmers who grow the ingredients for the school lunches.

'Kate's incredible passion and commitment to speaking up on behalf of the hungry around the world is an inspiration to all of us,' said David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme.

'We are honored to welcome Kate in her new role as our Goodwill Ambassador, as she helps us advocate for those we serve around the world.'

In her role as WFP Goodwill Ambassador, Hudson will lend her voice to speak up on behalf of those 821 million people who go to sleep hungry every night.

In addition, she will use her platforms to showcase WFP's work and engage her millions of supporters in advocating for a Zero Hunger world.
She drastically overhauled her body after giving birth to daughter Sunday last November.

And Ferne McCann has revealed the secrets behind her jaw-dropping image transformation with the release of her workout DVD, Fit As Ferne.

The TOWIE star, 28, who flaunted her incredible abs in skintight gym gear on the cover of the DVD, confessed that she's now in the 'best shape she's ever been'.

How did she do it? Ferne McCann has revealed the secrets behind her jaw-dropping image transformation with the release of her workout DVD Fit As Ferne

The mother-of-one credits her high-intensity workouts with helping her transform her body, toning up, getting stronger and gradually trimming down.

Ferne, who devised the workout with her close friend and trainer Ellie Hopley said: 'I've been doing this for over a year now and am a big believer in putting in the hard work to get the results you want.'

She added: 'Ellie and I have been working together since I had my daughter Sunday last year and it's this workout that has got me into the best shape that I've ever been in.'

The hour-long programme is broken down into short sections which means it can be done as a single workout or as shorter sessions.

Body confident: The TOWIE star, 28, who flaunted her incredible abs in skintight gym gear on the cover of the DVD, confessed that she's now in the 'best shape she's ever been'

Transformation: The reality star overhauled her figure at the start of this year, flaunting the results in a series of incredible before and afters

Ferne added: 'Each section is designed to get your heart pumping and your body sweating.

'We'll work out your whole body focusing on toning, building your core strength and burning fat.

'There's even a HIIT section which will get you fitter faster and help you burn calories even after you've finished your workout. My mantra is: Don't just get fit, get fit as Ferne. It's much more fun that way.'

Fit As Ferne is released on DVD and digital download on Christmas Eve.

Ferne, whose daughter's father Arthur Collins is serving a 20-year-term for an acid attack, previously admitted she would have fallen into a deep depression if Sunday hadn't been born.

Proud mum: Ferne revealed that the DVD helped her trim down after she welcomed daughter Sunday into the world in November

Proud: She said: 'It's this workout that has got me into the best shape that I've ever been in'

Collins, 25, was convicted of GBH and ABH against 14 people after he sprayed party-goers with acid following an argument at the Mangle E8 nightclub in east London during the Easter weekend last April.

Speaking to Fabulous last year, she admitted the situation surrounding her pregnancy had been 'completely out of her control' - and that she is already concerned about how she will tell her little girl of the attack in the future.

Looking back at the horrific incident, she said: 'It's been the most difficult chapter of my life to date and the hardest thing I hope I'll ever have to face.

'It was all completely out of my control. The only thing I can control now is how I raise my daughter.'

Staying strong: Ferne, whose daughter's father Arthur Collins is serving a 20-year-term for an acid attack, previously admitted she would have fallen into a deep depression if Sunday hadn't been born
She is set to go head-to-head with her arch-rival in an epic showdown in this week's upcoming episode of TOWIE.

And Kady McDermott couldn't resist rubbing her romance with Myles Barnett in Courtney Green's face as they filmed scenes for the series finale at Addington Palace on Thursday.

The Love Island star, 23, packed on the PDA with her elaborately dressed boyfriend, 24, as they posed for the cameras outside of the venue, while Courtney, 23, arrived with girl pals Chloe M and Chloe L.

Loved-up: Kady McDermott couldn't resist rubbing her romance with Myles Barnett in Courtney Green's face as they filmed scenes for TOWIE at Addington Palace on Thursday

Kady put a flirty twist on her period costume, which was a green satin bodice complete with a frilly tutu.

She complemented the racy look with sheer lace suspenders and a silver headpiece, while Myles wore a long frock coat and ruffled shirt in keeping with the ball's medieval theme.

The pair couldn't keep their hands off one another as they shared a tender embrace before heading into the party.

Gorgeous: Courtney also took her own twist on the Victorian era, wowing in a strapless lace gown which displayed her ample cleavage

Getting into character: Kady put on a flirty display in a green beaded bodice, tutu and lacy suspenders as she posed with Myles wore a long frock coat and ruffled shirt

Turning heads: Courtney and her two gal pals showed off their jaw-dropping dresses as they posed in front of the entrance at Addington Palace

Crossing paths: The Love Island star, 23, packed on the PDA with her elaborately dressed boyfriend, 24, as they posed for the cameras outside of the venue

Love rival Courtney meanwhile, pulled out all the stops, arriving to the bash in a strapless pink gown with sheer white lace overlay.

While her dress didn't allude to the party's Victorian era brief, the Essex beauty wore an elaborate hairstyle in a nod to the theme.

The ball will be the first time the arch-enemies have come into contact with one another since their explosive row, set to air on this Sunday's episode.

Earlier on in the day, Kady was putting on a brave face as she joined boyfriend Myles

The former Love Island star flashed a smile as she headed into the venue, carrying a change of clothes in a Louis Vuitton holdall.

She will go to the ball! Earlier in the day, Courtney was spotted taking her costume out of the car as she arrived at the venue

Casually-clad: Courtney already had her hair in an elegant half-up half-down do and wore a black tracksuit ahead of filming

Catching up: The Essex beauty was greeted by Sam Mucklow, with the pair sharing a friendly hug

Final hurrah: Kady McDermott was putting on a brave face as she joined boyfriend Myles Barnett to film for the ITVBe show's series finale at Addington Hall in Croydon on Thursday

Supportive partner: The star was accompanied by smitten boyfriend Myles as she rocked up to the venue

Casually clad: Kady opted for a casual look, wrapping up in a burnt orange mohair jacket and ripped skinny jeans

In costume: Pete Wicks was getting into the spirit of things, donning 18th century attire

Flower power: Georgia Kousoulou teased a glimpse at her costume with a floral headpiece

Kady opted for a casual look, wrapping up in a burnt orange mohair jacket and ripped skinny jeans.

The reality star is set to go head-to-head with her arch-rival Courtney and Amber Turner in an epic showdown after witnessing Courtney brand her best friend Jodie a 'hoe'.

Kady had brought her friend along in the hopes of setting James 'Diags' Bennewith up on a date.

Dapper chap: Tommy Mallet was dressed to impress in a suit ahead of the finale

Happy couple: Georgia and Tommy have largely stayed out of the drama this series, with Tommy focusing on his business and his mental health instead

But Courtney, Chloe Meadows and Amber Turner found themselves facing backlash from viewers after making the unsavoury comments while commenting on the size of Jodie's earrings as they watched from the sidelines.

Following the episode, Kady hit back on Instagram sharing a snap of her and Jodie, writing: 'No one more real or genuine then @jodiecharles17 #BiggerTheHoopBetterTheGirl love you forever'.

And in tense upcoming scenes, Kady confronts the girls to call them out over their comment; 'the bigger the hoop, the bigger the hoe', telling the pair to 'stay classy'.

Peace out! Clelia Theodorou was in high spirits as she prepared to party

Best buds: She arrived on set alongside her close friend Shelby Tribble

Three's no crowd! Also joining the girls was Shelby's new love interest Sam Mucklow

Flirty: The pair have enjoyed a flirtation in recent weeks since her split from Pete Wicks

Myles and Courtney parted ways for good in July after she refused to go on a make-or-break holiday with him.

The TOWIE beauty told MailOnline she 'forgot who she was' as she hit out at her ex-boyfriend, 24, for callously introducing his new girlfriend Kady to the show a mere three months after their break-up.

'I completely lost myself. When I was in a relationship with Myles I forgot who I was, the style I liked and I stopped making an effort,' she said.

Pete the pirate: The long-haired hunk arrived at the south London location in a tracksuit

Stepping out: Dan Edgar was also spotted on the set to film for the ITVBe show
Bodyguard star Richard Madden has revealed he's in talks with creator Jed Mercurio for season two, after it became the most-watched drama since records began in 2002.

In an interview with Deadline on Wednesday, the actor, 32, admitted he could be returning to the character of PC David Budd for the BBC programme's next outing.

He explained: 'I'm going to meet Jed in a couple of weeks, to have a chat and see what's in his brilliant brain.

Season two? Bodyguard star Richard Madden has revealed he's in talks with creator Jed Mercurio for season two, after it became the most-watched drama since records began

'So, I'm like, what can happen next? You know, with David. Because he had a hell of a couple months there. Where do you go with this guy?'

'I also thought, maybe it's going to be like American Horror Story where, in the second series, it's a whole different incarnation of it, and I'm a royal and Keeley [Hawes, his co-star] is on my protection team.

'And you get all the rest of the actors back, and we all do different things. But who knows what's in Jed's mind. I'm very keen to hear.'

The series' intense finale saw his character get knocked out by a mob boss before being fitted with a bomb vest, making him a wanted man in the eyes of the police.

Keen to discuss: In an interview with Deadline on Wednesday, the actor, 32, admitted he could be returning to the character of PC David Budd (pictured with co-star Keeley Hawes)

Having been able to persuade them to let him provide proof that he was being set up, David then walked through the streets of London with the bomb still attached, and the police following closely behind.

Richard admitted this scenario would probably make things difficult for him to return in the future, as he explained: 'I think, you know, David Budd, he walks about London with a bomb on.

'I mean, everyone definitely knows his face now. He can't really slip back into police work again. What's his life like after that?'

The hit BBC drama won the largest audience recorded for a TV programme that was not a sporting or national event since 2010.

Now for something completely different: He added, 'I also thought, maybe it's going to be like American Horror Story where, in the second series, it's a whole different incarnation of it'

In total, the show drew in an audience of 17.1 million across 28 days and over several devices including PCs, laptops, smartphones and tablets, according to the BBC.

Last time a drama had figures peak above 17 million was Only Fools and Horses' Christmas Day episode in 2002, which had an audience of 17.4 million.

The gripping series followed troubled bodyguard and police officer David and his relationship with controversial Home Secretary Julia Montague, played by Keeley Hawes, who was killed halfway through the series.

Creator Jed has previously hinted the series could have up to four installments, but it is not yet clear whether Richard or Keeley will return.
In 2017, Spencer Matthews knew little of the turn his life would take for the better when he signed onto Channel 4's The Jump - not only winning the series but also fellow contestant Vogue Williams' heart in the process.

Now fast-forward nearly two years, the 30-year-old former MIC lothario has firmly hung up his heartbreaker boots and is happily married to the Irish presenter, 32, even more so since welcoming their first child, Theodore, in September.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, he confessed that becoming a parent has given 'life a whole new meaning' while he promoted Southampton shopping centre Westquay.

Fatherhood: Spencer Matthews confessed that becoming a parent has given 'life a whole new meaning'

The couple announced their pregnancy in March - a month after the reality star proposed following a performance of The Lion King at London's Lyceum Theatre and less than year since first meeting on reality series The Jump.

While some would think their relationship has gone at a rate of knots, it's clear the old saying, 'when you know, you know', couldn't be truer for the pair as they said 'I do' and welcomed the pitter patter of tiny feet within 18 months of meeting.

Not one to do things by halves, Spencer revealed that he is already looking forward to expanding their brood and giving their two-month-old son a brother or a sister in the near future.

He gushed: 'I mean life has a whole new meaning as any parent will tell you. It's wonderful.

'Wonderful': Not one to do things by halves, Spencer revealed that he is already looking forward to expanding their brood and giving their two-month-old son a brother or a sister. He gushed: 'I mean life has a whole new meaning as any parent will tell you. It's wonderful' (Pictured with wife Vogue Williams)

Adding to the brood: He added: 'Vogue and I are very much looking forward to starting our family and we feel complete and delighted with the way everything has gone. We've very much looking forward to expanding on our family'

'Vogue and I are very much looking forward to starting our family and we feel complete and delighted with the way everything has gone. We've very much looking forward to expanding on our family.

Adding: 'While enjoying Theodore to the max. We'll keep him star of the show for a little bit longer.'

The smitten couple wed in June in an intimate ceremony in front of close family on Spencer's stunning 10,000-acre family estate, Glen Affric, in Cannich, Scotland.

Spencer's brother James Matthews, 42, acted as Best Man while his brother-in-law James Middleton, 31, also made an appearance and delivered one of three readings during the romantic nuptials.

Special day: They wed in June in an intimate ceremony in front of close family on Spencer's stunning 10,000-acre family estate, Glen Affric, in Cannich, Scotland

Guilty: Although admitting it was one of the best days of their lives, Spencer admitted that he feels guilty that their friends weren't able to join in the celebration as they opted for a more intimate affair

Although admitting it was one of the best days of their lives, Spencer said that he feels guilty that their friends weren't able to join in the celebration as they opted for a more intimate affair.

Despite feeling 'bad', the reality star admitted that plans for a larger wedding party have been put on hold as they focus their attention on their two-month-old bundle of joy.

'We'll christen him at some point or least have a naming ceremony for our pals,' he shared. 'There was talk about doing a large celebration for a wedding and a renewal of vows but I don't think we're really in a mad rush.'

'Our priorities have changed now that we have Theodore, it's kind of less about us and more about him, which is completely in line with our opinions about how to be good parents.

New focus: Despite feeling 'bad', the reality star admitted that plans for a larger wedding party have been put on hold as they focus their attention on their two-month-old bundle of joy

He continued: 'Also it's just another party, it's more hassle and organisation, it takes time and costs money. Ultimately, I feel my friends owe me and not the other way around.

'At some point, I do feel we will have another celebration because I do feel bad that we got married and none of our friends were there.

Adding: 'It was purely a family thing so at some point we will crack a few bottles open and have a bit of fun somewhere but I don't think we have any set plans as such. It's not as important now as it was.'

Spencer was speaking to MailOnline as Southampton's Westquay shopping centre introduced a new dating maps, which are suggested routes to ensure couples get the most from their dates.

Adoring: He shared: 'Our priorities have changed now that we have Theodore, it's kind of less about us and more about him, which is completely in line with our opinions about how to be good parents'

In the future: He continued: 'It was purely a family thing so at some point we will crack a few bottles open and have a bit of fun somewhere but I don't think we have any set plans as such. It's not as important now as it was'

The Celebrity Masterchef finalist shared that he and Vogue 'always make time' one another and try to organise weekly dates since welcoming their newborn.

He said: 'Vogue and I always have time for one another. We probably go to a restaurant once a week, if we have the time. Most of our dates we'll have at home.

'I cook for Vogue and she occasionally cooks for me. Our idea of a perfect night in, even before we had Theodore, is have a takeout and watch a film, just be in each other's company.

'Going out for a date feels more special though.'
If there is one thing Sarah Jessica Parker knows, it's how to rock a little black dress.

The Sex and the City star looked sophisticated on Thursday as she stepped out in New York in an LBD and a cream colored blazer. The 53-year-old was heading to the launch of her latest fragrance, Born Lovely, in the SoHo area of the city.

And the slender star revealed how she keeps so trim: in her hand she was carrying Icelandic Provisions, a dairy snack that is low in sugar.

Style star: Sarah Jessica Parker looked chic and sophisticated in New York on Thursday as she stepped out for the launch of her latest fragrance; here she carried the dairy product

Picture perfect: A tree lined block in Manhattan, with it's yellow fall leaves, served as a perfect backdrop for photos

The latest: SJP was heading to her eponymous Manhattan storefront to debut her latest scent, Born Lovely

Skyr is an Icelandic dairy product, and its been a provision of Icelanders for nearly 1,000 years

On the website it said: 'Icelandic Provisions was founded to bring that tradition to you. Skyr is an Icelandic dairy product, and its been a provision of Icelanders for nearly 1,000 years. Icelandic Provisions was developed in partnership with Icelands oldest farmer-owned dairy.

'Its the only Skyr made in the US using an original Icelandic recipe using heirloom Icelandic Skyr cultures. Thats what helps make it thick, creamy and delicious.'

SJP strutted down a picturesque tree-lined sidewalk flanked by golden fall leaves and dressed to the nines.

The mother of three donned a long sleeve black dress with V-neck and a sheer, layered accordion skirt. Sarah left her home in point wearing a thigh-length cream blazer that was edged with black piping over the look.

Still a head-turned: When she took her coat off she revealed a lovely black dress

Accessories: The 53-year-old rocked an oversized pair of sunglasses while out and about on Thursday

The star rocked a pair of large pair of black sunglasses on a brisk autumn day and had her blonde highlighted hair styled in sleek waves.

And, since she's always all about the shoes, SJP wore a stunning pair of patent leather modified Mary Jane pointy toe pumps.

Sarah is launching her latest fragrance in her eponymous collection, Born Lovely.

The star debuted the scent at her new Manhattan storefront for her luxury label.

Shop-a-holic: The Sex and the City star recently opened a brick and mortar store for her label in Manhattan

SJP: Lovely, the first sent in her collection made it's first appearance in 2005

Obsession: Sarah is famous for playing designer shoe obsessed writer Carrie Bradshaw on her hit HBO show

Lovely, the first sent in her collection made it's first appearance in 2005 and, since then, the style star has released a handful of others.

The wife of Matthew Broderick launched her luxury SJP shoe line at Nordstrom in 2014 and recently unvealed a brick and mortar store for the label.

She is, of course, famous for playing designer shoe obsessed writer Carrie Bradshaw, on her hit HBO show.

A hint of glamour: Despite being dressed down, SJP donned sparkling heels from her own line on Halloween

Festive! The star spent Halloween doling out candy to trick-or-treaters at her Manhattan home

On Wednesday, the glamorous star was decidedly more dressed down to hand out Halloween candy to costumed kiddos.

The Divorce star relaxed on her stoop in sweats while dolling out treats.

Despite her loungewear, the Hocus Pocus alum threw on a sparkling pair of heels from her SJP line.
DailyMailTV's very own Alicia Quarles put on a very haunting display as she channeled the Black Swan at Heidi Klum's Halloween party.

The TV correspondent had all eyes on her as she made her way inside the bash clad in a chilling ensemble designed by Christian Siriano.

The elaborate outfit was complete a glittering corset and an array of black feathers surrounding her neck and waist.

Not here to ruffle any feathers! DailyMailTV's very own Alicia Quarles put on a killer display as she channeled the Black Swan at Heidi Klum's lavish Halloween party in New York on Wednesday

Heads were turning as Alicia made her grand entrance into the party - thanks in part to her unusual silver headpiece.

Designed by Stephon Senegal, the sharp, silver structure was certain to make Alicia the center of attention at the star-packed party.

Not only did the TV host stand out with her elaborate look, but she added a pop of color with her bold red shawl.

Styled by Mercedes Bass, the look was a combination of spooky and sexy.

Looking sharp! Designed by Stephon Senegal, the silver head piece was certain to make Alicia the center of attention at the star-packed party

Red alert! Not only did the TV host stand out with her elaborate look, but she added a pop of color with her bold red shawl

Chilling: Styled by Mercedes Bass, the look was a combination of spooky and sexy

Alicia has been a contributor for DailyMailTV since season one.

Season two premiered in September, after its first season was nominated for two Daytime Emmy awards and saw it ranked the number one daytime rookie show in syndication for the 2017/2018 season.

Alicia was previously a correspondent for E! News and Today.

'I love the art of story telling, I love bringing news to people that otherwise wouldnt get it. I love the excitement that comes with journalism; youre not just sitting in your office everyday,' she told Haute Living in 2012.
Chloe Green celebrated Halloween with her beau Jeremy Meeks on Wednesday, as she was seen for the first time since allegations of bullying, sexual misconduct and racial abuse emerged against her father Sir Philip Green.

The socialite, 27, appeared carefree as she partied the night away with her model beau, 34, at Dubai hotspot BARBARY Deli + Cocktail Club, with the pair dressed up as Star Wars characters Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker.

The mother of one slipped into a white jumpsuit and patent leather thigh-high boots for her night on the tiles.

Night out: Chloe Green celebrated Halloween with her beau Jeremy Meeks on Wednesday, as she was seen for the first time since allegations of bullying, sexual misconduct and racial abuse emerged against her father Sir Philip Green

Allegations: The outing came six days after Sir Philip was outed in Parliament as the tycoon who tried to stop bullying accusations being made public (pictured in 2015)

Emulating the iconic character's plaited buns, the star also sported a rich palette of make-up.

Jeremy exposed his heavily tattooed chest in a white robe, paired with tan chinos and Luke's famous lightsabre as the duo posed with high society pal Caroline Stanbury.

The couple are parents to son Jayden Meeks-Green, who was born on May 29th.

The sighting comes just six days after Sir Philip was outed in Parliament as the tycoon who tried to stop bullying accusations being made public. He has denied all allegations.

Together: The couple are parents to son Jayden Meeks-Green, who was born on May 29th

Sir Philip was named after a court gag order was blown apart when former government minister Lord Peter Hain used parliamentary privilege rules to name Sir Philip in defiance of the legal restrictions.

In a bombshell statement in the House of Lords, Labour party peer Lord Hain said it was 'clearly in the public interest' that the allegations were aired.

He said the case involved 'substantial payments to conceal the truth about serious and repeated sexual harassment, racist abuse and bullying which is compulsively continuing'.

The allegations against the billionaire have not been proven in court or at a tribunal and in a statement issued , Sir Philip said: 'I am not commenting on anything that has happened in court or was said in Parliament today.

Reveal: Sir Philip was named after a court gag order was blown apart when former government minister Lord Peter Hain used parliamentary privilege rules to name Sir Philip in defiance of the legal restrictions (pictured with wife Lady Tina Green in 2017)

'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.'
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They are talented actresses known for their daring looks on the red carpet.

And Keira Knightley and Ellie Bamber looked like fairytale princesses as they arrived at the UK premiere of their new Disney film The Nutcracker and The Four Realms at London's Vue Westfield on Thursday.

Keira, 33, who plays the Sugar Plum Fairy in the flick, dressed to impress in an off-the-shoulder frothy lace gown, which cinched in at her slender waist with a satin pink sash.

Chic:Keira Knightley and Ellie Bamber looked like fairytale princesses as they arrived at the UK premiere of their new Disney film The Nutcracker and The Four Realms at London 's Vue Westfield on Thursday

The gorgeous gown featured gold brocade pattern across the bust before flowing into an elegant cloud-like skirt with statement train.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star's raven tresses were styled sleek and straight and gathered into an elegant chignon, while smoky shadow, liner and scarlet lipstick accentuated her striking features.

She was joined at the premiere by co-star Ellie Bamber, who plays Louise in the film, with the 21-year-old actress looking sensational in a flirty strapless ballgown.

Princess:Keira, 33, who plays the Sugar Plum Fairy in the flick, dressed to impress in an off-the-shoulder frothy lace gown, which cinched in at her slender waist with a satin pink sash

Radiant: The star showcased her flawless visage at the premiere

The skintight bodice was decorated with multicoloured crystals, with a blush pink leather belt accentuating her trim waist.

The dazzling gown flared out into a rose puffball skirt comprised of soft feathers.

The star boosted her height with metallic stilettos.

Train: Keira showed off her princess inspired gown as she posed

On point: She was joined at the premiere by co-star Ellie Bamber, who plays Louise in the film, with the 21-year-old actress looking sensational in a flirty strapless ballgown

Pose: Ellie looked flawless as she posed up a storm in her statement dress

Ab envy: Kimberley Garner flashed her abs in a leather bralet

Close bond: Keira and Mackenzie gleefully hugged as they posed for snappers

Delight: The two stars were over the moon to be promoting the new film

Her ginger tresses were pulled into a sleek updo while her pretty features were adorned with a radiant dusting of make-up.

The Disney interpretation of E.T.A. Hoffman's story-turned Tchaikovsky ballet stars Mackenzie Foy, 17, as Clara.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is set to hit cinemas on November 2 and also stars Helen Mirren, Richard E. Grant and Morgan Freeman.

The young girl is led into a mysterious world by a golden thread given to her by her godfather, played by Morgan Freeman at his annual Christmas party.

Blonde beauty: The star revealed her abs in the scanty outfit

Fringe benefits: Tallia Storm donned a black fringed ensemble for the purple carpet

Leading lady: Mackenzie Foy, 17, looked stylish in a one shoulder polka dot gown

Strictly dapper: Dancer Neil Jones sported skinny jeans and a slate grey blazer

Defiant display: The star looked relaxed weeks after his wife Katya's shock kiss with Seann Walsh

Showstopping: Reality star Nicola McLean wowed in a scarlet trouser suit

Flawless: The star looked sensational as she posed at the premiere

In demand: Keira was in good spirits as she was interviewed on the red carpet

Clara embarks upon a mission to find a special key to unlock a priceless possession of her late mothers which leads her to a mystical parallel world, where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy  played by Keira Knightley.

Clara uncovers three Realms within the mysterious place: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets.

The young girl must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrannical Mother Ginger, played by a flame-haired Dame Helen Mirren, in order to retrieve the special key in a bit to restore harmony to the unstable world.

In addition to the video clip, Disney also released the official poster for the film, which set to be released on 2 November.

The movie was directed by Lasse Hallstrom (who previously directed Chocolat, starring Johnny Depp) and Joe Johnston (who directed the original Jumanji film, which stars the late Robin Williams).

Lovely in lace: Violinist Linzi Stoppard dazzled in a stunning black and gold lace gown as she hit the red carpet with her husband and manager, Will Stoppard, son of playwright and screenwriter Sir Tom

Leading ladies: Ellie, Keira and Mackenzie joined ballerina Misty Copeland for a cast shot

Cast:Richard E. Grant joined the cast for a fun snap at the premiere

Radiant: Ellie, Keira and Mackenzie posed up at the premiere

Twinkle-toed: Ballet dancer Thiago Soares looked dapper on the carpet

Glee: Keira embraced Mackenzie as they giggled on the red carpet

Look at you! Keira and Ellie embraced as they caught up at the event

In demand: The stars were ushered into the venue at the glittering event

Smile: Richard couldn't help but smile as he was interviewed by eager reporters

Press pack: The stars were keen to promote the hotly-anticipated flick

Leading lights: Fellow Nutcracker star Jayden Fowora-Knight joined the glamorous ladies at the premiere

Elegance: Keira showed off her timeless beauty at the event
She's had her fair share of engagements in the past, with four of her former beaus getting down on bended knee.

But Kelly Brook appeared to throw shade at Jason Statham, Billy Zane, Thom Evans and David McIntosh, as she admitted their proposals weren't 'memorable'.

During her radio stint on Heart Drivetime with Jason King, the glamour model, 38, who is currently in a relationship with Jeremy Parisi, revealed she'd would like to 'go the whole way' with her engagement next time round.

Not good enough: Kelly Brook appeared to throw shade at Jason Statham, Billy Zane, Thom Evans and David McIntosh, as she admitted their proposals weren't 'memorable'

The Loose Women star, who is standing in for Lucy Horobin this week on the show, told her co-host: 'Ive not really had, I mean this is a bit mean to say but Im gonna be honest  I havent really had any memorable engagements.

'No like big grand gestures of like of romance or anything. So in my mind if I do ever get engaged again, which will be the one and I will go the whole way and get married by the way', she added.

Speaking on her dream proposal, the brunette bombshell divulged: 'I found this beach [in Iceland], its called diamond beach and its basically this black beach and it is full of these glaciers and it just looks so incredible.

Former beaus: The 38-year-old has had had her fair share of engagements in the past, with four of her exes getting down on bended knee (pictured L-R Billy and Jason)

Love life: The glamour model has been in a relationship with model Jeremy Parisi since 2015

'Its so beautiful and I think that is the best place to get engaged', the Piranha 3D actress elaborated.

Kelly dated action star Jason, 51 - who is now in a long-term relationship with model and actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 31 - for six years between 1998 and 2004 when she was just 18.

She then moved on to Hollywood actor Billy, 52, who she was in a relationship with between 2004 and 2008, when the couple broke off their engagement.

In the past: During her radio stint on Heart Drivetime with Jason King, she revealed she'd would like to 'go the whole way' with her engagement next time round (pictured L-R Thom and David)

Kelly dated rugby player Danny Cipriani, 30, on and off between 2008 and 2010, before moving on to another rugby star in the form of Thom, 33.

The couple were together for two years, but suffered heartache when the model had a miscarriage in May 2011, two months after announcing they were expecting a baby girl.

She later moved on to former Gladiators star David, 32. In 2014, the couple got engaged amid an eight-week whirlwind romance, but split after nine months.

Meanwhile, the TV personality recently admitted she pursued model boyfriend Jeremy, 33, for six months by 'slipping into his DMs' on Instagram before they met in person.

Former flame: Kelly dated action star Jason, 51, for six years between 1998 and 2004 when she was just 18 (pictured in June 2004)

Hollywood romance: The beauty moved on to actor Billy, 52, between 2004 and 2008, when the couple broke off their engagement (pictured in May 2008)

Playing the field: Kelly dated rugby player and ladies' man Danny, 30, on and off between 2008 and 2010 (pictured in December 2008)

Heartbreak: Kelly dated rugby star Thom Evans, 33, for two years, but suffered heartache when she miscarried the couple's baby girl in May 2011 (pictured in September 2012)

Split: She later moved on to former Gladiators star David, 32. In 2014, the couple got engaged amid an eight-week whirlwind romance, but split after nine months

The model has been dating the French-Italian martial arts instructor for over three years after kicking off their relationship by flirting via direct message on the photo-sharing site.

Speaking as she co-hosted Heart Drivetime on Tuesday, the radio presenter admitted she initially feared she was being 'catfished' by the hunk until they came face-to-face in real life.

The couple went public with their relationship in April 2015, and Jeremy now lives with Kelly in her Kent home.

Tune into Heart Drivetime with JK and Kelly (in for Lucy Horobin), weekdays from 4pm  7pm.
He's about to go to prison for eight months for tax evasion.

But first, Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, 36, is going to get married, with the reality TV star's nuptials to Lauren Pesce, 33, set for Thursday.

'Wedding time. Baby time,' the bride-to-be posted to her Instagram account on the morning of their big day.

'Wedding time': Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, 36, is going to get married, with the reality TV star's nuptials to Lauren Pesce, 33, set for Thursday

In another photo of the couple, posted to the Jersey Shore star's Instagram Story, a suit-clad The Situation picks up Lauren and gazes lovingly into her eyes.

His college sweetheart wears an elegant white dress and rose-colored heels for the romantic photo op.

Meanwhile Pesce shared a couple of selfies to her own social media account, with the simple caption, 'wedding ready [DIAMOND EMOJI]'.

The look of love: In another photo of the couple, posted to the Jersey Shore star's Instagram Story, a suit-clad The Situation picks up Lauren and gazes lovingly into her eyes

Ready to go: Meanwhile Pesce shared a couple of selfies to her own social media account, with the simple caption, 'wedding ready [DIAMOND EMOJI]'

Another heartfelt post by Sorrentino showed the lovebirds kissing on a bench at sunset.

The sweet snap was captioned: 'Today I marry my best friend, My College Sweetheart, My everything.'

'Together as a team we can accomplish anything. I am so grateful that you are by my side.'

'I promise to be my best self everyday & make you proud to call yourself Mrs. Sorrentino.'

'Love you with all my heart. Heres to our big day'.

Get a room! Another heartfelt post by Sorrentino showed the lovebirds kissing on a bench at sunset

The wedding will come before the Jersey Shore reality star is sent to prison for eight months for tax evasion, which will begin in 2019.

In addition to his time behind bars, Mike has a two year supervised release, 500 hours of community service and was given $123,913 in restitution - which he's already paid off.

He also was served a $10,000 fine that must be paid in 30 days.
He's gearing up to welcome his third child with wife Amelia Warner.

And Jamie Dornan has revealed that although he already finds parenting a 'challenge', he can't wait for their new addition.

The actor, 37, already has daughters Dulcie, four, and Elva, two, and previosuly admitted he wants to have several more children.

Cute: He's gearing up to welcome his third child with wife Amelia Warner. And Jamie Dornan has revealed that although he already finds parenting a 'challenge', he can't wait for their new addition

Speaking to Red magazine, he reasoned: 'One's a challenge, two's a challenge, everything's... f**k it, you just have to rise to it, back yourself, don't ya?'

Jamie is a hands-on dad and is ready to get to grips with changing diapers again.

He added: 'It's all just part of it isn't it? That's what being a parent is. The wiping s**t off your baby's bum. And you know, if you're not up for that, you're not up for anything.'

The Fall actor has been kept busy promoting his new film, A Private War, but revealed he always puts his family first, saying: 'Any chance I get to be here, doing the school run, I'm doing it. You know, I'm not missing out.'

Doting daddy: The actor, 37, already has daughters Dulcie, four, and Elva, two, and previosuly admitted he wants to have several more children

Jamie recently confessed that he plans to spend more time at home once baby number three arrives, after being tied to his Fifty Shades' schedule for the birth of his first two children.

Speaking on Jimmy Fallon, he admitted: 'I think for this one, I'm going to have a lot more control...the first two, I was sort of at the mercy of Fifty Shades' schedule,

'The first one we had in Canada, and I started filming three days after she was born. The second one we had in London, and I flew to Canada ten days later and started filming the second.'

The movie star also revealed that he would be right by his wife's side throughout the pregnancy, even when it comes time to deliver the little one.

'I've never missed a birth  I couldn't live with myself if I missed the birth,' he said. 'But this time, I'm trying to take proper time off for a few months after, as well.'
She's no stranger to displaying her enviable figure when hitting the industry's hottest red carpets.

And Kimberley Garner turned heads as she attended the UK premiere of new Disney film The Nutcracker and The Four Realms at London's Vue Westfield on Thursday.

The swimsuit entrepreneur, 28, turned up the heat as she flashed her abs in a leather bralet, tied in with a light pink blazer.

Commanding attention: Kimberley Garner turned heads as she attended the UK premiere of new Disney film The Nutcracker and The Four Realms at London 's Vue Westfield on Thursday

Former Made In Chelsea star Kimberley accentuated her slender legs in cropped trousers, and boosted her height in suede pointed heels.

Ensuring all eyes were on her, the TV personality shunned her typical straight locks in favour of soft curls.

Kimberley wowed with her fierce make-up choice, which featured a smoldering smokey eye, heavy strokes of bronzer and nude lipstick.

Wow-factor: The swimsuit entrepreneur, 28, turned up the heat as she flashed her abs in a leather bralet, tied in with a light pink blazer

The Disney interpretation of E.T.A. Hoffman's story-turned Tchaikovsky ballet stars Mackenzie Foy, 17, as Clara.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is set to hit cinemas on November 2 and also stars Helen Mirren, Richard E. Grant and Morgan Freeman.

The young girl is led into a mysterious world by a golden thread given to her by her godfather, played by Morgan Freeman at his annual Christmas party.

Clara embarks upon a mission to find a special key to unlock a priceless possession of her late mothers which leads her to a mystical parallel world, where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy  played by Keira Knightley.

Looking good: Former Made In Chelsea star Kimberley accentuated her slender legs in cropped trousers, and boosted her height in suede pointed heels

Chic display: Ensuring all eyes were on her, the TV personality shunned her typical straight locks in favour of soft curls

Clara uncovers three Realms within the mysterious place: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets.

The young girl must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrannical Mother Ginger, played by a flame-haired Dame Helen Mirren, in order to retrieve the special key in a bit to restore harmony to the unstable world.

In addition to the video clip, Disney also released the official poster for the film, which set to be released on 2 November.

The movie was directed by Lasse Hallstrom (who previously directed Chocolat, starring Johnny Depp) and Joe Johnston (who directed the original Jumanji film, which stars the late Robin Williams).

All eyes on her: Kimberley wowed with her fierce make-up choice, which featured a smoldering smokey eye, heavy strokes of bronzer and nude lipstick
Gwyneth Paltrow says she has started the early stages of menopause at 46, with mood swings so bad she finds herself suddenly furious for no reason.

The Oscar-winning actress said she had begun to notice big changes to her body and mind since entering perimenopause.

She made the comments in an online video for her lifestyle company Goop  which is selling a range of supplements said to help menopausal women.

The mother-of-two, who recently married television producer Brad Falchuk having divorced Coldplays Chris Martin in 2016, revealed that she was already feeling changes in her body, including sweating and hormonal changes.

Gwyneth Paltrow revealed she has started the menopause at 46 years old and plugs her new goop product 'Madame Ovary' in an online video

When you get into perimenopause you notice a lot of changes, she said. I can feel hormonal shifts happening, the moods, youre all of a sudden furious for no reason.

She said society needs to change how it views the process, adding: Menopause gets a really bad rap and needs a bit of rebranding.

I remember when my mother went through menopause and it was such a big deal and I think there was grief around it for her and all these emotions.

I dont think we have in society a great example of an aspirational menopausal woman.

Perimenopause, also known as menopause transition, begins several years before menopause. During that time, the ovaries gradually make less oestrogen until it stops releasing eggs entirely.

The Oscar-winning actress said she had begun to notice big changes to her body and mind since entering perimenopause

Gwyneth Paltrow shared an Instagram picture with her son 12-year-old Moses (left) and daughter, 14, Apple (right)

Miss Paltrow said that while she was not yet in menopause, she was experiencing a perceptible shift in hormones, alongside increased sweating and mood swings.

Goops menopause supplements, called Madame Ovary, cost 70 for a one-month supply.

Miss Paltrow claims the combination of herbs, vitamins and plant compounds can help ease the most common complaints of menopausal transition.

In California earlier this year, Goop was forced to pay out 113,000 after doctors branded some of its controversial products ridiculous and dangerous.
Josh Wilson says he's pretty excited to take his "latest toy" for a spin on Sydney Harbour - it just happens to be a multi-billion dollar guided missile destroyer.

Captain Wilson, the commanding officer of the brand new Hobart class destroyer HMAS Brisbane, said the latest piece in a $9 billion box-set was exhilarating to drive.

"Everyone wants the latest toy on the block and we've definitely got that," Cpt Wilson told reporters from the deck of the Brisbane, which possesses a cannon that could fire from Woolloomooloo Wharf to Cronulla.

"For a country boy from Victoria to suddenly find out that they're going to be commissioning and building a crew for a ship with this incredible capability, and what it means to the Navy...was humbling."

The Brisbane, which boasts a US weapons system and a top speed of more than 50km/h, was assembled in South Australia and unveiled on Sydney Harbour on Saturday, more than a decade after its fleet was commissioned.

It's the second of three Hobart Class guided missile destroyers to be built for the Australian Navy, with its sister the HMAS Hobart currently undergoing weapons testing in US waters.

The third ship, the HMAS Sydney, is still being built, according to Rear Admiral Jonathon Mead, the commander of the Australian Fleet.

"We are seeing a major revitalisation and recapitalisation of the Navy," Admiral Mead said.

He said Australia was in the midst of a naval boom, with a new ship expected to be commissioned every year for the next 20 to 30 years.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Defence Minister Christopher Pyne toured the ship after addressing the families of the crew.

"While Australia will always seek to befriend and not antagonise, we must do so from a position of strength, preparedness and capability," Mr Morrison told the crowd.

"The minister for defence and I like building ships, we like it."

The Brisbane and her almost 200 crew will soon leave Sydney Harbour, bound for Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast, where the ship will be put through its paces.

"If you told me to, I'd take her off the wharf today," Cpt Wilson said.
Concerns from disability advocates that the government's drought relief plan would repurpose funds from the National Disability Insurance Scheme have been dismissed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

"Not one cent of funds for the NDIS is being used to support our new Future Drought Fund. The NDIS is 100% fully funded. Every cent, every dollar," Mr Morrison tweeted on Saturday.

Of the $5 billion dollar Future Drought Fund announced at the Friday summit, Mr Morrison told The Australian the initial $3.9 million dollar contribution was from Labor's Building Australia Fund - which the government had put aside for the NDIS.
A factory in Sydney's southwest has been engulfed in fire that has left smoke billowing across the surrounding area.

Emergency services were called at 4.20pm on Saturday to the Minto factory where a worker had managed to escape the blaze uninjured.

As 40 firefighters battled the blaze on Airds Road, an internal wall collapsed at the factory, which manufactures poles, according to NSW Fire and Rescue.

Superintendent Greg Rankin said the fire had been contained and it had not affected adjoining factory units.

"Because a wall collapsed it'll take time to get in there to have a look," he told AAP.

"It's too early to find out what started the fire at this point."
Peter Senior will take a four-shot lead into the final round of the NSW Senior Open after posting an even-par 72 in tricky conditions on the Victorian border at Albury.

With a strong southwesterly making life tough as the afternoon wore on, Senior grafted his way around the testing Thurgoona Country Club layout in conditions far removed from those he faced in his record-setting opening round of 61.

"I didn't play very well today," Senior said.

"I let a few easy ones slip around the front."

After getting off to a slow start, turning in even par, Senior battled through the back nine.

An uncharacteristic bogey on the reachable par five 11th hole brought him back to the chasing pack.

"The back nine was difficult. It got really, really windy," he said.

"It was hard to pick clubs and the greens were a lot firmer. It was difficult to work out how far they were going to bounce."

With opportunities slipping by and putts going close but not in, Senior finally got one back on 17th to regain momentum.

"It really helped me out," he said of the 35-foot birdie putt.

Chasing Senior is a leaderboard full of players capable of making up the four-shot deficit.

Kiwi Michael Long, who carded a 67, sits in second place at seven under, while Mike Harwood is another shot away in third.

Peter Lonard, Glenn Joyner and Richard Blackwell are seven back at four under but not without a chance if things go their way.

Regardless of the quality of the field, Senior was happy with the lead and confident he would get the job done on Sunday.

"I'm happy where I am. The guys have got to chase me and I will put in a good shot tomorrow," he smiled.
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MOSS REVIEW INTO LIVE ANIMAL EXPORTS

* An independent external inspector-general of live animal exports to oversee the department in its role as the regulator.

* The department re-establish an animal welfare branch and place animal welfare at the centre of its regulatory activities.

* The department develop a system ensuring any issues and concerns raised by staff members about live exports are addressed in a transparent and timely manner.

* Australian government accredited veterinarians and authorised officers be required to make a declaration each year of any personal conflict of interest.

* A principal regulatory officer role be created within the department to develop a culture of being professional regulators.

FINDINGS

* Skills, resources and technology for effective regulation by the department were lacking.

* Concerns the department's dual roles in promoting the trade and policing it could be contradictory, especially after the animal welfare branch was scrapped.

* The department rarely used significant powers to suspend or cancel an export licence and it took whistleblowers to prompt that action earlier in the year.

* A department staff member told the review there was little point in raising concerns, as they would not be well received or fairly considered.

* The department as the regulator has failed to prevent continuing animal welfare incidents.

* Parts of the live animal export industry have failed to adhere to the existing standards and give priority to animal welfare.

(Source: Philip Moss's Review of the Regulatory Capability and Culture of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources in the Regulation of Live Animal Exports)
A debate between Victoria's major political party leaders looks set to go ahead before next month's election, but the format of the event is yet to be determined.

Liberal-Nationals opposition leader Matthew Guy on Wednesday indicated he's keen to go head-to-head with Premier Daniel Andrews.

"It's good in a democracy for people to have debates between shadow ministers and between the premier and myself," he told reporters.

Mr Guy said he didn't mind the style of debate or the location.

Mr Andrews said negotiations are underway between parties to decide on the format of the event, and pointed to the importance of the 2014 election "people's forum".

"There's always discussions back and forth about formats and rules and all those things," Mr Andrews said.

"We had one (people's forum) last time, I thought it was good, I thought it was important."

Victorians go to the polls on November 24, but the state electoral commission expects a record number of early voters.
A Sydney man who kept another man prisoner for a night, slashed his face with a knife and held a gun to his head while demanding money will be eligible for parole next year.

Fadi Chiha, 33, was on Wednesday sentenced in the Brisbane District Court to six-and-a-half years in jail for offences relating to the kidnapping of an associate, Mr Van, in 2012.

Chiha told Judge Michael Burnett he was on methamphetamine and paranoid at the time he and an accomplice pulled Mr Van off the street, bundled him hooded and bound into the boot of his own car and took him to a Brisbane hotel room.

It was there Chiha demanded $30,000 for Mr Van's release, a sum that was talked down to $10,000, and held a revolver to his head.

The victim handed $3500 to his captives but was held for another 12 hours before being pushed out the door by Chiha who said: "See you later".

Two weeks later Chiha abducted the man again, this time taking him to a Morningside townhouse where he was bound with gaffer tape, robbed, held prisoner and his face cut six or seven times.

Mr Van escaped through a back door the next day but his sister was then robbed of $20,000.

"The offending ... reeks of criminal gain vigilantism, seeking to enforce drug debts in the way in which you did," Justice Burnett said.

"Vigilantism is simply unacceptable and the extent to which you took it in this instance is in fact quite disturbing."

The court heard Chiha had spent much of his adult life in prison.

"It is a tragic story but nonetheless you have to be accountable and responsible for your behaviour," Justice Burnett added.

In his self-represented defence, Chiha told the court he knew what he had done was wrong but that he was reacting to a bad batch of ice.

"I didn't just wake up one day and say 'I'm just going to go and kidnap someone for no reason' Your Honour," he said.

"I take full responsibility for what I did."

Based on time served in Queensland and NSW, Chiha will be eligible for parole on April 21, 2019.
Australia's powerful business lobby has savaged federal politicians for failing to legislate tax cuts for large companies.

Jennifer Westacott from the Business Council of Australia said it was "bitterly disappointing" tax cuts for companies with annual turnovers above $50 million were dumped in August.

The coalition government ditched plans to lower the tax rate from 30 to 25 per cent after minor parties sided with Labor to block the plan.

"I think it's a terrible mistake - a colossal mistake - that the parliament has made," Ms Westacott told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.

"We will see in 10 years time how well the Australian economy fares as country after country after country lowers their rate and draws in more investment."
Sweeping changes to how live animal exports are regulated won't convince Labor to abandon its push to phase out the sheep trade.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has accepted all 31 of independent reviewer Philip Moss's recommendations, including establishing an inspector-general to oversee the trade.

Labor leader Bill Shorten says his party is sticking to its pledge to phase out live sheep exports within five years.

"We think after scandal after scandal the industry hasn't got its act together," Mr Shorten told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.

He said the community was disgusted with animal welfare being put on the backburner under the coalition.

Mr Littleproud is urging the opposition to dump an amendment phasing out live sheep exports from a government bill to put harsh new penalties on dodgy exporters.

"The opposition played politics and attached an amendment to the penalties bill to simply try and shut down live sheep," the minister said.

The National Farmers' Federation believes the Moss review has put the trade back on course to being a sustainable industry which has animal welfare as its highest priority.

"The NFF and its members remain committed to the future of a live export trade which meets the animal welfare expectations of farmers and the community," NFF president Fiona Simson said.

Australian Livestock Exporters' Council chair Simon Crean said the inspector-general was one of a suite of initiatives his organisation endorsed to target major cultural change in the industry.

"ALEC's number one priority is best practice in animal welfare - poor welfare outcomes are never acceptable," Mr Crean said.

Independents Andrew Wilkie and Derryn Hinch have joined animal welfare groups in arguing the review confirms live sheep exports must end.

"There is simply no amount of regulation that can make live export not cruel," Mr Wilkie said.

The inspector-general was first mooted by Labor before losing government in 2013, but scrapped by former agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce.
Angry after a fight about a burnt omelette, Melbourne man Peter John Smith loaded his shotgun and headed for his son's bedroom.

The 70-year-old told his wife Kathleen he was "going to kill the c*** and then kill myself".

"Of course you are," she replied, not believing her husband of 30 years would follow through with the horrifying threat against their son Andrew.

In sentencing Smith for murder on Wednesday Justice Andrew Tinney said there was no indication the mundane events of December 18 last year would lead to such a shocking incident.

"You took a double-barrelled shotgun to a defenceless man - your son - lying in his bed, from close range," he said.

"Yours was a shocking, senseless and inexcusable crime."

Smith was sentenced to 19 years behind bars.

He must serve at least 14 before he's eligible for parole, a term Justice Tinney said represented a significant portion, if not all of the rest of Smith's life.

He showed no emotion during the sentence, occasionally wiping his nose with a tissue and glancing at his wife who sobbed and was held by family members.

Andrew, a 30-year-old father-of-two, was living with his parents at Mulgrave in suburban Melbourne and had recently made a new attempt to stop taking drugs.

He'd had a few drinks in the backyard of the family home with his parents and gone inside to cook omelettes for dinner.

The first attempt failed and he took it outside to dump in the backyard, but Smith became angry that the eggs could make their dog sick.

"F*** the dogs, f*** you. You'll be dead in a year," he told his father, who had recently had bowel cancer surgery.

There was a scuffle and the pair wrestled before Andrew went inside and Smith sat down for dinner.

He calmly ate, put on his dressing gown and went to a caravan parked in the driveway where he retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun, assembled it, put ammunition inside and went back to the house.

He told Kathleen his plans, opened Andrew's bedroom door, turned on the light and fired two fatal shots through Andrew's back and chest before dismantling the gun, going outside and telling Kathleen to call the police.

"I think I might have lost it a bit," he told investigators later.

Justice Tinney heard that Smith had suffered depression and accepted on Wednesday that his moral culpability was somewhat reduced.

But he struggled to see that what happened was the result of depression rather than him reaching the end of his tether after years of supporting Andrew through drug addiction, triggered by the argument that night.

He also refused to accept that the murder was unplanned.

"This was no entirely spur-of-the-moment crime committed in the blink of an eye," he said.

"You decided you were going to murder your son, then set about carrying out the steps required to do so."
A dating app, an apartment developer and a dance event are among the new guard of sponsors at Flemington's Birdcage, following an exodus of big name brands from the exclusive racecourse enclosure.

Emirates, Lavazza, Myer and Sensis have all departed the Birdcage this year, joining withdrawals in previous years by Crown, Swisse and Hilton Hotels.

The newcomers say sponsorship of the iconic four-day carnival will help boost their brand recognition and incentivise corporate customers.

"Melbourne Cup gives us such national reach and exposure and the opportunity to target new audiences," Bumble Australia's Michelle Battersby told AAP at the Birdcage unveiling on Wednesday.

The female-focused dating app worked with women on the structural design, project management and construction of the marquee as well as its styling.

Fellow newcomer Pace has designed their double-storey marquee to look like the apartments they will develop within the gates of Flemington.

They are kicking off their expressions-of-interest campaign during the carnival.

Seppelt Wines and brewer Furphy also unveiled marquees for the first time, although both are exclusive to corporate customers.

Jeweller Kennedy, who hosted international celebrities last year, is also paring back its A-list lineup.

"It's really about offering an added experience for our customers," executive chairman James Kennedy said.

Grinders Coffee, which takes over from Lavazza as Victoria Racing Club's exclusive coffee partner will not host a marquee, but rather serve coffee in the Birdcage in exchange for a charitable donation.

Birdcage stalwarts Mumm and Lexus have taken their marquees to new heights.

The French champagne house has installed a 12-metre rocket to celebrate the launch of the first champagne bottle designed for space travel, while Lexus - the latest Melbourne Cup naming rights sponsor - has assumed prime position in the "millionaire's row".

The Ultra Music Festival marquee was not previewed, but will feature on the row on Derby and Stakes days.
THE INS AND OUTS OF FLEMINGTON'S BIRDCAGE ENCLOSURE:

IN:

* Bumble - A Los Angeles-based, female-focused dating app company. App-users will be among those attending the star-studded marquee.

* Furphy - Geelong-based brewery owned by beverage company Lion. Marquee will host 400 customers, friends and family.

* Grinders Coffee - Melbourne coffee roaster owned by Coca-Cola Amatil. Serving coffee in the Birdcage but no marquee.

* Seppelt Wines - Owned by Treasury Wines, renowned for its sparkling shiraz. Marquee will be exclusive to corporate customers.

* Pace - A development group soon to construct apartments inside Flemington Racecourse precinct.

* Ultra - An outdoor electronic music festival that takes place annually in Florida. In 2018 Ultra will host festivals in Australia.

* VRC Bird Bath Bar - A Palm Springs-inspired bar for members of the Victoria Racing Club.

OUT:

* Emirates - The airline ended its corporate relationship with the VRC in 2017, relinquishing both Melbourne Cup naming rights and coveted marquee real estate on "millionaire's row."

* James Boag - The Lion-owned beer company has been replaced after a nine-year association with the VRC.

* Lavazza - The company lost its marquee and status as the lead coffee brand of the carnival after a relationship spanning more than a decade.

* Myer - The department store has pared back its sponsorship, withdrawing from the Birdcage, but has expanded its Fashions on the Field competition.

* Sensis - The marketing services company is gone form the Birdcage after hosting marquees in 2016 and 2017.
Australian farmers have been told they don't have to worry about the European Union's fabled "mountains of butter" in free trade negotiations.

A delegation of European MPs is in Australia as part of the negotiations on a free trade deal and they are optimistic about getting it done.

"Australian farmers can expect increased access to the European market following these negotiations, if everything else goes in place nicely," Romanian MP Sorin Moisa told AAP on Wednesday.

Local farmers have long pushed for access to the lucrative European market but previously had to compete with heavily subsidised produce.

Mr Moisa says it's no longer the case.

"The mountains of butter that may still persist in the Australian imagination when you think about the EU - they are long gone," he said.

"We have a very market-oriented common agricultural policy now; we no longer have export subsidies, so for at least a generation now in Europe we have fully modernised.

"The image of a Fortress Europe, desperately protecting its agriculture no matter what, is a thing of the past."

German MP Ulrike Mueller said one area of contention involved geographic indicators - where Australian products use names protected in Europe, like 'prosecco'.

"The GIs are a challenge but let's also see they're a great opportunity for all of us," she told AAP.

"We have regional markets for regional products in Europe, and this has shown us that people actually yearn for these regional products because in them they can see their own regional identity and national identity."

Mr Moisa said solutions had been found in other trade deals to protect pre-existing brands trading in local markets under what they would consider generic product names.

"There have been cases, which are public, in other treaties, where we have found solutions around so-called grandfathering pre-existing trademarks in a certain market," he said.

"I want to encourage people to be optimistic and not to be afraid of this because solutions can be found."

Mr Moisa said the MPs were examining how Australian farms were set up, particularly large cattle farms.

A free-trade deal with the EU will open up a market of half a billion people, in an economy worth $22.6 trillion.

A second round of negotiations on the deal is due in November.
Tony Abbott concedes there are "passionate" mixed opinions about his appointment as special envoy on indigenous affairs but says he is getting a pretty good response from remote communities.

Mr Abbott, who is spending the week touring indigenous communities throughout South Australia, said there was a lot of interest in trying to get schools to perform better.

"There's a degree of gratitude to get the ear of a senior politician. The more remote someone is, the keener they are to get someone out from Canberra to listen," he told ABC radio from Coober Pedy on Wednesday.
A 14-year-old Sydney boy and his family have saved two foreign surfers after hearing their screams as they sat down to dinner.

Under the guidance of his father Mark, David Campbell paddled out to the pair of Argentinians after they were caught in a powerful rip south of Curl Curl after dusk on Tuesday.

The Campbell family had been having dinner at their waterfront property minutes earlier when they heard the tourists' yells as they drifted past.

A third who also encountered difficulty managed to make his way out of the water as his friends headed towards the rocky headland at Freshwater.

David, a junior lifesaver, grabbed a foam board, reached the men and helped return them to shore, while his brother Angus and father helped from the cliffs above.

Mark Campbell said he was proud of his family for preventing what could have been a tragedy.

"They would have been cut to ribbons or worse if they had have come in over the rocks," Mr Campbell told AAP.

"One of them was really tired; he was knackered."

Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said the teenager's rescue served as a powerful reminder that the skills of a surf lifesaver could be needed at any time.

"This was a remarkable effort from young David and the entire Campbell family who had the presence of mind to assess the situation and take action to help," he said in a statement.
Australian missionary nun Sister Patricia Fox says she is planning to leave the Philippines on Saturday after a long fight to obtain visa permission to stay, and against a deportation bid by immigration officials.

Her passport was confiscated on Wednesday and given to intelligence officials.

Earlier this year, the nation's president, Rodrigo Duterte, accused Sister Fox of meddling in internal politics through involvement in human rights' campaigns.

"If I don't go, they will come to get me," she told AAP.

Her missionary visa expired and she was only allowed to stay until November 3 on a temporary tourist visa.

An application lodged to have that visa extended was refused on Wednesday.

"There is no appeal against refusal of a visa, even if it is unfair," she said.

"The case against me has all been just harassment."

Among other things, Sister Fox, aged 72, who has been a missionary in the Philippines for 27 years, has been involved in investigations into extra-judicial killings.

"I can't even now stay to fight against the earlier deportation order," Sister Fox said.

"I will not be going voluntarily, but I will be going."
Victoria's major political parties are already in the swing of election campaigning and on Thursday the Greens will join the ride.

With hopes of winning the balance-of-power in both chambers of parliament at the November 24 election, party leader Samantha Ratnam will take a ride on Melbourne's tram network with wheelchair-bound Senator Jordon Steele-John.

The duo will make election announcements regarding the disability sector.

A record number of Victorians are expected to vote early or use postal votes and the state's electoral commission has already steps to ensure voters are clear on how to do so.

Commissioner Warwick Gately on Wednesday issued a warning after political parties distributed postal vote applications along with their own advertising material.

"If you have received a postal vote application in the mail enclosed with campaign material, it was not sent by the VEC, it was sent to you by a registered political party," Mr Gately said.

"Any applications attached to or returned with political material received by the VEC will be rejected. It's a matter I take very seriously," he added.

After spending much of the week visiting regional centres, Labor Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to remain closer to Melbourne on Thursday.

Liberal-Nationals Opposition Leader Matthew Guy is likely to again climb aboard his 'get back in control' bus.
Australia's foreign policy is an extension of the national identity and "tells the world who we are as a nation, and as a people", Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to say in his first major speech on the issue.

Mr Morrison will address the Asia Society in Sydney on Thursday, where he will discuss the importance of negotiating the emerging "US-China strategic competition".

He will describe China as "the country that is most changing the balance of power, sometimes in ways that challenge important US interests", The Australian reports.

He is also expected to discuss the recent decision to move Australia's embassy in Israel, without directly responding to criticisms by Indonesia, and that Australian values play a role in telling the world "of our character, our values, what we stand for and, if need be, what we'll defend".
The suspected murder of a two-year-old girl in April has triggered a plea from ACT police for further information.

Safa Annour was taken to Canberra Hospital about 1.50pm on April 30 but, despite resuscitation attempts, died from what a post-mortem examination later found to be blunt force trauma and internal bleeding.

Detective Superintendent Scott Moller told reporters in Canberra on Thursday that police had identified two people responsible for Safa's care during the time she is suspected to have received her fatal injuries, but were seeking further information.
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has warned a regional conference in the Bahraini capital Manama that the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul "must concern us all greatly"

Pentagon chief Jim Mattis warned a Middle East forum on Saturday that the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul "must concern us all greatly".

Quoting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Mattis told a security conference in Bahrain that the United States "does not tolerate this kind of ruthless action to silence Mr Khashoggi, a journalist, through violence".

"With our collective interests in peace and unwavering respect for human rights in mind, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a diplomatic facility must concern us all greatly," Mattis added.

"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."

A critic of Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Khashoggi was murdered after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

On Thursday, CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed US President Donald Trump on the latest developments in the investigation after a fact-finding mission to Turkey.

Pro-government Turkish media said that intelligence officers showed Haspel video images and audio tapes of Khashoggi's killing gathered from the consulate.

His murder has generated international outrage and undermined relations with Riyadh, which Washington is hoping can help counter Tehran's influence in the Middle East.

Prince Mohammed, the heir apparent to the kingdom's throne, has denounced the "repulsive" murder, denying any involvement. The Saudi leadership has pushed responsibility down the chain of command.

Trump has called the case "one of the worst cover-ups in history".

Washington moved late Tuesday to revoke the visas of several Saudis. Britain followed suit on Wednesday.

Mattis said more measures would follow.

"We will maintain our 'twin imperatives', as stated by Secretary of State Pompeo, of protecting America and holding accountable those responsible for this murder," he told the forum.

"Our secretary of state has already revoked visas and will be taking additional measures."

Turkey said on Friday it wanted Saudi Arabia to extradite 18 Saudis it has arrested over Khashoggi's murder.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has stopped short of directly blaming the Saudi government, said the 18 suspects must know who killed Khashoggi and repeated his call for the men to be tried in Turkey.

He urged Riyadh to reveal who ordered the killing and the whereabouts of Khashoggi's body.

"You need to show this body," Erdogan said.

"Unless you tell, Saudi Arabia will not be free from this suspicion."
While the ruling junta and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha have kept a tight lid on dissent, creative criticism has been harder for authorities to control

A group of Thai rappers has touched a nerve with an impassioned and now-viral music video lobbing fiery rhymes at the ruling junta, as police mull filing charges against the lyricists.

The generals that toppled Thailand's democratic government in 2014 have kept a tight lid on dissent but creative criticism through music and arts has been harder to control, even if its impact on political life has so far been minimal.

The song "Prathet Ku Mee" (Which is My Country), uploaded to YouTube on October 22, has racked up more than 6.4 million views and tens of thousands of comments since it went live on the platform, prompting authorities to take notice.

"It's under consideration by investigators, and it will take a few days because it's a sensitive issue," Siriwat Deephor, the police spokesman for the Technology Crime Suppression Division, told AFP when asked whether they would file charges.

He also said the probe could decide whether those who share the video could be targeted.

"If this song violates the Computer Crime Act by uploading false information, those who share would be prosecuted and face the same punishment with those who uploaded it," he said.

The act, which rights groups say has been used to crack down on online dissent, carries up to five years in prison.

Shot in black and white, the video features rappers from the Rap Against Dictatorship collective dishing out barbs about the military and blasting corruption, censorship and the lack of elections, which are tentatively scheduled for February after many delays.

"The country where you must choose to suck truth or a bullet," one rapper says, wearing sunglasses with a bandana wrapped around his mouth.

Several lyrics appear to go after junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha.

"The country where the people do not read books, particularly the leader," one verse says, a thinly veiled allusion to Prayut, who has boasted about being widely read.

Straying into historically sensitive areas, a dummy made to look as if it has been lynched and strung up comes in and out of shot, a reference to the massacre of dozens of student protesters and civilians by security forces on a Bangkok campus in 1976.

The only colour appears on a guitar whose body is painted to resemble the Thai flag.

Journalists and an academic have joined the debate, with one person comparing it to the rapper Childish Gambino's macabre "This is America" video about racism and violence earlier this year.

But not all are fans.

"Get out of this country if you don't like it," a Facebook user wrote.

Jacoboi, one of the groups founders, told AFP this week that those who appear in the video are artists who want to talk about politics.

"They are the things we heard people say on social media and in real life," he said.

"Im not afraid of the authorities because I believe that nothing in this song has breached the law."
A crowd of all ages and faiths protested US President Donald Trump's visit to Pittsburgh after 11 Jewish worshippers were killed in a synagogue

Around 1,500 people took to the streets of Pittsburgh Tuesday to demonstrate peacefully in song against a visit by US President Donald Trump and to mourn 11 Jewish worshipers killed in a synagogue.

The crowd of all ages and faiths, including many young families, children and the elderly, marched for six blocks holding signs that read "President Hate, Leave Our State!" and "Trump's Lies Kill."

They marched through leafy Squirrel Hill, the tolerant and diverse neighborhood that has been a beating heart of Pittsburgh's Jewish community, home to the synagogue where Saturday's carnage took place.

Trump flew into the city with wife Melania to pay his respects at the Tree of Life synagogue, but many in the largely Democratic city say his rhetoric and vitriolic tweets have fanned white supremacy and are fueling a spike in anti-Semitism across the United States.

The crowd marched through leafy Squirrel Hill, the tolerant and diverse neighborhood that has been a beating heart of Pittsburgh's Jewish community

The rally began with an organizer reading aloud from an open letter written by a group of Pittsburgh Jewish leaders to Trump, telling him he bears responsibility for the shooting and asking him not to come.

"President Trump, you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully renounce white nationalism," she read.

The crowd broke into soft a-capella song, which they continued as they marched through the neighborhood, watched by residents and shop workers who poured out of their homes and businesses in solidarity.

"I just think it's important to show solidarity in this time of unimaginable tragedy," said Patricia Calderone, 62, a retiree and a photographer, who made a "Trump's Lies Kill" sign.

The Steel City is "stronger than the hate," she said. "It's a very diverse city, it's a small city but people are close, people are united and we're not going to let this happen here and hurt us."

- 'Nazi sympathizer' -

Some protesters accused Trump of using the same type of speech as a Nazi sympathizer

"I can't know what the president is thinking and I cannot know his motivations, but I can know his words," said Gabriel McMorland, 36, who used to live in Squirrel Hill.

"They line up so closely with the words of white nationalist terrorists and racist right-wing conspiracy theories," he added.

"What he's saying are the kinds of thing that a Nazi sympathizer would say and I don't think I'm exaggerating at all to say that."

Toward the end, a short prayer was said in Hebrew, the protesters held their arms up to the sky and tore a piece of black paper in ritual, before observing a moment of silence punctuated only by birdsong.

As they marched on, past a fire station and standing police officers, they applauded loudly and chanted "thank you" in tribute to the first responders who were called out to the massacre on Saturday.

Many in the crowd were too emotional to speak to the press. The organization was disciplined and determinedly peaceful.

A police officer at the scene confirmed there had been no incidents even as the president was in the area mourning the victims.

"I think it's more divisive than uniting," librarian Nonie Heystek, 57, said of Trump's arrival.

Friends of friends were among those killed, she said. "Pittsburgh is a very small place and there's really only two degrees of separation, especially in this neighborhood."
Bahr Nahhas attends a demonstration in the rebel-held town of Maaret al-Numan, in the north of Idlib province on October 19, 2018

Nearly eight years after he joined his very first protest against Syria's regime, Bahr Nahhas still demonstrates every week with unwaning energy, even if the slogans have changed.

Just like he has since 2011, the 45-year-old tilemaker carefully paints clever slogans on protest banners before each Friday rally in his rebel-held hometown of Maaret al-Numan, in Syria's northwest Idlib.

But their tone has evolved, as popular demonstrations spiralled into active conflict, foreign powers got involved, and the area around him became home to diehard jihadists.

In his very first protest in March 2011, Nahhas demanded "freedom and dignity" in solidarity with other cities rising up against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"I'll never forget those days for the rest of my life," said the tall, olive-skinned father of five.

Protesters would kiss and hug each other, Nahhas recalled, exhilarated by the prospect of speaking out freely against Syria's iron-fisted regime.

"We hoped to bring down the regime in just a few days or weeks," he said, his hair and beard greying.

Instead, a drawn-out conflict has seen Russia-backed regime troops slowly roll back rebel and jihadist gains nationwide, until this summer they started to mass around the Idlib region.

That prompted residents of Idlib, including Nahhas, to protest once more in order to head off the assault.

"By going down to the streets, we are telling people that we are a coexisting, peaceful people asking for freedom and dignity," he said.

Now, a shaky buffer zone is keeping regime troops away from the region, more than half of which is held by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance, led by former Al-Qaeda jihadists.

- 'Stronger than weapons' -

But for Nahhas, hardliners do not represent all of Idlib.

"We have gone out to protest again to tell the world that we are not terrorists," Nahhas said, wearing a short-sleeved stripy white and black shirt.

Bahr Nahhas (L) stands under a banner which reads: "We support who saved our souls when all the world let us down."

Most days of the week, he makes floor tiles, scooping a grey mixture into a square mould with large yellow gloves, before pushing each into a small oven.

But with the week's end approaching, he left his workshop to prepare banners for the town's Friday protests.

Inside a building still under construction, he knelt over a long white sheet, brushing curly Arabic letters across it in thick black paint.

Nahhas said he has lost many of his fellow protestors in Syria's war, which has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions.

"Some were killed, some were arrested and are being held in the regime's jails, some were tortured to death, and some emigrated to Turkey or to Europe," he said.

Others picked up weapons to fight, but Nahhas decided not to.

"Words can be stronger than weapons," Nahhas said, as he prepared signs in Arabic and neat, block-lettered English.

Outside, young men hoisted up protest signs in the street.

A young man in a black hoody stood inside the elevated metal lip of a bulldozer, reaching down for a banner before tying one end to a rusty pole.

- Jihadists 'kicked out' -

Maaret al-Numan's protests trace the arc of the Syrian conflict, rising up against the regime, the Islamic State group, and former Al-Qaeda fighters.

"We were among the first towns to go out into the streets against Daesh," Nahhas said, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

Inside a building still under construction, Bahr Nahhas paints curly Arabic letters across a protest banner

IS briefly held parts of Maaret al-Numan before opposition fighters expelled them in 2014, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

"Afterwards, we protested against Al-Nusra... and they were kicked out too," added Nahhas, referring to the group that later became HTS.

Turkish-backed rebels ousted HTS from the town this year after months of fighting, the Britain-based war monitor says.

All along, the town weathered bombardment by the regime and its Russian ally.

Nahhas said he is still haunted by an air strike on a primary school in the town several years ago that killed three students and maimed several others.

"I rushed to rescue the pupils after the raid, but I couldn't see anyone because of all the dust," he said.

"I found one of the students reaching out to me, begging. I carried him out to a car outside the school. His leg had been cut off."

Bahr Nahhas (R) first protested nearly eight years ago, marching against the Syrian regime

He pulled out one victim after the other, until rescue workers arrived. "I couldn't take it anymore and I collapsed," he said.

Friday's demonstration got underway after midday prayers.

Carrying a small child, Nahhas melted into the crowd of demonstrators, surrounded by banners he helped make.

Assad has vowed to eventually retake Maaret al-Numan and wider Idlib, but the veteran protester remained defiant.

"There's no way this revolution -- that has seen so many people killed and jailed -- can end before the regime is toppled," Nahhas said.
The Boeing-737 MAX 8, which went into service just a few months ago, crashed into the Java Sea off Indonesia's northern coast moments after it had asked to return to Jakarta on Monday

The smashed fuselage of a crashed Indonesian jetliner may have been found, the country's military chief said Wednesday, two days after the deadly accident feared to have killed 189 people.

Using sonar technology, Hadi Tjahjanto said authorities were confident they had pinpointed the location of the Boeing 737-MAX plane that plunged into the sea on Monday.

"We strongly believe we've determined the coordinates of the JT 610 fuselage," he told reporters in Jakarta.

"However, it has not yet been confirmed that it is part of the fuselage."

Authorities have been searching for the downed jet's location in water some 30-40 meters (100-130 feet) deep in the hopes of also finding flight data recorders expected to be crucial to the crash investigation.

The development comes as Boeing officials are to meet with Lion Air on Wednesday, after Indonesia ordered an inspection of the US plane maker's 737-MAX jets.

Authorities have been searching for the downed jet's location in water some 30-40 meters (100-130 feet) deep

The Boeing-737 MAX 8, which went into service just a few months ago, crashed into the Java Sea off Indonesia's northern coast moments after it had asked to return to Jakarta on Monday.

Aviation experts say it is too early to determine what caused the accident.

But Lion's admission that the plane had an unspecified technical issue on a previous flight -- as well as the plane's abrupt nose dive just 12 minutes after takeoff -- have raised questions about whether the plane had any faults specific to the newly released model.

The accident has also resurrected concerns about Indonesia's patchy air safety record which led to a now-lifted ban on its planes entering US and European airspace.

"When you have a new plane, you expect the thing to work exactly like it's supposed to in the written contract.. It's in everyone's interest for this thing to work," Stephen Wright, aviation expert at the University of Leeds, told AFP.

- 'Many questions' -

Indonesia's transport minister ordered an inspection of all 737-MAX aircraft on Tuesday, while representatives from Boeing are due to meet with the budget carrier, said Lion spokesman Ramaditya Handoko.

Lion Air Group Managing Director Daniel Putut said the airline had "many questions" for the Chicago-based company and they would discuss the delivery of remaining aircraft 737-MAX models, Indonesian news website tirto.id reported.

The Boeing-737 MAX 8, which went into service just a few months ago, crashed into the Java Sea off Indonesia's northern coast moments after it had asked to return to Jakarta on Monday

Lion Air, Indonesia's biggest budget airline which has been engaged in huge expansion, announced earlier this year it was buying 50 Boeing-737 MAX 10 jets for $6.24 billion.

Boeing suspended release of the fuel-efficient 737 MAX just days before its first commercial delivery last year due to an issue with engines.

But the narrow-body jet was subsequently cleared for commercial delivery and has had thousands of orders from more than 100 customers worldwide.

Boeing said in a statement it was providing technical assistance at the request and under the direction of Indonesian authorities, but did not comment on the reported meeting.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will also help out into the investigation of the downed plane.

Search teams have taken up the grim task of separating human remains from plane debris and recovered personal effects, sending the body parts -- including from an infant -- to hospital for DNA testing.

Some 48 body bags filled with limbs and other remains have so far been recovered, authorities said Wednesday.

Some 48 body bags filled with limbs and other remains have so far been recovered, authorities said Wednesday

Dozens of divers were taking part in the recovery effort along with helicopters and ships.

Indonesia's search and rescue agency has all but ruled out finding any survivors from the high-impact crash.

The plane was 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).

The pilot and co-pilot had more than 11,000 hours flying time between them and had undergone recent medical checkups and drug testing, the carrier said.
The China International Import Expo will draw 3,000 foreign companies from 130 countries, including Ford, Samsung and Tesla, officials say

President Xi Jinping opens a huge Shanghai import fair next week at which armies of Chinese companies will shop for billions of dollars in foreign goods as China seeks to counter charges that its markets aren't open.

But not everyone is buying it.

China's trade war adversary, the United States, is pointedly snubbing a gathering that will draw several overseas leaders, and foreign business figures privately dismiss it as a diversion that allows China to delay lifting barriers that protect its markets.

It remains unknown whether Xi will use the China International Import Expo to announce new reforms, but Beijing insists the event already shows its willingness to reduce the surpluses it enjoys with trading partners.

Xi has called it "no ordinary exhibition" and a sign of China "actively opening up markets".

But the November 5-10 expo also sends another signal: as China pivots from an exports-based economy toward one based on the consumer buying power of its 1.4 billion people, other countries will need to play ball if they want a piece of that action.

"It's China saying 'we are an increasingly important import market, and you're welcome to deal with us," said Gary Liu, president of the China Financial Reform Institute.

"But if you want to start a trade war, then we can just trade with other countries."

- Aggressive lobbying -

Organisers say more than 3,000 foreign companies from 130 countries will come, including General Motors, Ford, Microsoft, Samsung, Walmart, Tesla, and Foxconn.

Even tech giants Facebook and Google are signed up. Facebook is blocked in China, while Google pulled out years ago over censorship and cyber-attacks, but both are seen as eyeing new ways into the giant market.

With the all-powerful Xi personally touting the expo, foreign business and diplomatic sources told AFP that China has aggressively recruited attendees, with some saying they are participating largely to please their hosts.

China's President Xi Jinping, who will open the event, has called a sign of China 'actively opening up markets'

Microsoft founder Bill Gates will join a business forum, but the touchy optics of attending a China import expo amid trade tension means few big-name American CEOs are confirmed, and most major companies contacted by AFP declined detailed comment.

There are no plans for a "high-level" American government presence, the US embassy said.

An embassy spokesman instead called for concrete Chinese steps to "level the playing field" for US companies.

Foreign government and business groups have long complained over preferential treatment for Chinese firms, market access barriers, restrictive red tape, inadequate intellectual property protection and forced technology transfer -- issues US President Donald Trump has seized upon.

- Buying alliances -

"China needs to make the necessary reforms to end its unfair trade practices that are harming the world economy," the embassy spokesman told AFP.

That prompted a retort from China's foreign ministry, which said that snubbing the expo while asking for market access was "extremely contradictory and hard to understand".

The November 5-10 expo will take place in Shanghai

China, meanwhile, has corralled thousands of businesses nationwide into "buying alliances", with organisers and state media playing up expectations for headline-grabbing deals.

Shanghai's "buying alliance" alone will include more than 18,000 companies armed with 12 billion yuan ($1.7 billion) of "intended" spending, an official with the city's alliance told AFP.

Jacob Parker, who heads the Beijing office of the US-China Business Council -- which represents US companies doing business in China -- said the expo could help some companies improve their networking and create more business.

"There is nothing negative about the expo," Parker said.

But from the standpoint of reducing trade barriers, "I don't know if it's meant to be a means to that end", he added.

"We would certainly appreciate any announcements (about market reforms) next week, but when I talk to our members, the sense is that we have heard a lot of promises to date, but we need to see measurable progress on that front."
Louis Cha (L) was a household name across the Chinese-speaking world

Renowned Hong Kong author Louis Cha, whose epic martial arts thrillers inspired numerous films and sold some 300 million copies worldwide, has died aged 94.

Known by his pen name Jin Yong, Cha is a household name across the Chinese-speaking world -- while overseas his novels have drawn parallels to the "Lord of the Rings" series.

Packed with hard-hitting kung fu masters and intricate plotlines, his books bring to life the different dynasties of ancient China.

They have given rise to TV dramas and video games as well as dozens of movies.

Cha died in Hong Kong on Tuesday after a long illness.

Among his most famous works are "The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", "Deer and the Cauldron", and "Legends of the Condor Heroes" -- published in English for the first time in February.

Cha also founded Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao in 1959, now a leading publication in Hong Kong.

He was "a learned man and an acclaimed writer," Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam said, adding she felt "deep sorrow" over his death.

"Professor Cha's works inherited the tradition of Chinese classics with the integration of history and culture," she said, adding that his works were influential across the literary landscape.

Other glowing tributes were paid to the writer, with culture critic Oliver Chou telling the South China Morning Post Cha could be compared to William Shakespeare.

Late former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping "was said to have sent secret agents to get him a set of Cha's novels in Hong Kong in the early 1980s", Chou told the newspaper.

Hong Kong film star Andy Lau, who appeared in the TV adaptation of "Legends of the Condor Heroes" in the 1980s, described Cha's death as a "huge loss", the Straits Times reported.

And local columnist Chip Tsao, a friend of Cha, praised him as "the greatest storyteller in Chinese literature for more than 300 years".

In 2004, the Hong Kong-based writer was honoured with France's highest award for the arts, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (the Order of Arts and Letters).
Charities and NGOs play a pivotal role in Pakistan, where funding for social programmes is minimal, more than 20 million children are out of school and the neo-natal mortality rate is the highest in the world

Foreign aid groups are being forced out of Pakistan, where the need for their services remains immense, in a move analysts say is fuelled by suspicions of foreign spying.

Eighteen international NGOs will leave Pakistan by December after being given notice earlier this month to liquidate their operations within 60 days, spreading uncertainty among humanitarian organisations.

The expulsion follows years of mounting mistrust of aid groups by intelligence agencies, in a country where conspiracy theories are rife and spying accusations against foreigners common.

"The intelligence agencies see western NGOs as proxies of foreign spy agencies because they are overly sensitive about the country's nuclear assets and defence installations," said military analyst and retired general Talat Masood.

Open Society Foundations, World Vision and several other of the world's most prominent non-profits are among those given their marching orders, along with charities that have spent decades in Pakistan and invested millions of dollars.

Few groups have dared to comment, even after receiving little or no detail on why they have been asked to shutter their operations and reapply for registration in six months time.

Only ActionAid has denounced the decision, saying the move was "a worrying escalation of recent attacks on civil society, academics and journalists".

The eviction has ratcheted up pressure on remaining aid groups who worry that speaking out may jeopardise their own operations in Pakistan.

"There is a dimension of fear. Other NGOs are hoping that if they don't make too much fuss, they might be saved," said one NGO worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

- Back to Bin Laden -

The ouster is the culmination of a crackdown that began taking shape years ago.

Relations between NGOs and officials began to spiral in the wake of the US commando raid on Pakistani soil that killed Osama Bin Laden in 2011.

Following the operation Islamabad expelled all expatriate staff from Save the Children, accusing the group of fostering links with Shakeel Afridi -- a Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA hunt down the al-Qaeda supremo.

A closure notice has been pasted on office door of the NGO ActionAid in Islamabad

Spying allegations have flourished ever since.

"The problem in Pakistan is that the intelligence agencies here are not answerable to anyone," said Human Rights Commission of Pakistan spokesman I.A. Rehman.

"Since Shakeel Afridi was associated with one NGO, our agencies decided to condemn and curb all the other NGOs."

Visits by intelligence agencies to aid offices are now common, while staff movements are restricted and questions about their motives the norm.

The interior ministry increased pressure in 2015, asking foreign NGOs to re-register to ensure the "transparency" of their finances and operations.

Sixty-six groups had their applications accepted, according to the ministry, while the rest were left pending.

"You can't challenge anything. You are really at their disposal. One day, you are acceptable, another one, you won't be. INGOs are on a really thin line," said another aid worker.

The groups play a pivotal role in Pakistan, where funding for social programmes is minimal, more than 20 million children are out of school and the neo-natal mortality rate is the highest in the world.

At least 11 million people will be affected by the expulsion, along with the "loss" of $130 million in aid, according to the Pakistan Humanitarian Forum.

- 'Bad signal' -

Pakistan's newly minted human rights minister Shireen Mazari defended the action, saying authorities are sceptical about the impact of international NGOs.

"A lot of them have been spending money on themselves and... we are not clear about the agenda of a lot of these INGOs," the minister told AFP. "But if they were helping millions of people, Pakistan would be a very different, developed place."

"If they fulfil the law, they are working. But if they don't meet the requirements, then they have to leave," Mazari added without offering details on how the listed groups might be breaking laws.

Envoys from the US, European Union and several other western embassies have jointly lobbied the government to reconsider the eviction.

A diplomat who spoke on the condition of anonymity slammed the "schizophrenia" of officials demanding more money from donors while simultaneously expelling NGOs.

Since 2014, Pakistani companies have benefited from duty and quota exemptions on the European single market, which boosted their exports from 8 to 13 billion euros in 2018.

But that status remains conditional on progress in terms of human rights and development.

"This is exactly the kind of bad signal that they could have done without," said a senior European diplomat, adding Pakistan -- with its fragile finances -- was playing "with fire".
Rangers release the baby turtles onto the beach and into the sea, where myriad predators await

Peril plagues the lives of Myanmar's baby turtles: if crabs don't get them before they scramble from beach to sea, then poachers or fishing trawlers might finish them off instead.

The endangered green turtle, shown here, is one of five turtle species present in Myanmar's waters

Myanmar's waters boast five of the world's seven sea turtle species, including the critically endangered hawksbill, the endangered green turtle and the olive ridley, leatherback and loggerhead turtles -- all listed as vulnerable.

"If we don't conserve the turtles properly, they will all disappear in the near future," head ranger Phone Maw tells AFP on Thameehla island in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta.

Rangers dig up the newly-laid eggs and rebury them in a protected area

The 56-year-old has devoted most of the last two decades to the creatures, scouring the island's 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometre) long coastline three times a night for nesting females.

The turtles lay around 100 eggs in a hole dug with their hind flippers before covering the clutch

The reptiles, which can grow to more than a metre in length and weigh as much as a large piano, lay around 100 eggs in a hole dug with their hind flippers before covering the clutch with sand and returning to the water.

Poachers are the first danger, even at this conservation site dedicated to the marine reptiles.

Ranger Phone Maw watches a staff member dig up turtle eggs in a protected area

Turtle eggs can sell for a dollar each, around 10 times the price of a chicken egg.

- Crab gauntlet -

So Phone Maw and his colleagues dig up the newly laid eggs and rebury them in a protected area until they hatch 50 to 60 days later.

Crabs scuttle to drag away some hatchlings while more fortunate siblings floundered to the frothy waters

Putting them back at the right depth is crucial.

Sea turtles have temperature-dependent sex determination -- warmer temperatures produce more females while cooler temperatures result in more males.

Once hatched, the rangers release the baby turtles onto the beach and into the sea, where myriad predators await.

The reptiles can grow to more than a metre in length and weigh as much as a large piano

AFP watched as an army of red crabs scuttled to drag away some hatchlings while more fortunate siblings floundered to the frothy waters, the first hurdle of their existence complete.

But trawler nets are the biggest culprit in the turtles' dwindling population, entangling the creatures which must surface to breathe.

The sex of sea turtles is determined by the temperature of their eggs during incubation

Illegal dynamite fishing and sand dredging are also lethal and the effect of marine pollution has been devastating.

Southeast Asia's waters are choked with plastic and more than half of the eight million tonnes dumped into the world's oceans each year comes from just five countries: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand.

Trawler nets kill large numbers of turtles, entangling them and leaving them unable to surface to breathe

In June, a dead green turtle washed up on a Thai beach, its stomach jammed with plastic shreds, rubber bands and other debris.

Days before, an autopsy of a pilot whale revealed 80 plastic bags inside.

This week a WWF report warned that unbridled human consumption had destroyed much wildlife worldwide, wiping out 60 percent of all fish, birds, amphibians, mammals and reptiles in the last half century.

This week a WWF report warned that unbridled human consumption had destroyed much wildlife worldwide

Just two out of every 1,000 turtle hatchlings used to survive until adulthood, Phone May says.

"Now it's even lower because of all the pollution," he adds sadly.

-- This story accompanies an AFP photo essay by Ye Aung Thu --
Reporters without Borders (RSF) said supporters of former president Mahinda Rajapakse stormed state-owned media institutions shortly after he was controversially named prime minister on Friday

Sri Lanka's journalists have become caught in the centre of the bitter power struggle between the country's rival prime ministers, an international media watchdog said Wednesday, urging authorities to ensure their safety.

Reporters without Borders (RSF) said supporters of former president Mahinda Rajapakse stormed state-owned media institutions shortly after he was controversially named prime minister on Friday.

Sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has refused to hand over power however, saying the move was illegal.

"The violence with which Mahinda Rajapakse's bully boys took over the state media is absolutely unacceptable," said an RSF statement.

"We call on all parties to act responsibly by guaranteeing journalists' safety and by respecting their editorial independence, so that impartial news coverage is available to the public."

RSF said that minutes after Rajapakse was sworn in, his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party activists "invaded the newsrooms of various state media".

"They took control of the two public service TV channels, Rupavahini and ITN, the radio stations that are part of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, and the Lake House press group," it added.

RSF said the SLPP activists "forced journalists at the Daily News and the Lake House group's two leading weeklies, Silumina and Sunday Observer, to change the front pages of their next issues".

Journalists said that in general state media has become pro-Rajapakse while private networks have kept up coverage of Wickremesinghe and his party.

- 'Darkest hours' -

RSF said the constitutional crisis recalled the "darkest hours of the Rajapakse presidency between 2005 and 2015," when he lost an election to current president Maithripala Sirisena.

During Rajapakse's tenure, 17 journalists and media workers were killed, according to rights organisations.

In 2015, Wickremesinghe helped Sirisena to defeat Rajapakse and formed a unity government, but the two have drifted apart over policy and personality clashes.

Tens of thousands of Wickremesinghe supporters blocked roads in Colombo on Tuesday, stepping up a showdown with Rajapakse.

Official sources said parliament speaker Karu Jayasuriya was to meet with the president on Wednesday to try to convince him to end a suspension of parliament so that deputies can vote on which prime minister they back.

Sirisena suspended parliament on Saturday to forestall any attempt by Wickremesinghe to prove he has a majority among the 225 lawmakers. Jayasuriya has warned the crisis could lead to a "bloodbath" on the streets if the assembly does not hold a vote soon.

Behind the scenes, the rivals are seeking to tempt lawmakers to defect to bolster their numbers if a vote is held.

Rajapakse, 72, has given five legislators from Wickremesinghe's party ministerial portfolios in his cabinet after persuading them to change sides.

Wickremesinghe has convinced at least two lawmakers from Sirisena's camp to join his United National Party.

Following the latest defections, Wickremesinghe has 104 MPs in the 225-seat chamber while Rajapakse and Sirisena together have 99. A majority of the 22 remaining MPs are expected to back Wickremesinghe in any vote, observers said.
Alexander Barter, 21, was arrested after an undercover cop responded to his ad on the dark web

A Texan has been arrested after advertising online that he wanted to try necrophilia and cannibalism with a young girl.

Alexander Barter, 21, was arrested after an undercover cop posing as a father willing to offer his daughter responded to the post on the dark web, police in Florida said Tuesday.

"It's probably the most unusual and the most disgusting case I've ever seen," Wayne Ivey, the sheriff of Brevard County in Florida, told a press conference.

The investigation began when a Brevard County police officer noticed a bizarre ad on the internet.

"I'd like to try necrophilia and cannibalism and see how it feels to take a life," Barter's post read.

The officer contacted Barter and made out that he was a man willing to make his underage daughter available to him.

"I'm not into role playing. I want to actually rape, kill and cannibalize her," Barter warned as he accepted the man's offer.

The officer traveled to Texas to meet Barter, who put up no fight as he was arrested on October 19.

He even thanked the police for preventing him from going ahead with the plan, because he said he could not control himself, said a statement from Ivey's office.

Barter faces charges including criminal solicitation and conspiracy to commit capital murder. If convicted he faces life in prison.
Machar is to be reinstated as vice president under the terms of the peace deal

South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar returned to the capital Juba for the first time in more than two years on Wednesday to take part in a peace ceremony, an AFP reporter said.

Machar, who under the terms of the peace deal is to be reinstated as vice president, had not set foot in the city since he fled in July 2016 under a hail of gunfire when an earlier peace accord collapsed.

The rebel chief arrived at Juba airport at 9:30am (0630 GMT) and was welcomed by President Salva Kiir, Machar's former ally turned bitter enemy.

The two are to join regional leaders at the ceremony later Wednesday to publicly welcome the most recent peace agreement, signed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in September.

It was not immediately clear if Machar would remain in Juba after the ceremony, as his aides have expressed concerns over his safety in the city.

South Sudan's civil war began in December 2013 when Kiir accused Machar -- then his deputy -- of plotting a coup.

The conflict split the country along ethnic lines and seen mass rape, the forced recruitment of child soldiers and attacks on civilians. It has caused one of the world's deepest humanitarian crises.

Several ceasefires and peace agreements have so far failed to end the fighting that has killed an estimated 380,000 people, uprooted a third of the population, forced nearly two-and-a-half million into exile as refugees and triggered bouts of deadly famine.
Afghanistan

An Afghan army helicopter carrying 25 people crashed in western Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing all those on board, officials said.

The aircraft crashed due to "bad weather" in Anar Dara district, which borders Iran, Farah provincial governor spokesman Nasir Mehri said.

The Taliban claimed its militants brought it down.

Both pilots and 23 passengers were killed.

Among the dead were the deputy army corps commander for western Afghanistan and the head of the Farah provincial council, Mehri said.

Provincial council member Dadullah Qaneh said the helicopter hit a mountain peak in poor weather en route to neighbouring Herat province.

Senior government and military officials often travel by helicopter in regions where the Taliban has a large presence.

Helicopter crashes are not uncommon in the mountainous, war-torn country.

In September, an Afghan military helicopter carrying weapons and ammunition burst into flames during an "emergency landing" in Farah, killing at least four people.

Earlier that month at least 12 people were killed, including two Ukrainians, when a helicopter owned by a Moldovan company crashed in the northern province of Balkh.

The aircraft also was carrying munitions and exploded on impact, Afghan officials said.

Western forces have been rebuilding Afghanistan's air force, which was decimated by the civil war of the 1990s and the turbulent period of Taliban rule that ended in 2001.

NATO's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan has been training pilots and ground controllers across the country as part of a modernisation effort.

US Forces' officials told AFP in February that Afghanistan's air force includes four C-130 transport aircraft, 24 C-208 supply planes, 24 Russian Mi-17 helicopters that will be replaced by 159 UH-60 Black Hawks, 12 A-29 Super Tacano attack planes, and 25 MD-530 attack helicopters.
Central American migrants are moving through southern Mexico in a second US-bound caravan

Another migrant caravan like the one that has infuriated US President Donald Trump and fueled his anti-immigrant message ahead of next week's election is on the move in southern Mexico.

This second, smaller US-bound group of around 2,000 poor people managed to cross the Suchiate River separating Mexico from Guatemala to the south on Monday.

At one point they clashed with Mexican security forces on a bridge and one member of the caravan was reported killed.

On Tuesday they covered about 25 kilometers (16 miles) and settled down for the night in the town of Tapachula in the state of Chiapas, an AFP reporter said.

Like the larger caravan, this one is made up mostly of Hondurans and includes women and children.

And like their colleagues moving further up north, these people have rejected an offer from Mexico of medical care, schooling for their kids and temporary work permits if they stop traveling and request asylum in Chiapas or Oaxaca.

The first caravan, which has dwindled and now numbers some 4,000 people, according to an aide group called Pueblos sin Fronteras, arrived Tuesday in the town of Juchitan, in Oaxaca.

They were spending Tuesday night in tents in an abandoned bus station.

Trump has announced he is sending more than 5,000 soldiers to shore up the US-Mexico border as he talks up what he calls a migrant invasion to appeal to his right-wing base ahead of the congressional vote next Tuesday.
Thailand is rolling out plans to legalise medical marijuana as the country hopes to cash in on a multi-billion dollar industry with a product its supporters hail as some of the world's best.

Several nations have embraced the use of medicinal cannabis, including Canada, Australia, Israel, and more than half the states in the US.

But Thailand would be the first country in Asia to do so, tapping into a market that US-based Grand View Research has estimated could reach US$55.8 billion by 2025.

Thailand is pushing ahead with plans to become the first country in Asia to legalise medicinal cannabis, which they believe will be among the world's best

A draft bill to permit its limited use has been sent to the military junta's National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

'We have submitted the bill to the speaker,' Jet Sirathraanon, chairman of the NLA's standing committee of public health, told AFP, adding that it will have its first reading in the junta's rubber-stamp parliament in less than one month.

The cannabis would be 'for medication only, not for recreation,' he added.

Marijuana remains illegal in Thailand, with stiff penalties for drug trafficking even though the country remains a key regional transit hub and producer of narcotics.

But the idea of medical marijuana has long been more acceptable to broad swathes of society in the Buddhist-majority country and junta officials have previously mooted the need to reform drug laws.

Jet said Thailand has delayed making the change for far too long while other countries such as Canada and Australia have seized the moment, including legalising exports.

Thailand would follow in the footsteps of more than half the states in the US which allow cannabis for medicinal use (pictured, a recreational dispensary in Oregon)

He cited the revenue-generating possibilities that amending the laws would provide for Thailand as well as the beneficial effects it could have on patients in pain.

He also praised the quality of the Southeast Asian country's plants, which thrive particularly well in the Golden Triangle borderlands of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.

'I'm doing this because it's an opportunity for Thai people,' he said. 'Thailand has the best marijuana in the world.'

Experts agree and see similar potential.

'Today, Thailand can produce awesome cannabis at a fraction of the cost of Western growers,' said Jim Plamondon, VP of Marketing at the Thai Cannabis Corporation, described as the country's first legal marijuana firm.

'Tomorrow, Thailand will reclaim its cultural legacy, by becoming the world's leading grower, processor, and manufacturer of cannabis products,' he said.

'Any company that is serious about cannabis should start moving its supply chain to Thailand.'
Saudi Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb was the first Saudi official to acknowledge that the killing was "premeditated" based on the results of Turkey's investigation

Saudi Arabia's chief public prosecutor met members of Turkey's intelligence agency overnight as part of an investigation into the murder of journalist and Riyadh critic Jamal Khashoggi, local media reported Wednesday.

Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb, who travelled to Istanbul this week, left his hotel around 2110 GMT on Tuesday escorted by a convoy and went to the regional head offices of the Turkish Intelligence Organisation (MIT), the private DHA news agency reported.

There was no immediate information on what was discussed.

Khashoggi, a 59-year-old Washington Post contributor, was killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain paperwork ahead of his upcoming wedding. His body has not yet been found.

The case has brought near unprecedented international scrutiny on Saudi Arabia and its powerful Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, whom Khashoggi had criticised.

After weeks of shifting official narratives, Saudi Arabia has said the journalist was killed by a "rogue operation" and arrested 18 people allegedly connected to his death.

Mojeb was the first Saudi official to acknowledge that the killing was "premeditated" based on the results of Turkey's investigation.

He met with Istanbul chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan twice this week and visited the consulate -- the scene of the murder -- on Tuesday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly called on Riyadh to reveal the location of the body, as well as who ordered the hit.

Abdulkadir Selvi, a well-connected pro-government columnist in Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper, said the Saudi prosecutor refused to share any information with the Turkish authorities during his visit.

"It seems the Saudi prosecutor is trying to obtain the information in the hands of Turkey rather than share the information he has," Selvi wrote Wednesday.

He also claimed that Mojeb was in pursuit of Khashoggi's phone, which the journalist handed to his Turkish fiancee before entering the consulate.

That request sparked "uneasiness" on the Turkish side, the columnist wrote, noting that Mojeb refused to share the testimonies of the 18 suspects. Riyadh has rejected Ankara's repeated requests for the men to sent to Turkey for trial.

Selvi claimed the prosecutor must know the location of Khashoggi's body because, he said, the 18 suspects had confessed.

"Why did the chief prosecutor hide this information from the Turkish side?" Selvi asked.

"Because the chief prosecutor is working to save crown prince by covering up the investigation rather than shed light on the murder."
Indian officials were concerned that community groups could stage protests to demand compensation for land taken to erect the Statue of Unity

India inaugurated the world's tallest statue on Wednesday with fireworks, folk dances and floral tributes, deploying tight security amid an outcry by local groups over the soaring cost of the 182-metre (600-feet) sculpture of an independence hero.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel describing the completion of his pet project as "a day that will be remembered in the history of India".

Air force jets flew over the giant figure and clouds of rose petals were dropped from helicopters onto its head as Modi bent in front of the statue on the ground.

Modi hailed Sardar Patel's "strategic thinking" in bringing together the disparate country after independence in 1947 and described the Statue of Unity as "a symbol of our engineering and technical prowess".

More than 5,000 armed police guarded the huge site in a remote corner of Gujarat state, with Anand Mazgaonkar, a community group leader in Narmada district, accusing plain clothes officers of detaining 12 people late Tuesday. Police denied the claims.

Modi hailed Sardar Patel's "strategic thinking" in bringing together the disparate country after independence in 1947

But the authorities took no chances in case community groups staged protests to condemn the decision to spend 29.9 billion rupees ($400 million) -- much of it public funds -- to build the statue over a nearly four-year period. Hundreds of Chinese have been among the 3,500 workers involved in its construction.

Drones and helicopters kept watch on the area, according to police, after the chiefs of 22 villages signed a letter calling on Modi to stay away from the inauguration.

Posters of Modi with Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani were torn down or had their faces blackened at the weekend. Police guarded new posters put in their place.

- 'Iron Man' -

Local legislator Chotu Vasava said: "Tribal groups have been exploited by different governments, the ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is repeating it again."

Air force jets flew over the giant figure and clouds of rose petals were dropped from helicopters onto its head

"I am not against Sardar, but what is the use of the statue if the people on the land have to suffer and are moved from their homes?"

The Gujarat government said the 185 families moved to make way for the statue had been compensated and given 1,200 acres (475 hectares) of land.

More than 80 percent of the local population are from tribal groups with special protected status.

In the largely tribal town of Dediapada, roughly 60 kilometres (37 miles) from the statue, villagers shuttered shops and closed the main market for the day in protest.

Modi's nationalist government made the Statue of Unity one of its flagship projects ahead of a national election next year

"We are still facing problems of water, health infrastructure and employment," one resident, Vikram Vasava, told a local broadcaster.

"How will the statue help us?"

Sardar Patel was a deputy prime minister in India's first post-independence government. He became known as "the Iron Man" by convincing feuding states -- sometimes with a threat of force -- to join the new united country.

His name had been largely overshadowed by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that has dominated Indian politics since 1947. But Modi-inspired nationalists have sought to put him back in the forefront, with critics accusing them of appropriating his legacy.

Modi paid tribute while the air force jets roared overhead and dance troupes performed

The statue is more than twice the size of New York's Statue of Liberty and also dwarfs the 128-metre (400-feet) high Spring Temple Buddha in China, the world's next-biggest statue. It is made up of nearly 100,000 tonnes of concrete and steel.

Online booking to visit the Statue of Unity has opened with a 350 rupee ($4.75) admission fee for the 153-metre-high observation deck.

Indian authorities hope the statue will attract 15,000 visitors a day.

India is also working on a giant statue of 17th-century warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji, riding a horse and brandishing a sword, which should dominate the Mumbai shoreline from 2021. The current design would make it 212 metres high.
Khashoggi, a 59-year-old Washington Post contributor, was killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain paperwork ahead of his upcoming wedding. His body has not been found

Saudi Arabian officials have appeared unwilling to "genuinely cooperate" with Turkey's investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a senior Turkish official said Wednesday.

"The Saudi officials seemed primarily interested in finding out what evidence the Turkish authorities had against the perpetrators," the official told AFP on the condition of anonymity.

"We did not get the impression that they were keen on genuinely cooperating with the investigation," the official said, referring to the latest contacts between Ankara and Riyadh.

The comments come as Saudi Arabia's chief public prosecutor is in Istanbul to meet with Turkish authorities as part of the ongoing investigation.

However Turkish media has reported that Saudi Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb has refused to share information from Riyadh's own investigation since arriving on Sunday.

Khashoggi, a 59-year-old Washington Post contributor, was killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain paperwork ahead of his upcoming wedding. His body has not been found.

The case has brought near unprecedented international scrutiny on Saudi Arabia and its powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom Khashoggi had criticised.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly called on Saudi authorities to reveal the location of Khashoggi's body and who ordered his murder.

The Saudi prosecutor met with Istanbul chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan twice this week at Istanbul's main court and visited the consulate -- the scene of the murder -- on Tuesday.

The private DHA news agency reported that Mojeb also held talks at the regional head offices of the Turkish Intelligence Organisation (MIT) overnight.

But there was no immediate information on what was discussed.
Nigeria has an unenviable reputation around the world for corruption and is known particularly for its email scams

When one of Africa's richest men joined Twitter and posted his first tweet on May 11 this year, the fanfare in his native Nigeria was immediate.

News that Femi Otedola had opened an account spread like wildfire and the billionaire head of Forte Oil appeared to relish the engagement.

"Social media isn't exactly my forte but I learn fast," he wrote, even signing his tweets "Ote$".

But within hours of his Twitter debut, numerous accounts using his name appeared online. Some that had been dormant for years suddenly sprang to life.

Unsuspecting users would not necessarily have been able to identify which were real and which were fake, as Twitter suspended its "blue tick" verifications in November 2017.

Soon, Otedola was forced to distance himself from news reports based on tweets posted by one imitation account with more than 8,000 followers.

The account described itself as a "parody" but in practice appeared anything but.

Otedola announced that he and a charitable foundation set up by the Nigerian businessman Tony Elumelu were offering 10 million naira ($27,400/24,000 euros) to up to 50 young entrepreneurs.

The imitation account repeated the offer and urged people who responded to send their details to a "PA", who would then give further instructions.

Elumelu's foundation even responded to the tweets from the imposter, inadvertently giving it credibility.

Otedola expressed his disappointment at the attempts at online fraud in his name and in June tweeted he would leave Twitter until he was verified. He has not tweeted since.

- Email scams -

Nigeria has an unenviable reputation around the world for corruption and is known particularly for its "419" email scams, named after the section of the penal code covering fraud.

Fake social media accounts of Nigerian celebrities, government ministers, news pages and blogs have been created by online con artists

Fake social media accounts of celebrities, government ministers, news pages and blogs appear to be the equivalent of modern-day "yahoo boys" -- online con artists.

Many accounts are designed to look like established figures and organisations.

Tolu Ogunlesi, a media adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, said the government had reported "hundreds" to tech companies since 2015.

"A particular case was that we had people impersonating the minister of finance on Facebook. They were using the account to financially defraud people," he told AFP.

"A lot of them run pay-for-job schemes. It's a common scam, asking people to pay some money in exchange for a job."

Before the end of the year, the government will publish a database of confirmed social media pages of elected officials, he added.

But Ogunlesi predicted that misinformation online will still increase as elections approach in February next year when former vice president Atiku Abubakar will challenge Buhari.

- 'Mischief makers' -

Abubakar's campaign team itself has had to publicly distance itself from accounts in his name on Facebook that have been liked by tens of thousands of people.

One in the name of Peter Obi, his pick for vice president, had more "likes" than his official page.

Even the algorithms that govern social media sites are often tricked by fake news pages, which are designed to look like established news sites with only minor differences

The accounts include posts encouraging supporters to share pro-Abubakar slogans online for money.

Another on Twitter and Facebook recently posted that Abubakar was grateful to have received support from a LGBT rights group.

But there is no evidence of any such organisation having done so. Nevertheless, the claim made it into a number of Nigerian newspapers quoting an official who appears not to exist.

Many apparent support groups based on ethnicity, gender or religion are often fabricated in Nigeria to attack rival positions.

In this case, LGBT support would likely be frowned upon in Nigeria, where same-sex relationships are banned and religious conservatives are hostile to the rights of sexual minorities.

"Whoever posted it did it for a desired backlash from a typically conservative audience," said Segun Showunmi, an aide to Abubakar.

"What we have observed is that mischief makers, sometimes the political opposition, try to make a mess, because the regulations on social media are not very strong yet."

- Baseless claims -

Even the algorithms that govern social media sites are often tricked by fake news pages, which are designed to look like established news sites, with only minor differences.

Last year, when Buhari was in London undergoing treatment for an unspecified illness, sites imitating Fox News and London's Metro newspaper announced his death.

Yet unverified pages and imitation sites often crop up in Facebook's "Suggested Pages" column, alongside established accounts.

One designed to look like the broadcaster African Independent Television (AIT), for example, has 46,000 followers.

But most of its posts are conspiratorial and baseless claims. Few posts link to articles and when they do, it is to blog sites unassociated with the real AIT.
The illiterate, Christian mother has been behind bars in a prison in central Pakistan, spending years in a cramped windowless cell during periods of solitary confinement

For the majority of Asia Bibi's life she lived in obscurity like many of Pakistan's downtrodden Christian minority, until a blasphemy allegation saw her sentenced to death in a case that divided the nation.

She was thrust into the spotlight in deeply conservative Muslim Pakistan, where even unsubstantiated accusations of disrespecting Islam can provoke death at the hands of mobs.

On Wednesday a government source confirmed she had finally left the country "of her own free will", marking the latest chapter in a decade-long saga.

The allegations against Bibi date back to 2009, when Muslim field labourers who were working alongside refused to share water with her because she was Christian.

An argument broke out and a Muslim woman later went to a local cleric and accused Bibi of committing blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed -- a charge punishable by death under legislation that rights groups say is routinely abused to target religious minorities and settle personal scores.

Bibi was convicted and sentenced to hang in 2010, despite her advocates maintaining her innocence and insisting the argument was a personal dispute.

The illiterate, Christian mother spent the next eight years behind bars, often in a cramped windowless cell during periods of solitary confinement.

Her husband Ashiq Mesih told AFP last year that the family was struggling to cope with the fallout of the case.

"Living in Pakistan for us is very difficult. We don't go out of our home and if we go, we come out very carefully," he said.

Their daughters Esham and Esha, who is mentally and physically disabled, were forced to live away from their father for some time over safety fears.

It is believed Bibi's daughters have already fled to Canada. Although it was not confirmed when Bibi may have left or where she may have gone, her lawyer, Saif ul Mulook, said he understood from "sources" that she was also in Canada.

Nothing has been confirmed officially by Islamabad and the Canadian government has given no information on Bibi's case.

- 'Justice prevailed' -

Bibi's plight drew the attention of international rights groups and quickly evolved into the most high-profile case in the country, with Pope Benedict XVI calling for her release in 2010.

Her case was also championed by liberal provincial governor Salmaan Taseer, who spoke out in support of Bibi and against intimidation by religious hardliners in repeated television appearances.

Taseer was later gunned down in broad daylight in Islamabad in 2011 by one of his own bodyguards who cited the governor's position on reforming the country's blasphemy laws as the motive.

The state hanged his assassin Mumtaz Qadri in 2016 in a Supreme Court decision that was hailed by progressives, but brought hardliners into the streets supporting Qadri and demanding Bibi's death.

For years, Bibi, who has asthma, continued to languish in prison even after her appeal reached the Supreme Court in 2014.

However in a landmark ruling last year, Pakistan's chief justice said her conviction had been "reversed".

Leading rights groups welcomed the decision even as religious extremists launched protests across the country and swarmed the streets in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, closing down key roads.

Bibi was set for immediate release following the Supreme Court's ruling. But in a deal to ease the unrest a review of the ruling was allowed.

The Supreme Court rejected the challenge against its decision in January this year, finally lifting the last legal hurdle against her.

However activists have long warned that freedom in Pakistan for Bibi would likely mean a life under threat by hardliners who have long called for her death.

Prior to her departure she was believed to have been held in protective custody since her acquittal.

Even as she faced an uncertain future, Bibi told AFP last year that the acquittal was an answered prayer.

"I had dreamed that the walls of the prison are falling apart," Bibi told AFP by phone at the time. "I can't believe it."
Mt Hicks is part of the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, which sits in New Zealand's southern alps

A climber who dug herself out to safety after being buried by an avalanche in New Zealand said Wednesday she was "absolutely broken" by the deaths of two German guides in the accident.

Jo Morgan was climbing Mt Hicks in New Zealand's southern alps with mountaineering guides Martin Hess and Wolfgang Maier, both German citizens.

The trio were attached to the same rope when a wall of snow collapsed, sending them crashing down the slope.

"They were buried and I was buried too, but I had my face out so I could continue to breathe," Morgan told Television New Zealand.

She spent 45 minutes digging herself out before realising that her companions had perished in the disaster.

"I'm absolutely broken," she said.

"Two of my very dear friends lost their lives today, under tragic circumstances. I just got really lucky."

New Zealand Mountain Guide Association president Jane Morris told the New Zealand Herald that the German climbers had extensive experience in the southern alps.

"Martin has called New Zealand home for the last 20 years and Wolfgang would come and work from now until around February guiding New Zealand summers," she said.

The 3,216-metre (10,551-foot) high Mt Hicks is part of the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park.
Relatives of those on board the doomed flight looks for belongings of their loved ones

Indonesian investigators said they were homing in on the black box from a crashed jetliner after locating its "pings" on Wednesday, two days after the jet crashed shortly after take-off with 189 people on board.

Retrieving the black box will be key to unlocking why the Boeing 737-MAX, one of the world's newest and most advanced commercial passenger jets, nosedived into the Java sea so soon after leaving Jakarta.

Authorities said they believed they were closing in on the main wreckage and had picked up the box's signals some 30-40 meters (100-130 feet) below the surface of the water off Indonesia's north coast, where the plane crashed Monday.

"We've detected the black box signal," Muhammad Syaugi, head of Indonesian search and rescue agency, told reporters in Jakarta.

"We could see a lot of passengers' belongings -- lifejackets, pants, clothes -- underwater not just on the surface," he added, saying the debris suggested the main fuselage should be nearby.

The black box contains flight data that shows the speed, altitude and direction of the plane, while the cockpit voice recorder keeps track of conversations and other sounds in the cockpit.

Authorities have been searching for the downed jet's location in water some 30-40 meters (100-130 feet) deep

Dozens of divers were taking part in the 1,000-strong personnel recovery effort along with helicopters and ships, but authorities have all but ruled out finding any survivors.

The development comes as Boeing officials were due to meet with Lion Air on Wednesday, after Indonesia ordered an inspection of the US plane maker's 737-MAX jets.

Indonesia's transport minister Budi Karya Sumadi took the unusual step of ordering the temporary removal of Lion Air's technical director and several other staff who cleared the flight, citing government authority over the aviation sector.

He later stressed that the measure meant to free up the technical director to help with the crash probe.

- 'Worst in the world' -

The Boeing-737 MAX 8, which went into service just a few months ago, crashed into the Java Sea off Indonesia's northern coast moments after it had asked to return to Jakarta on Monday

Aviation experts say it is too early to determine what caused the accident.

But Lion's admission that the plane had an unspecified technical issue on a previous flight -- as well as the plane's abrupt nosedive just 12 minutes after takeoff -- have raised questions about whether it had any faults specific to the newly released model, including a speed-and-altitude system malfunction.

"The bigger picture here is that you've got a lot of American carriers flying the same aircraft," Stephen Wright, aviation expert at the University of Leeds, told AFP.

"Is there (a problem) that could affect other aircraft?"

The crash has also resurrected concerns about Indonesia's patchy air safety record which led to a now-lifted ban on its planes entering US and European airspace.

Lion's co-founder Rusdi Kirana, now Indonesia's ambassador to Malaysia, said in a 2015 interview that "my airline is the worst in the world, but you don't have a choice".

Founded in 1999, the budget carrier capitalised on a boom in Indonesia's aviation industry, but has been plagued by safety woes and complaints over unreliable scheduling and poor service.

Lion was 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.

Indonesia's transport minister ordered an inspection of all 737-MAX aircraft on Tuesday

Indonesia's biggest low-cost carrier announced this year it was buying 50 Boeing-737 MAX 10 jets for $6.24 billion.

Boeing suspended release of the fuel-efficient 737 MAX just days before its first commercial delivery last year due to an engine issue.

But the single-aisle jet was subsequently cleared for commercial delivery and has had thousands of orders from more than 100 customers worldwide.

- 'Dad, I love you every day' -

Distraught relatives sifted through clothes, wallets and other retrieved personal effects on a Jakarta dockside, as authorities sent body parts to hospital for DNA testing

"He was the best husband in the world," 33-year-old Ningsi Ayorbaba said of her partner Ferdinand Paul Ayorbaba, who was on the flight.

"We had planned to celebrate our 15th anniversary in April...Today, I'm bringing in DNA samples."

Late Wednesday, forensic analysts said they had made their first confirmed identification -- a 24-year-old female chemical engineering graduate who described herself in an online blog as "energetic and highly motivated".

Among the items plucked from the water was a smartphone case with the image of a couple walking hand-in-hand over a bridge.

The story went viral online and the pair were later identified as Ine Yunita Savitri and her husband Wahjoe Noegrohantoro, who was on the downed jet. Savitri was not on the plane.

On Tuesday, their daughter Samantha posted the image to her Instagram account with the words: "Dad, I love you every day".
Reporters without Borders (RSF) said supporters of former president Mahinda Rajapakse stormed state-owned media institutions shortly after he was controversially named prime minister on Friday

Sri Lanka's attorney general Wednesday refused to endorse the president's dismissal of the prime minister for a former strongman accused of rights abuses, the clearest sign yet the move may be unconstitutional.

The country has been locked in a tense standoff between two rivals claiming to head Sri Lanka's government since Prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's shock sacking last Friday.

The president and parliamentary speaker held emergency talks Wednesday in a bid to work out a compromise and avoid a showdown, official sources close to both sides told AFP.

The crisis talks came after Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya cast fresh doubt on the legality of President Maithripala Sirisena's actions, declining to endorse them.

Jayasuriya's refusal bolstered Wickremesinghe's claim that the president acted outside the constitution by dumping him for Mahinda Rajapakse, a former president who ruled with an iron fist for a decade.

Wickremesinghe has refused to leave the prime minister's official residence and demanded Sirisena reconvene parliament so MPs can vote for a leader and end the constitutional crisis.

Sirisena had resisted international pressure to revoke his suspension of parliament for 20 days while his appointee Rajapakse has assumed his duties, naming a new cabinet and addressing bureaucrats at the finance ministry on Wednesday.

The two rivals are also jockeying for power behind the scenes, battling to tempt lawmakers from opposing sides to bolster their numbers if a vote is held.

The country has been locked in a tense standoff between two rivals claiming to head Sri Lanka's government

"Having regard to the role of the Attorney General under the constitution, I am of the view that expressing an opinion on the said questions would be deemed inappropriate," said Jayasuriya, the government's top legal advisor.

Sri Lanka's parliamentary speaker had asked Jayasuriya to provide his legal opinion as pressure builds on Sirisena to resolve the nearly week-long impasse that has left one dead in clashes.

Wickremesinghe amended the constitution after winning the premiership in 2015 to remove the president's power to sack prime ministers.

Sirisena insists his actions were legal but Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has also refused to defend his manoeuvrings while warning of a "bloodbath" if the president delayed the opening of parliament.

- Journalists targeted -

Sri Lanka's journalists have been caught in the power struggle between the warring leaders.

Reporters without Borders (RSF) said supporters of Rajapakse, whose tenure was marred by allegations of rights violations and corruption, stormed state-owned media institutions shortly after his appointment late Friday night, roughing up ministers and journalists who then had to be rescued by police commandos.

"The violence with which Mahinda Rajapakse's bully boys took over the state media is absolutely unacceptable," RSF said, adding that the crisis recalled the "darkest hours of the Rajapakse presidency between 2005 and 2015".

"We call on all parties to act responsibly by guaranteeing journalists' safety and by respecting their editorial independence, so that impartial news coverage is available to the public."

Journalists say that state media has largely become pro-Rajapakse while private networks have kept up a low-level coverage of Wickremesinghe.

During Rajapakse's tenure, 17 journalists and media workers were killed, according to rights organisations.

In 2015, Wickremesinghe helped Sirisena to defeat Rajapakse and formed a unity government, but the two have drifted apart over policy and personality clashes.

Rajapakse has given five legislators from Wickremesinghe's party ministerial portfolios in his cabinet after persuading them to change sides.

Wickremesinghe, meanwhile, has convinced at least two lawmakers from Sirisena's camp to join his United National Party.

Following the latest defections, Wickremesinghe has 104 MPs in the 225-seat chamber while Rajapakse and Sirisena together have 99.

A majority of the 22 remaining MPs are expected to back Wickremesinghe in any vote, observers said.
Nancy Wake: Gestapo's Most Wanted (French Resistance Documentary) | Timeline

https://youtu.be/qNXKovYM15A doesn't respect titles for titles sake ,but like martin luther king jr so eloquently put it . respected and admired and followed for the content of their character

This is the first I have ever heard of this extraordinarily brave lady. I salute her and what she did for freedom and justice. The world is better for having had her in it

Thanks for this brilliant piece of unknown history for a lot of us, who sadly take all these heroes for granted, and their selfless actions. We owe the freedom and liberties we enjoy today to all of them; unfortunately nowadays, we have treacherous governments that are selling our priceless freedom and we're are too coward to do anything about it! Nancy Wake was a great woman, a heroine, way ahead of her time! God bless her soul!

Often I wonder if some how my generation would be so different had we endured life during war time. I think it would be few and far between to find one like Mrs Wake from my generation. Maybe somewhere.. It pains me to think of how we are these days. So many who dont know what it means to really sacrifice ones life and trully understand loss. We get people like those who chose to comment about the bandana on buddies head and disrespect the memory of this woman and desicrate this comment section... Just an example of why Im often embarassed by my generation. Where are the Nancy Wakes of 2020's? Some where Im sure but far and few between. Im honored to know of this woman and will always remember what I learned here today and try to remember her sacrifices that allowed our freedom. I would have liked to meet her... All we can do is remember..?

This is the incredible true story of Nancy Wake, the daring allied spy who became the Gestapos most wanted woman in WWII. Codenamed The White Mouse for her elusiveness, this international femme fatale was a key inspiration behind Sebastian Faulkes celebrated fictional spy Charlotte Gray. Content licensed from TVF International. Any queries, please contact us at: realstories@littledotstudios.com

This brave, brutally honest, caring, compassionate, amazing, beautiful, talented, and a fierce woman is more than a hero. She needs to be a role model to these kids of today; to stand up for those who cannot do it themselves, don't back down from fear, and stand for what you believe. What she had accomplished was nothing short of a saint, and what she had done definitely changed the way that WWII went. We should all pay homage to this wonderful woman, and I know that IF we all took a page from her book, we would all destroy terrorism and the terrorists. God bless Ms. Wake! I know that she's unable to read this but thank you for everything that you had done for not only the French, the Jews, the British, but also America. Women, like Ms. Wake, should be talked about, taught about, and honored. She was, in a way, way ahead of her time and maybe even a feminist, in her own personal way. Young girls across the globe should be looking towards her for inspiration, not Beyonce or Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama or any of these wannabe heroes. RIP Ms. Wake! Thank you for your brave service, and for being a great role model to all women all over the world

credit where credit is due .my salute to prince charles . the story goes like this . nancy went back to the uk to die and had her favourite drinking spot in london at some upmarket hotel .she was a bit of a fixture there with HER OWN chair at the bar that was always reserved for her . she ran out of brass or was very short or was way behind . charlie heard about it ,invited her down to the palace for a cup of tea and a chat and ended up footing the bill to the end . so good on ya charlie.from an irreligious ,irreverent aussie ,who doesn't respect titles for titles sake ,but like martin luther king jr so eloquently put it . respected and admired and followed for the content of their character
Australian Catholic nun Sister Patricia Fox says she will now leave the Philippines rather than risk deportation

An Australian nun who battled a government bid to expel her from the Philippines after she angered President Rodrigo Duterte, said Wednesday she will leave rather than face certain arrest and deportation.

Sister Patricia Fox's abrupt announcement came because immigration authorities refused hours earlier to extend her tourist visa and ordered the 71-year-old out by Saturday.

Fox, who has spent nearly three decades advocating for the Philippines' poorest, has become a symbol of understated resistance during her seven-month administrative fight to stay.

But with her legal options all but exhausted, the soft-spoken nun decided to return to Australia rather than take the risk of being removed forcibly.

"I've been given an ultimatum that if I don't leave by 3 November, they will send people to chase me," she told AFP. "There is no point being arrested and deported and I don't have any choice."

Her supporters condemned the denial and pledged to keep up their legal battle to allow her to return.

"We will not allow the government to forcibly expel Sr. Fox," the National Union of People's Lawyers said in a statement. "Our fight is not yet over."

She apparently angered the president by joining a fact-finding mission in April to investigate alleged abuses against farmers, including killings and evictions by soldiers fighting guerrillas in the southern Philippines.

- 'Return once Duterte gone' -

In Duterte's hometown of Davao, Fox went to see farmers detained on charges of possessing explosives, and attended a press conference by workers who were fired after demanding better wages and conditions.

Shortly after that she was arrested briefly on charges of violating her visa's terms against activism and the slow turning wheels of the Philippine bureaucracy began moving to strip her of her papers.

It coincided with a crackdown by Duterte against foreigners whom he accuses of meddling in his nation's affairs.

In April, Manila also expelled Italian Giacomo Filibeck, deputy secretary general of the Party of European Socialists, who had condemned Duterte's anti-drug war.

Four months later Australian rights activist Gill Boehringer, 84, was barred entry for having attended a protest in 2015, allegedly in violation of immigration laws.

Duterte accused Fox of "disorderly conduct" and said: "Don't let her in because that nun has a shameless mouth".

She landed in the Philippines in 1990 as a member of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, a congregation of nuns founded in France in 1847 and famed for harbouring Jews fleeing from Nazi persecution in World War II.

A former practising lawyer who worked with indigent clients in Australia, Fox has said she has been educating landless Filipino farm hands and factory workers about their rights.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told AFP that Fox has to leave the Philippines because her visa will expire, even though the deportation case against her is not resolved.

"If Sister Fox eventually wins, her name will be removed from the immigration blacklist and she may return to the Philippines," he said.

Fox imagines a slightly different scenario under which she will make her way back to Manila.

"Maybe when Duterte is not there anymore," she said, referring to the 2022 end of his term.
Saudi Arabia has admitted that dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in its consulate in Istanbul

Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and his body was dismembered and destroyed as part of a premeditated plan, Turkey's chief prosecutor said Wednesday, making details of the murder public for the first time.

The revelations came only an hour after Saudi Arabia's chief prosecutor left Istanbul, and his Turkish counterpart said he was "obliged" to release the information after their talks produced "no concrete results".

Gruesome reports in the Turkish media had previously alleged that Khashoggi, a 59-year-old Washington Post contributor who had criticised the powerful Saudi crown prince, was killed and cut into pieces by a team sent from Riyadh to silence him. His body has not been found.

"In accordance with plans made in advance, the victim, Jamal Khashoggi, was strangled to death immediately after entering the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul on October 2, 2018 for marriage formalities," said a statement from the office of Istanbul chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan.

"The victim's body was dismembered and destroyed following his death by suffocation -- again, in line with advance plans," it added.

Saudi Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb was the first Saudi official to acknowledge that the killing was "premeditated" based on the results of Turkey's investigation

Saudi Arabia sent the head of its investigation to Istanbul this week, seeking to draw a line under a crisis that has brought near unprecedented scrutiny on the oil-rich Gulf nation.

Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb arrived in Istanbul on Sunday, met with Fidan twice, visited the consulate and spoke with Turkey's MIT intelligence agency.

He then flew out of Istanbul on Wednesday afternoon without making a public statement.

"Despite our well-intentioned efforts to reveal the truth, no concrete results have come out of those meetings," the Turkish prosecutor's office said.

It added that the Saudi prosector's office invited Fidan and his delegation to Riyadh "along with the evidence they have obtained".

A senior Turkish official earlier said that Saudi officials seemed "primarily interested in finding out what evidence Turkey had against the perpetrators".

"We did not get the impression that they were keen on genuinely cooperating with the investigation," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

- 'Who gave the command?' -

After initially insisting Khashoggi left the consulate unharmed, then saying he died in a brawl during an interview gone wrong, the Saudi regime has admitted he was killed by a "rogue operation" and arrested 18 people.

But a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, Omer Celik, said on Wednesday that the murder could not have been carried out without instructions from "high-level" officials in Riyadh.

Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi vanished after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2

"Who gave the command?" Celik asked at a press conference, adding he believed it was "out of the question" that Saudi authorities had not learned where the body was.

Erdogan has repeatedly requested the suspects be extradited to Turkey for trial -- which Riyadh has refused to do -- as well as reveal the location of Khashoggi's body and who ordered the hit.

Abdulkadir Selvi, a well-connected pro-government columnist for Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper, on Wednesday accused the Saudi prosecutor of "working to save the crown prince by covering up the investigation rather than shed light on the murder".

The affair has tarnished the image of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who has positioned himself as a Saudi reformer. He has denounced the murder as "repulsive" and strongly denied any involvement.

- 'Violated international law' -

The case has also sorely strained relations between the ultra-conservative kingdom and the West.

France said Wednesday that "not enough" was being done to find those responsible for the murder of the Saudi journalist, who was an insider in royal circles before going into self-imposed exile in the United States last year.

In an editorial published Tuesday, the Washington Post accused the administration of US President Donald Trump of "playing along" and "pretending to believe that the Saudis can conduct a credible probe -- even though a chief suspect is the kingdom's own autocratic ruler".

Demonstrators in Washington demanded justice for missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a protest on October 8

The editorial also urged the US Congress to impose sanctions on those responsible. On Wednesday Switzerland said it would halt deliveries of spare weapons parts to Saudi Arabia over the murder.

While Trump has called the case "one of the worst cover-ups in history", he warned against halting a Saudi arms deal, saying it would harm US jobs.

However, relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia, long-time allies, have cooled.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said the murder "violates the norms of international law. That much is very, very clear".

And on Tuesday, Washington called for a ceasefire and peace talks in Yemen, where the US has faced fierce international criticism for supporting a Saudi-led coalition.

Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said the US had been watching the conflict, in which nearly 10,000 people have been killed, "for long enough".
Ninos en un barrio cristiano de Islamabad, el 31 de octubre de 2018

Pakistan's beleaguered Christian community rejoiced Wednesday at the acquittal of Asia Bibi, who spent years on death row for blasphemy, saying their prayers had been answered after years of begging for justice.

Christians make up around two percent of the country's 210 million population and have long been discriminated against in Muslim majority Pakistan, often living in downtrodden slums and forced to work menial jobs.

Wednesday's acquittal of the illiterate mother represented a rare victory for the community -- with Christians in Pakistan's capital Islamabad hailing the Supreme Court's decision.

"Justice has been done," said Reverend Javed Masih, who heads a Presbyterian church in a Christian slum in the capital.

"We are happy that the law is still ruling in this country and that's why Asia Bibi has been set free," added another Christian resident Shafaqat Masih.

A few hours after the announcement of the verdict, life continued as usual in one of Islamabad's impoverished "Christian colonies" -- sandwiched in between the capital's wealthiest neighbourhoods where many of the residents work as cleaners and cooks.

"We are extremely happy that God has responded to our prayers. The church of Pakistan was praying for years for the release of our sister," Reverend Masih added, saying a special worship service was being held this evening to celebrate Bibis imminent release.

- Eight years on death row -

The allegations against Bibi date back to 2009, when she was working in a field and was asked to fetch water.

A row later erupted after two fellow Muslim labourers refused to share the water with Bibi, citing religious differences. The argument escalated as insults were traded with the women later accusing Bibi of committing blasphemy during the exchange.

Bibi was later convicted and sentenced to death in 2010.

"She was innocent and she was being discriminated [against]," said the pastor.

Christians like Bibi are frequently targeted by accusations of blasphemy -- a dangerous charge where even a mere whiff on an allegation has sparked lynchings.

Critics of Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws have long claimed that the legislation has been used to settle personal vendettas and target religious minorities.

Bibi was set for immediate release following the ruling, however, authorities had yet to confirm if any security arrangements were being prepared for her protection or if she was planning to leave Pakistan.

Pakistani human rights activist Tahira Abdullah called for "state protection" of the acquitted along with her family and attorney.

As thousands of protesters took to the streets in major cities across the country to demonstrate against the ruling Pastor Masih acknowledged unrest could be triggered by the court's decision.

But he said his community would "pray for peace in this country".

Shahbaz Ashiq, another resident in the neighborhood, said he was "very proud of our Supreme Court and the decision".

"If she had not been acquitted, then we would have thought that there is no justice in this country," added Shafaqat Masih.

"Thank God that the court has acquitted her."
US President Donald Trump has sought to put the issue of immigration front and center ahead of hotly-contested midterm elections

President Donald Trump kept up the pressure on Mexico Wednesday to halt groups of migrants heading to the American border, as the US enters the final stretch of campaigning before key midterm elections.

Trump has sought to put immigration front and center ahead of next week's hotly-contested vote, ordering thousands of troops to the southern border and threatening to end automatic citizenship for US-born children of immigrants.

"The Caravans are made up of some very tough fighters and people. Fought back hard and viciously against Mexico at Northern Border before breaking through. Mexican soldiers hurt, were unable, or unwilling to stop Caravan. Should stop them before they reach our Border, but won't!" Trump tweeted.

The administration has sent mixed messages over of Mexico's actions, praising it for trying to help while pushing it to do more.

Trump had previously thanked Mexico for deploying anti-riot forces to the country's southern border, and White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Fox News Wednesday that "Mexico has stepped up in an unprecedented way."

The groups of migrants Trump has sought to cast as a threat to the United States are still in southern Mexico, hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the US border.

A first caravan, which has dwindled and now numbers some 4,000 people, according to an aid group called Pueblos sin Fronteras, arrived Tuesday in the town of Juchitan, in Oaxaca, while a smaller group of 2,000 people managed to cross the Suchiate River separating Mexico from Guatemala the day before.

Trump has announced he is sending more than 5,000 soldiers to shore up the US-Mexico border, but they will likely be limited to support activities as they are legally barred from conducting law enforcement operations in the United States.

In another move likely to appeal to his right-wing base ahead of the upcoming vote, Trump has said he plans to scrap by executive order a constitutional guarantee to citizenship for persons born on US soil, with few exceptions.

He has criticized the guarantee, which is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, for allowing children of illegal immigrants to become citizens.
Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen is expected to start talks with allies over sanctions

Denmark said Wednesday it was consulting with its allies about possible sanctions against Iran after accusing Tehran of plotting an attack against Iranian dissidents living in the Scandinavian country.

"We are going to reach out to our European allies in the coming days to try to find a united response," Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told reporters during a meeting of Northern European leaders in Oslo.

British Prime Minister Theresa May expressed her support for Denmark at the meeting.

Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen was to begin contacting his European counterparts on Wednesday to discuss possible sanctions against Iran -- most likely economic ones, a diplomatic source told AFP.

"We want to preserve the nuclear agreement," Lokke Rasmussen said, referring to how possible sanctions would approach the 2015 international accord on Iran's nuclear programme.

Denmark on Tuesday announced it was recalling its ambassador to Iran after the Danish intelligence service PET accused the Iranian intelligence service of "planning an attack in Denmark" against three Iranians suspected of belonging to the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz or ASMLA.

ASMLA is a separatist group that advocates an Arab state in a southwestern Iranian province. Tehran calls it a terrorist organisation.

A Norwegian of Iranian origin was arrested on October 21 for allegedly planning the attack and spying for Iran.

Iran has denied the allegations, saying they were part of a European conspiracy against the Islamic Republic.

- NATO allies -

Tehran summoned the Danish ambassador on Wednesday, foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said.

"In this meeting the (senior foreign ministry) official strongly denied the biased reports on a foiled attack plot on an Iranian dissident in Denmark and its attribution to the Islamic republic of Iran," Ghasemi said.

In late September, Tehran accused Denmark, the Netherlands and Britain of "hosting several members of the terrorist group" that Iran holds responsible for an attack in the mainly ethnic Arab city of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran.

The September 22 attack, during which five commandos opened fire on a military parade, left 24 people dead.

The so-called Islamic State group and a separatist Arab group claimed responsibility, and Iran staged several operations in Iraq and Syria in response.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that Washington stood behind Denmark, a NATO ally.

In Oslo for a meeting of the Nordic Council, Northern European leaders were prudent.

"We're working on a concrete response. We've said that we will react," Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said.

"We are following this very closely together with our Danish friends and when we know more we will make a decision about possible measures," Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said.
Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille's tenure has been marred by allegations of corruption and mismanagement

The mayor of South Africa's second city of Cape Town resigned on Wednesday, amid a bitter dispute roiling the country's main opposition in the runup to 2019 elections.

Patricia De Lille vowed she would vacate her office at 7 pm (1700 GMT), ending uncertainty about her future following several conflicting statements.

The 67-year-old had first announced in August that she would step down at the end of October but appeared to backtrack in recent weeks.

She also announced her resignation from opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), which had tried unsuccessfully in recent months to strip her of her membership.

"I can no longer stay in this abusive relationship. When people abuse you, you must walk away," she told reporters.

"It's my long walk to freedom... I'm free, free from oppression," she said, describing the DA as "rudderless" and "leaderless".

De Lille signed her resignation letter in front of television cameras outside the High Court in Cape Town where she was lodging an application against what she called a "politically-manipulated" forensic report ordered by the municipality which has accused her of maladministration.

The DA welcomed her resignation and said she will be replaced as interim mayor by provincial minister for community safety Dan Plato, 57.

De Lille's seven-year tenure has been marred by allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement that have threatened to tarnish Cape Town's reputation.

The coastal city, one of South Africa's prime tourist destinations, has been battling a drought and a high crime rate.

Cape Town is the DA's flagship city as the first the opposition wrested from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in 2009 and is one of three major cities under its administration.

The troubles pose a threat to the party's popularity nationwide just months ahead of the general election due in the first half of 2019, when the DA faces a revived ANC following the departure of scandal-tainted Jacob Zuma.
With control of the US Congress at stake in hotly-contested midterm elections, President Donald Trump has sought to energize his base by portraying migrants as a national security threat

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he would fight all the way to the Supreme Court to end a constitutional guarantee of citizenship for people born on US soil, stepping up his anti-immigrant offensive in the final stretch before key midterm elections.

With control of Congress at stake in the November 6 vote, Trump has sought to energize his base by portraying migrants as a national security threat, ordering thousands of soldiers to the southern border and pressuring Mexico to halt groups of migrants headed for the US.

In the latest twist, he has vowed to eliminate the automatic right to citizenship of persons born in the United States, long guaranteed -- with few exceptions -- under the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.

"So-called Birthright Citizenship, which costs our Country billions of dollars and is very unfair to our citizens, will be ended one way or the other," Trump tweeted.

He said he would take the fight to the nation's highest court. "This case will be settled by the United States Supreme Court!" he wrote.

Trump had said previously in an interview with Axios that he would end the blanket guarantee via an executive order -- something not included in provisions for modifying the US constitution.

Trump also asserted that birthright citizenship "is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words 'subject to the jurisdiction thereof.'"

That phrase traditionally has been interpreted as meaning people who have immunity from US law such as children born to foreign diplomats in the United States.

- Troops to the border -

President Donald Trump has called on Mexico to halt groups of Central American migrants -- which he has repeatedly vilified in campaign speeches -- that are traveling through the country to reach the United States

Trump's administration has detained thousands of illegal immigrants under US immigration law, undercutting the argument that they do not fall under American legal jurisdiction.

And the US Supreme Court has upheld the citizenship of children born in the United States to immigrant parents.

"The World is using our laws to our detriment. They laugh at the Stupidity they see!" Trump tweeted.

Trump has also announced he is sending more than 5,000 soldiers to shore up the US-Mexico border, but they will likely be limited to support activities as they are legally barred from conducting law enforcement operations in the United States.

And he has called on Mexico to halt groups of Central American migrants -- which he has repeatedly vilified in campaign speeches -- that are traveling through the country to reach the United States.

Central American migrants heading for the US

"The Caravans are made up of some very tough fighters and people. Fought back hard and viciously against Mexico at Northern Border before breaking through. Mexican soldiers hurt, were unable, or unwilling to stop Caravan. Should stop them before they reach our Border, but won't!" Trump tweeted.

The migrant groups that Trump has sought to cast as a threat to the United States are still in southern Mexico, hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the US border.
Khashoggi, a 59-year-old Washington Post contributor, was killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain paperwork ahead of his upcoming wedding. His body has not been found

Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and then "cut into pieces", Turkey's chief prosecutor said Wednesday, making details of the murder public for the first time.

A statement from the office of prosecutor Irfan Fidan said meetings with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, who visited Istanbul this week, had produced "no concrete results" on the killing, which it said was premeditated.

Khashoggi, a 59-year-old Washington Post contributor, was murdered after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain paperwork ahead of his upcoming wedding. His body has not been found.

The statement comes hours after Saudi Arabia's chief public prosecutor ended his visit to Istanbul, during which he met Fidan twice and visited the kingdom's consulate and the regional offices of the Turkish intelligence agency.

Saudi Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb reportedly refused to share information from Riyadh's own investigation.

"In accordance with plans made in advance, the victim, Jamal Khashoggi, was strangled to death immediately after entering the consulate on October 2," the Istanbul prosecutor's office said in a statement.

"The victim's body was dismembered and destroyed following his death by suffocation -- again, in line with advance plans," it added.

Turkish authorities said they were not satisfied after the talks with the Saudi prosecutor.

"Despite our well-intentioned efforts to reveal the truth, no concrete results have come out of those meetings," the Istanbul prosecutor's office said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly urged Riyadh to reveal the location of the body and who ordered the hit.

And contrary to media reports, Mojeb also said no statement was made by the Saudi authorities that the body was given to a "local cooperator," according to the Istanbul prosecutor's office.
Saudi ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Said Al-Jaber (C) arrives in the southern Yemeni port of Aden to oversee an aid delivery of fuel from Saudi Arabia on October 29, 2018

Sinking into a padded leather chair on a government jet, Saudi ambassador Mohammed al-Jaber buckles up for what he calls a mammoth mission -- rebuilding Yemen as it teeters on the edge of catastrophe.

After a ruinous three-year conflict, the Arab world's poorest country faces the double whammy of a looming famine and an economic crisis that has sent the Yemeni currency in free fall, as the United States urgently calls for a ceasefire.

Saudi Arabia has faced virulent international criticism for leading an intervention in Yemen in 2015 against Iran-aligned Huthi rebels -- and the recent murder of critic Jamal Khashoggi has put its bombing campaign under fresh scrutiny.

But Jaber, seen as the most influential Arab diplomat engaged on Yemen, sought to shift the narrative on another front: rebuilding the conflict-scarred country.

"Development of Yemen cannot wait until the Huthis accept peace talks," said Jaber, who was appointed ambassador in 2014, just days before the rebels overran the capital.

The United Nations said Wednesday it aimed to relaunch Yemen peace talks "within a month", after a previous attempt collapsed in September when the rebels refused to travel to Geneva, saying their conditions had not been met.

Jaber, 48, spoke to AFP on an aircraft this week flying to the informal capital Aden to oversee the arrival of a Saudi oil tanker with the first instalment of petroleum products worth $60 million.

A security guard stands by a ship docked in the southern Yemeni port of Aden on October 29, 2018

The fuel is meant for power stations amid chronic electricity outages.

As his aides served up pastries, dates and Arabic coffee, Jaber rattled off a list of what he called Saudi-funded "injection projects" related to electricity, education and healthcare.

"Our goal in Yemen is not to control it," the Riyadh-based envoy said, asserting the Saudi intervention was unlike the US invasion of Iraq.

"This is a war of necessity, not a war of choice."

- Khashoggi murder -

Saudi Arabia's image has taken a beating globally over its intervention in Yemen, amid rising civilian deaths reported by the UN, war crimes allegations and warnings of an impending famine triggered by the conflict.

The kingdom has shrugged off many of the claims as highly exaggerated.

But even the US, a close ally which supports Saudi-led forces by refuelling their jets and selling them weapons, finally called Tuesday for a ceasefire and peace talks in Yemen within the next 30 days.

Aggravating the situation for the kingdom was Khashoggi's murder in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate on October 2.

Saudi Arabia initially attributed his death to a fistfight before accepting what Turkish investigators said all along -- that he was killed in a premeditated murder.

"The Khashoggi case has cast a new spotlight on Yemen because it raises doubts over the Saudi narrative," said Elisabeth Kendall, a research fellow at Oxford University.

"If Saudi lied over the fate of Khashoggi, at least initially, then its credibility in explaining away the horrors of the Yemen war is also in doubt."

Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, takes selfie with a Saudi guard aboard an aircraft while en route to Aden on October 29, 2018

But Jaber said extrapolating the Khashoggi affair to criticise Saudi efforts in Yemen was unfair.

He said images splashed in global media of emaciated Yemeni children in famine-like conditions "break my heart", but added that Saudi Arabia alone was not responsible.

The Huthis, he said, were an intractable foe, repeatedly spurning UN-backed efforts to jumpstart peace talks.

A seasoned diplomat, Jaber has consistently sought to emphasise Saudi-funded development projects, "suggesting an aim to shift the shape of the discourse on Yemen", said Adam Baron, a Yemen expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

- 'Saving from collapse' -

In Aden, guards in camouflage fatigues with pistols strapped to the thigh whisked Jaber in an armoured car trailed by militiamen in pickup trucks that careened through streets riddled with tanks, Humvees and checkpoints.

In a meeting at the prime minister's office, Yemeni bankers, businessmen and civil society representatives railed about corruption, unemployment as businesses were shutting down, and a dysfunctional government machinery.

Jaber took copious notes as they spoke, assuring them of progress.

"We are here to support Yemenis... until there is a functioning state," he said.

He later sat down in the hilltop presidential palace, chewing qat -- a mild stimulant popular in Yemen -- with another group of government officials.

The palace -- a cluster of colonial-era villas overlooking the azure expanse of the Arabian Sea -- bristled with armed militiamen but lacked a president as internationally backed leader Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi is believed to be based in Saudi Arabia.

Military helicopters fly over a ship as it arrives in the southern Yemeni port of Aden on October 29, 2018

"Yemen has two parallel governments with one currency and one economy," said Yemen's central bank governor Mohamad Zemam, who was at the meeting.

"We need peace efforts to unify the two."

Showing AFP a bank statement on his phone of Saudi Arabia's recent deposit of $200 million in the bank to support the plummeting riyal, he said some businessmen had little faith the government was solvent until he showed them this proof.

Such is the dire state of finances that until the Saudi fuel aid arrived even the presidential palace was crippled by several hours of daily power cuts, he said.

"We are trying to survive... and save our (state) from collapse," said Zemam, who took his post in February.

Jaber said Saudi support was not equal to a blank cheque.

"Our money is not for corrupt people, it is for Yemeni people," he said.
Zeev Elkin (L) sits alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) and Cabinet Secretary Tzachi Braverman at a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on May 13, 2018

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pick for Jerusalem mayor has failed to make it past the first round of polling, local election results showed Wednesday.

None of the six candidates for mayor, all Jewish, won the 40 percent of votes required to be elected in the first round held on Tuesday.

A runoff between the top two will be held on November 13.

Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Zeev Elkin, a member of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and who received the premier's endorsement, won only 20 percent of the vote.

Moshe Leon, another right-winger, garnered the most votes with 33 percent, according to official figures.

Leon has the backing of hawkish Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman and of ultra-Orthodox Jewish factions.

The ultra-Orthodox, who make up some 10 percent of Israel's population, wield particular influence in Jerusalem, and the city has previously had an ultra-Orthodox mayor.

In comparatively liberal Tel Aviv, Labour mayor Ron Huldai was elected to a fifth five-year term.

In Haifa, also a traditional Labour stronghold, the party's Einat Kalisch Rotem became the northern port city's first woman mayor and first female to head any of Israel's three largest cities.

Israel's elections for mayors and councils, held every five years, are largely local affairs but have served as a springboard for politicians with national ambitions.

For the first time in local elections, voting day was declared a national holiday in an effort to boost attendance.

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man walks past campaign posters outside a polling station in Jerusalem on October 30, 2018

Average turnout nationwide, posted after polls closed on Tuesday, night was 54 percent, compared to just shy of 51 percent in 2013.

The interior ministry said final figures would not be released Wednesday as planned due to a technical glitch in its data systems.

It did not say when the full data would be available.

Figures for historic elections in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights went online overnight, before the crash.

- Golan turnout weak -

Minority Druze on the strategic plateau cast ballots for the first time since Israel captured it from Syria in 1967, but the vote sparked protests.

The vote was controversial since many Druze, who feel connected to Syria, fear it helps Israel legitimise its control over the occupied plateau.

Several hundred protesters in the village of Majdal Shams, some carrying Syrian flags, temporarily blocked a polling centre as police sought to maintain calm, an AFP correspondent reported.

There had been calls to boycott the election, and a string of candidates pulled out.

A Druze man speaks to Israeli security forces during a protest outside a polling centre in the village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on October 30, 2018

The Majdal Shams vote finally went ahead and Dulan Abu Salah was elected mayor of the town of 10,000 -- winning 260 out of just 350 ballots cast.

In the Golan village of Ein Qiniye, which has a population of about 2,000, Wahil Mughrabi was elected mayor with 21 votes against his rival's two.

In two other villages, elections were called off as there were no candidates.

In Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, which Israel also occupied in 1967, Palestinians for the first time fielded a list of candidates for the city council but it failed to win any seats.

Some 300,000 Palestinians live in east Jerusalem, but apart from the very few who have acquired Israeli citizenship, they are not allowed vote in general elections.

They can however take part in local polling, but the vast majority stay away, refusing to recognise Israeli control over the sector of the city they claim as the capital of their future state.

Israel sees the entire city as its capital, a claim buoyed by US President Donald Trump's controversial decision in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Vietnam has rolled out a series of measures to boost its control of online communication, which critics say is aimed at punishing activists

Vietnam said Wednesday it has set up a web monitoring unit that can scan up to 100 million news items per day for "false information", in a move that tightens its grip on internet freedom.

The one-party state has rolled out a series of measures to boost its control of online communication, which critics say is aimed at punishing activists who use Facebook and YouTube as their main platforms.

Lawmakers passed a tough cybersecurity law in June requiring internet providers to store data in the country and remove "toxic content" if requested to do so. Firms like Facebook and Google will also have to hand over user data if asked by the government.

Neither company has publicly commented on the bill.

The move came after a top general announced a 10,000-strong internet task force had been set up to monitor online posts.

Dissidents say the cyber-soldiers flood their Facebook pages with pro-government commentary.

The latest system includes software that can allegedly read 100 million items online daily "for analysis, evaluation and categorisation," said information minister Nguyen Manh Hung, according to the government's website.

"It is necessary to legally punish those who publish wrong information on social media... we cannot leave this front unmanned," he said.

He did not provide details on how the virtual unit functions, or how the so-called dubbed the National Centre on Supervising Information can scan such a large chunk of data.

In a veiled reference to Facebook and Google, he added Vietnam should be "tougher" in asking international internet companies to follow Vietnamese laws, namely requests to remove information.

The communist country has tightened the noose on internet expression and is accused of targeting activists, who rely on Facebook as a widely popular and crucial platform since all media is state-controlled.

The cybersecurity law, which mimics China's web law and is set to come into effect in January, prompted outcry from the US, the EU and rights groups.

The Ministry of Public security said the bill was aimed at staving off cyber-attacks -- and weeding out "hostile and reactionary forces" using the web to stir up violence and dissent, according to a transcript of a question-and-answer session with lawmakers this week.

- Shrinking freedoms -

Critics say web freedom is shrinking under a hardline administration in charge since 2016, under which dozens of activists have been jailed at a pace not seen in years.

The administration has also gone after protestors who waged rare protests in June over a proposed investment law, with nearly 80 people jailed.

Another 30 people were sentenced to between two and 3.5 years on Wednesday in central Binh Thuan province, where the demonstrations spun out of control.

The nation-wide protests -- which also included calls to scrap the cyber law -- came as a surprise in a country where demonstrations of any kind are banned.

They were fuelled by anti-China sentiment, with protestors accusing the government of offering long-term leases to Chinese investors in proposed special economic zones, though Beijing was not named in the bill.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the murder of journalist Kamal Khashoggi violated international law

The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul was a violation of international law, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday.

The top US diplomat nonetheless stressed that he wanted to preserve the decades-old alliance with Saudi Arabia and declined explicitly to criticize Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been consolidating power.

"It's an awful thing that took place," Pompeo told conservative talk show host Brian Kilmeade.

"The killing, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in the consulate in Turkey violates the norms of international law. That much is very, very clear," he said.

His remarks came as Turkey's chief prosecutor said that Khashoggi, a critic of the palace who lived in self-imposed exile in suburban Washington, was strangled as soon as he entered the Istanbul consulate, with his body then dismembered.

Pompeo, who was not asked directly about the Turkish findings, said the United States "won't rely on others" but would "develop our fact pattern" based on information it receives.

Pompeo said last week that the United States had identified 21 Saudis whose visas would either be revoked or who would be ineligible for future visas and said that more action would come.

But President Donald Trump has ruled out major actions such as ending arms sales to the kingdom, the largest foreign buyer of US weapons.
Syrian Kurds demonstrate in Qamishli, northeast Syria, against Turkish shelling of Kurdish militia posts

A Kurdish-led force backed by a US-led coalition said Wednesday it was suspending operations against the Islamic State group after Turkey shelled Kurdish militia posts in northern Syria.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, joint Arab-Kurdish units led by the Kurds, announced a "temporary halt" to their operation, launched in eastern Syria on September 10, and condemned Turkey's "provocations".

On Wednesday, Turkish shelling of Kurdish positions in the Kobane sector of northern Syria killed four fighters, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency.

The SDF condemned what it called the "coordination" of Turkey's attacks with a fightback by jihadists and warned of "a prolonged halt to our military operation" against IS if Ankara keeps up its strikes.

Hundreds of Kurdish civilians, carrying party flags, demonstrated in the streets of the northeastern city of Qamishli to denounce the Turkish attacks.

Backed by coalition air strikes, the SDF aims to expel IS from a holdout on the Iraqi border, but the jihadists staged a vicious fightback last week under the cover of a sand storm, forcing a retreat.

Coalition forces and Syrian Democratic Forces fighters are seen at a command post near the village of Susah in Deir Ezzor province, near the Syrian border with Iraq, on September 14, 2018

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the IS counter-attack killed at least 72 fighters from the SDF, which is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

The monitoring group said hundreds of Kurdish fighters, men and women, had since been deployed on the outskirts of the IS holdout of Hajin.

On Tuesday, two days after another round of shelling of Kurdish posts in northern Syria, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country had completed preparations for a new operation to "destroy" the YPG militia, which Ankara has branded a terrorist group.

The YPG has worked closely with the United States in the fight against IS jihadists in Syria, straining ties between Washington and Ankara.
This Santa School in Midland, Michigan draws more than 200 students a year seeking to burnish their Christmas cheer

Each year, more than 200 past and present Santas converge on a little town in the US state of Michigan for intensive study of what it takes to portray Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.

The sea of white beards and copious bellies arrives in October for three days of training.

The students and alumni (who come for the annual reunion) learn the history of Santa Claus, proper dress and how best to below: "Ho Ho Ho!"

They also exchange tricks of the trade and practice, practice, practice -- everything from beard keeping, toy making, and riding a sleigh.

"They are portraying this image of one of the world's most famous characters," Tom Valent, dean of The Charles W Howard Santa Claus School, tells AFP.

Santa School student Jack Murphy (C) of Grantville, Georgia walks to board the Pere Marquette 1225 steam train on October 19, 2018 in Owosso, Michigan

"We teach a little bit about the history of Santa so they understand who they are and what it is that we are portraying."

The Santas come from all over the US, as well as Canada and Europe, for what is billed as the oldest Santa training academy in the world.

The school was established in 1937 and is considered by attendees the "Harvard" of Santa schools (there are two others in North America).

Saint Brigid Catholic School kindergarten students talk with Santa at Charles W Howard Santa School in Midland, Michigan

Santas learn all the names of their reindeer and which toys are the most in demand in any given year.

They ride a steam-powered locomotive to get a feel for what it must be like to take the Polar Express to the North Pole. They even sit on a pile of coal.

"All those Santas were collecting coal for the bad kids," Valent says.

The training can pay off. There are amateurs, yes, among the student Santas. They will take what they've learned to local churches and schools.

But, there are also professionals who charge appearance fees and make extra money during the holidays.

Kindergarten student Matthew Miller sits on Santa's lap; Trainees at the Charles W Howard Santa School are primed for the trickiest questions children ask

Valent says whatever the students' motives for attending his school, the goal is the same -- to teach them how to answer all of the tricky questions children will ask.

Especially, the biggest one: 'Are you the real Santa?'

Valent hopes his students respond: "I'm the spirit of Christmas. I stand for love and giving."
Guinean police gather to disperse demonstrators during an opposition rally in Conakry on October 23, 2018

Amnesty International voiced concern Wednesday at the number of protesters killed in Guinea -- three in the last fortnight and 18 this year -- urging the government to "take all necessary measures to ensure the situation does not spiral out of control".

"Over the past year, protests in Guinea have been marked by appalling violence from all sides, including excessive use of force by the security forces," said Francois Patuel, West Africa researcher with the human rights group.

And he warned "the deployment of a military unit notorious for human rights violations risks further inflaming the situation."

Amnesty International "has verified videos and images showing members of the 'Berets Rouges', an elite military unit linked to previous human rights violations including unlawful killings and sexual violence, carrying rifles alongside police at a 15 October demonstration," the organisation said.

The political opposition in Guinea has been protesting against what it considers a violation by the authorities of an agreement reached in August over the appointment of local government officials elected in a hotly disputed vote on February 4.

On Monday a "dead city" strike gripped Conakry over another issue that has plagued the West African country: the failure to resolve a pay dispute with teachers who began a walkout on October 3.

"With Guineas opposition planning more demonstrations in the coming days, the authorities should take all necessary measures to ensure the situation does not spiral out of control. They must send a clear message to all security forces that unnecessary and excessive use of force will not be tolerated," Amnesty said.

The rights group also called for "a thorough, impartial and effective investigation" into allegations that opposition head and former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo has been targeted for criticising the government.

Last week Diallo said a man was shot dead and police had fired at his own car during a banned rally over the disputed elections.

The opposition estimates that 98 protesters have been killed by police gunfire at peaceful demonstrations since President Alpha Conde came to power in December 2010.
A Yemeni man receives treatment in a hospital after being wounded during a reported air strike on the Red Sea port city of Hodeida -- the US is changing its tune on the three-year Saudi-led assault

The surprise US call for a ceasefire in Yemen marks a growing sense that Saudi Arabia's campaign has proven disastrous, but experts say more action is needed to end the devastating war.

On Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis urged a halt in the three-year Saudi-led assault to defeat Huthi rebels in Yemen, the impoverished country mired in what the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for an end to air strikes "in all populated areas" -- an implicit acknowledgement that the US-backed, Saudi-led coalition has hit civilians, despite Washington's past assertions that the war planners are doing their best.

The shift comes as the US view rapidly dims of Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, amid global outrage over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul.

"There is no doubt that the Khashoggi case has turned American opinion against the Saudis," said Charles Schmitz, an expert on Yemen and chair of the geography department at Towson University.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, once viewed with approval in Washington, is increasingly raising concerns in US political circles, especially in the wake of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi

But he noted that the United States was still deeply involved in the war effort.

The United States has been providing in-air fueling and other logistical support to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as they bombard and enforce a blockade on Yemen, with accounts of bombs striking hospitals, buses and other civilian targets.

The US allies want to oust the rebels, who seized the capital Sanaa in 2014 and enjoy at least limited support from Iran.

The United Nations has warned that 14 million Yemenis are at serious risk of famine, with at least 10,000 people already dead, and an epidemic of cholera.

- Losing public opinion -

A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition lies in bed in a hospital in Yemen's northwestern Hajjah province -- the UN says that 14 million Yemenis are at serious risk of famine

Saudi Arabia has increasingly faced pressure in the US Congress -- in March, the Senate narrowly rejected a bid to end US support to the war.

On Sunday, The New York Times published an unusually graphic front-page photo of an emaciated seven-year-old Yemeni girl, despite Saudi efforts to restrict media access.

Waleed Alhariri, who heads the US operations of the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies, noted that there have been previous ceasefire attempts that quickly unraveled.

The US statement "might be a sign of frustration by the US administration that things are getting out of hand. Or maybe it's a way of saying that they are trying to do something but cannot, and are blaming the warring parties that they cannot resolve the conflict," Alhariri said.

Map showing territorial control in Yemen

"It's a good diplomatic statement but it has not been backed by concrete, genuine action or a full-scale diplomatic effort to solve the conflict," he said.

But Schmitz, the professor at Towson University, said there could be a way forward by addressing the Huthi missile strikes into Saudi Arabia.

The Saudis, backed by the United States, have voiced outrage over the projectiles and blamed Iran, but Schmitz believed the rebels saw the missiles as a bargaining chip, noting that they did not target Riyadh until the kingdom's intervention.

"The Huthis very much want to stop the bombardment, the Saudis very much want to stop the Huthi missile threat, and if the United States could contribute to that, I think it would go a long way," he said.

- Humanitarian chance -

The United Nations special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, could supervise talks between the warring parties in November in a third country

The United States called on the warring parties to meet in a third country in November for talks supervised by the UN special envoy, Martin Griffiths.

Britain and France, two other veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council, backed the US support for a ceasefire.

Jeremy Taylor, the regional advocacy advisor in charge of Yemen for the Norwegian Refugee Council humanitarian group, called the ceasefire call "long overdue."

Saying that the United Nations "has been running out of adjectives to describe how bad things are," Taylor voiced hope that a ceasefire could offer humanitarian workers a chance at least to try to halt further deterioration.

"We have been asking for years for this kind of statement. What we really want now is political pressure on the parties in the way that the US can," he said.
People watch a police vehicle as it goes up in flames following clashes with supporters of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) protesting against the imprisonment of their leader Ibrahim Zakzaky, in Abuja, on October 30, 2018

Human rights campaigners on Wednesday accused Nigeria's security forces of killing dozens by using "horrific" force during a crackdown on protesting supporters of an imprisoned Shiite cleric.

Amnesty International said it had "strong evidence" that police and soldiers used automatic weapons against members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) at marches in and around Abuja.

The group said upwards of 45 people were killed -- six on Saturday and at least 39 on Monday, when some 122 were also injured.

The IMN itself said it had counted 49 dead. The military's official death toll is six.

"We have seen a shocking and unconscionable use of deadly force by soldiers and police against IMN members," said Amnesty's Nigeria director, Osai Ojigho.

"Video footage and eyewitness testimonies consistently show that the Nigerian military dispersed peaceful gatherings by firing live ammunition without warning," she added.

"Those injured were shot in different parts of the body -- head, neck, back, chest, shoulder, legs, arms -- and some of them had multiple gunshot wounds."

Ojigho said the "horrific use of excessive force" was not crowd control but aimed to kill, calling for an independent probe and the prosecution of those responsible.

- 'Wronged and oppressed' -

In Mararaba village, in Nasarawa state 30 kilometres (nearly 20 miles) from central Abuja, mourners gathered in preparation for the burial of 20 victims.

AFP reporters counted the white-shrouded bodies, as IMN members and tearful family members of the deceased gathered to pay their final respects.

"These are the victims the Nigerian Army attacked on Monday at Kugbo security check point on our way to Abuja," said IMN member Abdullahi Mohammad Musa.

The group's spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, said separately that another burial for six people was held in the northern city of Zaria.

"We are feeling bad, we are feeling wronged, we are oppressed," he added.

Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, is almost evenly split between a mostly Muslim north -- which is predominantly Sunni -- and a largely Christian south.

Experts have warned the government that a heavy-handed response to the group risks sparking conflict in a volatile region where poverty is widespread.

The December 2015 clashes that led to Zakzaky's detention saw the army kill more than 300 of his supporters, who were buried in mass graves, according to human rights groups.

Amnesty said it appeared a similar strategy appeared to have been employed against the IMN in the latest protests.

The clashes and the military's use of deadly force against civilians have raised fears that the IMN could become radicalised in the same way as the Islamist group Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria, who were subject to a crackdown in 2009.

The military offensive against the jihadist group is widely accepted as the catalyst for it to take up arms against the government.

In the last nine years, more than 27,000 people have been killed and some two million displaced, while the fighting has triggered a humanitarian crisis in Nigeria's remote northeast.

- Self-defence -

Conflicting death tolls are not unusual in Nigeria and the authorities often play down casualty figures.

Nigeria's army said troops fired on IMN in self-defence.

"They met the soldiers in the call of their duty and the soldiers tried to defend themselves," said defence spokesman John Agim.

On Saturday, the military fired at the IMN procession and accused them of attempting to steal weapons and ammunition, an account the IMN "categorically" denies.

Two days later, IMN and troops clashed again on the outskirts of Abuja.

On Tuesday, Nigerian police fired shots and tear gas at the supporters during another march and arrested 400 IMN members.

Zakzaky is currently facing a culpable homicide charge in connection with the 2015 violence and is in jail despite a court order granting him bail.

The Shiite leader, who is in his mid-sixties, has been at loggerheads with the authorities for years because of his call for an Iranian-style Islamic revolution in Nigeria.
US congressman Steve King, a Republican from Iowa, is under fire from his own party for his far-right views that some have described as racist and anti-Semitic

Far-right US congressman Steve King came under growing political pressure Wednesday from his own Republican Party, after it took the rare step of publicly rebuking him over recent comments supporting white nationalism.

The Iowa lawmaker's "recent comments, actions, and retweets are completely inappropriate," Steve Stivers, the chairman of the GOP's congressional campaign arm, said on Twitter.

"We must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms, and I strongly condemn this behavior."

It was an extraordinary castigation of an unabashed defender of white culture, and an ally of President Donald Trump, by party leadership days after 11 people were killed in an anti-Semitic attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue.

Trump has been struggling to fend off accusations that his bitter anti-immigrant rhetoric helped create the conditions for the massacre, by emboldening the country's white nationalist fringe.

The condemnation of King also came in the final stretch of campaigning for the November 6 midterm elections, with Republicans fighting a rising Democratic tide that seeks to reclaim the majority in the House of Representatives.

Eight-term lawmaker King, 69, faces his toughest re-election in years, with a Democratic rival closing the poll gap and reportedly outraising him in campaign funding.

Several statements and actions in recent months by King have drawn attention.

Two weeks ago he endorsed a candidate for Toronto mayor, Faith Goldy, an apparent "white genocide" conspiracy theorist who has appeared on a neo-Nazi podcast.

In August King traveled to Europe, where he told a publication aligned with Austria's far-right party FPO that Jewish philanthropist George Soros has had a dark influence on US elections.

Soros, a frequent target of far-right criticism, was among a dozen Democratic figures and other Trump critics who were sent pipe bombs in the mail last week.

King also said Soros, who escaped Nazi-occupied Hungary as a child, supports the supplanting of Europe's white Christian majority with minorities -- a theory that King and other xenophobes refer to as the "great replacement."

"What does this diversity bring that we don't already have?" King told the publication Unzensuriert.

King's caustic rhetoric is making some Republicans and donors uncomfortable. Prominent agribusinesses Land O'Lakes and Purina on Tuesday announced they would no longer support his campaign.

"After years of embarrassing Iowans with his white nationalist rhetoric... King has apparently become a liability to national Republicans and some of the businesses that have backed him financially," the Des Moines Register, Iowa's main newspaper, said in a scathing editorial.

King has never hidden his far-right views. In 2013 he caused an uproar when he said some immigrant children had "calves the size of cantaloupes" because they hauled loads of marijuana through the desert.

On Tuesday the Anti-Defamation League wrote House Speaker Paul Ryan calling for formal disciplinary action against King.

King pushed back against the criticism, saying on Twitter that the attacks were "orchestrated by nasty, desperate, and dishonest fake news."
A banner showing Saudi King Salman (R) and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, hangs over Riyadh on October 22, 2018

A senior Saudi prince who courted controversy after appearing critical of the king and crown prince has returned to the kingdom amid a crisis over journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder, family members said.

The return of Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, a brother of King Salman and uncle of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, fuelled speculation of possible royal family efforts to shore up support for the monarchy after global criticism.

At least three princes tweeted confirmation of his arrival in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Saudi authorities did not respond to requests for comment on the reasons behind Prince Ahmed's return after spending several months in London.

The kingdom has faced a torrent of international condemnation over the murder of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who criticised the powerful crown prince, inside its consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the consulate and then dismembered as part of a premeditated plan, Turkey's chief prosecutor said Wednesday, making details of the murder public for the first time.

The killing has left Prince Mohammed's image as a reformer severely tarnished, but analysts say his position as the kingdom's de factor ruler so far appears unshaken by the crisis.

Prince Ahmed, said to be in his 70s, returned to the kingdom after last month playing down remarks he made while telling protesters to stop chanting against the royals over Saudi Arabia's involvement in the Yemen war.

"What does the family have to do with it? Certain individuals are responsible... the king and the crown prince," he said, according to a widely-circulated online video of the incident in London.

The comment was seen by many on social media as rare criticism from a royal family member of the kingdom's leadership and its role in Yemen.

But in a statement, the prince dismissed that interpretation as "inaccurate".

Prince Ahmed "had been afraid to return", the New York Times reported citing associates of his family, but it was unclear whether he had been assured of his safety by Saudi rulers before he flew back.

When he landed in Saudi Arabia in the early hours of Tuesday morning, "Prince Mohammed was there to welcome him warmly at the airport", the newspaper said.

Well before the Khashoggi crisis, Prince Mohammed tightened his grip on power by cracking down on dissent with the imprisonment of prominent clerics and activists as well as princes and business elites.

But some Saudi experts dismissed widespread speculation that Prince Ahmed could pose a challenge to the authority of the crown prince, widely known as MBS.

"Ahmad is no dissident prince... He has been a central figure in the (Saudi royal family) for years," said Michael Stephens, a Middle East expert at the Royal United Services Institute.

His return "at the most is about capacity in the royal household, not some plot. Saudi court politics is always full of intrigue but... Salman has invested too much into MBS to watch him fall."
Robert Bowers, the suspect in the deadly gun attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh that left 11 people dead, is now facing 44 counts including federal hate crimes

Accused Pittsburgh synagogue gunman Robert Bowers is now facing 44 charges including federal hate crimes in connection with a shooting spree that left 11 people dead, as prosecutors unveiled an expanded indictment Wednesday.

Authorities say Bowers, 46, burst into the Tree of Life synagogue with an AR-15 assault rifle and three handguns, killing 11 worshippers at Shabbat services and wounding six others, including four police officers.

"While inside the Tree of Life Synagogue, Bowers made statements indicating his desire to 'kill Jews,'" prosecutors said.

The charges allege that he carried out the killings while violating the victims' constitutional right to the free exercise of religious beliefs -- which is considered a hate crime under US law.

Under the expanded charges, he could face the death penalty, or life in prison without parole followed by a consecutive sentence of 535 years' imprisonment, the Justice Department said.

"Hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in our society," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.

"Every American has the right to attend their house of worship in safety."

Bowers espoused violent anti-Semitism and hate for immigrants online ahead of his rampage Saturday.

He was taken into custody after being wounded in a shootout with police and transferred to a local hospital. The extent of his injuries was unclear.

Bowers appeared in court Monday in a wheelchair, where he said nothing other than "Yes" and "Yes, sir" to a judge in response to procedural questions.
Scott Morrison (C) used his first major foreign policy speech to tread a careful line between Australia's alliance with the United States and engaging with China

China's rising and "unprecedented influence" in the Indo-Pacific region will challenge American interests, but confrontation must not define relations between the two powers, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned Thursday.

In his first major foreign policy speech, Morrison tried to tread a careful line between Australia's alliance with the United States and engaging a rapidly and evermore assertive China.

"Inevitably, in the period ahead, we will be navigating a higher degree of US-China strategic competition," Morrison told the Asia Society Australia in Sydney.

"It is important that US-China relations do not become defined by confrontation," he said, against a backdrop of the two economic behemoths trading economic sanctions and counter-sanctions in an ever-deeping trade dispute.

Australia -- a member of the "Five Eyes" Western intelligence alliance and with long-standing and close military ties with Washington -- finds itself slap-bang in the middle of one of the 21st century's geopolitical hotspots.

A quiet battle is raging for influence in the South Pacific -- a region of small island states that is vital to international shipping and provides a stepping stone for Beijing and Washington to project military and economic power across the Pacific region.

"As economic power shifts, it's unsurprising that nations will seek to play a bigger strategic role in our region," said Morrison.

"China, in particular, is exercising unprecedented influence in the Indo-Pacific," he said.

"China is the country that is most changing the balance of power, sometimes in ways that challenge important US interests."

While stressing ties with the United States are vital to Australia's security, he said relations with China must be kept on an even keel.

Rhetoric between Canberra and Beijing has been heightened by Australia's decision to bar Chinese state-linked telecoms firms from operating Australia's new 5G network on the grounds that they pose a security risk.

Morrison described Australia's relationship with China as "vitally important", noting trade, tourism and educational exchanges were at a record high.

Beijing has been showering billions of dollars in infrastructure loans to tiny island nations across the Pacific China, and is reportedly talking to Vanuatu about the possibility of opening a military base there.

Morrison, who came to office in August, indicated Australia would also push its own influence.

He announced an initiative to develop the Lombrum military base in Manus, Papua New Guinea.
Soldiers loyal to the Saudi-led coalition fighting on the side of the government in Yemen are seen in Aden on October 29, 2018

Yemen's government said Thursday it was ready to re-start peace talks with Huthi rebels, as international pressure to end the years-long conflict intensifies.

The United Nations said a day earlier it aimed to relaunch the talks within a month, after a previous attempt collapsed in September when the rebels refused to attend.

"The Republic of Yemen welcomes all efforts to restore peace," a government statement carried by the state-run Saba news agency said.

"The government of Yemen is ready to immediately launch talks on the process of confidence-building, primarily the release of all detainees and prisoners, as well as those who have been abducted or subject to enforced disappearance," it said.

The United States this week called for an immediate end to the hostilities in Yemen, where Washington backs a Saudi-led coalition fighting alongside the government against the Iran-backed Huthis.

In September, the Huthis refused to travel to Geneva for planned peace talks, accusing the UN of failing to guarantee their delegation's return to the Yemeni capital Sanaa and to secure the evacuation of wounded rebels to Oman.

Previous talks broke down in 2016, when 108 days of negotiations in Kuwait between the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and the rebels failed to yield a deal.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week called for an end to the Yemen war, including air strikes, in an implicit acknowledgement that the Saudi-led coalition was involved in the bombing of civilians.

Both the Huthis and Saudi Arabia along with its allies stand accused of transgressions that could amount to war crimes.

The coalition has been blacklisted by the UN for the maiming and killing of children in a country where 14 million people now face starvation.

Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, is the target of the longest drone war in US history.

In 2012, the US expanded a covert war against the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which Washington categorises as the radical group's most dangerous branch.

The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen since 2015, when Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened after the Huthis seized Sanaa.

Rights groups say the toll could be as high as 50,000.
Political rhetoric against homosexuality has increased in Tanzania since the election of John Magafuli (pictured November 2017) in 2015, who has said that everybody should condemn homosexuality

Amnesty International said Thursday that plans by Tanzania's economic capital to hunt down and arrest suspected homosexuals were leading it down a "dangerous path".

Dar es Salaam governor Paul Makonda on Monday urged citizens to begin reporting homosexuals for round-ups to begin next week in the country, where anti-gay rhetoric has soared in recent years.

"It is extremely regrettable that Tanzania has chosen to take such a dangerous path in its handling of an already marginalised group of people," said Joan Nanyuki, Amnesty's regional director.

"The idea of this taskforce must be immediately abandoned as it only serves to incite hatred among members of the public."

Makonda, a fervent Christian and loyal ally of President John Magufuli, said on Monday he expected criticism from outsiders for his hardline stance.

"I prefer to anger those countries than to anger God," he told reporters.

Makonda said homosexual behaviour "tramples on the moral values of Tanzanians and our two Christian and Muslim religions".

Anti-homosexual sentiment is rife in Tanzania, forcing most gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities to live in secrecy.

Political rhetoric against homosexuality has increased since Magufuli's 2015 election.

Last year the president said everybody should condemn homosexuality, "even cows", and soon after his government threatened to arrest or deport gay rights activists.

Three South Africans were subsequently expelled for allegedly advocating for same-sex marriage.

AIDS clinics have also been shut down under Magufuli, accused of "promoting" homosexuality, while he has encouraged women to abandon birth control and have more babies.

Under British colonial-era laws homosexuality is illegal in Tanzania, with same-sex acts between men punishable by a maximum life sentence.
SINGAPORE (AP) - An executive of one of two Singapore companies accused by the U.S. Treasury Department of violating U.N. sanctions against North Korea said Friday that he was unaware of any such dealings.

The Treasury Department said in a statement Thursday that the companies, commodities trading house Wee Tiong (S) Pte. Ltd. and ship management services company WT Marine Pte. Ltd., engaged in laundering money for North Korea.

The Singapore Police Force said in a statement Friday that the country takes its obligations under the U.N. sanctions seriously and "will take appropriate action based on the outcome of our investigations." It said it could not comment further until the investigations are complete.

The sanctions and charges filed by the Justice Department follow earlier allegations against other Singapore-based companies and highlight concerns over the role the trading hub may play in helping bypass sanctions against North Korea for its nuclear program.

"Singapore has historically been a weak link in the enforcement of U.N. sanctions against North Korea and a key node in North Korea's smuggling and money laundering operations," said lawyer Joshua Stanton, who helped to draft the North Korea sanctions law.

Wee Tiong and WT Marine Pte. share the same director and address and have similar board members, official records show. Wee Tiong lists its activities as general wholesale trade. WT Marine describes itself as providing ship management services and operating barges, tugboats and freight "bumboats."

A woman walks near the Wee Tiong building in Singapore Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. An executive of one of two Singapore companies named by the U.S. Treasury Department this week for violating sanctions against North Korea said Friday that he was unaware of any such dealings. The Treasury Department said in a statement Thursday, Oct. 25 that the companies, commodities trading house Wee Tiong (S) Pte. Ltd. and ship management services company WT Marine Pte. Ltd., engaged in laundering money for North Korea. (AP Photo/Annabelle Liang)

The Treasury Department also blacklisted Singaporean Tan Wee Beng, the director of both companies. The Justice Department named him in criminal charges for "a multi-year scheme to violate and evade U.S. national security controls."

Tan, his brother Tan Wee Tiong and father Tan Siong Kern are listed on the business profiles of both companies.

According to the Treasury, Tan worked with at least one individual in Wee Tiong (S) Pte. Ltd. to fulfil millions of dollars of commodities contracts for North Korea, dating back to 2011.

It said that on at least one occasion, when a wire transfer was rejected, they orchestrated the payment in cash, hand-delivered to a North Korean.

The sanctions freeze any assets Tan and the companies may have in the U.S. and generally prohibit Americans from dealing with them.

Calls to Wee Tiong on Friday were directed to the executive, who said he had no knowledge about the company's alleged dealings with North Korea.

"I am not in the position to say anything," the man added, before abruptly hanging up. He refused to give his name.

Tan has also been accused, along with at least two others, of using commodities businesses and front companies in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and elsewhere to evade restrictions on North Korea's access to the U.S. financial system, and dealing with entities that were already under sanctions.

The Justice Department alleges he engaged in bank fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Tan remains at large. A condominium in Singapore is listed as his residential address in business records.

Singapore authorities have accused three individuals, including a North Korean man, of helping to supply luxury goods such as watches and jewelry to North Korea. One of them faces 161 charges for selling millions of dollars of those goods to high-end retail stores in Pyongyang and cheating banks such as DBS, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited and Malayan Banking Berhad.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - A federal appeals court has revived a challenge to a company's right to mine uranium near the Grand Canyon.

An Obama-era decision prohibits new mining claims on roughly 1,562 square miles outside the boundaries of the national park through 2032. But that doesn't keep uranium companies with grandfathered claims from developing them.

The U.S. Forest Service concluded in 2012 that Energy Fuels Inc. has a valid, existing right to mine near Tusayan, the gateway town to the Grand Canyon's South Rim entrance. The company is waiting for uranium prices to rebound before reopening the Canyon Mine.

Environmental groups and the Havasupai Tribe challenged the Forest Service's determination in a lawsuit against the agency and Energy Fuels.

The U.S. District Court in Arizona said the groups and tribe lacked standing, and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals initially upheld the ruling last December.

But in a revised decision Thursday, the appellate court said the claim survives under another federal law and must be decided on the merits.

FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2012 file photo, then Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, center, standing in front of a map of the Grand Canyon, is applauded after announcing a twenty year ban on new mining claims near the Grand Canyon in Washington. A federal appeals court has revived a challenge to a company's right to mine uranium near the Grand Canyon. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, said a lower court must determine whether the U.S. Forest Service erred in finding that Energy Fuels had a valid, existing right to mine outside the national park's South Rim entrance. Environmentalists and the Havasupai Tribe had challenged the Forest Service's decision. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

"As opposed to saying 'you don't have the right to make this argument,' it's affirmed that we have the right to make that argument," said Amber Reimondo, energy program director for the Flagstaff-based Grand Canyon Trust.

Curtis Moore, a spokesman for Energy Fuels, said the ruling isn't a major setback for the company and he was confident it will prevail in the district court.

"We don't perceive this as that big of a deal," he said.

Claims were staked in the 1970s for the Canyon Mine but no mining has occurred there, and no uranium mines are active in Arizona. Energy Fuels notified the Forest Service in 2011 that it wanted to resume work to open the mine, triggering the review for valid, existing rights.

The Grand Canyon Trust, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club and the Havasupai Tribe argue the Forest Service's review failed to consider the environmental and cultural costs of mining.

"A prudent person wouldn't mine that resource if you're truly considering all the costs," Reimondo said.

A spokeswoman for Kaibab National Forest, Liz Schuppert, said Friday the agency hasn't reviewed the 9th Circuit decision.

While the appeals court revived one of the claims, it did not agree with environmentalists that a 1988 environmental review should be updated or that the Forest Service failed to properly consult with the Havasupai Tribe about mining near Red Butte - a site the tribe considers sacred as the center of its ancestral land. The tribe has said it is concerned uranium mining could contaminate its water sources.

Judge Frederic Block, who authored the opinion, said the Forest Service made a good-faith effort with the tribe to resolve possible adverse effects of mining.

If the effort wasn't successful, he said it's because the tribe insisted on things the Forest Service is not legally required or has the authority to do.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota Senate candidates Heidi Heitkamp and Kevin Cramer on Friday turned what was supposed to be a debate with rapid-fire questions into heated arguments about health care, Social Security and trade.

The hourlong event with a planned format of allowing 1 minute to answer a question and 30 seconds for rebuttal began with a question about civility that seemed to keep the candidates and crowd on an even-keel until they were asked about health care. Heitkamp, the Democratic senator who is trying to narrow a race in which Cramer is believed to have a healthy lead, accused her Republican opponent of trying to eliminate patient protections by voting five times to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

That started a lively 20-minute exchange that drew both cheers and boos from the crowd at North Dakota State University, often drowning out the comebacks by both candidates.

Cramer named a group of state Republican leaders who favor dumping the law to give more power to the states and said he's "pretty sure that Heidi Heitkamp isn't the smartest person out of that whole group." Heitkamp cited hospital and medical associations who are opposed the Republican ideas and said they know better than politicians.

"Kevin, you have not explained why you have voted five times to repeal with no replacement," Heitkamp said.

"Because rates are skyrocketing," Cramer shot back.

U.S. Senate candidates from North Dakota Heidi Heitkamp, left, and Kevin Cramer joke during one of the lighter moments in their debate in Fargo, N.D., on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. Heitkamp, the Democratic senator, and Cramer, the Republican congressman, had lively discussions over health care, trade and social security in their second and last debate of the campaign. (AP Photo/Dave Kolpack)

"You are taking away protections on preexisting conditions," Heitkamp said, at which time Cramer responded that those protections have been in place in North Dakota since the 1970s.

Heitkamp's voice cracked when she made her last comment that ended the topic.

"This is such an important discussion," she said. "The Affordable Care Act has good parts and bad parts. I have been working to fix the bad. You have been working to eliminate it for purely partisan reasons."

The two also exchanged barbs over Social Security, when Cramer said he wants to "put everything on the table" in order to save a program that will go insolvent in 2034 if nothing is done. When Heitkamp responded that she will not put cuts for senior citizens on the table, Cramer accused her of being "in a Hail Mary mood." The pair also quibbled on whether Cramer had used the word "entitlement" in regard to Social Security.

On trade, the two candidates continued to talk over each other on several occasions. Cramer said the administration understands that the dispute with China and others is "clearly a long-term play" and many farmers told him that new trade negotiations should have happened long ago.

"This president plays hardball, no doubt about it." said Cramer, who said Heitkamp should stand with the United States instead of China.

"And you want to represent North Dakota you better stand with North Dakota farmers," responded Heitkamp, who called the president's policy dangerous and devastating.

Heitkamp joined the U.S. Senate in 2012 after beating Republican Rick Berg. Cramer was elected to the U.S. House three times, the first in 2012.
The final stretch of the midterm campaign is increasingly dominated by debate over one of the most sensitive issues in American culture: race.

In Florida, accusations of racism are playing a central role in the hotly contested campaign for governor. Ron DeSantis, a Republican former congressman, chafed at questions about his ties to supporters who have made inflammatory comments.

"How the hell am I supposed to know every single statement somebody makes?" DeSantis said during a debate Wednesday. "I am not going to bow down to the altar of political correctness."

His Democratic opponent, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, could become the state's first black governor. Gillum went on offense at the debate, blaming DeSantis for fostering an environment that promotes racism.

"I'm not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist - I'm simply saying the racists believe he's a racist," Gillum said during a debate.

The exchange is a snapshot of how candidates from both parties are grappling with race less than two weeks before the midterms. From New York to Florida, dog-whistle politics are showing up in ads and attacks from outside groups and, in some cases, GOP candidates. It's playing out against the backdrop of President Donald Trump, who has tapped into racial anxiety with warnings of rampant violence in urban areas, voter fraud, a caravan of migrants and unknown "Middle Easterners" threatening the U.S. southern border.

IN this Oct. 24, 2018, photo, Florida gubernatorial candidates, Republican Ron DeSantis, left, and Democrat Andrew Gillum fist bump after a debate at Broward College in Davie, Fla. The final stretch of the midterm campaign is increasingly dominated by debate over one of the most sensitive issues in American political culture: Race. In Florida, accusations of racism are playing a central role in the hotly-contested campaign for governor. DeSantis chafed at questions about his ties to supporters who have made inflammatory comments. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, Pool)

Democrats argue the GOP is using racially charged appeals to boost turnout among white voters.

"If you believe the midterms are about base turnout, then from a strategic standpoint you get why they're trying to throw the best red meat to their base: tribalism," said Democratic pollster Cornell Belcher. "It's all about fear. Fear of the other, fear of losing their country. That wasn't by accident, and this is part and parcel of that."

Republican strategist Brian Robinson dismissed such arguments as part of "the silly season."

"In the final days, you throw out stuff that you had, that you weren't sure how it would work, that may be inflammatory," he said.

Robinson argued that Democrats are more likely to use race as a motivating factor.

"Republicans are very sensitive about being called racist," Robinson said. "The standards applied to Republicans are much stricter. We're not allowed to discuss race, so we tiptoe around it, and our own desire not to be called a racist keeps us in line."

Still, the racial dynamics of the campaign have been on display this week. On Tuesday, some Florida voters received a robocall appearing to mock Gillum, featuring a voice claiming to be the nominee, speaking in a demeaning minstrel dialect that sounds nothing like him.

DeSantis denounced the call. In a telephone interview, Gillum said he listened to the beginning of the audio but didn't play all of it.

"These things are also not only designed to go after their base of voters who they think is going to be motivated by these kinds of things, but there's also a little bit of an effort to throw me off my game," Gillum said. "If they can get me angry, catch me with an angry outburst, maybe they can make the case, 'The guy's unstable, you never know what he just might do.'"

In Georgia, reports have surfaced over Democrat Stacey Abrams' involvement in a protest more than 25 years ago in which the old state flag - which contained a Confederate symbol at the time - was burned. Abrams is seeking to become the first black woman governor in America, and her opponent, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, has labeled her "too extreme for Georgia."

Abrams responded to The New York Times report during a gubernatorial debate Tuesday, saying: "Twenty-six years ago, as a college freshman, I, along with many other Georgians, including the governor of Georgia, were deeply disturbed by the racial divisiveness that was embedded in the state flag with that Confederate symbol. I took an action of peaceful protest."

In upstate New York, an ad released last month by the Republican National Congressional Committee showed clips of Antonio Delgado, a Democratic nominee for the U.S. House, performing songs from his 2006 rap album under his stage name, A.D. The Voice. Delgado, a Rhodes scholar and Harvard Law School graduate, said his opponent, Rep. John Faso, is using racial attacks to alienate him, a black first-time candidate in a district that is more than 90 percent white.

On the stump and on Twitter, Trump continued to hammer the theme of immigration. This week, he told reporters that there "very well could be" people in the migrant caravan from the Middle East - a veiled nod to a possible terrorist threat - mixed in with migrants fleeing violence and seeking asylum.

Mexican officials say nearly 1,700 people have dropped out of the caravan to apply for asylum in the country. Sickness, fear and police harassment could further whittle down the group, estimated to be about 4,000 to 5,000, which is more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) from the U.S. border.

Immigration was also a theme in Texas, where Trump started the week at a rally to boost former rival Sen. Ted Cruz's numbers in the state. The president also labeled himself a "nationalist," sticking to his "America First" mantra, though some pointed to history and questioned whether the title had racial overtones.

"They wait until the last two or three weeks, especially when the enthusiasm gap was so large," said Democratic strategist Donna Brazile. "Every button is being pushed . it's like every ember of the racial fire is being stoked. It's going to get dirtier."

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Associated Press writer Terry Spencer in Davie, Fla., contributed to this report.

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Whack is The Associated Press' national writer on race and ethnicity. Follow her work on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/emarvelous.

Florida gubernatorial candidates, Republican Ron DeSantis, left, and Democrat Andrew Gillum debate, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, at Broward College in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, Pool)
SAO PAULO (AP) - Brazil votes Sunday to elect its next president, and the choice could not be more stark.

Far-right congressman Jair Bolsonaro, who is leading the polls, has described a Brazil at war: with criminals, with corrupt politicians, with left-wing ideas and, in some ways, with itself. The former army captain's official platform promises a "decent government, different from everything that landed us in an ethical, moral and fiscal crisis."

The success of his campaign caught many by surprise as Bolsonaro tapped into an anti-establishment wave. He focused on cracking down on crime and wooing the business community with a promise to enact liberal economic policies.

Meanwhile, his rival, Fernando Haddad, is seen by many as a stand-in for his mentor and the founder of the Workers' Party, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Once wildly popular, da Silva was barred from running after a corruption conviction. He's now serving a prison sentence. Haddad is his hand-picked successor, and the former mayor and education minister has strained to distinguish himself as his own man.

He has garnered the support of the party faithful, but a massive corruption scandal has thinned their ranks. And Haddad has struggled to inspire many beyond the base.

Here are three things to know about the candidates and their proposals:

FILE - This file photo combo shows Brazilian presidential candidate of the Workers' Party Fernando Haddad, left, in Sao Paulo on Oct. 16, 2018, and his opponent and frontrunner Jair Bolsonaro in Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 17, 2018. Brazil votes on Sunday, Oct. 28, to elect its next president. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, Silvia Izquierdo)

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JAIR BOLSONARO

CRIME: The centerpiece of Bolsonaro's campaign has been his promise to reduce Brazil's high crime rate. Latin America's largest country is the world leader in total number of homicides. Last year, a record 63,880 people were slain. Many Brazilians live in daily fear of muggings and burglaries.

Bolsonaro has framed this fight as a moral one, between the forces of good and evil. He has vowed to give police a freer hand in the use of force and to loosen restrictions on guns so citizens can defend themselves. He also wants to lower the age at which defendants can be tried as adults to 16.

ECONOMY: By his own admission, Bolsonaro doesn't know much about economics, but his choice of an economist who studied at the University of Chicago as an adviser won over much of Brazil's business community. He has promised to cut the size of the government, including slashing the number of ministries, and to pursue pension reform that will likely cut at least some benefits. He also wants to privatize many state companies. But since Bolsonaro is a recent convert to liberal economic theory, some observers wonder how long and how closely he will hew to these principles.

AUTHORITARIANISM: Bolsonaro has lavished praise on Brazil's 1964-1985 dictatorship and has held up that period as a simpler, safer time. Many people, especially dissidents who fought that regime, have chafed at the characterization, noting that the military government tortured thousands and killed hundreds of Brazilians. Coupled with his promises to give police "carte blanche" to shoot suspects and his derogatory comments about many minority groups, some fear a Bolsonaro presidency could see a rollback of civil rights and a weakening of democratic institutions. Bolsonaro has dismissed those fears.

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FERNANDO HADDAD

ECONOMY: Haddad has put the suffering of Brazilians during a protracted recession at the center of his campaign, blaming much of the downturn on President Michel Temer's reforms, even though the economy began to tank while the previous Workers' Party president was still in power. Much of his platform centers on reversing what Temer has done, including removing a government spending cap and scrapping a law that made labor rules more flexible and reduced benefits. He also wants to freeze a privatization plan and has vowed to create jobs, increase public investment, make access to credit cheaper and make the tax code more progressive.

SOCIAL PROGRAMS: Haddad has promised to put social and economic inclusion at the heart of his agenda, vowing to reduce the inequalities that have long pushed vast swaths of Brazilian society to the margins. He has promised to overhaul the education system, to expand the public health system and to significantly increase the allowance of a popular welfare program. He has particularly focused on the poorest Brazilians and pledged to implement a national food security plan amid evidence that the recession eroded gains in this area.

DEMOCRACY: Haddad accuses Temer's government of trampling the rights of workers, women, blacks, indigenous people and other marginalized groups and has said that a Bolsonaro presidency would only worsen this rollback. He warns of a Brazil run by hate and intolerance and has pitched himself as the only candidate who can save democracy.

While some of Haddad's former rivals from the first round of voting have rallied around this idea, many have decided to stay on the sidelines. He has thus far failed to turn it into a broad rallying cry.

FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2018 file photo, a supporter of presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro, holds up a bumper sticker supporting her candidate at a campaign rally in Brasilia, Brazil. Bolsonaro, who is leading the polls, has described a Brazil at war: with criminals, with corrupt politicians, with left-wing ideas and, in some ways, with itself. The former army captain's official platform promises a "decent government, different from everything that landed us in an ethical, moral and fiscal crisis." (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 11, 2018 file photo, presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro flashes two thumbs up during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The success of Bolsonaro's campaign caught many by surprise as the far-right congressman tapped into an anti-establishment wave. He focused on cracking down on crime and wooing the business community with a promise to enact liberal economic policies. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2018 file photo, a woman sings Brazil's anthem during a campaign rally for presidential frontrunner Jair Bolsonaro, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The rally took place one week before Brazilians return to the polls on Oct. 28 for the second round of voting. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2018 file photo, a supporters of presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro, attends a campaign rally in Brasilia, Brazil. The centerpiece of Bolsonaro's campaign has been his promise to reduce Brazil's high crime rate. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2018 photo, a woman poses for a photo with the words "Not him" written in Portuguese on her forehead, during one of many protests against the presidential frontrunner Jair Bolsonaro, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Bolsonaro will face off with Workers' Party candidate Fernando Haddad who has promised to put social and economic inclusion at the heart of his agenda. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2018 file photo, Workers' Party presidential candidate Fernando Haddad greets supporters after a meeting with leaders of various favelas at the Mare Complex slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Haddad has promised to overhaul the education system, to expand the public health system and to significantly increase the allowance of a popular welfare program. He has particularly focused on the poorest Brazilians and pledged to implement a national food security plan amid evidence that the recession eroded gains in this area. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2018 file photo, people gather next to the Carioca Aqueduct, also know as Arcos da Lapa, during a campaign event with popular Brazilian artists and musicians in support of the Workers' Party presidential candidate Fernando Haddad, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. Haddad has put the suffering of Brazilians during a protracted recession at the center of his campaign, blaming much of the downturn on President Michel Temer's reforms, even though the economy began to tank while the previous Workers' Party president was still in power. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) - He talked tax cuts last weekend, opioid addiction on Wednesday, drug prices on Thursday and immigration every day of the week. In the lead-up to the midterm elections, President Donald Trump has gone full policy wonk.

Trump is promoting a grab bag of new proposals as evidence of campaign promises kept while Democrats question the timing of the policy flurry so close to the elections.

Trump, who has been talking about the need to cut prescription drug prices since his presidential campaign, said of the plan he unveiled this past week, "we're doing things that nobody was ... bold enough to do."

Facing an election that could profoundly change his presidency, Trump's uptick in policy activity underscored the aggressive effort the White House is making as Republicans try to stave off Democratic gains. The White House says all the policies have been in the works or are driven by outside forces, but aides acknowledge that the moves also provide an opportunity to connect with voters on key issues like health care and border security.

Democrats argued Trump was simply playing politics.

After Trump rolled out the drug plan, Sen. Ron Wyden said in a statement that the "Trump administration has concocted a dog-and-pony show to trick the American people into thinking they are taking real action to lower drug prices." House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi added: "It is hard to take President Trump seriously on prescription drug prices with this proposal just 12 days from the election."

In this Oct. 23, 2018, photo, President Donald Trump speaks following a ceremony signing the "America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018" into law in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. Tax cuts, drug prices, border troops. Trump is tossing out a flurry of policy proposals and plans in the closing days before the midterm elections. The president marks it down as progress on key promises; critics say he's exaggerating. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

White House political director Bill Stepien pushed back on such criticism, saying Trump has pursued "an aggressive policy agenda on behalf of the American people and he's not slowing down. The results are evident: Good policy is good politics."

On Friday, Trump expressed frustration that he hadn't gotten more plaudits for the drug plan, which he hailed as a "revolutionary change." At a White House event, he complained that the plan wasn't treated accordingly, saying: "It didn't get the kind of coverage it should have." The president said the plan had been overshadowed by all the focus on the pipe-bomb scare but with the apprehension of a suspect, "maybe that can start to disappear rapidly because we don't like those stories."

At times, the president has clearly gotten carried away, or advanced policy ideas with limited impact.

Trump said last weekend that he hoped to move forward with a new tax-cut plan "sometime around" or before Nov. 1. But Congress is out of session as lawmakers campaign for the Nov. 6 elections and the president's plan for a new middle-income cut of about 10 percent has yet to be fleshed out. Rep. Kevin Brady told CNBC on Friday that lawmakers had been working with the White House "for several months" on a plan, which he said would be advanced next year if the GOP can hold the House and Senate.

Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, mocked the president's tax push in a campaign appearance Friday on behalf of Democrats, saying, "Congress isn't even in session. He just makes it up."

The pitch for a new cut seemed to be a tacit acknowledgement by the Trump administration that an earlier $1.5 trillion package of tax cuts failed to deliver the political boost that Republicans had hoped for.

With immigration, Trump has seized on a caravan of Central American migrants advancing toward the southern border as a political "gift" as he amplifies his hardline border policies. After Trump pledged this week to send additional troops to the border, the Pentagon on Friday approved a request that is likely to send several hundred to help the U.S. Border Patrol. Details of the deployment still are being worked out.

Under his new drug plan, Medicare payment for drugs administered in doctors' offices would gradually shift to a level based on international prices, which are typically lower. But the plan would not apply to medicines that people buy at the pharmacy and would not take effect for more than a year. Still, experts characterized it as a significant proposal, noting it drew pushback from drug makers. The White House said the rollout of the plan had been in the works for months.

The drug plan, like the troop order, did not require congressional approval, a reminder of Trump's persistent struggles to get legislation passed.

The White House views the varied policy proposals as part of its political push, said a White House aide who was not authorized to speak publicly about strategy. The aide said drug pricing was considered helpful in an election in which health care has emerged as a top voter concern. And as Trump himself indicated, the caravan is seen as a powerful argument for his immigration proposals.

Republican consultant Alex Conant said that when it comes to reaching voters, "Trump's instincts on this stuff are good."

On the tax cut, he said: "Telling voters they're going to get a middle-class tax cut if they're going to vote Republican is GOP 101."
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Israeli aircraft struck dozens of militant sites across the Gaza Strip early Saturday as militants fired some 30 rockets into Israel, in the heaviest exchange of fire between the bitter enemies in several weeks.

The fighting followed a bloody day of border protests, in which Israeli forces shot and killed four Palestinians protesting along the perimeter fence dividing Hamas-ruled Gaza and Israel. The sudden burst of fighting and bloodshed complicated the mission of Egyptian mediators, who have intensified shuttle diplomacy to achieve calm and prevent a full-blown conflict between the militant Hamas group and Israel.

The Israeli military said it had struck some 80 sites across Gaza by early Saturday morning, including a security headquarters building. Air raid sirens sounded throughout the night in southern Israel, with militants firing some 30 rockets, the military said.

It said about 10 rockets were intercepted by its Iron Dome rocket defense system, two landed prematurely in Gaza and the rest fell in open areas. Israel's military chief, Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, convened an emergency meeting of top security officials, the army added, without elaborating.

There was no word on injuries as a result of the rockets and airstrikes.

Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant group, implicitly claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. It issued a statement saying that it normally exercises restraint, but it "can no longer stand idle before the continued killing of innocents and bloodshed by the Israeli occupation."

Smoke rises from an explosion caused by an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City, early Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Israeli aircraft struck several militant sites across the Gaza Strip early Saturday shortly after militants fired rockets into southern Israel, the Israeli military said. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

It was not immediately clear whether Islamic Jihad, which sometimes acts independently of Hamas, had coordinated the rocket fire with Hamas. But Israel holds Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in 2007, responsible for all fire emanating from the territory.

The sides have fought three wars over the past decade, and Israel and Egypt have maintained a stifling blockade on the territory to weaken Hamas. The Hamas-led weekly protests along the Israeli border have been aimed in large part at breaking the blockade, which has devastated the Gaza economy.

On Friday, thousands of Palestinians gathered at five locations along the boundary, burning tires and throwing rocks, grenades and firebombs at Israeli troops who responded with tear gas and occasional live fire.

The Israeli army said some suspects briefly crossed the fence.

Three of the dead were reported in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Witnesses said that dozens of protesters approached the fence there.

In northern Gaza, a 27-year-old man died after being shot in the head, the ministry said. It added that 170 other protesters sustained various injuries.

Hamas, an Islamic militant group sworn to Israel's destruction, had previously scaled down the protests as Egypt stepped up its efforts to secure calm.

On Wednesday, Egyptian intelligence officials met representatives of Palestinian factions in Gaza. Loay Qarouti of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Command said the mediators asked them "to protect the lives of protesters and minimize losses among them."

Egypt wants to restore calm in order to pursue the broader goal of Palestinian reconciliation between Hamas and the West Bank-based administration of President Mahmoud Abbas. The internationally recognized Abbas lost control of Gaza in the 2007 takeover.

But Hamas maintains it wants a full lifting of a crippling blockade Israel and Egypt imposed on Gaza to isolate the Islamic movement.

The blockade has made it increasingly difficult for Hamas to govern. Widespread desperation among Gaza's 2 million residents - who get only a few hours of electricity a day and undrinkable tap water, in addition to suffering from soaring joblessness and limited freedom of travel - fuels their participation in the Hamas-orchestrated protests.

Since the marches began six months ago, at least 160 Palestinians present or taking part in the protests have been killed. A Gaza militant fatally shot an Israeli soldier in July.

Israel accuses Hamas of using the large protests as cover to stage border infiltrations and attacks. It says it is defending its border and accuses Hamas of exploiting young protesters and encouraging them to risk their lives in order to increase pressure to ease the blockade.

Israel has come under heavy international criticism for what many see as excessive use of force and the large number of unarmed people who have been shot.

In the West Bank, a 33-year-old Palestinian man was killed and nine others wounded by live rounds, one in critical conditions, as the Israeli forces confronted stone throwers in a village near Ramallah city, doctors said.

An explosion caused by Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, early Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Israeli aircraft struck several militant sites across the Gaza Strip early Saturday shortly after militants fired rockets into southern Israel, the Israeli military said. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Smoke rises from an explosion caused by an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City, early Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Israeli aircraft struck several militant sites across the Gaza Strip early Saturday shortly after militants fired rockets into southern Israel, the Israeli military said. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Smoke rises from an explosion caused by an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City, early Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Israeli aircraft struck several militant sites across the Gaza Strip early Saturday shortly after militants fired rockets into southern Israel, the Israeli military said. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Smoke rises from an explosion caused by an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City, early Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Israeli aircraft struck several militant sites across the Gaza Strip early Saturday shortly after militants fired rockets into southern Israel, the Israeli military said. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

An explosion caused by Israeli airstrikes is seen on Gaza City, early Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Israeli aircraft struck several militant sites across the Gaza Strip early Saturday shortly after militants fired rockets into southern Israel, the Israeli military said. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Protesters run when burn tires near the fence of the Gaza Strip border with Israel during a protest east of east of Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
EIN QINIYA, Golan Heights (AP) - Sameera Rada Emran's face should be everywhere. The 46-year-old Druze resident of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights is running to head her village's local council. But there are no posters bearing her image or campaign ads bellowing her name.

Druze residents of the Golan will for the first time join millions of Israelis voting in local elections next week. But candidates like Emran have had to keep a low profile amid a call by some Druze - who are members of a secretive offshoot of Islam - to boycott the polls, exposing a deep rift in the community over identity and the future of the occupied territory.

The chasm has pit community elders who pledge fealty to Syria and activists opposed to Israel's occupation against those with looser ties to their ancestral homeland who seek to have a stake in how their own communities are managed.

"I understand the opposition and where it comes from because we still live it. The Golan Heights is occupied and that is a fact. No one can deny that. On the other hand, we have been in this situation for more than 50 years," Emran said. "There are young people who need to live and we need to provide them a healthy and beneficial environment that allows them to progress."

Israel occupied the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed the territory in 1981 - a move that is not internationally recognized.

In contrast to the Palestinian territories captured in 1967, however, the Golan has remained quiet under Israeli rule. While most of the Golan's 26,000 Druze have chosen not to take Israeli citizenship, they hold Israeli residency status that gives them the right to travel and work freely. Residents speak Hebrew and the Golan, with its rugged landscape and many restaurants, is a popular destination for Israeli tourists.

In this Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, photo, Sameera Rada Emran holds a ballot paper with her name in Ein Qiniya in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Druze residents of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights will for the first time join millions of Israelis voting in local elections next week. But candidates have had to keep a low profile amid a call by some Druze to boycott the polls, exposing a deep rift in the community over identity and the future of the occupied territory. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Still, the community largely sees itself as inextricably linked to Syria. Many hope the territory might one day be returned to Syria as part of a peace deal.

Boycott supporters have been holding meetings to convince - or pressure - candidates not to run and voters to abstain and several would-be candidates have already withdrawn. Demonstrations against the elections have been held and a general strike is being planned for election day.

Emran said some of her relationships with neighbors have soured over her choice to run.

The divide has meant the frenzy of election campaigning has skipped over the sleepy Druze villages. Candidates have had to keep campaigning a hushed, low-key affair, with many appealing to voters through social media and quiet gatherings indoors.

Since the annexation, Israel has appointed representatives to local councils in the Golan's four Druze villages. But a yearning by more educated, younger Druze for economic opportunities and greater integration into Israeli society, coupled with a realization that the territory will not return to Syria in the near future, has sparked a desire by some to control their own fate, even if it means cooperating with what's still largely seen as an occupying power.

That, along with a sense that the appointees did not properly represent the community, prompted a group of young lawyers from the area to appeal to Israel's Supreme Court for a say in choosing their leaders. Their petition succeeded, paving the way for the first-ever elections on Oct. 30.

Israel has cast the elections as an "historic" event. Interior Minister Aryeh Deri called it "a move that strengthens Israel's democracy" when he announced the vote.

Israel's government sees the Golan Heights as an integral part of the country and a bulwark against radical Islam and growing Iranian influence in Lebanon and Syria. The Syrian civil war, in which hundreds of thousands have died and millions displaced, has only deepened this sentiment.

"Israel on the Golan Heights is a guarantee for stability in the surrounding area," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a recent visit to an ancient Golan Heights synagogue. "Israel on the Golan Heights is a fact that the international community must recognize and as long as it depends on me, the Golan Heights will always remain under Israeli sovereignty."

For now, much of the international community considers the Golan to be occupied territory with its status subject to an eventual peace deal between Israel and Syria.

Many Druze complain that in this uncertain status, Israel has not done enough to improve living conditions.

The candidates say their villages lack investment in education, infrastructure and tourism, a thriving industry that many say benefits nearby Jewish settlements but not the Druze.

Religious leaders supporting the boycott see elections as legitimizing Israel's rule. Other opponents view holding polls in occupied territory as a violation of international law.

Others point to the skewed democracy at play in the elections: While residency status in Israel grants the right to vote in local elections, only citizens can run for the head of local councils. Of nearly 27,000 Golan Druze, 17,000 can vote but only about 5,000 are citizens.

"We consider ourselves Syrian Arabs under Israeli rule, under Israeli occupation," said Sheikh Hayel Sharaf, a religious leader who opposes the polls. "For sure the Golan people will boycott."

The war in Syria also looms large. For some residents, President Bashar Assad's imminent victory is a sign that they will soon be reunited with Syria.

For others, the seemingly endless fighting has presented a realization that their future does not lie in the war-torn state.

"It's clear that the religious leaders are losing control of the young generation because of pragmatic considerations," said Yusri Hazran, a lecturer on the Middle East at Jerusalem's Shalem College. "What is the alternative to Israel for them? There is none."

Observers say they expect turnout to be low, in part because of the boycott, but say it could grow in coming elections as the taboo surrounding voting erodes.

Emran sees hope in her father, a Syrian loyalist with an open mind.

"I can say he's not happy" about her campaign, she said, proudly showing off a yellow ballot with her name on it. "But he understands the need to do something and move forward."

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Associated Press writer Areej Hazboun contributed.

In this Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018 photo, an Israeli and a Druze flags flutters on the village's council building in Ein Qiniya in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Druze residents of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights will for the first time join millions of Israelis voting in local elections next week. But candidates have had to keep a low profile amid a call by some Druze to boycott the polls, exposing a deep rift in the community over identity and the future of the occupied territory. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

In this Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018 photo, Sameera Rada Emran holds a ballot paper with her name in Ein Qiniya in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Druze residents of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights will for the first time join millions of Israelis voting in local elections next week. But candidates have had to keep a low profile amid a call by some Druze to boycott the polls, exposing a deep rift in the community over identity and the future of the occupied territory. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

In this Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, photo, an Israeli flag flutters in front of the village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Druze residents of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights will for the first time join millions of Israelis voting in local elections next week. But candidates have had to keep a low profile amid a call by some Druze to boycott the polls, exposing a deep rift in the community over identity and the future of the occupied territory.(AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
ISLAMABAD (AP) - Two charities linked to a radical cleric wanted by the U.S. are no longer on Pakistan's list of banned groups because a presidential order banning them under a U.N. resolution has lapsed.

The presidential ordinance regarding Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, founded by cleric Hafiz Saeed, lapsed without parliament's approval.

The issue came up in the Islamabad High Court, where Saeed challenged the ordinance banning the two entities. Presidential orders must be extended or passed as an act of parliament.

Saeed founded the Lashkar-e-Taiba group, which was blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat are alleged fronts for Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The United States has offered a $10 million reward for Saeed's arrest.

Saeed denies involvement in the Mumbai attacks.

Hafiz Said, leader of the Pakistani religious party, Jamaat-ud-Dawa addresses a rally to express solidarity with Indian Kashmiris in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. They have rallied to denounce the recent killings by Indian forces in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistan released Saeed in November after 11 months of house arrest.

FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2010, file photo, volunteers of the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation distribute relief goods to displaced people by floods in Nowshera, Pakistan. Two charities linked to a radical cleric wanted by the U.S. are no longer on Pakistan's list of banned groups because a presidential order banning them under a U.N. resolution has lapsed. The presidential ordinance regarding Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, founded by cleric Hafiz Saeed, lapsed without parliament's approval. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad, File)
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Somalia's national security agency says a senior official with the al-Shabab extremist group has been killed, a day after the U.S. military announced an airstrike against al-Shabab in the same area.

Saturday's statement says the unnamed official in charge of collecting revenue was killed on Thursday in Kunyo Barrow, north of the port city of Kismayo.

The U.S. statement says its airstrike near Kunyo Barrow on Thursday killed two extremists. The U.S. has carried out over two dozen such airstrikes this year against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab.

In a separate attack, the African Union peacekeeping mission this week said al-Shabab's head of tax collection in Lower Shabelle region was killed on Monday after an ambush on a meeting in Bariire.

Al-Shabab funds its activities by taxing communities it controls.
BEIJING (AP) - China says it will allow trading in products made from endangered tigers and rhinos under "special circumstances," reversing a long-standing ban and bringing condemnation from conservation groups.

A notice from the Cabinet issued Monday avoided mentioning any change in the law, saying instead that it would "control" the trade and that rhino horns and tiger bones could only be obtained from farmed animals for use in "medical research or in healing."

"Under the special circumstances, regulation on the sales and use of these products will be strengthened, and any related actions will be authorized, and the trade volume will be strictly controlled," the statement said.

Tiger bone and rhino horn are used in traditional Chinese medicine, despite a lack of evidence of their effectiveness in treating illness and the effect on wild populations. Chinese demand for ivory is also blamed as a driver behind the slaughter of African elephants, despite Beijing banning all trade in ivory starting from this year.

No reason was given for the lifting of the ban, which was implemented in 1993 amid a global push to protect fast-disappearing endangered species.

The statement also said nothing about regulating the farming of tigers and rhinos, but added that the central government "urged governments at all levels to improve publicity activities for protecting rhinos and tigers to help the public actively boycott any illegal purchases."

FILE - In this May 7, 2009, file photo, a Siberian tiger crouches on top of a tourist bus at a branch of Harbin Siberian Tigers Breeding Center in Shenyang in northeast China's Liaoning province. China says it will allow trading in products made from endangered tigers and rhinos under "special circumstances," reversing a previous ban and bringing condemnation from conservation groups. A notice from the Cabinet issued Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, avoided mentioning any change in the law, saying instead that it would "control" the trade and that rhino horns and tiger bones could only be obtained from farmed animals for use in "medical research or in healing." (Chinatopix Via AP, File)

The World Wildlife Fund said the move to overturn the ban would have "devastating consequences globally" by allowing poachers and smugglers to hide behind legalized trade.

"With wild tiger and rhino populations at such low levels and facing numerous threats, legalized trade in their parts is simply too great a gamble for China to take," Margaret Kinnaird, WWF wildlife practice leader, was quoted as saying in a statement from the Washington-based organization.

"This decision seems to contradict the leadership China has shown recently in tackling the illegal wildlife trade," Kinnaird said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said protecting endangered species is China's "consistent position" and that the changes aimed to fill gaps in previous regulations while providing for beefed-up enforcement.

"I've noticed the concerns of the relevant parties about this and we are willing to step-up exchanges with other countries in this aspect," Lu told reporters at a daily briefing.

Despite the former ban, China has long allowed tiger farms, which harvest the bones of dead animals, and tacitly allows their sale for alleged medicinal purposes, according to a study by the Environmental Investigation Agency, a British nonprofit.

Operators are also believed to be investigating the possibility of farming rhinos in the country, although, unlike tigers, those are not native to China.

The EIA called the overturning of the ban a "brazen and regressive move which drastically undermines international efforts for tiger and rhino conservation."

"At a single stroke, China has shattered its reputation as a growing leader in conservation following its domestic ban on the sale of ivory at the start of the year," the group said.

An estimated 3,890 tigers remain alive in the wild, according to a report presented during the Third Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation in 2016. Thousands of tigers are also believed to have been bred on Chinese farms where conditions for the animals are often criticized as dire.

Studies put the population of wild rhinos at less than 30,000, while poaching is reducing that number drastically each year.

Humane Society International also criticized China's move, saying that "the trade it engenders will inevitably increase pressure on animals in the wild."

"With this announcement, the Chinese government has signed a death warrant for imperiled rhinos and tigers in the wild who already face myriad threats to their survival," Iris Ho, the group's senior specialist for wildlife program and policy, was quoted as saying in a statement.

"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," Ho said.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Trump administration has imposed restrictions on technology exports to a state-supported Chinese semiconductor maker, citing national security grounds amid a mounting tariff battle.

The controls imposed Monday on Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co. reflect concern Chinese competition could drive American technology suppliers out of business, leaving the military without secure sources of components.

Beijing has spent heavily to build up Jinhua and other chip makers as part of efforts to transform China into a global leader in robotics, artificial intelligence and other technology industries.

The United States, Europe and other trading partners say Beijing's tactics violate its market-opening obligations. American officials worry they might erode U.S. industrial leadership.

President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs of up to 25 percent on $250 billion of Chinese goods in an effort to pressure Beijing to roll back those plans.

Jinhua is completing "substantial production capacity" for integrated circuits, possibly using U.S. technology, which "threatens the long-term economic viability of U.S. suppliers of these essential components of U.S. military systems," said a Commerce Department statement.

FILE- In this Oct. 26, 2018, file photo President Donald Trump walks from the Oval Office as he leaves the White House in Washington to attend a campaign rally in Charlotte, N.C. The Trump administration has imposed restrictions on technology exports to a state-supported Chinese semiconductor maker, citing national security grounds amid a mounting tariff battle. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

The company was added to the department's "Entity List," which will require it to obtain an export license for all software, technology and commodities, the Commerce Department said. It said such applications "will be reviewed with a presumption of denial."

That "will limit its ability to threaten the supply chain for essential components in our military systems," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in the statement.

China's foreign ministry said it hoped foreign governments would treat Chinese companies "reasonably and fairly."

"We hope the United States will do something that serves the two sides' interest and helps improve mutual trust, instead of the other way around," said a ministry spokesman, Lu Kang.

Calls to Fujian Jinhua's offices rang unanswered Tuesday and there was no immediate response to an inquiry made through their website.

The order marks the second U.S. action this year blocking technology exports to a Chinese buyer.

ZTE Corp., China's second-biggest maker of telecoms equipment, faced possible bankruptcy this year after Washington imposed a seven-year ban on sales of U.S. technology to the company over its exports to Iran and North Korea.

American authorities lifted the ban in July after ZTE paid a $1 billion fine, agreed to replace its executive team and hired U.S.-selected compliance officers.

Meanwhile, Jinhua is embroiled in a court battle with U.S. chip maker Micron Technology Inc., which accuses the Chinese company of stealing its technology.

Micron sued Jinhua in December in federal court in California. Jinhua sued the U.S. company the following month in a Chinese court and obtained an order blocking sales of some Micron products.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - In a potentially far-reaching decision, South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that a major Japanese steelmaker should compensate four South Koreans for forced labor during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula before the end of World War II.

The long-awaited ruling, delivered Tuesday after more than five years of deliberation at Seoul's top court, could have larger implications for similar lawsuits that are pending in South Korea and will likely trigger a diplomatic row between the Asian U.S. allies.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tokyo will respond "resolutely" to the ruling, which he described as "impossible in light of international law." He said the ruling violated a 1965 treaty between Seoul and Tokyo that was accompanied by Japanese payments to restore diplomatic ties. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said Japan could potentially take the case to the International Court of Justice.

"Today's ruling by the South Korean Supreme Court has one-sidedly and fundamentally damaged the legal foundation of Japan-South Korea relations," Kono said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in had no immediate reaction to the ruling. South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk said Tokyo and Seoul "should gather wisdom" to prevent the ruling from negatively affecting their relations.

The court said Japan's Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. should provide compensation of 100 million won ($87,680) to each of the four plaintiffs, who were forced to work at Japanese steel mills from 1941 to 1943. Among them, only 94-year-old Lee Chun-sik has survived the legal battle, which extended nearly 14 years.

South Korean Lee Chun-sik, a 94-year-old victim of forced labor during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula before the end of World War II, gestures upon his arrival at the Supreme Court in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. In a potentially far-reaching decision, South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that a Japanese steelmaker should compensate four South Koreans for forced labor during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula before the end of World War II. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

"I won the case but I am here alone, so I am sad, a lot of tears are coming out," an emotional Lee told reporters after the ruling. "It would have been good if we were still here altogether."

The court rejected Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal's stance that the issue of compensation for forced labor had been settled by the 1965 treaty. The court also rejected the company's argument that it is a different entity from the steelmaker that forced the South Koreans to work during the war. The current company, one of the world's largest steel producers, was formed from the merger of several companies after the war.

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal called the ruling "deeply regrettable" and said it will "carefully review" the court's decision in considering its next steps, taking into account "the Japanese government's responses on this matter and other factors."

Seoul and Tokyo's bitter disputes over history, including issues surrounding South Korean women forced into wartime sexual slavery, have complicated Washington's efforts to strengthen trilateral cooperation to deal with North Korea's nuclear threat and China's growing influence in the region.

President Moon, who once represented South Korean forced laborers as a lawyer in the 2000s, said after taking office last year said that the 1965 treaty cannot prevent individuals from exercising their rights to receive damage compensation. In the past, both governments have stated that the issue of forced labor compensation had been settled by the treaty.

Moon has also questioned the validity of a 2015 agreement with Japan negotiated by South Korea's previous conservative government to compensate South Korean women forced into sexual slavery by Japan's wartime military. Many South Koreans believe Seoul settled for far too little in that agreement and have been calling for the disbanding of a Seoul-based foundation established to support the victims with a 1 billion yen ($9 million) fund provided by Japan.

Tokyo maintains that the $500 million Japan provided to South Korea under the 1965 treaty was meant to permanently settle all wartime compensation issues. But the Supreme Court in Tuesday's ruling said the treaty does not terminate individuals' rights to seek compensation for the "inhumane illegal" experiences they were forced into.

Kim Jin-young, an activist from a group representing South Korean forced labor victims, said the ruling will likely affect the outcomes of more than a dozen similar lawsuits pending in local courts, including a case against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries now with the Supreme Court. The ruling could also trigger more lawsuits by South Korean victims or their families against Japanese companies accused of exploiting forced labor.

"There are likely more obstacles left before the victims receive compensation," Kim said. "The legal battle may reach a third-country location. Seizing the companies' assets in South Korea could also be a long and difficult process if they continue to refuse paying the victims."

The four plaintiffs filed a damage lawsuit against Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal with the Seoul Central District Court in 2005 after two of them lost a similar suit filed in Japan. The Supreme Court in 2012 overturned rulings by lower courts that denied compensation for the plaintiffs and sent the case back to the Seoul High Court, which in 2013 ruled that the company compensate the plaintiffs 100 million won each.

Tuesday's ruling came more than five years after the company appealed the High Court decision in August 2013.

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AP writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.

South Korean Lee Chun-sik, center, a 94-year-old victim of forced labor during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula before the end of World War II, sits on a wheelchair upon his arrival outside the Supreme Court in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. In a potentially far-reaching decision, South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that a Japanese steelmaker should compensate four South Koreans for forced labor during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula before the end of World War II. The banner reads: "Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation should compensate and apologize to victims of forced labor." (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korean Lee Chun-sik, a 94-year-old victim of forced labor during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula before the end of World War II, sits on a wheelchair upon his arrival at the Supreme Court in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. In a potentially far-reaching decision, South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that a Japanese steelmaker should compensate four South Koreans for forced labor during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula before the end of World War II. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korean Chief Justice of the Supreme Court KIM Myeongsu, center, sits with other justices upon their arrival at the Supreme Court in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. South Korea's Supreme Court has ruled that a Japanese steelmaker should compensate four South Koreans for forced labor during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula before the end of World War II. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Five members of the Afghan Taliban who were freed from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in exchange for captured U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl have joined the insurgent group's political office in Qatar, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

They will now be among Taliban representatives negotiating for peace in Afghanistan, a sign some negotiators in Kabul say indicates the Taliban's desire for a peace pact.

Others fear the five, all of whom were close to the insurgent group's founder and hard-line leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, bring with them the same ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam that characterized the group's five-year rule that ended in 2001 with the U.S.-led invasion.

"The Taliban are bringing back their old generation, which means the Taliban have not changed their thinking or their leadership," said Haroun Mir, a political analyst in the Afghan capital. "What we are more worried about is if tomorrow the Taliban say 'we are ready to negotiate,' who will represent Kabul? That is the big challenge because the government is so divided, not just ideologically but on ethnic lines."

Efforts to find a peaceful end to Afghanistan's protracted war have accelerated since Washington appointed Afghan-American Zalmay Khalilzad as envoy to find a peaceful end to America's longest war, which has already cost the U.S. more than $900 billion.

But Mohammed Ismail Qasimyar, a member of a government peace council, warned Washington against negotiating peace terms with the Taliban, saying Khalilzad's only job is to set the stage for direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, something the insurgents have so far refused calling the government a U.S. puppet.

FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2016, file photo, then-Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl arrives for a pretrial hearing at Fort Bragg, N.C. Five members of the Afghan Taliban who were freed from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in exchange for captured American army Sgt. Bergdahl have joined the insurgent group's political office in Qatar, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. Bergdahl had been held in Taliban custody since 2009 when he wandered off a U.S. army base. In 2017, he was given a dishonorable discharge on charges of desertion.(AP Photo/Ted Richardson, File)

Taliban officials reported meeting with Khalilzad in Qatar earlier this month, calling the exchange preliminary but pivotal. Washington neither confirmed nor denied the meeting, but Khalilzad was in Qatar at the time.

A Taliban official familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press that talks ended with an agreement to meet again. Key among the Taliban's requests was recognition of their Qatar office, said the official, who spoke on condition he not be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

In an unexpected development, Pakistan also bowed to a long-standing Afghan Taliban demand that it release its senior leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who had been in jail in Pakistan since 2010. At the time, Baradar was reportedly jailed after bypassing Pakistan to open independent peace talks with Hamid Karzai, who was then Afghanistan's president.

Baradar's release followed Khalilzad's first visit to Pakistan since being appointed Washington's peace envoy.

Baradar issued an audio message after his release to the Taliban. The Pashto-language message, heard by an Associated Press reporter, seemed to indicate he was preparing for a role in the insurgent movement moving forward.

Hakim Mujahed, a former Taliban member who is now also a member of the Afghan government peace council, said the presence of the five former Guantanamo prisoners in the Taliban's Qatar office is indicative of the Taliban's resolve to find a peace deal. He said the stature of the five within the insurgent movement will make a peace deal palatable to the rank and file, many of whom have resisted talks believing a military victory was within their grasp.

"These people are respected among all the Taliban," said Mujahed. "Their word carries weight with the Taliban leadership and the mujahedeen."

But there are some among the five who have a disturbing past.

Human Rights Watch accused Mohammed Fazl, the former Taliban army chief arrested in 2002, of overseeing the deaths of thousands of minority Shiites in 2000. The massacre outraged the world and followed the killing in 1997 of an estimated 2,000 young ethnic Pashtuns in northern Afghanistan by Taliban rivals.

Another of the five is Khairullah Khairkhwa, a former governor of Herat province, who was close to both Taliban founder Mullah Omar and al- Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Khairkhwa also had a friendship with former president Hamid Karzai.

The others include Abdul Haq Wasiq, deputy intelligence minister, Mullah Norullah Nori, once described as the most significant Taliban leader held at Guantanamo Bay because of his particularly close relationship with Mullah Omar, who fought U.S.-led coalition forces in northern Afghanistan's Mazar-e-Sharif and Mohammad Nabi, a Taliban communications officer.

All five are from southern Afghanistan, the Taliban's heartland.

The five Taliban were released in 2014 in exchange for Bergdahl, who had been held in Taliban custody since 2009 when he wandered off a U.S. army base. Last year he was given a dishonorable discharge last year and fined $1,000 on charges of desertion and misbehavior.

Mohammed Ismail Qasimyar, a member of a government peace council, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at his residence in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Taliban spokesman said Tuesday that five members of the Afghan Taliban who were freed from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in exchange for captured American army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl have joined the insurgent group's political office in Qatar. But Qasimyar warned Washington against negotiating peace terms with the Taliban. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)

Mohammed Ismail Qasimyar, a member of a government peace council, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at his residence in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Taliban spokesman said Tuesday that five members of the Afghan Taliban who were freed from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in exchange for captured American army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl have joined the insurgent group's political office in Qatar. But Qasimyar warned Washington against negotiating peace terms with the Taliban. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Latest on Rep. Beto O'Rourke's appearance on an MSNBC town hall (all times local):

7:20 p.m.

Democratic Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke is suggesting that President Donald Trump floated the idea of using an executive order to end birthright U.S. citizenship so close to the midterm elections because "he's trying to play upon the worst impulses of this country."

O'Rourke appeared Tuesday night on an MSNBC town hall and said Trump has stoked "fear and paranoia" about a caravan of Central American immigrants slowly trekking through Mexico toward the U.S. border.

He said the U.S. can rise above the White House's "current occupant."

A congressman from El Paso giving up his seat, O'Rourke is trying to beat Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. Cruz said Tuesday that he supports ending birthright citizenship but he's unsure if the president has the legal authority to do that with an executive order.

Beto O'Rourke, the 2018 Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, speaks before a crowd of supporters at a get out the vote event on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018 in Houston. (AP Photo/John L. Mone)

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3 p.m.

Texas Senate hopeful Beto O'Rourke is appearing on an MSNBC town hall, the second time in less than two weeks that a candidate seen as a rising Democratic star gets to make a nationally televised case for ousting Republican incumbent Ted Cruz.

Tuesday's event from Houston comes as O'Rourke shattered Senate campaign fundraising records, including raising $38-plus million for the three-month period between July and September, despite shunning donations from outside political groups.

A onetime punk rocker giving up his El Paso-based House seat to challenge Cruz, O'Rourke is trying to become Texas' first Democrat to win statewide office since 1994.

But polls that once showed him closing in now have Cruz consistently ahead.

After two debates with Cruz, O'Rourke appeared solo on a CNN town hall earlier this month.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Southern California Edison said Tuesday its equipment likely sparked one of two ignition points for the massive wildfire that tore through California's central coast last year.

Witnesses reported flames near the company's power poles in Ventura County last December and the utility "believes that its equipment was associated with this ignition," Edison said.

Dozens of lawsuits allege Edison equipment caused the deadly Thomas Fire, but the statement marked the first time the company made such an acknowledgment.

Edison hasn't determined if its equipment started the second ignition point nearly 6 miles (10 kilometers) away.

The admission was made as red flag warnings for increased fire danger went up across the state amid dry, gusty winds.

Fire officials declined to comment on Edison's statement because no official cause of the blaze has been determined. A multi-agency investigation is continuing.

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2017 file photo, a fire engine passes flames as a wildfire burns along Santa Ana Road near Ventura, Calif. Southern California Edison said Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, its equipment likely sparked one of two ignition points for Thomas fire, a wildfire that tore through California's central coast last year. (AP Photo/Noah Berge, File)

Investigators were looking at "every possibility" ranging from weather to human or even animal factors, and the nearly year-long probe probably won't be completed for at least another 30 days, Ventura County fire Capt. Stan Ziegler said.

The Thomas Fire was the second-largest in California history, scorching 440 square miles (1,140 sq. kilometers) and destroying more than 1,000 buildings in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Two people died.

A month later, heavy rains fell on hills left bare by the fire, unleashing mudslides that killed 21 and left two missing.

Edison's disclosure came as an update to investors but was released publicly to keep communities and customers informed, the company said.

Robert Curtis, an attorney representing 450 victims of the fire and resulting mudslides, said he believed that Edison made the admission because witnesses already have come forward to say they believe the utility's equipment was involved.

"They did it because they're faced with insurmountable evidence that it's their responsibility," he said.

Curtis' firm is one of several representing thousands of fire and mudslide victims in a consolidated suit that will be heard in Los Angeles.

The announcement came weeks after Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation allowing utilities to bill customers to pay for future legal settlements due to 2017 wildfires.

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Follow Weber at https://twitter.com/WeberCM .

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Associated Press journalist Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
NEW YORK (AP) - The WeWork office space-sharing firm moving into the Lord & Taylor flagship building on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan unveiled some grand plans Tuesday for the landmark Italian Renaissance Revival edifice occupied for more than a century by the famed retailer.

The landmarks committee of Manhattan's Community Board 5 got a first look at renderings of the future high-tech space to be leased to entrepreneurs, upstarts and anyone who can pay.

Facing debt and online competition, the Lord & Taylor Co. was preparing to close its Manhattan store after the Christmas holidays, along with two small stores outside the city. Two others already have been shuttered.

WeWork is in the process of purchasing the Manhattan building with financial partners for a reported $850 million.

The building was designated a historic landmark in 2007 by the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission that must approve the new designs, upon the recommendation of the community board committee.

The rooftop of the nearly 700,000-square-foot building will feature a translucent, glass courtyard to be used as a private space for employees, while restoring and preserving the historic exterior of the building occupied by Lord & Taylor since 1914.

The project was presented Tuesday by the team of chief architect Bjarke Ingels.

The aim is to keep the basement, first and second floors as retail space open to the public during business hours. No tenant has yet been announced.

The historic bay windows will be restored to their original, bigger size, and the Fifth Avenue entrance will be expanded to make it wheelchair accessible, while retaining the original Lord & Taylor emblems.

Inside, the sixth floor balconies will be restored.

Granit Gjonbalaj, WeWork's chief development officer, called the project "an opportunity to honor our home city's rich history, while also building toward the future by revitalizing this iconic space as a heartbeat of culture, commerce and innovation."
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Two teenagers are charged in juvenile court with murder and attempted robbery in the death of a retired St. Louis police sergeant.

A 16-year-old boy was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder and attempted first-degree robbery. A 15-year-old boy faces the same charges plus tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports a juvenile court judge will determine whether the teens will be tried as adults.

The two are suspects in the death of retired St. Louis police Sgt. Ralph Harper. Investigators say Harper was parking his car Monday morning when he was approached by an armed robber. Harper, who had his own gun, exchanged gunfire with the robber.

Harper worked for the police department for 33 years before retiring in 2007.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com
GLACIER PEAK, Wash. (AP) - A phone call from a concerned woman likely saved the life of a hiker from Germany who was attempting to travel through the Cascade Mountains to the Canadian border without proper gear as snow and cold hit the region, authorities said.

Nancy Abel of Sultan met and hiked with Katharina Groene Oct. 24 near Stevens Pass and noticed she didn't have equipment for snow travel, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. An avid hiker, Abel told authorities she tried but failed to convince Groene to end her journey to the Canadian border.

Groene told Abel she had started her solo trek along the Pacific Crest Trail at the Mexican border in May and was determined to complete it, the sheriff's office said.

Abel returned home but continued to monitor weather reports. With snow and colder temperatures in the Cascades this week, Abel believed Groene was in danger and called 911, according to the sheriff's office.

The Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team on Tuesday followed footsteps they saw in the snow and eventually found Groene near Glacier Peak.

Rescuers found that Groene was soaking wet, her tarp shelter had blown away, she was low on food and that she tried to call for help but had no cell service, the sheriff's office said.

Groene told rescuers she also left messages on her phone apologizing to her friends and family for dying on the Pacific Crest Trial.

Rescuers took her back to Snohomish by helicopter, where the sheriff's office said she met up with Abel, who offered her a place to stay until she returns to Germany.

If Abel had not taken action, Groene most likely would have died in the mountains, the sheriff's office said on Facebook.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Latest on former Vice President Joe Biden (all times local):

8:50 p.m.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has made a campaign stop in Iowa, where he bemoaned the tone of Trump-era politics and gave a preview of how he might take on the Republican president should he seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

In Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, Biden said, "It's our leaders who need to set the tone and dial down the temperature and restore some dignity to our national dialogue."

Biden was on a trip across the Midwest campaigning for Democrats in states that President Donald Trump carried in 2016. He stopped in Wisconsin earlier on Tuesday.

Referencing the violence of last week that included the synagogue shootings and a wave of pipe bombs, Biden thundered, "What the hell is happening to us? Our children are listening!"

Former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a rally with Wisconsin Democrats on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus, Tuesday Oct. 30, 2018, in Madison Wis. Biden called for more civility and dignity in politics during a rally, offering a sharp rebuke of President Donald Trump while telling the students they can "own" next week's election if they vote. (Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

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2:25 p.m.

Former Vice President Joe Biden is back on the campaign trail, this time stumping for Democratic candidates in Wisconsin and Iowa.

He blasted the "forces of hate that have terrorized our fellow Americans for their political beliefs, the color of their skin or their religion" during a speech Tuesday morning in Wisconsin.

His return to Iowa later Tuesday is certain to fuel speculation about whether he'll launch a presidential bid. He's not expected to make an announcement until after the midterms, but some Iowa Democratic activists say his message could resonate amid concerns about the nation's heated political rhetoric.

Biden has long been an unsparing critic of Trump's moral leadership. Campaigning in Nevada this month, he said American values are "being shredded by a president who is all about himself."

Former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden and Tammy Baldwin embrace during a rally with Wisconsin Democrats on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus, Tuesday Oct. 30, 2018, in Madison Wis. Biden called for more civility and dignity in politics during a rally, offering a sharp rebuke of President Donald Trump while telling the students they can "own" next week's election if they vote. (Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

Former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden and Tammy Baldwin wave during a rally with Wisconsin Democrats on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus, Tuesday Oct. 30, 2018, in Madison Wis. Biden called for more civility and dignity in politics during a rally, offering a sharp rebuke of President Donald Trump while telling the students they can "own" next week's election if they vote. (Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

Former Vice President Joe Biden takes a selfie with students during a rally with Wisconsin Democrats on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus, Tuesday Oct. 30, 2018, in Madison Wis. Biden called for more civility and dignity in politics during a rally, offering a sharp rebuke of President Donald Trump while telling the students they can "own" next week's election if they vote. (Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

Former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden greets supporters during a rally with Wisconsin Democrats on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus, Tuesday Oct. 30, 2018, in Madison Wis. Biden called for more civility and dignity in politics during a rally, offering a sharp rebuke of President Donald Trump while telling the students they can "own" next week's election if they vote. (Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

Former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a rally with Wisconsin Democrats on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus, Tuesday Oct. 30, 2018, in Madison Wis. Biden called for more civility and dignity in politics during a rally, offering a sharp rebuke of President Donald Trump while telling the students they can "own" next week's election if they vote. (Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Sen. Joe Donnelly, Indiana's lone statewide Democrat, was propelled into office six years ago after his opponent's incendiary comments about abortion and rape during a disastrous debate appearance tanked his candidacy.

On a similar stage Tuesday night, Donnelly's Republican challenger Mike Braun appeared determined to avoid the same fate, despite a full-throated attack from the Democrat, who tried to force the issue.

"If your daughter happens to be raped, Mike thinks the government has a role in the middle of that - I don't," Donnelly said during the debate.

The politics of abortion are complicated in Indiana, a state so dominated by Republicans that policy fights over the issue are typically waged by differing factions within the party. In an election that could hinge on support from independents and moderate Republican women, it could also prove to be a volatile electoral issue.

Both candidates say they oppose abortion, though Donnelly has highlighted how he believes exceptions should be made in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's health could be at stake.

But despite Donnelly's best effort to make Braun sound like his 2012 opponent Richard Mourdock - who said a woman who gets pregnant from her rapist is carrying a "gift from God" - Braun avoided a similar gaffe.

Republican former state Rep. Mike Braun, left, and Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly wave to guest following a U.S. Senate Debate, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)

"The senator tries to have it both ways. When it comes to the sanctity of life, you cannot say you are pro-life and have your voting record," he said of Donnelly, adding that he "would never demonize anyone who disagrees with my point of view."

Braun skipped the traditional post-debate news conference, but on stage he did not dispute Donnelly's charge that he opposes abortion no matter what.

"I wasn't trying to trick him. His position is clear," Donnelly said after the debate. "I thought that Richard Mourdock was extreme, but he's nothing compared to Mike Braun. Even Richard Mourdock believed in an exception for the life of the mother."

The appearance was the final of two debates that were held in the contest. Libertarian Lucy Brenton also appeared on stage.

With just one week until the election, both Donnelly and Braun are locked in a tight race. While it appears unlikely that Democrats will be able to take the chamber, the contest will help determine the balance of power in the Senate.

In addition to abortion, Braun and Donnelly attacked each other over health care.

After years of Democrats running away from what had been a toxic issue at the polls, Donnelly boasts that he cast the "deciding vote" to save Obama's signature health care law - the same wording the GOP formerly used in attack ads.

He has gone after Braun for supporting a Republican-led lawsuit aimed at eliminating the law, including coverage for those with pre-existing conditions.

Braun says that while he is for repealing the Affordable Care Act, he wouldn't vote to do so unless there was a replacement that protected those with pre-existing conditions.

He also touted his own auto parts distribution company's health care plan, which offers low premiums even though the deductible for care is between $5,000 and $10,000.

It's an effort to highlight his business experience, which he says makes the difference between him and "career politicians" like Donnelly.

"I've done things in the real world," Braun said. "That's the difference between me and the senator."

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For AP's complete coverage of the U.S. midterm elections: http://apne.ws/APPolitics

Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, left, shakes hands with Republican former state Rep. Mike Braun following a U.S. Senate Debate, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)

Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly speaks during a U.S. Senate Debate against Republican former state Rep. Mike Braun and Libertarian Lucy Brenton, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)

Republican former state Rep. Mike Braun speaks during a U.S. Senate Debate against Republican former state Rep. Mike Braun and Libertarian Lucy Brenton, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)

Libertarian Lucy Brenton speaks during a U.S. Senate Debate against Republican former state Rep. Mike Braun and Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)

Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, left, speaks during a U.S. Senate Debate against Republican former state Rep. Mike Braun and Libertarian Lucy Brenton, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)

Republican former state Rep. Mike Braun, middle, speaks during a U.S. Senate Debate against Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly and Libertarian Lucy Brenton, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)

Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, Republican former state Rep. Mike Braun and Libertarian Lucy Brenton, from left, participate in a U.S. Senate Debate, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)

Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, from left, Republican former state Rep. Mike Braun and Libertarian Lucy Brenton, participate in a U.S. Senate Debate, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)

Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, Republican former state Rep. Mike Braun and Libertarian Lucy Brenton, from left, participate in a U.S. Senate Debate, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)
NEW YORK (AP) - A scheduled Halloween night speech by right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos at New York University was postponed by school officials due to public safety concerns.

"New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio today requested that NYU postpone and reschedule the classroom appearance by Milo Yiannopoulos for public safety reasons in light of the nearby Halloween parades and New York Police Department assessments of risk," NYU spokesman John Beckman said in a statement Tuesday.

"Given the importance of close coordination between NYU's Public Safety personnel and the NYPD to ensuring safety, the University agreed to the postponement," Beckman said.

In an Instagram post, Yiannopoulos blasted the move, calling himself "the most censored man in America."

"The entire city of New York is terrified of one gay man stepping out of line and calling out the Left as the intolerant, censorious crybabies they are. And they just proved it_by censoring me again," Yiannopoulos wrote.

Earlier in the day, NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan said he was sending a "very large detail" of officers to Yiannopoulos' event at NYU to prevent a repeat of a brawl that erupted after another provocative figure, Proud Boys founder Gavin McGinnis, spoke Oct. 12 at a Republican club event in Manhattan.

FILE- In this Feb. 21, 2017 file photo, Milo Yiannopoulos speaks during a news conference in New York. Citing safety concerns, New York University has postponed a speech by the right-wing provocateur that was scheduled for Halloween night, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

"The NYPD can and would handle anything. But needlessly having this immediately adjacent to one of the biggest NYC events all year doesn't make a lot of sense," de Blasio spokesman Eric Phillips said in a tweet. "NYU is smart to reschedule it for a different day."
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - The search for the crashed Lion Air plane has found aircraft debris and passenger belongings on the seafloor but the object thought to be the fuselage is still eluding it, an Indonesian official said Wednesday, as chilling video of passengers boarding the fatal flight emerged.

Search and Rescue Agency chief Muhammad Syaugi said the seafloor findings give the search team confidence they will find the body of the aircraft. The location of the airplane's "black box" flight data recorder has been identified, he said, but strong currents prevented it from being recovered.

"We saw belongings such as life jackets, pants, clothes scattered on the seabed," Syaugi said. "We believe the fuselage will be around there, we hope that our target can be found."

The 2-month-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet plunged into the Java Sea early Monday just minutes after taking off from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

The disaster has reignited concerns about safety in Indonesia's fast-growing aviation industry, which was recently removed from European Union and U.S. blacklists, and also raised doubts about the safety of Boeing's new generation 737 MAX 8 plane.

Syaugi said one of the ships with high-tech equipment being used in the search dispatched a remote-operated vehicle that recorded parts of the aircraft on the seafloor but not the 22-meter (72-foot) -long object detected at a depth of 32 meters (105 feet) that is believed to be the fuselage. He said the area is about 400 meters (1,300 feet) from the coordinates where the airplane lost contact.

Members of National Search and Rescue Agency inspect debris retrieved from the waters where Lion Air flight JT 610 is believed to have crashed, at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort has identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Fauzy Chaniago)

Three other objects in separate locations were reached by divers but turned out to be two sunken boats and a fish trap. A remote-operated vehicle was sent to the black box location "but the currents on the seabed were very strong, the ROV was carried away," Syaugi said.

Searchers have sent 57 body bags containing human remains to police identification experts who on Wednesday said they'd identified their first victim, a 24-year-old woman, from a ring and a right hand.

Anguished family members have been providing samples for DNA tests and police say results are expected within 4-8 days.

Musyafak, the head of Said Sukanto Police Hospital, said nearly 150 samples for DNA testing have been collected but more are still needed, especially from parents and children of victims.

Boeing Co. experts were expected to arrive in Indonesia on Wednesday and Lion Air has said an "intense" internal investigation is underway in addition to the probe by safety regulators.

Data from flight-tracking sites show the plane had erratic speed and altitude in the early minutes of a flight on Sunday and on its fatal flight Monday. Safety experts caution, however, that the data must be checked for accuracy against the plane's black boxes.

Several passengers on the Sunday flight from Bali to Jakarta have recounted problems that included a long-delayed takeoff for an engine check and terrifying descents in the first 10 minutes in the air.

Two interviewed on Indonesian TV recalled details such as a strange engine sound, a smell of burnt cables, and panicked passengers crying out for God to save them as the plane rapidly lost altitude. Later in the flight, a man who was either the captain or first officer walked through the plane and returned to the cockpit with what looked like a large manual.

Lion Air has said maintenance was carried out on the aircraft after the Sunday flight and a problem, which it didn't specify, was fixed.

Indonesian TV broadcast a smartphone video of passengers boarding Flight 610, its mundane details transformed into unsettling moments by knowledge of the tragedy that would transpire.

It showed passengers' boarding passes being checked and people walking along a concourse and then down stairs with bright red and white Lion Air jets visible on the tarmac.

At one point, the passenger who shot the video, Paul Ferdinand Ayorbaba, zoomed in on the flight number on his boarding pass. A part of the video shows passengers walking up the boarding stairs to a Lion jet.

"My husband sent that video to me via WhatsApp. It was his last contact with me, his last message to me," said Inchy Ayorbaba, interviewed at the Jakarta police hospital where she had taken their three children for DNA tests.

The messaging app's timestamp showed the video was sent about 35 minutes before the plane took off, said Ayorbaba, who first saw the message at 6:30 a.m., some 10 minutes after the plane departed, and then went back to sleep.

Lion Air's technical director was removed from duty Wednesday at the order of the Transport Ministry. It also has ordered all Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes operated by Lion Air and national carrier Garuda to be inspected. Lion has ordered 50 of the jets, worth an estimated $6.2 billion, and currently operates nine.

Daniel Putut, a Lion Air managing director, said Tuesday evening the airline has many questions for Boeing.

"Of course there are lots of things we will ask them, we all have question marks here, 'Why? What's the matter with this new plane,'" Putut said.

The crash is the worst airline disaster in Indonesia since 1997, when 234 people died in the crash of a Garuda flight near Medan. In December 2014, an AirAsia flight from Surabaya to Singapore plunged into the sea, 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 of Indonesia's youngest and biggest airlines, flying to dozens of domestic and international destinations. It has been expanding aggressively in Southeast Asia, a fast-growing region of more than 600 million people.

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Associated Press journalist Andi Jatmiko contributed to this report.

Investigators examine parts of Lion Air Flight 610 retrieved from the waters off Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Shoes and other personal belongings retrieved from the waters where a Lion Air jet is believed to have crashed are displayed for family members of the passengers for identification at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort has identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Chief of National Search and Rescue Agency Muhammad Syaugi, left, talks to media as Armed Forces Chief Air Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto listens during a press conference at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort has identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

In this Oct. 29, 2018 image from video aired on TV One provided by Inchy Ayorbaba shows footage from her husband, Paul Ferdinand Ayorbaba, of passengers boarding Lion Air Flight 610 on Oct. 29, in Jakarta. The mundane details in a smartphone video show the last images of some of the 189 people who perished in terrifying circumstances on an Indonesian Lion Air flight a little more than an hour after the video was shot. (TV One via AP)

An investigator walks amid debris of Lion Air Flight 610 retrieved from the waters off Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

An investigator, right, examines parts of Lion Air Flight 610 retrieved from the waters off Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
CHICAGO (AP) - Former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke returned to court Wednesday for the first time since a jury convicted him in the 2014 shooting death of black teenager Laquan McDonald, as his attorneys launched their effort to persuade a judge toss the verdict.

Van Dyke, who was wearing a suit and tie when he was last in court on Oct. 5, walked in from an inmate holding area wearing a yellow jail-issued jump suit and jail-issued slippers. During his few minutes standing with his attorney in front of the judge, he never appeared to look toward his wife and father, who sat among the spectators.

Van Dyke's attorney, Dan Herbert, announced that he had filed requests for a new trial or an acquittal, and Judge Vincent Gaughan scheduled oral arguments for Dec. 14.

In one motion, Herbert reiterated an argument he first made in 2015 when dashcam video of the shooting was released to the public: that it would be impossible to find a fair and impartial jury in Cook County, where Chicago is located. The video shows McDonald crumpling to the ground in a hail of 16 bullets as he walked away from police.

He said news stories "cemented a narrative of guilt in the public consciousness." He also pointed to negative comments on social media in which Van Dyke, who is white, was described as a "racist murderer" and someone who "looks like the devil."

Herbert also reiterated his contention that Van Dyke had a right to use deadly force when confronted with a suspect who was armed with a knife and resisting arrest.

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Rock Island, Ill., Sheriff's Department shows Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke. Van Dyke is returning to court for the first time since a jury found him guilty this month in the 2014 shooting death of Laquan McDonald. He won't be sentenced during a hearing Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, but the judge might set a sentencing date. (Rock Island Sheriff's Department via AP, File)

The jury, however, rejected that argument when it convicted Van Dyke of one count of second-degree murder along with 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.

Gaughan did not set a date for sentencing. Legal experts differ on whether the judge can order him to serve sentences for each count concurrently or must order then served consecutively. It could be the difference between a sentence of six years or several decades.

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For the AP's complete coverage of the case: https://www.apnews.com/LaquanMcDonald
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan army helicopter crashed Wednesday in bad weather in the western Farah province, killing all 25 people on board, including the deputy corps commander of the western zone, a provincial spokesman said.

Mohammad Naser Mehri, spokesman for the Farah governor, said the helicopter crashed around 9:10 a.m., shortly after taking off from the mountainous Anar Dara district heading toward the nearby Herat province.

On board were the corps commander, Gen. Naimudullah Khalil, and two members of the Farah provincial council, its chairman, Farid Bakhtawar, and Jamila Amini, one of only two women on the nine-member council.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi claimed the insurgents had downed the helicopter but failed to provide evidence. Defense Ministry spokesman Ghafor Ahmad Jawed rejected the Taliban claim of responsibility as "totally wrong."

Wednesday's was the second army helicopter crash in as many months in Farah. In September, five crew members died when their helicopter crashed. Investigators blamed the crash on a technical failure, without elaborating.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a suicide bomber struck outside the country's largest prison on the edge of the capital, Kabul, killing seven people, including prison workers and security personnel, said Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish. The attacker targeted a bus carrying prison workers, he said. The sprawling Pul-e-Charkhi prison houses hundreds of inmates, including scores of Taliban insurgents.

Security forces inspect the vehicle damaged by a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. An Interior Ministry official says the suicide bomber has struck outside the country's largest prison on the eastern edge of the capital Kabul. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)

Abadullah Karimi, a prison official, said the attack occurred near the prison gate where visitors were waiting to pass a rigorous security check before entering. The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant websites, said the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the suicide attack.

Security forces stand guard near the site of a suicide attack on prison employees' vehicle in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. An Interior Ministry official says the suicide bomber has struck outside the country's largest prison on the eastern edge of the capital Kabul. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)
RICHMOND, Texas (AP) - If Texas is changing under his feet, Ted Cruz doesn't see it.

The Republican senator, locked in a closer-than-expected re-election battle, insists he's not worried about America's largest, reliably red state slowly turning blue. That's despite a booming Hispanic population and top firms bringing thousands of employees from more liberal locales.

Cruz, who built a career as a Capitol Hill tea party troublemaker and fierce Donald Trump foe, now staunchly defends the accomplishments of the Republican-controlled Congress and White House. He says there's a "commonsense supermajority" of conservatives backing him and that his opponent Beto O'Rourke, a rising Democratic star, is too liberal even for Texas independents and moderate Democrats.

"We are going to win this election and I'll tell you how I know, because this is Texas," Cruz told supporters who gathered for a recent rally in an American and Texas flag-draped atrium of a furniture store in the suburban Houston community of Richmond. "And, in Texas, it is in our DNA to defend liberty."

O'Rourke counters that he's going to win for many of the same reasons. Even though Texas hasn't elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994, he says it already has embraced new values that it's willing to fight for such as impeaching Trump, decriminalizing marijuana, combating global warming and implementing universal health care. O'Rourke even has suggested the state can become a model for gun control and relaxed immigration policies.

"This state, this people, can be the ones to lead the way," O'Rourke said after climbing a stepladder with a megaphone to address a crowd outside an Austin middle school last week. "Everything that we care about in this country is on the line."

FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018 file photo, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, takes part in a debate for the Texas U.S. Senate with U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, in San Antonio. Cruz and Democratic challenger O'Rourke are of differing minds as to whether demographic shifts have changed Texas enough to send a Democrat to the U.S. Senate. (Tom Reel/San Antonio Express-News via AP, Pool, File)

Next week's election may prove who is right. But how each side is framing the argument provides insight into just how far their race has come.

Polls that this summer showed O'Rourke climbing to within a few points of Cruz now suggest the senator is maintaining a modest lead. Cruz insists that's no accident.

"What has really changed in this race that's been important is the silent majority in Texas, the commonsense conservatives, have become engaged," Cruz told The Associated Press after the Richmond event. He also says he's wooed Democrats who see the positions of O'Rourke and other top liberals as too extreme: "For a whole lot of conservative and moderate Democrats in Texas, they feel like they don't have a home in that national party anymore and we are welcoming them with open arms."

On paper, the race was never supposed to be even close.

A three-term congressman and onetime punk rocker, O'Rourke was virtually unknown outside of his hometown of El Paso before challenging Cruz. The charismatic candidate's calls for bipartisan optimism and willingness to visit all 254 Texas counties - even deeply Republican areas that Democrats gave up on decades ago - made him the toast of national liberal circles.

It also sparked speculation that O'Rourke could use an upset of Cruz, or even a close loss, to run for president in 2020. And it helped him shatter Senate campaign fundraising records, including raising an astounding $38-plus million just in the three-month period from July through September.

Cruz dismisses that, saying "Texas won't be bought" and blaming the "hard left" which he says is "filled with rage" against Trump. He says there are more Republicans than Democrats in Texas, so if he can avoid conservative complacency, he'll win easily.

Still, according to U.S. Census estimates, Texas leads the nation in population growth, adding more than 3 million residents since 2010 alone. Hispanics, who tend to favor Democrats, are driving that boom. There also are more people moving to the state than leaving it, many of whom bring more liberal values from such places as California or New York.

O'Rourke isn't just relying on demographic shifts, though, saying anyone willing to vote for him "cannot be too Republican, too Democrat or too much of a non-voter." The last bit is important since Texas usually ranks among the nation's worst in voter turnout, despite strong early voting returns suggesting that may not be the case this cycle.

Cruz, meanwhile, sees no irony in his transformation from political insurgent who drew the ire of both parties in the Senate, and a bitter rival of Trump's during the final days of the 2016 Republican presidential primary, to staunch defender of the president and GOP political status quo.

"I think I'm in an unusual, if not unique, position of being able to speak with real credibility to conservatives but also being able to speak to moderates, to leadership, to the president, to the administration and trying to find common ground," he said.

The senator says the massive Houston rally Trump staged on his behalf last week means "we're seeing tremendous Republican unity" and that it's his opponent who now wants to sow political chaos by impeaching Trump.

"It would devolve Washington into a partisan bloodbath," Cruz said. "It would paralyze the federal government for two years."

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For AP's complete coverage of the U.S. midterm elections: http://apne.ws/APPolitics
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump has astonished legal scholars with his claim that he can end birthright citizenship with a swipe of his pen. No, they say, he can't.

Trump also went far off track in asserting that the U.S. is the only country that automatically grants citizenship to anyone born in the country. Many do.

His comments in an interview with "Axios on HBO":

TRUMP: "It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don't. ... Well, you can definitely do it with an act of Congress. But now they're saying I can do it just with an executive order."

THE FACTS: Scholars widely pan the idea that Trump could unilaterally change the rules on who is a citizen. It's highly questionable whether an act of Congress could do it, either, though it is conceivable that legislators could change the rules regarding children born in the U.S. of parents who are in the country illegally.

Peter Schuck is perhaps the most prominent advocate of the idea that birthright citizenship is not conveyed by the Constitution to children of parents who are living illegally in the U.S. Even he says "Trump clearly cannot act by" executive order.

In this Oct. 27, 2018, photo, President Donald Trump speaks to reporters about a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Trump has astonished legal scholars with his claim that he can end birthright citizenship with a swipe of his pen. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

"I feel confident that no competent lawyer would advise him otherwise," he said by email Tuesday. "This is just pre-election politics and misrepresentation and should be sharply criticized as such."

Schuck, of Yale, and colleague Rogers Smith of the University of Pennsylvania have argued since the mid-1980s that Congress can set the rules for providing citizenship to U.S.-born children of parents who came illegally.

But most scholars on the left and right share the view that it would take a constitutional amendment to deny automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country illegally.

James Ho, a conservative Trump-appointed federal appeals court judge, wrote in the Green Bag legal journal in 2006 that birthright citizenship "is protected no less for children of undocumented persons than for descendants of Mayflower passengers."

Stephen Yale-Loehr, a Cornell university immigration expert, said the case against Trump's authority is "not open and shut, but the better view is it would require a constitutional amendment."

The Constitution's citizenship clause was part of the post-Civil War amendments that enshrined the rights of African-Americans. The citizenship clause, in particular, was intended to overturn the Supreme Court's notorious Dred Scott decision of 1857 that held African-Americans were not citizens.

The Supreme Court has never ruled squarely about the clause's application to children of immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. Trump did not make a distinction between legal and illegal status in his remarks. An 1898 Supreme Court decision held that the U.S.-born son of legal Chinese immigrants was a citizen under the 14th Amendment; a footnote in a 1982 decision suggests there should be no difference for children of foreign-born parents whether they are in the U.S. legally or illegally.

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TRUMP: "We're the only country in the world where a person comes in, has a baby and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years with all of those benefits. It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous. And it has to end."

THE FACTS: That's flat-out wrong.

The U.S. is among about 30 countries where birthright citizenship - the principle of jus soli or "right of the soil" - is applied, according to the World Atlas and other sources. Most are in the Americas. Canada and Mexico are among them. Most other countries confer citizenship based on that of at least one parent - jus sanguinis, or "right of blood" - or have a modified form of birthright citizenship that may restrict automatic citizenship to children of parents who are on their territory legally.

More broadly, Trump's view that U.S.-born children of foreigners live a lifetime of taking "all those benefits" ignores the taxes they pay, the work they do and their other contributions to society.

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Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd

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JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - The Latest on the crash of a Lion Air passenger plane in Indonesia (all times local):

7:50 p.m.

The head of Indonesia's Search and Rescue Agency says the search for a crashed Lion Air plane has sighted aircraft debris and passenger belongings on the seafloor but the object thought to be the fuselage is still eluding them.

Muhammad Syaugi told reporters Wednesday that the search effort is battling strong currents but they remain confident the aircraft hull will be found.

He said the signal from the flight recorder has been detected but the strength of the currents prevented the black box from being recovered.

The 2-month-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 dived into the Java Sea on Monday just 13 minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

An investigator, right, examines parts of Lion Air Flight 610 retrieved from the waters off Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

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4 p.m.

The head of the National Transportation Safety Committee, Soerjanto Tjahjono, says pings detected at sea in the search for a crashed Lion Air plane are definitely from its flight recorder because of their regular pattern.

He said other possibilities have been eliminated because the pings occur at intervals of just under 1 second.

The 2-month-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 plunged into the Java Sea on Monday just 13 minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

Tjahjono said a preliminary accident investigation report should be released within a month and the final report could take 4-6 months.

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3:15 p.m.

Indonesia's transport minister says the technical director of Lion Air and staff who approved the flight of the jet that crashed have been removed from duty at the ministry's order.

Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi says the airline will be subjected to a ministry inspection and operations of all low cost airlines in Indonesia will be reviewed.

The 2-month-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 plunged into the Java Sea on Monday just 13 minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

Inspections have already been carried out on Lion Air's other Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes, preventing them from flying.

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12 p.m.

Chilling video of passengers boarding Lion Air's fatal Flight 610 has been broadcast on Indonesian TV.

It shows passengers' boarding passes being checked and people walking along a concourse and then down stairs with bright red and white Lion Air jets visible on the tarmac.

At one point, the passenger who shot the video, Paul Ferdinand Ayorbaba, zooms in on the flight number on his boarding pass. A part of the video shows passengers walking up the mobile boarding stairs attached to a Lion jet.

His wife Inchy Ayorbaba, interviewed at a Jakarta police hospital where she'd taken her three children for DNA tests to help with victim identification, says: "My husband sent that video to me via WhatsApp. It was his last contact with me, his last message to me."

The 2-month-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane plunged into the Java Sea on Monday just 13 minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

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11:30 a.m.

Indonesia's navy says a 22 meter (72-foot) long object suspected to be part of the crashed Lion Air jet was located at a depth of 32 meters (105 feet) in seas northeast of Jakarta.

Navy officer Haris Djoko Nugroho says in a television interview divers will be deployed after a side-scan sonar has produced a more detailed image of the object and location. He says the object was first located on Tuesday evening.

He says, "There are some small objects that we found, but last night, thank God, we found a large enough object."

The 2-month-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane plunged into the Java Sea on Monday just minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

Boeing's website says the MAX 8 has a length of 39.5 meters (129 feet).

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9:15 a.m.

Indonesia's military chief says a massive search effort has identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet.

The 2-month-old Boeing plane plunged into the Java Sea on Monday just minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

Hadi Tjahjanto said, "This morning I've been briefed by the head of Search and Rescue Agency about the strong possibility of the location coordinates" of Flight 610. "We're going to see it ourselves on location. And hopefully that is the main body of the plane that we've been looking for."
ISLAMABAD (AP) - A Christian woman who spent eight years on death row under Pakistan's blasphemy law was acquitted and ordered released Wednesday by the country's top court, a ruling that raised fears of violence by religious extremists who held angry protests over the verdict.

Asia Bibi was in an undisclosed location for her safety, and her lawyer said he expected that she would soon leave the country. France and Spain have offered asylum to the 54-year-old mother of five, who is a Roman Catholic.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, who had received death threats, announced the landmark verdict that fully overturned her 2010 conviction to a packed courtroom amid increased security.

Thousands of supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik party, led by firebrand cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, took to the streets in protests, demanding Bibi's public execution. Rizvi has turned out tens of thousands of supporters before, often forcing authorities to bow to his demands on religious matters.

Hundreds of Islamists blocked a road linking the city of Rawalpindi with the capital, Islamabad, and protests were held in Karachi, Peshawar and other cities. In the eastern city of Multan, police arrested several demonstrators after clashes.

Security forces moved quickly, deploying outside churches to protect minority Christians and urging demonstrators elsewhere to disperse peacefully. Commandos were sent to protect Nisar and the other two judges of the Supreme Court after a cleric in the eastern city of Lahore urged religious extremists to kill them.

Pakistan religious students and other protesters raise their hands to condemn Supreme Court's decision in favor of a Christian woman Asia Bibi, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court on Wednesday acquitted Bibi who was sentenced to death under the country's controversial blasphemy law, a landmark ruling that sparked protests by hard-line Islamists and raised fears of violence. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

The outburst over the divisive blasphemy law prompted Prime Minister Imran Khan to go on national TV to guarantee their safety and criticize those who made verbal attacks on Pakistan's institutions, including his government.

"They are not serving Islam, but trying to increase their vote bank," Khan said of the clerics. "They are doing their politics."

The verdict was seen as a hopeful sign by Christians in Pakistan, where the mere rumor of blasphemy can spark lynchings. Religious minorities, who have been repeatedly targeted by extremists, fear the law because it is often used to settle scores and to pressure minorities.

Religious extremists have made defending the law a central rallying cry and have attacked those who question it.

Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab province, was shot and killed by one of his guards in 2011 for defending Bibi and criticizing the misuse of the law. The assassin, Mumtaz Qadri, was hanged for the crime, but later was hailed by religious hard-liners as a martyr, with millions visiting a shrine set up for him near Islamabad. Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's minister for minorities, was killed later that year after demanding justice for Bibi.

Bibi, who has been held in solitary confinement on death row since 2010, was accused of blasphemy after she quarreled with two fellow female farm workers, who refused to drink from a container used by a Christian. A few days later, a mob accused her of insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad, leading to her initial conviction.

Bibi's family and her lawyer, Saiful Malook, say she never insulted the prophet. In previous hearings, Malook pointed to contradictions in testimony from witnesses. The two Muslim women who pressed charges against Bibi denied they quarreled with her, saying her outbursts against Islam were unprovoked despite several other witnesses who recalled the dispute.

Chaudhry Ghulam Mustafa, a lawyer for one of the plaintiffs, rejected the verdict, saying Bibi had confessed to making derogatory remarks against the prophet to seek a pardon.

The three judges upheld the blasphemy law itself, saying it was consistent with verses from Islam's holy book, the Quran.

But they said prosecutors had failed to prove that Bibi violated the law. In addition to citing the Quran, the judges also referenced Shakespeare's "King Lear," saying Bibi was "more sinned against than sinning."

The verdict suggested that officials could be open to demands from rights groups for stricter punishments for false accusations.

"If our religion of Islam comes down heavily upon commission of blasphemy, then Islam is also very tough against those who level false allegations of a crime," they wrote.

Bibi's husband praised the verdict.

"I am very happy. My children are very happy. We are grateful to God. We are grateful to the judges for giving us justice. We knew that she is innocent," said Ashiq Masih.

"My wife spent so many years in jail and we hope that we will soon be together in a peaceful place," he said.

Pakistan has about 2.5 million Christians. Along with Shiites, Ahmadis and other minorities, they have been targeted by religious extremists.

Malook said Bibi would be secreted out of the country quickly, adding that he is contemplating the same move.

"I am afraid I will have to leave Pakistan. That is the only way to save my life," Malook said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

"The situation, I am worried, will go very bad for me. I am the most soft target for all these people," he said, referring to religious extremists who he said have threatened his life.

"People say, 'you are a brave man,' but before this, my life was happy. ... Now I am really afraid."

Bibi's arrest, conviction and death sentence focused international attention on the law.

Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia Program at the U.S.-based Wilson Center, called the ruling a "major legal milestone for Pakistan."

Its significance, however, should not be overstated, and the power of the religiously motivated mob should not be understated, he added.

"The increasing political clout of religious hard-liners, who boast the ability to mobilize in a big way, suggests that the state will be under more pressure than ever before," he said. "The sobering reality is that it's not going to get any easier to push for reform, much less repeal, of the blasphemy law, despite this landmark and very brave decision by the Pakistani Supreme Court."

The decision also was praised by the Christian minority and human rights activists.

"I salute to the honorable judges who refused to be cowed down and lit a candle in darkness and raised hopes in hopelessness," said Farhatullah Babar of Pakistan's People's Party of Benazir Bhutto. The former prime minister was killed by extremists in 2007 after she threatened to target them if she returned to power.

Babar had advocated for changes to the law, making it a serious offense to wrongly accuse someone of blasphemy.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a government body, said Bibi's case "illustrates the extent to which blasphemy laws can be exploited to target minority communities."

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Associated Press writers Kathy Gannon in Kabul, Afghanistan, Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan, and Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed.

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This version corrects the wording that Bibi was ordered released, instead of released, and that her whereabouts were not immediately clear.

FILE - In this Nov. 20, 2010, file photo, Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman, listens to officials at a prison in Sheikhupura near Lahore, Pakistan. Pakistan's top court on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, acquitted Bibi who was sentenced to death in 2010 on blasphemy charges, a landmark ruling that could ignite mass protests or violence by hard-line Islamists. (AP Photo, File)

Pakistani police officers stand guard outside the supreme court in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court acquitted a Christian woman who has been on death row since 2010 for insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad. In Wednesday's verdict, the court ordered authorities to free Asia Bibi. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan Christians pray for Asia Bibi, a Catholic mother of five who has been on death row since 2010 accused of blasphemy in Multan, Pakistan. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court on Wednesday acquitted Bibi who was sentenced to death under the country's controversial blasphemy law, a landmark ruling that sparked protests by hard-line Islamists and raised fears of violence. (AP Photo/Irum Asim)

Supporters of a Pakistani religious group burn tires while block a main road during a protest after a court decision in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court has acquitted a Christian woman who has been on death row since 2010 for insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad. In Wednesday's verdict, the court ordered authorities to free Asia Bibi. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

Supporters of a Pakistani religious group burn tires while block a main road during a protest after a court decision, in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court has acquitted a Christian woman who has been on death row since 2010 for insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad. In Wednesday's verdict, the court ordered authorities to free Asia Bibi. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

Supporters of a Pakistani religious group chant slogans while block a main road at a protest after a court decision, in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court has acquitted a Christian woman who has been on death row since 2010 for insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad. In Wednesday's verdict, the court ordered authorities to free Asia Bibi. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Supporters of a Pakistani religious group chant slogans while block a main road at a protest after a court decision, in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court has acquitted a Christian woman who has been on death row since 2010 for insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad. In Wednesday's verdict, the court ordered authorities to free Asia Bibi. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Supporters of a Pakistani religious group chant slogans during a protest after a court decision, in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court has acquitted a Christian woman who has been on death row since 2010 for insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad. In Wednesday's verdict, the court ordered authorities to free Asia Bibi. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Supporters of a Pakistani religious group chant slogans during a protest after a court decision, in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court has acquitted a Christian woman who has been on death row since 2010 for insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad. In Wednesday's verdict, the court ordered authorities to free Asia Bibi. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Supporters of a Pakistani religious group chant slogans during a protest after a court decision, in Islamabad in Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court on Wednesday acquitted a Christian woman who was sentenced to death in 2010 on blasphemy charges, a landmark ruling that could ignite mass protests or violence by hard-line Islamists. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Supporters of a Pakistani religious group protest holding placards read "hang blasphemous Asia," as they blocked the main road to Islamabad in Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court on Wednesday acquitted Christian woman Asia Bibi who was sentenced to death in 2010 on blasphemy charges, a landmark ruling that could ignite mass protests or violence by hard-line Islamists. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

Supporters of a Pakistani religious group block a main road after a court decision in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court on Wednesday acquitted Christian woman Asia Bibi who was sentenced to death in 2010 on blasphemy charges, a landmark ruling that could ignite mass protests or violence by hard-line Islamists. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

Supporters of a Pakistani religious group block a main road after a court decision in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court on Wednesday acquitted Christian woman Asia Bibi who was sentenced to death in 2010 on blasphemy charges, a landmark ruling that could ignite mass protests or violence by hard-line Islamists. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

Supporters of a Pakistani religious group protest after blocking a main road after a court decision, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court on Wednesday acquitted Christian woman Asia Bibi who was sentenced to death in 2010 on blasphemy charges, a landmark ruling that could ignite mass protests or violence by hard-line Islamists. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

Supporters of a Pakistani religious group block main road after a court decision, to Islamabad in Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court on Wednesday acquitted Christian woman Asia Bibi who was sentenced to death in 2010 on blasphemy charges, a landmark ruling that could ignite mass protests or violence by hard-line Islamists. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

Pakistani lawyers who are contesting the case against Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman convicted of blasphemy, speaks to media outside the Supreme court, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court in much-awaited landmark ruling on Wednesday acquitted the Christian woman who has been on death row since 2010 for insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad, a defense lawyer and her family said. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan protesters rally to condemn a Supreme Court decision that ordered the release of Asia Bibi, a Catholic mother of five who has been on death row since 2010 accused of blasphemy, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018. Pakistan's top court on Wednesday acquitted Bibi who was sentenced to death under the country's controversial blasphemy law, a landmark ruling that sparked protests by hard-line Islamists and raised fears of violence. Placard reads, "hang blasphemous Asia." (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)

Pakistan protesters and religious students listen to their leaders during a rally to condemn a Supreme Court decision that ordered the release of Asia Bibi, a Catholic mother of five who has been on death row since 2010 accused of blasphemy, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court on Wednesday acquitted Bibi who was sentenced to death under the country's controversial blasphemy law, a landmark ruling that sparked protests by hard-line Islamists and raised fears of violence. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

Pakistan Christians distribute sweets to celebrate the acquittal of Asia Bibi, a Catholic mother of five who has been on death row since 2010 accused of blasphemy, in Multan, Pakistan. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Pakistan's top court on Wednesday acquitted Bibi who was sentenced to death under the country's controversial blasphemy law, a landmark ruling that sparked protests by hard-line Islamists and raised fears of violence. (AP Photo/Irum Asim)
BANGKOK (AP) - The Pacific rim trade pact abandoned by President Donald Trump will take effect at the year's end after Australia became the sixth nation to ratify it.

Australia announced Wednesday that it had completed procedures needed for the trade arrangement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, to progress. It will take effect Dec. 30.

The deal is aimed at streamlining trade and slashing tariffs to facilitate more business activities between member nations with a combined population of nearly 500 million people and GDP of $13.5 trillion.

"Our ratification means we are guaranteeing maximum benefits for our farmers and businesses," Simon Birmingham, minister for Trade, Tourism and Development, said in a statement. He said the deal would bring annual benefits of up to $15.6 billion to the Australian economy by 2030.

The 11 nations remaining after the U.S. withdrawal in early 2017 amended the pact to enable it to take effect even without its participation. Japan, Canada, Mexico and Singapore also have ratified it.

"The signal that it sends to the rest of the world that there's a new rules-based order out there in the world that people can buy into if they want as an incredibly powerful signal at this particular time," David Parker, New Zealand's minister of Trade and Export Growth, told reporters.

FILE - In this March 8, 2018 file photo, from left, Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang, New Zealand Trade Minister David Parker, General Secretary Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia Y.bhg. Datuk J. Jayasiri, Canada's Minister of International Trade Francois-Philippe Champagne, Australian Minister for Trade and Investment Steven Ciobo, Chile's Foreing Minister Heraldo Munoz, Brunei's Foreign Minister Haji Erawan bin Pehin Yusof, Japan's Trans-Pacific Partnership minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Secretary of Economy of Mexico Idelfonso Guajardo, Peru's Trade Minister Eduardo Ferreyros and Vietnamese Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh, poses for a pictures after the signing ceremony of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, CP TPP, in Santiago, Chile. The Pacific rim trade pact abandoned by President Donald Trump will take effect at the year's end after Australia became became the sixth nation to ratify it. The New Ze

"It has benefits that will spread throughout the economy to every person in New Zealand from the factory floor to the farm owner, to all of the other service industries that rely upon our export industries," he said.

The U.S. departure was a huge loss given the size of the American market. However other countries are said to be interested in joining the trade deal, which is seen as a first step toward a pan-Pacific free trade zone.

Trump said he was putting "America first" in seeking bilateral deals rather than broader ones like the Trans-Pacific Partnership. But U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said earlier this year that the U.S. would consider rejoining the pact after it deals with other priorities.

Other TPP member countries have said they hope the U.S. will rejoin, while emphasizing their commitment to the global trading system that has enabled many of them to build thriving modern economies.

Nearly two-dozen stipulations sought by the U.S. in the original TPP deal reportedly were shelved after Washington withdrew, watering down somewhat the plan proclaimed by the Obama administration of being the "gold standard" for 21st century trade rules.

Birmingham, the Australian trade minister, said the deal would help farmers gain better access to Canada's market for grains, sugar and beef, and to Mexico's market for pork, wheat, sugar and other farm products.

It will also help iron and steel, leather, paper products and medical equipment manufacturers who export $19 billion annually to other markets within the trade pact, he said.

For New Zealand, the trade arrangement will bring duty-free access for its exporters of wine, meats, wool, timber and fisheries products, the government said in a statement.

The countries that have not yet ratified the agreement are Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Peru and Chile.

Separate efforts are underway to forge a free trade arrangement within Asia called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which encompasses the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, as well as Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India and China, but not the United States.

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This report has been corrected to say Australia was the sixth country to ratify the CPTPP.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Rescuers pulled out four bodies and four survivors but at least 19 others remained missing Wednesday after a massive typhoon-triggered landslide crashed down on two government buildings in the northern Philippines, officials said.

Regional police Chief Superintendent Rolando Nana said rescue efforts by more than 100 police, firefighters and volunteers were halted at nightfall in remote Natonin in Mountain province and would resume at daybreak. Rain and mud have hampered the frantic search.

Smaller landslides on roads leading to Natonin have slowed the advance of more rescuers and earth-moving equipment, Nana said.

Disaster response officials said at least 19 people remained trapped in the landslide, which occurred as Typhoon Yutu pummeled the region Tuesday. A rescuer en route to Natonin died in still- unclear circumstances. About 14 villagers were injured in the landslide.

At least 11 people have died in the northern Philippines because of the typhoon, mostly due to landslides.

"It's a massive landslide and boulders also came rolling down from the mountain. The buildings got demolished and entombed. They're gone," government engineer Junel Emengga told The Associated Press by phone from the site of the landslide.

In this image provided by the Department of Public Works and Highways, Mountain Province District Engineering Office, rescuers dig through the earth to search for survivors after a massive landslide in Natonin township, Mountain Province in northern Philippines Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive landslide set off by a typhoon crashed down on two government buildings in a northern Philippine mountain province, officials said Wednesday. (DPWH MPDSEO via AP)

Rescuers used shovels and their hands to search for survivors in the avalanche because earth-moving equipment could not pass through the blocked roads, he said.

The landslide buried a building that was being constructed and an older one that was being expanded for the Department of Public Works and Highway. Five nearby houses were also hit, he said.

Emengga said he and other staffers of the public works department did not report for work at the four-story buildings Tuesday because of the raging typhoon, but other employees of a private construction company were in the buildings. Nearby residents also sought shelter in the buildings as the typhoon roared, he said.

Typhoon Yutu weakened considerably from its earlier super typhoon status over the Pacific Ocean before slamming into the northeastern Philippines before dawn Tuesday. It knocked down trees and power posts and ripped roofs off houses, officials said.

The typhoon weakened further as it blew westward across landslide-prone mountain and lowland provinces still recovering from Typhoon Mangkhut in mid-September. Yutu blew out into the South China Sea later Tuesday and weakened into a tropical storm, forecasters said.

"The deaths and damages caused by these typhoons should really prompt people to reassess the hazards around them. It can be a matter of life and death," Nana said.

One of the world's most disaster-prone countries, the Philippines is battered by about 20 typhoons and storms each year. It is also located in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.

In this image provided by the Department of Public Works and Highways, Mountain Province District Engineering Office, rescuers dig through the earth to search for survivors after a massive landslide in Natonin township, Mountain Province in northern Philippines Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive landslide set off by a typhoon crashed down on two government buildings in a northern Philippine mountain province, officials said Wednesday. (DPWH MPDSEO via AP)

In this image provided by the Department of Public Works and Highways, Mountain Province District Engineering Office, rescuers dig through the earth to search for survivors after a massive landslide in Natonin township, Mountain Province in northern Philippines Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive landslide set off by a typhoon crashed down on two government buildings in a northern Philippine mountain province, officials said Wednesday. (DPWH MPDSEO via AP)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Samsung Electronics Co. has posted a record operating profit for the last quarter with robust demand for its mainstay memory chips compensating for a slowdown in its smartphone business.

The South Korean technology giant on Wednesday said its operating profit during the July-September quarter grew at nearly a 21 percent annual pace to 17.6 trillion won ($15.4 billion). Samsung's previous high in quarterly profit was the 15.6 trillion won it posted during the first quarter.

Third-quarter sales grew 5.5 percent year-on-year to reach 65.4 trillion won ($57 billion) while net income rose 17.5 percent to reach 13.1 trillion won ($11.5 billion), the company said.

The operating profit of Samsung's chips division rose 37 percent year-on-year to 13.65 trillion won ($11.9 billion) thanks to strong demand generated by mobile devices and servers. The operating profit for Samsung's display panel business also saw a slight increase at 1.1 trillion won ($966 million).

However, operating profit for Samsung's IT and mobile communications division, which covers smartphones, fell 32 percent on year-on-year to 2.22 trillion won ($1.9 billion) while sales declined 10 percent. Samsung said smartphone shipments stagnated during the period despite strong sales of its flagship Galaxy Note 9 devices because it was restructuring the lineup of its lower-cost handsets.

Samsung is the world's largest maker of memory chips, smartphones and display panels.

Middle school students try out Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S9+ smartphones at its shop in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Samsung Electronics Co. has posted record operating profit for the last quarter with robust demand for its mainstay memory chips compensating for a slowdown in its smartphone business. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

The logo of the Samsung Electronics Co. is displayed in front of its office in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Samsung Electronics Co. has posted record operating profit for the last quarter with robust demand for its mainstay memory chips compensating for a slowdown in its smartphone business. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

An employee walks past the logo of the Samsung Electronics Co. at its office in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Samsung Electronics Co. has posted record operating profit for the last quarter with robust demand for its mainstay memory chips compensating for a slowdown in its smartphone business. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note9 smartphones are displayed at its shop in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Samsung Electronics Co. has posted record operating profit for the last quarter with robust demand for its mainstay memory chips compensating for a slowdown in its smartphone business. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
MODESTO, Calif. (AP) - In California's Central Valley, the nation's great fruit-and-nut basket, voters like Lou Waller could help determine which party controls the U.S. House.

The 76-year-old retiree is an independent, the fastest-growing political affiliation in California. They make up nearly a quarter of voters in the 10th Congressional District, which has been flooded with campaign cash as Republican Rep. Jeff Denham tries to stop Democrat Josh Harder from taking his job.

Harder has pulled in over $6 million and Denham $4.5 million. At least 26 outside groups have spent another $10 million trying to influence the race, according to California Target Book, which analyzes campaigns.

The region known for producing cherries, grapes and almonds has long been sundered by political fights over water policy and immigration, but this year it's another issue that convinced Waller to support the incumbent.

"It all stems from the Kavanaugh hearing," Waller said outside a grocery. He's punishing Democrats with his vote, outraged over what he saw as unfair treatment of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh by Senate Democrats during confirmation hearings.

"I've got a bitter taste in my mouth about the whole situation," Waller said.

In this photo taken Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, Josh Harder, second from right, the Democratic candidate for the California 10th Congressional District, talks with supporters, Ceres High students Matthew Ochoa, left, and Elizabeth Lopez, second from left, in Modesto, Calif. Harder was joined by California Congressional Rep. Pete Aguilar, Southern Californian Democrat, who came to campaign with Harder in his attempt to unseat incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Denham in the November election. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Fallout from the Kavanaugh hearings is mixing with divisions over health care, President Donald Trump and immigration reform to create a neck-and-neck race in the district 80 miles (129 kilometers) east of San Francisco where Democrats count a slender registration edge and whites and Hispanics make up nearly equal parts of the population.

It's one of a string of Republican-held districts in California carried by Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election that Democrats have targeted to pick up the 23 seats they need to win House control.

Last week, as several dozen Harder campaign volunteers prepared to knock on doors, he told them Trump's election helped prompt his run. He said on election night 2016 he and his wife were devastated after planning a party with champagne to toast an expected Democratic victory.

"I made a commitment that night to make sure that I felt differently two years later - been working on that every single day since then," Harder said. Voters are looking for a check against Trump policies that have "made things worse for most people in this community," he said.

Anna Roberts, 61, was among the volunteers. The self-described moderate Democrat pointed to Denham's voting record on health care as a main reason she supports Harder. She worries Republicans will try to privatize Medicare and she'll see her costs rise.

"I'm interested in senior issues because I'm becoming a senior," she said. "My private health care costs have skyrocketed."

The two candidates strike a contrast in backgrounds and style.

The 51-year-old congressman leases land to a nut orchard; Harder is a 32-year-old venture capitalist. Denham voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, while Harder supports it. Denham, an Air Force veteran, backs the president while Harder says Republicans in Washington are not doing enough to help an area with high poverty.

Denham, a former legislator first elected to the House in 2010, has been a perennial target for Democrats. But the congressman, known for his involvement in water issues vital to agriculture, has proven tough to beat. He won by 3 percentage points in 2016.

Central Valley politics are different from those in contested House seats in Southern California, which run through suburban tracts where college-educated, Republican women have been deserting Trump.

Among farm-belt Republicans, as with conservative states around the country, "there is no hesitation to support the president's agenda," Republican pollster Mike Madrid said.

Another crucial issue will be turnout by Hispanics. Democrats need a big showing from the group that trends Democratic but are historically inconsistent voters. Denham will look to cut into the Hispanic vote, too, to keep the Democratic margin down.

Denham has pushed for Congress to consider a pathway for citizenship for hundreds of thousands of immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and stayed here illegally.

The high stakes were underscored last week when Denham supporters circulated voting records that appeared to show Harder illegally voted in two locations in the 2016 election. The records were legitimate but there was a misinterpretation that the document from Stanislaus County showed Harder voted there when he actually only voted in San Francisco.

Harder said the incident shows the Denham campaign is "desperate to talk about anything other than Denham's votes in Congress over the last two years."

Denham attributed the close race to money pouring in from outside the district to support Harder - he calls his rival a San Francisco Bay Area outsider.

"When this kind of money comes in from the Bay Area and the amount of money that's on TV, there's certainly a lot of distractions for people," he said.

Denham pointed to his support from organizations that represent farms in the district and highlighted his work with local veteran groups.

"This is a local campaign," he said. "This is the fifth time they've moved somebody into this district to run against me."

Harder's campaign argues that he's every bit the local product as Denham. He grew up in Turlock, which is in the district, moved away for college and graduate school, lived in San Francisco for seven months in 2016, then came back.

In the final days before the election, Harder says his campaign is focused on talking to voters about the Republican-backed health care and immigration policies thst Denham has supported in Congress, including his votes against the Affordable Care Act.

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Blood reported from Los Angeles.

In this photo taken Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, Josh Harder the Democratic candidate for the California 10th Congressional District, talks with supporters Rebecca, left, and Michelle Tennell, right, in Modesto, Calif. Harder is trying to unseat incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Denham for the 10th Congressional District seat in the November election. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2018 file photo California gubernatorial candidate. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, a Democrat, talks with Democratic Congressional candidate, Josh Harder, during a campaign stop in Modesto, Calif. Harder, is running against incumbent, Rep. Jeff Denham, a Republican, for the California 10th Congressional District. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

In this photo taken Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, Rep. Jeff Denham, center, is greeted by Army veteran Paul Rapier, left, and Marine Corp veteran Joe Sicilian, right, during his appearance at the 3rd Annual Veterans Stand Down in Modesto, Calif. Denham, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Josh Harder for the California 10th Congressional District seat in the November election. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

In this photo taken Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, Rep. Jeff Denham talks with Blue Star Mothers Lori Prins, left, and Stacy Fournet, right, during his appearance at the 3rd Annual Veterans Stand Down in Modesto, Calif. Denham, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Josh Harder for the California 10th Congressional District seat in the November election. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Their anger is all over social media for the whole world to see, with rants about minorities, relationships gone bad or paranoid delusions about perceived slights.

The perpetrators of mass shootings often provide a treasure trove of insight into their violent tendencies, but the information is not always seen by law enforcement until after the violence is carried out. In addition, rants and hate speech rarely factor into whether someone passes a background check to buy guns.

The massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue, the pipe bombing attempts from last week and the Florida high school shooting this year have underscored the dilemma of law enforcement around the country in assessing the risk of people making online rants at a time when social media has become so ubiquitous.

"We can go out on Twitter and there are loads of people saying insane stuff, but how do you know which is the one person? It's always easy after the fact, to go: 'That was clear.' But clearly everyone spouting their mouth doesn't go and shoot up a synagogue," said David Chipman, a retired agent of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and now senior policy adviser for the Giffords Center.

Robert Bowers, the man accused of opening fire at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, 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 during World War II. Other posts referenced false conspiracy theories suggesting the Holocaust was a hoax.

It was only just before the shooting that the poster believed to be Bowers seemed to cross the line, posting: "I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." Authorities say Bower killed 11 people and injured six others, including four officers who responded.

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)

Keeping tabs on social media posts has been used for years by law enforcement to try to identify potential threats. The task is enormous and it's an inexact science. The volume of posts is significant and the question arises: Is something a true threat or free speech?

They are mindful of the fact that the First Amendment protects Americans' right to express even speech that many in society find abhorrent - and have to make often-subjective decisions about what crosses the line.

Among more than 550 police departments across the country surveyed several years ago by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, about three-quarters said they regularly searched social media for potential threats.

Lt. Chris Cook, spokesman for the Arlington, Texas, Police Department, said the searches are often done manually, using keywords to try to identify troubling posts.

"It's very time consuming, it's very staff and resource intensive and you have humans involved in the process so there is the potential that law enforcement can miss something," Cook said, adding that departments can't rely on social media alone. The community needs to be involved to report any suspicious behavior.

"Everyone has to be our extra eyes and ears out there," he said.

In one case where vigilance paid off, authorities say a black woman received troubling racist, harassing messages on Facebook from a man she didn't know, prompting her to call police. The tip from the New Jersey woman led Kentucky police to a home where they found Dylan Jarrell with a firearm, more than 200 rounds of ammunition, a bulletproof vest, a 100-round high-capacity magazine and a "detailed plan of attack." He was arrested just as he was leaving his driveway.

Bowers is not alone among alleged mass shooters in making racist or bigoted comments online.

Dylann Roof, convicted of the 2015 slaying of nine black churchgoers in South Carolina, had posted a 2,000-word racist rant and posed in photos with firearms and the Confederate flag. Nikolas Cruz, the teenager charged in the slaying of 17 students and adults at a high school in Parkland, Florida, hurled online slurs against blacks and Muslims, and went so far as to state he wanted to be a "professional school shooter."

The rants did not affect their ability to buy guns. When purchasing a firearm, criminal background checks only look for any records showing a criminal past or mental health problems that led to an involuntary commitment.

"I always felt as an ATF agent, the way our laws were structured, ATF stood for 'After the Fact'," Chipman said.

There have been some changes, however, to make it easier to alert authorities to warning signs. "Red flag" laws have been enacted in 13 states in the past couple of years, allowing relatives or law enforcement with concerns about a person's mental health to go to court and seek to have firearms removed at least temporarily.

But Erich Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, cautioned against using social media content to deny someone the constitutional right to own a firearm.

"I abhor hateful comments by the left or the right but I don't think you lose your rights for simply uttering," Pratt said.

He likened it to the Tom Cruise movie "Minority Report," about law enforcement in the future using psychic technology to nab murderers before they commit a crime.

"It's dangerous to go down this road of Minority Report with pre-crime," he said. "Nobody should lose their rights without due process."
TOKYO (AP) - The bicultural, newly elected governor of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa plans to visit the United States with a message to the American people: Stop building a disputed military base and build peace instead.

Tamaki took office Oct. 4 after campaigning for a disputed U.S. Marine air base to be moved off the island and for the American military presence on Okinawa to be reduced. The small island hosts about half of the 54,000 American troops stationed in Japan and accounts for 64 percent of the land used for U.S. military bases.

Tamaki plans to visit New York and other U.S. cities in November, although dates and other details are not yet decided, according to the governor's office.

"I want the American people to understand what has been, what is and what will be, to solve this problem," Denny Tamaki told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday at the Tokyo office for Okinawa prefecture.

Tamaki, 59, is the first person with an American parent to lead Okinawa, and he stressed that his bicultural roots make him perfect to relay a message to the U.S. public.

His father is a U.S. Marine he has never met. His mother, who raised him on Okinawa, burned all his father's letters and photos, Tamaki recalled.

Governor of Okinawa, Denny Tamaki, speaks during a interview with the Associated Press in Tokyo, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Tamaki, the newly elected governor of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, is headed to the U.S. with a message to the American people: Stop building the military base and build peace instead.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

But he would like to meet his father in the U.S. and hug him, he added.

"I'd like to say, 'Hi, dad. How've you been?'" he said in English and Japanese, adding jokingly perhaps 100 people might come forward.

He acknowledged he was not sure what he thought of the overall policy stances of President Donald Trump. A meeting with Trump is not on the trip agenda.

Tamaki said although Trump appeared to take a negative view toward Asia on trade, his gestures for reconciliation with North Korea, including a summit earlier this year with leader Kim Jong Un, showed Trump was committed to pursuing regional peace.

"I would like to make it a win-win situation," for Trump and Okinawa, said Tamaki, friendly and relaxed in the office filled with lion statues and woven tropical fabric.

Tamaki, who had a radio show before becoming a parliamentary lawmaker in 2009, said he was all for the U.S.-Japan bilateral security treaty, signed after Japan's defeat in World War II. He is also not opposed to Japan's having troops for self-defense, he said.

But Japanese people need to understand and talk more about security issues, defense spending and the unfair burden on Okinawa of hosting U.S. troops, he added.

Okinawa's demands must be coordinated with the overall American plan to relocate U.S. Marines in the Pacific, Tamaki said.

At the center of contention is relocating a U.S. air base from densely populated Futenma in Okinawa to less-crowded Henoko on its east coast. Early construction has begun at Henoko, but it's far from finished. The U.S. and Japan's central government support the relocation, and government ministries have rejected Okinawa's legal maneuvers to block the construction.

"The people of Okinawa have opposed this new base for more than two decades and so there is a basic mistake in Henoko" because the democratic process is being ignored, Tamaki said.

"We believe the Japanese government should assert that view to the American government, not keep insisting that Henoko is the only solution."

Although much of world, including mainstream Japanese media and the public, have tended to overlook the complaints from Okinawa, Tamaki's rise has brought attention to the historical dilemma with an undeniable clarity.

Stephen Nagy, professor of international studies at International Christian University in Tokyo, said Tamaki is increasingly seen as a bridge between Japan and the U.S.

"Gov. Tamaki might be an ideal individual to convey and create a dialogue and understanding of both sides," he said.

But he also faces a difficult reality, Nagy said.

"It's Okinawa's geographic position that gives it a crucial role in the security of Japan and also in projecting defensive power in the East and South China Seas and now in the Indo-Pacific, and I don't see that role diminishing."

Okinawa continued to be occupied by the U.S. after the rest of Japan regained sovereignty in 1952, and was officially returned to Japan only in 1972. Okinawa was also where one of the bloodiest land battles of World War II was fought.

After the war, crimes by members of the U.S. military, including vehicle hit-and-runs and rapes, have outraged the people of Okinawa. The planning for Henoko dates to a 1995 rape of a schoolgirl in which three American servicemen were convicted. Citizens are also angry about noise pollution and the dangers of accidents involving military aircraft.

Tamaki said he stood for Okinawa's culture, history and voice, noting his biracial makeup was common in Okinawa, where diversity was an asset as well as a vision for the future.

"There are many people like me," he said, adding that he wanted to build a peaceful, prosperous and gentle society.

"Okinawa is a place where people have a spirit of sharing, and that is an important part of my identity."

He repeatedly stressed that Okinawa, as a part of Japan, can't set national policy on its own, only prod the central government and the U.S. to listen. But when asked if he was interested in becoming Japan's prime minister, he agreed without hesitation.

"If people want it," he said.

He said he hadn't even initially imagined he would become a politician at all.

When asked how he had changed since he became governor, he searched for an answer.

He still plays in a band, singing mostly rock and playing guitar, and his love for Eric Clapton hasn't changed, he said, and so maybe he hadn't changed that much. But perhaps his new role was building more patience into his character.

"Maybe I grew up a little bit," he said with a smile.

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Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi

Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yurikageyama/?hl=en

FILE - This Aug. 2018, file aerial photo shows preliminary construction work off Henoko, in Nago city, Okinawa prefecture, Japan, where the Japanese government plans to relocate a U.S. air base from one area of Okinawa's main island to another. Denny Tamaki, the newly elected governor of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, was chosen in a Sept. 30 election, running on a campaign that rejected the U.S. base being built on coastal Henoko. He defeated, by a comfortable margin, the candidate backed by the ruling party, eager to go ahead with Henoko, whose construction has been on hold. (Koji Harada/Kyodo News via AP, File)

Governor of Okinawa Denny Tamaki speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Tokyo, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Tamaki, the newly elected governor of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, is headed to the U.S. with a message to the American people: Stop building the military base and build peace instead.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Governor of Okinawa, Denny Tamaki, speaks during a interview with the Associated Press in Tokyo, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Tamaki, the newly elected governor of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, is headed to the U.S. with a message to the American people: Stop building the military base and build peace instead. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Travis Scott pointed toward an image of a toothless Mac Miller as a child recognizing the late rapper as a good-spirited person whose "soul will live forever."

Scott's performance and closing remarks came after other music performers including Chance the Rapper, SZA and John Mayer took the stage Wednesday night to remember Miller's life and career during the "Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life" benefit concert at a packed Greek Theater in Los Angeles. The concert launched the Mac Miller Circles Fund in honor of the hip-hop star and raised money for arts education in underserved communities.

Throughout the show, many spoke highly of Miller and remembered him for being a funny person who smiled all the time even while he rapped. They called his music "fearless."

"Thank you for the music you made, the opportunities you provided me with, but overall the friendships you built," said Chance the Rapper, the Grammy Award-winning rapper, who performed the inspirational "Blessings" and "No Problem."

"I met some of my friends through you," the rapper added. "God bless you and your family, and this foundation."

Miller was declared dead after paramedics found the 26-year-old hip-hop star unresponsive in his home on Sept. 7. The cause of death has not yet been announced after an autopsy was performed.

Juicy J performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Pictured on screen is the late rapper Mac Miller. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Miller's rap lyrics often dealt with his depression and drug use over the years. He released his fifth album, "Swimming" in August. The rapper earned a wealth of respect from his musical peers and hip-hop greats including Jay Z and Chance the Rapper, and had an assortment of collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne and Ty Dolla $ign.

"If there's no Mac Miller, there is no me," said singer SZA, who performed "Weekend" and "Love Galore."

Miller drew headlines for his two-year relationship with singer Ariana Grande that ended earlier this year. He and the singer collaborated on her first Top 10 hit, the multiplatinum, "The Way," which propelled her from teen TV stardom to pop star.

Grande wasn't in attendance at the concert.

Even though Miller did not have his own song enter Top 40 radio, his popularity translated into a strong following on streaming networks. His debut album "Blue Side Park" went No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart.

Ty Dolla $ign, Anderson Paak, Vince Staples, Miguel, Action Bronson each paid homage performing songs that featured them with Miller. ScHoolboy Q said he wrote his hit single "That Part" while Miller sat with him in the studio.

Rae Sremmurd and Juicy J made surprise performances.

Some concertgoers, who showed up sporting their Halloween costumes, cheered "We love you, Mac Miller!!!" throughout the show.

During short breaks, flashback video clips were shown of Miller as an infant, child and adult along with several behind-the scene looks of him doing freestyle raps, performing in front of packed concerts, making jokes and him often playing the piano. As each artist took the stage, a variety of photos of Miller were on display behind them.

A collection of heartfelt and comical video messages were delivered from Pharrell, Donald Glover, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Pusha T, G-Eazy, and Tyler, the Creator. Actor Jason Sudeikis and NBA player Karl-Anthony Towns also offered messages via video.

"Man, I've been thinking about you a lot, like almost every day, at least once," said Sudeikis of Miller. "Does that mean I love you? Maybe. No, c'mon man. Of course I do."

There was also a moment of silence for the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that left 11 dead and six wounded. Miller was a native of Pittsburgh.

After the show wrapped up, all the performers gathered on stage and watched a video montage of Miller. After it finished, the rapper's mother, Karen Meyers, walked on stage, shook their hands and gave them a hug.

Meyers didn't speak but everyone else's remembrance of her son spoke volumes.

"He will be missed," Paak said. "He will never be forgotten."

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Online:

https://www.tmmcf.org

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Follow AP Entertainment Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MrLandrum31

Chance the Rapper performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Chance the Rapper performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Miguel performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

John Mayer performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

John Mayer gestures to the crowd during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Anderson .Paak performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Ty Dolla $ign performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Anderson .Paak performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2016 file photo, Mac Miller performs at the 2016 The Meadows Music and Arts Festivals at Citi Field in Flushing, New York. The life of the late rapper Miller will be remembered with a benefit concert to raise funds for arts education in underserved communities. Chance the Rapper, John Mayer and SZA are expected to perform at the "Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life" concert Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)

SZA performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Vince Staples performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Swae Lee, left, and Slim Jxmmi, of Rae Sremmurd, perform during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Travis Scott performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Juicy J performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Schoolboy Q performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Thundercat performs during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

John Mayer, left, and Thundercat perform during the tribute event Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
JERUSALEM (AP) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pick for Jerusalem mayor has been knocked out of the race, with two other contenders advancing to a runoff.

Results of the municipal elections released Wednesday show veteran political activist Moshe Lion and secular activist Ofer Berkovitch moving on to another vote on Nov. 13 after neither won 40 percent. The winner will succeed outgoing Mayor Nir Barkat. Netanyahu's candidate, Cabinet minister Zeev Elkin, was eliminated.

Jerusalem is a diverse city, with a Jewish population divided between secular residents, modern Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox. In addition, about one-third of the population is Palestinian.

Elsewhere in Israel, longtime Tel Aviv incumbent Ron Huldai was re-elected and Einat Kalisch Rotem ousted longtime Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav to become the first female mayor of Israel's third-largest city.
TITUSVILLE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida sheriff says a 21-year-old Texas man told an undercover deputy he wanted to "rape, kill, and cannibalize" a child.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey told news outlets Tuesday that Alexander Nathan Barter posted an online ad about trying "necrophilia and cannibalism and see how it feels to take a life." Ivey says an undercover deputy who also works for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement saw it and offered Barter a child.

He says deputies then drove to Joaquin, a town of less than 1,000 people near the Texas-Louisiana line, and met with Barter. Ivey says Barter was arrested on charges including criminal attempt of capital murder and confessed before thanking the agents for "stopping him because he couldn't stop himself."

It's unclear if Barter has a lawyer.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) - A new trial date has been set for an Alabama police officer charged with murder in a shooting.

Al.com reported Tuesday that Huntsville police Officer William Darby's trial was set for next week, but has been moved to April 2019.

The 25-year-old Darby was cleared of wrongdoing by the police department's review board in the April shooting death of 49-year-old Jeffrey Parker. He was later indicted on a charge of murder.

Police say Parker called authorities and said he was armed and suicidal. They say Darby arrived on scene and shot Parker when he wouldn't drop his weapon.

The Huntsville City Council voted earlier this year to pay for Darby's defense. Madison County Circuit Judge Donna Pate has issued a gag order in the case. Attorney Robert Tuten represents Darby.

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Information from: The Birmingham News, http://www.al.com/birminghamnews
MOSCOW (AP) - A man set off a bomb at the entrance of the local branch of Russia's main intelligence agency in a northern city Wednesday, injuring three security officials and killing himself, authorities said.

The man entered the local branch of the FSB intelligence agency in Akhangelsk and removed the improvised explosive device from a bag, causing it to detonate, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee said.

The explosion killed the man and injured three FSB officers. It was not immediately clear if the man had meant to just leave the bomb or had also intended to die.

Russian investigators later identified the attacker as a local 17-year-old man and said they are treating the attack as an act of terrorism.

Akhangelsk governor Igor Orlov had earlier reported one death but did not indicate that that was the attacker. Authorities cordoned off the area around the FSB office and boosted security measures at all public offices in the city.

The FSB and other security have been targeted in the past in another region, the North Caucasus, mostly by Islamist insurgents.
SINGAPORE (AP) - A Singaporean businessman facing criminal charges in the United States for allegedly violating sanctions against North Korea said he was taking the concerns "very seriously."

In a note to stakeholders of his commodities trading company Wee Tiong, seen by The Associated Press, Tan Wee Beng said he was still fully committed to his business. Tan was also blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Department for allegedly doing business with the North and engaging in money laundering.

"As for the developments in the U.S., which we have learned of from the news reports, we take them very seriously. We will work closely with our legal advisors on this, and will be liaising with the relevant authorities for more information," he said in the note, dated Oct. 27.

Last week, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Wee Tiong (S) Pte. Ltd. and ship management services company WT Marine Pte. Ltd. It alleges that Tan worked with at least one other Wee Tiong employee to fulfil millions of dollars of commodities contracts for North Korea, dating back to 2011.

Tan is the director of both companies, which share an address and have similar board members, official records show. The Justice Department has named him in criminal charges such as bank fraud for "a multi-year scheme to violate and evade U.S. national security controls".

Tan, who is on the FBI's most-wanted list, "remains at large," according to the Justice Department.

This wanted poster released by FBI shows Singaporean Tan Wee Beng, the director of both trading house Wee Tiong (S) Pte. Ltd. and ship management services company WT Marine Pte. Ltd. The Singaporean businessman facing criminal charges in the United States for allegedly violating sanctions against North Korea said he was taking the concerns "seriously." In a note to stakeholders of his trading company Wee Tiong, seen by The Associated Press, Tan Wee Beng said he was still fully committed to his business. Tan was also blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Department for allegedly doing business with the North and engaging in money laundering. Tan said he will work with lawyers and contact authorities for more information on the charges. (FBI via AP)

Singapore police withheld comment, saying an investigation was underway.

Tan said he is in Singapore and plans to stay there. Business records show a condominium in Singapore as his residential address.

Wee Tiong, which lists its activities as general wholesale trade, has been operating for 25 years and has an annual revenue of $400 million, the note stated.

Separately, Singapore authorities have accused three individuals, including a North Korean man, of helping to supply goods such as watches and jewelry to luxury stores in Pyongyang, drawing attention to the role the trading hub may play in helping North Korea bypass international sanctions.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee inmate Edmund Zagorski has once again been placed on death watch in anticipation of his Thursday execution by electric chair.

The Tennessee Department of Correction said Tuesday that inmates on death watch are placed in a cell next to the execution chamber where they are under 24-hour surveillance.

All visits are non-contact until the final day before the execution, when the warden will decide whether Zagorski can have a contact visit.

Zagorski was set to die on Oct. 11 but won a late reprieve from Gov. Bill Haslam amid a flurry of legal maneuvers. Among the issues was his request to die in the electric chair as a quicker and less painful execution method than lethal injection.

Zagorski was sentenced in 1984 for a killing two men during a drug deal.

FILE - This undated file photo released by the Tennessee Department of Corrections shows death row inmate Edmund Zagorski in Tennessee. If Tennessee electrocutes Zagorski, it will be in an electric chair built by a self-taught execution expert who is no longer welcome in the prison system. (Tennessee Department of Corrections via AP, File)
NEW DELHI (AP) - India's top court on Wednesday ordered the government to provide pricing details of 36 Rafale fighter jets it is buying from France.

The court said the government must bring details of the decision-making process of the deal into the public domain, except those that are confidential and have strategic importance. The court said those can be provided in a "sealed cover" within 10 days.

The deal has become a major political issue with the leader of the main opposition Indian National Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of buying the aircraft at nearly three times the price being negotiated when his party was in power before Modi became prime minister in 2014.

The government has refuted the claim, but says a secrecy clause governs the deal's pricing. It hasn't even informed Parliament about the cost of the 36 planes.

The court was hearing petitions by former ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha and some others who demanded a court-monitored probe by a federal investigating agency in the deal.

Gandhi also accused Modi's government of favoring the company owned by industrialist Anil Ambani, Reliance Group, when choosing an Indian partner for Dassault.

India's government has denied any wrongdoing.

Dassault Aviation recently said that it "has freely chosen to make a partnership with India's Reliance Group."

The French company said that it had committed to side deals in India worth 50 percent of the value of the jet purchases. In order to deliver those side deals, it had decided to create a joint venture with Reliance Group.

The controversy has intensified following comments last month by former French President Francois Hollande - who was in charge when the deal was signed in 2016 - suggesting France had no say in selecting the Indian company.
BEIRUT (AP) - A Syrian-led human rights group said Wednesday it has documented more than 1,400 incidents in which Russian forces indiscriminately targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure in the three years since Moscow intervened in the civil war in Syria.

The Berlin-based Syrian Archive has created a database of more than 3,000 verified videos of the incidents, reported between September 2015, when Russia began its airstrikes on behalf of President Bashar Assad's forces, and September 2018.

Hadi al-Khatib of the group said the searchable database is the first visual documentation of alleged Russian airstrikes in Syria and is essential for "advancing justice." The database, which includes more than 700 incidents in which civilian casualties were reported and some 35 hospitals were struck, can help lawyers build cases against perpetrators of violence, he said.

The database includes videos from citizens, journalists, humanitarian groups and even the Russian Defense Ministry.

Russia denies targeting civilians and has often said the airstrikes are aimed at "terrorist infrastructure." In a recent report on its three-year involvement in Syria, the Russian military lists the number of airstrikes and the types of aircraft and weapons used, but doesn't say anything about casualties.

Syrian Archive said it has documented and verified at least 704 incidents in which there were civilian casualties as a result of alleged Russian attacks. The verified videos show that at least 35 hospitals, 27 mosques, 23 schools and 27 markets were struck in Russian airstrikes, it said.

FILE - In this file photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense group known as the White Helmets, taken Sept. 23, 2016, a destroyed ambulance is seen outside the Syrian Civil Defense main center after airstrikes in Ansari neighborhood in the rebel-held part of eastern Aleppo, Syria. A Syrian-led human rights group said Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018 that it has documented more than 1,400 incidents in which Russian forces indiscriminately targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure in the three years since Moscow intervened in the civil war. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP, File)

In one incident, Russia's Defense Ministry released a video identifying a target as an oil refinery, which upon further investigation turned out to be a water treatment facility, according to the report and other investigations.

The group also identified 63 incidents in which cluster munitions were used and 39 incidents in which incendiary weapons were used. Russia denies using those weapons.

"The whole point of the report is to advance justice," al-Khatib said. "Lawyers can use this kind of data, corroborate them with other evidence, to build their cases."

Syrian Archive has been working to document and preserve the history of the civil war, uploaded mostly on YouTube. As the tech giant introduced new technology to rein in violent content on the internet, hundreds of thousands of videos from the conflict suddenly disappeared. Syrian Archive worked with YouTube to retrieve some of the videos and ensure that violent videos were marked for graphic content.

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On the Net: https://syrianarchive.org/en/collections/russian-airstrikes/

FILE - In this file image made from video provided by Russian Defense Ministry press service on Aug. 18, 2016, shows a Russian combat fighter bomber Su-34 unloads its bombs over a target in Syria. A Syrian-led human rights group said Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018 that it has documented more than 1,400 incidents in which Russian forces indiscriminately targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure in the three years since Moscow intervened in the civil war in Syria. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service photo via AP, File)
TOKYO (AP) - Denny Tamaki, the newly elected governor of Okinawa, is the first person with an American parent to lead the southern Japanese island, campaigning on a longtime popular demand to reduce the U.S. military presence there.

Tamaki is planning to visit the U.S. to talk to people and try to gain their understanding about what he sees as Okinawa's shouldering an unfair burden of hosting U.S. troops. At the center of contention is relocating a U.S. air base from densely populated Futenma to less-crowded Henoko on the east coast. Early construction has begun at Henoko, but it's far from finished. The U.S. and Japan's central government support the relocation, and government ministries have rejected Okinawa's legal maneuvers to block the construction.

Tamaki, 59, spoke with The Associated Press on Wednesday. Questions and responses have been edited for clarity and length.

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Q: What is at the root of the problem in Okinawa with the U.S. military bases?

A: How long is it going to be Okinawa? How much longer? When you ask these questions, the answer was that we just don't need any more bases, and that answer was reflected in the election results this time. The people of Okinawa have opposed this new base for more than two decades and so there is a basic mistake in Henoko.

Governor of Okinawa, Denny Tamaki, speaks during a interview with the Associated Press in Tokyo, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Tamaki, the newly elected governor of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, is headed to the U.S. with a message to the American people: Stop building the military base and build peace instead. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

They say Henoko is the only one, Henoko is the only solution. But we think that it is definitely not the case and that they're refusing to think critically. The American side has made multiple proposals under reorganization plans and the Japanese government should consider them. The Japanese government should be relaying ways to put Okinawa at ease and to promote peace in Japan along with the message of the people reflected by my election victory to the American government.

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Q: What is your view on Okinawa's history and how that fits in with peace and the base problem?

A: There are things that we Okinawans must speak up because we feel strongly about peace because of Okinawa's history and that is connected to the very core of our hearts. In the Battle of Okinawa, more than 100,000 civilians were killed. Harsh battles were fought and sacrifices were made. The tragedy should never be repeated and we are committed to our responsibility to promote a peaceful environment for our children and grandchildren.

It is the issue not only for Okinawa but for all of Japan to think about. We want a world of harmony not of war, and that's part of the Okinawan identity. Okinawa's call for peace is based on our own sacrifice and I believe that would be a very strong message.

We always have to ask ourselves a question if Japan cannot defend itself without being armed so much. We have to keep asking if we can't defend Japan without it, if we really need it. No U.S. troop on Okinawa means there is a peaceful environment.

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Q: Where do you want to take Okinawa's future?

A: Up to now, a black-or-white dichotomy of peace or economic development has been presented in Okinawa elections. Peace means the bases will be gone soon, and people will at last realize their dream of getting out of the postwar situation. Choosing the economy means the bases will stay but because of that, people will get aid money, and that will be given to the people. It has always been about that exclusive choice in elections.

But what I said was that both are important. Aren't both peace and economy important? Without peace, there is no economic development. And if the economy is thriving, it's certainly possible to create conditions that allow for peace. So we are not choosing between economy and peace but we want both.

I have always said, in this new age for Okinawa, we stand for autonomy, co-existence, diversity and acceptance. Okinawa is going to firmly push for these eternal values of democracy. A democratic country like the U.S. will surely listen to such an appeal, especially if I, someone who has an American father, am the one going there to express that.

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Q: What is Okinawa's geopolitical significance and its role?

A: Looking at Okinawa's geopolitical position in Asia, Okinawa is in a position to take initiative in promoting friendship and peace among countries in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. We can perhaps host a peace-building conference. I would like to take up the role to promote peace, economic and people exchanges in the region. How about holding a U.S.-China summit on Okinawa? ... Overall, this year there was the summit of the Koreas in April and the U.S.-North Korea summit in June. I think at least we should cherish the ongoing momentum toward peace.

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Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi

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PRAGUE (AP) - The lower house of the Czech Parliament is set to begin debating a bill that could give same-sex couples the right to marry.

The bill was drafted by a group of lawmakers across the political spectrum. It is supported by the coalition center-left government of Prime Minister Andrej Babis.

A number of European nations have legalized same-sex marriage, most recently Austria, but the Czech Republic could become the first post-Communist member of the European Union to do so.

In 2006, Parliament approved a law allowing same-sex partners to live in an officially registered partnership and have rights to inheritance and health care similar to those enjoyed by heterosexual married couples. That law, however, does not allow same-sex partners to marry and to adopt children as a couple.
ISLAMABAD (AP) - Iran's top diplomat is in Pakistan for talks on key issues between the two neighbors, including how to strengthen security along their shared border from where 11 Iranian border guards were abducted earlier this month.

Pakistan's foreign ministry says Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks with his counterpart in Islamabad, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, on Wednesday.

The statement says they also discussed the situation in Afghanistan and "ways to work together in the wake of the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions on Iran."

Tehran has asked Islamabad for assistance in finding and rescuing Iranian guards who were seized from a town bordering Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province.

Pakistan has said it will do whatever is possible to trace and rescue them.

Iranian media have blamed the abduction on al-Qaida-linked Jaish al-Adl.
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Lawyers for the family of a 15-year-old girl who went missing in 1983 pressed Italian prosecutors and the Vatican on Wednesday for more details regarding human bone fragments found in an annex of the Holy See's embassy in Rome.

The find, announced late Tuesday, raised immediate speculation over possible links with the disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi, the daughter of a Vatican employee whose fate remains one of the Vatican's most enduring mysteries. The news agency ANSA reported that prosecutors were focusing on whether the remains could be linked either to Orlandi, who disappeared on June 22 1983, or another 15-year-old girl, Mirella Gregori, who went missing a month earlier in Rome, on May 7, 1983.

"We are asking Rome prosecutors and the Holy See by what means the bones were found and how their discovery was placed in relation to the disappearances of Emanuela Orlandi and Mirella Gregori," lawyer Laura Scro said, adding that the Vatican statement "provides little information."

The Vatican said human bone fragments were found this week during renovations of a room annexed to the embassy, and that Italian forensic experts had been asked by prosecutors to determine the age and gender of the body and the date of death. Experts say that could be determined in a week to 10 days, if adequate DNA can be extracted from the fragments.

The Orlandi and Gregori disappearances have never been formally linked. The Orlandi disappearance is by far the higher-profile, with its Vatican links and many twists. The teen disappeared after leaving her family's Vatican City apartment to go to a music lesson in Rome.

Over the years, her case has been linked to everything from the plot to kill St. John Paul II to the financial scandal of the Vatican bank and Rome's criminal underworld.

A military soldier guards the entrance of the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's embassy to Italy, in Rome, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. The Vatican said Tuesday that human bones were found during renovation work near its embassy to Italy, reviving talk about one of the Holy See's most enduring mysteries - the fate of the 15-year-old daughter of a Vatican employee who disappeared in 1983. (Fabio Frustaci/ANSA via AP)

Reporters film the entrance of the Vatican embassy to Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The Vatican said Tuesday that human bones were found during renovation work near the embassy, reviving speculation once again about one of the most enduring Vatican mysteries: the fate of Emanuela Orlandi, the 15-year-old daughter of a Vatican employee who disappeared in 1983. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
PARIS (AP) - Cello maestro Yo-Yo Ma will perform at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe as part of the ceremonies marking the centenary of the end of the World War I next month in Paris.

Joseph Zimet, director of the First World War Centenary Mission, says Ma will headline a field of "great international artists" during the Nov. 11 ceremony close to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The U.S-Chinese artist, who received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom back in 2010, was born in Paris in 1955.

The European Union Youth Orchestra, an ensemble of young musicians, has also been invited to perform Ravel's Bolero, while Beninese artist Angelique Kidjo will sing a tribute to the colonial troops who fought for France during the war.
NEW YORK (AP) - Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason is planning to tour North America next year to perform some classic Floyd songs, but don't expect "Comfortably Numb" or "Another Brick in the Wall."

Mason instead will be digging deep into the Pink Floyd archives to offer tunes not heard live in America for a long time, if ever. Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets will be jamming to pre-"Dark Side of the Moon" material.

"I really wanted to find something different and a bit quirky," Mason told The Associated Press by phone from London. "I think, for me, what's most interesting is to revisit the thinking behind some of these pieces."

The band - which includes Spandau Ballet guitarist Gary Kemp, longtime Pink Floyd touring bassist Guy Pratt, guitarist Lee Harris and keyboardist Dom Beken - formed this year in the United Kingdom after bandmates nudged Mason to make music again.

The name of the new band comes from "A Saucerful of Secrets," released in June 1968. Some of the songs they play live include "See Emily Play," ''Arnold Layne," The Nile Song," ''Bike," ''Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" and "Obscured by Clouds."

U.S. and Canadian audiences can expect those and more. "Frankly, we feel there's still more to do and can be explored," Mason said. "The set list that we've done in Europe will almost certainly be the basis for what we do, but we certainly intend to add a few more tracks."

This Sept. 23, 2018 photo released by Jill Furmanovsky shows Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason performing with Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets band in Portsmouth, England. Mason is planning to tour North America next year to perform some classic Floyd songs. His band will be jamming to pre-"Dark Side of the Moon" material. (Jill Furmanovsky/www.rockarchive.com via AP)

Mason said he's not worried that Floyd fans will turn up and expect to hear hits from such later albums as "The Wall" or "Animals." He cites social media for making it clear what will be played, something he noticed after the band's first concert.

"Almost two hours after doing the very first pub gig, everything was all over the web and everyone had a pretty good idea of what they were going to get," he said. "So if it wasn't what they wanted, they didn't turn up."

The new 25-date tour will kick off March 12, 2019, in Vancouver and take the band to Washington, California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington, DC.

Mason is the only member of Pink Floyd who has performed on all of the band's studio albums. He said he isn't trying to compete with Floyd alumni Roger Waters and David Gilmour or any Floyd tribute bands.

"The world is absolutely stuffed with Pink Floyd tribute bands, let alone Roger and David. So I think it's very important to say, 'This is not version No. 297. This is something a bit weird and a bit different.'"

The tour will mark Mason's first performances in North America since Pink Floyd played Giants Stadium in New Jersey in 1994 as part of the Division Bell Tour. The 74-year-old musician said he's having more fun behind the drum kit that he initially expected.

"I had no idea how much I was going to enjoy it. This is not a grand scheme that I created. This is me being nudged into it by the rest of the band. That's my entire career - not leading so much as being gently prodded."

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Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
JERUSALEM (AP) - With President Donald Trump getting a cool welcome from the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, Israel's envoy to the memorial ceremonies for the synagogue shooting victims has come to his defense, saying it was "unfair and wrong" to link him to the tragedy.

Trump was greeted by hundreds of chanting protesters Tuesday, many accusing the president's fiery rhetoric for contributing to the climate of violence and emboldening extremists to act.

Pennsylvania's governor and the mayor of Pittsburgh declined to join Trump during the visit, and one of the families of the 11 victims of the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history asked not to meet him. Adding to the anger was the shooting suspect's apparent targeting of a synagogue because of his outrage over a Jewish refugee agency that has become a target of conspiracy theories among Trump's nationalist base.

However, Naftali Bennett, the Israeli minister for diaspora affairs, took issue with those he said were "using this horrific anti-Semitic act to attack President Trump."

"This is unfair and wrong," said Bennett, who rushed to Pittsburgh after the shootings to offer Israel's support to city's Jewish community. "President Trump is a true friend of the state of Israel and to the Jewish people. With President Trump we never have to worry if he has our backs."

Israel's envoys to the United States and the United Nations have also tried to distance Trump from the attack.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk into Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, with Ivanka Trump, back left, and Jared Kushner and Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, back right, and Ron Dermer, Israel's ambassador to the United States. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Their defense of the president has added another element to the growing divide between Israel's leadership, which hails Trump for his staunch political backing and tough stance against nemesis Iran, and the more liberal American Jewish community, whose members are among Trump's toughest domestic critics.

Trump visited the Tree of Life synagogue and lit candles for the victims before visiting survivors in the hospital. He was accompanied by his daughter Ivanka, a convert to Judaism, and her Jewish husband, Jared Kushner, as well as Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer.

Dermer also backed Trump, saying he was "not aware of a single non-Israeli leader that has made such a strong statement in condemning anti-Semitism."

Nancy Bernstein, co-chair of J Street Pittsburgh, a liberal American Jewish group, said that many American Jews accuse Trump of contributing to the polarized atmosphere that led to the shooting and were unhappy about Israeli leaders being so close with the president. She took particular aim at Bennett, who has been a visible presence in Pittsburgh after the shooting attack.

"He has a history of inciting against refugees in Israel, and this was the very reason that 11 people were murdered in our synagogue here," she said, referring to the alleged shooter's anger toward a Jewish group that assists immigrants in the U.S.

"As Jews, we were once refugees and immigrants," she added. "We understand what it's like to be turned away and not taken care of. Most of us get it."

The Israeli government's consistent support for Trump has far less to do with his controversial domestic policies and more with the blanket international support he has granted Israel.

Fulfilling a campaign promise, Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved the U.S. Embassy there.

In a break from previous administrations, he has placed the blame for failed peace talks solely on the Palestinians and refrained from criticizing Israeli settlement activity. He also pulled out of the Iran nuclear agreement, a step welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has also angered the liberal Reform and Conservative streams of Judaism, which represent the majority of affiliated Jews in the U.S., by siding with Orthodox rabbinical authorities on issues of recognition and pluralism in Israel.

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York, a self-described "passionate Zionist" who recently met with Netanyahu to discuss Israel's relations with American Jews, said the Israeli government mishandled its response to the Pittsburgh shooting.

"What the Israelis should have done is express unity with the Jewish community, unity with American society ... and stand in solidarity," he said. "That's all."

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Associated Press writer Josef Federman contributed to this report.
MIRAMAR, Fla. (AP) - Investigators in Florida are trying to determine who killed two aspiring rappers whose bodies were riddled with gunshot wounds when a friend drove them to a hospital's emergency room.

Miramar police spokeswoman Tania Rues said in a news release that 21-year-old Anthony Williams and 19-year-old Christopher Thomas were last seen alive at 3:20 a.m. on Oct. 26 in Fort Lauderdale. Hospital staff pronounced them dead at Memorial Miramar Hospital, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Fort Lauderdale.

Police aren't releasing the name of the driver as they investigate.

TCPalm newspaper reports Thomas went by the stage name YNW Juvy while Williams was known as YNW Sakchaser. Both were connected to Florida rapper Jamell Demons, known as YNW Melly .

This undated photo provided by the Miramar Police Department shows Anthony Williams. Investigators in Florida are trying to determine who killed Williams and Christopher Thomas aspiring rappers whose bodies were riddled with gunshot wounds when a friend drove them to a hospital's emergency room on Oct. 26, 2018. (Miramar Police Department via AP)
PARIS (AP) - France's foreign minister says the French arms industry isn't dependent on sales to Saudi Arabia, suggesting that France need not prioritize its economic ties with the kingdom as it weighs the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Jean-Yves Le Drian said Saudi purchases account for around 7 percent of French international arms sales and that "we are absolutely not dependent on our economic relations with Saudi Arabia."

Speaking Wednesday on RTL radio, the minister described Khashoggi's death as "a crime" and "odious."

He said France will insist that Saudi Arabia uncover the "truth" behind Khashoggi's killing in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, after The Washington Post columnist entered the building on Oct. 2.

He also said France "will take the necessary sanctions against the guilty," but gave no details.
BANGKOK (AP) - Thailand's Red Cross Society may not measure its blood supplies by the bucket, but it knows how to throw a Halloween party.

Hoping that the annual gusto for gore would inspire donors, the society's National Blood Center had staff and volunteers dress up Wednesday as ghosts, monsters and witches. Even some donors dressed their hideous best.

The donation room was festooned with faux spider webs and plastic bats of the blood-sucking kind. At a minimum, nurses had horns or bat wings attached to their hats; others had macabre face paint, and a few gung-ho souls were in full dress as witches, ghosts and creatures of indeterminate monstrosity.

"The location has been decorated so donors can take photos to keep as souvenirs," explained a statement from the Red Cross. "Donors also received 'mummy blood' pens as mementos."

It wasn't actually blood-curdling scary; after all, that would have undermined the point of the occasion.

"Donors are pretty excited to see ghosts," said Wantana Boonyasiripong of Bangkok, who showed up to share a few corpuscles of her own. "It's kind of fun, making it a happy occasion for us to donate blood and make merit."

Thanat Chotrat, second from left, and Manful Bumroongton, third from left, dressed in a ghost costume for Halloween talk to volunteer donate blood on bed at the Thai Red Cross in Bangkok, Thailand, Thailand, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

According to the center, about 14 percent of Bangkok's population donates blood, but some 40 percent of what is collected goes to areas outside of the capital, where the donation rate averages just 2.6 percent. The need for donated blood grows by 8-10 percent a year, the Red Cross said.

"The fact is you can donate blood any day," said Muanfun Bumroongton, a volunteer at the center who painted her face as pop culture villain The Joker. "We just thought that we could have extra fun today for those who come, making the day a bit more colorful."
ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey embarked on a search for oil and gas in the east Mediterranean on Wednesday in a move that could stoke regional tensions, with the country warning it would thwart "unilateral, illegitimate and unfair" actions against its interests.

The drillship 'Conquerer' - named after Ottoman Sultan Mehmet, who conquered Constantinople - began exploratory drilling off Antalya, on Turkey's southern coast.

The country is asserting itself in the east Mediterranean to signal that it won't be left out of a potential offshore gas bonanza as neighboring Cyprus is poised to renew exploratory drilling off its southern shores. ExxonMobil is scheduled to start drilling in one of 13 blocks inside Cyprus' exclusive economic zone by year's end.

Turkey doesn't recognize Cyprus as a state and opposes its gas search, which it says infringes on its rights to oil and gas reserves and ignores the rights of breakaway Turkish Cypriots to the ethnically split island's natural resources. Turkey also says that its continental shelf overlaps part of Cyprus' exclusive economic zone.

Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a declaration of independence by Turkish Cypriots in the island's north, where it maintains more than 35,000 troops.

"We would protect until the end our and the Republic of Northern Cyprus' rights...against those attempting to take unilateral, illegitimate steps that are unfair to Turkey," said Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez during a tour of the 'Conquerer' on Tuesday.

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, Turkey's new drillship 'Conquerer' is seen off the coast of Antalya, southern Turkey. Turkey says it has begun a search for oil and gas in east Mediterranean waters in a move that could stoke regional tensions. The drillship 'Conquerer' began exploratory drilling Wednesday off Antalya on Turkey's southern coast. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

In February, Turkish warships prevented a drillship from carrying out exploratory drilling southeast of Cyprus, where Italian company Eni is licensed to search for gas. Days earlier, Eni had announced a significant find southwest of Cyprus.

Tiny Cyprus, with a population of just over a million people, rejects Turkey's claims. It says its gas search is fully in line with international law and says Turkey is trying to create a crisis to undermine Cyprus' energy program.

Cypriot government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said any potential wealth from newly discovered gas deposits belongs to all Cypriots - both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot - and will be shared once a peace accord reunifying the island is reached.

"Whatever is found in the exclusive economic zone of the Cypriot state is the property of the Cypriot people, meaning all legal citizens of Cyprus, which includes Turkish Cypriots but not necessarily Turkey," said Prodromou.

France's Total is also licensed to drill off Cyprus' southern coast. In 2011, Texas-based Noble Energy discovered a field estimated to hold 4.5 trillion cubic feet (130 billion cubic meters) of gas.

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, Turkey's new drillship 'Conquerer' is seen off the coast of Antalya, southern Turkey. Turkey says it has begun a search for oil and gas in east Mediterranean waters in a move that could stoke regional tensions. The drillship 'Conquerer' began exploratory drilling Wednesday off Antalya on Turkey's southern coast. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, workers pose for a photo on Turkey's new drillship 'Conquerer' off the coast of Antalya, southern Turkey. Turkey says it has begun a search for oil and gas in east Mediterranean waters in a move that could stoke regional tensions. The drillship 'Conquerer' began exploratory drilling Wednesday off Antalya on Turkey's southern coast. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, a worker walks on Turkey's new drillship 'Conquerer' off the coast of Antalya, southern Turkey. Turkey says it has begun a search for oil and gas in east Mediterranean waters in a move that could stoke regional tensions. The drillship 'Conquerer' began exploratory drilling Wednesday off Antalya on Turkey's southern coast. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, balloons decorate Turkey's new drillship 'Conquerer' off the coast of Antalya, southern Turkey. Turkey says it has begun a search for oil and gas in east Mediterranean waters in a move that could stoke regional tensions. The drillship 'Conquerer' began exploratory drilling Wednesday off Antalya on Turkey's southern coast. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, Fatih Donmez, center, Turkey's energy and natural resources minister, talks during a visit to Turkey's new drillship 'Conquerer' off the coast of Antalya, southern Turkey. Turkey says it has begun a search for oil and gas in east Mediterranean waters in a move that could stoke regional tensions. The drillship 'Conquerer' began exploratory drilling Wednesday off Antalya on Turkey's southern coast. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, workers pose for a picture on Turkey's new drillship 'Conquerer' off the coast of Antalya, southern Turkey. Turkey says it has begun a search for oil and gas in east Mediterranean waters in a move that could stoke regional tensions. The drillship 'Conquerer' began exploratory drilling Wednesday off Antalya on Turkey's southern coast. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - Pipe bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc searched for addresses of his targets online and had photos of many of them on his cellphone, including one of Michelle Obama's driver's license, federal prosecutors said in a letter outlining more evidence against him.

The letter sent by Justice Department prosecutors in New York to a Miami federal judge also says Sayoc began plotting the "domestic terror attack" in July while living in his van. The old white vehicle was plastered with photos praising Donald Trump and targeting his critics, depicting some of Sayoc's alleged opponents with red crosshairs on their faces.

The FBI says Sayoc ultimately mailed 15 improvised explosive devices to prominent Democrats, Trump critics and media outlets before he was arrested in the van last week.

The 56-year-old Sayoc faces five federal charges in Manhattan carrying a combined maximum sentence of 48 years behind bars, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said in the letter to U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres that Sayoc should remain jailed without bail. A detention hearing is set Friday in Miami, as well as a hearing on when Sayoc should be sent to New York to stand trial. Additional charges are likely, they said.

"Because of the powerful proof that the defendant perpetrated these acts, he poses a substantial danger to the community. In light of the consequences at issue and the likelihood of conviction, the defendant is also a substantial flight risk. Therefore, pretrial detention is appropriate," the letter says.

In this courtroom sketch, Cesar Sayoc, left, appears in federal court, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, in Miami. Sayoc is accused of sending pipe bombs to prominent Democrats around the country. A judge will hold a hearing Friday on whether Sayoc can be released on bail. (Daniel Pontet via AP)

Among Sayoc's online searches for addresses, prosecutors said, were for former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, billionaire George Soros, California Sen. Kamala Harris, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, former Attorney General Eric Holder and for "cnn building." The FBI recovered explosive devices sent to all of them, among others.

Sayoc's cellphone contains photos of some of his alleged intended victims, the letter adds, including Soros, the homes of Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden, and the driver's license belonging to Michelle Obama.

The laptop computer found in the van also has a file with the address in Sunrise, Florida, of the office of U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. That office was used as the return address on the packages containing the pipe bombs, according to the FBI. The computer file was labeled "Debbie W.docx".

In addition, prosecutors said the FBI so far has found DNA evidence linked to Sayoc from 10 of the improvised explosive devices and fingerprints on two of the mailing envelopes.

Sayoc was arrested last Friday outside a South Florida auto parts store after the pipe bombs began surfacing around the country. None of them exploded and no one was injured, but investigators say they contained real explosive material.

"The defendant also placed shards of glass in several of the IEDs for the apparent purpose of maximizing harm to his intended victims through the detonation of the devices that he had mailed," prosecutors wrote.

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Follow Curt Anderson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Miamicurt
LONDON (AP) - Parliamentary committees in Britain and Canada on Wednesday urged Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify before a joint hearing of international lawmakers examining fake news and the internet.

Damian Collins, the head of the U.K. parliament's media committee, is joining forces with his Canadian counterpart, Bob Zimmer, to pressure Zuckerberg to personally take part in hearings, as he did before the U.S Congress and the European Parliament. The so-called "international grand committee" session would be held Nov. 27 and could include lawmakers from other countries.

"We understand that it is not possible to make yourself available to all parliaments. However, we believe that your users in other countries need a line of accountability to your organization_directly, via yourself," the pair said in a letter to Zuckerberg. "We would have thought that this responsibility is something that you would want to take up."

Social media companies have been under scrutiny in Britain following allegations that political consultancy Cambridge Analytica used data from tens of millions of Facebook accounts to profile voters and help U.S. President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign. The committee is also investigating the impact of fake news distributed via social media sites globally.

Collins has been irate with Facebook for sending Zuckerberg's underlings to his committee's hearings while the leader of the Silicon Valley company declined invitations to attend. Joining forces with Canada - and perhaps other countries - seems designed to prod Zuckerberg and persuade him to change his mind.

"No such joint hearing has ever been held," the pair wrote. "Given your self-declared objective to 'fix' Facebook, and to prevent the platform's malign use in world affairs and democratic process, we would like to give you the chance to appear at this hearing."
LONDON (AP) - A paperback copy of "Lady Chatterley's Lover" used by the judge in the landmark U.K. obscenity trial of the novel's publisher has sold at auction for 56,250 pounds ($72,000), more than three times its pre-sale estimate.

The tattered Penguin paperback - along with a damask bag designed to stop photographers snapping the judge carrying the scandalous tome - sold to an anonymous bidder at Sotheby's in London on Tuesday.

Penguin Books was prosecuted in 1960 for publishing D.H. Lawrence's novel about an affair between a wealthy woman and her husband's gamekeeper, a landmark in the frank literary depiction of sexuality.

A prosecution lawyer infamously asked in court whether it was "a book that you would ... wish your wife or your servants to read?"

It took jurors just three hours of deliberation to find Penguin not guilty, and the case is regarded as a landmark victory for freedom of speech and a sign of changing social mores.

Dorothy Byrne, the wife of judge Lawrence Byrne, stitched the bag that held the book. She also made notes for her husband detailing the explicit passages, with descriptions - "love making," ''coarse" - and page numbers.

FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 26, 2018 file photo, a copy of D.H Lawrence's book "Lady Chatterley's Lover" that was the judge's personal version used in the infamous 1960 Chatterley trial, on view in Sotheby's auction house in London. The copy used by the judge in the U.K. obscenity trial of the novel's publisher has sold at auction for 56,250 pounds ($72,000), more than three times its pre-sale estimate. The tattered Penguin paperback, along with a damask bag designed to stop photographers snapping the judge with the scandalous tome, sold to an anonymous bidder at Sotheby's in London on Tuesday Oct. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - President Hassan Rouhani warned Iranians on Wednesday they may face more difficulties in the months ahead, after the United States imposes new sanctions on the country next week, Iran's state TV reported Wednesday.

"The situation was hard for people in the recent months, and it may be hard in the next several months too," said Rouhani, speaking during a televised Cabinet meeting. "The government will utilize its entire capabilities to alleviate the problems."

The U.S. has been re-imposing sanctions on Iran since President Donald Trump withdrew America from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in May. On Monday, the U.S. is imposing sanctions on Iran's oil and gas industry.

According to Rouhani, Washington is trying to make Iranians angry at their government.

"People are in fact angry, but ... they are mad at America and its crimes - not at their government and its ruling system," he said.

Iran is already in the grip of an economic crisis, and has seen sporadic protests in recent months though Iranian officials have generally tried to downplay the sanctions and their effects.

The government, meanwhile, has been trying to find ways to get around the new U.S. sanctions and expand financial ties with other countries, aiming mainly for the European Union, China and India.

One such attempt is a development from Sunday, when Iran began offering 1 million barrels of oil for sale through its stock exchange for a period of one week - in theory, giving oil dealers, including those from foreign countries, a chance to get their hands on Iranian crude. Previously, Iran has exported its crude to refineries only.

Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said 280,000 barrels were sold on the IRENEX exchange so far and 720,000 barrels will be provided later.

It's unclear how the stock market offering will affect Iranian sales as it's far below the 1.85 million barrels a day that Iran has sold in October, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.

Trump pledged last week 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 terror and militant groups that destabilize the Mideast.
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistani police say gunmen riding on a motorcycle have shot and killed five workers at a construction site in the country's southwestern Baluchistan province.

Police officer Abdul Hafeez says Wednesday's attack took place in the coastal town of Gwadar. He says two other workers were critically wounded and that the death toll could rise.

The attackers fled the scene and an investigation is underway. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the drive-by shooting.

Baluch separatist groups have claimed past such attacks on laborers, usually from other parts of the country, working in Baluchistan. Islamic militants also operate in the region.

Baluchistan has been a scene of a low-level insurgency by Baluch separatists who demand a greater share of the province's natural gas and mineral resources.
MADRID (AP) - An artist was arrested briefly in Spain after painting a dove in red on Gen. Francisco Franco's tomb, an attack that comes as debate rages in Spain over the exhumation of the country's 20th-century dictator.

Enrique Tenreiro can be seen in a video shared online as he kneels before Franco's tomb in the Valley of the Fallen. He then proceeds to draw the dove and write "for freedom" on the slab decorated with flowers, before security personnel rush to get hold of him.

"For freedom and the reconciliation of all Spaniards," the artist can be heard shouting as he is held by a guard.

The video was shot on Wednesday by independent Spanish photographer Pedro Armestre, who said the artist's action took place as the daily Mass was about to start in the basilica. Some of the visitors and one of the priests also helped the security guards after the incident, Armestre said.

Civil Guard agents later arrested Tenreiro according to a statement by Spain's National Heritage department, which manages the glorifying mausoleum where Franco was interred in 1975.

The artist was released in the early afternoon, an aide who requested anonymity said.

A drawing of a dove and a sentence reading "for freedom" is seen on Gen. Francisco Franco's tomb in the Valley of the Fallen, near Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. An artist has been arrested Wednesday in Spain after painting a dove in red and writing "for freedom" on Gen. Francisco Franco's tomb, an attack that comes as debate rages in Spain over the exhumation of the country's 20th-century dictator. (AP Photo/Pedro Armestre)

The Spanish government has promised to relocate his remains before the end of the year, but the process has been stalled amid opposition by Franco's heirs.

In a statement signed by the artist and emailed by aides, Tenreiro apologized to those who might find his action offensive and said he didn't want to harm Franco's family or his followers.

The artist said he wanted to create a space for "the robbed freedom" of his parents' and grandparents' generation who lived through the dictatorship.

"It's my little grain of salt that I hope helps alleviate the pain of those who lost a Civil War that shouldn't have taken place," the statement said.

Franco came to power after the nationalist victory in Spain's 1936-39 civil war, and ruled until his death in 1975. His regime is thought to have abducted thousands of children, suppressed political dissent and isolated Spain before slowly opening up its economy in the 1960s.

A National Heritage department spokeswoman said that experts would evaluate the damage to the tomb, which has been the subject of other minor attacks in recent years. The Valley itself, which remains a divisive space, was the target of attacks, including one with explosives by the Basque separatist militant group ETA in 2005.

Franco's nine grandchildren are mounting legal challenges seeking to leave the dictator's remains there or, if the government proceeds with the exhumation, for the embalmed body to be transferred to a family crypt under Madrid's cathedral.

Most of those favoring the exhumation say that Franco can't stay in the Valley, which holds the remains of some 34,000 fighters on both sides of the war, but neither can they be reburied under the cathedral because that would turn Madrid's main church into a place of worship and homage for the dictator.

The government is trying to convince Franco's heirs to have him moved instead to a cemetery on the outskirts of Madrid, where his wife is buried.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - If Tennessee electrocutes Edmund Zagorski on Thursday, it will be in an electric chair built by a self-taught execution expert who is no longer welcome in the prison system and who worries that his device will malfunction.

Fred Leuchter (LOOT'-cher) had a successful career in the execution business before his reputation was tainted by his claim that there were no gas chambers at Auschwitz.

Tennessee's chair, which hasn't been used since 2007, is just one of many execution devices Leuchter worked on between 1979 and 1990, according to an article by Fordham University professor Deborah Denno in the William and Mary Law Review. In addition to electric chairs, Leuchter built, refurbished and consulted on gas chambers, lethal injection machines and a gallows for at least 27 states.

After his comments about the Holocaust, it came to light that he had neither an engineering degree nor a license, even though he promoted himself as an engineer. His rise and fall was portrayed in a 2000 documentary.

Nonetheless, Leuchter stands behind the electric chair he rebuilt in 1988, relying on skills picked up designing navigational and surveillance equipment and a careful study of documents describing early executions. His concern is that Tennessee's chair will fail because of changes others made to it after he was no longer allowed to service it.

"What I'm worried about now is Tennessee's got an electric chair that's going to hurt someone or cause problems. And it's got my name on it," Leuchter said. "I don't think it's going to be humane."

In this undated photo released by Fred Leuchter, center, he stands near the control panel for the electric chair he built. Leuchter says he is afraid the chair will malfunction at an execution scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, because of later modifications. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says he is confident it will work. (Courtesy of Fred Leuchter via AP)

Gov. Bill Haslam said he is confident the execution can be carried out without problems.

"I have a great deal of confidence in our Department of Correction folks. ... We've spoken with them regularly and they've assured us" the chair is ready.

Leuchter said he was familiar with prisons because he accompanied his father to his job as superintendent of transportation in the Massachusetts state prison in the 1940s and '50s, from about age 4 to age 16.

As a teenager, Leuchter helped his father move the state's old electric chair when the prison relocated, and he remembers they had to do it on a Sunday because the warden didn't want the news media to know.

"I helped put the chair in the truck. We covered it up with canvas," he said.

Years later, when it looked as though Massachusetts might restart capital punishment after a long hiatus, a prison steward who knew Leuchter's father asked Leuchter to come in and see whether the old chair was still usable.

From there, "my name was given to other states," Leuchter said.

He said many of their electric chairs were "decrepit, defunct, didn't work properly - if they ever had in the first place."

Denno, a law professor at Fordham who has studied execution methods for more than 25 years, said Leuchter filled a void. Often "the most qualified people don't want to be involved" in executions, she said.

Even after he was no longer welcome as a prison contractor, Denno said prison officials continued to contact Leuchter for help "because they literally had no one else to go to."

Tennessee asked Leuchter to refurbish its chair in 1988, when it was facing the possibility of its first execution in decades.

"It looked like it was made for a midget or something," Leuchter said.

So he built a new chair that incorporated wood from the original, which he was told was from the old gallows, and replaced the chair's electrodes. He also replaced the old leather straps that tether prisoners to the chair with quick-release nylon belts, to aid guards tasked with removing bodies after executions.

He trained prison workers and gave them certificates as "electrocution technicians."

Leuchter said he sold the original chair. A collector of "murderabilia" listed it on eBay in 2000. It now resides in the Alcatraz East Crime Museum in the Smoky Mountains.

Denno said electric chairs have "a history of botches that has only gotten worse."

In two Florida executions in the 1990s, smoke and flames shot from the condemned inmates' heads. In 1999, blood spilled from under an inmate's mask.

Shortly afterward, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to decide whether the electric chair violates the 8th Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. But the case was dropped after Florida switched to lethal injection.

Tennessee has executed only one person in Leuchter's electric chair. Daryl Holton died that way in 2007.

In preparation, an electrical engineer reduced the voltage from 2,640 to 1,750 and raised the amperage from 5 to 7. The timing was also changed, from two, one-minute jolts with a 10-second pause between, to a 20-second and 15-second jolt with a 15-second pause between.

The execution was successful.

The chair was inspected on Oct. 10 of this year and found to meet the criteria for an execution, state documents show.

But Leuchter said he feels the chair now is "defective and shouldn't be used."

"It worked the first time, but I think they were lucky," he said.

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 1999, file photo, Ricky Bell, the warden at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tenn., gives a tour of the prison's execution chamber. If Tennessee electrocutes Zagorski, it will be in an electric chair built by a self-taught execution expert who is no longer welcome in the prison system. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - The wife of Alabama's Republican nominee for lieutenant governor has been hurt in an accident while shooting skeet.

A statement issued Wednesday by state Rep. Will Ainsworth of Guntersville says wife Kendall Ainsworth suffered a cut that doctors closed using staples.

The campaign says Kendall Ainsworth was injured Tuesday afternoon while shooting skeet with her family.

Ainsworth quotes doctors and paramedics as saying the woman may have been struck by a piece of the mechanism used to throw clay pigeons or debris from a shattered clay.

There's no indication she was shot, but she was taken to a hospital in Huntsville for treatment.

Ainsworth is leaving the campaign trail for a few days to care for his wife. Ainsworth is running against Democratic minister Will Boyd in next Tuesday's election.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A biographer has discovered the future chief justice of the United States once proposed marriage to the woman who would become the first woman to serve on the court.

NPR's "Morning Edition" reports author Evan Thomas found William Rehnquist's letter to Sandra Day O'Connor while researching his upcoming book, "First." The two dated while students at Stanford Law School in the early 1950s. They had broken up but remained friends.

Rehnquist graduated and in a March 29 letter, wrote: "To be specific, Sandy, will you marry me this summer?" She said no.

She was dating another student, John O'Connor. They married in 1952.

O'Connor's son Jay says he and his siblings were "surprised," although they knew they had dated. He says they enjoyed a wonderful working relationship and friendship.

FILE - In this May 8, 2001 file photo, Chief Justice of the United States William Rehnquist addresses a meeting of the Federal Justices Association in Arlington, Va. NPR's "Morning Edition" reports author Evan Thomas found Rehnquist's letter to Sandra Day O'Connor while researching his upcoming book, "First." The two dated while students at Stanford Law School in the early 1950s. They had broken up, but remained friends. Rehnquist graduated and in a March 29 letter, wrote: "To be specific, Sandy, will you marry me this summer?" She said no. (AP Photo/Hillery Smith Garrison, File)
LONDON (AP) - London's police force is aiming to earn some cash with a line of toys, clothes and souvenirs bearing the Scotland Yard logo.

The force has granted permission for its logo, images of officers on patrol and the rotating "Scotland Yard" sign outside police headquarters to be used on merchandise.

Police said Wednesday that products will not be allowed to "directly reflect the uniform of the Metropolitan Police Service," the force's official name.

New York's police department has a successful range of NYPD-branded goods, but London's 189-year-old force has previously sold just a few items including cufflinks, mugs and pens .

The force is working with Transport for London, which has its own well-established product range, and branding company The Point.1888.

Police funding has been reduced as part of government spending cuts.
BERLIN (AP) - A onetime rival of Chancellor Angela Merkel who is running for her party's leadership after a decade-long absence from front-line politics downplayed potential tensions with the German leader on Wednesday.

Friedrich Merz, 62, is one of three high-profile candidates vying to become leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union.

Merkel announced on Monday that she will give up the party's leadership after 18 years in December but plans to remain chancellor until the end of this parliamentary term, launching a transition that could last up to three years. The new CDU leader would be the favorite to run for chancellor in the next election.

Merz led the party's parliamentary group when it was in opposition, a job that Merkel pushed him out of in 2002. He left parliament in 2009. Many observers struggle to imagine the pair working well together now.

Merz, the first contender to speak at any length about his leadership bid, dismissed such concerns at a news conference in Berlin.

"I am firmly convinced that Angela Merkel and I, under these changed circumstances, will manage and get along with each other," he said.

Friedrich Merz, member of the German Christian Democratic Party, addresses the media during a press conference in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Friedrich Merz, 62, is one of three high-profile candidates vying to become leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union. Merkel announced on Monday that she will give up the party's leadership after 18 years in December but plans to remain chancellor. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Merkel has pushed the CDU relentlessly to the political center in her time as party leader and 13 years as chancellor. That has squeezed rivals to its left but also seen the party lose some voters to the far-right, anti-migration Alternative for Germany.

Merz stands for a business-friendly and more conservative approach. In the past, he advocated radical tax reform and argued that foreigners should learn German "Leitkultur," which roughly translates as "majority culture."

On Wednesday, Merz presented himself as a figure who could both span his party's political breadth and give it a "clear political profile." He described himself as "an economically liberal person who is conservative in terms of values and socially committed."

"We must not allow voters, out of frustration or disappointment in established parties, to join ... populist movements and allow themselves to be seduced by them," he said.

In recent years, Merz has practiced as a lawyer and served on the supervisory board of the German branch of investment manager BlackRock. He presented his time away from politics as a virtue, saying that he has "had the opportunity ... to look from outside at politics and its decisions."

Merz stressed the need to bring more young people into the party. He is, however, barely younger than the 64-year-old chancellor.

Merz is competing for the party leadership against Merkel ally Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, 56, who is currently the CDU's general secretary and in charge of day-to-day political strategy; and Health Minister Jens Spahn, 38, a sometime Merkel critic who has talked tough on migration and also stands for a more right-wing approach.

Another potential heavyweight contender ruled himself out Wednesday. Armin Laschet, the governor of North-Rhine Westphalia state, said he didn't want to endanger the work of his state government for the sake of a job in the party.

Asked if he would be prepared to run for chancellor, Laschet replied that "the question doesn't arise today."

Friedrich Merz, right, member of the German Christian Democratic Party, arrives for a press conference in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Friedrich Merz, 62, is one of three high-profile candidates vying to become leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union. Merkel announced on Monday that she will give up the party's leadership after 18 years in December but plans to remain chancellor. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

German Health Minister Jens Spahn arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

FILE --- In this Monday, June 11, 2018 photo German Chancellor and chairwoman of the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Angela Merkel, right, and the party's secretary general, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, left, attend a party's board meeting in Berlin, Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
"River Bodies" (Thomas & Mercer), by Karen Katchur

Karen Katchur launches the first in her new Northampton County series with a darkly rich family drama about a young woman reconciling her childhood with the adult she has become. "River Bodies" centers on veterinarian Becca Kingsley, who is forced to return to her hometown because her estranged father is dying.

Becca has built a life in Columbia, New Jersey, where she loves her career as a surgeon in a successful veterinary clinic. She lives with Matt Goode, a litigator, who, like her father is charming and handsome. He also cheats on her and sometimes doesn't come home, just like her father, who flaunted his infidelities in front of her and her mother. Becca and Matt live in a gated condo community where she often feels trapped.

Her hometown of Portland, Pennsylvania, is about 15 minutes away, but light years away emotionally for Becca. Her childhood was complicated because her father, Clint, was the police chief. The town was divided between the regular residents and the members of the Scions motorcycle gang that ruled one side of Portland.

At the urging of her mother and Clint's latest live-in girlfriend, Becca returns to see her father, who is near death. But Becca cannot forget past grievances and betrayals and their reunion is tenuous. While on a run along the Delaware River that separates the two towns, Becca may have come across a murder that just occurred and that echoes back to a similar killing that Clint investigated more than 20 years earlier. The new murder puts Becca back in touch with Parker Reed, her teenage crush and best friend, who is now a detective with the state police.

"River Bodies" expertly shows a town divided. Portland residents like to think that if the Scions stay on their side of town, their crimes and violence don't affect the general population. But the Scions have infected the entire town and just about every person has had some dealing with the members.

This cover image released by Thomas & Mercer shows "River Bodies," by Karen Katchur. (Thomas & Mercer via AP)

Katchur delves deep to explore Becca's psyche and how she became the woman she is. As a child, she adored her father, but grew to despise his controlling, rigid personality and the way he treated her mother. She never knew that some of his demands were his way of protecting her - and distancing her from the Scions. No wonder she prefers the company of animals, especially her German shepherd, Romy. Katchur skillfully uses the Delaware River as a metaphor to show the division in Becca's life but doesn't allow this allusion to overwhelm "River Bodies."

A return visit with Becca is a must.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Reserve is proposing to ease requirements for holding capital and cash for U.S. banks that are big, but not as big as the Wall Street mega-banks.

The Fed's proposal issued Wednesday is the latest move by federal regulators to relax government oversight of financial firms in line with President Donald Trump's objectives.

The Fed governors, by a 3-1 vote, put out the proposals for public comment. They also are looking to ease the schedule for the agency's "stress tests" for banks, based on their size and risk.

Fed officials are aiming to relax rules implemented under the 2010 law enacted in response to the financial crisis that pushed the economy into the Great Recession.

Gov. Lael Brainard, the only Fed board member not appointed by Trump, was the dissenting vote. She warned that the moves would raise the risk of another taxpayer bailout of big banks.

A new law enacted in May dismantled a chunk of the Dodd-Frank rules framework for banks installed to prevent a recurrence of the 2008 crisis. The Republican-led legislation was aimed at helping small and medium-sized banks, including community banks and credit unions. It multiplied by five - to $250 billion - the level of assets at which banks are deemed so big that if one were to fail it would create major havoc. Those banks are subject to stricter capital and planning requirements.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks as the Federal Reserve Board holds a meeting to discuss proposed rules to modify the enhanced prudential standard framework for large banking organizations, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The new law meant that regulations and oversight were eased on more than two dozen financial institutions with assets between $100 billion and $250 billion, including BB&T Corp., SunTrust Banks, Fifth Third Bancorp and American Express.

Brainard said the new Fed proposals reach beyond that law by easing requirements for banks with assets from $250 billion to $700 billion. The proposals "weaken the (capital) buffers that are core to the resilience of our system," she said before the vote. "This raises the risk that taxpayers again will be on the hook."

But Randal Quarles, the Fed's vice chairman for supervision and the chief architect of the proposals, said they follow an important principle: that the level of regulation of a bank should match its characteristics.

Generally, he said, U.S. banks with assets between $100 billion to $250 billion don't show "meaningful levels" of complexity and tight connection with the financial system.

A capital buffer is designed to cushion the shock to a bank of unexpected losses. Capital is long-term money that a bank can draw on to make loans; it comes mostly from the bank's shareholders and profits it keeps.

The stress tests assess whether a bank has a big enough capital buffer to survive an economic shock and keep on lending.

The 2010 Dodd-Frank law was enacted by President Barack Obama and the Democrats who then controlled Congress. It aimed to restrain banks, which received hundreds of millions in taxpayer bailouts, from the kind of reckless practices that many blamed for the crisis.

Trump and Republican lawmakers have argued that the stricter regulations have constrained lending and economic growth.

The new Fed proposals also would modify the so-called "liquidity" requirements for big banks to hold enough cash, government bonds and other high-quality assets to fund operations for three to four weeks during a time of financial distress. The idea is to help ensure that a bank's cash resources - not taxpayers' money - would provide the needed support for it to withstand stress.

The proposed change would eliminate liquidity requirements for most banks with $100 billion to $250 billion in assets.

At the other end of the scale, the proposals would keep the current requirements for capital, liquidity and stress testing for mega-banks with $700 billion or more in assets, the Wall Street powerhouses deemed so big and interwoven with the financial system that each could threaten its stability if it failed. They include JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and Citigroup.

The Federal Reserve Board, including chair Jerome Powell, fourth from left, holds a meeting to discuss proposed rules to modify the enhanced prudential standard framework for large banking organizations, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, left, and Randal Quarles, vice chair for supervision, gather their things at the end of a Federal Reserve Board meeting to discuss proposed rules to modify the enhanced prudential standard framework for large banking organizations, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard, speaks as the Federal Reserve Board holds a meeting to discuss proposed rules to modify the enhanced prudential standard framework for large banking organizations, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
WASHINGTON (AP) - A group of Republican senators urged President Donald Trump on Wednesday to suspend negotiations with Saudi Arabia on a potentially lucrative atomic energy agreement following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Lawmakers led by Marco Rubio of Florida said in a letter to the president that they had reservations about the transfer of nuclear power technology even before the Oct. 2 slaying of Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. They warned they would work to block an agreement from securing congressional approval if the administration pushes ahead.

They noted their concern over Saudi Arabia's refusal to consider a nuclear energy agreement that would prohibit the kingdom from pursuing uranium enrichment and plutonium processing "that can bring a nation within weeks of producing a nuclear weapon." The United Arab Emirates accepted the standard in a 2009 civil nuclear pact with the U.S.

The letter also was critical of the leadership of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, although the senators don't mention him by name. Saudi Arabia has changed its narrative about Khashoggi's killing several times, eventually admitting after repeated denials that Khashoggi died inside the consulate and only recently acknowledging that Turkish evidence shows his killing was premeditated.

"The ongoing revelations about the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as well as certain Saudi actions related to Yemen and Lebanon, have raised further serious concerns about the transparency, accountability, and judgment of current decisionmakers in Saudi Arabia," according to the letter.

In addition to Rubio, the letter was signed by Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Todd Young of Indiana and Dean Heller of Nevada.

Saudi Arabia's top prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb walks to board a plane to leave Turkey, in Istanbul, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A top Turkish prosecutor said Wednesday that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul as part of a premeditated killing, and that his body was dismembered before being disposed of. A statement from chief Istanbul prosecutor Irfan Fidan's office also said that discussions with Saudi chief prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb have yielded no "concrete results" despite "good-willed efforts" by Turkey to uncover the truth. (DHA via AP)

A National Security Council spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sharon Squassoni, a research professor at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, called the letter a "pretty minor request" given the seriousness of the allegations surrounding the death of the Khashoggi, a 59-year-old columnist for The Washington Post.

"Everything around Khashoggi's murder calls into question how closely we should be aligning ourselves with Saudi Arabia," she said.

He vanished after entering the consulate to pick up paperwork for his upcoming marriage. He had been living in self-imposed exiled in the U.S. and published columns that criticized the government of Prince Mohammed.

A top Turkish prosecutor said Wednesday that Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the building as part of a premeditated killing, and his body was dismembered.

The Trump administration has opened talks with Saudi Arabia on what's known as a "123 agreement." The name comes from the section of the Atomic Energy Act that establishes the parameters for major nuclear cooperation between the United States and other countries. Without one, U.S. nuclear energy companies such as Westinghouse would lose out on business opportunities with the Saudis.

With little new reactor construction in the U.S., American companies are looking overseas for business. But there's competition from France, South Korea and, to a lesser extent, China and Russia. The Saudis have begun selecting the contractors to build the first of as many as 16 nuclear power plants at a cost of more than $80 billion.

Westinghouse Electric Co., which filed for bankruptcy last year, declined to comment on the financial impact to the company if it were to be shut out of a Saudi nuclear power project or relegated to a minor role.

The nuclear power industry has struggled both because of the tremendous cost of building massive reactors and the accelerating shift to other forms of energy such as natural gas and alternative energy, including solar.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee in July approved a nonbinding resolution saying that any U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement must make clear that it would prevent a civilian nuclear energy program from becoming a gateway to nuclear weapons development.

Robert Powers, senior director for legislative affairs at the Nuclear Energy Institute, a trade group that lobbies for the nuclear power industry, warned in an email before the vote that the resolution would undercut U.S. foreign policy, national security and economic interests.

"China, France, the Republic of Korea, and Russia are competing with the United States to perform engineering, procurement, and construction work on an initial purchase of two nuclear reactors," Powers wrote. "The winner of this competition will have an advantage with regard to the further construction."

He said there are other ways to prevent the spread of sensitive technologies.

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Contact Richard Lardner on Twitter at http://twitter.com/rplardner
ISLAMABAD (AP) - The Latest on the acquittal in Pakistan of a Christian woman jailed since 2010 for insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad (all times local):

8: 10 p.m.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan says he will take stern action against any radical Islamists who incite people to kill three judges who acquitted a Christian woman who faced the death penalty under the country's blasphemy laws.

In a televised speech Wednesday, Khan said he was angry about a speech given hours earlier by cleric Afzal Qadri who told a rally in Lahore that the judges who acquitted Asia Bibi deserved to be killed under Islamic law. Qadri made his speech hours after Asia Bibi was acquitted.

Khan said the cleric also incited people to oust his government and troops to revolt against the country's army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa.

He said "the state will fulfill its responsibility" and asked the Islamists not to compel the state to take action against them.

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9:20 a.m.

Pakistan's top court has acquitted a Christian woman who has been on death row since 2010 for insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

In Wednesday's verdict, the court ordered authorities to free Asia Bibi.

Bibi was being held at an undisclosed jail for security reasons.

The landmark ruling is expected to anger Islamists who had threatened to launch nationwide protests if the court freed her.

Bibi was arrested in 2009 after a quarrel with Muslim women.

Islamists have demanded her execution. A governor and a minister of minorities were assassinated in 2011 for supporting her.

Insulting Islam is punishable by death in Pakistan, and the mere rumor of blasphemy can ignite lynchings.
LONDON (AP) - Britain's Brexit secretary has told lawmakers that he expects a long-elusive divorce deal with the European Union to be finalized before Nov. 21, though there is still little sign of a breakthrough on the vexed issue of the Irish border.

Dominic Raab told Parliament's Exiting the EU Committee in a letter that he would give evidence to the panel "when a deal is finalized, and currently expect 21 November to be suitable."

The committee released the Oct. 24 letter Wednesday. Raab's Department for Exiting the European Union said later "there is no set date for the negotiations to conclude" and that the secretary mentioned Nov. 21 in response to a suggestion that he appear before the committee on that date.

Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, but London and Brussels have not reached an agreement on their divorce terms and a smooth transition to a new relationship. The stalemate has heightened fears that the U.K. might leave without a deal in place, leading to chaos at ports and economic turmoil.

Prime Minister Theresa May has said a Brexit deal is 95 percent done, but the two sides remain at odds over the issue of the border between the U.K.'s Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

Britain and the EU agree there must be no customs posts or other barriers that could disrupt businesses and residents on either side of the border and undermine Northern Ireland's hard-won peace process. But the two parties have rejected each other's proposed solution.

Dominic Raab, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, arrives at 10 Downing Street before a cabinet meeting in London, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Raab said in his letter that "despite our differences, we are not far from an agreement on this issue."

He said the U.K. and the EU agree "on the principle of a U.K.-wide customs backstop" - a plan to keep the U.K. in a customs union with the bloc, rendering border checks on goods unnecessary.

Britain has said such a solution must be temporary, while the EU wants a permanent fix. But Raab said agreement should be possible, and "the end is now firmly in sight."

An Oct 17-18 EU summit that had been billed as the deadline for a breakthrough ended with the talks still deadlocked. But behind-the-scenes talks have continued.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said Wednesday in Paris that a deal in the next month was feasible, but "if they want to conclude the text of a withdrawal treaty in November, then the negotiations need to intensify."

Any agreement reached by the two sides must be approved by the British and European parliaments.

May's proposed deal faces strong domestic opposition both from pro-Brexit lawmakers, who say it keeps Britain bound too closely to the bloc, and from pro-EU legislators, who argue it will create barriers between the U.K. and its biggest trading partner.

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Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this story.
DALLAS (AP) - An FBI agent's explanation for why he fatally shot a hostage during a rescue attempt in Houston "is not supported" by evidence reviewed by police investigators, the Houston police chief said Wednesday.

Chief Art Acevedo said "the totality of the evidence and statements in this investigation" were not consistent with the agent's claims in the January shooting of 47-year-old Ulises Valladares. The agent reported he was using his rifle to clear broken glass from a window at the house where Valladares was being held when Valladares grabbed the weapon, and the agent fired.

Acevedo declined to say how the agent's claims were inconsistent with what police found. He said he didn't want to jeopardize an ongoing investigation by the U.S. attorney's office in San Antonio, which is leading the federal investigation into the shooting.

"I will not be putting into the public record precisely what happened or how the sequence of events differed," Acevedo said during a news conference.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office declined to comment Wednesday.

An attorney representing Valladares' family, Randall Kallinen, said it's implausible to believe that Valladares would grab the rifle of a would-be rescuer.

CHANGES NAME TO VALLADARES - Ernesto Valladares, brother of Ulises Valladares, speaks to the media Friday, Oct. 26, 2018 across from his brother's home where Ulises and his son were bound by a pair of men on Wednesday. The father was taken away by the kidnappers and later killed during an FBI raid Thursday morning. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via AP, File)

"All along the reports of the FBI did not seem credible," Kallinen said Wednesday.

Acevedo said his investigators' findings were forwarded in April to federal authorities and to the Harris County district attorney's office. Acevedo didn't initially say why it took six months to announce the findings, but he later said through a spokesman that he didn't want to jeopardize the federal investigation, which was taking longer than he expected.

Authorities have said Valladares was kidnapped on Jan. 24 from his home in Conroe, north of Houston, as part of an attempt to extort money from his brother. The FBI tracked two male suspects to a motel, and those men led agents to a house in Houston where another suspect, a woman, was located with Valladares.

An FBI SWAT team began entering the house early on Jan. 25, with some agents entering through the front of the home and two agents breaking through a back window. The tool one agent used to break the window fell into the unlit home, while the second agent - who shot Valladares - used his assault rifle to continue breaking the glass, Acevedo said shortly after the shooting.

Valladares' wrists were bound as he sat on a couch just below the window. He grabbed the barrel of the agent's rifle. The agent, fearing the weapon could be used against other agents entering the home, fired twice, according to the agent's statement to investigators. Valladares was shot and died at a hospital.

Three suspects were arrested in the kidnapping and are facing felony charges.

The FBI has declined to release the agent's name or say whether he remains with the agency. Valladares' family is suing him for wrongful death.

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Follow David Warren on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WarrenJourno

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FREEPORT, Maine (AP) - U.S. retailer L.L. Bean is looking to sell more parkas, sweaters, flannel and mittens in Canada as part of its strategy for a return to sales growth.

The 106-year-old retailer's iconic boot and other products will be sold in 30 stores in Canada this holiday season, and in L.L. Bean-branded stores opening over the next decade. The company also has launched a dedicated website for Canadian customers that incorporates duties and smooths out currency fluctuations.

The deal, inked last week, makes sense because L.L. Bean has a strong customer base in Canada and its cold-weather gear and outdoor focus are a good fit, CEO Steve Smith said.

"There are huge growth opportunities over time," Smith told The Associated Press in an interview. "Let's go after that market, and see what we can do," he said.

Maine-based L.L. Bean is coming off several years of flat sales and a difficult era of belt-tightening that included a reduction in workforce, a tightening of its generous return policy, and a paring of product lines to refocus on the company's outdoors roots.

The company sees international sales as a small but important part of its growth.

FILE- In this Aug. 17, 2017 file photo, a Bean Boot displayed at the L.L. Bean manufacturing center in Lewiston, Maine. The outdoors gear retailer has signed an agreement in which its products will be sold in 24 stores in Canada for the holiday season, and in L.L. Bean-branded stores opening over the next decade. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

L.L. Bean already owns 28 stores, a call center and a distribution center in Japan, where it has operated since 1992.

But it'll be doing things differently in Canada, where the company has an agreement with Toronto-based Jaytex Group to distribute L.L. Bean products to Canadian retailers like Sporting Life, Hudson's Bay and Mountain Equipment Co-Op.

Under the agreement, Jaytex also will open L.L. Bean-branded stores in Canada, starting with the first store in the Toronto area in 2019. The goal is to open 20 stores across Canada within 10 years, said Howie Kastner, president of Jaytex Group.

Bean will benefit from strong brand awareness, Kastner said, partly because many Canadians have shopped in the company's flagship store in Maine.

"Everybody that I mention L.L. Bean to has a story or a fond memory. There's an emotional attachment to the brand, much like there is in the U.S.," he said.

Becoming a wholesaler and letting a partner operate L.L. Bean-branded stores in Canada represents a new way of doing things for L.L. Bean.

But partnering with an established company makes sense because some U.S. retailers, most notably Target, have stumbled in Canada, said Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, a retail consulting and research firm in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Canada is a tenth the size of U.S. market, but the partnership carries the potential for L.L. Bean "to jump-start sales in a very compatible market," he said.

All told, Canada currently accounts for about 2 percent of Bean's annual sales; the company hopes to double that in three to four years, Smith said. L.L. Bean's sales last year from all channels, domestic and international, were $1.6 billion.

"The upside potential is fantastic. It's still a few percentage points, but a few percentage points in the retail industry is good," Smith said.

FILE- In this Nov. 28, 2008, file photo, a shopper passes a canoe displayed with fleece sleeping bags at the L.L. Bean flagship retail store in Freeport, Maine. L.L. Bean has launched a dedicated Canadian website that smooths out duties and currency fluctuations. (AP Photo/Joel Page)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Perhaps nowhere is the choice facing voters next Tuesday more vividly on display than in the battle for control of the U.S. House. Democrats are fielding more women and minority candidates than ever, while Republicans are trying to hold their majority with mostly white men.

The disparity highlights a trend that has been amplified under President Donald Trump, with the two parties increasingly polarized along gender and racial lines as much as by issues. The result is that, in an election season playing out against the backdrop of bomb threats, violence and a charged immigration debate, the parties are presenting voters starkly different pictures of American leadership.

Democrats have nominated more than 180 female candidates for the House, a new record. But while voters could send more than 100 of them to victory, Republicans could have fewer women than now in their ranks next year due to retirements and tough races, according to election analysts. Overall, nearly 9 in 10 House Republicans will be white men when the new Congress convenes in January.

The racial divide is even starker. House Republicans now count just over a dozen minority members, a number that's not expected to change much after the election. The lack of minorities in the conference comes into sharp visual focus when House Republicans gather in a large group, as they did last December when they celebrated the passage of tax cuts with Trump at the White House.

Meanwhile, African-American, Latino and Asian-American lawmakers make up almost half the House Democratic caucus. And for the first time, less than half the Democratic candidates for the House are white men, and the Democrats are poised to send the first Native American and Muslim-American women to the House. It's what the Reflective Democracy Campaign calls a "historic shift."

After Tuesday's election, it's likely that 87 percent of Republicans in the House will be white men, compared to just 37 percent for Democrats, said David Wasserman, who analyzes races for the Cook Political Report.

FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump speaks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, to acknowledge the final passage of tax overhaul legislation by Congress. Perhaps nowhere is the choice facing voters more vivid than in the battle for control of the House, where Democrats are fielding more women and female minority candidates than ever while Republicans are trying to hold the majority with mostly white men. The disparity highlights a trend that has been amplified under President Donald Trump, with the two parties increasingly polarized along racial and gender lines as much as by the issues. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Marc Hetherington, a professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said the trend began long before this year's election. "There's a relatively easy explanation - the Republican Party over the past 20 years has become the party of white men," he said. At the same time, "Democrats have come to be seen as the party of minorities."

Political scientists have been debating whether Congress' low approval rating - now 21 percent - has something to do with lawmakers not seeming to reflect the country they represent, said Matt Barreto, a professor at UCLA who is also a pollster working to mobilize Latino voters this cycle. Overall, while the House is closer to reflecting the makeup of the country, which is still majority white, the representation is lopsided between the parties.

"Everyone wants a representative from their community to stand up for their issues," Barreto said. For the House, he said, "It's the entire point: They're representatives."

Democrats need a net gain of 23 seats to win back the House in the election on Tuesday. Enthusiasm has seemed to be on their side, especially in fundraising, but it's unclear if that energy will be enough to win districts that swung to Trump in 2016 or have traditionally favored Republicans.

The outcome could hinge on the suburbs, where Democrats are hoping that a voter backlash against Trump and GOP policies will help carry their candidates to victory.

One closely watched race is outside of Richmond, Virginia, where Republican Rep. Dave Brat, a one-time tea party favorite, is facing a stiff challenge from political newcomer Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA operative.

Brat was campaigning over the weekend at the Innsbrook Pumpkin Palooza, pausing to watch a pumpkin catapult as he mingled with voters. Trump supporter Jen Dodge from nearby Glen Ellen said she's all for bringing more diversity to Congress. But as an employment recruiter, she said she also wants the best candidate for the job. And she said she appreciates what the president and the Republican Congress have done for the economy, especially by passing tax cuts.

"We really need people in the Congress who are going to speak the best for the people," she said. Brat, she said, "does what he says he's going to do."

Down the road at a community forum with Spanberger, optometrist Lisa Bennett said she wants lawmakers who listen to voters.

"American people are frustrated," she said, recalling the protesters who confronted senators on Capitol Hill over Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court. "You shouldn't have to stand in an elevator and yell at your representative."

The diversity gap between the parties has been growing since the civil rights battles of the 1960s, when white voters shifted toward Republicans and the party's support from African-Americans plummeted.

Republicans set out to attract more votes from minorities and particularly Latinos after their election losses in 2012, but Trump turned that political strategy on its head in 2016, showing they could win by pulling white voters away from Democrats. Now the president's coalition is being put to the test.

After conducting a poll of 72 competitive House districts, the Cook Political Report and LSU Manship School said this year's election "feels like 2010, in reverse." Almost half of Americans, 49 percent "feel frustrated" about Trump's presidency. That's the same share who said they felt frustrated about President Barack Obama during that year's midterm elections, when Democrats lost the majority in a wave election fueled by conservative newcomers eager to confront the White House.

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For AP's complete coverage of the U.S. midterm elections: http://apne.ws/APPolitics .

Follow Mascaro on Twitter at https://twitter.com/lisamascaro and listen to AP's political podcast Ground Game at https://apnews.com/GroundGamePodcast/

FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump speaks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, to acknowledge the final passage of tax overhaul legislation by Congress. Perhaps nowhere is the choice facing voters more vivid than in the battle for control of the House, where Democrats are fielding more women and female minority candidates than ever while Republicans are trying to hold the majority with mostly white men. The disparity highlights a trend that has been amplified under President Donald Trump, with the two parties increasingly polarized along racial and gender lines as much as by the issues. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
LONDON (AP) - The Duchess of Cambridge has been shown original documents detailing the lives and deaths of three ancestors who were killed in France during World War I.

Kate, the wife of Britain's Prince William, viewed documents about the three Lupton brothers - her great great-uncles - on Wednesday. They were brothers of Olive Middleton, Kate's great-grandmother.

Kate was shown an official letter from Buckingham Palace expressing King George V's sympathy after the third brother died.

She said: "I'm sure so many families had this type of letter and sad stories."

Kate also was shown a letter her great-grandfather sent about the death of one brother.

Kate viewed the family documents during a tour in London of the document archive of the Imperial War Museums.

Britain's Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, visits IWM, the Imperial War Museum, to view letters relating to the three brothers of her great-grandmother, all of whom fought and died in the First World War, in London, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, pool)

Britain's Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, visits IWM, the Imperial War Museum, to view letters relating to the three brothers of her great-grandmother, all of whom fought and died in the First World War, in London, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, pool)

Britain's Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, visits IWM, the Imperial War Museum, to view letters relating to the three brothers of her great-grandmother, all of whom fought and died in the First World War, in London, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, pool)

Britain's Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, looks at a huge poppy installation as she arrives to visit IWM, the Imperial War Museum, to view letters relating to the three brothers of her great-grandmother, all of whom fought and died in the First World War, in London, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, pool)

Britain's Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, meets with staff as she visits IWM, the Imperial War Museum, to view letters relating to the three brothers of her great-grandmother, all of whom fought and died in the First World War, in London, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, pool)

A letter, shown to Britain's Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, as she visits IWM, the Imperial War Museum, to view letters relating to the three brothers of her great-grandmother, all of whom fought and died in the First World War, in London, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, pool)

A telegram, shown to Britain's Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, as she visits IWM, the Imperial War Museum, to view letters relating to the three brothers of her great-grandmother, all of whom fought and died in the First World War, in London, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, pool)

A letter, shown to Britain's Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, as she visits IWM, the Imperial War Museum, to view letters relating to the three brothers of her great-grandmother, all of whom fought and died in the First World War, in London, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, pool)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Independent Alyse Galvin says her 85-year-old, Republican opponent is no longer an effective advocate for the sole U.S. House district in Alaska.

Incumbent Don Young counters by touting his 45 years in the House - the longest current tenure among members - as a boon for Alaska. He calls Galvin inexperienced and claims she would side with the most liberal part of the Democratic party.

Those are some of the nicest things they have said about each other ahead of the election Tuesday that could impact whether the GOP keeps control of the House.

A win by Galvin, who has never held public office, would make her the first woman to be elected to the Alaska seat that Young has held for about three-fourths of the time Alaska has been a state.

Polling is traditionally unreliable in Alaska because of the large pockets of rural voters. But some surveys show Galvin closing the gap on Young in the spirited race in which Galvin has complained that Young shook her hand so hard, she screamed "that hurts!' and called it a "cheap bullying tactic."

Young said Galvin faked it.

This Oct. 23, 2018 photos shows Alyse Galvin, an independent running for the U.S. House in Alaska, greeting Dwayne McKnight at a town hall meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Galvin is challenging U.S. Rep. Don Young, who is the longest serving current member of the House, was first elected in 1973. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

"Well, of course it was staged," Young told The Associated Press. "She just made that up."

Last week, they didn't speak to each other at all before or after their fourth debate.

"I don't acknowledge her because very frankly, I don't believe she can do the job, and why should I acknowledge somebody who tried to stage something for publicity?" Young said.

Over the decades, Young has found himself in hot water for comments he's made, but none have sunk his political career. Earlier this year, he suggested in a speech in Juneau that European Jews wouldn't have been nearly exterminated by the Nazis in World War II if they had been armed.

Young once used a derogatory term for migrant workers on his father's farm in California then during the current campaign, he said it would be the "big, big enchilada" when a migrant caravan making its way through Mexico reaches the U.S.

Galvin said people are tired of such insensitive comments.

"Alaskans really want to get out of that business of name-calling," she said, asserting they want to focus living wages, affordable health care, growing small businesses, combatting rising crime and other issues

Galvin has spent years lobbying the Legislature for better funding for education. As a leader of a group that wants to identify women to run for office, she found that she might be one of the better candidates.

She has raised more money than Young - all from small donors. She has also taken money from unions but refused to accept contributions from corporate political action groups.

She seems to connect with audiences in small, town hall-style settings.

Vanessa Salinas is an independent who supports Galvin, even more so after hearing her speak at a town hall in Anchorage.

"I hope that we'll have more independents in Washington and in Juneau," Salinas said. "I think they bring a whole new spectrum to the political scene because they're not beholden to corporate money."

Tom Boutin, a retired certified forester in Juneau, supports Young and hopes he can remain in office for at least another 10 years.

"He's certainly at the top of his game, very lively and very thoughtful, very much engaged in Alaska and Alaska issues," said Boutin, who chalks up Young's questionable comments to generational differences and says he means no offense.

In the past, Young, a former school teacher from Fort Yukon, above the Arctic Circle, has had to do little campaigning and has rarely been in danger of being defeated.

He was elected in 1973 in a special election after his predecessor, U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, an Alaska Democrat, and then-House Speaker Hale Boggs, a Louisiana Democrat, were presumed killed in a plane crash.

"I love this state," Young said Monday before flying to the western Alaska hub community of Kotzebue, where he planned a community meeting and a radio interview.

"I'm going to do what I do," he said, reiterating that he'll work as long as he's physically able and people support him.

"I pride myself on my capabilities to do things and when someone's qualified who finally runs against me, I may reconsider it," he said. "But right now, though, I can do the job for the state of Alaska."

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For AP's complete coverage of the U.S. midterm elections: https://apnews.com/apf-politics

FILE - This Jan. 3, 2017, file photo shows House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, right, administering the House oath of office to Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, during a mock swearing in ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 115th Congress began. Young, the longest serving current member of the House, is being challenged in this year's election by Alyse Galvin, an independent. (AP Photo/Zach Gibson, File)

This Oct. 23, 2018, photo shows Dwayne McKnight leaving a town hall meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, hosted by Alyse Galvin, an independent running for the U.S. House from Alaska. Galvin is challenging U.S. Rep. Don Young, who is the longest serving current member of the House, was first elected in 1973. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

This Oct. 26, 2018, photo shows Rep. Don Young, a Republican who is the longest serving member of the U.S. House, before a debate in Anchorage, Alaska. Young is being challenged by Alyse Galvin, an independent. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

This Oct. 26, 2018 photo shows Alyse Galvin, an independent running for the U.S. House in Alaska, before a debate in Anchorage, Alaska. Galvin is challenging U.S. Rep. Don Young, who is the longest serving current member of the House, was first elected in 1973. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

This Oct. 23, 2018, file photo shows Alyse Galvin, an independent running for the U.S. House in Alaska, speaking at a town hall meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Galvin is challenging U.S. Rep. Don Young, who is the longest serving current member of the House, was first elected in 1973. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
BRUSSELS (AP) - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is urging Russia to provide details about a new missile system the United States and other allies claim violates an important nuclear weapons treaty.

At talks between Russian and NATO ambassadors on Wednesday, Stoltenberg said, "We regret that Russia has not heeded our calls" for transparency about the missile system.

NATO says Russia's 9M729 cruise missile contravenes the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The pact between the U.S. and the Soviet Union banned land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers (310-3,410 miles.)

Stoltenberg says Russia's reluctance to discuss it reinforces NATO's belief that the system "poses a serious risk to the strategic stability of the Euro-Atlantic area."

Russia says the missiles respect the treaty. President Donald Trump has threatened to abandon the pact.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, left, and leader of the exercise James G. Foggo, pose together to take a selfie during a visit to the NATO-led military exercise in Trondheim, Norway, Tuesday Oct. 30, 2018. (Gorm Kallestad / NTB scanpix via AP)
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan college student charged with fatally shooting his parents in his dorm room has been found competent for trial.

WNEM-TV and MLive.com report Wednesday that James Davis Jr.'s trial date has not yet been set.

Davis Jr. was 19 when James Davis Sr. and Diva Davis, of Plainfield, Illinois, were slain March 2 on the Central Michigan University campus in Mount Pleasant.

Davis Jr. was captured after a 16-hour manhunt. He's charged with two counts of open murder.

The night before the shootings, he told police someone was out to kill him and exhibited erratic behavior.

His court-appointed attorney said in April that Davis Jr. would receive treatment in an attempt to have him become competent for trial.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - A 10th person died amid a viral outbreak at a pediatric care center while a different strain of the virus was found at another facility in the state, New Jersey health officials said Thursday.

The state Health Department confirmed in a statement the "medically fragile child" at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation had the adenovirus infection.

There have been 28 cases associated with the respiratory virus at the center, where the affected children had severely compromised immune systems. One death was a young adult.

"The loss of these young lives is heartbreaking, and our thoughts are with the families who are affected," Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal said in a statement.

The state also said there are four confirmed adenovirus cases among pediatric patients at Voorhees Pediatric Facility, near Philadelphia, but preliminary tests have ruled out it's the same strain affecting Wanaque.

The department said it's working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor the illness and announced earlier this week that infection control teams were being sent to New Jersey's four long-term pediatric centers to help with training.

New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal, left, speaks about the adenovirus outbreak as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy looks on during a press conference at the The Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018 in Wanaque, N.J. There have been 18 cases overall at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of New York, officials said. The 227-bed, for-profit facility has a pediatric unit but also cares for elderly residents. (Michael Karas/The Record via AP)

Officials have said there is not a wider public health concern stemming from the outbreak.

New patients are not being admitted at Wanaque.

The department also said Thursday the illness was last detected on Tuesday, Oct. 30. The previous date had been Monday. But, the department says, that's not a surprise since the disease has a long incubation period of up to two weeks.

The outbreak won't be considered over until four weeks without a new illness go by.

Adenovirus usually poses little risk for healthy people . It can cause mild cold or flu symptoms, and some strains also cause diarrhea and pinkeye.

The strain found in the Wanaque rehab center outbreak is called type 7 and is among the more potent types. It sometimes causes more serious respiratory illness, especially among those with weak immune systems.

Elnahal had earlier said all the cases of the outbreak occurred in a respiratory, or ventilator, unit. The department has since said one staff member became ill but has recovered.

The identities of those who died and the affected patients have not been disclosed.

Over the past decade, severe illness and death from type 7 adenovirus have been reported in the United States, according to the CDC, but it's unclear how many have died from it.

The CDC cited a 2001 scientific paper that reported a 1998 outbreak of type 7 at a facility in Chicago that left eight patients dead. The paper said civilian outbreaks were not frequently reported because of a lack of lab resources.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - New Zealand has a message for the visitors drawn by its deep mossy forests, bubbling mud pools and magnificent peaks: clean up after yourselves.

A new campaign called the "Tiaki Promise" is telling everybody traveling to the country to take responsibility for looking after it. The country wants visitors to pick up litter and otherwise take care of their surroundings so that unsightly garbage won't ruin the experience for others.

Tourists flying on national carrier Air New Zealand will see a 2-minute video showcasing some of the country's stunning scenery and telling them that everybody traveling to the country should look after it.

"Tiaki" is an indigenous Maori word meaning to protect or care for. Tourism industry and government groups are also promoting the campaign.

"New Zealand is our home. It is precious. Everyone who lives and travels here has a responsibility to look after it," a voiceover says on the video, adding that "While traveling in New Zealand, follow the Tiaki Promise."

Tourism has boomed in recent years. In 2016, it overtook the dairy industry as New Zealand's largest source of foreign income.

In this Oct. 6, 2018 photo a tourist stands on a rock as he looks over Lake Tekapo and the Southern Alps in New Zealand. With concern rising about the impact of tourism on the environment, New Zealand on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, launched a new campaign to try to get visitors to dispose of their litter in bins and otherwise take care of the country. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Over the past year, about 3.8 million tourists visited the nation, which has a resident population of just under 5 million. The largest numbers of tourists came from Australia, China and the United States.

Stephen England-Hall, the chief executive of Tourism New Zealand, said that without specific guidance, tourists often default to doing what they do back home.

"In some parts of world it's common to litter, and people are paid to pick up the litter," he said. "If we don't say 'don't litter,' people will. And in the peak season, it can be a problem."

Some New Zealanders are becoming resentful at the increasing popularity of so-called "freedom camping." That's when tourists pitch a tent or stay in a motorhome outside of a designated camping area in order to save money. A lack of toilets and trash bins mean they often leave a mess behind.

England-Hall said the new campaign is not specifically directed at freedom campers but is sending a broader message. He said he hopes tourists will search information about the Tiaki Promise online or be informed at places like rental car agencies.

The Tiaki Promise also covers things like being respectful to Maori culture, preparing properly for hiking and other outdoor activities, and reminding tourists to drive on the left side of the road.

FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018 file photo, tourists pose for a photo at the Mount John Observatory over looking Lake Tekapo, New Zealand.With concern rising about the impact of tourism on the environment, New Zealand on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, launched a new campaign to try to get visitors to dispose of their litter in bins and otherwise take care of the country. (AP Photo/Mark Baker,File)

In this Oct. 2, 2018 photo, cruise ship the Majestic Princess at anchor in Akaroa Harbour, in the South Island of New Zealand. With concern rising about the impact of tourism on the environment, New Zealand on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, launched a new campaign to try to get visitors to dispose of their litter in bins and otherwise take care of the country. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

In this Oct. 2, 2018 photo, tourists enjoy a dolphin watching cruise in Akaroa Harbour, New Zealand. With concern rising about the impact of tourism on the environment, New Zealand on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, launched a new campaign to try to get visitors to dispose of their litter in bins and otherwise take care of the country. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - In a slap to the United States, the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution Thursday condemning the American economic embargo of Cuba and rejected proposed U.S. amendments strongly criticizing the lack of human rights in the island country.

Resolutions adopted by the 193-member world body are unenforceable, but they reflect world opinion and the vote has given Cuba an annual stage for the last 27 years to demonstrate the isolation of the U.S. on the embargo.

It was imposed in 1960 following the revolution led by Fidel Castro and the nationalization of properties belonging to U.S. citizens and corporations, and two years later it was strengthened.

The General Assembly's vote on the Cuban-sponsored resolution on the "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba" was 189-2 with no abstentions. The U.S. and Israel voted "no" and Moldova and Ukraine did not vote.

In earlier separate votes on the proposed U.S. amendments, Ukraine and Israel were the only countries to join the U.S. in voting "yes" on all eight measures while the Marshall Islands backed one amendment. Some 114 countries voted against the amendments and about 65 abstained.

The proposed amendments expressed serious concern at the lack of freedom of expression and access to information in Cuba and the prohibition on workers' right to strike. They called on Cuba to fully grant its citizens "internationally recognized civil, political and economic rights and freedoms," to establish an independent civil society and to release people detained for exercising their human rights.

A man paints a Cuban flag on the face of a young student during an event against U.S. trade embargo against Cuba in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. The United Nations will vote Thursday Nov. 1 on a resolution regarding the ongoing U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez called the U.S. embargo "a flagrant, massive and systematic violation of the human rights of Cuban men and women" and denounced what he called the politicized U.S. amendments.

"The government of the United States doesn't have the least moral authority to criticize Cuba or anyone when it comes to human rights," he said.

Rodriguez accused the U.S. government of committing "crimes against humanity," pointing to its dropping of the atom bomb in Japan in World War II, waging wars that "caused the death of millions, many of them innocent," and carrying out what he claimed were "extrajudicial executions, kidnapping and torture." He also accused the U.S. of violating the human rights of its citizens, singling out Afro-Americans, Hispanics, minorities, refugees and migrants.

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley stressed before the votes that "our reason for the embargo is and has always been Cuba's denial of freedom and the denial of the most basic human rights for the Cuban people."

She urged the General Assembly to use its "megaphone" and "send a moral message to the Cuban dictatorship" that could help improve the lives of the Cuban people.

But the United States failed to get support even from Western nations.

The European Union said the U.S. amendments did not belong in a resolution dealing with a trade embargo, and its members supported the resolution calling for the United States "to repeal or invalidate" the embargo. Canada also spoke out against the amendments.

Before the vote Haley said: "We have no problem standing alone on behalf of the things that we believe in and will proudly do so again today if necessary."

Following the U.S. defeat, however, Haley told the General Assembly: "There are no winners here today, there are only losers."

She said the U.N. "lost the opportunity to speak on behalf of human rights," but most of all the Cuban people have "been left, once again, to the brutal winds of the Castro dictatorship."

"They have been abandoned by the United Nations and most of the world's governments, but the Cuban people are not alone today," Haley said. "The American people will stand with them until they are restored the rights that God has given us all, rights that no government can legitimately deny its people."

The decision by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to call for a vote on each of the eight amendments represents an escalation of its action last year and reflects worsening U.S.-Cuban relations.

Cuban President Raul Castro and then-President Barack Obama officially restored relations in July 2016. But Ambassador Haley and others have sharply criticized Cuba's human rights record. In 2017, the U.S. returned to voting against the resolution condemning the American economic embargo after the Obama administration abstained in 2016, a first for the United States in 25 years.

Thursday's vote came shortly before Trump's national security adviser John Bolton announced in Florida that the administration is imposing new sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela and soon on Nicaragua, calling the three countries a "troika of tyranny."

On Wednesday, diplomats voiced their support for the Cuban resolution.

Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed Edrees, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 which represents 135 developing countries and China, pointed to "the positive steps ... focused in the right direction" taken by the Obama administration and expressed regret at the Trump administration's new policy "aimed at strengthening the embargo against Cuba."

Ambassador Sheila Carey of the Bahamas reiterated the Caribbean Community's "unequivocal opposition" to the embargo and said last year's near unanimous vote in favor of immediately lifting the embargo "is a clear indication of prevalent disapproval by the U.N. membership."

South African Ambassador Jerry Matjila expressed regret that the gradual relaxation of the embargo under Obama has been reversed "and the people of Cuba are once again faced with a monumental obstacle toward the fulfillment of their basic human rights, including the right to development."

In 2017, the 193-member General Assembly adopted the Cuban-sponsored resolution by a vote of 191-2, with Israel joining the U.S. in voting "no." That was the same vote as in 2015.

Cuba's United Nations Ambassador Anayansi Rodriguez Camejo, second from left, and Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, second from right, meet with the delegation in the General Assembly, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018 at U.N. headquarters. The General Assembly has overwhelming approved a resolution condemning the American economic embargo of Cuba after rejecting proposed U.S. amendments strongly criticizing the lack of human rights in the island country. (Manuel Elias/United Nations via AP)

Hand prints of students are seen on a wall during an event against U.S. trade embargo against Cuba in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. The United Nations will vote Thursday Nov. 1 on a resolution regarding the ongoing U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A woman poses in front of hand prints on a wall during an event against U.S. trade embargo against Cuba in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. The United Nations will vote Thursday Nov. 1 on a resolution regarding the ongoing U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

The United Nations General Assembly meets, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018 at U.N. headquarters. The General Assembly has overwhelming approved a resolution condemning the American economic embargo of Cuba after rejecting proposed U.S. amendments strongly criticizing the lack of human rights in the island country. (Manuel Elias/United Nations via AP)
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - One by one, five to a grave, the coffins are buried in the red earth of this ill-kept corner of a South African cemetery. The scrawl on the cheap wood attests to their anonymity: "Unknown B/Male."

These men were migrants from elsewhere in Africa with next to nothing who sought a living in the thriving underground economy of Gauteng province, a name that roughly translates to "land of gold." Instead of fortune, many found death, their bodies unnamed and unclaimed - more than 4,300 in Gauteng between 2014 and 2017 alone.

Some of those lives ended here at the Olifantsvlei cemetery, in silence, among tufts of grass growing over tiny placards that read: Pauper Block. There are coffins so tiny that they could belong only to children.

As migration worldwide soars to record highs, far less visible has been its toll: The tens of thousands of people who die or simply disappear during their journeys, never to be seen again. In most cases, nobody is keeping track. Barely counted in life, these people don't register in death , as if they never lived at all.

An Associated Press tally has documented at least 56,800 migrants dead or missing worldwide since 2014 - almost double the number found in the world's only official attempt to try to count them, by the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration. The IOM toll as of Oct. 1 was more than 28,500. The AP came up with almost 28,300 additional dead or missing migrants by compiling information from other international groups, requesting forensic records, missing persons reports and death records, and sifting through data from thousands of interviews with migrants.

The deaths and disappearances are the result of migration that is up 49 percent since the turn of the century, with more than 258 million international migrants in 2017, according to the United Nations. A growing number have drowned, died in deserts or fallen prey to traffickers, leaving their families to wonder what on earth happened to them. At the same time, anonymous bodies are filling cemeteries around the world, like the one in Gauteng.

In this Thursday, April 12, 2018 photo, mortuary workers carry the coffin of an unidentified man for burial at a cemetery outside Johannesburg. At least five bodies of unidentified people are buried on top of each other in each grave. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)

The AP's tally is still low. More bodies of migrants lie undiscovered in desert sands or at the bottom of the sea. And families don't always report loved ones as missing because they migrated illegally, or because they left home without saying exactly where they were headed.

The official U.N. toll focuses mostly on Europe, but even there cases fall through the cracks. The political tide is turning against migrants in Europe just as in the United States, where the government is cracking down heavily on caravans of Central Americans trying to get in . One result is that money is drying up for projects to track migration and its costs.

For example, when more than 800 people died in an April 2015 shipwreck off the coast of Italy, Europe's deadliest migrant sea disaster, Italian investigators pledged to identify them and find their families. More than three years later, under a new populist government, funding for this work is being cut off.

Beyond Europe, information is even more scarce. Little is known about the dead and missing in South America, where the Venezuelan migration is among the world's biggest today, and in Asia, the top region for numbers of migrants.

The result is that governments vastly underestimate the toll of migration, a major political and social issue in most of the world today.

"No matter where you stand on the whole migration management debate....these are still human beings on the move," said Bram Frouws, the head of the Mixed Migration Centre , based in Geneva, which has done surveys of more than 20,000 migrants in its 4Mi project since 2014. "Whether it's refugees or people moving for jobs, they are human beings."

They leave behind families caught between hope and mourning, like that of Safi al-Bahri. Her son, Majdi Barhoumi, left their hometown of Ras Jebel, Tunisia, on May 7, 2011, headed for Europe in a small boat with a dozen other migrants. The boat sank and Barhoumi hasn't been heard from since. In a sign of faith that he is still alive, his parents built an animal pen with a brood of hens, a few cows and a dog to stand watch until he returns.

"I just wait for him. I always imagine him behind me, at home, in the market, everywhere," said al-Bahari. "When I hear a voice at night, I think he's come back. When I hear the sound of a motorcycle, I think my son is back."

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EUROPE: BOATS THAT NEVER ARRIVE

Of the world's migration crises, Europe's has been the most cruelly visible. Images of the lifeless body of a Kurdish toddler on a beach, frozen tent camps in Eastern Europe, and a nearly numbing succession of deadly shipwrecks have been transmitted around the world, adding to the furor over migration.

In the Mediterranean, scores of tankers, cargo boats, cruise ships and military vessels tower over tiny, crowded rafts powered by an outboard motor for a one-way trip. Even larger boats carrying hundreds of migrants may go down when soft breezes turn into battering winds and thrashing waves further from shore.

Two shipwrecks and the deaths of at least 368 people off the coast of Italy in October 2013 prompted the IOM's research into migrant deaths. The organization has focused on deaths in the Mediterranean, although its researchers plead for more data from elsewhere in the world. This year alone, the IOM has found more than 1,700 deaths in the waters that divide Africa and Europe.

Like the lost Tunisians of Ras Jebel, most of them set off to look for work. Barhoumi, his friends, cousins and other would-be migrants camped in the seaside brush the night before their departure, listening to the crash of the waves that ultimately would sink their raft.

Khalid Arfaoui had planned to be among them. When the group knocked at his door, it wasn't fear that held him back, but a lack of cash. Everyone needed to chip in to pay for the boat, gas and supplies, and he was short about $100. So he sat inside and watched as they left for the beachside campsite where even today locals spend the night before embarking to Europe.

Propelled by a feeble outboard motor and overburdened with its passengers, the rubber raft flipped, possibly after grazing rocks below the surface on an uninhabited island just offshore. Two bodies were retrieved. The lone survivor was found clinging to debris eight hours later.

The Tunisian government has never tallied its missing, and the group never made it close enough to Europe to catch the attention of authorities there. So these migrants never have been counted among the dead and missing.

"If I had gone with them, I'd be lost like the others," Arfaoui said recently, standing on the rocky shoreline with a group of friends, all of whom vaguely planned to leave for Europe. "If I get the chance, I'll do it. Even if I fear the sea and I know I might die, I'll do it."

With him that day was 30-year-old Mounir Aguida, who had already made the trip once, drifting for 19 hours after the boat engine cut out. In late August this year, he crammed into another raft with seven friends, feeling the waves slam the flimsy bow. At the last minute he and another young man jumped out.

"It didn't feel right," Aguida said.

There has been no word from the other six - yet another group of Ras Jebel's youth lost to the sea. With no shipwreck reported, no survivors to rescue and no bodies to identify, the six young men are not counted in any toll.

In addition to watching its own youth flee, Tunisia and to a lesser degree neighboring Algeria are transit points for other Africans north bound for Europe. Tunisia has its own cemetery for unidentified migrants, as do Greece, Italy and Turkey. The one at Tunisia's southern coast is tended by an unemployed sailor named Chamseddin Marzouk.

Of around 400 bodies interred in the coastal graveyard since it opened in 2005, only one has ever been identified. As for the others who lie beneath piles of dirt, Marzouk couldn't imagine how their families would ever learn their fate.

"Their families may think that the person is still alive, or that he'll return one day to visit," Marzouk said. "They don't know that those they await are buried here, in Zarzis, Tunisia."

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AFRICA: VANISHING WITHOUT A TRACE

Despite talk of the 'waves' of African migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean, as many migrate within Africa - 16 million - as leave for Europe. In all, since 2014, at least 18,400 African migrants have died traveling within Africa, according to the figures compiled from AP and IOM records. That includes more than 4,300 unidentified bodies in a single South African province, and 8,700 whose traveling companions reported their disappearance en route out of the Horn of Africa in interviews with 4Mi.

When people vanish while migrating in Africa, it is often without a trace. The IOM says the Sahara Desert may well have killed more migrants than the Mediterranean. But no one will ever know for sure in a region where borders are little more than lines drawn on maps and no government is searching an expanse as large as the continental United States. The harsh sun and swirling desert sands quickly decompose and bury bodies of migrants, so that even when they turn up, they are usually impossible to identify .

With a prosperous economy and stable government, South Africa draws more migrants than any other country in Africa. The government is a meticulous collector of fingerprints - nearly every legal resident and citizen has a file somewhere - so bodies without any records are assumed to have been living and working in the country illegally. The corpses are fingerprinted when possible, but there is no regular DNA collection.

South Africa also has one of the world's highest rates of violent crime and police are more focused on solving domestic cases than identifying migrants.

"There's logic to that, as sad as it is....You want to find the killer if you're a policeman, because the killer could kill more people," said Jeanine Vellema, the chief specialist of the province's eight mortuaries. Migrant identification, meanwhile, is largely an issue for foreign families - and poor ones at that.

Vellema has tried to patch into the police missing persons system, to build a system of electronic mortuary records and to establish a protocol where a DNA sample is taken from every set of remains that arrive at the morgue. She sighs: "Resources." It's a word that comes up 10 times in a half-hour conversation.

So the bodies end up at Olifantsvlei or a cemetery like it, in unnamed graves. On a recent visit by AP, a series of open rectangles awaited the bodies of the unidentified and unclaimed. They did not wait long: a pickup truck drove up, piled with about 10 coffins, five per grave. There were at least 180 grave markers for the anonymous dead, with multiple bodies in each grave.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which is working with Vellema, has started a pilot project with one Gauteng morgue to take detailed photos, fingerprints, dental information and DNA samples of unidentified bodies. That information goes to a database where, in theory, the bodies can be traced.

"Every person has a right to their dignity. And to their identity," said Stephen Fonseca, the ICRC regional forensic manager.

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THE UNITED STATES: "THAT'S HOW MY BROTHER USED TO SLEEP"

More than 6,000 miles (9,000 kilometers) away, in the deserts that straddle the U.S.-Mexico border, lie the bodies of migrants who perished trying to cross land as unforgiving as the waters of the Mediterranean. Many fled the violence and poverty of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador or Mexico. Some are found months or years later as mere skeletons. Others make a last, desperate phone call and are never heard from again.

In 2010 the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team and the local morgue in Pima County, Ariz., began to organize efforts to put names to the anonymous bodies found on both sides of the border. The "Border Project" has since identified more than 183 people - a fraction of the total.

At least 3,861 migrants are dead and missing on the route from Mexico to the United States since 2014, according to the combined AP and IOM total. The tally includes missing person reports from the Colibri Center for Human Rights on the U.S. side as well as the Argentine group's data from the Mexican side. The painstaking work of identification can take years, hampered by a lack of resources, official records and coordination between countries - and even between states.

For many families of the missing, it is their only hope, but for the families of Juan Lorenzo Luna and Armando Reyes, that hope is fading.

Luna, 27, and Reyes, 22, were brothers-in-law who left their small northern Mexico town of Gomez Palacio in August 2016. They had tried to cross to the U.S. four months earlier, but surrendered to border patrol agents in exhaustion and were deported.

They knew they were risking their lives - Reyes' father died migrating in 1995, and an uncle went missing in 2004. But Luna, a quiet family man, wanted to make enough money to buy a pickup truck and then return to his wife and two children. Reyes wanted a job where he wouldn't get his shoes dirty and could give his newborn daughter a better life.

Of the five who left Gomez Palacio together, two men made it to safety, and one man turned back. The only information he gave was that the brothers-in-law had stopped walking and planned to turn themselves in again. That is the last that is known of them.

Officials told their families that they had scoured prisons and detention centers, but there was no sign of the missing men. Cesaria Orona even consulted a fortune teller about her missing son, Armando, and was told he had died in the desert.

One weekend in June 2017, volunteers found eight bodies next to a military area of the Arizona desert and posted the images online in the hopes of finding family. Maria Elena Luna came across a Facebook photo of a decaying body found in an arid landscape dotted with cactus and shrubs, lying face-up with one leg bent outward. There was something horribly familiar about the pose.

"That's how my brother used to sleep," she whispered.

Along with the bodies, the volunteers found a credential of a boy from Guatemala, a photo and a piece of paper with a number written on it. The photo was of Juan Lorenzo Luna, and the number on the paper was for cousins of the family. But investigators warned that a wallet or credential could have been stolen, as migrants are frequently robbed.

"We all cried," Luna recalled. "But I said, we cannot be sure until we have the DNA test. Let's wait."

Luna and Orona gave DNA samples to the Mexican government and the Argentine group. In November 2017, Orona received a letter from the Mexican government saying that there was the possibility of a match for Armando with some bone remains found in Nuevo Leon, a state that borders Texas. But the test was negative.

The women are still waiting for results from the Argentine pathologists. Until then, their relatives remain among the uncounted.

Orona holds out hope that the men may be locked up, or held by "bad people." Every time Luna hears about clandestine graves or unidentified bodies in the news, the anguish is sharp.

"Suddenly all the memories come back," she said. "I do not want to think."

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SOUTH AMERICA: "NO ONE WANTS TO ADMIT THIS IS A REALITY"

The toll of the dead and the missing has been all but ignored in one of the largest population movements in the world today - that of nearly 2 million Venezuelans fleeing from their country's collapse. These migrants have hopped buses across the borders, boarded flimsy boats in the Caribbean, and - when all else failed - walked for days along scorching highways and freezing mountain trails. Vulnerable to violence from drug cartels, hunger and illness that lingers even after reaching their destination, they have disappeared or died by the hundreds.

"They can't withstand a trip that hard, because the journey is very long," said Carlos Valdes, director of neighboring Colombia's national forensic institute. "And many times, they only eat once a day. They don't eat. And they die." Valdes said authorities don't always recover the bodies of those who die, as some migrants who have entered the country illegally are afraid to seek help.

Valdes believes hypothermia has killed some as they trek through the mountain tundra region, but he had no idea how many. One migrant told the AP he saw a family burying someone wrapped in a white blanket with red flowers along the frigid journey.

Marta Duque, 55, has had a front seat to the Venezuela migration crisis from her home in Pamplona, Colombia. She opens her doors nightly to provide shelter for families with young children. Pamplona is one of the last cities migrants reach before venturing up a frigid mountain paramo, one of the most dangerous parts of the trip for migrants traveling by foot. Temperatures dip well below freezing.

She said inaction from authorities has forced citizens like her to step in.

"Everyone just seems to pass the ball," she said. "No one wants to admit this is a reality."

Those deaths are uncounted, as are dozens in the sea. Also uncounted are those reported missing in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. In all at least 3,410 Venezuelans have been reported missing or dead in a migration within Latin America whose dangers have gone relatively unnoticed; many of the dead perished from illnesses on the rise in Venezuela that easily would have found treatment in better times.

Among the missing is Randy Javier Gutierrez, who was walking through Colombia with a cousin and his aunt in hopes of reaching Peru to reunite with his mother.

Gutierrez's mother, Mariela Gamboa, said that a driver offered a ride to the two women, but refused to take her son. The women agreed to wait for him at the bus station in Cali, about 160 miles (257 kilometers) ahead, but he never arrived. Messages sent to his phone since that day four months ago have gone unread.

"I'm very worried," his mother said. "I don't even know what to do."

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ASIA: A VAST UNKNOWN

The region with the largest overall migration, Asia, also has the least information on the fate of those who disappear after leaving their homelands. Governments are unwilling or unable to account for citizens who leave for elsewhere in the region or in the Mideast, two of the most common destinations, although there's a growing push to do so.

Asians make up 40 percent of the world's migrants, and more than half of them never leave the region. The Associated Press was able to document more than 8,200 migrants who disappeared or died after leaving home in Asia and the Mideast, including thousands in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Thirteen of the top 20 migration pathways from Asia take place within the region. These include Indian workers heading to the United Arab Emirates, Bangladeshis heading to India, Rohingya Muslims escaping persecution in Myanmar, and Afghans crossing the nearest border to escape war. But with large-scale smuggling and trafficking of labor, and violent displacements, the low numbers of dead and missing indicate not safe travel but rather a vast unknown.

Almass was just 14 when his widowed mother reluctantly sent him and his 11-year-old brother from their home in Khost, Afghanistan, into that unknown. The payment for their trip was supposed to get them away from the Taliban and all the way to Germany via a chain of smugglers. The pair crammed first into a pickup with around 40 people, walked for a few days at the border, crammed into a car, waited a bit in Tehran, and walked a few more days.

His brother Murtaza was exhausted by the time they reached the Iran-Turkey border. But the smuggler said it wasn't the time to rest - there were at least two border posts nearby and the risk that children far younger travelling with them would make noise.

Almass was carrying a baby in his arms and holding his brother's hand when they heard the shout of Iranian guards. Bullets whistled past as he tumbled head over heels into a ravine and lost consciousness.

Alone all that day and the next, Almass stumbled upon three other boys in the ravine who had also become separated from the group, then another four. No one had seen his brother. And although the younger boy had his ID, it had been up to Almass to memorize the crucial contact information for the smuggler.

When Almass eventually called home, from Turkey, he couldn't bear to tell his mother what had happened. He said Murtaza couldn't come to the phone but sent his love.

That was in early 2014. Almass, who is now 18, hasn't spoken to his family since.

Almass said he searched for his brother among the 2,773 children reported to the Red Cross as missing en route to Europe. He also looked for himself among the 2,097 adults reported missing by children. They weren't on the list.

With one of the world's longest-running exoduses, Afghans face particular dangers in bordering countries that are neither safe nor welcoming. Over a period of 10 months from June 2017 to April 2018, 4Mi carried out a total of 962 interviews with Afghan migrants and refugees in their native languages around the world, systematically asking a series of questions about the specific dangers they had faced and what they had witnessed.

A total of 247 migrant deaths were witnessed by the interviewed migrants, who reported seeing people killed in violence from security forces or starving to death. The effort is the first time any organization has successfully captured the perils facing Afghans in transit to destinations in Asia and Europe.

Almass made it from Asia to Europe and speaks halting French now to the woman who has given him a home in a drafty 400-year-old farmhouse in France's Limousin region. But his family is lost to him. Their phone number in Afghanistan no longer works, their village is overrun with Taliban, and he has no idea how to find them - or the child whose hand slipped from his grasp four years ago.

"I don't know now where they are," he said, his face anguished, as he sat on a sun-dappled bench. "They also don't know where I am."

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Hinnant reported from Ras Jebel, Tunisia, along with Mehdi El Arem. Contributors include Kristen Gelineau in Sydney, Australia; Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia; Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines; Lotfi Bouchouchi in Algiers; Mehdi Christine Armario in Bogota, Colombia; Maria Verza in Mexico City, and Angeliki Kastanis in Los Angeles.

This Wednesday, April 11, 2018 photo shows burial plots in a cemetery outside Johannesburg. At least five bodies of unidentified people are buried on top of each other in each grave. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)

A worker extracts a sample of an unidentified man's body for DNA analysis at the mortuary in the Hillbrow neighborhood of Johannesburg on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. It's South Africa's busiest morgue, with 3,000 bodies being investigated every year. Ten per cent of those remain unclaimed and unidentified. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)

Sofia Al Bahari holds a photo of her son, Majdi Al Barhoumi, who went missing in 2011, at her home in the town of Ras Jabal, Bizerte, Tunisia, on April 12, 2018. As global migration has soared to record highs, far less visible has been its toll: The tens of thousands of people who die or simply disappear during their journeys, never to be seen again. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

The father of Majdi Al Barhoumi, who went missing in 2011, holds photos of him, at their home in the town of Ras Jabal, Bizerte, Tunisia, on April 12, 2018. As global migration has soared to record highs, far less visible has been its toll: The tens of thousands of people who die or simply disappear during their journeys, never to be seen again. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Khaled Arfaoui, 25, who wants to leave Tunisia, poses for photo at the beach where migrants leave for Italy, in the town of Ras Jabal, Bizerte, Tunisia, on April 14, 2018. He says, "If I get the chance, I'll do it. Even if I fear the sea and I know I might die, I'll do it." From the closest points to Europe in Tunisia, Ras Jebel in the north and the Kerkennah Islands in the east, it's a half-day sail if all goes well. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Ahmed Ayouby, 32, left, and Mounir Aguida, 30, who want to leave Tunisia, stand at the beach where migrants leave for Italy, in the town of Ras Jabal, Bizerte, Tunisia, on April 14, 2018. In late August 2018, he crammed into a raft with seven friends, feeling the waves slam the flimsy bow. At the last minute he and another young man jumped out. "It didn't feel right," Aguida said. There has been no word from the other six. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

This April 15, 2018 photo shows the belongings of migrants which were collected by artist Mohsen Lahzib, who tries to create beauty out of sorrow, at his space in the southern port town of Zarzis, Tunisia. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

This April 15, 2018 photo shows the "Cemetery of the Unknown" which holds bodies of migrants who were found dead on the shores near the southern port town of Zarzis, Tunisia. The bodies are retrieved by retired fisherman Chamsedding Marzouk, who has made it his life's work to provide a proper burial to the foreigners even though they die without a name. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Almass, an 18-year-old Afghan who lost his younger brother at the Iran-Turkey border four years ago, traces the path of his migration to Europe, at his new home in Gentioux-Pigerolles, France on Oct. 6, 2018. Asia has the world's largest overall population movements, but also has the least information on the fate of those who disappear after leaving their homelands. (AP Photo/Lori Hinnant)

Almass, an 18-year-old Afghan who lost his younger brother at the Iran-Turkey border four years ago, describes the journey from the province of Khost to his current home in in Gentioux-Pigerolles, France on Oct. 6, 2018. When Almass eventually called home, from Turkey, he couldn't bear to tell his mother what had happened. He said Murtaza couldn't come to the phone but sent his love. (AP Photo/Lori Hinnant)

Almass, an 18-year-old Afghan who lost his younger brother at the Iran-Turkey border four years ago, walks in the yard at his current home in a 400-year-old farmhouse in Gentioux-Pigerolles, France on Oct. 6, 2018. Almass made it from Asia to Europe, and speaks halting French now to the woman who has given him a home in a drafty 400-year-old farmhouse in France's Limousin region. But his family is lost to him. Their phone number in Afghanistan no longer works, their village is overrun with Taliban, and he has no idea how to find them. (AP Photo/Lori Hinnant)

FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013 file photo, the casket of one of the migrants who died when their boat capsized off in the Canal of Sicily is lifted by crane to an Italian Navy ship at the Lampedusa island harbor. A fishing boat packed with 500 African migrants capsized on Thursday Oct. 3, 2013 off the shores of the island of Lampedusa, causing more than 300 deaths. (AP Photo/Mauro Buccarello)

FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 file photo, the wrecked fishing boat that capsized and sunk on April 18, 2015 off the coast of Libya, lies outside a NATO base in the Sicilian town of Mellili, Italy. Officials have put the number of dead in the April 2015 migrant shipwreck at between 750 and 800 people, following autopsies on the remains retrieved from inside the vessel. Only 28 people survived the accident. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli, File)

FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015 file photo, the body of an unidentified woman washes up on a beach at the village of Skala, on the Greek island of Lesbos. Authorities recovered more bodies on Lesbos and the Greek island of Samos on this day as thousands continue to cross from the nearby coast of Turkey despite worsening weather. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)

FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015 file photo, an unidentified woman wearing a wedding ring lies on a beach at the village of Skala, on the Greek island of Lesbos. Authorities recovered more bodies on Lesbos and the Greek island of Samos that day as thousands continue to cross from the nearby coast of Turkey despite worsening weather. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)

FILE - In this Thursday, April 27, 2017 file photo, the belongings of a dead migrant found on the boat sunk in Lampedusa, Italy on Oct. 13, 2013, are displayed during the art exhibition "La Terra Inquieta" (Restless Earth) at the Triennale in Milan, Italy. Through the works of over sixty artists from all over the world, including Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria and Turkey, the exhibit examines the transformations around the world, particularly by addressing the problem of migration and the crisis of refugees. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 25, 2017 file photo, migrants wait to be rescued by aid workers from the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms next to the bodies of other migrants in the Mediterranean Sea, north of Sabratha, Libya. An Associated Press tally has documented at least 56,800 migrants dead or missing worldwide from 2014 to 2018 _ almost double the number found in the world's only official attempt to count them, by the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)

FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2018 file photo, Venezuelan migrants line up for free bread and coffee, donated by a Colombian family from their car, at a gas station in Pamplona, Colombia. Carlos Valdes, director of Colombia's national forensic institute, believes hypothermia has killed some migrants as they trek through the mountain tundra region, but he had no idea how many. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

In this Aug. 5, 2018 photo, Venezuelan migrants cover themselves with blankets as they wait in the cold for a lift after crossing the border from Colombia on their way to Peru in Rumichaca, Ecuador. The toll of the dead and the missing has been all but ignored in one of the largest population movements in the world today _ that of nearly 2 million Venezuelans fleeing from their country's collapse. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A hand print in honor of migrants that have been killed or are missing is seen on a border wall structure separating Tijuana, Mexico from San Diego, in Tijuana on Oct. 16, 2018. An Associated Press tally has documented at least 56,800 migrants dead or missing worldwide from 2014 to 2018 _ almost double the number found in the world's only official attempt to count them, by the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Men line up for a meal as posters for the missing line a window at a shelter for migrants in Tijuana, Mexico, on Oct. 19, 2018. As people worldwide flee war, hunger and a lack of jobs, global migration has soared to record highs, with more than 258 million international migrants in 2017. That is an increase of 49 percent from the turn of the century, according to the United Nations. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

FILE - In this Tuesday, April 25, 2006 file photo, a group of migrants cross the desert between Sasabe, Mexico, and Sasabe, Ariz. As people worldwide flee war, hunger and a lack of jobs, global migration has soared to record highs, with more than 258 million international migrants in 2017. That is an increase of 49 percent from the turn of the century, according to the United Nations. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

FILE - In this Thursday, May 18, 2006 file photo, a cement brick with the generic name "John Doe" marks the grave where an unidentified migrant who died while crossing the border is buried in a public cemetery in Holtville, Calif. An Associated Press tally has documented at least 56,800 migrants dead or missing worldwide from 2014 to 2018 _ almost double the number found in the world's only official attempt to count them, by the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration. (AP Photo/David Maung)

Pablo Reyes looks at a photo of a skull on his cellphone as he and Juan Lorenzo Luna's sister, Maria Elena Luna, left, and sister-in-law, Cesaria Orona, who's son, Armando, is also missing, testify before a human rights commission in Chihuahua, Mexico, on Thursday, March 22, 2018. Luna and Orona gave DNA samples to the Mexican government and an Argentine forensics group. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Relatives look at photos of Armando Reyes, who disappeared in 2016, before testifying before a human rights commission in Chihuahua, Mexico, on Thursday, March 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Cesaria Orona, sister-in-law of Juan Lorenzo Luna, and who's son, Armando, is also missing, testifies before a human rights commission in Chihuahua, Mexico, on Thursday, March 22, 2018. Orona holds out hope that the men may be locked up, or held by "bad people," rather than the alternative. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

In this March 23, 2018 photo, an Argentine forensic anthropology team arrange burned fragments at a lab in Cuauhtemoc, Mexico. The fragments are among the remains of tens of thousands of people who have disappeared in Mexico's long and bloody drug war. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Divers in Indonesia recovered one of the crashed Lion Air jet's flight recorders from the seafloor on Thursday, a crucial development in the investigation into what caused the 2-month-old plane to plunge into the ocean earlier this week, killing 189 people. Relatives, meanwhile, buried the first victim to be identified and prayed at her flower-covered grave.

TV showed footage of two divers after they surfaced, swimming to an inflatable vessel and placing the bright orange device into a large container that was transferred to a search-and-rescue ship.

"I was desperate because the current below was strong but I am confident of the tools given to me," said navy 1st Sgt. Hendra, who uses a single name. After narrowing the possible location, "I started digging and cleaning the debris until I finally found an orange object," he told TV, standing on the deck of a ship next to his diving mates.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed early Monday just minutes after takeoff from the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. It was the worst airline disaster in Indonesia in more than two decades and renewed concerns about safety in its fast-growing aviation industry, which was recently removed from European Union and U.S. blacklists.

Navy Col. Monang Sitompul told local TV an object believed to be part of the aircraft's fuselage was also seen on the seafloor.

Minutes after the device was taken out of the sea, Bambang Irawan, an investigator with the transport safety committee, said it was the flight data recorder.

A member of National Transportation Safety Committee holds the flight data recorder from the crashed Lion Air jet as Chief of National Search and Rescue Agency Muhammad Syaugi gestures during a press conference on board of a research ship Baruna Jaya anchored in the waters of Tanjung Karawang, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Divers on Thursday recovered the flight data recorder from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed early Monday on the seafloor, a crucial development in the investigation into what caused the 2-month-old plane to plunge into Indonesian seas earlier this week, killing all its passengers. (AP Photo/Fauzy Chaniago)

But at a later news conference, another investigator, Ony Soeryo Wibowo, said they still haven't determined if it's the flight data or cockpit voice recorder. It was displayed inside a clear container submerged in water to prevent damage from rapidly drying out.

"Their forms are similar," he said. Speaking about the overall investigation's progress, Wibowo said, "We have collected data and did find some problems, but it must be investigated further."

The flight data recorder is expected to provide investigators with detailed information about the flight such as altitude, airspeed and heading. The voice recorder also provides valuable information - not only the cockpit crew's voices but engine sounds, instrumentation warnings and other audio that investigators can interpret. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board says sophisticated computer and audio equipment is used to extract and translate the data into an understandable format.

The recorder was recovered from a depth of about 30 meters (98 feet), some 500 meters (1,640 feet) from where the plane lost contact, said search and rescue agency head Muhammad Syaugi.

"The currents below the sea are still strong which makes it difficult for divers, but they persistently faced it," he said.

Relatives of 24-year-old Jannatun Cintya Dewi, whose remains were identified Wednesday, carried her body in a coffin covered in green cloth along a road in an East Java district to the burial place, followed by dozens of people in a solemn procession.

Her father and others knelt by the grave, which was sprinkled with red, white and yellow flowers, and prayed.

Other families face a longer wait to bury loved ones. Police medical experts say results from DNA tests needed for identification in many cases will take 4-8 days and remains are still being found.

U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigators including from Boeing visited the Jakarta port on Thursday and picked through debris collected from the sea including pieces of aircraft and passenger belongings.

Data from flight-tracking sites show the plane had erratic speed and altitude in the early minutes of a flight on Sunday and on its fatal flight Monday. Safety experts caution, however, that the data must be checked for accuracy against the flight data recorder.

Several passengers on the Sunday flight from Bali to Jakarta have recounted problems that included a long-delayed takeoff for an engine check and terrifying descents in the first 10 minutes in the air.

Lion Air has ordered 50 of the MAX 8 planes and one of its subsidiary airlines was the first to operate the new generation jet last year.

Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said inspections of Boeing MAX 8 planes operated by Lion Air and national carrier Garuda have found no problems but the checks are continuing.

He said the Directorate-General of Air Transportation has asked Lion Air to remove four key officials from duty - its director of maintenance and engineering, quality control manager, flight maintenance manager and release manager - so they can assist the investigation. He said their aircraft maintenance engineer licenses have been suspended.

Investigators say a preliminary report into the accident could be released within a month but complete findings will take several months more.

The Lion Air crash is the worst airline disaster in Indonesia since 1997, when 234 people died on a Garuda flight near Medan. In December 2014, an AirAsia flight from Surabaya to Singapore plunged into the sea, 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 of Indonesia's youngest and biggest airlines, flying to dozens of domestic and international destinations. It has been expanding aggressively in Southeast Asia, a fast-growing region of more than 600 million people.

Members of National Transportation Safety Committee lift a box containing the flight data recorder from the crashed Lion Air jet onboard a rescue ship anchored in the waters of Tanjung Karawang, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Divers on Thursday recovered the flight data recorder from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed early Monday on the seafloor, a crucial development in the investigation into what caused the 2-month-old plane to plunge into Indonesian seas earlier this week, killing all its passengers. (AP Photo/Fauzy Chaniago)

The flight data recorder from the crashed Lion Air jet sits inside a fresh water-filled box on board of a research ship Baruna Jaya in the waters of Tanjung Karawang, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Divers on Thursday recovered the flight data recorder from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed early Monday on the seafloor, a crucial development in the investigation into what caused the 2-month-old plane to plunge into Indonesian seas earlier this week, killing all its passengers. (AP Photo/Fauzy Chaniago)

Divers stand around a box containing the flight data recorder from the crashed Lion Air jet on board of a research ship Baruna Jaya anchored in the waters of Tanjung Karawang, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Divers on Thursday recovered the flight data recorder from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed early Monday on the seafloor, a crucial development in the investigation into what caused the 2-month-old plane to plunge into Indonesian seas earlier this week, killing all its passengers. (AP Photo/Fauzy Chaniago)

Chief of National Search and Rescue Agency Muhammad Syaugi, center, holds the flight data recorder from the crashed Lion Air jet during a press conference, onboard rescue ship anchored in the waters of Tanjung Karawang, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Divers on Thursday recovered the flight data recorder from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed early Monday on the seafloor, a crucial development in the investigation into what caused the 2-month-old plane to plunge into Indonesian seas earlier this week, killing all its passengers. (AP Photo/Fauzy Chaniago)

Rescuers carry a box containing the flight data recorder from the crashed Lion Air jet on board of a research ship Baruna Jaya anchored in the waters of Tanjung Karawang, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Divers on Thursday recovered the flight data recorder from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed early Monday on the seafloor, a crucial development in the investigation into what caused the 2-month-old plane to plunge into Indonesian seas earlier this week, killing all its passengers. (AP Photo/Fauzy Chaniago)

Rescuers scan the horizon during a search operation for the victims of Lion Air plane crash in the waters of Tanjung Karawang, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort has identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)

Rescue divers sit on a rubber boat during a search operation for the victims of Lion Air plane crash in the waters of Tanjung Karawang, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort has identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)

An Indonesian soldiers walk past debris retrieved from the waters where Lion Air flight JT 610 is believed to have crashed at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort has identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Fauzy Chaniago)

Rescuers carry a body bag containing the remains of the victims of Lion Air plane crash at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort has identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Members of police forensic team inspect personal belongings retrieved from the waters where Lion Air flight JT 610 is believed to have crashed, at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort has identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Rescuers inspect a body bag containing the remains of the victims of Lion Air plane crash at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort has identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Shoes and other personal belongings retrieved from the waters where a Lion Air jet is believed to have crashed are displayed for family members of the passengers for identification at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A massive search effort has identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical-mile-wide search area. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Relatives lower the coffin containing the remains of Jannatun Cintya Dewi, one of the victims of a Lion Air plane crash, into the grave during her funeral in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Divers on Thursday recovered the flight data recorder from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed early Monday on the seafloor, a crucial development in the investigation into what caused the 2-month-old plane to plunge into Indonesian seas earlier this week, killing all people on board. (AP Photo/Trisnadi)

Bambang Supriyadi, left, the father of Jannatun Cintya Dewi, a victim of a Lion Air plane crash, prays at the grave of his daughter during her funeral in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Divers on Thursday recovered the flight data recorder from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed early Monday on the seafloor, a crucial development in the investigation into what caused the 2-month-old plane to plunge into Indonesian seas earlier this week, killing all people on board. (AP Photo/Trisnadi)

Relatives pray at the grave of Jannatun Cintya Dewi, a victim of a Lion Air plane crash, during her funeral in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Divers on Thursday recovered the flight data recorder from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed early Monday on the seafloor, a crucial development in the investigation into what caused the 2-month-old plane to plunge into Indonesian seas earlier this week, killing all people on board. (AP Photo/Trisnadi)

Relatives weep during the funeral of Jannatun Cintya Dewi, a victim of a Lion Air plane crash, in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Divers on Thursday recovered the flight data recorder from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed early Monday on the seafloor, a crucial development in the investigation into what caused the 2-month-old plane to plunge into Indonesian seas earlier this week, killing all people on board. (AP Photo/Trisnadi)
BEIJING (AP) - Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing on Thursday, just months after the small Central American nation broke its diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

The state visit comes one day before that of the president of the Dominican Republic, whose country also switched allegiances from Taiwan to China this year.

El Salvador and the Dominican Republic are among a growing number of countries that have cut ties with Taiwan in favor of resuming or establishing relations with China, which considers the self-governing island democracy to be part of its territory.

Only 17 mainly small, developing countries now recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation. Taiwan split from mainland China during a civil war in 1949, and Beijing has been steadily ratcheting up diplomatic and economic pressure since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016.

Beijing's aggressiveness is largely driven by Tsai's refusal to endorse Beijing's "one-China principle," which maintains that Taiwan is part of China and that the Communist Party-ruled administration in Beijing is China's sole legitimate government.

Taiwan has long been a wedge between China and the United States, which has formal relations with Beijing but maintains robust unofficial military and diplomatic links with the island.

Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Ceren arrived in the Chinese capital just months after the small Central American nation broke its diplomatic ties with Taiwan. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Washington's de facto ambassador to Taiwan, Brent Christensen, said Wednesday that the U.S. would be opposed to "unilateral attempts to change the status quo" in Taiwan - a reference to increasing Chinese military intimidation.

China's wooing of Taiwan's allies in what the U.S. considers its backyard has rung alarm bells in Washington.

The U.S. pulled out its diplomatic envoys last month from El Salvador, Panama and the Dominican Republic after those countries cut ties with Taiwan.

At a conference in Washington attended by Salvadoran Vice President Oscar Ortiz last month, Vice President Mike Pence said El Salvador and other Central American countries should strengthen bonds with the U.S. "even as countries like China" try to "expand their influence in the region."

Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Ceren arrived in the Chinese capital just months after the small Central American nation broke its diplomatic ties with Taiwan. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren, left, walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. The El Salvador President arrived in the Chinese capital just months after the small Central American nation broke its diplomatic ties with Taiwan. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
MALE, Maldives (AP) - The first democratically elected president of the Maldives returned home Thursday after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term.

Mohamed Nasheed traveled by boat parade from the airport island to the national capital, Male, where he was welcomed by his party members and supporters.

At a news conference, he criticized outgoing President Yameen Abdul Gayoom's administration as "authoritarian" and said it had put the country under a heavy debt burden.

Yameen's government had signed a number of infrastructure projects funded by China, which Nasheed had criticized before as akin to a land grab.

Nasheed also said there was enough evidence of alleged corruption and misrule against Yameen to prosecute him.

Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in jail in 2015 after being convicted of terrorism for ordering the arrest of a top judge in 2012 while he was president. His trial was criticized internationally for lack of due process, along with those of many other political opponents jailed by Yameen's administration.

Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed, center, greets supporters and party workers upon arrival at the airport in Male, Maldives, Thursday, Nov.1, 2018. Nasheed The first democratically elected president of the Maldives returned home after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sharuhaan)

He was offered asylum in Britain when he traveled there for medical treatment on leave from prison. He was recently in Sri Lanka.

Nasheed's return follows Yameen's defeat in the Sept. 23 presidential election by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the candidate of Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party.

Since Yameen's defeat, courts have freed or granted bail to some of the jailed officials.

The Supreme Court earlier this week suspended Nasheed's prison sentence until it reviews his conviction at the request of the prosecutor general, a move to prevent his arrest on arrival.

Two other people - an opposition party leader and a former vice president who was Yameen's running mate in the 2013 presidential election - earlier returned from exile.

Nasheed had been a pro-democracy activist during decades of autocratic rule and was elected president in the country's first multiparty election in 2008. He gained international attention as an environment crusader, holding a Cabinet meeting underwater to highlight the dangers that rising sea levels caused by global warming pose to the archipelago nation composed of coral masses just a few meters (feet) above sea level.

He resigned the presidency in 2012 amid public protests against his order to arrest the senior judge and lost the 2013 election to Yameen.

Also on Thursday, president-elect Solih's nominee was elected speaker with an overwhelming majority, in the first test of strength in the Maldives parliament since the election.

Qasim Ibrahim, who is a coalition partner with Solih won the vote 62 votes for him and 16 against in the 85-member parliament. Ibrahim has returned from exile in Germany after Solih's election victory.

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This story has been corrected to show the last presidential election was in 2013.

Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed, waves before he heads on a launch to the capital to meet the public after his arrival in Maldives, Thursday, Nov.1, 2018. Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives returned home Thursday after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sharuhaan)

Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed, center right, embraces a supporter upon arrival at the airport in Male, Maldives, Thursday, Nov.1,2018. Nasheed returned to Maldives Thursday after living in exile for more than two years. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sharuhaan)

Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed, left,sits with President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, afterhis arrival at the airport in Male, Maldives, Thursday, Nov.1,2018. Nasheed returned to Maldives Thursday after living in exile for more than two years. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sharuhaan)

Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed, center, waves to the public in Male, Maldives, Thursday, Nov.1, 2018. Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives returned home Thursday after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term. President elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is on his right. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sharuhaan)

Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed, center, waves to the public in Male, Maldives, Thursday, Nov.1, 2018. Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives returned home Thursday after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term. President elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is on his right. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sharuhaan)

Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed, addresses the public in Male, Maldives, Thursday, Nov.1, 2018. Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives returned home Thursday after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sharuhaan)

Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed, arrives to address the public in Male, Maldives, Thursday, Nov.1, 2018. Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives returned home Thursday after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term. Banner in Divehi language reads, " This love is from Heart To Heart " (AP Photo/Mohamed Sharuhaan)

Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed, center left, is received by President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, center right and others, at the airport in Male, Maldives, Thursday, Nov.1, 2018. Nasheed returned to Maldives Thursday after living in exile for more than two years. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sharuhaan)

Supporters of Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed, cheer upon his arrival in Maldives, Thursday, Nov.1, 2018. Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives returned home Thursday after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sharuhaan)

Supporters of Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed, cheers upon his arrival in Maldives, Thursday, Nov.1, 2018. Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives returned home Thursday after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sharuhaan)

Supporters of Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed, cheer upon his arrival in Maldives, Thursday, Nov.1, 2018. Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives returned home Thursday after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sharuhaan)
JUCHITAN, Mexico (AP) - Thousands of Central American migrants resumed their slow trek through southern Mexico on Thursday, as immigration agents and police nibbled at the edges of the two caravans currently in the country.

Mexican authorities haven't directly targeted the main caravan of about 4,000 migrants, and activists aiding that group said they were shifting their route toward the Gulf coast, a path closer to the Texas border.

But a second, smaller caravan about 200 miles behind the first group appeared to be more leaderless, get less press attention and be more vulnerable.

A federal official who was not authorized to be quoted by name said 153 migrants in the second caravan were detained Wednesday during highway inspections in the southern state of Chiapas, a short distance from the Guatemalan border. While the precise size of the second caravan is unclear, that could be equivalent to about 10 percent of those participating.

And there was also pressure on the first caravan, which set out before dawn Thursday from Juchitan, Oaxaca, seeking to reach the town of Matias Romero, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) ahead.

They had tried to arrange bus transport from Juchitan, but failed, leaving them once again on foot, hitch-hiking and looking for rides where they can find them.

A migrant carries a Mexican and Honduran flag atop a tanker truck as a thousands-strong caravan of Central Americans hoping to reach the U.S. border moves onward from Juchitan, Oaxaca state, Mexico, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Police outside Juchitan were stopping tankers and some other trucks and making migrants climb down and walk, as thousands of migrants resumed their slow trek through southern Mexico on Thursday, after attempts to obtain bus transport to Mexico City failed. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

But federal police began pulling freight trucks over and forcing migrants off, saying their habit of clinging to the tops or sides of the trucks was dangerous.

"Get off! Get off!" police officer Benjamin Grajeda shouted to a group of migrants clinging to the side of a truck outside Juchitan. "You can ride inside, but not on the outside."

At other points along the route, police have forced overloaded pickups to disgorge migrants. On previous days, they have ordered passenger vans to stop transporting migrants.

The migrants have not said what route they intend to take northward or where on the U.S. border they planned to reach.

While Matias Romero would take them toward the Gulf coast city of Veracruz and a route toward the Texas border, another large caravan early this year passed through Veracruz and then veered back toward Mexico City and eventually tried to head to Tijuana in the far northwest. Few made it.

In Matias Romero, the migrants complained of bad smells and snakes in the area where they were told to camp overnight at the entrance to the town. Local authorities told them they couldn't occupy the main square because of Day of the Dead events to be held there.

Late Thursday, the migrants decided to leave at 5 a.m. Friday toward Veracruz, with their destination either Donaji or Sayula de Aleman.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday praised Mexico for stopping the migrants from getting rides.

"Mexico has stepped up in an unprecedented way," Sanders told Fox News. "They have helped stop a lot of the transportation means of these individuals in these caravans, forcing them walking. They have helped us in new ways to slow this down, to break this up and keep it from moving as aggressively toward the United States."

But U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up his pre-election focus on the caravan and others behind it, talking of creating a U.S. military force on the border that would outnumber the migrants, many of them women and children.

"As far as the caravan is concerned, our military is out," Trump said. "We have about 5,800. We'll go up to anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Patrol, ICE and everybody else at the border."

Later Wednesday, Trump told ABC News, "We have to have a wall of people."

A third band of about 500 from El Salvador made it to Guatemala, and a fourth group of about 700 set out from the Salvadoran capital Wednesday.

Altogether, the four caravans represent just a few days' worth of the average flow of migrants to the United States in recent years.

Similar caravans have occurred regularly over the years and passed largely unnoticed, but Trump has focused on the latest marchers seeking to make border security a hot-button issue in next week's midterm elections.

Worn down by days of long walks, many migrants have dropped out and returned home or applied for protected status in Mexico. The Interior Department said Thursday that the number of migrants who have applied for refuge was now nearly 3,000.

The initial caravan has shrunk significantly from its estimated peak of more than 7,000 migrants. A caravan last the spring ultimately fizzled to just about 200 people who reached the U.S. border at San Diego.

On Wednesday, a Guatemalan woman gave birth to the first known caravan baby at a hospital in Juchitan. Mexico's governmental National Human Rights Commission said it had arranged for medical attention for the woman, who was 38 weeks pregnant, and the girl was healthy.

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Associated Press writer Peter Orsi in Mexico City contributed to this report.

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This story has been corrected to say the woman was 38 weeks pregnant not 28 weeks.

A migrants from El Salvador wait to be attended by Salvadoran migration authorities in La Hachadura, El Salvador, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A fourth group of about 700 Salvadorans set out from the capital, San Salvador, with plans to walk to the U.S. border, 1,500 miles away. (AP Photo/Diana Ulloa)

Migrants hitch rides in the back of trucks as the thousands-strong caravan of Central Americans hoping to reach the U.S. border moves onward from Juchitan, Oaxaca state, Mexico, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Thousands of migrants resumed their slow trek through southern Mexico on Thursday, after attempts to obtain bus transport to Mexico City failed. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

A migrant carrying the flags of Mexico and Honduras gives a thumbs-up to a moto rickshaw driver who stopped to take their picture, as a thousands-strong caravan of Central Americans hoping to reach the U.S. border moves onward from Juchitan, Oaxaca state, Mexico, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Thousands of migrants resumed their slow trek through southern Mexico on Thursday, after attempts to obtain bus transport to Mexico City failed. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Water is left behind after migrants took showers with donated water brought in by truck, in an area where migrants are camping and doing laundry, as a thousands-strong caravan of Central Americans hoping to reach the U.S. border takes a rest day in Juchitan, Oaxaca state, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Thousands of weary Central American migrants in a caravan rested Wednesday in southern Mexico while their representatives tried to negotiate transportation hundreds of miles ahead to the capital, but by evening there was bad news: they'd be walking again the next day. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Central American migrants bathe in donated water brought in on trucks, as a thousands-strong caravan of Central Americans hoping to reach the U.S. border take a rest day in Juchitan, Oaxaca state, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Thousands of weary Central American migrants in a caravan rested Wednesday in southern Mexico while their representatives tried to negotiate transportation hundreds of miles ahead to the capital, but by evening there was bad news: they'd be walking again the next day. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Honduran girls hug while waiting in line for a chance to play on the playground at a camp set up by a caravan of thousands of Central American migrants in Juchitan, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Representatives of the group sought Wednesday to negotiate use of dozens of buses to carry the migrants hundreds of miles ahead, as the caravan took at least a day off from the grind of walking and hitching rides in packed trucks from small town to small town. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Children play a bingo game given to them by Mexico's human rights organization, that teaches them about the rights of migrant children, as a thousands-strong caravan of Central Americans hoping to reach the U.S. border takes a rest day in Juchitan, Oaxaca state, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Thousands of weary Central American migrants in a caravan rested Wednesday in southern Mexico while their representatives tried to negotiate transportation hundreds of miles ahead to the capital, but by evening there was bad news: they'd be walking again the next day. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Migrants from El Salvador start on their way to the United States, in San Salvador, El Salvador, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. A third group of migrants from El Salvador had already made it to Guatemala, and on Wednesday a fourth group of about 700 Salvadorans set out from the capital, San Salvador, with plans to walk to the U.S. border, 1,500 miles away. (AP Photo/Diana Ulloa)

One migrant family with a baby hires a motorized rickshaw taxi back to town in order to buy bus tickets to travel to the next stop, after failing to hitch hike for free as a thousands-strong caravan of Central Americans moves onward from Juchitan, Oaxaca state, Mexico, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Thousands of migrants resumed their slow trek through southern Mexico on Thursday, after attempts to obtain bus transport to Mexico City failed. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Migrants board a stopped truck in hopes the driver will agree to carry them, as a thousands-strong caravan of Central Americans hoping to reach the U.S. border moves onward from Juchitan, Oaxaca state, Mexico, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Thousands of migrants resumed their slow trek through southern Mexico on Thursday, after attempts to obtain bus transport to Mexico City failed. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
BANJUL, Gambia (AP) - Britain's Prince Charles is applauding Gambians for overturning two decades of autocratic rule during his first stop on a West African tour.

On Thursday, Prince Charles called the regime change that ousted longtime dictator Yahya Jammeh an "important milestone."

In February, Gambia was accepted back into the Commonwealth of Nations, which is made up mostly of countries that were once British colonies.

Gambia's former leader had withdrawn the country in 2013, accusing the organization of being a "neo-colonial institution."

While in Gambia for a three-day visit Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, also plan to visit a holiday resort in an effort to revive Gambia's tourism sector. The country was once a popular beach destination for British nationals but took a hit amid the country's political turmoil.
The killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi undermines regional stability and the US State Department plans to take further action in response to the killing, Jim Mattis has said at an international conference in the Middle East.

In remarks prepared for delivery, the US Defence Scretary never mentioned Saudi Arabia directly in connection with the October 2 killing of Mr Khashoggi at the kingdoms consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

But he noted that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo revoked visas of Saudis implicated in the killing of the Washington Post writer, and he said additional measures will be taken.

#SecDef Mattis has arrived in #Manama, #Bahrain where he was greeted on arrival by Minister of Defense Affairs, Lt. Gen. Shaikh Yousuf bin Ahmed and military officials. Mattis is attending the Manama Dialogue security conference while in Bahrain. #SecDefTravels pic.twitter.com/197eU1Rcgq  Department of Defense  (@DeptofDefense) October 26, 2018

Turkish officials have said that a Saudi team of 15 men tortured, killed and dismembered the writer and in a premeditated act.

The kingdom initially said it knew nothing about what happened to Mr Khashoggi, but on Thursday said evidence shows that the killing was premeditated.

Mr Mattis in his speech made no move to directly blame Saudi and did not refer to the calls from members of Congress to cut arms sales to Saudi Arabia or impose sanctions on the kingdom.

But his broader mention of the matter toward the end of his speech underscores the serious national security ramifications the incident poses for relations with a key US ally.

With our collective interests in peace and unwavering respect for human rights in mind, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a diplomatic facility must concern us all, Mr Mattis told international officials and experts at the Manama Dialogue.

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.

Saudi Arabias crown prince Mohammad bin Salman (PA)

He added that he will continue to consult with President Donald Trump and Mr Pompeo as they consider the broader implications of the matter.

Mr Khashoggi lived in self-imposed exile in the US for the past year and wrote editorial columns for The Washington Post that were critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdoms heir apparent.
The husband of a one in a million pensioner killed in a major road collision has made an emotional plea for information 10 years after her death.

John Mullaney, 77, lost his wife, Josie, 10 years ago following a four-car crash in Northolt, London.

Police were called to a scene involving a Toyota MR2 in collision with three other vehicles on the afternoon of 26 October 2018.

Mrs Mullaney, 73, a passenger in one of the vehicles, had sustained a head injury, and died six days later.

Reward of up to 10,000 offered for information about the death of 73-year-old Josie Mullaney in a road traffic collision in west London on 26 October 2008. An image of the stolen car involved in the fatal collision is shown. More info https://t.co/Ts2lJV7wTh #Ealing #Northolt pic.twitter.com/fmkm2syVNO  Crimestoppers (@CrimestoppersUK) October 26, 2018

Mr Mullaney said this week: Josie and I were married for 39 years. We were looking forward to starting our retired life together but all of this has been cruelly taken away.

Josie was one in a million, I miss her and think of her every single day. I dont understand how the person responsible can sleep at night and why those who know who did this have not come forward.

John and Josie Mullaney on their wedding day (Met Police/PA)

Charity Crimestoppers is offering a 10,000 reward for any information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible of Mrs Mullaneys death by dangerous driving.

DS Ben Massink, from the Metropolitan Police serious collision investigation unit, said: A lot of time has passed, but we are determined to identify the person who was driving the MR2, and will continue to appeal for information until those who know who are responsible do the decent thing and give us the information we need.

The charity Crimestoppers is now offering a reward in the hope that this may encourage those with information  but who want to remain anonymous  to come forward.

Anybody with any information is encouraged to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Duke of Sussex was handed a carved weapon during a visit to Rotorua  and warned he should not take it to Twickenham when England play New Zealand.

Harry and Meghan entered into the Tamatekapua Meeting House both wearing a Korowai, a Maori cloak which is intended to be a protector.

The duke was given a tewhatewha, a Maori weapon with a point at one end and an axe at the other.

Trevor Maxwell, of the local district council, said: I am sure you are going to Twickenham when the All Blacks play England on November 11  make sure you dont take that.

The ceremony was conducted in Maori  as Harry and Meghan were being treated like one of their own  with Monty Morrison, also from the council, only breaking into English once, when he looked at the duchess and said little bump to laughter.

People await the arrival of the Duke and Duchess at Tamatekapua Meeting House (Tamatekapua Meeting House/PA)

Inside the Tamatekapua Meeting House, a building named after the chief and captain of the Te Arawa canoe, which brought ancestors of Maori to New Zealand, the group took part in singing folk songs, or waiata, about their history.

Mr Maxwell joked in Maori that the duchess was just like Pihanga  a mountain in the region famed for its beauty.

The mood of the ceremony was light and relaxed, and Mr Maxwell stumbled slightly when introducing the duke, accidentally referring to him as Prince Andrew before adding: It was in 2007 when we had Prince Andrew here!

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wear traditional Maori cloaks (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The duke spoke for around a minute in Maori  with gasps of awe and smiles when he used the word whaiaipo, or sweetheart.

He said: Thank you for the beautiful cloak you have so kindly gifted to myself and the duchess.

We appreciate the skill of the weavers who made it, and the aroha (compassion) that has gone into its creation. This cloak is a taonga (possession) that will be cherished in our family.

One of the joys of our visit to New Zealand has been the opportunity to meet so many young New Zealanders who are devoting their talents and energy to making a difference.

There are creative, gifted and caring Te Arawa Rangatahi (young people) here, who are using their talents to preserve and promote the Maori language, to support mental wellbeing, and to

achieve in areas that will benefit their communities, and their country.

The Duke of Sussex said the cloaks would be cherished (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The Korowai which the duke and duchess wore were inspired by the coat of arms for the Sussexes, featuring silk in blue, gold, white and red.

Artist Norma Sturley said: The taniko (weaving technique) represents the coming together of two people and cultures with each side representing their whakapapa (family and genealogy).

The duchesss taniko pattern features three quills from the coat of arms representing the powers of words and communication, and the Californian sunshine is shown in the use of rays of gold.

The blue speaks of the separation of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and England with the Pacific Ocean, as well as the duchesss links to the Pacific Ocean.

The red symbolises royalty. The taniko weaving design also showcases manaakitanga (care) as (elder) Ngati Whakaue want to nurture the royal couple as a thank you for visiting Papaiouru.
The father of Claudia Lawrence is due to receive an OBE for his work to support the relatives of missing people.

Peter Lawrence, whose daughter disappeared in 2009, will receive the honour at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.

He campaigned for the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill, also known as Claudias Law, which was passed in April 2017.

The law, which applies to England and Wales, allows families of people missing for more than 90 days to deal with their affairs.

Claudia went missing on her way to work at the University of York in March 2009. Despite a massive police investigation, nobody has been charged in connection with her disappearance.

Mr Lawrence was named in this years Queens Birthday Honours list.

Kevin Hollinrake MP, Peter Lawrence (centre) and Baroness Hamwee holding a copy of Claudias Law (PA)

Also due to receive an OBE at Wednesdays ceremony is director Marianne Elliot for her services to theatre.

Video gaming entrepreneur David Banner will receive an MBE for his services to the video games industry, alongside retired firefighter Alistair Boyle, who will receive the honour for his services to charity.

Flight Lieutenant Ben Wallis is due to receive the Air Force Cross at the Palace, for saving his aircraft and crew following engine failure on his helicopter.

He was named in this years Operational Honours and Awards List.
A massive search effort has identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesias military chief said.

The two-month-old Boeing plane plunged into the Java Sea on Monday just minutes after take-off from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

(PA Graphics)

Based on the presentation of the head of the National Search and Rescue Agency, the coordinates of the suspected body of the aircraft have been found. We will send a team there to confirm, said armed forces chief Hadi Tjahjanto.

The disaster has reignited concerns about safety in Indonesias fast-growing aviation industry, which was recently removed from European Union and US blacklists, and also raised doubts about the safety of Boeings new generation 737 MAX 8 plane.

Boeing Co experts are expected to arrive in Indonesia on Wednesday and Lion Air has said an intense internal investigation is under way in addition to the probe by safety regulators.

Locating the fuselage will bring the search effort closer to finding the airplanes flight recorders, which are crucial to the accident investigation.

Data from flight-tracking sites show the plane had erratic speed and altitude in the early minutes of a flight on Sunday and on its fatal flight on Monday.

Safety experts caution, however, that the data must be checked for accuracy against the planes black boxes, which officials are confident will be recovered.

Passengers on the Sunday flight from Bali to Jakarta have recounted problems that including a long-delayed take-off for an engine check and terrifying descents in the first 10 minutes in the air.

A rescuer inspects a part of Lion Air plane flight JT 610 retrieved from the waters (Binsar Bakara/AP)

Officials said the non-stop search effort has sent 48 body bags containing human remains to police identification experts.

Anguished family members have been providing samples for DNA tests and police say results are expected within four to eight days.

Daniel Putut, a Lion Air managing director, said the airline and Boeing will meet on Wednesday afternoon.

Of course there are lots of things we will ask them, we all have question marks here, why? Whats the matter with this new plane, he said.

Indonesias Transport Ministry has ordered all Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes operated by Lion Air and national carrier Garuda to be inspected.

Boeing declined to comment about potential inspections globally.

The aircraft manufacturer told airlines in a bulletin, Boeing has no recommended operator action at this time, according to two people familiar with the matter.
A university in London has said it will stop making unconditional offers to prospective students in order to maintain standards.

St Marys University in Twickenham announced the move after discovering that a number of students who had been given an unconditional offer did not achieve their expected grades.

It comes following mounting criticism of the practice by education chiefs  with recent figures revealing the number of unconditional offers given to students has soared in recent years.

Universities Minister Sam Gyimah has called the rise irresponsible and warned handing them out to put bums on seats undermined the credibility of the university system.

Universities Minister Sam Gyimah has criticised the practice of giving unconditional offers (Conservative Party Handout/PA)

John Brewer, pro vice-chancellor for St Marys University, said the institution was determined to maintain standards of entry and had decided to withdraw unconditional offers for 2018/19.

He said: It was clear to us that a number of students who enrolled with us after an unconditional offer was made didnt meet the grades they expected and this didnt merit the investment we made into that particular part of our recruitment programme.

He added: By listening to the views of schools, teachers, our own staff and students, we believe that with the evidence that has been available to us that weve made the right decision.

Nearly 70,000 unconditional offers were made to 18-year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2018, up from less than 3,000 just five years ago.

Overall, 22.9% of 18-year-old university applicants  some 58,385 in total  from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, received at least one unconditional offer this year.

An unconditional offer means a student has a place on a degree course secured, regardless of the grades they achieve in their A-levels or other qualifications.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has urged universities to stop the practice, arguing that such offers can lead to students making less effort in their A-levels, which could damage their job prospects later on.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called on people to resolve never to be bystanders in the face of hate on a visit to Auschwitz.

She joined 200 students from schools across Scotland on the trip organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust.

Around 1.1 million people, including one million Jews, were murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Second World War Nazi concentration and death camp, as part of the Holocaust in which six million Jewish men, women and children were killed.

Ms Sturgeon said the attack on a synagogue in the US on Saturday where 11 people died shows anti-Semitism is not confined to history.

We must always remember those who suffered and died. But a visit to @AuschwitzMuseum is more than a history lesson - it is a powerful reminder that we must never be bystanders when confronted with hate and prejudice. #LessonsfromAuschwitz  Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 30, 2018

She said: What happened here (at Auschwitz-Birkenau) was one of the darkest periods in human history and its really important that we remember all those who suffered and were murdered but it is equally important that we dont just see this as a history lesson.

The Holocaust didnt start here, it started in the othering and stereotyping and dehumanising of Jews, it started in everyday discrimination and anti-Semitism.

Although it was perpetrated by the Nazis, it was facilitated by hundreds of thousands of people who went along with it or turned a blind eye to it.

Today as anti-Semitism, as intolerance and prejudice more generally starts to rear its head again in the world that we live in, I think its all the more important that we learn the lesson of this for our own lives and our own time and for all of us to resolve never to be bystanders in the face of hate.

She said seeing the camps for the first time brought home the scale of what happened (Holocaust Educational Trust/PA)

She said seeing the camps for the first time brought home the scale of the mass murder of people simply for who they were and that personal artefacts on display from victims, such as the huge piles of human hair, shoes and spectacles as well as photos of children and babies, gave an insight into the individual lives cut short.

The trusts Lessons from Auschwitz programme gives pupils the chance to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau and pass on the lessons learned on their return.

The group heard about the history of the camps as they viewed the belongings and the vast Book of Names listing victims at Auschwitz I, set up by the Nazis in 1940, before entering the camps gas chamber and crematorium.

The First Minister signed the visitors book before they travelled to Birkenau, where they saw the remains of the four huge chambers which victims were told were showers before being gassed to death.

Home from an emotional day at Auschwitz-Birkenau with @HolocaustUK. Its hard to put into words the impact. The sheer scale of the horror and the remnants of so many lives - the shoes, suitcases, photos - is hard to comprehend. For now, just a few images. #LessonsfromAuschwitz pic.twitter.com/0dJiuRbWMl  Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 30, 2018

Rabbi Daniel Epstein held a memorial service at the end of the camps notorious railway track, where candles were placed in memory of the dead.

Mollie Graham, 17, from Baldragon Academy in Dundee, urged people to visit the camps and witness what took place.

She said: When we walked into the gas chambers, all you saw was this big empty space and the size of the furnaces.

Seeing that there were capsules to put people into, that was pretty moving and a pretty horrible thing to see.

Nicola Sturgeon visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau (Beata Zawrzel/AP)

Navkiran Kooner, 17, of Craigholme School, Glasgow, said: Its made me a lot more appreciative of my life.

To be able to see what people went through is so important because its more than just reading out a textbook, its real life.

Holocaust Education Trust chief executive Karen Pollock thanked the First Minister for taking part in the visit.

She said: Seeing this place and hearing some of the stories, its something you carry with you for their rest of your life.
Indias prime minister has unveiled a towering bronze statue of Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, a key independence leader and the countrys first home minister after British colonialists left in 1947.

At 597ft, it is one of the tallest statues in the world built at a cost of more than 300 million in Kevadiya, a village in Gujarat state. Prime minister Narendra Modi and Patel hail from Gujarat.

Mr Modi inaugurated the Statue of Unity on the bank of the Narmada river. He had promised the project despite criticism that India could not afford to spend so much on a statue.

A tribute to the great Sardar Patel! Dedicating the Statue of Unity to the nation. Heres my speech. https://t.co/OEDjhW1MrT  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 31, 2018

Indian air force planes showered flower petals on the statue.

Patel was known as the Iron Man of India for integrating various states in the post-independence era as the creation of Pakistan led to massive bloodshed between Hindus and Muslims moving between the two nations.

Mr Modi said Patel was a beacon of hope for India in the time of crisis and will be a source of inspiration for ages to come.

Narendra Modi waves during the inauguration (Ajit Solanki/AP)

Rashesh Patel, a 42-year-old businessman, said: Though Patel was from Gujarat state, all Indians were proud of him because of his stature.

Mohandas Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Patel were the three key leaders of Indias independence struggle, he said.

The monument will have a museum with 40,000 documents, 2,000 photographs and a research centre dedicated to Patels life and work.
Examples of potential hate crimes are highlighted in a new national campaign to increase awareness about the sickening offending.

The initiative aims to make clear that directing abuse at someone because of their religion, race, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability is a criminal offence.

Films and posters depicting fictional cases include a lesbian couple being verbally abused at a bar; racist graffiti being sprayed on the shop of a foreign couple; an offender posting hate-filled messages about a transgender woman online; a Muslim woman being aggressively shouted at to remove her headscarf; a Jewish man being abused in the street; and a disabled man being verbally abused on a bus.

A poster of a disabled man being verbally abused on a bus (Home Office/PA)

The Home Office said the campaign has been developed to help the public understand hate crime, particularly offences which often people do not recognise as criminal, such as some forms of online and verbal abuse.

Minister for Countering Extremism Baroness Williams said: Committing a hate crime goes against all the shared values we hold and can have a traumatic impact on victims.

This is just one part of the ongoing work of the Government to tackle hate crime to ensure this sickening behaviour is stamped out.

A poster of racist graffiti being sprayed on the shop of a foreign couple (Home Office/PA)

Statistics published earlier this month revealed that, in 2017/18, there were 94,098 hate crime offences recorded by the police in England and Wales, an increase of 17% compared with the previous year.

In a separate step, the Government has commissioned a review to examine hate crime laws, including whether they should be extended to cover offences motivated by hostility towards a victims sex or age.

The new awareness campaign, which will go live on Wednesday, was developed in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service and the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime.
A well-known adventurer has dug herself out of an avalanche on a New Zealand mountain, while two guides climbing with her died.

The three were roped together as they tried to reach the summit of Mount Hicks on the South Island.

Im absolutely broken, survivor Jo Morgan told Television New Zealand. Two of my very dear friends lost their lives today, under tragic circumstances. I just got really lucky.

She said they had reached a slope that was unstable when the avalanche started. They were buried and I was buried but had my face out so I could breathe, she said.

Police said the bodies of the two men have been recovered. Their identities were not released pending notification of next of kin.

Lou Sanson, director-general of the Department of Conservation, told Radio New Zealand that Ms Morgan managed to activate a locater beacon after about 30 minutes and managed to free herself after another 20 minutes.

Jo Morgan (Television New Zealand via AP)

He said Ms Morgan told him she had one hand free when the avalanche ended and was able to remove snow from her mouth.

She had earlier written about her climb on Facebook. On Sunday, she wrote that they were having a rest day after making it to a hut on the Hooker Glacier.

Mt Hicks lords over us as we hope for a weather window before our rations are done for, she wrote. Yes I wish Id done more training, but have decided I excel in suffering.

On Tuesday she wrote that it had been bleak at the hut but a break in the weather had them planning to start a summit attempt at about 2am on Wednesday.

New Zealands Rescue Co-ordination Centre said it got a notification from Ms Morgans locator beacon at about 6.45am and rescuers dispatched two helicopters and two climbing teams that included an avalanche dog.

Ms Morgan is married to well-known businessman Gareth Morgan, who launched a political party that unsuccessfully contested New Zealands 2017 election.

The couples son Sam Morgan is one of the nations most successful entrepreneurs after he founded the online auction site TradeMe.

Mount Hicks is about 10,500ft high and is in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.
More than two thirds of three to five-year-olds attending council nurseries have places for just three hours and 10 minutes per day, according to a new report.

A study by childcare campaign group Fair Funding for our Kids found that 68% of all council nursery places for three to five-year-olds in 2017/18 were for half days only.

Almost half (48%) of all nursery places in Scotland were half days only, while less than 3% of all nursery places are for full days all year round, according to responses to Freedom of Information requests submitted by the group.

Children aged three to five are entitled to 600 hours a year of free childcare, however campaigners said that half-day places, many of which are offered in term time only, are almost impossible for working parents to make use of.

A campaign spokesman said: Early years care is so important, but working parents continue to miss out.

Very few people have bosses who are prepared to let them work for less than three hours a day, and many dont have grandparents who can fill gaps in childcare.

Children aged three to five are entitled to 600 hours a year of free childcare (Andrew Matthews/PA)

We need much faster progress in eliminating half-day places except where parents specifically request them.

Two out of three kids attending council nursery get just three hours of care per day. That's the key finding in our new report, out today: https://t.co/DhrIIDWihU  Fairfunding4ourkids (@fairfunding4OK) October 31, 2018

The report found that 16% of all nursery places in 2017/18 are for full days in term time only, up from 3% in 2016.

While 68% of council nursery places and almost half of all nursery places were for half days only, this is an improvement on 2016, when 90% of council places and 65% of all places in Scotland were offered on this basis.

The study also claimed that local authorities in Scotland are underfunding partnership places in private nurseries by up to 461 per child a year.

The research found that 21 of Scotlands 32 local authorities are offering an hourly rate below the national average cost of 4.03 an hour.

Campaigners concluded that Scotland is still some distance from the fully funded, flexible, child-centred system that we need.

The Scottish Government has pledged to increase the free childcare entitlement to 1,140 hours a year by 2020.

Campaigners are calling for action to address the problems and a focus on improving the childcare sector so that it works for all families.

A Cosla spokesman said: This information is historical. Cosla and Scottish Government are working together, not only on the expansion to 1140 funded early learning and childcare but also to maintaining a high quality provision for our youngest children as we prepare for the expansion.

The commitment to the 1140 expansion means that all families will benefit from longer and more flexible approaches in every local authority area.

Cosla are clear that our priority is quality of provision for the funded entitlement as we make childrens outcomes our focus for the expansion programme.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: Early learning and childcare flexibility and choice is increasing across the country.

More local authority settings are providing funded early learning and childcare entitlement out with school hours as well as enabling families to access their childs entitlement from other providers who already offer extended opening hours. This will further increase as we almost double the funded entitlement to 1,140 hours from August 2020.

This enhanced offer will improve outcomes for children and contribute to our goal of closing the poverty related attainment gap.

It will be delivered through a new Funding Follows the Child approach, which will allow children to access high quality early learning and childcare at any setting that meets a new national standard and has a place available.

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesman Tavish Scott MSP said urgent action is needed to ensure people can take up their existing entitlement.

He said: High quality childcare lasting though the day can be an enormous boost for children and parents alike. These figures show that is not available in many places and half day places dont work for many parents.

We need flexible full-time childcare and early years education that meets the needs of parents and children.
A well-known adventurer has dug herself out of an avalanche on a New Zealand mountain, while two guides climbing with her died.

The three were roped together as they tried to reach the summit of Mount Hicks on the South Island.

Jo Morgan survived after being almost completely buried in snow and then punching and wriggling her way free over the course of about an hour.

An adventurer and philanthropist from one of New Zealands most well-known families, she described her ordeal in an interview with Radio New Zealand.

#LISTEN It was like being in a jumble of ice blocks."



In this incredible, 10-minute-long interview with Jo Morgan, she describes what it was like when the avalanche hit, and how she dug herself out. https://t.co/OKsowfIDiP  Checkpoint (@CheckpointRNZ) October 31, 2018

Its a terrifying thing, she said. Its a bit like the surf coming down on you. Just a huge big wave of ice coming down the slopes toward you.

She said she got lucky and landed with her face in a hollow at surface level and one hand free, while her body was buried.

Jo Morgan (Television New Zealand via AP)

I could feel when I stuck my hand up that I was into air rather than into something solid, she told RNZ. So I was very lucky that my position allowed me to actually clear my face and take a big breath and think, Wow. Lets hope no more comes down.

She said she shouted to her friends but heard no reply, then began the painstaking task of freeing herself.

It took her 30 minutes to grab and trigger her locator beacon to alert rescuers, and another half hour or more to wriggle out of the snow. She said it was frustrating not being able to help her friends as the minutes ticked away.

You know in your deepest heart that the chances of survival are not good, she told RNZ.

Ms Morgan is married to well-known businessman Gareth Morgan, who launched a political party that unsuccessfully contested New Zealands 2017 election.

The couples son Sam Morgan is one of the nations most successful entrepreneurs and founded the online auction site TradeMe.

Ms Morgan was in her late 50s when she took up serious climbing a few years back and she had been ticking off a list of New Zealands peaks of over 3,000 meters. She only had a couple left to go.

She said she had reached 23 summits with one of her guides, whom she identified as Wolfgang. The latest mountain they were climbing, in a national park in the central South Island, is 3,200 meters tall.

Police have not identified the guides while they notify the families.

Inspector Dave Gaskin told media that both men were in their 50s and were very experienced and well equipped. He said both guides were New Zealand residents but were from overseas, including one he believed was from Germany.

Mr Gaskin said there had been cold weather in the area that had created ice on the mountain, then it had snowed.

Recent snow sitting on ice always makes avalanches even more frequent, he said. They took a chance and, unfortunately, it didnt work.

Ms Morgan told RNZ the guides were professionals and they had all made an assessment of the conditions.

Maybe we got it wrong that time, she said. Who knows?

She had written about the days leading up to the summit attempt on Facebook. On Sunday, she wrote that they were having a rest day after making it to a hut on the Hooker Glacier.

Mt Hicks lords over us as we hope for a weather window before our rations are done for, she wrote. Yes I wish Id done more training, but have decided I excel in suffering.

New Zealands Rescue Co-ordination Centre said it got a notification from Ms Morgans locator beacon and rescuers dispatched helicopters and climbing teams.

Ms Morgan said it took more than two hours for a helicopter to reach them, as it had to fly from the city of Christchurch to the remote location.

Mr Gaskin said rescuers tried performing CPR on the guides but it was too late. One had died instantly while the other died before anyone could reach him. He said the men were well known in the guiding fraternity and their deaths would have a dramatic impact.

Ms Morgan said: Im absolutely broken. Two of my very dear friends lost their lives today, under tragic circumstances. I just got really lucky.

They were great mates. I wouldnt have left without saying goodbye to them. Theyre an amazing loss to the climbing community. Theyre both just so cheerful and capable and competent.

She said the experience had brought home to her how risky climbing is, and that she did not plan to climb again.
Ben Stokes retired hurt on the second day of Englands Test warm-up against a Sri Lanka Board XI after being struck on the left arm.

Stokes had gone early at a Lahiru Kumara short ball and was hit on the upper arm, attempting to bat on but quickly admitting defeat and heading for the dressing room.

He was believed to have sustained nothing more serious than bruising above the elbow, and having faced only 15 balls he was hoping to bat again in the final session of the day, but there was a more worrying problem for fielder Pathum Nissanka.

He was struck flush on the helmet by a powerful Jos Buttler shot and received lengthy treatment from Englands medical staff before being lifted off on a stretcher and taken to hospital.

Team doctor Moiz Moghal, physio Craig de Weymarn and masseuse Mark Saxby were among those to assist as the 20-year-old was carefully lifted on to a stretcher with his head braced.

Nissanka was said to be conscious but complaining of soreness in his neck and the teams eventually agreed to take an early tea.

Almost as a footnote, Buttler was given out with the ball caught by Angelo Mathews at leg-slip after ricocheting off Nissankas helmet, leaving England 220 for four.

The tourists new-look top order had earlier enjoyed differing fortunes in their response to the hosts 392 on day one.

Keaton Jennings, retained after a lean summer following Alastair Cooks retirement, chopped on to his stumps for 13  reacting to his dismissal with a frustrated swing of the bat.

England opener Keaton Jennings made only 13 (John Walton/PA)

Newcomer Rory Burns, though, looked in fine touch as he struck nine fours on his way to a neat 47. He had yet to offer up a chance when a miscommunication saw him run out by a direct-hit.

Joe Denly, a possible rival for Jennings, did little to state his own case in an unconvincing knock of 25.

Denly started poorly and was bowled immediately after lunch. Joe Root was in typically good touch, resuming for the final session on 79 not out after putting on 108 with Buttler (44).
K-Beauty  Korean Beauty  is one of the worlds biggest skin and make-up trends, as everyone wants to emulate the enviably bright and dewy look of South Korean women.

However, there is a growing backlash against extreme pressures to look perfect in South Korea. This has started manifesting itself on social media, with women smashing their make-up and cosmetic products.

K-Beauty is notorious for being labour-intensive and expensive. To achieve perfect glass skin and the desired pore-less complexion, you need to invest money in the right products and time into a multi-step regime. And now women are saying theyve had enough.

This destruction of make-up comes as part of a wider feminist movement which has been nicknamed escape the corset. Women face pressures to look a certain way all over the world, but its intensity does seem to be heightened in South Korea  a place where there is such a focus on the aesthetic that youre often asked to include a picture of yourself in job applications.

The demands on women to conform to the South Korean ideal of beauty are intense, which perhaps explains why some estimates place it as the plastic surgery capital of the world.

Its common to see adverts for plastic surgery clinics all over Seoul  some even sporting ominous captions like: Everyone but you has done it. In fact, there is a growing trend of gifting plastic surgery procedures to South Korean students upon their graduation from school.

(Thinkstock/PA)

The cosmetics industry is similarly huge, predicted to be eighth largest market in the world by export.gov and growing at an annual rate of 7.4 between 2012 and 2016.

Cha Ji-won is one of the women who has trashed her make-up in protest against these weighty expectations, telling the Guardian she would spend up to 70 a month on cosmetics, and adding: Theres only so much mental energy a person has each day, and I used to spend so much of it worrying about being pretty.

Destroying cosmetics isnt the only way women are taking a stand in South Korea, which is experiencing something of its own #MeToo moment. Since public prosecutor Seo Ji-hyeon told the world she was groped by a former politician in January, many more women have been coming forward with their own stories.

Not only this, but Seoul saw a feminist rally of around 22,000 people in June, protesting the phenomenon of molka  spycams hidden in places like public bathrooms to take explicit footage of women without their knowledge.

However, its apparent theres an uphill battle facing the women of South Korea. Earlier this year, a female news anchor wore her glasses on air and this caused a significant stir online  even though male anchors wear specs regularly, its not necessarily seen as the done thing for women.

In an interview afterwards, the Korean Herald reports Lim Hyeon-ju as saying: I hope that people wouldnt think that it is uncomfortable to watch a news presenter wearing glasses, just because that presenter is a woman.

Chances are, the cosmetic industry wont suffer much from the escape the corset movement. However, its opening up the conversations around the expectations placed on women, and how toxic this need to conform can be. This is only a start, but its an important one for the women of South Korea.
With October 31 marking the final Halloween before Brexit Day, it seems only right to joyfully mash the two together in meme matrimony.

Using the Press Associations photo archive of Britains journey out of the European Union and the key players involved, the following images display Halloween as you may have seen it before  depending on how much you keep up with the news.

1. Halloween can be a night of treachery.

2. Choosing a costume can be easy if youve got the confidence.

(Dominic Lipinski/PA)

3. But the spooky parties often come back for revenge.

(Yui Mok/PA)

4. Halloween can be a time to be daring.

(Stefan Rousseau/PA)

5. But dont risk the wrath of the little ones looking for something sweet.

(Johnathan Brady/PA)

6. Or give it your best shot if treats are in short supply.

(Aaron Chown/PA)

7. Theres always one costume that will creep you out.

(Aaron Chown/PA)

8. Just hope you dont meet anyone too strange.

(Yui Mok/PA)

9. With great pumpkin comes great responsibility.

(Brian Lawless/PA)

10. Halloween is never so exciting as when you were small.

(Victoria Jones/PA)

11. And dressing up can easily become the art of escape as you get older.

(Stefan Rousseau/PA)

12. Horror movies rarely surprise.

(Jeremy Selwyn/Evening Standard/PA)

13. Just remember to breathe.

(Aaron Chown/PA)

Happy Brexit Halloween.
Englands Test warm-up in Colombo was interrupted by the worrying sight of an opposing player leaving the pitch on a stretcher after Ben Stokes brushed aside his own minor injury concern.

Stokes was forced to retire hurt in the afternoon session after being hit by a short ball above the left elbow but suffered nothing more serious than bruising and resumed his innings after tea when Joe Root retired on 101.

There was more concern over Pathum Nissanka, who was taken to hospital after being struck by a powerful Jos Buttler pull on the top of the helmet while fielding at short-leg.

Nissanka received lengthy treatment from Englands medical staff, with team doctor Moiz Moghal, physio Craig de Weymarn and massage therapist Mark Saxby among those to assist as the 20-year-old was carefully lifted on to a stretcher with his head braced.

Nissanka was said to be conscious but complaining of soreness in his neck and the teams eventually agreed to take an early tea.

Almost as a footnote, Buttler was given out with the ball caught by Angelo Mathews at leg-slip after ricocheting off Nissankas helmet, leaving England 220 for four.

The tourists new-look top order had earlier enjoyed differing fortunes in their response to the hosts 392 on day one.

Keaton Jennings, retained after a lean summer following Alastair Cooks retirement, chopped on to his stumps for 13  reacting to his dismissal with a frustrated swing of the bat.

Newcomer Rory Burns, though, looked in fine touch as he struck nine fours on his way to a neat 47. He had yet to offer up a chance when a miscommunication saw him run out by a direct-hit.

England opener Keaton Jennings made only 13 (John Walton/PA)

Joe Denly, a possible rival for Jennings, did little to state his own case in an unconvincing knock of 25.

Denly started poorly and was bowled immediately after lunch. Joe Root was in typically good touch, resuming for the final session on 79 not out after putting on 108 with Buttler (44).

He left the field as soon as he reached three figures with a 13th boundary, with Stokes re-emerging to dispel concerns over his fitness.
The Metropolitan Police are planning to launch a range of clothing, homeware, toys and souvenirs.

Permission has been given for images including the New Scotland Yard spinning sign, the forces logo and of officers on patrol to be used on the products.

It is hoped that the scheme will raise hundreds of thousands of pounds at a time when the forces budget has been slashed by millions.

Internationally, the New York Police Department has a hugely successful range of merchandise, although questions have been raised as to how popular Scotland Yards products would be among Britons.

Brand company The Point.1888 has been chosen to establish the range, which could include clothing, branded toys and games, stationery, homeware and souvenirs, until May 2021.

Any products that mimic the Metropolitan Police uniform are off limits (Nick Ansell/PA)

However anything that mimics the forces uniforms is off limits.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: Absolutely no products will be produced which directly reflect the uniform of the Metropolitan Police Service and any products which attempt to do so will be charged with intellectual property infringement.

Will Stewart, managing director of The Point.1888, which has previously worked with the Tate galleries and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, said: I grew up in London, so to be able to generate revenue that puts more bobbies on the beat in my home town is an honour.

Transport for London is also a partner in the deal, having brokered its own successful range of gifts and merchandise.
A teenage boy has killed himself and injured three security officials after setting off a bomb at the entrance of a local branch of Russias main intelligence agency.

The 17-year-old entered the local branch of the FSB intelligence agency in Akhangelsk and removed the improvised explosive device from a bag, causing it to detonate, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee said.

Authorities are treating the incident as terrorism (Russian Investigative Committees photo via AP)

The explosion killed the boy and injured three FSB officers. It was not immediately clear if the teenager had meant to just leave the bomb or had also intended to blow himself up.

Russian investigators said they are treating the attack as an act of terrorism.

Authorities cordoned off the area around the FSB office and boosted security measures at all public offices in the city.

The FSB and other security have been targeted in the past in another region, the North Caucasus, mostly by Islamist insurgents.
A former Sinn Fein MP who quit after posing with a Kingsmill-branded loaf on his head on the anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre will not be prosecuted.

Northern Irelands Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said there was insufficient evidence to provide a reasonable prospect of convicting Barry McElduff, 52, over his controversial social media post.

The PPS announced it will also not be taking action against Sinn Fein Assembly member and former Stormont finance minister Mairtin O Muilleoir, 58, who shared Mr McElduffs video on Twitter.

Again, the PPS said there was insufficient evidence.

It is understood the PPS was unable to establish that either man deliberately intended to cause offence  a requirement if a prosecution was to have been successful.

Mr McElduff resigned as West Tyrone MP in January after families of some of the 10 Protestant workmen shot dead by republican paramilitaries in 1976 expressed outrage at the video.

The Sinn Fein veteran has always maintained he had not meant the video as a reference to the sectarian murders of 10 Protestant workmen near the south Armagh village of Kingsmill.

He said he was unaware he had posted it on the 42nd anniversary of the attack.

However, Mr McElduff, who had already been suspended by Sinn Fein for three months when he announced his resignation, acknowledged the post had caused unintentional hurt to the Kingsmill families.

He said staying in the job would have impeded efforts to forge reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

Mr McElduff was interviewed by detectives in April and questioned over alleged improper use of a public electronic communications network under the Communications Act 2003, and two alleged public order offences under the Public Order (NI) Order 1989.

Mr O Muilleoir, who was questioned by police over an alleged breach of the Communications Act 2003, insisted he had not meant an offence by retweeting what at the time he thought was a wholly apolitical post.

Mairtin O Muilleoir (Niall Carson/PA)

PPS assistant director Martin Hardy said: We have given detailed consideration to the evidence provided by police in respect of the two men reported and have concluded that it is insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction against either for any offence.

The PPS acknowledges the content of the video posted on the anniversary of the Kingsmill murders caused a great deal of hurt to those directly affected by the atrocity and many others in the wider community.

We have written to the next of kin of the Kingsmill victims, and the attacks survivor, to explain in detail the rationale for the decision.

Whilst we recognise the outcome is disappointing to those offended by the content and timing of the video, we can offer assurance that these decisions were reached only after the most careful examination of all evidence and information available.

Kingsmill is a well-known brand of bread in Northern Ireland.

It shares a name with the village that witnessed one of the most notorious incidents of the Troubles, when gunmen stopped a van carrying textile workers on their way home, identified the Protestant occupants, lined them up at the side of the road and shot them.

Only one of the 11 men gunned down survived the attack.

In the video Mr McElduff, who had been known for his lighthearted social media contributions, is at one point filmed walking around a shop with a Kingsmill loaf on his head asking where the store kept the bread.

Sinn Fein easily held on to the West Tyrone seat in Mays by-election, with solicitor Orfhlaith Begley succeeding Mr McElduff.
A pharmaceutical company is facing criminal prosecution over the supply of contaminated feed for premature babies.

ITH Pharma is facing of seven counts of supplying a medicinal product which was not of the nature or quality specified in the prescription, and with failing to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that patients were not infected by contaminants.

An investigation was launched after three babies died and another 20 needed treatment when they contracted septicaemia in 2014.

Police investigating the deaths and illnesses of babies at a number of hospitals have charged a pharmaceutical company with offences. https://t.co/m4DfIpibz9 pic.twitter.com/kXp7K49kmh  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 31, 2018

The charges announced by the Metropolitan Police on Wednesday are linked to seven babies, including three who died, who were given the fluid as nutrition because they were unable to feed on their own between May 27 and June 2 2014.

The infants who died were treated at St Thomas Hospital in London and Rosie Maternity Hospital in Cambridge.

The parents of Yousef Al-Kharboush, who died at nine days old on June 1 2014 after receiving the contaminated feed at St Thomas, said they will never recover from what happened.

A new baby (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

He and his twin brother Abdulilah were born by emergency Caesarean section at the hospital at 32 weeks gestation in May 2014.

While in intensive care they were both fed intravenously, and while Abdulilah was not affected, Yousef contracted lethal blood poisoning from the feed which was contaminated with the bacteria bacillus cereus.

Their father Raaid Sakkijha said: It has been like living with an open wound that will not close. We have found it impossible to move on while the case is ongoing, I am not sure that we will ever come to terms with what happened.

We never celebrate events such as Yousefs brothers birthday because it is too painful a reminder of what weve lost.

Their lawyer Arti Shah, from Fieldfisher, said: It has been incredibly hard for Yousefs parents to have to wait so long for a charging decision while the company has simply been allowed to continue to trade.

Yousefs family has suffered the worst grief imaginable, knowing that Yousefs death was avoidable.

Representatives of ITH Pharma are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on December 17.
A royal fan was blown away when the Duchess of Sussex recognised her at a public walk in Auckland, New Zealand, after having exchanged messages on Instagram two years ago.

Hannah Sergel had exchanged messages with the duchess in 2016, with the then Meghan Markle sending the student encouraging messages as she was starting university.

(Hannah Sergel) Hannah with Jenny, who she met at the event.

Waiting for Meghan at an event at the Viaduct Harbour, Ms Sergel carried a sign saying: Its Hannah from Instagram, which prompted Meghan to greet her and give her a hug.

A video posted on social media showed the Duchess saying oh my god, how are you? after spotting her in the crowd.

Ms Sergel told Press Association: When I first saw her, I really got emotional. After the hug, I was so blown away, I couldnt comprehend what had happened.

The volunteer worker was so moved by the encounter, she joked on Twitter that the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, had to comfort her at the event.

She added that Ms Ardern had even been sending her footage of the encounter via direct message.

Ms Sergel, who co-founded the Twitter fan account Meghan Markle Daily, said this was the first time the two had met in person.

She said: Her messages were about me starting university and how I was going to do well if I just put my mind to it.

(Chris Jackson/PA Wire/PA Images)

In addition to meeting Ms Sergel, Meghan also greeted many fans who gifted her flowers and baby toys for her future child.

The public walk was part of a 16-day royal tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand.

While visiting New Zealand, Meghan and Prince Harry participated in a welly throwing contest and planted a tree for the Queens Canopy dedication.
Waitrose Food magazine editor William Sitwell is stepping down from the post after coming under fire for joking about killing vegans.

Mr Sitwell, who also appears as a critic on the BBC programme MasterChef, suggested journalist Selene Nelson pen a series of articles about force-feeding meat to vegans, whom he accused of hypocrisy.

Ms Nelson had suggested a regular series on vegan cooking, featuring recipes, commentary and news.

In an emailed response to her pitch last week, the magazine editor wrote: Hi Selene. Thanks for this. How about a series on killing vegans, one by one. Ways to trap them? How to interrogate them properly? Expose their hypocrisy? Force-feed them meat? Make them eat steak and drink red wine?

In a statement, Waitrose & Partners Food Magazine said it believed that it was the right and proper move for Mr Sitwell to step down as editor.

The statement said: We have been informed by John Brown Media, who produce the Waitrose & Partners Food Magazine, that William Sitwell is stepping down as Editor of Waitrose & Partners Food magazine with immediate effect.

Waitrose launched a new Vegan range this month (PA)

In the light of Williams recent email remarks, weve told John Brown Media that we believe this is the right and proper move  we will be working with them to appoint a new editor for the magazine.

We have had a relationship with William for almost 20 years and are grateful for his contribution to our business over that time.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Mr Sitwell said he wanted to make two points: Firstly, to reiterate my apology to any food and life-loving vegan who was genuinely offended by remarks written by me as an ill-judged joke in a private email and now widely reported.

Second, a word about my team on Waitrose & Partners Food. For two amazing decades Ive worked with simply the best crew in the business. There is no more talented art director than Kerry Wakefield, my lovely deputy Jess, PA Morgan, Dr Lucy heading food, Ashleigh on features, Kat and the fab art and subbing team. Thank you  we never stopped laughing (til now!).

Ms Nelson said she had been shocked by Mr Sitwells email.

She told BuzzFeed News: Ive never seen anything like it. Ive written about many divisive topics, like capital punishment and murder cases and domestic violence, and Ive never had a response like that to any of my articles or pitches.

And hes the editor. Hes representing Waitrose and hes talking about killing vegans, one by one?

She added: If William Sitwell wants to continue eating meat and hating vegans, thats his prerogative, but to have this attitude towards others when hes representing Waitrose is seriously bizarre.

Dominic Ponsford, editor-in-chief of the Press Gazette, said: I think its rather sad really. Colourful, outspoken editors are a good thing. Its a shame to lose one.

I think, given his track record, its rather a kneejerk reaction from Waitrose if they were involved in him stepping down. To me it looked like a light-hearted comment to a freelance.

I think, sadly, we live in quite a censorious age and people are rather easily offended. I think irony doesnt translate well on email or social media. I think its why William Sitwell has lost his job.

The upmarket supermarket launched a new vegan range earlier this month.
The co-convener of the Scottish Greens has called for the Scottish Government to end all ties with the arms trade, on the 100th anniversary of the armistice.

In an opinion piece for The Herald newspaper, Patrick Harvie also explained why he chooses to wear a white poppy as a commitment to peace.

The white poppy can be worn to represent a lasting commitment to peace and the belief that war should not be celebrated or glamorised.

The Royal British Legion (RBL) has previously been criticised for accepting sponsorship from companies working in the defence industry, including Lockheed Martin.

The RBL, which sells the red poppy, say it is not a sign of support for war and death, saying the poppy represents a symbol for remembrance and hope and is not to be seen as a symbol of religion or politics.

He wrote: The involvement of the arms trade with the Royal British Legions poppy appeal leaves me feeling uncomfortable.

Patrick Harvie also explained why he chooses to wear a white poppy as a commitment to peace (Jane Barlow/PA)

Of course, the Scottish Government also has a disturbingly close relationship with arms dealers, funding companies such as Raytheon, who have been implicated in alleged war crimes carried out by the Saudi regime, with significant sums of public money.

On the 100th anniversary of armistice, it would be fitting for the Scottish Government and the Royal British Legion to distance themselves from the weapons manufacturers whose profits depend on the continuation of war and the creation of ever more victims both here and around the world.

Please help support White Poppy for peace, add a #Twibbon now! https://t.co/y012CqozKr  Patrick Harvie  (@patrickharvie) October 30, 2018

A response to a freedom of information request was published in November last year and said Scottish Government agencies gave a total of 518,595 during 2016/17 to companies involved in the arms trade.

The weapons systems manufacturer Raytheon, a recipient of 91,009 over the period, has a plant in Fife.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: We agree on the importance of marking Remembrance Day in an appropriate and respectful way, as a reminder of the appalling human suffering of past conflicts  something that is even more poignant and significant as we mark the centenary of the end of the First World War  and we will be participating in the service to mark the 100th anniversary of the First Armistice at Glasgow Cathedral.

As we have made consistently clear, the Scottish Government does not provide funding for the manufacture of munitions, and any suggestion to the contrary is mistaken.

A spokesman from the Royal British Legion said: The Legion accepts donations from companies which operate legally in the UK, and this includes those working in the defence sector.

It is the Legions policy to make robust checks on potential partners and, before any support is accepted, we ensure they observe all Conventions to which the UK is a signatory. If this cannot be evidenced, offers of support are declined.
A prominent SNP MP has warned that backing a so-called Peoples Vote on Brexit could present all sorts of risks to a future independence referendum for nothing.

Pete Wishart said the move could make it more difficult to resist calls for a similar confirmatory ballot in Scotland if nationalists were to win another indyref.

Nicola Sturgeon has said her partys MPs would undoubtedly back a public vote on the final deal for leaving the EU if given the option.

The SNP leader and First Minister has also indicated she would seek a guarantee or double lock for such a ballot, for example requiring the support of all four UK nations before Britain could leave the EU.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has also suggested a guarantee that Scotland could hold another vote on independence.

However it is unclear if the SNP would withdraw its support for a Peoples Vote if its demands for special conditions were not met.

SNP MP Pete Wishart has concerns about backing a Peoples Vote on Brexit (PA)

Writing in The National, Mr Wishart said: To say that we will sign up to a referendum without any guarantee that our Scottish national voice will be at least acknowledged is little more than an open invitation to have our national view ignored and disrespected all over again.

By enthusiastically buying into this confirmatory vote for an EU referendum, we weaken our hand in resisting Unionist calls for a second vote on a successful indyref.

And if they were successful in using this precedent against us, unreconciled Unionists would be working non-stop from the day after the referendum to ensure that a successful outcome would be overturned.

Every apparatus of state would be deployed and they would ensure that the worst possible deal would be offered to the Scottish people in the hope that their Union could be rescued.

Mr Wishart, the longest-serving MP in the SNPs 35-strong Westminster group, said he considered it very unlikely a Peoples Vote would come to fruition.

We could be presenting all sorts of risks to a future independence referendum for nothing, he added.

An SNP spokesman said: We have made it clear that we would push strongly for any second EU referendum to have safeguards to ensure Scotlands voice is protected in the event of Scotland voting remain again while the UK as a whole voted to leave.

Scotlands overwhelming vote to remain in 2016  by far the most decisive vote of any of the UK nations  has been completely ignored, which underlines how Westminster completely fails to represent or protect Scotlands vital national interests.

Labour MP and Peoples Vote supporter Ian Murray said: We are inching towards a parliamentary majority for a Peoples Vote, so this raises questions about how Pete Wishart and other SNP MPs will vote in the Commons.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Tavish Scott said: The First Minister said SNP support for a Peoples Vote was unequivocal.

Her colleagues ought to be backing the campaign, not throwing up more roadblocks.
Trade deals after Brexit will not allow imports of food produced to lower standards than is permitted for British farmers, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Michael Gove has insisted.

Concerns have been raised that UK farmers will be held to environmental and animal welfare rules but will be undercut by imports of cheaper food with lower standards, such as hormone-fed beef or chlorine-washed chicken from the US.

Mr Gove moved to allay those fears when he appeared before the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee .

Nothing that is banned in the UK while it is still part of the European Union would be allowed in under future trade deals after the country quits the bloc, he confirmed.

Mr Gove said: Any trade deal would have to be agreed not just by the Cabinet, but by Parliament, and the commitment I have underlined today is one the International Trade Secretary and indeed the Cabinet have agreed as well.

Quizzed on the uncertainty over future support for farmers after Brexit, Mr Gove said a review of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) in Europe meant farmers in places such as France and Italy were in a similar situation.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove speaking at the Conservative Party annual conference at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham.

He told MPs on the committee he could not confirm current levels of funding paid through the European Unions Common Agricultural Policy would continue  as he was not the Chancellor.

But he said: Ive a deep appreciation of the vital importance of making sure working farmers, not least in the uplands, are provided with support they need in order not just to generate the food we enjoy but also make sure the public goods they produce as well are adequately rewarded.

He added: Seventy per cent of this country is farmed, some of the most beautiful and iconic landscapes and our most important habitats depend on the active work of farmers whose principle aim is to secure a fair price on the market for their produce.

Asked if the support for farming and public goods could be delivered for less than the 3 billion currently paid through the EU, Mr Gove said: Its possible but not desirable in my view.

We get exceptional value for money from our farmers and the rural economy, considering whats provided.

He said there were ways of getting more money from the private sector, such as water companies, for the farmed landscape and the public goods it provides.

But he said: Id want to makes sure we get the maximum amount of support, properly targeted, into farming and the rural economy as possible.
So-called tweakments like lip and dermal fillers are more popular than ever; getting a lunchtime pout enhancement is arguably becoming as mainstream as popping ito your dentist for a professional teeth whitening.

But a new cosmetic surgery trend has seen an increase in men asking for surgeons to take their needles below the belt, with penis fillers becoming popular with men who want to increase the size of their assets.

For the right price, men can now have their appendages injected with hyaluronic acid  the same substance used in lip fillers  with clinics claiming it can noticeably increase the organs girth by as much as 20%.

(Thinkstock/PA)

What does the procedure involve?

Unlike penoplasty, where a surgeon makes an incision into the shaft to release the penile suspensory ligament, the appeal of penis fillers is that they are non-invasive.

The liquid filler is injected into the tissue under the skin of the shaft, and then massaged out in multiple directions to ensure a smooth and natural result. Much like lip enhancements, the more filler thats used, the more dramatic the result.

Hyaluronic acid is usually the filler of choice, as it is a substance naturally found in the body, in soft connective tissues and the fluid surrounding your eyes. Surgeons claim the results are non-permanent, they dont affect your ability to get an erection and the results usually last around 18 months.

Penis fillers can be administered in a matter of hours at a specialist clinic, and usually cost around 3,000 a time  although prices vary from clinic to clinic.

Why are men having it done?

The NHS says most mens penises in the UK are somewhere around 3.75 inches long when not erect, and its totally normal for them to be shorter or longer than this. However, many men worry that theirs is smaller than it should be, which can drive them to seek out cosmetic surgery.

photo of a young man fighting against erection problem

In fact, a recent YouGov survey found that more 18-24-year-old British men say they would like their penis to be larger (42%) than say it is the right size (36%).

As cosmetic treatments become cheaper and more culturally acceptable, a whole industry is booming around manipulating and enhancing the aesthetics of mens private parts.

As well as penis fillers and penoplasty, theres also been a rise in supplementary procedures like scrotox  the act of having Botox injected into your scrotum for a smoother undercarriage.

Is it actually safe?

Penis fillers are growing in popularity, despite several warnings from experts over potential complications.

I dont recommend fillers as there is a potential risk of vascular occlusion [a blood vessel blockage] and the result of that could be erectile dysfunction, says Dr Unnati Desai, a cosmetic practitioner from Harley Street Emporium.

Post-filler vascular occlusion can not only be painful, but in cases can cause life-changing consequences. If you accidentally inject a filler into a blood vessel, its going to block the blood supply, says Desai, who explains that some fillers are reversible, such as Voluma (which has a hyaluronic acid base), but others, like Ellanse, are not. If youve assessed the risks and are still set on getting filler, she stresses that its really important to know what you are being injected with.

The other downside of fillers is that they only address width and girth, and they have no effect on functionality, says Dr Desai, so they wont help with erectile dysfunction issues.

Things you should ask your doctor are; whether they are qualified and trained in performing this procedure, what product are they using and whether the results are reversible, she adds.

If you experience any pain and swelling, discolouration of the skin and decrease in functionality after the procedure, its usually a sign that something has gone wrong,  in which case, always consult your GP or medical professional.
A primary school principal has urged Northern Irelands politicians to set aside petty squabbles and stand up for children.

Graham Gault, head of Maghaberry Primary School in Moira, Co Armagh, said there is no more time for our politicians to play pathetic games.

Mr Gault was one of four school principals who gave evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee at Westminster on Wednesday.

The committee is carrying out an inquiry into education funding in Northern Ireland.

Committee chairman Andrew Murrison said in the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive the committee was probing matters that would normally be devolved.

The powersharing government at Stormont has been collapsed since January 2017 following a breakdown in relations between the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein.

Powersharing at Stormont has been suspended since January 2017 (Niall Carson/PA)

The evidence session came weeks after Northern Irelands Auditor General warned that the regions education system is coming close to a financial tipping point.

Kieran Donnelly said the Department of Education and the Education Authority need to act as a matter of urgency.

His report found that since the 2012/13 financial year, the number of schools in deficit has increased from 197 to 315.

Mr Gault said the level of political discourse in Northern Ireland is something I wouldnt accept in my playground.

My children beg for a field of politics that is based around integrity, honesty and authenticity and looks at their needs rather than the needs of party politics and petty squabbles, he told the committee.

I would say to politicians, we have one chance for the children in my school, it is not an industry where we can fix a problem in five years time. My children have one goal, and my politicians are playing pathetic games, and I say to them, now is the time to be brave, to stand up and make some difficult decisions. Step up for our children.

Dr Graham Gault, principal of Maghaberry Primary School, Co Antrim said the funding situation in schools in Northern Ireland is "ridiculous". (PA/Westminster)

I dont mind what issues people are arguing about, but the past is not relevant to the children in my school who are dealing with complex learning needs and facing a system now which is almost Victorian in terms of the level of financial provision.

There is no more time for our politicians to play pathetic games, my children need their help right now.

Mr Gault said his school performs well in all of the six sustainable school priorities, apart from its financial position.

He said its deficit at the end of this financial year will be around 130,000.

My school isnt financially sustainable and I have actually found myself in the humiliating position of begging my parents to support the wellbeing of their children by providing Pritt Stick, reading books, tissues and soap, he said.

This isnt a joke, I actually have parents who are donating toilet roll to my school. Its a disgrace.

Jo McColgan, principal of Ashfield Boys High School in east Belfast, said the educational outcomes at his school have improved significantly, but the financial position has worsened.

We have gone from a 4,000 surplus to a minus 136,000 deficit, he said.

Mr McColgan argued there are other ways savings could be made, querying the central procurement system that controlled schools must go through.

He said he could source ink cartridges for 6,000 less outside the system.

Deirdre Gillespie, principal of St Marys Grammar in Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, said there are no more cuts the school can make, other than to staff.

We need a transformation of the system which will release money back into the system to schools, she said.

Nigel Frith, principal of Drumragh Integrated College in Omagh, Co Tyrone, said he does not want the old Stormont back.

I want a new Stormont with a new will and a new vision to work together in the ways that they didnt, he told the committee.

I didnt see a power-sharing executive, I saw a power-grabbing executive, and Im sorry if I have offended anyone listening, but I think that is the reality.

Now if they cant agree to power-sharing properly, I would rather that the civil servants at the head of our government departments were given greater powers to make decisions for themselves and I daresay without any political bias.

I dont think what we had before the executive collapsed was anywhere near good enough.
A Syrian-led human rights group says it has documented more than 1,400 incidents in which Russian forces indiscriminately targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure in the three years since Moscow intervened in the Syrian civil war.

The Berlin-based Syrian Archive has created a database of more than 3,000 verified videos of the incidents, reported between September 2015, when Russia began its air strikes on behalf of President Bashar Assads forces, and September 2018.

Hadi al-Khatib of the group said the searchable database is the first visual documentation of alleged Russian air strikes in Syria and is essential for advancing justice.

The database, which includes more than 700 incidents in which civilian casualties were reported and some 35 hospitals were struck, can help lawyers build cases against perpetrators of violence, he said.

A destroyed ambulance is seen outside the Syrian Civil Defence main centre after air strikes in Ansari neighbourhood in Aleppo (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP, File)

The database includes videos from citizens, journalists, humanitarian groups and even the Russian Defence Ministry.

Russia denies targeting civilians and has often said the air strikes are aimed at terrorist infrastructure.

In a recent report on its three-year involvement in Syria, the Russian military lists the number of air strikes and the types of aircraft and weapons used, but does not say anything about casualties.

Syrian Archive said it has documented and verified at least 704 incidents in which there were civilian casualties as a result of alleged Russian attacks. The verified videos show that at least 35 hospitals, 27 mosques, 23 schools and 27 markets were struck in Russian air strikes, it said.

In one incident, Russias Defence Ministry released a video identifying a target as an oil refinery, which upon further investigation turned out to be a water treatment facility, according to the report and other investigations.

A lineup of Russian troops is held before withdrawal at Hemeimeem air base in Syria (Vadim Grishankin/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, file)

The group also identified 63 incidents in which cluster munitions were used and 39 incidents in which incendiary weapons were used. Russia denies using those weapons.

The whole point of the report is to advance justice, Mr al-Khatib said. Lawyers can use this kind of data, corroborate them with other evidence, to build their cases.

Syrian Archive has been working to document and preserve the history of the civil war, uploaded mostly on YouTube.

As the tech giant introduced new technology to rein in violent content on the internet, hundreds of thousands of videos from the conflict suddenly disappeared. Syrian Archive worked with YouTube to retrieve some of the videos and ensure that violent videos were marked for graphic content.
Jeremy Corbyn has called on the Prime Minister to apologise for breaking her promise on ending austerity in the Budget.

The Labour leader claimed the Government would inflict 4.1 billion of cuts on non-protected departments, despite Theresa Mays vow to end austerity.

And he took aim at the Chancellors 400 million pledge to help schools buy the little extras  saying head teachers would still be writing begging letters to parents.

Mrs May insisted per pupil funding is being protected in real terms, and called on the opposition leader to confirm Labours stance on tax cuts after shadow chancellor John McDonnell was criticised for backing perks for the wealthy.

Jeremy Corbyn asked why the Government `failed to find a single penny for neighbourhood policing in the Budget (PA)

Amid the heated exchanges during Prime Ministers Questions, Mr Corbyn said: Now we know councils, schools, police, prisons, public sector workers and those reliant on social security will face years of austerity.

Will she apologise for her broken promise that she was going to end austerity, because she has failed to do that?

Mrs May said support for public services, growth and wages was up  with vocal Tory backbenchers chanting with her.

She added: Debt is falling, austerity is ending  under the Conservatives the hard work of the British people is paying off.

Earlier, Mr Corbyn asked why the Government failed to find a single penny for neighbourhood policing in what he repeatedly labelled a broken promise Budget.

Mrs May responded: We did put extra money into CT policing in the Budget thats on top of the 460 million thats been made extra for policing in this year, that is in sharp contrast to what Labour were saying at the 2015 election when they said the police should take 10% cuts in their Budget.

The Labour leader also claimed he would struggle to find much to celebrate in the Budget if he was a prison governor, local authority chief executive or a head teacher.

He asked: I would be preparing for more difficult years ahead, does the Prime Minister think that analysis is wrong?

Mrs May responded: We set out more money for schools, more money for prisons, what we have set out in the Budget is that austerity is indeed ending.

Theresa May asked the opposition leader to confirm Labours stance on tax cuts (PA)

The Prime Minister was later pressed over the Chancellors cash pledge for schools by Labour MP Paula Sherriff.

The Dewsbury MP said: The Budget offered just a tenth of the money already cut and can only be spent on little extras. The Chancellor said that schools struggling to keep teachers, save subjects or maintain hours could now buy a new whiteboard or a laptop. What use is a whiteboard if theres no teacher to use it?

Mrs May reiterated that the Government is putting 1.4 billion extra into schools this year and 1.2 billion next year.

The Prime Minister then faced a difficult question from her own backbenches over the crazy crackers decision to spend on overseas aid rather than British public services.

Tory MP Philip Davies said: Whilst this House might be typically out of touch with public opinion on this issue, will she accept that the vast majority of the British people think that that warped priority is crazy crackers?

Mrs May said that it was right the UK maintains its commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI on international development.

Tory former home secretary Amber Rudd later quipped that a food manufacturer in her constituency had made a full English Brexit sauce  something she said was too hot for her.

She said: They made a breakfast sauce called the full English Brexit which I think will be appreciated by many of my colleagues, although its a little too hot for me.

Ms Rudd said the firms chief executive was looking to invest in the company but wanted clarity on Brexit, and added: He is concerned about continued access to the single market as we leave the European Union, either through the single market or common rule book, could I ask the Prime Minister to bear this in mind as she concludes those negotiations.

Mrs May responded by suggesting Tory Brexiteer Peter Bone might well like the hot English Brexit sauce on his breakfast sausages.

She added: Can I also reassure her that the plan that we have set out is a plan that recognises the importance of protecting jobs in this country.
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Channel 4 will announce the location of its new national headquarters later today.

Leeds, Greater Manchester and Birmingham are all in the running to host the new base.

The channel will also announce the locations of its two new creative hubs, with Glasgow, Cardiff and Bristol in contention.

Channel 4 to ramp up Nations & Regions spend and establish a new National HQ outside London with 4 All the UK strategy https://t.co/UrftAo0s8o pic.twitter.com/2Nd0UMnCmg  Channel 4 Press (@C4Press) March 8, 2018

Channel 4 announced its intention to move staff out of London to three new bases after the Government said the broadcaster will remain publicly owned, but faced being relocated.

The channel warned at the time that forcing it to move outside of London would be highly damaging.

It has since said that 300 Channel 4 jobs, including key creative decision-makers with significant spending power, will be based in hubs outside of the capital in the biggest change to its structure in its 35-year history, but it will still keep its Horseferry Road headquarters in London.

Channel 4 (Philip Toscano/PA)

The new national HQ has been described as a broad-based centre, which will include commissioning, production and digital content.

The creative hubs will begin with a focus on programme commissioning, but will welcome a broader talent base later on.

The first-round pitch process was launched in April, with more than 30 submissions entered.

The second stage process involved Channel 4 visiting each of the 13 shortlisted cities and regions for a presentation and discussion.

When it was whittled down to the final six, the channel entered into detailed discussions with the selected cities in a process which will be led by Jonathan Allan, Channel 4 executive board member and chief commercial officer.
Almost half of those in receipt of Universal Credit chose the Scottish Governments alternative payment options when offered.

Ministers have used their devolved welfare powers to enable people to receive their benefit payment more frequently and to have the housing element of it paid directly to their landlord.

New figures show by the end of August 66,700 people had been offered one or both Scottish choices since October 2017, with 31,960 taking up the offer.

A total of 26,910 chose to implement more frequent payments, 11,430 chose to have the housing element of UC paid direct to their landlords, and 6,380 chose both.

An additional 4,000 also requested the choices outwith a formal offer being made, and took up one or both of the options.

Universal Credit  a six-in-one benefits payment  was introduced as part of the UK Governments overhaul of the welfare system.

Almost half of Scots opted for alternative Universal Credit payment options (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

However critics say cuts to payments, delays in receiving initial payments, and widespread problems with its implementation have led to many people falling into hardship or dropping out of the benefit system altogether.

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: The Scottish Government will continue to call for a halt to Universal Credit until it is made fit for purpose.

We have done what we can with our limited powers, providing people who receive Universal Credit with choices on the frequency of their payments and paying housing costs directly to their landlord.

We have also committed to introduce split payments of the Universal Credit award in Scotland to ensure everyone has access to an independent income.

The high take-up rate of our Universal Credit Scottish choices is evidence people want more flexibility and adaptability in how they receive the support that they are entitled to.
The so-called staircase tax is to be axed on Thursday as a law scrapping the levy comes into force, giving businesses a 40 million a year boost.

Its abolition also means thousands of firms across England will be able to ask for tax rebates to business rates bills going back as far as 2010.

The staircase tax was the result of a Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a single business space.

Under the law, offices covering multiple floors in a building were billed separately if their corridors or staircases were communal, rather than private to the business.

This increased the overall amount of business rates they paid while barring them from accessing rates relief, which they could only qualify for if they owned one property.

Legislation reversing the effects of the Supreme Court ruling will receive royal assent on Thursday.

An office block (Anthony Devlin/PA)

It is estimated to save firms in England 40 million a year, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Alex Probyn, president of UK expert services at real estate adviser Altus Group, described the changes as a victory for common sense.

He added: The Government should be applauded for listening and acting decisively to return firms to the tax position that they were in before the court ruling. Be in no doubt this is a big post-Budget rates boost with the Government making it clear that these appeals will be prioritised.

It comes after an industry backlash over the tax, which faced cross-party criticism from the likes of Tory MP and Treasury Select Committee chairwoman Nicky Morgan, shadow business minister Chi Onwurah and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable.

When the changes were originally put forward, the then communities secretary Sajid Javid described the staircase tax as an unfair rates hike for businesses.
The Duchess of Sussex was no stranger to the spotlight before heading to Oceania with her husband on their first royal tour together.

Meghans debut trip outside the UK and Ireland as a duchess was headline news across the world  and the interest rose further when Kensington Palace announced she was pregnant, on the eve of the 16-day visit to Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.

Meghan in Sydney (Phil Noble/PA)

Her previous life as an actress appeared to have equipped her with the means of dealing with the lines of adoring fans waiting to meet the couple from Sydney to Suva.

But the royal visit also gave Meghan the chance to air some of the issues which are close to her heart: equality for women and the importance of education for girls.

Her first speech of the tour came at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, where she spoke of the challenges of being able to afford university.

Meghan addresses the University of the South Pacific (Phil Noble/PA)

She told an audience of students: It was through scholarships, financial aid programmes and work-study  where my earnings from a job on campus went directly towards my tuition  that I was able to attend university.

And, without question, it was worth every effort.

Everyone should be afforded the opportunity to receive the education they want, but more importantly the education they have the right to receive.

And for women and girls in developing countries, this is vital.

Providing them with access to education is the key to economic and social development. Because when girls are given the right tools to succeed, they can create incredible futures, not only for themselves but also for those around them.

Despite the gruelling tour  76 engagements in just over a fortnight  Meghan was a near ever-present feature across the four countries, only missing parts of Fraser Island owing to the uneven terrain, and one appearance in Sydney after a late night.

Meghan and Harry meet Jacinda Ardern (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

Her efforts were singled out for praise by figures including New Zealands prime minster Jacinda Ardern, who said the duchesss pregnancy increased my respect for the role that shes playing at such an often tiring time.

I have real empathy and I think shes incredible.

Speaking in New Zealand, Meghan praised the efforts of Kiwi women who fought for the right to vote 125 years ago, saying they were universally admired.

Crowds gather in Wellington (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Part of that admiration was reflected back  summed up neatly by one sign held up outside a cafe in Wellington, which read: Meghan, carry on being a feminist icon for my girls.
Sky has revealed boss Jeremy Darroch landed almost 5 million in pay and bonuses for the past year just weeks after he scooped a near-40 million windfall following the Comcast takeover.

The pay TV giants annual report shows its chief executive was paid 4.96 million, including a 2.5% salary rise to 1.07 million for the year to the end of June, which has since been hiked again to 1.1 million.

His pay package also includes a 1.9 million annual bonus on top of pensions and benefits, as well as 1.8 million worth of shares under the groups so-called co-investment plan.

Chief executive Jeremy Darroch said he intends to `stick around at Sky after the Comcast takeover

Those shares made up part of Mr Darrochs bumper payout following the 30 billion takeover by US cable giant Comcast.

Excluding this, fixed pay, benefits and annual bonus stood at 3.2 million for the year to June 30.

He received a mammoth 38.3 million for his Sky shares, which also included payouts for long-term incentive plan scheme awards that were due to vest next July.

Mr Darrochs tax bill alone on the share sale bonanza stood at 11.7 million.

He revealed last week he intends to continue in his post after the takeover is completed, saying on a Comcast earnings call he plans to stick around.

While Skys annual report was produced before Comcast won a dramatic bidding auction to buy Sky, Mr Darroch said in an updated statement it was the beginning of the next exciting chapter for Sky.

He added: I look forward to bringing our business together with Comcast for the benefit of customers, colleagues and the communities in which we operate.

The lengthy takeover battle for Sky between Rupert Murdochs 21st Century Fox and NBC Universal owner Comcast sent the groups shares soaring, earning fortunes for its directors.

Mr Darroch had already enjoyed a lucrative past couple of years, picking up a whopping 16.1 million in pay and share bonuses for the year to June 2017.

Sky chairman James Murdoch resigned from the broadcaster earlier this month after the Comcast deal, with Fox selling its 39% stake.

It means the Murdochs have relinquished their holding in Sky, having twice failed to take full control of the broadcaster.

The Sky deal makes Comcast the biggest pay TV company in the world, with around 52 million subscribers since adding Skys 23 million subscribers.

Winning Sky will also aid Comcast in its fight against the rise of Netflix and Amazon.
Tests are being carried out on the carcasses of four cows destroyed at the Aberdeenshire farm where a case of BSE was found, MSPs have been told.

The animals were said to have been culled as a precaution earlier this week, with the carcasses taken to the south of Scotland for sampling and disposal.

The results of that analysis are expected to be available in a few days time.

It emerged in mid-October that an isolated case of BSE, known in full as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, had been found at a farm in the Huntly area.

A movement ban was immediately put in place at the farm as investigators worked to determine the source, and it emerged some other animals would need to be slaughtered purely as a precautionary basis.

Officials have stressed there is no risk to public health.

MSPs were updated after a case of BSE emerged earlier in October (David Cheskin/PA)

During a meeting of the Scottish Parliaments Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, Conservative MSP Peter Chapman sought an update on the investigations into whether the four other cows are infected or not.

Elinor Mitchell, director for agriculture and rural economy at the Scottish Government, responded: The evaluations of the animals affected were completed on the farm on the 26th of October.

Yesterday (Tuesday), the three cohort animals and the one offspring were culled on the farm.

The carcasses have been transported for sampling and disposal to Dumfries.

The screening results will be available at the end of this week.

If any of them prove positive then those carcasses will be transported to the APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) Weybridge offices (in Surrey) for further testing.

Mr Chapman expressed satisfaction with the development, saying: I think thats good. Were absolutely sure, certain, that there are no other potential animals that could be infected.

Its just the immediate offspring of this particular cow and we know exactly where they are and they have now been taken out.

Scottish Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said it was hugely disappointing to have the confirmed case of BSE and said it is right that investigations take time.

He said: There is no risk to consumer health and the Scottish Government have activated plans to protect food safety and, of course, our valuable farming industry.

He later spoke of the importance of the very effective surveillance regime in bringing the case to light.

Mr Ewing told MSPs: Weve got that. If we didnt, we wouldnt have detected the case and goodness knows what the consequences of that would have been.

The farmer whose cow was found to have BSE previously said he had taken pride in doing everything correctly and it was heartbreaking to be told the dead animal had the disease after routine testing.

Scotlands chief veterinary officer Sheila Voas has said she believes the disease was not transmitted, and occurred spontaneously in the affected animal.
A hospital porter has described the moment he found the bodies of two murdered schoolgirls in a woodland den 32 years ago.

Kevin Rowland was just 18 when he joined the search for missing Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway.

He told jurors his first words on making the grim discovery were: Shit, I think weve found them.

Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows (PA)

Mr Rowland was giving evidence in the second trial of convicted paedophile Russell Bishop for the murders, following his acquittal in 1987.

The witness told the Old Bailey he met up with 18-year-old Matthew Marchant to join the search the day after the girls disappeared on October 9 1986.

They went to look in an overgrown area near steps known locally as Jacobs Ladder, in Wild Park on the South Downs, near Brighton.

A memorial tree to Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows in Wild Park (Gareth Fuller/PA)

He noticed a pink or purple jumper then the side of a young girls face, jurors heard.

He said: I stopped because I knew there was a young girl there and I did not want to go any further.

Asked what his first words were, he said: Shit, I think weve found them.

Mr Rowland said he sat down and sent his friend to find police.

Two or three minutes later, Mr Marchant returned with Bishop and his dog following behind.

The witness said he thought Bishop had shouted have you found anything yet and where are you?.

Mr Rowland told jurors that Bishop sat next to him and did not get any closer to the girls, despite trying to.

He said: He tried to step over me but I put my arm out to stop him.

They were joined by Pc Paul Smith  nicknamed Smudge  two or three minutes later, he said.

Mr Rowland said his friend was given his police helmet and sent off to wave it to get help.

Pc Smith then went to check on the girls while Mr Rowland and Bishop remained sitting, jurors heard.

The witness said: He had to crawl through the undergrowth. He traversed to the right to where the girls were.

On his return, Pc Smith radioed in to say he had checked each girl but found no pulse, the court heard.

It was claimed on Bishops behalf that Mr Rowland and his friend had both looked at the girls bodies.

It was also alleged that Bishop had gone up to where the bodies were and felt for a pulse.

The witness repeatedly denied it, saying: Absolutely not.

Earlier, former local resident Janet Reid changed her account of one of the last sightings of the girls.

Newick Road in Brighton, where Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows lived (Sussex Police/PA)

Mrs Reid had given evidence for the defence anonymously as Mrs White in Bishops 1987 trial, the court heard.

The day before she was due to give evidence again  this time for the prosecution  Mrs Reid altered the time she spotted Nicola and Karen by two hours.

She originally told police she saw the victims standing with chip paper opposite her home as she said goodbye to her father on the evening of October 9 1986.

She recalled Nicola, who was a school friend of her daughter, had waved at her at about 6.25pm.

She estimated the time because her father left at about 6.20pm and on her return indoors, TV soap opera Crossroads was just starting at 6.30pm.

But on Monday, she altered her story, saying it was more like 8.20pm  two hours later.

She explained that since giving evidence in 1987, she had realised they had waited to watch a film called Runaway Train.

She told jurors she was visited three times by Nicolas father Barrie Fellows, someone she thought was with Karens father and police later that night.

Russell Bishop denies murder (Sussex Police/PA)

Prosecutor Brian Altman QC said: Do all those timings have to go back two hours?

The witness, who refused to say her name in court, replied: Dont know.

Joel Bennathan QC, for Bishop, said: When you gave evidence in the crown court last time you asked and were allowed to give a name which is not your name  Mrs White.

And the reason you asked the judge on that occasion was because you told him you have had some trouble since you became a witness in this case?

Im not pointing the finger anywhere about the source of these problems. It was a very high-profile, terrible crime.

The witness said: Yes it was.

The lawyer went on: Local feeling ran high about it. You were saying you had seen these two little girls eating chips, you and your family had threats.

Mrs Reid said: Yes we did.

Mr Bennathan said incidents included damage to her husbands motorbike and taxis turning up which had not been ordered.

The witness agreed, adding: We had boulders through the window.

She also confirmed that Nicola had twice told her daughter that the father she lived with was not her real dad and that one day she would run away to find her real father in the North.

As she completed her evidence, she said: I dont wish to talk about it again. Its too upsetting.

Bishop, 52, originally from Brighton, has denied two counts of murder.
A Turkish prosecutor says journalist Jamal Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul as part of a premeditated killing.

A statement from chief Istanbul prosecutor Irfan Fidans office added that Mr Khashoggis body was dismembered and disposed of.

It also said that discussions with Saudi chief prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb have yielded no concrete results despite good-willed efforts by Turkey to uncover the truth.

The statement is the first public confirmation by a Turkish official that Mr Khashoggi was strangled and dismembered after he entered the Saudi Consulate on October 2 to collect paperwork needed to marry his Turkish fiancee.

Image purportedly showing Jamal Khashoggi entering the consulate (CCTV/TRT World via AP)

The announcement came as Mr al-Mojeb ended a three-day visit to Istanbul during which he held talks with Mr Fidan and other Turkish officials.

Turkey is seeking the extradition of 18 Saudi suspects detained in Saudi Arabia over the killing of Mr Khashoggi.

It is also pressing Saudi Arabia for information concerning Mr Khashoggis remains, which still have not been found, as well as who ordered the journalists killing.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also called on Riyadh to disclose the identity of an alleged local collaborator said to have been involved in disposing of Mr Khashoggis body.

Mr Khashoggi, a 59-year-old columnist for The Washington Post, vanished after entering the consulate in Istanbul to pick up paperwork for his upcoming marriage to his fiancee, who was waiting for him outside. A critic of the Saudi royal family, Mr Khashoggi had been living in exile in the United States.

Turkey alleges a Saudi hit squad from Saudi Arabia  including a member of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans entourage during a trip to the United States  travelled to Istanbul to kill the journalist and then tried to cover it up.

Under mounting pressure, Saudi Arabia changed its narrative about Mr Khashoggis killing several times, eventually admitting that Mr Khashoggi died inside the consulate and only recently acknowledging that Turkish evidence shows his killing was premeditated.

Saudi Arabia has not commented on the prosecutors visit.
More than 700,000 will be invested by the Scottish Government to help boost the countrys circular economy.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement in an address to the Circular Economy Hotspot event in Glasgow on Wednesday.

Businesses in the circular economy aim to reduce waste and invest in keeping materials in circulation for as long as possible.

Three businesses  Total Homes and Revive Eco, located in Glasgow, and Angus 3D, based in Tayside  will receive funding.

Total Homes deliver house clearances for Housing Associations in Glasgow and ensure household appliances, furniture and other goods are re-used.

They will be given 312,385 worth of funding.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the investment at an event in Glasgow (Zero Waste Scotland/PA)

Revive Eco, which collects used coffee grounds and recycles them to create high value bio-oils, will receive 234,358.

Angus 3D, which aims to bring the latest metal 3D printing technology to Scotland, will be given a total of 175,000.

Scotland has four circular economy regions: Circular Glasgow, Circular Edinburgh, Circular Tayside and Circular North East  with each working on projects tailored to local opportunities.

Analysis suggests that a circular approach by businesses could be worth a potential 1 billion to the north-east and Tayside economies.

Reports were produced with the assistance of the local chambers of commerce to evaluate the impact it could have in each area of Scotland.

The First Minister said: Moving to a circular economy and this I think is true of many issues relating to the environment and climate change  is, first and foremost, an overwhelming moral imperative. However as these reports very powerfully demonstrate it is also a massive economic opportunity.

And it also, in my view, speaks to Scotlands history, to our sense of our identity.

Iain Gulland, the chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: Its fantastic to be able to profile the work thats being done in Scotland to kickstart the circular economy to a global audience.

Businesses like Revive Eco, Angus 3D and Total Homes are already doing great things, and I hope this event will be an impetus for even more ambition.

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken welcomed the investment and highlighted her ambition for Glasgow to become Scotlands first circular city.

She said: The opportunity for Scotland in embracing the circular economy runs into the billions of pounds. I want Glasgow to be at the forefront of seizing that opportunity.

The work done by the Chamber of Commerce and Zero Waste Scotland in Circular Glasgow has already put us far ahead of most of our competitors but the opportunities really are limitless.

Our Route Map will point a way to building better homes and communities, reducing food insecurity and playing our part in dealing with the worlds addiction to single use plastic.

Increasing the number of homes powered by renewable or circular energy to 15% by 2030 is an ambitious target but we will need to be ambitious in the coming years.
The father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence said he remains hopeful he will get closure on his daughters disappearance, whether it is good or bad.

Ms Lawrence went missing on her way to work at the University of York in March 2009, and despite a massive police investigation nobody has been charged in connection with her disappearance.

Peter Lawrence, 72, received an OBE at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday for services to the families of missing persons.

Peter Lawrence receives his honour from the Duke of Cambridge (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The retired solicitor campaigned for the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill, also known as Claudias Law, which was passed in April 2017.

The law, which applies to England and Wales, allows families of people missing for more than 90 days to deal with their affairs.

Reflecting on the period of almost 10 years since his daughter went missing, Mr Lawrence told the Press Association: Its one of these peculiar things that sometimes it feels like yesterday, and sometimes it feels much more like 10 years.

She was relatively young. She was 35 when she went missing. So she would now be a completely different person anyway, so weve missed all that time.

He added: Whatever that closure is, you always hope for closure. Good or bad. You need closure.

Claudia Lawrence (North Yorkshire Police/PA)

He said he is hopeful he will get closure in some form.

The police are absolutely convinced that Claudia was murdered and if she was, we just need to know. We need to know where she is. Because its this closure, good or bad, youve got to have it.

Mr Lawrence said he used to see his daughter regularly, going for drinks and meals.

That suddenly is missing from your life, he said.

Mr Lawrences visit to the palace came as searches took place in connection with the murder of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh.

Miss Lamplugh was declared dead, presumed murdered, after going missing aged 25 in 1986, having left her west London office to meet a mystery client known only as Mr Kipper.

Theres almost always something in the press about somebody going missing or somebody who has been missing, Mr Lawrence said. Its nothing unusual, unfortunately.

Asked how he thinks the family of Ms Lamplugh must feel, Mr Lawrence said: I think you get to the stage when its got to now that I dont think it gets your hopes up, but in a way you do hope for closure, which is the thing thats missing.

Reflecting on the honour he received from the Duke of Cambridge, Mr Lawrence said: When the letter came it was a complete shock, a nice shock obviously.

I wasnt expecting any sort of recognition. Thats not what you do it for, is it?
The Prime Minister has pledged to wear a Khadi poppy to remember the crucial role of Indias soldiers during the First World War.

Theresa May paid tribute to the vital contribution made by those serving around the Commonwealth before next months ceremony at the Cenotaph marking a century since Armistice Day.

Her comments came as Tory chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat asked the Prime Minister to join him in wearing a Khadi poppy.

He said: Will she join me when she goes to the Cenotaph next Sunday in paying tribute not only to our own war dead from this country but to those three million who came from the Commonwealth to serve in the cause of freedom?

I will sadly not be in Tonbridge this weekend, I will be laying a wreath in Delhi paying my own tribute and I know on behalf of this whole House paying tribute to those who suffered and died.

Will she join me also in wearing a Khadi poppy at some point?

Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during Prime Ministers Questions in the House of Commons, London.

The reason for which is the homespun cotton that remembers Gandhis and Indias contribution to the effort, (which) is a vital reminder to all of us here of our links around the world but particularly to India.

Mrs May replied: Can I thank him for highlighting this vital contribution that was made by soldiers from around the Commonwealth, and he has highlighted particularly those from India, and I also pay tribute to him for his own military service.

We must never forget that over 74,000 soldiers came from undivided India and lost their lives, 11 of them won the Victoria Cross for their outstanding bravery and he will know they played a crucial role in the war across multiple continents.

Id like to also congratulate the Royal British Legion and Lord Gadhia for their efforts in recognising this contribution with the special Khadi poppy honouring the sacrifice of everyone who served a century ago, and I will certainly be interested in wearing a Khadi poppy at some stage over the period as we lead up to Armistice Day.

Mrs May also said she was pleased to be wearing a ceramic poppy today, created by children at a school in the north-west.

She added: It is very important at this centenary that we all recognise and that younger generations understand the immense sacrifice that was made for their freedom.
An investigation has been launched following a report that seven shots were fired at a car in Co Armagh.

The incident is reported to have taken place in the Maple Court area of Lurgan at around 11.15pm on Tuesday.

A second vehicle was also damaged.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has issued an appeal for information.

Detectives are appealing for information after a report of shots fired at a car parked in the Maple Court area, Lurgan last night. Another car parked in the area was also damaged. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1439 30/10/18.  Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) October 31, 2018

A spokesman said: At around 11.15pm, it was reported that seven shots were fired at a car in the area.

Five shots struck the windscreen and two shots struck the passenger-side front door.

PSNI (Liam McBurney)

No one was inside the vehicle at the time of the incident.

Another vehicle parked nearby was damaged as a result of another shot fired.

The PSNI has urged anyone who may have witnessed the incident or noticed any suspicious activity in the area to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 1439 30/10/18.
The Trump administration is calling for an urgent halt to the Saudi-Iran proxy war in Yemen and the start of negotiations in November towards a political settlement.

The renewed push for a political solution in Yemen comes amid growing criticism of US military support for Saudi Arabias Yemen air campaign in the aftermath of the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo urged a ceasefire, specifically citing missile and drone strikes into Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

The Houthis are supported by Iran. He added the air strikes by the Arab coalition, backed by the US, must cease in all populated areas in Yemen.

The time is now for a cessation of hostilities, Mr Pompeo said in a written statement shortly after US defence secretary James Mattis made similar statements in an appearance at the United States Institute of Peace.

US defense secretary James Mattis (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Mr Mattis was more specific than Mr Pompeo in his call for urgent movement towards a political solution to the fighting. He said a ceasefire should take effect within 30 days.

Were calling on all the parties, specifically the Houthis and the Arab coalition, to meet in Sweden in November and to come to a solution, Mr Mattis said.

Swedens foreign minister said that the UNs special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths has asked Sweden to host such talks.

Mr Mattis called for demilitarisation of Yemens border with Saudi Arabia so that the Saudis and the Emirates do not have to worry about missiles coming into their homes and cities and airports.

He also said measures should be taken to ensure that all Iranian-supplied missiles to the Houthis are put under international watch.

Mr Mattis put primary blame on Iran. He said its proxies and surrogate forces are fuelling the conflict.

They need to knock it off, he said.

The conflict in Yemen, the Arab worlds poorest country, began with the 2014 takeover of the capital, Sanaa, by the Houthis, who toppled the internationally recognised government. The Saudi-led coalition allied with the government has been fighting the Houthis since 2015.
Ian Baraclough has signed a new two-year contract to remain as Northern Ireland Under-21s manager following their impressive run in qualifying for Euro 2019.

Baracloughs side ultimately fell short of reaching a play-off place but they finished the campaign with four straight wins, highlighted by a 2-1 victory away to Group 2 leaders Spain, to finish second.

That was despite losing the likes of Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Jamal Lewis and Gavin Whyte to the senior squad partway through the campaign.

The former Motherwell and Sligo Rovers boss took the job in May last year following a spell as assistant manager at Oldham, and said the experience had exceeded his expectations already.

I have loved it, the 47-year-old said. When I took over I knew it would be a challenge and I thought it would possibly be a slow burner. However, the players, staff and everybody involved have come together and it has just ignited.

Baraclough added that he is now looking ahead to qualifying for Euro 2021, and noted that 11 members of his current squad would still be eligible.

Ian Baraclough has signed a two-year deal to remain as Northern Ireland Under-21s boss (Gareth Copley/PA)

This is the first time I have managed a team with a younger element and I have really enjoyed it, he said. There is a challenge with a constant turnover of players, however we introduced quite a few younger players during our last campaign and that will be invaluable going forward.
Leicester vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has paid an emotional tribute to his father Vichai and promised to continue his legacy after the Foxes chairmans death.

The 33-year-old, known as Top, posted on Instagram on Wednesday following Saturdays helicopter crash which claimed the lives of five people.

Top laid a wreath with his mother Aimon at the King Power Stadium on Monday while he also viewed the tributes with the squad.

I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for this overwhelming support, he wrote in a post which also appeared on the clubs Thai Instagram account.

What happened made me realise how important my dad was to many people all over the world and I am touched by how many people kept him close to their hearts.

I am extremely proud to have such an extraordinary father. From him I have received a very big mission and legacy to pass on and I intend to do just that.

I know I will receive the support to make this happen and I am so grateful for all your messages and kind words.

Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha lays a wreath in memory of his father with his mother Aimon on Monday (Mike Egerton/PA)

For a long time, my father taught me to be strong and to take care of my family. He had a way of teaching me about life and work without making it seem like a lesson. He was my mentor and role model.

Today, he left me with a legacy to continue and I will do everything I can to carry on his big vision and dreams.

My family and I would like to thank each and every one of you for your sincere kindness and good intentions during the most difficult time for us.

I miss you dad, with all of my heart.

Tributes at Leicester City for following Saturdays helicopter crash (Mike Egerton/PA)

The tribute comes before the five of the clubs main fan groups meet on Wednesday to plan their homage to the owner.

The Supporters Club, the Foxes Trust, the Disabled Supporters Association, Foxes Pride and Union FS will discuss the best way to pay their respects at the next home match against Burnley.

A mosaic and a flag are under consideration.

Cliff Ginnetta, chairman of the Supporters Club, said: This has shaken everyone to the core. He was the boss, he was part of the fabric.

Buddhist Monks pay their respects at Leicester (Mike Egerton/PA)

Therell be an outpouring of grief for the Burnley game. Weve got a meeting tonight (Wednesday) to sort things out.

You saw him in the stand, always with his scarf on, and its amazing the difference he made and how he was so respected by the fans.

They are also planning to participate in a march from the city centre to the King Power Stadium before Burnleys November 10 visit, the first home game since the accident.

It is hoped 5,000 supporters will take part  in reference to the 5,000-1 title odds the Foxes had before their shock Premier League win in 2016.

Mourners sign books of condolence for Leicester chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha at the King Power Stadium (Mike Egerton/PA)

Leicester will play Saturdays Premier League game at Cardiff after Tuesdays Carabao Cup game with Southampton was postponed following the accident.

Ginnetta agreed it was the right decision, with the fans planning a 60th-minute tribute to Srivaddhanaprabha on Saturday by singing the clubs anthem When Youre Smiling.

He added: It is the right call, we thought it would be down to the players. Were pleased its on so we can show our appreciation. Its going to be hard. The players wont need any motivation and therell be some tears.

The Foxes will go to Wales by road on Friday after making the decision flying would be insensitive given the circumstances of Srivaddhanaprabhas death.

Leicester Citys Premier League fixture at Cardiff City this Saturday (3 November) will go ahead as scheduled, as the Club continues its tributes to its late Chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.  Leicester City (@LCFC) October 30, 2018

Books of condolence have been opened at the King Power Stadium and are available from 8am to 10pm every day. An online book can also be signed via the clubs website.

Two members of the chairmans staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, and pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz also died in the crash.

Tributes from fans and players have continued to grow outside the clubs North Stand while a group of Buddhist monks held a service on Tuesday.
Crystal Palace have decided not to pursue the matter of racist abuse and threats that Wilfried Zaha and his family have suffered, Press Association Sport understands.

Palace have offered their support to Zaha after the Ivory Coast international revealed he was targeted following the 2-2 Premier League draw with Arsenal on Sunday.

But it is understood that Palace will not be taking the matter any further.

Zaha won a late penalty at Selhurst Park when he was caught by Gunners defender Granit Xhaka, with Luka Milivojevic converting the resulting spot-kick to earn the Eagles a point.

Xhaka said in a post-match television interview he thought the incident had been a clear penalty.

Nevertheless, Zaha again found himself in the spotlight, with accusations he had gone to ground and after a delayed reaction.

Wilfried Zaha said he and his family were the subject of racist abuse and death threats after Crystal Palaces 2-2 draw against Arsenal (Nigel French/PA)

Zaha took to social media to stand up for himself following the match, and subsequently revealed in a post on his Instragram story on Tuesday that the abuse had escalated.

The Palace winger wrote: For all the people taking it one step further and being racist and wishing death on my family I wish you and your families the best too x p.s my life is still very good despite your hate.
Work has begun on what is said to be Europes first ever smart canal scheme, using the 250-year-old Forth & Clyde Canal.

The 17 million scheme, which is now underway in Glasgow, will use 21st century technology to mitigate flood risk and enable regeneration.

The new digital surface water drainage system will unlock 110 hectares across the north of the city for investment, regeneration and development, paving the way for more than 3,000 new homes.

It will use sensor and predictive weather technology to provide early warning of wet weather before moving excess rainfall from residential and business areas into stretches of the canal where water levels have been lowered by as much as 10cm.

This will create 55,000 cubic metres of extra capacity for floodwater  equivalent to 22 Olympic swimming pools.

Project chiefs said it is the first such initiative in Europe.

Representatives at the launch of the `smart canal scheme in Glasgow (Peter Devlin/PA)

The scheme is being delivered through a partnership of Glasgow City Council, Scottish Canals and Scottish Water under the umbrella of the Metropolitan Glasgow Strategic Drainage Partnership.

The project was launched on Wednesday by Glasgow City Council Leader Susan Aitken, Scottish Canals chief executive Catherine Topley and Simon Parsons, director of strategic customer service planning at Scottish Water, who signed a 60-year service agreement.

Ms Aitken said: This is a fantastic day for Glasgows Canal, as we mark the introduction of cutting-edge technology that will both allow surface water in this part of the city to be managed, and allow the building of new homes and businesses on land that historically have been unfit for development.

It is very exciting to see such smart technology in operation in Glasgow  one of very few examples in the world  and we can look forward to it playing a key role in the continued regeneration of Glasgows Canal and the north of the city.

First in Europe: that's #GlasgowsSmartCanal, which combines 21st & 18th Century technology to tackle flooding in North Glasgow to bring the area new homes, jobs & investment. This video & link explains how: https://t.co/QxVXElXP8k @GlasgowCityDeal @scottishcanals @scottishwater pic.twitter.com/mZoHKHtDBA  Glasgow City Council (@GlasgowCC) October 31, 2018

The project, officially named the North Glasgow Integrated Water Management System, aims to create a so-called sponge city  a term used to describe how cities respond to surface water flooding  and will see North Glasgow passively absorb, clean and use rainfall intelligently.

Advanced warning of heavy rainfall will automatically trigger a lowering of the canal water level to create capacity for surface water run-off.

Before periods of heavy rain, canal water will be moved safely through a network of newly created urban spaces  from sustainable urban drainage ponds to granite channels  that absorb and manage water in a controlled way, creating space for surface water run-off.

The scheme will see the Forth & Clyde Canal connected to five new sites over the next 10-15 years, including Sighthill, Hamiltonhill, Ruchill Hospital, Cowlairs and Dundashill.

Ms Topley said: By unlocking the inherent value of Glasgows Canal and diversifying how we use this publicly-owned heritage asset, we are ensuring it continues to deliver for local people 250 years after it was first built.

Mr Parsons added: Scottish Water is delighted to be involved in this unique project that enables development in Glasgow and manages flood risk using the canal.
Teachers at a school in Edinburgh are having pay deducted after refusing to work with violent additional needs pupils.

The NASUWT union has complained of physical assaults and a constant stream of verbal abuse from eight children at Kaimes School.

Now, 11 members of staff have been refused entry to their classrooms by the local authority over their stance.

City of Edinburgh Council has hit out saying employees cannot pick and choose who they teach, while the union claimed the local authority has tried to bully and intimidate its members during the dispute.

A letter has been sent to Education Secretary John Swinney about the schools situation (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Education John Swinney was to hold talks with NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates on Wednesday.

She said: The teachers, and indeed other pupils at the school have, month after month, faced violent physical assaults, a constant stream of verbal abuse and threats and malicious allegations. Equipment has been smashed and classrooms trashed.

Rather than supporting the teachers to deal with these pupils, Edinburgh City Council instead has embarked on a campaign of aggressive and punitive actions towards the teachers, simply because they have dared to stand up for what is right.

Ms Keates added: The council has sought to bully and intimidate the teachers in a meeting.

This is one of the most disturbing cases I have ever experienced of an employer failing in its duty of care, not only for staff, but also for the pupils at the school.

No one should go to work every day with the expectation of being verbally and physically abused and threatened and no reasonable employer would expect them to.

Ms Keates added the council has sought to bully and intimidate the teachers in a meeting and told them to leave the school premises.

There are 85 members of staff at the school, which has 96 pupils.

The local authority has developed a plan as part of efforts to improve the situation at the school.

It was implemented in August and is claimed to have already shown positive results.

Staff have been brought in to help cover for the teachers who have been told to leave the school premises.

A City of Edinburgh Council spokesman said: The council has been trying to engage with NASUWT at all levels to discuss any concerns they have and we are disappointed that they have failed to respond positively to date and decided on this course of action.

We cannot have a situation where staff decide who they are and who they are not willing to teach as this would be contrary to their terms of employment.

We remain committed to working with staff to ensure we improve attainment and wellbeing while also delivering a positive working environment for both teachers and pupils.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: The situation at Kaimes School is a matter that can best be resolved by discussions between the City of Edinburgh Council and NASUWT and we encourage both parties to negotiate a solution as soon as possible to allow the pupils education to continue.
An art installation containing thousands of messages in memory of those killed in conflict is set to go on display at Dublins St Patricks Cathedral to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Some 36,000 handwritten messages, written on leaf-shaped pieces of paper, feature in the artwork, which will hang from the nave of the 800-year-old Irish cathedral throughout the month of November to commemorate Armistice Day.

Each leaf symbolises one Irish man or woman who died in the First World War.

The messages remember the 36,000 Irish men and women who died in the First World War (Niall Carson/PA)

Lead artist Ciara Ni Cheallachain said it had been a long road and she was delighted to see it all in situ.

36,000 Irish people didnt come home from the first World War so this was an attempt to show that number in a way that makes sense to people, she said.

She added that the aim of the display was to show the scale of the impact of the war on Ireland and also acknowledge each person who died.

It is quite an emotional thing when you begin to think about what it represents, Ms Ni Cheallachain said.

It looks beautiful but it also goes much deeper than that as well when people realise the enormity of what each leaf means and what it represents.

Vlad Mountaniol from Los Angeles watches as 36,000 leaf-shaped messages are hung (Niall Carson/PA)

The display is the culmination of a project that began in 2014 to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the war.

Visitors to the historic cathedral over the past four years were asked to write a message to a loved one who had been killed in conflict and hang it on the cathedrals Tree of Remembrance.

More than 220,000 messages in numerous different languages were penned by people from all over the world.

While there were thousands of messages for those who died in past wars, many of the messages were written by people who had lost loved ones in modern-day conflicts.

The installation will be on view until December 1.
A Welsh Assembly member found with hundreds of images of child sex abuse has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Simon Thomas, 54, resigned from his position with Plaid Cymru and the Assembly after an early morning raid by police on his home in Aberystwyth, North Wales, on July 23.

Police seized his iPad and other electronic devices and found 539 indecent images and 77 indecent videos involving sex abuse of children aged from six to 13, Mold Crown Court heard on Wednesday.

Of those, 94 of the photos and 56 of the videos were classed as category A material, the worst kind of sexual abuse, with Thomas internet search history showing links to a Russian site known for sharing child sex images.

Thomas lawyer told the court lonely hours of public service spent away from home and the defendants deep-rooted problems led him into a trap.

Thomas, a father of two adult children and former Westminster MP, admitted three counts of possession of indecent images of children at an earlier hearing.

He was given a 26 week jail sentence, suspended for 24 months, must complete a rehabilitation course involving counselling with probation and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for seven years.

Passing sentence District Judge Gwyn Jones said: You have lost your good character, you have caused a significant amount of pain and trauma to your family and, to put it bluntly, a significant fall from grace.

The fact that before July you were prominent in public life and in the public eye does not have any relevance to the way this court proposes to deal with you.

File picture of then-Plaid Cymru member Simon Thomas greeting his victory in the Ceredigion by-election (David Jones/PA)

Thomas, a former librarian, was MP for Ceredigion between 2000 and 2005.

He was also in the running to become Plaid Cymru leader but dropped out before Leanne Wood won the contest.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, told the court a police search warrant was executed at 6am on July 23 and Thomas iPad, iPhone, a Dell laptop, computer hard-drive and USB sticks were seized.

No details were given in court as to how or why police had reason to execute the warrant on Thomas home.

The defendant gave officers his passwords for the devices and admitted the offences to police.

Richard Williams, mitigating said: It has put a huge strain on his marriage, although to her great credit the defendants wife has been supportive, as has his mother.

Hes an individual who knows theres problems that need to be addressed.

What he said to me is a lot of his role in public service has been quite lonely, lots of hours spent on his own in accommodation some distance away from home, he got himself into a trap that he found very difficult to escape.

Hes a person who shows a willingness to seek out assistance in addressing what are clearly deep-rooted problems in his life.

Thomas was also ordered to pay 85 court costs and a 115 victim surcharge.
There are calls to improve Scotlands ferry services after a report indicated there were more than 70,000 delays or cancellations in just over a decade.

Figures obtained through a freedom of information request suggested a total of 34,124 sailings on 29 routes operated by CalMac have been delayed since October 2007, with 39,314 cancellations.

The number is equivalent to around 117 sailings per week during that period.

The worst affected routes include those running between Ardrossan to Brodick and Wemyss Bay to Rothesay.

In a debate at Holyrood, the Scottish Conservatives raised concerns over the provision of ferry services.

Jamie Green MSP said: Our criticism is focused squarely at the door of the Government, which after a decade in office, has yet to deliver a sustainable, fit-for-purpose fleet and network of ferries in Scotland.

Sailings on 29 routes have faced a number delays and cancellations since October 2007 (Graham Wilson/CalMac)

Enough simply is enough. For too long, the Scottish Government has ignored repeated warnings from the industry. The public are sick and tired of the disruption, of the delays and of the cancellations.

They were promised new vessels, they havent arrived. They asked for one type of vessel and they were delivered another. They were promised their needs would be put first and instead, theyre queuing for hours on end to get a ferry home.

The Scottish Government has added eight new ferries to the CalMac fleet since 2007, with a further two new vessels commissioned, representing an investment of 215 million.

An additional vessel has also been committed by the Scottish Government to serve the Islay route, with 62 million in harbour investment made to the Clyde and Hebrides network since 2013.

Paul Wheelhouse, Scottish Government Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, said: Were delivering, but it will take time to deliver in full.

I do understand the very real challenges that are faced as a consequence of service disruption.

Im determined we must get this right and in addition to closely monitoring operational performance, we are developing an action plan with our ferry operators to ensure appropriate measures are in place to improve the customer experience when things do go wrong.

Labour MSP Colin Smith added: Its no exaggeration to say Scotlands ferry network provides a lifeline for communities.

Poor planning and investment by the Scottish Government that is not meeting growing demand means our ferry network is not fit for purpose despite at times, the quite heroic efforts of staff to keep those ferries going.
Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has indicated that he expects a deal on Britains EU withdrawal to be finalised by November 21.

Downing Street has so far said only that it is working to conclude a deal as soon as possible, and hopes to do so during the autumn.

But Mr Raab told a cross-party committee of MPs that the end of negotiations, which have stretched on for 19 months, was now firmly in sight.

However his department later said there was no set date for the negotiations to conclude and stressed that the November 21 date related to the possibility of appearing before the committee.

The October summit of the European Council, long billed as the moment of truth for Brexit negotiations, passed without a deal, and leaders of the remaining 27 EU countries decided not to schedule a special summit in November unless chief negotiator Michel Barnier told them there had been decisive progress in talks.

But Mr Raab appeared to suggest that he expected a deal within the next three weeks, as he set a date for himself and negotiator Olly Robbins to appear before the House of Commons Exiting the EU Committee.

I would be happy to give evidence to the committee when a deal is finished and currently expect November 21 to be suitable, wrote Mr Raab.

The Department for Exiting the European Union later clarified there is no set date for the negotiations to conclude and November 21 was the date offered by the chair of the select committee for the Secretary of State to give evidence.

The letter, released by the committee on Wednesday, was dated October 24 and therefore does not reflect any breakthrough in the past few days.

Negotiations are deadlocked on the question of a backstop arrangement to guarantee that there will be no hard border in Ireland.

Prime Minister Theresa May insists she will not accept an EU proposal which would establish a customs border between Northern Ireland and the British mainland, while Brussels is resisting her plan to keep the whole UK temporarily in a customs union.

Mr Raab wrote: Despite our differences, we are not far from an agreement on this issue. We agree on the principle of a UK-wide customs backstop. An agreement on the details of that backstop should be possible.

Both sides agree that this backstop cannot provide for a permanent UK/EU relationship and are committed to a future relationship that works for the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland.

(PA Graphics)

We are open to talking about ways to achieve this and committed to continuing discussions in order to reach an agreement.

The end is now firmly in sight and, while obstacles remain, it cannot be beyond us to navigate them. We have resolved most of the issues and we are building up together what the future relationship should look like and making real progress.

We now need to acknowledge the progress that has been made and now work rapidly through the remaining issues and come to an agreement that works for both sides.

Mr Raab had been due to give evidence to the committee on October 24, but pulled out shortly before the crunch October 17-18 European Council summit, with his office saying that he was committed to appear only once a deal was finalised.

In a letter accepting his proposal of a November 21 evidence session, committee chair Hilary Benn said he was disappointed with the new Brexit Secretarys failure to follow the pattern of regular updates established by his predecessor David Davis.

And he rejected as not sufficient or effective Mr Raabs proposal that he could update the committee by letter until the deal was agreed.

Having been a member of this committee, you will know that this is not how committees undertake inquiries and is not conducive to scrutiny, said Mr Benn.

With Mr Barnier meeting almost daily with European Parliament representatives, the Government was failing to live up to Mr Daviss promise to match the EU negotiator for openness, Mr Benn said.
The Duchess of Cambridge has heard the sad stories of three brothers from her family who were killed fighting during the First World War.

Kate was shown for the first time the original documents detailing the lives and deaths of the Lupton brothers  Francis, Maurice and Lionel  killed in France, including a postcard sent on the day one died.

The Duchess of Cambridge views documents at the IWM London (Frank Augstein/PA)

The men were the siblings of Olive Middleton, Kates great-grandmother, who worked as a nurse with the Voluntary Aid Detachment during the war, and was married to Richard Middleton.

When shown an official letter from Buckingham Palace conveying the sympathy of King George V after the third brother had died, the duchess said: Im sure so many families had this type of letter and sad stories.

This telegram from Noel Middleton to the family, informs that Francis body had been found.



Bad News Francis Body Found Near Taylors Killed Instantaneously Bomb Saw Norman Yesterday And Grave In Churchyard pic.twitter.com/G5zE6LgYse  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2018

She also reacted to the brief telegram sent by her great-grandfather Richard Middleton, an Army officer, who wrote to his father-in-law saying Francis body had been found after he was killed instantaneously by a bomb during the Battle of the Somme.

Kate said: Its so bland, hardly any words.

The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to the IWM London (Frank Augstein/PA)

The family papers were donated by one of Kates distant relatives around a month ago and now form part of the Imperial War Museums documents archive.

The duchess toured the popular visitor attraction, which was full of school groups and parents with their children to see the documents and visit the First World War Galleries.

The duchess greets visitors (Frank Augstein/PA)

Anthony Richards, head of documents at the institution, said about the telegram: Its a very formal sort of brief way to give the family what is essentially terrible news that their loved one has been killed in action.

You break someones heart in just a few words in a telegram.

He added that Kate had known about the three brothers who fought and died for their country after one of her grandfathers had done some research about the trio.

Mr Richards said: She was extremely interested in them, its always nice to have that family connection that helps you understand something like the First World War.

Kate views the documents (Frank Augstein/PA)

During the visit, the duchess also saw a letter written by her great-grand uncle Maurice, the middle brother, to his father Francis Lupton describing life in a dug-out or trench which offered them a little place you can crawl into for protection from a shell or bullet.

At the time the note was penned, May 24 1915, the weather was very hot and the wind blew towards the German lines which prevented them using their gas business.

The men were allowed to relax in the sun and listened to the occasional shell flying overhead which Maurice thought the enemy fired through sheer boredom or to satisfy themselves that their guns are still working properly.

Kate said about the letters written by the brothers: What really struck me is the positivity, theyre writing home with such a positive light.

A letter viewed by the duchess (Frank Augstein/PA)

She added: At the beginning theres that real enthusiasm.

Maurice, a captain with the 7th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, described meeting his brother Lionel over the previous days in his letter, but on July 16, 1916, Lionel sent a field service postcard on the day he died.

Printed with phrases like I have been admitted to hospital that servicemen had to cross out, Lionels note read I am quite well, I have received your letter, letter follows at the first opportunity.

A lieutenant, who served with the 28th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, he was the youngest of the three brothers and was killed by a shell, aged 24 in 1916.

The eldest brother Francis, a major serving with the 8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, was killed by a bomb during the Battle of the Somme in February 1917, aged 31.

Maurice was the first of the siblings to die, killed by sniper fire in 1915 aged 28.

The Duchess of Cambridge meets Diane Lees, director general of Imperial War Museums (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

When Kate first arrived at the Imperial War Museums in south London she was shown a striking installation artwork on the outside of the building.

Wearing a Jenny Packham outfit she marvelled at the artificial poppies cascading from the roof by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper.

And later she was taken on a tour of the First World War Galleries which told the story of the conflict through the uniforms, weapons, documents and equipment of the men who fought.
Channel 4s decision to open a creative hub in Glasgow has been described as fantastic news for Scotland by the First Minister.

The city was chosen alongside Bristol as a base for one of the two centres, while Leeds was chosen as the broadcasters new national HQ.

It will see 50 jobs brought to the new premises in Glasgow with a focus on programme commissioning, but will bring in a broader talent base later on.

Good news for Glasgow - well done to @Detroit67Book and the team. Congrats to Leeds and Bristol too. https://t.co/X9IVVOPPYh  Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 31, 2018

Nicola Sturgeon said: Channel 4s announcement that Glasgow will host one of its new creative hubs is fantastic news for Scotlands screen sector and creative industries.

The enthusiasm, excitement and support behind Glasgows successful bid for the hub is testament to the citys thriving creative community, as well as Stuart Cosgrove and Glasgow City Councils tireless work to attract this new investment from Channel 4 to Glasgow.

As home to one of the most vibrant cultural scenes in Scotland, BBC Scotland, STV and more than 120 production companies  I am pleased Channel 4 has recognised Glasgow is the ideal location for one of their new hubs.

It will see 50 jobs brought to the new premises in Glasgow with a focus on programme commissioning (Jane Barlow/PA)

I look forward to seeing plans for the new base in Glasgow develop.

The move will be part of the biggest change to the structure of the channel in its 35-year history, even though it will keep its base on Horseferry Road in London.

Leeds fended off competition from Greater Manchester and Birmingham to host the new base, while Cardiff was also in contention to host a creative hub.

Scottish Greens culture and media spokesman Ross Greer MSP added: This is excellent news and well deserved given Glasgows world famous creative economy.

Along with investment in the new BBC Scotland channel, its clear that Scotland has an opportunity to build a reputation for high quality TV and film production.

Delight Channel's 4's new HQ to locate in Leeds...having grown up a few miles further North I know the potential our moving there can unleash! Great to have new hubs too in Bristol and Glasgow!  Jon Snow (@jonsnowC4) October 31, 2018

He added: The next step is the Scottish Government and their agencies stepping up to the plate to deliver the studio capacity and support the screen sector needs to take full advantage of these investments.

Channel 4 announced its intention to move staff out of London to three new bases in the nations and regions after the UK Government said the broadcaster will remain publicly owned, but faced being relocated.

Alex Mahon, chief executive of the broadcaster, said: Glasgow has a well-established production sector across multiple genres, and locating a creative hub in the city will give Channel 4 the opportunity to tap into the rich cultural diversity of Scotland and also allow us to exploit the citys strong connectivity with Belfast and the Northern Ireland production sector.

Scottish Conservative shadow culture secretary Rachael Hamilton said: This is great news for Glasgow and the wider Scottish economy.

Shadow Scotland Office Minister Paul Sweeney MP added: While it was disappointing that Glasgow was not ultimately successful in securing the new headquarters for Channel 4, losing out to Leeds in the end, I very much welcome this proposal for an additional presence in Glasgow for the channel, in the form of a new creative hub.
The murder of Jamal Khashoggi will be met with a careful response, Jeremy Hunt said as fresh details of the journalists death emerged.

A Turkish prosecutor said Mr Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul as part of a premeditated killing.

The Foreign Secretary said the murder was incredibly shocking but he also highlighted Saudi Arabias importance for the UK arms industry and the risk of any unintended consequences a response may produce in the unstable Middle East.

Activists protesting the killing of Mr Khashoggi outside Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul (Lefteris Pitarakis/AP)

The Foreign Secretarys comments came after chief Istanbul prosecutor Irfan Fidan said that Mr Khashoggi was dismembered and his body disposed of after his death at the consulate.

Mr Hunt told the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee: The Khashoggi murder is incredibly shocking. I have spoken more openly and more strongly about it than any Western foreign minister that I am aware of.

I made it very clear that if the press stories were true  and it appears increasingly likely that they are true  then what happened would be completely contrary to our values.

But he added: Our response has to be considered, for two reasons. Firstly, we do have a commercial relationship and there are jobs in the UK  in the North West and the South West  that are at stake.

Jeremy Hunt made his comments at the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee (Parliamentlive.tv/PA)

The process for granting licences for arms exports had been followed, he said.

The second consideration was the risk of unintended consequences any response could have in the highly sensitive region, where Saudi Arabia is a key ally.

There is a very challenging situation in the Middle East, there is a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Yemen, this has the potential to escalate into a much bigger and more dangerous conflict, he warned.

There is always the risk of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.

I just think in that context  and looking at other interventions that we have made in that region in the last 20 years  we just have to be very careful about any action we take that there arent unintended consequences.

Thats why I do think it is important to be considered in this case.
Retired expats calling for an end to a squeeze on their pensions have handed in a 200,000-signature petition to Downing Street.

Around 520,000 expats have had their pension frozen at the level it was at when they left the UK, rather than being increased in line with payments to those who remained in the country.

Second World War veteran Anne Puckridge, a 93-year-old who emigrated to Calgary in Canada in 2001 to be near to her daughter, was among the group of expats and campaigners who delivered the petition on Wednesday.

She currently receives a weekly state pension of 72.50 instead of the 125.95 she would be entitled to if she had stayed in the UK.

Speaking outside Downing Street, Mrs Puckridge branded the pension freeze discriminatory.

She added: It is a really cruel law because it is leaving people spending their old age in poverty.

We are saving the country money by not using medical services.

It would make life much more comfortable and my quality of life would improve considerably.

Her campaign will continue until I die, she added.

The petition, which was started by Mrs Puckridges daughter Gillian Mittins, states that elderly expats are being short-changed.

Anne Puckridge with her daughter Jill (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

They paid in. Now the government should pay out, it adds.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said that uprating the pensions of expats in line with those paid to UK retirees would cost 500 million per year.

He added: The policy on paying and uprating UK state pensions abroad has remained consistent for around 70 years under successive governments.

The UK state pension is payable worldwide to eligible people but is only uprated abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so.

Around 95% of expats with frozen pensions live in Commonwealth countries including Canada and Australia.

However pensioners who have moved to the European Economic Area (EEA) are entitled to the same pensions as those living in the UK, along with pensioners living in countries including the United States who have a reciprocal agreement with the UK.

Before handing in the petition the campaigners lobbied politicians in Parliament, and MPs including Dennis Skinner, Johnny Mercer and Ian Blackford added their names, organisers said.

Nearly 219,000 people signed the petition.
Chris Froome declined to commit to defending his Giro dItalia title as the route was announced on Wednesday.

The Team Sky rider won the Italian Grand Tour in May to complete a remarkable grand slam as it followed on from his Tour de France and La Vuelta wins in 2017.

Froome attempted an ultimately unsuccessful Giro-Tour double this year as he went on to finish third in the Tour de France, which was won by team-mate Geraint Thomas  leaving Froome still one short of matching the record of five Tour victories jointly held by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil and Miguel Indurain.

The 33-year-old seems certain to target the Tour in 2019, and the shorter gap between the Giro and the Tour in 2019  three-and-a-half weeks rather than five and a half this year  will discourage another double attempt.

Froome appeared on stage at Wednesdays launch and was asked if he was likely to race.

I still dont know, he said through a translator. Its a decision that I have to take with the team.

Chris Froome would not commit to defending his Giro dItalia title (Adam Davy/PA)

Froome was repeatedly teased by the presenters about whether he would race but laughed off their attempts to get anything more concrete from him.

Were all together in December at a training camp so I think in that period we will decide everything for next year, he added. One thing is certain  if Im not there one of my team-mates will be coming to try to win.

Sky appear to face a selection dilemma for next years Grand Tours, with Thomas unexpected victory leaving them with competing leaders.

Thomas has suggested he has unfinished business at the Giro after his 2017 bid fell flat, but will be keen to return to France as the defending champion.

Giro d'Italia 2019  Week 3  Stages 16 > 21  28th May-2nd June | Tappe 16 > 21  28 maggio-2 giugno | Etapas 16 > 21  28 mayo-2 junio #Giro pic.twitter.com/K4MAoFPTnd  Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) October 31, 2018

Whoever does race the Giro will face a balanced route which takes place almost entirely within Italys borders following last years start in Israel, venturing out just once on an individual time trial into San Marino.

Over the course of 3,518km, the riders will tackle famed climbs including the Passo Gavia and Passo del Mortirolo and lesser known gems such as the Colle de Nivolet to Lake Serru, which appears on stage 13.

There are a total of seven summit finishes  two of them on individual time trials. The final week is loaded with mountain tests but the overall winner will not be known until the final day and a third individual time trial which finishes in Veronas amphitheatre.
Private nurseries are being swept aside in the expansion of free childcare, the Scottish Conservatives have said.

The party used its debating time at Holyrood to highlight concerns around hourly rates, staffing and access to capital funding.

Childrens Minister Maree Todd said the Scottish Government and councils were absolutely determined to support childcare providers as the expansion is rolled out across the country.

The government has promised to increase free nursery provision from the current 600 hours to 1,140 for three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds by 2020, equivalent to about 30 hours a week in term time.

Ministers struck a 2 billion funding deal with councils to deliver the pledge, including a further 476 million in capital funding between 2017/18 and 2020/21 for building work.

However some private childcare providers remain concerned about the impact of the expansion on their businesses.

The Scottish Conservatives have raised private nurseries concerns around childcare expansion plans (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Tory Alison Harris said low hourly rates paid to private nurseries by local authorities were preventing some from paying staff the Living Wage.

The impact of this is that local authorities are able to attract staff currently working in private nurseries to work for more money and fewer hours, she said.

This has a devastating impact on private providers causing a mass exodus of their childcare staff.

The staffing problem is a huge thorn in the side of the feasibility of this policy in delivering good quality childcare for children across Scotland.

She said capital funding from the government was not being shared with private providers in many areas.

Some authorities are almost exclusively awarding to their own council-run nurseries without even considering private partnerships, Ms Harris added.

Since the big headline announcement four years ago, the Scottish Governments implementation has been poorly planned, staggeringly unclear and damaging to parents, children and nurseries throughout Scotland.

Scottish Labours Mary Fee said: Private nursery providers fill a massive gap that council run providers cannot meet and thats why its crucial there are better working relations between Government and private providers.

Private nurseries are telling us that staffing remains a significant problem for them, particularly around the competition of wages between private and public.

Tavish Scott, of the Liberal Democrats, said he recognised the Governments ambition to expand childcare is something parents absolutely want.

But he continued: Their approach does need to adapt and recognise the scale of challenges that exist in all parts of Scotland.

Childrens Minister Maree Todd: I will agree that there are pockets of really troublesome, difficult, challenging partnership relationship, but I would say that across the country there is actually a very positive position to report.

We know there is good practice out there.

Let me assure the providers who are currently experiencing strained relationships with their local authorities that meaningful partnership can exist, it does exist.

This government is absolutely determined that we will support providers in the transition to 2020.

She said issues would be addressed in support package to be launched by the government before Christmas.
The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) is set to take place on Friday.

It was confirmed that the governmental forum for Anglo-Irish co-operation will meet in Dublin for the second time this year.

Established under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, the BIIGC focuses on bilateral agreement between the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The Irish Government will be represented by Simon Coveney, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and by Charlie Flanagan, the Minister for Justice and Equality.

The UK Government will be represented by David Lidington MP and Secretary of State Karen Bradley.

The representatives will discuss the effective operation of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA), north/south security co-operation and bilateral co-operation between the British and Irish Governments.

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and Irelands foreign minister Simon Coveney will be among those attending (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Coveney said he was looking forward to a constructive meeting in Dublin.

Following the last meeting of the conference in July, it shows the shared determination of both governments to get all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement operating effectively again as soon as possible, he said.

It also demonstrates that, despite the current challenges, both the Irish and UK governments are committed to developing the relationship between our countries and looking at ways to maintain and deepen our engagement.

Mr Flanagan said the meeting will be an important opportunity for both governments to discuss their shared security concerns.

We have common cause in combating the threat from paramilitaries who continue to reject the Good Friday Agreement, he said

While considerable progress has been made on the security front, the need for continued action against paramilitaries and ongoing vigilance remains.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, the Northern Ireland Secretary confirmed she is attending the conference in Dublin.

Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster has previously dismissed the conference as a talking shop, adding that it did not have any decision-making powers.
A Mafia hitman who is said to hate rats is under suspicion in the killing of former Boston crime boss and long-time FBI informant James Whitey Bulger, a former investigator briefed on the matter said.

Bulger was found dead just hours after he was transferred to a West Virginia prison.

The official said that Fotios Freddy Geas and at least one other inmate are believed to have been involved in Bulgers killing.

Authorities have not disclosed the cause of death for the 89-year-old Bulger. He was found dead on Tuesday.

Geas, 51, and his brother were sentenced to life in prison in 2011 for their roles in several violent crimes, including the 2003 killing of Adolfo Big Al Bruno, a Genovese crime family boss who was gunned down in a Springfield, Massachusetts, car park.

James `Whitey Bulger was found dead on Tuesday (AP Photo/U.S. Marshals Service, File)

Private investigator Ted McDonough, who knew Geas, told The Boston Globe: Freddy hated rats.

Freddy hated guys who abused women. Whitey was a rat who killed women. Its probably that simple, Mr McDonough told the newspaper, which first reported that Geas was under suspicion.

An FBI spokeswoman in Pittsburgh declined to comment on Geas. Federal officials said only that they are investigating the death as a homicide.

Bulger led South Bostons Irish mob for decades and became an FBI informant who supplied information on the New England Mafia, his gangs main rival, in an era when bringing down the Italian mob was a top national priority for the bureau.

Tipped off that he was about to be indicted, Bulger became a fugitive and eluded authorities for nearly two decades before being captured in 2011. He was convicted in 2013 in 11 underworld killings and a host of other crimes and was sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

He had just arrived on Monday at USP Hazelton, a high-security prison in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. He had previously been in a prison in Florida, with a stopover at a transfer facility in Oklahoma City.

Bulgers lawyer, JW Carney Jr, blamed his death on prison officials, saying Bulger was sentenced to life in prison, but as a result of decisions by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, that sentence has been changed to the death penalty.

The Geas brothers were not made members of the Mafia because they were Greek, not Italian. But they were close associates of the mob and acted as enforcers.
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Vladimir Putins Kremlin must question whether the Salisbury nerve agent attack was worth the huge diplomatic price Russia has paid, Jeremy Hunt said.

The Foreign Secretary insisted Russia was not winning hands down in its effort to destabilise Western democracies, as he was challenged by MPs over the Governments response.

Moscows GRU military intelligence agency has been blamed for the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, along with a series of cyber attacks aimed at targets in the US and Europe.

The GRU agents known as Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov suspected of carrying out the Novichok attack (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Russia has also been blamed for the death of 44-year-old Dawn Sturgess and the poisoning of her partner Charlie Rowley, who are believed to have come into contact with Novichok discarded by the Skripals attackers.

At the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr Hunt said the Western response, which involved the expulsion of dozens of diplomats identified as intelligence agents, ensured Moscow paid a high price.

He identified the 2008 invasion of Georgia as the start of a decade-long shift by Russia into a country that is seeking to destabilise the international order.

The Foreign Secretary told MPs: The frustrating thing is there doesnt seem to be Russian willingness to come back to being a supporter of the international order.

If you look at a map of Europe and you mark all the countries where there have been cyber attacks that originated from Russia, very often interference in referendum campaigns or election campaigns, there are lots of dots on the map.

It is very hard to know what it would take to get the Russians to change their mind.

He said the response to the Salisbury attack had been one of the great successes of British diplomacy.

I think in their quieter moments people in the Kremlin will look at this year and ask themselves whether it was actually worth going ahead with that Skripal attack because they have paid a huge diplomatic price.

While insisting that Russia was not winning hands down in its approach I wouldnt want to minimise the scale of their activities.

But he stressed: Our argument is not with the Russian people, it is with a regime that behaves in a totally unacceptable, sometimes murderous, way.

Yulia Skripal, who was contaminated with the nerve agent Novichok along with her father Sergei (Dylan Martinez/PA)

The two suspects in the Salisbury case were originally identified by the UK authorities by the aliases Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov.

The Bellingcat investigative website said their real names were Anatoliy Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin and that they were both highly-decorated officers in the GRU.
The Queen has sent a message of condolence to Indonesias president Joko Widodo following the plane crash in his country which killed all on board.

The two-month-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet plunged into the Java Sea early on Monday just minutes after taking off from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on the flight.

In her words of sympathy sent on the day of the accident, but released on Wednesday, the Queen said: Prince Philip and I were saddened by the news of the plane crash near Jakarta this morning.

Her Majesty The Queen has sent the following message to The President of Indonesia: https://t.co/NC5bZXC51s  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 31, 2018

We send our sincere condolences to you, the families and friends of those who have died, and to the Indonesian people.

The search for the crashed Lion Air plane has found aircraft debris and passenger belongings on the seafloor.

Search and Rescue Agency chief Muhammad Syaugi has said the seafloor findings give the search team confidence they will find the body of the aircraft.
The suspect in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre has been indicted by a federal grand jury, four days after 11 people were killed and six wounded in the deadliest attack on Jews in American history.

Wednesdays indictment, which was expected, charges Robert Bowers with 44 counts, including hate crimes.

US federal prosecutors have previously indicated they plan to seek the death penalty.

The charges were announced on the second day of funerals for the victims.

A vehicle carrying Robert Bowers with a Pittsburgh Police escort leaves the Federal Courthouse (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Today begins the process of seeking justice for the victims of these hateful acts, and healing for the victims families, the Jewish community, and our city, US attorney Scott Brady said in a statement.

Our office will spare no resource, and will work with professionalism, integrity and diligence, in a way that honours the memories of the victims.

Bowers, a 46-year-old lorry driver, remained jailed without bail ahead of a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Authorities say he raged against Jews during the attack.

Members of Pittsburghs grief-stricken Jewish community, meanwhile, endured another round of funerals for the congregants who were gunned down in Saturdays rampage.

Melvin Wax, 87, Irving Younger, 69, and Joyce Fienberg, 75, were being laid to rest as part of a week-long series of services.

It cant be fixed, Robert Libman said at the funeral of Ms Fienberg, his sister, clutching his chest as he described the pain of losing her.

My sister is dead. My sister was murdered. There was no one I know like her. Pure goodness.  She was the most tolerant and gentle person that Ive ever known.

Her sons, Anthony and Howard said she spent five years caring for their father as he battled cancer, then after his death a few years ago, devoted more of her time and energy to Tree of Life.

Stones and white flowers, left by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump (Andrew Harnik/AP)

My mom would be very angry that her funeral wasnt able to be at Tree of Life, and that her friends lost Saturday couldnt be here, Howard Fienberg said.

The funerals for Mr Wax and Mr Younger were to be held later Tuesday.

Six people were wounded in the attack, including four police officers, two of whom remained in hospital with gunshot wounds.

Two congregants were still in the hospital, one in critical condition.

In a bit of good news, hospital officials said the two most seriously injured shooting victims are improving.

A police officer and a congregant remain in intensive care but are doing much better now, Dr Donald Yealy, chairman of emergency medicine at UPMC, said Wednesday.

President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner visit a memorial outside Pittsburghs Tree of Life Synagogue (Matt Rourke/AP)

I think overall the prognoses are good now.

But each of them, in a varying way, will have a different trajectory and likely will require a series of ongoing care.

The first three funerals were held on Tuesday, with thousands of mourners jamming a synagogue, a Jewish community centre and a third, undisclosed site for the funerals of a beloved family doctor, a pillar of the congregation, and two intellectually disabled brothers in the 50s who were known as the boys.

Cecil and David Rosenthal were beautiful souls who had not an ounce of hate in them, something were terribly missing today, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, a survivor of the massacre, said at their funeral at Rodef Shalom, one of the citys oldest and largest synagogues.

The brothers were both active at Tree of Life, with Cecil the more gregarious of the two, a man with a booming voice who was known as the mayor of the citys Squirrel Hill neighbourhood and the town crier for the gossip he managed to gather.

They were innocent like boys, not hardened like men, the Rosenthals sister, Diane Hirt, told mourners.

On Tuesday afternoon, after the days funerals were over, Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived in Pittsburgh to shouting, chanting protesters with signs such as Its your fault and Words matter.

That was a reference to allegations that Mr Trumps combative language has emboldened bigots.

Students from the Yeshiva School in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh stand outside Beth Shalom Synagogue after attending the funeral service for Joyce Fienberg (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, both Democrats, declined to join him during the visit.

He didnt pull the trigger, but his verbiage and actions dont help, said Squirrel Hill resident Paul Carberry, 55, wearing anti-Trump patches on his hat and jacket.

Another Squirrel Hill resident, Shayna Marcus, a Jewish 34-year-old nurse and Trump supporter who hoped to catch sight of the presidential motorcade, said: I dont think focusing on Trump is the answer, or on politics.

One person was arrested during the protests.

During their visit, Mr Trump and the first lady lit candles at Tree of Life for the victims and laid white roses as well as stones for each of the dead, a Jewish burial tradition.

They later went to a hospital to visit with survivors.

They were joined by Mr Trumps daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, as well as Mr Myers, the Tree of Life rabbi, and Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer.

A private funeral was conducted on Tuesday for Daniel Stein, the 71-year-old mens club president at Tree of Life.

And a service with more than 1,000 people was held for Dr Jerry Rabinowitz at the Jewish Community Centre in Squirrel Hill.

The 66-year-old Dr Rabinowitz was a go-to medic for HIV patients in the epidemics early and desperate days, a physician who always hugged his patients as they left his office.

A lot of people are feeling really angry about this.

A lot of rage built up inside about this, because of it being a hate crime. Dont get me wrong; I do.

But Im so overwhelmed with sadness right now that I cant even be angry right now, said Robin Faulkner, whose family had seen Dr Rabinowitz for 30 years and counted him as a dear friend.

Its just such a loss. Just tragic.

Among the mourners at the Rosenthal brothers funeral was Dr Abe Friedman, who typically sat in the back row of Tree of Life with the two men but was late to synagogue on Saturday and was not there when the gunman opened fire.

As he stood in line at the funeral, Dr Friedman wondered why he had been spared.

Why did things fall into place for me? he asked.

I usually sit in the back row. In the last row, everyone got killed.
Wednesday has been a groundbreaking day for the millions of people both within and outside Pakistan who have worked and prayed for the release of Asia Bibi.

Asia Bibi has become an icon of justice and rights in Pakistan. (Photo: Reuters)

Bibi, an illiterate berry picker, was accused and then convicted for allegedly defiling the name of the Prophet Mohammed. Her Muslim neighbors objected to her drinking water from the same glass as them because she was Christian. Under Pakistans blasphemy law, her alleged comment is punishable by death. In 2010, Bibi, at age 45, was sentenced to hang  but just a few hours ago, her sealed judgement was released by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The judgement had been announced a few days earlier but it was kept sealed until today.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan, on Wednesday, acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death over blasphemy allegations. Asia Bibi was cleared of all blasphemy charges and the court ordered her immediate release.

Many people have lost their lives to the mere allegation of blasphemy in Pakistan  my very dear friends and colleagues, former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, and Shahbaz Bhatti, former Minister for Minority Affairs, were murdered. Shot in cold blood for speaking in defense of Asia Bibi and for speaking against the blasphemy laws.

Voices of courage, killed for speaking up. (Photos: Reuters)

A three-judge special bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel heard Bibi's 2014 appeal against her conviction and death sentence under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The chief justice wrote that it was a well settled principal of law that the one who makes an assertion has to prove it. Thus, the onus rests on the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt throughout the trial. The presumption of innocence remains throughout the case until such time the prosecution on the evidence satisfies the court beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of the offence alleged against him.

The judgments of the High Court as well as the Trial Court are reversed. Consequently, the conviction as also the sentence of death awarded to the appellant is set aside and she is acquitted of the charge. She should be released from jail forthwith, if not required in any other criminal case.

Justice Khosas opinion added, Blasphemy is a serious offence but the insult of the appellants religion and religious sensibilities by the complainant party and then mixing truth with falsehood in the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was also not short of being blasphemous.

It is ironical that in the Arabic language the appellants name Asia means sinful but in the circumstances of the present case she appears to be a person, in the words of Shakespeares King Leare, more sinned against than sinning, Justice Khosas opinion read.

Pakistan owes much of its blasphemy trouble to Zia Ul-Haq. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Pakistans laws on blasphemy date back to the military dictatorship of Gen. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. In 1980, making a derogatory remark against any Islamic personage was defined as a crime under Pakistans Penal Code Section 295, punishable by three years in prison. In 1982, another clause was added that prescribed life imprisonment for willful desecration of the Quran and, in 1986, a separate clause was added to punish blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed with death, or imprisonment for life.

Bibis case illustrated how blasphemy laws are used to persecute the weakest of the weak among Pakistan's religious minorities.

As a poor Christian from a low caste, Bibi was among the most vulnerable and susceptible to discrimination. And the legal system  which, in theory, should be designed to protect the innocent  failed her in every way.

However, Bibis case isnt the first in which Pakistans blasphemy laws have been used to punish minority groups. Since Zia ul Haq imposed the laws, their application has unleashed extremist religious frenzy. Lawyers who dare to represent someone accused of blasphemy have also been killed. In 2014, Rashid Rehman, a distinguished human rights lawyer brave enough to represent those most vulnerable to blasphemy charges  women and children of religious minorities, people with mental disabilities, and the weak and impoverished  was killed in his office by two unidentified gunmen.

Brave lawyer Rashid Rehman was killed for protecting the most vulnerable victims of the blasphemy law. (Photo: Reuters)

Judges who have dared to acquit an alleged blasphemer, or convict the killer of an alleged blasphemer, have either been forced to leave the country  or face death.

We must never forget the brave Pakistanis who have suffered, fought against, prayed for and died because of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan.

We must keep Salman Taseer, Shahbaz Bhatti, Rashid Rehman, Mashal Khan, Salamat Masih, Manzoor Masih, Rehmat Masih, Ayub Masih, Bishop John Joseph,Younis Sheikh, Samuel Masih, Anwar Masih and many more innocent victims of this pernicious law in our thoughts and prayers.

This is one huge victory but the laws remain. Much work remains to be done for their amendment  or repeal.

As with her previous trials and appeals, large crowds gathered outside the court in Islamabad on Wednesday demanding her conviction be upheld and the execution carried out. In messages being sent to the media, Tehreek e Labbaik, Pakistan, an extreme religious party, is openly threatening the three judges. Tehreek e Labbaiks Afzal Qadri has also asked soldiers to rebel against Army Chief in the aftermath of Asia Bibi's acquittal as the military is presumed to be behind this bold judgement.

Tehreek e Labbaik chief Afzal Qadri is demanding death for Asia Bibi. (Photo: YouTube screengrab)

As Pakistan gets increasingly isolated internationally, the military may feel the need to relieve some pressure on Pakistans image in the world. The Jamaat e Islami party, which, like Tehreek e Labbaik, has a very strong street presence, has asked its members to come out in Islamabad to demand this judgement be repealed.

In this climate of uncertainty and possible violence, the governments of Sindh and Punjab province have imposed Section 144 in light of the constant threat alerts regarding possible terrorist activities. Carrying arms, gatherings of more than four persons, pillion riding, and taking out rallies are some of the acts prohibited under Section 144.

Meanwhile, the national media, especially electronic, has gone totally silent on Asia Bibis release, as they too are under threat from the baying mobs.

Asia Bibi has been offered asylum by several countries and is expected to leave the country. The family said they feared for their safety and would likely have to leave Pakistan. Mobs are already baying for her blood. After years spent in jail on a mere allegation, Asia Bibi will now have to leave her home along with her family merely to be able to live her life.

Also read: Asia Bibi verdict: Why blasphemy laws should have no place in naya Pakistan
There are three kinds of Pakistan that exist today  and each kind has no connection with the other.

The first one is Imran Khan's 'Naya Pakistan', a Pakistan that is self-sufficient, economically strong and a military superpower in the south Asian region.

The second Pakistan is the Pakistan that the verified Pakistani Twitter handles project  a liberal Pakistan which allows minorities to thrive and a democratic system which is governed by the rule of law.

There's 'Naya Pakistan' and there's 'social media' Pakistan  the two sometimes meet on a fashion runway.

The third Pakistan is the Pakistan that exists in reality.

This Pakistan is diametrically opposite to the first two Pakistans. This Pakistan is broke, ruled by a mob of religious fanatics, completely intolerant of the minorities and governed by a Deep State that consists mainly of the military and the ISI.

The real Pakistan  broke, intolerant, run by a deep state. (Photo: Reuters)

Every now and then, there comes an incident that lays bare this true nature of Pakistan  a state that is so deeply fanatical to the core that any kind of logical argument will fail to describe it.

One of the cases in point is that of Asia Bibi. Bibi is a minority Christian woman who was accused of blasphemy for drinking from the same cup as the majority Pakistani Muslim ladies and then allegedly engaging in an argument with them. The police complaint and the investigation reports narrated the argument only from the point of view of the accusers and never really took into account the actual narrative of Asia Bibi.

Asia Bibi, as a result, was sentenced to death and remained on death row for nine years.

A poor Christian woman, Asia was accused of blasphemy in Pakistan and sentenced to death. (Photo: Agency)

The country's true face was exposed once again when two prominent lawmakers were gunned down just because they dared to speak in favour of Asia Bibi.

The Governor of Punjab, Salmaan Taseer was gunned down by his own security guard because he spoke in favour of Asia Bibi and demanded that she be released immediately. He also wanted to end the misuse of blasphemy laws that have already claimed hundreds of lives in Pakistan, including its dwindling minority communities who live without dignity in most Pakistani provinces.

One of Pakistan's bravest voices, Salman Taseer was killed by his own bodyguard in 2011 for defending Asia Bibi. (File photo: Reuters)

Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, the 26-year-old security guard, was convicted of the crime and hanged in 2016. But true to the social fabric of Pakistan, Qadri is now regarded as a martyr  and not an assassin.

Believe it or not, his grave is actually a pilgrimage site in Pakistan.

Qadri is now regarded as a martyr and his grave a pilgrimage site. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Another person who was murdered on the same lines was the only Christian minority federal minister in Pakistan, Shahbaz Bhatti.

His life was in danger for a long time and according to reports, even the CIA had unsuccessfully tried to convince the ISI that Bhatti needed an armoured, bullet-proof car.

It is rumoured that the ISI didn't allow the CIA to supply Bhatti with an armoured car, despite having specific inputs about his murder.

Why? Because the ISI, it is rumoured, apparently wanted to eliminate him to please some of the religious fanatics. He died exactly as predicted and there was just lip-services from people in power in that country as the Pakistan Taliban took responsibility for his killing.

Soon, Asia Bibi's case came up for a final hearing among frenzied slogans through the country. Given the kind of public sentiment Pakistani vernacular newspapers were portraying, everybody thought Asia Bibi would be sent to the gallows.

However, to everybody's surprise, good sense prevailed and in a historic judgment Asia Bibi was declared innocent and spared her life.

But the question that is perturbing me is  'Does she really walk free?'

Immediately after the judgement was delivered, members of a known fanatic but legitimate religious organisation called Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) crippled life in Pakistan. Its supporters blocked roads and highways. This is the same party that has been releasing videos on social media, threatening to kill the judges in this case, and imploring their "soldiers" to prepare for the ultimate sacrifice.

Here's proof.

With the Supreme Court set to announce it's verdict in #AasiaBibi's case today, hatemongering mullah Khadim Hussain Rizvi is inciting goons of his extremist organisation Tehreek-e-Labbaik to resort to violence if court finds her innocent & acquits her. A challenge for the State pic.twitter.com/0vtZU95ubC  Bilal Farooqi (@bilalfqi) October 30, 2018

Don't think that this party doesn't enjoy public support in Pakistan  this is actually the fifth largest party in that country, with a wide base of supporters who can choke the living daylights out of a civilised nation. As I write this, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) is engaged in destroying public property and unleashing a reign of terror among the poor public.

This is the true face of Pakistan  a country carved out of our own but which has ever since walked down the path of religious fanaticism.

Forget about its 'good terrorist' and 'bad terrorist' policy that we heavily criticise on international platforms, the rudderless and spineless Pakistani administration is actually party to a series of skewed legislations that is ensuring the minority population slowly gets wiped out from its land. In different parts of the country, minorities are reportedly being killed, abducted or intimidated regularly. You can simply read the wikipedia page on religious discrimination in Pakistan to get an idea about how bad the situation is and why the minority population is dwindling day by day.

That is the Pakistan social media liberals don't talk about  but, ladies and gentlemen, that is its true face.

Pakistan is a country which denies you your basic rights if you are a Hindu or a Christian or a Ahmadi. The rights definitely exist on paper but on the ground, it's a totally different  and opposite  story.

Do you think a person like Asia Bibi will be able to live in such a country, even if she is deemed innocent by the Supreme Court of Pakistan?

The fanatical Tehreek-E-Lebbaik is not a fringe outfit. It's one of Pakistan's biggest political parties. (Photo: Reuters)

If Asia Bibi is not provided with an army cordon as security, the day is not far when you will see her dead body on social media. As I speak, several legitimate political parties and their leaders are openly baying for her blood, imploring their members to kill her to get a passport to heaven.

In my view, Pakistan, as a country, has fallen to such depths that it won't be able to salvage itself for centuries  but, we, the civilised nations, should not stand there and let her be attacked on our watch.

Asia Bibi should be immediately granted asylum to a safe country  India should be the first country to raise this issue at an international forum. Asia Bibi must live in security and peace because she is a symbol of the failure of religious zealots who otherwise get to have a free run in Pakistan.

Let Pakistan fail as it has always been  but we should not fail Asia Bibi now.

Also Read: Pakistan acquits Asia Bibi: A great step, but miles to go, still
1. #MeToo: India shining the brightest

What started as just another Bollywood scandal, destined to be brushed under the red carpet, gradually fomented into Indias powerful #MeToo movement. Women broke their silence and stormed social media with harrowing experiences of being abused, molested and harassed  by a friend, a boss, a colleague.

And October was all about it  all about allegations, counter-allegations, victim-blaming, muscle flexing and feeling pained a little more every day.

The other 'India Shining'. (Photo: Google)

Google created a #MeToo Rising global map  and India, in October, shone the brightest. We dont know whether we should feel proud of that or hang our heads in shame for we have not let these women speak for so long!

And there are more still suffering in silence.

The Women and Child Development ministry has planned to set up a legal panel to look into #MeToo complaints. Union minister and veteran journalist MJ Akbar resigned in the face of several #MeToo allegations against him.

These developments must have tasted like success  after having gulped back tears for ages.

2. Around the world

Around the world. (Photo: Reuters)

We lost Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian journalist working in the US, and apparently got a new Trump in October.

On October 2, Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi was last seen in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. His sudden disappearance shocked and enraged the world. For days, the Saudi government denied any knowledge about whatever might have happened to Khashoggi, while Turkish prosecutors claimed that Khashoggoi was strangled and cut up. In the Saudi consulate.

A lot happened elsewhere.

Amid widespread violence, Afghanistan finally went for its long-delayed parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for early 2015. This was the third election since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

Bhutan elected a new party, formed in 2013, to lead the Himalayan kingdom.

Sri Lanka faced a constitutional crisis as President Maithripala Sirisena suspended Parliament and sacked elected prime minister Ranil Wickermesinghe, replacing him with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

And the world got the Trump of the Tropics  Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right candidate, won the first round of Brazils presidential election.

Because why stop at one Trump when you can have two?

3. Ranveer-Deepika wedding announcement

From co-actors to 'good friends' to a high-profile Bollywood couple, the Ranveer-Deepika jodi finally graduated this month as they announced their wedding to be held on November 14 and 15.

The rumours were floating since time immemorial, before Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas took over centrestage with their engagement and a plethora of after-parties.

We are happy for the couple  and for us as this is clearly not going to be a secret wedding.

4. Religion vs politics vs Supreme Court

Sabarimala: The war over worship. (Photo: Reuters)

In September, the Supreme Court allowed the entry of women of all age groups to the shrine of Keralas Sabarimala temple  a historic judgment indeed.

A battle won, but many others lost.

On October 17, the gates of the temple, which were so far closed to women of menstruating age (10 years to 50 years), opened  but only to bigger chaos.

Women, including journalists, were attacked and the issue got politically hijacked. The ruling CPM has accepted the ruling, while opposition Congress and BJP demanded a review. There are a total of 19 petitions in the Supreme Court, which will be heard on November 13  after the temple opens its gates again for 24 hours on November 5-6.

5. Kohli all the way

Meet the new Sachin. (Photo: PTI)

We take seconds to hate Kohli  and then love Kohli  and then again maybe hate him.

He was everywhere this month  from posing with Anushka on Karwa Chauth to breaking Sachin Tendulkars record.

So, he became the fastest to scrore 10,000 runs on One-Day internationals, rewriting Sachins record, during Indias 2nd ODI against the West Indies. Tendulkar took 259 innings to get there, while Kohli has so far batted in 205 innings.

It's a big deal.

Also Read: Why the #Metoo movement needs a credible legal framework
Hundreds of employees at Google offices around the world, including in India, Thursday staged an unprecedented series of walkouts in protest at the company's treatment of women and lenient treatment of top executives accused of sexual misconduct.

The demonstrations, dubbed "Google Walkout," follow an outcry over a New York Times investigation that detailed years of sexual harassment allegations, multimillion-dollar severance packages for accused executives, and a lack of transparency over the cases.

The employees are demanding several key changes in how sexual misconduct allegations are dealt with at the Internet giant, including a call to end forced arbitration - a move which would make it possible for victims to sue.

Forced arbitration, a common contract clause for Silicon Valley employees, demands any disputes are dealt with internally rather than through other methods such as the courts.

Google chief executive Sundar Pichai has told staff he supports their right to protest.

"Yesterday, we let Googlers know that we are aware of the activities planned for Thursday and that employees will have the support they need if they wish to participate," the Indian-American top executive said.

Demonstrations at the company's offices around the world began at 11:10am in Tokyo and took place at the same time in other time zones.

A photo from the Singapore hub showed at least 100 staff protesting. When contacted a Google spokesperson confirmed to PTI that 150 employees participated in the walkout in India. The employees were from Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Mumbai offices. Overall, Google has about 2,000 people across four offices in India (Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Mumbai and Bangalore).

A Google spokesman in Singapore said he could not provide details on how many people took part in the walkouts at those two offices, which each have more than 1,000 employees.
A 30-year-old cab driver was arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl, a resident of Madhu Vihar area in East Delhi, whom he had been dropping to school for the past three months, police said on Thursday.

According to a complaint received by police, the alleged incident took place in September 2018 but the girl kept quiet as she was apparently threatened by the accused, a neighbour, to not to reveal her ordeal.

The incident came to light after the schoolteacher informed the girls parents that she missed school on one occasion in September following which her parents confronted her. The girl revealed and narrated her ordeal, a senior police official siad.

During our investigation, it was revealed that the accused had befriended the girl and instead of dropping her to school one day, he took her to his house where he allegedly raped her, said the senior police official.

A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. Investigation is going on, the senior police official said.
Naidu terms alliance with Cong a democratic compulsion to save India

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday discarded his partys age-old anti-Congress stance and called on Congress president Rahul Gandhji as well several Opposition leaders in a bid to script a pre-poll Opposition alliance to take on the BJP.

Naidus meeting with Rahul came after the TDP and the Congress joined hands for the upcoming Telangana Assembly elections. The Thursday development not only marks the beginning of a new chapter in the TDP-Congress relationship, but it could also pave the way for uniting the Opposition parties ahead of the next years poll. From 1990 onward, Naidu never contested any election with the Congress, be it State or Lok Sabha polls.

Earlier in the day, Naidu met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah here. Naidu also met senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here and briefly discussed about the need to bring all non-BJP political parties together. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also held talks with former JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav.

Meanwhile, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav landed in the national Capital for alliance discussion.

This is Naidus second visit to Delhi in less than a week. He has already held preliminary discussions with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BSP chief Mayawati, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and the DMK leader.

After the meeting, Rahul told the media that the focal point is defeating the BJP.

We have agreed that principle idea here is to defeat the BJP and to defend democracy and the institutions of this country, Rahul said standing side by side with Naidu. All other ideas will be discussed later, he said deflecting a question of who would be the face of proposed Opposition alliance in the next elections.

It is very clear that corruption is taking place. Institutions that can investigate are being attacked... A proper enquiry on what all happened, where the money went and who did corruption...

That is what I am pushing very aggressively. Nation wants to know this, the Congress president said.

When asked about the past bitter and confrontational relations between the Congress and the TDP, Rahul said,

We have a past. We have both agreed that we are not going to talk about our past and talk about our future.

Naidu, whose entry on the national scene as a facilitators to bring together all the major non-BJP parties has created a sensation and buzz in national politics, said that very soon the leaders of all the non-BJP parties were going to meet to chalk out the future course of action.

We have to save this nation and save democracy. That is our mission. I discussed with Rahulji. In principle we agreed, he said refusing to go into the troubled past of the relations between the two parties.

Backing Naidus effort to unite the Opposition, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar said non-BJP parties will come out with a common minimum programme to take on the Government, while expressing concern over assault on the CBI and the RBI.

If we collectively work to save democracy, we can definitely save the institutions. Chandrababu (Naidu) will talk to other State political leaders in this regard, the NCP chief told reporters.

Alleging that the situation in the country seems to be deteriorating day by day as there is assault on institutions like the CBI and the RBI, he said there is a need to work for the common cause of saving the country and democracy.

A common minimum programme will be drafted once the non-BJP parties come on board to discuss the matter, Pawar said.

Voicing concern over the difficult times the country is going through, Abdullah said, Today, democracy is in danger and people are in danger. That is why we all met and decided to work out a common minimum programme to save democracy, institutions and the nation.
Five people were killed and two others injured in eastern Assams Tinsukia district on Thursday evening after terrorists dressed in Army fatigues fired randomly at a group of people belonging to a particular linguistic minority community at Kheraibari area under Dhola, police said.

Later, one more injured died in the hospital taking the death toll to five, said police, adding that it suspects the hands of anti-talk faction of Ulfa militants behind the incident.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal strongly condemned the killing of innocent people near Dhola in Tinsukia district which borders Arunachal Pradesh and is located about 485 km east of Assams capital town Guwahati.

The CM asked asked State Water Resources Minister Keshav Mahanta and Minister of State (Power) Topon Kumar Gogoi to rush to the incident site to take stock of the situation.
Ex-Russian judge gets 3 years for extortion of $8,000 bribe

 www.votermedia.org

14:53 01/11/2018

MOSCOW, November 1 (RAPSI)  A court in the Stavropol Territory has sentenced Makhach Aliyev, a former judge from Makhachkala, the capital of Russias Republic of Dagestan, to 3 years in high security prison for extorting 500,000 rubles (about $8,000) from the mother of one of persons on trial, the press service of the Prosecutor Generals Office has reported.

Aliyev has been also fined 2 million rubles ($30,500). Moreover, the court has prohibited him from holding public posts for 5 years.

It was found that in February 2015, the Sovetsky Court of Makhachkala was considering a case over illegal acquisition of drugs against a local resident. Then judge Aliyev being an acquaintance of the defendants mother suggested the woman to pass a noncustodial sentence upon her son for a 500,000-ruble bribe.

According to case papers, to make his criminal intention a reality Aliyev put the defendant on the wanted list, issued an arrest warrant for him and repeatedly postponed hearings in the case therefore delaying the trial.

Later, the judge reduced the amount of a demanded bribe to 400,000 rubles ($4,000). He was arrested when receiving the money.
Antacids or acid suppressants and antibiotics may alter the type and volume of gut bacteria that have been associated with increased risk of obesity particularly if taken for longer periods in early childhood, warns a new study.



The study explored that the structure of gut bacteria has been linked to various aspects of human health, including obesity.



For the study, researchers from Walter Reed National Military Medical in the US examined 333,353 infants among which nearly 46,993 children became obese.



The findings further revealed that antibiotics or acid suppressants was associated with a heightened risk of obesity by the age of 3 -- the average age at which obesity was first identified in these children.



This is an observational study and as such cannot establish cause.



According to the team from the varsity, whose study was published in the journal Gut, over prescription of both antibiotics and acid suppressants in young children is a significant problem.
A 22-year-old MBA student of the IPS College allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance at his home in the Kadam Sahab Ka Bada area of the city. Tarun Bhatia was rushed to the hospital where doctors failed to revive him. His mother informed the police that she had found him unconscious in his room with his mouth covered in froth.

The exact reasons for the suicide are yet to be ascertained but the police suspect that depression associated with the pressures of studies could be the main reason for this extreme step. According to his relatives and friends Tarun was under intense depression for the last four months, always worrying whether he would get a good job. According to his mother the deceased had been visibly disturbed for the past few days and that she had tried to cheer him up. Tarun had lost his father when he was only 14 months old.

One of his classmates, Yugal Chauhan said that Tarun had always been a lively student, scoring first division in all exams, but was noticeably upset for the past few weeks. He also said that during the internal examination, a couple of weeks back Tarun had broken down in the exam hall and was crying uncontrollably.

When asked about this trend of college students ending their lives, Prof Dr Ayub Khan, notable sociologist and HOD, Department of Sociology, MLB College , Gwalior said that this is an issue of major concern that requires a strong response from parents. He also said that depression can be genetic in some cases and could manifest in the adolescent stages.

He further said that in India parents often go into a denial mode when it comes to their childs mental health, thinking that their child cannot have such problems. The sociologist counseled that this attitude must go and parents must understand how fragile their childs mental well-being can be and be proactive in assessing it.
Patient care at the newly-opened Saheed Laxman Naik Medical College Hospital in Koraput district has been disrupted after four doctors of the hospital suddenly resigned from their posts citing non-release of their salaries.

Sources said that the four doctors of the medicine department tendered their resignation without any prior notice and stayed back alleging that the college dean has held up their salaries even though they have discharged their duties sincerely.

Sources said that the college dean held the salaries of the senior doctors Sashibhusan Sutar, Gurupad Dash, Manoj Kisan and Swarna Sarit Sahu after not finding their attendance record in the biometric machine of the hospital.

After knowing this, the four doctors sent their resignations to the dean. Since the senior doctors mainly supervise the medicine department, their sudden resignation has crippled patient care at the hospital.
About 5,000 persons including Ministers, academicians and students will attend the two-day Gyan Kumbh to be inaugurated in Haridwar on November 3 by President Ram Nath Kovind. The deliberations in this historic initiative will be of national importance, said Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.

Addressing the media at a hotel here on Thursday, the Chief Minister said that while president of India, Ram Nath Kovind, will inaugurate the Gyan Kumb at the University of Patanjali on November 3, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be present at the conclusion of the event on the following day.

The Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Prakash Javadekar will be the chief speaker in one of the five technical sessions to be held as part of the event. The first technical session on governmental efforts for quality in higher education will be presided over by the Chief Minister and co-chaired by the State Higher Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat and Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya chancellor Pranav Pandya. Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar will be the main speaker in this session. Higher Education Ministers of various States will also express their views in this session. The second session on November 4 will be held on higher education and Indian knowledge tradition. It will be chaired by Acharya Balkrishna and co-chaired by Uttarakhand Sanskrit University vice chancellor PK Dikshit and Kumaon University vice chancellor DK Nauriyal. Swami Ramdev will be the main speaker in this session.

The third session will be held on the subject of drafting and implementation of policies in high education . The Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Satya Pal Singh will chair this session in which higher education secretaries of various States will also express their views. The fourth session on innovative research and improvement in quality will be chaired by University Grants Commission chairman, professor DP Singh, co-chaired by Sri Dev Suman Uttarakhand University vice chancellor US Rawat and Doon university vice chancellor professor Chandra Shekhar Nautiyal.

Directors of central institutions and educationalists from various institutions will share their views in this session. The fifth and final technical session on challenges in higher education and skill development will be chaired by former vice chancellor of Garhwal University SP Singh, co-chaired by Uttarakhand Residential University vice chancellor professor HS Dhami and Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) adviser, professor MSM Rawat.

Vice-chancellors of various universities will express their views in this session. The CM further informed that higher Education Ministers of 18 States, nine Ministers of Uttarakhand, higher education secretaries from seven states, 131 vice chancellors of various universities, 150 college principals and teachers from Uttarakhand, 417 college students of the host State, 3485 teachers and students of private self financed colleges and 200 other invited educationalists and other guests among others will be participating in the two-day Gyan Kumbh.

Minister of State for Higher Education, Dhan Singh Rawat was also present in the Press conference.
Eyeing 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Haryana, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday went on to challenge his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar over the work done by their respective State Governments in the last four years.

When I visited Haryana recently, I witnessed poor infrastructure of schools, hospitals, roads and even electricity facility. In Delhi, we have worked for improving schools, hospitals and other facilites, he said while talking to the mediapersons here.

Promising to emulate the Mohalla Clinic model of Delhi in Haryana if the AAP is voted to power in the next assembly election, Kejriwal said, People should decide whether to shun the party that sought votes in the name of temple and mosques and to support the one which worked for building schools and hospitals.

Preparing for the Haryana assembly elections with a message of building a New Haryana, Kejriwal had visited the state for several times in the past three months to reach out to the general public. He has addressed public meetings, held roadshows and visited schools of Haryana.

The party has planned to contest on all 10 Lok Sabha seats from Haryana and also, on all 90 assembly seats, election for which are due later next year

Eyeing a win in the Haryana Assembly polls next year, Kejriwal is hard selling his AAP led Delhi Governments achievements in the field of education and health sectors to the voters of Haryana.

With Haryanas proximity to AAP ruled Delhi and the state being Kejriwals home state, the AAP leaders feel that the party can benefit from various factors including a political vacuum in Haryana at present. Speaking here on the states foundation day, being celebrated as Haryana Diwas, the AAP convener on Thursday alleged that every section of the society in the state is unhappy with the Congress, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

These parties have ruled the state for over 50 years now. While the Congress, INLD and the BJP regimes had failed to perform in Haryana, his AAP government had brought revolutionary changes in the national capital, Kejriwal claimed.

52 years have passed since the formation of Haryana but still the expectations of people of the state remain unfulfilled, he added. Accusing the political parties to play a politics of caste, the AAP convener said that they talk about Jats, Baniyas, Pandits . All these parties have been dividing the state on caste lines by either wooing Jats or non Jats, he alleged. Till now, the INLD and Congress were seeking votes from Jats and BJP from non Jats. Not even a single party had sought votes for providing good education and hospital services, better infrastructure and power, Kejriwal said. The Delhi Chief Minister further alleged that under the erstwhile INLD Government, the state's law and order went for a toss while Congress regime was no better and indulged in land grabbing and corruption.

Both INLD and Congress are witnessing infighting today and have nothing to offer to the people of Haryana, he said.

Slamming Manohar Lal for calling Mohalla Clinics as Halla clinics, Kejriwal challenged him to visit any five clinics in the national capital.

If he accepts my challenge, I will also accompany him to visit Haryana's dispensaries on November 12. I will also be writing a letter to the Chief Minister in this regard, he added.

On the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal issue, Kejriwal said his party will abide by what the Supreme Court decides as he slammed the BJP and the Congress of failing to resolve the contentious issue.

Continuing his tirade against the BJP led Haryana Government, the Delhi CM Said that farmers are unhappy as they are not getting compensation for their damaged crops and remunerative prices for their crops, youths are disappointed and schools, hospitals are in dilapidated condition.

Notably, the AAP has planned to quote the Delhi Model and list the achievements of the Kejriwal led Delhi Government to woo the voters in Haryana.

After tasting defeat at the hustings in the previous Lok Sabha polls from Haryana, the AAP had not contested the October 2014 assembly elections in the state.

In the previous parliamentary polls held in 2014, AAP had lost on all 10 Lok Sabhaseats in Haryana and most of its candidates had finished at fourth or fifth position.

At present, the search is on for partys candidates for Lok Sabha polls 2019, likely to be held in May-April.
Ayodhya is suddenly abuzz with activities, with plaintiffs of both Hindu and Muslim sides in the dispute claiming to be engaged in talks to thrash out an amicable solution to the Ram temple issue to end the decade old tussle.

Sant Paramhans, who recently went on an indefinite hunger strike and had to be admitted to the SGPGI in Lucknow, met Muslim plaintiff Iqbal Ansari at Ayodhya at the latters residence on Wednesday night. The Paramhans gifted to Ansari copies of Ramcharitra Manas and Sudha Sagar before discussing the vexed issue after the Supreme Court deferred the hearing on the Ayodhya issue till January next year.

Later, talking to media persons, Ansari said that he had no acrimony with Hindu saints. It is simple. I am fighting a case on behalf of my community in the court of law. Outside the court, we are united. It is a fight between a temple and a mosque and not between Hindus and Muslims, as is being projected by the media. Both sides want an amicable solution to the dispute and if it is reached through dialogue, it will definitely be better. But if we fail, both sides will abide by the court verdict, he said.

On the other hand, Sant Paramhans said that he had gone to Ansaris home to wish him for Diwali, keeping alive the Ganga-Jamuni culture of the temple town.

We spoke for resolving the issue through mutual agreement. Ansari has proposed a good solution which will be disclosed later on, he said.

Meanwhile, Ayodhya was all decked up for Diwali celebration, when Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will attend a Deepotsava programme to be held on November 6.

Shiv Sena chief Udhav Thakre is also expected to go for a darshan of Ram Lalla on November 25.
Giving a clear warning, BJP mandarins, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, told chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of various boards and corporations not to treat themselves as VIPs and instead work as dedicated party workers to ensure victory of the party in elections.

Do not live in ivory towers. You have a right to get VIP facilities but you are party workers first. Hence engage yourself for ensuring victory of the party in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told a gathering in Lucknow on Thursday.

The meeting was held at Lok Bhawan in which the Chief Minister, BJP state president Mahendra Nath Pandey and partys organisation secretary Sunil Bansal addressed around 300 BJP leaders.

Yogi said that there should be perfect co-ordination between the government and the party. Good work done by the governments, both UP and Union governments, should reach the village level. Party workers can play a pivotal role in this, he said.

Mahendra Nath Pandey said that chairpersons and their deputies had been asked to fulfill their responsibilities towards the party and the government.

The chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of board and corporations enjoy the status of minister of state. One such chairman said that the party brass had given them responsibilities in their respective areas to ensure the victory of the party and its allies in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

He said that the Chief Minister and other leaders told them that they were made chairmen as they were BJP workers first.

We were asked to go to our respective areas and remain in touch with the people as party workers and not chairpersons, he told The Pioneer.

Earlier, the party had held meeting with ministers in the Yogi Council of Ministers and had given them responsibilities of Lok Sabha constituencies. They were asked to hold meetings for three days starting November 2.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.
Mystery shrouds over death of a woman and her six- month-old son whose bodies were recovered from a well on Wednesday morning under the Bisra police limits. Police suspected that the duo was killed and are waiting for the postmortem report.

The deceased was identified as Phula Tirkey (25), a resident of Gudguda village. Sources said she had a love relationship with one Inesh Ekka (28), a resident of Udushu village.

Although they had not married, Phula had given birth to a male child six months ago. Even if after birth of their child, Inesh had not married Phula and was not taking Phula to his house as his wife.

Phula along with her six- month -old son had been residing in her parents house.

Phula had been insisting Inesh to take her and his son to his house but Inesh was not listening to her.

As per the allegation of Phulas family, on Tuesday night at around 10 pm, Inesh had talked to Phula over cell phone and had called her outside.

Phula along with her son had gone outside but had not returned home thereafter.

On Wednesday morning, some farmers first saw the bodies of Phula and her son floating inside a well and informed the police.

According to the police, there were some scratches on the body of Phula.

The police after registering a UD case, are now investigating as the family members have brought allegation that Phula and her son were murdered by Inesh.

However, the family members of Inesh refuted the allegation and claimed that Phula along with her son might have committed suicide.
With the crucial Lok Sabha polls just a few months away, Punjab Congress is all set to witness a change of guard soon.

Aimed at giving a fresh start to the party in some of the states while ending infighting in others, the Congress high command has started the process of searching the new state presidents in five states, including Punjab.

Besides Punjab, the party may also appoint new Pradesh Congress Committee presidents in the neighbouring states of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh along with Mumbai.

Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar, who is also Member of Parliament from Gurdaspur, is set to seek re-election in the ensuing 2019 Lok Sabha polls. After his election as MP from Gurdaspur, Jakhar has been juggling between two roles  that of the state party chief and an MP  which has, at least to some extent, affected the party in Punjab, a senior Congress leader requesting anonymity told The Pioneer, while confirming that he may soon be replaced. However, at the same time, the leader maintained that Jakhar has been effective in his role as state unit president, and has worked as a bridge between the party and the government. The leader submitted that for parliamentary polls, scheduled for the next year, a full-time active state president is what the party need to lead from the front, and if Jakhar wanted to re-contest from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat, he would not be able to devote much time to the organisational affairs in the state. Notably, the Congress is leaving no stone unturned to return to power, and the new party presidents would be tasked with immediate revival of the organisation position in these states ahead of 2019 polls.

It has been learnt that the announcement for the new Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president would be made by November only. It may also be possible that the party may appoint a working president.

For the coveted post, name of partys senior Dalit leader and MLA Raj Kumar Verka is doing the rounds. Despite being the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh staunch loyalist, Verka failed to make it to the State Cabinet, which may eventually go in his favour for elevation as the partys state unit chief.

Verka, MLA from Amritsar (West) constituency, has gone vocal after the Chief Minister failed to give enough representation to the dalit leaders in his council of ministers. He was among the first leaders from Punjab to raise the issue of no or under representation of scheduled or backward class in the State Cabinet with the Congress national president Rahul Gandhi, who had then assured him of suitably accommodating him.

Besides Verka, the name of Capt Amarinders bete noire and Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa is also under consideration. Gurdaspurs former MP, Bajwa has served as PPCC president for about two years from 2013 to 2015, before his unceremonious removal by the party high command under pressure from Capt Amarinder camp after the partys poor show in 2014 parliamentary polls. What may work in favour of Bajwa is his previous performance as state party chief. Bajwa led the party from the front to take on the then SAD-BJP government by horns by initiating a strong agitation against drugs, targeting its leader Bikram Singh Majithia, along with other scams in Parkash Singh Badal government.

But, on the other hand, Capt Amarinder would ensure that Bajwa would not get back the state presidentship as many party leaders are already upset with their own Government on scores of issues.

Capt Amarinder, who is expected to return from his trip from Turkey on Friday, may seek an appointment to meet the party chief Rahul Gandhi to discuss various issues, including the new state president or working president, besides the allegations of sexual harassment against his Cabinet Minister, among others.
In a major relief to thousands of female ad-hoc teachers teaching at Delhi University (DU) and its colleges, a varsity committee has recommended grant of maternity leave to them.

The committee has recommended giving maximum 4 months of maternity leave to female ad-hoc teachers which will benefit nearly 2,500 female ad-hoc teachers at DU and its colleges. It is imperative to mention that female ad-hoc teachers of DU are not entitled to have maternity leave contrary to the permanent teachers who are authorised to avail 6 months of maternity leave with salary.

The DU had constituted a committee to look into the operational aspect of UGC regulation on minimum qualifications for appointment of teacher and other academic staff in Universities and Colleges and other measures for maintenance of standards in higher education, 2018.

A teacher on ad-hoc basis is appointed for four months against a vacant post. As per the recommendations an ad-hoc teacher may go on maternity for rest of the period of 4 months from the date she is availing her maternity leave, said Pankaj Garg, member of the committee.

Garg said that during this period the college can appoint guest lecturers in her place only for the period the female ad-hoc teacher is on maternity leave.

Other important decision of the committee pertains to the grant of Professorship in colleges. As per the recommendations of committee now colleges can have post of professors apart from having associate and assistant professors. As of now, there are no professors at the College level and they only serve at the faculties and departments at the university level.

Rasal Singh another member of the committee informed that the committee has decided that counting of past ad-hoc services would be included in promotion at the first stage. He said that pending cases of promotion would be cleared and nearly 3000 teachers whose promotion is pending since decades would be benefitted.

Period of all kind of leaves i.e. maternity leave, child care leave, study leave and deputation period will be counted for promotions, said Rasal Singh.
Summa Group owners accused of one more embezzlement count

 TASS, Mikhail Pochuyev

18:02 01/11/2018

MOSCOW, November 1 (RAPSI) - Summa Group owner Ziyavudin Magomedov and his brother, the companys co-owner Magomed Magomedov, who are charged with organizing a criminal gang and embezzlement, have been additionally accused by investigators of stealing 300 million rubles ($4.6 million), RAPSI reports Thursday from Moscow's Tverskoy District Court.

According to investigation, the funds were stolen during the construction of a highway in South Siberia in September 2014.

Ziyavudin Magomedov and Magomed Magomedov are involved in the organization of a gang, embezzlement of 2.5 billion rubles (about $38 million at the current exchange rate) from the state budget and withdrawal of some of these assets abroad, investigators claim. Magomed Magomedov is also charged with illegal weapon possession. They have been detained along with ex-CEO of Intex construction company Arthur Maksidov.

The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Two more defendants in the case, who allegedly fled to the United Arab Emirates, were arrested in absentia and put on the international wanted list.
Days after his MLA wife Geeta Koda picked up the Congress to be her next political home Madhu Koda also followed suit on Thursday. Madhu Koda, who had enjoyed near two year stint as chief minister despite his being an Independent MLA thanks to the Congress during 2006-08, also decided to merge his kitchen political outfit- Jai Bharat Samaanta Party into the national party headed by Nehru-Gandhi familys scion Rahul Gandhi.

Koda, who is facing charges of massive corruption taken place during his tenure in the State and had also been convicted and sentenced for three years by a Special CBI court in a case related to coal scam, held the hand in the presence of Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ajoy Kumar.

The party had organised a workers conference at Chaibasa for the merger where Madhu Koda in the presence of hundreds of his supports took oath as a Congressman. Misses Koda, who is presently representing Jagannathpur Assembly constituency in the House, was present there on the occasion.

Koda during the changeover minced no word to praise the Congress and leadership of Rahul Gandhi while denouncing the policies of the incumbent BJP, both at the Center and the State. All the policies of the BJP are anti-poor and anti-tribal. This is right time to uproot the BJP from Jharkhand and the country, said Madhu Koda briefly.

Earlier when Geeta Koda had joined the party in the presence of Rahul Gandhi along with Congress State in-charge RPN Singh and others in Delhi it was decided that she would be contesting the next Lok Sabha polls from Chaibasa constituency in 2019.

In the case of Madhu Koda nothing of that sort has been promised as of now. His induction into the Congress was importance since it would not have been proper that he can continue with his own politics and his wife is into the Congress at the same time. This is more metaphorical a step, said a senior Congress leader admitting that talks had taken place with the couple on this lime some time ago.

It is also learnt that the party leadership in Delhi wanted to keep Madhu Kodas entry a low key affair probably due to his tainted image and cases of corruption pending against him. That is why a different occasion, faces and place than of his wife were chosen for his entry into the Congress.
In a major setback to the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into irregularities in the selection of 68,500 assistant teachers in 2018 for government-run primary schools across the state.

In another decision, the High Court set aside the recruitment of 12,460 assistant teachers made by the previous Samajwadi Party government in December 2016.

Both verdicts were given by a single-judge bench of Justice Irshad Ali in Lucknow on Thursday.

Director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) shall make investigation in regard to the entire process of selection initiated for recruitment of assistant teachers in primary schools against 68,500 posts, which is known as assistant teacher recruitment examination, 2018 initiated in pursuance to an advertisement dated 23.1.2018, taking into consideration the observation made in the order and the material taken notice by this court and submit a report of the progress of the investigation in the matter to this court on the date fixed, the judge said in his written order.

The court directed the officers who were part of the selection process to co-operate in investigation and place necessary documents required by the CBI.

The court will hear the case again on November 26 next.

It directed the CBI to complete the probe expeditiously, within a period of six months from the date of pronouncement of the order.

The court said that a query was made to the Advocate General of UP, whether the state government was ready to investigate the prima facie corruption found on examination of records by the CBI or not but after grant of time to him to seek instruction in the matter, he replied to the court that the state government was not ready to hand over investigation of the assistant teachers recruitment examination, 2018 to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Therefore, the court, under compelling circumstances, has ordered a CBI probe, the order said.

The court reserved its judgement on a bunch of petitions filed by on October 8 last, alleging that the answer sheets of several candidates were changed after the examination.

In another judgement by the same court, the appointment of 12,460 assistant teachers in December, 2016 was set aside due to irregularities.
On the occasion of Haryana Day, Industries and Commerce Minister Vipul Goel on Thursday launched the states first online Khadi selling centre, an initiative of the Haryana Khadi and Village Industries Board in Panchkula.

The Minister also launched brand Har Khadi and its logo.

While extending greetings of Haryana Day to the people, Goel said that Haryana Khadi and Village Industries Board would complete its 50 years in February 2019. So far, no previous governments had ever taken such initiative for the promotion of khadi as taken by the present government, he said.

The Board will also organise Khadi Fashion Melas in 2019 to make khadi products easily available to people Mahatma Gandhi's charkha reminds about Indias freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi had promoted khadi by adopting khadi in his life. On his vision, Haryana Government is taking special steps in the direction of promotion of khadi and cleanliness, he added.

The Minister said that similarly, such Khadi selling stores would be opened at the district level and also outside the state.

Goel also assured chairperson of Haryana Khadi and Village Industries Board, Gargi Kakkar on her demand to arrange an adequate budget to promote Khadi production. He said that for the last many years, people were losing touch with Khadi. Now under the present government, Khadi would reach the common people through the Boards initiative of online Khadi selling centres. Spinning cotton on Charkha has taken a bigger form and today wearing Khadi has become fashion. It is a matter of pride for the people of the state, Goel said.

As the trend of online selling has taken root throughout the country, in such time Haryana Khadi and Village Industries Board has also taken such initiative for the sale of its products which is an appreciative step. The Board would not be lagged behind in any field and meaningful efforts would be made to establish the identity of Khadi products of Haryana Khadi and Village Industries Board in the country as well as abroad, he added.

Chairperson of Haryana Khadi and Village Industries Board, Gargi Kakkar said that on the occasion of Haryana Day, we have also launched brand- Har Khadi and its logo.
Inspector-General (Ranchi zone), Naveen Kumar Singh on Thursday expressed concern that advancement in the field of technology is giving rise to cybercrime. There is need to focus on solving such crimes, he said.

He said this while inaugurating a cyber thana building at Bistupur police station premies today. The cyber thana was operating here in Bistupur since March 1 this year, but an exclusive cyber thana building was set up today.

Cases of cybercrime have been on the rise in the city. So far 31 cybercrime cases have been registered with the Cyber thana at Bistupur.

Seventh in the state, the single-storeyed cyber thana building is spread over an area of 1,200 sq ft.

It is well equipped with a hall for complainants, chamber for deputy superintendent of police (cybercrime), chamber for the inspector-cum-officer-in-charge and two chambers for officials posted at the cyber thana.

While addressing the gathering, the IG said that committing a cybercrime is different in comparison of committing other crimes like theft, robbery or murder.

"In the crime like loot, robbery murder etc, the offenders have to remain present at the scene of crime and there is all possibility of getting caught by the police instantly.

But in a case of cyber crime, an offender can commit the crime by sitting at a distant place.

The police are supposed to detect such crime by making investigation through the cyber technology," said Singh.

" We need to change we changing times. Cases of cybercrime keep pouring. Complaints of on an average five cybercrime are reported with the police stations across the steel city every day.

For detection of such crime, the cyber cells set up in each of the police station get activate.

But after a cyber police station is set up in the city, all such cases can be detected effectively and within a very short period of time," said a senior police officer.

Senior SP, Anoop Birtharay, city SP, Prabhat Kumar, SP (Rural) Anuranjan Kispota and DSP (Cyber crime), Jaishree Kuzur were present on the occasion.

The cyber thana is presently has a strength of nine staff, which include seven inspectors and one assistan sub-inspector. The cyber thana, Jamshedpur is being led by DSP (cyber crime) Jaishree Kujur.

Police to focus on gambling dens Jamshedpur:

Security in the steel city is being beefed up in view of Diwali. Additional police forces will be deployed at sensitive places including Railway Station and crowded places in the city. All police stations have been asked to keep a tab on spots infamous for gambling. Senior superintendent of police Anoop Birtharay has already instructed all officers-in-charge to take stern steps against those found indulging in gambling.

They have been asked to act on each and every tip-off they receive. He added that if any complaint of gambling was found to be true in a thana area, the officer-in-charge concerned would be taken to task.

Sources said gambling was already rampant in Jugsalai, Sonari, Sakchi and Sitaramdera in the run-up to Diwali.
The executive council of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) has decided to name the main road of the campus after the name of late former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee who began his carrier as a jouirnalist.

The apex decision making body of Indias premiere media training institute also approved new faculty positions for IIMC campuses situated at Dhenkanal, Amravati, Aizawl, Jammu and Kottayam. The meeting was chaired by Amit Khare , Secretary of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Chairman of Executive Council.

Director General of IIMC, K G Suresh who is also a member secretary of executive council said the council has also approved the proposal to organise an annual lecture at the institute in the memory of former Prime Minister. The institution would also sign a Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Uzbekistan State University of Languages.

Explaining about the fake news, he said that the institute is engaged in organizing workshops on the subject and developing pedagogy for the same.

The EC meeting also approved a maximum medical reimbursement of up to Rs 30000 for the retired employees. The meeting was also attended by Professor Makhhan Lal of the Delhi Institute of Heritage Research and Management, Professor Vijay Dharukar, VC of Tripura Central University, Rakesh Khar, Editor ( Special Projects), Network 18, Hitesh Shankar, Editor (Panchjanya), Smita Prakash, Director News, ANI.
After visiting NETAFIM, HQ, Magala, Haifa District, Israel, the delegation of 21 farmers and 6 officials led by Mukesh Kumar, DC, Dumka was taken to SCR dairy at Central District, Hasharon, Netanya.

The SCR dairy is one of the largest companies in the world, which provides technological solution to the dairy farms. The SCR dairy HQ is situated approximately 20 Kms from Tel Aviv towards the north.

The delegation attended professional presentation by Guy Itzovitvch, Global Sales Manager and subsequently went to a fully automated dairy farms of 200 cows.

During presentation Guy informed about the technological solutions in the area of cow intelligence, Milking intelligence and Hard Intelligence.

SCR dairy manufactures various advance integrated equipments viz Plastic tags, Electronic tags, Sensor belts, Milking meters.

Guy said they provide complete professional solutions and services towards scientific management of dairy farms and so far they have provided solutions to several countries across the world including India.

The SCR has subsidiary units in Delhi and is providing services in the state of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka especially for cow farm management.

The SCR has partnership with Global dairy Institute and other organizations which are working in the area of Live stock solutions, Cattle Handling Equipment, Dairy design & engineering, Cow Intelligence System, Waste Management System, Building Construction & Site Supervision, Manure Handling Management, Pasteurizers, Colostrums & Milk Solutions and Ventilation system for overall solutions to dairy farms.

Farmers of Jharkhand have shown interest in sensor belt and had interaction with Guy and asked specific questions like use of sensor, benefits of sensor, life of the sensor and expenditure towards implementation of such technology in perspective of Jharkhand. Guy informed that their technology is very much useful for bigger dairy farm size, say minimum of 50 cows and Sensor belts capture every activity of cow right from the movement, rumination, milking, and heat period through computer based data management and helps farmers to take decision on management of animal and saves lots of costs towards disease management.

Guy also said that SCR dairy is looking forward to work in Jharkhand with collaboration of Government to design customized and cheap solutions to Jharkhand Farmers.

On invitation, representatives of SCR shall visit Jharkhand and will prepare integrated solutions for dairy farmers and wanted to work for long term as Jharkhand is the hub of Cow in eastern India. Further, He informed that, their technology is very much helpful in increasing the lactation period in cow, 100% success in artificial insemination and keeping track record of each animal for best dairy management. The delegation was taken to farmer dairy farm by SCR dairy in a village for practical exposure. This dairy farm is having herd size of 200 cows and fully automated with technological solutions. Cows were having productivity of 40 liters per day and it was also understood that cows were fed on silage only as availability of green grass or pasture is very less in Israel. Farmer is able to keep record of each cow and accordingly management is not very tedious. Approximately Rs 8 crores investment have been made to develop this farm and milk is sold to dairy companies directly and milk rate is 0.60 cents Rs per litre.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued conditional summons to the Cuttack district Collector for his negligence in acting over the issue of a mentally-retarded woman and her baby.

The NHRC had on September 6, 2018 issued a reminder to the Cuttack Collector for submission of his report as directed by the commission vide its proceeding on June 27, 2018. No report has been submitted by the concerned authority despite warning of coercive process.

Exercising its power given under Section 13 (a) of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the Commission directed that the Collector be summoned to appear in person on December 6, 2018 to produce the required information and documents.

Should, however, the required information and documents be received on or before October 2, 2018, his personal presence shall be dispensed with.

Petitioner Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy alleged that due to lack of medical care and State apathy a mentally challenged woman was raped and gave birth to a child on road at Jagatpur in Cuttack district. The victim has been deprived and denied of basic human rights due to apathy and negligence of State officials.

Bring to the notice of the NHRC that one mentally challenged woman gave birth to a child helplessly on road on July 26, 2016, Tripathy stated that after labour pain the woman was crying for help, none of the officials like ASHA and other health officials took care of her during her pregnancy nor any body came to her rescue during her delivery at IB Road in Jagatpur. Corporator Nirod Chandra Panda called an ambulance after the incident. But that also did not reach. Negligence and failure of the Government authorities in acting over the issue pose a serious question of human rights, Tripathy alleged.

He requested the NHRC to direct the Odisha Chief Secretary, Odisha and the Cuttack administration to act immediately over the issue and to ensure nutrition, health care, rehabilitation of the mother and the child till the child attains eighteen years of age and recommend other steps to be taken in the interest of justice and protection of human rights.
Palamu Tiger Reserve officials have taken up the Burha river issue with the Chhattisgarh forest and environment officials there.

Sources said the deputy director South division of PTR MK Mahaling has sent a letter to chief wildlife warden of Chhattisgarh seeking his co operation and intervention in saving the life of this river Burha.

Sources said the Burha river is facing severe onslaughts of bauxite mining in the Chhatisgarh areas which are the catchment zones of this river.

Burha river is an interstate river connecting Chhatisgarh to Jharkhand. It starts from Seraandag in Chhatisgarh and meets Koyal river in Jharkhands Bagey Champa which falls under PTR.

M K Mahaling deputy director South division of PTR said,I wrote a letter to chief wild life warden of Chhatisgarh urging him to intervene to save this perennial river which is a life line of PTR and its systematic destruction looks most imminent because of rampant bauxite mining in Chhatisgarh areas which are too close to the catchment areas of this river Burha.

He further said the Chhatisgarh chief wild life warden has assured to look into this issue and is said to have asked his concerned DFO there to see the dimension of bauxite mining going on there.

Burha river in PTR holds a high significance here as two waterfalls Lodh and Sugga Bandh are its added attractions for the tourists.

 If this river becomes a rivulet and days and time are not much the way this reckless mining of bauxite is so on in Chhatisgarh then these two waterfalls Lodh and Sugga Bandh will be just a stone structure bereft of all scenic appeal and beauty and lots of waters added Mahaling.

Sources said bauxite mining is done quite deep 20 feet down the earth and as such loss of habitat, soil , water is most inevitable.

There is a strong fear of this river Burha changing its course as well because of this mining nearby. There is just a road between Cheru Kukud in Jharkhands wolf sanctuaryMahuadarn and this Chhatisgarh mining areas and so the magnitude of destruction is enormous said sources.

Sources said it is a sheer irony that Burha Pahar sends shivers down the spines of the cops because of its rendezvous of the Maoists and where Maoists most top gun carrying a reward of 1 crore on his head Arvind ji too died,

Due to illness there is this river of the same name Burha for which PTR officials are plling all stops to save this river from getting into just a stream of water!.

A team of senior officials including then chief wild life warden L R Singh, field director PTR M P Singh, M K Mahaling ( South) A K Mishra ( North) had inspected the fall out of this bauxite mining on this river at its Jharkhand end here where sources said the team was concerned for the fate of this river Burha which is facing perilous challenges from bauxite mining in Chhatisgarh.
Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar on Thursday said that his party fully supports the demand of people of Manethi village in Rewari and AIIMS will be set up in this village when Congress comes to power.

Tanwar reached Manethi village and joined the dharna there on the demand of setting up of AIIMS.

He alleged that Chief Minister Manohar Lal had announced on July 4, 2015 to set-up AIIMS at Manethi and 220 acres of land was acquired by the BJP Government for this purpose.

This announcement of the Chief Minister also proved mere a jumla like other announcements.
The 4th International Ramayana Festival will be held in city on Friday. The festival is being organised by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) where in the artists of Thailand Ramayana Group will be performing at Peoples University.

This performance is a blend of music and inscidents from the Ramayana. The Ramayana was believed to have travelled to Southeast Asia in the sixth century AD. According to Sanskrit accounts from the Chenla kingdom (the precursor of the Khmer empire) of King Bhavavarman I the Ramayana was one of the three scriptures that would be recited every day in the seventh century.

Many people in Thailand believe that part of the Ramayana took place in their country and that Hanuman carried sanjeevani booti (a magical herb that saved the life of Lakshman after he was injured in conflict) from Sapphaya hill in Chai Nat province to Lanka. They point to statues of Hanuman on Sapphaya and at Khao Samokorn in Lop Buri to prove their point.

Thai people believe Hanuman is still alive and visits a cave in Lop Buri once every three years to incapacitate a wounded demon there. In Thailand, the Ramayana forms the basis for performances of the Ramakien, with as many as six versions known to have existed, although only three survive today.

The group which will be performing the Ramayana at the International festival is a well known group and has performed across the globe. The objective of the festival is to explore cultural diplomacy through the Hindu epic, which is popular in several countries.
Washington

A leading U.S. Department of Education official believes big changes to Puerto Ricos school system, including a new law permitting charter schools and vouchers, represent a courageous and important step forward after Hurricane Maria.

Frank Brogan, the assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education under Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, praised Puerto Rico Secretary of Eduation Julia Keleher and other government leaders for sucessfully paving the way for charter schools and vouchers, which were both previously illegal in the U.S. territory. In remarks at a Heritage Foundation event Wednesday about school choice in Puerto Rico, he said they would ultimately help improve the long-struggling school system there and provide dividends for the islands future.

After Maria struck the island last year, Keleher spearheaded the drive to create school choice on the island, as well as increase teacher pay and break up the islands education bureaucracyPuerto Rico is under a single school district but now has seven new regions designed to bolster local autonomy for school leaders. Vouchers will be available for the 2019-2020 school year. The first charter school opened in August, and you can watch an Education Week video about that school at the top of this post.

It will in its own way be a laboratory of observation for people all over the country who are going to look to Puerto Rico as a beacon of example of what change can bring, Brogan said, especially when youre in a position to put down at least temporarily the forces who would keep it exactly the way it has always been.

See Also: Putting Puerto Ricos Schools Back on Track

Those forces Brogan referenced consist of mainly of Puerto Ricos teachers union, which fought the creation of alianza (essentially charter-like) schools in Puerto Rico. They and others argued the law that created the choice measures would permanently cripple traditional public schools, cause many teachers to leave the island, and lead to a wave of education privatization on the island. Ultimately, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court upheld the law as written.



Puerto Rico closed more than 250 schools over the past summer, and the start of the 2018-19 school was marked by controversy over those closures and lingering uncertainty about school repairs and other aspects of the system. Keleher has highlighted her efforts to ensure schools get nurses, social workers, and other new staff this year, along with new and improved classroom maerials.

Brogan said that the Education Department will work side by side with Keleher and others on the island: We like everyone will be watching them, learning from them. It will be interesting to see how DeVos, a long-time school choice advocate whos pushed hard (with very limited success) on the issue as secretary, supports or handles Puerto Ricos efforts on charters and vouchers going forward.

The ESSA Gauntlet

In addition to school choice in Puerto Rico, Brogan talked briefly about where he sees the Every Student Succeeds Act going.

The assistant secretary had a two-part message about the main federal education law. On the one hand, he echoed DeVos and others whove said ESSA represents the long-standing and bipartisan desire to reduce Washingtons role in education, and let states and local education leaders take greater control.

On the other hand, Brogan also said this desire for flexibility outside the Beltway doesnt mean you jettison any expectation in the world of accountability and monitoring. The public still has a right to know how students are faring in public schools, he stressed, and its up to states and others to prove they can live up to ESSAs promise.

Just beause its been provided doesnt mean that people are going to pick that gauntlet up, Brogan said.

DeVos has approved ESSA plans from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia . (The last state to get approved was Florida, where Brogan previously served as state education commissioner and lieutenant governor). But the federal governments role in those plans isnt over.

Read more about federal ESSA monitoring here .

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Andrew Ujifusa half of Politics K-12 @AndrewUjifusa .
Russian prosecutors urge to lower age of criminal liability for illegal weapon purchase

 RIA Novosti, Alexei Malgavko

12:59 01/11/2018

MOSCOW, November 1 (RAPSI)  Prosecutors have proposed the lowering of an age of criminal responsibility for ammunition trafficking in Russia from 16 to 14 years, according to the spokesperson of the Prosecutor Generals Office Alexander Kurennoy.

Kurennoy told a RAPSI correspondent on Thursday that suggestions about the necessity of such amendments to the Russian legislation had been forwarded to the Investigative Committee.

Moreover, in September, the Prosecutor Generals Office offered the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security to fix a criminal punishment for online distribution of weapon and explosive device manufacture instructions, he said.

The number of shootings and explosions committed by underage persons has significantly increased in Russia recently.

On October 31, a 17-year-old resident of the Arkhangelsk region brought a self-made device into the local Federal Security Services building (FSB). The device exploded and left the teenager dead, while three FSB employees got injured, according to investigation.

On October 17, an explosive device composed of metallic items detonated in a student canteen of Crimeas Kerch Polytechnic College. Later, an alleged criminal identified as a student of the colleges fourth grade Vladislav Roslyakov, 18, shot people present in the building and then committed suicide, the investigators statement reads. According to the latest information, 20 persons were killed in the incident, over 40 people were wounded.
A woman doctor has landed in controversy after taking a selfie with a mobile phone inside an operation theatre (OT) of the Koraput District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) here.

According to reports, a pregnant woman was recently admitted to the operation theatre at the DHH in Jeypore. While the operation of the woman was in progress, Dr Sasmita Dash took the selfie.

The photo was later uploaded on social media. After the incidence came to the fore and drew flak from various quarters, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dr Lalit Mohan Rath has ordered an inquiry into the matter. Appropriate action would be taken after submission of the investigation report, he said.

On the other hand, Dr Dash said that she had no wrong intention in taking the selfie and posting the photo in a WhatsApp group of the DHH doctors and officials.

It was a collective decision of the doctors to take the selfie in order to inform the CDMO about the commencement of operation at the OT. It was a special occasion as it took many days for revival of the OT and the operation was the first one, the doctor said.
A Delhi court on Thursday extended till November 26 the protection from arrest to former Union minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis case filed by the CBI and ED.

Additional Solicitor General Tusshar Mehta, appearing for the CBI and ED, told CBI Special Judge O P Saini, "We have to meet a deadline and he (P Chidambaram) is not cooperating."

He also told the court that the CBI will file its reply to the anticipatory bail application of P Chidambaram on Thursday.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had on Wednesday told the court here that custodial interrogation of former Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram was necessary in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case to unravel the truth as he was "evasive and non-cooperative" in the probe.

"From the conduct of the petitioner, which gets amply demonstrated from the records available, the investigating agency has reached a bona fide conclusion that in the absence of custodial interrogation, it will not be possible to reach the truth of the allegations as the petitioner has chosen to be evasive and non-cooperative," the agency had said.

It had sought custodial interrogation of P Chidambaram on the ground that he has not been cooperating with it in the probe and hence making it difficult complete the investigation in a time-bound manner as directed by the Supreme Court.

The senior Congress leader's role has come under the scanner of investigating agencies in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore.

In its charge sheet filed earlier in the case against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others, the CBI had alleged that Chidambaram had granted an FIPB approval in March, 2006 to Mauritius-based Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of Maxis.

The Maran brothers and the other accused named in the CBI charge sheet were discharged by the special court, which had said the agency had failed to produce any material against them to proceed with the trial.

The ED is also probing a separate money-laundering case in the Aircel-Maxis matter, in which Chidambaram and Karti have been questioned by the agency.
Chef Supattra Bonsrangs kitchen brings all-new Thai delights, says Chahak Mittal

I enter the Cafe at Hyatt Regency, which currently has on offer a 10-day Thai food festival, to sit down and feast and understand what makes the cuisine such a favourite among Indians.

When I think of Asian food, Thai is the first cuisine that crosses my mind. Theres more to Bangkoks cuisine than just Pad Thai, says Chef Supattra Bonsrang and her structured menu explains it all.

The first in line are the appetisers and salads. To begin with, there is the kaffir lime-infused Yam Som-O Pomelo salad, which is downright addictive, and a regular flavour in Thai dishes. With a heavy dressing of tamarind sauce and palm sugar, the dish is a perfect blend of spicy and sweet, flavours that are often seen in the southern palates of Indian cuisine. The crispy shallot and ginger are lightly battered before being fried. The dish appears like small cheese dimsums in the first glance, and tastes like bits of sour orange with juicy pulps.

There are various renditions of every dish depending on the way its cook prepares it. Chef Supattra shares how she found the Indian customers more inclined towards food that is more spicy and less sweet. They want a mirch tadka in North India, not sweetness. There should also be a khattapan (sour flavour) to prick their tastebuds, she says from experience. And that is how she has planned her menu this time as well since as a chef she finds it important to adapt to her surroundings while at the same time, staying close to tradition.

This is followed by the Spicy raw papaya salad or Som Tam, a favourite of mine. It is sprinkled with cherry tomato, peanuts, shrimp crackers, and bell peppers, but does not set my tongue on fire. To appreciate a dish all its renditions must be known. I immediately give full marks to the presentation. The plate is set to make it look like white long noodles which are sprinkled with colours but the dish had an excess of spices and a pungent, stale smell.

Next up is the Fried morning glory, also known as water spinach, which is one of the tastiest dishes that I savour. With sweet chilli soya sauce the Pak boong leaf is stir-fried and presented in the form of an Indian pakoda with a slight sweet flavour instead of our garam masala.

The soup that follows, Tom Kha, the Thai coconut soup is a spicy and sour mixture of coconut milk with assorted vegetables, infused with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal and mushrooms. And when I have that bowl of delight, its tangy taste satisfy my sour buds, seemingly perfect for a weeknight dinner. When you have travelled seven to eight km of traffic-choked roads on a weeknight with no expectations from the food, but are welcomed with something spectacular both in terms of the palate and company, it sets a high mark for the rest of the week that is to follow.

I am a vegetarian and a foodie. Some of the more gastronomically experienced people around the room concur that being vegetarian is incongruous with being a foodie. The menu disproved them as it had a delectable list of vegetarian dishes and I tried them all. Chef Supattras stir-fried veg Pad Thai noodles, had not only the vegetarians but even the non-vegetarians reaching out for second helpings. While the next in line, Fried tofu, Thai fried rice also satisfies our tummies, the Seabass, red curry sauce with coconut cream, won all the hearts.

Any meal is incomplete without desserts. There is lemongrass and coconut ice cream, which seem like a tropical burst and strawberry-coloured chestnut dumplings with coconut cream and jackfruit served in vodka shot glasses. Adding to the list, there is sticky rice and fresh mango, with its sweet and salty taste taking one back to the memories of the past summer, when one gorged on mangoes or even to the seaside vendors serving raw mangoes.

The chef, from the Yasothon Province in Thailand, has cooked up a storm both in Kochi and Delhi now, loves to dig into Dosas and Idlis while the Delhi-style Dal Makhani is her favourite. She believes that she can make the Indian audience happy with her food. And, her kitchen rustles up a culinary storm leaving our hearts craving for more of each and every dish, not just one.
The first democratically elected president of the Maldives returned home Thursday after more than two years in exile to escape a long prison term.

The plane carrying Mohamed Nasheed from Sri Lanka landed in Maldives capital, Male, where he was welcomed by his party members and supporters.

He planned to address his supporters later Thursday.

Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in jail in 2015 after being convicted of terrorism for ordering the arrest of a top judge in 2012 while he was president.

His trial was criticised internationally for lack of due process, along with those of many other political opponents jailed by strongman President Yameen Abdul Gayooms administration.

He was offered asylum in Britain when he travelled there for medical treatment on leave from prison.

Nasheeds return follows Yameens defeat in the September 23 presidential election by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the candidate of Nasheeds Maldivian Democratic Party.

Since Yameens defeat, courts have freed or granted bail to some of the jailed officials.
Aetna Inc. operates as a health care benefits company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Health Care, Group Insurance, and Large Case Pensions. The Health Care segment offers medical, pharmacy benefit management service, dental, behavioral health, and vision plans on an insured and employer-funded basis. It also provides point-of-service, preferred provider organization, health maintenance organization, and indemnity benefit plans, as well as health savings accounts and consumer-directed health plans. In addition, this segment offers Medicare and Medicaid products and services, as well as other medical products, such as medical management and data analytics services, medical stop loss insurance, workers' compensation administrative services, and products that provide access to its provider networks in select geographies. The Group Insurance segment offers life insurance products, including group term life insurance, voluntary spouse and dependent term life insurance, group universal life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; disability insurance products; and long-term care insurance products, which provide the benefits to cover the cost of care in private home settings, adult day care, assisted living, or nursing facilities. The Large Case Pensions segment manages various retirement products comprising pension and annuity products primarily for tax-qualified pension plans. The company provides its products and services to employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups, and expatriates. Aetna Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in Hartford, Connecticut.

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CoreLogic, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides property information, insight, analytics, and data-enabled solutions in North America, Western Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Property Intelligence & Risk Management Solutions (PIRM) and Underwriting & Workflow Solutions (UWS). The PIRM segment combines property information, mortgage information, and consumer information to deliver housing market and property-level insights, predictive analytics, and risk management capabilities. It also offers proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with decision-making and compliance tools in the real estate and insurance industries. This segment primarily serves commercial banks, mortgage lenders and brokers, investment banks, fixed-income investors, real estate agents, MLS companies, property and casualty insurance companies, title insurance companies, government agencies, and government-sponsored enterprises. The UWS segment combines property, mortgage, and consumer information to provide comprehensive mortgage origination and monitoring solutions, including underwriting-related solutions, and data-enabled valuations and appraisals. This segment also provides proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with vetting and onboarding prospects, and meeting compliance regulations, as well as understanding, evaluating, monitoring property values. It primarily serves mortgage lenders and servicers, mortgage brokers, credit unions, commercial banks, fixed-income investors, government agencies, and property and casualty insurance companies. The company was formerly known as The First American Corporation and changed its name to CoreLogic, Inc. in June 2010. CoreLogic, Inc. was incorporated in 1894 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

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Daimler AG, together its subsidiaries, develops and manufactures passenger cars, trucks, vans, and buses in Germany and internationally. It operates through Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans, Daimler Trucks and Buses, and Daimler Mobility segments. The Mercedes-Benz Cars segment offers premium and luxury vehicles of the Mercedes-Benz brand, including the Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, and Mercedes-EQ brands; small cars under the smart brand name; and ecosystem of Mercedes-Benz under the Mercedes me brand, as well as vans and related services under the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner brands. Daimler Trucks and Buses segment offers its trucks and special vehicles under the Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Western Star, FUSO, and BharatBenz brands; and buses under the Mercedes-Benz, Setra, Thomas Built Buses, and FU brands, as well as bus chassis. The Daimler Mobility segment provides financing and leasing packages for end-customers and dealers; and automotive insurance brokerage, banking, investment, and fleet management services under the Athlon brand. It also sells vehicle related spare parts and accessories. Daimler AG was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany

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3 hours ago

Vietnamese workers at Chinese factory in Serbia cry for help

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (AP)  They are shivering in barracks without heat, going hungry and have no money. They say their passports have been taken by their Chinese employer and that they are now stuck in a grim plainland in Serbia with no help from local authorities.

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Sanchez Energy Corporation, an independent exploration and production company, focuses on the acquisition and development of U.S. onshore unconventional oil and natural gas resources. It engages in the horizontal development of resources from the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. It also holds an undeveloped acreage position in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) in Mississippi and Louisiana. As of December 31, 2017, the company had assembled approximately 285,000 net acres in the Eagle Ford Shale; and owned approximately 37,000 net acres in the TMS. Sanchez Energy Corporation was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

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iShares MSCI Brazil ETF's stock was trading at $29.68 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EWZ stock has decreased by 1.7% and is now trading at $29.17.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
Delta Galil Industries Ltd. engages in development, design, production, marketing and sale of underwear, socks, children's wear, leisure wear and Activewear as well as in development, design, marketing, distribution and sale of branded products in the category of men's and women's jeans and outerwear and related products. It operates through the following segments: Delta USA, Global Upper Market, Schiesser, Delta Israel, and Delta Premium Brands. The Delta USA Segment engages in the development, design and marketing of lingerie, socks and Activewear to Private Labels. The Global Upper Market segment develops, designs, manufactures and markets men's and women's underwear, socks and Activewear manufactured at the Company's plants and sold to retail chains and to brands in Europe and the United States. The Schiesser segment covers the development, design, manufacture and marketing of labeled women's, men's and children's underwear and Activewear under the Schiesser brand. The Delta Israel segment is involved in the development, design and marketing of labeled women's and men's underwear, socks and Activewear products, as well as children's wear under the Delta brand. The Delta Premium Brands segment engages in development, design, marketing, distribution and sale of premium products under the brands 7 For All Mankind, Splendid, Ella moss. The company was founded by Dov Lautman and Eliezer Peleg in 1975 and is headquartered in Caesarea, Israel.

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The following companies are subsidiares of AON: 6824625 Canada Ltd., 7193599 Canada Inc., A.B. Insurances Limited, ADIS A/S, AIB Services Limited, AIS Affinity Insurance Agency Inc., AIS Insurance Agency Inc., AMXH LLC, ARM International Corp., ARM International Insurance Agency Corp., ARMRISK CORP., AS Holdings Inc., ASPN Insurance Agency LLC, Access Plans USA Inc., Acumen Credit Insurance Brokers Limited, Adm Administradora de Beneficios Ltda., Administradora Aon C.A., Admiseg SA, Admix, Admix - Administracao Consultoria Participacoes e Corretora de Seguros de Vida Ltda., Aeropeople Limited, Affinity Group Insurance Services Limited, Affinity Insurance Services Inc., Affinity Risk Partners (Brokers) Pty Ltd, Agenion N.V./SA, Agility Credit Insurance Brokers Limited, Alexander & Alexander Holding B.V., Alexander Clay, Alexander Insurance Managers (Netherlands Antilles) N.V., Alexander Reinsurance Intermediaries Inc., Allen Insurance Associates Inc., Alliance HealthCard Inc., Alliance HealthCard of Florida Inc., American Insurance Services Corp., American Special Risk Insurance Company, Aon (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon (CR) Insurance Agencies Company Limited, Aon (DIFC) Gulf Limited, Aon (Fiji) Ltd., Aon (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon (Thailand) Limited, Aon 180412 Limited (in liquidation), Aon ANZ Holdings Limited, Aon APAC Holdings B.V., Aon Acore Sarl, Aon Adjudication Services Limited, Aon Affinity Administradora de Beneficios Ltda., Aon Affinity Argentina S.A., Aon Affinity Chile Ltda., Aon Affinity Colombia Ltda. Agencia de Seguros, Aon Affinity Mexico Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Aon Affinity Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aon Affinity Servicos e Participacoes Ltda., Aon Affinity do Brasil Servicos e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Aon Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Americas Holdings BV, Aon Angola Corretores de Seguros Limitada, Aon Antillen N.V., Aon Aruba N.V., Aon Assurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Australia Group Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 1 Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 2 Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 3 Pty Ltd, Aon Austria GmbH, Aon Bahrain W.L.L., Aon Belgium B.V.B.A., Aon Benefit Solutions Inc., Aon Benfield (Chile) Corredores de Reaseguros Ltda., Aon Benfield Argentina S.A., Aon Benfield Australia Limited, Aon Benfield Brasil Corretora de Resseguros Ltda., Aon Benfield Canada ULC, Aon Benfield China Limited, Aon Benfield Colombia Limitada Corredores de Reaseguros, Aon Benfield Fac Inc., Aon Benfield Global Inc., Aon Benfield Group Limited, Aon Benfield Inc., Aon Benfield Israel Limited, Aon Benfield Italia S.p.A., Aon Benfield Japan Ltd, Aon Benfield Latin America SA, Aon Benfield Limited, Aon Benfield Malaysia Limited, Aon Benfield Mexico Intermediario de Reaseguro SA de CV, Aon Benfield Middle East Limited, Aon Benfield New Zealand Limited, Aon Benfield Panama S.A., Aon Benfield Peru Corredores de Reaseguros SA, Aon Benfield Puerto Rico Inc., Aon Bermuda Holding Company Limited, Aon Bermuda QI Holdings Ltd., Aon Beteiligungsmanagement Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Aon Bolivia S.A. Corredores de Seguros, Aon Botswana (Pty) Ltd., Aon Brazil Holdings LLC, Aon Broking Services SA, Aon Broking Technology Limited, Aon CANZ Holdings B.V., Aon CANZ Holdings N.S. ULC, Aon Canada Holdings N.S. ULC, Aon Canada Inc., Aon Canada Intermediaries GP, Aon Captive Services Antilles N.V., Aon Captive Services Aruba N.V., Aon Cash Management B.V., Aon Central and Eastern Europe a.s., Aon Centre for Innovation and Analytics Ltd, Aon Charitable Foundation Pty Ltd, Aon Chile Holdings LLC, Aon Commercial Insurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Commercial Services Ireland Limited, Aon Commercial Services and Operations Ireland Limited, Aon Consolidation Group Pty Ltd, Aon Consulting & Insurance Services, Aon Consulting (Chile) Limitada, Aon Consulting (Thailand) Limited, Aon Consulting Bolivia S.R.L., Aon Consulting Ecuador S.A., Aon Consulting Financial Services Limited, Aon Consulting Inc., Aon Consulting Kazakhstan LLP, Aon Consulting Limited, Aon Consulting Private Limited, Aon Consulting Romania SRL, Aon Corporate Services (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon Corporate Services Limited, Aon Corporation, Aon Corporation Australia Limited, Aon Corporation EMEA B.V., Aon Credit International Insurance Broker GmbH, Aon Cyprus Insurance Broker Company Limited, Aon DC Trustee Limited, Aon Danismanlik Hizmetleri AS, Aon Delta Bermuda Ltd., Aon Delta UK Limited, Aon Denmark A/S, Aon Deutschland Beteiligungs GmbH, Aon Direct Group Inc., Aon Edge Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Energy Caribbean Limited, Aon Enterprise Insurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Finance Bermuda 1 Ltd., Aon Finance Bermuda 2 Ltd., Aon Finance Canada 1 Corp., Aon Finance Canada 2 Corp., Aon Finance International N.S. ULC, Aon Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Finance N.S. 1 ULC, Aon Finance N.S. 5 ULC, Aon Finance N.S. 8 ULC, Aon Finance US 1 LLC, Aon Finance US 2 LLC, Aon Financial & Insurance Solutions Inc., Aon Finland Oy, Aon France, Aon Global Holdings 1 Limited, Aon Global Holdings 2 Limited, Aon Global Holdings 3 Limited [In strike-off], Aon Global Holdings Limited, Aon Global Operations plc, Aon Global Risk Consulting B.V., Aon Global Risk Consulting Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Global Risk Research Limited, Aon Grana Peru Corredores de Seguros SA, Aon Greece S.A., Aon Groep Nederland B.V., Aon Group (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Group (Thailand) Limited, Aon Group Holdings International 1 B.V., Aon Group Holdings International 2 B.V., Aon Group Inc., Aon Group International N.V., Aon Group Pty Ltd, Aon Group Venezuela Corretaje de Reaseguros C.A., Aon Hewitt (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Hewitt (Ireland) Limited, Aon Hewitt (PNG) Ltd., Aon Hewitt (Thailand) Ltd., Aon Hewitt Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Aon Hewitt Consulting Korea Inc., Aon Hewitt Financial Advice Limited, Aon Hewitt GmbH, Aon Hewitt Health Market Insurance Solutions Inc., Aon Hewitt Hong Kong Limited, Aon Hewitt Inc., Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting Inc., Aon Hewitt Investment Management Inc., Aon Hewitt Japan Ltd., Aon Hewitt Limited, Aon Hewitt Ltd., Aon Hewitt Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Aon Hewitt Management Company Limited, Aon Hewitt Middle East Limited, Aon Hewitt Risk & Consulting S.r.l., Aon Hewitt Risk & Financial Management B.V., Aon Hewitt Trust Solutions GmbH, Aon Hewitt US Holdings Limited, Aon Holding Deutschland GmbH, Aon Holdings (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon Holdings Antillen N.V., Aon Holdings Australia Pty Limited, Aon Holdings Austria GmbH, Aon Holdings B.V., Aon Holdings Botswana (Pty) Ltd, Aon Holdings Corretores de Seguros Ltda., Aon Holdings France SNC, Aon Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Aon Holdings International B.V., Aon Holdings Israel Ltd., Aon Holdings Japan Ltd, Aon Holdings Limited, Aon Holdings Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Holdings Mid Europe B.V., Aon Holdings New Zealand, Aon Hong Kong Limited, Aon Hungary Insurance Brokers Risk and Human Consulting LLC, Aon Insurance Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Insurance Agencies (Macau) Limited, Aon Insurance Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Aon Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Ltd., Aon Insurance Management Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (Antilles) N.V., Aon Insurance Managers (Barbados) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Bermuda) Ltd, Aon Insurance Managers (Cayman) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Dublin) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Guernsey) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Holdings) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Isle of Man) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Liechtenstein) AG, Aon Insurance Managers (Luxembourg) S.A., Aon Insurance Managers (Malta) PCC Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (Puerto Rico) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers (Shannon) Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (USA) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers (USVI) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers Gibraltar Ltd., Aon Insurance Micronesia (Guam) Inc, Aon Insurance Underwriting Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Philippines Inc., Aon International Cooperatief U.A., Aon International Energy Inc., Aon International Holdings Inc., Aon Investment Holdings Ireland Limited, Aon Israel Insurance Brokerage Ltd., Aon Italia S.r.l., Aon Japan Ltd, Aon Jauch & Hubener Gesellschaft m.b.H., Aon Korea Inc., Aon Latam Holdings N.V., Aon Lead QI B.V., Aon Life Agency of Texas Inc., Aon Life Agente de Seguros S.A. de C.V., Aon Life Insurance Company, Aon MacDonagh Boland Group Ltd, Aon Majan LLC, Aon Management Consulting Taiwan Ltd., Aon Mauritius Holdings, Aon Meeus Assurantien B.V., Aon Mexico Business Support SA de CV, Aon Mexico Holdings LLC, Aon Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Aon Middle East Co LLC, Aon Nederland C.V., Aon Netherlands Operations B.V., Aon Neudorf Finance S.a.r.l., Aon New Zealand, Aon New Zealand Group ULC, Aon Norway AS, Aon Overseas Holdings Limited, Aon PHI Acquisition Corporation of California, Aon PMI International Limited, Aon Parizeau Inc., Aon Pension Trustees Limited, Aon Pensions Insurance Brokers GmbH, Aon Polska Services Sp. z o.o., Aon Polska Sp. z o.o., Aon Portugal - Consultores Unipessoal Lda., Aon Portugal - Corretores de Seguros S.A., Aon Premium Finance LLC, Aon Private Risk Management Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Private Risk Management of California Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Product Design & Development Australia Pty Limited, Aon Product Design and Development New Zealand Limited, Aon Product Risk Services Hong Kong Limited, Aon Property Risk Consulting Inc., Aon Qatar LLC, Aon Re (Thailand) Limited, Aon Re Bertoldi - Corretagem de Resseguros S.A., Aon Re Bolivia S.A. Corredores de Reaseguros, Aon Re Canada Holdings SARL, Aon Real Estate B.V., Aon Realty Services Inc., Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc., Aon Retirement Plan Advisors LLC, Aon Retirement Solutions Limited, Aon Risiko & Unternehmensberatungs GmbH, Aon Risk & Asset Management Pty Ltd, Aon Risk Consultants Inc., Aon Risk Insurance Services West Inc., Aon Risk Management (Pty) Ltd, Aon Risk Services (Chile) Corredores de Seguros Limitada, Aon Risk Services (Holdings) of Latin America Inc., Aon Risk Services (Holdings) of the Americas Inc., Aon Risk Services (NI) Limited, Aon Risk Services (PNG) Ltd., Aon Risk Services (Thailand) Limited, Aon Risk Services Argentina S.A., Aon Risk Services Australia Limited, Aon Risk Services Canada Inc., Aon Risk Services Central Inc., Aon Risk Services Colombia SA Corredores de Seguros, Aon Risk Services Companies Inc., Aon Risk Services EMEA B.V., Aon Risk Services Ecuador S.A. Agencia Asesora Productora de Seguros, Aon Risk Services Holdings (Chile ) Ltda., Aon Risk Services Inc. of Florida, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Hawaii, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Maryland, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Washington D.C., Aon Risk Services Northeast Inc., Aon Risk Services South Inc., Aon Risk Services Southwest Inc., Aon Risk Services Venezuela Corretaje de Seguros C.A., Aon Risk Solutions (Cayman) Ltd., Aon Risk Solutions Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas SA de CV, Aon Risk Solutions of Puerto Rico Inc., Aon Riskminder A/S, Aon Romania Broker de Asigurare - Reasigurare SRL, Aon Rus Insurance Brokers LLC, Aon Rus LLC, Aon S.p.A. Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers, Aon Saver Limited, Aon Securities (Hong Kong) Limited, Aon Securities Investment Management Inc., Aon Securities LLC, Aon Securities Limited, Aon Service Corporation, Aon Services (Guernsey) Ltd, Aon Services (Malta) Ltd, Aon Services Group Inc., Aon Services Hong Kong Limited, Aon Services Pty Ltd., Aon Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerligi ve A.S., Aon Soluciones S.A., Aon Soluciones S.A.C., Aon Southern Europe UK Limited, Aon Sp. z o.o., Aon Special Risk Resources Inc., Aon Superannuation (PNG) Limited, Aon Superannuation Pty Limited, Aon TC Holdings Inc., Aon Taiwan Ltd., Aon Treasury Ireland Limited, Aon Trust Company LLC, Aon Trust Corporation Limited, Aon Trust Services B.V., Aon UK Group Limited, Aon UK Holdings Intermediaries Limited, Aon UK Limited, Aon UK Trustees Limited, Aon US & International Holdings Limited, Aon US Holdings 2 Inc., Aon US Holdings Inc., Aon Ukraine LLC, Aon Underwriting Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Underwriting Managers (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Underwriting Managers Inc., Aon Versicherungsberatungs GmbH, Aon Versicherungsmakler Deutschland GmbH, Aon Vietnam Limited, Aon Ward Financial Corporation, Aon-COFCO Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd., Aon/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services Inc., Asevasa Argentina S.A., Asevasa Caricam S.A., Asevasa Chile Peritaciones e Ingenieria de Riesgos S.A., Asevasa Mexico S.A. de C.V., Asevasa Panama S.A., Asian Reinsurance Underwriters Limited, Asscom Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Association of Rural and Small Town Americans, Associacao Instituto Aon, Assurance Licensing Services Inc., B E P International Corp., B.V. Assurantiekantoor Langeveldt-Schroder, BMS Insurance Agency L.L.C., Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships (Ireland) Limited, Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships Limited, Bain Hogg Group Limited (in liquidation), Baltolink UADBB, Bankassure Insurance Services Limited, Bayfair Insurance Centre Limited, Beaubien Finance Ireland Limited, Beaubien Finance Limited, Beaubien UK Finance Limited, Becketts (Trustees) Limited, Becketts Limited, Beech Hill Pension Trustees Ltd, Bekouw Mendes C.V., Benefit Marketing Solutions L.L.C., Benfield Advisory Inc., Benfield Corredores de Reaseguro Ltda., Benfield Finance (London) LLC, Benfield Group, Benfield Investment Holdings Limited, Benfield Juniperus Holdings Limited, Benfield do Brasil Participacoes Ltda. (dormant), Benton Finance Ireland Limited, Benton Finance Limited, Blanch Americas Inc., Bowes & Company Inc. of New York, CEREP III Secondary Manager LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners I LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners II LLC, CIF-H GP LLC, Cammack Health LLC, Cananwill Corporation, Cananwill Inc., Cardea Health Solutions Limited, Casablanca Intermediation Company Sarl, Celinvest Amsterdam B.V., Chapka Assurances SAS, Citadel Insurance Managers Inc., CoCubes, CoSec 2000 Limited, Coalition for Benefits Equality and Choice, Cocubes Technologies Private Limited, Coles Hewitt Partnership, Contingency Insurance Brokers Limited, Contractsure Limited, CoverWallet, Coverall S.r.l. Insurance and Reinsurance Underwriting Agency, Credit Insurance Brokers (Reynolds) Limited, Crion N.V., Custom Benefit Programs Inc., Cut-e, Cut-e (UK) Limited, Cut-e Assessment (Hong Kong) Limited, Cut-e Assessment Solutions Europe Limited, Cut-e Australia Pty Limited, Cut-e Consult DMCC, Cut-e Danmark A/S, Cut-e Finland Oy, Cut-e GmbH, Cut-e Ireland Limited, Cut-e Nordic AS, Cut-e Norge AS, Cytelligence, Delany Bacon & Woodrow Partnership, Dempsey Partners, Denney O'Hara (Life & Pensions) Limited, Doveland Services Limited, E. W. Blanch Holdings Limited, E. W. Blanch Investments Limited, E.W. Blanch Capital Risk Solutions Inc., E.W. Blanch International Inc., EW Blanch Limited, Elysium Digital IP Products LLC, Elysium Digital L.L.C., Ennis Knupp Secondary Market Services LLC, Essar Insurance Services Limited, Exploitatiemaatschappij Beukenlaan 68-72 B.V., Farmaseg - Solucoes Assistencia e Servicos Empresariais Ltda., Farmsure Limited [In strike-off], Finaccord Limited, Financial & Professional Risk Solutions Inc., Futurity Group Inc., GTCR/AAM Blocker Corp., Ge.f.it. S.r.l., Gefass S.r.l., Glenrand M I B (Mocambique) Corretores de Seguros Limitada, Global Safe Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Globe Events Management, Gotham Digital Science LLC, Gotham Digital Science Ltd., Grant Liddell Financial Advisor Services Pty Ltd, Grant Park Capital LLC, Groupe-Conseil Aon Inc., Grupo Innovac Sociedad de Correduria de Seguros SA, HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd., Hall Rhodes Holdings Limited, Hall Rhodes Limited, Hamburger Gesellschaft zur Forderung des Versicherungswesens mbH, Harbourview West Lake Co-Invest (GP) LP, Health Index Advisors LLC, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, Henderson Corporate Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Partnership Limited [In strike-off], Henderson Risk Management Limited, Hewitt Amalco 3 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 4 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 5 ULC, Hewitt Associates (a partnership), Hewitt Associates Administradora e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Hewitt Associates Corp., Hewitt Associates Outsourcing Limited, Hewitt Associates Pty Ltd, Hewitt Associates S.C., Hewitt Associates SAS, Hewitt Associates Servicos de Recursos Humanos Ltda., Hewitt Beneficios Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Hewitt Holdings Canada Company, Hewitt Insurance Brokerage LLC, Hewitt Insurance Inc., Hewitt International Holdings LLC, Hewitt Management Ltd., Hewitt Risk Management Services Limited, Hewitt Western Management Amalco Inc., Hogg Group Limited, Hogg Robinson North America Inc., Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency Inc., I. Beck Insurance Agency (1994) Ltd., IAO Actuarial Consulting Services Canada Inc., INPOINT INC., IRM/GRC Holding Inc., Impact Forecasting L.L.C., Inspiring Benefits, Inspiring Benefits Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Insuractive Limited [In strike-off], Insurance Broker Aon Kazakhstan LLP, International Risk Management (Americas) Inc., International Risk Management Group Ltd, International Space Brokers Europe Limited, International Space Brokers France, International Space Brokers Inc., International Space Brokers Limited, Inversiones Benfield Chile Ltda., J H Minet Puerto Rico Inc., J. Allan Brown Consultants Inc., JDPT Manager LLC, Jenner Fenton Slade Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Credit Insurance) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Insurances) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Life & Pensions) Limited, Johnson Rooney Welch Inc., K & K Insurance Brokers Inc. Canada, K & K Insurance Group Inc., K & K Insurance Group of Florida Inc., K2 Technologies Inc., KVT GP LLC, Kloud S.a.r.l., Krumlin Hall Limited, Lake Erie Real Estate General Partner Limited, Lake Tahoe GP LLC, Lake Tahoe II GP LLC, Lake Tahoe III GP LLC, Lake Tahoe IV GP LLC, Lenzi Paolo Broker di Assicurazioni S.r.l., Lincolnshire Insurance Company PCC Limited, Linx Underwriting Solutions Inc., Lombard Trustee Company Limited, M.A. Shakeel Management Ltd. Amalco, MacDonagh Boland Crotty MacRedmond Ltd, Marinaro Dundas S.A., Marinaro Dundas SA, Mark Kelly Insurance and Financial Services PTY LTD, McLagan (Aon) Limited, McLagan Partners Asia Inc., McLagan Partners Inc., Membership Leasing Trust, Minet Consultancy Services Ltd, Minet Group, Minet Holdings Inc., Minet Inc., Minet Re North America Inc., Modern Survey Inc., Muirfield Underwriters Ltd., NBS Nominees Limited, National Insurance Office Ltd., Nauman Insurance Brokers Limited, Nexus Insurance Brokers Limited, One Underwriting Agency GmbH, One Underwriting B.V., One Underwriting Health B.V., One Underwriting Pty Ltd, Optica Agency A/S, Optimum Risk Solutions Limited, Ovatio Courtage SAS, P.G. Bradley & Co Limited, PGOF Manager 1 LLC, PRORUCK Ruckversicherungs Aktiengesellschaft, PT Aon Benfield Indonesia, PT Aon Hewitt Indonesia, PT Aon Indonesia, PWZ AG, Paragon Strategic Solutions Inc., PathWise Solutions LLC, Penn Square Manager 1 LLC, Penn Square Manager II LLC, Portus Consulting, Portus Consulting (Leamington) Limited, Portus Consulting Limited, Portus Online LLP, Praesidium S.p.A. - Soluzioni Assicurative per il Management, Premier Auto Finance Inc., Private Client Trustees Ltd., Private Equity Partnership Structures I LLC, Probabilitas N.V./SA, Protective Marketing Enterprises Inc., Randolph Finance Unlimited Company, Rasini Vigano Limited, Redwoods Dental Underwriters Inc., Richard Kiddle (Insurance Brokers) Limited, Risk Laboratories LLC, Riskikonsultatsioonide OU, Ronnie Elementary Insurance Agency Ltd, SA Special Situations General Partner LLC, SG IFFOXX Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, SLE Worldwide Limited, SN Re S.A., Salud Riesgos y Recursos Humanos Consultores Ltda. (former Aon Corporte Advisors Ltda.), SchneiderGolling IFFOXX Assekuranzmakler AG, SchneiderGolling Industrie Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, Scritch Inc., Shanghai Kayi Information Technology Co. Ltd, Sheppard Netherlands B.V., Specialty Benefits Inc., Sports Insure Limited [In strike-off], Strategic Manager-III LLC, Stroz Friedberg (Asia) Limited, Stroz Friedberg Inc., Stroz Friedberg LLC, Stroz Friedberg Limited, Stroz Friedberg Risk Management Limited, Superannuation Management Nominees Limited, Suresport Limited [In strike-off], Swire Blanch MSTC II SA, Swire Blanch MSTC SA, TTG BRPTP GP LLC, TTG Cayuga Bavaria Intermediate 2 S.a.r.l, TTG Core Plus Investments LLC, TTG German Investments I LLC, TTG Investments II LLC, TTG Irish Investments I LLC, TTG Manager LLC, Tecsefin S.A. en liquidacion, The Aon Ireland Mastertrustee Limited, The Aon MasterTrustee Limited, The John Reynolds Company Limited, The Key West Saxon Group LLC, The Townsend Group Inc, The Townsend Group LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager I LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager II LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager III LLC, Townsend Group Asia Limited, Townsend Group Europe Ltd., Townsend HWL GP Ltd., Townsend Holdings LLC, Townsend Lake Constance GP Limited, Townsend REF GP LLC, Townsend Re Global GP Limited, Townsend SO Manager I LLC, UAB One Underwriting, UADBB Aon Baltic, UK Credit Insurance Specialists Limited, UNIT Versicherungsmakler GmbH, US Underwriting Solutions S.r.l., USLP Underwriting Solutions LP, Underwriters Marine Services Inc., Unidelta AG, Unirobe Meeus Groep, UnitedPensions Deutschland AG, Univers Workplace Solutions, VERO Management AG, Ventiv Technology, WT Government Services LLC, WT Technologies LLC, Wannet Speciale Verzekeringen B.V., Wannet Sports Insurance GmbH, Ward Financial Group Inc., West Lake General Partner LLC, West Lake II GP LLC, Wexford Underwriting Managers Inc., White Rock Insurance (Americas) Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Europe) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Gibraltar) PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Guernsey) ICC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Netherlands) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (SAC) Ltd., White Rock Insurance Company PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance PCC (Isle of Man) Limited, White Rock Services (Bermuda) Ltd., White Rock USA Ltd., Willis Towers Watson, Worldwide Integrated Services Company, Wrapid Specialty Inc., Zalba-Caldu Correduria de Seguros SA, and cut-e USA Inc..
The following companies are subsidiares of IDEX: ADS Corp., ADS Environmental Services Pty Limited, ADS Environmental Technologies Inc., ADS LLC, AEGIS Flow Technologies, AEGIS Flow Technologies L.L.C., AWG, AWG Fittings GmbH, Abel Pumps, Advanced Thin Films, Advanced Thin Films Inc., Airtech Group, Akron Brass, Akron Brass Company, Alfa Valvole, Alfa Valvole S.r.l., Band-It Clamps (Asia) Pte. Ltd., Band-It Company Limited, Band-It-IDEX Inc., Banjo Corporation, Banjo Europe S.r.l., BarbIDEX International SRL, CIDRA Precision Services, CVI Laser, CVI Laser LLC, CVI Laser Limited, CVI Melles Griot, Corken Inc., ERC, Eastern Plastics, FAST & Fluid Management S.r.l., FM Delaware Inc., FM Investment Inc., FMD Distribution and Service LLC, FMD Fabrication Services LLC, FTL Seals Technology Limited, Fast & Fluid Management B.V., Fast & Fluid Management Eastern Europe Sp. Z O.O., Fast and Fluid Management Australia Pty. Ltd., Flow Management Devices, Flow Management Devices LLC, Fluid Management Canada Inc., Fluid Management Inc., Fluid Management Operations LLC, Gast Group Ltd, Gast Manufacturing Inc., Godiva Limited, Godiva Products Limited, Hale Products Europe Limited, Hale Products Inc., Hurst Jaws of Life Inc., IDEX Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., IDEX Dinglee Technology (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., IDEX Europe GmbH, IDEX Health & Science KK, IDEX Health & Science LLC, IDEX Holdings GmbH, IDEX Holdings Inc., IDEX India Private Limited, IDEX Italy S.r.l., IDEX Japan GK, IDEX Korea Ltd, IDEX Leasing GmbH, IDEX MPT Inc., IDEX Mexico S.A. de C.V., IDEX Middle East FZE, IDEX Pump Technologies (Ireland) Limited, IDEX SAS, IDEX Service Corp., IDEX Sourcing Corporation, IDEX Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., IDEX Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, IDEX UK Investment Ltd, IDEX UK Ltd., IDEX do Brasil Servicos e Vendas Ltda., IETG, Isolation Technologies, KNIGHT LLC, KVT-Koenig Holding Limited, Knight (Canada) Limited, Knight Inc., Knight UK Ltd, LUKAS Hydraulik GmbH, Liquid Controls, Liquid Controls LLC, Matcon, Matcon (R&D) Limited, Matcon Group Limited, Matcon Limited, Melles Griot B.V., Melles Griot GmbH, Microfluidics, Microfluidics International Corporation, Micropump Inc., Nova Technologies, Nova Technologies Corporation, Novotema, Novotema S.p.A, OBL, OBL Srl, Oil & Gas Process Solutions LLC, PP AWG GmbH, PPE International LLC, PPE LLC, Precision Photonics, Precision Polymer Engineering Limited, Project Gold Acquisition Corp., Pulsafeeder Inc., Quadro Engineering Corp., RV Acquisition Corp., Richter Chemie-Technik, Richter Chemie-Technik GmbH, Richter EP (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., Richter Pumps & Valves Inc., Roplan AB, Roplan GmbH, Roplan Holding AB, Roplan Ltd, Roplan Machinery (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., Roplan Machining AB, Roplan Sales (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., Roplan Sales AB, Roplan Sales Inc., Roplan Trading AB, S.A.M.P.I. S.p.A., SFC KOENIG, SFC KOENIG Flow Control (Suzhou) Co. Limited, SFC Koenig AG, SFC Koenig Beteilgungs GmbH, SFC Koenig GmbH, SFC Koenig LLC, Scivex, Seals Limited, Semrock, Steridose Sales AB, The Fitzpatrick Company, Toptech Systems, Toptech Systems Inc., Toptech Systems NV, Trebor International Inc., Velcora, Velcora Holding AB, Vetter GmbH, Viking Pump Inc., Viking Pump of Canada Inc., Warren Rupp Inc., Wright Flow Technologies Limited, XAM Swiss Holding I GmbH, iPEK, iPEK International GmbH, iPEK Spezial TV GmbH, thinXXS Microtechnology, and thinXXS Microtechnology AG.
Cenovus Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in Canada, the United States and the Asia Pacific region. The company operates through Oil Sands, Conventional, and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment develops and produces bitumen in northeast Alberta. Its bitumen assets include Foster Creek, Christina Lake, and Narrows Lake, as well as other projects in the early stages of development. The Conventional segment holds assets primarily located in Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, and Clearwater operating areas of British Columbia and Alberta, as well as various interests in natural gas processing facilities. The Refining and Marketing segment transports and sells crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs. This segment owns a 50% ownership in Wood River and Borger refineries located in the United States; and owns and operates a crude-by-rail terminal in Alberta. Cenovus Energy Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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Embraer SA engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of aircraft and its parts for commercial, defense, and executive aviation sectors. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Aviation, Defense and Security, Executive Jet Business, Service & Support and Others. The Commercial Aviation segment is involved in the development, production, and sale of commercial jets; and the provision of support services to regional aviation and aircraft leasing. The Defense and Security segment engages in research, development, production, modification, and support for defense and security aircrafts, as well as other integrated products and solutions including satellites and information and communication systems. The Executive Jet Business segment deals with the development, manufacture, and sale of executive jets. The Service & Support segment provides after-service solutions and support to its customers through a comprehensive portfolio of innovative and competitive solutions to ensure operational efficiency of products manufactured by Embraer and by other aircraft manufacturers, extending the useful life of commercial, executive and defense aircraft. The Others segment refers to

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The following companies are subsidiares of Travelers Companies: 10762962 Canada Inc., 350 Market Street LLC, 8527512 Canada Inc., Aetna Life and Casualty Co, American Equity Insurance Company, American Equity Specialty Insurance Company, Aprilgrange Limited, Arch Street North LLC, Auto Hartford Investments LLC, Bayhill Restaurant II Associates, Camperdown Corporation, Constitution State Services LLC, Discover Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Discover Specialty Insurance Company, F&G UK Underwriters Limited, Farmington Casualty Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Underwriters Inc., First Floridian Auto and Home Insurance Company, Gulf Underwriters Insurance Company, IHP Capital Partners Fund VIII L.P., Northbrook Holdings Inc., Northfield Insurance Company, Northland Casualty Company, Northland Insurance Company, Phoenix UK Investments LLC, SPC Insurance Agency Inc., Select Insurance Company, Simply Business Holdings Inc., Simply Business Inc., St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, St. Paul Guardian Insurance Company, St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company, St. Paul Protective Insurance Company, St. Paul Surplus Lines Insurance Company, Standard Fire Properties LLC, Standard Fire UK Investments LLC, TCI Global Services Inc., TPC Investments Inc., TPC U.K. Investments LLC, The Automobile Insurance Company of Hartford Connecticut, The Charter Oak Fire Insurance Company, The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, The Family Business Institute LLC, The Phoenix Insurance Company, The St. Paul Companies Inc., The Standard Fire Insurance Company, The Travelers Casualty Company, The Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company of America, The Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut, The Travelers Lloyds Insurance Company, TravCo Insurance Company, Travelers (Bermuda) Limited, Travelers Brazil Acquisition LLC, Travelers Brazil Holding LLC, Travelers Casualty Company of Connecticut, Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America, Travelers Casualty UK Investments LLC, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of Europe Limited, Travelers Commercial Casualty Company, Travelers Commercial Insurance Company, Travelers Constitution State Insurance Company, Travelers Distribution Alliance Inc., Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company, Travelers Global Inc., Travelers Indemnity U.K. Investments LLC, Travelers Insurance Company Limited, Travelers Insurance Company of Canada, Travelers Insurance Designated Activity Company, Travelers Insurance Group Holdings Inc., Travelers Lloyds of Texas Insurance Company, Travelers London Limited, Travelers MGA Inc., Travelers Management Limited, Travelers Marine LLC, Travelers Participacoes em Seguros Brasil S.A., Travelers Personal Insurance Company, Travelers Personal Security Insurance Company, Travelers Property Casualty Company of America, Travelers Property Casualty Corp., Travelers Property Casualty Insurance Company, Travelers Seguros Brasil S.A., Travelers Syndicate Management Limited, Travelers Texas MGA Inc., Travelers Underwriting Agency Limited, Ultramar Travel Management, United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, Xbridge Limited, Zensurance Brokers Inc., and Zensurance Inc..
The following companies are subsidiares of Brinker International: BI INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LLC, BI MEXICO HOLDING CORPORATION, BIPC GLOBAL PAYROLL COMPANY LLC, BIPC INVESTMENTS LLC, BIPC MANAGEMENT LLC, BRINKER AIRPORTS LLC, BRINKER ALABAMA INC., BRINKER ARKANSAS INC., BRINKER ASIA INC., BRINKER BRAZIL LLC, BRINKER CANADIAN HOLDING CO. ULC, BRINKER CANADIAN RESTAURANT CO. ULC, BRINKER CB LP, BRINKER CB MANAGEMENT LLC, BRINKER FHC B.V., BRINKER FLORIDA INC., BRINKER FREEHOLD INC., BRINKER GEORGIA INC., BRINKER INTERNATIONAL PAYROLL COMPANY L.P., BRINKER LOUISIANA INC., BRINKER MICHIGAN INC., BRINKER MISSISSIPPI INC., BRINKER MISSOURI INC., BRINKER NEVADA INC., BRINKER NEW JERSEY INC., BRINKER NORTH CAROLINA INC., BRINKER OF BALTIMORE COUNTY INC., BRINKER OF CARROLL COUNTY INC., BRINKER OF CECIL COUNTY INC., BRINKER OKLAHOMA INC., BRINKER OPCO LLC, BRINKER PENN TRUST, BRINKER PROPCO FLORIDA INC., BRINKER PROPERTY CORPORATION, BRINKER PURCHASING INC., BRINKER RESTAURANT CORPORATION, BRINKER RHODE ISLAND INC., BRINKER SERVICES CORPORATION, BRINKER SOUTH CAROLINA INC., BRINKER TEXAS INC., BRINKER VIRGINIA INC., CHILIS BEVERAGE COMPANY INC., CHILIS INC. a Delaware corporation, CHILIS INC. a Tennessee corporation, CHILIS INTERNATIONAL BASES B.V., CHILIS OF BEL AIR INC., CHILIS OF KANSAS INC., CHILIS OF MARYLAND INC., CHILIS OF WEST VIRGINIA INC., Grady's Inc., MAGGIANO'S OF ANNAPOLIS INC., MAGGIANO'S OF HOWARD COUNTY INC., MAGGIANO'S OF KANSAS INC., MAGGIANOS BEVERAGE COMPANY, MAGGIANOS HOLDING CORPORATION, MAGGIANOS INC., MAGGIANOS OF TYSONS INC., MAGGIANOS PROPERTY CORPORATION, MAGGIANOS TEXAS INC., PEPPER DINING HOLDING CORP., PEPPER DINING Inc., and PEPPER DINING VERMONT INC..
BT Group plc provides communications services worldwide. Its Consumer segment sells telephones, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi extenders through high street retailers, online BT Shop, and Website BT.com; and offers home phone, copper and fiber broadband, TV, and mobile services in various packages. The company's EE segment offers 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile network services; broadband, fixed-voice, and TV services; and postpaid and prepaid plans, and emergency services network. This segment also sells 4G mobile phones, tablets, connected devices, and mobile broadband devices from various manufacturers. Its Business and Public Sector segment provides fixed voice, mobility, fiber and connectivity, and networked IT services to retailers, utilities, public sector, healthcare, sports, construction, finance, and educational sectors. The company's Global Services segment offers business communications and ICT services comprising BT Connect, BT Security, BT One, BT Contact, BT Compute, BT Advise, and BT for financial markets. This segment serves approximately 5,500 customers in 180 countries. Its Wholesale and Ventures segment enables communications providers and other organizations to provide fixed or mobile phone services. Its ventures provide mass-market services, such as directory enquiries and payphones; and enterprise services comprising BT Fleet and BT Redcare. This segment also provides broadband and Ethernet, voice, hosted communication, mobile virtual network operator, managed solutions, machine-to-machine, roaming, and media services. The company's Openreach segment engages in the provision of services over the local access network; and installation and maintenance of fiber and copper communications networks that connect homes and businesses. The company was formerly known as Newgate Telecommunications Limited and changed its name to BT Group plc in September 2001. BT Group plc was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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Bunzl plc operates as a distribution and services company in the North America, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company offers food packaging, films, labels, counter-service packaging, foodservice disposables, take-out food packaging, first aid products, point of purchase displays, stationery, bags, and cleaning and hygiene supplies to grocery stores, supermarkets, retail chains, convenience stores, food wholesalers, ethnic grocers, and organic food outlets. It also provides food packaging, napkins, disposable tableware, food service disposables, guest amenities, light and heavy catering equipment, cleaning and hygiene products, and safety items to hotels, restaurants, caterers, the leisure sector, and food processors and packers; and footwear, gloves, safety helmets, workwear, harness equipment, tools, safety signs, traffic management, and ancillary site equipment, as well as ear, eye, respiratory, and face protection products to customers in the industrial and construction markets. In addition, the company offers cleaning systems, floorcare items, hand cleansing products, hygiene paper, janitorial products, cleaning machines, mops, polishes, and protective clothing and washroom chemicals to facilities management companies, contract cleaners, and other industrial and healthcare customers; and counter service packaging, point of purchase display items, stationery, and cleaning and hygiene products to department stores, boutiques, office supply companies, retail chains, and home improvement chains. Further, it provides gloves, aprons, bandages, facemasks, gowns, headwear, mattress covers, overshoes, procedure packs, tapes, wipes, incontinence products, and swabs to the healthcare sector, including hospitals, retirement and nursing homes, and doctors' surgeries and clinics; and various products to government and education establishments. Bunzl plc was founded in 1854 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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CONSOL Coal Resources LP produces and sells high- British thermal unit (Btu) coal in the Northern Appalachian Basin and the eastern United States. It owns a 25% undivided interest in the Pennsylvania mining complex, which consists of three underground mines and related infrastructure that produce high-Btu thermal coal located primarily in southwestern Pennsylvania. The company markets its thermal coal principally to electric utilities. CONSOL Coal Resources GP LLC operates as a general partner of the company. The company was formerly known as CNX Coal Resources LP and changed its name to CONSOL Coal Resources LP in November 2017. CONSOL Coal Resources LP was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.

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4.3 Community Rank

Outperform Votes QS Energy has received 112 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

Underperform Votes QS Energy has received 61 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.)

Community Sentiment QS Energy has received 64.74% outperform votes from our community.

MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about QS Energy and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe QSEP will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe QSEP will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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ConocoPhillips engages in the exploration, production, transportation and marketing of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, natural gas liquids, and liquefied natural gas on a worldwide basis. It operates through the following geographical segments: Alaska; Lower 48; Canada; Europe, Middle East and North Africa; Asia Pacific; and Other International. The Alaska segment primarily explores for produces, transports and markets crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. The Lower 48 segment consists of operations in the U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. The Canada segment is comprised of oil sands development in the Athabasca Region of northeastern Alberta and a liquids-rich unconventional play in western Canada. The Europe, Middle East and North Africa segment consists of operations and exploration activities in Norway, the United Kingdom and Libya. The Asia Pacific segment has explorations and product operations in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. The Other International segment handles exploration activities in Columbia and Argentina. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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Everest Re Group Ltd. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of reinsurance and insurance services. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Reinsurance, International, Bermuda, and Insurance. The U.S. Reinsurance segment writes property and casualty reinsurance and specialty lines of business, including marine, aviation, surety, and accident and health business, on both a treaty and facultative basis, through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies primarily within the U.S. The International segment offers foreign property and casualty reinsurance through Everest Re's branches in Canada and Singapore and through offices in Brazil, Miami, and New Jersey. The Bermuda segment comprises reinsurance and insurance to worldwide property and casualty markets through brokers and directly with ceding companies from its Bermuda office and reinsurance to the United Kingdom and European markets through its UK branch and Ireland Re. The Insurance segment writes property and casualty insurance directly and through brokers, surplus lines brokers, and general agents within the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartere

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Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. is an international offshore energy company. It focuses on subsea construction, maintenance and salvage services to the offshore natural gas and oil industry. The firm also provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry, with a focus on well intervention and robotics operations. The company operates through three segments: Well Intervention, Robotics and Production Facilities. The Well Intervention segment offers vessels and related equipment that are used to perform well intervention services primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and North Sea regions. The Robotics segment involves four chartered vessels and also includes ROVs, trenchers and ROVDrills designed to complement offshore construction and well intervention services. The Production Facilities segment includes its investment in the Helix Producer I and Kommandor LLC. Helix Energy Solutions Group was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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iShares MSCI Spain ETF's stock was trading at $22.48 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EWP stock has increased by 17.8% and is now trading at $26.49.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: 2nd Road, 2nd Road Pty Ltd., ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Ltd, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! Innovation Singapore Holdings Pte, ?What If! Limited, ?What If! Shanghai Co. Ltd, ?What If! USA LLC, ACN Consulting Co Ltd, AD Dialeto Agencia de Publicidade SA, AD.Dialeto (Digital Agency acquired by Accenture), AGS Business and Technology Services Limited, ASM Research Inc., ASM Research LLC, ATAN, Accenture (Beijing) Mobile Technology Co Ltd, Accenture (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (China) Co Ltd, Accenture (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd., Accenture (South Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (South Africa) Pty Limited, Accenture (UK) Ltd, Accenture 2 Business Process Services S.A., Accenture 2 LLC, Accenture A/S, Accenture AB, Accenture AG, Accenture AS, Accenture Africa Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Holding B.V., Accenture Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Azerbaijan Ltd, Accenture BPM Operations Support Services S.A., Accenture BPM S.C.R.L., Accenture BV, Accenture Branch Holdings B.V., Accenture Bulgaria EOOD, Accenture Business Services for Utilities Inc, Accenture Business Services of British Columbia Limited Partnership, Accenture Business and Technology Services LLC, Accenture C.A, Accenture CAS GmbH, Accenture Canada Holdings Inc., Accenture Capital DAC, Accenture Capital Inc, Accenture Central Europe B.V., Accenture Chile Asesorias y Servicios Ltda, Accenture Cloud Services GmbH, Accenture Cloud Software Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions LLC, Accenture Cloud Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd., Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Ltd, Accenture Company Ltd, Accenture Consulting Services Ltd Tanzania, Accenture Consultores de Gestao S.A., Accenture Consultoria de Industria e Consumo Ltda, Accenture Consultoria de Recursos Naturais Ltda, Accenture Credit Services LLC, Accenture Customer Services Distribution SAS, Accenture Customer Services Limited, Accenture Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, Accenture Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Delivery Poland sp. z o.o., Accenture Dienstleistungen GmbH, Accenture Digital France Holdings SA, Accenture Digital Holdings GmbH, Accenture East Africa Limited, Accenture Ecuador S.A., Accenture Egypt LLC, Accenture Enterprise Development (Shanghai) Co Ltd., Accenture Federal Services LLC, Accenture Finance (Gibraltar) III Ltd, Accenture Finance GmbH, Accenture Finance GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II GmbH, Accenture Finance II GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II Ltd, Accenture Finance Limited, Accenture Finance and Accounting BPO Services S.p.A., Accenture Finance and Accounting Services Srl, Accenture Flex LLC, Accenture GP LLC, Accenture Ghana Limited, Accenture Global Holdings Ltd., Accenture Global Services Ltd, Accenture Global Solutions Ltd, Accenture GmbH, Accenture HR Services Ltd, Accenture HR Services S.p.A., Accenture Healthcare Processing Inc., Accenture Holding GmbH, Accenture Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Accenture Holding GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Holdings (Iberia) S.L., Accenture Holdings B.V., Accenture Holdings France SAS, Accenture Holdings plc, Accenture Hungary Holdings Kft, Accenture Inc, Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company (Accenture Endustriyel Yazylym Cozumleri Limited irketi), Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company (Accenture Endustriyel Yazlm Cozumleri Limited Sirketi), Accenture Industrial Software Solutions Kft, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions SA, Accenture Insurance Services LLC, Accenture Insurance Services SAS, Accenture Insurance Services SpA, Accenture International BV, Accenture International Capital SCA, Accenture International LLC, Accenture International Limited, Accenture International Sarl, Accenture Japan Ltd, Accenture Korea BV, Accenture LLC, Accenture LLP, Accenture Lanka (Private) Ltd, Accenture Limited, Accenture Ltd, Accenture Ltda, Accenture Maghreb S.a.r.l., Accenture Managed Services SRL, Accenture Managed Services SpA, Accenture Management GmbH, Accenture Middle East B.V, Accenture Middle East BV, Accenture Minority I BV, Accenture Minority III Ltd, Accenture Mozambique Limitada, Accenture Mzansi (Pty) Ltd, Accenture NV/SA, Accenture NZ Limited, Accenture Newco LLC, Accenture Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Co., Accenture OOO, Accenture Operations Sp. z o.o., Accenture Outsourcing SRL, Accenture Outsourcing Services, Accenture Outsourcing Services S.A., Accenture Oy, Accenture Panama Inc, Accenture Participations BV, Accenture Participations II Limited, Accenture Peru S.R.L, Accenture Peru S.R.L., Accenture Post Trade Processing SAS, Accenture Post-Trade Processing Limited, Accenture Process Ltd, Accenture Product Lifecycle Services, Accenture Properties, Accenture Pte Ltd, Accenture Puerto Rico LLC, Accenture S.A., Accenture S.C., Accenture S.L., Accenture S.R.L., Accenture SAS, Accenture SG Services Pte Ltd, Accenture SRL, Accenture Saudi Arabia Limited, Accenture Sendirian Berhad, Accenture Service Center SRL, Accenture Services (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Services AB, Accenture Services AG, Accenture Services AS, Accenture Services GmbH, Accenture Services Ltd, Accenture Services Morocco SA, Accenture Services Oy, Accenture Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Services S.r.l., Accenture Services SRL, Accenture Services Sp. z o.o., Accenture Services Sp. z.o.o., Accenture Services and Technology Srl, Accenture Services fur Kreditinstitute GmbH, Accenture Services s.r.o., Accenture Servicos Administrativos Ltda, Accenture Servicos de Suporte de Negocios Ltda, Accenture Solutions Co Ltd, Accenture Solutions Private Limited, Accenture Solutions Pte Ltd, Accenture Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture Sp. z o.o., Accenture Sp. z.o.o., Accenture SpA, Accenture State Healthcare Services LLC, Accenture Sub II Inc., Accenture Sub Inc, Accenture Sub LLC, Accenture Systems Integration Limited, Accenture Sarl, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag KFT, Accenture Technologia, Accenture Technologia Consultoria e Outsourcing S.A., Accenture Technology Infrastructure Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions (Dalian) Co Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions (HK) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas S.A., Accenture Technology Solutions GmbH, Accenture Technology Solutions Oy, Accenture Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions S.A. de C.V., Accenture Technology Solutions SAS, Accenture Technology Solutions SRL, Accenture Technology Solutions Sdn. Bhd., Accenture Technology Solutions Slovakia s.r.o., Accenture Technology Ventures BV, Accenture Technology Ventures S.P.R.L., Accenture Uruguay SRL, Accenture Vietnam Co., Accenture Vietnam Co. LTD, Accenture Zambia Limited, Accenture do Brasil Limitada, Accenture plc, Accenture s.r.o., Acceria, Acquity Customer Insight Limited, Acquity Group, Adaptly LLC, Adaptly UK Limited, AddVal Technology, Adqptly, Advantium Inc., Agave Consultants Limited, Agilex Technologies Inc., Allen International, Allen International Consulting Group Ltd, Alnova Technologies Corporation S.L., AlphaBeta Advisors, Altima, Altima Asia Ltd., Altima SAS, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Appaloosa Technology SAS, Arca, Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Avanade, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade (Thailand) Co Ltd, Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Denmark ApS, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Ltd, Avanade Europe Services Ltd, Avanade Federal Services LLC, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SAS, Avanade GZ Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd. (SH), Avanade Guangzhou, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy SRL, Avanade KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Netherlands BV, Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland Sp. z o.o., Avanade Poland Sp. z.o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain SL, Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Ltd, Avanade do Brasil Limitada, Avanade Osterreich GmbH, AvantBiz Consulting Limited, Avenai, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Benext, Bionic, Blue Horseshoe, Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Boomerang Pharmaceuticals Communications Ireland Limited, Bow & Arrow, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brand Learning LLC, Brand Learning Ltd, Brand Learning Partners Limited, Brand Learning Pte Limited, Bridge Energy Group LLC, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CadenceQuest Inc., Capable Marketer Limited, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc., Certus Solutions Consulting Services Ltd, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. Ltd., Cimation, Cimation UK Limited, Cirruseo, Cirruseo SAS, Clarity Insights, Clearhead, Clearhead Group, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas (SN) (PTE.) Limited, Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Ltd., Cloud Talent Limited, Cloudsherpas, Cloudsherpas Inc., Cloudworks, Codagenic Pty. Ltd., Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda., Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda., Context Information Security, Coritel S.A., Corliant Inc., CreativeDrive, CustomerWorks Europe SL, Cutting Edge Solutions Ltd, D5 Global Holdings LLC, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd., DMA Solutions Limited, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (Australia) PTY LTD, DayNine Consulting (Deutschland) GmbH, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting France SAS, DayNine Consulting Japan K.K., DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings, Declarative Holdings LLC, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digiplug SAS, Digital Consulting & Software Services LLC, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Ltd., Duck Creek Technologies, Duck Creek Technologies LLC, Deja Vu Security LLC, ESR Labs, Elcurator SAS, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting L.P., End-to-End Analytics, Energuia Web, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Ltd., Energy Quote Private Ltd., EnergyQuote JHA, EnergyQuote JHA Ltd., EnergyQuote Trading Ltd., Enimbos, Enkitec, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V. , Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enterprise System Partners PR LLC, Enterprise System Partners S.A.S., Entropia, Epylon, Ethica Consulting Group, Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Exton Consulting, Fairway Technologies Inc, Fairway Technologies LLC, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, First Annapolis International, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Focus Group Europe Limited, Formicary, Formicary Holdings Limited, Formicary Limited, FusionX, FutureMove Automotive, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, Genfour Limited, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gestion Altima Canada Inc., Gevity, Global Public Firm S.L., GlobalView SAS, GoodFilm GmbH Filmproduktion Stuttgart, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., HRC Retail Advisory, Hagberg Consulting Group, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Hytracc Consulting UK Limited, Hytracc Holding AS, I-Faber S.p.A., IBB Consulting, IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INCAD, INSITUM, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Imagine Broadband (USA) Ltd, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Industrie&Co, Infoman AG, Infoman Schweiz AG, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Infusion Development Inc., Infusion Development UK Limited, InfusionDev LLC, Innoveer Solutions India Pvt Ltd, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria Brasil LTDA, Insitum Consultoria Colombia SAS, Insitum Consultoria Europa SL, Insitum Consultoria Peru SAC, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., Intrepid, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Advertisement (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inventor Technology Limited, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, Javelin Group (Bulgaria) EOOD, Javelin Group Limited (UK), Javelin Group SASU, K Comms Group Limited, KCS.net AG, KCS.net AG West, KCS.net Deutschland GmbH, KCS.net Holding AG, KCS.net Osterreich GmbH, Kaper Communications Limited, Karma Communications Debtco Limited, Karma Communications Group Limited, Karma Communications Holdings Limited, Karmarama, Karmarama Comms Limited, Karmarama Limited, Knowledge Rules Inc., Knowledgent, Knowledgent Group LLC, Kogentix, Kogentix LLC, Kogentix Ltd, Kogentix Singapore Pte. Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kunstmaan NV, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon UKI, Kurt Salmon UKI Ltd., Kurt Salmon US LLC, LEXTA, LINKBYNET, LabAnswer, LabAnswer Government, LemonXL Limited, Logistics Market Place Limited (UK), Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Corporation, Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte. Ltd., Mackevision UK Ltd, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd., Maihiro, Matter, Matter Llc, Maud Corp Pty Limited, Maxamine International, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing Corporation, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mindtribe Product Engineering LLC, MobGen, MobGen Technology S.L, Moonrise NV, Mortgage Cadence, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, N3 LLC, NBS Marketing Inc., NYTEC, Nanjing Demeng Advertising Co. Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile, Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Chile SpA, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda., New Energy Aborda, New Energy Associates Ltd, New Energy Group, New Energy S.r.l., NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage China Ltd., NewsPage Pte Ltd, Nice Agency Limited, Northstream, Northstream AB, Northstream Holding AB, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology LTDA, Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Octo Technology SPRL, Octoman SAS, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Openmind, Openminded, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium Consulting Ltd, Orbium GmbH, Orbium Holding AG, Orbium Inc., Orbium International AG, Orbium International sp. z o.o., Orbium Licences AG, Orbium Limited, Orbium Pte. Ltd., Orbium Pty Ltd, Orbium Services sp. z o.o., Orbium Sarl, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PCO Innovation Canada Inc., PCO Innovation EURL, PIXO PUNCH Limited, PLM Systems S.r.l, POC Holdings, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, Pach Invest SARL, Pach Invest SAS, PacificLink Group, PacificLink iMedia Ltd., Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald Inc., Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Partners Technology Mexico Holdings BV, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production K/S, Perseroan Terbatas. Accenture, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Ltd, Pragsis Technologies S.L, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Ltd, Procurian Germany GmbH, Procurian Inc., Procurian International I LLC, Procurian International II LLC, Procurian LLC, Procurian Singapore Pte. Ltd., Procurian Switzerland GmbH, Procurian USA LLC, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co Ltd, Radiant Services, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Limited, Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (Asia) Pte Ltd, Redcore (India) Private Limited (India), Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Renacentis IT Services, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Rothco, Rothco Holdings Designated Activity Company, Rothco Unlimited Company, S.C. EnergyQuote S.r.l., S3 TV Technology Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SEC Servizi, SEC Servizi S.p.A., SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Sagacious Consultants LLC, Salt Solutions, Sanchez Capital Services Pvt Ltd, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Airline Planning Group, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace Asia (Hong Kong) Limited, Seabury Aviation Consulting LLC, Seabury Cargo Advisory B.V., Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Human Capital LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Seabury Structured Finance LLC, Search Technologies BPO, Search Technologies BPO Inc., Search Technologies GmbH, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LATAM, Search Technologies LATAM S.A., Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Sente Partners LLC, Sentelis, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Shackleton, Shackleton Barcelona S.L., Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton Madrid S.L., Shackleton S.A., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., Silveo, Simian Pty Limited, SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Commerce GmbH, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., SinnerSchrader Swipe GmbH, Sistemes Consulting S.L., Solutions IQ, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Storm Digital, Storm Digital B.V., Structure Consulting Group, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Systor AG, TQuila Limited (UK), Tadata Creative Unlimited Company, Tara Insurance DAC, Tara Risk DAC, TargetST8, TargetST8 Consulting LLC, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica Ltd., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Limited, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Total Logistics Supply Chain Consultants Limited, Tquila, Trivadis AG, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Verax Solutions, Verax Solutions Corporation, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd., Vertical Retail Consulting Hong Kong, Vertical Retail Consulting Hong Kong Ltd., Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd., Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, Weblinc Pty Ltd, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wire Stone Sarl, Wolox, Workforce Insight, Yesler, Zag, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines, Zenta Global Philippines Inc., Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc., Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, and solid-serVision.com GmbH.
Four Corners Property Trust pays an annual dividend of $1.27 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 4.51%. FCPT has a dividend yield higher than 75% of all dividend-paying stocks, making it a leading dividend payer. Four Corners Property Trust has been increasing its dividend for 4 consecutive year(s), indicating that it does not yet have a strong track record of dividend growth. The dividend payout ratio of Four Corners Property Trust is 117.59%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on EPS estimates, Four Corners Property Trust will have a dividend payout ratio of 78.88% in the coming year. This indicates that Four Corners Property Trust may not be able to sustain their current dividend.

View Four Corners Property Trust's dividend history.
Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc. provides mission-critical flow control and compression equipment; and associated aftermarket parts, consumables, and services in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through three segments: Industrials, Energy, and Medical. The Industrials segment designs, manufactures, markets, and services a range of air compression, vacuum, and blower products, as well as offers associated aftermarket parts, consumables, and services. Its products are used in process-critical applications, such as the operation of industrial air tools, vacuum packaging of food products, aeration of waste water, and others. This segment sells its products through an integrated network of direct sales representatives and independent distributors under the Gardner Denver, CompAir, Elmo Rietschle, Robuschi, and other brand names. The Energy segment engages in the design, manufacture, marketing, and service of a range of displacement and liquid ring vacuum pumps, compressors and integrated systems, and engineered fluid loading and transfer equipment, as well as offers associated aftermarket parts, consumables, and services under the Gardner Denver, Nash, Emco Wheaton, and other brands. It serves customers in upstream, midstream, and downstream energy markets, as well as petrochemical processing, transportation, and general industrial sectors. The Medical segment designs, manufactures, and markets a range of specialized gas, liquid, and precision syringe pumps and compressors for use in oxygen therapy, blood dialysis, patient monitoring, laboratory sterilization and wound treatment, and other applications. This segment sells its products under the Thomas and other brands. Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1859 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Nuveen Georgia Quality Municipal Income Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc. The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of the Georgia. The fund invests into undervalued municipal securities and other related investments the income from which is exempt from regular federal and Georgia income taxes. It seeks to invest in investment grade securities with an average maturity of around 17 years. The fund employs fundamental analysis with a focus on bottom-up stock picking approach to create its portfolio. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against Standard & Poor's (S&P) Georgia Municipal Bond Index and Standard & Poor's (S&P) National Municipal Bond Index. The fund was formerly known as Nuveen Georgia Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2. Nuveen Georgia Quality Municipal Income Fund was formed on October 26, 2001 and is domiciled in the United States.

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In the runup to Election Day, Education Week is featuring stories of teachers who are running for their state legislatures.

Janna Lind, a 32-year-old U.S. government high school teacher in Montana, was so upset when a student robbed another student at gunpoint at a school where her husband is principal that she filed to run for state legislature. She wants her statewhere more than half the residents own gunsto explicitly ban weapons on school campuses and shes made the issue a key piece of her campaign. (The state currently leaves it up to local school boards to decide.)



I think [guns in school] causes a safety hazard for our students, Lind, a Democrat running for the state House of Representatives, said. And there are better ways to make schools safe than bringing more guns into schools.

Lind is one of more than 150 classroom teachers across the nation who this year filed to run for their state legislature, according to an Education Week analysis. About 100 teachers made it past the primary.

Februarys deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., supercharged a national debate over whether teachers should be allowed to carry guns into school. For Lind, that debate hit close to home.

In January this year, a student at Hardin High School, in Hardin, Mont., where Linds husband is principal, attempted to rob a student of lunch money at gunpoint, according to local media reports . Art teacher Nora Bettina Block was reportedly given the Glock 27 by another student, and she subsequently hid the gun in her desk overnight. The next day, she reported to local police that she had discovered the gun under a students desk.

Police arrested Block and charged her with having a weapon in a school building and obstructing a police officer. In October, a jury convicted her of felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanor obstruction of a peace officer. She faces up to 10 years in jail.

That the teacher could end up in jail was the result of an unclear and confusing set of laws that determine who can carry weapons in Montanas schoolhouses, Lind said. She wants Montana to have a statewide policy concerning guns in schools.

It would be nice for the state to give parameters and for the state to define clearly the consequences if a lethal weapon is brought into the school building, Lind said.

But her opponent, incumbent Sue Vinton, a Republican, says who on campuses should be allowed to carry weapons should be determined by local school boards, not the state.

Montana is a very diverse state with both rural and urban schools, said Vinton, who serves on the states education committee. I think local school boards are in the best position to make these sorts of decisions.

Regarding whether teachers should be armed, she said, I cant think of a teacher who should be able to carry a gun but, then again, I dont know all teachers.

Montana is one of 12 states that allow school staff members to carry guns in schools. But, unlike some other states, staff members can carry guns in schools only if their school board approves of it. According to the Billings Gazette , only three school districts allow for employees to carry guns.

In a state where residents regularly carry concealed weapons with them, Lind said its not well-known throughout the state that most school boards dont allow staff members to carry guns on campus. Lind also serves as a local school board member.

Since filing to run earlier this spring, she has knocked on hundreds of doors and talked to voters about her stance on gun control, not a popular position in Montana. Shes emphasized to voters that, as a teacher, she has the sort of experience that can better inform the state legislature on what schools deal with on a daily basis.

And she said she wanted to set an example for her students.

As a government teacher, I need to step up to the plate if Im asking my kids to be active citizens.

Photo contributed by Jana Lind

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.
Hannover RAck SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance products and services worldwide. It operates through Property & Casualty Reinsurance, and Life & Health Reinsurance segments. The Property & Casualty Reinsurance segment offers specialty lines comprising marine, aviation, facultative and direct business, credit, surety, and political risks reinsurance products; and treaty, catastrophe XL, and structured reinsurance, as well as insurance-linked securities. This segment also provides risk solutions for agricultural, livestock, and bloodstock businesses; aviation and space business; and marine and offshore energy business. The Life & Health Reinsurance segment offers group and individual credit life, enhanced annuities, group life and health, and Sharia-compliant Takaful reinsurance products. This segment also provides risk solutions in the areas of critical illness, disability, health, longevity, long term care, and mortality and morbidity, as well as underwriting services. In addition, it offers various financial solutions, including new-business financing; monetization of embedded value; reserve and solvency relief; and divestiture of non-core businesses. The company was formerly known as Hannover RAckversicherung AG and changed its name to Hannover RAck SE in March 2013. The company was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Hanover, Germany. Hannover RAck SE is a subsidiary of Talanx AG.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Tenet Healthcare: 1 Subsidiaries of this entity in which Tenet Healthcare Corporation directly and indirectly held a 95% ownership interest at December 31 2020 are set forth in the table below., 25 East Same Day Surgery L.L.C., 300 PBL Development LLC, 45th Street MOB LLC, 601 N 30th Street I L.L.C., 601 N 30th Street II L.L.C., 601 N 30th Street III Inc., AHM Acquisition Co. Inc., AIG Holdings LLC, AIGB Global LLC, AIGB Group Inc., AIGB Holdings Inc., AIGB Management Services LLC, AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #1 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #2 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #3 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #4 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #5 L.L.C., AMI Information Systems Group Inc., AMI/HTI Tarzana Encino Joint Venture, APN, ARC Worcester Center L.P., ASC Old Co. LP, ASC of New Jersey LLC, ASJH Joint Venture LLC, Abrazo Health Network EP Clinical Services LLC, Abrazo Surgical Outpatient Center LLC, Advanced Ambulatory Surgical Care L.P., Advanced Center for Surgery  Vero Beach LLC, Advanced Regional Surgery Center LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Metairie LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Sarasota LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Tampa LLC, Advanced Surgical Care of St Louis LLC, Advanced Surgical Concepts LLC, Advantage Health Care Management Company LLC, Advantage Health Network Inc., AdventHealth Surgery Center Celebration LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Mills Park LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Wellswood LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Winter Garden LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Centers Central Florida LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Centers West Florida LLC, Adventist Midwest Health/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Alabama Cardiovascular Associates L.L.C., Alabama Digestive Health Endoscopy Center L.L.C., Alabama Hand and Sports Medicine L.L.C., Alamo Heights Surgicare L.P., All Star MOB LLC, Allegian Insurance Company, Alliance Surgery Birmingham LLC, Alliance Surgery Inc., Alvarado Hospital Medical Center Inc., Ambulatory Surgical Associates LLC, Ambulatory Surgical Center of Somerville LLC, American Institute of Gastric Banding Ltd., American Institute of Gastric Banding Phoenix Limited Partnership, American Medical (Central) Inc., Amisub (Heights) Inc., Amisub (Hilton Head) Inc., Amisub (North Ridge Hospital) Inc., Amisub (SFH) Inc., Amisub (Twelve Oaks) Inc., Amisub of California Inc., Amisub of North Carolina Inc., Amisub of South Carolina Inc., Amisub of Texas Inc., Anaheim Hills Medical Imaging L.L.C., Anaheim MRI Holding Inc., Anesthesia Partners of Gallatin LLC, Arizona Care Network  Next L.L.C., Arizona Health Partners LLC, Arlington Orthopedic and Spine Hospital LLC, Arrowhead Endoscopy and Pain Management Center LLC, Asia Outsourcing US Inc., Aspen Healthcare, Atlanta Medical Center Inc., Atlanta Medical Center Interventional Neurology Associates L.L.C., Atlanta Medical Center Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists L.L.C., Atlanta Medical Center Physician Group L.L.C., Atlantic Coast Surgical Suites LLC, Atlantic Health-USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Avita/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., BBH BMC LLC, BBH CBMC LLC, BBH DevelopmentCo LLC, BBH Imaging Jasper LLC, BBH NP Clinicians Inc., BBH PBMC LLC, BBH SBMC LLC, BBH WBMC LLC, BCDC EmployeeCO LLC, BHC-Talladega Pediatrics LLC, BHS Accountable Care LLC, BHS Affinity LLC, BHS Integrated Physician Partners LLC, BHS Physician Performance Network LLC, BHS Physicians Alliance for ACE LLC, BHS Physicians Network Inc., BHS Specialty Network Inc., BT East Dallas JV LLP, BW Cardiology LLC, BW Cyberknife LLC, BW Hand Practice LLC, BW Office Buildings LLC, BW Parking Decks LLC, BW Physician Practices LLC, BW Retail Pharmacy LLC, BW Sports Practice LLC, Bagley Holdings LLC, Baptist Accountable Care LLC, Baptist Diagnostics LLC, Baptist Health Centers LLC, Baptist Physician Alliance ACO LLC, Baptist Physician Alliance LLC, Baptist Plaza Surgicare L.P., Baptist Surgery Center L.P., Baptist Womens Health Center LLC, Baptist/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Bartlett ASC LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Baylor Plano LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Blue Star LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Granbury LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Mansfield LLC, Baylor Surgicare at North Dallas LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Plano LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Plano Parkway LLC, Bear Creek Surgery Center LLC, Beaumont Surgical Affiliates Ltd., Bellaire Outpatient Surgery Center L.L.P., Berkshire Eye LLC, Bloomington ASC LLC, Blue Ridge/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Bluffton Okatie Primary Care L.L.C., Bluffton Okatie Surgery Center L.L.C., Bon Secours Surgery Center at Harbour View LLC, Bon Secours Surgery Center at Virginia Beach LLC, Bozeman Health/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Bozeman MOB LLC, Briarcliff Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Bristol Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Broad River Primary Care L.L.C., Brookwood - Maternal Fetal Medicine L.L.C., Brookwood Ancillary Holdings Inc., Brookwood Baptist Health 1 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Health 2 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Health 3 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Imaging LLC, Brookwood Center Development Corporation, Brookwood Development Inc., Brookwood Diagnostic Imaging Center LLC, Brookwood Garages L.L.C., Brookwood Health Services Inc., Brookwood Home Health LLC, Brookwood Occupational Health Clinic L.L.C., Brookwood Parking Associates Ltd., Brookwood Primary Care - Homewood L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Inverness L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Mountain Brook L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Oak Mountain L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Vestavia L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Cahaba Heights L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Hoover L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care The Narrows L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Network Care Inc., Brookwood Specialty Care - Endocrinology L.L.C., Brookwood Sports and Orthopedics L.L.C., Brookwood Womens Care L.L.C., Brookwood Womens Diagnostic Center LLC, C7 Technologies LLC, CGH Hospital Ltd., CHIC/USP Surgery Centers LLC, CHN Holdings LLC, CHRISTUS Cabrini Surgery Center L.L.C., CHVI Tucson Holdings LLC, CML-Chicago Market Labs Inc., CRNAs of Michigan, CS/USP General Partner LLC, CS/USP Surgery Centers LP, California Joint & Spine LLC, Camp Creek Urgent Care L.L.C., Camp Lowell Surgery Center L.L.C., Captive Insurance Services Inc., Cardiology Physicians Associates L.L.C., Cardiology Physicians Corporation L.L.C., Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Associates L.L.C., Cardiovascular Clinical Excellence at Sierra Providence LLC, CareSpot of Austin LLC, CareSpot of Memphis LLC, CareSpot of Orlando/HSI Urgent Care LLC, Carmel Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Carondelet St. Marys-Northwest L.L.C., Cascade Spine Center LLC, Castle Rock Surgery Center LLC, Catawba-Piedmont Cardiothoracic Surgery L.L.C., Cedar Hill Primary Care L.L.C., Cedar Park Surgery Center L.L.P., Centennial ASC LLC, Center for Advanced Research Excellence L.L.C., Center for the Urban Child Inc., Central California Healthcare Holdings LLC, Central Carolina Physicians - Sandhills L.L.C., Central Carolina-IMA L.L.C., Central Jersey Surgery Center LLC, Central Texas Corridor Hospital Company LLC, Central Valley Quality Alliance LLC, Central Virginia Surgi-Center L.P., Centura Ventures Surgery Centers LLC, Centura/USP Colorado Springs Surgery Centers L.L.C., Chalon Living Inc., Chandler Endoscopy Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Charlotte Endoscopic Surgery Center LLC, Chattanooga Pain Management Center LLC, Chesterfield Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Chesterfield Anesthesia Associates of Missouri LLC, Chico Surgery Center L.P., Childrens Hospital of Michigan Premier Network Inc., Citrus Heights ASC RE LLC, Clarkston ASC Partners LLC, Clarksville Surgery Center LLC, Coast Healthcare Management LLC, Coast Surgery Center L.P., Coastal Carolina Medical Center, Coastal Carolina Medical Center Inc., Coastal Carolina Physician Practices LLC, Coastal Carolina Pro Fee Billing L.L.C., Coastal Endo LLC, Colorado GI Centers LLC, Commonwealth Continental Health Care Inc., Community Connection Health Plan Inc., Community Hospital LLC, Community Hospital of Los Gatos Inc., Conifer Care Continuum Solutions LLC, Conifer Ethics and Compliance Inc., Conifer Global Business Center Inc., Conifer Global Holdings Inc., Conifer Health Solutions LLC, Conifer Holdings Inc., Conifer Patient Communications LLC, Conifer Physician Services Holdings Inc., Conifer Physician Services Inc., Conifer Revenue Cycle Solutions LLC, Conifer Value-Based Care LLC, Conroe Surgery Center 2 LLC, Coral Gables Hospital Inc., Coral Ridge Outpatient Center LLC, Corpus Christi Surgicare Ltd., Covenant/USP Surgery Centers LLC, CreAtiv Management Company Inc., Creekwood Investors LLC, Creekwood Surgery Center L.P., Crown Point Surgery Center LLC, DH/USP SJOSC Investment Company L.L.C., DH/USP Sacramento Pain GP LLC, DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital Premier Clinical Co-Management Services LLC, DMC Education & Research, DMC Harper University Hospital Premier Clinical Co-Management Services LLC, DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital Premier Clinical Management Services LLC, DMC Imaging L.L.C., Dallas Surgical Partners LLC, DeTar/USP Surgery Center LLC, Delray Beach ASC LLC, Delray Medical Center Inc., Delray Medical Physician Services L.L.C., Denton Surgicare Partners Ltd., Denton Surgicare Real Estate Ltd., Denville Surgery Center LLC, Des Peres Physician Network LLC, Desert Cove MOB LLC, Desert Regional Medical Center Inc., Desert Ridge Outpatient Surgery LLC, Desoto Surgicare Partners Ltd., Destin ASC RE LLC, Destin Surgery Center LLC, Detroit Education & Research, DigitalMed Inc., Dignity/Abrazo Health Network LLC, Dignity/USP Folsom GP LLC, Dignity/USP Grass Valley GP LLC, Dignity/USP Las Vegas Surgery Centers LLC, Dignity/USP Metro Surgery Center LLC, Dignity/USP NorCal Surgery Centers LLC, Dignity/USP Phoenix Surgery Centers II LLC, Dignity/USP Phoenix Surgery Centers LLC, Dignity/USP Redding GP LLC, Dignity/USP Roseville GP LLC, Dignity/USP/John Muir East Bay Surgery Centers LLC, Doctors Hospital of Manteca Inc., Doctors Medical Center Neurosciences Clinical Co-Management LLC, Doctors Medical Center Orthopedics Clinical Co-Management LLC, Doctors Medical Center of Modesto Inc., Doctors Outpatient Center for Surgery LLC, Doctors Outpatient Surgery Center of Jupiter L.L.C., EPHC Inc., EPIC ASC LLC, East Atlanta Endoscopy Centers LLC, East Cobb Urgent Care LLC, East Cooper Coastal Family Physicians L.L.C., East Cooper Community Hospital Inc., East Cooper Hyperbarics L.L.C., East Cooper OB/GYN L.L.C., East Cooper Physician Network LLC, East Cooper Primary Care Physicians L.L.C., East Portland Surgery Center LLC, East West Surgery Center L.P., Eastgate Building Center L.L.C., Effingham Surgical Partners LLC, Einstein Montgomery Surgery Center LLC, Einstein/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., El Mirador Surgery Center L.L.C., El Paso Center for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy LLC, El Paso Day Surgery LLC, El Paso Urology Surgery Center Curie LLC, Emanate/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Emanuel Medical Center, Emerson Surgery Center LLC, Encinitas Endoscopy Center LLC, Endoscopy Center of Hackensack LLC, Endoscopy Center of South Sacramento LLC, Endoscopy Consultants LLC, European Surgical Partners Ltd., Eye Center of Nashville UAP LLC, Eye Surgery Center of Nashville LLC, FMC Medical Inc., FMCC Network Contracting L.L.C., FPN  Frisco Physicians Network, FREH Real Estate L.L.C., FRS Imaging Services L.L.C., FSC Hospital LLC, FSH IT Services LP, First Choice Physician Partners, Flatirons Surgery Center LLC, Folsom Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Fort Bend Clinical Services Inc., Fort Worth Hospital Real Estate LP, Fort Worth Surgicare Partners Ltd., Foundation Bariatric Hospital of San Antonio LLC, Foundation San Antonio Borrower Sub LLC, Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center, Fountain Valley Surgery Center LLC, Franklin Endo UAP LLC, Franklin Endoscopy Center LLC, Fresno Surgery Center L.P., Frisco Medical Center L.L.P., Frontenac Ambulatory Surgery & Spine Care Center L.P., Frye Regional Medical Center Inc., FryeCare Boone L.L.C., FryeCare Morganton L.L.C., FryeCare Physicians L.L.C., FryeCare Valdese L.L.C., FryeCare Watauga L.L.C., FryeCare Womens Services L.L.C., GCSA Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Gamma Surgery Center LLC, Gardendale Surgical Associates LLC, Garland Surgicare Partners Ltd., Gastric Health Institute L.L.C., Genesis ASC Partners LLC, Geneva Surgical Suites LLC, Georgia Endoscopy Center LLC, Georgia Gifts From Grace L.L.C., Georgia Musculoskeletal Network Inc., Georgia North Fulton Healthcare Associates L.L.C., Georgia Northside Ear Nose and Throat L.L.C., Georgia Physicians of Cardiology L.L.C., Georgia Spectrum Neurosurgical Specialists L.L.C., Georgia Spine Surgery Center LLC, Glen Echo Surgery Center LLC, Golden Ridge ASC LLC, Good Samaritan Medical Center Inc., Good Samaritan Surgery L.L.C., Grapevine Surgicare Partners Ltd., Grass Valley Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Graystone Family Healthcare - Tenet North Carolina L.L.C., Great Lakes Surgical Suites LLC, Greater Dallas Healthcare Enterprises, Greater Northwest Houston Enterprises, Greenville Physicians Surgery Center LLP, Greenwood ASC LLC, Greystone Internal Medicine - Brookwood L.L.C., Gulf Coast Community Hospital Inc., HCH Tucson Holdings LLC, HCN Emerus Management Sub LLC, HCN Emerus Texas LLC, HCN Laboratories Inc., HCN Physicians Inc., HCN Sunnyvale Holdings LLC, HCN Surgery Center Holdings Inc., HDMC Holdings L.L.C., HMA/Solantic Joint Venture LLC, HMH-USP Surgery Centers LLC, HMHP/USP Surgery Centers LLC, HNMC Inc., HNW GP Inc., HNW LP Inc., HPI Holdings LLC, HPI North LLC, HPI Physicians LLC, HSRM International Inc., HSS Palm Beach Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, HSS/USP Surgery Center LLC, HUG Services Inc., HUMC/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Hacienda Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Hagerstown Surgery Center LLC, Hardeeville Medical Group L.L.C., Hardeeville Primary Care L.L.C., Harlingen Physician Network Inc., Harper-Hutzel AHP Services Inc., Harvard Park Surgery Center LLC, Haymarket Surgery Center LLC, Hazelwood Endoscopy Center LLC, Health & Wellness Surgery Center L.P., Health Horizons of Kansas City Inc., Health Horizons of Murfreesboro Inc., Health Horizons/Piedmont Joint Venture LLC, Health Services CFMC Inc., Health Services HNMC Inc., Health Services Network Care Inc., Health Services Network Hospitals Inc., Health Services Network Texas Inc., HealthCorp Network Inc., Healthcare Compliance LLC, Healthcare Network Alabama Inc., Healthcare Network CFMC Inc., Healthcare Network DPH Inc., Healthcare Network Georgia Inc., Healthcare Network Holdings Inc., Healthcare Network Hospitals (Dallas) Inc., Healthcare Network Hospitals Inc., Healthcare Network Louisiana Inc., Healthcare Network Missouri Inc., Healthcare Network North Carolina Inc., Healthcare Network South Carolina Inc., Healthcare Network Tennessee Inc., Healthcare Network Texas Inc., Healthcare Partners Investments LLC, Healthmark Partners Inc., Healthpoint of North Carolina L.L.C., Heart and Vascular Institute of Michigan, Heritage Park Surgical Hospital LLC, Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Hialeah Hospital Inc., Hialeah Real Properties Inc., Hickory Family Practice Associates - Tenet North Carolina L.L.C., Hill Country ASC Partners LLC, Hill Country Surgery Center LLC, Hilton Head Health System L.P., Hilton Head Regional Healthcare L.L.C., Hilton Head Regional OB/GYN Partners L.L.C., Hilton Head Regional Physician Network LLC, Hilton Head Regional Physician Network  Georgia L.L.C., Hinsdale Surgical Center LLC, Hitchcock State Street Real Estate Inc., Holston Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Holy Cross Hospital Inc., Home Health Partners of San Antonio LLC, Hoover Doctors Group Inc., Hoover Land LLC, Horizon Ridge Surgery Center LLC, Hospital Development of West Phoenix Inc., Hospital RCM Services LLC, Hospital Underwriting Group Inc., Houston Northwest Partners Ltd., Houston PSC L.P., Houston Specialty Hospital Inc., Houston Sunrise Investors Inc., Hyde Park Surgery Center LLC, ICNU Rockford LLC, Imaging Center at Baxter Village L.L.C., InforMed Insurance Services LLC, Integris/USP Health Ventures LLC, International Health and Wellness Inc., Irving-Coppell Surgical Hospital L.L.P., JFK Memorial Hospital Inc., JFP UAP Sugarland LLC, Jackson Surgical Center LLC, Jacksonville Endoscopy Centers LLC, Journey Home Healthcare of San Antonio LLC, KHS Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, KHS/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Kingsport Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Laguna Medical Systems Inc., Lake Endoscopy Center LLC, Lake Health Care Facilities Inc., Lake Lansing ASC Partners LLC, Lake Surgical Hospital Slidell LLC, LakeFront Medical Associates LLC, Lakewood Regional Medical Center Inc., Lakewood Surgery Center LLC, Lancaster Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Lansing ASC Partners LLC, Lawrenceville Surgery Center L.L.C., Lebanon Endoscopy Center LLC, Legacy Warren Partners L.P., Legacy/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Leonardtown Surgery Center LLC, Liberty Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Lifemark Hospitals Inc., Lifemark Hospitals of Florida Inc., Lifemark Hospitals of Louisiana Inc., Lone Star Endoscopy Center LLC, Longleaf Surgery Center LLC, Los Alamitos Medical Center Inc., Lubbock ASC Holding Co LLC, MASC Partners LLC, MCSH Real Estate Investors Ltd., MH Memorial City Surgery LLC, MH/USP Bay Area LLC, MH/USP Brazoria LLC, MH/USP Kingsland LLC, MH/USP Kingwood LLC, MH/USP Kirby LLC, MH/USP Main Street LLC, MH/USP North Freeway LLC, MH/USP North Houston LLC, MH/USP Richmond LLC, MH/USP Sugar Land LLC, MH/USP TMC Endoscopy LLC, MH/USP West Houston L.L.C., MH/USP Woodlands Parkway LLC, MSH Partners LLC, MSV Health/USP Surgery Centers LLC, MVH/USP Surgery Centers LLC, MacNeal Management Services Inc., MacNeal Medical Records Inc., MacNeal Physicians Group LLC, Magnetic Resonance Imaging of San Luis Obispo Inc., Magnolia Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Manchester Ambulatory Surgery Center LP, Maple Lawn Surgery Center LLC, Marion Surgery Center LLC, Mary Immaculate Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Mason Ridge Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Mayfield Spine Surgery Center LLC, McLaren ASC of Flint LLC, Meadowcrest Hospital LLC, Medical House Staffing LLC, Medical Park Tower Surgery Center LLC, Medplex Outpatient Medical Centers Inc., Medplex Outpatient Surgery Center Ltd., Memorial Hermann Bay Area Endoscopy Center LLC, Memorial Hermann Endoscopy & Surgery Center North Houston L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Endoscopy Center North Freeway LLC, Memorial Hermann Specialty Hospital Kingwood L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Surgical Hospital L.L.P., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Brazoria LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Cypress LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Katy LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Kingsland L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Kirby LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Main Street LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Memorial City L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Northwest LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Pinecroft LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Preston Road Ltd., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Richmond LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Southwest L.L.P., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Sugar Land LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Texas Medical Center LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Woodlands Parkway LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center  The Woodlands LLP, Memorial Hermann Texas International Endoscopy Center LLC, Memorial Hermann West Houston Surgery Center LLC, Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers II L.P., Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers III LLP, Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers IV LLP, Memorial Surgery Center LLC, Memphis Urgent Care #1 L.L.C., Memphis Urgent Care #2 L.L.C., Merced Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Mercy/USP Health Ventures L.L.C., Metro Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Metro Surgery Center LLC, MetroWest HomeCare & Hospice LLC, Metrocrest Surgery Center L.P., Metropolitan New Jersey LLC, Michigan ASC Partners L.L.C., Michigan Pioneer ACO LLC, Michigan Regional Imaging LLC, Mid Rivers Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Mid State Endo UAP LLC, Mid-State Endoscopy Center LLC, Mid-TSC Development LP, Middle Tennessee Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Midland Memorial/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Midland Texas Surgical Center LLC, Midwest Digestive Health Center LLC, Midwest Pharmacies Inc., Midwest Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Millennium Surgical Center LLC, Mobile Imaging Management LLC, Mobile Technology Management LLC, Modesto Radiology Imaging Inc., Monocacy Surgery Center LLC, Mountain Empire Surgery Center L.P., Munster Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Murdock Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, NHSC Holdings LLC, NICH GP Holdings LLC, NKCH/USP Briarcliff GP LLC, NKCH/USP Liberty GP LLC, NKCH/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., NKCH/USP Surgery Centers LLC, NMC Lessor L.P., NMC Surgery Center L.P., NME Headquarters Inc., NME Properties Corp., NME Properties Inc., NME Property Holding Co. Inc., NME Psychiatric Hospitals Inc., NME Rehabilitation Properties Inc., NSCH GP Holdings LLC, NSCH/USP Desert Surgery Centers L.L.C., NUCH of Georgia L.L.C., NUCH of Massachusetts LLC, NUCH of Michigan Inc., NUCH of Texas, Nacogdoches ASC-LP Inc., Name of Entity, National ASC Inc., National Ancillary Inc., National Diagnostic Imaging Centers Inc., National HHC Inc., National Home Health Holdings Inc., National ICN Inc., National Imaging Center Holdings Inc., National Medical Services II Inc., National Outpatient Services Holdings Inc., National Surgery Center Holdings Inc., National Urgent Care Holdings Inc., National Urgent Care Inc., Network Management Associates Inc., New Dimensions LLC, New England Physician Performance Network LLC, New H Acute Inc., New Horizons Surgery Center LLC, New Medical Horizons II Ltd., New Mexico Orthopaedic Surgery Center LLC, New Salem ASC RE LLC, Newhope Imaging Center Inc., North Anaheim Surgery Center LLC, North Atlantic Surgical Suites LLC, North Campus Surgery Center LLC, North Carolina Community Family Medicine L.L.C., North Central Surgical Center L.L.P., North Denver Musculoskeletal Surgical Partners LLC, North Fulton Cardiovascular Medicine L.L.C., North Fulton Hospitalist Group L.L.C., North Fulton Medical Center Inc., North Fulton Primary Care - Willeo Rd. L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care - Windward Parkway L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care - Wylie Bridge L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care Associates L.L.C., North Fulton Pulmonary Specialists L.L.C., North Fulton Womens Consultants L.L.C., North Garland Surgery Center L.L.P., North Haven Surgery Center LLC, North Miami Medical Center Ltd., North Shore Medical Billing Center L.L.C., North Shore Medical Center Inc., North Shore Same Day Surgery L.L.C., North Shore Surgical Suites LLC, North State Surgery Centers L.P., NorthPointe Surgical Suites LLC, NorthShore/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., Northern Monmouth Regional Surgery Center L.L.C., Northridge ASC RE LLC, Northridge Surgery Center L.P., Northwest Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Georgia Orthopaedic Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Regional ASC LLC, Northwest Regional Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Surgery Center LLP, Northwest Surgery Center Ltd., Novant Health/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Novant/UVA/USP Surgery Centers LLC, OCOMS Imaging LLC, OCOMS Professional Services LLC, OLOL/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Okatie Surgical Partners L.L.C., Oklahoma Center for Orthopedic and Multi-Specialty Surgery LLC, Old Tesson Surgery Center L.P., Olive Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Olive Branch Urgent Care #1 LLC, Ophthalmology Anesthesia Services LLC, Ophthalmology Surgery Center of Orlando LLC, Optimum Spine Center LLC, OrNda Healthcorp, OrNda Hospital Corporation, Orlando Health/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., OrthoArizona Surgery Center Gilbert LLC, OrthoLink ASC Corporation, OrthoLink Physicians Corporation, OrthoLink Radiology Services Corporation, OrthoLink/ Georgia ASC Inc., OrthoLink/Baptist ASC LLC, OrthoLink/New Mexico ASC Inc., Orthopedic Associates of the Lowcountry L.L.C., Orthopedic South Surgical Partners LLC, Orthopedic and Surgical Specialty Company LLC, PAHS/USP Surgery Centers LLC, PDN L.L.C., PHPS Inc., PHPS-CHM Acquisition Inc., PHS/USP Health Ventures LLC, PM CyFair Land Partners LLC, PMC Physician Network L.L.C., PPRE LLC, PSS Patient Solution Services LLC, Pacific Endo-Surgical Center L.P., Pacific Endoscopy and Surgery Center LLC, Pain Diagnostic and Treatment Center L.P., Paley Institute Global LLC, Palm Beach Gardens Community Hospital Inc., Palm Beach International Surgery Center LLC, Palm Valley Medical Center Campus Association, Palos Health Surgery Center LLC, Paramus Endoscopy LLC, Park Cities Surgery Center LLC, Park Plaza Hospital Billing Center L.L.C., ParkCreek ASC LLC, Parkway Recovery Care Center LLC, Parkwest Surgery Center L.P., Patient Partners LLC, Peak Gastroenterology ASC LLC, Pediatric Surgery Center  Odessa LLC, Pediatric Surgery Centers LLC, Physician Performance Network L.L.C., Physician Performance Network of Arizona LLC, Physician Performance Network of Detroit, Physician Performance Network of South Carolina LLC, Physician Performance Network of Tucson LLC, Physicians Performance Network of Houston, Physicians Performance Network of North Texas, Physicians Surgery Center at Good Samaritan LLC, Physicians Surgery Center of Tempe LLC, Physicians Surgical Center of Ft. Worth LLP, Physicians Surgery Center of Chattanooga L.L.C., Physicians Surgery Center of Knoxville LLC, Piccard Surgery Center LLC, Piedmont ASC LLC, Piedmont Behavioral Medicine Associates LLC, Piedmont Cardiovascular Physicians L.L.C., Piedmont Carolina OB/GYN of York County L.L.C., Piedmont Carolina Vascular Surgery L.L.C., Piedmont East Urgent Care Center L.L.C., Piedmont Express Care at Sutton Road L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Rock Hill L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Tega Cay L.L.C., Piedmont General Surgery Associates L.L.C., Piedmont Internal Medicine at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Physician Network LLC, Piedmont Pulmonology L.L.C., Piedmont Surgical Specialists L.L.C., Piedmont Urgent Care Center at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Urgent Care and Industrial Health Centers Inc., Piedmont/Carolinas Radiation Therapy LLC, Placentia-Linda Hospital Inc., Pleasanton Diagnostic Imaging Inc., Point of Rocks Surgery Center LLC, Practice Partners Management L.P., Premier ACO Physicians Network LLC, Premier ASC LLC, Premier Adult and Childrens Surgery Center LLC, Premier Endoscopy ASC LLC, Premier Health Plan Services Inc., Premier Medical Specialists L.L.C., Prince William Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Professional Anesthesia Services LLC, Professional Liability Insurance Company, Pros Temporary Staffing Inc., Providence/UCLA/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Providence/USP Santa Clarita GP LLC, Providence/USP South Bay Surgery Centers L.L.C., Providence/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Pueblo Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, R.H.S.C. El Paso Inc., RE Plano Med Inc., RHC Parkway Inc., RLC LLC, Reading Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Reading Endoscopy Center LLC, Reagan Street Surgery Center LLC, Redmond Surgery Center LLC, Renaissance Surgery Center LLC, Republic Health Corporation of Rockwall County, Resolute Health Physicians Network Inc., Resolute Hospital Company LLC, Resurgens East Surgery Center LLC, Resurgens Fayette Surgery Center LLC, Resurgens Surgery Center LLC, Rheumatology Associates of Atlanta Medical Center L.L.C., Richmond ASC Leasing Company LLC, Rio Grande Valley Indigent Health Care Corporation, River North Same Day Surgery L.L.C., Riverside Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Rock Bridge Surgical Institute L.L.C., Rock Hill Surgery Center LLC, Rockwall Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.P., Rocky Mountain Endoscopy Centers LLC, Roseville Surgery Center L.P., Roswell Surgery Center L.L.C., SCNRE LLC, SFMP Inc., SFMPE - Crittenden L.L.C., SL-HLC Inc., SLH Physicians L.L.C., SLH Vista Inc., SLPA ACO LLC, SLUH Anesthesia Physicians L.L.C., SMSJ Imaging Company LLC, SMSJ Tucson Holdings LLC, SPC at the Star LLC, SRRMC Management Inc., SSI Holdings Inc., Sacramento Midtown Endoscopy Center LLC, Safety Harbor ASC Company LLC, Saint Agnes/Dignity/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Saint Agnes/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Saint Francis Cardiology Associates L.L.C., Saint Francis Cardiovascular Surgery L.L.C., Saint Francis Center for Surgical Weight Loss L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital Billing Center L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital Medicare ACO LLC, Saint Francis Hospital Pro Fee Billing L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett Inc., Saint Francis Medical Partners East L.L.C., Saint Francis Medical Partners General Surgery L.L.C., Saint Francis Physician Network LLC, Saint Francis Quality Alliance LLC, Saint Francis Surgery Center L.L.C., Saint Francis Surgical Associates L.L.C., Saint Francis-Arkansas Physician Network LLC, Saint Francis-Bartlett Physician Network LLC, Saint Thomas Campus Surgicare L.P., Saint Thomas Surgery Center New Salem LLC, Saint Thomas/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., Saint Thomas/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Saint Thomas/USP  Baptist Plaza L.L.C., Saint Vincent Physician Services Inc., Salmon Surgery Center LLC, Same Day Management L.L.C., Same Day SC of Central NJ LLC, Same Day Surgery L.L.C., San Antonio Endoscopy L.P., San Fernando Valley Surgery Center L.P., San Gabriel Valley Surgical Center L.P., San Martin Surgery Center LLC, San Ramon ASC L. P., San Ramon Ambulatory Care LLC, San Ramon Network Joint Venture LLC, San Ramon Regional Medical Center LLC, San Ramon Surgery Center L.L.C., Santa Barbara Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Santa Clarita Surgery Center L.P., Savannah Endoscopy Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Schertz Surgery Center LLC, Scripps Encinitas Surgery Center LLC, Scripps/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Seaside Surgery Center LLC, Shands/Solantic Joint Venture LLC, Shelby Baptist Affinity LLC, Shelby Baptist Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Shore Outpatient Surgicenter L.L.C., Shoreline Real Estate Partnership LLP, Shoreline Surgery Center LLP, Shrewsbury Surgery Center LLC, Sierra Pacific Surgery Center LLC, Sierra Providence Health Network Inc., Sierra Providence Healthcare Enterprises, Sierra Vista Hospital Inc., Silicon Valley Outpatient Surgery Centers LLC, Silver Cross Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Silver Cross/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Sinai-Grace Premier Clinical Management Services LLC, Siouxland Surgery Center Limited Liability Partnership, Solantic Corporation, Solantic Development LLC, Solantic Holdings Corporation, Solantic of Jacksonville LLC, Solantic of Orlando LLC, Solantic/South Florida LLC, South Carolina East Cooper Surgical Specialists L.L.C., South Carolina Health Services Inc., South Carolina SeWee Family Medicine L.L.C., South County Outpatient Endoscopy Services L.P., South Denver Musculoskeletal Surgical Partners LLC, South Florida Ambulatory Surgical Center LLC, South Fulton Health Care Centers Inc., SouthCare Physicians Group Neurology L.L.C., SouthCare Physicians Group Obstetrics & Gynecology L.L.C., Southeast Ohio Surgical Suites LLC, Southern Orthopedics and Sports Medicine L.L.C., Southern States Physician Operations Inc., Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., Southwest Childrens Hospital LLC, Southwest Endoscopy LLC, Southwest Orthopedic and Spine Hospital LLC, Southwest Orthopedic and Spine Hospital Real Estate LLC, Southwestern Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Spalding Regional Medical Center Inc., Spalding Regional OB/GYN L.L.C., Spalding Regional Physician Services L.L.C., Specialty Surgery Center of Fort Worth L.P., Specialty Surgicenters Inc., Spinal Diagnostics and Treatment Centers L.L.C., Spine & Joint Physician Associates, Springfield Service Holding Corporation, St. Augustine Endoscopy Center LLC, St. Christophers Pediatric Urgent Care Center - Allentown L.L.C, St. Josephs Hospital Surgical Co-Management LLC, St. Josephs Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, St. Josephs Surgery Center L.P., St. Louis Physician Alliance LLC, St. Louis Surgical Center LLC, St. Louis Urology Center LLC, St. Lukes/USP Surgery Centers LLC, St. Marys Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, St. Marys Hospital Cardiovascular Co-Management LLC, St. Marys Hospital Surgical Co-Management LLC, St. Marys Levee Company LLC, St. Marys Medical Center Inc., St. Vincent Health/USP LLC, St. Vincent/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Stockton Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Subsidiaries of USPI Holding Company Inc., Suburban Endoscopy Center LLC, Summit View Surgery Center LLC, Sun View Imaging L.L.C., Sunrise Medical Group I L.L.C., Sunrise Medical Group II L.L.C., Sunrise Medical Group IV L.L.C., SurgCenter Camelback LLC, SurgCenter Northeast LLC, SurgCenter Pinellas LLC, SurgCenter Tucson LLC, SurgCenter at Paradise Valley LLC, SurgCenter of Deer Valley LLC, SurgCenter of Glen Burnie LLC, SurgCenter of Palm Beach Gardens LLC, SurgCenter of Plano LLC, SurgCenter of Southern Maryland LLC, SurgCenter of St. Lucie LLC, SurgCenter of White Marsh LLC, Surgery Affiliate of El Paso LLC, Surgery Center at Mount Pleasant LLC, Surgery Center at University Park LLC, Surgery Center of Atlanta LLC, Surgery Center of Canfield LLC, Surgery Center of Columbia L.P., Surgery Center of Coral Gables LLC, Surgery Center of Okeechobee LLC, Surgery Center of Pembroke Pines L.L.C., Surgery Center of Peoria L.L.C., Surgery Center of Richardson Physician Partnership L.P., Surgery Center of Santa Barbara LLC, Surgery Center of Scottsdale LLC, Surgery Center of Tempe Real Estate II L.L.C., Surgery Center of Tempe Real Estate L.L.C., Surgery Centers of America II L.L.C., Surgery Centre of SW Florida LLC, Surgical & Bariatric Associates of Atlanta Medical Center L.L.C., Surgical Clinical Excellence at Desert Regional LLC, Surgical Elite of Avondale L.L.C., Surgical Health Partners LLC, Surgical Institute Management LLC, Surgical Institute of Reading LLC, Surgical Specialists at Princeton LLC, Surgicare of Miramar L.L.C., Surginet Inc., Surgis Inc., Surgis Management Services Inc., Surgis of Chico Inc., Surgis of Phoenix Inc., Surgis of Redding Inc., Surgis of Victoria Inc., Sutton Road Pediatrics L.L.C., Sylvan Grove Hospital Inc., TENN SM LLC, TFPS IV L.L.C., TH Healthcare Ltd., TH International Services Florida LLC, THV Park Cities LLC, THVG Arlington GP LLC, THVG Bariatric GP LLC, THVG Bariatric L.L.C., THVG Bedford GP LLC, THVG Bellaire GP LLC, THVG DSP GP LLC, THVG DeSoto GP LLC, THVG Denton GP LLC, THVG Fort Worth GP LLC, THVG Frisco GP LLC, THVG Garland GP LLC, THVG Grapevine GP LLC, THVG Irving-Coppell GP LLC, THVG Lewisville GP LLC, THVG North Garland GP LLC, THVG Park Cities/Trophy Club GP LLC, THVG Rockwall 2 GP LLC, THVG Valley View GP LLC, TLC ASC LLC, TMC Holding Company LLC, TOPS Specialty Hospital Ltd., TPG Hospital LLC, TPR Practice Management LLC, TPS VI of PA L.L.C., TRMC Holdings LLC, TSPE LLC, Tamarac Surgery Center LLC, Tempe New Day Surgery Center LP, Templeton Imaging Inc., Tenet Business Services Corporation, Tenet California Inc., Tenet Central Carolina Physicians Inc., Tenet EKG Inc., Tenet El Paso Ltd., Tenet Employment Inc., Tenet Finance Corp., Tenet Florida Inc., Tenet Florida Physician Services II L.L.C., Tenet Florida Physician Services III L.L.C., Tenet Florida Physician Services L.L.C., Tenet Fort Mill Inc., Tenet Global Business Center Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Bucks County L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Graduate L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Hahnemann L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Medical Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Nacogdoches ASC GP Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Philadelphia Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Roxborough LLC, Tenet HealthSystem St. Christophers Hospital for Children L.L.C., Tenet Hilton Head Heart L.L.C., Tenet Hospitals Limited, Tenet Network Management Inc., Tenet Patient Safety Organization LLC, Tenet Physician Resources LLC, Tenet Physician Services - Hilton Head Inc., Tenet Rehab Piedmont Inc., Tenet Relocation Services L.L.C., Tenet SC East Cooper Hospitalists L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Gastrointestinal Surgical Specialists L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Island Medical L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Lowcountry OB/GYN L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Mt. Pleasant OB/GYN L.L.C., Tenet Unifour Urgent Care Center L.L.C., Tenet Ventures Inc., TenetCare Frisco Inc., Terre Haute Surgical Center LLC, Teton Outpatient Services LLC, Texan Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Texas Endoscopy Centers LLC, Texas Health Venture Arlington Hospital LLC, Texas Health Venture Baylor Plano LLC, Texas Health Venture Carrollton LLC, Texas Health Venture Centennial LLC, Texas Health Venture Ennis LLC, Texas Health Venture Fort Worth L.L.C., Texas Health Venture Granbury LLC, Texas Health Venture Heritage Park LLC, Texas Health Venture Keller LLC, Texas Health Venture Las Colinas LLC, Texas Health Venture Mansfield LLC, Texas Health Venture Plano Endo LLC, Texas Health Venture Plano LLC, Texas Health Venture Plano Parkway LLC, Texas Health Venture Texas Spine LLC, Texas Health Ventures Group L.L.C., Texas Orthopedics Surgery Center LLC, Texas Regional Medical Center LLC, Texas Regional Medical in Sunnyvale, Texas Spine and Joint Hospital LLC, The 6300 West Roosevelt Partnership, The Ambulatory Surgical Center of St. Louis L.P., The Healthcare Insurance Corporation, The Healthcare Underwriting Company a Risk Retention Group, The Huron Corporation, The Outpatient Center LLC, The Southeastern Spine Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., The Surgery Center at Jensen Beach LLC, The Surgery Center at Williamson LLC, The Tresanti Surgical Center LLC, Theda Oaks Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center LLC, Titan Health Corporation, Titan Health of Chattanooga Inc., Titan Health of Hershey Inc., Titan Health of Mount Laurel LLC, Titan Health of North Haven Inc., Titan Health of Pittsburgh Inc., Titan Health of Pleasant Hills Inc., Titan Health of Princeton Inc., Titan Health of Sacramento Inc., Titan Health of Saginaw Inc., Titan Health of Titusville Inc., Titan Health of West Penn Inc., Titan Health of Westminster Inc., Titan Management Corporation, Titusville Center for Surgical Excellence LLC, Toms River Surgery Center L.L.C., Total Joint Center of the Northland LLC, Tower Road Real Estate LLC, Tower/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Treasure Coast ASC LLC, Trophy Club Medical Center L.P., True Medical Weight Loss L.P., True Medical Wellness LP, True Results Georgia Inc., True Results HoldCo LLC, True Results Missouri LLC, Tucson Digestive Institute LLC, Tucson Hospital Holdings Inc., Tucson Physician Group Holdings LLC, Turlock Imaging Services LLC, Turlock Land Company LLC, Tuscan Surgery Center at Las Colinas LLC, Twin Cities Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Twin Cities Community Hospital Inc., UAP Las Colinas Endo LLC, UAP Lebanon Endo LLC, UAP Nashville Endoscopy LLC, UAP Scopes LLC, UAP of Arizona Inc., UAP of California Inc., UAP of Missouri Inc., UAP of New Jersey Inc., UAP of Oklahoma Inc., UAP of Tennessee Inc., UAP of Texas Inc., UCC Tucson Holdings LLC, UMC Surgery Center Lubbock LLC, UMC-USP Surgery Centers LLC, USC/Norris Cancer Hospital, USP 12th Ave Real Estate Inc., USP Acquisition Corporation, USP Alexandria Inc., USP Assurance Company, USP Athens Inc., USP Atlanta Inc., USP Austin Inc., USP Bariatric LLC, USP Beaumont Inc., USP Bergen Inc., USP Bloomington Inc., USP Bridgeton Inc., USP Cedar Park Inc., USP Chesterfield Inc., USP Chicago Inc., USP Cincinnati Inc., USP Coast Inc., USP Columbia Inc., USP Connecticut Inc., USP Corpus Christi Inc., USP Creve Coeur Inc., USP Denver Inc., USP Des Peres Inc., USP Destin Inc., USP Domestic Holdings Inc., USP Effingham Inc., USP Encinitas Endoscopy Inc., USP Fenton Inc., USP Festus Inc., USP Florissant Inc., USP Fort Lauderdale Inc., USP Fort Worth Hospital Real Estate Inc., USP Fredericksburg Inc., USP Fresno Inc., USP Frontenac Inc., USP Gateway Inc., USP HMH Surgery Center at Shore LLC, USP Harbour View Inc., USP Houston Inc., USP Indiana Inc., USP International Holdings Inc., USP Jersey City Inc., USP Kansas City Inc., USP Knoxville Inc., USP Little Rock Inc., USP Long Island Inc., USP Louisiana Inc., USP Lubbock Inc., USP Maryland Inc., USP Mason Ridge Inc., USP Mattis Inc., USP Michigan Inc., USP Midland Inc., USP Midland Real Estate Inc., USP Midwest Inc., USP Mission Hills Inc., USP Montana Inc., USP Morris Inc., USP Mt. Vernon Inc., USP Nevada Holdings LLC, USP Nevada Inc., USP New Hampshire Inc., USP New Jersey Inc., USP Newport News Inc., USP North Carolina Inc., USP North Kansas City Inc., USP North Texas Inc., USP Northwest Arkansas Inc., USP OKC Inc., USP OKC Manager Inc., USP Office Parkway Inc., USP Ohio RE Inc., USP Oklahoma Inc., USP Olive Inc., USP Orlando Inc., USP Philadelphia Inc., USP Phoenix Inc., USP Portland Inc., USP Reading Inc., USP Richmond II Inc., USP Richmond Inc., USP Sacramento Inc., USP San Antonio Inc., USP Santa Barbara Surgery Centers Inc., USP Securities Corporation, USP Silver Cross Inc., USP Siouxland Inc., USP Somerset Inc., USP South Carolina Inc., USP Southlake RE Inc., USP St. Louis Inc., USP St. Louis Urology Inc., USP St. Peters Inc., USP Sunset Hills Inc., USP TJ STL Inc., USP Tennessee Inc., USP Texas Air L.L.C., USP Texas L.P., USP Torrance Inc., USP Tucson Inc., USP Turnersville Inc., USP Virginia Beach Inc., USP Washington Inc., USP Waxahachie Management L.L.C., USP Webster Groves Inc., USP West Covina Inc., USP Westwood Inc., USP Winter Park Inc., USP Wisconsin Inc., USP-HMH Surgery Center at Central Jersey LLC, USP/Carondelet Tucson Surgery Centers LLC, USP/SOS Joint Venture LLC, USPI Group Holdings Inc., USPI Holding Company Inc.1, USPI Holdings Inc., USPI Physician Strategy Group LLC, USPI San Diego Inc., USPI Stockton Inc., USPI Surgical Services Inc., Ulysses True Results NewCo LLC, Underwood Surgery Center LLC, United Anesthesia Partners Inc., United Real Estate Development Inc., United Real Estate Holdings Inc., United Surgical Partners Holdings Inc., United Surgical Partners International, United Surgical Partners International Inc., Universal Medical Care Center L.L.C., University Surgery Center Ltd., University Surgical Partners of Dallas L.L.P., Upper Bay Surgery Center LLC, Upper Cumberland Physicians Surgery Center LLC, Urgent Care Centers of Arizona LLC, Utica ASC Partners LLC, Utica/USP Tulsa L.L.C., VB Brownsville LTACH LLC, VBOA ASC GP LLC, VBOA ASC Partners L.L.C., VHM Services Inc., VHS Acquisition Corporation, VHS Acquisition Partnership Number 1 L.P, VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 1 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 11 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 12 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 3 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 4 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 5 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 6 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 7 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 8 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 9 Inc., VHS Arizona Heart Institute Inc., VHS Brownsville Hospital Company LLC, VHS Chicago Market Procurement LLC, VHS Childrens Hospital of Michigan Inc., VHS Detroit Businesses Inc., VHS Detroit Receiving Hospital Inc., VHS Detroit Ventures Inc., VHS Harlingen Hospital Company LLC, VHS Harper-Hutzel Hospital Inc., VHS Holding Company Inc., VHS Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital Inc., VHS Imaging Centers Inc., VHS New England Holding Company I Inc., VHS Outpatient Clinics Inc., VHS Phoenix Health Plan Inc., VHS Physicians of Michigan, VHS Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan Inc., VHS San Antonio Imaging Partners L.P., VHS San Antonio Partners LLC, VHS Sinai-Grace Hospital Inc., VHS University Laboratories Inc., VHS Valley Health System LLC, VHS Valley Holdings LLC, VHS Valley Management Company Inc., VHS West Suburban Medical Center Inc., VHS Westlake Hospital Inc., VHS of Anaheim Inc., VHS of Arrowhead Inc., VHS of Huntington Beach Inc., VHS of Illinois Inc., VHS of Michigan Inc., VHS of Michigan Staffing Inc., VHS of Orange County Inc., VHS of Phoenix Inc., VHS of South Phoenix Inc., Valley Baptist Lab Services LLC, Valley Baptist Physician Performance Network, Valley Baptist Realty Company LLC, Valley Baptist Wellness Center LLC, Valley Health Care Network, Vanguard ASC LLC, Vanguard Health Financial Company LLC, Vanguard Health Holding Company I LLC, Vanguard Health Holding Company II LLC, Vanguard Health Management Inc., Vanguard Health Systems, Vanguard Health Systems Inc., Vanguard Holding Company I Inc., Vanguard Holding Company II Inc., Vanguard Medical Specialists LLC, Vanguard Physician Services LLC, Ventana Surgical Center LLC, Veroscan Inc., Victoria Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Virtua-USP Princeton LLC, WHASA L.C., Walker Baptist Affinity LLC, Walker Street Imaging Care Inc., Warner Park Surgery Center LLC, Watermark Physician Services Inc., Webster Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Wellington Endo LLC, Wellstar/USP Joint Venture I LLC, Wellstar/USP Joint Venture II LLC, West Boca Health Services L.L.C., West Boca Medical Center Inc., West Boynton Urgent Care L.L.C., West Bozeman Surgery Center LLC, West Palm Healthcare Real Estate Inc., West Suburban Radiation Therapy Center LLC, Westgate Surgery Center LLC, Westlake Hospital LLC, Westlawn Surgery Center LLC, Westminster Surgery Center LLC, Westminster Surgery Centers LLC, White Fence Surgical Suites LLC, Willamette Spine Center Ambulatory Surgery LLC, Wilmington Endoscopy Center LLC, Wilshire Rental Corp., Winter Haven Ambulatory Surgical Center L.L.C., Wisconsin Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Wymark Surgery Center LLC, and YNHHSC/USP Surgery Centers LLC.
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF's stock was trading at $52.04 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EWY shares have increased by 50.7% and is now trading at $78.43.

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4.1 Community Rank

Outperform Votes Just Eat has received 91 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

Underperform Votes Just Eat has received 54 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.)

Community Sentiment Just Eat has received 62.76% outperform votes from our community.

MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Just Eat and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe JSTLF will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe JSTLF will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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KBR, Inc. engages in the provision of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program life-cycle within the government services and hydrocarbons industries. It operates through the following segments: Government Solutions, Technology Solutions, Energy Solutions, Non-strategic Business, and Other. The Government Solutions segment provides full life-cycle support solutions to defense, space, aviation, and other programs and missions for military and other government agencies. The Technology Solutions segment combines KBR's proprietary technologies, equipment, and catalyst supply and associated knowledge-based services into a global business for refining, petrochemicals, inorganic, and specialty chemicals as well as gasification, syngas, ammonia, nitric acid, and fertilizers. The Energy Solutions segment provides full life-cycle support solutions across the upstream, midstream and downstream hydrocarbons markets. The Non-strategic Business segment represents the operations or activities which the company intends to exit upon completion of existing contracts. The Other segment includes corporate expenses and general and administrative expenses not all

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The following companies are subsidiares of Kellogg: 545 LLC, AQFTM Inc., Afical - Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda, Afical Holding LLC, Alimentos Gollek S.A., Alimentos Kellogg S.A., Alimentos Kellogg de Panama SRL, Argkel Inc., Austin Quality Foods Inc., BDH Inc., Bear Naked Inc., Bisco Misr, CC Real Estate Holdings LLC, Canada Holding LLC, Cary Land Corporation, Eighteen94 Capital LLC, Favorite Food Products Limited, Gardenburger LLC, Gollek Argentina S.R.L., Gollek B.V., Gollek Inc., Gollek Interamericas S. de R.L. de C.V., Gollek Servicios S.C., Gollek UK Limited, Illinois Baking Corporation, Instituto De Nutricion y Salud Kellogg A.C., Insurgent Brands LLC, K (China) Limited, K Europe Holding Company Limited, K India Private Limited, K-One Inc., K-Two Inc., KBAR SRL, KECL LLC, KELF Limited, KJAL Limited, KPAR Limited, KT International Finance SRL, KTRY Limited, Kashi Company, Kashi Company Pty Ltd, Kashi Sales L.L.C., Keebler Company, Keebler Foods Company, Keebler Holding Corp., Keebler USA Inc., Kelarg Inc., Kelcone Limited, Kelcorn Limited, Kellman S. de R.L. de C.V., Kellogg (Aust.) Pty. Ltd., Kellogg (Deutschland) GmbH, Kellogg (Japan) G.K., Kellogg (Osterreich) Gesellschaft GmbH, Kellogg (Schweiz) GmbH, Kellogg (Thailand) Limited, Kellogg Activation Services Company, Kellogg Argentina S.R.L., Kellogg Asia Inc., Kellogg Asia Marketing Inc., Kellogg Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Kellogg Asia Products Sdn.. Bhd., Kellogg Asia Sdn. Bhd., Kellogg Australia Holdings Pty. Ltd., Kellogg Belgium Services Company BVBA, Kellogg Brasil Inc., Kellogg Brasil Ltda., Kellogg Business Services Company, Kellogg Canada Inc., Kellogg Caribbean Inc., Kellogg Caribbean Services Company Inc., Kellogg Chile Inc., Kellogg Company East Africa Limited, Kellogg Company Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Kellogg Company Subsidiaries, Kellogg Company of Great Britain Limited, Kellogg Company of Ireland Limited, Kellogg Company of South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Kellogg Costa Rica S. de R.L., Kellogg Ecuador C. LTDA., Kellogg El Salvador Ltda. de C.V., Kellogg Espana S.L., Kellogg Europe Company Limited, Kellogg Europe Finance Limited, Kellogg Europe Services Limited, Kellogg Europe Trading Limited, Kellogg Europe Treasury Services Limited, Kellogg European Logistics Services Company Limited, Kellogg European Support Services SRL, Kellogg Fearn Inc., Kellogg Funding Company LLC, Kellogg Group LLC, Kellogg Group Limited, Kellogg Group S.a.r.l., Kellogg Hellas Single Member Limited Liability Company, Kellogg Holding Company Limited, Kellogg Holding LLC, Kellogg Hong Kong Holding Company Limited, Kellogg Hong Kong Private Limited, Kellogg India Private Limited, Kellogg International Holding Company, Kellogg Irish Holding Limited, Kellogg Italia S.p.A., Kellogg Kayco, Kellogg Latin America Holding Company (One) Limited, Kellogg Latin America Holding Company (Two) Limited, Kellogg Latvia Inc., Kellogg Lux I S.ar.l., Kellogg Lux III S. ar L., Kellogg Lux V S.a.r.l., Kellogg Lux VI S.ar.l., Kellogg Management Services (Europe) Limited, Kellogg Manchester Limited, Kellogg Manufacturing Espana S.L., Kellogg Marketing and Sales Company (UK) Limited, Kellogg Med Gida Ticaret Limited SirketiI, Kellogg Netherlands Holding B.V., Kellogg North America Company, Kellogg Northern Europe GmbH, Kellogg Pakistan (Private) Limted, Kellogg Rus LLC, Kellogg Sales Company, Kellogg Services GmbH, Kellogg Servicios S.C., Kellogg Snacks Financing Limited, Kellogg Snacks Holding Company Europe Limited, Kellogg Superannuation Pty. Ltd., Kellogg Supply Services (Europe) Limited, Kellogg Talbot LLC, Kellogg Transition MA&P L.L.C., Kellogg Treasury Services Company, Kellogg U.K. Holding Company Limited, Kellogg UK Minor Limited, Kellogg USA LLC, Kellogg de Centro America S.A., Kellogg de Colombia S.A., Kellogg de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Kellogg de Peru S.R.L., Kellogg's Produits Alimentaires S.A.S., Kelmill Limited, Kelpac Limited, Klux A Sarl, Klux B Sarl, Mass Food, Mass Food International SAE, Mass Food SAE, Mass Trade for Trade and Distribution SAE, McCamly Plaza Hotel Inc., Multipro Consumer Products Limited*, Multipro Private Limited*, Multipro Singapore Pte. Ltd*, Nhong Shim Kellogg Co. Ltd.*, Nikko Industries*, Nordisk Kellogg's ApS, PRUX S.a r.l., Padua Ltda, Parati Group, Parati Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda, Portable Foods Manufacturing Company Limited, Prime Bond Cyprus Holding Company Limited, Prime Bond Holdings Limited, Pringles, Pringles (Shanghai) Food Co. Ltd., Pringles Australia Pty Ltd, Pringles Hong Kong Limited, Pringles International Operations Sarl, Pringles Japan G.K., Pringles LLC, Pringles Manufacturing Company, Pringles Overseas Holdings Sarl, Pringles S.a r.l., Pronumex S de R.L. de C.V., RX Bar UK Limited, RXBRANDS Canada ULC, Ritmo Investimentos, Rondo Food Manufacturing S.A.E., RxBar, Saragusa Frozen Foods Limited, Servicios Argkel S.C., Shaffer Clarke & Co. Inc., Specialty Cereals Pty Limited, Specialty Foods L.L.C., Stretch Fibres*, Stretch Island Fruit Sales L.L.C., Sunshine Biscuits L.L.C., The Eggo Company, The Healthy Snack People Pty Limited, Trafford Park Insurance Limited, Uma Investments sp. z o.o., Vita+ Naturprodukte GmbH*, Wimble Manufacturing Belgium BVBA, Wimble Services Belgium BVBA, and Worthington Foods Inc..
Margaux Resources Ltd., a polymetallic exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in the Kootenay Arc in Southeastern British Columbia in Canada. The company primarily explores for zinc, gold, and tungsten deposits. It holds an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Jackpot/Oxide, Ore Hill, Aspenex, Bayonne, Sheep Creek, Canex, and Old Timer properties located in Salmo, British Columbia. The company was formerly known as Carmen Energy Inc. and changed its name to Margaux Resources Ltd. in July 2013. Margaux Resources Ltd. was incorporated in 2009 and is based in Calgary, Canada.

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Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of traditional and non-traditional life and health reinsurance products. It operates through the following segments: U.S. and Latin America; Canada; Europe, Middle East, and Africa; Asia Pacific; and Corporate and Other. The U.S. and Latin America segment markets individual and group life and health reinsurance to domestic clients for a variety of products through yearly renewable term agreements, coinsurance, and modified coinsurance. The Canada segment offers individual life reinsurance, and to a lesser extent creditor, group life and health, critical illness and disability reinsurance, through yearly renewable term and coinsurance agreements. The Europe, Middle East, and Africa segment serves individual and group life and health products through yearly renewable term and coinsurance agreements, reinsurance of critical illness coverage that provides a benefit in the event of the diagnosis of a pre-defined critical illness and underwritten annuities. The Asia Pacific segment comprises individual and group life and health reinsurance, critical illness coverage, disability, and superannuation thr

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National Grid plc transmits and distributes electricity and natural gas. It operates through UK Electricity Transmission, UK Gas Transmission, US Regulated, and National Grid Ventures (NGV) and Other segments. The UK Electricity Transmission segment owns and operates electricity transmission networks, which comprise approximately 7,236 kilometers of overhead lines. The UK Gas Transmission segment owns and operates gas transmission systems, as well as third-party independent systems and liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facilities. The US Regulated segments owns and operates transmission facilities across upstate New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; and electricity distribution networks in upstate New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Its assets comprise 14,439 kilometers of overhead lines; an electricity distribution network of approximately 117,498 circuit miles; and a network of approximately 57,551 kilometers of gas pipeline. The NGV and Other segment engages in the energy metering business; transporting renewable energy long distances through its electricity interconnectors; and storing LNG, as well as commercial property and insurance activities in the United Kingdom. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Centene: APS Parent Inc., AWC of Syracuse Inc., Absolute Total Care Inc., AcariaHealth Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #11 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #12 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #13 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #14 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy Inc., AcariaHealth Solutions Inc., Access Medical Acquisition LLC, Access Medical Group of Florida City LLC, Access Medical Group of Hialeah LLC, Access Medical Group of Lakeland LLC, Access Medical Group of Miami LLC, Access Medical Group of North Miami Beach LLC, Access Medical Group of Opa-Locka LLC, Access Medical Group of Perrine LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa II LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa III LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa LLC, Access Medical Group of Westchester LLC, Accountable Care Coalition Direct Contracting LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Chesapeake LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Community Health Centers II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Community Health Centers LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers III LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers IV LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers V LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers VI LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers VII LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Florida Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Georgia LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Maryland LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Maryland Primary Care LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Mississippi LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of New Jersey Inc., Accountable Care Coalition of North Texas LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northeast Georgia LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northeast Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northwest Florida LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Prime Health LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health III LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Physician Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Texas Inc., Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Wisconsin LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Tennessee LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Texas Inc., Agate Resources Inc., AirLogix, Ambetter of Magnolia Inc., Ambetter of North Carolina Inc., Ambetter of Peach State Inc., America's 1st Choice California Holdings LLC, American Progressive Life and Health Insurance Company of New York, Apixio, Apixio Inc, Arch Personalized Medicine Initiative LLC, Arkansas Health & Wellness Health Plan Inc., Arkansas Total Care Holding Company LLC, Arkansas Total Care Inc., B2B Gestion Integra S.L.U., B2B Salud S.L.U., Bankers Reserve Life Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Blackcrow Asistencia Medica S.L, Bridgeway Health Solutions LLC, Bridgeway Health Solutions of Arizona Inc., Buckeye Community Health Plan Inc., Buckeye Health Plan Community Solutions Inc., CCTX Holdings LLC, CMC Real Estate Company LLC, CT Poprad s.r.o., CT Presov s.r.o., Calibrate Acquisition Company, California Health and Wellness Plan, Cantina Laredo Clayton LP, Cardium Health Services, Care 1st Health Plan of Arizona Inc., Care1st Health Plan Administrative Services Inc., Carolina Complete Health Holding Company Partnership, Carolina Complete Health Inc., Casenet LLC, Casenet S.R.O., CeltiCare Health Plan Holdings LLC, CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts Inc., Celtic Group Inc., Celtic Insurance Company, Cenpatico Behavioral Health LLC, Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Arizona LLC, Cenpatico of Arizona Inc., Centene Center I LLC, Centene Center II LLC, Centene Center LLC, Centene Company of Texas LP, Centene Europe Finance Company Limited, Centene Health Plan Holdings Inc., Centene Institute for Advanced Health Education LLC, Centene International Ventures LLC, Centene Investments LLC, Centene Management Company LLC, Centene Venture Company Alabama Health Plan Inc., Centene Venture Company Florida Inc., Centene Venture Company Illinois Inc., Centene Venture Company Indiana Inc., Centene Venture Company Kansas Inc., Centene Venture Company Michigan Inc., Centene Venture Company Tennessee Inc., Centro Inmunologocia De La Comunidad Valenciana S.L., Centurion Correctional Healthcare of New Mexico LLC, Centurion Detention Health Services LLC, Centurion LLC, Centurion of Arizona LLC, Centurion of Delaware LLC, Centurion of Florida LLC, Centurion of Kansas LLC, Centurion of Minnesota LLC, Centurion of Mississippi LLC, Centurion of New Hampshire LLC, Centurion of Pennsylvania LLC, Centurion of Tennessee LLC, Centurion of Vermont LLC, Centurion of West Virginia LLC, Centurion of Wyoming LLC, Chrysalis Medical Services LLC, Clinica Santo Domingo De Lugo S.L., Collaborative Health Systems IPA LLC, Collaborative Health Systems LLC, Collaborative Health Systems of Maryland LLC, Collaborative Health Systems of Virginia LLC, Comfort Hospice of Missouri LLC, Comfort Hospice of Texas LLC, ComfortBrook Hospice LLC, Community Medical Group, Community Medical Holdings Corporation, Comprehensive Health Management Inc., Comprehensive Reinsurance Ltd., Coordinated Care Corporation, Coordinated Care of Washington Inc., Country Style Health Care LLC, Discare CZ a.s., District Community Care Inc., Dr Magnet s.r.o., Elche-Crevillente Salud, Envolve Benefits Options Inc., Envolve Captive Insurance Company Inc., Envolve Dental IPA of New York Inc., Envolve Dental Inc., Envolve Dental of Florida Inc., Envolve Dental of Texas Inc., Envolve Health, Envolve Holdings Inc., Envolve Inc., Envolve Optical Inc., Envolve PeopleCare Inc., Envolve Pharmacy IPA LLC, Envolve Pharmacy Solutions Inc., Envolve Total Vision Inc., Envolve Vision Benefits Inc., Envolve Vision IPA of New York Inc., Envolve Vision Inc., Envolve Vision of Florida Inc., Envolve Vision of Texas Inc., Essential Care Partners LLC, Exactus Pharmacy Solutions Inc., Family Nurse Care II LLC, Family Nurse Care LLC, Family Nurse Care of Ohio LLC, Fidelis Care, Forensic Health Services LLC, Foundation Care LLC, Godgrace Asistencia Medica S.L., Golden Triangle Physician Alliance, Grace Hospice of Austin LLC, Grace Hospice of Grand Rapids LLC, Grace Hospice of Illinois LLC, Grace Hospice of Indiana LLC, Grace Hospice of San Antonio LLC, Grace Hospice of Virginia LLC, Grace Hospice of Wisconsin LLC, Granite State Health Plan Inc., Growly Asistencia Sanitaria S.L., HHS Texas Management Inc., HHS Texas Management LP, Hallmark Life Insurance Company, Harmony Behavioral Health IPA Inc., Harmony Behavioral Health Inc., Harmony Health Management Inc., Harmony Health Plan Inc., Harmony Health Systems Inc., Health Care Enterprises LLC, Health Net Access Inc., Health Net Community Solutions Inc., Health Net Community Solutions of Arizona Inc., Health Net Federal Services LLC, Health Net Health Plan of Oregon Inc., Health Net LLC, Health Net Life Insurance Company, Health Net Life Reinsurance Company, Health Net Pharmaceutical Services, Health Net of Arizona Inc., Health Net of California Inc., Health Plan Real Estate Holdings Inc., HealthSmart Benefit Solutions Inc., HealthSmart Benefits Management LLC, HealthSmart Care Management Solutions LP, HealthSmart Information Systems Inc., HealthSmart Preferred Care II LP, HealthSmart Preferred Network II Inc., HealthSmart Primary Care Clinics LP, HealthSmart Rx Solutions Inc., Healthy Louisiana Holdings LLC, Healthy Missouri Holdings Inc., Healthy Washington Holdings Inc., Heritage Health Systems Inc., Heritage Health Systems of Texas Inc., Heritage Home Hospice LLC, Heritage Physician Networks, Home State Health Plan Inc., HomeScripts.com LLC, Hospice DME Company LLC, Hospinet S.L., Hospital Polusa S.A., Hospital Povisa S.A., Hudson Accountable Care LLC, IAH of Florida LLC, Illinois Health Practice Alliance LLC, Infraestructuras y Servicios de Alzira S. L., Integrated Care Network of Florida LLC, Integrated Mental Health Management LLC, Integrated Mental Health Services, Interpreta Holdings Inc., Interpreta Inc., Iowa Total Care Inc., Kentucky Spirit Health Plan Inc., LBB Industries Inc., LifeShare Management Group LLC, LiveHealthier Inc., Louisiana Healthcare Connections Inc., MH Services International Holdings (UK) Limited, MHM, MHM Correctional Services LLC, MHM Health Professionals LLC, MHM Services Inc., MHM Services of California LLC, MHM Solutions LLC, MHN Government Services LLC, MHN Services LLC, MHS Consulting International Inc., MHS Travel & Charter Inc., MR Centrum Melnick s.r.o., MR Poprad s.r.o., MR Zilina s.r.o., Magnolia Health Plan Inc., Managed Health Network, Managed Health Network LLC, Managed Health Services Insurance Corporation, Maryland Collaborative Care LLC, Maryland Collaborative Care Transformation Organization Inc., Mauli Ola Health and Wellness Inc., Medicina NZ spol s.r.o., Meridian Health Plan of Illinois Inc., Meridian Health Plan of Michigan Inc., Meridian Management Company LLC, Meridian Network Services LLC, MeridianRx IPA LLC, MeridianRx LLC, MeridianRx of Indiana LLC, Michigan Complete Health, Mid-Atlantic Collaborative Care LLC, Nebraska Total Care Inc., Network Providers LLC, New York Quality Healthcare Corporation, Next Door Neighbors Inc., Next Door Neighbors LLC., North Florida Health Services Inc., Northern Maryland Collaborative Care LLC, Novasys Health Inc., OB Care, OB Klinika, Ohana Health Plan Inc., Oklahoma Complete Health Inc., One Care by Care 1st Health Plans of Arizona Inc, Operose Health (Group) Ltd., Operose Health (Group) UK Ltd., Operose Health Ltd., OptiCare Health Systems - Managed Vision Business, PANTHERx Rare Pharmacy, Panther Pass Co LLC, Panther Specialty Holding Co LLC, Pantherx Access Services LLC, Pantherx Specialty LLC, Parker LP LLC, Peach State Health Plan Inc., Penn Marketing America LLC, Pennsylvania Health and Wellness Inc., Phoenix Home Health Care LLC, Pinnacle Home Care LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Illinois LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Indiana LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Kalamazoo LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Missouri LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Wisconsin LLC, Premier Marketing Group LLC, PrimeroSalud S.L., Pro Diagnostic Group A.S., Pro Magnet CZ s.r.o., Pro Magnet s.r.o, Pro RTG s.r.o, Progress Medical A.S., Prowl Holdings LLC, QCA Healthplan Inc., Qualchoice Life and Health Insurance Company, Quincy Coverage Corporation, R&C Healthcare LLC, RMED LLC, RX Direct Inc., Rapid Respiratory Services LLC, Ribera Lab S.L.U., Ribera Salud II, Ribera Salud Proyectos S.L., Ribera Salud S.A., Ribera Salud Tecnologias S.L.U., Ribera Slaud Infraestructuras S.L.U., Ribera-Quilpro UTE, Salus Administrative Services Inc., Salus IPA LLC, Secure Capital Solutions 2000 S.L.U., SelectCare Health Plans Inc., SelectCare of Texas Inc., Seniorcorps Peninsula LLC, Servicios De Mantenimiento Prevencor S.L.U., SilverSummit Healthplan Inc., Social Health Bridge LLC, Social Health Bridge Trust, Specialty Therapeutic Care GP LLC, Specialty Therapeutic Care Holdings, Specialty Therapeutic Care Holdings LLC, Specialty Therapeutic Care LP, Sunflower State Health Plan Inc., Sunshine Health Community Solutions Inc., Sunshine Health Holding LLC, Sunshine State Health Plan Inc., Superior HealthPlan Community Solutions Inc., Superior HealthPlan Inc., The Practice Properties Limited, The WellCare Management Group Inc., Torrejon Salud S.A., Torrevieja Salud S.L.U., Torrevieja Salud UTE, Traditional Home Health Services LLC, Trillium Community Health Plan Inc., U.S. Medical Management Holdings Inc., U.S. Medical Management LLC, UAM Agent Services Corp., US Script, USMM Accountable Care Partners LLC, Universal American Corp., Universal American Financial Services Inc., Universal American Holdings LLC, WCG Health Management Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of America, WellCare Health Insurance Company of Kentucky Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Louisiana Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Nevada Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of New Hampshire Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of New Jersey Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Oklahoma Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Washington Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Wisconsin Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Arizona Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Connecticut Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Hawaii Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of New York Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of North Carolina Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Southwest Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Tennessee Inc., WellCare Health Plans, WellCare Health Plans of Arizona Inc., WellCare Health Plans of California Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Kentucky Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Massachusetts Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Missouri Inc., WellCare Health Plans of New Jersey Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Rhode Island Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Tennessee Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Vermont Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Wisconsin Inc., WellCare National Health Insurance Company, WellCare Pharmacy Benefits Management Inc., WellCare Prescription Insurance Inc., WellCare of Alabama Inc., WellCare of Arkansas Inc., WellCare of California Inc., WellCare of Connecticut Inc., WellCare of Florida Inc., WellCare of Georgia Inc., WellCare of Illinois Inc., WellCare of Indiana Inc., WellCare of Kansas Inc., WellCare of Maine Inc., WellCare of Michigan Holding Company, WellCare of Mississippi Inc., WellCare of Missouri Health Insurance Company Inc., WellCare of New Hampshire Inc., WellCare of New York Inc., WellCare of North Carolina Inc., WellCare of Ohio Inc., WellCare of Oklahoma Inc., WellCare of Pennsylvania Inc., WellCare of Puerto Rico Inc., WellCare of South Carolina Inc., WellCare of Texas Inc., WellCare of Virginia Inc., WellCare of Washington Inc., Wellcare Health Plans Inc., Western Sky Community Care Inc., Windsor Health Group Inc., Winning Security S.L., Worlco Management Services, and nirvanaHealth LLC.
The following companies are subsidiares of Procter & Gamble: "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, Agile Pursuits, Agile Pursuits Franchising, Arbora, Arbora & Ausonia, Arborinvest, Billie, Braun (Shanghai) Co., Braun GmbH, Braun-Gillette Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG, Celtic Insurance Company, Compania Procter & Gamble Mexico, Compania Quimica S.A., Corporativo Procter & Gamble, Cosmetic Products Pty. Ltd., Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., Eurocos Cosmetic GmbH, FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Fater S.p.A., Fountain Square Music Publishing Co., Gillette (China) Ltd., Gillette (Shanghai) Ltd., Gillette Aesop Ltd., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette Canada Holdings, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Gruppe Deutschland GmbH & Co. oHG, Gillette Holding Company LLC, Gillette Holding GmbH, Gillette India Limited, Gillette Industries Ltd., Gillette International B.V., Gillette Latin America Holding B.V., Gillette Management LLC, Gillette Nova Scotia Company, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Poland S.A., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay, Giorgio Beverly Hills Inc., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, LLC "Procter & Gamble Novomoskovsk", LLL "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", Laboratorios Vicks, Liberty Street Music Publishing Company, Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', Limited Liability Company with foreign investments Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, New Chapter, New Chapter Canada Inc., Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G Prestige Service GmbH, P&G South African Trading (Pty.) Ltd., PGT Health Care (Zhejiang) Limited, PGT Healthcare LLP, PPI ZAO, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Procter & Gamble (Chengdu) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (East Africa) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Egypt) Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble (Enterprise Fund) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Health & Beauty Care) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Jiangsu) Ltd. China, Procter & Gamble (L&CP) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble (Manufacturing) Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble (Shanghai) International Trade Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Acquisition GmbH, Procter & Gamble Administration GmbH, Procter & Gamble Algeria EURL, Procter & Gamble Amazon Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Amiens S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Argentina SRL, Procter & Gamble Asia Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Australia Proprietary Limited, Procter & Gamble Azerbaijan Services LLC, Procter & Gamble Bangladesh Private Ltd., Procter & Gamble Blois S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Brazil Holdings B.V., Procter & Gamble Bulgaria EOOD, Procter & Gamble Business Services Canada Company, Procter & Gamble Canada Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Chile , Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Commercial de Cuba S.A., Procter & Gamble Czech Republic s.r.o., Procter & Gamble DS Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Danmark ApS, Procter & Gamble Detergent (Beijing) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Deuttschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing (Philippines) Inc., Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distribution Company (Europe) BVBA, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana, Procter & Gamble Europe SA, Procter & Gamble Export Operations SARL, Procter & Gamble Exportadora e Importadora Ltda., Procter & Gamble Exports, Procter & Gamble Fabricacao e Comercio Ltda., Procter & Gamble Far East, Procter & Gamble Finance (U.K.) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Financial Investments LLP, Procter & Gamble Financial Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Services S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finland OY, Procter & Gamble France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH, Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH & Co. Operations oHG, Procter & Gamble GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care, Procter & Gamble Hellas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holdings (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong Limited, Procter & Gamble Hungary Wholesale Trading Partnership (KKT), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Inc., Procter & Gamble India Holdings, Procter & Gamble Indochina Limited Company, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama, Procter & Gamble International Operations Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Investment Company (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment GmbH, Procter & Gamble Italia, Procter & Gamble Japan K.K., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea, Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble Lanka Private Ltd. Sri Lanka, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Marketing and Services doo, Procter & Gamble Maroc SA, Procter & Gamble Mataro, Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Investments B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Nordic, Procter & Gamble Norge AS, Procter & Gamble Operations Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V., Procter & Gamble Overseas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Pakistan (Private) Limited, Procter & Gamble Partnership LLP, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals France SAS, Procter & Gamble Philippines, Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo, Procter & Gamble Product Supply (U.K.) Limited U.K., Procter & Gamble Production GmbH, Procter & Gamble Productions, Procter & Gamble Productos de Consumo, Procter & Gamble RHD, Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services BVBA, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Satis ve Dagitim Ltd. Sti., Procter & Gamble Seine S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services (Switzerland) SA, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Share Incentive Plan Trustee Ltd., Procter & Gamble South America Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. (Ltd.), Procter & Gamble Sports and Social Club Ltd., Procter & Gamble Sverige AB, Procter & Gamble Switzerland SARL, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Limited, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Sales Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Limited, Procter & Gamble Technology (Beijing) Co., Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Tuketim Mallari Sanayii A.S., Procter & Gamble UK, Procter & Gamble UK Group Holdings Ltd, Procter & Gamble UK Parent Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Universal Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Verwaltungs GmbH, Procter & Gamble Vietnam, Procter & Gamble d.o.o. za trgovinu, Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.C.A., Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.R.L., Procter & Gamble do Brasil S/A, Procter & Gamble do Brazil, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Redmond Products, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Richardson-Vicks do Brasil Quimica e Farmaceutica Ltda, Riverfront Music Publishing Co., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Scannon S.A.S., Series Acquisition B.V., Shulton, Surfac S.R.L., Sycamore Productions, TAOS - FL, TAOS Retail, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving - FL, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble GBS Company, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon (Shanghai) Academy, Vidal Sassoon Co., WEBA Betriebsrenten-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Walker & Company Brands, and iMFLUX Inc..
Cambrex Corporation, a life sciences company, provides various products and services for the development and commercialization of new and generic therapeutics worldwide. Its products comprise active pharmaceutical ingredients and pharmaceutical intermediates that are used in the production of prescription and over-the-counter drug products, as well as finished dosage forms. The company serves generic drug companies; and companies that discover and commercialize small molecule human therapeutics. The company sells its products directly, as well as through independent agents. Cambrex Corporation was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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Reckitt Benckiser Group plc manufactures, markets, and sells health, hygiene, and home products. The company offers acne treatment creams, facial washes, and cleansing pads; disinfection, hygiene, and first aid products; condoms, sex toys, and lubricants; heartburn and indigestion solutions; and cough and chest congestion, multi-symptom, and sinus remedies for adults and children under the Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Gaviscon, and Mucinex brands. It also provides analgesics; footcare and footwear products; sore throat medications; and women's beauty products under the Nurofen, Scholl, Strepsils, and Veet brand. In addition, the company offers fragrances and devices; water softeners; home cleaning products; dish washes; toilet bowl cleaners; disinfectants; sprays, baits, and plug-ins for pest control; stain removals; and fabric washing products under the Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Finish, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Vanish, and Woolite brands, as well as infant and child nutrition products under the Enfamil and Nutramigen brands. It operates in the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia/CIS, Turkey, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. The company was founded in 1823 and is headquartered in Slough, the United Kingdom.

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Xcel Energy, Inc. operates as a holding company, which engages in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. It operates through the following three segments: Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility and All Others. The Regulated Electric Utility segment generates, transmits and distributes electricity primarily in portions of generates, transmits and distributes electricity in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. In addition, this segment includes sales for resale and provides wholesale transmission service to various entities in the United States. It also includes commodity trading operations. The Regulated Natural Gas Utility segment transports, stores, and distributes natural gas primarily in portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan and Colorado. The All Others segment engages in steam, appliance repair services, nonutility real estate activities, processing solid waste into refuse-derived fuel and investments in rental housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credits. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

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iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF's stock was trading at $158.09 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, IWF stock has increased by 95.5% and is now trading at $309.06.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
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Rogers Communications Inc. operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The company offers mobile Internet access, wireless voice and enhanced voice, device and accessory financing, wireless home phone, device protection, text messaging, e-mail, global voice and data roaming, bridging landline, machine-to-machine and Internet of Things solutions, and advanced wireless solutions for businesses, as well as device delivery services; and postpaid and prepaid services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands to approximately 10.9 million subscribers. It also provides Internet and WiFi services; smart home monitoring services, such as monitoring, security, automation, energy efficiency, and smart control through a smartphone app. In addition, the company offers local and network TV; on-demand television; cloud-based digital video recorders; voice-activated remote controls, and integrated apps; personal video recorders; linear and time-shifted programming; digital specialty channels; 4K television programming; and televised content on smartphones, tablets, and personal computers, as well as operates Ignite TV and Ignite TV app. Further, it provides residential and small business local telephony services; calling features, such as voicemail, call waiting, and long distance; voice, data networking, Internet protocol, and Ethernet services; private networking, Internet, IP voice, and cloud solutions; optical wave and multi-protocol label switching services; IT and network technologies; and cable access network services. The company also owns Toronto Blue Jays and the Rogers Centre event venue; and operates Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet World, Citytv, OMNI, FX (Canada), FXX (Canada), and OLN television networks, as well as 55 AM and FM radio stations. Rogers Communications Inc. was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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Rolls-Royce Holdings plc operates as an industrial technology company in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Civil Aerospace, Power Systems, Defence, and ITP Aero. The Civil Aerospace segment develops, manufactures, and sells aero engines for large commercial aircraft, regional jet, and business aviation markets, as well as provides aftermarket services. The Power Systems segment provides high-speed and medium-speed reciprocating engines, and propulsion and power generation systems for the marine, defense, power generation, and industrial markets. The Defence segment offers aero engines for military transport and patrol aircraft applications; and naval engines and submarine nuclear power plants, as well as aftermarket services. The ITP Aero segment engages in the design, research and development, manufacture and casting, assembly, and testing of aeronautical engines and gas turbines. It also provides maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for regional airlines, as well as business aviation, industrial, and defense applications. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management, Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses. The Global Wealth and Investment Management provides client experience through a network of financial advisors focused on to meet their needs through a full set of investment management, brokerage, banking, and retirement products. The Global Banking segment deals with lending-related products and services, integrated working capital management and treasury solutions to clients, and underwriting and advisory services. The Global Markets segment includes sales and trading services, as well as research, to institutional clients across fixed-income, credit, currency, commodity, and equity businesses. The All Other segment consists of asset and liability management activities, equity investments, non-core mortgage loans and servicing activities, the net impact of periodic revisions

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In the first phase, around 15 tons of more than 100 fruits including grapefruit, coconut, pineapples, watermelon, lemon, orange and mango from the Mekong delta will be transshipped in the depot.

Next year, the depot will receive around 50 tons of fruits to export to Southeast Asian countries at least six containers a month.

The company cooperates with 100 farmers in Mekong delta provinces of Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Can Tho, Long An, Tra Vinh, Vinh Long and Dong Thap. Groups of agricultural engineers help farmers to select seedlings, production plan, harvesting, packaging and transporting to the depot to guarantee quality and food safety.

Participant farmers must write production diary in which they write pesticide dose, harvesting plan and periodic testing. The fruits in the depot will be supplied to the companys nineteen outlets. This depot will also be an export base for Vietnamese fruit to Thailand, China and other Southeast Asian countries.

This is the first of its kind in Vietnam while it is the fourth of MM Mega Market Vietnam. The company has set up depots for pork, vegetable from Da Lat and fish from Can Tho.

By CONG PHIEN - Translated by UYEN PHUONG
iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF's stock was trading at $170.68 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IWO stock has increased by 83.2% and is now trading at $312.65.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Stryker: ActiViews, Aimago SA, Alcott Indemnity Company, Arrinex Inc, Arrinex Inc., Ascent Healthcare Solutions, Berchtold, Berchtold + Fritz GmbH, Berchtold Consulting GmbH, Berchtold Corporation, Berchtold GmbH & Co. KG, Berchtold Holding Switzerland GmbH, CHG Hospital Beds, Cactus LLC, Cardan Robotics, Changzhou Orthomed Medical Instrument Company Limited, Concentric Medical, Concentric Medical Inc., Entellus Medical, Entellus Medical Europe Ltd, Entellus Medical Inc., GYS Tech LLC, Gaymar Industries, Gongping (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd., Groupe Bertec, HeartSine Technologies LLC, HeartSine Technologies Limited, Howmedica International S. de R.L., Howmedica Osteonics Corp., Hygia Health Services, Hygia Healthcare Services Inc., HyperBranch, HyperBranch Technology Inc., ITAPCo Limited, Image Guided Technologies, Imorphics Limited, Infinity MSD Corp., Infinity MSE Corp., Infinity MSF Corp., Infomedix Communications, Instratek, InstruMedics L.L.C, Invuity Inc., Ivy Sports Medicine, Ivy Sports Medicine LLC, Jiangsu Chuangyi Medical Instrument Company Limited, Jolife AB, K2M Germany GmbH, K2M Group, K2M Group Holdings Inc., K2M Holdings Inc., K2M Iberia Medcomtech S.L.U., K2M Inc., K2M Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, K2M Spine Solutions (Schweiz) GmbH, K2M UK Limited, Loon Intermediateco LLC, MAKO Surgical, MAKO Surgical Corp, Memometal Technologies, Mobius Imaging, Mobius Imaging LLC, Muka Metal, Muka Metal Ticaret ve Sanayi Anaonim Sirketi, NV Stryker SA, Nettrick Limited, Novadaq Corp, Novadaq Hong Kong Ltd, Novadaq Technologies, Novadaq Technologies ULC, OOO "Stryker", Orneo Ozel Saglk Hizmetleri Medikal Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, OrthoSpace, OrthoSpace Ltd., OrthoSpace US Inc., Orthomed (Hong Kong) Medical Instrument Company Limited, Orthovita, Orthovita Inc., OtisMed, P.C. Sweden Holding AB, Patient Safety Technologies, Patton Surgical, Pficonprod Pty. Ltd., Physio-Control, Physio-Control (Shanghai) Sales Co. Ltd., Physio-Control Brazil Vendas Ltda., Physio-Control Czech Sales s.r.o., Physio-Control Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Physio-Control Holdings Inc, Physio-Control Hungary Sales Kft, Physio-Control Inc., Physio-Control India Sales Pvt. Ltd, Physio-Control Investments LLC, Physio-Control Lebanon Sales Offshore s.a.l., Physio-Control Manufacturing Inc., Physio-Control Operations Netherlands B.V., Physio-Control Sales Limited Liability Company, Physio-Control Singapore Pte. Ltd., Physio-Control South Africa Sales Pty. Ltd., Physio-Control UK Sales Ltd., Pivot Medical, PlasmaSol, Porex Technologies, SSI Divestiture Inc., SYK Costa Rica Services Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, SafeAir AG, SafeWire, Sage Products, Sage Products Coperatief U.A., Sage Products Holdings II LLC, Sage Products Holdings III LLC, Sage Products LLC, Scopis GmbH, Sightline Technologies, Small Bone Innovations, SpineCore, Spirox Inc., Stanmore Implants Worldwide, Stanmore Implants Worldwide Limited, Stanmore Inc., Stryker (Barbados) Foreign Sales Corporation, Stryker (Beijing) Healthcare Products Co. Ltd., Stryker (Shanghai) Healthcare Products Co. Ltd., Stryker (Suzhou) Medical Technology Co Ltd, Stryker (Thailand) Limited, Stryker AB, Stryker Acquisitions BV, Stryker Asia Holdings CV, Stryker Australia LLC, Stryker Australia Pty. Ltd., Stryker Austria GmbH, Stryker B.V., Stryker Berchtold BV, Stryker Beteiligungs GmbH, Stryker Canada GP ULC, Stryker Canada Holding Company, Stryker Canada Manufacturing ULC, Stryker Canada ULC, Stryker Canadian Management ULC, Stryker Canadian Sales Holding Company ULC, Stryker Capital BV, Stryker China Limited, Stryker Colombia SAS, Stryker Communications Inc., Stryker Corporation (Chile) y Compania Limitada, Stryker Corporation (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Stryker Customs Brokers LLC, Stryker Czech Republic s.r.o., Stryker Delaware Inc., Stryker EMEA Supply Chain Services BV, Stryker Employment Company LLC, Stryker European Coordination Center BV, Stryker European Holdings Cooperatief U.A, Stryker European Holdings I LLC, Stryker European Holdings II LLC, Stryker European Holdings LLC, Stryker European Holdings V LLC, Stryker European Operations B.V., Stryker European Operations Holdings I BV, Stryker European Operations Holdings II BV, Stryker European Operations Holdings III BV, Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC, Stryker European Operations Limited, Stryker European Technologies C.V., Stryker Far East Inc., Stryker Foreign Acquisitions Inc., Stryker France Holding SNC, Stryker France MM Holdings SAS, Stryker France SAS, Stryker Funding B.V., Stryker GI Services CV, Stryker Global Technology Center Private Limited, Stryker GmbH, Stryker GmbH & Co. KG, Stryker Grundstucks GmbH & Co KG, Stryker Grundstucks Verwaltungs GmbH, Stryker Holdings BV, Stryker IFSC Designated Activity Company, Stryker Iberia SL Unipersonal, Stryker India Private Limited, Stryker International Acquisitions BV, Stryker International Holdings BV, Stryker Investment Holdings B.V., Stryker Ireland Holding Unlimited Company, Stryker Ireland Limited, Stryker Italia S.r.l. S.U., Stryker Japan Holdings BV, Stryker Japan K.K., Stryker Korea Ltd., Stryker Lebanon (Offshore) S.A.L., Stryker Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG, Stryker Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Stryker Luxembourg Sarl, Stryker Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Stryker Mauritius Holding Ltd., Stryker Medical London LP, Stryker Medtech K.K., Stryker Medtech Limited, Stryker Mexico Holdings B.V., Stryker Mexico SA de CV, Stryker NV Operations Limited, Stryker Nederland BV, Stryker New Zealand Limited, Stryker Osteonics AG, Stryker Pacific Limited, Stryker Performance Solutions LLC, Stryker Polska Sp.z.o.o., Stryker Portugal - Produtos Medicos Unipessoal Lda., Stryker Professional Latin America S. de R.L. de C.V., Stryker Puerto Rico Limited, Stryker Romania SRL, Stryker Sage Inc., Stryker Sales Corporation, Stryker Servicios Administrativos S.de R.L. de C.V., Stryker Singapore Private Limited, Stryker South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Stryker Spine SAS, Stryker Spine Sarl, Stryker Sustainability Solutions Inc., Stryker Tibbi Cihazlan Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Stryker Trauma GmbH, Stryker Turkish Holdings BV, Stryker UK Ltd, Stryker Verwaltungs GmbH, Stryker Vietnam Company Limited, Stryker do Brasil Ltda, Surpass Medical, Synergetics, TG SP Holdings Corp, TSO3 Corp, TSO3 Inc, Trauson, Trauson (China) Medical Instrument Company Limited, Trauson (Hong Kong) Company Limited, Trauson Holdings (BVI) Company Limited, Trauson Holdings (Hong Kong) Company Limited, Trauson Holdings Company Limited, VEXIM SA, Vexim, Waterloo Bedding Co., Wright Medical Group, ZipLine Medical Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ZipLine Medical Hong Kong Limited, ZipLine Medical Inc., and eTrauma.com.
Vietnamese actress Dao Phuong Anh received the Best Actress award for her role in the film of Nham mat thay mua he (Summer In Closed Eyes).



The Best Actor award went to Christian Bables of the Philippines for his performance in the film of Signal rock.

The Best Feature Film Director award belonged to Polands Piotr Domalewski, Director of Silent night. While Serbia's director Vladimir Todorovic got The Judge's Awards for feature and short films for his film, The countryside people.

The Network for Promotion and Asian Cinema (NETPAC) award was given to the film Student A by director Lee Kyung-sub from the Republic of Korea.

The Best Young Short-Film Director award was handed to Nguyen Le Hoang Viet of Vietnam for the film Ban cung phong (Roommate).

The Judges Award was presented to Ta Quynh Tu of Vietnam for the film, Hai dua tre (Two kids).

Kazakhstans Aizhana Kassymbek received The Best Short Film Award for the movie Su (Water).

The film Chang vo cua em (My Mr.Wife) by Charlie Nguyen of Vietnam took the Audiences Choice Award for Vietnamese favorite film.

This years festival attracted 147 international features and shorts from 45 countries and territories with more than 200 screenings. Highlights of the event were outdoor screenings featuring films, including Co Ba Saigon (The Tailor) from Vietnam, Anida and the floating circus (Argentina) and Simple (Australia).

The 5th Hanoi International Film Festival (HANIFF) 2018 themed Cinema-Integration and Development was organized from October 27-31.

The event aims to honor best movies, new talents as well as encourage the cooperation among producers and delegates.

It is also a venue for the celebration and betterment of both Vietnamese and international cinema as well as giving a chance for local and foreign film makers to meet, exchange experiences and thoughts with each other.

A series of activities was held during the event, such as HANIFF Campus and Film Project Market, exhibition on filming locations in Vietnam, seminar on Polish and Iranian cinema, outdoor screenings, art performances and more.





By MAI AN  Translated by Kim Khanh
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Eaton Vance Management. It is co-managed by Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund also writes call options on one or more U.S. indices on a substantial portion of the value of its common stock portfolio. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the S&P 500 Index, the CBOE S&P 500 BuyWrite Index, the NASDAQ-100 Index, and the CBOE NASDAQ-100 BuyWrite Index. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund was formed on June 30, 2005 and is domiciled in the United States.

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Trisura Group Ltd., a specialty insurance company, operates in the surety, risk solutions, corporate insurance, and reinsurance businesses in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers contract surety bonds, such as performance, and labor and material payment bonds primarily for the construction industry; commercial surety bonds, including license and permit, tax and excise, and fiduciary bonds to governments, regulatory bodies, or courts to guarantee compliance with legal or fiduciary obligations; and developer surety bonds comprising bonds to secure real estate developers' legislated deposit and warranty obligations on residential projects. It provides risk solutions, including warranty programs to program administrators, managing general agents, captive insurance companies, affinity groups, and reinsurers. The company also offers corporate insurance products that comprise directors' and officers' insurance for public, private, and non-profit enterprises; errors and omissions liability insurance for enterprises and professionals; business office package insurance for enterprises and professionals; and fidelity insurance for commercial and financial institutions. Trisura Group Ltd. was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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Amidst discussions yesterday on the benefits of private-public partnerships among SAMOA Pathway member States, two young men have a model they believe in.

Matt Tranchin and Marty Martinez are the executive director and director of partnerships of the Island Resilience Partnerships, and they are working to shift small islands States to renewable energy at no cost to the governments.

How? Through GridMarket: an innovative platform connecting energy providers with consumers at the lowest rate possible and with the gentlest impact on the environment.

Its works, said Mr. Tranchin, and he has experience in Palau to prove it.

At Earth X in April 2017, the president of Palau, Thomas Remengesau, told Mr. Tranchin he wanted to reduce Palaus reliance on expensive imported diesel, powering 97 percent of the nations energy use.

So three months later, there was a summit with all the stakeholders and we began to get Palaus renewable energy up from 3 percent to 50 percent in the next 12 months, he said.

GridMarket works by connecting the utilities (power, water) with solution providers by having them compete with each other to drive down prices and ultimately serve the consumers with the cheapest possible product.

In Palaus case, 40 companies bid to produce power for the island nation of 17,000 people, and out of the final four selected at the final stage, the company eventually chosen has reduced the price of power by 30 percent.

They have the capital to invest in the infrastructure and energy product, and enough other interests to justify losing money for a while, Mr. Tranchin explained.

And its still for profit.

With a 30-year contract signed between them, the company will finally start to break even on their investment by the 15th year  something a Government can hardly afford to do by itself.

The technical advice and development component of GridMarkets work is funded by philanthropists, again taking the burden of cost away from Small Island Developing States.

We havent yet come across a nation we couldnt do this with, Mr. Tranchin said.

Well be prioritising the ones with the political will to invest in this.
Comerica, Inc. engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Bank, Retail Bank, Wealth Management, Finance and Other. The Commercial Bank segment involves in the middle market businesses, multinational corporations, and governmental entities by offering various products and services such as commercial loans and lines of credit, deposits, cash management, capital market products, international trade finance, letters of credit, foreign exchange management services, and loan syndication services. The Retail Bank segment includes small business banking and personal financial services, which consist of consumer lending, consumer deposit gathering, and mortgage loan origination. The Wealth Management segment offers fiduciary services, private banking, retirement services, investment management and advisory services, investment banking and brokerage services. The Finance segment comprises corporation's securities portfolio and asset and liability management activities. The Other category consists of income and expense impact of equity and cash, tax benefits, charges of an unusual or infrequent nature that are not reflective of the n

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The following companies are subsidiares of Zimmer Biomet: Abbott Spine, Beijing Montagne Medical Device Co. Ltd., Beijing Montagne Medical Device Co. Ltd., BioMet, Biomet 3i Australia Pty. Ltd., Biomet 3i Belgium N.V., Biomet 3i Benelux Holdings N.V., Biomet 3i Dental Iberica SL, Biomet 3i LLC, Biomet 3i Mexico S.A. de C.V., Biomet 3i Netherlands B.V., Biomet 3i Nordic AB, Biomet 3i Portugal Lda, Biomet 3i Switzerland GmbH, Biomet 3i Turkey, Biomet 3i UK Ltd., Biomet 3i do Brasil Comercio de Aparelhos Medicos Ltda., Biomet Acquisitions (Unlimited), Biomet Argentina SA, Biomet Australia Pty. Ltd., Biomet Biologics LLC, Biomet Brazil Medical Device Ltda., Biomet C.V., Biomet CV Holdings LLC, Biomet Cementing Technologies AB, Biomet Chile SA, Biomet China Co. Ltd., Biomet Deutschland GmbH, Biomet Deutschland Holding GmbH, Biomet Fair Lawn LLC, Biomet Finance US LLC, Biomet France Sarl, Biomet Global Supply Chain Center B.V., Biomet Healthcare Management GmbH, Biomet Holdings B.V., Biomet Hong Kong CBT Ltd., Biomet Hong Kong Holding Ltd., Biomet Hong Kong No. 1 Ltd., Biomet Inc., Biomet Insurance Ltd., Biomet International Inc., Biomet International Orthopedics LLC, Biomet Leasing Inc., Biomet Manufacturing LLC, Biomet Mexico S.A. de C.V., Biomet Microfixation B.V., Biomet Orthopedics LLC, Biomet Orthopedics Puerto Rico Inc., Biomet Spain Orthopaedics S.L., Biomet Sports Medicine LLC, Biomet Trauma LLC, Biomet U.S. Reconstruction LLC, Biomet UK Healthcare Ltd., Biomet UK Ltd., CD Diagnostics, CD Diagnostics Inc., CD Laboratories Inc., Cayenne Medical, Cayenne Medical Inc., CelgenTek Innovations Corporation, Centerpulse Ltd, Changzhou Biomet Medical Devices Co. Ltd., Citra Labs LLC, Clinical Graphics, Compression Therapy Concepts Inc., Compression Therapy Products, D.S. Comp Ltd., Dornoch Medical Systems, Dornoch Medical Systems Inc., EBI Holdings LLC, EBI LLC, EBI Medical Systems LLC, EBI Patient Care Inc., ETEX Corporation, ETEX Holdings Inc., Electro-Biology LLC, Endius, Espanormed S.L., Etex, ExtraOrtho, Hakuho Company Ltd., IC Guided Surgery SRL, Implant Concierge LLC, Implant Innovations Holdings LLC, Implex, InnoVision Inc., Interpore Cross International LLC, JERDS Luxembourg Holding Sarl, Kirschner Medical Corporation, Knee Creations, LDR Brasil Comercio Importacao e Exportacao Ltda., LDR Holding, LDR Medical Hong Kong (branch), LDR Medical S.A.S., LVB Acquisition Inc., Lanx Puerto Rico LLC , Lanx Srl, Medical Compression Systems Inc., Medtech SA, Medtech SAS, Medtech Surgical GmbH, Medtech Surgical Inc., NORMED Medizin-Technik GmbH, ORTHOsoft ULC, Ortho Transmission, Orthopaedic Advantage LLC, Ospol Participacoes Ltda., Representaciones Zimmer Inc. S. de R.L. de C.V., Respondwell, SM Re Ltd., Scandimed Holding AB, Shanghai Biomet Business Consulting Co. Ltd., Synvasive Technology, Synvasive Technology Inc., ZB COOP C.V., ZB COOP LLC, ZB Cayman (Asia) Holding Ltd., ZB Cayman Island CBT 2 Ltd., ZB Dental India Private Limited, ZB EMEA 1 LP, ZB EMEA Finance UK 1 Ltd., ZB EMEA Finance UK 2 Ltd., ZB EMEA Finance UK 3 Ltd., ZB EMEA US UK LLC, ZB Hong Kong CBT 2 Ltd., ZB Hong Kong Holding Ltd., ZB Hong Kong Ltd., ZB Manufacturing LLC, ZB UK Group Holdings Limited, ZH2LX Barbados Branch (branch), Zfx, Zfx GmbH, Zfx Innovation GmbH, Zhejiang Biomet Medical Products Co. Ltd., Zimmer (Shanghai) Medical International Trading Co. Ltd., Zimmer Asia (HK) Ltd., Zimmer Australia Holding Pty. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Asel Alarabiya Limited Company, Zimmer Biomet Asia Holding B.V., Zimmer Biomet Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Austria GmbH, Zimmer Biomet BVBA, Zimmer Biomet CBT, Zimmer Biomet CBT 2, Zimmer Biomet CMF and Thoracic LLC, Zimmer Biomet Canada Inc., Zimmer Biomet Centroamerica SA, Zimmer Biomet Comp Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Denmark ApS, Zimmer Biomet Dental Canada Inc., Zimmer Biomet Dental K.K., Zimmer Biomet Deutschland GmbH, Zimmer Biomet Distribution LLC, Zimmer Biomet Finance Srl, Zimmer Biomet Finance US Holding Inc., Zimmer Biomet Finland Oy, Zimmer Biomet France Holdings SAS, Zimmer Biomet France SAS, Zimmer Biomet GK, Zimmer Biomet Global Holdings Switzerland GmbH, Zimmer Biomet Hellas SA, Zimmer Biomet Ireland Limited, Zimmer Biomet Italia Srl, Zimmer Biomet Korea Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Nederland B.V., Zimmer Biomet New Zealand Company, Zimmer Biomet Norway AS, Zimmer Biomet OUS Holdings AG, Zimmer Biomet Polska Sp. z.o.o, Zimmer Biomet Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Zimmer Biomet Pty. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Romania S.R.L., Zimmer Biomet South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Spain S.L., Zimmer Biomet Spine Inc., Zimmer Biomet Sweden AB, Zimmer Biomet Taiwan Co. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet UK Ltd., Zimmer Biomet US 2 Holding Inc., Zimmer CBT I Holding Inc., Zimmer CBT II Holding Inc., Zimmer CEP USA Holding Co., Zimmer CEP USA Inc., Zimmer CIS Ltd., Zimmer CV Inc., Zimmer Caribe LLC, Zimmer Cayman Islands Holding Co. Ltd., Zimmer Co-op Holdings LLC, Zimmer Colombia SAS, Zimmer Czech sro, Zimmer Dental (Shanghai) Medical Device Co. Ltd., Zimmer Dental Chile Spa, Zimmer Dental GmbH, Zimmer Dental Inc., Zimmer Dental Italy Srl, Zimmer Dental Ltd., Zimmer Dental SAS, Zimmer Finance Ireland, Zimmer France Manufacturing Sarl, Zimmer Germany Holdings GmbH, Zimmer GmbH, Zimmer GmbH Euro IP Branch (branch), Zimmer GmbH Winterthur Branch (branch), Zimmer Gulf FZ LLC, Zimmer Inc., Zimmer India Private Ltd., Zimmer International Logistics GmbH, Zimmer Investments LLC, Zimmer Knee Creations Inc., Zimmer Luxembourg II Sarl, Zimmer Luxembourg Sarl, Zimmer Manufacturing B.V., Zimmer Manufacturing B.V. (branch), Zimmer Medical Malaysia SDN BHD, Zimmer Netherlands Cooperatief U.A., Zimmer Orthobiologics Inc., Zimmer Orthopedics Manufacturing Limited, Zimmer Production Inc., Zimmer Pte. Ltd., Zimmer Slovakia sro, Zimmer Southeast Florida LLC, Zimmer Spine Next Inc., Zimmer Spine SAS, Zimmer Surgical, Zimmer Surgical Inc., Zimmer Surgical SA, Zimmer Switzerland Holdings LLC, Zimmer Switzerland Manufacturing GmbH, Zimmer Tibbi Cihazlar Sanayi ve Ticaret AS, Zimmer Trabecular Metal Technology Inc., Zimmer Trustee Ltd., Zimmer UK Limited, Zimmer US Inc., and Zimmer do Brasil Comercio Ltda..
For Small Island Developing States, economies are often dependant on one or two sectors to keep them afloat.

When those economies are oil and gas like they are in Bahrain, it might be time to think about investing in something new, as climate change results even more dangerous impacts.

Attending the SAMOA Pathway multi-regional preparation meetings for the mid-term review next year is Noora Alamer, who sits on Bahrains supreme council for environment as the head of climate change and sustainable development.

A small archipelago in the Persian Gulf, Bahrain was among the first countries to discover oil, and has been reaping the benefits of it for thousands of years, said Ms. Alamer.

But a pivot away from burning fossil fuels in an effort to curb carbon emissions has resulted in a growing finance and banking sector, tourism sector and pearl market.

Today, instead of financing the country using the oil pipelines, the Crown Prince of Bahrain has elected to spend the income on innovation and entrepreneurship to address climate change.

We are looking at financing, innovation and creating incubators and hubs in order to innovate in a way thats sustainable, competitive and meets the future of what we need as a country.

Through different partnerships, though we dont have one yet (with S.I.D.S), we are excited to get engaged through the S.A.M.O.A Pathway.

Bahrain may differ somewhat to Pacific island nations in its oil economy but the vulnerabilities to climate change, said Ms. Alamer.

When we look at other S.I.D.S we look at our similarities in our needs for adaptation, even things as simple as cross cultural knowledge on how to protect our seas, our coastlines.
The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
Editors Note: This is the final post for the Teaching for the Whole Story blog. Ariel Sacks will continue to write for Education Week Teacher as a monthly columnist. You can find her articles here .

Reading a book and meeting the author is not just a cool event to shake up the regular school routine--its a powerful learning opportunity that can affect students academically and personally. Im thrilled my students had the opportunity to read the novel American Street and meet the author, Ibi Zoboi (pictured left). This experience was made possible through a partnership with The Center For Fiction, here in New York City, and the whole novels approach we use in my classroom to read the book and prepare for the visit.

We have participated in this program with Center For Fiction for several years, each time with a different author and novel. Two years ago we read Rogue and met author, Lyn Miller-Lachlan , which was fantastic, and last year (while I was out of the classroom), 8th graders read The Memory of Things, and met author Gae Polisner . Each time, the impact of the experience on students has striking, even though the particulars are quite different with each novel and author.

After some time to reflect on the significance of this opportunity, here are five big takeaways that show how author visits impact student learning.

1. The Author Is A Real Person!

From an academic standpoint, the most obvious benefit of students meeting the author who wrote the book they have just read is that the concept of this author person becomes concrete--they see that a real human being has created every inch of the story. We can remind them this, of course, but its difficult for middle school students to grasp. Largely, they interact with characters and events in books as if they are real. They know the story world is not the same as the real world, but this distinction is not central to their experience. That changes dramatically when students meet the real live author, talk to them about the book, their life, and their writing process. (We can approximate this by watching a recorded interview with the author. I like to do so after students have read the whole book and have at least begun to discuss it, so that the authors commentary on their writing doesnt influence the students first reading.)

2. Authors Get Ideas From Their Experiences as Well As Research.

Students really appreciated how open Ibi Zoboi was with sharing details of her life. She presented about her childhood in Haiti, immigration to the United States, experience assimilating, and later learning about the Haitian culture she had left behind. Many of these experiences were clearly channeled into the main character in the book. She also created characters from other people she knew growing up, as well as people and places she didnt know. For example, she grew up in Brooklyn, but set the story in Detroit. She had to research Detroit. She described virtually driving through the streets on Google Maps. She created certain events in the book based on news stories of violence against young people of color that had stayed with her. To develop some of the characters that werent based on her own experiences or family and friends, she had to find people to talk to who would know more than she did. (She shocked students by sharing that she spoke to actual drug dealers to find out what might happen to a certain character, and how it would happen.)

Hearing about this work impressed and inspired students, and gave them a window into the creative process. I understand how she got some of her characters now. There were tough kids at her school and she put them in the book, one student said. Another noted, I feel like there is a deeper meaning to the book now. It is based on some of her life, but she brought it to other levels.

3. The Author Creates, But the Story Lives With Readers.

With Ibi Zobois visit, there were a few moments that demonstrated to students what an important role they have as readers in constructing the meaning of the text. The first moment came when a student asked her what she thought the theme of her book was. She paused and then said that she thought this was really something the reader should decide, not her. This showed in a very real way what English teachers sometimes struggle help students see--that there are multiple ways to interpret a text, that we are not just looking for a right answer, but we are creating meaning as we read, think, discuss, and write about a piece of literature.

Later, this lesson came up again in an even more dramatic way. At the end of the novel, American Street, a character is shot. There is some ambiguity regarding who the shooter is, or if it is suicide, and students spent time rereading and debating this in class. When a student asked Ms. Zoboi which character fired the shot (Im trying not to spoil the plot here), she answered that she actually did not know. She explained that she couldnt decide, and so she left it that way for readers!

I was wondering if students would feel unsatisfied by this answer, but in our debrief they shared that this was one of the things they loved most about her visit. I like how she wasnt entirely sure of everything in the book, but like with [Character X]'s death, she wanted readers to guess, one student said. She wanted us to think about it, another added. And theme too--she decided it was our opinion.

This interaction impacted students understanding, not only of the book, but the reading process itself. Before I thought it was a regular book, but now I see it as a book for discussions; she wants us to find the answers, a student said. What hes talking about--readers building their own interpretations--is essential to the study of literature. Connecting with the author helped make this point real for my students.

4. Author Visits Help Teachers Move Out of Chief Thinker Role. Im an advocate for teachers to move out of what I call the chief thinker role, which is so ingrained in our education tradition, in order to make room for students critical thinking. But I still catch myself in this trap! The whole novels method is designed to draw out students thinking, and thanks to that process, when students started debating the identity of the shooter in the climactic scene of the book, at least I kept my bias to myself. Though I encouraged the debate, inside I felt certain the answer was clear: it was no suicide. [Character Y] was definitely the shooter.

So when Ibi Zoboi answered my students question about this by affirming both interpretations, it took me a moment to process. I was surprised and humbled! How wonderful, though, to have proof that the teacher is not always right!

Especially when it comes to literary analysis, we need to stay humble and open-minded. Bringing the author onto the scene absolutely has this effect, and I believe thats a win for everyone. (What could be more irritating to a novelist than knowing that teachers are imposing their interpretations of your book on readers?!)

4. Authors Are Role Models For Young People.

Ibi Zoboi not only taught my students about literature, but she was a role model as well. Its meaningful in itself to have an author of color and an immigrant, speaking to a room full of students, mostly of color, who come mostly from immigrant families. But Ms. Zoiboi embraced this connection and opened it up for discussion. That was touching to students. So many of my students are in some stage of the process of assimilation she described going through herself.

Here are some of their comments about it:



I like that she told us about herself before going into the book. It felt like everyone was involved.

She noticed things about us, different things, like where we come from, our ancestors.

I like how open she was with us about her background, her story. She was willing to share a lot and not many are.

I liked how she wasnt scared to talk about her culture.

We are from the same country. Im from Haiti too.

She came from a poor country and now shes a successful author, someone said.

Getting to know Ms. Zoiboi a bit had a personal impact on my students, and Im so happy they got to experience that and connect it to their lives and their reading. She also described conversations shes had with students all over the country around ideas in this book--some who dont share her experiences at all, but the conversations are meaningful across those differences.

On that note, when we met Lyn Miller-Lachman, author of Rogue, two years ago, her story impacted students in a very important and completely different way. Ms. Miller-Lachman has Aspergers Syndrome, and the main character she created does too. In addition to sharing about her writing process, she shared quite a bit about what its like to grow up with Aspergers, how shes found role models, and become successful and comfortable with herself. Hearing this was a lesson in itself, especially for middle school students who are so concerned with fitting in. We did and do have students on the autism spectrum in our school and communities, so the issue is relevant to everyone. Nonetheless, for many students, Ms. Miller-Lachmans story wasnt a direct identification, but a chance to empathize with someone whose experience is quite different from theirs.

Either way, students gain tremendously from connecting with the people behind wonderful books they read. This is especially true for authors who represent marginalized groups.

How To Set Up and Prepare For a Author Visit

Of course, many authors will come to your school for a fee. If funding is not available, this list created by childrens author Kate Messner in 2009 (so may or may not remain current), includes authors who will Skype with classes for free. I imagine its worth contacting any author, especially with a recent release, to see what the possibilities are.

Some years back at a different school, the amazing Jacqueline Woodson visited after we read one of her books. I put together this blog post with tips for preparing author visits in middle school , based on that experience.

The short of it is--
For award-winning party curator Shane Tate his second annual Key West Bear Weekend is all about body positivity.

It doesnt matter if youre 90 pounds or if youre 300 pounds, youre going to feel sexy, youre going to have a good time and youre going to be accepted exactly as you are, Tate said.

This will be Tates second iteration of KWBW. The event kicks off Nov. 8.

KWBW began with a trial run in 2017, which saw more than 100 patrons descend on the island for a weekend of parties, fun and charity. This year organizers expect around 300 attendees more than double last years attendance.

Tate has cultivated a long career of community centric and inclusive events. In asking the secret to his success, Tate said he takes a local approach to curating parties for the LGBT community by analyzing the community and its needs to ensure the charitable component of Key West Bear Weekend speaks to the local community.

The 2018 KWBW will also welcome the crowning of the first Mr. Key West Bear. Along with the crown, the winner will have a platform to raise contributions to local Key West charities. Serving fun with purpose has catapulted Tates parties to must attend status within the community.

The Bear culture within the greater LGBT community was historically carved out of an under-represented portion of the community, who felt they didnt quite fit the perfect smooth muscular body type that has been pervasive in the community as the standard for acceptance for many years. Seeking a space within the community to be body positive expressive, gave way to the emergence of this safe community space of expression which is rooted in an all accepting, all inclusive approach to LGBT togetherness.

When examining Shane Tates parties over his career, the connecting fiber in all of his events is a sense of inclusion, respect and moving the representation of the community forward.

This year, KWBW will add new parties and events. Party-goers will find a social calendar for the weekend that is chock full of pool parties, art and shopping trips and dance parties, including the Bubble Bear Foam Party and the Butch Queen Drag Bar Crawl.

Plus, new for 2018, the organizers are excited to welcome Joe Fiores legendary FURBALL party to Key West as their headline event featuring South Floridas premier DJ Alex Ferbeyre on Saturday, Nov. 10.

Attendees are encouraged to purchase an all-access pass for $65, which waives the cover charge for all official events over the weekend, gets the holder unlimited access to the Island House Resort, and also includes a number of exclusive discounts and offers at businesses around the island. Local residents of Key West will get a discounted pass for $50.

Visit KeyWestBearWeekend.com for more info and to purchase a pass. Key West Bear Weekend is presented by Shane Tate and Bear World Magazine, and sponsored by Island House Resort, Scruff, 127 Travel, Gun Oil and The Leather Master Key West. The weekend of bear celebration begins on Thursday, Nov. 8 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 11.

Side Bar:

Event: Meat Happy Hour

When: Friday November 9

Where: Island House Key West 1129 Fleming Street

Description: Start the weekend right by meeting your furry friends for an all-male, clothing optional oasis. This MUST attend KWBW pass inclusive happy hour includes 2-4-1 on everything. Enjoy FREE gourmet appetizers passed around poolside.

More info: IslandHouseKeyWest.com

What: Bubble Bear Foam Party

When: Friday November 9

Where: Bourbon St. Pub

Description: Pool and hot tub filled with hot bubbly bears while live DJs and Go-Go bears entertain.

More info: Bourbonstpub.com/upcomingevents.html

What: Mr. Key West Bear Contest

When: Saturday Nov. 10

Where: Back Bar 711 Duval Street

Description: KWBW crowns its first Mr. Key West Bear.

More info: TheBackBarkeyWest.com

What: FURBALL powered by Scruff

When: Saturday November 10

Where: Side Bar 504 Angela Street

Description: KWBW Main Event featuring Joe Fiores bear dance party featuring DJ Alex Ferbeyre.

More info: SideBarKeyWest.com

Event: Butch Queen Bar Crawl

When: Sunday November 11

Where: Aqua Night Club 711 Duval St

Description: Sissy that walk with bears dressed in their fiercest butch queen looks for an epic bar crawl.

More info: AquaKeyWest.com
A Malaysian official recently declared 1,450 gay people have been cured in government-funded spiritual camps, according to the Malay Mail. The mukhayyam programs are funded by the governments Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

Mohd Izwan Md Yusof claims the modern rise of the LGBT community is due to the internet.

Youths now have easier access to the Internet, social media and mobile apps on LGBT, they are watching videos they are not supposed to watch about LGBT, said the Jakim official.

Same-sex boarding schools were also targeted.

These same-sex boarding schools meant the students spend a lot of time with the same sex and they might be unaware of the inappropriate influences they are exposed to especially at a young age, Yusof stated.

The spiritual camps methods include suggesting to marry the opposite gender, and abstaining from food to curb sexual desires, according to Gay Star News.

Pink News reports gay sex remains banned under a British Colonial-Era penal code, and that persecution of LGBT people is furthered by the state-level form of Sharia law employed in Malaysia.

The Daily Beast presents the story of Hans How, a Malaysian 24 year old who experienced violence at his same-sex boarding school as a direct result of the anti-LGBT climate.

How stated We need anti-discriminatory structures in place to help protect Malaysians from all walks of life.










Employee donations

All our campuses are working together to raise $120,000 for the United Way.

Your donation stays local  if you donate from the Agricultural Campus, your funds go to the United Way of Colchester County, if you donate from DMNB, your donation goes to the United Way of Saint John. Funds donated in Halifax go to the United Way of Halifax.



Make a donation to Dalhousies United Way campaign:



Halifax campuses: This year, we're encouraging all donations to United Way Halifax be facilitated online to limit the handling of cash and paper pledge forms. To donate, use the personal link you recevied via email from the campaign co-ordinators on OCTOBER 25. Through this link you can make a secure donation via payroll deduction or credit card (one-time or monthly).





This year, we're encouraging all donations to United Way Halifax be facilitated online to limit the handling of cash and paper pledge forms. To donate, use the you recevied via email from the campaign co-ordinators on OCTOBER 25. Through this link you can make a secure donation via payroll deduction or credit card (one-time or monthly). Agricultural Campus: To donate, please complete this form. If you have questions about how to donate, contact dalacUW@dal.ca.





To donate, please complete this form. If you have questions about how to donate, contact dalacUW@dal.ca. Saint John Campus: Fill in this form and send it back to your campaign coordinator, allie.fournier@dal.ca. You can make a one-time donation or set up a payroll deduction donation through this form.

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Your donation will be supporting the United Way Community Fund in your region, but you can choose to direct your donation to any registered charity in Canada. This is a unique service offered by United Ways across Canada. A fee will be applied to your total gift amount to help cover the costs associated with this service and sustain the financial health of our organization. For cash, cheque, and credit card donations, the fee is 4%. For payroll deductions, the fee is 8%.





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If you are already signed up for automatic pledge renewal and you wish to make a change to your donation, please contact Roxanne at United Way (rmillington@unitedwayhalifax.ca; 902-461-3072). If you wish for your donation to stay the same, no action is required. Thank you for continued support! If you are interested in signing up for automatic pledge renewal, where your payroll deduction simply continues from year-to-year simply check the box available on your online donation page (only available for United Way Halifax donors).

Students, alumni and other donations (Halifax campuses)

Print off a United Way Halifax pledge form and send to Sam Sun.

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Fill in a United Way Colchester pledge form and send it to dalacuw@dal.ca.

Students, alumni and other donations (Saint John, N.B. campus)

Print off a United Way Saint John pledge form and send to Allie Fournier.
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.




Dayton Ohio - Laser Web Food Drive

Past Event - Wednesday, November 7, 2018

This page may be updated if the event is repeated

Bring in a non-perishable food donation for the Dayton Food Bank and get to play as many games of laser tag as you would like for only $4 each!

Laser Web Food Drive





Laser Web Dayton is partnering with the Dayton Food Bank to help feed those in need. Bring in a non-perishable food donation on Wednesday, November 7th, and get as many laser tag games as you would like for only $4 each.

RELATED EVENTS
With the rising popularity for premium SUVs, Hyundai is likely to bring back the Santa Fe to India. Puneet Anand, senior general manager of marketing for Hyundai Motor India Ltd., has confirmed that Hyundais flagship SUV should be making its way to the Indian car market soon. The third generation Santa Fe was pulled out of production in India in 2017 due to low sales figures.

Anand said, As I've always said, we are a full range manufacturer, right from the Eon to the Tucson. We have the complete range but we are also very conscious that the Indian consumer is a very very thorough and knowledged customer. So, we have always given the product to the customer which is fresh, which is vibrant and which echoes with his needs and desires, whether it is globally or in India. Since the new Santa Fe is already launched globally, we are very sure in times to come, the same Santa Fe will finally make it to India.

The fourth-gen Hyundai Santa Fe made its public debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show earlier in 2018. Like the previous generation, it is based on a monocoque chassis. On the design front, it is a radical departure from the last gen model and is bigger overall. With a new generation comes better features as well, which include twin projector headlamps with LED daytime running lamps (DRLs) and cornering lights on the bumper. The 2019 Santa Fe will be equipped with 18- or 19-inch wheels with the option of 233/55-cross section tyres while the now-defunct India-spec Santa Fes 18-inch wheels were wrapped in the 235/60 section units. The rear tail lamps remain the same LED units.

On the inside, you get a clutter-free dashboard design which houses an 8-inch touchscreen unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging and dual fast charging ports for second-row passengers. You also get an 8-inch heads-up display with 10-way power adjustable front seats. More interior details here.

Globally, the Santa Fe gets the option of a 2.0-litre and a 2.2-litre diesel engine along with a 2.4-litre petrol engine. For India, its likely to get the 2.2-litre diesel engine (200PS/440Nm) which should help it fend off competition from its primary rivals. Given the premium placement, the Santa Fe could receive an 8-speed automatic transmission and an optional H-TRAC AWD system as well.

The prices of the previous-gen Santa Fe ranged from Rs 27 lakh to Rs 32 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Hyundai is likely to bring the Santa Fe through the CKD (completely knocked down) route, so expect the prices to stay in the same ballpark.

At that price, it will lock horns with SUVs like the Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Tiguan and the Skoda Kodiaq. It is also expected to rival ladder-frame SUVs like the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour. Hyundai is planning to offer eight new cars and SUVs in India in the near future, read more about them here.

Source

Disclaimer: This article has not been edited by Deccan Chronicle and is taken from a syndicated feed. Photos: CarDekho.
Mumbai: The abrupt sacking of Cyrus Mistry as the chairman and director, respectively, of Tata Sons and its crown jewel TCS violated provisions of the Companies Act, RBI rules and more importantly, Tatas' own articles of association, RoC, Mumbai said in an RTI reply.

The right to information (RTI) reply, given by Uday Khomane, the assistant registrar of companies (RoC), Mumbai on October 3, is in response to a RTI request filed by the investment arms of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group on August 31.

The reply said the way Mistry was removed from the chairmanship of Tats Sons and also as the director of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), violated the relevant legal provisions under the Companies Act, 2013; the Reserve Bank rules governing NBFCs; and more importantly the rule 118 of the articles of association (AoA) of Tata Sons, the parent of the diversified Tata group, which is registered as an NBFC with the monetary authority.

A Tata Sons spokesman refused to offer detailed comments on the questions sent by PTI, saying, "We do not wish to comment on the matter as the matter is sub-judice."

PTI has seen a copy of the RTI reply which is based on the assessment of the documents furnished by the Tatas in the aftermath of the boardroom coup on October 24, 2016 dismissing Mistry as the group chairman.

The report offers an internal view of the RoC, which interestingly is totally opposite of the view taken by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai earlier this year while dismissing the petition filed by Mistry challenging his dismissal from the group.

In a boardroom coup, Mistry was sacked as the chairman of Tata Sons on October 24, 2016, two months short of four years in the corner room of the Bombay House, the global headquarters of the 150-old conglomerate that nets over 65 per cent of its income from outside the country.

Mistry, whose family is the single largest non-Tata shareholder with 18.4 per cent stake in Tata Sons, was nudged to take over the reins of the $103-billion group as the second non-Tata chairman, after Nowroji Saklatwala(1934-38), in December 2012, after group patriarch Ratan Tata retired.

Mistry was removed as TCS director with 93.11 per cent votes at the EGM held on December 13, 2016, as per its company secretaries Parikh & Associates which cited section 169(2) of the Companies Act 2013 read with section 115 and 100 (2)(a) for his removal.

But TCS did not send out the complete representation of Mistry to all shareholders, which violates section 169 (4)(b) of the Companies Act, noted the RoC reply. The RTI reply is based on the queries posed by SP Kumar, western regional director, RoC, Mumbai which has found that Tata Sons violated rule 118 of its articles of its AoA, when it removed Mistry.

The report, exclusively available with PTI, states that "article 118 of the AoA of Tata Sons prescribes that its chairman can be removed in the same process as specified for his appointment that is by the selection committee consisting of four persons and based on such recommendation of the removal committee only the board is empowered to remove its chairman".

It goes on to add that Tata Sons "being an NBFC duly registered with RBI, any management change requires prior approval of the RBI", which was also not complied with.

The reply also cited several irregularities pertaining to the December 13, 2016 EGM convened by TCS to remove Mistry as a director from its board. TCS had adopted a letter written by the company secretary and chief operating officer of Tata Sons on November 9, 2016 as a special resolution notice to sack Mistry.

The reply noted that this letter from Tata Sons was sent to TCS without any proof of a board resolution authorising the issuance of such a letter. The report also states that "it appears prima facie that there was no proper 'special notice' received" by TCS.

The RoC also said that the TCS' company secretary thereafter "on his own" forwarded the purported special notice from Tata Sons dated November 9, 2016 to Mistry.

"The letter dated November 11, 2016 written by the VP & CS of TCS is against the provisions of section 169(3) of the Companies Act of 2013 as the power to send such a letter is vested with the board of the company," noted the RoC report.

The RoC further noted that "since there was no TCS board meeting between November 9 and 11, 2016, and in the absence of any board resolution authorising the actions of the TCS' company secretary, such a letter and the resulting actions would be void ab-initio".

Additionally, TCS had also failed to send out the complete shareholder representation of Mistry to all shareholders, "in violation of section 169(4)(b) of the Companies Act", and hence "the consequential resolution of EGM dated December 13, 2016 for the removal of Mistry would also be void".

The RoC, Mumbai in a letter dated January 25, 2017 had written to the regional director of the corporate affairs ministry highlighting these concerns.

"As the verification of the relevant documents further finds that the company has violated the provisions of the Companies Act, and rules there under, I am referring the matter to the regional director to verify the findings in terms of rule 11(2) of the Companies (registration offices and fees) rules of 2014," the letter read.

In the reply, SP Kumar, RoC Mumbai, in a letter dated February 17, 2017, stated, "RoC having come to the conclusion that transactions are void [Annexure C point (1) to (4)] has to express in unequivocal words whether the e-form is to be rejected or e-form or document as the case may be, as invalid in the electronic record in terms of rule 10(4) of Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014."

However, it is unclear what further action the ministry took on these observations, it noted.

Mistry and his elder brother Shapoor Mistry, through their investment companies, are the single largest non-Tata shareholder in Tata Sons with 18.4 per cent stake.
Indian oil companies would use this branch to deposit their payment for oil imported from Iran in rupee.

New Delhi: India will settle oil contracts with Iran in rupee using a bank in the Gulf nation post November 4 when the US sanctions would freeze all payment channels using international currency.

Sources privy to the development told FC Iranian Bank Pasargad could become the channel for rupee/rial dealings in the oil trade between the two countries later this month when the real picture emerges about the scale of disruption in oil supplies from the Gulf country.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given its nod to Pasargad to set up a branch in Mumbai. Indian oil companies would use this branch to deposit their payment for oil imported from Iran in rupee.

Also, an earlier rupee payment window opened with UCO Bank or IDBI Bank may be utilised again for making payments for Iranian oil post sanctions.

The rupee/rial trade with Iran is again being looked seriously as the spectre of wider sanctions on the Gulf nation looms. This would benefit both the countries as Iran can get uninterrupted payment for its oil supplies while India may not face supply disruptions, said a government official privy to the development.

Indian oil companies, including Mangalore Refineries and Indian Oil Corporation, have already concluded contracts with Iran for supply of oil well into November. Payment for all supplies post November 4, could be settled in rupee, said the government source.

The new payment mechanism would be similar to a barter-like scheme adopted by India when the previous West-led sanctions disrupted the countrys trade with Iran. This system allowed India to make a portion of oil payments to Tehran in rupees through state-run UCO Bank that did not have a US exposure that could lead it to fall foul of any new sanctions.

The rupee settlement mechanism is still in practice in the trade between the two countries, though the quantum came down substantially since early 2016 when West-led sanctions were lifted. Thereafter, Iran also readily started receiving payments in convertible euros.

It is early to suggest what will be good for India as current sanctions is concentrated only to US and the European Union is still to come on board on it. If the sanctions are only US driven, euro trade could continue without hindrance, said an oil sector expert not willing to be named.

But experts now fear that the US might stop Iranian banks access to the global transaction network SWIFT thereby curbing all transactions in foreign currencies. This would leave no alternative for India but to revert to the rupee payment mechanism.

Sanctions on Iran could result in some supply disruptions. This could just be the beginning of further bad news for India. Iran is pumping nearly 4 million barrels a day of oil since the historic 2015 deal with six world powers that lifted crippling sanctions on the country.

A major disruption in Iran could send crude prices sharply higher just as the oil market is emerging from a prolonged period of oversupply. Iran was India's second biggest supplier of crude oil after Saudi Arabia till 2010-11 but western sanctions over its suspected nuclear programme relegated it to the 7th spot in the subsequent years. In FY17, Iran again became third largest oil supplier to India after Saudi Arabia and Iraq with its supplies jumping to 27.2 mt. This year (FY19) so far India has imported close to 10 mt of oil from Iran.

Oil companies are confident that their refineries would not suffer even if Iranian oil imports were to completely stop. But New Delhi is keen to continue buying oil from its traditional ally. This would mean that India would possibly use escrow accounts for payment against crude oil imports, in rupee, and may cut down its import a bit but will certainly not stop its oil import from Iran completely.

Iranian oil is a lucrative buy for refiners as the Persian Gulf nation provides 60 days of credit for purchases and also insurance cover, terms not available from suppliers of substitute crudes  Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Nigeria, and the US.
October 11, 2017 marked the date of Anupam Kher taking over Gajendra Chauhans position of being the chairman of FTII and a year since, the actor has already reportedly put in his resignation from the position.

The actor, most in news for his portrayal of Dr. Manmohan Singh on screen through his upcoming film The Accidental Prime Minister, has quoted his busy schedule as the reason of resigning from the highly regarded post.

But not many would know that in his tenure, Anupam played one-man army. He had no team to handle as the government did not nominate other members of the society, which in turn could not constitute the governing council and the academic council. Anupam was solely responsible for everything happening at the FTII, reports Hindustan Times.

Post the struggle period, FTII finally got a team with the appointment of film producer BP Singh as vice-chairman; Raju Hirani, director; Mahesh Aney, cinematographer and others as non-official members of the governing council.

Kher had to wait till September when the information and broadcasting ministry nominated 12 non-official members of FTII society, which in turn constituted two key bodies responsible for decision making - the governing council (GC) and the academic council (AC). This decision was also taken by the former FTII chairman Anupam Kher.

In a meeting chaired by Kher, actor-director Satish Kaushik was chosen as vice-president of FTII society while film producer BP Singh was given the title of vice-chairman of GC and chairman of AC.

Even as Anupam Kher resigned as FTII chairman, the society, governing council and academic council will remain intact. The government will only have to appoint a new head for the institute, confirmed Bhupendra Kainthola, FTII director.

On Anupam taking over his roles before resigning, he added, On Tuesday, he presided over the first-ever meeting of FTIIs standing finance committee, society and governing council in Mumbai and also approved the new academic council. With this, the functional architecture of FTII, the countrys premier film education centre, is now in place.
Fatima Sana Shaikh, who is currently readying for her upcoming release Thugs of Hindostan, shares that she and Katrina Kaif feel blessed and privileged to be a part of a film starring iconic actors like Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan.

Thugs of Hindostan is expected to deliver powerhouse performances from veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan and blockbuster superstar Aamir Khan.

The actress, who underwent an incredible transformation for her debut film, has left no stone unturned while training for this one. Apart from following a rigorous workout routine, Fatima also worked hard on her look. The actress will be seen sporting hair extensions, as well as discernibly different eyebrows. Fatima Sana Shaikh feels immensely blessed to have landed this role so early in her career.

Fatima Sana Shaikh

She says, Katrina and I are very lucky to be blessed with an opportunity to share a frame with legends like Amitabh sir and Aamir sir. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we both are privileged to be the only ones to receive this chance.

In Thugs of Hindostan, Fatima plays Zafira, a tough warrior with a ferocious look who never misses her target in archery.

HT13
Sidharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra kicked off the shoot of their upcoming film Jabariya Jodi in Lucknow in September.

The storyline is based in Bihar where the actor plays a man who has made a business of abducting grooms with Parineeti as his childhood love.

Though the film is based in Bihar, the makers are shooting extensively in Lucknow  the city of nawabs in a guerrilla shoot set up since the last two months.

Recently, the makers were scouting for a location for a celebration scene for the movie. The reecee team was looking for an elaborate park type set up and that kind of huge space was only possible at UPs famous Ambedkar park.

The sequence to be shot was a big one and needed an elaborate setup. The Ambedkar park is one of the biggest parks in UP and the director was keen to shoot there. The team sorted permissions overnight and took about 3 days to do the set up before starting the actual shoot.

The director wanted to showcase the celebratory scene in a certain way and hence he scouted the park extensively before beginning to shoot there.

He has shot at some unexplored locations inside the park to portray the same through a completely different lens. We have shot for both day and night sequences. And since its dark after sunset and ours was a celebratory scene, we wanted to have the entire park lit up.

The team sourced those lights to decorate the entire park from the interiors of Lucknow and few special LED ones from Mumbai were teleported overnight. It was a huge setup and since we had limited permission time we wanted to ensure and finish shooting within the given time frame.

The makers are aiming to wrap up the shoot in Lucknow by November. And will also be shooting for some portions in Patna.

The director, Prashant Singh has left no stone unturned to make this film into a full-on entertainer and it will be a treat for the audiences to watch.

Apart from Parineeti Chopra and Siddharth Malhotra, the cast currently shooting and locked for the movie are Javed Jaffery, Aparshakti Khurrana,Neena Gupta amongst others.

Jabariya Jodi presents an interesting take on Bihars pakadwa vivaah (kidnapping the groom to get him forcibly married), Sidharth Malhotra suggested the interesting name to the film.

The film which went on floors a few months back is being shot in and around Lucknow.

Starring Aparshakti Khurrana as Parineeti Chopra's friend, Sanjay Mishra as her father, Neeraj Sood as her father's friend, Gopal Dutt as an inspector, Javed Jaffrey as Sidharth Malhotra's father and Chandan Roy Sanyal as his friend, 'Jabariya Jodi promises intriguing performances along with the leading duo, Parineeti and Sidharth.

Produced by Ekta Kapoor under the banner of Balaji Motion Pictures and Shailesh Singh's Karma Media Net, Jabariya Jodi directed by Prashant Singh is slated to release next year.
Its often easier to analyse the works of a cultural icon rather than the individual himself, but in her documentary Bird of Dusk, director Sangeeta Datta succeeds in her ambitious attempt of presenting not just Rituparno Ghosh, the filmmaker, but Rituparno, the individual. The documentary, which was screened at the Mumbai Film Festival, takes viewers on a nostalgic journey that explores the late directors artistic talent as well as his remarkable life.

Sangeeta seems to be the perfect person to take on such a Herculean endeavour as her friendship with Rituparno goes way back to her student days in Jadavpur University, where the two connected over their love for art and cinema. Later on, she collaborated with him as an associate director for several films such as Chokher Bali, Raincoat and The Last Lear. Reminiscing about her long-time friend, the director says, In college, while Rituparno was well read and well informed, he was also very quiet and shy. I remember how the boys bullied him because his mannerisms were different. But, in his later years, he became much more self-confident and a flamboyant fashion icon. It was incredible to witness that change happen to a person.

However, despite her close friendship with Rituparno, Sangeeta insists that her film isnt a hagiography. In fact, it is this endearing bond that allows her to humanise Rituparno for us. Being objective wasnt difficult, because writing only good things about one person would be fairly boring and untrue. So we see how Rituparno was very much the lonely artist, but he also craved media attention, to the extent that he would get upset if he wasnt written about for a week or two. He had wonderful friendships, but there were also times when he would throw tantrums, keep his distance for weeks and months and then one day, come back and say Hey, Im sorry. It is these contradictions that make a person more credible and real, she shares.

Apart from her own relationship with the legendary filmmaker, Sangeeta also falls back on the testimonies of those who walked hand-in-hand with him along his cinematic journey. And so we see critically-acclaimed names like Soumitra Chatterjee, Sharmila Tagore, Aparna Sen, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Nandita Das, Konkona Sen Sharma, Arjun Rampal, and many others discuss Rituparnos films, his filmmaking style as well as their relationships with him. Even though with some people, there was more tension when they were recounting experiences, there was a sense of affection and regard for this person called Rituparno. It was also heart-warming to see how many people appreciated his work and were observing his films in minute detail, says Sangeeta.

The documentary also invites us to see Rituparnos world through his own eyes, and to achieve this, Sangeeta taps into a wealth of archival material, like televised interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from Rituparnos films. We also get to soak in his lyrical prose, which has been culled from his memoir, First Person. He was such an eloquent speaker. But, when I made this film, he wasnt there. So I had to infuse his voice from somewhere, says Sangeeta. It is through his prose that we see Rituparnos love and attachment for his city. To capture Rituparnos Kolkata, I had to revisit the city and in the process rediscovered my own city through his works. The film also touches and lingers upon the idea of fluidity, paying homage to Rituparnos understanding of gender. The river Ganga plays an important role in the film since it stands for fluidity. Rituparno always felt that gender was a fluid construct and people should not be boxed into gender constructs created by society, says the director.

Bird of Dusk, a film whose title has been inspired by Abanindranath Tagores painting of the same name, is a lot like the painting itself, which pays tribute to artistic genius and the artistic process. Though this documentary brings Rituparnos colossal body of work into focus, the spotlight also rests on the man behind it all. And this is why this documentary is a crucial cinematic work of our times. This film makes us realise that if we are able to explore the constructs of gender and identity in a liberated fashion, it is because Rituparno blazed the trail for us. As a cultural icon and an intellectual, he is immensely inspirational for the next generation, concludes Sangeeta.
Tollywoods it-couple Naga Chaitanya and Samantha are all set to set screens ablaze with their chemistry for the first time since tying the knot in Shiva Nirvanas upcoming film, and they seem to be having a whale of a time working together.

Since were both working on the same film, we get home at the same time. And though she leaves a little earlier than I do in the morning, we get to spend so much time together on set, says Chaitanya, adding, In the film, we quarrel all the time, but in real life we never do. So its a bit difficult to enact those scenes.

The actor is also thrilled that his wife is setting an example for actresses by continuing to work after marriage.

Luckily, shes got some very good projects, and most of her roles are being appreciated. I am happy that she is continuing to act, he says.

Over a year after settling into married life, ask him if anything has changed for him and Chaitanya responds, Not much has changed, but Ive become a better human being. I have been able to balance work and my personal life, and with the presence of a partner, I am stronger and better prepared to face the ups and downs.

Meanwhile, the actors film Savyasachi directed by Chandoo Mondeti, is slated for release this Friday, and he seems rather confident that it will be well-received.

Explaining what the film is about, he says, Its a new point that talks of how the vanishing twin syndrome gives the left side of his body, specifically his left hand, special powers.

Going by a poster, the actor seems to be playing the mythological character of Arjuna in the film. He explains, Yes, there is a small skit in the film in which I play Arjuna.

Savyasachi also features Madhavan, a favourite among Telugu audiences, and Chay says that he had a great time working with him.

HT05
The celebration of Diwali has been a part of our families and our countrys tradition since time immemorial.

The celebration of Diwali has been a part of our families and our countrys tradition since time immemorial. The story of this festival has been known to us since childhood, when we would religiously watch the Ramayana on the Doordarshan channel every evening. These evenings were a wonderful way of family bonding, as they brought the mother and grandmother out of the kitchen, tore the father away from his newspaper and the children away from their games.

Diwali is celebrated differently in various parts of India.

In Maharashtra, celebrations begin with worshipping the holy cow. This ritual is called vasu-baras. While on the streets in Orissa, one can notice bamboo poles being erected, with a pot being tied to the ends with lamps lit inside. The Odiya people believe that these lit up structures will help their ancestors find their path to heaven. This is an age-old tradition, now made more festive with colourful bulbs and lights.

Mithais are an integral part of Diwali treats and festivities.

In Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal, Assam and Delhi amongst many more places, the most important ritual of Diwali is to pray to Maa Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune. Account books are worshipped, and many families buy gold. The festival is celebrated in a similar way in Karnataka; however, the reason for celebration is not Lord Rama returning to Ayodhya but Lord Krishna defeating Narakasura.

Sikh devotees lighting diyas on the occasion of Diwali at the beautifully lit Golden Temple.

In Punjab, amongst the Sikhs, Diwali is a double celebration, as it marks the release of their 6th Guru, Guru Har Gobindji along with 52 other prisoners. This day is known as Bandi Chor Diwas. On this day, the very beautiful Golden Temple is lit up.

While the rest of the country worships Goddess Lakshmi, West Bengal worships the fierce Maa Kaali, the goddess of destruction. This marks new beginnings. The other festivities, like mithais, diyas, lights and crackers remain similar to the rest of India.

An artist working on the idol of Goddess Kali days before Kali Puja is celebrated in West Bengal.

Diwali in Tamil Nadu is usually a day before the rest of the country. A day before Diwali, stoves are cleaned and containers are filled for the oil bath ritual. This tradition is symbolic of having a bath in the holy Ganga. Families burst crackers together in the morning, and then go for a traditional South Indian breakfast.

Farsan, dry fruits and matthis are usually gifted to friends and families.

The Telugus, have some unique traditions. In Hyderabad, on Deepavali Amavsya day, a buffalo is given a bath. They worship Goddess Lakshmi for good fortune, burst crackers, do kolam outside their houses, and light up their homes with diyas. The day after Diwali is known as Bali Padyami. The demon king Bali is welcomed home and people have an oil bath and wear new clothes.

The last day of Diwali is Bhai Dooj, on which sisters pray for the long and healthy life of their brothers. This day is celebrated in Maharashtra and Rajasthan too.

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The man had been seen walking the dog in the days before the shocking incident and the dog was later put down. (Photo: Pixabay)

In a shocking revelation by The Sun, a man who had his genitals ripped off and eaten by a bulldog smeared his crotch in peanut butter before the attack.

It turns out that the 22-year-old unnamed man was fighting for life in a coma after being discovered unconscious lying in a pool of blood at his flat in Scotland last month.

According to reports, emergency crews raced to the scene in Haddington and discovered the man with sickening injuries.

He was rushed to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where medics worked around the clock to save him but his organs could not be re-attached after the horrific mauling.

While earlier it was believed that the victim had been pinned down by a pal during the ordeal, it is now understood that the man was alone with the dog, at the time, although others were present at the flat during the time of the incident.

According to The Sun, a disturbing revelation found that a police source told The Times he applied peanut butter, or another food spread, to his crotch area in the moments before he was savaged by the Old English bulldog.

The man, now conscious, is recovering in the Western General Hospital where he has been assisting police with their inquiries.

Cops confirmed nobody has been charged with any offence in relation to the incident.

The man had been seen walking the dog in the days before the shocking incident and the dog was later put down.

The owner of the dog had voluntarily allowed for it to be put down.
Reports further state that there are further 18 Indonesians awaiting their fate on death row in the country. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

In a shocking incident, Saudi Arabia has executed an Indonesian maid for killing her boss  while he was trying to rape her.

According to a story published in The Sun, the death of the mother-of-one has prompted protests from Indonesia, as the Saudi government failed to warn her family or consular staff before she was executed, said officials.

According to reports Tuti Tursilawati was killed on Monday in the city of Ta'if. The maid's execution marked the fourth such case of Saudi Arabia killing an Indonesian migrant worker without telling diplomats or the family of those on death row before carrying out the death sentence, reports the Telegraph.

Reports further state that there are further 18 Indonesians awaiting their fate on death row in the country.

According to a Reuters report, President Joko Widodo called Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, to lodge a protest and demanded to know why Indonesia had not been forewarned about the maid's execution.

Tursilawati, who was working in the city of Ta'if, was found guilty of killing her employer in June 2011.

Indonesian advocacy group Migrant Care said in September that the mum-of-one had been defending herself from being raped.

Speaking about the incident, Indonesian politician Abidin Fikri said that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ignored principles of human rights, including a right for everyone to live.

Amnesty International Indonesia said that Saudi Arabia had damaged diplomatic ties and had behaved unethically.

Speaking to Wartakota Live, the charitys executive director in Indonesia, Usman Hamid said, For the umpteenth time Saudi Arabia has injured the diplomatic ethics of the two countries which should put forward the respect for human rights.

Slamming the death penalty as cruel, inhuman and degrading, Usman said it violated the right to life guaranteed by the General Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The Saudi embassy in Jakarta did not answer Reuters' calls seeking comment.

Tursilawati's controversial death comes in the wake of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an outspoken and high profile critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
According to the police, on Monday afternoon, the accused Suman, who studied at a diploma college next to the primary school, saw the seven-year-old girl entering the washroom and followed her inside. (Representional Image)

Bengaluru: A 19-year-old diploma student was arrested by the Avalahalli police for sexually assaulting a class two student inside a washroom of a school in Bommanahalli in Bengaluru Rural taluk.

The incident took place on Monday afternoon and the accused, identified as Suman, a resident of Kurubarahalli in Hoskote taluk, was caught red-handed inside the bathroom by the school staff when the victim shouted for help.

The police have arrested the chairperson Muniraju and principal Muni Narayana for not intimating the local police about the incident. According to the police, on Monday afternoon, the accused Suman, who studied at a diploma college next to the primary school, saw the seven-year-old girl entering the washroom and followed her inside. He then allegedly touched the girls private parts and masturbated.

The girl screamed following which the school staff rushed to the bathroom and caught Suman red-handed. He was beaten black and blue and was let off.

The girl went home and narrated the ordeal before her mother who lodged a complaint with the police, leading to Sumans arrest.

How accused entered the school

The school and the college are separated by a wall with a gate opening either side. The washroom can easily be seen from the gate. As there was no security guard, Suman stood at the gate watching the girl enter the washroom and followed her inside. He gagged the girl and began touching her inappropriately while removing his pant and masturbating. The girl screamed out of fear and the school staff rushed to her help.All the three were produced in court and sent to judicial custody.
The accused had befriended the girl and one day instead of dropping her to school, he took her to his house where he allegedly raped her, a senior police officer said. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: A 30-year-old cab driver was arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl, whom he had been dropping to school for the past two-three months, police said Thursday.

The incident was reported from east Delhi's Madhu Vihar and the accused was victim's neighbour who had befriended the girl, they said.

According to a complaint received by the police on Wednesday, the alleged incident took place in September.

The incident came to light after the school teacher informed the girl's parents that she missed the school on one occasion in September, police said. Her parents confronted her about bunking school and she narrated her ordeal, they added.

The accused had befriended the girl and one day instead of dropping her to school, he took her to his house where he allegedly raped her, a senior police officer said.

A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the IPC and POCSO (Protection of Children From Sexual Offences) Act, he added.
Divya Spandana tweeted photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi standing next to the foot of Statue of Unity and captioned it as 'Is it a bird dropping?' (Photo: Twitter | ANI)

New Delhi: Congress social media cell head Divya Spandana has been facing a huge backlash on social media and condemnation, not just from the BJP but also from her own party for her tweet targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Divya Spandana on Thursday tweeted photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi standing next to the foot of the worlds tallest statue, Statue of Unity and captioned it as Is it a bird dropping?

On the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the 182-meters-tall statue built at Gujarats Kevadiya in honour of Indias first deputy prime minister and home minister.

A furious BJP hit back at the Congress leader and said, the values of the Congress are dropping" and targeted Rahul Gandhi.

Ummm no, it is the values of the Congress that are dropping.



Historical disdain for Sardar Patel + Pathological dislike for @narendramodi = Such language.



Clearly, @RahulGandhis politics of 'love'! https://t.co/1TPCY7Fs4d  BJP (@BJP4India) November 1, 2018

Asked about the tweet, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hit out at the opposition party, alleging that "this is the real culture" of the Congress party.

They miss no opportunity to abuse the Prime Minister of India, Patra said.

It is the same party which called the Prime Minister 'neech'. Shashi Tharoor called him a scorpion and now Divya Spandana says that he is a bird's dropping," Patra said.

"This is nothing but language of arrogance from the Congress party for the normal Indian who with his sheer hardwork become the prime minister of the country," he said.

A normal Indian appears bird's dropping to them, while a dynast is power centre for them, Patra added.

After criticism, Spandana defiantly tweeted, "When you're done huffing and puffing, take a breath and hold a mirror to yourselves. My views are mine. I don't give two hoots about yours. I'm not going to clarify what I meant and what I didn't (because) you don't deserve one."

This isnt the first time Spandana, also known as Ramya, has been in the news in controversial circumstances. In September, a sedition case was filed against her in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh for her post which showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi painting the word "chor" (thief) -- on the forehead of a likeness of himself.

Last month, Spandana had found herself in yet another controversy after speculations were rife that she had quit from her post as the Congress social media cell in-charge. The rumours gained momentum after her Twitter bio read, Actor, former member of Parliament and currently handles social media and digital communication for Congress disappeared from her account for a while.

However, Spandana denied the rumours of her quitting the Congress and blamed a technical bug for her missing bio.

Divya Spandana took charge of Congress social media head last year and ramped up the Twitter presence of not just the party but also of its chief Rahul Gandhi.
L Chandrashekhar's departure has given upper hand to Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamys wife, Anitha, who is contesting Ramanagara bypolls as JD (S) candidate. (Photo: Facebook | @AnithKumaraswamyOfficial)

Mumbai: Just two days before the by-election in Ramanagara constituency of Karnataka, BJP has suffered a massive jolt after its candidate L Chandrashekhar withdrew his candidature and returned to Congress.

This has also given an upper hand to Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamys wife, Anitha, who is contesting the bypolls as the Janata Dal (Secular) candidate from Ramanagara.

L Chandrashekar was reportedly miffed at BJP leaders failure of not supporting him and campaigning for him as promised.

I joined the BJP with a lot of expectations. But being a candidate for the election for a constituency, I am disappointed by the lack of attention showed by the BJP leadership on their promise to campaign for me. The leaders did not offer support as promised earlier and did not offer support when I was filing my nomination papers. They have left me in the lurch. Disappointed and dejected by the turn of events, I am withdrawing my nomination as a BJP candidate, a report in The News Minute quoted Chandrashekar as saying in a letter.

Meanwhile, L Chandrashekars father, Congress MLA CM Lingappa, slammed him for not listening to him saying that he had advised his son not to join hands with the BJP.

With Chandrashekhars departure, the BJP finds itself in a tough spot as it does not have a candidate for the constituency which is going to polls on November 3.

The party had alleged that Chandrashekhar and several leaders of the coalition government had conspired to ensure BJP was left in the lurch.

However, in a response, H D Kumaraswamy said that the BJP should blame itself instead of accusing the Congress-JD(S) coalition.

According to reports, the chief minister said, The BJP should blame itself for this instead of blaming Congress-JD(S). They forced him (L Chandrashekhar) to join the BJP and then didn't fulfil the promises made to him. They didn't consult their party workers before giving him the ticket.

Bypolls will be held on Saturday in three parliamentary and two assembly seats.

The sudden departure of Chandrashekhar may impact BJPs prospects in other constituencies too where bypolls are being held - Mandya, Ballari and Shivamogga Lok Sabha seats and Jamakhandi Assembly seat.
On Wednesday, Dhinakaran had said the 18 disqualified MLAs will not appeal against the Madras High Court verdict upholding their disqualification and face elections. (Photo: File)

Chennai: The ruling AIADMK on Thursday flayed rebel leader T T V Dhinakaran for saying it would "struggle" to secure deposit in the bypolls to 20 Assembly seats, including those of the 18 disqualified party MLAs, and said those in the rival camp were in a "confused state of mind."

It said Dhinakaran's statement showed how much the family of deposed AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, including Dhinakaran, was "against" former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

On Wednesday, Dhinakaran had said in Madurai that the 18 disqualified MLAs will not appeal against the Madras High Court verdict upholding their disqualification, as decided by them originally, and face the elections, seen as a U-turn by his critics.

AIADMK ridiculed Dhinakaran for his volte-face and said the disqualified MLAs were in a "confused state of mind." "They have perhaps decided against appealing since it is clear that they might not win the case in the Supreme Court. Two judges (of the Madras High Court) had upheld the disqualification," party spokesperson R M Babu Murugavel, also an advocate, told news agency PTI.

Dhinakaran had exuded confidence that his Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) will trump the AIADMK in the bypolls. "We are not going for an appeal. We will be facing the polls... AMMK will secure a grand victory in all 20 seats and AIADMK has to struggle to even secure deposit," he had said.

While the 18 segments have fallen vacant following the disqualification process, two other seats-- Thiruvarur and Thirupparankundram, are also vacant due to the death of the respective MLAs, then DMK chief M Karunanidhi, and AK Bose of the AIADMK.

Opposition parties, including DMK, have demanded that bypolls should be immediately held for all 20 seats.

Earlier, following the October 25 High Court order upholding their disqualification by Speaker P Dhanapal last year, the MLAs had decided to move the apex court, after holding consultations with Dhinakaran in Madurai.

The Madras High Court had upheld the June 14 order of the then chief justice disqualifying them. 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 Thursday, Murugavel took exception to Dhinakaran's remarks that AIADMK would 'struggle' to secure deposit in the 20 seats if bypolls were held there.

"When he himself says that AIADMK will lose deposit, it shows how much they (Sasikala's family) were against the party and Amma," he said.

Jayalalithaa is addressed as Amma by party supporters.

To a query, he said his party was prepared to face the polls anytime. This was evident from the fact that it had recently named election in-charge for all 20 seats, including AIADMK coordinator and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, for the respective segments.

Murugavel expressed confidence that the ruling party would emerge victorious in all 20 seats if the elections were to be held "even tomorrow."
New Delhi: Doordarshan employees are serving the country just like Army jawans, Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said on Wednesday, while condoling the death of DD News cameraman Achyutanand Sahu in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh on October 30.

He was speaking at a condolence meeting for Sahu organised by Prasar Bharti in New Delhi.

"There are many media houses, but Doordarshan and DD News are national broadcasters. Just like Army jawans are involved in serving the country, we are also involved in serving the nation. We have to cover a lot of difficult domains through our camera or our pen. You have the responsibility of disseminating news to the entire country," Rathore said.

Slowly, people were getting to know about the kind of difficulties journalists faced to bring news to them, he added.

Achyuta Nanda Sahu - a hard worker, a passionate employee and a man so committed to his work and his country that he laid down his life in the course of his duty.



We at @MIB_India and Prasar Bharti grieve a terrible loss today. We stand with his family in this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/wUmSGqbZRS  Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) November 1, 2018

"He (Sahu) lost his life at a place from where the country's enemies wished to give a message that they wanted to stop the country from progressing. His family should not feel that they have been left alone," the Information and Broadcasting minister said.

Prasar Bharti Chairman A Surya Prakash said journalists were always living on the edge.

"I know of the courage and bravery of our colleagues in DD news when they are out on various assignments. As a person who has been on the field, we journalists are living on the edge. Whether it was Punjab in the 1980s and later Kashmir or going out on our own assignments, it is always a matter of touch and go. Anything can happen. It requires a great amount of guts and professionalism to be on the spot and go and do that thing," he said.

Prakash saluted the "bravery and commitment" of Sahu and his colleagues, who had gone to cover a story about a village which had not voted in the last 20 years.

"Not only conflict zones, I have seen tsunamis, earthquakes. In Gujarat, many years ago, it was very risky to go and cover stories but reporters go out and want to get the best story out. The courage and professional commitment of our colleagues in Doordarshan are as good as you can get anywhere in the world," he said.

Doordarshan staffer Mormukut Sharma, 35, who was accompanying Sahu in Chhattisgarh, said he felt they would also not survive the Naxal attack.

"I was dehydrated during the attack. I had managed to dig a hole with my hands so that I could hide there. If I raised my head, bullets would come flying and while lying there, I was being bitten by red ants," he recalled.

Also Read: 'I may die Mummy, love you': DD staff caught in Maoist attack records video

Sharma, a lighting assistant with DD News, and journalist Dhiraj Kumar survived the gunfire after a Naxal ambush on a police convoy in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district Tuesday. But Sahu, who was their colleague, tragically died in the early minutes of the ambush when he was hit by a bullet while riding with a policeman on a motorcycle.

The three-member crew from New Delhi was in the state for the coverage of the upcoming Assembly polls and had joined the police party travelling on eight motorcycles through a desolate and forested area on their way to Nilawaya village, about 450 kilometres from state capital Raipur.
The agency denied all adverse allegations levelled by Asthana, 'whether germane or not germane', in his petition. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The CBI on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that the FIR on bribery allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana and others shows cognisable offences.

The agency opposed Asthana's plea seeking quashing of the FIR and said a roving inquiry at this stage was not permissible. It also told the court that the probe against Asthana was at a nascent stage and several incriminating documents as well as the role of other persons was under investigation.

The agency said it was handicapped in the probe as certain files and documents were under Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) scrutiny.

The agency denied all adverse allegations levelled by Asthana, "whether germane or not germane", in his petition.

The petitions of Asthana, CBI DSP Devendra Kumar and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad are scheduled to come up for hearing before a bench of Justice Najmi Waziri during the day.
According to reports, the new bus service will be launched between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on November 13. (Representational Image | File)

New Delhi: India on Wednesday said it has lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan over a proposed bus service between the two countries through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Wednesday the bus service will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. India had always maintained that the so-called China-Pakistan boundary agreement of 1963 is illegal and invalid and has never been recognised by the Government of India.

"We have lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan on the proposed bus service that will operate through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir under the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor," Kumar added.

According to reports, the new bus service will be launched between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on November 13.

"Therefore, any such bus service through Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added.

The MEA spokesperson was responding to media queries regarding the proposed bus service. While the bus service is an attempt at increasing "friendship" between Pakistan and China, the issue lies in the fact that the bus route passes through PoK, a part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

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.

As part of the two-day journey, 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.

Meanwhile, 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.

To avail the service, passengers have been asked to carry a valid passport, 'NIC', visa and a return ticket as travel documents.

The two nations have made special arrangements for the security of the passengers and the service, while the driver will have all information to contact security guards at various check posts.
Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, have been recovered from the site of encounter and a case has been registered. (Representational image | PTI)

Budgam (Jammu and Kashmir): Two terrorists were gunned down by security forces during an encounter which broke out in Zagoo Arizal area of Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district on Thursday morning.

"We had been tracking this group for some time, they were here probably to create unrest for upcoming Panchayat elections," Colonel AK Nair, the Commanding Officer of 53 Rashtriya Rifles said.

The terrorists were killed after a joint search operation was launched by a team of police and security forces based on credible inputs about their presence in the area. The operation has concluded now.

#WATCH Gunshots heard at the site of encounter in Zagoo Arizal area of Budgam, where 2 terrorists have been neutralised by security forces.The operation has concluded now. (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/y3LvwzLfGH  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2018

The Jammu and Kashmir Police, in a statement, said that during the search operation, terrorists fired on the security forces, which was retaliated.

Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, have been recovered from the site of encounter and a case has been registered. Colonel Nair said that two AK 47s and one pistol have been recovered.

The police have also requested residents to not venture near the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. They have also requested locals to cooperate with them till the area is completely sanitised.
India has expressed in difficulties doing so given galloping energy needs of its 1.3 billion people. (Photo: File)

New Delhi/Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday in a presidential memorandum that he had determined there was sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products for countries to "significantly" reduce their purchase of crude oil from Iran, which is going face US sanctions from November 5.

In May, Donald Trump had pulled out of the 2015 landmark nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) terming it as "disastrous". Under the Obama-era deal, involving five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany, Iran had agreed to stop its nuclear programme in exchange of relief from economic sanctions.

Moments after coming out the deal Donald Trump had signed fresh set of sanctions against Iran and warned countries against any cooperation with Tehran on its controversial nuclear weapons programme.

In his presidential determination, Donald Trump said "there is a sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products from countries other than Iran to permit a significant reduction in the volume of petroleum and petroleum products purchased from Iran by or through foreign financial institutions."

Donald Trump's presidential determination, not an executive order but a kind of directive issued by the White House to the members of his administration on some policy matters, comes less than 100 hours before the deadline set by him for countries like India to bring its purchase of oil to zero from Iran by November 4.

India has expressed its difficulties in doing so given the galloping energy needs of its 1.3 billion people. More than 80 per cent of India's energy needs are imported. But at the same time, India has taken steps to reduce its oil purchase from Iran, which has already declined substantially.

Recently, senior US officials were in India for talks in this regard. However, US officials are tight-lipped on the issue.

The White House also did not immediately responded to question if India's oil purchase reductions from Iran would be considered significant. Donald Trump said he will continue to monitor the situation.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said, on the Laura Ingraham Show, that on November 5, the US will put back in place sanctions that will be very severe on the leadership of Iran. He hoped that this will convince them to change their ways.

Pompeo, on the another show, said that Iran was the world's largest state sponsor of terror. "They were squandering the people's money, the Iranian people's money, on these silly malign activities. And our effort is to get them to change that behaviour".

US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Paladino told reporters that on November 5, at 12:01, sanctions that were lifted under the Iran nuclear deal will come back into full effect.

"The sanctions that are reimposed on November 5th will target critical sectors of Iran's economy, such as energy, shipping and the ship-building sectors, as well as the provision of insurance and transactions involving the Central Bank of Iran and designated Iranian financial institutions," Paladino said.

"The Iranian regime is the world's leading state sponsor of terror, and these sanctions are meant to cut off revenues that the Iranian regime uses to conduct terrorism and fund terrorist groups around the world, and that includes Lebanese Hizbollah, Hamas, Kata'ib Hizballah and the Taliban," he added.

"These groups foment global instability, they use these funds to support their nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and these funds are used to line corrupt Iranian leaders' pockets rather than help the Iranian people, who are the longest-suffering victims," Paladino said.

Meanwhile, in its report dated October 29, the independent CRS said India reduced its imports of Iranian oil substantially after 2011, lowering purchases to six per cent of its oil imports by 2013, from over 16 per cent in 2008, in the process incurring significant costs to retrofit refineries that were handling Iranian crude.

"However, since sanctions were eased, India's oil imports from Iran increased to as much as 800,000 barrels per day in July 2018-well above 2011 levels. Indian firms ended or slowed work on investments in Iranian oil and gas fields during 2012-2016, but reportedly resumed work after sanctions were lifted," it said.

After international sanctions were lifted, India reportedly also paid Iran the USD 6.5 billion it owed for oil purchased during 2012-2016.

"The degree to which Indian firms and the government of India will cooperate with reimposed US sanctions is not certain. Indian leaders assert that Iran did not violate the JCPOA and sanctions should not be reimposed on it," the Congressional Research Service (CRS) report said.

In June 2018, India and Iran agreed to use the rupee in order to maintain economic engagement. Nonetheless, major Indian refiners Reliance Ltd. and Indian Oil Corporation Limited - citing a decision by the State Bank of India to cease transactions with Iran as complicating efforts to stay engaged with Iran - have announced they are considering cutting oil buys from Iran.

"India's purchases of Iranian oil fell sharply from July to August 2018, and press reports say that the country might try to cut Iranian oil imports dramatically in November 2018, when US energy sanctions go back into effect," the CRS report said.
New Delhi: NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Thursday said non-BJP parties will come out with a common minimum programme to take on the government while expressing concern over "assault" on institutions like the CBI and the RBI.

He said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu will take the initiative and talk to other non-BJP parties, including the Congress, on the matter.

Thereafter, a meeting will be convened in the national capital to chalk out a plan, Pawar said after meeting Naidu and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah in Delhi.

"If we collectively work to save democracy, we can definitely save the institutions. Chandrababu (Naidu) will talk to other state political leaders in this regard," the NCP chief told reporters.

Alleging that the situation in the country seems to be "deteriorating" day by day as there is "assault" on institutions like the CBI and the RBI, he said there is a need to work for the common cause of "saving the country and democracy".

A common minimum programme will be drafted once the non-BJP parties come on board to discuss the matter, Pawar said. It was Naidu's suggestion that all non-BJP parties should meet, discuss the current situation in the country and take some steps, he added.

Voicing concern over the "difficult" times the country is going through, Abdullah said, "Today, democracy is in danger and people are in danger. That is why we all met and decided to work out a common minimum programme to save democracy, institutions and the nation."

Naidu, a former BJP ally who quit the NDA early this year over the Centre's refusal to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh, said he will meet non-BJP political leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, and convince them about the need to fight collectively against the BJP.

Earlier, Naidu "coincidentally" also met senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here and briefly discussed about the need to bring all non-BJP parties together, TDP sources said.

This is the Andhra Pradesh chief minister's second visit to New Delhi in less than a week.

Last week, Naidu had met BSP chief Mayawati, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha in the national capital.
A Twitter feed, @GoogleWalkout, documented the movement across the world.

Hyderabad: About 150 Google employees from India joined an unprecedented series of walkouts world over in protest at the companys treatment of women and lenient treatment of senior executives accused of sexual misconduct.

Employees from Mumbai, Hyderabad and Gurgaon offices joined the walkout. A Twitter feed, @GoogleWalkout, documented the movement across the world.

Employees demanded an end to forced arbitration in cases of harassment and discrimination and a commitment to end pay and opportunity inequity.
All the candidates who were sentenced for imprisonment were sent to Chanchalguda Jail.(Representational Image)

Hyderabad: A total of 1,426 drivers were caught red-handed for drunken driving in October. Local courts jailed 449 of them and permanently cancelled the licence of 10 violators.

According to the police the highest number of violators  184  were jailed for two days. Another five were jailed for one month. A total of 69 driving licences have been suspended temporarily. The 3rd and 4th Metropolitan Magistrate Courts, Nampally, imposed fines of Rs 31 lakh on the remaining 977 traffic violators. All the candidates who were sentenced for imprisonment were sent to Chanchalguda Jail.

Another 32 violators were jailed. ACP Traffic, Anil Kumar said, The respondents caught and convicted for drunken driving may face difficulty in getting government jobs, passport and visa clearance.

The violators who committed the offences were also counselled at TTI, Goshamahal and Begumpet. The drive against drunken driving and other violations will continue for the safety of the commuters on road,, added Mr Kumar.
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday directed the Registry to tag a petition of YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy seeking an investigation by an independent agency not functioning under the control of AP government and its DGP into the attack on him, with a PIL pending before the Chief Justice and post the case before the bench headed by Chief Justice to Tuesday for hearing.

When Mr Jagan Mohan Reddys plea came up before Justice A.V. Sesha Sai, AP Advocate-General Dammalapati Srinivas submitted that a PIL with a similar prayer was pending before the division bench of the Chief Justice.

Counsel appearing for Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy urged the court hear their plea as the averments of the PIL were different. When the AG said both petitions were similar, the judge perused the PIL and said that both were more or less similar. He then directed the Registry to post the case before the CJs bench.
The pup went without food or water for three days. Its piteous cries finally alerted neighbours to its presence. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: A few-months-old puppy that was stuck between the walls of two buildings, about the breadth of a brick apart, was rescued in a two-hour-long operation in Anandnagar in Safilguda on Thursday.

The pup went without food or water for three days. Its piteous cries finally alerted neighbours to its presence. It took them some time to contact someone that could help. Finally the Disaster Response Force and the Safilguda police were informed. Volunteers from animal welfare organisations also arrived. The Humane Society International (HSI), the Fire department, Disaster Response Force and Safilguda police were all involved in the rescues attempts.

After experimenting with various methods the DRF team decided to use a rope to tie the legs of the puppy and haul it to safety. But they couldnt reach the dog in the confined space.

Teja Panneru, a technical rescuer and consultant for HSI, was finally called in. He has been involved in many rescue operations in the city. Teja Panneru inserted himself into the narrow space with great difficulty and tied the rope to the dogs legs  an operation that took more than an hour. The DRF team then pulled the rope gently to the top. As soon as the dog was rescued, it ran off.
New Delhi: India on Thursday blamed an unwilling regime in Islamabad for denying New Delhi land-connectivity between India and Afghanistan, saying that in order to bypass Pakistan, the Chabahar port project that will provide India sea-land connectivity to Afghanistan through Iran  is a gateway for onward connectivity to and from Afghanistan and Central Asia.

In a veiled reference to the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that India has refused to join since it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), New Delhi also said connectivity initiatives that straddle national boundaries must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations and that they should promote trade, not tension.

In another veiled reference to recent controversies over some countries in south Asia reeling under Chinese debt, New Delhi also said such projects must not place nations under an irredeemable debt burden.

Interestingly, the remarks were made by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale at a Regional Connectivity Conference on South Asia in the Indo-Pacific Context in New Delhi on Thursday that was organised by the US State Department.
Kochi: The Sabarimala Karma Samithi (SKS), a commmon platform of various Hindu organisations, has decided to start a fresh mode of agitation against the entry of women in between 10 and 50 years to the temple.

The meeting of the SKS held at Kottayam on Thursday decided to hold prayer marches at Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts from November 1 and 4.

There will be Akhanda Namajapams (prayer meetings) at all urban centres which will begin at 3 p.m. on November 5 when the temple opens for the Chithira Attavishesham festival.

This will continue overnight and non-stop till the temple closes the next day evening, said the organisers.

Volunteers of the Karma Samithi will interact with the public from November 7 and 10 and collect one crore signs against the move permitting entry of women. The next three days will witness mass conventions in all districts seeking to save the traditions at Sabarimala.

The protests will come to an end at that point as the apex court is slated to hear our review petitions the next day, November 13," said S.J.R. Kumar, of the SKS.
Hubballi: The Congress may believe that it can ride to victory in Jamkhandi on the sympathy wave following the tragic death of party MLA Siddu Nyamegouda but its not going to be an easy victory for his son Anand Nyamegouda after the BJP persuaded rebel leader, Sangamesh Nirani, to support its candidate, Shirkant Kulkarni.

But sources say the Congress still continues to enjoy an edge over the Bharatiya Janata Party in the constituency as it heads for Saturdays bypoll. Although the BJP has managed to quell the dissidence in its ranks, it will be an uphill task for the party to win the seat as the Congress candidate, Anand Nyamagoudar has the sympathy factor in his favour. It was his fathers sudden death, which has given rise to the bypoll and the Congress, by choosing him to contest it, is clearly hoping to play on peoples emotions.

The caste factor too could help Mr Nyamagoudar as he is from the Ganiga Lingayat community, which forms a large chunk of the constituencys voters. With the Congress banking heavily on Kuruba voters as well, former Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah has already toured the constituency extensively to keep his communitys votes intact. Congress leaders, C M Ibrahim and Zameer Ahmed have also held conventions here to influence the Muslim voters.

The Congress enjoys good support in Jamkhandi town too , where it got a majority in the recently held elections to the city municipal council. Moreover, the party has managed to resolve the dissidence in its ranks by successfully getting the rebel candidates to withdraw from the fray.

The BJP, on the other hand, has a challenge on its hands as although Mr Sangamesh Nirani, who had won nearly 25,000 votes in the last assembly election as a rebel, has offered to support its candidate, his loyalists are unlikely to back him.
Chaired by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the Congress Central screening committee met on Thursday to finalise the party candidates. After discussions, the committee agreed to meet on November 6. The high command accepted the seat allocation formula among the Prajakutami allies.

Hyderabad: As part of its strategy, the Congress high command has postponed the announcement of party candidates for the forthcoming elections. The list will most probably be announced on November 8, four days before the notification is issued on November 12.

Chaired by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the Congress Central screening committee met on Thursday to finalise the party candidates. After discussions, the committee agreed to meet on November 6. The high command accepted the seat allocation formula among the Prajakutami allies.

The thinking in the Congress leadership is that caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao must be made to wait for the Congress list. Besides, Congress leaders are facing a financial problem. If candidates are announced now, they will begin spending money right away. The leadership wants them to start the campaign after the filing of nominations.

After the meeting, TS Congress incharge R.C. Khuntia and TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy told the media that the Congress would contest from 95 Assembly seats out of the 119 and 24 would be shared between the TD, Telangana Jana Samiti and CPI.

They said the Congress had decided to give 14 seats to the TS TD and the party leadership had agreed to this number. Of the remaining 10, the TJS would be given six seats  Malkajgiri, Ramagundam, Siddipet, Charminar, Wardhannapet, and Dubbaka  and the CPI the four seats of Wyra, Bellampally, Aswaraopet or Bhadrachalam and one in the Old City.

They said that the final decision on seats for the TJS and CPI would be taken after Congress president Rahul Gandhi meets TJS president Prof. M. Kodandaram and CPI leaders on Friday.
BENGALURU: In a huge embarrassment to the BJP, and just hours before campaigning ended on Thursday for the key November 3 bypolls for three Lok Sabha and two assembly constituencies, L. Chandrashekar, the BJP's candidate pitted against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's wife, Anitha Kumaraswamy, in the Ramanagara Assembly bypoll, jumped ship and re-joined his mother party," Congress.

Worse still, Mr Chandrashekar accused the BJP and its leaders of "abandoning" him after picking him for the bypoll, a veiled reference to the fact that no campaign funds were released to him by campaign in charge and wannabe Vokkaliga leader in the BJP, C.P. Yogeshwar. While Mr Chandrashekars move triggered allegations by top BJP leaders of big bucks deployed by the Congress-JD (S) coalition to "hijack" their nominee, the real story may lie elsewhere - in the cutting down to size of Mr Yogeshwar by the Congress' D.K.Shivakumar and the Dal's Vokkaliga leaders.

Both the Congress and JD(S) joined hands to embarrass the BJP in the byelections. I wish them luck for hijacking our candidate," remarked state unit president B S Yeddyurappa, who had confidently said the BJP would have an impact in the south. Union Minister, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, in charge of Ramanagara constituency, was equally scathing, slamming the former Congressman for quitting the party a mere two days before polling.

The BJP thought Chandrashekar was a genuine politician after he left the Congress, but the party now realises that although he joined it, he has the Congress in his blood. The BJP will not forgive him for his betrayal and nor will the voters," he added.

The "betrayal" strategy, was in fact, a well-crafted move by water resources minister D K Shivakumar, his younger brother D K Suresh, MP, and Mr Kumaraswamy to checkmate former minister C P Yogeshwar's plan to build a support base for the BJP in Ramanagara district ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls.

Yogeshwar had defeated Ms Kumaraswamy in 2008 on a BJP ticket and went on to become a minister. After some party-hopping when he rejoined the saffron party, he was put in charge of both Ramanagara and Mandya districts, and was all set to emerge as the new Vokkaliga face in the region if he pulled off a victory. However, the families of Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy have now cut him down to size.

Insiders of both parties said the coalition partners ensured that the BJP did not suspect any foul play till the very last minute and pulled the rug, when least expected.
Vijayawada: Throwing a direct challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, Telugu Desam supremo and AP Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, unveiled his plan to save the nation and democracy.

He said in a bid to save the nation and democracy he had come forward to build an alternative to the BJP at the Centre since the independence of the countrys democratic institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, the Enforcement Directorate, and the Central Bureau of Investigation, among others, has been demolished in the last four years.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday, after meeting party leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar and Farooq Abdullah, the TD chief said that though he doesnt aspire to become the convenor of an anti-BJP coalition, he has come forward as someone has to take the initiative at a time when the nation and democracy are in danger.

He said that democratic institutions in the country have been demolished due to the interference of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, though the latter propagates and builds a statue of unity. The countrys condition has deteriorated under Mr Modis rule and all important institutions are now filled with people from Gujarat, Mr Naidu said. He alleged that the economy has crashed due to demonetisation, which was introduced without proper ground work. He also said that instead of delivering the promise of granting special category status to AP, Mr Modi had openly threatened the TD of dire consequences. Modi had directly told TD that he would come to us. Not to worry. He had openly threatened us, Mr Naidu said.

He also lambasted the BJP for announcing that the party will not have any alliance with the TD in TS without consulting him. Mr Naidu also said Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had ridiculed him when he proposed that both the Telugu parties should work together.

All non-BJP parties will work together to chalk out a programme to save the country and democracy and we will meet again. He said the Centre is not taking responsibility for the Rafale scam and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is silent. We will fight it out and that is our mission. What is the secret in the Rafale deal? he asked.

The TD has played a key role in national politics, he said, and all parties are extending their support for AP issues. Later in the evening Mr Naidu tweeted We want to send this message across loud & clear, all efforts by BJP to attack the Indian democracy will be met with a strong opposition. People must understand that any leader will do better than PM Modi ji.
VIJAYAWADA: The TD and the Congress, which have been historically poles apart, have agreed to work together to take on the BJP coalition, in a bid, they say, to save the nation and democracy.

After an hour-long discussion on the current political situation on Thursday at Congress president Rajiv Gandhis residence in Delhi, TD national president and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and AICC president Rahul Gandhi announced that they had buried the past and will concentrate on the present and future. As part of his efforts to stitch together an anti-BJP coalition at the Centre, Mr Naidu also met National Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar and National Conference Supremo Farooq Abdullah.

Mr Naidu will meet DMK leaders in Tamil Nadu shortly.

Some of you have doubts because of our past. It is a democratic compulsion. We have joined together to save the country.

As leaders of the Opposition, Rahul and I have a responsibility and are joining hands, Mr Naidu told reporters in the capital.
Visakhapatnam: Following the attack on YSR Congress supremo Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the special investigation team (SIT) found that three women allegedly helped Janipalli Srinivasa Rao in carrying out the attack.

Sources revealed that the police interrogated Srinivasa Raos colleague Rama Devi and friends Jyothi and Hema. The investigation revealed that Srinivasa Rao and Rama Devi lived together for some time and she had given him Rs 20,000 in the last month. Hema gave Srinivasa Rao the minute-to-minute programme of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy on the day the attack took place, while Jyothi had reportedly given a tablet computer to Srinivasa Rao recently. The three women are still being questioned by the police on their links with Srinivasa Rao.

Sources in the SIT said that Srinivasa Raos parents J. Tata Rao and Savitri were brought to Visakhapatnam on Wednesday night and questioned by the SIT in the presence of Srinivasa Rao. Srinivas got emotional on seeing his parents. Ms Savitri admonished him for committing the crime and said he had brought shame on the family.

Police questioning of Srinivas to elicit the motive behind the attack has yielded nothing; he has just refused to talk. The police summoned T. Harshavardhan Prasad, owner of the cafeteria at the airport in Vizag where Srinivasa Rao worked.

They asked him why Srinivasa Rao was loitering in the VIP lounge of the airport and why he had not noticed this. Mr Prasad did not reply to many of the questions.

As the police custody of Srinivasa Rao ends on November 2, the police will send him to Vizag Central Prison. The police may file another petition seeking custody of Srinivas for some more time, as the inquiry is incomplete.
The launcher was disguised with a recognisable symbol of one of the opposition political parties from the region.

Kaspersky Lab researchers have discovered a wave of cyber-espionage targeted attacks aimed at Central Asian diplomatic organisations. The Trojan called Octopus, disguised as a version of a popular and legitimate online messenger, was attracting users amid the news of a possible ban on Telegram messenger in the region. Once installed, Octopus provided attackers with remote access to victims computers.

Threat actors are constantly seeking exploitable modern trends and adjusting their methods in order to jeopardise users privacy and sensitive information across the world. In this case, the possible prohibition of the widely used Telegram messenger allowed threat actors to plan attacks using the Octopus Trojan, subsequently providing the hackers with remote access to a victims computer.

Threat actors distributed Octopus within an archive disguised as an alternative version of Telegram messenger for Kazakh opposition parties. The launcher was disguised with a recognisable symbol of one of the opposition political parties from the region, and the Trojan was hidden inside. Once activated, the Trojan gave the actors behind the malware opportunities to perform various operations with data on the infected computer, including, but not limited to, deletion, blocks, modifications, copying and downloading. Thus, the attackers were able to spy on victims, steal sensitive data and gain backdoor access to the systems. The scheme has some similarities with an infamous cyber-espionage operation called Zoo Park, in which the malware used for the APT was mimicking a Telegram application to spy on victims.

Using Kaspersky algorithms that recognise similarities in software code, security researchers discovered that Octopus could have links to DustSquad - a Russian-speaking cyber-espionage actor previously detected in former USSR countries in Central Asia, as well as Afghanistan, since 2014. Within the last two years the researchers have detected four of their campaigns with custom Android and Windows malware aimed both at private users and diplomatic entities.

We have seen a lot of threat actors targeting diplomatic entities in Central Asia in 2018. DustSquad has been working in the region for several years and could be the group behind this new threat. Apparently, the interest in this regions cyberaffairs is growing steadily. We strongly advise users and organisations in the region to keep an eye on their systems and instruct employees to do the same, says Denis Legezo, a security researcher at Kaspersky Lab.

To reduce the risk of sophisticated cyber attacks, Kaspersky Lab recommends implementing the following measures:

Educate staff on digital hygiene and explain how to recognise and avoid potentially malicious applications or files. For example, employees should not download and launch any apps or programs from untrusted or unknown sources.

Use a robust endpoint security solution with Application Control functionality that limits an applications ability to launch or access critical system resources.

Implement a set of solutions and technologies against targeted attacks such as Kaspersky Anti Targeted Attack Platform and Kaspersky EDR. These can help detect malicious activity across the network and effectively investigate and respond to attacks by blocking their progress.

Make sure that your security team has access to a professional threat intelligence.

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NASA's mission to perform the first reconnaissance of the Trojans, a population of primitive asteroids orbiting in tandem with Jupiter, passed a critical milestone today. NASA has given approval for the implementation and 2021 launch of the Lucy spacecraft.

The confirmation review, formally known as "Key Decision Point C," authorized continuation of the project into the development phase and set its cost and schedule. The confirmation review panel approved the detailed plans, instrument suite, budget and risk factor analysis for the spacecraft.

The next major mission milestone, the Critical Design Review, will examine the detailed Lucy system design. After a successful critical design review, the project team will assemble the spacecraft and its instruments.

"Up until now this mission has entirely been on paper," said Lucy Principal Investigator Hal Levison of the Southwest Research Institute at Boulder, Colorado. "Now we have the go ahead to actually cut metal and start putting this spacecraft together."

Lucy, the first space mission to study the Trojans, takes its name from the fossilized human ancestor called "Lucy" by her discoverers whose skeleton provided unique insight into humanity's evolution. Likewise, the Lucy mission will revolutionize our knowledge of planetary origins and the formation of the solar system.

Lucy is planned for launch October 2021. During its 12-year journey, the spacecraft will visit seven different asteroids - a Main Belt asteroid and six Trojans. The spacecraft and a remote-sensing instrument suite will study the geology, surface composition, and bulk physical properties of these bodies at close range.

"Today's confirmation of Lucy is a key step towards better understanding the role that small bodies played in the formation of the Solar System and life on Earth," said Adriana Ocampo, Lucy's program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. "We congratulate the entire team for their hard work."

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Boulder, Colorado is the principal investigator institution and will lead the science investigation. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, will provide overall mission management, systems engineering and safety and mission assurance. Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver, Colorado, will build the spacecraft. Instruments will be built by Goddard, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, and Arizona State University in Tempe.

For more information on the Lucy mission, refer to: https://www.nasa.gov/lucy and http://lucy.swri.edu

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Google agreed to settle the class action for users of its search function between 2006 and 2014.

The Supreme Court struggled Wednesday over what to do about a USD 8.5 million class-action settlement involving Google and privacy concerns in which all the money went to lawyers and nonprofit groups but nothing was paid to 129 million people who used Google to perform internet searches.

The justices considered objections to the settlement in a case involving Google searches people do about themselves. The lawsuit argues that Google sends website operators potentially identifying information when someone clicks on a link produced by a search. The suit says the practice violates users privacy under federal law.

The issue at the court concerns the rare instances in which courts approve a cy pres settlement, roughly translated as near as possible, and find its impractical to send money to the very large class of affected people.

Google agreed to settle the class action for users of its search function between 2006 and 2014. Of the USD 8.5 million, USD 2.1 million eventually went to lawyers, USD 1 million paid administrative costs and USD 5.3 million was set aside for six organizations that deal with internet privacy issues. Four of the groups are affiliated with universities, while the other two are the World Privacy Forum and AARP.

The three individuals who initially sued received USD 5,000 each, but the millions of Google users they represented received nothing. If all 129 million people had been paid, they would have gotten 4 cents each.

Settlements in which class members get no money at all are rare, class action expert and Harvard law professor William Rubenstein wrote in a court filing. Rubsenstein counted 18 such settlements stretching back to 1995.

Theodore Frank, representing himself and other objecting Google users, said that if the court were to uphold the settlement, it would create perverse incentives for class counsel to divert money away from their clients and to third parties.

The justices seemed to approach the case from several different angles, making it hard to see how it would be resolved.

Chief Justice John Roberts, among the justices who appeared most critical of the settlement, tended to sarcasm in asking whether AARP was an appropriate recipient of some of the money. As if this is only a problem for elderly people? Roberts asked.

The chief justice also raised questions about Googles involvement in the process of picking the recipients of the money, including a group it had previously contributed to. Well, dont you think its just a little bit fishy? Roberts asked lawyer Jeffrey Lamken, who supported the settlement on behalf of the individual plaintiffs and the class.

Less than a month removed from his tumultuous confirmation with its allegations of sexual misconduct, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said he understood why people would object to the information about their searches being provided to websites. I dont think anyone would want the disclosure of everything they searched for disclosed to other people. That seems a harm, Kavanaugh said.

The justices understanding of the technology at issue in their cases can be imperfect. On Wednesday, Andrew Pincus, the lawyer representing Google, had to explain several times that the initial lawsuit was over referrer headers, information that is sent to a website when someone clicks on a link suggested by a Google search.

Justice Samuel Alito complained that following a search for mens shoes, he is bombarded by ads for shoes. Different issue, Pincus said.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor wasnt persuaded. And given that I went into a store not long ago, and without giving them anything except my credit card, they came back with my website, I -- it seems, Sotomayor said, not explaining what she meant by her website.

Pincus replied: Well, there are lots of ways that information is disclosed that dont have to do with the referrer header. Again, were talking about the referrer header here.

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Twitter is again fiddling with your tweets. The company has announced that it is testing out a new tool which will let you switch the order your tweets in your feed. The company made the announcement through its official Twitter handle, saying that the new switch will be tested first on iOS and will allow users to switch the timeline between the latest and top tweets.

The simple switch will be available for a small number of iOS users and will be located on the top right. By tapping on it once, you will be able to see which version of the feed you are at, and will be able to switch between top tweets or latest tweets easily.

Besides, Scientists recently developed a web-based tool to help monitor the prevalence of fake news on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Developed by researchers at the University of Michigan in the US, the tool uses a Platform Health Metric called the Iffy Quotient, which draws data from two external entities: NewsWhip and Media Bias/Fact Checker.

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It said more than a dozen companies were targeted, but only Capstone Turbine Corp was identified by name.

Chinese intelligence officers conspired with hackers and company insiders to break into private companies computer systems and steal information on a turbofan engine used in commercial jetliners, according to a US indictment unsealed on Tuesday.

The indictment said that at the time of the hacks, a Chinese-state owned aerospace company was working to develop a comparable engine for use in aircraft manufactured in China and in other countries.

Chinese-made jets, including the C919 and ARJ21, currently use foreign engines but the country has been trying to develop a competitive homegrown alternative.

The 10 people charged conspired to steal sensitive data that could be used by Chinese entities to build the same or similar engine without incurring substantial research and development expenses, the indictment released by the US Department of Justice said.

It said more than a dozen companies were targeted, but only Capstone Turbine Corp was identified by name.

The Justice Department said those hacked included a French firm co-developing a turbofan jet engine with a US company.

Frances only civil turbofan engine maker, Safran SA, co-develops engines with US-based General Electric Co (GE) through their longstanding CFM International partnership, the worlds biggest jet engine manufacturer by a number of units sold.

The ventures latest engine, known as LEAP, powers the largest category of Airbus SE and Boeing Co jets and includes a version for Chinas new passenger plane, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) C919.

A Safran spokesman in China declined to comment and the companys French head office could not be contacted outside normal business hours.

GE declined to comment.

The indictment charges Zha Rong and Chai Meng along with other co-conspirators who worked for the Jiangsu province Ministry of State Security, a unit of the foreign intelligence arm of the Ministry of State Security.

It says their efforts to steal sensitive commercial aviation and other data took place from January 2010 through May 2015.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the charges were groundless.

The relevant accusations are pure fiction and totally fabricated, he told reporters in Beijing, without elaborating.

This is the third major corporate espionage-related case involving Chinese intelligence officers brought by the Justice Department since last month.

In late September, a Chinese national who had also enlisted in the US Army Reserve was arrested in Chicago for working for Chinese intelligence to recruit engineers and scientists, including some who worked for US defence contractors.

In October, the Justice Department also announced it had arrested a spy for Chinas Ministry of State Security on charges of economic espionage and attempting to steal trade secrets from several US aviation and aerospace companies.

In that matter, the FBI said the extradition of Chinese operative Xu Yanjun from Belgium was unprecedented, and the case highlighted the Chinese governments direct control over economic espionage in the United States.

John Demers, the head of the Justice Departments National Security Division, highlighted the pattern of the three cases in a public statement.

This is just the beginning, he said. Together with our federal partners, we will redouble our efforts to safeguard Americas ingenuity and investment.

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The United States is preparing to impose the new sanctions on Iran's oil industry after Washington withdrew from a nuclear deal between Tehran and other global powers earlier this year, but is also considering offering waivers to some allies that rely on Iranian supplies. (Photo: AP | File)

Washington: US national security adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday the Trump administration wants sanctions on Iran's crude exports to strain Tehran, but does not want to harm countries that depend on the oil.

The United States is preparing to impose the new sanctions on Iran's oil industry after Washington withdrew from a nuclear deal between Tehran and other global powers earlier this year, but is also considering offering waivers to some allies that rely on Iranian supplies.

"We want to achieve maximum pressure but we don't want to harm friends and allies either," Bolton said in a talk at the Hamilton Society.

Bolton said the administration understands that a number of countries, some close geographically to Iran which he visited last week, and others "may not be able to go all the way, all the way to zero immediately." It was a more conciliatory tone about the sanctions from Bolton, a proponent of being tough on Iran and winding down its crude exports to zero.

Still, Bolton said that consequences can already be seen in Iran including the collapse of the rial, its currency. "I think it's important that we not relax in the effort," he said.

In a presidential memorandum addressed to secretaries of State, Treasury and Energy, Trump said he determined there was sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products elsewhere than Iran to permit a reduction in purchases from the Islamic Republic.

Under the law, the US president must periodically issue a "determination" on whether there is sufficient supply in the market from non-Iranian sources for countries to significantly cut their Iranian purchases.

The administration's renewed sanctions are set to come into effect on Nov. 5.

Under US law, Washington can sanction the financial institutions of foreign countries that fail to significantly reduce their purchases of Iranian oil and petroleum products.

The purpose of the law, which came into effect during the Obama administration, was to put pressure on Iran to curtail its nuclear program by forcing its major oil customers to reduce their purchases.

Three of Iran's five largest buyers of crude - China, India and Turkey - have resisted calls by Washington to end their oil purchases outright.

This week South Korea asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for "maximum flexibility" on its request for a waiver to prevent companies there from being hit by the sanctions. Other countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan, depend on some imports from Iran.

The administration has said it is considering waivers on a case-by-case basis.
'Stealing another country's intellectual property, something China's been engaged in to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, is just something China has to figure out a way to stop,' Pompeo told the Brian Kilmeade Show. (Photo: File)

Washington: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday the United States was engaged in a "multi-pronged effort ... to convince China to behave like a normal nation on commerce" and respect international law after Washington indicted 10 Chinese nationals for stealing aviation secrets.

Speaking in a radio interview, Pompeo called China's behaviour in stealing intellectual property "inappropriate" and "not consistent with being a superpower or a leader in the world."

"Stealing another country's intellectual property, something China's been engaged in to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, is just something China has to figure out a way to stop," he told the Brian Kilmeade Show.

Pompeo also told the Laura Ingraham radio show that over the long term, China was probably the biggest national security challenge facing the United States and the Trump administration was pushing back "on all fronts."

"Where the semiconductor piece fits in is it's part of a mosaic of our strategic effort to push back against this continued Chinese effort," he said.

"It is a multipronged effort on behalf of all of the United States Government, at the President's direction, to convince China to behave like a normal nation on commerce and with respect to the rules of international law," he said.

A US indictment unsealed on Tuesday said Chinese intelligence officers conspired with hackers and company insiders to break into computer systems of private firms to steal information on a turbo fan engine used in commercial jetliners.

It was the third major corporate espionage-related case involving Chinese intelligence officers brought by the Justice Department since last month and comes at a time when Washington is embroiled in a major trade war with Beijing.

The United States and China have slapped tit-for-tat tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of each other's goods over the past few months, sparked by US President Donald Trump's demands for an end to alleged Chinese intellectual property theft, deep cuts to industrial subsidies, and action to correct a major US trade deficit with China.

Early this month, US Vice President Mike Pence intensified Washington's pressure campaign against Beijing by accusing China of "malign" efforts to undermine Trump ahead of next Tuesday's congressional elections and reckless military actions in the disputed South China Sea, a major Asian trade route.

China has rejected the charges.
Asked about India's protest, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he was not aware of India's diplomatic protest. 'But on the issue of Kashmir, China's position is clear cut. We made it clear many times,' he said. (Photo: AFP | File)

Beijing: China on Thursday sought to defend the proposed bus service with Pakistan through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir or PoK, saying its cooperation with Islamabad has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and will not change its principled stance on the Kashmir issue.

India on Wednesday said it has lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan over the proposed bus service between the two countries through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under the so called 'China-Pakistan Economic Corridor' or 'CPEC' project.

India has protested the so called 'CPEC' project as it runs through PoK, which India maintains is part of Jammu and Kashmir, its northernmost state, and therefore Indian territory.

India's Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday that the bus service will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Read: Violates territorial integrity: India protests Pak-China bus service via PoK

Pakistan and China don't share a border. Pakistan's only link to China is through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Gilgit-Baltistan region, which is part of Jammu and Kashmir. It is India and Afghanistan which share a border, now cut-off by Pakistan's forceful occupation of PoK.

According to reports from Pakistan, the new bus service will be launched between Lahore and China's Kashgar via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on November 3. The launch apparently is coinciding with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's maiden visit to China starting Friday.

Asked about India's protest, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he was not aware of India's diplomatic protest. "But on the issue of Kashmir, China's position is clear cut. We made it clear many times," he said.

China's stand he said is that the "cooperation between China and Pakistan has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and will not affect China's principled position on Kashmir," he said.

China maintains that the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan through dialogue and consultation.

Despite having no border of direct link with Pakistan, China defended the over USD 50 billion so-called 'China-Pakistan Economic Corridor', saying that it is an economic cooperation project between China and Pakistan.

"It is not targeted against any third party," he said, despite the project passing through PoK.

The so-called 'CPEC' involves a host of projects with an aim to connect China's Xinjiang province with Balochistan's Gwadar port.
Moon later suggested that the trip was likely to happen this year, and told lawmakers Thursday that the peninsula was approaching 'the historic starting line' for peace. (Photo: AP | File)

Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Seoul "soon", the South's President Moon Jae-in said Thursday, amid a rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula despite stalled nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington.

At their third summit in Pyongyang in September, the leaders of the two Koreas agreed Kim would visit Seoul "in the near future" without giving a specific date.

Moon later suggested that the trip was likely to happen this year, and told lawmakers Thursday that the peninsula was approaching "the historic starting line" for peace.

"It appears that Chairman Kim Jong Un's trip to Russia and a visit to North Korea by (Chinese) President Xi Jinping will happen soon," Moon said, adding there was an "open" possibility of a meeting between Kim and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"Chairman Kim Jong Un's return visit to Seoul will happen soon," he added.

No further detail was given.

But despite the flurry of diplomatic activity on and around the peninsula differences are emerging between Seoul and its security ally Washington, which stations 28,500 troops in the South to protect it from its neighbour.

At their historic Singapore summit, brokered by Moon, Kim and US President Donald Trump signed a vaguely-worded statement on denuclearisation but there has been little progress since then.

Washington and Pyongyang have sparred over the exact terms of the agreement, with the US pushing to maintain sanctions and pressure against the North until its "final, fully verified denuclearisation".

The dovish South Korean president has long favoured engagement with the North, which is subject to multiple UN Security Council sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

He has dangled large investment and joint cross-border projects as incentives for steps towards denuclearisation.

Concerns have been raised that such schemes could violate the sanctions against the North, while the US has been adamant pressure should be maintained on Pyongyang until it fully dismantles its weapons programmes.

The State Department said this week that Seoul and Washington would set up a new working group to strengthen coordination between them.

Moon said a second Trump-Kim summit was "right before our eyes".

"Now the South, the North, and the United States will achieve the complete denuclearisation and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula," he said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested the next meeting between Trump and Kim will be "hopefully early in the next year, where we can make a substantial breakthrough in taking down the nuclear threat from North Korea".

But in September, the North's foreign minister told the United Nations there was "no way" his country would disarm first.
'We saw belongings such as life jackets, pants, clothes scattered on the seabed,' Syaugi said. 'We believe the fuselage will be around there, we hope that our target can be found.' (Photo: File)

Jakarta: The search for the crashed Lion Air plane has found aircraft debris and passenger belongings on the seafloor but the object thought to be the fuselage is still eluding it, an Indonesian official said Wednesday, as chilling video of passengers boarding the fatal flight emerged.

Search and Rescue Agency chief Muhammad Syaugi said the seafloor findings give the search team confidence they will find the body of the aircraft. The location of the airplanes black box flight data recorder has been identified, he said, but strong currents prevented it from being recovered.

We saw belongings such as life jackets, pants, clothes scattered on the seabed, Syaugi said. We believe the fuselage will be around there, we hope that our target can be found.

The 2-month-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet plunged into the Java Sea early Monday just minutes after taking off from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

The disaster has reignited concerns about safety in Indonesias fast-growing aviation industry, which was recently removed from European Union and US blacklists, and also raised doubts about the safety of Boeings new generation 737 MAX 8 plane.

Syaugi said one of the ships with high-tech equipment being used in the search dispatched a remote-operated vehicle that recorded parts of the aircraft on the seafloor but not the 22-meter (72-foot) -long object detected at a depth of 32 meters (105 feet) that is believed to be the fuselage. He said the area is about 400 meters (1,300 feet) from the coordinates where the airplane lost contact.

Three other objects in separate locations were reached by divers but turned out to be two sunken boats and a fish trap. A remote-operated vehicle was sent to the black box location but the currents on the seabed were very strong, the ROV was carried away, Syaugi said.

Searchers have sent 57 body bags containing human remains to police identification experts who on Wednesday said theyd identified their first victim, a 24-year-old woman, from a ring and a right hand.

Anguished family members have been providing samples for DNA tests and police say results are expected within 4-8 days.

Musyafak, the head of Said Sukanto Police Hospital, said nearly 150 samples for DNA testing have been collected but more are still needed, especially from parents and children of victims.

Boeing Co. experts were expected to arrive in Indonesia on Wednesday and Lion Air has said an intense internal investigation is underway in addition to the probe by safety regulators.

Data from flight-tracking sites show the plane had erratic speed and altitude in the early minutes of a flight on Sunday and on its fatal flight Monday. Safety experts caution, however, that the data must be checked for accuracy against the planes black boxes.

Several passengers on the Sunday flight from Bali to Jakarta have recounted problems that included a long-delayed takeoff for an engine check and terrifying descents in the first 10 minutes in the air.

Two interviewed on Indonesian TV recalled details such as a strange engine sound, a smell of burnt cables, and panicked passengers crying out for God to save them as the plane rapidly lost altitude. Later in the flight, a man who was either the captain or first officer walked through the plane and returned to the cockpit with what looked like a large manual.

Lion Air has said maintenance was carried out on the aircraft after the Sunday flight and a problem, which it didnt specify, was fixed.

Indonesian TV broadcast a smartphone video of passengers boarding Flight 610, its mundane details transformed into unsettling moments by knowledge of the tragedy that would transpire.

It showed passengers boarding passes being checked and people walking along a concourse and then down stairs with bright red and white Lion Air jets visible on the tarmac.

At one point, the passenger who shot the video, Paul Ferdinand Ayorbaba, zoomed in on the flight number on his boarding pass. A part of the video shows passengers walking up the boarding stairs to a Lion jet.

My husband sent that video to me via WhatsApp. It was his last contact with me, his last message to me, said Inchy Ayorbaba, interviewed at the Jakarta police hospital where she had taken their three children for DNA tests.

The messaging apps timestamp showed the video was sent about 35 minutes before the plane took off, said Ayorbaba, who first saw the message at 6:30 am, some 10 minutes after the plane departed, and then went back to sleep.

Lion Airs technical director was removed from duty Wednesday at the order of the Transport Ministry. It also has ordered all Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes operated by Lion Air and national carrier Garuda to be inspected. Lion has ordered 50 of the jets, worth an estimated USD 6.2 billion, and currently operates nine.

Daniel Putut, a Lion Air managing director, said Tuesday evening the airline has many questions for Boeing.

Of course there are lots of things we will ask them, we all have question marks here, Why? Whats the matter with this new plane, Putut said.

The crash is the worst airline disaster in Indonesia since 1997, when 234 people died in the crash of a Garuda flight near Medan. In December 2014, an AirAsia flight from Surabaya to Singapore plunged into the sea, 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 US lifted a decadelong ban in 2016.

Lion Air, a discount carrier, is one of Indonesias youngest and biggest airlines, flying to dozens of domestic and international destinations. It has been expanding aggressively in Southeast Asia, a fast-growing region of more than 600 million people.
A mustachioed man usually dressed in a spotless white shirt, sarong and trademark maroon sash, Rajapaksa is seen as a hero by many in Sri Lanka's Buddhist majority. He wears rings as lucky charms, sometimes as many as eight, and he has been called the 'lord of the rings'. (Photo: File)

Colombo: Just three years after being voted out in a presidential election in Sri Lanka, strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa is back at the centre of power, appointed prime minister by the man who defeated him.

President Maithripala Sirisena named the pro-China 72-year-old as his number two on Friday after abruptly dismissing the government of incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe. Wickremesinghe has said his removal is unconstitutional and has demanded he be allowed to prove his parliamentary majority.

A mustachioed man usually dressed in a spotless white shirt, sarong and trademark maroon sash, Rajapaksa is seen as a hero by many in Sri Lanka's Buddhist majority. He wears rings as lucky charms, sometimes as many as eight, and he has been called the "lord of the rings".

Rajapaksa has been accused by diplomats of serious human rights abuses in the war against rebels from the Tamil minority, one of Asia's longest-running conflicts that ended during his tenure as president, in 2009. More than 100,000 people were killed in the 26-year war.

Rajapaksa said in a statement after he was sworn in he wanted to end religious and ethnic divisions in the country of 21 million people.

"We will eschew the politics of hate and set up an interim government that will protect the human rights of all citizens, that will protect the independence of the judiciary and establish law and order in the country," he said.

Almost immediately after he was sworn in, supporters of Rajapaksa invaded state media outlets in Colombo to take control of them, journalists there told Reuters.

Reporters Without Borders has called Rajapaksa "one of the world's biggest press freedom predators" during his two terms as president from 2005 to 2015.

Mavai Senathirajah, a legislator from the main Tamil political party, said it was a shock to the community that makes up 13 per cent of the population that Rajapaksa was back in power in three years.

"There are a number of accusations against him including war crimes. The president who accused Rajapaksa of corruption and rights abuses during the last election now has appointed him as his prime minister."

Family Affair

Born into a family of nine siblings in the southern village of Weeraketiya, Rajapaksa has spent four decades in politics, along with many of his relatives.

A lawyer by training, he followed his father into parliament in 1970, then the youngest-ever legislator, while several of his brothers and sons have held key roles in domestic and international politics.

His son Namal, a London-educated lawyer, took his record as the youngest MP in 2010.

Earlier in his career, Rajapaksa was known as a strong defender of human rights and participated in many left-wing and radical protests.

Before becoming president in 2005, he held a number of ministerial portfolios, and served as leader of the opposition from March 2002 until he was appointed prime minister in 2004.

He soon turned his attention to the civil war, boosting troop numbers and pushing into territory held by the Tamil Tiger rebels, leading to their surrender in 2009 and a landslide election win for Rajapaksa the year after.

The United Nations has said that thousands of civilians were killed in the last year of the war after heavy shelling by government forces. It has long sought a judicial investigation involving foreign judges and prosecutors to probe the alleged war crimes.

In a leaked diplomatic cable written in 2010, the United States' ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis said that responsibility for alleged crimes against civilians during the war "rests with the country's senior civilian and military leadership, including President Rajapaksa and his brothers".

Rajapaksa's brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was Defence Secretary during the final stages of the war, has faced allegations he maintained death squads.

The brothers rejected the allegations and said the military only targeted the Tamil Tigers, one of the most violent insurgent groups in the world at the time.

Second Term

After winning a two-thirds majority in his second term in 2010, Rajapaksa amended the constitution to remove checks on the presidency, including the presidential two-term limit.

Rajapaksa is also known for drawing the country closer to China, borrowing billions of dollars from Beijing to the alarm of Sri Lanka's traditional ally India.

He opened up the country's main port to Chinese submarines when he was president, which stoked anger in India, while a huge new port funded by Chinese investment led to concerns Beijing's investment programme was a debt trap.

Rajapaksa blamed the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing for rallying his opponents against him, leading to his loss in the 2015 election.

His return to power has drawn concern in New Delhi that China would tighten its grip on Sri Lanka, which is strategically placed at the head of the Indian Ocean.
The news of China lifting the ban on use of tiger bones and rhino horns in traditional medicine has sent shock waves across conservation circles.

This has pushed officials and conservationists into a huddle to discuss the next course of action. They are demanding that the Environment ministry take stern action and tiger states to stay on alert. Poaching is the second biggest international illegal trade globally after narcotics and with this news, it will only get bigger, fear experts.

China had imposed a ban on use of tiger bones and claws in 1993. Despite this, illegal wildlife trade thrived. This news has come at a time when the tiger census report is being finalised.

A senior National Tiger Conservation Authority of India (NTCA) official said: India has a healthy tiger population and Karnataka, the highest. But poaching threat is larger. Though discussions are being held to oppose this internationally, there is a need to strengthen ground efforts. Karnataka seems relaxed when compared other states.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Project Tiger, Jagat Ram said staff are alert and all measures are in place. According to the last census, there were around 400 tigers in Karnataka and the coming report may show an increase in numbers.

G S Rawat, dean, Wildlife Institute of India said that it is necessary to increase protection measures as this is a serious issue. Chinas decision could lead to bigger problems. Apart from stern laws, there is also a need to intensify patrolling.

Saket Badola, Head of Traffic  India, said online wildlife trade is also thriving. Such announcements will only add to more numbers and this needs to be curtailed immediately.

Tiger scientist K Ullas Karanth said it is a regressive move by China. While they have been fairly strict on ivory and recently declared a tiger reserve, this announcement is at cross purposes to this. Once the market opens it will be very difficult to control it.
Seelster Farms is pleased to announce that the talented, well-bred trotter Lookslikeachpndale (Muscle Hill  Poster Pin Up  Andover Hall) 2, 1:56.2s, 3, 1:53.4s, 4, 1:51.3f, 5, 1:51.1, - $568,619, will stand his first season for $5,000.

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Just when India heaved a sigh of relief at the Maldives ousting the China-obsessed President Abdulla Yameen, dramatic political developments in Sri Lanka have returned hardliner Mahinda Rajapaksa to power, landing the Modi government with its latest headache.



India has huge strategic interests in Sri Lanka, geographically close to Tamil Nadu, and has invested heavily in the island, especially in Tamil-dominated areas ravaged during the bloody war between the armed forces and the once-dreaded Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that devoured more than 70,000 lives.



From building housing units for Tamils in northern Lanka and rebuilding railway lines to providing bicycles and restoring temples and the historic Jaffna library, Indias work has been widely noticed by Sri Lankans.



Rajapaksa is not just a hardliner, but pro-Chinese who has the immense potential to whip up anti-India sentiments in the tiny island, which is slowly limping back to normalcy after the three-decade-long civil war. With Rajapaksa at the helm, this time as prime minister, there is every chance that Chinese influence would reappear, much to the discomfiture of India.



Rajapaksas China fixation has already resulted in the Dragon gaining control of some territory in Indias backyard  Beijing has taken ownership of the Hambantota Port in south Sri Lanka after Colombo failed to make loan repayments. The brand-new port is located along the worlds busiest shipping lane linking Asia with Europe, giving China a strategic upper hand in the region.



India will have plenty to lose if Rajapaksa unfurls the red carpet again for China and its firms. And with his re-entry into power politics, China would have much to gain  in fact it was the Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka who was the first diplomat to meet Rajapaksa after he was sworn-in as prime minister. Rajapaksa had accused India of conspiring with Wickremesinghe and Sirisena to oust him from power in 2015.



This time round, Wickremesinghe and his aides suspect Chinas role in the coup that ousted them from power.

India, both under the UPA and NDA, has found it very difficult to deal with Rajapaksa as the leadership never felt it could trust him. His government received millions of rupees in aid and loans from New Delhi but gifted many lucrative projects to Chinese firms.



And India had reasons to be upset since the country committed itself to helping Sri Lanka rebuild but Rajapaksa kept dodging the question of a political solution to the Tamils that would make them feel that they were genuinely part of Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka.



Though India hoped President Maithripala Sirisena would work on his predecessors commitments for achieving genuine reconciliation with minority Tamils, it did not take much time to realise that he was not even a shade better than Rajapaksa when it came to political solution and containing Chinese influence in Sri Lanka.



That a political solution still eludes Tamils can be seen from the frequent statements by C V Vigneswaran, who was chief minister of the northern province till last week, that Colombo reneged on all its promises to the minority community.



The unceremonious sacking of the moderate Wickremesinghe, who was very close to India and favoured excellent relations with the neighbouring country, shows which way President Maithripala Sirisena wanted the country to tilt. Sirisena had also dragged India into domestic politics by claiming that the neighbour was hatching an assassination plot against him.



And the fact that the political coup was engineered within a week after Wickremesinghes visit to New Delhi has intrigued many in diplomatic and political circles.



Though India has decided to wait and watch for now, it should not go into hibernation mode, like it did when allowed the Maldives to slip into Chinese hands, but activate its diplomatic channels to limit the presence of China in Sri Lanka. Its not just for the economic interests which it has built but also for the moral obligation to the islands beleaguered Tamils.
The air quality in Delhi and its neighbouring areas may improve a bit for the next few days due to favourable weather conditions but the situation is likely to go back to the square one on the eve of the Diwali next week.

A western disturbance  a storm that originates in the Mediterranean  currently lying over Pakistan has impacted the western Himalayas, triggering light rain in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh in the next few days.

In addition, there would be a flow of easterlies preventing the polluted air from Punjab and Haryana carrying dust particles to reach Delhi and its surrounding areas.

Due to such changes in the weather, the atmosphere (in Delhi-NCR) is likely to be unstable over the region which would result in mixing of the pollutants and improved air quality till November 5, India Meteorological Department said in a statement.

While the pollution haze is likely to be in place on Friday, the conditions for dispersal of the polluting particles would be more favourable on Saturday, says an analysis by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune.

As a result, the Air Quality Index for Delhi and its satellite towns like Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad are likely to shift from severe category to very poor.

But the joy would be short-lived as the polluting haze is expected to return from November 6 onward on the eve of the Diwali, which would be a testing time for all of us, IMD director general K J Ramesh told DH.

At a review meeting with state governments on Thursday, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan reprimanded Punjab and Haryana for not doing enough to control stubble burning.

Overall steps taken by the state governments to control stubble burning are far from satisfactory. In Punjab only daily cases of stubble burning were still running into thousands said Vardhan. Delhi government and administrators of NCR cities have once again asked to completely stop open burning of domestic and industrial waste.

A scorecard devised by the Central Pollution Control Board to check the effectiveness of the anti-pollution measures show that only in 10% cases some sort of action have been taken by the authorities. This means 90% of construction activities, open dumping and burning of the wastes including industrial wastes, traffic congestion and deposition of the road dust continue without any action taken by the concerned agencies.
The Supreme Court on Thursday warned the state governments and the high courts of resorting to centralised selection of district judges if more than 5,000 vacancies across the country are not filled in time.

We are keeping you under constant gaze. We will do it ourselves. We will have a centralised selection process, a three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said, examining suo motu the vacancies of judges in district courts.

The top court, in a judgement in Malik Mazhar Sultan in 2007, had given a time limit of one year for completing appointment of additional district judges in higher judicial service and nine months for civil judges, junior division.

Going through records of various high courts, which exercised superintendence and control over district courts, including recruitment of judges, the bench, also comprising Justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph, expressed displeasure at the casual approach towards filling up posts.

All high courts with no exception and the Public Service Commissions are very casual. Even in response to the pin-pointed queries, the information provided by them is vague. This is true of all states, the bench said.

The most important part is infrastructure. If there are 22,036 sanctioned posts, the infrastructure provided must be able to sustain the functioning of those judges. If the infrastructure-- like courtrooms, support staff-- are only for 18,000 or 19,000 posts, how will they function? This is where the role of state governments comes in, the bench added.

The bench also expressed shock that in Haryana an advertisement for filling up 60 posts of judges in 2015 drew 19,000 applications from law graduates but the examination was cancelled due to some hitch. A fresh advertisement was issued in 2018 and 13,000 more candidates applied but this time, the website crashed. To a query by the Supreme Court, the Punjab and Haryana HC said a meeting of the examination committee would soon decide on the next date, the court said.

'Wholly unacceptable'

Likewise, the court also pulled up the Delhi High Court for its registrar general's inability to appear before it during the hearing.

The court asked registrar general of high courts of Allahabad, Bombay, Calcutta, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and north eastern states to appear, along with senior officers from the respective states, before it on November 15 to explain the selection process and the hurdles in filling up posts of judges.

The court had earlier termed as wholly unacceptable that 5,133 posts of judicial officers out of the total 22,036 posts in district courts are lying vacant.
From its inception, residents and some officials have harbored grave concerns about Sunocos massive Mariner East 2 project.

One of the things they have focused on repeatedly was the wisdom of routing such a project through densely populated neighborhoods, in close proximity to schools and senior centers.

In short, Sunoco is planning to ferry hundreds of thousands of barrels a day of volatile liquid natural gases such as ethane, butane and propane 350 miles across nearly the entire width of Pennsylvania, from the Marcellus Shale region to a facility in Marcus Hook, where it will be stored and then shipped out, mostly to foreign markets.

To do so they are building Mariner East 2, a 20-inch pipe that roughly follows the route of Sunocos old, existing petroleum pipeline that was used by the oil giant for decades. In fact, the very same materials already are flowing through a smaller line.

But the company has fallen behind schedule for a variety of reasons, including work stoppages ordered by the government amid a series of drilling runoffs and spills. In one Chester County neighborhood, problems linked to the companys Horizontal Directional Drilling Method led to sinkholes in one neighborhood.

All of which has only underscored the concerns of residents and officials.

So you can imagine they are not exactly enthused by the companys latest plan to get the troubled project up and running.

Sunoco recently announced that while the entire project to install the 20-inch line now has been delayed until 2020, they still plan to get Mariner East 2 online shortly.

And how might they do that?

Simple. They plan to fill in the gaps where the 20-inch pipe has not yet been completed with an old, existing, 12-inch pipe.

If that sounds like a bit of a risk to you, youre not alone.

Three local school superintendents, who are in charge of schools in close proximity to Mariner East 2, are questioning the plan and raising new safety concerns.

The superintendents, including Eleanor DiMarino-Linnen, interim superintendent at Rose Tree Media, have sent a letter to the state Public Utility Commission asking them to investigate Sunocos latest plan.

All we are asking, is this safe to do? said West Chester Superintendent Jim Scanlon. The superintendent of the Downingtown School District completed the trifecta looking for state action.

For its part, the company says it has tested the 80-year-old 12-inch pipe and found it safe to use until the 20-inch pipe can be completed.

The school bosses are not convinced.

We believe it is incumbent upon school districts to keep students, parents and staff safe, the superintendents wrote to the PUC. We also believe it is incumbent upon the PUC and the leaders of the state of Pennsylvania to keep its residents safe.

Five Downingtown schools are located near the old, 12-inch pipeline. Here in Delaware County, Glenwood Elementary in Middletown sits just a few hundred feet from the pipeline. Residents have galvanized behind the issue, organizing protests and urging anyone who will listen to shut the project down. So far their pleas have for the most part fallen on deaf ears.

Were in the thick of this pipeline, Downingtown Superintendent Emilie Lonardi said. Thousands of students are in harms way if something happens to the pipeline. Were asking the PUC to make sure that Sunoco is doing their job and has every safety mechanism in place before any liquid begins to flow.

Perhaps with an eye toward the Halloween season, opponents have dubbed Sunocos plan Frankenpipe.

For its part, Sunoco has consistently downplayed the problems that have plagued construction of Mariner East 2, brushing off most of them as routine side effects from construction. They insist the new line is being constructed, and will be operated, to the highest industry standards.

So far the PUC is saying that they do not necessarily need to take any action for Sunoco to put their patchwork plan into effect.

Andy Dinniman is not so sure.

The state senator from Chester County has been one of Sunocos most vehement critics. He also has not been reticent about offering his opinion that state agencies  including the PUC  have dropped the ball on this project from Day One.

Sunoco is trying to cobble together this problematic pipeline after it was repeatedly delayed due to very real and very valid safety concerns, Dinniman said. Meanwhile the PUC continues to refuse to conduct a safety investigation into the project, despite repeated calls from local schools, school districts, teachers, parents, students and superintendents.

Whats wrong with this picture?

We have stressed repeatedly the dual nature of this beast. There undoubtedly is an up side, with a potentially huge economic benefit, one that brings with it hundreds of good, family-sustaining jobs.

But none of that should trump the concerns of local residents who now have to live with this thing, sometimes in their backyards.

It does not seem unreasonable for the PUC to answer the superintendents concerns.

To say nothing of the continuing fears of residents.
KAYSVILLE  Charges were filed Wednesday against a Kaysville man who investigators say had 100 gigabytes of child pornography.

Daniel Walter Warner, 38, was charged in 2nd District Court with eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.

Undercover officers downloaded videos "of toddlers being raped" from an IP address associated with Warner's home in September, according to charging documents.

"They located at least 100 gigabytes of infant and child pornography files," the charges state.

On Oct. 25, investigators went to Warner's residence with an arrest warrant. He was in Baltimore at the time, but officers were able to contact him by phone.

"He admitted to obtaining the pornography on the darknet and from torrent files," according to a Davis County Jail booking report.

Arrangements were made for Warner to return to Utah that day, and he was arrested at the Salt Lake City International Airport, the report states.

According to the report, Warner has been a volunteer for the foster care program Court Appointed Special Advocates.

"Concerning statements have been previously made by a 3-year-old female suggesting sexual abuse," the report states.

Arresting officers noted in the jail report that Warner "poses a risk to the public."

Warner also "held a clearance on Hill Air Force Base and is an Army Reserve," according to the report.
OREM  For two decades, a yearly display of colorful T-shirts in Orem has honored survivors and victims of sexual and relationship violence from within Utah Valley.

That changed this week when the exhibit added a shirt in memory of someone from outside the community.

Lauren McCluskey, the 21-year-old University of Utah student-athlete shot and killed on her campus by a man she had briefly dated, was memorialized with a T-shirt containing a red block "U," referring to her school. The shirt's white background signified she had not survived the Oct. 22 attack. Placed at the entrance, it was the first thing many saw as they approached the display at Utah Valley University.

The death of McCluskey, a member of the university's track team who was considering a career in public relations, has drawn attention to sexual and relationship violence in Utah, organizers of the project said Wednesday.

"I think people know it's not unique to the U. It's something that could happen on any campus," said Summer Valente, director of UVU's Center for Social Impact. She noted that more people than usual walked into a ballroom at the school to take in the exhibit Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the second and final day of the project, college students and others wandered through rows of T-shirts in bright pink, gray, dark blue and other colors, each color signifying the type of abuse. About three dozen shirts were added over the two days after visitors wrote and drew on them behind a black curtain in the ballroom. Since its first year in 1998, more than 1,800 shirts decorated by survivors and loved ones of those who died have been showcased in the local iteration of the national Clothesline Project.

Some were painted with messages of anger or forgiveness toward abusers, and others were adorned with jewels and drawings of a broken heart. Several overlapped as they hung on the clothesline and resembled an ever-expanding quilt.

One shirt read, "You raping me doesn't define me." Another said, "88 days later: I still can't sleep. I still can't eat," while one more emphasized that "NO means NO."

Some visitors attended on their own, wearing backpacks and Halloween costumes, and others came in pairs. The sounds of a gong, bell and whistle sounded intermittently from a speaker, indicating the prevalence of assaults, rapes and deadly relationship violence.

A Provo couple who attended the exhibit wiped tears from their eyes as they recounted that their daughter was abused by their son. Along with therapy, yearly visits to the display at UVU are part of their healing process, they said.

"I think it just reminds you that you can't be numb to things. You need to have your eyes and ears open," said the woman. She asked that her name be withheld to protect the identity of her daughter, who has a family of her own now and couldn't attend with her parents Wednesday afternoon.

The couple said they are dismayed by McCluskey's death, noting she had reported to police that she was scared of the man who killed her.

"It's frightening to see that people aren't listening," said the mother. University of Utah police have said McCluskey made reports but didn't indicate that she feared Melvin Rowland would harm her physically.

"That's just so heartbreaking and so frustrating," said Danielle Hardy, a member of the center's student-led Service Council who proposed adding the McCluskey shirt. "Does she need to say, 'I am scared for my life?' Is that the point that we protect people?"

Hardy, who also attended the U. for a year, lived in the dorms and had night classes like the one McCluskey was returning from when she was killed.

"This is a girl who is on top of life, who is trying to get an education, just like everyone here at UVU," Hardy said of the slain student. But even after McCluskey's death, many on Hardy's own campus don't believe sexual and relationship violence happen in Utah, she said.

"People will say, 'Where are the shirts from?' And I'm like, 'Oh, they're made here.' And they're like, 'Yeah but where are the stories from?'" Hardy said. "This happens to our family, our friends right here in Utah. This is a serious problem."

Leilani Fallentine, a junior and public relations major at UVU, was one of several volunteers at the display who held a box of tissues to offer visitors who became emotional. She said she believes more lessons in schools on healthy boundaries and reproductive anatomy could help more survivors feel comfortable disclosing abuse from a young age and through the rest of their lives.

"You never know who has that battle wound inside of them," she said. "There's no forgetting about it. It's a part of them and it's something so big."

Free and confidential help and support for victims and survivors of domestic violence is available 24/7 at 1-800-897-LINK (5465) or visiting udvc.org.
SALT LAKE CITY  Utah is as good as it gets when it comes to volunteering, but Utahns are doing even better than that.

For the 11th time, the Beehive State earned the top spot in the country for the number of people who volunteer, but also the amount of time spent doing it, according to the latest Volunteering in America study from the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that leads service, volunteering and grant-making efforts in America.

Nearly 51 percent of Utahns volunteered in 2017, according to the federal agency. It's more than the 43.2 percent of Utahns who served in 2015, and more than double the average 25 percent who volunteer across the nation.

Utah's capital city ranks third in the country, as 45 percent of all Salt Lakers volunteered in 2017. That's also up from the 36 percent who served in 2015, the data reveals.

Turns out, the hundreds of millions of hours Utahns served in 2017 helped in many ways, including in civic and religious causes, among others.

"We wouldn't be able to reach anywhere near the number of clients that we do without the help that we get," said Matthew Melville, director of homeless services for Catholic Community Services, which provides resources, including food, to the homeless. "We rely very, very heavily on our volunteer base."

St. Vincent de Paul's dining hall serves two hot meals each day, each requiring the help of 20 to 30 volunteers, who book one to two years in advance just to have the opportunity to help, said Melville. There are also people helping with projects and other services throughout the downtown organization, things that wouldn't get done without them.

"There's always a need down here," Melville said.

The need continues throughout the state, in housing, education, health care, child care, landscaping and repair, transportation, financial help, understanding the law, and more.

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, "volunteering strengthens the social, civic and economic fabric of our nation." Momentum for such social impact, the organization states, is growing.

More than 77.4 million Americans served more than 6.9 billion hours in 2017. Nationally, almost one in three Americans volunteer and their service has an economic value of nearly $170.9 million, the agency reports. Its full report is expected to be released Nov. 13.

In addition to the countless projects, programs and causes Utahns contribute to, volunteers tend to give to charity at twice the rate of Americans who don't take part in serving others. They are also five times more likely than non-volunteers to belong to a group, organization or association, the federal agency finds.

Volunteers also do good for their neighborhoods and are three times more willing to do favors for neighbors and friends than people who don't volunteer, the study reports.

Melville pointed to a well-known, local barber who has donated his day off each week to provide haircuts for the homeless for the past 25 years. People in Utah, he said, are "passionate about service."

"Utah just has such a great spirit of serving those that are less fortunate," Melville said. "It's really special the way this community is. We are very, very lucky in Salt Lake to have people who are willing to give of themselves."
OGDEN  The Humane Society of Utah is offering $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever shot and killed a family dog in Ogden over the weekend.

"The HSU hopes the reward assists the Ogden Police Department in obtaining information required to identify and charge whoever is responsible for this alleged act of animal cruelty," the society said in a news release Wednesday.

On Sunday afternoon, officers were dispatched to the area of Wildrose Way by a resident who reported hearing a gunshot and then found a wounded Husky.

The dog, Maia, died while en route to a veterinary hospital for treatment, according to a news release from Ogden Police Department.

"We offer our thanks to the citizen who not only contacted police but attempted to aid and comfort a stranger's pet. Our pets rely on our vigilance in order to keep them safe," police said.

Officers contacted the owner, who is involved with the investigation into who shot the dog, police said.

Investigators say information on the shooting is "scarce" and a suspect has not been identified.

In light of the shooting, Ogden police reminded dog owners to "provide a safe and secure yard environment. When that is not possible, exercise constant supervision when outside."

They also advised people to use a leash and collar on their dogs, as well as to license pets and use ID tags and microchips to keep track of them.

"We hope that the information needed is obtained to hold the person responsible for discharging a firearm within city limits and killing a companion animal. We need to know if this was an intentional act of aggravated animal cruelty," said Gene Baierschmidt, executive director of the Humane Society of Utah.

Anyone with information is asked to call Ogden police at 801-395-8221 or email detectives@ogdencity.com.
SALT LAKE CITY  Two men face a long list of charges in a string of burglaries spanning northern Utah after investigators say they found a variety of stolen items and vehicles in the men's possession.

Troy Jones Manning, 38, and Kendrick C. Ables, 27, were both charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with a pattern of unlawful activity, producing or transferring any false identification document, and two counts of theft by receiving stolen property, all second-degree felonies.

They also both face multiple counts of unlawful acquisition, possession or transfer of a financial transaction card, a third-degree felony, among other burglary and theft charges.

According to the charges, when police arrested Manning on investigation of burglary, they found a fake driver's license in his vehicle with his picture but another person's name and address on it.

Detectives listened to Manning's phone calls while he was in jail and heard him talk about a "white printer" in an apartment that belonged to Ables, charges state.

When agents searched that apartment, they found printers, tablets, phones, hard drives and other equipment, as well as files titled "dl template 2" and "dl template 21" that agents believe were used to manufacture phony driver's licenses, charges state.

A person who was on probation and dating Ables at the time the search took place told police the men were "producing fraudulent identification documents using the computers and printers at the apartment," agents said.

That person also told police the two were burglarizing vehicles and businesses and had taken two trailers, in which they stored other stolen items, according to the charges.

Agents found the two stolen trailers and an SUV at Ables' apartment complex, charges state, along with "numerous stolen items from various burglaries."

Among those items, a laptop and tools that had been taken when a business in South Jordan was "ransacked" in April were found in the stolen SUV, agents said. GPS data from Manning's phone showed that he was in the area at the time of the burglary, charges state.

Agents also linked the men to a variety of other robberies, including several credit card thefts that had occurred in Orem, North Salt Lake, Bountiful, Park City and around Summit County, according to the charges.

This isn't the first time the men have faced prosecution.

In 2013, Manning was arrested for investigation of sexual solicitation and drug possession after allegedly participating in a "live sex show" at Syracuse 6 Movie Theater, according to the Syracuse Police Department.

In September, Manning pleaded guilty to theft, a second-degree felony, after stealing a truck that was being worked on at a shop and then crashing the truck in Parleys Canyon. He is scheduled to be sentenced in that case Nov. 13.

Ables was charged in March with forgery, a third-degree felony, unlawful use of a financial transaction card and burglary of a vehicle, both class A misdemeanors, and theft, a class B misdemeanor.
LEHI  City officials want Lehi residents to know that the dust kicked up near Point of the Mountain isn't a threat to their health.

The mayor and City Council released a letter last week addressed to Lehi's residents who worried about risks from airborne dust. According to the letter, experts found the dust in that area, mostly caused by mining and construction operations, is not a major health risk.

"While construction work that puts a lot of dirt in the air is annoying, it is not a significant public health concern," said Sam LeFevre, an epidemiologist with the Utah Department of Health who consulted with the city on the issue.

LeFevre and other members of the health department's Environmental Epidemiology Program said the main two factors in determining health risks from airborne particles are the size of particles and duration of exposure.

Larger particles are captured by the mouth and throat, tending to not reach the lungs, according to the letter. Smaller particles can reach further into the respiratory system, even to the lungs.

Typical construction dust particles are larger, LeFevre told the City Council in a meeting on Aug. 28.

Silicosis, or "black lung," and similar illnesses take many years of persistent exposure to very fine particles of dust, the letter stated.

"Typically, those long-term illnesses are more of a concern for people working in a mining operation or something similar for long periods of time," said Cameron Boyle, Lehi's assistant city administrator.

Workers in such conditions, both Boyle and the city's letter pointed out, are monitored and protected by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Transient exposure, or exposure from being in close proximity to the dust particles, poses no significant health risk, Boyle said.

Although the airborne dust was said to pose no significant health risk, the city used the public's concern as an opportunity to start a wider initiative: forming the Environmental Sustainability Committee.

The committee will address air pollution, vehicle idling, stormwater pollution and other health and environmental concerns.

Boyle said the mayor wants to make forming the committee a priority in 2019.

"We're researching other similar committees in other communities," Boyle said.

City officials, Boyle added, have met with the Division of Air Quality to make sure operations in the area are meeting their dust mitigation requirements. The division requires companies that stir up dust to meet certain opacity levels.

The city's letter informed residents that they can submit an air quality complaint on the Division of Air Quality website, where a representative responds to complaints and ensures compliance by monitoring opacity levels.

The letter also includes links to other resources on the topic of dust in the air, including a video and slides from LeFevre's presentation to the City Council in August, where he explained in depth how he and his colleagues evaluated whether it was harmful.
HERRIMAN  Superheroes are supposed to save the day.

But one Spider-Man this Halloween apparently didn't get the memo.

According to Herriman Police Lt. Cody Stromberg, a man masquerading as the superhero entered the Salt City Sweet Shop, 5136 W. 13400 South, and demanded money around 5 p.m. He wore a full-body costume, including a mask, Stromberg said.

The man threatened two employees with a handgun and a stun gun, Stromberg said.

"On any other day, an adult male in a full-body Spider-Man costume might seem out of place, but obviously on Halloween that kind of blends in. So most people weren't paying attention to something like that," Stromberg said.

The masked man took money from the cash register and made the employees open a safe in the back room of the store, taking an estimated $400 to $500, while he forced them to lie on the floor, the lieutenant said.

An employee called and reported the theft, but by the time police arrived the man had slipped away. It is unknown whether he left on foot or by vehicle, according to Stromberg.

Stromberg said the back part of the man's costume was unzipped, and the employees reported he wore a black T-shirt with white lettering. The man was described as white and between 18 and 30 years old. The employees also described him as between 5 feet 5 inches and 6 feet tall, with an average build, Stromberg said.

There was no surveillance inside or outside the store for police to gather more information about the man, according to Stromberg.

"It's unfortunate, but a good thing nobody was hurt."
SALT LAKE CITY  Heres a look at the news for Nov. 1.

We traveled to Russia, where Jon Huntsman Jr. revealed what it's like to work for Donald Trump, what happened after the Helsinki summit, and how a recent cancer scare has put life into perspective for him. Read more.

Utah Valley University honored the slain University of Utah student in a project calling attention to the relationship, sexual violence. Read more.

More than half of all Utahns volunteer, making Utah the No. 1 state for helping others. Read more.

The Utah Jazz lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday night. Here are three takeaways from the road loss.

The new I-15 Technology Corridor has reached its first major milestone. Read more.

Heres the latest from our featured voices:

Here are our most popular stories this morning:

Stories from around the web:
SALT LAKE CITY  You dont have to enjoy coffee to buy a Starbucks holiday cup.

Whats going on: Starbucks unveiled its latest lineup of holiday cups Thursday. There will be four designs this year, featuring:

Red stripes

Green argyle pattern

Red and white flames

Mistletoe-like cherries painted red and green

See the cups in the tweet below:

Inspiration: Starbucks decided to embrace the holiday spirit this year, CNN reports.

"We listened to our customers," said Roz Brewer, Starbucks' chief operating officer.

She said customers loved the tradition of Christmas.

Brewer said employees asked customers for feedback in person and the company gathered data through its app.

Brewer said the new cups are "not only retro, but true to who we are.

History: Starbucks started releasing holiday cups in 1997. The designs have sparked a wide range of emotions through the years.

Weve noted in the past that the cups sometimes cause an uproar in the culture wars throughout the country.

Occasionally, Starbucks was criticized for not embracing Christmas enough  were looking at you, red cup.

As I noted last year, the holiday cup, which asked people to draw, color and doodle on their own cups, reportedly ended the war on Christmas.

A new cup: Starbucks will also release a plastic holiday cup, which can be reused, USA Today reports. Customers can get 50 cents off their holiday drink if they buy one after 2 p.m. between this Saturday and Jan. 7, USA Today reports.

New pastries and traditional drinks: Starbucks is really leaning into the Christmas spirit this year with three holiday pastries  the Pistachio Honey Croissant, Sugarplum Cheese Danish and Chocolate Swirl Brioche, USA Today reports.

Traditional holiday drinks  like the Peppermint Mocha, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, Gingerbread Latte and Egg Nog Latte  will be available Friday.
SALT LAKE CITY  The Deseret News sent reporter Jesse Hyde and photojournalist Ravell Call to Moscow to meet with Jon Huntsman Jr., the U.S. ambassador to Russia.

In a series of conversations, Huntsman talked about what its like to work for President Donald Trump amid a tense relationship with Russia. He revealed that he has dealt with a health scare, as well as what he sees as the next major form of international warfare.

Here are seven takeaways from the exclusive report.

Cancer diagnosis

Its just stage 1, he said. So well probably get it taken care of, and well be fine.

Its the same type of cancer that killed Arizona Sen. John McCain after it metastasized to the brain.

Huntsman received treament while in Utah.

Russian election meddling

Hyde asked Huntsman "if the president had held Russia accountable for election interference in the private meetings in Helsinki."

Every one," Huntsman replied. "Every one of them. Ive been in all of them. Election meddling is brought up.

By the president? Hyde asked.

So this is the secretary of state, the national security adviser, but yeah, the president talked about all these issues in the private meeting with President Putin where they were together. Id guess it was brought up because theyre pretty consistent in terms of talking about it and certainly over lunch these issues were talked about."

... A lot of diplomacy is conducted behind closed doors, Huntsman continued. Emphatic statements have been made. There is no lingering doubt about the importance of this issue. I cant imagine anyone in the high commands of the Russian government would be thinking, gee, maybe we can do this.

Would he resign?

After the Helsinki summit meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Huntsman was asked if he would resign. The question, reported Hyde, "troubled" Huntsman. "He worried about what it said about the current state of America," the story reads.

Cyber warfare

Huntsman said cyberwarfare is on the rise and no one knows how to stop it.

We still dont know how to provide a defense against cyberattacks, still.

You can plus up and get better technology and better prophylactic measures but anyone who wants to attack you on the offensive side has an advantage, which in the other domains of war is not the case.

The midterm elections

Huntsman was asked what would happen if Russia did try to interfere with the upcoming midterms.

We dont want to foreshadow what it could be, he said. But it could be pretty dramatic.

A future president?

His wife, Mary Kaye Huntsman, says of her husband: Hed never get elected these days." When asked why not, she replied, Hes not crazy enough.

The 2016 presidential election

Huntsman provided insight into the 2016 election.
SALT LAKE CITY  Mitt Romney cant "conceive of thinking or saying" the news media is an enemy as President Donald Trump continues to do, according to an essay he posted on his campaign website Thursday.

Romney wrote that someone asked him at a recent campaign event whether he would take action to shut down ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and the New York Times.

"When I responded of course not, and that, in fact, I would do everything in my power to preserve freedom of speech, the person persisted by arguing that these outlets purvey fake news," the Republican U.S. Senate candidate said.

Romney and Democratic Salt Lake County Council member Jenny Wilson are running to replace retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. Constitution Party candidate Tim Aalders, Libertarian Craig Bowden and Independent American Reed McCandless are also on the ballot.

The former Massachusetts governor and 2012 GOP presidential nominee has a large lead in the polls.

In his essay, Romney referenced a Trump tweet this week that said: "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  "

Every president, Romney said, has endured stories that were inaccurate and chaffed at one or more news publications.

"But no American president has ever before vilified the American press or one of its professional outlets as an 'Enemy of the People,'" he wrote.

Attacking the media or publications that lean in a different direction than the Republican Party is "decidedly" good politics, Romney said, adding conservatives have "long suffered" from left-leaning media attitudes and reporting.

"As a political tactic, it may be brilliant, but it comes with a large cost to the cause of freedom," he said.

Denigrating the media, he said, diminishes an institution that is critical to democracy, freedom, the cause of freedom abroad and national security. The work of a free press, even if biased, is essential to the preservation of the country, Romney said. The media, he said is "very much our friend."

"America is indebted as a democratic nation to the free press for truths it has uncovered, for truth it has disseminated, and for falsehoods it has repudiated," he said.

Romney said he sometimes becomes irritated by stories he knows are wrong, "especially when they are about me. But I cannot conceive of thinking or saying that the media or any responsible news organization is an enemy."
WEST JORDAN  She left her newborn son with her boyfriend for about a half-hour on a Sunday evening last year, and a short time later, the child was dead.

Maria Elena Sullivan, 27, testified Thursday that she returned to the basement apartment in West Jordan to find Daniel Kitzmiller making a "weird bicycle motion" with the boy's legs. She calmed the child down, put him in a swing and listened to his chest rise and fall for an hour before the 13-day-old Archer Sullivan made a gagging sound.

"I got up and picked him up, but he stopped breathing," said Sullivan, who has admitted to reduced charges of child abuse in her son's death. "I was pretty hysterical when the EMTs told us there was nothing more that they could do."

A judge on Thursday ordered the 22-year-old Dylan James Kitzmiller to stand trial on murder and child abuse charges. But his defense attorney, Rudy Bautista, maintains his client did not abuse or kill the boy and that prosecutors are going after the wrong person. He said it was Sullivan's heroin addiction that ultimately led to the child's death in September 2017 and that she took out her agitation during withdrawals on her son.

Kitzmiller did not testify Thursday and remained quiet as he sat in a brown jail uniform, fidgeting at times. Following Sullivan's testimony, 3rd District Judge William Kendall ruled there is enough evidence for the case against Kitzmiller to advance to trial.

Sullivan testified Thursday during the preliminary hearing that she used heroin for a few days after the child was born, saying she was irritable and had flu-like symptoms during withdrawals. She and Kitzmiller had fights where he told her to move out, and she had briefly left the child with him to phone a friend that night saying she needed to find a new place to live, she testified.

When Sullivan on Thursday did not recall specifics of conversations she had with police after the boy's death, prosecutors brought her a laptop with recordings of the interview to help jog her memory. It allowed her to remember information about the boy's injuries, but she could not recall a statement she allegedly made about Kitzmiller saying who was to blame in the boy's death.

"I don't remember that," she said, her voice thick with emotion. The time immediately following her son's death is "muddled" in her memory, she said, adding that she was hospitalized and medicated for an abscess in her arm related to heroin use and was on suicide watch at the time.

"When a person's story keeps changing, those are red flags that should be seriously looked at," Bautista said after the hearing. His client wasn't the baby's father, but he did bond with the child, Bautista added.

Sullivan was originally charged with murder, too, after prosecutors said she continued to leave the child in Kitzmiller's care despite noticing bruises and marks. But she reached a plea deal with the state, admitting to two counts of child abuse inflicting serious injury, a second-degree felony.

Sullivan testified she was living with Kitzmiller in the basement of his mother, Jayna Bowman, after she and Kitzmiller met at Chateau Recovery, an addiction treatment center in Midway. The couple originally told Bowman the boy was Kitzmiller's biological son so Sullivan could continue to stay there, she said.

Bowman outside the courtroom rejected that her son fatally injured the boy. The parents appeared young and inexperienced to her, but she never expected the infant to die, she said, recalling him as "precious" and saying she loved him even after she found out she was not related to him.

"The real guilty party in this is heroin," she said.

On Sept. 17, 2017, emergency crews were called to the house and pronounced the child dead at the scene, noticing bruising around his eyes and arm. An autopsy revealed the infant had a severe brain injury and had lost weight during his short life, sustaining a fractured arm, broken rib and injured spinal cord, court documents show. The preliminary cause of death was determined to be severe brain injuries.

The judge on Thursday entered not guilty pleas on Kitzmiller's behalf to murder, a first-degree felony, and three counts of child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony.

He is due back in court Nov. 19. Sullivan is scheduled to be sentenced the following day.
Vodafone Ghana will list on the local stock exchange once it has agreed a deal with the countrys government to restructure its debt.

Discussions with the Ghanaian government  which holds a 30% stake in Vodafone Ghana  were proving fruitful, according to the operators CEO Yolanda Zoleka Cuba.

There has been some movement now and the government has shown commitment with resolving the debts. They have given us a letter of undertaking around the restructuring of the companys debt and thats where we are now, she told Reuters.

Vodafone entered the market in 2008 by acquiring a 70% share in the state-owned Ghana Telecom for $900 million and rebranding the operator. The Ghanaian government held on to its 30% stake, which at the time was valued at around $1.3 billion.

However, despite continued investment from Vodafone, the unit failed to turn a profit and this has been attributed to the government neglecting to uphold its financial obligations as a minority shareholder. The state has now pledged greater support in restructuring the units debt.

MTN has already listed its Ghanaian unit, having launched an IPO last month as a condition for receiving the countrys first 4G licence. While Ghana is lining up bidding for a second licence, IT Web Africa has reported Cuba as saying that Vodafone Ghana would not be able to afford a bid.
MTN Group has seen its H1 net profit drop by 5% year-on-year despite growth in several of its African markets, including Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa.

The groups total revenue stood at ZAR62.7 billion (US$4.65 billion), with its profit for the first half down to ZAR4.9 billion ($366 million). Profit from its 49% holding in MTN Irancell fell by 30% after the Iranian rial declined following the announcement in May that the US intended to impose sanctions on the country.

This loss of profit has significantly impacted MTNs overall earnings, with CEO Rob Shuter noting that the sanctions  the first of which come into force this month  may prevent it from repatriating dividends from the market. Iranian troubles aside, MTN has also faced a challenging macroeconomic climate in some of its African markets, including Cameroon and South Africa.

Nonetheless, the group reported increased service revenue, with voice and data the main drivers of this, while its mobile money revenue jumped 50% year-on-year. MTN now boasts 24.1 million mobile money customers in 14 different markets.

Shuter noted: MTN had an encouraging first half of 2018, with an acceleration in the second quarter, supported by an improved operational performance across many markets. This was led by Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa. Service revenue growth increased, driven by robust voice revenue growth and the continued expansion of data and digital revenue.
Mauritius is leading Africa in terms of telecoms maturity, according to a new index launched by research firm BuddeComm.

The Telecoms Maturity Index (TMI) analyses the broadband, mobile and fixed Line markets of a country as well as a range of economic parameters to rank it on a scale of 1 to 100 and compare it to its region.

The release of the TMI for Africa reveals that Mauritius is the continents top-ranked country, with a Telecoms Maturity Index score of 43. It is followed by Ghana, which scores 34, and Tunisia with 31.

Mauritius notably higher score is attributable to its thriving tourism market which has stimulated the markets broadband sector. There is extensive DSL infrastructure and operators have deployed fibre-based services in a number of localities. Mauritius Telecom invested Rs5.1 billion to roll out fibre across the island, with the project completed the end of 2017 (ahead of the original 2020 timescale).

BuddeComm dubbed three markets as the main challengers, or up and coming countries  Mauritania and Uganda, which each scored 13 on the TMI, and Kenya which scored 12. Meanwhile, the leading nations in the developing category were Angola and Chad, which each scored 7, and Cameroon which scored 6.

Mobile telephony remains by far the dominant telecom service across Africa, accounting for more than 90% of all telephone lines on the continent. Given the very poor condition of fixed-line infrastructure in most markets, mobile internet access as a consequence also accounts for between 95% and 99% of all internet connections.

The size and range of the diverse markets within Africa have contributed to varied market penetration rates between countries. By early 2018 the highest mobile penetration was found in countries including Gabon (163%), Botswana (159%), South Africa (147%) and Mauritius (146%). To some degree high penetration reflects the popularity of consumers having multiple SIM cards despite efforts among most regulators to enforce measures by which operators must register SIM card users.
Satellite firm Intelsat has been a driving force in delivering connectivity to the African continent  particularly to remote regions better suited to satellite coverage than traditional infrastructure.

Following the announcement of a remote coverage agreement with Vodacom Business Nigeria, Developing Telecoms' Editor James Barton spoke to Intelsats Regional VP of Africa Sales, Brian Jakins, to discuss the companys activities on the continent.

Can you tell me more about the Vodacom Business Nigeria deal and the benefits it delivers?

Intelsat has been serving Vodacom for years on an international basis. One of the projects we worked on is the installation of a network of 800 rural sites in DRC connected to Intelsat 28. Vodacom Business Nigeria, one of their business units, was interested in how we drive business efficiency with Intelsat EpicNG, as three of them are serving Africa at the moment (including Intelsat 35e). We were able to demonstrate the platforms higher throughput and efficiency, both into Nigeria and beyond borders.

They needed a solution that would give the right sort of coverage, but they were also considering the business cost while looking at using their installed base. With Intelsat, Vodacom benefit from high efficiencies using C- and Ku-band and a greatly reduced total cost of ownership. Intelsat EpicNGs backward compatible design and open architecture allow them to use their existing hardware or select the appropriate hardware when seamlessly migrating their existing network onto the high throughput platform, resulting in minimal capex investment and operating costs.

Intelsat will also help Vodacom as they continue to expand, since we have 26 satellites over Africa including three Intelsat EpicNG satellites.

Is satellite better positioned to deliver connectivity only in remote areas?

Satellite plays a critical role in providing high quality services to enterprises in traditional remote regions, but also in urban and suburban areas. For instance, there is constantly construction underway in Lagos and there is some fibre instability as a result. The advances weve made have helped, and today satellite is a key complementary technology in urban and suburban areas.

Whether it is bringing connectivity to the oil and gas sector or to tropical regions, ensuring a quality of network to end-users is crucial. If youve followed the Africa telecom landscape, enterprises want to innovate and connect as quickly as possible and having a partner like Intelsat provides redundancy and facilitates growth.

A key issue is the ease of deployment and this is getting better. Smaller kit size enables deployment in areas you couldnt have access to before. Also, Vodacom looked at our roadmap to the future when selecting Intelsat 35e. They looked at what we have, and where we are going. Intelsat EpicNGs open architecture provides scalability and flexibility - weve invested in key technologies like flat-panel antennas from Kymeta, and weve been building towards interoperability of LEO and GEO networks. These advancements make it simpler to connect to satellite and we are therefore well positioned to deliver solutions that respond to Vodacoms current and future requirements.

Which technologies do you think could pose the greatest threat to satellite in the future?

Satellites are uniquely positioned to economically and competitively deliver broadband infrastructure, supporting a diverse range of business segments for the benefit of consumers - even in rural areas lacking critical infrastructure - so I dont think that satellite will be threatened, it will get stronger going forward.

In fact, satellite is likely to be the threat - it will play a key role in a hybrid environment that combines fibre, wireless networks and satellite, serving customers at all levels. Thats why weve partnered with OneWeb: our plans for fully integrated GEO-LEO services mean that we provide customers with a Technology Roadmap to the Future. The hybrid GEO-LEO end-user access terminals were working on furthering our vision to lower the cost and improve the accessibility of satellite-based broadband, thereby making it available to more markets.

At the end of the day, the end-user experience is key and satellite provides high quality services to enterprises and end-users. Some regions are still transitioning to 3G and 4G, but as 5G network deployments begin to accelerate, satellites position will be strengthened since the satellite sector has a particularly important role to play in quickly delivering services to users  from dense urban areas to remote geographies. The development of low-cost, easy-to-deploy remotes that integrate satellite capabilities into the terrestrial equipment providers will be critical.

Does the development of terrestrial networks have an impact on the cost?

The Intelsat EpicNG design is groundbreaking, with the satellites aimed at delivering higher performance, better economics, and simplified access. Cost is an important factor and EpicNGs higher performance enables to reduce the cost per-bit for operators. Intelsat EpicNG is complementary to a ground infrastructure; ground efficiencies are also important as they make it affordable from the African perspective.

Do you think initiatives like Googles Project Loon will threaten satellites relevance to rural connectivity?

Countries are looking for the best solution to connect. Lots of them have expectation to develop traffic and a hybrid solution that seamlessly integrates different technologies will enable them to succeed. While lot of technologies are coming, satellite will be involved, working with others, and Intelsat is well-positioned to respond to the growing needs.

The Internet is a tremendous, undisputed force for economic growth and social change, and everyone wants to connect remote regions. Satellite connectivity is the easiest way to deliver Internet services to the most people in the shortest possible time frame in infrastructure-poor rural and remote areas. It is also becoming more cost-efficient, as the combination of technology improvement with innovations in the ecosystem and service models help to expand internet access affordably. For instance, as the expense of terrestrial buildouts often cannot be justified in remote regions that lack electrical infrastructure, a full-service, solar-powered solution such as Intelsat Mobile Reach Solar helps MNOs expand networks in a cost-efficient manner, while addressing the challenges associated with deployment, cost and operating challenges.

Could you tell me some Africa-specific examples where satellite proved to be the most effective connectivity solution?

Intelsat worked with the UNHCR in Ghana to connect a refugee camp of 2,000 people. The combination of Intelsats traditional satellites and Intelsat EpicNG helped overcome some very specific challenges to this effort. For the UNHCR, Intelsat offered the assurance of easier access to satellite technology and enhanced performance to coordinate aid efforts; for the refugees, it meant staying in touch with their families. Intelsat has also partnered with Coca-Cola to establish Wi-Fi access at certain retail facilities in rural areas, enabling personal and commercial connectivity for citizens.
Archaeologists have been unearthing pyramids, plazas and hundreds of carved monuments in southern Mexicos Izapa Kingdom since the 1940s, but it wasnt until recently that they confirmed Izapa wasnt a standalone city.

Over 40 smaller suburban-style towns and once-hidden monuments that surrounded the capital have been discovered recently, and each of the settlements had a similar blueprint to that of Izapa.

The consistency is remarkable, said SUNY Albany archaeologist Robert Rosenswig, who co-authored the study. This is a tremendous amount of coordination within the kingdom.

Rosenswig and his team wanted to further understand the Izapa Kingdom outside the capital, so they began surveying the area with Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR).

LIDAR is a remote-sensing system that uses rapid light bursts to map the surface by measuring how long the signal takes to bounce back. With improved technology, LIDAR surveys have become popular among archaeologists, often using scans from planes or drones. The scans can pass through vegetation and record roads, canals or other man-made features and generate three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth, according to NOAA.

One of Rosenswigs initial surveys spanned about 20 square miles near Izapa, which revealed nine small towns. From there, he widened the area to 225 square miles, comparable to the size of cities like Chicago and Tuscon, Arizona.

In that area, the team found 41 settlements which varied in size within some 13 miles of Izapa. The three largest towns were plotted around the perimeter of the kingdom, likely an effort to protect from outside districts. Some carvings found in Izapa depicted violence, suggesting conflict with outside kingdoms.

We knew that Izapa was a major site of monumental scale, but this article provides tangible evidence about the hinterland settlements in the region, said Yale archaeologist Oswaldo Chinchilla.

While none of the three perimeter settlements have been excavated, Rosenswigs team believes artifacts and carvings from the sites could offer more insight to relationships between towns in Izapa.

A settlement where surveys have alluded to large stone sculptures underground will be their next project, Rosenswig said.

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Journal of Antiquity / Cambridge  Lidar reveals the entire kingdom of Izapa during the first millennium BC
Former inmate of Robben Island to visit Ireland

Press release

Thulani Mabaso with Minister of State Ciaran Cannon in Iveagh House. 6 November 2018.

Former inmate of Robben Island to visit Ireland as part of a series of events to commemorate the centenary of Mandelas birth and to celebrate 25 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and South Africa

Today [Thursday 1 November], the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade welcomes Mr. Thulani Mabaso to Dublin as part of the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and South Africa and the centenary of Nelson Mandelas birth.

Mr Mabaso is a former inmate of Robben Island, the infamous prison where members of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa including Nelson Mandela, were jailed. In 2002, Mr Mabaso returned to Robben Island to work as a tour guide for visitors to ensure that the stories and legacy of the anti-apartheid movement are passed on to the next generation.

Mr Mabaso will visit the From Prisoner to President: Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition in Kilmainham Gaol, where he will review the strength and breadth of Irelands relationship with South Africa, from Irelands support for the anti-apartheid movement through to the vibrant and multifaceted partnership which exists between Ireland & South Africa today.

Mr Mabaso has spoken previously of the connection he and other inmates in Robben Island felt towards Ireland on hearing the story of the Dunnes Stores workers strike, and the work of the Irish Anti-Apartheid movement. As Kilmainham Gaol once held some of Irelands best known freedom fighters, displaying the Nelson Mandela exhibition there holds special resonance, given the long period of his life spent behind bars.

As part of his visit, Mr. Mabaso will undertake a number of meetings and activities which can help to raise public awareness of the exhibition and of its key messages. These include press and media engagements, Q&A sessions with school tours visiting the Nelson Mandela Exhibition at Kilmainham Gaol, meeting with Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement members to express appreciation for their efforts, engagement with the Embassy of South Africa to Ireland, and a meeting with Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciaran Cannon T.D. Mr Mabaso served as tour guide to both President Higgins and Minister Cannon, on their visits to Robben Island in 2014 and 2017, respectively.

Speaking ahead of his meeting with Mr. Mabaso, Minister Cannon said:

I look forward to meeting with Mr. Mabaso again and am delighted to welcome him to Ireland, especially following the warm welcome extended to me when I visited Robben Island last year. During this, the 25th year of diplomatic relations between our two countries, I am especially pleased that many of our students and young people will have the opportunity to speak with Mr. Mabaso and learn about the strong friendship between our two countries.

ENDS

Press Office

1 November 2018

Note to Editors: The Nelson Mandela exhibition by Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade in collaboration with Kilmainham Gaol Museum, the Office of Public Works, and the South African Apartheid Museum. It will run until January 2019 and is accessible to the public free of charge. Advance ticket booking is recommended, and is available through the following link: http://kilmainhamgaol.admit-one.eu/ Further information on this Exhibition is available through the following: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/south-africa/news-and-events/news-archive/nelson-mandela-exhibition-dublin.html

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In a conversation, the Xiaomi Global VP and India MD, Manu Jain, said that this year Xiaomi focussed on bringing its televisions and accessories to India, which were previously exclusive to China. Next year, in 2019, the company will try to bring more of its gadgets here and its gaming laptop are on the list, along with some other devices. Xiaomi sells a range of products in China and It recently announced its biggest Mi Home Experience Store in Bengaluru where its gaming laptops and a slew of other devices that are yet to launch in India are on display. Jain said that Xiaomi garners feedback from its users that experience these devices in its Mi Home Experience Stores and if enough people put in a request, it considers bringing those devices to India.

Xiaomi launched its Mi Gaming Laptop back in March this year. It comes in two variants and the more powerful model is priced at RMB 8,999 (Rs 95,400 approx), while its base model costs CNY 5,999 (Rs 62,000 approx). We did get to play with the laptops at the new Mi Home Experience Store and they are considerably thin for a gaming laptop and are comparatively lightweight for their category. The Mi Gaming laptop features a 15.6-inch full HD display with a 1920 X 1080p resolution with 300 nits of brightness and high-precision anti-glare.

Alongside its gaming laptops, the company also showcased its Mi Notebook Air laptops. They goes up against the Apple MacBook Air with an all-metal build, Full HD 13.5-inch display and a Nvidia MX150 discrete GPU on board. Next year, Xiaomi will look at launching its other non-smart products in India as well, like clothes, shoes and apparels. Jain says that even though theres no tech infused in them, they are good quality products that will appeal to the masses and of course, Mi fans.

As mentioned earlier, the Mi Gaming laptop comes in two versions where the top-most variant is powered by the 7th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB DDR4 RAM clocked at 2400MHz and is coupled with the 6GB GDDR5 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 GPU. It comes with a 1TB HDD and 256GB NVMe PCIe SSD for storage. The lower variant of the laptop is powered by the 7th Gen Intel Core i5 processor coupled with 4GB GDDR5 GeForce GTX 1050Ti and 8GB DDR4 RAM clocked at 2400MHz. It is also equipped with a 1TB hard disk but comes with only 128GB SSD.
Xiaomi will open its largest Mi Home Experience Store in India on November 2. However, we got exclusive access beforehand to play around with some Xiaomi gadgets that are yet to reach Indian shores. Manu Jain, Global VP and MD of Xiaomi India, was also present, along with the newly launched Mi Mix 3 smartphone. We almost snatched the phone off of him to play around with it as other phones like the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition, the Mi Mix 2S and the Xiaomi BlackShark were also on display, there was no Mi Mix 3 to check out. So, here's our first impressions of the first Xiaomi phone with a sliding display.

Build and Design

As mentioned above, we did nearly snatch away the phone from Manu, but it was password protected. It was the Forbidden City Palace Museum special edition variant of the phone, which comes with 10GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Even though we couldn't get into the phone, it was apparent that the build quality was what one would expect from a Xiaomi flagship device. At first glance, it looks almost identical to the Mi Mix 2S, but press the power button on the right edge and it's clear that it isnt. The near bezel-less design of the phone does leave an impression as there is no notch to hinder the viewing experience and also has considerably thinner bezels than what we are used to on phones. There is still a noticeable chin below the display though.

While Oppo tried to use a motorised camera setup to pull off the "immersive display," Xioami has kept things simple with a magnetic slider. Pushing the display down with minimal force will easily pop the front cameras up, which are hidden behind the display. The movement of the display and the rear panel felt smooth but moving parts are notorious for breaking down as general usage along with wear and tear takes its toll over time. Xiaomi does claim that the slider will last for 300,000 cycles but only when we get the phone in for a review will we be able to say if the claim is actually true.

Display

The 6.4-inch AMOLED display looks vivid, slightly oversaturated even but again, we were limited to staring at the lock screen as Manu refused to unlock the phone. The Mi Mix 3 seems to sport thin edges, but its actually the rear panel that wraps around it to give the effect. There is also a dedicated Xiao AI button on the phone's left edge but it wont work in India. Manu Jain said that the Xiao AI is limited to China and there's no English version of it. So, for the foreseeable future, we can expect the company's smart assistant to be bound to China.

Coming back to the handset, its rear panel is made of ceramic that feels premium to the touch and is a sucker for fingerprints. The phone now also supports wireless charging, thanks to the conductive back panel, and there's a familiar vertically stacked dual-camera configuration on the back with an LED flash in between. The camera bump is quite significant and we wonder whether once smartphone makers are done with reducing bezels, the next chase will be after making the camera sit flush with the back panel.

There are ridges on the back of the display when it was pushed down, it seems like these grooves facilitate in the movement of the magnetic slider. A few times we ended up trying to slide the display up as a carried over habit from when some legacy phones with a sliding display had to be pushed up. Overall, the Mi Mix 3 looks promising when it comes to implementation of the new method of getting rid of the notch.

Its not confirmed whether the Mi Mix 3 will be made available in India but Xiaomi sells a wide range of products in China like electric scooters, smart home appliances, smart robot vacuum cleaners, and more. It wants to bring some of these devices to India but will be seeking feedback from its Indian customers. Xaiomi says that if a gadget garners enough interest, the company would strongly consider launching it here for its customers.
...the view from the sidewalks of Minneapolis and Saint Paul...
Since hemp became legal in Australia on November 12, 2017, two Aussies and an Irishman have been turning the non psychoactive parts of the plant into useful productschief among them, a relaxing gin that will invoke euphoria, but wont get you high.

Intrigued? Then forget about hemps ability to medicate, feed, shelter, clothe, fuel, make auto parts and bio-plastics, and read on.

The Cannabis Co. is the love-child of a PhD biochemist (Dr David Stapleton), a successful entrepreneur & brand builder (Richard Jameson) and a marketing guru (Cormac Sheehan).

As for the gin, It took quite a few goes to get to a good product, Sheehan told the SBS in an interview. As we started adding in botanicals, we began to uncover a gin which was great, but not award-winning. That wasnt good enough  from day one we didnt want novelty gin. It had to stand on its own two feet as a gin, regardless of the cannabis element.

The real breakthrough came when we started adding terpenes to the distillation process.

The key to the gins success lies in terpenesessential oils found in many types of medicinal plants and flowersthe essence of a plant. And Cannabis Co.s innovative new spirit, the Myrcene Hemp Gin pays tribute to Myrcene, the most abundant terpene found in cannabis.

Dr. David Stapleton, a Senior Researcher at The University of Melbourne with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, helped them discover and implement this into their gin recipe, and his expertise (he has worked all over the world and published over 100 scientific papers) has proved crucial in shaking the hippie stigma that comes with cannabis.

This is helping them re-invent the public image of hemp, which has applications as a food, a medicine, a textile and even as a sustainable fire-resistant building material. And now: as a way to spice up a drink thats been largely un-invigorated since the era of Orwell and Churchill.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cannabis Company (@cannacoaus) on Oct 31, 2018 at 5:55pm PDT

Their limited edition Myrcene Hemp Gin was originally distilled with select elements from the hurd, bast and seed of the cannabis plant, giving it a considerable hemp content and earthy woodland character. However, what really distinguishes it from other gins is the addition of various terpenes, which were isolated and examined, with myrcene being selected as the winner.

Also found in hops, bay leaves and mangoes, Myrcene is reputed to produce joyful and euphoric effects alongside an overall feeling of relaxation. Perhaps the most highly-valued terpene due to its ability to ease symptoms of chronic pain and inflammation, they stumbled across Myrcene in a slightly unusual manner.

The breakthrough, according to their press release, finally came about not after sweating away in the lab, but reclined (we presume) on a couch with a bunch of history books, where they discovered some interesting commonalities between terpenes and spirits, strongly influenced by an early 17th century gin-making practice.

Whereas these early pioneers used primitive pot stills and added terpenes to mask the flavour of crudely-produced spirits, The Cannabis Company use column stills to craft a lighter and more refined gin, adding myrcene for its joyful sense of euphoria alongside its relaxation-inducing qualities.

A common practice in tropical British colonies was to soften quinines bitter flavour by adding gin, the press release continues. Australia today has thankfully outgrown many of its more negative colonial echoes, but it still retains one old habit which has now gone global: taking the edge off the mozzies with a cool gin & tonic.

So for old world tradition with a splash of contemporary ingenuity, get your hands on one of the 300 limited edition (of this initial release) bottles of brew, crafted in Healesville Victoria.

RELATED: Australias Finest Gins That Wont Send You Broke
European Commission raises objections to Siemens-Alstom rail merger

The European Unions antitrust regulator is reported to have raised several objections to the planned merger of the rail operations of Siemens and Alstom to create a Franco-German rail champion.

Reports quoting an EU Commission spokesman said on Wednesday that the regulator has sent a statement of objections to the parties in the Siemens/Alstom case, adding that the investigation is going on.

The regulatory objections, which follow a full-scale investigation into the deal in July, may force Siemens and Alstom to make specific concessions to address market concerns, which may include sale of some assets, say reports.

Alstom makes the TGV high-speed train while Siemens makes ICE high-speed trains. A combination of the two leading companies will shut competition out, say rival manufacturers.

A Siemens spokesman is reported to have confirmed receiving the Commissions objections. We are still confident that we can conclude this transaction in the first half of 2019, a Siemens spokesman said

Alstom also said the company had responded to the Commissions objections, but said, it is not the final decision of the European Commission.

The Commission has set a 28 January 2019 deadline for completing its in-depth investigation.

The merger plan announced by German industrial group Siemens and French rival Alstom in September last year, had the backing of French President Emmanuel Macron.
China to launch bus service to Pakistan via occupied Kashmir

China, after bulldozing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) with its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure projects, will be now launching a bus service connecting Xinjiang in its south-west with Lahore in Pakistan, inviting protest from India.

India on Wednesday lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan over the scheduled launch of a bus service from Lahore to Xinjiang in China which will pass through PoK.

Pakistani media had reported that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) bus service from Lahore to Tashkurgan in China will start on 3 November.

India objected to the bus service as it would pass through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It was specifically because of the CPEC that cut through occupied Kashmir that India refused to join the broader Belt and Road Initiative by China.

Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said the proposed bus service violates India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The MEA spokesperson said India's consistent and well-known position is that the "so-called China-Pakistan 'Boundary Agreement' of 1963 is illegal and invalid, and has never been recognised by the Government of India."

"Therefore, any such bus service through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added.

The bus service is due to be connect Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China. Some reports say the launch is on 3 November while others have given out 13 November as the due date.

The $50-billion CPEC, started in 2015, is a network of roads, railways and energy projects linking China's resource-rich Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region with Pakistan's strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea.
At least 50 Indian goods hit as US revokes GST concessions

A decision by the United States to revoke duty-free concessions on import under the Generalised system of preferences (GSP) will affect at least 50 Indian products, mostly from the priority sectors like handloom and agriculture.

The federal register issued a notification, listing out 90 products, which were so far subject to duty-free provisions under the GSP, marking the Trump administration's tough stand on trade-related issues

President Donald Trump today issued a presidential proclamation, leading to the removal of these products from the privilege beginning 1 November.

Henceforth these products "will no longer qualify for duty-free preferences under the GSP programme but may continue to be imported subject to regular Most Favored Nation duty-rates," PTI quoted an official of US trade representative as saying.

While the products that come under the presidential proclamation are not country specific, India being the largest beneficiary of the GSP, has been hit the most by the latest Trump administration move.

The GSP, the largest and oldest US trade preference programme, is designed to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for thousands of products from developing and poor countries.

India, which is the largest beneficiary of the GSP, had exported goods worth over $5.6 billon to the US duty-free last year.

While the exact volume of India's export to the US impacted by the latest move of the Trump administration is not known, the move would affect a large number of small and medium size businesses, particularly in the handloom and agricultural sectors.

Trump now wants to limit duty waivers to the GSP's Competitive Need Limitation (CNL) thresholds. The CNL thresholds are quantitative ceilings on GSP benefits for each product and designated beneficiary country.

Trump said he had determined in 2017 certain beneficiary developing countries exported eligible articles in quantities exceeding the applicable competitive-need limitations.

"I hereby terminate the duty-free treatment for such articles from such beneficiary developing countries," he said.

Products from other countries like Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, Suriname, Pakistan, Turkey, the Philippines, Ecuador and Indonesia have also been removed from the GSP list.

Indian products removed from the duty-free provisions of the GSP include dried pigeon pea seed, areca nuts, fresh or dried (in shell), turpentine gum, mangoes (prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid), sandstone (merely cut into blocks or slabs of a rectangular), tin chlorides, barium chlorides, salts and esters of tartaric acid, nesoi, and trimethyl phosphite.

Full grain unsplit or grain split buffalo hide or skin; grain split whole buffalo leather, without hair, whole buffalo skin leather (not full grain unsplits/grain splits); and full grain unsplit buffalo leather (not whole), have also been removed from the duty free the GSP list.

Dyed, plain weave certified hand-loomed fabrics of cotton, containing 85 per cent or more cotton by weight; plain weave certified hand-loomed fabrics of cotton, containing 85 per cent or more cotton by weight, hand-loomed carpet and other textile floor coverings, not of pile construction, woven, made up of man-made textile materials have also been removed.

Base metal clad with gold mixed link necklaces and neck chains and keyboard musical instruments, like harmoniums and similar keyboard instruments with free metal reeds are among the other products.

These products can still be exported to the US from India but they will be subject to regular tariffs.

In April, the US announced eligibility review of India for the GSP. According to the USTR, the total US imports under GSP in 2017 was USD 21.2 billion, of which India was the biggest beneficiary with USD 5.6 billion, followed by Thailand (USD 4.2 billion) and Brazil (USD 2.5 billion).
BASF may sell construction chemicals unit to boost revenues: report

German chemicals group BASF is looking to hive off its construction chemicals unit either through outright sale or merger with a partner as part of the groups efforts to cut cost and boost revenues and earnings.

BASF, which reported an 8 per cent increase in sales during the quarter ended 30 September 2018, to 15.6 billion on the back of higher sales, however, saw its earnings before interest and taxes decline by 14 per cent to 1.5 billion, mainly due to lower contribution from the chemicals segment

Reports said BASFs new Chief Executive Martin Brudermueller is planning to sell the groups Construction Chemicals unit or find a merger partner for it, as part of his efforts to boost the groups revenues.

BASFs Construction Chemicals unit is the worlds largest maker of chemical additives for concrete. Its products have been used in some of the prestigeous projects, including construction of the worlds longest railway tunnel in Switzerland as well as Londons new underground train line - the Elizabeth line.

However, the unit has failed to bring enough cash for BASF to let it compete successfully on its own over the longer term.

Neither are we satisfied with the (group) business development nor with our share price development, Brudermueller told journalists in a conference call after the chemicals giant released third-quarter results.

Brudermueller, who took over in May, is scheduled to outline his strategic vision in more detail on 20 November after reviewing more portfolios. But, he said, the decision on construction chemicals did not imply a policy change.

The unit has a very low degree of integration into the rest of the BASF network and it does not fully meet our expectations regarding profitability, said finance chief Hans-Ulrich Engel.

Construction Chemicals had sales of 2.4 billion euros ($2.7 billion) in 2017 with about 7,000 staff and Baader Helvea analyst Markus Mayer said it could be valued at 2.4 billion-3 billion euros.
A young Ballyshannon woman told a court she was haunted by the fact that she could have died in a pool of blood in the middle of the street, after she was the victim of a vicious and sustained attack from another woman.

I was nearly beaten to death, Rebecca Kennedy told Donegal Circuit Court.

I still find it hard to believe that it took three hours for the blood to be taken from my hair.

When I looked at the CCTV of the incident I could not believe I had survived.

Ms Kennedy said her life changed forever after she was repeatedly punched in the head by 30-year-old Guanita Brady, Bates Park, Greenisland, County Antrim and kicked in the head once by the defendants father Gerard Brady (55), Laughill, Belleek, County Fermanagh as she lay in the street in Market Street ,Ballyshannon after an altercation with the Bradys on February 5 last year.

Both defendants admitted assault causing harm to Rebecca Kennedy at Market Street, Ballyshannon on February 5 last year.

Guanita Brady also admitted assaulting Simon Ferris on the same date.

Ms Kennedy added in her written victim impact statement, which she read in court:

I was hurt so bad I did not believe I would survive.

When I woke up in the hospital, I thought I was in a car accident.

From being a strong, confident and ambitious person, I am a shadow of what I used to be.

She added she was now suffering from depression and post traumatic stress disorder, had dark nightmares and had spent her savings on medical care.

Gerard Brady and Guanita Brady. Picture: Thomas Gallagher

Her boyfriend Simon Ferris, whom Guanita Brady admitted commonly assaulting, told the court in his victim impact statement said he thought his girlfriend was dead when he saw her on the street.

Her body was battered and bruised and she was unconscious.

He said that both their lives had altered irrevocably and they were fearful and could not go into places that they used to.

Simon Ferris said the couple stayed in at night.

The court heard earlier that the Bradys had assaulted the victim following an earlier incident in the smoking room of Dicey Reillys public house.

Garda Meehan told the court that gardai found Rebecca Kennedy unresponsive when they arrived at the scene.

The garda said CCTV evidence shown in court, showed Guanita Brady with her right knee on the injured partys head and repeatedly striking her to the head after grabbing her by her hair and pulling her to the ground.

The accused struck Rebecca Kennedy 13 times on the head and the CCTV also showed Gerard Brady walk towards the two women and kick the injured party once in the head.

At voluntary interview both Bradys made admissions and expressed remorse with Gerard Brady saying he was drunk and hoped the injured party recovered, the court heard.

He said he was 54 and had never been in trouble before.

Guanita Brady asked if Rebecca Kennedy was okay.

A tearful Brady added:

I cant believe I did that to that poor girl and I dont know where that anger came from.

She said she had been drunk and had been on medication.

Medical reports read out in court said Rebecca Kennedy was taken to Sligo General Hospital and was unconscious on arrival and had a tube inserted in her nose.

She was disorientated and had pains in her head.

The injured party was brought back to the hospital for further tests before being discharged.

Defence counsel for Gerard Brady, Peter Nolan BL said the assault was entirely out of character.

Gerard Brady had been drinking heavily when he saw his daughter bleeding from an ear where an earring had been pulled from her ear.

Mr. Nolan said his client went out to the street and went over to the two fighting ladies, so there was a context to this matter.

He kicked Rebecca Kennedy in the head

Mr. Nolan said this was not a random attack but none of it was excusable

Mr Nolan said it was an appalling tragedy that should never have happened to two families who had been out celebrating and it turned into a nightmare for all concerned.

Gerard Brady did not know how he lost his temper, but he accepted that he lost it.

And why he kicked this young defenceless woman was a mystery.

Mr Nolan said the consequences for Gerard Brady would be the loss of his job as a respected carer with the HSE for 24 years, and his daughter Guanita had already lost her job.

Two families lives have been affected by something that should not have happened.

Mr Brady is not a criminal, he is someone who has committed a criminal act.

He had pleaded guilty before he saw the CCTV evidence, his remorse was genuine and he was disgusted with himself.

Character references were produced in court including one from Canon Ramon Munster on behalf of the defendant.

The Probation Service in Northern Ireland had assessed him as being at a low risk of re-offending and would be suitable for a Community Service Order.

Mr Nolan said this matter had been all over social media and Gerard Brady had got some obnoxious messages.

The counsel said there was another avenue open to Ms Kennedy if she chose to use it.

Counsel for Guanita Brady Mr Toner said his client was 30-years-of-age and should have an incredible career in front of her.

She was out celebrating a birthday and an altercation had taken place with Guanita Brady, Rebecca Kennedy and other persons not before the court earlier.

But she took full responsibility and made full admissions for what had happened

And while alcohol was a factor it was never an excuse, the counsel added.

There was a psychiatric report and the mix of alcohol and medication was not a wise choice.

Guanita Brady had a Phd in Software Engineering and was a lecturer in Belfast Metropolitan College at the time of the incident.

But on the following day of an earlier sitting, an article appeared in the Belfast Telegraph and matters appeared on social media which resulted in the defendant being called to a meeting and given an ultimatum of resigning or being dismissed from her job, the counsel said.

She had struggled to get another job and had to declare the matter before the court, but had re-trained since and was now in different employment.

Academically, the world should be her oyster, said the counsel.

Ms Brady had made an early guilty plea, had suffered mentally and societally, had lost her previous job and has to face up to the fact that people will know her.

But she had not run away but stayed in Northern Ireland.

She said she wished she could explain why she did the act but cant.

Owing to her age, she has suffered even more than her father on social media and was a lecturer who unfortunately lost her position.

A Probation Report from Northern Ireland was very positive.

She was at a low level of being likely to re-offend.

And she would be suitable for a Community Service Order.

Judge John Aylmer said this was a very troubling case that would need careful consideration.

He adjourned sentencing until December 4.
Two-year data for Novartis brolucizumab reaffirm superiority versus aflibercept in reducing retinal fluid in patients with nAMD

Basel, 27 October, 2018 - Novartis announced additional brolucizumab Phase III results from year two that reaffirmed its positive year one findings. Brolucizumab met its primary endpoint of non-inferiority versus aflibercept in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and exhibited superiority in key retinal outcomes at year one (48 weeks)[1],[2]. Secondary endpoints at year two (96 weeks) reaffirmed superiority of brolucizumab 6 mg in reduction of retinal fluid, an important marker of disease activity in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD)[1],[3]. Approximately 20 to 25 million people are affected by nAMD, also known as wet AMD, a leading cause of blindness worldwide[4],[5].

The year two HAWK and HARRIER findings demonstrated that fewer patients with nAMD had intra-retinal fluid (IRF) and/or sub-retinal fluid (SRF) - key markers used by physicians to determine injection frequency in clinical practice - with brolucizumab 6 mg versus aflibercept at week 96 [24% for brolucizumab 6 mg vs. 37% for aflibercept in HAWK (P=0.0001); 24% vs. 39%, respectively, in HARRIER (P<0.0001)][1]*.

Additionally, brolucizumab 6 mg patients continued to demonstrate reductions in central subfield thickness (CST) at week 96[1]. An increase in CST in nAMD is an important measure of abnormal fluid accumulation and edema and may result in reduced vision. Absolute reductions in CST from baseline were -175 m for brolucizumab 6 mg versus -149 m for aflibercept in HAWK (P=0.0057) and -198 m versus -155 m, respectively, in HARRIER (P<0.0001)[1]*.

Also at week 96, fewer brolucizumab 6 mg patients had sub-retinal pigment epithelium (sub-RPE) fluid (11% for brolucizumab 6 mg vs. 15% for aflibercept in HAWK; 17% vs. 22%, respectively, in HARRIER)[1]. Additionally, of the patients on brolucizumab 6 mg who successfully completed year one on a 12-week dosing interval, 82% in HAWK and 75% in HARRIER were maintained on a 12-week dosing interval in year two[1].

"These findings at year two reaffirm the excellent year one brolucizumab data regarding retinal fluid reduction, a key goal for physicians treating patients with nAMD," said Dr. Pravin U. Dugel, Managing Partner, Retinal Consultants of Arizona; Clinical Professor, Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California; and principal investigator of both trials. "These consistent results continue to support brolucizumab as a potential new treatment for patients with nAMD."

As previously announced, HAWK and HARRIER met their primary endpoint of non-inferiority in mean change in BCVA at week 48 with brolucizumab versus aflibercept[2]. Brolucizumab maintained robust visual gains in year two, with mean change in BCVA of 5.9 letters for brolucizumab 6 mg versus 5.3 letters for aflibercept in HAWK, and 6.1 letters versus 6.6 letters, respectively, in HARRIER[1].

"Over two years, brolucizumab consistently dried retinal fluid better than aflibercept while keeping many patients on a quarterly dosing schedule. Additionally, the robust visual gains shown in year one with brolucizumab were maintained in year two," said Shreeram Aradhye, Global Head Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "With sustained improvements in key anatomical outcomes that denote disease activity, brolucizumab is an important scientific advance and underscores our commitment to reimagining medicine."

No new, previously unreported types of safety events were identified at week 96, and brolucizumab continued to be comparable to aflibercept with the overall incidence of adverse events balanced across all treatment groups in both studies[1]. The most frequent ocular adverse events (>=5% of patients in any treatment arm) were reduced visual acuity, conjunctival hemorrhage, vitreous floaters, eye pain, dry eye, retinal hemorrhage, cataract and vitreous detachment[1]. The most frequent non-ocular adverse events were typical of those reported in a nAMD population; there were no notable differences between arms[1].

These new 96-week data, based on pre-specified secondary endpoints from the HAWK and HARRIER trials, were presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2018 Annual Meeting as a follow-up to the year one data presented in November 2017[1],[2].

About brolucizumab (RTH258)

Brolucizumab (RTH258) is a humanized single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) and the most clinically advanced, humanized single-chain antibody fragment to reach this stage of development. Single-chain antibody fragments are highly sought after in drug development due to their small size, enhanced tissue penetration, rapid clearance from systemic circulation and drug delivery characteristics[6],[7],[8].

The proprietary innovative structure results in a small molecule (26 kDa) with potent inhibition of, and high affinity to, all VEGF-A isoforms[6],[9]. In preclinical studies, brolucizumab inhibited activation of VEGF receptors through prevention of the ligand-receptor interaction[6],[8],[9]. Increased signaling through the VEGF pathway is associated with pathologic ocular angiogenesis and retinal edema[10]. Inhibition of the VEGF pathway has been shown to inhibit the growth of neovascular lesions, resolve retinal edema and improve vision in patients with chorioretinal vascular diseases[11].

About HAWK and HARRIER study design

With more than 1,800 patients across 400 centers worldwide, HAWK (NCT02307682) and HARRIER (NCT02434328) are the first and only global head-to-head trials in patients with nAMD that prospectively demonstrated efficacy at week 48 using an innovative q12w/q8w regimen, with a majority of patients on q12w immediately following the loading phase[2],[12],[13]. Both studies are 96-week prospective, randomized, double-masked multi-center studies and part of the Phase III clinical development of brolucizumab[12],[13].

The studies were designed to compare the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injections of brolucizumab 6 mg (HAWK and HARRIER) and 3 mg (HAWK only) versus aflibercept 2 mg in patients with nAMD[12],[13]. In both trials, patients were randomized to either brolucizumab or aflibercept. Immediately following the 3-month loading phase, patients in the brolucizumab arms received a q12w dosing interval with an option to adjust to a q8w dosing interval based on masked disease activity assessments at defined visits. Aflibercept was dosed bi-monthly according to its label at the time of study initiation[2],[12],[13].

Brolucizumab met the primary efficacy objective of non-inferiority versus aflibercept in mean change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline to week 48 with high statistical significance[2]. Additionally, brolucizumab demonstrated superiority in three secondary endpoints considered key parameters of nAMD: central subfield retinal thickness, retinal fluid (intraretinal fluid and/or subretinal fluid) and disease activity[2].

At year two, the most frequent ocular adverse events (>=5% of patients in any treatment arm) for brolucizumab 3 mg, 6 mg and aflibercept, respectively, in HAWK were conjunctival hemorrhage (10.9%, 8.1% and 8.9%), reduced visual acuity (9.5%, 6.1% and 8.1%), vitreous floaters (7.3%, 6.1% and 4.4%), eye pain (7.8%, 5.0% and 5.8%), retinal hemorrhage (3.9%, 5.8% and 5.6%), cataract (5.0%, 5.6% and 3.6%), vitreous detachment (6.7%, 5.3% and 5.3%) and dry eye (5.6%, 5.3% and 7.2%)[1]. The incidences of these events for brolucizumab 6 mg and aflibercept, respectively, in HARRIER were conjunctival hemorrhage (4.6% and 5.1%), reduced visual acuity (8.6% and 7.0%), vitreous floaters (4.1% and 1.4%), eye pain (3.5% and 5.1%), retinal hemorrhage (3.2% and 1.1%), cataract (3.0% and 11.7%), vitreous detachment (2.7% and 2.2%) and dry eye (2.7% and 3.0%)[1].

About neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD or wet AMD)

nAMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss and legal blindness in people over the age of 65 in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, impacting an estimated 20 to 25 million people worldwide[4],[5]. nAMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels form underneath the macula, the area of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. These blood vessels are fragile and leak fluid, disrupting the normal retinal architecture and ultimately causing damage to the macula[14],[15],[16].

Early symptoms of nAMD include distorted vision or metamorphopsia and difficulties seeing objects clearly[17]. Prompt diagnosis and intervention are essential. As the disease progresses, cell damage increases, further reducing vision quality. This progression can lead to a complete loss of central vision, leaving the patient unable to read, drive or recognize familiar faces[14]. Without treatment, vision can rapidly deteriorate[18].

About Novartis in ophthalmology

For more than 70 years, patients, caregivers and healthcare providers worldwide have looked to Novartis for state-of-the-art treatments in eye diseases. We continue to invest in science as well as in strategic alliances to help ensure patients have access to screening, diagnosis, and our eye medicines. Our commitment to vision extends globally across ages, from premature infants to seniors, from rare diseases to those affecting millions, from eye drops to gene therapies. Our aspiration: reimagining eye care to help everyone see possibilities.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plan," "expect," "anticipate," "look forward," "believe," "committed," "investigational," "pipeline," "launch," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political and economic conditions; safety, quality or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2017, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.1 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 125,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

References

[1] Dugel P, et al. Phase 3, randomized, double-masked, multi-center trials of brolucizumab versus aflibercept for neovascular AMD: 96-week results from the HAWK and HARRIER studies. Presented at: The American Academy of Ophthalmology on October 27, 2018, Chicago.

[2] Dugel P, et al. HAWK & HARRIER: 48-week results of 2 multi-centered, randomized, double-masked trials of brolucizumab versus aflibercept for neovascular AMD. Presented at: The American Academy of Ophthalmology on November 10, 2017, New Orleans.

[3] Arnold J, et al. The role of sub-retinal fluid in determining treatment outcomes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration--a phase IV randomised clinical trial with ranibizumab: the FLUID study. BMC Ophthalmol. 2016;143(4):679-680.

[4] Chopdar A, et al. Age related macular degeneration. BMJ. 2003;26(7387):485-488.

[5] Schmidt-Erfurth U, et al. Guidelines for the management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration by the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA). Br J Ophthalmol. 2014;98:1144-1167.

[6] Escher D, et al. Single-chain antibody fragments in ophthalmology. Oral presentation at EURETINA congress. 2015. Abstract.

[7] Nimz EL, et al. Intraocular and systemic pharmacokinetics of brolucizumab (RTH258) in nonhuman primates. The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting. 2016. Abstract 4996.

[8] Gaudreault J, et al. Preclinical pharmacology and safety of ESBA1008, a single-chain antibody fragment, investigated as potential treatment for age related macular degeneration. ARVO Annual Meeting abstract. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2012;53:3025. http://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2354604 (link is external). Accessed October 2018.

[9] Tietz J, et al. Affinity and Potency of RTH258 (ESBA1008), a Novel Inhibitor of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A for the Treatment of Retinal Disorders. IOVS. 2015; 56(7):1501.

[10] Qazi Y, et al. Mediators of ocular angiogenesis. J. Genet. 2009;88(4):495-515.

[11] Kim R. Introduction, mechanism of action and rationale for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs in age-related macular degeneration. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2007;55(6):413-415.

[12] ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier NCT02307682. Available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02307682 (link is external). Accessed October 2018.

[13] ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier NCT02434328. Available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02434328 (link is external). Accessed October 2018.

[14] World Health Organization. Priority eye diseases: Age-related macular degeneration. Available at http://www.who.int/blindness/causes/priority/en/index7.html (link is external). Accessed October 2018.

[15] NHS Choices. Macular Degeneration. Available at http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Macular-degeneration/Pages/Introduction.aspx (link is external). Accessed October 2018.

[16] National Eye Institute. Facts About Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Available at https://nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts (link is external). Accessed October 2018.

[17] NHS Choices. Macular degeneration - Symptoms. Available at http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Macular-degeneration/Pages/Symptoms.aspx (link is external). Accessed October 2018.

[18] van Lookeren Campagne M, et al. Mechanisms of age-related macular degeneration and therapeutic opportunities. J Pathol. 2014; 232(2):151-64. doi: 10.1002/path.4266.

Source: Novartis

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The local family of two-year-old Zoe Murphy, who has Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, are organising a fundraising Table Quiz in The Lisdoo Arms to raise some money towards Zoe's upcoming US surgery.

The Table Quiz will take place in The Lisdoo Arms on Friday 2nd November at 8pm.

Zoe Murphy's family said: "Needless to say this particular cause is very close to all our hearts in the family and we sincerely hope that our extended family of friends work colleagues and acquaintances will support us in our efforts to raise much-needed monies for Zoes Appeal Fund.

"Entrance to the Table Quiz is 40 per team of 4 and in addition, any support by way of sponsorship, donations, vouchers/prizes etc for an Auction/Raffle will be very much appreciated and will greatly contribute to our fundraising."

Zoe Murphy has Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, the most severe type of Cerebral Palsy in which all four limbs are affected. She also has PVL brain injury. In an attempt to give Zoe the best possible opportunity, at a somewhat normal life, an appeal fund has been established to try to raise the necessary finances to fund a potentially life-changing operation for Zoe in America which will cost 100,000.

The procedure, Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, aims to selectively destroy problematic nerve roots in the spinal cord, thereby potentially eradicating spasticity as Zoes bones/muscles continue to grow. It is imperative, to the potential success of this procedure, that the operation is carried out on Zoe whilst she is aged between 2 and 4 years old.

See the Facebook event for the quiz here: www.facebook.com/events/259508998037701/

READ: Dundalk mum calls for local businesses to get behind Zoe Murphy Appeal
(Photo: REUTERS / Eric Thayer)Orthodox Jews dance during the 12th Siyum HaShas, a celebration marking the completion of the Daf Yomi, a seven-and-a-half-year cycle of studying texts from the Talmud, the canon of Jewish religious law, at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford New Jersey August 1, 2012. More than 90,000 Orthodox Jews are expected to gather at the stadium for the event which involves speeches, singing and dancing, according to the organizers. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

Religious Jews in the United States are shrinking in numbers, a Pew Research Center survey has found and the statistic worries some followers of Judaism.

Jewish women consider religion to be more important than their male counterparts and an increasing number of Jews are marrying outside of their faith.

"People will be speaking for quite a while about the new Pew report on American Jews, and its depressing outlook for the future of any continuation of Jewish affiliation outside of [Jewish] Orthodoxy," Yitzchok Adlerstein wrote on the Jewish site mondoweiss.net, on October 2.

One-in-five Jews claim they are non-religious, specifically among the millennial generation, suggests the survey, published by Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project on October 1.

"I don't know how to spin this report as being a good news story," Jack Wertheimer, a professor of American Jewish history at the Jewish Theological Seminary, who acted as an adviser to Pew on the study was quoted saying in the The Jewish Daily Forward on October 1. "It's a story of a community that's contracting."

A total of 48 percent of Jews aged 18-49 believe that religion is not at all important in their lives.

BEING JEWISH

Although, eight-in-ten Jews said being Jewish was either very important (46 percent) or somewhat important (34 percent) in their lives, more Jewish women than Jewish men consider religion important.

"Nearly a third of American Jews born after 2000 answered 'none' when asked about their religious affiliation, suggesting that Jewish 'nones' are not only a large group, they're growing," said Greg Smith, director of the religious surveys for the Pew Research Center.

"It's very stark," Alan Cooperman, deputy director of the Pew religion project, said in an interview. "Older Jews are Jews by religion. Younger Jews are Jews of no religion."

The rise of Jewish "nones" connects to the wider American population, where about a third of millennials don't affiliate with organized religion.

Even though many Jews are denying the importance of religion in their lives, seven-in-ten U.S. Jews believe in God or a universal spirit, including one-third who say they are "absolutely certain" about this belief.

Regarding Jewish traditions and practices, seven-in-ten Jews participated in celebrating the Passover holiday last year including 73 percent of young adults aged 18-29 while 55 percent of the same age group participated in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

More than half of Jews (58 percent) married between 2005-2013 took a spouse who was not Jewish. Overall, for Jews by religion, 64 percent have a Jewish spouse while 79 percent Jews of no religion are intermarried.

Pew Research qualifies these numbers by writing, "The relatively small size of the U.S. Jewish population should be taken into account.

MARITAL CHOICES

"If marital choices were purely random, the odds of one Jewish American marrying another Jewish American would be much smaller than the odds of one Protestant marrying another Protestant or one Catholic marrying another Catholic, since Protestants make up nearly half of the U.S. public and Catholics make up roughly a quarter of the overall population."

By wide margins, most Jewish people, religious and non-religious, align with the Democratic Party. This includes 75 percent of millennials and carries over into a 70 percent approval rating for President Barack Obama's performance.

However, there are small groups of conservatives and republicans between Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox Jews.

On the issue of homosexuality, most Jews are strong supporters of gay rights.

This includes 80 percent of Jews by religion and 91 percent of Jews by no religion. For millennial Jews 89 percent support gay rights.

Overall, according to the survey, there has been a long-term decline in the Jewish population since the 1950s in the United States.

Jews by religion have lost members to religious switching, atheism, migration of Hispanic immigrants, intermarriage and mortality. Accordingly, there has been a rise in Jews of no religion. This aligns with the decline in all major U.S. religions.

The Pew Research Center conducted its survey between February 20 and June 23, 2013 with more than 70,000 U.S. Jews. In depth interviews were completed with 3,475 Jews.

According to the survey, less than 2 percent of the entire U.S. adult population is Jewish and those adults with Jewish ancestry or upbringing but no particular religion are now about 0.5 percent.
(Photo: REUTERS / Athar Hussain)Employees of Pakistan's biggest television station Geo TV attend a protest against the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority after the station's license was suspended, in Karachi May 22, 2014. Pakistan's Geo TV said it was ramping up security on Tuesday after it became the object of dozens of blasphemy accusations for playing a song during an interview with an actress.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has attacked hardliners in his country and appealed for calm after the acquittal of Asia Bibi a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy.

In a televised broadcast Oct. 31, Khan said extremists were "inciting [people] for their own political gain", claiming they are "doing no service to Islam," the BBC reported.

He was speaking after the landmark case triggered violent protests by hardliners who support strong blasphemy laws.

Pakistan's Chief Justice Saqib Nisar read out the ruling, saying Asia Bibi could walk free from jail in Sheikupura, near Lahore, immediately if not wanted in connection with any other case.

She was not in court to hear the decision but reacted to the verdict from prison with apparent disbelief.

"I can't believe what I am hearing, will I go out now? Will they let me out, really?" AFP news agency quoted her as saying by phone.

Many Christians around the world rejoiced at the acquittal.

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit "received with joy" the news of the verdict of Bibi's case.

The Pakistani Christian woman, a Roman Catholic, was convicted and sentenced to death under Pakistan's blasphemy laws in 2010.

"We celebrate her acquittal and release together with her, her family and community," said Tveit.

"The WCC has repeatedly called for justice for Asia Bibi, convicted 8 years ago on charges resulting from a village argument in which she was accused by her neighbors of blasphemy."

Tveit further noted that, while this verdict finally corrects the error of her conviction, it cannot undo the injustice of her 8-year-long imprisonment on death row, often in solitary confinement, an ordeal which she has endured with faith and courage.

CHALLENGE OF PAKISTAN BLASPHEMY LAWS

"Nor does it eliminate the many challenges posed by Pakistan's blasphemy laws to all of Pakistan's marginalized religious minorities," he said.

"WCC therefore appeals once again to the Government of Pakistan to review its blasphemy laws, to curb their abuse, and to eliminate discriminatory bias against religious minorities."

Tveit said, "We call for equal citizenship and rights for all Pakistanis regardless of religious affiliation, which is their constitutional right. And we pray for peace and harmony to prevail between all Pakistan's communities."

Open Doors, an organization that advocates for persecuted Christians around the world, rejoiced at the new of Bibi's release.

A spokesman for the organization said, "We are relieved to hear that the Pakistani Supreme Court has dropped the charges against Asia Bibi -- charges that were based simply on her Christian identity and false accusations against her. This decision gives us hope that Pakistan will take additional steps to increase freedom of religion and human rights in the country."

Bibi's lawyer told the BBC she would need to move abroad for her safety.

A 47-year-old laborer, Bibi was convicted in 2010 of insulting the Prophet Muhammad during a row with neighbors.

During her imprisonment she maintained her innocence but spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The Oct. 31 verdict by the Supreme Court sparked demonstrations in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Multan. Clashes with police have been reported.

A leader of the hard-line Islamist Tehreek-i-Labaik party, Muhammad Afzal Qadri, said all three Supreme Court judges "deserve to be killed."

Police sealed off the Red Zone in the capital, Islamabad, where the Supreme Court is located.

Khan said: "Which government can function like this, blackmailed by protests?

"And who suffers due to this? Our Pakistanis. The common people, the poor. You block the roads, you rob people's livelihood...

"This is not the service of Islam, this is enmity with the country. Only anti-State elements talk like this, that kill the judges, start a revolt in army... They are only trying to beef up their vote bank."

in 2011, senior politician Salman Taseer was shot dead by his own bodyguard for voicing support for Asia Bibi and condemning the country's stringent blasphemy laws, CNN reported.

His killer, Mumtaz Qadri, immediately surrendered to police and was later executed, becoming a martyr for many hardline Islamists.

Islam is Pakistan's national religion and underpins its legal system. More than 90 percent of the Pakistan's 2-4 million population are Muslims, most of them, Sunnis, while Christians are a tiny minority.

Public support for the strict blasphemy laws is strong and hardline politicians have often backed severe punishments, partly as a way of shoring up their support base.

But human rights groups have long asserted that the laws have often been used to get revenge after personal disputes, and that convictions are based on thin evidence.

Most those convicted are Muslims or members of the Ahmadi community, but since the 1990s, scores of Christians have been convicted.
(UN Photo/Rick Bajornas)United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at an interfaith tribute at the Park East Synagogue in New York City, in solidarity with those killed and wounded in the massacre in Pittsburgh on 31 October 2018.

Just days after the massacre of 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue by gunman shouting hatred for Jews, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for solidarity against anti-Semitism, while addressing an inter-faith tribute in New York.

It was held Oct. 31 at the historic Park East Synagogue, to honor victims of Saturday's mass-shooting in Pittsburgh.

More than 200 people gathered at the historic synagogue on Manhattan's Upper East Side, including local leaders of different faiths and denominations, who joined diplomats and others to call on all communities to stand "united against hate".

The deadly mass-shooting by a lone gunman at the Tree of Life synagogue, in the US city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during Sabbath celebrations, left 11 people dead and six wounded including four police officers.

"Since I became Secretary-General I have been raising my voice against what I believe is the rise of anti-Semitism in many of our societies, and mainly in my part of the world in Europe, but also importantly in North America" said Guterres, denouncing Saturday's "horrendous act."

Citing other forms of anti-religious hatred being witnessed today  including against Muslims and Christians worldwide  he noted that anti-Semitism is the "oldest and more permanent form of hatred" to have endured "in the history of humankind".

He called for a "strong investment in the social cohesion of societies", he stressed the responsibility of leaders of international organizations, political parties, religions and civil-society organizations.

This is needed to "address the root causes that are undermining" this cohesion and "creating conditions for these forms of hatred to become more and more frequent, and more negative in the way they are expressed."

The remembrance was titled "United against hate," opened with a rendition of the song "Ose Shalom"  which means "make peace" in Hebrew  by the Park East Day School children's choir.

The synagogue's Senior Rabbi, Arthur Schneier is a Holocaust survivor whose family was killed in the Auschwitz Nazi death camp.

He stated in his opening remarks: "I have been through the worst. I have seen the best of Man and the worst of Man, and the best of Man will prevail."

Sheikh Musa Drammeh, Chairman of the Islamic Cultural Center of North America said that "it is time for this nation to rise to the occasion and to make this union a more perfect union and to prohibit hate."

The UN Secretary-General, who previously headed the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, noted he had worked closely with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) during that time, and had tremendous respect for its work.

The Tree of Life Congregation's support for HIAS, was one of the factor's which drove the anti-Semitic gunman to target the synagogue.

"They are a true expression of humanitarianism, but also of humanism and solidarity," he said, regretting that the alleged perpetrator of the attack chose to target an organization that "is the symbol of everything [he considers] good in the world".

Other faith leaders in attendance, expressing their common rejection of all forms of violence, intolerance and anti-Semitism, included Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Catholic Archbishop of New York; Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; and Archbishop Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.
Principals who effectively manage special education in their schools have to be one part lawyer, one part counselorand a little bit fearless.

Thats the assessment from interviews with principals, educators in administrator-prep programs, and researchers who have taken a deep look at successful school leaders.

The need for legal expertise is obvious: The federal government, through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, states, and school districts have created a complex set of rules and policies that govern the education of students with disabilities and often carry the force of law.

The job also requires school leaders to support parents, students, and teachers, many of whom see the principal as the primary arbiter in cases of disagreement. District-level administrators may be a faceless character to most parents.

Principals, on the other hand, are the administrators that they know.

Learning on the Job

The importance and the complexity of the handling of special education shouldnt paralyze school leaders, their peers say. Principals are going to make mistakes. Its how they own up to those mistakes, and try to come up with ways to fix them and improve for the next situation, that matters.

Takeaways for Principals Heres what principals can do to support special education students:  Principals need to know the families of their special education students; it builds trust  Before a students IEP meetings, gather data and observe the child in class  Regularly review the section of the IDEA that outlines a schools legal obligations to special education students

You cant be scared of it, and some people are, said Chris Chism, the principal of Pearl High School in Mississippi, a 1,050-student school that takes its name from the city where it is located. The only way to do that is to get your hands dirty with it.

Tammi Martin, the principal of Highland Primary Center and Hillview Intermediate School, offered similar thoughts. Martin leads two schools that encompass grades K-5 in the Grove City Area district in Pennsylvania; about 900 students are enrolled between them.

The most effective thing I do for my students is know their families, Martin said. " If they trust you, it allows you to be a little more flexible and take risks to make a difference. And once your parents are on the teams with you, its a heck of a lot easier.

Those kinds of skills are often ones that principals have to develop on their own. In terms of training, principals are still not getting enough information in the fundamentals of special education law, let alone the skills that would allow them to nurture a supportive school culture for students with disabilities, said David Bateman, a professor of special education at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. Bateman is the co-author of A Principals Guide to Special Education.

He saw evidence of this personally during a decade spent as a due-process hearing officer, ruling on special education disputes between schools and families. In some smaller districts, the staffing was so sparse that there was no central-office special education administrator to handle disagreements, so the principal would be the one on the hot seat.

I would have principals be the ones who were testifying as a representative of the school district, and it became very, very clear they did not know the basics of special ed, said Bateman. I remember a principal saying: This IEP thing, is this a building-level term or a district term? Because we dont typically use this. 

An IEP, short for individualized education program, is a foundational term in special education. Its a legal document that outlines what special education services students with disabilities will receive, as well as the measurable progress theyre expected to make towards academic as well as functional goals.

The area that principals misunderstand the most, hands down, is discipline procedures, he said.

Their misconception is that kids with disabilities cannot be disciplined, Bateman said. While thats not true, special education law does require schools to take some additional steps to determine if students misbehavior may be a manifestation of their disability.

Gaps in Principal Training

In more recent years, there have been strides in improving training on special education for school leaders, said Belinda Dunnick Karge, a professor of doctoral programs at Concordia University Irvine in California.

She co-wrote a paper called Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities: Experience and Confidence of Principals in 2006. In 2015, she and her co-author, Beth Lasky of California State University-Northridge, decided to replicate the surveys that were the foundation of their first study.

In 2006, more than a third of respondents, all of them principals in California, said they had no direct experience with children with disabilities as part of their credentialing coursework to become principals.

By 2015, that percentage had dropped to 18 percent. But nearly 4 out of 5 respondents in 2015 said they only had one course, Karge said.

Californias principal training standards offer a section on promoting equity for all student groups, but Karge called the standard minimal.

Learning on the job is still the main way that principals gain knowledge about special education. Occasionally, that can lead them astray, Karge said.

If you Google behavior autism, youd probably come up with a ridiculous amount of hits, Karge said. Administrators are in a situation of here and now. They need it to happen immediately, and they cant mess around trying to dig through the massive amount of data. So many people rely on their friends and the web, instead of the research.

At the same time, Karge said, it is important for principals to stay in touch with their peers. And in interviews, school leaders offered several concrete steps they take to keep themselves up-to-date with special education law and poised to create a learning environment that works for all students.

Ideas From the Field

Christine Handy, the president of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, said she would seek out chances for parents of students with disabilities to talk to her one-on-one. Handy, who took a leave of absence from her position as principal of 2,400-student Gaithersburg High School in suburban Washington, said getting face time with families in an informal setting was valuable for building trust.

As a special educator, its something thats near and dear to my heart, she said."The principals have to be the head cheerleader, the head advocate.

McKenna Lewis, a former special educator now in her first year as the principal of James H. Harrison Elementary in Laurel, Md., oversees a 330-student school with a diverse special education and linguistic population. She doesnt attend every IEP meeting, leaving some to other administrators. But she makes time for the more challenging cases. And before she shows up, she gathers data and observes the child in the classroom.

I dont like to just go, Lewis said. When I go, I like to be able to provide insight about the curriculum and the resources. Her goal, she said, is to be a contributing member to the conversation.

Chrystal Griffin, the principal of KIPP Star Middle School in New York, devised a special plan for a group of 5th graders with disabilities struggling with basic academic skills, but for whom retention wasnt appropriate.

Griffin and the staff organized a smaller class, where the 12 students are served by one teacher and get intensive support in reading and math. For other subject areas, they take classes with students who do not have disabilities. Rather than holding them back, that setup allowed those students to continue with their grade level while providing the small group attention they needed to succeed.

But Griffin said creating that class meant shuffling some schedules and staff assignments at the 300-student school, which serves students in grades 5 to 8.

My role is really to think about operationalizing all these really great ideas, Griffin said. There needs to be a willingness to be creative.

Chism, the principal from Mississippi, said every year he reads the section of special education regulations that relates to procedural safeguards IDEA is too big to read, he said, but the procedural safeguards section gets at the heart of a schools legal obligations, including parental consent and notice and dispute resolution options.

And his advice to jump right in and not be afraid comes with real benefits, he said.

Theres no greater feeling than when you have a kid who really struggles, and I get to get on stage, call their name and they get a diploma. This is a kid who can still succeed, he said.
New evidence has emerged that cooperation between local law-enforcement officials and federal immigration authorities can drive immigrant students and their families from schools.

Such voluntary partnerships between the federal government and 55 jurisdictions may have uprooted 300,000 Hispanic children from their schools between 2000 and 2011, according to a Stanford University study released last month.

As the counties that worked with federal immigration agents ramped up enforcement, families with at least one undocumented member fled. Hispanic enrollment in those counties dropped by an average of almost 8 percent within two years of the agreements being adopted, the researchers determined. The study was commissioned by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Amid concerns from educators that the Trump administrations immigration crackdown is depressing student attendance and morale for those who are in immigrant families, school systems are reluctant to tie recent declines to fear of deportation or family separation because they dont know the immigration status of students or their family members.

All the signs are there though, researchers say.

Whether those families fled the country or relocate to so-called sanctuary cities and states that shield undocumented immigrants remains to be seen.

One could hypothesize that people would move from the areas where theres a lot of [law-enforcement] cooperation to the places that are sanctuaries, said Randy Capps, the Migration Policy Institutes director of research for U.S. programs.

But theres this kind of general feeling that nowhere is safe in the U.S. right now because its the Trump administration.

In the Shadows

Federal law prohibits schools and districts from adopting policies that deny or discourage children from enrolling because of immigration status, but what happens off school grounds often affects what happens on school grounds.

In the 55 counties where local police departments signed up for partnerships with Immigration and Customs Enforcementthe shorthand for the federal immigration agencyofficers were trained to act as immigration agents.

According to the Stanford study, the decline in Hispanic students in those counties didnt start until after the agreements were implemented.

Lead researcher Thomas Dee and his team used National Center for Education Statistics data to document the departures, but the data did not allow them to track where the students ended up. An overwhelming number of the children who left those jurisdictions were American citizens enrolled in elementary schools, Dee said.

Part of what motivated this study is how hard it is to study demographic impact among a population that often lives in the shadows, he said. Districts have high-powered incentives to capture everyone in their enrollment accounts, and undocumented residents dont have a disincentive to be included in those accounts the way they might in a very individually focused survey.

While Dee acknowledges that some of the families returned to Mexico or Central America, most probably moved to other parts of the United States that dont have these harmful ICE partnerships, he said. According to the study, the aggressive ICE strategies may contribute to increased dropout risk and lower achievement for Hispanic students.

The number of non-Hispanic students in the districts didnt change during the time period the research covered, and enrollment wasnt affected in similar counties where local officials applied for ICE agreements but were not accepted.

There were also no apparent benefits for the counties that lost students. Student-teacher ratios and the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches remained relatively unchanged, the study found.

In similar counties that did not enter into partnerships with ICE, Hispanic enrollment held steady.

In districts with heavily Hispanic populations, such as Houston and San Antonio, administrators didnt tie slightly declining enrollment numbers in the last couple of years to Trump administration policies. According to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, there are now nearly 80 jurisdictions that partner with ICE.

Schools as Sanctuaries

There are concerns, though, that the threat of raids is affecting enrollment and attendance. In Houston, the citys police chief urged Hispanic families to get their children to class at the start of the school year, reassuring them that ICE wouldnt arrest children or parents on campus. Harris County, where Houston is located, ended its partnership with ICE in February 2017 over concerns about immigration detention.

In California, where all public schools are safe zones and state law restricts the ability of local police to detain people on behalf of federal immigration agents, school leaders dont yet know what to make of enrollment swings.

Decline in enrollment could be attributed to a myriad of reasons including a change in demographics; our school communities are facing increased gentrification and costs of living, homelessness, community violence, trauma, and other mental-health issues, Shannon Harber, the chief communications officer of the Los Angeles Unified schools, said in a statement.

In Las Cruces, New Mexico, a city about 50 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, educators are grappling with how to support immigrant families.

Like others, administrators in the 25,000-student district will not attribute any recent enrollment declines to immigrants fear. But they acknowledge the pressure families are facing.

We cant quantify numbers, but I do know that a lot of our families  this is a rough time for them, given the climate that we have as a nation, said Robert Lozano, the deputy superintendent for equity, innovation, and social justice.

After President Trumps election, leaders in many school systems, including Las Cruces, took high-profile public stances to declare that federal agents cannot come to schools to arrest or even question students or families about their immigration status unless they produce a warrant, subpoena, or similar court order.

Now, educators are working to keep immigrant students not only safe, but also engaged in and motivated about their education.

As a school district, were not here to enforce any type of immigration law, said Lozano.

Were here to educate students, and thats our primary job, and thats what were going to stick to.
The San Francisco Unified School District is trying to make its way through the data maze.

For years, much of the school systems data on attendance, academic performance, and student behavior has been stuck in silos, where few teachers and administrators could access it, much less make practical use of it.

And when data is available in the district, too often its out of date, and administrators have questioned its validity and accuracy.

Another complication: When the district has purchased new tech products in the past, its had to figure out if they mesh with existing data systemsand if they dont, theres a scramble to create a workaround.

Now, San Francisco district officials have set out to end those disconnects through the pursuit of interoperability, a strategy for making data more useful and accessibleand a driver of classroom improvements, rather than an impediment.

Melissa Dodd, the San Francisco districts chief technology officer, is running the point on those efforts. Now in her third year in the 57,000-student district, Dodd and other administrators are trying to build a system that churns out actionable data that helps the district reach its academic and administrative goals . Those goals include creating personalized academic pathways for students, finding new ways to motivate them, integrating technology throughout the school day, and re-imagining how space can be used in school buildings.

Education Week Associate Editor Sean Cavanagh recently interviewed Dodd about her districts pursuit of interoperability and what other districts can learn from it.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Where is the San Francisco district in its efforts to move toward interoperability?

Were beyond exploring, and were at a stage of implementation. The journey started before I arrived, in terms of identifying the pain points that teachers, principals, and our senior leadership team were experiencing around data and information. Interoperability gives us a framework and a terminology to describe what were all attempting to dowhich at the end of the day is to make all of our data and information meaningful to our communities.

Whats the core problem you are trying solve?

When I started in San Francisco, one of the first things I heard was that we had a lot of data, but it was in a lot of different places and systems, and that made it not user-friendly. A new system would come online, and wed say, OK, lets figure out how to make our student information system talk with that system. Or how to get another system to talk with this other system. We didnt have a comprehensive, coherent, systematic approach for how we were going to integrate data and make it easily accessible to the end-users.

So where did you begin, in terms of trying to fix the situation?

Were approaching it from a cultural/organizational transformation, as well as from a technology-technical transformation. I dont want to say the technology side is easy, because none of it is really easy. But the harder part is building a common vision, understanding, approach for what we want our end goal to be and how we organize ourselves as a district to enable that. It was really focused on the cultural aspect, the change management thats needed for interoperability to take hold.

We started by looking at building coherence across ourselves as an organization. We formed a data-governance committee, and implemented stronger technology governance, so that when we were interested in bringing a data system online, we asked questions first. One question: Do we have a system that can already serve this purpose and need? If were bringing in another system, how are we integrating data and making it interoperable with our existing system. These are questions we didnt necessarily ask beforehand.

And what stage of the journey are you at now?

Now were at the second partthe technical transformation. Were really building in the technical infrastructure to support this work moving forward. Part of it is weve been consolidating our systems down to an essential few and then implementing data standards, and a technology infrastructure that will help make our data interoperable across all of our systems.

In pursuing interoperability, are you following one standard?

Were implementing the Ed-Fi standard . Were a part of the alliance. Were in year one of a three-year partnership with the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation to help us implement our Ed-Fi standard and to start up an operational data store, as well as a data vault in the cloud. Were starting with our core student data and building out from there, then bringing in our education human-resources data, then ultimately bringing in our operational and financial data.

How long will it be before you get where you want to go?

This year, were focused on setting up the infrastructure, the environment. Thats about a four-month process. But in terms of bringing all of our data in, weve mapped that out over a three-year period. Were also looking how we serve up and make accessible that data and the practices and culture through which we use that data.

Whats an example of how data in your district ends up isolated and of little use, and how interoperability might help?

Heres a great example: Two of our schools recently went through school board-approved name changes. We need to have a common and consistent way of applying the names of those schools into our core data systems. Right now, wed have to do that manually, because a data field in one system doesnt speak to a data field in another.

How would interoperability improve your use of attendance data?

Our attendance data starts with a teacher or school clerk entering data into our system. And there can be multiple pieces of attendance data assigned to that student on any given day. Our students typically start the day in our system as present and our teachers have to take a step to change that to absent or tardy. And then at the secondary level, were taking attendance for each period.

Interoperability: Tips to Consider, Mistakes to Avoid District chief technology officers who are trying to implement interoperability offered suggestions for peers in other school systems. Click here to read their seven pieces of advice.

The data resides within our student information system, and it then gets sent out to various other systems we have. For instance, we have another system that makes attendance calls at a certain time of day, which notifies the parent whether their child is in school that day. It goes to our behavioral system so interventions can take place for that student. And then various reports are run at a school level, at a student level, and at an aggregate levelsuch as showing us the percentage of all students who are chronically absent over a period of time. All of those things require that data from one system gets to another. Currently, to get data from our SIS to our behavior system, theres a 24-hour lag time. And right now, if two people are running an attendance report and doing a report from the start of school to a specific date, then their report is going to be different, because the data is not real-time. Data is more accurate in one system than in another. So having data interoperable means that our codes, our logic, our definitions are consistent across systems, so that its apples to apples.

Are there multiple ed-tech vendors that operate those data systems, and what will you need them to change?

Yes, were working with our student information system [that is produced by a vendor]. Theyll be adopting and implementing Ed-Fi standards, just as we are as a district. Because of how the information flows out of our SIS and into other systems, we can write the interfaces, but we need the core SIS in place and to have an API [Application Programming Interface] in place to pull the data out in a consistent way and into our other systems.

Is that approach similar to how you will try to make interoperability happen through other data systems?

The approach we look for in our data systems is that they either have open systems or APIs in place that can allow districts to extract the data and interact with other systems. Were extracting information from our core SIS. Were then bringing it into an operational data store. And then were serving it up into the other systems we use. So we get away from having to create separate interfaces between systems. We want one interface where all the data comes in and we can then push it out.

How do you believe your interoperability efforts will help teachers and students in the classroom?

Thats ultimately who were serving. We want to make it easier and less burdensome at the school site and in the classroom for our principals and teachers. We want to leverage single sign-on so that were not sending them through so many systems to get information on their students. They should be able to access information through databoards and make meaning out of it. We want the data they have to be more accessible and accurate, and more real-time. They shouldnt have to wait for us to generate some big report for them, so that its a month or two later and its hard for them to make meaning from it.

Where is the San Francisco district when it comes to single sign-on?

About This Report This Education Week examination of school districts pursuit of interoperability is the first of three special reports focused on the needs of K-12 district technology leaders, including chief technology officers. Each report in the series features exclusive results of a new, nationally representative survey of CTOs, conducted by the Consortium for School Networking , which represents K-12 district technology officials.

We do have single sign-on. All usersstudents and adultshave an SFUSD ID and password and our core systems all have single sign-on.

For our teachers, we leverage the same ID and password for the most part. We do that for security purposes. We dont want to have too much access if a teacher steps away from their laptop [in terms of what someone else] would be available to access.

What concerns have you heard from education companies about your interoperability efforts?

Honestly, the vendors weve been working with have been stepping up to the plate, because were clear on what our expectations are and what we need to have in place to do business with them. There has been more of a shift with vendors in that it requires them to rethink their technology and how they play with other vendors. I think groups like Ed-Fi , IMS Global , and Clever are pushing the vendors in a way that makes it clear this is the new normal for districts.

You mentioned your district is using Clever. What is your relationship with that company?

We use Clever for instant log-in, and rostering of digital learning applications and tools for students. We pass data from our SIS and class rosters so that if a teacher is using a particular math digital learning tool, they dont have to set up their classes as well. It comes from their master schedule from our SIS. Theres interoperability around student information. Its really to relieve the burden and extra steps on teachers and for students, and theyre going to one placewe call it our digital backpackwhere they can access our learning tools that they use in our classrooms.

One concern weve heard from districts about interoperability is a fear that if they go with one data standard, such as Ed-Fi or IMS Global, they might be prevented from using an innovative e-tech product down the road. Is that a worry for you?

Its definitely a factor, but Id also say we have a pulse and a check on the likelihood of that in the timeframe were focused on. We didnt feel that it was reason enough to not go with the Ed-Fi standard. Our goal is to be as flexible and adaptable as possible, because technology changes and evolves. But the reality for us is that to bring out some new platform or new tool, with our governance process, our intake process, and our decisionmaking, we take a 12-18 month view. Well work with vendors to integrate them into our environment.

Also, districts have been talking about interoperability for many years now. What I see now, with the districts that are part of the Ed-Fi alliancesimilar to IMS Globalare the economies of scale. More of us are harnessing our buying power and the influence we have to push the technology sector to make the shift with us.
MIT researchers have developed a novel "unsupervised" language translation model -- meaning it runs without the need for human annotations and guidance -- that could lead to faster, more efficient computer-based translations of far more languages.

Translation systems from Google, Facebook, and Amazon require training models to look for patterns in millions of documents -- such as legal and political documents, or news articles -- that have been translated into various languages by humans. Given new words in one language, they can then find the matching words and phrases in the other language.

But this translational data is time consuming and difficult to gather, and simply may not exist for many of the 7,000 languages spoken worldwide. Recently, researchers have been developing "monolingual" models that make translations between texts in two languages, but without direct translational information between the two.

In a paper being presented this week at the Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing, researchers from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) describe a model that runs faster and more efficiently than these monolingual models.

The model leverages a metric in statistics, called Gromov-Wasserstein distance, that essentially measures distances between points in one computational space and matches them to similarly distanced points in another space. They apply that technique to "word embeddings" of two languages, which are words represented as vectors -- basically, arrays of numbers -- with words of similar meanings clustered closer together. In doing so, the model quickly aligns the words, or vectors, in both embeddings that are most closely correlated by relative distances, meaning they're likely to be direct translations.

In experiments, the researchers' model performed as accurately as state-of-the-art monolingual models -- and sometimes more accurately -- but much more quickly and using only a fraction of the computation power.

"The model sees the words in the two languages as sets of vectors, and maps [those vectors] from one set to the other by essentially preserving relationships," says the paper's co-author Tommi Jaakkola, a CSAIL researcher and the Thomas Siebel Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society. "The approach could help translate low-resource languages or dialects, so long as they come with enough monolingual content."

The model represents a step toward one of the major goals of machine translation, which is fully unsupervised word alignment, says first author David Alvarez-Melis, a CSAIL PhD student: "If you don't have any data that matches two languages ... you can map two languages and, using these distance measurements, align them."

Relationships matter most

Aligning word embeddings for unsupervised machine translation isn't a new concept. Recent work trains neural networks to match vectors directly in word embeddings, or matrices, from two languages together. But these methods require a lot of tweaking during training to get the alignments exactly right, which is inefficient and time consuming.

Measuring and matching vectors based on relational distances, on the other hand, is a far more efficient method that doesn't require much fine-tuning. No matter where word vectors fall in a given matrix, the relationship between the words, meaning their distances, will remain the same. For instance, the vector for "father" may fall in completely different areas in two matrices. But vectors for "father" and "mother" will most likely always be close together.

"Those distances are invariant," Alvarez-Melis says. "By looking at distance, and not the absolute positions of vectors, then you can skip the alignment and go directly to matching the correspondences between vectors."

That's where Gromov-Wasserstein comes in handy. The technique has been used in computer science for, say, helping align image pixels in graphic design. But the metric seemed "tailor made" for word alignment, Alvarez-Melis says: "If there are points, or words, that are close together in one space, Gromov-Wasserstein is automatically going to try to find the corresponding cluster of points in the other space."

For training and testing, the researchers used a dataset of publicly available word embeddings, called FASTTEXT, with 110 language pairs. In these embeddings, and others, words that appear more and more frequently in similar contexts have closely matching vectors. "Mother" and "father" will usually be close together but both farther away from, say, "house."

Providing a "soft translation"

The model notes vectors that are closely related yet different from the others, and assigns a probability that similarly distanced vectors in the other embedding will correspond. It's kind of like a "soft translation," Alvarez-Melis says, "because instead of just returning a single word translation, it tells you 'this vector, or word, has a strong correspondence with this word, or words, in the other language.'"

An example would be in the months of the year, which appear closely together in many languages. The model will see a cluster of 12 vectors that are clustered in one embedding and a remarkably similar cluster in the other embedding. "The model doesn't know these are months," Alvarez-Melis says. "It just knows there is a cluster of 12 points that aligns with a cluster of 12 points in the other language, but they're different to the rest of the words, so they probably go together well. By finding these correspondences for each word, it then aligns the whole space simultaneously."

The researchers hope the work serves as a "feasibility check," Jaakkola says, to apply Gromov-Wasserstein method to machine-translation systems to run faster, more efficiently, and gain access to many more languages.

Additionally, a possible perk of the model is that it automatically produces a value that can be interpreted as quantifying, on a numerical scale, the similarity between languages. This may be useful for linguistics studies, the researchers say. The model calculates how distant all vectors are from one another in two embeddings, which depends on sentence structure and other factors. If vectors are all really close, they'll score closer to 0, and the farther apart they are, the higher the score. Similar Romance languages such as French and Italian, for instance, score close to 1, while classic Chinese scores between 6 and 9 with other major languages.

"This gives you a nice, simple number for how similar languages are ... and can be used to draw insights about the relationships between languages," Alvarez-Melis says.

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Related links

Paper: "Gromov-Wasserstein Alignment of Word Embedding Spaces" http://arxiv.org/pdf/1809.00013.pdf

ARCHIVE: Reading a neural network's mind http://news.mit.edu/2017/reading-neural-network-mind-1211

ARCHIVE: How neural networks think http://news.mit.edu/2017/how-neural-networks-think-0908

ARCHIVE: Machine-learning system tackles speech and object recognition, all at once http://news.mit.edu/machine-learning-image-object-recognition-0918
Artificial intelligence--specifically, machine learning--is a part of daily life for computer and smartphone users. From autocorrecting typos to recommending new music, machine learning algorithms can help make life easier. They can also make mistakes.

It can be challenging for computer scientists to figure out what went wrong in such cases. This is because many machine learning algorithms learn from information and make their predictions inside a virtual "black box," leaving few clues for researchers to follow.

A group of computer scientists at the University of Maryland has developed a promising new approach for interpreting machine learning algorithms. Unlike previous efforts, which typically sought to "break" the algorithms by removing key words from inputs to yield the wrong answer, the UMD group instead reduced the inputs to the bare minimum required to yield the correct answer. On average, the researchers got the correct answer with an input of less than three words.

In some cases, the researchers' model algorithms provided the correct answer based on a single word. Frequently, the input word or phrase appeared to have little obvious connection to the answer, revealing important insights into how some algorithms react to specific language. Because many algorithms are programmed to give an answer no matter what--even when prompted by a nonsensical input--the results could help computer scientists build more effective algorithms that can recognize their own limitations.

The researchers will present their work on November 4, 2018 at the 2018 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing.

"Black-box models do seem to work better than simpler models, such as decision trees, but even the people who wrote the initial code can't tell exactly what is happening," said Jordan Boyd-Graber, the senior author of the study and an associate professor of computer science at UMD. "When these models return incorrect or nonsensical answers, it's tough to figure out why. So instead, we tried to find the minimal input that would yield the correct result. The average input was about three words, but we could get it down to a single word in some cases."

In one example, the researchers entered a photo of a sunflower and the text-based question, "What color is the flower?" as inputs into a model algorithm. These inputs yielded the correct answer of "yellow." After rephrasing the question into several different shorter combinations of words, the researchers found that they could get the same answer with "flower?" as the only text input for the algorithm.

In another, more complex example, the researchers used the prompt, "In 1899, John Jacob Astor IV invested $100,000 for Tesla to further develop and produce a new lighting system. Instead, Tesla used the money to fund his Colorado Springs experiments."

They then asked the algorithm, "What did Tesla spend Astor's money on?" and received the correct answer, "Colorado Springs experiments." Reducing this input to the single word "did" yielded the same correct answer.

The work reveals important insights about the rules that machine learning algorithms apply to problem solving. Many real-world issues with algorithms result when an input that makes sense to humans results in a nonsensical answer. By showing that the opposite is also possible--that nonsensical inputs can also yield correct, sensible answers--Boyd-Graber and his colleagues demonstrate the need for algorithms that can recognize when they answer a nonsensical question with a high degree of confidence.

"The bottom line is that all this fancy machine learning stuff can actually be pretty stupid," said Boyd-Graber, who also has co-appointments at the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS) as well as UMD's College of Information Studies and Language Science Center. "When computer scientists train these models, we typically only show them real questions or real sentences. We don't show them nonsensical phrases or single words. The models don't know that they should be confused by these examples."

Most algorithms will force themselves to provide an answer, even with insufficient or conflicting data, according to Boyd-Graber. This could be at the heart of some of the incorrect or nonsensical outputs generated by machine learning algorithms--in model algorithms used for research, as well as real-world algorithms that help us by flagging spam email or offering alternate driving directions. Understanding more about these errors could help computer scientists find solutions and build more reliable algorithms.

"We show that models can be trained to know that they should be confused," Boyd-Graber said. "Then they can just come right out and say, 'You've shown me something I can't understand.'"

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In addition to Boyd-Graber, UMD-affiliated researchers involved with this work include undergraduate researcher Eric Wallace; graduate students Shi Feng and Pedro Rodriguez; and former graduate student Mohit Iyyer (M.S. '14, Ph.D. '17, computer science).

The research presentation, "Pathologies of Neural Models Make Interpretation Difficult," Shi Feng, Eric Wallace, Alvin Grissom II, Pedro Rodriguez, Mohit Iyyer, and Jordan Boyd-Graber, will be presented at the 2018 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing on November 4, 2018.

This work was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Award No. HR0011-15-C-011) and the National Science Foundation (Award No. IIS1652666). The content of this article does not necessarily reflect the views of these organizations.

Media Relations Contact: Matthew Wright, 301-405-9267, mewright@umd.edu

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The College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland educates more than 9,000 future scientific leaders in its undergraduate and graduate programs each year. The college's 10 departments and more than a dozen interdisciplinary research centers foster scientific discovery with annual sponsored research funding exceeding $175 million.
Scientists have used detailed high-resolution satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies' DigitalGlobe, to detect, count and describe four different species of whales. Reported this week in the journal Marine Mammal Science, this study is a big step towards developing a cost-effective method to study whales in remote and inaccessible places, that will help scientists to monitor population changes and understand their behaviour.

Each species was observed in one of their known aggregation areas, where individuals come together to congregate: southern right whales off Argentina, humpback whales off Hawaii, fin whales in the Pelagos Sanctuary in the Mediterranean and grey whales off the coast of Mexico. Already it has helped whale conservation bodies to identify 10 key inaccessible whale populations that would benefit most from the application of satellite imagery in studies.

Lead author Hannah Cubaynes, a whale ecologist at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and University of Cambridge explains:

"This is the most detailed imagery of whales captured by satellites to date. It's exciting that the improved resolution (now at 30 cm) reveals characteristic features, such as flippers and flukes, which can be seen in the images for the first time.

"Whales live in all oceans. Many areas are difficult to access by boats or planes, the traditional means of monitoring whales. The ability to track whales without travelling to these remote and inaccessible areas, in a cost-effective way, will be of great benefit to conservation efforts for whales."

The study also shows some species are easier to identify by satellite. Fin and grey whales are the easiest to identify due to their body colouration, which contrasts with surrounding water. Humpback whales and southern right whales are more difficult to detect as they are a similar colour to their environment. In particular, the acrobatic behaviour of humpback whales makes them harder to see as they splash about so much and so their body shape is often obscured.

The team studied seven huge images of the open ocean taken by DigitalGlobe's WorldView-3 satellite, covering over 5000 km2 - an area the size of the UK county of Norfolk or the U.S. state of Delaware.

Whale ecologist Dr Jennifer Jackson at BAS, an author on the paper, is due to embark on an expedition to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia in December to study southern right whales. She says:

"This new technology could be a game-changer in helping us to find whales remotely. Critically endangered whale populations like the Chile-Peru right whale (thought to winter in Patagonia) could really benefit from this approach.

"My project, looking at southern right whales around South Georgia, will examine if the species has made a recovery following the end of whaling. In recent years, many deaths have been seen on their nursery grounds at Peninsula Valdes. Satellite-based technology could prove very useful for measuring trends in whale populations such as these southern right whales, in future."

This work was funded by the MAVA Foundation and the UK Natural Environment Research Council. DigitalGlobe provided imagery for this study.

Whales from space: four mysticete species described using new VHR satellite imagery by Hannah C. Cubaynes1, 2, Peter T. Fretwell1, Connor Bamford1, 3, Laura Gerrish1, Jennifer A. Jackson is published in the journal Marine Mammal Science on 27 October. Read the paper here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12544

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Issued by the British Antarctic Survey Press Office:

Athena Dinar, Senior Communications Manager Tel: +44 (0)1223 221441; email: amdi@bas.ac.uk

Layla Batchellier, Press Officer Tel: +44 (0) 1223 221506; laytch@bas.ac.uk

Satellite images and photos of whales are available from the BAS Press Office.

Hannah Cubaynes, University of Cambridge and British Antarctic Survey email: hanbay24@bas.ac.uk

Dr Peter Fretwell, British Antarctic Survey, Tel: +44 (0) 1223 22145; email: ptf@bas.ac.uk

Dr Jennifer Jackson, British Antarctic Survey, Tel: +44 (0) 1223 221358; email: jeck@bas.ac.uk

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Its skilled science and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through its extensive logistic capability and know how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs.

British Antarctic Survey is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). NERC is part of UK Research and Innovation http://www.ukri.org

For more information visit http://www.bas.ac.uk @basnews

About DigitalGlobe

DigitalGlobe is the global leader in commercial high-resolution satellite imagery used by decision makers to better understand our changing planet in order to save lives, resources and time. Sourced from the world's leading constellation, our imagery solutions deliver unmatched coverage and capacity to meet our customers' most demanding mission requirements. Each day customers in defense and intelligence, public safety, civil agencies, map making and analysis, environmental monitoring, oil and gas exploration, infrastructure management, navigation technology, and providers of location-based services depend on DigitalGlobe data, information, technology and expertise to gain actionable insight. DigitalGlobe is a Maxar Technologies company (NYSE: MAXR; TSX: MAXR). For more information visit http://www.DigitalGlobe.com.

About Maxar Technologies

As a global leader of advanced space technology solutions, Maxar Technologies (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates) is at the nexus of the new space economy, developing and sustaining the infrastructure and delivering the information, services, systems that unlock the promise of space for commercial and government markets. As a trusted partner, Maxar Technologies provides vertically integrated capabilities and expertise including satellites, Earth imagery, robotics, geospatial data and analytics to help customers anticipate and address their most complex mission-critical challenges with confidence. With more than 6,500 employees in over 30 global locations, the Maxar Technologies portfolio of commercial space brands includes MDA, SSL, DigitalGlobe and Radiant Solutions. Every day, billions of people rely on Maxar to communicate, share information and data, and deliver insights that Build a Better World. Maxar trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange as MAXR. For more information, visit http://www.maxar.com.
The Undead Archives

I have finally salvaged my pre-Blogger TDR archives and added them into Blogger. They are almost totally in the form of one giant post for each month. And the formatting strayed from the originals. Sorry. But historians everywhere can rejoice that this treasure trove of my thoughts is restored to the world.
Before the damming of the Yangtze River in 1981, Chinese sturgeon swam freely each summer one after another into the river's mouth, continuing upriver while fasting all along the way. They bred in the upper spawning ground the following fall before returning quickly back to the sea. Now, researchers reporting in Current Biology on November 1 offer new insight into the threat the dams have since posed to the critically endangered fish.

"We have established a novel theoretical framework to study the relationship between dams and the fish and to reveal the quantitative mechanism by which dams impact anadromous fish," says Zhenli Huang of the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research. "We have found that the loss of effective breeding and environmental capacity are two crucial factors resulting in an ongoing decline in adult abundances of Chinese sturgeon in the Yangtze River."

The findings likely aren't unique to the Yangtze River, the researchers note. Most of the world's rivers have been dammed. Those dams have long been considered a serious threat to migratory fish around the world. But, scientists hadn't documented all of the ways in which dams affect fish.

To explore in the new study, Huang and study co-author Luhai Wang combined field observations with theoretical analysis of historical data. They wanted to understand something that had already become clear: why the spawning activity of Chinese sturgeon had become more and more difficult to observe in recent years.

The study shows that since 1981, the Gezhouba Dam has reduced the distance of the Chinese sturgeon's migration by 1,175 kilometers. As a result, the fish reach reproductive maturity more than a month (37 days) later. That's because the flow of water as fish swim upstream during migration is an important factor influencing sexual maturity.

That delayed maturity has in turn reduced the effective population size, as there are fewer breeding individuals. The environmental capacity of the new spawning ground has also been reduced, perhaps by almost a quarter. The building of subsequent dams in the last 10 years has also led to an increase in water temperature, which is known to discourage spawning.

Overall, the researchers report that the cascade dams have led to an ongoing decline in the number of adult sturgeon in the Yangtze River and the sea from more than 32,000 before 1981, to 6,000 in 2010, and about 2,500 in 2015. At this rate, they predict, the natural population of Chinese sturgeon will go extinct, perhaps as soon as the next decade.

"The protection of the wild Chinese sturgeon requires effective measures taken immediately," the researchers write. "Artificial restocking, which China has been doing without maintaining breeding activity, is inadequate and unsustainable."

Despite a poor outlook for Chinese sturgeon, the researchers reserve hope that their findings will lead to targeted measures in order to maintain the wild population of endangered species of fish at an appropriate level. They say that lowering the water temperature to a suitable range of 18C-20C during the breeding season is undoubtedly the top priority. They're now working on a follow-up study to explore the dams' effects on the more complex migration of young sturgeon.

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This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Current Biology, Huang and Wang: "Yangtze Dams Increasingly Threaten the Survival of the Chinese Sturgeon" https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(18)31227-2

Current Biology (@CurrentBiology), published by Cell Press, is a bimonthly journal that features papers across all areas of biology. Current Biology strives to foster communication across fields of biology, both by publishing important findings of general interest and through highly accessible front matter for non-specialists. Visit: http://www.cell.com/current-biology. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com.
(NEW YORK) November 1, 2018--Even as more and more American quit smoking cigarettes, individuals with serious psychological distress (SPD) are much less likely to extinguish their habit. A new study by scientists at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and The City University of New York found that individuals with mental health problems quit cigarettes at half the rate of those without psychological distress. The findings are published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

"Overall, tobacco cessation programs have been very successful, but our research suggests that people with mental health problems have not benefitted from these," said Renee Goodwin, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia Mailman School, and senior author.

Using data from the 2008-2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health the researchers analyzed cigarette quit rates among people in the U.S. with and without serious psychological distress in the past month. Symptoms of SPD can include feeling nervous, hopeless, worthless, restless or fidgety, so depressed that nothing can cheer one up.

They found that smokers with serious psychological distress in the past month have approximately half the quit rate compared to those without the condition, 24 percent versus 52 percent. "This trend may be contributing to increasing disparities in smoking rates between those with and without mental health problems," said Goodwin.

Differences in quit rates may be due to whether and to what degree persons with SPD are seen regularly by healthcare providers. But even if they are, these indviduals may be less likely to be offered smoking cessation treatment than those without mental health problems, according to Goodwin and colleagues. "There has been a long-held belief that mental health problems will be exacerbated by quitting smoking and that smoking is helpful to mental health," said Goodwin, "but increasingly data support just the opposite."

An earlier study by Goodwin and colleages found that mental health problems such as depression and anxiety appear to impede successful quitting and sustained abstinence. "It is increasingly clear that tobacco control efforts targeted for those with mental health problems are urgently needed to increase quit rates for this group of smokers and to lower the prevalence of smoking overall," said Goodwin.

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Co-authors are Joanna Streck (first author), University of Vermont; Andrea Weinberger, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Lauren Pacek, Duke University School of Medicine; and Misato Gbedemah, City University of New York.

The research was supported by National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA20892).

Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

Founded in 1922, the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health pursues an agenda of research, education, and service to address the critical and complex public health issues affecting New Yorkers, the nation and the world. The Columbia Mailman School is the third largest recipient of NIH grants among schools of public health. Its over 450 multi-disciplinary faculty members work in more than 100 countries around the world, addressing such issues as preventing infectious and chronic diseases, environmental health, maternal and child health, health policy, climate change & health, and public health preparedness. It is a leader in public health education with over 1,300 graduate students from more than 40 nations pursuing a variety of master's and doctoral degree programs. The Columbia Mailman School is also home to numerous world-renowned research centers, including ICAP and the Center for Infection and Immunity. For more information, please visit http://www.mailman.columbia.edu.
A Drexel University-led research project aimed at studying the health and behavioral effects of medical marijuana use for young adults living in Los Angeles has been renewed for another five years. The project offers a unique opportunity for researchers to track how the state's changing cannabis laws are impacting public health.

California became the first state to establish a medical marijuana program in 1996. In 2013, the National Institutes of Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded the Cannabis, Health, and Young Adults (CHAYA) research project in an effort to better understand the health and social effects of the law. The longitudinal study followed 18 to 26-year-olds - 210 medical cannabis patients and 156 non-patients who used marijuana recreationally - for four years.

Through a series of interviews and surveys, the researchers assessed the study volunteers' drug usage, health and risk behaviors. The project was the first of its kind to look at the habits and health outcomes of medical cannabis use within this age group. One goal was to uncover whether the legalization of medical marijuana led to safer, more controlled use of the drug for patients when compared to non-patient users.

Now, following California's legalization of recreational marijuana use in 2016 and sales in 2018, NIDA has awarded the CHAYA investigators $4.1 million to recruit a new cohort of study volunteers and continue tracking the first group of young adults, some of whom are now ages 25 to 30.

"We'll have four years of data prior to the change in California's cannabis law, and four more years of data following, so we will have a comprehensive picture of how this policy change has affected the health and drug use of young people," said Stephen Lankenau, PhD, a professor at Drexel's Dornsife School of Public Health and the principal investigator of the CHAYA project.

All young adults enrolled in the latest study will participate in four additional follow-up interviews at one-year intervals directed by collaborators Ellen Iverson, and Carolyn Wong, PhD, at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Around 60 of the young adults will participate in three waves of qualitative interviews. A community advisory board comprised of stakeholders in Los Angeles will advise the study investigators on research strategies, findings and implications for policy and practice.

"Once cannabis became legal, a common thought pattern is that everyone is going to use it, and bad things will happen," Lankenau said. "What we're interested in seeing is, how do rates of cannabis use among young people actually change following this legalization? What are the factors that contribute to safer use? Are there experiences that may make some young adults better equipped to use it more safely?"

Lankenau and his colleagues have already published a diverse collection of data from the first four years of the study.

They found, for instance, that the "gateway effect" theory - which purports that the use of cannabis can increase the chances of using harder drugs - did not hold up in this case. Though young adult medical marijuana patients reported significantly greater recent use of the drug than their counterparts who used marijuana for non-medical purposes, the medical marijuana patients misused prescription drugs at lower rates.

Additionally, the researchers found that becoming a medical marijuana user was influenced by a "self-discovery" process for a majority of patients, in which they discovered the medical benefits of cannabis while using the drug recreationally early in adolescence, typically individually or apart from other marijuana users. After they became patients, their interactions with dispensary staff and other patients resulted in more sophisticated medical use of cannabis, such as a better understanding of strains, potency and effects. Finally, the researchers found that medical marijuana patients were significantly more likely to report a range of health conditions and motivations associated with medical use than non-patients. This suggests that young adults' motivations for use were consistent with California's cannabis law at the time of the study.

In this next phase of the study, the investigators plan to continue looking at the over-arching topics of how marijuana laws affect both medical marijuana patients and non-patients, while also zeroing in on more specific questions, such as whether marijuana policies can reduce opioid consumption. They will also observe whether the legalization of marijuana affects the number of users who drive under the influence. Sprawling Los Angeles is a perfect place to observe trend, since most of its young adults or own or drive vehicles. Lankenau and his team also plan to look usage of "high-potency" forms of marijuana, such as edibles, and how those may influence health outcomes.

The research team hypothesizes that legalizing cannabis for personal use will increase cannabis use, other drug use, and risk behaviors among young adult cannabis users, but this increase will vary by patient status (patient vs. non-patient) and orientation towards cannabis use.

"Our long-term goal of the continuing investigation is to inform public policy with study findings on safer and controlled use of cannabis among young adults," Lankenau said.

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Identification of the first luciferin-producing insect belonging to the order Diptera in the Neotropics paves the way for researchers to investigate other biochemical functions of the molecule in these organisms

An insect larva found in the caves of Intervales State Park, an Atlantic Rainforest remnant in the municipality of Ribeirao Grande, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, was initially of no interest to the research group led by biochemist Vadim Viviani, a professor at the Federal University of Sao Carlos (UFSCar) in Sorocaba. The researchers are investigating bioluminescence, the capacity of living organisms to produce their own light.

Nevertheless, the larva of Neoditomyia, a genus of non-luminescent cave worms, proved to be a promising object of study. Although it does not emit light similar to that of other insects of the family Keroplatidae (fungus gnats) in the order Diptera (true flies), this insect produces luciferin, a molecule indispensable for the bioluminescent members of the family.

The discovery is the first of its kind in the Neotropics and has just been published in the journal Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences.

The other 15 species of Keroplatidae that produce luciferin are found in the Appalachian Mountains (USA, one species), New Zealand (eight), Australia (one) and Eurasia (five). All are bioluminescent.

"If what we found here produces luciferin without emitting light, it's possible that the molecule has another biochemical function of which we're unaware," Viviani told.

The cave worm larva found in the Atlantic Rainforest biome does not emit light because its luciferin is only one of the components required to do so. Luciferin is a small molecule that emits light when oxidized (exposed to oxygen). For luciferin to be oxidized and emit light, however, an animal must also produce luciferase, an enzyme that catalyzes the bioluminescent reaction.

This keroplatid's cousins in the northern hemisphere and Oceania produce both molecules and therefore emit light, as do fireflies, glow-worms, and other insects.

The molecular structures of luciferin and luciferase in dipterans and fireflies are completely different and do not react with each other to emit light. Only luciferin and luciferase produced by the same organism can react to emit light.

To determine whether the substance found in the cave worm larva was indeed luciferin, the researchers mixed it with purified luciferase from Orfelia fultonii, the keroplatid species from the Appalachians. To their surprise, the mixture emitted blue light similar to the light emitted by O. fultonii.

Enzymes similar to beetle luciferase have been found in non-luminescent species, but the occurrence of luciferin in terrestrial organisms has so far been limited to luminescent species. Hence, the novelty of this discovery.

In addition to Viviani, the co-authors of the study included postdoctoral researcher Danilo Trabuco do Amaral, and doctoral researcher Vanessa Rezende Bevilaqua, both affiliated with UFSCar and recipients of scholarships from Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP, as well as postdoctoral researcher Rafaela Falaschi, who is affiliated with the University of Ponta Grossa. The study was part of the Thematic Project "Arthropod bioluminescence", which is funded by FAPESP.

Laboratory use

In addition to captivating people who find bioluminescent species at night, the light-emitting substances they produce are widely used for research in medicine, biotechnology, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. Genetic engineering to mark specific cells with bioluminescent substances allows them to be easily observed under a microscope, for example.

"Bioluminescent substances are used to mark cancer cells, test sperm viability, and detect pathogens and even heavy metals in water samples," said Viviani, who chairs the International Society for Bioluminescence & Chemiluminescence (ISBC).

Once it has been fully characterized, the new luciferin may also be used in analytical applications, including as an indicator of specific cells. "We don't yet know all its potential applications, but its chemical composition has peculiarities that could lead to many other uses," Viviani said.

Biotechnology applications of the luciferin-luciferase combination that produces blue light, he recalls, differ from applications of the more energetic luciferin-luciferase reaction that produces yellow-green light in fireflies and glow-worms.

Recent evolution

The authors of the study also tested the larvae of two other dipterans to search for luciferin that interacted with luciferase from O. fultonii.

Arachnocampa luminosa, the New Zealand glow-worm, emits light to lure prey to its cave webs, but laboratory tests showed the bioluminescence of this species to be different because it did not emit light when brought into contact with the Appalachian species.

The same results were observed with Aedes aegypti, demonstrating that the mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever does not have molecules similar to luciferin, or if it does, they do not interact with the tested luciferase.

Nevertheless, the study contributes to the search for bioluminescent substances in other species. The occurrence of luciferin in a non-luminescent larva may indicate that it has a different but equally important biological function in keroplatids. This finding suggests that bioluminescence is a trait that has evolved more recently in insects that already produced luciferin for other biological purposes.

The researchers do not rule out the possibility of applying knowledge of luciferin and luciferase in bioluminescent insects to the control of disease-bearing mosquitos because these molecules are ideal to mark cells and investigate intracellular processes.

"If dipteran luciferin and related compounds do indeed prove to play an important role in the physiology of the organism, we might be able to interfere with mosquito reproduction," Viviani said.

The next stage of the project involves determining the chemical structure of the novel luciferin. Viviani plans to conduct it in collaboration with Cassius Stevani, a professor at the University of Sao Paulo's Chemistry Institute (IQ-USP), and colleagues at other partner institutions.

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About Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

The Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships, and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. For more information: http://www.fapesp.br/en.
Sulphur is found in many different compounds throughout the world - not only in the atmosphere, but also in the oceans and on land. All these manifestations are connected in a cycle. To put things simply, the element in its mineral form is reduced and transferred into organic compounds. These are passed around by organisms before finally reaching the atmosphere, where they are oxidized before they return to the land and seas in the rain. While we have known about this for some time, chemists at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany) and their US colleagues have now discovered a completely unexpected shortcut in the cycle. This process is determined by tiny organisms in the ocean's plankton. The scientists have described their discovery in the latest edition of the renowned research journal Nature.

'We've found that certain single-cell algae and bacteria, which form part of the plankton in the sea, produce a new chemical compound with the complicated name "dimethylsulphoniopropionate", or "DMSOP" for short', explains Prof. Dr Georg Pohnert from the University of Jena. 'This has allowed us to deduce valuable information about the global sulphur cycle, and we can now provide a new explanation for huge quantities of sulphur flow in the cycle. Even though one microalga only produces negligible quantities of the compound, we're talking about several teragrams in total, so several billion kilograms a year'. This is because single-cell algae are incredibly active in the world's oceans. The findings made by Jena's chemists give us a better understanding of the earth's sulphur cycle, which offers important knowledge for atmospheric and climatic models.

Stress protection for algae

However, the information offered by the research results doesn't just help us to better understand the sulphur cycle; the scientists found one reason for the production of DMSOP by investigating how the algae adapt to their environment. 'These single-cell organisms are permanently moving around in the sea, and so they're constantly exposed to different salt contents and oxidative stress', explains Pohnert. 'The new compound now shows how this stress can be balanced out through a sophisticated system of chemical reactions. One way of doing this is by producing and breaking down highly polar organic molecules. And the new sulphurous metabolic product plays a key role here'.

Jena's scientists, whose work was supported by the German Research Foundation's 'ChemBioSys' collaborative research centre, examined water samples from various regions of the oceans, in order to establish whether the production of the sulphurous compound was a global phenomenon. 'We found DMSOP in all samples from the Arctic to the Mediterranean', explains Prof. Pohnert, who also works at the University of Jena's Cluster of Excellence, "Microverse". 'So, producers of the sulphurous compound can be found everywhere'.

These new results have provided the chemists at the University of Jena with important information about the functioning of microbial communities in the ocean, and the results are also relevant for possible applications. 'More and more algae are being grown in aquaculture to produce animal feed, foodstuffs and energy. That's why it's important to fully understand their metabolism', says the expert from Jena. 'Our current insights have once again revealed what an incredibly complex and effective system is hidden away in plankton'.

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Original publication: K. Thume, B. Gebser, L. Chen, N. Meyer, D. Kieber, G. Pohnert: The metabolite dimethylsulfoxonium propionate extends the marine organosulfur cycle, http://www.nature.com, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0675-0

Contact:

Prof. Dr Georg Pohnert

Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Lessingstrasse 8, 07743 Jena

Germany

Phone: +49 (0) 3641 / 948170

Email: georg.pohnert@uni-jena.de
November 1, 2018 - The key to lasting protection against influenza may be in your bones. The cells that naturally protect you against illness originate and live in your bone marrow - and that is one spot where scientists will be looking to understand the human immune system's response to influenza in a groundbreaking new study led by the Human Vaccines Project. The goal is to harness an understanding of the immune system to develop longer lasting protection against the flu.

In the new study, researchers will be conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the human immune system's response to influenza. "What's so exciting about clinical research now is that we have more robust tools than ever to ask questions about the immune system and to understand what makes people respond a certain way to vaccination or infection," says Dr. C. Buddy Creech, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist who directs the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program and is leading the clinical study at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Subjects for the study are healthy men and women who will receive a standard influenza vaccination, and scientists will then take a sweeping range of measurements to analyze individual responses to the shot. Unlike some studies that focus solely on measuring the antibody response to the flu, this study will also include a look at gene regulation, the influence of the microbiome, and other factors, such as whether gender affects immune response. Importantly, the researchers will also take samples after vaccination from participants' lymph nodes and bone marrow where key immune cells reside.

"By sampling the blood frequently and getting samples from lymph nodes and the bone marrow, we can provide one of the most comprehensive studies of the immune response to influenza that scientists have ever been able to undertake," says Wayne Koff, CEO and president of the Human Vaccines Project who presented on this study at the World Vaccine Congress this week in Lisbon, Portugal. "Such work will accelerate the development of more effective influenza vaccines and may lead to the development of a universal influenza vaccine that provides durable protection against influenza even as it changes from year to year. The study will also help elucidate mechanisms of the human immune system that are universal to how people fight disease."

For some pathogens like hepatitis B, scientists know the exact type of immune response needed to provide durable protection through vaccination. For more complex and constantly changing pathogens like influenza, scientists do not yet fully understand what it will take for someone to be immune to the pathogen for a prolonged period of time. This gap in understanding is one of the primary hurdles to developing universal influenza vaccines the provide lasting protection against different strains.

"From the moment many of us arrive in medical school and start seeing patients, we become very curious about why some individuals do not develop a specific infection, why some are seemingly mildly affected by it, and still others are profoundly devastated by what turns out to be the exact same pathogen," Creech explains. "We must seek to understand why the body's response in each case is different."

To find answers, the nonprofit Human Vaccines Project has established a global consortium of researchers to systematically decode the human immune system in order to create better prevention, diagnostics, and treatments for a range of diseases. Under the collaboration, Seqirus, one of the largest influenza vaccine manufacturers in the world, will be providing the vaccine, while Vanderbilt University Medical Center leads the clinical study, with scientists from the University of British Columbia, Telethon Kids Institute in Australia, University of California, San Diego, J. Craig Venter Institute, the Scripps Research Institute, and La Jolla Institute providing expertise and analysis. This network of field-leading scientists is not merely focused on influenza, but seeks to decipher how the immune system responds across various disease areas.

"This study represents the Human Vaccines Project's next step in applying comprehensive measures of the human immune system to specific diseases, in an effort to understand the common principles guiding the generation of protective immunity," says Ian Gust, chairman of the Human Vaccines Project Board of Directors. "Our world-class network is creating a new platform for understanding the human immune system that will allow us to develop a better arsenal for fighting disease."

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The Human Vaccines Project will be convening a scientific summit, "Towards a Universal Influenza Vaccine: Lessons from the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to Now," in collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, November 15-16, 2018 in Nashville, TN. Members of the press are welcome.

About the Human Vaccines Project

The Human Vaccines Project is a bold public-private initiative that aims to decode the human immune system to make the next leap forward in human health. By cracking the code to human health, the Project will enable the creation of next-generation vaccines, diagnostics, and therapies across diseases. Learn more: http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org

About Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is one of the nation's leading academic medical centers and is the largest comprehensive health system in Tennessee. Its core missions are the delivery of patient care, performing biomedical research and training future leaders in health care. Learn more: ww2.mc.vanderbilt.edu

About Seqirus

Seqirus is the second largest influenza vaccine company in the world. With extensive research and production expertise and manufacturing plants in the US, UK, and Australia, Seqirus is a transcontinental partner in pandemic preparedness and a major contributor to the prevention and control of influenza globally. Learn more: http://www.seqirus.com
East Hanover, NJ - November 1, 2018 - John DeLuca, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist and Senior Vice President of Research and Training at Kessler Foundation, is the co-chief editor of the new 2nd edition "Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology". Published by Springer, it is the first major encyclopedia of adult and pediatric neuropsychological disorders. The recently released 2nd edition includes numerous new entries and extensive updates, and is available in print and eBook.

Clinical neuropsychology is an evolving specialty that focuses on neurobehavioral problems related to acquired or developmental disorders of the nervous system. The types of deficits vary and include such conditions as traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, brain tumors, epilepsy and non-epileptic seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases, HIV- and AIDS-related disorders, and dementia. Unlike most neuropsychology reference books, which focus solely on assessment and diagnosis, this encyclopedia spans the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of people with neuropsychological disorders.

"In the past decade, there has been a rapid expansion in programs that provide rehabilitation, treatment, and treatment planning services for individuals with neuropsychological deficits," stated Dr. DeLuca. "Today, researchers, students, clinicians, patients and caretakers recognize that evaluation and diagnosis are only the beginning of the treatment and recovery process," he noted. "With advances in neuroimaging, we now have a window into the brain. We are documenting how interventions affect brain activity and improve cognitive processes," he continued, "which provides the evidence base needed to rapidly translate research findings into clinical care. This volume is meant as resource for professionals seeking the latest information on rehabilitation and treatment options for people with neuropsychological disorders in both the clinical and community settings."

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Dr. DeLuca speaks about this new resource in this 2-minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yih0CLiPWw

Interested in this text? Here's the link: https://www.springer.com/us/book/9780387799476.

Print + eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-57112-6

eReference ISBN: 978-3-319-57111-9

Print ISBN: 978-3-319-57110-2

About Dr. John DeLuca

Dr. John DeLuca oversees rehabilitation research and training at Kessler Foundation, which includes the areas of TBI, spinal cord injury, stroke, MS, cancer, rehabilitation engineering and employment. He often lectures at professional conferences and universities throughout the world, and collaborates with colleagues in Europe and Australia, as well as the U.S. On his most recent sabbatical, he collaborated with MS experts at Kliniken Schmeider in Konstanz, Germany. Dr. DeLuca is the author of more than 350 articles, books, and chapters. He has received numerous awards, including early career awards from the American Psychological Association and the National Academy of Neuropsychology, and the Benton mid-career award from the International Neuropsychological Society. He was also the recipient of the Medical Excellence Award and 2017 Volunteer Hall of Fame award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Fred Foley Award for Best Practices in Mental Health and MS from the Consortium for Multiple Sclerosis Care. In 2018, he was named a Fellow in the Association for Psychological Science, and a Fellow of ACRM. Dr. DeLuca is a professor in the Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Neurology at Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School.

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility and long-term outcomes, including employment, for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. Learn more by visiting http://www.KesslerFoundation.org. Stay Connected

Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/KesslerFdn

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iTunes & SoundCloud | http://www.soundcloud.com/kesslerfoundation Contacts

Carolann Murphy, PA; 973-324-8382; CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org

Nicky Miller; 973-323-3683, NMiller@KesslerFoundation.org
The world's smallest flightless bird can be found on Inaccessible Island in the middle of the South Atlantic. Less than 100 years ago, researchers believed that this species of bird once wandered there on land extensions now submerged in water, and therefore named it Atlantisia. In a new study led by biologists at Lund University in Sweden, the researchers have now shown that the ancestors of the Atlantisia flew to Inaccessible Island from South America about 1.5 million years ago.

The Inaccessible Island rail (Atlantisia rogersi) is endemic and can only be found on Inaccessible Island. It has no natural enemies on the island and runs around like a small rodent in the vegetation. Biologist Martin Stervander, who now works at the University of Oregon, USA, conducted a study together with researchers from South Africa and Portugal during his time at Lund University.

Among other things, they analysed the DNA of the Inaccessible Island rail using modern sequencing techniques. In this way, the researchers were able to determine that the bird's closest now living relatives are the dot-winged crake in South America and the black rail found in both South and North America. It probably also has a relative on the Galapagos.

"It seems that rail birds are extremely good at colonising new remote locations and adapting to different environments. Despite great distances, the environments may be similar and, through convergent evolution, distant relatives may in fact become so similar that taxonomists are tricked into drawing erroneous conclusions", says Martin Stervander.

A theory that proved to be wrong came from Percy Lowe when he described the Inaccessible Island rail almost 100 years ago. Lowe classified the bird in its own genus and drew the conclusion that its inability to fly was a very old trait, and that it colonised Inaccessible Island on foot by walking on land extensions and across continents that later disappeared into the depths of the ocean.

"The fact that Lowe's theory was incorrect came as no surprise. Using DNA, we can prove that the ancestors of the Inaccessible Island rail flew to Inaccessible Island from South America about 1.5 million years ago", says Martin Stervander, continuing:

"The bird has not had any natural enemies on the island and has not needed to fly in order to escape predators. Its ability to fly has therefore been reduced and ultimately lost through natural selection and evolution over thousands of years."

Not being able to fly means that the Inaccessible Island rail does not waste energy on something that is unnecessary in order to survive and propagate.

"Our discovery focuses on the importance of continuing to prevent enemies of the Inaccessible Island rail from being introduced on the island. If that happens, it might disappear", concludes Bengt Hansson, professor at Lund University and one of the researchers behind the study.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (Nov. 1, 2018)  The Georgia Esoteric and Molecular Laboratory at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University is participating as a designated laboratory for the NCI-Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice (NCI-MATCH or EAY131) clinical trial, which is assessing the effectiveness of targeting cancer-causing gene changes rather than cancer type.

MCG is one of the academic laboratories in the nation permitted to identify and refer potentially eligible patients to the NCI-MATCH trial. Tumor gene testing by a designated lab is the only pathway for patients to enroll in the trial.

The NCI-MATCH trial is co-led by the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, and the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN), an international scientific organization that designs and conducts biomarker-driven cancer research. ECOG-ACRIN is part of the NCI-sponsored National Clinical Trials Network.

NCI-MATCH or EAY131 (NCT02465060) is a phase 2 precision medicine trial that seeks to determine the effectiveness of treatment that is directed by genomic profiling in patients with solid tumors, lymphomas, or myelomas that have progressed following standard treatments, or for rare cancer types for which there is no standard treatment.

Findings could lead to larger, more definitive trials. With nearly 40 treatment arms addressing a wide range of tumor types and targeted treatments, NCI-MATCH is the largest precision medicine cancer trial to date.

Tumor profiling and genomic testing are becoming common in daily practice for oncologists to help guide clinical care for cancer patients, says NCI-MATCH study co-chair Dr. James V. Tricoli, chief, Diagnostic Biomarkers and Technology Branch, Cancer Diagnosis Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis at the NCI. We require qualifying laboratories to proactively identify potentially eligible patients for the NCI-MATCH trial.

NCI-MATCH is a discovery trial whose very nature  identifying and exploring knowledge gaps in precision oncology, and advancing new hypotheses  means studying small subsets of patients, said ECOG-ACRIN study chair Dr. Keith T. Flaherty, director of Clinical Research at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. We are qualifying additional laboratories so we can cast a wider net for patients with the biomarkers of interest.

When a treating oncologist at a participating NCI-MATCH site orders tumor profiling to guide clinical care for their patient, MCG will look for trial matches for the patient. Upon the identification of a qualifying genetic alteration abnormality, such as a mutation, amplification or translocation, MCG will notify the treating physician that the patient may be potentially eligible for NCI-MATCH and provide an official referral letter or associated documentation. Utilizing this notification/referral provided by MCG, the treating physician and their patient may choose to pursue enrollment onto the screening step of the study (Step 0), if they meet all eligibility requirements for the trial. As part of the screening portion of the study (Step 0), NCI and ECOG-ACRIN trial leaders will review MCGs recommended trial match centrally using information provided by both the participating MATCH site and MCG. If they verify that the patient is potentially eligible for a NCI-MATCH treatment arm, they will formally assign the patient to the applicable arm and notify the participating MATCH site that the patient may be enrolled onto the treatment portion of the study (Step 1). MCG will be available to answer questions relating to testing results and their potential applicability to the NCI-MATCH study. For any other general, logistical, or clinical questions related to the study, MCG will facilitate communications between the treating physicians and the NCI-MATCH study team. To read a summary of the process, visit http://ecog-acrin.org/nci-match-eay131-designated-labs.

We are privileged to join the laboratory network for this groundbreaking national trial that we all hope will improve cancer treatment by precisely targeting a patients gene variants, says Dr. Ravindra Kolhe, molecular pathologist, director of the GEM Laboratory in the MCG Department of Pathology and primary developer of the new test called Augusta OncoTarget.

Augusta OncoTarget, one of the latest additions to MCGs GEM Lab, includes next-generation sequencing that enables large numbers of genes, and an unprecedented number of known cancer-causing variants in those genes, to be tested simultaneously. IBM Watson for Genomics then performs a genomic interpretation of the large amount of data generated to help identify the patients variants as well as drugs, which are already in use or in clinical trials, known to target them.

Augusta OncoTarget includes the TruSight Tumor 170 panel that simultaneously looks for six different variant classes in both the DNA and RNA of 170 genes in a patients biopsy.

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To learn more about NCI-MATCH, including clinical trial sites across the country, visit www.ecog-acrin.org/nci-match-eay131.

DOWNLOADS: Click to download a high-resolution photo of Dr. Ravindra Kolhe https://augustauniversity.app.box.com/s/yhwgxkd99bdyzamq7nvrudp6591f6srn.
Portland, Ore. (November 1, 2018)--The National Psoriasis Foundation, NPF, has awarded $2.3 million in research grants and fellowships in 2018. This year's awards bring the total amount NPF has invested in the advancement of psoriatic disease research to more than $19 million.

Receiving over 140 applications from around the world, NPF is funding 45 projects focused on psoriatic disease and related comorbidities. Covering critical research topics that advance the science behind psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, all projects align with the NPF mission of driving efforts to find a cure for psoriatic disease and improving the lives of those affected. Awards were distributed for the following 2018 grants and fellowships.

Discovery Grants

Discovery Grants fund researchers while they explore preliminary ideas and conduct proof-of-concept experiments. The goal is to stimulate the development of new research programs in the field of psoriatic disease capable of competing for long-term funding from the National Institutes of Health, NIH, or other agencies in the future. Recipients include:

NPF Discovery Grant supported by the Bucks Creek Foundation was awarded to Sam Hwang, M.D., Ph.D., University of California, Davis.

Other 2018 Discovery Grant recipients include: Edward Amento, M.D., Molecular Medicine Research Institute, Anne Bowcock, Ph.D., Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Lihi Eder, M.D., Ph.D., Women's College Hospital, Jaehwan Kim, M.D., Ph.D., Rockefeller University / Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Alexis Ogdie, M.D., MSCE, University of Pennsylvania, Eva Reali, Ph.D., I.R.C.C.S Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, and Lam (Alex) Tsoi, Ph.D., University of Michigan.

Translational Grants

Translational Research Grants fund research initiatives that focus on the rapid translation of basic scientific discoveries into clinical applications with a clear benefit for patients with psoriatic disease.

2018 grant recipients include Iannis Adamopoulos, D.Phil, University of California, Davis, Steven Ley, Ph.D., Imperial College London, and Brian Volkman, Ph.D., Medical College of Wisconsin.

Early Career Grants

Early Career Research Grants support graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and researchers at similar trainee-level positions interested in conducting projects focused on psoriatic disease. The goal is to support scientists at this challenging early career stage and to welcome them into the collaborative community of scientists, clinicians, and patients involved with NPF research.

Recipients of this award are ultimately expected to compete for future funding through NPF Discovery or Translational Research Grants and establish successful long-term careers conducting psoriatic disease research.

Six researchers were awarded Karen and Dale White Research Center of Excellence Early Career Research Grants. Recipients include: Holly Anderton, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Anthony Getschman, Ph.D., Medical College of Wisconsin, Charlotte Hurabielle-Claverie, M.D., MSc, NIH, NIAID, Lourdes Perez Chada, M.D., Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Carlotta Tacconi, Ph.D., ETH Zurich, and Zhaolin Zhang, Ph.D., University of Michigan.

Bridge Grants

Bridge Grants support researchers who have submitted meritorious but unfunded K-type (career development) or R-type applications to the NIH, or similar funding bodies, with a focus on psoriatic disease or related comorbidities. This grant provides a critical year of additional support to near-miss applicants so that they can collect data that strengthens a future successful NIH or similar funding application. Recipients include:

NPF Bridge Grant supported by Michael and Melissa Weinbaum & The Attilio & Beverly Petrocelli Foundation was awarded to Nisarg Shah, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego.

An additional Bridge Grant was awarded to Unnikrishnan Chandrasekharan, Ph.D., Cleveland Clinic.

Pediatric Psoriasis Challenge Grant

In 2018, the NPF chose to focus the challenge grant on pediatric psoriasis and offered this grant in collaboration with the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance, PeDRA. The grant supports up to two projects that address any aspect of psoriatic disease, including the cause, diagnosis, or treatment of pediatric psoriasis and/or related comorbidities. The grant was awarded to Amy Paller, M.D., M.S., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Summer Student Research Grants

NPF Summer Student Research Grants support undergraduate and medical students interested in conducting research focused on psoriatic disease or related comorbidities. This grant fosters the development of promising young scientists who will go on to become bench researchers or clinician scientists focused on improving the lives of those living with psoriatic disease.

A total of 16 Summer Student Research Grants were supported through the generosity of Dr. Lacy and Edie Williams, The Don and Nancy Alpert Family Fund, Bill and Jodi Felton, and Robert and Lauren Fales.

Psoriatic Disease Research Fellowship

The Psoriatic Disease Research Fellowship provides support to eligible institutions to develop and enhance the opportunities for physicians and scientists training for research careers in academic dermatology, rheumatology, pediatric dermatology, and pediatric rheumatology.

The Dr. Mark G. Lebwohl Psoriatic Disease Research Fellowship was awarded to Bruce Strober, M.D., Ph.D., University of Connecticut Health Center.

Seven additional Psoriatic Disease Research Fellowships were awarded through the generous support from Abbvie, Amgen, and Eli Lilly. Recipients include: April Armstrong, M.D., MPH, University of Southern California, Radjesh Bisoendial, M.D., Ph.D., Maasstad Hospital, Joel Gelfand, M.D., MSCE, University of Pennsylvania, Mahmoud Ghannoum, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, Alexa Kimball, M.D., MPH, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Wilson Liao, M.D., University of California, San Francisco, and Douglas Lienesch, M.D., University of Pittsburgh.

NIH-NPF Robertson Fellowship in Translational Medicine

The NIH-NPF Robertson Fellowship in Translational Medicine provides support for an early career clinical and translational scientist to conduct research at the NIH focusing on research and patient care in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis or related comorbidities. The fellowship was awarded to Daniella Schwartz, M.D., NIH, NIAMS.

The 2019 grants and fellowships application process has begun. To learn more about current opportunities and deadlines, visit https://www.psoriasis.org/grants and https://www.psoriasis.org/fellowships. For more information about our grantees visit https://www.psoriasis.org/research/portfolio.

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Serving its community through more than 50 years of patient support, advocacy, research funding, and education, the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) is the world's leading nonprofit fighting for individuals with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The NPF mission is to drive efforts to cure psoriatic disease and dramatically improve the lives of more than 8 million Americans affected by this chronic immune-mediated disease. As part of that effort, NPF created its Patient Navigation Center to offer personalized assistance to everyone with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. To date, NPF has funded more than $19 million in research grants and fellowships that help drive discoveries that may lead to more and better treatments and ultimately a cure. Learn more at http://www.psoriasis.org.
BROOKLYN, New York, Thursday, November 1, 2018 - A team of researchers is helping law enforcement crack down on email scammers, thanks to a new visual analytics tool that dramatically speeds up forensic email investigations and highlights critical links within email data. Email scams are among the most prevalent, insidious forms of cybercrime.

Rental scams, romance scams, and business e-mail compromise scams are rampant, and even the savviest computer users can be duped. Law enforcement has long struggled to prosecute these crimes due to the difficulty of identifying cybercriminals, but several agencies are already deploying the new software to trace the trail of email scammers.

The new tool is the work of a research team at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, led by Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Enrico Bertini, in collaboration with Silicon Valley-based data security company Agari, which specializes in developing email security products for corporations. Bertini named the tool Beagle -- a play on the sharp search skills of canines used to sniff out evidence in criminal investigations.

The research team has already begun sharing Beagle with law enforcement agencies at no cost to assist in their investigations, and will continue to refine its capabilities based on real-world feedback.

The pre-Beagle tools for current forensic email investigations are surprisingly primitive. Investigators often rely on the search functions of common email clients, which retrieve results based on specific queries and are most useful when investigators know what to search for -- no small feat in cases that can involve many scammers and hundreds of thousands of emails.

"This is where our work starts," said Bertini. He explained that Beagle creates a visual analytical interface that can return queries as well as summarize emails and highlight commonalities between them, even in fields investigators might otherwise overlook-- such as the time an email is sent, the geographical location of victims, and key words and content patterns.

"Beagle builds pictures from the data, making it much easier to connect the dots and ultimately understand how scam networks operate, from first contact with a victim through what are often multiple rounds of extortion," Bertini said.

Beagle was developed in a two-year iterative process using a database of more than 100,000 emails intercepted from real-life scammers by Agari. A case study of its development and deployment process appears in the journal IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics. Co-authors of the study include NYU Tandon doctoral students Jay Koven, Cristian Felix, and Hossein Siadati, as well as contributors from Agari.

"Business email compromise and other forms of email fraud are being perpetuated by multinational criminal organizations on a global scale," said John Wilson, Field CTO, Agari. "Beagle has enhanced our ability to monitor and track these criminal organizations, painting a fuller picture of the individuals involved and their relationships between one another."

Beagle has already been used to illuminate an entire network of scammers and victims, starting with emails from a single known scammer and ultimately encompassing multiple scammers and a cohort of victims -- information that was subsequently shared with law enforcement agencies.

"We were surprised to discover that Beagle can actually build evidence," Bertini said, noting that the tool can amplify the analytical process by surfacing connections that lead to additional queries and data enrichment.

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The paper, Lessons Learned Developing a Visual Analytics Solution for Investigative Analysis of Scamming Activities is available at https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Lessons-Learned-Developing-a-Visual-Analytics-for-Koven-Felix/25e46d70fbc3048bbba83e262df1cef42daa07f0.

About the New York University Tandon School of Engineering

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering dates to 1854, the founding date for both the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute (widely known as Brooklyn Poly). A January 2014 merger created a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences, rooted in a tradition of invention and entrepreneurship and dedicated to furthering technology in service to society. In addition to its main location in Brooklyn, NYU Tandon collaborates with other schools within NYU, one of the country's foremost private research universities, and is closely connected to engineering programs at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. It operates Future Labs focused on start-up businesses in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn and an award-winning online graduate program. For more information, visit http://engineering.nyu.edu.
CHICAGO --- Researchers at Northwestern Medicine have taken the first step in bioengineering the human uterus to treat endometriosis, uterine-factor infertility and endometrial cancer.

The study is the first to demonstrate that induced human pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be reprogrammed to become healthy uterine cells for potential placement in the uterus. Made from a person's own readily available cells, iPS cells can potentially be manipulated to fix defects within other, disease-causing cells. The healthy cells are then optimal for an auto-transplant that won't be rejected by the person's immune system.

The study will be published Nov. 1 in the journal Stem Cell Reports.

Endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. Endometriosis, caused by backward menstruation of abnormal endometrial cells onto the lower abdominal organs, is a painful and persistent gynecological disease that affects approximately 10 percent of women of reproductive age worldwide (about 200 million women). It has no effective long-term treatment and, in some cases, the disease can serve as a precursor to ovarian cancer.

Women with abnormal endometrial cells may experience infertility because these defective endometrial cells are not receptive to an implanting embryo. This study opened the avenue for replacing these defective endometrial cells with normal ones derived from a woman's own skin or blood.

"This is huge. We've opened the door to treating endometriosis," said senior author Dr. Serdar Bulun, who has been researching treatments for endometriosis for the past 25 years. "These women with endometriosis start suffering from the disease at a very early age, so we end up seeing young high school girls getting addicted to opioids, which totally destroys their academic potential and social lives."

Bulun is the chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician.

Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial cells in a woman's uterus do not respond to an adequate amount of an implantation hormone called progesterone. The abnormal cells, called defective endometrial stromal fibroblasts, travel through the fallopian tubes, then onto the lower abdominal tissues and the ovaries. Extra-uterine growth of endometrium-like tissue results in severe pelvic pain, infertility and development of adhesions and increases the risk for ovarian cancer.

Now that this study has demonstrated that these cells can be reproduced and respond properly to progesterone, the next step would be to replace the diseased cells in the uterus with these newly programmed, healthy uterine cells, Bulun said.

As cell-based therapy methods continue to improve, the defective cells that cause inflammation and pain in the uterine cavity of endometriosis patients would be replaced with the normally programmed cells in the future. This way, pain would be eliminated long-term. Moreover, the newly formed normal endometrium would be more receptive to an implanting embryo.

"One day we hope to make a whole uterus using this cell-based treatment employing the patient's own iPS cells," Bulun said.

Uterine transplantation has been tried, but the biggest obstacle to success has been the rejection of someone else's uterus with the patient's immune response. This problem could be solved if a whole uterus can be bioengineered by populating a scaffold with the patient's own iPS cells reprogrammed to form a uterus. However, this is a long shot, Bulun warns.

Dr. Kaoru Miyazaki at Northwestern conducted the key experiments for this study. Both Bulun and Miyazaki consulted closely with their co-author, Dr. Tetsuo Maruyama from Keio University in Tokyo, Japan.

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Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health funded this study by extending grant HD38691 to Bulun.
Chinese adults who have children prefer to receive end-of-life care from family members at home, while those who lost their only child prefer to be cared for in hospice or palliative care institutions, finds a new study led by an international team of researchers and published in the November issue of The Journal of Palliative Medicine. Income, property ownership, and support from friends also influenced individuals' end-of-life care preferences.

"Childlessness greatly influences adults' end-of-life care preferences, as children play an important role in traditional Chinese family-based end-of-life care," said Bei Wu, PhD, Dean's Professor in Global Health at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and co-director of NYU Aging Incubator. She is the study's senior author.

Filial piety, or respect for one's parents, is a core value in traditional Chinese culture, and children play a critical role in caring for aging parents and providing end-of-life care. End-of-life care is the support and medical care provided during the days, weeks, or months leading up to one's death.

China's one-child policy has led to a unique situation in caring for aging parents. As of 2010, one million Chinese parents had lost their only child, a number projected to grow to 11.8 million in 2050. Chinese adults who lose their only child are particularly disadvantaged when it comes to family-based end-of-life care.

In Western society, the end-of-life care model relies less on family members, instead using hospice and palliative care institutions and professional health care providers to provide support, reduce pain, and improve comfort. Hospice and palliative care systems are underdeveloped in China and face many structural and cultural challenges, including traditional views toward death, limited public funding, and a shortage of end-of-life care professionals at all levels.

In this study, Wu and her colleagues used data from a survey of 1,400 older adults in Shanghai to explore their end-of-life care preferences. The majority (1,200) were adults aged 60 years and older; the researchers also surveyed 200 adults aged 45 years and older who lost their only child. Participants were coded as having children who live with them, having children who do not live with them, or having lost their only child.

The researchers asked participants to share how they would want to be cared for at the end of their lives: by family, by visiting health care professionals, or in a specialized hospice or palliative care institutions.

They also measured factors related to end-of-life care, including sociodemographic characteristics such as gender, age, marital status, education, income, and property ownership; whether they have a support network of relatives and friends; health status, including chronic diseases, recent hospitalizations, mental health, and limitations in performing daily tasks; and whether they have health insurance.

The researchers found that adults who lost their only child prefer end-of-life care provided by a specialized hospice or palliative care institution (58 percent), while adults with children prefer family care at home (47 percent for adults whose children do not live with them and 49 percent for those whose children live with them).

Additional analyses show that adults with higher incomes and property tend to opt for family care at home. Conversely, those with a supportive network of friends prefer end-of-life care provided by visiting health care professionals or in end-of-life care institutions over family care at home. Health status was not associated with end-of-life care preferences; nor were other demographic factors (age, gender, marital status, and education).

"Our findings demonstrate a need to develop hospice and palliative care in China, both at-home care and care in hospitals and other clinical settings. Health care professionals and policymakers should recognize the particular preferences of those who have lost their only child and should develop tailored care accordingly," said Wu, who is also the director of research for the Hartford Institute of Geriatric Nursing at NYU Meyers.

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This study is published in the November issue of the Journal of Palliative Medicine and appeared online ahead of print in July 2018.

In addition to Wu, study authors include Yan Liang and Hong Liang of Fudan University in China, and Jing Wang and Hanzhang Xu of Duke University. The study was partially supported by the Shanghai Municipal Yangpu District Commission of Health and Family Planning.

About NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing (@NYUNursing)

NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing is a global leader in nursing and health. Founded in 1932, the College offers BS, MS, DNP, and PhD degree programs providing the educational foundation to prepare the next generation of nursing leaders and researchers. NYU Meyers has three programs ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report and is among the top 10 nursing schools receiving NIH funding, thanks to its research mission and commitment to innovative approaches to healthcare worldwide.
The researchers compared wild bee communities in the tropical dry forest of Mexico living in three habitat conditions: preserved vegetation, agricultural sites and urbanised areas

Changes in land use negatively affect bee species richness and diversity, and cause major shifts in species composition, reports a recent study of native wild bees, conducted at the Sierra de Quila Flora and Fauna Protection Area and its influence zone in Mexico.

Having registered a total of 14,054 individual bees representing 160 species, 52 genera, and five families over the span of a year, the scientists conclude that the studied preserved areas demonstrated "significantly greater" richness and diversity.

In their paper, published in the open-access Journal of Hymenoptera Research, a research team from the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, led by Alejandro Munoz-Urias, compare three conditions within the tropical dry forest study site: preserved vegetation, an agricultural area with crops and livestock, and an urbanised area.

The researchers confirm earlier information that an increase in anthropogenic disturbances leads to a decrease in bee richness and diversity. While availability of food and nesting sites are the key factors for bee communities, changes in land use negatively impact flower richness and floral diversity. Thereby, turning habitats into urbanised or agricultural sites significantly diminishes the populations of the bees which rely on specific plants for nectar and pollen. These are the species whose populations are threatened with severe declines up to the point of local extinction.

According to their data, about half of the bees recorded were Western honey bees (49.9%), whereas polyester bees turned out to be the least abundant (1.2 %).

On the other hand, some generalist bees, which feed on a wide range of plants, seem to thrive in urbanised areas, as they take advantage of people watering wild and ornamental plants at times where draughts might be eradicating native vegetation.

"That is the reason why bees that can use a wide variety of resources are often able to compensate when circumstances change, although some species disappear due to land use changes," explain the scientists.

In conclusion, the authors recommend that the tropical dry forests of both the study area and Mexico in general need to be protected in order for these essential pollinators to be conserved.

"Pollinators are a key component for global biodiversity, because they assist in the sexual reproduction of many plant species and play a crucial role in maintaining terrestrial ecosystems and food security for human beings," they remind.

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Original source:

Razo-Leon AE, Vasquez-Bolanos M, Munoz-Urias A, Huerta-Martinez FM (2018) Changes in bee community structure (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) under three different land-use conditions. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 66: 23-38. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.66.27367

Additional literature:

Potts SG, Biesmeijer JC, Kremen C, Neumann P, Schweiger O, Kunin WE (2010) Global pollinator declines: trends, impact and drivers. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 25(6): 345-353.

van der Sluijs JP, Vaage NS (2016) Pollinators and Global Food Security: the Need for Holistic Global Stewardship. Food Ethics 1(1): 75-91.
QUT's reef protector robot is set to become 'mother' to hundreds of millions of baby corals in a special delivery coinciding with this month's annual coral spawning on the Great Barrier Reef.

In a world first, QUT's underwater robot RangerBot has been transformed into LarvalBot by QUT's robotics team, led by Professor Matthew Dunbabin from the Institute for Future Environments.

Main points:-

Scientists collect hundreds of millions of coral spawn from the corals that have survived the two recent mass coral bleaching events

They're reared into baby corals in mass quantities inside large floating enclosures on the reef

Once developed (in around 5-7 days), the semi-autonomous robot, LarvalBot, will help deliver the tiny baby coral larvae onto targeted reefs

Reared larvae will also be distributed as 'larval clouds' on damaged reef areas on a larger scale than previously possible

The technique of delivering reared coral larvae onto reefs is known as 'larval restoration'.

Professor Dunbabin is working with Southern Cross University's (SCU) Professor Peter Harrison - pioneer of the coral larval restoration technique (coral IVF) - who is heading the overall research project.

The collaboration between QUT and SCU, funded by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, aims at restoring damaged parts of the Great Barrier Reef and speeding up the recovery of ecosystems affected by coral bleaching.

Large volumes of coral spawn will be captured and transferred into fine mesh pools for almost a week until the larvae is ready to be re-settled.

"We concentrate the larvae and put some of these into LarvalBot to gently squirt the larvae onto dead reef areas allowing it to settle and transform into coral polyps or baby corals," Professor Harrison said.

"The surviving corals will start to grow and bud and form new colonies which will grow large enough after about three years to become sexually reproductive and complete the life cycle."

The spectacular synchronised spawning of coral reproduction on the Great Barrier Reef is a highlight on scientists' calendars worldwide and is expected to take place in late November.

The researchers say by giving nature a helping hand through artificial means, it allows up to a 100-times increase over previous methods.

Professor Dunbabin said delivering baby corals and helping grow the Great Barrier Reef builds on the pioneering robotics technology developed to help control the crown-of-thorns starfish.

"I am passionate about protecting the reef in any way I can and extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with world leaders in coral reef restoration," Professor Dunbabin said.

"We aim to have two or three robots ready for the November spawn. One will carry about 200,000 larvae and the other about 1.2 million.

"During operation, the robots will follow preselected paths at constant altitude across the reef and a person monitoring will trigger the release of the larvae to maximise the efficiency of the dispersal."

Professor Dunbabin calculated the dispersal would cover 1,500 sq.m/ hour per robot.

"This has the potential to revolutionise coral restoration on reefs worldwide," said Professor Peter Harrison.

The project has come to life after the researchers won $300,000 from the Great Barrier Reef Foundation's Out of the Blue Box Reef Innovation Challenge supported by the Tiffany & Co. Foundation.

The Foundation's Managing Director Anna Marsden said the recent IPCC report reinforced the closing window of opportunity for the world to act on climate change and the sharp threat facing coral reefs globally.

Professor Dunbabin said it was hoped reef rangers and other managers would use the technology in the future.

"Whilst this is new, we have trialled the different technologies and are confident of its success," he said.

###

Professor Dunbabin is also a chief investigator at the QUT-based Australian Centre for Robotic Vision.

Media contacts:

QUT Media: Debra Nowland + 61 (7) 3138 1150 (Mon, Wed. Thurs) media@qut.edu.au

After hours: Rose Trapnell, + 61 407 585 901

Great Barrier Reef Foundation: Louise Sturgess + 61 409 352 493 | lsturgess@barrierreef.org

Southern Cross University: Jessica Nelson +61 417288794 or jessica.nelson@scu.edu
A clinical trial to determine whether a smartwatch app that analyzes pulse-rate data can screen for a heart-rhythm disorder has enrolled more than 400,000 participants.

Researchers at Stanford Medicine, in collaboration with Apple, launched the Apple Heart Study last November to determine whether a mobile app that uses the optical sensor on the Apple Watch to analyze pulse rate data can identify atrial fibrillation. The condition, which is characterized by an irregular heartbeat, often remains hidden because many people don't experience symptoms. Atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of stroke and heart failure.

A paper to be published online Nov. 1 in the American Heart Journal describes the design of this unique clinical trial, the largest screening study on atrial fibrillation ever done. Enrollment, which was conducted through an iPhone app, is now closed.

The study has entered the final phase of data collection and will be completed early next year, the researchers said. The Stanford team is led by principal investigators Mintu Turakhia, MD, associate professor of cardiovascular medicine, and Marco Perez, MD, assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine, and by study chair Kenneth Mahaffey, MD, professor of cardiovascular medicine.

"We hope this study will help us better understand how wearable technologies can inform precision health," said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the School of Medicine. "These new tools, which have the potential to predict, prevent and manage disease, are finally within our reach."

The Food and Drug Administration announced Sept. 11 that it had cleared two mobile medical apps designed by Apple to work on the Apple Watch. One app uses data from new hardware on the Apple Watch Series 4 to take an electrocardiogram by touching the button on the side of the device. The other app uses data from an optical sensor available on the Apple Watch Series 1 and later to analyze pulse data to identify irregular heart rhythms suggestive of atrial fibrillation and notify the user. The Apple Heart Study involves only this second app.

"The advantage of the app that uses the optical sensor is that it can check for an irregular pulse multiple times throughout the day in the background, without needing the user to actively engage the application," Perez said.

Goals of the study

Each year in the United States, atrial fibrillation results in 130,000 deaths and 750,000 hospitalizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates that the condition affects between 2.7 million and 6.1 million people. In addition, another 700,000 people may have undiagnosed atrial fibrillation.

Each participant in the study is required to have an Apple Watch (series 1, 2 or 3) and an iPhone. An app on the phone intermittently checks the heart-rate pulse sensor for measurements of an irregular pulse. If sufficient episodes of an irregular pulse are detected, then the participant receives a notification and is asked to schedule a visit with a doctor involved in the study. Participants are then sent electrocardiography patches, which record the electrical rhythm of their hearts for up to a week.

The goals of the study are threefold: to determine how many among those who receive irregular pulse notifications are found to have atrial fibrillation on ECG patch monitoring; to determine how many among those who received an irregular pulse notification go on to get medical attention; and to determine the accuracy of irregular-pulse detection by the watch by comparing it with the simultaneous ECG patch recordings.

"We now have access to high-quality sensors that can measure and detect changes in our bodies in entirely new and insightful ways without even needing to go to the doctor, but we need to rigorously evaluate them," Turakhia said. "There's never really been a study like this done before."

A subset of the study data was used by Apple as part of its regulatory submission for FDA clearance of the smartwatch app that analyzes pulse-rate data. Apple Heart Study investigators were aware of the submission, but have not seen the submission data.

"We are inspired by the overwhelming response to the Apple Heart Study," said Sumbul Desai, MD, vice president of Apple. "Through the combined power of our participants, Apple Watch and Stanford Medicine, it's one of the largest and most novel atrial fibrillation studies to date."

###

Researchers from the Lankenau Heart Institute, Jefferson Medical College, the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, StopAfib.org, the American Foundation for Women's Health and Duke University also contributed to the paper.

The Apple Heart Study is funded by Apple Inc.

The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://med.stanford.edu/school.html. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. For information about all three, please visit http://med.stanford.edu.

Print media contact: Tracie White at (650) 723-7628 (traciew@stanford.edu)

Broadcast media contact: Margarita Gallardo at (650) 723-7897 (mjgallardo@stanford.edu)
NEW YORK, NY (November 1, 2018) Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) exhibited a significant reduction of depressive symptoms after being treated with ezogabine, an FDA approved drug used to treat seizures.

After treatment, patients showed a 45 percent reduction in depression, a significant reduction in anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure; and a significant increase in resilience.

This is the first study to suggest that ezogabine, part of a class of drugs known as potassium channel openers, may have an antidepressant affect in humans.

The review will be published online on Thursday November 1st at 9AM EST , in Molecular Psychiatry.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) impacts 15 million Americans and is the leading cause of disability, yet current treatments possess limited efficacy. A new therapeutic direction is emerging from the increased understanding of natural resilience as an active stress-coping process. It is known that potassium channels in the brain's reward system are an active mediator of resilience.

In a previous study, the Mount Sinai research team tested ezogabine, also known as retigabine, a potassium channel opener, in mice. They found that that ezogabine had significant antidepressant effects in the mice, expressed by two common measures in rodents: increased social interactions and preferences for natural rewards.

In this study, 18 medication free individuals with MDD experiencing a major depressive episode received up to 900 mg of ezogabine daily during 10 weeks in an open label study to determine if the drug significantly engaged their reward system. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data revealing the connectivity of the reward system were collected at baseline and post-treatment to reexamine brain reward circuitry. After treatment with ezogabine, subjects exhibited a significant reduction of depressive symptoms measured by the the change in connectivity of their reward system.

"The results of this study are exciting because we haven't had a new medicine to treat depression in decades," said the study's senior author, James Murrough, MD, PhD, Director of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "Most antidepressants are in the same class of drugs and work by increasing serotonin. Our research suggests a different molecular target that works through other brain mechanisms and could be helpful for patents."

The research team at Mount Sinai is currently conducting a larger multi-site double blind trial of ezogabine in patients with depression funded by the National Institute of Mental Health to further determine its efficacy in treating depression.

"We know that patients with depression become depressed for different reasons, and we've been stuck in a one size fits all treatment for a long time," said Dr. Murrough. "A new class of medicines could give us an opportunity to treat patients based on the specific underlying cause of their disease."

###

Other Mount Sinai researchers involved in this study include Aaron Tan, PhD candidate; Sara Costi, MD, Research Fellow; Laurel Morris, PhD, Post-Doctoral Fellow; Nicholas Van Dam, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Psychiatry; Ming-Hu Han, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacological Science and Neuroscience; and Eric Nestler, MD, PhD, Director, Friedman Brain Institute.

About Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest integrated delivery system encompassing seven hospital campuses, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai's vision is to produce the safest care, the highest quality, the highest satisfaction, the best access and the best value of any health system in the nation. The System includes approximately 6,600 primary and specialty care physicians; 10 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. The Icahn School of Medicine is one of three medical schools that have earned distinction by multiple indicators: ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News & World Report's "Best Medical Schools", aligned with a U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" Hospital, No. 13 in the nation for National Institutes of Health funding, and among the top 10 most innovative research institutions as ranked by the journal Nature in its Nature Innovation Index. This reflects a special level of excellence in education, clinical practice, and research. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 18 on U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of top U.S. hospitals; it is one of the nation's top 20 hospitals in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Nephrology, and Neurology/Neurosurgery, and in the top 50 in six other specialties in the 2018-2019 "Best Hospitals" issue. Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's Hospital also is ranked nationally in five out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked 11th nationally for Ophthalmology and 44th for Ear, Nose, and Throat, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Luke's and Mount Sinai West are ranked regionally. For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org/, or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Contact: Rachel Zuckerman

Mount Sinai Press Office

(646) 605-7693

Rachel.Zuckerman@mountsinai.org
Scientists use complex models incorporating information about the earth's land, atmosphere and oceans to better understand the physical world around us, but until now, information about how those systems respond to periods of extreme drought hasn't been included.

That is changing as scientists increasingly understand that climate change is leading to periods of more severe weather, including extreme drought. Elizabeth Klovenski, a Ph.D. student at the University of Houston, has received a three-year $165,000 NASA fellowship to support her proposal to incorporate predictions of how emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds from trees and other vegetation will be affected by extreme drought into a climate model developed by the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the GISS ModelE.

The Advanced STEM Training and Research Fellowship is intended to help develop the next generation of scientists while encouraging work on NASA priorities. Klovenski's award includes the opportunity to work at Goddard for eight weeks each year.

"We just don't understand how earth systems will work under extreme drought conditions, how the different aspects of land and atmosphere will interact," she said.

The 2011 Texas drought offered some insight into the complexity: Klovenski's family has a cattle ranch and, like other ranchers, had to sell cattle in response to the soaring price of feed. But that was just a visible example of the impact. "A lot of people were so focused on there being enough water for animals and for plants, that they didn't realize the air quality was getting worse," she said.

Klovenski works with Yuxuan Wang, assistant professor of atmospheric chemistry in the UH College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics' Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Wang's lab works on the modeling of atmospheric composition and interactions between air quality and climate change; Klovenski's first experience with modeling came on a project for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to study particulate matter concentrations in San Antonio.

The GISS ModelE project is more complex than the model used for that project. Klovenski will work with two technical advisors from NASA, Susanne E. Bauer, research physical scientist at Goddard, and Kostas Tsigaridis, a research scientist at Goddard and Columbia University.

The project involves biogenic volatile organic compounds, or BVOCs, which are emitted by vegetation and are known precursors to ozone and particulate matter. But while people have long known that BVOCs are important, Wang said the impact of extreme drought on the emissions has only recently begun to be understood, with new algorithms developed to attempt to account for that.

Klovenski will incorporate those algorithms into the GISS ModelE, which Wang said could improve scientists' ability not only to understand how drought stress on trees will impact air quality and atmospheric composition but also their understanding of how that will feed back onto drought and other physical conditions, which can potentially improve the prediction of extreme drought.

"We need better models," Wang said.

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LAWRENCE -- Religious divisions have famously plagued Nigeria throughout its history. However, the triumph of a charismatic Christian movement, coming on the heels of the restoration of democracy in the West African country in 1999, has changed the terms of interreligious and political engagement.

The power of the ascendant Pentecostal movement is such that a University of Kansas researcher of civil society and politics and religion in Africa suggests the country's Fourth Republic, which is about to mark a 20-year milestone, should be termed the "Pentecostal Republic."

"You can't really understand what has happened in Nigeria since the beginning of the Fourth Republic without paying attention to Pentecostalism," said Ebenezer Obadare, KU professor of sociology and former journalist in Nigeria.

In his new book, "Pentecostal Republic: Religion and the Struggle for State Power in Nigeria," published by Zed Books, Obadare chronicles how leaders of the Pentecostal movement have appropriated state power and transformed religious dynamics and political contestation in the country.

The charismatic Protestant Christian movement that began in the United States in the early 1900s became more popular in Nigeria in the 1970s, just as the era of an oil boom gave way to economic stagnation.

"Just about the same time Nigeria was inaugurating the Fourth Republic, that is the same time Pentecostalism was moving into the forefront as a dominant force," Obadare said.

The religious movement and the democratic movement in Nigeria grew parallel alongside each other.

"The effect is that Pentecostalism has significantly affected politics and political understanding," Obadare said. "Not only that, it has changed the intrinsic nature of the state itself."

As leading Pentecostal preachers moved closer to politicians in Nigeria, the two groups have become more dependent upon each other. The outcome, policywise, has been far from desirable, he said.

"Both forces constitute what you can call the power elite now," Obadare said. "It just sheds light on the role that religion plays in politics, in a particular context. It helps us understand that relationship. It also gives a lie to the assumption that the impact of religion on politics and sociality is fixed and can be known in advance."

On the contrary, he said, religion's effects are always predicated on the interplay of forces in the immediate environment.

"Pastors also have their own elite interests and their own personal interests, as well as differences among themselves," Obadare said. "But in general, there is more collaboration between pastors and politicians than between pastors and congregations."

There are some parallels to evangelicals influencing U.S. politics, but there is a major difference in that. Recently, at least, American evangelicals have become almost completely identified with a single party -- the Republican Party -- while Democrats typically expect little to no support from evangelical voters.

In Nigeria, on the other hand, and perhaps because the party system is not as cohesive and ideological boundaries are blurred, Pentecostal leaders are not exclusive allies of a single party.

"You could argue that the Pentecostal elite in Nigeria is much more nimble," Obadare said. "It will always find a way to find an accommodation with the existing regime, party identity notwithstanding."

Other religious groups and other Christian denominations in Nigeria have also had to adapt their own practices in light of Pentecostalism's success.

"The argument I make is that, faced with the sheer ebullience and sheer force of Pentecostalism, every other Christian denomination has had to make adjustments," Obadare said.

One key dynamic to watch is the likely effect of Pentecostal domination of politics on civil society. If the church can rekindle the spirit of the early 1990s when it formed alliances with civic groups for an expansion of democratic space, that could be a more positive sign, he said.

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CAMBRIDGE, MD (November 1, 2018)--Using environmental DNA (eDNA) to track the presence of fish in waterways is emerging as a powerful tool to detect and understand the abundance of species in aquatic environments. However, relatively few studies have compared the performance of this emerging technology to traditional catch or survey approaches in the field.

Researchers from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center field tested using eDNA--tracking the presence of fish by identifying DNA that has been left behind in the water--to detect river herring in tributaries of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. They found that tracking and quantifying herring DNA from the environment corresponded well to more traditional field methods and has great potential to assist future monitoring efforts of river herring abundance and habitat use.

"Sampling a single river, you need a net, crew, permits, it can be expensive," said study author Louis Plough of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. "The eDNA approach is an alternative where you just take water and you get an idea of the abundance of fish."

Accurate information on how many fish are in a river system and where they travel is essential to understanding their ecology and how to manage the fishery in increasingly human-impacted environments. Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling has recently emerged as a powerful, non-invasive alternative to capture-based techniques to detect the presence of a species in their environment.

"You can scoop up water and know what's been there," said Plough. "It captures a snapshot of the DNA that has been around in the past couple of weeks."

The researchers developed a genetic probe that targeted and identified the DNA of two particular fish species, alewife and blueback herring, collectively known as river herring, in the waterways. As they swim, the fish slough off cells and waste that contain DNA.

"The eDNA method is especially powerful because it can identify whether alewife, blueback herring, or both species are present at each site," said study co-author Matt Ogburn of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. "When we use some traditional methods like collecting fish eggs or larvae, we often aren't able to tell which river herring species they belong to, and they might even be from other local species like hickory shad."

River herring, the common name for alewife and blueback herring, were once common in Maryland's rivers, where they came to spawn every spring. One of the oldest fisheries in North America, they play important roles in coastal food webs--striped bass, bald eagles and osprey like to snack on them--yet the species has declined sharply since the 1970s due to loss of spawning habitat, overfishing, and degradation of water quality.

"These species live in saltwater and spawn in freshwater every spring. They've been hit hard by overfishing and habitat loss, including dams that blocked their way to spawning grounds upstream, so numbers have declined," said Plough. "We need to conserve them, they need help, but it's expensive to monitor them."

The team sampled 196 locations across 12 tributaries in Maryland--nearly 500 waters samples---in an effort to understand where they are and how many there are.

They found that the eDNA abundance data corresponded well to other field methods and even gave them a finer looks at species distribution. For example, alewife were more common among eastern shore rivers while blueback herring were more common among rivers on the more developed western shore.

The researchers are among first to use eDNA across the Chesapeake Bay watershed to create a map of where river herring are spawning.

"The only other large-scale surveys of river herring spawning habitats in the Chesapeake Bay watershed were conducted in Maryland and Virginia from the 1960s to 1980s, and different methods were used in each state," Ogburn said. "Our study is the first to use the same method across the watershed, which allows us to study habitat preferences at an unprecedented scale."

"The goal is to do more of this with other species, using new tools to inform conservation and restoration efforts," said Plough.

###

The paper, "Environmental DNA analysis of river herring in Chesapeake Bay: a powerful tool for monitoring threatened keystone species" from Louis Plough of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and Matthew Ogburn of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center was published in PLOS ONE. Funding for the study was provided by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Smithsonian Institution.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science leads the way toward better management of Maryland's natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. From a network of laboratories located across the state, UMCES scientists provide sound evidence and advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment, and prepare future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. http://www.umces.edu
PHILADELPHIA - Penn Medicine emergency department physicians are calling for more readily available testing strips to identify the presence of fentanyl in patients experiencing a drug overdose, and a rapid, coordinated response among health care providers and city agencies to help curb overdoses and identify high potency high risk drugs. Fentanyl testing strips are urine drug tests being used off-label to identify fentanyl and fentanyl analogues in the drug supply. In a letter to the editor published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, the authors describe a recent cluster of 18 drug overdoses over a four-day period linked to "crack" cocaine laced with fentanyl that left three people dead.

Use of fentanyl, a synthetic and lethal opioid, has become a growing public health crisis in Philadelphia and other cities across the United States. Fentanyl - which is cheaper to produce than heroin and more addictive - has drenched much of the heroin and "crack" cocaine drug supply and was found in nearly 85 percent of Philadelphia's 1,217 overdoses in 2017.

In the cluster described in the letter, all 18 patients who arrived at Penn Medicine emergency departments via EMS transport had substance-use disorders, but none had used opioids previously. Exposure to fentanyl poses risks of severe respiratory depression and death, especially among patients without opioid tolerance.

"This outbreak is indicative of a larger problem with fentanyl in the city that we need to continue to quickly act on," said Jeanmarie Perrone, MD, a professor of Emergency Medicine and director of the division of Medical Toxicology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "As demonstrated by this cluster, fentanyl overdoses are the leading cause of illness and death associated with opioid overdoses, which highlights the need for more testing strips that tell a user if their drug supply is tainted."

"Having these strips for people who inject drugs is important in curtailing unintentional fentanyl use and reducing the risk of overdose in those who intend to use it," she added. "They can influence people to use less, take slower injections, or not use alone."

The overdose-reversal drug naloxone was administered to the patients, most of who received higher than normal doses. Urine samples taken from 16 of the 18 patients tested positive for cocaine, and 15 had confirmed fentanyl exposure. Survivors were also treated for various medical complications, including acute kidney injury, rhabdomyolysis, and anoxic brain injury.

Most of the patients arrived from the same neighborhood in West Philadelphia, which suggested a point source, the authors said.

Recognizing the atypical overdose history in all of the patients who denied opioid use, lead author Utsha G. Khatri, MD, a resident in the department of Emergency Medicine at Penn, helped develop a coordinated public health response. The Penn team called for an investigation by law enforcement to track down sources of fentanyl-cocaine combinations, and coordinated with colleagues at the Philadelphia Department of Health and the Poison Center to warn other local emergency departments and to educate residents in the affected neighborhood on the dangers of fentanyl.

The teams are continuing to work together to develop methods for better communication and collaboration and are calling for other cities that are affected by outbreaks to coordinate their response efforts with front-line providers, departments of health and poison centers.

"Collaboration and communication across the city are critical to public outreach and education during clustered outbreaks," Khatri said. "Coordinated efforts from city officials encourage fentanyl testing in overdose victims in our region's hospitals, which helps track outbreaks and pinpoint the source, and raises more awareness in the affected communities."

Kendra Viner, PhD, MPH, of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, is a co-author on the letter.

###

Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $7.8 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top medical schools in the United States for more than 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $405 million awarded in the 2017 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital - the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, a leading provider of highly skilled and compassionate behavioral healthcare.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2017, Penn Medicine provided $500 million to benefit our community.
The centre, the 10th such facility for the company globally, will create and innovate products for brands in the Chocolates and Beverages categories

On October 31, FMCG major Mondelez International  which has been operating in India for over 70 years - inaugurated its first global research, development and quality technical centre in India. Located close to its factory in Thane, Maharashtra, with an investment of $15 million, the centre will create and innovate products for the companys global brands in the Chocolates and Beverages categories. This will be the 10th technical centre in the world for Mondelez International and the first to focus on product development across all portfolios of chocolates and beverages. The 11th one is in the works and will open in Mexico City.

Speaking on setting up a technical centre in India after almost seven decades of existence here, Deepak Iyer, Managing Director, Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd. said, R&D has been embedded in this country for 40 years and this is the third phase. We renewed it in 2011 with an upgraded facility and this is a complete state-of-the-art centre with a $15 million investment.

(L to R) Deepak Iyer, MD, Mondelez India, Michelle Pickering, Vice President Research, Development & Quality - Chocolates, Mondelez International, Rob Hargrove, EVP, Research, Development and Quality, Mondelez International, Tim Cofer, Chief Growth Officer, Mondelez International, Maurizio Brusadelli, EVP and President AMEA (Asia, Middle East and Africa), Mondelez International unveil the global Research, Development and Quality Center at Thane, India on Wednesday

Rob Hangrove, EVP, Research Development and Quality, Mondelez International said, Weve been doing research and development in India for quite a few years and this represents stepping up of our capability by enabling us to become part of the total global network, taking advantage of the collaboration that happens all around the world.

India is the fastest growing market in the world and critical for the accelerated growth ambitions of Mondelez globally, as it is home to the highest market-share position for the Chocolate category.

On the importance of India as a market in the global perspective, Maurizio Brusadelli, EVP and President, AMEA, Mondelez said, India is a big country and the population in India will continue to grow. Weve proved how important India is with the many things that we did in the last 70 years, investing in technology and manufacturing. It is crucial and will continue to be super-relevant for myself and for the company.

The Research, Development and Quality Center at Thane

Elaborating on Brusadellis views, Tim Cofer, Chief Growth Officer, Mondelez International said, I continue the commitment to invest in India, to our belief in the disproportionate growth that we can procure from India. We made a massive investment in South India a few years ago to open a state-of-the-art chocolate-making factory, that employs 50% men and 50% women, which were very proud of. India is a critical market for us and we will continue to invest in its growth.

Our focus here in the Thane Indian technical centre will be on two of our biggest categories, i.e., Chocolates and Beverages, which are two critical categories for our business not only in India but also all over the world. The expertise from India in these categories, combined with our global network, will help us create and innovate products that consumers all around the world love and we will have the satisfaction and pride that it was made starting right here in Thane, India, Cofer added.

As a global team, the Research, Development and Quality technical centre of Mondelez International has around 2,400 people, including process engineers, nutritionists, food scientists and consumer scientists who will focus on consumer science, packaging and productivity, to develop its products. The new R&D centre is also part of the companys strategy to invest $65 million in developing a global network of state-of-the-art technical hubs strategically positioned around the world.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
Lloyds bullish on Pound at current levels

The British Pound was enjoying a rare accolade on Wednesday, as the GBP posted gains which made it the best performing major currency on the day. This does come after a strong few days of losses, but will still be a welcome moment of relief for the bulls. Headlines were generally a little more upbeat, as the harsh No-deal talk was at least a little intermixed with some more optimistic dialogue, which saw bargain hunters and optimists probably smelling an opportunity to buy the struggling UK currency. Consumer Confidence data was released and indicated a drop from the last month, but this was in line with expectations and didnt warrant much of a reaction from the Pound to Dollar exchange rate (GBP/USD).

The UK based bank Lloyds is more bullish than some on the short-term condition of the Pound, and dont look for quite such an aggressive sell-off. Indeed, in the near term, they look for upside, running back into the 1.28 handle and believe that momentum is now struggling to carry Cable beyond the lows that we have recently seen,

We a biased for the downside to be limited before a rebound back towards 1.2850, with a breakthrough there suggesting the range lows have held. 1.2950-1.3050 is the next notable resistance above. Below 1.2660 support lies at around 1.2595 and then the 1.2500 region.

SwissQuote bearish on Cable

A more bearish forecast can be found from Swiss Broker SwissQuote, who are maintaining an out and out bearish viewpoint on Pound/Dollar. Their forecasts suggest that a short position may still be the most lucrative if the recent rally fades once more,

Our preference: Short positions below 1.2755 with targets at 1.2660 & 1.2610 in extension. Alternative scenario Above 1.2755 look for further upside with 1.2810 & 1.2850 as targets.

Although the Pound raced back above 1.28, SwissQuotes assertion regarding the 1.2755 level should not be ignored, as they suggest that while below that level, a move to lows around 1.2660 remains highly possible,

As Long as the resistance at 1.2755 is not surpassed, the risk of the break below 1.2660 remains high.

A strong day for the Pound is great news for bulls, but this does seem to be quite a positional based rally as the bears may have exhausted themselves. A sell-off after the Bank of England should not be ruled out, but the price action yesterday was still encouraging
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The Kerrville consulting company that sought bankruptcy protection amid allegations its former president committed fraud has settled claims that its accountants should have detected the alleged wrongdoing.

The HJH Consulting Group Inc., which does business as The Salt Group, will collect $92,000 from Kerrville-based Pressler, Thompson & Co.s professional liability insurance under a settlement revealed this week in bankruptcy court documents.

The Salt Group has accused former President Stephen Canty of embezzlement, alleging he overstated the amount of money clients owed the company by $25 million. Cantys alleged manipulation of the books allowed him to tap more of the companys $27 million line of credit, HJH bankruptcy lawyer James Wilkins said in April. The company says it sustained large financial losses.

Canty has not been criminally charged, but three people who spoke with the San Antonio Express-News earlier this year said the FBI had launched an investigation. Gerald Gerry Goldstein, who represents Canty, couldnt be reached for comment Wednesday.

The Salt Group and related companies sought bankruptcy protection in April. They attributed the bankruptcies to the manipulation of accounting records.

The Salt Group had threatened to sued Pressler Thompson in bankruptcy court to recover financial losses allegedly caused by (the accounting firms) failure to discover and disclose the fraudulent conduct, the settlement agreement states. The fraudulent activity should have turned up when the accounting firm conducted audits, the document adds.

Pressler Thompson has denied the allegations and contends it was not its job to detect fraud as outside auditor. Rather, it was engaged to perform a financial statement audit which was not intended to uncover undisclosed fraudulent financial transactions, according to the settlement.

Our engagement letter makes that clear, that its not designed to detect fraud, Pressler Thompson partner Tim Porter said in an interview Wednesday. But if we do find some, well let it be known. And we did not find it in our sampling.

Porter added, I never saw any evidence from them about how much fraud they thought there was.

Wilkins, The Salt Groups lawyer, did not respond to a request for comment.

RELATED: Food banks balk at costs for handling trade war food

The settlement still requires the approval of Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Ronald King.

Canty was terminated March 26 after a 19-year career at The Salt Group. US Tax Recovery Partners, a related firm, in September sued Canty to prevent him from collecting roughly $200,000 in his 401(k) plan.

The monies were the fruits of his crimes, the company says in the lawsuit. Last week, Canty moved to have the suit tossed.

The Salt Group listed $2.5 million in assets and $25.2 million in liabilities in a May court filing. The company has provided costs and expense reduction advice to clients for about 30 years.

Patrick Danner is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering banking and civil courts. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD
Millions of pounds of milk being unloaded weekly at food banks across the U.S. will no doubt be appreciated by needy families, as will the apples, cranberries, beef, pork and other commodities the U.S. Department of Agriculture is buying to relieve farmers hurt by trade war tariffs.

The problem may be over-abundance.

Food banks run on thin margins and managing and distributing donations is a logistical feat. There are only so many workers, so many trucks and so much funding budgeted each year for gas, cold storage space rentals and additional staff.

The 21 food banks in the Feeding Texas network anticipate it will cost 18 cents to handle each pound of additional food. For Feeding Americas more than 200 food banks across America, the shortfall is estimated at up to $200 million.

The unfunded logistics on Tuesday prompted Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz along with U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, to send a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue urging all avenues of assistance.

While we welcome the additional donations to Feeding Texas food banks, we are concerned that USDA has not provided any supplemental assistance for the storage and distribution of food purchases, the lawmakers wrote.

The USDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The donations are part of a three-pronged plan Perdue announced in July to ease the pain of farmers suffering from retaliation for U.S. tariffs on imported aluminum and steel. Perdue was able to tap $12 billion without congressional approval to implement a strategy of direct payments, identifying new export markets and purchases of surplus for food banks and government food programs.

So far about $6.3 billion in direct payments has gone to farmers. Perdue on Monday said the second tranche of aid should be announced by the end of December. The USDA does not plan to extend the program into 2019.

Since rural Americans largely backed President Donald Trump in the 2016 election, trading partners hit them hardest with their retaliatory tariffs.

A Farm Foundation analysis released Wednesday found that the $450 million in expanded agricultural trade due to the recently announced U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement will be greatly overshadowed by the $1.8 billion lost to retaliatory tariffs from the two countries. When retaliatory tariffs from China and other nations are added in, U.S. agricultural exports decline by $7.9 billion.

The Food Purchase and Distribution Program provides for purchase of up to $1.2 billion in commodities that normally would have been exported. The list includes $559 million worth of pork, $93 million of apples, $33 million of cranberries, $18 million of Navy beans and $15 million of beef.

San Antonio Food Bank CEO Eric Cooper and Houston Food Bank CEO Brian Greene said the food is definitely needed.

An exceptionally hot summer meant higher electric bills cutting into household food budgets. People in some areas are still recovering financially from Hurricane Harvey. Unemployment is down, but there are also a lot more people struggling to get by on entry level wages. Charitable donations peak during the holiday months of November and December, but theres fear changes in the tax law will give individuals less incentive to give.

Whats more, technological advances in the food business have cut down on the amount of surplus.

The disrupters in the food industry like Amazon and how people order food, the efficiencies that brings to the grocery stores with home deliveries and store pickups  its created a market where actually less is being donated, Cooper said.

The Houston Food Bank accounts for more than 20 percent of the states food bank distribution, serving an 18-county area that according to the U.S. Census Bureau has 1.1 million food insecure people.

Houston told the USDA it would take everything the agency could give, Greene said. Its currently taking in six tractor-trailer loads of milk a week, and other commodities are starting to come in.

In Houstons case, this is going to be well north of 20 million pounds, he said. We knew if we just said no in the first place wed simply be letting our communities down, so we said yes, but with the message to the U.S. Department of Agriculture that youve got to help us here. Because weve figured out the cost, and theres no fluff.

Were kind of basically sticking our necks out in hopes that the federal government will step up and say, OK were not going to run you bankrupt.

lbrezosky@express-news.net
City Council members grappled Wednesday with the prospect of land acquisitions, increased noise from airplanes and whether residents would support the investment necessary to improve San Antonio International Airport.

Mayor Ron Nirenbergs 21-member Airport System Development Committee determined in October that the San Antonio airports current location could handle projected demand and passenger growth expected in the next five decades but that changes must soon be made to the airfield.

I think weve debunked the myth that the airport is the reason for economic non-competitiveness in the community, Nirenberg said at Wednesdays City Council meeting. In fact, its the airport where our competitiveness can be measured. With all the growth of new markets and nonstop and direct activity, I think people are seeing that as parallel to the job creation efforts that are going on in our economy right now.

READ ALSO: A San Antonio airport expansion could require 200 neighboring acres

Among those proposals: building a 65-gate terminal and a runway parallel to the existing 8,500-foot runway that runs northwest to southeast and handles at least 80 percent of the airports traffic. The airport could extend an existing general aviation runway but that wouldnt solve capacity problems expected to arise in 2023 and 2039, aviation officials said Wednesday

To build the parallel runway, the city would likely need to acquire more than 200 acres of industrial and commercial property off of Jones Maltsberger and Nakoma roads. An Express-News analysis found the Bexar Appraisal District appraised that land at $163.5 million earlier this year.

Councilmen John Courage and Clayton Perry, who each represent districts on the North Side, each expressed concerns about the impact land acquisitions would have on area business owners. Courage said the city could not just pay landowners fairly for their property should the city need the land for a parallel runway.

I think we need to really consider how do we help in any potential relocation that we may decide we need to make in order to have two independent runways, Courage said.

Aviation officials said the cost of buying that land near the existing airport paled in comparison to the cost of 5,000 to 6,000 acres the city would need to build a brand new airport. That cost could be as high as $10 billion, according to city estimates.

OPINION: Building an new airport would be an epic blunder

Its not without deep thought about that (land acquisitions) but the alternatives are simply not viable, said John Dickson of The Denim Group, who headed the mayoral committee.

Building on the current footprint and allowing for more flight capacity could also increase noise in neighborhoods near the airport that already deal with the consistent sound of jet engines, council members said.

Many of them use the airport but they use it once or twice a year, Courage said. But they have to live with the noise all around it 24/7.

San Antonio International currently sits on about 2,600 acres on the citys North Side with two terminals with a total of 24 gates, two 8,500-foot runways for commercial aircraft, a 5,519-foot general aviation runway for smaller aircraft and 124 buildings.

Council members grappled with how to sell the public on investments needed to improve facilities at San Antonio International, though they generally expressed support for the recommendations presented Wednesday. Many residents dont feel they have a relationship with the airport and may be hesitant to pony up funds for improvements, District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez said.

We need to make sure that they understand that relationship exists and that their ability to thrive is dependent upon an airport that is serving a lot of people, Pelaez said.
San Antonio homes rented on a short-term basis through companies like Airbnb and HomeAway will be regulated for the first time  requiring owners to register with the city and pay penalties for skimping on taxes and limiting the density of short-term rentals where the owners dont live.

Tourists in recent years increasingly have turned to homes listed on Airbnb, HomeAway and VRBO as cheaper alternatives to hotel rooms and ways to experience cities as locals do.

Often, homeowners rent out a spare room or garage apartment as a way to gain some extra income  though some real estate investors buy homes for the purpose of renting them to travelers.

Complaints over so-called party houses, crowded streets, safety concerns and police incidents associated with short-term rental properties led then-District 10 Councilman Mike Gallagher to ask the city in 2017 to consider regulating the nascent industry.

Officials since have grappled with how to oversee another segment of the sharing economy, maintain the character of historic neighborhoods and ensure the city is obtaining its fair share of tax revenue without infringing on property rights or attracting the ire of state lawmakers. In April, frustrated council members sent a draft ordinance back to the drawing board.

Council on Thursday passed a revised package of regulations by a vote of 8 to 2.

Many council members Thursday lauded what they called a thoughtful policy-making process that included short-term rental operators, neighborhood associations and representatives from Airbnb  but acknowledged the rules package was imperfect.

Short-term rentals are here and whether any of us like it or not, its a fait accompli that the sharing economy is not going anywhere, District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez said. Its here.

Pelaez, Mayor Ron Nirenberg, and council members Roberto Trevino, Rebecca Viagran, Rey Saldana, Shirley Gonzales, Ana Sandoval and Clayton Perry voted in favor of the new regulations, which technically take effect immediately, though property owners have 90 days to register with the city.

Councilmen Greg Brockhouse and John Courage voted against the package. District 2 Councilman Cruz Shaw was not present.

Brockhouse, who represents District 6 spanning parts of the West and Northwest sides, noted that Gallagher wanted the city to determine whether short-term rental properties drastically affect property values or contribute to crime rates. So far, Brockhouse said, the city has not found evidence they do.

Lets not try to solve problems that dont exist, Brockhouse said.

Representatives for Airbnb Inc. and Austin-based HomeAway each backed the rules, which they held up as a model for other Texas cities.

HomeAway commends the short-term rental task force and city staff for the many months of open dialogue and collaboration that went into this proposal, HomeAway spokesman Philip Minardi said in a statement. The outcome of that process is a regulatory framework that ensures vacation rental owners can operate responsibly and with accountability.

Council members were eager to pass the ordinance ahead of the Texas Legislatures 2019 session. State lawmakers could pre-empt or nullify the local rules, but the city hopes to have a say in the process.

Two bills filed when Texas legislators met in 2017 would have limited how cities could regulate short-term rentals and prevent them from banning the practice, but neither made it to Gov. Greg Abbotts desk.

I dont think this is perfect but I think its important that we make a move forward, especially because we do not know what the Texas Legislature is going to be doing, District 3 Councilwoman Viagran said.

But Nirenberg and Assistant City Manager Carlos Contreras said some state lawmakers have expressed interest in the San Antonio rules as a potential blueprint.

Airbnb would cite the San Antonio ordinance as a type of law that we support and that any state law should embrace a law like this and not stop it from occurring, Airbnb Texas Policy Director Laura Spanjian said by phone.

Under the ordinance, operators of short-term rental properties will pay a $100 fee, down from the initially proposed $200 fee. Owners also would pay a $100 renewal fee every three years.

Officials estimate the city would receive $320,000 in fee-related revenue within four years, according to a memo attached to Thursdays agenda item.

The ordinance limits the density of type 2 rentals, ones where the owner does not live, to one in a multifamily development with fewer than eight units. It also would limit to 12.5 percent the amount of such rentals allowed on a residential block or in a larger multifamily development.

Property owners offering places for rent in an area thats already hit density limits could ask for an exception from the city Board of Adjustments.

Operators of type 2 rentals in Texas and cities that regulate them have run into legal trouble.

Austin passed rules in 2016 that eventually would phase out short-term rentals by landlords who dont live in the residence listed for rental  drawing a legal challenge from the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened in the lawsuit that year against Austin.

The Timberwood Park Owners Association near San Antonio sued a homeowner who bought a house in the subdivision in 2012 but began renting it to short-term guests when his employer transferred him to Houston, alleging he violated deed restrictions. In May, the Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of the homeowner.

An amendment by Courage to ban all type 2 rentals failed. Rental properties where the owner does not live adversely affect the nature and character of residential neighborhoods, said Courage, who represents District 9 on the North Side.

Theyre not sharing a home, theyre creating a business enterprise in a residential area, Courage said.

Many citizens who spoke at the Thursday meeting raised concerns about the effect of type 2 rentals on neighborhoods.

Owners of those properties in historic districts are less likely to be good stewards of those homes, said Stella De La Garza of the San Antonio Conservation Society, which supports the ordinance.

Stewardship requires permanent residents with eyes on the street and feet on the ground, De La Garza said.

A proliferation of homes rented on sites like Airbnb and HomeAway will prevent young people from being able to rent homes in neighborhoods like King William, said Margaret Leeds, who lives there.

This compromise (on type 2 rentals) will serve, Leeds said. Otherwise, well have to man the barricades once again, even if weakened by having fewer neighbors and more monied interests lined up against us.

City officials first sought to subject short-term rental properties to an initial safety inspection. Now, the city will allow property owners to self-inspect, only stepping in if there is a complaint or some suspicion of a problem.

Properties that have received city housing incentives will not be allowed to operate as type 2 short-term rentals. Operators also would be barred from using the properties as event spaces or providing food and beverage services to guests.

The new ordinance gives the city mechanisms to penalize owners of short-term rental properties who have not been paying local hotel occupancy taxes.

The citys finance department currently collects hotel occupancy tax, at a rate of about 9 percent, from about 400 short-term rental owners out of the 1,600 the city estimates are operating in San Antonio, said Michael Shannon, director of the citys development services department.

Property owners also are required to pay county and state hotel occupancy taxes for a combined rate of 16.75 percent.

Council members are expected to vote Nov. 15 on a contract for a business that would identify owners who skirt the ordinance by not registering with the city or paying hotel occupancy taxes. Violators would face a maximum fine of $500, not counting back taxes.

Joshua Fechter is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering retail and tourism. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports
For a week, Gloria Galvans fifth-graders were rabid readers, tearing through biographies and fiction, starting their own book clubs  even offering to give up their recess to stay inside and read.

By Oct. 5, they had finished more than 4,000 books, earning a fifth-place finish in a national competition that fueled their efforts all week.

The Fall Into Reading challenge from Epic!, an app thats essentially a digital library, challenged classrooms to read as many books as they could through the first week of October, with prizes awarded to the top 10 classes.

Galvan, who had been using the app in her classroom at Price Elementary School in the South San Antonio Independent School District, said she wanted to try the contest in the past but didnt have enough technology for all the students to participate.

This year, armed with Chromebooks and iPads and challenged to beat schools from across the country, her students bought into it, wholeheartedly.

When they checked their standings online each day, we were so excited, said student David Amaral. As they climbed up in the rankings we said, Oh my God, what if we win?

We put our whole effort into it, said Lilianna Espino, whose favorite books were a series of biographies. We didnt just do whatever, we tried hard for it.

As a reward, theyll each receive a free six-month subscription to the online library, which Galvan hopes will encourage them to read more on their own. They can log in through computers at home or at a public library, or on their parents smart phones, she said, and can access books at their own reading levels.

The students are excited about the class party theyll have to celebrate, and being recognized at school by the principal for their accomplishment.

Theyve already started talking about forming book clubs on their own, Galvan said, and they want to take it out of the classroom.

Thats what I really wanted for them, Galvan said. I dont want them to think about reading as an assignment, I want it to be a passion.

LTeitz@express-news.net | @LizTeitz
In a rare action, the Air Force said Wednesday it had relieved three commanders at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio.

The move came in the wake of incidents in the past year that included a female pilot being given a vulgar name during a drinking ritual and another case involving a threat.

The Air Force said the leaders failed to correct an evolving situation that led to an environment where some airmen did not feel safe or respected.

The Air Education and Training Command said it relieved Col. Charles Velino, the 47th Flying Training Wing commander, along with the bases operations group commander and a squadron commander.

The AETC commander, Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, said they chronically failed to appropriately care for people and the mission. He said some leaders ignored and played down incidents, one of which involved a gathering in which students were given call signs while drinking shots of liquor.

Call signs are pilots identifying nicknames. Things went too far as participants, including instructors, assigned names to student pilots. Kwast said he ordered a wider investigation when he heard of it, to say, OK, what is really going on here and why do we keep tripping on these red flags of poor judgment and poor command decisions? Whats the root?

And what we found, the root was a pattern of looking the other way in the small things that eventually led to big things, Kwast said.

One Air Force official said the commander-directed investigation into the incidents had been completed but was not being released pending disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, the Air Force replaced Velino with Col. Lee Gentile, who had been vice commander of the 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance AFB, Oklahoma.

The AETC reported that Kwast, who was at Laughlin as the day began, also relieved the 47th Operations Group commander, Col. Robert Pekarek.

Officials would not identify the dismissed flying training squadron commander, citing privacy concerns.

Kwast told the San Antonio Express-News that Laughlins commanders had shown a pattern of looking the other way on problems that was inconsistent with the services cultures of respect that are essential for a warfighting or any organization to really be resilient or effective.

As we dug in, we found it at every level, the wing, group and squadron level, and it was systemic, he said. It was not just a one-time thing. We gave them a chance to fix and to appropriately adjust and learn, but it was clear that there was a fundamental lack of understanding about how you hold people accountable and make sure you nip in the bud, whenever theres activity that creates a cancer of cultural disconnect.

Maj. Gen. Patrick Doherty, commander of the 19th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, had ordered a preliminary inquiry after being made aware of misconduct allegations at the training wing at Del Rio, a news release stated.

Kwast said the first signs of trouble at Laughlin appeared about a year ago, sometimes hidden by the chain of command, as he, Doherty and others began to suspect things were amiss during visits there.

The issues were insidious, he said, describing the call-sign naming ceremony as something that in a healthy culture should never, ever, ever happen and compounded by the way Laughlin commanders handled the matter.

Kwast said commanders knew about it and they didnt tell, and when we did find out and we gave them very clear guidance and direction, the way they managed it was not satisfactory.

It was a kind of a blowup where everybody said, Oh my God, how could this happen? Yet the female pilot, who remains in the Air Force, said she did not believe the naming ceremony was a big deal, Kwast said.

We all know it is, he added. And she may have said that she didnt feel like it was a big deal because she felt like her future assignment might be at risk because the people that have power over her were naming her.

The investigation did not identify a wider trend of systemic unhealthy command environments within 19th Air Force and AETC, which also is based at Randolph. But it did uncover the incident at Laughlin involving a threat, Kwast said, declining to detail the case.

More than 2,800 personnel at Laughlin conduct joint specialized undergraduate pilot training for Air Force and allied officers.

Velino oversaw 216 training aircraft  T-1A, T-6A and T-38C planes  and led a flying operation that exceeds 81,000 flying hours and 56,000 sorties a year.

The 19th Air Force oversees the training of more than 30,000 U.S. and allied students annually in specialties ranging from aircrews, remotely piloted aircraft crews, air battle managers, weapons directors,and Air Force Academy airmanship programs to survival, escape, resistance, and evasion specialists.

sigc@express-news.net
The Florida man accused of sending pipe bombs to former President Barack Obama and at least 13 others also threatened Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Beto ORourke earlier this year, according to ORourkes campaign.

Cesar Sayoc, 56, sent threatening messages to ORourke via Facebook in April, ORourkes campaign spokesman Chris Evans said.

Evans said he reported the messages to the Capitol Hill police immediately and turned them over to the FBI in July.

The messages, first reported Wednesday by the Dallas Morning News, included pictures of ORourkes wife and children, and a warning that Sayoc would see him soon.

A spokeswoman with the local FBI field office referred all questions related to Sayoc to the national office, which did not respond to a request for comment.

ORourke, an El Paso congressman, did not receive pipe bombs like the other people Sayoc is accused of targeting. Sayoc sent explosive devices containing "shards of glass that could only have been intended to maximize harm to the defendant's victims," federal prosecutors say.

Related: Suspect lived in a fantasy world, those who know him say

Sayoc sent pipe bombs meant for Obama, former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and former Vice President Joe Biden, among others, prosecutors say. A vocal Donald Trump supporter, Sayoc kept a list of more than 100 potential targets, according to federal authorities. It is unclear whether ORourke was on that list.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that Sayoc had been planning his campaign for at least three months, and his laptop and cellphone are now providing investigators with a trove of fresh evidence, according to new court papers.

Calling the bomb spree a domestic terrorist attack, prosecutors gave a glimpse into its origins, describing in the court papers how Sayocs laptop had been used, as early as July, to draft a list of targets and scour the internet for information on them, the Times reported.

In Austin on Wednesday, ORourke said little when asked about the messages he received.

We just got to continue to do our best to be good to one another, ORourke said.

ORourke, 46, is a three term congressman challenging U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican, for re-election.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com
In an already volatile political season, one of the most contentious races in Bexar County involves the obscure-but-vital probate court bench.

The contest for County Probate Court No. 1 pits Republican incumbent Judge Kelly Cross, who has been reprimanded by a state judicial panel, against a former employee she fired in 2016, Democrat Oscar Kazen.

A number of attorneys have accused Cross of being rude, argumentative and dismissive of the mentally challenged people who often appear in her court.

In April, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct sanctioned Cross for, among other acts, calling a disabled man with infected wounds Mr. Maggot or Maggot Man, comparing a disabled childs IQ to that of a ballpoint pen and demeaning other mentally disadvantaged wards of the state.

Probate courts primarily handle wills, guardianships, eminent domain cases, mental health commitments and estates.

Weeks before the commission released its report, Cross garnered 64 percent of the vote to defeat a challenger in the GOP primary in March, probate attorney Anna Gordon Torres.

Ive had many cases before her, Torres said during the campaign. And several times all of us or one of us (lawyers) were screamed at, that we were rookies, that our clients should have gotten someone else, often with foul language.

Cross, who did not respond to interview requests Tuesday and Wednesday, told the judicial conduct panel she had no specific recollection of the statements attributed to her by a string of complainants, but did not doubt that she made them.

She defended her off-handed remarks as a practical way to distinguish litigants among thousands she sees.

Attorneys and other people talk to me about cases every day, Cross testified. They use the proper name, but I cant remember 4,000 names.  To differentiate one case from another, I might ask, Is this the maggot guy? Is this the rat lady case?  The surnames dont stick.

The commission had investigated a complaint filed last February by San Antonio attorney Kathleen K.T. Whitehead, who alleged Cross showed a pattern of insulting or dismissive behavior toward her clients.

They included Victoria and Eric Martinez, whose adult daughter was the subject of a guardianship proceeding, and who said Cross flippantly referred to their daughters low IQ.

Cross response: I wasnt speaking to them. I have no idea what they did or didnt hear. The conversation was not for them.

Another litigant, Lysa Curry, said Cross was rude and curt to her and to Currys attorney and that Cross lacked compassion for my family and other families in this process. Cross said Currys attorney didnt come to court prepared.

Jennifer and Jo Trevino, guardians of their adult daughter, told the commission Cross yelled at their attorney, upsetting their daughter to the point that she had to be calmed down. Cross denied she acted inappropriately.

Judge Cross maintained throughout her appearance, wrote the commissions Judge Douglas S. Lang, that she is the victim of a conspiracy orchestrated by Ms. Whitehead and the judges political opponents to ruin her reputation and her chances for re-election  and reiterated her deep commitment to the disabled community.

Cross vehemently denied she would ever knowingly disrespect or demean an incapacitated person appearing before her in court, he added.

Last year, a survey of 419 attorneys practicing in Bexar County, asked to evaluate the countys 51 judges, ranked Cross lowest in all six categories - punctuality, hard work, following the law, temperament, impartiality and overall performance.

In 2016, Cross fired Kazen, an associate probate judge, whos now running against her. After Kazen had anchored the countys mental health docket for nine years, Cross replaced him with her staff attorney, Art Rossi, a fellow Republican with no history in mental health.

Cross had the authority to fire Kazen, but did it in a brief email and offered no explanation, allowing critics to say it appeared to be personal score-settling.

Months earlier, Cross gave him perfect scores in an appraisal, including the categories quality of work, employee relations, initiative and application of job knowledge.

Asked about the seeming contradiction of her actions, she told the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board in September: Im gonna write good reviews about everybody.

For more than nine years, Kazen presided over the countys Involuntary Outpatient Commitment Program, which the Boston Globe cited in 2016 as a model that Massachusetts should follow.

In a June 1, 2017, recommendation letter, former Sheriff Susan Pamerleau lauded Kazen for his unique insight as well as his ability to bring diverse stakeholders together.

Cross has attempted to cast his election challenge as entirely personal because she fired me, Kazen said. Ive always said she had that right. What is personal, though, is that this court used to be a shining example of what a court should be, and she broke it. I want to fix it.

In the considerably more tame Probate Court No. 2, former Judge Tom Rickhoff has left the bench. Democrat Veronica Vasquez and Republican Julie Hardaway are battling for the vacant seat.

Hardaway, an attorney in Broadway Banks trust division for the past nine years, also served as the staff attorney for Probate Court No. 1 from 1999 to 2005.

Vasquez, a University of Texas School of Law grad, interned at the Texas Civil Rights Project and more recently was the director of the guardianship and probate department for Catholic Charities Archdiocese of San Antonio.

bselcraig@express-news.net
San Antonios LGBTQ community reports higher-than-average rates of childhood abuse, sexual trauma, mental illness and poverty, as well as problems accessing health care, a survey found.

Forty-one percent of LGBTQ adults who participated in the survey experienced sexual abuse before age 18, and more than half reported at least four traumatic childhood experiences. Ten percent of respondents found it difficult to get adequate health care, a rate that rose to 40 percent for transgender people.

The survey represents the first phase of a three-year study of resiliency in San Antonios LGBTQ community. The research is funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to health.

Amy Stone, an associate professor of sociology and anthropology at Trinity University who is one of the studys leaders, said the initial results indicate that early social and family experiences can influence the health outcomes of LGBTQ people later.

Some of the big takeaways ... is thinking more about the family and also our childhood experiences, Stone said. Often when we talk about the LGBT community, were talking about adults and our adult lives, but thinking about what we bring into our adult lives affects our health in some really profound ways.

The study is being led by Stone, Phillip Schnarrs, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin and formerly on the faculty at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Robert Salcido, chair of Pride Center San Antonio. The results were presented Tuesday at the Carver Library.

The research of San Antonios LGBTQ population included participants who ranged in age from 16 to 81. Results from the first phase drew from two sets of surveys, 877 screening surveys and 525 fully completed surveys. It also relied on information gleaned from in-person interviews with 82 people.

Two of every five respondents reported having mental health issues, especially depression and anxiety. Half reported that during their childhood years, their family members were mentally ill or depressed or had attempted to kill themselves. Poverty was also prevalent, with high rates of unemployment particularly among LGBTQ youths and trans people.

The health issues reported by the LGBTQ community, such as childhood trauma, are an indication that these individuals are often treated differently as children because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, the researchers said.

The trauma that they suffer basically is a result of them being trans or LGBTQ identified, not the other way around, Salcido said. Its not, You treated me wrong and now Im gay because of that. No, its quite the opposite. Its, Ive already self-identified as LGBT or queer, and the trauma came after the fact.

Despite the major obstacles they reported, survey participants also described several sources of strength and coping mechanisms that allowed them to remain resilient, including supportive immediate family and relatives, diverging from problematic behaviors practiced by those close to them, putting distance between themselves and toxic family members, and falling back on their faith.

Before the presentation, Mayor Ron Nirenberg gave brief remarks about the surveys importance for addressing needs in the community, improving policy and identifying the underlying factors that can influence health outcomes. The research, he said, comes at a time when the city must continue our fight for inclusion because of looming federal threats.

We must not retreat from equal rights for all. Any change in federal policy that erases the rights of transgender Americans and dictates gender identification is a discriminatory step backward, Nirenberg said.

Next year, the researchers will launch the studys next phase, which will involve a longer survey of more than 1,000 people across the city, as well as town hall discussions focused on specific topics relevant to San Antonios LGBTQ community.

Lauren Caruba covers health care and medicine in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | lcaruba@express-news.net | Twitter: @LaurenCaruba
Joe Straus wont be on the ballot in House District 121 for the first time since 2004, but voters in his district will find something familiar in the candidates running to replace him.

Both the Republican and Democrat seeking to become his successor are pitching their bipartisan bonafides, recognizing the House Speakers reputation for moderation and across-the-aisle congeniality.

With the loss of Speaker Straus, I think we need someone with a strong background, experience, common sense and a proven ability to work with others and achieve consensus and results, said Republican Steve Allison, a lawyer who has served on the board of VIA Metropolitan Transit and was president of the Alamo Heights Independent School District.

On ExpressNews.com: Much-criticized Bexar probate judge in re-election battle

Democrat Celina Montoya also praised Straus, who chose not to seek reelection after serving 14 years in the Texas Legislature, 10 of them as leader of the House.

Weve had a great representative over a long period of time, said Montoya, who founded an education nonprofit before handling government affairs for a family-owned business, Alamo Fireworks. He gave people a sense of ease about what was happening at the statehouse.

Straus, a Republican, endorsed Allison in the GOP primary, but there has been some confusion about his position in the general election. The former speaker reiterated his support of Allison Wednesday.

I strongly support Steve Allison to be our next state representative, he said Wednesday. Steve is committed to improving education, he has a long record of service to our community, and he will put the interests of his constituents first.

Montoya has noted that Straus was quieter than one might expect during the general election, so she wasnt expecting to hear his statement of support for Allison.

Thats surprising to me, given some of the information my campaign has received, Montoya said.

The district, which was first drawn in 1981, has never been held by a Democrat. But its also known for being moderate: Allison emerged from a primary battle against tea party candidate Matt Beebe. After two previous losses to Straus, it marked the third time Beebe failed to seize the nomination from a moderate Republican.

On ExpressNews.com: Allison trounces Beebe to win GOP nod in District 121

Political watchers say two factors make the race more interesting than usual in this district, which covers a portion of northeast Bexar County and includes Alamo Heights: Its an open seat, and political trends seem to be favoring Democrats.

Any time you have an open seat ... it can be unpredictable, said David Crockett, chair of Trinity Universitys political science department. He said he still thinks the district is comfortably red.

Brandon Rottinghaus, a professor of political science at the University of Houston, said the national political environment could help throw the district into contention.

Any district in the state that has a significant suburban population is likely in play for Democrats, he said.

The candidates have ideological differences, but they hold similar views on how to solve the most vexing issue facing the district: Both want to quickly and dramatically increase state funding for public schools to ease the burden of property taxes.

The state originally covered the full cost of education, Allison said. That just isnt happening. The burden slowly shifted to property tax payers.

Allison referred to the Legislative Budget Boards finding that the state will only supply about 38 percent of education funding in the 2019 fiscal year.

The Republican said hed like to see that number rise to 50 percent immediately and then continue to rise thereafter.

Montoya said the state needs to at least get back to that level of funding.

What we really need to do is look at the school finance problem as a whole, she said, arguing that the states formula is broken.

All its really proven to do is pit schools, students and teachers against each other, she said, adding that the state should instead focus on fostering competition around innovation and engagement.

Both candidates also pointed to health care as a priority, though Montoya was more definitive in saying the state should expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

Allison said he tentatively supported doing that as well, but he said he would want to make sure the state isnt inundated with costs after the federal funds end.

Montoya argued Allison is not as moderate as he suggests, pointing to positions he staked out on issues such as border security during the primary.

That primary was largely the reason why this legislative race has been the most expensive in Bexar County. Allison has spent more than $927,000 (about 85 percent of that was doled out before he advanced to the general election), and Montoya, who was unopposed in the primary, has spent just over $112,000.

Montoya said Allison will be beholden to the special interest groups that have funded his campaign.

Campaign finance reports show Allison has collected more than $500,000 from political action committees, companies and other associations. The highest donors included Texans for Lawsuit Reform ($80,000) and the Texas Association of Realtors PAC (just over $30,000).

Allison brushed off that accusation. He said he didnt anticipate the race being as costly as it has been, and that his support runs the gamut, indicative of his reputation in the community.

If because Im established in the community and have developed trust, if thats establishment ... then yeah, Im establishment, he said.

Early voting continues through Friday. Election Day is on Tuesday.
For Krista Cooper-Nurse, the irony was unmistakable.

As officials were unveiling a memorial to victims of domestic violence on Tuesday outside the Bexar County Courthouse, Cooper-Nurse was inside the building testifying to a grand jury about an alleged assault by her then-boyfriend, a San Antonio police officer, in which her face was left fractured.

Justin Ayars was fired by SAPD in August over the incident, but the grand jury on Tuesday declined to indict him. He now plans to seek his policing job back through third-party arbitration, his attorney said.

As much as I was taken aback, I wasnt surprised. And thats a really sick feeling, Cooper-Nurse said on Wednesday. I feel more scared now than Ive ever felt.

Cooper-Nurse alleged that in May, Ayars was drinking whiskey while off duty at her North Side apartment when they got into an argument. She said he held her down outside the apartment and struck her in the face multiple times with a rock, an account echoed by a witness who watched the altercation from a nearby window.

RELATED: Officer fired for alleged domestic assault

Cooper-Nurse, 24, was hospitalized after the incident. Medical records show she was treated for three fractures to the face; she later underwent surgery to have a metal plate put in her face.

Cooper-Nurse sought a protective order against Ayars after she was released from the hospital, but the office of Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood stopped it, she said. When I asked the DAs office whether it had prevented Cooper-Nurse from obtaining a protective order, a spokeswoman released a statement that both the D.A.s Office and SAPD are taking the necessary steps to ensure that Ms. Cooper is protected.

Ayars had an easier time gaining legal traction.

Fleeing the scene in a vehicle driven by a fellow off-duty officer, Ayars immediately went to the SAPD North Sub Station  the same substation to which he was assigned as an officer  and made an assault report, according to his own affidavit.

Nearly two weeks after the incident, Ayars applied for and received a protective order against Cooper-Nurse. In his affidavit, the officer swore under oath that Cooper-Nurse had assaulted him as he left the apartment and forced him to react in self-defense.

David Parent, Ayarss attorney, echoed this account on Wednesday.

She chased Justin down the sidewalk toward the parking lot and thats where the altercation took place, Parent said. Obviously, the aggressor was not Justin.

That assertion contradicted what a neighbor told police.

Watching from a window in a nearby apartment, the witness saw the couple struggling over a phone before falling to the ground. The witness told police he then saw Ayars knee Cooper-Nurse multiple times, hold her down and strike her in the face.

The witness said after (Ayars) punched (Cooper-Nurse) in the face, (he) fled the location, the report stated.

RELATED: San Antonio police officer's domestic violence case sent to DA

David Wheeler, Cooper-Nurses attorney, said the DAs office failed to call that witness to testify before the grand jury, even as it called other witnesses, including the other off-duty officer who helped Ayars flee the scene.

The state did not call (the neighbor) as a live witness, Wheeler told me, but they assured me that they played his video statement.

As the grand jury heard the case, officials gathered outside the courthouse to unveil a memorial to victims of domestic violence donated by Bexar County Clerk Gerry Rickhoff.

Willie Ng, chief investigator for LaHoods office, spoke first.

I believe Bexar County can be that example for the nation to see what we are doing here at the county to combat domestic violence, Ng said. I believe we can do it as long as we continue to collaborate, educate the community, the fact that this is not something that we accept, we will not tolerate. Regardless of your socioeconomic status, your culture, your political affiliation, if you commit this act, you will be held accountable.

Ng and other officials then placed white roses on the memorial, which read: In dedication to the countless lives affected by domestic violence in Bexar County, especially those who have lost their lives, and to remember each survivor whose strength and resilience inspire us to work toward a violence-free future.

The irony was not lost on Cooper-Nurse.

There was no gray in this case, she said. It was a black-and-white case. We had an eyewitness, we had extensive injuries, and somewhere in all of that, there was enough persuasion (by the DAs office) not to move forward.

Their words, she added, are not matching their actions.
AUSTIN  Democrat Lupe Valdez knows her campaign for Texas governor is an uphill battle. But the former Dallas County sheriff who grew up in San Antonios poorest ZIP code is telling voters she never expected anything different.

Please, what other kind of battle is there? A piece-of-cake battle? she told a crowd at a campaign stop in Austin this week.

Texas Democrats havent won statewide office in more than two decades, and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is a formidable opponent who has raised millions more in campaign contributions than Valdez and holds a double-digit lead in the polls. But what Valdez lacks in cash, shes banking on making up with Democrats enthusiasm this midterm cycle.

The grassroots organizations are going to beat the Republican money machine, Valdez said. We can see it in the crowds.

Early voter turnout is setting records in several metropolitan areas that lean Democratic, including Harris, Bexar and Travis counties. The race galvanizing most Democratic voters, however, is the competitive contest for U.S. Senate  with Democrat U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke seeking to unseat Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

Thats where Abbott is aiming all his attacks. The Republican didnt mention Valdez in his final appeal to voters this week in Williamson County, just north of Austin. Instead, he urged them to turn out against ORourke and keep Texas red.

With more than $19 million in the bank, Abbotts campaign has been pumping money to vulnerable Republicans in state house races. Abbotts Tuesday stop in Georgetown focused less on his race and more on boosting other GOP candidates including Cruz, U.S. Rep. John Carter and candidates for the Texas House.

You can send a message not only that determines the outcome of the election, you can send a message far beyond the borders of the state of Texas, Abbott told voters. Your message will simply be this: All the gold in California is not going to buy Beto a United States Senate seat here in the Lone Star State.

Its not clear what kind of trickle effect ORourke will have on candidates down-ticket, including Valdez. He seldom campaigns with other Democratic statewide candidates.

ORourke has taken up all the interest in Texas, leaving very little for the rest, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston. Although they have campaigned together on occasion, the enthusiasm for Beto doesnt always translate to others.

For subscribers: San Antonio Express-News 2018 Voter Guide

For subscribers: Houston Chronicle 2018 Voter Guide

Valdez, who has raised $361,000 in the past month compared to Abbotts $3.5 million, hasnt aired ads on television, according to campaign finance reports. In the final stretch she has spent more than $230,000 on digital advertising and crisscrossed the state on a bus tour with other Democrats.

On the campaign trail she and Abbott are both hitting on economic issues. While Abbott touts the states job growth and cutting taxes, Valdez pledges to address paid family leave and equal pay for women.

Liz Garcia, a San Antonio resident, first met Valdez on Thursday at a get-out-the-vote event.

"She's got it right," said Garcia, who is voting for the first time in a midterm election this year. "Health care is the main issue for me ... I want to protect the Affordable Care Act."

Valdez promises to expand Medicaid to cover more low-income Texans. Abbott opposes the move, saying it would cost the state billions of dollars a year in the future.

Block walking in west San Antonio on Thursday morning, Valdez came across many empty homes. But she scrawled handwritten messages on campaign pamphlets before leaving them in doorways.

One elderly man who did answer the door told Valdez he is too sick to vote. "But you know, we're fighting for health care," she responded.

The first Latina and openly gay person to win a major partys nomination for governor in Texas, Valdez still lags in statewide name recognition.

Not enough people have gotten to fully hear or know about her, said Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez of Jolt, a Latino voting group. But they know enough about what they dont like about Greg Abbott to vote.

Abbott won his first term in 2014, besting Democrat Wendy Davis by more than 20 points.

This year early voter turnout has surged past 2014 levels. In Dallas County, where Valdez was sheriff for 12 years, more than 32 percent of registered voters have already cast a ballot. Thats almost double the number of people who voted early in 2014, according to the Texas Secretary of States office.

Early voting runs through Nov. 2 with election day on Nov. 6.

Still, the voter excitement runs across both parties.

Chuck Seeger moved to Williamson County from California less than a year ago, fed up with the states liberal leadership and a recent hike in the gas tax.

The first thing we did was get registered, said Seeger, who voted straight-ticket Republican and wore an Abbott sticker on his shirt. We have got to pay attention because things are going haywire.

amorris@express-news.net
The president just appeared on TV to answer reporters questions about the tragic shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. My jaw nearly dropped when his first words in response to a question on gun laws was to blame the victims because they did not have sufficient security in their house of worship. He barely paused to reflect and offered no words to console the families affected by this criminal act.

No less appalling was the attack he then launched on the rule of law. His statement that the death penalty needed to be invoked was chilling.

Once again he has shown a total lack of empathy, a disregard for the Constitution, and demonstrated that he is merely a pawn of the NRA. He shrugs off the loss of life and stridently endorses a solution to violence consisting of more violence and authoritarian rule. Hes consistent, anyway.

Andrew M. Weir

Hope survives

How could it escape us? The Sunday front page about the one-year anniversary of the senseless Sutherland Springs murders and to its side the new tragedy of anti-Semitic murders at the Tree of Life Synagogue.

Different reasons for each coldblooded act, but the results are the same.

Were tempted to give up our hope for civility and humanity. There is a time for mourning, remembering and questioning. Yet, I havent surrendered my faith in the goodness and compassion of people. After each event there has been an outpouring of caring, prayers, sympathy, kindness and giving.

This is what I observe when Im out and about, living everyday life. Folks hold doors for one another, I turn a corner at the grocery store to meet the eyes of another shopper and smiles are exchanged, a stranger comments on the beautiful weather were enjoying, neighbors greet one another as we walk the neighborhood, those in the voter line around me express the privilege we have to cast our votes.

With the sadnesses that seem at times too heavy for our hearts to bear, let us not forget the beauty in each moment, the deep goodness in our fellow Americans, and all that unites us. The light always shines brighter.

Connie Sharon

Arm migrants

Acceptance of the migrant caravan presupposes the inferiority and helplessness of migrants themselves. We should arm good, decent and capable migrants with weapons to be used against corrupt regimes who oppress them in their native lands.

The annals of history have an enduring theme: Liberty comes not from retreat, diplomacy or capitulation, but rather from the barrel of a gun.

Starner Jones, Houston

Ted so, so tough

When Ted Cruz political signs first appeared on lawns, I was amused by the phrasing Tough as Texas.

His message is indeed tough  hard to chew, difficult to swallow and impossible to digest.

Rene Robichaux

Lefty bias

This letter wont make any difference in your future publications and philosophy, so why write it? Because I dont want to see the Express-News go the way of the dodo bird and The Light. Maybe the Express-News will quit leaning so far left and become a more balanced publication.

Reference the Sunday paper. Front page: GOP uses his past to haunt ORourke as if this was a terrible thing to do  and no other political party would do it besides the GOP. Then the article goes on to paint a rosy, whitewashed picture of ORourke. Progressive, photogenic, and hip.

Page 14, same day: Report: Kushner avoided paying taxes as if he had broken the law. It was only much later in the article did it say, Nothing in the documents suggests Kushner or his company broke the law.

Is Jared Kushner supposed to pay taxes/send money to the U.S. Treasury though nothing is owed? A little bit disingenuous. Why even publish such a misleading article? To reflect poorly on Kushner and Donald Trump, of course. Unfortunately, it reflects poorly on the Express-News. These two articles and headlines are only the tip of the iceberg.

Im an 87-year-old native of Nixon. I remember The Light. And I also remember how both papers were pretty balanced. At least I thought so at the time. But politics were different back then, too. Please give my comments some thought.

James Henry, Seguin

About J Street

Re: Wrong on J Street, Your Turn, Oct. 23:

Rabbi Samuel M. Stahl claims Sen. Ted Cruz, in dismissing Robert Francis Beto ORourkes endorsement by J Street, erroneously called J Street rabidly anti-Israel. He reasons that J Street maintains a two-state solution as the only way to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

However, this rabbi and other left-leaning Jews omit and recklessly ignore critical aspects of the situation and misrepresent J Streets positions and motivations. The two-state solution in the tiny geographic area of Israel is only an intermediate goal of Israels enemies and foolish liberals who they have deluded. A 22nd Arab state in the heartland of the lone bastion of Western values, Israel would be rendered militarily indefensible and another Islamist state would bloodily replace it.

And while J Street has tactically claimed to be neutral on the boycott, divestment and sanctions, it publicly supports its strategic aim of undermining the Jewish states ability to resist and defeat its mortal enemies.

ORouke is endorsed by this far-left group whose support of this two-state chimeric plan to destroy Israel is in line with its and ORourkes support of the Iran nuclear deal. On the other hand, Cruz is an ardent and effective supporter of the Jewish state, its people, and the principles of human dignity and liberty upon which it and America are founded.

Peter Geltman
NEWS FLASH

VINCI Airports Serbia has been granted a loan of up to 100 million euros from the European Bank For Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in order for it to close the financial construction of the 25-year concession of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. The concession and construction company has already received loan approval from other financial institutions, including the International Finance Corporation, France's PROPARCO and the German Investment Corporation. The concession agreement between VINCI and the Serbian government is worth over a billion euros. The French company will provide an up-front payment of 501 million euros to the state, a further annual tax payment of between five and sixteen million euros and has obligated itself to invest 732 million euros into the airport.
NEWS FLASH

Flights between Athens and Skopje will resume this evening following an eleven-year hiatus. Aegean Airlines will maintain two weekly flights between the two cities, which it says will primarily serve the Greek business community. The inaugural flight will be welcomed at Skopje Airport by Macedonia's Minister for Transport and Communications, Goran Sugareski, the General Manager of airport operator TAV Macedonia, Alper Ersoy, as well as Aegean's Ground Operations Director, Panos Nicolaidis. Macedonia's Deputy Prime Minister, Bujar Osmani, will be on the first flight to Athens tonight, as he will be in the Greek capital for talks with government officials. Aegean Airlines recently said, "Our impression is that it is in Greece's interest to have more links to all countries, even those with which it may have a problematic history, because improvements in business ties between our two nations will help".
FAIRFIELD  The level of common mold spores found in Dwight School arent a reason for concern according to school officials and experts, but that didnt seem to calm fears at a parents meeting Monday.

What are the symptoms of mold toxicity? Who decided painting over a spot that had mold was the right thing to do? Why wasnt air quality testing done right away? Why was water seeping through the floors?

On their minds was the closure of Coleytown Middle School next door in Westport because of a mold problem that district has been dealing with since 2016.

Bruce McDonald, a local pediatrician and the school medical adviser, said allergic reactions to the mold varies according to the individual and their predisposition. He said all homes have some sort of mold growing in them, and the schools are no different.

Part of the problem, school officials said, was the hot weather and very high humidity at the start of the school year, combined with the lack of an air handling system that only exhausts air from the building, and does not bring in fresh air. To provide each elementary school with that type of HVAC system, Tom Cullen, director of operations said, would cost between $1 to $2 million per school.

Ray Cowan, an industrial hygienist with Woodward and Curran, said they first did visual inspections and then conducted moisture tests and air quality tests.

We were looking for specific types of mold that might contribute to building issues, he said. We didnt see any.

They look specifically for stachybotrys, the strain of black mold that is often a cause for concern, Cowan said.

We didnt see that in any of the samples, he said.

He said the cleaning of two small areas of visible mold followed EPA guidelines  wiping the areas down with a disinfectant, in this case a product called Vitrex.

All molds would be considered to be allergenic, Cowan said. We wouldnt expect there to be health concerns based on these levels.

He said there is no specific level that is considered too high, and that is why testing compares the outdoor levels with the indoor levels and is conducted in different areas of the building.

At Dwight, air quality testing was done in rooms 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 15, 17, 19, and 20, along with the library/media center, and both adult and childrens bathrooms. Any teacher who wanted their classroom assessed was added to the list, school officials said.

In addition to testing and cleaning, Superintendent of Schools Toni Jones said they went and looked at absenteeism for students and teachers and compared that data to other schools. Dwight, Jones said, didnt have the highest nor the lowest absenteeism but rather was pretty much in the middle. The numbers of students with asthma, Jones said, was less than the state average.

Water wasnt seeping up through the floors of the school, Jones said. The wet floors werent limited to Dwight School, and again were a result of heat and humidity, she said, and they are looking at ways to better handle the issue should it happen again.

There were no answers for the odor that is found in room 10 at Dwight, officials conceded. Students have been moved out of the room and it is not being used.

Its not a familiar odor, Jones said, and they are methodically going through a checklist in an attempt to find and eliminate the source.

It doesnt smell like a moldy basement, it doesnt smell like a dead rat, she said.

Could that noxious odor be harmful to their children, parents wanted to know. McDonald said he did not believe so. As for an allergic response to mold, McDonald said it is not so much a matter of the duration of exposure, but rather the concentration of mold spores.

If a child has asthma and allergies to the mold, he will develop a reaction, McDonald said.

That allergic reaction could include a runny nose, itchy eyes, a headache, and in some cases, mild nausea, the doctor said.

Some of the classrooms have air conditioning units, and parents wanted to know how to get a unit in their childs classroom.

Medical need determines air conditioning, Jones said, requiring a doctors note. Theres no easy solution for 1960s, 1950s buildings that have no air conditioning.

She said it is an issue that needs to be discussed by the entire community because new air handling systems that would bring in fresh air are an expensive solution.

greilly@ctpost.com; 203-842-2585
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Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; And Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment provides mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, group retirement and savings products, and institutional asset management services through agents and brokers affiliated with the company, securities brokerage firms, and financial advisors pension plan consultants and banks. The Insurance and Annuity Products segment offers deposit and credit products; individual life, and individual and group long-term care insurance; and guaranteed and partially guaranteed annuity products through insurance agents, brokers, banks, financial planners, and direct marketing. The Corporate and Other segment is involved in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses; and run-off reinsurance operations, including variable annuities, and accident and health. It also manages timberland and agricultural portfolios; and engages in insurance agency, portfolio and mutual fund management, mutual fund dealer, life and financial reinsurance, and fund management businesses. Additionally, the company holds and manages oil and gas properties; holds oil and gas royalties, and foreign bonds and equities; and provides investment management, counseling, advisory, and dealer services. Manulife Financial Corporation was incorporated in 1887 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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1 Wall Street equities research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Premier Oil in the last year. There are currently 1 hold rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street equities research analysts is that investors should "hold" Premier Oil stock. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in PMO, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares.

View analyst ratings for Premier Oil or view top-rated stocks.
Folks today are used to innerspring mattresses, water beds, and even Sleep Number beds, where a couple can separately adjust each side to their own ideal level of firmness, comfort and support.

Consider then, bedsteads of our pioneer fore mothers and fathers, upon which, by most accounts, they slept quite comfortably and soundly.

In 1848, five families left Kokomo, Indiana, and traveled west by ox wagon to settle in what became Webster City, Iowa. One of the children who made the trip, 11-year-old Sarah Brewer, later collaborated with her daughter, Harriet Bonebright Closz, to publish a memoir in 1921, titled Reminisces of Newcastle, Iowa 1848.

Among many other aspects of pioneer life, Harriet discusses the sleeping arrangements and living conditions in the cramped cabins that were the early homes of most settlers.

Bedsteads

Harriet tells us, The pioneer wall-bedstead had but one leg; and it was put in place by the cabin builders. Often two beds had but one leg  if the width of the cabin was 12 feet. I have seen two beds and several wall-bunks supported by one strong sapling leg.

One end of the bed foot-rail and an end of the side-rail were fastened to the single bed leg and the other ends were fitted into holes augured and chiseled into the log walls. If bunks were to be installed, a high, stout timber leg was used.

Holes were cut into it one above the other, two or three feet apart and the foot and side rails for each bunk were installed the same way.

The ends of thin slats split from a log were stuck into the log-crevices in the side walls and the other ends rested on the side rails. Sometimes the slats slipped from the crevice and the bed occupants ended up on the floor. If cords were used instead of wood slats, a sapling was fastened horizontally along the wall and the rope crisscrossed from it to the side rail.

Sometimes a linen blanket or quilt was fastened to the log wall and end and side-rails. This did away with the slipping slats, but the center sag was much greater than with the cord-woven support.

A quilt tied to the rafters by ropes at each corner made a comfortable nest for a child and a low trundle-bed could be slid under the bedstead during the day and hauled out at night. The log cradle usually occupied the hearth.

Harriet didnt mention mattresses, as there were none, but most bed-steads had upon the slat or cord support what was called a bed-tick.

This was usually a wide flat sack sewed from linen or some other sturdy cloth, that was stuffed with straw, grass, leaves or corn husks and, as another commentator put it, And here has been found as refreshing rest and as sweet dreams as ever came to royal palaces.

Cold

Bonebright continues, The now jocular expression: two in a bed and three in the middle was no joke then. Bed assignments were made according to size  two grown-ups and one child at the head and two half-grown children at the foot of the bed; while two or three in the trundle bed was the rule, not the exception.

Many a night visitors or travelers have slept soundly rolled in a quilt on the cabin floor and Indian transits slept before the fire wrapped in their blankets.

During severe weather, all extra floor space was usually piled with game carcasses awaiting preparation for market, and not infrequently newly-dropped lambs or calves occupied the warm hearth and expressed their gratitude by plaintively bleating or calling Maaa.

Dogs slept outside in the warm corners by the stone chimney, but snuck into the house at any opportunity and hid under the table or bed.

Harriet doesnt gloss over the more unsavory, to our modern eyes, aspects of cabin living.

She tells us: In winter, the only ventilation in the cabin was through the wide fireplace; but with a sleeping contingent of from 10 to 20, the odor of bodily emanations and the varied but unclassified other smells taxed even its wide capacity.

There were so many mice and they courted the company of the family so persistently that they made a playground of the benches, tables and beds at night. They scurried about the floor and cupboards during the day and, although they were slaughtered by the score, there was no noticeable diminution of numbers, for recruits filled the ranks before the victims could be thrown into the fire.

Mosquitoes, like mice, were busy day and night and the humming of swarms of mosquitoes sounded like the approach of a coming storm. All day long the smudge-pot was industriously supplied with fuel and it was moved about the house as our working positions shifted.

Everything about the cabin acquired a smoky look and feel.

Bedbugs

Bedbugs apparently were another curse, as she attests. The historian usually is discreetly silent about the courteously-named crimson-rambler, but the bedbug is so cosmopolitan in his wandering, so active and so insatiable in his appetite that he compelled a painful and luridly wordy recognition from the pioneers.

So, even as discreetly silent historians tell of refreshing rest and sweet dreams in those long-ago days, Bonebright paints a probably much more accurate picture.

I guess the early settlers were lucky that they had to work so hard to survive  they fell into bed so tired that they could sleep through even mice running over them and mosquitoes and bedbugs feeding on their blood.
URBANA, Ill.  Many soybean varieties have a naturally occurring genetic resistance to the soybean cyst nematode, a major pest affecting the crop. The number of copies of the resistance gene varies among cultivars; a new method, developed by University of Illinois researchers, is able to efficiently quantify this variation for the first time.

The new method has been tested in greenhouse trials to show that the more copies of the gene, the greater the resistance to soybean cyst nematode. Breeders can use this method to develop new soybean varieties with greater and more reliable resistance.

Soybean pests

Soybean cyst nematode is the No. 1 soybean pest worldwide, accounting for estimated annual losses of nearly $1.3 billion in the U.S. Some soybean varieties have resistance to the tiny parasitic worms through conventional breeding of naturally occurring resistance genes, but the current level of resistance is becoming less reliable.

Our interest is in finding new sources of resistance, because the sources that people have been using are breaking down, said University of Illinois plant breeder, Brian Diers. Nematodes are becoming better at overcoming the resistance we have in current cultivars. We are also, interested in improving our understanding of how this resistance works so we can do a better job of selecting for it.

In 2012, U of I geneticist Matthew Hudson, Diers, and Andrew Bent, a collaborator at the University of Wisconsin, discovered the naturally occurring genetic locus (region on a chromosome) that is critical in controlling resistance to soybean cyst nematode, but that was only the beginning.

It turns out that at this locus, theres a repeat of four genes, Diers explains. Different diverse soybean types that are resistant have different numbers of repeats.

For example, in PI 88788, which is the original source of SCN resistance for most soybean varieties in the Midwest, there are nine repeats of those four genes. In the susceptible varieties, theres only one copy of those four genes.

Another source of resistance, Peking, has three copies of those repeats. This difference in repeat number is known as copy number variation, and is more common than previously thought.

Number of repeats

But before now, there was no easy or cost-effective way to quantify the number of gene repeats. Using a method recently developed in Hudsons laboratory, the number of gene repeats can be accurately monitored by measuring the ratio between two genes.

Although the researchers suspected that having more copies of the gene sequence might confer a greater degree of resistance, they had no way of testing their suspicions before the new assay was developed. After getting the new assay, the team set to work again.

We grew soybean plants in a greenhouse, inoculated them with nematodes, and then used the assay to determine how many repeats each plant had. As predicted, we found that the more repeats a plant had, the more resistant it was, Diers explained. This proved that the number of repeats is important.

Armed with this information, the researchers plan to look at the number of repeats present in existing nematode-resistant soybean varieties in an attempt to explain why some display better resistance than others in field settings.

Maximum repeats

They also plan to improve breeding programs by ensuring parental lines have the maximum number of repeats available in a given genotype, and to select for new variants with additional copies that may show superior resistance.

Ultimately, Diers adds, if we can select for more copies, that could benefit farmers because we could get stronger resistance. Breeders will now have better tools to select for and verify resistance.
VALLEY GROVE, W.Va.  Deep in the West Virginia hills, the brisk October wind swirling through her short-cropped white hair, Suzan Smith makes the trek down to her pole barn, filled with Polled Hereford cows and heifers.

They watch placidly as Smith meanders through the pavilion, pointing out one here and there, describing life histories. She has names for some. She dotes on them and speaks with pride of her stocks genetics.

Working this Ohio County land isnt new to Smith, 68. She grew up here. Her familys roots go back generations, with her parents and grandparents. But she left as a young woman. Her family continued farming.

She went into education, spending 43 years in the Hancock County, W.Va., school system, retiring as superintendent in 2015. She never planned to return to run the farm.

I didnt think I wanted to pitch any more hay or shovel any more manure, she mused.

Change of plans

That changed when her brother, George Smith, was diagnosed with heart problems and late-stage cancer. He had plans. He was just getting started, having retired from teaching to return to the farm full time. He and their father, now deceased, had worked together to transition from a dairy with 30 Jersey cows to a purebred Hereford farm, calling it Smith Hereford Farm.

He had the true love for farming, she recalled.

Her brother didnt want to sell the farm, so as his health declined, Smith made him a promise: She would continue to run the farm as if he were there.

Thats what were trying to do, she said. In all fairness, once I got back into it, the love came right away.

Taking over

He died at age 69 in March 2015, and Suzan Smith wrapped up her career in education in June 2015, trading the boardroom and business attire in for manual labor and barn clothes.

I truly loved the 43 years I had in education, she said.

In a Dec. 17, 2014, article from The Review, in East Liverpool, Ohio, announcing her retirement, Smith was lauded as a hard-working, dedicated administrator.

I was blessed to have so many wonderful people surround me in every position that I had, she said. It made that career enjoyable.

Its hard to compare the two jobs though.

Although this is an awful lot of hard work, theres rewards in it, Smith said wryly. I havent had one cow file a grievance on me yet.

Just like George

She is proud of what has been accomplished. Her brother had begun building a herd of 30 registered stock, most of which are still on the farm. He purchased a son of Revolution, considered one of the breeds top indexing sires. Suzan Smith calls the bull, Old Man.

Her brother had started purchasing new equipment and even began a new fence. She has carried on, tearing down an old barn and adding three new buildings  two pole barns and a machine shed.

She also added another bull, a grandson of Revolution, to diversify her herds genetics. She calls him, Buster.

And the new fence is done.

Labor of love

Smith believes she is carrying on her brothers legacy well. He liked Herefords, and she does too. She is keeping up with the registrations, something he emphasized.

My brother took good care of them, she said. Were taking, I think, excellent care of them.

That we includes her neighbor, and George Smiths friend, Dale Ritchea, who has become her right-hand man. Now retired after 30 years in UPS freight, Ritchea views his role as a way to honor his late friend.

They bring the cattle in every day and feed them a corn supplement. Her stock performs well with combined forage and grain, she said, and it gives them a chance to regularly look over the animals.

She and Ritchea talk about their management of the animals. The goal is ease and efficiency, using the motto, work smarter, not harder. They built new handling facilities and purposely select stock that have a calm demeanor when handled.

Farming bug

This year, Smith had two calvings: one in the spring and one this fall. They wean calves at six months. She sells privately, for breeding stock and butchering, as well as some trips to the sale yard.

Now that she has two herd sires, she plans to keep replacement heifers.

Smith owns 138 acres, about 80 acres of which are pasture. Ritchea cuts about 80 acres of hay for her, including from neighbors fields. This year, while the rain has hampered those efforts, the forage has grown well all season.

She flips through a catalog from a recent herd dispersal sale at Morrison Stock Farm in Jeromesville, Ohio. Handwritten notes mark many photos, recording prices and other information. She purposely didnt take her checkbook. Her herd tallies about 60 head right now. She doesnt need any more.

She admits shes got the farming bug.

You gotta love the land, she said.

Coal mine conundrum

But its not without its challenges and uncertainty. Within the last two years, Tunnel Ridge coal mine began work under her property. Her new buildings have had damage, she said.

She lost her well, and only three of 16 developed springs remain. The company is bringing in water.

That all has to be dealt with, she said. You cant have cattle if you dont have water.

Always learning

Its a learning curve for Smith. After decades in education, she finds herself back in the role of student.

Over the past few years, she has set about learning everything she can about beef cattle genetics, nutrition and management, farming and animal husbandry. She reads copiously, attends as many workshops and seminars as possible, and participates in farm bureau and other organizations.

Im not shy about calling the veterinarian, and Im not shy about calling the gentleman that gets our feed ready, because hes got a wealth of knowledge. Youll meet very interesting people that have been in the business for years, and Ill pick their brain, Smith said.

I just try to learn from all of it.

Advice for beginners

Its something of a unique position: Smith finished one full career, only to start another one in agriculture. She has some practical tips for anyone looking to jump in.

Take it one day at a time, she said.

Know your capabilities, both in finances and workload. Farming is expensive, she added, listing the equipment, land and supplies needed.

Its a money pit. You have to do some planning and not do everything at one time, she said. Have goals, and work toward those goals.

Learn from other women at W.Va. conference

Suzan Smith may not have taken a traditional path to farming, but as a woman in West Virginia agriculture, she plays a key role in fueling the states bottom line.

Thats because women contribute approximately $62.4 million to the economy, according to Jennifer Ours Williams, associate dean of West Virginia University Extension Service.

In 2017, there were 20,400 farms in the state. Roughly 30 percent of those farmers are women, a number that includes both primary operators and contributors, Williams said.

In order to offer more educational and networking opportunities, WVU Extension will host the annual Women in Agriculture conference, Nov. 2-3, at Oglebay Resort and Conference Center, in Wheeling, W.Va.

Its just a great opportunity for women to come together and learn and share and grow, Williams said.

Approximately 150 women are already registered. Williams said walk-ins are welcome.

For more information, log onto extension.wvu.edu/conferences/wia. Registration fee is $115 for the full conference.
Celebrity farmer Adam Henson has helped bring a rare breed of native cattle back from the brink of extinction.

The Albion cattle, with just 170 remaining, have been placed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) watchlist, securing their future in the British countryside.

This has been achieved thanks to the determination of a small number of dedicated breeders, including Mr Henson, who has started breeding Albion cattle again at his Cotswold Farm Park near Cheltenham.

The Albion, a traditional breed originating from Derbyshire, had its heyday in the 1920s but has been decimated over the years by Foot and Mouth and modern farming techniques.

Mr Henson, alongside his father, Joe Henson, founded the Rare Breed Survival Trust in 1973 with a group of farmers and scientists.

He has continued his fathers work through the Cotswold Farm Park, popular for the opportunity it gives visitors to see less common animals up close.

Records show that Albion cattle have been on the farm before, but, discovering their scarcity, Mr Henson bought an Albion bull and seven cows at a sale earlier this year.

'Valuable part'

The celebrity farmer said rare breeds are a "valuable part" of British livestock, and "once they are gone, they are gone".

"Before Dad started his work with RBST there were a number of breeds that were under threat from extinction, but the trust has worked hard to change this," Mr Henson said.

"I wasnt aware that there were any breeds under threat now until I heard about the Albion cattle. They are lovely-looking cattle with a great temperament, and I am over the moon that they are on the watchlist and that we can look forward to them remaining part of our heritage.

The Albion has been decimated over the years by Foot and Mouth and modern farming techniques

"This is fantastic testament to those who have kept the breed going against the odds over all these years, combined with the hard work and research of those who have been campaigning for recognition on the RBST watchlist, he added.

Foot and mouth

Bred for both beef and dairy, the dual-purpose Albion was set to become a major cattle breed of the UK in the 1920s before herds were decimated by two outbreaks of Foot and Mouth, one in 1923 and the second in 1967.

The line came under further threat with the emphasis on productivity in the post-war years, when dual-purpose breeds such as the Albion were replaced by herds with a single purpose, for example Charolais for beef and Holsteins for milk.

A small handful of breeders kept the Albion line going, exchanging bulls to avoid the herd becoming too inbred, and the 170 Albion cattle today are the descendants of these.

Gail Sprake, Chairman of RBST said: Here at RBST we proudly boast that no breed has become extinct since we formed in 1973, but we could so easily have been proven wrong by failing to recognise these cattle.

The Albions have had dramatic reversal of fortune since their heyday in the 1920s, but we hope that this recognition will herald the start of a new chapter for the breed.

Mr Henson added that retaining traditional breeds is important from a genetic as well as a heritage point of view for the future of farming.

Genetic diversity is important for animal health and welfare but also the variety of farming systems around the world. Every breed has its own assets, and who knows what is locked up in those genes that may be the solution to a problem in the future," he said.

Traditional breeds

Keeping traditional breeds is popular, and Mr Henson anticipates there may greater uptake among commercial farmers in the future.

He said: With production costs rising, as well as the emphasis on sustainable farming, these hardy traditional breeds that stay outside and feed on grass year-round may be a good bet for farming in the future.

Consumers are also increasingly interested in whats behind their food, and traditional breeds have a great story. The fact that they are grass-fed and slow to grow is appealing for many.

Ironically, to save the breed, we need to consume more, in order to encourage more farmers to keep Albion cattle, he added.

The cows bought earlier this year have calved and the Cotswold Farm Park is now home to a bull calf that is not closely related to many of the 170 Albion cattle, which will be an asset in diversifying the breeds gene pool.
The carcasses of four cows will be tested after they were destroyed earlier this week following the discovery of BSE on an Aberdeenshire farm.

MSPs were told during a meeting of the Scottish Parliaments Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee that tests will now be carried out on the four cows.

The animals were culled as a precaution earlier this week, and the carcasses will be taken for "sampling and disposal". Results are due in the next few days.

Boghead Farm in Lumsden, Aberdeenshire was put in a state of lock down as a case of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or 'mad cow disease', was confirmed on the property on 18 October.

The farmer at the centre of the BSE case has said the situation is "heartbreaking".

Investigators said they are trying to identify the origin of the disease, which has not appeared in Scotland for over 10 years.

Elinor Mitchell, director for agriculture and rural economy at the Scottish Government, told the Committee this week: The evaluations of the animals affected were completed on the farm on the 26th of October.

The three cohort animals and the one offspring were culled on the farm. The carcasses have been transported for sampling and disposal to Dumfries.

The screening results will be available at the end of this week," she added.

The five year old cattle which proved positive for BSE back in October did not enter the human food chain. Food Standards Scotland confirmed there was no risk to human health.

Chief Veterinary Officer, Sheila Voas urged farmers who may have concerns to seek veterinary advice.

"While it is too early to tell where the disease came from in this case, its detection is proof that our surveillance system is doing its job," she said.

"We are working closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to answer this question."
A government scheme designed to financially support farmers who experienced severe weather this year has been made to 99% of eligible recipients.

This means the loans, totalling 294m, have now been dished out by the National Basic Payment Support Scheme, which was initially announced in August.

A similar scheme was created in 2017, which delivered payments of more than 317 million to over 13,500 farmers.

Under this year's scheme, loans will be offered to eligible farmers for up to 90% of what they are due as part of their Basic Payment Scheme 2018 payments. This will be on an opt-in basis and offset against those payments.

NFU Scotland welcomed the scheme, calling it a "vital" financial support scheme for farmers following a year of extreme weather conditions.

The past 12 months have been very difficult for farmers. Record rainfall in parts, the Beast from the East and the driest spell for 40 years has put incredible pressure on farmers and crofters in terms of keeping their businesses going.

A total of 12,643 rural businesses have received their loan since payments began in early October.

'Lucky one'

NFU Scotland's Regional Chairman for Forth and Clyde Region, Willie Harper said the scheme will help his cash flow.

Mr Harper makes 2000 bales of silage to feed to his cattle over winter, but this year only 1000 have been made.

Planning ahead he has, for the first time, sown a hybrid kale in to stubble to provide a winter forage for cows.

He has also bought fertiliser to spread on grassland in September  again a first - in a bid to extend the grazing season for his stock.

Mr Harper said: Although my silage stocks are 50 percent compared to a normal year, I know from speaking to other farmers around the country that I am the lucky one and many have had to feed their silage to livestock this summer just to keep their animals going.

I have put plans in place that will hopefully extend my grazing but that has come at a cost of close to five figures. News that the loan scheme money will come through in October will help address that hole in my cash flow, Mr Harper said.
Farmers must "think hard" when importing sheep from countries that carry a risk of disease following the discovery of bluetongue in four sheep imported from France.

Farmers and traders involved in importing livestock have been urged to be aware of the risks, and also aware that they may not only be putting individual farms at risk, but the entire livestock industry.

Bluetongue virus was detected in a consignment of four sheep imported from France in October.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) identified the disease as part of routine post-import testing when the sheep were brought to Lancashire. The four sheep have been humanely culled as a result.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has now told farmers to exercise "extreme caution" when importing sheep.

NSA Chief Executive, Phil Stocker said: In this situation something has gone wrong, which means potentially infected sheep were brought into the UK.

Fortunately, APHA controls identified this and the animals having been destroyed. With no compensation this will have cost the importer in question serious money let alone the costs incurred by APHA.

'Buyer beware'

The sheep organisation said farmers should consider taking steps beyond statutory controls to give real assurance when importing livestock from outside the UK.

Mr Stocker said: While in this case it is a legal requirement for stock to have been vaccinated for bluetongue prior to export this case shows the system cannot be fully relied upon.

The NSA would like to see farmers and traders apply the buyer beware principle and to have the animals tested to make sure they have developed immunity prior to leaving the farm of origin.

Farmers in several European countries continue to suffer from ongoing problems with several different strains of bluetongue virus, mainly picked up in routine surveillance.

Mr Stocker added: Whilst we recognise that there are valuable bloodlines available in some of these areas, there is no benefit to anyone in spreading this disease and we would expect anyone looking to bring animals into the UK to take every precaution against this.

Animals arriving in the UK should be kept in isolation until APHA has completed tests, but even with this, it would be very hard to isolate them in such a way that midges are unable to get to them and potentially cause a major outbreak here in the UK, he said.

The NSA has urge farmers to run full risk assessments and "think hard" before importing animals from any at risk areas.

In addition to checking vaccinations, the group advises farmers to demand a PCR and serology blood test before livestock leave the departing farm and country.
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Anupam Kher left everyone shocked when he announced that he is stepping down as the Chairman of Pune's Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) on Wednesday. Citing a busy schedule as his reason for the decision, the veteran actor issued an official statement on Twitter.

He posted, "It has been an honour, a privilege & a great learning experience to be the Chairman of the prestigious @FTIIOfficial. But because of my international assignments I won't have much time to devote at the institute. Hence decided to send my resignation. Thank you. @Ra_THORe."

Now, while speaking to Mid-Day, Anupam Kher has opened up about this step. The actor told the tabloid, "I had put together the governing council by roping in Rajkumar Hirani, Arvind Swami and Satish Kaushik, among others. I hadn't told any of them about my resignation. [It's only after I tweeted that] they started calling me to say that they joined because of me. I told them to continue their work for the FTII."

He further revealed that the governing council is shocked by his decision and he was the one who formed it.

Kher added, "It's a great institution, but it needs somebody who can give it a little more time. I was doing that, but now I need to find new horizons. I am thrilled that the series is doing well. This is my way to represent India."

The actor was appointed as the Chairman of FTII in October 2017 after his predecessor, Gajendra Chauhan, faced massive protests during his tenure.

After Anupam Kher submitted his resignation, Bhupendra Kainthola, director, FTII, praised him for his initiatives and told Mid-Day, "Anupam Kher visited the campus several times and had an empathetic ear for the issues of the institute. On October 30, he presided over the first-ever meetings of FTII's Standing Finance Committee, Society and Governing Council. He also approved the new Academic Council. With this the functional architecture of FTII, the country's film education centre, is now in place. (sic)"

However, Kher's resignation received drew polarizing reactions from few corners. Mid-day quoted one of the students as saying, "He visited the campus only twice. In the past, we had sent him number of letters, [asking him to address] our various issues; he promised to look into the matter but never bothered to reply. We want a dedicated chairman who will focus on student orientation."

Anupam Kher Resigns As FTII Chairman Citing Commitment To International Tv Show
Mohanlal-Ranjith Combo

Drama is in fact the sixth film from the actor-director combo. Their first film together was Ravanprabhu, which was Ranjith's directorial debut. It was followed by movies like Chandrolsavam, Rock N Roll, Spirit, Loham etc.

A Malayalam Movie Shot In The UK

Well, it is after a short gap that a Malayalam movie is being shot entirely in the UK. It is also for the first time that a Ranjith film is being shot completely abroad. Earlier, Ranjith's Kadal Kadannoru Maathukkutty had few of its portions set in Germany. Reportedly, more than 90% of Drama has been shot in the UK.

Bilathikadha

Initially, Ranjith was supposed to do a film titled as Bilathikadha, under the script penned by Sethu. Mohanlal was supposed to do a special role in the movie. Later, the team dropped that project and came up with a fresh script with Mohanlal in the lead role.

The Directors As Actors

Drama also has yet another specialty associated with it. The film features some of the prominent Malayalam film-makers in important roles. Popular directors like Dileesh Pothen, Shyamaprasad, Johny Antony, Renji Penicker etc., essay crucial roles in the movie.

Arundathi Nag's Debut In Malayalam

Drama also paves way for the Mollywood debut of one of the finest acting talents of South Indian cinema. Popular actress Arundathi Nag is making her debut in Malayalam cinema with Drama.
Minor Hotels and Pan Pacific Hotels Group make strategic investments

Global Hotel Alliance ("GHA"), the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands, and operator of the award-winning, multi-brand loyalty programme, DISCOVERY, has received substantial investments from two new shareholders that will enable it to accelerate its strategic growth plans.

The two new shareholders are Minor Hotels ("Minor"), the Bangkok-based operator of more than 160 hotels under a global family of brands including Anantara, AVANI, Elewana, Tivoli and Oaks, and Pan Pacific Hotels Group ("Pan Pacific"), based in Singapore, which operates 32 hotels across Asia, Australasia and North America under the Pan Pacific and PARKROYAL brands. Minor CEO Dillip Rajakarier and Pan Pacific CEO Lothar Nessmann will both sit on the GHA board.

Chris Hartley, GHA's CEO commented: "We are delighted that Minor and Pan Pacific, both long-standing members of the alliance, have chosen to become shareholders alongside our founding joint venture partners, Omni Hotels and Resorts, Kempinski Hotels and Oracle Corporation.

"As we look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary in 2019, we are making substantial investments in CRM and shared technology to build on the success of the DISCOVERY loyalty programme. The 13 million DISCOVERY members will produce US$1.7 billion in room revenues in 2018, of which around US$125 million is from customers moving between our member brands. We plan to double those numbers in the next few years, as independent brands look to collaborate with each other to share the common challenge of competing with the ever-consolidating major brands and third party distribution providers."

Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor, commented: "Minor has been involved with GHA since 2007 with our Anantara brand. Since then we have grown and developed our own brands and continue to acquire new ones, and membership of GHA fits well with our multi-brand strategy. GHA has consistently demonstrated the value of global customer reach and a strong CRM and loyalty programme for our hotels, and so we are delighted to be able to take our place as a shareholder in the business, with the opportunity to help guide its growth over the coming years."

Lothar Nessmann, CEO of Pan Pacific, added: "Pan Pacific was a founder member of GHA in 2004, and we have seen first-hand how the alliance can drive large volumes of corporate and leisure business into hotels across our Pan Pacific and PARKROYAL brands, whether that is a city-centre hotel in Singapore or a ski resort in Canada. With the DISCOVERY programme delivering several points in incremental occupancy into our hotels each year from around the alliance network, it is easy to be a supporter of the platform, and we're looking forward to contributing to its future success as shareholders."

GHA were advised on this transaction by PwC Corporate Finance and Addleshaw Goddard as legal advisors.

About Global Hotel Alliance

Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands, bringing together 33 brands with over 550 hotels in 77 countries. GHA uses a shared technology platform to drive incremental revenues and create cost savings for its member brands. GHA's award-winning loyalty programme, DISCOVERY, provides 13 million members exclusive opportunities to immerse themselves in local culture wherever they travel. GHA's hotel brands currently include: Alila, Anantara, Atura, AVANI, Corinthia, Discovery Destinations, Doyle, Elewana, GLO, Grace, JA Resorts, Kempinski, Leela, Lungarno, Marco Polo, Meritage, Meydan, Mysk, Niccolo, NUO, Oaks, Omni, Outrigger, Pan Pacific, PARKROYAL, QT, The Residence by Cenizaro, Rydges, Shaza, Thon, Tivoli, Ultratravel Collection and Viceroy. For more information, visit discoveryloyalty.com

*Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181031005877/en/

Contacts:

Global Hotel Alliance

Jelena Kezika, +97144214287

Strategic Planning Director

jelena.kezika@gha.com
MOSCOW, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The 3rd Sino-Russian "Investing in Innovation" Forum was held on 16th October, as part of the Open Innovations Forum. The participants discussed development trends in the venture investment market, the innovation ecosystems of Russia and China, and also options for creating joint funds and investment projects in the field of high technology. The Forum also included a presentation of Russian technology start-ups, in anticipation of Chinese venture funds.



(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/611590/RVC_Logo.jpg )



The Forum was organized by RVC, the Eurasian Union of the Torch Centre and the Venture Capital Professional Commission of the Science and Technology Financial Promotion Association of China, with the support of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China.

At the Forum's opening ceremony, RVC's General Director, Alexander Povalko, drew attention to the growing level of interest shown by government and business on the subject of Sino-Russian cooperation and also commented on the results of the previous "Investing in Innovation" forums: "The two events have already produced tangible results: new funds are appearing, the number of transactions made between companies in our countries is increasing and we are embarking upon joint projects and programmes. Our common goal is to create conditions for the growth of investment business in the field of technology, whilst at the same time getting rid of the barriers caused by a lack of information on the opportunities for cooperation."

The existence of a "green light" for joint investment technology projects was also noted by representatives of the Chinese delegation. "I am very pleased to have been able to come to Russia and participate in the 3rd Sino-Russian "Investing in Innovation" Forum. Together with RVC, we've done a lot of work to bolster cooperation between our countries in the area of scientific and technological innovation. In particular, new approaches to investment have been discovered and a better understanding of the characteristics of our markets has been achieved. We are hoping for a further positive dynamic and an increase in the number of joint projects," said Xu Xiaoping, Chairman of the Venture Committee of the All-China Association for the Financial Promotion of Science and Technology.

Qualitative changes have recently taken place in the level of cooperation between Russia and China, especially in the fields of science and innovation. Li Hui, China's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia said: "We are continually moving in the direction of stable economic growth, based on mutual cooperation. This is a consequence of the openness of our relationship. China and Russia are not only neighbours, but also good friends. Our goal is to increase mutual trust in all areas of interaction. Attracting new investments will allow us to continuously build on the existing base of economic development."

Sergey Gorkov, Deputy Minister for Economic Development of the Russian Federation, gave his opinion on how cooperation in the field of investment and innovation could be improved: "Russia and China are traditionally linked by long-standing, good-neighbourly relations. Cooperation in the field of innovation opens up new opportunities. Primary legislation has already been put into place to boost the innovation ecosystem in Russia. Our task now is to more actively use that potential. It is essential, that angel investments are supported and new venture capital funds are formed. For us, the important thing is to accelerate export business, which RVC says is about access to external, global markets."

During the Forum, participants also discussed the investment landscape of Russia and China, as well as possible models of cooperation. In particular, Alexey Basov, RVC's Deputy General Director and Director of Investment, spoke about the state of the Russian venture market: "Our market is a little less than 20 years old, but already has all the properties of a classic, mature venture market. Today, we are able to carry out all the important types of transaction, both domestic transactions and those involving foreign players. We are hoping for closer cooperation with our Chinese partners and expect this to be at a maximum this year."

Yang Liu, CEO of CreditEase, noted that the Chinese venture capital market is now showing high levels of growth: "This is due to a breakthrough in recent years in China's agricultural and industrial sectors, as well as to the introduction of new technologies and the development of online trading. We are pleased to see Russian players in the Chinese market. But it must be understood, that where there are opportunities, there are also risks. In order to work in the market of another country, one needs a good understanding of the characteristics of that market. The creation of joint funds and partner structures could help investors in our countries."

Rebecca Fannin, founder of the US company "Silicon Dragon Ventures", gave a view of the Chinese market from the US perspective: "In recent years, we have seen a rapid growth of technology in China. Where in the past, local manufacturers routinely copied foreign innovation, they are now creating and implementing their own solutions. In today's China, the use of cash is almost a thing of the past. As regards investment, China will now increasingly turn its attention to Southeast Asia. It is likely, that there will also be more interest in Russia."

In discussing prospects for cooperation, the Forum's participants also touched on the topic of sanctions and their potential to limit financial operations and hinder access to global markets. According to Alexander Lupachev, director of the "Russia Partners" fund, in matters of joint partnership investment, business is unaffected by the existing sanctions: "The sanctions don't get in our way when developing foreign investment projects. We currently interact with China on three levels: we invest in Chinese companies, attract investors to our funds and scale up business for our portfolio companies in China. However, there are some particular complications. In China today, each company has some 50-100 competitors for investment, and getting information on them is difficult. At the same time, venture transactions tend to go through quickly here. Investors either have to act by rule-of-thumb, or they have to look for partners who understand the local market. We chose the second option and entered the Chinese market through a fund of funds. There are always opportunities and the main thing is not to miss them."

The Sino-Russian "Investing in Innovation" Forum has been held annually since 2016, in accordance with a memorandum on cooperation in the field of innovation signed between the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the PRC. This year, the event was attended by over 150 representatives of the leading Russian and Chinese venture funds, institutional investors, corporations, government bodies and innovation infrastructure agencies.

Reference Information

About RVC

RVC JSC is a state fund of funds and the institute for development of the venture industry in the Russian Federation. The main objectives of RVC are to stimulate development of the private venture investment industry in Russia and take on the role of project office for the National Technology Initiative (NTI). RVC's authorised capital amounts to more than RUB 30 billion. This is owned in full by the Russian Federation, represented by the Russian Federal Agency for State Property (Rosimushchestvo). RVC now has a total of 26 funds with a total value of RUB 41.8 billion. RVC joint-stock company share: RUB 24.8 billion. RVC currently has funds in 225 portfolio companies. The total sum approved for investment amounts to RUB 18.6 billion.

http://www.rvc.ru
DUBAI, UAE, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Prisma Analytics GmbH is excited to announce its FinX "Global FinTech Start-up of the Year" award, as named by Fintech Galaxy - the MENA region's only fintech digital crowdsourcing platform. The announcement was made at the awards ceremony in Dubai yesterday, 31 October, 2018.



(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/778106/FinX_Awards_2018.jpg )



FinTech Galaxy's judges, a board of twelve financial technology industry experts, viewed Prisma's C+8 Technology for its disruptive potential in the financial industry, given its ability to analyse various probabilities in future events.

C+8 is a data-importation and transformation engine that allows data to fully self-organize through a complex process of data atomization and systemic association with event causality. Parsing, associating and porting of every single data object captured in Schloer's Quantum Relations Machine (QRM) builds the central database and foundation technology where C+8 will power 1000s of centralized applications, all simultaneously, ranging from high-powered analytics systems to business services, online consumer software, and games. All processes take place with zero human interference, ensuring that there is no human bias in C+8's data interpretation and analytics results.

At the same time and as proof of these claims, Prisma is releasing its premier analytics application called Decision Point which is hosted on the global Refinitiv Eikon Platform (currently still known as Thomson Reuters Eikon).

Prisma's Founder, COO and C+8 inventor, Hardy F. Schloer, said, "This FinX award is incredible and begins to validate what we have accomplished with our efforts these past few years. I'd really like to thank FinTech Galaxy for their commitment in support of fintech innovation in the MENA region." As for Prisma's C+8 Technology and its implications to the broader global marketplace, Mr. Schloer

commented that, "If we position our technology properly, C+8 will change the course of human evolution as we have removed the barriers associated with unstructured data and the valueless data oceans that exist, but that once solved, will add immeasurable value to the global economy and exponential advances in human knowledge expansion."

For FinTech Galaxy's part, CEO Mirna Sleiman stated that, "We welcome Prisma and its remarkable technology to the MENA region. Their acknowledgement from our panel of judges is well deserved, despite other excellent products with various innovations that were nominated for the award. We're so pleased to see fintech making such considerable gains in the MENA region and we're here to support financial inclusion and the growth of our region's economic development."

For more information about Prisma Analytics and its products, please contact info@prisma-analytics.com.
The 2018 Sichuan International Cultural Tourism Festival and Jiangyou "One Belt, One Road" Li Bai Culture Festival held in Jiangyou, Sichuan province

MIANYANG, China, Oct. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Qinglian International Poetry Town, Jiangyou, Mianyang, Sichuan province, hosted the 2018 Sichuan International Cultural Tourism Festival and Jiangyou "One Belt, One Road" Li Bai Culture Festival ("the Two Festivals") from October 24-26, 2018.

Highlighting both international and domestic tourism sectors and with a focus on making tourism a better performing industry, the Two Festivals is an outstanding cultural tourism event showcasing Jiangyou's local characteristics and traditions, which included an exhibition featuring the world's intangible cultural heritages, a high-level forum on Li Bai Culture, the signing ceremony cementing the friendly relationship between Chinese and international tourism cities and a conference promoting Sichuan province as a cultural tourism destination. The event was attended by over 70 government officials from 20 countries, including the US, Russia, India, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain, as well as well-known Chinese and world culture and art experts and scholars, who were given an opportunity to observe local customs and get a better understanding of the economic and social development of the tech-driven town, where Li Bai, the greatest romantic poet of the Tang Dynasty, was born.

Themed "Sichuan, the Land of Plenty and the hometown of Li Bai", the event delivered an unprecedented visual and cultural experience to guests with a series of complementary events, including:

the opening ceremony;

a show featuring Li Bai Culture;

an inspection tour of Qinglian International Poetry Town;

discussions and exchanges between Chinese and foreign guests, including the signing of a friendly cooperation agreement between the hometowns of world-renowned poets;

a visit to the hometown of Li Bai by students and teachers from the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development at Peking University.

Also held was a conference aimed at promoting cultural tourism in Sichuan and in cities along the "One Belt, One Road", where representatives from Sichuan, Mianyang and Jiangyou, as well as Numata, Japan and Valkenburg, the Netherlands, gave comprehensive presentations to promote their cities as cultural tourism destinations. In addition, a series of agreements to collaborate on and jointly invest in tourism-related projects were signed, with the aggregate investment reaching 10 billion yuan (approx. US$1.4 billion).

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/778305/Sichuan_Tourism_promotion.jpg
VoLTE and RCS are two main communication services that MNOs can deploy to keep up with the competition

SINGAPORE, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Over-the-top (OTT) players in Asia-Pacific (APAC) have been capturing market share in the voice and messaging market at the expense of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) by introducing competing services such as rich multimedia messaging and free international voice and video calling. In response, MNOs have been launching Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE), Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) and Rich Communication Services (RCS).

"Many developed and developing countries in APAC have already launched VoLTE networks. Roaming on VoLTE is common in developed countries such as South Korea and Japan; VoWiFi and RCS are relatively less common in the region," noted Mr Jonathan Yap, Research Analyst, Telecoms and Payment Strategy, ICT Practice.

Frost & Sullivan's recent analysis, Developments in Voice and Messaging Services in Asia-Pacific, Forecast to 2023, examines the current trends in voice and messaging services in APAC. It also assesses the impact of OTT services on MNOs and analyzes new services for MNOs to offer to continue to grow and stay profitable. The report includes market forecasts of VoLTE and RCS within APAC, as well as predictions on the future of communication services.

For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/2w6

"To lower costs, 2G and 3G networks will eventually be phased out. Voice and messaging services would then have to be delivered solely via packet-switching over 4G networks. To prepare for this, MNOs should enhance their existing IPMultimedia Substation (IMS) architecture," said Mr Yap.

"This also helps to future-proof MNOs, ensuring they are ready to offer Voice over 5G (Vo5G) and other 5G capabilities," he said.

MNOs that seek to entrench themselves in the market will also be looking to explore growth and differentiation opportunities present in:

Offering mobile-first Unified-Communications-as-a-Service ( UCaaS ): MNOs can distinguish themselves apart from typical UCaaS providers by supporting an integrated mobile experience through focusing on a smooth user experience. In line with the trends towards mobile-first they can position themselves as an 'end-to-end native mobile' UCaaS provider.

( ): MNOs can distinguish themselves apart from typical UCaaS providers by supporting an integrated mobile experience through focusing on a smooth user experience. In line with the trends towards mobile-first they can position themselves as an 'end-to-end native mobile' UCaaS provider. Delivering Communications-Platform-as-a-Service ( CPaaS ) based on Web Real-Time Communication ( WebRTC ): CPaaS players have been creating omnichannel applications and services on top of existing MNO networks. MNOs can enter this space by providing WebRTC-based CPaaS to users, granting them greater flexibility in terms of data control and communication.

( ) based on ( ): CPaaS players have been creating omnichannel applications and services on top of existing MNO networks. MNOs can enter this space by providing WebRTC-based CPaaS to users, granting them greater flexibility in terms of data control and communication. Partnering with OTT participants: Through strategic partnerships with OTT players, MNOs are able to develop new customer relationships based off their partners' existing customer networks, whilst providing valuable carrier grade infrastructure such as call center networks and billing systems.

Developments in Voice and Messaging Services in Asia-Pacific, Forecast to 2023 is part of Frost & Sullivan's global Mobile & Wireless Communications Growth Partnership Service program.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Developments in Voice and Messaging Services in Asia-Pacific, Forecast to 2023

9ABE-65

Media Contact

Melissa Tan

Corporate Communications - Asia Pacific

P: +65 6890 0926

F: +65 6890 0999

E: melissa.tan@frost.com

http://www.frost.com
CapMan Infra press release 1 November 2018 at 08.20 a.m. EET

Strong investor appetite for CapMan Infra's Nordic mid cap infrastructure fund with 115 million committed to the first close

CapMan Infra held the first closing of its Nordic infrastructure fund with commitments of 115 million. A diverse investor base participated in the first close, including pension funds, foundations, corporations and family offices. In addition to CapMan, Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Tradeka-invest Ltd and The Church Pension Fund are amongst the largest investors in this close. Investor appetite for the fund has been strong from both existing and new CapMan investors, and it is expected that support from both local and international investors will continue in future closings.

CapMan Nordic Infrastructure I fund invests predominantly in small to mid-cap core / core+ brownfield infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecommunications sectors across the Nordic countries, through either majority or minority equity investments. CapMan Infra leverages its local Nordic presence, the team's long experience in infrastructure investments and asset management, as well as its extensive local network in deal sourcing and value creation in its target companies.

"We see an abundance of interesting investment opportunities in our home markets and the fast first closing for the fund enables us to commence executing on our investment strategy. We focus on investing ca. 20-50 million equity tickets from the fund but can also execute larger deals through co-investments with our fund investors. We are very pleased with the support thus far and the interest that the fund has generated amongst a diversified group of investors," comments Ville Poukka, Managing Partner, CapMan Infra.

"Investor interest in infrastructure investments has increased with investors looking to allocate more capital to the asset class. An infrastructure fund with a local team and Nordic mid-cap focus is an attractive proposition to international infrastructure investors and we are among the first to provide a specialised strategy for the market. Through the establishment of the fund, CapMan Infra has become a significant new business area for CapMan alongside private equity and real estate," says CapMan's CEO Joakim Frimodig.

CapMan's commitment to the fund is 30 million.

For more information, please contact:

Ville Poukka, Managing Partner, CapMan Infra, p. +358 50 572 9120, ville.poukka@capman.com (mailto:ville.poukka@capman.com)

Joakim Frimodig, CEO, CapMan Oyj, p. +358 50 529 0665, joakim.frimodig@capman.com (mailto:joakim.frimodig@capman.com)

About CapMan

CapMan is a leading Nordic private asset expert with an active approach to value-creation in its target companies and assets. We offer a wide selection of investment products and services. As one of the Nordic private equity pioneers we have developed hundreds of companies and real estate and created substantial value in these businesses and assets over the last 30 years. CapMan employs today approximately 120 private equity professionals and has approximately 2.8 billion in assets under management. We mainly manage the assets of our customers, the investors, but also make investments from our own balance sheet. Our objective is to provide attractive returns and innovative solutions to investors. Our current investment strategies cover Real Estate, Buyout, Russia, Credit, Growth Equity and Infra. We also have a growing service business that currently includes procurement services (CaPS), fundraising advisory (Scala Fund Advisory), and fund management services. www.capman.com (http://www.capman.com/), twitter.com/CapManPE (https://twitter.com/CapManPE)

This announcement is distributed by West Corporation on behalf of West Corporation clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: CapMan Oyj via Globenewswire


ASKER, NORWAY (1 November 2018) - TGS reported net revenues of USD 141 million in Q3 2018, compared to USD 142 million in Q3 2017. TGS continued to see improvement in late sales which at USD 106 million were up 35% compared to Q3 2017. Operating profit for the quarter was USD 24 million (17% of net revenues) and net income was USD 17 million resulting in earnings per share of USD 0.16, a growth of 78% year-on-year.

With a strong cash balance of USD 322 million, TGS maintains its quarterly dividend at USD 0.20 per share, up 33% from Q3 2017.



3rd Quarter Highlights - Segment Reporting

Consolidated net revenues were USD 141 million, down 1% from USD 142 million in Q3 2017

Net late sales totaled USD 106 million, up 35% from USD 79 million in Q3 2017

Net pre-funding revenues were USD 33 million, funding 33% of TGS' operational multi-client investments for the quarter

Operational multi-client investments were USD 100 million in addition to USD 7 million non-operational investments

Operating profit (EBIT) was USD 24 million (17% of net revenues), compared to USD 26 million (18% of net revenues) in Q3 2017

Net income was USD 17 million, up 78% from USD 9 million in Q3 2017

Cash flow from operations was USD 96 million, up from USD 86 million in Q3 2017

Free cash flow (after multi-client investments) was USD 10 million, up from USD (19) million in Q3 2017

Cash balance at 30 September 2018 was USD 322 million

Earnings per share (fully diluted) were USD 0.16, up 78% from USD 0.09 in Q3 2017

Quarterly dividend is maintained at USD 0.20 per share, up 33% from Q3 2017

Financial guidance for 2018 is as follows: New multi-client investments* of approximately USD 260 million Additional multi-client investments expected from sales of existing surveys with risk-sharing arrangements Pre-funding of new multi-client investments expected to be approximately 40% compared to previous expectation of 45-50%



*New multi-client investments excluding investments related to surveys with risk-sharing arrangements





"TGS has grown net revenues by 29% in the first nine months of 2018. However, E&P companies have for the most part maintained a cautious approach to exploration spending and a large part of the increased revenues is related to acreage turnover, either through M&A between E&P companies or asset swaps and purchases. With the market fundamentals continuing to improve, E&P companies are likely to come under increasing pressure to replenish reserves and secure growing production in the longer-term. Furthermore, many smaller E&P companies which paused spending during the downcycle, will ultimately return to exploration as they move back to a growth agenda. As a result, exploration budgets are likely to increase from the current unsustainably low levels.

TGS is well positioned to benefit from improved market conditions going into 2019, supporting further investment growth. TGS' counter-cyclical investment during the downturn, with high volumes of data acquired at record-low cost, bodes well for continued industry-leading return on capital going forward," TGS' CEO Kristian Johansen stated.



To access TGS Q3 2018 results information, please use the web links below:

Earnings Release (http://www.tgs.com/uploadedFiles/CorporateWebsite/Modules/Investor_Related/Earning_Releases/2018_Q3/2018%20Q3%20TGS%20Earnings%20Release.pdf)

Presentation (http://www.tgs.com/uploadedFiles/CorporateWebsite/Modules/Investor_Related/Earning_Releases/2018_Q3/2018%20Q3%20Earnings%20Release%20Presentation%20slides.pdf)

Webcast (http://webcast.seria.no/webcast/97503243)

Q3 2018 Presentation and Webcast

Kristian Johansen (CEO) and Sven Brre Larsen (CFO) will present the results at 09:00 CET at Felix Conference Center, Aker Brygge, Oslo, Norway. The presentation is open to the public and can be followed live on the internet at www.tgs.com.

The slides from the presentation will also be available in PDF format at both the TGS and Oslo Stock Exchange websites.

Q3 2018 Conference Call

CEO Kristian Johansen and CFO Sven Brre Larsen will host a conference call on 1 November 2018 at 15:00 CET (10:00 EDT). Attendees may want to call 5-10 minutes before to ensure registration and access.

Norwegian attendees are invited to call +800 51084 or +47 2100 2610

International attendees are invited to call 0800 358 6377 or +44 (0)330 336 9105

US attendees are invited to call +1 800 289 0438 or +1 323 794 2423

Participants will need to quote the following confirmation code when dialing into the conference: 8091241.

A Q&A session will follow a short introduction, based upon the presentation issued in the morning. To pose a question, please press *1.

A replay of the conference call will be available shortly after. To access replay of the TGS conference call:

Dial +47 23 50 00 77 or +800 196 72 (Norway), +44 (0) 207 660 0134 or +0 808 101 1153 (International) or +1 719 457 0820 or +888 203 1112 (US)

Replay access code 8091241 followed by # (pound-sign).

A replay of the conference call will also be available at www.tgs.com (http://www.tgs.com/).



Company summary

TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company (TGS) provides multi-client geoscience data to oil and gas Exploration and Production companies worldwide. In addition to extensive global geophysical and geological data libraries that include multi-client seismic data, magnetic and gravity data, digital well logs, production data and directional surveys, TGS also offers advanced processing and imaging services, interpretation products, permanent reservoir monitoring and data integration solutions.

For more information visit TGS online at www.tgs.com (http://www.tgs.com/).



Forward-looking statements and contact information

All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. These factors include TGS' reliance on a cyclical industry and principal customers, TGS' ability to continue to expand markets for licensing of data, and TGS' ability to acquire and process data products at costs commensurate with profitability. Actual results may differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements. TGS undertakes no responsibility or obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements for any reason.

TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSLO:TGS).

TGS sponsored American Depositary Shares trade on the U.S. over-the-counter market under the symbol "TGSGY".



For additional information about this press release please contact:



Sven Brre Larsen

Chief Financial Officer

Tel: +47 90 94 36 73

Email: sven.larsen@tgs.com (mailto:sven.larsen@tgs.com)

Will Ashby

SVP Investor Relations

HR & Communication

Tel: +1 713 860 2184

Email: will.ashby@tgs.com (mailto:will.ashby@tgs.com)

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

2018 Q3 Earnings Release Presentation slides (http://hugin.info/86869/R/2223478/871385.pdf)

2018 Q3 Earnings Release (http://hugin.info/86869/R/2223478/871386.pdf)



This announcement is distributed by West Corporation on behalf of West Corporation clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: TGS via Globenewswire


Case IH and New Holland Agriculture brands will enable their customers to seamlessly share in-depth, real-time machine information with the Farmers Edge digital FarmCommand platform. The platform provides comprehensive digital and professional agronomic decision making support for enhanced farming efficiency and productivity.



London, November 1, 2018

CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI:CNHI) and Farmers Edge, a Canadian-based agri-tech company focused on data-driven agricultural decision-support systems, announced today that they have entered into a strategic digital agriculture agreement that will make available a portfolio of connectivity and agronomic solutions to Case IH and New Holland customers. Through this agreement, Case IH and New Holland Agriculture, the global agricultural brands of CNH Industrial, will provide their customers with access to FarmCommand, a unique platform, that interfaces with the brands' existing precision farming portals and further extends the range of planning, analysis, execution and agronomic decision making information available to them.

As the exclusive OEM partner of Farmers Edge, this service offers Case IH and New Holland customers a tiered approach to agronomic services, with increasing levels of data and support available, enabling them to select the service - with a transparent per acre pricing structure - that best suits their needs. The entry level services focus on FarmCommand, Farmers Edge cloud-based farm data management platform which analyzes data in real time and satellite imagery - in partnership with Planet Labs - providing daily satellite imagery for unsurpassed crop growth insights. This is progressively enriched with field-originated weather data - gathered from farm-based weather stations- vehicle data, and agronomic support, and tops out with variable rate prescriptions with either generic or zoned soil sampling services. This partnership not only foresees digital support, as customers selecting the premium packages will also have access to on-farm, in-person agronomist support, to develop and monitor tailored agronomic plans.

"Thanks to this strategic partnership, we will be able to offer our global brands' customers a uniquely integrated digital agricultural platform, helping them to further optimize productivity and efficiency in their day-to-day operations. With the rapid pace of change underway in agribusiness technologies, CNH Industrial is committed to remaining at the forefront," said Hubertus Muhlhauser, Chief Executive Officer, CNH Industrial.

This agreement will allow Case IH and New Holland customers to connect their current and legacy machinery fleets with CAN bus functionality to the Farmers Edge platform. This will deliver tangible gains in all three key stages of the crop data cycle: collection, planning and execution, and offers one of the most complete solutions on the market, going well beyond the standard API data sharing connection.

It can also be used with mixed-fleets, further enhancing customers' choice. This is a fundamental element of CNH Industrial's approach to Precision Farming Solutions, which empower customers to select the service or tool which is right for them and enable them to maintain control of their data with opt-in logic. As the system utilizes the 3G and 4G telecommunications network, connectivity is retained, even in the most remote areas.

"CNH Industrial is one of the most well-known and respected brands in the global agricultural industry; partnering with them is a significant stride for us," said Wade Barnes, Chief Executive Officer of Farmers Edge. "We are aligning ourselves to work towards a common goal of delivering a new wave of decision agriculture adoption. The partnership brings exclusive options and services that combine reliable products and technological innovations translating into performance and productivity enhancements."

Case IH and New Holland dealers will offer the Farmers Edge suite of services, facilitating them in proactively supporting their customers, as this platform will enable sharing of real-time machine information with their local Case IH or New Holland dealer, enabling them to receive enhanced product support services. This solution will undergo a phased roll-out, starting in the first quarter of 2019 in North America, and will subsequently become available in Latin America, Australia, Europe, Russia and Ukraine.

CNH Industrial and Farmers Edge are also committed to developing unique solutions for Case IH and New Holland customers, to further enhance their whole-farm productivity and profitability.

This latest digital agriculture agreement forms part of CNH Industrial's overall Precision Farming strategy.

CNH IndustrialN.V.

About Farmers Edge Farmers Edge is a global leader in decision agriculture servicing over 22 million paid product acres worldwide with precision digital solutions. Integrating field-centric data, easy-to-use software, state-of-the-art processing technology, predictive modeling, and advanced agronomic analytics, Farmers Edge provides growers with scalable solutions to produce more with less. Using innovative digital agronomic tools, Farmers Edge solutions focus on the sustainable production of high-yielding, high-quality crops and are designed to optimize inputs, minimize environmental impact, and protect economic viability of the farm. From seed selection to yield data analytics, Farmers Edge transforms big data into timely and accurate insights to support informed decision making. For more information about Farmers Edge, visit FarmersEdge.caor FarmersEdgeUSA.com.

Media contacts:





Laura Overall Wade Barnes

Corporate Communications Manager Chief Executive Officer

CNH Industrial Farmers Edge

Tel. +44E-mail: Wade.Barnes@FarmersEdge.ca



Communications Department

Tel. +1 204 770 3422

E-mail: Communications@FarmersEdge.ca

Attachment
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC 2019 INTERIM DIVIDEND TIMETABLE

The Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc today announced the intended timetable for the 2019 quarterly interim dividends.

2019 Interim Dividend Timetable

4th Quarter 2018 1st Quarter 2019 2nd Quarter 2019 3rd Quarter 2019 Announcement date January 31, 2019 May 2, 2019 August 1, 2019 October 31, 2019 Ex-dividend date February 14, 2019 May 16, 2019 August 15, 2019 November 14, 2019 Record date February 15, 2019 May 17, 2019 August 16, 2019 November 15, 2019 Closing date for currency election (see Note below) March 1, 2019 June 3, 2019 September 2, 2019 November 29, 2019 Pounds sterling and euro equivalents announcement date March 11, 2019 June 11, 2019 September 9, 2019 December 5, 2019 Payment date March 25, 2019 June 24, 2019 September 23, 2019 December 18, 2019

Note

A different currency election date may apply to shareholders holding shares in a securities account with a bank or financial institution ultimately holding through Euroclear Nederland. This may also apply to other shareholders who do not hold their shares either directly on the Register of Members or in the corporate sponsored nominee arrangement. Shareholders can contact their broker, financial intermediary, bank or financial institution for the election deadline that applies.

The 2019 interim dividend timetable is also available on www.shell.com/dividend

Royal Dutch Shell plc

The Hague, November 1, 2018

Contacts:

- Investor Relations: Europe + 31 (0) 70 377 4540;North America +1 832 337 2034

- Media: International +44 (0) 207 934 5550; Americas +1 832 337 4355

CAUTIONARY NOTE

The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement "Shell", "Shell group" and "Royal Dutch Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to as "joint ventures" and "joint operations", respectively. Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as "associates". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "aim", "ambition', ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''could'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''goals'', ''intend'', ''may'', ''objectives'', ''outlook'', ''plan'', ''probably'', ''project'', ''risks'', "schedule", ''seek'', ''should'', ''target'', ''will'' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell's Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov ). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, November 1, 2018. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.

This announcement may contain references to Shell's website. These references are for the readers' convenience only. Shell is not incorporating by reference any information posted on www.shell.com.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

LEI number of Royal Dutch Shell plc: 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70

Classification: Additional regulated information required to be disclosed under the laws of a Member State
Shell announces the second tranche of the share buyback programme

November 1, 2018

Royal Dutch Shell plc (the 'company') today announces the commencement of trading in the second tranche of its share buyback programme previously announced on July 26, 2018. The company's intention is to buy back at least $25 billion of its shares by the end of 2020, subject to further progress with debt reduction and oil price conditions.

On October 19, 2018 the company completed the first tranche of its share buyback programme (the 'initial tranche'). In aggregate between July 26, 2018 and October 19, 2018, the company repurchased 60,844,806 A ordinary shares for an aggregate consideration of $2 billion.

The maximum number of ordinary shares which may be purchased by the company under the second tranche of its share buyback programme (the 'second tranche') is 773,155,194, which is the maximum pursuant to the authority granted by shareholders at the company's 2018 Annual General Meeting[1] minus the number of ordinary shares purchased in the initial tranche.

In the second tranche, the company has entered into an irrevocable, non-discretionary arrangement with a broker to enable the purchase of A ordinary shares and/or B ordinary shares for a period up to and including January 28, 2019. The aggregate maximum consideration for the purchase of A ordinary shares and/or B ordinary shares under the second tranche is $2.5 billion. The shares bought back under the second tranche will be whichever of the A ordinary shares and/or B ordinary shares is economically the least expensive on a given trading day.

The broker will make its trading decisions in relation to the company's securities independently of the company. The second tranche will be carried out on the London Stock Exchange and/or on CBOE Europe Equities and will be effected within certain pre-set parameters. It will be conducted in accordance with the company's general authority to repurchase shares granted by its shareholders at the company's Annual General Meeting held on May 22, 2018[1], and in line with Chapter 12 of the Listing Rules, Article 5 of the Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014/EU dealing with buyback programmes and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052.

The purpose of the second tranche is to reduce the issued share capital of the company to offset the number of shares issued under the Scrip Dividend Programme and to significantly reduce the equity issued in connection with the company's combination with BG Group. All shares repurchased as part of the second tranche will be cancelled.

Any further tranches of the buyback programme, which may be conducted after completion of the second tranche, will be announced in due course.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement "Shell", "Shell group" and "Royal Dutch Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to Royal Dutch Shell plc and subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to as "joint ventures" and "joint operations", respectively. Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as "associates". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "aim", "ambition", ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''could'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''goals'', ''intend'', ''may'', ''objectives'', ''outlook'', ''plan'', ''probably'', ''project'', ''risks'', "schedule", ''seek'', ''should'', ''target'', ''will'' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell's Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, November 1, 2018. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. US investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

Contacts:

- Investor Relations: International + 31 (0) 70 377 4540; North America +1 832 337 2034

- Media: International +44 (0) 207 934 5550; USA +1 832 337 4355

LEI number of Royal Dutch Shell plc: 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70

Classification: Acquisition or disposal of the issuer's own shares

[1] The existing shareholder authority to buy back shares granted at the company's 2018 Annual General Meeting expires at the earlier of the close of business on August 22, 2019, and the end of the date of the company's 2019 Annual General Meeting. The company expects to seek renewal of shareholder authority to buy back shares at subsequent Annual General Meetings.
Ship Finance International Limited ("Ship Finance" or the "Company") announces today that Mr. Aksel C. Olesen has been appointed Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 2019. Mr. Olesen succeeds Mr. Harald Gurvin, the Company's current Chief Financial Officer, who will leave the Company to take on the position as Chief Financial Officer of Flex LNG Management.

Mr. Olesen has served in a range of senior roles in the shipping industry and capital markets. He will join Ship Finance from Pareto Securities, where he is currently Head of Shipping and Offshore Project Finance. During his 12-year tenure at Pareto Securities, Mr. Olesen has worked in various positions in the firm's investment banking division, including as Head of Investment Banking Asia in Singapore from 2011 to 2014. Mr. Olesen started his career working for the shipping company Kristian Jebsens Rederi as part of the legal and finance team. Mr. Olesen holds a Law Degree from the University of Bergen.

Ole B. Hjertaker, CEO in Ship Finance Management comments: "We are pleased to welcome Aksel as the new Chief Financial Officer in Ship Finance. We expect his broad industry and corporate finance experience will be a significant benefit to the Company. On behalf of the Board, our shareholders and all of us at Ship Finance, we would like to thank Harald for his rewarding contribution to Ship Finance over the last 12 years. In this period, the Company has made asset acquisitions of nearly $8 billion and paid $1.7 billion in dividends to our shareholders, and we wish him all the best and success in his new position."

Aksel C. Olesen, the newly appointed CFO comments: "I am very motivated to join the Ship Finance team at an exciting time for the Company where we see a structural shift in access to capital for maritime companies, and particularly within the maritime lending space. With a strong track record and healthy balance sheet, I believe the Company is in a unique position to benefit from an increasing number of asset acquisitions opportunities and the potential for incremental growth through a diversification of the product offering."

November 1, 2018

The Board of Directors

Ship Finance International Limited

Hamilton, Bermuda

Questions can be directed to Ship Finance Management AS:

Investor and Analyst Contacts:

Harald Gurvin, Chief Financial Officer, Ship Finance Management AS

+47 23 11 40 09

Andre Reppen, Senior Vice President, Ship Finance Management AS

+47 23 11 40 55

Media Contact:

Ole B. Hjertaker, Chief Executive Officer, Ship Finance Management AS

+47 23 11 40 11

About Ship Finance

Ship Finance International Limited (NYSE: SFL) has a unique track record in the maritime industry, being consistently profitable and paying dividends every quarter since 2004. The Company's fleet of more than 80 vessels is split between tankers, bulkers, container vessels and offshore assets, and Ship Finance's long term distribution capacity is supported by a portfolio of long term charters and significant growth in the asset base over time. More information can be found on the Company's website: www.shipfinance.bm

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward looking statements. These statements are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including Ship Finance management's examination of historical operating trends. Although Ship Finance believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control, Ship Finance cannot give assurance that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or intentions. Important factors that, in the Company's view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this presentation include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market as a result of changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in the Company's operating expenses including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

This announcement is distributed by West Corporation on behalf of West Corporation clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Ship Finance International Limited via Globenewswire


Brings significant expertise in commercialising cancer diagnostics

GUILDFORD, SURREY / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / ANGLE plc (AIM:AGL OTCQX:ANPCY), a world-leading liquid biopsy company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Jan Groen as a Non-Executive Director of the Company effective 1 November 2018.

Dr Groen has extensive Board and Executive level experience in cancer diagnostics. He is currently President and CEO of MDxHealth, a Euronext listed molecular diagnostic company that develops and commercialises cancer diagnostic tests to assist physicians in the detection and treatment of urological and other cancers, a position he has held since 2010. During his time at MDxHealth, he has helped to grow revenues from c. US$4 million in 2012 to c. US$41 million in 2017, with a total cumulative revenue of over US$100 million by 2017, and raised US$80 million in equity financing. He has established a CLIA service laboratory in the United States, an ISO service laboratory in Europe and built a team of over 220 staff to sell and undertake their prostate and other cancer diagnostic tests.

Prior to MDx Health, Dr Groen was President of US Operations and Global Chief Operating Officer at Agendia, a world leader in the rapidly evolving field of cancer molecular diagnostics using tumor gene expression, including tests that predict the risk of breast cancer recurrence (MammaPrint) and to identify the origin of cancer of unknown primary.

Dr Groen has significant expertise in new product development, including development of more than 25 CE marked and FDA cleared diagnostic products and lab-developed tests in Europe and the USA, and has successfully launched and commercialised several such tests.

Dr Groen also holds a Non-Executive Board position at SPL Medical, a private Dutch company combining an innovative contrast agent (Combidex) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with the ability to detect small lymph node metastases. He was previously a board member of MyCartis, a private Belgium company developing a Dynamic Multi-Analyte Technology (DMAT) for immuno-diagnostics and IBL International, a VC backed company based in Germany manufacturing and selling immune-diagnostic assay which was sold to Tecan in July 2014.

ANGLE Founder and Chief Executive, Andrew Newland, commented:

"I am delighted to welcome Jan Groen to the Board of ANGLE. He has a proven track record of successfully commercialising cancer diagnostics in the USA and Europe. His knowledge and experience of this market will be of significant value as we progress the commercialisation of our ParsortixTM liquid biopsy solution."

The following information regarding Jan Groen, aged 58, is disclosed under Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies:

Current directorships and/or partnerships



Former directorships and/or partnerships

(within the last five years) MDxHealth S.A.



MyCartis NV SPL Medical B.V.



IBL International DxOrange B.V.







There are no further disclosures to be made under Schedule 2g of the AIM Rules for Companies.

For further information ANGLE:

ANGLE plc +44 (0) 1483 343434 Andrew Newland, Chief Executive Ian Griffiths, Finance Director

finnCap Ltd (NOMAD and Joint Broker) Corporate Finance - Carl Holmes, Simon Hicks, Max Bullen-Smith ECM - Alice Lane +44 (0)20 7220 0500 WG Partners (Joint Broker) Nigel Barnes, Nigel Birks, Andrew Craig, Chris Lee +44 (0) 203 705 9330 FTI Consulting Simon Conway, Mo Noonan, Stephanie Cuthbert Matthew Ventimiglia (US) +44 (0) 203 727 1000 +1 212 850 5612

For Frequently Used Terms, please see the Company's website on http://www.angleplc.com/the-parsortix-system/glossary/

This announcement contains inside information.

Notes for editors

About ANGLE plc www.angleplc.com

ANGLE is a world leading liquid biopsy company with sample to answer solutions. ANGLE's proven patent protected platforms include an epitope-independent circulating tumor cell (CTC) harvesting technology and a downstream analysis system for cost effective, highly multiplexed analysis of nucleic acids and proteins.

ANGLE's cell separation technology is called the ParsortixTM system and it enables a liquid biopsy (simple blood test) to be used to provide the cells of interest. Parsortix is the subject of granted patents in Europe, the United States, Canada, India, China, Japan and Australia and three extensive families of patents are being progressed worldwide. The system is based on a microfluidic device that captures live cells based on a combination of their size and compressibility. The Parsortix system has a CE Mark in Europe for the indicated use and FDA clearance is in process for the United States.

ANGLE's analysis technology for proteins and nucleic acids of all types is called Ziplex and is based on a patented flow through array technology. It provides for low cost, highly multiplexed, rapid and sensitive capture of targets from a wide variety of sample types. A proprietary chemistry approach allows for the capture and amplification of over 100 biomarkers simultaneously in a single reaction. The Ziplex system is ideal for measuring gene expression and other markers directly from Parsortix harvests.

ANGLE's proprietary technologies can be combined to provide automated, sample to answer results in both centralised laboratory and point of use cartridge formats.

Furthermore, ANGLE has established formal collaborations with world-class cancer centres. These Key Opinion Leaders are working to identify applications with medical utility (clear benefit to patients), and to secure clinical data that demonstrates that utility in patient studies. Details are available here http://www.angleplc.com/the-company/collaborators/

SOURCE: ANGLE plc

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/526862/Angle-PLC-Announces-Appointment-of-Dr-Jan-Groen-as-NED
Lisa Mahnke, M.D., Ph.D., joins as Senior Vice President, Head of Clinical, and Terrence West, MBA, joins as Vice President, Head of Program Management

Bicycle Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of therapeutics based on its proprietary bicyclic peptide (Bicycle) product platform, today announced two senior appointments to facilitate its expanding and advancing clinical pipeline. Lisa Mahnke, M.D., Ph.D., joins as Senior Vice President and Head of Clinical. Terrence West, MBA, joins as Vice President and Head of Program Management.

Dr. Mahnke has completed multiple successful investigational new drug (IND) applications and brings deep expertise in pharmaceutical development to Bicycle, including experience in clinical development, clinical pharmacology and translational medicine. Mr. West is a seasoned biopharma executive with experience across multiple therapeutic areas and project functions.

"As Bicycle expands its pipeline and our programs mature, it is critical that we deliver an effective clinical strategy, and these two new clinical team members are an integral part of our strategy," said Kevin Lee, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Bicycle Therapeutics. "Lisa and Terry have exceptional track records as senior leaders navigating programs through the clinic. I am very pleased to welcome them both to the Bicycle team."

Lisa Mahnke willlead Bicycle's clinical efforts. Most recently, Dr. Mahnke was Head of Clinical Development at Dragonfly Therapeutics and Syros Pharmaceuticals. Before that, she held positions of increasing responsibility in clinical pharmacology and clinical development, including medical lead and Head of Clinical Pharmacology, at BMS, Merck, EMD Serono and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. She is a licensed and prior board-certified physician in internal medicine and infectious diseases. Dr. Mahnke holds a B.S. in chemistry from Ripon College, a Ph.D. in biochemistry and an M.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Terrence West was most recently Executive Director, Project Management, at EMD Serono, where he successfully led multiple teams from discovery through initial FDA filings, including Phase I-III clinical program approvals and launches. He has also worked in program management for companies including ZioPharm Oncology, Stryker Regenerative Medicine, Dynavax Technologies and Exelixis, Inc. Mr. West holds a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Arizona and an MBA in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix.

About Bicycle Therapeutics

Bicycle Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of medicines, referred to as Bicycles for diseases that are underserved by existing therapeutics. Bicycles are fully synthetic short peptides constrained to form two loops that stabilize their structural geometry. This constraint is designed to confer high affinity and selectivity, and the relatively large surface area presented by the molecule allows targets to be drugged that have historically been intractable to non-biological approaches. We have a novel and proprietary phage display screening platform that we use to identify Bicycles in an efficient manner. Our initial internal programs are focused on oncology indications with high unmet medical need. Our lead product candidate, BT1718, is a Bicycle Toxin Conjugate being investigated for safety, tolerability and efficacy in an ongoing Phase I/IIa clinical trial in collaboration with, and fully funded by, the Centre for Drug Development of Cancer Research UK. Bicycle was founded in 2009 as a result of innovative science conducted by Sir Greg Winter and Professor Christian Heinis. Sir Greg Winter is a pioneer in monoclonal antibodies; in 2018, he was awarded a Nobel Prize in chemistry for the invention of the technology underpinning our proprietary phage display screening platform that we use to identify Bicycles. Bicycle is headquartered in Cambridge, U.K., with many key functions and members of its leadership team located near the biotech hub of Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, visit BicycleTherapeutics.com, connect with us on LinkedIn and follow us on Twitter at @Bicycle_tx.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190509005123/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Ten Bridge Communications

Sara Green

sgreen@tenbridgecommunications.com

+1-617-233-1714

Investors:

Argot Partners

Maeve Conneighton

maeve@argotpartners.com

+1-212-600-1902
More than 70 organizations from 30 countries participate in annual campaign to shine spotlight on the urgent need for earlier detection

MANHATTAN BEACH, California, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On World Pancreatic Cancer Day, Thursday, Nov. 15, people around the world will rally together to Demand BetterSM in the fight against pancreatic cancer, starting with awareness of the symptoms and risks. The annual one-day campaign is an initiative of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, which is composed of more than 70 organizations from 30 countries on six continents.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8439251-demandbetter-on-world-pancreatic-cancer-day-2018/

Every day, more than 1,250 people worldwide will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and an estimated 1,180 will die from the disease. Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate among all major cancers, and in nearly every country, it is the only major cancer with a single-digit five-year survival rate (2-9 percent). These chilling figures are not merely statistics, they represent family members, friends and colleagues across the globe.

"The symptoms and risks of pancreatic cancer can be vague and are poorly understood, which is why it's so important to recognize the warning signs," said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition chair. "Initiatives like World Pancreatic Cancer Day allow us to demand better for patients and bring greater attention, awareness and, ultimately, better outcomes, to this deadly disease."

Knowing the symptoms and risks remains key to an early diagnosis. There is currently no standard screening test or early detection method for pancreatic cancer, though research is being conducted in these areas. It is also critical that those who may see signs or symptoms of pancreatic cancer listen to their bodies, seek medical attention and when talking to their healthcare provider, mention pancreatic cancer. Research shows that patients diagnosed in time for surgery are more likely to live five years and beyond. Learn more about the symptoms and risks.

"As an 11-year survivor of pancreatic cancer, I am living proof that knowing the symptoms of pancreatic cancer and listening to your body can save your life," said Ali Stunt, World Pancreatic Cancer Day chair. "No matter what country you live in or language you speak, you must advocate for your health and take action immediately if you have symptoms that are not normal for you and you think they may be signs of pancreatic cancer."

This year, the Coalition invites the global community to take action to raise awareness of this deadly disease by:

Understanding the symptoms and risks of this disease. Visit WorldPancreaticCancerDay.org for information on pancreatic cancer and shareable graphics.

Spreading the word and sharing the educational materials to help inform family, friends, coworkers and social media followers about the symptoms and risks and what to do to support earlier diagnosis.

Following the Coalition on social media:

Twitter/Instagram : @WorldPancreatic

: @WorldPancreatic

Facebook : @WorldPancreaticCancerDay

: @WorldPancreaticCancerDay Temporarily changing your Facebook or Instagram profile picture to support World Pancreatic Cancer Day and using the hashtags WPCD, DemandBetter and PancreaticCancer.

Wearing purple on World Pancreatic Cancer Day ( Thursday, Nov. 15 ).

). Lighting buildings, monuments or homes purple.

Asking your public officials to support more government funding of pancreatic cancer research.

To learn more about getting involved in the worldwide movement dedicated to creating a better future for those fighting pancreatic cancer, visit: WorldPancreaticCancerDay.org .

About World Pancreatic Cancer Day

World Pancreatic Cancer Day (WPCD), a day dedicated to raising global awareness of pancreatic cancer, occurs on the third Thursday of November during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. WPCD is an initiative of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, bringing together more than 70 organizations from 30 countries on six continents to raise awareness and inspire action. The goal of WPCD 2018 is to drive awareness of the symptoms and risks of pancreatic cancer and the urgent need for earlier diagnosis to improve patient outcomes.

Contact:

Megan Castilla

Hill + Knowlton Strategies

Megan.Castilla@hkstrategies.com

(310) 463-9117
LONDON, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Anonos, global leaders in data risk management, security and privacy, today announced that its SaveYourData software has been evaluated and certified as complying with legal and technical requirements for pseudonymising data under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This announcement comes as follow up to the 40th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners held in Brussels from 22 - 26 October 2018 reflecting on the digital revolution and its impact on digital ethics and society.

"Pseudonymisation is an effective safeguard for protecting privacy rights of individuals in connection with data processing activities like Big Data analytics & AI initiatives," said Gary LaFever, co-founder & CEO of Anonos. "The GDPR recognizes pseudonymisation as a means to reduce privacy risks to individuals while helping data controllers and processors to meet their data-protection obligations. This is why Anonos spent more than six years researching and developing the state-of-the-art SaveYourData software to enable companies to benefit from properly 'Pseudonymised' data under the GDPR."

"In evaluating Anonos SaveYourData software, Archimede Solutions applied the 'EuroPrivacy' certification scheme, an innovative certification process developed through a H2020 European research project co-funded by the European Commission and Switzerland. EuroPrivacy (europrivacy.org) is managed by the European Center for Certification and Privacy in Luxembourg, and maintained by an international board of experts in data protection," said Dr Sebastien Ziegler, Chairman of the EuroPrivacy Board of Experts. "The EuroPrivacy certification scheme has been designed to enable a systematic and comprehensive analysis of compliance with the GDPR, applicable to products, services and data protection management systems, and encompassing emerging technologies such as data analytics and Internet of Things. The essence of EuroPrivacy is to build trust and confidence in privacy compliance. The evaluation gave us the opportunity to discover an innovative pseudonymisation software for improving the protection of personal data as requested by the GDPR."



"The Luxembourg National Commission for Data Protection (Commission Nationale pour la Protection des Donnees - CNPD) is pleased to see the European Centre for Certification and Privacy in Luxembourg contributing to bring new solutions for the certification in line with the objectives of the GDPR," said Christophe Buschmann, Commissioner at CNDP. "The CNPD welcomes EuroPrivacy's initiative to provide organizations a tool that supports their efforts in regards to compliance with the GDPR. We appreciate the fact that EuroPrivacy has engaged with us to submit the certification scheme for obtaining the European seal under GDPR."

"This certification is a major milestone and highlights the benefits of state-of-the art GDPR encouraged pseudonymisation over traditional privacy enhancing techniques like encryption, static tokenisation and anonymisation," said Francois Zimmermann, Global CTO of Financial Services Vertical at Hitachi Vantara. "SaveYourData provides a technical and legal framework that enables our customers to attain compliance without destroying business value by deleting data. Hitachi is excited to partner with Anonos to help organisations to maximise their use of analytics to support their data driven journey."

"Successfully implementing big data analytics, machine learning and AI inevitably bring significant business, technical and ethical challenges. Not least among these are the absolute requirements that that personal data are always appropriately protected," said Martin Whitworth, Research Director, IDC European Data Security and Privacy. "Pseudonymisation, in particular, is a much-misunderstood technique that can be successfully employed to help to manage data subjects' risk while furthering an organization's mission, enabling data utility, and providing support for legitimate interest processing. However, choosing the appropriate protection methods for individual use cases is a non-trivial exercise and requires that we also have a means of safeguarding our current accumulated data stores, in a privacy compliant manner. This is why we are highlighting Anonos SaveYourData in our upcoming report dealing with creating a foundation for accelerating data-driven initiatives."

This IDC report on the GDPR Certified Anonos SaveYourData Solution is available at anonos.com/DoNotDeleteYourData.

About Anonos



Anonos technology reconciles conflicts between protecting the rights of individuals and achieving business objectives to use, share, combine and relink data in a compliant manner. Anonos' patented dynamic pseudonymisation, de-identification and anonymisation technology enables sharing, collaboration, and analytics of personal data by technologically enforcing dynamic, fine-grained privacy, security and data protection policies in compliance with the GDPR and other evolving regulations. BigPrivacy overcomes the shortcoming of other solutions that were "good enough" before the GDPR but fail to support new requirements for compliant Big Data analytics & AI.

A Guide for Compliant Legal Analytics Under the GDPR is available at anonos.com/Legal-Analytics, and Global 500 companies can contact anonos.com/contact to receive a consultation to learn how Anonos' proprietary technology enables maximum data use, value and sharing by leveraging new global data protection laws.

Media Contact: press@anonos.com +44 203 5144760

Anonos Website: www.anonos.com

EuroPrivacy Website: www.europrivacy.org

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/778338/Dynamic_Pseudonymisation_vs_Static_Tokenisation_Dynamic_Pseydonymization_vs_Static_Tokenization_Anonos_BigPrivacy_GDPR_Compliant_Infographic.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/778339/Anonos_SaveYourData_GDPR_Certified_Technology_Infographic.jpg


DIEBURG, Germany, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

POLYTECH Health & Aesthetics GmbH, an international leader in Breast Aesthetics, announced today the launch of the new POLYTECH company branding and a new company website.

POLYTECH Health & Aesthetics GmbH launches its new brand image at the ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) Congress this weekend in Miami, setting the course for international expansion of its market position as an innovation leader. The new branding to be officially launched at the POLYTECH booth, featuring further activities of augmented reality experience and the POLYTECH Lunch Symposium.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8439651-polytech-reveals-new-brand-identity/

Innovation leader on course for international growth

The new branding reflects the company's growth strategy, expanding its global footprint and bringing Quality, Innovation and Commitment to surgeons and patients worldwide. With the largest breast implant portfolio on the market, in a variety of shapes, sizes and surfaces, POLYTECH caters to the specific preferences and needs of surgeons and patients, in both the aesthetic and reconstructive fields. Other products by the company include gluteal and body contouring implants.

POLYTECH's merger with G&G Biotechnology in July 2018, further strengthened the company's product portfolio with the innovative B-Lite, the first and only Lightweight Breast Implants in the world. Up to 30% lighter than traditional breast implants, B-Lite implants combine well known and clinically proven materials in an innovative way to support natural fullness, feel and strength without the burden of extra weight.

Quality for the benefit of patients

"Our new tagline 'Quality you can feel' reflects the company culture, passion and commitment to quality in all that we do", stated Wolfgang Steimel, Polytech's CEO, and added: "With the largest breast implant portfolio on the market, and now with the most innovative breast implant B-Lite, we are committed to providing added value to our partners, customers and patients, with exceptional product quality and outstanding service. This innovation will be the perfect opportunity for POLYTECH to enter the US market."

"POLYTECH is in a unique position to bring its partners the most innovative products and a true commitment to quality, with the added value of financial stability. The new branding reflects the company's rising market position and its strategic decision to grow" concluded Tom Alzin, Managing Director, DBAG and POLYTECH Board member.

Expansion of digital corporate channels

The rebranding campaign focuses on the new website and the expansion of social media channels, optimizing our reach and engagement with partners, surgeons and patients. With over 280,000 social followers across the globe, POLYTECH is a leader in digital communication in the field of breast surgery.

The new website offers a clean, modern and mobile-responsive design, with easy navigation and helpful tools for partners, surgeons and patients. Visit the new website at https://polytechhealth.com/en

POLYTECH at a glance

With a global footprint in over 75 countries,POLYTECH Health & AestheticsGmbH is aninternationalleader in the development and production of silicone implants. Founded in 1986 in Dieburg, Germany, the company focuses on breast implants, used in both reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery. POLYTECH is the only German manufacturer of soft tissue implants. All products are developed exclusively at the company headquarters in Germany, and are manufactured under clean room conditions. The company employs over 250 people. For more information visithttps://polytechhealth.com/en

* POLYTECH products are not sold in the US.

Media contact

dellian consulting gmbh

Karina Fritz und Margit Dellian

Hegelmaierstr. 24

74076 Heilbronn

Germany

Tel: +49-7131-7973-760

E-Mail:

k.fritz@dellian-consulting.de ;

m.dellian@dellian-consulting.de

Web: www.dellian-consulting.de

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/777641/POLYTECH.jpg )

Video:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8439651-polytech-reveals-new-brand-identity/
NOTTINGHAM, England, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The UK's largest condom superstore, British Condoms, has conducted a study on UV exposure and condoms. New self-lubricating condoms have recently been praised in media outlets, but the process of their creation includes exposure to UV light, which can decrease a normal condom's effectiveness. In a study conducted at their research facility in Nottingham, British Condoms decided to put direct UV exposure and its effects on latex condoms to the test.

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/777753/British_Condoms_Test.jpg )



Condoms and UV exposure

It's a well-known fact that condoms are perishable. Normal condoms can remain effective for three to five years depending on the manufacturer and according to national policy. However, the lifetime of a condom can be drastically decreased through things like exposure to sunlight/UV, heat, humidity and moisture - as quoted by the department of health.

The creators of new self-lubricating condoms state that to make the condoms self-lubricating, water loving polymers are bound to the latex by exposing them to 30 minutes of UV light and therein lies a potential problem.

Steven Rambridge, a researcher and quality technician at British Condoms said, "Any type of direct UV exposure like that to a latex condom, no matter how long the period, will have an adverse effect on the latex and will inevitably make it weaker. This is not UV light that is shining naturally on a condom that is enclosed in packaging, this is direct exposure to UV light on the latex itself."

The Test

Technicians at British Condoms facility in Nottingham set up a testing bay in which two identical regular condoms (50-55mm bracket as laid out by the World Health Organisation in laid flat width) could be stress-tested using airbursts - one condom with the 30 minutes UV exposure and the other without.

Airburst stress-tests are used by the World Health Organisation (WHO) when testing condoms and this test was carried out to those guidelines - more information can be found here.

The Results

The condom without the 30 minutes UV exposure lasted for 20.3 litres (or dm3) of airburst testing until the latex gave way, whereas the condom with UV exposure only lasted for 18.4 litres (or dm3) of airburst. The guideline by WHO is 18 litres (dm3), so the condom only just scraped the cut.

When talking about the results Steven remarked: "The results are concerning. We were using industry leading branded condoms that are heavily regulated and although the stress-test indicates that the condoms would still just pass the stress test, we must point out that this result is without a casual buyer storing the condoms themselves in warm places, furthering exposure to daylight, daily wear and tear. This would dramatically lower the durability of the condoms which could lead to tearing and rendering them generally unfit for purpose."

Click here to see the full release.

Contact:John Simmons, john@britishcondoms.uk, tel.: +44(0)207-1235-633
TOKYO and LONDON, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Sosei Group Corporation ("Sosei" or "the Company"; TSE Mothers Index: 4565), a world-leading GPCR medicine design and development company, has appointed Mr Chris Cargill as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with immediate effect. Mr Cargill was appointed Interim CFO in June 2018 having previously been a Senior Vice President in the Company.

Peter Bains, President andCEO of Sosei, said: "I am delighted to appoint Chris to the permanent CFO role. Since his appointment as Interim CFO in June 2018, he has demonstrated a strong knowledge of Sosei's business and is driving forward multiple finance initiatives at pace. He brings an extensive range of healthcare experience, financial acumen and market perspective and is well positioned to lead the global corporate finance function as we continue on our path to become a leading global biotechnology company anchored in Japan."

Chris Cargill said: "I am proud to lead the global corporate finance at Sosei. We have a highly talented and committed team and are dedicated to ensuring Sosei is in strongest financial position to achieve our mission of improving the quality of life and health of people around the world."

Mr. Cargill was appointed Interim CFO in June 2018 having joined Sosei in September 2017. Prior to joining Sosei, Mr. Cargill spent nearly a decade in Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan and held various positions of increasing responsibility, most recently as Vice President in the U.K. Corporate Finance Group, focused on the Healthcare sector. He began his career in the Corporate Finance division of KPMG, the global network of Audit, Tax, and Advisory firms.

About Sosei

Sosei is an international biopharmaceutical company focused on the design and development of new medicines originating from its proprietary GPCR-targeted StaR technology and structure-based drug design platform capabilities. The Company is advancing a broad and deep pipeline of partnered and wholly owned product candidates in multiple therapeutic areas, including CNS, cancer, metabolic diseases and other rare/specialty indications. The Company's leading clinical programs include a proprietary Phase 2 candidate for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) in Japan, together with partnered candidates aimed at the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease (with Allergan) and immuno-oncology approaches to treat cancer (with AstraZeneca). Sosei's additional partners and collaborators include Novartis, Pfizer, Daiichi-Sankyo, PeptiDream, Kymab and MorphoSys. The Company is headquartered in Japan with R&D facilities in the UK and Switzerland.

Sosei is listed on the Mothers Index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (ticker: 4565). For more information, please visit http://www.sosei.com/en/.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the discovery, development and commercialization of products. Various risks may cause Sosei's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including: adverse results in clinical development programs; failure to obtain patent protection for inventions; commercial limitations imposed by patents owned or controlled by third parties; dependence upon strategic alliance partners to develop and commercialize products and services; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals to market products and services resulting from development efforts; the requirement for substantial funding to conduct research and development and to expand commercialization activities; and product initiatives by competitors. As a result of these factors, prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Enquiries:

Sosei

Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Shinichiro Nishishita, Yu Okada

ir@sosei.com

+81-(0)-3-5210-3399

Citigate Dewe Rogerson (for international media)

Mark Swallow, David Dible

sosei@citigatedewerogerson.com

+44-(0)-20-7638-9571
DUBLIN, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Centered in the hotbed for agtech R&D and early stage startups, Global AgInvesting's AgTech Nexus Europe, 7 December at the Convention Centre Dublin, welcomes Phil Hogan, EU commissioner for agriculture and rural development, as keynote speaker.

Hogan, and featured speaker Liam Condon, president of Bayer's Crop Science Division, will address how EU ag policy helps or hinders innovation. "New technologies have the potential to make agriculture more sustainable, in every sense of the word," said Hogan in an interview with GAI Gazette. "That is why we are making use of funding under Horizon 2020 and the CAP to invest strongly in research and innovation for agriculture and we should continue to do so in the coming years. We not only finance large-scale European innovation projects, but also stimulate innovation in a bottom-up approach."

Condon is equally enthusiastic about the potential of technological innovation in agriculture, particularly with Bayer's recent purchase of Monsanto. He said, in an interview with Successful Farming, that he hopes the combination [of the two companies] will create a customizable product portfolio with a comprehensive offering of seed and crop-protection products, a leading platform in digital farming, and leading innovation capabilities and R&D technology platforms. He noted that together, the companies will put $2.8 billion towards R&D to "shape agriculture through breakthrough innovation for the benefit of farmers, consumers and the planet." At AgTech Nexus, Condon will discuss the challenges and opportunities on the horizon in a fireside chat led by Arama Kukutai, co-founder and partner of Finistere Ventures.

Other topics of discussion in Ireland - where investors benefit from an advantageous tax structure and a supportive government that has committed, over the past five years, more capital towards agricultural R&D than the U.S. - include outlooks for robotics in specialty crops; opportunities in digital agriculture; and accelerating, incubating and investing: the bridge from R&D to Series A.

This second annual event also features a showcase of early stage agtech companies. Local and international startups are invited to apply at www.startup.agtechnexus.com for the opportunity to present to sector-focused investors ready to partner.

Many will start their week in Europe in London at Global AgInvesting Europe, 4-5 December, where allocators, fund managers and industry executives will come together to discuss investment prospects in agricultural real assets.

Learn more at www.agtechnexus.com and www.gai-eu.com.

CONTACT: Michelle Pelletier-Marshall

mmarshall@globalaginvesting.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/777480/Global_AgInvesting.jpg
LONDON, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) for Composites Market Report 2018-2028

Global Forecasts by Product (Orthopthalic, Isopthalic, Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), Other Products) With Analysis of Use in Carbon Fibre (CFRP), Glass Fibre (GFRP), Aramid Fibre Reinforced Plastics (AFRP) and Applications (Aerospace / Aircraft, Automotive / Transport, Buildings / Construction, Pipes / Tanks, Wind Energy, Consumer Goods, Electrical / Electronics, Marine, Other) Plus Leading Company Analysis and Leading National Market Analysis

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/523989/Visiongain_Logo.jpg )



Are you involved in the unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) market for composites or intend to be? If so, then you must read this report

It's vital that you keep your knowledge up to date with market developments.

Visiongain's new 169-page report assesses that the global unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) for composites market will reach $9.03 billion in 2018.

Market scope: This brand-new report from Visiongain is a completely fresh market assessment of the unsaturated polyester resin for composites market based upon the latest information. Our new market study contains forecasts, original analysis, company profiles and, most crucially, new conclusions. The report not only gives detailed forecasts and analysis of the global UPR market for composites, but also breaks this down by region and product.

The Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) for Composites Market Report 2018-2028 responds to your need for definitive market data:

 Where are the UPR for composites market opportunities?

- 187 tables, charts, and graphs reveal market data allowing you to target your strategy more effectively

 When will the UPR for composites market grow?

- Global, national and submarket forecasts and analysis from 2018-2028 illustrate the market progression

 What UPR products will flourish from 2018-2028?

- Orthopthalic products consumption (Tonnes) & market value forecast 2018-2028

- Isopthalic products consumption (Tonnes) & market value forecast 2018-2028

- DCPD products consumption (Tonnes) & market value forecast 2018-2028

- Other products consumption (Tonnes) & market value forecast 2018-2028

 Where are the national UPR for composites market value and consumption forecasts from 2018-2028?

North America

- US UPR Market for Composites Forecast 2018-2028

- Canadian UPR Market for Composites Forecast 2018-2028

South America

- Brazilian UPR Market for Composites Forecast 2018-2028

Asia Pacific

- Chinese UPR Market for Composites Forecast 2018-2028

- Japanese UPR Market for Composites Forecast 2018-2028

- Indian UPR Market for Composites Forecast 2018-2028

Europe

- German UPR Market for Composites Forecast 2018-2028

- UK UPR Market for Composites Forecast 2018-2028

- French UPR Market for Composites Forecast 2018-2028

- Italian UPR Market for Composites Forecast 2018-2028

- Spanish UPR Market for Composites Forecast 2018-2028

- Russian UPR Market for Composites Forecast 2018-2028

- RoW UPR Market for Composites Forecast 2018-2028

 What are the factors influencing UPR for composites market dynamics?

- A high-level SWOT analysis explores the factors

- Research and development (R&D) strategy

- Supply and demand dynamics

- An increasing range of applications

- Advances in product quality

 Who are the leading UPR for composites companies? We profile the leading players. We reveal capabilities, product portfolios, R&D activity, services, focus, M&A activity, and future outlook

- Ashland Inc.

- BASF

- Dow Chemical Company

- DSM10

- Lonza GmbH.

- Polynt SpA

- Reichhold

- Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd

- Swancor Ind. Co., Ltd

- Tianhe Resin Co., Ltd.

Who should read this report?

- Anyone within the UPR value chain, including:

- UPR for composites technology providers

- UPR for composites producers

- UPR for composites materials providers

- UPR for composites manufacturers

- UPR for composites wholesale and distribution companies

- UPR for composites suppliers

- Composites textile suppliers

- Finished composite product manufacturers

- R&D specialists

- CEOs

- COOs

- CIOs

- Business development managers

- Marketing managers

- Suppliers

- Technologists

- Investors

- Banks

- Government agencies

- Contractors

Get our report the Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) for Composites Market Report 2018-2028: Global Forecasts by Product (Orthopthalic, Isopthalic, Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), Other Products) With Analysis of Use in Carbon Fibre (CFRP), Glass Fibre (GFRP), Aramid Fibre Reinforced Plastics (AFRP) and Applications (Aerospace / Aircraft, Automotive / Transport, Buildings / Construction, Pipes / Tanks, Wind Energy, Consumer Goods, Electrical / Electronics, Marine, Other) Plus Leading Company Analysis and Leading National Market Analysis today. Avoid missing out - order our report now.

To request a report overview of this report please contact Sara Peerun atsara.peerun@visiongain.com or refer to our website:https://www.visiongain.com/report/unsaturated-polyester-resin-upr-for-composites-market-report-2018-2028/

ADTECH Plastic Systems

Advance Coatings Co.

Advanced Materials Technology (Pty.) Ltd.

Aerontec

Air Products & Chemicals

Airbus

AkzoNobel

Aland (HK) Holding Limited

Aliancys AG

AOC Resins

Argosy International Inc.

Ashland Inc.

Ashland Performance Materials

Associated Industries Inc.

Audi

BASF

Bayer

Bell Helicopter

BMW

Boeing Canada

Bombardier Aerospace

Bonstone Materials Corp

Borealis

Boytek Resins

BUFA Composite Systems GmbH & Co. KG

CAE Inc.

CCP Composites

Changzhou Huarun Composite Materials Co. Ltd

Ciba

Composites Canada

Composites One

Cray Valley

Cubic Tech Corporation

Daimler

Dainippon Ink and Chemicals (DIC)

Dassault

Degussa

Divina HiTech Systems

Dow Agro Sciences LLC

Dow Chemical Company

DSM

DuPont Tate

Lyle Bio Products Co. LLC

Dyna-Grout Inc.

E.V. Roberts

Enercon

ExxonMobil

FCM

Fiberglass (A/Asia) Sales Pty. Ltd

Fiberglass Coatings Inc.

Fibre Glass Developments Corporation

Fibreglass Supplies

Ford

Fortitech, Inc

Freeman Manufacturing & Supply Co.

FRP Services & Co.

Gazprom

GE Canada

General Dynamics

General Motors

Glass Fiber Technology Co. Ltd.

Great Wall Motor Co Ltd

Gruber Systems, Inc.

Havel Composites CZ sro

Hepworth

Hercules Inc.

Heroux Devtek

Hexion

HK Reserarch Corp.

Hobas

Honda

Huntsman

Ihance Fluoro-Seal LLC

INEOS

Infinity Composites Inc.

Interplastic Corp.

Italbeit Srl

Johnson Polymer

Jotun Polymer

JSR Micro

K & C Mouldings (England) Ltd.

KemiKomp Inc.

Kemrock Industries & Exports Ltd.

Kirkco-Dopag

Lightscape Materials Inc.'s

Linamar

Lintech International LLC

Lockheed Martin

LyondellBasell

MacDonald Dettwiler

Magellan Aerospace

Magna

Magnum Venus Products-MVP

Martinrea

Mechemo Group

Mercedes

Mitsui

Monsanto

Nantong Tianhe Resin Co., Ltd.

Nexeo Solutions

Nissan

Noah's Marine

Nord Composites

North American Composites

Nuplex Composites

Owen Corning

Peugeot

PJ Hobbs Industries Ltd.

Poliya Composites and Polymers

Polymer Products (Phil.) Inc.

Polymer Technologies Pte. Ltd

Polynt Composites Canada Inc.

Pratt & Whitney

Quimidroga SA

Reichhold

Reinforced Plastics Lab Div.

Renault

Resana S/A

Revchem Composites Inc.

Rohm

Rolls-Royce

Rostec

RT-Chemcomposite Holding Company

SABIC

Saint-Gobain

Satyen Polymers Pvt. Ltd.

Scott Bader Company Ltd.

SGL Carbon AG

Shanghai New Tianhe Resin Co., Ltd.

Shin-Etsu Chemical

SikaAxson U.S.

SK Global Chemical Company Limited

Sorex Ltd

Spraycore

Stealth Composites Inc.

Superior Fiberglass & Resins

Swancor Ind. Co., Ltd

Swift Adhesives

Syngenta

Technip

Tianhe Resin Co., Ltd

Tila Kompozit Temsilcilik Ic ve Dis Tic. Ltd. Sti.

Tongun Elektrik Telekom Dogalgaz Mlz. San. Ve Tic. A.S.

Tool Chemical Composites (TCC)

Toray Industries

Tortuga Companhia Zootecnica Agraria (Tortuga)

Toyota

Unitech Industries Limited

Vestas

Wee Tee Tong Chemical Pte Ltd.

Yantai Andre Pectin Co. Ltd.

Zhejiang Taizhou Chemical Raw Material Company

Zhejiang Tianhe Resin Co.



List of Other Organisations Mentioned in this Report

Bureau of the Census and Bureau of Labour Statistics

Energy Research Agency

European Union

French Builders Association

India Brand Equity Foundation

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The Bureau of the Census and Bureau of Labour Statistics

The Canadian Wind Energy Association

The Government of India

The Spanish Wind Energy Association

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

United Nations

US Department of Energy

To see a report overview please e-mail Sara Peerun onsara.peerun@visiongain.com
On October 31, Terveystalo signed a contract on acquiring the operations of Puistosairaalan Silmalaakarit Oy ("Puistosairaala") and Jyvaskylan Silmatutkimuslaboratorio Oy ("Laboratorio") (hereinafter referred to together as the "Group"). The companies' employees will be transferred to Terveystalo as old employees and the operations will continue on the same premises as before.

The Group is a private provider of ophthalmology services. The company employs 12 ophthalmologists and 5 employees, and in 2017, the company's revenue was approximately EUR 0.4 million.

"In the acquisition, the Group's business operations will become part of the national Terveystalo that provides high-quality ophthalmology services as part of the comprehensive health care pathway. In the acquisition, Terveystalo gains high quality group with 56 years of history as the leading provider of eye care in Central Finland. Terveystalo has excellent opportunities to invest in the skills of their staff as well as the development of customer-focused services. Terveystalo's investments in quality and effectiveness impressed us. Top care quality is important in all our operations to both us and Terveystalo," says Timo Kalima, CEO at Puistosairaalan Silmalaakarit Oy.

"We warmly welcome the competent personnel of Puistosairaala and Jyvaskylan Silmatutkimuslaboratorio to Terveystalo. The companies' services will complement our service offering in the Jyvaskyla region," says Anu Vaananen, Regional Director of Central Finland at Terveystalo.

For further information, please contact:

Terveystalo, Regional Director, Central Finland, Anu Vaananen, tel. +358 (0)400 470 894

Terveystalo in brief

Terveystalo is a listed company on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. Terveystalo is the largest healthcare service company in Finland with net sales and network. The company offers versatile primary and secondary health care services for corporate and private customers and the public sector. The nationwide network covers 180 locations across Finland, complemented by 24/7 digital services.

In 2017, the Company had approximately 1.2 million individual customers and approximately 3.3 million doctor visits. Nearly 9,000 healthcare professionals work in Terveystalo, about half of whom are private practitioners. Terveystalo is a member of Association for Finnish Work. www.terveystalo.com (http://www.terveystalo.com/)

This announcement is distributed by West Corporation on behalf of West Corporation clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Terveystalo Oyj via Globenewswire


Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) - On BNN Sat Nov. 3 & Sun Nov. 4, 2018 - BTV- Business Television visits state-of-the-art technology companies ranging from social media to pharmaceuticals. Full Episode

Baylin Technologies Inc. (BYL:TSX) - As they prepare for 5G, BTV finds out what it takes to keep up in the rapidly advancing wireless telecommunications industry. See Feature

Peeks Social (PEEK:TSX.V) - A social media network you can earn a living from? BTV examines the business model of combining social media and e-commerce. See Feature

InMed Pharmaceuticals (IN:TSX) - With comments from Maxim Jacobs, Director at Healthcare Research for North America, BTV goes onsite to visit InMed as they turn ingredients from cannabis plants into prescription based pharmaceutical products. See Feature

Glance Technologies (GET:CSE, GLNNF:OTCQB) - BTV drops in on this award winning mobile payment and rewards platform technology company. See Feature

Cannvas MedTech Inc. (MTEC:CSE) - The Google of cannabis data? BTV learns about this company's cannabis education and analytics platform. See Feature

Plus an update on:Copper Mountain Mining (CMMC:TSX) - As the demand for base metals continues to grow, BTV weighs in with Stefan Ioannou, Mining Analyst with Cormark Securities on this Canadian based mining company. See Feature

BTV, a half-hour weekly investment program, profiles emerging companies across Canada and the US to bring investors information for their portfolio. With Hosts Taylor Thoen and Jessica Katrichak, BTV interviews experts, top analysts, plus features companies at their location giving investors an insightful business perspective.

BTV BROADCAST TIMES:

CANADA: BNN - Saturday Nov. 3 @ 8:00pm EST, Sunday Nov. 4 @ 4:30pm EST

Bell Express Vu - Saturday Nov. 3 @ 8:00pm EST, Sunday Nov. 4 @ 4:30pm EST

Air Canada: TV Seatback: Business Channel

U.S. National:

Biz Television Network - Sun Nov. 11 @ 10:00pm & 4:30pm PST, Sat Nov. 17 @ 9:00pm PST

Submit a Company for upcoming BTV episodes:

Contact: (604) 664-7401 x3 info@b-tv.com

To receive news, click here to Subscribe.
HANGZHOU, China, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- China's commitment to being a world leader in clean energy adoption and the reduction of carbon emissions has taken a significant step forward today with the announcement of a liquified natural gas (LNG) management solution, enabled by the VeChainThor Blockchain. The blockchain solution is the result of a new joint initiative between VeChain and two of China's leading energy and gas companies ENN Energy Holdings Limited and Shanghai Gas (Group) Co., Ltd. The formal announcement of this new LNG initiative was announced at The China International Gas & Heating Technology and Equipment Exhibition 2018 hosted by the China Gas Association.

In the introduced solution, ENN Energy Holdings Limited is responsible for the design and system construction of LNG-related business scenarios and is providing the necessary vehicles/equipment. In the pilot rollout of this solution, ENN Energy Holdings Limited will provide the onsite technical team and testing locations working within their existing businesses. As an extension of the pilot and surrounding tests, ENN Energy Holdings Limited also will be one of the operating parties in the commercial landing projects.



VeChain is responsible for providing blockchain core technology and the necessary software services.

Shanghai Gas is the overseeing party who ensures the solution expands across the national LNG market and has already connected a host of similar companies to the expansion of this solution. Their role within the solution is to provide policy guidance ensuring government mandates and related process management. Shanghai Gas will provide resource coordination and support for the development of LNG-related businesses within the commercial landing project to facilitate its national expansion.

The solution handles the quality assurance process including classification standards, weighing practices, and transportation process for the different types of natural gas. All information is certified by a third-party authority and uploaded to the VeChainThor Blockchain to establish credible industry standards per government mandates. From there, all aspects related to the data will be tracked, shared, and traded using the VeChainThor Blockchain which will be used for further auditing the LNG market.

The online LNG trading exchange for this solution will use Greatgas.cn affiliated to ENN Energy Holdings Limited. VeChain is responsible for providing backend blockchain infrastructure technology for this exchange. The VeChainThor Blockchain will be used for processes and procedures currently on the website, including the storage of qualification certificates and SKU inspection reports.

Zhoushan LNG Storage and Distribution Centre will be the first to implement this solution during the pilot phase prior to a broader rollout. The Centre includes 3 docks, 2 all-inclusive LNG storage tanks, 14 tank truck loading rafts, high-pressure IFV gasification facilities, high-pressure external transmission, cold energy power generation and other supporting technologies and auxiliary facilities. The annual processing capacity of LNG at this plant is 3 million tons.

About ENN Energy Holdings Limited

ENN Energy Holdings Limited (2688.HK), a flagship industry of ENN Group, has been engaged in the urban pipeline gas business from 1992. It is one of the largest-scale clean energy distributors in China. Through continuous strategic upgrading, it has formed four core businesses - natural gas sales, integrated energy service, energy trade, and energy transmission and distribution, committed to becoming an integrated energy service provider. By the end of 2017, the company has a total asset of 60 billion RMB and more than 400 wholly-owned and holding companies and branches, with more than 32,000 employees. They currently hold a market cap of $85Bn producing 56B HKD in 2017 revenue.

About Shanghai Gas (Group) Co., Ltd

Since the official gas supply of the Shanghai Gas in 1865, the state-owned urban gas company has experienced more than 150 years of business. At present, Shanghai Gas (Group) Co., Ltd has achieved the goal management model of "multi-gas source, one network, and diversified sales" and a complete industrial system. As of 2017, the Shanghai Gas market share accounts for more than 90% of Shanghai's total market, with an annual supply of more than 8.06 billion cubic meters. The company's customer size and storage & transportation capacity ranks the highest in China.

About VeChain

Starting in June 2015, VeChain aims to connect blockchain technology to the real world by providing a comprehensive governance structure, a robust economic model, and IoT integration. VeChain is the pioneers of real-world applications using public blockchain technology, with international operations in Singapore, Luxembourg, Tokyo, Shanghai, Paris, Hong Kong, and San Francisco.

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Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
OXFORD, England, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Spectrum Cannabis, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED)(NYSE: CGC), joins UK patients, researchers and clinicians in applauding today's first prescriptions of medicinal cannabis. From today, patients with exceptional clinical need in England, Wales and Scotland will be prescribed cannabis-based medicines by specialist clinicians for the first time.

This is a bold first step, but there is still work to be done to ensure that patients in the UK have reasonable access to medical cannabis. As a global medical cannabis business Spectrum Cannabis operates within a number of federal frameworks. Across the world, the countries that incorporate medical cannabis into their existing healthcare systems are best able to serve patients who historically have struggled to get access to cannabis for their own treatment or the treatment of a loved one. In the UK, this means all doctors should be able to prescribe medical cannabis when they deem it necessary.

In its home jurisdiction of Canada, Spectrum Cannabis is proud to offer accredited, ethics-approved cannabis education to physicians in order to build knowledge and capacity in the medical community and has seen an increased understanding among both patients and healthcare practitioners surrounding the place of cannabis in medical care. This is a role needed in earnest in the UK over the coming months and years.

"Today is a landmark day for patients living with severe debilitating conditions here in the UK who will now be able to be use cannabis-based medicinal products as prescribed by their specialist clinician," said Dr Mark Ware, Chief Medical Officer, Canopy Growth Corporation. "This is accompanied by a need to educate specialists on the safe use of cannabis-based medicines while full guidance is being developed."

UK specialist clinicians can now freely prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products for patients with exceptional clinical need by relying on their own expertise rather than having to apply for a special license.

"The UK's rescheduling of cannabis-based medicine has come about from a groundswell of patient need but is rooted in scientific evidence and experience. There is a significant real-world experience and clinical evidence pointing to the fact that cannabis-based medicines can be safe and effective treatments for some patients with unmet clinical needs, for instance in the areas of cancer pain and chemotherapy induced nausea & vomiting," said Professor Marie Fallon of The University of Edinburgh.

Spectrum Cannabis anticipates high unmet need for cannabis-based medicinal products in the UK. Following the introduction of legislation for access to medical cannabis in Germany in 2017, prescriptions grew from 1,000 to nearly 80,000 prescriptions in the first half of 2018. In Canada, the patient base in the federal system has grown from 35,000 in 2013 to approximately 350,000 today. In 2016 the End Our Pain campaign estimated that 1m people across the UK already rely on cannabis for medical reasons.

Spectrum Cannabis looks forward to ongoing discussions with UK patients, researchers, clinicians and policy makers in the coming weeks and months.

Spectrum Cannabis: Medical Cannabis. Simplified.

About Spectrum Cannabis

Spectrum Cannabis, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canopy Growth, is dedicated to simplifying medical cannabis for patients and healthcare practitioners. Spectrum Cannabis is an international medical business which interfaces with healthcare professionals and patients around the world. Founded in Canada, Spectrum Cannabis operates in Australia, South America, Africa and across Europe. Spectrum Cannabis products are available in a wide range of potencies and formats designed to simplify the dialogue around strength and dosage by applying a colour-coded Spectrum to categorize medical cannabis according to THC and CBD levels. Its product lineup includes whole flower cannabis, oils and new innovations such as Softgels. Through product simplification, easy dosing formats, and ongoing education of healthcare professionals, Spectrum is committed to improving the lives of medical cannabis patients around the globe.

About Canopy Growth Corporation

Canopy Growth is a world-leading diversified cannabis and hemp company, offering distinct brands and curated cannabis varieties in dried, oil and Softgel capsule forms. From product and process innovation to market execution, Canopy Growth is driven by a passion for leadership and a commitment to building a world-class cannabis company one product, site and country at a time. The Company has operations in 12 countries across five continents. The Company is proudly dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners, conducting robust clinical research, and furthering the public's understanding of cannabis, and through its partly owned subsidiary, Canopy Health Innovations, has devoted millions of dollars toward cutting edge, commercializable research and IP development. Through partly owned subsidiary Canopy Rivers Corporation, the Company is providing resources and investment to new market entrants and building a portfolio of stable investments in the sector. From our historic public listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange to our continued international expansion, pride in advancing shareholder value through leadership is engrained in all we do at Canopy Growth. Canopy Growth has established partnerships with leading sector names including cannabis icon Snoop Dogg, breeding legends DNA Genetics and Green House seeds, and Fortune 500 alcohol leader Constellation Brands, to name but a few. Canopy Growth operates ten licensed cannabis production sites with over 4.3 million square feet of production capacity, including over 500,000 square feet of GMP certified production space. For more information visit http://www.canopygrowth.com

Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Canopy Growth or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. Examples of such statements include statements with respect to international medical frameworks. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including the Company's ability to satisfy provincial sales contracts or provinces purchasing all cannabis allocated to them, and such risks contained in the Company's annual information form dated June 28, 2017 and filed with Canadian securities regulators available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information or forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws.

Caitlin O'Hara, Media Relations, Caitlin.Ohara@canopygrowth.com, +1-613-291-3239; Investor Relations, Tyler Burns, Tyler.Burns@canopygrowth.com, +1-855-558-9333 ex 122; Director: Bruce Linton, tmx@canopygrowth.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) -SilverCrest Metals Inc. (TSXV: SIL) (NYSE American: SILV) ("SilverCrest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce further Phase III drill results for the Las Chispas Property (the "Property") located in Sonora, Mexico. As planned, the first seven (7) in-fill drilling results are from the Babicanora Vein including Area 51 and Babicanora Central zones. Results for the first five (5) holes from Area 51 show higher grades and greater vein widths overall than previously reported for nearby drill results (see details below and attached Figures). The planned in-fill program is designed to upgrade the current inferred resource at Las Chispas by improving the drill density to approximately 25 metre centres for confirmation of continuity, grade and thickness of the vein. Although these in-fill holes are within the high-grade footprint of the updated resource announced on September 19, 2018 titled "SilverCrest Expands Las Chispas Inferred Resource 4.3 Million Tonnes at 3.68 gpt Au and 347 gpt Ag, or 623 gpt AgEq for 87 Million Oz AgEq; Includes 1.6 Million Tonnes at 1,091 gpt AgEq for 56 Million Oz AgEq", they were not yet part of the resource.

N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, and CEO, remarked, "We continue to de-risk Las Chispas with the startup of closely-spaced in-fill drilling for the Babicanora Vein, including the high-grade Area 51 zone. By announcing our best drill hole intercept to date suggests that significant additional potential could be discovered at Las Chispas. Furthermore, we are intercepting high-grade vein mineralization within 5 to 10 metres of our projected target, which helps to increase our confidence in vein location and continuity. With the addition of these first in-fill holes in the Babicanora Vein, we now have an impressive 119 drill intercepts (variable sample widths from 0.5 to 3.2 metres) grading greater than 1,000 gpt AgEq, 30 intercepts greater than 5,000 gpt AgEq and 15 intercepts greater than 10,000 gpt AgEq with our highest single grade being 36,764 gpt AgEq over 0.5 metres from a total of 351 core holes (94,735 metres) drilled to date at Las Chispas. SilverCrest will continue with both its in-fill drilling focused on de-risking our current resources and expansion drilling focused on new discoveries as we systematically work on completing the next updated resource and our Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") in Q1, 2019."

The most significant result for this release is our best intercept (grade x thickness) since commencement of the exploration program in February 2016. Hole BA18-96 intersected 9.9 metres (true width) grading 14.4 gpt Au and 2,132.4 gpt Ag, or 3,212 gpt AgEq. Also noteworthy are holes BA18-94 at 3.5 metres grading 33.06 gpt Au and 2,092.1 gpt Ag, or 4,570 gpt AgEq and BA18-95 at 11.1 metres grading 3.99 gpt Au and 580.2 gpt Ag, or 879 gpt AgEq. The following table summarizes the most significant drill intercepts for this news release (uncut, undiluted).

Babicanora Vein In-Fill Drill Intercepts:

Hole No. Vein Zone From (m) To (m) Drilled Intercept (m) Est. True Width

(m) Au (gpt) Ag (gpt) AgEq*

(gpt) BA18-93 Area 51 300.5 304.6 4.1 3.8 6.78 1,090.5 1,599 incl. 302.4 304.6 2.2 2.0 8.97 1,505.0 2,177 BA18-94 Area 51 307.4 312.0 4.6 3.5 33.06 2,092.1 4,570 incl. 310.2 311.3 1.1 0.8 80.65 6,573.3 12,622 BA18-95 Area 51 294.0 308.2 14.2 11.1 3.99 580.2 879 incl. 296.0 298.7 2.7 2.1 8.01 1,250.0 1,850 incl. 303.1 304.2 1.1 0.9 25.5 2,381.0 4,293 BA18-96 Area 51 200.2 214.4 14.1 9.9 14.4 2,132.4 3,212 incl. 204.1 210.5 6.4 4.5 30.28 4,498.3 6,769 incl. 208.5 209.5 1.0 0.7 102.15 12,756.7 20,418 BA18-97 Area 51 294.0 296.0 2.0 1.5 2.52 454.4 643 incl. 294.0 295.0 1.0 0.7 4.57 821.0 1,164 UB18-14** Babi Central 92.2 99.1 6.9 5.1 4.16 197.3 510 incl. 96.0 96.5 0.5 0.4 10.8 458.0 1,268 UB18-15 Babi Central 64.5 66.9 2.4 1.8 0.10 191.7 197 Weighted Average Area 51

only 7.8 6.0 11.41 1,368.9 2,224

Note: all numbers are rounded.

* AgEq based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au) calculated using long-term silver and gold prices of US$18.50 per ounce silver and US$1,225 per ounce gold, with average metallurgical recoveries of 86.6% silver and 98.9% gold.

**UB signifies an underground core hole. BA is a surface core hole.

All assays were completed by ALS Chemex in Hermosillo, Mexico, and North Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Holes BA18-93 to 97 contain variable amounts of coarse argentite, native silver, electrum and free gold (see attached Figures).

A comparison of the weighted average grade (uncut, undiluted) and true widths of the previous drill hole results in the "Area of Influence" (see attached Figures) versus the combined previous and new drill hole results shows an increase of 35% in width and 13% in AgEq grade based on the following:

Weighted average for previous drill results (10 holes): 2.9 metres grading 9.06 gpt Au and 980.5 gpt Ag, or 1,661 gpt AgEq.





Weighted average for new drill results (5 holes, table): 6.0 metres grading 11.41 gpt Au and 1,368.9 gpt Ag, or 2,224 gpt AgEq.





Weighted average for previous and new drill results (15 holes): 3.9 metres grading 10.33 gpt Au and 1,189.8 gpt Ag, or 1,964 gpt AgEq.

This general comparison is based on the first five in-fill holes to be reported in the Area 51 zone. Further in-fill drilling is underway, and initial results may not be indicative of additional future results.

The Company continues its Phase III exploration program with eight (8) drills operating on site, seven on surface and one underground. Drills are focused on expanding mineralization for inclusion in the next updated resource anticipated in Q1, 2019, and in-fill drilling (estimated 25 metre spacing) to reclassify Inferred Resources to Measured and Indicated. An additional 15,000 to 20,000 metres of drilling are planned for inclusion in the next updated resource. Other ongoing site work includes PEA work, final design work for the Area 51 decline, an extensive metallurgical test program, drilling large diameter wells for site water, and permitting for various additional work.

The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, and CEO for SilverCrest, who has reviewed and approved its contents.





Figure 1: Long Section (Inclined) of Babicanora Vein Las Chispas Property, Looking Southwest



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1467/40776_sc2.jpg





Figure 2: Long Section (Inclined) of Babicanora Vein Area 51, Looking Southwest



To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1467/40776_sc4.jpg





Figure 3: Las Chispas District with Babicanora Plan Map, October 2018



To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1467/40776_sc6.jpg



ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC.

SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions and targeting production in Mexico's historic precious metal districts. The Company's current focus is on the high-grade, historic Las Chispas mining district in Sonora, Mexico. SilverCrest is the first company to successfully drill-test the historic Las Chispas Project resulting in numerous discoveries. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. These include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the strategic plans, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration, rehabilitation and drilling programs of the Las Chispas Property, including drilling test water wells, permitting for various work, and optimizing and updating the Company's resource model; information with respect to high grade areas and size of veins projected from underground sampling results and drilling results; and the accessibility of future mining at the Las Chispas Property. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the conditions in general economic and financial markets; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of expenditures related to rehabilitation and drilling programs; and effects of regulation by governmental agencies. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors including: the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng

Chief Executive Officer

SilverCrest Metals Inc.

For Further Information:

SilverCrest Metals Inc.

Contact: Fred Cooper, Investor Relations

Telephone: +1 (604) 694-1730

Fax: +1 (604) 357-1313

Toll Free: 1-866-691-1730 (Canada & USA)

Email: info@silvercrestmetals.com

Website: www.silvercrestmetals.com

570 Granville Street, Suite 501

Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release
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STOCKHOLM, Nov 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GiG) has been granted permission to offer its in-house games under its B2B licence from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The licence complements GiG's software and B2C licence in the UK. It will enable the Company to offer its new games services to its existing white label customers as well as external brands operating in the UK market.

Mathias Larsson, MD at GIG Games comments:"We are thrilled to announce this news so early in our journey with GiG Games. Normally, a game provider enters one market at a time, however, with our strength from being a division within GiG's ecosystem, we are able to enter multiple regulated markets at the same time. Regulated markets are the future of our industry and it is part of our core strategy to be present in every regulated market.

"The UK market is one of the most competitive in Europe. With our partnership with Jade Rabbit, we have the expertise to build games that will be built primarily for the UK market, we are confident our games will be successful. We have seen the market welcome our first game in a positive way."

We are in the certification process for our games in the following jurisdictions:

Denmark

Latvia

Estonia

Italy

Spain

Lithuania

Colombia

Sweden

Croatia

Czech Republic

Hungary

New Jersey



For further information, please contact:

Anna-Lena Astrom

Head of IR & Corporate Communications

anna.lena@gig.com

+356 796 998 48



About Gaming Innovation Group (GiG):

Gaming Innovation Group Inc. is a technology company providing products and services throughout the entire value chain in the iGaming industry. Founded in 2012, Gaming Innovation Group's vision is 'To open up iGaming and make it fair and fun for all'. Through our ecosystem of products and services, we are connecting operators, suppliers and users, to create the best iGaming experiences in the world. GiG operates out of Malta and is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GIG.

For more information about GiG and our services also see:

https://www.gig.com/

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/gaming-innovation-group/r/gaming-innovation-group--gig-games-receives-approval-to-supply-games-to-b2c-operators-in-the-uk,c2662018

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HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / Fifth Corner (www.fifthcorner.com) announces that it has completed the acquisition of 2836 Bledsoe in Fort Worth, Texas. This 100% occupied property is home to the original Rodeo Goat restaurant along with Global Prairie, an international marketing firm. This is the fifth property acquisition for Fifth Corner Property Fund I, LP ("the Fund") since the closing of its initial capital commitments in February 2018.

2836 Bledsoe is comprised of one building with approximately 11,000 square feet of improvements situated on 0.48 acres and is contiguous to 2800 Bledsoe, which the Company acquired in June 2018. The combined property contains approximately 33,000 square feet of improvements, 4,600 square feet of patio space and is situated on a combined 1.6 acres of land. The West 7th District is located within close proximity to Downtown Fort Worth, Texas Christian University (10,000 students), the Trinity River Park, the Cultural District (including the Kimball Art Museum), the University of North Texas Health Science Center, the Will Rogers Memorial Center and the new, 14,000-seat Dickies Arena (scheduled to open in November 2019). The location is situated in an urban-infill, mixed-use area of Fort Worth and major path of growth for this part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

"We are excited to assemble 2836 Bledsoe with 2800 Bledsoe within the vibrant and growing West 7th District." said Tim Ng, Senior Vice President at Fifth Corner. "The combined property will provide us with economies of scale to create value for our stakeholders and is well positioned at the corner of Bledsoe and Currie Street, with Currie Street becoming a major north-south artery connecting the new Dickies Arena with the West 7th District."

ABOUT FIFTH CORNER

Fifth Corner is a Houston-based real estate company comprised of local sharpshooters investing and creating value on Irreplaceable CornersTM - retail and mixed-use properties in targeted urban and emerging urban submarkets. For more information, please visit their website at www.fifthcorner.com or contact Chad Braun at cbraun@fifthcorner.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included herein that state the Company's or management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Such statements, by their nature, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Chad Braun: 281-251-5550



cbraun@fifthcorner.com

SOURCE: Fifth Corner

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/526809/Fifth-Corner-Acquires-Second-Property-in-West-7th-District-in-Fort-Worth
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) - Copper North Mining Corp. (TSXV: COL) ("Copper North" or the "Company") today announced that its Board of Directors has named Doug Ramsey, Vice-President of Copper North, to succeed Dr. Harlan Meade as Chief Executive Officer upon Dr. Meade's planned retirement on December 31, 2018. Mr. Ramsey, Dr. Meade, and the Board are working together to ensure an orderly transition over the next two months. After January 1, Dr. Meade will stay involved, continuing as a Director of the Company.

Mr. Ramsey joined Copper North as Vice-President, Sustainability and Environmental Affairs, in February 2012 to work on the re-engineering and environmental permitting of the Carmacks Project and develop relationships with indigenous stakeholders. Since then, his role has grown to include coordination of exploration programs at our Carmacks and Thor properties and the engineering programs to transform the Carmacks Project into a low-cost copper-gold producer. Prior to joining Copper North, Mr. Ramsey founded and managed the mining environmental services group at Wardrop Engineering, which later became part of Tetra Tech Canada. He is a Registered Professional Biologist in British Columbia, holds B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the University of Manitoba, and brings over 37 years of professional experience in the mining industry. Over this time, he has worked at all stages of the mining cycle, from grassroots exploration through project planning, environmental permitting, and construction to mine operations and site closure on projects across Canada and internationally.

"This management change has been some time in the planning. Harlan has worked tirelessly for almost five years, in particular to re-position our Carmacks project for success. I look forward to building on Harlan's hard work to take Carmacks through planning and development to become Yukon's next copper mine" said Mr. Ramsey.

Mr. Robert McKnight, Chair, also commented: "On behalf of the Board, we thank Harlan for his hard work on behalf of shareholders and wish him well in retirement while looking forward to his valued advice as a Board member."

About Copper North

Copper North is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company. Its assets include the Carmacks Project located in Yukon and the Redstone Property located in the Northwest Territories. Copper North trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol COL.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Mr. Robert McKnight, P.Eng., MBA

Chairman

For Further Information

Doug Ramsey, M.Sc., R.P.Bio.

Vice-President, Sustainability and Environmental Affairs

Tel: 604.398.3452

Email: info@coppernorthmining.com

Web: www.coppernorthmining.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
BLACKROCK LATIN AMERICAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC (the "Company")

LEI: UK9OG5Q0CYUDFGRX4151

Voting Rights and Capital (Article 15 Transparency Directive, DTR 5.6)

In conformity with the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rule 5.6.1R, the Company would like to notify the market of the following:

As at 31 October 2018, BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc's capital consists of 39,259,620 Ordinary Shares of 10 cents each, carrying one vote each, excluding 2,181,662 ordinary shares held in treasury.

As at 31 October 2018, the total number of voting rights for Ordinary shareholders in BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc is 39,259,620.

Shareholders should use 39,259,620 as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company.

All enquiries:

Sarah Beynsberger

for and on behalf of BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited

Company Secretary

Tel: 0207 743 2639



Date: 1 November 2018
TORONTO, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Cobalt 27 Capital Corp. ("Cobalt 27" or the "Company") (TSXV: KBLT) (OTCQX: CBLLF) (FRA: 27O), a battery metals streaming and royalty company offering direct exposure to cobalt and nickel, integral elements in key technologies of electric vehicles and energy storage systems, today announced its participation in the following mining conferences:

C hina International Nickel & Cobalt Industry Forum

Martin Vydra , Head of Strategy, will be hosting one-on-one meetings at the China International Nickel & Cobalt Industry Forum, organized by Beijing Antaike Information Co., Ltd. and China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association Cobalt Branch, to be held November 6-8, 2018 , in Xiamen , Fujian Province China .

Eight Cap Power Up 3.0: Global Electrification

Justin Cochrane , President and COO, will be presenting on Monday November 12, 2018 , at 3:35 pm EST ; and Martin Vydra , Head of Strategy, will be participating on the Battery Metals Panel , at 4:10 pm EST , at the Eight Capital Power Up 3.0: Global Electrification Conference, to be held in Toronto, Canada .

Goldman Sachs Global Natural Resources Conference

Anthony Milewski , Chairman and CEO, will be participating on the panel Delivering the Battery of the Future and its Supply Chain , on Wednesday November 14, 2018 , at 2:10 pm GMT , and hosting one-on-one meetings, at Goldman Sachs Global Natural Resources Conference, to be held in London, UK .

Deutsche Bank Lithium Energy Storage & Basic Materials Conference

Anthony Milewski , Chairman and CEO, will be participating on the panel Battery Raw Materials and Changing Technologies , at 11:00 am GMT on Thursday November 15, 2018 , and hosting one-on-one meetings, at the Deutsche Bank Lithium Energy Storage & Basic Materials Conference, to be held in London, UK .

Scotiabank Mining Conference

Justin Cochrane , President and COO, will be presenting on Wednesday November 28, 2018 , at 12:10 pm EST ; and the Company will be hosting one-on-one meetings on November 27 and 28, 2018, at the Scotiabank Mining Conference, to be held in Toronto, Canada .

Goldman Sachs Global Metals & Mining Conference

Anthony Milewski , Chairman and CEO, will be presenting and hosting one-on-one meetings on Wednesday November 28, 2018 , at Goldman Sachs Global Metals & Mining Conference, to be held in New York City , USA .

About Cobalt 27 Capital Corp.

Cobalt 27 Capital Corp. is a leading electric metals investment vehicle offering exposure to metals integral to key technologies of the electric vehicle and battery energy storage markets. The Company has acquired a cobalt stream on Vale's world-class Voisey's Bay mine beginning in 2021, including the announced underground expansion, is acquiring the world's first producing cobalt nickel stream on the low-cost, long-life Ramu Nickel-Cobalt Mine, and holds one of the world's largest stockpiles of physical cobalt. The Company also manages a portfolio of nine royalties and intends to continue to invest in a cobalt-focused portfolio of streams, royalties and direct interests in mineral properties containing cobalt.

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. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

For further information please visit the Company website at http://www.cobalt27.com or contact:

Betty Joy LeBlanc, BA, MBA

Director, Corporate Communications

+1-604-828-0999

info@cobalt27.com
PALM BEACH, Florida, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Financialnewsmedia.com News Commentary

The Canadian Cannabis industry is unsurprisingly on fire as it rides the wave provided by full-recreational legalization. Consumers have already dumped millions into the burgeoning marijuana economy to the north of the US border, and the growth is only forecasted to continue. According to a Brookings Institute Study, the market is projected to generate over $4 billion in sales revenue in just the first year. This has led to elevated competition levels in the Canadian cannabis market, forcing companies to expand operations in order to maintain their share of the market. Canada is the first G20 nation in the world to fully legalize cannabis and the implications are enormous as well as strong revenue generating opportunities. Active cannabis companies in the markets this week include PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTC:POTN), Terra Tech Corp. (OTC:TRTC), Aphria Inc. (TSX:APH) (OTC:APHQF), Liberty Health Sciences Inc. (CSE:LHS) (OTC:LHSIF), MariMed Inc. (OTC:MRMD).

PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTCPK:POTN) BREAKING NEWS: PotNetwork Holdings announced today that it is preparing to list its common stock on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") operated by CNSX Markets Inc. The Company has engaged Canadian securities counsel to assist with the listing process. A CSE listing will allow the Company's common stock to be dual listed in both U.S. and Canada.

The application for a listing on the CSE will follow the Company's transition to becoming a fully reporting Company with the SEC once its recent Form 10 filing becomes effective. The Company also intends to complete an uplisting to the OTCQB market tier on OTC Markets.

Kevin Hagen, CEO, stated, "Public attitudes around the world towards CBD are shifting as a result of people and regulators understanding the benefits of CBD. Cannabis-based products, in general, are experiencing explosive growth and we have begun an aggressive expansion of our business to further drive the growth of the Company into 2019. Integral to that expansion, is our decision that the time is right to list our stock on the Canadian market. The CSE already lists many companies in our industry, making this move an extremely logical choice that we believe will significantly benefit both the Company and its shareholders, across two countries instead of one." Read this and more news for POTN at:http://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-potn

Other recent developments in the cannabis industry include and companies on watch:

Terra Tech Corp. (OTCQX:TRTC) recently announced it has completed its previously announced sale of 100% of the assets of its cannabis dispensary located at 1921 Western Avenue in Las Vegas, to Exhale Brands Nevada, for a total consideration of $6,250,000. The Company plans to use the proceeds from the sale to further develop its retail dispensary capabilities in new locations that have better proximity to major tourist attractions in Las Vegas. The Company already has a strong footprint in Nevada. It currently operates its Blum, Desert Inn Road and Blum, Decatur Boulevard dispensaries, both of which are located in Las Vegas, as well as its Blum Reno dispensary, in Northwest Nevada. The Company also recently purchased a retail property in downtown Las Vegas, located at 121 North Fourth Street, which it plans to convert into a Blum retail dispensary. As owners of medical and adult-use cannabis business licenses in Las Vegas associated with these dispensaries, Terra Tech has the ability to apply for additional licenses based on its grandfather status. The company has two pending applications for additional retail permits in Las Vegas.

Aphria Inc. (TSX:APH.TO) (OTCQB:APHQF) recently announced it officially introduced Dr. Jonathan Simone , PhD as the Company's Director of Research and Clinical Studies. Dr. Simone joined Aphria in July 2018 and serves as the primary liaison between the Company's science, technical and medical division teams and outside medical, academic and clinical centers. He is also spearheading Aphria's participation in various clinical studies. "As the post-legalization era unfolds, Aphria remains committed to supporting our patients and the advancement of medical cannabis around the world through much-needed clinical research studies," said Vic Neufeld, Chief Executive Officer of Aphria. "Jonathan is a rising star in the medical cannabis research community and we are pleased to welcome him to the Aphria family. He is uniquely qualified to accelerate Aphria's support for and participation in medical cannabis clinical research to further the Company's continued global leadership in medical cannabis."

Liberty Health Sciences Inc. (CSE:LHS.CN) (OTCQX:LHSIF) recently announced the planned opening this week of three of its newest Cannabis Education Center (CEC) dispensaries in Winter Haven, FL; Palm Harbor, FL, and Merritt Island, FL featuring free 24-hour delivery service throughout Florida. Opening for the Palm Harbor and Merritt Island locations are subject to DOH approval. The new dispensaries are located at 31486 US Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor, FL; 1285 1st Street, Winter Haven, FL, and 150 East Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, FL. The dispensaries are open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Currently, Liberty operates four dispensaries and six delivery hubs with 24-hour delivery to any resident in the state.

MariMed Inc. (OTCQB:MRMD) earlier this week announced it has finalized the acquisition of BSC Group, a highly respected cannabis firm headquartered in New Jersey that over the last three years has been engaged in competitive licensing, consulting and operations management across the country. BSC founders and managing partners, Brian Staffa and Amber Staffa, will join the MariMed leadership team, bringing under the MariMed umbrella their extensive cannabis expertise, resources, intellectual property and a vast network of highly specialized affiliates spanning regulated fields of commercial cannabis, food and beverage, commercial agriculture, pharmaceuticals, regulatory compliance, consumer psychology, and the applied sciences. Brian and Amber will help guide MariMed's strategy for new markets like New Jersey, where lawmakers inch closer to consensus on adult use legislation. New Jersey represents just one of the markets being eyed by MariMed as they aggressively pursue new opportunities across the U.S. and abroad with their added bandwidth.

DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM's market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated seventy five hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. by a non affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.





Contact Information:

Media Contact email:

editor@financialnewsmedia.com

+1(561)325-8757
Proceeds to Be Used for Debt Reduction and Acquisition Financing

WEST PALM BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / Global Digital Solutions, Inc. (OTC PINK: GDSI), a company that is positioning itself as a leader in comprehensive security and technology solutions has announced it has arranged for a common share equity financing facility that will allow the Company to draw up to $5 million as needed to reduce debt and fund anticipated acquisitions. Details of the transaction will be provided in an upcoming 8-K.

Commenting on the financing, GDSI's Chairman and CEO, William J. Delgado, noted, "Today's announcement demonstrates our ability to raise significant capital as we seek to retire debt, strengthen our balance sheet and fund our acquisition and growth strategy as the Company looks beyond our expected fruitful conclusion of the Rontan situation. This Capital should begin to be available approximately 120 days."

Earlier this year, GDSI initiated legal action against Grupo Rontan Metalurgica, S. A, ("Rontan")

and its controlling shareholders, contending they breached their Share Purchase and Sale Agreement ("SPA") with GDSI by failing to consummate the transfer of the shares of Rontan pursuant to the SPA. GDSI is seeking either a judgment of specific performance of the SPA or compensatory damages and to recover attorneys' fees and costs.

The Company recently announced an agreement to acquire HarmAlarm, a company specializing in patented Aviation Technology. The companies have agreed on a strategic plan involving HarmAlarm's patent-protected Precision Approach Landing System (PALS) which reduces the workload of pilots, provides automation to the flight deck and can potentially fulfill mandates requested by both the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA of the general aviation industry and major Aircraft manufacturers world-wide.

About Global Digital Solutions, Inc.

Global Digital Solutions, Inc. (OTC PINK: GDSI), a company that is positioning itself as a leader in comprehensive security and technology solutions, has initiated a lawsuit for damages against Grupo Rontan Metalurgica, S. A, ("Rontan") and that company's controlling shareholders, Joao Alberto Bolzan and Jose Carlos Bolzan. The Company has engaged the law firm of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP to represent it in this action. The case will be handled by William Isaacson of the firm's Washington office and Carlos Sires of the firm's Fort Lauderdale office (Their professional profiles are available at https://bsfllp.com/lawyers.). The action has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint alleges that "Rontan is wholly-owned by Joao Bolzan and Jose Bolzan.

Rontan is one of the world's largest manufacturers of original equipment for specialty vehicles for emergency management, first responders, national security, and law enforcement operations. The company also acquired NACSV, a supplier of Mobile Command Centers to Military, Law Enforcement, and First Responders. For more information about GDSI, visit http://www.gdsi.co.

About Harm Alarm and Gary Ball

HarmAlarm was formed by founder Gary Ball in 2002 as a private Texas company to pursue Infrared commercial applications as a restricted "dual use" of Infrared technology, a US Government restricted technology. HarmAlarm's efforts included medical applications (exports to Taiwan), Physical Security applications, "Green Initiatives" as well as aviation. This last effort was the genesis of PALS. Mr. Ball's long history on EVS provided the insight into PALS. PALS will satisfy the present need for an affordable, robust, precision low visibility landing aid for general aviation. The precision and robustness of PALS has generated a host of new applications mainly through "landing trajectory" optimization which provides additional safety margin against weather related hazardous conditions, like wind shear, wake turbulence, icing, as well as low ceilings and fog.

Gary Ball received his formal education from California State University at Long Beach, a BSEE and an MSEE. Mr. Ball's long career in Aerospace has included design engineering, line management and senior business development positions at Ford Aeronutronic, Northrop and Hughes Aircraft. At HAC, Mr. Ball took the program lead on the acquisition of The Thermal Imaging Navigation Set (TINS) for the USN F-18. Upon award of the contract, Mr. Ball was asked to investigate the potential commercial applications of TINS. This effort was designated CLAS, standing for Commercial Landing Aid System that eventually evolved into Enhanced Vision System. Gulfstream received a Type Certification from the FAA in 2000 for this system. EVS was acquired by GAC under a previous License Agreement from Infrared Systems International (ISI), the manufacturer for many years. Gary Ball remained CEO of ISI until it was sold.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give the Company's current expectations or forecasts of future events. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict and beyond the Company's control and could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those described. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions. These statements include statements regarding moving forward with executing the Company's global growth strategy.

The statements are based upon current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict. The Company is providing this information as of the date of this press release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of our business.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to the Risk Factors and other information set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 2015, and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:

William Delgado

561-515-6198

info@gdsi.co

SOURCE: Global Digital Solutions, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/526898/Global-Digital-Solutions-Inc-Announces-Five-Million-Dollar-Equity-Financing-Facility
ADELAIDE, Australia, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) today announced the launch of its new Fleet Management solution, Mitsubishi Motors Fleet iQ.

Mitsubishi Motors Fleet iQ is designed to offer Mitsubishi's fleet customers an array of services and solutions that enhance mobile resource visibility, safety, and uptime, while reducing total cost of ownership. Mitsubishi Motors Fleet iQ will harness Fleet Complete's CONNVEX, a cloud-based data analytics platform for connected vehicles, to create customizable solutions that are aimed at maximizing fleet efficiency and effectiveness.

Mitsubishi Motors Fleet iQ will provide customers with insights into several areas of their vehicle operations, including the ability to monitor driver behaviour such as speeding, idling, rapid acceleration, harsh braking and cornering. The devices will transmit real-time vehicle location data, monitor fuel usage, idle time, and report on vehicle diagnostics. This allows for a deeper understanding of how their fleet vehicles are used and, ultimately, how they can be used to reduce operating cost while maximizing revenue generation opportunities.

The launch of Mitsubishi Motors Fleet iQ will provide customers with the unique ability to have their vehicles connected with a fleet management solution before they hit the road for the first time. This model will help encourage the adoption of this technology by providing companies with an efficient way to connect their vehicles, while avoiding the associated financial and productivity costs grounding their fleet.

"The introduction of our connected fleet vehicle solution is an exciting step forward as we differentiate our fleet proposition to deliver concrete, actionable insights into our customer's fleet operations with the aim to improve fleet effectiveness and returns. We have the ability to provide better service to fleet customers, through a heightened level of business insights and data collection - and in turn drive both value and vehicle sales in the fleet sector," said Fulvio Fattore, Head of Fleet for Mitsubishi Motors Australia.

"We are excited to join forces with Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited. This partnership will fast-track the availability of connected fleet management solutions to businesses across Australia, and we have joined forces with Mitsubishi, knowing that they offer fleet solutions to businesses of all sizes, and all requirements," said Tony Lourakis, CEO of Fleet Complete.

"Through leveraging our CONNVEX connected vehicle infrastructure, we are confident this partnership will enable Mitsubishi to provide a cost-effective fleet solution, helping their fleet customers throughout Australia thrive."

For more information please visit mitsubishi-motors.com.au/fleet/fleet-iq

About Mitsubishi Motors Corporation

Mitsubishi Motors is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has a competitive edge in SUVs and pickup trucks, electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company launched i-MiEV - the first mass-produced electric vehicle - in 2009, which was followed with Outlander PHEV in 2013 - the plug-in hybrid market leader in Japan and Europe. Mitsubishi has 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, China, Indonesia, The Philippines and Russia. Models such as the Pajero Sport, Triton, ASX and Outlander play a major role in achieving its growth. The global sales volume in fiscal year 2017 was 1,101,000 units, and the net sales of Mitsubishi Motors for fiscal year 2017 was 2.19 trillion yen.

About Fleet Complete Fleet Complete is a leading global provider of connected vehicle technology, delivering mission-critical fleet, asset and mobile workforce management solutions. The company is servicing approximately 500,000 subscribers and over 30,000 businesses in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It maintains key distribution partnerships with AT&T in the U.S., TELUS in Canada, Telstra in Australia, and Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile) in multiple European countries. It remains one of the fastest-growing companies globally, having won numerous awards for innovation and growth. For more information, please visit fleetcomplete.com

Media contact: David Prusinski, EVP, Sales and Marketing, Fleet Complete, david.prusinski@fleetcomplete.com, marketing@fleetcomplete.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / Alliance Mining Corp. (TSX.V: ALM) ("Alliance" or the "Company") is pleased to report that recent analysis of the 2006 drill logs from its Tonopah uranium project in Esmerelda/Nye counties, Nevada, reveal vanadium in both oxidized and non-oxidized clastic sediments.

Alliance Mining has recently signed a letter of intent with Jadestone Energy LLC to acquire a 100-per-cent interest in Jadestone's Tonopah uranium project. Alliance and Jadestone are working to finalize a definitive agreement.

Based on the ICP multi-element analyses from the 2006 drill logs: The Seibert formation host section in the northern and southern claims appears to contain very high background levels of vanadium in both oxidized and non-oxidized clastic sediments. In the unoxidized Seibert host in both areas, uranium and vanadium occur, and appear to vary more or less in direct proportion to each other.

Under the influence of oxidizing ground waters, uranium has been mobilized out of the oxidized rock and to a lesser extent so too has the vanadium. Most of the vanadium appears to have remained behind in the oxidized rock, but there is evidence of mobilization of some vanadium with uranium demonstrated by the fact that some drill-hole intervals showing strong uranium anomalies also show but to a lesser degree, strong vanadium anomalies.

One of the major objectives of our proposed drilling programme will be to establish the location and viability of any vanadium deposits, particularly in the southern and northern systems. At present there are several advanced Vanadium projects underway in the state of Nevada most notably First Vanadium Corp. (FVAN: TSXV) and Prophecy Development Corp (PCY: TSXV).

Vanadium is growing in importance for key industrial manufacturing sectors, most notably steel and renewable energy. Today, more than 85 percent of the world's vanadium is used in steel manufacturing applications. Its importance to the energy sector is also growing rapidly with more than 10 percent of vanadium production used in energy storage where its substantial cost and performance benefits make it an alternative choice to lithium ion in several areas.

Vanadium prices for 98% flake V2O5 have steadily risen from under US$3.00/lb less than 3 years ago, to its current approximate price of US$27.45/lb.

The Tonopah project consists of 160 contiguous Bureau of Land Management claims covering an area of 3,200 acres. Access to the property is by Highway 95, which runs through the southern portion of the claims. Numerous trails and four-wheel-drive roads afford access within the claims. The initial claims in the Tonopah project were staked in the 1950s by Paul Burkett, the founder of Uranium Exploration Corp., Jadestone Energy's predecessor. Since the 1950s, exploratory work consisted of drilling and field mapping. It is important to note, this exploration only focussed on Uranium, not Vanadium, Gold or Silver. Prior to 2006, 25 reverse circulation drill holes were drilled on the property. Of these 25 drill holes, 14 holes exhibited uranium mineralization. In 2006, the company undertook further geological mapping, scintillometer prospecting and drilling, with 10 holes exhibiting uranium mineralization. These results are summarized in a National Instrument 43-101-compliant technical report completed in 2011.

In addition, an independent third party geological review of the project was undertaken by one of the major North American uranium mining companies that supports that there is confirmed uranium mineralization, much of which is near surface (60 to 350 feet) with potentially economic grades, probably lending itself to high-volume, low-grade, low-cost open-pit mining, which could potentially utilize a low-cost heap leaching recovery process.

Christopher Cherrywell is a certified professional geologist (CPG) with the American Institute of Professional Geologists. He is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Cherrywell is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Christopher Anderson, CEO

and Director

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Alliance Mining Corp.

(604) 488-3900

Investor Relations:

Antony Claydon: 604-488-3900

E-mail: ir@alliancemining.com

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of financing, and general economic, market or business conditions.

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.

Alliance Mining Corp.

888 Dunsmuir Street - Suite 888, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4

SOURCE: Alliance Mining Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/526821/Alliance-Mining-Corp-Announces-Drill-Log-Analysis-Reveals-Vanadium-in-Clastic-Sediments-from-Tonopah-Uranium-Project-Nevada
Not for Dissemination to United States Newswire Services or for Dissemination in the United States

CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / International Cannabrands Inc. (CSE: JUJU) (the "Company") announces that, due to market conditions, it has reduced the price of its previously announced brokered private placement. Further to its press release dated October 11, 2018, the Company announced an engagement letter with Gravitas Securities Inc. ("Gravitas") and Canaccord Genuity Corp. (collectively, the "Agents") to offer up to 25,000,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.20 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $5 million, with the option of the Agents to offer for sale up to an additional 25,000,000 Units for gross proceeds of up to another $5 million (collectively, the "Offering").

Up to 33,333,333 Units are now being offered at a price of $0.15 for gross proceeds up up to $5 million, with the option of the Agents to offer for sale up to an additional 33,333,333 Units for gross proceeds of up to another $5 million. Each Unit consists of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half (1/2) of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at a price of $0.20 per share for a period of 36 months, subject to the ability of the Company to accelerate the expiry date at any time after a period of four (4) months, if, during the term of the Warrants, the volume weighted average closing price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange is greater than $0.375 for ten (10) consecutive trading days. The Common Shares and Warrants will bear a four month hold period from the date of issue.

Steve Gormley, CEO commented: "Due to market weakness in the cannabis sector generally, we feel this is a necessary move and are absolutely committed to complete this raise and aggressively pursue our business strategy."

It is anticipated that the net proceeds from the Offering will be used to fund the payment of US$700,000 due in connection with its acquisition of La Vida Verde, Inc. (see the Company's press release dated October 31, 2018), as well as other accretive acquisitions and for general corporate proposes.

The completion of the Offering is subject to, among other things, completion of satisfactory due diligence by the Agents, execution of an Agency Agreement between the Corporation and the Agents and regulatory approval.

The Company's business model is to generate revenue from cannabis cultivation, brands ranging from flower to edibles and from THC to CBD, oil extraction, ancillary products and apparel in the United States. ICI markets products with THC content where that practice has been legalized at the state level through either medicinal or full recreational use. ICI also markets products containing CBD in the US and internationally. ICI's strategy centers on acquiring micro brands, distribution and specific manufacturing/cultivation companies in the cannabis space. ICI has acquired the exclusive rights to Julian Marley's JuJu Royal brand. The Company believes as the legal cannabis market evolves, high-quality, unique products will increasingly capture market share and provide a valuable platform for growth.

About JuJu Royal

Julian Marley conveys his message of legalization, freedom, and love through the JuJu Royal brand, a line of naturally produced medicinal herbs. Our vision is to realize the opportunity to become one of the largest brands in the Marijuana industry. The synergy between the Rastafarian culture, music, natural products and an "Irie" experience is a powerful foundation for our business. JuJu's strategy is to develop and grow a complete cannabis line based on an international appeal to a millennial lifestyle seeking a luxurious and premium experience. JuJu will capitalize on the unparalleled opportunity to position itself with unique, innovative, high quality brands that meet and exceed our customer's expectations. More information about the brand and various products can be obtained at www.jujuroyal.net.

International Cannabrands Contact:

Steve Gormley

Chief Executive Officer

1045 Lincoln Street, #106

Denver, Colorado 80203

Ph: (323) 828-4321 or steve.gormley@intlcannabrands.com

Media Inquiries: media@jujuroyal.net

THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUE AN OFFER TO SELL SECURITIES OR A SOLICITATION FOR PURCHASERS TO BUY SECURITIES. THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A PUBLIC OFFERING IN ANY PROVINCE IN CANADA UNLESS A PROSPECTUS RELATING THERETO HAS BEEN ACCEPTED FOR FILING BY A SECURITIES COMMISSION OR SIMILAR AUTHORITY IN SUCH PROVINCE.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities of International Cannabrands Inc. in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities offered have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons unless registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws or unless an exemption from such registration is available.

Disclaimer concerning Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements included herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the completion of the Offering, the completion of the acquisition by the Company of La Vida Verde Inc., and/or other accretive acquisitions as proposed or at all, the gross proceeds of the Offering, regulatory approval of the Offering and the use of the net proceeds, if any, of the Offering. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties regarding the Company are described in its publicly-available disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the Company's expectations as of the date of this news release, or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made, and subsequent events may cause these expectations to change. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events.

SOURCE: International Cannabrands Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/526859/International-Cannabrands-Announces-Repricing-of-Brokered-Financing-Co-Led-by-Gravitas-Securities-and-Canaccord-Genuity
The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now.

Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market.

In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender.

India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex.

Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted.

But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted?

Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner.

If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems.

I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now.

I want more variation in masturbation

I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own.

If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end.

What is sex toys for Indian?

Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation.

It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms.

They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable.

Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner.

The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner.

It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past.

In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping.

Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order.

In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing.

Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome.

Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own.

But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance.

More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around.

Sextoy situation in India

Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years.

In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India.

Mumbai

Kolkata

Bangalore

Delhi

Chennai

Hyderabad

These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India.

In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well.

If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too.

If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it.

What are Sextoys for beginner?

Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms.

Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy.

I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion.

I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy.

If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma.

Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it.

Advantages of using sextoy for Indians

There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians

You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways.

Can have stimulating sex

Can develop new sexual zones

If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern.

However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways.

You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation.

Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever.

There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure.

This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it.

When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems.

It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms).

For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles

[Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou...

Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India.

Sextoy for beginner men in India

So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners.

For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men!

The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men

Masturbator

Cock rings

Love Doll

Sex Lubricants

Toys for the prostate

Lets check each one in detail.

Masturbator

The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products.

It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands.

Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands.

They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.)

Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much.

Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! !

Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa   SEXToys India PR  (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018

Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood.

If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here

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Cock Ring

A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis.

It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow.

It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber.

In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection.

Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction.

It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it.

Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time.

Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function.

Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy.

You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect.

[Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat...

Love Doll

Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex.

There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women.

Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price.

The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true.

You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste.

There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice.

You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls.

If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here

Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to...

Sex lubricants

Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules.

It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution.

Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse.

There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent.

Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent.

If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here.

What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many...

Toys for the Prostate

Another sextoy for men is prostate toys.

The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line.

Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men.

Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm.

You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus.

By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms.

Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.)

The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation.

Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure.

sextoy for beinner women in India

The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy.

The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy.

Vibrator.

Dildo

Electric Masserger

Lets check out what each one is in detail.

If you want to check out womens toys, click here.

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Vibrators

A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator.

Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy.

It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy.

Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women.

For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators.

Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex.

Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself.

This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual.

Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men.

When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons.

Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most...

Dildo

A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis.

It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass.

A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it.

They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well.

It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device.

A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo.

Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands.

For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis.

This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one.

To learn more about dildo, please click here.

What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th...

Electric Masserger

A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores.

It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low.

Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels.

Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation.

It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure.

For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm.

It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out.

If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager?

To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here.

What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th...

How to choose a sextoy for Indian

Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one.

Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points:  Does the size fit you (the partner)?

Does the size fit you (your partner)?

Is the environment able to produce sound without problems?

Price range

First of all, the choice of size is quite important.

Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women.

For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage.

Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems.

Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise.

If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level.

Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it.

Finally, there is the price range.

The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest.

Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy.

Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy?

I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance.

For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics.

If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out.

How to buy sextoys in India

The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping.

For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below.

Sextoy is one of them.

Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping.

SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India.

They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry.

Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card.

To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy.

ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal.

Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on.

Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture.

Cautions for Indians using sextoy

When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind

Keep sex toys clean

Watch out for electrical leakage

Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy

As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone.

Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there.

It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case.

In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness.

Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful.

If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it.

You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly.

Summary

What did you think?

In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India.

The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future.

As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values.

However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health.

If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try?

Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women.

I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it.
Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) - Minera Alamos Inc. (TSXV: MAI) (the "Company" or "Minera Alamos") is pleased to report additional results from its Phase 1 drill program at the Santana gold project, Sonora, Mexico.

Phase 1 Exploration Highlights:

Latest Hole S18-1 2 3 - 127 m of 0.81 g/t Au - Along with S18-123/124, holes S18-116/117/118/119 (previously reported) delineated broad zones of near surface mineralized extensions of the Nicho Main deposit trending southwest of previous historical drilling. Other highlights included 93.5 m of 0.63 g/t Au (S18-116) and 80.4 m of 1.05 g/t Au (S18-117).





- Along with S18-123/124, holes S18-116/117/118/119 (previously reported) delineated broad zones of near surface mineralized extensions of the Nicho Main deposit trending southwest of previous historical drilling. Other highlights included 93.5 m of 0.63 g/t Au (S18-116) and 80.4 m of 1.05 g/t Au (S18-117). Holes S18-123/124 which tested the SW limits of the Nicho Main zone both ended within the mineralized horizo n (approximately 150m down hole at 45-degree dip) and indicate potential for deep mineralization extensions that were not considered in previous exploration programs.





(approximately 150m down hole at 45-degree dip) and indicate potential for deep mineralization extensions that were not considered in previous exploration programs. New Discovery Hole S18-12 1 - 96 m of 1.47 g/t AuEq - First hole drilled into a new zone of gold/silver/copper mineralization (Divisadero Zone) located approximately 200m north of the previously known limits at the Nicho Main/Norte Zones. Subsequent surface mapping has confirmed that the new area appears to be open for expansion in all directions.





- First hole drilled into a new zone of gold/silver/copper mineralization (Divisadero Zone) located approximately 200m north of the previously known limits at the Nicho Main/Norte Zones. Subsequent surface mapping has confirmed that the new area appears to be open for expansion in all directions. Discovery of New Nicho-Style Gold Structure (Zata Zone) - Over a surface area of approximately 400m x 400m, sixty-six (66) rock samples were assayed with 50% exhibiting grades suitable for heap leaching (>0.10 g/t Au).

"The Phase 1 program at the Santana gold project has been an overwhelming success," states Darren Koningen, CEO of Minera Alamos. "With the first significant exploration activity on the project since 2011 we have been able to demonstrate that the Nicho Main zone remains open for further expansion. In addition, our ongoing efforts to better understand the geological controls on gold mineralization that occur throughout the property have already been validated by the discovery of the new Divisadero and Zata zones. It is becoming increasingly evident that the mineralizing events that occurred in the Nicho area are present at shallow depths elsewhere on our extensive property holdings. Once we complete the final compilation of the current data we look forward to the initiation of a Phase 2 drilling program."

Table 1 -Nicho Zone Drilling Results Summary Table





Mineralized Interval 1,2 Composite Interval 3

Drill Hole From (m) To

(m) Width

(m) Gold (g/t) Width

(m) Gold

(g/t) Area S18-114

14.0 29.5 15.5 0.27



Nicho Satellite And 66.2 81.1 14.9 1.40



And 107.2 117.0 9.8 0.65



And 145.5 172.0 26.5 0.21



S18-115

8.2 26.0 17.8 0.73



Nicho Satellite And 61.0 73.8 12.8 0.17



And 123.9 129.5 5.6 0.24



S18-116 2.0 95.5 93.5 0.65 60.0 0.97 Nicho S18-117 19.3 99.7 80.4 1.05 42.0 1.96 Nicho S18-118

2.5 10.5 8.0 1.0



Nicho And 48.5 73.0 24.5 0.81



And 90.0 103.6 13.6 0.29



S18-119

1.3 10.7 9.4 0.14



Nicho And 20.5 34.9 14.4 0.33 And 77.9 82.5 4.6 0.25 S18-120 Hole abandoned due to faulting



Nicho Norte S18-1225 No significant mineralization



Nicho Norte S18-1234

23.2 150.5 127.3 0.81 63.7 1.55 Nicho S18-1244

8.5 38.5 30.0 0.23



Nicho And 85.5 160.0 74.5 0.32





















Notes:

Grades/widths of mineralized intervals represent complete "from" "to" drill depths as shown. All holes (with the exception of S18-122 which was drilled vertically) were drilled at 45-70 degree inclinations designed to be roughly perpendicular to the understood dip of mineralized structures based on the current understanding of the geological structures. The true widths of the mineralized zones in these areas are currently unknown. Grade/width of composite intervals is a total of all mineralized intervals that have gold grades equal to or in excess of "typical" open-pit mining heap leach cut-off grades of 0.15 g/t gold. Hole ended in mineralization Hole S18-122 was redrilled vertically in the same location as S18-120 which was abandoned.

Table 2 - Divisadero Porphyry Discovery Hole





Mineralized Interval 1,2

Drill Hole From

(m) To

(m) Width

(m) Gold

(g/t) Silver

(g/t) Copper

(%) Gold Eq3

(g/t) Area S18-121

32.0 127.7 95.7 0.85 9.8 0.33 1.47 Divisadero incl 55.0 125.0 70.0 1.10 11.8 0.56 1.88

Notes:

Grades/widths of mineralized intervals represent complete "from" "to" drill depths as shown. The hole was drilled at a 70-degree inclination. The true width of the mineralized zone in this new area is currently unknown. Gold Equivalent calculated using the following metal prices - $1250/oz gold, $16/oz silver and $2.85/lb copper.

Figure 1 - Drill Hole Location Map



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4183/40786_b409c011d46eaa84_002full.jpg

All diamond drill samples were collected by Minera Alamos personnel including the Company's exploration geologists. Drill core samples were cut in half and divided into 1-2 m intervals. One half of the sample was bagged for analysis and the remaining half was logged by Minera Alamos personnel and stored for future reference. Blanks, duplicates, and standards were randomly inserted with the samples sent for analysis as part of the normal QA/QC procedures.

All samples were prepared and analyzed for gold using fire assaying with AA/gravimetric finish. All samples were sent for sample preparation at the ALS-Chemex facility in Hermosillo, Mexico.

Figure 2 - Santana Overview Map





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Mr. Darren Koningen, P. Eng., Minera Alamos' CEO, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this press release under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Koningen has supervised the preparation of, and has approved the scientific and technical disclosures in this news release.

For further information please contact:

Minera Alamos Inc.

Doug Ramshaw, President

Tel: 604-600-4423

Email: dramshaw@mineraalamos.com

Website: www.mineraalamos.com

About Minera Alamos

Minera Alamos is an advanced-stage exploration and development company with a growing portfolio of high-quality Mexican assets, including the La Fortuna open-pit gold project in Durango with positive PEA completed, the Santana open-pit heap-leach development project in Sonora with test mining and processing completed and the Guadalupe de Los Reyes open-pit gold-silver project in Sinaloa with mine planning in progress. The Company is awaiting the pending approval of permit applications related to the commercial production of gold at both the Santana and Fortuna projects.

The Company's strategy is to develop low capex assets while expanding the project resources and pursue complementary strategic acquisitions.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information and Minera Alamos cautions readers that forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations of Minera Alamos included in this news release. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements", which often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". These statements are based on information currently available to Minera Alamos and Minera Alamos provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements with respect to Minera Alamos' future plans with respect to the Projects, objectives or goals, to the effect that Minera Alamos or management expects a stated condition or result to occur and the expected timing for release of a resource and reserve estimate on the Projects. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, the economics of processing methods, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Minera Alamos' mineral properties, the ability to complete a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons. Minera Alamos' financial condition and prospects could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: an inability to finance and/or complete an updated resource and reserve estimate and a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Minera Alamos' activities; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. Minera Alamos does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by Minera Alamos or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) - Skychain Technologies Inc. (TSXV: SCT) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary Miningsky Technology Ltd. has entered into a Strategic Cooperation Agreement ("Framework Agreement") with Hong Kong Hot Chain Technology Limited ("Hot Chain") to host a large number of data mining machines from China in the Company's mining facilities in North America.

The Framework Agreement has a term of three and a half years, starting from the date when the Company can supply appropriate hosting sites to Hot Chain with a series of hosting agreements negotiated and executed on specific hosting sites, and Hot Chain will initially provide 50,000 machines (taking up to 120 Mega Watts of power) in the first six months, and an additional 120,000 machines (taking up to 300 Mega Watts of power) during the following 12 month period. Once the aforementioned have been completed, Hot Chain will provide further 120,000 machines per year for the last two-year period.

The Company is looking forward to working closely with Hot Chain to complete the first hosting agreement.

Hot Chain is a Hong Kong and China based blockchain service provider specializing in providing total solutions to large-scale Chinese miners, and its affiliated entities currently have over 200,000 machines running in various mining farms in China.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Bill Zhang"

Bill Zhang, President and CEO

About Skychain Technologies Inc. - Skychain is a Vancouver based company that provides Blockchain Infrastructure services and power solutions to its clients working within the disruptive Industry space. For further information about Skychain Technologies Inc please visit the Company's website at skychaintechnology.com or at Sedar.com or by contacting the Company directly at 604-456-0608 or by email at info@skychaintechnology.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the Shares in the United States. The Shares have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) - FluroTech Ltd. (TSXV: TEST), ("FluroTech" or the "Company") is pleased to introduce Mr. Curtis Smith as Chief Financial Officer taking over responsibilities from Mr. Gary Jones, who has been appointed Vice President of Business Development.

Over the past three years Mr. Smith led the finance team at Eguana Technologies Inc, a TSX-V and OTCQB traded company, where he restructured the finance group to prepare the company for its transition to a globally-recognized technology leader in power conversion and control systems for distributed energy storage. Previously, he guided a private cold press juice company from conceptualization to a national brand leader as well as leading the finance team at a Calgary based oil field service company through a merger and integration process with a billion-dollar acquirer. His career began in the entrepreneurship group at KPMG, where Mr. Smith was an audit manager.

"Mr. Smith has demonstrated success in each stage of his career. He brings an extensive background in financial reporting, regulatory controls and capital markets, as well as, an in-depth knowledge of what it takes to bring a Company from conceptualization to profitability," stated Danny Dalla-Longa, FluroTech's Chief Executive Officer. "Mr. Jones was pivotal in helping the Company raise $11.2 million and leading the Company's public listing on the TSX-V. We are excited for him to deploy his extensive sales and leadership skills in the commercialization of the CompleTestTM product."

Prior to FluroTech, Mr. Jones was one of the Managing Partners for a Private Equity firm involved in the Energy Sector. Gary still serves as a Director for a number of Canadian private companies. He has also served as Vice-President, Investment Counsellor for one of Canada's major Financial Institutions.

About FluroTech (TSXV: TEST)

FluroTech is a technology and marketing company whose core business is focused on the commercialization of new technologies in the cannabis industry. FluroTech's proprietary spectroscopy-based technology allows for the testing and identification of organic and inorganic compounds contained within biological samples. Using the technology that was developed at the University of Calgary in conjunction with the University of Alberta, FluroTech has developed a two-part solution comprising an instrument called the CompleTest and consumable testing kits.

To learn more, visit www.FluroTech.com.

Contact Information

FluroTech Ltd.

Alistair Ross Technology Centre

Suite 111, 3553-31 Street NW

Calgary, AB T2L 2K7

info@flurotech.com

Danny Dalla-Longa

Chief Executive Officer

403.680.0644

danny@flurotech.com





FluroTech Logo



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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuer's business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature, and includes future-oriented financial information about the issuer's prospective financial performance or financial position. The forward-looking information in this news release includes disclosure about commercialization of the CompleTest device, and the future performance of the Company.

The Company made certain material assumptions, including but not limited to prevailing market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties to develop the forward-looking information in this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this news release due to certain material risk factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to, adverse market conditions and regulatory and other risks associated with the cannabis industry in general, and failure to meet certain timelines for commercialization. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material risk factors and assumptions is not exhaustive.

The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this news release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation.

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 of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) -Grizzly Discoveries Inc. (TSXV: GZD) (OTCQB: GZDIF) (FSE: G6H) ("Grizzly" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received results from its reconnaissance mapping and sampling program at the Robocop Cobalt-Copper-Silver (Co-Cu-Ag) project near Roosville in Southeast British Columbia. The field crew, provided by APEX Geoscience Ltd., conducted a two week surface exploration program in advance of a planned follow-up airborne geophysical survey.

The Robocop claims comprise 9,891 acres and are located in Southeast B.C., approximately 45 kilometres (km) south of Fernie and 70 km southeast of Cranbrook, immediately north of the Canada-USA border. The property is located east of Grizzly's Greenwood Property in Southeast B.C.

The Company also announces that on October 31, 2018 Board of Directors authorized the issuance of an aggregate 800,000 options to two directors and a consultant of Grizzly at an exercise price of $0.10 per option under the Company's stock option plan.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE 2018 ROBOCOP PROPERTY WORK PROGRAM

Cu-Co mineralization has been identified and sampled 3.8 km to the northwest (Miller Creek) and 3.2 km south (Phillips Creek South) of the main Robocop showings, demonstrating lateral continuity of anomalous Cu-Co mineralization within the Sheppard formation sediments.

Miller Creek showings yielded up to 1.41% Cu, 0.62% Cu and 0.015% Co from three separate grab samples from sulphide bearing Sheppard Formation sandstones.

Phillips Creek South returned up to 0.09% Cu and 0.01% Co in limited rock grab sampling from an area with no history of anomalous Cu-Co mineralization.

Sampling the main Robocop showings confirmed previous anomalous results with grab samples returning up to 1.46% Cu and 0.036% Co in two separate samples in the area of the historic trenching and drilling.

The Company has obtained a quote and is intending to fly a helicopter airborne geophysical survey over the claim package as soon as funding is obtained.

GEOLOGY AND PRIOR EXPLORATION HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE ROBOCOP PROPERTY

The Project is comprised of 9,891 acres in 5 mineral claims that are all road accessible, just off Provincial Highway 93 in southeast B.C.

Initial surface trenching in the late 1980's to early 1990's yielded up to 0.06% Co and 1.93% Cu over 6 m in one trench and, in a separate trench, up to 0.182% Co, 2.44% Cu and 9.6 grams per tonne (g/t) Ag in sediment hosted mineralization within middle Proterozoic Purcell Group rocks.

A total of 15 drillholes in the area between 1990 and 2008 have yielded several intersections of near surface Co-Cu-Ag mineralization with grades of up to 0.134% Co, 1.19% Cu and 33.8 g/t Ag over 1.23 m core length in hole R-1990-5 and 0.14% Co, 0.9% Cu and 2.7 g/t Ag over 3.1 m core length in hole R-1990-6 (Thomson, 1990), along with an intersection of 0.18% Co, 0.28% Cu, 4.1 g/t Ag over 1 m core length in hole R-2008-02 (Pighin, 2009), and

Sediment hosted Co-Cu-Ag mineralization is similar in style, age and host rocks to eCobalt Solutions Inc.'s Idaho Cobalt project and Hecla Mining Company's Revett Formation hosted mineralization near Troy Montana.

Prior work has identified areas within the Robocop property with significant historic Co-Cu-Ag in-soil anomalies. Combined with historic drilling during the 1990's (Teck Explorations Ltd.) and early 2000's (Ruby Red Resources) that yielded significantly anomalous near-surface Co-Cu-Ag mineralization, the project warrants follow up exploration including additional drilling. The Co-Cu-Ag mineralization is hosted in Sheppard Formation and is classified as mid-Proterozoic sediment hosted mineralization. Based upon recent work by the USGS (Bookstrom et al., 2016), Robocop Co-Cu-Ag mineralization is similar in style and age of host rocks to mineralization in the Blackbird Co-Cu-Au-Ag district in Idaho including eCobalt Solutions Inc.'s (TSX:ECS) Idaho Cobalt Project, which hosts mineral resources of 3.87 million tons (Measured & Indicated) at 0.59% Co and 0.85% Cu along with 1.82 million tons (Inferred) at 0.46% Co and 0.81% Cu (see eCobalt Solutions Inc.'s press release dated February 7th, 2018).

Brian Testo (CEO) commented "We believe that significant potential exists to expand the known extent of the Co-Cu-Ag mineralization on the Property and further exploration is warranted." In order to advance the project, Grizzly is planning to conduct a helicopter airborne magnetic and conductivity survey, a first for the Robocop Property, to assist in identifying future drill targets.

Grizzly has commenced land use permitting for drilling at the Robocop Property and it is anticipated to be ready for a 2019 drilling campaign.

STOCK OPTIONS

On October 31, 2018, Grizzly's Board of Directors authorized the issuance of an aggregate of 800,000 stock options, including 500,000 to directors of the Company and 300,000 to a consultant of the Company, with an exercise price of $0.10 per option expiring no later than October 31, 2023. The options were authorized under the terms of the Company's stock option plan and are subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.

ABOUT GRIZZLY DISCOVERIES INC.

Grizzly is a diversified Canadian mineral exploration company with its primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange with 63 million shares issued, focused and its precious metals properties in southeastern British Columbia and on developing significant Potash assets in Alberta. The Company holds, or has an interest in: over 189,000 acres of precious-base metal properties in British Columbia along with metallic and industrial mineral permits for potash totaling more than 60,000 acres along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border; and more than 161,000 acres of properties which host diamondiferous kimberlites in the Buffalo Head Hills region of Alberta.

The technical content of this news release and the Company's technical disclosure has been reviewed and approved by Michael B. Dufresne, M. Sc., P. Geol., P.Geo., who is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

On behalf of the Board,

Grizzly Discoveries Inc.



Brian Testo

President

(780) 693-2242

For further information, please visit our website at www.grizzlydiscoveries.com or contact Investor Relations:

Nancy Massicotte

IR PRO COMMUNICATIONS INC.

Tel: 604-507-3377

Toll Free: 1-866-503-3377

Email: ir@grizzlydiscoveries.com

www.irprocommunications.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Caution concerning forward-looking information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. This information and statements address future activities, events, plans, developments and projections. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information and statements are frequently identified by words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and similar terminology, and reflect assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis made by management of Grizzly in light of its experience, current conditions, expectations of future developments and other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking information and statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Grizzly's actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information and statements and accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed thereon.

Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary include but are not limited to the availability of financing; fluctuations in commodity prices; changes to and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including environmental laws and obtaining requisite permits; political, economic and other risks; as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in our annual and quarterly Management's Discussion and Analysis and in other filings made by us with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com. Grizzly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements except as may be required by law.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) - Therma Bright Inc. (TSXV: THRM) ("Therma Bright" or the "Company"), a progressive medical device technology company announces that it will incorporate a 100% wholly owned subsidiary (the "Subsidiary") to hold device related technology for the application or use of medicinal or recreational marijuana. The Company plans to hold the pain relief device, as described in a press release on October 1st, and all related intellectual property developed for the pain relief device, in the Subsidiary. The pain relief device will incorporate the Company's thermal therapy technology and use pain relief formulations with medicinal cannabis and non-medicinal formulations in the form of creams, gels or salves. All research and administration of any medicinal cannabis will be dealt with through authorized and licensed research facilities.

Over the last several weeks, Therma Bright has reviewed several device delivery systems for recreational or medicinal cannabis use such as advanced vaping pens for both the recreational and medicinal market, inhaler delivery systems for medicinal cannabis and other delivery system technology such as patches. In addition, the Company has reviewed personal home growing systems for the recreational market place. As a result of legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada on October 17, 2018, the Federal Government of Canada announced that households will be permitted to grow up to 4 plants for personal use. The target acquisitions see the advantage in working with Therma Bright as the Company has a strong understanding of public markets and regulatory requirements for device approvals with both Health Canada and the FDA, a wide breadth of expertise through management, the board of directors and the advisory team and an ISO 13485 quality management system in place. The products are either advanced and ready for sale or require additional development to complete development. The devices will either be sold through licensed producers, licensed recreational retail outlets or provincially managed sales entities across Canada or into International markets where medicinal or recreational cannabis is legal.

Therma Bright management expects to review these device related opportunities and will shortlist the top acquisition opportunities after completion of due diligence. Upon completion of due diligence Therma Bright will establish the optimal structure to complete such acquisitions (whether by option agreement, asset acquisition, joint venture, royalty/ licensing agreement or share exchange. Once the due diligence process is complete the Company will be in better a position to provide an estimate of the time and cost required for the cannabis device acquisition. The Company will prudently explore funding to secure the assets and will draw on internal and external talent to complement the cannabis device acquisitions for the Company.

The Company plans to hold the cannabis related device acquisitions in the Subsidiary and will provide shareholders with updates on these opportunities when material information becomes available.

Therma Bright is pleased to announce the launch of: www.coldsores.com.

Rob Fia, CEO commented:

"Therma Bright has reviewed some exciting technology over the last several weeks which we believe would be an excellent fit for our current product offerings. Both the medicinal, and specifically the recreational cannabis markets, are projected to be large markets in Canada and Worldwide. We felt this was an ideal time to explore cannabis device delivery systems and are pleased to have been approached by numerous companies to review what is in our opinion excellent technology. Therma Bright is pleased with the launch of coldsores.com and looks forward to updating shareholders on our marketing strategy for the e-commerce site prior to year end."

About Therma Bright Inc.:

Therma Bright is a progressive medical device technology company focused on providing consumers with quality medical devices that address their dermatological needs. Clear and healthy skin for all is at the core of the Company's philosophy as is the belief that such outcomes should not be a privilege for only those who can afford costly procedures and treatments. The Company's breakthrough proprietary technology delivers effective, non-invasive and pain free skin care.

Therma Bright received a Class II medical device status from the FDA for its platform technology that is indicated for the relief of the pain, itch, and inflammation from over 20,000 different insect stings and bites, (including bees, wasps, hornets, mosquitoes, black flies and jellyfish). The Company received approval for the above claims from FDA (United States) in 1997.

Therma Bright Inc. trades on the TSXV (TSXV: THRM).

For more information visit: www.thermabright.com and www.coldsores.com

For further information please contact:

Therma Bright Inc.

Rob Fia

CEO

rfia@thermabright.com

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking" statements. These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance and include development of the Company's pain relief device, the acquisition of medicinal and recreational cannabis devices and funding thereof, all as described in the news release. All such statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to vary from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to other risks, the Company may not complete all or any of the transactions as described in this news on the timelines described. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under 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 press release.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES
Direct from the Food Halls of the world-renowned department store, Harrods Hampers and classic items now available on Williams Sonoma online.

World famous department store Harrods is pleased to announce its expansion outside its native London with leading specialty retailer, Williams Sonoma. Williams Sonoma, a member of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM) portfolio of brands, will now offer a curated collection of 15 classic Harrods items including the iconic Harrods hampers, signature tea blends, premium biscuits, and candy. This exclusive partnership is Harrods' first venture into the United States and will be a digital e-commerce offering, available at www.williams-sonoma.com/harrods.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005639/en/

Harrods Signature Hampers Now Available in the U.S. on www.WilliamsSonoma.com/Harrods (Photo: Williams Sonoma)

"Williams Sonoma is committed to bringing our customers the world's best products and offering exclusive experiences," said Janet Hayes, president of Williams Sonoma. "Our collaboration with Harrods allows us to provide our customers with food products and gifts from one of the most iconic brands in the world."

Harrods Managing Director, Michael Ward, commented: "Our partnership with Williams Sonoma is an exciting representation of our ambitions for Harrods in the future. For the very first time, our iconic hampers, sweets, teas and biscuits will be available to order from Williams Sonoma online, offering customers a taste of British favorites to be enjoyed at home or gifted to a dear one. Harrods Food Halls remain the heart of our business and our team of world class chefs and food experts are thrilled to venture into the next chapter of Harrods' history with Williams Sonoma."

The announcement follows an acclaimed partnership with Williams Sonoma beginning when Harrods opened the doors to its new Roastery and Bake Hall, marking the largest redevelopment of the historic Food Halls in more than 30 years. The newly renovated hall sells signature Williams Sonoma food items including confections such as Williams Sonoma's Peppermint Bark, baking mixes, sauces and flavored coffee beans to Harrods' local and international customers.

Harrods Hampers remain an iconic symbol of the British retailer's history with luxury food and service packaged together. As early as 1890, Harrods sold School Hampers as gifts from parents to their children returning to boarding school. By 1895, the interest for gifting Harrods hampers had expanded to Christmas ranges with varieties filled with Christmas dinner essentials from brandy butter, full hams and whisky. The trend has continued to grow in popularity since the store's inception and the hampers remain a classic gift for any occasion.

The new range spans a diverse product offering, kickstarting with Christmas items ahead of the holiday season-perfect for gifting or enjoying among family and friends. From British classics including Harrods Mince Pies and Christmas Pudding to year-round favorites like Dark Chocolate and Ginger Biscuits, Blackcurrant Jam and English Mustard, the product offering is an authentic reflection of British treats crafted by Harrods' world class team of chefs and suppliers.

The Harrods collection is now available on Williams Sonoma's website. For more information on the collection, please visit: www.williams-sonoma.com/harrods.

Harrods Exclusive Collection

Harrods Luxury Extravagance Hamper, $999.95



(Harrods Truffle Salted Marcona Almonds, Dark Chocolate and Ginger Biscuits, Triple Chocolate Biscuits (x2 quantities), Date and Pecan Biscuits, All-Butter Shortbread Fingers, Blood Orange Marmalade, English Strawberry Jam, Lemon Curd, Dark Marmalade, Orange Lemon and Bay Marmalade, English Blackcurrant Jam, Raspberry and Rose Tea Jam, English Mustard, Beetroot Caraway and Orange Marmalade, Scottish Raspberry Preserve, Devon Ale Fruit Chutney, Hot Smoke Chilli Jam, Cucumber Fennel and Gin Relish, Bramley Apple Sauce, Honey and Chilli Mustard, English Breakfast No. 14 Tea, Earl Grey No. 42 Tea, Darjeeling No. 26, Ground Kenyan Coffee, Ground Java Coffee, Ground Columbian Coffee, Hot Chocolate Praline, Harrods Chocolate Cantuccini, Harrods Linguini, Harrods Olive Pasta Sauce, Harrods Radiatori)

Harrods Exquisite Luxury Hamper, $599.95 (Harrods Truffle Salted Marcona Almonds, Luxury Everyday Triple Chocolate Biscuits, Harrods Luxury Everyday Spiced Rhubarb Oat Biscuits, Lemon Curd, Orange Lemon Bay Marmalade, English Blackcurrant Jam, English Mustard, Hot Smoke Chilli Jam, English Breakfast No. 14 tea, Earl Grey No.42 Tea, Darjeeling No. 26, Luxury Ground Java, Ground Colombian Coffee, Hot Chocolate Praline, Harrods Amaretti, Harrods Basil Pasta Sauce, Harrods Linguini, Harrods Rigatoni)

Harrods Luxury Christmas Hamper, $399.95 (Harrods Classic Christmas Pudding, Harrods Classic Mince Pies, Clementine Glitter Biscuits, Christmas Marmalade, Christmas Tea Blend, After Dinner Coffee, Christmas Jam)

Harrods Luxury Gourmet Hamper, $299.95 (Harrods Luxury Everyday Triple Chocolate Biscuits, English Blackcurrant Jam, Devon Ale Fruit Chutney, English Breakfast No. 14 Tea, Ground Columbian Coffee, Harrods Basil Pasta Sauce, Harrods Linguini)

Harrods Christmas Holly and Ivy Hamper, $259.95 (Harrods Christmas Chocolate Bar, Clementine Glitter Biscuits, Christmas Jam, Harrods Spiced Tea, Harrods After Dinner Coffee)

Harrods Luxury Classic Hamper, $259.95 (Harrods Luxury Everyday Dark Chocolate and Ginger Biscuits, Blood Orange Marmalade, English Strawberry Jam, English Mustard, Beetroot Caraway Orange Marmalade, English Breakfast No. 14 Tea, Ground Columbian Coffee)

Harrods Luxury Treats Hamper, $199.95 (Harrods Luxury Everyday Dark Chocolate and Ginger Biscuits, Scottish Raspberry Preserve, English Breakfast No.14, Ground Columbian Coffee)

Harrods Tea Tim Gift Box, $125.95

The Harrods Christmas Treats Gift Box, $125.95

Harrods Heritage Biscuit Assortment, $49.95

Harrods Heritage Loose Leaf Tea Gift Pack, $49.95

Harrods Cocoa Dusted Almonds, $39.95

Harrods Heritage No. 14 Breakfast Blend Tea Bag, $29.95

Harrods Heritage Shortbread Tin, $29.95

Harrods Heritage Toffees, $19.95

About Harrods

Harrods began as a wholesale grocer and tea merchant in east London, first opening its doors in 1834. Since then, it has grown to become the world's most famous department store, known for its unrivalled range of luxury merchandise. As well as exclusive brands and myriad departments, one of Harrods' most renowned attributes is its unparalleled service. Harrods continues to be guided by its philosophy of "anything is possible" and, to this day, our customers remain at the heart of everything we do. Harrods has been a pioneer in food retail since 1834. The investment in the Food Halls is inspired by Harrods' history and its continued commitment to the food industry in London and around the world. The Taste Revolution! consists of a two-year phased renovation. The first part of the transformation, The Roastery and Bake Hall, opened early November 2017, with three further stages launching in 2018 and 2019.

ABOUT WILLIAMS SONOMA

Since its founding by Chuck Williams in 1956, the Williams Sonoma brand has been bringing people together around food. A member of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM) portfolio of brands, Williams Sonoma is a leading specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home, providing world-class service and an engaging customer experience. Products include cookware, cooks' tools, cutlery, electrics, bakeware, food, tabletop and bar, outdoor, cookbooks, as well as furniture, lighting and decorative accessories. Each store offers cooking classes and tastings conducted by expert culinary staff. A comprehensive gift registry program for weddings and other special events is available in stores and online. On williams-sonoma.com and the Williams Sonoma blog, Taste, customers can find recipes, tips, and techniques that help them create delicious meals and wonderful memories. Williams Sonoma is also part of an active community on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ and YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005639/en/

Contacts:

Kendall Coleman

Williams Sonoma

kacoleman@wsgc.com

415-616-7926

or

Pia Fontes

HARRODS

Pia.Fontes@Harrods.com

+44 (0)20 3626 7091
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) -Ely Gold Royalties Inc. (TSXV: ELY) (OTCQB: ELYGF) ("Ely Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Nevada Select Royalty, Inc., ("Nevada Select") it has entered into a Asset Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") with GRP ELAND, LLC, a Nevada Limited Liability Company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fiore Gold Ltd. (TSXV: F) (OTC: FIOGF) (collectively "Fiore") whereby Nevada Select will transfer its 100% interest in forty-two (42) unpatented mining claims known as the Gold Rock Extension Claims (the "Extension Claims"). Within the terms of the Agreement, Ely Gold will retain a 2.0-1.5% net smelter royalty ( "NSR").

Ely Gold is a fast growing royalty company with over 77 projects, primarily in Nevada and the Western United States. The Company's portfolio currently consists of 27 deeded royalties and 24 properties optioned to third parties, all of which are being explored or developed by partners. The Company also has 26 properties for sale. Ely Gold's partners include major mining companies, mid-tier producers and junior exploration companies.

The Extension Claims

The Extension Claims consist of 20 claims acquired by Ely Gold in September 2018 (the "2018 Claims") and 22 claims acquired in September 2016 (the "2016 Claims"), all claims were acquired through staking in White Pine County, Nevada. The Claims are located within Fiore's current Gold Rock land package northeast of Fiore's main Resource Area and provide Fiore with additional exploration targets (see Figure 1). The purchase also includes the complete data base on the Extension Claims currently owned by Nevada Select. Nevada Select also owns a 0.5% royalty on the stated Fiore Gold Resource Area at Gold Rock (http://fioregold.com/gold-rock/).

The Transaction

The Asset Purchase Agreement allows for Nevada Select to transfer, by mineral deed, its 100% interest in the 2016 and 2018 Claims, and the data base for a one-time cash payment of US$10,227.00. In turn, Fiore will grant to Nevada Select a 2% NSR on the 2016 Claims and 1.5% NSR on the 2018 Claims.

Trey Wasser, Ely Gold's President and CEO commented: "We are pleased to assist Fiore in the consolidation of its Gold Rock property in Nevada. These newly acquired royalties complement our existing royalty portfolio on Fiore's Gold Rock Resource. Fiore has reported that it expects federal mining permits to be issued in late 2018."

Stephen Kenwood, P. Geo, is a director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Kenwood has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

About Ely Gold Royalties

Ely Gold Royalties Inc. is a Vancouver-based, emerging royalty company with development assets focused in Nevada and the Western US. Its current portfolio includes 27 Deeded Royalties and 24 properties optioned to third parties. All 51 of these properties are being explored by third parties. Ely Gold's royalty portfolio includes producing royalties, royalties on fully permitted mines, mines under construction and development projects that are being permitted for mine construction. The Company is actively purchasing existing third-party royalties for its portfolio and all the Company's Option Properties will produce royalties, if exercised. The royalty and option portfolios are currently generating significant revenue. Ely Gold is well positioned with its current portfolio of over 26 available properties to generate additional operating revenue through option and sale transactions. The Company has a proven track record of maximizing the value of its properties through claim consolidation and advancement using its extensive, proprietary data base. All portfolio properties are sold or optioned on a 100% basis, while the Company retains net smelter royalty interests. Management believes that due to the Company's ability to generate option and royalty transactions, its successful strategy of organically creating royalties, its equity portfolio and its current low valuation, Ely Gold offers shareholders a low-risk leverage to the current price of gold, exploration in Nevada and low-cost access to long-term mineral royalties.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Signed "Trey Wasser"

Trey Wasser, President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Trey Wasser, President & CEO

trey@elygoldinc.com

972-803-3087

Joanne Jobin, Investor Relations Officer

jjobin@elygoldinc.com

604-488-1104

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.

Disclaimer: This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the Company's contemplated acquisition or sale of royalties and Properties, and any stated plans for further near-term exploration and development of the its Properties. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the risk of accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration, development and extraction operations, the risk that its partners will encounter unanticipated geological factors, or the possibility that they may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances, necessary to carry out their stated plans for the Properties, the Company's inability to secure the required TSXV acceptance required for any Transaction, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal disputes or changes in the jurisdictions where the Company carries on its business that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

Figure 1

Extension Claim Location Map





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Company enters into definitive agreement with Pure Green Dispensary

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) - C21 Investments Inc. (CSE: CXXI) (FSE: C6QP) today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements for the June 28, 2018 announced acquisition of 100% of Megawood Enterprises Inc. ("Pure Green"), which is the owner of the Pure Green Dispensary in Portland, Oregon. Pure Green is a 3,000 square foot retail dispensary and has been operating since January 2014 as a local retailer for both medical and recreational products.

"The co-founders of Pure Green, Meghan and Matt Walstatter, will continue to work with the C21 team on the expansion of the company's retail network throughout Oregon," said Robert Cheney, President & CEO, C21 Investments. "Pure Green has an enviable reputation and we want to replicate its success throughout our operations."

"We've seen a lot of changes in the cannabis industry and Matt and I believe joining the C21 Investments team will elevate our brand and further our capabilities," said Meghan Walstatter. "We want to continue to provide Oregon's medical patients and recreational customers with affordable, quality cannabis. The resources of C21 Investments will allow us to bring our community-oriented approach to customer service and strong emphasis on product knowledge to an ever-expanding audience."

"Pure Green understands the Oregon canna-businesses, and we knew it was time to become part of something larger and C21 Investments is the perfect fit," said Matt Walsatter. "We're impressed by the dynamic combination of brands and personalities that comprise the C21 Investments family."

Terms of Pure Green Acquisition

The Pure Green acquisition is subject to prior approval of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission ("OLCC") which is expected to be received in approximately three months, with closing to occur following receipt of approval.

C21 will acquire 100% of Pure Green, inclusive of all its brands and the retail location at 3738 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon. The purchase price for Pure Green is USD$825,000, payable in cash and a non-interest bearing convertible promissory note. The vendors can elect to receive up to USD$650,000 in cash upon closing. The balance of the price will be paid by issuance of a non-interest-bearing Convertible Note which will be convertible into common shares of C21 calculated at a value of US$5.00 per common share.

C21 Investments' strategy is to acquire existing and successful cannabis operations with experienced management teams in place. C21 Investments' focus is to expand into jurisdictions where it can wholly own indoor/outdoor cultivation operations, processing/extraction facilities, bakeries, branded products, and retail dispensaries with a large distribution network.

About Pure Green

Pure Green is one of Portland's original licensed cannabis retailers and was founded by Matt and Meghan Walstatter, who have been public policy advocates for legalized cannabis for the past two decades. The dispensary is located in the Hollywood Neighbourhood, on Portland's "Green Mile" and in a building that once housed Portland's first post-prohibition liquor store.

Gron Chocolate Update

C21 Investments and Gron Chocolate, LLC and Gron Confections, LLC have mutually agreed not to proceed with the transaction announced August 13th, 2018. C21 Investments is in discussions with parties for manufacturing and branding opportunities globally for processed edible CBD and THC products. Potential partners with a scalable international presence in branded consumer goods will become the C21 Investments focus in the near term.

ABOUT C21 INVESTMENTS

C21 Investments Inc. (CSE: CXXI) (FSE: C6QP) is a vertically integrated cannabis company that cultivates, processes, and distributes quality cannabis and hemp-derived consumer products in the United States. The company owns Eco Firma Farms in Oregon, and has definitive agreements in place to acquire Silver State Relief and Silver State Cultivation in Nevada, Phantom Farms and Pure Green in Oregon, and Letters of intent to acquire Swell Companies, and two dispensaries in Oregon, all of which are expected to close this fiscal year (year-end January 31, 2019). These brands produce and distribute a broad range of THC and CBD products from cannabis flowers, pre-rolls, cannabis oil, vaporizer cartridges and edibles. C21 Investments is also in active discussions to acquire additional operations in the USA and globally that will add to the company's ability to compete aggressively in the rapid growth of the cannabis industry and to grow revenue and EBITDA. Based in Vancouver, Canada, C21 can be found at www.cxxi.ca.

Media contact:

Graeme Harris

S2C Inc.

graeme@strategy2communications.com

+1 416 402-7050

Investor contact:

Keturah Nathe

Director, C21 Investments

knathe@cxxi.ca

+1 604 718-2800 # 312

Cautionary Statement:

Disclaimer: This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's future business operation, expectations of gross sales, the opinions or beliefs of management and future business goals, statements regarding the timing and completion of the listing on the CSE and C21's USA Acquisitions.Generally, forward looking information 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 variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to general business, economic and competitive uncertainties, regulatory risks including risks related to the expected timing of the Company's participation in the Adult Use market, market risks, risks inherent in manufacturing operations and other risks of the cannabis industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Forward-looking information is provided herein for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purpose. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. This Release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration or an exemption from registration.

The CSE has not accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, and in no way has passed upon the merits of the Acquisition.
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Charles Bronfman Prize announced its worldwide call for nominations for its 2019 Prize. The $100,000 annual award is presented to an individual or team whose innovative humanitarian work informed by Jewish values has significantly improved the world.

The deadline for nominations is January 15, 2019. Nomination forms and guidelines can be found on the Prize website . An international panel of judges will select the 2019 Prize to be announced in fall, 2019.

Charles Bronfman is a visionary who seeks out innovative, bold ideas to improve the world. His commitment to investing in exceptional young leaders motivated his children, Ellen Bronfman Hauptman and Stephen Bronfman and their spouses Andrew Hauptman and Claudine Blondin Bronfman, to create The Charles Bronfman Prize in his honor in 2004.

Each year since, the Prize has celebrated the inspiration and impact of humanitarians under 50 whose endeavors inspire future generations.

"The outstanding individuals who receive The Charles Bronfman Prize are tackling the urgent problems of our day," said Ellen Bronfman Hauptman on behalf of the Prize founders. "We seek to identify and draw attention to innovators and systems-changers who are building organizations and bodies of work that have a positive impact on millions of people around the world."

"We are extremely proud," Stephen Bronfman added, "that in the past few weeks alone three Prize laureates have received notable recognition from others."

Rebecca Heller, director and co-founder of International Refugee Assistance Project and 2015 Prize recipient, was announced as a 2018 MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Fellow . Sasha Chanoff, 2010 Prize awardee, founder and executive director of RefugePoint, received the Schwab Foundation / World Economic Forum Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award . And the groundbreaking report, Infanticide and Abuse: The torture and deaths of children with disabilities in Kenya, by Eric Rosenthal, 2013 recipient, founder and executive director of Disability Rights International, was featured on BBC World News and other international media.

"They and the other past Prize recipients are family," Charles Bronfman notes. "Their receiving this award is just the beginning of our relationship with them."

Their global impact encompasses such diverse issues as environment, medicine, education, humanitarian relief and human rights.

The Charles Bronfman Prize Foundation, a United States 501(c(3) corporation headquartered in New York, administers the Prize.



Media Contact ; Martin Irom, martinirom@gmail.com , 212-362-5260, 516-567-4348

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Affirming the company's strength in promoting FinTech

HONG KONG, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Convoy Global Holdings Limited ("Convoy", "Convoy Global" or the "Company", stock code: 1019) is actively promoting the development of FinTech, not only being the partner of the FinTech Week organised by the Invest Hong Kong this year, but also, having the pleasure to meet with Heather Humphreys, the Irish Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, together with our strategic partner, CurrencyFair, to exchange views regarding the latest developments in FinTech.

Convoy is committed to becoming an all-round international financial services enterprise. The development of the FinTech business is an essential component and the key strategy. The Company has introduced different innovative technology investment platforms to further enhance the business portfolio and to lead Hong Kong's FinTech connect with the world. In August 2018, Convoy has entered into a strategic partnership with CurrencyFair, an Ireland's leading provider of International Money Transfer services. Both parties work hand in hand with the cross-border payments and remittance services.

Michael Yap, Head of Venture Capital, Convoy Global said, "The meeting with representatives of the Irish Government affirms our unremitting efforts and strength in promoting FinTech. It is also a shot in the arm for our future development. Convoy will continue to actively explore more international renowned FinTech companies, introduce realm of professional, technology and operational knowledge, provide better services for the wealth enhancement of our customers, and prepare for virtual banking services to facilitate our community to enjoy the convenient service via FinTech."

Edmond Leung, Manager Director, Convoy Payments Limited ("Convoy Payments") said, "As the first key project of Convoy's FinTech business development, the subsidiary company which is engaged in payment business, Convoy Payments Limited, and CurrencyFair have jointly formed a strategic cooperation payment service plan. It will be officially launched soon. Our customers in Greater China can take the lead in enjoying low-cost, high-efficiency and convenient international money transfer services through mobile payment. On the other hand, CurrencyFair's international customers can enjoy online Asian currency trading services."

Based in the capital of Ireland, Dublin, CurrencyFair is a global leading internal money transfer service provider with over 100,000 customers throughout the EU and Australia. CurrencyFair's platform boasts an advanced automated matching system that offers customers low-cost money transfers across multiple currency pairings.

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CHRISTO GEORGIEV ANNOUNCES MYPOS STORE EXPANSION STRATEGY ACROSS EUROPE FOR 2019

The fintech entrepreneur Christo Georgiev, founder of myPOS, a leading European card and online payments provider, has announced his plans for new store expansion in Europe, set to happen in 2019.

The news comes just weeks after the company launched its store in Milan, Italy and signals an aggressive strategy designed to bring the company' services closer to merchants. Up until 2018 the famous fintech company, engaged in selling payment terminals and processing card payments, had online presence only. This all changed in spring 2018 when myPOS opened its first ever brick-and-mortar stone in London, the financial centre of Europe, which was quickly followed by a new location in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In May 2018 a new company store was established in Sofia, Bulgaria as well.

The move from online presence only to physical stores is part of the new company strategy for growth driven by the company's experience with online sales. According to the company's founder, Mr. Christo Georgiev, in the age of the Internet online stores are often not enough.

"When it comes to selling payment terminals, having an online store is mandatory, but in many cases customers want to be able to see and experience the devices before they decide to commit their money. Having a physical location is crucial in meeting this demand. And there's nothing better than in-person communication when a client needs help or has questions", said Christo Georgiev.

All company stores are located in places that are easy to find and carry the spirit of the city that hosts them. For instance, the myPOS store in London is situated next to Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace, while the store in Amsterdam is located close to the centre of the city and next to channels that Amsterdam is so famous with.

myPOS is all set for major expansion in 2019 when the company plans to open no less than seven more stores across Europe. The first half of 2019 will see myPOS stores debut in Paris, Bucharest, Munich, Lisbon and Warsaw. In the second half of 2019 the company plans to open stores in Prague, the Czech Republic and in Helsinki, Finland.

The ultimate goal is to be present in all major European countries an accomplishment that is to be achieved in the next several years.

About myPOS Europe Ltd

myPOS Europe Ltd is a licensed payments provider and processor, registered at 25 Canada Square, Level 33, Canary Wharf London E14 5LB, United Kingdom.

The myPOS package includes a smart POS device, a free myPOS account with a business VISA card and access to additional merchant services.

www.mypos.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181031005496/en/

Contacts:

myPOS Europe Ltd

Martin Kalinov

Head of Marketing

martin.kalinov@mypos.com
Impartner Partner Relationship Management technology continues global award sweep; company's market presence continues to explode as top corporations turn to Impartner PRM to power their channel

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Impartner, the industry's best-selling, most award-winning pure-play Partner Relationship Management (PRM) solution, today announced that it has been selected as a winner of the 2018 Red Herring Top 100 Global award, which recognizes the leading private companies from North America, Europe, and Asia, celebrating these companies' innovations and technologies across their respective industries.

Red Herring's Top 100 Global list has become a mark of distinction for identifying promising companies and entrepreneurs. Red Herring editors were among the first to recognize that companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, Skype, Salesforce.com, YouTube, and eBay would change the way we live and work.

"This award and the continued, explosive pace of our customer growth is further testament to the power of our technology, our continued pace of innovation, the strength of the Impartner team and the transformative power of PRM to help companies accelerate the performance of their channel," said Impartner CEO Joe Wang.

"Choosing the companies with the strongest potential was by no means a small feat," said Alex Vieux, publisher and CEO of Red Herring. "After rigorous contemplation and discussion, we narrowed our list down from hundreds of candidates from across the globe to the Top 100 Winners. We believe Impartner embodies the vision, drive and innovation that defines a successful entrepreneurial venture. Impartner should be proud of its accomplishment."

Red Herring's editorial staff evaluated the companies on both quantitative and qualitative criteria, such as financial performance, technology innovation, management quality, strategy, and market penetration. This assessment of potential is complemented by a review of track records and standing of companies relative to their peers, allowing Red Herring to see past the "buzz" and make the list a valuable instrument of discovery and advocacy for the most promising, new business models from around the world.

To see a demo of how Impartner helps companies manage their channel and accelerate their revenue 31 percent and decrease administrative costs 23 percent in the first year of use alone, click here.

About Impartner

Impartner helps companies worldwide transform the performance of their indirect sales, increasing revenue an average of 31 percent and reduce administrative costs as much as 23 percent in the first year of use alone. Impartner's SaaS-based Partner Relationship Management (PRM) software is the best-selling, most award-winning pure-play solution on the market, and can be up and running in as few as 14 days. For more information on Impartner, which is based in Utah's tech hotbed, the Silicon Slopes, visit www.impartner.com , or in the United States call +1 801 501 7000, for EMEA general call +33 1 40 90 31 20, for London call +44 0 20 3283 4465, and for LATAM call +1 954 364 7883.

Follow Impartner on LinkedIn , Twitter and Facebook .

Contact:

Kerry Desberg

Impartner

425-231-9529

Kerry.desberg@impartner.com

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Former CEO Gideon Yu to remain Co-Executive Chairman of the company's Board of Directors.

REDWOOD CITY, California, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Bowers & Wilkins, the British performance audio brand, known for its innovative technology, today announced the appointment of Gregory Lee as Chief Executive Officer. Lee will officially assume his position at the company on November 1st, 2018 and will also serve on Bowers & Wilkins' Board of Directors.

"I am extremely excited for Greg to join Bowers & Wilkins as our new CEO and lead the company forward in our next phase of growth," said Bowers & Wilkins Co-Executive Chairman & current CEO Gideon Yu. "Greg has extensive leadership experience in consumer electronics, a deep knowledge of brand building, and a passion for our products. Bowers & Wilkins is in great hands with Greg, and I could not be more energized about our future."

Lee has been dedicated to serving customers throughout his career, beginning with sales and marketing leadership roles while representing top tier brands at Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson. His more recent experience is rooted in the consumer electronics industry, with North American and global leadership positions including President & CEO of Samsung Electronics North America as well as Global Chief Marketing Officer of Samsung Electronics.

"I am honored and excited to join the leadership team at Bowers & Wilkins, a brand that is known for its rich history of quality, design and technology innovations. I'm looking forward to partnering with our dedicated audio customer base to assert Bowers & Wilkins' continued commitment to performance audio technology," said Gregory Lee. "The audio/video category is growing rapidly within the broader consumer electronics industry. Bowers & Wilkins is well positioned to capture that growth by extending the reach of the brand with consumers in today's global marketplace."

"Greg has extensive experience building world class brands through strategic sales and marketing initiatives in the global consumer electronics industry, and he brings an impressive professional breadth to our company," said Bowers & Wilkins Co-Executive Chairman Dave Liu. "This deep and highly relevant experience makes Greg a fantastic choice to lead the next chapter of Bowers & Wilkins."

About Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins, founded in the UK in 1966, has been at the forefront of high performance audio technology for more than 50 years. Bowers & Wilkins designs and manufactures precision home speakers, headphones, custom installation and performance car audio products that set new standards for innovation and sound quality, earning countless awards and accolades from the world's leading recording studios and musicians. Bowers & Wilkins' reputation is based on the unwavering pursuit of the best possible sound and an unsurpassable music listening experience. Learn more at www.bowerswilkins.com

Media Contact:

For more information, please contact Joan Wickham, (415) 917-6524, joan.wickham@bowerswilkins.com

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Booth presentation on THA planning from EOS images by Dr. Mayman, Orthopedic Surgeon and Clinical Co-Director, Computer Assisted Surgery Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery on Friday, November 2nd at 1:45 pm in booth #521

Regulatory News:

EOS imaging (Paris:EOSI) (Euronext, FR0011191766 EOSI Eligible PEA PME), a pioneer in 2D/3D orthopedic medical imaging, will present the EOS Solution at the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) annual meeting to be held November 1-4, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. The AAHKS annual meeting is the premier event for adult hip and knee reconstructions focused on cutting-edge research in advancing the surgical techniques for total joint arthroplasties.

Dr. David Mayman, from Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York, will present "EOS 2D/3D Hip Arthroplasty Planning in Standing and Sitting Position" at EOS Booth #521, on Friday, November 2nd at 1:45 pm CDT. He will share findings on the importance of standing and seated EOS exams for anticipating and resolving concerns before entering the operating room through a personalized approach based on a patient's unique anatomy.

"Arthroplasty surgeries are an important part of our practice here at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Every year, the joint reconstruction surgeons at HSS perform over 12,000 total joint replacements and the EOS system has become an essential part of our ability to properly assess each patient's anatomy and to anticipate the risk of complications," commented Dr. Mayman. "I do 800 joint replacements per year and I use EOS for planning on every one of them."

"We are pleased to present the EOS Solution at the AAHKS meeting and to see the adoption of our 3D surgical planning tools for total joint replacement. The EOS solution is becoming a standard of care for hip pathologies and we are proud to offer new perspectives in their surgical treatment," concluded Marie Meynadier, Chief Executive Officer of EOS imaging.

For more information, stop by Booth 521 or contact us at: contact@eos-imaging.com

ABOUT EOS IMAGING

EOS imaging is listed on Compartment C of Euronext Paris

ISIN: FR0011191766 Ticker: EOSI

EOS imaging designs, develops and markets EOS, a major innovative medical imaging solution dedicated to osteoarticular pathologies and orthopedics combining equipment and services and targeting a $2B per year market opportunity. EOS imaging is currently present in 33 countries, including the United States under FDA agreement, Japan, China and the European Union under CE labelling, through the over 280 installed EOS platforms representing more than one million patient exams every year. Revenues were 37.1M in 2017, e.g. a +32% CAGR over 2012-2017. For more information, please visit www.eos-imaging.com.

EOS imaging has been selected to integrate the EnterNext PEA PME 150 index, composed of 150 French, listed companies on the Euronext markets in Paris.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005960/en/

Contacts:

EOS imaging

Marie Meynadier, +33 (0)1 55 25 60 60

CEO

investors@eos-imaging.com

or

Investor Relations (US)

The Ruth Group

Matt Picciano Emma Poalillo, 646-536-7008 7024

EOS-imagingIR@theruthgroup.com

or

Press Relations (US)

The Ruth Group

Kirsten Thomas, 508-280-6592

kthomas@theruthgroup.com
LONDON, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Fenestra announces rapid passing of 1,000,000 in media transactions

Fenestra ' s blockchain-based media booking platform commercially launched one month ago

Fenestra announces new partnership with Republic of Media and Four Communications

Fenestra, the media-buying blockchain platform creating transparency in advertisers' media supply-chain, today announces new clients and rapid achievement of a key commercial goal.

Fenestra, who commercially launched in September has signed new partnerships with key agencies Republic of Media and Four Communications. Both agencies will book, track record verification and manage payments via the platform and critically invest with Fenestra Certified supply-chain partners, including leading independent DSP Avocet. The combination delivers unprecedented confidence around their client's programmatic supply-chains.

Republic of Media is a multi award-winning Agency in Edinburgh and Manchester. The agency's clients include Air Transat, Scottish FA, NHS and MoneyGuru. Four Communications is one of the UK's leading integrated communications agencies also with offices in the Middle East. Four Health Media is their specialist health media planning and buying practice whose clients include GSK and Johnson & Johnson.

These new partners swell Fenestra's roster of agencies and brands using the Fenestra network to execute their media investment in a trusted environment. Fenestra has already processed more than 1,000,000 of media transactions since launch.

Simon Watson, Head of Digital at Republic of Media said:

"The industry needs to move away from its reputation as an opaque practice and implement technologies that bring media back into the light. At Republic of Media we believe in transparency for our clients, and Fenestra offers us the tools we need to deliver on this promise."

Richard Springham, Practice Leader at Four Health Media also comments:

"At Four Health Media we believe in full transparency driving performance for our clients. Fenestra's Blockchain technology is revolutionary by design, offering our clients a single, trusted ledger across their media spend."

Ashley Mackenzie, Fenestra's Founder & CEO, also adds:

"With federal authorities pursuing malpractice the world over, we're witnessing an unprecedented flight to transparency. We're honoured to have been rewarded with such rapid growth and excited to facilitate Republic of Media and Four Health Media as they lead their blue-chip clients through the media maze."

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Fenestra Holdings Ltd.

Fenestra provides advertisers, and their agencies, with an independent secure transactional platform and ecosystem to record and audit every trade and manage payment made through their media supply chain using distributed ledger technology. The Fenestra leadership group are successful, serial entrepreneurs with a track record in disrupting at the apex of technology and marketing across international markets.
CRANBROOK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 19, 2019 / Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.(TSX-V: "EPL") has received notice from Rockridge Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: ROCK) that it has commenced a winter diamond drilling program on the Knife Lake Property, owned 100% by Eagle Plains and under option to Rockridge. Winter drilling will consist of approximately 1,000m in eight to ten holes. The 85,196 ha Knife Lake claims cover both the historical Knife Lake VMS deposit and an extensive, under-explored regional VMS target area. The Knife Lake area saw extensive exploration from the late 1960's to the 1990's with the last documented work program completed in 2001.

To earn a 100% interest, Rockridge has agreed to make a cash payment to Eagle Plains of $150,000 upon regulatory approval (complete), issue up to 5,250,000 common shares of Rockridge (2M shares issued to date) and complete $3,250,000 in exploration expenditures over four years. Eagle Plains will retain a 2% net smelter royalty ("NSR") on certain claims which comprise the project area. Under the terms of the agreement Rockridge is designated as the Operator of the project.

See Knife Lake regional map

The current drill program will focus on verifying the results of historic drilling as well as infill and step- out drilling to better define the Knife Lake mineralization. Results from this program will be used to support an updated NI 43-101 compliant resource calculation for the project.

Historical drill assays will be validated by twinning select historical drill holes targeting the higher grade core of the Knife Lake deposit. In 1998, Leader Mining published a historical estimate of the shallow VMS deposit, reporting a drill-indicated, non NI 43-101 compliant historical resource of 20.3 million tonnes grading 0.6% Cu, 0.1 g/t Au, 3.0 g/t Ag, 0.06% Co and 0.11% Zn. Leader also defined a higher grade zone of 11.0 million tonnes grading 0.95% Cu within this historical estimate.*

Additional drilling will focus on resource upgrade or expansion by infill drilling between historical holes, and drilling in areas with unverified or missing historical assays.

Knife Lake Geology and History

The Knife Lake deposit lies within the Scimitar Complex, which is believed to be the disconnected, northwest extension of the northern Flin Flon domain and the Amisk Volcanic package, which hosts massive sulphide mineralization in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake mining district, the most prolific greenstone belt in Canada. Since the initial discovery of mineralization in 1915, the Flin Flon camp has produced over 170 million tons of sulphide ore from 31 VMS deposits worth in excess of C25 billion dollars. (2002 NRC, Current Research). Exceptionally high Au contents of many of these deposits, including Flin Flon (62.4 Mt @ 2.6 g Au/t) and Lalor (8.8 Mt @ 4.6 g Au/t in the Au zone), make them particularly attractive exploration targets.This information is provided only as historical reference. Management cautions that past results or discoveries on proximate land are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved on the subject properties.

Knife Lake is interpreted to be a remobilized VMS deposit. The stratabound mineralized zone is approximately 15 m thick and contains copper, silver, zinc and cobalt mineralization which dips 30 to 45 eastward over a strike-length of 4,500 m, with an average horizontal width of approximately 300 m. The deposit is hosted by felsic to intermediate volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks which have been metamorphosed to upper amphibolite facies. The deposit is typical of VMS mineralogy which has been significantly modified and partially remobilized during the emplacement of granitic rocks. The mineralization straddles the boundary between two rock units and occurs on both limbs of an overturned local fold.



Drilling has outlined a series of stratabound ore lenses which are controlled by complex geological structures. In the copper mineralized zone, significant thickening of the mineralization occurs near the central portion of the deposit. Sulphides and rare native copper are visible in outcrop. Massive sulphides consist of 25 to 60% pyrrhotite and 0.2 to 10% chalcopyrite mineralization. Pyrite is present as irregular disseminations and masses. Locally, up to 8% sphalerite (zinc mineralization) is present.



The first documented work in the Knife Lake showing area occurred between 1969-1973, consisting of ground and airborne geophysical surveys and extensive soil geochemical sampling. The discovery drill-hole, collared in September, 1969, returned 2.37% Cu over 4.48m from 19.96-24.44m, including 3.5% Cu over 2.5m from 20.27-22.77m. A total of 96 diamond drill holes (8,232m) were completed between 1969-1971 and in 1973 Straus Exploration announced a maiden resource on the Knife Lake Deposit.



Hudson's Bay Exploration and Development Company Ltd. later carried out a regional Airborne EM geophysical survey in the Knife Lake - Scimitar Lake area, followed up by geological mapping, prospecting, ground geophysics and diamond drilling. The property was subsequently optioned by Copperquest Incorporated in 1989, which carried out further geophysical and geochemical surveys and optioned the property to Leader Mining International in 1996. Between 1996 and 2001, Leader flew various airborne geophysical surveys in the area, including EM, magnetic, and gravity surveys. This was followed up with stripping and trenching of the outcropping deposit area. Ground TEM, magnetic, ground IP/Resistivity and VLF-EM surveys were completed over and adjacent to the main deposit area.



Between 1996 and 1998, Leader completed 315 drill holes, outlining a broad zone of mineralization occurring at less than 100 meters depth (AF 63M-0006, Report 10). Late in 1998, Leader published the geological reserves of the deposit, reporting a drill-indicated resource of 20.3 million tonnes grading 0.6% Cu, 0.1 g/t Au, 3.0 g/t Ag, 0.06% Co and 0.11% Zn. It was suggested that 11.0 million tonnes grading 0.95% Cu could be mined using an open pit (SMDI 0406).

*Eagle Plains' management considers these estimates to be historical in nature and cautions that a Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves in accordance with National Instrument 43-101. These estimates do not comply with current definitions prescribed by National Instrument 43-101 or the Canadian Institute of Mining, and are disclosed only as indications of the presence of mineralization and are considered to be a guide for additional work. The historical models and data sets used to prepare these historical estimates are not available to Eagle Plains, nor are any more recent resource estimates or drill information on the Property.

A 357kV powerline has recently been completed to within 16km of the Knife Lake Deposit area, greatly enhancing the project's infrastructure

Charles C. Downie, P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and a Director of Eagle Plains, has prepared, reviewed, and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release.

About Eagle Plains Resources



Based in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral projects throughout western Canada. The Company is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by advancing our diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery through collaborative partnerships and development of a highly experienced technical team. Managements' current focus is to preserve its treasury while advancing its most promising exploration projects. In addition, Eagle Plains continues to seek out and secure high-quality, unencumbered projects through research, staking and strategic acquisitions. Since 2012, Eagle Plains has added to its portfolio a number of new projects exceeding 130,000 ha targeting mainly gold, uranium and base-metals in Saskatchewan, a highly-prospective mining jurisdiction which was recently recognized by the Fraser Institute as the second best place in the world in terms of Investment Attractiveness. Throughout the exploration process, our mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting relationships through honest and respectful business practices.



Expenditures from 2011-2018 on Eagle Plains-related projects exceed $20M, most of which was funded by third-party partners. This exploration work resulted in approximately 30,000 m of diamond-drilling and extensive ground-based exploration work facilitating the advancement of numerous projects at various stages of development

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Tim J. Termuende"

President and CEO

For further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at

1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)

Email: mgl@eagleplains.com or visit our website at http://www.eagleplains.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

SOURCE: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/539425/Rockridge-Resources-Commences-Winter-Drilling-Program-at-Eagle-Plains-Knife-Lake-Project-Northern-Saskatchewan
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) -Cardero Resource Corp. (TSXV: CDU) (FSE: CR5) ("Cardero" or the "Company") reports that it has completed acquisition of an undivided 100% interest in the Zonia copper deposit ("Zonia" or the "Property"). Under the terms of the option agreement dated August 27, 2015 (the "Option Agreement"), as amended between the Company and Redstone Resources Corporation ("Redstone"), the Company was granted the right to acquire up to a 100% interest in the Property in consideration of, among other things, the aggregate cash payment of US$2,425,000 and issuance of an aggregate of 16,500,000 common shares over a three-year period.

Pursuant to an amendment dated October 3, 2018 Redstone was granted an option to convert US$500,000 of the remaining cash payments to common shares of the Company. Redstone exercised that option and a total of 6,179,099 common shares were issued in lieu of US$500,000 cash (see Company's news release dated October 26, 2018). As a result, the total consideration paid to Redstone has been adjusted to US$1,925,000 cash and 22,679,099 common shares (Table 1).

The Company issued 5,000,000 common shares October 31, 2018, the delivery of which completes all share issuances associated with the acquisition.

Table 1: Consideration paid to Redstone with respect to the Zonia acquisition.

Date US$ Cash CDU Shares Signing $25,000 (paid)

August 30, 2015 $26,350 (paid)

October 27, 2015 $150,000 (paid) 1,000,000 (issued) January 31, 2016 $75,000 (paid) 1,500,000 (issued) July 31, 2016 $75,000 (paid)

January 31, 2017 $450,000 (paid) 2,500,000 (issued) July 31, 2017

2,500,000 (issued) January 8, 2018 $500,000 (paid) 4,000,000 (issued) August 17, 2018 $50,000 (paid)

October 26, 2018

6,179,099 (issued) October 31, 2018 $573,650* 5,000,000 (issued)

$1,925,000 22,679,099

*The final cash payment of US$573,650 is subject to a separate agreement (the "Installment Plan") and is deemed to have been paid in full and on time as per the terms of the Option Agreement. Redstone will begin transfer of the Property to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cardero, a process that is expected to be complete within 12 weeks. Under the terms of the Installment Plan, the Company will make five equal installments of US$126,060 commencing on November 6, 2018 and ending March 31, 2018, for a total payment of US$630,300.

"Completing the acquisition of Zonia is a significant milestone for Cardero, which will allow us advancethe Zonia project under Cardero's 100% ownership. The Company has planned and permitted an 18 hole drill program that will test an anomaly northeast of the existing ore body.The drill program is described in our news release dated April 12, 2018" says Stuart Ross CEO and President of Cardero.

Zonia Copper Oxide Deposit

The Zonia Copper Oxide Project has been held under private ownership for almost 100 years and has undergone comprehensive exploration, metallurgical studies and mine development planning. The majority of the mineralized area was pre-stripped during previous open-pit mining operations at Zonia in 1966, as 17 million tons were mined with 7 million tons stacked on heap leach pads, producing cement copper up till 1975. The property has been drill tested with almost 700 drill holes (60,000 meters). This high-density drilling covers 30% of the property and defines the current resource estimate, reducing technical risk on the deposit.

The Zonia copper deposit has a north-easterly strike length of about 2,400 m (8,000 ft) and horizontal width varies from 60 m (200 ft) to 460m (1,500 ft). The deposit consists of multiple mineralized zones that dip at various angles to the northwest. The zones are generally in the order of 200 ft (60 m) wide and commonly occur in sub-parallel groups of three or more. Most of the deposit has been drilled to depths of 120 m (400 ft) or less. Deposit highlights include:

Measured and Indicated Resources of 76.8 million short tons grading 0.33% copper containing 510 million pounds of copper (0.2% copper cut-off grade).

Inferred Resources of 27.2 million short tons grading 0.28% copper containing 154.6 million pounds of copper (0.2% copper cut-off grade).

Low strip ratio of 1:1 waste to mineralized material in base case.

A Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) was completed in March, 2018. The base case uses a $2.00/lb designed pit shell with a grade cut-off of 0.17% total copper. At a copper price of $3.00/lb the economics are:

After-tax NPV of $192 million @ 8% and an IRR of 29 %, post-tax, with a 2.89 year payback of initial capital

Initial capital of $198 million

Cumulative Net Cash Flow After Taxes of $331 million

The PEA was prepared by Global Resource Engineering Ltd. ("GRE") of Denver, Colorado, in accordance with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) NI 43-101. GRE reported on the scoping-level capital and operating costs, and project economics associated with the potential development of the Zonia copper oxide project. Estimated resources at Zonia were reported in November, 2017 in the Company's news release NR17-08.

Cardero also announced receipt of data for a 28 line-kilometre Induced Polarization and Resistivity geophysical survey (the "Survey") over the Zonia and contiguous Silver Queen properties ("the Zonia project"), utilizing 200 metre spaced dipoles. Results of the Survey outline an area of overlapping chargeability and copper-molybdenum anomalies at the northeast end of the current drill-defined resource estimate that could extend resources significantly. This anomaly is described in detail in the Company's news release dated April 12, 2018.

Qualified Persons

The independent Qualified Persons, as defined by NI 43-101, for the technical PEA details are Terre Lane and Dr. Todd Harvey of GRE and Rex Bryan, SME-RM 411340 of Tetra Tech Inc. who have reviewed and verified that the technical information contained in the technical report is accurate and approves of the written disclosure.

ABOUT CARDERO RESOURCE CORP.

Cardero Resource Corp., headquartered in Vancouver, is a resource company focussed on building a minerals exploration and development company. Cardero has completed an option to acquire up to a 100% interest in the Zonia Copper Oxide Project, located in Arizona. Zonia is a near-surface copper-oxide resource and a brownfields site having already been mined in the late 1960s and '70s.

The entire resource (NI 43-101 as amended and dated October, 2017), as currently defined, is located on private land and Cardero has now completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment which has been announced in a news release NR 18-04 dated March 6, 2018.

The Company also has two option agreements covering five nickel-cobalt properties in south eastern British Columbia the, Kootenay Project totalling approximately 8,000 hectares. The Project is within the prospective Lardeau Group, which hosts numerous volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits, including the past-producing Goldstream mine located north of Revelstoke.

Detailed information is available at the Company's web site at www.cardero.com.

The common shares of the Company are currently listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (symbol CDU), the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (symbol CR5) and OTCBB (symbol CDYCF). For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's web site (www.cardero.com), Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

CARDERO RESOURCE CORP.

"Stuart R. Ross" (signed)

Stuart R. Ross, CEO and President

Contact Information:

Stuart Ross or Marla Ritchie

604 408 7488

General Contact:

Email: info@cardero.com

Toll Free: 1-888-770-7488

Tel: 604 408-7488

Fax: 604 408-7499

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Forward Looking Information: This news release includes certain information that may be deemed "forward looking information". Forward-looking information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. All information in this release, other than information of historical facts, including, without limitation, the potential of Zonia general future plans and objectives for the Zonia project, the completion of the Plan and receipt of shareholder and regulatory approval therefore, the likelihood of receipt of value from the Retained Right, the availability of financing to the Company and the Company's plan in relation to its listing review are forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions, such expectations are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information include changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, delays in receiving approvals, and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For more information on the Company and the risks and challenges of our business, investors should review our continuous disclosure filings which are available at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

This press release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States.

Cautionary Note to US Investors Regarding References to Resources and Reserves

National Instrument 43 101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource estimates contained in or incorporated by reference in this press release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") Standards on Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council on November 14, 2004 (the "CIM Standards") as they may be amended from time to time by the CIM.

United States shareholders are cautioned that the requirements and terminology of NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards differ significantly from the requirements and terminology of the SEC set forth in the SEC's Industry Guide 7 ("SEC Industry Guide 7"). Accordingly, the Company's disclosures regarding mineralization may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by companies subject to SEC Industry Guide 7. Without limiting the foregoing, while the terms "mineral resources", "inferred mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "measured mineral resources" are recognized and required by NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards, they are not recognized by the SEC and are not permitted to be used in documents filed with the SEC by companies subject to SEC Industry Guide 7. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, and US investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral resource will ever be converted into reserves. Further, inferred resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the inferred resources will ever be upgraded to a higher resource category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of a feasibility study or prefeasibility study, except in rare cases. The SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute SEC Industry Guide 7 compliant "reserves" as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit amounts. The term "contained ounces" is not permitted under the rules of SEC Industry Guide 7. In addition, the NI 43-101 and CIM Standards definition of a "reserve" differs from the definition in SEC Industry Guide 7. In SEC Industry Guide 7, a mineral reserve is defined as a part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time the mineral reserve determination is made, and a "final" or "bankable" feasibility study is required to report reserves, the three-year historical price is used in any reserve or cash flow analysis of designated reserves and the primary environmental analysis or report must be filed with the appropriate governmental authority.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) - New Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: ENRG) (OTC Pink: NEMCF) ("New Energy Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Mr. Stefan Schauss has been appointed to the Company's board of directors, effective November 1, 2018.

Mr. Schauss has over 20 years of sales and business development experience, with a particular focus, in recent years, on the integration of electric vehicle infrastructure in both residential and industrial areas. He has also served in product management and business development roles for several companies regarding semiconductors, integrated circuits, and other electronic goods. Mr. Schauss is currently an independent consultant, and prior to that, he was head of sales for Gildemeister Energy Storage GmbH, Austria, which was a world leader in the development of vanadium redox flow batteries. Mr. Schauss has a M.Sc. in Physics from The University Mainz, Germany. His experience will be an asset to the Company.

The Company also announces that Mr. Grant Ewing has resigned as President, CEO and director of the Company, effective November 1, 2018. The Board of Directors would like to express its appreciation for Mr. Ewing's contributions to the Company, and wishes him well with his future endeavours.

About the Company

New Energy Metals is focused on the exploration and development of energy metals in Chile. The Company's assets include the Cristal copper project located in northern Chile, several prospective cobalt projects in Chile's past producing San Juan cobalt district, and a lithium project in Chile's Atacama salar district.

On behalf of New Energy Metals Corp.

Marla Ritchie, Corporate Secretary

T: 604.638.3886

E: info@newenergymetals.ca

W: www.newenergymetals.ca

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release may contain certain "forward-looking statements". Other than statements of historical fact, all statements included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are the risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Those filings can be found on the Internet at http://www.sedar.com.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) -TerraX Minerals Inc. (TSXV: TXR) (FSE: TX0) (OTC Pink: TRXXF) is pleased to announce that the Company has agreed to a non-brokered private placement of 3,750,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.40 per Unit to raise aggregate gross proceeds of $1.5 million.

Each Unit shall consist of one common share and one transferable common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall be exercisable into one additional common share of the Company for a period of three years from closing at an exercise price of $0.60.

The net proceeds of this financing are to be used to fund the Company's general and administrative expenses and to complete targeting for the drill program planned for early 2019. Certain directors and officers of TerraX will be participating in this private placement. The closing is anticipated to occur on or before November 16th 2018, subject to acceptance for filing by the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued will be subject to a statutory hold period in Canada expiring four months and one day from the date of closing.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About the Yellowknife City Gold Project

The Yellowknife City Gold ("YCG") project encompasses 780 sq km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, TerraX controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 km of the City of Yellowknife, the YCG is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power and skilled tradespeople.

The YCG lies on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering 70 km of strike length along the main mineralized break in the Yellowknife gold district, including the southern and northern extensions of the shear system that hosted the high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The project area contains multiple shears that are the recognized hosts for gold deposits in the Yellowknife gold district, with innumerable gold showings and recent high-grade drill results that serve to indicate the project's potential as a world-class gold district.

For more information on the YCG project, please visit our web site at www.terraxminerals.com.



On behalf of the Board of Directors



"DAVID SUDA"



David Suda

President and CEO

For more information, please contact:

Samuel Vella

Manager of Corporate Communications

Phone: 604-689-1749

Toll-Free: 1-855-737-2684

svella@terraxminerals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking information, which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectation. Important factors - including the availability of funds, the results of financing efforts, the completion of due diligence and the results of exploration activities - that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time on SEDAR (see www.sedar.com). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The company disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISEMMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
QUAKERTOWN, Pennsylvania, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- QuantumClean & ChemTrace will demonstrate how its ultra-high purity chamber tool part cleaning, proprietary coatings and microcontamination analytical testing can help reduce wafer fabrication Cost-of-Ownership (CoO). Solutions' information is available during show hours at SEMICON Europa at the Messe Munchen Exhibition Center in Munich, Germany from November 13 - 16, 2018 (booth A4510).

We will offer a series of presentations to inform IDMs, OEMs, OPMs and Foundries on how they can reduce CoO in the areas of ALD, CVD, Diffusion, Etch, Ion Implant, and PVD ultra-high purity cleaning and Parts Quality Monitoring customer solutions. Booth staff will discuss how - cleaner chambers start-up quicker - faster part turnaround times reduce inventory - longer Mean Time Between Cleans improve productivity and reduce PM costs - less aggressive cleaning methods and recoating extend part life.

"SEMICON Europa 2018 visitors can meet with our solution experts at our booth A4510 to learn how our differentiated service offerings can bring improvement to your operation by solving critical semiconductor process chamber part-related manufacturing challenges," explains Scott Nicholas, EVP.

Visitors to the QuantumClean/ChemTrace booth will receive a complimentary gift.



ChemTrace and QuantumClean are units of the Semiconductor Services Business division of Ultra Clean Technology.

QuantumClean is the global leader in sub-10nm ultra-high purity outsourced process tool chamber parts cleaning and coating services, tool part life extension and process tool part optimization solutions to the semiconductor wafer fabrication, OEM and OPM industries.

Founded in 2000, QuantumClean operates innovative Advanced Technology Cleaning Centers built on the premise of providing customers process improvement through consistently cleaner parts that exceed industry standards. These solutions dramatically reduce our customers' total cost-of-ownership. With 1,500 employees in 18 facilities located in 8 countries, QuantumClean provides unsurpassed cleaning capability and convenience worldwide. quantumclean.com

For 25 years, ChemTrace has provided independent and analytical verification of process tool chamber part cleaning effectiveness. ChemTrace provides leading micro-contamination analysis of tool parts, wafers and depositions, chemicals, cleanroom materials, DI water and airborne molecular contamination. With more than 120 employees in 4 labs located in 3 countries, ChemTrace offers unsurpassed microcontamination analysis and local convenience. chemtrace.com



Contacts

QuantumClean: Meg Cox, +1-215-892-9300, info@quantumclean.com

ChemTrace: Robin Puri, +1-503-251-0979, info@chemtrace.com

QuantumClean, ChemTrace, Advanced Technology Cleaning Centers, ATCC, Process Improvement through Consistently Cleaner Parts, Single Part Chemical Clean and SPCC are all registered trademarks of Quantum Global Technologies, LLC.

ACS, Atomically Clean Surfaces, Alternative TWAS, Analytical & Engineering Services, C-Coat, Cleancoat, Cleaning, Coating & Testing Center of Excellence, Environmentally Clean Process, ECP, Final Surface Finish, FSF, QGT, M-Coat, PartSmart, PT3, QualClean, Selective Deposition Removal, SDR, Service Request form, SRF, Solution Based Chemistry, TechBriefs, The Perfect Order, The Perfect Qual, The Perfect Process Transfer, Tight-Coat, V-Clean, VeriClean, Waterless Acid, Y-Coat, Z-Coat, Smart, Lean, Clean and Green, Center of Excellence and Validated Ultra-High Purity. Maximum Productivity are all trademarks of Quantum Global Technologies, LLC.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/383596/Quantum_Global_Technologies_LLC_Logo.jpg
15.2% After-Tax Internal Rate of Return

Payback 4.4 years

Net Present Value $795 million

All amounts are in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) - IAMGOLD Corporation (TSX: IMG) ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company") today announced positive results from a Feasibility Study ("FS") for the IAMGOLD/Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. ("Sumitomo"), Joint Venture Cote Gold Project (the "Project") in Northern Ontario. The results of the FS illustrate that Cote Gold is an economically viable, long-life project that is expected to be a low-cost producing mine. The FS establishes substantial economic and operational improvements relative to the Pre-feasibility Study ("PFS") results announced in June 2017. The FS also provides the basis for making a production decision and serves to fully support the permitting process. The Feasibility Study includes two mine plan scenarios:

Base Case Mine Plan : The Base Case Mine Plan is aligned with the current permitting process; and

The Base Case Mine Plan is aligned with the current permitting process; and Extended Mine Plan: The Extended Mine Plan adds two additional years to the Base Case Mine Plan mine life without expanding the footprint of the project. The Extended Mine Plan is supported by exploitation of the total Mineral Reserves, and recognizes that permit amendments may be required to raise the height of the Mine Rock Area and Tailings Management Facility.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS (100% BASIS)



PFS (2017) FS (2018) Change from PFS Base Case Extended Base Case Extended After-Tax - NPV @ 5% $703 million $795 million $905 million + $92 million + $202 million IRR (After-tax) 14.0% 15.2% 15.4% 120 bps 140 bps Payback Period 4.5 years 4.4 years 4.4 years -0.1 years -0.1 years Gold Price $1,250 / oz $1,250 / oz $1,250 / oz + $0 / oz + $0 / oz

Reserves and Resources

Compared to the PFS:

Total Proven and Probable Reserves ("P&P") increased by 1.4 million ounces to 7.3 million ounces. 69% of total Reserve ounces are in the Proven category. Stripping ratio (waste:ore) of 2.6 to 1 for the Extended Mine Plan.

Total Measured and Indicated Resources (inclusive of Reserves) increased by 1.9 million ounces to almost 10.0 million ounces.

Total Inferred Resources increased by 1.2 million to 2.4 million ounces.

Base Case Mine Plan - Supports Permit Application

Mine Life of 16 years with mill throughput of 36,000 tonnes per day

Life of Mine (LOM) average annual production of 367,000 ounces; average annual production of 428,000 ounces through years 1 to 12

Average mill feed grade 0.98 g/t Au

LOM total cash costs of $594/oz and all-in sustaining costs of $694/oz

After-tax Net Present Value of $795 million (5% discount rate), at a gold price of $1,250/oz

After-tax Internal Rate of Return of 15.2%, with a payback period of 4.4 years

Initial capital expenditures of $1,147 million

Extended Mine Plan - Supports Total Mineral Reserves

Adds 2 years to the Base Case Mine Plan mine life with no expansion of the infrastructure footprint, other than a larger pit

Marginally increases LOM total cash costs to $606/oz and all-in sustaining costs to $703/oz

Increases LOM average annual production to 372,000 ounces; average annual production of 407,000 ounces through years 1 to 15

Increases after-tax Net Present Value by an additional $110 million to $905 million (5% discount rate)

Improves after-tax IRR to 15.4% and while maintaining payback period at 4.4 years

Initial capital remains unchanged from the Base Case at $1,147 million

Additionally, the Company is in advanced discussions with a syndicate of lenders to double the existing credit facility from $250 million to $500 million and extend the credit period. These additional funds will provide further financial flexibility as the Company executes its growth strategy. The facility is expected to close before the end of 2018.

Steve Letwin, President and CEO of IAMGOLD, said, "Cote Gold has progressed from an advanced exploration project to an economically robust development project with nearly 10 million ounces in Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources. I commend the team for their excellent work enhancing the project's economics, refining the development concept previously set out in the PFS, and substantially de-risking the project. When compared to the PFS, the FS Base Mine Plan NPV increased by 13% to $795 million, and the FS Extended Mine Plan NPV increased by 29% to $905 million. The Project's IRR increased by over 100 basis points for both the Base Case and the Extended Mine plans. We are very pleased with our relationship with Sumitomo, and our relationship continues to evolve as we work toward a positive outcome for the development of the Project.

Cote Gold is one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in attractive mining jurisdictions with surrounding infrastructure, and it is a solid, low-cost project with a 16 year mine life which is expected to deliver 428,000 ounces on average annually, on a 100% basis, during years one through twelve. The development of Cote in our portfolio has the potential to be truly transformational for IAMGOLD, as it would balance the Company's geographical production profile, extend the Company's life of mine, and help transform us into a low cost producer. On the financial side of the equation, the enhanced flexibility gained by doubling our credit facility, combined with our peer leading balance sheet, provides substantial de-risking for the execution of Cote."

The FS was completed jointly by IAMGOLD/Sumitomo and Wood PLC (formerly Amec Foster Wheeler) with inputs from technical studies completed by other specialist consultants. The FS represents a comprehensive study of the technical and economic viability of the selected development option that demonstrates the extraction of the defined Mineral Reserves is economically mineable, and will allow IAMGOLD and Sumitomo to make a decision on the development of the project.

A technical report summarizing the FS will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of the date of this news release. The public filing of the Feasibility Study triggers the final cash payment to IAMGOLD of $95 million from Sumitomo for its purchase of a 30% interest in the Project.

FS HIGHLIGHTS (100% Basis)

Project Economics and Key Parameters



Base

Case1 Extended2 Mining Capacity 62 Mtpa 70 Mtpa Milling Capacity 13.1 Mtpa 13.1 Mtpa LOM Average Annual Gold Production 367,000 oz. 372,000 oz. LOM Average Gold Recovery Rate 91.8% 91.8% Average production during full production years 428,000 oz. (years 1 - 12) 407,000 oz. (years 1 - 15) Mine Life 16 years 18 years LOM Average Total Cash Costs $594/oz $606/oz LOM Average AISC $694/oz $703/oz Average Mill Feed Grade 0.98 g/t Au 0.97 g/t Au Average LOM Strip Ratio 2.42:1 2.62:1 Estimated Capital Expenditure



Initial Capital 3 $1,147 million $1,147 million Sustaining Capital 4 $527 million $589 million Closure Costs $63 million $63 million Gold Price Assumption used in financial analysis $1,250/oz $1,250/oz Pre-tax NPV (5%) $1,242 million $1,404 million Pre-Tax IRR 18.7% 18.7% After-tax NPV (5%) $795 million $905 million After-tax IRR 15.2% 15.4% Payback Period 4.4 years 4.4 years

1. The Base Case supports the current permitting process.

2. The Extended Mine Plan supports the total Mineral Reserves and may require permit amendments. Extended Mine Plan economic parameters are stand-alone and are not additive to the Base Case.

3. The Company expects to enter into equipment lease arrangements of approximately $134 million.

4. For the purposes of this feasibility study, post operating start-up, all waste mining costs and major equipment components are included in operating costs as expenses and are not included in sustaining capital.

* US$/C$ exchange rate of $1.30.

MINERAL RESOURCES (100% Basis)

The Mineral Resources used as the basis for the FS study are summarized below.

Mineral Resource Statement - July 26, 2018 Classification Tonnes

(millions) Grade

(g/t Au) Contained Ounces

(000) IMG Attributable

Contained Ounces (000) Measured 171.9 0.96 5,310 3,438 Indicated 183.5 0.79 4,660 3,017 Measured & Indicated 355.4 0.87 9,970 6,455 Inferred 112.8 0.67 2,430 1,573





Notes:

CIM Definition Standards were followed for classification of Mineral Resources. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves. Cut-off grades used to report Mineral Resources of 0.30 g/t Au. Mineralized Resources are reported within optimized constraining pit shells at a design price of $1,500 /oz. Au. Treatment & refining cost (incl. transport & selling): $1.75/oz Au, variable NSR royalty percentages by zone: 0.0%-1.5%, Processing based costs (incl. process, G&A, sustaining cost, & closure allocation): $8.85/t, average mining cost (varies by depth): $2.11/t, and re-handling cost $0.87/t. Attributable calculated as 64.75% IAMGOLD, 27.75% Sumitomo, and a 7.5% interest.

MINERAL RESERVES (100% Basis)

The tonnage, grades, and classification of the Total Mineral Reserves captured within the FS Base Case Mine Plan and Extended Mine Plan are summarized below.

Mineral Reserves - July 26, 2018 Classification Tonnes

(millions) Grade

(g/t Au) Contained

Ounces

(000) IMG

Attributable

Contained

Ounces (000) Mineral Reserves within Base Case Mine Plan Proven 145.1 1.02 4,752 3,077 Probable 57.9 0.88 1,639 1,061 Proven & Probable 203.0 0.98 6,391 4,138 Mine Rock within Base Case pit 491.7





Incremental Mineral Reserves within Extended Mine Plan Proven 8.6 0.95 264 171 Probable 21.4 0.92 629 407 Proven & Probable 30.0 0.93 893 578 Incremental Mine Rock within Extended Mine Plan designed pit 119.8





Total Mineral Reserves Proven 153.7 1.02 5,017 3,248 Probable 79.3 0.89 2,268 1,468 Proven & Probable 233.0 0.97 7,284 4,716 Total Mine Rock within Extended pit 611.5





Total Tonnage within Extended Pit 844.5









Notes:

CIM Definition Standards were followed for classification of Mineral Reserves. Reserves estimated assuming open pit mining methods. Reserves are based on gold price of $1,200/oz. Cut-off grades varied between 0.33 g/t Au and 0.37 g/t Au depending on alteration profile and pit area. Fixed process gold recovery of 91.8%. Treatment & refining cost (incl. transport & selling): $1.75/oz Au, variable NSR royalty percentages by zone: 0.0%-1.5%, Processing based costs (incl. process, G&A, sustaining cost, & closure allocation): $8.85/t, average mining cost (varies by depth): $2.11/t, and re-handling cost $0.87/t. Attributable calculated as 64.75% IAMGOLD, 27.75% Sumitomo, and a 7.5% interest. Numbers presented in this table may not add up to the totals provided due to rounding.

BASE CASE AND EXTENDED MINE PLAN FS ECONOMICS COMPARED WITH 2017 PFS (100% Basis)



PFS (2017) FS (2018) Change from PFS Base Case

Mine Plan Extended

Mine Plan Base Case

Mine Plan Extended

Mine Plan Mining Capacity 60 Mtpa 62 Mtpa 70 Mtpa + 2 Mtpa + 10 Mtpa Daily Milling Throughput 32,000 t 36,000 t 36,000 t + 4,000 t + 4,000 t LOM Average Annual Production 320 koz 367 koz 372 koz + 47 koz + 52 koz Recovered Gold 5.4 Moz 5.9 Moz 6.7 Moz + 0.4 Moz + 1.3 Moz Average Mill Feed Grade 0.89 g/t 0.98 g/t 0.97 g/t + 0.09 g/t + 0.08 g/t LOM Average Strip Ratio 2.85: 1 2.42: 1 2.62: 1 -0.51: 1 -0.23: 1 Project Mine life 17 years 16 years 18 years -1 years + 1 years Initial CAPEX $1,047 million $1,147 million $1,147 million + $100 million + $100 million Sustaining CAPEX 1 $418 million $527 million $589 million + $109 million + $171 million LOM Average Total Cash Cost $605/ oz $594/ oz $606/ oz -$11/ oz + $1/ oz LOM Average AISC $689/ oz $694/ oz $703/ oz + $5/ oz + $14/ oz After-Tax - NPV @ 5% $703 million $795 million $905 million + $92 million + $202 million IRR (After-tax) 14.0% 15.2% 15.4% 120 bps 140 bps Payback Period 4.5 years 4.4 years 4.4 years -0.1 years -0.1 years Gold Price $1,250/ oz $1,250/ oz $1,250/ oz + $0/ oz + $0/ oz

Notes:

Exchange rate and fuel price are same in PFS and FS at 1.3 USD:CAD and $0.89/L respectively.

MINING AND PROCESSING

The FS study refined the selected development option of a truck-shovel operation, assuming 220t autonomous trucks and 34 m3 shovels, and a mineral processing circuit incorporating primary crushing, secondary crushing, tertiary high pressure grinding roll crushing, ball milling, vertical stirred milling, gravity concentration and cyanide leaching, followed by gold recovery using carbon-in-pulp, stripping and electrowinning. The crushing-grinding circuit being utilized is more energy efficient than a standard SAG or a pre-crush circuit and consumes less crushing and grinding media. A thickened tailings management facility is planned. The mine site would be powered by a 44 km tap line connection to Hydro One's Shining Tree Substation. Key parameters that provide the basis for the Base Case and Extended Mine Plans in the FS and other qualifications and assumptions are provided below:

Parameter Base Case

Assumptions Extended Mine Plan

Assumptions Maximum Mining Capacity 62 Mtpa 70 Mtpa Stockpile Capacity 48 Mt 41 Mt Processing Rate 13.1 Mtpa (36 ktpd) 13.1 Mtpa (36 ktpd) Metallurgical Recoveries 91.8% 91.8%

For the Base Case Mine Plan, open pit mining includes 46 Mt extracted during the two year pre-production period followed by 14 years of production mining. Stockpile reclaim extends the milling operation into Year 16. The amount of reclaimed ore over the life of the operation is 59 Mt. The average mill feed grade scheduled is 0.98 g/t Au and the LOM stripping ratio is 2.42:1.

For the Extended Mine Plan, open pit mining includes 46 Mt extracted during the two year pre-production period followed by 16 years of production mining. Stockpile reclaim extends the milling operation into Year 18. The amount of reclaimed ore over the life of the operation is 59 Mt. The average mill feed grade scheduled is 0.97 g/t Au and the LOM stripping ratio is 2.62:1.

FUTURE WORK

The FS recommended the completion of various studies to further define site conditions as part of the detailed design process. This includes additional geotechnical investigations to characterize foundation overburden soil and till composition at various locations. In addition, we continue to conduct exploration activities on key Au targets within our more than 500-square-kilometre property surrounding the Cote Gold deposit to advance Au discoveries that could further maximize our flexibility with respect to future development decisions.

IAMGOLD plans to make an investment decision on Cote Gold early in 2019, based on the feasibility work.

QUALIFIED PERSONS

The 2018 Cote Gold FS was prepared by both Wood and IAMGOLD Qualified Persons (QP's) (as defined under National Instrument 43-101). Wood Qualified Persons are independent of IAMGOLD and have reviewed and approved this news release. The affiliation and areas of responsibility for each Qualified Person involved in preparing the 2018 Cote Gold FS, upon which the technical report will be based, are provided below.

Wood QPs

B. Wang, Ph.D., P.Eng., Design of surface watercourse realignments, tailings management facility, mine rock areas and seepage collection ponds

A. Peralta, P.Eng., Mine design, Mineral Reserves

P. Baluch, P.Eng., Project infrastructure

D. Dyck, P.Eng., Environmental studies, permitting and social or community impact

P. Oshust, P.Geo., Mineral Resources

D. Small, P.Eng., Economic analysis, capital costs

P. O'hara, P.Eng., Process design

IAMGOLD QPs

A. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., Exploration, geological setting, and deposit

M-F. Bugnon, M.Sc., P.Geo., Property description, location, accessibility, climate, infrastructure, physiography and history

The information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Craig MacDougall, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration for IAMGOLD. Mr. MacDougall is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

SAMPLE PREPARATION and DATA VERIFICATION

IAMGOLD technicians and geologists on site follow a sample preparation protocol to ensure quality control before sending samples to the assay laboratory. Drill core are typically sampled at one-metre intervals and consist of one-half of sawn drill core to be sent to the assay laboratory and the other half retained as a core reference. Core is sawed by technicians following the orientation line drawn by the geologist. The entire length of a drill hole is sampled, except, diabase dykes that occur within the sequence are not sampled, aside for two one-metre shoulder samples at the upper and lower contacts. Sample intervals are logged and tagged with a duplicate tag bearing a unique sample number by IAMGOLD geologists. Sample details, including the borehole number and sample interval are recorded in a sample book. One sample tag is placed in a plastic sample bag with the sawn core sample and the second is stapled in the core box beneath the remaining representative half core sample. The remaining half of the core is stored in racks at the core farm facilities located on site.

For quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) purposes, IAMGOLD systematically inserts control samples at regular intervals within sample batches. The control samples consist of a certified reference material (CRM) or a blank sample and are routinely monitored.

Sample shipments are dispatched to the primary analytical laboratory, which has varied over the project history and includes: Accurassay Laboratories, AGAT Laboratories Ltd. and ActLabs Ltd. All are accredited to the ISO 17025 by the Standards Council of Canada. Samples were analyzed using a standard fire assay ("FA") with a 50 gram charge with an Atomic Absorption ("AA") finish. Samples that assayed above a preset limit using FA-AA were re-analyzed with the FA-Gravimetric method. Samples containing visible gold or which have returned values greater than 10.0 g/t are re-analyzed by pulp metallic analysis.

The Primary laboratory also sets aside the pulp from one out of every 10 samples which is then sent to a second laboratory for analysis as a check assay. From 2012 to 2018, check assays were variably completed at ActLabs, ALS Minerals and AGAT Labs. Samples were analyzed using standard the FA with AA finish method. Samples that assayed above a pre-set limit using fire assay with AA finish were re-analyzed with the FA-Gravimetric method.

CONFERENCE CALL

A conference call will be held on Friday, November 2, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) for a discussion with management regarding the results of the feasibility study for the Cote Gold Project. A webcast of the conference call will also be available through IAMGOLD's website - www.iamgold.com.

Conference Call Information: North America Toll-Free: 1-800-319-4610 or 1-604-638-5340.

A replay of this conference call will be accessible for one month following the call by dialing: North America toll-free: 1-800-319-6413 or 1-604-638-9010, passcode: 2698#.

Forward-Looking Information

All Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resources estimates reported by the Company were estimated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May 10, 2014). These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

This document contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements" are made as of the date of this document. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:

(i) the estimated amount and grade of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves;

(ii) the FS representing a viable development option for the Project;

(iii) estimates of the capital costs of constructing mine facilities and bringing a mine into production, of sustaining capital and the duration of financing payback periods;

(iv) the estimated amount of future production, both produced and gold recovered; and,

(v) estimates of operating costs and total costs, net cash flow, net present value and economic returns from an operating mine.

Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "envisages", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements are based on IAMGOLD's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. The most significant assumptions are set forth above, but generally these assumptions include:

(i) the presence of and continuity of gold at the Cote Gold Project at estimated grades;

(ii) the geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock conforming to sampled results; including the quantities of water and the quality of the water that must be diverted or treated during mining operations;

(iii) the capacities and durability of various machinery and equipment;

(iv) the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices and within the estimated delivery times;

(v) the pricing for electricity, bulk commodities and equipment spares;

(vi) currency exchange rates;

(vii) gold sale prices and exchange rate assumed;

(viii) appropriate discount rates applied to the cash flows in the economic analysis;

(ix) tax rates and royalty rates applicable to the proposed mining operation;

(x) the availability of acceptable financing under assumed structure and costs;

(xi) anticipated mining losses and dilution;

(xii) metallurgical performance;

(xiii) reasonable contingency requirements;

(xiv) success in realizing proposed operations;

(xv) receipt of permits and other regulatory approvals on acceptable terms; and

(xvi) the fulfillment of environmental assessment commitments and arrangements with local communities.

Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Many forward-looking statements are made assuming the correctness of other forward looking statements, such as statements of net present value and internal rates of return, which are based on most of the other forward-looking statements and assumptions herein. The cost information is also prepared using current values, but the time for incurring the costs will be in the future and it is assumed costs will remain stable over the relevant period.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions and estimates expressed above do not occur as forecast, but specifically include, without limitation: risks relating to variations in the mineral content within the material identified as Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves from that predicted; variations in rates of recovery and extraction; the geotechnical characteristics of the rock mined or through which infrastructure is built differing from that predicted, the quantity of water that will need to be diverted or treated during mining operations being different from what is expected to be encountered during mining operations or post closure, or the rate of flow of the water being different; developments in world metals markets; risks relating to fluctuations in the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar; increases in the estimated capital and operating costs or unanticipated costs; difficulties attracting the necessary work force; increases in financing costs or adverse changes to the terms of available financing, if any; tax rates or royalties being greater than assumed; changes in development or mining plans due to changes in logistical, technical or other factors; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; risks relating to receipt of regulatory approvals; delays in stakeholder negotiations; changes in regulations applying to the development, operation, and closure of mining operations from what currently exists; the effects of competition in the markets in which IAMGOLD operates; operational and infrastructure risks and the additional risks described in IAMGOLD's Annual Information Form filed with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com) for the year ended December 31, 2017 and in the Corporation's Annual Report Form 40-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR (available at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html. IAMGOLD cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive.

When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to IAMGOLD, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. IAMGOLD does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by IAMGOLD or on our behalf, except as required by law.

About IAMGOLD

IAMGOLD (www.iamgold.com) is a mid-tier mining company with four operating gold mines on three continents. A solid base of strategic assets in North and South America and West Africa is complemented by development and exploration projects and continued assessment of accretive acquisition opportunities. IAMGOLD is in a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise.

For further information please contact:

Ken Chernin, VP Investor Relations, IAMGOLD Corporation

Tel: (416) 360-4743 Mobile: (416) 388-6883

Laura Young, Director, Investor Relations, IAMGOLD Corporation

Tel: (416) 933-4952 Mobile: (416) 670-3815

Martin Dumont, Senior Analyst Investor Relations, IAMGOLD Corporation

Tel: (416) 933-5783 Mobile: (647) 967-9942

Toll-free: 1-888-464-9999 info@iamgold.com

Please note:

This entire news release may be accessed via fax, e-mail, IAMGOLD's website at www.iamgold.com and through Newsfile's website at www.newsfilecorp.com . All material information on IAMGOLD can be found at www.sedar.com or at www.sec.gov.

Si vous desirez obtenir la version francaise de ce communique, veuillez consulter le http://www.iamgold.com/French/accueil/default.aspx.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2018) - American Biofuels Inc. (the "Company") (TSXV: ABS.H) announces that Stephen Watts has been appointed to the Board of Directors, effective October 31, 2018.

Mr. Watts is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of accounting experience in advising businesses of all sizes on corporate finance, general business advisory and taxation matters. His expertise is spread across a diverse range of industries, and he has significant exposure to businesses in South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Holding positions on the Board of Directors for numerous large private companies, Stephen's business and commercial skills allow him to actively advise and be involved in the running of these businesses. Stephen is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and a Fellow Member of the Taxation Institute of Australia.

As announced in our News Release on October 25, 2018, Christopher Cherry was appointed to the Board of Directors on that date. Mr. Cherry is a Chartered Accountant and Certified General Account who has provided management and accounting consulting services to various public companies since 2007.

The Company welcomes the expertise that both Stephen and Christopher will bring to its Board of Directors, which is now comprised as follows:

Ron Hughes: CEO, President and Director Teresa Cherry: CFO and Secretary Richard Barnett: Director Jurgen Wolf: Director Christopher Cherry: Director Stephen Watts: Director

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

SIGNED: "Teresa Cherry"

Teresa Cherry, CFO and Secretary

Contact Teresa Cherry: (604) 336-8617

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.
In August, Fortis Healthcare shareholders gave their nod for the deal.

New Delhi: Competition watchdog CCI has approved Malaysia-based IHH Healthcare's proposed acquisition of Fortis Healthcare and Fortis Malar Hospital.

In August, Fortis Healthcare shareholders gave their nod for the deal.

Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved "acquisition of Fortis Healthcare Ltd and Fortis Malar Hospital Ltd by Northern TK Venture Pte Ltd," the regulator said in a tweet on Wednesday.

In July, the board of Fortis Healthcare approved a Rs 4,000-crore offer from IHH Healthcare for buying 31.1 percent stake in it. The proposal had valued the cash-strapped firm at Rs 8,880 crore.

Shareholders had also approved reclassifying members of promoter/promoter group to public shareholder category and classification of Northern TK Venture Pvt Ltd as a promoter.
By Henning Gloystein and Jessica Jaganathan SINGAPORE (Reuters) - German exchange group Deutsche Boerse is revamping its Asian business with the launch of its European Energy Exchange (EEX) in Singapore, looking to boost its business in the world's fastest growing commodity markets. Deutsche Boerse , which has global ambitions for EEX, said it would rebrand its Singapore-based subsidiary Cleartrade Exchange (CLTX) as EEX Asia, offering futures contracts on freight and seaborne commodities such as fuel oil and iron ore

By Henning Gloystein and Jessica Jaganathan

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - German exchange group Deutsche Boerse is revamping its Asian business with the launch of its European Energy Exchange (EEX) in Singapore, looking to boost its business in the world's fastest growing commodity markets.

Deutsche Boerse , which has global ambitions for EEX, said it would rebrand its Singapore-based subsidiary Cleartrade Exchange (CLTX) as EEX Asia, offering futures contracts on freight and seaborne commodities such as fuel oil and iron ore.

German-based EEX is Europe's biggest bourse for trading power and also a leading exchange for natural gas, coal and carbon trading.

"We have the ambition to become a global commodities exchange," said Egbert Laege, EEX Group board member and its head of global commodities.

In 2016, EEX Group bought CLTX, which deals in commodities like iron ore and fuel oil, to get a foothold in Asia, which is by far the world's biggest and fastest growing commodity and energy market.

Last year, EEX bought U.S. power and natural gas bourse Nodal Exchange.

"The acquisition of CLTX was the first step. Then last year, Nodal was the next step," Laege told the Reuters Global Commodities Summit series of interviews that takes place this week.

EEX Group will keep its Cleartrade brand alive as a platform handling support for commodities traded outside exchanges, known as over-the-counter (OTC) markets.

EEX Asia will initially focus on expanding its freight offerings.

"It's the freight market we find most interesting, especially in Asia. It's a key facilitator for global trade ... and there's a huge overlap of Asian and European freight clients," he said, speaking to Reuters while attending the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW).

"The next step will be iron ore."

Growing its dry-bulk business will put EEX Asia in competition with the dominant bourse in this field, the Baltic Exchange, which was bought by Singapore Exchange (SGX) in 2016.

"In some of our offerings, we will be competing with SGX's offerings, for sure," said Laege.

POWER AND GAS NOT QUITE THERE IN ASIA

In Europe, EEX started off as an electricity exchange, before branching out into the main fossil fuels that fire power stations: thermal coal and natural gas.

While it has established some links in Asia, including early product design projects with the Japan Electric Power Exchange (JEPX), Laege said electricity was not a priority for EEX Asia at this stage.

"As an exchange, you cannot front-run a market. There needs to be a threshold market size and liquidity first, and in Asia's (power and gas markets) we're not quite there yet."

This was also the case for the booming liquefied natural gas (LNG) market.

"While it is true that LNG demand is growing, you have a lack of standardized delivery contracts," Laege said, with higher standardization a prerequisite for an LNG exchange product.

Despite some attempts to chance the status quo, "it will have to be seen whether you'll ever have such standardization (in Asian LNG) as you have in U.S. and European natural gas markets," he added.

For other news from Reuters Global Commodities Summit, click on

http://www.reuters.com/summit/COMMODITIES18

Follow Reuters Summits on Twitter @Reuters_Summits

(Reporting by Henning Gloystein and Jessica Jaganathan; Editing by Richard Pullin)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday it wants to ease regulations for U.S. lenders with less than $700 billion in assets, a way to lessen the burden on big commercial lenders that do not have volatile Wall Street businesses. Under the Fed proposal, midsized lenders including U.S.

By Pete Schroeder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday it wants to ease regulations for U.S. lenders with less than $700 billion in assets, a way to lessen the burden on big commercial lenders that do not have volatile Wall Street businesses.

Under the Fed proposal, midsized lenders including U.S. Bancorp , Capital One Financial Corp , PNC Financial Corp and Charles Schwab Corp would face lower liquidity and compliance requirements, and smaller banks would get even easier treatment.

The proposal stems from a law Congress passed in May that ordered the Fed to reduce regulatory burdens on community and regional lenders.

Under the proposal, which is subject to a comment period and may be revised, there would be four tiers of regulation for banks with over $100 billion in assets.

Those with $250 billion to $700 billion in assets could enjoy a reduced liquidity coverage ratio (LCR), which requires banks to hold high-quality assets that could easily be turned into cash. Banks in that range could see their liquidity requirements reduced by as much as 30 percent, the Fed said.

Smaller banks would have even less restrictive requirements and face stress tests of their capital plans less often than the annual exam the Fed now conducts.

Randal Quarles, the Fed's vice chair for supervision, said the changes should "meaningfully" reduce compliance costs for banks without injecting significant new risk into the banking system. "These proposals embody an important principle: the character of regulation should match the character of a firm," he said. Globally systemic banks based in the United States that have large capital markets businesses would not be affected by the proposed changes. Those include JPMorgan Chase & Co , Bank of America Corp , Citigroup Inc , Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley .

The proposal also gives the Fed flexibility to impose stricter rules on banks with less than $700 billion in assets if they engage in higher levels of risky activity.

The banking industry expressed disappointment. The proposal falls short and fails to address underlying issues with bank regulations, the Bank Policy Institute said.

"It does not do enough to tailor regulations based on banks' risk profiles," said Greg Baer, who heads the group.

The proposal was also met with criticism from advocates for stricter rules on Wall Street.

"Deregulating some of the largest banks in the country will make the financial system less safe, less stable and less protected from another crash," said Dennis Kelleher, president and CEO of the pro-reform group Better Markets.

One Fed governor, Lael Brainard, voted against the proposal, arguing it went beyond Congress's intent and exposed the financial system to unnecessary risk.

Although the proposal did not address U.S. subsidiaries of foreign banks, the Fed said it intends to propose a separate rule for them "in the near future." It is also working with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on changes to a requirement that big banks create plans for dismantlement in case of failure, known as living wills.

(Reporting by Pete Schroeder; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Andrea Ricci and Lauren Tara LaCapra)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The revenue from goods and services tax (GST) in September was Rs 94,442 crore.

New Delhi: GST collections in October crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore mark, after a gap of 5 months, on the back of festive demand, anti-evasion measures.

The Finance Ministry on Thursday said 67.45 lakh businesses filed goods and services tax (GST) returns in October and deposited Rs 1,00,710 crore as taxes.

"GST collections for October 2018 have crossed Rs 1 lakh crore. The success of GST is lower rates, lesser evasion, higher compliance, only one tax and negligible interference by taxation authorities," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted.

The states which achieved "extraordinary growth" in total taxes collected include Kerala (44 percent), Jharkhand (20 percent), Rajasthan (14 percent), Uttarakhand (13 percent) and Maharashtra (11 percent), an official statement said.

GST revenue had first crossed the landmark figure in April when the collections were Rs 1,03,458 crore. Since then collections have maintained above Rs 90,000 crore mark.

The collections stood at Rs 94,016 crore in May, Rs 95,610 crore in June, Rs 96,483 crore in July, Rs 93,960 crore in August and Rs 94,442 crore in September.

Of the Rs 1 lakh crore total gross GST revenue collected in October, central GST is Rs 16,464 crore, state GST is Rs 22,826 crore, IGST is Rs 53,419 crore (including Rs 26,908 crore collected on imports) and cess is Rs. 8,000 crore.

GST collections for October 2018 have crossed Rs. 1 lakh crore. The success of GST is lower rates, lesser evasion, higher compliance, only one tax and negligible interference by taxation authorities.  Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) November 1, 2018

The October revenue collections reflect the purchase and sales activities conducted in the month of September.

The government has settled Rs 17,490 crore to CGST and Rs 15,107 crore to SGST from IGST as the regular settlement.

Further, Rs 30,000 crore has been settled from the balance IGST available with the centre on a provisional basis in the ratio of 50:50 between centre and states.

"The total revenue earned by the central government and the state governments after regular and provisional settlement in the month of October, 2018, is Rs 48,954 crore for CGST and Rs 52,934 crore for the SGST, the statement added.

Deloitte India Partner M S Mani said "it appears that GST collections have turned the tide and the increased collections would be on account of the stabilisation of GST processes and the anti-evasion measures taken. The fact that September heralds the festive season has also helped in improving collections".

EY Tax Partner Abhishek Jain said that while a possible reason for an upsurge in September could be fiscal 2017-18 closing adjustments, this trend could be expected to continue with the implementation of anti-evasion measures like TDS/TCS."
By Stephanie Kelly NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Wednesday and posted the worst monthly performance since mid-2016 on evidence of rising global crude supply, but losses were limited by signs of strong U.S. demand for fuel.

By Stephanie Kelly

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Wednesday and posted the worst monthly performance since mid-2016 on evidence of rising global crude supply, but losses were limited by signs of strong U.S. demand for fuel.

The Brent crude December futures contract, which expired Wednesday, fell 44 cents to settle at $75.47 a barrel. The more-active January contract fell 91 cents to settle at $75.04 a barrel.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 87 cents to settle at $65.31 a barrel.

Both benchmarks were more than $10 a barrel below the four-year highs reached on Oct. 3. They both posted their worst monthly performance since July 2016, with Brent falling 8.8 percent for the month and WTI dropping 10.9 percent.

Investor sentiment across risky asset classes, such as equities and energy, turned negative during the month as U.S.-China trade tensions sparked demand worries.

Weighing on market sentiment on Wednesday were signs of rising global output. U.S. crude oil production surged by 416,000 barrels per day (bpd) to a record 11.346 million bpd in August, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said.

The United States and other top producers Russia and Saudi Arabia pumped 33 million barrels per day in September, Refinitiv data showed, an increase of 10 million bpd since the start of the decade.

Russian oil output has reached 11.41 million bpd in October, a level unseen since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, an industry source told Reuters.

The increases in production comes just ahead of new U.S. sanctions on Iran, set to come into force Nov. 4, that are expected to cut supply.

"There's this perception that there's enough oil in the market right now to get through the Iranian sanctions," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago.

Washington has made it clear to Tehran's customers that it expects them to stop buying any Iranian crude oil from that date.

However, on Wednesday U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said that while the United States wants to apply maximum pressure on Iran with sanctions on its crude exports, it does not want to harm countries that are friends and allies that depend on the oil.

Imports of Iranian crude by major buyers in Asia hit a 32-month low in September as China, South Korea and Japan sharply cut their purchases ahead of the sanctions, government and ship-tracking data showed.

Earlier in the session, oil prices gained after the U.S. Energy Information Administration said crude inventories rose 3.2 million barrels last week, less than expected. Gasoline and distillate stockpiles fell as total product demand over the past four weeks rose 5.4 percent from a year ago. [EIA/S]

"Bullish draws to the products have acted as a counterweight to bearish sentiment," said Matt Smith, director of commodity research at ClipperData.

Oil market sentiment received some support from equity markets, which pulled back from 20-month lows after pledges by China to support its markets.

Equities have been under pressure from the trade war between the world's two largest economies, the United States and China. The United States has imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods and China has responded with retaliatory duties on $110 billion worth of U.S. goods.

(Reporting by Stephanie Kelly in New York; Additional reporting by Christopher Johnson in London, Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by Alistair Bell and Leslie Adler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
It is a pre-scheduled and routine meeting of the central board of the RBI

New Delhi: The RBI's Central Board, headed by Governor Urjit Patel, is scheduled to meet in Mumbai on 19 November, sources said amid a reported rift between the government and the central bank over certain key issues.

Sources said it is a pre-scheduled and routine meeting of the central Board of the RBI.

The last meeting of the board was held earlier this month.

This would be the first meeting of the Board after RBI's Deputy Governor Viral Acharya highlighted the issues concerning the independence of the central bank.

There are 18 members on the central Board of directors of the RBI, including those nominated by the government.

There have also been reports that the Finance Ministry has started a discussion with the RBI under the never before used Section 7 of the RBI Act.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Finance Ministry said the RBI's autonomy is "essential" and will be "nurtured".
SEBI found that Sahara India Commercial Corporation (SICCL) had made an offer of OFCDs in financial years 1998-2009 and raised an amount of at least Rs 14,106 crore from 1,98,39,939 investors.

New Delhi: In a fresh crackdown on Saharas, regulator SEBI has found another group firm to have raised over Rs 14,000 crore in violation of rules and has ordered the company and its then directors including Subrata Roy to refund the money with 15 percent annual interest.

The order, which also bars the company, Sahara India Commercial Corporation Ltd (SICCL), as well as its then directors and associated entities from the markets and from associating with any public entity, relates to collecting funds between 1998 and 2009 from nearly 2 crore investors through issuance of certain bonds.

SEBI has passed this new order when a long-running legal dispute is going on in the Supreme Court over an earlier order from the capital markets regulator asking two other Sahara firms in 2011 to refund over Rs 24,000 crore garnered by issuing similar bonds -- the optionally fully convertible debentures (OFCDs) -- to nearly 3 crore people.

While Sahara has been asked to refund the money to a special SEBI account under a Supreme Court-monitored repayment process, the group has been saying it has already refunded more than 98 percent of the amount directly to investors and the proof for the same have been given to SEBI.

Besides, Sahara has also deposited a large amount to the SEBI account, but has alleged that the regulator has been able to disburse only a small portion to investors. Sahara's stand has been that the investors are not approaching SEBI for a refund as they have already got their money.

In case of SICCL too, the SEBI order mentioned that the company made submissions that it has already refunded the money collected from the investors in cash, barring Rs 18 crore for which the bondholders did not turn up for the refund.

But, the regulator said the company did not provide any proof for repayment through banking channels.

In her 54-page order, SEBI's Whole Time Member Madhabi Puri Buch said the repayments must be done through non-transferrable bank demand draft or pay order, while the refund amount directions would be modified for the money claimed to have been already returned to investors -- provided the payments are made through a prescribed route and are certified by peer-reviewed chartered accountants.

In case of the refund to be made by Sahara group chief Subrata Roy and others party to the earlier SEBI orders against two other Sahara firms, the amount needs to be deposited in the existing SEBI-Sahara account, from which the regulator would make further refunds to concerned investors after permission from the Supreme Court.

Earlier in 2011, SEBI had ordered Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Ltd (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Ltd (SHICL) to refund the money raised from investors through OFCD route.

SEBI said it came across the alleged irregularities relating to SICCL while it was investigating the other two companies.

SEBI found that SICCL had made an offer of OFCDs in financial years 1998-2009 and raised an amount of at least Rs 14,106 crore from 1,98,39,939 investors.

"I am of the view that SICCL engaged in fund mobilising activity from the public, through the offer of OFCDs and has contravened the provisions of ...the Companies Act," Buch said in the order dated October 31.

The company submitted that it was not a public fundraising as the money was raised through a private placement of OFCDs to an identified target group comprising of its workers, employees, friends, associates and individuals having deposits or association with group entities. SEBI, however, rejected this submission, saying any private placement to more than 50 persons becomes a public offer.

Accordingly, the regulator has ordered SICCL, Subrata Roy, O P Shrivastava, J B Roy, A S Rao, Ranoj Das Gupta, as well as legal representatives of late D S Thapa, late P S Mishra and late Y N Saxena, to jointly and severally refund the money collected by the company through the issuance of OFCD along with an interest of 15 percent per annum.

As per the order, all these individuals are former directors of the company and the refund amount would be for the amount raised during their directorship.

SICCL, Subrata Roy and others have also been directed to provide a full inventory of all the assets and properties and details of all the bank accounts, demat accounts and holdings of the mutual fund, shares and securities if held in physical form and demat form, of the company.

"SICCL and Subrata Roy are permitted to sell the assets of the company for the sole purpose of making the refunds as directed above and deposit the proceeds in the SEBI Sahara refund account. Such proceeds shall be utilised, with the permission of the Supreme Court, for the purpose of making refund/repayment to the investors of SICCL," the regulator noted.

In case of failure of respective entities to repay within three months, SEBI warned it would initiate its recovery proceedings.

SICCL, Subrata Roy and other former directors have been barred from accessing the securities market "till the expiry of four years from the date of completion of refunds to investors".

Besides, SEBI has barred Sahara India from the securities markets for four years.

Sahara India - a partnership firm belonging to the Sahara Group with Subrata Roy as managing partner - acted as "arranger" to the OFCD and facilitated the issue as merchant banker.
By Azernews





By Sara Israfilbayova

The State Committee on Property Issues of Azerbaijan held next auction on privatization of state property on October 30.

Thus, at the last auction of the month, 26 orders were received on 17 state-owned properties.

The Committee will hold next auction on privatization of state property on November 27, where 195 state objects will be exhibited for sale.

The auction will offer 20 joint-stock companies, 91 small state enterprises, 42 non-residential areas and 42 vehicles.

The portal for privatization  privatization.az, launched in July 2016, reflects all necessary information about the facilities, their addresses, location, and even initial cost and aims at facilitation of the process. The website is available in two languages - Azerbaijani and English. Why Azerbaijan is special section available on the website explains the reasons and advantages of investing in the country.

The privatization process is designed to attract both foreign and local investors, as well as develop the business environment of Azerbaijan.

Moreover, the State Committee on Property Issues held the first electronic auction on July 4, 2017.

The electronic auction service, which is available on the website privatization.az, combines the privatization procedure of vehicles and equipment. In the future, it will be possible to privatize small state enterprises and facilities, joint-stock companies through electronic auction. Now, the corresponding work in programming is being implemented.

The State Committee on Property Issues was established on May 19, 2009 on the basis of the relevant presidential decree.

The main activities of the State Committee are the management of state property, attraction of investments, maintenance of a single cadastre of immovable property, maintenance of a land cadastre, organization of a land market, protection and improvement of land quality.
Walmart India's Chief Executive Krish Iyer said that the company is investing as planned as far as Cash & Carry business  both brick and mortar and e-commerce  is concerned

Following the $16 billion acquisition of Indian e-commerce firm Flipkart, American retail giant Walmart's India investment plan is unlikely to get impacted, according to a media report.

Walmart India's Chief Executive Krish Iyer told The Economic Times that the company is investing as planned as far as Cash & Carry business  both brick and mortar and e-commerce  is concerned.

Cash & Carry business in India has a big potential. Over the next 10 years, it is estimated that the overall retail trade will be around $1.8 trillion, out of which $1.2 trillion will be traditional trade and around $600 billion will be modern trade, Iyer was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The company said that it would invest about $500 million (about Rs 3,200 crore at the current exchange rate) to open another 47 stores by 2022 to take the total number of outlets to 70.

Iyer said that out of the 23 B2B Cash and Carry stores, 19 have achieved break-even with over a million members.

The global retail giant, which opened its 23rd wholesale store in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, is in the process of setting up a second store in Visakhapatnam and discussions are underway for land.

"A typical store needs anywhere between $9 to $10 million in terms of investment. We are planning to take the total number of stores to 70 by 2022. That is the plan and we will also have e-commerce space in all the stores. So you can do the math. Yes, it needs $500 million," Iyer told PTI.

Walmart India became a wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart Inc after it severed and exited from the failed Joint Venture with Bharti Enterprises in 2014.

Iyer said the company also has plans to increase fulfilment centres across the country.

Iyer said the current contribution of private labels to overall sales was in single digits and he expected it to grow to about 20 percent in the next two to three years.

On the possible cannibalisation of sales by its recently acquired Flipkart, he said both are in different segments.

While Flipkart focuses on individual customers, Walmart provides B2B service, he said.

With inputs from PTI
Improvement in rank means the cost of doing business is lower now.

Successive governments and economists have often debunked the World Bank Doing Business Index as Indias rank remained sluggish in the 130-140 range. However, on a prudent note, the present government has worked really hard to address the lacunae and the results are here to be viewed. Indias rank has moved up from 100 in the 2017 ranking to 77 in the 2018 one which is quite remarkable. How is one to view this rank?

The rank is based on a survey of industry in two cities -- Mumbai and Delhi, where participants provide a feedback. This is corroborated with the processes that are involved and then tabulated. Hence two things are quite clear.

The first is that we know what it is that the World Bank is looking at and second, knowing our relative position it is possible to address the issues especially if they are within the policy ambit. Therefore, one must remember that what holds in these two cities does not hold elsewhere as things could be better or worse. Is there anything amiss in deliberately going after a rank by fixing these lacunae? Not really, as these indicators are objective for all countries and by doing so we create a cleaner environment for business.

If one looks at the last two ranking schedules, one can see that India is a front-runner in improving rank in two successive years. Out of the ten indicators that have been included by the Bank, there are substantial improvements made in starting a business, dealing with construction permits and trading across borders. The table below gives some kind of comparative picture of this improvement in real terms i.e. number of days or hours in the last two years which made a big difference.

As can be seen in the table, by merely cutting down on the timelines for giving permission, one can make doing business easier. And the fact that the government has cut this down in a years time is indicative of how irrelevant the processes must have been which have come down over the ages and never be reviewed. Very often the paperwork involved in moving things with the bureaucracy is really tedious and adds to the cost.

At a different level, one can give an example of renewing a license in Mumbai which is through a national online channel. The application is online and by putting in the license number the details of the individual appears. One has to only get the Aadhar copy and a doctor certificate and upload the same. However, once done, it becomes mandatory even today to go to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and hand over the same documents which are not scrutinised but only attested by the official. This shows how redundant is this visit, but necessary. One can think of several such redundant measures that have to be undertaken for doing business in India.

How has our performance been? For starting a business, the rank has gone up from 156 to 137 which is very good. For dealing with construction permits it is up from 181 to 52 while the cost has reduced from 23 percent to 5.4 percent of warehouse value. This is a big gain for the industry. The cost of getting an electric connection is down from 97 percent to 30 percent which is again a big gain. And last, for registering property there has been deterioration in rank and score. The number of days has increased from 53 to 69. Surely, the government will work on this for the next round.

For the next two market parameters, India has done well again. For getting credit, the rank is up from 29 to 22 with a 100 percent credit bureau coverage which was just 43.5 percent earlier. There was virtually status quo in protecting minority shareholders though the score is high at 80 and it may be difficult to improve significantly on this.

On paying taxes, there is a surprise considering goods and services tax (GST) was to unclog the system. While the rank is down by two notches and payments to be made reduced marginally, the time taken for compliance is up from 214 to 275 hours. Clearly, the GST processes need to be reviewed if this variable is to be improved over time.

On the foreign trade side, significant gains have been made with the rank going up from 146 to 80, which bodes well for exporters in particular. The task is to ensure that the same changes are made across all major cities and states so that these benefits are made available to all traders.

The legal processes relating to enforcing contracts and insolvency have remained virtually unchanged or slipped marginally. It can be hoped that for the insolvency parameter, things will improve next year as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has started showing positive signs (data in this study is up to May 2018).

While the show is really impressive, the next question is what does this mean? Will investment increase? Here it must be pointed out that we need to distinguish between an increase in investment and the reduction in the cost of doing business.

Investment in the economy has been stagnant in the last three years and will depend on other factors such as capacity utilisation, cost of funds, bank willingness to lend, viable projects to be undertaken in infrastructure and so on.

But what this improvement in rank means is that the cost of doing business is lower now. For example, a person wanting to set up Rs 500 crore project spends less time in getting permits and is able to commence business, say 100 days earlier. The savings on interest on the loan taken will be significant. Policies are enablers and cannot drive investment by themselves.

The goal quite certainly will be to also improve on the registration and insolvency issues which should hopefully bring the rank closer to the 50 region next year. The government should be commended for bringing about these improvements and given the competition between states in this regard, one can expect some acceleration in other cities and towns too.

(The writer is Chief Economist, CARE Ratings; and author of Economics of India: How to fool all people for all times)
India jumped 23 places to the 77th position in the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' ranking released on Wednesday.

New Delhi: India's jump to the 77th position in the World Bank's Doing Business Report is an outcome of the reforms undertaken by the Narendra Modi government and will boost the country's investment attractiveness, industry bodies and experts said on Wednesday.

India jumped 23 places to the 77th position in the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' ranking released on Wednesday.

India was ranked 100th in the World Bank's Doing Business Report last year.

The ranking comes as a shot in the arm for the Narendra Modi government which faces strong dissenting voices from opposition parties ahead of the general elections next year.

"The revised position will greatly add to the investment attractiveness and competitiveness of the Indian economy, which is the world's fastest-growing large economy now," CII President Rakesh Bharti Mittal said.

Commenting on the development, former Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said, "Huge improvement in India's global ranking in Ease of Doing Business report of the World Bank. This will enhance the competitiveness of the Indian economy and generate higher investments, both domestic and foreign".

In its annual report 'Doing Business' 2019 report, World Bank said India improved on six of the 10 parameters relating to starting and doing business in a country.

These parameters include ease of starting a business, construction permits, getting electricity, getting credit, paying taxes, trade across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

Arun Kumar, Chairman and CEO, KPMG in India said India's performance on the World Bank's assessment is a positive sign for foreign investors and is likely to reap benefits in the coming days.

Vishwas Udgirkar, Partner, Deloitte India said the upward movement in ranking is as expected.

"Overall reforms undertaken by the government have led to significant process improvement," he said.

Industry chamber FICCI said the new ranking reflects the depth of reforms been undertaken by the government not just at the Centre but also at the state level with the support of the state governments.

"Going forward, we hope to see further improvement in India's ranking next year and achieving the target of 50 looks very much feasible now, said Ficci President Rashesh Shah.

"This is a very welcome news which denotes the positive impact of various government policies led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Assocham Secretary General Uday Kumar Varma said.

Jaxay Shah, the president of real estate developers' body CREDAI, said there is still a long way to go in order to sustain this momentum and the government should expedite implementation of the single window clearances to accelerate the revival of Indian real estate.

The improvement in trading across the border by 66 places in one go shows how trade facilitation has helped in cutting down time and cost, said Ganesh Kumar Gupta, the President of exporters' body FIEO.

Gautam Mehra, the tax expert with PwC India, said the jump in ranking for the second year in a row is welcome news and an additional ratification that the reforms, both on laws and on process simplification, are showing results.

"The efforts by the Government to simplify customs processes would have been a factor which contributed to the large jump in the rank around cross-border trade," he said.

India was ranked 142nd among 190 nations when the Modi government came to power in 2014. It rose to 100th spot in the last ranking from the 131st rank in the previous year.

New Zealand topped the list of 190 countries in ease of doing business, followed by Singapore, Denmark and Hong Kong.

The United States is placed eight and China have been ranked 46th. Neighbouring Pakistan is placed at 136.

World Bank put India among the top 10 economies to make the most improvements.
There is a fear in Assam that the BJP-led Centre wants to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to enable Hindus from Bangladesh who have long been living in Assam without valid citizenship to become citizens of India and thereby use them as a vote bank.

Amid the clarion call to oppose the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, tooth and nail from various political parties to different regional outfits, an Assam entrepreneur has found a unique way to express his opposition and urge people to rise up and prevent the bill from becoming a law. Marylen Dutta owns MD Biryani House in Guwahati. Each packet of biryani he sells has this message pasted on it in the form of a sticker:

The sticker printed in Assamese reads in English: "We are completely opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. As a true Assamese you also do the same."

MD Biryani House is situated near the Assam Engineering College in Guwahati's Jalukbari locality.

"I am a small time businessman. However, as an Assamese, I feel it's my duty to oppose this controversial bill. We cannot allow foreigners to settle down here and take over everything. So whatever I am doing is in my own small way is to oppose the bill and asking people to come forward and oppose the bill. It is high time we do it now or else our future generations will have nothing to call anything their own. I have been doing it for the last three months," Dutta told Firstpost.

He manages to sell 50 to 150 packets of biryani a day to students and staff of the engineering college and the number even goes up to 300 when the institution holds any symposium or seminar or any other academic activity.

"Besides selling biryani packets near the engineering college, I also cater to various customers all over Guwahati be it weddings or birthdays. On an average, I sell around 7,000 packets of biryani a month," Dutta said.

However, his innovative idea of expressing his displeasure with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 has run into rough weather at times. "There are those who are against my action of appealing to the people through biryani packets. Many a time, they take to social media to malign me or my shop. However, I am not bothered. I won't call them 'foreigners', but yes they disapprove of what I am doing. I am responding to my conscience and doing my bit for my people and for my land," Dutta said.

There is a fear in Assam that the BJP-led Centre wants to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to enable Hindus from Bangladesh, who have long been living in Assam without valid citizenship, to become citizens of India and thereby use them as a vote bank. The attempts to pass this bill into an Act at a time when the work to the update the National Register of Citizens of India is going on in full swing under the supervision of the Supreme Court has angered various sections of citizens in the state.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha in July 2016, seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to give citizenship by naturalisation to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who came to India before 31 December, 2014.

The amended portion of Section 2 of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 reads: "In the Citizenship Act, 1955 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), in section 2, in sub-section (1), after clause (b), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely: Provided that persons belonging to minority communities, namely, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who have been exempted by the Central Government by or under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or from the application of the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 or any order made thereunder, shall not be treated as illegal migrants for the purposes of this Act.

The political conundrum triggered by the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 may snowball into a major crisis between the two ruling alliance partners BJP and the Asom Gana Parishad.

Assam agriculture minister and Asom Gana Parishad president Atul Bora in September warned his party will break its alliance with the BJP in the state if the Centre passes the bill.

"Currently, we (Asom Gana Parishad) are a part of the BJP led Assam government. If Centre passes the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 in the Parliament then we will break our alliance with the state government," Bora told ANI.
Rakesh Sinha also specifically asked whether the Congress and Left party leaders would support a Ram mandir bill in Parliament.

RSS ideologue and Rajya Sabha MP Rakesh Sinha has upped the ante on his pitch for a "Ram Mandir Bill". On Thursday, he tweeted that he is open to feedback to write the preface of his proposed private member's bill to have the Ram temple constructed in Ayodhya.

In his tweet, he tagged a number of Opposition leaders, seeking their response. He said that if the likes of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav ask him to "visit their residences", he would take them up on their offer to get their "valuable opinion".

Earlier on Thursday, Sinha tweeted asking the Opposition whether its leaders would support him if he introduced a private member's bill in Parliament on the construction of the temple in Ayodhya.

Will @RahulGandhi@SitaramYechury@laluprasadrjd Mayawati ji support Private member bill on Ayodhya? They frequently ask the date     to @RSSorg@BJP4India ,now onus on them to answer  Prof Rakesh Sinha (@RakeshSinha01) November 1, 2018

Directing his attack at Opposition leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati, Sitaram Yechury and Lalu Prasad Yadav, who he said were calling out the BJP government for not giving a definite date for the construction of the temple, Sinha said it was time for the truth to be revealed, also specifically asking whether the Congress and Left party leaders would support a Ram mandir bill in Parliament.

While speaking to Times Now on Wednesday, Sinha pointed out that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had already said if the Supreme Court does not agree to a day-to-day hearing on this case, the government should bring in a law to ensure the timely construction of the temple.

On Thursday, Sinha also tweeted in criticism of the Supreme Court, saying the Ayodhya matter was not its priority.

"How many days did the Supreme Court take to give the verdict on Article 377, Jallikattu, Sabarimala? But Ayodhya has not been a priority (for the court) for decades and decades. It is a top priority of the Hindu society," Sinha added.

Soon after his tweets, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah called Sinha's remarks a poll ploy by the BJP. Abdullah told ANI that "they (the BJP) think Lord Ram will win them the 2019 elections". "God will not help them win the elections. It is the people who will vote, neither Lord Ram nor Allah will vote," he added.

Congress leader Roshan Baig said: "Muslims are not against the Ram mandir. The Ram mandir should be constructed in India, but the matter is before the court. So why rake up the issue now, just ahead of the elections?"

A Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, on 29 October had decided to defer the hearings in the Ayodhya case to January 2019, saying a fresh, "appropriate" bench will decide on the date of hearings in the case. The bench had given the order while hearing a clutch of petitions against the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict, which had divided the disputed land in Ayodhya into three parts  one each to the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara Dal and Ram Lalla.

After the apex court's verdict, the RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), as well as a few NDA allies and its leaders, had demanded that the BJP bring about an ordinance to build the temple at the disputed site as soon as possible.

On Wednesday, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that the "construction of the Ram mandir is in the hands of Narendra Modi", and that he should do it. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has already planned a grand march to Ayodhya on 25 November.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadavis, too, had called the top court's decision "disappointing".

Aparna Yadav, daughter-in-law of Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday said the Ram temple "should be built" in Ayodhya. Speaking to reporters in Barabanki on Wednesday, Aparna said, "I have trust in the Supreme Court, but my opinion is that the Ram temple should be constructed in Ayodhya."

On Tuesday, the VHP's international working president Alok Kumar had said, "The Centre should enact a law to take over the disputed land in Ayodhya and hand it over to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mukti Yagna Samiti for the construction of the Ram temple." The VHP leader added that Hindus across the country wanted a grand temple to be constructed at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya.

"It's up to the Centre whether they bring an ordinance or a bill. We want a law that ensures that the rights of the land are transferred to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mukti Yagna Samiti for the construction of the Ram temple," Kumar told PTI, adding that if the government wanted to take over the land itself and set up a trust to build the temple, the VHP and its allied organisations would be ready to discuss it, as well.

"The VHP and seers want the land to be used only for the construction of the temple, and now, it should be done through a law," Kumar said, adding that the VHP and its allied organisations don't need cash or even a single penny from the government for the temple's construction as people from across the country would donate for this "noble cause".

With inputs from PTI
Last month, the Bombay High Court had directed the Pune Police not to take any coercive action against the activists or arrest them in the Bhima Koregaon case.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday extended till 21 November the relief granted to civil rights activist Gautam Navlakha, professor Anand Teltumbde and priest Stan Swamy from arrest in a case lodged against them by the Pune Police in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence and for alleged links with Maoists.

A division bench of justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre was hearing petitions filed by the three seeking quashing of the FIR against them.

The bench posted the matters for hearing on 21 November after noting that petitions pertaining to the case were pending before the Supreme Court.

"We will wait and see what order the Supreme Court passes in those matters. Till the next date of hearing, the interim relief shall continue," the bench said.

Last month, the high court had directed the police not to take any coercive action against the petitioners or arrest them.

While Navlakha was put under house arrest in the case, Teltumbde and Swamy were not arrested.

Apart from Navlakha, the police had, on 28 August, also arrested activists Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Sudha Bharadwaj for their alleged links with Maoists in the aftermath of violence at Bhima Koregaon in Pune district on 1 January. The police had alleged that Maoists had supported the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune, which had led to the violence.

The Delhi High Court had released Navlakha, after which he moved the Bombay High Court seeking to have the FIR against him quashed.
An encounter is underway between the terrorists and security forces in Zagoo Arizal area of Jammu and Kashmirr's Budgam district.

Two terrorists were gunned down by security forces during an encounter which broke out in the Zagoo Arizal area of Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district on Thursday morning.

The terrorists were killed after a joint search operation was launched by a team of police and security forces based on credible inputs about their presence in the area. After the conclusion of the operation, locals pelted stones on vehicles. An outdoor broadcasting (OB) van was also damaged in the incident.

The police identified one of the two terrorists killed in the encounter as Mukhtar A Khan, who is reportedly a local resident of the Brass Arizal area of the district. ANI reported that he had been involved in attacks on security forces.

Jammu & Kashmir: ANI OB (Outdoor Broadcasting) van damaged as locals pelt stones on vehicles after two terrorists were gunned down by security forces in Zagoo Arizal area of Budgam pic.twitter.com/R1oR19SF19  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2018

The Jammu and Kashmir Police, in a statement, said that during the search operation, terrorists fired at the security forces, which was retaliated. Colonel AK Nair said, "We had been tracking this group for some time, they were here probably to create unrest for the upcoming Panchayat elections."

Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, have been recovered from the site of encounter and a case has been registered.

The police have also requested residents to not venture near the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. They have also requested locals to cooperate with them till the area is completely sanitised.

In another encounter On 26 October, two militants and an army jawan were killed during an encounter in the Sopore area of Baramulla district in the state. Additionally, on 25 October, six militants were killed in two gunbattles with security forces in Baramulla and Anantnag districts.

With inputs from agencies
The CBI told the Delhi High Court that the probe against Rakesh Asthana was at a nascent stage and several incriminating documents, as well as the role of other suspects, was under investigation.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that the FIR with bribery charges it registered against the agency's special director Rakesh Asthana and three others shows cognisable offences. The CBI also opposed Asthana's plea seeking to have the FIR quashed, saying a roving inquiry at this stage was not permissible.

The CBI told the high court that the investigation against Asthana was at a nascent stage, and several incriminating documents, as well as the role of other suspects, was under investigation. The agency said it was handicapped in the inquiry at the moment as certain files and documents were under the scrutiny of the Central Vigilance Commission.

The investigating agency also denied all the adverse allegations Asthana has levelled in his petition, "whether germane or not germane".

The petitions filed by Asthana, his second-in-command at the agency, Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar, and the alleged middleman in the case, Manoj Prasad, are scheduled to come up for hearing before a bench of Justice Najmi Waziri in the Delhi High Court during the day.

The CBI's plea comes after the Delhi High Court ordered it to maintain status quo till 1 November on proceedings against Asthana, who was sent on leave by the government amid the bribery allegations and the infighting in the CBI with agency chief Alok Verma.

Justice Waziri had questioned the CBI for not filing a reply to the pleas filed by Asthana and Kumar, seeking to have the FIR quashed. The high court had also directed the CBI to file a reply on the two pleas on or before 1 November.

With inputs from PTI
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Wednesday that the Raman Singh-led BJP government in Chhattisgarh has become a 'champion' in snatching natural resources away from tribals and handing them over it to businessmen.

Raipur/Bilaspur: Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Wednesday that the Raman Singh-led BJP government in Chhattisgarh has become a "champion" in snatching natural resources away from tribals and handing them over it to businessmen.

The government diluted laws for this purpose, he alleged.

"The people of Bastar have been bearing the brunt of this brutal Raman Singh government for 15 years. This government has done nothing except looting jal-jungle-zameen (water, forest and land) of tribals and handing them over to a few businessmen.

"It has become a champion in it," Surjewala said at a press conference in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar district.

The government diluted the laws meant to protect the land of tribals so that it can be taken away, he said.

The Congress spokesperson also accused the BJP government at the Centre and in the state of betraying forest-dwellers by reducing the minimum support price (MSP) for forest produce fixed by the earlier Congress government.

In the last 15 years, the state government took away 90,000 acres of land from farmers, most of them tribals, and allocated it to businessmen, he alleged.

The Narendra Modi government at the Centre scrapped several tribal welfare schemes, reducing their number to 261 from 307, Surjewala said.

In 2017-18, Rs 31,920 crore were allocated for tribal welfare schemes but only Rs 18,073 were spent, he claimed.

Addressing another press conference at Bilaspur, Surjewala alleged that farmers and labourers were committing suicide under the BJP rule.

As per the information given by the Union Government in the Lok Sabha, 2,391 farmers and labourers committed suicide in Chhattisgarh between 2014 and 2016, he said.

The state is going to the polls on 12 and 20 November.
By Azernews





By Abdul Kerimkhanov

Separatists of Nagorno-Karabakh region cannot calm down and continue to invite foreign public and political figures to visit the occupied lands of Azerbaijan.

Following the mayor of the city of Saint-Etienne to Nagorno-Karabakh without the consent of Baku, another less pooular MP made an illegal trip to the occupied territories.

Belgian parliamentarian Jean-Jacques Flau visited occupied Karabakh on October 30.

He met with the head of the separatist regime of Karabakh, Bako Sahakyan. The meeting was attended by clown "foreign minister" Masis Mailyan, as well as an entrepreneur, a millionaire and the head of the European Federation of Europe for Justice and Democracy lobbyist group, led by Gaspar Karapetyan and others. Karapetyan, in order to propagate the separatist regime, every time with its ridiculous attempts to attract sensible European politicians to visit the occupied territories looks indeed reckless.

There are no reasons for surprise. The so-called "Karabakh freedom fighters" surrounded themselves with corrupt European parliamentarians, for whom honor and dignity are concepts that are found only in the pages of the works of great storytellers.

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry studies the issue of illegal visit of members of the Belgian parliament to the occupied territories, said in the foreign office on October 31.

"Currently, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry is studying this issue, after which it will be decided to include their names in the list of undesirable persons because of the illegal visit," the ministry concluded.

Commenting on the visit of the Belgian MP Jean-Jacques Flau to Nagorno-Karabakh, Spokesperson of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Leyla Abdullayeva said that a decision would be made to include the name of Belgian MP Jean-Jacques Flau in the list of undesirable persons because of the illegal trip to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

The tireless efforts of people like Karapetyan are only a reason for the majority of countries to re-sound that they do not recognize the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" and that Armenia is a country aggressor.

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.

As a result of Armenia's armed invasion into Azerbaijan's legal territory, the two neighboring countries have remained locked in a bitter territorial dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Armenia-backed separatists seized from Azerbaijan in a bloody war in the early 1990s.

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.

Despite Baku's best efforts, peace in the occupied lands remains a mirage in the distance as Armenia refuses to comply with international law.
Today's top stories: Pittsburgh synagogue shooter Robert Bowers indicted on 44 counts, including hate crimes; Rakhi Sawant sues Tanushree Dutta for defamation; Delhi HC to hear plea of middleman Manoj Prasad, arrested in the bribery case involving CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana; and more.

CBI Case: Delhi HC to hear Manoj Prasad's plea today

The Delhi High Court on Thursday is set to hear a plea of middleman Manoj Prasad, arrested in the bribery case involving CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, seeking quashing of the FIR against him. Justice Najmi Waziri, who was scheduled to hear the petition Tuesday, listed it for Thursday after Prasads counsel sought an adjournment saying the senior advocate who has to argue the matter was busy in the Supreme Court.

The court would hear three separate pleas  of Asthana, CBI Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar and Prasad seeking quashing of FIR against them. The court had on Monday heard the three pleas and while Asthana and Kumars petitions were listed for November, Prasads matter was fixed for Tuesday.

Prasad, arrested on 17 October, was produced before a trial court in New Delhi on Tuesday on expiry of his CBI custody. He was sent to 14-day judicial custody. Kumar, who was arrested on 23 October, was also sent to judicial custody. The high court had on Monday observed that Prasads case was on a different footing from that of Asthana and Kumar.

Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect indicted on 44 counts

The suspect in Pittsburgh synagogue massacre was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on 44 counts, including hate crimes and murder. Eleven people were gunned down in what was the deadliest attack on Jews in American history.

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions after announcing the indictment said hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in the American society. Every American has the right to attend their house of worship in safety, he said.

Robert Bowers, 46, who killed 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue, faces a possible death sentence, or life without parole. These alleged crimes are incomprehensibly evil and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation. Therefore this case is not only important to the victims and their loved ones, but to the city of Pittsburgh and the entire nation, Sessions said.

Fifth ODI: India eye triumph against West Indies

India eye another home series triumph against the Windies as the two teams lock horns in the 5th ODI to be played at Thiruvananthapuram. With the series reading 2-1 in hosts' favour, a victory in the final ODI will ensure India earn their sixth consecutive bilateral ODI series win at home and eighth bilateral series victory against the Windies.

World Bank's ease of doing business ranking: India jumps 23 notches to 77th place

India has jumped 23 places to rank 77th in the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' ranking, helped by improvement in six out of 10 indicators. India improved its ranking for the second straight year on the back of reforms related to insolvency, taxation and other areas. India was ranked 100th in the World Bank's Doing Business report last year.

The ranking comes as a shot in the arm for the Narendra Modi government which faces strong dissenting voices from Opposition parties ahead of the general elections next year.

In its annual 'Doing Business' 2019 report, World Bank said India improved its rank on six out of the 10 parameters relating to starting and doing business in a country. These parameters include ease of starting a business, construction permits, getting electricity, getting credit, paying taxes, trade across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

India was ranked 142nd among 190 nations when the Modi government came to power in 2014. It rose to the 100th spot in the last ranking from 131st rank in the previous year.

Delhi pollution: State govt deploys 44 teams to monitor air pollution

About 44 joint teams from various agencies will be deployed from Thursday to check air pollution in the national capital, the Delhi government said, as the air quality in the city nosedived to 'severe' category on Wednesday. The teams have been mandated to take strict punitive action against violators responsible for sources of air pollution, it said in a statement.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was 401, falling in the 'severe' category, the highest this season, Central Pollution Control Board officials said.

The Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) recorded the AQI at 410. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Eighteen areas of Delhi recorded 'severe' air quality with the highest AQI at 4 pm recorded at Anand Vihar at 467, according to data by the CPCB. Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded 'severe' air pollution, crossing the AQI of 400. Greater Noida's air is also on the brink of turning severe, according to the data.

Sensex rallies post-govt statement on RBI autonomy

The benchmark indices on Wednesday rebounded after the government said RBI's autonomy was essential but its functioning must be guided by public interest and needs of the economy. The 30-share Sensex rallied 550.92 points, or 1.63 percent, to close at 34,442.05, while the broader NSE Nifty surged 188.20 points, or 1.85 percent, to end above the 10,350 mark at 10,386.60.

Investor sentiment turned positive after the Finance Ministry issued a statement to dampen concerns over a spat between the government and the central bank. Sector-wise, banking, IT, pharma and realty indices drove the market momentum.

Rakhi Sawant sues Tanushree Dutta for defamation, seeks '25 paise' damages

Bollywood actor Rakhi Sawant on Wednesday filed a 25 paise defamation suit against Tanushree Dutta for allegedly hurting her reputation by making "unwholesome" and "deeply derogatory" statements.

She claimed that Tanushree spoke in a derogatory fashion about her during an interview with a television channel where she accused actor Nana Patekar of sexually harassing her on a movie set in 2008.

In her suit, filed at a civil court in suburban Malad, Sawant said she has been part of the film industry for two decades and made a "promising career and name for herself".

"The defendant (Tanushree) had an uncharacteristic, unstable and disappointing career in the film industry, spanning for only five years. After which she was out of the limelight."

Bezel-less Lenovo Z5 Pro expected to launch in China

After a bunch of leaks and teasers from Lenovo on Weibo, the Lenovo Z5 Pro is finally expected to launch in China on Thursday.

Firstpost has learnt a few things about what to expect from prior leaks, like the massive screen-to-body ratio and dual 24-megapixel + 16-megapixel main cameras and also the presence of a rigorously tested mechanical camera slider. That said, there's no other information as to whether the device will pack an in-display fingerprint reader underneath the OLED screen.

There are also no clues dropped on pricing specifics yet, meaning that one will have to wait and watch.
If we want to reduce Delhis air pollution in winter, then we need to address biomass burning

Editor's note: This article was originally published on 8 November 2017 is being republished to time with reports that pollution levels in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) continued to fall into the 'very poor' category as of 1 November 2018.

If we really want to solve a problem, we should define it carefully, and use data to guide our actions. If we want to reduce Delhis air pollution in winter, then we need to address biomass burning. Yet, a recent TV clipping shows a farmer setting paddy straw ablaze on national TV. The voiceover says: These farmers could face FIRs, fines and even jail, but they dont care. Doing it on camera is a statement.

Yes, we hear you loud and clear.

Unilateral bans dont work. Perhaps we should understand why farmers burn, and then see what solutions exist or can be developed.

Why do farmers burn?

Farmers burn the waste for two reasons:

First, they have a very short window of time  a week or two at the most  to clear their fields and prepare for the winter crop. The crop harvesters leave a fair bit of stubble on the field. Popular sowing machinery does not work with the straw piles on the field, so it is important to get it out of the way fast. But removing the stubble is an expensive or impossible task  given that the machinery is either unavailable or unaffordable for small farmers, and labour (a bigger issue for larger farmers) is either too expensive or more likely, just not available. The only viable option is burning the stubble.

Second, even if they did not burn, farmers are either unsure of what to do with the straw piles or believe that the cost of removing the stubble far exceeds any alternate use. The cost incurred by not burning is borne by the farmer alone, while the benefits of not burning are shared by all. Economists term this problem a free-rider effect. It makes action almost impossible, unless the person who enjoys the benefit is made to bear (as least some part of) the cost.

The cost of burning is real and felt in the lungs of the nations capital.

So, how do we douse the fires?

Delhi air pollution LIVE updates: Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot says odd-even rule set to return

Getting to the roots

Let us travel back in time to see when (and why) the seeds of this crisis were planted.

Earlier, before the onset of extensive irrigation, the farmers did not grow a single giant crop like rice or wheat. They grew multiple crops at the same time. This would have made mechanisation impractical; but then, farmers relied on the bullock, for whom the crop leftovers were food. Moreover, labour was plentiful, as the city did not beckon as it does now. Manmade fertiliser was not so plentifully available nor so cheap, so farmers used compost  made from crop residue and bullock dung  to keep their soil healthy and productive.

The crop fed the farmer and the village. The crop waste fed the bullock. The bullock did the labour, and its dung was wonderful manure, or food for the next crop. The straw waste also made excellent roofing material.

There was no burning, because everything was used. The circular economy in action.

But the Green Revolution, which skyrocketed yields and made India food-import-independent, upended this equilibrium.

Punjab is the gleaming success symbol of this revolution with extensive irrigation, high degrees of mechanisation, great connectivity between farm and mandis and a fantastic procurement system.

But in the seams of the success lie the seeds of trouble.

Punjabs extensive irrigation infrastructure is driven primarily (around 80 percent) by ground water. Combine this with free electricity, and you have the explanation of the shocking depletion of the water table  over 80 percent of Punjabs groundwater blocks are over-exploited.

Punjab is not meant to grow paddy. Because of free electricity, we grow paddy, says Aashish Ahuja, a farmer who manages 90 acres in Punjab. Its ironic. We dont eat rice here, and yet we export our water when we grow rice and sell it out of the state.

The highly effective procurement system which pays ready cash has meant farmers want to grow rice and wheat but little else. Single-crop, mechanised farming has become easy  Ahuja says farmers need be at the farm for only two weeks a year.

Anirudh Vashishth, a farmer trying to shift to multi-cropping, says the lure of mono-cropping is too tempting: Many farmers dont want to change. Its easy and the product will be sold in a minute.

Moreover, over 80 percent of Punjabs farmers  small and large  are highly in debt, making them unwilling, or financially unable, to try diversification: the market risk is too high for the farmers to bear.

Instead, farmers grow crops in rapid succession, burning the stubble to prepare fields quickly. Subsidised fertiliser has camouflaged the ravages to soil fertility until now, when poor soil health and erosion are becoming harder to ignore. The burning fields are visible from space and suffocate Delhi.

This is not sustainable.

What are we going to do to change the equilibrium?

Souring the milk

Asking farmers to go off paddy is a stupid request  why should they, especially when they get the water to flood their fields for free?

For the same reason, asking farmers to adopt the SRI-method of rice cultivation will fail. Systematic Rice Intensification (SRI) is a way of growing rice that uses much less water but is tricky and requires careful handling of weeds. Why should Punjabs farmers, used to easy farming, take the extra effort (and cost) to save something which is free?

In earlier days, when breastfeeding mothers wanted to wean their particularly clingy babies, some applied lemon juice to their breasts to sour the milk. To wean farmers off the lure of paddy, one option is to price electricity. Given that the irrigation is overwhelmingly run by groundwater pumps, this would sour the paddy-proposition.

Many believe that it would be political suicide to price electricity in Punjab. But perhaps they should recall that Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have introduced pricing for electricity for farmers. It has not caused a backlash (although the circumstances were different).

A high MSP for paddy and subsidised fertiliser also need to bear their share of the blame for promoting paddy cultivation. But hold that thought, we will come back to it.

If we were to stick with paddy, what then? What are the solutions to make paddy farming more sustainable  at least from an air pollution angle?

It costs between Rs 600 to Rs 2,000 per acre to clear a field of straw depending on whether a farmer opts for manual or machine clearing. What can make farmers bear this cost?

Bans wont work. Moral arguments wont work. Economic sustainability: i.e., making the waste into a resource  a la a cotton spinning mill  might.

Treating waste as a resource

Enter biogas.

Dr Poonam Pandey, who worked on a project exploring options to stop straw burning with Maastricht University, agrees biogas is a potential solution. One big bottleneck to crafting solutions, she believes, is the different participants  industry, farmers, government and other institutions  working in silos.

Biogas is natural gas  the stuff we can use to light our stoves  generated from biomass, such as food waste, cow dung or paddy straw. Bio gas is generated when a special sort of bacteria digests the biomass. I have had a small biogas plant at home for nearly a year to manage my food waste  it works like a charm, and needs very little maintenance. The technology is scalable, and so it is puzzling why this has not taken off as a solution.

Several studies have shown that pre-treating paddy straw and then subjecting it to bacterial digestion generates biogas that can be economically sustainable.

Som Narayan, co-founder of Carbon Masters (a Bengaluru-based start-up making a living out of generating biogas), agrees that biogas can absolutely work with paddy straw. He says, A tonne of straw can generate three times as much biogas as a tonne of cow dung. But the problem is pre-treatment. Microbes find the straw hard to digest and need the material pre-treated before using. This increases the cost.

Another issue is seasonality: the straw will come twice a year  after the summer and winter crops, but a biogas plant needs feed material throughout the year. One solution, says Som, is to pickle the material, store and use it for the whole year. But this again adds to cost.

Samir Nagpal, who runs Sampurn Agriventure, the only biogas plant in the area that works off paddy straw, blames a different problem entirely. He says the economics of his biogas plant work only if he sells the compost it generates as a by-product. Organic compost  black gold as some call it  is among the most expensive (and effective) fertilisers available, retailing at between Rs 8-10 per kg. This is a problem: farmers, traditionally fearing a new face, are wary of buying expensive black stuff from a new entrant, and can moreover make the compost themselves.

Biogas can address two problems at once: (a) Air pollution and (b) Indias looming gas shortages  which makes it a worthwhile option to consider.

What else?

Other uses include feeding straw to thermal plants, making pellets of the straw that can burned later, or making roofing sheets from the straw.

But making biogas or the other options feasible means we need to make it easy for farmers to collect and transport their straw. The short time available to harvest the straw complicates economics. Making the machinery more easily available can be accomplished with equipment banks or start-ups. And start-up interest in creating a shared economy in farm machinery is exploding.

Rohtash Mal, who co-founded EM3, a rental platform for farm machinery, says We are not short of machines. We are short of people who deliver the machines.

The burning ban has created a need for collecting the straw. Now we need a solution to service the need. The farmers are being asked to bear an additional cost.

Alekh Sanghera, who runs Farmart, an on-demand agri-machinery renting portal (an Ola for Farmers, if you will), believes giving farmers a subsidy to rent the machines would help. But he is very clear that the subsidy is to be paid to the farmer through a 'Direct Benefit Transfer', after verification that the field was not burned. Today, the technology exists to granularly check if a farm was set ablaze or not, he says. Paying the subsidy to the machinery manufacturer, will only jack up prices, not ensure usage, while paying a per-acre subsidy after verifying the field was not burned will ensure compliance.

Given the magnitude of the problem, what other solutions can work at scale?

Back-to-the soil

Rohtash Mal, of EM3, says, We use only the top six inches of a plant for food, everything else should go back to the soil.

One way to manage the straw is by doing nothing. Leave it on the field and plant the next crop. No-till agriculture, apart from eliminating burning and the need to transport and process the straw, greatly improves soil quality. India in general, and Punjab in particular has very low levels of organic carbon in its soil. Higher organic content is associated with everything from higher yields, less erosion, better water-holding capacity and even lowering the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The straw on the field prevents the current sowers from working because their blades are caught in the straw clumps. One work-around is the Happy Seeder, a machine which sows even with straw on the fields and is cost-effective.

Another elegant solution was proposed by Raspinder Singh, a farmer managing 17 acres of paddy: use a fast-growing paddy variety, which can be harvested a couple of weeks earlier. This gives farmers the time to wet the straw and soil, and using machinery, incorporate the straw into the soil. Singh has tried this approach this year, by substituting the commonly used, water-guzzling variant of rice, Pusa-44 with a faster growing variant, PRC 126.

But there is a hitch.

PRC 126 has a lower yield, though Singh says the lower costs, helps keep profitability on par with growing Pusa-44. However, market acceptance for PRC 126 has been less than for Pusa-44. Here, opinion shapers such as Punjab University can step in, and get traders to give a fair chance to faster growing variants.

In both options, machinery cost and availability are bottlenecks.

Subsidising machinery rental (vs capital costs) and educating farmers through videos will help.

One farmer, who asked not to be named said this: We have been listening to the university people. Who taught us to grow the rice? Who taught us to use our pumps to flood the fields? Who taught us to clear the fields. Let them come and teach us now to do things differently.

Going natural

Umendra Dutt, executive director of the Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM), asks We call our home Mother Earth, how can we burn our Mother?.

Ummbecause its easy and cheap?

Dutt proposes natural farming, which uses inputs like cow dung, compost and neem, with an emphasis on multi-cropping as an effective alternative to paddy and straw burning. The farmers I spoke with and who practise natural farming, are large land-owners and very articulate. Perhaps they have the wherewithal and the acumen to take the risk. All agree the first few years of making the transition are not easy. All practise organic farming on a fraction of their entire holdings, suggesting the economics dont make sense to switch over completely.

When asked why dont more farmers practise natural farming, the replies were curiously similar.

Why would you try anything else? says Ahuja, when the returns are so high with chemical farming?.

Besides, every farmer I spoke with, said market access (or lack thereof) was the number#1 bottleneck to natural farming taking off. In rice and wheat, procurement is assured, and cash is quick. In natural farming, the task of convincing the customer is too much for the farmer. Especially given the many charlatans who sell certified organic food, who bring suspicion into the buyers mind.

Rajeev Kohli of KVM, organises 10 farmers markets across Punjab every week where 20-30 farmers come to sell their natural produce. This is a good first step. But how to scale it?

Only when corporates who sell chemicals feel organic is important and profitable, only then will the change come, he said.

Ahuja remains hopeful. He says awareness of the harm of indiscriminate use of pesticide is spreading far and wide, and even people in his town, Abohar (which he says is known as the second dirtiest in Punjab), take whatever organic produce he farms.

Maybe the corporates should pay heed.

The second bottleneck cited was the higher labour requirement for natural farming. One way to avoid pesticides is to go in for multi-cropping, but this means mechanised sowing and harvest become less economical. Not using chemical pesticides means more labour for plucking out weeds.

Vashishth said that while his input costs almost halved with organic farming, the requirement of labour was four times that required in chemical farming  a deal breaker in a state like Punjab, where agricultural labour is hard to get. Machinery rental companies can help here. Investing in machinery for smaller plots may not make sense, but renting might.

No easy answers but a suite of potential solutions

As the tiny particles from the burnt straw in Punjab and Haryana enters the lungs of the children in our nations capital, one thing is clear: we need to solve this problem.

More than 30 million tonnes of straw stand to be burned in these two states. Thats a lot of smoke. I will conclude with a provocative thought: We are subsidising the farmers to burn, by providing subsidies on water, fertiliser and MSPs, all of which makes the rice crop far larger than market forces would have allowed. Transferring some part of this subsidy to a straw-harvest subsidy could help align the financial incentives of both farmer and the sufferers of the air pollution.

There are no easy answers, but focussing on scalable solutions, rather than bans, is where a meaningful conversation could start.

The writer is the founder of the Sundaram Climate Institute, cleantech angel investor, teacher and author of a forthcoming book on Climate Change and India. Follow her work on her website; on Twitter; or write to her at cc@climaction.net
Rajeshwar Singh handled the cases that shaped the rise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi: The 2G spectrum scandal and the bribery allegations around the Aircel-Maxis deal.

"The whole neighbourhood gathers to mourn when the police chief's dog dies," said the man who was until this week India's most powerful police officer, "But not even a dog shows up to bark when the police chief dies."

"Travails are our companions along the road of life," he continued. Now in the eye of the storm that is tearing apart both Indian policing and politics, the officer has reason to recall his own bravura dialogue, delivered in a 2011 movie starring Rajeshwar Singh as Rajeshwar Singh.

Blamed  or deified, depending on who is doing the telling  for setting off the implosion of the Central Bureau of Investigations, Rajeshwar handled the cases that shaped the rise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi: The 2G spectrum scandal and the bribery allegations around the Aircel-Maxis deal.

There are many questions that remain unanswered about those investigations  questions that go to the heart of how successive governments came to use the anti-corruption bureaucracy as an instrument of vendetta. But there's one question more curious than all the others: How did an obscure deputy superintendent from Uttar Pradesh's provincial police service become a maker and destroyer of entire political empires, an arbiter of destinies, the unquestioned god of Lutyens Delhi?

Born into a middle-class Lucknow family, the son of a deputy inspector-general of police who rose from the grimy ranks of the Uttar Pradesh Police, 44-year-old Rajeshwar grew up at a time when Uttar Pradesh's political landscape was undergoing dramatic changes. He belonged to a generation of the landed Thakurs who had come to realise that bureaucratic power  not just landholding  was needed to protect its status as an elite.

Educated at Lucknows Colvin Taluqdars College, Rajeshwar followed his father into the police, and moved to the Enforcement Directorate. Elder brother Rameshwar Singh ended up in the Indian Revenue Service, last serving as director-general of investigations in Surat.

The extraordinary web of kinship the family patriarch built around his children is instructive. Rajeshwar is married to Laxmi Singh, an Indian Police Service officer who is now an inspector-general of police in Uttar Pradesh. Meenakshi Singh, one of the Singh familys two daughters, is an IRS officer who is, in turn, married to Uttar Pradesh Police additional director-general Rajiv Krishna. The other sister, Indian Administrative Service officer-turned-lawyer Aabha Singh, is married to IPS officer-turned-activist lawyer YP Singh.

In "Kya Yahi Sachch Hai? (Is this the truth?)", a self-valorising allegory on YP Singhs police career, there is at least some insight into the cultural milieu from which this cohort of officers emerged. Raghu Kumar, the YP Singh-inspired protagonist, battles corrupt politicians and superiors to shut down bars, gambling dens and drug dealerstorturing criminal suspects with electric currents and bastinado, and making dozens of young clients at a bar march to the police station, tied up like cattle.

This is, it doesnt take much to see, is a kind of sanskari version of Dabangg, shorn of the obligatory Bollywood blood and gore: Corruption is seen as an evil not just in itself but as part of a larger crisis, the breakdown of the traditional community and moral order. In this world, corrupt women human rights activists sleep their way to success. Good women set on fire by their drink-crazed husbands die without incriminating them in their dying declarations.

In this world, the role of the hero is to use his power to punish the perpetrators, without concerning himself unduly with the law or institutions.

There's likely some distance between the reel version of YP Singh's career, and his real-world role. Following an unremarkable tenure as superintendent of police in Wardha, he went to the CBI, dealing with major cases such as a securities scandal at the Unit Trust of India, and alleged corruption in contracts awarded to a Reliance-Enron consortium for the Panna-Mukta oilfield.

In YP Singhs version of events, he was subjected to political persecution as a consequence. The CBI, however, claims his tenure was cut short because of procedural errors, and poor investigation, built around little evidence other than newspaper reports. There were no convictions.

Either way, YP Singh quit the service in 2003, and began a career as a lawyer. His letter of resignation did not suffer from false modesty: "Despite being one of the most outstanding officers of the country, I exist, debilitated and belittled, like a living corpse".

Kya Yahi premiered in 2011. Former deputy prime minister LK Advani, now-Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Maneka Gandhi and Congress heavyweights Murli Deora and Jagdambika Pal watched a procession of villainous IPS and IAS officers literally prostrating themselves before politicians.

Ironies of this order marked the life of Rajeshwar, too. For much of his career, Rajeshwar maintained an intimate relationship with power. His daughters fifth birthday was attended by the Congress eminence grise Ahmed Patel and then-law minister Kapil Sibal. Then-ED chief Arun Mathur, three people present there told Firstpost, was seen to touch the feet of a Congress politician  bowing-and-scraping of an order that even appalled New Delhi obsequious bureaucrats.

Brought into ED in 2009, Rajeshwar had a big reputation as a small-town "encounter specialist". He had no experience of investigating white-collar crime. The transfer to New Delhi was, at least in part, a favour from then-chief minister Mayawati, whose term saw record numbers of criminals killed in controversial police operations.

Rajeshwars break came with the investigations of allegations that then-finance minister P Chidambaram had delayed clearance for a $40-billion investment by telecom giant Maxis in Aircel until a company controlled by his son, Karti Chidambaram, received a cut.

No one knows why Rajeshwar  until then happy to flaunt his proximity to the Congress  chose to go after Chidambaram. It is possible he was genuinely appalled by the corruption; alternatively, he may just have sniffed an opportunity.

His decision, however, won him the unconditional backing of maverick BJP politician Subramanian Swamy  and a large cohort of media fanboys who paid court at his offices in the ED building near New Delhis Khan Market.

Faced with efforts by Chidambaram to block Rajeshwars absorption into ED and promotion to the rank of joint director, the Supreme Court in 2014 ordered an end to the UPA governments efforts to act against him.

That year, government sources say, Rajeshwar briefly considered leaving ED and joining politics. He was sounded out for contesting the Amroha Lok Sabha seat for the BJP but he wanted Gautam Budh Nagar. The idea was discarded when it became clear there would not be enough time for him to resign before campaigning began.

Modis rise to power saw Rajeshwar rise to a position of unprecedented authority. His control of the Aircel-Maxis probe made him a valued asset, the man who could pay back Chidambaram for his own use of the CBI to harass BJP president Amit Shah. In the process, though, the normal institutional structures through which power is exercised in governments were subverted. In essence, Rajeshwar now answered to no one.

There are more than a few who allege Rajeshwar cashed in on his extraordinary position of privilege. A plea filed before the Supreme Court this summer by activist Rajneesh Kapur also accused Rajeshwar of engaging in corruption, even to the extent of shaking hands with organised mafia elements. This time, the Supreme Court lifted the blanket protection and allowed the government to investigate Rajeshwar.

Meanwhile, a war was breaking out between the governments chosen anti-corruption establishment, with the CBIs powerful second-in-command, Rakesh Asthana, lining up against Rajeshwar and his own boss, Alok Verma. A furious Rajeshwar wrote to then-revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia, accusing him of "siding with scamsters".

Even though Swamy continued to battle on Rajeshwars behalf, the strains within the government had reached a breaking point  leading to war of mutual allegations that forced the prime minister to step in, and send both Asthana and Verma on leave, pending investigation.

Now on three months leave on half-pay, Rajeshwar will return to work in transfigured circumstances: Investigation into his own operations will be on; the government, having seen the wages of subverting institutional process, will ensure his power is restrained.

There is no more ironclad rule in storytelling than this: Downfall follows hubris, as surely night does day. There is lesson there that Rajeshwar Singh wont be able to help but reflect on.
The EPCA, in a press statement issued on Wednesday, further confirmed its stand and said that the measure to reduce pollution would be implemented whenever there is urgent requirement to control air pollution.

As the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) decided to ban plying of all private vehicles to control further deterioration of air quality in the National Capital, Delhi government said that it has not been consulted by the Supreme Court-mandated body about any such decision.

We have received no such communication about any decision by the EPCA to ban plying of private vehicles in Delhi," said Naginder Sharma, who is the media advisor to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal when asked about the governments reaction on the latest development.

Dr Bhure Lal, the chairman of the EPCA, on Tuesday told the media that the body is contemplating over the decision to ban plying of private vehicles in Delhi. ANI quoted him as saying, "Let us hope the air pollution situation in Delhi doesn't deteriorate or else we will have to stop plying of private vehicles. Only public transport will be used."

The EPCA, in a press statement issued on Wednesday, further confirmed its stand and said that the measure to reduce pollution would be implemented whenever there is urgent requirement to control air pollution.

The EPCA will continue to monitor the situation very closely and see what further steps are required to be taken. It will direct these steps in consultation with the Central Pollution Control Board Task Force and state governments, including steps on reduction or ban on use of private vehicles and restraints on trucks entering Delhi, the release said.

The decision to ban plying of private vehicles has received quite a backlash from the citizens of Delhi as it is bound to create major commuting crisis in the city. Ashutosh Dixit, secretary general of URJA, a Residents Welfare Associations in Delhi, called the decisions rubbish. Before making this statement about its decision EPCA should have consulted with the Delhi government or the Lieutenant Governor to check whether the idea is implementable at all, he said.

He also said that if the problem of pollution in Delhi has grown to an alarming extent then the EPCA could have decided to shutdown the city for few days and that would have been acceptable and also implementable. "Has the EPCA even consulted with the Delhi police whether it is ready to shoulder the herculean task of banning plying of such a huge number of vehicles," he said.

Can EPCA issue orders without consulting Delhi government or the LG?

The EPCA's sudden decision to ban private vehicles without consulting the state government and the LGs office has caused fear that it might lead to a legal spat between the agencies.

"The EPCA was formed by a Supreme Court order in the year 1998. One of its major functions is implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan. But banning of plying of private vehicles is not mandated by the plan. I do not see any logic behind the decision, said Mahender Pandey, former scientist with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

He also said that that banning plying of private vehicles is not within the powers and functions of the EPCA. The Ministry Of Environment and Forests notification forming the EPCA clearly mentioned the powers and functions of the body to control vehicular pollution.

It said, The Authority shall, for controlling vehicular pollution, take all necessary steps to ensure compliance of specified emission standards by vehicles including proper calibration of the equipment for testing vehicular pollution, ensuring compliance of fuel quality standards, monitoring and coordinating action for traffic planning and management.

Mahender Pandey says that the Supreme Court empowered it with further powers to implement 'Odd Even traffic management system as an emergency measure to control pollution.

But nowhere it has been empowered to ban plying of private vehicles, he adds.

Graded Response Action Plan is a list of legal provisions which empower the EPCA to take emergency measures to control pollution. The plan does not entrust the EPCA to ban plying of private vehicles

Naming the decsion to ban plying of private vehicles a Tughlaqi move he asked, It has been observed many times by the EPCA that stubble burning in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana is one of the major contributors to Delhis pollution. But when it comes to taking pollution control measures the EPCA pounces upon the vehicles in Delhi. How does it even makes sense?

The EPCA in its press statement said that as per a recent survey by the central government vehicles in Delhi contribute 40 percent of the capital citys pollution. The capital citys air quality was 358 on Wednesday which falls in the category of Very Poor.

What are the options for commuters?

According to records, 32 lakh people travel by bus everyday and another 26 lakhs by Metro in Delhi. According to a source in the Delhi Transport Department, another 32 lakh travel only by bikes everyday. Banning private vehicles would mean adding another tide of commuters to the existing transport system which would only lead to collapse of it, the source told Firstpost.

At present there are 4,000 city buses plying in Delhi whereas, the requirement is around of 11,000 buses. The Delhi government is in the process of purchasing 1,000 more city buses to to fill in the gap. The order to purchase 1,000 buses was stuck in a litigation for the last one year. But now the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court has cleared it and we have placed the order, said Sharma.

Dixit said that as of now there is not enough bus services in Delhi to meet the demand of the commuters. There is still no high speed bus from Gurgaon Plaza to Delhi and Noida Plaza to Delhi. How the EPCA plans to implement this ban without supporting transport infrastriucture is a question, he said.

He also said that many areas in the city still do not have enough feeder buses to carry passenger to the metro station. If private vehicles are banned, what mode of transport would people depend on," asked Dixit.
A major fire broke out at a plastic manufacturing godown in Manvilla near Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday night. There was no casualty, police said, citing preliminary reports. Two people who were injured were taken to the hospital.

A fire broke out at a plastic manufacturing factory in Kerala's Manvila near Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday night. The police said that there was no casualty. Citing preliminary reports, the police said that two people were admitted in the hospital for minor injuries.

At least 30 fire tenders were deployed to put out the blaze, which broke out at 7 pm in Family Plastics and Thermoware Ltd. Workers, who were in the unit, managed to rush out as soon as the fire broke out.

Visuals aired by TV channels showed thick smoke billowing out of the unit as fire tenders are fighting the blaze for four hours. People in the one-kilometre radius of the warehouse have been evacuated by the authorities.

Keralas health wing and the Indian Medical Association has also issued warnings for people to keep a safe distance as there has been a massive release of toxic fumes, reported Livemint.

The company told local reporters that it suffered about Rs 500 crore worth damage.

According to an NDTV report, a minor fire was reported from the same factory three days ago, which was contained by the factory workers with the in-house extinguishers.

The district administration has issued a holiday for educational Institutions in Manvila and Kulathoor wards on Thursday, according to reports.

With inputs from PTI
The result is available on the official website of HPBOSE: www.hpbose.org.

The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) has announced the Himachal Pradesh State Open School (HPSOS) September 2018 examination results. The result is available on the official website of HPBOSE: www.hpbose.org.

The board has declared the results for HPSOS Class 8, Class 10 and Class 12 examination held in September 2018. At present, the Board also conducts exams for JBT and TTC courses.

Here is how you can check your HPBOSE Sep 2018 result:

 Visit the official website www.hpbose.org

 Click on the result link

 On the new page, enter your roll number to access the result

 Download and take a print out of the same for future reference

The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education, Dharamsala came into existence in 1969 as per the Himachal Pradesh Act number 14 of 1968 with its headquarter at Shimla which later shifted to Dharamsala in January 1983. The Board started with a staff of 34 officials which has subsequently increased to 643, India Today reported.
Anjuli Pandit, who was initially working at Tata Sons in the then Chairman Cyrus Mistry's office in 2014, was transferred to Sarna's office a year later as his executive assistant, on his request.

A former assistant executive with the Taj Hotels has spoken out about the group's then CEO and MD Rakesh Sarna, accusing him of sexual harassment when she was an employee with the company in 2014.

Anjuli Pandit, who was initially working at Tata Sons in the then chairman Cyrus Mistry's office in 2014, was transferred to Sarna's office a year later as his executive assistant, on his request. According to a report by The Indian Express, Sarna's inappropriate advances towards Pandit began almost immediately, when they spoke on the phone to discuss her salary.

The report quoted Pandit as saying, "In December, we had an uncomfortable phone call to discuss my salary and when I wasnt happy with his offer, Sarna said I think you are beautiful enough to pay you a crore but I dont have that kind of money honey. That was the first indication I had that something was not right."

In an account of the ordeal Pandit wrote, "The sexual advances started with comments about the worth of my physical appearance during our salary discussions. Over the seven months he remarked on my looks, his attraction to me and his desire to have an affair. His advances were always verbal. And I was always clear  I was not interested. Whether I deflected, professionally requested, or burst into tears in frustration, he persisted. The environment became intolerable as we both lost our patience."

In the report, she detailed the various avenues she considered to tackle the problem, none of which resulted in appropriately effective and satisfactory action. However, she said that even though she "spent some time in denial, hoping he (Sarna) would let it go", the "incredible spirit" of her other colleagues at Taj "outweighed his disturbing comments".

She added, "They were respectful, hard-working, talented, and eager to make the Taj brand and service even greater. What would happen to that future they were trying to build if everyone knew the truth? Eventually, I was having migraines and sleepless nights."

Pandit tried to retain her job at Taj Hotels by approaching the Taj Board members, the Tata Group Executive Council members, and even the office of the chairperson. She was compelled to approach senior members of the company because the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) committee at Taj was headed by Sarna himself, with a few of his subordinates as the other members.

However, the only solution offered to her from all the people she approached was to quit. She wrote, "The only resolution they could find was to ask me to resign from Taj, immediately. They offered me a mediocre role in a Tata Sons back office, relegated to a desk without a phone, and no assurance of my career prospects. When I said I felt I was being unfairly sidelined for speaking up, the chairman told me this was the "best we can do"."

In November 2015, 11 months after she had joined Sarna's team, Pandit quit the company. In her resignation letter she wrote that a hostile work environment and "Sarna's repeated unwanted sexual advances" and prompted her to put in her papers.

Pandit's unpleasant experience with the company continued after she quit when, in November 2016, her resignation letter appeared in the media during the Cyrus Mistry-Ratan Tata faceoff.

Business Today reported that before Pandit's resignation, the senior management at the then Cyrus Mistry-led Tata Group had instituted an inquiry against Sarna, "which ultimately gave him a clean chit". Sarna continued in the organisation till 2017, when he quit citing personal reasons. The report said, "Whether the complaint played a role (in his resignation) is not known." Pandit claims that she never received the report of the inquiry's findings, even two years since she deposed against Sarna.

At the time of writing, Anjuli Pandit and Taj Hotels have not responded to Firstpost's queries. This article will be updated with their responses.
R Laldawngliana, vice president of MBDPF, said Bru community members were not keen on attending public meetings by parties from Mizoram.

Aizawl: The apex body of Bru refugees in Tripura has appealed to political parties in Mizoram to refrain from visiting the relief camps for poll campaigns, ahead of the 28 November elections to the 40-member Assembly.

R Laldawngliana, the vice president of Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), said the community members were not keen on attending public meetings by parties from Mizoram. "We do not welcome poll canvassing inside the camps. The members here are not looking forward to attending public meetings by the parties, just before the polls," he said.

The general secretary of the outfit, Bruno Msha, said unorganised campaigns by political parties could lead to a law-and-order situation. He, however, clarified that political parties have to approach the MBDPF leadership if they wish to carry out campaigns in the region.

"If any political party wishes to hold a public rally, it should get in touch with the MBDPF leadership. We do not wish to create any law-and-order situation in the camps, where one group could be pitted against another," Msha said. He also noted that no campaigner from Mizoram has visited the relief camps so far, but flags of different political parties were on display in a number of households.

Thousands of Bru community members fled Mizoram and took shelter in Tripura following ethnic clashes in 1997. Violence broke out after a forest official was killed by Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) militants. The Centre, in association with the governments of Mizoram and Tripura, had been trying to repatriate the displaced Brus in phases.

Though several Bru families have returned to Mizoram over the years, many refused to leave Tripura citing security reasons and inadequate package. The MBDPF had recently appealed to the Election Commission of India to establish polling stations in the relief camps for the Bru voters.

It was countered by NGO Coordination Committee, a conglomerate of major civil societies in Mizoram, which urged the EC to defranchise all Bru voters who chose to stay back in Tripura and did not return to Mizoram.
A court here on Wednesday issued arrest warrant against former Bihar minister Manju Verma, who has been booked in an Arms Act case following the recovery of a huge cache of ammunition from her residence during a CBI raid in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal.

Begusarai: A court here on Wednesday issued arrest warrant against former Bihar minister Manju Verma, who has been booked in an Arms Act case following the recovery of a huge cache of ammunition from her residence during a CBI raid in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Prabhat Trivedi issued the warrant against Verma, who stepped down as the social welfare minister in August following reports suggesting "close links" between her husband Chandrashekhar Verma and the prime accused in the shelter home scandal, Brajesh Thakur.

According to Begusarai Superintendent of Police Avakash Kumar, the court also granted two days' police remand for Chandrashekhar Verma who had surrendered before the court on Monday.

His surrender had come a few days after the Supreme Court had rapped the Bihar government for failing to secure his arrest. The warrant against Manju Verma comes a day after the Bihar government faced flak from the apex court upon its submission that the former minister was "untraceable".

The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up Bihar Police for not arresting Manju Verma. The anticipatory bail plea of Manju Verma, an MLA of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), was rejected by a court here and subsequently by the Patna High Court.
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has announced that the volume of investment of Indian economic enterprises in Sharjah has reached Dh12 billion ($3.26 billion) in 2017, a media report said.



The figures are based on the certificates of origin that are issued by the chamber, which belong to more than 16,500 registered members of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, reported state news agency Wam.



It was further revealed that the total volume of exports and re-exports of these enterprises almost reached Dh771 million by the end of 2017.



The announcements were made during the chambers participation in the 2nd edition of the India - UAE Partnership Summit 2018, which was hosted by the Business Leaders Forum; with support from the UAE Ministry of Economy, the strategic partner of the event; and in cooperation with both the Embassy and the Consulate General of India in the UAE.



The summit, which concluded its activities on Wednesday, was held for two days at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai. The event was attended by a number of officials and diplomats from both countries, as well as representatives of financial institutions and sovereign investment funds.



Waleed Abdel Rahman BuKhatir, second vice chairman of SCCI, called on Indian companies and businesspeople to invest in Sharjah and take advantage of the incentives and facilities that are offered by the emirate. He stressed the commitment of Sharjah Chamber in providing all types of cooperation and support to Indian companies and investors that are looking to establish their businesses in Sharjah.



BuKhatir stated that the India Trade and Exhibition Centre that is located besides Expo Centre Sharjah, which was inaugurated in November of 2010 by Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, during an official ceremony attended by the President of India, has contributed to supporting trade exchange between India and both the UAE and Sharjah.



He added that the centre has also helped to enhance the countrys status as the top trading partner to India in the region, as well as promote trade and investment between India and the Middle East and North Africa region.



BuKhatir noted that Indian economic enterprises are located all around Sharjah and its free zones, particularly in the Hamriyah Free Zone, which is comprised of around 7,000 companies, the majority of which are Indian companies or companies owned by Indian investors.



He expressed that he is confident that the summit will represent a new launch towards deeper cooperation that enhances the size of trade exchange and investment, as well as help to build promising partnerships between the two friendly countries.
The AAP MLAs are seeking summoning of witnesses before the Election Commission to show that they have not received any 'actual' benefit from their appointment as Parliamentary Secretaries.

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday said allowing 20 AAP MLAs, facing allegations of having held office-of-profit, to summon witnesses in the disqualification proceedings before the poll panel could lead to prolonging the matter beyond their tenure, expiring in 2020.

Justice Sunil Gaur said the idea was not to "stop" or "curtail" the rights of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, whose appointment as Parliamentary Secretaries led to the allegation against them, "but to ensure it (the proceedings) does not get prolonged".

"If allowed (to summon witnesses), it (proceedings) will cross 2020," the court said, adding that the answers the MLAs wish to "elicit" from the witnesses can be obtained through an application made under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The MLAs are seeking summoning of witnesses before the Election Commission (EC) to show that they have not received any "actual" benefit from their appointment as Parliamentary Secretaries.

"This information you can receive under RTI. There is no need to summon witnesses. Move an application under RTI to ascertain whether actual benefit was derived," the court said.

Senior advocate KV Vishwanathan, appearing for the MLAs, said the summoning and examining of witnesses can be made time bound to ensure the matter does not get prolonged.

The lawyer also said that witnesses were required to be summoned as the EC, while perusing the material and documents before it, has observed that there was potential for benefit.

To this, the court said it was "factually incorrect" on the part of the EC to make such observations at the present stage of the proceedings. "These observations of the commission were not called for. They can be deleted. They were not required to comment upon the documents at this stage. That would happen in the final order," it said and reserved its decision in the matter.

The court was hearing a petition by Delhi Law Minister and AAP MLA Kailash Gahlot and others challenging the EC's 25 September decision rejecting the legislator's plea to summon government officials as witnesses in the office-of-profit matter pending before the poll panel.

The court, while listing the AAP MLAs plea for orders on 16 November, also discharged the complainant Prashant Patel from the instant proceedings before it.

It said that Patel, represented by advocate Kaushal Sharma, was not required in the present proceedings as it pertained to summoning of witnesses.

The poll panel had earlier recommended disqualification of the 20 AAP MLAs based on Patel's complaint.

The EC, represented by senior advocate Arvind Nigam, contended that whether the benefit was actual or potential, both are grounds for disqualification and added that it has all the material pertaining to appointment of the MLAs as Parliamentary Secretaries.

EC had on 19 January this year recommended the disqualification of the 20 AAP MLAs, accused of holding offices-of-profit as they were appointed parliamentary secretaries to ministers in the Delhi government in March 2015. This was done soon after they were elected to the Delhi Assembly.

On 23 March, the high court had set aside the disqualification of the 20 AAP MLAs by the poll panel for holding 'office-of-profit' and had termed the recommendation as "vitiated" and "bad in law". It had directed the EC to hear the issue afresh.

In September 2016, the high court had ruled against their appointment as parliamentary secretaries.

Apart from Gahlot, the other MLAs including Alka Lamba, Adarsh Shastri, Sanjeev Jha, Rajesh Gupta, Vijendra Garg, Praveen Kumar, Sharad Kumar, Madan Lal, Shiv Charan Goyal, Sarita Singh, Naresh Yadav, Rajesh Rishi, were earlier disqualified by EC.

Apart from them, AAP legislators Anil Kumar, Som Dutt, Avtar Singh, Sukhvir Singh Dala, Manoj Kumar, Nitin Tyagi and Jarnail Singh were also disqualified by the poll panel.
The RSS is mulling training its cadres on rescue and rehabilitation operations after natural calamities, a senior functionary of the organisation said on Wednesday.

Mumbai: The RSS is mulling training its cadres on rescue and rehabilitation operations after natural calamities, a senior functionary of the organisation said on Wednesday.

A three-day meeting of the Sangh's Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal began at Bhayander on Wednesday and was inaugurated by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

Speaking to the media, the Sangh's joint general secretary Manmohan Vaidya said several issues of national importance would be discussed during the meeting.

"RSS volunteers work with dedication during natural calamities, but they are not trained for it. In this meeting, there will be a discussion on how to train them to tackle the calamities," he said.

There will also be a discussion on water conservation and environment protection initiatives to be taken up by volunteers, he said.

"Sangh has also undertaken an important work in the form of an activity called 'Kutumb Prabodhan'. Families are getting scattered or broken up nowadays. The Sangh is concerned about how to keep families together," Vaidya said.

The Sangh has around 55,000 'shakha' (primary units) in the country, Vaidya informed. "In all, around 31,000 villages have shakha. Of the total number of shakha, 82 percent are in rural areas," he said.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is also working for preservation of Indian breeds of cow, development of cow-oriented farming and healthcare based on cow products, Vaidya said.
The incident occurred at Kherbari village in Assam, when cadres of the outfit allegedly picked them up and took them to the Brahmaputra river bank.

Three members of a family were among five persons shot dead by suspected ULFA (Independent) militants, while two others were injured at Kheroni in Assam's Tinsukia district Thursday night, police said.

A group of assailants with sophisticated weapons came to this village near Dhola-Sadiya bridge and called out five-six persons from their house around 8 pm, they said.

They then opened indiscriminate fire upon those people before fleeing under the cover of darkness, a police officer said.

The names of the deceased are Shyamlal Biswas, Ananta Biswas, Abhinash Biswas, Subodh Das and Dhananjay Namashudra.

The killings are said to have taken place around 8.55 pm, around 6 km away from the Dhola-Sadiya bridge.

An official press release said, "Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal strongly condemned the killing of innocent people near Dhola in Tinsukia district by unidentified miscreants today evening." Further, Sonowal said that the perpetrators of the crime would be dealt with a firm hand.

The chief minister directed Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta and Minister of State (Power) Topon Kumar Gogoi to immediately proceed to the incident site to take stock of the situation.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, reacting to the incident, said 

We have no words to express our deep sorrow to the grieving families. The perpetrators must be punished at the very earliest 2/2  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 1, 2018

Speaking to Firstpost, Keshab Mahanta said, "I am preparing to go to Sadiya. I am now in my constituency in Kaliabor. I have been asked to wait for a while, as authorities are trying to arrange for a helicopter. Otherwise, I will travel by car. The chief minister is personally monitoring the whole situation. He will be able to elaborate on this. We are not going there with a package in mind, but whatever needs to be done, will be done."

The distance between Kaliabor and Sadiya is nearly 400 kilometres.

Condemning the incident, All Assam Students' Union (AASU) general secretary Lurin Jyoti Gogoi said, "This kind of violence is not a solution to any problem in society. AASU has always been against violence and killings. We always want a peaceful atmosphere in Assam. We appeal to the people to exercise restraint, so that in the coming days, this incident does not become a basis for more bloodshed, killings and communal violence. It is our responsibility to maintain calm. For the incident that occurred today (Thursday), the onus completely lies with the government. The government has totally failed to give security to the people. I am sure the home department had intelligence about this attack, and yet, they failed to prevent it. Moreover, over the last few days, senior BJP leaders and even ministers in the government made some very provocative statements trying to create a communally tense atmosphere. Yet, the government remained a mute spectator."

Referring to past incidents, he said, "The government failed to act in the Subodh Biswas incident and the incidents that followed in Nagaon and Gauripur. The government has neither arrested the culprits nor punished them. AASU appeals to the government to act against communal forces."

Biswas, the president of the Nikhil Bharat Bengali Udbastu Samannay Samitee, is the main accused in the Silapathar vandalism incident that happened last year in Assam. In September, he was granted bail by the Gauhati High Court after he was arrested from the Bajitpur area of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal on 22 March.

Reacting to the killings on Thursday, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti president Akhil Gogoi said, "This incident is highly condemnable. We condemn the killers and appeal to the people of Assam to condemn this incident. However, the background to this incident has been created by the Centre. The Centre has unconstitutionally placed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Parliament. The BJP and RSS have also given some highly provocative statements in support of the Bill. Many other organisations, with their irresponsible and communally charged statements, are also responsible. We demand an impartial judicial inquiry into this incident. Furthermore, KMSS appeals to all Assamese and Bengali speaking people not to get provoked and maintain good relations with each other."

Both AASU and KMSS are steering the movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

With inputs from Simantik Dowerah and PTI
At least five have been killed and many others suspected to be injured as unidentified gunmen opened fire in Tinsukia district's Dhola in Assam.

At least five have been killed and many others suspected to be injured as unidentified gunmen opened fire in Tinsukia district's Dhola in Assam, on Thursday at around 7.20 pm.

The assailants, suspected to be members of the United Liberation Front of Assam - Independent [ULFA (I)], were reportedly dressed in army attire. "The deceased were at the shop of Shyamlal Biswas (one of the five killed in the attack) when the militants arrived, lined them up outside the shop and shot them from zero range, said Prasanta Sagar Changmai, Superintendent of Police, Sadiya district.

The deceased have been identified as Subhal Das, Ananta Biswas, Shyamlal Biswas, Abinash Biswas and Dhanamjay Namahsudra, and are of Bengali origin.

Mugdhajyoti Dev Mahanta, Superintendent of Police, Tinsukia, has said that they have deployed a joint team of police forces and CRPF personnel in sensitive areas of the district in search of the miscreants. He added that Kakapather area, just a few kilometres away from Dhola, is known to be the hub of ULFA (I) militants.

Oinam Sarankumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia district, said that necessary security arrangements have been made, and people have been asked to remain calm.Eyewitnesses claimed that six people rode two motorcycles and that they spoke Hindi.

This incident has taken place when Assam is divided on the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The Bill aims to provide shelter to illegal migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The ULFA (I) has strongly opposed the bill, stating it would offer shelter to illegal Bengali migrants in Assam.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has directed Water Resources Minister Keshav Mahanta and Minister of State (Power) Topon Kumar Gogoi to visit the site and take stock of the situation.

"I am preparing to go to Sadiya. I am now in my constituency in Kaliabor. I have been asked to wait for a while, as authorities are trying to arrange for a helicopter. Otherwise, I will travel by car. The chief minister is personally monitoring the whole situation. He will be able to elaborate on this. We are not there with a package in mind but whatever needs to be done has to be done," Mahanta told Firstpost.

While DGP Kula Saikia has been told to rush to the site, Additional Director General of Police Mukesh Agarwal will be responsible for investigations.

The chief minister's office, in a press release, stated that perpetrators of the crime would be dealt with a firm hand. He has directed all deputy commissioners and SPs to stay alert.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also condemned the attack in a tweet, and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has demanded strict action against the militants.

The All Assam Bengali Youth Students Federation has called for a 12-hour bandh in Tinsukia district on Friday to protest against the killing. Five Hindu organisations have also jointly called for a bandh in the adjoining Dibrugarh district on Friday.

Condemning the incident, All Assam Students' Union (AASU) general secretary Lurin Jyoti Gogoi said, "This kind of violence is not a solution to any problem in the society. AASU has always been against violence and killings. We always want a peaceful atmosphere in Assam. We appeal to the people to exercise restraint, so that in the coming days, this incident does not become a basis for more bloodshed, killings and communal violence. It is our responsibility to maintain calm. For the incident that occurred today (Thursday), the onus completely lies with the government. The government has totally failed to give security to the people. I am sure the home department had intelligence about this attack, and yet, they failed to prevent it. Moreover, over the last few days, senior BJP leaders and even ministers in the government made some very provocative statements, trying to create a communally tense atmosphere. Yet, the government remained a mute spectator."

Referring to past incidents, he said, "The government failed to act in the Subodh Biswas incident and the incidents that followed in Nagaon and Gauripur. The government has neither arrested the culprits nor punished them. AASU appeals to the government to act against communal forces."

Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti president Akhil Gogoi said, "This incident is highly condemnable. We condemn the killers and appeal to the people of Assam to condemn this incident. However, the background to this incident has been created by the Centre. The Centre has unconstitutionally placed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Parliament. The BJP and RSS have also given some highly provocative statements in support of the Bill. Many other organisations, with their irresponsible and communally charged statements, are also responsible. We demand an impartial judicial inquiry into this incident. Furthermore, KMSS appeals to all Assamese and Bengali speaking people not to get provoked and maintain good relations with each other."

Both AASU and KMSS are steering the movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

Notably, ULFA (I) had claimed responsibility of the blast that took place in Guwahati two weeks back, that left four injured. The militant outfit later told a local TV channel that it triggered the blast as a mark of protest against the Indian governments attempt to shelter Bengali immigrants in Assam.

With inputs from Pranjal Baruah and Simantik Dowerah

(Syeda Ambia is a Guwahati-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.)
Activists have accused the government and media of turning a blind eye because the victim was a Dalit.

Salem: The beheading of a teenage Dalit by a 26-year-old upper caste neighbour for allegedly turning down his sexual advances has sent shock waves across Tamil Nadu. The incident, in which S Rajalakshmi was murdered in her own home by P Dinesh Kumar occurred in Thalavaipatti village, near Aathur in Salem district.

Police arrested Kumar and registered a case against him under Section 302 and The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO). Following pressure from political parties like VCK (Viduthalai Siruthai Katchi)a Dalit partyand NGOs like Evidence (who fight for humans rights of oppressed communities), another case was registered against Kumar under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act Wednesday.

Protesting against the killing, women and students took to the streets Wednesday and played the parai, a flat, drum-like instrument largely played by the socially-oppressed communities, in Chepauk area of Chennai. They sought a speedy probe by the police and to raise awareness about the gruesome nature of the crime. Several activists participated in it: Professor Deepak, president of the 3 December 3 movement and disability rights advocate, and activists Radhika Ganesh and Semmalar, film directors Ameer, Karu Pazhaniappan and Balaji Sakthivel, deputy general secretary of Viduthalali Siruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Vanniarasu, and Kathir, executive director of Evidence.

Speaking about the issue, Kathir alleged that both the government and media have turned a blind eye because the victim was a Dalit. Kathir added that her cause would have drawn attention of the media and the State if she'd been an IT employee or resident of a cosmopolitan city such as Chennai or New Delhi. Till date, neither the district collector, nor the superintendent of police have visited the girl's home, Kathir claimed.

Kathir accused Chief Minister E Palaniswami of inaction and said leadership is unaware of statistics relating to victims of similar crimes. Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, shamelessly, said the guilty will be punished, said Kathir. The police are only trying to portray the accused as a mentally unstable person. I do not know if the chief minister, who has not visited the girl's family and keeps mum, is aware of the fact that he is the chairperson of the state-level vigilance and monitoring committee for the (SC and ST) Prevention of Atrocities Act. A case must also be registered against the chief minister under the Prevention of Atrocities Act.

Meanwhile, director-cum-actor Ameer said the media needs to give such incidents the proper attention. The media focuses on incidents such as Tamil actor Sivakumar snatching a cellphone from a fan's hands or the plagiarism row surrounding the AR Murugadoss movie Sarkar and such incidents are forgotten. The media should take up this issue until society witnesses a change.

"Only in this state do we see a chief minister maintaining silence over such an incident, while other statesmen celebrate the high court verdict regarding disqualification of 18 MLAs. he said. Neither the district collector, the police commissioner, nor the MLA of the constituency have taken responsibility, Ameer stated, referring to the ST/SC atrocities committee that is supposed to report directly to the chief minister, but which has not been functioning.

District Collector Rohini Bhajibhakare said that the state government will soon give the victim's family an initial compensation of Rs 4,12,500. Moreover, steps have been taken to provide counselling to the mother of the slain teenager, who witnessed her daughter's murder, Bhajibhakare added. Legal action is being taken against the accused. There is no political intervention in this case, she said, adding that steps are also being taken to detain him under the Goondas Act.

Meanwhile, Rajalakshmi's sister Arul Jyothi alleged that Kumar's wife Saradha and brother Sasi Kumar are connected to the murder and the police has not carried out a thorough investigation. She said that though several days have passed since the murder, the collector has not visited their village. She also demanded the arrest of Saradha and Sasi Kumar.
Miles Taylor, the author of the The English Maharani, speaks about writing of Queen Victoria as being invested and interested in India and its people

Dr Miles Taylor describes himself as a child of the end of the Empire, who spent his childhood travelling across the world, from Delhi to Singapore to Cape Town. Naturally, he developed an interest in the impacts of colonialism early on in his career. Now a professor of Modern History at the University of York, he takes classes on politics and parliament in Victorian England and its colonies. His new book, The Indian Maharani, is a reappraisal of Queen Victorias presence and contribution to the British Raj.

Drawing from official documents, literature and art, Dr Taylor has discovered that Queen Victoria wasnt distant towards or disinterested in her Raj. Rather, she was passionately involved in Indian politics and life. She commissioned Indian art to record the landscape of a country she never saw herself. She bejeweled her crown with the Koh-i-noor and appointed in her court Indian nobility, who were considered part of the family.

Just as she was fascinated with India, so were her imperial subjects ready to serve, as maharajas sought her out for favours, sending her extravagant gifts. In this conversation, Dr Taylor speaks about his attempt to write Queen Victoria into the canon of the Raj as a monarch known for being just and equal, rather than merely ceremony and pomp.

Could you tell us about the origin of this book? What initially attracted you to this subject? Did your approach to this subject change as you dove into your research?

I have always been interested in the 'absent minded imperialism' of the British, the ways in which the British acquired a colonial empire, and then denied that they were an imperial people, and claimed they never developed an imperial culture at home and overseas. Taking Queen Victoria as a case-study, I wanted to show how India affected the metropolitan British mindset and politics. Then I made several trips to India, to do my fieldwork, and became much more aware of the resonance of Queen Victoria, in particular in the popular print culture and in the public life of 19th century-India. That made me realise there was a missing story about Queen Victorian in India, as well as back in Britain.

You refer to postcolonial anger in India and Pakistan as one of the reasons why Queen Victoria's beloved status in colonial India has been forgotten. While writing this book, did you feel a certain responsibility to address or assuage this postcolonial anger? How do you think your book engages with this postcolonial anger?

These days, it is impossible to separate out writing the history of European colonialism from the terrible legacies of the empire. So, yes, I was and am very conscious of the challenge of and sensitivities around writing Queen Victoria back into Indian history. At the same time, I was struck by how in 19th century India, a very different version of Queen Victoria emerged  one that empowered people, rather than symbolising their subjection. It was also a version of benevolent and charitable monarchy that fitted in with older Mughal and Hindu ideals of rule. Post-colonial anger can never be assuaged, but it was Queen Victoria's 20th century successors, I argue, who gave the British monarchy such a bad name in India down to 1947, not the Queen herself.

You have an interesting take on the Crown, and by extension, Queen Victoria's approach to India. You make constant references to the dichotomy between Queen Victoria being a 'warrior queen' and the 'mother of India'. Can you speak a little bit more about the process of creating a portrait that is a balance between these two 'versions' of the Queen?

Gender is crucial to understanding Queen Victoria's impact in India, and indeed in Britain. British historians always write about Queen Victoria as the epitome of 'Victorian values', how she played second string to her husband Prince Albert, how they both projected an ideology of the bourgeois family, and how after his death, she retreated into private life and the court, as a widow. I don't see it this way at all. India brings out very different aspects of Queen Victoria's character and personality. In the early years of her reign down to the rebellion of 1857, she is very evangelical and martial, and that is how she is seen in India. Then after 1857, she develops the persona of the beneficent monarch, the devoted widow who never remarries, and the mother and mentor to Indian reformers, both male and female. It is really hard to see how a male monarch could have brought any of this about.

What would you like people to take away from your book? What you have learned, over the course of your research and writing?

I hope readers will enjoy the book, it is meant to be entertaining as well as thought-provoking! There has been something of a renaissance in the scholarly study of India's indigenous traditions of kingship and queenship, as well as renewed interest in Mughal female power (I am thinking here of Ruby Lal's recent book on Nur Jahan). The British monarchy in India needs adding to that historical agenda in my view. I hope also that the book will lead to further research and writing around the topic of monarchy and India, there is so much rich print and visual material on the topic in the Indian archives and libraries, and also amidst the vernacular publications of the 19th and early 20th century.

What's next for you?

I am writing a piece about the Tagores and Queen Victoria, from the 1840s to World War I, and will be coming to Santiniketan soon to do some further research. Next year  2019  is the bicentenary of Queen Victoria's birth, so that will keep me busy too!
Even with his anti-BJP political dance at the Centre, it is paramount for Chandrababu Naidu to retain power in Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu's anti-Modi crusade reached a new level of propulsion on Thursday, as he joined Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference president Farooq Abudallah in a bid to unite all the parties opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The two senior leaders authorised Naidu to speak to other parties that have a common agenda to forge an anti-BJP front in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The three leaders also decided to consult other like-minded parties to chalk out a common minimum programme.

Before meeting Pawar and Abdullah, the TDP chief had also called on Aam Aadmi Party president and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Loktantrik Janata Dal chief Sharad Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati.

However, Naidu is neither the first, nor will he be the last, leader to take up such a crusade to unveil a third or federal front. In fact, the Congress itself has attempted to forge Opposition unity, with Sonia Gandhi having invited leaders of non-BJP parties in the past. But as several outfits have their own reservations and political interests in accepting the leadership of the Congress, nothing substantial can emerge at least before the 2019 polls.

So far, attempts to unite non-BJP or anti-BJP parties have yielded mixed results. The united fight by the Samajwadi Party, BSP, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and the Congress saw positive results in the Kairana bypolls in Uttar Pradesh. However, despite the critical importance of unity between the Congress and BSP to dislodge the saffron party in its strongholds of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, nothing of that sort could materialise.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) supremo and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) was yet another leader who had tried to unite regional parties. However, as he met only a select group of politicians who were either part of the Congress-led alliance or likely allies of the party, political circles began to view KCR's intentions with suspicion. Some even believed that KCR was doing this at the behest of the Modi-Shah duo to harm the Congress  the common enemy  by preventing other regional parties from gravitating towards the Grand Old Party.

Trinamool Congress president and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was yet another important leader who talked about the need for unity among anti-BJP forces. But given the fact that she nurses national ambitions, her competitors within the regional spectrum, including Pawar and even the Congress, were always sceptical.

On all these occasions, regardless of who made the attempt, the parties with political compulsions to oppose the BJP responded positively. Yet, a front and common minimum programme still elude because of inherent contradictions in the non-BJP camp.

However, Naidu was candid when he said that political compulsions will force non-BJP parties to come together to form a third front against it.

Mulayam Singh Yadav's national ambitions were almost laid to rest with the crisis in the Samajwadi Party. Also, with the gradual weakening of the BSP in its own state Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati's national ambitions were hard hit, as well.

After these experiences to unite the Opposition, Naidu has now made a fresh attempt to forge a front to take on the BJP, and to undertake this exercise, he certainly has a number of advantages. For one, Naidu is no longer with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and has shed his pathological aversion towards the Congress, against which TDP founder NT Rama Rao had floated the party. Naidu seems to be best suited to bring the Opposition together against the BJP, given his experience with the Congress when he brought together the 13-party United Front in 1996-1998, as well as with the BJP-led first NDA government.

Leaders like Pawar, Mamata and Mayawati do not consider Naidu a contender anymore, especially since the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The united state had 42 seats in the Lok Sabha, while the current Andhra Pradesh  where Naidu's politics have been restricted to primarily  has only 25 seats in the Lower House, much lower than Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal or Maharashtra.

On one hand, the Congress is bound to have reservations about Pawar and Mayawati as their NCP and BSP are its competitors in the states where it has much at stake, and the same holds true in Mamata's case.

On the other hand, however, the Congress has been decimated in Andhra Pradesh because of the alleged arbitrary bifurcation of the state. This means that it desperately needs Naidu for its revival in Andhra Pradesh. Naidu, too, is keen on embracing the Congress due to the electoral arithmetic at play since he walked out of the NDA and his fallout with Pawan Kalyan and his Jana Sena Party.

However, retaining power in Andhra Pradesh is paramount for Naidu, even more than the national political odyssey, as he has to install his son Nara Lokesh. But people close to Naidu have yet to dismiss his national aspirations, especially as his son, who is a minister in his cabinet, is all set for political succession.

Although Naidu has national ambitions, his Delhi parleys are primarily aimed at enhancing his strength in Andhra Pradesh through the electoral arithmetic.

With Naidu meeting Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, the TDP has made a strange, yet remarkable, turn in its historical destiny. The Andhra Pradesh chief minister has intelligently posit his political interest in the state in the national framework to avert any possible antipathy towards his alliance with the Congress at home.

The TDP had won the 2014 election with only a 2 percent margin with the support of the BJP and Pawan Kalyan. As both parties are now estranged, the TDP is desperately looking even for an incremental addition to its votes to avoid a possible flip-flop. However, given the anti-Congress sentiments in Andhra Pradesh on the basis of the narrative around the bifurcation, which Naidu nurtured himself all these years, the TDP wants to carefully couch his new-found love for the Congress in an anti-BJP national perspective.
After the meeting with Chandrababu Naidu, Farooq Abdullah said that along with Sharad Pawar, they will now 'work out a common minimum programme' and try to unit non-BJP parties.

In a joint press conference on Thursday, Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu, as well as Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and National Congress (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah said they were looking to work out ways to come together and put up a collective front "to protect the future of the nation".

Abdullah said the three of them will now "work out a common minimum programme", and that Naidu will be speaking to various state leaders to unite the parties that can take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

This is Naidu's second visit to New Delhi in less than a week, as part of efforts to to bring anti-BJP parties together. Naidu, along with TDP parliamentarians Jayadev Galla, CM Ramesh and others, met Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who said they were coming together "to defend democracy and the future of the country".

At the joint press conference, Naidu said that as senior leaders of the country, they felt sorry for the current state of India as it is "facing so many problems, and the situation is deteriorating day by day". Therefore, Naidu said, the three of them had met to "chalk out a programme for the future".

"This great nation has given us so much. We have to protect its future. The nation is all we're interested in. They have instructed me to talk to all anti-BJP parties to chalk out a programme. That is why I am here," Naidu told reporters.

Abdullah said: "The condition of democracy and institutions such as the CBI and RBI is very bad. The nation is going through a great crisis. Today, democracy is in danger, and the nation's people are in danger."

The Andhra Pradesh chief minister, however, emphasised that he does not wish for "power" or "seats", only for the welfare of the nation.

Naidu "coincidentally" also met senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and briefly discussed the need to bring all non-BJP political parties together, TDP sources said.

The TDP chief had also called on Aam Admi Party leader and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Loktantrik Janata Dal chief Sharad Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Saturday. Naidu said he was reaching out to these leaders to try to bring all like-minded Opposition parties together to form an alliance as an alternative to the BJP.

Last week, Naidu had said "political compulsions" will force non-BJP parties to come together to form a third front against the saffron party.

Naidu, a former BJP ally who quit the National Democratic Alliance earlier this year over the Centre's refusal to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh, met Mayawati, Abdullah and former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha in Delhi on 27 October.

With inputs from PTI
Chandrababu Naidu, by openly aligning with Rahul Gandhi, has shown the potential to be the pivot around whom the disparate Opposition may come together.

While Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu in an interaction with media persons on Thursday stopped short of using the word "alliance", he made it clear as to which side his party will support in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

Naidu met a slew of Opposition leaders, from Sharad Pawar of the NCP to Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference, and subsequently held the most anticipated meeting of all  with Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

After the meetings, Naidu said in a press conference, Our mission is to save democracy...We want to unite all non-BJP Opposition parties and chalk out a common programme. We will have to work together.

He further added, It is a democratic compulsion. We had differences with the Congress and BJP in the past. But now, we have to join hands to make it an alternative  and not just create an alternative to the BJP, but also put forward an alternative programme.

Rahul, after meeting Naidu, said, We will talk about the present and the future, and not about the past. All Opposition forces will work together to defend India. We have to defend our democracy.

Desperate times call for desperate measures

The declared objective of Naidus meeting with Rahul was a mission to "save democracy." However, in aligning with the Congress, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister has also sought a saviour, as he is under siege in his home state at the hands of YSR Congress chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

That can also be said of Rahul, who has finally found one open declaration of faith in a broad Opposition alliance, which will help him bring more parties together against the NDA. The "mahagathbandhan" (grand alliance) against the BJP, that Rahul has desperately been trying to achieve for quite some time, has remained elusive so far.

Naidu, by openly aligning with Rahul and meeting some other Opposition stalwarts, has shown the potential to be the pivot around whom the disparate Opposition may come together. While many other regional satraps and political heavyweights have shied away from a full-fledged alliance with the Congress, despite agreeing to the need for a united front to take on the BJP, Naidus well-publicised meeting with Rahul has all that it takes to give hope to the possibility of the mahagathbandhan.

A weak and divided Opposition may turn out to be the BJP's biggest advantage in the upcoming Assembly elections.

However, if Naidu succeeds in bringing all the top guns of the Opposition together, including the two big Ms  BSP supremo Mayawati and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee  the picture may change drastically in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

It may be recalled that recently, the Congress and BSP failed to enter a much-anticipated alliance in the poll-bound states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Further, Banerjee has refused to accept Rahul as the leader of all Opposition parties.

Political life comes full circle for Naidu

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader has earlier been a part of the NDA, and the meeting with the Congress president on Thursday was a 'ghar wapsi' of sorts for him.

Naidu had begun his political career as a Congress MLA. He had joined the Congress as a student leader in the 1970s and was elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1978 as a Congress (I) member. He later joined the TDP after marrying the daughter of the party icon and founder, NT Rama Rao.

To use a well-worn cliche, politicians make strange bedfellows. In the past, Naidu has courted politicians from opposite ends of the spectrum with great elan. Nearly twenty years ago, the TDP was the second largest party in the NDA after the 1999 Lok Sabha election. Now, Naidu is likely to test his political fortunes alongside the Congress in 2019.

One may recall that NT Rama Rao had founded the TDP to counter the Congress party, stating that it was "a historic need to rid Andhra Pradesh of the corrupt and inept rule of the Indian National Congress, which had governed the state since its formation in 1956.

On Thursday, the same TDP's supremo went to meet Rahul at his residence in New Delhi.

This is a significant boost for Rahul as well. Naidu is the first leader with a strong national recall value and high stature whom he has hosted at his residence after having taken over as Congress president.
Shiv Sena downplayed achievements of the Devendra Fadnavis government on completion of four years asking it to look at issues such as malnutrition and Maratha reservation

Mumbai: On the occasion of Maharashtra government's fourth anniversary, Shiv Sena, in its mouthpiece Saamna, launched a blistering attack at the Devendra Fadnavis government and criticised it over a number of issues.

Shiv Sena downplayed achievements claimed by Fadnavis during his tenure and asked his government to look at issues such as malnutrition and Maratha reservation.

"The chief minister claimed that in last four years he has brought Maharashtra on the top spot. In what segments did he achieve the first spot? Price rise, unemployment, hollow work or anything else? The statistics of malnutrition in Maharashtra is continuously increasing. Who will take the responsibility of Bhima-Koregaon violence, Maratha reservation march and social unrest?" read the editorial in Saamna, published on Thursday.

The Shiv Sena also debunked the speculations of a possible alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming elections and said, "In his fourth year, the chief minister has started talking about friendship and merger. He claims that come whatever there will be a coalition. He has said that to stop the fragmentation of Hindu votes, the merger is important. The key of Shiv Sena is not at BJP's office but with lakhs of dedicated Shiv Sainiks. Two years ago, at the national committee meeting of the Shiv Sena, a resolution for fighting and winning Maharashtra elections alone was adopted unanimously."

The editorial further claimed that the fifth year of the Maharashtra government will be marred with problems.

It also emphasised that Shiv Sena will itself decide on which direction it will take and added that it doesn't need anyone's supervision to make the decision.
Teams participating in the first Solar Decathlon - Middle East (SDME) 2018 have started to construct the houses they designed for the competition at Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, said Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) in an introductory meeting for the teams.



Teams were briefed about health and safety, logistics, and other organisational issues. Teams have to build and operate cost-effective and energy-efficient sustainable solar-powered homes, with a focus on protecting the environment, taking into consideration the regional climate. The participating teams will take part in 10 contests: architecture; engineering and building; energy management; energy efficiency; comfort conditions; house functioning; sustainable transport; sustainability; communications, and innovation.



A total of 15 teams representing 28 universities from 11 countries are taking part in the first SDME, which Dewa is organising in partnership with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and the US Department of Energy. The second SDME will be held in 2020 to coincide with Expo 2020 Dubai. The total prizes for the first and second completions exceed Dh20 million ($5.4 million).



Dewa has dedicated over 60,000 sq m for the competition at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Seih Al Dahl in Dubai. Dewa has invited the public to visit SDME to view the houses and meet the teams from November 14 to 29.



This Solar Decathlon is especially important as it is being organised in the Year of Zayed, which marks 100 years since the birth of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, who consolidated the principles of sustainable development in the UAE. I am pleased to welcome you to the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world, said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and managing director and CEO of Dewa.



This has been selected as the site of the competition due to its importance as a pioneer for a new phase of green economy. This is part of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 75 per cent of Dubai's total power output from clean energy, and make Dubai the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world, added Al Tayer.



When I met some of you in the workshops we organised, I experienced your determination to make a difference, and I was impressed by the innovative designs I saw. Im confident that your model homes will be important additions that can be implemented in smart homes. This will contribute to the conservation and sustainability of natural resources, for generations to come.



Your designs and models will also encourage your colleagues at your universities and other universities around the world to participate in the second Solar Decathlon Middle East. We will organise this in conjunction with Expo 2020 Dubai, whose theme Connecting Minds Creating the Future, fits well with this leading international competition, said Al Tayer, addressing the students.  TradeArabia News Service
In a tweet today, Divya Spandana shared an image of Narendra Modi standing by the foot of the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Vallabhai Patel memorial the prime minister unveiled on Wednesday, saying: 'Is that bird dropping?'

The Congress' social media chief Divya Spandana is no stranger to controversies. Her latest tweet, once again, targets Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the newly-unveiled statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The Statue of Unity was built in dedication to Patel, who served as the first home minister of Independent India. At 182 metres, the statue is 23 metres taller than China's Spring Temple Buddha statue and almost double the height of the Statue of Liberty (93 metres) in the US.

In her tweet on Thursday, Divya shared an image of Modi standing by the foot of the statue and paired it with the caption: "Is that bird dropping?"

The BJP did not take long to respond. "Ummm no, it is the values of the Congress that are dropping," the party tweeted. "Historical disdain for Sardar Patel + Pathological dislike for @narendramodi = Such language."

Ummm no, it is the values of the Congress that are dropping. Historical disdain for Sardar Patel + Pathological dislike for @narendramodi = Such language. Clearly, @RahulGandhis politics of 'love'! https://t.co/1TPCY7Fs4d  BJP (@BJP4India) November 1, 2018

Hours earlier, Spandana had quoted a tweet by the Congress Twitter account, which pointed out the cost of constructing the Statue of Unity versus Modi's alleged budget on advertisement. She tweeted: "Main apna fav hoon! @narendramodi iron man vs wax man."

Main apna fav hoon! @narendramodi iron man vs wax man  https://t.co/GLdfqx5dpH  Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) October 31, 2018

In an apparent criticism of the Congress, in particular Spandana's tweet, National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said the attacks on the prime minister's "person as opposed to his policies and performance actually play to Mr Modi's advantage".

"I'm not sure the people making these attacks even realise this at all," he tweeted. "Not to mention bringing down the general level of discourse."

Attacks that are seen to be against the PMs person as opposed to his policies & performance actually play to Mr Modis advantage. Im not sure the people making these attacks even realise this at all. Not to mention bringing down the general level of discourse.  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 1, 2018

The prime minister dedicated the 182-metre statue  constructed on a river island called Sadhu Bet near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat's Narmada district  to the nation on Wednesday. The event did not escape criticism, with the Opposition questioning why a taller structure was not built for Mahatma Gandhi.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused the government of treason, saying that the Centre may have built a structure in Sardar Patel's memory even though there was a "systematic destruction" of the institutions he had helped build.

"Ironic that a statue of Sardar Patel is being inaugurated, but every institution he helped build is being smashed," Rahul tweeted. "The systematic destruction of India's institutions is nothing short of treason."
With BJP's L Chandrashekhar withdrawing his candidature for the 3 November Ramanagara Assembly by-poll, Kumaraswamy's wife Anita Kumaraswamy is expected to have a cakewalk

Bengaluru: In a major embarrassment for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), two days before the Ramanagara assembly by-poll, its candidate against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's wife quit the contest on Thursday and returned to the Congress.

With BJP's L Chandrashekhar withdrawing his candidature for the 3 November polls, Kumaraswamy's wife Anita Kumaraswamy, is expected to have a smooth sail facing a virtual no-contest.

Announcing his decision to return to his "mother party," the Congress, Chandrashekhar accused BJP and its leaders of "abandoning" him after giving him the ticket.

"After welcoming me to the BJP by giving party flag, Yeddyurappa (state BJP chief) or any other leaders did not join me for campaigning. They neglected Ramanagara due to internal squabble between the leaders within the party," he told reporters.

Alleging Yeddyurappa did not even answer his phone calls, Chandrashekhar said, he was worried about his political future in the BJP and hence decided to withdraw from the poll fray. "Saddened about the attitude of leaders and system that exists within the BJP, I have decided not to have any association with the party, I'm returning to my mother party Congress," he said, with Bengaluru rural Congress MP D K Suresh seated next to him.

Chandrashekhar, son of a senior Congress leader C M Lingappa, had joined BJP as the Congress decided to support the candidate of its ruling coalition partner, JD(S). Within days after joining the BJP, he was announced as the party's candidate.

"By remaining in the Congress party, I will extend my support to the coalition candidate..." Chandrashekar said.

This development just ahead of polls is being seen as senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh's response to the BJP's alleged attempts to weaken the coalition government by trying to "poach" Congress MLAs.

Reacting to the development, Yeddyurappa told reporters in Shivamogga, "Shivakumar and brother (D K Suresh) have brought (Chandrashekar) back, by giving money. I got the information just now. God bless them".

By-election to Ramanagara was necessitated as it fell vacant after Kumaraswamy gave up the seat preferring Chennapatna, the other seat he had won in the May assembly polls.

By-polls for three Lok Sabha constituencies- Shivamogga, Ballari and Mandya and two assembly constituencies, Ramanagara and Jamkhandi, will take place on November 3. The counting of votes would be on November 6.
LJP Rajasthan president Suraj Kumar Burhadia said the state unit had also urged party chief Ram Vilas Paswan to discuss the matter with the BJP high command.

Jaipur: The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will contest on all 200 Assembly seats in Rajasthan in the upcoming polls if talks of alliance on 15 seats with the BJP fail to yield any result, a party leader said Thursday.

"The party wants to ally with the BJP on 15 seats. The matter was discussed with the state BJP president Madan Lal Saini but the talks did not yield any result," LJP state president Suraj Kumar Burhadia said at a press conferencein Jaipur.

He said Saini had assured them to take up the issue with party leaders in New Delhi.

Burhadia said the state unit had also urged party chief Ram Vilas Paswan to discuss the matter with the BJP high command.

"The party would contest on all 200 seats if a consensus can't be reached with the BJP," he said.
BJP's UP unit chief Mahendra Nath Pandey sought to belittle bids of Opposition parties to forge alliance with SP and BSP for Lok Sabha polls in 2019, saying 'days of caste equations are over'.

Lucknow: Bharatiya Janata Party's Uttar Pradesh unit chief Mahendra Nath Pandey on Thursday sought to belittle the efforts of Opposition parties to stitch up an alliance with the SP and the BSP as key partners for the general elections next year, saying "days of caste equations are over".

Pandey's remarks assume significance in light of the recent statement by Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav that an alliance between his party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for the Lok Sabha polls was very much alive and would be firmed up after the upcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram.

"I don't think that they (Opposition parties) will be in a position to face us. They are still dabbling in politics of yesteryears, when after calculating the caste votes, tickets were distributed and alliances stitched," Pandey told PTI.

"Days of caste equations are over. This era belongs to an active and continuously performing prime minister," he said in an interview.

The Uttar Pradesh BJP chief exuded confidence that his party will romp home in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by its sheer "performance, organisational strength and continuous dialogue with masses". Taking a jibe at the BJP's political rivals, Pandey said, "People here are trying to forge an alliance. Whether the knot will be strong or get more entangled only time will tell... we are least bothered."

Pandey, who is an MP from Chandauli Lok Sabha seat in eastern Uttar Pradesh, also claimed that members of the castes, on the basis of which the SP and the BSP used to reap rich political dividends, are now on the saffron party's side as they are benefitting from the BJP government's schemes.

When asked whether the beneficiaries of the schemes will eventually vote for the party, Pandey said, "They will definitely back us realising that during the BJP government, there has been no room for middlemen."

Slamming the SP and the BSP, he said, "For almost 10 years, the Congress-led UPA functioned at the Centre with the support of Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav. But development eluded Uttar Pradesh as the SP and the BSP were busy fulfilling their vested interests." He accused both these parties of doing injustice to Uttar Pradesh.

"The SP and BSP made Uttar Pradesh a back-bencher state. We are conveying these points to the electorate," Pandey said. Terming the party's target of getting 73+ seats from Uttar Pradesh in the general elections next year "realistic", he said the BJP is "making special plans to win the seven Lok Sabha seats which it had lost in 2014".

In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Of the 80 seats in the state, the Congress had won Rae Bareli and Amethi, while the Samajwadi Party won five. The BJP and its allies bagged 73 seats. When asked as to what steps were being taken by the party to ensure that bypoll defeat such as those in high-profile constituencies  Gorakhpur and Phoolpur  besides Kairana was not repeated, Pandey said, "The party will ensure to take its vote share in the 2019 Lok Sabha to over 51 percent across the state."

He claimed that today the BJP as a whole has activated one of its strongest team ever, and has members, who hail from virtually every section of the society.
The two contenders for a Congress ticket in Sendhwa, Gyarsilal Rawat and Sukhlal Parmar, have been at loggerheads since 2003, leaving the seat out of reach of the grand old party

Sendhwa: In the past three Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, BJP has maintained its hold on Sendhwaa constituency 150 kilometres from Indorecourtesy internal disputes in Congress and rebellions among its workers. So much so that if one Congress leader gets a ticket, the competitor allegedly directs all his votes to the BJP candidate. The two contenders for a Congress ticket in Sendhwa, Gyarsilal Rawat and Sukhlal Parmar, have been at loggerheads, leaving the seat out of reach of the grand old party since 2003. What is thus ironic is the locals' claim that Sendhwa is favourable ground for the Congressin terms of electoratedue to its candidates' tribal connection.

Two communities contend for the seat reserved for Scheduled Tribes: Barela and Bhilala. The claimants, Rawat and Parmar, who hail from the Barela community are engaged in a bitter rivalry. BJPs Antar Singh Arya managed to bag this seat in 2003 with 32,000 votes because of this feud. Because of internal politics and groupism, the seat went into BJPs hands," said Sukhlal Parmar, former president of the Barwani district Congress committee. "If Sendhwa Congress leaders join hands, we will easily win this seat. In 2013, the party gave a ticket to a weak candidate."

The Rawat-Parmar rivalry gained such notoriety that in 2013, the Congress award the Sendhwa ticket to an entirely new face: Dayaram Bata. President of Krishi Mandi (a farmers market), Bata was given the ticket against popular expectant Bhuvan Singh, whom the state leadership had readied. Congress leaders in Delhi cancelled Singhs ticket after being informed about a rape charge against him and asked state leadership to replace him the same day. Since Bata was not a known face, BJP secured an easy win.

However, Rawat is extremely confident of securing a ticket this time around. There were some issues in the past, but we are all together now and will definitely win the elections this time, he said. As per locals, Arya and Rawat emerged as influential leaders after they were given tickets in 1990. Rawat gained prominence in the mainstream after emerging victorious in college elections. He, however, lost that election to Arya by 3,907 votes. In 1993 and 1998, Rawat played his cards well, bagging the seat with a margin of 6,472 and 3,083 votes, respectively. The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh was dissolved in 1992 in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid riots.

However, in the early 90s, when Parmar, a businessman working with the Congress, moved to Sendhwa, a new political dimension emerged. After he failed to bag a Congress ticket in 2003, Parmar contested the elections with NCPs backing and managed to swing a significant number of votes (24,078). He lost by a narrow margin, but secured almost as many votes as Rawat, who lost to Arya by over 30,000 votes. In 2008, Parmar pushed Rawat aside to bag the Congress ticket from Sendhwa. Which resulted in Rawat retaliating by directing his vote bank, the Barela community, towards Arya, who won by a margin of 12,818 votes. According to locals, Arya and Rawat belong to the Barela community and are distant relatives.

While the Congress was expected to release its first list of candidates for Madhya Pradesh polls Wednesdaywhich it still hasn'tit will be interesting to see how the party handles the gridlock in Sendhwa, which seemingly hurts its candidate's chances. Talking about the incumbents chances in Sendhwa, BJP district president S Veera Swami, said, The party and MLA has done a lot of work in these years for farmers, youths and the locals, and I am sure this year we will win by a margin of 40,000 votes. There might be some problems in Congress, but BJP has always been a strong party. For Arya, there's no contest.

The author is a freelance writer and a member of 101reporters.com
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi threw open the world's tallest statue to celebrate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and dedicated it to the citizens of India, Opposition parties questioned the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party as to why didn't they think of a bigger statue for Mahatma Gandhi.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi threw open the world's tallest statue to celebrate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and dedicated it to the citizens of India, Opposition parties questioned the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party as to why didn't they think of a bigger statue for Mahatma Gandhi. The Opposition also accused the ruling party of trying to "hijack" the legacy of Independence heroes like Sardar Patel.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, taking a jibe at Modi, said it was "ironic" that a statue of Sardar Patel is being inaugurated, but every institution he helped build is being destgroyed while BSP chief Mayawati demanded an apology from the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamseva Sangh who flayed her over the statues of Dalit leaders her government had installed in Uttar Pradesh.

Rahul also alleged that the "systematic destruction" of India's institutions is nothing short of "treason".

Modi after unveiling the 182-metre structure in his home state of Gujarat on Patel's 143rd birth anniversary addressed the criticism of the decision to build the monument, questioning whether any crime had been committed by constructing such memorials for national heroes like Patel. "We are criticised for praising the contributions of national heroes like Sardar Patel. We are made to feel as if we have committed a serious crime," he said.

He then posed a question to the audience, "You tell me, is it a crime to remember our national heroes?". To this, the audience replied in the negative.

The Statue of Unity is built in dedication to Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who served as the first home minister of independent India. Sardar Patel is credited with uniting all 562 princely states in pre-independent India to build the Republic of India -- hence the name of the statue. The date for the inauguration of the statue (31 October, 2018) also marks the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. The Statue of Unity will be open to the public from 3 November.

Activist Medha Patkar penned an 'open letter to Sardar Patel' and criticised the fact that lands of adivasi labourers was being encroached upon to build this statue. In the letter, "Can you imagine who has built your new avatar? Many Chinese and some local Adivasi and national labourers have worked overnight on the Sadhu Bet, a hillock with Adivasi deity of their faith. You would surely ask, on whose land would this statue stand? Whose plan was this? This land, river, forest that your avatar is going to stand on, belongs to Adivasis. The very same people your government and then leaders, Mahatma to Pandit Nehru recognised as villagers with rights, as republics and offered security through Panchsheel. The forefathers of the Indian Constitution, with Babasaheb at the helm, also granted them right to peace and good government, through the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution and later, the PESA Act towards self-reliance."

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said there was no such gigantic statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the country and wanted to know why BJP had not built a bigger statue for him.

"The biggest one is in Parliament..But this is a 182-metre statue for his disciple. Why is there such a big statue for a disciple of Gandhiji in the country where there is no statue of that size for the Mahatma?" he asked while addressing a function at the district congress committee office in Thiruvananthapuram. CPI general secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy also echoed Tharoor's sentiments.

"Patel, a very simple person, was known as the disciple of Gandhiji," Tharoor said. "I am asking a question...Is it right to erect such an imposing statue of Patel, a man of simplicity and a true Gandhian, who moved along with poor peasants," he said.

Tharoor said BJP had no answer to the query why they did not erect a bigger statue of the Mahatma. The reason is that they do not believe in Mahatma Gandhi's principles of non-violence, he alleged.

He also alleged that BJP was trying to "hijack" the legacy of freedom fighters and national heroes like Patel as they have no leaders of their own in history to celebrate.

He said Patel was a Congress leader and BJP should not be allowed to adopt him.

Rahul said Patel was a patriot, who fought for a independent, united and secular India. "A man with a steely will, tempered by compassion, he was a Congressman to the core, who had no tolerance for bigotry or communalism...," he tweeted.

Mayawati accused the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) and its government at the Centre of confining Patel to a region, saying this is an example of BJP's narrow-mindedness.

"All those in the BJP, the RSS and company need to apologise, especially to the people of the Bahujan Samaj, for terming the statues installed by the then BSP government to honour icons like Baba Saheb Ambedkar and others as wasteful expenditure," she said in a statement released in Lucknow.

"The people of the country are also wondering if all this is not politics, and if the BJP really had this love for Patel why had they not put up such a massive statue earlier in Gujarat where they are in power for a long time," the chief of Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) said.

Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge slammed BJP for using the statue of Sardar Patel for their "vested interests." BJP remembering Patel was an "election gimmick", Kharge told reporters at Hubballi in Karnataka.

The Congress leader said, "Every year BJP remembers a different freedom fighter--sometimes they remember Patel, sometimes Gandhi for Swachch Bharat Abhiyan and sometimes they remember Dr B R Ambedkar and Subhas Chandra Bose.

These are all their election stunts. They never had respect for those who fought for the freedom of India."

"Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister while Patel was Home Minister. Naturally credit goes to the prime minister. It is not good to project somebody to undermine somebody else," Kharge said.

Reddy, the CPI chief, demanded to know why a bigger statue of Mahatma Gandhi was not built by the BJP.

He said while there was no objection over the monument built for Patel, what was surprising was why a bigger statue for the father of the nation, who was also born in Gujarat, was not thought of. "They (BJP) do not like his (Gandhi's) secularism, that is why they have not taken up (build his statue). Instead, they have gone for Patel, who had rightist ideas," the CPI general secretary alleged.

Reddy also charged the BJP with trying to "appropriate" the legacy of Patel. "We have no objection to Sardar Patel's statue. With all due respect to him (Patel), we feel Mahatma Gandhi is the tallest leader of Indian politics...Indian people...he is the father of the nation," he told PTI in Hyderabad.

"Mahatma Gandhi's statue should have been bigger, he is leader of the highest stature than anybody else," he said.
Sitaram Yechury said he was hopeful the truth about the Rafale deal will come out as the Supreme Court has insisted on facts on the price of the jets.

New Delhi: Welcoming the Supreme Court's order to the Centre to submit details of pricing of the Rafale fighter jets India is buying from France, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged on Thursday that the Narendra Modi government has tried to "cover up" its secret and dishonest activities in the multi-crore defence deal.

Alleging that the Rafale deal was an example of cronyism and corruption, Yechury said he was hopeful the truth about the deal will come out as the apex court has insisted on facts.

"The Modi government has tried to cover up its shenanigans in the Rafale scam by providing all kinds of excuses. With the Supreme Court insisting on facts, the truth about this prime example of cronyism and corruption will fully come out," he tweeted.

Modi govt has tried to cover up its shenanigans in the Rafale scam by providing all kinds of excuses. With Supreme Court insisting on facts, the truth about this prime example of cronyism and corruption will fully come out. pic.twitter.com/T4yf5ofNm8  Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) November 1, 2018

The government has denied allegations of corruption in the deal.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre for pricing details of the 36 Rafale jets India is buying from France in a sealed cover within 10 days but agreed that "strategic and confidential" information need not be disclosed.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi gave some leeway to the government, which has argued that pricing details are so sensitive that they have not even been shared with Parliament.

The court was hearing four petitions, including one by advocate Prashant Bhushan and former ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha who are seeking a court-monitored CBI investigation into the purchase of the fighter jets.

The court posted the matter for hearing on 14 November.

India signed an agreement with France for 36 Rafale aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment. The Rafale fighter jet is a twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.

Indian Air Force had advanced a proposal to buy 126 fighter aircraft in August 2007 and floated a tender. Following this, an invitation was sent to various aviation companies to participate in the bidding process.
Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia, who have been asked to pick winnable candidates for the upcoming polls in Madhya Pradesh slated for 28 November, sparred over ticket distribution and choice of candidates,

Divisions in the Madhya Pradesh unit of the Congress came to light on Thursday, after party leaders Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia engaged in a verbal spat in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi.

Singh and Scindia, who have been asked to pick winnable candidates for the upcoming polls in Madhya Pradesh slated for 28 November, sparred over ticket distribution and choice of candidates, India Today reported.

The news channel also reported that the spat was intense enough for Rahul to commission a three-member committee, comprising Ashok Gehlot, Veerappa Moily and Ahmed Patel, to resolve it. They sat in the party's war room at Gurudwara Rakabganj Road in New Delhi till 2:30 am on Thursday to resolve the matter.

Later in the day, Singh on Twitter denied that any argument took place between him and Scindia. He said, "It is being wrongly reported in the press that I and Jyotiraditya Scindia ji had any argument and Rahul ji had to intervene. All of us in the Madhya Pradesh Congress are one, and determined to defeat the corrupt BJP government in Madhya Pradesh."

The row comes amid reports that the Congress has been unable to decide on a chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming state polls. Scindia and veteran leader Kamal Nath are unofficially considered to be the Congress' chief ministerial candidates.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said his party has not declared its candidate in Madhya Pradesh as part of its poll strategy while showering praises on Nath and Scindia.

"Both our leaders have qualities of their own. Kamal Nath, the Madhya Pradesh Congress president, has vast political experience and Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Congress chief whip in the Lok Sabha, is young and energetic," Rahul said.

The Congress is looking to unseat the BJP, which has been in power since 2003, in the election scheduled for 28 November. The party's president Rahul Gandhi has been extensively touring the state in a bid to revive the party's fortunes. However, factionalism in the party's state unit and an inability to forge an alliance with the BSP have dealt it a blow.

Meanwhile, two-time Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh has slowly taken a backseat in the state and has kept himself away from the party affairs ahead of Assembly polls.

According to reports, Singh is not happy about being overlooked by his party. A letter that he allegedly wrote to Sonia Gandhi, complaining about being ignored by the party, also came to light on Thursday.

In the letter, he also asks for tickets for 57 candidates, terming them "dedicated workers of the party who are not aligned with any party faction."

What a fraud! I have never written this letter. pic.twitter.com/TToyqcaVmN  digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) October 31, 2018

Singh took to Twitter to refute reports that he wrote the letter.

News18 reported that the BJP accused the Congress of engineering the plot. A seasoned politician like Digvijay Singh uploaded the letter on his own Twitter handle proves that he wanted the content to be known to his followers and the party, BJP spokesperson Rajnish Agrawal said, claiming its Singhs mann ki baat and whether its fake or not is a different thing.

Responding to the allegations, Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said Singh has himself clarified that the letter is fake, so the issue should be put to rest. We can understand that the BJP is unnerved due to fear of losing the forthcoming Assembly polls and the letter is a creation of Dirty Tricks Department of the BJP, taunted Chaturvedi.

Recently, Singh also stayed away from the Congress' programmes in Ujjain and Indore, saying that he he had been assigned an important work by the party president. A report by Debobrat Ghose of Firstpost quoted party sources as saying that he was deliberately kept aside from Rahuls rally as he has been considered "anti-Hindu" due to his caustic remarks aimed at the BJP and the RSS.

With inputs from PTI
Chandrababu Naidu said he was trying to bring all like-minded Opposition parties together to form an alliance as an alternative to the BJP.

Amaravati: Intensifying his efforts to build an Opposition alliance to take on the BJP, Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu will meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.

In his second visit to New Delhi in less than a week, Naidu will call on Rahul as part of his efforts to bring all Opposition parties on a common platform.

Addressing a party programme in Amaravati on Wednesday night, Naidu said he will meet Rahul in the national capital on Thursday.

This will be the TDP chief's first meeting with the Congress president, though the two had shared the dais at the swearing-in of Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy in May.

The TDP chief had called on Aam Admi Party leader and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Loktantrik Janata Dal chief Sharad Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati on Saturday.

He is likely to meet Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and leaders of Left parties on Thursday. Naidu said he was trying to bring all like-minded Opposition parties together to form an alliance as an alternative to the BJP.

Naidu, who had pulled out of the BJP-led NDA in March, said the policies pursued by the BJP posed a threat to democracy in the country. "I have taken up the responsibility to save the country from this threat. It is the duty of all to save the country," he said.

He claimed that he was offered the post of prime minister twice, but he refused. He said the time had come again for the TDP to play a key role in national politics.

Naidu reiterated that Modi betrayed people of Andhra Pradesh by going back on the promise to undo injustice done to them with the bifurcation of the state
Reuters

Apple Inc has held talks with iHeartMedia Inc to take a stake in the US radio company, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The discussions between the two companies remain at a preliminary stage and no deal has been agreed, the report said, citing sources.

iHeartMedia is hoping the iPhone maker will take an equity stake worth millions of dollars, the FT reported citing one of the sources. The tie-up could result in a multimillion-dollar marketing partnership rather than a direct investment, the report said citing another source.

iHeartMedia filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in March, after reaching an agreement with creditors to more than halve its $20 billion debt. In June, John Malones Liberty Media withdrew its proposal to invest in iHeartMedia. Apple and iHeartMedia did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
Alkhabeer Capital, the asset manager specialised in alternative investments, announced that it has received Capital Market Authority (CMA) approval to publicly list its Shariah-compliant Alkhabeer REIT Fund with assets in excess of SR1 billion ($266.64 million) and an IPO size of SR237 million, equating to 24 per cent of total fund assets.

The fund invests in seven income generating real estate assets at prime locations in Riyadh, Jeddah and Tabuk. The target returns of over nine per cent per annum, distributed quarterly, are among the highest in comparison with other real estate investment traded funds listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul).

Commenting on this listing, Ahmed Saud Ghouth, chief executive officer of Alkhabeer Capital, said: Alkhabeer REIT is the product of Alkhabeers knowledge and expertise in the real estate investment field, domestically and globally, with its real estate investment portfolio exceeding SR3.6 billion as at December 31, 2017, managed through 10 real estate funds holding assets and projects in the cities of Jeddah, Riyadh, Khobar and Makkah, as well as real estate property in the US and the UK."

Alkhabeer REIT provides an attractive opportunity to institutional and individual investors to realise high income yield. The funds subscription may be made through six receiving banks with a minimum subscription amount of SR500, without any subscription fees.

Ghouth added: Alkhabeer Capital manages investment funds with assets of around SR4.7 billion as at December 31, 2017, mainly in real estate and private equity. Alkhabeer has an outstanding track record with extensive experience in investing in real estate opportunities catering to investor needs and maximizing returns in a changing economic landscape.

Subscription in Alkhabeer REIT Units is scheduled to start on November 11, and will continue through November 29. Prospective subscribers may apply through the following institutions: National Commercial Bank, Riyad Bank, Al-Rajhi Bank, Arab National Bank, Saudi Fransi Bank and Aljazira Capital. Fund basic information, executive summary and terms and conditions are available at www.alkhabeer.com/ar/REIT.

Alkhabeer Capital, headquartered in Saudi Arabia, specialises in alternative investments and investment services. - TradeArabia News Service
tech2 News Staff

At an event in New York on 30 October, Apple updated its Macbook Air, Mac mini and iPad Pro series. Along with the hardware, the same day, Apple also released an update to its iOS and WatchOS software, bringing them up to iOS 12.1, and watch OS 5.1.

While the iOS 12.1, with support for Group FaceTime and bunch of new emojis, was widely liked, the watchOS 5.1 didnt exactly have the same fate.

As first reported by 9To5Mac, many using the new Apple Watch 4 were complaining of their watch getting bricked after installing the new update. Consequently, Apple had to suspend the rollout of the update, until it is fixed.

Hours after the release of watchOS 5.1 many users took to Reddit and Twitter to complain about the issue.

watchOS 5.1 update bricked my Apple Watch Series 4. pic.twitter.com/sPgRfvYFwy  Chris Ball (@chriswb) October 30, 2018

GREAT !!! My Brand new Apple Watch series 4 is freezing on Apple Logo thanks to Watch OS 5.1.#ThanksWatchOS51 #AppleWatchSeries4 #AppleSupport  Patrick (@Fapa76) October 30, 2018

Like you can see in the tweets above, the update caused the Watch to freeze at the Apple logo and has seemingly not woken up since installing the update. This issue was seen on different configurations of the wearable. Restarting the smartwatch does not appear to help the plagued users as well.

While we still await a response from Apple, the company told CNET in a statement that, Due to a small number of Apple Watch customers experiencing an issue while installing watchOS 5.1 today, we've pulled back the software update as a precaution. Any customers impacted should contact AppleCare, but no action is required if the update installed successfully. We are working on a fix for an upcoming software update.

Apple has not released any timeline yet on when can we expect the fixed watchOS 5.1 update. Keep watching this space for more update on this.
Reuters

Hundreds of Google employees and contractors in Asia staged brief midday walkouts on 1 November, with thousands more expected to follow at offices worldwide, amid complaints of sexism, racism and unchecked executive power in their workplace.

In a statement late on 31 October, the organizers called on Google parent Alphabet Inc to add an employee representative to its board of directors and internally share pay-equity data. They also asked for changes to Googles human resources practices intended to make bringing harassment claims a fairer process.

Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said in a statement that employees have raised constructive ideas and that the company was taking in all their feedback so we can turn these ideas into action.

The dissatisfaction among Alphabets 94,000 employees and tens of thousands more contractors has not noticeably affected company shares. But employees expect Alphabet to face recruiting and retention challenges if their concerns go unaddressed.

The demonstrations follow a New York Times report last week that said Google in 2014 gave a $90 million exit package to Andy Rubin after the then-senior vice president was accused of sexual harassment.

Rubin denied the allegation in the story, which he also said contained wild exaggerations about his compensation. Google did not dispute the report.

The report energized a months-long movement inside Google to increase diversity, improve treatment of women and minorities and ensure the company upholds its motto of dont be evil as it expands.

Much of the organizing earlier this year was internal, including petition drives, brainstorming sessions with top executives and training from the workers rights group Coworker.org.

On Thursday, employees posted on social media about the walkout and were set to deliver speeches in public plazas.

Since its founding two decades ago, Google has been known around the world for its exceptional transparency with workers. Executives goals and insights into corporate strategy have been accessible to any employee.

But organizers said Google executives, like leaders at other companies affected by the #metoo movement, have been slow to address some structural issues.

While Google has championed the language of diversity and inclusion, substantive actions to address systemic racism, increase equity, and stop sexual harassment have been few and far between, organizers stated.

They said Google must publicly report its sexual harassment statistics and end forced arbitration in harassment cases. In addition, they asked that the chief diversity officer be able to directly advise the board.
tech2 News Staff

A peculiar device called the 'Google Rammus' has been spotted on popular benchmarking website Geekbench. The device was seen to be benchmarked a few days ago.

The listing reveals that the device runs on Android Nougat 7.1 and comes with 4 GB of RAM and an Intel Core M3-8100Y processor.

This was first spotted by well-known leakster Roland Quandt on Twitter.

Google has a new device in the works, called "Rammus" using a mainboard called "Shyvana" using an Intel "Amber Lake" m3-8100Y dualcore SoC , 4 GB RAM and Android (tested with 7.1.1 x86). No clue what it is, but it's been on Geekbench for a few days now: https://t.co/nyqLC3bozo  Roland Quandt (@rquandt) October 29, 2018

The device is supposed to be an earlier model or maybe a prototype of the Pixel Slate which too runs on the same processor and was priced at $799. Some are of the opinion that it may be a less powerful version of the Pixel Slate which is expected to be unveiled soon.

But the new device entry shows up with 4 GB RAM instead of 8 GB RAM.

As per the report by Android Headlines, The Google Pixel Slate which was earlier found on Geekbench had the motherboard codenamed as 'nocturne', but the one used by 'Google Rammus' is codenamed 'shyvana'.

Also, the Pixel Slate was shown to be running on Android Pie, before its eventual release, but as per another report in GizmoChina Geekbench might have an issue with recognising Chrome OS.

The Pixel Slate currently is said to come in four versions with different processors.

The most powerful is the one with a Core i7 processor followed by Core i5 and then an Intel Core M3 processor and finally, the least powerful of them all is said to have an Intel Celeron processor with 4 GB/8 GB of RAM.

So if 'Google Rammus' is one of the many Pixel Slates that are expected to roll in then it may be placed lower to the version which has a Core M3 processor as it is only said to come with 8 GB RAM and 64 GB of storage but higher than the Celeron version.

But these are all on thin ice currently as there is no official word out yet.
tech2 News Staff

The Lenovo Z5 Pro which was expected to finally go official today was launched at an event in China. As revealed in its teasers, the newest flagship smartphone from Lenovo features a camera slider similar to the Oppo Find X and the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3.

The main reason for having a mechanical camera slider is to be able to accommodate a larger display which is close to being edge-to-edge without cutting out a notch and Lenovo has managed to do just that. The Lenovo Z5 Pro claims to arrive with a screen-to-body ratio of 95 percent which is quite impressive.

The phone goes on sale in China in two storage variants  6 GB RAM with 64 GB of storage or 6 GB RAM with 128 GB of storage. There is no mention of a microSD card expansion here so we are assuming there isn't a slot for that here.

As far as prices are concerned, the 64 GB variant has been priced at CNY 1,998 (Rs 21,250), while the 128 GB variant has been priced at CNY 2,298 (roughly Rs 24,500). You are stuck to just one Ceramic Black colour variant to choose from, which is somewhat limiting.

The Lenovo Z5 Pro features a Samsung-made 6.39-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. Underneath the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC which isn't really as powerful as the Snapdragon 845 SoC but is adequately powered to stomp through the regular workload.

One the back, the Z5 Pro gets a dual-camera setup with a 16 MP Sony IMX 576 primary sensor with an aperture of f/1.8 and a secondary 24 MP sensor. The slider is a home to another dual-camera setup for selfies  16 MP + 8 MP and they are accompanied by an infrared sensor for better facial recognition in the dark. Video shooting capabilities are capped at 4K 30 fps through the rear camera and at 1080p for the dual-front cameras.

The Z5 Pro also incorporates an under-display fingerprint reader which also is one of the centrepiece features of the handset. A 3,350 mAh battery unit provides power to the phone and Lenovo runs its proprietary ZUI 10 UI on top of Android Oreo.
tech2 News Staff

Samsung today published a patent which suggests that the South Korean giant may have more surprises up its sleeve when it launches its next flagship.

A report by SamMobile states that Samsung is working on a new patent which hints that Samsung could be taking a few pages from HTC's book and implementing its own version of a pressure-sensitive display that can be triggered by squeezing the phone. The patent titled, 'Electronic Device And Method Of Controlling the Electronic Device Based On Touch Input' was filed back in April 2017, describes several implementations of pressure sensitive virtual keys.

Now we may have seen Samsung implement a pressure-sensitive home button on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S9 lineup but in this patent, we also see how different levels of pressure trigger different actions on the phone. So far, we have seen HTC phones and even the Pixel phone that featured a squeezable frame, but since Samsung likes to bend the display over the edges, it left only those portions of the display sensitive to pressure.

Samsung also described the use of a pressure-sensitive power button which in addition to being the standard switch on/off button, also acts as the reboot and restart button. Each of these functions are triggered at different levels of pressure. Applying pressure, an indicator on the screen shows the user which action will be triggered. This indication is similar to how the alert slider notifies you on OnePlus phones.

There is no way to know if and when well be seeing any of these ideas in future Galaxy smartphones. The virtual home key, for example, is already in use and Samsung could have concluded it as the only useful implementation of the ideas in the patent.
tech2 News Staff

Every year Samsung launches a luxury flip phone with two displays named W2016, W2017, Wo128 and so on. The W2018 was launched in China this year at CNY 15,999, which is about Rs 1,56,000. As we're nearing the end of 2018, here are some leaked images of the expected W2019.

The publication GizChina has released some images of the Samsung W2019 giving us the newest look at the upcoming luxury clamshell smartphone.

The device is expected to come with top of the line specifications. The device is rumoured to have two 4.2-inch touchscreen displays and the processor is expected to be Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 chipset.

Recently, the device was listed on TENAA, revealing other key specifications of the device. A moderately big 3,000 mAh battery will power the flip phone.

On the camera front, the specifications are expected to be the same as the Galaxy Note 9's and S9 Plus'. Which means that the device will feature a dual camera system with two 12 MP units with dual optical image stabilisation (OIS) at the rear and an 8 MP front-facing camera unit.

There is also going to be a dedicated Bixby button under the volume rocker, and the device will also come with USB-C type port. There will be no 3.5mm audio jack, at least it doesn't appear so from the photographs posted by GizChina.

The device is expected to launch somewhere during the end of November and the beginning of December 2018, but it will be a China exclusive.
Indo-Asian News Service

Announcing major improvements for Tesla's Autopark (Summon) feature, CEO Elon Musk has said the company's electric vehicles would be able to find a parking spot and even read signs for parking instruction to avoid tickets by next year.

The "AutoPark" feature comes with "Autopilot" which is its semi-autonomous driver assistance system. When prompted by a driver, the feature can move a vehicle into a parking spot.

"By next year, a Tesla should be able to drive around a parking lot, find an empty spot, read signs to confirm it's valid and park," Musk tweeted late on 31 October.

For those unfamiliar, this uses Tesla Autopark/Summon. Slightly smarter version hopefully ready soon. By next year, a Tesla should be able to drive around a parking lot, find an empty spot, read signs to confirm its valid & park.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 31, 2018

The electric carmaker's "Autopilot" feature also uses software and hardware to enable automatic steering, braking, accelerating and lane changing under certain conditions.

"Musk described the technology as a 'slightly smarter version' of the automaker's 'Autopark' feature which currently enables a Tesla to parallel park or perpendicular park on its own once the car is next to a clearly marked open spot," reported USA Today.

The company has faced flak calling it "Autopilot" since drivers are supposed to keep their hands touching the steering wheel.

Last month, the electric car maker announced a version of "Model 3" with a new 'mid-range' battery pack for $45,000 before incentives.

"Costs $35k after federal and state tax rebates in California, but the true cost of ownership is closer to $31k after gas savings," Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote on Twitter.

"Model 3" has been available for over a year now with the 'Long-Range' battery pack version for 310 miles of range.
Reuters

SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk flew to the Seattle area in June for meetings with engineers leading a satellite launch project crucial to his space companys growth.

Within hours of landing, Musk had fired at least seven members of the programs senior management team at the company's office in Redmond, Washington, the culmination of disagreements over the pace at which the team was developing and testing its Starlink satellites, according to the two SpaceX employees with direct knowledge of the situation.

Known for pushing aggressive deadlines, Musk quickly brought in new managers from SpaceX headquarters in California to replace a number of the managers he fired.

Their mandate: Launch SpaceXs first batch of US-made satellites by the middle of next year, the sources said.

The Starlink program

The management shakeup and the launch timeline, previously unreported, illustrate how quickly Musk wants to bring online SpaceXs Starlink program, which is competing with OneWeb and Canadas Telesat to be first to market with a new satellite-based Internet service.

Those services  essentially a constellation of satellites that will bring high-speed Internet to rural and suburban locations globally. They are key to generating the cash that privately-held SpaceX needs to fund Musks real dream of developing a new rocket capable of flying paying customers to the moon and eventually trying to colonise Mars.

It would be like rebuilding the Internet in space, Musk told an audience in 2015 when he unveiled Starlink.

The goal would be to have a majority of long-distance Internet traffic go over this network.

SpaceX's large-scale shakeup

But the program is struggling to hire and retain staff, the employees said. Currently, about 300 SpaceX employees work on Starlink in Redmond, the sources said.

According to GeekWire, Musk said in 2015 the Redmond operation would have probably several hundred people, maybe a thousand people after 3-4 years in operation.

So far this year, about 50 employees left the company on their own accord, one of the SpaceX employees said, though the reason for those departures was unclear. Overall, SpaceX employs more than 6,000 staff.

As of Tuesday, there were 22 job openings  including a job making espresso drinks  for the Redmond office, according to SpaceXs website.

SpaceX spokeswoman Eva Behrend told Reuters the Redmond, Washington office remains an essential part of the companys efforts to build a next-generation satellite network.

Given the success of our recent Starlink demonstration satellites, we have incorporated lessons learned and re-organised to allow for the next design iteration to be flown in short order, Behrend said.

She had no further comment on the reorganisation or the launch window, but noted the strategy was similar to the rapid iteration in design and testing which led to the success of its rockets.

Among the managers fired from the Redmond office was SpaceX Vice President of Satellites Rajeev Badyal, an engineering and hardware veteran of Microsoft Corp and Hewlett-Packard, and top designer Mark Krebs, who worked in Googles satellite and aircraft division, the employees said. Krebs declined to comment, and Badyal did not respond to requests for comment.

The management shakeup followed in-fighting over pressure from Musk to speed up satellite testing schedules, one of the sources said. SpaceXs Behrend offered no comment on the matter.

Chasing Musk's "famously short deadlines"

Culture was also a challenge for recent hires, a second source said.

A number of the managers had been hired from nearby technology giant Microsoft, where workers were more accustomed to longer development schedules than Musks famously short deadlines.

Rajeev wanted three more iterations of test satellites, one of the sources said. Elon thinks we can do the job with cheaper and simpler satellites, sooner.

A billionaire and Chief Executive Officer of Tesla Inc, Musk is known for ambitious projects ranging from auto electrification and rocket-building to high-speed transit tunnels.

A Musk trust owns 54 percent of the outstanding stock of SpaceX, according to a 2016 US Securities and Exchange Commission filing, SpaceXs most recent.

The June 2019 launch goal

SpaceX has said it would launch its satellites in phases through 2024. It's goal of having Internet service available in 2020 is pretty much on target with an initial satellite launch by mid-2019, one of the sources said.

OneWeb aims for a first launch between December and February 2019, while Telesat was targeting 2022 for broadband services.

SpaceX employees told Reuters that two Starlink test satellites launched in February, dubbed Tintin A and B, were functioning as intended.

The company is refining the orbital path of the satellites after the US Federal Communications Commission, which oversees satellites in orbit, approved a request from SpaceX to expand Tintins altitude range, one of the sources said.

The FCC confirmed SpaceXs modifications, which have not been reported previously, but declined further comment.

Were using the Tintins to explore that modification, one of the SpaceX employee sources said. Theyre happy and healthy and were talking with them every time they pass a ground station, dozens of times a day.

SpaceX engineers have used the two test satellites to play online video games at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California and the Redmond office, the source said.

We were streaming 4k YouTube and playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive from Hawthorne to Redmond in the first week, the person added.

More satellites

In March, the FCC approved Musks plan to beam down Internet signals from 4,425 small satellites launched into standard low-Earth orbit  more than two times the total number of active satellites there presently.

One SpaceX engineer told Reuters the company has studied plans to add roughly 10,000 additional satellites after its first array is live to meet bandwidth demand in the coming 20 years. Behrend declined to comment on the plans and referred to a previous FCC filing, which states an additional 7,518 satellites are under consideration.

Such a move would keep it in the race to expand affordable high-speed Internet access to billions of people in rural or suburban areas globally.

The Satellite Industry Association, a lobby group, estimates the global market for satellite-based broadband and television services is worth $127.7 billion, dwarfing the roughly $5.5 billion satellite launch services market.

SpaceX aims to provide Internet service by linking its satellites to ground stations and mountable terminals about the size of a pizza box at homes or businesses, according to the FCC filing.

The US market for broadband is already dominated by several incumbent communications companies, including Comcast Corporation. Comcast declined to comment on the potential new competition.

While SpaceXs model of reusing rockets has generated cash, it is not enough to cover the roughly $5 billion cost to develop its Big Falcon Rocket that Musk wants one day to fly to Mars.

There had to be a much bigger idea for generating cash to basically realise the Mars plans, said one of the SpaceX employees.

What better idea than to put Comcast out of business?
Agence France-Presse

More than 70 percent of Earth's last untouched wilderness lies in the territories of just five countries, scientists said Wednesday  mostly nations that alarm environmentalists with their lukewarm response to climate change. True wild spaces  land and sea areas mostly unaffected by mankind's explosive expansion and insatiable appetite for food and natural resources  now cover just a quarter of the planet.

They form vital refuges for thousands of endangered species threatened by deforestation and overfishing, and provide some of our best defences against the devastating weather events brought about by climate change.

New research published in the journal Nature found that nearly three quarters of the wilderness that's left belongs to Australia, Brazil, Canada, Russia, and the US.

"For the first time we've mapped both land and marine wilderness and showed that there's actually not much left," James Watson, professor of conservation science at the University of Queensland and lead paper author, told AFP.

"A few countries own a lot of this untouched land and they have a massive responsibility to keep the last of the wild."

Researchers used open-source data on eight indicators of human impact on wilderness, including urban environments, farm land and infrastructure projects.

For oceans, they used data on fishing, industrial shipping and fertiliser run-off to determine that just 13 percent of the planet's seas bore little or no hallmarks of human activity.

In a week when scientists warned that animals were being driven to the brink of extinction by runaway consumption, the paper's findings that most remaining wilderness lies with just five nations will likely set conservationists' nerves on further edge.

Russia's vast swathes of taiga forest and permafrost contains trillions of trees that suck carbon from the atmosphere, tempering the impact of greenhouse gas emissions.

But Russia has been vague in its conservation commitments and President Vladimir Putin suggested last year that climate change was not caused by humans.

'Alarm bells'

President Donald Trump has said the US is leaving the landmark Paris deal on climate change, and Brazil this week elected a right-wing former army captain who has pledged to drawdown existing legal protections for the Amazon rain forest.

The wilderness list sets off "alarm bells", said Watson, who is also director of the science and research initiative at the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York.

But "there's time to break the mould and show some leadership. Because to sustain wilderness you just have to stop industry and not allow people in," he added.

Due to voracious human consumption of fossil fuels, wood and meat, as well as our exploding population, just 23 percent of land on Earth is untouched by the impact of agriculture and industry.

A century ago that figure stood at 85 percent.

The conservation group WWF warned this week that mankind's consumption had decimated global wildlife and triggered what is known as a mass-extinction event.

In the last 40 years populations of fish, birds, amphibians reptiles and mammals have plummeted, on average, by 60 percent.

In their paper, Watson and his colleagues warned that Earth's wild places were facing "the same extinction crisis as species".

"Similar to species extinction, the erosion of the wilderness is essentially irreversible," they wrote.

'Nature needs a break'

As well as being havens for biodiversity, wildernesses such as the boreal forest in northern Canada  which acts as a carbon sink and which is protected by federal law  form mankind's frontline protection against runaway climate change.

"These areas are the places where many, many species retreat to," said Watson. "At the same time they have massive amounts of carbon reserves."

Scientists called for greater legislation to protect other unspoilt areas from industry, and to reformat global finance initiatives to provide incentives for forest protection.

"It requires nations to legislate and not let industry in. Nature needs a break," said Watson.

"We can't just exploit everywhere and these nations still have these strongholds of wilderness. I think the world would appreciate these nations standing up and saying we're going to look after these places."
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is the first chief of political party in Pakistan to stand with the Supreme Court decision. Also, PPP members Sherry Rehman and Farhatullah Babar had earlier hailed the verdict.

Islamabad: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday called on all national institutions in the country to support the Supreme Court on the recent decision to clear Asia Bibi of blasphemy charges.

"The Supreme Court is our national institution. All other institutions, including the National Assembly, should stand with the Supreme Court. We cannot run the country from the streets. We can (only) run this country according to the Constitution and law," Dawn quoted Bilawal as saying.

Bilawal is the first chief of political party in Pakistan to stand with the Supreme Court decision. Also, PPP members Sherry Rehman and Farhatullah Babar had earlier hailed the verdict.

Bilawal's remarks come in the wake of scores of people taking to streets and launching massive protests in opposition to the verdict. Protestors, including workers of political parties, gathered outside the Punjab Assembly after pronouncement of the verdict.

The protests also witnessed violent outbursts as agitators burned tyres in areas of Karachi. The Punjab Home Department had imposed Section 144 in the province from 31 October to 10 November owing to the violence.

Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, was convicted in a blasphemy case for her alleged comments against Mohammed Prophet during an argument with three Muslim women. Bibi had categorically denied all the allegations against her.

A three-judge special bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel heard Bibi's 2014 appeal against her conviction and death sentence. (ANI)
Index Saudi 2018, a new regional interior design show connecting more than 5,000 designers, architects, project managers and procurers, ends today (November 1) at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.



Inaugurated by Majid bin Abdulmohsen Al Hokair, vice chairman of the board of Al Hokair Group, the three-day trade show hosts more than 100 exhibitors and showcases thousands of brands which are set to contribute to the regions burgeoning $3-billion market.



Jaafar Shubber, event director for Index Saudi, said: The next few years will undoubtedly see massive changes for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and ramping up construction to keep in line with Vision 2030 opens the door for large growth in the interior design market.



Its encouraging to see so many industry professionals gathered under one roof, and we believe this is a positive step to linking suppliers, manufacturers and key decisions makers.



Among the features of the show are the free-to-attend CPD (Continuing Professional Development )-certified training sessions which focus on the management, durability and profitability of interior design projects. Over the course of the show, three unique training sessions will be delivered each day by an industry expert.



Index Saudis show floor hosted a variety of local and international companies including Al Yamama Factory for Wooden Furniture, International Timber Company (ITCO), International Company for Furniture, Tanatel, Sleep Nice, Gift Mart, Taxiat Trading Co and Mineheart.



The show has attracted thousands of interior designers, architects, project managers, retail buyers, importers and distributers from the full spectrum of hospitality, residential, retail, educational and commercial design, and has taken place at a time when designers are looking to ensure their projects stand out in the crowd.  TradeArabia News Service
Pakistan's Supreme Court has, for the first time, come down heavily on the gross misuse of the blasphemy law in Pakistan

Blasphemy is a serious offence but the insult of the appellant's (Asia Bibi) religion and religious sensibilities by the complainant party and then mixing truth with falsehood in the name of the Holy Prophet Mohammad was also not short of being blasphemous.

- Supreme Court of Pakistan

Pakistan's Supreme Court has, for the first time, come down heavily on the gross misuse of the blasphemy law in Pakistan. The law has been misused by people to solve their property, political and personal disputes. The apex court has set aside the verdicts passed by the lower and high courts that sentenced Asia Bibi to death in 2010. Asia, a Christian mother of five children, was caught in a brawl with a Muslim woman while working as a farm labourer after touching a bowl of water, and has been languishing in Pakistan's jails since 2010.

Her case was politicised after the then Punjab governor Salman Taseer visited her in jail in November 2010, following the pronouncement of her death, and expressed his frustration about the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan. Taseer was assassinated by his own security guard Mumtaz Qadri on 4 January, 2011. Qadri's arrest, trial, death sentence and February 2016 execution sparked huge protests and a massive funeral procession, exonerating the killer of Taseer. Since then, religious-political groups in Pakistan had been aggressively campaigning to execute Asia and were attempting to influence court procedure by campaigning against her.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has not just overturned the verdict passed by the lower courts, but also criticised complainants who also had insulted Asia's religious sentiments during the same quarrel, which the court said were no less than blasphemy as Prophet Jesus is also equally respected in Islam.

Among the many problems with Pakistan's blasphemy laws, there are three key issues that make the law a tool of persecution rather than a tool to defend the sanctity of Prophet Mohammad.

First, the interpretation of blasphemy as a punishable offence has not been consistently part of the Islamic penal code. The definition and scope of the offence too have always been limited rather than generalised, as in the case of Pakistan. It is here that the Supreme Court has clearly expressed its unhappiness over the misuse of the law. The 57-page verdict made detailed references to Islamic teachings, both from the Quran and the prophet's sayings.

The judgment criticises the lower court for failing in its duties to give a fair judgment in the light of clear Quranic instructions that requires believers to "persistently stand firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is acquainted with what you do. (Quran: Al-Maida: 8)". With another reference of the Quran's Surah Al Nisa verse 135  "So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, acquainted"  the judge argued that the personal grudges and problems should not be used to accuse anyone of blasphemy.

The second problem is that this law does not truly represent the general Islamic sense about how to defend Prophet Mohammad from being disrespected. Asia's case is a clear example that the definition of the law has ignored the fact that the offence is more about a purposeful act of offending, such as the offences the prophet faced during his own life. However, he let them go unpunished. In Islamic history, the total number of cases of people sentenced to death for acts of blasphemy acts is not well-documented, but it is a small number.

During the time of expansion, Islam had indeed faced stiff opposition from many sides and those who opposed it, did so for various reasons. But there is little evidence in the books of Islamic jurisprudence that they were tried and sentenced to death. The books on the history of Islamic jurisprudence and the detailed debate on several schools of Islamic jurisprudence is one of the richest scholarly domains of Islamic knowledge. However, the debate on blasphemy remains very limited, so much so that it does not even have a full chapter in most of the books on Islamic jurisprudence. Islamic jurisprudence is considered one of the indicators of the importance a subject receives in legal debate.

Third, Islamic groups in Pakistan have been misleading the Muslim masses and have been misusing Islamic for their political gains.

This is the most unfortunate part of Pakistan's Islamic groups whose acts are becoming a burden on Islamic communities around the world. Not only do they challenge the authority of judiciary in their country, but they are also violating Islamic principles of delivery of justice without prejudice.

They should have respected the judgment, despite their displeasure or challenged it through legal means. What about their silence on Pakistans old feudal system that still enslaves hundreds of human beings as bonded labourers and keeps a large number of people permanently poor? Why dont they speak against such practices that make the citizens of an Islamic republic less equal, a violation of the Islamic teaching on brotherhood and equality? Here comes the politics of Islam which is closely tied with Pakistan's ruling elite, feudal calderas, military elites or corrupt politicians, in whose courts these mullahs are being played like puppets, in order to maintain religiosity as a political commodity.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan should also have ordered the trial of all those who wrongly implicated Asia and inflicted nine years of prison and pain on her and her family  something that is impossible to erase even though she has been found innocent. Pakistan's religious groups must know that their country is yet to prove if their country is really an Islamic republic where religious minorities are treated with dignity and equality. Prime Minister Imran Khan's speech on the eve of the verdict must be seen as an important step towards restoring the supremacy of rule of law.

However, the correction of the anomalies in the existing blasphemy laws that allowed such misuse remains a challenge for a populist leader like him.
Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

Islamabad: A Christian woman who was convicted of blasphemy and was acquitted by Pakistan's Supreme Court is likely to be flown out of the country as the landmark verdict sparked countrywide protests and death threats from hardline groups.

Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The apex court's judgement, which was pronounced on Wednesday, triggered protests across Pakistan with protestors led by Islamic political party Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan and other groups blocking major highways and roads in different parts of the country.

Bibi's husband Ashiq Masih has reached Pakistan along with his family from the UK to shift her abroad, The News reported quoting sources. Masih was provided complete security by the law enforcement agencies, it said. Officials also said Bibi might be flown out of Pakistan due to the threat to her life.

However, it was not clear where she will go as several countries, including Canada, have offered asylum to her. The timing of her release was not been shared due to security reasons. She was kept in Sheikhupura jail near Lahore. Bibi's case has been deeply divisive in Pakistan where there is strong support for the controversial blasphemy laws.

The blasphemy laws were promulgated by former military dictator Ziaul Haq in 1980s. A person convicted under these laws is given death sentence. Bibi was the first woman who was given death sentence under the blasphemy laws.
With five days to go before Americas midterm elections, US president Donald Trumps closing message is clear: Be very afraid, because illegal immigrants, according to Trump, are invading America, having babies on this side of the border and freeloading on the countrys bounties. The messaging is so loaded with violent imagery that even the booming economy or last weeks massacre at a synagogue come a far second. As far as Trumps White House and his campaign is concerned, the midterms and the 2020 elections are a culture war whose time has come. If it was vicious in 2016, its not getting better.

New York: With five days to go before Americas midterm elections, US president Donald Trumps closing message is clear: Be very afraid, because illegal immigrants, according to Trump, are invading America, having babies on this side of the border and freeloading on the countrys bounties. The messaging is so loaded with violent imagery that even the booming economy or last weeks massacre at a synagogue come a far second. As far as Trumps White House and his campaign is concerned, the midterms and the 2020 elections are a culture war whose time has come. New polling this week suggests there is an uptick in the underlying angst that may be driving the White House onslaught - nearly six in ten (58%) Republicans say that things have changed so much they often feel like a stranger in their own country.

Trumps latest video tweet goes like this: "Illegal immigrant, Luis Bracamontes, killed our people!" It adds: "Democrats let him into our country...Democrats let him stay. The video includes scenes of a migrant "caravan," warning, "Who else would Democrats let in?

It is outrageous what the Democrats are doing to our Country. Vote Republican now! https://t.co/0pWiwCHGbh pic.twitter.com/2crea9HF7G  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018

Trump first said hes sending 5,200 troops to the border to keep the migrant caravan invasion away; hes now saying 15,000. Earlier this week, he threatened to sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship for children of non citizens. White House sources claim a tight knit group of hawks which decides Trump's immigration drumbeat is loving how the dog whistling is playing out.

What looks like Trumps fixation on border security in the closing weeks of the campaign wasnt anywhere on the headlines even four weeks ago. That it came storming back is not by chance, its been cleverly planned by senior staffers who believe this remains Trumps winning strategy both now and in 2020. For the Trump White House, immigration is not a distraction, everything else is.

Led by firebrand Stephen Miller, the White House crack team on immigration is not going to relax after the midterms either. Reportedly on the agenda for the coming weeks and months include changes to the asylum program; changing rules for or ending work permits for spouses of foreign workers; more funds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and the DHS, and regulatory changes inside US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Trump has left the detailing to Miller and team and instead belts out the mass messages by stoking fear. Until the election is actually over, no poll can tell precisely how many people struck by the fear mongering or appalled by it are actual voters. Like Trump has said often Im not on the ballot and Im on the ballot. If this works, Trump can take credit; if it doesnt, it will still be prime fodder to plan for 2020.

Take the threat of repealing birthright citizenship, for instance. Even if its just an election stunt and nothing else, the toothpaste is out of the tube and people are talking about it while the migrant caravan comes closer to the US border. Its where the imagery of Trumps speeches - theyll be on your front porch - and the dramatic visuals on television intersect in voters minds.

Trump has successfully conflated the terms immigrants, illegal immigrants, legal immigrants, foreign workers and birthright citizenship to mean a lump of horrible elements that pockmark Americas whiteness and safe zones.

Trumps opponents are saying this tactic is stupid and flat out wrong, but are offering few alternatives. Practically everybody agrees Democrats are generally running against Trumps rhetoric and not offering solutions to issues like, say, illegal immigration, which worries all Americans alike.

For his part, Trump says his extreme rhetoric is that way because its my only way of fighting back. "But youre the President, you dont have to do this," an Axios reporter insisted. To which Trump replied with snake oil: But I was doing this before I won. If that combative streak is putting off wealthier whites who may have voted for Trump in 2016, Trump doesn't seem to care. He is betting on whipping up the core base with distractions like birthright citizenship and a migrant 'invasion'.

After every election is done, its before some other election. This stuff is going downhill before it gets better.
Solih defeated incumbent president Abdulla Yameen in September, paving the way for the return of Nasheed, who was barred from contesting the elections.

Male: Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed, who was in self-imposed exile in London for two years, returned to the atoll nation Thursday and was welcomed by hundreds of supporters and political leaders. After the Supreme Court ordered a stay on his arrest and a 13-year prison sentence handed down in 2015, the chief of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) arrived at Velana International Airport at 2.30 pm from Colombo with his wife Laila Ali and fellow MDP member and President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Dressed in his trademark yellow tie, marking the MDP colour, Nasheed was received by his mother Aabidhaa, party number two Shifaz Mohamed and many lawmakers and politicians, Efe news reported. Nasheed was set to travel on a speedboat from the airport island of Hulhule to the capital, along with a fleet of boats with dozens of supporters. He will then head to the MDP campaign hall to address his supporters before holding a press conference. Nasheed is also scheduled to travel to Addu city on Saturday to meet supporters.

The first democratically-elected president of the country was forced to resign in 2012, and three years later in a widely-criticized trial, was sentenced to 13 years in jail for the illegal detention of a judge during his term. Solih defeated incumbent President Abdulla Yameen in September, paving the way for the return of Nasheed, who was barred from contesting the elections.

Following Solih's victory, courts in the Maldives freed former dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and other political prisoners, most of whom were arrested on terrorism charges during a political crisis in February despite the Supreme Court annulling the conviction of opposition leaders, including that of Nasheed. The Maldives Supreme Court stayed Nasheed's jail sentence on Wednesday, allowing him to return to the country, and ordered a review of the case.
India, a modest investor in power and railway projects in the north of the country - is meanwhile in talks to run Hambantota airport, another white-elephant project built with Chinese loans under Mahinda Rajapaksa.

New Delhi: Rival Asian giants India and China are anxiously watching the constitutional conflict between contending prime ministers in Sri Lanka to see whose interests get the upper hand in their own strategic battle.

It is the second time in barely a month that the Indian Ocean has become a battleground between the powers, after the Maldives' hotly disputed presidential election saw the eviction of a pro-Chinese leader.

Both may be minnows compared to the two giant neighbours that loom over it to the north.

But they sit on the key sea trade and oil routes from Asia to the Middle East and Europe making them vital strategic interests for the rival powers.

New Delhi and Beijing insist that they are watching from outside the political ring as Sri Lanka's ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe slugs it out with Mahinda Rajapaksa, the island's former authoritarian leader named to take over by the president.

But the stakes are high.

"With parliament suspended and all the political trickery between the two sides, the growing tensions are a worry for India and China," said an Asian diplomat in Colombo.

China was quick to deny an accusation by a lawmaker from Wickremesinghe's party this week that it was paying for Rajapaksa's attempts to win over rival deputies.

"Groundless and irresponsible," said a Chinese embassy statement in response to the allegations.

The constitutional crisis pits two very different characters against each other.

Wickremesinghe is a soft-spoken reformist, technocrat and free market proponent seen as wary of China's often one-sided economic deals and less suspicious of India.

Rajapaksa is a seasoned political bruiser, deeply charismatic but tainted by an authoritarian decade in power that culminated in a ruthless military campaign against Tamil Tiger rebels which ended a decades long civil war but killed some 40,000 civilians and saw widespread atrocities.

He was also much closer to Beijing - billions of dollars of Chinese investment flowed into Sri Lankan infrastructure during his administration ranging from roads and ports to land reclamation in Colombo.

Tightrope act

Maithripala Sirisena, the final key character in Sri Lanka's current political crisis trinity, vowed to change all that when he beat Rajapaksa in a 2015 presidential election and put Wickremesinghe in charge of the government.

That should have encouraged India, which is desperate to stop China expanding its economic and military footprint in the Indian Ocean and other backyard states such as Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

But Wickremesinghe found the battle against Sri Lanka's huge foreign debt too much.

Last year his government gave a 99-year lease on the Hambantota deep-sea port to China because it was unable to repay Beijing's loans for the $1.4-billion project.

It was forced to deny US claims that China could set up a military base at the port.

India - a modest investor in power and railway projects in the north of the country - is meanwhile in talks to run Hambantota airport, another white-elephant project built with Chinese loans under Rajapaksa.

The airport and port deals have not been good for China's image.

Both projects have been held up by critics as an example of how China's global largesse often comes with onerous repayment strings attached.

Delhi has turned on the charm with its own deals while in 2015 Narendra Modi became the first Indian premier to do a standalone visit to the island in 28 years, with a second visit two years later.

Many analysts see Sri Lanka riding a tightrope between India and China no matter who wins the power struggle in Colombo.

"They have been pulled into a perverse relationship with the Asian giants that none of the political parties can rectify easily," Samir Saran, president of the Observer Research Foundation think-tank in New Delhi, told AFP.

"Rajapaksa definitely favoured Chinese investment and there was a move away from it after he left, but it still wasn't a complete break from China. It was more a move towards neutrality," added Madhu Bhalla, a former East Asian department head at the Delhi University.

"In its struggle with China for influence in Sri Lanka, the Indian government will not be pleased if Mahinda Rajapaksa establishes himself in power," said Alan Keenan, a Sri Lanka specialist for the International Crisis Group.

"But already before the latest crisis, India and Rajapaksa had been mending fences, as Rajapaksa and his new party appeared increasingly likely to return to power (through elections) by late 2019 or early 2020."

Guo Xuetang, director of the South Asian and Indian Ocean Research Center at Shanghai University, said "small countries" like Sri Lanka and the Maldives do not want to be anyone's client state anyway.

"They do not want to be controlled by China, nor by India," he added. Whether Sri Lanka chooses India or China in the future will be a "balance of interests," said the specialist.
On October 29, Saudi Arabia's chief prosecutor arrived in Istanbul for talks with his Turkish counterparts. On 31 October, only an hour after the Saudi prosecutor left the city, the Turkish prosecutor said Khashoggi was 'strangled' as soon as he entered the consulate and then 'dismembered' as part of a 'premeditated' plan.

Here is a timeline of events since the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate on 2 October.

'Murdered'

On 2 October, Washington Post contributor Khashoggi was recorded on camera entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. According to his fiancee, he went there to collect a document for his upcoming marriage.

In an interview published on October 5, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman maintained that Khashoggi entered the consulate but came out shortly afterwards. The next day a source close to the Turkish government said the police believed that the journalist was murdered inside the consulate "by a team especially sent to Istanbul and who left the same day". Riyadh called the claim "baseless".

Grim details

On 7 October The Washington Post cited a US official saying Khashoggi's body "was likely dismembered, removed in boxes and flown out of the country".

Turkish pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak reported on 17 October that Khashoggi was tortured before being decapitated inside the consulate, saying it had heard audio recordings of the event.

The New York Times then said a suspect identified by Turkey in the disappearance was in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's inner circle. Three other suspects are linked to his security detail.

Saudi acknowledges murder

US President Donald Trump on 18 October said he believed that Khashoggi was dead and warned of "very severe" consequences should Saudi Arabia be proven responsible.

Two days later Riyadh finally admitted Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate after talks deteriorated into a "brawl". The public prosecutor said 18 Saudi nationals have been detained.

Riyadh simultaneously announced that top intelligence official Ahmad al-Assiri and royal media advisor Saud al-Qahtani, both top aides to the crown prince were sacked. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told Fox News on 21 October that the operation was not ordered by the crown prince.

'Total fiasco'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on 23 October said the "savage" murder of Khashoggi had been planned for days in advance and carried out by a 15-person team that came from Riyadh.

Trump ridiculed the kingdom's response as "one of the worst" cover-ups in history. "It was a total fiasco," he later added.

'Repulsive incident'

On 24 October Erdogan spoke with Prince Mohammed in their first telephone conversation since the killing, discussing their "joint efforts" in investigating the case, a Turkish presidential source said.

And in his first public comments since 2 October, the crown prince addressed the investment summit in Riyadh, denouncing Khashoggi's murder and vowing "justice will prevail". "The incident was very painful for all Saudis, it's a repulsive incident and no one can justify it," he says.

On 25 October, Saudi Arabia's public prosector says the murder was "premeditated", based on information supplied by Turkey. In a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, he says the public prosecution "continues its investigation".

'Strangled' and 'dismembered'

On 26 October Istanbul's chief prosecutor prepared a request for the 18 suspects to be extradited to Turkey. However, the Saudi foreign minister insists that "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."

On October 29, Saudi Arabia's chief prosecutor arrived in Istanbul for talks with his Turkish counterparts. On 31 October, only an hour after the Saudi prosecutor left the city, the Turkish prosecutor said Khashoggi was "strangled" as soon as he entered the consulate and then "dismembered" as part of a "premeditated" plan.

It is the first public confirmation of such details after gruesome reports in Turkish media. The Turkish prosecutor's office said it was "obliged" to reveal the details after the talks with their Saudi counterpart produced "no concrete results".
By Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The outcry in the United States demonising Saudi Arabia over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul threatens U.S.-Saudi strategic ties, the former Saudi intelligence minister warned on Wednesday. 'We value our strategic relationship with the United States and hope to sustain it. We hope the United States reciprocates in kind,' royal family member Prince Turki bin Faisal al Saud said in an address to the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, a non-profit advocacy organisation.

By Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The outcry in the United States demonising Saudi Arabia over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul threatens U.S.-Saudi strategic ties, the former Saudi intelligence minister warned on Wednesday.

"We value our strategic relationship with the United States and hope to sustain it. We hope the United States reciprocates in kind," royal family member Prince Turki bin Faisal al Saud said in an address to the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, a non-profit advocacy organisation.

Turki, to whom Khashoggi once served as an adviser, has also served as an ambassador to London and Washington. His speech denouncing what he called "the demonisation of Saudi Arabia" clearly carried Riyadh's imprimatur, as he heads an Islamic research centre named after his father, the late King Faisal.

Turki's address came after Istanbul's chief prosecutor on Tuesday said that Khashoggi was suffocated in a premeditated killing and his body was then dismembered.

Khashoggi, who lived in self-imposed exile in the United States, wrote columns for the Washington Post critical of the kingdom's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Some U.S. lawmakers have accused the crown prince of ordering Khashoggi's death - a charge that Riyadh denies - and threatened sanctions. U.S. commentators have strongly condemned the kingdom.

Recalling that more than 70 years of U.S.-Saudi ties survived previous crises, Turki said, "Nowadays, this relationship is once again threatened."

"The tragic and unjustified" slaying of Khashoggi "is the theme of today's onslaught and demonisation of Saudi Arabia in the same fashion as the previous crises. The intensity and gleefulness of it is equally unfair," he said. "Subjecting our relationship to this issue is not healthy at all."

Turki reiterated that the kingdom is committed to bringing to justice those responsible for Khashoggi's murder "and whoever else failed to uphold the law."

The Trump administration is demanding full accountability from Riyadh in Khashoggi's death. In what it called a first step, it revoked the visas of some Saudi officials implicated in the slaying.

The U.S.-Saudi relationship "is too big to fail," Turki said.

Those ties, he noted, transcend oil production, trade, arms sales and investment to cooperation on Middle East peace efforts, stabilizing oil markets, fighting extremism and containing Iran, the kingdom's main regional foe.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by Mary Milliken and Leslie Adler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
(Reuters) - Oprah Winfrey plans to lend her star power to Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams' quest to become the United States' first black woman governor at a couple of appearances in the state on Thursday.

(Reuters) - Oprah Winfrey plans to lend her star power to Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams' quest to become the United States' first black woman governor at a couple of appearances in the state on Thursday.

After a brief flirtation earlier this year with a run for the White House in 2020, the media mogul, who has long associated herself with Democratic Party causes, has instead thrown her influence into a race that has become a flash point for accusations of voter suppression.

Abrams' Republican rival, Brian Kemp, serves as Georgia secretary of state, a role in which he oversees state elections. Earlier this month, a coalition of state civil rights groups sued Kemp, accusing him of trying to depress minority voter turnout to improve his chances of winning. On Monday, former U.S. President and former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter asked Kemp to step down as secretary of state since he was running for governor.

Abrams' campaign said she would appear with Winfrey in Cobb and DeKalb counties for a discussion on "the critical value of women in leadership and what is at stake for our communities in the election."

Winfrey, 64, stole the show at January's Golden Globes awards ceremony with a speech against sexual harassment and assault. It sparked an online campaign to persuade her to run against Republican U.S. President Donald Trump in the next election cycle.

"It's not something that interests me," Winfrey told InStyle magazine in January. "I met with someone the other day who said that they would help me with a campaign. That's not for me."

Winfrey could not be reached for immediate comment on Wednesday.

For all Reuters election coverage, click: https://www.reuters.com/politics/election2018

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Saeed is the co-founder of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was responsible for the attacks in which 166 people were killed.

Washington: The US has asked Pakistan to swiftly enact legislation that formally proscribes both Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation, even as it criticised the recent removal of the ban on the two outfits which it said runs counter to Islamabad's commitment to the FATF to fight terrorism.

The US said the removal of the ban on the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (Jud) and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation would jeopardise Pakistan's ability to meet its commitments to fight terrorism under the UN Security Council resolution. "The expiration of the ban on JuD and FIF runs counter to Pakistan's commitment to work with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to address weaknesses in its counter-terrorism financing regime," a State Department spokesperson told PTI.

The spokesperson was responding to a question on the recent lapse of an ordinance issued by Pakistan's president that led to lifting of the ban on the two outfits. Mumbai attack mastermind Saeed's JuD and FIF are no longer on the list of banned outfits in Pakistan as the ordinance that proscribed them under a UN resolution has lapsed and the new Imran Khan-led government did not extend it, a Pakistani media report said last week.

"As we have said before, the United States is deeply concerned that this development will jeopardise Pakistan's ability to meet its commitments under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 to freeze and prevent the raising and moving of funds belonging to or associated with UN-designated terrorist groups," the spokesperson said. The development underscores the importance of Pakistan "urgently enacting legislation that formally proscribes" both JuD and FIF, the spokesperson said.

India has been pushing Pakistan to bring to justice the planners of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Saeed is the co-founder of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was responsible for the attacks in which 166 people were killed.
The 56-page detailed judgement on Asia Bibi has been authored by CJP Mian Saqib Nisar, also comprises a separate concurrent opinion note from Justice Asif Saeed Khosa.

A Christian woman who spent eight years on death row under Pakistan's blasphemy law was acquitted and ordered released Wednesday by the country's Supreme Court.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel had reserved its ruling on Asia's final legal appeal against execution (Asia Bibi versus The State) on 8 October.

"The appeal is allowed. She has been acquitted. The judgement of the high court, as well as trial court, is reversed," Dawn quoted Nisar as saying. "Her conviction is set aside and she is to be relieved forthwith if not required in other charges," he added.

The 56-page detailed judgement has been authored by Nisar, also comprises a separate concurrent opinion note from Justice Khosa.

Here are some of the key observations made by the apex court:

 The judgment began by saying that the Islamic religion guarantees religious freedom and fairness. "Islam may tolerate anything but it teaches zero tolerance for injustice, oppression, and violation of the rights of other human beings the Quran speaks about, from the very beginning.

"If our religion of Islam comes down heavily upon the commission of blasphemy, then Islam is also very tough against those who level false allegations of a crime," it said.

 The bench noted that the prosecution was unable to successfully prove its case. "It is a well-settled principle of law that one who makes an assertion has to prove it. Thus, the onus rests on the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt throughout the trial."

"Presumption of innocence remains throughout the case until such time the prosecution on the evidence satisfies the court beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of the offence alleged against him," it added.

"Keeping in mind the evidence produced by the prosecution against the alleged blasphemy committed by the appellant, the prosecution has categorically failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt," concluded the chief justice in the judgment.

 In addition to citing the Quran, the judges also referenced Shakespeare's King Lear, saying Asia was "more sinned against than sinning."

 Justice Khosa in his opinion note said, "I have found that the evidence produced by the prosecution in respect of the said public gathering and about what transpired therein was not only an afterthought but was nothing short of concoction incarnate."

 "Blasphemy is a serious offence but the insult of the appellant's (Asia Bibi) religion and religious sensibilities by the complainant party and then mixing truth with falsehood in the name of the Holy Prophet Mohammad was also not short of being blasphemous," the court observed.

"She (Asia) shall be released from the jail forthwith if not required to be detained in connection with any other case," he wrote.

Read the full judgment here:



Asia, who has been held in solitary confinement on death row since 2010, was accused of blasphemy after she quarreled with two fellow women farm workers, who refused to drink from a container used by a Christian. A few days later, a mob accused her of insulting Islam's Prophet Mohammad, leading to her initial conviction.

Asia's family and her lawyer, Saiful Malook, say she never insulted the prophet. In previous hearings, Malook pointed to contradictions in testimony from witnesses.

The two Muslim women who pressed charges against Asia denied they quarreled with her, saying her outbursts against Islam were unprovoked despite several other witnesses who recalled the dispute.

Asia was the first woman who was given death sentence under the blasphemy laws. According to officials, Asia might be flown out of Pakistan due to threat to her life. It is not clear where she will go, as several countries, including France and Canada, have offered asylum to her.

With inputs from agencies
Economic reforms along with the possibility of the introduction of a property-linked permanent residency could boost the real estate sector in the UAE and Abu Dhabi, said organisers of the International Real Estate Investment Show (IREIS) that opened in Abu Dhabi today (November 1).



Inaugurated by Khalifa Al Mansouri, under-secretary of the Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi, Antoine Georges, managing director of event organiser Dome Exhibitions, and Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, group chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the 10th edition of IREIS runs until November 3 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).



The UAE governments economic reforms and the new investment programme, including the Dh50 billion ($13.6 billion) stimulus package announced by Abu Dhabi Government is expected to help boost economic growth and job creation will also help the real estate sector, said Georges.



Due to the governments investment programme and the reforms, we expect the real estate market to bounce back sooner than expected.



More than 100 companies  including property developers, investment advisors, immigration advisors and government entities  are showcasing local, regional and international properties at the three-day exhibition and conference that includes the first Abu Dhabi Investment Conference through a partnership with Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Citizenship by Investment exhibition and conference all under one roof  at Adnec.



Approximately 4,000 new residential units are currently scheduled to enter the market by the end of 2018, mainly within Reem Island, Yas Island, and Al Raha Beach, which might put downward pressure on the real estate prices and rents  which will help tenants to buy properties and become homeowners.



The UAEs decision to allow 10-year visas for expats and 100 per cent foreign ownership in companies located outside of free zones is expected to provide a positive stimulus to the economy over the medium term. Long-term visa security should increase the investor pool and extend the market cycle with longer term hold periods, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a global real estate advisory, said in its latest report.



However, we expect a proportion of this supply could be delayed at the final stages of approvals and handover.



Developers are offering more incentives to attract investors and elevate confidence in the residential market. Aldar announced the launch of The Cedars, a new community in Yas Acres, with service charges being waived for five years, a two per cent municipality fee, and a new 20/80 payment plan with 20 per cent of the purchase price payable during construction and 80 per cent upon handover, reports show.



Abu Dhabi Governments economic diversification plan that is in line with the Vision 2030 will also help stimulate demand for more housing.



Sam Bayat, CEO of Bayat Legal Services, said, The UAE Government is planning to introduce permanent residency to foreigners, linking to property ownership, and if it happens, we will see the real estate market rebound. I believe, this might happen sooner than many peoples expectation.



Many countries are offering citizenship by investment in properties and a lot of UAE residents are investing elsewhere to seek permanent residency. This is a rational thing to do and the current set of reforms, such as granting 10-year visa to foreign investors is a step towards that direction.



More than 200 senior officials and investment experts from public and private sectors will gather and brainstorm the future path of UAEs knowledge-based economy at the Abu Dhabi Investment Conference. Business leaders, senior public officials, heads of international institutions and academia representing major stakeholders of the international investment community will take part in various sessions.



Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), a strategic partnership of Abu Dhabi Investment Conference, will highlight the key economic growth areas and the potential investment opportunities for foreign investors and financial institutions that will help boost the FDI (foreign direct investment) inflow into the emirate of Abu Dhabi, which consists of a number of cities including Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain, Ruwais, Madinat Zayed, Mirfa and many other towns in the Western Region, known as Gharbia  the largest base of oil and gas production.



IREIS that runs concurrently with the Abu Dhabi Investment Conference will see brisk sales and networking activities as sales of properties are permitted. IREIS brings leading local and foreign real estate developers, investors and agents under one roof will attract investors from various parts of the world.



The show is expecting over 100 high-end exhibitors and more than 8,000 visitors. To give a greater value to the exhibitors and visitors, the associated events that will complement the main IREIS Abu Dhabi 2018 are International Real Estate Conference, Citizenship & Residency Expo and the Real Estate Developer - Agent Meet.  TradeArabia News Service
By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday the United States was engaged in a 'multi-pronged effort ... to convince China to behave like a normal nation on commerce' and respect international law after Washington indicted 10 Chinese nationals for stealing aviation secrets

By David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday the United States was engaged in a "multi-pronged effort ... to convince China to behave like a normal nation on commerce" and respect international law after Washington indicted 10 Chinese nationals for stealing aviation secrets.

Speaking in a radio interview, Pompeo called China's behaviour in stealing intellectual property "inappropriate" and "not consistent with being a superpower or a leader in the world."

"Stealing another countrys intellectual property, something Chinas been engaged in to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, is just something China has to figure out a way to stop," he told the Brian Kilmeade Show.

Pompeo also told the Laura Ingraham radio show that over the long term, China was probably the biggest national security challenge facing the United States and the Trump administration was pushing back "on all fronts."

"Where the semiconductor piece fits in is its part of a mosaic of our strategic effort to push back against this continued Chinese effort," he said.

"It is a multipronged effort on behalf of all of the United States Government, at the Presidents direction, to convince China to behave like a normal nation on commerce and with respect to the rules of international law," he said.

A U.S. indictment unsealed on Tuesday said Chinese intelligence officers conspired with hackers and company insiders to break into computer systems of private firms to steal information on a turbo fan engine used in commercial jetliners.

It was the third major corporate espionage-related case involving Chinese intelligence officers brought by the Justice Department since last month and comes at a time when Washington is embroiled in a major trade war with Beijing.

The United States and China have slapped tit-for-tat tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of each other's goods over the past few months, sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's demands for an end to alleged Chinese intellectual property theft, deep cuts to industrial subsidies, and action to correct a major U.S. trade deficit with China.

Early this month, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence intensified Washington's pressure campaign against Beijing by accusing China of "malign" efforts to undermine Trump ahead of next Tuesday's congressional elections and reckless military actions in the disputed South China Sea, a major Asian trade route.

China has rejected the charges.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by James Dalgleish)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The numbers cited by Trump are significantly higher than defence officials have disclosed. The Pentagon said on Monday it was deploying more than 5,200 troops to the border but that the number would rise. On Wednesday, it said more than 7,000 troops would support the Department of Homeland Security along the border.

Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States could send as many as 15,000 troops to the border with Mexico, as he hardens his stance against a caravan of migrants fleeing violence and poverty in Central America.

The numbers cited by Trump are significantly higher than defence officials have disclosed. The Pentagon said on Monday it was deploying more than 5,200 troops to the border but that the number would rise. On Wednesday, it said more than 7,000 troops would support the Department of Homeland Security along the border.

Several groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have accused Trump of politicizing the military ahead of next week's congressional elections with his plans to use active military personnel to buttress border patrol efforts.

"As far as the caravan is concerned, our military is out ... We'll go up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel, on top of Border Patrol, ICE and everybody else at the border," Trump told reporters at the White House.

Trump did not say how many of those 15,000 would be National Guard. There are already 2,100 US National Guard forces at the border, sent after a previous Trump request in April, and they are authorized to go up to 4,000.

If 15,000 troops were drawn into the effort, it would mean there would be more US troops on the border with Mexico than there are in Afghanistan, which has become America's longest conflict.

Trump has sought to use immigration as an issue to motivate Republican voters ahead of the 6 November elections, where Republicans will seek to maintain control of both congressional chambers.

As a presidential candidate before the US election in 2016, Trump promised to harden immigration laws and build a wall along the southern border with Mexico, but implementation of his signature campaign promise has been slow.

A caravan of Central American migrants estimated to number at least 3,500 people left Honduras in mid-October and is now in southern Mexico on its way to the US border.

We don't do stunts

Before Trump's comments, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday rejected criticism that deploying thousands of troops to the border with Mexico was a political stunt.

"The support that we provide to the secretary for homeland security is practical support based on the request from the commissioner of customs and border police, so we don't do stunts in this department," Mattis said after a meeting with his South Korean counterpart at the Pentagon.

Republican lawmakers and other Trump supporters have applauded the deployment. But critics argue Trump has manufactured a crisis to drive Republican voters to the polls.

"The move to send 5,200 active duty troops to the southern border is a craven political stunt that sets a bad precedent and is arguably an abuse of power," said Kelly Magsamen, a former senior Pentagon official who is currently with the Center for American Progress left-leaning think tank.

Trump's decision to call in the military appears to be a departure from past practice. In recent years, such operations have been carried out by National Guard forces, largely part-time military members often called upon to respond to domestic emergencies.

A US official told Reuters that as of Wednesday the Pentagon had identified more than 7,000 active-duty troops, which included about 2,000 on standby, that could be deployed to the border with Mexico if needed.

Many basic questions remained unanswered days after the Pentagon announcement, including the scope of the mission as well as the Pentagon's assessment of any threat posed by arriving migrants.
By Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was finalising a plan that would require immigrants seeking asylum in the United States to approach a legal port of entry, pushing a hard line on immigration ahead of next week's congressional elections. It was not clear whether the plan would pass legal muster. The Immigration and Nationality Act provides that any immigrant in the United States may apply for asylum, regardless of whether he or she entered the country through a designated port of entry.

By Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was finalising a plan that would require immigrants seeking asylum in the United States to approach a legal port of entry, pushing a hard line on immigration ahead of next week's congressional elections.

It was not clear whether the plan would pass legal muster. The Immigration and Nationality Act provides that any immigrant in the United States may apply for asylum, regardless of whether he or she entered the country through a designated port of entry.

"Migrants seeking asylum will have to present themselves lawfully at a port of entry," Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that he would issue an executive order on immigration next week.

"Those who choose to break our laws and enter illegally will no longer be able to use meritless claims to gain automatic admission into our country," he added.

Trump has ramped up his tough stance on illegal immigration, an issue that appeals to his core supporters, before elections on Tuesday that will determine whether his fellow Republicans keep control of Congress.

In recent days, he has sought to present as a threat to the United States a large group of migrants from Central America who have left poverty and violence at home and are heading slowly through Mexico toward the U.S. border.

"These illegal caravans will not be allowed into the United States and they should turn back now," Trump said. "We are stopping people at the border. This is an invasion."

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, an ally of the president and head of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, echoed some of the president's strong rhetoric about the caravan in a letter to the secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department.

In the letter, Grassley said his office had received information that several members of the caravan had "significant criminal histories" and was seeking information about "potential national security threats that reportedly exist among the members."

Trump said on Wednesday the United States could send as many as 15,000 troops to the border to confront the migrant caravan, more than twice the number previously disclosed by defence officials.

Republican lawmakers and other Trump supporters have applauded the deployment. But critics argue Trump has manufactured a crisis to drive Republican voters to the polls.

On another immigration front, Trump said this week he would seek to scrap the constitutional right of citizenship for U.S.-born children of noncitizens and illegal immigrants, saying he would issue an executive order on so-called birthright citizenship.

Trump and some other Republicans say the right - granted by the Constitution's post-Civil War 14th Amendment - creates an incentive for people to enter the country illegally to have children. Critics, including some other Republicans, say the president cannot change the Constitution by fiat. Such an action would virtually guarantee a legal challenge.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Jeff Mason; Additional reporting by Makini Brice and Lisa Lambert; Editing by Peter Cooney)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will deny asylum to people who enter the country through a non-legal port of entry, President Donald Trump is likely to say on Thursday in remarks designed to enforce his hard line on immigration ahead of next week's congressional elections. The president's remarks, plans for which were announced earlier on Thursday before a scheduled political rally later in the evening, will include his desire to change the asylum process, according to a source familiar with the matter. The Immigration and Nationality Act provides that any immigrant in the United States may apply for asylum, regardless of whether he or she entered the country through a designated port of entry.

By Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will deny asylum to people who enter the country through a non-legal port of entry, President Donald Trump is likely to say on Thursday in remarks designed to enforce his hard line on immigration ahead of next week's congressional elections.

The president's remarks, plans for which were announced earlier on Thursday before a scheduled political rally later in the evening, will include his desire to change the asylum process, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides that any immigrant in the United States may apply for asylum, regardless of whether he or she entered the country through a designated port of entry. Trump will insist that such applications be made at a legal point of entry.

Trump has ramped up his tough stance on illegal immigration, an issue that appeals to his core supporters, before elections on Tuesday that will determine whether his fellow Republicans keep control of Congress.

He will make his remarks at the White House at 4:15 p.m. (2015 GMT) on "the illegal immigration crisis and give an update on border security," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

In recent days, Trump has sought to present as a threat to the United States a large group of migrants from Central America who have left poverty and violence at home and are heading slowly through Mexico toward the U.S. border.

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, an ally of the president and head of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, echoed some of the president's strong rhetoric about the caravan in a letter to the secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department.

In the letter, Grassley said his office had received information that several members of the caravan had "significant criminal histories" and was seeking information about "potential national security threats that reportedly exist among the members."

Trump said on Wednesday the United States could send as many as 15,000 troops to the border to confront the migrant caravan, more than twice the number previously disclosed by defence officials.

Republican lawmakers and other Trump supporters have applauded the deployment. But critics argue Trump has manufactured a crisis to drive Republican voters to the polls.

On another immigration front, Trump said this week he would seek to scrap the constitutional right of citizenship for U.S.-born children of noncitizens and illegal immigrants, saying he would issue an executive order on so-called birthright citizenship.

Trump and some other Republicans say the right - granted by the Constitution's post-Civil War 14th Amendment - creates an incentive for people to enter the country illegally to have children. Critics, including some other Republicans, say the president cannot change the Constitution by fiat. Such an action would virtually guarantee a legal challenge.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Jeff Mason; Additional reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Peter Cooney)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Lesley Wroughton and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Wednesday reinforced its call for a ceasefire in Yemen and said the 'climate is right' for the combatants to return to U.N.-backed peace talks to end the more than three-year war.

By Lesley Wroughton and Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Wednesday reinforced its call for a ceasefire in Yemen and said the "climate is right" for the combatants to return to U.N.-backed peace talks to end the more than three-year war.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday both urged an end to hostilities and resumption of talks that collapsed in September, drawing praise from U.S. senators critical of U.S. inaction in Yemen.

The State Department's deputy spokesman, Robert Palladino, on Wednesday urged the Iran-aligned Houthi group to immediately cease missile and drone strikes in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and told the Saudi-led coalition to halt air strikes in populated areas in Yemen.

"We have come to the assessment that the climate is right at this time to move forward," Palladino told reporters.

A U.S. source familiar with the issue said that one of the driving factors is progress made by U.N. special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, during a September visit to the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa.

At that time, Houthi leaders expressed an interest in participating in talks that Griffiths wants to occur in November, the source said.

"They want to be there," the source said of the Houthis, adding that the war, a looming famine, economic desperation and growing public resentment against the rebels "is not good for them either."

Mattis, who on Tuesday called for a ceasefire within 30 days, said the Saudis and UAE appeared ready to embrace efforts by Griffiths to find a negotiated solution.

The Saudi-led coalition has massed thousands of troops near Yemen's main port city of Hodeidah, local military sources said on Wednesday, in a move to pressure the Houthis to return to talks.

Another major factor behind the new push for talks, the U.S. source said, is anger from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers and their growing frustration over mounting civilian casualties caused by the Saudi-led coalitions air campaign against the Houthis.

Those feelings intensified with the Oct. 2 murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post who lived in the United States and was a critic of the kingdoms de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"The bombing of the school bus took it (anger on Capitol Hill) from a seven to a nine and a half," the source said, referring to an Aug. 9 Saudi airstrike that killed at least 44 children. "Khashoggi was probably dragging it over the line."

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Todd Young, who have worked together on Yemen-related legislation, applauded what they called the "overdue diplomatic surge."

Sheehan said "it's past time for the United States to use our leverage to help end this horrific war."

Young said that when the Senate returns after the Nov. 6 elections he planned to introduce legislation that would end U.S. air refuelling of Saudi coalition aircraft in Yemen.

(Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle; writing by Mary Milliken and Grant McCool)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee is pursuing a wide-ranging examination of former White House adviser Steve Bannon's activities during the 2016 presidential campaign, three sources familiar with the inquiry told Reuters. The committee is looking into what Bannon might know about any contacts during the campaign between Moscow and two advisers to the campaign, George Papadopoulos and Carter Page, they said

By Mark Hosenball

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee is pursuing a wide-ranging examination of former White House adviser Steve Bannon's activities during the 2016 presidential campaign, three sources familiar with the inquiry told Reuters.

The committee is looking into what Bannon might know about any contacts during the campaign between Moscow and two advisers to the campaign, George Papadopoulos and Carter Page, they said.

William Burck, a lawyer for Bannon, told Reuters: "The Senate Intelligence Committee has expressed an interest in interviewing Mr. Bannon as a witness, just as they have many other people involved in the Trump Campaign. But the Committee has never suggested that hes under investigation himself and to claim otherwise is recklessly false."

Papadopoulos, a consultant, initially advised the presidential campaign of Republican hopeful Ben Carson before joining the Trump campaign. Page is also a consultant, who had business contacts in Russia.

On Sept. 7, Papadopoulos was sentenced to 14 days in prison. He had pleaded guilty last year to lying to FBI agents about the timing and significance of his contacts with Russians, including a professor who told him the Russians had "dirt" on Trump's Democratic presidential rival, Hillary Clinton.

No charges have been filed against Page.

The panel also will examine Bannon's role with Cambridge Analytica, a former data analysis company that the Trump campaign hired to help identify and target messages to potentially sympathetic voters, the sources said.

The Senate committee is working with Bannon's advisers to set a date for him to be interviewed by staff investigators in late November, two of the sources said.

Bannon recently met for the second time with investigators working for Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating allegations of Russian interference on Trump's behalf in the 2016 presidential election, one of the sources said.

Russia has denied interfering in the election and Trump denies any collusion, frequently describing the Mueller investigation as a political witch hunt.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Bannon was questioned last week by Mueller's team. The newspaper said the interview focused on Trump supporter Roger Stone. In emails to Reuters, Stone has said he did not know about or have access to WikiLeaks materials related to Democrats.

In the run-up to the 2016 election, WikiLeaks published hundreds of emails hacked from the Democratic Party and the personal account of top Hillary Clinton campaign adviser John Podesta.

One of the sources familiar with the Bannon-related Senate panel investigations said Mueller's team does not consider Bannon to be a potential subject of their investigation.

Bannon served as a vice president of Cambridge Analytica from June 2014 to August 2016, at which point he joined Trump's presidential campaign as a senior strategist.

Sources said the Senate Intelligence committee has sought to interview other witnesses about the role played by Cambridge Analytica and affiliated companies in the 2016 election.

Earlier this year it was reported that Cambridge Analytica had collected the personal data of millions of people's Facebook profiles without their consent and used it for political purposes. Facebook later apologised to users for the data breach.

(Reporting by Mark Hosenball; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and David Gregorio)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Abu Dhabi Vegetable Oil Company (Advoc), a leading producer of edible oils across the GCC region, has partnered with Patanjali Ayurved, an Indian consumer goods company, to produce a range of edible oils for the Middle Eastern market.



Advoc, known for owning leading edible oil brands, will produce a range of sunflower, corn and canola oils for Patanjali Ayurved Limited under the Patanjali brand name, said a statement.



The Patanjali branded edible oil will be available in 750 ml, 1.8 litre and 5 litre packages across the GCC region from November, it said.



Advoc, owned by Dr B R Shetty, is also the only edible oil refinery in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Established by Indias leading yoga guru  Baba Ramdev, Patanjali Ayurved Limited is a leading Indian consumer goods company.



Speaking at the launch, Yoga Guru and co-founder of Patanjali Ayurved, Baba Ramdev said: Patanjali exists to offer quality products and services to its customers who are considered an extended family. Through the collaboration with Dr B R Shettys Advoc, we would constantly strive to improve its offerings for the benefit of all.



Dr D K Mehta, head-international business at Patanjali, added: With international packaging standards and competitive pricing, we are confident that our edible oils will delight the consumers.



Dr B R Shetty, founder and chairman of BRS Ventures, said: I am thrilled that we are the preferred partner in edible oils for Patanjali in GCC.



This is an exciting start in the journey of providing benefits to consumers looking at quality edible oils under the reputable brand of Patanjali, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
GAC Dubai, a leading provider of shipping, logistics and marine services, said it was recognised with two awards at the recent inaugural Logistics & Transport Awards.



GAC Dubai won the FMCG Logistics Provider of the Year accolade; and the companys general manager for contract logistics, Neil McMaster, was recognised with the Supply Chain Manager of the Year award, said a statement from the company.



The company award recognises GACs excellence and innovation in keeping up with growing demand for the fast moving consumer goods sector covering food & beverages, retail, e-commerce and more, it said.



The recognition came just months after GAC Dubai clinched the FMCG Supply Chain of the Year Award for the second year running in the Logistics Middle East Awards, and a day after the GAC Group won the Transportation & Logistics accolade in The Maritime Standard Awards, it added.



Neils strong organisational and problem-solving skills in managing the complex multi-streamed contract logistics and 3PL operations earned him the Supply Chain Manager of the Year title.



Not only has he been the driving force behind the expansion of GACs services for the business and daily running of GAC Dubais contract logistics operations, he also played a leading role in the planning, construction and opening of the companys newest facility - a purpose-built, 45,900 pallet position two-chamber temperature and humidity-controlled contract logistics facility at Dubai South.



In accepting the awards, Neil McMaster said neither would have been possible without the dedication of his incredible team, the support of the GAC Board and the trust from longstanding customers and partners.



Ronald Lichtenecker, managing director of GAC Dubai, said: It is particularly fitting that we should celebrate this double success in the year that we celebrate the 25th anniversary of GACs opening of the first Distribution Centre in Dubai.



That same pioneering spirit and commitment to operational excellence has marked the continuous growth and development in the field recognised by these latest awards, he added.



GAC has been a leader in FMCG supply chain management in the Middle East for a quarter of a century.



Its flagship Distribution Centre has over 50,000-sq-m of warehousing space dedicated to food and beverage and other FMCG cargo and 1,800-sq-m of purpose-built food grade and general Value-Added Services (VAS) facilities.



Its newest contract logistics facility, at Dubai South, is now operational and brings the companys total capacity in the Emirate to more than 170,000 pallet positions serving local and regional customers, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Calgavin, a leading global heat transfer consulting engineering company, will again be exhibiting at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec), this time at the Arab Development stand.

Adipec, which runs from November 12 to 15 in Abu Dhabi, is one of the worlds most influential events for the oil and gas industry.

Martin Gough, managing director of Calgavin said: For over 35 years Calgavin has built up an unrivalled expertise in the thermal design and analysis of process plants. Our engineering team have extensive knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid flow phenomena, combined with global experience providing improvement solutions to hundreds of plants worldwide.

The company was founded on the development and sale of the tube-side heat transfer technology hiTran Thermal Systems. This success has led to the broadening of the companys activities to provide a wide range of products and services all focused on heat transfer optimisation for production whilst minimising both energy use and maintenance costs.

The company will be discussing in detail its services in the area of Heat Transfer enhancement. These include:

 Analytical Engineering  heat transfer solutions for performance improvement

 Design Services  using software packages such as HTRI Xchanger Suite, AspenTech EDR & hiTRAN.SP

 Air cooler troubleshooting  providing solutions for problematic air coolers

 CFD  Tool in identifying problematic conditions that restrict performance

Calgavin will be exhibiting in Hall 5, Stand 5210 at Adipec. - TradeArabia News Service
Popular Russos New York Pizzeria Looking To Expand In Texas

Pizzeria Franchise Plans Expansion of 15 New Restaurants

November 01, 2018 // Franchising.com // HOUSTON - Russos New York Pizzeria, the nations only chef-driven New York-style, Italian restaurant and pizzeria franchise concept, is looking to grow its upscale-casual dining concept in Texas Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa and San Antonio markets. The well-known pizza brand recently made the Top 200+ Franchise list by Franchise Times.

The pizza franchise has already opened 4 locations in Texas this year: Austin, Harlingen, Pearland and Spring/Tomball.

Chef Anthony Russo, the creative culinary mind, founder and CEO of the chef-driven concept, announced the franchise brands Next Generation Pizza & Italian restaurant model - ideal for on-the-go diners looking for authentic Italian cuisine at shopping malls, strip centers and airports.

According to Restaurant News, convenience, value and online ordering, and delivery are growing consumer trends.

The new concept has a smaller footprint (1,200-1,800 square feet). The Russos Next Generation Pizza and Italian restaurant model features an open-kitchen layout engineered to provide convenience to diners eating in, taking to go or for delivery. The family-centered restaurant surrounds diners with warm, inviting decor to enjoy heart-healthy menu items made fresh without preservatives, additives or trans fats. Beyond the brands specialty traditional crust and gluten-free pizzas, menu items include fresh salads, soups and made-from-scratch sauces and pastas. Authentic Italian cannoli, fresh-baked, Italian flatbread sandwiches and, of course, hand-tossed pizzas are just some of the distinctive menu items.

Weve been leading the pizza and pasta scene in all of our markets for more than 32 years because were always bringing fresh ideas to the table. This new format meets the customer demand for fresh, quality cuisine for pick-up on the go or delivered, said Russo, who earned his chef distinction at 18 years old and honed his expert culinary skills working in his parents fine Italian restaurant before opening his own pizzeria.

By strategically placing restaurants in high-traffic retail areas, Russos offers fans easier access to its beloved New York-style pizza and traditional, Italian cuisines. Russos latest restaurant model is representative of a larger franchise growth strategy to expand the brands international footprint after successfully launching more than 48 locations worldwide.

Adding to the appeal of the opportunity, the average food and hourly labor costs are 20.7% and 25.2% respectively, with an impressive average net cash flow of 18.2%.

Initial investment starts at $454,350.

Signature new menu items and authentic brick oven pizzas include the following:

Cauliflower Fritti - Fresh cauliflower, lightly fried with Italian seasoning, served with Russos pomodoro sauce

- Fresh cauliflower, lightly fried with Italian seasoning, served with Russos pomodoro sauce Russos Lasagna - Fresh pasta layered with braised beef, Italian cheeses and Russos Chianti-braised meat sauce

- Fresh pasta layered with braised beef, Italian cheeses and Russos Chianti-braised meat sauce Pasta di Mare - Sauteed shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari, swirled in a spicy Pinot Grigio marinara sauce, served over freshly made spaghetti

- Sauteed shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari, swirled in a spicy Pinot Grigio marinara sauce, served over freshly made spaghetti Pizza Villagio - Grilled chicken, Portabella mushrooms, arugula, mozzarella, Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, Gorgonzola cheese and Sicilian extra virgin olive oil garlic sauce

- Grilled chicken, Portabella mushrooms, arugula, mozzarella, Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, Gorgonzola cheese and Sicilian extra virgin olive oil garlic sauce Prosciutto & Fig Pizza - Prosciutto di Parma, arugula, basil, fig spread, Sicilian extra virgin olive oil, mozzarella and balsamic glaze

Lunch menu offerings range from $8 - $10 and dinner offerings range from $15 - $25.

As Russos continues to bring its renovated design into new markets, the brand is awarding franchise opportunities to qualified individuals who share a passion for fresh, quality food.

About Russos Restaurants

Russos Restaurants is a 48-location national and international franchisor of the upscale casual brands Russos New York Pizzeria and Russos Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen. Based in Houston, Russos Restaurants is composed of a mix of corporate and franchised locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Florida. Russos has entered international markets as well, with locations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Chef Anthony Russo has created his concepts from years of applying his unique, family recipes featuring New York-style pizza, along with a broad variety of handcrafted pasta creations, calzones, salads, sandwiches, soups and desserts, reflecting his commitment to his New York roots where food and family come first.

Media Contacts:

Meghan Bailey

Meghan@dpwpr.com

Molly McMurtry

Molly@dpwpr.co

Dancie Perugini

Ware Public Relations

713-224-9115

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Al Faisaliah Hotel and Al Faisaliah Suites Riyadh, a landmark luxury destination in the heart of the capital, offers guests the ultimate in business travel.



Featuring 224 rooms and suites, Al Faisaliah Hotel offers the best in five-star luxury accommodation. Following the addition of Al Faisaliah Suites, A dedicated luxury suites hotel in Riyadh offering 106 suites, Al Faisaliah has become one of the finest and most sought-after properties in Saudi Arabia.



The luxurious property offers state-of-the-art amenities that are perfect for guests travelling on business. Featuring elegant ambience and unparalleled luxury, the hotels meeting and event spaces have been designed to accommodate meetings, incentive, conferences, and exhibitions of any size.



Business travellers can take advantage of the hotels massive 6,300-sq-m meeting space which offers an elegant ambience and unparalleled luxury and caters to meetings, conferences, and exhibitions of any size. Venues are also all fully equipped with complimentary wi-fi, experienced in-house event planners and caterers to ensure everything is planned out perfectly.



Whether staying in a room or a suite, the amenities are very well suited for business travellers needs offering very convenient services. In addition to the meeting spaces, the hotel offers various business facilities such as a business centre, 24-hour butler service to attend to any requirements which include the pressing of garments, shoe valet, and even personalised stationery. The property also offers inbound travellers airport pick-up and drop off services in a luxury vehicle.



In addition to the impressive business room facilities and services, guests can choose from a myriad of dining options that offer a wide range of cuisines. Whether its enjoying global gourmet flavours under a three-storey glass dome at The Globe, being transported to Rio de Janeiro at indoor-outdoor Brazilian barbeque venue Il Terrazo, savouring delicious Italian food at the fashionable La Cucina, or trying a newly redefined menu featuring new Middle Eastern dishes at Cristal, guests will undoubtedly be spoilt for choice.



Al Faisaliah Hotel Riyadh invites guests to enjoy their new package, specially tailored to business travellers.



Valid throughout 2018-2019, the Lite Business Package starts at SR950 ($252.9) per night, is available for a minimum of two nights and includes the following:

 Two-way airport transfer

 Daily breakfast for two

 20 per cent discount at all restaurants, excluding room service and Lobby Lounge

 20 per cent discount on laundry services

 50 per cent discount for services at the Business Centre

 24 hrs cancellation policies

 Early Check-in at 10am, and late check-out at 4pm. - TradeArabia News Service


The Muslim travel sector is projected to contribute $183 billion to the global GDP by 2020, up from $148 billion in 2017, a new research revealed ahead of WTM London, which takes place from November 5-7.



These statistics come from the Global Economic Impact of Muslim Tourism and Future Growth Projection: 2017-2020 report by Salam Standard, which will be presented as part of WTMs first-ever session dedicated to halal tourism - How are mainstream travel companies and destinations attempting to take advantage of the rise of halal travel?



Faeez Fadhlillah, co-founder and CEO of Salam Standard, will talk through the findings and share insights for destinations looking to become part of this important and growing segment.



Salam Standard is a hotel classification system which ranks and audits properties by the Muslim-friendly facilities and services they offer. Fadhlillah also owns tripfez.com, a consumer-facing online travel agent for Muslim travellers.

He is joined on the panel by Enver Duminy, CEO, Cape Town Tourism, who will share insights from Cape Town Tourisms current campaign to make the city more prepared to welcome Muslim travellers, including an awareness initiative among restaurants and hotels about halal catering.



The other speaker is Seunghyun Hwang, director, Korean Tourism Organisation  London. He will share learnings from Koreas attempts to position itself as a Muslim- and halal-friendly destination.



The session is moderated by Gemma Greenwood, director, Content Inc. The session takes place on November 6 from 13:00 - 13:45 in the Middle East & Africa Inspiration Zone (AF190).



Like many of the growing verticals in travel, the impetus for Muslim tourism is coming from Asia, both in terms of inbound and outbound. Asia has started to benefit from Muslim inbound travel expenditure and the new research says that, by 2020, 1.2 million jobs will be directly supported by Muslim travel segment. The global number will be around 2.3 million.



When it comes to outbound, travellers from Malaysia, Indonesia and China are expected to contribute a combined 17 per cent of the total global spend by 2020.



In 2017, travellers from the Middle East accounted for more than 60 per cent the majority of global outbound spend - at $62.2 billion.



Simon Press, senior director WTM London, said: Muslim travel is already a big part of the industry and is likely to get bigger in the long-run, with research showing that in 2060 there will be 3 billion Muslims in the world, equivalent to one-third of the worlds population."



In the short-term, destinations need to ensure they are Muslim-friendly or at least have enough information available so that Muslim travellers can make informed decisions."



"Destinations should also note that Muslim millennials from the three big Asian outbound markets of Indonesia, China, and Malaysia want to visit places that do not have a Muslim majority. Attendees at the session can find out how to appeal to this generation, Press said. - TradeArabia News Service
A report by Afzal Usmani

You are free; you are free to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creedthat has nothing to do with the business of the state. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Governor General Pakistan (Designate),  I do not expect India of my dream to develop one religion, i.e., to be wholly Hindu, or wholly Christian, or wholly Musalman, but I want it to be wholly tolerant, with its religious working side by side with one another. Mahatma Gandhi.

Mr. Raza Ahmad Rumi, an eminent journalist, concluded his talk with the above quotations from the founding fathers of India and Pakistan. He was delivering the keynote address at the annual Sir Syed Memorial Lecture on the Rise of extremism in India and Pakistan. Whats the future of liberal democracy? The event was organized by the Aligarh Alumni Association, Washington DC (AAA), on October 13th, 2018, at Bolger Center, Potomac, Maryland. Mr. Rumi is the Director of Park Center for Independent Media, Ithaca College, New York, and is a faculty member of the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs. He currently edits the Daily Times (Pakistan), and has authored fourbooks. His latest book Being Pakistani was published in June 2018.

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The AAA has been hosting the memorial lectures for more than 25 years as part of Sir Syeds birth anniversary celebrations. A number of distinguished scholars and dignitaries have delivered these lectures in the past, including Ambassador Hussain Haqqani, Dr. Akbar Ahmad, Dr. Salman Akhtar,Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, Prof. Abdulaziz Sachedina, Dr. Hashima Hasan, Professor David Lelyveld, Professor Gopichand Narang, Mr. Shamsur Rehman Farooqi, and the CEO of Ethan Allen Mr. M. Farooq Kathwari.

Raza Rumi focused his talk on an urgent cotemporary problem, the worldwide resurgence of right-wing nationalism, that is driven in India by the astounding victory in 2014 general elections of the ultra-right Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Similarly, religious and sectarian conflicts have dominated the political landscape of Pakistan for several decades.

Recently, Pakistans newly elected prime minister, Imran Khan, had to remove one of his most qualified economic advisors, Atif Mian, merely because he belonged to the Ahmadi community, prompting two other outstanding advisors to the Pakistan Government to resign in protest.

Mr. Rumi also brought up the rise of right-wing influence in the US, especially after the 2016 election of Donald Trump. He advised the audience not to be misled by extremist rhetoric common in the media and provided information about some new electronic resources which are working to counter the extremist narratives.

As has been the tradition, the event began with dinner, followed by the formal session. Welcoming the guests and speaker, Dr. Rafat Husain, president of the AAA, briefly described the activities of the Association, especially its signature scholarship program designed to help needy students in India. Another initiative is the establishment of feeder institutions across India to prepare school level students for higher education. He also reminded the audience about the highly successful Mushairas the AAA has been staging since 1975. (The Mushaira for this year will be held on Sunday, November 11, 2018, at 2:00 pm, at Silver Spring Civic Building, Silver Spring, MD)

Mr. Raza Rumi was introduced by Dr. Syed Amir who is an occasional writer for the Daily Times (Pakistan). The lecture was followed by a question and answer session moderated by Dr. Fazal Khan. Members of the audience asked a wide-range of questions and were impressed by his insightful answers. The speaker was honored with the Sir Syed Memorial Award in recognition of his services to the promotion of journalism independence, religious tolerance and international harmony. After a vote of thanks, the event concluded with Aligarh Tarana rendered by the Aligarh Alumni Association Tarana Team.

(The writer, Afzal Usmani is the secretary, Aligarh Alumni Association, Washington, DC)

Tonight: At the Aligarh associations annual dinner spoke about tolerance and pluralism, values that are vanishing from our region. I do not expect India of my dreams to develop one religion that is to be wholly Hindu or wholly Christian or wholly Mussalman, but I want it to by wholly tolerant, with its religions working side by side with one another Gandhi You are free; you are free to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creedthat has nothing to do with the business of the state ~ Jinnah Geplaatst door Raza Rumi op Zaterdag 13 oktober 2018
The average American doesn't trade in their iPhone until the handset is 2.92 years old  up from 2.51 just two years ago.

Other smartphones owners keep devices an average of 2.66 years before trading up for a new model, leading to an average ownership, across all smartphones, of 2.83 years.

Read More:

The data comes from HYLA Mobile, a US-based mobile device trade-in company which works with carriers and retailers. The company, which collects trade-in data every quarter, says amount of time people hold on to their smartphones has increased steadily over the last two years, just as the smartphone market has stagnated.



These figures, which are growing, fly in the face of technology giants like Apple and Samsung, who release new flagship smartphones every year like clockwork. Some companies, like Chinese startup OnePlus, even release a new model every six months.

The fact that consumers hold on to iPhones for two or even three years shouldn't be a surprise, as the rate of improvement across the smartphone landscape is slowing.

Apple's boast that its newest flagship, the XS, has a faster Face ID system is an example of this slowdown  hardly the launch of an impressive new feature, as Face ID initially was, which can't be replicated every year. Instead, technology companies are making incremental upgrades.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is the most valuable non-iPhone to trade in GearBrain

With fewer reasons to upgrade, and presented with higher prices, consumers are happier than ever to stick with their current devices for longer. Older models can usually be updated with the latest software from Apple and Google, even after four or five years, which encourages consumers to hold off on buying a new phone.



Even with consumers holding onto their devices for longer than before, they're still getting decent trade-ins  and the combined value of those is rising.

"It's typical to see between $400 million and $450 million returned to the US consumer hands in any given quarter," says HYLA Mobile. "That number always spikes when a major manufacturer releases a new device. In Q3 2018, with the launch of the three new iPhones, the spike exceeded expectations$628 million was returned to consumer hands via device trade-ins."



The company also found that the iPhone 6 was the most-traded smartphone for nine straight quarter, and that iPhones command a slightly higher trade-in value than flagship handsets from Samsung. The Samsung Note 9 is worth $442.60, according to HYLA, while the iPhone X is $484.87.
Behind '60 Minutes' Show on Bishop Malone

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the "60 Minutes" report on Bishop Richard J. Malone:

Buffalo Bishop Richard J. Malone didn't come across too well on the October 28 edition of "60 Minutes." But there is more to this story than what the CBS show aired. None of the parties to this story come to the table with their hands clean.



Bishop Malone has admitted making bad decisions, but he maintains that his overall record is defensible. The "60 Minutes" segment detailed some of those bad decisions. For example, giving Father Arthur Smith, a known homosexual predator, a clean slate, and then assigning him to the post of cruise ship chaplain was indefensible.





Some priests have come forward with complaints against Bishop Malone. Father Bob Zilliox contends there are eight or nine priests in the Buffalo diocese who should not be in the priesthood. If he is correct, then this would be a very serious situation, one in need of immediate redress.



The "60 Minutes" episode focused heavily on the claims made by Bishop Malone's former executive assistant, Siobhan O'Connor; she worked for him for three years. The 35-year-old quit her job on August 10, but not before anonymously turning over to WKBW-TV copies of files she obtained. The ABC-affiliate ran a three-part series on her and the church documents, and that, in turn, led CBS to interview O'Connor.





Did O'Connor ever appraise Bishop Malone of her concerns? Yes, she spoke to him in March. He said he was handling these matters. Did she do anything further, in the five months before she quit? She wrote an opinion column in the Buffalo News in May, stating her sympathy for the victims of abuse, but she never said a word about any wrongdoing by the bishop or anyone else in the diocese. "60 Minutes" did not ask her to explain herself.



O'Connor has moved quickly from the inquiring assistant to the courageous activist. According to CBS News, she wants a "cleansing" of the Church, saying that "full financial bankruptcy" is preferable to what she witnessed. That is quite a statement given her limited experience working with priests and bishops. Interestingly, on November 13, when the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops assemble in Baltimore for their fall meeting, she will be speaking at a rally organized by anti-Church zealots.





It appears O'Connor is fast learning the ropes of how to "cleanse" the Church. Most of those who work for the Catholic Church have never heard of Mitchell Garabedian, but somehow O'Connor has. He is a Boston attorney with a long-standing hatred of the Catholic Churchhe does not hide his animus. He was at her side at a press conference on October 30 in Buffalo, saying he is prepared to defend her, if necessary.



Garabedian and I locked horns in 2011 when a Boston priest, Father Charles Murphy, died. As I said at the time, Murphy died "a broken man." The man who broke him was Garabedian.

In 2006, Garabedian sued Father Murphy for inappropriately touching a minor 25 years earlier; on the eve of the trial, the woman dropped her suit. In 2010, he sued the priest again, this time for allegedly fondling a man 40 years earlier. The accuser was deep in debt and his credibility was questioned even by his own family!





When Father Murphy died, Brian McGrory of the Boston Globe called what Garabedian did to him "a disgrace." I called Garabedian at the time to see if he had any regrets about pressing charges against Father Murphy, and he immediately went into a rage, screaming like a madman. I asked him to calm down, but he continued to go ballistic, making sweeping condemnations of all priests. This is the kind of lawyer that the former executive assistant managed to find.



The media involved come across even worse. On October 30, Bishop Malone released an email that O'Connor sent to employees at the diocese the day before she quit. In it, she commended the bishop for his great work, saying "it has been a privilege to work by your side as you shepherd our diocese." She specifically singled out his holiness, as well as his "Sheen-like eloquence" (a reference to one of the Church's towering American figures, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen).





O'Connor closed her letter thanking Bishop Malone for "all the opportunities I've had and lessons I've learned while working for you and with you."



Remember, she had already leaked damaging information to the press about Malone. Did she lie about the bishop in her praiseworthy remarks, or is she simply a duplicitous activist?



When Bishop Malone released O'Connor's letter, the Associated Press, the most powerful wire service in the nation, took the occasion to make him the bad guy. In a short news story, it said, "Bishop Blasts Whistleblower Who Copied Sex Misconduct Files." Malone did nothing of the kind: He made public her letter, noting how contradictory it was. AP intentionally misled readers, trying to exculpate O'Connor.



CBS, and "60 Minutes" in particular, also deserve to be criticized. It has had its share of accused molesters working in the most important jobs in the companyCharlie Rose, Jeff Fager, and Les Moonvesyet it never has time to turn its "60 Minutes" cameras on them. In August, Brian Steinberg, writing for Variety, said, "The allegations are worthy of an investigation by '60 Minutes'if only they weren't about the news division that produces the show."





Dozens of women have accused Rose, the CBS anchor and pundit, of sexual misconducthe allegedly likes to expose himselfdating back to 1986. According to a Washington Post blog story, "Rumors about Rose's behavior have circulated for years."



One of Rose's assistants, Kyle Godfrey-Ryan, "recalled at least a dozen instances where Rose walked nude in front to her while she worked in one of his New York City homes." He also made sexually charged phone calls to the then-21-year-old late at night or in the early morning.





Did she report it? Yes, she told Yvette Vega, Rose's long-time executive producer. "She [Vega] would just shrug and just say, 'That's just Charlie being Charlie.'" To show what a class act Rose was, when he found out that Godrey-Ryan told a mutual friend about his behavior, he fired her.





Before he became chairman of CBS News in 2011, Fager was the executive producer of "60 Minutes." He then took over the reins at "60 Minutes" again in 2015. He has been accused by six women of sexual misconduct, especially when he was drunk. Fager is also accused of covering up for his sexually compromised workplace buddies who reported to him.



Moonves was CBS chief executive for 20 years; it ended in September when he stepped down amidst serious sexual misconduct allegations. He has also been accused of promoting several men known for their sexual misconduct. This may sound familiar: CBS quietly paid settlements to the women who complained.





Just recently, it was reported that more than 250 women who work at CBS have spoken to investigators. Some, however, refuse to talk because they don't trust the company.



Not only will CBS not authorize "60 Minutes" to disclose the depth of its own sexual abuse scandal, it has the nerve to claim that all priests are engaged in a cover-up. The "60 Minutes" producer of the O'Connor segment, Guy Campanile, told CBS News that "the church is made of people, but the ones in charge are priests [evidently they are not people] and priests are so good at keeping secrets."





Would that include New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who outed Theodore McCarrick? It wasn't the media which did that. Moreover, just this week Dolan made public some accusations against one of his auxiliary bishops, stemming from alleged offenses that occurred decades ago. Does CBSor any media outlet in the nationhave a program like the New York archdiocese that outs suspected abusers? Why not?



NBC is just as phony. Its Buffalo affiliate, WGRZ-TV, has unveiled a petition asking the public to pressure the Buffalo diocese to publicly release the full list of accused priests. If it were serious about the issue of sexual abuseand not "getting the Church"it would begin by pressing NBC to make public a list of all those employees who have been accused of sexual misconduct.





After all, Matt Lauer is hardly the only NBC employee to have been accused of being a predator. Last year, Variety wrote the following. "Lauer's conduct was not a secret among other employees at 'Today,' numerous sources say. At least one of the anchors would gossip about stories she had heard, spreading them among the staff. Management sucks there,' says a former reporter.They protected the s*** out of Matt Lauer."





Addie Zinone, who worked for Lauer, and media critic Ken Auletta, confirm that many others knew something was wrong. Joe Scarborough, co-host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe," had this to say about Lauer. "The whole theme was that he does the show and then he has sex with people, with employees. So this was whispered behind closed doors? No, it was shouted from the mountaintops and everybody laughed about it." Including, evidently, Scarborough, who never said a public word about it.



Jessica Steyers, who worked at NBC Sports, has spoken out about the constant harassment by coworkers, and the nonchalant reaction by executives. Karin Roland, a feminist who has examined NBC, says "this happens as the result of a culture and a pattern of protecting stars and making them untouchable."





Most of the sexual abuse in the Catholic Church occurred in the last century, primarily between 1965 and 1985. But when it comes to sexual abuse in Hollywood and in the media, it is as bad today as it ever was. Lucky for them there is little interest in outing the dregs among them. They'd rather focus on accused priests from a half-century ago.


Uprooted Palestinians are at the heart of the conflict in the M.E Palestinians uprooted by force of arms. Yet faced immense difficulties have survived, kept alive their history and culture, passed keys of family homes in occupied Palestine from one generation to the next.
This company might have won the race for launching foldable smartphones News oi-Vishal Kawadkar A small company takes the lead in the foldable phone race.

A lesser-known company Rouyu Technology has beaten all the major manufacturers by launching its foldable smartphone. But, it seems that it was an attempt to be the first in the race and not focusing on the product.

Dubbed as the FlexPai, according to ITHome, comes with a 7.8-inch screen and measures 7.6mm in thickness. The company said that the smartphone comes with a 16 + 20MP telephoto lens, and can be charged up to 80 percent within 60 minutes.

Rouyu Technology also known as Royole is basically a display company specializing in flexible displays. The company's last product has a "foldable 3D mobile theater," a curved car dashboard, and several flexible sensors.

Known leaker Ice Universe tweeted that the FlexPai will likely be powered by Snapdragon 8150 also known as Snapdragon 855. The chipset is yet to see the light of day, and the smartphone is tipped to go on sale very soon, which makes it hard to believe. The tipster also acknowledges that this is just a prototype in order to be the first in the market.

This is the "world's first foldable screen phone" released by Rouyu Technology, which will use the Snapdragon 8150 processor, but its design is very rough, just to seize the "first", this is a futures product. pic.twitter.com/M0v9o2z0Bw  Ice universe (@UniverseIce) October 31, 2018

In a promotional video, you can see a tablet which can be folded into a smaller tablet. Yes, it's basically a tablet and not a smartphone. But this dissolves the whole idea of a foldable smartphone, as it is meant to fit in your pockets when folded.

As for uses, it seems like the device can be used as a dual-screen when folded, with each side displaying different content. According to the report, the FlexPai will go on sale for a limited time at a price of 8,999 yuan (~$1291) for the 6GB/128GB model. The device will also be available in an 8GB/256GB option for 9,998 yuan (~$1434), and in an 8GB/512GB variant for 12,999 yuan (~$1864).

Recently, DJ Koh, president, and CEO of Samsung's mobile division has given some information about the device at the launch of Galaxy A9 in Kuala Lumpur. He suggested that the foldable smartphone will double as a tablet.

Previous reports have hinted that the smartphone will have a book-like form factor with a vertically foldable display. The in-folding design will hide the display completely when folded. However, there will be an external display while still in folded position. The smartphone is said to sport a 7.3-inch primary OLED display and a 4.6-inch external OLED display.

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U.S. Air Forces Central Command September Airpower Summary

By U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs, AFCENT Public Affairs / Published October 31, 2018

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (AFNS) -- U.S. Air Forces Central Command published its September Airpower Summary today, highlighting airpower operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

In Afghanistan, AFCENT Airmen operated as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel and the NATO Resolute Support Mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan Air Force, most recently in "Speedball" training; a rapid relief supply airdrop capability.

Simultaneously, in Iraq and Syria, Coalition Airmen enabled Islamic State of Iraq and Syria clearance operations within the Middle Euphrates River Valley as a part of Operation Inherent Resolve and provided security forces assistance to the Iraqi Aviation and Air Defense Enterprise through the efforts of the Coalition Aviation Advisory and Training Team.

"Airpower's strength is flexibility, speed and agility," said Lt. Gen. Joseph Guastella, Combined Forces Air Component commander. "That's how we simultaneously support Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Resolute Support and Operation Inherent Resolve. We assess what's needed and tailor airpower to support these campaigns. On top of that, we play a huge role in providing deterrence and stability in this region as a ready force."

The entire airpower summary is online at the following link: Airpower Summary Sep. 2018

Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan

For the air component, the primary weight of effort in the CENTCOM AOR remains Afghanistan. September saw the most weapons employed there by AFCENT and Coalition assets since November 2010.

"I never want air or space power to be taken for granted," said Lt. Gen. Joseph Guastella, Combined Forces Air Component commander. "It's astonishing what we provide the joint campaign. From close air support, armed over watch, strategic and inter-theater airlift, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, personnel recovery, tanker refueling, and space effects, these capabilities interweave across the Joint fight."

In September, aircraft assigned to the CFACC flew 772 strike sorties in Operation Freedom's Sentinel, releasing 841 weapons in order to deny ISIS terrorist safe havens as well as create space for political reconciliation. ISR aircraft flew 1,753 sorties this month, totaling 8,283 sorties this year, enabling target development, battlespace situational awareness and dynamic strikes.

Tankers flew 459 sorties, offloaded 20 million pounds of fuel to 1,895 receivers and airlifters flew 829 sorties. C-130s flew two airdrop missions supporting ongoing operations. Mobility Airmen delivered 5,738 cargo short tons and 9,750 personnel last month.

Train, advise and assist mission

For the Train Advise and Assist Command, Airmen worked with their Afghan Air Force counterparts to train and develop further capabilities and capacity, including graduating five certified Afghan Tactical Air Coordinators, who are now able to provide effective air-to-ground integrated support for the Afghan National Army.

"The Coalition remains strong. It's not just a U.S. air effort. We're partnering to provide train, advise, assist efforts, empowering our partners to be more effective," Guastella said.

As well, on Sept. 25 Afghan airmen and their counterparts at the 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron and the 373rd Fixed Wing Squadron validated Speedball airdrops; a capability that improves relief supply delivery.

The high velocity, ballistic airdrop capability, designed solely for delivery of humanitarian supplies, uses low cost, readily available materials to rapidly send food, blankets, and medical supplies to disaster affected remote areas.

Speedball airdrops, delivered by C-208's in formation, double the amount of relief supplies that can be delivered and give the Government of Afghanistan an organic capability.

Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria

September also saw a rise of munitions employment in Iraq and Syria as ISIS clearance operations continued in the Middle Euphrates River Valley with AFCENT Airmen increasing close air support to operations.

In September, the U.S. and Coalition flew 1,321 strike sorties, a slight increase from August. Defensive counter air and close air support remained the airpower weight of effort. Overall, the Coalition released 758 weapons.

Manned and unmanned ISR aircraft flew 766 sorties, developing targets and providing decision-quality data to leaders and operators in the field.

Tankers flew 770 sorties in September while offloading 43 million pounds of fuel to 4,446 receivers, extending aircraft loiter time and reach over operating areas.

Airlifters flew 644 sorties, while delivering 2,923 short tons of cargo and 4,472 passengers.

C-130s flew three airdrop missions weighing a total of 56,400 pounds, contributing to the 259,840 pounds of supplies airdropped this year.

U.S. and Coalition Airmen train Iraqi partners

In September, Search and Rescue Air Advisors from the 770th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron teamed up with their Iraqi partners to execute a series of small scale exercises that led up to the first joint search and rescue exercise between the Iraqi Air Force and Iraqi Army. Exercise Wounded Hawk laid the foundation for future survival training events and formalized the first national Personnel Recovery Plan.

As the fight against ISIS continues in the border region between Iraq and Syria, Security Forces Defenders from the 443rd Air Expeditionary Squadron integrated with Iraqi Security Forces and other coalition partners to launch the first joint base defense exercise at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. The exercise increased cooperation and fortified critical defense capabilities. The 443 AES Airmen serve on the forefront of the fight against ISIS as they deliver agile combat support through airfield management, cargo processing and personnel movement.

"As a team, we have built incredible momentum through a series of tactical, operational and strategic gains in building Iraqi airpower, supporting coalition forces, and enabling the lasting defeat of ISIS," said Brig. Gen. Brook Leonard, Director of the Coalition Air Advisory and Training Team. "The fight is ongoing; there are no timeouts, so we believe in preparing and executing with a constant eye on winning the campaign."



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Albanian President Discusses Security, Euro-Atlantic Integration at Marshall Center

Oct. 31, 2018

By Christine June

George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany -- Albanian President Ilir Meta spoke to 98 students from 42 countries about security and Euro-Atlantic integration in the Balkans from the Albanian perspective at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies here, Oct. 25.

Saved the Balkans

"I want to start by affirming that in the early 90s, my country was very fortunate to have at its doorstep the best models of security architecture in the history of mankind  NATO and the European Union," Meta said. "To the Balkan region, they have proved to be instrumental in both times of war and peace.

"I want to emphasize the fact that NATO's intervention, particularly from the U.S., and later the EU involvement in a decisive and determined fashion, saved the Balkans from becoming the Middle East of Europe," he said.

Network of Talented Professionals

The students are attending the Marshall Center's Program on Applied Security Studies, which provides a graduate-level education in security policy, defense affairs and international relations to a broad range of security sector professionals from governments and non-government organizations around the world.

Meta's speech was perfectly timed as the participants were finishing the academic portion of the program, said German army Col. Carsten Treder, the PASS program director .

"We have discussed almost all aspects of security policy, from security and insecurity today, key actors, contemporary challenges, and strategies and approaches to mitigate these challenges," Treder said. "The president provided a well-received 'real-world' example during his speech, as well as when answering participants' questions."

The Marshall Center is a 25-year-old U.S. Department of Defense and German Ministry of Defense transatlantic defense educational institution, which has more than 13,000 alumni from 154 nations.

"More than 800 military and civilian personnel [from Albania] have been trained in the unique programs of the Marshall Center  a valuable contribution to capacity building of our armed forces and diplomatic corps," Meta said. "Thanks to the faculty's amazing experience, knowledge and dedication, the Marshall Center offers an exceptional environment and network of talented professionals."

'Huge Challenges for the Future'

Marshall Center Director Keith W. Dayton noted in his introduction that in addition to the Albanian alumni, members of the Albanian government are regular guest speakers and participants in almost all programs and activities of the Marshall Center.

"Graduates from Albania include not only representatives from across government institutions, but also members of parliament, and senior government officials through the Marshall Center's tailored leaders seminars," he said.

Dayton added, "The Western Balkans remains a region with huge challenges for the future, and we at the Marshall Center are focusing on it with our Balkans 360 series of conferences at the request of Supreme Allied Commander Europe."

The newly launched Balkan 360 Initiative is a partnership with the German Marshall Fund of the United States to deepen U.S. and German engagement in the Balkans.

The Marshall Center also has a faculty member from Albania. Valbona Zeneli, who Meta mentioned in his speech, has been a Marshall Center professor of national security studies for seven years and serves as the director of the Black Sea and Eurasia outreach program. She is also a 2003 alumna of PASS.

"The president of Albania gave a very comprehensive presentation about the state of affairs in the Balkans and the need for transatlantic partnership and support for a prosperous future of the region," Zeneli said. "He also focused on internal challenges, such as strengthening the rule of law and good governance that are crucial for security, stability and resilience in the region."

In this class, there are three participants from Albania, who work in the defense ministry, Defense Intelligence and Security Agency, and the State Intelligence Service, as well as an additional 22 participants from the Balkan region.

"I am impressed to see such a diverse group of participants, and more so to see the Balkan region well represented here today," Meta said.

'Engaging and Candid'

After his 20-minute speech, the president answered questions from the participants on topics relating to security in the Balkans.

"He was engaging and candid," Dayton said. "In my humble opinion, he did a great deal for the image of Albania today in front of our PASS class, speaking to people not only from the Balkans, but also from the rest of Europe, Africa, Asia, [the] Middle East, and North and South America."

Frequent Marshall Center adjunct professor and guest speaker, Ebi Spahiu, from Albania, who is an independent analyst on Central Asian and Western Balkan affairs, agrees, "The president was candid about some of the key challenges facing Albania today domestically, but also including the political climate across Europe that does not favor Albania's advance into the European Union.

"However, I came out of the room more hopeful about Albania's relationship with Euro-Atlantic partners," she said. "The tone is still positive, despite the challenges, and we are at a crucial moment on this course of history. Albania's youth is ambitious, talented and vibrant. We can offer a lot by being in the EU."

Legacy for the Next Generation

Meta talked about Albania's national security strategy, which he said states that "Our actions today define the legacy for next generations and their futures."

He listed the documents' seven strategic prerogatives that integrate every dimension of national strength: Strengthening rule of law and good governance; steady economic growth; qualitative education; well-developed security and defense sectors; preserving social cohesion and national identity; regional and international engagement; and, advancing EU integration.

"We are realistic in understanding that rival powers, networks and actors that challenge European and Euro-Atlantic construction are tough, persistent and in constant sophistication," Meta said. "We can cope with these threats only through collective strategic partnership in such a manner that always protects our joint as well as national interests."

The president finished his presentation by saying, "U.S. involvement and the American-German partnership are key to safeguarding these interests in this part of the world. We pray this partnership further grows and strengthens in the future."

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Mattis Shares Threat Pictures Behind New National Defense Strategy

Oct. 31, 2018

By Jim Garamone

Defense.gov

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary James N. Mattis shared the thinking behind the new National Defense Strategy during a discussion at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington yesterday.

The strategy, released in January, sees Russia and China as the greatest threats with Iran and North Korea as regional threats. Violent extremism rounds out the threat matrix.

The strategy is based on a return to great power competition among the United States, Russia and China.

Power, Urgency, Will

Mattis told Stephen Hadley, the moderator of the event and former national security advisor to President George W. Bush, that in setting up the strategy, officials looked at threats from three different angles: Power, urgency and will.

"In terms of raw power right now, I look at Russia and the nuclear arsenal they have," he said. "I look at their activities over the last 10 years from Georgia and Crimea to the Donetsk Basin to Syria and I can go on and on and on. In terms of just power, I think it is Russia that we have to look at and address."

There are two threats that are most urgent right now: North Korea and the continuing fight against violent extremism. North Korea's nuclear and missile program  in clear violation of United Nations sanctions  remains a problem, and the current fight against violent extremists from the Islamic State to al-Qaida to Boko Haram to other transnational terror groups must be fought.

"In terms of will, clearly it is China," he said.

China is different than Russia. "Russia wants security around its periphery by causing insecurity among other nations," he said. "They want a veto authority over the economic, the diplomatic and the security decisions of the nations around them.

"China seems to want some sort of tribute states around them," he continued. "We are looking for how do we work with China. I think 15 years from now we will be remembered most for how  we set the conditions for a positive relationship with China."

Cooperation

The United States is looking for ways to cooperate with China and that has been beneficial to both countries, Mattis said. He pointed to China's vote against the North Korean nuclear program in the United Nations Security Council as an example. The United States will also confront China when it must as he pointed to the United States continuing freedom of navigation operations in international waters and airspace.

"I have met with my counterpart in Beijing and in Singapore 10 days ago, and he will be here 10 days from now to continue that dialogue as we sort it out," Mattis said.

Also part of the strategy are U.S. strengths, and foremost among them is the country's network of alliances and friends around the world. This network requires constant tending, the secretary said. He noted that just in the last month he has attended NATO meetings, consulted with Central and South American allies and journeyed to Manama, Bahrain, to meet with Middle Eastern allies and friends.

All of these were part and parcel of forming the National Defense Strategy.

South Asia Strategy

The secretary also spoke about the South Asia Strategy announced in August 2017 and how that is proceeding. Officials continue to follow the strategy and it is making progress, but it is slow. It entails far more than just the military and far more than just the United States, he said.

The strategy is a regional approach to the problem. It also reinforced the commitment to the area and realigned those reinforcements with Afghan forces. This was needed because the Afghans had an Army that wasn't ready to have the training wheels taken off the bike, Mattis said. "Only the Afghan special forces had mentors from NATO nations with them," he said. "And every time they went against the enemy, the Taliban, they won.

But the rest of the Afghan forces were spread out around the country with no mentorship and no air support. The strategy changed that. The air support is crucial in giving Afghan forces the high ground in the mountainous country, "and that changes the tactical situation," the secretary said.

Afghan forces are carrying the burden. They took more than 1,000 dead and wounded in August and September, the secretary said, and they stayed in the field fighting. "And the Taliban has been prevented from doing what they said they were going to do, which was to take and hold district and provincial centers, also disrupt an election that they were unable to disrupt," he said.

But the most important aspect of the strategy is reconciliation. U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad agreed to serve as a special envoy in Afghanistan specifically aimed at reconciliation between the Taliban and the government in Kabul. "He is hard at work on this, on an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation effort," Mattis said. "So this is the approach we're trying to sustain right now. It is working from our perspective, but what is heartbreakingly difficult to accept is the progress and violence can be going on at the same time."

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Suicide attack kills 4, injures 7 east of Afghan capital

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Kabul, Oct 31, IRNA -- A suicide attack in the city of Kabul claimed the lives of 4 people and injured 7 others on Wednesday.

According to Afghanistan Ministry of Interior Affairs, the attacker targeted a car carrying the staff of Pul-e-Charkhi Prison, the Afghan National Detention Facility, east of Kabul.

Three injured kids have so far been transported to hospital, Afghan ministry told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Meanwhile an informed source told IRNA that Taliban had killed about 20 civilians in its attack to Khas Urozgan, a district of Urozgan Province and Malistan district in Ghazni Province, over the past four days.

Since Taliban terrorists are killing people for having weapons and cooperation with the government, hundreds of Afghans have been forced to leave their homes and have taken refuge in Ghazni.

In the meantime, Afghanistan National Directorate of Security in a statement announced on Wednesday that 69 people were arrested for conducting sabotage during parliamentary elections.

According to the statement, 11 members of Taliban, a Daesh (ISIS) terrorist and 25 others with unknown identity have been captured.

As a result of the suicide attack near election commission in Kabul, killed one person and injured six others, Kabul police spokesman Basir Mojahed earlier said.

On October 23, Taliban forces abducted 20 Afghans in Farah Province because of participating in the country's parliamentary elections and killed two of them.

9376**2044

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US calls for ending war in Yemen

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Oct 31, IRNA -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement has called for stopping Saudi coalition air strikes on Yemen, a UK-based news outlet reported on Wednesday.

'Coalition air strikes must cease in all populated areas in Yemen," Reuters quoted Pompeo as saying.

According to Reuters, the United States helps the coalition by refueling its jets and providing training in targeting.

US President Donald Trump is now under the pressure of domestic and foreign critics for selling arms to Saudi Arabia.

In its latest attack on Yemen, Saudi warplanes four times targeted Kahlan base, in the north of the country.

Earlier, President of the Revolutionary Committee of Yemen Mohammed-Ali al-Houthi had urged forming independent fact-finding committees to look into Saudi crimes against Yemen.

Saudi Arabia and its regional allies attacked Yemen in March 2015 to bring back to power the deposed president of Yemen Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

The aggressors have committed horrible war crimes against Yemeni civilians during the past three years.

9376**2044

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NATO-Russia Council meets in Brussels

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

31 Oct. 2018

The NATO-Russia Council, which brings together the 29 Allies and Russia, met in Brussels on Wednesday (31 October 2018). Ambassadors had an open exchange on several topics, including the situation in and around Ukraine; issues related to military activities, reciprocal transparency and risk reduction; Afghanistan; and hybrid challenges.

In the spirit of transparency, NATO and Russia provided briefings on major exercises. NATO briefed on the ongoing exercise Trident Juncture 2018, and Russia provided a briefing on exercise Vostok 2018. To inform the discussion on Afghanistan, the NATO Senior Civilian Representative, Ambassador Cornelius Zimmerman, provided a briefing on Afghanistan.

Allies and Russia also shared views on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. NATO Secretary General said: "We all agree that the INF Treaty has been crucial to Euro-Atlantic security. For over five years, the United States has pursued diplomatic and technical avenues with Russia aimed at preserving the INF Treaty. The United States is in compliance with its obligations under the INF Treaty and continues to provide substantial transparency on its programmes." The Secretary General stressed that "no arms control arrangement can be effective if it is only respected by one side. Allies have repeatedly expressed serious concerns about the new Russian missile system, known as the 9M729 or SSC-8. NATO has urged Russia repeatedly to address these concerns in a substantial and transparent way, and to actively engage in a constructive dialogue with the United States." He concluded, "we regret that Russia has not heeded our calls. This reinforces our assessment that the missile system 9M729 poses a serious risk to the strategic stability of the Euro-Atlantic area. Allies urge Russia again to address these substantial concerns in a transparent manner and to ensure full compliance with the INF Treaty without delay. While we stand ready to continue dialogue on this issue with Russia, as an Alliance we are also committed to take effective measures to continue to ensure the safety and security of all Allies."

NATO suspended practical cooperation with Moscow in 2014 due to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, and its ongoing destabilisation of eastern Ukraine. At the same time, channels for political dialogue have remained open, and the NATO-Russia Council is an important forum. NATO and Russia also maintain open military-to-military lines of communication, including exchanges between the Supreme Allied Commander Europe or Chairman of the Military Committee, and the Russian Chief of the General Staff.

Dialogue between NATO and Russia contributes to more predictable relations and enhanced mutual security.

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NATO and UN conclude updated Joint Declaration on cooperation

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

31 Oct. 2018

Following the meeting of Secretaries General Jens Stoltenberg and Antonio Guterres on the margins of the 73rd UN General Assembly in September, the Secretariats of NATO and the United Nations concluded an updated Joint Declaration on Friday 26 October 2018, setting out plans for future cooperation between the two organizations. The document builds on the original Joint Declaration between NATO and the UN, which was signed in September 2008. The updated Declaration sets out priority areas for future cooperation, including, support to UN peace operations, countering terrorism; the protection of civilians; and Women, Peace and Security.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the Joint Declaration, saying: "As organizations committed to upholding peace and security, NATO and the UN reinforce one another. While our mandates differ, we already cooperate across a range of issues, and there is a lot more that NATO and the UN can do together. So I welcome the conclusion of the updated Joint Declaration, and look forward to putting our ideas into action."

Over the past decade, cooperation between the Alliance and UN has grown significantly. The two organizations work closely together on Afghanistan and Iraq. NATO has also pledged support for UN peacekeeping operations, including to counter improvised explosive devices. Cooperation has expanded on protection issues as well. For example, NATO and the UN have worked closely on developing training materials concerning Children and Armed Conflict and the Protection of Civilians.

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CNO Visits Indonesia, Affirms Commitment to Strategic Partnership

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS181031-06

Release Date: 10/31/2018 10:42:00 AM

From Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs Office

JAKARTA, Indonesia (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson visited Indonesia Oct. 30, reaffirming the U.S. Navy's commitment to the strategic partnership.

During the visit, Richardson met with The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) Adm. Siwi Sukma Adji and discussed opportunities to strengthen the U.S. and Indonesian relationship through more combined at-sea exercises.

"The span of challenges that we face as partners is large, from disaster relief and protection of economic resources to confronting high-end security threats," said Richardson. "The potential that exists for the United States and Indonesia to work together is only just being realized."

Richardson highlighted the importance of the U.S. and Indonesian relationship at @america, a U.S. Embassy cultural center that helps Indonesians learn more about the U.S. and share ideas about issues that affect both nations.

"After considering the ways in which our two navies collaborate, we can safely conclude that there's strong momentum carrying us forward towards a deeper partnership, and that partnership is critical," said Richardson. "The system which enables our prosperity--the rules-based international order that provides for a global commons did not appear overnight. It was created carefully, deliberately, and was the work of many nations, Indonesia and the United States among them, over many years. Safeguarding it requires diligence and vigilance. We'll continue sailing alongside Indonesia and any nation that seeks a maritime environment that is secure, orderly and prosperous for all."

Richardson's visit focused on U.S. and Indonesia maritime domain awareness and naval capabilities, and the importance of the U.S.-Indonesia partnership in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Taliban appoint former Guantanamo inmates to Qatar office

Iran Press TV

Wed Oct 31, 2018 07:02PM

The Taliban militant group has appointed five former detainees, who were held at the US military detention center at the Guantanamo Bay, as members of the political office in Qatar, which recently hosted talks with the United States.

Sources in Taliban said on Wednesday that the five commanders, Mohammad Fazl, Mohammed Nabi, Khairullah Khairkhwa, Abdul Haq Wasiq and Noorullah Noori will participate in any future peace talks.

They had been kept for 12 years in the notorious US detention center before being freed in 2014 as part of a prisoner swap for American soldier Berg Bergdahl.

The appointments come amid ongoing talks between Washington and the militant group, 17 years after the US invasion of Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, representatives of Taliban met with a delegation led by veteran US diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad in the Qatari capital of Doha.

Taliban on October 13 announced they will continue the so-called peace talks with the United States, insisting, however, that no tangible agreement has been reached in the first round of discussions held in Doha a day earlier.

A Taliban member in Qatar said the political office has sought the opinions and advice of the five men in the past, although they had not joined the office earlier.

"They have been contributing to certain important matters in their private capacity. Now they are officially declared as members of the Qatar-based political council and would represent Taliban movement in peace talks with the foreign leaders," a member of the Taliban political office in Qatar said on condition of anonymity, adding that the five commanders had been subject to a travel ban, but they would now be able to move and attend peace talks.



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UN calls for resumption of Yemen peace talks 'within a month'

Iran Press TV

Wed Oct 31, 2018 04:47PM

The United Nations says it aims to resume Yemen peace talks "within a month", a day after a similar call made by the United States that was condemned by the Houthi Ansarullah movement.

The United Nations' envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths welcomed calls for an immediate re-launch of negotiations and a ceasefire in Yemen.

"I urge all concerned parties to seize this opportunity to engage constructively with our current efforts to swiftly resume political consultations to agree on a framework for political negotiations," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

"We remain committed to bring the Yemeni parties to the negotiations table within a month," Griffiths added.

On Tuesday, American officials called for a ceasefire in Yemen and demanded that the sides to the conflict come to the negotiating table within a month.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the US had been watching the conflict "for long enough," and that he believed Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were ready for talks. This is while officials of the former Yemeni government said on Tuesday that the Saudi-led coalition has sent 10,000 new forces to the Red Sea coast, ahead of a new offensive on Hudaydah "within days".

"We have got to move toward a peace effort here, and we can't say we are going to do it sometime in the future," he said. "We need to be doing this in the next 30 days."

Mattis' call was later echoed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who urged the coalition to stop airstrikes in Yemen's populated areas, saying the "time is now for the cessation of hostilities."

The Houthi Ansarullah movement opposed the US proposal for mediation in efforts to resolve the conflict in Yemen, holding Washington responsible for the Saudi-led aggression against Yemen.

Mohammed al-Bakhiiti, a member of Ansarullah's Political Council, further stressed that Washington's proposed solution for the Yemen conflict included dividing the country.

Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing the government of former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back to power and crushing the country's popular Houthi Ansarullah movement.

Earlier this month, the Legal Center for Rights and Developments in Yemen said the ongoing Saudi-led military campaign against the impoverished and conflict-plagued Arab country has claimed the lives of more than 15,000 civilians.

Griffiths invited the Houthis and the former officials to talks in Geneva in early September in an attempt to restore a UN-backed negotiation process that had broken off in 2016.

The Houthi representatives, however, could not attend the talks after Saudi Arabia refused to allow an Omani airplane, which had been meant to fly the officials, to land on the Yemeni soil.

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Houthi official rejects US mediation in efforts to resolve Yemen conflict

Iran Press TV

Wed Oct 31, 2018 10:54AM

The Houthi Ansarullah movement has opposed a US proposal for mediation in efforts to resolve the conflict in Yemen, holding Washington responsible for the Saudi-led aggression against Yemen.

Mohammed al-Bakhiiti, a member of Ansarullah's Political Council, told Iran's Arabic-language Al-Alam news network on Wednesday that peace would be restored to Yemen if the US ended its war on the impoverished country.

He also expressed his objection to any solution to the Yemen crisis that ignores the country's independence and sovereignty.

On Tuesday, American officials called for a ceasefire in Yemen and demanded that the sides to the conflict come to the negotiating table within a month.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the US had been watching the conflict "for long enough," and that he believed Saudi Arabia and the UAE were ready for talks.

"We have got to move toward a peace effort here, and we can't say we are going to do it sometime in the future," he said. "We need to be doing this in the next 30 days."

Mattis' call was later echoed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who urged the coalition to stop airstrikes in Yemen's populated areas, saying the "time is now for the cessation of hostilities."

Bakhiti further stressed that Washington's proposed solution for the Yemen conflict included dividing the country.

Mattis' plan, supported by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is meant to achieve goals that have not been attained during the war on Yemen, he added.

The only solution to the crisis is intra-Yemeni talks and non-interference by foreign parties, the Houthi official said.

In March 2015, Saudi Arabia and its allies launched a brutal war against Yemen in an attempt to reinstall the country's former Riyadh-allied regime and crush the Houthis.

The Western-backed war, however, has so far failed to achieve its stated goals, thanks to stiff resistance from Yemeni troops and allied Houthi fighters.

The offensive, coupled with a naval blockade, has destroyed Yemen's infrastructure and led to famine as well as a cholera outbreak in the import-dependent state. Tens of thousands of people have also lost their lives in the conflict.

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Army helicopter crashes in Afghanistan, 25 killed

Iran Press TV

Wed Oct 31, 2018 05:16AM

A helicopter operated by Afghanistan's army has crashed in the southwest of the country, killing 25 people on board, officials say.

Naser Mehri, a spokesman for the governor of western Farah Province, said one of two army helicopters traveling to neighboring Herat Province lost control and crashed in bad weather in Anar Dara district on Wednesday.

The crew and passengers, totaling 25, were killed in the accident.

Mehri also said that among the dead were the deputy army corps commander for western Afghanistan and head of the Farah provincial council.

Provincial council member Dadullah Qaneh said the helicopter hit a mountain peak in poor weather.

Meanwhile, a Taliban spokesman claimed that the group had shot down the aircraft.

Bombing kills 7 in Afghan capital

In a separate development, a bombing attack in the Afghan capital, Kabul, has killed at least seven prison employees and injured five others.

The attack targeted a bus carrying the employees of Kabul's biggest jail, the Pul Charkhi prison, early on Wednesday, police spokesman Basir Mujahid said later on the day.

Officials at the Ministry of Interior confirmed that a vehicle belonging to the Pul Charkhi prison had been targeted with a bomb attack.

Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said that the assailant had been on foot.

Further details were not provided.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast, but both the Taliban and the Daesh terrorist groups are present in Afghanistan.

A 2001 invasion of Afghanistan by US-led forces toppled a Taliban regime in control of much of the Asian country at the time. Some 17 years on, however, and despite continued occupation, the outfit is still active and involved in widespread militancy in Afghanistan.

Takfiri Daesh terrorists, who had been originally concentrated in Iraq and Syria in the past, have established bases in eastern and northern Afghanistan. But they are mostly present in the eastern province of Nangarhar, from where they have carried out deadly attacks on major population centers across the country.

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At Least 32 Killed In Afghan Helicopter Crash, Prison Attack

RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan October 31, 2018

An Afghan National Army helicopter carrying senior officials has crashed in bad weather in the western province of Farah, killing all 25 on board, a local official says.

Naser Mehri, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said the helicopter crashed shortly after taking off from the mountainous Anar Dara district in the morning of October 31 heading toward the nearby province of Herat.

He said the copter crashed in bad weather. A Taliban spokesman said the militants shot it down.

Mehri said the passengers included the deputy corps commander of Afghanistan's western zone and the head of the Farah provincial council.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi claimed the militants had downed the helicopter but failed to provide evidence. Defense Ministry spokesman Ghafor Ahmad Jawed rejected the Taliban claim of responsibility as "totally wrong."

Meanwhile, a suicide bomber struck outside Afghanistan's largest prison on the eastern edge of Kabul, killing at least seven people, including prison workers and security personnel, officials said.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said that the attacker targeted a bus carrying prison workers early on October 31. The sprawling Pul-e Charkhi prison houses hundreds of inmates, including scores of Taliban militants.

According to Abadullah Karimi, a prison official, the attack occurred near the prison gate where a number of visitors were waiting to pass a rigorous security check before entering.

Another five were wounded in the blast, the officials said.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-army-helicopter- crash-kills-25/29574304.html

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Armenia Downplays Istanbul Declaration On Karabakh

RFE/RL's Armenian Service October 31, 2018

Armenia has downplayed the significance of a declaration referring to Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh adopted by the foreign ministers of Turkey, Iran, and Azerbaijan at a meeting in Istanbul earlier this week.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was one of the issues on the agenda of the meeting held on October 29.

The statement adopted at the end of talks between Mevlut Cavusoglu, Mohammad Javad Zarif, and Elmar Mammadyarov called for a peaceful resolution of conflicts in the region "based on the principle of territorial integrity."

The three foreign ministers specifically highlighted the importance of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in accordance with this principle.

Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalian said on October 30 that "the OSCE's Minsk Group co-chairmanship is the only format with an international mandate to help settle the conflict."

"It is within this format that the principles of the conflict settlement are set forth as a whole. A selective treatment of those principles does not in any way contribute to the efforts towards a peaceful settlement," Naghdalian said.

"Statements made outside the framework of the Minsk Group co-chairmanship and contradicting it are artificial and have nothing to do with the settling of the problem," she added.

Nagorno-Karabakh, which is populated mainly by ethnic Armenians, declared independence from Azerbaijan amid a 1988-94 war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

Since 1994, it has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces that Baku says include troops supplied by Armenia.

The region's claim to independence has not been recognized by any country.

Internationally mediated negotiations involving the OSCE's Minsk Group helped forge a cease-fire in the region that is not always honored. However, the negotiations have failed to produce a lasting settlement of the conflict so far.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-downplays- istanbul-declaration-on-karabakh/29574711.html

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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NATO Ready to Continue Dialogue on INF Treaty With Russia

Sputnik News

20:23 31.10.2018(updated 21:19 31.10.2018)

Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that he did not rule out the possibility that the issue of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty would be addressed at the upcoming talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said after the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) meeting in Brussels on Wednesday that the alliance was ready to continue a dialogue on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia.

"Allies and Russia shared views on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty," NATO said in a statement following the NRC meeting.

In addition, Stoltenberg noted that all allies agreed that the INF treaty has been crucial to Euro-Atlantic security.

"We all agree that the INF Treaty has been crucial to Euro-Atlantic security Allies urge Russia again to ensure full compliance with the INF Treaty without delay. While we stand ready to continue dialogue on this issue with Russia, as an Alliance we are also committed to take effective measures to continue to ensure the safety and security of all Allies," Stoltenberg said.

Russia, on its part, said that INF treaty is important as a factor in maintaining European and global stability, Permanent Mission to NATO noted.

The NATO-Russia Council, which brings together the 29 Allies and Russia, met in Brussels on Wednesday to exchange views on a wide range of topics, including issues related to military activities, reciprocal transparency and risk reduction; the situation in and around Ukraine; Afghanistan; and hybrid challenges. According to the statement released by NATO press service, NATO and Russia provided briefings on major exercises "in the spirit of transparency."

The council was established on May 28, 2002 and was effectively suspended by the alliance in 2014-2016 over the situation in Ukraine. The latest NATO-Russia Council meeting was held in late May at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

 Sputnik

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Canada Eyes UK Frigate Purchase to Counter Russia in Arctic - Report

Sputnik News

09:55 31.10.2018

Western countries have repeatedly expressed concerns over Russia's alleged increasing military presence and activities in the Arctic region. Moscow vehemently rejects the allegations, noting that it considers the Arctic to be an area for constructive dialogue and equal, conflict-free cooperation in the interest of all nations.

The Royal Canadian Navy is considering purchasing 15 British Type 26 frigates designed to fight enemy submarines, according to Defense News' David Larter.

He recalled that the construction of these warships began in the UK only last summer, which could provoke a delay in deliveries and an increase in the cost of ships.

However, the Canadian government, which plans to allocate a whopping 60 billion dollars for the UK frigates, is "willing to accept those risks because of the strategic threat Russia poses to Canada's interests at the rapidly thawing top of the world," Larter claimed.

In this context, he cited Bryan Clark, a retired US submarine officer and analyst with the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, as saying that Canada perceives anti-submarine activity as "a big deal."

"If you are worried about the Russian sub threat and the air threat, then, yeah, the Type 26 makes sense," Clark said.

Gary Fudge, a vice president with Lockheed Martin Canada, which will supply the British frigates to the Canadian fleet, said in turn that Western powers previously preferred to invest in the development of air defense, but the threat that has emerged in the past 15 years has largely been in submarine technology.

In October, General Jeff Mac Mootry, the Dutch Marine Corps' director of operations, alleged that Russia was attempting to provoke Dutch and Royal Marines in the Arctic Circle.

"What we see is there is an increasing interest of Russian naval vessels when we exercise. We also see Russian fighters fly closer over our warships just to make their presence known, you could almost call it, in a provocative way," he said.

In response, Yuri Shvytkin, deputy chairman of the Russian Lower House's Defense Committee, stressed that Moscow acts in the Arctic region in accordance with international norms and refrains from provocative actions with respect to ships of other states.

He described Mootry's allegations as "another attempt by NATO countries to dominate in the Arctic in order to achieve their goals."

 Sputnik

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Security Council extends mandate of UN peace mission in Western Sahara by six months

31 October 2018 - The United Nations Security Council, on Wednesday, extended the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), until 30 April next year.

Adopting resolution 2240 (2018), by a recorded vote of 12 in favour and 3 abstentions, the Security Council underscored the need for a "realistic, practicable and enduring political solution" to the question of Western Sahara.

In that context, the 15-member Council expressed "full support" for the Secretary-General's plan to initiate renewed negotiations before the end of 2018 and urged all parties to resume dialogue, in good faith, towards a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, "which will provide for the self determination of the people of Western Sahara."

Originally established in 1991, in accordance with settlement proposals accepted in 1988 by Morocco and the Frente Polisario movement, MINURSO was tasked with the monitoring of the ceasefire; overseeing the exchange of prisoners of war; repatriation of refugees; and the eventual organization of a free and fair referendum in which the people of Western Sahara would choose between independence and integration with Morocco.

While the organization of the referendum has not been possible to date, other requirements of the mandate have been pursued successfully and the peacekeeping mission continues to monitor the ceasefire, conduct mine clearance operations, and supports confidence building measures.

MINURSO has also been providing assistance to irregular migrants as well as humanitarian assistance in case of natural disasters.

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Mattis Says Afghan Forces Suffered 1,000 Casualties in August and September

By Carla Babb October 31, 2018

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis provided a rare look into the ground situation for Afghans fighting the Taliban, revealing late Tuesday that Afghan forces had suffered more than 1,000 casualties in August and September of this year.

"The Afghan lads are doing the fighting, just look at the casualtiesover 1,000 dead and wounded in August and September, and they stayed in the field fighting," Mattis said during a discussion at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Despite the high casualty numbers, Mattis praised the Afghan forces for preventing the Taliban from taking and holding district and provincial centers and stopping them from disrupting the recent Afghan election.

U.S. defense officials stopped providing the public with the number of Afghan security force casualties in late 2017.

General Joseph Dunford, the top U.S. general, told military reporters at a conference outside Washington on Friday that this change was because Afghan President Ashraf Ghani did not want those details publicly available.

"I'm not blaming him. That's where it came from," Dunford said. "They (Afghan officials) were incredibly sensitive about those numbers. We don't own the numbers anymore."

Last month, the governor of Baghlan province, north of Kabul, told the New York Times the Taliban was inflicting heavy casualties on Afghan security forces.

"The Taliban don't want peace, because they think they can win the war," Governor Abdul Hai Nimati said. "If it goes on like this, they are going to win."

Dunford and Mattis both asserted that the regional strategy for political reconciliation with the Taliban is making progress.

"it is working from our perspective, but what is heartbreakingly difficult to accept is that progress and violence can be going on at the same time," Mattis said.

According to Dunford, while the number of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan has dropped from 140,000 to 15,000 since 2013, the security situation has not become markedly worse.

"This is about making incremental progress over time," the general said.

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Afghan Army Helicopter Crash, Suicide Blast Kill Over 30

By Ayaz Gul October 31, 2018

An Afghan military helicopter carrying senior officers crashed in the western province of Farah early Wednesday, killing at least 25 people on board.

A provincial government spokesman told VOA the aircraft went down shortly after taking off from the mountainous Anar Dara district for neighboring Herat province next to the Iranian border.

Nasir Mehri confirmed the deputy corps commander for western Afghanistan and the head of Farah's provincial council were among those killed. He blamed bad weather for causing the crash.

The Taliban said its fighters shot down the Afghan National Army (ANA) helicopter, though it was not possible to independently verify the insurgent claims.

Separately, Afghan authorities confirmed a early morning suicide blast at the entrance of the country's largest prison in Kabul killed at least six people and wounded many more.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombing.

The bomber targeted a bus for female staff of the Pul-e-Charkhi jail, located in an eastern part of the national capital, said Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid. He said police personnel and civilians were among the victims.

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CAR Defense Minister: Efforts to Rebuild National Army Continue

By Salem Solomon, Idrissa Fall October 31, 2018

Throughout nearly six years of civil war, the Central African Republic's military has struggled to restore peace. Fighting with rebels and militias has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, while accusations of human rights abuses and ethnic bias have left some civilians in fear of their protectors.

The CAR minister of defense, Marie-Noelle Koyara, hopes to change course. She's leading efforts to rebuild the military's reputation and restore the country's security.

"We want a professional army that will truly be of service to the people," Koyara told VOA's French to Africa service in a recent interview.

Koyara said the country is working on various reforms: background checks on soldiers, training and troop deployments across the country. Military leaders also plan to establish four garrisons in key areas of the CAR.

"For there to be a return to security, it is necessary for our security forces, of which the Central African Armed Forces are part, to be reconstructed, because we have experienced the highs and the lows with this army," Koyara said.

International players

Much of the rebuilding of the Central African Armed Forces, or FACA, has been supervised by the U.N. Mission in the CAR (MINUSCA) and the European Union.

The United Nations has helped vet soldiers, create a biometric database and rebuild a military camp in Kassai, near the capital, Bangui.

The European Union has trained more than 3,000 security forces in the CAR since 2016 and has recently moved to increase funding for training in the country, the Wall Street Journal reported this month.

The United States says it is focusing on improving food security for the CAR's displaced people and providing employment opportunities that make young people less vulnerable to recruitment by militias or extremist groups.

"We need to create a partnership where peace is more profitable than conflict for the people of the Central African Republic," said Elizabeth Fitzsimmons, the U.S. State Department's deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs. "That's our goal, and we'll work on a variety of fronts to see how we can accomplish that."

Russian presence

One country has played a more active role in CAR's conflict. Russia has donated weapons and sent about 500 military trainers to the country. As of September, they have trained more than 1,000 soldiers. Russia is also flexing its diplomatic muscles by working with Sudan to mediate a peace deal among CAR rebel groups.

But Russia's involvement in the CAR has drawn criticism from the international community, which has accused Moscow of destabilizing the CAR and seeking access to its abundant natural resources.

"I think any country that wants to play a constructive role, a law-abiding role, is understandably welcome," Fitzsimmons said.

"Where I see concern is if we have countries that want to come in and exploit the natural resources, that want to try to run a parallel peace process to the oneunder the auspices of the African Union," she added. "If those partners are not going to be constructive, they aren't going to be true partners. Potentially they're going to exploit the resources and continue divisions."

Russian mercenaries in the CAR have also grabbed headlines in recent months. In July, three documentary filmmakers were ambushed and killed in the CAR while investigating the activities of the Russian military firm Wagner.

Koyara said she was saddened by the loss of life and is anxious to see the results of an inquiry into their deaths. She called on the international community to help the CAR track and remove mercenaries from the country.

"If you look among the armed groups who come to our country, there are mercenaries there also among these armed groups," she said. "We need to have the means to follow and identify who are the people who come to destroy or destabilize our country. We are a country that has endured a grave crisis, and we are returning with great difficulty because we don't have the means to control everything that happens in our territory."

This story originated in VOA's French to Africa service. Idrissa Fall sat down for a studio interview with Central African Republic Minister of Defense Marie-Noelle Koyara and Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs Elizabeth Fitzsimmons in Washington at VOA headquarters. Salem Solomon wrote the story based on the interviews.

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Machar Returns to Juba for Peace Celebrations

By Waakhe Simon Wudu, Dimo Silva October 31, 2018

President Salva Kiir publicly apologized to South Sudanese citizens Wednesday for the devastation the past five years of conflict has caused and announced the release of rebel leader Riek Machar's former spokesman James Gatdet, who had been sentenced to death, along with South African citizen William John Endley, Machar's former security advisor, who was sentenced to death by hanging on spying charges.

"As your president I want to apologize on behalf of all the parties to the conflict as leadership requires acceptance of responsibility," Kiir told a large crowd gathered at the John Garang Mausoleum for celebrations marking the signing of a revised peace deal last month.

"Those of us who considered ourselves leaders must accept the blame collectively and solemnly promise our people never to return them back to war again," said Kiir.

The president told the thousands gathered for the party in Juba that he would release Machar's former spokesman and Machar's former security advisor.

"One of them is called James Gadtet. We will release him although he was condemned in court," said Kiir of his former deputy's spokesman.

Kiir also promised to free South African citizen William John Endley, who was charged with spying, illegal entry into South Sudan, and conspiracy to overthrow Kiir's government. Kiir said Endley would be released shortly and deported to South Africa.

Regional leaders including Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Uganda President Yoweri Museveni and newly elected Ethiopian President Sahle Work Zewd attended the celebrations.

Kiir called on citizens and all security agencies to welcome Machar and all other opposition leaders back to the country.

"In the spirit of promoting peace and stability in our beloved nation I ask you all in welcoming and congratulating Dr. Riek Machar and all the opposition leaders who have shown their commitment to the peace agreement by coming to celebrate with us here today in Juba."

Kiir said their presence "is very strong testimony and proof to all that war is ending and a new era for peace and prosperity is breaking."

Machar told the jubilant crowd that the SPLM-IO (Sudan People's Liberation Movement In Opposition) is serious about the Sept. 12 peace deal signed in Khartoum last month and his presence in Juba is a sign that he wants true peace.

"Why are we here today? If we come after eight months, some of you will say we don't want peace. We want peace. Our heart is on peace like you," said Machar.

Wednesday marked the first time Machar has returned to Juba since he fled the country in July 2016 after fighting broke out between his body guards and government soldiers in the capital. Machar is to be reinstated as first vice president in South Sudan's next government.

Reverend Abraham Nyari of the Pentecostal church of Juba said the faithful are praying for peace.

"We as the church people are praying for peace and we are praying for our leaders, especially the president, to bring peace to South Sudan," Nyari told South Sudan in Focus.

Beatrice Abe, a member of parliament, said both Kiir and Machar must keep their promises to end the war.

"Let them not break what they put together. Remember, they fought together in the bush and brought this nation [together] and it should not be them to break it apart," Abe told South Sudan in Focus.

But Abe remains skeptical about the amount of progress being made in forming the transitional government.

"The country is already economically unstable and people go for months without salary and it will take a while for this country to establish. We now have a small government but later we are going to have a bigger government and the resources will all go to maintain the bigger government with little to go for the citizens," Abe told VOA.

Dusman Joyce, chairwoman of the Women's Caucus in the National Parliament, said the leaders must show a real commitment to ending the war.

"After this celebration, in a few months we need to see that there is free movement of people and humanitarian aid, we need to see the return of the refugees and people are given freedom of speech so that people see that this peace is signed in spirit and letter," Joyce told South Sudan in Focus.

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Notice Regarding the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Sudan

October 31, 2018

On November 3, 1997, by Executive Order 13067, the President declared a national emergency with respect to Sudan pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) and took related steps to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by the actions and policies of the Government of Sudan. On April 26, 2006, by Executive Order 13400, the President determined that the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region posed an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, expanded the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13067, and ordered the blocking of property of certain persons connected to the Darfur region. On October 13, 2006, by Executive Order 13412, the President took additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13067 and expanded in Executive Order 13400. In Executive Order 13412, the President also took steps to implement the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-344).

On January 13, 2017, by Executive Order 13761, the President found that positive efforts by the Government of Sudan between July 2016 and January 2017 improved certain conditions that Executive Orders 13067 and 13412 were intended to address. Given these developments, and in order to encourage the Government of Sudan to sustain and enhance these efforts, section 1 of Executive Order 13761 provided that sections 1 and 2 of Executive Order 13067 and the entirety of Executive Order 13412 would be revoked as of July 12, 2017, provided that the criteria in section 12(b) of Executive Order 13761 had been met.

On July 11, 2017, by Executive Order 13804, I amended Executive Order 13761, extending until October 12, 2017, the effective date in section 1 of Executive Order 13761. On October 12, 2017, pursuant to Executive Order 13761, as amended by Executive Order 13804, sections 1 and 2 of Executive Order 13067 and the entirety of Executive Order 13412 were revoked.

Despite recent positive developments, the crisis constituted by the actions and policies of the Government of Sudan that led to the declaration of a national emergency in Executive Order 13067 of November 3, 1997; the expansion of that emergency in Executive Order 13400 of April 26, 2006; and with respect to which additional steps were taken in Executive Order 13412 of October 13, 2006, Executive Order 13761 of January 13, 2017, and Executive Order 13804 of July 11, 2017, has not been resolved. These actions and policies continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. I have, therefore, determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13067, as expanded by Executive Order 13400, with respect to Sudan.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

October 31, 2018.

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Trump: Up to 15,000 US Troops May Go to US-Mexico Border

By Carla Babb October 31, 2018

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that as many as 15,000 U.S. troops would go to the Mexican border to stop caravans of Central American migrants from crossing into the United States.

"It's a dangerous group of people," the president said of the migrants after earlier calling them "very bad thugs and gang members."

But one woman from El Salvador who was part of the latest group headed north said she wanted Trump to know that she and the others were not "delinquents."

Looking for work

"We are not going over there to steal or cause harm to anyone. We want to work by using our humble hands, with sweat, and earn a little bit of money. We pray to God that we make it there and find jobs," she said.

Trump's 15,000 number is far more than the roughly 5,200 active-duty soldiers the Pentagon plans to send, along with the 2,100 National Guardsmen already there. U.S. Defense Department officials told VOA that about 2,000 additional active-duty troops would be placed on standby to help those already assigned to the border.

This would make the total number of troops deployed to the U.S. southern border larger than the number of Americans fighting terror groups in Iraq and Syria.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, denied that the deployment of active-duty troops to the border was a political stunt to help Republicans in next week's midterm elections.

"We don't do stunts in this department," Mattis said. "The support that we provide to the secretary for homeland security is practical support based on the request from the commissioner of customs and border police."

The president also denied that his tough talk on immigration was nothing but a fear-mongering ploy as Republicans face the possibility of losing control of Congress to Democrats.

The U.S. troops assigned to help with border security are legally prohibited from engaging in domestic law enforcement, such as arresting migrants crossing the border.

Defense officials told VOA that military personnel would be moving Border Patrol agents around, setting up razor wire fencing and building temporary housing facilities for border agents when needed.

A Pentagon official said some of the troops might be armed, based on where they are sent along the border and what their jobs will be.

The main caravan of impoverished Central Americans is still in Mexico and more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) from the United States. It will be several weeks before they reach the U.S.-Mexico border.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump claimed in a tweet that the caravan included "very tough fighters" who "fought back hard and viciously" against Mexican police.

Trump was referring to reports Sunday that a group of migrants broke through a gate at the Guatemala-Mexico border and fought with police. Several officers were hurt and one migrant was killed, but it was unclear how.

Trump has also criticized Mexico, saying Mexican soldiers "were unable or unwilling to stop" the migrants. But White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told Fox News that Mexico had "stepped up in an unprecedented way" by stopping vehicles, forcing the migrants to walk and slowing down their progress.

There are currently four caravans heading to the U.S. border: the original group that left from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, more than two weeks ago; the second caravan that pushed its way into Mexico from Guatemala earlier this week; and two new caravans that just started out from El Salvador.

"We are hardworking people and if we migrate there [the U.S.], we want to be treated like human beings," one member of the El Salvador group said Wednesday.

Altogether, more than 7,000 migrants are moving toward the U.S. border, hoping to escape violence and find opportunities that do not exist for them at home.

But Trump calls U.S. borders "sacred" and repeated his appeal Wednesday that anyone who wants to immigrate to the United States do so legally.

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US Must Prepare to 'Go on Offensive' in Space - Defense Secretary Mattis

Sputnik News

04:37 31.10.2018(updated 04:42 31.10.2018)

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US armed forces must utilize the framework of their new Space Command, announced earlier this year by President Donald Trump to go on the offensive to maintain military supremacy in the heavens, Secretary of Defense James Mattis said at the US Institute of Peace (USIP).

"We have got to be prepared to go on the offensive in space," Mattis said on Tuesday. "No competitive sport in the world can just play defense and win."

The US military would have to launch a new generation of satellites that could defend themselves, be more resilient and be quickly replaced, the defense secretary added.

The US defense budget for Fiscal Year 2019 includes the re-establishment of the US Space Command. Earlier in October, Trump said the United States was creating a space force to catch up with China and Russia.

In September, Moscow warned Washington against deploying conventional arms in space, saying that the international community had to adopt an agreement on the issue.

The US military is exploring symmetric and asymmetric alternatives to follow up on President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Defense Secretary also said.

"We are doing everything we can to find an option," Mattis said on Tuesday. "There are options both symmetric and asymmetric."

Mattis said Trump will take counsel from the Defense Department about this "grave" decision to leave the INF.

Earlier this week, Mattis said that the Trump administration was currently in talks with its NATO partners over Washington's decision to withdraw from the INF Treaty. During his visit to Prague on Sunday, Mattis met with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who labeled the planned cancellation of the INF Treaty "bad news" and urged better communication with Russia.

On October 20, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the INF, claiming that Moscow was not respecting the agreement.

The Kremlin has rejected US accusations of violating the pact and warned that Moscow would take measures to protect Russian security interests. On Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Washington submitted a list of complaints regarding the implementation of the treaty and that Moscow was preparing a response.

 Sputnik

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North Korea preparing sites for int'l inspections: Seoul

Iran Press TV

Wed Oct 31, 2018 07:33AM

North Korea has been making preparations at several of its weapons sites ahead of visits by international inspectors, South Korea says.

Kim Min-ki, a parliament member from South Korea's ruling Democratic Party, cited intelligence sources as reporting that preparations were underway in North Korea for possible inspections at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site and the Sohae Satellite launching ground, according to the Yonhap news agency on Wednesday.

The South's National Intelligence Service observed North Koreans "conducting preparation and intelligence activities that seem to be in preparation for foreign inspectors' visit," the lawmaker said, adding, however, that the sources claimed there were no major movements seen at the North's main nuclear complex, Yongbyon.

North Korea has suspended its nuclear and missile tests amid diplomacy with the South. It also dismantled structures at Punggye-ri in May.

In September, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged at a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in to also close Sohae and allow experts to observe other sites.

At the time, Moon said North Korea had agreed to let international inspectors observe a "permanent dismantlement" of key missile facilities, and take further steps such as closing the Yongbyon nuclear facility but only if the United States took "corresponding measures."

Kim and US President Donald Trump met in a summit in Singapore in June. The two leaders agreed to work toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

While North Korea has taken several steps toward that end, the US has taken none.

Pyongyang has complained that Washington has not reciprocated any of the North Korean measures.

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North Korea Preparing Nuclear Site for International Inspections - Reports

Sputnik News

07:56 31.10.2018

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - North Korea has started preparing its Punggye-ri nuclear test site for international inspections, local media reported on Wednesday, citing South Korea's Democratic Party secretary.

The party's secretary was siting South Korea's intelligence service, according to the Yonhap news agency.

"While North Korea has closed its Punggye-ri test site and dismantled some of the facilities at the Tongchang-ri missile test site as part of denuclearization initiative, intelligence activities and preparations for the visit of a foreign inspection group have been noticed," the secretary said as quoted by the agency.

Over the past few months, Pyongyang has demonstrated willingness to reduce tensions with Seoul and work toward the denuclearization of the peninsula. Kim attended three historic summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and held an unprecedented meeting with US President Donald Trump, pledging to achieve lasting peace in the region.

 Sputnik

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Just One Third of Germany's New Weapons Hardware Combat Ready  Defense Ministry

Sputnik News

18:59 31.10.2018(updated 19:00 31.10.2018)

The German military has been actively lobbying for increased funding amid pressure from Washington to increase NATO defense spending, even as the Federal Republic's military budget is already set to reach over $51 billion in 2019.

Just over a third of the new military equipment delivered to the Bundeswehr by manufacturers in 2017 is fit for service, the German defense ministry has revealed in a new report. Of the 97 major pieces of equipment delivered to the armed forces last year, only 38 of them were combat ready, the report says.

According to the report, of the 71 Puma infantry fighting vehicles delivered, 27 are combat ready. Of the eight new Airbus A400M Atlas military transports, half are fully operational. Just two of the seven Eurocopter Tiger combat helicopters and four of seven NH Industries' NH90 transport helicopters are combat ready. Furthermore, just one of the four Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets delivered in 2017 is fit for service.

Berlin is looking to achieve an equipment readiness level of 70 percent, and is most concerned with the state of the Puma and A400M deliveries. Defense ministry parliamentary secretary of state Peter Tauber said the quality of the planes was "increasing," while urging the defense industry to "reach the agreed upon indicators as soon as possible."

The operational readiness of the new equipment looks bleak even compared to the overall readiness of the 5,000 pieces of equipment already deployed by the Bundeswehr, according to dpa. A February 2018 report concluded that well over half of the existing equipment is combat ready.

Die Linke MP Matthias Hohn criticized the situation surrounding the new equipment, calling defense minister Ursula von der Leyen's decision to "allow this multi-billion dollar bungling by the arms industry at the expense of taxpayers" a "scandal."

According to Hohn, the defense minister has not lived up to her own plans of increasing readiness. "Brand new military equipment directly from the production lines of the defense industry doesn't work. It is unacceptable to accept equipmentand pay for it when it doesn't work," the lawmaker stressed.

The state of the German military has been the subject of controversy amid regular reports of equipment and supply problems, staff shortages, and complaints of underfunding. Earlier this month, German media reported that none of the newly-developed assault rifles expected to replace the G36 rifle met the army's expectations. Before that, problems were reported with the military's existing equipment, including its Leopard 2 main battle tanks, Tornado combat jets, submarines, and other equipment, much of which has been described as being in a poor and "outdated" state.

Germany spent over $44 billion on defense in 2017, making it the ninth-largest spender overall, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute statistics. The proposed 2019 defense budget has set aside $51.2 billion for defense, which is $4.7 billion more than Berlin is slated to spend in 2018.

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump called on Washington's NATO allies to spend 4 percent of GDP on defense, up from the existing 2 percent of GDP standard. German opposition lawmakers called such demands "absolutely crazy," given that there is no major external threat facing Germany. According to Die Linke lawmaker Alexander Neu, only the defense industry and military were interested in more spending, whereas the public is more interested in social welfare spending.

 Sputnik

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Top Court Gives Indian Gov't 10 Days to Reveal Rafale Deal Details

Sputnik News

17:38 31.10.2018(updated 21:41 31.10.2018)

Petitioners including two former Indian ministers termed the Supreme Court's direction as a substantial step towards revealing the truth of the controversial deal which was signed in 2016. Under the deal, 36 Rafale fighter jets are to be purchased in fly-away condition from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation.

India's apex court on Wednesday directed the Narendra Modi government to submit crucial details of the $8.7 billion Rafale fighter jet deal struck with France in 2016 within the next 10 days. The strategic details sought by the court include information on the induction of an Indian offset partner and pricing details.

"We would like the details of pricing and cost to be submitted to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover. This may be submitted in the next 10 days," Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said while hearing a petition filed by an advocate and former ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie.

The petitioners have questioned the veracity of the deal between India and France and the choice of Anil Ambani's inexperienced Reliance Defence as the partner of Rafale maker Dassault to carry out offset business in India under the country's defense procurement procedure. The petitioners have asked for a court-monitored investigation into the deal.

The three-bench jury said that the suitability of the jet and its utility has not been questioned.

"What had been questioned is bonafide of the decision-making and price," they said.

The bench said that if the pricing of the Rafale jet could not be shared with the court, even in a sealed cover, since government considers it as a violation of the Official Secret Act, and it should say so in an affidavit.

India's main opposition party has accused the Indian government of corruption and crony capitalism claiming that the price of each Rafale Jet under the current deal has gone up significantly without proper justification as compared to the previous deal during their tenure.

 Sputnik

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India to Add More Firepower to Soviet Era M-46 Field Guns

Sputnik News

17:27 31.10.2018(updated 18:52 31.10.2018)

A government official told Sputnik that the field guns that were acquired in the 80's from the then Soviet Union will become 300% more lethal than the present form. The upgraded gun will be delivered to the Indian Army by 2022.

India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the upgrading of the Indian Army's Soviet-era 130 mm/52 caliber M-46 field guns to the 155 mm/45 caliber model. The upgrade works, estimated to cost about $ 28 million, will be carried out by the state-owned Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

According to a government official, the OFB secured the contract by outbidding two foreign players who had partnered with local private sector companies Punj Lloyd and Bharat Forge. All upgraded guns will be supplied to the Indian Army by 2022.

"The OFB will replace the barrel and breech block and add new sighting systems of the guns. It will be 100% indigenous work which saves vital foreign exchange of the country," an official told Sputnik.

The Army had floated a tender in 2013 for upgrading the lethality of 300 out of 1000 M-46 guns. The gun will acquire a range of over 38 kilometers of range after the upgrade. The defense ministry selected the state-owned OFB on the basis of better capabilities in terms of direct fire, the rate of fire, accuracy, and consistency.

The gun has a combat weight of 8.4 tons and a length and width of 11.84 meters and 2.45 meters.

 Sputnik

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Russian-Indian Deal on S-400 Supplies Signed in Rubles - Deputy Prime Minister

Sputnik News

09:59 31.10.2018

HAVANA (Sputnik) - The Russian-Indian contract on supply of S-400 air defense systems has been signed in the Russian national currency, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said on Wednesday.

"The contract is signed in rubles," the official said.

Moscow is intending to use national currencies in its defense cooperation deals instead of relying on US dollars.

In early October, Moscow and New Delhi concluded a contract on the deliveries of Russia's S-400 missile systems to India worth over $5 billion. The deal was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's two-day visit to India.

The United States voiced its concern over the Indian plans to purchase the S-400 systems, pointing out that sanctions over the deal could not be ruled out.

The S-400 Triumf system is a next-generation mobile air defense system, which is capable of destroying aerial targets at an extremely long range of up to 400 kilometers (almost 250 miles).

 Sputnik

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US seeking to wage psywar against Iran: FM spokesman

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Wed / 31 October 2018 / 14:23

Tehran (ISNA)  Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Qassemi said the US is seeking to wage a psychological war on Iran by slapping the country with illegal sanctions in a bid to hurt its economy and cover up Washington's own crimes against Middle Eastern nations.

He made the remarks in response to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who had claimed in a tweet that the Iranian economy is in decline, and that the Islamic Republic "steals from its people" to invest in the Damascus government.

The top US diplomat was referring to the Iranian military's advisory assistance to Syria in its fight against Takfiri terror groups, many of which have the support of Washington in their bid to topple the Damascus government.

Qassemi said Pompeo's comments are "merely based on populism, fallacy."

The Iranian economy has, contrary to Pompeo's claims, seen a growth of more than 8 percent over the past years, at the same time that Tehran has been on the frontline of counter-terrorism battles, the official added.

He also said Iran's anti-terror fight and peace efforts in the region as well as firm defense of its borders have raised worries among US officials, and dealt a blow to their hostile agenda against the Islamic Republic.

"The American officials are seeking to find a pretext to cover up their crimes against the people in the region and Iran, using economic terrorism and oppressive and illegal sanctions as a tool," he said.

"They are trying to launch a psychological war against Iran, turning a deaf ear to international reactions well as criticisms of the US's confrontational and inhumane sanctions from countries and human rights institutions," he added.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman added that US President Donald Trump administration is committing yet another strategic mistake by pursuing "deceptive" anti-Iran policies, which are based on the "hollow dreams" of certain "isolated and notorious" regimes, figures and terror groups, Press TV reported.

End Item

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Zanganeh dismisses reports on selling Iranian oil by Russia

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Wed / 31 October 2018 / 16:06

Tehran (ISNA)  Iranian Oil Minister, Bijan Namdar Zangeneh dismissed claims made by some Western media like Reuters that Russia has participated in selling Iranian oil.

Speaking to reporters on the sideline of a cabinet session on Wednesday, Zanganeh dismissed claims made by some Western media like Reuters that Russia has participated in the sale of Iranian oil in the wake of an oil exports sanctions to be imposed by US on Iran as part of the November 5th.

He stressed that these claims are untrue.

Elaborating on petrochemical companies' engagement in currency market, he said there is no problem in provision of currencies by these companies.

Referring to Iran's decision to offer its oil on domestic stocks market, Zangeneh said so far 280,000 barrels of oil have been sold on the market and the rest is expected to be offered soon.

End Item

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Iran recalls Denmark's ambassador in Tehran

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Wed / 31 October 2018 / 16:40

Tehran (ISNA)  Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Qassemi announced the ambassador of Denmark has been recalled to the Iranian Foreign Ministry to receive Tehran's protest over his country's allegations that Iran was plotting an assassination on the Danish soil.

"On Wednesday, the Danish ambassador in Tehran had a meeting with the director general for European affairs at the Foreign Ministry during which Iran's strong protest was conveyed to the ambassador over the hasty political reaction of some Danish politicians and media to the detention of a man with Norwegian and Iranian citizenships on suspicion of plotting an assassination of an individual in Denmark," Qassemi said.

"The director general for European affairs at the Foreign Ministry has strongly rejected the allegations raised by Denmark that Tehran has plotted an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate an opposition figure in the European country and slammed the move as part of the conspiracies and plots of the enemies of Iran who cannot stand the good and growing relations between Tehran and Europe in the current special situation," he added.

"The Danish ambassador has been also reminded of the necessity for calculated and wise handling of developments and has been warned against the consequences of ill-advised and controversial measures," Qassemi went on to say.

"The Danish ambassador announced that he has been recalled to Copenhagen for a series of consultations and pledged to convey Iran's protest and expectations," the spokesman said.

End Item

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Iran summons Danish ambassador over alleged assassination plot

Iran Press TV

Wed Oct 31, 2018 01:30PM

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Danish ambassador to Tehran to express the Islamic Republic's strong protest to "rash, politicized" remarks by certain officials of the European country over an alleged thwarted assassination plot.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said Wednesday that the head of the first office of Nordic affairs at the Iranian Foreign Ministry met Danny Annan earlier in the day to convey Iran's strong protest to reports about the arrest of a Norwegian citizen of Iranian background over his alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate an Iranian Arab opposition figure on Denmark's soil.

During the meeting, the Iranian Foreign Ministry official categorically rejected reports of such a plot and Iran's involvement as "spiteful" and said such reports were in line with plots and schemes by those against the good, growing relations between Iran and Europe at the current sensitive circumstances and warned about the repercussions of any injudicious and controversial measure, Qassemi said.

Qassemi added that the Danish envoy said in the meeting that he had been recalled by his respective country for consultations and that he would deliver Iran's protest to officials in Copenhagen.

On Tuesday, Danish intelligence chief Finn Borch Andersen claimed that an Iranian intelligence service had tried to carry out a plot to assassinate an Iranian Arab opposition figure on Denmark's soil.

He said the suspect was arrested on October 21 on the accusation of helping an unspecified Iranian intelligence service "to act in Denmark" and on alleged involvement in the assassination plot.

He, however, did not name the suspect but said he had denied any wrongdoing and was being held in pre-trial custody until November 8.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the publication of such "spiteful" media reports and its attribution to Iran was a plot by enemies to affect Tehran's growing relations with European countries.

Later on Tuesday, Denmark said it is recalling its ambassador to Iran and will push for fresh EU-wide sanctions against Iran.



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China's Sinopec plans 'special arrangements' on Iran oil

Iran Press TV

Wed Oct 31, 2018 08:40AM

China's Sinopec, the world's biggest refiner by capacity and throughput, is reportedly discussing "special arrangements" on the flow of Iranian oil ahead of US sanctions which are to go into effect on November 4.

Sinopec's Vice President Huang Wensheng was quoted as saying on Wednesday that many of the company's refineries are configured to process Iranian crude oil, which has a rich aromatics content, and that the company has had term contracts with Iran for over two decades.

The company is in discussions with government authorities and Iranian suppliers, "trying to make special arrangements on the flow in the coming weeks," financial news provider Platts quoted Huang as saying.

China is Iran's biggest oil customer, with shipments ranging from 500,000 barrels per day to record 800,000 barrels per day.

Beijing has pledged to maintain Iran oil imports despite US call on Chinese buyers to cut shipments from Iran to zero from November or face sanctions.

State-run Sinopec takes in two-thirds of China's crude imports from Iran. According to Platts, the company bought around 149.83 million barrels of Iranian crude oil in 2017, accounting for 8.6% of its total crude throughput.

The news comes despite a Reuters report earlier this month that Sinopec and China's another top state-owned refiner, CNPC, planned to skip Iran oil bookings for November.

Chinese ports of Dalian and Zhoushan are reportedly receiving stepped-up supplies of Iranian oil.

Tankers operated by National Iranian Tanker Company are shipping oil into storages, giving Iran the options to store the oil or sell to regional customers later.

CNPC and Sinopec have invested billions of dollars in Iran's giant Yadavaran and North Azadegan oil fields and eye participating in further developments of the deposits.

CNPC is considering taking over Total's stake in phase 11 of Iran's South Pars gas field after the French company left the project in August.

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US seeking to launch psywar against Iran through illegal bans: Official

Iran Press TV

Wed Oct 31, 2018 07:33AM

Tehran says the US is seeking to wage a "psychological war" on Iran by slapping the country with illegal sanctions in a bid to hurt its economy and cover up Washington's own crimes against Middle Eastern nations.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi made the remarks on Tuesday in response to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who had claimed in a tweet that the Iranian economy is in decline, and that the Islamic Republic "steals from its people" to invest in the Damascus government.

The top US diplomat was referring to the Iranian military's advisory assistance to Syria in its fight against Takfiri terror groups, many of which have the support of Washington in their bid to topple the Damascus government.

Qassemi said Pompeo's comments are "merely based on populism, fallacy."

The Iranian economy has, contrary to Pompeo's claims, seen a growth of more than 8 percent over the past years, at the same time that Tehran has been on the frontline of counter-terrorism battles, the official added.

He also said Iran's anti-terror fight and peace efforts in the region as well as firm defense of its borders have raised worries among US officials, and dealt a blow to their hostile agenda against the Islamic Republic.

"The American officials are seeking to find a pretext to cover up their crimes against the people in the region and Iran, using economic terrorism and oppressive and illegal sanctions as a tool," he said.

They are trying "to launch a psychological war [against Iran], turning a deaf ear to international reactions well as criticisms of the US's confrontational and inhumane sanctions from countries and human rights institutions," he added.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman added that the administration of US President Donald Trump is committing yet another "strategic mistake" by pursuing "deceptive" anti-Iran policies, which are based on the "hollow dreams" of certain "isolated and notorious" regimes, figures and terror groups.

Pompeo's tweet came as a second round of US sanctions is about to return in place against Iran months after Washington scrapped a 2015 multilateral deal on the Iranian nuclear program despite international objections.

The first round of the bans  which had been lifted under the nuclear deal -- was re-imposed in August.

Iran has vowed resistance in the face of Washington's economic pressure. It is now in talks with its other five partners in the deal  France, the UK, Germany, Russia and China  to help keep the international document alive and blunt the impact of the retuning US bans.

The European signatories to the accord are currently at work to protect their business links with Iran. They will soon launch a mechanism called special purpose vehicle (SPV) with the aim of sidestepping the US financial system by using an EU intermediary to handle trade with Iran.

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Iran Warns Against 'Hasty' Actions As Tensions Rise Over Danish Murder Plot Allegations

RFE/RL October 31, 2018

Iran's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Danish ambassador to Tehran to issue a "strong protest" over Copenhagen's allegations about an Iranian plot to kill an opposition activist on the Scandinavian country's territory.

Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said the ambassador was warned against "hasty and controversial actions" during the October 31 meeting, which comes the day after the Danish security service PET fingered Iran for planning to assassinate an Iranian Arab opposition leader.

Shortly after being summoned by the Iranians, Ambassador Danny Annan was recalled by Copenhagen and left the country, Danish officials said.

Meanwhile, Denmark said it plans to "reach out" to its EU allies in hopes of developing a united response to Iran.

"There is a need to show Iran that we are well aware of what took place and that we don't accept it," Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on October 31.

Danish intelligence officials said on October 30 that a man with a Norwegian passport and Iranian background was being held after he was arrested in neighboring Sweden.

They said the individual was apprehended on October 21 under suspicion of helping to plot an attack on the leader of the Danish branch of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of al-Ahvaz (ASMLA), which is seeking a separate state for ethnic Arabs in the southwestern Iranian province of Khuzestan.

The suspect has denied the allegation, while Iranian officials say it is part of an effort to damage Tehran's relations with the EU.

Tehran claims that ASMLA was responsible for the September 22 attack on a military parade in Khuzestan's capital, Ahvaz, in which at least 25 people were killed.

The group denied it was involved and condemned the attack.

A spokeswoman for the European Commission said that EU countries "stand in solidarity" with Denmark.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a Twitter post "congratulated" Denmark on arresting what he called "an Iranian regime assassin."

The dispute comes at a delicate time in Western relations with Tehran. Several European countries, China, and Russia are in talks to salvage parts of a 2015 agreement with world powers to curb Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of global economic sanctions.

The United States pulled out of the accord in May and began reinstating sanctions, a move that has hit the Iranian economy hard.

Tehran has sought protection from European countries to help offset the damage done by the U.S. moves.

With reporting AP, dpa, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-issues- protest-as-tensions-rise-over-danish- murder-plot-allegations/29575583.html

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Suspected assailant killed in blast at Russia's security service building

Iran Press TV

Wed Oct 31, 2018 09:11AM

A suspected assailant has been killed and three other people have been wounded in an explosion at the entrance to the local branch of Russia's main intelligence agency in northwestern Russia, officials say.

Igor Orlov, the governor of the northwestern Arkhangelsk Oblast, confirmed that the explosion had occurred at the entrance to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) building in the city of the same name on Wednesday.

"We are taking measures to increase security of all public and state buildings in Arkhangelsk region," Orlov said, adding that the FSB building had been evacuated and police had cordoned off the area.

Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) said later that a man brought an explosive device with him to the site and that he was the only fatality.

NAC said the motive was still unclear.

Earlier, it was reported that the individual killed  who was not an FSB employee  was standing right next to the building when the explosion occurred, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

Separately, a spokesman for Orlov, Artyom Botygin, told AFP that an "explosive device" had caused the blast. He said that the device went off just before 9 am (0600 GMT) in the building in the center of the city, which is more than 1,000 kilometers north of the capital, Moscow.

The governor convened an emergency meeting after inspecting the blast scene.



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Russian Investigators Suspect Terrorism Behind Arkhangelsk Blast

RFE/RL October 31, 2018

Russian investigators say they have launched a probe into suspected terrorism after an explosion at a Federal Security Service (FSB) office in northern Russia that killed one person.

Russia's Investigative Committee said on October 31 that the suspected bomber of the FSB office in the northwestern city of Arkhangelsk was a local teenager who died in the blast.

"According to preliminary information, a 17-year-old local resident, who brought a handmade explosive device to the building, was killed in the incident," the committee said in a statement, adding that three FSB officers were injured in the explosion.

The Investigative Committee published what it said was a CCTV image of the bomber in the lobby of the FSB building. The picture showed a young man holding a blue bag.

Investigators did not name the teenager.

Media reports in Russia identified the man as Mikhail Zhlobitsky, a student at a polytechnic vocational school who was sympathetic to anarchist ideas. But that information has not been officially confirmed.

The Investigative Committee's spokeswoman, Svetlana Petrenko, said that the case had been taken over by the committee's central office in Moscow.

According to Petrenko, investigators are now working on finding out friends and acquaintances of the suspect.

Meanwhile, regional Governor Igor Orlov said local authorities had taken measures to increase security in all public buildings in the region, which is located around 1,000 kilometers north of Moscow.

Attacks on security service facilities are unusual in most parts of Russia, but there have been many such attacks in North Caucasus republics such as Chechnya and Daghestan, plagued by violence blamed largely on insurgents.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/explosion-near -fsb-office-in-russia-s-arkhangelsk- reportedly-kills-one/29574488.html

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Tu-160 Bombers Perform Planned Flight Over Barents, Norwegian Seas

Sputnik News

14:36 31.10.2018(updated 14:57 31.10.2018)

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers have conducted scheduled flights over neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian seas, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

"Two strategic Tu-160 bombers perform a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas. The jets have reached the predetermined area to perform the flight task. The total flight duration will be about 10 hours, then the crews of the Russian Aerospace Forces will land at the domestic airfield," the ministry said in a statement.

Long-range pilots regularly fly over the neutral waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic, Black and Caspian Seas, as well as the Pacific Ocean.

"All flights of the airplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces are carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace without violating the borders of other states," the Russian Defense Ministry stressed.

Earlier it was reported that on Wednesday, the active phase of the largest NATO military exercises since the days of the Cold War, Trident Juncture 2018, has kicked off in Norway.

 Sputnik

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Russia Sets Up Commission to Investigate Admiral Kuznetsov Incident

Sputnik News

07:42 31.10.2018

HAVANA (Sputnik) - An interdepartmental commission to investigate the causes of the incident involving Russia's only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov has been created, while steps to avoid delays in the ship's overhaul are being considered, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said.

On Tuesday, floating dry dock PD-50 sank at a shipbuilding plant near Murmansk, which performed overhaul of Admiral Kuznetsov. Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) later reported that during the incident a crane fell on the ship leaving a hole the size of 4 by 5 meters in its hull. Admiral Kuznetsov was towed to a repair yard outside the 35th shipbuilding plant in Murmansk where its overhaul will continue.

"I have already been informed about it, and have given instructions to form a commission that will determine the causes of the incident, the cost of damage, and will outline a plan of measures for restoration," Borisov, who is currently on an official visit to Cuba, told reporters.

According to Borisov, the commission will involve officials from the Defense Ministry and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

"The most important thing now is not to allow any delays in Admiral Kuznetsov's current overhaul. There is a strict schedule of the aircraft carrier's return to the Russian navy, and we will do all it takes to keep this schedule intact," Borisov stressed.

Borisov, who oversees the defense sector in the Russian government, also said that the commission will determine whether the sunken dry dock, which is the size of the Red Square in Moscow, should be raised from water or not.

"This will also be decided by the commission, but more likely yes than not," he said answering a relevant question.

Borisov also said that victims of the incident will receive compensation.

"The necessary assistance will certainly be provided to the [shipbuilding plant] employees, victims," Borisov told reporters.

Admiral Kuznetsov was towed to a repair yard outside the 35th shipbuilding plant in Murmansk where its overhaul will continue.

 Sputnik

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Khashoggi killed by strangulation, cut into pieces after murder: Turkish prosecutor

Iran Press TV

Wed Oct 31, 2018 04:04PM

Turkish judicial officials say prominent Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who went missing after visiting the kingdom's consulate in Turkey's largest city of Istanbul earlier this month, was "strangled" as soon as he entered the diplomatic mission and his body was then "cut into pieces" under a "premeditated plan."

The office of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Irfan Fidan said on Wednesday that talks with Saudi Arabia's chief public prosecutor, Saud al-Mojeb, had produced "no concrete results" on the murder of 59-year-old Khashoggi as he had not shared any information, including the testimonies of the 18 people arrested, over the case.

Turkish-language Hurriyet daily newspaper reported that Mojeb was seeking Khashoggi's phone, which he gave to his Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz before entering the Saudi consulate on October 2.

Officials from the Turkish Intelligence Organization (MIT), however, refused to provide recordings and evidence on the case to the Saudi prosecutor.

A senior Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also cast doubt on Saudi Arabia's willingness to "genuinely cooperate" in the investigation into Khashoggi's killing.

The official told AFP on Wednesday that Saudi authorities seemed "primarily interested in finding out what evidence Turkey had against the perpetrators."

"We did not get the impression that they were keen on genuinely cooperating with the investigation," the official pointed out.

Meanwhile, Omer Celik, the deputy chairman and spokesperson for turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party, said Khashoggi could not have been killed without orders from senior Saudi officials, Turkey's Daily Sabah reported

Mojeb arrived in Istanbul on October 28 night and held talks the following day with Istanbul's chief prosecutor.

He held a second round of talks with Fidan at the court house on October 30 before inspecting the Saudi consulate later in the day.

Mojeb visited the Istanbul office of MIT on Wednesday morning, and was headed to Istanbul Ataturk Airport in the afternoon.

On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Mojeb to investigate who had ordered the hit on the journalist.

Erdogan maintains that a 15-strong team traveled from Riyadh to kill Khashoggi, who had been a vocal critic of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammad bin Salman, at the Saudi diplomatic compound in Istanbul.

"Who sent these 15 people? As Saudi public prosecutor, you have to ask that question, so you can reveal it," the Turkish president told reporters in Ankara.

He added, "Now we have to solve this case. No need to prevaricate, it makes no sense to try to save certain people. There is no sense to try to protect the culprits."

"Either the Saudi foreign minister (Adel al-Jubeir) or the 18 suspects must explain who the local co-conspirators are.

"Let's know who this co-conspirator is, we can shed further light," Erdogan said.

Khashoggi, a prominent commentator on Saudi affairs who wrote for The Washington Post's Global Opinions section, had lived in self-imposed exile in the US since September 2017, when he left Saudi Arabia over fears of the Riyadh regime's crackdown on critical voices.

His death has subjected the Riyadh regime and Mohammed bin Salman to strict scrutiny. The journalist's fiancee has accused Saudi officials of a massive cover-up.

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Istanbul Prosecutor: Khashoggi Strangled, Dismembered Immediately Upon Entering Saudi Consulate

October 31, 2018

Istanbul's chief prosecutor says Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was strangled and his body "cut in pieces" in a premeditated killing immediately upon entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

The prosecutor, Irfan Fidan, on October 31 also said that Khashoggi's body was disposed of following the killing nearly a month ago but that his remains have still not been located.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and an outspoken critic of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, went missing on October 2 after visiting the Saudi Consulate to complete paperwork needed to marry his Turkish fiancee.

Riyadh denies the ruling royal family was involved in the killing, which has caused global outrage, and blames "rogue agents."

Fidan's comments came as Saudi Attorney General Saud al-Mojeb, who has been in Istanbul for three days in connection with the investigation, was due to depart Turkey.

Fidan said Mojeb's visit produced "no concrete resultsdespite all our well-intentioned efforts to reveal the truth."

Mojeb has acknowledged that the killing was premeditated, and the Saudis vowed to investigate and prosecute those responsible in Saudi Arabia.

Turkey is seeking the extradition of 18 Saudi suspects detained in the kingdom in connection with the killing.

Some reports have claimed that suspects in the case have links to the crown prince.

Based on reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/istanbul-prosecutor -khashoggi-strangled-dismembered-immediately-upon- entering-saudi-consulate/29575443.html

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Saudi Prosecutor Refuses to tell Turkey Location of Khashoggi's Body  Reports

Sputnik News

11:07 31.10.2018

ANKARA (Sputnik)  Saudi Arabia's top prosecutor, Saud Al Mojeb, refused to inform the Turkish counterparts of the whereabouts of the body of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Hurriyet newspaper reported Wednesday, citing government sources.

Turkish officials were in "a deep distrust" toward Al Mojeb as he refused to answer questions regarding the place where Khashoggi's body is, according to the Turkish daily.

Al Mojeb also reportedly did not reveal information about the local accomplice of the assassins, despite having publicly said that such a person was involved in the case.

The Saudi prosecutor arrived in Istanbul on Sunday. He has met with Istanbul's chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan twice, and inspected the Saudi consulate.

Khashoggi, known for his criticism of Saudi policies, had been working as a columnist for The Washington Post. The journalist was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. On October 19, Saudi Arabia admitted the journalist had died during a fight inside the consulate. Riyadh said 18 people had been arrested over their suspected involvement in the incident.

 Sputnik

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Turkey: Khashoggi Was Strangled Immediately After Entering Saudi Consulate

By VOA News October 31, 2018

A Turkish prosecutor says Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi was killed by strangulation immediately after entering Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul, before his body was "cut into pieces."

The statement by chief Istanbul prosecutor Ifran Fidan comes as Turkey pressures Saudi Arabia to extradite the 18 people it detained in connection with Khashoggi's killing.

Fidan also said that talks with Saudi chief prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb produced "no concrete result" despite sincere efforts to disclose the truth.

Fidan's statement was the first public confirmation by a Turkish official the journalist was mutilated after entering the consulate, the result of a premeditated plan.

"In accordance with plans made in advance, the victim ... was strangled to death immediately after entering the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia," the statement said. "The victim's body was dismembered and destroyed following his death by suffocation - again, in line with advance plans."

A spokesman for Turkey's ruling AK party said Wednesday Khashoggi's murder could not have happened without orders from at least one "high-level" Saudi authority.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has requested Saudi officials identify an alleged local collaborator suspected of disposing of Khashoggi's body.

Erdogan and other Turkish officials have repeatedly complained that Saudi Arabia has obstructed the investigation by refusing to reveal key pieces of evidence like the location of Khashoggi's body.

His October 2 disappearance at the consulate has created an international firestorm that threatens the already complicated relations between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United States.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, said he doesn't feel "betrayed" by Saudi Arabia but "maybe they've betrayed themselves."

Trump, whose first presidential trip included a stop in Saudi Arabia, added, "I just hope it all works out."

Turkey has steadily ramped up pressure on Saudi Arabia to provide answers amid its shifting official explanations on Khashoggi's fate. Weeks after the fact, Riyadh admitted the writer had been killed in the consulate by a team of 15 Saudi agents.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, often criticized by Khashoggi in his Washington Post columns, had hailed the "unique" cooperation between the two countries only days before.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called Khashoggi's disappearance and death "one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups," but has also said the U.S. should not be too critical of the regime because of a pending multi-billion dollar arms deal with Riyadh. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has revoked the visas of Saudi officials believed to have taken part in the killing.

Khashoggi had gone into the Saudi consulate in the Turkish capital on October 2 to obtain paperwork he needed for his planned marriage to Turkish national Hatice Cengiz, who waited for him outside the consulate. He was never seen again.

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Pressure Mounts on Saudi Crown Prince

By Jamie Dettmer October 31, 2018

After months of absence in London, senior Saudi royal Prince Ahmad bin Abdulaziz arrived Tuesday in Riyadh, prompting conjecture among Saudi expatriates that older members of the Gulf kingdom's ruling family are ready to assert themselves in the wake of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Some London-based Saudi expatriates with ties to the royal family say the septuagenarian Ahmad, who was the Gulf kingdom's heir apparent until his brother, King Salman, altered the line of succession, may press for convening a family council to discuss how to control the fallout from Khashoggi's murder.

They say Ahmad is likely to lead an effort to curtail the power of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, widely referred to as MBS, and argue for the appointment of a senior royal to act as a "guardian" for the crown prince.

"The fact that Prince Ahmad has returned now says a lot; other princes are keeping away from turbulent developments," a Saudi expatriate who knows the prince told VOA. He added, "Draw your own conclusions."

Self-exiled dissident journalist Khashoggi was killed four weeks ago in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, where he had gone to collect documents allowing him to remarry.

His murder by Saudi agents, some who have served as bodyguards for the crown prince, was belatedly acknowledged by the Saudi government after leaks to the media by Turkish officials who gave details of the murder.

Riyadh first claimed Khashoggi left the consulate alive, but was later forced to admit the dissident commentator had been killed. Riyadh maintained the killing was a rogue operation by renegade security and intelligence officials and not a mission endorsed by MBS. That explanation has been met by widespread international skepticism, including from U.S. President Donald Trump.

The London-based news site Middle East Eye reported Tuesday that Ahmad had held discussions already with other members of the Saudi royal family living outside the oil-rich kingdom.

VOA reported last week about a series of Khashoggi-related discussions involving princes sidelined by MBS and who bear the crown prince a grudge.

Last year, when MBS started to consolidate his hold on power in the kingdom, he launched a sweeping purge of rival royals, detaining 11 of them, but none of the sons of King Abdulaziz, the founder of the modern Saudi state, was touched.

Two weeks ago, Saudi Prince Khalid bin Farhan al-Saud, a senior prince who lives in self-imposed exile in Germany, called publicly for King Salman bin Abdulaziz to abdicate in favor of Ahmad, the 31st son of the founder of Saudi Arabia.The monarch needed to abdicate to "save what remained of his dignity," he told Germany's DW TV.

Even before Khashoggi's murder, there had been talk in Saudi expatriate circles that Ahmad was ready to become outspoken in criticism of MBS's policies, especially over the war in Yemen and his eschewing of traditional rule-by-family-consensus.

Analysts are divided on whether King Salman will curtail his son, reduce his powers or even replace him. To do so would indicate dangerous weakness, reflect badly on his judgment to make MBS the next in line, and invite further demands from other disgruntled senior members of the royal family, say some skeptical analysts and diplomats.

Others say that if the crisis cannot be brought to a conclusion quickly, then there will be serious political repercussions within the kingdom, including possibly a challenge to MBS's day-to-day rule. "There are movements and there are signs that a dialogue is taking place within the royal family," says Khalil Jahshan, a friend of the slain journalist and director of the Arab Center, a research group in Washington.

"In the Saudi diaspora there are rumors, innuendo and hearsay with talk about this prince saying something, another saying something else, etc," he adds. But Jahshan says there are clearly discussions under way about "how to limit the damage and protect the crown prince; but whether he can be protected will depend on what role he played based on the evidence."

Pressure in the coming days is likely to mount on the Saudis over the murder and on Western countries to insist on the full truth coming out.

On Monday, Khashoggi's Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, said she was disappointed by the Western response so far to his murder and demanded the Saudi authorities reveal where the journalist's body had been dumped. Speaking at a packed memorial event in London, Cengiz said she held the Saudi government responsible for her fiancee's killing and called on the "evil criminals and their cowardly political masters" to face justice.

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UN chief appoints Norwegian diplomat as his new envoy for Syria

31 October 2018 - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed veteran Norwegian diplomat Geir O. Pedersen as his next Special Envoy for Syria.

Mr. Pedersen succeeds Staffan de Misutra, who announced earlier this month that he will be stepping down in November after serving as the UN chief's top envoy for the war-battered nation for over four years.

According to a note issued by the Secretary-General's office, Mr. Pedersen "brings to the position decades of political and diplomatic experience", having served both in Government and UN capacities, including as Norway's Ambassador to China since last year and as Permanent Representative to the UN for five years, from 2012.

At the UN, Mr. Pedersen served as the Special Coordinator for Lebanon between 2007 and 2008, and before that, was Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for Southern Lebanon. He was also Director of Asia-Pacific Division at the Department of Political Affairs.

Born in Oslo on 28 September 1955, he is married and has five children. The UN chief also expressed his "deepest gratitude" to Mr. de Mistura, an Italian national, for his "concerted efforts and contributions to the search for peace in Syria."

Appointed the Special Envoy in July 2014, Mr. de Mistura continued to work with all parties involved in the Syrian conflict to push for lasting peace, in line with Security Council resolution 2254, which endorsed a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned roadmap towards peace.

Though his tenure coincided with the bloodiest period of the crisis, with warring sides employing "medieval sieges", barrel bombs, human shields and snipers in densely populated civilian areas, an undeterred de Mistura continued to push all sides in the conflict to adhere to the peace roadmap as well as urging that world leaders seize any "window of opportunity" to end the war.

The crisis in Syria, which started with largely peaceful protests against President Assad in March 2011, has so far claimed over 400,000 lives and driven some 11.7 million people from their homes, including over 5.5 million to seek refuge into neighbouring countries.

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Kurds in Syria: We Have Right to Respond to Turkish Attacks

By Sirwan Kajjo October 31, 2018

U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in eastern Syria say recent Turkish shelling attacks have stalled their offensive against their mutual enemy, the Islamic State terror group.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is a U.S.-backed coalition of Kurdish-Arab fighters dominated by the People's Protection Units (YPG). The SDF has been fighting against IS in the Deir el-Zour region in eastern Syria.

Turkish forces recently struck several targets belonging to the YPG near the town of Kobani in northern Syria.

The SDF said Wednesday that it had the right to defend itself, and "as a result, a Turkish military vehicle was destroyed."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "threats to invade our lands coincide with our campaign to push [IS] out of the remaining parts of Deir el-Zour," Nur Mahmud, a YPG spokesperson, told VOA.

"This is [IS's] final stronghold. Eliminating IS means a new phase of stability in Syria. But such Turkish threats create more instability in this country," Mahmud added.

Erodgan recently increased threats to launch a major offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters near the Euphrates River.

"We will destroy the terror structure east of the Euphrates River. We have completed preparations and plans regarding this issue," Erdogan said in a speech to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party on Tuesday.

"We have started active intervention operations against the terror organization in the last couple of days. We will soon come down hard on the terror organization with more extensive and effective operations," he added.

PKK link seen

Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a Turkey-based terror group that has been fighting for greater rights in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast for decades.

The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

But the U.S. makes a distinction between the PKK and YPG, backing the YPG-dominated SDF as its most effective fighting partner in the war against IS militants in Syria.

This partnership has angered Turkey.

In March, Turkish military and allied Syrian rebels seized the town of Afrin in northwestern Syria after a two-month campaign, which pushed YPG out of the town.

The Turkish government also demanded that Kurdish forces leave the northern town of Manbij, which was freed from IS by Kurdish-backed forces in August 2016.

In June, Turkish and U.S. officials reached an agreement to conduct joint patrols in Manbij, which included joint training between U.S. and Turkish forces around the Syrian town.

"The training process has been completed, and joint patrols will begin today or tomorrow," Hulusi Akar, Turkish minister of defense, said Tuesday.

"The plan is to remove the YPG, collect their heavy weaponry and finally allow the real Manbij people to be in full control of their city," he said in a public gathering.

Akar reiterated his country's intention to go after Syrian Kurdish fighters. "After Manbij, our next venue will be east of the Euphrates," he said.

U.S. reaction

U.S. officials called on both sides to avoid escalation and focus on defeating IS.

"We are aware of Turkish statements about a planned offensive into northeast Syria and have been in touch with Turkey and the SDF to de-escalate the situation," Cmdr. Sean Robertson, a Pentagon spokesperson, told VOA.

"We remain fully committed to implementing the Manbij road map [agreement], which is on pace as agreed between [U.S.] Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo and [Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut] Cavusoglu," he added.

Some analysts say the Turkish threats against the Syrian Kurds are likely to continue.

"I think Erdogan is going to increase the pressure on SDF because the U.S. is not willing to give him Manbij," said Fabrice Balanche, a researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

"Erdogan is furious about this, and that is why he targets Kobani. But I do not think it is the beginning of a major offensive," Balanche added.

Balanche said the U.S. needs to protect the Kurdish territory, including Manbij.

"The U.S. needs the YPG against [IS], since Arab [fighters] of SDF are not as efficient, as we can see in Deir el-Zour," he said.

Ezel Sahinkaya and Carla Babb contributed to this report.

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U.S. official urges Taiwan to transform thinking to counter China

ROC Central News Agency

2018/10/31 15:33:26

Annapolis, Maryland, Oct. 30 (CNA) A U.S. official said Tuesday that Taiwan should change its military thinking and figure out how to make sure it has the ability to safeguard continued peace and stability both across the Taiwan Strait and within the Indo-Pacific.

David Helvey, the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, made the suggestion in his speech delivered at the U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference 2018 in Annapolis, Maryland.

According to a transcript of the speech provided by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense, Helvey said that in strengthening its armed forces, Taiwan is developing sufficient conventional capabilities to meet the peacetime needs of a military in a rough neighborhood.

But he warned that Taiwan could not "afford to overlook preparing for the one fight it cannot afford to lose."

In the face of China's growing military threat, Taiwan should respond by improving its national strength, which means innovation, smart investments and leveraging asymmetries to Taiwan's advantage.

To achieve that, those features should be incorporated into Taiwan's need for a credible, resilient and cost-effective deterrent.

To be credible, Helvey said, Taiwan's "acquisitions, training, and doctrine" need to "address the vulnerabilities of a potential adversary that spends more and fields faster."

Resiliency means that Taiwan's forces and systems are maneuverable and can operate autonomously while facing cyber, electronic, missile, and air attacks.

Being cost-effective means retaining conventional capabilities but focusing "research, development, procurement, and maintenance on affordable and scalable asymmetric capabilities that are integrated into a multi-domain defense," Helvey said.

"If Taiwan's military makes these changes to its force structure, it is equally important that Taiwan continue to make progress on how it trains and organizes its forces," he said.

"The Department of Defense has been helping Taiwan to think through how to increase joint capabilities while operating in a decentralized environment," he said, which will enable Taiwan to deploy mobile systems without central command and control.

Given the capabilities the People's Liberation Army (PLA) could bring to bear in a blockade or outright amphibious invasion, including information control, Taiwan's progress here is key, according to Helvey.

Achieving the goal will require developing and empowering junior officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs), Helvey argued.

"Leaders at senior levels must trust that their junior leaders -- officers and NCOs -- are capable of performing their mission," he said.

These changes in thinking, procurement, planning and training are needed because of the magnitude of China's threat, Helvey said

"Taiwan cannot count on Beijing's forbearance for its security." Helvey said, adding that there is no indication that China is preparing to renounce the use of force, now or in the future.

The U.S. Department of Defense's own National Defense Strategy has highlighted this concern, as China leverages military modernization, influence operations, and predatory economics to coerce neighboring countries to reorder the Indo-Pacific region to its advantage, according to Helvey.

"China wants to alter the status quo and erode Taiwan's diplomatic space in the international arena, while increasing the frequency and scale of the PLA activity within and beyond the first island chain," Helvey said.

The U.S. official praised Taiwan's latest strategic vision, summarized in its Overall Defense Concept (ODC), because its focus on "asymmetric warfare, force preservation, and littoral battle leverages Taiwan's geographic advantages, while exploiting the key challenges an amphibious invading force is likely to face."

Helvey also commended Taiwan for pushing higher defense spending and focusing on self-strengthening, but said Taiwan has both too few dollars and too little time to focus on lesser priorities than those that are necessary for its own survival.

Talking about the United States' strategy to keep the Indo-Pacific free and open, the U.S. official said the U.S. maintaining its obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act is critical to that goal.

"These obligations include supplying Taiwan with arms of a defensive character in order to ensure that Taiwan maintains a sufficient self-defense capability, and maintaining the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize our security or the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan," he said.

(By Chiang Chin-yeh and Evelyn Kao)

Enditem/ls

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China 'opposes any form of US relation with Taiwan'

Iran Press TV

Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:12AM

China has voiced strong opposition to the official contacts and military relations between the United States and Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council, said on Wednesday that China resolutely opposed relations in any form between the US and Taiwan.

Ma made the remarks at a press conference in response to news that two US Navy vessels had crossed the Taiwan Strait on October 22.

Beijing sees the self-ruled island of Taiwan as a breakaway but inseparable part of its territory.

'There will be a price to pay'

"The Taiwan issue bears on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Ma said. "We resolutely oppose official contacts or military ties in any form between the US side and Taiwan region, and our stance is consistent and clear."

"Those who rely on foreign forces to build themselves up and collude with foreign forces to undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait will certainly pay a price for their deeds," the Chinese official said.

Beijing has pursued reunification ever since Taiwan broke away from mainland China during a civil war in 1949. China claims full sovereignty over the island; and almost all world countries, including the US since 1979, recognize that sovereignty under a policy known as "One China."

However, Washington has extensive military ties with Taiwan, forwarding advanced military hardware to the island state over the objections of China.

Under President Donald Trump, the US has been enhancing relation with Taiwan. Since Trump took office in January 2017, Washington has opened a new de facto embassy in Taipei, passed a law to encourage senior US officials to travel to Taiwan to meet their Taiwanese counterparts and vice versa, and has been flirting with the idea of recognizing Taiwan as "independent."

Beijing's relations with Taipei have particularly been strained since the island's president Tsai Ing-wen, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, came to power in 2016. She has strong anti-China inclinations and refuses to acknowledge that both sides are part of "One China."

China's Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said recently that his country will take necessary military actions, "at any cost," to thwart potential attempts to separate the self-ruled island of Taiwan.

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Turkey Starts Development of Long-Range Air Defense System - Erdogan

Sputnik News

16:45 31.10.2018(updated 16:46 31.10.2018)

ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that his country had begun developing an indigenous long-range air defense system.

"We need our own long-range air defense system, and today we are taking the first step toward this goal. We started developing an indigenous system, which will be called the Siper. Its first tests are planned to be held by the end of 2021," Erdogan said at a presentation of new domestic defense technologies in Ankara.

In April, Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport's director general said that Russia had started manufacturing S-400 systems for Turkey.

The Russia-Turkey deal has prompted disagreements between Turkey and the US, with the latter threatening to impose sanctions against the former, as the United States believes that the weapon is incompatible with NATO's defenses.

In mid-April, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell said Ankara's purchase of the S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia could negatively affect the delivery of fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.

 Sputnik

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Russia-Turkey S-400 Missile Deal Envisions Future Purchase Options - Official

Sputnik News

09:13 31.10.2018(updated 09:40 31.10.2018)

HAVANA (Sputnik) - The Russian-Turkish contract on supplies of S-400 air defense systems allows Ankara to exercise the right of an option after the main deliveries under the deal have been made, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said on Wednesday.

"There are many [states] that want our air defense complexes. First of all, Turkey has an option," the official said.

In December 2017, Russia and Turkey signed a loan agreement to supply S-400s to Ankara. According to a statement by the Turkish defense industry secretariat, two S-400 batteries will be operated and serviced by the Turkish military.

The S-400 Triumf system is a next-generation mobile air defense system, which is capable of destroying aerial targets at an extremely long range of up to 400 kilometers (almost 250 miles).

 Sputnik

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Russia, Western Powers Clash At UN Over Elections In Eastern Ukraine

RFE/RL October 31, 2018

Russia has clashed with the United States and European powers at the United Nations over the legality of elections in areas of eastern Ukraine held by Moscow-backed separatists.

During debate on the planned elections in Donetsk and Luhansk on November 11, the UN's political chief said she backed the Western view that the votes would violate a 2015 accord laying out steps for settling the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The position taken by UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo left Russia isolated at the UN Security Council meeting. Western allies also blocked Russia from bringing a Luhansk separatist official, Olena Kravchenko, before the council to provide a briefing on the elections.

In a vote called by Western states on whether she could speak, Russia was the only one in favor, with seven countries against and seven abstaining. A minimum of nine votes in favor were needed for Kravchenko to speak.

Before the meeting began, a joint statement from France, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, and Germany was read outside the council chamber condemning what they called "the illegitimate 'elections' planned for November 11."

The statement said such elections would violate Ukrainian law and "contravene commitments" made by separatists and Russia under the 2015 agreement reached in Minsk, Belarus.

The European Union countries urged the international community to unite in opposing the elections, saying the votes "can only serve to undermine efforts to achieve peace in the region."

They urged the separatists to abandon plans for the elections and called on Russia "to bring its considerable influence to bear to stop the so-called 'elections' from taking place."

"Russia must play its part by ending its financial and military support to the separatists and withdrawing its armed forces and military equipment from Ukrainian territory," the European states said.

The U.S. deputy ambassador to the UN, Jonathan Cohen, later also claimed the "sham elections staged by Russia" violated the Minsk agreement, which states that elections must be held in accordance with Ukrainian law and be supervised by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Cohen said the Kremlin was using the elections to bolster the authorities it has installed in Donetsk and Luhansk, which he said "are inseparable from the illegal armed groups controlled by Moscow."

The 2015 Minsk agreement has helped reduce hostilities, DiCarlo told the council, but "there has been little progress in talks to end the fighting."

"The conflict in eastern Ukraine, now in its fifth year, remains an active threat to international peace and security," she said.

More than 10,300 people have been killed in fighting between Ukrainian forces and the separatists since April 2014. DiCarlo said that cease-fire violations had increased and casualties risen over the last six weeks.

The assistant UN secetary-general for humanitarian affairs, Ursula Mueller, told the Security Council that more than 100 people had been killed by mines and other explosives in the area so far this year.

More than 3,000 civilians have been killed and up to 9,000 injured in the conflict, Mueller said.

DiCarlo said the Minsk agreements, which were endorsed by the Security Council, are the only agreed framework for a negotiated peace in eastern Ukraine.

She warned that any elections held "outside Ukraine's constitutional and legal framework would be incompatible with the Minsk agreements."

Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya argued that the elections "have nothing to do with the Minsk package" because they are municipal elections.

The votes are needed "to fill the vacuum in power" following the August 31 murder of Donetsk separatist leader Aleksandr Zakharchenko, who was a signatory to the 2015 agreements, Nebenzya said.

Nebenzya claimed that the elections are also necessary as a result of what he called "sabotage by Kyiv of its political commitments."

Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko accused Russia of waging a "disinformation campaign," and blaming Ukraine for everything that happens in Donetsk and Luhansk.

He repeated Ukraine's position that the results of what he called the "fake" November 11 elections will be "null and void."

With reporting by AFP and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-western-powers- clash-un-security-council-over-elections-eastern- ukraine-donetsk-luhansk/29574239.html

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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VANCOUVER, November 1, 2018 - Alliance Mining Corp. (TSX.V: ALM) ("Alliance"or the "Company") is pleased toreport that recent analysis of the 2006 drill logs from its Tonopah uraniumproject in Esmerelda/Nye counties, Nevada, reveal vanadium in both oxidized andnon-oxidized clastic sediments.

Alliance Mining has recently signed aletter of intent with Jadestone Energy LLC to acquire a 100-per-cent interestin Jadestone's Tonopah uranium project. Alliance and Jadestone are working tofinalize a definitive agreement.

Based on the ICP multi-elementanalyses from the 2006 drill logs: The Seibert formation host section in thenorthern and southern claims appears to contain very high background levels ofvanadium in both oxidized and non-oxidized clastic sediments. In the unoxidizedSeibert host in both areas, uranium and vanadium occur, and appear to vary moreor less in direct proportion to each other.

Under the influence of oxidizingground waters, uranium has been mobilized out of the oxidized rock and to alesser extent so too has the vanadium. Most of the vanadium appears to haveremained behind in the oxidized rock, but there is evidence of mobilization ofsome vanadium with uranium demonstrated by the fact that some drill-hole intervalsshowing strong uranium anomalies also show but to a lesser degree, strongvanadium anomalies.

One of the major objectives of ourproposed drilling programme will be to establish the location and viability ofany vanadium deposits, particularly in the southern and northern systems. Atpresent there are several advanced Vanadium projects underway in the state ofNevada most notably First Vanadium Corp. (FVAN: TSXV) and Prophecy DevelopmentCorp (PCY: TSXV).

Vanadium is growing in importance forkey industrial manufacturing sectors, most notably steel and renewable energy.Today, more than 85 percent of the world's vanadium is used in steelmanufacturing applications. Its importance to the energy sector is also growingrapidly with more than 10 percent of vanadium production used in energy storagewhere its substantial cost and performance benefits make it an alternativechoice to lithium ion in several areas.

Vanadium prices for 98% flake V2O5have steadily risen from under US$3.00/lb less than 3 years ago, to its currentapproximate price of US$27.45/lb.

The Tonopah project consists of 160contiguous Bureau of Land Management claims covering an area of 3,200 acres.Access to the property is by Highway 95, which runs through the southernportion of the claims. Numerous trails and four-wheel-drive roads afford accesswithin the claims. The initial claims in the Tonopah project were staked in the1950s by Paul Burkett, the founder of Uranium Exploration Corp., JadestoneEnergy's predecessor. Since the 1950s, exploratory work consisted of drillingand field mapping. It is important to note, this exploration only focussed onUranium, not Vanadium, Gold or Silver. Prior to 2006, 25 reverse circulationdrill holes were drilled on the property. Of these 25 drill holes, 14 holesexhibited uranium mineralization. In 2006, the company undertook furthergeological mapping, scintillometer prospecting and drilling, with 10 holesexhibiting uranium mineralization. These results are summarized in a NationalInstrument 43-101-compliant technical report completed in 2011.

In addition, an independent thirdparty geological review of the project was undertaken by one of the major NorthAmerican uranium mining companies that supports that there is confirmed uraniummineralization, much of which is near surface (60 to 350 feet) with potentiallyeconomic grades, probably lending itself to high-volume, low-grade, low-costopen-pit mining, which could potentially utilize a low-cost heap leachingrecovery process.

Christopher Cherrywell is a certifiedprofessional geologist (CPG) with the American Institute of ProfessionalGeologists. He is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Cherrywell isresponsible for the technical information contained in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Christopher Anderson,CEO

and Director

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Alliance Mining Corp.

(604) 488-3900

Investor Relations:

Antony Claydon: 604-488-3900

E-mail: ir@alliancemining.com

This press release includes certainstatements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements inthis release, other than statements of historical facts, that address futureexploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments thatthe Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Companybelieves the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions,such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results ordevelopments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those inforward-looking statements include exploitation and exploration successes,continued availability of financing, and general economic, market or businessconditions.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor itsRegulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of theTSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy ofthis release.

Alliance Mining Corp.

888 Dunsmuir Street - Suite 888,Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4

SOURCE: Alliance Mining Corp.
Toronto, November 1, 2018 - BacTech Environmental Corp. (CSE:BAC, OTC:BCCEF)("BacTech" or the Company) is pleased to provide the results of metallurgical test work on mineralized material from the Telamayu tailings completed by Met-Solve Laboratories ("Met-Solve") of Vancouver, Canada. The test work was conducted to improve and confirm the recoveries of silver, copper and tin that were obtained from test work completed earlier this year at the University of Oruro in Bolivia.

A recap of the program to date is appropriate at this time.

BacTech entered into an association contract with Comibol, the Bolivian state mining company, in 2016. The agreement called for BacTech to undertake all the necessary test work and engineering to refurbish the existing mill at Atocha, Bolivia. The mill has operated as a toll treatment facility for producing mines in the general area for the past 80 years. BacTech is responsible for providing the capital and construction of the new equipment and in return will receive 100% of the cash flow from the project for 18 months or when the capital is repaid, whichever occurs first.

In September 2017 BacTech produced a National Instrumental 43-101 resource report. The independent report produced a summary of the metal content and grade for the Telamayu tailings. The study can be viewed on the BacTech website (www.bactechgreen.com) or on SEDAR. Intensive metallurgical test work ensued at Oruro University in Bolivia as well as at Met-Solve Laboratories in Vancouver, Canada. Finally, in June of this year BacTech signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CASC International Investments, a leading engineering and procurement company based in China, to provide a feasibility study and 85% financing for the construction of the proposed plant in Bolivia.

The remainder of this press release will address the results of the test work both from Met-Solve and the earlier test work conducted in Bolivia for which two flowsheet options have now been identified. The differences between these two options have evolved by either considering a route of concentrate production and subsequent treatment of a concentrate or a route of direct whole ore treatment.

Summary

- Between 50% to 60% of the copper is highly labile and is extracted in a weak sulphuric acid leach at pH 2.0 as the first process step. Cementation using iron is employed to precipitate the copper from the pregnant solution to give a high purity copper precipitate for direct sale. - After removal of the labile copper an option exists for production of a bulk sulphide concentrate using flotation. The material is subjected to a light regrind to freshen-up particle surfaces prior to bulk sulphide flotation using conventional reagent, which recovers up to 84% of the silver and an equivalent of 25% of the copper in the feed into a mass of between 35% and 40% of the original feed. The bulk sulphide concentrate is subjected to hot brine leaching at 75-80c from which 80% of the silver and 80% of the copper is extracted from the concentrate into the brine solution. Cementation using iron is employed on the pregnant brine solution to give a precipitate for direct sale containing up to 5% silver with the majority of the balance being copper. The overall silver recovery from this route of weak acid leaching; concentrate production and brine leaching of concentrate is between 58% to 63%, while overall copper recovery is 80%. - The tails from bulk sulphide flotation are then subjected to gravity processing for the recover of tin. The use of high-speed gravity falcon concentrators results in an overall tin recovery from the initial process feed of 25%, through gravity rougher and cleaner steps to produce a concentrate grade of 6%. - As an alternative to producing a bulk sulphide concentrate, and after the first process step to remove labile copper, the ore can directly be subjected to a hot brine leach without concentrate production. This results in an improved silver recovery of 80% as there are no silver losses in concentrate production. However, this route has increased capital and operating costs due to the brine leaching of the whole ore as opposed to a smaller mass of concentrate. A trade off study is required to evaluate the most economic flowsheet option to employ. - For the whole ore treatment option, the residue from brine leaching would be subjected to gravity recovery using high speed falcon concentrators for tin recovery. Work has yet to be undertaken to confirm that the tin recovery would be similar for whole ore processing to that obtained from the concentrate production route. .

The second option would be a whole-ore treatment. In using this approach, we eliminate the grinding circuit and a flotation circuit with the trade-off being that larger brine leach tanks will be needed to handle the increased volume to be processed.

Recommendations:

- Further Sn recovery test work with centrifugal gravity concentration is recommended to optimize and improve the recovery and upgrading of Sn;

-Determining the attainable Sn grade and recoveries with recycle streams of the Sn that are lost into the various gravity tailings via locked cycle testing is another option for future work and would simulate the Sn upgrading and recovery performance in an industrial circuit; - Mineralogical analysis is recommended on the Brine leach residue to determine the cause of approximately 23.4% of Sn which is not recoverable by direct flotation or gravity concentration;

- The Brine leach conditions must be further investigated to optimize the CuSO4 dosage and leach retention times; - The Cementation conditions must also be optimized to determine the iron chips dosage requirements and cementation retention times.

"Working capital to fund test work and meet our day to day obligations has been difficult to obtain in this market. Given we have a good comfort level of how we will produce and, the expected quantities of what we produce will be very helpful in securing a non-dilutive source of funding. With each step we complete in the process, we get closer to consummating a deal to provide capital for BacTech, "said Ross Orr, President and CEO.

BacTech's Dr. Paul Miller is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release.

Project Overview

The Telamayu project involves the environmental remediation of the "Antiguo" tailings with an option on the larger "Nuevo" tailings, both situated at the Telamayu mill site near the town of Atocha in the Department of Potosi in Bolivia.

The existing Telamayu mill concentrator has generated the Antiguo and Nuevo tailings by processing mineralized material from the surrounding mines for over 80 years. There is considerable infrastructure at the mill site including high voltage power, rail, mill housing, and a local workforce.

A second project entails BacTech investigating the use of bioleach processing to treat historic arsenic tailings and possibly arsenopyrite concentrates produced in the Ponce Enriquez area of Southern Ecuador.

For further information contact: Ross Orr, President & CEO?BacTech Environmental Corp./ 416-813-0303 ext. 222, Cell 416-346-5529 and?Email: borr@bactechgreen.com

Robin Cook, Investor Relations: 416-809-1738, Email: robin@frontiermcg.com

Follow us on:

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BacTechGreen

Twitter http://twitter.com/BacTechGreen

LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/company/1613873

Vimeo http://vimeo.com/bactechgreen

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/bactechgreen

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information", which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to future tailings sites, sampling or other investigations of tailing sites, the Company's ability to make use of infrastructure around tailings sites or operating performance of the Company and its projects. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified using words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether because of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Shares outstanding: 89,143,756

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.

Copyright (c) 2018 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Latest Headlines

AMP: Declining profitability ahead

AMP shareholders will reap the benefit of the sale of its trans-Tasman insurance business, which the financial services provider says it quit out of fears of declining profitability.

Friday, November 2nd 2018, 6:00AM

It is closing its life insurance business in Australia and New Zealand to new customers and selling it to Resolution Life.

AMP says it will return to shareholders the majority of the net cash proceeds of the $3.73 billion deal on settlement, "subject to unforeseen circumstances".

There are just under 80,000 New Zealand-based AMP shareholders, many of whom have held shares since AMP was transferred from a mutual to a listed company in 1998.

AMP said new chief executive Franscesco De Ferrari was committed to returning the money to them.

AMP also provided a rationale for its decision to offload its insurance business, and to look to list the New Zealand wealth management business next year.

It said the Australian wealth protection business had been permanently affected by structural changes in the life insurance industry globally and the changing Australian regulatory environment.

There was increased competition from global competitors, who benefitted from lower costs of capital, greater scale and geographic diversification.

It expected further deterioration in profitability of the industry and more investment would have been needed to meet future regulatory requirements.

Its New Zealand insurance business had a low growth profile and performance was declining. It was vulnerable to potential future deterioration in the New Zealand life insurance market, AMP said.

The New Zealand wealth protection and mature business reported a drop in profit from A$71 million in the 12 months to the end of last year to A$61m in the 12 months to June 30.

It had considered spinning off the New Zealand insurance business but that would have required significant upfront capital and additional operating costs as a standalone business. It would have released no capital to the group.

The information has been revealed as a number of Australian investors protest the sale plans.

Merlon Capital Partners has called for AMP to hold a special meeting for shareholders to consider changing its constitution or removing the board to ensure the deal with Resolution is dropped.

A spokesman for AMP in New Zealand said it had heard no complaints of that sort in this country.

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UK-based EDF Energy is partnering with San Diego-base Nuvve to install up to 1,500 Vehicle to Grid (V2G) chargers in the UK. The chargers will be offered to EDF Energys business customers and will be used at its own sites to provide up to 15 megawatts of additional energy storage capacity. Thats the equivalent amount of energy required to power 4,000 homes.

The stored electricity will be made available for sale on the energy markets or for supporting grid flexibility at times of peak energy use.

Smart charging is expected to play a significant role in balancing the grid as the country moves towards wider adoption of electric vehicles (EV). V2G chargers allow a two-way flow of electricity between an EV and the charger, representing a potentially valuable opportunity to further enhance the electricity system benefits of EVs through provision of large volumes of cheap storage and flexibility.

Using the V2G chargers, EVs give unused electricity back to the charger for customers to either use the energy themselves, send it back to the grid, or to participate in energy markets, providing savings on energy costs and generating additional revenues.

EDF Energy is the largest electricity supplier to UK businesses and its partnership with Nuvve could see the largest deployment of V2G chargers so far in the country.

Nuvve has deployed V2G projects on five continents including the worlds first fully commercial V2G hub in Denmark which has been operational for two years.

Earlier this month, EDF President Jean-Bernard Levy detailed the Groups strategic plans on electric transport, including its plan to be the leading energy company for EVs by 2022 across its four largest European markets: France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Belgium.

EDF Energy is the UKs largest producer of low-carbon electricity, meeting around one-fifth of the countrys demand and supplying millions of customers and businesses with electricity and gas.

It generates electricity with eight nuclear power stations, more than 30 wind farms, one gas and two coal power stations, as well as with combined heat and power plants.
Sweetwater County farmers who have suffered from the drought can now file for assistance.

According to a press release from the United States Department of Agriculture, Sweetwater County has been designated as a primary natural disaster area.

Producers who suffered losses due to a recent drought may be eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency emergency loans, the release states.

Its just that we sustained the drought long enough and it was bad enough that it effected our agriculture business, Judy Roderick, Sweetwater County Emergency Management coordinator, said.

This designation allows FSA to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters.

Roderick said grants are usually not what is offered, but rather low interest-rate loans. She was surprised that Sweetwater County made the list because this is the first time she has seen one like this.

The release states, Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs, including replacing essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganizing a farming operation or refinancing certain debts.

Those listed in the release that are eligible to receive funding are Carbon, Fremont, Sublette and Uinta counties in Wyoming, Moffat County in Colorado and Daggett and Summit counties in Utah.

The deadline to apply for the emergency loans is June 3, 2019. The FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.

The FSA has a variety of addition programs to help farmers recover from the impacts of this disaster.

FSA programs that do not require a disaster declaration include, operating and farm ownership loans, the emergency conservation program, livestock forage disaster program, livestock indemnity program, emergency assistance for livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish program and the tree assistance program.

For more information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs, farmers can contact their local USDA.

Additional information is also available online at http://www.farmers.gov/recover.
A bill passed in Washington, D.C., will impact the Fontenelle Reservoir.

Provisions in the Americas Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 will allow for the expansion of water storage at the reservoir, as well as support other water projects throughout Wyoming. U.S. Sen. John Barrasso was one of the bills authors and its sponsor.

He is also the chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works The act was passed by a 99-1 vote in the Senate Oct. 10, with the only dissenting vote coming from Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).

For Fontenelle, it would mean an expansion of between 100,000 and 200,000 acre-feet of water in the Colorado River Basin, of which Southwest Wyoming is a part. The project was outlined in Gov. Matt Meads 2015 Water Strategy.

The bill had wide support in Wyoming, as well as bipartisan support in the Senate. Meads office issued a statement from the governor, who gave his support for the bill.

I look forward to the swift passage of this legislation, and thank you for recognizing the importance of water infrastructure in the West, Mead said.

Other groups, such as the Sierra Club and the American Petroleum Institute have also given their support for the bill.

According to Barrasso, the bill game about after President Donald Trump issued a public call in his State of the Union address to improve the countrys infrastructure. The bill itself took more than a year to complete and includes 15 Wyoming-specific projects.

Barrasso said the bill will have both a positive and meaningful impact on Wyoming.

He said the next infrastructure needs his committee will look at include surface and transportation, but doesnt expect work on a bill to start until 2019.
Western Wyoming Community College will host the annual Choices event Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on campus. The welcome session will take place in the theater. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the event starts at 9:30 a.m.

Choices is an opportunity for high school juniors, seniors and families to visit WWCC, attend information sessions on programs, degrees, tours, as well as meeting Westerns faculty and staff.

While on campus, attendees will choose to learn about one of seven groups of study: performing arts, social sciences, math and sciences, humanities, business, technology and industry and health sciences. They will also receive a free lunch.

Choices is the perfect event for high school juniors and seniors to see what amazing opportunities are available at Western by being able to visit with faculty and staff, seeing the campus, and experiencing life as a Mustang for a day.

High school students should not miss out on this wonderful opportunity, and we hope to see them on campus on Nov. 7, Westerns admissions director Kurtis Wilkinson said.

Preregistration for this event is strongly encouraged, though students can also register upon arrival, starting at 9 a.m. To register online please visit: http://www.westernwyoming.edu/choices.
Western Wyoming Community Colleges History Department will host Lisa Ossian as she presents The Forgotten Generation Nov. 8 at 7. p.m. in room 1302.

Ossian, a history professor at Des Moines Area Community College in Iowa, and alumnus of the East-West Center in Hawaii, will speak on the challenges on the home front during the Second World War.

Her presentation will highlight the fact that the struggle was not borne by adults alone - men, women and children would all be involved in the work of war. She will speak on the childrens experiences of family, school, play, work and home  uncovering the range of effects the war had on the youth of various ethnicities and backgrounds.

The Second World War was experienced by more than just our fighting men on the front lines. Crucial to victory in any conflict are those people at home keeping up the war effort. Focusing on childrens experiences during this historical period, Dr. Ossians presentation is a fascinating look at an under-represented, but no less important, component of the Greatest Generation, Mark Neels, assistant history professor at Western, said.

For more information regarding the presentation please contact Dr. Mark Neels at mneels@westernwyoming.edu, or check Westerns community app, Mustang Connections http://www.westernwyoming.edu/app.
STAMFORD - There seemed to be something about the U.S. Postal Service and Tuesdays.

City and Town Clerk Lyda Ruijter, elected last year, noticed that her office didnt get much mail on Tuesdays. It made her think about elections, held on Tuesdays, because her office must receive absentee ballots by that day.

Ruijter said she became worried about the Aug. 14 primary, so she contacted the Postal Service. But 29 absentee ballots arrived a day late, and those citizens votes in the primary were not counted.

We got them all on Wednesday, Ruijter said.

It stings because her office, like that of any town clerk, gives each absentee ballot close attention, Ruijter said.

During the primary we learned that a person had been moved to a hospital. So we worked with the family and hustled to make sure an emergency ballot was delivered to the hospital, she said. Its important. Every vote counts.

After the primary, she contacted Stamford Postmaster Jeffrey Salamon, whose office is on Camp Avenue.

They started monitoring it. They were communicating with us. In September we had mail on Tuesdays  a regular flow, she said. Then the first week of October, it stopped.

She learned that Stamfords mail now is processed in Westchester County, N.Y. After several phone calls, she reached the Postal Service office that oversees New England, she said.

They told me they would find out what they could do. But they did not keep me in the loop, Ruijter said. So I dont know what they are doing.

She said Stamfords Democratic registrar of voters, Ron Malloy, became concerned after the 2016 presidential election.

He mentioned that he was shocked by the high number of late-returned ballots, Ruijter said, so the problem may have gone on for a longer time.

Its about six years, said Maureen Marion, Postal Service manager of communications for New England and New York. But it is not because of a Tuesday delivery slowdown or the 2012 closing of the Stamford mail distribution center, which was consolidated with the plant in Westchester, Marion said.

Its a nationwide thing, Marion said. First-class mail now is a two-day service. Tuesday is a lighter-volume day because the mail you get on Tuesday was sent on Saturday, when many businesses are closed and less mail is generated.

First-class mail is decreasing by billions of pieces a year, Marion said, and the Postal Service has been repositioning plants, equipment and personnel to keep pace with the change. Closing the Stamford distribution center, for example, eliminated 350 positions and saved the Postal Service $15 million a year.

But it means the end of same-day or one-day delivery of stamped mail.

First-class mail needs two overnights, Marion said. So if your absentee ballot has to be in the town clerks office by Tuesday, you cant mail it any later than Friday. If you mail it after that, its not going to make it.

That appears to be the case. Ruijter said many of the absentee ballots that she received Aug. 15, the day after the primary, were postmarked Aug. 13.

Other town clerks have noticed the delay, though they were not aware of the reason.

Tuesday is a low-mail day; noticeably low. I have no idea why, said Darien Town Clerk Donna Rajczewski. We generally do get some absentee ballots on the Wednesday after an election, too late to be counted.

Her office takes care to collect absentee ballots, Rajczewski said. They call the Darien post office near closing time to see whether more ballots have arrived and, if so, go there to collect them.

The same is true in New Canaan, Town Clerk Claudia Weber said. The towns mail is distributed from Stamfords Camp Avenue post office, and she meets with the Postal Service employees there to ensure that absentee ballots are delivered and returned in time, Weber said.

Workers in the New Canaan post office hand-carry late-arriving absentee ballots to her office so they can be counted on Election Day, Weber said.

But the mail does move more slowly, she said.

It used to be one-day delivery. Now its several days. We encourage people, if they feel strongly, to overnight their absentee ballots, Weber said. I think some people think that if the postmark is the day of the election, the ballot counts. But it has to be in the hand of the town clerk on Election Day by 8 p.m., when the polls close.

She hopes people get the message this Election Day, because interest has skyrocketed, Weber said. New Canaan so far has issued nearly twice the number of absentee ballots as it did in the last gubernatorial election, she said. In fact, it is approaching the number issued in the 2016 presidential contest.

The same is true in Stamford, where Malloy last week reported a record number of new voters, and Ruijter said requests for absentee ballots have poured in.

Few people have connected changes in the U.S. Postal Service to elections, Ruijter said.

No one knew about this unintended consequence, she said.

acarella@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2296.
GREENWICH  As Disney princesses and Star Wars Jedi waved to their parents and marched around the leafy field, parent Traci Bosco called out to her daughter, dressed in a blue pinafore with red sparkling shoes.

Tap your heels together! she shouted across the blacktop.

Her young Dorothy complied.

After all, theres no place like home, Bosco said.

Kindergarteners, first- and second-graders were reunited with their schoolmates in grades three, four and five for the annual Cos Cob School Halloween parade Wednesday. They decorated cookies, played ghost bowling and marched around the field: a new route to keep children from construction areas.

Before he knew what classrooms  or school buildings  students displaced by flooding at Cos Cob School would move into for the fall months, Cos Cob Principal Gene Schmidt made sure the Halloween parade could be at the school.

We had to keep the community together, Schmidt said.

Extensive damage caused by a broken faucet in the second floor art room closed Cos Cob in early October. Students returned to class Oct. 15, with third-, fourth- and fifth-graders remaining in the building, and younger students sent to Parkway and Old Greenwich schools.

From the third floor Wednesday, Schmidt pointed down to the media center, and said the new carpeting has been torn up and the bookcases tossed out. No books were harmed, though.

Clean up and remediation were finished this Monday, officials said in an update Wednesday. The district is currently reviewing quotes by contractors and will select a vendor for reconstruction work this week. Administrators still expect to finish reconstruction, inspection and approvals in time for students to return to Cos Cob after the December break, officials said.

The town will spend about $1.9 million on clean-up, remediation and reconstruction, the replacement of damaged furniture and relocation of students. The interim appropriation request was approved by town agencies by Oct. 22.

Parent Karine Yantorno appreciated the school kept its tradition.

My two are at different schools  like two different sides of the world, she said at the parade.

Both Yantorno and Bosco were students at Cos Cob when the school burned down in the summer of 1990, and both spent their last three elementary years at Parkway School, which the district reopened to accommodate the Cos Cob students.

Now Boscos child, who normally walks to school, rides the bus every day to Old Greenwich, which she considers a good experience.

We treat it as an adventure, Bosco said.

Parent Kristen Paradise, dressed as Ariel, waves to her daughter, dressed as Jasmine.

She didnt know Id be dressing up, Paradise said, glowing after seeing her daughters face register with surprise. Thats why I do it.

On her first day back to class, Paradise hugged her daughter and explained the new situation was just temporary.

I was more upset than she was at first, she said. I didnt get to see her new classroom, and I was just relying on teachers and the Cos Cob community.

Her daughter cried when she came home that day. Riding the bus was a new experience for her, since she lives in a house just over the fence from the school.

It was very overwhelming, Paradise said. The kids were so brave.

The leaves were crisp and the kids were cute, but not all was well with the parents.

The biggest adjustment has been the combined first-grade classrooms at Old Greenwich School, which her daughter has mentioned, Paradise said.

The desks of first-graders did not fit in their new rooms, so they sit at round tables, said Melissa Cahaly, who toured the Old Greenwich classrooms.

We know what it looks like, what the conditions are, she said.

Old Greenwich absorbed four first-grade classrooms, which must be located on the ground floor according to state law, and three second-grade classrooms. The move displaced band, Spanish, science lab, computer lab and English-language-learning classes.

Currently, each first-grade classroom has two sections of 15-16 students and two teachers, which the district says maintains the teacher-to-student ratio in a co-teaching model.

Cahaly said she has repeatedly asked administrators how the kids are supposed to learn when they share tables and do not have enough space for quiet reading time. She said this is a critical point in their education, and the current environment, small and overcrowded, does not seem conducive to learning.

With winter coming, she wonders where students will put their bulky jackets, since rooms are tight already and two children are assigned to one locker.

jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com
GREENWICH  The towns faith community will join together Friday evening to show solidarity after 11 people were killed in the attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh last week.

Temple Sholom and Greenwich Reform Synagogue are inviting the public to attend their Shabbat services to show that people of all faiths gather with us in solidarity, nearly a week after the deadliest attack on Jews in America.

The American Jewish Committees #ShowUpForShabbat movement has inspired Jewish communities, elected officials and religious leaders across the nation to go to Shabbat services this week to fight anti-Semitism.

We are not afraid, said David Harris, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, in a statement. We are not going to think twice about affirming our identity and faithWe are determined to ensure that love triumphs over hate, good over evil, unity over division. Thats our America.

Shabbat, which is the traditional Jewish day of rest, is observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening with prayers, family gatherings and festive meals.

Temple Sholoms Shabbat will start at 6:30 p.m. Friday at 300 E. Putnam Ave. in Greenwich and will be led by Rabbi Mitch Hervitz. An Oneg dessert will follow the service. The event is open to the public, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP to Eve Jedda at eve.jedda@templesholom.com or 203-869-7191.

Greenwich Reforms Shabbat will begin at 7 p.m. Friday at 92 Orchard St. in Cos Cob. The synagogues Rabbi, Jordie Gerson, will be joined by speakers the Rev. Maxwell Grant of Second Congregational Church, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, Greenwich Selectman Sandy Litvack and the Rev. Kelly Rogers of Scarsdale Congregational Church.

Congregation Shir Ami and friends of the group met for a special Shabbat on Thursday night at the home of Rabbi Vicki Axe for conversation and comfort. The congregation usually holds Shabbat every other week and added Thursdays service in the wake of the Pittsburgh shooting.
Who most benefits from US sanctions on Iran? Is it Saudi Arabia? Israel? Perhaps the United Arab Emirates? As Washington Post's Peter Volkmar writes in an article "Trump's Sanctions On Iran Just Handed A Big Victory To Russia", it's Russia. By weakening Iran, the sanctions cede Russia the power to balance crude oil markets.

Thats because OPEC needs big producers to help Saudi Arabia enforce oil production quotas. With Iran sidelined, Saudi Arabia alone cant convince the other smaller producers to hold back production and a hobbled OPEC can no longer bend the world oil market to its will. That is, unless Saudi Arabia gains the cooperation of another major producer, either Russia or Iran.

As I previously noted, the core OPEC producers which follow Saudis lead have been unable to enforce supply quotas or control prices since US shale production came on in force around 2014 and diluted OPECs market power. Only after teaming up with Russia in late 2016 was OPEC able to curtail its members production and push up the price of oil.

The changing economic realities that drove OPEC into Russias arms handed Moscow considerable geopolitical benefits as the cartels newfound linchpin. Reflecting on that fact, Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told Russian news agency TASS, We have proved to ourselves that we can work with Russia and keep the markets balanced whether there is the shortage or oversupply.

My game theory model shows that Irans ultra-low production cost means that it makes a great price war partner for the Saudis.

That means OPECs dependence on Russia can easily be transferred to Iran. A sanctions-free Iran would bolster OPECs internal bargaining power. This bargaining power is required to keep small producers like Qatar in line.

Bargaining power is what the cartel was lacking in 2015 when it gave up on quotas. And bargaining power is what the cartel regained after a quota pact with Russia came into effect in 2017.

As a result, for a year and a half now Russia has commanded a strong geopolitical position: work with us or the cartel falls apart. That position weakens if Iran is let out of the penalty box.

My model suggests Iran would provide OPEC with sufficient internal bargaining power to restrict production and raise global prices without bringing Moscow on board. This frees Russia to act independently and produce as much as it feels it can market.

And my research shows OPECs ability to maintain high economic rents would be just as robust with Irans cooperation as with Russias. Thats a surprising result because Iran has less than half the production capacity of Russia.

But Irans costs are so low  at $9 per barrel to Russias $19  that Tehran can engage in a vicious price war and still turn a profit. In game theory speak, thats called a credible threat point. Iran can credibly threaten OPEC members with unnervingly low prices if they cheat on their quotas.

In 2016, OPEC handed Iran an exemption from quotas due to Irans nascent reemergence from economic sanctions over its nuclear program. Iran quickly resurrected its oil production, increasing capacity from 2.8 to 3.8 million barrels per day.

Thus, Iran would be perfectly positioned to step into Russias role in the 2017 agreement. That is if not for US sanctions that will become operative Nov. 5th and will stifle Iran's participation in the global oil market.

The unintended consequences of the get tough sanctions on Iran continue to accumulate. As part of its agreement with OPEC, Russia held back 300,000 barrels of daily oil production from global markets for over a year. We are witnessing ever-stronger ties between Saudi Arabia and Russia, former Cold War foes, and an expansion of Russian geopolitical power.

Yes, Israel and the UAE are happy to see a strategic competitors economy shackled, but its Russia thats stepping into the power vacuum Iran left.

These developments comprise a surprising shift that US foreign policy will have to grapple with for years to come. If Trumps primary focus is to "get prices down now" ahead of US midterm elections, easing up on Iranian sanctions might be his best route to victory.
GREENWICH  A push to resolve parking problems on Hillside Road has been delayed while the Greenwich Public Schools looks for the money needed to pay a consultant for a study on the issue.

That has fallen behind schedule, Town Administrator Benjamin Branyan told the Board of Selectmen at its meeting Thursday morning. Hundreds of hours of work has gone into resolving questions about permit parking and complaints from residents about the traffic, said Branyan, who has headed a working group since spring on the issue. But a consultant must be approved for next step to move forward.

Thats a critical recommendation, and several of the recommendations rely on it, he said. We are actively working with the school district to get that back on track.

The expected cost for the consultant is $73,700  down from an initial estimate of $125,000, said Thomas Bobkowski, director of safety and security at Greenwich High. The districts cabinet is working to find the money in the current school years budget, he said.

In June, the selectmen accepted a report with 19 recommendations about parking on Hillside Road, heavily used road next to Greenwich High. Student permit parking is currently allowed there, but one of the recommendations is to move visitor parking to the street and the student permit parking to the school property.

The working group, which was formed in June, and its report came about as a result of complaints from Hillside Road residents about heavy traffic volume at the start and end of the school day. Parents double- and triple-parking outside the school creates traffic headaches.

Selectman Sandy Litvack asked when the money to hire the consultant might be approved, but no timeframe was given. I hope its soon, Branyan said.

More News Traffic fixes to Greenwichs clogged Arch Street corridor at least a year away

As a result of the delay, the selectmen are keeping the item open.

This is one of those things that, in my experience, unless everybody is feeling pressure its just too easy for it to slide and not get done in a timely fashion, Litvack said. He wants the school district to act in a prompt manner.

First Selectman Peter Tesei agreed.

If we keep it on the agenda until we get the resolution, which is the actual contracting of the traffic study, done, it will keep the spotlight on it, Tesei said.

If the school district is not able to find money for the consultant in its current 2018-19 budget, it would have to request an allocation from the towns Board of Estimate and Taxation. That allocation would then need to be approved by the Representative Town Meeting.

Bobkowski said the district is using the same traffic consultant, Fuss and ONeill, which is in place for its look at Cardinal Stadium. Initially, the two projects were linked, which is the reason for the higher cost, he said. But the district separated them so the traffic study could focus on the committees recommendation, leading to the lower cost.

But the price tag still caused concerns.

That sounds like a heck of a lot of money, Litvack said. I have no basis to say that, but it just feels like its very high.

Given the scope of the study and the needed work, such as parking lot monitoring, the cost is in line, Bobskowski said.

While the lack of funding for the consultant has caused delays, Branyan did offer a positive assessment.

Other progress has been made, he said. I think one that one that has had the biggest impact was about the rental activities that had the potential to interfere with both the high school and Parks and Recreation activity.

That included Trinity Churchs rental of the school for its Sunday services, something that neighbors said has added to the parking congestion even when school is not in session. But the church found a new location for its services.

That helps traffic congestion, Branyan said.

Since late in the last school year, Greenwich High haw worked to cut down on double parking on Hillside Road by moving drop-off and pickup to the back of the school building and adding more signs.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
MILFORD  A stretch of Interstate 95 north was shut down during peak morning rush hour for roughly seven hours Thursday when a dump truck fatally slammed into the Quarry Road overpass.

The dump truck was ...believed to have the dump body in the up position, said Sgt. Robert Derry of Connecticut State Police Troop G in Bridgeport.

The driver, who has yet to be identified by state police, was tossed from his vehicle after the truck hit the highway overpass between Exits 40 and 41 around 7:45 a.m., said Milford Fire Battalion Chief Anthony Fabrizi.

A second passenger vehicle was also involved in the crash, but the driver was not seriously injured, Fabrizi said.

Derry said four other vehicles were involved in the crash. He gave no further details.

The force of the impact ripped the rear box bed off the trucks wheels and mangled the drivers cab. The truck was left overturned, blocking all three lanes of I-95 and shutting down the highway until around 3 p.m.

The male driver was ejected upon impact and sustained extensive traumatic injuries, Fabrizi said. He said a passing physician and an EMT who came across the wreck shortly after it happened rendered initial medical care to the victim until fire department paramedics showed up.

The driver died from his injuries while being transported to Yale Trauma Center, reports said.

The crash shut down Quarry Road across I-95 out of concern that the bridge might have structural damage from being hit. But after a safety inspection by the state Department of Transportation, it was reopened about two hours later.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection sent a representative because of hazardous fluids that leaked onto the highway.

State police continue to investigate the accident.
The European Union is certain to be caught in the crossfire as the United States and China slug it out in their escalating trade war, former World Trade Organisation (WTO) director general Pascal Lamy has warned. As Daily Express writes in an article "US trade war hits EU: Former WTO boss warns European companies at risk in Trump trade war", Mr Lamy urged the bloc to prepare for its companies to be targeted by American sanctions with the ongoing dispute between the two superpowers showing no sign of resolution.

As they weigh up a response to renewed US sanctions against Iran, which have forced an exodus of European companies from the Middle Eastern country, EU governments should consider the prospect of similar extraterritorial measures penalising China trade, Mr Lamy told an international investment conference in Paris.

He said: "If the US were to step further in not only hitting China with trade measures but with sanctions, if they were to deal with China the way they did with Iran, then we would all have a big problem.

"That's why we need to have a careful look at what will happen in the case of Iran."

A surge in global protectionism from Brexit to the US-China trade war has done little to dent foreign direct investment flows overall, according to data presented to the XBMA conference on cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

The global volume of M&A deals is projected to rise 26 percent this year to $4.34 trillion.

This is its second-highest annual total since 2007, the eve of the last major financial crisis.

Chinese investors accounted for a record 20 percent of European inbound deal volume last year as some turned their attention away from the United States.

Europe-China trade is also expected to benefit from increased US-China tariffs and other barriers.

The Trump administration in May withdrew Washington from an international agreement to curb Tehran's nuclear activities, and imposed new sanctions against Iran.

That triggered the mass withdrawal of European companies from carmakers to oil majors, in order to avoid crippling US penalties reintroduced in stages on August 6 and November 4.

European governments have pledged in response to establish new financing channels which shield companies from US sanctions, but a viable programme has yet to emerge.

Although the White House declared a truce with Brussels in late July, European companies have been caught in the crossfire of the US tariff row with China.

The EU Chamber of Commerce in Beijing last month said its members were becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of clear information from officials amid the growing trade war between the US and China.

The comments by Mr Lamy, who served as EU Trade Commissioner before heading the WTO, expanded on recommendations published in a policy paper last week by the Jacques Delors institute, a European think-tank.

Europe could create its own extraterritorial mechanisms to sanction breaches of environmental, data protection, tax and anti-corruption laws, according to the paper co-authored by Mr Lamy and four others including Louis Schweitzer, honorary chairman of carmaker Renault.

Failing that, it said Brussels could use existing directives to halt the EU activities of foreign banks "from a third country that imposes extraterritorial provisions on EU companies.
The George W. Bush administration had its "Axis of Evil." Now the Trump administration has coined the term "Troika of Tyranny" to describe the group of oppressive Latin American dictators it is now pledging to confront. The administration is right to call out the crimes of the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. But it remains to be seen if the White House can deliver a comprehensive strategy to go along with the rhetoric.

National security adviser John Bolton gave a speech Thursday afternoon at the Freedom Tower in Miami to a crowd filled with people who fled Cuba and Venezuela to escape the cruelty and oppression of the Castro and Maduro regimes. Linking those situations with the escalating repression of the Daniel Ortega government in Nicaragua, Bolton promised a new, comprehensive U.S. approach that will ramp up U.S. involvement in pushing back against what the administration sees as a leftist, anti-democratic resurgence in the region.

"This Troika of Tyranny, this triangle of terror stretching from Havana to Caracas to Managua, is the cause of immense human suffering, the impetus of enormous regional instability, and the genesis of a sordid cradle of communism in the Western Hemisphere," Bolton said. "The United States looks forward to watching each corner of the triangle fall. . . . The Troika will crumble."

It's no coincidence that Bolton is in South Florida just days before the 2018 midterm elections. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., the son of Cuban immigrants, is defending his seat in a district that favored Hillary Clinton in 2016 by 16 points. Former journalist Maria Elvira Salazar, also born to Cuban immigrant parents, is running as a Republican against Bill Clinton administration official Donna Shalala to replace Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), who is retiring.

There's also a neck-and-neck gubernatorial race between Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., and while Hispanics overall favor Gillum, Cuban Americans strongly favor DeSantis.

But administration sources insist this new Latin America policy is not just to get out the vote. Once the election is over, the White House is vowing to use all the tools of national power to raise the pressure on the leaders of these three governments, especially targeting their ability to corruptly enrich themselves.

Last year, President Trump signed a presidential memorandum (NSPM-5), entitled, "Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba," which set the broad outlines of what the larger campaign will prioritize. The policy aims not only to roll back the Obama administration's efforts to normalize the U.S.-Cuba relationship but also to ramp up efforts to contain the regime and support those inside the country struggling for greater political, economic and religious freedom.

Experts said the test will be whether the Trump administration can maintain focus and follow through with real results after the U.S. midterm elections are over.

"It is true what they say that these are three regimes that are horrible and deserve to be treated as pariahs, but nothing has worked so far," said former Venezuelan minister of industry and trade Moises Naim, now a distinguished fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "Cuba has been a challenging issue for every administration since the Bay of Pigs invasion and no American president has been able to solve that puzzle. So let's see if they have come up with a new remedy, a new strategy, a new regional approach. Right now, we don't know."

So far, the Trump administration's approach to Latin America has been ad hoc. Most recently, Trump has threatened to cut off U.S. aid to Honduras, a country that cooperates extensively with the United States, unless that government stopped a "caravan" of migrants heading toward the U.S. southern border. The Trump administration's relationship with Mexico has been contentious due to Mexico's refusal to pay for Trump's border wall. Trump has floated the idea of using the U.S. military to invade Venezuela, which evoked fears of past U.S. intervention in the region.

But there are positive signs that there is opportunity for a reset. The United States and Mexico have come to a new trade agreement that the incoming Mexican president - not a natural Trump ally - seems to accept. Brazil's new president-elect has a terrible record of past statements but is someone whom Trump might be able to do business with. If the United States led a true regional approach aimed at addressing the continent's growing humanitarian crises, most Latin American countries might be persuaded to come on board.

Absent such an approach, the deteriorating situations in Venezuela and Nicaragua are likely to create more refugees, more mass migration, more regional economic strife and as a result, more repression, suffering and instability. Bolton's "Troika of Tyranny" label won't solve anything by itself. But if it's followed up with a real strategy, it could be the beginning of what's needed to prevent Latin America's failing states from dragging the rest of the hemisphere down with them.
To the editor,

Almost three years ago I wrote in this column why it was time to support then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. Now in his second year as promised, Trump has already brought unemployment to 50-year lows, doubled GDP growth, lowered our federal tax obligations, increased awareness of the illegal immigration crisis, re-balanced government spending on national defense and municipal law enforcement, and restructured trade agreements to even the playing field and hold dishonest nation-states accountable.

In Connecticut, control of all three branches of state government, both Senate seats and all five Congressional seats these past eight years have been under Democratic leadership.

Lets stop the charade that Democrats have actually done anything to help our great state. Its time for change and to refocus our energies on fixing what ails Connecticut by supporting our Republican candidates: Bob Stefanowski for governor, Joe Markley for lieutenant governor, Thad Gray for treasurer, and the rest of our local Republican delegation. Please join me in voting for a new dawn in Connecticut, my home state.

John Lucarelli

Greenwich
Saudi Arabias public prosecutor Saud Al Mojeb has refused to answer key questions asked by his Turkish counterparts as part of an investigation into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to daily Hurriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi. Mojeb arrived in Istanbul on Oct. 28 night and held talks on Oct. 29 with Istanbuls chief prosecutor, days after he contradicted weeks of Saudi statements by saying that Khashoggis killing was premeditated. He held a second round of talks with the Turkish prosecutor, Irfan Fidan, at the court house on Oct. 30 before inspecting the Saudi consulate in the Levent neighborhood. Hurriyet Daliy News reported citing Demiroren News Agency that Mojeb also visited the Istanbul office of Turkey's National Intelligence Agency (MIT) early Oct. 31.

Citing unidentified government sources, Selvi wrote on Oct. 31 Turkish authorities shared with Mojeb some visual evidence in the case, but felt uncomfortable when the Saudi prosecutor insisted to get a virtual copy of Khashoggis phone.

According to Selvi, Turkish officials were in a deep distrust toward Mojeb as he repeatedly refused to answer questions about the whereabouts of Khashoggis body and the identity of the killers local collaborator that he had publicly pointed without elaborating. Why did the Saudi prosecutor hide the knowledge about the bodys location from his Turkish counterparts? Because he may have visited Turkey not to solve the murder case but to save the crown prince, Selvi concluded.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and a critic of Saudi Arabias de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, was killed inside the consulate after he went there to get documents for his forthcoming marriage on Oct. 2.

After a weeks-long denial, Saudi Arabia admitted on Oct. 25 that the journalist fell victim to a premeditated killing in the building while arresting 18 people, although the whereabouts of his body remained unclear. The Washington Post said Oct. 30 it was still waiting for answers on the killing of its contributor and urged the U.S. Congress to impose sanctions on those responsible for the murder. In an opinion piece, the Posts editorial board said what happened to Khashoggis body remained undisclosed.

The board accused the Saudi government and its de facto accomplices in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump of remaining silent instead of clarifying the questions about the murder. It said those behind the killing were hoping that demands for accountability will fade away now that the story has been pushed from the front pages. That should not be allowed to happen. What the Turks still dont know has been publicly voiced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Where is Mr. Khashoggis body? And who ordered and oversaw this grisly operation? it said. The Saudis know the answers to both those questions, and Mr. Trump might, too. Experts on Saudi Arabia are virtually unanimous in saying that such an audacious mission must have been known about, and most likely was ordered, by the kingdoms de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, it said.

The board said that Congress should summon CIA Director Gina Haspel, who was in Turkey last week and briefed Trump, and other senior U.S. officials and determine what they know about the killing. Then it should take decisive action to impose sanctions on those responsible --including, if the available evidence points to him, Mohammed bin Salman-- and reshape U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia, said the board.

Erdogan said 18 people arrested in Saudi Arabia for the killing should be extradited to Turkey to face trial, while Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the kingdom would try the suspects after an investigation is completed.




Haiti - FLASH : Recruitment of a class of soldiers





The High Command of the Haitian Armed Forces informs the general public and the interested parties in particular that a register of registration is open to young men and women of the 10 geographical departments.



From Monday 12th to Friday 16th November 2018 the applicants will be received from 9am to 3pm :



- In Les Cayes : Departmental Emergency Operation Center / Civil Protection Department (COUD/CPD)

- In Leogane : at the Military Base

- In Cap-Haitien : Departmental Emergency Operations Center / Civil Protection Directorate (COUD/CPD), Mombin Lataille



Criteria and conditions of admission :

1 - To be of Haitian nationality and never to have renounced his nationality;

2 - Be between 18 and 25 years old;

3 - To be in good physical and mental health

4 - Have passed at least the 9th Year Fundamental;

5 - Have passed the intellectual and physical examination provided for this purpose;



Documents required at registration :

1 - Certificate of 9th Year Fundamental;

2 - Certificate of good life and morals, issued by the National Police of Haiti;

3 - Original of the birth certificate or extract from the National Archives of Haiti;

4 - 4 recent date ID photos: 2 face and 2 profile

5 - National Identification Card (CIN) and Fiscal Number (NIF)



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : Canaan now has a modern municipal school





The Mayor of Croix-des-Bouquets Rony Colin is convinced that school can contribute to the building of the society and is an open door for students to a better future. It is in this perspective that the municipal administration has built in Canaan, a modern municipal school to meet the needs of the population and provide students with a pleasant learning environment consistent with pedagogical principles.



This school infrastructure, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the American Red Cross, was built in accordance with paraseismic and paraseismic standards.



From now on, families in the Canaan area will no longer need to send their children elsewhere to benefit from the bread of education, since their community now has its own school infrastructure which has nothing to envy at the architectural level to some famous establishments of Haiti.



The Municipal Council asks the people of Canaan to protect and manage this school infrastructure.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : Recruitment of professional executives for the Haitian Armed Forces





The High Command of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H) informs the public in general and the interested parties of the two sexes in particular, that within the framework of the reinforcement of the operational capacities of the military institution, a competition will be organized for the following professionals :



Doctors, civil engineers, architectural engineers, computer engineers, electrical and electronic engineers and agronomists.



Interested parties are invited to submit their file on Thursday 15 or Friday 16 November 2018 between 9am and 3pm at the Leogane Military Base.



Criteria and conditions :

1 - To be of Haitian nationality and never to have renounced his nationality;

2 - Be between the ages of 22 and 35;

3 - To be in good physical and mental health;

4 - Hold at least a license recognized by the Haitian State.



Required documents for registration (originals and copies) :

1 - Certificate of Completion of Secondary Studies (BAC II);

2 - License in one or more of the above disciplines;

3 - Curriculum Vitae (recent);

4 - Certificate of good lives and morals, issued by the National Police of Haiti;

5 - Birth certificate or an extract from the National Archives of Haiti of recent date;

6 - 4 recent identity photos: 2 front and 2 in profile;

7 - National Identification Card (CIN) and Fiscal Number (NIF);

8 - A letter of motivation



Note : The mastery of the Spanish language is desirable.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2018/10/31 | Source

On the latest episode of the SBS drama "Two Lives One Heart", Yoon Hyeon-il (Jung Bo-suk) suggested Choi Seok-han (Uhm Ki-joon) performing surgery on a presidential candidate.

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An immunotherapy conceived at Stanford appeared safe in an early clinical trial. Half of the participants responded positively to the treatment, aimed at triggering macrophages to engulf cancer cells, the researchers reported.

A novel immunotherapy appears safe for use in patients with a type of blood cancer called non-Hodgkins lymphoma, according to a phase-1 multicenter clinical trial led by a researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Although some patients showed signs of a transitory anemia or reactions at the injection site, there were few other significant side effects to the treatment, the researchers said.

The therapy combines an experimental antibody developed by researchers at Stanford and a commercially available anti-cancer antibody called rituximab. The experimental antibody, known as Hu5F9-G4, blocks the protein CD47, a dont eat me signal that inhibits immune attacks on cancer cells. The antibody combination was used to treat people with two types of non-Hodgkins lymphoma: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma.

Half of the 22 people enrolled in phase 1 of the trial had a positive response to the therapy, and about one-third went into complete remission from their cancer.

It was very gratifying to see how the treatment was well-tolerated and showed a clinically meaningful response, said Ranjana Advani, MD, professor of medicine at Stanford.

A paper describing the results of the phase-1 trial was published Nov. 1 in The New England Journal of Medicine. Advani is the lead author. The senior author is Sonali Smith, MD, a professor of medicine at the University of Chicago.

The trial was funded by Forty Seven Inc., the company that licensed the patent from Stanformid to produce Hu5F9-G4, and by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Silencing dont eat me signal

In 2010, researchers led by Irving Weissman, MD, director of the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, showed that nearly all cancer cells cover themselves with a protein known as CD47, which acts as a dont eat me signal to immune cells called macrophages.

Weissman and his colleagues later developed an antibody called Hu5F9-G4 that blocks the CD47 protein, prompting macrophages to engulf and devour cancer cells. Rituximab is an antibody that has been shown to amplify positive eat me signals.

The combination of rituximab and Hu5F-G4 has previously been shown to work well in fighting human cancers in animal models, but this is the first published result of a clinical trial of this therapy in humans. The clinical trial builds upon previous studies of CD47 and its role in cancer that were conducted in Weissmans laboratory and funded by the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.

For this clinical trial, participants were administered a combination of Hu5F-G4 and rituximab at 10 clinical centers. All the patients in the study had failed to respond to or relapsed after at least two previous types of therapy. Hu5F-G4 was administered to the patients at slowly increasing dosages to test for adverse reactions to the antibody.

Of the 22 patients enrolled in the trial, 11 showed a clinically significant reduction in their cancers. In eight of those patients, all signs of cancer were eliminated, Advani said. Three other patients in the trial did not respond to the treatment and died due to disease progression.

Although there are many things that can kill cancer cells, the real test of a therapy is whether it can kill the cancer cells without harming normal cells. Advani said she was particularly pleased that the researchers observed only minor side effects in the participants.

Its very exciting to have a potentially new class of immunotherapy like this, said Advani, who is the Saul A. Rosenberg, MD, Professor of Lymphoma. For the first time we have an antibody that activates macrophages against cancer and appears to be safe for use in humans.

Miracle and devastation

Clinical trial participant Michael Stornetta, a retired Santa Rosa businessman who said he had never previously been sick with anything worse than colds, flus and the usual childhood maladies, was hit with follicular lymphoma over five years ago. He said that after attempting multiple therapies with varying degrees of success, he was referred to the Hu5F9-G4 trial at Stanford.

In October of 2017, he drove with his wife and son to Stanford to view the first scans that would reveal whether the experimental treatment was working. The scans showed that his cancer was significantly reduced. By strange coincidence, the very day that he learned that the treatment was working, he also learned that his house had burned to the ground in the Sonoma County fires. It felt like a miracle on one side and devastation on the other, Stornetta said.

Weissman and Ravindra Majeti, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at Stanford, are co-authors of the paper. Weissman is a founder of Forty Seven, and he and Majeti are board members of the company. Other Stanford-affiliated authors are instructor of medicine Mark Chao, MD, PhD, and clinical research coordinator Thu Tran. Chao is a founder of Forty Seven and its vice president of clinical development.

In addition to being members of Stanfords stem cell institute, Weissman and Majeti are also members of the Stanford Cancer Institute and of the Stanford Ludwig Center for Cancer Stem Cell Research and Medicine. Advani also is a member of the Stanford Cancer Institute.

Researchers at the City of Hope, Sarah Cannon Research Institute/Tennessee Oncology, the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Washington University in St. Louis, Levine Cancer Institute, the University of Chicago, the National Cancer Institute, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the University of Oxford also contributed to the study.

Stanfords Department of Medicine also supported the work.

By CHRISTOPHER VAUGHAN

Christopher Vaughan is the communications manager for the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Email him at vaughan1@stanford.edu.

By KRISTA CONGER

Krista Conger is a science writer for the medical schools Office of Communication & Public Affairs. Email her at kristac@stanford.edu.
The 8th edition of Azerbaijan Fashion Week will be held at the Museum Center in Baku on November 1-3. The official slogan of the 8th AFW season - Art meets fashion - reflects the choice of the main site for shows.

The main visuals of the 8th Azerbaijan Fashion Week are the works of Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, Associate Professor of the State Academy of Arts, Ph.D. in Art History and Honorary Academician of the Imperial Academy of Russia Rashad Mehdiyev.

The event will last three days with many local and foreign brands such as Kaftan, Aygun Talibova, Ckmci, Meeamee, SK collection, A.Sain, Mak Mari, La veine, Noora, Elian Couture, Aya Bapani, NUBI Couture, Zherebtsov, Ayshan Habibova and others, Trend reported.

Designers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Tajikistan will present their latest collections of the spring-summer 2019 season to the guests.
Emma Mhic Mhathuna (right) compiled a memory book for her five children before her death

Cervicalcheck campaigner Emma Mhic Mhathuna's family has revealed details of a special "memory book" she compiled for her five children before her death.

It features photographs, letters, tributes, press cuttings and mementos of her life, especially about how she fearlessly fought for justice once the cervical cancer check scandal emerged.

Press photographers who covered many of the events in Emma's final months are to donate portfolios of pictures for the book.

These will include photographs from her High Court victory in the scandal, her various public appearances in Dublin and Kerry, her meeting with President Michael D Higgins and even the stand-up comedy routine she performed to fulfil a lifelong ambition.

Her aim was for each of her five children, particularly the youngest, to have a detailed account of her campaign for justice for the 221 women affected by the CervicalCheck scandal.

The children, Natasha, Seamus, Mario, Oisin and Donnacha, range in age from three to 16.

"Emma's biggest fear was that her youngest children might not remember her as the years went by," a relative said.

"The book was her idea for something that her children could refer to for the rest of their lives about her and the courageous person she was."

Emma, who lived for the final 18 months of her life in Baile na nGall in the Kerry gaeltacht, was determined her children would have a personal record of her campaign.

She was told incorrectly five years ago that her smear tests had no indicators of cancer.

Incorrect

In May, she agreed a 7.5m settlement with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and US laboratory, Quest Diagnostics, over the incorrect diagnosis that she did not have early signs of cervical cancer.

The results were only discovered on a full review of test samples years later.

In July, Emma revealed that her cancer, which she was first informed about in 2016, had spread to her brain and was terminal. Despite undergoing treatment with revolutionary new immunotherapy drugs, the cancer failed to go into remission and Emma died in University Hospital Kerry on October 7 at the age of 37.

Before her death, Emma had also commissioned five miniature busts of herself as special mementos for each of her five children so that they would have unique momentos of her.

Her daughter, Natasha, took one of the busts to the altar as an offertory gift during her mother's requiem mass in Baile na nGall.

Emma also had a requiem mass in Dublin's Pro-Cathedral, the church she attended as a child while studying at a nearby gaelscoil.
Thieves Catherine Dempsey and Carlos Lawrence had a wedge hammer when they robbed Alan Greene

A couple who terrorised a man they were told had a lot of money have been sentenced to a total of 12 years for burglary and stealing more than 16,000.

Carlos Lawrence (27), of Rosary Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to theft and burglary while armed with a wedge hammer at Wainsfort Manor Grove, Terenure, last December 13.

His partner and mother of his twin boys, Catherine Dempsey (26), of Michael Mallin House, Vicar Street, Dublin 8, admitted stealing 15,000 in cash and burglary in the same robbery.

Protagonist

Judge Melanie Greally had adjourned the case after hearing evidence earlier this month.

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday she said Lawrence had been the protagonist.

"He alone made the threats, he alone used the hammer and he was responsible for the violence," she added, noting that the offence was "committed against a man in his own home".

She accepted that Dempsey was "unaware of the full extent of Lawrence's intentions".

The judge acknowledged that Lawrence had expressed remorse both to the victim and Dempsey, who was sentenced to five years in prison with the final three suspended.

Lawrence was sentenced to seven years with the final year suspended.

The judge allowed for the fact that he was "in the throes of a severe drug addiction" at the time, that he had expressed remorse, had a good work history and difficult background.

Det Sgt Jason Miley told prosecutor Antonia Boyle at the sentence hearing earlier this month that Alan Greene was asleep in his bedroom when Lawrence smashed through the glass of the room's French doors with a hammer.

Mr Greene struggled with the intruder, but the man managed to get inside.

The house alarm was sounding and Lawrence told Mr Greene to switch it off, before telling him to open the front door to allow Dempsey in.

The pair shouted at him to give them money, telling Mr Greene that "G" had told him he had lots of money.

Det Sgt Miley confirmed that "G" was Mr Greene's partner and had introduced him to Lawrence and Dempsey two months before.

The sergeant said that on the night of the burglary, Lawrence claimed "G" owed him 200,000 after she stole a stash of crack cocaine, and he said Mr Greene would have to pay for it.

Pressure

The apartment was ransacked and 150 was taken before Mr Greene was made to withdraw 1,200 from a local ATM using two different cards.

The next morning, Dempsey accompanied him to the bank, where he withdrew 15,000.

Gardai arrived at the couples' home later that day and 12,500 was recovered from Dempsey.

Det Sgt Miley said Dempsey claimed she was put under pressure to go into the bank.

A victim impact statement from Mr Greene acknowledged that 12,455 of the 16,350 stolen was returned to him.

He said the burglary occupies all of his thoughts. "The real impact is being at home alone," his statement read.
The future of Dun Laoghaire as an innovative tech hub has been thrown into doubt after the developer backed out.

Philip Gannon, the man behind the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Innovation Hub, has walked away after the leaseholder failed to obtain a foreshore planning licence.

The multi-million-euro project, which was two years in the planning, was set to bring a wealth of companies to the south Dublin suburb as well as hundreds of jobs and a cash injection worth about 6m a year to the local economy.

Mr Gannon said Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, which took ownership of the proposed site, a former ferry terminal, provided a lack of "concrete information" on when he would receive the foreshore licence. As a result, he was pulling out completely.

"Two years after the ferry terminal building was put up for lease, one year after I signed the lease, and seven weeks after I received planning permission, there was still no foreshore licence in place," Mr Gannon said. "This project is privately funded, so in the absence of any concrete information in relation to the foreshore lease, I feel that I had no choice but to cut my losses and terminate the lease agreement."

Incredible

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company was dissolved on October 3 and ownership transferred from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to the county council.

Mr Gannon said he was examining other sites where he could pursue the project.

Aileen Eglington, the president of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber, questioned if there had been the time for due diligence.

"It's a shame because I think his vision for Dun Laoghaire and his vision for that building is incredible. I'd like to think it could happen," she said.

However, Fine Gael councillor Barry Ward said he had spoken to Mr Gannon and the developer had been adamant he would not be returning.

"I asked on a number of occ-asions if he would change his mind and I don't think he will," said Mr Ward. "I spoke to the chief executive of the council and the foreshore licence is not an issue, we have a written order that it was granted, it just hasn't been drafted."

Mr Ward said he had spoken to a number of other parties who were interested in picking up where Mr Gannon left off.

"The space that is available and the location that is available is second to none," he said.

Transport, Tourism and Sport Minister Shane Ross was enquiring into why the foreshore licence had not been granted, his spokesperson said.
Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe has said he decided to retire from An Garda Siochana because it was "in the best interests" of his family.

Yesterday, just hours before he officially retired, Sergeant McCabe praised recently appointed Garda Commissioner Drew Harris but insisted now is the right time to step down.

"I am happy with the findings of the Charleton Tribunal, but I think it is in the best interests of my family to retire from policing," he said.

After 30 years of serving as a garda, Sgt McCabe is now preparing for life outside the force.

Meeting

"For the last few years, I've been snowed under with paperwork from the tribunals and other investigations.

"I'm going to take a month or two off now and spend it with the family," he said.

Since the publication of Justice Peter Charleton's report earlier this month, Sgt McCabe has met personally with Commissioner Harris and the two discussed the future of policing in this country.

"We had a fantastic meeting with the commissioner," Sgt McCabe said.

"He came to the house for an hour-and-a-half. He outlined his plans for policing, and I believe he wants to change the garda for the better."

The whistleblower, who uncovered widespread malpractice in the penalty point system, only told his wife Lorraine and their five children he planned to retire at midnight.

The rest of their family and friends were not told of the decision which brings to an end a dark chapter in Irish policing.

Garda Assistant Commissioner Fintan Fanning went to the McCabe family home last night to complete the retirement process with Sgt McCabe.

Today is his last day as a garda, and he will wake up tomorrow morning as an ordinary citizen. However, he will always be remembered as a garda who spent more than a decade seeking to raise awareness of malpractice in the force.

His six-year battle to expose allegations of negligence led to the resignations of two garda commissioners, Martin Callinan and Noirin O'Sullivan, and two justice ministers, Alan Shatter and Frances Fitzgerald.

He endured years of public inquiries which all found he was a diligent member of An Garda Siochana who was seeking to raise matters of genuine concern.

The Charleton Tribunal found that former commissioner Callinan, along with garda press officer David Taylor conducted a smear campaign against Sgt McCabe. They attempted to damage his reputation while he was raising concerns about malpractice in the force.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan praised Sgt McCabe's "persistence, courage and great sense of duty".
Brendan Doyle, who has cerebral palsy, has been awarded a settlement that will look after him for life, the High Court said. Photo: Collins

A 49-year-old man who sued over his care at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin has settled his High Court action for 5.9m.

A shunt that had been in Brendan Doyle's brain since childhood was removed when he was admitted to Beaumont in 2011 but not reinserted, the court heard.

It had "tragic consequences" and Mr Doyle is blind, his counsel Denis McCullough said.

It was the "final straw", counsel said, and Mr Doyle, who has cerebral palsy and mild learning disabilities, has lived in a nursing home ever since.

Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Kevin Cross said it was a sad incident and it had a catastrophic effect on Mr Doyle.

He said the settlement would look after Mr Doyle for the rest of his life.

He noted the hospital had admitted liability and had taken a reasonable approach in relation to the future accommodation needs of Mr Doyle, who will now be able to move out of the nursing home.

Mr Doyle, of Lawson House, Glenbrien, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, sued Beaumont Hospital through his brother, John, over the circumstances of his care.

It was claimed that on June 1, 2011, he complained of a headache and vomiting. He went to his local hospital in Wexford, where he had a CT scan, and was referred to Beaumont.

It was claimed that, because of a suspicion that Mr Doyle had sustained a shunt-related infection, the brain shunt was removed a few days later.

It was decided it was not necessary to re-establish the shunt.

Aggrieved

Mr Doyle was discharged from Beaumont on June 10, 2011, with directions to continue antibiotic therapy. After a few days in his local hospital, he was discharged on June 16, 2011.

The next day, he went back to his local hospital complaining of increased weakness. He had a CT scan, followed by another in July.

Mr Doyle was referred back to outpatients at Beaumont and, in August 2011, his case was reviewed.

It was claimed that the impression was formed that Mr Doyle's condition was improving and another CT scan was recommended for December 2011.

In early September 2011, he suffered loss of vision, it was claimed, and was referred back to Beaumont where he underwent surgery.

Notwithstanding the reinsertion of the brain shunt, Mr Doyle lost his eyesight.

In a statement read outside the court by solicitor Michael Boylan, John Doyle said the family felt aggrieved that liability had only been admitted in January this year, six-and-a-half years after the incident.

"Brendan has wasted almost seven years of his life in a nursing home with no effective rehabilitation programme, surrounded by elderly patients and having to wait for a call bell to be answered just so he can use the bathroom," the statement read.

"Before this he required supervision only, rather than care. Brendan was an active and contributing member of his community."
A further 13 primary schools are also due to be established next year, including a Gaelscoil school, with the patronage of the other 12 to be determined. (stock photo)

Four new Educate Together secondary schools are to be established next year to address pressures from a growing population, the Department of Education has announced.

The new schools, located in Dublin, Wicklow, Louth and Galway, will accommodate a total of about 3,200 pupils, with classrooms set to open from September next year.

Education Minister Joe McHugh said parents were consulted in determining the patronage of the schools as Educate Together, following recommendations from the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG).

"The establishment of these new schools forms an essential part of plans to ensure that sufficient new school places are available to cater for the growing cohort of pupils at post-primary level over the coming years," Mr McHugh said.

Interim accommodation is to be found for pupils next September where school buildings are still under construction.

A further 13 primary schools are also due to be established next year, including a Gaelscoil school, with the patronage of the other 12 to be determined.

The NSEG is responsible for reviewing an area where there is a need for additional places. It then recommends patronage, such as Educate Together, to meet diversity requirements. CLOSURES

The populations to be served by the four Educate Together schools are Donaghmede and Howth, Wicklow, Galway City and Oranmore, and Laytown and Drogheda.

It comes as it emerged that more than a third of the schools assessed for structural deficits will now require intervention following on-site inspections.

Assessments of all 42 schools built by Western Building Systems (WBS) have been completed, with 17 requiring intervention, while reports from a further 13 school buildings continue to be analysed.Ardgillan Community College, in Dublin, remains closed, while three other schools - Tyrrelstown Educate Together NS, the adjoining St Luke's NS, and Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada - are to partially close, with only the ground floors reopening to pupils and staff on Monday.

The Department of Education said it was looking at interim accommodation for pupils who cannot return to their old classrooms on the upper floors of the affected buildings.

A further 14 schools require external intervention and supports in the form of fencing and protective decking.

In a statement, WBS said it had not seen any of the assessments by the department.

"So far, we have been invited to meet with the department's inspectors and officials at 13 of the 42 schools. We had insufficient time on site to make structural evaluations," it read.

"That such a turnaround is now being reached is troubling on a wider scale."
The next meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) will be held on December 14, 2018 in Baku, spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva said.

Azerbaijan assumed the BSEC chairmanship at the 38th meeting of the Organization's Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which took place on June 27. Azerbaijan will chair the BSEC until December 2018, TASS recalls.
In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome!
A passenger bus has crashed into the back of a truck on a highway in northern Turkish province of Kastamanu, killing two people and wounding 31 others  including 20 soldiers travelling to join their army units, Anadolu Agency reported.

According to the report, the accident occurred today near the town of Tosya.

The DHA news agency said the bus was traveling from Istanbul to the city of Samsun. The bus driver and his assistant were killed at the scene. None of the injured passengers was in serious condition.

The cause of the accident, which temporarily shut down the highway, was under investigation.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said that the policy of deterrence, which NATO is conducting against Russia, hampers normal cooperation between the parties.

"NATO is sliding back to its 1949 disposition - to a policy of deterrence in its relations with our country," he said on the sidelines of the Core Group Meeting of the Munich Security Conference, which Minsk is hosting.

"There can be no normal cooperation under these conditions, since cooperation is possible when the parties do not regard each other as enemies, but presume that there are objective spheres of common interests,"TASS cited the senior diplomat as saying.

In 2014, the alliance froze its political dialogue with Russia almost completely. Beforehand, ambassador meetings of the Russia-NATO Council had been held several times a month on a variety of issues. There were two meetings this year (the last one was held on October 31. Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to NATO Yuri Gorlach represented Moscow).
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the sanctions imposed by Russia on Ukraine. The spokesman recalled that the government was implementing a presidential decree. At the same time, he stressed that "these are retaliatory sanctions."

"Russia did not initiate this kind of exchange of restrictions, Ukraine had imposed sanctions on a number of our companies and individuals. From the very beginning, we pointed out that reciprocal steps were inevitable," TASS cited Peskov as saying.

He added that Russia may remove retaliatory sanctions against Ukraine in case relations between the two countries improve. He clarified conditions for the removal of Russias retaliatory restrictions. According to him, it may happen "if we reach a point in the near future where we start taking steps to improve ties and ease tensions in bilateral relations."
Seven days of horror end with two ex-cops and two little girls dead
Armenia will hold snap parliamentary elections on December 9, acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said today.

"The election is not conditioned by the interests of Civil Contract or other party, the election is the choice of people, and they are to decide, Pashinyan said.

"The elections to the Yerevan Council of Elders as well as local elections were held under the old Electoral Code, and no one doubted the quality," the PM said.

The parliament will vote on the candidacy of a prime minister. If not elected, the parliament is considered to be dissolved, early elections are appointed. News.am reported.

Ex-mayor of Yerevan Vahagn Khachatryan, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza earlier, noted that the election should be held anyway, as it will allow to renew the parliament. "I understand that the Republicans dont want to give up, but even if they derail the electoral reform, they wont get a seat in the new parliament. Moreover, such actions of the Republicans only weaken their position. Politically it can be understood that they want to prove once again that they have an authority in parliament. But the population think that the Republicans just want to remain in power. Now they are unlikely to remain in the parliament," Khachatryan noted.

Former head of the Central Bank of Armenia Bagrat Asatryan agreed with the former mayor. Nobody doubts that the election will take place, the only question is whether it will be held under the new legislation or not. The RPA may boycott all the meeting, but one shouldnt see it as a tragedy. I think the parliament will be temporary in this case, aimed at changing the Constitution, improving electoral legislation, restoring the rule of law and fighting corruption. After this, the transitional parliament will open the way for new elections that will be much better," he predicts.

"The majority in the parliament under any Electoral Code will be received by the force headed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. At the same time, the Pashinyan team's proposals are quite reasonable: the amendments aim to have at least 4 forces present in the parliament. And the current opposition benefits the most from it - but instead it boycotts the adoption of the amendments," Bagrat Asatryan concluded.
The Armenian parliament has failed to elect only candidate Nikol Pashinyan as the countrys prime minister today, which means that a snap parliamentary election will be called.

"No one voted for Pashinyan, no one voted against him, while 13 abstained from voting," TASS cited Parliament Speaker Ara Babloyan as saying.

Pashinyan resigned as Armenian prime minister on October 16. On October 24, the parliament failed to elect him to head the cabinet in the first round of election.

In accordance with the countrys Constitution, the parliament is dissolved after twice failing to elect a prime minister, and a snap election is called. Pashinyan has already said the election would take place on December 9.

The director of the Armenian branch of the CIS Institute, Alexander Markarov, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza earlier, noted that "the party system that emerged during the last three electoral cycles ceased to exist, since the counterparties, which have became the de facto political majority, were a political minority until April of this year. The parties, of course, will fight for the parliament seats, some will receive 20-30% of the votes not given to Pashinyans party," he explained, stressing that about 70% of voters will vote for Pashinyan and his team.

"As a result, if earlier Pashinyan fought for the title of the main opposition force to other parties, now other parties will fight for the title of the main opposition force to Pashinyan. It is an interesting question who will it be, because Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia party, signed a memorandum of cooperation with Pashinyan. ARF Dashnaktsutyun should understand how it will position itself in these elections. The republicans have very ghostly chances of overcoming the 5% barrier (or 7% if they form some block)," Alexander Markarov said.

Today we have a strong leader and the absence of strong political parties as elements of the political system. If we are talking about democracy, then it presupposes the existence of a strong, workable and constructive opposition. For now, we see that the political field is monopolized - but monopolization does not lead to anything good," the director of the Armenian branch of the CIS Institute concluded.
CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov will be most likely be relieved of his post, Armenian President Armen Sarkisyan said on the sidelines of the Core Group Meeting of the Munich Security Conference, which Minsk is hosting.

According to the president, Khachaturov is representing Armenia, and it is up to the country to decide whether its representative has to remain a secretary general or not.

"At the moment a legal process continues," News.am cited Sarkisyan as saying.
The Supreme Court petition that asked to ban firecrackers also pleads to control pollution created from other sources, such as burning of crop stubble, garbage and vehicular emissions. Crop residue burning in farms around Indias capital directly affects high population density urban centres like Delhi and the NCR. Latest satellite images show that these fires have reduced in recent days. But theyre still contributing to almost 5% of the total pollution.

Farmers who burn crop residue in northern India do so knowingly and because they dont have an alternate economical and viable option. As the first inhalers of that choking smoke, much before it gets into any city dwellers lungs, theyre also early sufferers. But they continue to burn because this is the fastest way they have to turnaround their capital, which is their acreage.

This doesnt mean that they are justified in doing this at all. This, and anything that jeopardises human health to such a degree, is wrong, and must stop. It is our elected governments job to ensure that enforcement of such a mandate is being followed especially at a time when we are going through a national health emergency caused by pollution.

But reactive, band-aid solutions and challans arent going to help anyone. We need a comprehensive policy by a centralised, empowered and accountable authority tasked with quantifiable, timebound goals. And here is where every political party has let us  urban residents as well as farmers  down.

As always, this is about money. But it is also about intention.

Crop stubble burning isnt new. It is a recurring source which tips over an already high pollution baseload that north India suffers from due to geographical, meteorological and man-made factors.

What could the government have done, and can still do?

One: The Agriculture ministry can direct scientists and researchers from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the National Soil Research Institute, etc to create implementable solutions. Soil researchers can educate farmers on how burning damages the soil by depleting it of valuable nutrients, which, in turn, requires higher external application of fertilisers. Higher fertiliser use not just means a higher fertiliser subsidy outgo by the government (so again, taxpayers money) but also higher input costs for farmers. Simultaneously, appropriate agriculture scientists can identify and encourage the use of those seed varieties with softer stalks that can be used as fodder. Farmers from Punjab who I met confirmed that the high silica in the paddy stalks of the varieties they grow makes them inedible as animal fodder.

But more fundamentally, the government could easily get farmers to switch back to growing low-water use, nutrition-dense coarse grains such as pearl millet (bajra), finger millet (ragi), sorghum (jowar), barley, rye and maize by offering higher support price subsidies. These higher iron-content grains are perfect for a country where large swathes of the population are anaemic. Now that the governments biofuels policy allows inclusion of ethanol made from maize and sorghum, there is even less reason to further deplete north Indias water table by growing a high water-use paddy crop in a water-scarce area. These grains can be planted later, allowing farmers a longer turnaround window to clear their fields. As well, the ethanol produced from them can help farmers augment their income, besides creating new employment opportunities and saving on oil imports.

Two: Make waste valuable. Farmers wont burn it. Our scientists could be tasked to find solutions that reuse farm waste to monetise it. The government could directly pay farmers to deposit crop waste at collection centres or link it to their minimum support price payments. Simultaneously, they could subsidise entrepreneurs who create solutions like green refrigeration systems powered by farm waste or ecological crockery (which also reduces plastic use.)

Three: The Ministry of Rural Development can deploy free MGNREGS labour to farmers during harvest for acreage needing a quick turnaround, a much more productive use of our taxpaying rupee.

Punjab farmers seem happy with the Happy Seeder, a machine that simultaneously performs the dual job of cutting crop stubble and sowing seeds. But before propagating  and subsidising  this as the only solution, it is important to check whether these diesel-run machines wont just end up swapping one source of pollution with another, not to mention will lead to increase in costs with further rise in oil prices. In a labour-rich country like ours, deploying capital-intensive techniques like Happy Seeders is counter-intuitive.

But how do Uttar Pradesh farmers growing similar crops burn so much less? According to Chowdhury Pushpendra Singh, a Bulandshahar farmer, this is because farmers employ more traditional techniques that utilise most of the crop waste as fodder, animal bedding and compost. Crop stubble from basmati seed varieties 1121 and 1509 doesnt have very tough/high silica stalks, he explains. Singh is aware of the Happy Seeder, but still feels that traditional techniques with some tweaks in rice varieties could easily lower overall costs.

Instead of working on solutions like these, the government hasnt even finalised its much touted National Clean Air plan. However flawed, it was a start. Now, it looks like another season  and election  must pass before beleaguered, vulnerable citizens can hope for respite.

Jyoti Pande Lavakare is a Delhi-based journalist and president, Care for Air, an awareness and advocacy non-profit

The views expressed are personal
Last month, in Navtej Johar v Union of India, when the Supreme Court decriminalised same-sex relations, it was not only a vindication of civil rights and the Constitution, but something more: the court acknowledged that its own judgment five years ago, in Suresh Kumar Koushal v Naz Foundation, upholding the validity of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, had been grievously mistaken. And the court made amends.

It is human to err, and judges are human, after all. However, it is substantially more difficult to acknowledge error, and to correct it. The Supreme Courts willingness to do so is a good sign that the institution can listen to its critics, and change its mind if it is persuaded that it has, indeed, erred.

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the court now has a chance to correct another  recent  error. In the last few weeks, women who have come forward to testify about sexual harassment committed by powerful individuals, have had criminal defamation cases filed against them. Criminal defamation  set out under Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code  is an anachronistic, colonial-era legal provision, that has been historically used by powerful individuals, corporations, and governments, to silence and suppress inconvenient speech.

Two years ago, the constitutionality of criminal defamation was challenged by a coalition of politicians, organisations and individuals. A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, however, upheld the constitutional validity of Section 499, and refused to read in any safeguards to prevent abuse. The court held that criminal defamation struck an appropriate balance between the right to free speech and the right to reputation.

Even in 2016, the Indian Supreme Court was swimming against the global tide. Countries around the world had been steadily decriminalising defamation, on the basis that the criminal law was a disproportionately severe infringement of free speech, especially for what was essentially a private wrong, and could be addressed by a regime of civil defamation. Even the United Kingdom, which gave us our penal code, had decriminalised defamation. And in the time that has passed since the judgment, this has only become more evident: in February 2017, the high court of Kenya, also a former British colony, struck down criminal defamation as unconstitutional, holding that the traumatising gamut of arrest, detention, remand and trial in a criminal case had the effect of chilling speech, and promoting self-censorship among people who would not have easy recourse to a lawyer. This would result in the citizenry remaining uninformed about matters of public significance and the unquestioned and unchecked continuation of unconscionable malpractices. Then, in May 2018, the Constitutional Court of Lesotho followed suit, also holding that criminalisation was a disproportionately severe burden on speech, and that reputational interests could be protected by a less onerous regime of civil defamation. Both courts followed the jurisprudence of the African Human Rights Court that had emphatically ruled that criminal defamation was inconsistent with basic international human rights standards.

It is, therefore, clear that, across the world, more and more countries are acknowledging that modern, democratic nations do not jail people for things they might say about others. India is no different: our Constitution guarantees a right to freedom of speech and expression, which can only be restricted by a reasonable law. Our Supreme Court  most recently in its judgment on Aadhaar  has held that an essential facet of reasonableness is that a law must not infringe rights to a degree greater than is strictly necessary to achieve its goal. In other words, if there exists an alternative mechanism that can also achieve the goal without compromising on individual liberty to such a degree, the impugned law must be struck down. Criminal defamation  which is targeted at punishing what is essentially a private wrong (a wrong that one person commits upon another, rather than upon society)  is a stark example of a law that disproportionately affects the freedom of speech.

Legislators have recognised this as well. Last year, Tathagat Satpathy introduced into Parliament the Speech Bill, which aimed to replace criminal defamation with a detailed, statutorily codified regime of civil defamation. The bill is pending consideration. But the recent spate of cases in the wake of #MeToo gives the court, which recently invalidated two colonial-era rights-invasive provisions  Section 377 and Section 497 (adultery)  to complete a hat-trick, and in the process, once again cement its reputation as an institution that sheds its own past, and evolves towards greater protection of rights.

Gautam Bhatia is an advocate in the Supreme Court

The views expressed are personal
In the years following democratic transition and change, Myanmars reconciliation and bridge building with the West adequately challenged Chinas interest by disrupting the balance of power in the region. It opened a new platform for other countries to make overtures towards Myanmar widely considered as one of the most underexplored markets in Asia.

Encouraged by the relaxation of sanctions and the establishment of the quasi civilian regime after the November 2010 elections, there have been large scale investments from different quarters. In the aftermath of the end of longstanding isolation, Myanmars newfound bonhomie with the West is a source of phenomenal advantages. It has undergone a near complete realignment of its relationship with the United States and Western Europe as sanctions were eased when the quasi civilian regime assumed charge in 2011. In terms of strategy, especially in the larger Asia-Pacific, it is considered that Myanmars stability in the region would add strength and legitimacy to the rebalancing approach of the United States. Its policy towards Myanmar is part of a larger policy in the region to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The revitalisation of relations between Myanmar and the United States has also cast a positive shadow on Japans policy toward Myanmar, leading to an enhanced Japanese presence in terms of aid as also a rise in the investment of Japanese companies. The joining of forces by Japan and Thailand in Myanmar on the now revitalised Dawei mega project coupled with Indias seeking of Japanese investment to develop the overland infrastructure in the Northeast is likely to pose a challenge to the Chinese overshadowing presence in the region. In addition, the plans of developing the Dawei-Chennai corridor is likely to be perceived as forming some sort of an India-Myanmar-Thailand-Japan quadrilateral partnership against the overarching role of any dominant power in the region.

Myanmar also cannot be ignored because of the rising majority-minority divide and the recent upsurge of the Buddhist nationalism in the country. In the wake of the alleged violence and repression (since 2012) in the Rakhine state, several thousand Rohingyas have been killed and displaced as a result of the communal clash between the Rakhine Muslims and the Rakhine Buddhists.

Myanmar matters to us also because of the strong Indian connections found in the country. The historical and cultural linkages between India and Myanmar abound in our mythologies and contemporary literature. The amazing zeal of the early Buddhists from India having laid the foundation for this inexhaustible association between the two countries is eternal. The migration of Indians to Myanmar during the colonial era and their role in the commercial sphere contributed to commercial relations between the two British colonies.

Indian migration to Myanmar continued in several waves and they have been a major force influencing the internal political dynamics of the country till the advent of the military rule in the 1960s which ultimately sounded the death knell to a large section of the Indian population in Myanmar. The Burmanisation policy of General Ne Win and his Burmese road to Socialism nationalised all small businesses, banks and warehouses, denied trading licenses to aliens, and prohibited non-Burmese from taking government jobs.

It is in this context that political developments in our neighbourhood cannot be overlooked and the centuries-old shared frontiers cannot be transformed into a distant neighbour ignoring the civilisational ties and the exigencies of realpolitik in the contemporary times amid the emerging rivalry in the Indo-Pacific region.

Sonu Trivedi is a fellow at Nehru Memorial Museum and Library and assistant professor at University of Delhi

The views expressed are personal
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a government decree introducing special economic measures against 322 Ukrainian citizens and 68 companies, according to the government resolution published on the Russian governments official website.

"Special economic measures are introduced in relation to individuals and legal entities of Ukraine, which include freezing non-cash funds, non-documentary securities and property in Russia and banning transfer of funds (withdrawal of capital) outside Russia. Sanctions will be extended to 322 individuals and 68 legal entities," the Russian government said.

The list of the sanctioned individuals includes the Ukrainian presidents son Alexei Poroshenko, Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov, Head of Naftogaz of Ukraine Andrei Kobolev, Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko, Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko, Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Andrei Paruby, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Konstantin Yeliseyev, ultra-nationalists Oleg Tyagnibok and Dmitri Yarosh, ex-premier of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk, leader of the Batkivshchyna party Yulia Timoshenko.

These restrictions also are also being imposed on judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, lawmakers of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 8th convocation, major Ukrainian businessmen, officials of the presidential administration of Ukraine, heads of executive authorities and large Ukrainian companies, and legal entities controlled by Ukraines top businessmen, the statement said.

Ukraines chemical and mining enterprises make up the majority of the list of 68 legal entities that fell under the countersanctions. Among those are Azot, Dniproazot, Ukrhimenergo, Glikohim, Mezhdurechensk Mining and Processing Plant, United Mining-Chemical Company and its branches, and a number of other companies.

Moscow's countermeasures are aimed at countering Kievs unfriendly actions against Russian citizens and companies and can be lifted if Ukraine annuls its sanctions, the Russian government stated.

According to the Cabinet, the countermeasures are aimed at "countering unfriendly actions against Russian citizens and legal entities from Ukraine and normalizing bilateral relations." "The Russian government reserves the right to cancel special economic measures if Ukraine abolishes its restrictive measures imposed on Russian citizens and legal entities," the statement reads.

Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Economic Development should ensure a balance on commodity markets and prevent any negative impact from the special economic measures ... on the activities of Russian organizations.The statement also says that the Russian government could issue temporary permits to authorize certain operations of companies under the restrictions.

On October 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on special economic measures in response to the anti-Russian sanctions of Ukraine. The decree notes that this decision was made "in response to Ukraines unfriendly actions, which are contrary to the international law and imply introduction of restrictive measures against citizens and legal entities of the Russian Federation", adding that they were imposed "in order to protect national interests."

In February 2014, Ukraine introduced sanctions against 1,228 individuals and 468 legal entities, including Russian government officials, politicians, CEOs, along with reporters, some Donbass residents, a number of Russian companies.
Lipstick Under My Burkha actor Aahana Kumra has accused Bollywood director Sajid Khan of indecent behaviour. Her accusations come after four women accused him of sexual harassment last month as part of the #MeToo movement in India.

Aahana said in an interview to The Times of India that while Sajid never touched her, he did call her to his house and his room and asked her inappropriate questions. I had a meeting with Sajid Khan about a year ago, knowing the fact that he is a shady guy. I met him and he did the same thing that Saloni (Chopra) has written about him. Same drill  you go to his house, you are escorted to his room which is pretty dark. He makes you watch what hes watching, she said.

Aahana says that she was assertive in how she responded to him and let him know that her mother was a police woman. But he still asked me bizarre questions like, Would you have sex with a dog if I gave you Rs 100 crores? He didnt touch me, she added.

Sajid has been accused of sexual harassment by three actors and a journalist. He has since stepped down from his position as the director of Housefull 4. The films lead actor Akshay Kumar also tweeted that he would not work with any proven offenders and all those who have been subjugated to harassment should be heard and given the justice they deserve. The films shoot has also been suspended since.

In her interview, Aahana also accused casting director Anirban Blah of making sexual advances towards her. He has also been accused of sexual harassment by four women.

Anirban Blah met me at the lobby of a five star hotel and said, Theres a room here. Lets negotiate there. I walked out of that meeting because I wasnt comfortable. It didnt go down well with me. Thats normal conversation he has with women. The day I chatted with him, I was shaken, she said.

However, Aahana says the intention behind taking names isnt to punish the perpetrators. I read Anirbans letter and I am glad that at least he accepted it, she said. According to news reports, Anirban had tried to commit suicide after the accusations against him and even sent a suicide note to a journalist. Without trying to justify any of my actions, I just want to say that I have tried to be the best person I can be. I didnt have the strength to cope with what happened to me as a child in a healthy way. I never was able to separate sex from power, to make it a part of love, and somewhere along the way one part of me turned into a monster, it had read.

The #MeToo movement in India was sparked by Tanushree Duttas allegations of sexual harassment against actor Nana Patekar. Subsequently, several womenactors, journalists and professionalstook to social media to talk about workplace harassment. Sajid Khan, Vikas Bahl, Subash Ghai, Rajat Kapoor, and many more were named as sexual harassers.

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China is closing the gap with its chief economic rival the US as a hassle-free place to do business.

In the World Banks annual ranking of bureaucracy-busting economies, New Zealand again claimed the top spot after making it cheaper to set up a company. But China, as well as India, vaulted up the rankings with wide-ranging reforms designed to give businesses and entrepreneurs fewer headaches.

The Doing Business 2019 report showed a new order emerging near the top: Currently locked in a trade war with China, the US was one of the few countries where creating and running a business grew more wearisome. The UK, negotiating an exit from the European Union, also lost ground. Its now easier to do business in the former Soviet republic of Georgia than in Britain or America.

Singapore and Denmark once again rounded out the top three slots. There was no shift either at the bottom. There remains only one place where its tougher to do business than Venezuela and Eritrea: Of 190 economies the World Bank ranked, Somalia again came last.

What Was Measured

The 16th edition of the flagship report assessed the ease and difficulty of almost every facet of operating a business, from incorporating a new entity and getting a building permit to turning on the power.

Highs and Lows

New Zealanders can set up a business in a few hours. In Lao PDR, it takes 174 days. Slovenia is the cheapest place to get a business up and running. Afghanistan improved its score more than any other country after beefing up protection for minority investors. China slashed electricity-connection times from close to 150 days in Beijing and Shanghai to little more than 30.

Asia

China and India were standouts. India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to make it easier to do business and has targeted a spot in the top 50. The nation jumped to 77th position from 100th place last year after slashing border compliance times. China leaped to 46th from 78th to break into the top 50 for the first time.

Europe

The region accounted for half the slots in the top 10. Georgia hopped over the UK and the US to claim 6th position. Along with New Zealand, Georgia requires just one procedure to start a business, the least worldwide. Gains by Georgia and Norway pushed the U.K. down two places to 9th.

Middle East and North Africa

The region continues to trail on gender issues, with barriers for female entrepreneurs in 14 economies, the report said. The United Arab Emirates, in 11th place, is the Middle Easts sole entry in the top 20.

US

The US slipped to 8th from 6th as it ceded ground to Georgia and Norway. The US and Korea were the only countries in the top 10 with a lower score than last year. Among the biggest hurdles in the US were the volume of red tape involved in starting a business and delays connecting to the grid.
Pre-emptive measures to contain air pollution, which is likely to worsen in the next 10 days, may force a partial shutdown of the national capital between November 1 and November 10. The measures the authorities will enforce include ban on construction activities and shut down of at least one industrial area for the next 10 days.

The Supreme Court-appointed body Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has also warned that it could even ban private vehicles or introduce odd and even road rationing measures in the coming days after consulting the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) task force.

These measures are pre-emptive and go beyond what is stipulated in the Grap. These measures are being introduced keeping in mind the forecast and the need for emergency actions to combat pollution, said Bhure Lal, chairman of EPCA.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) value, which had breached severe levels of air pollution on Tuesday, improved slightly and came down to very poor levels, but pollution levels could shoot up sharply because of unfavourable weather conditions.

Measures that would be rolled out between November 1 and November 10 include shut down of Mundka industrial area, ban on construction and excavation (digging) activities, shutting down of industries that run on coal and biomass, ban on stone crushers, brick kilns and hot mix plants. Diesel generators have already been banned and Badarpur power plant has been shut down since October 15, when the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) came into force.

The CPCB has started Facebook and Twitter accounts where residents can lodge complaints pertaining to garbage burning, unpaved roads etc. The government has cancelled leaves of environment department officials.

The Delhi Metro has already introduced 21 additional trains that would provide 812 additional trips. The civic agencies are, however, yet to increase parking fees, a measure listed under Grap, even though air quality has been in very poor category for more than a week now. The transport department has also not introduced any extra buses to increase availability of public transport.
If the Supreme Court order is followed in letter and spirit, bursting any firecracker in Delhi may be illegal this Diwali.

The top court on Wednesday reiterated for the third time in eight days that only green firecrackers can be sold and burst in the national capital region in order to curb rising pollution that chokes the city every winter. Petitioners, officials and experts say this effectively bans fireworks since firecrackers classified as green or even low emission as are yet to be manufactured and sold.

According to a 2017 affidavit to the top court and explanations offered by the countrys explosives regulator, green firecrackers would refer to products that do not contain metals such as barium, aluminium and iron which create toxic gases  but such products are largely in development stage and not sold in markets at present.

There are no such green crackers or low-emission crackers in the market yet as mandated by the apex court. Those available in markets now are traditional fireworks that emit heavy pollution. They all have metals like barium, aluminium and strontium which trigger toxic fumes, said an official of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) who asked not to be named.

Traders say that the top courts order has confused them because the directive effectively means no firecracker can be sold or burst in the region.

On Wednesday, traders led by senior advocate Ranjit Kumar urged the top court to allow them to sell existing stocks that do not classify as green firecrackers. If the order is not modified, it will amount to a complete ban on fireworks this Diwali in Delhi-NCR, Kumar told the judges, who denied the request.

A spokesperson of the Delhi Police, which is responsible for enforcing the order, said they are still to determine which products can be sold. We are getting in touch with Peso (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation) to check which crackers could be allowed this Diwali. What we are certain of is that ladi (a series of bursts) and firecrackers containing harmful metals wont be allowed, said Madhur Verma.

The Supreme Court has said that local police station in-charge will be held responsible for violations of its order.

An official from Peso, the government authority that regulates all explosive and explosive manufacturing material in the country, said there was no classification such as green firecrackers. We are hearing such terminology for the first time in the wake of Supreme Court directives. Now we will work with the Nagpur-based national environmental institute, NEERI, for developing [fireworks] and guidelines for such firecrackers in coming days, said JN Mishra, deputy controller, Peso.

Fireworks that burst in colours, particularly red and green, create more pollution, he explained. Peso has so far not given anyone licence to manufacture green crackers, he said.

The green order was first delivered by the top court on October 23, when it laid down a specific restriction for the national capital region considering the air quality crisis that has become typical for this time of the year. Last year, the sale of firecrackers was banned but people who brought them from outside  irrespective of the type  were free to use them.

Pollution in Delhi and its satellite towns hit the severe level on Tuesday after a spurt in farm fires in Punjab and a drop-off in wind speeds that stopped local dust and vehicular emissions from being dispersed.

According to a second official from the CPCB, which receives air quality and weather outlook from the India Meteorological Department, air quality will return to severe levels from Saturday after it relented to very poor on Wednesday.

Pollution is likely to peak around Diwali, particularly due to crop residue burning in Punjab where farmers routinely carry out the practice in order to turn their fields around for sowing the next round of crops. This year, they have a smaller window since the harvest may have been later than usual as sowing had been delayed.

Union minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday that a new range of green firecrackers was being prepared in some government laboratories. These, however, wont be available this Diwali, he added.

Trader bodies said the ban on conventional fireworks will lead to significant losses. According to estimates, firecrackers worth about Rs 500 crores are lying as stocks in Delhi-NCR. What will happen to such stock? said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general of the Confederation Of All India Traders.

Wholesale traders, who run on permanent licenses, said police have already shut shops that were selling traditional and conventional fireworks.

(With inputs from HTC in Nagpur)
Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested a couple for killing an 11-year-old girl whose body was found in a suitcase in north Delhis Timarpur on Sunday.

Police said the girl had gone missing on October 22, and was killed on October 27. A possibility that the girl was sexually assaulted in five days during which she was confined in the couples house cannot be ruled out, senior police officers said. The police have cracked the case with the help of a handkerchief found tied around the neck of the girls body.

According to the police, the girl was last seen by her family members when she had gone for her tuitions to the house of a 32-year-old woman, near her house in northeast Delhis Welcome on October 22. Deputy commissioner of police (northeast) Atul Thakur said the girl remained untraceable since that day. A missing persons complaint was lodged and search operations were conducted to find her.

On October 28, when the body of the girl was found, investigators spotted a handkerchief tied around her neck. Initial probe revealed that she had last visited her tutors house. When the womans house was searched, we found similar set of handkerchiefs and the woman along with her husband was detained, Thakur said.

The DCP said, during questioning, the womans husband disclosed that they used to force the girl to do household jobs.  On the day of the incident, when she was picking up something heavy, it fell on her head and she suffered injuries. The man said they got scared that the girl will tell her family that she was being forced to do household work. The couple confined the minor girl in their house for the next five days. When she started crying for help, he strangled her and stuffed her body into a suitcase. The suitcase was then wrapped into a blue polythene and was disposed off in Timarpur, the officer said.

Thakur also said that it is yet to be ascertained what happened with the girl in those five days when she had been confined in the couples house. The post mortem reports are awaited. Sexual assault has not been ruled out and further probe is underway, the DCP said.
In what is quickly becoming a trend with her, Priyanka Chopra has made a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance in a trailer for one of her Hollywood films. Ellen DeGeneres on Wednesday shared the first trailer for Isnt It Romantic, the new romantic comedy that features Priyanka in a supporting role.

Rebel Wilson plays the Natalie, an overweight young woman whos a little disillusioned with life, and has always been told that shes no Julia Roberts. After an encounter with a mugger in the subway, Natalie knocks herself out and wakes to find that she is in a rom-com - complete with spontaneous song and dance numbers, a gay best friend and a fancy apartment.

Natalies life takes a turn when she meets who she thinks is her Prince Charming, played by Liam Hemsworth, and has to choose between someone more realistic whos been there all along (Adam DeVines character).

Between all this, Priyanka Chopra makes a quick appearance - even in her Hollywood movie, she appears to be a part of a Bollywood-style dance number. We saw leaked set pictures of Priyanka and the cast filming this scene very recently.

She plays a yoga ambassador in the film, but just like the trailers for her last couple of Hollywood movies - Baywatch and A Kid Like Jake - she barely makes an impression in the trailer. Unlike Baywatch, though - The Rock had assured fans that they were keeping her villainous character a secret - Priyanka is very much playing a supporting role here.

Isnt It Romantic is directed by Todd Strass-Schulson and is scheduled for release on Valentines Day. Priyanka will be a married woman by then, if recent reports of her December 2 wedding to Nick Jonas are to be believed.

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At least 20 cities in India will need a second airport by 2030, the initial findings of a study by the civil aviation ministry has revealed, two officers directly involved in the exercise said on condition of anonymity.

Mumbai, Delhi, Goa, Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, Pune, Ahmadabad, Rajkot, Patna, Kolkata and Bangalore are among cities that will need a second airport by 2030. By 2035, more cities will join this list. The study is still work-in-progress and will also calculate by when each airport will reach its capacity.

Once it is completed, the ministry will write to respective state governments, sharing the information and asking them to identify land for a new airport at least five years before the airport reaches its capacity.

Indias airports currently handle 183.90 million passengers a year, according to the 2017-18 data released by aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The number has grown in recent years. It was 158.43 million in 2016-17 and 134.98 million in 2015-16.

This year, it is expected to cross 200 million. Some of the bigger airports are already operating in excess of their capacity. For instance, the Delhi airport handled 63.5 million passengers in 2017, and is expected to reach 70 million this year and will start operating beyond its capacity. It is also among the busiest airports worldwide, according to Airports Council International (ACI).

For the first time, the Delhi airport breached the 60 million-mark in 2017, making it to the list of the worlds top 20 busiest airports. The Indira Gandhi International Airport also became the seventh busiest in Asia, ahead of Seoul, Singapore and Bangkok.

The study should be completed by the end of this year, and the aim is to map the saturation point, said one of the two officials mentioned in the first instance, a senior official at Airports Authority India (AAI), which is conducting the study.

Some airports are already operating beyond the capacity but still have scope for expansion. But most of us agree that expansion is not matched with the growth in aviation sector, which is why we are observing congestion at airports. We do not want this when we are aspiring for one billion trips in next 15 years, up from around 200 million (trips a year) now, the AAI official said.

The issue isnt just passengers but also runways, flights, and parking slots for aircraft. The number of aircraft with scheduled airlines in India is 620 as on July 31, 2018, up from 448 in March 2016. Indias 17 scheduled airlines operated 9.22 lakh flights in 2017-18, up from 8.1 lakh from previous year. International aircraft movement was 3.79 lakh in 2017-18 against 3.45 lakh in 2016-17.

When we are looking at saturation point, we are not only looking at terminal capacity. At some places we might not have space for another runway, while terminals can be expanded. But if the airport cant handle more flights, there is no point in expanding the terminal. The study will reflect that and will also point out the projected traffic so that expansion can be planned accordingly, said the second person cited in the first instance, who also works for AAI.

In May, Hindustan Times had reported that at least 25 of the 50 busiest airports in India are already operating beyond their capacity, while almost all the others will reach optimal capacity in 2018-19.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on May 2 approved investments in expansion and upgradation of integrated terminals in Chennai, Guwahati and Lucknow by AAI at a cost of Rs 2,467 crore, Rs 1,232 crore and Rs 1,383 crore, respectively.

Minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha, while announcing the expansion plan, said Rs 1 lakh crore would be invested to increase the capacity of Indian airports. The government has launched a new initiative called NABH (NextGen Airports for Bharat) Nirman to enhance airport capacity by five times to one billion trips in the next 10-15 years.

Increasing capacity requires both development of greenfield airports and expansion of existing airports; the plan is to use AAI and also involve private firms.

AAI, which runs all the non-private civilian airports in the country, is in the process of implementing plans to create additional capacity in airports in Agartala, Patna, Srinagar, Pune, Trichy, Vijayawada, Port Blair, Jaipur, Mangalore, Dehradun, Jabalpur, Kolhapur, Goa, Rupsi, Leh, Calicut, Imphal, Varanasi and Bhubaneswar with a capital expenditure of Rs 20,178 crore over the next four to five years.

The private firms that run the Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad airports are also working on expansion plans that will require an investment of Rs 25,000 crore over the next five years.

Airports are not just a shiny terminal building; airside is equally important... capacity of runway and taxiway also need to be expanded. More holistic action plans need to be developed for the modernisation of airports. AAI along, with private developers, should form a joint action group to come up with a modernisation plan, said Mark Martin, founder and CEO of Dubai-based Martin Consulting.
Allahabad University student leader Sumit Shukla, who had a reward of Rs 25000 on his head, was shot dead at a party in a varsity hostel late Wednesday, police said.

Shukla aka Achyutanand, who had a number of cases registered against him, had contested for the vice presidents post in the 2012 students union election but lost. He had been active in this years student union elections, backing various candidates in the varsity and its constituent colleges.

According to reports, Shukla was attending a student leaders birthday party at the PC Banerjee Hostel when he was approached by a youth who first spoke to him and then fired on him from close range before fleeing. He was first rushed to a private hospital on Pannalal road and then to the SRN Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Superintendent of police, city, Brijesh Srivastava said that an investigation had been initiated and the body sent for a postmortem examination. He said an FIR would be registered as soon as a formal complaint is received.
A Centre-run laboratory in Rajasthans Jhunjhunu district has developed e-crackers that produce the same light and sound as traditional firecrackers without emitting any of the hazardous smoke that spike air pollution.

Scientists at the Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI) in Pilani have recently developed four varieties of battery-fitted e-crackers, the electronic version of firecrackers. The institute, which is under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has invited people to see its demonstration on the Pilani campus on November 4.

The e-cracker produces different illumination patterns and sounds and is reusable. It uses a rechargeable battery and is absolutely safe and green, CEERI director Santanu Chaudhury said.

The e-crackers are a work in progress as we are working on different varieties and on a thermal simulation so that these crackers start when a fire source is brought near them. This is being done to give users an experience of lighting a cracker, Chaudhury added.

The institute has developed an e-ladi, a string of crackers tied together to produce a continuous sound and illumination effect for some time. The traditional ladi is hazardous as some of the crackers often fly off the string while they are bursting and produce toxic smoke but the e-ladi is absolutely safe, said the CEERI director.

Chaudhury said they were in talks with some investors for scaling up the project.

This comes after the Supreme Court said last week that people across the country will get two hours between 8pm and 10pm to burst crackers during Diwali and made only the sale of green and improved fireworks mandatory at least in the national capital region (NCR) centred on New Delhi, in a ruling aimed at reducing air pollution that peaks in the festive season.

According to a 2017 affidavit to the top court and explanations offered by the countrys explosives regulator, green firecrackers would refer to products that do not contain metals such as barium, aluminium and iron which create toxic gases.

It also imposed stringent restrictions on the chemical materials that are used in firecrackers, hearing a 2015 plea by three toddlers filed through their parents who sought a complete ban on the manufacture, sale and bursting of fireworks on account of the health risks they pose to citizens.

Union environment minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday that Indian scientists have been working to create an entire range of fireworks over the past year to bring down pollution during Diwali without disrupting the Rs 6,000-crore industry that supports around five lakh families.

He said that for the first time in India an emission testing facility has been established at Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI) in Tamil Nadus Karaikudi and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in Nagpur in Uttar Pradesh testing is in progress for both conventional and green crackers for monitoring emissions and sound.

CECRI researchers replaced aluminum, the primary heat source that produces the flash, with magnesium to reduce ignition temperature and minimise emission of particulate matter. The new product had less smoke and was less noisy. The particulate matter mission was reduced by 25% to 30%.

At NEERI, scientists developed three prototypes named SWAS (safe water releaser), SAFAL (safe minimum aluminum) and STAR (safe thermite cracker). The particulate matter was reduced by 30-35% in SWAS and 35-40% in SAFAL and STAR.

Cracker manufactures have reacted positively to the green crackers but would need approval from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), the nodal agency for safety requirements in the manufacture, storage, transport and use of all types of explosives and petroleum, before commercial production.
The government in Assam has reiterated its demand for a sample re-verification to ascertain the credibility of the complete draft National Register of Citizens (NRC), citing flaws in the design of the process and possible misuse of documents by illegal immigrants.

A similar demand for a complete re-verification has been made by the Assam Public Works in the Supreme Court.

The recent report submitted by state coordinator to the Supreme Court is an admission of the lacunae in the design of the exercise, LS Changsan, principal secretary at the home and political department, said on Wednesday, adding the state government has submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court which is monitoring the process.

The Supreme Court has asked all stakeholders to submit their views on a recent report by Prateek Hajela, the state coordinator of NRC, where he explained why only 10 of the 15 documents that were initially accepted to establish residence in Assam prior to March 25, 1971, could be submitted afresh in the claims and objections phase.

Hajela cited some instances of how the additional five documents, including ration cards, refugee registration and citizenship certificates, can be forged and extracts of the 1951 NRC and electoral rolls up to March 25, 1971, also called legacy data, could be misused to get illegal migrants into NRC.

A person can have more than one legacy data code and unused codes could be used by imposters, Hajela said in his report.

For the first time, we have come to know the procedures that were followed. In his report, the state coordinator has raised certain apprehensions of probable misuse of some documents. It is safe to conclude that the said misuse in all likelihood has already happened, Changsan said.

He added it was possible that impostors may have already got into NRC using unused legacy data codes, something which could not have been detected in the family tree verifications. It is a big design flaw, he said.

This is why we are asking for a sample re-verification before the claims and objections phase. And if that throws up startling anomalies than there should be a complete re-verification, Changsan said adding that Hajelas report was based on a lot of assumptions.

The state government also remains firm on its stand to allow all 15 documents for the claims and objections exercise. Going by the principles of natural justice and non-discrimination we are asking that all documents should be allowed subject to stringent verification, Changsan said.

Abhijeet Sarma of the Assam Public Works, the main petitioner in the case, said they are going to demand a complete re-verification in 22 districts.

Khairul Islam, a declared foreigner was found on NRC duty, Sarma said.

Meanwhile, minority groups say more than Rs 1,200 crore spent on NRC may have gone down the drain.

The whole point of spending so much money was to ensure nobody with fake documents manages to get past. Hajela is trying to hide his failures. If people misused documents why no police action against them? He is generalising based on a few instances, Azizur Rahman, the convener of Coordination Committee of Minority Organisations, said.

The top court had said earlier, after going through the district wise details of the 40,07,707 excluded from the complete draft, that it was considering the necessity of re-verification of at least a 10% sample of those who have been included from every district.

The court had asked Hajela to submit a report on the time frame for such an exercise.
The Azerbaijani State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater will stage the ballet 'Giselle' by Adolphe Adam on November 17, the press service of the theater said.

Leading soloists of the Russian State Academic Bolshoi Theater, honored artists of Russia prima ballerina Anna Nikulina (Giselle) and Ruslan Skvortsov (Count Albert) will perform in the main parts of the ballet.

Along with the soloists of the Bolshoi Theater, the leading soloists of the ballet troupe of the Azerbaijani theater, Ayan Eyvazova (Mirta) and Timur Odushev ( Han) will also take part in the performance.

The ballet will be conducted by Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, laureate of international competitions of conductors Eyyub Guliyev.
The Supreme Court may have deferred its hearing of the Ram Janmabhoomi case to January but the issue continued to remain in focus with a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP indicating he could bring a private members bill in Parliament on building a Ram temple at Ayodjya and, separately, a Samajwadi Party (SP) member backing the construction of the structure.

Rajya Sabha member and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideologue Rakesh Sinha said that he might bring a private members bill in Parliament for the construction of a Ram temple and asked if Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad and Telugu Desam chief N Chandrababu Naidu would support him.

Will write Preface (introduction)of my private member bill on Ram temple in Ayodhya.Request those who ask for the date (of temple construction) 2 send me feedback. If @RahulGandhi @laluprasadrjd @yadavakhilesh Mayawati ji @ncbn ask me to visit their residences I would go to know their valuable opinion, he tweeted.

A bill introduced by a member of Parliament other than a government minister is called a private members bill. A 2015 analysis by PRS Legislative Research showed that an overwhelming majority of private members bills lapse without a discussion and just 4% are discussed in the Lok Sabha. The 2015 transgender rights bill, introduced by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, was the first private members bill to pass the Upper House in 45 years.

The RSS and its affiliate, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, have called for a law to build a temple after the Supreme Court on Monday refused early hearing in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title suit. The BJP has been cautious in its response with Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad saying the government respected SCs decision. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday called for restraint but added, Timely justice is the best one. Justice delayed, at times, means injustice.

In Uttar Pradeshs Barabanki, Aparna Yadav, the younger daughter-in-law of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, said a Ram temple should be built in Ayodhya. She also said she would choose Shivpalji and Netaji if she got a chance to contest the 2019 elections. Shivpal Yadav is the younger brother of Mulayam Singh Yadav who is popularly called netaji. Shivpal recently left the SP to form his own party.

The Ram Temple should come up in Ayodhya... We should wait till January for the court to begin hearing, Aparna Yadav said.

The Congress has blamed the BJP for communalising the issue. On Wednesday, former finance minister P Chidambaram said bringing an ordinance on the Ram temple would be adventurist on the part of the government.The government is letting its followers test the waters. They are floating all these balloons to see what the public reaction is, he told a news conference. When the matter is pending before the Supreme Court as a regular appeal against the Allahabad high court judgement, in my view to bring an ordinance would be unconstitutional, he added.
L Chandrashekar, the BJPs candidate for the Ramanagara by-election in Karnataka, backed out on Thursday just two days ahead of voting on Saturday, saying he was ignored by BJP leaders who didnt turn up for campaigning as promised.

Chandrashekar had switched over to the Bharatiya Janata Party only last month after Congress decision to allow its alliance partner Janata Dal (Secular) to contest the seat.

They told me that my victory would mark the downfall of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government. But all the leaders were camped elsewhere and did not show any intention to campaign for me, Chandrashekar said.

I wish to extend my support to the coalition candidate Anitha Kumaraswamy in the bypoll, he said during a press conference at the residence of Bengaluru Rural MP DK Suresh, brother of Congress strongman DK Shivakumar.

Bypolls are being held for two assembly and three Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, voting for which will be conducted on Saturday. Chief minister HD Kumaraswamys wife Anitha is the coalitions candidate for the seat.

Chandrashekar said he would send in an official letter to the Election Commission because none of the assurances given to him was met.

Suresh said he welcomed Chandrashekar back into the party and said the incident showed the duplicity of the BJP.

We have already sent a letter by mail to the returning officer and will go to the Election Commission soon, he said.

Union minister DV Sadananda Gowda of the BJP said the incident showed all the problems with the Congress workers mentality.

When someone joins our party, we feel they have bought into our ideology and thinking. Chandrashekar, too, said he believed these. But the Congress mentality does not leave people and this incident is proof of that, Gowda said.

The minister also said the responsibility for this rested with CP Yogeshwar, the partys Vokkaliga leader from the Bengaluru Rural region.

He took the responsibility when he brought in Chandrashekar to the party, he said.
China said on Thursday it wasnt aware of Indias protests against a Sino-Pakistan bus service through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) as part a bilateral economic corridor, arguing that the service will not change its stand on Kashmir.

The bus service between Kashgar in Chinas far-western Xinjiang province and Lahore is expected to be launched on November 3 during Pakistan prime minister Imran Khans high-profile visit to the country.

India has protested the move, saying its a violation of its territorial sovereignty. The Chinese foreign ministry, however, played down Indias concerns.

As for the bus service, I have not heard of the relevant information and I have not heard of complaints, Lu Kang, the foreign ministry spokesperson, said at the regular ministry briefing on Thursday.

Media reports from Pakistan said the bus service is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship venture under Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, a multi-billion dollar connectivity project launched by President Xi Jinping.

I have taken many questions regarding the CPEC. It is an economic cooperation project between China and Pakistan and not targeted at any third party. It has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and it will not affect Chinas principled position on the issue of Kashmir, he said.

Chinas stand, Lu said, is that the cooperation between China and Pakistan has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and will not affect Chinas principled position on Kashmir, he said.

A Pakistani company has been quoted by media as saying the bus will run from Lahore to Kashgar four days a week.

We have lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan on the proposed bus service that will operate through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir under so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, an external affairs ministry spokesperson told media in New Delhi.

China maintains that the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan through dialogue and consultation.

The CPEC comprises several infrastructure projects that will finally connect Chinas Xinjiang province with Balochistans Gwadar port.
In a bid to retain power for the third consecutive time, which would be a record for Mizoram, the Congress on Thursday released its manifesto for the upcoming assembly polls in the state scheduled later this month.

Releasing its list of promises, Congress Mizoram unit president and chief minister Lal Thanhawla promised continuation of several old policies and a slew of benefits for students.

If we win again, we will continue with the New Land Use Policy (NLUP). Existing guidelines may be amended for better implementation and the quantum of assistance increased, Lal Thanhawla said.

The policy was started in 2008 with the aim of helping farmers with suitable, permanent and stable trade. Opposition parties have criticised the Congress for using the policys provisions to provide monetary assistance to beneficiaries.

We will take strict measures to control sale of liquor in the state so that provisions of the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition and Control) Act, 2014, are not violated, said the CM.

The ruling Congress government, which lifted a ban on the sale and purchase of liquor in the state, has been opposed by many parties and church bodies for affecting youths and breaking families.

The Mizo National Front (MNF) and Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) have promised to enforce the ban if they come to power.

The Congress manifesto promises free laptops to all students who pass their school leaving certificate examination and above. It also assures study tours for college and university students.

Congress is playing cheap politics. They will promise the moon and stars in their manifesto. They know they will not return to power and can hence promise a car to each family in the state, MNF president Zoramthanga said.

Congress is in power in Mizoram since 2008  its the last bastion of the party in the northeast. But the party is battling desertions, anti-incumbency and a strong fight from the regional MNF in this election.

Mizoram goes to polls on November 28.

Congress isnt interested in the development of Mizoram. We know from past experience that the party just makes promises before polls, but once they are in power, they forget all the promises in their manifesto, said BJP Mizoram unit chief JV Hluna.
Babudeen, Zulfikar Nasir, Usmaan, Naeem and Mujib-ur-Rehman know what a miracle looks like. On the night of May 22, 1987, they were left for dead near the Upper Ganga and Hindon canal, after members of the Uttar Pradeshs Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) rounded men from their village in Hashimpura, Meerut, and shot 38 of them. These five survived.

Accepting the Delhi High courts verdict on Wednesday, which sentenced 16 former PAC members to life imprisonment for their role in the custodial killings, Babudeen and Zulfikar said, We waited for these words of justice for 31 years.

We are glad that at least the court found them guilty of killing innocent people and misusing their uniform.

Recalling the events of 22 May, 1987, Jamaluddin, the father of one of the victims said over 700 male residents of Hashimpura were taken out of their homes that night. While many were sent to jail, a group of over 40 young and middle-aged residents packed into an official truck of the 41st battalion of the PAC led by Platoon Commander Surender Pal Singh, and taken to the bank of Ganga Canal in Muradnagar.

Babudeen, one of the survivors recalled that a group of the PAC personnel began to shoot at them and threw the bodies into the canal. As they started screaming for help, the personnel began to fire indiscriminately. The PAC personnel then drove the truck to Hindon canal in Ghaziabad and disposed of more bodies there, he added.

Babudeen who was 16 at the time, was shot in the chest and thrown into the canal. He was rescued by Ghaziabad policemen, who admitted him to Narendra Mohan hospital. I am alive only because of the mercy and care of the then SP of Ghaziabad VN Rai and DM Naseem Zaidi.

Vibhuti Narain Rai, who was the superintendent of police, Ghaziabad at the time, was one of the first policemen to reach the site. His book, Hashimpura 22 May: The Forgotten Story of Indias Biggest Custodial Killings, details the events of that day, and the subsequent investigation. Meerut, at the time, was reeling under communal riots, which had begun in April 1987. The Indian Army and PAC had been called in to maintain peace in the area.

Many in Hashimpura, a Muslim-dominated locality, who lost their kin in the shoot out, were not able to perform the last rites of the victims.

Of the 38 persons killed, only 11 bodies identified, while 22 bodies were not found. One of them was 18-year-old Kamruddins. His brother, Riyazuddin said that they were told that Kamruddins body had already been buried.

However, the family was not told where. Jamaluddin, his octogenarian father said, I still have the pain of being deprived of performing my young sons last rites.Jamaluddin and Riyazuddin are glad that 31 years later, the Delhi high court eventually pronounced life imprisonment for the inhuman PAC personnel. They said had lost hope of getting justice on account of the inordinate delay in the legal battle, which only properly began in 2006, in Delhis Tiz Hazari court. In 2015, the lower court acquitted all the accused.

The families of the victims appealed against this order in the Delhi High Court. The National Human Rights Commission also filed an appeal.

Upset over the lower courts decision, survivor Zulfikar Nasir formed the Hashimpura Insaaf Committee to bring the families of victims and survivors together.
A jeweller was shot at and diamond and jewellery worth Rs 1.70 crore was looted from him by two unidentified men in Uttar Pradeshs Jaunpur district, police said.

Officials said Nagesh Dubey, who owns a jewellery showroom in Raebareli, was attacked by the men near Chhunchha Ghat under Buxa police station area on Wednesday.

They hit his car from behind and overtook it before firing at him. The robbers then picked up Dubeys bag containing jewellery and cash and fled, police added.

Locals rushed to the spot after the injured jeweller shouted for help and informed the police about the crime. Police reached the spot and rushed the jeweller to the district hospital from where he has been referred to Varanasi.

Dubey had come to Varanasi to meet a few jewellers in connection with his business and also collected the payment for the jewellery he supplied to them. After that he went to Jaunpur and met a few other jewellers, police said.

The jeweller was attacked when he was on way to his native village Sultanpur instead of going to Raebareli as it was late.

The station house officer of Buxa said teams have been deployed to ensure the arrest of the robbers who committed the crime.

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Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha on Wednesday said people should not forgive Prime Minister Narendra Modi and uproot his government in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

He was addressing a farmers gathering at Vanthali in Gujarats Junagadh district, around 300 km from here.

This government has failed on all fronts. Everyone is suffering, be it farmers, youth, women or Dalits. Only new slogans are being given. The only solution is to uproot this government in the next (Lok Sabha) polls, Sinha said.

I want to apologise because I was also part of the BJP when promises were made ahead of 2014 (general) elections. But I do not want you to forgive him (Modi) in the next polls, he said.

The former finance minister has been a vocal critic of the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government and resigned from the party in April this year.

Sinha was invited by Patidar leader Hardik Patel to address the farmers.

Commenting on the unveiling of a 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Narmada district earlier on Wednesday, Sinha said Modi should have announced a pro-farmer scheme on the occasion.

He did not announce any scheme for farmers because he has forgotten them, he said.

Disgruntled BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha was also present at the gathering.

The actor-turned-politician said he will not complain if the BJP sacked him.

I did not come into politics for any personal gain. I will not complain if my party sacks me tomorrow. I love the people of this country more than my party, he said.
A priest of the Jagannath Temple in Odishas Puri has written to the Chief Justice of India seeking permission to end his life, about four months after the Supreme Court suggested the abolition of hereditary rights of the servitors and ordered that no devotee should be forced to give offerings to them.

Servitor Narasingha Pujapanda has said his only source of income was from the devotees gifts and donations inside the temple.

We beg from them and it has been continuing for more than a thousand years. The court and government are trying to stop our only source of income. How we will survive without income, Pujapanda wrote in his petition on Wednesday.

Now that the apex court had asked the temple servitors to refrain from accepting donations from devotees, its almost impossible to survive. I had approached the Odisha government seeking euthanasia but it refused. Its better to die at once than waiting for a hunger death, he said.

The court had mooted 12 proposals for reforms in the temple in July saying the servitors will have no claim on offerings made by devotees and all collections must go the temple Hundi following a petition by Cuttack-based lawyer Mrinalini Padhi early this year.

This included a barricaded queue system for devotees from entrance itself, end to donation to priests and transparency in temple management. While there is consensus on nine proposals out of the 12 suggested by the Supreme Court, there was disagreement on the rest.

Earlier in March this year, Pujapanda had threatened to immolate himself protesting the entry of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials into the Ratna Bhandar or the treasury of the temple.

The ASI had earlier sought permission of Orissa High Court to assess the condition of the Ratna Bhandar, where all the gold and other valuables of Lord Jagannath and his siblings are kept in safe custody.

The top courts order has led to a cold war between the temple priests and the state government with the servitors unwilling to cede ground over their traditional rights. Hundreds of people, including Jagannath temple priests, went on a rampage protesting the queue system for devotees on October 3.

Acting on the orders of the top court, the temple administration had started the system on an experimental basis from October 1 under which devotees had to form a queue at the main entrance of the temple and move inside its premises through barricaded pathways.
The draft National River Ganga Bill 2018 has proposed the setting up of an armed Ganga Protection Corps, with the powers to arrest offenders who pollute it, to keep the river clean and help in its rejuvenation, according to government documents and people familiar with the matter.

The corps will be raised by the ministry of home affairs as demanded by the National Ganga Council, which is a panel of five experts with powers to issue directions on closure or regulation of industry and the construction of dams and other structures that affect continuous flow in the river, and to stop any activity causing pollution.

The Centre shared a copy of the draft bill, a copy of which is with Hindustan Times, with environmentalist GD Agarwal days before he died while on hunger strike on October 11. The bill aims to rejuvenate Ganga to its pristine stage and ensure its uninterrupted flow.

UP Singh, secretary, ministry of water resources, confirmed that the draft has been sent for interministerial circulation. It will be finalised after all ministries have seen it, he said. According to the draft bill, the armed personnel will have powers to arrest (offenders), take him or her in custody, or take him or her to the nearest police station. The long list of offences and penalties punishable under the Ganga Act include spoiling or defacing ghats or stairs or throwing any offensive matter in the river. Other offences include stone quarrying, commercial fishing without permission, deforesting hill slopes or other sensitive areas, withdrawing groundwater for organised consumption through tube wells or industrial needs, among many others. These offences are punishable with imprisonment up to two years or fine of up to Rs 50,000.

The offences and penalties come under the draft National River Ganga Bill 2018. The bill says the Centre will take control of management, regulation and development of the Ganga, and gives it the status of a national river. The bill declares that the Centre will take control of the management, regulation and development of Ganga as the river is of unique importance ascribed to faith and reasons that are geographical, historical, sociocultural and economic is hereby given the status of a national river.

A contentious clause, section 54 of the bill on offences by companies, states that if an offence is committed by a company, every person who in charge of the company when the offence is committed and the company will be deemed guilty. But if the in-charge is able to prove that the offence was committed without his or her knowledge or that they exercised due diligence to prevent the offence, they will not be punished under the act.

Section 54 first strongly puts the onus of those heading operations and activities of companies that are damaging the river. But then promptly adds a protective clause by saying that action will not be taken if the offence was taken without his or her knowledge. Heads of companies have to be made liable for inaction and illegalities, said Kanchi Kohli, legal researcher at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR).

She added that all rivers need attention. Such proactive measures should apply to all rivers and river basins whether regarded sacred by a specific religion or not. One more authority might not be able to do away with all the problems existing legal frameworks face when it comes to ensuring environmental justice. This includes corruption, impunity and complete disregard for the laws of the land.

The major issues are building barrages and diverting flow of the river, dredging to make way for inland water ways, hydroelectric projects that impact the flow and massive deforestation destroying the overall ecology. The draft doesnt mention how these will be tackled, said Mallika Bhanot of Uttarkashi-based NGO Ganga Ahwaan. Manoj Mishra, an activist associated with a movement to save the Yamuna, said, The Ganga Act should be a popular movement, and not an entirely regulatory mechanism...Ganga rejuvenation plan has been a complete failure... Ganga is not a canal or a pipe. Despite the plans focus on sewage treatment plants, it has made no difference to water quality either.
After 31 years, which included two state ordered probes and a long legal battle, families of about 40 Muslim men who were victims of custodial killings, have received justice.

The Delhi high court on Wednesday convicted 16 former members of the UP Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) for killing 38 innocent and unarmed Muslim men in the Hashimpura area of Meerut city in 1987. Earlier reports had stated that 42 people were killed. However, after carefully perusing all documents on record, the Delhi high court concluded that 38 people were killed. The court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment (the remainder of their lives) and directed them to surrender on or before November 22.

The accused were sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10,000 for abduction and kidnapping.

The court also awarded them five years rigorous imprisonment for attempt to murder and three years for disappearing the evidence of offence. A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel held that the deaths were a targeted killing of persons belonging to one minority community.

We are conscious that for the families of those killed, this is perhaps too little, too late. They have had to wait for 31 years for justice. The monetary compensation they have received cannot make up for the lives lost. This case points to the systemic failure that results, not infrequently, in a miscarriage of justice, the court held, upturning a lower courts acquittal of the accused in 2015.

The massacre occurred during communal riots in Meerut.

On May 22, 1987, over 40 Muslim men were rounded up by the PAC 41st battalion led by platoon commander Surender Pal Singh (now deceased), packed into an official truck, driven a short distance and shot at. The bodies were thrown in the upper Ganga and Hindon canals. Five survived the shooting. Of the 38 killed, only 11 bodies were recovered.

A charge sheet was filed in a Ghaziabad court in 1996, in which 19 were accused. Upon an appeal by the victims families to the Supreme Court, the case was transferred to Delhis Tis Hazari court in 2002. Charges against the accused were finally framed in 2006. During the trial, three of the accused died.

What I respect is the dignity of the victims that they had shown. There was no tamasha despite the inordinate delay. While accepting the ways of the system, sometimes they were frustrated but that did not lower their faith in the system, said senior advocate Rebecca John for the National Human Rights Commission, which filed an appeal after the lower court acquitted the accused in 2015.
The United States has granted India a waiver from sanctions imposed on Iran, which would allow Indian oil companies to continue to import about 1.25 million tonnes of oil a month till March from Tehran, Economic Times reported with reference to sources familiar with the matter.

It was added that an official announcement could come over the next few days.

The U.S. will re-impose sanctions on Iran from November 4, following U.S. President Donald Trumps decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal earlier this year.

However, India is the second biggest importer of oil from Iran, behind China, and when the U.S. previously imposed sanctions on Iran, before the Iran deal was agreed in 2015, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, and Taiwan all won exemptions.
Jammu and Kashmir BJP state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother were shot dead by suspected militants in Kishtwar town of Jammu region Thursday, police said.

The killings, coming ahead of the panchayat elections starting November 17, triggered angry protests in the town. While authorities imposed curfew, army was also called out to maintain order, reported PTI news agency.

According to a police officer, Parihar, 53, and his brother Ajit were returning home after closing their stationery shop late evening when two unidentified gunmen came and shot them at point-blank range. .. it appeared they had been keeping a watch on the daily routine of the BJP leader and his brother, said the officer.

The brothers were rushed to Kishtwar district hospital where doctors declared them dead.

Parihar had been associated with the BJP for over three decades, save a brief stint in the Panthers Party. Before becoming the BJPs state secretary, he had been the state president of its youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.

His younger brother Ajit was an employee of the state forest corporation and also looked after the shop.

As the news of the killings spread, protests erupted in the town. A mob stoned the police station and allegedly assaulted the station house officer. There were also reports said that even senior superintendent of police Rajinder Gupta faced resistance from protesters as he rushed to the spot.

Kishtwar deputy commissioner Angrez Singh Rana imposed curfew in the town as a precautionary measure after incidents of violence and vandalism were reported.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders condemned the killings. The cowards attacked them in the dark from point-blank range. We strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The terrorists involved in it will not be spared. In this hour of grief, the entire BJP and the countrymen stand by their families, said state party chief Ravinder Raina.

Minister of state in the prime ministers office Jitendra Singh, who is the local MP, was rushing to the spot.

Former state chief minister Omar Abdullah also expressed his condolences. Very sad news. My condolences to Anil & Ajit Parihars family & colleagues. May their souls rest in peace, he said in a tweet.
Assembly elections are just over a month away and villagers in Madanpura village of Rajasthans Kota district have decided to boycott it due to lack of development and amenities.

Vikas nahi to vote nahi (no development, no vote), reads a banner put up in the village in Khatoli region of Pipalda assembly constituency, Kota.

There was no work to develop roads and drains here in the past three years following a court case over the encroachment of pasture land, said Shambhu Kumar, a villager. Unhygienic conditions were prevailing in the district after mud accumulation at several places due to lack of roads and drains, he said.

The places where mud is accumulated are now breeding sites for mosquitoes and sources of diseases but the administration is not bothered, said Jagdish Keer, another villager. Also, poor villagers are yet to get houses sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana, he added.

Mangilal, another villager, said there is no benefit of the Ujjwala scheme of the Union government under which free LPG connections are provided to the villagers. Since there has been no development of any kind in the village in the past three to four years, we will not vote in the coming assembly election, he said.

There are around 500 voters, mostly from Kewat and Keer communities, in the village.

Sarpanch of Madanpura village, Ruchita Kumari, said there was a vast stretch of government land in the village, a major portion of which was alloted to a private contractor and businessman of Khatoli area. These voters have been residing on the disputed land for the past 70 years and the businessman obtained a stay order on land conversion and development activities from court in 2013 after which works were halted, she said.

Neither construction of toilets under the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan nor allotment of the houses under PM Awas Yojana could be done due to the land dispute, she said.
Even as the Justice Arumughaswamy panel is investigating the circumstances around former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaas death, a copy of the letter written by the then governor Vidyasagar Rao to the then President Pranab Mukherjee has now emerged.

The letter was sent on October 6, 2016, five days after Rao had visited Jayalalithaa at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. In the official communication, Rao writes about the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leaders failing health, contradicting the official claims that she was eating idlis and doing well. The leaked report reveals that Jayalalithaas health was deteriorating and she was unconscious when Rao had visited her.

However, former minister and AIADMK leader B Valarmathi said on October 1, 2016, the day Rao visited the hospital, that Jayalalithaa was doing well and was performing her official duties.

As several unconfirmed reports were passed by unauthorised persons including one Tamizhachi from France over the health of Jaya, I rushed (to) Apollo... on October 1, 2016. I saw Jayalalithaa in the ward where she was treated. When I entered the ward, Jaya was under sedation at that time, Raos 2016 report to Mukherjee reads.

When contacted, Valarmathi said the issue was being inquired upon. The then governor has not said anything officially. It seems to be a leaked report. The Justice Arumughaswamy commission is inquiring into the matter. So I dont want to make comments.

Reacting to the report, N Raja Senthoor Pandian, Sasikalas counsel, said there was nothing wrong in it. The governors report has revealed the truth. It is true that Jaya was unconscious on October 1, 2016. However, after proper treatment, she recovered after October 10, 2016, he said.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi today met Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu who is in Delhi to gather Team Opposition against the ruling BJP for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi described it as momentous and said it is critical for all opposition parties to unite to defend the democracy and institutions and future of this country. Naidu called it a democratic compulsion.

We are coming together... both agreed are not going to get into the past and will talk about the present and the future... It is critical for the country that all opposition parties get together and provide a vision to the country, said Gandhi on his coming together with a Naidu, boss of the Telugu Desam Party, the Congress traditional rival in Andhra Pradesh and a BJP ally till March this year.

Both underlined that the primary objective was to defeat the BJP. And they skirted the question on who would lead such an anti-BJP front, though Naidu pointed out that Congress is the main opposition party. Rahul Gandhi said the principal challenge is to work together...everything else is secondary.

Chandrababu Naidu said opposition parties would meet soon on a common platform to chalk out an action plan. He is on his second visit to Delhi in the last week. Ahead of meeting Gandhi, he met Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference Farooq Abdullah.

At the weekend Naidu met other opposition leaders like Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and several others. He had also met former union minister Yashwant Sinha.

Naidus party and the Congress have already allied in Andhra Pradesh neighbour Telangana, where assembly elections will be held early next month. The Congress is expected to contest 90 out of the states 119 assembly seats, with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) likely to contest the remaining 29 seats as they take on the Telangana Rashtriya Samiti.

Andhra Pradesh votes for a new assembly in 2020.
The central election committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) met at the party headquarters on Thursday evening to decide candidates for the Madhya Pradesh assembly election on November 28.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah are attending the meeting.

November 9 is the last day to make nominations for the elections to the 230-member assembly.

In 2013, the BJP won 165 seats with 45.7% vote share while its nearest rival, the Congress, bagged 58 seats with a vote share of 37.1%.

BJP sources claim at least one-fourth of its candidates from 2013 will be dropped this time to cut personal anti-incumbency factor and to field new faces.
A new annual appraisal system proposed by the army for thousands of non-empanelled (NE) officers appears to have triggered a row, and the force could confront a growing chorus to reverse the controversial move, at least four officials familiar with the development said on the condition of anonymity.

NE officers are those who do not get promoted to the select rank of colonel, mainly due to limited vacancies given the pyramid hierarchy of the army. Experts said their current number in the army could range between 5,000 and 7,000 out of a total of about 48,000 officers.

The proposed appraisal format was detailed in a letter dated October 17 by Military Secretarys branch, IHQ MoD (Army), that has been seen by Hindustan Times.

It has a separate form in the confidential report for NE officers, and it is on the basis of this assessment that they will be eligible for timescale promotion to the rank of colonel, re-employment, command of independent units, and deputation to public sector units, the Defence Research and Development Organisation, and other similar organisations.

As things stand, all NE officers are promoted to the rank of colonel after 26 years of service (timescale).

Empanelled officers, on the other hand, are usually promoted to full colonel in 15-16 years of service (select rank).

Grant of study leave and posting to Class A/B cities or choice postings will also depend on the assessment, which will not be shown to officers, says the letter, which was circulated to all the army commands for feedback to the Military Secretarys branch next month.

The first sign of discontent within the ranks surfaced on Wednesday, when a serving lieutenant colonel sent an angry letter to Bathinda-based HQs 10 Corps in which he rejected the new format, calling it totally illegal and humiliating for the NE officers.

A senior officer at the army headquarters said no change had been implemented in the appraisal form for NE officers, and the matter was only at a proposal stage currently.

A final decision will be taken after getting feedback from everyone. Regular interaction between the staff and environment is usual, he added.

He said under army chief General Bipin Rawats directions, the force is planning to improve the satisfaction levels of NE officers by sending them to United Nations peace missions and also giving them high-value appointments in the army HQs.

According to different estimates given by experts, only 20% to 35% of the number of lieutenant colonels considered for promotion make it to the rank of colonel due to the forces pyramidical hierarchical structure.

Even in the court of law, a criminal is not punished twice for the same offence but by introducing this new appraisal form the organisation will punish NE officers multiple timesWho could not be promoted to the next rank because of limited vacancies and not because of incompetence (what is told by our so-called great organisation), wrote the officer, who commands a tank transporter unit.

I respect and admire the officers who have earned the Red Tabs (colonel rank and above) but I request them not to step on the shoulders of others (who are already trampled) to prove their worth and innovativeness, the lieutenant colonel wrote.

Every time the word organisation interest is used (rather misused) by few officers to deprive the people who hardly have any aspiration left I would like to suggest them, it is not only the flowers and fruits which make a tree but the roots that are not visible hold the tree. The organisation includes the NE officers who are also living beings and want to breathe, he added. He wrote that NE officers should automatically be eligible for a few basic things such as timescale promotion, study leave, posting to Class A/B cities and re-employment, a view echoed by two other NE officers HT spoke to.

Now he (an NE officer) has to prove himself every year to his boss about the worthiness for even these things. At the fag end of the service (I will not say career because that is already finished), an NE officer will not only have to perform but also please his boss who at times will be couple of years junior in service, the officer wrote, admitting that the language and tone of his letter may not be appropriate but he does not regret it.

Experts HT spoke to were divided on the issue.

In the armys pyramidical promotion structure, a lot of deserving people dont make to the colonels rank because of limited vacancies. They are not incompetent. They should not be humiliated or discriminated against by introducing this new appraisal model, said Lieutenant General SPS Katewa, who retired as the Commandant of the ASC Centre and College in Bengaluru last year.

He said on an average almost 75% lieutenant colonels dont get selected as colonels and there may be 5,000 to 7,000 such officers in the army at any given time.

However, Lieutenant General AS Lamba (retd), a former vice chief, said the recent proposal appears to have been approved in principle at the Army Commanders Conference and would have been backed by data and feedback.

Revision in formats is an ongoing process and it can be absorbed fully or partly after due deliberations and application, Lamba said, adding that around 35% officers are selected for the colonel rank due to promotion challenges.
The Supreme Court on Thursday fixed December 15 deadline for people to file claims and objections for inclusion of names in the draft Nation Register of Citizens in Assam.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also allowed claimants for Assam NRC to rely on five more documents which were earlier objected to by NRC coordinator.

These five documents are: NRC of 1951, voter list of 1966, voter list of 1971, refugee registration certificate till 1971 and ration card issued till 1971.

Until now, 10 legacy documents could be used for inclusion and exclusion in the draft NRC, which should have been issued by various authorities and corporations since midnight of March 24, 1971.

The Supreme Court had asked all stakeholders to submit their views on a recent report by Prateek Hajela, the state coordinator of NRC, where he explained why only 10 of the 15 documents that were initially accepted to establish residence in Assam prior to March 25, 1971, could be submitted afresh in the claims and objections phase.

Hajela cited some instances of how the additional five documents, including ration cards, refugee registration and citizenship certificates, can be forged and extracts of the 1951 NRC and electoral rolls up to March 25, 1971, also called legacy data, could be misused to get illegal migrants into NRC.

The top court also fixed timeline for issuance of notice as January 15 to claimants and verification of documents as February 1.

The final draft NRC list was published on July 30 in which names of 2.89 crore of the 3.29 crore people were included. The names of 40,70,707 people did not figure in the list. Of these, 37,59,630 names have been rejected and the remaining 2,48,077 are on hold.
Karti Chidambaram will have to rework his foreign travel plans. The Supreme Court on Wednesday turned down the Congress leaders request for an urgent hearing to let him travel abroad this weekend. Dont go... Stay back in India, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi remarked when Karti Chidambarams lawyer made the request.

Karti, son of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, is being investigated by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate in the Aircel-Maxis and INX media case relating to the clearance by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board to receive foreign funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore when his father was the finance minister.

In July this year, the Supreme Court had allowed him to travel to the United Kingdom, France and the United States of America for about a week.

When he returned to the Supreme Court for permission to travel abroad again on Thursday, the court made it clear that this was not a matter which deserved an out-of-turn hearing.

Karti Chidambaram (going abroad) is not a matter to be taken up tomorrow, Chief Justice Gogoi stressed.
The Supreme Court has warned state governments and high courts (HCs) that it will take over the process of filling up vacancies in the lower judiciary if they fail to expedite the exercise.

We are telling all high courts and states that we are keeping you under constant gaze. If you cannot fill vacancies, then we will take over and have a centralised exam. We want our judges to be in place a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi told lawyers.

Statistics reveal there are 5,223 vacancies in trial courts. The Centre has proposed a centralised examination to fill them up, pointing to a staggering 2,76,74,499 cases pending in subordinate courts. But states and high courts have opposed the suggestion.

On October 22, CJI Gogois bench took up the matter on its own and ordered all state governments and HCs to update it on the status of recruitment of lower court judges and whether the timeline for selection as laid down by the top court in a 2006 verdict was being followed.

As per the order, appointment of new judges to subordinate courts has to be completed in nine months. All high courts and public service commissions (agency that holds exams) have been very casual, CJI Gogoi said.

He added that nothing was initiated to address the issue till the SC began monitoring it on the administrative side. Even then, he rued, recurring queries have not yielded any definite replies.

States and HCs failed to indicate how they were short of infrastructure. The level of indifference is phenomenal,  the CJI said. The situation in Delhi and Haryana was discussed as an example. The bench, also comprising justices UU Lalit and KM Joseph, said Delhi had taken at least a year to fill up just 200 vacancies.

In Haryana, the bench revealed, the examination held in 2015 was cancelled and the fresh advertisement issued in 2018 attracted a huge rush, leading to collapse of the official website on the last date of application.

Deciding to examine the status in batches, the bench summoned in person the registrar general and authorized representatives of the chief secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and the North-eastern states on November 15.
For citizens, the courtrooms of the Supreme Court are where landmark judgments are passed and history is made. But the most visible and respected embodiment of the countrys justice system has remained out of bounds for visitors for six decades.

Not anymore. On Thursday, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi will formally launch a portal, through which citizens can book a one-hour guided tour to the court premises, according to officials involved in the project.

At present, only lawyers, law interns, law students, litigants and mediapersons are allowed inside the court. Entry to the building, which is in a high-security zone, is restricted and regulated either through an electronic access card or daily passes issued by the Supreme Court registry.

The registry has now developed a website that will help citizens choose the date and time for a 60-minute visit to the Supreme Court, according to one of the officials cited above who asked not to be named. For now, the tour will be conducted every Saturday, when there are no court hearings, he added.

The building, which completed 60 years in 2018, has long been an architectural delight for passersby.

A second official involved in the project, who also did not want to be named, said visitors will get bar-coded messages on their mobile phones once a booking is confirmed. The message will have to be scanned at the reception desk, where a trained guide will conduct the tour.

The tour will start from the main lawns within the court precincts, where the statue of justice stands. It will include a trip to courtroom number one, the Chief Justice of Indias court under the imposing central dome, added the second official.

Visitors would also get a peek into the judges library. They will also get a chance to walk through the judges corridor during the tour, which will end with a visit to the museum with refreshments.

Although the Supreme Court was decreed by the Constitution in 1950, it took nearly eight years to find a permanent home. The present building was constructed by the Central Public Works Department under the stewardship of Ganesh Bikhaji Deolalikar, and later, his successor Sridhar Krishna Joglekar, as chief architects of CPWD.

The buildings layout reflects its purpose: when seen from the sky, the Supreme Court is designed as the scales of justice, comprising a central beam with two pans, placed evenly. The court commenced its functioning within this edifice in August 1958.

The Supreme Courts in the United Kingdom and Canada are open to guided tours.
Moscow's Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH) hosted the solemn opening of the exhibition of documents of 16th-20th centuries from Turkey's State Archives titled '500 years of Russian-Turkish relations in archival documents.' The event was timed to the 200th anniversary of Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Oriental Studies.
Five persons were shot dead by suspected ULFA(I) militants in Assams Tinsukia district late on Thursday.

Police said six suspected ULFA (I) cadre abducted the five from Dholas Kherbari village. Their bodies were later found under a bridge some distance away. A police officer said they had been shot.

The incident took place at about 8 pm.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal condemned the killing of innocent people and rushed two ministers to the spot. The perpetrators of the crime will be dealt with a firm hand, said Sonowal.

Kuladhar Saikia, Assam police chief, has also been ordered to reach the district where, the police said, adding that the five of Bengali community have been killed.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also sought strong action against the perpetrators but appeared to take a jab at the Assam government as well. The Trinamool Congress chief called for protest rallies in different parts of north and south Bengal including Siliguri and Kolkata against the brutal killings on Friday.

In a series of tweets, Mamata Banerjee named the five men and wondered if the brutal attack was an outcome of recent NRC development.

She identified the victims as Shyamal Biswas, Abhinash Biswas, Ananta Biswas, Subodh Das and Dhananjay Namashudra.

Terrible news coming out of Assam. We strongly condemn the brutal attack in Tinsukia and the killing of Shyamlal Biswas, Ananta Biswas, Abhinash Biswas, Subodh Das. Is this the outcome of recent NRC development ? 1/2  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 1, 2018
Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu is meeting Congress president Rahul Gandhi as part of the effort to unite opposition parties against the BJP for 2019. Naidu, who addressed a joint press conference with opposition leaders Sharad Pawar and Farooq Abdullah minutes earlier, said democracy was in danger and political parties needed to come together.

We decided to meet in Delhi to chalk out a plan to protect the future of the nation, Naidu said after meeting NCPs Sharad Pawar and National Conferences Farooq Abdullah.

This is Naidus second visit to the national capital in less than a week. He was in Delhi at the weekend and met other opposition leaders like Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and several others. He had also met former union minister Yashwant Sinha.

Read more: Momentous, says Rahul Gandhi after meeting Chandrababu Naidu on Oppn unity

Naidu briefed reporters in his state last night on his scheduled meeting with Rahul Gandhi, saying he was trying to bring like-minded opposition parties together to form an alliance as an alternative to the BJP.

Naidu had exited the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in March this year over Andhra Pradesh not being granted special status. On Wednesday, he accused of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of betraying the people of Andhra Pradesh by going back on the promise to undo injustice done to them with the bifurcation of the state.

He also alleged that the BJPs policies pose a threat to democracy in the country. I have taken the responsibility to save the country from this threat. It is the duty of all to save the country, he said.

Naidu claimed that he was twice offered the post of prime minister, but he had refused. Now, he said, the time had come for the TDP to again play a key role in national politics.

Todays is the Andhra Chief Ministers first meeting with the Congress president, though the two had shared stage at the swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy in May this year.

Later today, Naidu is also expected to meet leaders of Left parties.

Naidus party and the Congress have already allied in Andhra Pradesh neighbour Telangana, where assembly elections will be held early next month. The Congress is expected to contest 90 out of the states 119 assembly seats, with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) likely to contest the remaining 29 seats as they take on the Telangana Rashtriya Samiti.

Andhra Pradesh votes for a new assembly in 2020.

(with IANS inputs)
More than 100 passengers on a Doha-bound Qatar Airways aircraft had a narrow escape at the international airport in West Bengals Kolkata early on Thursday when a water tanker hit the plane minutes before take off.

The accident took place at about 2:20 am when passengers were boarding the plane at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

The passengers were safely evacuated. We have informed the Director General of Civil Aviation about the incident, airport director Atul Dixit told HT.

Officials later said the civil aviation regulator had started a probe.

The aircraft, which had to carry 103 passengers, did not take off.

News agency ANI said the aircrafts belly was damaged in the accident and the craft had been taken away for repairs.

The movement of vehicles in the airport takes place through pre-determined routes and speed. One has to find out how the driver lost control of the vehicle, said an officer, who did not want to be identified.

All the passengers were accommodated in a city hotel. They will be sent to Doha by a flight scheduled to leave Kolkata around 3 am on Friday.
Aparna Yadav, the chhoti bahu or younger daughter-in-law of Mulayam Singh Yadav, said on Wednesday a Ram temple should be built in Ayodhya, also making clear where her loyalties lie in her politically divided family. She will choose the side of Shivpalji and Netaji if she gets a chance to contest the 2019 elections, she said.

Ram Temple should come up in Ayodhya. The Ramayan mentions the Ramjanmbhoomi. We should wait till January for the court to begin hearing, she said when asked about her views on the matter.

Speaking in Barabanki near UP capital Lucknow, Aparna Yadav, 28, asserted that Shivpal Yadavs party Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) will have an impact on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

When asked if she gets to contest 2019 polls, who would she go with, Aparna replied: I will go with the elders. Though its lot of time yet for the 2019 polls, lets see how things unfold.

The Yadavs, formerly the first family of Uttar Pradesh, are deeply split with ex chief minister Akhilesh Yadav now in command of the Samajwadi Party that his father Mulayam Singh Yadav, fondly called Netaji, founded more than 25 years ago. In taking over, he exiled his uncle Shivpal Yadav who has since then launched a new party.

Mulayam Singh, seen as torn between son and brother, is watched closely to see which side the veteran politician will eventually throw his weight behind ahead of the crucial national election next year.

Akhilesh Yadav has accused Shivpal Yadav of cosying up to the ruling BJP, pointing to the allotment of a large bungalow in the heart of Lucknow to his uncle by the Yogi Adityanath government recently.

Aparna Yadavs comments today on the Ram temple will give the Samajwadi Party more fuel as it goes against Mulayams and partys stated stand that the matter was in the Supreme Court.

Aparna Yadav is the wife of Prateek Yadav, Mulayam Singhs younger son and Akhileshs step-brother. In the bitter family feud between Akhilesh and Shivpal, the couple leaned towards the uncle. Their visit last year to greet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath soon after the BJP ousted the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party in the UP assembly elections had also drawn much interest.

The Yadav chhotti bahu has not made any bones about her admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, indulging in a fan moment when she clicked a selfie with him at a family function last year. Asked whether it signalled a political inclination, she had argued, He is everyones PM.

She had fought the 2017 assembly elections as the Samjawadi Partys candidate from Lucknow, but was defeated. Rita Bahuguna Joshi, imported by the BJP from the Congress just before the elections, won. The BJP swept the UP elections, winning 312 of 403 seats; the Samajwadi Party was a distant second, considerably weakened by its internal feuding.

The BJPs assembly elections win followed another sweep in 2014 of the last Lok Sabha elections in UP, when the party had won 71 of the states 80 seats. In its bid to retain power at the Centre next year, the party hopes to replicate its performance in UP, which sends the most members to Parliament.

Akhilesh Yadav has experimented with tying up with his fathers arch rival Mayawati in preps for 2019 to test a formidable alliance to defeat the BJP.
Five people drowned in a private well in Kalyan (East) on Thursday. The dead include two firemen who had jumped in to rescue the other three victims. Fire officials said they likely suffocated as the well is near a drain, and could have been full of toxic fumes from polluted water.

Around 2pm on Thursday, a sanitation worker, Kamlesh Yadav, 35, entered the well to clean it after he was engaged by Rahul Goswani, 32, on whose property the well is situated.

When Yadav did not return for more than an hour, Rahul Goswami jumped in to rescue him. Within minutes, his father, Gunwant Goswami, 56, also jumped in.

When all three men did not surface, the family called up the fire department around 3pm, said Sudhakar Kulkarni, a senior fire officer.

When our firemen reached the spot, they were told there may be electric current inside the well from the live wires from the poles next to it, said Kulkarni, adding that the power supply in the area was first disconnected before the two firemen, who died, entered the well using a ladder.

The water was black and we could not spot the body, so we decided to send in two men.

However, the firemen who entered the well did not wear masks. Pramod Waghchoure, 44 and Anant Shelar, 48, jumped in without protection and died, officials said.

When the two fire officials did not return, we realised we cannot send anymore people. While we could not spot the bodies from the surface, we managed to hook their clothes and pulled them up, Kulkarni said.

All five bodies were retrieved two hours later and sent for a post mortem to the Rukminibai civic hospital, said Raju Lavangare, health officer, KDMC. The actual cause of their death can be revealed only after the reports.

Fire officials have also collected samples of water in the well and drain for testing.

Residents of the area have been complaining about the open drain next to the well flowing along the Chakki naka to Netivli naka in Kalyan (East). This stretch is being widened and concretised by the KDMC. However, some portions of this road have been left incomplete with the drainage line open and iron rods protruding from the edges of the road. Water from the drainage line enters the well due to leakages.

We have been demanding to build the road and close the drainage line as the water from the drainage stinks and we cannot breathe. The civic body has not paid attention to this demand, and this has now claimed five lives, said Manoj Rane, 33, who lives in the area.

KDMC officials said they will check the drainage line. A senior officer from KDMC requesting anonymity said, If the locals have complained about the road and drainage lines, we will investigate why the complaints werent looked into. We will also repair the drains at the earliest and if the contractor is found guilty of shoddy work, action will be taken.

A police officer from Kolsewadi police said,We have registered three cases of accidental death. We are investigating will register cases under relevant sections of IPC.
The city has 33 lakh vehicles, but only 60,000 parking spaces , according to official data.

With 2,000km of roads in the city, these numbers mean your commute is a crawl and also life-threatening. According to experts, the key to a smooth commute lies in an organised parking policy based on reasonable rates, colour-coded parking slots and intelligent planning and traffic management of roads.

For an organised policy, experts said the government does not need to charge an equal amount for all spaces, but adjust rates according to the road.

People are used to free parking. The government should start by charging minimum amounts for parking on less-used lanes so that the people get into the habit of paying for parking, said Ashok Datar, chairman of the Mumbai Environmental and Social Network (MESN), which has been pioneering solutions for better management of transport.

The team suggested parking based on the width of the road. If it is less than six metres, the lane should be a no-parking zone. However, if 9m, one-side parking should be permitted, but for a fee.

Experts also suggested a system where high penalties are imposed on parking on the footpath, at corners of roads, especially at junctions, parking within 700m of a bus stop. They further suggested the government should mark free parking spaces with white paint, parking for a fee with yellow and no-parking spaces red.

In Mumbai, where space is very valuable, free parking is the biggest subsidy authorities can give. The solution to curb illegal menace lies in charging for parking  an effective tool, said Dhawal Ashar, urban transport expert. Many experts also suggested planning roads as several roads do not have uniform number of lanes throughout its length.

Mumbai needed to start taking its east-west connectivity seriously. By continuously upgrading north-south connectivity, commuters are forced to take a longer route if they want to go from west to east, Ashar said.

The Advance Locality Management (ALM) at Kings Circle had managed to solve parking problems to an extent. Nikhil Desai, from the F-North Citizens group, said the ward officer had declared Dadar TT and the Sion Circle no-parking zones. He had allotted a contractor at Kings Circle to charge a parking fee of 70 plus GST for an hour.

However, a spanner is in the works as the contract has ended this month . The civic body is now planning to invite new contractors who could charge 40 .

The traffic police have undertaken many experiments, including making the Elphinstone and Lower Parel bridges one-way, which have not worked as envisioned. However, not giving up, the traffic police have now banned entry of light and medium-commercial vehicles in central Mumbai from 5pm to 9pm.

An experiment to decongest Ganpat Rao Kadam Marg and allow a straight exit to Worli Naka, instead of taking a U-Turn from Dr E Moses Road and making the road a no-parking zone, has seen a reduction in the travel time of commuters from Indiabulls junction to the Dr E Moses Road, however, they are not sure if it is because of the Ola-Uber drivers strike.

We will continue the experiment for a few more days before taking a decision, said Amitesh Kumar, joint commissioner of police (traffic). The traffic police agreed that after the closure of the Delisle bridge in Lower Parel, congestion has increased. The clog in this junction trickles down right to at least eight roads, said Kumar.

The law states that parking on footpaths, corners of the roads and double parking are illegal, however, commuters continue to do so. We take action against illegal parking, but if we do so on one street, the problem shifts to another lane, said Kumar.
On the night of November 26, 2008, when two Pakistani terrorists riddled Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) with bullets, Vishnu Dattaram Zende was in a tiny announcers booth in the station, using the public announcement system to guide people to safety. Nobody prepares you for such a situation. It was an instant reaction, said Zende.

In 2008, Zende was a suburban railway announcer. His usual routine saw him leave from Nalasopara, where he still lives with his wife and two children, and take the train to CSMT. Once at the station, hed go up to the announcement booth and rattle off details of train arrivals and departures for eight hours. Then November 26, 2008 happened.

It feels like it was yesterday, said Zende, now 47. He was on the evening shift when he heard explosions in the long-distance section of CSMT. Realising something was wrong, he took to the microphone and called for on-duty Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) to rush to that part of the station. At the same time, I saw a suburban train arrive in the terminus, remembered Zende.

The announcers booth is above the station masters office, offering Zende an overview of the station. I saw the men walking with guns  to the suburban railway section and firing indiscriminately. They were throwing hand-grenades. This is when I realised it was a terrorist attack, Zende told HT.

Immediately, Zende announced in Hindi and Marathi that passengers should exit the station from the rear end of the terminus, guiding them away from Kasab and Ismail and towards safety. I told people to use the exit of platform number one and to not come forward as I could see terrorists walking in that direction. The passengers rushed out, following my instructions, he said. Theres no calculating how many lives Zende saved with his announcements.

The gunmen soon realised what Zende was doing. All of sudden, I saw a terrorist firing at the direction of our booth. We (Zende and his colleague) ducked under our desks, he said. They heard the glass window shatter, but Zende escaped any injuries.

After a while, Zende from his vantage point saw the two terrorists walk out of CSMT. He and other railway personnel rushed to the outstation terminus area and found the carnage Kasab and Ismail had left behind. While Zendes announcements had saved the lives of countless suburban train passengers, the outstation section of CSMT got neither a warning nor time to escape. Nearly 60 people died in the attack. The bodies lying there, surrounded by blood, it was terrifying, said Zende. I started announcing for railway personnel, cleaning staff, porters and whoever could rush to the terminus area to help the injured. Zende stayed in CSMT that night and returned home the next day.

Later, for weeks, people would come to the announcement booth and thank Zende. He got a cash award of 10 lakh and in 2010, when President Barack Obama visited Mumbai, he shook hands with Zende. Welcome as all this attention was, for Zende, who has since been promoted to railway guard, 26/11 wrought only one real change in him: There is no fear left in me anymore.
Accusing the state police of shielding officers of Kumher police station over the custodial death of a former army personnel, three villages under the subdivision in Bharatpur district have decided to boycott the assembly election due on December 7 in the state.

Sarpanches of Baben, Dehra and Awar villages and a retired colonel, Ombeer Singh, held a panchayat attended by thousands of people on October 27 and decided to not participate in the polls unless the accused officers are arrested for what they alleged was the torture and killing of Naik (retired) Prahlad Singh, 53, a resident of Dhapa Ka Nagla.

Singh was picked up by the police on the night of August 23 reportedly in an inebriated state. He was taken to the Kumher police station where, district inspector general Malini Agarwal later told the media, he hanged himself by using the blanket kept in the cell.

Singhs son, Sagar, 28, registered a complaint against seven police officers under IPC Section 302 (murder), naming as accused station house officer Vijay Meena, assistant sub inspector Omprakash, and constables Govind Singh, Samay Singh, Kamal Singh, Kailash Singh, Devendra Singh.

Sagar has alleged that he and some relatives had gone to the police station that night for his fathers release but found the police beating him up in the lock up.

Dehra village sarpanch Atar Devi alleged that the police were trying to save the accused officers.

A week after Singhs death, the armys administrative commandant in Bharatpur wrote to the district collector following which a judicial inquiry was ordered into Singhs death.

Lok Dal youth wing state president Manu Dev Sinsini, who attended the October 27 panchayat, the district administration has failed to support the deceased ex-armyman even as the locals have been demanding legal action against the accused officers. The leader said the villagers have decided to boycott the elections unless the seven officers are acted against.
The Pima Air & Space Museum in Pima, Arizona recently unveiled the worlds sole surviving Yokosuka MXY7 K-2 Ohka, a two seat training variant of the rocket-powered kamikaze plane. It was designed for the Imperial Japanes Navy to give semi-trained pilots rudimentary experience flying and guiding the aircraft prior to their suicide missions in the fully armed variants used to attack Allied naval vessels during WWII. The aircraft is on loan from the Smithsonians National Air & Space Museum, and is an amalgam of an original fuselage (which is left in its preserved, though unrestored state) and a set of newly-built wings, tail group and cockpit canopies.

NASM describes the aircraft as follows

Little or no pilot training was required to fly the Ohka. The navy devised a short, introductory training session probably consisting of ground instruction followed by one or two flights. For flight training, Kugisho built the MXY7 K-1 Ohka. This was an unpowered glider version of the single-seat Okha 11. A bomber carried the trainer aloft but the airplane touched down on retractable landing skids. Water ballast replaced the warhead. The pilot dumped the ballast before landing to reduce touchdown speed. Kugisho built about 45 K-1 trainers but the aircraft was difficult to control, especially after the pilot dumped ballast. The aircraft probably killed several trainees. Kugisho engineers developed an improved trainer, the two-seat MXY7 K-2 Ohka 43B, when they substituted a second cockpit for the warhead/ballast compartment. They gave the aircraft a landing skid, flaps, and a single rocket motor of the type used in early versions of the Ohka 11. The motor extended training time in the air and allowed student pilots to practice flying the bomb with power.

Using this MXY7 K-2 trainer, the navy also taught pilots to fly a ground-based Ohka called the Model 43. A catapult propelled the Model 43 down short guide rails and into the air. The Japanese could hide the whole apparatus in caves. Development began so late in the war that Kugisho completed only two of these trainers before hostilities ended.

The NASM Ohka K-2 is the last remaining example of this frightful, desperate technology. The U. S. Navy transferred it to the Smithsonian in 1974 in deteriorated condition and without wings.
Muslims in Telangana, who constitute around 12.7% per cent of the electorate, are going to decide the destiny of political parties in at least 40% of the 119 assembly constituencies the state that goes to the polls on December 7, say political experts.

Muslims are present in considerable numbers in almost all districts of Telangana, but are predominant in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Medak, Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts. According to the Telangana Social Development Report- 2017, 1.73 million Muslims reside in Hyderabad alone, making up a fourth of the citys population and 43.5% of the states Muslim population. The city has 24 assembly seats, of which the outcome in 10 can be swung by Muslim voters.

Most of the Muslims of Hyderabad are residing in the old city, which has been a fiefdom of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) for two decades. The party has been consistently winning all the seven assembly seats in the old city.

The MIM was a strong opponent of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh before 2014, fearing that it would result in the growth of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Telangana due to a polarisation of Hindu votes. However, with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) emerging stronger after the formation of the new state, the MIM gave up its anti-Telangana stand and warmed up to the TRS.

In September, MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi appealed to Muslims voters to opt for the TRS in the constituencies outside Hyderabad where his party is not contesting (seats such as Asifabad, Mahbubnagar and Medak).

Owaisis party has gained considerable hold over the Muslim voters across the state. This has turned out to be an advantage for the TRS headed by K Chandrashekar Rao over the other Congress and its allies, says political analyst and Muslim scholar Mir Ayub Ali Khan.

In the outgoing assembly, there are eight Muslim MLAs with seven from the MIM and one from the TRS.

The Muslims have lost faith on the Congress after the Babri demolition. It has failed to prevent the growth of the BJP. On the other hand, the TRS has been able to provide a secure environment for the Muslims, a senior MIM leader said on condition of anonymity.

Observers say a big advantage for the TRS among Muslim voters is that chief minister Rao is considered friendly to the community and is fluent in Urdu.

The biggest benefit KCR has done for the Muslims is establishment of 200 residential schools and colleges exclusively for Muslims, where they are given free education, food and clothing up to Class 12..., said Khan.

KCRs son and state IT minister K T Rama Rao said Muslims were feeling secure during the TRS regime. There was not a single instance of communal violence in Telangana. Old city of Hyderabad which used to witness curfews regularly during the Congress regime, is peaceful now. The Muslims are happy with TRS, he said at a meeting in Wanaparthy early this week.

But the Congress points out that the TRS failed to implement a promise for 12% reservations for Muslims in education and employment, a move that was struck down by the judiciary. It was the Congress party which introduced 4% quota for Muslims. KCR promised to enhance it to 12 % within a year of coming to power, but could not implement it till now, Telangana PCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said.
A twenty-minute cab ride across the Queensborough bridge from Manhattan, and Im in Brooklyns Williamsburg neighbourhood, curious to see what the younger set is going on about.

Its October, fiercely cold and yet the brilliant sun feels like a billion-watt torchlight in my eyes. Rows of tall, handsome, terraced houses called brownstones stand shoulder to shoulder, as though theyre in attention at an army inspection. Leafy trees animate the street scenes, as do the imaginatively installed Halloween props of ghosts, ghouls, witches, skeletons, cobwebs and carved pumpkin lanterns on the stoops of the houses.

The shops, restaurants, cafes and galleries are concentrated on Bedford, Berry and Briggs streets, where you might run into a film set, and most certainly will run into trendy hipsters with their thick, groomed, statement beards.

In the adjoining areas, colourful murals are splashed across giant facades, exuding a relaxed, arty feel.

Young folks hanging out at the lobby of the Hoxton Hotel, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Young folks hanging out at the lobby of the Hoxton Hotel, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Further, by the East River waterfront, the large warehouses that once offloaded ships have been converted to design hotels and swish apartment buildings clad in terracotta bricks, whose floor to ceiling windows, balconies and rooftops encompass all the romance of the classic Manhattan skyline and a series of necklace-like bridges. The gentrification of the area is instantly palpable.

The Canarsee Indians, it is said, were the very first residents of these woods, now called Brooklyn. The area was taken over by Dutch migrants in the late 17th century, who came from Breuckelen, near Utrecht. The most recent wave of residents are well heeled, on-the-verge-of-breakthrough, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed youngsters.

An independent shop on Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg.

Rooftop views of Brooklyn bridge and Manhattan

A CREATIVE HAVEN

Time and again, when young talent simply got priced out of Manhattans neighbourhoods people moved to lower rents in adjoining areas. Williamsburg and the pockets surrounding it such as Greenpoint, Dumbo and Bushwick have been so infused with creativity, theyve evoked a unique atmosphere that makes their music venues, bars, boutiques and little restaurants all the more desirable.

Its a different ethos here in Brooklyn, that we intend to protect fiercely. said a young man working at the stylish new Hoxton Hotel, the new epicenter and hangout space. Theres a mellow vibe with liberal attitudes and a laid back feel. Here, time is more elastic, the people are kinder, were less corporate and more entrepreneurial. We value the open skies and quieter streets that are not overrun with tourists and chain stores.

Rooftop views of Brooklyn bridge and Manhattan.

A film shoot taking place in Williamsburg.

I look around the high-ceiling lobby area set with pink velvet armchairs and cool ceramic bric-a-brac, where entrepreneurial youngsters pad away on their laptops sipping almond milk coffee and nibbling vegan snacks. Outside, even the taxicabs are painted green.

While the Brooklyn folks find little need to to visit the all too hectic island of Manhattan for weeks on end, New Yorks millennials cant stay away from Williamsburgs magic, especially the edgy house and techno beats at venues such as Output, Schimanski, Brooklyn Steel and The Music Hall of Williamsburg, where they dance to live music or enjoy some of the world best DJs and their cutting edge acoustic systems. Theres nothing quite like grabbing a bite at Five Leaves restaurant where the tables spill out on the street, partying all night, then taking the East Ferry home just as the Midas touch of the morning rays turn all of Manhattan into gold. I totally get it.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Stay at-

The Hoxton, 97 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn. www.thehoxton.com

The Wythe Hotel- 80Wythe Ave at North 11th St. www.wythehotel.com

Eat at-

Five Leaves. 18 Bedford Avenue 718. 383 5345

Lilia- a popular dining spot in abakery, dinner only. www.lilianenewyork.com

Meadowsweet

Rider



Drink at-

Maison Premier

Music and Dance-

Brooklyn Steel -319 Front St, Williamsburg.

Output, 74 Wythe st and 9th Ave.

Music Hall of Williamsburg- 66N 6th st Kent Avenue.

Dus Donuts 107 North 12th St.

Stand alone stores-

Simple Goods combines a small restaurant with a shop selling stylish French Andean and local homewares and personal use goods.

Norbu- a cornucopia of delicate jewelry pieces. 232A Bedford Avenue www.norbu.us

Homewares- Mociun Home and Sprout Home.
The World Bank does not agree with US President Donald Trumps claim that India is a tariff king and feels that the Indian taxation system and economy is much more liberalised than it was a few decades ago, a top official of the international financial institution said Wednesday.

Earlier this month, Trump described India as a tariff king as he reiterated his allegations that New Delhi has a high tariff rate on various American goods. That (India being a tariff king) certainly is not what we find in our data, Shanta Devarajan, the World Banks Senior Director for Development Economics and Acting Chief Economist, told PTI in an interview when asked about Trumps statement.

India has some tariffs, but by no means its not (tariff) king, said Devarajan, who earlier was chief economist for South Asia at the World Bank.

Even in South Asia India did not have the highest tariffs, he said referring to the experience he had in his previous capacity in the World Bank. And they (tariffs in India) have come down quite a bit since then, he said.

Liberalisation of the Indian economy is showing results, he said.

Tariffs were very high in 1991, when they liberalised and they found that actually the economy boomed. That has helped to build political support for further reforms, Devarajan said.
Radical Islamists burnt tyres and blocked major roads as they held protests across Pakistan for the second day on Thursday against the acquittal of a Christian woman sentenced to death for committing blasphemy, defying Prime Minister Imran Khans stern warning.

Asia Bibi, 47, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The apex courts judgement, which was pronounced Wednesday, triggered protests across Pakistan with protestors led by Islamic political party Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan and other groups blocking major highways and roads in different parts of the country.

Prime Minister Khan and Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa held a meeting Wednesday night to discuss the overall situation in the country and other important issues, according to information minister Fawad Chaudhry.

On Wednesday, following the protests, Section 144 was imposed till November 10 across Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan barring the gathering of more than four persons in public places as well as pillion riding. Traffic officials said major disturbance was witnessed on Thursday in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad where dozens of protestors were enforcing the blockade of major roads and burning tyres. Traffic was also suspended on major motorways due to the presence of demonstrators.

The largest province of Punjab, which was facing major protests, decided to close down schools for a day and also cancelled supplementary Secondary School Certificate examination.

Private schools in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces also remained shut. However, educational institutions were open in Islamabad.

Hospitals were on high alert due to fear of clashes as police and paramilitary forces tried to contain the disturbance. Long queues of traffic were witnessed in Lahore, Islamabad and other cities due to blockade of several major roads. Mobile phone and internet services were also suspended in different parts of the country.

There was no official word on the plan to clear the protesters but security sources said all options were being considered.

We are ready to take action and restore the writ of the state, a senior police official told PTI.

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) advised passengers to report at least four hours prior to their flight departure as roads have been blocked in major cities across the country.

Protests were also being staged in Gujranwala, Mansehra, Faisalabad and other cities across the country. Meanwhile, Bibis husband Ashiq Masih has reached Pakistan along with his family from the UK to shift her abroad, The News reported quoting sources. Masih was provided complete security by the law enforcement agencies, it said.

Officials also said Bibi might be flown out of Pakistan due to threat to her life.

However, it was not clear where she will go as several countries, including Canada, have offered asylum to her.

The timing of her release was not been shared due to security reasons. She was kept in Sheikhupura jail near Lahore.

Bibis case has been deeply divisive in Pakistan where there is strong support for the controversial blasphemy laws. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar said blasphemy is not acceptable to anyone, but the judiciary cannot punish someone if there is no proof against that person.

Talking tough, Prime Minister Khan Wednesday told hardliners not to confront the State and refrain from vandalism. The opposition on Thursday criticised Khans address to the nation.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah accused Khan of running away from the parliament at a time when the country is threatened by unrest, and said his body language was aggressive when he addressed the nation.

Prime Minister Imran Khan should have been [here in the Parliament] today. The roads are blocked, people have been restricted to their homes, there is [violence]. He should not be running away. The prime minister and the interior minister should have been present here today, Shah said.

Khan was aggressive in his speech, his body language suggested he was about to fight. Peace will not happen this way, the veteran PPP leader said. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Saad Rafique, voicing similar views, said a rulers attitude should not be so aggressive and the prime minister should have taken the House into confidence over the matter.

The religion card that you used against [the previous government] in the past, is now being used against you, Rafique said while addressing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government. You used to talk of lockdowns and blocking roads. Now its being said that blocking the roads is not in the interests of the nation, the PML-N leader said.
Sri Lankas sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday said he had the support of Parliament as the island nation grappled with an unprecedented constitutional crisis following his ouster by President Maithripala Sirisena.

I still remain the Prime Minister and I have the confidence of the majority of members of the House, Wickremesinghe told the BBC from his official residence Temple Trees.

The President removed Wickremesinghe, sacked the Cabinet and suspended Parliament last week and appointed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister.

However, Wickremesinghe has refused to leave office, calling the move illegal. The crisis sparked protests and violence in the country that is facing an extraordinary situation where two people are claiming to run the government.

The Constitution states that the President must appoint as Prime Minister the person who commands the confidence of Parliament and I am the person who has that. We have asked for the summoning of Parliament so I can prove my majority in the House, Wickremesinghe said.

His United National Party (UNP) demanded that the House be convened soon and Rajapaksa suggested that this could happen at the start of next week. No date has yet been confirmed, the BBC reported.

Wickremesinghes supporters had been gathering at Temple Trees since the day he was sacked. The BBC cited his aides as saying that it was a way to prevent any use of force to remove the ousted Prime Minister from the house.

Meanwhile, in another part of Colombo, Rajapaksa has begun work. The official website of the Prime Minister has been updated to show his photo and profile. Posters congratulating him have been put up all over Colombos streets.

In a statement released earlier this week, Rajapaksa said: I was aware that at this moment of national peril, the people expected our leadership and protection.

Hence, I accepted the invitation extended to me by the President to assume the position of Prime Minister.

Rajapaksa is a popular but controversial figure who ended Sri Lankas civil war in 2009 but faced criticism for the means by which he achieved victory. Many thousands of Tamil civilians are said to have been killed by government forces in the final months of the fighting.
There is a sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products for countries to significantly reduce their purchase of crude oil from Iran, President Donald Trump has said as the November 4 deadline approached for nations like India to cut their oil imports to zero from the Islamic Republic before the imposition of major sanctions on it.

The US is trying to cut off all oil imports from Iran to zero by November 4 following Trumps decision in May to pull out of the 2015 multilateral deal that eased global sanctions in exchange for curbs on Irans suspected nuclear programmes and malign activities. India is resisting Washingtons call to reduce purchases to zero, citing the galloping energy needs of its 1.3 billion people. But at the same time, India has taken steps to reduce its oil purchase from Iran, which has already declined substantially.

In his presidential determination, Trump said there is a sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products from countries other than Iran to permit a significant reduction in the volume of petroleum and petroleum products purchased from Iran by or through foreign financial institutions.

India, the worlds third-biggest oil consumer, meets more than 80 per cent of its oil needs through imports. Iran is its third-largest supplier after Iraq and Saudi Arabia and meets about 10 per cent of Indias total needs.

Trumps presidential determination, not an executive order but a kind of directive issued by the White House to the members of his adminstration on some policy matters, comes less than 100 hours before the November 4 deadline.

In an attempt to compel Iran to agree to a new accord, Trump reinstated sanctions that targeted the Iranian governments purchase of US dollars, Irans trade in gold and other precious metals, and its automotive sector. On November 4, a second batch of potentially more crippling sanctions will be re-imposed on Irans oil and shipping sectors as well as its central bank. Recently, senior US officials were in India for talks on the issue. However, US officials are tight-lipped on the issue.

The White House also did not immediately responded to a question if Indias oil purchase reductions from Iran would be considered significant. Trump said he will continue to monitor the situation.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said on the Laura Ingraham Show hat on November 5, the US will put back in place sanctions that will be very severe on the leadership of Iran. He hoped that this will convince them to change their ways.

Pompeo, on the another show, said that Iran was the worlds largest state sponsor of terror. They were squandering the peoples money, the Iranian peoples money, on these silly malign activities. And our effort is to get them to change that behaviour.

State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Paladino told reporters that on November 5, at 12:01, sanctions that were lifted under the Iran nuclear deal will come back into full effect. The sanctions that are reimposed on November 5th will target critical sectors of Irans economy, such as energy, shipping and the ship-building sectors, as well as the provision of insurance and transactions involving the Central Bank of Iran and designated Iranian financial institutions, Paladino said. Meanwhile, in its report dated October 29, the independent Congressional Research Service said India reduced its imports of Iranian oil substantially after 2011, lowering purchases to six per cent of its oil imports by 2013, from over 16 per cent in 2008, in the process incurring significant costs to retrofit refineries that were handling Iranian crude.

However, since sanctions were eased, Indias oil imports from Iran increased to as much as 800,000 bpd in July 2018well above 2011 levels. Indian firms ended or slowed work on investments in Iranian oil and gas fields during 2012-2016, but reportedly resumed work after sanctions were lifted, it said.

After international sanctions were lifted, India reportedly also paid Iran the USD6.5 billion it owed for oil purchased during 2012-2016.
Holed up in a colonial-era mansion on an island in the Indian Ocean, an embattled prime minister is desperately trying to hold onto power.

In his first interview with international media since his ouster, Sri Lankas Ranil Wickremesinghe told Bloomberg that the countrys president had no legal grounds to fire him. He insists he has enough support in parliament, which was suspended, and can form a government once again.

Analysts arent so sure. President Maithripala Sirisena replaced the premier with former strongman ruler Mahinda Rajapaksa, who ran the island nation from 2005 to 2015 and oversaw a final assault to end a 26-year civil war with Tamil Tiger separatists. This endeared him to the public while spurring condemnation in the US and Europe over alleged human rights abuses.

One nation likely to welcome Rajapaksa back is China, which doled out billions of dollars of loans to Sri Lanka during his presidency  so much so that about 80 percent of government revenue now goes toward paying down debt. If the past is any indication, it wont be long before Rajapaksa cozies up to Beijing once again.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Sep. 29, 2018 | WESTERN KENTUCKY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 29, 2018 | 04:48 PM | WESTERN KENTUCKY

Property tax bills should be arriving in the mailboxes of Kentucky residents soon.



According to the Kentucky Department of Revenue, property tax bills are mailed out in the fall by the sheriff and are collected in that office.



Some local departments posted notice on their social media pages that bills were being mailed this week, but other counties may follow a different schedule.



Fulton and Marshall Counties posted their schedules, which the Department of Revenue says is typical:



October 1 through November 1 - Bill can be paid with a 2% discount

November 2 through December 31 - Bill is paid at its face amount

January 1 through January 31 - A 5% penalty is added

February 1 through April 15 - A 21% penalty is added



McCracken County uses an alternative payment schedule, which begins November 1. Any alternate schedule must have 30 days in each payment phase. McCracken's schedule applies the 2% discount in November, and allows the bill to be paid at face value in December. Anything after the first of the year is the same.



Last years new option of paying tax bills online in McCracken County carries on into 2018. Taxpayers can go to www.mccrackencountysheriff.com and click on the Pay Online link. The taxpayer will need to have their tax bill available in order to have the proper information necessary for completing the online payment option. Some online payments may not post to a bill for up to 3 business days after the transaction is made, depending on the type of credit or checking account used for payment.



Once the taxpayer has received their tax bill, they should review the information thoroughly for accuracy and the need for any changes. All property and assessment information noted on tax bills originates in the Property Valuation Administrators (PVA) office, and only the PVA can authorize the sheriffs office to make any changes or amendments to a tax bill. This information includes property description, location, assessment, and permanent mailing addresses. The McCracken County Sheriff's Office is happy to change a mailing address on a current-year tax bill, but any changes that should be made for future years should also be filed with the PVA. Also, any taxpayer that is over the age of 65, or disabled, may qualify to file for a tax reduction or exemption with the PVAs office.



Across the Commonwealth, after April 15, the property tax bill is transferred to the county clerk's office and is considered delinquent. Additional fees are charged, and the clerk may place a lien against the property. Each summer, delinquent tax bills may be sold to third parties, who can charge substantial fees to the property owner in order to get the lien removed.



If tax bills are not received by the first five to ten days of November, or if there are questions, contact the local sheriff's department.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 01, 2018 | 09:01 AM | GRAVES COUNTY

A Graves County school board member has resigned.

Kevin Wiggins emailed his letter of resignation to Kentucky Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis and Graves County Superintendent Kim Dublin Thursday morning.

Wiggins said he got involved with the board of education to make every effort to make positive and productive change. He says he's always tried to make decisions that were best for the students, teachers and taxpayers of Graves County during his short time on the board.

According to Wiggins, the divide that exists between the Graves County Board of Education, the taxpayers of Graves County and other elected officials is tremendous, and he can no longer be a party to the widening of that gap. Wiggins says he will continue to support Graves County schools with all of his abilities, but he says he cannot do that as a member of the Graves County Board of Education.



Wiggins has been a board member for two years.
Pipeline

1 November 2018

Tapestry Collection by Hilton will welcome Hotel Don Fernando de Taos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton to the collection in the coming weeks.

This hotel bring impressive growth to Tapestry Collection by Hilton by increasing the number of guest rooms in the portfolio by nearly 40%. In addition, along with two other properties, these properties mark the first Tapestry Collection hotels in each city, including Taos, New Mexico, Savannah, Georgia, and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Over the next few years, the upscale collection brand is anticipated to continue this strong growth trajectory, with more than 43 hotels in the pipeline including the addition of its first two international properties in Lima, Peru.

Hotel Don Fernando de Taos: Opening this November, Hotel Don Fernando de Taos is the perfect retreat for travelers looking to enjoy nearby attractions including the Taos Ski Village, the Historic Taos Pubelo and the Ojo Caliente Hot Mineral Springs. Originally opened in 1989, Hotel Don Fernando de Taos recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation including a total lobby redesign, updated guest rooms as well as eco-friendly enhancements throughout, in addition to a new front and back patio where guests can enjoy views of the nearby mountains.
Industry Update

Appointment

1 November 2018

Brad Busby

Appointed General Manager

At Hotel Emblem San Francisco - CA, USA

Busby's role at Hotel Emblem continues his tenure with Viceroy Hotel Group, where he previously served as the Director of Rooms at Viceroy Snowmass in Aspen, Colo. Prior to joining Viceroy, Busby held key roles at distinguished companies including Hyatt Hotels, Baha Mar Hotels, and Las Vegas Sands Corporation. Early in his career, Busby earned recognition upon receiving Hyatt Hotels' Management Leadership Award, followed by a seven-year stint with Venetian/Palazzo in Las Vegas, Nev. During his time at Venetian/Palazzo, Busby advanced through several positions and helped garner its recognition as an acclaimed Five Diamond Resort. Busby went on to further his career by joining the opening team of a 2,500-room Integrated Resort in Nassau, Bahamas which encompassed four brands: Hyatt, SLS Lux, Rosewood and Baha Mar Casino & Hotel. Prior to joining Viceroy Hotel Group, Busby pursued the Director of Operations role at San Diego's famed Hard Rock Hotel.

Hotelschools.com University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Brad Busby (Class of 2001) is a graduate of University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in Las Vegas, Nevada - United States (Class of 2001) is a graduate of University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in Las Vegas, Nevada - United States more information

Viceroy Hotel Group Viceroy Hotel Group delivers one-of-a-kind lifestyle experiences that bring together provocative design and intuitive service in sought-after locations. Signature brand amenities and services created for the diverse business and leisure guests include dynamic dining venues featuring world-class culinary talents and destination spas specializing in health, fitness and beauty. more information

Recent Appointments at Viceroy Sherry Abedi - Area General Manager 13 September 2021  Viceroy Hotels and Resorts is pleased to celebrate the highly anticipated appointment of Area General Manager, Sherry Abedi. Demonstrating extensive experience in luxury hotel operations, as Area General Manager Abedi will oversee all facets of Hotel Zena and Viceroy Washington DC - two of the city's most sought after hotel destinations and cultural hubs. read more

Lionel Alvarez - General Manager 4 June 2021  Ombria Resort, Portugal's premium sustainable destination situated in Algarve is pleased to announce the appointment of Lionel Alvarez as General Manager of Viceroy at Ombria Resort and Viceroy Residences at Ombria Resort, the 5-star hotel complex due to open in Q2 2022 at the heart of Ombria Resort. read more
Appointment

1 November 2018

The executive team at North Georgia's award-winning Barnsley Resort is pleased to welcome Andy Ippensen as director of sales.

In his new role, Ippensen leads and oversees the entire sales program at Barnsley Resort and is responsible for all aspects of revenue generation at the property, including direct sales, catering sales and room sales. Ippensen joins the Barnsley Resort team with more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, most recently serving as the director of sales and marketing for Cabin Bluff, Woodbine, GA, where he managed a team that tripled room revenue over the span of four years. Prior to that, Ippensen served as the rooms manager for Little St. Simons Island, as well as sales center director and leisure sales manager for Sea Island Company, and more.
Performance

31 October 2018

September signalled yet another month of year-on-year profit decline for hotels in the region as the growth recorded in August's positive month of performance was wiped away. At $37.82 for the month, GOPPAR was only just above the annual low of $35.80 recorded in June.

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The drop in profit was led by declines across all revenue centres, including Rooms (down 15.4 percent), Food & Beverage (down 10.7 percent), Conference & Banqueting (down 6.3 percent) and Leisure (down 14.6 percent), on a per available room basis. This mix contributed to a 13-percent decrease in TRevPAR for the month to $159.66.

RevPAR declines were a result of a drop in both room occupancy, which fell by 1.9-percentage points to 64.4 percent, coupled with a 12.8-percent decline in achieved average room rate, which fell to $137.74. This was the lowest average room rate recorded in the region in 2018.

The drop in revenue was further exacerbated by rising costs, which included a 4.4-percentage-point increase in payroll, to 34.8 percent of total revenue, as well as a 4.1-percentage-point increase in overheads, which grew to 33.8 percent of total revenue.

Profit & Loss Key Performance Indicators - Middle East & North Africa (in USD)

September 2018 v September 2017

RevPAR: -15.4% to $88.73

TRevPAR: -13.0% to $159.66

Payroll: +4.4 pts. to 34.8%

GOPPAR: -34.8% to $37.82

As a result of the swings in revenue and cost, profit conversion at hotels in the Middle East & North Africa was recorded at 23.7 percent of total revenue in September, well below the margin for year-to-date 2018 at 34.7 percent.

"The month of September is illustrative of the challenges hoteliers in the MENA market have faced in recent years, with profit per room recorded at $37.82 this month, which is half of the GOPPAR recorded in the same period in 2015," said Michael Grove, Director of Intelligence and Customer Solutions, EMEA, at HotStats. "Whilst the year-on-year decline this month may be, in part, due to the high recorded this time last year, as the Eid al-Adha celebrations crept into September, the longer term trend of decline in profit will be more of a worry for hotel owners and operators in the region."

In contrast to the decline across all KPIs at hotels in the region, properties in Riyadh successfully recorded an 18.5 percent year-on-year increase in GOPPAR this month to $58.07, which was driven by demand associated with a number of major conferences in the Saudi capital.

The growth in profit at hotels in Riyadh was led by a 10.7-percent increase in rooms revenue per available room to $101.09, which was due to an 11.1-percentage-point increase in room occupancy to 59.6 percent, which offset the 9.9-percent decline in achieved average room rate to $169.71.

The growth in rooms revenue also successfully compensated for the decline across all non-rooms departments, including Food & Beverage (down 3.7 percent) and Conference & Banqueting (down 17.7 percent), on a per available room basis.

As a result of the movement across all revenue centres, TRevPAR at hotels in Riyadh increased by 5.1 percent year-on-year to $162.45. And whilst this was almost $60 above TRevPAR recorded in the Saudi capital in August, it remained 11.8 percent below the year-to-date figure at $184.11.

The growth in TRevPAR at hotels in Riyadh was further buoyed by a year-on-year drop in payroll, which fell by 0.7 percentage points, to 33.5 percent of total revenue.

Primarily due to the growth in room occupancy this month, profit margin at hotels in Riyadh was recorded at a healthy 35.7 percent of total revenue, which is only just behind the conversion of 37.6 percent recorded at hotels in the city in the nine months to September 2018.

However, growth in profit at hotels in Riyadh was against a worrying backdrop of declining room rates, which included a decrease in rate in the corporate (down 12.4 percent), individual leisure (down 52.8 percent) and group leisure (down 42.5 percent) segments.

Profit & Loss Key Performance Indicators - Riyadh (in USD)

September 2018 v September 2017

RevPAR: +10.7% to $101.09

TRevPAR: +5.1% to $162.45

Payroll: -0.7 pts. to 33.5%

GOPPAR: +18.5% to $58.07

In line with the decline in the wider region, the timing of Eid al-Adha this year meant that year-on-year profit plummeted at hotels in Medina in September, following a strong month of GOPPAR growth in August.

In addition to recording a 40-percent year-on-year decline in September to $107.35, RevPAR at hotels in Medina this month was almost $128 below August, when the city benefited from celebrations associated with the holy festival.

In addition to the drop in rooms revenue, hotels in Medina recorded a decline across all other revenue centres in September, which contributed to the 35.7-percent year-on-year decrease in TRevPAR to $183.72.

As a result of the movement in revenue and cost, profit per room at hotels in Medina fell by 54 percent year-on-year to $80.74. Whilst this was 15.3 percent below GOPPAR recorded at hotels in the Saudi city in the nine months to September 2018, it was also $190.90 below the profit per room in August.

"The revenue and profit performance at hotels in Medina did not read well this month; however, owners and operators will not be too dismayed following the outstanding performance last month," said Grove.

Profit & Loss Key Performance Indicators - Medina (in USD)

September 2018 v September 2017

RevPAR: -40.0% to $107.35

TRevPAR: -35.7% to $183.72

Payroll: +10.8 pts to 29.9%

GOPPAR: -54.0% to $80.74
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By The Associated Press

Oct. 27, 2018 | NICHOLASVILLE

By The Associated Press Oct. 27, 2018 | 09:35 PM | NICHOLASVILLE

When Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamations to free slaves during the Civil War, it did not apply to Kentucky, one of the few slave states that did not join the Confederacy.



But Elijah P. Marrs did not want to wait. He escaped slavery in September 1864 to join the Union Army in Louisville and told some of his fellow slaves, "We might as well go."



"If we staid at home we would be murdered," he wrote in his autobiography. "If we joined the army and were slain in battle, we would at least die fighting for principle and freedom."



Marrs was one of about 10,000 African-Americans who eventually came to Camp Nelson in central Kentucky, a Union Army depot during the Civil War that became a recruiting center for black soldiers and a refugee camp for their families. Saturday, the camp became the country's latest national monument, the first area to gain the designation under Republican President Donald Trump.



"The Park Service tells story. The story here is a story about fighting for freedom in a slave, Union state," U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said. "We don't hide from history. We learn from history. This history is an important part of the American history and story."



Camp Nelson was once 4,000 acres, used to train and supply the Army of the Ohio. Today, 525 acres have been preserved to include a museum and reconstructed buildings. Saturday's ceremony took place in a replica barracks, where two soldiers squeezed into bunks atop of straw mattresses. One of those soldiers was Jesse Comasuell Toll, according to his great grandson, Robert P. Gates Sr.



Gates attended Saturday's ceremony and opened it with prayer. He said his great-grandfather, who was born a free man but lived under the threat of slavery, lived at the camp and attended a church. Gates now pastors that church, the Historic First Baptist Church of Camp Nelson.



"They came here because it was closer to freedom than it was to go to Canada," he said.



Kentucky has a complicated Civil War history. It never officially joined the Confederacy, but it allowed slavery and was filled with Confederate sympathizers who attempted to set up a shadow government in the western party of the state. Confederate soldiers briefly occupied the state capital of Frankfort before Union forces took it back.



Local officials have been trying to get Camp Nelson federal recognition for years. It's a long process, requiring the land to be transferred to the federal government and various other legal requirements.



"At a time in our country when there are divisions, this is the real story of America," Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr said.



The timing of Saturday's ceremony was fortunate for Barr, who in just 10 days will be on the ballot for re-election in a competitive district. He faces a serious challenge from Democrat Amy McGrath, a retired Marine fighter pilot who has raised more money than he has.



Zinke, a former Congressman from Montana before Trump appointed him to lead the U.S. Department of Interior, told reporters the designation was not purposefully timed to give Barr a boost heading into the election. He noted he has worked with Barr on this issue back when he was in Congress.



"This is the right place, and it is above politics," Zinke said. "This is red, white and blue."



Zinke said Camp Nelson's status as a national monument will add it to the National Park Service, elevating its profile. The camp will have its own unique stamp for visitors to collect in their quest to visit all of the national monuments and parks. And it will get a professional superintendent and staff to manage the property.



That was good news for Peggy McClintock, a tour administrator at the camp who gave Zinke and other dignitaries a tour of the facility before the ceremony. She wore purple sneakers to mark the occasion.



"I had to wear flat shoes today so I can tap dance," she said.
Press Release

1 November 2018

Richard Hatter, the General Manager of Hong Kong homegrown brand Hotel ICON won the highly coveted award as the General Manager of the Year at The BMW Hotelier Awards Greater China 2018 recently held in Shanghai.

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Hailed as the 'Oscars' of the hotel industry, and as the only accolade in Asia that honours the professionals of the hotel industry, the fifth annual Hotelier Awards celebrate the dedicated hoteliers and their professional excellence across the hospitality sector.

An active member of the hospitality industry, Hatter holds the position of Chairman of the Hong Kong Chapter at the Institute of Hospitality. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University with an Executive Masters in Global Hospitality Leadership where he also lectures and consults, and presents on ICON's innovation strategies at numerous leading trade events and conferences.

Hatter together with his pioneering team started building the ICON brand from ground upwards from 2009. In 2011, they launched the world's first fully integrated teaching hotel facility to the Hong Kong market, and have brought it to critical acclaim, winning many awards along the way.

According to Hatter, "With a special purpose to cultivate the next generation of Asian hospitality experts, and with all the hotel's profits going back to education and training for the students, Hotel ICON is truly unique. I am both thrilled and humbled that the industry recognises the success of Hotel ICON, which has become a Hong Kong tourism success story. As part of my journey in building the ICON brand and story, I am forever grateful to my pioneer team including Ian Lee and Susana Fok (who are to date still part of the ICON executive committee team), and the hotel's owners, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) who believed in our vision and entrusted us with the confidence in developing the brand. Key inspirational figures also include our Board Chairman, Victor Lo, the President of the University, Professor Timothy Tong and the Dean of School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Professor Kaye Chon."

When interviewed by the jury of experts through a two-round judging process, Hatter shared that the judges were very interested and impressed by Hotel ICON's We Love to Care' training programme.

"Forming the basis for our service philosophy, 'We Love to Care' focuses around 'excellence in customer service and an understanding of emotional intelligence' and has guided the ICON team to focus on creating personalised experiences, ensuring each guest feels at home." Last month, Hotel ICON clinched the prestigious Hong Kong Management Association (HKMA) award - the Silver Award for Excellence in Training and Development 2018 in the Skills Training category, fortifying its emphasis on people development and elevating guest service levels for the industry.

Sought-after in the industry as a hospitality-related consultant, Hotel ICON also recently launched the SHTM+ICON consultancy services together with the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of PolyU. With education being the core to the ICON brand, the team has developed a series of public conferences and knowledge-sharing forums. These events not only help enhance service excellence of the industry, but also complement the SHTM in mentoring and offering experiential learning to students and associates in the hospitality industry. Recent conferences staged in 2018 include Asia's 1st Future Electric Vehicle Leaders Circle, Food's Future Summit and HOTECH 2018. Major upcoming events include the Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2018 and the Sustainability Conference 2019.

"I am very honored to be part of such a distinguished group of winners and nominees. The Hotelier Awards as an institution brings together top achievers and provides a collective motivation for all of us to grow as future leaders. I will continue to magnify the worthy mission of Hotel ICON, which is to develop a hospitality talent pool that will contribute to enhancing Hong Kong's position as an "intellectual capital".

Located in the most international business-oriented city of Hong Kong, Hotel ICON is a gathering venue for guests from almost 150 countries. Further connecting Hong Kong and China with the rest of the world, Hotel ICON assumes an important role in promoting people-to-people ties, and exchanges in the areas of education, culture, tourism and youth development.

Hatter added that he was very enthusiastic about the affiliation with the Hotelier Awards because of the opportunity to network for the leadership development of his graduates and the management team. Apart from recognising the most talented hoteliers, he said that the Awards also act as an inspiration for the younger generation to pursue a career in hospitality.

With more than 300 hoteliers and industry professionals in attendance, a total number of 20 awards were announced during a gala dinner two nights ago. One winner from each category was decided by the high-calibre jury of experts, who looked at a combination of facts presented in the applications, interviews, and testimonials. This specialist jury of renowned representatives from the sector included, Jenny Soo, Head of Workplace Experience APAC, Jones Lang LaSalle Property Consultants Pte, Julia Monk, Senior Vice President & Director of Hospitality Design, Hok, Leon Liang, Former Vice President, Alibaba-Fliggy, Dr Sacha Stocklin, Managing Director, Ciecas and Dai Bin, President of China Tourism Academy, Director of National Tourism Data Centre.

For high resolution images, please download from https://goo.gl/y6YPRC

About Richard Hatter, General Manager of Hotel ICON

With over 30 years' experience in the world of hospitality as General Manager of five-star hotels in United Kingdom, the British Virgin Islands, Bahrain, Dubai, Indonesia, China, Singapore and Hong Kong, Richard Hatter joined Hotel ICON, as pre-opening General Manager in 2009.

Hatter undertook the task of successfully planning and implementing Hotel ICON's commercial and operational strategies. Hatter led his team creating and developing the Brand DNA to ensure clarity on the employee and customer brand message, overseeing the opening and management of the 262-room elevated luxury hotel reporting to Mr Victor Lo JP, Chairman of the Board. In addition, Hatter worked closely with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and its School of Hotel Tourism Management on curriculum design, hotel and school integration and implementation of various internship programs.

Hatter was previously Corporate Director of Development at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in Hong Kong, responsible for renovations and re-branding hotels in the group. Hatter is active within the hospitality industry and holds the position of Chairman of the Hong Kong Chapter at the Institute of Hospitality.

He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality (FIH) and Adjunct Associate Professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University with an Executive Masters in Global Hospitality Leadership where he also lectures and consults, and presents on ICON's innovation strategies at numerous leading trade events and conferences. Hatter's expertise in developing and opening Independent, Chain hotels and Clubs as well as teaching hotels has been acknowledged through representation on the board at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Passionate about mentoring younger people set on building a career in hospitality, Richard has also supports Elite Management Interns by mentoring at Hotel ICON since its inception.

About the Hotelier Awards

The Hotelier Awards is the only accolade in Asia honouring and providing true recognition to the dedicated professionals of the hotel industry. The mission is not only to shine a light on the most talented hoteliers, but to also inspire the younger generations to pursue a career in hospitality. The awards pride itself on being 100% free for hoteliers to enter, insuring the legitimacy and transparency of the judging process. By acknowledging the individuals that put their heart and soul into their properties, the awards platform sparks a deep personal connection with the nominees. The bi-annual rendezvous is an overdue gathering of appreciation bestowed upon those individuals, who are the best in their field.

http://hotelierawards.cn/the-2018-awards/2018-winners
External Article

1 November 2018

Many Singapore Polytechnic students under the hospitality programme are uninterested in joining the hospitality sector due to its semi-professional nature. The other reasons for not joining the sector include the over stressful and demanding job nature, long working hours, shift work, dealing with unpredictable circumstances in the job environment and having lower starting remuneration when set against other industries.

Students, particularly from a semi-traditional Asian-Singapore context, are also not encouraged to join the hospitality sector because of the industry image as being 'servitude' and having limited chance of promotion from rank-and-file. The institutions therefore is key to influencing the choice of career among students through their faculty, curriculum, resources and connections to the industry.

It is essential for hospitality schools in Singapore to manage student expectations before enrollment and during their course of study so that they will be encouraged to join the industry upon graduation. Industrial practitioners will also need to reevaluate their job environment, practices, wages and welfare benefits of their staff so as to retain and increase manpower for the industry to remain competitive.
Supplier News

1 November 2018

MIAMI - November 1, 2018 - Creating Revolutions is releasing a FREE consumer version of its ground-breaking technology originally created for hotel employee security. The Guardian App is designed to enhance safety of women as they travel on their daily route from point A to point B. Unfortunately, we live in a time where women are often terrified about what will happen to them at the hands of an assailant. The Guardian app uses a radical new method to immediately alert someone they trust, in the event something should happen.

Last year, as the #MeToo movement made global headlines, the company was inspired and began looking at what technology was available for hotel employee security. They quickly realized that the predominant technology available was panic buttons. In the company's view, the technology was flawed, antiquated, and limited, so they created TND Employee Security, a revolutionary approach that works by fusing together cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Near Field Communication (NFC).

The technology was created for use in the hotel industry in order to help ensure the safety of housekeepers as they enter a hotel room. Upon entrance, a hotel housekeeper taps their smartphone to a paper-thin NFC chip on the outside of the door. This communicates to a secure server to begin a pre-defined timer, giving the housekeeper time to look throughout the room for any unwanted individuals. If the housekeeper does not tap the smartphone on a second strategically placed NFC chip within the room, then security is informed of the emergency as well as the name of the housekeeper and exact room they are in. The system's simplicity hides a complex set of multi-patented technologies that overcome the long list of limitations and flaws found in panic buttons.

As the technology was introduced to the hotel industry, the company's Chief Marketing Officer, Rosemary Staltare, voiced that it could be used to protect all women, on routes they take every day. She discussed how parking lots and garages are often a dangerous place late at night when leaving the office or gym. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, between 2004 - 2008, over 400,000 violent criminal assaults happened in parking lots and garages. Those numbers inspired every member of Creating Revolutions to take action and create a FREE basic version of their hotel employee security technology. The Guardian app is focused on protecting women, however use by everyone is encouraged as everyone deserves a little extra protection.

The technology is designed specifically for use in daily repeated routes such as leaving the office or leaving the gym. Here is an example of how The Guardian App would work for the public: As the user leaves their office (Point A), and without even needing to open the App, they simply tap their smartphone to an NFC chip they've positioned on their desk, office exit or locker. If they do not tap their smartphone to the second strategically placed NFC chip in their car, within a time they defined, then someone they trust is alerted. The alert is not a text message, but something much more powerful. A scientifically designed system that informs the user's trusted Guardian using three of the five human senses. Even if their Guardian doesn't have the app open or have placed their phone in silent mode, they will be powerfully alerted that the user is in distress.

When something goes wrong, every minute counts. Having a technology that ensures someone you trust is alerted can make a world of difference and even save lives.

Everyone involved in the creation of The Guardian App has done so on a pro-bono basis. Miami artist Monique Byrd, founder of Rosebyrd Designs, immediately jumped on board to create the logo and design. This is a true passion project  even profits from the sale of NFC discs will go to women's charities in line with the #MeToo movement. The creators truly believe this technology could potentially save lives across the globe. The easy to use app has the power to create the safer feeling that so many people are struggling to find today. The Guardian app was created with mothers, sisters, wives, friends, and coworkers in mind. The buddy system isn't always feasible, and everyone could use a little extra protection. Every minute that no one knows you need help, is a minute too long.

The Guardian by Creating Revolutions is completely FREE and available in the iPhone and Android app stores. NFC Tags can be ordered directly from the app. For more information and current updates, please email [email protected]
Supplier News

1 November 2018

The hospitality marketplace is changing quickly, and the NAVIS mission is to help their hospitality clients accelerate revenue growth, enhance guest experiences, and increase the lifetime value of their guests. That's why the company is thrilled to announce the official launch of the industry's only complete Hospitality CRM that unifies hotel reservations and marketing teams around their guest data to drive more direct bookings and revenue. The highly anticipated new platform was unveiled this week to NAVIS clients and partners at the annual VRMA International Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"We know there's a huge data problem in the hospitality industry, and we also know from our clients that a clear view of leads and guest data will drive direct business," stated Kyle Buehner, CEO of NAVIS. "I'm very excited around the enhancements and integration within our suites of products leading to this launch, and the roadmap in place for the coming months. A complete view of the guest journey is essential to where I see the industry heading."

This year, the company celebrates their 30th Anniversary and with this milestone, so comes improvements and updates to their products, services and messaging. NAVIS explains that the products and services they already offer have not changed, but continue to evolve and improve to stay ahead of the industry's needs. The full suite of CRM products and services will be made more intuitive, now including:

NAVIS Reservation Sales Suite is a cloud-based solution that brings guest data and CRM functionality to call center software. The CRM platform and strategy turns a reservation department into a productive sales team that's able to generate more direct bookings and revenue, capture leads and better guest data, improve reservation agent performance, provide greater visibility into marketing campaign effectiveness, and improve guest satisfaction.

NAVIS RezForce

is a call center service offering 24/7 call overflow and after-hours support when the property's own agents are unavailable. The service is an integrated part of the NAVIS Reservations Sales Suite. With RezForce, NAVIS' own highly trained sales agents use the CRM platform on behalf of NAVIS clients to capture reservations lead data and bookings, ensuring a direct booking opportunity is never lost.

NAVIS Marketing Suite is a cloud-based marketing automation solution that brings booked and not booked guest data into one place. It dynamically households, checks for future bookings and de-dupes lead and guest data from multiple sources to deliver personalized communication that's scalable for busy marketing teams. The automatically triggered campaigns allow marketers to engage along the entire guest journey to drive more bookings and ROI.

NAVIS Analytics Suite is a cloud-based business intelligence solution that gives revenue generating teams a holistic view of their business to compare data from different sources, monitor trends, identify opportunities and make better business decisions.

NAVIS Marketplace Suite is an integrated part of the CRM platform that includes NAVIS' partnerships and integrations. The Marketplace's integration and exchange of data with the 3rd party systems already in place at lodging providers further enhances the value of the unique lead and guest data that NAVIS provides.

"Unlike other solutions in the market, the NAVIS complete Hospitality CRM is not just a database or an email marketing service," explains Amber Leto, VP of Product Solutions for NAVIS. "While it does include all of these elements, NAVIS' complete guest-relationship model takes in to account the full 360-degree guest profile. From their first research and inquiry to their ongoing loyalty. It connects your call center activity with all of your digital and offline marketing. "This view is foundational to owning the guest relationship and driving direct bookings."

NAVIS currently serves hundreds of hotels, management companies, and vacation rental managers. Though they've served the industry for more than 30 years, they've seen significant growth in the last few as their suite of software and services has expanded. They plan to release further analytics and marketing functionality in the coming months, expected to be revolutionary for lodging providers.

Buehner shared "The NAVIS team, and I are constantly engaging and learning from our clients and peers - some of the smartest in the business. This helps us stay a few steps ahead, and I believe it's setting the stage for sales, marketing, and revenue management teams to work better together. A shared, complete hospitality CRM is central to the success of any lodging provider now and into the future."
Opinion Article

1 November 2018

Airbnb, along with other room-sharing websites, provides a cyber marketplace for innovative entrepreneurs to operate a lodging business without following the strict regulations that usually apply to hotels and hostels. For instance, hosts on room-sharing websites have the rights to decline a traveler's request for a stay based on the traveler's information posted in the online marketplace, which may include the traveler's profile picture(s), age, birthplace, racial and educational background, and links to the other social media profiles of the traveler. As a host can now make decisions of whether to accept or decline a traveler's request based on the traveler's demographic information, issues may arise when hosts tend to decline the travelers of certain races (e.g., against the African-Americans).

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It appears that a successful peer-to-peer (P2P) transaction of room-sharing services relies on the reciprocal selections among a traveler (renter) and a host, which is different from the traditional reservation models of a hotel where a successful transaction is solely built upon price and availability. Referring to the relevant literature, many empirical studies only tackled the research questions from either the hosts' or the travelers' perspective. The reciprocal selections among a traveler (renter) and a host should also be recognized and deserves special research attention.

A study that examined renter-host similarity effects on room-sharing transactions

I then worked with Karen Xie, an assistant professor at the University of Denver to explore the similarity-attraction effects between a buyer (traveler) and a seller (host) on listing sales. The results were reported in a study entitled "Buyer-Seller Similarity: Does It Lead to a Successful Peer-to-Peer Transaction of Room-Sharing Services?" and published in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management.

The hypotheses

This study was designed to test five hypotheses, including:

H1: Host-renter similarity in age positively affects the likelihood of a P2P room-sharing transaction.

H2: Host-renter similarity in birthplace positively affects the likelihood of a P2P room-sharing transaction.

H3: Host-renter similarity in education positively affects the likelihood of a P2P room-sharing transaction.

H4: Renter experience with a room-sharing website positively moderates the main effects of renter-host similarities on the likelihood of a P2P room-sharing transaction.

H5: Host capacity, as measured in the number of units that a host operates on a room-sharing website, negatively moderates the main effects of renter-host similarities on the likelihood of a P2P room-sharing transaction.

The data and the analysis

We collected the data from Xiaozhu.com, a leading room-sharing website in China. Because Xiaozhu.com chronologically archives sales records on each host's profile page, we were able to match the information between a host and a renter through sales records and then add the listing characteristics to each booking.

Our data included 9,981 renters who booked a listing with 5,272 hosts in Beijing, China on Xiaozhu.com from August 2012 to November 2016. We applied a logistic regression model in our analysis, with Transaction being the dependent variable and a group of independent variables, including host-renter similarities in age, birthplace, and education, as well as two moderators --- the number of days of a renter's membership with XiaoZhu and the number of listings managed by a host. We also controlled host and listing characteristics, such as confirmation time, number of beds, price, among others.

The findings

H1 and H3 were supported.

H2 was not supported.

In regards to H4, as the length of the renter's membership increases, the positive effect of age similarity between a host and a renter on the likelihood of a P2P transaction is mitigated; The increased length of renter membership also strengthens education's similarity effect on the likelihood of a P2P transaction.

Regarding H5, as the number of listings managed by a host increases, the positive effect of age similarity between the host and a renter on the likelihood of a P2P transaction is weakened.

The practical implications

We make the following recommendations for the room-sharing websites, the operations/entrepreneurs on room-sharing websites, and the hoteliers:

For room-sharing platforms

To encourage users to disclose age or age category.

To feature the listings that are managed by the hosts of a similar age with a traveler when the traveler searches for available listings in a destination.

To encourage users to disclose more information about their educational background, such as the highest degree attained, majors, information about their alma mater, year of graduation, etc.

To feature the listings that are managed by the hosts of a similar educational background as a traveler when the traveler searches for available listing in a destination.

For a traveler who has been using the room-sharing website for a long time, promotional efforts should be put on the listings that are managed by the hosts with a similar educational background rather than those managed by the hosts of a similar age.

For a traveler who has only been using the room-sharing website for just a short time, promotional efforts based on similarities on age and education are both recommended.

To put more efforts in promoting or featuring the listings managed by single-unit operators rather than those multi-unit operators.

To develop and provide training programs that tailor to the multi-unit operators, allowing them to develop multi-tasking and effective communication skills.

For hosts on room-sharing websites

When a host receives multiple requests for a stay from different travelers, they may purposefully consider accepting the request from the traveler of similar age and/or has similar educational backgrounds.

For hoteliers

To explore the possibility of using the "matching" tactics in service. For example, is it possible to use Gen Z to serve Gen Z, resulting in higher guest satisfaction and more sales?

In terms of product development, is it possible for a hotel to develop a hotel brand with the "personalities" that are similar to their target customers? Such as the Motto by Hilton and Moxy by Marriott?

The theoretical implications

First of all, this study acknowledged the reciprocal decision process among a host and a traveler on a P2P room-sharing transaction. Then, our investigation was initiated based on the similarity-attraction framework. Even though we were only able to investigate the buyer-seller similarities in age, birthplace, and educational background due to the availability of the data source, our findings suggest that the similarity effects between a host and a traveler can be critical in contributing to a successful P2P transaction for room-sharing services. Being the first empirical study that applied similarity-attraction theory to the investigation and one of a few studies utilizing internet-enabled data in the analysis, our effort encourages future studies to apply a various research framework and adopt different methods in research.

The conclusion and some final thoughts

Due to the limitation of the data source, we were unable to measure other buyer-seller similarities than in age, birthplace, and educational background. Our findings suggest that similarity-attraction between a host and a traveler should not be ignored in the P2P room-sharing settings.

It is also important to note that our data was collected from a room-sharing website in China instead of Airbnb, where almost every host and traveler has the same racial background, making it difficult to conclude that similarity-attraction between a host and a traveler would also be an important factor in the discrimination cases happening in Airbnb. If data is available, I encourage future studies about discriminations or diversity issues on sharing economy should also consider other similarity-attraction variables than just those "superficial" ones.

In a business setting, can similarities between a buyer and a seller lead to a higher chance of having a successful transaction? What is your experience?

Note: A relevant discussion entitled "Want to Get a Room on Airbnb? Being 'Similar' to the Host May Help" is published on Multibriefs.com. The picture was downloaded from BusinessInsider.com.
Revenue per available room up 5.7 Percent to CAD110.25

The Canadian hotel industry recorded positive year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 21-27 October 2018, according to data from STR.

In comparison with the week of 22-28 October 2017, the industry reported the following:

 Occupancy: +2.3% to 70.8%

 Average daily rate (ADR): +3.3% to CAD155.82

 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): +5.7% to CAD110.25

Among the provinces and territories, Prince Edward Island reported the largest increase in RevPAR (+20.3% to CAD79.19), due primarily to the only double-digit rise in ADR (+14.1% to CAD139.25).

New Brunswick experienced the highest rise in occupancy (+8.5% to 65.6%).

British Columbia registered the second-largest increase in ADR (+8.5% to CAD165.05), resulting in the only other double-digit increase in RevPAR (+14.0% to CAD113.46).

Overall, six of the 11 reporting provinces and territories reported an increase in RevPAR.

Newfoundland and Labrador saw the largest decreases in each of the three key performance metrics: occupancy (-16.6% to 60.5%), ADR (-12.0% to CAD133.93) and RevPAR (-26.6% to CAD81.05).

The Northwest Territories posted the only other double-digit declines in occupancy (-16.2% to 67.5%) and RevPAR (-14.9% to CAD110.38).

STR provides clients from multiple market sectors with premium, global data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights. Founded in 1985, STR maintains a presence in 10 countries around the world with a corporate North American headquarters in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and an international headquarters in London, England. For more information, please visit str.com.

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RevPAR Up 5.2 Percent to US$95.02

The U.S. hotel industry reported positive year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 21-27 October 2018, according to data from STR.

In comparison with the week of 22-28 October 2017, the industry recorded the following:

 Occupancy: +1.2% to 70.7%

 Average daily rate (ADR): +4.0% to US$134.39

 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): +5.2% to US$95.02

Among the Top 25 Markets, New Orleans, Louisiana, registered the largest increases in occupancy (+18.3% to 86.3%) and RevPAR (+36.1% to US$164.95).

San Francisco/San Mateo, California, posted the largest lift in ADR (+26.8% to US$304.16), resulting in the second-largest increase in RevPAR (+29.4% to US$268.19).

Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia, experienced the only other double-digit increase in occupancy (+11.3% to 67.7%) and the third-largest jump in RevPAR (+19.8% to US$63.35).

Overall, 18 of the Top 25 Markets reported an increase in RevPAR.

Houston, Texas, registered the steepest declines in occupancy (-18.5% to 69.9%) and RevPAR (-23.0% to US$79.01). Houstons hotel performance was lifted in the weeks and months that followed Hurricane Harvey in 2017 as properties filled with displaced residents, relief workers, insurance adjustors, media members, etc.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-New Jersey, saw the largest drop in ADR (-7.1% to US$141.13) and the only other double-digit decrease in RevPAR (-11.7% to US$106.05).

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida, experienced the second-largest decline in occupancy (-7.5% to 71.6%) and the third-largest drop in RevPAR (-8.1% to US$86.66).

View U.S. weekly hotel performance review

STR provides clients from multiple market sectors with premium, global data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights. Founded in 1985, STR maintains a presence in 10 countries around the world with a corporate North American headquarters in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and an international headquarters in London, England. For more information, please visit str.com.

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As Louis T Collection continues to oversee the multi-million dollar redevelopment and repositioning of Perth's now-shuttered New Esplanade Hotel, the hotel management company has announced it will reopen in Q1 2019 as Quay Perth, a new four-star boutique hotel, with seasoned hospitality executive Lovelynn Clark as general manager.

As Louis T Collection continues to oversee the multi-million dollar redevelopment and repositioning of Perth's now-shuttered New Esplanade Hotel, the hotel management company has announced it will reopen in Q1 2019 as Quay Perth, a new four-star boutique hotel, with seasoned hospitality executive Lovelynn Clark as general manager.

An Australian national born in Malaysia, Clark brings close to three decades of experience in hospitality to Louis T Collection, with a career that has taken her through Asia, the Middle East and Australia. Most recently, she was part of the pre-opening leadership team at the five-star, 468-room Viceroy Palm Jumeirah Dubai, where she served as executive housekeeper.

Fittingly, Clark returns to Perth where she began her hospitality career in 1990 as a food & beverage server at the Hyatt Regency.

"Lovelynn's experience and expertise in hotel pre-openings, proven operational excellence, and strong relationships with both staff and guests make her very well-suited for this role," said Mikael Svensson, Louis T's senior vice president.

Clark has been a member of pre-opening hotel teams for several five-star properties in mainland China, including the Park Hyatt Beijing, and Hyatt Regency hotels in Hangzhou, Dongguan, Jingjing City, Qingdao and Xian. She was also a member of the opening team and served as director of lifestyle for Armani Hotel Dubai. She was a rooms consultant for Park Hyatt Maldives and then rejoined the Park Hyatt Hotel Canberra in a management role.

"Quay Perth will be a vibrant new addition to Elizabeth Quay," said Clark. "Returning to Perth to a hotel that will play such an important role in the revitalisation of the waterfront and in the community-at-large is one of the most exciting opportunities of my career."

The 80-room Quay Perth will feature modern, Western Australia-influenced interiors. Dining options will include a lobby cafe and an indoor/outdoor rooftop bar and restaurant with sweeping views of the Swan River and promenade below. The entire ninth floor of the property will be a dedicated 24/7 collective work space.

The transformation of Quay Perth is operator Louis T Collection's first project in Australia and the second large-scale repositioning project undertaken by the company.

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Most recently, Akoury served as General Manager of Embassy Suites by Hilton Piscataway-Somerset and Director of Brand Relations at The Friendwell Group. Embassy Suites by Hilton is a global brand of upscale, all-suite hotels from Hilton (NYSE: HLT).

Embassy Suites by Hilton Parsippany, owned by Park Hotels & Resorts and managed by Hilton Management Services, today appointed Christopher Akoury the hotel's new General Manager. Most recently, Akoury served as General Manager of Embassy Suites by Hilton Piscataway-Somerset and Director of Brand Relations at The Friendwell Group. Embassy Suites by Hilton is a global brand of upscale, all-suite hotels from Hilton (NYSE: HLT).

In his new role, Akoury will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the 274-suite hotel including guest services, hotel administration and marketing efforts.

Akoury began his career in food and beverage, working a variety of positions, such as Director of Food and Beverage, Banquet Manager and Fine Dining Restaurant Manager at a number of hotels managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts. He then joined Hilton, working as Director of Food and Beverage at several New Jersey hotels, managed by Hilton. He later served as Director of Operations and Acting General Manager at Embassy Suites by Hilton Parsippany before joining Embassy Suites by Hilton Piscataway-Somerset as General Manager. He then joined The Friendwell Group as Vice President of Operations. A certified Embassy Suites and Hilton General Manager, most recently, Akoury completed Rutgers University Leadership Academy

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Hilton Expands Presence in Australia with Signing of Hilton Parramatta

Hilton this week announced the signing of Hilton Parramatta, which will add to Hilton Hotels & Resorts' portfolio of 101 world class properties in the Asia Pacific region. Under a management agreement with Ledrae Hotels Pty Ltd, Hilton will manage the new-build hotel, located in the heart of one of Sydney's fastest growing suburbs. Construction of the 245-room hotel will commence Q4 2018 and is due for completion by late 2020.

"The signing of Hilton Parramatta is the latest example of Hilton's commitment to growing our portfolio within fast-emerging business and leisure markets," said Sean Wooden, vice president, brand management, Asia Pacific, Hilton. "The introduction of this new property has created an exceptional opportunity for us to bring our renowned brand of hospitality to the greater Sydney area and further expand our portfolio in the destinations that matter most to guests."

Located 25 km west of Sydney's central business district, Parramatta is a major business and commercial destination and is home to many federal and state government department centres. Hilton Parramatta will offer convenience to both corporate and government travellers, as well as leisure guests looking to explore the city's rich cultural offerings. The hotel is located in the heart of Parramatta, walking distance to Parramatta stadium, and steps away from the city's best shopping and dining venues.

"We are privileged to be partnering with Ledrae Hotels Pty Ltd to launch Hilton Parramatta and further strengthen our current portfolio of acclaimed hotels and resorts," said Guy Phillips, senior vice president, development, Asia & Australasia, Hilton. "Today's announcement bears testament to Hilton's strength in Australasia and, more broadly, throughout the Asia Pacific region and we look forward to welcoming guests to the hotel with Hilton's signature hospitality."

Hilton Parramatta will offer 240 guest rooms and five suites as well as three state-of-the-art meeting spaces and an executive lounge. Additional offerings will include a signature restaurant, bar, fitness centre and outdoor pool.

"We are thrilled to be bringing such a well-known hotel brand such as Hilton to Parramatta," said Dr. Lionel Chang, Director of Ledrae Hotels Pty Ltd. "We have owned the building on the corner of Macquarie Street and Marsden Street since 1994 and look forward to this exciting transformation. With Macquarie Street being the oldest and most well-known street in Parramatta, we cannot think of a better address for what will be a fantastic hotel."

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The Athenian hotel sector improved its RevPAR with 7.2% y-o-y during Q3 2018, but occupancy levels dropped 1.1% y-o-y

Arrivals the Athens International Airport recorded a growth of 15.3% y-o-y during Q3 2018, while YTD September a growth of 19.2% was registered. So far, all months of this year achieved double digit growth figures.

The Athenian hotel sector improved its RevPAR with 7.2% y-o-y during Q3 2018, but occupancy levels dropped 1.1% y-o-y.

At the airport of Thessaloniki Q3 2018 was particularly strong with a growth of international arrivals of 11.2% y-o-y. Up to September 2018 international arrivals increased by 11.9% y-o-y. The increase of demand lead to an improvement of RevPAR of 7.7% y-o-y, mainly due to increasing room rates.

International arrivals at airports located at resort destinations increased by 7.5% y-o-y during Q3 2018. Growth at the airports of Santorini and Mykonos as well as the airports at the Ionian Islands is particularly strong this year with 19.8% y-o-y and 13.0% y-o-y respectively up to September 2018.

However, occupancy levels of resort hotels dropped by 3.7% y-o-y during Q3 2018, while Total Revenue per Occupied Room increased by 8.3%.

RevPAR of the city of Rome improved 1.1% y-o-y during Q3 2018 noting that occupancy levels dropped slightly. The RevPAR of Madrid dropped further in Q3 2018.

Click here ( Adobe Acrobat PDF file) to download the complete article.

GBR Consulting is a leading Greek business consultant firm. GBR Consulting supports clients develop their businesses in a structured manner leading to growth. The firm offers their clients, who are mainly active in the tourism, retail, food, construction and energy sectors, lasting solutions in the field of strategy, marketing, organisation and finance, while also delivering litigation support.

GBR Consulting

4 Sekeri Street, 106 74 Athens, Greece

T (+30) 210 36 05 002

F (+30) 210 36 06 935

www.gbrconsulting.gr

gbr@gbrconsulting.gr

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Marriott International, Inc. today announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Greensboro Airport.

Marriott International, Inc. today announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Greensboro Airport. Catering to the needs of today's everyday traveler, the hotel offers approachable design, stylish comfort and all the brand's popular extras including a 24-hour fitness center, heated pool, fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, and the Best Brews & BBQ program, detailed below.

Asset managed by JAM Hospitality, Four Points by Sheraton Greensboro Airport, previously under the name Comfort Suites Greensboro Airport offers 112 spacious guest rooms, over 825 sq. ft. of meeting space, a 24-hour fitness center, business center and fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Guests will enjoy full-service dining at the hotel pub and the brand's iconic Best Brews and BBQ program, which serves guests refreshing, curated local beers and seasonal BBQ-style appetizers. Red Oak from Red Oak Brewery and Longleaf from Appalachian Mountain Brewery is the Best Brew at Four Points.

Four Points by Sheraton Greensboro Airport is just a short drive from Wet' N WILD Emerald Pointe. It is also within driving distance of High Point Furniture Market and is roughly eight miles from Piedmont Triad International Airport for a convenient trip.

"Designed with the everyday traveler in mind, Four Points by Sheraton Greensboro Airport will be a convenient stay for anyone looking to enjoy the world-class attractions of Greensboro," said Callette Nielsen, Vice President & Global Brand Manager of Courtyard, Fairfield, Four Points, and SpringHill Suites. "Accessible to families and business travelers alike, the friendly design of the property will make anyone's stay comfortable."

Four Points has nearly 250 hotels in more than 40 countries and territories. The brand has more than 120 signed hotels in the pipeline, with nearly 50% of Four Points' current portfolio of rooms located outside of North America, and over 65% of its signed pipeline expected to open outside of North America.

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Earlier this month, we reported that Bad Boys For Life was scheduled to start filming next year as long as the movie didn't face further setbacks. The third installment in the Bad Boys series has been heavily anticipated for fifteen years at this point. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are set to reunite for the film, which has gone through several directors. Michael Bay helmed the first two films, bringing his penchant for explosions and intersecting storylines to the forefront. Now, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Snowfall) will sit in the director's seat.



Martin Lawrence took to Instagram on Halloween to share a photo of himself and Smith together. "Its official. Bad Boys for Life. #teammartymar #badboysforlife @willsmith #weback," he captioned the post. The two actors are posted up at Santa Monica beach in California for the picture, and the infamous pier can barely be seen in the upper left corner of the shot. According to Esquire (via The Hashtag Show), the plot for the film is as follows:

"The film will see Lawrences character Marcus Burnett working as a private eye after a falling out with Smiths Mike Lowery, who is going through a midlife crisis as a bachelor who finally wants to mature, all while dealing with a new a young and cocky partner who is loyal to Lowery but that loyalty is not reciprocated, and finds bond with Burnett when he returns to the fray. Lowery and Burnett are brought together again when a lean, mean, skilled, Albanian mercenary with a vendetta puts a death order on Lowery and Burnett for the death of his brother. Now the two must work together once again to bring him down."
According to Agence France-Presse, the country of Thailand is taking steps to legalize, and thereby decriminalize Marijuana. If passed, the motion would make Thailand the first country in Asia to adopt such a policy. Thailand is, after all, an abundant producer of Marijuana, but evidently, it only benefits the shadow economy, at present.

The proposal set before parliament in Thailand wouldn't allow the full-scale use of cannabinoids in a recreational capacity. "Smokers" would be required to gain "medical" clearance to use the "drug" on a prescription basis. The bill stresses the importance of this exceptional rule, in spite of the fact Thai harvesters are sitting on a goldmine.

With or without the landmark ruling coming to pass in Thailand, the Global cannabis industry is expected a gross GDP of $55.8 Billion by the year 2025. The Thai government has a lot to gain by their changing policy at the domestic front. Just last month, the Canadian government led by Justin Trudeau's Liberal party passed legislation to legalize marijuana, in order to capitalize of such a rapidly expanding industry. Trudeau has on record stated, he has no desire to "smoke the pot." Riddle me that.

Back in the 80s, Thailand was one of the greatest exporters of Marijuana on the black market.
Vince Staples sparked a bit of controversy after he commented on hip-hop in the '90s in 2015. Unfortunately, the comments he made still comes up in his interviews three years later. Most recently, Long Beach, CA rapper clarified the comments once and for all on The Joe Budden podcast.

During a brief phone call on the latest episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, Vince Staples called in and explained that Time Magazine took his comments out of context. He said that he was simply stating Biggie and Tupac were two of the only hip-hop acts in the 90's to attain mainstream success.

"I'm gonna tell you how that went down, because they did me dirty. I'm lowkey still mad about it," he said. "They said, 'You wanna talk about '90's hip-hop?' I said, 'I'm not talking about hip-hop to Time magazine; that's exactly what I said. Then they said, 'Alright, you can talk about '90s pop culture.' I'm on a Def Jam press run. Y'all know what a Def Jam press run is. [...] They was talking about sports, and then go to pop culture; and then they go to hip-hop being bigger now than it was then."

He added, "That's why I said their two names, because they were for everybody, and there were more [rappers] for everybody after the fact."

Staples then went into talking about Wale and Joe Budden's supposed "beef" before he began to speak on Nicki Minaj and Cardi B's feud.

"Everybody needs to stop fighting. None of you n***as is really with the business. My n***a Cardi B, my n***a Nicki, they ready to catch a body round this mothafucka," he said. "Stop pretending you n***as is out like that. Shoutout Cardi, shoutout Nicki. Let's keep this shit gangsta. Hip-hop too nice."

Peep Vince's conversation with Joe Budden below around the 17:20 min. mark.
Yesterday, we received confirmation that Bad Boys 3 was actually being made. It's been over a decade since the second instalment arrived but the duo of Martin Lawrence and Will Smith are meeting up again to film the highly-anticipated film sometime soon. The two actors linked up on Instagram yesterday as Lawrence pulled an "it's official" out of his hat, shocking the world and getting us all excited for what's to come. Of course, Will Smith had to get in on the action on his own page, absolutely losing his cool over the news.

"Its been a LOOOONG time Coming. But now its Here!" wrote the entertainer. He filmed himself flipping out with a huge grin on his face, warning the fans that what's coming is worth the wait. "It's official," yelled the Fresh Prince repeatedly while alternating shots of himself and his co-star. Will Smith's schedule has been jam-packed as of late as it seems like he's always involved in one high-profile project or another. The announcement is huge and our reaction was just as strong as Will's. It's been so long since the last Bad Boys movie and it's going to be a wild ride until it's finally out.

Are you excited about the news or could you do without another sequel?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BppYYhjhNnD


Cell phones. Tires. Medical equipment. Food packaging. Clothes. Fertilizer. Detergents. Plastics. Can any of us live without these items? Perhaps some of us can sacrifice one or two, but it's safe to say these products play an integral role in our lives.

The common thread through all of these everyday products (and countless more) are petrochemicals. Beyond their role in creating the products we rely on, petrochemicals also provide critical components to renewable energy sources; they're used to manufacture wind turbine blades, solar panels, batteries, electric vehicle parts and more. This explains why petrochemicals are projected to surpass the transportation sector as the largest driver of crude oil demand worldwide.

This month, the International Energy Agency (IEA) examined the growing demand for plastics, highlighting the massive potential for future growth. Its report, "The Future of Petrochemicals," finds petrochemicals will comprise more than one-third of global oil demand growth by 2030, due to demand for plastics, and nearly half by 2050  ahead of powerhouse industries like trucking, aviation and shipping. The report shows plastics demand has nearly doubled since 2000, outpacing every other bulk material, including cement, steel, and aluminum.

But despite all of this, as Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of IEA notes, petrochemicals remain one of the "key 'blind spots' in the global energy debate"  an issue critical to the energy sector. While the trend of an increasing demand for their product is exciting for the industry, it brings a dilemma: How is the industry preparing to meet this growing demand?

The Gulf Coast continues to provide a natural primary hub for crude oil production and exports, as well as liquefied natural gas exports. With its proximity to the oil-rich Permian Basin and maritime access, it's a logical option for the petrochemical industry.

But the transformation of the U.S. energy landscape provides an opportunity to expand petrochemical manufacturing beyond the shoreline in order to meet the growing demand  both domestically and overseas. Over the past decade, the shale boom to the northeast, specifically the Shale Crescent USA region of West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, has skyrocketed natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) production.

Importantly, both the Marcellus and Utica shale plays are producing prolific amounts of NGLs, including ethane and propane  the "building blocks" of petrochemicals that are integral to plastics manufacturing.

Beyond the resource supply, projects in the Shale Crescent have easy access to water for transportation and processing via the Ohio River and its tributaries, proximity to 50 percent of high-demand North American markets and over 70 percent of polyethylene demand is within a day's drive. There is also an unmatched labor force, combining a storied manufacturing history with a world-renowned plastics industry.

Another advantage in expanding petrochemical manufacturing in the Shale Crescent region is the cost benefit to the investor and project owner. In fact, IHS Markit has found it to be the most profitable place in the United States to build a petrochemical plant.

The global petrochemical industry is taking notice, with Royal Dutch Shell currently building a $6-billion ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, Pa., and Thailand-based PTT Global Chemical eying a multi-billion-dollar cracker plant in Belmont County, Ohio.

The U.S. stands to benefit from adding geographical diversity in expansion of the petrochemical industry, both from a security and reliability standpoint - especially during extreme weather events that have disrupted operations and supply. Increasing production capability so close to the majority of North American demand would ease the pressure on our neighbors to the south as we continue to watch demand rise.

It's clear petrochemicals play a key role in the future of oil demand growth and new manufacturing projects. The Shale Crescent USA has the natural gas supply, the geography, the access and the workforce to fulfill growing demand  it is a matter of reliability and security.

Jerry James is President of Artex Oil Company. He is a co-founder of the Shale Crescent USA economic development initiative.
Insperity is in the business of creating great workplaces for its clients, providing a suite of human resources services ranging from health care benefits to recruiting help.

So its probably no big surprise that the Kingwood company, which teaches its own clients to be better managers, placed No. 3 on the Chronicle's Top Workplace survey. The ranking is based on surveys conducted by Energage, an employee engagement consulting firm.

Employees like working for Insperity, which offers traditional benefits like health care and retirement plans along with innovative programs that give every employee 12 hours each quarter to volunteer at a nonprofit of the employees choice.

TOP WORKPLACES: See the winners of the 2018 Top Workplaces competition

Its my favorite benefit, said Michelle Mikesell, who heads a team of human resource consultants working with client companies on employee relations and leadership development.

Mikesell, who grew up in a military family, volunteers with the Warrior Weekend program, which welcomes injured veterams to Houston for an all-expenses paid fishing trip to the Texas coast.

Sometimes its a sea of Insperity green welcoming the warriors home, she said, referring to the lime green T-shirts employees wear on their volunteer missions.

Insperity clients are typically small to midsize companies attracted by offloading their insurance, payroll and hiring responsibilities so they can focus on their businesses. Insperity targets white-collar industries that pay well and have lower-than-average health and safety problems. Chief Operating Officer Steve Arizpe said he believes employees gave Insperity high marks because the companys business is doing well.

People like to be part of something cool, and that is really growing, he said.

Insperity reported revenue of $3.3 billion last year, up 12.2 percent from the previous year, according to its financial filings. Net income was up 28 percent to $84.4 million last year.

The company has 183,000 work site employees, a 10.2 increase over the previous year. It also has 3,000 corporate employees, including those who design and manage the benefit programs, along with sales, legal and finance.

Insperity added two sales offices this year, in Stamford, Conn., and Oklahoma City, bringing the total to 65 nationwide. The company traditionally made its money by providing a full suite of employee benefits through co-employment relationships with client companies, in which Insperity and its clients were the employers.

Insperity is now expanding its a la carte end of the business. The company began offering stand-alone services such as payroll processing and recruiting seven years ago, and it has turned out to be a good gamble. Of the companys 100,000 customers, only 7,500 are in full-service co-employment arrangements. The rest have hired Insperity to fill specific gaps in their human resources functions.

lynn.sixel@chron.com
For more than 50 years, Jack DeJohnettes music has functioned as a river, flowing ceaselessly with numerous tributaries feeding into it and others breaking off from it.

A thorough Jack DeJohnette discography  even void of commentary  would require an absurd amount of space. Such is the depth of DeJohnettes body of work that when I bring up a 1980s album he made with guitarist John Abercrombie, he says he doesnt think he played on it. (He did.)

Even the most condensed version of his work is a long scroll: Between 1966 and 1969, he found himself the quintessential protean drummer, working in bands led by such varied jazz leaders as Charles Lloyd, Bill Evans and Miles Davis. DeJohnette more recently coined the phrase multidimensional music to describe his broad body of work. More recently meaning in the 90s. But the descriptor retroactively applies to his entire career.

DeJohnettes work with Davis bears particular mention as he played on the remarkable Bitches Brew and Jack Johnson albums. No straight stick man, DeJohnette led sessions, composed music and proved tirelessly prolific from the 1970s to the present, including a three-decade run with Keith Jarretts Standards Trio, as well as work with just about every prominent post-bop jazz musician to record.

Im always looking to change up a situation, DeJohnette, 76, says. Most musicians I work with are the same way. Musicians who are expansive are always looking for different projects. Different musicians bring out different aspects of you and your playing, and you do the same for them.

Just in the past few years, DeJohnette made a solo piano album, a recording with Hudson (a group featuring guitarist John Scofield and keyboardist John Medeski), another called Made in Chicago with some legends and In Movement, a trio session, an intriguing, cross-generational one at that. In Movement had DeJohnette anchoring a small ensemble with Ravi Coltrane on reeds and Matthew Garrison on bass and electronics. The trio plays Saturday night at the Wortham Theater Center.

The trio is intriguing in another way. Before hed ever played on a recording session, a very young DeJohnette in the early 60s played with Coltranes iconic father, John, and Garrisons bassist father, Jimmy, a revered bassist and member of Coltranes most famous band. Its a family affair, the drummer says of his current touring trio. Ive known both of them since they were children. I worked with their parents. So theres a thread going through all this. Theres that connection, and then the connection of them extending the legacy of their parents, these great jazz improvisers and composers.

Legacy can be an albatross for a young musician. Coltrane at 53 and Garrison at 48 both found ways to chart personal paths for themselves that neither ignored nor deconstructed the work of their familial forebears.

DeJohnette * Coltrane * Garrison When: 8 p.m. Saturday Where: Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Details: $37.50-$72.50; 713-524-5050, dacamera.com See More Collapse

A brilliant case in point is Alabama, the opening piece on In Movement. John Coltrane wrote and first recorded the piece, with Jimmy Garrison on bass, in 1963, a response to an infamous church bombing in Birmingham that left four black girls dead.

The new trio enters the song at a different point, with the younger Coltrane jumping into his fathers famed theme near its end. The effect is almost that of a time loop: The songs sadness and protestation remains in place, but theres a jittery and jarring sense of agitation that arises in the new version. Garrisons bass drones with a graver sense of discontent than McCoy Tyners piano did in the original.

We just wanted the album to be original, even with cover tunes and tributes, DeJohnette says. Alabama felt like a good way to open it. It has that beautiful melody. But theres also this other side, this recognition that things havent changed. If anything, some things feel worse. But some people are waking up and coming together. Realizing you have to take care of your environment, your home.

On a lighter tip, the trio finds entire worlds to explore inside Earth Wind and Fires Serpentine Fire. DeJohnette speaks of the song as an example of the benefits of working with different players.

It came out of us doing it on tours, he says. When we do soundchecks, we play around sometimes with pop tunes. Sometimes Matt and I will start to get into something like, Tell Me Something Good. With Serpentine Fire, we just started it and decided to keep developing it. Its not something youd expect a jazz trio to do. Earth Wind and Fire had great messages conveyed in some of their songs. And their grooves were great. So we did a basic groove and used that as a satellite, a jumping-off point.

No matter who youre playing with, its just all a matter of paying attention. Listening. Waiting. Being present. Being present for something to catch your attention.

andrew.dansby@chron.com
In Kansas, a middle-aged man yells, "Get out of my country!" and shoots dead an Indian-born immigrant. In New York, another man, convinced the white race is being destroyed by interracial marriage, allegedly finds an African-American homeless man and stabs him to death. And on Saturday, in Pittsburgh, police say a man entered a synagogue with an AR-15 rifle, murdered 11 people, then explained his actions to a SWAT officer this way: "They're committing genocide to my people. I just want to kill Jews."

These killings, the fear, and the men radicalized by it: They all reflect what some experts describe as the evolution of the hate crime in the United States.

Over the past several decades, academic researchers have charted how hate crimes, which have been rising overall, have increasingly gone from sadistic quests to inflict pain on members of minority groups to violence used as an angry defense against rapid social and demographic changes.

The perpetrators of this share of hate crimes are largely white men who hold the belief, exacerbated by rhetoric in politics and media, that they are protecting their culture, race and an endangered way of life that has historically - and, in their view, rightly - placed them at the top. Some belong to white-supremacist groups, but many don't.

In their version of the story, these men are not the villains, but the heroes, according to those who study them.

"White-supremacist ideology begins with this acceptance that there is this existential threat against the white race, and this gives people license to rationalize doing anything if it will protect or save the white race," said Mark Pitcavage, an analyst at the Anti-Defamation League. "And this is one of the factors that leads to a lot of violence."

There are four commonly cited types of hate crimes, conceived by Northeastern University researchers in 2002 and now used by the National Institute of Justice and taught at the FBI Academy.

One type is thrill-seeking - the perpetrators, often young white men, seek excitement and to show dominance by terrorizing members of minority groups they consider inferior. There are retaliatory hate crimes, to pay back a group for some alleged transgression. A third type consists of mission hate crimes, which are carried out by people so devoted to hatred that it becomes a career.

The rest fall into the "defensive" category. They are committed by people who believe they are protecting themselves or their territory from perceived outsiders. Perpetrators' motives can sometimes be mixed.

To create the typology, the Northeastern researchers first analyzed 169 hate crimes that had been reported to Boston police in 1991 and 1992. A later study, published in 2002, found that one-fourth of the crimes were defensive and two-thirds were thrill-seeking in type.

"It was typically a group of young people who would go out together on a Saturday night, looking for someone to bash" as a way to exert power but also to look cool to friends, study co-author Jack Levin said. "They would look for gays or Muslims or blacks or people with disabilities," and if they didn't find their target, they would just go on to the next minority group.

"Hatemongers don't specialize," said Levin, co-director of Northeastern University's Brudnick Center on Violence and Conflict.

The hate crimes at that point were sadistic, but often less extreme, he said. Fewer people ended up dead.

In recent decades, however, a collision of social forces appears to have reshuffled the balance of hate crimes in America, according to research by Levin and others.

The shift began after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which "changed everything," Levin said. The prevalence of defensive hate attacks connected to threatening events began to increase, Levin noted in a 2015 study he co-authored with Ashley Reichelmann, a professor at Virginia Tech, that was published in American Behavioral Scientist.

Using FBI data in that study, the authors found that the number of crimes targeting Muslims and Arabs quickly skyrocketed, from 28 hate crimes in 2000 to 481 in 2001.

The same happened when Massachusetts became the first state in 2004 to allow gay marriage, the study said, showing the number of hate-motivated assaults against gay people rising from two in 2002 to 24 in 2004.

The phenomenon repeated itself with crimes against Latinos, the study found. In 2002, only 1 percent of hate-motivated assault victims were Latino. But by 2010, when unemployment from the Great Recession was at its height and immigration was reconfiguring communities all over the United States, they accounted for 40 percent of victims of hate-motivated assaults.

Levin hasn't reproduced his original study showing the overall composition of hate crimes, so it's difficult to say for sure how much the defensive category has grown in percentage. But other experts and additional research support the idea that this kind of hate crime has surged.

James Nolan, an expert on hate crime at West Virginia University, has also studied how the nature of hate crimes and their perpetrators changed after 9/11. Afterward, he found hate crimes were less likely to be perpetrated by young thrill-seekers than by people older than 40 who were defensive and reactive to perceived social threats.

The study, which is about to be peer reviewed for publication in American Behavioral Scientist, also found a correlation between political rhetoric during the 2016 presidential campaign targeting minority groups and a subsequent spike in hate crimes against them.

"From the FBI hate crime data we can see how the conditions for defensive hate crimes are created by significant events and the discourse surrounding them," Nolan said.

Brian Levin, a professor and director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University at San Bernardino, has reported similar spikes after threatening events, including 9/11, passage of the same-sex marriage law, the election of President Barack Obama and the surge in the unemployment rate. He tallied 1,037 hate crimes in 2016, an increase of more than 23 percent over the previous year in the nine areas he researched.

Other experts say defensiveness fueled by racial anxiety or social changes perceived as threatening has always been a key motivator for hate crime, regardless of the era. "The root of hate crime has not changed," said Carolyn Petrosino, a professor at Bridgewater State University, who has written extensively on the issue. "The urgency of maintaining control has."

The factors researchers cite behind recent hate crimes are many: The manufacturing industry collapsed, and economic inequality widened, making life more financially precarious for many white men. Then when they turn on the television, the faces they see are no longer as white as they once were. The United States, meanwhile, elected its first black president. And underlying it all has been the deep anxiety that some whites feel over the prospect of losing their majority status, scheduled to happen sometime around 2045.

"Cumulatively, these threats operate together to create tremendous anger in some Americans who might otherwise be more tolerant toward people who are different," Jack Levin said. "Now, they're looking for someone to blame."

The FBI recorded 6,121 hate crimes in 2016, which the agency defines as criminal incidents motivated by race, religion, sexual orientation or gender, more than at any time since 2012. Race or ethnicity is the motivating factor in most hate crimes, but among attacks on the basis of religion, anti-Semitism was most prevalent. The FBI declined to comment about the underlying causes of hate crimes.

All of this occurs at a time when the ideological framework of white supremacy has also undergone a transformation. In the Jim Crow era, when the Ku Klux Klan was at its height, white supremacy was rooted in maintaining overt dominance and resisting the proposals of civil rights activists. But with that battle long over, and with white supremacists cast as history's losers, their pitch has changed. Today, white supremacy is increasingly centered on the perceived victimhood of whites, left defenseless in a multicultural world of widespread immigration, affirmative action and interracial marriage.

"Dylann Roof thought he was saving the world," said Heidi Beirich, a project director at the Southern Poverty Law Center. "They've come to believe they're saviors of the white race. . . . I'm doing this to protect my race."

Then add the accelerant of political demagoguery exploiting fear and division, amplified by social media communities.

"When I hear the word 'caravan' I reach for my gun!" one person wrote on Monday on 4chan, where conspiracy theorists and members of the far-right congregate, when another user shared a picture of a tweet in which President Donald Trump called the migrant caravan headed to the Mexican border an "invasion" rife with "Gang Members." "RIP humanity," another user worried.

"The rhetoric coming out of the White House is giving people license to target these people," said Daryl Johnson, former senior analyst for domestic terrorism at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who left the agency in 2010.

There was a time when it was more lonely being an extremist, when similar-minded people were accessible only through newsletters or in-person meetings. Now, all it takes is a computer and an Internet connection to access an online chat room, where the narrative is always easy to understand - it's all their fault. The communities not only provide an addicting sense of righteousness and superiority, but also an inflated sense of numbers.

"The feeling is that you're part of a large like-minded cause," Pitcavage said. "It's not just a bubble, but an echo chamber, where people are constantly exposed to views - and not moderating views, but views that are just as extreme, if not more extreme, than their own."

But what makes an extremist a murderer? What tips them into violence?

These are questions that researchers still haven't been able to answer. "We have no idea what shifts someone from ideology to violence," Beirich said. "There is no way to know what is the moment of breaking."

Not all extremists are perpetrators of violent hatred. But most perpetrators, she said, are extremists.

That's why on Saturday, when news of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting was first washing across the Internet, she didn't have to wait for the details to know who the alleged killer was.

"Within three minutes of the CNN story being posted, the first thing that came to mind was member of the radical right, raging anti-Semite, and I bet he's active online. It's just the case with so many of these people lately."

Hours later came the first stories of suspect Robert Bowers' prolific online history, which included rants against Jews, refugees and African Americans.

"We can not let the . . . get any kind of foothold here," he wrote in one post weeks before the shooting, using an anti-Semitic word.

And in apparent reference to the Holocaust, recalling Trump's campaign slogan, he wrote in another: "Make ovens 1488 F again."
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump pushed forward with his vow to end birthright citizenship on Wednesday, even as it put him in open conflict with a key leader in his party.

The president in tweets said he was willing to take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court over the constitutionality of an executive order that would deny children born in the United States to parents in the country illegally automatic citizenship under the 14th Amendment.

He also used Twitter to harshly criticize House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who a day earlier said that Trump could not carry out such an act.

"Paul Ryan should be focusing on holding the Majority rather than giving his opinions on Birthright Citizenship, something he knows nothing about!" Trump tweeted Wednesday afternoon. "Our new Republican Majority will work on this, Closing the Immigration Loopholes and Securing our Border!"

The extraordinary rebuke from Trump came one day after Ryan pushed back on the president's remarks on the issue, saying "you cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order."

Ryan, who is not running for reelection, was in Kentucky on Tuesday campaigning for Rep. Garland "Andy" Barr, R, when he responded to Trump's comments about birthright citizenship. Democrats could gain control of the House if they flip 23 Republican-held seats in next week's election.

In remarks to reporters Wednesday evening before leaving Washington for a rally in Florida, Trump said the issue of birthright citizenship is "much less complex" than people think. He also maintained that a constitutional amendment would not be required and that the change could be achieved through "a simple vote in Congress" or an executive order.

Trump vowed in tweets earlier Wednesday to end the 150-year-old practice "one way or the other," seeming to leave the door open to either congressional action or a constitutional amendment, which many legal scholars say would be necessary to achieve his aims.

ALSO Republicans fear some voters are losing enthusiasm with a week until the midterms

Trump also said the issue would ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court.

Trump is seeking to end the long-standing right to U.S. citizenship for children born to noncitizens in the United States, a policy that he said in his tweets "costs our Country billions of dollars and is very unfair to our citizens."

On Tuesday, leading Democrats and immigrants rights activists blasted Trump's pledge to issue an executive order, and Ryan dismissed the idea during a radio interview, saying it is not consistent with the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, meanwhile, said the issue is one on which Congress, rather than the president, should take the lead.

In his Wednesday tweet, Trump asserted that birthright citizenship is not subject to the 14th Amendment because of the inclusion of the phrase "subject to the jurisdiction thereof."

Legal experts have debated for years how to interpret the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment, but the consensus is one-sided: Most agree that it in fact grants citizenship to those born on U.S. soil.

The first section of the amendment says: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."

Some legal scholars argue that the phrase "and subject to the jurisdiction thereof" seems to give the government some leeway to restrict the right, just as other constitutional principles can be limited. But the mainstream opinion from both right and left is that it is more likely that a constitutional amendment, rather than federal legislation or an executive order, would be needed to change the birthright conferred on people born here.

In his latest tweets, Trump also highlighted a view expressed by then-Sen. Harry M. Reid in 1993 that "no sane country" would award citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants born on its soil. Reid, a Nevada Democrat, reversed his position in 1999, at which time he apologized for his earlier stance.

"Many legal scholars agree . . . Harry M. Reid was right in 1993, before he and the Democrats went insane and started with the Open Borders (which brings massive Crime) 'stuff,' " Trump wrote.

He followed up later Wednesday afternoon with a tweet in which he shared video of Reid's remarks on the issue on the Senate floor in 1993.

Reid responded in a statement that he had previously been wrong on the issue.

"In 1993, around the time Donald Trump was gobbling up tax-free inheritance money from his wealthy father and driving several companies into bankruptcy, I made a mistake," Reid said.

He said that his wife, Landra, had immediately spoken with him after he proposed the "awful" bill and "set me straight."

"Immigrants are the lifeblood of our nation," Reid said. "They are our power and our strength. This president wants to destroy not build, to stoke hatred instead of unify. He can tweet whatever he wants while he sits around watching TV, but he is profoundly wrong."

Trump has previously accused former president Barack Obama of abusing his authority by establishing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allowed young undocumented immigrants to live in the country without fear of deportation.

But the president pointed to Obama's action Wednesday in defending his own executive order proposal.

"Certainly, if he can do DACA, we can do this by executive order," Trump said.

In one of his tweets, Trump also said that the term "anchor babies," which has been used to describe children of noncitizens born in the United States, is "nasty." Trump has often used the term himself.

- - -

The Washington Post's Robert Barnes contributed to this report.
Two slabs of glass and metal, two different tales.

Apple shared its vision for the future of portable computers on Tuesday: A super-powerful redesigned iPad Pro you operate with fingers and a stylus. But in case you're dubious a tablet can replace a laptop, Apple also unveiled a refresh of its classic MacBook Air.

That was the mixed message from the consumer tech giant's product event in New York City, a follow-up to its September launch of new iPhones and Apple Watches. I had a chance to try both the $800 iPad Pro and $1,200 MacBook Air after Apple's presentation. Each was given a beautiful new design, renewed purpose - and a 20 percent price hike.

The iPad Pro stole much of the spotlight, because it's getting the most changes. The big touch screen can do things you can't on a Mac, but it may be the less-practical computer for many.

The new Pro takes design cues from the latest iPhones. The home button has been replaced with a swipe-up gesture that will be intuitive to anyone who's used an iPhone X. Instead of a fingerprint reader, it now unlocks with FaceID, Apple's facial-recognition technology, adapted for the iPad to work in both vertical and horizontal orientations. That was speedy in demonstrations, but is limited to just two faces per device.

With the home button out of the way, Apple trimmed the iPad Pro's margins to make it slightly smaller and more comfortable in your hands. Like previous iPad Pros, the new devices come in two sizes - 11 inch ($800) and 12.9 inch ($1,000) screen models, measured on the diagonal - the larger of which is about the size of an 8.5 by 11 sheet of paper. That's an improvement over the original 2015 iPad Pro, which was nearly the size of a box of Rice Krispies.

Most intriguing is Apple's evolving vision for what you can do with iPad Pro. Sold for more than double the price of a basic $330 iPad, it's come a long way since being an oversized big brother to the iPhone. On stage, Apple described the iPad Pro as a "magical piece of glass that can be anything you need it to be."

Translation: The iPad Pro is a powerful, flexible computer that you can carry around. With a new Apple-designed processor and neural engine, Apple says the Pro is faster than 92 percent of portable PCs on the market today.

Can it really be "anything" you need it to be? With a keyboard case ($200), it can stand upright like a laptop, though it sits less rigidly on your lap than a traditional notebook. Creative types can scribble, paint and do other activities requiring precision right on the screen itself with a new Apple Pencil stylus ($130) that magnetically attaches to the edge of the screen.

The iPad Pro can even plug into an external monitor (via a new USB-C style port also used to charge) to become a portable graphics workhorse. Executives from Adobe showed how it could be used to edit a gargantuan image with a new full-powered iPad version of its popular Photoshop application.

But you know what I quickly missed in my hands-on time? A mouse or trackpad. You still have to do most things on an iPad by touching its screen - no fun for precision tasks like spreadsheets. To me, that stops the Pro short of transforming into the kind of computer where I can sit upright at a desk and burn through work. Call me old-fashioned.

If you share that concern, too, Apple isn't about to lose the chance to sell you something else. Enter the refreshed MacBook Air, the beloved Apple laptop.

Apple breathed new life into the aging Air, but also increased the price from $1,000 to $1,200.

The standout feature is a higher-resolution 13-inch "retina" quality screen, which features four times the pixels. Despite that power-demanding leap, Apple says the Air's 12-hour battery life remains about the same - and superior to the more powerful MacBook Pro that costs $100 more.

The new Air, which weighs 2.75 pounds, is also a quarter of a pound lighter than the MacBook Pro. When I held one in each hand, I could feel the difference.

The refresh also includes a fingerprint reader for securely unlocking the computer, making payments and logging into apps. But some won't be happy that the new model lacks the common USB-A style port and an SD-card reader. Instead, it has two smaller USB-C type ports that work for charging and plugging in external devices. (At least there's still a headphone jack.)

The Air has a bigger problem: It looks expensive in the competitive world of Windows PCs and Chromebooks, yet has few totally unique hardware capabilities. While the Mac operating system has many advantages and loyal fans, the Air's improvements are mostly table stakes.

A decade ago when Apple co-founder Steve Jobs first introduced the Air by pulling it out of a manila envelope, he redefined the design of portable computers. If you want Apple's vision today, look to the iPad Pro.
Houston scientists are hoping that a combination of household vinegar and consumer electronic technology can boost the fight against cervical cancer in the Third World - and maybe make U.S. screening more efficient.

The innovative project pairing Rice University bioengineers and M.D. Anderson gynecological oncologists aims to dramatically reduce the toll of one of the developing world's top killers using a fiber optic microscope invented in Houston and the common cooking ingredient, which can spot pre-cancerous lesions.

"From a human resource point of view, the developing world just doesn't have the infrastructure to carry out the screening and diagnostics we do in the developed world," said Rebecca Richards-Kortum, director of Rice 360: Institute for Global Health Technologies. "That's the beauty of this approach - it gives providers with lower levels of training the way to get the information and manage care efficiently."

That's a huge need in the developing world, where cervical cancer claims the lives of 200,000 women a year. In contrast, it now kills approximately 4,000 women annually in the United States, thanks to one of the great stories of early detection preventing cancer.

The Pap smear, a test in which cells from the lining of the cervix are examined at a pathologist's lab, was the breakthrough that decades ago dropped cervical cancer from its distinction as the No. 1 killer of U.S. women.

The test spots pre-cancerous lesions before they become deadly tumors.

Reducing costs

But Pap smears are too costly and too reliant on trained personnel and high-quality labs for the developing world. Low-cost screening programs are desperately needed.

Enter household vinegar.

It turns out a vinegar solution applied to the cervix makes pre-cancerous tissues turn white, visible to the naked eye and able to be immediately frozen off with a metal probe cooled by a tank of carbon dioxide.

This summer, researchers at the world's biggest cancer meeting reported that a vinegar screening program helped reduce deaths by 31 percent in a study of 150,000 women in India, a strategy they said could prevent 72,00 annual deaths throughout the developing world if implemented broadly.

But there's one problem with vinegar screening: It produces a lot of false positive tests, increasing costs and causing unnecessary anxiety.

The fiber optic microscope developed by Richards-Kortum and her team at Rice promises to improve such screening. The unexpected result of a student's efforts to better understand fluorescent microscopy, it produces crisp, high-quality images of cellular changes associated with pre-cancer when placed in contact with affected tissue.

Results from a study in China involving Richards-Kortum's team and National Cancer Institute scientists suggest the device could play a prominent role.

Using the vinegar screening and conventional confirmatory tests, the government scientists detected lesions in 69 of the 170 participants.

But only 12 of the 69 actually required treatment, the scientists found after biopsies, meaning 57 were false positives.

Richards-Kortum's microscope correctly classified the 12 and reduced the number of false positives to 19.

Improving accuracy

The team is currently partnering with M.D. Anderson on other trials.

They recently finished a study in Brazil, for which results won't be ready for at least another month, and are planning large-scale trials in El Salvador and South Africa.

The plan is for the South African trial to enroll 15,000 to 20,000 women.

If the studies confirm the device's accuracy, it would be a huge boon.

It costs about $2,000 - a fraction of the cost of screening devices at big U.S. cancer centers - and Richards-Kortum's team is working to control it with either a tablet computer or cell phone.

It fits so easily in a briefcase that Richards-Kortum said she'll toss it in the overheard bin of an airplane and it works fine when she gets to her destination.

The device could help in the early detection of other cancers as well.

It has been tested in oral cancer at M.D. Anderson and esophageal cancer at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, and Richards-Kortum talks about future uses, much further down the road, that could help better diagnose and manage treatment of breast and prostate cancer, though that is further down the road.

The developing world

In any case, because it provides results at the point of care, potentially eliminating the need for some follow-up tests, Richards-Kortum said it one day could make U.S. care more efficient.

But the most dramatic effect, the greatest potential for saving lives, is sure to be in the developing world - in places like Botswana, where the entire country is served by all of two pathologists, or Bangladesh, where 1 percent of women currently are screened for cervical cancer.

"There's no question this approach is very promising for the problem of cervical cancer in the developing world," said Dr. Kathleen Schmeler, the M.D. Anderson project leader. "That's why we need to do these studies to determine the advantages and limitations."
Courtesy of The City of Webster Instagram

Residents of Webster will soon have a new place to dine. Charles Nguyen and Andy Nguyen, the brother duo behind craft beer and Vietnamese fusion cuisine restaurant Nobi Public House, are set to launch a new dining concept a few doors down, according to a social media post by the City of Webster, Texas.

Hyde Park Wood Fired Kitchen, helmed by chef Scott Yorkey who is formerly of Jake's in the Lake in Tahoe City, California, will feature two wood-burning ovens and an exposed kitchen.
A group of Houston residents helping with the Hurricane Michael recovery effort in Florida were involved a shooting Wednesday night that left one woman dead, according to the Fort Walton Beach Police Department.

The woman, identified by police as 24-year-old Aija Hunter, succumbed to her gunshot wound to the abdomen at the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. Another Houston resident in the group was shot in his leg but survived, police said.

RELATED: 'Return the Favor' Galveston County groups aid Michael victims in Florida

The suspect, 24-year-old Ledesma Vonzell Wooden, who was also part of the group, has been charged with homicide, attempted murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, police said in a press release.

Additional charges may follow, the release said.

Hunter's mother, Michelle Anderson, said her daughter ran a family cleaning business in Houston called Majestic Hands. She described Hunter as an "extremely positive, loving and giving person."

"I haven't even been able to process exactly what I'm feeling right now," Anderson said.

Police called the shooting a "tragic isolated incident" involving five people from Houston who were temporarily living in Okaloosa Island, located roughly 45 miles east of Pensacola.

They worked for a company sent to help with the Hurricane Michael relief effort in Panama City. Anderson said she didn't know the company name, but Hunter left with the group about a month ago, she said.

She said Hunter came home for a day before leaving to Florida.

"Which is the last time that I had the opportunity to see me baby," Anderson said.

Around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night, the group was sitting at a Greyhound Bus station at 101 Perry Avenue in Fort Walton Beach when a verbal altercation ensued, police said.

Police said Wooden brandished a firearm and fired several shots, striking two of the three occupants sitting in a company van, including Hunter.

RELATED: Power bills suspended for many hit hard by Hurricane Michael

Fort Walton Beach police could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday, but Major Tracy Hart told WEAR-TV that Wooden was standing outside the company van when he opened fire.

Police apprehended a fleeing Wooden, while Hunter and the other wounded man were taken to a hospital, police said.

Wooden was not granted bail, and he is awaiting a hearing, jail records show. Wooden has previously faced several criminal charges in Harris County dating back to 2011, according to court records.

In 2017, he was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm. In 2011 and 2012, he faced charges of burglary and theft between $500 and $1,500.

Anderson said she wasn't aware of any relationship between Hunter and Wooden before the trip to Florida. She didn't know the daily activities of the group, but at one point, Hunter told her they had been cleaning up a mall.

The family, she said, is preparing to pick up the body in Florida.

"Right now, it's just so much [emotion]," Anderson said.

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
Nov 1, 2018 | By Thomas

Makerspaces have been widely advocated as a way to develop STEM abilities and soft skills. However, until recently, there has been little research that investigates the learning and teaching outcomes possible with makerspaces, particularly for younger students.

Now, researchers at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, have conducted a year-long study into the benefits of learning 3D printing and 3D design in primary school makerspaces.

From August 2017 to July 2018, Macquarie Universitys Department of Educational Studies partnered with the NSW Department of Education, Carlingford West Public School, Parramatta East Public School, Oatlands Public School and Makers Empire for this research study.

The research study examined how maker activities using 3D design and 3D printing technology could enhance learning and teaching outcomes: 27 teachers from three schools undertook Makers Empires Learning by Design professional development course and 500 participating students used Makers Empires 3D modelling software.

The research study revealed that makerspaces can be highly effective at developing childrens creativity, critical thinking, design thinking and digital skills. Students were highly engaged with the 3D technology, and the idea of solving genuine design challenges - it helped boost their confidence and resilience when dealing with setbacks, particularly for those less capable students.

Many of the students interviewed were highly positive in their reviews of the Makers Empire 3D app, with verbal ratings offered such as 100% or 11 out of ten," according to the study. "Eight students (23.5%) chose to voluntarily use the app at home for fun, often with members of their family There were 32 students (94.1%) who wanted to use 3D design and printing once they left school, for instance as a career (build houses so like maybe people living in the street can have houses for them to get and live in) or for fun (like a toy, because I [already] made a toy ball for my dog). There were also repeated stories of student transformation, for instance, where one of Kindergarten teacher Julias previously reluctant writers had later become a shining star.

The 27 teacher responses to the post-implementation questionnaire responses were compared using a

seven-point scale from (0) Strongly Disagree to (6) Strongly Agree.

In a different way, the research study showed that teachers became more comfortable with technology, and more collaborative and flexible in their teaching. All of the 24 classroom teachers who participated in the focus group expressed a desire to integrate 3D design-based makerspaces into their future classes.

Teachers indicated that the well-structured, pedagogically grounded, hands-on and situated professional learning enabled them to develop a better understanding of makerspaces, how to teach in them, the technical skills required, and 21st-century capabilities, according to the report.

Several teachers indicated that they had shifted to be more collaborative, flexible, and comfortable with technology. Many teachers entered learning partnerships with students, and as a result, students came to see their teachers as models of lifelong learning. Some teachers related how these changes had transcended beyond their makerspaces modules  for instance, in the form of more inquiry-based, problem-based, and collaborative units of work. Several teachers also pointed out that they appreciated how the makerspaces project enabled them to implement an integrated curriculum.

Jon Soong, CEO of Makers Empire commented, Its wonderful to have our work validated by this kind of rigorous academic research. Makers Empire works with thousands of educators teaching hundreds of thousands of students and it's vital for schools to know that our products are genuinely effective and engaging teaching tools.

The study was authored by researchers from the Department of Educational Studies at Macquarie University: Associate Professor Matt Bower, Dr Michael Stevenson, Professor Garry Falloon, Dr Anne Forbes and Dr Maria Hatzigianni.

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On Wednesday, President Donald Trump said the number of National Guard troops being sent to the U.S-Mexico border could reach 15,000.

If true, that figure could exceed the amount of U.S. troops currently deployed in Afghanistan, about 14,000.

That may give the impression that the U.S.-Mexico border is a hectic battlefield, something Attorney General Jeff Sessions has conveyed by describing the border with terms like "ground zero," "beachhead," "front lines," and even "war zone."

But in reality, it's far from any of those things. In May, responding to White House rhetoric regarding the U.S.-Mexico border, the deputy director of the Wilson Center's Mexico Institute, a Washington think tank, said the border was one of the safest places to live in America.

Using FBI crime statistics, the think tank's 2018 study found that U.S. border counties have lower crimes rates than that of inland counties.

LATEST: Trump vows executive order to end birthright citizenship, despite legal questions

Likewise, Texans living along the U.S.-Mexico border are scratching their heads regarding Trump's "crisis border" talk, according to several landowners who told Business Insider they felt totally safe in the region.

It's possible many folks have preconceived notions about America's southern border because they haven't visited, or are only told stories and shown images of violence and crime.

To help readers get a better idea of what the 1,900-mile border actually looks like, we featured images from two photographers that traveled from California to Texas. The images, we hope, give a more accurate idea of what Mexicans and Americans living along the border see in their daily routines.

Check them out above.

Fernando Ramirez is a digital reporter for Chron.com and Houstonchronicle.com. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. Follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email him at Fernando.ramirez@chron.com.
AUSTIN  Attorneys with the group that helped exonerate Texan Michael Morton two decades after he was wrongly convicted of killing his wife were back at the Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday. But this time, instead of uncovering prosecutorial misconduct, they were sticking up for a former prosecuting attorney who they say should be a model for how to do the job.

Eric Hillman was an assistant district attorney in Nueces County who was fired in 2014 after refusing to follow a supervisors order to hide evidence that was favorable to a defendant in a felony intoxication assault case.

The New York-based Innocence Project took on Hillmans case in March after lower courts dismissed his wrongful termination lawsuit, citing Texas sovereign immunity laws that protect government agencies from lawsuits in the interest of saving taxpayers money.

Hillmans attorneys, Chris Gale and Philip Durst, a lawyer with the Innocence Project, argued that his firing goes against a state law designed to prevent wrongful convictions. They also asked the court to amend a 1985 ruling to give prosecutors and district attorneys additional protection if they are fired for refusing to break the law.

The state has had more exonerations than any other, and has taken remarkable steps to prevent wrongful convictions by passing a series of laws to correct the systems flaws, said Nina Morrison, an attorney with the Innocence Project, in a statement. But these new laws can only work if the prosecutors who enforce them are also protected.

The Innocence Project helped argue the case before the Supreme Court, the first time in the organizations 27-year history that its lawyers appeared in court on behalf of a prosecutor. The nonprofit legal group is best known for helping exonerate 350 wrongfully convicted individuals.

Among these exonerations is Michael Morton, a Williamson County resident whose case has been at the forefront of Hillmans argument. Morton spent 25 years in prison for the 1986 murder of his wife, a crime which he did not commit. After he was freed in 2011, a post-conviction investigation found that the former prosecutor on the case intentionally hid evidence that would have pointed to Mortons innocence.

In response, the Texas Legislature created the Michael Morton Act in 2013, which legally requires prosecutors to turn over all evidence to the defense in a criminal case, whether they believe that informatoin could impact the outcome or not.

In a brief filed in late March, the Innocence Project called Hillmans case a critical test of the fundamental principles of the Morton Act. The projects lawyers said allowing Hillman to be fired for following the requirements of the law would leave the door open for future retaliation against conscientious prosecutors like Hillman.

Lawyers for Nueces County and the state argued Wednesday that other laws provide avenues for Hillman to seek redress.

The class of people that the Michael Morton act is designed to protect is criminal defendants, said Jeffrey Pruitt, a lawyer for Nueces County. The plain language of the statute is designed to protect that class of people. It imposes a duty on prosecutors, but doesnt give them any rights.

Several justices asked Hillmans attorneys if he could have sued under the federal Whistleblower Act, which protects public employees who report violations of the law.

Gale said whistleblower protections dont apply to Hillman. How does he become a whistleblower after hes terminated? He cant.

Jason LaFond, a lawyer for the state, said Hillmans case should not be an exception to the Supreme Courts 1985 ruling, which protects workers who are fired for refusing to break the law, but does not apply to government employees. The high court has declined to alter the ruling in three previous cases.

What the court has said is that theyre not going to tinker with it, theyre not going to extend it, and that its competent to address the issues, LaFond said. The same reasoning applies here.

Justice Jeff Brown pressed the states attorneys to show how tax dollars are put to risk by allowing prosecutors and district attorneys to sue if they are fired for refusing to break the law.

Jeffrey Pruitt, a lawyer for Nueces County, said creating any exception is a slippery slope.

What youre inviting courts to do is decidewhat is a serious enough crime that the government shouldn't be protected from immunity, Pruitt said.
Once the ballots are counted and the winners declared in next weeks election, most people are going to want a break from politics, and for good reason. But very soon, all of us who participate in this democracy need to get to work fixing it.

Unfortunately, a destructive form of politics has taken root across the country. Fundamental norms of our discourse  such as the idea that those entrusted with positions of leadership should tell the truth and bring people together with something resembling hope and optimism  have been discarded in favor of fear mongering and ruthless divisiveness.

The events of the last couple weeks have reminded us why this corrosive approach to politics  the approach championed by President Donald Trump, my fellow Republican  is so short-sighted and limiting. To be sure, nobody in public office bears responsibility for the mass murder at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, and no elected official forced a madman to send pipe bombs to political figures and media organizations.

But in the wake of these types of terrifying, horrific events, we need political leaders who can stop pointing fingers and start pulling our country back together. We need those who leave no ambiguity when they talk about the hateful extremists that are trying, with some success, to work their way back into the mainstream of American politics. In short, we need people in public office who see division in our country as a challenge that needs to be resolved, rather than an opportunity that needs to be exploited.

Even if they momentarily hit all the right notes of grief and empathy, its nearly impossible for elected leaders who thrive on division to bring us together in the wake of a tragedy. They simply lack the moral authority. In recent weeks, many in elected office have tried to motivate voters by grossly exaggerating the threat posed by a distant group of refugees fleeing their home countries. Its the same win-at-all-costs mindset that convinced some in Washington that they could score points by separating young, scared children from their parents. This isnt toughness, or street-fighting, and it certainly isnt leadership. Its a desperate attempt to incite anger instead of going about the more difficult task of building lasting and diverse coalitions around good ideas.

But there is always reason to be optimistic in our country, and now is no exception. There are plenty of men and women, some of them on the ballot right now and some who will run for office in the future, who are more than capable of providing the leadership we need. They speak with credibility and honesty. They are willing to upset the most ardent partisans if thats whats required to do the right thing. They work to build consensus, they listen, and they focus their energy on the challenges that will determine our future, from education to public safety to national security.

But the work ahead should not only be left to those who hold public office. We can all put our democracy on a better path if we stop taking cues from our most divisive political figures. Its our responsibility to reward candidates and officeholders who want to govern constructively. Its also our duty to consider how we are treating each other. We should be unafraid to disagree over issues and defend our principles. But there is a more appropriate balance to strike between well-meaning policy disagreements and our larger sense of national unity and common purpose. As voters, we need to reassert that we want elections to be contests of ideas, rather than desperate attempts to stoke hostility around issues of identity.

Six days after terrorists attacked our country in September of 2001, President George W. Bush went to the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C., and declared, These acts of violence against innocents violate the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith. And its important for my fellow Americans to understand that. He recognized his responsibility in that moment to diffuse misplaced hostilities and assert a sense of unity among all Americans. This is the type of leadership that we should demand from whoever prevails up and down the ballot on Tuesday, and its the type of decency that we all need to restore in our public discourse.

Straus, a Republican, is the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and a state representative from San Antonio.
Page Content

Montreal, 31 October 2018  ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu addressed the assembled Directors General for Civil Aviation (DGCAs) from ICAOs Asia and Pacific region in Nadi, Fiji, during the opening session of the 55th DGCA Conference on 22nd October 2018 and stressed the key importance of international travel and trade connections to the events host State and others in the Region.

Recognizing Fijis very vibrant tourism sector, and the 40,000 jobs it supports here, Dr. Liu noted that the aviation connections Fiji had realized would help ensure the sustainability of its current and very healthy socio-economic growth. It highlighted for everyone the direct links between the investments States make in terms of legislation and skilled civil aviation oversight resources to ensure their ICAO compliance, and the aggregate socio-economic prosperity they can eventually realize as a result of those commitments.

Acknowledging the wide State-to-State diversity in the Asia/Pacific Region in terms of economic capacity and development, including with respect to civil aviation infrastructure and regulatory oversight, Dr. Liu underscored the importance of increased regional cooperation through strengthened Regional Safety Oversight organizations and inter-governmental institutions.

With the Asia and Pacific Region now established as the worlds largest in terms of the total percentage of global traffic, with more than a third of all commercial flights each year and traffic volumes growing at the fastest rate in the world today at over 11 per cent annually, Dr. Liu placed a critical focus on efforts to ensure that current aviation safety, security and efficiency performance targets should not suffer as a result.

The ICAO Global Plan for Aviation Safety (GASP), our Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP), and the more recent Global Plan for Aviation Security (GASeP), provide the aligned objectives and strategies to assist our member States in responding to challenges of growth, she noted.

The ICAO Secretary General also drew the participants attention to recent progress made at ICAOs 13th Air Navigation Conference on some critical capabilities which will be helpful for the increased coordination Asia and Pacific States must now realize, including Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) and the implementation of Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) for high density airports, and the increased sharing of Air Navigation Services best practices.

She drew the DGCAs attention as well to the ICAO high-level Ministerial Conference convened earlier this year in Beijing, and to the targets it had enshrined in its Beijing Declaration. The Declaration also underscored the role of data-driven safety methodologies to help us identify and address high risk accident categories, and for both safety and air navigation it strongly encouraged the inclusion of related high-level objectives in your States National Development Plans, Dr. Liu declared.

The Conference concluded on 26th October with the closing speech made by the Secretary General. The Asia and Pacific 55th DGCA Meeting attracted 237 participants from 41 States and 9 international organizations, and commenced with a Fijian traditional opening ceremony of Na Veiqaravi. In her closing speech she emphasized that as each Asia and Pacific (APAC) CAA explores its own preparedness to accommodate new and emerging air transport capacities and operations, they should recall at the same time the tenets of ICAOs No Country Left Behind initiative in terms of both the weaknesses with which they may need assistance, or the strengths which they can share. She highlighted the importance of certifying all international airports by 2020, implementing the APAC Seamless ATM Plan and putting in place their State Safety Programmes (SSPs) by 2025 to fulfil the commitments of the Beijing Declaration.

In the side-lines of the Conference, the Secretary General held several meetings with local Fiji authorities, States and Regional bodies. Notable among them was a meeting with the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of Fiji where she discussed the ongoing developments of civil aviation in Fiji and emphasized the importance of investment in civil aviation infrastructure which has direct positive impact on the economy. A meeting of the Directors General of the three COSCAPs of Asia and Pacific Region was organized to promote cooperation and collaboration among the three COSCAPs. The Secretary General presided over a luncheon meeting with the DGs of the Pacific Island States and discussed the progress of the PSIDs Needs Analysis study as well as cooperation strategies with ICAO and other partners to achieve the targets agreed by the APAC Ministers in the Beijing Declaration. In a separate meeting with the Executive Director of EASA she discussed the various cooperation programmes between ICAO and EASA. Dr Liu also met the CEO of Fiji Airways as well as visited the Nadi airport and met with the CEO of Airports of Fiji. In these meetings she was accompanied by the Regional Director of the APAC Office and the Directors of ICAOs Technical Cooperation and Air Transport Bureaux.

At the conclusion of its opening ceremonies, Dr. Liu honoured the professionalism shown by Anthonius Gunawan Agung, a young man who sacrificed his life to ensure the safety of a flight of passengers while performing his duties as an air traffic controller during the recent earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia on 28 September. She presented a plaque to an AirNav Indonesia representative who accepted it on behalf of the family of Mr. Agung.

Resources for Editors

About ICAO

A specialized agency of the United Nations, ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity and environmental protection, amongst many other priorities. The Organization serves as the forum for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation among its 192 Member States.

ICAOs Asia and Pacific Regional Office

ICAO's No Country Left Behind initiative

Contacts

Anthony Philbin

Chief, Communications

aphilbin@icao.int

+1 514-954-8220 +1 438-402-8886 (mobile)

Twitter: @ICAO

William Raillant-Clark

Communications Officer

wraillantclark@icao.int

+1 514-954-6705 +1 514-409-0705 (mobile)

Twitter: @wraillantclark

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/raillantclark/






Quarterly Activities Report

ASX:SO4

Perth, Nov 1, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australian Potash Limited ( ASX:APC ) (APC or the Company) is pleased to provide shareholders with its Quarterly Activities Report for the period ended 30 September 2018.Highlights:Corporate- Appointment of highly experienced and respected industry veteran Jim Walker to Chair the Board of APCLake Wells Sulphate of Potash (SOP) Project - 100% Owned, Western Australia- Grant of Mining Leases covering proposed development envelopes of approximately 30,000Ha- Co-operation agreement executed between APC and neighbouring SOP project developer Salt Lake Potash Limited (- First successful transfer of brine from the pre-concentration pond to harvest pond 1 at the Pilot Evaporation Pond network at site- Agreement entered into with Shire of Laverton to off-set Mining Lease rates against maintenance and upgrade of the Lake Wells access road- Shire of Laverton commits to road-surfacing project for an additional 100kms of the Great Central Road, adding an additional 70kms of sealed road to the Lake Wells SOP Project's logistics solutionLake Wells Gold Project - 100% Owned, Western Australia- APC and St Barbara Limited ( ASX:SBM ) entered into a A$7M Earn In & Joint Venture Agreement covering tenure at the Lake Wells Gold Project- $1.25M cash payment received from SBM post-quarter endManaging Director and CEO, Matt Shackleton, commented: "We were very pleased to have Jim Walker agree to Chair the Company. Jim is a person of extensive experience across the sector, with a rich and successful history with some of the State's most iconic companies. I am looking forward to working closely with Jim as the definitive feasibility study comes to a head and we move into the next phase of the project life cycle."We achieved some important operational milestones during the quarter with the grant of mining leases required to develop and operate the Lake Wells SOP Project as well as the first successful transfer of brine. Over the next several weeks, among other activities the Company will produce trade samples of SOP, finalise reserve estimation work, and determine final evaporation pond design criteria. We are looking forward to early 2019 as we push towards finishing the Definitive Feasibility Study."We have always been very aware of the inherent value of the Lake Wells Gold Project. The Earn-In and Joint Venture Agreement we struck with St Barbara Limited supports the belief we hold in the exploration potential of the Yamarna region in general and our ground holding across it in particular. We are convinced that with a partner of the calibre of St Barbara our shareholders will be given the best chance of success.""We are looking forward to building our relationship with the St Barbara team. I am confident that we now have the right people, right companies and right project area in place to generate some significant success at what is one of the State's very prospective and important mineral regions."To view the full report, please visit:About Australian Potash Ltd

Australian Potash Limited (ASX:APC) is an ASX-listed Sulphate of Potash (SOP) developer. The Company holds a 100% interest in the Lake Wells Potash Project located approximately 500kms northeast of Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields.

Following the release of a Scoping Study in 2017, APC has been conducting a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) into the development of the Lake Wells Potash Project. The Company is aiming to release the findings of the DFS in H2 2019.

The Lake Wells Potash Project is a palaeochannel brine hosted sulphate of potash project. Palaeochannel bore fields supply large volumes of brine to many existing mining operations throughout Western Australia, and this technique is a well understood and proven method for extracting brine. APC will use this technically low-risk and commonly used brine extraction model to further develop a bore-field into the palaeochannel hosting the Lake Wells SOP resource.

A Scoping Study on the Lake Wells Potash Project was completed and released on 23 March 2017. The Scoping Study exceeded expectations and confirmed that the Project's economic and technical aspects are all exceptionally strong, and highlights APC's potential to become a significant long-life, low capital and high margin sulphate of potash (SOP) producer.


Exploration Further Boosts Finniss Lithium Project Potential

Adelaide, Nov 1, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Emerging Australian lithium developer, Core Exploration Ltd ( ASX:CXO ) ("Core" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce new exploration drill results from the Lees, Booths and Sandras prospects and a number of other prospects within Core's 100%-owned Finniss Lithium Project in the Northern Territory ("Finniss").These new results demonstrate the significant potential for Core to continue to expand and define substantial additional lithium resources at Finniss through exploration drilling.HIGHLIGHTS- New high-grade lithium spodumene intersections from Sandras and Lees prospects demonstrates the potential to continue to expand the existing Mineral Resource base at the 100% owned Finniss Lithium Project;- Updated Mineral Resource estimate expected from BP33 in the week ahead;- Maiden Mineral Resource estimate expected for the Sandras Prospect in November;- High grade lithium spodumene intersections at Sandras Prospect include:o 24m @ 1.02% Li2O from 177m (SRC017) including;-- 2m @ 2.04% Li2O from 182m- High grade lithium spodumene intersections at Lees Prospect include:o 11m @ 1.66% Li2O from 122m (NRC037) including;-- 8m @ 1.56% Li2O from 117m (NRC034)- A possible link between Lees and Booths prospects has been recognised and, if supported by future drilling, will improve the prospectivity of this area;- Results expected throughout remainder of 2018 from continuing exploration drilling programs across multiple prospects within Finniss.The Finniss Project, located near Darwin comprises over 500km2 of tenements covering the Bynoe Pegmatite Field. A large number of lithium-rich pegmatites have been identified on the project area to date, and ongoing exploration is expected to continue locate new pegmatite occurrences for further evaluation. Results to date have confirmed that ore-grade lithium mineralisation is widespread within many of the pegmatites and Core's drilling initiatives in 2018 are aimed at substantially growing the Mineral Resource base to underpin a potential long-life lithium mining and production operation.Core is growing the lithium Mineral Resources in parallel with completing a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the development of mining and producing high-quality lithium concentrate from the Finniss Project. To this end, the Company is aiming to complete regulatory approvals, financing and internal approvals before commencing production at the Grants Deposit before the end of 2019. The DFS is expected to be completed during Q4 2018.The Finniss Lithium Project has substantial infrastructure advantages supporting the Project's development: being close to grid power, gas and rail and within easy trucking distance by sealed road to Darwin Port - Australia's nearest port to Asia.Commenting on the outstanding exploration results, Core Managing Director Stephen Biggins said:"These exploration results demonstrate the significant potential of the Finniss Lithium Project that we are yet to fully realise. The remainder of 2018 is shaping up to be a very busy one for Core as we continue to progress Grants towards development, grow the existing resource base at BP33 and potentially add new resource at Sandras. Core is also maintaining an aggressive exploration program to continue to identify new prospects and better define spodumene pegmatites such as Lees, Booths, Carlton and Hang Gong, which all look very promising as potential additional sources of ore supply."We are in the final phases of the DFS for the Finniss Project, which for the time being, is focused on extraction of the Resources defined at Grants and BP33 only, and we look forward to reporting the findings of the DFS in the weeks ahead"Regional Drilling ResultsLees ProspectEight RC holes have been drilled at the Lees Prospect, improving the Company's understanding of the geology and identifying down-dip continuation of the northern-most pegmatite (see Figure 1 in link below). At least five separate pegmatite "sheets" are now interpreted (see Figure 2 in link below), and a number of those intersected in the fresh domain are strongly mineralised, including:- 11m @ 1.66% Li2O from 122m in NRC037; and- 8m @ 1.56% Li2O from 117m in NRC034Drilling at Lees is showing that there are more pegmatite sheets present than first thought. Lees has the capacity to deliver a large deposit of stacked pegmatites, with shallow dips (~45 degrees to NNE). Five pegmatite "sheets" have been identified in recent drilling, which may have substantial spatial consistency and extend beyond the current drilling area (see Figures 1 & 2 in link below).Booths ProspectFour RC holes were drilled at Booths Prospect, targeting the down-dip potential indicated by previous drilling. 5m-10m thick pegmatites were encountered in drilling, but are only mineralised over narrow intervals. The best results include:- 6m @ 1.03% Li2O from 154m in NRC029; and- 5m @ 0.95% Li2O from 113m NRC050The 5m of mineralisation intercepted in NRC050 within a narrow 7m-wide pegmatite drilled along strike to the northwest is of note (see Figure 3 in link below). The Booths pegmatite is now interpreted to persist in that NW direction and potentially link up under cover with Lees, which has the same orientation and similar pegmatite geometry.Lees-Booths LinkThe recent drilling data suggests a model of a broad NE-trending synform for Lees and Booths (see Figure 1, Figure 3 in link below), with stacking and thickening of pegmatites (and an increase in lithium grade) in the hinge, however, the limbs have not yet been tested in any material way.If continuity of thickness into the broadly folded limbs can be successfully demonstrated, this may result in a much greater areal extent for the pegmatite swarm. This scenario will be tested by a series of widely-spaced step-out holes to test for the continued presence of the upper two sheets (see Figure 4 in link below). If these and other parallel sheets prove to persist along the 1 km strike extent, this could translate to a significant volume of stacked pegmatite sheets, with shallow (45 degree) dip and therefore favorable attributes for low-strip-ratio open cut mining.Sandras ProspectAdditional RC holes have been drilled at Sandras Prospect located in EL30012 (see Figure 8 in link below) in recent months (see Figures 5 & 6 in link below).Drilling at the northern end of Sandras intersected a greater thickness of mineralised pegmatite than previously modelled:- 24m @ 1.02% Li2O from 177m in SRC017, including 2m @ 2.04% Li2O from 182mThis intercept suggests the body thickens on a vertical plunge and that the deeper part of the body is incompletely tested below ~160m vertical. However, Core has now collected sufficient data to define a maiden Mineral Resource estimate, which will be undertaken in November.BP31 ProspectThree RC holes have been drilled at BP31 Prospect, an isolated lozenge shaped pegmatite 1.5 km west of BP33 (see Figure 7 in link below). Surface information, including RAB and costean mapping, did not suggest the prospect was of significant size, but a scout RC hole demonstrated that the geometry of the body is significantly different to the surface predictions.A surprisingly good downhole intercept of 13m @ 0.74% Li2O (FRC185) within 32m of pegmatite was found at BP31, the upper part of this pegmatite intercept appears to be depleted in lithium, partly due to weathering of the top segment of the pegmatite.Next Steps - Exploration and Resource Estimation 2018Regional exploration has stepped up at the Finniss Project and will continue through to the wet season in late November 2018. Methods employed include geological mapping, auger mapping, RAB drilling and RC drilling.Regional RC exploration drilling in the south (in EL30012 and southern EL29698) that is currently underway is testing several prospects, including Talmina West, Talmina 3, Talmina 9, Sabine, Saffums 4, Saffums 2, Fold, Hungry, Chiastolite, Turners, Ah Hoy and Rocky Ridge (see Figure 8 in link below).Exploration drilling also continues in the north (within EL30015 and northern EL29698), including Hang Gong, Carlton, Rubicks, BP2, BP6 and Roses (see Figure 7 in link below). Results will be published as they are received and interpreted.Mineral Resource (upgrade) estimation is currently underway for BP33 and this is expected to be completed shortly. In addition, Core will publish a maiden Mineral Resource estimate for Sandras during November. Following completion of the BP33 resource update, Core will be in a position to finalise its DFS which will be based on the mining of the Grants and BP33 deposits to produce a high grade spodumene concentrate for export.Based on the strength of the high grade intersections from several prospects outside of the defined Mineral Resources, Core expects to continue to substantially increase the Mineral Resources base for the Finniss Project ahead of the Company commencing mining and production, currently planned to commence in 2019.To view figures, please visit:About Core Lithium Ltd

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) is an emerging lithium producer focused on development of its Finniss Project near Darwin in the Northern Territory. Core owns 100% of Finniss, a major developing project that lies close to existing infrastructure such as the Darwin Port, grid power, gas and rail infrastructure.

The Finniss Project covers a 500km2 tenement holding and 25 historic pegmatite mines. The project area is about 80km from Darwin Port. Exploration work has generated a near term development timeline, with feasibility studies to be completed over the course of 2018 ahead of receipt of approvals in early 2019 and planned first production during 2019.

An aggressive exploration program is under way, which has confirmed the high quality prospectivity across much of the Finniss Project area. Core's stated ambition is to upgrade Finniss' resource base to fast-track commercialisation options.


Launch of Airport Pick up and ManageMyCar at Brisbane Airport

Sydney, Nov 1, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Collaborate Corporation Limited ( ASX:CL8 ) (Collaborate or the Company) is pleased to announce that its DriveMyCar business unit has signed an agreement with Gateway Airport Parking Pty Ltd to provide airport pick up and ManageMyCar services at Brisbane Airport.Through this agreement DriveMyCar will provide Brisbane airport pick up options for rental cars at Gateway Airport Parking 24 hours a day, 365 days a year including a complimentary shuttle bus to and from the airport.In addition, DriveMyCar will offer the ManageMyCar service at Brisbane Airport enabling vehicle owners to have rental of their vehicles managed on their behalf including rental handovers and storage between rentals. This will provide a full service model to vehicle owners who wish to earn income from their vehicle while they are not using it for extended periods including holidays and working overseas or interstate. The ManageMyCar service will also be utilised to manage vehicles provided by corporate fleets and to facilitate rideshare rentals for Uber drivers.Promotion of the rental pick up and ManageMyCar services from Brisbane airport will commence in November through DriveMyCar marketing channels nationally.This new agreement builds on the launch of airport pick up and ManageMyCar services with Busy Beaver Airport Parking at Melbourne Airport announced on 29 May 2018 and the existing services operating in Sydney.Chris Noone, Collaborate CEO, said "This new relationship with Gateway Airport Parking provides a solid foundation for ongoing growth in vehicle supply and demand by offering a comprehensive rental and management service in the Brisbane market."Adam Wilson, Sales Manager at Gateway Airport Parking, said "DriveMyCar have shown a keen eye for development in Sydney and Melbourne markets, with a very competitive product and strong relationships. We look forward to working together for the good people of Brisbane."About Collaborate Corporation Ltd

Collaborate Corporation Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:CL8). It is Australia's leading listed company focused on 'collaborative consumption', 'peer-to-peer' or 'sharing economy' businesses. Collaborate currently has three core business segments: www.DriveMyCar.com.au Australia's leading peer-to-peer car rental business; www.MyCaravan.com.au Australia's leading peer-to-peer caravan rental business; and www.Mobilise.com an online hire marketplace to unlock the enormous potential of under-utilised assets. Through our proprietary trust and reputation platform, www.peerpass.com.au we create 'trust' between individuals and make it possible for people to safely transact with each other in the sharing economy.
Imperial Valley News Center

Girl Scouts meet bugs

Sacramento, California - Brownie Girl Scout Troop 2367 from Dixon, California had a special guest at a recent troop meeting. Senior Insect Biosystematist and Lepidopterist, Dr. Marc Epstein from CDFAs Plant Pest Diagnostics Lab in Sacramento made a special visit to help teach the girls about insects.

During his visit, Dr. Epstein shared with the girls how he became interested in insects and what it means to be an Entomologist. He also showed them a video presentation of live insects flying, eating, walking and metamorphosing, explaining that not all insects are pests, some are beneficial.

Dr. Epstein also brought specimen cases of flies, beetles, and butterflies from the CDFAs insect collection to show their beauty and diversity. A dissecting teaching microscope was set up for the girls to view the colorful scales that comprise the wings of butterflies. For many of the girls, it was their first time looking through a microscope. After learning about the patterns and colorings on different larvae species, the girls were inspired to paint and craft their own caterpillars out of cardboard egg cartons.

During the meeting, the Brownies were able to complete all their requirements for the Bugs skill badge. This badge, along with the First Aid, Hiker and Cabin Camper badges are all requirements of the Outdoor Journey series the Brownie troop is currently working on. This journey has allowed the girls the opportunity to get outside and explore nature with fun, safe activities that help build essential outdoor skills and inspire the girls to become environmental stewards. The final part of the journey requires the girls to plan and execute a sustainable Take Action community project. There is already buzz among the troop to focus their project on something related to insects!

The Brownie troop is comprised of ten energetic third-grade girls from various elementary schools in Dixon. One of the Co-Leaders of the troop is Dr. Suzanne Rooney Latham, a Senior Plant Pathologist at CDFA PPC.
Imperial Valley News Center

President Donald J. Trumps Commitment to Workforce Development Generates Training Opportunities for Millions of Americans

Washington, DC - "Were asking businesses and organizations across the country to sign our new pledge to Americas workers." ~ President Donald J. Trump

ANSWERING THE PLEDGE: Companies and associations are responding to President Donald J. Trumps call and pledging to educate and train more than 6 million workers.

Companies and associations continue to sign the Pledge to Americas Workers and have now committed to provide more than 6 million educational and training opportunities. With these new opportunities, millions of American workers will have the skills and training to advance their careers and earn bigger paychecks. These opportunities were secured through private sector pledges, not taxpayer dollars. Further, a bipartisan group of 41 governors have signed a pledge to Americas workers.



President Trump launched the pledge in late July, prompting more than 20 companies and associations to pledge more than 3.8 million training opportunities over the next five years. Walmart pledged 1,000,000 new opportunities. IBM pledged 100,000 new opportunities. FedEx pledged more than 500,000 new opportunities. Other companies included Apple, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin, and more.

Since then, more than 100 new companies and associations have joined these efforts to bring the total to more than 6 million new opportunities. IPC, the Association Connecting Electronics Industries, is pledging 1 million new opportunities. AT&T is pledging 200,000 new opportunities. The National Association of Landscape Professionals is pledging 150,000 opportunities.



DEVELOPING OUR WORKFORCE: President Trump has prioritized workforce development to better train and equip American workers.

Reflecting his commitment to preparing our Nations workforce, President Trump signed an Executive Order creating the National Council for the American Worker in July 2018.

The Council, comprised of senior Federal officials, is creating a national strategy to ensure our students and workers have the education and training needed to compete in todays economy.

The President also established an Advisory Board comprised of business, non-profit, and education leaders to provide recommendations to the Council.

MEETING JOB MARKET DEMANDS: The American economy is roaring back to life and offering workers more and more opportunities that require new skills and training.
Imperial Valley News Center

Presidential Proclamation on National Family Caregivers Month, 2018

Washington, DC - During National Family Caregivers Month, we pay tribute to the millions of Americans across our Nation who selflessly care for family members who are chronically ill, elderly, or who have a disability. We recognize the challenges of caregiving and celebrate the joys of bringing support and comfort to a loved one. We express our gratitude to them for the work they do daily to ensure their loved ones are able to live in their homes and communities.

Family caregivers are the foundation of our countrys long term support system. Every year, nearly 44 million caregivers assist loved ones with a vast array of essential tasks, including eating, bathing, dressing, managing finances, childcare, administering medications, and arranging doctor visits and transportation. In performing these challenging duties with patience and compassion, family caregivers embody selfless service and sacrifice.

My Administration is strongly committed to ensuring that family caregivers have the support they need. Earlier this year, I was pleased to sign into law the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, which will help support the millions of family caregivers across our Nation and the individuals who rely on them. This bipartisan legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and make available strategies for recognizing and supporting family caregivers. It also establishes an advisory council that will leverage expertise from across my Administration and our Nation to address topics such as respite services and options, workplace flexibility, and financial security. It will also help people navigate the healthcare system and produce further recommendations for supporting family caregivers. Similarly, the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act, which I signed on July 7, 2018, will help our Nation better address the needs of people who provide full-time care for their grandchildren. Sadly, the number of people caring for grandchildren is growing, as the opioid crisis continues to ravage families across our country. I was also pleased to sign into law the VA MISSION Act of 2018, which expands caregiver assistance to eligible veterans who served our country before September 11, 2001.

As anchors for their loved ones, our Nations family caregivers promote a culture that values the dignity of life at all stages and the importance of family. This month, we acknowledge the dedication and compassion of all those who work to improve their family members lives, and we renew our commitment to supporting them in their labor of love.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2018 as National Family Caregivers Month. I encourage all Americans to acknowledge, and express our gratitude to, all who provide compassionate care to enhance the lives of their loved ones in need.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-third.

DONALD J. TRUMP
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DRAFT FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT for the Alamo River Vegetation Control Project

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DRAFT FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT for the Alamo River Vegetation Control Project Calexico, California:

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security

ACTION: Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is advising the public of the availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed mechanical removal and herbicide treatment of vegetation (Proposed Action) within the Alamo River (Project Area) near the city of Calexico, California. CBP has prepared a Draft EA and Draft FONSI to identify and assess the potential environmental impacts associated with these vegetation control efforts, which would preserve line of sight for U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents and reduce hiding opportunities within the Project Area.

The Project Area is under private and public ownership, including the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and four private ownership groups. CBP, under the DHS, prepared this Draft EA for the Proposed Action.

Project Location

The Project Area for the Proposed Action is located along the Alamo River in the city of Calexico in the southernmost edge of Imperial County, California. The Alamo River originates in Mexico about two miles south of the United States/Mexico border. Water within the river is dominated by agricultural return flows from the Imperial Valley.

The Project Area consists of 12.93 acres of the Alamo River bordered to the south by the United States/Mexico border, to the east by irrigated agricultural fields, and to the west by a sand and gravel business and irrigated agricultural fields.

DATES: CBP invites comments on the Draft EA and Draft FONSI during the 30-day comment period beginning on November 1, 2018 and ending December 1, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The Draft EA and Draft FONSI are available at the following libraries:

Calexico Camarena Memorial Library, 850 Encinas Avenue, Calexico, CA

El Centro Public Library, 1140 N. Imperial Avenue, El Centro, CA

The Draft EA and Draft FONSI are also available electronically at: www.cbp.gov/about/environmental-cultural-stewardship/nepa-documents/docs-review

You may submit comments by using one of the following methods:

1. By email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2. By mail to Alamo River Vegetation Control EA, c/o John Petrilla, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 24000 Avila Road, Suite 5020, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

When submitting comments, please include your name and address, and identify the comments as being for the Alamo River Vegetation Control EA in the subject line. To ensure consideration, comments must be received by December 1, 2018. Once the final environmental and decision documents are complete, they will also be posted on this site.
The U.S. ranks No. 8 in the World Bank's annual report of the world's best places to do business, dropping two spots from the previous year.

The 2019 Doing Business report uses 11 different indicators, including access to credit and the ease of paying taxes, to assess how easy it is to start and operate a business in one of 190 countries worldwide. New Zealand, Singapore, and Denmark landed in the top three spots for the third year in a row, followed by Hong Kong and South Korea.

This year, Georgia and Norway jumped the U.S. in the rankings, in part because of the time and paperwork required to launch a business. On average, it takes four days and six forms to start a business in the U.S., compared with only two days and one form in Georgia.

"Sound and efficient business regulation is critical for entrepreneurship and a thriving private sector," Jim Yong Kim, the president of the World Bank Group, wrote in the report. "Without them, we have no chance to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity around the world."
On a Saturday afternoon, it took Mark Cuban just nine minutes to respond to Stephan Aarstol's 20-page business plan.

Aarstol is founder and CEO of Tower Paddle Boards, a $5 million company in which Cuban acquired a 30 percent stake on a 2012 episode of Shark Tank. In an effort to help brands attract business and avoid escalating costs, Aarstol has launched the No Middleman Project, a directory for people seeking the best direct-to-consumer companies. He needed Cuban's ruling on whether to make No Middleman an independent entity or keep it under Tower. Cuban urged the latter.

The middleman Aarstol is saying no to is really middlemen: Amazon and Google. The early promise of the internet--that companies could throw off the yolk of mediators and touch customers directly--has proved partly true, as the decline of malls and retailers like Sears and JCPenney attest. But, at the same time, Amazon and Google have assumed eye-popping scale and power, with Amazon projected to control nearly 50 percent of e-commerce this year, according to research company eMarketer. Aarstol says the higher costs associated with those channels weaken D2C brands' ability to keep prices low or quality high, or to innovate business models as, for example, Brandless has done with its $3 private-label offerings.

Tower started selling on Amazon in 2013. Over the years, sales on the e-commerce giant grew to 50 percent of its revenue. What with sales, shipping, and advertising fees--that last one unavoidable given the behemoth's competitive throngs--Tower's margins with Amazon slipped to just over 20 percent, compared with 50 percent on sales made through its own website. Buying AdWords on Google, which Tower no longer does, was similarly costly.

"If I sell a $600 paddleboard and Amazon is taking $200 off the top, we make about $150 and pay the factory about $250," Aarstol says. "The company that is going to unseat me is a direct-to-consumer paddleboard company that does not sell through Amazon, does not buy any ads on AdWords, and sells the same paddleboard for $400."

The only way to challenge Goliath, Aarstol concluded, was to assemble an army of Davids. The No Middleman Project is a directory of around 1,500 product categories, each with links to three to five D2C vendors personally selected by Aarstol and a colleague. "If you have 30 direct-to-consumer mattress companies, consumers don't need 30 choices," says Aarstol. "We look at these 30 and say, which ones bring the best value, the best everything? It is kind of like Consumer Reports."

The chosen few pay nothing to be listed, nor for the company profiles that No Middleman creates with headlines like "DSTLD Jeans: Champions of Ethical Pricing" and "Everlane: The Rise of Radical Transparency." The business takes no cut of sales--which are not made through its site--nor does it collect any fees. Aarstol plans to make money through sponsorships, which entail brand and product banners at the tops of pages. Only one company can sponsor a category "and they have to be editorially selected first, so you can't buy your way in," he says.

Sponsorships start at $10,000 a year for large product categories like vitamins or headphones and $3,000 for more niche ones, with those costs capped. Other companies in a category can bid at any time to take over a sponsorship, and the incumbent then has the choice of matching the higher number. (The bidding component was Cuban's idea.)

Aarstol doesn't expect to sell sponsorships for the first year while No Middleman is ramping up. (Tower sponsors the paddleboard category.) So, for now, all 250 companies on the site are getting free rides, and roughly 80 percent will continue to do so. Those companies range from kids' clothing brand Rockets of Awesome to electric-car company Polestar. Aarstol and COO Brad Kauffman spent a year choosing the first brands to represent.

Drafting the army????

Aarstol reached out to those companies about a month ago to announce they'd been included in the directory. Around 30 to 40 percent replied with appreciation, he says, and some agreed to work with No Middleman to create podcasts for the site. The rest did not respond. Just one company asked to be removed. "If for some reason someone does not want to be in there, we pull them," Aarstol says.

Aarstol hopes to eventually include 5,000 to 10,000 companies representing 15,000 to 20,000 categories in the directory, making it the "everything showroom," he says, playing off Amazon's reputation as the "everything store." Aggregation will enable companies to compete with Amazon in ways that go-it-alone-ers can't afford. For example, Aarstol imagines giving businesses the option to participate in some kind of Prime-like free shipping feature. He would like to create brick-and-mortar showrooms for No Middleman brands. He also expects that No Middleman companies will in some cases share lists, bringing down customer acquisition costs.

Xterra, a maker of triathlon wetsuits, was the first direct-to-consumer game in town when it launched in 2009. Today, "just about all brands are selling direct, so there is an incredible amount of noise we are competing against," says founder Keith Simmons. Amazon comprises less than 5 percent of Xterra's business, he says, but it is an expensive component. If Amazon brings Xterra new customers, it is well worth the cost. What worries Simmons is the prospect of existing customers migrating to Amazon for his products.

"If No Middleman creates more digital impressions and awareness that we are a direct-to-consumer brand, then that could help us," he says. "It is another platform that promotes our business."

Cody Barbo doesn't use Amazon or Google for his startup, the estate-planning platform Trust & Will. For new businesses like his, he says, "credibility and trustworthiness are at the top of our goals." He hopes No Middleman will provide that. "Their value proposition is they give us extra validation, especially when you consider the brands they are showcasing," Barbo says. "To be on No Middleman is quite an honor."
This city may be guilty of over-politeness, but that's not stopping food, heath care, and retail startups. If you can get past the chilly weather, Minneapolis is a hotbed for entrepreneurs.

Startup Neighborhoods

Distinguished by its abundance of renovated warehouses, the North Loop is home to many of the city's co-working spaces, like the Coven--which is geared toward women and nonbinary people--along with medical startups like Zipnosis and Gravie.

Food and drink entrepreneurs have set up shop in the Northeast--a 7.5-square-mile neighborhood on the edge of the Mississippi River--including local breweries 612Brew and Indeed Brewing, which distributes beers throughout the Midwest.

Who to Know

Serial entrepreneur Ryan Broshar may have grown up on a farm in Iowa, but the University of Minnesota grad has since become a critical connector between entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders here. In 2013, he launched the venture fund Matchstick, along with founder-focused organization Beta.MN. The following year, he started Twin Cities Startup Week, and in 2016 he hatched Target's retail accelerator with Techstars.

Cathy Connett grew up in Jamaica and West Virginia but was "raised Midwestern," thanks to her parents, who hailed from Nebraska. She landed in the Twin Cities to help commercialize 3M's new technologies. Now she's CEO of the Sofia Fund, which is run by women to help female founders grow their businesses. Sofia's two funds have so far invested $3 million in biotech startups, including Tactile Medical and Rebiotix.

48 Minnesota-based early-stage startups received $495.1 million in venture capital last year, a 40 percent increase from 2016. Source: StarTribune

Husband-and-wife duo Ahmed El Shourbagy and Ashley Paguyo El Shourbagy created the popular social media account Dogs of Instagram, built a fan base of 4.2 million followers, and then launched a dog accessories company--and they are happy to share their wisdom. "They can help anyone build a brand on social media," says Davis Senseman, whose law firm specializes in services for entrepreneurs.

Red Flags

"There is a politeness that is pervasive in Minneapolis that can feel welcoming for visitors," says Coven co-founder Bethany Iverson. "But it's challenging to build a business here." People are generally hesitant to share what they really think out of fear of offending someone, says Iverson, which can make it difficult to get honest feedback.

The culture is risk-averse. "People appreciate the security of their corporate jobs," says John Stavig, director of the Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Minnesota. "The cost of going into entrepreneurialism seems higher here." This sentiment was echoed by a recent survey of more than 100 founders by Beta.MN that found the appeal of a corporate career has diminished people's willingness to start a company.

Notable Funding

$38 million: Leadpages (designs customizable landing page templates)

$240 million: Bright Health (sells individual health insurance)

The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area is home to 19 Fortune 500 companies, more per capita than any other metro region. Source: Minneapolis St. Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership and StarTribune

Notable Exits

Conagra paid $250 million for BoomChickaPop in 2017.

Vista Equity Partners paid $153 million for email communication software startup GovDelivery in 2016.

Companies to Watch

Sister and brother Aubry and Kale Walch wanted to re-create the meat dishes they ate growing up in Guam--minus the meat. The result: the Herbivorous Butcher, a vegan butcher that sells meat-free Italian sausages, porterhouse steaks, and chicken.

Last year, serial entrepreneurs Tina Sharkey and Ido Leffler launched the San Francisco-based consumer basics e-commerce store Brandless--now bolstered by $292.5 million in venture capital--with a product development outpost in Minneapolis, which is, not coincidentally, the home turf of larger-than-life retailer Target.

Eric and Andrew Dayton, sons of Minnesota governor Mark Dayton, created Askov Finlayson, a men's outdoor clothing brand and retailer that flaunts its dapper Minnesota roots with products like its must-have knit pompom hat with the word North stitched on the front.

Talent Pipeline

The Techstars Retail accelerator in partnership with Target has worked with 30 startups since hatching in 2016. Participants--like Local Crate--often end up working with the big- box retailer.

Minnesota Cup, the largest statewide competition for startups in the country, is run by the University of Minnesota. Winning startups include Astropad, maker of an app that turns an iPad into a drawing pad, and MicroOptx, a medical device company changing how glaucoma is treated.

Average salary for a local software developer: $84,188 per year Source: Glassdoor

In 2015, General Mills launched 301 Inc, an incubator that invests in early-stage food companies such as No Cow, a vegan protein-snack company.

Where to Talk Shop

Professionals meet over "seasonal Midwest" fare like creamy spinach cheese curds in James Beard Award-winning chef Gavin Kaysen's Spoon and Stable, located in a converted horse stable downtown.

Come to Moose & Sadie's for the chance to rub elbows with the North Loop's advertising and marketing gurus, who often take breakfast meetings at the cafe--and stay for the locals' favorite dish, huevos rancheros, made with refried beans prepared in-house.
There are investor pitches that go well. There are the flat-out disasters. And then there are the ones "where two guys spend the whole time picking apart your business," says Lynn Loacker, who runs a series of boot camps for women entrepreneurs under the banner of Project W, and is a partner at the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine.

The outcome of that last scenario--which doesn't generally result in a check--is at least somewhat determined by an entrepreneur's gender, according to research from Columbia Business School's Dana Kanze that was recently published in Academy of Management Journal. By analyzing video of 189 pitch sessions at TechCrunch Disrupt, Kanze, along with co-authors Laura Huang, Mark A. Conley, and E. Tory Higgins, found that investors ask men different types of questions than they ask women. When men respond directly to the questions they're asked, they get to expound on their grand ambitions. When women respond directly to the questions they're asked, they seem cautious and conservative.

The result: Investors walk away telling themselves that women want to play it safe and men want to take over the world.

Kanze's advice to women entrepreneurs? Be less direct. (Seriously.)

Kanze and her team identify two types of questions: prevention and promotion. Generally, prevention questions ask how an entrepreneur will stop everything from going to hell in a handbasket, while promotion questions tend to focus on how great everything could be. "What's to stop another company from doing the same thing as yours?" is a common prevention question. "What are your milestones for the next two years, and how will you hit them?" is a common promotion question.

Women mostly get asked prevention questions, by a ratio of two to one. Men mostly get asked promotion questions--by the same ratio. It matters. For every additional prevention question an entrepreneur is asked, he or she can expect to raise $3.8 million less in aggregate funding, according to Kanze's findings. "When I saw this research, it just hit me how much of the investor conversation is focused on the risk in our business, with only a brief discussion of the opportunity," says Jenna Ryan, the founder and CEO of San Diego-based Uqora, which makes products to help prevent urinary tract infections. "I feel very confident in how we address risk and turn it into opportunity. But I started to revise what an investor conversation should look like."

Facing a barrage of prevention questions--or even just one--it's up to entrepreneurs to turn things around. The trick, says Kanze, is responding to a prevention question with a promotion answer. So, for example, if you're asked how many daily active users you have, take the opportunity to focus on your user acquisition strategy and how great it is.

Weirdly, investors don't seem to notice--or at least don't mind--when an entrepreneur dodges questions in this way. "When entrepreneurs engage in this type of switching, they get higher scores on confidence and likability and things like that," says Kanze. "The warmth scores were really high."

Jennifer Cosco, founder and CEO of visual search engine Envy, based in Carlsbad, California, says this research "was like a slap in the face." She finds it hard not to at least take a stab at answering the prevention question directly before pivoting to a promotion focus. "Honesty is important to me," she says. "I don't want to do the full politician spin."

There's a lesson here for any founder who feels on the defensive. If an entrepreneur does choose to directly address a prevention question, he or she should do it as Cosco does--at the beginning. Answering in a promotional way, then feeling guilty about not answering the question directly and ending on a prevention note, is "the kiss of death," says Kanze, because then the follow-up question is also going to have a prevention focus.

"You have to end on a promotion note," says Cosco. "Envy is a platform that could be a household name in five years. We are selling the dream."

Women founders own just 39 cents of equity for every dollar owned by male founders

Source: Carta

of women seeking funding say they've experienced bias during the fundraising process. of midcareer Silicon Valley women say their male colleagues have received questions that should have been directed to them. of women who raise money specifically seek out female investors.

Sources: Inc. and Fast Company's 2018 State of Women and Entrepreneurship survey; Elephant in the Valley survey.

Shape-Shifting When Pitching Investors

Any question an entrepreneur gets asked during an investor pitch can be placed into one of two categories: promotion questions and prevention questions.

Promotion questions ask about how great everything will be.

Prevention questions ask about how horrible everything will be -- and don't usually lead to funding.

Women entrepreneurs get asked a lot more prevention questions than men do. If this happens to you, your best bet is to answer as if you've been asked a promotion question. In other words, give a promotion answer to a prevention question. Here's what that can look like:

1.

Promotion question: So, how do you think you're going to get at this market?

Prevention question: How do you plan to defend your market share, given how competitive the landscape is?

Promotion answer: We're playing in such a large and fast-growing market that it's bound to attract new entrants. We hope to gain increasing share in this attractive market by leveraging our startup's unique assets ...

2.

Promotion question: How do you want to acquire customers?

Prevention question: What is your customer-retention strategy?

Promotion answer: We're improving our daily and monthly active user numbers each period for a net customer growth rate of x percent. We plan to accelerate this rate by promoting the following customer growth strategy ...

3.

Promotion question: Are there any thoughts on scaling your sales process?

Prevention question: How long will it take you to break even?

Promotion answer: We're actually managing the business for aggressive top-line growth, with a good deal of sales momentum so far. Here's what our sales forecast looks like. Our goal is to expand our margins as we grow our top line throughout this forecast period ...

4.
All three Lord of the Rings movies have now been made available on Netflix  meaning fans can now spend more than nine hours reliving the adventures of Sam and Frodo.

The streaming service first teased out the upcoming arrival of the cult trilogy on its platform in a somewhat cryptic tweet last week.

At the time, the platform expressed itself exclusively through emoji. It used the wizard symbol to represent Sir Ian McKellen's character Gandalf, as well as the diamond ring emoji to represent the infamous piece of jewellery that gave its name to the franchise.

The three movies debuted on Netflix on Thursday, much to the excitement of fans looking to immerse themselves again in the universe first created by JRR Tolkien in his fantasy series.

The Fellowship of the Ring, the first instalment of Peter Jackson's big screen adaptation, came out in 2001. It stars Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, the hobbit who inherits the malevolent One Ring and sets out to destroy it, Sean Astin as Frodo's loyal companion Sam, and Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn. The movie, which runs for 178 minutes went on to earn four Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography.

 Iconinc 'For Frodo!' scene from Lord of the Rings

The Two Towers, the second chapter in the series, followed in 2002 with a running time of 179 minutes. It won two Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Editing, out of six nominations (including one for Best Picture).

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All the Netflix Original films coming out in 2018 Show all 8 1 /8 All the Netflix Original films coming out in 2018 All the Netflix Original films coming out in 2018 Tiempo compartido - 30 November Two haunted family men join forces in a destructive crusade to rescue their families from a tropical paradise, after becoming convinced that an American timeshare conglomerate has a sinister plan to take their loved ones away. Netflix All the Netflix Original films coming out in 2018 A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding - 30 November A year after Amber helped Richard secure the crown, the two are set to tie the knot in a royal Christmas wedding - but their plans are jeopardized when Amber finds herself second-guessing whether or not she's cut out to be queen, and Richard is faced with a political crisis that threatens to tarnish not only the holiday season, but the future of the kingdom. Netflix All the Netflix Original films coming out in 2018 Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle - 7 December Acclaimed actor and director Andy Serkis reinvents Rudyard Kiplings beloved masterpiece, in which a boy torn between two worlds accepts his destiny and becomes a legend. Mowgli (Rohan Chand) has never truly belonged in either the wilds of the jungle or the civilized world of man. Now he must navigate the inherent dangers of each on a journey to discover where he truly belongs. Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto, Rohan Chand, Matthew Rhys and Naomie Harris lead an all-star cast in this visually spectacular and emotionally moving adventure. Netflix All the Netflix Original films coming out in 2018 Natale a 5 Stelle - 7 December Christmas is coming. An Italian political delegation, led by our Premier, is on an official visit to Hungary. In addition to his political commitments, the Premier intends to spend, secretly, a few happy hours in the company of a young member of parliament traveling with the delegation. Everything seems to proceed for the better until the two clumsy lovers find themselves with a mysterious corpse in the suite of the luxurious hotel where they stay. Netflix All the Netflix Original films coming out in 2018 Dumplin' - 7 December Dumplin (Danielle Macdonald) is the plus-size, teenage daughter of a former beauty queen (Jennifer Aniston), who signs up for her moms pageant as a protest that escalates when other contestants follow her footsteps, revolutionizing the pageant and their small Texas town. Netflix All the Netflix Original films coming out in 2018 ROMA The most personal project to date from Academy Award-winning director and writer Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity, Children of Men, Y Tu Mama Tambien), ROMA follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a young domestic worker for a family in the middle-class neighborhood of Roma in Mexico City. Delivering an artful love letter to the women who raised him, Cuaron draws on his own childhood to create a vivid and emotional portrait of domestic strife and social hierarchy amidst political turmoil of the 1970s. Cuarons first project since the groundbreaking Gravity in 2013, ROMA will be available in theaters and on Netflix later this year. Netflix All the Netflix Original films coming out in 2018 Bird Box - 21 December When a mysterious force decimates the worlds population, only one thing is certain: if you see it, you take your life. Facing the unknown, Malorie finds love, hope and a new beginning only for it to unravel. Now she must flee with her two children down a treacherous river to the one place left that may offer sanctuary. But to survive, they'll have to undertake the perilous two-day journey blindfolded. Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock leads an all-star cast that includes Trevante Rhodes, with Sarah Paulson, and John Malkovich in Bird Box, a compelling new thriller from Academy Award winner Susanne Bier. Netflix All the Netflix Original films coming out in 2018 Girl With the support of her father, a 15-year-old transgender girl pursues her dream of becoming a professional ballerina. Winner of the Camera dOr for best first film at this years Cannes Film Festival as well as the Best Actor Prize for Un Certain Regard. Netflix

The trilogy concluded in 2003 with The Return of the King. The 200-minute final chapter triumphed at the Academy Awards and won all 11 gongs for which it was nominated, including Best Picture, Best Director for Jackson, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score.
Dir: Mike Leigh; Starring: Rory Kinnear, Maxine Peake, Pearce Quigley, David Moorst, Rachel Finnegan, Tom Meredith. Cert 12A, 154 mins

Mike Leighs epic new film Peterloo is bound to foster awareness about an event which no one in Britain now pays much attention to. In August 1819, mounted yeomen militia charged into a huge crowd that had gathered in St Peters Fields, Manchester, to listen to a speech from campaigning political reformer, Henry Hunt.

Fifteen people were killed and several hundred injured in the ensuing mayhem. The carnage was reported in national and local newspapers. It marked a transformational moment in British history. As the historian EP Thompson noted, the moral consensus of the nation outlawed the riding down of an unarmed crowd.

To put it another way, the authorities realised they couldnt get away with violent attacks on crowds, even if they didnt approve of those crowds politics or their reasons for assembling.

Leighs achievement is to have made a period film with the same immediacy and sense of anger that runs through contemporary dramas like Hillsborough or Bloody Sunday. He has a huge ensemble cast but that exhaustive attention to detail and fascination with the eccentricities of human behaviour which has always characterised his work is still there.

The film starts four years before Peterloo, with the battle of Waterloo. Leigh doesnt bother with Wellington or Napoleon. Instead, he homes in on a lone bugler in the middle of the carnage.

This is Joseph, a traumatised young man who, after the battle, makes his way home to the north of England, still wearing his red coat. Here, he finds poverty and hardship. Mill owners are cutting wages. Bread itself is being taxed.

Might you be familiar with the north of England? a character in the well-to-do south is asked early in the film. In the eyes of the government, it is the savage hinterland of the country. While people in northern mill towns are starving, the politicians back in London are voting to give 750,000 (a vast sum) to Wellington as tribute for his heroics at Waterloo.

Their attitude towards any rabble that protests about not having the vote or lacking representation in parliament is that they should be awed into submission. The countrys rulers do not want their citizens to try to emulate the odious French revolution.

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Leigh exposes the gaping fissures in British society of the period. He also fills the film with the type of characters you might expect to encounter in a Charles Dickens novel or a Hogarth painting  pompous local dignitaries, Bill Sikes-like blackmailers and conceited army officers. The prince regent (Tim McInnerny) is a decadent buffoon.

The home secretary Lord Sidmouth (Karl Johnson) is like a more cunning, better spoken, upper-class version of Albert Steptoe. Even orator Hunt (Rory Kinnear), who speaks so eloquently on behalf of the common man, is shown in a very ambivalent light. Hes the Wiltshire peacock, a narcissistic minor celebrity who basks in the adoration of the crowds.

The directors frame of reference is astonishing. One moment he will be showing us a meeting of the Manchester Female Reform Society and the next we will see the dashing officer General Sir John Byng (Alastair Mackenzie) bunking off at the races when he should be commanding the cavalry in St Peters Square.

Thanks to backing from Amazon Studios, Leigh has a far bigger budget than on any of his previous features. This shows itself not just in the huge cast but in the massacre itself, in which we see the cavalry charge into the vast crowds.

With so much going on and so many different characters, the film occasionally loses its dramatic impetus. Arguably, it wasnt necessary to throw in shots of fiddlers playing their music or of attendees at the rally sharing their picnics or comparing notes on when they got up or how far theyve come.

Then again, one of the points about Peterloo is that the film doesnt have a hero. It is about the collective experience of the massacre. The most prominent actors, whether Maxine Peake as a matriarch trying to hold her family together in the face of extreme deprivation or Kinnear as the orator, share screen time with dozens of others.

As a story of a massacre, Peterloo is bound to end on a grim note. However, it has plenty of humour and pathos along the way. The journalists (not a breed Leigh generally likes) emerge with credit for reporting promptly and truthfully on what happened at the Manchester rally.

Leigh himself shows he is just as comfortable helming historical epics as he is making tightly focused contemporary dramas like Happy-Go-Lucky or Another Year. At 75, the British director is still clearly at the peak of his powers.

Whatever else, his latest film will ensure that the bloody events in St Peters Fields nearly 200 years ago are put back on the radar of politicians, historians and cultural commentators alike.
A new opera featuring the anti-gay comments of senior DUP politicians will premiere in Belfast later this month.

The lyrics for Abomination: The DUP in Concert are composed entirely of verbatim views expressed by controversial senior party figures like Iris Robinson and Ian Paisley Jr.

The piece will largely focus on an infamous 2008 interview given by Robinson, a former MP and the wife of former party leader Peter Robinson, in which she described homosexuality as an abomination.

The incident occurred after a gay man in Northern Ireland was physically assaulted because of his sexuality.

Speaking on Stephen Nolans BBC radio show, Robinson described homosexuality as shamefully wicked and vile before recommending a psychiatrist who performs so-called gay conversion therapy.

Her comments received widespread criticism and she was named Bigot of the Year by Stonewall.

The piece will also feature comments made by the DUPs Maurice Mills, who blamed Hurricane Katrina on a gay pride festival, and Ian Paisley Jr, who once said he was pretty repulsed by gay and lesbianism.

The work has been created by Northern Ireland composer Conor Mitchell, who says the comments of the politicians will be presented verbatim, word for word, so audiences can really linger on them.

I dont want to make an overt comment, so Im not adding any of my own words, he says, describing the piece as cutting edge and not straying into the comedic.

I wanted to do something that took the words of the DUP, and finds another way of looking at them in a modern context, which really shows the function of music.

Mitchell thinks that looking back on these DUP comments resonates today due to the current situation in Northern Ireland and the Conservative-DUP deal which keeps Theresa May in power.

There are DUP members who casually throw the words 'hate' and 'detest' into their language, and its still in their political dialogue. With suicide rates rising in Northern Ireland, we have to consider what kind of effect this is having on people.

Robinsons comments were made 10 years ago, and in that time I have seen no progress  if anything, things have gotten worse.

10 best pictures from Dublin Pride Show all 10 1 /10 10 best pictures from Dublin Pride 10 best pictures from Dublin Pride A member of the Irish defence forces takes part in the Pride PA 10 best pictures from Dublin Pride People during the Pride Parade in Dublin PA 10 best pictures from Dublin Pride People take part in the Pride Parade in Dublin PA 10 best pictures from Dublin Pride Minister for Health Simon Harris takes part in the Pride Parade in Dublin PA 10 best pictures from Dublin Pride People during the Pride Parade in Dublin PA 10 best pictures from Dublin Pride People during the Pride Parade in Dublin PA 10 best pictures from Dublin Pride People gather for the start of the Pride Parade in Dublin PA 10 best pictures from Dublin Pride People during the Pride Parade in Dublin PA 10 best pictures from Dublin Pride Members of the Irish defence forces wait backstage before performing at the Pride Parade in Dublin PA 10 best pictures from Dublin Pride The Pride Parade in Dublin PA

Iris Robinson retired from politics and public life in 2009 after a political scandal in which it was revealed she once had an extramarital affair with a 19-year-old, but this opera is set to put her back in the spotlight.

She will be voiced in the Belfast production by Canadian soprano Rebecca Caine, who was part of the original cast of Les Miserables.

Caine has expressed her excitement about the role on Twitter, writing, Looking forward to supporting N. Ireland LGBTQ community by unleashing my vile bigoted soprano tones on this!

The DUP has a long history of expressing anti-gay sentiments, dating back to the Save Ulster From Sodomy campaign of the 1970s  something that has had a direct impact on LGBT legislation and rights.

Northern Ireland remains the only part of the UK and Ireland in which same sex marriage is not legal, as a direct result of DUP opposition.

The party  who are the largest in Northern Ireland  have blocked the legislation despite same sex marriage enjoying the support of a majority of politicians and over 75% of the population.

Just what will the DUP make of their unlikely elevation into such high brow art? Mitchell isnt too bothered.

I dont think it will be on their radar, he says. Theyre not great supporters of the arts anyway, so I cant see them coming along to it.

Abomination: The DUP in Concert will be performed at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, as the finale of Outburst Queer Arts Festival on 17 November.
The worlds oceans have absorbed far more heat than previously estimated, suggesting global warming and climate change could accelerate faster than predicted, according to new research.

The results suggest over the past 27 years, the worlds oceans have retained 60 per cent more heat each year than research teams had previously thought.

This represents an enormous amount of additional energy stored on Earth, indicating the planet is far more sensitive to fossil-fuel emissions than past studies have shown.

It also raises further serious doubts over whether current temperature goals  to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels  are attainable.

If accurate, the study is likely to have a major impact on climate modelling, which has largely used lower estimates for the amount of energy stored in the oceans.

Most previous models for ocean heat uptake have used data taken from the Argo Float programme, in which about 4,000 buoys drifting at around 1,000m below the surface of the oceans take temperature and other readings. It has been fully operational since 2007. Issues with the system are that it only measures the upper part of the ocean, and there remain huge gaps in coverage.

But the new study provides a separate estimate with data going back to 1991, and uses dependable measurements of atmospheric oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2)  levels of which increase as the ocean warms and releases gases  as a whole-ocean thermometer, the authors wrote.

The study, published in the journal Nature, says the worlds oceans took up more than 13 zettajoules  which is a joule, the standard unit of energy, followed by 21 zeroes  of heat energy each year between 1991 and 2016.

This amounts to the oceans absorbing an amount of heat energy 150 times greater than the energy humans produce as electricity annually, over each year of the past quarter of a century.

We thought that we got away with not a lot of warming in both the ocean and the atmosphere for the amount of CO2 that we emitted, lead author Dr Laure Resplandy of Princeton University, told The Washington Post.

But we were wrong. The planet warmed more than we thought. It was hidden from us just because we didnt sample it right. But it was there. It was in the ocean already.

Glacier collapse shows climate impact Show all 20 1 /20 Glacier collapse shows climate impact Glacier collapse shows climate impact An iceberg floats in a fjord near the town of Tasiilaq Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Meltwater pools on top of the Helheim glacier near Tasiilaq Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Safety officer Brian Rougeux works with student Febin Magar to assemble a radar dome while working in a science camp on the side of the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Airplane Mechanic, David Fuller, left, works with a local worker to move a Nasa Gulfstream III during a pre-flight inspection before a flight to support the Oceans Melting Greenland research mission Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Meltwater pools on top of the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Earth Science Flight Programs Director at Nasa, Eric Ianson, looks out at the Greenland ice sheet Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Glacial ice is seen from the window during the Nasa flight Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Oceanographer David Holland's science camp on the side of the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact An iceberg floats in a fjord near the town of Tasiilaq Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact A large crevasse forms near the calving front of the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Safety officer Brian Rougeux uses a drill to install antennas for scientific instruments that will be left on top of the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Tabular icebergs float in the Sermilik Fjord after a large calving event at the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Radar Engineer, Ron Muellerschoen, monitors data collection inside a NASA Gulfstream III flying above Greenland to measure loss to the country's ice sheet Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact GPS tracking equipment is left on top of the Helheim glacier REUTERS Glacier collapse shows climate impact Sunshine lights up the Helheim glacier Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact A glacial terminus above the east coast of Greenland REUTERS Glacier collapse shows climate impact Student Febin Magar watches as leftover wood burns in a research camp Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Tabular icebergs float in the Sermilik Fjord after a large calving event Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact Oceanographer David Holland repairs a broken GPS module at his research camp Reuters Glacier collapse shows climate impact An iceberg floats in a fjord near the town of Tasiilaq Reuters

The study comes three weeks after scientists from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) commissioned by the United Nations issued the most urgent and far-reaching call yet for world governments to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and stop global warming.

It is a big concern, Dr Resplandy said.

If you look at the IPCC 1.5C, there are big challenges ahead to keep those targets, and our study suggests its even harder because we close the window for those lower pathways, she told the BBC.

Scientists already know the ocean takes up roughly 90 per cent of all excess energy produced as the Earth warms, so calculating the actual amount of energy makes it possible to estimate the level of surface warming we can expect, said the studys co-author Ralph Keeling, a Scripps Oceanography geophysicist.

The result significantly increases the confidence we can place in estimates of ocean warming and therefore helps reduce uncertainty in the climate sensitivity, particularly closing off the possibility of very low climate sensitivity, Professor Keeling said.

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The findings suggest if governments are to prevent temperatures from rising above 2C, emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas produced by human activities, must be reduced by 25 per cent compared to what was previously estimated, Dr Resplandy said.
Thousands of trees are set to be planted in a post-industrial part of Derbyshire to transform a former coal mine into a new woodland.

Under the plans, a 162 hectare site would be covered in 260,000 trees to create one of the regions largest areas of native forest.

The Woodland Trust has initially purchased a quarter of the land, and is seeking funds to acquire the remainder in order to create a large haven for wildlife.

Coal production only stopped at the site in 2016 when the Lodge House open cast mine stopped operating, and since then work has been underway to fill in the gaping hole left in the ground.

Beccy Speight, chief executive of the Woodland Trust, described the purchase as an opportunity to connect the community with a site for nature right on their doorstep.

It has the potential to be an attractive natural amenity; somewhere to get close to nature and enjoy peace and tranquillity  a space to help boost both mental and physical health, she said.

British mammals fight for survival Show all 11 1 /11 British mammals fight for survival British mammals fight for survival The Mammal Societys assessment of Britains mammal populations is the first such review in over 20 years. The results reveal winners and losers, and highlight some of the key threats facing the countrys wildlife such as habitat loss, invasive species and the spread of diseases. British mammals fight for survival Hedgehogs Populations of the much-loved insectivore may have declined by as much as 73% Richard Bowler British mammals fight for survival Greater mouse-eared bats Only one of these flying mammals has been recorded in the whole country, in a railway tunnel in West Sussex Andrew Harrington British mammals fight for survival Rabbits Despite being a common sight across the countryside, rabbits have decreased in number by nearly 10% Danni Thompson British mammals fight for survival Black Rats Though not generally considered threatened animals, black rats number have collapsed in recent years due largely to pest control measures. However their far more common cousins, the brown rats, are thriving. Tim Melling British mammals fight for survival Red Squirrels Though it is difficult to measure changes in squirrel numbers, their range has shrunk considerably due largely to the spread of squirrel pox virus by invasive grey squirrel Alistair Marsh British mammals fight for survival Wildcats There has been a marked decline in wildcat populations, with only around 200 left in Scotland Rachel Profit British mammals fight for survival Badgers Due to legal protections badgers have recovered from past persecution and the density of their setts (holes) has increased by over 100% in recent decades Phil Mumby British mammals fight for survival Otters The banning of persistent organic pesticides has had a positive population effect on otters Allan Chard British mammals fight for survival Fallow Deer The 2018 review estimates a population size of fallow deer almost three times the size of that estimated in the 1995 review  a positive trend that is seen in other deer species. James Shooter British mammals fight for survival Eurasian Beavers These aquatic mammals were nearly extinct in Europe at the start of the 20th century, but their reintroduction to the UK have been largely successful Paul Scott

If were able to secure the site well restore and manage the land for the long term and ensure it is open to the public and freely accessible to explore as well as providing a haven for wildlife.

The charity said they are particularly keen to engage children and young people at the site with tree planting.

They estimate the total cost of the project will run to around 5m, and plan to launch a fundraising campaign to help fund it.

Tree planting has been highlighted as a crucial component in plans to boost Britains dwindling wildlife and help push back against climate change, as woodland can act as a crucial store for carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

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Just 10 per cent of England is wooded, which lags way behind the European average of 38 per cent, said Ms Speight.

Surveys conducted at the site have revealed it is already home to over 40 bird species including linnets and skylarks, with evidence of badgers and endangered water voles living nearby.

With the Shipley Country Park and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's Woodside Farm nearby, the creation of a new woodland would result in a joined-up zone of more than 500 hectares of wildlife-friendly space.
The genetic codes of every animal, plant and fungus in the UK will be sequenced in a massive new project scientists say will benefit everything from conservation to medicine.

Dubbed the Darwin Tree of Life Project, the initiative is part of a massive global effort to unravel the DNA of all life on Earth.

The code of 66,000 species will be obtained over the course of a decade, providing naturalists with unprecedented insights that will turn the study of British wildlife on its head.

Samples will be gathered by teams across the country, and the latest technologies will be employed to process thousands of genomes every year throughout a network of UK institutions.

Amid warnings of a collapse in global biodiversity, the scientists say an understanding of the code underpinning these species will guide efforts to preserve them from extinction

The strategy could also provide enormous benefits for humanity, as researchers say the genetic information obtained will likely form the basis of new drugs, food and even fuels.

The project is launching to coincide with the overarching programme known as the Earth BioGenome Project, which is sequencing the genomes of all 1.5 million known species of animals, plants, fungi and protozoa  lifeforms known collectively as eukaryotes.

British mammals fight for survival Show all 11 1 /11 British mammals fight for survival British mammals fight for survival The Mammal Societys assessment of Britains mammal populations is the first such review in over 20 years. The results reveal winners and losers, and highlight some of the key threats facing the countrys wildlife such as habitat loss, invasive species and the spread of diseases. British mammals fight for survival Hedgehogs Populations of the much-loved insectivore may have declined by as much as 73% Richard Bowler British mammals fight for survival Greater mouse-eared bats Only one of these flying mammals has been recorded in the whole country, in a railway tunnel in West Sussex Andrew Harrington British mammals fight for survival Rabbits Despite being a common sight across the countryside, rabbits have decreased in number by nearly 10% Danni Thompson British mammals fight for survival Black Rats Though not generally considered threatened animals, black rats number have collapsed in recent years due largely to pest control measures. However their far more common cousins, the brown rats, are thriving. Tim Melling British mammals fight for survival Red Squirrels Though it is difficult to measure changes in squirrel numbers, their range has shrunk considerably due largely to the spread of squirrel pox virus by invasive grey squirrel Alistair Marsh British mammals fight for survival Wildcats There has been a marked decline in wildcat populations, with only around 200 left in Scotland Rachel Profit British mammals fight for survival Badgers Due to legal protections badgers have recovered from past persecution and the density of their setts (holes) has increased by over 100% in recent decades Phil Mumby British mammals fight for survival Otters The banning of persistent organic pesticides has had a positive population effect on otters Allan Chard British mammals fight for survival Fallow Deer The 2018 review estimates a population size of fallow deer almost three times the size of that estimated in the 1995 review  a positive trend that is seen in other deer species. James Shooter British mammals fight for survival Eurasian Beavers These aquatic mammals were nearly extinct in Europe at the start of the 20th century, but their reintroduction to the UK have been largely successful Paul Scott

The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute near Cambridge will serve as the UK genome-sequencing hub, with institutions from the Natural History Museum to the University of Edinburgh adding their expertise.

The project is estimated to cost around 100m in the first five years.

Globally, more than half of the vertebrate population has been lost in the past 40 years, and 23,000 species face the threat of extinction in the near future, said Professor Mike Stratton, director of the institute.

Using the biological insights we will get from the genomes of all eukaryotic species, we can look to our responsibilities as custodians of life on this planet, tending life on Earth in a more informed manner using those genomes, at a time when nature is under considerable pressure, not least from us.

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The work will build on a previous project by Sanger scientists that saw them sequence 25 key British species including red and grey squirrels, robins and blackberries.

The chair of the Earth BioGenome Project, Professor Harris Lewin of the University of California, Davis, said British efforts would serve as a model for projects around the world to follow.

For the UK, Dr Tim Littlewood from the Natural History Museum said the initiative will allow scientists to re-evaluate their understanding of well-known species.

A lot of the UKs species lists and ID guides are now over 100 years old, he said.

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Weve not actually redressed, or returned to, our own natural history for a very long time in any grand system. And weve not yet looked at it in a modern sense, either.

In recent months and years it has become clear that British species  from hedgehogs to puffins  are under serious threat from pollution, industrial agriculture and climate change.

Genetic data can help protect these creatures by revealing their strengths and vulnerabilities, for example the ability to withstand changing temperatures or susceptibility to certain diseases.

The information, which can also reveal the presence of new species that are not immediately obvious until researchers drill down into their DNA, will be stored in a public database so anyone in the scientific community can draw on this well of knowledge to inform their research.
Balmain has announced plans to return to the couture calendar for the first time in 16 years.

Speaking at the WWD Retail & Apparel CEO Summit, creative director Oliver Rousteing revealed that he is looking to bring back the Parisian DNA to the Balmain brand by delving into the world of haute couture.

The last couture collection from the fashion house was produced in 2002 when Oscar de la Renta was at the creative helm.

By turning towards the highest end of the fashion spectrum, Rousteing plans to move the brand into a more bespoke direction and will begin to do so with his inaugural collection as a couturier at Paris Couture Week in January 2019.

The designer also revealed that he would like to delve into accessories, fragrances and cosmetics too.

The announcement is the latest attempt by Rousteing to expand and boost the brands profile.

Famed for creating the Balmain Army  a clique of internationally famous It girls including Kim Kardashian, Gigi Hadid and Kylie Jenner  the designers expansion plans are already underway, having already experimented with a number of more affordable brand collaborations.

In 2015, the fashion house launched a collaboration with H&M which saw shoppers camp overnight outside stores and sold out almost instantly.

Last year, Balmain also made its first move into lingerie, designing a collection with Victorias Secret for its annual runway show. The collection, which was available to shop online immediately after the show aired on TV, sold out just 48 hours after its release.

Similarly, in May 2017, Rousteing made his first foray into the world of cosmetics through a partnership with LOreal Paris.

The designer launched a collection of 12 Balmain lipsticks that he had designed himself and were inspired by three things: couture, modernity and diversity.
Bar Refaeli has come under fire for an advert in which she removes a niqab before a voiceover says: Freedom is basic.

The Israeli supermodel posted a clip of the ad, which was for a fashion brand called Hoodies, on Instagram, where she has 2.7 million followers, but soon removed it after critics labelled it ignorant and racist.

In the video, which opens with the caption Is Iran here? in Hebrew, the 33-year-old is one of four female models wearing the headscarf; after taking it off to reveal casual clothing, she proceeds to dance and jump around.

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Many people expressed their shock at the advert on social media, arguing that true freedom is being able to wear whatever you like.

This is very weird... #BarRefaeli wearing a burka and claiming her freedom taking it off... Isnt freedom wearing what you want? wrote one person on Twitter.

This campaign is supposedly designed to call out racism and bigotry + support freedom... FUNNY because this is the exact opposite of supporting freedom, added another.

Some people argued that the ad promoted Islamophobia.

The is disgusting, tweeted activist Marwa Balkar, who described the ad as blatantly Islamophobic in an interview with Mic.

Its disrespectful to Iranians, she added, Bar is endorsing this message, what year is it? This isnt really happening in 2018 right?.

One person accused the video of endorsing the view that Muslim women  for whom the niqab is a traditional garment  are oppressed: Fire your creative directors and pull this embarrassment, they wrote on Twitter.

The controversial advert was apparently removed by Refaeli from her Instagram account in light of the comments, but remains live on her Facebook page and on the brands YouTube channel.

Refaeli has fronted a number of high-profile modelling campaigns for the likes of Victorias Secret, Ralph Lauren, Chanel and True Religion.

In 2013, she hosted the inaugural season of The X Factor Israel.

The Independent has contacted Hoodies for comment.
A blockchain startup is hoping to get a cut of a potentially trillion-dollar industry, after it took over a space company set up to mine near-Earth asteroids.

ConsenSys announced its acquisition of Planetary Resources on Wednesday, 31 October, together with its intention of "democratising and decentralising space endeavours."

The space mining startup has had some high-profile backing since forming in 2009, including Google co-founder Larry Page, who was involved in a $21.1 million funding round in 2016.

"Over the course of nearly a decade, Planetary Resources has simultaneously pioneered technology, business, law and policy, and brought the promise of space resources irreversibly closer to humankind's grasp," said Chris Lewicki, a former Nasa worker who helped co-found Planetary Resources.

"I am proud of our team's extraordinary accomplishments, grateful to our visionary supporters, and delighted to join ConsenSys in building atop our work to expand humanity's economic sphere of influence into the Solar System."

SpaceX's journey through the Solar System Show all 6 1 /6 SpaceX's journey through the Solar System SpaceX's journey through the Solar System SpaceX's journey through the Solar System SpaceX's journey through the Solar System SpaceX's journey through the Solar System SpaceX's journey through the Solar System SpaceX's journey through the Solar System

Asteroid mining has the potential to become a trillion-dollar industry over the coming decades, according to experts who claim they could provide a near-infinite supply of resources for humanity.

Commercially viable asteroids include those containing minerals like gold, silver and platinum, which could be mined and transported back to Earth.

In 2015, the US government recognised this potential by legalising asteroid mining and moving away from the 1967 Outer Space Treaty that banned it.

The acquisition of Planetary Resources by a blockchain startup involved with ethereum does not come as a surprise given the nature of space mining, according to Brian Israel, who has previously worked with the US government on the international legal dimensions of outer space.

"Ethereum smart contract functionality is a natural solution for private-ordering and commerce in space  the only domain of human activity not ordered around territorial sovereignty  in which a diverse range of actors from a growing number of countries must coordinate and transact," said Israel, who now serves as Planetary Resources general counsel.

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ConsenSys founder Joe Lubin echoed this sentiment, saying the space firm was in line with his company's belief "in the potential for ethereum to help humanity craft new societal rule systems through automated trust and guaranteed execution."

He added: "It reflects our belief in democratizing and decentralizing space endeavours to unite our species and unlock untapped human potential. We look forward to sharing our plans and how to join us on this journey in the months ahead.
The US has granted India a waiver from sanctions imposed on Iran, according to a report.

Washington has agreed to allow Indian companies to continue importing oil from Iran until March, the Economic Times has reported.

The US will re-impose sanctions on Iran from 4 November, following Donald Trumps decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal earlier this year.

However, India is the second biggest importer of oil from Iran, behind China, and when the US previously imposed sanctions on Iran, before the Iran deal was agreed in 2015, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, and Taiwan all won exemptions.

Ahead of the new set of restrictions, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has said Washington expects all oil purchases from Iran to go to zero but also said that the government will consider waivers where appropriate.

Oil prices rose when the latest round of sanctions was announced, as concerns were raised that global oil supply would be depleted with Iran taken out of the market.

This week, analysts and economists said they expected oil to stay above $75 per barrel once the sanctions are re-imposed, but added that further gains will be curbed by slowing demand due to trade war fears.

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Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil, was trading at $74.51 per barrel on Thursday.

The Iran nuclear deal saw Tehran agree to curtail its nuclear weapons programme in return for the lifting of economic sanctions.

However, in August, Mr Trump said he would not re-ratify the horrible, one-sided deal which he said had failed to achieve the fundamental objective of blocking all paths to an Iranian nuclear bomb, and it threw a lifeline of cash to a murderous dictatorship that has continued to spread bloodshed, violence, and chaos.
Englands most senior doctor has warned that fake news myths pedalled on social media are stoking false fears about vaccinations putting children at risk.

Only 87 per cent of children in England have received both doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, compared to a target of 95 per cent, and chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies has said this is not good enough.

The proportion of children being vaccinated has gone into reverse after a decade of improvements since the early 2000s, when disgraced researcher Andrew Wakefield stoked fears of a link to autism.

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By 2016, 95 per cent of children were receiving their first dose of vaccine, but so far in 2018 only 91 per cent have had the jab.

As in the 2000s, these gaps in coverage have contributed to a record measles outbreaks. There have already been 903 cases of the potentially fatal disease in England in 2018, largely among children aged 15 and above who were the generation most likely to have missed vaccination in the late 1990s.

In an interview with the BBC to mark 30 years of the combined MMR jab, Professor Davies said social media fake news is to blame.

A number of people, stars, believe these myths  they are wrong, she added.

Over these 30 years, we have vaccinated millions of children. It is a safe vaccination  we know that  and weve saved millions of lives across the world.

People who spread these myths, when children die they will not be there to pick up the pieces or the blame.

The jab is given in two doses for maximum protection, with the first dose a month after the childs first birthday and a second at age three.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 November 2021 ancer Maithili Vijayakumar at the launch of 2021 Diwali celebrations at St Andrew Square in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 15 November 2021 Forensic officers work outside Liverpool Women's Hospital, following a car blast, in Liverpool Reuters UK news in pictures 14 November 2021 Wreaths by the Cenotaph after the Remembrance Sunday service in Whitehall, London PA UK news in pictures 13 November 2021 Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of detainee Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, is ending his hunger strike in central London after almost three weeks. Ratcliffe has spent 21 days camped outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London without food. He began his demonstration on 24 October after his wife lost her latest appeal in Iran, saying his family was caught in a dispute between two states PA UK news in pictures 12 November 2021 Peter Green protesting outside the Cop26 gates during the official final day of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow. PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2021 Seagulls fly around the statue entitled 'Tommy', a first World War soldier by artist Ray Lonsdale at dawn in Seaham, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 10 November 2021 Climate activists dressed as characters inspired by the Netflix series Squid Game protest as they ask Samsung to go 100% renewable energy, outside the venue for COP26 in Glasgow Reuters UK news in pictures 9 November 2021 A deer statue silhouetted at Loch Faskally in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 8 November 2021 Sunrise over St Mary's Lighthouse at Whitley Bay on the North East coast of England PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2021 Activists from Friends of the Earth during a demonstration calling for an end to all new oil and gas projects in the North Sea outside the UK Government's Cop26 hub during the Cop26 summit in Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2021 Protesters take part in a rally organised by the Cop26 Coalition in Glasgow demanding global climate justice PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2021 Final touches are made to a life sized Sir David Attenborough cake surrounded by animals as part of a display created by a group of cake artists during Cake International at NEC Birmingham PA UK news in pictures 4 November 2021 A spectacular display of the Northern Lights seen over Derwentwater, near Keswick in the Lake District PA UK news in pictures 3 November 2021 Police and demonstrators at a Extinction Rebellion protest on Buchanan Street, during the Cop26 summit in Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 2 November 2021 A person walks along the Basingstoke canal near to Dogmersfield in Hampshire PA UK news in pictures 1 November 2021 Sir David Attenborough delivers a speech during Cop26 in Glasgow Reuters UK news in pictures 31 October 2021 Extinction Rebellion activists protest in Edinburgh as the Cop26 conference begins in Glasgow Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2021 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with Mapuche leader and Minga Indigena Lead Coordinator Claflin Lafkenche (right) alongside indigenous delegates at a ceremonial gathering at the Tramway in Glasgow in a symbolic gesture to mark a unified demand for climate justice PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2021 Ocean Rebellion put on a display of puking oil heads ahead of climate change conference COP26 in Glasgow EPA UK news in pictures 28 October 2021 A man dressed as Santa Claus outside Selfridges in London as the department store unveils its Christmas windows on Oxford Street PA UK news in pictures 27 October 2021 Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak during a visit to Fourpure Brewery in Bermondsey, London, after the chancellor announced a cut to beer taxes in his budget PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2021 Activist Steve Bray demonstrates with a toilet outside the gates of Downing Street, after MPs voted in Parliament against the Environment Bill, allowing companies to pump raw sewage into UK rivers and seas, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 October 2021 Second World War veteran James White, 96, at the opening of the Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance, marking the start of the remembrance period PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2021 Richard Ratcliffe holds up a photo of his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as he protests outside the Foreign Office while on hunger strike, part of an effort to lobby the UK foreign secretary to bring his wife home from detention in Iran Getty UK news in pictures 23 October 2021 Partner of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Stella Morris and Editor in Chief of WikiLeaks Kristinn Hrafnsson attend a protest ahead of the appeal hearing over Assange's extradition, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 22 October 2021 Palace Gardener Justine Howlett adds the finishing touches to pumpkins bearing the face of Henry VIII and his wives, at Hampton Court Palace. PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2021 Flooded fields near Lingfield in Surrey, after southern England was hit overnight by heavy rain and strong winds from Storm Aurore moving in from France PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2021 A wing surfer enjoys the strong winds as they surf in the sea off of Hayling Island in Hampshire PA UK news in pictures 19 October 2021 Actor Jude Law holds hands with Little Amal, a 3.5-metre-tall puppet of a nine-year-old Syrian girl, as it arrives in Folkestone, Kent, as part of the Handspring Puppet Company's 'The Walk' PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2021 A view over Southend-on-Sea in Essex, which is set to become a city in tribute to Sir David Amess MP, who spent years campaigning for the change Getty UK news in pictures 17 October 2021 Members of the Essex Bangladeshi Welfare Association pay their respects by floral tributes laid at the scene where Sir David Amess MP was killed at Belfairs Methodist Church, in Leigh-on-Sea Reuters UK news in pictures 16 October 2021 Boris Johnson, Sir Keir Starmer, Priti Patel and Lindsay Hoyle pay respects to Sir David Amess at Belfairs Methodist Church, in Leigh-on-Sea, the site of his death EPA UK news in pictures 15 October 2021 A person lays flowers at the scene near the Belfairs Methodist Church in Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, where Conservative MP Sir David Amess has died after he was stabbed several times at a constituency surgery. A man has been arrested and officers are not looking for anyone else PA UK news in pictures 14 October 2021 A red deer stag during rutting season in Bushy Park, Richmond, south west London, which is home to over 300 red and fallow deer PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2021 Police officers detain a man as Insulate Britain activists block a roundabout at a junction on the M25 motorway during a protest in Thurrock Reuters UK news in pictures 12 October 2021 The aerial climate installation by Swiss artivist Dan Acher 'We Are Watching' is unveiled at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2021 A young girl is helped by a Border Force officer as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel. PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2021 People walk past a life-size sculpture of British singer John Lennon entitled "Imagine", by sculptor Lawrence Holofcener, displayed to mark what would have been the 81st birthday for the former member of the Beatles in Carnaby Street Reuters UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard, to highlight violence against women by male police officers or former police officers AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty UK news in pictures 5 October 2021 Members of Insulate Britain outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, before a hearing over the injunction banning the environmental activists from blocking the M25 PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2021 A delegate passes a street cleaner on the second day of the annual Conservative Party Conference being held at the Manchester Central convention centre AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA

But the lower uptake of both jabs increases the risk, particularly among people travelling to outbreak hotspots like Romania and Italy, Professor Davies said.

That means a lot of protection but it doesnt give us herd immunity, Dame Sally said.

So when people from abroad have been coming in, travelling infected, it is spreading into our local communities.
A $30m (23m) US government experiment to test whether the radio-frequency radiation  which carries calls made on mobile phones to masts  can cause cancers has concluded it can but with some big caveats.

It found this in rats  just the male ones  and only at intensities way above what any person would be exposed to. Even then, the evidence was only clear for some heart cancers, but much less robust for brain and adrenal gland tumours.

The conclusions come from the US National Toxicology Programme which spent a decade investigating the risk in the most robust way it could, exposing lab rodents to a lifetime of powerful mobile phone-like radiation.
A day before her murder at the age of 22, Tara Fares had been voted one of Iraqs most followed social media stars.

Recommended Former Miss Iraq flees country after spate of high profile killings

The significance of the former beauty queens brief life can only be seen against the backdrop of a society where high-profile women are punished for failing to conform to stringent expectations for female behaviour as defined by zealots.

Fares was candid and outspoken, using her social media platform to reflect on personal freedoms. Both her aesthetic and fashion sense were daring such that many considered her scandalously lacking in modesty for a public figure.

On a September afternoon, a gunman on a motorcycle leaned inside her white Porsche convertible, in the Kam Sara neighbourhood of Baghdad, shot her three times and then sped away.

She is believed to have rejected the advances of a cleric (Tara Fares) (Photos Tara Fares)

Her murder was the fourth in a spate of fatal attacks on women which many fear is set to continue.

Fares was born in the United Arab Emirates to an Iraqi Christian father and Lebanese Shiite mother. She was born a Christian, however in a television interview earlier this year she said that in 2002 her family had converted to Islam.

She rose to prominence in 2013 when she was voted Baghdads beauty queen and first runner-up as Miss Iraq. She later became a social media sensation with frequent selfies attracting nearly 3 million Instagram followers, as well as popular vlogs sharing make-up tips to a YouTube channel with more than 120,000 subscribers. She also has various active fan clubs reposting her photos on Instagram.

Fares was briefly married at the age of 16 to a man with whom she had a son, but they then divorced.

She broadcast to her large online following about the violence of her abusive ex-husband, who had posted intimate images of her on social media. He also took away their now three-year-old son  an impossible trauma Fares was forced to put a brave face on, saying it helped make her stronger.

Displaying her tattoos in posts led to criticism (Tara Fares)

She also posted about a fiance who had died after being attacked in Istanbul.

At the time of her murder, Fares was living with her family in the city of Erbil, the capital of northern Iraqs self-ruled Kurdish region. However, more recently she had reportedly been spending an increasing amount of time in Baghdad, as her career advanced and her fame amplified.

Fares had moved to comparatively liberal Kurdistan, which is considered safer for Christians, as a security measure. While she was adored and admired by many young Iraqis who liked and shared her videos and photos, Fares was also the target of a deluge of abuse on social media.

Although not an overtly political figure, she occasionally criticised religious, tribal and political leaders online. A video posted after her death implied that she was being coerced or propositioned, because she had complained about a Shiite clerics proposal of a siqeh  a clerically sanctioned temporary marriage used to legitimise casual sex.

In July she wrote: Im not afraid of the one who denies the existence of God, but Im really afraid of the one who kills and chops off heads to prove the existence of God.

The motives behind Faress murder are still unclear, but theories abound and speculation has mounted on social media that it was because she infuriated conservatives who considered her online behaviour to be provocative  posting risque photos and displaying her tattoos (which some deem unIslamic).

Posing in a car  she was killed driving a convertible Porsche (Tara Fares)

Her murder appears to be part of a worrying trend of violence against successful and outspoken women in Iraq. It came two days after 46-year-old female human rights activist Suad al-Ali was shot and killed in an outdoor market by masked gunman in the southern city of Basra. A month earlier, Rafeef al-Yaseri, 33, a plastic surgeon dubbed the Barbie of Iraq who organised national programmes specialising in medical affairs for women, was killed at her home in Baghdad.

A week later, another beauty expert Rasha al-Hassan, also in her thirties, and a mother of three, was found dead inside her home in unexplained circumstances. Authorities initially said she had died from a drug overdose but offered no further information, which provoked rumours that she might have been poisoned.

Four days after Faress murder, Shimaa Qasim  a former Iraqi beauty queen crowned Miss Iraq in 2015  announced in a teary livestream video message that she had been sent a threatening text message stating that she would be next.

In the video Qasim calls Fares a martyr and says that famous women in Iraq are at risk of being slaughtered like chickens. According to Kurdish news agency Rudaw, Qasim refused to leave her house after Faress murder but later fled Iraq.

Before her murder, slain human rights activist Al-Ali had been involved in organising protests calling for a restoration of basic services, after power outages and a lack water resources had plagued the Shiite-dominated city of Basra in early September. These demonstrations reveal the fragility of an Iraq that is still recovering from its fight against Islamic State militants. Some have suggested that Al-Alis murder was a message to those who oppose Iraqs powerful militias and ruling parties.

In the aftermath of Faress death, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called for action against the violence against women which he said appeared to be organised. He ordered security officials to launch an immediate investigation, creating a special committee to bring the perpetrators to justice. He demanded results within two days, and just hours after this announcement police arrested a suspect. However, the investigation has not concluded.

Some accuse hardline religious factions of targeting and intimidating liberal women in a move to suppress an open-minded voice in a country trying recover from the dark, repressive days of the Sunni extremist group Isis.

In a video posted on the official Facebook page of Iraqs interior minister, Qasim Al-Araji, on 8 October, he said that an extremist group, which he declined to name, were behind Faress murder and that security forces were trying to track down the killers to bring them to justice.

Turkish newspaper Hurriyet claimed that Fares had received threats from Isis itself. Whereas, others have suggested that the perpetrators are members of powerful Shiite militias who, according to Le Mondes Jean-Pierre Filiu, are rampaging with impunity in Baghdad. These are militias such as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMS), aligned with Iran rather than Iraqi Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, and were mobilised to fight against Isis. As the threat of Isis has diminished, some suggest PMSs latest cause is to menace those they perceive to be flouting their moral standards.

Fares suffered three bullet wounds. The brazenness of her murder  captured on CCTV cameras in broad daylight  shows how little her murderers fear retribution. A video was soon posted on social media that depicted a group of young people carrying her away with blood stains on her face and white clothing. Her body was taken to Shaikh Zayed hospital in Baghdad, and she was later buried in the holy Shiite city of Najaf.

Tara Fares, Iraqi model and social media activist, born 10 January 1996, died 27 September 2018
Cockroaches can use swift kicks to fend off wasps trying to turn them into zombies.

Jewel wasps are parasites that lay their eggs on the body of cockroaches, which are then eaten alive by the larvae when they emerge.

To prevent the larger insect from trying to escape as it is being eaten, the wasp delivers a sting to the cockroach's brain that leaves it unwilling to run away.

This process is known as zombification by scientists, as the wasps appears to effectively rob their prey of any free will.

Now a biologist at Vanderbilt University has found that cockroaches do not always go willingly to this grisly fate, and are capable of fighting back using swift kicks to beat away approaching wasps.

"The cockroach has a suite of behaviours that it can deploy to fend off the zombie-makers, and this starts out with what I call the 'en garde' position, like in fencing," said Professor Ken Catania.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. 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Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. 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"That allows the roach to move its antenna towards the wasp so it can track an approaching attack and aim kicks at the head and body of the wasp, and that's one of the most efficient deterrents.

It's reminiscent of what a movie character would do when a zombie is coming after them.

Professor Catania had previously heard reports of cockroaches defending themselves from attack, but needed to employ ultra-slow-speed videos of the behaviour to see it in action.

A kick delivered with a spiny back leg was able to fend off wasp attack in 63 per cent of cases, at least for adult wasps.

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Young cockroaches were far less lucky, as their defence barely ever worked.

In his experiments, which were published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Evolution, Professor Catania noted that the most aggressive cockroaches also followed up with bites to the wasp's bodies.

In this manner, vigilant individuals were able to avoid a terrible fate.

"The wasp usually figures out there's a smaller and less defensive cockroach out there to be had, said Professor Catania.
Children as young as nine are being caught carrying knives as parts of the UK are turned into the Wild West by violent attacks, a senior police officer has said.

Assistant chief constable Jacqueline Sebire said that after more than 20 years in policing, the past year has felt completely different.

This level of violence, this constant torrent of every single day another stabbing, another violent incident that we cant seem to get ahead of, she told police chiefs and commissioners gathered at a conference in central London.

There are children as young as 12 involved in stabbings. We have nine and 10-year-olds carrying knives.

Ms Sebire, who is the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) lead for serious violence, played footage of two teenagers fighting with machetes at a Luton shopping centre while people were pushing buggies past and toddlers were just walking around.

She later told journalists that attackers appeared to be bolder and now commit stabbings and shootings in full view of CCTV and passers-by.

It can be like the Wild West, Ms Sebire said. These attacks are happening in broad daylight, in public spaces, thats what feels different. There are younger people involved who dont necessarily appreciate the consequences.

She added: We have always had people shooting and stabbing each other but the increases and how sustained it is  its not peaks and troughs anymore, its just constant.

Nick Hunt, head of the Home Offices serious violence unit, said knife possession had risen by a fifth in a year, and knife crime overall by 12 per cent.

The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Show all 21 1 /21 The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Oluwadamilolda Odeyingbo Oluwadamilolda Odeyingbo, 18, was killed in a fight in Chislehurst on 10 January 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Hasan Ozcan Hasan Ozcan, 19, was stabbed to death on the Gascoigne Estate in Barking on 3 February 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Sabri Chibani Sabri Chibani, 19, was stabbed fatally in the chest in Streatham on 11 February 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Promise Nkenda Lord Promise Nkenda, 17, was stabbed to death in Canning Town on 14 February 2018 Facebook The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Lewis Blackman Lewis Blackman, a 19-year-old rapper from Kentish Town, was stabbed to death in Kensington on 18 February 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Abdikarim Hassan Abdikarim Hassan, 17, was stabbed to death near his home in Camden's Peckwater estate on 20 March - less tahan two hours before another man was stabbed to death nearby Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Kelvin Odunuyi Kelvin Odunuyi, a 19-year-old rapper known as DipDat and Lampz, was shot dead in Wood Green on 8 March Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Lyndon Davis Lyndon Davis, 18, was chased down and stabbed to death in Chadwell Heath on 14 March Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Tanesha Melbourne-Blake Tanesha Melbourne, 17, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Tottenham on 2 April PA The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Amaan Shakoor Amaan Shakoor, 16, was shot dead in Walthamstow on 2 April Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Israel Ogunsola Israel Ogunsola, 18, was stabbed to death in Hackney on 4 April Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton, a 17-year-old rapper and aspiring architect, was shot dead in a Kennington Street on 5 May Handout The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Jordan Douherty Aspiring rapper Jordan Douherty died of his injuries outside a birthday party in Romford on 23 June Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Katrina Makunova Katrina Makunova, 17, was stabbed to death in Camberwell on 12 July 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Latwaan Griffiths 18-year-old Latwaan Griffiths was fatally stabbed on 25 July and died in hospital after being thrown off the back of a moped in Camberwell Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Guled Farah Guled Farah, 19, was shot in Walthamstow on 22 September Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Ethan Nedd-Bruce Ethan Nedd-Bruce, 18, died after he was shot outside a party at a flat in Greenwich, south-east London, on 22 October. He had also been stabbed, but the gunshot wound was the cause of death. Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Jay Hughes Jay Hughes, 15, died was fatally stabbed outside a chicken shop in Bellingham, south-east London, on 1 November Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Malcolm Mide-Madariola Malcolm Mide-Madariola, 17, was found suffering from a stab wound outside Clapham South Tube station on 2 November Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 John Ogunjobi John Ogunjobi, 16, died in front of his parents after he was stabbed in Greenleaf Close, Tulse Hill, on 5 November Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Aron Warren Aron Warren, 18, was found stabbed in a flat block in Greenwich on 8 December and died at the scene Metropolitan Police

Knife possession cautions for 10 to 17-year-olds has gone up particularly steeply, he added. Serious violence is being driven particularly by under-18s, which is a concern.

In the last five years the number of NHS admissions by 10 to 17-year-olds with stab wounds has increased by 67 per cent.

And in the year to June, there were 69,000 incidents of child wounding across England to Wales and 29,000 child robbery victims.

Chief constable Mike Barton, the NPCC lead for crime operations, said police needed to target primary school children with prevention work.

We need to redouble our efforts to look at seven and eight-year-olds, not 11 and 12-year-olds, he said.

This isnt going to go away, its certainly an epidemic, it feels like a crisis.

Rebecca Lawrence, chief executive of the London Mayors Office for Policing And Crime (Mopac), said that some teenagers were undergoing emotional desensitisation because of the number of murders in their areas.

The government released its first-ever serious violence strategy earlier this year and has invited police forces, councils and community groups to bid for funding for new projects as part of a public health approach.

But police officers at Thursdays summit repeatedly raised concern about the impact of both cuts to policing and wider public services, like youth centres and childrens mental health.

Ms Sebire said that all agencies needed to get the response right, right now, or the trend of rising violence will continue.

 Life as a teenage drug dealer

Chief Constable Dave Thompson, of West Midlands Police, said that despite half of Birminghams population being under the age of 25 there are only two youth centres.

When the government talks about early intervention in terms of violence it is absolutely right, but what is going to do it? he asked.

Mr Thompson said the fragmented school system created by the Conservatives had made it harder to track and help excluded children, who are vulnerable to being drawn into crime and drug dealing.

He disagreed that Britain was now the Wild West, but said younger children were carrying knives.

Some young people in some areas lead street-based lives that are incredibly violent, Mr Thompson warned. A lot more are carrying weapons in some inner city areas because theyre frightened and they feel insecure.

He said the problem was exacerbated by social media, where members of rival groups taunt each other, because violent and threatening videos make children feel even more unsafe.

The senior officer said that while London has been hard-hit by violence, it is not a capital city problem and affects regions across the country.

Ms Sebire said that the past five weeks had seen three murders and five attempted murders in her home force of Bedfordshire.

They have all got their foundations in drugs, she said, after Home Office officials said changes to drug dealing and the increased purity of crack cocaine are among the causes of rising violence.

Between 2014-15 and 2016-17, murders where either the victim or suspect were known to be involved in using or dealing illicit drugs increased from half to 57 per cent.
Theresa May's "Chequers" plan is the government's blueprint for the desired future relationship between the UK and the EU.

It is not a final Brexit deal, as negotiations are still ongoing with the bloc, and key parts of the agreement have already been dismissed in Brussels.

But the prime minister insists she is still sticking firm with the plan and recently insisted the only alternative would for the UK to leave the bloc without a deal.

Where does the name come from?

Ministers thrashed out the government's plan for its future relationship with the EU during a cabinet away day at the prime minister's rural Chequers estate retreat in July.

It momentarily appeared Ms May had united her warring senior ministers around a three-page deal which colloquially became known as Chequers.

May's country retreat, Chequers (EPA)

So what was in the plan?

Ministers agreed at Chequers a future UK-EU relationship should be built around an "economic partnership and security partnership".

At its core, the proposals calls for the establishment of a "free trade area for goods" in order to "avoid friction at the border" and protect jobs.

It suggests the UK will "maintain a common rule book" for all goods, including agricultural products after Britain leaves the bloc.

Members of the cabinet gather at Chequers (PA)

The blueprint demands the end to the free movement of people - one of the founding principles of the bloc - and to "restore the supremacy of UK courts", by ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

It says the government will leave the EU's Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy, "taking back control of UK waters as an independent coastal state and designing a domestic agricultural policy".

And it demands the delivery of an independent trade policy, enabling the UK to secure trade deals with countries around the globe.

What happened after the Chequers meeting?

The pretence of a newly-united cabinet around Chequers in July did not survive the weekend. By Sunday evening, David Davis, the Brexit secretary, had resigned claiming he did not "believe" in the plan.

The next day, Boris Johnson, also quit his post as foreign secretary, becoming one of the most vocal and prominent critics of Chequers - often using his weekly column in the Daily Telegraph to criticise Ms May's blueprint.

What does her own party now think of the plan?

Among the Eurosceptics in the Conservative Party, the Chequers plan is despised. At the party's annual conference in Birmingham last month, Mr Johnson delivered a fierce attack on the plan, calling it a "cheat", telling his colleagues: "This is not what we vote for."

Ministers discuss PM's proposals (PA)

But it is not just the Eurosceptics who view the plan unfavourably. Pro-EU Tories have also poured scorn on Chequers.

Justine Greening, the former education secretary, said Chequers is now "more unpopular than the poll tax" in a radio interview in September, adding: "Chequers is no dead and there's no point having a government spending two vital months working on that when what it needs to do is start working on an alternative route for us."

What has the EU said in regards to Chequers?

EU leaders have repeatedly rejected the prime minister's proposals for the future UK-EU relationship, citing the integrity of the the bloc's single market and "cherry picking" of the institution.

At the Salzburg summit in September, Ms May was left humiliated after the European Council President, Donald Tusk, took the podium on behalf of the EU27 and said: Everybody shared the view that while there are positive elements in the Chequers proposal, the suggested element for economic cooperation will not work, not least because it risks undermining the single market, Mr Tusk said, giving his account of the Councils working lunch discussion."

We've previously listed all the times the EU has said 'no' to the plan here.
Brexit negotiators will have to make progress in the next week or so if there is to be any hope of concluding a deal before the end of November deadline, Irelands foreign minister has said.

Britain needed to follow through on the commitments they have already made on the Irish border issue, said Simon Coveney after a meeting with his French counterparts in Paris.

EU officials have repeatedly said that December would be too late to sign a withdrawal agreement because of the time needed to ratify such a treaty, which was supposed to be completed by October. But some now believe a lack of progress could mean the deadline slips again.

We are at a moment of truth. We are running out of time and the vast majority of the text of a withdrawal treaty has already been agreed. If there is to be a breakthrough in November, then we need the negotiating teams to find a way forward in the next week or so, Mr Coveney said.

Effectively what that means from our perspective is the British government following through on the commitments they have already made in the context of the Irish border issue.

Commitments that they made last December and last March. So it is encouraging to see the continuing solidarity that we see here in Paris and indeed across the European Union on that core issue, which really remains one of the final issues that needs to be resolved.

But Irish public broadcaster RTE reports that Irish officials detected no shift in the British position on the border in a meeting with Dominic Raab earlier this week.

It came after Mr Raab told MPs in a letter that he expected a deal to be done by the end of November. The EU was expected to hold a summit this month to finalise a deal but it was cancelled in late October, with the 27 national leaders citing a lack of progress needed.

A meeting of EU27 ambassadors in Brussels on Wednesday was given an unexciting report of progress by the Commission, with practically no movement in talks since the European Council summit last month.

Talks remain deadlocked on the issue of the Northern Irish backstop, a policy meant to ensure there is no hard border with Ireland under any circumstances.

The EU says new customs checks will be required on the Irish sea but Theresa May, under pressure from her DUP allies, has said no British prime minister could agree to them  claiming they are a breach of sovereignty.

A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Show all 65 1 /65 A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A Peoples Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Protesters at Londons march for the future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A poster at the March for the Future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA

In September the UK looked close to agreeing to regulatory  as opposed to customs  checks on the Irish sea, but a swift rejection of that idea by the DUP appears to have killed it, at least for now.

As a result of the impasse there has been no formal drawing up of an outline of the future trade relationship between the EU and UK, which Britain has been desperate to discuss since talks started over a year ago. Ms Mays Chequers plan, for frictionless trade outside the customs union and single market, was rejected by EU leaders as unworkable.

A UK government spokesperson said: We want to get a deal as soon as possible and agreed in the autumn. We will continue to work with the EU to make this happen.
No 10 has admitted it has yet to decide whether free movement of EU citizens will continue after a no-deal Brexit, with less than five months until departure day.

The work is ongoing, Theresa Mays spokesman said, after the home secretary and a senior Home Office civil servant contradicted each other within 24 hours.

Sajid Javid said there would have to be sensible transition period during which new EU arrivals could continue to work  one day after his official said free movement would be turned off.

Asked which was correct, the spokesman said: The work is ongoing and we will set out the details in due course.

Privately, ministers are believed to accept that it is inevitable that free movement would have to continue, because it will be impossible to quickly bring down the shutters.

Yet, on Tuesday, Shona Dunn, the Home Offices second permanent secretary, told MPs: If [a no-deal Brexit] were the case, the prime minister has been very clear that she would want free movement turned off at that point in time.

So, it would be our intention to have it done at that point in time. There will be a number of bits of secondary legislation, I would imagine.

Labour leapt on the confusion as fresh evidence that the government is in a complete mess over Brexit.

A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Show all 65 1 /65 A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A Peoples Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Protesters at Londons march for the future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A poster at the March for the Future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA

It looks like they are still negotiating with themselves, but the issue of EU citizens rights is too important to be left up in the air until the very last minute, said Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary.

The Tories cannot continue to play games with peoples lives like this.

And Layla Moran, a Liberal Democrat supporter of the anti-Brexit Best for Britain group, said: It's a farce. If the Home Office can't even get its own ministers and officials to agree on policy, let alone get that past No.10, how can we possibly expect to come to a wide ranging and complex agreement with 27 other nations

The uncertainty was revealed after the immigration minister, Caroline Nokes, was forced to u-turn after saying employers would have to check if EU nationals had the right to work, or were newly-arrived.

The Home Office they would not be expected to differentiate between resident EU citizens and those arriving after exit, even if the UK crashed out of the bloc without a deal.

Asked, on ITVs Peston programme, if he accepted such checks would be pointless, Mr Javid replied: Weve just got to be practical.

If there's a no-deal, we wont be able to immediately distinguish between those Europeans that were already here before March 29, and those who came after  and therefore, as a result, I wouldnt expect employers to do anything different than they do today.

There will need to be some kind of sensible transition period. I mean, these are the kinds of things Ive been working on for months and months.

The No 10 spokesman denied Mr Javid and his top civil servant had contradicted each other, saying: Planning for a no-deal outcome is ongoing and we will be able to set out the governments position in due course.

He declined to say that work would be done by the end of the year, but claimed: No-deal preparations are continuing at pace.
Wealthy UK overseas territories will be allowed to receive foreign aid after the government secured a significant change to international rules.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will now include richer countries that have been affected by natural disasters on a list of nations deserving of aid.

It comes after the UK government urged other developed nations to change the rules, pointing out that Caribbean countries damaged by hurricanes last year had not received official assistance because they were deemed too wealthy.

The British overseas territories of Anguilla, Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin Islands were significantly affected by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, but concerns were raised about current aid rules after the UK was not allowed to use its aid budget help the islands recover from the physical and economic damage caused.

Under the new rules, countries that suffer a natural disaster will be added to the list of nations eligible for official development assistance (ODA).

After successfully lobbying for change, Penny Mordaunt, the international development secretary hailed a major victory for the UK.

She said: The British public are strong supporters of providing help in the wake of disasters, including long-term reconstruction.

They want to help people, especially when they are from nations we have close ties to.

She added: Not being able to pay for that help from the aid budget, because a nations economy was doing well, before a hurricane, earthquake or other disaster hit, was illogical and had to change.

Britain has never fallen short in our support of countries in need  either through sending aid, our Armed Forces or reconstruction support. This significant rule change means that in future we may be able to use our aid budget to pay for that longer term, reconstruction support.

Things lost and saved: One year on from Hurricane Irma Show all 7 1 /7 Things lost and saved: One year on from Hurricane Irma Things lost and saved: One year on from Hurricane Irma Inez Gibbs During September of 2017, the Caribbean was hit by two powerful hurricanes, Irma and Maria. Almost a year after the rebuilding effort continue at a slow pace and with fear of what this year hurricane season could bring. who is diabetic, lost everything except her bed and her teddy bears. Cash assistance from the Red Cross helped her to support herself while she waited to return to work. These and my bed are the only things I saved. The teddy bears are my buddies, they are my friends. I bought them here from Jamaica 20 years ago. Everything else I had I lost. The cash I got was very helpful because I wasnt able to work after the hurricane so it helped me to pay my bills and buy my medication. Dennis Rivera/British Red Cross Things lost and saved: One year on from Hurricane Irma Cleve Pennyfeather, Disaster Response Officer at BVI Red Cross Cleve has been working for the British Virgin Islands Red Cross since January this year, working with local communities to help them recover from Irma and prepare for future hurricanes. The house he grew up in was badly damaged by the hurricane. This house is very sentimental to me - it has been in my family well over 80 years and it means a lot to us. I grew up in this house as a little boy until I left for high school. It belonged to my grandparents, and now belongs to my uncle who is 91. Irma completely destroyed the roof, but thankfully the Red Cross provided him with some cash so that he could buy materials to get it rebuilt. Dennis Rivera/British Red Cross Things lost and saved: One year on from Hurricane Irma Joan Chimney, 56 Joan runs the popular Sugar and Spice cafe on the island of Jost Van Dyke. She was on holiday in Grenada when the hurricane hit, but returned home to find her business badly damaged. Everybody always comes to my restaurant and says theyre here for my patties. I make them every morning, wake up and come down to my shop to make them from scratch. The hurricane did some damage to my restaurant though - all the windows and doors gone. Its a good thing that the Red Cross was there to give me some help buying them back so I could keep my business going. Dennis Rivera/British Red Cross Things lost and saved: One year on from Hurricane Irma Lorie Rymer, 70 Lorie, a keen viola player, saw his most treasured possession damaged in Hurricane Irma, all he has now is the broken remains. My house I will build back, but theres no way that I could replace my instrument, my viola, I cannot replace it. It was just precious, I can still hear it in my mind how it used to sound. I would give anything if I might be able to purchase one again, a used one. It has to be very old and seasoned wood, maybe 30, 40, 50 years old. Im going to take this one with me to the UK and have it repaired. Dennis Rivera/British Red Cross Things lost and saved: One year on from Hurricane Irma Lucia Harrigan, 81 81-year-old Lucia, who had lived in her home for 60 years before it was destroyed by Hurricane Irma, is looking forward to returning to her own home. When I see the destruction and I see what I had loved so dearly I sit down and I cry. The whole roof went, the shutters, and a brand new washer that I had just bought. I lost all my dining chairs, my living room set and a lot of my clothes, but Im not worried about that, as long as I could find something to wear. But I saved a few things, maybe some are salvageable or maybe not. My favourite thing that I lost is the deeds to my land. I hope that I will get back in the house soon, because when you get to my age you like to be by yourself. Dennis Rivera/British Red Cross Things lost and saved: One year on from Hurricane Irma Darrel Turnball Hurricane Irma destroyed almost everything Darrel owned, including his much-loved photo-album, but he managed to recover one of his favourite childhood toys. This is my best friend  I have carried him with me my whole life. When I got married he was with me, when I got divorced he was with me, he goes everywhere I go. I was so happy when I realised he hadnt been damaged in the hurricane. Dennis Rivera/British Red Cross Things lost and saved: One year on from Hurricane Irma Rasheed Jennings, 20 When Irma hit, Rasheed sheltered in the bathroom with his mother, father and brother - from there all they could do was watch as Irma shattered their home. The first thing that Irma blew out was the windows and then once the wind started to circle through the house it lifted up the doors and the roof, and once that was gone there was no protection and everything just started to float through the doors. Even my computer and PlayStation and all my gaming stuff was blown away, I didnt even think to protect them. We could see the damage through the window in the bathroom but there wasnt anything we could do at that point. Dennis Rivera/British Red Cross

Under existing rules, the OECD says countries whose gross national income is higher than the $12,055 (9,400) per capita threshold set by the World Bank are ineligible for aid.

As countries get wealthier and cross the threshold, they are removed from the list, leaving them dependent on other types of funding if they are hit by a natural disaster.

Anguilla and St Kitts and Nevis were both taken off the OECDs list of eligible countries 2014, while the British Virgin Islands was removed in 2000 and the Turks and Caicos in 2008.
There are fears for the safety of the LBGT+ community in Tanzania after a senior government official called on the public to report suspected homosexuals.

Authorities have already been handed thousands of names as officials declared a desire to educate gay people.

Paul Makonda, the regional commissioner of Dar es Salaam, announced that a 17-strong committee consisting of police, lawyers and doctors had been formed to identify homosexuals.

The committee will scour the internet to identify videos featuring supposedly gay content and warned citizens to delete any sex pictures they had stored on their phones or face arrest.

Mr Makonda said authorities had already been handed 18,000 messages of support for the policy from people disturbed by moral erosion, many of which also named individuals believed to be homosexual.

These homosexuals boast on social networks, the commissioner told Agence-France Presse. Give me their names. My ad hoc team will begin to get their hands on them.

Mr Makonda said he expected to receive international condemnation for his hardline approach, but added: I prefer to anger those countries than to anger god.

The commissioner is a devout Christian and a close ally of the east African countrys president, John Magufuli, who has ratcheted up anti-LGBT+ rhetoric since taking power in 2015.

Last year, the government threatened to arrest or expel gay rights activists as part of a crackdown on what the president described as immoral behaviours.

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Homosexuality is illegal in Tanzania and punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

The Foreign Office warns British travellers that same-sex couples are not tolerated in Tanzanias conservative society.

Public displays of affection such as holding hands or kissing in public could lead to arrest and imprisonment, it advises.
Thursday marks the start of the DIa de Muertos festival, a time of celebration and remembrance of friends and family who have died and embarked on their spiritual journey through the afterlife.

The two-day festival stems from the continuation of ancient Aztec rituals meant to honour those who had died. During the festival, people are encouraged to gather and pray to help those who have departed on their spiritual paths.

During the festival, families and communities gather to hold vigils and parties in honour of those theyve lost. They decorate altars to commemorate the deceased, often decorating those altars with the deceaseds favourite foods or personal items, with the hopes that spirits will bless the loved ones.

Here are some things you may not know about the Day of the Dead festival.

Its not Halloween, and its not supposed to scare anyone

While the subject is understandably upsetting for many, people celebrating this festival tend to leverage symbols of death alongside a point of death that there is humour in death. Festival celebrators tend to believe that death is something that should be celebrated in a lively way, and not something to be afraid of.

The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 Show all 45 1 /45 The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 EPA The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 EPA The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 EPA The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 EPA The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AFP/Getty Images The best pictures from Mexico City's Day of the Dead Parade 2018 AP

The serious tone of Day of the Dead is accompanied by rich and colourful decorations. The carnivalesque atmosphere, and the sugar skulls, are a representation of the belief that death is simply a continuation of the life cycle.

The festival is primarily celebrated in Mexico, but can be seen in many parts of Latin America

The Mexican festivities are by far the best known, but Mexican communities in America and South America also take the time to celebrate death each year.

In the Philippines, families are known to spend the night in graveyards playing cards and drinking.

The festival is also seen celebrated in Brazil, Ecuador, and Belize. Those individual celebrations tend to have their own small variations on the celebration as a whole.

The colours of the skull and face paints have specific meanings

Yellow represents sun and unity because  under the sun  we are all the same.

White is used to depict the spirit, and purity.

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Red represents life, or, more specifically, the blood of life.

Purple represents the understandable mourning that is felt by those who lose loved ones.

Pink signifies happiness.

Flowers, butterflies, and skulls represent are used as symbols

The scent of the Marigold is thought to help lead spirits back from the cemetery to their family homes. Monarch butterflies are thought to represent the soul of the departed. Sugar skulls arent morbid, theyre a representation of the cyclicality of life as we know it.
A self-taught execution expert fears the 30-year-old electric chair he built may fail as Tennessee carries out the death sentence on a double-murderer.

The execution of Edmund Zagorski, scheduled to go ahead on Thursday, looks set to become only the second by electrocution in the state since 1960.

It follows controversy over Tennessees three-drug lethal injection protocol, which some medical professionals believe kills inmates in an excruciating and elongated fashion, leading Zagorski to exercise his right under state law to die in the electric chair.

However, the man who built the chair being used in the execution has said the device, last operated in 2007, could prove to be a similarly-inhumane way to carry out the sentence.

Fred Leuchter was once a well-respected figure within the prison system, designing electric chairs, gas chambers, lethal injection machines and gallows for 27 states between 1979 and 1990.

But, his reputation was tainted when he claimed there had been no gas chambers at Auschwitz and scrutiny that followed revealed he was not a qualified or licensed engineer, despite branding himself as such.

When he was hired to rebuild Tennessees electric chair in 1988, he used skills picked up from designing navigational and surveillance equipment, as well as studying early executions.

Now, Mr Leuchter claims the device may fail during Zagorskis execution because since the controversy he has no longer been allowed to service it.

What I'm worried about now is Tennessee's got an electric chair that's going to hurt someone or cause problems. And it's got my name on it, he said. I don't think it's going to be humane.

Professor Deborah Denno, a legal expert on electrocution and the death penalty at Fordham University, said Mr Leuchter had often filled a void for prison authorities over the years.

Often, the most qualified people don't want to be involved [in executions], she said.

Even after his comments on the Holocaust and the later scandal surrounding his qualifications left him unwelcome as a formal prison contractor, Prof Denno said officials continually turned to Mr Leuchter for help because they literally had no one else to go to".

Tennessee's electric chair has only been used once since it was rebuilt in 1988 (AP)

Electrocution is becoming increasingly uncommon in the US, where only nine states still possess electric chairs and just 14 of the 871 inmates executed since 2000 have been put to death using the method.

Prof Denno added electric chairs have a history of botches that has only gotten worse".

In two Florida executions in the 1990s, smoke and flames shot from inmates heads. In a 1999 electrocution, blood spilled from under an inmate's mask as the death sentence took place.

Tennessee has only executed one other prisoner in Mr Leuchters chair, convicted child killer Daryl Holton in 2007.

His electrocution was deemed successful and the states governor, Bill Halam, said he is confident Zagorskis execution will also be carried out without issue.

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I have a great deal of confidence in our department of correction folks, he said. We've spoken with them regularly and they've assured us [the chair is ready].

Zagorksi, 63, who was convicted in 1984 for killing two men during a botched drug deal, was denied a last-minute stay of execution by an appeals court on Wednesday.

The death row inmate has previously argued both the electric chair and lethal injection infringe upon his eighth amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

In a statement to an appeals judge, the prisoner said he would prefer to die via electrocution as the method was the lesser of two evils.

The Tennessee Department of Corrections said Zagorski had chosen pickled pig knuckles and pig tails as his final meal, which would be provided to him on Thursday.

Additional reporting by AP
Robert Bowers, suspected of killing 11 people in the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has pleaded not guilty.

The truck driver entered the plea during an appearance in federal court for charges that could result in the death penalty.

There are 44 charges against the avowed antisemitic ranging from murder to hate crimes and obstructing the practice of a religion.

Prosecutors have said they will be pursuing the death penalty against him in the incident that is the deadliest-ever attack against Jews in the US.

He appeared in court with a bandage on his left arm, the result of a shootout with police at the synagogue on the morning of 28 October.

Mr Bowers is accused of interrupting a bris at the synagogue, located in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, and gunning down victims using a semiautomatic rifle and handguns after shouting "All Jews must die."

 Synagogue Shooting Suspect was treated at hospital by Jewish doctor and Jewish nurse

Donning a red prison-issued jumpsuit, he did not speak much in court except to say he understood the charges against him could result in being put on death row and to enter his plea.

During his previous court appearance earlier in the week, Mr Bowers had been shackled to a wheelchair since he was still being treated for his gunshot wound.

The 11 victims were regulars at the Tree of Life, there to attend Saturday services when the massacre occurred.

Rose Mallinger was the oldest among them at 97 and "was considered a pillar of the Jewish community" according to a statement from her family, Jerri Rabinowitz was a doctor who was killed as he ran towards the gunfire to help the wounded, Cecil and David Rosenthal were brothers and both developmentally disabled. One congregant Katy Levin told ABC News the pair were always seen together and she took comfort they were next to each other in their last moments.

Mass shootings in America Show all 8 1 /8 Mass shootings in America Mass shootings in America Camden shootings  1949 Howard Unruh killed 13 people, including three children, during a 12-minute walk through his neighborhood on September 6, 1949, in Camden, New Jersey, when he was 28 years old. The incident became known as the "Walk of Death". Unruh was found to be criminally insane and died in 2009 after a lengthy illness at the age of 88, following 60 years of confinement. Alamy Mass shootings in America University of Texas tower shooting  1966 Charles Whitman killed 17 people and injured 31 others in Austin, Texas. After stabbing his mother and wife the night before, he headed to the University of Texas, where he opened fire on people in the campus and streets from the observation desk. He was shot dead after a policeman and civilian reached the scene. Austin History Center, Austin Public Library Mass shootings in America Easter Sunday Massacre  1975 James Ruppert killd 11 family members in his mother's house, which included his mother, brother and his wife, as well as their eight children. He used a magnum, two handguns and a rifle. Mass shootings in America Wilkes-Barre shootings  1982 Former prison guard, George Banks, shot dead 13 people in Pennsylvania, including five of his own children. AP Photo/Times Leader Mass shootings in America Wah Mee massacre  1983 Three men, Kwan Fai Mak, Wai-Chiu Ng, and Benjamin Ng, killed 13 people who were in Seattle's Wah Mee gambling club. YouTube/KIRO 7 News Mass shootings in America San Ysidro McDonald's massacre  1984 James Huberty killed 21 people and injured 19 others after he walked in a McDonald's in San Diego. He was shot dead by a sniper after 78 minutes of him entering the restaurant. Alamy Mass shootings in America Palm Sunday massacre  1984 Ten people were shot dead from handguns at close range in a New York home. A baby girl was the only survivor after convicted dealer, Christopher Thomas, shot three women, one teenage girl and six children in their Brooklyn home. Thomas was convicted of manslaughter and cleared of murder. He was released from prison after 32 years. Mass shootings in America Edmond post office shooting  1986 Patrick Sherrill, a postal worker at the Edmond post office in Oklahoma, killed 14 co-workers and injured 6 others, before he shot himself. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Collection

Daniel Stein was a new grandfather, Richard Gottfried was a dentist and once-president at the Tree of Life, Joyce Fienberg was a grandmother of six who had mastered social media in order to stay in touch with them, 88-year-old Melvin Wax would lead services for the congregation when they needed it.

Bernice and Sylvan Simon, both in their late 80s, were killed in the same synagogue in which they were married and Irving Younger was another grandfather and volunteer who greeted his congregation at services.

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Judah Samet, 80, was not among the victims having arrived at the synagogue just four minutes late. As a child, Mr Samet had escaped the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany during the Second World War.

I survived the second time," he told the Washington Post about how he was in the parking lot just as the shooting was taking place.

Four police officers were also wounded in the shooting.

Critics have pointed out Mr Bower's antisemitic views openly expressed on social media channels like Gab were driven in part by the rhetoric of Donald Trump.
Texas Senate candidate Beto ORourke has allegedly received threats from Cesar Sayoc, the man suspected of mailing several pipe bombs to prominent Democrats and other critics of Donald Trump.

Campaign spokesperson Chris Evans told the Texas Tribune the candidate did not receive a suspicious package but we received a threat via Facebook from that individual in April, a threat towards Beto, and we immediately reported it to the [US] Capitol police.

Mr Evans added: Then we turned over the message and the information and the threat to the FBI in July.

Mr ORourke has been picking up steam as he challenges Republican incumbent Ted Cruz, raising millions more in campaign contributions in the past few months.

After Mr Sayoc was arrested in Plantation, Florida, a list of more than 100 potential targets was allegedly found among his possessions.

It is unclear at this time if Mr ORourke was on that list.

 Miami incident: Suspicious package found at offices of Miami-Dade Democrat Party

At least some of the messages to the Texas candidate included pictures of Mr ORourkes family, his campaign said, and read: Hug your loved ones every time you leave home. See you soon.

The FBI sent agents to the current House Democrats office in El Paso, Texas, to check its mail in the wake of the string of suspicious packages.

Mr ORourke appeared undeterred however.

On the campaign trail, he told the newspaper: We just got to continue to do our best to be good to one another, to try to lead by example....I feel safe in this state. I feel like we do right and good by one another when given the chance, and were going to continue to do that.

Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Show all 11 1 /11 Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Barack Obama The Secret Service intercepted a package en route to the Washington D.C. residence of former President Barack Obama on Wednesday 23 October Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Hillary and Bill Clinton A package was delivered to the Chappaqua, New York home of former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday 23 October Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Joe Biden Two packages adressed to former Vice-president Joe Biden were found at a sorting facility in Delaware on Thursday 25 October AFP/Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN George Soros A package was delivered to the New York home of Billionaire investor and funder of the Democrats George Soros on Monday 22 October AFP/Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN CNN and John Brennan A package was delivered to former CIA director John Brennan at the CNN offices in New York on Wednesday 23 October Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Debbie Wasserman Schultz A package was delivered to the office of Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Wednesday 23 October, it was addressed to former attorney general Eric Holder Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Eric Holder The package that was delivered to the office of Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz was addressed to former attorney general Eric Holder Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Maxine Waters Two packages were sent to Democratic congresswoman Maxine Waters on Wednesday 23 October, one to LA one to D.C. Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Robert De Niro A package was delivered to actor Robert De Niro in New York on Thursday 25 October AFP/Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Cory Booker A package found in Florida was addressed to Democratic Senator Cory Booker on Friday 26 October Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN James Clapper NYPD intercepted a package addressed to former directo of national intelligence James Clapper on on Friday 26 October AFP/Getty

Mr Sayoc has been accused by a state legislator of tracking him too.

The guy was Googling me, stalking me, trying to find out stuff about me  coming up with my address at the Capitol and at home, state House Democrat Poncho Nevarez said after he was also visited by the FBI last week.

Mr Nevarez confirmed his Texas Capitol office in Austin had received a package which triggered an evacuation.

Police investigated and cleared the package, saying there was no threat.

Mr Sayoc is suspected of sending up to 15 explosive devices or suspicious packages addressed to Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, former US Attorney General Eric Holder, House Democrat Maxine Waters, Democratic Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, billionaires and Democratic contributors George Soros and Tom Steyer, actor Robert DeNiro, and CNN.

Ms Waters and Mr Biden both received two packages.

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Mr Sayoc has appeared in court, with another appearance set for later this week.

The packages also contained a return address for House Democrat from south Florida and former Democratic national chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

All have been vocal critics of Mr Trump and the public targets of his criticism.
With one of the most crucial midterm elections in recent US history less than a week away, early voter turnout appears to have nearly doubled from 2014, shattering records along the way.

The 2014 midterms saw 12,938,596 total votes cast with six days before the elections, compared to 24,024,621 total votes cast by Wednesday.

Meanwhile, battleground states like Texas  where progressive candidates like Beto ORourke have threatened to unseat Republican incumbents like Ted Cruz  have seen record-level early voter turnout ahead of Election Day.

The 2018 figures are atypical for midterm elections, which generally see far fewer ballots during early voting and on Election Day; in fact, this years early voter turnout is more comparable to a presidential election season.

For example, 2016, saw just over 29m votes cast with six days to go until the election.

Records have been shattered across the country, including in the Lone Star state where Harris County saw the largest number of voters on the first day of early voting ever, casting more than 63,000 ballots.

US midterm elections: the voters Show all 10 1 /10 US midterm elections: the voters US midterm elections: the voters Ross Kershey of Exton, Pennsylvania objects to President Trump's recent threat to unilaterally suspend the constitutional protection of birthright citizenship as a way to control undocumented immigrants AP US midterm elections: the voters Thomas Jakel of Eveleth Minnesota is a former miner. The economy is the most important thing to voters in his town AFP/Getty US midterm elections: the voters Jerry Mcneff of Exton, Pennsylvania intends to split his ballot between the parties for Pennsylvania's House, Senate and governor elections AP US midterm elections: the voters Jean Hoffman of Exton, Pennsylvania has concerns about the cost of her daughters' college education. She thinks that voting Republican might help extend the economy's rise AP US midterm elections: the voters Supporters attend a rally of President Trump in Rochester, Minnesota AFP/Getty US midterm elections: the voters Supporters attend a rally of President Trump in Rochester, Minnesota Reuters US midterm elections: the voters Supporter Jenny Haley and son wait in line to see a Trump Rally in Rochester, Minnesota AFP/Getty US midterm elections: the voters Dick Calef of Exton, Pennsylvania is a life-long Republican. He credits the economic gains in suburban Philadelphia to longer-term factors beyond Trump's policies, such as the growth of internet and health care companies. He's not yet sure how he will vote AP US midterm elections: the voters Markus Fasel of Mendota Heights, Minnesota attends a campaign event for Democrat Angie Craig, his favoured congressional candidate AFP/Getty US midterm elections: the voters Supporters attend a rally of President Trump in Rochester, Minnesota Reuters

Both Democrats and Republicans alike have been casting their ballots early, with 43 per cent of the total early voter turnout being Republican voters and 41 per cent being Democrats, according to NBC News.

Those levels are comparable to 2016, which saw 43 per cent of Democrats and 40 per cent of Republicans making up the total turnout with just six days left until the election.

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Donald Trump has scheduled nearly a dozen remaining rallies nationwide to campaign for conservative lawmakers who support his America First agenda, and reportedly plans to continue injecting himself into local races ahead of the midterms.

A surge of energy appears to have swept over Democratic voters, according to the latest generic ballot polling, which shows the minority party holding a 17-point edge in the upcoming elections.
Oprah Winfrey called on voters in Georgia to honour the men and women "who were lynched...repressed and oppressed" and make history by backing Democrat governor candidate Stacey Abrams in next week's midterms.

Ms Abrams is seeking to become the first black female governor in US history and Winfrey said breaking such barriers was important for those "who were humiliated, who were discriminated against... I refuse to let their sacrifices be in vain."

Winfrey also put to rest any rumours she was there for a potential run herself at the event in Marietta, Georgia, north of Atlanta.

Recommended Oprah and Barack Obama head to Georgia to campaign for Stacey Abrams

She said: "I want to make it very clear ... I don't want to run, okay? I'm not trying to test any waters. Don't want to go in those waters. I'm here today because of Stacey Abrams".

"I've earned the right to think for myself and to vote for myself, and that's why I am a registered Independent," the billionaire multimedia mogul said. Ms Abrams is running against Republican candidate and current secretary of state Brian Kemp.

It appeared to be a direct appeal to her own vast and diverse fan base to come and vote for Ms Abrams.

"Nobody paid for me to come here. Nobody even asked for me to come here. I paid for myself and I approve this message, Winfrey said at the town hall event.

As she sat down with Ms Abrams on stage, the crowd chanted: You get a vote! And you get a vote! And you get a vote! parroting Winfreys characteristic enthusiasm when she would hand free items to audience members, like new cars, on her erstwhile television show.

 Stacey Abrams campaigns in Atlanta to become first African American female governor

Both born into poverty and partly raised in Mississippi, Winfrey said had been asking around for Ms Abrams number about three days ago.

She noted she had reached her when Ms Abrams was driving: I called up Stacey Abrams and said Stacey, this is Oprah. She said Girl, let me pull over!

It was not all jokes though, Winfreys speech was a rallying cry to vote for those in the American South, particularly the descendants of African-American slaves.

For those who ha[ve] an ancestor who didn't have the right to vote and you are choosing not to vote ... you are dishonoring your family, you are disrespecting and disregarding their legacy, their suffering and their dreams, she said.

US midterms Show all 15 1 /15 US midterms US midterms US midterms Candidates are fighting for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives. The lower house of the United States Congress currently has a Republican majority Getty US midterms US midterms 33 of the 100 seats in the US Senate are up for grabs. The upper house of the United States Congress currently has a Democratic majority AFP/Getty US midterms US midterms President Barack Obama is braced for a potential clobbering from voters. If the Republicans emerge as the majority party in the Senate, the impact would be considerable Getty US midterms US midterms Michelle Nunn: Democratic US Senate candidate for Atlanta, Georgia Getty US midterms US midterms Nunn is in a tight race with Republican candidate David Perdue Getty US midterms US midterms Jason Carter: Democratic candidate for Governor of Georgia. The grandson of 39th US President, Jimmy Carter, is surging against the incumbent Republican Nathan Deal Getty US midterms US midterms In Florida Charlie Crist, once a Republican governor of the state, now turned Democrat, is trying to oust Rick Scott, the Republican incumbent Getty US midterms US midterms Republican Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is hoping to win a second term If he does, he will be considered possible presidential material Getty US midterms US midterms Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York, is also a possible future president, this time for the Democrats Getty US midterms US midterms Will Martha Coakley, a former Massachusetts Attorney General, be elected as the next Democratic governor of that state? AFP/Getty US midterms US midterms And an incumbent John Hickenlooper hang on for the Democrats as Governor of Colorado? Getty US midterms US midterms People will inevitably be thinking about the 2016 presidential contest. Hilary Clinton has her eyes on the prize as the forerunner in the Democratic race Getty US midterms US midterms Potential Republican Presidential candidates include Senator Rand Paul... Getty US midterms US midterms ... Republican Senator Ted Cruz Getty US midterms US midterms And former Florida Governor Jeb Bush Getty

As much as Barack Obamas election meant a great deal for African-Americans and other minorities, Ms Abrams win would be a major leap forward for black women who have historically been kept out of educational and professional opportunities as well as positions of power.

Several older black women The Independent encountered on the campaign trail in Georgia last week, those who had lived through the pre-1965 Jim Crow era when segregation was enshrined in law, could be seen holding back tears whenever Ms Abrams spoke.

Glenda Hatchett, the star of the television show Judge Hatchett, told The Independent: as a black woman I want to be very clear that Staceys candidacy is about inclusion, adding: We will have a governor for all of Georgia.

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Winfrey addressed them as well, quoting her personal friend and legendary poet and author Maya Angelou.

She used to say, Baby, your crown has been paid for so put it on your head and wear it. The right to vote is your crown, Winfrey said.

Addressing what critics have called divisive and even racist rhetoric of Republicans and, specifically, Donald Trump, Winfrey said the vitriol and the ads, they are designed to confuse and confound you with fear and asked Georgians to vote your values[and] conscience.

But, Ms Abrams message on the campaign trail has been one not just aimed at women of colour.

I dont want people to vote for me because Im black," she said, answering a previous question from The Independent during a campaign stop at the UpNext barber shop in southwestern Atlanta.

She wants people to vote for her because she will uplift all Georgians.
The tightrope race for taking the Senate during next weeks midterm elections could go either way, and one of the states that could tip the balance is Tennessee.

Theres no doubt Republicans are in a stronger position across America, and a blue win would require the Democrats to play a perfect hand, but it is possible Donald Trumps party could lose out.

With 51 red Senate seats to 47 blue, and two independents who caucus with the Democrats, every state counts. But as with any election, some states count more than others, and one of those under the spotlight is Tennessee.

With Republican Senator Bob Corker retiring, his Trump-supporting replacement Marsha Blackburn would normally have a clear run to victory in this red state. But a number of intriguing factors mean former Governor Phil Bredesen is a key Democrat to watch on Tuesday night.

Given the polarised state of American politics, there arent too many instances of viable Democratic Senate candidates in states as red as Tennessee, political professor at the University of Memphis Eric Groendyk tells The Independent. The Bredesen race is definitely one to watch.

Even Nashvilles favourite Taylor Swift is excited about this race. The international superstar has been more politically vocal than ever, calling for her army of Swifties to go out and vote.

This week Swift shared a message on Instagram saying she had already voted for Breseden, who she claims is the candidate who has proven himself to be reasonable and trustworthy.

And it seems the buzz around votership is having an impact. Communications Director for the Tennessee Democratic Party, Amanda Yanchury, tells The Independent more than one million people had already voted in Tennessee, with three days of early voting and Election Day itself still to go at that point.

To put that into context, Ms Yanchury said, 1.4 million people total voted in the 2014 midterm election in Tennessee.

This high voter turnout is being seen across the country  with a left outraged with Donald Trump and a right fearful of the imminent migrant caravans  but it is in states like Tennessee where these numbers could make the difference.

Recommended Taylor Swift urges fans to vote at American Music Awards

So does Breseden really stand a chance?

Former Governor Phil Bredesen served two terms, leaving office in 2011, and was Mayor of Nashville before that, giving him strong name recognition among voters. A known moderate, Bredesen often plays the middle ground, however his controversial support of Brett Kavanaugh this year may serve to alienate him.

Bredesen definitely has a chance, but he needs to walk a tightrope to do it, Eric Groenendyk told us. He needs to appear moderate enough to win some of the moderate and conservative minded people who voted for him when he was governor, and the state was not so bright red. At the same time, he also needs the Democratic base to be excited enough to turn out to vote for him.

This graph shows the battle for the Senate at the 2018 US Midterms (The Independent)

Tennessee is strong Trump territory, as we saw with the Memphis rally earlier this month with the president wholly endorsing one of his biggest fans, Marsha Blackburn.

According to Real Clear Politics Blackburn currently holds a 6.2 per cent lead, but from April to the end of September this year  the same month as the Brett Kavanaugh hearing  it was in fact Mr Bredesen that was the favourite to win.

But many polls, including Cook, say this race is a toss up.

He has some support here and I think it may be a close race. I do think that Blackburn is more likely to win, however. I also think that this years midterm elections may be poll-defying like the Brexit vote and Trumps election, senior lecturer in political science at the University of Memphis, Paul A Mego, said.

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But Blackburn is not without her own controversies. She has been plagued with expense scandals over recent years, including allegedly not disclosing a $100,000 line of a credit from a bank to cover the costs of repairs for a house she co-owns in South Carolina.

She is also a staunch pro-lifer, to the extent that one of her campaign adverts from 2017 got blocked from Twitter because she claimed she had stopped the sale of baby body parts.

I think that both sides (and there really are only two sides) are feeling desperate and a little scared, Dr Mego said.
Donald Trumps White House has announced an aggressive new policy to confront the governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, labelling the three nations the troika of tyranny.

Many of you in the audience today have personally suffered unspeakable horrors at the hands of the regimes in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, only to survive, fight back, conquer, and overcome, John Bolton, Mr Trumps national security advisor said during a speech in Miami, Florida. The troika of tyranny in this hemisphere  Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua  has finally met its match, he said.

The remarks came the same day the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted its 27th annual resolution calling for an end to the nations economic embargo on Cuba, after a failed bid by Washington to amend the text to push Cuba to improve its human rights record.

The UN vote can carry political weight, but only the US Congress can lift the more than 50-year-old embargo. The United States and Israel voted against the resolution, 189 countries voted in favour and Ukraine and Moldova did not vote.

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Mr Bolton promised a tough stance by the Trump administration towards dictators and despots near our shores in a speech in Miami, which is home to large numbers of migrants from Cuba and Venezuela.

He also said the president had signed an executive order to ban US persons from dealing with entities and individuals involved with corrupt or deceptive gold sales from Venezuela.

The speech was expected to be well received by Cuban-Americans and other Hispanics in Florida who favour stronger pressure on Cubas Communist government and other leftist governments in Latin America. However, it appeared unlikely the new policy would be welcomed by international governments.

US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the General Assembly that the resolution was an opportunity for countries to feel they can poke the United States in the eye.

But youre not hurting the United States when you do this. You are literally hurting the Cuban people by telling the regime that their treatment of their people is acceptable, she said ahead of the vote.

The United States consistently voted against the UN resolutions for 24 years but abstained for the first time in 2016 under former president Barack Obama, as Washington and Havana forged a closer relationship.

 Miguel Diaz-Canel elected president of Cuba replacing Raul Castro

But relations have deteriorated sharply since Donald Trump took office in January 2017, returning to Cold War characterisations of Cuba and tightening trade and travel restrictions that had been eased by Barack Obama.

The United States voted against the UN resolution last year along with its ally Israel. The General Assemblys remaining 191 members voted in favour.

This year, the United States proposed eight amendments to the resolution, including calling on Cuba to fully grant its citizens internationally recognised civil, political and economic rights and freedoms, including freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and free access to information.

Cuba: Wifi means family Show all 13 1 /13 Cuba: Wifi means family Cuba: Wifi means family Doctor Alejandro Soto stands with his dog Coco as he connects to an internet hotspot in Havana Reuters Cuba: Wifi means family Gathering at a hotspot in Regla Reuters Cuba: Wifi means family A dancer uses a hotspot from inside a bus before performing at the Carnival of Havana Reuters Cuba: Wifi means family A woman sits on a vintage car as she uses a hotspot in Havana Reuters Cuba: Wifi means family A hotspot connection at the sea front at the Malecon in Havana Reuters Cuba: Wifi means family A hotspot in Havana Reuters Cuba: Wifi means family Dancers use a hotspot before performing at the Carnival of Havana Reuters Cuba: Wifi means family Tourist guide Daniel Hernandez, 26, sits on his Russian-made car as he speaks to his girlfriend who lives in Britain Reuters Cuba: Wifi means family People connecting to the internet at a hotspot in Regla Reuters Cuba: Wifi means family Claudia Espinosa (right) and her mother Maribel Sosa speak to relatives living in the United States at an internet hotspot in Havana Reuters Cuba: Wifi means family An internet hotspot at the sea front at the Malecon in Havana Reuters Cuba: Wifi means family A hotspot in Havana REUTERS Cuba: Wifi means family People make a video-call inside a car at a hotspot in Havana Reuters

But all of the amendments failed after more than 113 countries voted against them. Only the United States, Israel and Ukraine voted in favour of all eight amendments. More than 65 countries abstained.

Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez said on Thursday the UN government lacked the moral authority to criticise Cuba and others on human rights.

The embargo is a violation of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of international law, he said before the vote. It is an act of aggression and an act of economic war, which disrupts international peace and order.

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Last month, the United States launched a campaign at the United Nations that it said was designed to highlight the plight of Cuban political prisoners.

Protesting Cuban and Bolivian diplomats drowned out the launch by shouting, chanting and banging their hands on desks.

Mr Bolton spoke at Freedom Tower  a building where Cuban refugees were welcomed in the 1960s following Fidel Castros revolution  a day after Mr Trump campaigned in Florida for Republican candidates in tight Senate and gubernatorial races.

Additional reporting by Reuters
The Indonesian Navy has recovered a black box from a Lion Air passenger jet that crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on board.

Divers had been searching the shallow waters off the coast of Jakarta for the flight data recorder, which should provide clues about what exactly happened when the plane lost contact with ground staff 13 minutes after taking off from the capital early on Monday.

The device was found intact on the muddy sea floor. Only small pieces of the aircraft were found but divers were able to close in on the equipment because of the ping signals it emitted.

We dug and we got the black box, a Navy sergeant, identified as Hendra, told broadcaster Metro TV on board a search vessel.

He said the search was desperate because the current below was strong.

The flight recorder will be handed over to Indonesias transport safety committee, which is investigating what caused the Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet to plunge into the sea just weeks after entering service.

Flight JT610 had been making a one hour journey to the western city of Pangkal Pinang when it went down. The bodies of passengers and the crew have not yet been found but it is believed that there are no survivors.

Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Show all 13 1 /13 Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Indonesia President Joko Widodo inspects the items recovered from Lion Air flight JT 610 Getty Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta A member of Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency inspects debris AP Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Rescue teams have been joined by fisherman and volunteers in the search for survivors Getty Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Lion Air CEO, Edward Sirait (centre) speaks during a press conference at Lion Air Branch office at Soekarno Hatta Airport EPA Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta No bodies have yet been discovered among the wreckage of the Lion Air flight EPA Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Indonesian search and rescue personnel prepare for a recovery mission Getty Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Rescuers searching the site of the plane crash lift a body bag onto a nearby vessel EPA Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta A relative of passengers arrive at Lion Air's crisis center at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia AP Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta In this photo released by Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency rescuers inspect debris believed to be from a Lion Air passenger jet AP Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta A relative of passengers prays as she and others wait for news on a Lion Air plane that crashed off Java Island AP Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta A rescue team member points to the location where Indonesia's Lion Air flight JT 610 had crashed into the sea, at Tanjung Priok seaport in Jakarta Getty Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Officials evacuate a body bag containing the remains of one of the victims of the crash EPA Lion Air plane crashes minutes after take-off from Jakarta Indonesian relatives of the plane crash victims cry as they wait for the news at the airport in Sukarno Hatta Airport EPA

The crash was the worst airline disaster in Indonesia since 1997 and renewed concerns about safety in its fast-growing aviation industry, which was recently removed from European Union and US blacklists.

Lion Airs maintenance and engineering director, fleet maintenance manager, and the release engineer who gave the jet permission to fly on Monday have all been suspended for 120 days by the countrys transport ministry.

The budget airline will be subject to more intensive on ramp inspections compared with other airlines, authorities have announced. Regulators will check 40 per cent of its flights at random, compared with 10 to 15 per cent for other airlines, transport minister Budi Karya Sumadi said.

President Joko Widodo has also ordered a review of all regulations relating to flight safety, and his government is considering enforcing increases in ticket prices charged by low-cost carriers.

Privately-owned Lion Air, founded in 1999, said the jet which crashed had been in operation since August. It said the plane had been airworthy and the pilot and co-pilot had 11,000 hours of flying time between them.

But the transport safety committee said the plane had technical problems, including an issue with unreliable airspeed, on its previous flight from the city of Denpasar on the resort island of Bali on Sunday.

Lion Air chief executive Edward Sirait has acknowledged reports of technical problems, but said maintenance had been carried out according to procedure before it was cleared to fly again.

Investigators are looking into why the pilot had asked to return to Jakarta airport shortly after take-off, a request that ground control officials had granted shortly before the flight crashed.

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It could be months before they know what caused the plane to crash.

Soerjanto Tjahjono, head of the transport safety committee, said it would take up to three weeks to download data from the black box and up to six months to analyse it.

An object thought to be part of the jets fuselage has also been found by an underwater drone about 30 metres (98 feet) deep close to where the aircraft lost contact with ground control.

The search has been complicated by strong currents and underwater energy pipelines in the area.
North Korean officials sexually assault women with near total impunity and sexual abuse is so prevalent it has been normalised, a harrowing report has found.

The Human Rights Watch said women in the country are routinely forced to endure sexual violence by government officials, police, prison guards, interrogators and soldiers.

The profoundly patriarchal society means many women are ashamed of the abuse they experience and feel unable to demand accountability  deciding not to speak out because of feeble law enforcement and support services.

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The damning report  titled You Cry at Night, but Dont Know Why: Sexual Violence against Women in North Korea  is based on dozens of interviews with sexual abuse victims who fled the totalitarian state.

Unwanted sexual contact and violence ... is so common in North Korea it has come to be accepted as part of ordinary life, the report claims.

Many North Koreans who researchers spoke to said that when an official in a position of power picks a woman, she has no choice but to comply with any demands he makes, whether for sex, money or other favours.

This happened to one woman being questioned by a police official in a pre-trial detention facility after she was caught trying to escape the country.

He made me sit very close to him... [and] also touched me between the legs ... several times during different days, Park Young-hee said.

My life was in his hands, so I did everything he wanted. How could I do anything else?

Reports like these about the so-called hermit kingdom  the most secretive and isolated regime in the world  are rare.

Human Rights Watchs executive director, Kenneth Roth, said: Sexual violence in North Korea is an open, unaddressed, and widely tolerated secret. North Korean woman would probably say Me Too if they thought there was any way to obtain justice, but their voices are silenced in Kim Jong Uns dictatorship.

The black markets that have become a crucial source of income for many families are an area where sexual violence is prevalent.

They consider us [sex] toys. We are at the mercy of men, Oh Jung-hee, a former trader in her 40s, told researchers.

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It happens so often nobody thinks it is a big deal. We dont even realise when we are upset. But we are human, and we feel it. So sometimes, out of nowhere, you cry at night and dont know why.

According to the study, women said sexual abuse was so normalised that they did not deem it to be unusual  with some saying it had become accepted as part of daily life.

It said a dearth of sexual education and an unchecked abuse of power by the perpetrators were some of a number of factors that have created this attitude.

Only one of the sexual assault survivors researchers spoke to said she had tried to report it. The others did not report the assaults because they did not trust the police and did not think they would take action.

The organisation interviewed a total of 106 North Koreans, comprising 72 women, four girls, and 30 men. Some 54 of those interviewed had fled North Korea since 2011  the year Kim Jong-un came to power.

Human Rights Watch urged North Korea to acknowledge the problem of sexual violence and ensure that it was treated as a crime.

According to the UN, the overwhelming majority of the country's 25 million citizens endure starvation and live with the threat of the gulag, forced labour camps and public execution.

A landmark UN report detailed cases of extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence, persecution on political, religious, racial and gender grounds, the forcible transfer of populations, the enforced disappearance of persons and the inhumane act of knowingly causing prolonged starvation.

The UN estimates there to be between 80,000 and 120,000 political prisoners detained in four large political prison camps in the country.
A Japanese pilot has admitted being almost 10 times over the alcohol limit shortly before a flight from Heathrow Airport, police said.

Drunk first officer Katsutoshi Jitsukawa, 42, was arrested at the airport after failing a breath test just 50 minutes before Japan Airlines (JAL) flight JL44 to Tokyo was due to take off with him in the cockpit.

Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that the driver of a crew bus alerted police after smelling alcohol on the pilot.

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Jitsukawa was due to fly a Boeing 777 aircraft, which holds up to 244 passengers.

He pleaded guilty to exceeding the alcohol limit at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Thursday, according to a Metropolitan Police spokesperson.

Tests revealed he had 189mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in his system  nearly 10 times the legal limit of 20mg for on-duty pilots. The drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg.

Jitsukawa was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on 29 November.

JAL apologised and pledged to implement immediate actions to prevent any future occurrence, adding that safety remains our utmost priority.

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The flight departed after a 69-minute delay.

The news comes the same day the Home Office has launched a call for evidence to determine whether airports should be subject to the same licensing laws as the high street.

The three-month procedure invites members of the public to share their views about airports being able to sell alcohol before 10am, unlike elsewhere in the country.

Wetherspoon, which operates a number of airside pubs in the UK calls the potential imposition of harsher rules Draconian. A spokesperson told The Independent: More analysis may need to be done on the minority of incidents rather than more draconian licensing restrictions which would affect everyone.

Millions more people use airports than they did 20 years ago. Behaviour is generally excellent with almost zero incidents. If you ban alcohol at airports, in some way people will still bring their own or drink outside. Wetherspoon airport pubs have the highest sales of food and coffee within the companys 900 pubs.

The review comes amid a rise in reports of drunk and disorderly passengers onboard aircraft.

Air travel often marks the start of an exciting holiday abroad, and airports are places to eat, drink and shop as we wait to board our flights, said Victoria Atkins, minister for crime, safeguarding and vulnerability.

Most UK air passengers behave responsibly when flying, but any disruptive or drunk behaviour is entirely unacceptable. This government is committed to ensuring that the travelling environment for airline passengers remains safe and enjoyable.

Airlines, pilots union BALPA and travel association ABTA are all backing the decision to review the rules.
Starting on 1 November, Europes biggest low-cost airline has cut the volume of hand luggage travellers can take to the departure gate by two-thirds.

Passengers who choose not to pay extra for either Priority Boarding or to check baggage in are now restricted to a single case measuring 40x25x20cm  a volume of 20 litres, compared with the previous limit of 58 litres in two bags.

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The airline says that the change will enhance punctuality, and that it is not intended to increase revenue. A new, cheaper category for checked baggage weighing up to 10kg has been introduced on the same day.

Around 30,000 Ryanair passengers are expected to depart from Stansted Airport  the main base for the giant low-cost airline  on the first day of the new rules.

To cope with the change, the Essex airport opened its security lanes early, at 2.30am, and provided extra check-in facilities.

The new regulations may not be enforced rigorously from day one. Passengers will be allowed some wriggle room in terms of their free bag; the gauge deployed at the departure gate to check size is 25 per cent bigger than the stipulated dimensions.

In addition, it is not clear if the airline has all the necessary payment infrastructure and staff capacity at departure gates to process the fees.

Wizz Air, the Hungarian rival to Ryanair, has chosen the same day to bring in very similar rules on cabin baggage.

But the Italian competition and markets authority, known as the AGCM, has ordered both airlines to suspend the new policy on flights to and from Italy.

The authority contends that the free bag is not sufficient for a typical passengers needs. Because many travellers will be obliged to pay extra, argues the AGCM, they cannot easily make fare comparisons with rival airlines.

The Italian national airline, Alitalia, allows one bag measuring 55x35x25cm  over twice as big as Ryanair and Wizz Air. But it can weigh only 8kg, compared with 10kg on the two budget rivals.

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The other big airline operating in Italy, easyJet, allows an even bigger volume  56x45x25cm  and has no weight limit.

Ryanair says it will appeal the decision, because the authority cannot dictate on issues that affect airline punctuality. It contends that a large piece of cabin baggage is not an essential element of the transport contract.
Its the time of year again when we have the chance to display our true worth as humans by seeing how many poppies we can display to honour those who fought for us.

Katie Hopkins proved herself a true friend of the fallen this week when she wrote on Twitter: I called my daughter Poppy, so I wont forget. Will you? She makes a powerful point, and thats why my three kids are called Somme, Trench and Mustard Gas.

You see so many moving tales around this time, such as letters to the Daily Telegraph that say: I decided to pay my respect to those who fought by travelling to Belgium and crawling around in mud for six months, and only stopped when I was arrested as it was a childrens play area on the outskirts of Antwerp. Now I have a restraining order against me, and have started a crowdfunding site to pay for my legal fees.

At some point over the next week, Good Morning Britain will feature a retired security guard whos had a kidney removed and replaced with a poppy. And Piers Morgan will shed a tear as he tells the story of a carpet salesman who paid tribute to our war dead by turning up five minutes late for an appointment and then shooting himself for desertion.

Around the country well hear heartwarming tales, along the lines of a rambling group writing in their newsletter: We just spent a delightful weekend walking around Pembrokeshire, where we enjoyed the glorious autumnal shades of yellow and rustic brown of fading bracken. But what a disgrace there are no poppies! So we clubbed together and bought four tons of Agent Orange and incinerated the whole area. Now maybe the local authority will plant some poppies and honour the fallen as they deserve! Mind you, theyll have to be plastic as nothing can grow there for 300 years!

The Sun will feature a family from Swansea who chopped their neighbours tree down because an apple fell off it and thumped on the ground during the two minutes silence. How DARE it insult our war heroes? theyll say. If it wasnt for them, that tree would be German.

Others who betray the memory will include shameful television personalities who appear onscreen without a poppy. Already theres disgust because the BBC is planning to broadcast one of its mainstream shows in the week before Remembrance Day, with not one person wearing a poppy, and their excuse is its a repeat of Only Fools and Horses, originally shown in April 1986.

Would it be too much trouble to call everyone back and film it again with everyone proudly sporting a poppy? Its a good job our servicemen werent so lazy before fighting Rommel in the desert.

 Timur Coskun condemns death threats sent to Cambridge University students after Remembrance Day debate

The National Portrait Gallery should also be exposed for displaying a painting of Sir Francis Drake with no poppy. Its especially upsetting that he shows such a lack of respect, seeing as he often took an interest in military issues.

And even the health and safety brigade have interfered with paying our respects. Kidderminster Town Centre has been told in an email that theyre not to remember the sacrifice of our forefathers by placing landmines around the Arndale Centre, as this could lead to injury.

We should insist we never forget  and to start with we should clamp down on traitors who make no effort to remember because theyre 98 and in the advanced stages of dementia. Its one thing not recalling who your sister is, but forgetting our heroes is a scandal.

Even worse are soldiers who have shellshock and cant recall their own battles. How dare they not remember? The ungrateful bastards.

Luckily there are people who ensure we will never forget. Coca Cola have painted a battlefield across its lorries with the slogan Lest we forget, because it clearly holds a deep empathy for those who fought against tyranny, with every fizz seeming to say: Take that, Goebbels.

Then there are smaller companies, such as Gardman, who have marketed a special Remembrance Bird House covered in pictures of poppies. Gestures like that make you realise 60 million didnt die in vain.

But the poppies arent just about remembering; theyre also about providing a pension for those servicemen who fought for their country. And its fitting that our soldiers should be dependent on sales of poppies, rather than having their retirement properly funded. That way, theyre forced to hang around railway stations with buckets, which makes it easier for us to remember them. If we gave them enough to live on, theyd be at home or down the cafe with their mates, out of view where we can forget them, and they wouldnt want that.

Similarly, the 22,000 servicemen and women present at nuclear tests fired by the British have been campaigning for 50 years for recognition that the aftermath of these tests had an enormous impact on their health.

We refuse to be forgotten, they say. What a bunch of traitors. How dare these soldiers confuse the campaign to remember our soldiers by demanding to be remembered?

This is why the most enthusiastic poppy fanatics, like Katie Hopkins and Jacob Rees-Mogg, encapsulate the British spirit by fighting the next heroic battle, for a Brexit that breaks all ties with Europe. We didnt fight the First World War to be tied to Europe, especially not Belgium  except for the pact with Belgium that led us into it.

But never mind that. The point is we were fighting for freedom against Belgium, which is why the slogan we used to go into war was Brave little Belgium. No, hang on, Ill get this right in a minute.
Before we mourn the death of free speech in this once great country, via the premature demise, a mere twenty years into the role, of the loose-fingered emailer-in-chief of Waitrose mag, it is at least worth pausing to observe the sheer volume of free speech heralded by this seismic event.

We are now, I believe, on to day three of vegangate, this very modern scandal prompted by the now outgoing Waitrose magazine editor William Sitwell, responding to a freelance pitch from a vegan food writer, with a string of gags about how all vegans are hypocrites and wouldnt it be jolly good fun to kill them and eat them, and then deciding, after his gags were made public, that perhaps it might be time he stood down.

If you were to publish every opinion uttered on this subject in an edition of Waitrose mag, and then stack them one of top of the other, they would stretch from here to one of Saturns moons, a mileage of Waitrose mags only surpassed by the number edited by William Sitwell himself.

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First it began with various outraged vegans on Twitter. Then, naturally, there were journalists outraged at outraged vegans on Twitter, the row arguably reaching its apotheosis when Jacob Rees-Mogg intervened to politely point out that William is a great writer and a great friend and this is all a great pity. William is also, as it happens, the heir presumptive to the Sitwell baronetcy, which is nice.

Is it a free speech issue? Is it merely an internal disciplinary matter? At times of such intellectual quandary it is traditional to turn to the words of Voltaire, who in one of the very first pieces William Sitwell ever commissioned for Waitrose mag, said: I detest red lentils, but I will defend to the death your right to curry them.

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Which at least partially explains why, for the last three days, at this decisive moment in the nations history, the nation has been free to speak about whatever subject it chooses, and it does not appear especially interested in exercising its right to free speech on any subject beyond staffing matters at an in-house supermarket magazine. For this, certainly, disciplinary procedures should be followed. After a long and noble career, it is time for us to step down from being a serious country.

Or maybe not. Maybe we should be proud of ourselves. On Sunday, Brazil elected a far right homophobe as its president, in a result that has already been explained away as just the latest shock election result in a world radicalised by social media. Of course, weve had Brexit, so were not exactly immune, but that we are deploying these terrifying technologies to lose our rag over nothing more consequential than some vegan-baiting emails one could argue is inspiring.

Of course, its rather sad that this rather nice chap should lose his job, just for making some bad jokes about eating vegans, to a vegan. But then theres the fact that today is World Vegan Day, and you might have read a survey that says one third of British people have now either reduced their meat intake or stopped entirely. Not only are a lot of those people potential Waitrose customers, but the survey was commissioned by Waitrose itself, to tie in with their big vegan product push.

When your job is principally to provide a reputation management service for overpriced aubergines, even the best-intentioned gags about killing and eating the customers youre meant to be talking into buying them, are potentially problematic. Veganism is the rising food trend of the hour. Eating vegans might have been funny in around 1983, but times, like Sitwell, have now moved on.

It has been speculated that Sitwells departure over a rude email has a touch of the Al Capone going down for mail fraud about it. I have no idea about whether he is, deep down, a very nice person. But as somebody who knows a few freelance journalists, who have pitched the occasional feature to Waitrose mag, lets just say the short, obnoxious, unfunny and needlessly rude message sent by Sitwell to Selene Nelson is not the only one Ive ever read.

May we wish him the very best of luck with whatever the future brings. Not least as, having now gone a little bit freelance himself, he might just need it.
'Already, eight in 10 Irish companies expect Brexit to negatively impact them over the next three years.' Stock photo: PA Wire/PA Images

Brexit hasn't broken Irish companies' focus on the UK as their key target market for growth, despite Government efforts to encourage greater diversification.

Just over a third of Irish companies are looking to expand in the UK over the next three to five years - more than any other territory, according to the latest 'Navigator' report from HSBC Bank.

The reality of Brexit, when it does happen, may change that however, according to Alan Duffy, chief executive of HSBC Ireland, which commissioned the research.

It was "interesting" to note that the UK remains the priority growth market for Irish businesses, he said.

"But the upcoming departure from the EU may well force a reappraisal of their future importance as an export market," he added.

Already, eight in 10 Irish companies expect Brexit to negatively impact them over the next three years. Most think it will increase costs, closely followed by those anticipating disruption to supply chains.

Seven in 10 Irish businesses intend to increase their focus on alternative strategic suppliers, more than three times higher than the global average.

While State agencies including Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia have run high-profile campaigns to develop the Middle East and Asia as export destinations, the research shows Germany and France follow the UK as targets for firms here. Germany is a target for 14pc of firms and one in 10 said that they were looking to develop their presence in France.

The data shows that Brexit is a concern, said Mr Duffy.

"Key measures businesses should be considering to respond to these concerns include investing in customs and trade expertise to support cross-border movements in the event of new trade barriers and mapping and establishing supply chains to identify exposure to potential new tariffs and customs checks."

Meanwhile, as the trade war between the United States and China rumbles on, only half of Irish respondents believe that foreign governments are becoming more protectionist in their actions, well below the global average of 63pc.

Overall, Irish companies are broadly upbeat about their future trading prospects.

When asked about their ability to succeed in the current environment, nine in 10 expressed confidence - higher than the global average of 81pc - with the current strength of Ireland's recovery cited as the main reason for this optimism.

HSBC's report is based on a global survey gauging business sentiment and expectations on trade activity and business growth from 8,650 decision-makers in 34 markets.

The research was conducted between August and September this year.

Meanwhile, an expert panel in the UK now thinks that post-Brexit border checks between the UK and Ireland are likely to be east-west (40pc) - along the Irish sea - rather than north-south (29pc). Only 22pc think there will be no checks. Last month, the expectation was that the principal checks would be north-south along the Irish Border. So-called east-west checks would leave Northern Ireland within the EU customs and regulatory regime.

The expert Brexit policy panel assembled by Changing Europe is a cross-disciplinary group of more than 100 academics.
Trinity College Dublin has issued a stark warning on Brexit, pleading for "prudence, deliberation and foresight" to save collaborative research.

The university notes Irish and UK researchers enjoy almost a thousand collaborations under the EU's Horizon2020 programme, far more than Ireland has with any other country.

Trinity is one of Ireland's most successful cross-border institutions. But the letter quotes Trinity's great graduate Edmund Burke in warning: "Rage and frenzy will pull down more in half an hour than prudence, deliberation, and foresight can build up in a hundred years."

It says that it is seeing a marked increase in applications from UK-based academics interested in moving here.

The letter states: "Many of them are outstanding but in truth we'd prefer to keep collaborating with them through existing programmes. We believe many researchers in Ireland, the UK and the EU feel the same."

The letter comes as the British government was warned "not to mistake Irish patience" for a weakening of position.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney held secret talks with the UK's Brexit secretary which have been described as "very frank".

It comes as hopes grow that a breakthrough on the Border question could be in sight with Dominic Raab suggesting a new deadline date of November 21, before his department quickly denied this.
Game changer: An artists impression of the St Jamess Gate development in D8. When finished, the scheme will include up to 560,000 sq ft of office space

The dominance of the Dublin Docklands as the preferred location for investment is facing a new challenger in the form of Dublin 8.

New research from Knight Frank reveals the growing number of developers and investors who are in the process of deploying capital across four distinct locations.

The first area proving to be of interest is centred around Heuston Station. As one of only four areas of the city designated for a height cluster (along with the Docklands, Connolly and Georges Quay), Heuston is poised to become what Dublin city planners see as a counter weight to the Docklands.

Recent deals in the area include the HSE taking an assignment of 31,225 sq ft at the Brunel Building for 35 per square foot, with three years remaining on the lease. 1 HSQ is currently on the market for sub-lease/assignment by Eir for a rent of 40 per square foot,

While 2 HSQ is believed to be reserved. 1+2 HSQ were purchased in the first quarter of this year by CK Properties for 176m, representing the third largest office deal ever in the Dublin market.

In another significant deal for the area, developer Joe O'Reilly's Chartered Land acquired the landmark Hickeys site at Parkgate Street for more than 30m last August. The property has the potential to accommodate a number of uses including residential, hotel, or a landmark office.

Outside of Heuston, the areas of Newmarket and Fumbally are proving to be a magnet for investment with tourist, student housing, hotel and office developments all taking place within close proximity of each other.

In terms of office development, some 170,000 sq ft of office space is due to come on stream at Newmarket Square with a further 22,000 sq ft due at nearby 55 Fumbally.

The Fumbally Estate is the main standing office asset and was recently sold for 33.5m by M7 Real Estate to BCP Asset Management, representing a net initial yield of 5.7pc. The Fumbally Estate was purchased by M7 Real Estate in the first quarter of 2017 for 21.5m, for a net initial yield of 7.9pc.

Elsewhere within the Dublin 8 postcode, the overflow from Dublin 2 into the area along Golden Lane and Christchurch is benefiting from spillovers in occupier demand from the city core. The most significant letting in Dublin 8 in the recent past occurred here, with New Relic taking 31,000 sq ft at 31-36 Golden Lane for 47 per square foot in Q2 2017. The letting represented the successful execution of a value-add strategy by Mm Capital who acquired the building in Q2 2017 before refurbishing, letting and then disposing of it to German Investors KGAL for 25.5m, representing a net initial yield of 5.3pc.

Nearby, Credit Suisse paid 23.8m for The Chancery in the final quarter of 2017, representing a net initial yield of 5.8pc.

Number 61 Thomas Street, which is under development by Paddy McKillen Jr and Matt Ryan's Oakmount, is the only new delivery of office stock due in Dublin 8 next year. The quoting rent of 45.00 per square foot represents a significant discount on the prime headline rent of 62.50 per square foot currently being commanded in Dublin 2.

The fourth and final district now being targeted by investors in Dublin 8 is arguably the most important. Located at the site of Guinness's Dublin home, St James's Gate has the potential according to Knight Frank to be a "game changer" for the area.

With an estimated delivery of up to 560,000 sq ft of office space slated from 2023, the site is expected to "bring critical mass and scalability to Dublin 8, enabling it to compete with more established office locations in Dublin by becoming an occupier location in its own right".

Knight Frank says it expects occupier demand to be particularly strong among the tech industry, helping to realise the original ambitions for the Digital Hub.
Liquid market: The leasehold interest in the Old Stand (pictured) has been acquired by the OMalley Brothers

The sale of the leasehold interest in the Old Stand Pub in Dublin city centre brings to 18 the number of bars sold in Dublin during the first 10 months of this year, with a combined value of 33m.

The latest of these sees Dublin publicans Eamon and Michael O'Malley purchase the leasehold interest in The Old Stand for a sum believed to be around 3m. The vendors, the Doran brothers, are also selling their other city centre pub, the famous Davy Byrnes, which has a 6m price tag.

Both of them are considered two of Dublin's foremost upmarket pubs as they are located close to the prime Grafton and Wicklow shopping streets.

Specialist pub agent John P Younge, who is handling both sales, explains that the Old Stand leasehold sale arises from a 35-year lease from March 1997 which has about 14 years to run. The landlord, Dublin City Council, recently secured a 16.7pc rent increase to 122,500 and there are five-year rent reviews.

The purchasers will also have rights to renew the lease on similar terms to the existing lease and these renewal rights are one of the factors which enhances the value of the lease.

Located on the corner of Exchequer and Saint Andrew Street at the junction with trendy South William Street, the property rises to four storeys and comprises bar areas extending to 98 sq m (1,054 sq ft) on the ground floor, a basement with cellar and kitchen extending to 61 sq m (659 sq ft) as well as three upper floors each with about 93 sq m (1,000 sq ft) of storage.

Purchasers, the O'Malley brothers, already own a number of Dublin pubs including The Yacht in Clontarf and The Autobahn on Glasnevin Avenue.

Meanwhile Mr Younge has set November 22 next as the closing date for best and final offers for Davy Byrnes at 21 Duke Street, Dublin, a two-storey, over-basement premises which is being sold as a share sale.

Almost all of the property is held on a 900-year lease dating from 1991 at a rent of 10, or less than 13 a year. A section of a rear passageway is held on a 50-year lease at 20,000 a year dating from 2013.

Both the ground and first floor of the premises extend to around 139 sq m (1,500 sq ft) each while its basement extends to about half that floor area.

John Ryan of CBRE says that one of the features of this year's pub market has been the sale of bars for alternative uses. He cites the impending sale of Kiely's of Donnybrook for which Knight Frank had been guiding 5m and which has been marketed as a development site.

Meanwhile in Mount Merrion the development company Oakmount, headed by Paddy McKillen Jnr and Matt Ryan, just this week brought another pub/restaurant - Kennedy's Bar and Union Cafe - to the market as part of a larger development property which includes the former Stella Cinema, also known as the former Flanagan's furniture store and car park.

With frontage onto Deer Park and two other roads, the 0.76 hectare (1.88 acre) site is considered to have potential for up to 193 apartments and 282 sq m (3,035 sq ft) of commercial space. Knight Frank is guiding more than 32m for it.

Suburban pubs on large sites have come back into the crosshairs of developers following the upsurge in demand for residential properties including build-to-rent projects.

For instance, Brady's Castleknock was sold with planning permission for 36 apartments for more than 3m, and The Black Horse Inn, Inchicore for more than 2.5m.

The biggest pub deal of the year so far also had development potential and includes investment properties. Loyola Group, headed by Brian O'Malley, bought Baker's Corner licensed premises for well over its 5m guide price.

To date Loyola has focused on the pub and restaurant trade rather than property development.

John Ryan who handled the sale says Baker's Corner pub extends to 1,180 sq m (12,700 sq ft) and comprises a ground floor lounge bar, public bar, a catering kitchen and an off-licence. Its first floor accommodates a function room, stores and offices and it also has a cellar. Outside is a smoking area and car park with over 100 spaces.

Also included in this sale was The Forge investment property comprising three retail units, two office units and three apartments generating more than 150,000 in annual rents. One of the tenants, Paddy Power bookmakers, pays annual rent of 80,000.

Loyola saw off publicans, developers and investors who were also interested in the 0.5 hectare (1.235 acre) property which is zoned 'Neighbourhood Centre'.

John Younge says another feature of the market has been development activity by publicans themselves as some, such as Gleesons of Booterstown, have added on bedrooms and some have become inns.

Charlie Chawke, who has nine pubs, said in an interview recently that he plans to develop a hotel and apartments at The Goat pub site in south Dublin.

Despite the return of developers and investors to the market, the number of pubs selling this year looks set to fall below the 31 which sold in 2017 and the 35 in 2016 when turnover topped 67m following the sale of the Camden de Luxe hotel complex.

Nevertheless the average price has increased by about 50pc from an average of 1.18m in 2017 to 1.775m so far this year.

John Ryan says this increase is encouraging and also reflects the better trading conditions being experienced by established publicans.

Another south Dublin pub to sell this year saw a group of private investors headed up by John Martin acquire their first pub, Stillorgan Orchard, for well over CBRE's 3.25m guide price.

Renowned for its thatched roof, the mainly single storey premises extends to around 650 sq m (7,000 sq ft) which accommodates a lounge bar, cafe bar, a large catering kitchen and storage areas, two smoking areas and a car park with capacity for 50 cars.

Investment pubs to sell were the Eagle House Glasthule and Karma Stone, Wexford Street.
The shortlist for the 2018 KPMG Irish Independent Property Industry Excellence Awards has been announced. In a reflection of the construction sector's growing diversity, the number of award categories increased this year to 11.

The newest category - facilities project management - saw an eclectic mix of entries. The shortlisted nominees in this section comprise BAM, Hibernia Reit, RKD Architects, and Glandore.

Elsewhere, the design project category looks set to be a keenly-contested battle between the old and the new, as a number of regenerated buildings in the capital vie for the award against new builds. The shortlisted nominees here are: Henry J Lyons Architects (26 York Street RCSI), Mola Architecture (1 Windmill Lane), McCauley Daye O'Connell Architects (Elizabeth's Tree House, Barrettstown), Plus Architecture (No 1 Ballsbridge), and RKD Architects (One Microsoft Place).

The property investment/fund manager category sees Hibernia Reit facing off against Friends First Life Assurance Company DAC, Irish Life Investment Managers, and Davy Real Estate.

Savills Ireland, Hooke & MacDonald, Hunters Estate Agents, and Lansdowne Partnership Estate Agents will contest the residential agency category. The shortlisted nominees for the commercial agency award meanwhile comprise JLL, Savills Ireland, BNP Paribas, and Murphy Mulhall.

The full shortlist is available at www.propertyexcellenceawards.com.

The overall winners will be announced next Thursday (8th) at the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD), at an event to be attended by over 800 members of Ireland's property industry.
A veterinary heath certificate for the export of pigmeat from Ireland to Malaysia has been agreed, the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has announced on the last day of a trade mission to the region.

I am pleased to confirm that, after a very productive meeting with my counterpart, the Malaysian Minister for Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, Minister Salahuddin, a veterinary heath certificate for the export of pigmeat from Ireland to Malaysia has been agreed. This is very positive news, as the Malaysian market has been on the radar of our pigmeat industry for some time, Minister Creed said.

He said there are a number of steps remaining before market access is finalised, including an inspection visit from the Malaysian authorities.

"But agreement on a veterinary health cert is an important milestone in this process. It follows on from technical discussions between officials from my Department and their Malaysian counterparts, as well as my bilateral meeting with Minister. This really underlines the value of trade missions in progressing our market access efforts.

Malaysia is one of the top five meat markets studied by Bord Bia as part of its market prioritisation exercise on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Poultry is another meat that has been of significant interest to Ireland in terms of market access and todays meetings served as a useful chance to discuss our ongoing poultry application, Minister Creed said.

Minister Creed concluded the meeting with Minister Salahuddin by inviting the Minister and colleagues to visit Ireland in 2019 for further discussions on areas of mutual cooperation.

Earlier, Minister Creed had opened a Bord Bia dairy conference which hosted over 70 Malaysian dairy buyers, importers and foodservice operators to learn about Irish dairy production.

"This is an excellent opportunity to bring targeted retail buyers, suppliers and consumers together. Having our own Irish dairy companies here working together to promote Irish dairy in general, as well as their own particular brands, is an excellent chance to showcase the best of Irish dairy, based on our excellent food safety and controls systems, to a wider audience.

Tara McCarthy CEO of Bord Bia said that following an intensive week of customer engagement, involving more than 150 business meetings, two Origin Green dairy seminars for local importers and Irish industry immersion in the market, Bord Bia will build on this to help the dairy industry capitalise on the real commercial opportunity.

"This will include continuing to build awareness of Irish dairy, increasing market understanding and developing business on the ground, which is all supported by the appointment of a new Trade Market Specialist in Bord Bias Singapore office.
The Department of Agriculture has not committed to a date for publishing the long-awaited review of the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme, and is continuing to engage with the EU Commission regarding the process.

The in-depth review of ANC designations and payments will have to be published over the coming months to allow land owners time to appeal any decisions made ahead of Mays application date for the 2019 scheme.

The delay in publishing the reviews findings has been criticised by the ICMSA, who pointed out that farmers will be left with very little time to lodge appeals if their lands are excluded from the ANC scheme.

However, the Department was non-committal on an exact date for publishing the reviews findings.

The Department is continuing to engage with the EU Commission in relation to the re-designation of the ANC scheme, is said.

The technical aspects of this project must be completed in time to allow for a formal amendment to Irelands Rural Development Programme (RDP), which will in turn allow for the scheme to be opened on the basis of the new designation in 2019.

The details of this process will be publicised in advance of the RDP amendment submission.

ICMSA deputy president Lorcan McCabe expressed disappointment that publication of the ANC review has not been fast-tracked.

It is now just two months from the start of 2019 and there are still no guidance maps published, or any guidance at all as to the possible inclusion or exclusion of a farm, he said.

This leaves precious little time for a farmer to appeal before the ANC application has to be submitted by May.

Around 100,000 farmers are eligible for ANC payments, with 227m paid out this year or 2,270/applicant on average. For 2019 the budget for the scheme increases to 250m.

The ANC payment is a hugely important part of farm income and it is unacceptable that farmers are just left in the dark as to their status for 2019, said Mr McCabe.

Farmers need to be told immediately where they stand so that they can plan their business accordingly for 2019 and make an appeal if required.

For those farmers who will be excluded under the review, this is a huge issue for them and would represent a substantial cut in their farm income, so they need to know now what is happening.

Mr McCabe called on the Department to introduce an independent appeals procedure, with clear guidelines for farmers whose lands are excluded from the ANC scheme following the review.

Minefield

The ANC review is regarded as a political minefield, with TDs fearing an angry farmer backlash if significant areas of the country are deemed not to be disadvantaged and therefore ineligible for ANC payments.

Under EU rules the Department has the flexibility to re-designate 10pc of the countrys farmland should the ANC review remove large tracts of ground that are currently eligible for payments.

In contrast to the other farm organisations, who have sought to limit changes under the ANC review, the INHFA maintains that payment levels under the scheme must reflect the underlying quality of the land and the degree of constraint involved in farming the ground.

INHFA president Colm ODonnell said ANC designations must be based on science and that the methodology underpinning the decision-making process had to be open and transparent.

He said the methodology employed must reflect more fairly how farmers are compensated for the level of constraint experienced in their farming systems.
A judge has ruled against the driver of a tractor with a load of silage who was involved in a crash with a car.

Waters Agricultural Contractors, Buttevant, Co Cork took the case against Brendan ONeill, of Legane, Effin, Co Limerick who responded with a counterclaim.

Rebecca Treacy BL, for Waters Agricultural Contractors, said the road traffic accident occurred on the road from Effin to Charleville on August 26, 2017.

The claimant was driving a New Holland tractor with a silage trailer. The respondent (Brendan O'Neill) was driving a car. They were both travelling in the same direction. Sean Palmer, an employee of Waters Agricultural Contractors, was driving the tractor, outlined Ms Treacy to Kilmallock Court.

She said figures of 1,674.44 for the claimants tractor damage and 7,435.83 for the respondents car damage had been agreed.

Mr Palmer took the stand and said the accident occurred around 11.30am / noon. He said he had been driving tractors for 10 years and was familiar with the road.

Ms Treacy asked Mr Palmer what occurred.

I saw a vehicle in my rearview mirror. He came up on my right hand side. He was driving on the grass verge. I swerved to the left, braked and stopped to avoid impact with the vehicle. The vehicle hit the front wheel of my tractor. He came in on top of me, said Mr Palmer.

Ms Treacy handed in a photo of tyre marks on the left grass margin.

Mr Palmer said these were made by his silage trailer when he swerved to the left.

Roger Cross BL, representing the respondent Brendan ONeill, said the accident occurred at 2.45pm / 3pm.

Mr Cross put it to Mr Palmer that he had pulled in to an entrance to let a tractor coming in the opposite direction pass him.

No, said Mr Palmer.

Mr Cross said his client will say Mr Palmer then veered out in to the middle of the road and crashed in to Mr ONeills vehicle.

Mr Palmer denied this.

Denis McCarthy, engineer, who attended the location of the accident was called by Ms Treacy.

He said there was no physical evidence to support the contention that Mr Palmer veered to the right. Mr McCarthy said the tyre marks made by the trailer in the verge was physical evidence of Mr Pamer veering to the left.

The engineer measured the road and the width of the vehicles. Mr McCarthy said there was ample room for the vehicle to overtake the tractor.

Mr ONeill took the stand and said he was travelling to Limerick with his wife and two children.

We were behind a tractor and trailer. He pulled over in to a house entrance to leave an oncoming tractor pass by. I dont think he came to a complete stop.

After the oncoming tractor passed I put on my indicators to overtake. The tractor pulled back in to the middle of the road. I was near the front of the tractor. His front right wheel came in to contact with my left front wing. At this point he saw us and then he braked, said Mr ONeill.

Under cross examination, Ms Treacy said there was no oncoming tractor.

There was, said Mr ONeill.

Ms Treacy said Mr Palmer didnt pull in.

He did, said Mr ONeill.

Ms Treacy asked why he didnt stop?

I was afraid I would go over the hedge. Its a big vehicle. It was either get past it or get hit, said Mr ONeill.

Ms Treacy said her client was on the left hand side of the road, braked and veered left so how did the collision occur?

He pulled out in to the middle of the road. His wheel clipped us. He pulled left at that point, said Mr ONeill.

Ms Treacy asked why he drove on the grass verge when there was ample room to pass?

He had pulled out. I certainly wouldnt have been driving on the verge with my kids in the car. It was to avoid a collision, said Mr ONeill.

Judge Marian OLeary said the evidence on both sides was contradictory.

The evidence of Mr McCarthy was that there was sufficient space but Mr ONeill drove on the grass margin, said Judge OLeary.

The judge found that Mr Palmer, who drove the tractor, had a momentary lapse of concentration.

I dismiss the plaintiffs case, said Judge OLeary, who found in favour of the counter claimant, Mr ONeill. The judge directed Waters Agricultural Contractors pay the respondent compensation of 7,435.83 plus legal costs.
Farmer George Finlay pictured with finacee Hannah Sheerin (far left) and sister and chef Amanda Finlay with some of the East Friesland sheep on the family farm near the Glen of Imaal in Co Wicklow. Photo: Frank McGrath

Storm Powell profiles the shortlisted candidates in the Dairy, Tillage, Beef and Sheep categories for the Zurich Farm Insurance/ Farming Independent Farmer of the Year Awards 2018

Dairy Farmer of the Year

Edward Kenny

Age: 58

Location: Wilkinstown, Navan, Co Meath

Area Farmed: 222ac

Type of Farming: Dairy

A fourth generation farmer, Edward initially started farming in 1984 and, by 1995, was milking 35 cows. But, somewhat disillusioned with farming, he then focused his interest on off-farm activities and his herd numbers were slow to increase to 140 cows by 2014. However, since the abolition of milk quotas, he is now focusing full-time on his dairy enterprise and has increased numbers significantly to 270 cows.

Edward lives on the farm with his wife Sarah and family. His eldest son Josh (24) who is currently on a graduate programme with Irish Country Meats (ICM) nominated him.

Edward uses a simple grass based system and has one full-time employee. Calving takes place in spring and most calves are contract reared. Cows are breed to AI bulls. Improvements to support his recent expansion have focused on improving soil fertility, cow fertility, upgrading buildings and expanding his milking parlour. Edward is a member of Navan Dairy Discussion Group and is also in the Boyne Valley Purchasing group.

Michael Macken

Age: 34

Location: Harlinstown Farm, Slane, Co Meath

Area Farmed: 500ac (360ac owned, 140ac leased)

Type of Farming: Dairy

Harlinstown Farm has been Michael's home all his life. Today, he farms in partnership with his younger brother James. Originally a beef and sheep farm, Michael and James converted to dairying in 2010 and commenced a comprehensive building programme including a 40-unit herringbone parlour, cubicles, slurry store and silage pit. The farm has also been reseeded and four kilometres of roadways have been introduced.

The dairy herd peaks at 510 cows, mainly cross breeds, and is culled to 430 at the moment. All calves and heifers are contract reared and contractors do all machinery work except feeding.

As both Michael and James are single, personal costs are low and this allows reinvestment each year. The key focus is to maintain a low cost system. One full-time and two casual workers are employed.

Michael is a member of the Bo na Bainne discussion group and the Boyne Valley Purchasing group.

Patrick Brennan

Age: 59

Location: Ballingarry, Roscrea, Co Tipperary

Area Farmed: 400ac

Type of Farming: Dairy

Patrick Brennan milks 204 cows near Ballingarry, Roscrea. He farms 200ac at home and the remainder is divided into four lots several miles from home. Patrick has a spring calving herd. Calves are kept till 1 years and then sold on for fattening. All grass is measured, and cows with calves are out on grass by day in early February.

Following a stint in nearby Gurteen Agricultural College in 1978, Patrick commenced with 23 cows in 1981. He maintains links with Gurteen by taking students on placement each year. The Farm Relief Services (FRS) uses Patrick's farm for practical elements of their Training to Milk courses. Patrick, who previously won a Bord Bia award for Sustainable Dairying, is also a director of Arrabawn Co-Op.

Patrick lives on the farm with his wife Helen. Their youngest child Padraig is studying a Dairy Business degree course in UCD and plans to come home to farm.

Tillage Farmer of the Year

John Kearney

Age: 30

Location: Castlelyons, Fermoy, Co Cork

Area Farmed: 86ac (including 26ac leased)

Type of Farming: Tillage (spring barley  harvesting, spring barley  whole cropping, wild bird cover) and forestry

A civil engineer by profession, John farms part-time and also works for a forestry company designing and building forest roads. John took over the home farm of 60ac in 2012 and converted 27ac to tillage. The remainder is in forestry. John also rents 26ac for tillage use.

Aware of the implications of farming on carbon footprint, John has signed up to GLAS and adheres to their measures by sowing wild bird cover and a catch crop after harvest. He has also erected bat and bird boxes on the farm and has created a solitary bee confinement area. He is also a member of IGAS, the Irish Grain Assurance Scheme

John is a member of the tillage-based Knowledge Transfer Programme in Moorepark. He continues to research into an energy crop for bio gas production.

Alex Butler

Age: 21

Location: Streete, Co Westmeath

Area Farmed: 160ac (100ac leased, 60ac shared)

Type of Farming: Tillage (winter wheat cropping, winter barley, spring barley, spring oil seed rape) and grass

At 21, Alex is the youngest finalists in this years competition. Working as an agricultural contractor with his father, he also leases 100ac and has a share farming arrangement with three farmers. Of the 100ac leased, 35ac is in tillage and rest is in grass from which he sells two crops of silage. He also winters store lambs

Following a year spent in Gurteen Agricutural College, Alex studied Crops and Machinery Management level 6 in Kildalton College and spent four months last year harvesting in Australia.

Alex still uses a plough based system but is considering minimum tillage which, he feels, makes the best profit margins in terms of field efficiency, fuel economy and workrate while reducing energy consumption and costs.

Share farming has enabled Alex to expand his enterprise. He feels it is an ideal option for older farmers or for those without up to date machinery.

John Cullen

Age: 53

Location: Ballymurn, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford

Area Farmed: 1,100ac of which 1/3 owned, 1/3 leased and 1/3 shared

Type of Farming: Tillage (winter barley, winter wheat, spring barley, spring beans, oil seed rape)

John lives on the farm, where he grew up, with his wife and five daughters and has been farming there since he was 16 years of age. Today he farms a total of 1,100 acres, of which one-third is owned, one-third is leased and the remainder is share farming with three farmers. Most of the land is within a ten-mile radius of home. He also does a small amount of contract work for local farmers.

He commenced share farming about five years ago and feels that it works well for both parties and can see this type of arrangement increasing in popularity.

John is a member of the Johnstown Tillage Discussion Group which meets a dozen times a year. He finds these meetings very useful and commends the local Teagasc advisor who keeps members up to date at all times through the use of phone apps.

Beef Farmer of the Year

John Phelan

Age: 35

Location: Dunbell, Co Kilkenny

Area Farmed: 148ac

Type of Farming: Beef

John, who farms with his brother Tadhg and father Tim, is the 5th generation at Blanchville House, Dunbell. His mother Monica runs a country guest house and self-catering business there.

John finishes 300 to 400 continental beef heifers, mostly Limousin/Charolais cross. He buys in stores at 1 to 2-year-olds and finishes them under 30 months. He uses a grass rotation system with emphasis on farm infrastructure such as farm roadways, a fenced paddock system and water troughs and he emphasises the importance of animal handling for safety when dealing with large numbers.

Cattle are wintered on slatted houses with rubber mats. A new shed was erected three years ago to increase the scale and efficiency of the farm. Johns main focus is on grass utilisation and he uses Pasture Base for grass measuring. The family have a separate 50ac tillage enterprise and all grass, straw and grain from the farm is fed to the stock.

John, who qualified with an agricultural science degree from WIT, Waterford, is involved in a local beef discussion group.

Nichola Murtagh

Age: 23

Location: Ballynacargy, Mullingar, Co Westmeath

Area Farmed: 80ac (leased)

Type of Farming: Beef (suckler cows and calves)

Part-time farmer Nichola Murtagh combines her work as an AI technician with running an 80ac suckler farm which she leases near Mullingar. Having grown up on a nearby farm, Nichola has always had an interest in animals and working outdoors.

Following her Leaving Cert, she spent two years studying for the Green Cert in Mountbellew Agricultural College and this led her to leasing the farm of 35 suckler cows and calves.

The cows are put in calf to Charolais bulls and the calves are sold from eight months onwards. The land is laid out in paddocks. Most of the weanlings are sold by winter and the cows are wintered in a shed which Nichola built last year.

Nichola also has a two-year contract with AIB as part of the Backing the Brave Campaign and, as a result, her face is familiar to many farmers.

Darragh McManus

Age: 33

Location: Scurmore, Enniscrone, Co Sligo

Area Farmed: 250ac

Type of Farming: Beef (suckler cows, pedigree Charolais herd, ET calves)

33-year-old farm manager Darragh McManus runs a 250ac beef farm in Scurmore, Enniscrone, Co Sligo for brothers Brendan and Gregory Feeney. Over 120 commercial cows and 30 Charolais breeding females are farmed at Scurmore, which is home to the Bostonia Charolais Herd, one of Irelands most prestigious herds of pedigree Charolais cattle.

Married with three young children, Darragh originates from a suckler farm in Fermanagh. Having received his Higher National Diploma (HND) in Agriculture from Greenmount College, he managed a farm in England before taking up role in Sligo three years ago.

The farm also boasts 30 ET (embryo transfer) calves every year. The herd is a continental cross. Darragh takes two cuts of silage from 180ac in May and July and reseeds 10-15pc of land each year. Cows are paddock grazed and calves are creep grazed in front of the cows.

Much of Darraghs time is spent showing the pedigree herd and awards this year include Champion Charolais at both the Tullamore and Balmoral Shows, Reserve Senior Champion (Tullamore) and Best Group of Three (Balmoral). Red ribbons were also picked up at Athlone, Ballinrobe, Ballina, Inishowen, Grange Bonniconlon and Longford Shows.

Sheep Farmer of the year

George Finlay

Age: 29

Location: Glen of Imaal,

Co Wicklow

Area Farmed: 182ac plus 200ac commonage

Type of Farming: Mainly sheep, some sucklers

George Finlay is based on the family farm in Ballyhubbock House, Glen of Imaal where he farms 102ac. He farms a further 80ac and 200ac commonage for his uncle.

The crossbred commercial flock numbers 400. He keeps 50 replacement ewe lambs each year and buys in 30 hoggets. His scanning rate has been 2.01 and he has introduced Belclares to attain higher yields and better confirmation. George uses a 21 day rotation system to utilize grass efficiently. George also farms 12 suckler cows.

As well as the commercial flock, George has set up a sheep dairy enterprise producing ice-cream.

He purchased 53 East Friesland ewes which are known for their high yields of milk. The ice cream is custard based, has a creamy taste, is high in protein, low in fat and ideal for people with digestive disorders.

The award-winning, family-run bakery Ballyhubbock Home Foods was set up 25 years ago by Georges mother Monica and her expertise and knowledge has been invaluable setting up the Ballyhubbock Farm Ice Cream brand.

Eoin Larkin

Age: 35

Location: Eyrecourt, Ballinasloe, Co Galway

Area Farmed: 150ac (three farms leased, 50ac, 60ac and 40ac)

Type of Farming: Mostly sheep, also tillage and beef

Eoin Larkin lives in Grange, near Eyrecourt with his wife Eimear, and leases three separate holdings.

The three farms total 150ac and are situated in three different parishes in the Kiltormer area about 13kms from his home. His main enterprise is sheep. He also has 8ac of tillage and 30 cattle which he sells as forward stores. He is letting 280 ewes out to the ram this year.

Eoin has been leasing land for 17 years and, as he lives away from the base farm, he travels about 100kms per day. As he has no permanent facilities, he has set up a mobile unit on his trailer. He closes the land from October till early March and uses winterage for the sheep.

Eoin is currently chairman of Eyrecourt Agricultural Show. He has a keen interest in thoroughbred bloodstock and is involved with his father in buying yearlings and selling them as stores.

John Bell

Age: 55

Location: Castletown Geoghegan, Mullingar, Co Westmeath

Area Farmed: 120ac

Type of Farming: Sheep

Originally from Co Louth, John Bell has been farming on the outskirts of Castletown Geoghegan for the past 28 years. He has 600 breeding sheep on 120ac of grassland. The breeding stock are generally Belclare, Belclare Cross, and Texel/Belclare Cross bred to terminal sires.

To operate Johns stocking rate, he uses a paddock system whereby sheep spend three to four days in any block of land. He operates his fencing system using a quad bike. Its a March lambing flock and his scanning rate is 2.15. All sheep are housed before lambing. He doesnt feed meal after lambing except to finish lambs in late summer. John does most of the farming on his own but has help at lambing time and uses contractors to shear and dose the sheep.

John is a member of the local KT (Knowledge Transfer) sheep discussion group which was set up five years ago and has been massively beneficial to farmers.
'A spokesperson for Eli Global said the company was aware of the investigation.'

A key financial backer of Irish private equity firm Clanwilliam Group has been embroiled in a US federal investigation.

Eli Global and its founder and chairman Greg Lindberg are subjects of an investigation relating to "drug offences, crimes against financial institutions, or money-laundering crimes" according to US media reports.

A spokesperson for Eli Global said the company was aware of the investigation. "We intend to co-operate with the government and provide information it requests. We are continuing to operate as usual, and our entire team is focused on serving our clients and businesses," the spokesperson said.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of the Clanwilliam Group or any of its employees. Clanwilliam said it would not be affected by the investigation.

"We are not a subsidiary of Eli Global LLC despite the fact that the two companies have a common shareholder/investor," a spokeswoman for the company told the Irish Independent.

Clanwilliam is cited among 'portfolio highlights' on Mr Lindberg's personal website.

In the most recent Companies Registration Office Documents, he is listed as a director of Triton Financial Ltd, itself listed as the sole shareholder in Clanwilliam Headquarters Ltd.

The latter company is listed as the owner of the Clanwilliam Group name.

Clanwilliam was born out of an investment in Helix Health, a medical software business, by Eli Global a number of years ago. Clanwilliam boss Howard Beggs  who founded Helix  said in an interview with UCD Business Alumni: In 2014, the US investment company Eli Global came in and together we created Clanwilliam Group, which is effectively the holding company for all of the businesses ... using Elis offshore resources, we now have finance and development functions based out of a centre of excellence in India.

There is no suggestion Mr Beggs is under investigation.
Best of both worlds: Peter Barrett said it suits SMBC to be in Hong Kong and Ireland as the industry faces rapid changes

The rise of Hong Kong as an aircraft-leasing base is not a threat to Ireland, according to the head of Dublin-based SMBC Aviation Capital, one of the biggest aircraft lessors in the world.

Hong Kong's government has introduced a new regime which provides attractive incentives for aircraft-leasing companies to set up operations in the region.

SMBC CEO Peter Barrett said that can complement rather than threaten Ireland's status as a global aircraft-leasing hub.

He was speaking after SMBC Aviation established its own operating company in Hong Kong for the first time.

The growth of both Asian finance and of China as a market is changing the industry. That is a major focus for executives from the sector who are in Hong Kong this week for a conference organised by 'Airfinance Journal', where keynote speakers include Ruth Kelly, CEO of Dublin-based Goshawk.

SMBC Aviation itself is owned by one of Japan's biggest banks, and a raft of Chinese investors have taken significant stakes in other Irish lessors in recent years.

The growing importance of Hong Kong was not a threat to the Irish industry, Peter Barrett said.

"It makes sense for us to have people on the ground there, but it suits us to be in both."

Ireland's advantages include a tax treaty network that covers the bulk of countries where aircraft are leased and a proven track record in terms of people and fiscal infrastucture, he said. "Our owner remains committed to the business being headquartered in Ireland," Mr Barrett said.

Despite a push from other jurisdictions to attract and develop the sector, Ireland still stacks up well, he said.

SMBC Aviation Capital is one of the biggest aircraft lessors in the world.

Its latests financial accounts, published in August, show its pre-tax profit edge 2.2pc higher to $319.3m (280.8m) last year as the sector continued to benefit from strong demand from airlines for jets.

Revenue fell 4.7pc to $1.03bn (906m) in the 12 months to the end of March. That figure included $962.6m in lease revenue.

The company had $10.3bn (9bn) in assets at the end of the financial year, alongside $7.2bn in borrowings.

The accounts show that SMBC Aviation generated 29.2pc of its lease revenue in Europe, 8.1pc in Asia, 18.5pc in emerging Asian countries, and 21pc in South America.

Another 11.9pc was derived from emerging European countries, 6.8pc from North America, and 4.5pc from the Middle East and Africa.

In its 2015 financial year, SMBC placed orders for 110 Airbus A320neo jets and five A321ceo aircraft.

It also has orders placed for 90 Boeing 737 Max8 jets. In 2017 and 2018 the lessor submitted orders for nine more aircraft.

It has 675 owned, managed and ordered aircraft.

All of the aircraft SMBC is due to receive by the end of March 2019 have already been placed with customers.
Irish investor NTR Renewable Energy Income Fund (II) has acquired nine operational solar assets in the UK for a total consideration of 61.3m.

Included in the price is a deferred consideration amount of 2.6m, which will be paid on the completion of certain conditions.

The ground mount assets have a total capacity of 38.4 megawatts.

This is the first transaction for the fund, which invests in onshore wind and solar assets across a number of European markets. Its first renewable energy infrastructure fund, which was launched in 2015, is now fully invested.

The assets were developed by Plus Renewable Technologies, a global renewable energy and technology company that delivers renewable energy projects and asset management services.

"Our strategy for the NTR Renewable Energy Income Fund II is to acquire both pre-construction and operational European onshore wind and solar assets, with the operational assets providing immediate yield on investment while the pre-construction assets are being built out," Rosheen McGuckian, CEO of NTR, said.

"We are very pleased with this, our first acquisition for the fund, which consists of a well-diversified portfolio of attractive cash yielding solar assets, providing long-term contracted revenues for our investors from the get-go."
Stobart Air has agreed a deal to operate routes for British Airways (BA).

Stobart - which operates regional routes for Aer Lingus and Flybe - will provide the services under the BA Cityflyer brand.

It will invest 36m in two Embraer E190 jet aircraft and 40 new jobs on foot of the deal.

Stobart Air managing director Graeme Buchanan said the deal was "a significant recognition of our increased capabilities as an airline".

The so-called ACMI deal sees Stobart provide aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance to BA in return for a fee.

Last year, Stobart Air announced a 25m investment in the airline business, with the addition of 60 new jobs and three Embraer E195 jet aircraft to its fleet.

"Due to the continued and consistent growth of our airline, we are investing in our fleet and our people to deliver on our current growth strategy," Mr Buchanan said.

"As a regional partner to leading airlines, we constantly review our business operations and our network to position us for opportunities with key partners from the most popular cities and routes across Ireland, the UK and beyond.

"We continuously seek to provide the optimum connectivity on key routes for customers, working with our partners. We have ambitious plans to grow and develop this partnership in 2018," he said.

Stobart Air is on track to carry two million passengers in 2018 - a 17pc increase in passenger numbers on the previous year.

The airline is part of the Stobart Group, which has been the subject of a bitter boardroom battle this year.

Former CEO Andrew Tinkler led a narrowly unsuccessful attempt to replace the company's chairman, with the support of Neil Woodford's Woodford Investment Management.

The company and Mr Tinkler are now engaged in legal action.
'Some unqualified online service providers seek taxpayers to provide exactly the same information as will be required by the Government's new system and simply transcribe the information across.' (stock photo)

Accountancy body ACCA has issued a warning to employees on the dangers posed by some online tax refund service providers seeking to manage people's PAYE claims.

ACCA said that such service providers also pose a risk regarding the harvesting of personal data, and that their fee structure could act as an incentive to illegally overstate refund claims for customers when submitting returns on their behalf.

The group added that its professionals throughout Ireland have found an increase in this type of service which is specifically seeking to target people at the same time as the Government introduces its new information technology systems to record wages online, from January next year.

The Government's new system requires that employees keep their online records up to date and it has a very simple process for reclaiming tax credits and refunds.

Some unqualified online service providers seek taxpayers to provide exactly the same information as will be required by the Government's new system and simply transcribe the information across.

"These customers have no clear route to a right of redress should they find themselves out of pocket," said ACCA chairman Stephen O'Flaherty.

"We would strongly advise people never to accept a percentage of a refund payment arrangement or to agree to any submission whereby the details are erroneous."
Chinese tech giant Xiaomi is to start selling phones, electric scooters and other tech gadgets in Ireland.

The company, which is one of the largest tech manufacturers in Asia, will enter the Irish market through a retail deal with Three. Under the deal, Three will exclusively sell Xiaomi products in its stores and online.

Xiaomi is the world's fourth-largest smartphone maker, behind Samsung, Apple and Huawei.

The launch represents a stepping up of electric scooter sales in Ireland, despite legal and regulatory challenges. Under Irish law, many electric scooters are regarded in a similar category as motorbikes, meaning that they must be taxed and insured, with a driver's licence required.

However, Xiaomi's Mi Electric Scooter requires a manual push start like an electric bicycle. Ebikes are not required to be taxed and insured, nor do they require a driver's licence.

The Mi Electric Scooter will cost 449 and is capable of about 20km on a single charge and travels at up to 25km per hour. It takes around five hours to fully charge.

Three Xiaomi phones will be launched, including the budget Redmi 6 (149, pictured) and Redmi Note 5 (199) and the upper mid range Mi Mix 2S (459).

A range of speakers and headphones will also be introduced, while Three is pushing the fitness-oriented Mi Band 3, a wearable smart health watch, for 39.

The Mi Band 3 is waterproof and shows steps, sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring and app notifications.

Despite not being sold in the Irish market up to now, Three says that there is already an active Xiaomi customer base in Ireland.

"We know that there are around 26,000 Xiaomi products in Ireland that are active," said Elaine Carey, Three's chief commercial officer. "There has been a considerable pent-up demand for these products to be sold here. We already launched in Italy, Spain and Denmark and it's been hugely successful over there. One of the reasons Xiaomi products are so popular is that the company has a general principle of not taking more than 5pc margin in hardware pricing, meaning that they're very, very competitively priced."

Ms Carey said that Three wants to position itself more as a 'digital lifestyle' company that sells smart products, rather than simply a telecoms operator.

Ms Carey said that the integration of the O2 network into Three's network will be complete by the end of 2018.

"After that it's just a matter of getting the IT systems onto one platform, which we expect to complete next year," she said. Ms Carey added that the integration process had been "challenging at times".

Three Ireland is owned by the Hong-Kong based conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa. It is Ireland's second-largest mobile network, after Vodafone.
On the first day that Jim Hacker became a government minister in the classic British TV comedy series 'Yes Minister', his private secretary Bernard Woolley showed him around his new office. Woolley explained: "It used to be said there were two kinds of chairs to go with two kinds of ministers: one sort that folds up instantly and the other sort that goes round and round in circles."

As reports surface of further delays to the National Broadband Plan (NBP), rural residents around Ireland could be forgiven for thinking that at the Department of Communications both chairs have been in use in recent weeks.

Former Minister Denis Naughten's chair folded up instantly as he was forced to resign from office in the wake of totally inappropriate communications with the last remaining bidder.

Now his successor, Richard Bruton, runs the risk of going round and round in circles as the process is delayed further.

Deciding to push back the start date for the project may not be simply about political tactics but facing up reality. Mr Bruton has probably looked at the level of progress on the one hand, and the commitments on time frames on the other and said this is not realistic. But the uncertainty and possible procrastination goes a lot further than that. The independent process auditor for the NBP, Peter Smyth, is reviewing the process to determine whether the tender process has been compromised. There are several possible outcomes to his analysis, none of which looks particularly good for seeing the NBP anytime soon.

Scenario one sees Mr Smyth conclude the process has been compromised and cannot go ahead as currently constructed. The implications here would be very serious. Even if he concludes that inappropriate communications between Mr Naughten and the remaining bidder were an inadvertent breach of the rules, it will have to be followed up.

In such a scenario, Mr Naughten should face some kind of sanction because of his complete naivety and carelessness. This process has cost tens of millions of euro so far in consultancy and legal costs. Mr Naughten's blind enthusiasm may have ensured this money was effectively poured down the drain.

Then there are the consequences for the bidder. If the process was compromised, even through no wrongdoing on the consortium's part, should they be allowed continue or resubmit again in a brand new tender?

After all, a compromised process implies some kind of head start for them. However, bear in mind, nobody else seems interested in the tender as drafted.

Scenario two sees a conclusion that the process was not compromised. Even in that scenario, could it go ahead without a cloud over the process through which many would ask whether the State is getting the best value for money? Fianna Fail are not happy about what has happened and their stance could be important regardless of Mr Smyth's conclusions.

Different ministers take different views on the work of their predecessors. It is not the practice for one minister to arrive in a department and just reverse decisions made previously. However, Mr Naughten seems to have been so determined to deliver this project that Mr Bruton may take a close look at the work so far and conclude it is not the best solution for the State and the people of rural Ireland.

A fresh pair of eyes on the project may lead to a very different approach. Mr Bruton is an experienced minister and may feel it is time to stall this one.

Scenario three sees the conclusion that the process was not technically or formally compromised, but cannot go ahead anyway because of the perception Mr Naughten's behaviour has created. So, no procurement rules broken, but enough of a balls-up to warrant stopping the tender.

In this scenario, would Granahan McCourt, the last remaining bidder, have grounds to sue the State for reputational damage, wasting its time and the costs associated with the process so far?

Each of these scenarios is messy. The plan to bring high-speed broadband past every boreen in the country is heading down a cul-de-sac. There are some basic truths running in he background through all of this.

1. Rural Ireland needs high-speed broadband.

City-dwellers say if you want to live in rural Ireland then you should pay for it. When delivered, this broadband would not be free, but would be provided on a commercial basis, with a state subsidy towards building it in the first place. People choose to live in rural Ireland for different reasons. If they chose not to, large swathes of our country would become empty, or occupied by the holiday homes of a wealthy urban elite - theme parks for city dwellers.

As a rural dweller myself, people sometimes ask me, how bad is the broadband around the country?

Is it just an expensive way to bring Netflix to culchies? There is a massive opportunity cost in not having high-speed broadband.

There are quality of life, social, educational and business opportunities at stake. Many people, looking to set up businesses, will not come to an area if it doesn't have broadband. They will choose one locality over another for their new life and new venture. It is difficult to put a price on the economic cost of that.

2. After trying to get this plan off the ground since 2012, it is far from clear if it is viable.

Perhaps the Government needs to take a very large financial hit and say we will build it, own it and sub-contract somebody to run it. This would cost a lot more than 1bn, but perhaps it is the only way it can be achieved.

3. If the current tender process is abandoned, a fundamental unfairness and even inequality will continue.

Not the one between urban and rural, but between the different parts of rural Ireland themselves. For the first five years after I moved from Dublin to Donegal, I had 3.5mbps of broadband. I was lucky and could work with that. Many of my neighbours had less.

Two years ago, Eir put fibre to the home in my area and I now have a couple of hundred mbps if I want them. All of my neighbours for several miles up the road have access to this brilliant service. My neighbours down the same road in the other direction do not. They were not included in the Eir programme.

4. The longer the delays, the greater the cost and the greater the allure of other new technological solutions.

Is there a case for a different model using 5G and other mobile platforms? Possibly, but mobile phones in Ireland don't use 5G. Starting again may result in a more roundabout route down a new cul-de-sac.

5. We know far too little about the existing plan.

How commercially viable is this plan for anybody, given that so many investors have pulled out?

A good deal for the State on paper might be false economy because the project could have to be bailed out in the future if broadband take-up by these rural homes is lower than expected.

Right now this entire project is a mess. When first explored, the country was on its uppers. But it has been growing strongly for four or five years now. Promises have been made and not delivered.

There is a political pragmatism or even tactical advantage to pausing for breath now and taking time to decide the next move.

But the Taoiseach has said broadband would be a "personal crusade" for him now.

Political tactics won't help rural Ireland. The Taoiseach may be buoyed by recent opinion polls and feel this issue won't come back to bite him. It would be unwise to bet on that.
Chinese conglomerate HNA Group has been trying for months to offload jetliners it ordered from Airbus, according to people familiar with the matter, as the indebted airline-turned-global acquirer wrestles with liquidity challenges.

The Chinese group asked the leasing arms of Industrial & Commercial Bank of China and China Minsheng Banking Corp, among others, to take over at least 10 plane orders, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter. Talks about the A330 twin-aisle jets, due to be delivered this year, date back to at least April, they said.

Representatives of HNA and the leasing division of ICBC didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Minsheng wasn't immediately reachable. An Airbus spokesman declined to comment. Aircraft deals are notoriously difficult to exit as they carry significant penalties for customers looking to cancel orders, partly because of the disruption caused to the planemaker's production lines. The wide-body A330 has a list price of as much as $264m, though airlines typically get significant discounts.

The jets would be part of one of China's biggest corporate garage sales ever. HNA has agreed to sell more than $22bn in assets this year, including a deal in August to divest a 30pc stake in Avolon Holdings, its Irish jet-leasing unit. Pictured is an Airbus SE A330-900.

Bloomberg
Gambling giant William Hill is to buy Sweden-based online betting firm Mr Green & Co for 271m.

Mr Green currently has online gambling licences in Ireland, Britain, Denmark, Italy, Latvia, and Malta, and expects to obtain Swedish licences by the end of the year. William Hill said yesterday that it will offer SEK 69 (6.63) in cash per share for the business, with the total offer amounting to SEK 2,819m (271m), a 48.5pc premium on its closing price on October 30.

William Hill CEO Philip Bowcock said: "This proposed acquisition accelerates the diversification of William Hill - immediately making us a more digital and more international business.

"William Hill will move from a single brand to a suite of brands that can maximise growth opportunities moving forward in new and existing markets."

The deal will reduce its exposure to the UK market, which has been subject to increased regulation in recent months.

PA
Amanda Abbington has said she would like to play Jodies Whittakers nemesis in Doctor Who.

The actress, who played spy Mary Morstan in the BBCs Sherlock opposite Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, said she was angling to play a female enemy much like The Master, played most recently by John Simm and Michelle Gomez in the sci-fi series.

Speaking on the red carpet at the Collars And Coats event for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home at Battersea Evolution in London, Abbington hailed Whittaker as the first female Doctor.

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The 44-year-old told the Press Association: I love Jodie Whittaker and I love the fact shes a female Doctor.

Im trying to become her next nemesis. Im trying to put it out there to be her enemy. Im working on the publicity at the moment, actually. Fingers crossed.

Asked whether a new series of Sherlock was on the horizon, she said: I dont know. Im not sure at the moment. Its not looking likely at the moment, or for the foreseeable future.

Steven (Moffat) and Mark (Gatiss) are working on a Dracula adaptation and the boys are off doing stuff. So never say never with them, but it could be a couple of years.

Abbington will next appear in TV comedy The Queen And I alongside comedian David Walliams. The programme will air over Christmas on Sky One.

She said of her co-star: Hes amazing. Hes very sweet and hes funny, and made me laugh a lot. Hes great. Hes a good laugh.
Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted a 16-year-old model in New York, according to amended legal documents (Ian West/PA)

Harvey Weinstein is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old Polish model in New York, according to amended legal documents.

The alleged victim, identified only as Jane Doe in court papers, said she agreed to meet the film producer for a business lunch in 2002 while trying to boost her acting career.

Instead, she claims Weinstein took her to his Manhattan apartment and wasted no time in aggressively and threateningly demanding sex, despite knowing her age.

Weinstein denies all allegations of non-consensual sex.

The legal document, amended on Wednesday to add the latest accusers allegations to that of nine other women, states: He told her that if she wanted to be an actress, she would have to be comfortable doing whatever the director told her to do  including losing her inhibitions and getting naked.

He then instructed Jane Doe to take off her clothes. Terrified and struggling to hold back tears, Jane Doe said she would not and resisted his demands. Jane Doe was a virgin, and had no intention or understanding when she agreed to a business lunch that she would be put in this alarming position.

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Weinstein threatened and pressured Jane Doe, saying that he had made the careers of Penelope Cruz and Gwyneth Paltrow, and that neither would be working without him.

According to the amended document, filed at the New York Southern District Court on Wednesday, Weinstein then placed the models hand on his penis.

She then left the apartment after an argument with the producer, it is claimed.

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Weinstein is said to have pursued the model for the next decade, offering her an extra role in a film in 2004. Despite the offer, she alleges she resisted his demands for sex.

Instead, she endured nearly a decade of sexual harassment and emotional abuse which left her depressed and made her anorexia worse, the document states.

Doe is the 10th woman to join the lawsuit against Weinstein, the Weinstein Company and Miramax, accusing them of assault, battery and racketeering.

The suit alleges the companies were aware of Weinsteins conduct and enabled it by paying victims off.

Benjamin Brafman, Weinsteins lawyer, called the latest allegations from Doe preposterous.

Weinstein is charged with rape in New York. He denies all allegations of non-consensual sex.

Weinstein was one of Hollywoods most powerful producers before dozens of women  including many high-profile actresses  came forward to allege he had sexually assaulted them, with accusations ranging from inappropriate touching to rape.

His downfall led to the rise in prominence of the #MeToo movement as well as to a wider debate about the treatment of women.
Local authorities are failing to buy up derelict or vacant houses - despite having special powers allowed "for the common good".

Tens of thousands of houses are believed to be lying abandoned around the country, while at the same time almost 10,000 people are living in emergency accommodation.

But new figures show more than half of county councils have not made any attempt to build up their housing stock through the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs).

Just 240 attempts to take ownership of vacant properties using CPOs have been made in the past seven years.

These statistics "don't make sense" in the middle of an emergency, according to Fianna Fail's housing spokesman Darragh O'Brien.

"We need to get to grips with the housing crisis by building more units and getting the most out of the existing housing stock. That's a given.

"However, the poor usage by local authorities of their CPO powers compared to the high vacancy rates across our cities just doesn't make sense."

Mr O'Brien quoted a report from the Central Statistic Office which put the number of vacant properties in the country at 184,000.

However, this figure was strenuously disputed by Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy. His spokesman said it was "disingenuous" for Fianna Fail to use these figures as they were "recorded at a single point in time" and included houses for sale or for rent, or where the owner was away.

Mr Murphy's office said councils have a range of options open to them for dealing with empty properties aside from CPO.

"In the last four years 120m has been spent on returning some 10,000 vacant local authority homes back into use," he said.

"The minister has also made funding available for a Vacant Homes Office in each local authority that will be able to do the follow-on work needed to ensure the owners of vacant properties are engaged with and informed about their options."

Local authorities can take land or property without the consent of the owner by means of a CPO if it is deemed to be for the common good.

However, Freedom of Information requests by Fianna Fail shows that even in urban areas where the housing crisis is at its worst, CPOs are rarely used.

Dublin City Council has requested just 25 houses since 2011 while Dun Laoghaire Rathdown has only attempted to apply a CPO to one property.

Louth County Council has the best record, applying for 141 houses at a total cost of more than 1.5m.

Mr O'Brien said "major inadequacies" have been identified with the use of these statutory provisions by local authorities.

The Dublin-Fingal TD called on the Government to incentivise local authorities to acquire vacant properties and resell them by covering conveyancing and other costs.

The minister's spokesman said councils are "identifying potentially vacant homes dwellings that can be reactivated by way of the wide number of schemes and regulatory powers".

These include repair and lease, buy and renew, long-term leasing and choice-based letting.
A 49-year-old man who sued over his care at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin has settled his High Court action for 5.9m.

The court heard a shunt which had been in Brendan Doyle's brain since childhood was removed when he was admitted to Beaumont in 2011 but not re-inserted.

This had "tragic consequences" and he is now totally blind, his counsel, Denis McCullough, said.

It was the "final straw" for Mr Doyle, who has cerebral palsy and mild learning disabilities. Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Kevin Cross said the incident had a catastrophic effect on Mr Doyle.

The Doyle family said the settlement would provide Brendan with a purpose-built home of his own and the 24-hour support he needs.

"We and Brendan would return every cent of this settlement were it to mean that he could see again but we hope that with therapy and proper rehabilitation Brendan will, at least, once again become an active member of his community and begin to enjoy life once more," his family said.

Mr Doyle, who lives at Lawson House, Glenbrien, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, through his brother, John Doyle, sued Beaumont Hospital over the circumstances of his care.

It was claimed that on June 1, 2011, he was complaining of a headache and vomiting.

He went to his local hospital in Wexford where he had a CT scan and was referred to Beaumont. It was claimed that due to a suspicion Mr Doyle had sustained a shunt-related infection, it was removed and not re-established.

Mr Doyle was discharged from Beaumont on June 10, 2011, with directions to continue antibiotic therapy. The next day he was back in A&E and had a CT scan.

Mr Doyle was referred back to Beaumont and in August 2011 his case was reviewed. It was claimed the impression was formed that his condition was improving. In early September 2011, he suffered loss of vision and was referred back to Beaumont where he underwent surgery. But Mr Doyle had lost his eyesight.

John Doyle, in a statement read outside court by his solicitor, Michael Boylan, said Brendan had been very independent, using bus services, writing for his local newspaper and enjoying hobbies.

"Brendan has wasted almost seven years of his life in a nursing home with no effective rehabilitation programme, surrounded by elderly patients," the statement read.

"Before this he required supervision only rather than care. Brendan was an active and contributing member of his community.

"We will return to Wexford to start putting arrangements in place so Brendan will spend Christmas in a suitable home."
Videos found on a laptop seized from the home of a garda showed boys under the age of 10 subjected to sexually explicit acts, a jury has heard.

Joseph O'Connor (58), from west Dublin, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of possession of child pornography at his home in 2011.

During a search of the defendant's home on August 2, 2011, gardai seized a Dell laptop. Garda Janette Walsh told Alice Fawsitt SC, prosecuting, she carried out an analysis of the laptop's hard drive.

She said files depicting children being subjected to explicit sexual acts were found on the hard drive on a computer seized at his home.

Gda Walsh said she found 43 movie files in the recycle bin folder of the computer. She said 15 of these showed young boys being subjected to a sexual act.

Three of these movies involved boys under the age of 10. The other 12 retrieved showed boys between the ages of 10 and 17.

Two files depicted children being subjected to explicit sexual acts with a male adult.

Gda Walsh said she also found 92 images depicting children under 17 being subjected to sexual acts and 136 images of child exposure elsewhere on the hard drive. Many of these files were duplicates of the same images.

Paul Carroll SC, defending, said his client accepted that the files identified by Gda Walsh come under the legal definition of child pornography.

Judge Elma Sheahan told the jury this means they would not be expected to view the files themselves.

Gda Walsh said she found pictures of the accused and a photograph of his Garda ID card on the laptop as well as a Skype account under the name JP1Dub with the full name as Joe. She said the profile image on that account was the defendant.

Gda Walsh agreed with Mr Carroll that the laptop did not have a password and anyone going to it could use it.

She said that some of the details on other files indicated the file was not accessed after it was created at the location it was found.

Mr Carroll said "there was a massive amount of activity on adult porn sites" on the laptop. Gda Walsh agreed more than 300,000 images of adult pornography were found.

The trial began last week but has been in legal argument for much of that time. It continues before Judge Sheahan and a jury of 10 men and two women.
Loss: John and Louise Wills with photos of baby Eibhlin outside the Coroners Court. Photo: Gareth Chaney

A baby girl just 12 days old died after contracting the common cold sore virus in hospital.

Baby Eibhlin Wills acquired the infection in the first five days of her life, an inquest into her death heard. Blood tests showed no sign of the infection three days after birth but the infection was present in samples taken when Eibhlin was five days old.

Dublin Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane found the infant died due to a hospital-acquired infection.

The coroner recommended that the Health Minister include neonatal herpes as a formally notifiable disease and endorsed and commended the Wills' family's efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of neonatal herpes. Parents John and Louise Wills, from Boden Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, welcomed baby Eibhlin, their first-born, into the world on November 19, 2015.

She was born at the National Maternity Hospital where she was cared for until her discharge on November 24 and a public health nurse visited the family three days later.

By Monday the infant was feeding less and she seemed tired. John and Louise phoned the hospital and were told to bring the baby in if they remained concerned. They called Louise's mother who arrived at their home at 11.30pm and the child went limp in her arms.

They drove straight to Tallaght Hospital but resuscitation attempts failed and the baby was pronounced dead at 1.09am on December 1.

A post-mortem examination conducted by Dr Michael McDermott gave the cause of death as disseminated neonatal herpes simplex virus type 1, the virus that causes the common cold sore.

Dr McDermott found no other abnormalities or underlying vulnerabilities other than the infant's age.

"This was an overwhelming primary infection and it was a recent infection," Dr McDermott said.

The court heard details of ongoing training to prevent cross-contamination at the National Maternity Hospital (NMH). Staff with a visible cold sore are expected to cover it with a patch.

Obstetrician Prof Mary Higgins said baby Eibhlin was "a beautiful little girl who left us far too soon" and all staff took great care not to pass on any sickness to babies.

"Basic principals of hand hygiene are integrated into training as a student and again at induction days. Infection control staff give talks on hand hygiene and universal precautions. Before you approach someone you wash your hands so as not to pass on any bacteria," she said.

Virologist Prof Cillian De Gascun performed laboratory tests on blood samples provided by the hospital following the post-mortem.

"The challenge with herpes is you can actually transmit the virus without having a cold sore. In a significant proportion of cases, there won't be a cold sore and it's passed on as it's asymptomatic."

Asked if the virus is more likely to be spread when a cold sore is present, Prof De Gascun said it was. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane returned a verdict of death due to a healthcare-acquired infection and commended the couple on their efforts to raise awareness about the virus.

"I endorse the ongoing raising of awareness of this condition for the public and other maternity hospitals in order this can be prevented as much as possible, although it is never possible to entirely eliminate tragedies such as this," Dr Cullinane said.

"This is such an affecting inquest, you have been very active in the raising awareness and have to be commended on what you've done," she added.
THE EVIDENCE that the killing of Kenneth O'Brien was a planned, pre-meditated execution "does not add up," murder accused Paul Wells' defence has said.

Mr O'Brien was a "deeply flawed character", had shown a "disregard for life" and there were "suspicious" factors leading up to his death, defence barrister Michael O'Higgins said in his closing speech at the trial

Mr O'Higgins asked the jury to consider these factors in considering Mr Wells' claim that Mr O'Brien wanted to have his partner killed and he was shot in a struggle after the accused refused to do it.

Mr Wells (50), of Barnamore Park, Finglas, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr OBrien (33) at that address between January 15 and 16, 2016.

He has admitted that he shot him dead but said it happened when they struggled during a row after Mr OBrien turned up at his home with a gun.

The accused claimed Mr OBrien had wanted to have his partner Eimear Dunne murdered and Mr Wells refused to kill her.

Mr Wells dismembered his body in the yard with a chainsaw, put the torso into a suitcase and the other body parts in shopping bags, which he threw into the grand canal.

In his closing speech, Mr OHiggins said Mr OBriens life and times were relevant to the issues the jury has to decide.

Mr Wells claim that Mr OBrien had wanted his partner murdered was a staggering allegation to make and the jury had to ask themselves if Mr OBrien, on the evidence, was someone who might kill someone or might have disregard for human life.

He pointed to the description of Mr OBrien making pipe bombs, in the statement of his friend, Patrick Bogey, and Mr Bogeys question: If you are hiding this from me, what else are you doing?

On the issue of the value of human life, this was evidence that should cause the jury deep concern, Mr OHiggins said.

It was a fair question to ask if that could be extended to someone close to you - the mother of your child, he said.

He agreed with the prosecution that the jury should not get hung up on affairs or other human failings unless they had a bearing on a verdict in the case.

There were a lot of very odd details in the case and Mr OHiggins spoke about a suggestion that Mr OBrien had urged a woman he had a relationship with to contrive a situation where she provoked Eimear to assault her.

The purpose was to lay a criminal complaint against Ms Dunne whereupon that would be used as a lever to get her out of the house.

Mr OHiggins said this had seemed like an extreme action and too fantastic to be true when he read it but Ms Dunne had confirmed in evidence that it actually happened.

There were other details in the case that seemed less than credible at first glance but were confirmed, he said.

Mr OBrien was someone who shows disregard for life and that he would go to the extreme to gain possession of the family home.

Mr OHiggins said he was highlighting this for the jury to consider in weighing up Mr Wells claim that he was asked to kill Ms Dunne.

Mr OBrien was not monogamous and Mr OHiggins named just three women the jury had heard about. He was earning around 70,000 per year and sending about 7,000 home to Ms Dunne. He sent nearly 53,000 to the accuseds personal account and it was not clear what that was all about.

Mr Wells was a republican who had served a prison sentence in Portlaoise jail, a prison for people convicted of IRA type offences, Mr OHiggins continued. He had an interest in guns. He was introduced to Mr OBrien, they remained friends, and he allowed his bank account to be used by him.

He is, like Kenneth OBrien a deeply flawed character, Mr OHiggins said of the accused. There are things that are dislikable about him.

He pointed to Mr Wells sending of texts to Ms Dunne supposedly from Mr OBrien, and dragging his own family into the aftermath of the incident.

The prosecution had once he understood what he had done, the accuseds interest was in getting away with it and maintained that stance in his early garda interviews.

Whether or not that makes this some form of pre-meditated murder I would respectfully suggest is quite another thing, he said.

Mr OHiggins spoke of a kind of compartmentalising that allows someone to lead a double life.

To preserve the compartments, he said you have to tell an awful lot of lies and this was toxic.

It was a place where Mr OBrien seems to have spent an awful lot of his time, he said.

This isnt about heroes and villains that are in comic books, what you have here is flawed characters, but flawed characters that are capable of dreaming up and doing very dark things, Mr OHiggins said.

You cant script this with goodies on one page and baddies on the other, its just not that simple.

There were a lot of contradictions in the evidence, he said; on some accounts, Mr OBrien was happy to come home from Australia, others told a different story.

Turning to the offence, he said one of the issues the jury would have to decide was whether what happened was planned and premeditated or something spontaneous, something that wasnt anticipated, a meeting that deteriorated into a row.

He referred to Mr Wells statement about his actions after the shooting and asked the jury: does that sound like someone who has carried out a planned execution?

The prosecution had suggested that in his interviews, this is simply a psychopath turning on the waterworks.

Mr Wells should have rung the police, Mr Wells when he sat down in his first interview should have put all his cards face up, he didnt do that but its probably fair to say that if he was that sort of person he wouldnt be involved in this mess to begin with, Mr OHiggins said.

In relation to making two trips to the canal to dispose of the remains, he asked what sort of plan would that be?

On the prosecutions assertion that the clean-up was almost professional, he said there were numerous bloodstained items found.

I suggest that the evidence in support of an argument that this was a planned event does not add up, he said. I suggest to you that there is a huge deficit in that assertion.

The prosecution had not sought to advance any reason why the killing occurred and the jury had not heard about it because the evidence isnt there to support it - you are left with a blank.

Mr OHiggins asked the jury to take account of a number of factors leading up to the killing. The CCTV in Mr OBriens house last operated for a minute on January 14, after that the access code changed and Ms Dunne accepted Mr OBrien was the only person who could have changed it.

Ms Dunnes birthday party on January 15 was cancelled because Mr OBrien had to work, but that was an out and out lie by him, Mr OHiggins said.

He got keys cut on January 14, his passport was missing and he had deleted his bosss number from Ms Dunnes mobile phone.

They are factors which at the very minimum would arouse suspicion, Mr OHiggins said.

The jury had been addressed by the prosecution about Mr Wells power of dissembling but not one of those factors had Mr Wells fingerprints on them.

They are all things that are occurring completely independently of him, Mr OHiggins said.

You might say the whole thing stinks, but its a long way to simply roll them all up and that means Kenneth OBrien was setting up a clear run, believing Mr Wells was going to his house to kill his partner, you might say that is a big stretch, but you might also that its an incredible coincidence, he said.

Mr Wells had said Ms Dunne was to be killed that very day and Mr OHiggins asked what are the odds that the surrounding factors would then be consistent.

He is due to conclude his closing speech to tomorrow, after which Mr Justice Paul McDermott is expected to begin his charge to the jury.
The man was on a Delta Airlines flight (Steve Parsons/PA)

A 25-year-old Irish man who allegedly approached a cockpit mid-flight and assaulted a flight attendant has appeared in court in Australia.

Leroy Hyland, who lives in Australia on a temporary work visa, is alleged to have assaulted a flight attendant after approaching the cockpit and refusing to return to his seat.

The alleged incident happened on Delta Airways flight DL41 from LA to Sydney last month.

Cabin crew were allegedly forced to restrain Mr Hyland for the remainder of the flight.

The incident is said to have happened between 10.26pm on 9 October and 6.50am on 10 October.

Mr Hyland was arrested by Australian Federal Police officers at 7.20am when he arrived at Sydney International Airport, and later charged.

According to the Irish Post newspaper, he faces charges of assaulting cabin crew staff, committing an act of violence against a flight aviation enforcement officer onboard an aircraft, and another charge of behaving in an offensive and disorderly manner onboard an aircraft.

Mr Hyland appeared at Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Thursday morning and his case was adjourned until next month.

His address was given as Randwick in Sydney. His address in Ireland was not confirmed.

AFP Airport Police Commander, Detective Acting Superintendent Simone O'Mahony, said there was no place for disorderly behaviour onboard an aircraft.

"The safe travel of passengers through our airports is a key priority for the AFP," Ms O'Mahony said.
Father-of-one Kenneth OBrien was executed efficiently and his body desecrated by his friend Paul Wells in a pre-meditated murder, the lead prosecutor in the trial has said.

In his closing speech, Sean Gillane SC told the jurors they had been invited down a rabbit hole of lies and deceit in the hope that they would not see clearly what the case was about.

Mr OBrien had been shot in the back of the head and the accused's suggestion that he acted in self defence did not make sense, Mr Gillane argued.

Mr Wells (50), of Barnamore Park, Finglas, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr OBrien (33) at that address between January 15 and 16, 2016.

He has admitted that he shot him dead but said it happened when they struggled during a row after Mr OBrien turned up at his home with a gun.

The accused claimed Mr OBrien had wanted to have his partner Eimear Dunne murdered and Mr Wells refused to kill her.

As they grappled, he said, the gun fell to the ground, they both reached for it and he thought Mr OBrien was going to shoot me first.

Mr Wells said he panicked, got the gun and shot Mr OBrien. He then dismembered his body in the yard, cutting it into 10 pieces with a chainsaw.

He put Mr OBriens torso in a suitcase and his head and limbs in shopping bags, which he threw into the Grand Canal in Co Kildare.

Evidence for the prosecution closed today. The accused himself did not take the stand but one defence witness gave evidence and three more statements were read out to the jury.

Edward Bowe told the jury he was a childhood friend of the accused and they grew up in Fatima Mansions. He stepped away after Mr Wells got involved with paramilitaries in the mid 1990s, he said.

He knew of Mr OBrien and met him twice, he said. Mr Wells told him Mr OBrien had moved to Australia and on one occasion showed him a picture of Mr OBrien on a bed, topless and smiling.

Michael OHiggins SC, defending, then read out three further witness statements.

Patrick Bogey said in his statement he had been Mr OBriens best friend and they were like brothers. He recalled an incident in which Mr OBrien asked him to go to his house quickly because he was worried a man was coming to shoot me.

He was told to wait at the window of a bedroom where there was a licenced firearm and wait for a hand signal from Mr OBrien.

He heard Mr OBrien say come on, do what you f**king want before the man left.

Mr Bogey said he knew Mr Wells was ropey and dangerous and sometimes when he would walk in as Mr Wells and Mr OBrien were talking, they would go quiet.

He described another incident in which he walked into Mr OBriens shed and saw him throw a rag over something he was working on and he knew they were pipe bombs.

Mr Bogey could not say for sure who this work was for and said he told Mr OBrien if you are hiding this from me, what else are you doing?

Mr OBrien had told him: Im just doing a favour, he said.

Aisling Walsh, from Douglas in Cork, told gardai in her statement of a relationship she had with Mr OBrien while she was working in Australia.

After meeting him in a bar in July 2013, it developed very quickly from there and they moved in together.

However, the relationship was secret and Mr OBrien told her his partner Eimear Dunne would not let him see his son Charlie if she found out.

She said they went on holiday to Bali in March 2014 and argued over the relationship. Later, Mr OBrien told her we are finished.

He still owed money on their rented apartment but blocked her number she said. She sent Ms Dunne a Facebook message saying you had a lucky escape not to be with Ken.

After this, Ms Walsh said, Mr OBrien paid over his half of the lease.

Another witness, Rita Dempsey, told gardai she was passing Mr OBriens house at Leland Road, Clondalkin at 11 or 11.30am on January 15, 2016 and remembered looking in and seeing a woman with long hair sitting at a table.

Mr Gillane then delivered his closing speech, saying the body of evidence established beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Wells murdered Mr OBrien and did so in an act of pre-meditation where he intended to kill him or at least cause him serious harm.

In this case you have been invited to travel down a rabbit hole of lies, deceit and obfuscation, he said.

You were invited down that rabbit hole in the hope that you will not see clearly what in fact this case is about.

He said unusually in the case, the gardai had first to ascertain not who the suspect might be but who the victim was.

This was a case that started with a body with no head and then a head with no hands, a case whose original building blocks come from the DNA of Mr OBriens mother, Mr Gillane said.

There followed boring spadework so the gardai could show some light into this darkness.

When the accused on February 9, 2016 suddenly decides to talk and at least accept physical responsibility for what hes done, the jury might think this was a man who was now going to tell the truth out of sympathy or sorrow for killing Mr OBrien.

What you saw is not a product of conscience, he said. What you saw in terms of him partially taking responsibility was the crushing weight of evidence.

This isnt conscience at all, those tears were not tears of sorrow what you see in that interview thereafter is Mr Wells doing what hes been doing from the moment he pulled the trigger on Kenneth OBrien, exercising control, control and manipulation from the word go.

He said Mr Wells had sought to demonise Mr OBrien.

Mr Gillane said he was not going to suggest that Mr OBrien was a saint, but it was clear he could inspire love, affection and loyalty from people he knew. It was also clear he could hurt people he knew, whether through affairs, inconsiderateness or meanness.

He asked the jury a rhetorical question: so what? and suggested this was a smokescreen.

Just because you are having affairs doesnt dilute your essential humanity, he said.

No did it mean you had planned to murder the mother of your child, Mr Gillane continued.

Ms Dunne had never sought to minimise any of that aspect of Mr OBriens life, she had looked it in the eye and answered difficult questions.

When the tear came to her eye in the evidence, it was fought back, she said. It was suggested that a plan was afoot to murder her and this was an attempt to explain and justify the physical act of shooting a man dead.

He said if the jury stress tested it, it just doesnt make any sense, it doesnt stand up.

It appears to be nonsense wrapped in self defeating contradictions throughout, he said.

Mr OBrien had been presented as a playboy of the western world or a lothario who decides to make himself a single parent through an act of violence.

He said on the day the accused said they arranged to meet but Mr Wells said he went home, Mr OBrien supposedly made no contact with Mr Wells at all.

He said the plan suggested was for Mr OBrien to spirit Charlie away, yet he had no car, no key and no wallet.

He said Mr OBrien apparently arrived at Mr Wells house with just the clothes on his back and a gun in his waistband.

He said at this point Mr OBrien is the unluckiest man in the world because Mr Wells wife is away in Cork and his son Gary has been told not to be at home.

Mr Wells account of how the row comes to pass is impressionistic, Mr Gillane said, and he then described the two men flipping head over heels and arriving in a rowing boat position.

Mr Wells now in interview has to explain how it is that someone gets shot in the back of the head in self defence, Mr Gillane continued.

Mr Wells had said the tigger was pulled in anguish, in the pursuit of survival, in self defence.

This was a contact entry wound, the gun was pressed up against the mans head, that is an important feature of this case, he said.

Mr Wells was suggesting when he set about the body of Mr Wells he was acting in some sort of panic, but Mr Gillane asked the jury to consider the meticulousness of the wrapping of the torso.

There were 10 separate acts of dismemberment and Mr Wells would have you believe that this was done in a blind panic, he said.

The cleanup, he said, was almost professional.

Every step he takes in this case is a step he takes in an attempt to get away with it, Mr Gillane added.

He said the accused would have the jury believe it was a coincidence that Mr OBrien was dismembered with his own chainsaw, put into his own suitcase and dumped just next to where he worked because Mr Wells says he took a wrong turn off the motorway.

He was in effect executed efficiently with a single bullet to the back of the head and after being killed in that way, his body was desecrated.

The trial continues.
Francis Brennan and his brother John at the Park Hotel in Kenmare

The Labour Court has recommended that the luxury Park Hotel operated by the Brennan brothers pay a former manager 90,000 in settlement of an unfair dismissal claim.

The recommendation - which was published on the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) website - is not binding on the hotel.

A spokesperson for the luxury Kerry hotel last night disputed some of the key elements of the case.

It is understood that the Labour Court recommendation is now being studied by Gore and Grimes, solicitors for Beechside Company which trades as the Park Hotel in Kenmare.

A Park Hotel spokesperson said that in the 40 years of the Brennan brothers, John and Francis, operating the luxury hotel there had never before been such an employment finding.

"In that time, roughly 1,100 people have worked at the hotel - some of those who joined almost 40 years ago are still working there," they said.

"People arrive at the hotel as employees and leave as friends."

The hotel celebrated 120 years in business last year and, the spokesperson noted, the Brennan brothers were overwhelmed by cards, messages of support and even flowers from former and current employees.

The five star Park Hotel ranks as one of Ireland's most successful tourism operations and its profile was such that it helped launch the successful TV career of Francis Brennan.

The Labour Court recommendation came after the hotel manager initiated an action on August 13 last after he was not retained in his senior position.

A spokesperson for the Park Hotel insisted that the manager involved was on a probationary period and the hotel was fully within its rights not to retain him.

After 11 weeks, and within the probationary period, it was decided that the position was not working out as anticipated and the manager was not offered a full time position.

However, the manager maintained during a September 28 Labour Court hearing that he was specifically headhunted for the role of Park Hotel general manager.

He also said he had agreed to move from Dublin to Kerry to take up the role.

The manager maintained that, without warning, he was dismissed from his position on April 27 by managing director John Brennan.

He had said he moved to the Kerry hotel on the basis of a 36-month contract.

In submissions to the Labour Court, solicitors for the hotel pointed out that the contract of employment unequivocally provided that either party could terminate the contract by giving written notice during the probationary period.

The hotel maintained that this was precisely what they did.

However, the Labour Court took issue with the circumstances in which the manager had his employment terminated.

"The Court is of the view that the procedures adopted in the termination of the claimants employment were seriously flawed. He was not afforded fair procedures in accordance with the Code of Practice on Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures," the summary recommendation found.

The manager had also insisted that his reputation was damaged by the manner in which he was not retained in the role.

In recommending a payment of 90,000 to the former manager in full settlement of his claim, the Labour Court noted that he was not provided with details of any performance issues, no warning was given that his employment was in jeopardy, he was not provided with reasons for his dismissal and he was not afforded an opportunity to reply.
The mother of a baby with a congenital heart condition had to park in a housing estate and run to hospital to attend a vital appointment, an inquest heard.

Anne-Marie Lafferty travelled 230km from Lifford, Co Donegal, but couldn't find parking at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin.

She ran with her baby to the hospital in a bid to attend an appointment with a heart specialist for her son, Cormac, on September 6, 2016. He died in hospital four days later.

The infant and his twin brother Callum were born on June 16, 2016, at the National Maternity Hospital.

Cormac had been diagnosed with a congenital heart condition before he was born.

His condition was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot, a combination of four related anomalies that commonly occur together.

He underwent open heart surgery one month prior to his unexpected admission to hospital on September 6, 2016. The infant was admitted the day of the appointment due to concerns over oxygen saturation levels.

He died in hospital four days later, Dublin Coroner's Court heard. His mother said he was smiling and happy the night before he died.

"Cormac was laughing and smiling at me that night. He was a very alert baby. I fed him and went to bed. Before I left I saw he was sleeping peacefully," Ms Lafferty told the inquest.

A nurse woke the infant to feed him at 4am on September 10. However, the baby didn't finish the feed and became unsettled and began "crying inconsolably", the nurse said.

Cormac was found to be distressed by his own breathing efforts and morphine was administered to help him relax.

However, the infant's condition deteriorated again suddenly at 6.20am when his oxygen saturation levels dropped to 20pc.

An emergency arrest call was made. Efforts to save Baby Cormac's life failed and he died shortly before noon.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane adjourned the inquest to hear further medical evidence from a number of medical witnesses on a date to be decided.
A 25-year-old man who abducted a teenage Spanish student from Dublin city centre and raped her repeatedly over a 21 hour period has been jailed for 14 years.

Eoin Berkley of Hampton Wood Way, Finglas, Dublin admitted raping the girl at the Irish Glass Bottle Company site, Pigeon House Road on three occasions between July 15 and 16, 2017.

This morning Mr Justice Michael White at the Central Criminal Court Mr Justice Michael White said the crimes were premeditated and the nature of the rapes were particularly degrading.

The judge said Berkley's threats to kill the victim were blood curdling. He noted there were 19 separate incidents of violence or threats of violence during the ordeal.

He imposed concurrent sentences of 14 years for each rape offence and said he was taking into consideration the threats to kill, sexual assaults and false imprisonment.

Mr Justice White backdated the sentence to July 31, 2017 when Berkley went into custody and imposed a period of three years post release supervision. He stated he had to take into account Berkley's tragic history and his mental health difficulties and said reports handed into court made grim reading.

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Berkley smiled during the hearing and stretched and appeared to chuckle when the sentence was delivered.

The court heard evidence that he was mainly sleeping rough at the time and frequently came to garda attention for public order situations which raised concerns for his mental health.

A month before the abduction and rapes a garda inspector in the Dublin city area directed Berkley's detention under the Mental Health Act. He was seen by a doctor who deemed him fit to be released.

The date of the abduction, the victim was out in the city centre on a Saturday afternoon when she met Berkley, who told her he lived on the beach and invited her to see where he lived.

The then 18-year-old had come to Ireland two weeks earlier to improve her English and was staying with a host family in Dublin. She agreed to go with Berkley but he brought her to a derelict site near Sandymount where he had a number of tents pitched.

Once inside the tent his mood changed, he pushed her to the ground and grabbed her hands. She told him he was hurting her but he laughed and told her she was stupid and that he had done this before.

She left the tent but Berkley dragged her back in. He tied her hands up behind her back using a dog leash and told her he had previously killed six people and was going to kill her.

He repeatedly tried to strangle her and and at one point he picked up a small saw and told her that if she didn't stop struggling he would cut her hands off.

She begged him to kill her in the least painful way possible and he gave her some tablets and he then put some black gloves on. She took the tablets and fell down and he began abusing her.

Over the hours that followed, Berkley raped the woman on three separate occasions. On the Sunday he told her he wasn't going to kill her until Monday.

He told her that if she tried to run away he would hit her on the head with a rock. He told her that he'd stopped having feelings about people since the age of ten and said he had cut the paws off household pets.

The victim escaped when Berkley took her down to the beach and he fell asleep. In the meantime the family she was staying with in Dublin and her parents in Spain had raised the alarm when she failed to make contact on Saturday evening.

On escaping, the victim rang her father, telling him she was running from a man and told him: I've being kidnapped. I'm going to be killed. Her father told the court this was the worst phone-call a father could ever get.

The victim told gardai that she was terrified and knew if she tried to escape she had to be successful.

I knew that I would have only one real chance to escape. He had total control of my life over these days. I was terrified, she said.

The court heard that medical tests found morphine, codeine and cannabis present in her body after the attack. She suffered bruising to her wrist, arms, legs and neck.

In a victim impact statement read into court by counsel, the woman said that she had to take medication for months after the rape in case of infections. She said she thought she was going to be killed during the attack and she is now afraid to sleep in the dark.

She said she thinks about what happened every day, saying: I was afraid, I did not want to be afraid.

Berkley's 25 previous convictions include unlawful possession of knives and a realistic firearm and threatening and abusive behaviour.

After the hearing last week Mr Justice White adjourned sentencing to today.

He said that the victim was violated in a horrendous way and that there was a collective sense of shame that somebody visiting Ireland had suffered in such a vile way.

Defence counsel, Michael Bowman SC told the court that his client went into foster care at the age of four as his mother had psychological problems which were compounded by alcohol. At the age of 14 his foster care situation broke down because of his own behavioural difficulties and he was institutionalised at Ballydowd, a facility for unruly youths.

Counsel said that after leaving Ballydowd he had lived in flux mostly in homelessness.

Two days after Berkley's detention under the Mental Health Act his older brother rang a garda station and said Berkley needed to be detained again under the Act. Gardai told him there was no basis for his detention and advised that he seek medical care.

While he was in custody Berkley used his own blood to write the words I'm so sorry on the walls of a prison cell.
More than half of the 42 schools undergoing structural safety checks need some form of precautionary measures and/or remediation works.

However, 19 of the schools have been cleared to open in full next Monday, without any internal or external interventions.

These are: Luttrellstown Community College; Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua, Dublin 18; Broombridge Educate Together NS; Scoil Choilm Community NS, Porterstown; Gaelscoil na Giuise, Firhouse; Gaelscoil Thulach na nOg, Dunboyne; Maryborough NS, Portlaoise; Scoil Aoife Community NS, Citywest; Letterkenny Educate Together NS: Firhouse Educate Together NS; St. Josephs Primary School, Gorey; Lucan Community NS, Balgaddy Rd; Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath; Rush and Lusk Educate Together NS; St. Francis of Assisi Primary School, Belmayne; Belmayne Educate Together NS; Galway Educate Together NS; Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha; Mullingar Educate Together NS

In another 19 cases, the schools can open in full, following external precautionary measures in the form of fencing and protective decking.

These are: Scoil Chaitlin Maude, Tallaght; Castlemills Education Centre, Balbriggan; St Pauls NS, Ratoath; Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Athy; Athy Model School (GP hall extension only);Gaelscoil Atha I (GP hall extension only); Lucan East Educate Together NS; Convent National School, Portarlington;Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Rochestown;Gaelscoil Phortlaoise; Portlaoise Educate Together NS; Colaiste De Lacy, Ashbourne; Gaelscoil na Mi, Ashbourne; Ashbourne Educate Together NS; Griffeen Valley Educate Together NS(2003 phase only);Gaelscoil Mhichil Ui Choileain, Clonakilty; Cara Junior (Special) School - one part of building only; Carrigaline Educate Together NS; St. Colmans Boys NS, Macroom

Three schools will be opening at ground floor level only, initially: Tyrrelstown Educate Together, St Lukes NS, Tyrrelstown, and Gaelscoil Eiscir Riana, Lucan, all Co Dublin

At Ardgillan Community College, Balbriggan Co Dublin, Phase 1 of the building will remain closed.

The final picture emerged after the Department of Education received the outcomes of the structural assessments conducted on all schools constructed by Western Building Systems.

Education Minister Joe McHugh said that in cases where precautionary external or internal interventions are being implemented, it is with the purpose of ensuring the safe occupation of all or part of the building, and ensuring that disruption to classes is minimised.

He said that, by tomorrow, contractors will be implementing precautionary measures at all schools where this is required.

The minister said the target was to have this work completed in time to facilitate schools reopening after the mid-term break, and school principals concerned are kept fully informed of progress on a daily basis.

More detailed investigations and any necessary permanent remediation work will be dealt with in a follow-up phase, he said

In a statement, WBS said that no details of the assessments had been shared with the company and they did not know the methodology of the assessments or the basis of any conclusions reached.

The company insisted that of the 42 schools assessed, each was previously certified for completion as being free from defects and suitable for use by the Department and its employed professionals  the same people who have now arrived at a different view.

WBS said it was invited to view only 14 schools during the assessment period and had insufficient time on site to make structural evaluations.

The company noted that some of the schools identified as now requiring remedial works were still in their defects liability contract period, which provided for the contractor to remedy notified defects which the Department identified under the contract.

The statement added that some of the schools identified as now requiring remedial works were previously inspected and approved as compliant in line with the new building regulation control process, including schools where the Department appointed its own assigned certifiers, and a clerk of works who had a full-time presence on site.

WBS has written to the Department requesting proper access and time to evaluate the identified schools, including Ardgillan Community College, Tyrrelstown Educate Together National School and St Lukes National School, Mulhuddart.

The company said it had also written to the Department and the Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board regarding three schools that they were currently constructing - Greystones CNS, Shellybanks Educate Together NS, Roslyn Park, Sandymount and Colasite Cois Life.

Two of these schools are design by employer contracts and one is a design and build contract. It is our full intention to complete these projects, the statement added.
Attacked: The burnt-out shell of a car outside the home of Quinn Industrial Holdings Tony Lunney. Photo: Lorraine Teevan

A series of arson attacks in recent months is leading to fears that deaths could result from the actions of a "lunatic element" involved in the intimidation of senior management at part of Sean Quinn's old business empire.

Gardai are investigating a number of incidents at properties connected to management at Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH).

On Tuesday night, arsonists attacked the home of Tony Lunney, a senior manager at the company. QIH said a car belonging to Mr Lunney's daughter was set alight after 11pm.

That comes after another recent incident where the car of Dara O'Reilly, the company's chief financial officer, was set alight while he and his two children were upstairs in the house.

It's believed the blaze could have easily spread to the home in Butlersbridge, Co Cavan, had the fire services not been notified on time. Another incident, where the tyre factory of a QIH senior manager was gutted after being set alight, is also being probed by gardai.

QIH is made up of elements of the old Quinn empire. Mr Quinn returned to the business as a consultant after it was established but later parted ways with the company.

QIH has said there has been a "campaign of threats and intimidation against senior management of QIH by persons who had sought the return of Sean Quinn".

Mr Quinn told a meeting of supporters earlier this summer that he had been trying to buy back the business. He claimed he had been "stabbed in the back" by the company.

But aside from the business disagreement, Mr Quinn has repeatedly publicly condemned the attacks against QIH, saying the people carrying them out are not doing it in the best interests of him or his family.

In an interview with Northern Sound radio, he asked the perpetrators to "please stop".

"We are totally against this type of activity, regardless of how these people feel about what has happened, this is doing us no good whatsoever," he said.

"All I can do is condemn it in the strongest possible terms and pass on my regrets to Dara and his wife and kids because this was very unfortunate.

"This shouldn't happen outside any family home. Whatever happens in business happens in business, but you should never have to bring it home to your wife and kids."

Sources in the region have described the attackers as a "lunatic element", stating that outside a minority there is strong support in the Fermanagh and Cavan communities for QIH.

Other incidents that have occurred include a threat at the home of a director, where a pig's head was allegedly dumped at the door, while it is understood the company has issued legal papers to a number of people in relation to alleged defamatory comments made online and on social media.

The situation is leaving a sour taste in areas where Quinn companies are set up, though it's not something that is affecting the day-to-day life of locals, according to Fine Gael councillor in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, Peter McVitty.

He said there is still a lot of emotion in these areas, with so many owing a debt of gratitude to Mr Quinn and many still feeling he was hard done by.

"You can see where they're coming from with their anger," Mr McVitty said, though he moved to totally condemn the violence and intimidation.

Referring to the arson attack on Mr O'Reilly's car, he said: "It could have been serious now. This is a young family, it's completely mindless what was done."

The councillor said he hopes things will calm down, as currently "it's a no-win situation, it's just difficult".

Senior figures at QIH have appealed for the attacks to end.

Yesterday, QIH chief executive Liam McCaffrey said: "It is grossly unacceptable that criminals who threaten the lives and well-being of staff on both sides of the Border continue to operate with impunity.

"It is also enormously frustrating that following years of intimidation and threats and a substantial escalation of violence over recent months, not a single arrest has been made.

"Unless politicians and the authorities on both sides of the Border properly prioritise and resource this issue, as they have with gangland and paramilitary crime in other areas, lives will be lost.

"More than 830 staff and their families and the wider community are impacted by this violence and intimidation and they are in urgent need of reassurance that this issue is being taken seriously," he added.

After the attack on Mr O'Reilly's home, QIH chairman Adrian Barden said a continuation of the attacks will result in injuries or fatalities.

"We call on those with influence or knowledge of those engaged in these criminal actions to speak out," he said.

"Notwithstanding this intimidation, QIH reaffirms its commitment to continuing investment and growth in the region."
The owner of a long established garage in Ranelagh, Dublin 6 died after he was crushed beneath a car while changing a wheel.

Frank Smith (75) of the Sandford Garage in Ranelagh died at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin on November 16 2017. He spent a week in hospital following an incident at the garage in which he sustained catastrophic crush injuries.

The incident happened at the garage on November 9 2017 when Mr Smith was changing oil and a tyre on a vehicle for a customer. Mr Smith was using a two-tonne hydraulic car jack in order to perform the operation under the car, Dublin Coroners Court heard.

However, the jack was gradually losing height over a period of time due to a small oil leak within the mechanism.

Mr Smith had changed the car's engine oil and was about the remove the wheel when the incident happened.

Health and Safety Inspector John Harrington said the wheel had become stuck to the axle due to corrosion over the passage of time and Mr Smith opted to use a hammer to free the wheel. He said Mr Smith would not have noticed the jack losing height as it was happening so slowly.

The car continued to move slowly downwards and its weight was coming to rest on the wheel as Mr Smith used a hammer to remove the wheel from the axle. The car came down on Mr Smith causing traumatic crush injuries to his chest including rib fractures, collapsed lungs and bleeding into the chest.

Mr Smith was rushed to St Vincents Hospital in Dublin where he was unconscious on arrival. He was treated for his injuries but a brain scan revealed he had sustained hypoxic brain damage due to a lack of oxygen.

Mr Smith of Sweetmount Avenue, Dundrum, Dublin 14 died in hospital on November 16 2017.

An autopsy conducted by Pathologist Dr Niamh Nolan gave the cause of death as lack of oxygen to the brain, due to traumatic asphyxia due to crush injuries sustained in the incident at the garage.

The Health and Safety Authority and An Garda Siochana conducted investigations into the incident. No prosecutions were directed.

"That is a big trauma for someone of his years. The crush injuries caused problems for his circulation which in turn caused a lack of oxygen to the brain, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said.

The coroner returned a verdict of death due to an industrial accident.
Hundreds of Google workers protest outside the company's offices in Dublin 4. Photo: Doug O'Connor

Staff at Google's European headquarters in Dublin joined their international colleagues in a coordinated walk-out today, protesting claims over claims of sexual harassment and gender inequality.

The protest follows allegations of sexual misconduct which were made against senior executives published in a New York Times piece last week, and organisers of the demonstration say those are the most high-profile examples of "thousands" of similar cases across the company.

Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Hundreds of Google workers protest outside the company's offices in Dublin 4. Photo: Doug O'Connor Hundreds of Google workers protest outside the company's offices in Dublin 4. Photo: Doug O'Connor Google employees at its European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, join others from around the world walking out of their offices Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Hundreds of Google workers protest outside the company's offices in Dublin 4. Photo: Doug O'Connor

"As Google workers, we were disgusted by the details of the recent New York Times article, which provided the latest example of a culture of complicity, dismissiveness, and support for perpetrators in the face of sexual harassment, misconduct, and abuse of power," organisers said in a press release.

Sadly, this is part of a longstanding pattern, one further amplified by systemic racism, organisers said in a press release.

Employees who protested were encouraged to leave a flyer at their desk with the statement, "I'm not at my desk because Im walking out in solidarity with other Googlers and contractors to protest [against] sexual harassment, misconduct, lack of transparency, and a workplace culture thats not working for everyone."

These cases are conducted by private arbitration, meaning those making complaints are required to sign non-disclosure agreements are forgo their right to sue the company.

Demonstrations took place around the world, and are expected to take place all day across time zones. In Dublin, workers walked out between 11am to noon.

The Google Dublin Walkout for Real Change organiser told the crowd that they were walking out in solidarity with anybody who has experienced any form of sexual harassment or misconduct in our workplace.

While I have not personally experienced any form of sexual harassment or misconduct at Google, I wish to create a space for all of us here to gather together and show our support for doing whatever it takes to eliminate any such awful behaviour.

I stand here today as an ally to anybody who has suffered, anyone who is suffering or anyone who may suffer such unacceptable treatment.

Last week, the New York Times reported that Google fired 48 employees, including 13 senior executives, paying them millions of dollars in exit packages, as a result of sexual harassment allegations. The company said they fired 48 people over the last two years, none of whom received an exit package.

Richard DeVaul, a director at a unit of Googles parent company, Alphabet, resigned from the company on Tuesday after he was accused of sexually harassing a female job applicant.

Android creator Andy Rubin left Google in 2014 with a $90m golden parachute, one of three executives the company is accused of protecting and supporting after being accused of sexual misconduct, according to the New York Times.

For every story in the New York Times, there are thousands more, at every level of the company. Most have not been told, added organisers.

Rubin denied any allegations of misconduct and said the figure was over-inflated.

When asked about the cases, Google's Vice President for People Operations Eileen Naughton said they take all complaints seriously.

We investigate and take action, including termination, she said in a statement. In recent years, weve taken a particularly hard line on inappropriate conduct by people in positions of authority. Were working hard to keep improving how we handle this type of behavior.

Google employs more than 7,000 people in Ireland.
Plum role: Noirin OSullivans post at the UN is recognition of her experience and stature around the world (Niall Carson/PA)

The appointment of former Garda commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan to a key managerial post at the United Nations will give a big boost to Ireland's bid to secure a seat on the ruling Security Council.

Ms O'Sullivan will now play a major role in assessing the safety and security of UN peacekeeping missions for troops from Ireland and other countries.

As a former head of a national police force, Ms O'Sullivan would be regarded as well-qualified for a role as assistant secretary general for safety and security at the UN.

The announcement of her appointment by UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, came on a day when the Garda whistleblower, Sgt Maurice McCabe, disclosed that he was retiring from the Garda force.

Unending

The two were dominant figures in the whistleblower controversy, which dogged the force for several years, and led to Ms O'Sullivan's decision to retire early as commissioner last year after what she described as an unending cycle of investigations and inquiries.

She was recently cleared of all the allegations made against her by the chairman of the Disclosures Tribunal, Mr Justice Peter Charleton.

His report said there was no credible evidence that Ms O'Sullivan played any hand, act or part in any campaign conducted against the whistleblower by Commissioner Martin Callinan and by Superintendent David Taylor.

However, the report did note that "it is also improbable that she did not have an inkling at the very least about Commissioner Callinan's views" and added: "It was disappointing to hear her evidence on this."

In her new role as deputy to the under secretary general for safety and security, Australian Peter Drennan, Ms O'Sullivan will be responsible for the day-to-day overall management of the department. At present, Ireland is pushing hard to win a Security Council seat.

Ireland has a record of 60 years of unbroken service to the UN peacekeeping effort, the longest of any nation worldwide. On a visit here in the past decade, former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon described the country as "punching above its weight".

Apart from the contribution of the Defence Forces, the Garda has also played its role in overseas missions - and this all forms part of Ireland's case for a seat.

The UN said that Ms O'Sullivan "brings to her role her extensive experience in international safety and security management, strategic management and leadership".

"She is a leader in partnership building, leading teams and able to drive strategic change," it added.

"She also brings an in-depth knowledge of international security, crisis management, strategic and institutional leadership and gender issues to the position."

Ms O'Sullivan's new department manages a security network in more than 100 countries, in support of around 180,000 UN personnel, 400,000 dependants and 4,500 UN premises. It was established in 2005 after a security review, prompted by a suicide bomber attack using a truck filled with explosives on an UN premises in Baghdad, killing 22 personnel and visitors.
Renua Ireland leader John Leahy receives 65,000 each year from taxpayer funds.

State funding for his party came to 477,000 over 2016 and 2017 despite Mr Leahy - an Offaly county councillor - being Renua's only elected representative.

Mr Leahy began getting an annual salary of 65,000 in October 2016 in addition to his pay as a councillor of around 16,000 a year. Last night he defended his remuneration, saying he works full-time as Renua leader in addition to his local authority duties, and said he takes "very few expenses".

He said he took a "huge gamble" in giving up his previous job with Leinster GAA to devote all his time to politics because if he's not elected he'll "effectively have no job".

He also insisted Renua is entitled to the State funding, as it received more than 2pc of the vote in the last general election.

Founded by former Fine Gael minister Lucinda Creighton, Renua failed to return any TDs to the Dail in 2016 and she later left the party. It did secure 2.66pc of the national vote and qualified for Exchequer funding of 258,596 per annum as a result.

Details of how the party spent the cash are contained in its 2017 accounts published by the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo).

Staff costs accounted for 96,375 while administration costs came to 128,302.

Mr Leahy said the party holds public meetings around the country and administration costs arise from that.

Renua was almost entirely reliant on State funding last year. This cannot be used for election purposes. Mr Leahy said Renua hopes to raise 15,000 to 20,000 to contest the next general election. He said membership has grown from 300 to 750 and the party has selected 20 candidates.

Meanwhile, Mr Leahy said he has tried to contact controversial former presidential candidate Peter Casey to gauge his interest in joining Renua, but he has yet to hear back from him.

Mr Leahy said he has "no difficulty" with Mr Casey's views on the Travelling community and the social welfare system. Separately, accounts for the Independents4Change - which includes TDs Clare Daly, Mick Wallace and Joan Collins - show that they paid their parliamentary leader 5,000 from a taxpayer-funded allowance in 2017.

Ms Daly is listed as the leader in Sipo returns for that year. She didn't respond last night to questions on the payment. Records indicate that Mr Wallace was paid 3,000 in the same category in 2016.
Bus and rail drivers may pull services in anti-social hotspots following the latest serious assault on the Dart.

The leader of a major transport union has warned Transport Minister Shane Ross and Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan of possible service disruption after the stabbing of a teenager on Dublin's northside on Tuesday night.

A man was arrested following the incident at around 10.15pm between the Killester and Harmonstown stations.

General secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) Dermot O'Leary said anti-social behaviour and thuggery have reached crisis point.

He said it may only be a matter of time before staff are forced to take "preventative measures". This would include an assessment of services provided at "certain times and locations".

The union has written to the two ministers seeking their immediate commitment to set up a Garda public transport division.

"The safety of commuters and staff would be paramount in such a review," he said.

He said it seems that a week does not go by without another headline appearing across various media platforms highlighting yet another assault on the public transport system.

"Last Tuesday's serious incident on an Iarnrod Eireann service between Killester and Harmonstown may serve to be a watershed moment in the ongoing debate on the issue of anti-social behaviour and outright thuggery on transport services," he said.

"It has reached crisis point.

"The mood among transport workers has changed dramatically on the back of a number of recent assaults across both our train and bus services," he said.

"Whilst they were encouraged by the minister's initial response in early summer, they are now of the view that they may have to take their own preventative measures, inclusive of assessing service provision in particular hotspots and in areas with a high prevalence of anti-social behaviour."

He said there were over 1,000 anti-social incidents logged by Irish Rail between January last year and June this year.

In June, Dart drivers threatened to stop trains travelling through the northside from Connolly Station to Howth after 7pm on Fridays and the weekend following a series of attacks.

They described the line north of Connolly as bandit country. But they abandoned the plan after Irish Rail increased security.

A train was hijacked in Clongriffin earlier this year, and Dart services were delayed after chaos on trains following a Liam Gallagher concert and an assault at Connolly Station.
More than a third of the schools checked for structural problems will need work following on-site inspections.

Assessments of all 42 schools built by Western Building Systems (WBS) have now been completed, with 17 requiring intervention, while inspection reports from a further 13 school buildings continue to be analysed.

Ardgillan Community College in Dublin remains shut, while three other schools - Tyrrelstown Educate Together NS, the adjoining St Luke's NS and Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada - are to partially close with only the ground floor reopening to pupils and staff on Monday.

The Department of Education said it was looking at interim accommodation for pupils who cannot return to their old classrooms on the upper floors of the affected buildings.

A further 14 schools will have also been identified as requiring external intervention and supports in the form of fencing and protective decking in order for them to reopen.

The outcome of the remaining 13 schools which have been assessed is still being reviewed by engineers and department officials, and is expected later today.

Education Minister Joe McHugh last night said none of the inspections had presented the same severity of concerns as those in Ardgillan Community School, which closed 18 classrooms more than a week ago.

"The outcomes of further structural assessments which we have received today are important in providing clarity to school authorities, students and parents," Mr McHugh said.

"The advice I have received is that no other building has presented the same severity of structural issues as those identified in Phase 1 of Ardgillan Community College, which was built in 2009."

Two other schools are still under development by the construction company but a department spokesperson previously confirmed "additional oversight" introduced from 2014 would not require any delays to the two projects.

In a statement, WBS reiterated its commitment to honouring its contracts, but said it had not seen any of the assessments carried out.

"So far, we have been invited to meet with the department's inspectors and officials at 13 of the 42 schools. We had insufficient time on site to make structural evaluations," it said.

"That such a turnaround is now being reached is troubling on a wider scale."

Of the 14 schools requiring intervention, four are in Co Meath: Colaiste De Lacy, Ashbourne; Gaelscoil na Mi, Ashbourne; Ashbourne Educate Together National School; and St Paul's National School, Ratoath.

A further three schools located in Kildare, Dublin and Laois require further works: Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Athy; Athy Model School (GP Hall Extension only); Gaelscoil Atha I (GP Hall Extension only); Lucan East Educate Together National School; Scoil Chaitlin Maude, Tallaght; Castlemills Education Centre, Balbriggan; Convent National School, Portarlington; Gaelscoil Phortlaoise; Portlaoise Educate Together National School.

In Cork, Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Rochestown will require external intervention.
The Board of the Irish Kidney Association has expressed its gratitude to the late Ms Elizabeth OKelly for the largest single bequest in the 40 year history of the Association.

Ms OKelly died in December 2016, but left 30m in her will to five different charities, each receiving 6m.

She was a shareholder in Clylim Properties, which has extensive property interests in Dublin, and it was reported she made around 30m from the sale of the 'Leinster Leader' Ltd in 2005.

The five charities are the Irish Cancer Society; Irish Heart Foundation; Irish Kidney Association; the Irish Society for Autistic Children; and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute Ireland in Airside, Swords, Dublin.

"Ms OKellys bequest will enable the Association to pursue new projects that have previously been out of reach and to fund further developments into renal disease and treatments. Her generosity will make a huge difference to those living with and affected by kidney disease in Ireland", the Irish Kidney Association said in a statement this evening.

This year the Irish Kidney Association is marking 40 years since its establishment. It serves people living with, and affected by, kidney failure.

"With the extremely generous bequest received from the late Ms Elizabeth OKelly she has given us the opportunity to consider delivering projects that were previously aspirational. It is our responsibility to ensure that the benefits of her legacy will be felt by people living with, and affected by, kidney failure for many years to come."

"The Board of the IKA has been discussing how to make a real difference with the unprecedented opportunity afforded to us through Ms OKellys bequest. This has involved reviewing what we do now and what are the needs going forward."

The association currently offers services such as advocacy, counselling, patient aid, facilitating holidays for people on dialysis, promoting positive health through sport and providing the Renal Support Centre in the grounds of Beaumont hospital.

"With the continued support of our members and supporters in funding the delivery of existing services, the Association will be able to use Mrs. OKellys bequest to deliver on plans for new and enhanced services. For example, we have already purchased a house next to Cork University Hospital that we will convert to an accommodation facility for patients and family members when they have appointments or admissions  similar to the services currently provided through our Renal Support Centre in Dublin for people attending Beaumont Hospital.

"We are also now in a position to deliver a dialysis unit next to our holiday facility in Tramore which, with HSE cooperation, will open up the opportunity for increased holiday dialysis. Most dialysis patients are totally restricted to their local dialysis treatment centre making it difficult for them travel due to shortage of national dialysis capacity."

"We have also agreed to financially support research through the Irish Nephrology Society  as aspect of the work of the Association that we have not be able to fund for a considerable period.

"Through Ms. OKellys thoughtfulness we can look forward to being able to deliver enhanced services to our members and the wider renal community. Her legacy will greatly ease the burden on those affected by renal illness for years to come. For this we express our deepest gratitude."
She was born into wealth, and amassed a personal fortune of her own through both luck and canny investments.

But never in her 93 years did Elizabeth O'Kelly think she was entitled to a cent of it.

The quiet and unassuming heiress left her entire 30m estate to five charities and those close to her were not too surprised.

"I expected it," said her close friend, Fr Conor Harper SJ, of Clongowes Wood in Naas.

Friends with Ms O'Kelly for more than 30 years, he said she was an intensely private woman who rarely spoke of herself, let alone treated herself to luxuries she could easily afford.

When she was orphaned at the age of two and made a ward of the court in order to protect the family's trust fund, she never felt the family fortune was hers to spend.

"She considered the money to be a trust to be donated to worthy causes," he told the Irish Independent.

While she lived frugally, she was generous with others in every respect of the word, said Fr Conor, who was himself a beneficiary of her estate.

"I think it was the influence of [growing up during] the war years when you could lose everything," he said.

He also described her as a very devout Christian who attended Mass on a daily basis before she became too frail in her later years.

Even when she made a 30m profit from the 2005 sale of the 'Leinster Leader' group of newspapers - of which she was the largest shareholder - she never believed she deserved the windfall, he said.

"She always said the money was from the work of the 'Leinster Leader'," he said.

Former Labour senator John Whelan, who was an editor at the newspaper group when it was sold, said everyone at the newspaper toasted Ms O'Kelly when all 180 staff received a 3,000 Christmas bonus cheque from an "anonymous" source, as they knew it was from her.

"We all toasted her even though we never met her. She was such a generous spirit. She was decent to a fault," he said.

He later learned that she had discreetly enquired how she could thank the entire staff for their efforts and was told she could make a maximum gift donation of 3,000 without the recipient being liable for tax.

Fr Sean Kelly, who was parish priest in Stradbally before his retirement, saw Ms O'Kelly frequently before her death in December 2016 as he would call over to her house to give her communion.

Ms O'Kelly gave him a 12,000 bequest in order for the church to be painted, even though she had been too frail for years to attend Mass there herself.

"There was such a gentleness and friendliness about her," he said. "She was very kind and generous. She was such a lovely elderly person."

The only time any of her many friends heard her complain about anything was when her friend Elizabeth Connelly visited Ms O'Kelly after she moved from Dower House at Emo Park in Co Laois to a house on Market Square in Stradbally.

The house was very close to the site of the Electric Picnic music festival, prompting Ms O'Kelly to decamp to her house in France during the weekend festival.

"She'd go to France because the racket was 'awful'," Ms Connelly said.

Ironically, the last time Ms Connelly saw Ms O'Kelly was when she was invited to attend a picnic at Stradbally, "but it wasn't an electric one," she laughed.

Ms Connelly, who is the past president of the County Kildare Archaeological Society - which received a 10,000 bequest from Ms O'Kelly's estate - credited Ms O'Kelly for supporting her as the first-ever woman to be elected as president in the society's 127-year history.

With a keen interest in archaeology, history and architecture, their friendship evolved over the years since they first met in the early 1990s, she said.

"There was a great level of politeness. She went to so much trouble," she said.

Even though she knew many people of wealth and standing, she never let someone's socio-economic status affect how she viewed them, she added.

"She was friendly with anyone she met. When you went to a lunch or dinner, you never knew you would meet."

Ms O'Kelly lost her husband Major John William O'Kelly in 1962.

Widowed for more than 50 years by the time she passed away, Ms O'Kelly had asked that she be laid to rest alongside his remains in Moyglare Cemetery, Co Kildare.

Major O'Kelly's first wife Mary O'Kelly - who died three years before he married Elizabeth in 1945 - is also laid to rest there.
Bundle of joy: Eibhlin Wills when she was just two days old

Baby Eibhlin was the much-loved first-born little girl of John and Louise Wills.

Her father described how she was a healthy baby with a big personality, who was brought into the world on November 19.

"She was a bubbly, amenable baby, goo-ing and gaa-ing and making noises," Mr Wills said.

"She was this tiny little person who was incredibly alert for her age."

The Wills were over the moon to bring their little bundle of joy home just five days later, and the public health nurse visited the family on November 27.

"We spent those first few days getting used to her. She was feeding well and sleeping well and settled into her little routine," he said.

"The nurse was very happy with her. That weekend Eibhlin seemed to have picked up a cold. She was sniffling a little but she was still feeding."

But everything changed by that Monday. Little Eibhlin was feeding less and she seemed tired. The hospital advised the Wills to bring their little girl in if they were concerned, when suddenly she lost consciousness. They rushed to hospital, but the baby girl was pronounced dead in the early hours of December 1.

The Wills said that their lives have never been the same.

"For the past three years we have had to live with the unspeakable horror of losing our baby girl to an entirely preventable disease," Mr Wills said. "While it has been extremely painful to go through the details again... the verdict gives us the opportunity to again warn the public, and especially the families of newborns and those caring for them, of the potential danger of the common cold-sore virus.

"This tragedy continues to affect us and navigating such pain would not be possible without the support and love of our families, friends, neighbours and colleagues who continue to be there through the difficult times since her death."

They thanked all of Eibhlin's carers without exception.

"We know that each and every one of them did their best," he said.

"Whether she contracted the virus from direct contact with one of her carers, or through one of the many procedures carried out on her in hospital or in some other way, we will never know. We know that she did not contract it from her mother Louise.

"In our search for facts, we were shocked to learn how little was known about this killer virus, even in medical circles.

"Our concern now is that every maternity hospital and unit in Ireland bring similar changes to those introduced at the NMH."
Lentil soup and hemp sandals could soon be a distant memory for animal lovers. Between plant burgers that 'bleed' and fake leather, going veggie has never been easier. Perhaps that's why new figures from Bord Bia show that 8pc of Irish people are now vegetarian, while 2pc are vegan.

Today marks the 24th annual World Vegan Day around the globe. And while leatherless Doc Martens and almond milk lattes may seem like the ultimate centennial fad, the growing lifestyle choice goes back more than seven decades to when Vegan Society co-founder Donald Watson first coined the term in 1944.

Of course, steak dodgers still have their share of detractors. Waitrose Food magazine editor William Sitwell certainly didn't mince his words when he suggested "killing vegans, one by one" in an email just last week.

While a recent row over the vegan status of avocado is sure to have left the surviving ones wondering what's OK and what's 'no way' amid a paradox of choice.

From fashion to food and face cream, here we look at the new rules of veganism.

Fashion

Burberry, Gucci and Versace: just a few of the fashion labels to phase out fur in 2018.

So could leather be next after vegan fashion designer Tom Ford debuted his faux crocodile skin collection at New York Fashion Week? Lab-grown leather developed by US company Modern Meadow could soon hit shelves here. Until then, look out for 'polyurethane' - better known as PU - on the label of pleather fashion garments.

"We get two or three people a week looking for vegan leather bags," says Paddy Coughlan of Designer Exchange in Dublin, where you can swap or sell pre-loved designer bags and accessories. "One customer recently de-leathered her entire wardrobe with us.

"One brand that we love to see coming in is Stella McCartney. Her iconic Falabella bag with chain detail is by far and away our most popular piece. It looks leather, but it's not leather. Whereas someone like Stella is 100pc vegan, some pleather bags may have animal by-products within the lining or charms, so people have to be careful on that front. Look for '100pc synthetic' or words to that effect."

Winter woollies meanwhile can be switched out for more sheep-friendly polar fleece or recycled polyester - also called rPET - according to PETA. The most right-on vegans will even forsake on-trend silk - made from the cocoons of silkworms - for alternatives such as soysilk this party season.

Booze

Wine o'clock is now a great time to be herbivorous.

What may come as a bigger surprise to those considering doing 'Veganuary' in two months' time is that the tipple isn't vegan to begin with. Egg whites, fish bladders and bone marrow are among the animal innards traditionally used to filter red and white wine.

As the demand for vegan booze grows however, some winemakers have started using vegan-friendly fining agents like activated charcoal instead. South African winery Org de Rac, for instance, went fully vegan in July.

"There is a small but ever-growing market for vegan wine and we're trying to be at the forefront of that," says Garret Connolly, owner of Baggot Street Wines in Dublin. "We would have around 800 wines in total, and between 25 to 40 of them are vegan-friendly."

Closer to home, Guinness removed the isinglass - or fish bladders - from all its products earlier this year, while Baileys launched an almond-milk version of its world-famous cream liqueur.

Beauty

Whale vomit, shark liver oil and literal 'beetle juice' are just some of the gross-out ingredients commonly lurking in beauty products like perfume and lipstick.

But veganistas don't have to resort to rubbing beetroot on their cheeks just yet.

You can swap beeswax for sunflower wax and so on - just look at Kat Von D, whose eponymous range is both 'vegan' - completely free of any animal products - and 'cruelty-free' - not tested on animals at any stage. Confusingly, the two aren't always interchangeable, as products can be cruelty-free and vegan, cruelty-free but not vegan or even vegan but not cruelty-free.

Look for the Vegan Society trademark symbol as well as the Leaping Bunny logo to be doubly sure, advises Arnott's Head of Beauty Buying, Anne O'Neill.

"Vegan beauty products are definitely on the rise," she says. "Consumers are demanding not only natural products that are good for their skin, but are also cruelty-free and vegan. We stock a lot of vegan brands and brands where the majority of products are vegan, but not all products due to formulation challenges.

"Our most popular vegan products are The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (6.80) and American English 24 Karat Thickening Lotion for hair (30)."

Needless to say, traditional make-up brushes - made using the hair of everything from goats to badgers - are a no-go, with The Body Shop's vegan ones sure to top Santa lists instead.

Food

Got beef with supposedly bland vegan food?

Beyond Burger is one of the brands bidding to change all that with plant-based patties so believable they're even being stocked alongside the real thing in some supermarkets.

Whether vegans should want their burger to include beet juice that makes it "bleed" in the first place is another day's debate.

But the true test of Gen Z's commitment to the cause of veganism is avocados, after BBC show QI argued they're not strictly vegan due to the use of migratory bee-keeping to pollinate the crops.

By that logic, card-carrying vegans would also have to give up butternut squash, almonds and even lettuce.

Elsewhere in the dairy aisle, Swedish brand Oatly is rising to the top after causing scandal in Scandinavia with its 'It's like milk, but made for humans' tagline.

"Traditionally, the majority of our vegan sales would have been in plant-based milk alternatives, with Alpro being the brand leader here," explains Philip McDonough, Health & Food Leadership Project Manager at Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland, which operates Centra and SuperValu stores nationwide. "We're seeing demand for milk alternatives grow again in 2018. Oat is now the fastest growing plant-based milk alternative, with new brands like Oatly performing extremely well.

"Overall growth in the vegan chill area has been very strong this year at +55pc, and we aim to have a vegan chill area across 100 SuperValu stores by the end of the year."

There's even something for cheat day after Goodfella's launched its first vegan frozen pizza earlier this year, and Ben & Jerry's introduced a dairy-free version of its cult Chunky Monkey ice-cream.
Jill Meagher, who was murdered in Australia in 2012 by Adrian Bayley, photographed with her husband Tom

The husband of an Irish woman who was raped and murdered in Australia has slammed the governments decision to allow US actor Charlie Sheen into Australia for his speaking tour.

Sheen has a history of violence against women, dating back to 1996.

Jill Meagher (29) was walking home in Melbourne when she was raped and murdered in the early hours of September 22, 2012.

Her husband Tom now campaigns to end mens violence against women,

Last night, Tom Meagher asked a question on Twitter of Australian Immigration Minister David Coleman - why the government chose to grant Sheen's visa?

"Can I ask why you think it's appropriate to grant a visa to this violent criminal at a time when men are murdering women in Australia at epidemic rates and thousands more are terrorised everyday by men like him?" Meagher asked.

In a separate tweet, sent by Australian activist group Collective Shout, Meagher was also quoted as saying:

"Charlie Sheen is seeking character rehabilitation in Australia during a national crisis where more than one woman a week is murdered by a man.

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"If, in the midst of this crisis, we believe it is appropriate to welcome a serial violent offender like Sheen to an arena where he is applauded, celebrated and speaks unchallenged, it is difficult to believe that this is a country that takes the job of ending it.

Sheen will speak in Melbourne this Saturday, and in Sydney on Sunday.

The tour's publicist Max Markson has said: "He will cover his time on Two and a Half Men and the blow-up at the end," he said. "He'll talk about HIV. There'll also be an open Q&A with the audience. He's done an incredible body of work."

Adrian Bayley was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 35-year non-parole period in 2013 for the rape and murder of Jill Meagher. The convicted killer was sentenced to another 18 years in prison in 2015 for three other rape convictions.
Floor plan for a 12sqm 'ModPod' at The Devlin

View of Ranelagh and the Dublin Mountains from The Devlin

One of the 'cosy' rooms at The Devlin

A ModPod room with artworks by Neil Dunne (above bed) and Leah Hewson (small frame)

Views of Ranelagh from the bedroom corridor at The Devlin

The Press Up Group's latest step towards world domination officially opens today in Ranelagh - its first completely new build in Dublin.

The 40-bed Devlin is "more than a hotel", the group says.

Similar to its sister, The Dean on Harcourt Street, it features a funky bank of rooms with small, 12sqm 'ModPods' starting from 120 per night. 'BunkPods' and 'TriPods' sleep up to three and four respectively, while 16sqm 'SuperPods' offer most space.

Within the rooms, guests can expect similarly playful details, including Dyson hair dryers, Netflix, Smeg fridges, 'Munchie Boxes' with Irish snacks and mini-Marshall amps for their tunes.

Behind the bright, limestone facade on Ranelagh Road, two bedroom floors feature end-of-corridor picture windows overlooking Ranelagh (see gallery), and walls are decked with a collection of Irish art curated by James Earley.

Over 160 pieces include original paintings and prints by Dorothy Cross, Cian McLoughlin and Eva Rothschild, Press Up says, as well as emerging artists like Alan Butler, Leah Hewson and Eve OCallaghan.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close One of the 'cosy' rooms at The Devlin Layla's rooftop bar and restaurant View of Ranelagh and the Dublin Mountains from The Devlin Pizza and views at Layla's The Stella Cinema, Ranelagh The Devlin's limestone exterior (and terrace) A ModPod room with artworks by Neil Dunne (above bed) and Leah Hewson (small frame) Inside the Stella Cinema Views of Ranelagh from the bedroom corridor at The Devlin Cocktails at The Devlin's Americana Bar... Floor plan for a 12sqm 'ModPod' at The Devlin A 'ModPod' room at The Devlin / Facebook

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Whatsapp One of the 'cosy' rooms at The Devlin

A bespoke Tracey Emin neon piece hangs above reception. I Came Here For You is its amber message (I Fell In Love Here is the cool blue line at The Dean).

The Devlin draws heavily from the most successful elements of Press-Up's Dublin portfolio (now including over 30 properties), with a 42-seater ground-floor cinema, The Stella Ranelagh, echoing its sumptuous reboot of the old Stella in Rathmines.

Patrons can kick back in mid-century style armchairs and couches with lamps and side tables, snack on fish tacos and flatbreads, and watch new releases, indie, arthouse and cult classics on the silver screen.

On the top floor, Laylas Rooftop Restaurant, Bar and Terrace seems to be cut from Sophie's cloth - one of The Dean's highlights - with a glass-surround terrace giving birds' eye views over the red-brick suburb.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The Devlin's limestone exterior (and terrace) A ModPod room with artworks by Neil Dunne (above bed) and Leah Hewson (small frame) View of Ranelagh and the Dublin Mountains from The Devlin Layla's rooftop bar and restaurant The Stella Cinema, Ranelagh Inside the Stella Cinema Cocktails at The Devlin's Americana Bar... One of the 'cosy' rooms at The Devlin Pizza and views at Layla's Views of Ranelagh from the bedroom corridor at The Devlin Floor plan for a 12sqm 'ModPod' at The Devlin A 'ModPod' room at The Devlin / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Devlin's limestone exterior (and terrace)

Promo photos show timber joisted ceilings, oak floorboards and 1950s inspired tan leather booths creating a warm feel, and the room is anchored by a three-sided marble and leather-clad bar next to an open kitchen and pizza oven.

Chef Paul Devoy's weekend brunch (11am-3pm) is sure to be a hot suburban ticket.

As is increasingly the trend in new, global boutique hotels, Press Up has designed The Devlin to work for overnight guests, locals from the neighbourhood, and night-time punters looking to wine, dine and party.

On the Ground Floor, for example, reception is ensconced in a multi-purpose lobby space alongside a DIME coffee hatch, all-day food, and gifts and goodies at a retail space by design and lifestyle store Industry & Co.

DJs will set up shop at weekends, and the hotel's Americana cocktail bar showcases a black leather-trim bar counter and drinks menu mixed by Paddy Noir and Kevin Hurley, the Devlin's GM and a former Global Brand Ambassador for Teeling Whiskey.

Interiors are by ODonnell ONeill Design, with design by Press Up and Lawrence & Long architects. Bookings are now open at thedevlin.ie.

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An archival photo of Guinness barges being loaded on the River Liffey.

Guinness brewers and designers take inspiration from the archives...

An early 19th century label from Neary's pub in Dublin. Photo: Pol O Conghaile

The bottle used in Guinness's 1959 'Message in a Bottle' marketing campaign... Photo: Pol O Conghaile

Visitors to St James's Gate were once taken on tours by rail... Photo: Pol O Conghaile

An early tourist brochure from the Guinness brewery. Photo: Pol O Conghaile

A selection of John Gilroy's drawings and concepts, from the Guinness Archives. Photo: Pol O Conghaile

A Guinness drayman 'at tap' - or collecting his daily beer allowance - around 1910. Photo: Guinness Archives

An old 'creamer', with which home users could 'nitrogenate' bottled Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile

A Guinnes barge on the River Liffey in 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives

Guinness Archive Manager Eibhlin Roche points to a hand-painted book given to Benjamin Lee Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile

It doesnt take long to get goosebumps.

Standing in a small, behind-the-scenes room in the Guinness Storehouse, Im watching Guinness Archive Manager Eibhlin Colgan delicately ease open a centuries-old Brewers Guild minute book.

Its creamy, wispy-worn pages give off a musty whiff.

There it is, she says, pointing a white-gloved finger at a looping flourish that is, surely, one of the most famous signatures on Planet Earth.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Eibhlin Colgan, Guinness Archive Manager Pub labels from the Guinness Archives Arthur Guinness's original signature, contained in a Brewers' Guild minute book from 1769. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Guinness Archive Manager Eibhlin Roche points to a hand-painted book given to Benjamin Lee Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile A Guinnes barge on the River Liffey in 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives Pyramids of Guinness casks, around 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives The Guinness cooperage yard, c. 1920. Photo: Guinness Archives Coopers raising a cask, c. 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives An old 'creamer', with which home users could 'nitrogenate' bottled Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile A Guinness drayman 'at tap' - or collecting his daily beer allowance - around 1910. Photo: Guinness Archives Photo: Guinness Archives A selection of John Gilroy's drawings and concepts, from the Guinness Archives. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Pub labels in the Guinness Archives. Photo: Pol O Conghaile An early tourist brochure from the Guinness brewery. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Visitors to St James's Gate were once taken on tours by rail... Photo: Pol O Conghaile The bottle used in Guinness's 1959 'Message in a Bottle' marketing campaign... Photo: Pol O Conghaile An early 19th century label from Neary's pub in Dublin. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Guinness brewers and designers take inspiration from the archives... An archival photo of Guinness barges being loaded on the River Liffey. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Eibhlin Colgan, Guinness Archive Manager

It belongs, of course, to Arthur Guinness. In our digital age, in a relentless stream of copies and screens, theres something disarming about such a pure, hand-written piece of history. The founder of Guinness wrote onto these pages on Thursday, January 29th, 1767. And here we, over 260 years later, looking at the same ink and paper. I feel a little tingle travelling through time.

Surprisingly few of Arthurs original signatures exist, I learn  even the lease on display in the Storehouse is a copy; the original vellum document, which secured a 9,000-year hold on the St Jamess Gate site, is carefully stowed in the archives.

"This is just a drop in the ocean, Eibhlin tells me.

A historian and archivist from Tralee, Co Kerry, she is in her element. Another book, a trove of early 20th century pub labels, could have come from Hogwarts. It harks back to a time when Guinness was still dispatching barrels of porter in barges from the brewery, and pubs bottled and labelled it themselves.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Arthur Guinness's original signature, contained in a Brewers' Guild minute book from 1769. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Pub labels from the Guinness Archives Eibhlin Colgan, Guinness Archive Manager Guinness Archive Manager Eibhlin Roche points to a hand-painted book given to Benjamin Lee Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile A Guinnes barge on the River Liffey in 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives Pyramids of Guinness casks, around 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives The Guinness cooperage yard, c. 1920. Photo: Guinness Archives Coopers raising a cask, c. 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives An old 'creamer', with which home users could 'nitrogenate' bottled Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile A Guinness drayman 'at tap' - or collecting his daily beer allowance - around 1910. Photo: Guinness Archives Photo: Guinness Archives A selection of John Gilroy's drawings and concepts, from the Guinness Archives. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Pub labels in the Guinness Archives. Photo: Pol O Conghaile An early tourist brochure from the Guinness brewery. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Visitors to St James's Gate were once taken on tours by rail... Photo: Pol O Conghaile The bottle used in Guinness's 1959 'Message in a Bottle' marketing campaign... Photo: Pol O Conghaile An early 19th century label from Neary's pub in Dublin. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Guinness brewers and designers take inspiration from the archives... An archival photo of Guinness barges being loaded on the River Liffey. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Arthur Guinness's original signature, contained in a Brewers' Guild minute book from 1769. Photo: Pol O Conghaile

Every document tells a story (see gallery). If you were to lay out our paper materials end to end, they would stretch about seven kilometres, she says.

All told, this is the largest private business archive in Ireland. Ive been allowed a sneak peek as part of a promo campaign for International Stout Day  celebrations are held on the first Thursday of every November, and this year, the Guinness Storehouse is running a festival from November 1-4, with a host of events and tastings including a one-off stout brewed for the occasion.

The Storehouse is Irelands most visited tourist attraction, clocking over 1.7m visitors a year. The archives are another story. Materials date back to 1759, but the archives themselves werent formally established until 1998, and select materials are accessible by appointment only.

Historians, collectors, Guinness marketers, family history researchers and anyone with an interest in the Guinness company and brand is officially welcome - though you need a specific request, and appointments are given in this small room in the Storehouse (as opposed to the climate-controlled storage facilities themselves).

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close An archival photo of Guinness barges being loaded on the River Liffey. Guinness brewers and designers take inspiration from the archives... An early 19th century label from Neary's pub in Dublin. Photo: Pol O Conghaile The bottle used in Guinness's 1959 'Message in a Bottle' marketing campaign... Photo: Pol O Conghaile Visitors to St James's Gate were once taken on tours by rail... Photo: Pol O Conghaile An early tourist brochure from the Guinness brewery. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Pub labels in the Guinness Archives. Photo: Pol O Conghaile A selection of John Gilroy's drawings and concepts, from the Guinness Archives. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Photo: Guinness Archives A Guinness drayman 'at tap' - or collecting his daily beer allowance - around 1910. Photo: Guinness Archives An old 'creamer', with which home users could 'nitrogenate' bottled Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Coopers raising a cask, c. 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives The Guinness cooperage yard, c. 1920. Photo: Guinness Archives Pyramids of Guinness casks, around 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives A Guinnes barge on the River Liffey in 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives Eibhlin Colgan, Guinness Archive Manager Arthur Guinness's original signature, contained in a Brewers' Guild minute book from 1769. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Pub labels from the Guinness Archives Guinness Archive Manager Eibhlin Roche points to a hand-painted book given to Benjamin Lee Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile / Facebook

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Whatsapp An archival photo of Guinness barges being loaded on the River Liffey.

Outside, tourists swirl around the glossy, pint-shaped atrium on their journey through hi-tech displays to a Gravity Bar that will double in size next year as part of a 16m expansion plan. When Eibhlin pulls on her white gloves however, time travels in the opposite direction.

She shows me beautifully written recipe books (no photos allowed the recipes are proprietorial). There is a hand-painted volume given to Benjamin Lee Guinness by the "Citizens of Dublin" to mark his bankrolling of the restoration of St Patricks Cathedral in the 1860s. Other artefacts in the collection include barley grains from King Tutankhamuns tomb.

Around us, cabinets are crammed with vintage glass and stoneware bottles, and Eibhlin has laid out a mouthwatering sample of charcoal drawings  John Gilroys drafts of toucans, ostriches and other animals. Guinness brewers and marketers sometimes draw on old labels, recipes and advertising concepts for inspiration, I learn - a modern reboot of its West Indies Porter, for example, saw brewers consult an original recipe from 1801.

In the hallway outside, a small collection of artefacts includes a Guinness firemans helmet, draught can widgets invented in the 1990s, and the keg from which President Obamas Guinness was served in Moneygall in 2011.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The bottle used in Guinness's 1959 'Message in a Bottle' marketing campaign... Photo: Pol O Conghaile An archival photo of Guinness barges being loaded on the River Liffey. Guinness brewers and designers take inspiration from the archives... An early 19th century label from Neary's pub in Dublin. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Visitors to St James's Gate were once taken on tours by rail... Photo: Pol O Conghaile An early tourist brochure from the Guinness brewery. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Pub labels in the Guinness Archives. Photo: Pol O Conghaile A selection of John Gilroy's drawings and concepts, from the Guinness Archives. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Photo: Guinness Archives A Guinness drayman 'at tap' - or collecting his daily beer allowance - around 1910. Photo: Guinness Archives Coopers raising a cask, c. 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives The Guinness cooperage yard, c. 1920. Photo: Guinness Archives Pyramids of Guinness casks, around 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives A Guinnes barge on the River Liffey in 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives Guinness Archive Manager Eibhlin Roche points to a hand-painted book given to Benjamin Lee Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Eibhlin Colgan, Guinness Archive Manager Arthur Guinness's original signature, contained in a Brewers' Guild minute book from 1769. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Pub labels from the Guinness Archives An old 'creamer', with which home users could 'nitrogenate' bottled Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile / Facebook

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Whatsapp The bottle used in Guinness's 1959 'Message in a Bottle' marketing campaign... Photo: Pol O Conghaile

Guinness wasnt always a stout, Eibhlin tells me. Arthurs original brew was an ale  he made what she describes as the momentous decision to cease brewing it in 1799 in favour of porter. Obviously, history has shown that he made the right decision, but it was quite a brave move. There were no other exclusive porter brewers at that stage.

Im also amused to learn that the creamy draught Guinness, which feels like such a cornerstone of Irish culture, only made its debut in 1959. It was introduced as a 200th anniversary celebration.

That anniversary was also marked by a gob-smacking message in a bottle campaign that saw 150,000 specially commissioned bottles filled with scrolls and dumped into the oceans. Anything like it would be an environmental (and PR) scandal today, but the bottles are still washing up around the world.

Last year, we had a call from a radio station in Nova Scotia, Eibhlin says. A lady had been walking on the beach with her daughter, found one and wanted to know a little more about it. So theyre still turning up today

The archives are also full of photographs. We browse through black-and-white images of draymen at tap (collecting their daily allowance of beer); of enormous cask pyramids in the yards, of men loading freight onto Liffey barges; of Victorian master brewers in their pomp.

My over-riding feeling is just how inextricably the history of Guinness is linked with that of Dublin - a fact underscored by its collection of some 20,000 employee records dating from the 1880s to the 1980s.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A Guinness drayman 'at tap' - or collecting his daily beer allowance - around 1910. Photo: Guinness Archives Pub labels from the Guinness Archives Arthur Guinness's original signature, contained in a Brewers' Guild minute book from 1769. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Eibhlin Colgan, Guinness Archive Manager Guinness Archive Manager Eibhlin Roche points to a hand-painted book given to Benjamin Lee Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile A Guinnes barge on the River Liffey in 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives Pyramids of Guinness casks, around 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives The Guinness cooperage yard, c. 1920. Photo: Guinness Archives Coopers raising a cask, c. 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives An old 'creamer', with which home users could 'nitrogenate' bottled Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Photo: Guinness Archives A selection of John Gilroy's drawings and concepts, from the Guinness Archives. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Pub labels in the Guinness Archives. Photo: Pol O Conghaile An early tourist brochure from the Guinness brewery. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Visitors to St James's Gate were once taken on tours by rail... Photo: Pol O Conghaile The bottle used in Guinness's 1959 'Message in a Bottle' marketing campaign... Photo: Pol O Conghaile An early 19th century label from Neary's pub in Dublin. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Guinness brewers and designers take inspiration from the archives... An archival photo of Guinness barges being loaded on the River Liffey. / Facebook

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Whatsapp A Guinness drayman 'at tap' - or collecting his daily beer allowance - around 1910. Photo: Guinness Archives

Eibhlin shows me one original, rolled into a compact bundle like an old newspaper. Key info from these records has by now been extracted and kept in a database, allowing for genealogical queries from direct family members.

When we started that service, I imagined the interest would mostly come from our American and overseas visitors, she says. But it has actually been Irish people themselves.

After an hour-and-a-half, she closes the last book. From that simple signature in a Brewers Guild book to todays, Diageo-owned, globe-straddling brand, even my short taster tour tells an epic tale.

Its not just a record of a beer," Eibhlin says. "Its a record of all that Guinness was.

NB: The International Stout Day festival runs from November 1-4 at the Guinness Storehouse (guinness-storehouse.com; from 18pp). For more on the Guinness Archives, visit guinness-storehouse/archives.com.

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Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Guinness Archive Manager Eibhlin Roche points to a hand-painted book given to Benjamin Lee Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile A Guinness drayman 'at tap' - or collecting his daily beer allowance - around 1910. Photo: Guinness Archives Pub labels from the Guinness Archives Arthur Guinness's original signature, contained in a Brewers' Guild minute book from 1769. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Eibhlin Colgan, Guinness Archive Manager A Guinnes barge on the River Liffey in 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives Pyramids of Guinness casks, around 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives The Guinness cooperage yard, c. 1920. Photo: Guinness Archives Coopers raising a cask, c. 1948. Photo: Guinness Archives An old 'creamer', with which home users could 'nitrogenate' bottled Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Photo: Guinness Archives A selection of John Gilroy's drawings and concepts, from the Guinness Archives. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Pub labels in the Guinness Archives. Photo: Pol O Conghaile An early tourist brochure from the Guinness brewery. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Visitors to St James's Gate were once taken on tours by rail... Photo: Pol O Conghaile The bottle used in Guinness's 1959 'Message in a Bottle' marketing campaign... Photo: Pol O Conghaile An early 19th century label from Neary's pub in Dublin. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Guinness brewers and designers take inspiration from the archives... An archival photo of Guinness barges being loaded on the River Liffey. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Guinness Archive Manager Eibhlin Roche points to a hand-painted book given to Benjamin Lee Guinness. Photo: Pol O Conghaile
Last Friday's presidential election and constitutional referendum have together consumed the attention of the political system, the media and those interested in political affairs over many weeks. More heat than light was generated. Is it time to consider doing what many other countries do on both votes?

If Ireland functioned as many of its peer democracies do, neither last week's decision on who will be president for the next seven years nor the largely uncontroversial constitutional amendment would have gained much attention.

That is because figurehead presidents in many other democracies are elected by parliaments.

In almost all democracies, parliaments also determine - usually by some form of super majority - whether to amend their countries' constitutions.

How different Ireland is from its democratic peers in holding both presidential elections and constitutional referendums is not often acknowledged.

The pros and cons of such votes are almost never weighed.

They should be.

Some of those spluttering into their cornflakes at the prospect of giving the Oireachtas the power to choose the president and to change the Constitution will howl that such a suggestion is outrageously anti-democratic.

But if that were indeed the case, then Ireland would be the only true democracy in the world.

If anyone believes Ireland operates on a higher democratic plane than any other country then they need to get out and see a bit more of the world. More generally, the notion that a country is more democratic if people get to vote on more issues and to do so more often is spurious.

If that were the case, true democracies would aspire to hold votes on issues and office-holders on a monthly, weekly or even daily basis.

One of the many reasons why "direct democracy" has been eschewed globally is because voters don't want it.

Moreover, if it were imposed on them, voter turnout would collapse as more and more people would stop voting - getting people to polling stations is not easy: despite last week's presidential election being the only one in seven years, most people didn't bother to vote.

It is for this reason, among others, that representative democracy has triumphed over direct democracy. It's certainly not perfect but nobody has yet come up with a better way.

If that is the broader case for representative democracy in a nutshell, let's draw a distinction between elections for figurehead presidents and constitutional referendums. As the latter are much more important for how we are governed, consider them first.

Switzerland is a great country - I lived there for three years and admire much about the place.

It is, along with Ireland, one of a handful of countries in the world whose constitution can only be changed by referendum.

There are some upsides to this, but there are downsides too.

Switzerland was the last democracy in the world to give women the right to vote.

Only in 1971 did Swiss (male) voters agree to change their constitution to enfranchise women in federal elections and it took until 1991 for universal suffrage to be introduced in all of the Alpine state's regions.

Swiss voters have proved remarkably wedded to other, long-held ways of doing things.

For decades they interpreted their long-standing neutrality to mean that even joining the United Nations was a no-no, only changing their minds as recently as 2002.

The broader point of relevance to Ireland is that allowing a state's legal superstructure to be changed only by referendum builds in a systemic anti-change bias. There are a number of distinct reasons for this.

As there is always a chunky proportion of voters who oppose change of any kind, advocates of reform always start at a disadvantage to opponents.

Another issue is that some voters use their ballot as a protest vote against the government of the day rather than as a means of giving their considered view on the matter at hand.

Politicians know that holding referendums takes a lot of time and burns up energy that could be expended on other priorities.

They also know that they don't usually get much credit when they back a change voters accept but do pay a political price if they advocate a change that is rejected.

All of this creates incentives for politicians to avoid holding referendums or to put them on the long finger. Hence the anti-change bias. In a world that is changing at an accelerating pace, adding to the natural inertia that exists in the Irish political system is likely to become increasingly costly.

Given all this there is a good case for the Oireachtas to be given the power to amend the Constitution, as is the case in most democracies.

What about the case for giving the Oireachtas the job of selecting the head of State? There is certainly an argument to be made for it, but it is not as strong as the case for a more normal means of amending the Constitution.

In many peer republics, voters do not have a say in electing their first citizen because parliaments and/or regional bodies are tasked with making that choice.

One reason some other countries don't ask citizens to vote on who does the job of figurehead president is that it is not worth troubling them. To illustrate the point, consider Germany.

How many readers can name the president of Europe's most powerful country, or indeed any of its past presidents?

The reason almost everybody outside Germany is stumped when they are asked this question is because, like Ireland, the German president has almost no power.

Devoting months of political time and energy to electing someone to a role that peer countries - including Germany, Italy and Malta - believe is better done by parliamentarians is questionable.

After the latest presidential election campaign, which covered no one in glory and in which the winner garnered just a quarter of the eligible vote, there is more reason than ever to consider doing as some other democracies do when they elect their largely ceremonial head of state.
You can take the girl out of Essex.

TOWIE star Gemma Collins (36) and a handful of castmates hit Dublin on Wednesday night and made the most of their time on our shores. Gemma was joined by Liam Gatsby, Amber Dowding and Chloe Sims, among others, as they are spending the week filming the hit ITV2 reality show in the capital.

Expand Close TOWIE star Gemma Collins in Dublin. Picture: Cathal Burke/VIP IRELAND / Facebook

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Whatsapp TOWIE star Gemma Collins in Dublin. Picture: Cathal Burke/VIP IRELAND

Collins and co partied the night away at Lillie's Bordello before ending their night the only appropriate way: with an early morning McDonald's.Earlier in the day was a significantly more glam affair as they were laden down with shopping bags from Brown Thomas and Jimmy Choo, with Gemma pictured walking arm in arm with celebrity makeup artist Aidan Corcoran, who is also a personal shopper with Brown Thomas' beauty hall. Although her visit was overshadowed by that of Victoria Beckham, whose arrival temporarily took over the second floor of the luxury department store.

The TOWIE crew have been busy during their short time here, enjoying an "Irish pub extravaganza" starting in Temple Bar and they're also looking for extras if fans want to appear in the background. Earlier in the week, Gemma posted a selfie of herself on the flight to Dublin sitting next to ex James Argent with the caption, "Trust me to have to sit next to ARG. Dublin here we come I can feel the magic."

The seating arrangement was all the more dramatic as she recently revealed she was trying to have a baby with him last year - without his knowledge.

"It wasnt the right thing to do, but I really wanted a baby," she told the Loose Women panel. "What I did was a bit much, but it was because I knew him.

"It sounds a bit crazy but Im out of that now. You dont have to trap a man. He didnt know at the time! But he does now. I apologised afterwards. We met in Marbella and I said, 'Arg, can we talk over paella for two?'"
Stella Maxwell attends fittings for the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Midtown on October 31, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

Stella Maxwell attends fittings for the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Midtown on October 31, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

Taylor Hill attends fittings for the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Midtown on October 31, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

It's November 1 which can only mean one thing - the Victoria's Secret PR machine is in full swing.

The annual fashion show is set to return to New York City later this month and the company's Instagram-focused campaign is in overdrive to build up advance momentum. Stella Maxwell, the New Zealand/Irish/Belgian model we claim as our due to her parents' Northern Irish heritage, led the charge on Wednesday night at fittings outside their HQ, putting on the most extra show for the waiting photographers.

In addition to the auditions, the fittings are also a haven for street style pictures of VS models and both parties are more than willing to help each other out.

Expand Close Stella Maxwell attends fittings for the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Midtown on October 31, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Stella Maxwell attends fittings for the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Midtown on October 31, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

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Taylor Hill, who has worked with the brand for four years, donned a pair of white feathered wings outside the office and filmed in a taxi promoting the New York return, while the Kardashian-Jenners borrowed 'costumes' from VS for a choreographed Halloween display last night.

Kendall has been confirmed as walking in this year's show (she missed last year due to a competing lingerie contract as the face of La Perla), but is back again, causing some frustration with other models that she and the likes of Bella and Gigi Hadid were fast-tracked without auditioning, due to their 'it' girl statuses.

Bella takes her pre-show routine seriously and revealed that she is working out for three hours daily ahead of hitting the runway. "I've been eating hard protein every day, and working out for three hours every day," she told People.

"I think that if you just stick to something you can really achieve so much. It's crazy but I think that you know if you set your mind to something I think you can succeed."

Behati Prinsloo will also be making her return to the runway after taking a break for the last two seasons to focus on her growing family, while Candice Swanepoel will sit this one out as she just gave birth in July.

For the next three weeks, it will hard to avoid the self-generated Victoria's Secret news cycle.
With the US holding midterm elections, both Republicans and Democrats are wheeling out the big guns in Georgia for what could be a defining election to be the states governor.

Oprah Winfrey visited Republican-leaning suburbs in Atlanta to urge voters to make history by backing Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams in next weeks election.

Winfrey called Abrams a changemaker who represents the values of all Georgians.

I am here today because Stacey Abrams cares about the things that matter, she said to a mostly female audience north of central Atlanta.

Stacey Abrams is being bankrolled by Hollywood liberalsMike Pence

Seventy-five miles north, Vice President Mike Pence stood alongside Ms Abrams opponent, Brian Kemp, in Dalton, and mocked the billionaire media figure as just another liberal outsider trying to impose on Republican-run Georgia.

Stacey Abrams is being bankrolled by Hollywood liberals, Mr Pence said.

Mr Pence drew boos from the crowd when he mentioned that Oprah is in town and noted that actor Will Ferrell was recently in Georgia for Democrats.

Id like to remind Stacey and Oprah and Will Ferrell, Im kind of a big deal, too, Mr Pence said, adding a message for all Stacey Abrams liberal friends: This aint Hollywood. This is Georgia.

Winfrey and Mr Pence will not be the last big names to visit the state before the polls open.

Expand Close Vice President Mike Pence, left, and Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp (C.B. Schmelter/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Vice President Mike Pence, left, and Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp (C.B. Schmelter/AP)

Former president Barack Obama will follow on Friday to campaign for Ms Abrams while President Donald Trump will appear with Mr Kemp on Sunday.

Ive always liked Oprah, he told reporters at the White House.

Oprahs good, but the woman that shes supporting is not qualified to be the governor of Georgia by any stretch of the imagination.

More than 1.5 million of the states almost seven million registered voters have cast ballots already.

Ms Abrams, a Yale-educated lawyer who served a decade in the Georgia Legislature, would be the first black female governor in American history.

She has campaigned as an unapologetic liberal trying to draw new voters to the polls and prove that Georgias growth and diversity make it a legitimate two-party battleground.

I don't want to run. I'm not testing the watersOprah Winfrey

Mr Kemp is a staunch conservative who has embraced Mr Trump and the administrations hard-line on immigration.

He wields guns in his ads and lambastes Ms Abrams as a tool of socialists and billionaires who want to turn Georgia into California.

Both candidates have taken to describing the race as a battle for the soul of our state.

Winfrey has rejected any suggestion she might be preparing the ground for a run for office.

Im not here because Im making some grandstand for myself. I dont want to run. Im not testing the waters, she said.

A former president in Ms Abrams corner is Jimmy Carter, who himself served as governor of Georgia before being elected president in 1976.
BT has said it expects annual profit to come in at the upper end of expectations after what it called an encouraging half-year showing.

The telecoms giant posted a 2% increase in adjusted earnings for the six months to September 30 to 3.68 billion, driven by high-end smartphone sales at EE, as well as cost savings.

BT said it expects full-year earnings to be in the upper half of its 7.3 billion to 7.4 billion range.

On a pre-tax basis, profits were up 24% at 1.34 billion in the period.

Outgoing boss Gavin Patterson said: We continued to generate positive momentum in the second quarter, resulting in encouraging results for the half-year.

In consumer, we continue to see strong sales of our converged product, BT Plus, and have seen good mobile sales following new handset launches.

BT shares soared nearly 10% following the update to 263p.

George Salmon, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: The real positive for investors is that, after a tough few years, BT is starting to look more stable.

The pension deficit is coming down and investment requirements should flatten out from here. That helps shore up cash flows, and diminishes the likelihood of any further amendments to the dividend plans.

However, BT booked a 2% dip in revenue for the first half to 11.6 billion.

The company said growth in its consumer business was offset by regulated price reductions in Openreach and declines in its enterprise unit.

Expand Close Gavin Patterson is stepping down as BT chief executive after five years in the role (John Stillwell/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Gavin Patterson is stepping down as BT chief executive after five years in the role (John Stillwell/PA)

Last month, BT said that Worldpay boss Philip Jansen will become its new chief executive and take up his role on January 1.

Mr Pattersons departure was announced earlier this year amid waning support for the companys trajectory.

BT chairman Jan du Plessis said that, while Mr Patterson had the backing of the board, wider support was starting to wane.

Mr Pattersons departure will end a near-five year stint as chief executive, having been at BT for a total of 14 years.
Asia Bibi, the Christian woman facing execution for blasphemy in Pakistan, has had her conviction overturned by the country's highest court.

In a ruling that will anger the country's Islamic hardliners, Ms Bibi (47) was told she would no longer face the gallows after nearly a decade on death row.

Extremist religious groups immediately condemned the decision, called for the death of the judges and blocked highways in protest.

The mother-of-four was convicted in 2010 of defaming the Prophet Mohammad during a row with Muslim women over drinking water as they picked berries in their village.

Her plight led to international condemnation of Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws, with Pope Benedict XVI publicly calling for the charges against her to be dismissed. Militant Islamic clerics, however, put a 5,000 bounty on her head, while two prominent liberal Pakistani politicians who came to her defence have also been assassinated.

Ms Bibi appeared to be in a state of disbelief after hearing the decision from her lawyer.

"I can't believe what I am hearing, will I go out now? Will they let me out, really?" she told news service AFP by phone from prison after yesterday's ruling. "I just don't know what to say, I'm very happy, I can't believe it."

The ruling was welcomed by her family, who have spent years in hiding as a result of death threats over the case.

Ms Bibi's daughter, Eisham Ashiq (18), said: "This is the most wonderful moment in my life. I want to thank God.

"I want to hug my mother and then celebrate with my family. I am grateful to God for listening to our prayers."
Indonesia has filed an official protest to Saudi Arabia after it executed an Indonesian maid without notifying its consular staff or her family.

Tuti Tursilawati, a mother of one, had been convicted of murdering her employer, who workers rights' group Migrant Care said was trying to rape her at the time.

Joko Widodo, the Indonesian president, criticised Saudi Arabia's action, saying that his government had demanded better protection of Indonesian workers in the country.

"We have called Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and conveyed our protest," Mr Widodo was quoted as saying by the office of his cabinet secretary.

Ms Tursilawati, who was convicted in 2011, was executed on Monday in the city of Thaif, marking the fourth such case of Saudi Arabia carrying out the death sentence on an Indonesian migrant worker without prior notice in the past three years.

Eighteen more Indonesians remain on death row. The controversy over her death comes at a time when Saudi Arabia continues to face harsh questions over the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi in its consulate in Istanbul.

Indonesia's frustration has been heightened by the timing of the execution, which was carried out less than a week after Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, met with his counterpart in Jakarta to discuss migrant workers rights.

During the meeting, Retno Marsudi, the Indonesian foreign minister, stressed the need for mandatory consular notification before any capital punishment of its citizens.

Saudi Arabia remains the world's biggest destination for Indonesian maids after the government lifted an earlier ban on domestic workers going to the Middle East over reports of torture and abuse.

The Saudi ambassador to Indonesia has been summoned by the authorities but the Saudi embassy has not commented publicly. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
Waiting game: Soldiers from the 541st Sapper Company wait for take-off from Arkansas to the border. Photo: Getty Images

Donald Trump has suggested up to 15,000 troops could ultimately be sent to the US-Mexico border to counter approaching caravans of migrants, a major increase on initial deployments.

The US president denied he was "fearmongering" over the threat of illegal immigration ahead of the county's mid-term elections next Tuesday, insisting it was an important issue.

Expand Close A new caravan of Salvadoran migrants. Photo: Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp A new caravan of Salvadoran migrants. Photo: Getty Images

The new figure, floated during a discussion with reporters on the White House lawn, is higher than the 14,000 troops that America has deployed in Afghanistan.

It is the latest increase, with 800 soldiers initially sent to the border by the Pentagon - a figure that then rose to 5,200 earlier this week. The troops are legally barred from enforcing US immigration law and are instead providing support to border officials.

"We'll go up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Patrol, Ice [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and everybody else at the border," Mr Trump said.

It remains unclear whether the US president will follow through on the suggestion, given he mentioned it in passing rather than by making any formal announcement.

Expand Close US President Donald Trump is bolstering the border. Photo: Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp US President Donald Trump is bolstering the border. Photo: Getty Images

The comment is the latest in a series of escalating warnings that Mr Trump has been issuing over migrants approaching the country's southern border though Central America.

At first there was just one so-called 'caravan' of people seeking to enter the US. Size estimates peaked at around 7,000 people before dropping to around 4,000 people.

Now more caravans have emerged.

A second, which clashed with police whiling crossing Guatemala into Mexico this week, is made up of an estimated 1,000 people. A further two caravans, smaller in size, have also formed.

Mr Trump has been accused of playing up concerns over immigration to help drive up turnout among his supporters, with the Republican majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives on the line at next week's elections.

In recent weeks the US president has called the approaching migrants an "invasion" and a "national emergency", threatened to close the US-Mexico border, and described himself as a "nationalist".

Yesterday he repeated a threat to strip Central American nations of US foreign aid if they fail to help him stop the caravans.

He also suggested there were 25 to 30 million undocumented migrants in America.

That is far higher than other estimates, such as from the Pew Research Centre which put the 2016 unauthorised immigrant population at 11.3 million.

Yesterday, Mr Trump also doubled down on his proposal to remove a right for the children of illegal migrants born on American soil to get US citizenship, saying it was "very unfair to our citizens".

He chastised Paul Ryan, the most senior Republican in the House of Representatives, who suggested Mr Trump could not end birthright citizenship via an executive order, which does not need ratifying by the US Congress.

"Paul Ryan should be focusing on holding the majority [in the House] rather than giving his opinions on birthright citizenship, something he knows nothing about," the US president tweeted. ( Daily Telegraph London)
Hundreds of migrants are part of a caravan bound for the US-Mexico border (Oliver de Ros/AP)

US President Donald Trump says the number of military troops deployed to the US-Mexican border could reach 15,000  roughly double the number the Pentagon said it currently plans for a mission whose dimensions are shifting daily.

The Pentagon says more than 7,000 troops were being sent to the southwest border to support the Customs and Border Protection agents.

Officials said that number could reach a maximum of about 8,000 under present plans.

The troop numbers have been changing at a dizzying pace, with Mr Trump drawing a hard line on immigration in the lead-up to the midterm elections.

Last week officials were indicating that about 800 to 1,000 might be sent. On Monday, officials announced that about 5,200 were being deployed.

The next day, the Air Force general running the operation said more than the initially announced total were going, and he pointedly rejected a news report that it could reach 14,000, saying that was not consistent with whats actually being planned.

General Terrence OShaughnessy, the commander of US Northern Command, told reporters the number would exceed the initial contingent of 5,200, but he offered no estimate of the eventual total.

Just 24 hours later, Mr Trump thrust new uncertainty into the picture, catching the Pentagon by surprise.

With his eyes squarely on Tuesdays contests, Mr Trump has rushed a series of immigration declarations, promises and actions as he tries to mobilise supporters to retain Republican control of Congress.

As far as the caravan is concerned, our military is out, Mr Trump said.

We have about 5,800. Well go up to anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Patrol, ICE and everybody else at the border.

Later on Wednesday, Mr Trump told ABC News: We have to have a wall of people.

Mr Trump rejected the idea he was fearmongering or using the issue for political purposes, but his escalating rhetoric in the waning days of the campaign season calls that denial into question.

Mr Trump has railed against illegal immigration, including several caravans of migrants from Central America slowly moving on foot toward the US border.

The caravan of an estimated 4,000 people is still nearly 1,000 miles from the border. Several smaller groups, estimated at a combined 1,200 people, are further away.

Mr Trump insisted the media is underestimating the caravans.

You have caravans coming up that look a lot larger than its reported actually. Im pretty good at estimating crowd size. And Ill tell you they look a lot bigger than people would think, he told ABC.

He has also promised to end so-called catch-and-release policies by erecting tent cities to hold those crossing illegally.

And this week he is asserting he could act by executive order to unilaterally end birthright citizenship for the children of non-US citizens.

Mr Trumps comments left some in the Pentagon scratching their heads.

Officials said they had no plans to deploy as many as 15,000 troops. The number conceivably could reach 10,000, counting the 2,100 National Guard soldiers who have been operating along the border for months as part of a separate but related mission.

The number of active-duty troops tapped for deployment stood at 7,000 as of Wednesday but could reach 8,000.

A deployment of 15,000 would bring the military commitment on the border to roughly the same level as in war-torn Afghanistan.

And it would more than double the number of people thought to be in the caravans.
A fugitive Malaysian financier has been charged by US officials over a money laundering and bribery scheme that took billions of dollars from a Malaysian investment fund created to promote economic development projects in that country.

Low Taek Jho, who is also known as Jho Low, is charged with misappropriating money from the state-owned fund and using it to bribe foreign officials and to pay for luxury real estate, art and jewellery in the United States and to fund Hollywood movies, including The Wolf Of Wall Street.

Also charged was a Goldman Sachs banker, Tim Leissner, who pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and to conspiring to violating foreign bribery laws.

Malaysian Financier Low Taek Jho, Also Known As "Jho Low," & Former Banker Ng Chong Hwa, Also Known As "Roger Ng," Indicted for Conspiring to Launder Billions of Dollars in Illegal Proceeds & to Pay Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Bribes https://t.co/wiCr44WjSv  Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) November 1, 2018

Another bank official, Ng Chong Hwa, 51, also known as Roger Ng, was arrested earlier on Thursday in Malaysia, prosecutors from the Justice Department said.

The charges are the first arising from a global scandal over the epic corruption scandal at the state investment fund known as 1MDB.

The Justice Department in 2016 moved to recover more than $1 billion that it said had been stolen, filing a civil complaint that sought the forfeiture of property including a Manhattan penthouse, a Beverly Hills mansion, a luxury jet and paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet.
The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe is no longer pursuing a gaming partnership with the state of Oregon, a tribal official said in response to a news report that raised questions about the new arrangement.

The tribe was looking to bring Oregon Lottery products, including scratch tickets, jackpot games and keno, into one of its travel centers. But CEO Michael Rondeau said the deal was off the table.

"For a variety of reasons those preliminary conversations ended and the tribe is not pursuing any such effort," Rondeau said in a statement posted by OpenTheBooks.Com

Rondeau response came after The Washington Times first reported about the unique partnership. If the pilot project turned out to be successful, other tribes would have been able to participate, a spokesperson for Gov. Kate Brown (D), who is running for her first full term in office , told the paper.

But word of the deal was news to Coquille Tribe , whose own gaming efforts are facing opposition at the state level, including from Brown. The Cow Creek Band is also opposed -- an issue Rondeau made a point of bringing up in his statement to the media.

"All we're asking for is a fair process," Coquille Chairperson Brenda Meade told KPIC. "That is all we've been asking for."

The Coquille Tribe owns and operates The Mill Casino in North Bay, Oregon. The tribe is seeking federal approval to open another facility in Medford. Photo: Rick Obst

Meade's tribe is trying to open a new Class II gaming facility that would only be able to offer bingo and electronic forms of bingo. On the other hand, the Cow Creek Band, had it gone through with the state partnership, would essentially be adding Class III games to its travel center.

The tribe began the land-into-trust process more than three years ago. But the Bureau of Indian Affairs hasn't taken significant action beyond a scoping report that was released in June 2015.

The Cedars at Bear Creek would be located in the city of Medford. The Cow Creek Band operates the Seven Feathers Casino Resort , a more lucrative Class III facility, in Canyonville, about an hour away.

According to data released in 2016 , Seven Feathers would take a 13.2 percent hit in revenues once the Coquille facility opens.

Generally, land placed in trust after 1988 can't be used for gaming. The Coquilles, however, are seeking an exception in Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that applies to tribes that were restored to federal recognition.

The tribe gained recognition through the Coquille Restoration Act in 1989. The law requires the BIA to place up to 1,000 acres in trust.

The Cedars at Bear Creek site is about 170 miles from the Mill Casino , the tribe's Class III facility in North Bend.

Brown previously served as lieutenant governor of Oregon. She became governor in 2015, when John Kitzhaber stepped down amid conflict of interest and corruption allegations involving his spouse.

The Cow Creek Band has donated $85,000 to Brown since 2015, The Washington Times reported.

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Federal Register Notice: Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Coquille Indian Tribe Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project, City of Medford, Jackson County, Oregon (January 15, 2015)

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Its time to apply for holidays because Chris Hemsworth, the man of our dreams AKA Marvels God of Thunder is in India. Yes, you read that right! Wondering what for? He is shooting with Randeep Hooda and Manoj Bajpayee for a movie.

It was last night when Chris Hemsworth sneakily flew down to India. I mean, nobody knew the Hollywood biggie was flying down to India to shoot for a movie!

So, where is he now? He was spotted at the Ahmedabad airport. Of course, fans went bonkers after seeing him. He clicked few selfies with fans.

What movie is he shooting for? He is shooting for a Netflix film titled Dhaka. The movie is based in India, and perhaps that is why he is shooting for it here.

Also Read: Chris Hemsworth Is All Set To Make His Netflix Debut In An India-Based Thriller Titled 'Dhaka'

Whats more? He is expected to fly to Mumbai as well to shoot for Dhaka. In the movie, which is an action thriller, Chris Hemsworth will be seen freeing a kidnapped India boy. The shooting of the project is expected to wrap up in March 2019, and the movie is slated for a May 2019 release.

Also Read: Chris Hemsworth Dances To Miley Cyrus 'Wrecking Ball' With His Kids, Proves Hes The Coolest Dad
Aamir Khan is one of the most celebrated Khans in Bollywood. He takes his time with each film, but each one is a blockbuster. He is not only popular in India but he is also making waves in China. So much so, that people fondly called him Uncle Khan there.

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From Lagaan to Rang De Basanti, from Taare Zameen Par to PK, Dangal and now Thugs Of Hindostan -- actor Aamir Khan, who has experimented with genres and looks galore in his movies, says he is scared about not trying something new. On Aamir ki Paathshala on Tata Sky Acting Adda, Aamir spoke about his motto of success, his responsibility as a film producer and more, read a statement.

"I don't feel fear of failing, I fear not trying. As a producer or a director, when a story grips the audience, that's when I feel, I have achieved something out of my art," he said.

screen grab/youtube

Starting from an early age, Aamir had been heavily influenced by his director father Tahir Hussain, who always asked him, "How will you describe the story in one line? What's the premise of your story?" These questions helped established a base in Aamir's life for the selection of scripts of his movies.

As an actor, Aamir said, "I don't charge a single rupee for my films. It is my responsibility to take care that the cost is recovered and the whole crew has been paid.

screen grab/youtube

And when this is done, I get my share in profit. This gives me a sense of responsibility, of which you all can see the results."

The actor will soon be seen in Thugs Of Hindostan, Yash Raj Films' mega project which features Aamir for the first time with megastar Amitabh Bachchan. They are joined on-screen by Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Shaikh in what promises to be a high-octane action drama.
As the stubble burning began in Haryana and Punjab, the acrid smoke drifting towards New Delhi is turning the national capital's air toxic once again.

On Sunday, the air quality in Delhi was at 336, which is categorised as very poor. With the wind conditions not favorable, the quality is predicted to drop further in the coming days.

BCCL

Every November, air pollution in northern India reaches levels unimaginable in most parts of the world, forcing schools shut and filling hospital wards with wheezing patients.

As winter descends, cooler air traps car fumes, factory emissions and construction dust close to the ground, fomenting a toxic brew of harmful pollutants that regularly exceed 30 times the World Health Organisation's safe limit.

BCCL

While it is easy to blame stubble burning, the farmers say they don't have an alternative to ready their fields for next seasons wheat crop.

We have no other choice but to burn the straw, Harpal Singh, a farmer in Ishargarh, a village in Haryana told AFP.

We know the smoke pollutes the air. But it is the cheapest and easiest way to get rid of the (crop) residue, the 65-year-old farmer told AFP.

BCCL

Efforts to persuade farmers, many living below the poverty line, to adopt alternative methods of land clearance have fallen on deaf ears.

Many have balked at suggestions of buying Happy Seeders -- expensive machines which according to media reports cost at least 150,000 rupees -- that sow wheat without needing to dispose of the leftover straw.

As the pollution levels spike there is an increase in number of cases where people have been complaining about respiratory issues.

The WHO in May listed 14 Indian cities in the worlds top 15 with the dirtiest air, with Delhi dubbed the most polluted major centre.
A Delhi businessman was killed by his two friends after being hit with iron rods and then by running over him on Wednesday. One of the two accused had borrowed Rs 2.35 lakh from the victim and was unable to repay. The deceased has been identified as 35-year-old Pawan Bathla.

The incident took place on Tuesday in North Delhi's Timarpur area.

The two men called the victim to an isolated location on the pretext of paying him interest on the loan of Rs 2.35 lakh. Then, the two men allegedly hit him with an iron rod, stabbed him and ran over him using his vehicle, a senior police officer said.

A passerby, who saw a man being run over by a vehicle, informed the police about it around 9.30 pm on Tuesday, the officer said.

The victim was found lying on a secluded stretch near Gandhi Vihar in Timarpur. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, the officer added.

The accused -- Nitin and another person Mannu Wadhwa -- were arrested on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Nupur Prasad said. During interrogation, Nitin told the police that revealed he was not able to repay the loan he had taken from Pawan Bathla, so he, along with Wadhwa, hatched the conspiracy to kill him.

A case has registered, the police said.
While government efforts to clean river Ganga has tanked significantly with no major improvement in the state of the river, individual efforts reaping more results to clean the revered river. The government has failed to deliver to its commitments to clean the largest river of the country, also said to be the lifeline to millions of people, its tattered state has been a cause of concern.

In an effort to save Ganga and clean it up, a 40-member team undertook a month-long expedition and removed 55 tonnes of garbage. The team found the Ganga polluted all through its 'Mission Gange' expedition route of 1500 km from Haridwar to Patna.

The team was led by Everester Bachendri Pal.

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"We have pulled out over 55 tons of garbage and waste from the river in course of our month-long expedition which began from Hardwar on October 5 last," said the country's first woman who reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1984.

The team left Jamshedpur on October 01.

The garbage and waste pulled out of the river were disposed of by respective municipalities of the seven towns the team reached, she said.

"We had a good experience in making aware hundreds of people, including school children, who joined us at every destination about the need for clean Ganga," she said.

The wonderful journey of Ms. Bachendari Pal& her team that started from Haridwar nears completion in Patna today. They visited major towns along Ganga where they carried out various shramdaans and awareness drives with the motivation to make Ganga Cleaning- a peoples movement pic.twitter.com/jyjCIZ3E3T  Namami Gange (@cleanganganmcg) October 30, 2018

She advocated intense awareness campaign to clean the river and said the central government had already taken up several measures for the purpose.

The 40-member team, which included Everesters Premlata Agarwal, first Indian woman to climb all the seven summit of the world, Hemant Gupta, Binita Soren, favoured 'Shramdaan' (voluntary work) by the common people to make the river free of pollutants, she said.

The team sailed through the river along Bijnor, Farukhabad, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Buxar and Patna.

The 40-member team also included 26 employees of the Tata Steel, the sponsor of the event.
Iran's network infrastructure has taken a serious hit in the last few days, thanks to a dangerous computer virus, one of the worst ever seen.

And there are rumours and suspicions that the attack is sponsored by Israel, as part of a coup by its intelligence agency.

The virus has been described as similar to Stuxnet, a malicious virus uncovered in 2010. Allegedly created by a joint Israeli-US cyberwarfare team, it targetted and decimated Iran's nuclear program. The newly uncovered virus has in fact been called "more violent, more advanced and more sophisticated." And once again, Israel's intelligence agency Mossad has refused to discuss its role in the attack, if any.

The reports began emerging hours after Mossad said it foiled an Iranian murder plot in Denmark, and just two days after Iran admitted that President Hassan Rouhani's mobile phone had been bugged. Supposedly, the agency had recently also been able to retrieve massive amounts of data from Iran, detailing the country's nuclear weapons program.

So far, Iran has refused to detail how much damage has been caused.

Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - Reuters

Stuxnet worked by taking control of programmable logic controllers, which are used to automate machines like factory assembly lines or, in this case, centrifuges used to enrich nuclear material. It remains stealthy throughout the process, making the damage it causes look like hardware malfunction. Apparently, Stuxnet's successor works in the same fashion.

It's still unclear if Israel is behind the preemptive strike, though that's very likely, and if US intelligence agencies have played any part.
Google employees are currently staging a walkout from various offices across the world, in protest of the company's treatment of women. Specifically, they're against how Google has treated cases of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct over the years.

Images courtesy: Twitter

The protest was triggered by recent news regarding Android creator Andy Rubin. It had been known since last year that, when he'd left the company in 2014, it was over multiple sexual misconduct allegations. What just recently emerged though, was that Google paid him an exit package of Rs 660 Crore when he left, something they did not need to do at all.

Also Read: Google Paid Android's Creator Rs 660 Crore, After Kicking Him Out For Serious Sexual Misconduct

The protesting employees are demanding a number of changes to how Google deals with sexual misconduct allegations, including publicly disclosed transparency reports and a revamped reporting process. Most importantly though, they want to do away with the forced arbitration clause in contracts, which mandates that any employee disputes are dealt with internally rather than through courts. Effectively, this would allow Google employees to sue a co-worker or boss for sexual harassment.

CEO Sundar Pichai has said he supports the protesters' right to their action, saying he will provide them with any aid they require. "I understand the anger and disappointment that many of you feel," he said in a staff email yesterday. "I feel it as well, and I am fully committed to making progress on an issue that has persisted for far too long in our society... and, yes, here at Google, too."

On Twitter, the handle @Google Walkout has been following the protest across the world in real-time, showing employees from Zurich, London, Tokyo, Singapore and Berlin on strike as well.

Most London Googlers who participated today congregated indoors due to the poor weather  some others braved the rain and cold! #GoogleWalkout https://t.co/McCx6rpJYX  Google Walkout For Real Change (@GoogleWalkout) November 1, 2018
E-commerce sites like Amazon and Flipkart provide some of the best deals you can get, for everything from electronics, to clothes, to groceries.

Which is exactly why brick and mortar store owners don't like them very much for taking all their business.

That sentiment has grown to such an extent in Ulhasnagar, near Mumbai, that local traders are ready to embark on a troll campaign against these companies. They're going to place hundreds of fake orders to Amazon in bulk, in the hopes the ecommerce portal will blacklist the whole town.

The traders are unhappy at the losses they've been facing, despite the Diwali shopping season just around the corner. After all, online portals can offer much heavier discounts than they can. So in a meeting on Monday, as reported by Times of India, they decided to bury Amazon in fake orders. These will be placed in bulk, all with cash on delivery payment, and then cancelled mid way.

"If there a huge number of rejections from a particular area, then online stores will automatically block the area code for sale," one trader told TOI.

Of course, fake orders aren't new to Amazon. Apparently the site receives an increased number of them every festive season in India, particularly in semi-rural and village areas. However, because of the intense number of overall orders, Amazon doesn't have the time to pinpoint which ones are fake before dispatching.

Amazon has not yet responded how it plans to deal with this tactic, if indeed implemented in Ulhasnagar.
A massive emerald crystal was unearthed in the world's largest emerald mine in Zambia.

According to a company called Gemfields, the stone, which weighs more than 1.1 kg (almost 2.5 lbs), was found at the Gemfield mines in Kangem.

gemfields.com

The emerald is being called 'Inkalamu', which means 'lion' in the local Zambia Bemba language. It will be cut into smaller pieces and auctioned in Singapore in November.

This area of the mine has proven to be particularly fertile in recent months with the Kagem team recovering several significant crystals there, reports ET.

It has 'remarkable clarity and a perfectly balanced golden green hue', the statement said.

Elena Basaglia, a Gemfields gemmologist, called the discovery an "important find" for the emerald world, reports Fox News.

gemfields.com

We are experiencing strikingly increased demand for high-quality Zambian emeralds from the major brands, particularly in Europe, all of whom admire the rich colour and unique transparency of our gems  qualities that make them unique among emeralds," Basaglia said in an online statement.

"Its difficult to estimate how many individual gems will be cut from Inkalamu, but the cutting expertise of Gemfields auction partners will mean that this gemstone will make its mark in the history books of exceptional gemstones."

Most of the world's emeralds are mined in Zambia, Colombia, and Brazil.
The Sabarimala Temple issue is still bubbling. It doesnt allow women between the age of 10-50 to enter the temple but after the crucial judgment of Supreme Court, it is now on papers that women are allowed inside the temple.

A temple in Kolkatas Chetla Haat Road still doesnt allow women of menstruating age or widows to perform Kaali puja. Thanks to this rule, women have stayed away from the temple for the past 34 years.

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Women have never been allowed to conduct Kali Puja because women are not allowed to utter the Beejmontro (a mantra chanted in secret). However, there is no such rule that women are not allowed inside the premises of the temple, Shambhunath Kritya Smrititirtho, a senior priest, told Anandabazar Patrika.

The priests of the temple have set some rules for women that nobody questions and women are led to believe that their presence in the puja is inauspicious.

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I got married 15 years ago. Since then I have never participated in a single Kali puja celebration. We believe something bad will happen if we were to take part in them now. We would never want that, a female resident of the locality told the newspaper.

The irony is that people worship goddess Kali who is a symbol of female power and celebrate her because she slew demons, but dont allow women to participate in the puja.
Indian American groups and individuals in Southern California held a fundraiser event Oct. 14 at the Sanatan Dharma Temple in Norwalk, Calif., to help the survivors of the Indonesia earthquake and tsunami. (photo provided)
Connect with them, human to human, he urges. This means listening to what they are saying and what they are not saying.

Fleming, whos worked with several financial giants including IAG and NAB, says brokers should also be curious of their clients stories and let them share.

Keep the questions focused on their needs and the problems they have until they open up about other areas, he tells Insurance Business. This is not about sharing your experience in an attempt to build rapport  let them speak so they can connect to you.

Once brokers have connected, Fleming suggests they explain their problems back to the client.

This shows them you understand their world  like a doctor, diagnose the symptoms so they understand the value that you as a person to have in their world, he says. You show value by demonstrating how your solution addresses their issues. Advise what policies would be best and what structures will get them the best outcome.

Creating a human connection with clients also enables brokers to be more influential and therefore better salespeople, says Fleming.

You cant have influence without connection  no connection means no influence, he tells Insurance Business.

According to Fleming, connection lies on a continuum  the further along the continuum you are, the greater the possibility to influence.

At one end of the continuum is the stranger. You have no connection to this person. If they suggested you should buy some insurance would you? Probably not  after all, what do they know? he asked.

At the other end is your significant other. When they suggest you buy some insurance you pay attention and consider what is involved and the benefit it brings you.

Brokers can increase their influence by strengthening their connection. This is achieved through value. If you offer value the client will want to speak to you. From here you can follow their lead to build the relationship that has a deeper connection.
The reinsurers property and casualty businesses were particularly impacted by large losses in the third quarter, notably typhoons Jebi and Trami in Japan, Hurricane Florence and the Carr wildfire in the US, and a windstorm in Canada. Meanwhile, Swiss Re said that its life and health businesses continued to deliver a strong performance.

The property and casualty reinsurance segment posted a net income of US$634 million, impacted by large loss events, while life and health reinsurance delivered a net income of US$644 million along with continued gross premium growth. Its Life Capital unit reported a gross cash generation of US$1 billion, with a net income of US$4 million.

Meanwhile, the Swiss Re Corporate Solutions unit suffered a net loss of US$5 million, but its gross premium income continued to grow.

During the third quarter, we once again witnessed a series of natural catastrophes and large man-made disasters that devastated lives and disrupted businesses, particularly in Japan and in the US, said Swiss Re Group CEO Christian Mumenthaler. The situation continues to be challenging in the US, with the landfall of Hurricane Michael in October. Our sympathies go out to people affected by all of the events of the past months.

In these tough times, we have the financial strength to support our clients, and ultimately their customers. This demonstrates the value we can bring by swiftly paying claims to help people and businesses get back on their feet following such catastrophes.

Swiss Re also announced that Thomas Wellauer, group chief operating officer and member of the groups executive committee, will retire at the end of June 2019.

Wellauer, 63, joined Swiss Re in 2010 as group COO, and was initially tasked with leading the complex, multi-year reorganisation of the company when it introduced a new holding structure and legally separate business units.

Over the past eight years, Wellauer successfully introduced a globally integrated operations platform and instilled a commercial mindset in its over 3,500 employees in all related functions such as IT, HR, legal, and digital delivery. In addition, he has served as member of the boards of Swiss Res key subsidiaries in the US, Singapore, and Luxemburg, and was CEO of its Switzerland unit. In this function, he also led the initiative of establishing Campus Mythenquai with its new headquarters, Swiss Re Next, which opened in 2017.

I would like to thank Thomas on behalf of the Swiss Re board of directors for his substantial contribution to Swiss Re throughout the years, said Walter B. Kielholz, Swiss Res chairman. Under his leadership, Group Operations developed into a highly effective and efficient backbone for the company. We will miss Thomass broad experience, strategic mindset, and entrepreneurial drive, and we will ensure a smooth transition once a successor has been identified.
Zurich Canadas executive team will now include Jean Roy, most recently the chief actuary for Zurich Canada, as head of underwriting. Roy has 20-plus years of experience in the insurance industry, and will be responsible for underwriting, risk selection, pricing, proposition development and new opportunity incubation, as well the management of the product suite offered by Zurich in Canada.

Read more: Zurich still searching for another US$600 million in cost cuts

Head of specialties will continue to be Greg Irvine while Scott Thomas will retain his position as head of risk services. The head of marketing, however, is a new face. Alban Laloum worked in insurance for almost 30 years and held the title of global broker relationship leader for Zurich in his previous role.

This new structure creates agility and positions these proven leaders to meet the changing needs of our customers in Canada, explained Mered.

The head of property, head of liability, and head of claims for Zurich Canada will be announced at a later date. The new team also consists of several support roles.
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has started November with a bang, announcing its acquisition of Pennsylvania-based The Walsh Agency, which does business as BEAM Insurance, only one week after the company snapped up a benefits provider. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

BEAM was founded in 1996, and offers property and casualty insurance as well as risk management services to solid waste haulers and other commercial clients, focusing its scope on Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. The acquired companys leader, Leo Robert (Bob) Begley, and his team will keep operating from their current location under the direction of Dan Tropp, head of Gallaghers mid-Atlantic region retail P/C brokerage operations.
For endorsing Utility Service Partners, the city will receive a monthly royalty of up to $1.50 for each homeowner who signs up for the coverage, Daily Journal reported.

This is the time of year we start getting calls from people about pipes freezing and breaking, Kankakee mayor Chasity Wells-Armstrong said in an online town hall statement. Our team will go out and look at properties (with pipe problems) and find that lines arent on city property. The residents get very upset when we tell them.

Wells-Armstrong explained Kankakee allowed Utility Services Partners to use its logo because the city has checked out the insurer.

Theyll cover your lines and provide you education, she explained.

Kankakee is not the only city that has signed up a deal with Utility Service Partners. The insurer is cooperating with the National League of Cities (NLC)  a group composed of cities across America (of which Kankakee is a part of)  to allow member cities to endorse the insurers services.

In a statement five years ago, a spokesperson for the League explained that the arrangement between the NLC and Utility Services Partners is not purely a financial consideration.

They have a good track record as a company, the spokesperson additionally claimed.
According to the Rhode Islands US Attorneys Office, Levesque overcharged his customers credit cards  sometimes as much as twice the amount  for premiums due to his company Equine Insurance Services and Randall Levesque Agency.

When the charges were not requested or agreed to by his clients, Levesque allegedly forged their signatures to get the costs approved, prosecutors said. In total, he is accused of charging customers some $80,000 on their credit cards for premiums he pocketed.

The agent is also accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $500,000 in financed premiums from multiple companies. Prosecutors added that Levesque didnt remit some $800,000 in premiums to insurance companies.

Levesque appeared in US District Court earlier this week and was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond, WJAR reported.

Related stories:

N.J. broker headed to prison for stealing $1 million in premiums

County sues insurance broker over "secret" $250,000 commission
However, there have been some concerns about how such trade tariffs might impact consumers  especially in the auto industry. According to research by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), levies on Chinese imports could add costs to more than 100 car parts that go into vehicles made and sold in the US. The CAR estimates that 25% tariffs could result in two million fewer new vehicles sold, total US employment losses of nearly 714,700 jobs, and GDP losses of $59.2 billion.

The tariffs could also have an impact on the P&C insurance market.

The challenge for the insurance industry is that weve written our policies in the same way for many years. Your average auto insurance policy lasts for 12 months and would have been priced in a market without these tariffs. Now we have a market thats subject to tariffs  and its highly competitive [and price-driven], commented Nat Wienecke, senior vice president for federal government relations at the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCIAA).

If you suddenly take a 10% increase in the cost curve behind the contract, that raises the possibility of consumer costs going up over the year. If tariffs increase to 25% in January, the impact upon the insurance industry and the consumers could be very acute. Im not sure the state regulators are ready to see insurance companies apply for the type of rate increases they would need to make those policies whole  and I certainly dont think consumers are ready for a sudden price increase.

While Wienecke expects auto insurance consumers to feel the heat of the tariffs first, insurance consumers across all lines could be subject to cost increases. For example, communities rebuilding properties and infrastructure after the recent string of natural catastrophes in the US might find the recovery process becoming more expensive, especially in terms of the price of building materials. According to Wienecke, the property insurance market is not as quick to respond to market changes as the auto market, but companies could soon see their costs go up as a result of the tariffs.

As tariffs impact insurance costs, brokers and agents will be on the front-line in terms of having to explain to consumers why their premiums are increasing. Open and honest communication is going to be more important than ever across the whole insurance value chain, according to Wienecke.

The agent talking to the consumer is on the front-line of these changes, he told Insurance Business. Consumers will turn to their agent upon annual renewal and say I havent gotten into a car accident. Why are you charging me more? So, its going to be very important for the underwriters to be talking to the agent community to help them understand the cost pressures in the market, so theyre able to talk to consumers about whats driving those costs.

Its easy to take a short-term view of trade negotiations. Trumps trade policies have promise if you look at the big picture, especially if the tariffs result in a positive trade deal with China.

Wienecke concluded: Like many financial services industries, the insurance industry is global, and we do believe in free and fair trade. We see the US administration engaging in a strategic dialogue with our trading partners and there are some exciting and positive prospects to come out of that discussion. For example, free trade routes with the EU, the UK and Japan could all be very positive, but the road to get to some of these agreements  especially the path to detente with China  could be long and messy, and we could see that show up in consumer prices.
Were trying to be part of the solution in healthcare, PEHP managing director Chet Loftis told KUTV.

Loftis assured that the arrangement is perfectly safe and legal, and that the medications being sold in Mexico are the same ones that can be found in the US.

The hospital down there is an accredited hospital like any other in the United States, he explained. Certainly, we wouldnt do something if we thought we were putting people at risk.

Patients participating in the pharmacy tourism program will also receive a $500 cashback incentive, PEHP said.

Its cheaper for us to pay for the drug down there, send them down there and then give them $500 than it is for us to do it here, remarked Loftis.

According to the insurer, the prescriptions in Mexico cost roughly half their American prices.

From a cost perspective, the average drug within the program costs about $4,500 a month within the United States. Over the course of three months, thats $13,500, stated PEHP clinical operations director Travis Tolley. At 40% to 60% off the top of that, we expect to pay roughly $6,000 for a three-month course of therapy.

At present, there are 13 different medications included in the program:

Ampyra

Aubagio

Avonex

Copaxone

Enbrel

Forteo

Gilenya

Humira

Orencia

Otelza

Stelara

Tecfidera

Zytiga

PEHP has revealed that 100 people are currently eligible for its program  four of which are in the process of obtaining passports.
Prosecutors allege that the siblings altered payroll records in order to pay a lower premium on Ultimates workers comp insurance. They have also been accused of making false statements in order to discourage injured workers from submitting claims for workers comp benefits. Gloria Vera has additionally been accused of concealing employees on-the-job injuries, according to the newswire.

Authorities said that the fraud caused at least $6 million in losses to Californias workers comp program.

The siblings have also been accused of underpaying employees, despite a prevailing wage that the company was required to pay as a contractor for a UCLA student-housing renovation project.

If convicted, Enrique Vera faces up to 15 years in prison. Gloria Vera faces up to 19 years.
Its a given that these models will produce false positives based on incorrect assumptions, information and predictions, as was the case prior to Big Data when adjuster experience and instinct were primary. It is essential that flagged claims are speedily evaluated by an experienced adjuster so valid claims arent sidetracked and actual fraud is investigated.

More troubling is the development and use of predictive models purporting to establish a propensity for fraud, especially when based on information or characteristics unrelated to a particular claim. This data can include comprehensive criminal arrest (not just conviction) records, credit and bill-paying habits well beyond traditional credit reports, social media use (or non-use), and shopping habits. Further, these models may be used to screen applicants for this propensity at the underwriting stage, before the possibility of a claim could have arisen. Insurance has now entered the world of Minority Report.

Even leaving aside the appropriateness of pricing a product based on predictions of future criminality, these models create multiple concerns. First, is the data used by the model accurate, and are consumers aware of what personal information has been collected and how it is used? If not, then how can they determine whether this information is correct or change their behavior to improve their score?

Second, even if this data is accurate in one sense, all models contain preconceptions, including decisions on what data to use and what to omit, which can reflect improper biases. For example, using criminal records as an underwriting tool could ignore the fact that policing and prosecutorial decisions might not be race-neutral. As the Department of Justice documented in its investigation of the Ferguson, Missouri, police department, African-Americans may be arrested more frequently for the same crime, even when controlling for population size.

The more this type of non-claim-related information is used for insurance purposes, the more likely it is for implicit biases to creep in. When inaccurate data and flawed models result in higher premiums, denied coverage and the classification of valid claims as potentially fraudulent, individuals will not only be treated unfairly in a specific transaction, but potentially tagged as an undesirable customer in the future, contributing to a vicious downward cycle. The lack of transparency to consumers and regulators, along with inadequate rights of consumers to obtain and correct information, makes it much harder to evaluate and correct a models data and predictions.

Insurers and data modeling companies, rather than regulators or legislators, are the innovators in the use of Big Data and AI to combat insurance fraud. However, to paraphrase the Gospel of Luke  or Ben Parker, if you prefer  with this power comes responsibility. Insurers that use these technologies have an obligation to be the gatekeepers in determining whether and how a specific risk or other underwriting factor, claims process or fraud assessment tool is used.

They should understand the assumptions or factors built into any models they use, as well as the likely results for current and future policyholders. They should independently test and evaluate potential biases, and assess the potential costs and benefits to the company and policyholders. Equally important, they should be able to explain these issues clearly and in the level of detail needed by their regulators, whom the public and elected officials will call upon to justify their regulatory actions (or inactions).
A New Jersey woman has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining insurance identification cards as part of a scheme to steal luxury used vehicles from dealerships in New Jersey and New York.

Paige Hunt, 27, of Bloomfield, N.J., pleaded guilty to second-degree insurance fraud in a hearing before Superior Court Judge Robert Kirsch in Union County. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Hunt be sentenced to five years in state prison. Hunt is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20.

According to an investigation by the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP), Hunt fraudulently obtained at least nine auto insurance identification cards in order to provide proof of insurance when purchasing  by fraud  high-end used vehicles from dealerships. Hunt was able to drive off with at least three vehicles, for which no down payment was required at the time of purchase and for which no subsequent payments were ever made.

The defendant used fictitious bank account information to con insurance providers into issuing the coverage for vehicles targeted in this elaborate fraud scheme, said New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal in a press release issued by his office. She is now facing a significant prison sentence for her crime.

Between June 2016 and April 2017, Hunt fraudulently obtained at least nine auto insurance policies totaling more than $21,605 for coverage on late-model luxury used vehicles that included a Lexus SUV, two Honda Pilot Touring SUVs, a Mercedes Benz SUV, and five Mercedes Benz sedans.

Last year, in a case brought by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), Hunt and four others were charged with first-degree conspiracy and money laundering and other offenses in connection with a similar auto-theft-by-fraud scheme involving at least 25 vehicles between June 2012 and March 2016.

In June, Hunt pleaded guilty to second-degree theft by deception. Under the terms of the plea agreement, which was contingent upon Hunts guilty plea in the OIFP case, DCJ will recommend Hunt be sentenced to five years in state prison to run concurrently with her OIFP sentence.

According to an investigation conducted by the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crime Bureau, the five defendants allegedly purchased or had others purchase vehicles on credit. They then allegedly forged letters purporting to be from the creditor stating that the loan had been satisfied and used those letters to obtain new titles from the MVC without liens. The vehicles were subsequently sold without disclosing the liens.

We will aggressively prosecute those who fraudulently manipulate the insurance system for personal gain, said Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Tracy M. Thompson in the release. Theyre not just breaking the law; theyre driving up the price of premiums for honest policy holders.

Source: New Jersey Office of the Attorney General

Topics Auto Fraud New Jersey
Two utility workers were killed and two others were hurt when their maintenance helicopter got caught on power lines and crashed in rural northeastern New York, state police said.

Pieces of the aircraft dangled from power lines late Tuesday afternoon before falling beside cornfields in Beekmantown, about 20 miles south of the Canadian border near Lake Champlain.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Aerospatiale AS355F2 helicopter came in contact with power lines and caught fire at 4:16 p.m. The agency will investigate. The helicopter is owned by Catalyst Aviation LLC of Hammonton, N.J., according to state police.

Police said the injured occupants were treated and released from the hospital.

A New York Power Authority spokesman said the two injured employees worked for Northline Utilities, a contractor that inspects and maintains power lines.

The New York Power Authority has been working with the Electric Power Research Institute to investigate automated inspection technology using drones, with the goal of making transmission system maintenance safer, more efficient and less expensive.

Transmission line inspection and maintenance is traditionally carried out by workers who climb tall line towers or use a helicopter with a four-person crew. Both methods are very risky.

In January, two contractors died when their helicopter crashed while they were doing transmission line inspection work in northwest Ohio. A helicopter crashed near Caledonia, Mich., in May 2015 during high-voltage line inspections but the two crewmen escaped injury. In 2014, three men died in a helicopter crash while doing routine power line inspections in Silt, Colorado.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New York Energy Numbers
Indonesian authorities on Thursday retrieved a flight data recorder from a Lion Air jet that crashed and broke apart in shallow sea near the capital, Jakarta, this week, killing all 189 people on board.

The countrys second-deadliest air disaster since 1997 has prompted renewed concern about Indonesias patchy aviation safety record, and the government has said Lion Air will face tougher safety regulation.

Investigations into the worlds first crash of a Boeing Co 737 MAX, introduced into commercial service last year, will be scrutinized by the global aviation industry.

Hopefully, this can unveil the mystery behind the plane crash, Indonesias transportation safety committee chief Soerjanto Tjahjono told a news conference at Jakartas main port after receiving the device, known as a black box.

The data it holds should provide clues to what went wrong with the plane, which had only been in service since August.

It lost contact with ground staff just 13 minutes after taking off early on Monday from Jakarta, on its way to the tin-mining town of Pangkal Pinang.

The pilot had asked to return to base shortly after take-off, and ground control officials had approved the request.

A navy diver told broadcaster Metro TV on board a search vessel his team found the orange-colored box intact in debris on the muddy sea floor.

Indonesias transportation safety committee (KNKT) will analyze its data in Jakarta, which could take up to two weeks.

Searchers have yet to find the second black box containing recordings of cockpit conversations. Strong currents have hampered search efforts, complicated by the presence of energy pipelines in the area.

The discovery of the black box may provide some relief to grieving relatives. But hopes are fading of finding a large section of fuselage intact with bodies, easily retrievable, inside.

The commander of the navy divers involved in the search was quoted by the Kompas.com news portal as saying divers had found many bodies. But only one has been identified.

What is important for us is to get more information about the victims because having their remains back is important for us so we can bury them properly, said Ade Inyo, whose brother in law was on the flight.

More Inspections, Safety Review

The investigation will be carried out with help from Boeing, General Electric and the Federal Aviation Federation, officials have said.

It will also focus on four of Lion Airs staff including its technical director who were suspended by Indonesias transportation ministry on Wednesday amid speculation the aircraft was not airworthy.

For now, we will focus on two primary causes, KNKT deputy chief Haryo Satmiko told Reuters, referring to equipment and the people who flew, maintained and managed the aircraft.

The transport ministry suspended for 120 days Lion Airs maintenance and engineering director, fleet maintenance manager and the release engineer who gave the jet permission to fly on Monday, it said in a press release.

Founded in 1999, the privately owned budget carriers aircraft have been involved in at least 15 safety incidents and it has faced tougher international safety restrictions than other Indonesian airlines.

It will now be subjected to more intensive on ramp inspections compared with other airlines, authorities said.

President Joko Widodo has also ordered a review of all regulations relating to flight safety.

Indonesia is one of the worlds fastest-growing aviation markets. Its transportation safety committee investigated 137 serious aviation incidents from 2012 to 2017.

Lion Air said the aircraft that crashed had been airworthy and the pilot and co-pilot had 11,000 hours of flying time between them.

But according to the transport safety committee, the plane had technical problems on its previous flight on Sunday, from the city of Denpasar on the resort island of Bali, including an issue over unreliable airspeed.

Lion Air chief executive Edward Sirait has acknowledged reports of technical problems with the aircraft, but said maintenance had been carried out according to procedure before it was cleared to fly again.

Lion Airs only other fatal accident was in 2004, when an MD-82 crashed upon landing at Solo City, killing 25 of the 163 people on board, according to the Flight Safety Foundations Aviation Safety Network.

In April, the airline announced a firm order to buy 50 Boeing 737 MAX 10 narrowbody jets with a list price of $6.24 billion. It is one of the U.S. planemakers largest customers globally, and was the first carrier globally to take delivery of the 737 MAX last year.

(Reporting by Jakarta bureau Writing by Fergus Jensen and Ed Davies; editing by Clarence Fernandez, Robert Birsel)

Related:

Topics Aviation
Ping An Insurance Group Co., Chinas biggest insurer by market value, is planning a Hong Kong initial public offering of its health-care technology unit that could raise about $2 billion, people with knowledge of the matter said.

A listing of Ping An Healthcare Technology, which provides platforms used by hospitals, insurers and pharmacies, could take place as soon as next year, according to the people. The Chinese insurer is talking to potential advisers about the planned share sale, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.

Ping An Healthcare Technology raised $1.15 billion from investors including SoftBank Group Corp.s Vision Fund in a series A funding round announced in February. It would join Good Doctor, a separate Ping An subsidiary that offers online medical consultations, in seeking to sell shares to fund expansion.

Good Doctor, which raised $1.1 billion in a Hong Kong IPO in April, has fallen 31 percent from its offer price through Wednesday.

Deliberations are at an early stage, and details of the plan could change, the people said. A representative for Ping An declined to comment.

Any deal will add to the $32.5 billion of first-time share sales in Hong Kong this year, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Ping An Medical & Healthcare Management Co., as the unit is formally known, provides services including expense control and medical-resource management.

Operating profit from Ping Ans technology units jumped eightfold in the first nine months of the year to 5.4 billion yuan ($775 million). They accounted for about 6 percent of total operating profit, surpassing contributions from Ping Ans brokerage arm and trust business.

Ping An Healthcare Technology covers the medical data of more than 800 million Chinese citizens, its parent companys deputy chief executive officer, Jessica Tan, told investors in November last year. It has been able to help local governments in 250 Chinese cities reduce medical insurance expenditures an average 10 percent by preventing fraud, Tan said at the time.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Carriers InsurTech Tech China
QBE announced changes to its structure, designed to further simplify its operations and build a more streamlined, agile and customer-oriented business.

Following the underwriting remediation in Asia, which is now largely complete, Asia Pacific will no longer be a separate division, the company said in a statement.

Effective Jan. 1, 2019, QBEs operations will comprise:

International  which will include European Operations and Asia. Richard Pryce, currently CEO European Operations, will become CEO International. A new senior leader for Asia will be appointed, reporting directly to Pryce.

 which will include European Operations and Asia. Richard Pryce, currently CEO European Operations, will become CEO International. A new senior leader for Asia will be appointed, reporting directly to Pryce. Australia Pacific  will include Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and India. Vivek Bhatia, currently CEO Australian & New Zealand Operations, will become CEO Australia Pacific.

 will include Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and India. Vivek Bhatia, currently CEO Australian & New Zealand Operations, will become CEO Australia Pacific. North America  will continue as is, led by CEO North America, Russ Johnston.

This change and resulting simplification will contribute to the groups efficiency agenda with much of the administration and governance of the former standalone Asia Pacific operations absorbed by the significantly larger and better resourced International and Australia Pacific divisions, the company said.

QBE said it will update the market on its group-wide cost-out agenda and 2019 outwards reinsurance placement in early December.

As part of the companys restructuring, QBE announced that Jason Brown will move from the position of CEO Asia Pacific Operations to the new role of group chief underwriting officer. In this role Brown will have responsibility for underwriting, pricing and reinsurance placement and will play a critical role in driving the companys Brilliant Basics* agenda globally.

Brown brings more than 20 years experience in financial services working in Australia, the UK and Asia. Since joining QBE in 2002, Brown has held numerous senior positions including group chief risk officer and executive general manager, Technical & Operations for Australian & New Zealand Operations.

The structural changes represent the next step in creating a stronger, simpler QBE, which will enable the company to enhance its customer proposition and build a stronger platform for long term, providing sustainable and profitable growth, said QBEs Chief Executive Officer Pat Regan.

The Asia Pacific region remains important to QBE. Following a significant and successful program of work to remediate Asia Pacific Operations and its improved underwriting performance, we continue to see opportunities in these markets, he said.

Asia Pacific and European Operations are already collaborating in relation to underwriting opportunities and we expect to see further benefits from leveraging our underwriting expertise, scale and global capabilities across these business divisions, Regan continued.

Aligning Asia with European Operations and the Pacific with Australian & New Zealand Operations will ensure we are best placed to support our customers and partners in those regions.

Regan went on to thank Brown and his team for the turnaround they have led in the Asia Pacific Operations over the past 12 months.

* The companys Brilliant Basics program was first piloted in 2016 and rolled out across the company this year. The program aims to ensure high standards for underwriting, pricing and claims management across all countries and portfolios.

Related:

QBEs Restructuring Gains Traction with Its Focus on Profitable Underwriting

Topics Europe Underwriting Australia
U.S. Supreme Court justices questioned an $8.5 million Google settlement in a case that could make it harder for companies to resolve class-action lawsuits without providing direct compensation to those affected.

The courts conservative members signaled skepticism toward those types of accords in an hour-long argument Wednesday that veered into debates over Internet privacy and a senior-citizen interest group. New Justice Brett Kavanaugh said such agreements raised the appearance of favoritism and collusion by funneling money to attorneys and outside privacy advocates instead of the people who were harmed.

The attorneys get money, and a lot of it, Justice Samuel Alito said. The class members get no money whatsoever. And money is given to organizations that they may or may not like and that may or may not ever do anything that is of even indirect benefit to them. So how can such a system be regarded as a sensible system?

But justices from across the ideological spectrum also questioned whether the suit against Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc., ever should have been in court in the first place. Those questions raised doubts about whether the Supreme Court will reach the core questions about the settlement, known as a cy pres accord.

The case involves Googles settlement of claims that it improperly disclosed users internet search terms to the owners of outside websites. None of the money went directly to Google users.

Very Large Class

Google says it would have been infeasible to distribute a little more than $5 million to an estimated 129 million class members. Googles lawyer, Andrew Pincus, said such settlements can be an appropriate tool to resolve cases with a very large class and a very small settlement.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg suggested she wasnt bothered by the absence of any direct payments to those people.

Practically, the class members would get nothing, nothing at all, and here at least they get an indirect benefit, she said.

Ted Frank, the lawyer challenging the accord, said it was feasible to distribute the money. Given how few people generally claim shares of settlements, he said individuals could have received between $5 and $10 each.

We would like to give everybody in the class the opportunity to make a claim, he said.

Critics say such settlements are an increasingly common litigation tactic, used by Facebook Inc. as well as Google. But a brief filed by Harvard law professor William Rubenstein said that in the past two decades federal judges have approved only 18 cy pres settlements in which all the money went to lawyers and outside groups.

As Near As Possible

The cy pres doctrine takes its name from a longer Norman French expression cy pres comme possible, or as near as possible. Judges have long used cy pres in other contexts, including trusts and estates.

The lawsuit focused on the design of Googles search engine, which creates a unique web address for each search, with the terms typed by the user included as part of it. The address then becomes part of the information transmitted by the web browser as part of the referral header they routinely send to the destination website.

Google was sued in 2010 and later agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle the case, with a quarter of the sum going to attorney fees. Most of the rest went to six organizations, including four universities and the senior-citizen advocacy group AARP, for use in promoting the protection of internet privacy. A federal appeals court upheld the settlement.

Chief Justice John Roberts questioned the logic  and propriety  of allocating settlement dollars to AARP, a group that engages in political activity.

Do you think that problem is going to be meaningfully redressed by giving money to AARP? he asked Pincus. As if this is only a problem for elderly people?

Pincus responded that elderly people are less knowledgeable about privacy and their vulnerability on the internet than other people.

Questions by other justices, however, raised doubts about whether the court ultimately will address those issues. Justices Neil Gorsuch, Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer questioned whether the plaintiffs had shown they suffered the type of harm required to file a suit in federal court.

I dont quite see how this is some kind of secret or private information, Breyer said.

Kavanaugh, who won Senate confirmation this month despite allegations he committed sexual assault decades ago, said he saw clear privacy implications.

I dont think anyone would want the disclosure of everything they searched for disclosed to other people, he said. That seems a harm.

The case is Frank v. Gaos, 17-961.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits
Almost 300 new volunteer firefighters have joined rural fire departments in three years after state lawmakers eliminated the age limit for new volunteers, according to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

House Bill 2005, authored by Rep. Mike Sanders and Sen. AJ Griffin, took effect Nov. 1, 2015. The law eliminated the 45-year-old age limit for new firefighters by giving them the ability to join a department without the requirement that they be added to the states pension plan.

In the three years since the law took effect, 270 new volunteers have been added to fire service roles. Sanders said about 85 percent of the firefighters in Oklahoma are volunteers. Of the states 915 fire departments, 866, or 95 percent, are certified with the Rural Fire Defense Program.

Our rural fire departments depend on volunteers to keep our citizens and our property safe, Sanders, R-Kingfisher and House majority leader, said in the Houses announcement. State law, however, previously prohibited willing volunteers over the age of 45 from becoming firefighters because the states pension and retirement plan simply could not afford them.

Sanders said he asked constituents above the age of 45 if they would be interested in volunteering and about whether or not they needed a pension. Most said they already had pensions but would be more than willing to serve. Sanders worked with Griffin and with former Council of Firefighter Training (COFT) Executive Director the late Jon Hansen and rural fire coordinators from across the state in drafting the bill.

In addition to saving lives and property, Sanders said the law also can help lower insurance rates.

The legislation was approved unanimously in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and approved by the Oklahoma Senate before being signed by the governor in April 2015.

Source: Oklahoma House of Representatives

Topics Oklahoma
Texas Mutual Insurance Co. has reported that a Travis County district court sentenced Kaydra Moore of Cedar Hill, Texas. on workers compensation fraud charges.

The court sentenced Moore to a Class A misdemeanor with one year deferred adjudication. She will pay $8,873 in restitution to Texas Mutual.

According to the insurer, Moore reported a job-related injury while working as a nurse for Tinsley & Associates LLP and claimed she was unable to work because of the injury. Texas Mutual began paying income benefits to her, but it was then discovered that she was working as a nurse for another company.

The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers Compensation prosecutor in Travis County presented the case for indictment.

Source: Texas Mutual Insurance Co.

Topics Texas Workers' Compensation Fraud Abuse Molestation
State troopers say seven children have been injured in a school bus crash in Alabama.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency spokesman Cpl. Jeremy Baker tells news outlets six children were released after being treated for minor injuries at a hospital in Florence. The seventh child was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Birmingham, but their condition wasnt immediately clear.

Baker says the crash happened Monday afternoon in the Zip City community in Lauderdale County. He says the bus ran off the road, hit a ditch and struck a tree.

Troopers declined to say which school the children attend. They are continuing to investigate.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Education Alabama
Annual Compensation vs. Annual Salary: An Overview

Annual compensation and annual salary may sound like the same thing but, in fact, they represent two very different measures of your earnings. Understanding what each of these terms means is important for determining how much money you earn on a yearly basis. In addition, it is essential to understand your annual compensation if you are saving for retirement in a tax-advantaged plan.

Key Takeaways Annual compensation, in the simplest terms, is the combination of your base salary and the value of any financial benefits your employer provides.

Annual salary is the amount of money your employer pays you over the course of a year in exchange for the work you perform.

Salary is usually cash only and does not include non-cash compensation.

Certain retirement plans base your contribution limit on how much compensation you earn.

Annual Compensation

Annual compensation, in the simplest terms, is the combination of your base salary and the value of any financial benefits your employer provides. This includes:

Annual bonuses or commissions

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid vacations

Retirement plans, such as a 401(k) or 403(b)

Profit-sharing plans

Sick leave

Fringe benefits such as tuition assistance, childcare assistance, or gym memberships

In most cases, all the compensation you receive is considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). There are some exceptions, however. For example, if you are a government employee working abroad and you receive a cost-of-living allowance, that income would typically be tax-free.

Annual Salary

Your annual salary is the amount of money your employer pays you over the course of a year in exchange for the work you perform. The salary you receive is based on a 40-hour work week, although (if you are on salary) your wages are not determined by the number of hours you work.

Knowing the difference between annual salary and annual compensation can help you map out a clearer financial plan.

The federal government establishes base salary guidelines for certain employees including those working in executive, professional, and administrative positions. Under old U.S. Department of Labor rules, the minimum base salary for these employees was $455 per week. Beginning December 1, 2016, the base salary rate was set to increase to $913 per week, but in November 2016 a court case in Texas put that ruling on hold.

On September 24, 2019, the Department of Labor revised the amount to $684 per week.

The purpose behind the rule is to ensure that salaried workers who work more than 40 hours per week are being adequately paid for their time. Hourly employees, by comparison, would receive an overtime wage thats higher than their normal hourly rate for any hours they work beyond the initial 40-hour week. This wage has to be at least 1.5 times their regular hourly rate.

To figure out how much your salary breaks down to on an hourly basis, you divide the amount you receive over a particular pay period by the number of hours you work. For example, suppose you earn a salary of $72,000 annually and you work a 40-hour week all year. Before taxes, your salary breaks down to an hourly wage of $34.62.

Special Considerations

One of the reasons it is so important to understand your annual compensation is that certain retirement plans base your contribution limit on how much compensation you earn.

For example, consider a scenario where you are enrolled in your employers 401(k) plan, which offers a matching contribution of 50% of elective salary deferrals, up to 5% of your annual compensation.

For 2021, the IRS caps the amount of annual compensation employers can use to determine matching contribution amounts at $290,000 (rising to $305,000 in 2022). Assume that your annual compensation totals $360,000 and you contribute the full $19,500 allowed for 2021 (the number rises to $20,500 for 2022). Your employer would only be able to offer a match equal to half of 5% of $290,000, which comes to $7,250.

Knowing how much your employer is able to provide for the match is a must when you are mapping out your retirement strategy. The more money you can get from your employer, the faster your investments will grow over time.

It is easy to confuse annual salary with annual compensation, but knowing the difference can help you map out a clearer financial plan. Once you understand the total value of your employment, it is easier to determine how much you can defer into your employers retirement plan, what you will owe in taxes for the year, and how much youll have left to cover your expenses. Not only that, but understanding the details of salary and compensation can give you the edge when negotiating your pay for a new job or asking your current employer for a raise.
What Is an Accredited Investor?

An accredited investor is an individual or a business entity that is allowed to trade securities that may not be registered with financial authorities. They are entitled to this privileged access by satisfying at least one requirement regarding their income, net worth, asset size, governance status, or professional experience.

In the U.S., the term accredited investor is used by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Regulation D to refer to investors who are financially sophisticated and have a reduced need for the protection provided by regulatory disclosure filings. Accredited investors include high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), banks, insurance companies, brokers, and trusts.

Key Takeaways Sellers of unregistered securities are only allowed to sell to accredited investors, who are deemed financially sophisticated enough to bear the risks.

Accredited investors are allowed to buy and invest in unregistered securities as long as they satisfy one (or more) requirements regarding income, net worth, asset size, governance status, or professional experience.

Unregistered securities are considered inherently riskier because they lack the normal disclosures that come with SEC registration.

1:34 Accredited Investor

Understanding Accredited Investors

Accredited investors are legally authorized to purchase securities that are not registered with regulatory authorities like the SEC. Many companies decide to offer securities to this class of accredited investors directly. Because this decision allows companies exemption from registering securities with the SEC, it can save them a lot of money. This type of share offering is referred to as a private placement. It has the potential to present these accredited investors with a great deal of risk. Therefore authorities need to ensure that they are financially stable, experienced, and knowledgeable about their risky ventures.

When companies decide to offer their shares to accredited investors, the role of regulatory authorities is limited to verifying or offering the necessary guidelines for setting benchmarks to determine who qualifies as an accredited investor. Regulatory authorities help determine if the applicant possesses the necessary financial means and knowledge to take the risks involved in investing in unregistered securities.

Accredited investors also have privileged access to venture capital, hedge funds, angel investments, and deals involving complex and higher-risk investments and instruments.

Requirements for Accredited Investors

The regulations for accredited investors vary from one jurisdiction to the other and are often defined by a local market regulator or a competent authority. In the U.S, the definition of an accredited investor is put forth by SEC in Rule 501 of Regulation D.

To be an accredited investor, a person must have an annual income exceeding $200,000 ($300,000 for joint income) for the last two years with the expectation of earning the same or a higher income in the current year. An individual must have earned income above the thresholds either alone or with a spouse over the last two years. The income test cannot be satisfied by showing one year of an individual's income and the next two years of joint income with a spouse.

A person is also considered an accredited investor if they have a net worth exceeding $1 million, either individually or jointly with their spouse. The SEC also considers a person to be an accredited investor if they are a general partner, executive officer, or director for the company that is issuing the unregistered securities.

An entity is considered an accredited investor if it is a private business development company or an organization with assets exceeding $5 million. Also, if an entity consists of equity owners who are accredited investors, the entity itself is an accredited investor. However, an organization cannot be formed with the sole purpose of purchasing specific securities. If a person can demonstrate sufficient education or job experience showing their professional knowledge of unregistered securities, they too can qualify to be considered an accredited investor.

In 2020, the U.S. Congress modified the definition of an accredited investor to include registered brokers and investment advisors.

On Aug. 26, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission amended the definition of an accredited investor. According to the SEC's press release, "the amendments allow investors to qualify as accredited investors based on defined measures of professional knowledge, experience or certifications in addition to the existing tests for income or net worth. The amendments also expand the list of entities that may qualify as accredited investors, including by allowing any entity that meets an investments test to qualify."

Among other categories, the SEC now defines accredited investors to include the following: individuals who have certain professional certifications, designations, or credentials; individuals who are knowledgeable employees of a private fund; and SEC- and state-registered investment advisors.

Purpose of Accredited Investor Requirements

Any regulatory authority of a market is tasked with both promoting investment and safeguarding investors. On one hand, regulators have a vested interest in promoting investments in risky ventures and entrepreneurial activities because they have the potential to emerge as multi-baggers in the future. Such initiatives are risky, may be focused on concept-only research and development activities without any marketable product, and may have a high chance of failure. If these ventures are successful, they offer a big return to their investors. However, they also have a high probability of failure.

On the other hand, regulators need to protect less-knowledgeable, individual investors who may not have the financial cushion to absorb high losses or understand the risks associated with their investments. Therefore, the provision of accredited investors allows access for both investors who are financially well-equipped, as well as investors who are knowledgeable and experienced.

There is no formal process for becoming an accredited investor. Rather, it is the responsibility of the sellers of such securities to take a number of different steps in order to verify the status of entities or individuals who wish to be treated as accredited investors.

Individuals or parties who want to be accredited investors can approach the issuer of the unregistered securities. The issuer may ask the applicant to respond to a questionnaire to determine if the applicant qualifies as an accredited investor. The questionnaire may require various attachments: account information, financial statements, and a balance sheet to verify the qualification. The list of attachments can extend to tax returns, W-2 forms, salary slips, and even letters from reviews by CPAs, tax attorneys, investment brokers, or advisors. Additionally, the issuers may also evaluate an individuals credit report for additional assessment.

Example of an Accredited Investor

For example, suppose there is an individual whose income was $150,000 for the last three years. They reported a primary residence value of $1 million (with a mortgage of $200,000), a car worth $100,000 (with an outstanding loan of $50,000), a 401(k) account with $500,000, and a savings account with $450,000. While this individual fails the income test, they are an accredited investor according to the test on net worth, which cannot include the value of an individual's primary residence. Net worth is calculated as assets minus liabilities.

This person's net worth is exactly $1 million. This involves a calculation of their assets (other than their primary residence) of $1,050,000 ($100,000 + $500,000 + $450,000) less a car loan equaling $50,000. Since they meet the net worth requirement, they qualify to be an accredited investor.

Who Qualifies to Be an Accredited Investor? The SEC defines an accredited investor as either: an individual with gross income exceeding $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with a spouse or partner exceeding $300,000 for those years and a reasonable expectation of the same income level in the current year. a person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with that person's spouse or partner, exceeds $1,000,000, excluding the person's primary residence.

Are There Any Other Ways of Becoming an Accredited Investor? Under certain circumstances, an accredited investor designation may be assigned to a firm's directors, executive officers, or general partners if that firm is the issuer of the securities being offered or sold. In some instances, a financial professional holding a FINRA Series 7, 62, or 65 can also act as an accredited investor. There are a few additional methods that are less relevant, such as somebody managing a trust with more than $5 million in assets.

What Privileges Do Accredited Investors Receive That Others Don't? Under federal securities laws, only those who are accredited investors may participate in certain securities offerings. These may include shares in private placements, structured products, and private equity or hedge funds, among others.
What Is Summa Cum Laude?

Summa cum laude is an honorary title used by educational institutions to signify a degree that was earned "with the highest distinction." Summa cum laude indicates the greatest distinction of three commonly used types of academic honors, expressed in Latin, recognized in the United States. The other two are called magna cum laude and cum laude, representing degrees earned "with great distinction" and "with distinction," respectively.

The guidelines under which students achieve each level of academic honor differ from institution to institution. Increasingly, high schools across the United States also include Latin honors for students upon graduation. Although Latin honors are quite common in the United States, very few other countries around the world use the system.

Key Takeaways Summa cum laude is the highest of three Latin honors that may be bestowed upon students earning a bachelor's degree.

Criteria for the summa cum laude may include grade point average, class rank, hours and special projects (i.e., senior thesis) completed, and recommendations from an academic department.

Latin honors are impressive, but it's impossible to know how critical they are in landing a job.

Understanding Summa Cum Laude

Summa cum laude is one of the three Latin honors traditionally given to select students upon receiving a bachelor's degree, although it can in some cases be included with other types of degrees as well. Students who graduate with honors may wear colored stoles or other designations during commencement ceremonies, and the honor is read aloud along with the person's name.

Criteria for Latin honors may include grade point average (GPA), class rank, number of hours completed, and honors designations from an academic department.

Every university or college outlines its own expectations for each program. Some higher education institutions do not bestow Latin-termed honors at all. Others, like Stanford University, have a separate set of non-Latin honorary titles (such as "with Distinction") that are typically seen as roughly equivalent to the traditional Latin titles.

GPA-Based Requirements

Many institutions use cumulative grade point averages (GPA ) to determine who graduates with a summa cum laude designation. Students at the University of New Mexico, for instance, need to complete 60 credit hours toward graduation in addition to a GPA of 3.90 or higher. By contrast, Denver University (DU) requires students to have a 3.95 GPA and completed 90 quarter hours; they must also submit a senior thesis or complete a senior project. (If they have less than 90 hours, they must receive a departmental recommendation.)

Because summa cum laude is typically the highest distinction of the three traditional Latin honors, it is typically reserved for the smallest number of graduating students. In some cases, only a handful of students will receive the summa cum laude designation upon graduating.

At institutions selecting students for Latin honors based on GPA requirements, the number of individuals receiving summa cum laude honors may vary from year to year. There may be no limit, potentially, to the percentage of students in a graduating class who could receive summa cum laude distinction, provided that those students meet the GPA requirement.

Summa Cum Laude and Class Rank

Although GPA-based requirements for Latin honors are the most common throughout higher education institutions in the U.S., there are other factors that may be included as well. One of these is class rank; some institutions reserve the summa cum laude title for students graduating at the highest levels of their class. In this case, GPA is a factor in determining whether a student receives this honor at graduation, but that student does not necessarily need to obtain a particular GPA in order to make that achievement.

As an example of how class rank-based Latin honors work in practice, graduates of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst need to finish in the top 5% of the graduating class of a particular college and complete 45 credits in order to receive the summa cum laude designation. In other cases, Latin honors are dependent upon students' performance in particular classes, often either honors classes or those relevant to their major area of study.

Latin honors like summa cum laude appear on a student's official transcript and diploma.

Students at the University of Notre Dame, for instance, earn Latin honors within the college that oversees the student's major. Graduates must finish in the top 5% of the class in order to receive the summa cum laude distinction. Because class rank changes based on the performance of other students, the GPA changes each academic year. In 2019, students in the College of Arts & Letters at Notre Dame needed a 3.94 GPA to earn summa cum laude honors. In contrast, in 2009, students needed a 3.927 GPA to earn those honors.

Harvard's Latin Honors

Harvard University is generally credited to be the first U.S. institute of higher education to bestow Latin honors at graduation.

Harvard College introduced two Latin honors in 1869cum laude and summa cum laude. Magna cum laude followed in 1880. As of May 2020, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.956 to be eligible for a summa cum laude.

Harvard's Latin honors stand out from other institutions, both historically and through to the present day. Harvard faculty members consider candidates for summa cum laude in their field by weighing the student's grades in the courses for their major and the rigor of those courses, and a demonstration of student's mastery of their field, such as a senior thesis and/or some type of written or oral examination.

Only students who graduate in the top 5% of their graduating class may earn summa cum laude honors in their field. Graduates earn summa cum laude over the entire university based on the 5% class rank, and Harvard sets standards for the academic year each May.

Special Considerations

In most colleges and universities, the large majority of undergraduates completing a bachelor's degree do not receive Latin honors of any kind. For those who do, these honors are likely to impact their future in different ways depending upon a number of factors, including their field of study, future interests, and more.

Some graduate schools, for example, are particularly focused on academic rank and GPA; top law schools are famous for their stringent GPA requirements. In other fields, academic honors may be less crucial to success.

For graduates entering the job market, a Latin honor listed on a resume could well impress a potential employer, as it suggests a level of intelligence and diligence. For other employers, though, a candidate's personality and skill set might be more importantor the fact that they attended a prestigious institution, like a Harvard, regardless of how well they did there. Job listings often specify a B.A. or B.S., but rarely require a certain GPA or level of academic honors.

Summa Cum Laude FAQs

What Does Summa Laude Mean?

Summa cum laude is an honorary distinction awarded by universities to a small fraction of college graduates each year. A Latin term, it literally translates as "highest honor" or "highest praise." These students have earned grades within the highest percentage of their class or department, or have achieved some other metric that the school considers worthy of the highest or, the summit of, recognition.

What Is Higher, Summa or Magna?

Summa is higher than magna. "Magna cum laude" is Latin for "with great distinction." "Summa cum laude" translates as "with the highest distinction."

What Is the Highest Honor in College?

Generally, the highest honor in college is the summa cum laude. The next highest is the magna cum laude, and the third is the cum laude.

How Do You Get Summa Cum Laude?

There is no universal standard for granting a summa cum laude. Rather, it is up to each individual school, and in some cases, each school's individual department, to determine what constitutes the award.

In general, though, summa cum laude is based on a student's grade point average. Usually, it has to be high: 3.9 or above. A student's class rank, number of course hours completed, and requirements such as a thesis or senior project, might also be part of the qualifications for a summa cum laude.

How Do You List an Honors Degree on a Resume?

An honors degree is often listed directly after your degree, separated by a comma. If you include your major or field of study, it could come after that: B.A. in History, magna cum laude. If it is a Latin title, like summa cum laude, the honors degree should be lower case letters and written in italics.
San Diego, CA - November 1, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH) ("Gopher"), a company specializing in the creation of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence enabled mobile technologies, including a global platform with both mobile and fixed solutions, started developing Avant! AI advanced semantic proximity system.

Global data is being generated in a variety of formats, and at a rate that shows no signs of slowing down. Identifying information that can support decision making among sources; for example, thousands of documents, web pages and social media feeds is a complex and time-consuming process. Because its simply too much to read quickly, this information is often ignored or only partially used to support organizational processes. Textual analytics help people digest text data more efficiently.

Semantic proximity is a topic that belongs to context textual analytics. Semantic proximity is a calculation of the semantic distance between two entities within a sentence providing the ability to determine meanings. Avant! AI includes dynamic models to measure a sentence's structural proximity for knowledge extraction and link predictions. The technology enables measurement and prediction and allows for the elicitation, in particular, of data from textual, verbal and multimedia sources of heterogeneous information.

The engine will be capable to analyze the information and relationships in its semantic context, and among other textual/verbal/multimedia objects in order to extract the relevant structural knowledge and meanings. The advanced algorithm is analyzing contexts in order to narrow down structures and find the exact topic. In addition, the technique improves the performances of meanings recognitions such as disambiguation of entities, query expansion, emotion recognition and multimedia retrieval. A typical semantic proximity technology is used to compute attributes of textual information only.

Avant! system is a private derivative that expands the concept and includes much broader range of analytics and recognition of textual, verbal and multimedia entities.

"We are creating a new world of textual, verbal and multimedia analytics and recognition systems," stated Dr. Danny Rittman, Gophers Chief Technology Officer. "One of the main problems that emerges in the classic approach to semantics is the difficulty in acquisition and maintenance of ontologies and semantic annotations. Especially in our advanced world, when almost everything is done via verbal commands, it is important to enable ease of use and user friendly interface.

In the near future, interacting with our Avant! AI is expected to be done via voice commands in natural language (NLP) fashion. It is expected that users will be able simply to talk with Avant! and it needs to understand them correctly. The Avant! advanced semantic proximity system is designed to calculate for each entity in each sentence, then to generate proximity scores to be added together producing an overall proximity score for each entity for the entire set of source texts. This information will be used later to extract the sentence knowledge and meaning even emotions.

The same concept will be applied to verbal or multimedia sources. A complete entity is an ordering of entities in the sentence that follow a predefined logical sequence. The data is passed through another algorithm to analyze its grammar and meaning semantics, creating corpus data that Avant! can process. All this analysis is done in a blink of an eye so Avant! will be able to understand natural language sentences and respond accordingly and accurately."

About Gopher Protocol Inc. (http://gopherprotocol.com)

Gopher Protocol Inc. (GOPH) ("Gopher") (http://gopherprotocol.com/) is a development-stage company which consider itself Native IoT creator, developing Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence enabled mobile technology. Gopher has a portfolio of Intellectual Property that when commercialized will include smart microchips, mobile application software and supporting cloud software. The system contemplates the creation of a global network. The core of the system will be its advanced microchip technology that can be installed in any mobile device worldwide. Gopher envisions this system as an internal, private network between all enabled mobile devices providing shared processing, advanced mobile database management/sharing and enhanced mobile features.

Avant! AI web interface is: www.avant-ai.com

How it works video: https://youtu.be/Q3GVqNLiZNM

Corporate Site: http://gopherprotocol.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website (http://www.sec.gov). In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, governmental and public policy changes, the Companys ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, if at all, the Companys successful development of its products and the integration into its existing products and the commercial acceptance of the Companys products. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.

Contact:

Dr. Danny Rittman CTO

Gopher Protocol Inc.

Media: press@gopherprotocol.com

SOURCE: Gopher Protocol Inc.

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November 1, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Multiple governments around the world have unleashed mandates on livestock feed regulations that pose an opportunity for a Canada-based biotech company.

Avivagen Inc. (VIV:TSX.V), a biotech company focused on science-based, natural health products for livestock, companion animals and humans, is making rapid headway with products for livestock in light of government mandates across the world.

Many countries have banned (and are continuing to ban) the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in livestock because of their role in causing antibiotic resistance. The European Union did so in 2006. In 2017, the FDA put in place rules curtailing antibiotic use in livestock in the U.S., but recent studies have found that routine antibiotic use continues.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "each year in the U.S., at least 2 million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and at least 23,000 people die as a result." Resistant strains also result in 8 million additional hospital days. "The antibiotic resistant bacteria that arises from the use of antibiotics in animal feed are the same 'superbugs' that infect and kill humans," Kym Anthony, Avivagen's chairman, told Streetwise Reports.

An alternative to antibiotics is important to preserve animals' health and combat antibiotic resistance. "Scientific evidence demonstrates that overuse of antibiotics in animals can contribute to the emergence of antibiotic resistance," says Dr. Kazuaki Miyagishima, director of the Department of Food Safety and Zoonoses at the World Health Organization (WHO). "The volume of antibiotics used in animals is continuing to increase worldwide, driven by a growing demand for foods of animal origin, often produced through intensive animal husbandry." The WHO estimates that around 80% of antibiotics consumed are used in the animal sector, mostly for growth promotion.

The WHO recommends that farmers and the food industry stop using antibiotics routinely to promote growth and prevent disease in healthy animals. Farmers are looking for alternatives to keep their livestock healthy and promote growth.

This is where Avivagen comes in. Its products are "able to replace antibiotics used for enhancing food production in livestock feeds but also can be beneficial in conditions where antibiotic use is precluded, e.g., in milk-producing dairy cows."

Research initiated at Canada's National Research Council and continued at Avivagen found that carotenoids, the compound that gives vegetables like carrots their bright color, are a "non-antibiotic means of maintaining optimal health and growth." Further research discovered that oxidized beta-carotene provides many times the health benefits of regular beta-carotene. Avivagen has an exclusive global license.

Avivagen's Kym Anthony noted, "The company discovered the existence of beta-carotene-oxygen copolymers as the main product of the spontaneous oxidation of beta-carotene in air." Together with beta-carotene's role as the actual source of non-vitamin A effects has opened up major product opportunities.

The Avivagen commercial OxBC formulations include OxC-beta Livestock premix for livestock feeds and Vivamune Health Chews supplements for companion animals. The company has reported that "numerous international livestock trials with poultry and swine using OxC-beta Livestock have proven that the product performs as well as, and, sometimes, in some aspects, better than in-feed antibiotics."

Already, Avivagen has already received approvals and begun sales in Asia, including the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and New Zealand.

Avivagen announced on September 20 that its partner in the Philippines, UNAHCO, purchased 2 metric tonnes of OxC-beta Livestock, which follows an order of 2 metric tonnes delivered to it in June 2018. UNAHCO is the wholly owned feed and veterinary subsidiary of Unilab Inc., the biggest pharmaceutical company in the Philippines.

OxC-beta Livestock has been in commercial use for over a year in the Philippines, where 17 million metric tonnes of feed is consumed annually, compared to 11.75-million-metric-tonne consumption in 2016, a rapid increase.

The commercial use of OxC-beta Livestock has been ramping up steadily in the Philippines, and Avivagen believes that the scale-up of OxC-beta Livestock use in Thailand will mirror the Philippines.

On the heels of the latest order in the Philippines, Avivagen also received its first OxC-beta Livestock order in Thailand, for sow feed. Management believes Thailand represents a significant new market for Avivagen's OxC-beta Livestock product. In Thailand, 18 million metric tonnes of feed is consumed annually.

Most recently, Avivagen signed a distribution agreement for OxC-beta Livestock in Malaysia with TLC Veterinary Services, a principal supplier to farms that supply KFC, which has more than 600 restaurants in Malaysia. The country consumes 4.4 million metric tonnes of animal feed, most of it for chickens. As part of the agreement, TLC will undertake the registration process in Malaysia.

"The Malaysian government's goal is to have all chickens antibiotic free by 2020, so we believe our product is well-placed," said Anthony.

In China, Avivagen is currently selling its companion animal products.

Avivagen is currently awaiting sale approval of OxC-beta Livestock in the United States, Mexico and Brazil for livestock feed. But it already has approval to sell Vivamune Health Chews in the United States and Canada for companion animals, such as dogs, and just entered into a distribution agreement in Vietnam for that product.

And the company has begun discussions with nutraceutical companies to develop products for human consumption.

Institutional investors include Bloom Burton & Co, Pathfinder Asset Management and AlphaNorth Asset Management.

Jolyon Burton, cofounder, president and head of investment banking at Toronto-based Bloom Burton & Co., Canada's only dedicated healthcare specialized investment bank, told Streetwise Reports, "The core discovery that Avivagen ownsand is intellectual property protectedis rolling out in a significant way in livestock currently, in companion animals over the next year and in human market opportunities over the next two to five years; this provides built-in, organic growth. The company needs to do no acquisitions to drive very significant growth if everything plays out.

"Knowing that we're in the early innings of return yet, with a market cap at these levels of approximately $20 million and sales ramping quite quickly now into large markets is why we're pretty excited," Burton stated.

Steve Palmer, founding partner and chief investment officer of Toronto-based AlphaNorth Asset Management, told Streetwise Reports, "We've owned Avivagen shares for quite a while. It's taken some time to get going, as it's had to do a lot of animal trials for its product, which it has shown to be very effective. It's had initial orders, and now it's getting repeat orders. So it's an exciting time as things start ramping up with the revenue."

Vancouver-based Pathfinder Asset Management owns just over 10% of Avivagen. Portfolio Manager Rob Ballard told Streetwise Reports that the firm was attracted to Avivagen because "it is a small start-up that has developed a novel technology that could potentially address a large global problem, replacing antibiotics as growth promoters in animal feed. Right now the company has some initial orders in Asia, but a key driver in the company will be it scaling those up and increasing its market penetration and sales volume from its customers."

Avivagen also has caught the attention of industry analysts. Beacon Securities initiated coverage on Avivagen in August 2017. Analyst Doug Cooper commented, "Avivagen's OxC-beta product was originally conceived at Canada's National Research Council (NRC), for which the company has received an exclusive global license. The technology is protected by a robust IP portfolio that includes 31 patents." The report noted that "through 16 animal trials, the product has proven efficacy on par, or better, than antibiotics in terms of animal weight gain, lowering feed conversion ratio and protection against disease."

Beacon has a Buy recommendation and CA$3 target price on Avivagen, whose shares are trading at around CA$0.55.

Avivagen currently has about 33 million shares issued and outstanding, with about 5% held by insiders and more than 20% by institutions.

Disclosure:

1) Nikia Wade compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Avivagen. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. As of the date of this article, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports has a consulting relationship with Avivagen. Please click here for more information.

3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Avivagen, a company mentioned in this article.

Additional disclosures

Bloom Burton and Co., Pathfinder Investment Management and AlphaNorth Asset Management hold shares of Avivagen. In addition, Jolyon Burton personally holds shares of Avivagen.

Disclosures from Beacon Securities, Avivagen, Initiating Coverage, August 15, 2017

Does Beacon, or its affiliates or analysts collectively, beneficially own 1% or more of any class of the issuer's equity securities? No

Does the analyst who prepared this research report have a position, either long or short, in any of the issuers securities? No

Does Beacon Securities beneficially own more than 1% of equity securities of the issuer? No

Has any director, partner, or officer of Beacon Securities, or the analyst involved in the preparation of the research report, received remuneration for any services provided to the securities issuer during the preceding 12 months? No

Has Beacon Securities performed investment banking services in the past 12 months and received compensation for investment banking services for this issuer in the past 12 months? No

Was the analyst who prepared this research report compensated from revenues generated solely by the Beacon Securities Investment Banking Department? No

Does any director, officer, or employee of Beacon Securities serve as a director, officer, or in any advisory capacity to the issuer? No

Are there any material conflicts of interest with Beacon Securities or the analyst who prepared the report and the issuer? No

Is Beacon Securities a market maker in the equity of the issuer? No

Has the analyst visited the head office of the issuer and viewed its operations in a limited context? No

Did the issuer pay for or reimburse the analyst for the travel expenses? No

Beacon analysts are not permitted to own the securities they cover, but are permitted to have a position, either long or short, in securities covered by other members of the research team, subject to blackout conditions.

Analyst Certification: The Beacon Securities Analyst named on the report hereby certifies that the recommendations and/or opinions expressed herein accurately reflect such research analysts personal views about the company and securities that are the subject of the report; or any other companies mentioned in the report that are also covered by the named analyst. In addition, no part of the research analyst's compensation is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed by such research analyst in this report.

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PLAYA VISTA, California - November 1, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Investorideas.com Newswire- American Premium Water Corporation (OTC Pink: HIPH) (the "Company") announces it has acquired proprietary "Hydro-Nano" Energy, CBD and THC-Cannabis infusion formulations. After months of negotiations, the Company has acquired proprietary infusion formulation technology that will boost its market share by allowing its product stand above any current or future competition. The transaction was completed with the issuance of restricted stock (with a minimum one year holding period)

This proprietary technology, which can be described as "Hydro-Nano" formulations, are infused with electrolyte energy, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which will give the Company a strategic and competitive advantage. These proprietary formulations are based on the hydro-nano technology that the Company has utilized for its original CBD water beverage, which allow for an absorption rate that is up to 90% higher than any other beverage in its class, enabling the infused formulations to immediately penetrate into the cells, by surpassing the bloodstream and creating a more immediate effect.

The Company is planning on utilizing the CBD formulation to create stronger, more potent beverages, utilizing 15-50mg of CBD, which will complement its existing CBD beverage line which currently uses 3mg per 16.9oz bottle. These formulations give the Company a foothold in three distinct categories: energy, CBD and THC. These categories will be the three pillars of the LALPINA brand going forward.

Historically, the Company had been working with third-party manufacturers, which created a number of logistical challenges, and exposed the Company to potentially compromising positions. Now, with this new technology, the Company will be immediately distinguished from its competitors, and hold a much brighter future.

"This acquisition is a gamechanger for us, as we expect it to propel the Company to new levels in the CBD infused beverage space, create a new category in the THC infused space, while driving shareholder value, through the sale of premium, uncompromised products, which has always been our primary objective." stated American Premium Water Corporation CEO Ryan Fishoff.

"This acquisition is the first of the CBD/cannabis-related acquisitions that the Company has previously announced. The way the industry is moving, one thing has become apparent to me; The technology that a company has is only as good as the marketing, branding, and distribution behind it. This Company excels in these areas; LALPINA has over 1 million followers on social media and several engaged distribution partners. This acquisition and the ones in the pipeline will address the "technology gap," which should take the Company to the next level. This acquisition alone could translate into tens of millions of dollars in annual topline sales. In addition, having the technology will open many different licensing opportunities to the Company, both domestically and internationally. In the coming weeks, the Company will roll out its larger strategy for the space as it provides more updates on ongoing discussions regarding the other transactions," stated Mr. Fishoff.

With the legalization of cannabis in Canada and further legalization measures on the ballot for four states in next week's election, the Company is actively pursuing distribution agreements for both of its CBD and THC beverages in the Canadian and U.S. markets. According to Arcview Market Research and its research partner BDS Analytics, spending on legal cannabis worldwide is expected to hit $57 billion by 2027, with $47 billion coming from North America, representing 82% of the total worldwide market. According to Statista, the U.S. beverage market, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, is $330 billion for the present year.

About American Premium Water Corp.

American Premium Water (OTC: HIPH) is a diversified luxury consumer products company focused on businesses in the health and beauty and biotech sectors. The company is focused on harnessing the powers of hydrogen and Nano technologies paired with cannabidiol (CBD) to treat health disorders and enhance quality of life. This business model aims to market emerging fashion brands by leveraging classic retail partners and incorporating disruptive block chain technologies to expand the retail footprint. The company's portfolio includes the LALPINA Hydro and LALPINA Hydro CBD brands (www.LalpinaInc.com), Gents, Worthy, and blockchain platform FashionCoinX (www.FashionCoinX.com).

Safe Harbor Notice

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). American Premium Water Corporation cautions that statements made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and makes no guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time statements are made. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current projections or implied results. American Premium Water Corporation undertakes no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this news release. Additional details of the Company's business can be found in its public disclosures as a reporting issuer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") EDGAR database.

This press release is issued on behalf of the Board of Directors of American Premium Water Corporation

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November 1, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Economic geologist Nigel Maund discusses a copper miner and explorer that he sees as a "longer term, investment play with substantial upside growth potential."

Copper Mountain Mining Corp. (CMMC:TSX; CPPMF:OTC.MKTS; C6C:ASX) is listed on three exchanges, although the highest daily share turnover (by a factor of 5 to 10x ASX turnover) is on the Toronto TSX. The company is a medium rank copper producer, with byproduct gold and silver, with its mines located in two of the lowest sovereign risk countries in the world, Canada and Australia. The company has a total of 203.1 million fully diluted shares in issue, which includes 187.9 fully paid up ordinary shares and 10 million options and 5.1 million warrants. Management and insiders own a total of 8% and institutions are holding 45% of the stock. At today's TSX share price of C$1.03, the current market capitalization is C$194 million or US$148.4 million. The Enterprise Value is C$453.9 million, including C$248 million in long-term debt with total liabilities at C$392 million and a debt to assets ratio of 41.23%.

The current P/E ratio stands at 5 and the Bloomberg (BEst) P/E ratio stands at 10.88. EPS stands at C$0.22. Price to Book Ratio stands at 0.84 and Price to Sales Ratio stands at 0.49.

Q2 2018's last financial results show that the Copper Mountain Mine produced 20 million pounds of copper, 6,500 ounces of gold and 68,400 ounces of silver, giving a revenue of C$84.2 million. Cash flow from mining operations was C$40.1 million producing an EBITDA of C$22.6 million. Q3's financial results will be out by the end of the first week of November.

CMMC's core asset is its 75% (Mitsubishi 25%) owned Copper Mountain alkalic porphyry copper mine located in southern British Columbia, shown on Figure 1 below. However, CMMC has further emergent coppergold producers, such as the 75%-owned Ingerbelle deposit, located 1 kilometer NW of the current open-pit mining operations, as well as the 100%-owned Eva copper project (Figure 2) located in the Mount Isa Inlier of Central North West Queensland, Australia. Hence, the upside potential is considerable.

Plate 1: Summary location map of the Copper Mountain  Ingerbelle porphyry copper + (gold) Mine in Southern British Columbia, some 300 km east of Vancouver.

As shown on the detailed Table 1 below, the latest CMMC Ore Resource update, with overall resources having increased by 36%, as of 1st October 2018. The table illustrates clearly that the Copper Mountain project is a modest sized low-grade open pit porphyry copper + (gold) deposit, with a low to moderate stripping ratio of 2.88:1, whose overall profitability is very sensitive and leveraged to the C$ copper price and, to a much lesser degree, the gold price. Annual production is around 80 million pounds of copper in concentrates, with modest gold and silver credits of around 25,000 ounces of gold and 270,000 ounces of silver. Given the low grade of the deposit, the stripping ratio becomes more significant as a cost component. To further highlight this copper price sensitivity, during the last financial year overall profitability was reduced by 30.63% due to lower average copper prices.

Plate 2: A view across the Copper Mountain Open Pit Complex (Pits 1 through 3 being merged into a Super Pit).

Plate 3: A monochrome aerial photograph of the Copper Mountain Mining Operations showing basic mine infrastructure and the location of the new Ingerbelle porphyry copper + (gold) deposit less than 1 km WNW from the main open pit.

Cash operating costs currently amount to U$2.10 to 2.20 for years 1 to 3; i.e., 2018 to 2020. Thereafter, these cash operating costs increase to U$2.25 to 2.45 in Years 4 to 10 and then fall to U$1.75 to 1.85 at the base of the open pit where the stripping ratio is substantially reduced. Total material mined and removed over the life of the mine has been estimated at 572 million tonnes, with total ore mined amounting to 148 million tonnes and total waste rock of 424 million tonnes.

The overall metallurgical recovery of copper (79%), gold (68%) and silver (71%) all err on the low side, which with the low mined grades, further add to the price sensitivity and reduced profitability of the project and its strong leverage to the copper price. Clearly, given these figures, any significant lift in copper and precious metal prices will significantly alter the overall profitability of the project and stock price of CMMC. The mine operates a 40,000 tonnes per day (tpd) conventional crushing, grinding and sulphide flotation plant.

Table 1: 1st October 2018 updated ore resources for the Copper Mountain Mine. The table shows the impact on resources at different cut off copper grades at different resource categories applicable under Aus.IMM JORC 2012 and Canadian NI 43-101 systems.

Given the updated ore resources, shown in Table 1 above, and the anticipated production rate, CMMC have projected a 14-year life of mine at current production rates without factoring in the increased resources provided by the Ingerbelle deposit detailed below. The June 2018 production schedule for the Copper Mountain Mine is presented below.

Table 2: this summarizes the Production Plan for the Copper Mountain Mine projected over the Life of Mine (LOM) split into tranches reflecting changes in production as mining progresses to depth within the open pit. Note the progressive and significant decrease in the volume of ore mined and the fall of in grade and metal production, although cash operating costs decline due to less waste rock mining at the pit base.

From Table 2 above, it is apparent that CMMC will be looking to develop the open pit mine at Ingerbelle to replace the falling copper and precious metal production from the Copper Mountain open pit from Year 3 onward.

CMMC released an Ore Resource Estimate for Ingerbelle on 21st September 2018. In summary, this comprises a "Measured and Indicated" (M&I) resource of 151 million tonnes at a grade of 0.29% copper and 0.18 g/t gold (0.41% copper equivalent) at a 0.16% copper cut-off grade. This resource contains more than one billion pounds of copper and one million ounces of gold at a 0.12% copper cut off grade. A further "Inferred" category resource of 69 million tonnes at a grade of 0.27% copper and 0.16 g/t gold (0.38% copper equivalent) containing 405 million pounds of copper and 360,000 ounces of gold at a 0.16% copper cut-off grade has been defined.

It is noteworthy that the gold content of Ingerbelle is between 200% to 300% more than that of the Copper Mountain Resource with a comparable copper grade. Hence, Ingerbelle is strongly leveraged to both the gold and copper price. A Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) of the Ingerbelle Project has been undertaken and its key findings are summarized in Table 3 below.

Table 3: Highlights of the PEA for the Ingerbelle Mining Project focusing on the first 5 years of production for a LOM of 12 years. Assumptions made are listed below the Table.

CMMC's other major copper project, Eva, is located in Central NW Queensland, Australia, within the Proterozoic age (1,600 to 1,500 Ga.) Mount Isa Inlier (MII), with its location shown on Figure 3 below. The MII has been one of the world's greatest metallotects, hosting world-class copper, gold, copper-leadzincsilver and Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) mines such as Mount Isa (Cu, Zn, Pb, Ag), Hilton (Zn, Pb and Ag), Dugald River (Zn, with lesser Pb and Ag) and Ernest Henry {IOCG - Cu, Au, Fe, (Co)}, plus numerous medium rank and smaller deposits, mostly of copper, molybdenum and gold.

The Eva Copper Project is 100% owned by CMMC. The project was acquired during early 2018 following a merger between CMMC and Australia's Altona Mining Limited (ASX), where CMMC acquired all Altona's stock for a premium of 40% above market. Infrastructure in proximity to the project is excellent and access easy.

Plate 4: A summary map showing the location of the Cloncurry Copper Project, amidst the major infrastructure in the State, which includes the Eva copper deposits amongst a cluster of other neighboring smaller deposits. The project area is served by a major rail connection between Mount Isa and the Port of Townsville, a National Asphalted Highway, Power Generation (Mt Isa) and asphalted airport with direct jet flights to Brisbane, Capital of the State of Queensland.

Plate 5: a photo showing the location of the Little Eva Mine and Plant.

Among Altona's mineral assets, besides the Cloncurry Copper Project, the company had built up an outstanding land position comprising a total area of 3,970 sq. km in the highly prospective MII as shown on Plate 6 below.

Plate 6: A summary map showing CMMC's extensive land position in the highly prospective Mount Isa Inlier, also showing the location of the Little Eva copper project and local infrastructure.

This gives CMMC a very strong platform from which to build its overall copper and gold resource inventory over the coming years and to sustain the project's LOM through definition of further near mine resources. Initial advanced exploration targets were generated by Altona prior to the merger, at the Brolga and Reaper prospects, where deep Induced Polarisation (IP) chargeability anomalies lie directly beneath major regional copper in soil geochemical anomaly.

Prior to acquisition, Altona completed a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) on the Cloncurry Copper Project, which comprises four deposits, as follows: Little Eva, Lady Clayre, Ivy Anne and Bedford. Little Eva is the largest single copper project of this group and is regarded as a close geologic analogue of the Ernest Henry (GLENCORE) IOCG deposit. Mineralization at the Little Eva deposit comprises structurally controlled veins, veinlets and breccia bodies, hosted with an envelope of strong hydrothermal alteration comprising: sodium and potassium feldspars, hematite and magnetite, developed within subvolcanic porphyritic and amygdaloidal intermediate rocks. All the other deposits are substantially smaller, shear zone, faulted and vein hosted deposits developed within metasedimentary and igneous rocks.

A DFS was prepared under Aus.IMM JORC 2012 Ore Resource Code, in mid-2017 by Altona for the Eva Copper Project. Following the merger, CMMC completed an NI 43-101 Project Feasibility Study in October 2018, Key findings of this study are presented below, based solely on the sulphide resources.

Table 4: key findings of NI 43-101 Project Feasibility Study in October 2018.

Conclusions and Recommendations

CMMC is now a fully fledged experienced operator of bulk tonnage low grade copper (with minor gold and silver credits) mines having cut its teeth on the Copper Mountain deposits. The Copper Mountain Mine has substantial operating upside from the development of the open pit Ingerbelle deposit that has very similar geology and metallurgy. The combined Copper Mountain and Ingerbelle deposits, plus the brownfield's exploration potential around both deposits and along the CM copper trend, in ground that CMMC holds, should sustain reserves well into the future. The merger with Altona Mining Ltd (ASX) was well timed, in market terms, with Altona having substantially augmented CMMC's overall resource base and lifted overall ore resource mine grades. The same exploration scope to substantially add to its copper and gold resource base exists at the Eva Project in Australia, given the superb ground holding CMMC holds around the projected copper operations near Cloncurry. The mining projects are moderately robust at today's relatively weak copper prices. Given the decline in overall global copper resources and the reduction in average mined grades together with the projected substantial increase in demand for copper metal from, especially, electric vehicles (EVs) and grid supporting storage batteries, the upside potential for CMMC could hardly look better. All CMMC's copper projects are highly leveraged to the price of copper. Therefore, given the foregoing metal demand projections the stock is viewed as a strong, longer term, investment play with substantial upside growth potential and scope for potentially significant dividends and/or organic growth as earnings improve.

Nigel Maund, MSc, DIC, MBA, F.Aus.IMM, F.AIG, FSEG, FGS, MMSA, is an economic geologist.

Disclosure:

1) Nigel Maund: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: None. I personally am, or members of my immediate household or family are, paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this article: None. I determined which companies would be included in this article based on my research and understanding of the sector.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.

3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy.

4) This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article.

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November 1, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Economic geologist Nigel Maund provides a fundamental analysis on a company developing a gold and silver mine located close to Mexico City.

Almaden Minerals Ltd. (AMM:TSX; AAU:NYSE) was founded in 1980. AAU is listed on the NYSE and TSX with a total of 111.6 million ordinary shares in issue (June 30, 2018), plus 10 million options with a strike price of C$1.26 (against a current TSX stock price of C$0.71) and 13 million warrants with a strike price of C$1.92. Management and directors hold 5% of the stock. Other largest shareholders are as follows: Institutions 12%; Ernesto Echavarria 7%; Tocqueville Gold 5% and Sprott Asset Management 2%. The company has no debt and as at 30th June 2018 has $12.5 million in cash. Market capitalization stands at US$59.93 million. AAU's Enterprise Value is US$47.43 million.

Almaden Minerals owns 100% of the Tuligtic project in Puebla State, Mexico. Tuligtic covers the Ixtaca Gold-Silver Deposit, which was discovered by Almaden in 2010. The location of the project is given on the figure below, where it is apparent that it is located amidst favorable infrastructure and sources of skilled labor, power and water, within a few hour's drive of the Mexican capital city, Mexico City.

The Ixtaca deposit currently hosts a Proven and Probable reserve of 65.1 million tonnes grading 0.62 g/t gold and 37.7 g/t silver or 1.29 million ounces of gold and 78.8 million ounces of silver, as shown on the summary table below.

The Ixtaca epithermal gold-silver vein stockwork project occurs in deformed carbonate rocks about two kilometers southwest of the Tuligtic's porphyry copper zone (drilled in 2009-2010). The gold and silver are hosted within medium- to high-grade quartzsulphideelectrum veins and veinlets within otherwise barren but hydrothermally altered limestone country rocks.

In May 2017, Almaden filed a Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) of the Ixtaca deposit, which estimates an economically robust project generating an after-tax IRR of 41% assuming US$1250/oz gold and US$18/oz silver prices (22nd October prices are US$1,227/ounce gold and US$14.63/ounce silver). The project would produce a total of 1,043,000 ounces of gold and 70.9 million ounces of silver over a 14-year mine life. It is worth noting, at this juncture, that as both precious metals are at a secular technical bottom, and the fact that silver is now grossly undervalued relative to gold, the Ixtaca project is highly leveraged to both the gold and even more to the silver price, given that the resources comprise a bulk tonnage low-grade open-pit mining project.

On a geologic note, Almaden has proven that there is a well-defined higher grade, structurally controlled, vein system that has been drilled off the NE flank of the open pit. Given the highly encouraging drill intersections made to date, some of which are located on the summary section presented in the Figure below, it seems apparent that Almaden should be able to define a significant medium- to high-grade underground ore resource at depths below the planned pit base. Furthermore, substantial partially explored "brownfields" exploration potential exists within close vicinity to the Ixtaca open pit.

Metallurgical test-work, undertaken as a part of the PFS, has demonstrated that the mill feedstock can be readily upgraded utilizing an ore sorter to separate the gold and silver bearing quartz veins and veinlets from the virtually barren limestone. This reduced the overall ore mass by 36% and increased feedstock grades to the mill by 39% for gold and 47% for silver. The ore sorting also reduces process tailings, water usage, energy requirements and CO2 emissions. Pilot metallurgical test-work for the PFS has demonstrated that 50% of the gold and 30% of the silver may be recovered in a gravity circuit following grinding of the ore to 75 microns using lab scale Falcon concentrators. Overall 90% of the gold and silver can be recovered from the limestonequartz veins ore.

The availability of higher-grade ore in the upper part of the planned open pit means that at current precious metal prices project payback is currently 2.5 years in a mine life of 14 years. In the PFS the projects sensitivity to gold and silver price variance was tested between US$1,150/ounce gold and US$15/ounce silver and US$1,350/ounce gold and US$ 21/ounce silver, as shown on the chart below.

Finally, given the PFS assumptions in respect of precious metal recoveries and metal prices, Almaden allowed for US$117 million in capex for the mill, plant and mine infrastructure. The financials, and assumptions made, are summarized in the figure below.

The project development chart is presented below:

Given the foregoing discussion, the Ixtaca mine should be commissioned by mid-2021. The project is strongly leveraged to gold and silver prices as the sensitivity analysis above shows. Any advance in the precious metal prices, expected during the latter part of 2018 and into 2019, will impact in a strongly positive manner on the Enterprise Value of the company and the stock price.

Nigel Maund is an economic geologist.

Disclosure:

1) Nigel Maund: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: None. I personally am, or members of my immediate household or family are, paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this article: None. I determined which companies would be included in this article based on my research and understanding of the sector.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.

3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy.

4) This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Almaden Minerals, a company mentioned in this article.

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Two new cyber hubs in Marquette and Flint will be opening as part of the Michigan Cyber Range Network, Governor Rick Snyder announced recently at the 2018 North American Cyber Summit in Detroit.

The hubs at Northern Michigan University and at the University of Michigan-Flint are planned to open in partnership with Merit Network and the Michigan Defense Center, an extension of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in the next six months and will help expand the cyber ecosystem to the Upper Peninsula and Genesee County.

This next installment in the Michigan Cyber Range continues the development of a robust statewide cybersecurity community, Snyder said. These regional cyber hubs position Michigan to be a leader in driving the next generation of cybersecurity protections and training a workforce able to support cyber initiatives across many industries.

Northern Michigan University (NMU) appreciates the opportunity to facilitate this new-economy employment catalyst in the Upper Peninsula and enhance the security of U.P. residents and businesses against cyber-attacks and crimes, said Steve VandenAvond, program manager and NMU vice president for Extended Learning and Community Engagement. There are more than 300,000 unfilled cybersecurity-related jobs nationwide and 7,000 in Michigan. NMU is eager to lead the U.P. effort to close the talent gap in collaboration with education and industry partners. Our hub will offer accelerated paths to careers in the industry, augment NMU's existing cyber defense academic program, and provide training and certification for professionals. The portability of cybersecurity careers makes them an ideal fit for individuals who want to be gainfully employed while enjoying the U.P.'s highly desirable lifestyle and geography.

The University of Michigan-Flint recently added several emerging areas of study and training to our campus and serving as a hub for the Michigan Cyber Network adds to that momentum, said Susan E. Borrego, Chancellor UM-Flint. We are excited to be a part of this statewide initiative and look forward to cultivating a talented cybersecurity workforce through leading-edge education and training.

The Cyber Range Hubs seek to establish Michigan as the national epicenter for security training and workforce development, hosting events, exercises and training classes. Statewide hubs operate as a physical extension of the Michigan Cyber Range, the nations largest unclassified cyber range. The hubs offer industry-recognized certifications, exercises and workshops aimed at qualifying individuals for positions and contracts in cybersecurity fields.

The Cyber Range Hubs at Northern Michigan University and University of Michigan Flint will give students and the community access to world class, hands-on cybersecurity education, said Dr. Joe Adams, VP, Research and Cyber Security, Merit. Cyber Range Hubs serve as a magnet site for the cybersecurity ecosystem. These partnerships are a great opportunity for Michigan, and Im sure once open, will have an immediate positive impact on students and the areas workforce.

Edited by Ken Briodagh
Your morning headlines.

GET INFORMED ...

IRELAND: It was during a review of one historic unsolved murder that gardai in Kilkenny came across a second unconnected cold case.

IRELAND: Just 11 out of 42 schools built by Western Building Systems have so far been given the all clear following structural inspections.

IRELAND: Sergeant Maurice McCabe would have kept working in An Garda Siochana but believed he couldnt go back after everything that had happened to him, his solicitor said yesterday.

IRELAND: A new report from Focus Ireland has found that 95% of people it housed last year had not returned to homelessness six months later.

BUSINESS: Concerns over a hard Brexit and the world economy have seen Irish consumer confidence slip to its lowest point in almost four years.

WORLD: Divers have recovered a flight recorder from the crashed Lion Air jet on the sea floor, a crucial development in the investigation into what caused the two-month-old plane to plunge into the sea earlier this week.

ANALYSIS: Middle Ireland is, by any comparison, a very good place in which to live. Lets not allow Casey and his followers to wreck it, writes Victoria White.

SPORT: All-Ireland SFC champions Dublin matched their best PwC All Stars haul this decade with seven awards as Colm Cavanagh and Brian Howard were picked for honours in areas other than where they were nominated.

... SOME DISTRACTION

VIRAL: Watch: The Dragon of Shandon wows as it parades through Cork streets

SHOWBIZ: Heidi Klum, Kim Kardashian West and Mel B were among the celebrities to impress with their Halloween costumes.

FEATURES: Ahead of the Cork and Kerry Food Market this weekend, Ciara McDonnell meets some of the new wave of food producers taking part and gets to sample their delicious delights.
By Joe Dermody

Informed science-based decisions on cattle breeding and fertiliser choices can help Irish agriculture meet its environmental targets, said Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.

The minister told a Seanad debate that grants for low-emissions slurry spreading can also help Irish agriculture cut carbon emissions by 33% by 2030, in line with environmental commitments under the Paris Accord.

Switching from calcium ammonium nitrate, a nitrogen product for fertiliser, to protective urea reduces the nitrous oxide release.

Senator Kieran ODonnell, of Fine Gael in Limerick, questioned how Irish agriculture could reduce its carbon emissions by 25% while increasing the dairy herd. He also said it seemed contradictory that agriculture should be asked to deliver 33% of Irelands total greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets while Irelands grass-based dairy sector was one of the most carbon-efficient in Europe.

We face challenges in terms of climate change and emissions, said Senator ODonnell. Agriculture is a fundamental element of that. What policy changes or shifts could be put in place to ensure that farmers are able to reduce emissions on their farms?

Minister Creed said Ireland and New Zealand are the worlds most carbon-efficient dairy producers. He added that Irelands beef sector is the fifth most carbon efficient producer of beef in the EU. However, given the relative absence of a heavy industry legacy in Ireland, agriculture has a higher profile here than in other EU states, thus accounting for the higher share in the carbon emissions.

He said Irish agriculture would continue to reduce emissions. He said retailers indicated in boardroom meetings during trade missions that they would pay premium prices for the sustainable products which are being sought by consumers globally.

Minister Creed said there is no silver bullet, but praised Teagasc for its work in bringing scientific expertise to Irelands plans to reduce carbon emissions. He also cited the 300m being spent on the rural development programme to 2020, to improve the genetic merit of the Irish beef herd.

The herd will have a smaller suckler cow but a bigger weanling, said Minister Creed. It will have a cow that is in calf every year and that calves easily. This knowledge will enable the farmer to make breeding decisions on the herd that will improve the profitability but drive down the farmers carbon footprint as well.

He cited similar state-funded milk recording programmes which are also being used to reduce the dairy herds carbon footprint.

If we have a herd that is more and more genetically efficient, then we will be able to reduce further the carbon footprint of our dairy output, he said. We need to bear in mind the context of the Paris Accord and the framework within which we are operating legally. The Paris Accord holds that we must reduce our carbon footprint, but that is in the context of not compromising food production.
By Elaine Loughlin and Catherine Shanahan

The number of schools that require protective works prior to reopening after the midterm break has risen to 17, while question marks remain over a further 13.

Figures released by the Department of Education last night show only a quarter (11) of the 42 schools being assessed for structural defects are currently in a position to reopen next Monday without further intervention.

Thirteen schools will learn today whether emergency works are required before children can go back to school.

The number of schools around which structural safety issues have arisen has grown significantly since the problem first came to light following an inspection of Ardgillan Community College in Balbriggan, Dublin, almost two weeks ago.

One section of Ardgillan, built in 2009 by Western Building Systems (WBS), remains closed with temporary accommodation organised for at least 200 pupils.

Three other Dublin schools are restricted to the ground floor  Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada in Lucan, Tyrrelstown Educate Together, and St Lukes National School, Tyrrelstown.

All three required internal and external work to enable the ground floor to be made safe for use by pupils and staff.

Education Minister Joe McHugh said he had been advised that no other building has presented the same severity of structural issues as those identified in Phase 1 of Ardgillan Community College.

Fourteen schools have been cleared to open in full but only after external protective works in the form of a fence around the building and protective decking.

Among the Cork schools where structural analysis is ongoing are Carrigaline Educate Together NS and St Colmans Boys National School, Macroom.

Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Rochestown, is clear to open following external protective works.

All of the schools were built over the past decade by WBS. In a statement last night, WBS said schools previously certified for completion as being free from defects by the department... are now being deemed to require remedial works.

This includes schools where the departments own appointed clerk of works had a full-time presence on site.

The same projects were also inspected and approved as compliant in line with the new building regulation control process, read the statement.

The Department of Education is working with all schools impacted to find alternative accommodation and transport for students and staff who will have to move while work is carried out.

Teachers Union of Ireland general secretary John MacGabhann said moving pupils, even for a short period, causes significant disruption. In general terms we are looking on aghast at the manner in which this has happened.
7.2 million smuggled cigarettes were seized by Revenue officers in Dublin Port yesterday.

The seized cigarettes, branded Excellence and Gold Classic have a retail value of more than 4m, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately 3.2m.

They were discovered when officers conducted a routine examination of freight which arrived in Dublin from Rotterdam.

The search was assisted by detector dog Kelly.

Investigations are ongoing.

Digital Desk
Irish survivors of abuse will join international academics and activists in Boston today for a major conference on transitional justice.

The two-day conference is called Towards Transitional Justice: Recognition, Truth-telling, and Institutional Abuse in Ireland and is being organised by Boston College.

It comes just a week after Childrens Minister Katherine Zappone announced that there will be a full and forensic excavation and exhumation of the Tuam site. This will include individualisation and identification where possible. Ms Zappone will open the conference and give the keynote address.

Transitional justice is a framework that has been employed in many countries in an attempt to achieve peaceful democracy after widespread political repression and violence.

The organisers of this weeks conference have said that the principles of transitional justice have much to offer Ireland in terms of dealing with grave and systematic human rights violations since the country gained independence in 1922.

The conference is to discuss whether and how Ireland might adopt a transitional justice approach to dealing with its legacy of adoption and historical abuse.

Participants will discuss the key findings of the Clann Report published two weeks ago by Justice for Magdalenes Research, Adoption Rights Alliance, and global law firm Hogan Lovells. It draws on 77 witness statements, extracted from conversations with 164 people separated from their family members through forced, secret, and illegal adoptions and related historical abuses.

The model decided on by the Government in relation to Tuam is expected to serve as a template for the investigation of the deaths and burials of women and children in other institutional burial grounds around Ireland.

Ms Zappone has said the initial cost of the process was estimated at between 6m and 13m. She also confirmed that the Bon Secours Sisters, who ran the Tuam Home, had offered the State a contribution of 2.5m.

The Vatican has not yet responded to a Government request for a financial contribution to the cost of dealing with the remains at the Tuam site, but Ms Zappone has said she is very certain that it was paying attention to what was going on in Ireland at the moment.

She also said there may well be similar investigations carried out at other mother and baby home sites in light of what has been uncovered at Tuam.

The Irish Examiner has revealed that death registers for the Bessborough and Sean Ross Abbey mother and baby homes contain the full details of some 800 infants who died at these homes. The registers were handed over to the HSE in 2011. They are now in the possession of Tusla. The actual number of children who died at these homes has been estimated to be higher than what is recorded in the registers.
By Liam Heylin

A Croatian national kept breaking into an art college building in Cork believing it contained a portal that would enable him to travel to another dimension free of demons.

Ante Brekalo, who is aged 24, was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to seven different charges yesterday.

The jury took only a few minutes to deliver a verdict that Brekalo was not guilty by reason of insanity on all seven counts.

Donal OSullivan, prosecuting, said legislation required for the accused to be examined for a period of 14 days in the Central Mental Hospital following that finding. However, a place was not available in the CMH and Judge Brian OCallaghan remanded him on continuing bail to tomorrow to see if a place would be available then.

Mr OSullivan said Brekalo was being cared for in a secure psychiatric facility in Cork.

All of the counts related to the CIT Crawford College of Art and Design at Grand Parade, Cork.

He was charged with burglary whereby he trespassed with intent to attempt to cause criminal damage or to cause damage on December 18, 2017, December 29, 2017, and again on January 4, 2018.

He was charged with assaulting Detective Garda Cormac Crotty and Detective Garda Colin Greenway on the first occasion and assaulting Garda Deirdre Callanan and Garda Brian Barron on the second date.

Tom Creed, defending, read from a background psychiatric report, to the effect that Brekalo was so agitated on one of the occasions that it required five gardai to arrest him.

Mr Creed said the defence accepted the facts outlined by the prosecution of the defendant breaking into the art college and resisting arrest in the manner described. The senior counsel said the only issue the jury had to decide was whether Brekalo was not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the actions.

Mr Creed read from Dr Ronan Mullaneys background report, giving details of the psychotic condition of Brekalo that made him unable to refrain from committing the act.

When he was in custody on January 6, he was seen in the cell chanting in Croatian, praying, and demanding to see a psychiatrist. He also refused anti-psychotic medication. He insisted that he wanted to see what was behind the door of the prison cell, saying: I have a feeling.

On January 10, he set off the water sprinkler in his cell with a lighter and removed a sink from the wall and said he was hearing voices. He believed there was a portal out of the matrix in the prison ventilation system.

He wounded his arm and smeared blood from his arm around the cell walls. He believed he was an avatar and that he had his own surgeon in prison who was stitching him.

There was evidence of Brekalo banging his elbow against the cell wall with such ferocity that muscle tissue and bone protruded. He was deemed to be in a very psychotic state and was prescribed anti-psychotic, sedative medication.

He believed that unpleasant smells indicated the presence of demons and began to believe those around him were intent on harming him and were themselves possessed by demons.

He became convinced it was through the art college that he could gain access to a portal to another dimension and that he would be safe from demons in this dimension.

Mr Creed said Dr Mullaneys report showed Brekalo suffered from severe schizophrenia, complicated by a history of cannabis use resulting in bizarre persecutory feelings.
By David Raleigh

updated: The Department of Justice has this evening acknowledged a "regrettable and isolated incident" in which staff at direct provision centre close to the Limerick Clare border refused to give a mother and ill child bread and milk because the centres canteen was closed for the night.

In the statement the Department said the private operators of the state-owned direct provision centre located at Knocknalisheen, Co Clare, would meet with the resident to apologise to her personally.

The statement this evening went on: "The contractor will meet with the resident to apologise to her personally. They will also arrange for the retraining of staff and ensure that communications between staff are clear and unambiguous.

"The Reception and Integration Agency contacted the contractor when it was made aware of the situation and asked them to investigate the matter. The contractor has since reverted to us to advise that this unfortunate, but isolated incident was a miscommunication between staff.

"Unfortunately a new staff member misunderstood a request and informed the night porter that no food was to be provided which led to this regrettable incident. The contractor will also ensure that tea/coffee and snacks are available on a 24/7 basis as per the contract."

The statement went on to say that Ministers in the Department of Justice and Equality have actively engaged in reform over the past number of years, constantly striving to improve the international protection process.

"The Department places paramount importance on the welfare of those residing in our accommodation centres. The Report of the Working Group to Report to Government on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and supports to Asylum Seekers, also known as the Justice McMahon report, was published in June 2015. The Report contains 173 recommendations many of which have implications for a number of Government Departments and services.

"The Department of Justice and Equality has since published three progress reports on the implementation of the Report's 173 recommendations, the first in June 2016, the second in February 2017 and a third and final report in July 2017. The final progress report shows that 133 of the recommendations have been reported as fully implemented and a further 36 are in progress or partially implemented. This represents a 98% full or partial implementation.

"Any alleged violations of any nature should be reported to RIA or the Minister or the Ombudsman or the Ombudsman for children.

"Knockalisheen is owned by the State and is operated and managed by Aramark who were successful in an open procurement process which was completed in 2017. The centre was opened in 2001 and there are 249 persons resident there at the moment," the statement concluded.

The woman and her children are awaiting a decision on an application for asylum in Ireland.

The Knocknalisheen centre is one of 32 centres under the accommodation portfolio of the Department of Justice Reception and Integration Agency.

Knocknalisheen centre has hit rock bottom if the needs of a child don't matter anymore, the woman claimed, in an online post via her Facebook page.

In a centre that has no self-catering facilities, the least you can do is allow people/parents access to the most basic items...What does a mother do in such a situation? she wrote.

She stated: Its 1.07am, I have a sick child in the room. He has tummy ache, diarrhoea has vomited a couple of times already. In an attempt to help him keep his strength up Ive asked a friend to accompany me to the canteen to ask for some bread and milk so I can give him.

The woman claimed staff refused to give me even one slice of bread despite explaining the situation to them.

They have notified me that the centre management has given strict instruction not to give any food items tea, coffee, milk, bread, sugar etc outside of canteen hours!

After pleading with them that this is an exceptional case they told me to wait until 7am to speak to management. One of them said to me I should give the child WATER because he doesnt make the rules; that's the end of it.

So Im sitting here feeling helpless, the woman wrote.

If I ask a friend/relative/partner to drive to knocknalisheen to bring me provisions that person will not be allowed in because its outside of visiting hours so this is clearly not an option, (yes, I am speaking from experience).

Many sent the resident in question messages of support on her facebook page.

One woman wrote: This is just horrific. Hope he is doing ok today x.

Another wrote: This is an absolute disgrace!!!

In a later post, the female resident thanked those who had written her messages of support: Thank you so much for all your support, I really appreciate all of you.

She said her son is much better now.

He was back on his feet (must have been the ol irish 7up remedy), she joked.

Communications officer at migrant rights organisation, Monika Fallon said she could not comment specifically on the womans situation, however she said similar concerns had been raised by others living in direct provision system.

We strongly feel a system that puts the well being of children at risk needs to be evaluated, Ms Fallon added.

The Knocknalisheen Centre directed a request for comment to the Department of Justice.

- Additional reporting by digital desk
By Ken Foxe

The Defence Forces was worried about commemorative videos for its work being politicised after being told it had to include a logo for the Government of Ireland.

The videos, shown during the All-Ireland hurling semi-final at Croke Park in the summertime, had proved controversial with some patrons complaining they were too militaristic to be used at a family event.

Behind the scenes, however, a separate controversy was also rumbling over the inclusion of Government logos on the promotional videos.

Documents obtained under FoI show the Defence Forces had flagged concerns over the branding and whether it would be seen to be promoting the Fine Gael-led administration.

An email sent to the Defence Forces press officer Pat OConnor from an official at the Department of Defence said Minister Paul Kehoe had requested the logos inclusion.

I have discussed the issue of the use of the Government of Irelands logo with the Ministers office, said the email.

The correspondence advised branding should be displayed both immediately before and after a video on peacekeeping, noting: I know you have voiced your concerns with regard to its use and the potential for it to be politicising the event, however it is a public services logo.

A day later, the press office was again contacted by the department seeking to ensure Government branding was going to appear. The Ministers office are looking for confirmation that the Government of Ireland logo will be shown, said the email.

The logo was originally introduced by the Strategic Communications Unit, wound down earlier this year amid controversy over the placement of advertorials in regional newspapers related to Project Ireland 2040.

In a statement, the department said use of the Government of Ireland logo reflected the cross-government and multi-services nature of Irelands participation in UN peacekeeping.

In relation to the all-Ireland hurling semi-final, following internal discussions, it was agreed by all parties that the logo be used in the same manner as the day of the State commemorations.

Separately, the Defence Forces received only two written queries about the videos despite a furore on social media.

Council of State member Ruairi McKiernan asked why a military recruitment and an army rangers video would be shown during a hurling match: I am fully supportive of the intended celebration of UN peacekeeping services but, like many others, I am concerned by the particular nature of the videos as part of a family friendly sporting occasion.

The Rangers video in particular, which was accompanied by a beating drum and loud gunshots, would appear not to fit with the theme of the event.

A mother-of-four said one of the videos was more suitable to an adult audience, as it sensationalised warfare: The video was awash with scenes of soldiers shooting their guns and there was a continuous barrage of gunfire noise etc, high testosterone visuals that are more suited to a +18 video game.

In response, the Defence Forces said: I am sorry that you did not enjoy the videos that show our work. However, many others have reached out to us to tell us how proud they were to see the professionalism of the Defence Forces portrayed in Croke Park.
Dublin City Council is considering challenging the decision to reject plans for the civic plaza at College Green.

An Bord Pleanala turned down the 10m scheme two weeks ago due to concerns about transport and traffic.
Local authorities are coming in for criticism for failing to buy up derelict or vacant houses.

County Councils have the power to take land or property by Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) if it is deemed to be for the common good.

However, it is being reported that just 240 attempts to do so have been made by county councils in the past seven years.

Fianna Fail's housing spokesman Darragh O'Brien said it "doesn't make sense" in the middle of a housing crisis as he referred to a report from the Central Statistic Office which showed there are 184,000 vacant properties in the country.

Mr O'Brien said: "We need to get to grips with the housing crisis by building more units and getting the most out of the existing housing stock. That's a given.

"However, the poor usage by local authorities of their CPO powers compared to the high vacancy rates across our cities just doesn't make sense."

Fianna Fail have made Freedom of Information requests and they show that CPOs are rarely used.

Dublin City Council has requested just 25 houses since 2011 while Dun Laoghaire Rathdown has only attempted to apply a CPO to one property, according to the Irish Independent

Louth County Council has the best record, applying for 141 houses at a total cost of more than 1.5m.

A spokesman for Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said it was "disingenuous" for Fianna Fail to use the figures, saying they were "recorded at a single point in time" and included houses for sale or for rent, or where the owner was away.
By Liam Heylin

A former member of the Irish Naval Service, who was caught drug dealing in 2010, fled to Africa, where he spent several years advising ship owners on safeguarding against piracy.

Colin Vernon, who is now 48, faced sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.

Tom Creed, defending, said the accused was making a remarkable contribution to society: He is involved in extraordinary work, dealing with people in Africa and with the United Nations trying to get food into Yemen and South Sudan.

Judge Brian OCallaghan said it was a most serious offence, carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years unless there were exceptional circumstances. The judge imposed a sentence of two years, backdated to April 2018, when Vernon went into custody. It was a sentence of three years, with the last year suspended. The judge described him as, not only a first-time offender, but a one-and-only-time offender.

Sergeant Mick OHalloran testified that on November 4, 2010, a surveillance operation was in place in the Bishopstown suburb of Cork as a result of confidential information. A van arrived in the area and the driver was Colin Vernon, who was living at North Gate Apartments on Bachelors Quay.

He approached a car and placed a brown box in the rear of this car. He drove away from the scene. Gardai intercepted both vehicles, the van that he was driving and the car, said Sergeant OHalloran.

The box in the car contained 4kg of cannabis valued at 48,000. A further 5kg, valued at 60,000, were found, in the van.

Vernon told officers that his own car was parked a short distance from the Kinsale Road roundabout and another 60,000 worth of cannabis was found in that. The total value of the drugs was 168,000.

He was arrested and questioned and he said he had travelled to Athy, Co Kildare, to collect the drugs and was to be paid 500.

Sgt OHalloran said the accused was in no doubt in 2010 that he was facing a serious drugs charge.

A European arrest warrant was executed in Frankfurt earlier this year when German authorities arrested him on the warrant and notified gardai.

Sergeant OHalloran said the defendant told them he had worked in Spain and on the east coast of Africa offering maritime security advice. Mr Creed said the defendant co-operated with the investigation. He now lives in Valencia, Spain, with his fiancee.
Extra emergency beds have been rolled out for rough sleepers as temperatures begin to plummet, the Housing Minister has confirmed.

Eoghan Murphy is due to meet with local authorities this week to ensure that enough temporary beds for the homeless are provided in the coming months.

Mr Murphy has defended changes to how the numbers in emergency accommodation are counted, insisting that they should have not been initially classified as homeless.

Opposition parties have accused him of massaging homeless figures after 1,606 people, including 981 children, were removed from the figures since March. But Mr Murphy said he had asked local authorities to use whatever measures they needed to solve the crisis.

It became apparent to me that local authorities were using Section 10 funding, which is used for homelessness supports, to actually make sure that families werent in emergency accommodation but were in homes.

He said because the money was coming from Section 10 funding, these families were being recorded as homeless despite having their own homes with their own doors.

Mr Murphy said that in some cases the local authority is the landlord and so families are in more secure accommodation than a privately rented house.

It is wrong to record those people as being in emergency accommodation when they are not, said Mr Murphy.

He said the number of rough sleepers declined by around 40% last winter but that a lot more work is required.

We are entering into the winter season. We are going to see a lot more storms as we saw in the last year. In many cases we were running our winter initiative on a 24/7 basis.

We have already had to implement it over the course of this weekend because there has been a more immediate drop in temperature.

He said more emergency beds will be rolled out in the coming weeks.
It was during a review of one historic unsolved murder that gardai in Kilkenny came across a second unconnected cold case.

Both victims were women and both had died by manual strangulation.

In 2012, local gardai started a cold case review of the murder of Ann Nancy Smyth, a 54-year-old widow, at her home in Kilkenny City in September 1987.

That review ultimately led to the prosecution and conviction of local man John Joseph Malone in April 2017  a decision upheld on appeal last April.

In their review, gardai in the Kilkenny/Carlow division came across the unsolved murder of local woman Marie Tierney, a 34-year-old mother of two, in October 1984.

Her body was discovered two months later in a ditch on the outskirts of Kilkenny City. Like Ms Smyth, she had been strangled to death, by a different assailant.

The review into Ms Tierneys death, involving an extensive investigation, led to an exhumation of her remains at Conahy graveyard early yesterday.

Marie Tierneys case came to our notice when we reviewed the case of Ann Nancy Smyth, said a garda source.

All the gardai who had been involved in the original Tierney investigation had left the force and officers had to begin from scratch.

Gardai involved had retired a long time, so the crew looked at it for the first time, with fresh eyes and investigated it as if it happened yesterday, said the source.

Gardai sought access to paper exhibits from the original investigation.

The statements from witnesses had been done on an old typewriter and had to be typed up again and examined.

Detectives spoke to retired gardai about their investigations and members also spoke to family members.

A family liaison officer was appointed.

Witnesses were contacted again and interviewed. As inquiries continued, new witnesses came forward with information that significantly assisted the investigation.

Last November, gardai went public and launched a fresh appeal. Officers realised that key evidence  forensic evidence  could only be gathered from the remains of Ms Tierney.

There are a few unanswered questions that can only be answered with an exhumation, said the garda source.

Garda forensic officers in Kilkenny/Carlow were aware of advances in technologies that might advance their investigation, requiring an exhumation. An application was made to Kilkenny County Council and an order from the minister for justice was obtained.

The Garda FLO explained to family members the reasons and objectives behind the exhumation.

An array of specialists gathered for the exhumation including from the State Pathologists office, forensic anthropologist Laureen Buckley, a scientist from Forensic Science Ireland, as well as the divisional forensic team.

Post-mortem tests were conducted at Waterford Regional Hospital yesterday and the remains of Ms Tierney were reinterred at 4.30pm, after a short ceremony attended by family members and accompanied by prayers.

Ms Tierney was reported to have left her home, in Jenkinstown, on the night of October 21, 1984.

She was reported missing by her husband Jim the following day, when her car was also found at Newpark Fenn. They had two children, a boy and a girl, aged 12 and 13 at the time.

Her body was discovered on December 21 on Bleach Road, outside the city, in a ditch.

Detectives believe Ms Tierney was probably killed elsewhere and then dumped. Gardai hope that the results of tests will be available in around a week. Officers will then assess the evidence and decide on their next course of action, including whether or not to make an arrest.

People considered relevant to their investigation are still alive, sources said. Gardai have strong leads, but are keeping an open mind, pending more evidence.

Ms Tierneys siblings John Bourke and Breda Fay yesterday appealed to her killer to do the right thing and hand yourself in.

In a statement, the gardai said more than 500 lines of investigative enquiry had been opened and over 200 witness statements taken.

Gardai appealed to people near Newpark/Newpark Fenn on October 21, 1984, to contact them as well as anyone who saw people, or vehicles (including Ms Tierneys Renault 18 35-HIP), near Bleach Road that night.

The statement said: With the passage of time relationships may have changed or circumstances may have changed which may enable persons to come forward with information to gardai that they may not have done previously. Time may have given context to something they felt was unimportant at the time but may be of assistance to the investigation.

They are asked to ring 056-7775000 or on the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

This story first appeared in the Irish Examiner.
Update - 1.23pm: The Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers has said that placement fees to letting agents could give rise to a "conflict of interest" where an agent is already engaged by the landlord of a particular property that may be the subject of such a fee.

It comes after news that local authorities are approaching agents and offering them the fee once a HAP tenant moves into the home.

Pat Davitt, IPAVs Chief Executive, said his organisation has become aware of the development in recent weeks.

He said: The HAP scheme makes a good and important social contribution and is badly needed in the current property crisis. This initiative by Local Authorities to incentivise letting agents speaks to the efforts they are making to secure properties for HAP recipients.

However, an agent has a binding contract with those who engage them and can legally only act for that party in a transaction.

If an agent who is acting for a landlord receives a placement fee offer from a Local Authority, such an approach would need to be declared to the relevant landlord, Mr Davitt said. The final decision is then up to the landlord.

Mr Davitt said: It is, of course, open to Local Authorities to engage letting agents directly to secure properties on their behalf. In such instances, no conflict of interest would arise."

Earlier: Housing charity supports 'innovative' 500 placement fee for letting to homeless

Private letting agents are being offered a 500 placement fee if they rent properties to homeless families.

Staff from Dublins local authorities are approaching agents and offering them the fee once a HAP tenant moves into the home.

Almost 10,000 people are currently homeless nationwide.

Roughan MacNamara from Focus Ireland thinks it is an innovative approach to the crisis.

He said: "In the middle of a housing and homeless crisis there always needs to be innovative approaches.

"Focus Ireland is always calling for these, so it's refreshing because it's positive to see a government agency take this step to help families who are homeless or at the risk of becoming homeless to secure accommodation.

"We, for one, would fully support it."
A 25-year-old Irish man is due in court in Sydney today over a disturbance on a US flight.

A statement from the Australian Federal Police said the man reportedly assaulted a flight attendant when travelling from Los Angelas to Sydney on October 10.
Labour will consider a motion on entering a Government coalition at its conference this weekend as well as allowing a future leader to come from the Upper House.

The motions will be tabled after a difficult few months for the Opposition party, following a challenge to Brendan Howlins authority as leader by Alan Kelly.

Labour will make womens health, housing, and workers rights priority issues at the three-day national conference which is being held in Ballsbridge, Dublin.

Guest speakers at the partys event will include Dr Louise Kenny, a consultant and professor of obstetrics, Threshold chairwoman Aideen Hayden, Focus Ireland director of advocacy Mike Allen, and housing policy expert Mel Reynolds.

A motion on Labour entering Government and sharing power in a coalition on the basis of red line demands from the party will be tabled on Saturday afternoon.

This will also include an amendment where Labour could, if approved by the party, consider entering a confidence and supply arrangement with a minority Government, but again under certain conditions or with specific demands.

The motion, from the partys Newbridge branch, states that in the event of no party, or group, commanding a majority after the next general election, the Labour Party shall offer support for the formation of a stable administration on the basis of the negotiation of a programme for government.

This would be conditional on the inclusion of a number of minimum red line measures, it adds.

Following debate about the direction of the leadership of the party, a motion will also be put down effectively clearing the way for a future leader to come from the Seanad.

Currently, Labours constitution only allows TDs, like Brendan Howlin, to hold the leadership. The motion, if passed, would enable Labour senators, for the first time, to run for the position of leader. Many supporters have suggested that either senators Aodhan O Riordain or Ged Nash could be potential future leaders of Labour.
By Aoife Nic Ardghail

A Somalian father-of-three who stabbed another man in the neck during a prearranged fight has been jailed for 18 months.

Judge Melanie Greally said it was a matter of chance alone that the wound inflicted by Mohammed Adan Ali (26) was not more serious.

The court heard the knife did not strike any major blood vessels and the injured party, a Somalian acquaintance, was treated with stitches.

Ali, with an address at Balfe Road, Walkinstown, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Mountjoy Square, Dublin, on June 22, 2017. He has no previous convictions.

At the sentence hearing, Garda Stephen Rooney told Antonia Boyle BL, prosecuting, that Ali rang the injured party asking for money to send to his daughter.

Gda Rooney said Ali used choice words in this call and during subsequent phone contact arranged to meet the injured party for a fight.

The court heard a third Somalian national broke up the initial confrontation, but Ali then pulled a knife from his jeans and came towards the injured party.

The victim later told gardai that he didn't run because he didn't think Ali would use the knife. Gda Rooney told Ms Boyle that the knife broke when Ali stabbed the injured man in the neck.

Gda Rooney agreed with Karl Monaghan BL, defending, that his client had had a difficult life and had witnessed his father's murder while a child.

The garda agreed that Ali was estranged from his mother because of his continued alcohol abuse. He accepted Ali was apologetic and had a grievance on his mind at the time.

Judge Greally acknowledged that Ali had a history of alcohol abuse, but had addressed his issues and was deemed at low risk of re-offending.

She took into account the difficult, chaotic and often violent circumstances of (his) youth in Somalia, but said stabbing a person in the neck necessitated a custodial sentence.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  Employees of Globe Telecom joined hundreds of volunteers from different continents in helping international non-government organization Rise Against Hunger (RAH) enter the Guinness Book of World Records.

The employees teamed up with other volunteers from U.S, Italy, India, and South Africa to organize the greatest number of people assembling hunger relief packages simultaneously at multiple venues within five minutes.

The said activity, which was held in celebration of World Food Day, was also a way for the concerned parties to publicly show their commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 2-- that is to " end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture."

Amid an exhilarating atmosphere, 214 volunteers from the Philippines completed the task of packing meals-- which consist of vitamin sachets, soy, veggies, and rice-- in barely three minutes. The Philippine team also had the most number of participants among the 832 volunteers from over 10 countries.

All meals packed during the Manila leg will be distributed to families in Cagayan Valley and Benguet, who suffered from the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong last September.

"While I'm proud to be part of this momentous event, I am here primarily because I want to help even if there is no recognition," said Head of Globe Office Collaboration Danni Fernandez, who also participated in the volunteering activity.

"I am also overwhelmed because we were able to do a good deed and set a record at the same time."

The Philippine Team eagerly awaits the start of the Guinness countdown.

Funds for the Philippine meal packs came from donations of some 17,500 Globe customers through their Globe Reward points amounting to P1.1 million. The company also matched the amount as a total donation of P2.2 million was given out.

Even after the Guinness challenge, the volunteers continued to assemble the remainder of over 22,000 meal packs, which will provide 1,500 families with sustenance for at least 14 days.

The volunteers continue with the meal-packing activity even after making it to the Guinness World Record

"While Globe works towards reaching its business goals, it also provides employees with greater opportunities to help in the communities and marginalized sector of our country through various means. Supporting Rise Against Hunger in this meal packing activity is one way of instilling a sense of higher purpose among our employees," said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications.

In 2017 alone, Globe employee volunteerism reached an all-time high of 3,803, comprising more than half of the entire company workforce.

Globe is an active supporter of RAH which has been fulfilling its commitment to end hunger across the globe for 20 years. RAH produces healthy food packs for calamity response, and facilitates packing activities to enable large groups of volunteers to take part in relief operations.
Sergeant Maurice McCabe would have kept working in An Garda Siochana but believed he couldnt go back after everything that had happened to him, his solicitor said yesterday.

Speaking after the Irish Examiner revealed the retirement of Sgt McCabe, Sean Costello said the decision was sad in many ways but that the whistleblower felt it was the only decision available to him.

In a statement, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said Sgt McCabe and his family had suffered greatly and that the country owed him a debt of gratitude.

After the publication of the Disclosures Tribunal report three weeks ago, Mr Flanagan apologised in the Dail to Sgt McCabe on behalf of the State and spoke to him on the phone  but confirmed yesterday he had yet to meet him in person, but would in the near future.

Garda commissioner Drew Harris held a private 90-minute meeting with Sgt McCabe a week ago.

Sgt McCabe retired from the force yesterday after serving 30 years.

Mr Justice Peter Charleton described the Cavan-based garda as having done the State considerable service and said he had suffered a campaign of calumny at the hands of former commissioner Martin Callinan and his press officer, David Taylor.

Speaking on RTE radio yesterday, Mr Costello said his client certainly felt vindicated by the Charleton report but that he made a personal decision to retire.

He feels thats the best decision, in fact, the only decision as far as it relates to the gardai.

Its sad in many ways, because it was a job that he loved, he wanted to  he would have kept going, but the impact of everything that happened over the many years, he just found he wasnt able to go back, he couldnt go back to being a member of An Garda Siochana.

Mr Costello said his client found Mr Harris a very genuine, a very decent man.

He said Sgt McCabe hoped that if the recommendations of the Charleton report are implemented and result in a changed organisation that that is possibly the best legacy he can hope for.
The Transport Minister Shane Ross is proposing a change to speeding fines to punish faster drivers.

Under the plans, the faster someone is going, the heavier the fine will be.

The sliding scale of punishments will replace the flat rate 80 fine for anyone caught speeding.

The Irish Daily Mail reports that it means those breaking the speed limit by a lot will be fined much more than those who are only slightly over the limit.

The AA's Conor Faughnan thinks the new proposals make sense.

He said: "The one-size-fits-all punishment that we have for speeding at the moment is arguably inappropriate.

"If you have got somebody who is doing 125km/h on the motorway, for example, that's higher than the speed limit so it is an offence, but it is nowhere near as dangerous as the individual going through a rural village at 90 km/h in a 60km/h zone, for example."
By Juno McEnroe and Elaine Loughlin

Ministers are increasing the pressure on Fianna Fail to wrap up negotiations on a fresh confidence and supply deal in just a matter of weeks to safeguard the stability of the country.

Fine Gael remains adamant that any new agreement must guarantee that Fianna Fail will help keep the minority government in power until 2020.

The demands come as the parties resume private talks today, reviewing progress under the existing three-year government support pact and looking towards a new deal.

While Fianna Fail is ruling out any deadlines or a rushed review, Fine Gael and coalition ministers insist the talks can and should be wrapped up quickly.

Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath pressed for the opposition party to agree a new government support pact shortly. I call for Fianna Fail, over the next couple of weeks, to move into negotiations in a serious way and wrap it up as quickly as possible, he said.

We need to ensure the stability of Government; we are in the middle of very difficult talks in relation to Brexit, that is a huge national issue and for anybody to be even half-threatening an election is just not acceptable.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said there is no point in coming to a new agreement unless it is guaranteed for most of the next two years.

The best outcome that we can get from these talks is an agreement that there wont be an election before the summer of 2020, he said.

That will give us the stability and the certainty that we need in Government to implement the plans around housing and other areas.

I think it makes sense for many reasons in terms of giving us that stability and certainty throughout the course of 2019. There is no point coming to an agreement which may then start to be questioned in May of next year as people look ahead to the budget. Will we get there? What will happen to that budget?

Mr Murphy also pressed for a quick deal to be agreed, adding: So we need stability to do that and thats the most important thing that can come from these talks and the sooner we have stability the better.

Talks today will focus on sectors and services such as housing, health, and broadband. The sides will come back after examining each others reviews of the existing deal.

While Fianna Fail maintains that there are gaps and that the implementation of opposition legislation is still being delayed, the Fine Gael-led Government wants fresh agreement on new plans such as third-level funding, carbon taxes, local government reform, a new GP contract, changes to the pension regimes, and further reforms of the income tax system.

These measures were all proposed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin by letter in late August.

Mr Martin, in his own letter to the Taoiseach, noted that there are still serious deficiencies in services.

He advised that it would be extraordinary if we were to agree that ministers could not be expected to do their jobs without advance assurances of a compliant Dail.

Officials from departments and sectors are expected to take part in afternoon talks today.

However, there is a pushback from Fianna Fail on rushing the negotiations.

A review is a review, it is not a box-ticking exercise. We are not for goading and counter goading, explained a senior party source.

Senior Fine Gael sources have also privately said that if there are signs of a breakthrough on Brexit in the coming weeks, the Taoiseach may consider whether a general election or fresh mandate from voters would better facilitate stability in the country.

However, exactly how and when those decisions will be made are matters of concern for senior party figures.
Ann O'Loughlin

A beautician who denies unlawfully administering botox-like treatment to customers has claimed before the High Court that a State regulatory authority exceeded its powers and took an unauthorised confession from her during a search of her premises.

Anne Rossi, who runs the Anne Rossi Clinic, at Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin, was prosecuted by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) on 18 counts under the Irish Medicines Board Act. The HPRA is the regulatory body for prescription medicines in Ireland.

At her District Court trial last year, Ms Rossi, a former psychiatric nurse, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The District Judge referred a number of questions of law to the High Court and her trial is on hold pending determination of those matters.

The case opened before Mr Justice Michael McGrath today.

The High Court is being asked to decide whether the alleged confession should be deemed admissible at her trial.

A further issue relates to a certificate required for analysis for the products.

The prosecution relates to a botox-like product called Dysport which contains the prescription-only substance Botulinum Toxin A. It is used in various treatments but most popular for anti-wrinkle and anti-aging side effects.

It is alleged that three female customers of the clinic received injections of the product from Ms Rossi in 2014/2015 when there was no doctor or pharmacist was present as is required by law.

Conleth Bradley SC, for Ms Rossi, said it was their case that there was a failure by the HPRA inspector, who interviewed her during a search at her clinic on February 19, 2016, to adhere to the statutory regime for prosecutors as required under the Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006.

Although Ms Rossi was cautioned by the inspector, an unauthorised confession was taken from her because of a failure to advise her of her right to a solicitor, counsel said. The requirement to do so was mandatory under the terms of the 2006 Act.

The HPRA disputes the claim.

The case continues.
By Niall Murray, Education Correspondent

Trinity College Dublin has voiced its concerns about the impact of Brexit on Ireland-UK research links, in a free ad in the Financial Times.

In a message to readers and the wider policymaking community, it has placed an open letter in todays edition of the newspaper.

The opportunity arose from a partnership with the FT that saw them organise a public discussion on borders. Instead of using the opportunity of a free ad to appeal to the high-class readership to send their children to Trinity, it chose to write the letter.

It highlights long-established research links between Trinity and other Irish universities, and concerns about the threat of rupture to more than four centuries of academic collaboration.

It says: Irish and UK researchers currently enjoy almost 1,000 collaborations under the EUs Horizon2020 programme, far more than Ireland has with any other country.

Many UK universities are the best in Europe, and its not wishful thinking to expect the EU to do everything to maintain our research links, but this wont be easy if the UK leaves under WTO rules.

Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, director of the Trinity Long Room Hub and chair of the Irish Research Council, told the Irish Examiner that the intention of Trinitys plea for prudence, deliberation, and foresight is to drive home the message not to throw out the baby with the dish water.

We are asking that research and education be front and centre of deliberations, because sometimes theyre not always a priority, she said.

The open letter points out that Brexit being seen as an opportunity for Ireland is the view of a vanishing few optimists, saying that Trinity would rather keep collaboration through existing programmes with the growing number of UK-based academics seeking to move here.

It also stresses Trinitys cross-border links but says recent post-Troubles recovery in the numbers of Northern Ireland students has been reversed with a 20% decline in applications this year, in what it calls a worrying Brexit effect.
By Niall Murray, Education Correspondent

Two school patrons have breached Department of Education limits on spending on promotional materials when seeking parents backing to open new schools.

The selection of patrons for start-up schools in areas of growing population has become so competitive that the department had to take control itself of how parental preferences are gathered.

Education Minister Joe McHugh announced yesterday that multi-denominational group Educate Together has been selected to open four new second-level schools to serve communities in Dublin, Galway, Wicklow, Louth and Meath.

During previous parental surveys to help the departments New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG) determine which patrons had the support of most local families, problems emerged with how applicants gathered names of children who were likely to attend a school under their patronage in an area. This led to significant delays as officials had to verify expressions of interest by parents, and remove those where children were ineligible due either to their age or address.

The new online system run by the Department of Education was open for parents to indicate their preferred patrons for four new second-level schools during June and July. This centralised data collection system saw the number of invalid parental preferences fall from 42% in previous selection exercises to just 14%.

But in a report to the NSEG in mid-October, a department official referred to the code of conduct governing patrons involved in the process, which included a 300 limit on promotional material a patron could use in each school area.

There are some indications that the code was not fully adhered to by a number of applicant patrons in relation to expenditure limits, either technically or in keeping with the spirit of the code of conduct, assistant principal officer Lorraine Reilly wrote.

While there was no discernible material impact on the outcome of the process, it is proposed that the NSEG might consider this matter further, she wrote.

As well as Educate Together, other patron bodies applying to become patrons in the four areas were the Kildare-Wicklow, Louth-Meath, Galway-Roscommon and City of Dublin education and training boards (ETBs), as well as Scoil Sinead, Le Cheile Schools Trust, Loreto Education Trust, and the Church of Ireland diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry.

The department did not specify which patrons were involved, but said that one case involved newspaper advertising which an unnamed patron body had said was necessary to invite parents to an information meeting. Another patron explained that part of its spending happened before the patronage process formally opened, and in the same case there was an element of benefit-in-kind in relation to a small number of items.

The Department of Education has now adopted the NSEGs recommendation to increase spending limits for patrons from 300 to 500, including Vat, to cover all promotional activities and not just materials.

A revised code of conduct now also requires prospective patrons to outline notional costs of services provided within existing resources and benefits-in-kind, in addition to previous requirements to provide spending statements and to have receipts, invoices and other and records available for inspection by department officials.

Parents to help select patrons for 12 schools

The Department of Education has said parents will be invited, within weeks, to select patrons for 12 primary schools due to open in September 2019.

The timeline emerged as Education Minister Joe McHugh said Educate Together can open four multi-denominational second-level schools next year following a process that included parents nominating their top pick from prospective patrons.

In Donaghmede/Howth in north Dublin, Educate Together was the first preference of 333 out of 424 (78%) parents, and a similar 75% (481 out of 638 preferences) in Galway City/Oranmore.

The local education and training board (ETB) was the second preference of parents in each area, securing 15% of parental backing in Donaghmede/Howth and 18% in Galway.

The department also sought parental opinion on providers for a new second-level school to serve Laytown, Co Meath, and Drogheda, Co Louth. With 68% of the 507 first preferences, Educate Together was the clear favourite, followed by 16% for Louth-Meath ETB.

The closest contest for parental preferences was in the Wicklow-Rathcoole area, where 59% picked Educate Together. Catholic schools trust Le Cheile secured over a third of the 587 first preferences.

All four schools will be English-medium as the option of an Irish-language school or unit within a new second-level school did not secure strong support.

On foot of a finding against the Department of Education last year, following complaints to An Coimisineir Teanga, a primary school due to open next year in the Drumcondra/Marino area of north Dublin will be a multi-denominational school under the patronage of An Foras Patrunachta.

This option was not selected after a 2016 survey despite being the first preference of parents of 361 children. Educate Together was picked as patron but another new school is now going to open.

For 12 new primary schools next year in areas announced by former minister Richard Bruton in April, parents have yet to be asked who they wish to be the patron.

The process that ended with yesterdays announcement took almost five months from the formal invitation for patrons to apply in early June, which preceded the opening of a department-run website where parents could nominate preferences.

A department spokesperson told the Irish Examiner the parental surveys in respect of the 12 primary schools should go online in mid-November and would likely remain open for up to six weeks.

This should allow selected patrons to be announced in spring.

Areas where patrons must be chosen

The areas where patrons must be selected for new primary schools due to open in 2019:

CORK

- Glasheen/Pouladuff

DUBLIN

- Booterstown/Blackrock

- Donaghmede/Howth/Dublin 13

- Dublin 6 & 6W/Clonskeagh

- Goatstown/Stillorgan

- Killester/Raheny/Clontarf

- Swords/South

- Swords/North

KILDARE

- Leixlip

- Maynooth

MEATH

- Dunshaughlin

WICKLOW

- Kilcoole/Newtownmountkennedy
By Niall Murray, Education Correspondent

A vote for industrial action in schools could leave more than 36,000 primary teachers thousands of euro out of pocket in pursuit of equal pay for equal work.

The executive of the Irish National Teachers Organisation will not meet until next week to consider the ballot on action which it is to issue shortly to members.

It follows an announcement on Tuesday night that members who took part in a ballot on the latest proposals on pay, of teachers who began in the job since 2010, had voted 53%-47% to reject the deal.

The result is to trigger the forthcoming ballot on industrial action, likely to be issued later this month, which could see primary school teachers decide on the possibility of strikes. But any industrial action would see them lose out on pay increases under the most recent public service pay deal.

Education Minister Joe McHugh underlined yesterday that there could be no more negotiations on the proposals on pay of so-called new entrants which emerged in September from months of talks between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and public service unions.

That process was a knock-on from the 2017 Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) and sought to address lower pay scales for all those who joined the public service from 2011 onward.

Its just important to point out that theres not individual mechanisms, this is an all-encompassing public service mechanism for all new entrants, Mr McHugh said on RTEs Morning Ireland in response to questions about the possibility of further negotiation with teacher unions.

The minister said he was disappointed with the Into result but that it must be accepted that 53% of those teachers who voted feel there are inequities in the system.

If you look at where we have come since 2011, there have been agreements and what has brought about those agreements on a step-by-step basis has been co-operation, he said.

While the minister has said the INTO must now be given space to consider the ballot result and its implications, the terms of the PSSA say that any industrial action would lead to the benefits of the broader agreement being foregone.

The primary teachers unions members have already seen the first of those benefits kick in, with a 1% increase under the PSSA a month ago.

But in the event of any prolonged industrial action, they could lose out on increases totalling nearly 4% over two years and would be precluded from moving up the salary scale. This could lead to cumulative individual losses of 3,000 to over 5,000, for example, for those with between eight and 20 years service.

Announcing the ballot result on Tuesday night, INTO secretary general Sheila Nunan said the proposed agreement would leave several cohorts of entrants to teaching from 2011 onward on lower pay scales than their colleagues. She said the membership sought to stand in unity with their lower-paid colleagues in demanding full pay restoration.

Notwithstanding progress to date on pay equality, the proposed agreement by Government failed to signal an end to pay inequality for all new entrants, she said.

Acting in solidarity with their colleagues who are paid less for doing the same job, our membership has signalled that they will not stand for any agreement which leaves them in a similar position, Ms Nunan said.

The INTO result was a mirror opposite of the 53%-47% decision last week of Teachers Union of Ireland members to accept the deal. The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland will issue ballots for school-based voting to its members in hundreds of second-level schools next week, with a result not due until after voting closes on November 16.
By Shilpa Ganatra

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) have picked Corks Chris Walley in the Bafta Breakthrough Brit awards, marking him out as one of the most promising actors this year.

Selected by an industry jury including Gemma Arterton and George MacKay, he joins 18 other talents in the fields of television, film and theatre to benefit from Bafta support over the next crucial 12 months of their career.

Im so happy to be chosen, the 23-year-old told the Irish Examiner. It does so much for a young persons career, as we see in the people whove won it in the past like Jessie Buckley  another Irish actor  Josh OConnor, Florence Pugh and Tom Holland.

You get full BAFTA membership excluding voting, support for international travel, and they offer you mentorship and set up meetings with anyone in the film industry. A past recipient joked that they wanted to meet Brad Pitt and it happened  they had a four-hour meeting with him.

I want to take advantage of opportunities like that. Theres a lot of directors Id like to meet like Lenny Abrahamson, a great Irish director, Shane Meadows and Christopher Nolan. And now it could happen.

The news comes days after he earned an Emerging Talent nomination in the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for his part in a production of Martin McDonaghs The Lieutenant of Inishmore at the Noel Coward Theatre alongside Aidan Turner (Poldark) and Charlie Murphy (Peaky Blinders).

Alongside co-star Alex Murphy, Walley shot to fame as Jock Murphy in Peter Footts award-winning film The Young Offenders and its spin-off series.

A still from the movie Young Offenders with actors Chris Walley and Alex Murphy. Bafta has picked Cork-born Walley for its Breakthrough Brit awards.

Now based in London having completed training at Britains premier acting institution, Rada, and with his British profile growing, hes choosing his next projects carefully.

I was lucky enough to get a few opportunities off the back of The Lieutenant of Inishmore, but its about trying to make the right move, he said.

Its scary to turn something down in favour of the unknown. Youre taking a risk every time and you might live to regret that.

But you take that decision based on a gut feeling and once you made it, you just have to live with it.

Chris will be reprising his Young Offenders character of Jock soon  though hes tight-lipped about whether that will be for a second TV series, a second film, or another format.

A scene from the hugely popular The Young Offenders TV series with Alex Murphy, who plays Connor MacSweeney, and Chris Walley as Jock OKeeffe. Picture: Miki Barlok

We filmed a bit  we did 10 days of filming, he explained.

For what, Im not able to say just yet, but it will be announced soon. Its for The Young Offenders definitely.

Also chosen for the Bafta accolade is Fodhla Cronin-OReilly, a producer who worked on documentary film My Generation with Michael Caine. She grew up in Co Kerry before moving to London aged 18.

Fodhla Cronin OReilly: Irish film producer also got Bafta nod.

It is a huge honour; what a beautiful present to get, she said. Its really important to me to access a new community, meet new people and exchange ideas.

Other Breakthrough Brits to be commemorated at a reception next Wednesday include comedian Luisa Omielan and Mr Selfridge star Ria Zmitrowicz.
Conal Creedons new novel puts a magic-realist twist on the tale of a clerics unrequited love for a nun, writes Ellie OByrne

In London, those born within earshot of Bow Bells are known as Cockneys. No equivalent word exists for those who dwell under Corks Shandon Bells, which is a pity because such a term would come in handy when writing about Cork novelist and playwright Conal Creedon.

Even on the approach to his home, in the building next door to where he was raised, the four-faced liar and its iconic gold salmon weathervane dominates the sky-line.

Creedon has carved out an unlikely little oasis for himself on the city-centre street where he grew up. One storey up, above a courtyard full of well-tended pot plants, the author offers tea in his satisfyingly writerly living room, surrounded by memorabilia and books and well-worn armchairs. His dogs claws tick-tack across tiles through the kitchen, dominated by a large Aga, as he puts the kettle on.

Next to the tea things lies a copy of Creedons new novel, hot off the press but 20 years in the making.

Despite a proliferation of plays, documentaries, short stories and a recent biography, Begotten Not Made is his first novel since 1999s Passion Play.

Im delighted with it, Creedon says of the book, which is published by his own company, Irishtown Press, and which even contains pen and ink illustrations hes done himself.

Putting a book together is a really creative process itself. If you deliver a book to a publishers, thats it, you wash your hands of it. But I have great fun with the design: its my product.

Inside the covers of Begotten Not Made, there unfolds a tale thats part poignant love story and part meditation on the phenomenon of faith, a uniquely Corkonian take on magical realism served up with Creedons customary flair for colourful dialogue and tall tales. Hes dubbed it a fairy tale for the 21st Century.

Its not a sequel to Passion Play, but there are biblical themes in common and both novels belong to a suite that Creedon says will ultimately contain two further volumes.

While Passion Play charted its protagonists acid and booze fuelled journey from purgatory to heaven one Easter, Begotten Not Made is set at Christmas time.

An elderly priest, Brother Scully, has long harboured a 50-year unconsummated love for a nun, Sister Claire, who he met just once, during Danas winning performance on the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest. Each dawn, he watches for a light at her window.

One Christmas Eve morning it never materialises, prompting Brother Scully to delve back through his memories and his painstaking analysis of scripture, which has led him to a unique and highly plausible theory regarding the true paternity of Jesus Christ.

DECADES LATER

Its a book that has truly been 20 years in the making, Creedon says: it was emerging even as he was finishing off Passion Play and continued to seed as he researched the New Testament for his critically acclaimed 2000 play The Trial of Jesus, which was performed in promenade on Good Friday, with a final crucifixion scene taking place atop Patricks Hill.

Throughout the first decade of the 21st century, Creedon was immersed in a host of theatre, and broadcast projects. Now, he says, hes ready for prose again.

Sitting on a mountain of written research, it was his stint as UCCs writer in residence for 2016-2017 that restored Creedons focus.

The impact of being in UCC was huge, he says. It had more of an impact that I thought it would. I really engaged with it and there was a sense of refocusing on what I was at. You meet the students who are all writing themselves and you get really into that energy again. I said right, now Im ready to make sense of this thing.

Irish society seems gripped in a backlash against the abuses of power of the Catholic Church: in two recent referenda voters rejected the churchs position. Just days ago, it was announced that a full exhumation of infant

remains would take place in Tuam. Perhaps its a curious point in time to publish a book with a priest as protagonist?

Creedon says in the current cultural climate it can be hard and even painful to remember that the clergy came from amongst our ranks. Irish sons and daughters became our priests and nuns, often to escape poverty. I found when I sat down to write that I was writing about the underbelly again: bedsit-land, prostitution, drugs. I wanted a new approach to write about what you might broadly class as working-class values and I started wondering what slice of life my character could come from.

A lot of the Christian Brothers would have joined through that necessity, in the social context of the time. The second son on a farm would have gone on to the priesthood.

Its a complex reality summed up pithily in the novel as Brother Scully reminisces about his first night as an ordained priest, in an unshared bedroom for the first time in his life: He smiled when it occurred to him that a vow of poverty had made him a man of means overnight.

MON BOY

Educated by Christian Brothers in the North Monastery in Cork, Creedon displays a forensic level of curiosity about the New Testament in Begotten Not Made. Was he ever drawn to the priesthood himself?

He smiles: No.

I think the New Testament is a great book: I think the stories are incredible. The basis of belief is that something has to be incredible: if somethings just a fact theres no belief involved. If you go with the story as it unfolds, it all makes a lot of sense. In a way.

Creedon shows off a black and white picture of him sitting on his fathers knee as a small boy, at the centre of a veritable avalanche of Creedons, including his brother, the broadcaster John Creedon: they were raised in a family of 12 above their parents shop, the Inchigeela Dairy, off Coburg Street.

Later, Conal would run a launderette on the street before the literary bug bit.

His father was a very funny guy and a great storyteller, he says. Maybe that need to tell stories came from there, but I dont think theres a clear path to it. I just found I had a lot of time on my hands in the launderette.

DOG DAYS

Throughout his plays, short stories and documentaries, Creedon emerges as someone who cares deeply about the culture, customs and linguistic quirks of Corks denizens. Hes a fervent and generous supporter of other Cork writers, playwrights and cultural endeavours.

With his dog, nicknamed Dogeen, at his heels and the ubiquitous doc martens and three-quarter-length wool coat, Creedon cuts a familiar figure on his outings about town under the Goldie Fish. Is he

conscious of himself becoming a character in one of his own books?

I wouldnt see myself as a parody of myself, he says wryly.

Corks the kind of town where everyone seems to know each other anyway. The people who dont know you very well will put you into that small frame, a pigeon-hole. But the people who do know me know Im not that.

Begotten Not Made, published by Irishtown Press, goes on sale today
Famously known as 'the black stuff', stout is loved the world over, but it's hard to think of another beer that's shrouded in so much mystery and myth.

After all, what other pint has been dubbed a cure-all thanks to the famous 'Guinness is good for you' advertising campaigns in the 1920s? As well as being cited as having health benefits for pregnant women - stout was thought to be a good source of iron and therefore useful during pregnancy or breast feeding. However, if the truth be known, Guinness contains a barely there 0.3mg of iron per pint.

But don't let that stop you from enjoying this thick, frothy, flavoursome dark malt, because stout has plenty to shout about.

1. Stout contains antioxidants

What's more, dark beer, especially stout, has been found to reduce your risk of blood clots, according to the University of Wisconsin. The high-temperature used in the roasting process to develop the smooth finish of dark malts also fuels the formation of antioxidants, which can help reduce the incidence of atherosclerosis and cataracts by as much as 50%.

2. It's the skinny in the brew world

While it may pack a punch with an average 8% abv, stout contains up to 50 fewer calories than many other brews. A pint of Guinness has fewer calories than a Corona - 125 compared to 148.

3. Guinness is the record breaker in beer circles

Guinness is the number one stout in the world, and surprisingly, it's sold in more than 120 countries.

4. Porter or stout? They're both dark, here's how they differ

We asked the experts at CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale): Porters are complex in flavour, ranging from 4% to 6.5% and are typically black or dark brown; the darkness comes from the use of dark malts unlike stouts, which use roasted malted barley. Stouts can be dry or sweet and range from 4% to 8% abv.

5. It's been around for 300 years

"Stout has been brewed since the beginning of the 18th century when a number of 'stronger' beers were brewed, which, because of the use of hops, had good house-keeping properties. This subsequently became known as 'porter' because of the manual workers who drank it, and by the 19th century evolved into what we now know today as stout," says Peter Simpson, Guinness brewer.

"Today there a hundreds of variants of stout which are brewed incorporating different tastes and flavours including coffee, chocolate, whiskey, bourbon, the list is endless."

6. Stout goes with sparkling wine

The Black Velvet cocktail was created in 1861 to mourn the death of Prince Albert. Upon hearing the news, the steward at Brook's Club in London decided that even champagne should be put in mourning and a classic was born: One part stout, one part champagne.

7. It takes just under two minutes to pour to perfection

The perfect pour of a pint of Guinness Draught takes approximately 119.53 seconds.

- Press Association
There are two red lines holding sway over Northern Irelands politics. One is the Democratic Unionist Partys vow to protect the integrity of the UK using its parliamentary influence over the Westminster government. The other dominates Stormont, where the DUP is resisting introducing an Irish language act  Sinn Feins top demand for re-establishing Northern Irelands power-sharing government.

There are political connections between these red lines. Brexit has worsened local rifts. But there is another, deeper relationship. Both entrenched positions arise from a particular vision of unionist identity  one which may soon self-destruct.

The Kielty question

Earlier this year, in an interview with the comedian Patrick Kielty, Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, said that if Ireland was united she would probably leave the country.

The remark was widely discussed. But it shouldnt have been surprising. The state of being a unionist without the union would be, for many unionists, unfathomable. Being British in Ireland is not, and cannot be, a mere cultural thing. It requires the privilege of living under British institutions.

But if some unionists cant envisage home in a united Ireland, even a welcoming one, what does this say about their relationship with the soil they are standing on?

Some Irish republicans might view Fosters attitude  and the DUPs fixation on preserving the link with Britain after Brexit  as proof of what theyve always believed: that Irish Protestants are plantation blow-ins with a shallow, artificial identity. That, however, would do little justice to history, or the full range of self-understandings within the broader Protestant community.

Shortly after Kieltys documentary was broadcast, his question was put to Sylvia Hermon, the independent (and, incidentally, the only pro-Remain unionist) MP. She replied with some emotion that whatever happened, she was going nowhere. Like her family, Ill be buried in the land that I love.

There is, she seemed to be saying, an inescapable rootedness  an Irishness maybe  which Ulster Protestants possess by the simple virtue of inhabiting the island for generation after generation. They may feel British, and there is much shared experience to link them to the rest of the UK. But they are still shaped by a landscape, a climate, and a cultural and political experience which are distinct from those in Britain.

Language and identity

The desire to express this rootedness partly explains the current revival of interest in the Irish language among Protestants, right in the DUPs back yard. Less than a mile from the party headquarters in East Belfast is the Turas Irish language centre. Last month, more than 200 people enrolled for the new term, most from a Protestant background.

For these learners, Irish reconnects them with the land (nearly all place names in Northern Ireland are derived from Irish), with forgotten Protestant Irish-speaking ancestors, and with Irish nationalist neighbours. For some, it is even an act of defiance against a unionist political class which has long profited from maximising the difference between British and Irish.

Divergent images of Ulster Protestant identity are nothing new. But critical moments bring them to the fore. They were evident in the bitter splits over the Good Friday Agreement 20 years ago. The DUP was opposed, but some Protestants found the agreement liberating, permitting shades of identity  Irish, European, cosmopolitan - that had been lost in the harsh light of violence.

The state of the union

Now, those freedoms are under threat. Red lines, EU or UK, orange or green  these stark simplicities belie the messy interconnectedness of identities, relationships and histories in the north of Ireland. The hyper-Britishnesss of the DUP is even out of step with the actuality of the UK, an evolving multi-cultural, multi-national state with strong regional identities.

In a July speech, Foster celebrated these British qualities. But as the red line on the Irish language shows, unionists have long-struggled to find the self-confidence and generosity to make that inclusivity real within Northern Ireland.

Brexit negotiations still havent produced a solution to the Northern Ireland question. PA

What does it mean to be British in Ireland? Its an old question, newly posed. With its red lines, the DUP has given its answer. It shares with the mainland Leavers the desire to amplify British identity by purifying British sovereignty. But time will reveal Brexiteer Tories, motivated by English, not British, nationalism, to be far less interested in preserving the UK than the unionists in Ireland.

So if the union does break under the weight of Brexit, much of the responsibility will lie with the DUP. It will look back on its years in power from 2007-17 as a golden age. And its followers will have no choice but to find a new vision of who they are as a people.

This article was written by David Mitchell, Assistant Professor in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation, Trinity College Dublin and was originally published on The Conversation.

Read the original article here.
James Whitey Bulger should have been viewed as a vulnerable prisoner as he was an FBI informant  despised as the lowest form of life in prison, writes Ryle Dwyer.

The story of James Whitey Bulger was greatly complicated by his involvement with the FBI over the years.

Bulger, the infamous 89-year-old Irish-American gangster, was found dead in a West Virginia prison cell. He was beaten to death by another inmate.

He had been transferred to the United States Penitentiary (USP) at Hazelton, West Virginia, from a maximum security jail in Oklahoma, only the previous day.

While the USP was a high-security jail, Bulger was held in an adjacent satellite prison, Bruceton Mills, which had minimum security. The wheel-chair-bound-criminal was reportedly murdered, beaten with a sock containing a lock, and his assailants also tried to gouge his eyes out.

He should have been viewed as a vulnerable prisoner, because even though he was a notorious criminal, he was also an FBI informant  despised as the lowest form of life in prison.

Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, to Irish immigrant parents in 1929, James was the second of six children. He got his nickname Whitey as a result of his platinum blonde hair. The family moved to South Boston in 1938.

In 1956, Whitey was convicted of a series of bank robberies and sentenced to 20 years in jail. He was considered so dangerous that he spent time in the notorious Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay.

While Whitey was in jail, his younger brother William Billy Bulger became an eminent lawyer and was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He went on to serve a record 18 years as president of the State Senate, and over seven years as president of the University of Massachusetts, until his death in 2003.

By then, Whitey had become No 2 on the FBIs Most Wanted List, second only to Osama Bin Laden.

Whitey Bulger was released from prison in 1965 and returned to Boston, where he became a prominent member of the local mobster Howie Winters gang, which was known as the Winter Hill Gang. In 1975, Bulger met John Connolly, a local FBI agent.

He had known Connolly as a kid. One day back in 1948 when Connolly was only eight, the 19-year-old Bulger offered to buy him an ice cream, but Connolly refused. His parents had warned him not to accept gifts from strangers.

Hey, kid, Im no stranger! Bulger said. Your mother and father are from Ireland. My mother and father are from Ireland. What kind of ice cream do you want? Vanilla, young Connolly replied with smile. He never forgot that meeting.

After going on to earn a law degree, Connolly joined the FBI, and in 1975, he was posted to Boston, where Bulger offered his services as an informant. They established a mutually beneficial arrangement.

After providing Connolly with information to arrest Howie Winter, Bulger took over the Winter Hill Gang. In 1980, he helped FBI to plant surveillance electronic bugs in the headquarters of local Mafia boss, Gennaro Jerry Angiulo, who controlled racketeering throughout Massachusetts.

Angiulo, his lawyer, and 22 other mafia mobsters were indicted and eventually convicted in 1983. This allowed Bulger and the Winter Hill gang to take over the racketeering. Angiulo served over 20 years in federal prison.

Bulger had already provided information to cripple the operations of Joe Murray, an Irish-American drug smuggler. Following a tip-off from Bulger four months earlier, the FBI and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), raided Murrays main warehouse while it was full of cannabis.

Murray had ties with the Provisional IRA in this country, and Bulger tipped off Connolly that Murray was sending seven tons of arms to Ireland on the fishing vessel Valhalla in September 1984. The arms were transferred to the Marita Ann off the coast of Kerry.

The FBI had passed on the information about the arms shipment to the Irish and British authorities. But the Special Branch in this country had a source its own.

Sean OCallaghan, the IRA informer, had provided information in relation to the Marita Ann. So the Valhalla and the Marita Ann were both being tracked electronically. The Marita Ann was seized as it was heading back to Fenit, and Martin Ferris, the future Sinn Fein Dail deputy was arrested on board.

John McIntyre, one of the crew of the Valhalla, was arrested in connection with another matter, shortly after his return to Boston. Once in custody, he offered the police details of drug smuggling and the gun running in a desperate attempt to extricate himself from the clutches of those with whom he had become involved.

He informed the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) of a drug shipment due shortly on a freighter, Ramsland. The boat was searched as it entered Boston Harbour on November 16, 1984, and 36 tons of marijuana were seized.

McIntyre named Kevin Weeks, who was closely associated with Bulger, and he also fingered a man named Whitey who owned the South Boston Liquor Mart, which he used as a front for criminal activities.

The FBI and the DEA knew this was Bulger, but no attempt was made to arrest him, because he had been providing such valuable information.

Like other people who had given information against Bulger, John McIntyre mysteriously disappeared. Connolly had been warning Bulger. When Connolly retired from the FBI in 1990 after 22 years of service, he was highly celebrated. He had received personal commendations from FBI Directors J Edgar Hoover, and all of his first seven successors.

After Connolly retired, Bulger and his close associate Stephen Flemmi came under real scrutiny. Flemmi was arrested in January 1995, but Bugler managed to flee on the eve of his indictment on racketeering charges.

Kevin Weeks later testified that Connolly had told him to warn Bulger that he was about to be arrested. Connolly was retired for five years by then, so who informed Connolly of the impending arrest? Bulger managed to remain at large until 2011.

In 1997, the FBI admitted under a court order that Bulger had been a top echelon informer, and the agency was launching a probe into its corrupt ties with mob informants. Connolly was indicted in December 1999 on charge of alerting Bulger and Flemmi, and he was charged the following year with additional racketeering-related offences.

The distinguished FBI agent was duly convicted in 2002 and sentenced to 10 years in jail. In 2006, Flemmi testified that John McIntyre was murdered after Connolly told them that he was co-operating with the authorities.

Judge Reginald Lindsay ruled in a civil suit that Connolly was the proximate cause of McIntyres death and the federal government was therefore responsible. He awarded McIntyres mother and brother $3.1m in damages.

In 2008, Connolly was convicted of an additional charge of second-degree murder and sentenced to 40 years in jail. A reward of $2m was offered for information leading to Bulgers capture.

It was claimed by a neighbour in Santa Monica, California. Anna Bjornsdottir, the former Miss Iceland of 1974, recognised him as a neighbour when she was watching a programme about Bulger while on a visit to Ireland.

Bulger was arrested in Santa Monica in 2011. Two years later, he was convicted of 11 murders and racketeering and was sentenced to two consecutive life terms, plus five years to ensure he would never be eligible for parole.
A report from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is a wake-up call to humanitarian aid agencies around the world.

Its 2018 World Disasters Report shows that such global NGOs must do more to respond to the needs of the worlds most vulnerable people.
President Donald Trump is expected to announce plans to deny asylum to migrants who try to enter the US illegally between ports of entry.

The move is part of his latest election season response to two caravans of migrants heading towards the US-Mexico border.
In Person Success of Current Govt Pivotal to Myanmars Future: Japanese Ambassador

Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar Ichiro Maruyama during an interview with The Irrawaddy at the Japanese Embassy in Yangon in October. / Soe Tun Thein / The Irrawaddy



While the U.N. and some Western nations have taken a hard line against the Myanmar government over the plight of the Rohingya, Tokyo has charted its own course, showing steadfast support to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her government. The Irrawaddy (English edition) editor Kyaw Zwa Moe sat down with Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Maruyama to discuss bilateral relations, the Rakhine crisis and Western nations threat to impose sanctions.

Kyaw Zwa Moe: To begin with, Ambassador Ichiro Maruyama, it seems to me that the bilateral relationship between Myanmar and Japan has been upgraded to the next level. Myanmar has been going through a difficult time, especially in terms of politics and the economy. Myanmar has been widely criticized by Western countries and international organizations since the conflict in Rakhine began. At the same time, Japanunlike some international groups and Western nations, such as the UN or certain countriesstands firmly behind Myanmar. Why?

Ambassador Maruyama: The fact is, Myanmar was, for many reasons, under the Tatmadaw regime for 50 years. Given that fact, it didnt fully deal with Western nations, or with Japan and the UN. In 2011 when [then] President Thein Seins government took office, economic and political relations with Western countries improved a lot. We, Japan, have come to provide full economic assistances to Myanmar, such as through ODA [overseas development assistance]. Elections were held in 2015. We have had the government led by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi [since it was elected] with the overwhelming support of the people in 2015. Since that time, the country has come under mounting international criticism over political and economic conditions, and especially due to the Rakhine crisis. However, in the view of the Japanese government, we strongly believe that the government, which has the support of the people but was spawned after 50 years [of military rule], should be able to address a great deal of the political and economical hardships, as well as the Rakhine crisis. This is our position when dealing with the Myanmar government.

KZM: But Japan, as you said, has a contrary position to Western countries. So far, the EU and the U.K. have constantly criticized Myanmar, especially the Tatmadaw. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono wrote a piece in The Washington Post saying that Western countries should not simply criticize Myanmar, but patiently support its efforts at securing the early, safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of refugees. He meticulously highlighted this. What is your take? Does the international community understand what he said?

Ambassador: This is the job of the Japanese ambassadorto help them understand it. But what I can tell you is that the ambassadors of Western countries, especially the U.S. and European ambassadors, along with [myself], have a shared objective, that Myanmar will be democratic and prosperous. We all have the same goal. We do not have any intention to make this country disappear. This is a position that we share. However, we have exercised different policies to achieve that objective. Therefore, since we have the same objective, I assume it is possible to work together with the Western countries. The other point, in fact, is that Japan totally disagrees with other countries that are considering imposing economic sanctions against Myanmar because of the Rakhine State crisis. If economic sanctions are imposed, it will not only undermine stability and progress on the political and economic fronts, but Myanmars economy and its workforce will suffer the most. It is utter nonsense. If economic sanctions would resolve the problems in Rakhine State, we would join (the effort) too. But it (economic sanctions) will make the situation worse. That is certain. Therefore, frankly speaking, we totally disagree with those countries that are considering imposing economic sanctions on Myanmar.

KZM: Despite the fact that you, Mr. Ambassador, and Foreign Minister Kono himself have tried to explain this policy, the E.U. is considering withdrawing trade preferences from Myanmar. If that happens, between 400,000 and 500,000 garment factory workers would be laid off. They are the grassroots of society. Having said that, it seems that the efforts being made by [yourself] and the Japanese governmenton behalf of Myanmar have not had much impact.

Ambassador: If in fact the economic sanctions are imposedespecially if the GSP [generalized system of preferences] is withdrawn, it is certain that working people will suffer gravely. Thats why we totally disagree with the idea of withdrawing the GSP. However, if E.U. member countries want to see Myanmar become democratic and prosperous, we will not give up but continue to discuss ways of working with the E.U. and other Western countries.

KZM: Is there any possibility of that?

Ambassador: Yes, there is. Its good not to give up.

KZM: Japanese Foreign Minister Kono said in the last paragraph of his article in The Washington Post that the international community must not short-circuit Myanmars evolution toward democracy. This echoes what you just said about the Wests approach and policy on Myanmar being so different.

Ambassador: The difficult part, as we all know, is that the majority of people wanted democracy during the reign of the Tatmadaw government, and so did the international community. The international community and people inside the country spoke with a single voice. Now, in the case of Rakhine for example, the views of the international community and people inside the country are totally opposite. This indicates how complex the Rakhine situation is. We cant solve it right away. We dont have an immediate solution to that problem, either. If the Myanmar government tries patiently to solve the problem, Japan will support it as best it can while listening to the peoples voices. Then, we will try to make the voices of people in Myanmar and the Myanmar government heard by UN organizations and Western countries. We believe that this will bring positive change step by step.

KZM: As your have explained, Mr. Ambassador, something they dont understand is that now we have a democratically elected government. In other words, it has the will to solve the problem democratically, in the view of Japan. However, some observers in the West see this purely through the lens of human rights violations by the top brass of the Tatmadaw, and even see it as a good chance to overthrow the Tatmadaw leadership. But we have a very complicated political situation in Myanmar. Within the democratic system, the Constitution guarantees that the Tatmadaw holds power, with positions in the Cabinet and Parliament. Dont they understand the complications that arise from taking such a stance?

Ambassador: In this country, we have got the government as well as the Tatmadaw. All nations have their own army. Then we also have the press, and the justice system. All of these sectors are involved in governing the country. We want to see Myanmar stable and developed, but if we were to take action against the Tatmadawwhich constitutes one of the important sectors of the countrythere will be no hope of seeing that stability and development. Therefore, when we deal with a country, it is imperative to help all the important sectors of the country, including the Tatmadaw, media and judiciary, develop positively. If we point at one particular sector, this is bad. The future of the country will be uncertain if we take action against (the Army) for human rights violations and so forth.

KZM: You accompanied State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on her recent visit to Japan, during which she held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. In Japan, she said Tokyo had a better understanding of the situation in Myanmar than some other countries. How successful would you say her trip was?

Ambassador: Our prime minister has met with State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi many times. This time, she paid a visit to Japan as the [de facto] leader of Myanmar in her capacity as state counselor. She had a summit meeting with Prime Minister Abe. At the summit, our prime minister himself explained to the state counselor that Japan is ready to continue economic assistance and cooperation to Myanmar to help the country develop.

Secondly, regarding the matter of Rakhine State, the prime minister explained that Japan remains unchanged in its position that it will cooperate with Myanmar in dealing with matters there. The prime minister also advised the state counselor that it was imperative to work with UN organizations in order to move forward. Thats why we hope to see cooperation with the UN. For that matter, the prime minister also reiterated to the state counselor that Japan would assist Myanmar to the best of its ability.

KZM: Relations between Myanmar and Japan have risen to a new level. Japans assistance to Myanmars economy and democratic transition has gone further than before; it is now playing a mediating role between the international community and Myanmar, which is a huge task. But I see that the UN and Myanmar are not getting along well. Do you see any weakness in Daw Aung San Suu Kyis government in that regard?

Ambassador: I dont think there is any weakness. Given the history, Rakhine is a very complex situation. Looking at the Rakhine case, we have taken all aspects into our considerations. The UN wants to solve the Rakhine problem but it doesnt know exactly how complex the Rakhine situation is. Therefore, there will always be misunderstanding between the Myanmar government and international organizations. That is not due to the Myanmar governments weakness. I dont think so. I want to compliment the Myanmar government for allowing UNHRC to visit Maungdaw and Buthidaung in northern Rakhine State under these difficult circumstances. The UNHCR is now visiting the region. We really hope that relations between the Myanmar government and UN organizations will be based upon the findings from this visit.

The Myanmar government is facing challengespolitical challenges, especially involving the peace process. Then, there are economic challenges and the Rakhine problem. It is not important whether or not the government has the capacity to overcome these challenges. If weaknesses are there, we will work to assist it. Because when considering the future of Myanmar, the success of this government is pivotal. It is important to solve all the current problems. It is important to make things right. Otherwise, we worry that the future of Myanmar will be more challenging. Thats why we are working with the Myanmar government as much as we can to overcome these challenges.

KZM: Mr. Ambassador, you have said that Japans policy is that Myanmar has a democratically elected government and is in a democratic transition. Japan is supporting Myanmars efforts. What if we had a government that was not democratically elected? How would Japan deal with Myanmar?

Ambassador: The people of Myanmar long desired to see a democratic country. The Myanmar people themselves laid the foundation for establishing democracy. Based on that, we will cooperate [with them] to move the country toward prosperity. If we want to see a stable, democratic and prosperous Myanmar, it is important that it engages with the whole world. We are working to help [Myanmar] fully engage with the international community. In doing so, if Myanmar shows that it is moving towards genuine democracy, no one will object to it. Japan is working together with Myanmar to successfully move in this direction.

KZM: Amid many problems, Myanmar is moving toward a democratic transition. So far, things remain unstable. The democratically elected government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi only has about two more years in office. What is your advice to her for winning the elections in order to continue the democratic transition?

Ambassador: It doesnt matter who leads the government, the country is going through a very challenging time. It means that both the international community and the people inside the country have placed so much hope in Myanmar. It is not possible to address all the challenges immediately, one after another. I believe that taking a step-by-step initiative is the only way to overcome the challenges.

KZM: You first met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi 20 years ago. At that time, she was hailed as democracy icon. The whole world supported her and promoted her. Now, especially when it comes to the Rakhine case, Western countries criticize her. They have withdrawn her awards and harshly criticized her, saying she has changedthat she has taken the side of the Tatmadaw leaders. They say she has not upheld the human rights principles she once advocated. Has Daw Aung San Suu Kyi changed?

Ambassador: She has not changed. I first met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in 1995. She had just been released after six years of house arrest. The first time, I met her at her University Avenue residence. At that time, she said she totally opposed the Japanese governments economic assistance to the Tatmadaw regime. She said she opposed it for the country. She didnt agree with the Japanese governments policy. And now what she is opposing is for the country and for the people. Therefore, she has not changed since the first encounter in 1995. People see her as a symbol of universal democracy and human rights. But she has sacrificed her whole life for this country and the people of Myanmar, as the leader of this country. In my view, she has not changed from her time in 1995 under the military regime until her time in office nowthat I strongly believe.

KZM: But some veteran human rights activists in Myanmar say that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has changed, especially when presenting the policy of the NLD or of the government; they say that she fails to consult other ethnic organizations or democratic groups. They also say they have a less cordial relationship with her now. What is your take on that?

Ambassador: This country is facing many difficulties, be it in terms of the ethnic groups or the economypeople are facing hardships. Therefore, as the leader of the country, she will lay down a policy she believes is best for the country. Everyone may not support itthat would be impossible. Some people will criticize it. But the most important thing is that a leader of a country can listen to criticism and review their policy; that would be ideal. I believe that State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is such a leader.

KZM: Japan has been supporting Myanmars economy. During Daw Aung San Suu Kyis visit, Japan pledged to help the economy and the development of the country, including Yangon. It provides a lot of loans. Is Myanmar enticing for Japanese businesspeople and companies? Foreign direct investment has decreased in Myanmar and we have issues with a lack of infrastructure. So how attractive is Myanmar to private businesses?

Ambassador: Myanmar has faced international criticism on the Rakhine issue. At that time, the state counselor went to Japan and met not only with our prime minister but also with Japanese businesspeople. The Myanmar Investment Seminar was held in Tokyo on Oct. 8. That day was a public holiday in Japan. We were very worried that businesspeople would not join, as it was a three-day holiday. But when the seminar convened, 450 people attended. The state counselor herself explained that she wanted to invite businesses to Myanmar. It shows that Japanese businesspeople are very interested in doing business in Myanmar when they continue to do so even when the country faces international criticism.

As you said, there are weaknesses in the basic infrastructure  roads, communication, and access to electricity. Therefore, the Japanese government collaborates with the Myanmar government to improve communications, transportation and electricity by using the ODA fund. When the infrastructure is developed, more Japanese companies will enter Myanmar, which we believe will help improve the economy. It is the Japanese governments view that we want many Japanese companies to work in Myanmar.

KZM: Are the 450 people potential businesses? Are they bigger companies? That is a lot.

Ambassador: Many are big companies, but also smaller ones were represented.

KZM: Japan thinks of Myanmar as a strategic country, partly as Myanmar is located between India and China. Myanmar is also a link to ASEAN. What is your view on Myanmar in terms of geopolitical location?

Ambassador: Myanmar is important because of its location, both as an ASEAN country and being between China and India with a link to the Indian Ocean. Therefore, it is very significant geopolitically. When we think about economic relations with ASEAN, relations with Myanmar are extremely significant.

KZM: Why?

Ambassador: Our Japanese companies did not invest in Myanmar for many years, due to various reasons. Since three or four years ago, many Japanese companies entered and participated in business investments. If Myanmar implements a strong and sustainable economy and develops it, I think that our Japanese companies could play an important role.

KZM: Before continuing on about the economic issues, let me ask you one thing. You said that Japanese businesspeople have a lot of interest in Myanmar, even though you dont have a specific reason. They want to do business in Myanmar. Does this go back to the World War II era and the sentiment and relations between the two countries?

Ambassador: I dont know and I cant explain it. I have spoken about it everywhere that during World War II, the Japanese army in Myanmar caused a lot of trouble for the Myanmar people. Then, when Japan lost the war, the army fled the country. Many soldiers suffered hardship and disease at this time. The Myanmar people helped these soldiers and gave them food and medicine. This kind of nation cannot be found elsewhere in Asia.

After World War II, we started not only relations between the Japanese government and the Myanmar government, but also relations between the people of both countries. It has continued since then. This kind of nation is hard to find and Japan will not find another like Myanmar. We cannot explain why. For Japan, Myanmar and its people are extraordinary.

KZM: Let me also raise another thing related to this. Japan invaded Myanmar, just before World War II. It was a short period, but the Japanese ruled Myanmar. The British had colonized Myanmar and ruled for about 100 years. Why dont the British understand Myanmar as Japan does? Is it geographical or something else?

Ambassador: You should ask the British ambassador.

KZM: I would, but what is your opinion?

Ambassador: It is hard to tell.

KZM: The Myanmar government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have repeatedly explained Myanmars situation. During her trip to Japan, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also talked about this. She said that old friends were not as steadfast as they might be, either because they dont understand or dont want to understand. Do you think this is because of geographical or historical differences?

Ambassador: It is hard for us to tell, but let me give you an example. Myanmar and Japan use similar sentence structures, but different sounds. Japanese culture and Myanmar traditions and culture are also very similar. For instance, Myanmar people pay deep respect to the elders and value them. Japan also has this kind of culture. Another unusual thing is that Myanmar has the word Ah Nar De and Japan also has that word Ah Nar De. As our cultures are so similar, perhaps that is why Japanese people like and understand Myanmar people.

KZM: As you said, in the past, Japan had a lot of criticism against Myanmar when the country was under military rule, particularly due to human rights violations. But in the meantime, there was engagement. This was different from the West. However, China backed the then military government and many Myanmar civilians do not like China very much. Also, as for the economic aspect, people dont like Chinese businesses, because there is no democratic standard and transparent tender system. Now Japan is engaging in business. What kind of challenges are you facing in sectors in which China is already set up?

Ambassador: The Japanese government aims to have a win-win relationship with Myanmar. We want to support basic infrastructure and hope this promotes economic development. Then more Japanese companies will enter and this will benefit the Myanmar people. Our Japanese companies will also benefit if they can work in Myanmar. This is what we call a win-win situation. Our first objective is the economic development of Myanmar. If this is successful, out companies will benefit. With this way of thinking, we only deal with Myanmar, its politics and economy. Therefore, we dont have any reason to compete with China.

KZM: But we have seen it. With Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, and its business, political and economic influence, the country is aggressively pushing for it.

Now they are focusing on the Kyaukphyu seaport project, which could one day become a Chinese-owned port. This project is also important and close to the Indian Ocean. How concerned is Japan about these projects and their unseen consequences?

Ambassador: It is hard for us to see this as a concern because Myanmar and China are bordering countries and have many years of ongoing relations. They have economic relations, as well as relations regarding peace and politics. Therefore, we understand that Chinas influence is significant for Myanmar. We arent worried about this. We respect rule of law in bilateral relations and international relations. These relations are not about excluding a nation. We all must be able to communicate with all kinds of people and countries, and thus be inclusive. Therefore, when we talk about freedom and independence, we must focus on rule of law and inclusivity. Anyone who wants to participate can do so and we aim to reach such a relationship.

KZM: Now there are rumors that if Myanmar politics are unstable, the Tatmadaw will not like this. This leads to concerns that the current political order and the democratic transition could be reverting. Do you see it that way?

Ambassador: I dont think so. This is totally a rumor. There are two extraordinary things in regards to Myanmar. In 2011, after then President U Thein Sein took power, he led the political and economic changes and established good relationships with Western countries. Then the 2015 general election was held peacefully and successfully. Not only that, the Tatmadaw and the previous government handed over power to the NLD-led government. Having said that, I dont really think that the Tatmadaw leaders would hold power again for the sake of returning to the old undemocratic time.

KZM: But Myanmar is in a tight corner right now with the Rakhine issues. The West has criticized the country harshly. The criticism started on both the Tatmadaw and the government, but now it is targeted against Tatmadaw leaders. The latest is the referral to the International Criminal Court. But the Tatmadaw leaders say it is unacceptable and they dont accept it. The government also objects. But if international pressure continues to mount, what will the Tatmadaw leaders think? As you have met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing [Myanmars military chief], what do you think they think about this?

Ambassador: We are very concerned about the actions and the referral of senior Tatmadaw leaders to the ICC. We are worried. The important thing is that if we want to solve the Rakhine issue and have positive outcomes, we have to work together with both the NLD-led government and the Tatmadaw. We are concerned that if action is taken against the Tatmadaw leaders, the potential to solve the Rakhine issues might disappear. We are extremely concerned about this.

KZM: As you said, Myanmar politics depends on bilateral relations between the civilian government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Tatmadaw leader. In other words, it depends on national reconciliation. What do you think of their relations?

Ambassador: State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, her NLD government and its history, and the history of the Tatmadaw are completely different. Would these two leaders who put two opposite histories on their shoulders agree on everything? Will they? This is a very human issue. But these two leaders are working hard to find common ground. We see it that way. If they are trying to work it out, we will support them and encourage them.

KZM: Thank you very much Mr. Ambassador.

Ambassador: Thank you.
Asia German Firms Urged to Cut Dependence on China

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attend a presentation for autonomous driving next to a Mercedes Benz S-Class VRU research car at Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany, on July 10. / Reuters

BERLIN  A new strategy paper from Germanys influential BDI industry federation calls on firms to reduce their dependence on the Chinese market, according to a draft seen by Reuters, in a sign of rising concern over Beijings state-driven economic model.

The 25-page China position paper from the Federation of German Industries (BDI), which is due to be published in January, argues that a long-promised opening of the Chinese market is unlikely to take place and voices concern about rising Communist party control over society and the economy.

Entitled Partner and Systemic Competitor  How to cope with Chinas state-driven economic model, the paper makes clear that German firms cannot afford to turn their backs on China.

But, in an unusual step, it urges them to reassess their presence there, while offering numerous recommendations for the German government and European Union.

The BDI is Germanys main business lobby group and although its proposals do not always translate directly into policy, they carry significant weight.

Despite the attractiveness of the Chinese market, it will be increasingly important for companies to closely examine the risks of their engagement in China and to minimize their dependence by diversifying supply chains, production sites and sales markets, reads the draft, which is being vetted by BDI members and could change before publication.

A spokesman for the BDI later confirmed that the group was working on a China paper but said it was still at an early stage.

Bilateral trade between Germany and China hit a record 188 billion euros ($213 billion) last year. And big German firms, notably carmakers like Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW, depend heavily on the fast-growing Chinese market.

But while their presence there was once seen as a strength, it is now unsettling German politicians and industry as Beijing asserts control over the economy under President Xi Jinping.

Skepticism is growing despite recent steps by China to open up its economy, including allowing Germanys BASF to invest in a major chemical site and BMW to take control of its main joint venture in China, a first for a foreign carmaker.

Another worry is the escalating trade conflict between the United States and China, which risks putting Germany  and Europe  in the awkward position of having to choose between its top two economic partners.

Range of problems

The paper cites a range of problems for German firms operating in China, from forced technology transfer and failures to protect intellectual property to arbitrary customs decisions and unequal access to licenses and financing.

It calls for closer coordination on China strategy within the German government and between the EU and like-minded partners, including the United States.

It also argues for a new EU instrument to prevent state-subsidized takeovers, including requiring Chinese firms to present accounts based on internationally agreed standards when acquiring European firms so their ownership structures and financing can be vetted.

The BDI calls on the EU to develop its own ambitious industrial strategy for 2030, an echo of Beijings Made in China 2025 plan, which prioritizes development of key industry sectors, from robotics and aerospace to clean-energy cars.

It argues for a bigger EU budget  including a doubling of R&D spending  to support investments in infrastructure, education and innovation.

We are facing a systemic competition between our open markets approach and Chinas state-driven economic model, the paper reads. We need a broad discussion across politics, society and industry about this challenge.

Responding to the story, Volker Treier, foreign trade chief at the German chambers of commerce and industry, warned against putting forward any strategy that pushes China into a corner.

The BDI makes clear in the paper that German industry has no interest in fencing in China. But it also supports a firm response to Chinas attempts to reshape the liberal global order.

It describes the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Xis ambitious plan to connect China to Europe, Africa and beyond via transport links and trade deals, as an attempt by Beijing to build geopolitical influence and shape third markets according to its own interests.

To counter this influence, the BDI calls for a diplomatic offensive from Berlin and Brussels towards countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa.
Burma Camp For Displaced Hindus in Rakhine Short of Food, Manager Says

People walk through a camp for Hindus displaced by violence in Maungdaw, Rakhine State, in June. / Min Aung Khine / The Irrawaddy

SITTWE, Rakhine State  The manager of a camp in Rakhine States Maungdaw Township for Hindus displaced by last years violence said the camp was running short of food.

U Ni Mal said the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement stopped providing monthly rations for the camp in August.

It has been three months since we last received rations. We reported it to the [Maungdaw] district authorities, and they said they have reported it to senior authorities and had not yet received a reply. Weve had to be very sparing with food, he told The Irrawaddy.

The camp currently shelters 1,225 Hindus, some of whom have had to rely on relatives or pick up odd jobs to secure their meals, U Ni Mal said.

Township administrator U Myint Khaing, however, told The Irrawaddy there were fewer than 500 people in the camp.

According to our statistics, the number is only half of what they said. Some have come to stay at the camp even though they have homes. The government will not be able to provide food for long. But it has given as necessary, he said.

Hindu families fled to Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, after their houses were torched and their family members were killed in the violence that followed the coordinated attacks of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on Aug. 25, 2017. Many of them returned to Maungdaw to take shelter in the camp.

More than 60 Hindus who fled their homes after seeing their family members killed remain at a Hindu temple in Sittwe and are also short of food.

They got rations only once in two months. They dare not go back to Maungdaw. The government said it would give them houses, but so far it has not happened, U Bu Hla Shwe, a member of a Hindu social organization in Sittwe, told The Irrawaddy.

He said they too have had to do odd jobs to eke out a living.

Amnesty International has said that about 100 people were killed by ARSA after its Aug. 25 attacks.

The attacks displaced thousands of ethnic minorities in northern Rakhine including Arakanese, Mro and Daingnet. More than 6,000 were taking shelter at some 30 monasteries in Sittwe, but the government closed those camps in November 2017 and sent them back to their homes.

The military crackdown that followed the ARSA attacks has also driven some 700,000 mostly Rohingya to neighboring Bangladesh. Only a handful have returned to date.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
Burma Loss of Market Access a Clear Possibility if Rights Issues Not Addressed, EU Warns

A garment factory in Yangon / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

YANGONThe European Union has warned Myanmar that withdrawal of trade preferences is a clear possibility if the country fails to uphold and respect the principles enshrined in the 15 fundamental international human rights and labor rights conventions of the UN and the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Under the Everything But Arms (EBA) schemepart of the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP)the EU unilaterally grants exporters from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) including Myanmar tariff-free and quota-free access to its market for all products except arms and ammunition. The scheme aims to contribute to the economic development of these countries and their integration into the global trading system.

Myanmar joined the scheme in 2013, but the bloc is now considering revoking the countrys trade preferences due to human rights violations in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan states and concerns about labor rights. The EUs move to place Myanmars status under review has come under serious criticism in Myanmar. If the trade preferences were withdrawn, nearly 500,000 workersmostly young women in the garment sector, the countrys most labor-intensive industrywould be affected.

The reiterated warning came on Thursday at the end of a four-day monitoring mission by a delegation of experts from the European Commission and the European External Action Service to assess then human rights and labor rights situation.

The EUs statement on Thursday said the missions findings will inform Brussels analysis of whether to remove the trade preferences through a temporary EBA withdrawal procedure. The EU will now analyze as a matter of priority the information gathered during the mission, as well as further information from the Myanmar government, before considering the next steps.

In order to continue to benefit from duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market through the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme, Myanmar must uphold and respect the principles enshrined in these conventions (fifteen fundamental UN and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions), the announcement states.

It added: Withdrawal of trade preferences is a clear possibility if other channels of cooperation have failed to reach results.

Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom said the EU expected Myanmar to address the severe shortcomings that have been highlighted during the monitoring mission.

If they do not act, Myanmar authorities are putting their countrys tariff-free access to the EU market in dangera scheme which has proved to be vital for the economic and social development of the country, the commissioner said.

On Wednesday, Cardinal Charles Bo, the archbishop of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Yangon, said he opposed the revoking of the scheme, as it would mainly affect people at the grassroots of society. He added that it would cause the countrys already struggling economy to deteriorate further.

Radio Free Asias Burmese service quoted the cardinal as saying that the garment sector employed more than 400,000 workers, and the West rarely considered the fact that the government led by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was trying hard to build a democratic country.

During their visit to Myanmar this week, the EU delegates met with several ministers, as well as members of trade unions, the business community and civil society, along with representatives of the UN and ILO in the country.

They discussed supporting international efforts to investigate and prosecute individuals suspected of having committed crimes against humanity; ensuring full humanitarian access, notably in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan states; ensuring implementation of the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State; and creating conditions for the voluntary, safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees currently residing in Bangladesh to their places of origin.
Burma Tatmadaw Detains 15 Kachin Aid Workers Near Laiza

KBC workers dispense medicine to Kachin IDPs from Injangyang Township who fled fighting in April, 2018. / KBC / Facebook

The Myanmar Army detained 15 members of the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) in Nam San Yang village near the Chinese border on Oct. 24, the religious organization said on Thursday.

KBC chairman Rev. Samson told The Irrawaddy that the Myanmar Army (or Tatmadaw) arrested the 15 while they were on their way back to Myitkyina for allegedly traveling in a conflict zone without authorization.

It was a restricted area, and permission from the Tatmadaw is required for travel there. So they told us they arrested the members for traveling without permission, he said.

The group comprised eight women and seven men. Two of the women are senior KBC members; one is a schoolteacher and the other is an aid worker at a refugee camp near the border.

Three people were freed after a few days, but Rev. Samson said he did not have many details about the three, including the exact date of their release or the circumstances under which they were allowed to leave.

The area where they were arrested is near Laiza, which is home to the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Travel in the surrounding area is subject to heavy restrictions by the Tatmadaw.

According to Rev. Samson, the KBC is concerned about the Tatmadaws treatment of the other detainees, who are being held at an unknown location. They could face charges under Article 17 (a) of the Unlawful Association Act, he said.

We only know they have been interrogated. They [the Tatmadaw] told us that they would release the group if they were found to be innocent, Rev. Samson said.

The KBC has written to the Kachin State government requesting that the detainees be released, as they are all engaged in work helping Kachin refugees. The letters were sent via the Peace Creation Group (PCG).

PCG member Nshan San Awng said his organization had passed on two letters written by the KBC to the chief minister of Kachin State.

He said the letters informed the chief minister that the detainees were traveling solely for the purpose of aiding refugees and have no connection with the KIA. As members of a religious group, they should be free to travel in order to help refugees; therefore, the KBC requested that the Myanmar Army release them soon, Nshan San Awng told The Irrawaddy, describing the contents of the letters.

The KBC members were detained by soldiers from the Tatmadaws Brigade 101, he added.

The Kachin State chief ministers office has yet to reply to the request. Nshan San Awng said it would likely take some time for a reply to arrive. If the need for a meeting with government officials arose, the PCG would be available to do so, he said.

[The arrests] were unnecessary, as they are just ordinary people who work for a religious group. They should be released, Nshan San Awng said.

The KIA is an ethnic armed organization based in Kachin State. It signed a ceasefire with the military regime in 1994, but the agreement collapsed in 2011. Since then, fighting between the KIA and the Myanmar Army has led more than 100,000 Kachin State residents to become internally displaced persons (IDPs). Some refugee camps have opened in government-controlled areas, but other camps built near the Chinese border are located in KIA control areas. The Myanmar Army does not allow aid from the UN or other international agencies to reach refugee camps in KIA-controlled zones. The KBC is the main provider of aid to refugees near the Chinese border.
Thursday, November 1st, 2018 (8:09 am) - Score 10,883

BT Group has released their latest results to the end of September 2018 (Q2  18/19 financial), which reveals that the coverage of Openreachs ultrafast broadband (100Mbps+) G.fast network has reached 1290000 UK premises and FTTP covers 682,000 (13,000+ to full fibre per week). Plus theres 712m to boost fibre cover.

As usual there have been a number of developments over the past few months, including Openreachs decision to scale back their roll-out of hybrid fibre G.fast technology from 10 million to 5.7 million UK premises by the end of 2020 (here) and new areas were added to their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) rollout (here). Separately BT plans to hire another 1,000 customer service staff to improve support (here) and have a new CEO (here).

Meanwhile Openreach has further reduced the price of deploying FTTP for smaller new build home developments (here) and EE recently switched on their first live UK trial of 5G based wireless technology in London (here). EE are also said to be talking about the launch of a new Pay TV product based around the Apple TV 4K set-top-box (here).

The operator has however experienced a little turbulence in Scotland, where theyve allegedly faced claims of anti-competitive behaviour by one of their rivals (Axione) in the countrys future R100 broadband contract (here). Despite all that the last quarter hasnt been terribly eventful, at least in comparison to the turbulent period that came before.

Financial Highlights  BTs Quarterly Change

* BT Group revenue = 5,908m (up from 5,716m)

* BT Group reported profits before tax = 841m (up from 816m)

* BT Group total net debt = -11,895m (up from -11,227m)

Its worth remembering that since the last quarter BT has stopped providing customer figures for their consumer broadband ISP and mobile network, which followed a number of quarterly declines. As such our summary now focuses more on Openreachs network than the subscriber data of their retail ISP. However its noted that 68.4% of BTs retail broadband ISP base now takes a superfast broadband connection (up from 65.6% last quarter), which includes FTTC, FTTP and G.fast combined.

Interestingly though theres a very important update on their capital expenditure and clawback / gainshare from the governments Broadband Delivery UK roll-out programme with BT. More take-up in BDUKs intervention areas means more public investment that can be returned and reinvested by local authorities further down the road to improve superfast broadband coverage toward 98% of the UK by 2020 (example).

The good news is that BT have revised their take-up assumptions in BDUK areas from 41% to 61%! In short, this means that up to around 712 million could in theory become available to be returned and reinvested into boosting coverage. This reflects a life-time view of the related contracts. We can still recall a time when some very pessimistic early estimates were expecting significantly lower take-up.

BTs Capex for BDUK

Under the terms of the BDUK programme, we have an obligation to repay or re-invest grant funding depending on factors including the level of customer take-up achieved. Following sign up of the majority of its major and a number of its smaller communications providers to Openreachs pricing discounts for volume commitments in the quarter, we have reassessed our base-case assumption for take-up in BDUK areas. Based on the greater certainty provided by the volume commitments we have increased the take-up assumption from 41% to 61% of total premises passed, reflecting a life-time view of the BDUK programme. The gainshare provision increased by 176m in the half year to 712m, primarily driven by the take-up assumption change.

Openreachs Network Coverage

One good thing about BTs new reporting format is that they now offer a very useful breakdown of fixed line network coverage and take-up by technology. Being Openreach the totals given below apply to all ISPs on their national UK network combined (e.g. BT, Sky Broadband, TalkTalk, Vodafone etc.).

Take-up of their full fibre FTTP network seems to be going well, although its interesting to note that G.fast is lagging far behind on just 7,000 connections out of 1.3 million premises passed. In fairness Openreachs FTTP network and ISPs have been established for significantly longer than G.fast. The latter has only seen ISPs begin to launch related packages since the late spring (2018), which follows a long pilot.

Wed expect to see a bigger movement toward G.fast as the coverage improves and major ISPs like Sky Broadband begin to offer related packages. But until then we remain impressed with how well FTTP is doing on the demand side, even if it has been established for longer and is arguably now more familiar to consumers than G.fast.

Gavin Patterson, Outgoing CEO of BT Group, said: We continued to generate positive momentum in the second quarter resulting in encouraging results for the half year. We are successfully delivering against the core pillars of our strategy with improved customer experience metrics, accelerating ultrafast deployment and positive progress towards transforming our operating model. In Consumer, we continue to see strong sales of our converged product, BT Plus, and have seen good mobile sales following new handset launches. Last month EE demonstrated 5G capability from a live site in Canary Wharf. We have maintained momentum in our enterprise businesses despite legacy product declines. On 1 October we completed the transfer of 31,000 employees into Openreach, a key part of fulfilling our DCR commitments. Openreach has signed up the majority of its major and a number of its smaller communications providers to its new volume related discounts which should increase average broadband speeds across the UK. We are making positive progress on the key enablers to ensure that we can secure a fair return on our FTTP investment, and are ready to expand the FTTP programme up to and beyond 10 million premises if the conditions are right. Our strategy is delivering, with benefits evident from the steps weve been taking to simplify and strengthen the business and improve efficiency. Despite increasingly competitive fixed, mobile and networking markets and continued declines in legacy products there is no change in our overall outlook for the full year. Based on current trading, we expect EBITDA to be in the upper half of our 7.3  7.4 billion range.

Sadly BTs report didnt include any updated figures for EEs 4G network coverage, which perhaps stems from last quarters mistake of publishing a population coverage figure instead of a geographic one (i.e. EE werent happy about this as it went against their Clear on coverage pledge). Meanwhile Openreach said their FTTC, FTTP and G.fast based fibre networks now cover a total of 27,220,000 UK premises.

The network access operator also claims to have delivered a record service performance for voice and broadband products in Q2. We were able to offer a provision first appointment date within 12 days to over 99% of customers, a significant improvement from 85% in Q2 2017/18, whilst missed appointments, where Openreach was at fault, was at an all-time low of 1.7% over the quarter. We remain ahead on all 42 copper and fibre Minimum Service Level (MSL) measures set by Ofcom.

Openreach has had a good quarter for Ethernet delivery too, not least by reducing the average time to provide service from 43 working days to 34 in the same period.


Thursday, November 1st, 2018 (4:30 pm) - Score 1,034

UK ISP Signa Technologies (Moorsweb) informs ISPreview.co.uk that their fixed wireless broadband network has been extended to cover more rural homes on the remote North Yorkshire Moors. Customers can expect download speeds of up to 30Mbps (10Mbps upload) and there are plans for a 100Mbps service.

A fresh injection of private investment has enabled the operator to improve their coverage so that residents in the communities of Baysdale, Kildale and Lonsdale are now also able to benefit from their superfast wireless connectivity. Packages typically cost from 20.40 per month for an unlimited 10Mbps package and rise to 39.60 for the top 30Mbps option. A 200 one-off installation fee is also required.

On top of that Signa said they had become the first Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) provider to receive a new Quality Accreditation from the UK Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (UKWISPA), which was only launched in September 2018 (details).

Martyn Boswell, MD of Signa, said: We have come across many farmers in these areas who sometimes work alone, worrying about being able to get help if an accident occurs or having the inconvenience of having to go off-site to get a signal if they need assistance.

Apparently the latest network expansion will be rolled out over the next couple of weeks. Locals who struggle to get more than 2Mbps on their current fixed line service may also be eligible for the Governments Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme to help cover the setup costs, but youll need to be quick as this is due to close at the end of 2018.
An Israeli firm has developed a real-time safety system for commercial drones known as SafeAir, and listed on the ASX as it begins the process of trying to market its solution around the world.

Eden Attias, the chief executive of ParaZero, who was in Melbourne this week, told iTWire that the use of drones in a multitude of industries was slowly building up and in a few years the safety industry would be worth something in the region of US$2 billion.

A former brigadier-general in the Israel Air Force, Attias said one obstacle in the way of drones being used commercially was the fear that it was not safe to fly them above crowds.

He said ParaZero had demonstrated that there was no danger to people by flying drones above people in the US state of North Dakota just a month ago, after gaining approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

ParaZero's safety equipment is attached to the top of the drone and uses various parameters to judge what should be done while the drone is in flight.

The SafeAir safety system atop a commercial drone. Courtesy ParaZero

Attias said the company had developed algorithms that made the judgment of what behaviour should be adopted, depending on the environmental variables at a given time.

The end game was to safely land the drone in the event that conditions became unfavourable for it to fly above populated areas or people, or if extended flight would cause a malfunction.

The safety solution had a parachute which was deployed in the event that the drone had to land; ParaZero has a patent on the way the deployment of the parachute occurs.

Attias said the design and technical work was all done in Israel. The company has a distributor in Australia.

ParaZero's solution is meant for drones that weigh at least 1.2kg, Attias said, which ruled out its use for what he described as "toy drones"  the little ones that can be bought online for personal amusement.

But he said ParaZero would be developing a version of SafeAir for consumer drones and hoped to have it available by Christmas.

At least one trial has been run in Australia by another company, Alphabet's Project Wing, to test delivery by drones to remote parts of the country.
The new Forcepoint Centre of Excellence for Customer Success in Bengaluru.

Global cyber security vendor Forcepoint has opened a Centre of Excellence for Customer Success in Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), to provide its business customers with support around the clock.

The centre is located in the Prestige Blue Chip Software Park, a modern technology complex, and Focrepoint said in a statement that it was recruiting staff to work there.

About 100 people work at the centre and the company said it hoped to create another 200 skilled jobs by the end of 2019.

"The new Centre of Excellence is vital to our strategy of delivering a total enterprise customer experience for organisations worldwide, said Brian Miller, senior vice-president of customer success and operations for Forcepoint.

The growing demand for cyber security solutions that understand behaviour requires investment in world-class technical support and services talent and Bengaluru will be a central focus of our services strategy for years to come.

India is extremely important to Forcepoint and essential to the operations and success of our global business, said Kristin Machacek Leary, Forcepoint's chief human resources officer.

We have an open, vibrant and dynamic culture offering exciting career opportunities for those who wish to make a difference for themselves and our customers, and take up cyber security as a defining career path.

Forcepoint already has a technical support centre for businesses in Chennai (formely Madras) which supports customers in the Asia Pacific region, Europe and the Middle East.

The company has appointed Tarun Krishnamurthy as vice-president of customer success for Asia Pacific and head of India Centres, responsible for the vision and leadership of the India site and tasked with creating scalable customer success operations.

Krishnamurthy has more than 23 years of technology experience working in global companies in the US, Australia and India. Most recently, he served as senior director of engineering for McAfees India site where he was responsible for the engineering of security, telemetry and supportability products focused on customer experience.
Hearing aid retailers Oticon Australia and Sonic Innovations have been hit with fines of $2.5 million by the Federal Court for misleading advertising claims that hearing aids for pensioners included wireless technology that would allow users to connect them to digital devices like televisions and mobile phones.

The competition and consumer watchdog, the ACCC, instituted proceedings against Sonic and Oticon in September, and the Court found they had mislead pensioners through newspaper advertisements for hearing aids sold by AudioClinic and HearingLife clinics.

Oticon and Sonic admitted that the advertisements contained three false and misleading representations about hearing aids available to pensioners under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program, including that:

In order to obtain a free hearing aid pensioners had to book a free hearing test at an AudioClinic or HearingLife hearing clinic before the deadline in the advertisement, where there was no time limit;

The free hearing aids included wireless technology that would allow users to connect them to digital devices like televisions and mobile phones, when in fact these were additional accessories which were sold separately at an extra cost; and

Any user of the advertised hearing aid would no longer miss any conversations, when in fact this may depend on a persons individual circumstances and the nature of his or her hearing impairment.

The misleading ads were published on 85 occasions in newspapers around Australia from June to November 2017 under the AudioClinic and HearingLife brands  and Oticon and Sonic sold more than 10,000 of the advertised Oticon Ria2 and Sonic Cheer20 hearing aids.

Many of the pensioners targeted by the advertisements were vulnerable due to their age and hearing loss. The misleading representations by Sonic and Oticon created a false sense of urgency for these consumers to book a hearing test and led them into a sales process based on incorrect information, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission commissioner Sarah Court said.

This conduct is unacceptable particularly because it targeted vulnerable pensioners. The decision from the Federal Court sends a strong message to the hearing aid industry about the importance of ensuring all representations to consumers are accurate and not misleading.

In addition to paying penalties of $2.5 million, the Federal Court ordered by consent that Sonic and Oticon offer refunds to customers who purchased ConnectLine and SoundGate3 accessories, publish a corrective notice in a nationally circulated newspaper, and establish an Australian Consumer Law compliance program.
Victoria Police have been given a free hand to search mobile phones which they seize during arrests, even if they have not obtained a warrant allowing them to carry out a search.

Legal expert and Deakin University doctoral candidate Paul McGorrery made the judgment, based on a case in which police seized and searched a suspect's phone and used evidence gathered from the device to convict another man for armed robbery.

McGorrery, a qualified lawyer in both Australia and New York, said the decision to allow such searches, made by the Court of Appeal, had set a controversial precedent.

This should not stand as good law, he said. It seems doubtful that the general community would consider it appropriate for police to rummage through peoples phones.

The police have, at least for now, been given a golden ticket to review the contents of mobile phones lawfully seized during an arrest, so long as the offending was serious and their investigation yields fruit  even though its the fruit of a poisonous tree.

He said police should be made to obtain a warrant before being allowed to search mobiles seized during an arrest.

In this particular case, police had raided a premises to arrest a man named Wallace, but finding him not there arrested an associate, Aziz. They then search Aziz's phone and downloaded the data.

Using that information, they were able to present a case to a jury which ended up convicting Wallace for armed robbery.

The Court of Appeal concluded the evidence in Azizs phone was admissible, even if obtained unlawfully or improperly, because it was important evidence in the proceedings, and because the alleged offending was serious, McGorrery said.

That reasoning is, however, blind to the nature and gravity of the privacy violations in the case.

The position in Victoria now stands in stark contrast to the position in the US, with the US Supreme Court unanimously deciding back in 2014 that evidence derived from warrantless phone searches was inadmissible.

He said there were clear alternative actions that police could have taken.

In the Court of Appeal case, a search warrant was the clear path by which the information couldve been obtained lawfully, and there was no need for complex international warrants involving multiple multi-national organisations, he said. One simple search warrant, and the patience to attain it, would have sufficed.
As the cost of local computing rises (for all manner of reasons), everything will end up in the cloud.

Let me start by outlining what I mean by "cost of local computing."

Of course, we have to purchase powerful devices to execute local computing  be they laptops, desktops, servers, mainframes etc. Broadly, I'm thinking of business uses here, but home / personal computing will follow a similar path.

In addition to specific purchase costs (and the capex implications that go along with that), we have to deal with a huge variety of support costs  network infrastructure, firewalls, local security (including, obviously, anti-malware scanning and its ilk), etc.

Most organisations maintain a significant team of specialised support staff who deal with everything from forgotten passwords to obscure DNS issues (and everything in between).

Everyone has to buy and manage their own back-up environments and everything else required to maintain good order.

The big problem here is that the purchase and support costs are high, and the dangers equally high. The IT press is filled with stories of "bad dudes" doing all manner of nasty stuff. Everything from complex hacking, all the way down to ransomware and crypto-jacking.

Take ransomware for example. Almost invariably it is the random low-level employee who opens an attached file, which, rather than being the finance sheet they were promised, will launch the attack and soon enough, much of the organisation's data has been encrypted.

Of course, we blame the employee for not being more vigilant, but they should not be regarded as our primary line of defence  it's NOT their job. Most anti-nasty software seems incapable of detecting or trapping this rapidly evolving family of malware. Sure there are a couple of exceptions  Carbon Black and Cylance spring to mind but as I see it, they're still attacking symptoms.

What if just about all of that went away?

What if the device on your desk was something akin to a Chromebook? (I use this as an example, not as a specific recommendation). This device has no local storage and acts simply as a remote terminal to a Cloud-based server  in effect, some form of remote access to a virtualised environment running somewhere on the Internet.

This gives us a lot of advantages. A combination of automated user support, software-defined networking and highly optimised load management will mean that most of the corporate IT support costs vanish. Remember that in all likelihood, the hugely powerful CPU in the device you're reading this article on is barely averaging 1% utilisation over a 24-hour period

Further, it is a lot easier to deploy universal anti-malware in a co-ordinated fashion when all email and other access is centralised and machine learning systems have access to the entire spectrum of nasties.

Data storage is guaranteed to be safe and fully protected with millisecond scale back-ups available to all users. User security can be more tightly managed from a centralised view.

What do we need to make this happen? Mostly, just "political will" from the senior executives in any organisation  the desire to pass management of their computing infrastructure to someone else. Most will argue that they're not in the IT business, yet will argue in parallel that IT is a core function.

Technically, most current Internet connections will be sufficient to support typical usage  documents, spreadsheets, database work etc. Probably the only users requiring something close to gigabit connections will be image processing workers (PhotoShop et al) and gamers.

Think about a couple of scenarios. As a sales executive, you walk into a client's building, sit your device on the presentation lectern; it automatically connects to your remote workload and you're ready to present your slides in seconds. In this instance, your device may actually be your phone.

Or perhaps, as a contractor, you work with a number of concurrent teams, all on unrelated projects. By executing a context switch on your device, you can swap between environments almost at will.

When could this happen? Actually, it already is.

Many people are making use of cloud storage to ensure they're always connected to their data, no matter where or how they access it. The proliferation of XaaS regimes means that we are already familiar with the concept. Further, organisations such as AWS, Google, Microsoft, Facebook and SalesForce (I'm sure there are lots of others) are already "training" us to accept this new remote-computing paradigm.

As the danger of malware increases, and the ability to defend against it decreases, this solution will become more and more attractive. I'd estimate that within 10 years, the vast majority of workers will be cloud-based, working in offices with zero computing resources, or IT support teams.

I'm very keen to hear feedback on this  please respond in the comments below.
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Ruben Garcia discusses his book selection with Jodi Donohues fifth-graders. Seated immediately next to him in the Chewbacca costume is his son, Devin.
OAKVILLE, Ontario, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giyani Metals Corporation (TSXV:WDG, GR: A2DUU8) (Giyani or the Company) is pleased to announce that the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in Botswana has approved the Companys proposal to clean up the old mine tailings at its three prospects K.Hill, Otse, and Lobatse, within the framework defined by an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) that was submitted by Giyani to the DEA in Botswana in September of this year. The Company believes its clean up proposal is both advantageous for the local communities and a viable route for early economic return for the Company.

Robin Birchall, CEO of Giyani Metals Corp. commented:

We are very pleased with this decision by the DEA in Botswana. This will enable Giyani to implement a cost effective and reasonably quick EMP to rehabilitate the three sites and make them much safer than they are today. By doing so, the Company believes it will be able to collect the manganese bearing stockpile material from all three sites and process it into a valuable product that could generate cashflow for further project development.

Environmental Management Plan

Working closely with the DEA in Botswana, the Giyani team, in partnership with a local environmental consulting firm, inspected the three sites K.Hill, Otse, and Lobatse where previous manganese mining operations existed several years ago. The sites were left unrehabilitated and currently constitute various degrees of physical risks and negative impact on the local environment. The Giyani proposal included three EMPs uniquely designed for each site to address specific issues. Giyani has also been working very closely with the local communities recently to take their input into the process and ensure the EMPs are designed to produce a satisfactory outcome that will enhance conditions in the area.

Giyani has started the EMP work on the ground, including continuous consultations with the local communities and archaeological studies as agreed with the DEA. The Company will provide updates on the progress of the EMPs as milestones are achieved.

About Giyani

Giyani Metals Corp. is a Canadian based junior exploration company focused on creating shareholder value by accelerating the development of its high-grade manganese project in the Kanye Basin, Botswana, Africa.

Additional information and corporate documents may be found on www.sedar.com and on Giyani Metals Corp. website: http://giyanimetals.com/.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Giyani Metals Corp.

Robin Birchall, CEO

Contact:

Giyani Metals Corporation

Robin Birchall

CEO, Director

+447711313019

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, the financial picture of the Company etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statement.

GIYANI METALS CORP.

277 LAKESHORE ROAD EAST, OAKVILLE, Ontario L6J 1H9

T:289-837-0066 F: 289-837-1166

www.GIYANIMETALS.com TSX.V-WDG
2.54M recoverable ounces gold & 3.5M recoverable ounces silver using base case $1,250 gold price

First 4 years of commercial production averaging 347,100 ounces of gold per year at cash costs of $591/oz Aueq with LOM cash costs of $680/oz Aueq





Pre-tax Cash Flow: $970M; IRR 45% with Post-tax NPV 5% : $586M; IRR 38%





Initial Capex of $424M with $60M of LOM sustaining capital & a 2.1-year payback





The majority of PEA resource are measured and indicated with a 1.08-1 overall strip ratio





Ongoing exploration work is underway with the intention of expanding the deposits with potential for other new discoveries across the Corvus Gold land package

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corvus Gold Inc. (Corvus or the Company) - (TSX: KOR, OTCQX: CORVF) announces results for its initial Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) combining the North Bullfrog-Mother Lode projects in southwest Nevada (Figure 1). Results outline a large new Nevada mining project with attractive preliminary production statistics that include estimated 347,100 ounces of annual gold production during the first four years and an after-tax 5% discounted Net Present Value (NPV) of USD $586M with an IRR of 38% and estimated payback period of 2.1 years (Table 1, 2, 4 & 5).

The PEA is preliminary in nature, includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

The project is modelled on a large open pit mining operation utilizing both milling and run of mine heap leaching of the mineralized material. The initial PEA results indicate robust economics at lower gold prices and strong leverage for higher gold prices with a USD $1.47B pre-tax cash flow at $1,450 gold price (Table 3). The National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) technical report for the North Bullfrog-Mother Lode PEA and initial Mother Lode mineral resource estimate will be filed on the Companys Sedar profile by the end of the business day on November 1, 2018. For readers to fully understand the information in this news release, they should read the technical report in its entirety, including all qualifications, assumptions and exclusions that relate to the PEA. The technical report is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context.

The PEA of the combined projects only includes drill results completed up until July 2018. Ongoing exploration work at the Mother Lode project is promising and there may be expansion potential of the deposit in multiple directions with further work. In addition, Corvus will begin follow-up mineral resource expansion work and new discovery drilling on priority targets at North Bullfrog in early 2019. An updated mineral resource estimate is also planned for later next year.

Jeffrey Pontius, President and CEO of Corvus states, The results from our initial PEA study of the combined North Bullfrog-Mother Lode project is encouraging. The PEA outlined a project that has the scale and economics similar to many existing major gold mines in Nevada. The projected annual gold production during the first 4 years is significant, especially as a new open pit deposit in Nevada. The PEA demonstrates the potential for the project to produce nearly 350,000 ounces of gold per year. This initial analysis in conjunction with our continued positive Mother Lode exploration drill results is encouraging for expanding and improving the economic model as our programs move forward. Furthermore, the greater Bullfrog District is seeing a resurgence of exploration activity with multiple mining companies conducting large scale drilling programs. The North Bullfrog-Mother Lode PEA study has highlighted the re-emergence of the Bullfrog District and with Corvus Golds commanding land position we believe we have a strong asset with excellent growth potential for our shareholders.

The PEA study has outlined a number of areas for future work to enhance the project that include:

Expanding the higher grade, mineral resource base at both the Mother Lode and North Bullfrog projects with continued mineral resource expansion drilling, including new deep targeting of high-grade feeder zones. Ongoing results from the Mother Lode indicate the deposit has the potential to grow and expand beyond its existing mineral resource, in particular mineralization is thickening to the north (current northern most hole, ML18-083 with 65.5m @ 1.53 g/t Au reported NR18-17, October 17, 2018).

Continued metallurgical studies of other lower cost sulfide processing opportunities and refinement of the proposed milling operation including sulfide heap leaching studies.

Improved open pit mining and development plans to enhance project economics.

Table 1

Life of Mine Preliminary Economic Assessment - North Bullfrog-Mother Lode Project

@ USD $1,250/oz Gold Price

Parameter Summary Data Pre-Tax Cash Flow; IRR USD $970.2 M; 45% Post-Tax NPV5%; IRR USD $585.6 M; 38% Overall Strip Ratio 1.08 to 1 (overburden  process tonne) Cash Cost Years 1-4 (USD per Aueq ounce) $591 Year 1-4 Average Annual Gold Production 347,000 ounces LOM Cash Cost (USD per Aueq ounce) $680 LOM Average Annual Gold Production 282,000 ounces Initial Capital Cost (USD) $424M Sustaining Capital Cost (USD) $60M LOM Capital Cost (USD per Au Eq oz) $187 Average Mill Recovery (%) Au 83% Au 74% Average Heap Leach Recovery (%) Au 74% Ag 6% Average Total Mining Rate* (t/day) 169,860 Average Mineralization Mining Rate* (t/day) 81,680 AISC (USD/produced Au oz) $694

*-10 year rate including capitalized mining in year -1

Table 2

Select Statistics for first 4 years of PEA production Plan for North Bullfrog-Mother Lode Project

First 4 Years of Production (Mill & Heap Leach) Heap Leach Mill Total Total Estimated Ozs

of Mineralized

Material Processed Au 909,000 914,000 1,823,000 Ag 2,052,000 3,337,000 5,390,000 Recovery (%) Au 69% 84% 76% Ag 5% 74% 48% Total Estimated Ozs

of Mineralized

Material Recoverable Au 624,670 764,000 1,388,000 Ag 110,080 2,480,000 2,591,000 Estimated Average Annual Ozs Gold Production 156,170 191,000 347,090



Table 3

Sensitivity Analysis for Preliminary Economic Assessment, North Bullfrog-Mother Lode Project

Gold Price ($/Oz) Pre-tax Cash Flow (USD $M) IRR Post-tax NPV@5% (USD $M) IRR Payback (Yrs) $1,050 $456 25% $237 20% 2.9 $1,150 $713 35% $413 30% 2.4 $1,250

(base case) $970 45% $586 38% 2.1 $1,350 $1,227 54% $756 46% 1.8 $1,450 $1,470 63% $914 53% 1.7

Table 4

Cost & Resource Assumptions for North Bullfrog-Mother Lode Project PEA

Parameter Unit Mayflower Jolly Jane* Sierra Blanca YellowJacket Mother Lode Mining Cost USD/total tonne 1.42 1.42 1.42 1.42 1.42 Au Cut-Off g/tonne 0.1 0.1 0.06 0.35 0.76 Processing Cost USD/process tonne 1.20 1.20 1.20 16.74 18.89 Au Recovery % 72 72 74 86.8 80 Ag Recovery % 6 6 6 74.3 na Administrative Cost USD/process tonne 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 Refining & Sales USD/Au oz 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 Au Selling Price USD/oz 1,250 1,250 1,250 1,250 1,250 Slope Angle Degrees 50 50 50 50 65

Table 5

North Bullfrog-Mother Lode Project PEA Mineral Resource Summary (effective Sept. 18, 2018)

Mill Resource (oxide & sulfide) Run of Mine Heap Leach (0.63-0.78 g/t cut-off grade) (0.06-0.10 g/t cut-off grade) Resource Category Tonnes (M) Gold (g/t) Gold (kozs) Tonnes (M) Gold (g/t) Gold (kozs) Measured 9.31 1.59 475 34.56 0.27 305 Indicated 18.25 1.68 988 149.37 0.24 1,150 Total M & I 27.56 1.65 1,463 183.93 0.25 1,455 Inferred 2.28 1.61 118 78.74 0.26 549

See Cautionary Note to US Investors below

The Mineral Resources above are effective as of September 18, 2018

Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability

There are no known legal, political, environmental, or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the Mineral Resources

Assumes heap leach processing of disseminated oxidized mineralization

Assumes Pressure Oxidation mill processing of MLP & NBP sulfide mineralization

Au Cut-Off - break-even grade derived from Whittle input parameters at USD $1,250 per ounce gold price

Qualified Person and Quality Control/Quality Assurance

Jeffrey A. Pontius (CPG 11044), a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has reviewed and approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Pontius is not independent of Corvus, as he is the CEO & President and holds common shares and incentive stock options.

Carl E. Brechtel, (Nevada PE 008744 and Registered Member 353000 of SME), a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has coordinated execution of the work outlined in this news release and has also reviewed and approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Brechtel is not independent of Corvus, as he is the COO and holds common shares and incentive stock options.

The work program at Mother Lode was designed and supervised by Mark Reischman, Corvus Golds Nevada Exploration Manager, who is responsible for all aspects of the work, including the quality control/quality assurance program. On-site personnel at the project log and track all samples prior to sealing and shipping. Quality control is monitored by the insertion of blind certified standard reference materials and blanks into each sample shipment. All mineral resource sample shipments are sealed and shipped to American Assay Laboratories (AAL) in Reno, Nevada, for preparation and assaying. AAL is independent of the Company. AALs quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025:1999. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the analysis of reagent blanks, reference material and replicate samples. Finally, representative blind duplicate samples are forwarded to AAL and an ISO compliant third-party laboratory for additional quality control. Mr. Pontius, a qualified person, has verified the data underlying the information disclosed herein, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information by reviewing the reports of AAL, methodologies, results and all procedures undertaken for quality assurance and quality control in a manner consistent with industry practice, and all matters were consistent and accurate according to his professional judgement. There were no limitations on the verification process.

Mr. Scott E. Wilson, CPG (10965), Registered Member of SME (4025107) and President of Resource Development Associates Inc., is an independent consulting geologist specializing in Mineral Reserve and Resource calculation reporting, mining project analysis and due diligence evaluations. He is acting as the Qualified Person, as defined in NI 43-101, and is the primary author of the Technical Report for the Mineral Resource estimate and has reviewed and approved the Mineral Resource estimate and the Preliminary Economic Assessment summarized in this news release. Mr. Wilson has over 29 years of experience in surface mining, resource estimation and strategic mine planning. Mr. Wilson is independent of the Company under NI 43-101.

Mr. Wilson, a qualified person, has verified the data underlying the information disclosed herein, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information by reviewing the reports of AAL, methodologies, results and all procedures undertaken for quality assurance and quality control in a manner consistent with industry practice, and all matters were consistent and accurate according to his professional judgement. There were no limitations on the verification process.

Metallurgical testing on North Bullfrog and Mother Lode samples has been performed by McClelland Analytical Services Laboratories Inc. of Sparks Nevada (McClelland), McClelland is an ISO 17025 accredited facility that supplies quantitative chemical analysis in support of metallurgical, exploration and environmental testing using classic methods and modern analytical instrumentation. McClelland has met the requirements of the IAS Accreditations Criteria for Testing Laboratories (AC89), has demonstrated compliance with ANS/ISO/IEC Standard 17025:2005, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, and has been accredited, since November 12, 2012. Hazen Research Inc. (Hazen), an independent laboratory, has performed flotation, AAO testing and cyanide leach testing on samples of sulphide mineralization from the YellowJacket zone and Swale area of Sierra Blanca, and roasting tests on Mother Lode flotation concentrate. Hazen holds analytical certificates from state regulatory agencies and the US Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA). Hazen participates in performance evaluation studies to demonstrate competence and maintains a large stock of standard reference materials from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Canadian Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (CANMET), the EPA and other sources. Hazens QA program has been developed for conformance to the applicable requirements and standards referenced in 10 CFR 830.120 subpart A quality assurance requirements, January 1, 2002. Pressure oxidation test work on Mother Lode concentrate samples was performed by Resource Development Inc. of Wheatridge, CO.

About the North Bullfrog & Mother Lode Projects, Nevada

Corvus controls 100% of its North Bullfrog Project, which covers approximately 86.6 km2 in southern Nevada. The property package is made up of a number of private mineral leases of patented federal mining claims and 1,057 federal unpatented mining claims. The project has excellent infrastructure, being adjacent to a major highway and power corridor as well as a large water right. The Company also controls 445 federal unpatented mining claims on the Mother Lode project which totals approximately 36.5 km2 which it owns 100%. The total Corvus Gold 100% land ownership now covers over 123.1 km2, hosting two major new Nevada gold discoveries.

The combined Mother Lode and North Bullfrog Projects contains a Measured Mineral Resource for the mill of 9.3 Mt at an average grade of 1.59 g/t gold, containing 475 k ounces of gold and Indicated Mineral Resources for the mill of 18.2 Mt at an average grade of 1.68 g/t gold containing 988 k ounces of gold and an Inferred Mineral Resource for the mill of 2.3 Mt at an average grade of 1.61 g/t gold containing 118 k ounces of gold. In addition, the project contains a Measured Mineral Resource for oxide, run of mine, heap leach of 34.6 Mt at an average grade of 0.27 g/t gold containing 305 k ounces of gold and an Indicated Mineral Resource for, oxide, run of mine, heap leach of 149.4 Mt at an average grade of 0.24 g/t gold containing 1,150 k ounces of gold and an Inferred, oxide, run of mine, heap leach Mineral Resource of 78.7 Mt at an average grade of 0.26 g/t gold containing 549 k ounces of gold.

About Corvus Gold Inc.

Corvus Gold Inc. is a North American gold exploration and development company, focused on its near-term gold-silver mining project at the North Bullfrog and Mother Lode Districts in Nevada. In addition, the Company controls a number of royalties on other North American exploration properties representing a spectrum of gold, silver and copper projects. Corvus is committed to building shareholder value through new discoveries and the expansion of its projects to maximize share price leverage in an advancing gold and silver market.

On behalf of

Corvus Gold Inc.

(signed) Jeffrey A. Pontius

Jeffrey A. Pontius,

President & Chief Executive Officer

Contact Information:

Ryan Ko

Investor Relations

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone: 1-844-638-3246 (toll free) or (604) 638-3246

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the economics and project parameters presented in the PEA, including, without limitation, IRR, all-in sustaining capital costs, NPV and other costs and economic information, possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; potential expansion of the deposit; the rapid and effective capture of the potential of our Mother Lode project; the potential for new deposits and expected increases in the systems potential; anticipated content, commencement and cost of exploration programs; anticipated exploration program results and expansion of existing programs; the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves; the potential to discover additional high grade veins or additional deposits; the growth potential of the Mother Lode project; and the potential for any mining or production at the Mother Lode project, are forward-looking statements. Information concerning mineral resource estimates may be deemed to be forward-looking statements in that it reflects a prediction of the mineralization that would be encountered if a mineral deposit were developed and mined. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, the Company's inability to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Companys 2017 Annual Information Form and latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis filed with certain securities commissions in Canada and the Companys most recent filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All of the Companys Canadian public disclosure filings in Canada may be accessed via www.sedar.com and filings with the SEC may be accessed via www.sec.gov and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Companys mineral properties.

Non-IFRS Measures

The Company has included certain non-IFRS performance measures as detailed below. In the gold mining industry, these are common performance measures but may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Companys performance and ability to generate cash flow. Accordingly, it is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Cash Costs per Ounce of Gold  The Company calculates cash costs per ounce by dividing operating expenses per the consolidated statement of operations, net of silver sales by-product revenue, by the gold ounces sold during the applicable period. Operating expenses include mine site operating costs such as mining, processing and administration as well as royalties, however excludes depletion and depreciation and rehabilitation costs.

Sustaining Costs  The Company defines sustaining costs as the sum of operating cash costs (per above), sustaining capital (capital required to maintain current operations at existing levels), corporate administration costs, sustaining exploration, and rehabilitation accretion and amortization related to current operations. Sustaining costs excludes capital expenditures for significant improvements at existing operations deemed to be expansionary in nature, exploration and evaluation related to growth projects, financing costs, debt repayments, and taxes.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia and TORONTO, Oct. 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mason Resources Corp. (TSX:MNR; OTCQB: MSSNF  Mason) and Hudbay Minerals Inc. (TSX & NYSE: HBM  Hudbay) are pleased to announce that they have entered into an arrangement agreement (the Arrangement Agreement) pursuant to which Hudbay will acquire the remaining 86% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Mason that it does not already own (the Arrangement). All currency is stated in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

Under the Arrangement, Mason shareholders will receive $0.40 in cash for each Mason common share they own. The Arrangement values Mason at $31 million, representing an attractive premium to recent Mason trading. The enterprise value to Hudbay, net of Masons cash and Hudbays current 14% ownership in Mason, is approximately US$15 million.

Stephen Scott, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mason, comments, We are excited to be announcing this transaction. We are very pleased with the progress we have made establishing the Ann Mason project as a world-class and highly prospective copper deposit. The acquisition by a well run, diversified, cash flowing base metal producer ensures a faster and lower risk development path for the Ann Mason project. Given its significant scale, it is not feasible for Mason to develop the mine on a stand-alone basis in a timely fashion and without considerable equity dilution and financial risk. The acquisition of Mason by Hudbay provides an opportunity for shareholders to realize immediate value from their investment in Mason.

Alan Hair, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hudbay, comments, The acquisition of the Ann Mason project is another step in Hudbays consistent strategy of accretive acquisitions of scarce, high-quality copper resources in mining-friendly jurisdictions. Ann Mason is an ideal fit for Hudbays development pipeline and is at the stage where we can apply our exploration expertise, advance technical studies and leverage our proven mine development team to create value for our shareholders.

Mason is the 100% owner of the Ann Mason deposit located in the Yerington District of Nevada. Ann Mason has a National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) compliant Measured and Indicated mineral resource of 1.4 billion tonnes grading 0.32% copper, 0.006% molybdenum, 0.03 g/t gold and 0.65 g/t silver and an Inferred mineral resource of 623 million tonnes grading 0.29% copper, 0.007% molybdenum, 0.03 g/t gold and 0.66 g/t silver using a 0.2% copper cut-off. For complete disclosure of Masons mineral resource estimate refer to the 2017 Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Ann Mason Project, Nevada, U.S.A. with an effective date of March 3, 2017, available under Masons profile at www.sedar.com and on Masons website at www.MasonResources.com.

Summary of the Arrangement

The Arrangement is structured as a plan of arrangement pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and will require the approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the approval of: (i) at least two-thirds of the votes cast by Mason shareholders; and (ii) a majority of the votes cast by Mason shareholders excluding Hudbay and any other persons required to be excluded in accordance with Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101), at a special meeting of Mason shareholders which is expected to be held in December 2018.

The Board of Directors of Mason (the Board), having received a unanimous recommendation from a special committee of the Board consisting entirely of independent directors (the Special Committee) has unanimously approved the Arrangement and recommends that Mason shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement. The Special Committee, in conducting its review of the Arrangement, was advised by Canaccord Genuity Corp. as its financial advisor. In addition, the Special Committee obtained a formal, independent valuation in accordance with MI 61-101 and a fairness opinion from Haywood Securities Inc. (Haywood). The independent valuation was prepared by Haywood under the supervision of the Special Committee, and determined that, in Haywoods opinion, based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth therein, the fair market value of the Mason common shares is in the range of $0.25 to $0.56 per Mason common share. In addition, Haywood has provided the Special Committee and Board with a fairness opinion, stating that in its opinion, based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations, and qualifications set forth therein, the consideration to be received by Mason shareholders (other than Hudbay) under the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Mason shareholders (other than Hudbay).

In connection with the Arrangement, all of the directors and senior officers of Mason as well as Mantos Copper (Bermuda) Limited (the Locked-Up Shareholders) have entered into customary support agreements with Hudbay pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their Mason shares, representing 19.8% of the issued and outstanding Mason shares, in favour of the Arrangement. Together with Hudbay, the Locked-Up Shareholders hold 33.7% of the issued and outstanding Mason common shares.

Holders of Mason options and warrants that are in-the-money will receive cash consideration equal to the purchase price less the exercise price of each Mason option or warrant.

In addition to the aforementioned approvals, completion of the Arrangement is subject to other customary conditions. The Arrangement is not, however, subject to any regulatory approvals. The Arrangement is expected to close in December 2018.

The Arrangement Agreement provides for customary non-solicitation covenants on the part of Mason and a right in favour of Hudbay to match any unsolicited superior proposal. In the event that the Arrangement is not completed in certain circumstances, Mason has agreed to pay Hudbay a termination fee of $1.6 million.

The full details of the Arrangement and the MI 61-101 valuation will be set out in a management information circular, which will be mailed to Mason shareholders and filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities during November 2018. The documents will also be available under Masons profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on Masons website (www.MasonResources.com).

Advisors

Masons financial advisors are Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Haywood Securities Inc. and its legal advisor is Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.

Hudbays financial advisor is BMO Capital Markets and its legal advisor is Goodmans LLP.

QUALIFIED PERSON

Robert Cinits, P.Geo., Masons Chief Operating Officer, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 has approved the technical information in this news release.

About Mason Resources Corp.

Mason Resources Corp. is a well-funded Canadian company focused on copper exploration and development in the U.S.A. The companys key asset is its 100% owned Ann Mason project  an extensive, prospective land package located in the Yerington District of Nevada. The Ann Mason project hosts two copper-molybdenum porphyry deposits, Ann Mason and Blue Hill, as well as numerous earlier-stage or untested priority targets. The Ann Mason deposit is currently at a PEA level and is among the largest undeveloped copper porphyry resources in Canada/U.S.A. The excellent infrastructure, year-round access, strong community support and clear permitting process are all factors that contribute to making Yerington, Nevada one of the best mining jurisdictions in the world. Mason also holds a 100% interest in the Lordsburg property, an exciting earlier-stage copper-gold porphyry project, located within an historic mining district in New Mexico.

About Hudbay

Hudbay (TSX, NYSE: HBM) is an integrated mining company primarily producing copper concentrate (containing copper, gold and silver), zinc concentrate, molybdenum concentrate and zinc metal. With assets in North and South America, the company is focused on the discovery, production and marketing of base and precious metals. Directly and through its subsidiaries, Hudbay owns four polymetallic mines, four ore concentrators and a zinc production facility in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan (Canada) and Cusco (Peru), and a copper project in Arizona (United States). The companys growth strategy is focused on the exploration and development of properties it already controls, as well as other mineral assets it may acquire that fit its strategic criteria. Hudbays vision is to be a responsible, top-tier operator of long-life, low-cost mines in the Americas. Hudbays mission is to create sustainable value through the acquisition, development and operation of high-quality, long-life deposits with exploration potential in jurisdictions that support responsible mining, and to see the regions and communities in which the company operates benefit from its presence. The company is governed by the Canada Business Corporations Act and its shares are listed under the symbol "HBM" on the Toronto Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange and Bolsa de Valores de Lima.

Further Information: Mason Resources Corp. Hudbay Minerals Inc. David Jan Carla Nawrocki Investor Relations Director, Investor Relations (604) 673-2001 (416) 362-7362 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated Arrangement and the timing and anticipated benefits thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Hudbay and/or Masons actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risk that the Arrangement does not close on a timely basis or at all or that some or all of the anticipated benefits thereof are not achieved; unanticipated costs, expenses or liabilities; discrepancies between actual and anticipated production, mineral resources and metallurgical recoveries; the size, grade and continuity of deposits not being interpreted correctly from exploration results; the results of preliminary test work not being indicative of the results of future test work; risks related to international operations, including legal and political risk; risks associated with changes in the attitudes of governments to foreign investment; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; inability to upgrade Inferred mineral resources to Indicated or Measured mineral resources; inability to convert mineral resources to mineral reserves; conclusions of economic evaluations; fluctuations in commodity prices and demand; changing foreign exchange rates; actions by government authorities; the availability of funding on reasonable terms; the impact of changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practices, including laws, regulations and government practices with respect to mining, foreign investment, royalties and taxation; the terms and timing of obtaining necessary environmental and other government approvals, consents and permits; title disputes; limitations on insurance coverage; the availability and cost of necessary items such as power, water, skilled labour, transportation and appropriate smelting and refining arrangements; as well as other uncertainties and risk factors set out in filings made from time to time with Canadian securities regulators, including, without limitation, Hudbays and Masons Annual Information Forms for the financial year ended December 31, 2017, each of which is filed on SEDAR; and any misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking statements.

Actual results, developments and timetables could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Hudbay and Mason disclaim any intent or obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, Hudbay and/or Mason undertake no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Hudbay and/or Mason, their financial or operating results or their securities.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / TheNewswire / November 1, 2018 - Nevada Clean Magnesium, Inc. (TSXV: NVM; Frankfurt-M1V; OTCQB: MLYFF) (The "Company") today announced the appointment of Barrie D. Fraser, P. Eng., to the board of directors to assume the position as President and Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Fraser holds a Professional Engineering designation registered with Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC).

Prior to his move to Nevada Clean Magnesium he held the position of "Director, Project Management - Americas" at Advisian, a global engineering, sciences and business consulting company.

At Advisian, Mr. Fraser provided leadership and deployment of resources in the areas of project governance and project management acumen for the portfolio of approximately 1,000 active projects. This role included: training, process improvement, mentoring, review & monitoring of project management activities, and direct project involvement in support of overall business objectives. His range of project management acumen includes topics such as: health, safety and environment (HSE), client satisfaction, risk management, change management, scheduling, cost estimating, procurement, earned value management, and commercial performance.

With over 20 years of experience in the area of project management, Mr. Fraser has served as a Senior Project Manager at Worley Parsons Canada and Tetra Tech WEI Inc. as well as various production based roles such as Engineering and Tooling Manager at Grenville Castings Limited and Manager of Engineering at Canarm Ltd. His career to date demonstrates a wide range of capabilities in various industries, including: industrial HVAC; light metals casting and finishing; automotive; marine; nuclear power generation; mining; and infrastructure focusing on quality, maintenance, resource management, production, finance, and HSE.

Edward Lee, Executive Chairman, states "We welcome Mr. Fraser's caliber and expertise as he will play a key role in the planning and execution with the new executive team in order to deliver on the company's strategic objectives for its shareholders."

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include that we will conduct and close a private placement and that we can become a major U.S. producer and distributor of primary, high grade, low cost magnesium metal. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including the Company's dolomite reserves may not be mined because of technical, regulatory, financing or other obstacles, the market price for magnesium may make our resources uneconomic, we may not be able hire and retain skilled employees, and other risks associated with being a mineral exploration and development company. We may not be able to close with interested investors on our intended private placement because of perceived risks or market conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release.
A new law adopted by Burundis parliament on October 25 prolongs the mandate of the countrys Truth and Reconciliation Commission for four years and extends it to cover the colonial period from 1885. It will thus give the government ammunition against former colonial power Belgium, but does not give the commission power to look at crimes committed in the last ten years.

The initial mandate of Burundis Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), created in May 2014, was to investigate the interethnic conflicts that scarred the small central African country since independence from Belgium on 1 July 1962 to the signing of a ceasefire with the last rebel group on 4 December 2008. The government has now almost tripled the period of history it must cover, extending it back to 1885.

Ever since its creation, the TRC has been accused by the opposition and civil society of being an instrument of the regime and the ruling party. It officially started work in March 2016. The TRC was launched in a political context marked by extra-judicial executions, arbitrary arrests and acts of torture often blamed on the government of President Pierre Nkurunziza, according to human rights groups and UN investigators.

Investigations to cover 123 years

The Commission, chaired by senior Catholic Church leader Monsignor Jean-Louis Nahimana, filed its interim report to Parliament after four years of its mandate and two and a half years of activities. But after debate, both chambers of Parliament recommended not only prolonging the TRCs mandate for another four years but also extending it to cover the colonial period starting on 26 February 1885 with the Berlin Conference that divided Africa up between the colonial powers. This profound modification was approved on 25 October by the National Assembly, in which President Pierre Nkurunzizas party has a big majority. The amendment was approved by the Senate four days later. So the TRC is now to cover a period of 123 years, from 1885 to 2008.

It is clear that the cycles of violence of a political nature that have scarred Burundi have their origins in colonial times, Justice Minister Aimee-Laurentine Kanyana told the Senate whilst presenting the plan. The aim of the Burundian authorities seems clear: to point the finger at Germany, the first colonial power in Burundi, but especially also to vent their anger at Belgium, which had from 1918 a supervisory mandate in Burundi. Relations between Bujumbura and Brussels have deteriorated sharply since the start of the crisis sparked by President Nkurunzizas April 2015 announcement that he would run for a third term, deemed constitutional by the opposition and civil society. At least 1,200 people have been killed in violence triggered by the political crisis and more than 400,000 others have fled their homes, according to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC has opened an investigation, with which Bujumbura refuses to cooperate.

Relaunching the conflict with Belgium

Since then, the isolated Burundian government has often accused Brussels of mobilizing the international community, starting with the European Union, against it. On 14 October, Bujumbura stepped up the rhetoric. The government claimed in a statement that Belgium held a big responsibility in the assassination of Prince Louis Rwagasore and his family, and in the various socio-political crises that have bloodied the country. Prince Rwagasore, considered a hero of Burundis independence, was murdered on 13 October 1961. The statement further says that the Burundian authorities plan to set up an ad hoc technical commission on this assassination. They also accuse the former colonial power of sowing ethnic hatred in the country through a divide and rule policy.

According to some observers, these accusations and the new law on the TRC are aimed primarily at diverting attention from the crimes committed more recently. It definitely will help to distract from the violations of the current regime, says Thomas Unger, a transitional justice expert at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.

It is extremely rare that a truth commission covers such a long historical period. In Canada, for example, a truth commission covered a period of 100 years, from 1880 to 1980. However, it investigated only one type of crime, committed against the children of indigenous people who were taken from their families and put into homes. Thomas Unger thinks this new, long mandate of Burundis TRC is completely unique in the history of transitional justice. Truth Commissions are fact finding bodies, who rely on material, interviews, testimonies etc., he says. The longer back a truth commission needs to investigate, the more difficult to find accurate evidence. Also it will require different expertise, such as historians, which the current truth commission does not have.

Crimes still being committed

During a parliamentary session on October 25, some Burundian MPs called for the TRCs mandate to be extended to crimes committed after 2008, particularly after the failed coup attempt of May 2015. If we want real reconciliation, why keep the truth of what happened after 2008 from Burundians? asked opposition parliamentarian Simon Bizimungu, as quoted by local media.

Crimes are still being committed today, said Fabien Banciryanino, who has a reputation for speaking out, even though he belongs to a party in the governing coalition. The justice minister replied that the country now has democratically elected institutions to settle peoples differences and that acceding to the demand would be to undermine them. She was backed by National Assembly president Pascal Nyabenda. Crimes committed when there are judicial bodies should be punished through the justice system, he said, urging Banciryanino to have faith in his countrys justice system.

In its latest report, published on 5 September, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi nevertheless accuses the Burundian government of promoting a climate conducive to ongoing human rights abuses. Thomas Unger stresses that the current political situation is not conducive for operating a truth commission. There is political interference and any opposition is suppressed, he says. Truth Commissions need some form of independence to operate effectively. They also depend on victim testimonies. It is unlikely that victims are able to speak openly at this moment, fearing persecution.
Drugs from bugs: NIH grant supports development of unique psoriasis treatment at Kansas State University



Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018

MANHATTAN  Philip Hardwidge, a microbiologist and biochemist at Kansas State University, has received a $218,593 grant from the National Institutes of Health for enhancing the development of drug treatments for psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease.



The study, "Using anti-inflammatory bacterial proteins to treat psoriasis," is in collaboration with Christian Rueter and Karin Loser, both with the University of Munster, Munster, Germany.



Hardwidge's research is focused on how bacterial virulence proteins can be developed into anti-inflammatory drugs. This work is derived from the "drugs from bugs" concept. This term refers to the concept that basic research focused on understanding how microbial pathogens have evolved to control and modulate the host immune system during infections can be exploited for novel immune-modulation strategies to treat inflammatory diseases that are unrelated to microbial infections.



"Overactive immune responses are often the causes of different autoimmune or chronic inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis," said Hardwidge, a professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine. "Although certain immunosuppressive drugs and various biologics have been used successfully to treat these disorders, these drugs have notable limitations, including the need for many of them to be administered systemically. These existing drugs can have adverse side effects and high costs."



Through this grant, Hardwidge and his research team plan to make a more efficient, cost-effective drug by engineering Escherichia coli and Yersinia enterocolitica  the bugs  virulence proteins to function as cell-penetrating molecules that can enter eukaryotic cell membranes autonomously  the drugs.



Hardwidge said the proposed approach of utilizing these effectors as anti-inflammatory proteins can then be used to treat inflammatory skin diseases. He said one of the obstacles is how the body's immune system can develop antibodies that could counteract efforts to treat the condition.



"We are studying the effects of the direct application of the proteins on skin cells and whether that will suppress the development of psoriasis," Hardwidge said. "Our preliminary data are quite positive, and we'll be looking to see whether the treatment continues to be effective, even following long-term treatments. One advantage is that our products are administered topically, to the site of inflammation, potentially eliminating concerns about systemic immune suppression."



This project was initially conceived and developed after a serendipitous meeting between Hardwidge and Rueter at a Keystone Symposium in 2011, where each project partner realized that the other was studying complementary aspects of similar projects.



Hardwidge said Kansas State University is a strong supporter of international research collaborations.



"Scientific collaborations that ultimately lead to significant extramural financial support take significant time and institutional support to drive a project from the conceptual stages to a final product," he said.






Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 31)  President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order (EO) that restricts foreign ownership in certain businesses.

Executive Order No. 65, signed on October 29, promulgates the 11th Regular Foreign Investment Negative List.

The restriction is based on foreign equity limits based on existing laws, administrative issuances and department opinions.

Topping the list of businesses that should have zero foreign equity stake are mass media and and small-scale mining.

The EO restricts foreign equity in the following:

Mass media, except recording and internet businesses

Practice of professions in X-ray technology, criminology, law, marine deck and marine engine officers

Retail trade enterprises with paid-up capital of less than $2.5 million

Cooperatives

Organization and operation of private detectives, watchmen and security guard agencies

Small-scale mining

Utilization of marine resources in archipelagic waters, territorial sea and exclusive economic zones

Small-scale utilization of marine resources in rivers, lakes, bays and lagoons

Cockpits

Nuclear weapons

Biological, chemical and radioactive weapons

Anti-personnel mines

Manufacture of firecrackers and other pyrotechnics

Private recruitment agencies for employment, and contracts for construction of defense-related structures can have up to 25 percent foreign equity.

Advertising businesses can have up to 30 percent foreign shares.

The EO also lists businesses that can have up to 40 percent foreign ownership, which includes exploration of natural resources, land ownership, commercial deep sea fishing, ownership of condominium units, and products requiring clearances from the police and/or the defense departments.

In a statement, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) welcomed the signing of the EO.

"We are very happy to see the 11th RFINL finally approved and signed. This will help raise the country's competitiveness, and allow us to be closer to parity with other ASEAN member-states by opening up more areas for foreign investment into the country, particularly those that will introduce new technology and stimulate innovation," said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

The NEDA also noted that the EO also allows 100 percent foreign participation in the following businesses:

Internet businesses

Teaching in higher education levels, excluding professional subjects

Skills training centers for subjects that are not a part of the educational system

Adjustment companies

Lending companies

Financing companies

Investment houses

Wellness centers
The Royal Anguilla Police Force reports the arrest of 23 year old Luis Samuel of South Hill on Monday 29th October, 2018 with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to supply. The alleged offender who arrested by the Customs Department and later charged with the offences was taken before the Magistrates Court where he was remanded to Her Majestys Prison. Samuels is due back in court on Tuesday 6th November, 2018 to answer to the charges.

Report 2:

Two arrested for Causing Actual Bodily Harm

The Royal Anguilla Police Force on Monday 29th October, 2018 arrested and charged 28 year old Griffin Lake and 26 year old Marcris Rogers both of Island Harbour for causing actual bodily harm. Both Lake and Rogers appeared before the Magistrates Court on Tuesday 30th October, 2018 where they were both granted bail each in the sum of EC $20,000.00 with one surety. They were both ordered by the court to have no contact whether directly or indirectly with the complainant by any means as well as to not knowingly go within 100 feet of the complainant in the matter. They are both due back in court on Thursday 17th January, 2019 to answer to the charge.

Report 3:

23 year old arrested for possession Cannabis. The Royal Anguilla Police Force on Tuesday 23rd October, 2018 arrested and charged 23 year old Javard Clarke of West End with possession of cannabis. The alleged offender who appeared before the Magistrates Court on Monday 29th October, 2018 was granted bail in the sum of EC $50,000.00 with two sureties. He has been ordered by the court to keep the peace as his condition of bail.

Clarke is due back in court on Thursday 6th December, 2018 to answer to the charge.

The RAPF would like to remind the public that:

a) The defendant is entitled to a fair trial;

b) There is a presumption of innocence until proven guilty;

c) Nothing would be stated or published which would prejudice a fair trial taking place; and

d) Section 115(g) of the Criminal Code applies and which provides for an offence in respect of any person who, while a judicial proceeding is pending, makes use of any speech or writing misrepresenting such proceeding or capable of prejudicing any person in favor of or against any parties to such proceeding, or calculated to lower the authority of any person before whom the proceeding is to be held.
GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- The Josephine County Board of Commissioners adopted ordinance 2018-006 Wednesday. You can click here to read the ordinance in full.

The Josephine County Utility Regulation Ordinance is meant to stop public utility companies like Pacific Power from charging a monthly fee to those who want to opt out of smart meters.

Chairman of the Board Dan DeYoung said there was a lot of concern about whether or not people had options when Pacific Power transitioned to smart meters.

"We felt as a board that there were no other choices given," DeYoung said.

The ordinance would require utility companies to provide alternative methods of reporting for customers who don't want the smart meters.

It would require the utility company to remove a smart meter that a customer already has installed and replace it with a non-radio frequency meter within 30 days after receiving the demand.

Scott Bolton, Senior Vice President of Pacific Power, said the company cannot comply with the ordinance because that would put it out of compliance with the Public Utility Commission.

"I think by developing an ordinance, which is a local law that may or may not be legal with how the state regulates utilities, that will create more confusion and so it will be difficult to see exactly where we go from here," Bolton said.

The legislation is one-of-a-kind. Bolton said Josephine County is the only one adopting an ordinance like this one.

"This is unique, I think most counties recognize that they don't regulate the rates of utilities," Bolton said.

DeYoung said the Commission does not want to regulate the company's rates.

"That's one of the things that the power company was really strict about, and we had conversations back and forth. Their opposition to what we are doing is that we don't have the authority to set the rates, that's set by the Oregon Public Utility Commission, we get that," DeYoung said.

Bolton said Pacific Power is already working on making more options available for customers who don't want the smart meters.

"Part of what determines what works and what the costs will be is simply getting the technology deployed and knowing how many opt-outs we're dealing with across the state," Bolton said.

The ordinance goes into effect in three months.
MEDFORD, Ore.  A grand jury has cleared two officers with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) of any wrongdoing after they returned fire on a man who had barricaded himself inside a home east of Eagle Point, according to the Jackson County District Attorney's office.

On the afternoon of October 23, law enforcement received a 911 call from Kelly Rich, who claimed that her son had "threatened her earlier in the day." She claimed that when she returned home in her car, she found her son Warren Alexander Rich, "who is not allowed on her property," had taken a rifle from inside her house and began to point it at her.

According to the DA's office, Kelly Rich threw her car into reverse and left the scene in order to call 911. Deputies from JCSO arrived soon after.

When deputies arrived, they tried talking to Warren Rich, who was inside of his parents' home. They set up a perimeter around the home while a SWAT vehicle approached in order to "communicate" with Warren.

"During the next hour and a half, while being armed with a firearm Warren Rich moved from the first to the second story of the house several times, engaging in conversation from open windows with deputies outside the house. At some point he made threats to deputies on the perimeter," the DA's office said.

Eventually, deputies tossed a cell phone up near the porch so that they could speak with Warren more directly. Just before 6:30 p.m., Warren told the deputies that he was going to fire the rifle into the air  which he did, according to the DA's office.

Next, Warren went onto the porch where two nearby officers  Deputy Murillo and Corporal Biddle  asked him to pick up the phone. In response, Warren said that he was going to shoot the phone, though "this was discouraged by the deputies." Warren shot the phone.

At that, Warren reportedly fired the rifle at the two officers.

"Corporal Biddle returned fire fearing that deputies' lives were at stake. Deputy Murillo returned fire fearing for his own safety," the DA's office said.

No one was hit in the exchange, and Warren retreated back into the house. The standoff would continue for six or seven more hours, until a "SWAT robot" entered the house and found that Warren did not have the rifle in his hands. SWAT then rushed into the house, taking Warren into custody.

On Wednesday, both Deputy Murillo and Corporal Biddle were cleared of any wrongdoing by the grand jury for firing shots at Warren Rich. The grand jury also decided to indict Rich on charges of Attempted Aggravated Murder, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, thre counts of Burglary in the First Degree, Burglary in the Second Degree, two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree.
MEDFORD, Ore.  A man accused of threatening staff with a knife at the White City Veteran's Affairs (VA) facility has pleaded guilty to charges from that and two other incidents, and will receive three years of probation and mandatory counseling, according to the Jackson County District Attorney's office.

The DA's office says that the charges against Gilbert Matthew Negrete stem from three incidents over the space of three days  the last of which ended when security officers at the VA shot and wounded Negrete.

On January 23 of 2018, Negrete received a charge for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) after driving his vehicle "under the influence of controlled substances."

"Mr. Negrete qualifed for the DUII diversion program on this case and sentencing on this case was set over to allow him to enter the diversion program," the DA's office said.

The next day, Negrete reportedly threatened an employee of a tow truck company with a knife. When the employee pulled out a gun, Negrete ran from the business.

One day later, on January 25, Negrete would appear at the VA facility in White City. Negrete is a military veteran, and went to the VA to "inquire about medication." But the DA's office says that during the visit Negrete "became agitated" and began threatening staff with a knife.

VA security officers arrived soon afterward, but Negrete "continued to escalate and act aggressively with the knife." The DA's office said that Negrete then lunged at one of the officers with the knife  but was shot, resulting in a non-lethal injury.

After the incident became public, the tow truck company employee identified Negrete and that incident was tied to him as well. After pleading guilty, Negrete will serve three years on supervised probation, with requirements to comply with all counseling or treatment. The felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon charge will be dropped to a misdemeanor if he successfully completes the conditions of his probation.

For the incident at the VA, Negrete pleaded guilty to a felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon charge and two misdemeanor Menacing charges. The judge sentenced Negrete to three years on supervised probation with mandatory counseling as well, with the opportunity to reduce the felony charge to a misdemeanor.

Negrete's probation terms for the two major incidents will be served concurrently  so he must serve a total of three years on probation. If he fails to complete the terms of his probation, he'll be sent to serve 18 months in prison. He is also prohibited from possessing weapons or using intoxicants  or for going to the White City VA during his probation.
EAGLE POINT, Ore 

UPDATE: Missing Eagle Point girl Tabatha Clancy-Wood has been located safe in Arizona, according to detectives with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO).

Police found Tabatha with her mother, Kelly Clancy, at a shelter in Phoenix. Officers arrested Kelley on a warrant for "custodial interference" after she relocated with her daughter in defiance of a custody decision that went in the favor of father Adrian Wood.

"Details regarding extradition are not yet available," JCSO said in a statement.

Wood has reportedly traveled to Phoenix and will meet with child welfare authorities on Friday morning  soon to be reunited with Tabatha.

(Updated 11/16/18 at 10:20 a.m.)

INITIAL REPORT: The Jackson County Sheriff's office is asking for help locating an 8 year old girl.

Detectives say Tabatha Clancy-Wood is likely with her mother Kelly Marie Clancy. Clancy reportedly left the area in August during a custody dispute.

The child's father contacted Eagle Point Police over the summer to report custody issues.

On October 26th a judge ordered that Tabatha be returned to her father for full custody. However Tabatha is no where to be found.

Tabatha is now listed as a missing or endangered person.

Tabatha and her mother Kelly were last seen at an apartment complex in Eagle Point in mid to late August. They were set to travel to an amusement park in southern California. Kelly left her cellphone behind.

Kelly was last seen driving a white Saturn sedan with Oregon licence plate 659DRB.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Tabatha you are asked to call the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Tip Line at (541) 774-8333.
WOLF CREEK, Ore.  The Oregon State Police (OSP) has asked for help in finding a Josephine County man who has been missing for several weeks.

66-year-old John Edward Vezina was last seen on October 11 at his home on Lower Wolf Creek Road in Josephine County. He was reported missing to the Josephine County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) a few days later on October 16.

Vezina's Toyota Tundra was located in the Glendale area of Douglas County on October 27. Although deputies and search and rescue teams from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office were activated, they were unable to find any sign of Vezina.

On Wednesday, law enforcement requested assistance from OSP in investigating the circumstances around Vezina's disappearance.

OSP has requested that anyone with information regarding Vezina to contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch center at 541-776-6111 or *OSP.
MEDFORD, Ore. -- No one should have to fight breast cancer alone and Daryl Griggs, a volunteer with the American Cancer Society, is making sure no one does.

"I want it done. I want to eradicate it," he said.

He's one of 35 Oregon men who volunteered to help raise awareness and money throughout October for real men wear pink--a campaign from the American Cancer Society.

"I'm stretching myself and getting out of my comfort zone and I volunteered, more like volun-told by the ladies in my life but I accepted the challenge, Griggs added.

Each Real Men Wear Pink candidate is taking on the challenge of raising $2,500 for breast cancer research and Griggs is at almost$1,500. For him breast cancer awareness month means more than raising money, its actually spreading awareness of the battle, starting with his kids.

According to a Providence surgeon, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before she is 80 years old. Griggs originally volunteered to be more a part of the community but as he slowly got more and more involved, he realized breast cancer hits closer to home.

"My cousin Sandra is actually fighting now and she's going to win because she's a powerful lady and my cousin Angie, both of which helped raise us when we were little."

This got him thinking about his daughters and began educating them and the rest of his kids.

I don't want this for them. I cringe at the thought of getting the phone call talking about how they had the doctor's appointment and it didn't go well and they have to go in for a biopsy or something like that or the lump that they found and now theyre scared. Being a father is all about protecting your kids and I don't know any other way to fight this besides putting myself out there and make sure we make everyone aware of what's going on, Griggs added.

Daryl's kids have been a crucial part of his fundraising efforts. The younger ones gave up their piggy bank money to help. One of his children made and sold paintings which buyers then gave to survivors. So far hes raised just about $1,500. His goal is $2,500. You can donate here.
GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- Court watchers waited for nearly two hours for Christopher Stout to make an appearance at his scheduled arraignment today. When he did not show, the State asked the judge to issue a warrant for his arrest.

It was revealed early on Stout was not behind bars. He had been conditionally released and was receiving treatment for an undisclosed medical issue.

Evidence was also presented before a grand jury today. They indicted Stout for attempted rape in the first degree and online sexual corruption.

The probable cause affidavit is shedding new light on the sexual nature of those charges. In the affidavit, the investigator says Stout admitted to sending sexually explicit messages to the 10-year-old victim before he attempted to pick her and two others up at Allen Dale Elementary.

The explicit messages were sent on Facebook messenger. In one message, Stout allegedly asked the victim what color her undergarments were. In another, he wrote about picking her up and having sex with her.

The investigator also says Stout admitted that sending the messages was wrong because he was 43 years old and she was 10.
MEDFORD, Ore.  Cancer treatment can cost more than a persons life savings, and its the little things that add up.

Right now Im just under in a year of treatment, just under $1 million mark for what everything cost, breast cancer survivor, and Sanctuary One Executive Director Megan Flowers said.

That was just for her medical costs.

She didnt have to pay that, thanks to her insurance. But the small costs add up quickly.

The money  that was just for the medical, Flowers said. So on top of your prescriptions that you get all your co-pays and your deductibles, and everything else, and the amount that you have to do for your pet scan in all different things that are essential.

An insurance specialist at Providence Medford Medical Center says patients can bet on paying their out of pocket maximum, depending on what a doctor recommends for treatment.

If patients know their out-of-pocket maximum on their insurance policy, that is the standard for everyone across the board, Cynthia Moss, insurance specialist at Providence, said.

Flowers credits her friends and colleagues for helping her through her journey.

Its those little things, like people helping with meals to put the freezer; people bought me wonderful gift cards for meals when I was going through my surgery, Flowers said. These little pieces made a big difference because it does add up.

Both Providence Medford Medical Center and Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center offer finaical programs.

CLICK HERE to see the ones at Providence.

CLICK HERE to see the ones at Asante.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.  The body count for calves on one Klamath County ranch is now up to four as of last week  all the work of a local wolf pack, according to officials with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).

On October 24, officials came to the ranch in Wood River Valley to investigate reports of calves that had been killed by wolves. Three calves were killed over a three-day period, ODFW officials concluded, and their wounds were consistent with wolf attacks.

"These injuries are clear evidence of predator attack and the size, location, and severity of bite injuries are similar to injuries observed on other calves attacked by wolves," ODFW officials observed in their report. "Remote camera photographs show Rogue Pack wolves 2.5 miles from the pasture on 10/23. The Rogue Pack has depredated on this property before."

The "Rogue Pack" describes the progeny of a well-documented male wolf known as OR-7, who trekked across Oregon and into California before settling into Southern Oregon. Wildlife officials believe that OR-7 recently sired his fifth litter of pups.

Three days after the first investigation, on October 27, ODFW investigators were called back to Wood River Valley for another calf believed to have been killed by wolves.

"This depredation was attributed to the Rogue Pack," ODFW reported.

ODFW wildlife biologist Tom Collum says personnel are taking turns camping in a field near the ranch, and they are using non-lethal methods to deter the wolves  including sirens, bonfires, strobe lights and cracker shells.

Officials are also checking remote cameras daily to track movement. They have set up traps to capture wolves, so they can place tracking collars.

As recently as August, ODFW issued kill permits to a rancher in Wallowa County following months of depredation. There has not yet been any indication of employing lethal methods in the Klamath County case.

In September, wolves reportedly killed a guard dog at a cattle ranch near Prospect in Jackson County. There have been no recorded investigations in that area since.
UPDATE: There is now a warrant out for the arrest of 43-year-old Christopher Stout after he failed to appear in court today to face charges for the attempted abduction of three young girls from Allen Dale Elementary in Grants Pass.

Due to reportedly significant medical issues, Stout has not been in jail since his initial arrest on October 24. He was granted a "conditional release" for medical reasons on the same day as his arrest, and may have been brought to receive treatment at a hospital in Portland.

Nevertheless, Stout was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday for two felony charges  Attempted Rape in the First Degree and Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the First Degree.

It is unknown at this time whether Stout's failure to appear had direct correlation with his medical condition or represented an attempt to avoid trial.

According to court documents, Stout had been exchanging suggestive and sexually explicit messages with one 10-year-old victim on the day before he went to Allendale Elementary in an attempt to pick up all three girls. School administrators refused to release the girls.

The same documents say that Stout told law enforcement "he was not sexually aroused and did not really want to engage in sexual intercourse," though he did admit to sending the messages.

______________________________________

GRANTS PASS, Ore.  A man has been hospitalized and will face sex abuse charges after attempting to lure and abduct three young girls from an elementary school in order to have sex with them, according to the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety (GPDPS).

On Tuesday, police learned of a "suspicious situation" at Allendale Elementary School. The office reported to an on-duty school marshal that a man had just tried to remove three young female students from class  two 10-year-old girls and an 8-year-old girl. The marshal radioed police to let them know.

Later identified as 43-year-old Christopher Stout, GPDPS said that the suspect was not related to any of the students and was not listed as an approved person to take them from school.

The school staff checked with the girls' parents and found out that Stout was an acquaintance, but they were not aware of any plans for him to pick up the children.

When the school staff told Stout that the children would not be released to him, Stout left.

Soon after, detectives went to work on investigating Stout. Interviewing other people, they identified Stout and discovered a likely location for him. According to GPDPS, the detectives also uncovered evidence that Stout had planned to pick the girls up in order to engage "in sexual contact with at least one of the girls."

When GP detectives and Central Point police interviewed Stout and investigated his home, they took him into custody. However, Stout soon began experiencing complications from "pre-existing medical issues" and had to be brought to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment.

Stout was admitted to the hospital for treatment, and was processed there. Charges are being filed at the Josephine County District Attorney's Office  one count of Attempted Rape 1, and one count of On-Line Sexual Corruption of a Minor 1.

"The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety would like to acknowledge and commend the oce sta at Allendale Elementary for following District 7 protocols, which ensured the safety of the three students," GPDPS said in a statement. "Parents are also encouraged to have discussions with their children to reinforce safety protocols. Having plans, discussing and following them are the best way to ensure the safety of our children."

The case remains under investigation, and anyone with more information should call GPDPS at 541-250-6260.
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- In documents that detail two internal investigations by Springfield police into Officer Ryan Stone, police call into question Stone's credibility as a witness and raise concerns over alleged misconduct and excessive force.

Stone has been on administrative leave from the Springfield Police Department since April.

KEZI 9 News obtained the documents from a third party, which were sent to local attorneys by the Springfield Prosecutor's Office.

RELATED: Springfield police officer under criminal investigation

Jesse Lohrke, an attorney in Springfield, praised Springfield police for making these documents public.

"One fear you always have is that it does not make it out to the public 'cause it's really important for everyone to know," Lohrke said.

The first investigation happened after a traffic stop in February and was first reported in a citizen's complaint.

According to the documents, Stone stopped a driver for not signaling and for weaving in his lane. Stone told investigators the driver appeared hostile and angry and did not cooperate with commands. Stone ordered the driver out of the car and eventually handcuffed him.

After reviewing dash cam video and audio, investigators with Springfield police concluded that Stone lied about the incident and the driver did not become aggressive until after he was taken out the car.

According to the documents, a second investigation was done when a sergeant raised concerns after Stone found a man jaywalking in April and arrested him for interfering with a police officer and resisting arrest.

In that report, Stone told investigators the man did not provide identification and refused to sit down, making Stone worried the man was going to run off. The reports show Stone eventually threw the man to the ground and used a Taser on him.

After reviewing the audio and video evidence, investigators concluded that Stone provided false statements in his report, lacked probable cause to arrest the man and used excessive force.

According to the documents, when Police Chief Richard Lewis saw the video, he ordered the man be released from jail.

Like police, Lohrke said that these allegations raise questions into Stone's credibility as a witness.

"We need officers to be absolutely above board in telling the truth in what happened," Lohrke said. "This absolutely calls that into question."

Stone is now facing potential criminal charges. Linn County prosecutors are reviewing the case and could file charges in the next couple of weeks.
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- The needs of skilled labor industries are rising in Oregon, even as unemployment is at an all-time low in the state.

Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industry Commissioner-Elect Val Hoyle said in order to fill those much-needed positions, there has to be a better connection between schools and trade jobs.

Hoyle highlighted the issue at the Oregon State Chamber of Commerces annual conference in Springfield last week.

We need to make sure that the career technical education (CTE) programs that are in our middle schools and high schools are actually feeding into the jobs that are available, Hoyle said. So, teaching job skills that will actually get kids good jobs and employment.

Hoyle said as commissioner-elect, she plans to work with local industries and high school programs with CTE courses to create avenues for apprenticeships during and directly after high school.
EUGENE, Ore. -- Oregon State Police has the second lowest number of troopers per person in the whole country, just ahead of Florida.

"We're about eight troopers per 100,000," said Capt. Tim Fox with Oregon State Police. He said the low staffing level is costing lives.

"We're down to about half of what we were ... with the amount of road miles and the population are almost double of what they were in 1980," Fox said.

OSP's resources weren't always stretched this thin. In 1980, there were 624 troopers and sergeants. Today, they have 381.

(Map courtesy OSP)

Fox said in those days, OSP had a dedicated stream of revenue through the state's highway fund, but that stopped in the early 80s.

Now, the money comes out of the state's general fund, which legislators and the governor can use to pay for almost anything.

Fox said the lack of dedicated funds and staffing has had tragic consequences. Because OSP is short staffed, Fox said troopers cannot regularly patrol secondary routes, like highways 126 or 58.

In 2017, he said 80 percent of the fatal crashes OSP responded to were on secondary highways.

"Since I've lived here, I've seen about a dozen crashes -- in the past two months, four crashes with causalities," said Ashton Hart, who's lived in Springfield near Highway 126 for the past 10 years.

People who drive along Highway 126 said speed is a big problem there.

"Because they know they wouldn't get a ticket if they sped up here," Hart said.

Hart said he'd like to see the speed reduced, but until then, he said having a trooper on the highway would make a big difference and save lives.

Fox agrees.

"I wholeheartedly believe that it would," Fox said. "I think anybody who's driven them can see that there's some pretty aggressive driving that's going on. So we'd like to get out there and stop that."

He said they'd also like to patrol those routes to enforce the fatal five.

"Are they speeding? Are they impaired? Are they distracted using their phone? Occupant safety ... are they wearing their seat belts? Also, the drive within lane ... basically making sure they are not weaving in and out," said Trooper Todd Larsen.

Trooper Larsen works out of OSP's southwest region headquarters. He patrols all the state highways west of Springfield, and then some.

"So I'll go over to Mapleton. I'll cover 126 west. I'll cover Highway 36 ... I'll also cover Highway 200, which is Territorial Highway," Larsen said. "And today, with the issue with Florence not having a Trooper on ... if there are calls on the coast, I'll head over to 101."

Because OSP is short-staffed, Larsen gets a lot of calls, and it's more than he can respond to.

That's why they're now turning to lawmakers for change, pushing for more troopers in 2019.

"It's a big concern. We need to fix this," said Oregon Senator James Manning, who represents areas of Eugene and Junction City.

As a former police officer himself, he said the state needs to do more.

"It has stretched OSP troopers to a degree that it's virtually hard for them to really do the job, and so a lot of calls go unanswered," Manning said.

Until it's fixed, Larsen said he's doing the best job he can with the miles of interstates and highways he's covering.

"Safety is our goal here," Larsen said.

Preventing deadly crashes is another goal and something he sees all too often.

"It's devastating to first responders as well as the family," Larsen said. "And so that's something we don't want to see. We want to reduce those number of fatal crashes."
Kilkenny people with a passion for great food are being encouraged to get their tickets now for a major foodie event just over the border in Carlow.

Carlow will showcase the very best of its proud and evolving food and drink culture to a captive audience for three very special days as the countdown begins to this years Carlow Culinary Christmas festivities from December 6 to 8.

Long renowned as the home of the rooster potato, fabulous fruit, vegetable, organic and free range farms, Carlow now boasts an internationally acclaimed brewery, whiskey and gin distilleries, a booming town-centre farmers market and an authentic food and restaurant trail that continues to grow.

Celebrity chef, Rachel Allen and Fishy Fishys Martin Shanahan, will share top tips on how to create the perfect festive food and tantalising treats for family and friends across the holiday season at this years Carlow Culinary Christmas events in the stunning Visual Arts Centre each evening. Festival-goers will also visit the amazing food village which opens nightly from 7pm and features even more local produce and delights.

Carlovian, Ireland and Leinster rugby giant and farmer, Sean OBrien, is a proud Carlow Culinary Christmas Ambassador. Theres nothing like getting back to Carlow, particularly at holiday time, for a feast of fresh home produce. Were very fortunate to have amazing food suppliers across Carlow and an incredible food trail that showcases the very best the region has to offer.

Im proud to support Carlow Culinary Christmas and really encourage not just local people, but food lovers from all over Ireland, to come along, support local and buy into what is shaping up to be an incredible Christmas in the region.

The packed, three day Carlow Culinary Christmas programme includes Martin Shanahans demonstration on Thursday, December 6 and an evening with Rachel Allen on Friday, December 7. Theres also a fun-filled Cook Off on December 8 featuring Chef Adrian, Karl Spain, Gearoid Farrelly, Ed Cahill and Rachel Doyle, childrens workshops and so much more. Tickets for the nightly demonstrations are 19.50 each and for bookings and more visit www.visualcarlow.ie
ROCHESTER, Minn.- Midterm election day is less than a week away and candidates are campaigning until the last minute.

Today, Minnesota's Republican candidate for Governor Jeff Johnson is talking to Rochester residents about why he opposes a soon to expire tax law.

It's called the provider tax, here's how it works.

The state taxes providers like whole sale drug distributors, hospitals and surgical centers to help fund MinnesotaCare.

Its a program that helps low income people with health care needs.

That tax will expire next in 2019.

I was in the legislature 16 years ago and back then there was a bipartisan belief this was not a good idea, said Johnson .

He adds the tax isn't effective and the burden is passed on to the sick.

If he's elected, he will not extend the provider tax.

His opponent US Congressman Tim Walz will do the opposite. Walz says if he's elected, he will extend the provider tax.

"Any Minnesotan who needs healthcare should be able to buy-in to MinnesotaCare for a high-quality, affordable option. I will work to responsibly finance MinnesotaCare by extending the provider tax. This will also continue funding for important programs that help prevent chronic disease and keep down health care costs in the first place."
MASON CITY, Iowa  A Mason City woman is facing multiple charges in relation to insurance fraud.

Amber Griffin, 34, is facing four counts of insurance fraud  presenting false information  and a second-degree theft charge.

According to court documents, Griffin submitted medical insurance claims and as a result received benefits in the form of insurance proceeds of which she was not entitled to.

Griffin received insurance proceeds of $720, $745, $620 $745 and $6,245 that she wasnt entitled to, according to court records.

Authorities say Griffin admitted to the fraudulent insurance claims and fabricated the medical records that she submitted to AFLAC along with the claim documents.
ST. ANSGAR, Iowa - For those looking for work in North Iowa, there is a new option to take advantage of.

IowaWORKS and Grain Millers in St. Ansgar, along with the U.S. Department of Labor/Office of Apprenticeship, have launched a new Millwright Registered Apprenticeship Program.

It's a 4-year program that allows those to receive on-the-job training while also receiving classroom education through NIACC, and yes, a paycheck.

Melissa Edgington is the Human Resources Manager for Grain Millers, and says the company decided to offer the program because of the need to fill skilled labor posititions.

"Some of those are entry level positions, but in regards to looking at future growth, automation, that skill in programming, and all of our equipment that we need maintained has increased that need."

"The apprenticeship program assists us in regards to adding the skilled labor, on the job training, with the classroom, and so we're getting both sides of that training."

Those interested in the program can contact the Mason City IowaWORKS office at 641-422-1254, ext. 44531, or by filling out an interest form at earnandlearniowa.gov/interest.

Growing Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in Advanced Manufacturing is one of the goals of a grant received by Iowa Workforce Development from the U.S. Department of Labor.
MASON CITY, Iowa  A third conviction for domestic assault is sending a North Iowa man to prison.

Jason Henry Hoff, 46 of Mason City, was arrested in August after police say he choked a woman and hit her in the face. He pleaded guilty to domestic abuse assault-3rd offense and has been sentenced to up to five years in prison.

Authorities say this is Hoffs third conviction for felony domestic abuse since June 2017.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Minnesota received $116 million in federal funds for heating assistance. Three Rivers Community Action is one of the agencies in Minnesota receiving money from the funds. TRCA expects to have money sometime this week.

The money will be used for heating assistance over the winter months, to help low-income families keep their heat on. "Maybe they're having to make choices between buying groceries or paying their energy bill, maybe they're facing eviction, or perhaps they've had a medical emergency, so just really struggling to make all their bills," explains Lynette Engelhardt Stott, Energy Programs Coordinator.

TRCA offers grants between $200 and $14000. They're taking applications now until the end of May 2019, and have already received 3,000 applications. Funds are given out on a first come, first serve basis. Applications can be picked up at their offices, found online, or can be requested to be mailed.
ROCHESTER, Minn.  Kids get excited to go trick or treating. For those who are in the hospital, going outside door to door isnt possible.

Thats why pediatric patients at Saint Marys Hospital are having the candy brought to them.

Many hospital employees dressed up along with the kids.

Christian is a four-year-old battling leukemia. He dressed up as a police officer and even had a police car.

Hes in and out of the hospital often. His dad tells KIMT theyre thankful for days like this.

I think we made the best of it, Martijn Bos said. We brought his costume and as you can see his police car and get to celebrate it this way with the other kids.

There was also a costume contest for the kids.
NORTHWOOD, Iowa  An investigation is underway after a vacant house in Northwood was found on fire.

The Worth County Sheriffs Office said a deputy noticed smoke coming from the home at 97 8th St. S. at around 2:07 a.m. Wednesday.

Neighbors told the deputy that the home was vacant and nobody should be inside.

The scene was cleared just before 6 a.m. The cause of the blaze is unknown, according to the Worth County Sheriffs Office.
It's never too early to start saving for retirement, and one of the best and most tax-friendly ways to build a nest egg is by contributing to an employer-sponsored 401(k) retirement savings account. 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2019 The maximum amount workers can contribute to a 401(k) for 2019 is $19,000 if theyre younger than age 50. Thats a $500 increase from 2018. Workers age 50 and older can add an extra $6,000 per year in catch-up contributions, bringing their total 401(k) contributions for 2019 to $25,000. (You can squirrel away even more in 2020.) Contributions to a 401(k) are generally due by the end of the calendar year. A traditional 401(k) is an employer-based retirement savings account that you fund through payroll deductions before taxes have been taken out. Those contributions lower your taxable income and help cut your tax bill. For example, if your monthly income is $4,500 and you contribute $1,000 of that to your 401(k), only $3,500 of your paycheck will be subject to tax. While the money is in your account, it is sheltered from taxes as it grows. The money can usually be invested in a variety of stock funds and bond funds. The average 401(k) plan offers 19 funds, and typically nearly half of plan assets are invested in U.S. stock funds and target-date funds, the latter of which can change their asset allocation to become more conservative over time. (See the best funds in 401(k)s for more on where to invest your retirement savings.)

Many employers also match employees contributions up to a certain percentage of salary. Some companies even contribute to workers accounts regardless of whether the employees contribute their own money. On average, companies contributed 5.1% of an employees pay to the employees 401(k) account, according to the Plan Sponsor Council of America. How Much Should You Save for Retirement in a 401(k)? Stuart Ritter, a certified financial planner with T. Rowe Price, recommends that workers save at least 15% of their income for retirement, including any employer match. If your employer contributes 3%, for example, then you would need to save an additional 12%. For people who arent at 15%, one of the best ways to get there is to increase the amount you are saving by 2% each year until you reach the 15% level, Ritter says. So if youre saving 3% now, bump that up to 5% next year, 7% the year after and so on. The tax-deferred growth of a 401(k) can help build a sizable nest egg. For example, a 25-year-old who contributes $5,500 a year to a 401(k) and has an annual return of 6% will accrue a nest egg of $902,262 at age 65. If instead he or she is in the 22% tax bracket and saves the same amount in a taxable account, assuming the same return, the balance would amount to $643,500 after 40 years. You generally must be at least 59 1/2 to withdraw money from your 401(k) without owing a 10% penalty. The early-withdrawal penalty doesnt apply, though, if you are age 55 or older in the year you leave your employer.
If estate planning were just cold, hard numbers, it wouldnt be one of the financial tasks that people avoid the most. Not only does creating an estate plan force you to confront your own mortality, but it also forces you to decide who gets your assets, whether all heirs should be treated equally and who will play the key roles in settling your estate. With the possible exception of divorce work, emotions come out more in estate planning than anywhere else, says Gary Botwinick, an estate-planning lawyer in Denville, N.J. To help get past the uncomfortable thought of your own death, remember that if you die without a will, state law will govern the distributions of your assetsand it may not go the way you want. If you havent yet written a will or created the other documents that every estate plan should include, see below. If you have those documents but your assets have grown and your life has become more complex, it may be time to review and update your plan. Revisit your estate plan Review your estate plan every five years or whenever there is a major change in your life, such as a birth, death, or financial windfall or loss, or if theres a change in estate laws. Its particularly important to revisit your plan once you reach your fifties or sixties. By that time, your assets may have become much more complicated, your heirs have grown older (you may have grandchildren now, too), and your wishes may have changed. Rather than focusing primarily on protecting your family if you die early, you may now be in a position to use your estate to help the next generation and build a legacy.

Also, you may no longer need some of the estate-planning strategies you used in the past. The new tax law more than doubled the federal estate tax exemption, letting each person give up to $11.18 million without it being subject to the estate tax. The number of people who have to worry about federal estate taxes has plummeted. (However, the federal estate tax exemption is scheduled to drop to about $5.5 million in 2026.) Several states have changed their estate tax laws, too. New Jersey, which had a notoriously low $675,000 estate tax exemption, eliminated its estate tax in 2018. New Yorks estate tax exemption, which was just $1 million in 2014, is $5.25 million in 2018. Delaware eliminated its estate tax at the end of 2017. Some of the planning we had done not only doesnt make sense anymore, but it could also be counterproductive, says Botwinick. For example, people who bought life insurance to help cover estate tax bills are reassessing whether they need the coverage. Instead of creating estate plans primarily to avoid taxes, more people can now focus on what they want to accomplish with their money. Back in the early 2000s, people were very focused on estate taxes. Now theyre looking at trusts for probate avoidance, privacy and planning, says Foster Friedman, an estate-planning attorney in Alexandria, Va. Those were the key issues that Mike and Karen Lucero, both age 54, focused on when they updated their estate plans this year. The Seattle couple did their first round of estate planning 18 years ago, writing a will and designating a guardian soon after their two oldest children were born. But when they were working on retirement planning last year, they realized that their estate plans were out of datetheir daughter wasnt even included in their original estate plans, and her two older brothers are now legally adults. Their estate had become larger and more complicated, and they could afford to give more to charity, too.

They updated their will, health care proxy and advance directive for end-of-life care, but they also wanted to do more than just pass a lump sum to their children, who are now ages 16, 19 and 21. Instead, they created a trust that will give 11% of the money to charity after they die and will split the rest equally among their children, paying out a portion when they reach ages 30, 35 and 40. Before then, the trustee can make discretionary payments for education, health care, emergencies and a house down payment, which will be subtracted from the childrens future distributions. The Luceros will reassess those plans as their kids get older and have more financial experience. It doesnt end with the first document, says Mike. You have to take stock of your priorities. Do you need a trust? Rather than just divvying up money when you die, a trust can help you control what happens to it for years afterward. With a trust, you can specify when your heirs will get the money and how it can be used. Money in a trust can also avoid probate, the process of passing assets through a will. That can be expensive, time-consuming and publicand the Luceros are experiencing that firsthand. Mikes mother died in August and left most of her estate through her will. She lived in California, which has a time-consuming and expensive probate process, which didnt even start until October. A trust can also protect money from your heirs creditors or an estranged ex-spouse if your children get divorced. If you have a child with disabilities, you can set up a special-needs trust that can be used for the benefit of your child after you die without jeopardizing your childs eligibility for government benefits.

Trusts are really powerful, says Tracy Craig, the chair of law firm Mirick OConnells trusts and estates group in Worcester, Mass. I call them the workhorses of the estate plan because they can do so much for you. She recommends that families with minor children have a trust, which lets you appoint a trustee to manage the money until theyre legally adults and gives you the opportunity to specify how the assets can be used as your children grow up. In states such as Massachusetts, which taxes estates valued at $1 million or more, Craig also recommends a type of trust known as a credit-shelter trust, which allows spouses to double their estate tax exemption. A trust can be particularly helpful for blended families. You can set up a trust to pay out income to your current spouse as long as he or she is alive, then pass the remaining assets to your children from your first marriage. Julie Tappero, 65, of Gig Harbor, Wash., sold her staffing agency business in April 2018 and updated her estate plans a few months later. She became aware of the importance of estate planning when her first husband died unexpectedly from an illness in 2007. Because she had worked on an estate plan with him a few years earlier, she already knew his wishes for health care and financial decisions. Im glad we had done that because I didnt have to guess, she says. Tappero remarried in August 2017 and created a new estate plan because she has two daughters, ages 30 and 38, and her husband has children and grandchildren. She wanted her daughters to inherit money from her estate but didnt want them to be overwhelmed with a potentially life-changing lump sum. She also worked with her financial adviser to make the distribution fair while taking into account each daughters needs, because one is disabled and unable to work.

Now she needs to decide who will manage the trust. She doesnt want the trustee to be a family member because she has seen that cause stress in other families. Shes looking for a bank or trust company that her daughters will be comfortable working with. You can choose a family member, trusted friend, or financial institution to manage your trustor a combination. A lot of people hire us as the co-trustee, says Kevin Ruth, head of wealth planning and personal trusts for Fidelity. They want a family member who understands the family dynamic and relationships, but they also want an institutional trustee to do all of the administration, investment management and tax returns. Trust service fees are typically about $4,000 per year, or more for trusts over $2 million, Ruth says. Take time to think through what you want your trust to accomplish. David TenBrink, 70, started his precision machining company in Holland, Mich., with one machine in 1983. It has since grown to a 25-person company that builds parts for trucks, military vehicles and tractors. He and his wife of more than 50 years, Mary, have spent a long time thinking about their values. We believe that a good estate plan can be used as a learning tool for money management, he says. They created a trust to help pass along the values of hard work, education and charitable giving to their three children and 10 grandkids. They specified that the children (who are ages 42 to 47) should use some of the money to save for their own retirement and give 10% to charity. They can use unlimited money in the trust for education (college or trade school), and other withdrawals can match what theyve earned as income. Im a big believer in matching funds, he says. You want to try to give them a safety net, but they have to participate.

To pick the right kind of trust, its important to work with an estate-planning attorney who is an expert in your states laws. It can also help to have your financial team work together on your plans, which the Luceros did with their CPA, financial planner and estate-planning attorney. You can usually get a will, a basic trust and a durable power of attorney for financial matters and for health care for about $2,500 to $3,000. The trust itself can cost from $1,500 up to $10,000, depending on its complexity, says Michael Eisenberg, the Luceros CPA. Your financial adviser may recommend an estate-planning attorney, or you can find one through the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel or the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Having the talk Some well-off people avoid discussing estate planning because they dont want their children or grandchildren to know how much wealth theyve accumulated. You dont want to disincentivize your kids from having their own successes or set the expectation that theres something large coming down the pike, says Malia Haskins, vice president and wealth strategist for RBC Wealth Management. Alternatively, your kids may have structured their lifestyle anticipating a large inheritance, only to find out that you have other intentionssay, donating most of your wealth to charity, says Jordon Rosen, head of the estate and trust practice at Belfint Lyons & Shuman, an accounting firm in Wilmington, Del. Even if you dont want to provide specifics, its important for your heirs to understand the framework of how theyll receive any inheritance, along with the reasoning behind your decisions. If youre doling out funds through a trust in which the beneficiaries receive income but no access to principal, they should know that in advance, says Rosen.

Matthew Wesley, director of the Merrill Lynch Center for Family Wealth, favors a series of progressive conversations over time. Feed out a little information, see what the response is, then figure out the next steps from that, he says. When your children are in their late teens or twenties, start having general discussions about your familys views on wealth. Next, you can introduce them to the structure of your estate plantelling them, for example, that you have money in a foundation and that youd like them to help determine where to direct it, or that you have sufficient funds in a trust for, say, their childrens educations. In later conversations, you can reveal numbers, such as how much money is in a trust or foundation. Make sure your kids also know where to find key documents and who to contact for questions and assistance when you die. A third party, such as your financial adviser, estate planner or attorney, can help steer the conversation. A professional can also explain the more complex aspects of your plan to your children. For example, you may have your attorney review the structure of your estate plan, your accountant discuss its tax implications, and your financial planner go over such technicalities as how the money will be transferred upon your death. A professional can also ease tensions and encourage both sides to talk. The parents dont feel as though theyre being parents, and the kids dont feel as though theyre being kids. It becomes an adult-to-adult relationship, says Wesley. Equal or not? In some cases, leaving different inheritances to your children makes sense. For instance, a child with a severe disability or mental incapacity may need more financial support in life than your other children. Or parents who regularly give financial gifts to one childsort of an inheritance advancemight leave more to others to even things up. But many estate-planning experts say unequal inheritances can tear the family apart after your death. Any differences among siblings tend to create animosity, says Matthew Boersen, a certified financial planner in Jenison, Mich. And at someones death, when emotions are running high, its very, very easy for people to get hurt feelings. Even children who are financially better off than their siblings can feel unloved or punished for their success if they receive a smaller inheritance. Thats why most parents end up leaving kids equal amounts, estate-planning lawyers say.

But there are ways for parents to give more to one child without stirring up hard feelings. For instance, parents who want to reward a child for beinga caregiver can pay that child like an employee while theyre alive, and then treat the caregiver the same as the other children in the will, says Drew Kellerman, an investment adviser in Gig Harbor, Wash., who works on legacy planning. And if other children have any questions about how the caregiver is paid, the parents are still around to explain their thinking. Communication is even more important when you plan to treat heirs differently, either by bequeathing unequal amounts or by giving one heir a lump sum while creating a trust with restrictions for another. The worst time for people to find out that they are being treated differently than their siblings is during the reading of the will, says Kellerman. When choosing an executor (to carry out your wills instructions), a trustee (if youve set up a trust), and agents who will make medical and financial decisions on your behalf, many parents divide the roles among the children, without regard to whether a child is suited for the job, says Vincent Averaimo, an estate attorney in Milford, Conn. Some name two children to the same role to avoid hurt feelings. This can lead to chaos if two children are named as a health care agent but disagree on a parents care, Averaimo says. (Some states, such as Illinois and New Jersey, dont allow more than one health care agent at a time.) To avoid problems, name one person to fill a role, but include a backup in case he or she is unavailable. Give it away before you die? Giving away some of your assets while youre alive will give you the satisfaction of watching your beneficiaries enjoy the giftsespecially if they need the money to, say, pay college bills or make a down payment on a home. (And as a bonus, theyll have a chance to thank you for it.) You can also be sure that your gifts go to the people you intend to receive them. And the more property you keep out of probate, the less your heirs will have to deal with the costs and delays that can come with the process, Haskins says.

Lifetime gifts can also serve as a barometer of how your heirs will manage inherited wealth. You could, for example, give $10,000 to your child, tell him that you expect him to invest it, then check in a year later to see how he has managed the money, says Haskins. If he blew it on a shopping spree or a luxury vacation, that may guide how you set up his inheritance. Tax considerations are still part of the equation. While the vast majority of people dont have to worry about estate taxes now, the federal estate tax exemption is scheduled to drop to about $5.5 million in 2026. In addition, several states still have lower limitssuch as $1 million in Massachusetts and Oregon, $2.4 million in Minnesota, and $2.2 million in Washington state. Giving away some of your assets while youre alive will shrink the size of your estate, reducing the chance that it will be subject to federal and state estate taxes. In 2018, an individual can make gifts of up to $15,000 in cash or other property to each recipient without reporting them on a federal gift tax returnso as long as your gifts to each person stay below that yearly limit, they wont eat into your total exemption. Together, you and your spouse could give up to $30,000 for the year to each child (and for children who are married, you could give up to $60,000 to include the spouse). You wont pay gift tax as long as all your gifts over the years do not surpass the lifetime limit of $11.18 million per person, which is the combined exemption for gift and estate tax.

If youd like to cover an adult childs medical bills or help a grandchild pay for college, payments you make on behalf of someone else directly to an educational institution for tuition or to a medical facility for care are not subject to gift tax. You can also give five years worth of gifts to a 529 college-savings plan in one yearwhich is $75,000, or $150,000 for a coupleto each child, grandchild or others (but you cant make any other gifts to them during that time). Certain types of assets may be less desirable to transfer during your lifetime. If you pass on appreciated assets such as stock or real estate while youre alive, the recipient will be subject to capital gains tax on the appreciated amount. For example, if you purchased a stock for $10 and its value has soared, the recipient takes on your cost basis of $10. If he or she sells the stock at $100, he or she will owe tax on $90 of appreciation. If the stock is transferred after your death, though, your heir gets a step up in basis to the assets fair market value on the day you die and will pay tax only on appreciation from that date. (One exception: Assets transferred through a credit-shelter trust dont get the step-up.) However, if your assets will likely be subject to estate tax, it may be wise to give away stocks that you expect to appreciate significantly in the years ahead. Any appreciation that occurs during the time until your death will escape estate tax when you die.

To avoid the risk of giving away money youll need later, work with a financial adviser to project expenses youre likely to have in the future, based on your life expectancy, spending habits, and projected rates of return on your investments. Health care expenses are especially important to consider. Account for how your personal spending may fluctuate, too. Sometimes people spend a little more when theyre newly retired, but after they get the travel bug out of their system, theyll settle down and spend a little less, says Michael Duffy, director of the Strategic Wealth Advisory Group for Merrill Lynch Private Banking & Investment Group. Once youve set a projection for how much youll spend, build in a cushion of an extra 10% to 20% for unexpected needs. How to avoid probate Probate is the court-supervised process of passing assets through a will (or through state law if there is no will) after you die. Money in a trust generally does not have to go through probate. Life insurance death benefits and money in IRAs, 401(k)s and other retirement plans with beneficiary designations pass directly to the beneficiary without having to go through probate (and the beneficiary designations supersede your will). Bank accounts and brokerage accounts held as joint tenants with rights of survivorship pass directly to the joint owner after you die. Many states now permit people to own bank accounts and other financial accounts with a transfer-on-death designation. The accounts can pass on assets outside of probate when you die, and you dont have to give up any control over your accounts while youre alive. Pass on an IRA the right way An inherited IRA could create a lifetime legacy for your heirs. But unless youre careful, you could end up leaving a large part of your savings to Uncle Sam. The tax code treats IRAs inherited by children and other heirs differently from IRAs inherited by spouses. Spouses can simply roll inherited IRAs into their own accounts, postponing required minimum distributionsand taxesuntil they turn 70. Non-spousal heirs dont have that option. To continue to benefit from tax-deferred growth, each heir must roll his or her portion of the IRA into a separate account known as an inherited IRA.
If it seems as if youre getting more-frequent robocalls, youre right. Calls from robots are on track to make up nearly half of all calls in the U.S. by early 2019, according to phone security company First Orion.

But help may be on the way. Next year, many mobile carriers plan to start rolling out a new line of defense: a kind of caller authentication dubbed Stir/Shaken. The service is designed to cut down on spoofingthe trick spammers use to make their calls appear to come from a local number. Once Stir/Shaken is implemented by Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and other mobile companies, phone calls made on their networks will carry a digital key that will make it difficult for spammers to disguise their identities.

There are plenty of other ways to cut down on the number of robots in your call history. Review options your phone provider offers for rejecting or screening anonymous calls, and consider third-party apps, such as YouMail or Robo-Killer, that automatically reject calls from suspect numbers. These apps arent foolproof, but once Stir/Shaken is available, you can expect them to be more effective.
Packages are stolen from porches and doorways year-round, but thieves are particularly busy during the holiday season, when there are more items to steal. Take the following steps to protect your purchases:

Ship to a store. Some retailers let you send online purchases to one of their stores for pickup. The service is usually free.

Send to a locker. UPS, FedEx and Amazon all operate locations where packages can be delivered. Amazon provides lockers in Whole Foods Markets and convenience stores. When you place your order, search for your nearest locker, add it to your address book and select it for deliveries.

For items shipped via UPS or FedEx, youll need to register for a free UPS MyChoice or FedEx Delivery Manager account. You can ask to have your purchases delivered to one of their participating retailers. UPS doesnt charge for the service, but FedEx may charge up to $15 to deliver to a different address.

If a package is declared lost or undelivered by any carrier, your best bet is to contact both the carrier and the merchant to figure out whos responsible for your refund. Some merchants may refund your purchase.
* China's U.S. scrap copper imports down 80 y/y pct in Sept* Shipments from Japan increase to fill void* Surging alumina exports head to Iceland, India

By Tom Daly

BEIJING, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Chinese imports of scrap metal from the United States fell in September, according to customs data on Thursday, spelling out the impact of tariffs imposed by Beijing, while India and Iceland benefited from a boom in Chinese alumina exports.

China's General Administration of Customs said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday that it was making available to the public monthly data on the import and export of commodities, including the country of origin for imports and destination for exports.

Customs had previously provided such data for a fee but suspended this service in April. A search of the data showed China imported 9,641,673 kilograms, or just 9,642 tonnes, of scrap copper from the United States in September, the most recent month available. That was down 80.1 percent from 50,243 tonnes of imports reported by customs a year earlier.

From January to September, scrap copper shipments from the United States fell 13.8 percent, according to Reuters calculations, to 335,636 tonnes.

China has been cutting imports of scrap and waste for environmental reasons, and in August imposed a 25 percent tariff on scrap material from the United States, one of its biggest suppliers, as part of a tit-for-tat trade row between the world's top two economies. Partially replacing the U.S. volumes, scrap copper imports from Japan in September more than doubled to 46,446 tonnes from 19,198 tonnes a year earlier.

Imports of U.S. scrap aluminium, which were also hit with a 25 percent tariff in August on top of an earlier 25 percent retaliatory tariff in April, fell in September by 39 percent from a year earlier to 33,880 tonnes.

In the January to September, shipments were down a more modest 5.5 percent to 433,373 tonnes.

Meanwhile, the data also revealed that countries as far apart as Iceland, India and Cameroon have been buying Chinese alumina this year as China has been making rare exports of the aluminium raw material to cash in on a favourable arbitrage to international markets.

China's alumina exports surged more than fivefold from August to more than 165,000 tonnes in September. The newly available data showed Iceland imported 39,524 tonnes in September, while India took 36,721 tonnes, Malaysia 29,199 tonnes, Russia 28,133 tonnes and Cameroon 16,400 tonnes.

(Reporting by Tom Daly; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 31)  Former Makati Mayor Junjun Binay has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to travel abroad to support his daughter in a gymnastics competition.

In a motion he filed Monday, Binay said he intends to travel to Hong Kong from November 16-19.

Binay is facing graft raps before the Sandiganbayan over alleged irregularities in the construction of a building of the Makati Science High School.

Aside from the competition, Binay said he'd like to take the opportunity to bond with his other children.

"While in Hong Kong, the accused intends to also bring the children to Disneyland for a one-day trip," the motion read.

He said his family will be staying at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel for a night then transfer to the Gateway Hotel, Marco Polo for the rest of the trip.

"Accused fully commits to return to the Philippines on 19 November 2018, and to comply with whatever conditions may be imposed by this Court, including the posting of a cash travel bond as may be required," the motion read.

Binay filed a similar motion before the anti-graft court's Third Division, where he is facing separate charges over alleged corruption in the construction of the Makati City Hall Parking Building.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 43F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 33F. Winds light and variable.
Dhaka, Nov 1 (PTI) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday promised to ensure credibility of the upcoming general elections but declined to accept the opposition's demand for freeing imprisoned ex-premier Khaleda Zia ahead of the polls as she held a rare talks with an opposition front.

Hasina held the crucial talks with the newly-formed opposition National Unity Front (NUF), which includes the BNP of Zia, over the parliamentary elections scheduled for December.

PM Hasina) assured them of staging a fair and credible elections beyond government influence, ruling Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader told newsmen.

He said the dialogue was held in a very cordial and friendly atmosphere when we agreed on some points and agreed to continue talks whenever the discussions were required.

The door for discussions will remain open and the dialogue will continue, Quader, also the road transport minister told the media briefing.

NUF convenor and prominent lawyer Kamal Hossain, who led the opposition platform in the talks, in a brief comment said it was a good discussion, when we understood her (Hasina's) mind and she understood ours.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said we are not satisfied but added you can't achieve everything overnight, it is a continued process.

The NUF emerged earlier this month as an opposition platform and floated a seven-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament to pave way for a poll-time interim government for holding a credible election.

BNP, however, insisted that the release of their party chief Zia, now serving 10-year imprisonment, was a must for the level playing field in the polls.

But Quader said during the talks the premier clearly told pointing Kamal and Alamgir that the Zia was sentenced to jail terms in graft cases which was filed during the past interim government and not framed by us."

He said Hasina, however, told the NUF leaders to provide to her a list of cases against the Opposition leaders which they thought are politically motivated and assured to review them.

Quader said the NUF proposal for dissolving parliament was not acceptable.

The ruling Awami League's decision to hold talks with the NUF at Ganobhaban (PM's official residence) was a dramatic development as the party had earlier rejected scopes for such talks exclusively with BNP, but responded quickly to the NUF's proposal for the dialogue four days ago.

Rightwing BNP is the main Opposition party despite having no representation in parliament but Hossain leads the Opposition platform NUF, which also comprises several Left leaning political groups and individuals as civil society representatives.

Hossain is 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.

He was a former Awami League leader who led a parliamentary group in framing the post independent Bangladesh's Constitution.

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.

BNP stayed away from the last parliamentary election in 2014 when that demand was not met and waged a violent street campaign in subsequent three years that saw deaths of scores.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Quetta [Pakistan], Nov 01 (ANI): At least five workers, including an engineer of a construction company, were killed in Gunz area of Jiwani in Balochistan's Gwadar district on Wednesday afternoon.

Armed men attacked personnel of the construction company in Gunz area of Jiwani, about 80 kilometres from the port city of Gwadar. The deceased were reportedly working on a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-related housing scheme.

Meanwhile, spokesperson of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Azad Baloch, called media sources and accepted responsibility for the Gwadar and Rajanpur attacks.

Azad Baloch said that China and Pakistan are building around 70 housing schemes under the exploitative CPEC project to colonise the Baloch land. "The site attacked today was part of CPEC project," he added.

The BLA spokesperson said that Pakistan has organised a conference of twenty six countries in the name of 'Asian Parliamentarian Assembly - APA' in its attempt assert the legality of its illegal occupation in Balochistan.

"Today's attack is a clear message to China and all other countries that Balochistan is an occupied territory. We warn China to halt working on all the projects including a planned naval base in Jiwani, Balochistan. The BLA will continue to resist against the occupation of Baloch Ocean and coastal belt," Azad Baloch said.

The spokesperson further said that according to international laws bringing demographic changes to an occupied territory is against the law, adding that, "China and Pakistan are settling Punjabis and Chinese in Gwadar and other areas of Balochistan's coastal belt to turn the Baloch into a minority under their expansionist designs."

He said it was the responsibility of the international community to act against colonisation of Baloch land according to international laws.

"If the international community fails to fulfil their responsibilities and turn a blind eye to the Pakistani and Chinese colonisation of Balochistan, then the Baloch nation will have no other option but to target all non-Baloch settlers in Balochistan," he said.

He said any agreement with China and other countries by Pakistan, without the consent of the Baloch nation and before the freedom of Balochistan, has no legal standing.

"Hence, we warn all military and other constructions companies to immediately stop working on their projects in Gwadar or they will be targeted by Baloch fighters," Azad Baloch said.

He also said that Baloch fighters have earlier targeted a Pakistani security force vehicle in Dalla Thal area of Rajanpur on Tuesday evening, killing at least five Pakistani soldiers and injuring one. Azad Baloch accepted responsibility for targeting the Pakistani forces.

He claimed that five Pakistani forces were killed in this attack and several others were wounded.

Azad Baloch said that Pakistani forces and their death squads have intensified abduction of Baloch women and young girls.

"The abduction and torture of a 14-year-old girl from Panjgur shows that Pakistani state is unaware of the rule of war and it proves that Pakistani army and intelligence agencies are committing war crimes in Balochistan," the BLA spokesperson said.

He said, "The BLA vows to protect Baloch land and its resources and continuously resist against those who violate the Baloch code of honour and secular Baloch values." (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Tehran, Oct 31 (AP) President Hassan Rouhani warned Iranians on Wednesday they may face more difficulties in the months ahead, after the United States imposes new sanctions on the country next week, Iran's state TV reported Wednesday.

"The situation was hard for people in the recent months, and it may be hard in the next several months too," said Rouhani, speaking during a televised Cabinet meeting.

"The government will utilize its entire capabilities to alleviate the problems." The US has been re-imposing sanctions on Iran since President Donald Trump withdrew America from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in May.

On Monday, the US is imposing sanctions on Iran's oil and gas industry. According to Rouhani, Washington is trying to make Iranians angry at their government.

"People are in fact angry, but ... they are mad at America and its crimes  not at their government and its ruling system," he said.

Iran is already in the grip of an economic crisis, and has seen sporadic protests in recent months though Iranian officials have generally tried to downplay the sanctions and their effects.

The government, meanwhile, has been trying to find ways to get around the new US sanctions and expand financial ties with other countries, aiming mainly for the European Union, China and India.

One such attempt is a development from Sunday, when Iran began offering 1 million barrels of oil for sale through its stock exchange for a period of one week  in theory, giving oil dealers, including those from foreign countries, a chance to get their hands on Iranian crude. Previously, Iran has exported its crude to refineries only.

Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said 280,000 barrels were sold on the IRENEX exchange so far and 720,000 barrels will be provided later.

It's unclear how the stock market offering will affect Iranian sales as it's far below the 1.85 million barrels a day that Iran has sold in October, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.

Trump pledged last week 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 terror and militant groups that destabilize the Mideast. (AP) MRJ

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Maruti Suzuki India, country's leading auto manufacturer is offering hefty discounts on the auspicious occasion of Diwali 2018. As the fact that festive season is considered very auspicious not only for the customers but also for the retailers. To lure more buyers this Diwali, Indo-Japanese car maker is providing lucrative deals and attractive offers of up to Rs 75,000 on its entire car range. Diwali 2018 Offers & Discounts on Scooters Under Rs 60000; Honda Activa 5G, Suzuki Access, TVS NTorq & Hero Maestro Edge.

Being Indias biggest car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki India out rightly out sell other car makers with more than 1.5 lakh units retailed each month. With an aim to boost the volume during Diwali 2018, Maruti Suzuki has officially announced huge discounts that ranges from Rs 7000 to Rs 75,000 on the popular models like Maruti Celerio, WagonR, Swift, Dzire and more. Here are some of the exciting deals and lucrative discounts offered on Maruti cars during Diwali 2018.

Maruti Alto 800 and Alto K10: Starting off with the entry level hatchbacks, the car maker is offering maximum discount of Rs 45,000 on Alto 800. This discounted amount comprises of special discount as well as exchange bonus. On the other hand, Alto K10 gets slightly bigger discount of Rs 50,000 whereas the Alto K10 automatic attracts discount of Rs 55,000. The discounted amount is inclusive of special discount as well as exchange bonus.

Maruti Suzuki WagonR: The Indo-Japanese car maker is also offering discount on WagonR hatchback, which will be replaced soon with a next generation car by early next year. In order to create the stocks early, the car maker is proffering Rs 55,000 discount on the petrol version. However, the CNG version of the current generation WagonR attract customers with a discount of Rs 60,000. On the other hand, the AMT variant of the car is also on offer, which gets a discount of Rs 65,000 that is inclusive of exchange bonus as well as special discount. New Maruti Suzuki WagonR India Launch Likely By Early Next Year; Expected Price, Features, Specifications & More.

Maruti Celerio: As Hyundai has launched the new Santro in the country, Maruti Suzuki India has decided to provide discount on Maruti Celerio to lure more customers this Diwali. The car maker is offering discount of Rs 45,000 on the base variants and Rs 55,000 on the top end variants. However, the AMT variants are offered with a price cut of Rs 60,000. Maruti Suzuki Eeco is also on offered that attracts a small discount of Rs 7000 on all variants.

Maruti Ertiga: The car maker will be launching the new Ertiga in India this month, which will be packed with new engine as well as more features. In a bid to clear out the stocks as soon as possible, the company is providing the Ertiga with a price cut of Rs 30,000 for the petrol and Rs 25,000 for the CNG variants. On the other hand, the diesel SHVS version gets a huge discount of Rs 75,000. Maruti Suzuki Price Hike: Maruti Swift, Dzire, Brezza, Ertiga, Baleno & All Other Models Becomes Expensive by up to Rs 6100

Maruti Swift & Dzire: Maruti Suzuki Indias popular models  Dzire and Swift too attract buyers with discounted amounts. The hatchback, which was launched earlier this year at Auto Expo 2018, now attracts a discounts of Rs 25,000 and Rs 35,000 for the petrol and diesel variants respectively. On the other hand, the sub-compact sedan gets a discount of Rs 40,000 on diesel versions and Rs 25,000 on petrol version across all variants. To sum it up, this is an excellent opportunity for the customers looking to purchase reliable, fuel efficient and most economical cars from the house of Maruti Suzuki India during this Diwali.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 01, 2018 03:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Bengaluru, November 1: The Janata Dal (Secular) Thursday accused the BJP of "unnecessarily misleading" people by seeking Opposition parties' support for the construction of Ram temple to reap political dividends ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which did not believe in the ideology of Ram, was playing politics in the name of the lord, JDS national spokesperson Danish Ali alleged.

"BJP leaders are unnecessarily misleading common people of the country by asking the opposition parties to support the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya," he said. Aparna Yadav Favours Construction of Ram Mandir, Says 'Temple Should be Built in Ayodhya'; Watch Video.

"The apex court is hearing a title suit (on the division of disputed land), not construction of Ram temple," he said. BJP MP Rakesh Sinha had earlier on Twitter hinted that he may bring up a private members bill for the construction of the temple and asked if the Congress, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) and other opposition parties will support it.

Speaking to PTI over phone, Ali also said the verdict in cases like Section 377 and Sabarimala did not take that long, but the issue on Ayodhya was pending for decades.

Describing BJP leaders as "hypocrites" for not raising the issue for the last four-and-a-half years, he said, "the party is raking it up now to reap political dividends ahead of Lok Sabha elections next year and cover its anti-people policies".

He said JDS has taken a consistent stand by saying that it would respect Supreme Court's decision on the issue. "JDS, from day one, is of the opinion that whatever the Supreme Court decides, we all should, as citizens of this country, respect it," he said.
Srinagar, November 1: A general secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and his brother were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar on Thursday. Anil Parihar, BJP general secretary, and his brother Ajit Parihar were killed in Tapal Gali Mohalla of Kishtwar town.

Following the incident, Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), prohibiting the assembly of more than four persons at public places was imposed in the area. Ajit Parihar was an employee of the state Financial Corporation. The attack comes in the wake of a spree of terror attacks in South Kashmir over the last few weeks.

"Anil and Ajit Parihar were shot and killed in Kishtwar town by unidentified gunmen on Thursday evening. A manhunt has been launched to trace the assassins," a police officer told IANS. MoS Pime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh rushed to the spot. Further details were awaited. Jammu & Kashmir: Municipal Body in Shopian Set on Fire Days After Civic Elections Which BJP Won.

Two days ago, a municipal body in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district was set on fire by suspected militants days after the BJP had won 13 of the 17 municipality seats unopposed in the district. The PDP and NC had not participated in the polls, citing the Centre's "cryptic stance" on Article 35(A), which guarantees special status to the state.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 01, 2018 09:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Mumbai, November 1: Budget passenger carrier SpiceJet Ahmedabad - Chennai flight was diverted to Mumbai due to a technical issue on Wednesday night, the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) informed. Earlier this month, SpiceJet's Bangkok-Delhi flight SG 88 was diverted to Varanasi owing to an onboard medical emergency. Reports inform that despite all the efforts, the passenger could not be saved.

According to the airline, the passenger, who suffered from a medical condition, was declared dead by the doctors at a local hospital in Varanasi. "SpiceJet Flight SG 88 operating from Bangkok to Delhi on October 5 was diverted to Varanasi owing to a medical emergency on board. All possible assistance was provided by the crew on board...," the airline said in a statement. Delhi-Patna Spicejet Flight Diverted to Varanasi, Passengers Asked to Take a Bus.

On October 12, Surat-bound IndiGo flight from Delhi and Surat-bound SpiceJet flight from Hyderabad were the two flights diverted to Ahmedabad. According to a report by TOI, the flight diversions have become a usual phenomenon due to fog during the winter season.

Earlier in June, nearly 20 passengers were allegedly asked to take a bus after a Delhi-Patna Spicejet flight was diverted to Varanasi late night owing to bad weather conditions. Reports inform that the SG-8480 flight, which was supposed to reach Patna, landed in Varanasi at 10.40 pm.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 01, 2018 09:38 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The full-schedule of the five-state polls - Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram - has been released by the Election Commission. The polls, commencing from November 12, will conclude on December 7. The results will be declared on December 11.

Voting for the first phase of Chhattisgarh will be held on November 12 in 18 districts and in Northern Chhattisgarh, it will be held on November 20. In Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram, voting will take place on November 28. In Rajasthan and Telangana, voting will be held on December 7. Counting of votes will be held on December 11. Assembly Elections 2018 Full Schedule Announced By EC: Dates For Voting And Results In Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana And Mizoram.

Check Complete Schedule of Assembly Elections 2018 Here:

The model code of conduct has been put in place in the four states from today. CEC OP Rawat said that the theme for these polls is 'accessible elections'. There will be at least one polling station in every constituency which will be an all-women polling station. All machines being used are M-III. VVPATs will also be used along with Electronic Voting Machines. The CEC also announced that the candidate expenditure limit is Rs 28 lakh except in Mizoram.

The tenure of the 200-seat Rajasthan Assembly will end on January 20, 2019. The Congress has been firing attacks on Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje over farmer issues, crimes against women among other crisis in the state. An ABP-CVoter opinion poll had earlier this year predicted that the Congress is likely to win 130 seats in Rajasthan while the BJP would be down to 57. Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018 Full Schedule And Dates: Single-Phase Voting on December 7, Results on December 11.

The term of the 230-seat Madhya Pradesh Assembly will end on January 7, 2019. It is a battle between the Congress and the ruling BJP. While Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is looking at a fourth term in the state, it remains to be seen who emerges as the CM candidate for the Congress - Kamal Nath or Jyotiraditya Scindia. However, the BSP and AAP have also decided to contest all 230 seats in the state. Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2018 full Schedule And Dates: Polling for All 230 Seats on 28 November.

The tenure of the 90-seat Chhattisgarh Assembly will end on January 5, 2019. In Chhattisgarh, it is a fierce three-way fight with BSP chief Mayawati announcing an alliance with Janata Congress and announcing Ajit Jogi as the CM candidate. The Congress and BJP are fighting it out among themselves. Opinion polls have predicted a mixed bag in the state. Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2018 Full Schedule And Dates: Polling in 2 Phases, November 12 & 20.

The term of the Mizoram Assembly will end on December 15, 2018. The BJP has decided to go alone in the state currently ruled by the Congress. While opinion polls have indicated a contest between the Congress and the Mizo National Front, they have said that the BJP is likely to make a dent in the Congress vote share in the northeastern state. Mizoram Assembly Elections 2018 Full Schedule And Details: Voting to be Held on November 28, Results on December 11.

While Telangana Elections were due next year, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao dissolved the Assembly and called for early elections in the state. Telangana Assembly Elections 2018 Full Schedule And Dates: Voting on December 7, Results on December 11.

These elections are crucial for both the national parties - Congress and the BJP - as they will be the last before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 31, 2018 09:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Theres no festival in India that is celebrated with so much fervour and enthusiasm than Diwali. The five-day long extravaganza celebrates the victory of good over evil and darkness over light, which explains its sobriquet  The Festival of Lights. Every nook and cranny of the country is lit up with lamps, fireworks and lanterns. Deepavali is celebrated across India, in distinct ways. Every region has a different story and reason to celebrate the festival. Although the common lore associated with Diwali is the story of Lord Ramas return from exile, there are many other myths and legends surrounding the festival of lights.

The Return of Rama

The best-known story behind Diwali is from the Ramayana. After Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after his 14-year-long exile, his subjects celebrated his return by cleaning up their streets and lighting up their houses with oil lamps that were arranged in a line. This explains the name Deepavali since deep in Sanskrit means "lamp" and avali means array.

Rama, Sita and Lakshmana (Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons)

As the legend goes, King Dasharatha reluctantly exiles his favourite, first-born son and the rightful heir to the Ayodhya throne Rama due to his oath to his wife Kaikeyi. Fourteen years later, after finishing his vanvas, Rama, his brother Lakshmana and wife Sita returned to Ayodhya after slaying the demon king of Lanka, Ravan. Ever since that day, Diwali has been celebrated to commemorate his return. Diwali 2018 Date Calendar for India: When Is Dhanteras, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj? Get Complete Deepavali Holiday Dates.

The Slaying of Narakasura by Krishna

One day before Diwali, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu celebrate Naraka Chathurdashi, to celebrate the slaying of the demon Narakasura. He was the king of Pragjothispura, a place in Nepal. As a ruler, he had grown increasingly powerful and despotic, looting and plundering the triloka (three worlds) and enslaving the sages. Narakasura also disposed of the devas brutally. In the process, he also claimed 16,000 women as his concubines.

Krishna splits Narakasura in half with Sudarshana Chakra. (Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons)

Lord Krishna engaged the crazed despot in a battled and slew him with his Sudarshana Chakra on Chathurdashi or the 14th day of the waxing of the moon. He also set the 16,000 women enslaved by Narakasura free and married them to save their honour. Lakshmi & Ganesh Idols for Diwali 2018: Different Kinds of Murti You Can Buy Online and Gift This Festival.

On Naraka Chathurdashi, people wake up early in the morning and burst crackers to commemorate Krishnas triumph over Narakasura. Thats why, its a ritual in South India to burst crackers in the day instead of night.

The Wedding of Lakshmi and Vishnu

If there is a deity other than Rama who is revered on Diwali, its Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. The Goddess was born out of the cosmic ocean of milk (Kshirsagara) and it is believed that she wed her husband Vishnu on the night of Diwali.

Vishnu and Lakshmi with Bramha (Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons)

Lakshmi is worshipped on Diwali as shes considered to bring in prosperity. According to legends, the Goddess roams the earth on the day, showering her choicest blessings on houses that are the cleanest. Thats why Diwali ki Safai is followed ritualistically in the days leading to the festival.

The Night of The Yakshas

The earliest mentions of Diwali is in Vatsyayanas Kama Sutra, published more than 2000 years ago. It was called by a different name Yaksha Ratri or Night of the Yakshas. According to certain scholars, that was the original name of Diwali.

Yakshas are celestial beings who were related to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kubera, both deities of wealth. The celebrations of the festival didnt differ much from how its observed today. It was a custom to light lamps and bonfires on this day, as revellers indulged in celebrations.

The Lifting of Mount Govardhana

Another one of Krishnas heroic exploits deals with the story of Mount Govardhana. The villagers in Braj, where Krishna spent his childhood days, worshipped Lord Indra, the controller of rains and thunderstorm. Krishna was against the worship of Indra, and believed that the villagers should worship Govardhana which provided them with natural resources, food and livelihood. The villagers agree, but they incurred the wrath of Indra. He sent down torrential rains to Braj. To protect the people from the wrath of Indra and the thunderstorm, Lord Krishna lifted Mount Govardhana up on his pinky finger and accommodated the villagers underneath.

Mount Govardhana (Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons)

This day is commemorated on Diwali as Govardhana Puja where people make a replica of the mountain with cow dung and worship it. It may seem strange to use the faecal matter of animals for a puja. But bovines are worshipped in India and cow dung happens to be an organic fertiliser, which has a lot of cultural significance among the agrarian community.

The Separation of Yama and Yamuna

On Bhai-Dooj, the exemplary relationship of Yama, the God of Death and his sister Yamuna are celebrated. Yama and Yamuna were children of the Sun God Surya. Unable to bear his radiation, Suryas wife and Yama-Yamunas mother Samjna flees from him, leaving an imposter in her place named Chhaya.

Yamaraja (Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons)

Soon, differences start arising between Chhaya and Yama, who resented her step-motherly treatment towards him. She, in turn, cursed him. Surya realised that Chhaya is an imposter and tries to save his son from the curse. But Yama is banished into the underworld and is made to reign as the God of Death. Yamuna wept for her brother and her tears become the eponymous river.

On Bhai Dooj, Yamaraja visited his sister Yamuna all the way from the underworld. Moved by her love and devotion, he grants her a wish, that on this day, whoever visits her will be liberated of all sins.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 07, 2018 01:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  It's almost time for the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) to reveal the list of eligible candidates for the 2019 elections.

Millions of Filipinos are expected to vote for local officials, party-list representatives, and 12 senators. With the fate of the Legislative branch hanging in a balance, the upcoming elections is a very important one.

Here are the dates to remember:

November 5

The list of tentative candidates are posted on the COMELEC website. Candidates have until November 9 to submit corrections on how their names will appear on the ballot.

December 14

COMELEC announces how overseas voting will be conducted.

January 13

Election period starts. This is also the last day for COMELEC to release the Certified List of Overseas Absentee Voters (CLAV).

February 12

Campaign period starts for Senatorial and party-list candidates.

March 28-29

Campaigning is not allowed.

March 30

Campaign period starts for House of Representative candidates, and for candidates for regional, provincial, city and municipal officials.

April 8 to 12

Testing and sealing of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) for overseas voting.

April 12

Deadline for CLAV to prepare a list of qualified local absentee voters.

April 13

Deadline for voters to receive their Voter's Information Sheets.

April 13 to May 13

Voting period for overseas voters. Candidates should cease all overseas campaigns.

April 22

Deadline to post the date, time and place of testing and sealing the VCMs.

April 25

Deadline for CLAV to transmit the list of qualified local absentee voters, local absentee ballots and other election paraphernalia to all concerned heads of offices/ supervisors/ commanders / PES /RED NCR /CEOs.

April 29 to May 1

Voting by absentee local voters.

May 6 to 10

Testing and sealing of VCMs.

May 11

Campaign period ends.

May 12

Liquor ban starts. Campaigning and giving/accepting free transportation, food, drinks or other things of value are also banned.

May 13

Election day.

May 13 to 17

Election officers should inform candidates to file their Sworn Statements of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).

May 17 to 19

Votes are counted. Proclamation of winners for senatorial, congressional, party-list, regional and provincial elections.

June 12

Deadline for candidates to file their SOCE. Election period ends.
New Delhi, November 1: US Ambassador to India Kenneth Ian Juster on Thursday said that President Donald Trump's visit to India was cancelled only due to "scheduling issue".

"It's completely a scheduling issue. Right now there is no Speaker of the House that has even been selected," Juster told ANI on the sidelines of the South Asia Regional Connectivity Conference 2018.

Earlier on October 30, the White House confirmed that the US President would not attend India's Republic Day celebrations due to "scheduling constraints". India Wants to Have Trade Deal with U.S. to Avoid Tariffs: Donald Trump.

"President Trump was honored by Prime Minister Modi's invitation for him to be Chief Guest of India's Republic Day on January 26, 2019, but is unable to participate due to scheduling constraints," a statement from White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders read.

"The President enjoys a strong personal rapport with Prime Minister Modi, developed through two meetings and several phone calls, and remains committed to deepening the U.S.-India strategic partnership. The President very much looks forward to meeting Prime Minister Modi again at the earliest opportunity," the statement added.
Nov 1, 2018, 12:26pm ET

Volvo partners with China's Baidu to develop autonomous, electric vehicles

Volvo is working toward an autonomous future.

Volvo is teaming up with Baidu, one of China's leading internet search providers, to develop electric and autonomous vehicles for the Chinese market.According to the terms of the pact, Volvo will supply "access to its expertise and advanced technologies of the car industry, while Baidu will bring to the table its own autonomous driving platform known as Apollo. The agreement will allow both companies to sell the jointly developed vehicles to Chinese customers."With Baidu we take a big step forward in commercializing our autonomous compatible cars, built on Volvo's industry-leading safety technology, said Hakan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars. "There is a strong development in autonomous drive in China, where Baidu is a leading player, and the market there offers huge opportunities for us as the supplier of choice for autonomous fleets.China is already the world's largest vehicle market, and the country is also expected to be the world's largest buyer of autonomous vehicles in the coming years. In fact, by 2040, China is expected to account for nearly half of worldwide autonomous vehicle sales.Volvo has not announced if the electric and autonomous vehicles developed with Baidu will be marketed in other regions.
- Nandul Durfa resigned from Simon Bako Lalong' government over alleged fraud in Plateau state

- Durfa was the chairman, board of directors, College of Health Technology, Zawan in the state

- He is the second government official to resign over alleged fraud that trailed the local government elections

Chairman, board of directors, College of Health Technology, Zawan in Plateau state, Nandul Durfa, has resigned his appointment, citing alleged electoral fraud and impunity in the October 10 Plateau local government elections.

In his resignation letter addressed to the Secretary to the state government, Durfa said that he was opting out because his conscience could not accept governments impunity that could bring further instability in Plateau.

A copy of the letter, dated October 22, 2018, was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday, October 31, in Jos.

READ ALSO: FG rejects N22,500 governors proposed minimum wage - Ngige

Durfa, an APC elder and former chief medical director, Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja, recalled that Governor Simon Lalong, on resumption of office in 2015, endeared himself to the people by swearing in Hitler Dadi as Chairman, Langtang North Local Government.

Dadi had won the election held in 2014, but was shoved aside by the then state government which swore in its preferred candidate that clearly lost in the polls.

According to him, That action (swearing-in) was applauded by all of us who felt that a fair leader with a sense of justice had arrived.

Ironically, in August 2017 during the councillorship election in my Sabon-Gida ward of Langtang South Local Government, the winner was rejected and the loser sworn in. I objected to this, but the abnormally was never rectified.

Durfa continued: On October 10, 2018, local government elections were conducted and the same impunity was repeated in my Langtang South local government.

READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda

I can report that the local government electoral officer did not collect the election result from any of the returning officers from the 15 state electoral wards before disappearing to Jos where the results were announced. Reports available to me show that the situation was the same in all other local governments.

Acts of impunity like this might lead to distrust of the government and may further bring instability to our state, he said.

Hirse had claimed that his conscience would not allow him to be part of such electoral fraud, declaring that he was a Christian seeking to make Heaven.

A top PLASIEC source quotes Hirse as saying that remaining in office while such fraud was being perpetrated would dent his integrity, being someone who is for light and truth and will never be part of what is wrong.

Hirse had declared further: The truth is that the election was not free and fair; I am resigning to show that I was not party to what happened.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app

The PLASIEC official was further quoted as saying that he had accepted the appointment because he wanted to serve, but had to leave because Plateau people were robbed in broad day light.

Reacting to the resignations, Mark Longyen, Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to Governor Lalong, said that the appointees were at liberty to relinquish their appointments anytime.

He said: It is true that they have resigned, but it is also true that the appointment was not forced on anyone. They willingly accepted the offers and are free to leave.

They have cited reasons for their actions which are personal; we should treat it as such and respect their decisions.

Durfa is said to be the second government official to resign over alleged fraud that trailed the local government elections.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the Plateau state government banned public procession and any form of protest in the state due to security reasons.

The mass killings and destruction of property in some parts of Jos, the Plateau state capital by unknown gunmen had sparked protests in the state.

Yakubu Dati, the commissioner for information and communication in a statement noted that the ban on protests was enforced to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

Nigeria Latest News: Herdsmen Have Destroyed my Farm - Nigerian Investor in Plateau | Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng
Nigeria is a country located in West Africa. The state was named after the Niger River. In translation from the Tuareg language, it means "flowing water." At the moment, the country consists of thirty-six states. But what else do you know about your country? How big is Nigeria? Is it really one of the largest countries on the continent? Keep reading to learn the answers and even more.

Location, position and size of Nigeria

Nigeria is located in West Africa and has access to the Atlantic Ocean through the Gulf of Guinea in the south. It also has the land border with Niger, Benin, Cameroon, and Chad. The border with Chad passes over the lake that has the same name. The coastline stretches for 853 km and is cut by deep bays, lagoons, and channels.

What is the land mass of Nigeria?

Nigeria covers an area of 923,768 km2. It is the world's 32nd largest country and the 14th Africa's largest state. The total length of the state border is 4047 km: in the West - with Benin (773 km), in the North - with Niger (1497 km), in the Northeast - with Chad (87 km), in the East - with Cameroon (1690 km).

The highest point of the country is Mount Chappal Waddi (2419 m) located in the state of Taraba close to the Nigerian-Cameroonian border. The Niger and Benue rivers divide the country into two parts. The Maritime Plain occupies a vast territory of the country. It is formed mainly by river sediments.

In the North of the Maritime Plain, the territory of the country passes into a low plateau - the Yoruba Plateau situated to the west of the Niger River. The other plateau - the Udi Plateau is located to the east of Nigeria. One more plateau is the Northern Plateau, whose height varies from 400600m to more than 1000m. The highest part is the central part of the plateau  the Jos Plateau, the highest point of which is Chery Mountain (1735 m). In the north-west, the Northern plateau passes into the Sokoto plain.

READ ALSO: Major physical features of Nigeria

Photo: wikiway.com

READ ALSO: How many languages are spoken in Nigeria today

Nigeria population size

Speaking about the population of Nigeria, this country is the leader among other African states. Due to the rapid population growth, the population of Nigeria is increasing every year by 2%, and now there are more than 197,588,150 people according to www.worldometers.info. If this population boosting goes on like this, by the end of this century, Nigeria will be ahead of China and India by the number of citizens.

Every woman in the country has at least five children. All birth control measures applied by the government led only to riots. A part of the Muslim population worships patriarchal traditions and does not want to limit the number of children in their families.

Every year, the UN organizes funds for the development of social programs and humanitarian assistance for the people of Nigeria. But there is still a problem of poverty in overpopulated Nigeria.

The density of the population of Nigeria is 210 people per square kilometer. Most of the country's population lives in the northern regions. The southern areas of the country are less densely populated and are amenable to some regulation by the government.

READ ALSO: Who named Nigeria and in what year?

Nigeria is a big country in terms of land mass and population. Though it is not as rich as some small European countries. However, kind and good people live here. People who do not fight because of nationality or ethnic group. People who are proud of their multilingualism and love their beautiful Motherland. Read our post to learn many interesting facts about your native country and broaden your range of interest.

READ ALSO: List of African countries and their current presidents

Source: Legit.ng
- Minister of the FCT has been mandated to summon his own security committee over the rising Shiites crisis

- This directive was given to the minister during the Federal Executive Council meeting

- Shiites had engaged the security agencies in violent clashes within and around the FCT since Saturday

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has directed the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bello Muhammad, to summon meeting of the territorys security council to address Shiites uprising in the territory.

The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known when he fielded questions from State House correspondents at the end of the Councils meeting on Wednesday, October 31, in Abuja.

The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the council chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, October 31.

READ ALSO: Buhari vs Atiku: North undecided yet - Arewa youths insist

The minister said: This matter came up for discussion and the minister of the Federal Capital Territory has been asked to take the matter up with his own security committee.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), popularly referred to as Shiite, had engaged the security agencies in violent clashes within and around the FCT since Saturday.

About 26 people were reportedly killed and many others injured during clashes between soldiers and Shiite group in Zuba, Mararaba/Nyanya and Abuja in the last three days.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the federal government has beefed up security around the Presidential Villa in Abuja and important places following the growing clash between security operatives and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

FG had tightened security at the different gates leading into the Presidential Villa, the Federal Secretariat, the Court of Appeal Complex, the National Arcade and the National Assembly Complex - all located within the Three Arms Zone in the Federal Capital Territory.

It was gathered that police officers, a huge number of soldiers and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were seen around the aforementioned locations.

Nigerian Air Force Operations Against Boko Haram | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- Connected Development on Wednesday, October 31, played host to key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector

- The focus of the event was on the impact of the sector's policies on host communities in the Niger Delta region

- According to the group's CEO, government will spend over $1billion for the Ogoni clean up

The Chief Executive Officer of Connected Development (CODE), Hamzat Lawal, has called for transparency and accountability in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, so that the sector's policies can have a positive impact on host communities in the oil rich Niger Delta region.

Lawal stated this while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the national policy colloquium on business principles to increase transparency and accountability in the sector, organised by CODE.

READ ALSO: Ex-militants storm A/Ibom LGA secretariat, accuse government of insincerity

According to him, our government will spend over $1billion for the Ogoni clean up, rather than having more re-occurrence, we are hosting this meeting to come up with policy directions and some resolutions with policy solutions.

So that, hopefully the president signs the PIGB bill and the National Assembly keep deliberating on other components of this bill, we will be able to mobilize citizens to hold government to account but beyond that, also to contribute to governance in the oil and gas sector.

So, today, we converged this meeting bringing government, private sector, research institutions, civil society partners and host communities to deliberate these issues and bring about solutions to ensure that Nigeria progress and build that confidence in the international communities as we keep exploring gas in host communities.

Earlier, during his welcome remarks, Lawal reiterated the convoluted nature of the oil and gas sector, bemoaning the underdevelopment that contrasts the wealth that drives Nigeria's economy.

He also confirmed CODE's desire to work with the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) on data for better policy advocacy.

READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda

Also speaking at the event, Henry Ushie of Oxfam Nigeria, bemoaned the number of outdated laws and policies in the extractive sectors in Nigeria.

He also expressed Oxfam's commitment to work with CODe and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), in improving civic conversations around natural resource governance in Nigeria.

There were also presentations from Dr Zibima Tubodenyefa of the Niger Delta University, Ken Henshaw of We The People, Kolo Kenneth of CODE and Henry Ushie of Oxfam.

A panel discussion with the theme: 'Driving the Nigeria oil and gas industry towards sustainable development and growth' was also held with representatives of NEITI, NNPC and NRGI participating.

At the end of the policy conversations, participants at the colloquium agreed that Nigeriahas to reinforce its existing and inculcate open governance for transparency to thrive in the oil sector.

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Meanwhile, Professor Charles Dokubo, the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta and the coordinator of the presidential amnesty programme, has said that he would not succumb to pressure to share funds meant for ex-militants.

Speaking at a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, October 10, Dokubo urged Niger Deltans to dismiss false criticism and wholeheartedly lend their support to the programme, adding that he will do his utmost to ensure that the funds are shared with fairness despite pressures on him to do otherwise.

Dokubo stated that he was unmoved by the desperation of some persons using the media to harass and blackmail him for his refusal to disburse the funds to those not enlisted as beneficiaries in the programme.

EXCLUSIVE: Be patient with President Buhari, Femi Adesina tells Nigerians - On Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- The Nigerian Army foiled an attempted attack by Boko Haram terrorists on an IDP camp in Maiduguri

- The terrorists were said to have gained access through a bush part

- After setting some houses and the market ablaze, the insurgents fled

Some Boko Haram terrorists attempted to attack an IDP camp in Maiduguri but were stopped by troops of 251 Task Force Battalion.

According to the army, the attack was repelled on the night of Wednesday, October 31.

It was reported that the terrorists came in four vehicles and ransacked a market in front of the IDP camp.

The terrorists set the market and some houses ablaze when troops were mobilised to the scene.

READ ALSO: 2019: Atiku free to strategise in Dubai or the jungle - Tinubu

The statement reads: Troops Foil BHTs Attempted Attack on IDP Camp: Troops of 251 Task Force Battalion successfully foiled a BHT attempted Attack on Kofa Village and Dalori IDP camp in Maiduguri on 31 Oct 18 at about 10 pm.

The terrorists gained access through a bush part behind the village in 4 vehicles and some motorcycles. They ransacked the market in front of the IDP camp.

On sighting own troops that were mobilized to the area, they set some houses and the market ablaze and fled along Maiduguri-Bama Road. However, one civilian was found dead.

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Own troops are presently assisting the villagers who ran into the bush back to their homes while the Borno State Fire Service have contained the inferno.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that members of the factional Boko Haram sect who kidnapped Leah Sharibu alongside no fewer than 109 students in Dapchi, Yobe state early in 2018 had allegedly demanded N100bn ransom for her release.

Legit.ng gathered that diplomatic source which claimed to be involved in the negotiation for the release of the schoolgirl said there were fears that if given the money, the terrorists could use the cash to acquire weapons with which they would unleash terror on innocent Nigerians in the future.

Is President Buhari Really Unable to Rescue Leah Sharibu from Boko Haram? - Street Gist | Legit TV

Source: Legit Nigeria
- Federal governments anti-corruption agencies might probe the multi-million dollar assets of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar

- Senior officials of All Progressives Congress are said to have been working around the clock to influence the government to look Atiku's source of wealth

- Atiku Campaign Organisation in a swift reaction, however, reacted that it welcomed any such move as long as it would not amount to witch-hunt

Emerging reports have claimed that senior officials of APC are trying to influence the federal governments anti-corruption agencies to probe what they claimed the multi-million dollar assets of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Vanguard reports that the Atiku Campaign Organisation in a swift reaction said it welcomed any such move as long as it would not amount to witch-hunt.

The campaign body said it was remarkable that after more than three years, Buharis government was just waking up to the possibility of investigating the former vice-president.

READ ALSO: Atiku free to strategise in Dubai or the jungle - Tinubu

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Abubakar said he is the largest private employer of labour in Nigeria.

This, he revealed in a series of tweets on his twitter handle, @atiku, while discussing the need to prioritise job creation in Nigeria.

Abubakar, who has investments in media, shipping, education, and other sectors, said back then that he currently employs about 50,000 people in his companies in Nigeria.

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Although there have been various speculations as to the exact companies he owns, he made a big reveal again on Twitter on September 7.

Another Nigerian had accused Atiku of owning MIKANO, a company producing electricity generators. He tweeted:

In a related development, Titi Atiku-Abubakar, said she never stole governments money to run Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation.

She said this at the second edition of African Women Intercultural Dialogue, organised by All Africa Media Network, an NGO in Abuja. The theme for the 2018 edition is: Calling African women and policy makers to action against human trafficking forced labour, slavery.

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According to her, when she was in the villa as the wife of the vice president, she assisted many trafficked boys and girls, especially in accommodating them.

Nigeria Latest News: Atiku Abubakar - Exclusive Comments About The Elections | Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit
- Not less than 141 stranded Nigerians in Libya have been repatriated

- The returnees include 71 female adults, 53 male adults, among them were two medical cases and 11 pregnant women

- They arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, aboard a chartered Al-Buraq aircraft with registration number UZ189

No fewer than 141 Nigerians including 11 pregnant women have voluntarily returned from Libya to Nigeria with the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU).

Segun Afolayan, Chief Planning Officer, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, October 31, in Lagos.

Afolayan said the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, at about 10.45pm on Tuesday, October 30, aboard a chartered Al-Buraq aircraft with registration number UZ189.

READ ALSO: Ex-militants storm A/Ibom LGA secretariat, accuse govt of insincerity

He said: After profiling, we have 71 female adults, three female children and three female infants. Also, there were 53 male adults, six male children and five male infants; among them were two medical cases and 11 pregnant women.

According to him, majority of the returnees are from Tripoli, the capital of Libya which has become volatile in recent times.

Afolayan advised the returnees to become more focused in life and not allow the unfortunate experience to negatively impact on their lives.

Truly, you had bad experiences differently, collectively and individually but these should be the motivation for you to make positive decision to see the brighter future ahead of you.

This is because, no one can tell the story more than you and making better use of your lives are essential.

The Federal Government is urging you to be ambassadors of positive change by taking the anti-irregular migration campaign to those still aspiring to take the dangerous journey. You can talk to them in the language they will understand most, he added.

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Legit.ng previously reported that the Benin zonal command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) rescued no fewer than 52 victims of human trafficking in the third quarter of this year.

Nduka Nwanwenne, zonal commander of the agency comprising Edo and Delta, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Thursday, October 4, that the rescue was made from July to September.

He also disclosed that within the period under review, 15 suspected human traffickers were arrested.

Mass deportation: Tales of woes from Libya on Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Veteran actress and filmmaker, Shan George, has offered a piece of advice to some of her critics

- George is being criticised for supporting the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

- She advised those criticising her choice of candidate to go and hug transformer

Veteran actress and filmmaker, Shan George, has advised those criticising her choice of candidate for the 2019 presidential election to electrocute themselves if they are not satisfied with it.

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, George is supporting the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Vanguard reports.

READ ALSO: Number of Nigerians living in extreme poverty increases to 88 million

Legit.ng gathers that the veteran actress has continued to come under criticisms since she declared support for Atiku and his running mate, Peter Obi.

She said: Bad belle and high blood pressure wants to kill some people. Atiku/Obi is my choice; go and support your own candidate. There are so many other great candidates on ground to choose from, if you abuse my father here from now till next year it will not change anything.

"If it pains you so much please go and hug the transformer. Calling me names is not what would make your own candidate win. Receive sense and get #atikuobilated.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere's leader, Ayo Adebanjo, on Sunday, September 2, said the group would support the presidential ambition of Atiku Abubakar in 2019 because of his campaign for Nigeria to be restructured.

The group announced its support for Atiku on Sunday after hosting the latter in an event in Lagos. Adebanjo, who spoke for the group said Atiku's call for restructuring seems to be the only genuine one among the aspirants.

He said: You (Abubakar) have been writing about restructuring over a decade ago. You gave me your commitment to restructure Nigeria within six months in one of our meetings several years ago."

2019 Presidency: Nigerians reveal why they prefer Atiku to President Buhari - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
Many a times, house maids hired to help a family around the house have always been rumoured to engage in atrocious acts that call their integrity into question. One such act has happened in Lagos.

Queen, an 18-year-old girl serving as a housemaid for a Nigerian named Omowunmi Omojide, has reportedly stolen her boss's property and fled with it.

The girl was said to have fled from her boss on October 19 while in possession of his property worth about N500,000.

Based on the report of Omowunmi who was interviewed by Punch, she had gone for a birthday party and by the hour of 8pm she returned home to find her children wandering about the house.

This made her wonder. Then she went in search of Queen who was supposed to be watching after the children. When quizzed, the neighbours said the housemaid had gone to buy something during 7pm and since then she had not been back.

18-year-old housemaid reportedly flees with boss's property worth about N500,000 Source: Pressreader.com

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Woman cries out after catching her housemaid breastfeeding her child

Upon going into the house, she found that the goods she had kept in the house was gone. These possessions comprised of a range of wares she had brought from her shop. Apparently, Omowunmi earlier had a boutique where she sold clothes but due to some reasons, she stopped trading and had to bring her goods back home.

It was these goods that Queen had pilfered. But she did not just stop there. The housemaid turned rogue was said to have stolen the childrens clothes, designer wristwatches and sunshades of the 37-year-old indigene of Osun state.

This theft committed by Queen explained just why she encouraged her boss to go to the party she attended. This betrayal allegedly done by the house help hurt Omowunmi a lot. Her pain and hurt was reflected in her words to Punch.

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On Friday, October 19, I went out for a birthday party of one of my friends who turned 40. I did not want to go because I was not in a good mood, but Queen encouraged me to; I did not know that she had something up her sleeve.

I left home around 12.48pm for Agege where the party held. I came back home around 8pm and met my neighbours and my children in the compound. I asked of my housemaid and one of my neighbours said she went to buy something.

Before the incident, I had a boutique that I run but due to some issues, I could not continue with it again; so I packed my goods home. When I entered the house on the day of the incident, I noticed that one box containing my goods and my childrens clothes were missing."

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Even more, Omowunmi was angered by the fact that she had treated Queen well and did not maltreat her in any way. Thus, the lady had not expected the housemaid to stab her behind her back in the manner she did.

This lady is someone I took in like my daughter because she told me that she lost her mother at a tender age; she looked innocent. I dont lock the rooms when I go out.

She went away with the stew I prepared, Rolex wristwatches, expensive sunshade that I sell and the one I used, female and male jeans, long towels, three male wristwatch and 10 female wristwatch, pendants- all worth N500,000.

The case has been reported at the Sagamu Road Police Division and at the moment, there is an ongoing search for Queen so that she can come and face the consequences of her actions.

The state police public relations officer of the division Chike Obi has gone on to confirm their awareness about the matter and what step was being taken. Even more, the spokesperson warned people to always know the profile of a person before they enlist such one to work or live with them.

READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda

See his words here:

The matter was reported to us at Sagamu Road Police Division and we hope that with the clues available to us, we will soon apprehend her.

However, the CP, Lagos State has advised employers of domestic helps to ensure that they are profiled to avoid an incident of this nature.

Moms blog by Odunayo Adams-Oyebolu: Ask Me Anything | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
Ahead of 2019 Lagos state governorship election, Peoples Democratic Partys gubernatorial candidate, Jimi Agbaje, on Thursday, November 1, announced Haleemat Busari as his running mate.

This is contained in a statement by the director of media and publicity of the Jimi Agbaje Campaign Organisation, Felix Oboagwina, New Telegraph reports.

Oboagwina said the PDP candidate picked Busari following comprehensive consultations with leaders and stakeholders within and outside the party.

READ ALSO: APC reportedly weighs fresh probe of Atikus finances

The statement read: Oluwayemisi Haleemat Busari came highly recommended and widely endorsed. Stakeholders all agree that without any iota of a doubt, the Jimi-Haleemat combination is a winning ticket on every count.

READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda

Busari was a director in a leading telecommunications company) and a serving director in a bank, Sierra Leone. The law graduate from the University of Lagos.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that PDP gubernatorial candidate, Jimi Agbaje, said President Goodluck Jonathan did the right thing by not suspending constitutionally elected officials while declaring the emergency rule.

He however said in principle when the President declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, the existing legal order must give way to the new one because the two cannot operate pari passu or concomitantly.

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Agbaje said President Jonathan should have suspended the executive and legislative arms of government in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states while the state of emergency lasted.

He said though the Nigerian constitution does not empower the president to sack democratically elected officials, it also did not say that the president cannot remove these officials from office during a state of emergency.

Nigeria Latest News: Atiku Abubakar - Exclusive Comments About The Elections | Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit
- The governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson, is among the honorees for the African Value Awards

- Dickson, a former member of the House of Representatives, will be honoured alongside prominent Nigerians and Africans

- The award is scheduled for Saturday, November 17 in Abuja

The governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson, is among prominent Nigerians and Africans who will be honoured at the African Value Awards on Saturday, November 17, in Abuja.

This was disclosed when the the award ceremony management team ahead of the event paid a courtesy call on the governor recently.

The delegation stated that Governor Dickson will be recognized for his effective leadership and giant strides in economic development alongside other top influential personalities across Africa at the 2018 Africa Value Awards.

READ ALSO: 2019: Ex-presidential aspirant canvases support for Tope Fasua as president

Legit.ng gathered that the award was established to recognise African citizens and also honour governors, legislators, captains of industry and other esteemed Africans in various fields of endeavours.

Other recipients include President Paul Kagame of Rwanda; former Liberian president, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; and House of Representatives member; Honourable David Ombugadu.

Responding to his nomination for the awards, Governor Dickson noted that adding value to his state through his educational, social developmental initiatives and others remains a paramount objective for his government.

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Meanwhile, the four Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state governors from the south-south region on Tuesday, October 30, paid a condolence visit to the family of late former chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih and pledged to pay the bills for his burial.

Governors Dickson, Nyesom Wike, (Rivers), Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, (Delta) and Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) visited the Abuja residence of the late former PDP chieftain, to commiserate with his family and pay their respects.

Governor Dickson, chairman of the south-south governors forum, who led the team, described Anenih as a great party leader and colossus, stressing they as governors share in the pain suffered by the family.

Nigeria Latest News: Father Mbaka On Buhari, Atiku In Nigeria Election 2019 | Legit TV

Source: Legit
- Nigerians have been cautioned against consumption of Puffer Fish

- National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) gave this warning

- It explained that the fish might contain the potent and deadly toxins tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin, which could cause severe illness and death

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday cautioned the general public against consumption of Puffer Fish.

The director-general of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, gave the warning in a statement in Abuja.

NAFDAC warns Nigerians against consumption of puffer fish

Source: Twitter

Adeyeye explained that the fish might contain the potent and deadly toxins tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin, which could cause severe illness and death.

She said that some organs of the fish, such as liver and gonads (ovaries and testes), the skin and intestines typically contained the toxin.

According to her, cooking or freezing cannot destroy the toxin.

She added that freezing and thawing of the product prior to removal of the toxic organs might result in the migration of toxin into the flesh of the fish.

Restaurants and fish sellers are warned not to serve or sell this fish also known as puffer, swellfish, fugu, globefish or sea squad among other names, as this will severely endanger public health.

Due to the potential health hazard associated with the fish, NAFDAC does not allow importation or sale of puffer fish.

And we hereby alert the general public on dangers of consuming PUFFER FISH, she stated.

The NAFDAC boss said that the agency was committed and determined to safeguarding the health of the nation.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) confirmed the receipt of a letter sent on Chinese drug reported to be made from human flesh.

The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) earlier alerted the SON, National Agency for Food drug and Administration Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Customs Service on a Chinese drug made with human flesh.

Suspected co.caine/cannabis traffickers reject Police accusations | - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit Nigeria
Alhaji Yusuf Babura, northwest publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resigned his position.

Babura also told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Thursday, November 1, that he has also dumped the party.

He explained that he left the PDP out of his personal desire and he is now consulting with his supporters on the next line of action.

READ ALSO: Breaking: Military discovers illegal security training camp in Taraba

Babura thanked the entire members of his former party for the support and cooperation he received from them.

I wish to also to appeal to all those that I have offended directly or indirectly to forgive me, he said.

In a related development, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, former Kano state deputy governor, has confirmed the withdrawal of his membership from the PDP. He said that he would speak about his prospective political party.

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When asked about the authenticity of the reports about his defection, Professor Abubakar said: It is true and I will speak soonest.

A letter on his membership withdrawal from the PDP had been in circulation on the social media platforms in the last three days.

Senators, lawmakers defect from APC - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit
UPDATE: A pot edibles deal at noon led to car chase, shots fired from 'Kid Gambino,' cops say

Five people face charges following what Bethlehem police said was a "drug deal gone bad" that ended in daytime gunfire in the city's Northeast neighborhood.

Officers were called at 12:42 p.m. Wednesday for a report of gunfire between two vehicles near Jill and Livingston streets.

Police Chief Mark DiLuzio said it appears the shooting was the result of a drug deal gone bad in a parking lot off Stefko Boulevard.

A chase ensued with multiple shots being fired, and an unrelated truck with a man driving was struck, police said.

Four of the suspects are from Bethlehem, and one is from New Jersey. All five were sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of bail.

Joseph Allen Jackson, 20, of the 1700 block of West Broad Street in Bethlehem, was charged with three counts each of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, as well as robbery and carrying a firearm without a license.

His bail was set at $500,000.

Al Malik Jackson, 19, of the 1700 block of Manor Drive in Irvington, New Jersey, was charged with giving a false name to law enforcement and being a person not to possess firearms.

Kaminee Marrow-McDowell, 19, of the 500 block of Cherokee Street in Bethlehem, was charged with possession with intent to deliver drugs, and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Alexandra Seidel, 23, of the 700 block of Hawthorne Road in Bethlehem, and Mansoor Sultani, 30, of the 1200 block of Tyler Way in Bethlehem, were each charged with three counts of possession with intent to deliver drugs.

Sultani's bail was set at $250,000, and Seidel's was set at $75,000.

After responding to the report of gunfire, Bethlehem police stopped one vehicle on Pembroke Road by Fritz Drive, and found it had gunshot damage, DiLuzio said.

Officers stopped a second vehicle in the 500 block of Goepp Circle, near Elmwood Park off Pembroke Road, and police seized several weapons and some drugs.

Police said they found two firearms, additional ammunition, pot, cocaine, ecstasy, THC oils, vape cartridges, marijuana edibles and packaging material in the two vehicles. The drugs are worth more than $8,000, police said.

Several thousand dollars in cash and fake currency was also found.

A search at Marrow-McDowell's address revealed an additional firearm and some cash.

In 2014, Sultani was sentenced to one to 23 months in county prison for delivering marijuana, records show. At the time of the Bethlehem incident, he was free on bail in a separate drug case from a Hellertown traffic stop.

Borough police said Sultani jumped a curb, and later found 9.3 pounds of pot in his car and a large bag he was carrying.

Sultani's formal arraignment in the Hellertown case is set for January.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A man known as "Kid Gambino" opened fire on a vehicle chasing him in Bethlehem after robbing a couple during what was supposed to be a sale of marijuana edibles, according to city police.

Now, the alleged gunman and two men who were with him, and the alleged drug dealers/robbery victims are all in Northampton County Prison on various charges.

Joseph "Kid Gambino" Jackson, of Bethlehem, arranged to meet Mansoor Sultani and his girlfriend, Alexandra Seidel, at noon in the parking lot of Valley Farm Market on Stefko Boulevard to buy pot edibles, according to police.

Kaminee Marrow-McDowell drove Joseph Jackson and Al Malik Jackson over in a gold Audi, police said, while Seidel drove Sultani over in a brown Kia.

Jackson got into the back seat of the Kia, and McDowell said they were talking for about a minute before there was a "commotion" and Jackson got out, according to police.

Sultani reportedly told officers Jackson pulled a gun, aimed it at his head and said, "Give me all you got!" Jackson allegedly took money and Seidel's purse, which had pot and blunts inside, police said.

Jackson got into the Audi and reportedly told McDowell to leave the area, which they did, court records say. Seidel followed in order to get the license plate number and report them to police, investigators said.

At the intersection of Jill and Livingston streets, Jackson leaned out of the Audi's window and began firing at the Kia, police said. The couple told police he shot between five to eight times, court records say.

Police said some rounds struck the Kia, including through the front windshield, and one shot hit the front passenger side of a blue Ford F-150.

Bethlehem police investigate reports of shots fired between two vehicles Oct. 31, 2018, near Jill and Siegfried streets in Bethlehem. (Courtesy photos | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Hot potato with a gun

Police caught up with the chase and stopped both vehicles.

Al Malik Jackson told investigators that as the Audi was stopped, Joseph Jackson tossed a pistol in his lap, and Al Malik Jackson tossed it out of the car window, according to court records.

Officers saw a passenger throw a handgun out of the car window, and found a 9mm handgun about 15 feet away from the Audi, court records say; police found another 9mm handgun inside a bag on the backseat of the Audi.

Inside the Kia, police said they found 2 1/2 pounds of marijuana, some of it packaged for sale in 30-gram baggies; a duffle bag full of blunts in plastic tubes; marijuana-laced gummy bears; other marijuana products; scales; packaging materials; and $5,790 in cash.

Seidel also allegedly had a tin of 61 Xanax pills in her bra.

Search of Bethlehem home

After stopping the two cars and detaining the occupants, police got a search warrant for 506 Cherokee St., where they say Marrow-McDowell lived and Jackson sometimes stayed.

In a third-floor bedroom that belonged to Marrow-McDowell, police said they found 87 grams of pot, 19 ectasy pills and two baggies of cocaine.

Officers found a loaded .357-caliber revolver, and Jackson confessed he bought the firearm in Newark, and carried it with him between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, court records say.

As a juvenile, Jackson was adjudicated delinquent for possession of a weapon on school grounds and aggravated assault. That bars him from possessing a firearm, according to police.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Amrapali CFO Chander Wadhwa got luxury car, had a liability of Rs 2 crore as income tax.

New Delhi: The Chief Financial Officer of the embattled Amrapali Group gets a monthly salary of Rs 50,000 a month but a sister company of the realty firm has paid Rs 2 crore as his income tax, the forensic auditors told the Supreme Court Wednesday. The top court was told that the Amrapali Group has even given a luxury car worth Rs 43 lakh to its CFO Chander Wadhwa.

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and U U Lalit was taken aback by the revelations made by forensic auditors appointed by it to look into the affairs of Amrapali Group, and grilled the CFO while asking him to furnish each and every details of the benefits taken from the firm by Thursday.

"Why a company clears your tax liability of Rs 2 crore when your salary is just Rs. 50,000 month. What were the benefits you have got from the company? You have to furnish the details by tomorrow about your exact role in the company and give each and every details," the bench asked Wadhwa.

Wadhwa, who was grilled twice in as many hearings, said that he was given a car to commute by the company in 2017 and only got professional charges besides the salary. "Don't try to fool us. Don't even try to make mockery of the court. You will be put behind bars, if you do not disclose correct facts to this court. We cannot go on interrogating you like this. The Enforcement Directorate should look into this aspect," the bench said.

The bench said that companies incorporated by Wadhwa acted as a conduit to divert homebuyers' money from the Amrapali Group.

"By tomorrow, we want on affidavit details of the funds you have received from Amrapali Group and to which company it was transferred. You also have to disclose on whose authorisation, the money was transferred. Don't give incorrect facts, otherwise you may be held guilty for non-disclosure of facts," the court said.

On October 23, the CFO, who had earlier claimed "memory failure", was grilled by the apex court and had to answer searching questions prompting the court to observe "his memory was intact". Wadhwa had chosen to remain silent when he was quizzed by forensic auditors appointed by the court, saying he has lost his memory.

He later apologised for his conduct before the forensic auditors.

Wadhwa was asked several questions about his date of joining the company and in what capacity he was taken on board. He was also asked about his role in the company and how he used to work.

During questioning with the forensic auditors on October 12, Wadhwa had chosen to remain silent, saying he does not remember anything and has suffered a memory loss. He had, however, answered personal questions such as the date of marriage, name of college and school passing year.

The court is seized of a batch of petitions filed by homebuyers who are seeking possession of around 42,000 flats booked in projects of the Amrapali group.
The 45-year-old man who allegedly ran off with a teenage girl from Allentown pleaded guilty Thursday to corruption of minors, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office.

Amy Yu and Kevin Esterly (Courtesy photos | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Kevin Esterly, of the 3000 block of Highland Road in Lowhill Township, was in county court for a status conference when the negotiated plea was entered before Judge Maria L. Dantos, according to court records.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 10 on the misdemeanor. Felony counts of interference with custody of children and concealment of the whereabouts of a child have been withdrawn.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew Falk handled the case, and Esterly was represented by Carol Marciano in the county public defender's office. She could not be reached immediately for comment on the plea.

Esterly is accused of taking 16-year-old Amy Yu on a one-way flight to Cancun last March. He been signing her out numerous times, posing as her stepfather, from Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School in Hanover Township, Northampton County.

Yu willingly accompanied Esterly on March 5 to Cancun, Mexico. Her family had reported her as a runaway that day, and Esterly's family reported him missing March 7.

Yu's family said the two met at church years ago, and the16-year-old girl was friends with one of Esterly's daughters.

Amid international law enforcement cooperation, they were found by Mexican authorities March 17 and sent to Miami before Yu was returned to her family unharmed.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A man accused of beating a man during a discussion about President Donald Trump was on parole at the time for attacking a man after a minor crash in 2017, court records show.

Jonathan Geltz, of Monroe County, was arraigned Wednesday in Northampton County on charges including aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment stemming from an Oct. 7 incident.

Geltz's bail was set at $25,000 in the assault case.

Colonial Regional police said Geltz attacked a man during a discussion about Trump in the early morning of Oct. 7 outside the Best Western off Route 512 in Hanover Township.

The victim suffered a fractured orbital socket and needed emergency surgery on his left eye, and the attack shattered the victim's dentures inside his mouth, according to police.

At the time of the alleged Lehigh Valley attack, Geltz was on parole for an attack last year, where he repeatedly punched a man and then kicked the victim after a minor crash in Monroe County, Pennsylvania State Police said at the time.

State police at Swiftwater said they were called the morning of March 29, 2017, for a man assaulted following a minor vehicle crash in Hamilton Township.

The victim in that incident told troopers he was driving north on Middle Easton Belmont Pike, when a white utility truck driving south crossed over the line and hit Busacco's mirror.

The truck didn't stop, and the man whose vehicle was hit turned around and followed it, state police said.

The truck pulled over near Route 33, and the other driver, later identified as Geltz, got out of his truck.

The victim told troopers he told Geltz, "It's just the plastic on my mirror. We can just exchange insurance information."

Geltz reportedly said, "I got your insurance," and began punching the victim in the face.

Geltz then grabbed the victim's sweatshirt, pushed him to the ground and began kicking him.

Troopers said Geltz punched the victim between six and eight times, then kicked him one time in the face and twice in the body.

Geltz left, and the victim continued following him until he was told to stop by a 911 operator, police said. The victim was able to take a picture of Geltz's truck and gave the 911 operator the license plate number.

The 2017 victim had bruises and a bleeding cut on this left eye, a bleeding cut on his nose and his sweatshirt collar was torn and misshapen, troopers said. The victim suffered a broken nose and multiple cuts to his face, knees and elbows.

Troopers called Geltz that day, and he reportedly told them he was in a minor crash that morning.

Geltz said he couldn't immediately pull over because the road was narrow and, when he did pull over, claimed the victim got out screaming and approached him.

Geltz told troopers the victim was disrespectful and called Gelz's mother "a scum bag."

Geltz reportedly said the comments upset him and he is "old school" and hit the victim, who had "squared up with him."

The victim "got the worst of it, because I didn't get hit," Geltz reportedly said.

Geltz was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, harassment and seven summary traffic citations.

He pleaded guilty to simple assault, and the remaining charges were dropped. Geltz was sentenced April 27 to 60 days to two years in prison, immediately paroled and ordered to attend anger management classes.

Records show he is now scheduled for a parole violation hearing on Nov. 6. He is currently being held in the Monroe County jail.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Viewers of "Master of Arms," the new Discovery Channel competition series premiering Friday night, may catch a few glimpses of Northampton County.

The production crew shot some scenes at Stockertown Rod & Gun Club, a Discovery spokesman confirmed.

Though the club was closed off to the public and members during the shoot, the action could be heard off-site. That's thanks to targets loaded with explosive Tannerite that were shot during production last May 14, club board member Leo Schroedel said Wednesday.

"It was the grand finale when they would shoot the weapons they made," he said. "I talked them out of pyrotechnics because I didn't want it to sound like the end of the world down there either."

On each episode of "Master of Arms," three competitors "will face-off in two historical challenges that call upon era-specific weaponry, from the firearms of the frontier to the blades of the Vikings," Discovery says in a news release. "But these aren't just quickly fabricated weapons -- each tool will be heavily researched and crafted pieces of art.

"In each episode, blade, ballistic and bow weapons will be rigorously tested as well as judged on their design, historical accuracy and abilities. With an elimination after each challenge, only one smith will walk away with the grand prize of $10,000 and be crowned the 'Master of Arms.'"

Schroedel was the club's liaison to the production crew, and was in charge of closing off the property that straddles the border between Stockertown and Plainfield Township.

"Nobody knew what was going on," he said. "The thing of it is I had to keep it a secret. ... I just put signs up: 'Closed for maintenance,' and 'Authorized personnel only.'"

The explosions came during testing of the builders' black powder firearms. It came about two months after an explosion March 18 in Upper Mount Bethel Township rattled windows and put residents on edge.

Then there was the series of unexplained explosions in Upper Bucks County that led to the arrests of alleged bomb-maker David Surman Jr. and his girlfriend, Tina Smith.

During the "Master of Arms" production, Slate Belt Regional and Stockertown police both responded to a complaint about the noise the afternoon of May 14 at the gun club, according to Schroedel.

Stockertown Borough Secretary/Treasurer Anita Caughy said Wednesday she recalled hearing an explosion around that time, but didn't get any calls from residents.

"I don't think it was an issue because there were no complaints about it," she said.

Tannerite is sold legally as an explosive target for recreational shooting.

The production came off without any injuries, said Schroedel, who was impressed by the crew's professionalism and experience.

"Safety was first, and that's where I was kind of involved in," he said. "They were doing it on gun club property. I wanted to make sure that I thought it was safe also. I wanted to know what they were going to do before they did it on the explosions."

Builders in the "Master of Arms" competition to recreate iconic armaments will be judged by four experts, according to Discovery:

"

"

"

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Schroedel said he looks forward to tuning in to Friday night's premiere, at 10 p.m. EDT.

"I can't wait to see it all put together," he said.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A troubling u-turn has been alleged by the building company at the centre of the controversy which has seen some schools close and others facing disruption due to extensive repairs.

Wester Building Systems says schools in Laois and other counties that were previously free from defects and described by the Education Minister as being built to the highest standards are now being deemed to require remedial works.

Western Building Systems described this as a 'troubling turnaround' in a response to a press statement by the Department of Education and Skills which confirmed that remedial work is needed at schools in Portlaoise and Portarlington and other schools around the country.

The Department confirmed that schools measures are needed before further steps and remedial works. It has not detailed the problems, repairs or timescale of works required. It is understood the key issues involve an absence of ties that secure internal and external walls.

The Co Tyrone-based company responded by saying it has been given limited input to the checking process.

"No details of the assessments have been shared with us. We do not know what any conclusions reached at this point are based on. So far, we have been invited to meet with the Departments inspectors and officials at 13 of the 42 schools. We had insufficient time on site to make structural evaluations," it said.

The statement said the work carried out on schools had been cleared and endorsed at the highest levels.

"What is becoming clearer is that schools previously certified for completion as being free from defects by the Department, and described less than twelve months ago by the then Minister as being built to the highest standards, are now being deemed to require remedial works.

"This includes schools where the Departments own appointed Clerk of Works had a full-time presence on site. The same projects were also inspected and approved as compliant in line with the new building regulation control process. That such a turnaround is now being reached is troubling on a wider scale," said the builder.

The company said it is limited in what can be said given the assessment process remains ongoing at this point. However, it acknowledged the impact.

"We wish to reiterate once more our recognition of the impact this has had on pupils, parents and teachers at the schools involved," said the company.

The company insisted that it would not renege on its responsibilities and wants to meet with Minister McHugh.

"While it remains unclear as to why and how we have reached this point, we are not walking away. We honour our contracts. We continue to engage with the Department and remain keen to meet the Minister.

"Hard work, innovation and high standards have underpinned our business for 35 years. The Department itself has awarded us contracts to build 42 schools over a 14 year period based on continuous quality of delivery. We are a reputable contractor who has always delivered to our contracts.

"There are two main parties to every school building projectthe Department and the contractor. Each of these parties has several other qualified professionals assessing the tendering requirements, design, build and certification of every project. There are numerous legal contracts in place overseeing each project.

"Under the form of contract, the Department and its representatives have four weeks to decide on issuing certificates of substantial completion and making payments," concluded the statement.
A big German wind turbine and solar energy company has plans to build a major solar panel power farm in Laois.

Vento Ludens Ltd is in the process of applying to Laois County Council for permission to construct a solar energy development with a total site area of 67.6 hectares in south Laois at Kilcoran near Rathdowney.

Solar PV panels will be ground mounted on support structures. Internal access tracks, security fencing, electrical cabling and ducting, CCTV and other ancillary infrastructure, drainage, additional landscaping and habitat enhancement are included in the plan to be submitted to the council. The also plan includes two single storey, 38KV electrical substation buildings and associated infrastructure.

An initial plan was submitted to the council in October but this was ruled invalid because it was deemed incomplete.

Vento Ludens has developed wind turbine and solar panel power farms in Germany, the UK and Switzerland. It generates most of its power from the sun but has a substantial wind farm footprint. It has a small interest in hydro power.

The company opened a satellite office in Dublin in 2015. At the time it said the South East of Ireland holds great potential for solar developments due to the high solar irradiance experienced here.

"Using the Dublin office as our base the development team are currently advancing discussions with landowners, agents and suppliers in order to commence solar PV development opportunities at the earliest opportunity," it said at the time.

The statement added that its Irish move represented an exciting new venture and the company was forward to the future.
Check out this report in the Leinster Leader from 75 years ago.

The grand opening dance of Mrs Lawlors new Nas na Riogh Ballroom, which will take place on Sunday, October 24, promises to be a most enjoyable function, the Leinster Leader reported on October 16, 1943.

All arrangements are completed and patrons can safely look forward to a memorable night. A first class sit down supper will be provided and the music will be supplied by Ralph Silvester and his dance band.

The new ballroom has been beautifully decorated and has some unique and striking features. It is capable of accommodating over 800 guests, and is adjoined by a magnificent supper room, two bars and buffet.

The contractors were Messrs W. Murray and Son, who true to their nationwide reputation as builders have, notwithstanding war time difficulties, carried out a monumental job in this particular line.

Mr Thomas Flanagan, contractor, Naas, and Mr Gibson, Dublin, carried out the painting and decorations. The completed structure will rank easily amongst the finest ballrooms in Eire and will stand as a credit to the splendid enterprise off the renowned firm of caterers who are its owners, Mrs. B. Lawlor and Son.

Meanwhile, the paper reported that at the Naas District Court, Mr Dargan, Solr (Messrs Brown and McCann, solrs) applied for a licence for the opening dance at Mrs Lawlors new ballroom, Naas, on October 24.

It was stated by Mr Dargan that the ballroom was so capacious that there was no need to fix a maximum number. The licence was granted.

The previous weeks paper reported on two Naas accidents where two Naas men had narrow escapes from death. Whilst Mr James Farrell, labourer, Harbour View, was engaged in construction work on the new ballroom in process of erection for Mrs Lawlor, Nas na Riog Hotel, at Millbrook, he came in contact with a live electric wire and was badly burned on the hand.

A fellow worker, Mr T Mahon, also of Harbour View, went to his assistance, and the electric current was shut off.

Dr H. Aughney, Assistant County MO. H., immediately treated the injured man, who was removed to the Naas Hospital, suffering from shock and burns. He is progressing satisfactorily.

There was another accident on Friday last, when Mr. Patrick Cavney, labourer, New Row, Naas, was working on threshing operations for Mr Higgins, Rathaskar.

Mr Cavney apparently slipped off a rick and fall on to a fork which penetrated from the lower jaw to the upper jaw.

Other workers ran to his assistance and he was removed to Naas Hospital where he is making satisfactory progress.
Independent Councillor Gerry Dolan asked the council to clarify the position regarding privatisation of any money earned in the Leitrim libraries.



He referred especially to Ballinamore and Drumshanbo libraries and stated Any monies earned there, should be kept locally to fund their business not a private company."

A spokesperson for Leitrim County Council informed the councillor,  Leitrim County Library Service has recently introduced a fully automated self service printing, scanning and copying service in Ballinamore and Manorhamilton Libraries, following a successful trial in Carrick-on-Shannon Library.



The service is managed by SurfBox, who also manages similar services in a number of public library authorities in Ireland.

SurfBox provides the print station as a complete outsourced service, where the library incurs zero capital or running costs, and receives 25% of the revenue generated from printing as a quarterly commission.

The overall drop in revenue is more than compensated in the efficiencies gained elsewhere, such as library staff time, IT support, consumables etc.



This service has been very satisfactory to date, with very positive feedback from both library users and library staff.

SurfBox deliver a professional service, whereby library users can manage their printing requirements in a confidential manner, and library staff are freed up from this routine task to provide valuable guidance on accessing other library services, such as project research or online resources."

Also read: Drumshanbo launch for the first Irish book on adoptive parenting
A local Sinn Fein Councillor claims rural Leitrim pubs felt the negative implications of the new zero tolerance drink driving laws at the weekend.



Cllr Seadhna Logan told the paper This October Bank holiday weekend locally has highlighted the anti-rural, anti-business consequences of a zero-tolerance approach to alcohol. He noted the visible garda presence in the county and said the new law will instill unnecessary fear in an already marginalised rural population.



Both farming organisations ICMSA and ICSA have claimed the new drink driving bans will finish rural pubs and have a negative impact on life in rural Ireland.

However, Superintendent Kevin English said he fully supports the new drink driving laws, which he believes could potentially save lives. He confirmed there were a number of garda checkpoints over the weekend and two people were arrested for drink driving in County Leitrim.



New law will save lives

Leitrim Garda Superintendent Kevin English said he fully welcomes the new change in the law for drink driving and disagrees with claims that it will shut down socialising in rural areas.

He stated even a small amount of alcohol can affect driving.

The Superintendent confirmed there were a number of Garda drink driving checkpoints around the county over the Bank Holiday Weekend.

There were two people arrested in the county for drink driving at the weekend.

He said Garda presence does increase around events, occasions and busy weekends.

If the law saves one life it is worth it, he told the paper.



Mohill Councillor Seadhna Logan explained that his views were very evident locally at the weekend as a very visible garda presence operated a vast saturation of checkpoints which had a very obvious impact on the local pub trade on Saturday and Sunday night.

He claims that in Leitrim, we do not have the enough rural transport or private transport operators to meet the excess demand.



He said the law as it stood struck a healthy and compromising approach to a casual drink.

He commented, Our county has a considerable aging, rural dwelling population. Often these older people living alone are vulnerable and at risk of isolation. Coming to town to socialise is often a lifeline and necessary social outlet for these people.

By facilitating a considered flexibility rural people took a responsible attitude to a casual drink and whether or not it was appropriate to take a drink and make their way home from the pub.

By eliminating this flexibility and adapting zero tolerance rural people can no longer come into town to socialise.

He said it was obvious at the weekend that locals (pubs) emptied quickly, while others were left stranded by the lack of transport locally be it hackney, taxi, or Local Link.



If these trends were to continue locally over a period of time people will get into the habit of not coming into town and staying away.

 This would be detrimental to our attempts as a society to revive our small towns and rural culture, he insists.

Cllr Logan stressed to the paper, While I do not condone driving with a blood alcohol level above that which is legally permitted, I feel the enforcement of zero-tolerance will instill an unnecessary fear in already marginalised rural dwellers who are dependent on driving for independent living.



The outspoken Councillor concluded saying, It is a pity that local gardai are no longer permitted to use their discretion in this regard. As yet again urban based politicians have made radical changes to legislation without considering the unintended consequences for us in rural Ireland.

The new stricter laws are part of the Governments road safety strategy which has a target of reducing road deaths to 124 or fewer annually by the end of 2020.

Also read: Betting tax hike could cause 12 job losses in Leitrim
The RNLI is set to benefit from a 6 million bequest which will be used to helped purchase life saving equipment for the service.

In a statement issued by the RNLI a spokesperson said: "The RNLI is deeply grateful and humbled by the generosity of Mrs Elizabeth OKelly to bequeath over 6 million in her will to the charity. Gifts in wills, be they large or small, are vital to the charitys work in saving lives at sea, they fund six out of every 10 lifeboat launches.

"Mrs OKelly who prior to her passing, lived in Stradbally Co Laois, was a long-standing supporter of the RNLI. She held a high regard for the volunteer work carried out by the charity which appealed to her ethos and she herself for many years, volunteered her time to help out at an RNLI stall at the RDS in Dublin.

"Throughout her life, she displayed great kindness towards her many friends and was most charitable in supporting those in need. This has been reflected in her generous decision to bequest the funds to five charities.

"Mrs OKelly asked that her legacy be used to support the RNLIs lifesaving work in Ireland. The impact of her incredible generosity will be directly felt by our volunteer crews and the people whose lives they save for many years to come. As this is such a large legacy, the RNLI will be carefully considering all options to ensure the funds are used where they are needed most and with a view to how they can be spent to fittingly reflect Mrs OKellys support for the charity."

The RNLI provides a 24-hour search and rescue service and has 46 lifeboats stations in Ireland and 59 lifeboats. In 2017, Irish lifeboats launched 1,088 times and our volunteer crews rescued 1,471 people, thats an average of four people aided each day.

The charity relies on the generosity of the public to fund its lifesaving service and to ensure lifeboat stations are properly equipped, lifeboats are maintained and that volunteers are highly trained and skilled to continue their work in saving lives at sea.
From the hills of Lima Peru to the hills of Glenade, Leitrim, the common factor in this community support is Fr. Ed O'Connell a Columban missionary who has spent most of his working life in Peru.

Fr. Ed who studied at Maynooth seminary, as well as being involved in parish work in Lima and surrounding areas, is also involved with the communities who have moved from the highlands to seek a better life on the outskirts of Lima city. Living conditions in these areas are often very basic with few facilities.

The work that Fr. Ed and his colleagues do in these areas is hugely supportive and important to the people there and they set up the Warmi Huasi project - meaning Mothers House in Quechuan language.

The main projects are health and nutrition education as many children are malnourished, after school and homework clubs where children can be safe after school hours as often Mums are out working.

The latest project is empowering children to speak up for their rights and represent themselves. Speaking recently to the organisers of the fundraising walk, Fr Ed said "We are now into our seventh year and our outreach covers the district of Carabayllo, on the northern side of Lima, and the Province of Paucar de Sara Sara in the towns of Pausa and Lampa in Ayacucho in the southern Andes.

The children can now represent themselves, having formed their own Committees, which we have helped be recognized legally by their respective municipalities, and last year presented projects to create or improve their local parks. This year three of the 5 Committees triumphed in the participatory budget process and have gained funding for their projects".

Fr. Ed also expressed his gratitude to the people of Leitrim and surrounding areas that have supported the project for 10 years.

The organisers of the walks, Leitrim Landscapes Guided Walks and the Holey Soles Hill Walking Club have outlined the options on the day, Sunday, November 4 on Arroo mountain Glenade.

There will be a two hour ramble on the Arroo Trail Head walk or a 4-5 hour hill walk on Arroo mountain, taking in Iascin lake and the cliffs.

Meet at Aghanlish Community Centre at 10.30 for registration for 11am departure. There will be complimentary refreshments after the walk. participants should wear waterproof clothing and appropriate footwear. As the walk is over farmland, dogs are not allowed. Donations are welcome on the day to the Warmi Huasi project and 100% of funds raised go directly to the charity.
Actor Parvathy Thiruvoth Kottuvata said the Malayalam film industry needs to learn from Bollywood superstars.

Mumbai: Actor Parvathy Thiruvoth Kottuvata on Tuesday said the Malayalam film industry needs to learn from Bollywood superstars to act immediately in cases of sexual harassment.

"We were amazed to see that men, who are in forefront, who are successful producers and actors, coming ahead and lending their voice to this. That is something we are missing out not just in Malayalam industry but Tamil and Telugu industry as well," she said.

"Their voice is going to catapult (the cause) to another level, so it will be easier to follow up. This is commendable but there is alarming silence from a lot of others," she said during a panel discussion on 'The Power of Collective And The Road Ahead', at MAMI film festival here.

Parvathy lauded the prompt decisions by top Bollywood actors and filmmakers to distance themselves from those accused of sexual harassment as the #MeToo movement gained ground.

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, Aamir Khan pulled out of Mogul, a biopic on slain T-Series boss Gulshan Kumar, after charges of rape and sexual harassment were levelled against its director Subhash Kapoor.

Akshay Kumar called for strict action against Sajid Khan, the director of his upcoming film Housefull 4, after several women accused him of sexual harassment.

Parvathy, who made her Bollywood debut with romantic comedy 'Qarib Qarib Singlle' last year, is a part of Women In Cinema Collective - a Malayalam film industry outfit formed soon after the shocking assault of an actress in February 2017.

She said Bollywood also needs to have a body like WCC to address and monitor the cases of sexual harassment.

Director Anjali Menon, who was also present at the session, said it is important to not only name and shame, but immediate action also needs to be taken in such cases.

"This whole thing of naming the person is a huge step and to take proactive action is important as it conveys that we are in support of the survivors. There have been reactions happening here and it is important to place the intent and that is proven by action, words don't help. The silence is a very disturbing stand," she said.

Bollywood is taking the right step, she added.

The session was also attended by actors Rima Kallingal and Veena Gowda and women's rights lawyer and filmmaker Ruchi Narain.
THE CONTRACTOR in charge of a Direct Provision centre on the outskirts of Limerick is to apologise to a resident who claimed that her sick child was denied bread in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The Department of Justice launched an investigation into the matter after the mother, who has been a resident in Direct Provision at Knockalisheen Centre for a number years, claimed that her child was denied a slice of bread despite suffering a headache, diarrhoea and vomiting.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said that the contractor has has acknowledged responsibility for this regrettable and isolated incident. The contractor will meet with the resident to apologise to her personally.

The contractor in charge of Knockalisheen Accommodation Centre, near Moyross, is Aramark, the Department of Justice said.

Staff will also be retrained in order ensure that communications between staff are clear and unambiguous.

The Reception and Integration Agency (Ria) contacted the centre when it was made aware of the matter, and asked it to investigate the claims on Wednesday afternoon.

The contractor has since reverted to us to advise that this unfortunate, but isolated incident was a miscommunication between staff, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that, unfortunately, a new staff member misunderstood a request and informed the night porter that no food was to be provided which led to the regrettable incident.

The contractor will also ensure that tea/coffee and snacks are available on a 24/7 basis as per the contract.

Ministers in the Department of Justice and Equality have actively engaged in reform over the past number of years, constantly striving to improve the international protection process.

The Department places paramount importance of the welfare of those residing in our accommodation centres, the Department of Justice stated.

The Report of the Working Group to Report to Government on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and supports to Asylum Seeker, also known as the Justice McMahon report, was published in June 2015.

The Report contains 173 recommendations many of which have implications for a number of Government Departments and services.

The Department of Justice & Equality has since published three progress reports on the implementation of the Report's 173 recommendations, the first in June 2016, the second in February 2017 and a third and final report in July 2017. The final progress report shows that 133 of the recommendations have been reported as fully implemented and a further 36 are in progress or partially implemented. This represents a 98% full or partial implementation.

Any alleged violations of any nature should be reported to RIA or the Minister or the Ombudsman or the Ombudsman for children, the department said.
THE definitive collection of Limerick music has been lovingly brought to book by Paddy Brennan in a lifetimes work for the local music legend.

The Corbally man launched The History of Limerick Music: 1800-2018 at Thomond Park on Monday evening.

Hundreds of fellow music fans and locals attended the major event where Paddy discussed the background to the book, a project he has been painstakingly working on for a number of years.

The book was officially launched by Paddys friend Mick Moloney, the Castletroy native who has become one of Americas most iconic figureheads in Irish traditional music and culture.

The major project is a 556-page book, featuring more than 1,400 photos, many of which are exclusive, never-seen before images of some of Limericks most iconic musicians. The book chronicles a complete history, starting in the classical era of the early 1800s when underdog George Alexander Osborne left Limerick to make a name for himself in Europe.

A look at music history cannot be written without mentioning two of the most seminal artists in their genreoperatic idol Catherine Hayes and rockstar Dolores ORiordan of The Cranberries.

Paddy also writes about the tense rivalry between marching bands and the emerging showbands of the early 1900s, followed by the anti-establishment scene of the beat groups, such as Grannys Intentions, during the 1960s.

Its fascinating, the trouble that went on between all the local bands from different parts of the city, Paddy told the Leader this week.

And before the Cranberries rose to global fame, Tuesday Blue was Limericks most prominent act of the late 1980s. Though they were known across the United States, they were always on the verge of a breakthrough, Paddy said.

Paddy also looks at the contemporary acts that perform at Dolans, Nancy Blakes and other small venues. Paddys book comes in a regular softback edition for 30, and a special edition hardback, featuring a double-CD of local artists, for 100.
THE original suicide prevention patrol along the River Shannon in Limerick has relaunched  under a different name.

Due to personal issues, Louraine Corbett Tomlinson, of Corbett Suicide Prevention Patrol and latterly Corbett Suicide Prevention Limerick, ended this patrol.

Prior to this, the group  founded by Louraines brother Trevor Corbett  had patrolled the banks of the Shannon since 2011 providing support to people who may be in suicidal distress.

And their spirit lives on with Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention, who were formed around 10 weeks ago, and already have 23 members.

But Joe Mellotte, the spokesperson for the group, said they are still looking for a place to call home

We are working from our cars at the moment. Our biggest problem is getting a base. All we need is a place to hang up our gear three nights of the week. We are here to serve the community and help people in distress, in dark moments, said Trevor.

There are young people who find themselves drinking too much, getting into trouble. We look after anyone who needs help, he explained.

This came about after CSPPs previous accommodation at the Potato Market was no longer available due to refurbishments.

All we need is a small base, just where I can hang up my gear seven nights a week, he said.

The Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention members come from across the Mid-West, as well as continental Europe, with one member from Turkey.

They are all first-aid trained, and trained in the use of defibrillators.

They patrol the river on Wednesdays and Fridays between 9pm and 1am, and also work alongside Limerick Marine Search and Rescue in the city, and Rescue 911, who are based in Shannon.

Asked why he joined, Matt Collins, Weston, said: I am at this 12 months, and the last couple of months, it's getting more chronic than ever. The fact I can help someone, I have the time. I've had suicide in my family. I felt I didn't want anyone else getting the knock at the door we had.

Treaty Suicide Prevention are always on the look out for volunteers  and perhaps more importantly at this stage, a base to store their equipment. If you can help, telephone 085-2337888.
A SUSPECTED burglar was photographed by a woman who returned to her home in County Limerick having been alerted to the break-in by her alarm company.

A file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the daytime burglary which happened near Castleconnell on September 24, last.

Two men were arrested near Dalys Cross a short time after the alarm was raised.

Thomas Manning, aged 35, of Black Road, Newport and Maurice OShea, aged 27, of Lynwood Park, Limerick subsequently appeared before Limerick District Court charged with burglary offences.

Opposing bail in the case of Mr OShea, Detective Garda Neil OGorman said it will be alleged he entered the house at around 10am while his co-accused waited outside.

He said it will alleged the homeowner encountered Mr OShea as she returned to the property and that she photographed him as he fled.

He said he had concerns the defendant would continue to commit further serious offences, if released.

In his evidence, the defendant, who is not working, said he would abide by any bail conditions imposed by the court. I will stick to any conditions given to me. I will try to keep my head down, he said appealing to the court to give him a chance.

However, based on the evidence, Judge Marian OLeary said she was refusing bail.

There was no objection to bail in the case of Mr Manning subject to strict conditions including that he stay out of Castleconnell.

His case was adjourned until early next year.
A LIMERICK man who falsely imprisoned his elderly father in a hotel in the midlands for several days has been sentenced to two and-a-half years imprisonment.

James OConnor, aged 41, who has an address at Lord Edward Street, Limerick, also forced his father  Jim OConnor  to withdraw more than 8,000 from his post office and credit union accounts in the city.

The pensioner, who is due to turn 81 next month, was reported missing on May 29, 2017, after members of his family expressed concerns to gardai that he was in the company of his son.

They were concerned about his behaviour towards his father, Detective Garda Brian Culbert told John OSullivan, BL, prosecuting during a sentencing hearing earlier this year.

A nationwide alert was issued and the pensioner was located, in a distressed state, near Portlaoise, a number of days later after gardai were alerted to reports that an elderly man was being held captive in a car.

When interviewed, Mr OConnor said he had been held against his will by his son and that he had been put under pressure to withdraw monies from his credit union and post office accounts.

He said the defendant had also refused to let him speak with other members of his family while he was being held captive.

The defendant, who has a number of previous convictions, did not make any admissions following his arrest a number of days after his father was located.

Limerick Circuit Court was told James OConnor moved to America almost 20 years ago and despite being legally married and running a business there he was deported in 2009.

Brian McInerney BL said his client has been unable to return to the United States since and he has been living a chaotic lifestyle since he returned to Ireland.

He said he was paying his way during his time in America as he was working as a painter/decorator and had his own home and van.

It (his deportation) had a bad effect on him, effectively he has been living as a recluse, he said, adding that OConnors wife had no interest in moving to Ireland.

Detective Garda Culbert agreed the defendant has no trappings of wealth and that he has been living a Walter Mitty existence in recent times.

Judge Tom ODonnell said a victim impact statement submitted to the court shows enormous Christian empathy.

In it Mr OConnor Snr stated that what happened had taken a toll on my mind and body. He added however, that despite his ordeal his love for his son was unwavering and he hoped he gets the help he needs.

Imposing sentence, Judge Tom ODonnell said the victim impact statement reads like a cry for help for his son and that what happened was an enormous breach of trust.

This was elder abuse of the highest order, it involved control and determination at every turn, he said.

While the defendant did not make admissions following his arrest, he said his guilty plea was significant and prevented a potentially difficult trial.

The judge noted that James OConnor has had difficulties with drugs and alcohol abuse and that there has been a spiral of chaos since he returned to Ireland.

He accepted he is deeply remorseful and understands, in the cold light of day, the impact the offence has had on his father and his family dynamic.

He imposed a four year prison sentence, suspending the final 18 months. Mr OConnor must remain under the care, direction and supervision of the Probation Service following his release from prison.
Karthiyani Amma was the oldest student who appeared for exam under 'Aksharalaksham' literacy program of Kerala State Literacy Mission.

Karthiyani Amma, 96-year-old Kerala woman, who cleared test under state Aksharalaksham literacy program scoring 98 out of 100 marks, was felicitated by CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday. (Photo: Twitter | ANI)

Mumbai: Karthiyani Amma, 96-year-old Kerala woman, who cleared a test under the state Aksharalaksham literacy program scoring 98 out of 100 marks, was felicitated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday.

Karthiyani Amma was the oldest student appearing for the exam under the literacy program of Kerala State Literacy Mission. In the exam, reading, writing and mathematical skills were tested.

Amma, a mother of six children of whom only two are alive, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, now wants to fulfil her dream of learning how to use a computer.

"I want to continue with my studies...want to study at least up to 10th standard and clear the exam with good marks. I also want to learn computer," she told news agency PTI.

Having cleared the Aksharalaksham exam, she has got direct entry into the 4th grade of the equivalency course of the Literacy Mission. Once she has cleared the 6-month 4th-grade course, she can join the 7th-grade equivalency programme and subsequently the 10th standard course, officials at the Mission said.

Sharing her story, she told news agency ANI that she never got an opportunity to study when she was young due to financial constraints. I never got an opportunity when young otherwise I would have become a government official, she said.

Amma, hailing from the coastal Cheppad village of Alapuzza district in Kerala, did odd jobs like cleaning a temple to look after her family following her husband's death.

Praising Karthiyanis enthusiasm, Sathi, the Mission's 'prerak' (instructor), said she was very particular about attending classes and asked many questions to clear her doubts. "She regularly attended the classes....was very cool and calm even when she was going to write the first-ever exam of her life," Sathi told PTI.

She hopes given Amma's perseverance she would realise her dream of passing class 10 by the time she turns 100.

Sharing her experience of writing the examination, Karthiyani Amma said, I did not copy from anyone rather I let others copy from me. I told them what to write.

Amma, hailing from the coastal Cheppad village of Alapuzza district in Kerala, did odd jobs like cleaning a temple to look after her family following her husband's death.

Sajitha, Amma's granddaughter, said the family was excited and proud of her achievement. "I am a school teacher. As a family member and as a teacher, it is a proud moment for me. I am excited that I can inspire my students by sharing her story with them," she said. P S Sreekala, the Literacy Mission Director, said Amma has become a role model for thousands of people who wish to be part of literacy programmes.

42,993 people out of the 43,330 candidates who appeared for the test cleared it this year.

The 'Aksharalaksham' literacy program was launched with an aim to eliminate illiteracy in the state that boasts of over 90 per cent literacy, the highest in the country.

Kerala was declared a fully literate state on April 18, 1991, which means attaining 90 per cent literacy, as per UNESCO norms.

However, the 2011 Census revealed that around 18 lakh people remained illiterate, which prompted the state government to launch the "Aksharalaksham" programme on January 26 this year.

The programme was launched by the state-run Kerala State Literacy Mission to help eradicate illiteracy among marginalised groups like tribals, fisher folks and slum-dwellers.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
BJP candidate L Chandrashekar withdrew his candidature from Ramanagara bypolls and returned to Congress.

L Chandrashekhar's departure has given upper hand to Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamys wife, Anitha, who is contesting Ramanagara bypolls as JD (S) candidate. (Photo: Facebook | @AnithKumaraswamyOfficial)

Mumbai: Just two days before the by-election in Ramanagara constituency of Karnataka, BJP has suffered a massive jolt after its candidate L Chandrashekhar withdrew his candidature and returned to Congress.

This has also given an upper hand to Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamys wife, Anitha, who is contesting the bypolls as the Janata Dal (Secular) candidate from Ramanagara.

L Chandrashekar was reportedly miffed at BJP leaders failure of not supporting him and campaigning for him as promised.

I joined the BJP with a lot of expectations. But being a candidate for the election for a constituency, I am disappointed by the lack of attention showed by the BJP leadership on their promise to campaign for me. The leaders did not offer support as promised earlier and did not offer support when I was filing my nomination papers. They have left me in the lurch. Disappointed and dejected by the turn of events, I am withdrawing my nomination as a BJP candidate, a report in The News Minute quoted Chandrashekar as saying in a letter.

Meanwhile, L Chandrashekars father, Congress MLA CM Lingappa, slammed him for not listening to him saying that he had advised his son not to join hands with the BJP.

With Chandrashekhars departure, the BJP finds itself in a tough spot as it does not have a candidate for the constituency which is going to polls on November 3.

The party had alleged that Chandrashekhar and several leaders of the coalition government had conspired to ensure BJP was left in the lurch.

However, in a response, H D Kumaraswamy said that the BJP should blame itself instead of accusing the Congress-JD(S) coalition.

According to reports, the chief minister said, The BJP should blame itself for this instead of blaming Congress-JD(S). They forced him (L Chandrashekhar) to join the BJP and then didn't fulfil the promises made to him. They didn't consult their party workers before giving him the ticket.

Bypolls will be held on Saturday in three parliamentary and two assembly seats.

The sudden departure of Chandrashekhar may impact BJPs prospects in other constituencies too where bypolls are being held - Mandya, Ballari and Shivamogga Lok Sabha seats and Jamakhandi Assembly seat.
It is therefore important to ensure that judicious distribution of Ganga water is done so that requirements of the common man are not affected.

In a presentation made before the PM, the Water Resources Ministry is learnt to have underlined these aspects for long term conservation of the river, sources further informed. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Even as the main crux of the NDA government's flagship programme 'National Mission of Clean Ganga' or Namami Gange has been on construction of ghats and setting up of sewerage treatment plants (STPs) to decongest the holy river of industrial waste, the Centre is now also keen to ensure that there is regular flow of water in it (the sobriquet coined is Aviral Ganga) and conservation of biodiversity in it.

During a recent review of the progress of the entire scheme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it was emphasised that while cleaning of ghats and setting up STPs are important components of the scheme, ensuring constant flow of water in the river  so that it can continue to remain a major source of drinking water for millions of towns and cities located alongside its shores  is also important. The NDA government has therefore made Aviral Ganga an important part of the Namami Gange programme, highly placed sources aware of the development said.

In a presentation made before the PM, the Water Resources Ministry is learnt to have underlined these aspects for long term conservation of the river, sources further informed.

Mr Modi, who reviewed the scheme last week, was informed by the ministry officials that owing to diversion of water for industrial purposes and construction of barrages, the actual requirement of Ganga water needed for drinking purposes gets adversely affected and leads to scarcity.

It is therefore important to ensure that judicious distribution of Ganga water is done so that requirements of the common man are not affected.

At the same time the Prime Minister was also apprised of the significance of ensuring constant flow of water in the river by unblocking its natural flow, sources said.

Apart from this, Ganga is also home to various species of water animals like crocodiles, gharials, dolphins and rare variety of turtles.

The Centre is planning to create conservation corridors in the river Ganga for these creatures, like the one created for dolphins in Bihar and the upcoming turtle rearing centre in Allahabad. This aspect was also emphasised upon during the review meeting with the Prime Minister.
Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) are large, round, water-loving animals that are native to Africa. The word "hippopotamus" comes from the Greek word for "water horse" or "river horse," although hippos and horses aren't closely related. The closest living relatives to hippos are pigs, whales and dolphins, according to the San Diego Zoo.

Size

Hippos are very rotund animals and are the third largest living land mammals, after elephants and white rhinos, according to Animal Planet. They grow to between 10.8 and 16.5 feet (3.3 to 5 meters) long and up to 5.2 feet (1.6 m) tall at the shoulder. The average female weighs around 3,000 lbs. (1,400 kilograms), while males weigh 3,500 to 9,920 lbs. (1,600 to 4,500 kg), according to the San Diego Zoo.

Habitat

Hippos live in sub-Saharan Africa. They live in areas with abundant water, as they spend most of their time submerged to keep their skin cool and moist. Considered amphibious animals, hippos spend up to 16 hours per day in the water, according to National Geographic.

Hippos are social beasts, hanging out in groups called schools, bloats, pods or sieges. Schools of hippos usually consist of 10 to 30 members, including both females and males, although some groups have as many as 200 individuals. No matter the size, the school is usually led by a dominant male.

Hippos are very loud animals. Their snorts, grumbles and wheezes have been measured at 115 decibels, according to the San Diego Zoo  about the same volume as you'd get when 15 feet (4.6 m) from the speakers at a rock concert. These booming creatures also use subsonic vocalizations to communicate.

Hippos are aggressive and are considered very dangerous. They have large teeth and tusks that they use for fighting off threats, including humans. Sometimes, their young fall victim to adult hippos' tempers. During a fight between two adults, a young hippo caught in the middle can be seriously hurt or even crushed.

Though hippos move easily through the water, they can't actually swim. According to the San Diego Zoo, these animals glide through the water by pushing themselves off other objects. And they can stay under water for up to 5 minutes without coming up for air, according to National Geographic.

(Image credit: Andreas Lippenberger/Shutterstock)

Hungry, hungry hippos

Hippos have a healthy and mostly herbivorous appetite. Adults eat about 80 lbs. (35 kg) of grass each night,traveling up to 6 miles (10 kilometers) in a night to get their fill. They also eat fruit that they find during their nightly scavenging, according to National Geographic. If food is scarce, hippos can store food in their stomachs and go up to three weeks without eating.

Although hippos were long believed to be exclusively herbivorous, 2015 study published in the journal Mammal Review found that hippos occasionally feed on the carcasses of animals, including other hippos.

Baby hippos

Female hippos have a gestation period of eight months and have only one baby at a time, according to the San Diego Zoo. At birth, the calf weighs between 50 and 110 lbs. (23 to 50 kg). For its first eight months, the calf nurses while its mother is on land, or it swims underwater to suckle. When it dives, the calf closes its nose and ears to block out water. All hippos have this ability. Hippos also have membranes that cover and protect their eyes while they are underwater.

At 5 to 7 years old, the hippo calf is fully mature, according to the San Diego Zoo. The median life expectancy of a hippo is 36 years.

Attacks on humans

The hippopotamus is considered the world's deadliest large land mammal. These semiaquatic giants kill an estimated 500 people per year in Africa, according to the BBC. Hippos are highly aggressive and are well-equipped to deliver considerable damage to anything that wanders into their territory.

For example, in 2014, a hippo attacked a small, unsuspecting boat filled with Nigerian school children, killing twelve students and one teacher on board, an Australian news outlet reported. Conflicts between humans and hippos also occur when hippos wander onto land in search of food.

Hippos have big teeth. Don't mess with them. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Conservation status

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the common hippo isn't endangered, but it is vulnerable to extinction. The IUCN estimates that between 125,000 and 148,000 hippos remain in the wild. Poaching and habitat loss reduced the hippo's global numbers during the late 1990s and early 2000s, but the population has since plateaued thanks to stricter law enforcement, according to the IUCN.

Invasive hippos

Notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar famously kept hippos, giraffes, elephants and other exotic animals on his estate in northwestern Colombia. When Escobar was killed in 1993, the Colombian government seized all of his assets, including his menagerie. Most of his animals were transferred to zoos and aquariums, but his four hippos were left to fend for themselves. Those four animals made their way into Colombia's waterways, where they multiplied. Today, between 40 and 60 of their descendants roam the landscape, according to an investigation by biologists at the University of California, San Diego. This invasive population poses a threat to the community, because the hippos occasionally trample crops and charge at humans. However, many Colombians have grown fond of the uninvited ungulates and vehemently oppose their removal. Some scientists, though, fear that the animals' continued presence could have unintended consequences. "The risk to native species  such as manatees, turtles and fish  is high, and the environmental effect is unpredictable," Nelson Aranguren-Riano, biologist at Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia, said in a statement.

Colombian wildlife officials have sterilized a handful of male hippos in an attempt to slow the growth of the population, but there are currently no plans to relocate or sterilize the entire population.

Further reading:

This article was updated on Nov. 1, 2018, by Live Science Contributor Annie Roth.
This coffin-shaped iceberg (shown here on Sept. 23, 2018) is part of an iceberg that split from the Ross ice shelf and is now circling in Antarctica's frigid waters.

Eighteen years ago, a big chunk of ice broke off Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf, floated out to sea and soon after broke into pieces. One of those pieces, a coffin-shaped iceberg, has now  nearly two decades later  made its way into warmer waters. According to NASA, it's going to die.

For its entire lifetime, this tabular iceberg circled Antarctica in the frigid waters of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, NASA explained. That's a little closed loop of moving water that can keep icebergs in the southern continent's frigid vicinity for years. It was in this in-between zone that the iceberg, named B-15T, acquired its coffin shape, NASA wrote  the result of collisions with other bergs, along with other factors.

"The coffin shape is an accident of time and space, given the approximately 18.5-year voyage of B-15T," glaciologist Chris Shuman, of NASA and the University of Maryland Baltimore County, said in NASA's statement. "We can only guess at the forces that have acted on this remnant of B-15 along the long way around Antarctica." [Iconic Photos of Earth from Space]

When an astronaut on the International Space Station spotted the iceberg through the clouds and snapped the photo above, the ice chunk had been redirected north, into the southern Atlantic. The lack of other sea ice around it, NASA wrote, suggests that it's in warm waters where it will soon melt.

It will be survived by other remnants of that berg that broke off Antarctica 18 years ago, still circling endlessly in cold southern waters.

The "coffin" iceberg shown on Oct. 20, 2017. (Image credit: NASA)

Originally published on Live Science.
Clumps of alpha-synuclein protein (in red) were found in healthy appendixes. Those same clumps, when found in the brain, are telltale signs of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that impairs brain cells and causes movement problems, could have its origins in the appendix, a new study suggests. The vestigial organ, the researchers say, could be the source of proteins that can find their way to the brain and once there, extend a deadly grip on nerve cells.

According to the study, published yesterday (Oct. 31) in the journal Science Translational Medicine, people who had their appendix removed when they were young were 19 to 25 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's later in life.

The new study  though not the first to suggest that Parkinson's can start in the gut, or even in the appendix  was one of the largest ones done to date. The research "further supports the notion that [Parkinson's] starts in the gut," Dr. Ted Dawson, a professor of neurodegenerative diseases at Johns Hopkins University who was not part of the study, told Live Science.

In the first part of the study, the researchers sifted through two large databases  one that contained information on more than 1.6 million people in Sweden, and the other with data on 849 international patients who had Parkinson's disease. Both databases indicated which people had had their appendixes removed. [10 Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp]

They found that people who had their appendixes removed were 19 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's later in life, but only if they had the procedure done early  decades before the typical onset of the disorder. What's more, people in the study who did end up developing Parkinson's did so, on average, 3.6 years later if they had their appendixes removed than people who still had their appendices.

The findings suggest that the appendix "might be important in the early events or possibly in the initiation of this disease," said senior author Viviane Labrie, an assistant professor of neuroscience at Van Andel Research Institute in Michigan.

Labrie and her team also found that people who had undergone an appendectomy (surgery to remove the appendix) and lived in rural areas were 25 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's than those who had the surgery and lived in urban areas. Parkinson's is often more common in rural areas, which may be due to exposure to pesticides that are thought to be linked to the disease, Labrie said. This association wasn't present in those who were genetically predisposed to Parkinson's, the researchers noted. (Only about 10 percent of people with Parkinson's are genetically predisposed.)

What's going on down there?

A telltale sign of Parkinson's in the brain are "Lewy bodies"  large deposits of proteins that form around neurons and hinder their release of chemicals or neurotransmitters that instruct our movement and thoughts. These Lewy bodies are mostly made up of abnormally shaped or "clumped" proteins called alpha-synucleins.

In the second part of the study, Labrie and her team set out to look for these clumps of proteins in the appendix. They imaged 48 appendixes taken from people without Parkinson's. The appendixes had been taken from both young and old patients. Some were inflamed and some were not (gut inflammation is considered a potential risk factor for Parkinson's).

They found that all the appendixes had contained the protein clumps. In other words, the same proteins that wreak havoc in the brain seem to be normal in the appendix. This suggests that "what's present in the appendix" could actually be a "seed" that could travel from the gastrointestinal tract to the brain and cause Parkinson's, Labrie told Live Science. (However, the study couldn't ultimately prove that this is the cause of the disease.)

It's unclear why the appendix has these clumps in the first place, however. The appendix, though largely  and erroneously  thought to be useless in the body, contains a number of immune cells and helps to identify and monitor pathogens and raise red flags (immune responses) when it finds them, Labrie said.

So perhaps these clumps "might also be involved in immune function," Labrie said.

Preventative appendectomies? No

Still, the findings don't mean people should run out and schedule appendectomies. Parkinson's itself is a relatively rare disease that affects less than 1 percent of the population.

"One of the things that we don't want to get across to people is that [they] should be having preventative appendectomies or that just because you have an appendix, you're going to get Parkinson's disease," Labrie said. Rather, possible future preventative treatments could aim to target levels of the clumped proteins in the gut, or to somehow prevent their escape to the brain.

In addition, the researchers only looked at the appendix in this study, but there could be other places in the GI tract that also have these clumps "that we just haven't looked at yet," Labrie said.

Now, Labrie hopes to understand the molecular basis of what's going on: If these clumps of proteins can't distinguish a healthy appendix from one that may seed Parkinson's, are there other biological markers that can?

It's clear that the gut whispers to the brain, the brain whispers to the gut and together they turn the cranks and wheels of our bodies  a conversation that continues to remain largely mysterious to us.

Originally published on Live Science.
The black-footed cat (<i>Felis nigripes</i>) hunts amongst the short desert scrub in the Karoo of South Africa.

The deadliest cat on Earth isn't a shaggy-maned lion, a sleek leopard or a stealthy tiger. It's a wee cat that you've probably never heard of: Africa's smallest feline, the black-footed cat.

Native to the grasslands of southern Africa, the black-footed cat has an endearingly round face and a light brown, black-spotted body that is small even compared to domestic cats. The wild feline measures only 14 to 20 inches (36 to 52 centimeters) long, stands about 8 inches (20 cm) tall and weighs about 2 to 6 lbs. (1 to 3 kilograms), according to the International Society for Endangered Cats (black-footed cats are listed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature).

Admittedly, those measurements don't sound very impressive when compared to the sizable big cats that are among the world's most fearsome predators. But despite its small size, the black-footed cat hunts and brings down more prey in a single night than a leopard does in six months, according to the PBS Nature miniseries "Super Cats." [Meet the Rare and Fabulous Felines of 'Super Cats' (Photos)]

The second episode in the miniseries aired on PBS last night (Oct. 31). It featured an unprecedented glimpse of the black-footed cat, along with views of other fascinating and elusive wild felines, such as a pregnant jaguar in Costa Rica, a rare swamp tiger in India and a family of fishing cats  the only semiaquatic cats  in the wetlands of Asia.

For the latest episode, titled "Cats in Every Corner," filmmakers captured never-before-seen views of black-footed cats by collaborating with researcher Alexander Sliwa, a curator at the Cologne Zoo in Germany who has studied the black-footed cat since the 1990s. Through Sliwa, the series' makers gained access to several small cats that had already been fitted with radio collars at a study site in South Africa, "Super Cats" producer Gavin Boyland told Live Science.

A real killer

Filming the tiny cats proved unusually challenging, Boyland said. Because the black-footed cats are so small, they're harder to track through tall grasses than big cats are. Since the little cats hunt mostly at night, the production crew needed to use a special light-sensitive camera to detect the felines at all, recording footage of hunting behavior that had never been captured before, Boyland explained.

And when it comes to hunting, as the filmmakers saw, the black-footed cat is extraordinarily efficient  "a real powerhouse," said Luke Hunter, Chief Conservation Officer at Panthera, a global wildcat-conservation organization.

Hunter, who served as a scientific consultant for "Super Cats," explained that small predators like the black-footed cat have accelerated metabolisms, which they need to keep fueled all the time, "so they're constantly hunting," he said.

Black-footed cats are found only in three countries: Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. (Image credit: Copyright Alexander Sliwa)

Black-footed cats use three very different techniques to nab their prey. One method is known as "fast hunting," in which the cats bound quickly and "almost randomly" through the tall grass, flushing out small prey such as birds or rodents, Hunter said. Another of their methods takes them on a slower course through their habitat, with the cats weaving quietly and carefully to sneak up on potential prey.

Finally, they use a sit-and-wait approach near rodents' burrows, a technique called still hunting, Hunter said.

"They wait for up to 2 hours, [staying] absolutely immobile, just silently waiting at the burrow for a rodent to appear. And then they nab it," Hunter told Live Science.

"The deadliest little cat on Earth"

In one night, a black-footed cat kills between 10 and 14 rodents or small birds, averaging a kill about every 50 minutes, according to Hunter. With a 60 percent success rate, black-footed cats are about three times as successful as lions, which average a successful kill about 20 to 25 percent of the time, Hunter said.

"If you're a gazelle or a wildebeest, a black-footed cat isn't at all deadly. But those success rates make them the deadliest little cat on Earth," he said.

Livestock grazing reduces the habitats of black-footed cats, which hunt birds, rodents and even insects that inhabit grassland ecosystems. (Image credit: Copyright Alexander Sliwa)

Black-footed cats represent but one species in a highly diverse feline family, many of which are difficult to observe in the wild and are not well-understood. And though most of the felines that appear in "Super Cats" face serious threats of habitat loss and destruction from human activity, conservation efforts can yet preserve vulnerable populations, Hunter said.

"I believe it's mostly not doom and gloom. But if we don't actively conserve these species, if we don't work to reduce those threats, then we could lose some of these animals," he added.

Episode 2 of "Super Cats" is available to stream beginning today (Nov. 1). You can also watch Episode 1  "Extreme Lives"  and learn more about the miniseries on the PBS Nature website and on PBS apps. Episode 3, "Science and Secrets," premieres Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 8 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).

Originally published on Live Science.
Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction

By Alec Nevala-Lee

Morrow/Dey Street. 532 pp. $28.99

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There's an old joke about the golden age of science fiction being 12 - that is, the age when young people discover and then devour as much sf as they can find. Alec Nevala-Lee even quotes the remark in this enthralling account of science fiction's other golden age - the period between 1939 and the mid-'50s when John W. Campbell Jr. edited the magazine Astounding.

Until recently, science fiction took particular pride in its past. New fans were expected to know such influential works as Robert Heinlein's Future History stories, A.E. van Vogt's "Slan" and Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy. Contrary to a present-day misperception, the genre - while overwhelmingly a boys club - didn't post a sign on its treehouse reading "No Girls Allowed." Nevala-Lee lists just some of the distinguished female writers that Campbell published, among them Leigh Brackett (who mentored the young Ray Bradbury and at the end of her career scripted "The Empire Strikes Back" ) and Catherine L. Moore (creator of the sexy and formidable warrior Jirel of Joiry), as well as Katherine Maclean, Judith Merril, Anne McCaffrey and James Tiptree Jr., aka Alice Sheldon, one of Washington's two supremely influential sf writers. (The other, Paul M.A. Linebarger, also used a pen name, Cordwainer Smith.) A few years back, Maclean - who is still with us - attended Readercon, where the reverence paid to her would have excited the envy of a movie star or member of the British royal family.

Still, I once heard a Hugo Award-winning author declare that the only American science fiction that mattered appeared after 1960. Nonetheless, he was proud to accept his award named after Hugo Gernsback, who founded Amazing Stories in 1926. (For details, see "The Gernsback Days: A Study of the Evolution of Modern Science Fiction from 1911 to 1936," by Mike Ashley and Robert A.W. Lowndes.) During the 1920s and '30s, Amazing, along with the early Astounding and other pulp magazines, duly fed the imaginations of adolescents who would grow up to write sf's early masterpieces.

One of these masterpieces was young Campbell's 1938 novella, "Who Goes There?," which Nevala-Lees calls "the greatest science fiction suspense story of all time." In it a murderous shape-shifting alien devastates an Antarctic expedition. (Campbell's classic has been filmed multiple times, first as a 1951 B movie about Cold War paranoia, "The Thing From Another World.") Though an exceptional writer, Campbell set aside his own work when he was asked to take over and reinvigorate Astounding. From then on, like other groundbreaking editors, he focused all his creative energy on the magazine, tirelessly passing along plot ideas to his contributors. For instance, Campbell suggested to a young Asimov that there might be a story in Ralph Waldo Emerson's speculation about how humanity would react if the stars appeared only once in a thousand years. The result? The haunting classic "Nightfall." Campbell largely formulated the Three Laws of Robotics, which energize many of Asimov's early stories, and even helped fashion what became the Foundation Trilogy, long judged the best sf series of all time.

Though Asimov worshipped Campbell, the editor probably felt closest to Heinlein, the genre's greatest natural-born storyteller since H.G. Wells. Heinlein could do it all, whether writing about a generation starship in "Universe," playing with time paradox in "By His Bootstraps" or turning out the best juvenile sf novels ever, including my favorite, "Citizen of the Galaxy," which opens unforgettably: "'Lot ninety-seven,' the auctioneer announced. 'A boy.'"

While Heinlein's fiction frequently imagined "the competent man," a protagonist who could cook a gourmet meal or lead an army, L. Ron Hubbard actually seemed to bring him to life. Campbell and Heinlein were certainly taken in by Hubbard's self-mythologizing accounts of his derring-do as an explorer and naval officer. But, hard though it may be to swallow, the founder of Scientology really was a major pulp author, and novels such as "Final Blackout" - set in the aftermath of a future nuclear war - and "Fear" are still worth reading. The latter, first published in Campbell's wonderful fantasy magazine Unknown, is - to quote Stephen King - "a classic of creeping, surreal menace and horror."

Throughout the book "Astounding," Nevala-Lee smoothly interweaves a wide variety of sources, written and oral, as he tracks the careers of his four Golden Age giants. Did you know that Heinlein, Asimov and L. Sprague de Camp (co-author, with Fletcher Pratt, of the humorous fantasy "The Incomplete Enchanter") all worked together in a Philadelphia Navy laboratory during World War II? Or that Heinlein practiced nudism and open marriage? Asimov, alas, relentlessly pawed young women, fancying himself a lovable Dirty Old Man, and, shockingly, died from AIDS acquired from a blood transfusion. Hubbard, no surprise, enthusiastically participated in sexual rituals masterminded by the legendary Jack Parsons, co-founder of California's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. (For details, see John Carter's "Sex and Rockets: The Occult World of Jack Parsons.")

Sad to say, in his later years Campbell fell for various harebrained schemes to transform mankind and even foolishly changed the name of his magazine to "Analog: Science Fact and Fiction." Still, not long before he died at age 61 in 1971, he managed one last major coup by serializing an epic novel about a desert planet called Arrakis, Frank Herbert's "Dune."

Yet Campbell's influence persists even now. When George R.R. Martin was asked whether "A Game of Thrones" had been inspired by the ideas of mythologist Joseph Campbell, he answered, "The Campbell that influenced me was John W., not Joseph." In the end, Nevala-Lee's "Astounding" isn't just Arrakisian spice for science-fiction fans - it's also a clarion call to enlarge American literary history.
Twain's Feast

Narrated by Nick Offerman

Audible Studios. 4-1/2 hours. $8.95

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Nick Offerman, the deadpan comedian from "Parks and Recreation," has long been a fan of Mark Twain, the cigar-chomping master of deadpan comedy. And once you catch the similarity between these two Midwesterners with their unhurried pacing and straight-faced absurdity, you can't unhear it.

"I would be flattering myself to claim any genealogy," Offerman says by phone, "but he's definitely one of the main thumbtacks on my chart of inspirations."

Offerman's affinity for Twain has made him the perfect narrator for "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." But his latest project delivers an even more delicious partnership: an audiobook about Samuel Clemens' favorite foods.

The recipe for this project is more than a century old. In 1879, Clemens was touring Europe and feeling ravenously homesick for American delicacies. To quell his hunger, he wrote up a menu of 80 dishes he would enjoy as soon as he got off the boat: a vast banquet of everything from hot buckwheat cakes and green corn to Sheepshead and San Francisco mussels.

That fantasy dinner eventually became the basis of "Twain's Feast," a charming work of biography and cultural history published by Andrew Beahrs in 2010.

And now, finally, dinner is served.

Rather than record a straight narration of Beahrs' book, Offerman hosts an elaborately constructed production that mixes his readings and reflections with interviews with Beahrs and other Twain scholars. What's more, it includes a fully realized version of Twain's pipe-dream meal prepared by chef Tyler Anderson at the Twain House in Hartford, Conn. Wanda Sykes and Jeff Tweedy are among the guests who sit down with Offerman for the dinner of a lifetime.

The result is as close as you'll ever get to eating with Mark Twain without a time machine. What starts as a tasty meal becomes a rich exploration of American history. As Offerman and Beahrs cut into various meats and vegetables, their conversation moves into all kinds of surprising, sometimes tragic avenues of our heritage. Coon, for instance, is not just an unusual entree, it's a racial slur that evokes Twain's complex relationship to African-Americans.

"Since we had that dinner at Twain's house," Offerman says, "I've managed to survive without another taste of raccoon."

Less fraught ingredients lead to more whimsical considerations. A chapter on maple syrup, for instance, reveals that Twain owned a large collection of electric vibrators. I don't exactly remember the connection; I may have blacked out.

Given all the genuinely mouthwatering items in Twain's feast - baked apples, Porterhouse steak, soft-shell crabs - Offerman's favorite is something of a surprise. "I really enjoyed, both in the writing and in the gustatory consumption, the terrapin soup," he says. "I'm a sucker for local bucolic flavor. And so the history of the Chesapeake Bay region and all of the food items that we have exhausted from that incredible source of life I found fascinating - particularly that Philadelphia and Baltimore each had their own competing terrapin soup recipes."

He warns would-be chefs, though, that preparation is not easy. "The bummer about turtle is cleaning the turtle out of the shell. That's just a drag." And besides, he admits, they're cute. "If you can keep the turtle around and find some quinoa instead, I recommend it."

An ardent fan of Wendell Berry, Alice Waters and Michael Pollan, Offerman discovered that Twain's feast was spiced with sadness. The rumors of the death of American fauna and flora have not been greatly exaggerated. He recalls Twain's description of Lake Tahoe: "The clarity with which you can see to the bottom and the incredible, almost fairy-tale trout that no longer live in that lake, I found that particularly heartbreaking."

What's needed is a wholesale rethinking of how we produce our food. "Corporations have sort of gaslit our population into eating things that aren't necessarily the most wholesome," Offerman says, "so that those people might derive the greatest profits instead of thinking about serving us the healthiest fare." Beahrs' book served to bolster his "predilection for the farmers market and sustainable local produce that we can all enjoy."

But finding sustainable food isn't the only challenge nowadays for meals in Offerman's family. He's in England working an upcoming new series called "Devs"; his wife, Megan Mullally, is in L.A. filming the revived "Will & Grace." But they insist on seeing each other every two weeks.

For this Thanksgiving, he's looking forward to a huge family dinner in Mobile, Ala., where a niece is attending college. The menu, he predicts, will be strictly traditional.

"My mom and dad are amazing producers of food and also cooks," he says. "But they've never been terribly experimental because their old favorites have never drawn any complaints. I have traveled many arduous miles over the years just for the turkey and the mashed potatoes and the stuffing. And then an embarrassment of pies."

Mark Twain would approve.

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Podcast embed code:
Reacting to the development, Computer Baba, said he would continue his work notwithstanding 'conspiracies' of the BJP government.

Decision to expel Computer Baba was taken at a high-level meeting of Digambar Ani Akhada at Ujjain. (Photo: File)

Indore: Religious leader Computer Baba, a friend-turned-foe of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in Madhya Pradesh, has been expelled by the Akhada to which he belongs.

Digambar Ani Akhada, a prominent denomination of Vaishnava sect, has expelled him, said Mahant Narendra Giri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, on Thursday.

Reacting to the development, Computer Baba, whose original name is Namdeo Das Tyagi, said he would continue his work notwithstanding "conspiracies" of the BJP government.

Mahant Giri told PTI that the Parishad, which represents 13 Akhadas, had recommended Computer Baba's expulsion.

"He behaved against the dignity of saints, jumped into political arena, sometimes speaking in favour of BJP, sometimes backing Congress for his vested interests," Giri said.

The decision to expel him was taken at a high-level meeting of Digambar Ani Akhada at Ujjain, Giri informed. Computer Baba will no longer be able to participate in ceremonies of Digambar Ani Akhada including its Shahi Snan (ceremonial bath) during the coming Kumbh Mela, he said.

Computer Baba reacted to the development through a video statement. "Whatever conspiracies Shivraj's BJP government may hatch, I will not allow the Narmada river to be polluted and the plight of cows to worsen. I will continue to work for the protection of Hindu Dharma," he said.

The saint community is being neglected in the state and their shrines are being destroyed, he alleged. Computer Baba was accorded the status of Minister of State by the state government in April this year by appointing him to a committee for the protection of the Narmada river.

However, last month he resigned, accusing chief minister Chouhan of not fulfilling his promises and alleging that the government did little to stop illegal sand mining in the Narmada. Ahead of November 28 Assembly polls in the state, he has been holding congregations of religious leaders and calling for ouster of the BJP government.
A 47-year-old man has been arrested for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl, Laredo police said.

LPD served Juan Valentin Longoria with an arrest warrant on Tuesday that charged him with indecency with a child by sexual contact.

Longoria is out on bond from the Webb County Jail, custody records show.

On July 6, 2017, police responded to Laredo Medical Center for a sexual offense report. An officer met with a woman and her 10-year-old daughter. A doctor reported to police that the girl told him that Longoria had sexually assaulted her, according to court documents.

The case was turned over to detectives with the special investigations unit.

During a forensic interview at the Childrens Advocacy Center, the girl said she had been abused by Longoria since she was 8 years old, according to police.

On July 13, Longoria agreed to meet with investigators at LPD. He denied the sexual assault allegations.

Detectives said they gathered enough evidence and probable cause to present the case to an assistant district attorney, who approved the issuance of the arrest warrant.
A 15-year-old girl has been arrested after leading authorities on a chase in a vehicle loaded with undocumented immigrants, according to Laredo police.

The girl, a U.S. citizen, was charged with evading arrest, resisting arrest and accident involving damages.

At about 9:45 p.m. Monday, a Laredo police officer attempted to pull over a black Charger for a traffic violation at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Santa Maria Avenue.

Police said the driver of the Charger refused to stop, and a chase ensued.

LPD requested the assistance of the U.S. Border Patrol. Authorities said the Charger stopped when it crashed with a parked vehicle in the 1500 block of Poggenpohl Street.

Authorities said several occupants exited the vehicle and left the scene running. Officers said they detained six occupants, including the driver, after a brief foot pursuit.

Border Patrol agents took custody of the passengers: one Mexican citizen with legal residence status and four Mexican citizens, including a juvenile, who were in the country illegally.

Border Patrol said they later released the resident immigrant. The undocumented immigrants, including the juvenile, were arrested, authorities said.

Agents then turned over the juvenile immigrant to the Mexican Consulate.
The killing of notorious Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger on Tuesday in a federal penitentiary in Hazelton drew heightened attention to complaints of inadequate staffing and control at the facility in West Virginia.

The death of the 89-year-old Bulger, convicted in 11 murders and numerous counts of racketeering, is being investigated as a homicide, federal prosecutors said. His was the third violent inmate death since April, and all are under review by the FBI.

In April, Ian Thorne, 48, who orchestrated the fatal stabbing of an inmate while serving time in the Washington, D.C.'s old Lorton Reformatory, died at Hazelton. In the other case, Demario Porter, 27, who was convicted on gun-related charges, died there in September.

Both men were from the District of Columbia and were among the roughly 200 inmates from the District who are at Hazelton, which prison officials said has about 1,600 inmates.

The FBI and the U.S. attorney's office investigate all killings in federal institutions.

Bulger's death less than a day after he was transferred from a facility in Oklahoma has raised questions about why he was moved and what provisions were made for his safety and that of other prisoners. Bulger, arrested in 2011 after spending 16 years on the run, made many enemies when it was revealed that he had been both an organized-crime boss in the Boston-area and an FBI informant whose bureau handlers gave him wide leeway to commit crimes.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D, who represents Washington in Congress, had demanded on Oct. 17 that the Federal Bureau of Prisons' inspector general investigate the Hazelton penitentiary over the deaths of Thorne and Porter.

"We haven't heard back from the inspector general, but if we can't get one after [Bulger], I'm not sure they ever do an investigation," Norton said. "We were confident it was lawless when we wrote our letter, but now that Whitey Bulger has been killed 24 hours after he arrived there, finally Hazelton will get some attention."

Officials with knowledge of the investigation into Bulger's death told The Washington Post that the elderly inmate, who used a wheelchair and was in poor health, had suffered head trauma. Bulger was found between 8 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. in his cell, bleeding profusely, according to two prison employees familiar with the incident who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

The U.S. attorney's office for the Northern District of West Virginia said in a statement that the death is being investigated as a homicide but would not comment further.

No suspect has been publicly named in the investigation of Bulger's death.

According to prison records reviewed by The Washington Post, Fotios "Freddy" Geas, a 51-year-old inmate who has mob affiliations, was placed in administrative detention at 12:11 p.m. Tuesday.

Court records show that Geas is serving a life sentence after two murder convictions and was a Massachusetts-based associate of New York's Genovese crime family, which has been associated with extortion, loan sharking and murder. A private investigator told the Boston Globe that "Freddy hated rats." Bulger earned that title after his relationship with the FBI was exposed.

Bulger had spent four relatively quiet years at the Coleman II penitentiary in Florida, where he had few documented violations.

He was cited in 2015 for a lewd sex act in front of a guard, and in March this year, he was disciplined for making a threat, according to the prison records reviewed by The Post. Bulger reportedly told a female health-care staffer in late February that "your day of reckoning is coming," according to a prison worker with knowledge of the episode.

The threat landed Bulger in the special housing unit, a part of Coleman reserved for inmates who need additional supervision.

What remains unclear is why Bulger was moved out of Coleman eight months after the remark. No other offenses appear in his disciplinary record. Federal corrections officers - who spoke to The Post on the condition of anonymity - said it was unusual for someone of Bulger's advanced age and frail health to be moved after one minor offense. The prison where he ended up, Hazelton, is classified as a lower-level facility for medical-care capabilities within the federal prison system.

Bulger's death has focused a national spotlight on Hazelton and long-standing complaints by the labor union representing correctional officers that there are too few guards to keep the institution safe. The killing has galvanized efforts by lawmakers to force a broad investigation into the deaths and conditions there.

Six days ago, the Democratic senator from West Virginia, Joe Manchin, wrote to the U.S. attorney general, calling the deaths of Porter and Thorne "unacceptable." He noted that Congress had appropriated an extra $7 billion for the Bureau of Prisons for 2018 salaries and expenses with the intention of bolstering full-time staffing.

The union representing correctional officers at Hazelton has complained for years that the prison is poorly staffed and repeated that claim this week.

David Cox, the national president of the Federation of Government Employees, said in a statement that Bulger's death, "while concerning, is unsurprising. Federal prisons across the country are suffering from severe under staffing, and the situation is perhaps no more dire than at Hazelton." He said recent cuts have forced the staff "to work under conditions where teachers, administrative assistants, and accountants fill in shifts as officers and first responders to violent incidents."

The Bureau of Prisons did not respond to questions about staffing or the complaints by Norton and Manchin.

Local news reports and statements from authorities at the prison have cited other killings dating to the mid-2000s. At least two of the victims were District residents, including a man convicted in three murders who had just begun serving a 93-year sentence.

Porter had been serving a 15-month sentence for illegal gun possession in the District, and also for violating terms of parole from an armed robbery conviction.

Thorne was killed during a fight on April 2, the Bureau of Prisons said. He had been at Hazelton since January, serving 20 years for solicitation to commit murder. The Post wrote in 2000 that Thorne was convicted of setting up the killing of a man in 1997 in Lorton; the assailant was sentenced to 30 years.

Thorne was in Lorton after being convicted of dealing drugs in Northeast Washington. In prison, he was dubbed the prison "strongman" for running a network of inmate drug smugglers and enforcers, according to court files cited by The Post.

Paul Duggan contributed to this report.
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Divers recovered a flight recorder Thursday from the wreckage of a Lion Air jet in the Java Sea, a crucial discovery that may help investigators determine how a new plane fell out of clear skies in one of the worst commercial air disasters in recent years.

The bright orange flight recorder was found 100 feet underwater close to the coast of Jakarta. An airplane has two recorders: one that captures flight data such as readings from electronic systems, and another that records the pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit.

Investigators initially said the device found was likely the flight data recorder but noted late Thursday they were unclear which of the two was in hand.

The crash Monday of Boeing's popular 737 Max 8 has so far puzzled experts. The twin-engine jet plunged into the sea just 13 minutes after takeoff, hitting the water with such speed and force that no victim has been found alive.

Finding the "black box" recorders are considered crucial to piece together the last moments of the ill-fated flight.

If the flight data recorder were the one found, it would probably be brought to the National Transportation Safety Committee laboratory, where investigators would begin to look through the information, said Alvin Lie, a former member of the Indonesian parliament and an aviation analyst.

"Analysis can be done, but it is not complete without the CVR," he said, referring to the cockpit voice recorder, which still has not been located.

Lion Air Flight 610 took off from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for the mining region of Pangkal Pinang early Monday. A few minutes into the flight, the pilot asked permission to return to the airport, a request that was granted.

Radar showed the aircraft climbed and descended erratically, and its speed increased dramatically before it lost contact with air traffic controllers.

Budi Karya Sumadi, Indonesia's transportation minister, said 10 Boeing 737 Max 8 planes operated by Lion Air and one operated by Garuda, Indonesia's national airline, have been grounded and are being inspected and evaluated by the transportation safety committee. The committee will discuss the details of its evaluation with Boeing, he added, which has sent a team of engineers to Jakarta.

His ministry has also asked Lion Air to suspend the licenses of a number of officials, including its maintenance director, engineering director and flight maintenance director, while they aid in the investigation.

Indonesia is Southeast Asia's biggest aviation market, according to the Centre for Aviation, a travel market research company, bolstered by a rising middle class and the necessity of air travel to navigate the large archipelago. But the country has suffered from safety oversights in the past.

Its airlines were banned from flying to the United States in 2007 because they were "deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping, or inspection procedures," the Federal Aviation Administration said. The FAA lifted the ban in 2016 after the country's airlines showed signs of improvement. The European Union similarly barred Indonesian carriers from flying into European airspace from 2007 until June.

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Mahtani reported from Hong Kong. The Washington Post's Timothy McLaughlin in Hong Kong contributed to this report.
Americans have already voted in record numbers in many states in this year's midterm elections, confirming the heightened interest in the fight for control of Congress and state houses playing out indozens of bitterly contested races.

With less than a week remaining until Election Day, voters in at least 17 states surpassed overall early and absentee voting numbers from 2014, according Michael McDonald, a political science professor at the University of Florida.

In some cases, early and absentee vote totals are on track to double since four years ago. The numbers are so high in some states that early voting may exceed total vote counts - including Election Day tallies - from four years ago.

The heightened participation reflects in part a surge of interest among Democrats, who stayed home in large numbers in 2014, when Republicans took control of the Senate and widened their control of the House.

But data from several battleground states with marquee Senate or governor's races show Republicans are also very engaged - as much as they were four years ago - suggesting many hard-fought races could be even closer than surveys are predicting.

"We can't know who people are voting for, but we can see who is showing up to vote," said McDonald, who compiles a clearinghouse of voting data called the Elections Project. "What we're seeing is very high levels of engagement on both sides in the competitive elections for governor and Senate."

Some of the boost in participation can be attributed to what McDonald calls the cannibalism effect: the fact that more and more voters are choosing to vote early or by mail-in ballot, with more states offering easier ways to do so.

That raises uncertainty about whether the surge in voting will last through Election Day. But the numbers are already so high in some states that experts have grown increasingly confident overall turnout will be up this year.

Turnout in 2014, at 37 percent of eligible voters nationwide, was the lowest for a midterm election since World War II. In the 2016 presidential election, turnout was about 61 percent, roughly the same as 2012.

Two states that show a boost in voter participation so far this year are Florida and Nevada, which both feature competitive races for Senate and governor. In Nevada, a total of about 308,000 voters cast early, absentee or mail-in ballots in 2014, according to state data. As of early Wednesday, with three more days of in-person early voting to go, the figure for this year was at 463,016.

The numbers showed a marginal advantage for Democratic voters, who have cast roughly 192,000 votes compared to 180,000 Republicans and 90,000 with no party affiliation.

Those figures could mean an exceedingly close race for Senate, in which Sen. Dean Heller (R) is defending his seat against Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen, and for governor, in which Republican Attorney General Adam Laxalt and Democrat Steve Sisolak, the chairman of the Clark County Commission, are vying for an open seat.

In Florida, 3.4 million voters have cast ballots early or by mail, compared to a total of 3.2 million in 2014, according to state data. Voters have until Saturday to vote early in person and have until Tuesday to return their ballots.

As of early Wednesday, Republican mail-in ballots outnumbered Democratic ones, 820,000 to 755,000. The partisan breakdown of those who have voted early in person is roughly evenly split - a fact that should concern Democrats, McDonald said.

Democrat Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, faces Republican Ron DeSantis, a former congressman, in the governor's race, while Sen. Bill Nelson (D) faces a challenge from Republican Rick Scott, the outgoing governor.

"The early vote is slightly favoring the Republicans," McDonald said. "You see this persistent lead for Gillum and Nelson in the polls, but it looks like it's going to be a close election."

McDonald noted that turnout appears to be favoring Democrats more in states without a marquee Senate race, including Iowa, North Carolina and Maryland. The absence of a competitive statewide race with heavy advertising in those states could be giving Democrats an advantage because of national factors, such as President Trump's unpopularity, he said.

The states other than Florida and Nevada that had surpassed 2014 early-voting participation as of early Wednesday were Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
The Congress president said Patel was a patriot who fought for an independent, united and secular India.

PM Modi dedicated the 597 feet or 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the nation on his 143rd birth anniversary in Gujarats Narmada district. (Photo: Twitter | @narendramodi)

New Delhi: The politics over appropriating the legacy of Indias Iron Man, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, intensified on Wednesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 182-feet-tall statue costing nearly Rs 3,000 crore of the countrys first home minister at Kevadiya in Gujarat. The Congress Party was quick to attack. Asserting that Sardar Patel was and would always remain a Congressman, it accused the BJP-led government of treason for the systematic destruction of institutions that the Gujarat strongman had helped build.

The war of words began on Wednesday when Mr Modi, in what many saw as a jibe at the Congress president, said had Sardar Patel not worked for the countrys unity, Shiv bhakts wouldnt have been able to pray at the Somnath Temple today.

Inaugurating the Statue of Unity, the construction of which he had announced as Gujarat chief minister in 2013, the Prime Minister said, Imagine for a moment that if Sardar Patel had not worked towards uniting the nation, Indians would have to get a visa to see the Gir lions and tigers... and Shiv bhakts would need a visa to do puja at the Somnath temple... people would also need a visa to see the Charminar in Hyderabad.

As soon as Mr Modi unveiled the statue, Mr Gandhi began attacking the government. Ironic that a statue of Sardar Patel is being inaugurated, but every institution he helped build is being smashed, he tweeted.

The Congress president said Mr Patel was a patriot who fought for an independent, united and secular India. A man with a steely will, tempered by compassion, he was a Congressman to the core, who had no tolerance for bigotry or communalism. On his birth anniversary, I salute this great son of India, he said in another tweet.

Taking their cue from the party president, leader after leader in the Congress hit out at the Modi government alleging they were trying to claim the legacy a Congressman known as the Iron Man.

Congress leader and former Union minister Shashi Tharoor questioned why there was no such gigantic statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the country and wanted to know why BJP had not built a bigger statue for him. Patel, a very simple person, was known as the disciple of Gandhiji, he tweeted.

Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the party in Lok Sabha, accused the BJP of using the statue of Sardar Patel for their vested interest. It is an election gimmick, he said.

Not to be left behind, BSP chief Mayawati demanded an apology from the BJP and from those who had criticised her over the statues of Dalit leaders built by her government in Uttar Pradesh.

All those in the BJP, the RSS and company need to apologise, especially to the people of the Bahujan samaj, for terming the statues installed by the then BSP government to honour icons like Baba Saheb Ambedkar and others as wasteful expenditure, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister she said in a statement.
Mainers will make electoral history next week - again.

They already broke ground in their primaries by using a voting system called ranked-choice voting to pick their party's nominees. Now they're becoming the first to rank their votes in a federal general election.

Ranked-choice voting, which is sometimes called instant-runoff voting, allows voters to number their choices on a ballot instead of just selecting one candidate. The winning candidate in a ranked-choice election must win more than 50 percent of the votes, not the simple plurality required in traditional U.S. elections.

window.onload = function(){ console.log('loaded') var infiniteLoopSetting = { loopTimes: 0, gifvMode: true } var playlist = [ { uuid: '798dd9f0-dbb3-11e8-8bac-bfe01fcdc3a6', loopTimes: 1 } ]; var v = new LoopingVideo('loopingVideo', playlist, infiniteLoopSetting ); var playlist2 = [ { uuid: '66dd98fa-dc66-11e8-8bac-bfe01fcdc3a6', loopTimes: 1 } ]; var v2 = new LoopingVideo('loopingVideo2', playlist2, infiniteLoopSetting ); } If a candidate garners a majority of first-choice votes, then they win the election outright. If not, the candidate with the least amount of votes is eliminated, and their voters' second-choice candidates get their votes instead. If someone hits more than 50 percent that second round, then a winner is declared. If not, the candidate with the lowest votes gets eliminated again, and those votes are applied to the voters' next choice. And so on, until someone gets a majority.

According to the Maine secretary of state's office, their state law instituting ranked-choice voting stipulates that the ranked-choice votes are tabulated in rounds until only the two candidates with the most votes remain. Then the one with more votes is declared the winner.

In most ranked-choice elections, the plurality winner still ends up winning. The instances where it can tip the scales are in races with multiple candidates with overlapping positions on some issues, such as in Maine's 2nd Congressional District. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R, and state Rep. Jared Golden, D, are in a dead heat in the polls, with two independents - Tiffany Bond and Will Hoar - trailing far behind. By all indications, second-choice votes will decide who wins a majority in the district.

Bond, Hoar and Golden have all pledged to accept the outcome from ranked-choice tabulation, but Poliquin refused to answer the yes-or-no question at their final debate.

"I'm going to circle in Bruce Poliquin, one and only vote, drop it in the box, and go forward," he said on Oct. 16.

"I don't think he answered the question, but yes, absolutely," Golden rebutted.

Other cities, countries and organizations already use ranked-choice voting, including San Francisco, Australia and the Academy Awards' best picture category. Proponents of the system say that it fosters majority rule by design, can cultivate more centrist candidates and more civilized campaigns and opens the door for stronger third-party candidates - or at the very least removes the fear of "vote splitting."

Remember the backlash at Jill Stein and Green Party voters after the 2016 election? Some argued that without Stein getting votes from the left, we would have President Hillary Clinton instead of President Donald Trump. The argument relies heavily on hypotheticals, disregards actual polling and minimizes the effect that the electoral college, gerrymandering and voter demographics played in Trump's victory. Ranked-choice voting probably wouldn't have tipped the scales to Clinton in 2016. But frustration over third-party candidates is something voting reform supporters seek to eliminate: In ranked-choice voting, voters don't have to worry about splitting their votes between two candidates.

But there are potential flaws: Opponents say that people's votes essentially don't count if their ballot is "exhausted," which happens if they choose not to rank the candidates and their first choice doesn't win, that it makes voting too complicated and lengthy and that only centrist second-choice candidates could feasibly win.

The outrage at the Oakland mayoral race in 2010 exemplifies the discontent with ranked-choice voting elevating a second-choice candidate to victory. Front-runner and plurality winner Don Perata was eventually defeated by Jean Quan, who focused on casting a wide net and wooing other candidates' supporters for their second-choice vote. His supporters accused Quan of "gaming the system" to reach a majority in a crowded field.

In Maine, the change to ranked-choice voting was sparked by a host of factors: a historically independent electorate, frustration with recent polarizing elections such as that of Gov. Paul LePage, R, and multiple failed attempts to implement ranked-choice voting through the state legislature. Citizens collected signatures for an initiative petition and approved the measure as a ballot question in November 2016.

The state has had a rocky road to implementing ranked-choice voting. After voters approved using it for the 2018 elections, Maine's legislature voted to delay its use until 2021, forcing proponents to rally behind another ballot measure in June 2018 to veto that legislation. That referendum passed with 54 percent of the vote and ensured the use of ranked-choice voting this fall. But its implementation is still on hold for state-level positions in the general election, because of a court opinion on the state constitution's use of the word "plurality," meaning that parts of voters' ballots will include a ranked-choice section and the other parts will not.

Many voters in Maine's 2nd District were enthusiastic about the change.

"Ranked-choice voting gives me an opportunity to at least express my opinion. And even if my candidate doesn't win, they've got the input," said Jan Hill from Bangor, who voted in June's Republican primary.

"I think that it gives the people a larger voice, and you don't have to choose between red and blue, Democrat or Republican. That kind of opens up the field a little bit more and gives us more of a voice," said Josh Hill from Brewer.

"There is still definitely a learning curve with ranked choice voting. There was in the primaries as well as even now, I think," said Sarah McCarthy from Bangor. "I personally feel more comfortable with it and have a better understanding. I don't think I still fully understand it, but I definitely have a better understanding having gone through it in June."

With the election just around the corner and a potentially lengthy counting process looming, Bond, Hoar and Golden are unified in giving one another their second- and third-choice votes.

"They're both nice people," Golden said at the Oct. 16 debate.

Bond joined in, "You'd be foolish not to rank, because you might end up with the other guy."

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Video: Maine is pioneering ranked-choice voting in its federal elections this fall, and it could change everything about the way that candidates campaign - and win. (Jenny Starrs, Daron Taylor/The Washington Post)

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Video: Maine is pioneering ranked-choice voting in its federal elections this fall, and it could change everything about the way that candidates campaign - and win. We take a look at the race for Maine's 2nd Congressional District, where ranked-choice voting could decide the race.(Jenny Starrs,Daron Taylor/The Washington Post)

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Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee and current Senate candidate from Utah, spoke out Thursday against President Donald Trump's continued use of the term "enemy of the people" to describe the U.S. media.

In a blog post on his campaign website, Romney wrote that "denigrating the media diminishes an institution that is critical to democracy, both here and abroad."

"As a political tactic, it may be brilliant, but it comes with a large cost to the cause of freedom," he said in the piece, in which he concluded that the media is "very much our friend."

Romney's "As I See It" blog post was prompted by a Trump tweet this week in which he denigrated the "Fake News Media" as "the true Enemy of the People" and blamed "fraudulent" reporting for anger that has led to a spate of recent violence in the country.

In his piece, Romney voiced sympathy for being the subject of unfavorable or inaccurate stories but said no president has ever "vilified" the media as Trump does.

"I sometimes become irritated by stories I know are wrong, especially when they are about me," Romney said. "But I cannot conceive of thinking or saying that the media or any responsible news organization is an enemy."

He said instead that the country is "indebted as a democratic nation to the free press for truths it has uncovered, for truth it has disseminated, and for falsehoods it has repudiated."

"The press uncovered the government's lies about the war in Vietnam; it exposed Watergate; it opened our eyes to the sexual abuse of children by priests; and, most recently, it shed a light on the sexual assault by numerous men in power," Romney wrote. "The free press dispelled the false conspiracies about the 9/11 attacks, President Obama's birth, and Joe McCarthy's lurking communists. The work of a free press is essential."

In recent days, Trump has sought to emphasize that he does not consider the media as a whole "the enemy of the people" but only those outlets that disseminate "fake news."

During a Fox News interview in August, Trump said he considers about 80 percent of the media to be the enemy.

In an interview this week with Axios, Trump defended his use of the term and dismissed a suggestion that one of his supporters could be inspired by his rhetoric to commit violence against a reporter.

"It's my only form of fighting back," Trump said. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't do that."
A federal grand jury Wednesday indicted a man who authorities say killed 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue while spewing anti-Semitic slurs on 44 counts, including hate crimes. He could face the death penalty.

The indictment, handed up by a federal grand jury, charges Robert Bowers, 46, with 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious freedom resulting in death, and 11 counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence.

The maximum penalty Bowers could receive if convicted is death, or life without parole plus 535 additional years of imprisonment.

"Every American has the right to attend their house of worship in safety," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement Wednesday. "The defendant in this case allegedly murdered 11 innocent people during religious services and injured four law enforcement officers. These alleged crimes are incomprehensibly evil and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation."

In a rampage that has been described as among the deadliest against the Jewish community in the United States, the shooter  armed with a Colt AR-15 rifle and at least three handguns  stormed into the Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday and opened fire indiscriminately, the authorities said.

The assailant fired for several minutes and was leaving the synagogue when law enforcement officers met him at the door. According to the police, Bowers exchanged gunfire with officers before going back inside and barricading himself in a room. He eventually surrendered.

Wednesday's indictment came as many were gathering together for funerals and shivas in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, home to many in Pittsburgh's Jewish community.

Bowers also faces state charges including 11 counts of criminal homicide and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation.

In a statement on Tuesday, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. suggested that he, too, would call for capital punishment but that the state charges would "remain in abeyance" while the federal case proceeds.

The federal public defender for the Western District of Pennsylvania did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bowers was a loner living in the Pittsburgh area who spewed murderous hatred and bigotry online.

For months online before the shooting, Bowers unleashed a torrent of anti-immigrant and anti-Jewish invective and conspiracy theories on Gab, a social media network that has been embraced by white nationalists.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 1)  More Filipinos are flocking to cemeteries to visit their departed loved ones as the nation marks All Saints' Day.

Earlier, the Manila Police District said the crowd at the Manila North Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in the country, went well over the million mark.

Close to 900,000 people visited last year.

Roads were also impassable due to the number of people leaving the Manila North Cemetery as well as the adjacent Manila North Green Park

Number of visitors at Manila North Cemetery more than double this year | https://t.co/sDo55hwVGt pic.twitter.com/kdwRlRlI2w  CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) November 1, 2018

Manila North Cemetery Administrator Daniel Tan said there were fewer visitors leading up to All Saints' Day, so a larger crowd is expected starting today until Sunday.

Visitors are subjected to baggage check when they enter. The check is quick and smooth unless visitors are carrying prohibited items.

Police earlier apprehended a 16-year-old boy caught hiding two sachets of marijuana in his armpits and pants. He will be turned over to the Social Welfare Department.

Police, barangay personnel, and security guards are making sure the cemetery remains peaceful despite the thousands of visitors.

Meanwhile, over at the Manila South Cemetery, the number of visitors rose to as high as 680,000 early Thursday night.

Visitors can expect tight security upon entering the cemetery.

There's a separate line for male and female where each one will be checked. There's also a dedicated line for the elderly and people with disability.

If you're planning to bring your children, there's a "name tagging" area near the entrance in case you get separated from them. The kid will be tagged with his or name and the contact number of the guardian or parent.

Free use of wheelchairs is also offered. There are also e-trikes offering free rides to visitors.

As for the Loyola Memorial Park, foot traffic remained high at around 35,950, and authorities expect visitors to spend the night at the cemetery.

There was hardly any untoward incident in the area, where the only common prohibited items such as matches and cigarettes were confiscated.

There was, however, a case of a civilian carrying a gun.
MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Wednesday the bus service will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to reports, the new bus service will be launched between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on November 13. (Representational Image | File)

New Delhi: India on Wednesday said it has lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan over a proposed bus service between the two countries through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Wednesday the bus service will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. India had always maintained that the so-called China-Pakistan boundary agreement of 1963 is illegal and invalid and has never been recognised by the Government of India.

"We have lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan on the proposed bus service that will operate through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir under the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor," Kumar added.

According to reports, the new bus service will be launched between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on November 13.

"Therefore, any such bus service through Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added.

The MEA spokesperson was responding to media queries regarding the proposed bus service. While the bus service is an attempt at increasing "friendship" between Pakistan and China, the issue lies in the fact that the bus route passes through PoK, a part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

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.

As part of the two-day journey, 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.

Meanwhile, 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.

To avail the service, passengers have been asked to carry a valid passport, 'NIC', visa and a return ticket as travel documents.

The two nations have made special arrangements for the security of the passengers and the service, while the driver will have all information to contact security guards at various check posts.
David Hernandez testified Thursday he hasnt seen or spoken to his daughter, Dominique, since July 2014.

She was the oldest of three children Hernandez had with his ex-wife, Deborah Hernandez, he said at a sentencing hearing for Daniel Moreno Lopez, 32. Two witnesses have testified that Lopez killed Dominique Hernandez two months before he beat to death a man with whom he had argued, then dismembered and incinerated his remains.

Hernandez said his daughter and her three children lived with him until she left and never came home.

She just got up and left. She had her clothes, her bed, all of her items (at home). She said nothing about leaving, he testified before state District Judge Ron Rangel, who is expected to sentence Lopez on Friday after the defense rests its case.

RELATED: Witness: Convicted San Antonio killer chopped up girlfriend

Hernandez said he tried everything to find his daughter, but it was as if she had vanished.

There was a time nobody knew anything, he told the court. I knew her mom was trying to reach out, (but) why wasnt she calling?

Months later, Hernandez was contacted by the Pleasanton Police Department and was asked to provide a DNA sample.

They swabbed me, he told the court.

Few details on Dominiques case were discussed in court, but on Thursday, a DNA expert testified that it was highly likely that blood samples taken from a couch at a Pleasanton apartment were from a biological child of Hernandez and his ex-wife.

Hernandezs testimony followed that of a second witness who testified Lopez shot Dominique, known as Nikki, then chopped up her body and burned her remains on a barbecue grill, as he would with Jose Luis Menchaca, 35, two months later.

RELATED: SAPD: Suspect's forehead tattoo helped link him to armed robbery

The second day of testimony in the sentencing hearing again saw a dozen armed Bexar County sheriffs deputies and SWAT officers with tactical gear and rifles surrounding Lopez, who was convicted in June of killing Menchaca, known as PeeWee, on Sept. 30, 2014, in retaliation for a stabbing tied to a botched drug deal.

Vanessa Gonzales testimony Thursday was similar to that of Sabrina Cavazos, who testified Wednesday that Lopez killed Dominique in Cavazos apartment in Pleasanton and moved her body to San Antonio to chop it up and burn the remains in the outdoor grill.

Gonzales, who was dating Lopezs sister at the time, said she and Lopez were close. She testified that he arrived at the home she shared with Lopezs sister on the West Side with dark suitcases that contained the head, torso and limbs of Dominique, his girlfriend at the time.

Gonzales said she looked inside the suitcases, opened the plastic bag and saw the womans remains.

Her hair, her barrettes, it looked like her, she testified, referring to Dominique.

Gonzales said the remains were moved to the backyard, and she watched from the kitchen window while Lopez burned the remains on the barbecue pit for a couple of hours, with Cavazos and his cousin and co-defendant Gabriel Moreno at his side.

She told the court that on the next day she saw the barbecue pit had been moved to the garage.

I saw bones, a skull, Gonzales told the court. They broke the bones with a hammer.

Gonzales testified she did not know where the remains were taken, but that Lopez told her he and Moreno drove around on the highway, throwing the ashes out the window.

Earlier Thursday, defense attorney J. Charles Bunk continued his cross-examination of Cavazos, again asking what kind of deal she had made with the district attorneys office in exchange for her testimony.

As she had Wednesday, Cavazos insisted she had not made a deal.

I was concerned for my safety because I knew more things than other people did, Cavazos said during testimony Wednesday.

So you helped them solve two murders, Bunk shot back, questioning why she was being so cooperative.

He noted that Cavazos has not been charged in Menchacas death, although according to her testimony, she was at the scene when he was killed and later dismembered, along with several family members and friends of Moreno and Lopez.

On the day (the woman was killed), you helped clean up just like you did with PeeWee, Bunk said, referring to Menchaca by his nickname.

The state rested its case Thursday; the defense is expected to put on a couple of witnesses before closing its case Friday. The hearing is being held in the 379th state District Court.

Elizabeth Zavala is a courts and crime reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863
President Donald Trump is fond of asserting that "Collusion is not a crime, but that [it] doesn't matter because there was No Collusion." Signs are gathering that both of those claims may be challenged by special counsel Robert Mueller. As longtime criminal law practitioners, we believe that the first indictment of someone within Trump's inner circle could be imminent for collusion-related crimes of the kind we detail in a new report. If such charges are filed, that would have profound consequences for those around Trump, the president himself and for our democracy.

That target appears to be Roger Stone, the political provocateur and longtime Trump confidante. Stone himself has said he believes he may be indicted, declaring that "Robert S. Mueller III is coming for me" and raising legal defense funds. In our view, he has ample reason for concern. Mueller has already issued two indictments laying out the Russian attack on our democracy, and one of those indictments seems to point to Stone as "a person who was in regular contact with senior members of the presidential campaign of Donald J. Trump" who had discussions with a Russian operative using the handle "Guccifer 2.0." Stone has acknowledged that he is likely the person named in the indictment. And just last week Mueller reportedly interviewed former Trump campaign CEO Stephen Bannon about Stone's private statements regarding WikiLeaks and the emails it later released.

Stone forcefully denies any wrongdoing. In response to questions from The Washington Post, he said that "if the decision is based on evidence, facts and truth, no charges will be brought against me."

But Mueller may not agree. Portents that an indictment could issue soon also include the recent grand jury appearances of Stone associates. There reportedly has been testimony by Randy Credico, who may have been a conduit between Stone and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and Jerome Corsi, who may have been called to testify about information he shared with Stone . Others around Stone were issued grand jury subpoenas to appear as well, including one who refused to comply and has been held in contempt .

In our near-century of combined criminal law experience, all these indicators point to potential charges. Indeed, but for the Justice Department's practice of avoiding indictments that could affect an election in the 60-day window before balloting, the Stone indictment might have issued already. When that blackout period ends, Mueller may be ready to move.

That is when things will get interesting. With each indictment, the special counsel is inching closer and closer to the president. Stone spoke regularly to Trump for years , worked for Trump on the campaign for a time and continued to communicate with him thereafter, including when Trump ascended to the White House. It will be much harder for Trump to continue his two-pronged collusion denials if someone as close to him as Stone is indicted.

The risk to the president would deepen if Stone chose to cooperate. Stone is defiant now. But so was Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Manafort was willing to see the fight through to conviction on eight separate counts before he finally acceded to the possibility that even with a potential pardon, he might be better off playing ball with the special counsel's office. He has reportedly met with them nine times in the past four weeks to proffer what he knows.

That is not just a precedent. It is also a pressure point: Manafort is a longtime Stone associate as well. He surely has been questioned about his knowledge of any Russia-related communications by or with Stone, including ones involving candidate Trump or those around him.

If Stone were to cooperate, he could have much to say. We know that Trump campaign officials had at least 87 reported contacts with Russia-linked individuals and officials during the 2016 election cycle. Among those was the infamous Trump Tower meeting between Russian nationals and senior members of the campaign in June 2016, for which Donald Trump Jr. was promised "information that would incriminate" Hillary Clinton, and to which he responded, "If it's what you say I love it especially later in the summer." That was, of course, when the stolen Democratic National Committee email was released - and Mueller, it seems, has already alleged that Stone had contacts with a Russian entity involved (though Stone says those contacts all came after the initial release of the emails).

After next week's election, Mueller could also ratchet up the pressure on Trump by producing his report on collusion or obstruction of justice. On the former, the special counsel has reportedly turned his focus to Trump, submitting questions to him to answer in writing. On the latter, there is already substantial evidence of presidential obstruction . Speculation has been intense that an obstruction report could also drop after the 60-day election blackout ends.

The president is not one to passively await these legal walls closing in on him. He has wild cards of his own to play: Media reports and congressional observers alike suggest that after the midterm elections, Trump will clean house at Justice. He could fire Mueller's supervisor, Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, replacing him with a crony who will choke off the investigation. A new supervisor could potentially even go so far as to bar the special counsel from filing indictments or block him from disclosing his findings to Congress or the public.

Or Trump could leave Rosenstein in place but seek to take away his supervisory authority by firing Sessions. The deputy attorney general oversees Mueller only because the attorney general had a conflict owing to his ties to Trump. Any new attorney general should also recuse, given the president's many statements that he expects his attorney general to protect him. But whomever the president chooses might not take that ethically necessary step. If the attorney general is replaced by a Trump crony, he or she might seek to assume oversight of Mueller, or even claim the special counsel is no longer needed - an outcome the president, too, could try to order. Like Richard Nixon's Saturday Night Massacre, those outcomes would threaten a constitutional crisis, with the president taking steps to put himself above the rule of law.

Of course, we do not know whether Mueller's implacable forward motion in the direction of the president will lead to a collision with the president's open hostility to the investigation. Trump may back down from stimulating a crisis, as he has done before . But if the weeks after the election bring a Stone indictment and perhaps one or more Mueller reports, tensions could well intensify, if not erupt into outright conflict.

Ultimately, though, the real power doesn't belong only to Mueller or to Trump. It also resides with members of Congress, and the voters who put them there. The majority leadership in Congress has failed to hold Trump accountable. The House has particularly abdicated its oversight role. If it remains led by those in his own party who have repeatedly turned a blind eye to Trump and his administration, he may take that as license to do as he pleases. Conversely, if the election results in at least one body of Congress in a position to exercise real oversight, that may check the president's willingness to provoke a constitutional clash. He will know that if he disrupts the investigation, there is an authority beyond his control that can take it over.

With voting less than a week away - and already well in progress in many states - the outcome of the looming clash appears to reside exactly where it belongs in a democracy: with the American people.

- - -

Eisen is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, chairman of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a former U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic and author of "The Last Palace: Europe's Turbulent Century in Five Lives and One Legendary House." Berke is co-chairman of the litigation department at Kramer Levin Naftalis and Frankel, where he is a partner specializing in white-collar criminal defense. James is co-chair of the white-collar defense and investigations practice at Kramer Levin Naftalis and Frankel and a former federal prosecutor.
The woman journalist has accused Mr Akbar of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago.

New Delhi: Former Union minister M.J. Akbar, who has filed a criminal defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani, told a Delhi court on Wednesday that an immediate damage has been caused to him due to the scurrilous, concocted and false allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him.

Mr Akbar appeared before additional chief metropolitan magistrate Samar Vishal and recorded his statement to support the defamation complaint filed by him against Ms Ramani on October 15.

The woman journalist has accused Mr Akbar of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago.

Indeed there was an immediate damage because of the scurrilous nature of these concocted and false allegations. I was attacked in my personal capacity about alleged and fabricated non-events allegedly done two decades ago, the former Union minister said in his statement.

I chose in that environment to seek justice in my personal capacity without the Appurtenance of Office. This is why I offered my resignation as minister of state, Government of India.

My reputation has been tarnished in the eyes of general public and those who are near and dear and known to me, he said.

Mr Akbar, who had resigned from the Union council of ministers on October 17, has concluded the recording of his statement. The court has fixed November 12 for further hearing of the case when the statements of witnesses named by the BJP leader will be recorded.

Mr Akbars name cropped up on the social media when he was in Nigeria, as the #MeToo campaign raged on in India. Multiple women have come out with accounts of alleged sexual harassment by him when he was a journalist. He had termed the allegations false, fabricated and deeply distressing and said he was taking appropriate legal action against them.

Expressing her readiness to fight the defamation allegations, Ms Ramani had said, Rather than engage with the serious allegations that many women have made against him, he seeks to silence them through intimidation and harassment.
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

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History often repeats itself and that was certainly the case when five-year-old Finn Doherty met Prince Harry - a whole 91 years after his great-grandmother had a similar encounter with Harry's great-grandmother, the Duchess of York.

Finn is the grandson of Longford couple, Bill and Eithne Doherty, whose son Bobby was educated at St Mel's College and graduated from NUI Galway with a Masters Degree before he moved to Australia where he married his wife Edwina.

The couple have three children, Aidan, Finn and Abby and five-year-old Finn was thrilled to get the opportunity to meet Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan earlier this month.

When meeting the royal couple, Finn had two gifts: one was a bunch of flowers for Meghan and the other was a sepia photograph (below) of Rose-Marie Waddy, his great-grandmother who, at age eight, met the Duchess of York on the steps of the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney in 1927.

The Duchess and Duke of York at the time were the royal representatives of the provisional Parliament House in Canberra that year.

Rose-Marie's father was the chief surgeon at the hospital and can be seen in the photograph standing behind the matron.

The beautiful image shows the Duchess smiling at the little girl as she accepted a bouquet of flowers.

Little did they know at the time, their great-grandsons would be doing the same thing almost a century later in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia.

In a touching moment, Prince Harry squatted down in the rain in front of Finn so that the pair of great-grandsons of the women photographed could examine the historic image together.

Finn's brush with royalty added a new chapter to his family's ties with the House of Windsor and a souveneir photograph that he will probably cherish forever.
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Gardai are this morning conducting a forensic analysis of the scene at home in Ballyconnell where a car was set on fire.

Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) has confirmed another arson attack at the home of one of its senior managers. The incident occurred at the Ballyconnell home of Tony Lunney at approximately 11.20pm last evening when a car belonging to Mr Lunneys daughter was set alight. Two fire crews and the Gardai attended the scene, preventing further fire spread.

The arson follows a spate of similar attacks including a recent serious arson attack that threatened the home and lives of Mr Dara OReilly (QIHs CFO) and his wife and two young children at Butlersbridge and an arson attack on 31 August at a tyre factory in Co Cavan, owned by a senior manager of QIH.

Commenting Liam McCaffrey, QIH CEO said, It is grossly unacceptable that criminals who threaten the lives and wellbeing of staff on both sides of the border continue to operate with impunity. It is also enormously frustrating that following years of intimidation and threats and a substantial escalation of violence over recent months that not a single arrest has been made.

Unless politicians and the authorities on both sides of the border properly prioritise and resource this issue, as they have with gangland and paramilitary crime in other area, lives will be lost. More than 830 staff and their families and the wider community are impacted by this violence and intimidation and they are in urgent need of reassurance that this issue is being taken seriously.

Also read: Traveller group expresses 'shock' at Longford's backing of Peter Casey
The BJP lost the seat of one of its sitting MLAs, Sanjay Sharma, from Tendukheda, to the Congress on Tuesday.

While the BJP sounds confident of retaining power in the state for the fourth time in a row under CM Shivraj Singh Chouhans leadership, many pundits feel the party will face one of its toughest electoral battles in the state. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Amid reports that the BJP in Madhya Pradesh could replace nearly 50-60 per cent of its sitting MLAs to beat anti-incumbency, nearly 20 MLAs of the ruling party are said to be in touch with the opposition Congress to switch sides. Most of these MLAs, it is learnt, are those who had represented their Assembly berths for over one term and have a significant support base and influence, which could dent the saffron partys poll prospects if its poll managers fail to pacify these party leaders. Murmurs in the party are that if the leadership replaces so many MLAs just to beat anti-incumbency, it belies the BJP leaderships claim of a bemisaal (unparalleled) Madhya Pradesh.

While the BJP sounds confident of retaining power in the state for the fourth time in a row under CM Shivraj Singh Chouhans leadership, many pundits feel the party will face one of its toughest electoral battles in the state.

The BJP had won 165 of 230 Assembly seats in the last polls in 2013 and speculation is rife that about 80 MLAs could be replaced with new faces and sitting members of Parliament. The Congress won 58 seats. The BJP lost the seat of one of its sitting MLAs, Sanjay Sharma, from Tendukheda, to the Congress on Tuesday.

The BJPs central election committee is likely to meet on Thursday when the names of candidates for the Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan polls are likely to be announced. Sources said the CEC could announce the maximum number of Madhya Pradesh candidates in the first list itself as the state will go to the polls on November 28.

A senior BJP leader from the state said if anti-incumency was the reason for replacing MLAs, it reflected mainly on the state government and its performance, and asked how in that case the leadership could in good faith use the slogan bemisaal Madhya Pradseh.

The BJP top brass, it is learnt, has also clarified to its leaders seeking tickets for their relatives that it wants to give a chance to new faces this time, and does not want to field more than one member of a family.
Local News, Crime, Business & Finance, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 01 2018

Debt Collection Agencies Allegedly Demanded More Money than Consumers Owed; Pretend to Be Law Enforcement or Attorneys.

New York, NY - November 1, 2018 - Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood today announced a lawsuit jointly filed with the Federal Trade Commission against a Buffalo debt collection operation run by Robert Heidenreich for allegedly engaging in deceptive and abusive debt collection practices. A federal court granted a temporary restraining order freezing the operations assets, ordered the defendants to comply with the law, and appointed a receiver to take over the corporate entities at the request of the Attorney Generals office and the FTC.

The defendants in the case are Robert Heidenreich and six corporations he controls: Campbell Capital LLC; Kahl, Heidenreich, and Nemmer, LLC; Urban, Heidenreich, Melendez, and Associates, LLC; J & V Receivables, LLC; Rich Financial, LLC; and BCH & Associates Ltd.

Using false information and threats to coerce New Yorkers out of money they do not owe is inexcusable  and unlawful, said Attorney General Underwood. Well continue to work with our partners in government to take on unscrupulous fraudsters who seek to scam consumers.

The complaint alleges that the defendants violated the law by demanding and receiving more money from consumers than actually owed. This practice of trying to collect more than a consumers balance in full is known in the debt collection industry as overbiffing. In numerous instances, according to the complaint, consumers agreed to pay more than the defendants own records indicate consumers owed.

The complaint also alleges that the defendants collectors pretend to be law enforcement personnel and threaten consumers with arrest unless they make a payment. The collectors also pretend to be attorneys or process servers to try to collect alleged debts by falsely claiming that lawsuits had been filed against consumers. The complaint alleges that the defendants violated New York Executive Law and General Business Law, the FTC Act, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 01 2018

The County Executives provided voters with several tools and resources including how to find their polling location.

Long Island, NY - November 1, 2018 - Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Nassau County Executive Laura Curran today offered important information to Long Island residents that are planning to vote in the General Election on Tuesday, November 6. The County Executives provided voters with several tools and resources including how to find their polling location, hotline numbers for reporting a problem or complaint, and transportation options to get to your polling site.

We have an obligation to ensure that every resident has an opportunity to exercise their right to vote and participate in the democratic process, said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. Whether you vote by absentee or in-person, these simple reminders should serve as a checklist for people to have a successful experience with the upcoming election.

It is our responsibility to provide all registered voters the ability to cast their vote. Make sure you are registered, locate your polling place, and exercise your right to vote, said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.

Registration

To check your registration or find your polling place visit www.suffolkvotes.com or www.nassaucountyny.gov . Voters who requested an absentee ballot must have their ballot postmarked by November 5, 2018. Polls will open in Suffolk and Nassau Counties at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. and voting instructions and a sample ballot will be posted at all voting places. To view a sample ballot before heading to the polls visit www.ballotready.org

In order to register to vote, you must be a U.S. Citizen, 18 years or older, live at your present address at least 30 days before an election, not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction and not claim the right to vote elsewhere. You can register in person at Suffolk County Board of Elections, Nassau County Board of Elections, or at any New York State Agency-Based voter registration center. You can also call the Suffolk County Board of Elections office at 631-852-4554 to request a voter application. The voter registration deadline to be eligible to vote in the November 6th General Election was October 12, 2018.

Reporting an Issue

Voters who experience problems on Election Day can call a national hotline that is staffed with legal experts to answer questions at 866-OUR-VOTE or can send tweets regarding problems to @866ourvote.

Voters experiencing problems can also call the New York State Attorney Generals office at 800-771-7755 or email civil.rights@ag.ny.gov to troubleshoot and resolve issues encountered at the polls. The United States Attorneys Offices for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York have also launched a hotline to receive complaints. Nassau and Suffolk County residents can call 718-254-6790.

Spanish speaking voters can call a national bilingual hotline run by NALEO Educational Fund at 1-888-839-8682 to report issues.

Transportation to the Polls

According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning, transportation is a significant barrier preventing registered voters from partaking in the democratic process of voting.

To help combat this issue, Uber will be partnering with #VoteTogether and Democracy Works to provide free and discounted rides to the polls on Election Day. In order to take advantage voters must use the Uber app and enter the Election Day promo code which will be made available on Election Day.

Lyft will also be providing a 50% discount code for rides to the polls and will be working with Vote.org, Nonprofit Vote, TurboVote and more to help distribute codes to those who need them.

Voter Rights and Regulations

Federal and State laws put protections in place to protect voting rights and prohibit discrimination based on race, national origin and disability status. There are also laws requiring bilingual assistance.

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) ensures voters are not excluded from the voting process due to an administrative error or uncertain eligibility. If a voter arrives at the polls and their eligibility can not be proven, they may request a provisional ballot. Once it is determine that the voter who cast the provisional ballot was eligible to vote, the ballot will be counted as a regular ballot.
Local News, Crime, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 01 2018

SCPD: Jemel Edwards, 32, broke into a Melville house and fled in the homeowner's vehicle when confronted.

Melville, NY - November 1, 2018 - Suffolk County Police on Wednesday, October 31 arrested a man for burglary, grand larceny, and DWI in Suffolk County Police on Wednesday, October 31 arrested a man for burglary, grand larceny, and DWI in Melville

Jemel Edwards unlawfully entered the residence located at 4 Jacobs Path in Melville at approximately 9:55 p.m. When confronted by the homeowner, he fled through the front door with keys he stole from the house and drove away in the owners 2014 Toyota Camry. A patrol officer in the area located the vehicle stopped on Jacobs Path at the corner of Waterford Drive at approximately 10:05 p.m.

Edwards, 32, of Deer Park , was arrested and charged with Burglary 2nd Degree, Grand Larceny 3rd Degree, and Driving While Intoxicated, 2nd offense, a felony.

Edwards was held overnight at the Second Precinct and is was arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Thursday morning.
Local News, Business & Finance, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 01 2018

Cold Spring Harbor: $7.35 Million for New 150-Stall Parking Structure, Huntington Station: $4 Million for Parking Lots, Structural Improvements.

Cold Spring Harbor, NY - November 1, 2018 - Huntington Town Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci, Senator John J. Flanagan and Senator Carl L. Marcellino announced over $11 million dollars in State and Municipal Facilities Program (SAM) Grant funding approved for parking infrastructure improvements at Cold Spring Harbor LIRR Train Station and Huntington LIRR Train Station, in the parking lot of the Cold Spring Harbor Station on Friday, October 26.

"Thank you to Senator Marcellino and Senator Flanagan for securing over $11 million dollars in major and necessary infrastructure improvements to the parking facilities at the Cold Spring Harbor and Huntington train stations," said Supervisor Lupinacci. "This unprecedented return of the tax dollars we pay to New York State to be invested back into our community -- thank you again, Senator Marcellino and Senator Flanagan, for your amazing work on behalf of Huntington residents and commuters."

Senator Carl L. Marcellino secured $7.35 million dollars of SAM Grant funding for a new 150-stall parking structure at the Cold Spring Harbor LIRR Train Station.

Mass transit is vital to the day to day operation of the greater Huntington community. Safe, reliable trains are a big part of that equation. Yet, what often goes unlooked and under appreciated is adequate parking and station amenities. Passengers deserve to have clean and well equipped stations and it does no one any good to be on time at the station, only to circle round and round searching for a spot to safely leave your vehicle. These funds will provide much needed improvements at both the Huntington and Cold Spring Harbor stations and make every LIRR riders life a little easier, said Senator Marcellino.

It is so important that we continue to make the improvements to our transportation facilities that our commuters need and deserve. Senator Marcellino understands that and I thank him for working with me to secure this state funding on behalf of commuters to make their travel a little better every day. I also thank Supervisor Lupinacci for his work in identifying which projects need the funding and for coordinating this project, stated Senator Flanagan.
The report concluded that naxalism has reduced in last few years because of the serious efforts by the government and the forces.

According to the reports, number of naxal offences came down from 466 in 2015 to 373 in 2017 as naxalites were able to implement their strategy of ambush on the forces.

New Delhi: A report titled Demonetization: Impact on Combating Naxalism released on Wednesday, claimed that compared to 2015, the number of incidents of naxal offences decreased by 20 per cent in 2017 in Chhattisgarh.

On November 8, 2016, the union government announced demonetization. The report is published by the Public Policy Research Centre (PPRC), a research organization established under Dr Mookerjee Smruti Nyas in 2011. Director, PPRC and Rajya Sabha member, Dr Vinay Sahasrabubbhe said that results shows the union governments intention to nullify the naxals.

Lead author of report, Mani Bhushan said that the research team visited Rajnandgaon, Sukma, Bijapur and Narayanpur and conducted the research in two phases spanning over 2300 kilometers, 33 villages and interviewing over 500 people.

According to the reports, number of naxal offences came down from 466 in 2015 to 373 in 2017 as naxalites were able to implement their strategy of ambush on the forces.

There was sharp increase of 55 per cent in arrest or surrender of naxals was witnessed in the 2017 compared to 2015. In 2017 about 796 naxals were arrested or surrendered compared to 512 in 2015, it said.

Appreciating the surrender policy of Chhattisgarh government, Dr Sahasrabubbhe said that Raman Singh government offering incentives to naxal to join mainstream and now there is no premium being rebellion.

Comparative study of UPA and NDA government combating naxalism at national level the report said that the naxal incidents had came down in 2017 to 908 in compared to 1,136 in 2013. The report also highlighted that killing of naxals also increased from 100 in 2013 to 150 in 2017.

The report concluded that naxalism has reduced in last few years because of the serious efforts by the government and the forces.

Report pointed major success are decrease in casualty among security forces in last three years while casualities among naxals are higher, naxals are compelled to join mainstream, surrender and rehabilitation policy of the state of Chhattisgarh.
It was Chandrababu Naidu's suggestion that all non-BJP parties should meet, discuss current situation and take some steps, Pawar added.

New Delhi: NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Thursday said non-BJP parties will come out with a common minimum programme to take on the government while expressing concern over "assault" on institutions like the CBI and the RBI.

He said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu will take the initiative and talk to other non-BJP parties, including the Congress, on the matter.

Thereafter, a meeting will be convened in the national capital to chalk out a plan, Pawar said after meeting Naidu and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah in Delhi.

"If we collectively work to save democracy, we can definitely save the institutions. Chandrababu (Naidu) will talk to other state political leaders in this regard," the NCP chief told reporters.

Alleging that the situation in the country seems to be "deteriorating" day by day as there is "assault" on institutions like the CBI and the RBI, he said there is a need to work for the common cause of "saving the country and democracy".

A common minimum programme will be drafted once the non-BJP parties come on board to discuss the matter, Pawar said. It was Naidu's suggestion that all non-BJP parties should meet, discuss the current situation in the country and take some steps, he added.

Voicing concern over the "difficult" times the country is going through, Abdullah said, "Today, democracy is in danger and people are in danger. That is why we all met and decided to work out a common minimum programme to save democracy, institutions and the nation."

Naidu, a former BJP ally who quit the NDA early this year over the Centre's refusal to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh, said he will meet non-BJP political leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, and convince them about the need to fight collectively against the BJP.

Earlier, Naidu "coincidentally" also met senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here and briefly discussed about the need to bring all non-BJP parties together, TDP sources said.

This is the Andhra Pradesh chief minister's second visit to New Delhi in less than a week.

Last week, Naidu had met BSP chief Mayawati, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha in the national capital.
WINDSOR LOCKS -- Travelers Aid volunteers began serving passengers at Bradley International Airport last month, the airport said Thursday in a news release.

Travelers Aid, an organization dedicated to helping today's "stranded traveler," operates the information center in Terminal A on the lower level, which is the baggage claim level, with 45 volunteers.

With the motto "A helping hand along the way," Travelers Aid says it helps stranded travelers, provides shelter for the homeless, and helps with transitional housing, job training, counseling, local transportation assistance and other programs for people who encounter crises as they journey through life. Its volunteers also provide information and referral services at airports, train stations and bus depots.

Bradley International Airport will be the 18th airport in the Travelers Aid Transportation Network, which also includes four North American railroad stations and a cruise terminal.

Mary Kate Doherty, an experienced volunteer manager, runs Travelers Aid at Bradley.

"We are excited about this opportunity to serve Bradley's travelers, and we will work with the airport to improve guest relations. We are grateful for this contract with the Connecticut Airport Authority," Doherty said in a news release.

The information center is open form 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, but hours might expand and passengers might see a greater presence of volunteers elsewhere in the terminal.

"We value our passengers and we are always looking for ways to enhance their travel experience at Bradley International Airport," said Kevin A. Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority. "Travelers Aid brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Bradley Airport and we look forward to bringing an even higher level of customer service to Bradley passengers together."

Travelers Aid International operates similar guest service volunteer programs at four other airports: New York JFK, Newark Liberty, Washington Dulles and Washington Reagan. In addition, it operates the information booth at Washington Union Station. At these five locations, more than 750 Travelers Aid volunteers assisted more than 4.2 million passengers in 2017, according to the organization.

The Bradley Travelers Aid group is looking for more volunteers. Those interested are asked to contact Doherty at 860-500-8582 or at marykate@travelersaid.org.

For more information visit travelersaid.org.
SPRINGFIELD -- Warning of a loss of decision-making power -- both in business and at the bedside -- hospital executives, nurses and business leaders opposed to Massachusetts ballot Question 1 rallied Thursday in Springfield.

"You should vote no because we want to be able to maintain making decisions as a nurse for our patients for the highest quality patient care," said Jennifer Silvestri of East Longmeadow, a Baystate Medical Center registered nurse with a master's degree and more than 25 years in nursing.

Kate Phelon, executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, predicted that the added cost of implementing Question 1 would hurt community hospitals, like Baystate Noble in Westfield. But she also made an argument against the nurse staffing ratios called for in Question 1 on principle.

"How would you like the government to tell you how many staff you should have in your place of business?" she said.

Thursday's rally at Springfield Symphony Hall came just five days before voters go to the polls. Early voting has already begun in Massachusetts. Springfield City Hall, part of the same complex as Symphony Hall, is an early voting location.

Question 1 supporters plan their own rallies over the next few days.

Massachusetts Nurses at odds over 'yes' or 'no' votes on Ballot Question 1 20 Gallery: Massachusetts Nurses at odds over 'yes' or 'no' votes on Ballot Question 1

The ballot question, if it passes in the general election Nov. 6, would set ratios of between one registered nurse to one patient in complicated or high-risk situations and one nurse to six patients in less acute cases.

Advocates, including the Massachusetts Nurses Association, a union, say the new rules are needed to prevent nurses from being overworked and overwhelmed by too many patients.

Opponents, including some in the nursing profession, hospital management and business groups, say the new rules are too inflexible and would cost too much to implement, and that there aren't enough nurses to fill the positions that would be required.

Steve Walsh, president of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, said to expect a lot of get-out-the-vote efforts from both sides in the coming days. He feels confident that he and his industry group are getting their case against Question 1 out there. But it's all about turnout.

"People have responded really well to concerns around access," he said, referring to the industry's prediction that patients won't get care because there won't be enough nurses to meet the new ratios.

"We don't need a rigid staffing ratio to get the job done," said Spiros Hatiras, Holyoke Medical Center's president and CEO.

Hatiras said the cost to implement Question 1 at Holyoke Medical Center would be about $6 million a year. He warned of cuts to programs and staff.

"With our bottom line," he said, "we can't make that."

There is considerable disagreement over how much it will could cost to meet the requirements in Question 1.

Hospitals say implementation would cost $1.31 billion in the first year, and $900 million in subsequent years.

The MNA has a different set of estimates, pegging the cost of compliance much lower: $35 million to $47 million statewide.

The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission estimates the statewide cost to all hospitals at $676 million to $949 million a year once Question 1 is fully implemented. There would be another $57.9 million in one-time costs for implementation, according to the Health Policy Commission.
Seasonal holiday drinks like Peppermint Mocha and Gingerbread Latte are returning to Starbucks across the country Friday, and the chain has also unveiled four new holiday cup designs.

Beginning Friday, Starbucks stores will add festive decor and baristas will don red aprons for the holiday season. Winter flavors including Peppermint Mocha, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, Gingerbread Latte and Eggnog Latte will all be available hot, iced and as Frappuccino blended beverages.

In designing this year's cups, Starbucks said its team looked to the past for inspiration.

"They snipped pieces from Starbucks holidays past - a star, a branch of coffee cherries, a flame. They added doses of vintage colors and patterns, like mint green and argyle and reinterpreted them with graphic flair, and a dash glitter and shine," the company wrote in a news release.

This year's cups include red stripes, a flora design featuring mint-green leaves and red berries, red and white houndstooth, and an argyle pattern created with stars.

New holiday food this season includes Chocolate Swirl Brioche, a buttery brioche layered with a dark "fudgy" chocolate filling, Pistachio Honey Croissant, and the Sugarplum Cheese Danish, made with buttery croissant dough topped with creamy cheese filling and plum spread.

These new holiday flavors join returning favorites Gingerbread Loaf, Penguin Cake Pop, Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop, Snowman Cookie, Cranberry Bliss Bar, Carved Ham and Swiss Breakfast Sandwich and Holiday Turkey Panini.
Hanna Perlstein Marcus' mother, Sidonia Perlstein -- a well-known clothing designer and dressmaker in Springfield -- gave her a sense of style, independence, cleverness, humility and self-confidence. Her favorite mantra when fitting a garment was "stand up straight," which Marcus considers the theme of her first book, "Sidonia's Thread."

Her mother taught her to stand up straight and hold her head up high in both fashion and life. "On the other hand, she also instilled a tolerance for keeping secrets, taught me to be overly cautious before taking action and to keep my trust in reserve," Marcus said.

The author of "Sidonia's Thread" and "Surviving Remnant," the first two books in the "Sidonia's Thread" trilogy, Marcus is "honored and delighted" that "Sidonia's Thread" has been chosen as the 2018 Gold Medal winner, the top award, for memoir in the Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest.

"Many readers have commented that they identify with many of the themes in my books, including immigration, single parenthood, creative design and handicraft and the trauma and triumphs of Holocaust survivors and their children," she said.

She also has been asked to contribute some of her mother's designs to a museum exhibit sponsored by Eastern Connecticut State University at the Windham Textile and History Center in Willimantic, Connecticut, the former home of the American Thread Company, from Feb. 8-April 28, 2019, called "Crafting a Life: From Holocaust to High Fashion"

The exhibit will include up to 50 garments designed and sewn by her mother, during her more than 50 years in America, as well as the historical times she lived in, her life as an immigrant and Holocaust survivor and the importance of textiles in the economic growth and development of New England.

The museum exhibit will allow the readers of "Sidonia's Thread" and "Surviving Remnant" and those who just want to know more about Sidonia, to see her creations up close and discern why this woman was such a genius at creative design. "You can read the descriptions in the books, but to see them in person is a powerful experience," Marcus said. "She is representative of the millions of men and women who came here to America and became a part of the fabric of our social and economic life."

Marcus, now of Vernon, Connecticut, was born in a displaced persons camp after World War II but immigrated to Springfield when she was two with her single mother, Sidonia, a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who lived in Springfield until she died in 2006.

Marcus attended the Yeshiva Academy, Lincoln School, Chestnut and Forest Park Junior Highs and Classical High School and went on to attend the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and the University of Connecticut.

She has been keeping a collection of garments Sidonia made for her and her daughter for more than 30 years. She is looking for other garments she made for members of the Springfield community that can be used for the museum exhibit.

If people in the Springfield area have a garment made by Sidonia or a photo of themselves wearing one of her garments, email Marcus at info@hannamarcus.com.

The exhibit will include work and office wear, leisure wear, evening clothes, skirts, suits, pants suits, blouses and camisoles, shawls, pillows, zippered cloth bags and garments that display an unusual use of fabric.

Sidonia learned to sew in her native village in Hungary. Far away from the urban centers where stores and shops supplied women's clothing, she and her four sisters and mother all sewed to provide themselves with sufficient clothing in their remote farming village. "However, Sidonia's design and clothing knowledge dramatically expanded as soon as she arrived in America, reading fashion magazines and observing women's' clothing on the streets of Springfield. As the years went on, she became a fashion and style maven," Marcus said.

Her intention in writing "Sidonia's Thread" was to describe her life with her mother and provide the respect she deserved. "Now, Sidonia has turned into almost a cult figure around the country and the world, earning admiration for her strength and resilience from many women representing many cultures and faiths," she said.

In the sequel, "Surviving Remnant," Marcus describes her hapless journey to find a father figure among the Holocaust survivors with whom she grew up in Springfield's North End. "Although I am not defined by the Holocaust, I was shaped by it and by the survivors that were my extended family during my early years. I felt I owed that story to them as well," she said.

Sidonia left a legacy of what a woman can accomplish with her wits, imagination and drive to succeed, he daughter said: "Women today can learn the challenges of a foreign-born woman with no family except a young daughter and how she overcame her sorrow with the creative talent that made a name for her in Western New England. She willed a life in America."

For more information, go to hannaperlsteinmarcus.com.
SPRINGFIELD - Sinai Temple and Temple Beth El will hold a Solidarity Shabbat Service Friday at 6 p.m. at Sinai Temple on 1100 Dickinson St.

The joint service is similar to others being held this weekend in the aftermath of the shootings Saturday during services at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Congregation that left 11 dead and six wounded including four police officers.

"The plan is to just have our regular Shabbat evening service and maybe a couple special readings, but the main purpose is that this man chose to murder people on our Shabbat and we are going to stand together to say that no one will stop us for celebrating our sacred day of rest," said Sinai Rabbi Jeremy Master who became spiritual leader of the Reform Congregation this summer.

Robert Bowers was charged with the Pittsburgh synagogue shootings Wednesday in a 44-count indictment accusing him of federal hate crimes.

The indictment reportedly charges that the 46-year-old truck driver and Pittsburgh resident made statements indicating his desire to "kill Jews" while inside the synagogue.

He is also said to have purchased the AR-15 rifle and three handguns used in the attack legally.

Funerals for those killed in the attack began Wednesday, and vigils have been held across the country for the victims, including an interfaith one drawing hundreds Tuesday in Northampton.

Gerald Steinberg, a Holocaust survivor and member of Longmeadow's Congregation B'nai Torah, called such support a "Jewish tradition."

B'nai Torah is among the synagogues that have responded to the American Jewish Committee's call for a nationwide campaign, #ShowUpFor Shabbat, in which civic and religious leaders and others show up for Shabbat events this Friday night and Saturday in the aftermath of the attack at Tree of Life.

B'nai Torah is inviting people to come to its Eunice Drive location on Saturday at 9 a.m. to "show you are not intimidated by hate, cowed by fear, or paralyzed by hopelessness."

The morning will include Shabbat services, followed by luncheon and then a study and discussion program at 12:15 p.m. on "Jewish teachings on how to respond and how not to respond to tragedy" that will include an open forum.

"It is important to give support to the families and friends of the victims. This has always been a Jewish tradition," said Steinberg whose family story is among those told as part of the Hatikvah Holocaust Memorial at the Springfield Jewish Community Center.

"The people that perished are gone, however, the survivors, family members, and friends are the ones who will suffer this tragedy for the rest of their lives. Those who survived the Holocaust live the horrific event every minute of every day."

Sinai's Friday's service with Conservative Congregation Beth El is open to the public as are other related area events.

They come at a time of increased hate crimes and increasingly incendiary rhetoric against immigrants and others as criminals and rapists ushered in during the 2016 campaign of then presidential candidate Donald Trump.

President Trump has referred to the caravan of asylum seekers from Honduras currently approaching the U.S. border with Mexico as "an invasion of our country."

The president, who visited the site of the massacre Wednesday amid controversy, has said that an armed presence inside Tree of Life might have resulted in a differ outcome.

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Police Commissioner John Barbieri said following the synagogue attack that they had reached out to area synagogues and the Springfield Jewish Community Center and will add "heightened police and security procedures and presence" to these places.

The FBI has said that more than 54 percent of hate crimes motivated by religious bias in 2016 were anti-Jewish.

In the fall of 2016, volunteers worked to remove racist, anti-Semitic and pro-Donald Trump graffiti from a cliffside of Mount Tom State Reservation overlooking Holyoke and Easthampton.

The massacre at Tree of Life is said to be the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history.

"An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us," said Master when asked about Bowers' on-line postings attacking the refugee resettlement work of HIAS, a New-York based non-profit organization originally founded to help Jews fleeing persecution as bringing immigrant invaders into the country.

Master added, "There is great concern about the rise in anti-Semitism in this country since the 2016 election."

"There is concern about security and making sure we can be safe in our synagogues while at the same time not feeling like we have to hide behind barricades to practice our religion," he said.

"I think most people are concerned that the political rhetoric in this country has inflamed anti-Semitism. The Anti-Defamation League has reported that anti-Semitic incidents went up close to 60 percent from 2016 to 2017. As during previous times when racial tensions are high in this country, when people express bigotry towards specific minority groups, anti-Semitism increases."

Master, who was installed as Sinai rabbi this summer, said he and his staff "talked with the teens in the congregation" about the attack.

"One group of teens I spoke with expressed distress with the state of gun laws in this country, that a rabidly anti-Semitic man could purchase so many weapons," Master said.

"Their concern is not so much about practicing Judaism as much as it is about feeling safe in any public space when domestic terrorists can easily purchase military grade weapons."

Master was asked how he and wife Rabbi Alana Wasserman are raising their two young daughters in a world where hate speech, as it did in World War II, often precedes war and genocide.

"In Judaism we teach that saying insulting things about people's character is akin to murder," Master said.

"It is literally character assassination as it murders a person's good name. When you damage a person or a group's reputation, it is only a matter of time until hate filled people go a step further and take violent action.

He added, "There may not be specifically anti-Semitic rhetoric being expressed in the public today, but when certain groups are called murderers and rapists, the hatred towards those groups usually gets focused on Jews as well."

"I teach my daughters to talk kindly about people or to not say anything at all and I teach them that it is wrong to insult entire groups of people," Master said.

"These are the values that I stand for."

Bower's anti-Semitic postings linked to an Oct. 20 event for local Shabbat services honoring refugees that the nonprofit HIAS, who works with the State Department in resettling refugees in the country, sponsors annually in partnership with its own settlement affiliates, including Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts.

In an email Tuesday to supporters about the Pittsburgh shooting as well as JFS' work with HIAS, Maxine Stein, president and chief executive officer of JFS, said her organization has "been in touch with our colleagues at the Jewish Family and Community Services there who are deeply grieving their community's horror and loss."

"As one of 17 HIAS resettlement agencies in the country we reaffirm our commitment to support the resettlement work of refugees," said Stein whose agency usually settles about 240 refugees annually though that number is done due to Trump administration caps on admittance.

"Our Jewish communities have stood with us. Our interfaith communities have stood with us. We have been encouraged to keep up the good work."

She added, "We will not back down."

"We will turn this into an opportunity to be empowered to stamp out hate," Stein said.

"We are proud of HIAS and even prouder to be a part of the work that they lead."

Besides its joint service Friday at Sinai Temple, Temple Beth El, 979 Dickinson St., Longmeadow, will host a #ShowUpFor Shabbat Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

Information on other related events Friday and Saturday in Amherst, Holyoke and Northampton can be found on the website of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts:

One interfaith event - a candlelight walk - is scheduled tonight, Nov. 1, in Holyoke at 5:30 p.m. from the United Congregational Church of Holyoke at 300 Appleton to Congregation Sons of Zion Synagogue.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with the website of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts' listing of related events.
Two men were stabbed on Halloween night in Roxbury but are expected to survive.

WCVB News reported that the stabbings happened at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on Highland Street.

Police told the television station that one victim suffered minor injuries. The other victim was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.

Police have not yet made any arrests.
An American Civil Liberties Union attorney has criticized Smith College's policies, despite the findings of a newly released report that state no employees acted inappropriately during an alleged incident of racial profiling this summer.

ACLU lawyer Carl Takei had previously offered representation to Oumou Kanoute, the 20-year-old Smith student who, on July 31, had campus security called on her as she ate lunch in a campus building at the school. Kanoute later alleged that the incident was racially motivated.

However, two civil rights attorneys that were hired by the school to investigate the incident reported earlier this week that they had found no evidence of bias by the involved employees.

Takei initially began representing Kanoute in September after the ACLU announced it would attempt to mitigate a "restorative justice" process surrounding the incident. Takei's representation also coincided with the ACLU's launch of a new initiative designed to prevent racial bias on college campuses.

At that time, investigation by the two attorneys with the Sanghavi Law Office-- which specializes in discrimination and civil rights -- had not yet completed its work.

However, the Sanghavi attorneys published a 35-page report Monday that showed they had found no evidence of bias.

"The report's findings are important in two respects. First, they provide a foundation for potential reconciliation and healing for those involved," Smith College President Kathleen McCartney said in a statement. "Second, they include recommendations about Smith's future, a future in which we recommit to ensuring that every member of our community feels welcome and valued."

McCartney further stated that the report identified "two areas for improvement regarding employee policies and trainings as well as policies and trainings specific to campus police, all with the aim of reducing the likelihood of bias-related incidents." The President said the school would pursue reforms to these ends.

Takei, who had previously claimed the incident was a clear example of bias, said Monday that he still felt that Kanoute had been singled out.

"Oumou should never have been reported to the police. Any reasonable person looking at Oumou on the couch would have seen a Black student doing nothing threatening or suspicious," Takei said in a statement.

Takei also alleged that the school had "abysmal" policies when it came to handling "race-based suspicious person situations."

The full statement, released Monday, can be read below:

"Smith's investigators determined no policies were violated based on a key finding of its own report: The college's policies provide abysmal guidance on how to deal with race-based suspicious person situations, for both individuals making the calls and dispatchers fielding them.

"Oumou should never have been reported to the police. Any reasonable person looking at Oumou on the couch would have seen a Black student doing nothing threatening or suspicious."



"Most importantly, the college's investigators found none of the college's policies provide protection for Black and brown students who are targets of racially motivated suspicious person calls. The ACLU's model policies directly address the faults the investigators themselves found in Smith's existing ones. We urge Smith to adopt the policy changes and institutional reforms that the ACLU provided to the college in September, to protect Oumou and other students of color so this doesn't happen again."
SPRINGFIELD -- A Holyoke woman testified the father of her teenage daughter assaulted her in June of 2016.

Hampden Superior Court Judge William J. Ritter, in a jury-waived trial this week, found Alberto Martinez, 42, guilty of strangulation or suffocation, assault and battery on a family or household member, and violation of an abuse prevention order.

He sentenced Martinez to four to five years in state prison and 18 months probation.

The sentence will begin running after the sentence Martinez is currently serving.

Martinez in May was sentenced to one and a half to two years in state prison for assaults at the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow.

In that case Martinez pleaded guilty to assault and battery on a correctional officer, assault and battery, and disturbing a correctional institution.

He was in jail awaiting trial on the case involving the assaults on the Holyoke woman when he was charged with the assaults at the jail.

The Holyoke woman, under questioning from Assistant District Attorney Melissa Doran, said she was in bed on June 30, 2016, when a pillow was place on her face.

The woman said Martinez, against whom she had a restraining order, put his hands on her throat. She said she was bleeding after the attack. Martinez stole her keys and car, she said.

Holyoke Police Officer Anthony Ribeiro testified that, when he got to the home, an ambulance was also arriving. He said the woman had blood on her lips and tongue, light red marks on her neck and a bruise on her knees.

He said the usual course of action when an officer finds an assault victim would be to notify detectives. Asked if he did that he said, "I don't recall."

By the time a detective took photos of the woman's injuries it was several days later, according to testimony.
The Union minister Mr Pradhan said the CM was misleading the people Odisha by giving false advertisement about the benefits of the scheme.

Bhubaneswar: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik and Union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan were on Wednesday caught in a bitter war of words over rejection of the Union governments Ayushman Bharat Yojana by the state government.

A day after Mr Pradhan accused the Naveen Patnaik for rejecting the Central healthcare scheme purely due to political considerations depriving millions of Odias, the CM Mr Patnaik on Wednesday said his states Biju Swastya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) was better than the Ayushman Bharat. He said both Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) people will get the benefits under the scheme.

Speaking at a public meeting held on the sidelines of a Padayatra organised by the party in Bhubaneswar-North constituency here, the CM said, Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana is a historic step since both BPL and APL persons will get the health benefits under the scheme. It is way better than Ayushman Bharat.

Challenging the Centres scheme, the CM further questioned as to whether any disease sees poor or rich before affecting a person? And, what people not belonging to BPL category will do then?, he questioned.

The State Government is there for people of both BPL and APL categories, he added. Replying to the CMs observations, the Union minister Mr Pradhan said the CM was misleading the people Odisha by giving false advertisement about the benefits of the scheme.

Dear chief minister, when your government has not published the guidelines of the BSKY and initiated tender process, you are making some false claims over implementation of the scheme and the number of people benefitted by it, Mr Pradhan said in Twitter post.

He also questioned as to how the hospitals in other states would identify the Odias working there.

By rejecting Ayushman Bharat Yojana, Odia people working in other states have been denied the opportunity of healthcare in those places. The BJD claims that the BSKY would extend this facility to the registered beneficiaries. The moot question is that  which hospitals in which states have been enrolled to extend healthcare services to the beneficiaries? asked Mr Pradhan.
HOPKINTON - A man was killed after he crashed his Jeep into the rear of a tractor trailer truck on the Massachusetts Turnpike Wednesday night.

The 30-year-old victim is from Beverly. His name was not immediately released, Massachusetts State Police said.

The crash occurred at about 6:30 p.m. when the driver slammed his 2002 Jeep Liberty into the rear of a tractor-trailer truck driven by a 42-year-old man from Quebec near the I-495 exchange in Hopkinton, police said.

The victim was extricated by Hopkinton firefighters and died on the scene. The truck driver was not injured, police said.

The right lane of the highway remains closed as troopers from the Charlton Barracks investigate the crash. Those who assisted at the scene were Troop C Headquarters, State Police Crime Scene Services Section, State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section, State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Section, Hopkinton Fire Department, Massachusetts Office of Chief Medical Examiner, and Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
CHICOPEE -- The Police Department is notifying residents that a new Level 3 sex offender has moved into the community.

Angel Luis Agront, 47, is now living at 88 Fair St. and he works in East Longmeadow, Police Sgt. Richard Henry said.

Agront is described as white, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing about 185 pounds. His hair is brown and his eyes are brown.

He was convicted in November 2000 of rape of a child with force, indecent assault and battery of a person under 14, indecent assault and battery of a person over 14 and dissemination harmful material to minors.

There are more than 40 Level 3 sex offenders living in the city. The Level 3 offenders are those most likely to re-offend and are required to register with local police every year.

None of the Level 3 offenders are wanted by police. It is also illegal to harass an offender, police said.
HOLYOKE - The Holyoke Police Department issued a warning Wednesday evening about an internet hoax involving the Holyoke Mall.

Lt. Jim Albert, a spokesman for the HPD, said the hoax warns young girls not to use the mall's restrooms alone during the upcoming holiday season. Department detectives fielded calls from concerned parents who read the post.

The message, delivered through social media, states: "Just a heads up. Co-workers uncle is a Holyoke cop. He said don't go to the Holyoke malls alone or use the bathrooms in mall alone. People are stabbing young girls with needles and taking them for sex trafficking...Just be careful with holidays coming up.... Renee. This is from Paige."

Albert stressed that HPD detectives and Holyoke Mall security thoroughly investigated the posting and found no credible threats. He added the wording in hoax fits a pattern, with only the threat location changing.

He said Holyoke detectives began investigating the online posting Tuesday. "It's been around for years. The same thing keeps getting modified. It gets sent to many jurisdictions," Albert said. "They modify the quote to reflect the municipality they're threatening. It's a hoax."

Albert praised the cooperation of the Holyoke Mall security and management. He added the mall also fielded calls from parents. "Rightly so, they were calling to inquire," he said.

The mall welcomes families on Halloween for trick-or-treating.

"The mall vetted this through us to make sure they didn't have a problem coming at them," Albert said. "We were glad to work with them."

Likely the social meeting posting will lead to an investigative "black hole," Albert said, usually pointing to a dead end. The hoaxes get picked by other scammers, who then create variations.

For any credible threats, Albert said to call 911 immediately.
SPRINGFIELD -- City Councilor Justin Hurst, in response to the federal indictment and suspension of Police Officer Gregg Bigda, has sharply criticized the police commissioner, mayor and district attorney for their handling of excessive force allegations.

"Thank goodness that the U.S. Attorney's Office of the United States is not afraid of Mayor (Domenic) Sarno or the corrupt system that allowed Police Detective Greg (sic) Bigda to remain on the force when he should have been fired and locked up a long time ago," Hurst said in a statement. "The very fact that justice had to be served by the United States Attorney's Office means that our local law enforcement failed miserably to protect our citizens both before and after Bigda tarnished the badge and the department."



Hurst, who is chairman of the council's Public Safety Committee, made the statement after The Republican/MassLive reported Wednesday that Bigda had been indicted on federal excessive force and other charges and suspended without pay by Police Commissioner John Barbieri.

Sarno said on Wednesday that the case is "very troubling," adding that any officer who breaches the public trust "should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Former officer Steven M. Vigneault has also been charged in the case, which involves the arrest and interrogations of three juvenile suspects who allegedly stole an undercover police cruiser in February of 2016.



Bigda was caught on a video at the Palmer Police Department threatening two juveniles in police lockup. He is accused of threatening to kill one of the teens and to plant drug evidence on the other in order to send him to prison.



Some councilors including Hurst have long been critical of Barbieri for not taking action to fire Bigda.





Barbieri initially suspended Bigda for 60 days, saying he was unable to fire him because he did not learn of the video until after a 90-day disciplinary window required under the union contract.



Hurst questioned the leadership of both Barbieri and Sarno.



"No one deserves any mercy on this one," Hurst said. "Our Police Commissioner, John Barbieri was not strong enough to fire Detective Bigda on his own, which means that he is not strong enough to lead our Police Department. And, if he is so beholden to the advice of Solicitor (Edward) Pikula and Mayor Sarno (who both advised him not to fire Detective Bigda) that he is handcuffed when making these types of commonsense decisions, then he should resign from his position effective immediately."



Hurst said Sarno's leadership "must be called into question as he continues to enable this corrupt system while citizens distrust for local government and our police department is exacerbated."



Sarno declined comment on Hurst's statement.



Barbieri, contacted through a spokesman, did not immediate offer comment on Hurst's statement.



Hurst said District Attorney Anthony Gulluni was "the lead actor in the cover up of the Bigda case."



"The idea that the District Attorney could sit on evidence that clearly implicated Detective Bigda and then not file any charges is a disgrace to our justice system," Hurst said.

James Leydon, a spokesman for the DA's office, said in response, that "in fact, in 2016 it was the Hampden District Attorney's Office that discovered Mr. Bigda's misconduct and provided it to the relevant parties."

"After a meeting that included federal authorities and members of the District Attorney's Office, this matter was cooperatively referred to the United States Attorney's Office for investigation, as documented by a letter dated October 13, 2016," Leydon said. "The federal indictments involve charges that, in large part, have no equivalent in Massachusetts law."

In a previous statement, Leydon said that if the district attorney's office "hadn't disclosed the Bigda videos proactively the issue wouldn't be in the public consciousness right now."
SPRINGFIELD -- One of the most dramatic crises in the police department's recent history peaked in a quiet courtroom Wednesday, with instrumental jazz music piped cloyingly through overhead speakers.

Tarnished Springfield Police Officer Gregg A. Bigda was arrested along with a former colleague earlier in the day. Bigda is charged with three counts of deprivation of civil rights and one count of filing a false report in an internal investigation.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges in U.S. District Court and was released without bail.

The ongoing debacle is the outcome of an ill-fated pizza run and a streak of alleged bad judgment surrounding the arrests of three juveniles in 2016, according to reams of police reports and witness statements.

Police Commissioner John R. Barbieri has placed Bigda on unpaid, indefinite leave while the case is pending.

"That could change. Anything is possible," police department spokesman Ryan Walsh said. "But after conferring with the city's labor relations department, Officer Bigda will be suspended indefinitely without pay."

It has been a steep fall from grace for Bigda, once one of the aggressive, fair-haired boys of the narcotics squad -- relied upon for solid court testimony in drug cases and a sentimental favorite for his sharp wit and motivated police work, according to law enforcement sources.

The veteran detective agreed to surrender his firearms and license to carry a weapon to his own department as part of his conditions of pretrial release. He was also ordered to refrain from excessive drinking, a habit a federal prosecutor argued fed into his current plight.

Along with Bigda, former police detective Steven M. Vigneault was arrested and charged with a single count of deprivation of civil rights under color of law. The entire prosecution stems from a messy night in 2016 when a group of kids jumped into an undercover vehicle Vigneault left running outside a pizza shop in Springfield.

According to witnesses, Vigneault stewed over the embarrassment and Bigda drank from a bottle of rum in his top desk drawer.

When the car was spotted speeding through Wilbraham and into Palmer, members of the narcotics unit leaped into action and sped out to the scene as officers from surrounding communities worked to corral four Latino teens who abandoned the car and fled on foot.

A five-count indictment alleges Bigda kicked and beat one of the juvenile suspects while he was in handcuffs and Vigneault joined in by kicking another in the face. Bigda later harangued and threatened two of the boys at the Palmer police department, without having an adult present or reading them their Miranda rights.

Charges against the teens were eventually dismissed, and one has filed a federal lawsuit against Bigda, Vigneault and others.

The interrogations were captured on video at Palmer's police station.

"I'll beat the f--- out of you when (we) get back to Springfield," Bigda told one of the boys.

In another instance, Bigda threatened another suspect that he'd "stick a f---ing kilo of coke in your pocket and put you away for f---ing 15 years."

The irony is: Bigda now faces a 15-year sentence under federal sentencing guidelines if convicted of some of the charges handed up by a grand jury on Oct. 25.

Vigneault faces the same potential penalty. He resigned in 2016 over the kicking allegation, while Bigda was suspended for 60 days when the video footage came to light. One of the teen suspects has sued the department over the alleged beating in federal court. That case is pending.

After Vigneault's arraignment, defense lawyer Daniel D. Kelly said Vigneault maintains his innocence.

"He said it to me and I can't say it any better: He said 'I did nothing wrong.' He looks forward to his day in court," Kelly said.

Also pending is an administrative review of the narcotics unit's "patterns and practices" by the U.S. Department of Justice. That is a parallel investigation to the criminal probe that spanned nearly two years and resulted in Wednesday's arrests.

While Bigda -- relegated to the records unit since his 2016 suspension -- was forced Wednesday to surrender the trappings of the job, including his badge and service weapon, Vigneault endured those indignities two years ago.

Complicating the workforce fiasco, Bigda and Vigneault dated the same woman, another police officer. Bigda drunkenly confronted Vigneault and the woman at her home within weeks of the Palmer incident, which prompted a 10-day suspension for Bigda and a temporary restraining order.

Months later, Vigneault found himself also at odds with the woman and is currently subject to a year-long restraining order. He was twice arrested for violating that order in 2017 -- not by acts of violence, but by sending the woman texts and buying her unwanted gifts, she said.

The two scenarios hit an awkward intersection on March 1, 2017 as he was arrested by members of his onetime department coming out of the federal courthouse after meeting with prosecutors discussing his prospective testimony against his former colleagues.

Vigneault's stock with the feds apparently plummeted rather recently, as he went from valued cooperating witness to an indicted defendant.

Bigda left the federal courthouse Wednesday wordlessly as photographers from multiple media outlets dogged his steps up State Street.

A pretrial conference is set for both defendants for Jan. 24.
BOSTON - Two Romanian nationals pled guilty and one was sentenced Wednesday to conducting an ATM skimming scheme that stretched across seven states and included multiple Western Massachusetts communities including Chicopee, Amherst, Southwick and Whately.

Nicusor Boncullescu, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to three years in prison followed by three years supervised release Wednesday. He was also ordered to pay $72,922 in restitution, said Christina DiLorio-Sterling, spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling.

He pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to conduct an aenterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity, conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices and aggravated identity theft.

During separate hearings Wednesday in U.S. District Court, two other men Suedin Chiciu, 28, and Florinel Vaduv, 22, who were involved in the same wide-reaching scheme, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity and conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices. Vaduv also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. They are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 19, she said.

In total 15 people, 14 of whom were members of the Hornea Crew, were charged in the ATM skimming scheme where they used electronic devices to obtain debit card numbers and PIN numbers from bank customers. They then used the information to create counterfeit cards and to withdrew money from the victims' bank accounts.

Over 18 months the group stole from customers in seven states, including Massachusetts and Connecticut, and installed skimming devices in 29 Massachusetts towns including Amherst, Chicopee, Southwick, and Whately and in Enfield, Connecticut, DiLorio-Sterling said.

The 15 transferred money throughout the United States and to Romania and the People's Republic of China. Some of those transfers were for the purchase of skimming devices and related components from abroad, she said.

Of the 15 defendants charged in the case, seven have been convicted and sentenced, three have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing, three are awaiting trial and two have not been arrested, she said.

Two of the leaders were sentenced in in May. One received 65 months and the other received 42 months in prison. They were ordered to pay a total of $364,947 in restitution and other fines, she said.

Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement Wednesday. Those who assisted with the investigation include the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigations in Boston; U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Postal Service; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Amherst, Billerica, Braintree, Boston, Quincy, Southwick, Waltham, Whately, and Westwood Police Departments; Connecticut State Police; Greenwich Police Department; the New York City Police Department; Houston Police Department; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division; Richland County (South Carolina) Sheriff's Department; Florence and Saluda (South Carolina) Police Departments; and the Solicitor's Offices of Greenville and Saluda Counties. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy E. Moran of Lelling's Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
AGAWAM -- Residents looking to download public documents from the city's website will soon have more options.

Agawam recently won a $33,000 state grant to create an online public records repository, and to expand the library of scanned documents offered by city departments.

"I'm very excited about this," said Jeffrey Hurlbert, Agawam's information technology director. "This is about better transparency."

Hurlbert said enhanced software capability will allow for the "seeding" of a document library, and that the documents will be searchable by keyword. He said he hopes to have the system up and running by early spring.

"The competition for funding was intense," reads the Oct. 16 award letter, signed by Secretary Michael J. Heffernan of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance.

Heffernan said Agawam's grant application was chosen because "it met the overarching goal of driving innovation and transformation at the local level via investments in technology." The grant was awarded through the Massachusetts Community Compact Cabinet, which is chaired by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito.

Hurlbert said Mayor William Sapelli will consult with others and set the initial document priorities. He said once the system is set up, it should be easily expandable. The IT director said using the LaserFiche system is simple, and shouldn't cause any more work for city staffers.

"If anything, it could make it easier, and reduce time spent responding to information requests, or to citizens who come in wanting to look at documents," he said.

Documents could include contracts, maps, plans, resolutions, records from the Planning Department, and records from other departments, according to the grant application, which Hurlbert wrote.

Agawam already posts its agendas and minutes online, and offers web-based access to a number of documents, but the LaserFiche system will allow for a well-organized, expanded, and searchable repository, said Hurlbert.

The City Council is expected to vote to accept the grant at its Wednesday meeting.
NORTHAMPTON -- They had masks, guns, knives, bats, bulletproof vests, night-vision goggles and one especially menacing military-style hatchet.

But before breaking into an Amherst drug dealer's apartment and robbing him, the defendants wanted something else to guarantee their success.

"They wanted a scary black man from Springfield," defense lawyer Elaine Pourinski explained last week in Hampshire Superior Court.

Her client, Warrens Gelin, 23, of Springfield, had just pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and six other charges from the botched home invasion on Oct. 30, 2016.

The alleged organizer, Patrick Bemben, 26, of Hadley, and five others are awaiting trial for roles in a robbery conducted with the gear, if not the skill, of a military operation.

In a plea agreement, Gelin was sentenced to four to five years in prison, followed by two years of probation.

First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven Gagne said the sentence reflected Gelin's age, limited criminal record and circumscribed role in the robbery.

"He was the muscle, the intimidator," Gagne said.

When the robbery began, he was carrying a .40-caliber firearm and wearing a bulletproof vest. By the time police arrived, one victim was bleeding profusely from being pistol whipped and another's arm had been "filleted" by the hatchet, exposing bone and tendons and leaving him with lingering nerve damage, the prosecutor said.

"This was a serious, serious offense in which one person was permanently injured," Gagne said. "Four to five years in state prison is significant punishment."

In summarizing her client's role in the case, Pourinski said Gelin was approached by a third party a few days before the robbery. He didn't know the victims or the defendants, and only learned details of the plan hours before it was carried out, the defense lawyer said.

"He played a fairly minimal role. They picked him up in Springfield," Pourinski said.

"He's young -- young acting, young in many ways," she added.

He is also black, from Springfield, with a criminal record -- factors the other defendants assumed would make him especially intimidating to the victims, the lawyer said.

"It needs to be said: His role was rooted in a racist stereotype," Pourinski added.

Despite serving a two-year sentence as a juvenile, Gelin's adult criminal record has been limited to one conviction and no jail time, Pourinski said.

And after the planned home invasion turned into a bloody melee outside the house, Gelin ran off with the other defendants, the lawyer said.

"While running away, he stopped to vomit," she said.

As part of the plea agreement, Gelin must have no contact with the victims, possess no firearms, avoid illegal drugs and submit to random testing for two years after his release from prison.

Pourinski, who shared defense duties with attorney Tracy Duncan, said Gelin has worked well with adult role models in the past, and will likely need a mentor after leaving prison.

"My hope is that he will do well when he comes out," she said.

Bemben is due in court for a pretrial hearing on Nov. 20.
SPRINGFIELD -- Voters in the four Western Massachusetts counties will see two familiar names on their ballot for the Governor's Council.

One is well-known Democratic political figure Mary Hurley, an incumbent on the council from East Longmeadow. The other is independent Mike Franco of Holyoke, a perennial candidate in area races.

The Governor's Council, also known as the Executive Council, is composed of eight councilors and the lieutenant governor, who serves ex officio. The eight councilors are elected from their districts every two years. The 8th District includes most cities and towns in Western Massachusetts.

The council vets for confirmation nominees for gubernatorial appointments such as judges, clerk magistrates, public administrators, members of the Parole Board, Appellate Tax Board, Industrial Accident Board and Industrial Accident Reviewing Board, as well as notaries and justices of the peace.

The Republican asked Hurley, a retired district court judge, to outline why she ran for the Governor's Council two years ago and why she wants to continue on that body.

"The reason I ran for Governors Council in the 8th District was because I was aware of the serious shortage of judges in every department of the trial court in western Massachusetts because as a judge, I live it daily. To put it bluntly, we were seriously neglected for a significant period of time," Hurley said.

"What this meant for every citizen of western Massachusetts with a trial in district or superior court was instead of having one trial date, it could be postponed three, four, or five times. In a criminal case, for the tax payer, this meant the police officer would be summoned multiple times and be paid for hours of court time, straining already tight municipal budgets. For the courts, it was a waste of resources having to reschedule cases over and over again. For the District Attorney's office, it meant the Assistant District Attorneys couldn't get on to the next case and added to their already burdened caseload," Hurley said.

She said civil litigants would take a back seat to criminal cases. Probate court cases -- like custody battles and child support and visitation issues that need resolution for the sake of families -- couldn't be heard in a timely fashion, she said.

"Additionally, parties, victims or witnesses would have to take extra days off from work to repeatedly go to court to have a matter heard," Hurley said.

"As a judge, I experienced this firsthand and made up my mind to do something about it. So, I ran for Governors Council in the 8th district to alleviate these serious shortages and presented our case in western Massachusetts to the Baker-Polito administration. They were very receptive, and as a result were able to significantly shorten the amount of time it took from posting vacancy to appointment by creating a pool of candidates for appointment to positions in the various courts," Hurley said.

She said in less than two years there were appointments of six District Court judges, three Superior Court judges, three Probate Court judges, two Juvenile Court judges, one Appeals Court judge and two District Court clerks.

Hurley said, "What this means is the District, Superior, Probate, Juvenile and Appeal Court judges are able to serve all of the courts of western Massachusetts, which greatly shortens the time it takes to get a matter heard to completion in that court because we have the judges to do the job. Even now, there are more vacancies that are going to occur over the next two years that need to be filled in a timely manner. I believe that no one should wait for justice to be done, because justice delayed is justice denied."

Hurley served as associate district court justice in Chicopee from 1995 to 2014. She was a lawyer in private practice before and after the judgeship. She was mayor of Springfield from 1989-91.

Franco has run for a number of offices over the years, including a run as a Republican against Democrat Michael Albano for the Governor's Council in 2012.

The Republican was unable to contact Franco. He has no current listed phone number. Request sent via his Facebook and meetup.com websites were not answered.

Franco has been commenting regularly on the meetup.com site, which has the headline "Mike Franco for MA Governor's Council 2018." Voters can glean Franco's politics from his message board posts, which accuse current members of the Governor's Council, judges and others of corruption.

A recent post from his meetup discussion section: "The preponderance of lawyers in our political system is the most significant plague on American society."
Lachlan Murdoch, executive co-chairman of News Corp and 21st Century Fox, put an end to speculation on Thursday that Megyn Kelly would return to Fox News now that her morning show has been dropped by NBC.

"I'm a big fan of Megyn's. We didn't want her to leave Fox," Murdoch said during the New York Times DealBook conference in New York. "I'm very happy with our current lineup on Fox News and we won't be making any changes there."

NBC canceled "Megyn Kelly Today" last week after she made on-air comments about blackface. Kelly said during the show, "when I was a kid, that was OK as long as you were dressing up as like a character." She later apologized for the comments.

There was speculation after the change that Kelly would return to Fox News, where she anchored for more than a decade.

She left Fox News last year to accept a multi-year deal valued at more than $20 million a year at NBC.

She hosted the ill-fated "Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly" and the 9 a.m. portion of "Today," which has struggled in the ratings.

Kelly and NBC News are in the midst of negotiation her future with the network.
After perusing the note, the bench allowed the contents of the note to be furnished to the counsel for the petitioners and the petitioners-in-person.

New Delhi: Brushing aside strong objections by attorney general K.K. Venugopal, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to submit pricing details and the cost of 36 Rafale jets in the agreement signed with the French government in a sealed envelope in 10 days.

Further, in a major embarrassment, a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, also asked the government to provide details which can be put in the public domain, i.e. shared with the petitioners who are seeking a CBI probe into the deal. The government, which will face the apex court again on November 12, has so far refused to disclose details of the pricing negotiation for Rafale jets despite the Congress and other other Opposition parties demand.

The Bench, which also included Justices Uday Lalit and K.M. Joseph, also asked the government to share as far as possible, with the petitioners and the public, the selection process for the Indian offset partner (if any) in the defence deal. This would mean that the government now has to reveal details of the agreement entered into by Dassault Aviation of France with Anil Ambanis Reliance group.

When the AG, Mr Venugopal, said that some of the information contained in the report that is to be handed to the court in a sealed cover is covered under the Official Secrets Act, the Bench said that details which might be considered strategic and confidential by the government might not be given to the advocates appearing for the petitioners.

When the AG pointed out to the court that the details of pricing have not even been shared in Parliament, the CJI shot back and said, If pricing is something exclusive that you are not sharing, file an affidavit to that effect. State on affidavit that you cannot furnish those details. The court also asked the government to put down in an affidavit details of the French defence deal that it cant share even with the court and include other confidential details in a sealed cover.

Acting on writ petitions filed by advocates M.L. Sharma, Vineet Danda, Arun Shourie and others, the court had, on October 10, asked the Centre to apprise it of the details and steps in the decision-making process leading to the award of the order for defence equipment in question, i.e. 36 Rafale jetfighters.

We also make it clear that the steps in the decision-making process that we would like to be apprised of would not cover the issue of pricing or the question of technical suitability of the equipment for purposes of the requirement of the Indian Air Force, the bench had said.

During the resumed hearing, the AG submitted details of the steps in the decision-making process leading to the award of 36 Rafale Jet-Fighters/Fighter Aircrafts in a sealed cover. After perusing the note, the bench allowed the contents of the note to be furnished to the counsel for the petitioners and the petitioners-in-person.

Apparently not satisfied with the information furnished in the sealed cover, the bench on Wednesday sought further details relating to pricing/cost as well the strategic advantage of the deal.

Counsel Prashant Bhushan submitted that a complaint has already been filed with the CBI for a probe and said, Let the CBI inform the court as to what they have done about the complaint... It has been pending for four weeks. The CJI told the counsel, We have noted that your first prayer is for a CBI probe. Let the CBI put its house in order first you will have to wait.

In a brief order the bench said, The suitability of the equipment (fighter jets) and its utility to the Indian Air Force has been questioned. What has been questioned is also the bona fides of the decision-making process and the price/cost of the equipment at which the same is to be procured. We have perused the same. At this stage we would not like to record any finding or views with regard to the contents of the said report.

The petitioners said that in 2012, the deal for 126 Rafale fighter aircrafts was proposed, and out of the total of 126 number, 18 Rafale fighter jets were to be delivered by Dassault Aviation company in fly-away condition, while the rest 108 were to be manufactured in India at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) which is an Indian public sector aerospace and defence unit, under a transfer of technology agreement. The deal was nearly finalised by 2014 by the then UPA government.

In April 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a state visit to France and Paris made the announcement of purchasing 36 Rafale fighter jets in flyaway condition. On April 13, 2015, the then defence minister made an announcement that the 2012 Rafale deal was effectively dead and that India had officially withdrawn the 126-aircraft MMECA tender on July 30, 2015, and that the deal announced for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft was altogether a fresh procurement.

The petitioners have alleged that the price of the aircraft in the new deal has been increased from approximately Rs 700 crore per jet to over Rs 1,600 crore per aircraft without any legitimate public interest.
The prisoners who attacked and killed notorious Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger tried to cut out his tongue, according to CNN.

Attacks of that nature are typically performed within organized crime as a punishment to those who have cooperated with police investigations or provided information to authorities.

Bulger, who was 89, worked for years as an FBI informant while committing crimes in Boston. He was found severely injured in his cell at the Hazelton federal penitentiary in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, on Tuesday morning, less than 24 hours after being transferred to the high-security facility.

CNN reported that Bulger's tongue was almost cut out on Thursday, citing a federal law enforcement official. Previous media reports have indicated that Bulger was beaten with a lock placed inside a sock.

Convicted mob hitman Freddy Geas, a 51-year-old formerly of West Springfield, is reportedly being eyed for Bulger's killing, which authorities are investigating as a homicide.

Geas was among suspects convicted of the 2003 murders of Springfield mob boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno and low-level associate Gary Westerman in 2003, as well as the near-fatal shooting of a New York union boss the same year.

He has been serving a life sentence at the Hazelton prison since at least 2015.

Bulger was serving a life sentence for 11 murders. He was captured in California in 2011 after years on the lam.

Investigators have released few details about the nature and circumstances of Bulger's death.

"The United States Attorney's Office and the FBI are investigating the death of James Bulger as a homicide," read a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office, released earlier this week. "To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further details will be released at this time."
Police in a Massachusetts community are investigating a report of a needle found in a piece of candy.

Marshfield police posted a warning message on Twitter with a photograph of a package of Twizzlers Twists. A needle was visible, sticking out of the candy.

"The candy was received last night in the Brant Rock Area," police wrote. "Advised to throw away Twizzlers and inspect all other candy."

The matter is under investigation.

There have been instances where people lied about finding metal or some type of object in their candy.

In 2015, an 11-year-old girl admitted to police she lied about finding a piece of metal in her Halloween candy in Auburn.

Police warned people about the metal in that case, but the child then admitted to making up the story to her parents.
Authorities seized nearly 50 unlicensed guns, including an AR-15 rifle, and 44 homemade silencers from a Shirley home Tuesday, officials said.

The discovery resulted in the arrest of a 62-year-old Shirley man who is now facing 47 counts of possession of a firearm without a license, 44 counts of possession of a silencer, possession of a loaded firearm without a license, possession of ammunition and possession of a sawed-off shotgun.

Jeffrey Dusti, 62, of Shirley, was arraigned today in Ayer District Court. He is being held without bail until Nov. 5 for a dangerousness hearing.

Dusti does not have a FID card or license to carry.

Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit troopers executed a search warrant at Dusti's home on Great Road in Shirley on Tuesday around 3:15 p.m., according to the Middlesex County District Attorney's office.

Investigators learned Dusti had a homemade silencer, authorities said. They went to the home Tuesday, where he was found near his home.

Dusti allegedly had a loaded revolver in his jacket pocket, District Attorney Marian Ryan said.

Dusti was arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Ayer District Court for assault and battery on a person over 60, two counts of making annoying phone calls and witness intimidation.

State police then searched the home and saw a sawed-off shotgun out in the open. They obtained a warrant to search the home and discovered a cache of guns.

Authorities said they found 47 unlicensed firearms, 44 homemade silencers and roughly 35,000 rounds of ammunition. Ryan described some of the weapons as high-capacity.

"The defendant is alleged to not only have been in possession of multiple illegal firearms, but to also have been illegally modifying the guns making them all the more dangerous," Ryan said. "Simply put, there is no reason that a person with good intentions would require a silencer. Those devices are strictly made for violent and insidious purposes. I am grateful to the work of the State Police Gang Unit whose investigation led to the defendant's arrest without incident. Thankfully these dangerous weapons will not be making their way onto our streets and into our communities."

Ryan said "the sheer number of weapons is frightening."

Eleven firearms that were licensed to a woman living at the home were found as well. The woman's firearms license has been revoked, Ryan said.

The investigation is ongoing. Additional charges may be filed in the case.
From the academic to the esoteric, Worcester's newest book store is bringing a slew of literature to the city's Canal District.

Bedlam Book Cafe is set to open in Crompton Place Friday, in the spot formerly occupied by Seed to Stem. The used bookstore includes 10,000 titles ranging from psychology and philosophy to art and women's studies, plus a juice bar, expected to open sometime next week.

"I feel like I've combined all of the facets of myself into this space, so it's been really fun to design and conceive of the aesthetics and the look, and thinking about what I like about book stores and what I like about cafes," said Nicole DiCello, who is opening the store with her partner, Patrick Warner.

The store has a cozy, welcoming feel, with armchairs and decorative lighting. DiCello said she hopes the shop will be a place of discovery and resource for everyone in the community.

"I wanted it to be a place of thought, of intellect, of fun, of whimsey, of good vibes," she said. "I don't want it to feel at all like a negative place. When you come in here, you're coming in to nourish your mind and your body."

DiCello and Warner had a specific vision for the space and said the Crompton Building fit the aesthetic they were looking for. In fact, DiCello said she couldn't imagine opening the store anywhere else.

One of the reasons the couple moved to Worcester four years ago is the city's old mill buildings and architecture.

"I geek out over little details, I love exposed brick walls and beams on the ceiling and the old wooden floors that have so much character and history in them," DiCello said. "It's a similar vibe and aesthetic as with used books."

Bedlham's book collection features many titles from university and independent presses that DiCello and Warner hand-picked.

"I almost feel like I'm going to be giving up some of my babies when I sell them," DiCello said. "I love all of the things that we bought."

In the back of the shop, customers will find a juice bar and cafe area serving up fresh smoothies, coffee and tea. DiCello said she's passionate about healthy living, and wants people to feel like they're investing in themselves when they buy a drink.

Bedlam will host a reading series, beginning Nov. 15 with Cuban American novelist Pablo Medina. DiCello also plans to hold talks by local professors.

"This is by far one of the most satisfying things I've ever worked on and created for myself and I'm so excited that I've created this for the community because I love Worcester, it's my favorite place I've ever lived, so it feels really awesome to be doing something that's going to be giving something that is so wanted and so desired here," she said. "It's been kind of wild to see the response on social media and how excited people are, and I'm so touched I'm doing that for others."

Bedlam Book Cafe is located at 138 Green St. Its hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Massachusetts referendum question on nurse staffing levels has produced a virtually unprecedented showdown over an emotionally charged issue. Question 1 is being watched not only in this state but across the nation.

The Republican recommends voters choose "no" on the question of mandated nurse staffing. The complexity of the fundamental issue of nurse staffing does not lend itself to a one-size-fits-all solution that's capsulized on a ballot.

Nurses themselves are divided on the issue. The Massachusetts Nurses Association, a labor union representing more than 22,000 members, has achieved one goal by bringing this to a public vote - but approval of the referendum is not the answer.

The MNA has alerted the general public to the need for hospital administrators and the Legislature to take more seriously the challenges nurses face on a daily basis. If the "no" side prevails on Question 1, these officials should consider other remedies that don't jeopardize patient care, versatility in services or hospital solvency (as a "yes" vote would), but still address nurses' concerns.

That won't be easy, since Question 1 has been waged on emotional levels that will not be easy to put aside after the vote. But if the real goal is better care for patients, it's still the best course to ensure adequate staffing at medical facilities that vary in size, geography, services and patient needs.

Thinking a single equation answers the needs of so many different hospitals and medical institutions is simplistic and therefore deeply flawed. It addresses a problem by creating new, profound problems within patient care - some predictable and others sure to surface once such a mandate goes into effect.

Proponents of a "yes" vote have demonized hospital administrators by portraying them as uncaring of patients and inattentive to nurses' needs. That's unfair. Balancing financial solvency with the needs of staff and patients is not an either-or proposition, nor is it solved with a blanket mandate for every facility in the state, large and small.

The ripple effect of ballot-mandated ratios is difficult to quantify, but there is no doubt the impact would be massive. Health care needs that do not directly involve nurses would unavoidably feel a hit if thousands of new nurses were required to be added.

Community hospitals fear they would have to cut non-nursing staff, reduce care or even close their doors. These concerns are real. Longer waiting time in emergency rooms would likely occur if staffing rates are legally inadequate to handle a heavier number of patients.

For all the challenges the industry faces, Massachusetts has maintained a worldwide reputation for quality medical care. Surveys based on a variety of factors consistently rank the Bay State at or near the top of all 50 states and well ahead of California, which has implemented staffing ratios with, at best, mixed results.

Forcing a mandate into this environment risks inflicting serious damage on a medical industry that, for whatever improvements are needed, is working. That doesn't mean nurses should not be heard, nor should their needs not be addressed.

That nurses are divided on this issue, however, speaks to its complexity. When some of those on the "front lines," caring directly for the patients, rebuff the idea of mandated staffing as a solution, it speaks to the need to explore ways of improving care without lunging for this solution.

Question 1 is well-intentioned but a quick fix to complicated issues. Jeopardizing health care in some areas by adding nurses in another is not the answer.

The right choice is to vote "no" on Question 1, and respect how every facility has different needs, conditions and strengths that cannot be addressed properly by a summarized, generic referendum on a ballot.
Early voting in Massachusetts ends Friday, Nov. 2.

Registered voters don't need a reason to cast their ballot early.

Massachusetts cities and towns have designated polling locations, open during regular business hours, in order to handle people wanting to vote early.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Absentee ballots are still available for voters who plan to be out of town on Tuesday or have a disability or religious belief that doesn't allow them to be at their polling location that day. Absentee ballots are available at local elections offices until noon on Monday, Nov. 5.

On Tuesday, polls open at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 8 p.m.
Richard Buckley's brother David was born with Down syndrome and later developed autism and other conditions.

In 1999, David Buckley was allegedly raped by a male employee of the private group home where he lived. The perpetrator was moved to another group home.

In 2001, at a state-run group home, a staffer showering David Buckley hosed him down with scalding water until he was severely burned. He died from his injuries.

Criminal charges were dropped and a civil suit was settled, Richard Buckley said. The woman who allegedly killed his brother still works for the state.

"This is worse than the Catholic priest scandal because we are aware of it. You are aware of it," Buckley told the Legislature's Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. "When you've investigated (abuse) and found it to be valid, no one is ever held accountable."

An oversight hearing by the legislative committee on Tuesday highlighted the problem of abuse - particularly sexual abuse - of people with disabilities in Massachusetts. Experts testified that people with disabilities are among the most vulnerable and are subject to abuse at high rates, often by those charged with caring for them.

Nancy Alterio, executive director of Massachusetts' Disabled Persons Protection Commission, which investigates claims of abuse of adults with disabilities by their caregivers, said the conditions facing people with disabilities "are ripe for abuse." They are heavily reliant on caregivers, may have trouble communicating, and many have no sexual education and limited outside supports.

"These factors and others are a perfect storm of vulnerability, access and concealment," Alterio said.

According to statistics provided by the DPPC, reports of abuse in Massachusetts have increased the last five years. There were 9,031 abuse complaints in fiscal 2014, which increased to 11,895 complaints in fiscal 2018.

Looking specifically at sexual abuse, there were 773 reports in fiscal 2014 and 878 in fiscal 2018. They mostly involved people with intellectual, developmental and mental health disabilities.

One incident can result in multiple reports, if multiple people report one case. The DPPC conducted 379 investigations of sexual abuse in fiscal 2014 and 404 investigations in 2018.

Alterio said one factor in the rising numbers is more people are recognizing and reporting abuse. She called the abuse of people with disabilities a worldwide "epidemic."

Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, a committee member, called the numbers "stunning and staggering and shocking."

Department of Developmental Services Commissioner Jane Ryder said, "One sexual assault suffered by an individual is one too many." But she said only a small percentage of those allegations were substantiated.

In fiscal 2017, Ryder said, there were 15 substantiated cases of sexual abuse involving people getting support from the department and three investigations still pending. In fiscal 2018, which ended June 30, there were three substantiated sexual abuse cases and 14 investigations still pending.

Ryder said just because a case is "unsubstantiated" does not mean nothing happened, only that there is not enough evidence to prove it.

"It's not to say we don't take those cases seriously to begin with," Ryder said. "Once an allegation comes in, we immediately take protective action."

For example, Ryder said an accused staff member will not be returned to caring for the person who accused them, even if the allegation is not substantiated.

"The safety and well-being of the person we're supporting always comes first," she said.

The oversight hearing was called in response to a federal report released in January that examined systemic health and safety problems with group homes nationwide. The report specifically looked at Massachusetts and found that many serious incidents were never reported for investigation.

Of 587 critical incidents that led to group home residents being seen in emergency rooms between 2012 and 2015, 88 were not reported to the Department of Developmental Services.

Only 73 incidents were reported to the DPPC for an investigation of abuse or neglect. The commission said that 102 additional incidents should have been reported.

An earlier legislative hearing looked at oversight of group homes overall, while Tuesday's hearing centered on sexual abuse.

State officials said they have made progress in addressing sexual abuse. The DPPC received a grant to work with rape crisis centers and other groups to make sure adequate services are available to help survivors of sexual assault with disabilities recover from trauma. The DPPC created a unit tasked with responding to sexual assault, ensuring that the person gets medical care and any needed change to their programming and also supporting them with therapy and legal aid.

The state agency has processes in place to provide victims with medical care, remove their abuser from the situation and refer complaints to the police for investigation.

Ryder said the department provides compulsory training to staff on recognizing and reporting sexual abuse. The department teaches individuals with disabilities about sexuality and abuse, and tells families how to report abuse.

"The department takes its responsibility to safeguard individuals from all instances of abuse, neglect and mistreatment seriously," Ryder said.

But advocates say the procedures are insufficient.

"I can tell you without hesitation that the systems that are in place are not working, and we are failing to protect people with developmental disabilities in Massachusetts from sexual and other forms of abuse," said Anna Eves, whose disabled son was a victim of medical abuse and neglect. "We have to do better."

Eves and Buckley are both involved in COFAR, the Coalition of Families and Advocates, a nonprofit made up of families of people supported by the Department of Developmental Services.

Eves said wages for care providers should be higher to decrease turnover and attract better staff. She said the DPPC is underfunded.

Eves said after her son was abused, she submitted a public records request about the group home where he was living. She found out about a rape a year earlier, which neither the state nor the provider agency mentioned when she asked about the facility before admitting her son.

"Families need and deserve better information about providers before they entrust their loved ones to them," Eves said.
Massachusetts' top lawyer said Thursday that President Donald Trump does not have authority to overturn birthright citizenship by executive order.

"Of course he doesn't," said Attorney General Maura Healey, when asked if Trump has that ability.

Healey, a Democrat, has been a strong critic of Trump, a Republican.

Trump told "Axios" on HBO, in a report published Tuesday, that he is considering signing an executive order to eliminate the right to automatic citizenship for anyone born in the United States to parents without legal status.

Experts say that would likely violate the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Healey has frequently sued the Trump administration over policies ranging from immigration to the environment. Speaking after a Boston event related to gun control, Healey declined to say whether she would take an active role if Trump goes ahead with trying to change citizenship.

"It's just more of the same for the administration," Healey said, adding that she is focused right now on getting out the vote before Tuesday's election.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., joined many of the state's congressional representatives earlier this week in criticizing Trump's comments.

Speaking after the Boston event, Markey said, "Unfortunately, we have to keep President Trump in a remedial constitutional law course on a daily basis."

Markey said Trump cannot overturn birthright citizenship unilaterally. "If he wants to change the law, he should initiate a debate to amend the United States Constitution, because he will lose that debate," Markey said.
President Donald Trump shared a racially charged message with his followers on Twitter this week, seeking to connect Democrats to a killer.

The ad features footage of Luis Bracamontes, a Mexican immigrant convicted of killing two California law enforcement officers.

"Illegal immigrant, Luis Bracamontes, killed our people!" reads text on the video. "Democrats let him into our country ... Democrats let him stay."

Bracamontes was deported twice prior to the officers' deaths in 2014.

The ad features Bracamontes during his sentencing hearing in April where he expresses no remorse for his crimes, telling the court he hopes to kill again.

The 53-second video goes on to show crowds of people pushing down fences before asking the viewer "Who else would Democrats let in?" and ending on the line, "President Donald Trump and Republicans are making America safe again."

It is outrageous what the Democrats are doing to our Country. Vote Republican now! https://t.co/0pWiwCHGbh pic.twitter.com/2crea9HF7G  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018

The ad has been called racist and compared to "Willie Horton" ads in support of George H.W. Bush during the in the 1988 presidential election.

While serving a life sentence for murder, Horton was given a weekend furlough through a Massachusetts program and did not return. He traveled to Maryland, where he stole a couple's vehicle, rapping a woman and attacking her fiance.

Democratic Presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, who was governor of Massachusetts when Horton was released through the program, was faulted for the attack in the ad. Dukakis did not start the furlough program but supported it. It was abolished in 1988.
BOSTON -- Red Sox manager Alex Cora said his World Series rally comments to fans at Fenway Park weren't directed at the New York Yankees.

Cora said Wednesday during the rally, "Think about it. The New York Yankees. Yeah, the sky was falling. We lost Game 2 (of the ALDS) and it was panicking here, everybody was like, 'Oh, it's over.' We scored 16 at Yankee Stadium. Suck on it."

Cora said his comments were directed at "the people that gave up on the team after losing Game 2."

"I was texting with a good friend of mine. I said, 'They took that one out of context,'" Cora said here at Fenway Park on Thursday. "That wasn't about the Yankees. That was about the sky is falling. And yeah, I felt that way."
Demanding 'unconditional and written apology from Prasad within 48 hours' of receipt of notice, Tharoor also asked for video to be deleted.

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad (L) had made the statement during press conference after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (R) quoted unnamed RSS source as saying that PM Modi was like 'scorpion sitting on a Shiva Linga who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper) either'. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday sent a legal notice to Union Minister for Law and Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad for allegedly calling him murder accused.

The notice was sent by Tharoor's lawyer over the video posted by the Union Minister on his official Twitter handle on October 28 where the latter said, "Shashi Tharoor who is charge-sheeted in a murder case has attempted to disrespect Lord Shiva."

Prasad had made the statement during a press conference after Tharoor quoted an unnamed RSS source as saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was like a "scorpion sitting on a Shiva Linga who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper) either".

Demanding "unconditional and written apology from Prasad within 48 hours" of the receipt of the notice, Tharoor also asked for the video to be deleted. He further said that the statements made in the video was "false, untrue, malicious, and highly defamatory".

"Dr Shashi Tharoor is neither charge-sheeted for the offence nor he is an accused in a case of murder. Being the person who heads the Ministry of Law and Justice, the highest establishment of the Union Government responsible for the Law and Justice System of the country, yourself must be truthful, honest, correct and highly responsible for the public statements you make as the people view or read your statements will tend to relate such statements to the Office you hold and you are well aware of that fact," the notice read.

The notice further clarified Tharoor's comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that former was referring to an old news article published in the magazine 'Caravan' in 2012.

"The article was authored by journalist Vinod Jose with the title, 'The Emperor Uncrowned' and it ended by quoting an unnamed source in the RSS who expressed its frustration with their inability to curb Modi," Tharoor said in the notice.

The notice further stated that Tharoor's statement did not disrespect the deity in any manner. "If you remove a Scorpion with your hand, you will get stung very badly. But you hit a Shiv Linga with a chappal (slippers), you undermine all the sacred tenets of the faith, you all know on which the Scorpion is sitting," it read.
BOSTON -- The Red Sox will discuss a potential trip to the White House to celebrate their 2018 World Series title "as an organization," manager Alex Cora said.

Cora was critical of President Donald Trump in September. He called Trump's Sept. 13 tweets disputing the death toll in his native Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria "disrespectful."

"I've been using this platform (as manager) the right way the whole time," Cora said here at Fenway Park on Thursday. "Whatever we decide is going to be respected. And if we decide to go, I will use my platform the right way.

"If you start looking at this team, we've got guys from the United States and from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico. So I'll use the platform the right way. Like I said before, and I know the headlines don't show it, I say I respect the president of the United States. And I know he help our country (Puerto Rico). So whenever we have to make the decision we'll make it. And it's going to be respected."

3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

.....This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

Cora said Sept. 13, "Three-thousand, six, 18, I don't know," Cora said. "We will never know how many we lost. I hate that people make it a political issue. This is about human beings. The people that went through this, they know what happened.

"Nineteen percent of our population is elderly," Cora added. "The effect of Sept. 16, the rain, the winds and whatever happens, maybe 18 people died. But the aftereffects, people don't talk about that. And when you don't have food, you don't have water, no communication, no medicine, then this happens."
The police officials said that a massive manhunt has been launched for the assassins.

Srinagar: Indefinite curfew was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar town and some neighbouring areas from Thursday night as tensions erupted in the communally-sensitive region in the aftermath of the murder of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and his brother by unknown assailants.

The police said that gunmen shot at BJP's state secretary Anil Parihar and his elder brother Ajit Parihar when they were walking towards their residence in Kishtwar's Parihar Mohalla on Thursday night.

They were targeted with pistol fire from point blank range along the Tapal Gali (lane) near the veterinary hospital at 9.10 pm resulting into BJP leader's instant death and critical injuries to his brother, a police officer said. The BJP leader's brother Ajit succumbed soon after being admitted to the district hospital.

The reports received here said that the brother duo was returning home from a stationery store BJP leader's brother Ajit run in a market of Kishtwar, 214-km northeast of J&K's winter capital Jammu. As the word about the murder of the BJP leader and his brother spread, people took to the streets at many places across the town to hold protests. An irate crowd attacked two senior police officers -Kishtwar's SSP and local Station House Officer- at the hospital leaving them injured, reports said.

Amid heightening tensions, the deputy commissioner Angrez Singh Rana imposed curfew in Kishtwar.

The police officials said that a massive manhunt has been launched for the assassins. We have launched investigations, said the police. The BJP has blamed the killings on terrorists.

Union minister of state at the PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh tweeted, Deeply shocked by the killing of a dear party colleague and BJP J&K state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother.
The idea is to defeat BJP, defend democracy, says Rahul Gandhi.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, along with Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, addresses the media outside his residence at Tughlak Road in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Making the most serious effort till date to bring the entire Opposition on a common platform to take on the Narendra Modi government in 2019 general elections, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met top leaders and regional satraps, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav.

We decided to meet in Delhi to chalk out a plan to protect the future of the nation, Mr Naidu said after meeting Mr Pawar and National Conferences Farooq Abdullah.

All the leaders decided to meet in the national capital soon and in the future chart out a Common Minimum Programme for a pre-poll or post-poll alliance. But they made efforts to side step the question as to who will lead such an alliance if it comes into being.

Any leader will perform better than Narendra Modi, Mr Naidu quipped when asked whether the Opposition would be able to provide a credible alternative to the PM.

In the same vein, the Congress president, whose party, many feel, is trying to project him as the face of the Opposition alliance, said it has been agreed that the principle idea is to defeat the BJP and defend democracy and institutions of this country. All other ideas, we will discuss later, he said, adding, Everyone is going to work together.

Your interest is in sensationalism but we have to work together to deliver peoples aspirations, he added when asked the question again.

The TDP chief, who was NDA coordinator during Atal Bihari Vajpayees term as PM, described his new-found bonhomie with the Congress, whom his party had blamed for the bifurcation of the state of Andhra Pradesh, as a democratic compulsion.

Mr Gandhi on his part said both of them have decided not to dwell on the past.

We have a past. Both of us have agreed we are not going to get into the past. We are going to talk about the present and future because it is critical for our country, he said.

At a separate press conference later, Mr Naidu maintained that there are only two sides in the country now  the BJP and anti-BJP. Last week the TDP chief had said that it was not possible to form a government at the Centre without a national party.

Though the TDP as a party was a product of anti-Congressism, it might be recalled that both the parties have entered into an alliance to fight the Assembly elections in Telangana.

Mr Naidu, however, said that that at todays meeting seat-sharing details were not discussed with the Congress president. That was for local leaders to sort out, he said and added, I only spoke of national issues.

The TDP chief was also remained non-committal on demands for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the Rafale deal saying the matter was in court and would be sorted out.

That Mr Naidus personal equation with senior Opposition leaders had come into play was evident when Mr Pawar, addressing the media jointly with him and NCP Farooq Abdullah, said there was a need to save democracy as all institutions were being destroyed by the present government.

If we collectively work to save the democracy, we can definitely save the institutions as well. Mr Naidu is going to talk to all the state leaders and then we will call a meeting of all supportive leaders and collectively discuss further course of action, he later tweeted.

Mr Pawar had recently absolved the PM of any responsibility in the Rafale deal, sending flutters down the Opposition camp.

Quick to react, the BJP accused the Andhra Pradesh chief minister of burying the spirit of NTRs TDP as a party with the alternative ideology of the Congress.

BJPs Rajya Sabha MP, G.V.L. Narasimha Rao tweeted, TDP government in Andhra Pradesh is mired in many scandals (IT, PD accounts, Irrigation scam etc.). MPs are being probed for misappropriation, tax evasion. Reason why N. Chandrababu Naidu is running from pillar to post to forge a Corrupt Alliance in Delhi.
Concepta Plc, a company based in Bedfordshire, UK, won the European CE Mark for its myLotus hormone monitoring product. Designed to help women identify when their most fertile days are, myLotus measures hormonalnlevels and keeps track of their changes over time. It is being unveiled for the first time this weekend at the Fertility Show in London.

The system consists of a measuring device, tests strips that are inserted into it, and an app that displays the data and helps to analyze it. The woman simply dips the test strip into a urine sample and sticks it into the reader. After a few weeks, a pattern emerges and the readings can be used to form predictions of when its the best time to get it on.

The Fertility Show marks the UK launch of our myLotus fertility product and the start of our roll-out across CE territories, said Matthew Walls, Chairman of Concepta. Women attending the show can exclusively buy a Starter Pack, consisting of a myLotus monitor, 3 packs of 20 Ovulation Tests (LH) and 3 packs of 3 Pregnancy Tests (hCG), at the Special Launch price of 199. We look forward to an exciting Fertility Show and to welcoming women and couples to our stand.

Product page: myLotus

Via: Concepta Plc
Market Research Future has a cooked research report on the Global Tissue Engineering Market. The Global Tissue Engineering Market is growing continuously and expected to grow at a Significant CAGR from 2017 to 2022.

Segmentation:

Tissue Engineering Market has been segmented on the basis of materials, which comprises of biomimetic materials, nano-fibrous materials, composite materials, and nano-composite material.

On the basis of applications, the market is segmented into orthopedics, musculoskeletal and spine, skin/integumentary, cancer, dental, cardiology, urology, neurology, cord blood & cell banking, GI & gynecology, and others.

Get Tissue Engineering Market Premium Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2134

Major Players in Tissue Engineering Market

Cook, Acelity, Baxter, DePuy Synthes Companies, Medtronic, Zimmer Inc., and Stryker

Market Highlights:

The Global Tissue Engineering Market has been evaluated to grow at a steady pace and expected to reach at a high growth figures over the reviewing period.

The Global Tissue Engineering Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.22% during the forecast period.

Tissue engineering is the use of combination of cells, engineering materials, and suitable biochemical factors to improve or replace biological functions in an efforts to repair damaged tissues and organs.

Neurology segment is one of the fastest growing owing to the increasing research & development and increasing cases of disorder related to nervous system. For instance, in March 2016, In the University of Alabama researchers found a reprogramming factor, which could increase the efficiency of Human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (HiPSCs) and are generated without destroying the human embryo. These are major factor responsible for the growth of the market during forecast period.

Key Findings:

The global tissue engineering market is expected to reach USD 48,017.5 million by 2022 at CAGR of 17.22%.

Nano-fibrous material segment on the basis of material holds the largest share to reach USD 13,279.2 million by 2022 from USD 4,155.8 million in 2016.

The Americas holds the largest share of tissue engineering market and is projected to reach USD 17,889.6 million by the end of the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region across the globe and expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.24% during the forecast period.

Regional Analysis:

The global tissue engineering market consists of four regions: the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.

The Americas dominates the global market, particularly, North America due to growing developments in the field of regeneration surgeries, particularly stem cell research has created new opportunities for the global tissue engineering market. Additionally, continuous technological development methods and the presence of global market leaders contribute to the market growth.

Europe accounts for the second largest market due to availability of funds for research & development activities, and increasing government support for life sciences domain. Furthermore, industries are continuously focusing and upgrading the 3D technology and thereby offering better and enhanced organ and tissue printing methods.

Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market, whose growth is attributed to the improved economic conditions in healthcare domain, the government focus on research & development in healthcare sector. Moreover, increasing adoption of technological development in healthcare resulting in improvement of healthcare facilities expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period.

The Middle East & Africa is expected witness limited growth due to limited access to the healthcare resources and lack of advanced medical facilities and less government encouragement in healthcare sector.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Report Prologue

2 Market Introduction

2.1 Introduction 13

2.2 Scope Of Study 13

2.3 Research Objective 13

2.4 Assumptions & Limitations 14

2.4.1 Assumptions 14

2.4.2 Limitations 14

2.5 Market Structure 15

3 Research Methodology: Tissue Engineering Market

3.1 Research Process 16

3.2 Market Size Estimation 17

3.2.1 Market Share Analysis 18

3.3 Forecast Model 19

Browse Full Reports @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/tissue-engineering-market-2134

4 Market Dynamics

4.1 Drivers 20

4.1.1 Reliable Supply Of Functional Tissues 20

4.1.2 Use Of Tissue Engineering Can Replace The Animal Testing Model 20

4.1.3 Approaching Towards Its Cost-Effectiveness 20

4.2 Barriers 21

4.2.1 Shortage Of Donor Organ 21

4.2.2 Scaling Up Of A Specific Cell 21

4.3 Opportunity 21

4.3.1 Growing Geriatric Population Presents Significant Growth Opportunity 21

4.3.2 High Demand Of Tissue Engineering In Cosmetic And Reconstructive Surgery 21

4.4 Mega Trends 22

4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators 22

5 Market Factor Analysis

Continued!

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by Tanya Gazdik , November 1, 2018

PetSmart Charities has partnered with GroundTruth, a location platform that leverages data and insights, to drive mobile users who are potential pet adopters in-store this year.

GroundTruth is able to reach potential adopters via real-time targeting of mobile users near PetSmart locations as well as audience targeting of mobile users grouped based on their past visitation behavior, says Eric Hadley, CMO of GroundTruth.

For example, in the campaign, GroundTruth created a custom audience, comprised of moms and dads, recently moved (those who visit stores like truck renting and leasing), and pet lovers who are ages 24 to 54, Hadley tells Marketing Daily.

Since the partnership began in early 2018, GroundTruth has supported all of PetSmart Charities National Adoption weekend events and ran a seasonal campaign through spring and summer to support kitten and cat adoptions, in which GroundTruth was the sole media partner. Currently, adoptions for PetSmart Charities are up 12% this year.

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GroundTruths commitment is already full steam ahead, with a final push slated around a Nov. 9-11 nationwide adoption event.

Partnering with 4,000 animal welfare organizations, the retailer's charitable arm has helped find homes for more than 8 million pets through adoption, says Suzi Berrios, director of charities, customer experience, at PetSmart Charities.

Each year it becomes increasingly more important to keep up this momentum, Berrios says in a release. Partners like GroundTruth, who donate their technology, allow us to reach our most engaged mobile audiences and then measure if their efforts resulted in a store visit."

GroundTruth used its location-targeting capabilities around PetSmart locations during key adoption periods to drive over 110,000 visits to the retailer's brick-and-mortar locations. The kitten and cat initiative alone drew over 65,000 visits in-store and the September National Adoption Weekend saw a total of 32,159 pet adoptions, making it the most successful weekend for PetSmart Charities.

Additionally, the top five states where GroundTruth drove the most visits were also the top five states with the most adoptions. For the February campaign, Texas saw the highest correlation, with 3,029 adoptions recorded and 2,241 visits driven by the location platform company.

In addition to real-time location targeting around PetSmart locations, GroundTruth used its first-party audience data and targeting to connect with PetSmart customers. It also created a Charitable Audience that accounted for 73% of visits in May.

The partnership is a part of GroundTruths Location for Good program, a philanthropic initiative, in which the company donates media campaigns to generate awareness and action for nonprofits. Location for Good has also supported campaigns with American Red Cross, Goodwill, Movember, Thrive Market and The Ad Council.
Living up to analysts expectations, Samsung on Wednesday reported operating profit of about $15.5 billion for the third quarter -- up about 21%, year-over-year.

During the period, total smartphone shipments remained flat, which Samsung blamed on decreased sales of mid- to low-end phones.

Overall, profit for Samsungs phone division decreased on-quarter, which it attributed to increased promotional costs and a negative currency impact.

Yet the South Korean tech giant said it expected a more modest fourth-quarter performance.

Looking ahead to Q4, Samsung said it expects its smartphone shipments to rise during the year-end peak season -- especially for its "mass product" lineup, including the new Galaxy A7 and A9.

More broadly, Samsung anticipates overall fourth-quarter earnings to decline as it enters a period of "weak seasonality" for the semiconductor market.

As for 2019, Samsung said earnings are likely to be weak for the first quarter, due to seasonality, but then strengthen as business conditions -- particularly in the memory market -- improve.

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For all of 2019, Samsung actually expects solid earnings growth, which it believes will be bolstered by rising demand for image sensors used in more sophisticated camera specifications.

Among other efforts, Samsung said it is aiming to establish its networks business as a leader in 5G technology as it begins supplying related equipment to global markets.

Along with 5G, the Apple arch-rival will continue to invest in other emerging technologies, including AI and automotive electronics.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, October 31, 2018

Several of the Supreme Court's right-wing judges on Wednesday appeared skeptical of a class-action settlement that allowed Google to resolve privacy claims by giving $5 million to various nonprofits -- including groups the company previously donated to.

Don't you think it's just a little bit fishy that the money goes to a charity or ... organization that Google had contributed to in the past? Chief Justice John Roberts asked an attorney for the plaintiffs during the hearing.

The hearing stemmed from a challenge to the settlement by Ted Frank, founder of the Center for Class Action Fairness. He argued that the deal should have been rejected, because it didn't provide compensation to any Google users.

The deal resolved a 2010 class-action complaint alleging that Google violated users' privacy by including their search queries in "referer headers" -- the information that's automatically transmitted to sites users click on when they leave Google. Some queries, like people's searches for their own names, can offer clues to users' identities. (Google no longer transmits search queries when people click on links in the results.)

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The deal calls on Google to donate $5.3 million to six nonprofits -- Carnegie Mellon University, World Privacy Forum, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Stanford Law, Harvard's Berkman Center and the AARP Foundation. The settlement also requires Google to pay more than $2.1 million to the attorneys who brought the lawsuit.

Frank noted that Google has independently given money to the Stanford Center for Internet and Society.

A trial judge and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Frank's challenge to the settlement. Frank then asked the Supreme Court to consider his arguments.

The dispute drew the attention of the White House, which argued in a friend-of-the-court brief that Google and other companies shouldn't be able to make donations to settle class-actions if it's feasible to give money directly to consumers. The administration asked the Supreme Court to return the case to a trial judge for a new assessment of the settlement.

Google defended the deal, arguing that any attempt to distribute funds directly to Google's users wouldn't be feasible.

During Wednesday's hearing, Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked Google's attorney, Andrew Pincus, whether it would have been preferable to compensate some Google users -- even if chosen randomly -- than none.

Isn't it always better to at least have a lottery system, then, that one of the plaintiffs, one of the injured parties gets it, rather than someone who's not injured? Why isn't that always more reasonable? Kavanaugh asked.

Roberts specifically expressed doubt about the idea that cases should be resolved by a party agreeing to make donations to advocacy groups.

You may be in an auto accident with someone who's speeding. That doesn't mean you automatically think that highway safety is affected and the speed limit should be changed, Roberts said. You just want money because of what happened to you.

The chief justice also questioned why AARP was named as a fund recipient in a privacy case, asking Pincus whether he thought privacy issues were going to be meaningfully redressed by giving money to AARP.

Justice Samuel Alito appeared the most critical of the settlement. At the end of the day, what happens? The attorneys get money, and a lot of it. The class members get no money whatsoever, he said. And money is given to organizations that they may or may not like and that may or may not ever do anything that is of even indirect benefit to them. ... How can such a system be regarded as a sensible system?

But Justice Sonia Sotomayor said she thought deals that required companies to donate to charities were relatively rare, and that judges tended to reject those deals if they were potentially abusive.

Some of the judges also questioned whether Google users who sued were injured by the alleged data leak. The Supreme Court ruled two years ago that consumers can only sue if they suffered a concrete injury.

Justice Neil Gorsuch asked why allegations that Google leaked a user's name warranted a lawsuit. Do we know that he was injured? Gorsuch asked.

Gorsuch and several other judges raised the possibility of returning the case to the trial judge for a decision about whether the people who sued were injured.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 1)  President Rodrigo Duterte convened the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EC-NSC) on Tuesday, October 30, in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, according to Presidential Spokesperson Sal Panelo.

In a statement Thursday, Panelo said Duterte ordered the creation of the National Task Force in a bid to address the armed conflicts across the country caused by communist groups.

The President also directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue its proscription case that seeks to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing New People's Army as terrorist organizations, Panelo said. The DOJ filed the petition in February, following Duterte's order in December 2017.

Panelo added that the President called for a thorough investigation into the shooting incident in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, in October, where nine farmers were killed.

The council vowed to study the "possible lifting or further extensions" of martial law in Mindanao amid threats on security in the region, according to the spokesman.

"Factors that were initially considered by the committee were the outlook of our brothers and sisters in Mindanao, an overwhelming majority of whom support martial law in view of the present situation they are in, the facilitation it will bring in rehabilitating Marawi and regaining normalcy in Mindanao, and indispensable constitutional and legal factors," Panelo said.

The EC-NSC is a collegial body headed by the President and composed of select members of the government's legislative and executive branches. Its members include the Senate President, House Speaker, Exceutive Secretary, and some Cabinet members.

The council is tasked to review issues and concerns on national security, the result of which will be used by the President in fulfilling his duties.
The 30-yr-old cab driver was arrested for allegedly raping minor girl, whom he had been dropping to school for past 2-3 months.

The accused had befriended the girl and one day instead of dropping her to school, he took her to his house where he allegedly raped her, a senior police officer said. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: A 30-year-old cab driver was arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl, whom he had been dropping to school for the past two-three months, police said Thursday.

The incident was reported from east Delhi's Madhu Vihar and the accused was victim's neighbour who had befriended the girl, they said.

According to a complaint received by the police on Wednesday, the alleged incident took place in September.

The incident came to light after the school teacher informed the girl's parents that she missed the school on one occasion in September, police said. Her parents confronted her about bunking school and she narrated her ordeal, they added.

The accused had befriended the girl and one day instead of dropping her to school, he took her to his house where he allegedly raped her, a senior police officer said.

A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the IPC and POCSO (Protection of Children From Sexual Offences) Act, he added.
by Ray Schultz , November 1, 2018

Right-wing politicos are not the only candidates sending strongly worded emails as the midterms loom. From the left comes a blast from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), accusing President Donald Trump of fomenting dangerous bigotry.

"Six days from now, we can defeat the brutal white supremacist forces of anti-Semitism, anti-immigrant nativism, and racism," Ocasio-Cortez says. "We can hold accountable the cold-hearted monsters who have repeatedly attacked our health care. We can send a message to the bigots and billionaires that this country belongs to all of us.

This email was reported on by Daily Wire, which comments: Throughout the email, Ocasio-Cortez makes not a single campaign promise other than the promise to protect voters from the white supremacist forces that are apparently terrorizing the United States under President Trump.

It adds that the future socialist congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez is "ginning up voter enthusiasm by scaring them out of their wits."

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The controversial email goes on to say: "A Democratic majority will not bring back the eleven Jewish people in Pittsburgh, massacred while they prayed. Or the two Black people gunned down days before at a Kroger grocery store in Kentucky. It won't fully stop the relentless attacks against immigrants in America.

"But on Sunday evening, Pittsburgh mourners  angry and broken hearted like us  chanted 'Vote! Vote! Vote!' They understand the magnitude of the midterm election six days from today: that it affords us the chance to forge a powerful bulwark against Donald Trumps hate and hold accountable the Republicans who have been complicit in every step of his toxic, self-serving, and destructive agenda."

Republican candidates have also been criticized for sending over-the-top emails. For example, there is the one sent by Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ), signed by Donald Trump Jr., that utilizes The L Word, in the subject line, a possible reference to her opponent Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)s bisexuality. McSallys campaign people say the L stands for liar.

Ocasio-Cortez is expected to win her race.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, November 1, 2018

Prager University has no valid grounds to sue Google's YouTube for allegedly discriminating against conservative video clips, the company argues in new court papers.

YouTube is not the government, and its efforts to regulate content posted to its private online service are not limited by the First Amendment, Google writes in papers filed Wednesday with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The company argues that the First Amendment prohibits the government from censoring speech, but doesn't prevent Google from deciding how to treat content posted to its platform. What's more, Google writes, any attempt to subject non-governmental platforms like Google to the First Amendment would result in disastrous practical consequences.

If they are bound by the same First Amendment rules that apply to the government, YouTube and other service providers would lose much of their ability to protect their users against offensive or objectionable content -- including pornography, hate speech, personal attacks, and terrorist propaganda, Google writes.

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The company's papers come in response to attempts by Prager University to revive its lawsuit against Google. Prager initially sued last year, alleging that Google wrongly applied its "restricted mode" filter to the school's videos, effectively making them unavailable to some students and library patrons. Prager also alleged that Google "demonetized" some conservative videos, like a clip that posed the question "Pakistan: Can Sharia and Freedom Coexist?"

U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh in the Northern District of California dismissed the complaint earlier this year. She said that because Google is a private business, as opposed to a government entity, it can decide how to treat content on its platform.

Prager then appealed to the 9th Circuit. The company argues that YouTube is a "public forum" -- comparable to a park -- and shouldn't be allowed to censor lawful speech based on its content.

For its part, Google says it has nothing against PragerU, and that it attempts to apply its polices without regard to politics.

But the company adds that it's entitled to make decisions about clips for whatever reasons it chooses.

When it makes decisions about which videos should be available in the special Restricted Mode feature it offers to protect its most sensitive users, YouTube is not standing in the shoes of the government, Google writes. To the contrary, YouTube is exercising its own rights under the First Amendment.

The battle comes at a time when conservative politicians are criticizing web companies for allegedly blocking right-wing speech. Last month, the Justice Department floated the possibility of investigating whether tech companies are stifling right-wing views. President Trump also recently made the remarkable claim that Google's search engine is "rigged" because it highlights stories from "Fake CNN."

But other observers say there's no evidence that tech companies are especially likely to suppress conservative views. New York Law School professor Ari Waldman, who testified on Capitol Hill earlier this year, told lawmakers that a lot of content is filtered, but "no more so from the right than from the left."
by Ray Schultz , November 1, 2018

Emails impersonating Microsoft or Amazon now constitute two-thirds of advanced deception attacks, according to "Email Fraud & Identity Deception Trends," a study by Agari.

However, the study also found that DMARC adoption by Fortune 500 firms has increased from 33% in 2017 to 51% this year. But only 13% have a quarantine or reject policy.

Microsoft suffered 36% of all brand impersonation attacks, and Amazon comprised 27%. Microsofts tally went up when limited to C-level executives and other high-profile targets  to 71%.

Typically, these emails pretend to be service updates, security alerts and password resets. Microsofts ubiquity in companies makes the brand particularly vulnerable to impersonation.

Microsoft and Amazon are followed in the top five most victimized brands by Bank of America, Chase and Dropbox. Farther down the list are DocuSign, UPS, Netflix and IRS.

Dropbox ranks a very distant second in C-level attacks.

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Of the frauds examined by Agari, 62% utilize name deception of some sort, with 54% impersonating brands and 8% individuals. At the same time, 3% of deception-based emails are sent from compromised email accounts.

The damage from these attacks has ballooned into billions of dollars annually  however, the real cost is the erosion of trust in digital business, states said Armen Najarian, CMO, Agari.

The report is based on statistics from the Agari Identity Graph, as studied from July through October.
As a kid, I often wondered if there is any secret magical pill or antidote for ageing (to reverse the process). After looking at actress Aishwarya Rai, now I know who got the annual supply of those magic pills. Otherwise, how else do you explain this?

The former Miss World turned 45 today, yet she looks like she stopped ageing post 25 and I guess her 5.3 million Instagram followers and million others across the world will agree with me.

Right from her modelling days to setting the global red carpets on fire with her apparance, Aishwarya Rai continues to remain one of the most beautiful and gorgeous actresses in Bollywood, who can easily give actresses half her age a run for their money.

From her classic hits like 'Chokher Bali', 'Devdas', 'Guru', 'Sarabjit' to her super hot avatar in 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', time and again she has reclaimed her throne in Bollywood with her performances.

 Reuters

She was last seen in 'Fanney Khan' that failed to create the same magic on screen, although it was appreciated by the critics.

Forget everything and just take a look at this picture that has left us shell-shocked and gasping for air.

 Dharma Productions

Remember her photoshoot with her 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' co-star Ranbir Kapoor? The same one which we couldn't take our eyes off? With each passing day Aishwarya is proving that age is nothing but just a number for her.

 Twitter

Until 2018, the actress wasn't there on Instagram. But, in May she obliged her fans and joined Instagram and let's just say that is possibly one of the greatest gifts her fans can ask for.

As she turns a year older and continues to age like a fine wine, let's wish this timeless beauty a very Happy Birthday.

Currently, Aishwarya and Abhishek along with their daughter Aaradhya are vacationing in Goa. While birthday wishes are pouring in from around the world, it's Abhishek Bachchan who won her heart and that of everyone else with his post. He posted this picture with the caption, "Happy Birthday Wife. I love you! #MyHappyPlace".

Before heading to Goa, Abhishek threw a birthday bash for Aish in Mumbai that was attended by close family members and friends.

On the work front, after giving us a phenomenal performance in 'Manmarziyaan', Abhishek is now shooting for Anurag Basu's 'Life In A Metro' sequel. In fact, reports suggest that Aishwarya and Abhishek will star together in a movie titled 'Gulab Jamun'.
People say you're never too old or too young to follow your dreams and passion. And the 96-year-old grandma Karthyayani Amma is the proud torchbearer of this saying.

We first came to know about Karthyayani Amma in August, when she enrolled in the 4th standard in order to complete her education. Now, Alappuzha's famous granny has recreated history once again by clearing the exam with flying colours. If pursuing studies at 96 wasn't impressive enough, she even topped the exam by scoring 98% marks.

 BCCL

She was the oldest student to take the 'Aksharalaksham' test conducted by Kerala's Literacy Mission Authority. She will receive a merit certificate from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today at the Chief Minister's Conference hall.

Reportedly, Amma had never gone to school and used to work as a cleaning staff in temples. Amma told India Today, "I'm happy that I got good marks. Now I know how to read, write and calculate." She also said that her great grandchildren, 12-year-old Aparna and 9-year-old Anjana, helped her in learning the lessons.

Kerala:96 year old, Karthiyani Amma of Alappuzha who scored 98/100 marks in 'Aksharalaksham' literacy program of Kerala State Literacy Mission, felicitated by CM Pinarayi Vijayan pic.twitter.com/UXRgd4xyob  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2018

Amma's younger daughter Amminiamma is her inspiration behind taking up education once again, "In our days, women never went to school. When my younger daughter Amminiamma qualified in the tenth equivalent examination in 2016, I took it as a challenge."

Kerala already has the highest literacy rate in the country and this programme was launched this year to eliminate illiteracy completely from the state. Nearly, 43,330 students appeared for the exam in the classes 4th, 7th, 10th, 11th and 12th. Out of them, 42,933 cleared the exam.

 Twitter

After successfully passing ths exam, Amma now wants to learn English in the next term and said, "My great grandchildren are studying in an English medium school. I also want to learn English."

We salute Karthyayani Amma for her dedication and strong will to study even at the age of 96, and we hope that more people take inspiration from her.
Not everyone enjoys the sound of crackers and the bustle of the Diwali party, and for those of us, heading to a nice peaceful place is the ideal alternative. So we are here to sort out your Diwali plans, with the 7 best places to head to for the festival. Celebrate the festival of lights with a few diyas, some solitude, in one of these brilliant places. Spend time with yourself on a solo trip, or with your loved ones away from the noise, pollution, and the smog.

So pack up your backpack, and head to one of these beautiful places.

Sikkim

 Wikimedia Commons

The hills are obviously a great place to head to during this time. Sikkim is a place that sees a lot of rain during the non-winter months, so going right before winter is actually a pretty great time. It's not too hot, it's not too cold, although it is quite nippy. Much of the population there celebrates Diwali, though it is a lot less showy than what you may get in other states. You can head directly to Gangtok now, and check-in in a small village homestay where you can enjoy the simple Diwali. Make sure to pack your trekking gear, and a backpack , as the landscape is perfect for hikes and treks.

Andaman Islands

 Flickr

Before the crowds start flocking to the Andaman Islands come December, take your chance to see it, minus the huge tourist crowd. These secluded islands make for a great escape. And while you are there, you will be far away from any noise pollution, or smog, whatsoever. You do need the whole week for this vacation, so don't pack too light. The weather is quite pleasant during this time as well. Make sure to pack beach essentials into a bag, and some sunscreen.

Varanasi

 Pixabay

Head to Varanasi this Diwali to see the beautiful aarti they are known all over the country for. Although you will see a lot of crowd there, the experience is unlike any other that you will have. The banks of the Ganges are adorned by millions of lights, celebrating the victory of good over evil. As one of the most deeply connected places for Hinduism and its celebrations, the whole atmosphere is filled with culture and a connection to tradition. There may be some crackers and smoke, so be prepared for that, while you soak up the sights of a million lit diyas as you ride on a boat along the river.

Rajasthan

 Amer Fort/Pixabay

Rajasthan's many forts and hills offer something that most places in India cannot give you: a fantastic view of the city. You can pick any of the beautiful and historic cities, or take the week off to cover a few places. You can climb up Nahargarh in Jaipur and look down upon the city with all its houses lit up for Diwali. At Udaipur, spend time by the lake as you experience the fireworks, and the palace, being reflected in the waters. You can also head to Jaisalmer or Kumbhalgarh fort for an authentic Rajput experience.

Sri Lanka

 Tangalle Beach/ Flickr

Sri Lanka is the land of Ravana, so it does have a lot of symbolic significance to Diwali and the story of Ram. Unlike what you may expect, many people there celebrate Diwali. The Hindu population, which is mostly present in the central and eastern part of the island nation, celebrate Diwali with a quaint simplicity. The festival is about the lighting of lamps and distributing sweets, especially sugar figurines called 'misri.' Rent a bungalow along the seaside and enjoy this colourful ceremonies that are relatively quieter and simpler than what we are used to.

Hampi

 Wikimedia Commons

Diwali is celebrated in Hampi in a big way, the wonderful and grand architecture creating the perfect backdrop for the celebrations. The people of Hampi light up the town with lights, and you can walk around during the evening enjoying the sights. The city is also great for backpackers and travelers, so if firecrackers and celebrations in the bazaar area is not your cup of coffee, then spend time at any of the city's cafes. You can also visit the Virupaksha temple to witness some special ceremonial functions during the evening. There is also a local procession where the temple elephant is decked up and participates in the celebration.

Bali

 Bratan Lake/ Pexels

Bali is another one of those rare places that are known for the celebration of Diwali. Although the majority of Indonesia is Muslim, Bali has a decidedly large Hindu population who celebrate the festival of lights in their own way. The legend of Ram and Sita is also a big part of the region's culture and mythology. They celebrate it much like we do here in India, but with local touches. So head to Bali to experience the festival in a new way.

Ready to head out into adventure this Diwali?
The ad campaign for Prabal Gurungs Fall 2018 collection encourages us to take a closer look at representation in the fashion world.

International fashion magazines are more aspirational than inspirational because theyre often devoid of faces we can identify with. But the ad campaign for acclaimed designer Prabal Gurungs Fall 2018 collection, aptly titled Stronger in Colour, gives us a lot to look forward to. The campaign champions diversity as it not only features models from various Asian countries but it was also shot with a predominantly Asian crew.

Says the Nepalese-American designer, My goal with this campaign is to represent and celebrate the diverse range of the pan-Asian region and to start a conversation about the power of visual representation, the challenges we face, and how we can overcome them.

Prabals campaign comes as a breath of fresh air in the world for fashion, where adequate representation of racial diversity continues to be an issue. And the designer is the perfect person to birth it, given that he has never shied away from using the runway to take a stand on important issues. In the past, the designer has unhesitatingly shared his views on political hot potatoes including immigration, feminism, and workplace harassment, and he continues to be an advocate for body positivity.

The campaign features models from Nepal, Thailand, China, Korea and India

Talking about why inclusion and representation are issues that are close to his heart, Prabal says, Ive never seen someone who looks like me in the glossy pages of a magazine or on a Hollywood screen, and I have definitely never seen my ethnicity portrayed in a desirable or glamorous way. With this campaign, I want to change that notion, not just for myself, but for the next generation.

The designer, who has dressed some of the worlds most powerful women including former FLOTUS Michelle Obama, talented actresses Helen Mirren and Issa Rae, and whose creations are a hit among style-conscious Indian celebs like Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, says that he has found inspiration in the strong and vigilant women he saw and was raised by in Nepal, India, and across the greater pan-Asian region. And it is these heroes that he wants to honour and celebrate.

Using a large dinner table as an analogy for the fashion world, the designer explains that everyone should be invited to join the meal. Representation in front of the camera is important  its the first touch point a viewer has with a story. And it is equally important that we give a seat at the table to minority talents that are working to bring our story to life. The importance of giving an opportunity to minority photographers, stylists, hair and makeup artists is often overlooked, he rues.

A still from the campaign

To right this wrong, Prabal and the art director of his campaign, David Moran, roped in a stylist and photographer from South Korea, a makeup artist from Thailand and a hair stylist from India. This was in addition to the cast of models that featured Varsha Thapa (Nepal), Kanta (Thailand), He Cong (China), Hyun Ji (Korea) and Diya (Singapore and India) as the faces of the campaign. This is the world I want to live in  a robust, diverse, colourful place where everyone has a seat at the table, insists the designer.

For greater visibility, Prabal turned to the most democratic space available to creators  social media. When published on Instagram, his campaign became an instant taking point among fashionistas. We ask him about the role of the web in promoting diversity, and he says, The web space and digital media are completely transforming things. The rise of digital media has given voice to a new authority. No longer are a few publications or figureheads the authority figures. Now, everyone has a platform and place to express themselves and their views. I absolutely love what this does.

A still from the campaign

However, the designer feels that a single campaign isnt enough; theres a lot more that needs to be done at a collective level. In the fashion industry, I do see the tides changing. However, it has been an incredibly slow transition, and there is still a lot of work to be done, Prabal says.

The designer also points out how, the spotlight often rests on a single issue, which then recedes into oblivion when a new one emerges. The industry still tends to focus on celebrating and including one group at a time  first black people, then plus size models, and so on. This format does lead to tokenism, casting that feels like its done to fill a quota. However, there are many of us working to combat this, to really highlight each and every person thats in front of the camera, behind the scenes, and on the runway, he concludes.
The Huayue joint venture will build a laterite ore hydrometallurgy project producing intermediate products of nickel in Morowali, Indonesia. The project will have capacity to produce 60,000 tonnes per year of nickel in metal.The joint venture is subject to the approval and administrative procedures of Chinese and Indonesian governments.Huaqing will own 58% of Huayue, with the rest of the shares belonging to Qingchuang International Holdings (20%), Woyuan Holdings (11%), Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (10%) and Long Sincere (1%), according to Huayou.The hydrometallurgy project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will produce 30,000 tpy of nickel in metal and the second phase will expand capacity to 60,000 tpy of nickel in metal. No details are yet available for when the project will commence construction or production.The joint venture will invest in Indonesias nickel smelting and deep processing and provide a reliable source for the development of the companys new energy lithium-ion battery materials business, Huayou said.Laterite ore supply will come from mines owned by Qingchuang International Holdings, Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park and their affiliates at current market prices.Meanwhile, the sale of the projects products will be assigned to Huaqing and Woyuan Holdings.This latest plan follows a number of other joint ventures by Huayou in the lithium-ion and battery raw materials sectors this year.Earlier in January, Huayou and Posco announced plans to invest in two joint ventures in China to meet mounting demand for lithium-ion battery materials.Later in April this year, Huayou said it will invest in another two joint ventures with LG Chem to produce lithium-ion battery materials in response to the electrical vehicle (EV) boom.Expectations for a surge in demand for renewable batteries and EV have generated great positive market sentiment for nickel and its intermediates.Intermediate products of nickel are mainly used to produce nickel sulfate, a key component of lithium-ion batteries.Nickel sulfate output is expected to increase rapidly in the next two years, with the supply of raw materials said to be adequate for production in the near term because most refineries will be able to call on existing stocks until 2020, chief analyst of Chinese research organization Antaike Xu Aidong said at Antaikes Battery Materials Conference in Shaoxing, China in July. Global nickel sulfate production totaled about 540,000 tonnes in 2017 and Xu forecasts the total to rise by about 100,000 tonnes this year, which equates to demand of about 20,000 tonnes of nickel briquette.Fastmarkets assessed the price of Chinese nickel sulfate at 25,200-25,600 yuan ($3,615-3,673) per tonne on Tuesday, down from 25,400-25,700 yuan per tonne a week prior, mainly due to the decline in the London Metal Exchange three-month nickel price as well as slight oversupply.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Bolaris today received the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Mr. Geoffrey Pyatt, with whom he discussed current issues in the Deputy Ministers portfolio, particularly cultural, educational, and religious affairs.



The American Ambassador referred to the willingness of the US to maintain the positive momentum in Greek-American relations, especially following this year's very successful Thessaloniki International Fair, where the country of honour was the United States of America. The strong will for continuing cooperation was reaffirmed in areas of the Deputy Ministers portfolio.
JOURNALIST: We shall speak with Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Issues, Mr. Giorgos Katrougalos. Good morning, Mr. Minister.

G. KATROUGALOS: Good morning to you and your listeners.

JOURNALIST: What is the main goal of the EU-Arab Summit?

G. KATROUGALOS: We have a series of multilateral initiatives with regard to our international diplomacy recently, on a central stage. As you know, the Prime Minister, for example, has begun an initiative for a meeting between the 7 leaders of the European South. On the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, we have the Rhodes Conference, which is attempting to establish a system of stability and security in the region of the Middle East, with more than 24 countries. Also, in the context of economic diplomacy, one of the major initiatives we have undertaken and which, as you very correctly stated, is already in its third year, is the Summit meeting of leaders from the European Union and Arab countries.

This is taking place at the highest level, with the participation of Presidents, such as the President of Cyprus, Prime Ministers, and leaders of the corresponding level from the Arab countries. The goal is dual in nature: On the one hand, for a positive context of political cooperation to be created - and participation of so many and such significant leaders proves that we were successful in this - but also to have contact between the business worlds of the European and Arab countries. We had 800 participants. Therefore, I believe that it was a successful initiative in numerous ways.

JOURNALIST: A large number indeed; 800 companies we could say. In other words, representatives of companies, entrepreneurs, are you referring to something like this?

G. KATROUGALOS: 800 from private business society.

JOURNALIST: Leading financial players we could say.



G. KATROUGALOS: Exactly.

JOURNALIST: Nonetheless, Mr. Katrougalos, this shows that Greece continues to represent a bridge of friendship and stability in the Mediterranean.

G. KATROUGALOS: Undoubtedly. Listen, we have an upgrade of the international position of our country during the period we have been in power. Consider the fact that the President of the United States chose Greece for his last State visit, and the President of France came to Greece for his first State visit. Beyond this fact, though, historically, Greece was never a colonial power. It had a diaspora in the Arab countries of the Near and Middle East which did not act as leaders towards the local societies, but rather had a nature of co-existence.

All of this gives us the ability, in conjunction, with the traditional long-standing goal of our foreign policy through the initiatives we have undertaken, to truly stand out as a country which resolves problems in our region. The case of Prespa is characteristic on a bilateral level. I would simply like for the audience to know that the same thing applies on a multilateral level.

JOURNALIST: Because I heard the Prime Minister saying yesterday that if Greece comes closer, as a European power, in other words if Greece brings Europe closer to the Arab world, then it is possible for the country's geostrategic role to be upgraded, as well as to achieve very significant financial, results. So, since I saw that leading financial players participated, but I also heard the Prime Minister speaking about certain very important infrastructure projects, pipelines, that Greece can become an energy hub etc., at this point we could say that through this Summit, with things of such a nature which can make the country a potential energy hub, are these the main things being discussed, which we wish to achieve? So that the public can also have a picture of the financial aspirations.

G. KATROUGALOS: Everything that has to do with which pipelines will pass through Greece, this is already the subject of international agreements that have taken place. Now we are more so at the execution stage, where we want Greek companies to participate. And usually consortia, because, like it or not, precisely because of the financial crisis and the effect on liquidity that our companies have, they can only invest very large sums themselves with great difficulty.

Our purpose therefore is for them to review the consistently strong presence in the Arab world, any of them which are able to have an autonomous and leading presence, and we have such companies so that they can have it, and for the rest to participate in Consortia.

But then, the systems are very complex. Ill give you an example related to tourism. There is the thought with Lebanon - and the competent Ministries of Tourism are already working on it - for us to have a Phoenicians Route. In other words, the same way we have the Silk Road at the initiative of China, for reasons of tourism, which can be a cruise, which can be other things that showcase culture and natural beauty or synergies between us, Lebanon, Tunisia, those countries in which the Phoenicians had a colonial presence at the same time as the Greeks. Many ideas have been put on the table and are being discussed, and the main issue is always their implementation.

JOURNALIST: Correct. Minister, lets switch topics and discuss your view with regard to the death of the Greek national. Following the actions that it took, has the Greek State drawn conclusions about the incident, as to what exactly happened, in other words?

G. KATROUGALOS: No, the whole issue is under investigation. As Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from the very beginning, we said that light needs to be shed on the situation, so as to understand the circumstances, and especially if the proportionality principle was respected in this specific case, if the death was unavoidable, and if the Police took all the necessary measures. This was the first priority, the immediate one. We always have protection of the rights of Greek nationals as a top priority. This is one of the main missions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And there is a third thing to think about, whether this incident will now affect relations between the two countries; not to the detriment of the two former issues. Priority is given to the two former issues I mean for us not to allow for a rhetoric to exist - by both sides of course, this is always done on the condition of reciprocity - which will affect the positive relations between the two countries.

JOURNALIST: I would like to remain on two points, and I shall ask for a comment from you. First of all, the Albanian Prime Minister was quick to speak about an extremist, overlooking, I believe, the loss of a human life, and I see the reaction of the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which expresses its disappointment in the reaction of the Greece's Minister of Foreign Affairs, as the announcement reads, who not only failed to denounce the armed attack against the powers that enforce the law but speaks, moreover, of the unacceptable loss of life. Does such a reaction, such a stance, help matters?

G. KATROUGALOS: What I told you earlier, that both sides, in other words, must remain level headed; we must serve the national interest of our countries but not go to extremes. I believe this is a sufficient comment related to what you are asking.

JOURNALIST: I realise that the major issue is to investigate what happened in Albania in order to get a much clearer picture of what happened, and to be able to draw our conclusions calmly. But I would like to ask: Because there are certain questions related to this case, the investigation of which may affect our country; in other words, what is it that made this person leave the city of Ioannina and travel with a Kalashnikov to the village of his roots. Is there investigation taking place in this regard, in our country, in order for to try to understand what happened?

KATROUGALOS: Of course. Listen, both on the police level and the judicial level, such action has been taken. On the level of Chiefs of Police, we already had contact, since the day of the incident; joint judicial assistance has been requested by us and by them, and from what I understand, the Prosecutors Office of Ioannina is continuing the investigation in the direction you mentioned. So, we would like for much light to be shed on this incident itself, but, as you correctly state, also on the atmosphere it ended in, as well as the motives.

JOURNALIST: Soon, I imagine you, too, will have to go the meeting of the Parliamentary Group.

G. KATROUGALOS: Which is an important fact.

JOURNALIST: Yes, but because the constitutional revision will be at its epicentre, and you happen to be a constitutional expert, Mr. Katrougalos, do you believe a consensus will exist for the required changes to be made.

G. KATROUGALOS: Constitutional revision entails consensus and conflict. There is consensus on very ripe issues such as, for example, ending the disgrace of parliamentary immunity, everyone is seeking this. If you look at the proposals submitted by New Democracy in 2014, the six points, where the Movement for Change (KINAL) was absent, certain of them - one would say half of them approximately - reflect a similar class of overripe requests.

There are others as well, such as the need for neoliberalism to be averted, where an abyss separates us, because precisely those are also stakes where confrontation exists between political parties. We begin the dialogue early, with the Prime Minister's decision to begin the process of discussion and consultation in 2016. And I am truly stunned by the decision which seems to have been taken by the parties of the opposition, at least the main opposition party, to refrain from participating.

This seems to essentially be an effort to not want to have a say in something that represents the pinnacle of the reform effort in this country. Not that I am especially surprised, of course, not only because New Democracy's policy is generally nihilistic, but also because even when it could make reforms, it still failed to do so, even neutral ones such as the Cadastral Offices and the forest maps.

JOURNALIST: I realise that there are issues, for example, which not only symbolise, but essentially pertain to, the main, the ideological, battle between the government and the main opposition, such as, for example, defending the public nature of Universities. I realise that the essential thing in a constitutional revision is precisely for that number to be found, the consensus which will establish that number and will permit for it to be done.

G. KATROUGALOS: But look at it from the other side, and what it will block. Because, for example, merely by not consenting to those things which are considered to be emblematic aspects of neoliberalism, for them to be included in the revision, such as abolition of the permanence of civil servants, such as abolition of Article 106 of the Constitution which permits the State to intervene in order to reduce inequalities, the issue of private Universities mainly, we have essentially been blocking their revision for 10 years, since our Constitution stipulates that the same revision cannot begin before 5 years have elapsed.

So, beyond the social agenda that we must promote, and for which, in our opinion, the necessary consensus exists, what we are doing, blocking what we consider to be bad institutional reform, is also a plus.

JOURNALIST: You most likely sensed what I was getting ready to ask you. What I was getting ready to ask you is that it is an long-standing question that the Left is posing to Greece, the separation of Church and State, it is extremely difficult to find not only the parliamentary consensus, but also the social consensus, for this issue to advance.

G. KATROUGALOS: It depends on how it will occur. I think it is overripe. It is an issue that affects both the State - a European State must have religious neutrality - as well as the Church. In other words, I fail to understand the patronage of the State with regard to clearly ecclesiastic procedures, why should it satisfy the Church.

JOURNALIST: Of course. Perhaps payment of the salaries of the clergy satisfies the Church

G. KATROUGALOS: That is a complex issue derived from historical reasons which we do not intend to overturn, because this would first of all create a big social issue in persons who are not privileged. There is a whole discussion to be had there. I would tell you that the Left in Greece, in contrast to other countries in Southern Europe, such as France or Spain, did not have an anticlericalist tradition. And because the Church is essentially a creation of the State, it is not like the Catholic Church which was a rival of the State and chiefly an institution not simply of conservative, but of reactionary, views, but because the clergy itself was divided at crucial moments in our history. In other words, during the period of the Resistance, one of the Mavroskoufides (Black Berets) of Aris Velouchiotis, was Papanikopoulos.

JOURNALIST: I come from those villages, I am familiar with it personally, Mr. Katrougalos.

G. KATROUGALOS: In the mountain government, in Korischades, I remember that he chose for a blessing to be carried out with the three Metropolitan Bishops with whom he was friendly. Therefore, though we would like, for obvious reasons, historical reasons, to have a separation of Church and State, we have no front against the Church, because we never had a front against it, as the Left.

JOURNALIST: Thank you very much, Minister.

G. KATROUGALOS: Thank you.
Deceased drowned after inhaling toxic gas, suspect cops.

Rescue work being carried out after five people drowned in a well at Kalyan in Mumbai on Thursday. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai: In a tragic accident, in Netivali village in Kalyan, five persons including two firemen drowned in a well after inhaling some toxic gas while it was being cleaned on Thursday.

According to sources, at around 3 pm one of the deceased entered the well near Bhimashankar temple in Chakki Naka area to clean it, but failed to return. Subsequently, the person who had summoned him went to check near the well, however he drowned too.

Finding the sudden disappearances suspicious the second persons father too rushed to the spot after informing the Fire Brigade and police. Later even he (the father of the second person who entered the well) failed to come out, they added.

Meanwhile, the Fire Brigade officials reached the spot and began their rescue operation suspecting all the missing persons were inside. When the two firemen entered the well, they also allegedly inhaled the toxic gas and drowned.

The well is very old and there is an open drain nearby. It is suspected that the chemical waste from the drain entered the well leading to release of some gas that led to the deaths, said an officer of Thane police.

The deceased persons have been identified as Guna Goswami (60) and his son Rahul (30) and two firemen Pramod Waghchaure and Ananta Shelar. Meanwhile, the identity of one more deceased was yet to be ascertained at the time of going to press.

The incident sparked a scare in the neighbourhood and the Fire Brigade summoned teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Territorial Disaster Response Force to assist in the rescue mission. The bodies of all the victims were recovered and shifted to Rukminibai Hospital at Kalyan.

There was a blockage inside the well and hence the labourer had been summoned to clear it. The officials, however, said that the chemical strewed water from the open drain located around it contaminated the well.

The police have registered accidental death report and the exact cause of these deaths is under investigation, said an official. The autopsy reports of all the five persons are also awaited, the official said.
The Latin quotation from Horace translates as: It is a sweet and honourable thing to die for ones country.

It opens with a question that, sadly, has echoed down the ages with its potency intact: What passing bells for these who die as cattle?

The poet answers it in the next line with another phrase that deplorably has stood the test of time, reflected most recently in last Saturdays horrific massacre at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, and more generally at the now routine violence on the barrier between Gaza and Israel: Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

For good measure, in the following line he brings into play the interplay of alliteration and onomatopoeia that distinguishes much of his verse with the stuttering rifles rapid rattle. These verses were composed in the thick of the First World War, when machine guns were something of a novelty, alongside chemical and aerial warfare. The poems title, Anthem for Doomed Youth, offers us another resonant expression.

The poet was Wilfred Owen, whom I first encountered in high school back in the mid-1970s, in the final section of a wide-ranging anthology of English poetry titled A Choice of Poets.

During our final two years at Lahores Cathedral School, my classmates and I had the unusual privilege of being tutored in English literature by one of the best Pakistani minds available in the sphere, a professor who admirably adjusted himself to teaching frequently inattentive 15- and 16-year-olds after losing his job for ideological reasons at a higher education institution.

Eric Cyprian breathed fresh life into our course work, which ranged from Shakespeare to Arthur Miller, and he took particular pleasure in poetry, imparting his knowledge about its context and technique in ways that lodged themselves in the memory, leavened with a subtle sense of humour. I have little doubt that his manner of declamation and passion for contextualisation helped to sear Owens verse into the memory cells.

But it was also the evocative power of the words, not least in Dulce et Decorum Est, in which the poet recalls a gas attack, focusing on a comrade who fails to fit the clumsy helmet just in time. He goes on to say: If in some smothering dreams you too could pace/ Behind the wagon that we flung him in,/ And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,/ His hanging face, like a devils sick of sin;/ If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood/ Come gargling from his froth corrupted lungs / My friend, you would not tell with such high zest/ To children ardent for some desperate glory,/ The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est/ Pro patria mori.

The Latin quotation from Horace translates as: It is a sweet and honourable thing to die for ones country. Substitute religion for country, its essentially what feeds into the martyrdom mentality among brainwashed jihadis, although it applies equally to state-sponsored combatants.

In Futility, a title that scholars say influenced the overall subsequent perception of the war, Owen lays out a solitary fellow soldiers corpse and, reflecting more broadly on the inhumanity of humankind, wonders: O what made the fatuous sunbeams toil/ To break earths sleep at all? And amid the memorable half-rhymes of Strange Meeting, he imagines himself descending into the depths of hell and encountering the enemy he had slain the previous day, who turns out to be a fellow poet whose abiding wish it was to convey to fellow human beings The pity of war, the pity war distilled.

On Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, Owens family received the dreaded telegram informing them that Wilfred, a decorated second lieutenant in the British Army, had been killed a week earlier while leading the men under his command across a canal in France. That was precisely 100 years ago next Sunday. Owen was 25 years old  a year short of the life span of his favourite poet, John Keats.

Owen was an aspiring poet when he joined the Army, but it wasnt until he was recuperating from shell shock at Craiglockhart, a mental health facility near Edinburgh in 1917 that he decided to share in verse his deepest feelings, following an encounter there with Siegfried Sassoon, a marginally older fellow soldier-poet who had been sidelined because of his increasingly trenchant anti-war opinions.

His emotions  some recollected in tranquillity  thenceforth poured out of Owen, only four or five of whose poems were published in his lifetime. In fact, his verses entered the national lexicon only when the composer Benjamin Britten incorporated them in his War Requiem in the early 1960s, and they subsequently entered the British school curriculum.

Two years after his death, though, the Bengali poet, sage and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore received a letter from a

Mrs Susan Owen describing how her son had quoted the Indian writer on his final parting with his family in 1918, with the words: What my eyes have seen, what my life received, are unsurpassable.

By arrangement with Dawn
The issue of Patel not being conferred the Bharat Ratna is cited as proof of his undermining.

There are two sub-themes to the argument of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party while appropriating Sardar Vallabhbhai Patels legacy. First, despite being in the Congress for the entirety of his political life, the Iron Man remained a closest Hindu nationalist. Second, Jawaharlal Nehru and his inheritors, premeditatedly undermined the Sardars memory because of being political pygmies and fearing his presence in the political discourse would hinder their project to eternalise the Congress. The BJP claims that Patels concealed political orientation was the reason why the Congress conspired to push him out of the national memory.

A little examination of these contentions are in order. The first charge that history books toned down Patels role is flimsy because this writer learnt through school history textbooks in the early 1970s that he was also known as the Iron Man. Patels role in securing the accession of the princely states was too significant in history to ignore. However, Congress governments after Indira Gandhi, and particularly after Sonia Gandhi assumed the party presidency, became paranoid about perpetuating the Sardar. Consequently, hardly any new streets and, more important, government programmes were named after Sardar Patel.

The issue of Patel not being conferred the Bharat Ratna is cited as proof of his undermining. This, however, is a two-sided argument. The existence of Nehru and Indira Gandhi on the awardees list much before Patel was honoured by the P.V. Narasimha Rao government in 1991 is cited as proof of Nehrus and his inheritors belief in self-aggrandisation. But then Nehru and later Congress governments honoured leaders who had been out of step with them  Purushottam Das Tandon in 1961, K. Kamaraj in 1976 and Vinoba Bhave in 1983. It thereby cannot be said that Patel was not conferred the Bharat Ratna by design. Rather, this was an avoidable procedural error and oversight. Moreover, when the award was instituted in 1954, no procedural process of selecting awardees was drawn up. As a result, decisions were ad hoc and haphazard  most conspicuously when Nehru was bestowed with the honour in July 1955 by President Rajendra Prasad, who unilaterally announced the award at a state banquet. Nehru was presented with a fait accompli, but he should have made amends by immediately honouring the Sardar, especially when in 1956 no one was awarded the Bharat Ratna. Likewise, Indira Gandhi was awarded the honour after the 1971 war, and this too should have been soon followed with Patel being placed at par with other awardees. The Congress Party leadership is open to accusations of being self-centred, but no charge beyond this will stick.

This, however, does not in any way, justify the falsification of history and painting Sardar Patel as the wronged one. True, he stepped aside for Nehru for the Congress presidency not once, but thrice  in 1929, 1937 and 1946. However, this was at Mahatma Gandhis behest, and Patel was of the view that he was a mere soldier of the Mahatma and it was not for him to question Gandhis decisions and opinions. Subtly, Narendra Modi, the BJP and the entire Sangh Parivar has appropriated Patel within their majoritarian framework. For instance, at his Satute of Unity inaugural speech on Wednesday, Mr Modi, while taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi for his proclaimed shiv bhakti, also recalled Patels role in securing the Somnath temple (part of Junagadh state) and ensuring access to Hyderabads Charminar. Selective representation of incidents and ideas, besides his choice of words, often carry implicit messages and this is not the first time that Mr Modi has smartly reminded people of the Hindutva argument of Indias 1,200 years of slavery.

One must understand why this ruling establishment has appropriated the nationalist mainstream and its icons alongside elevating their own heroes. If Nehru, Indira and Rajiv Gandhi were most preferred when government programmes were named, under this government the honour goes to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. The urgency to name schemes and change the names of famous places like Mughal Sarai has to be placed against the politics of renaming, and Hindutva discomfort with names reminding Indians of their Islamic heritage. The push to embrace national icons and claim they were ignored by Congress governments because they stood at par, if not in challenge, with Nehru, points to the twin realities  the Sangh Parivar is faced with paucity of icons who resonate with people. However hard the Sangh Parivar tries to remind people of V.D. Savarkar being a veer, he will be everlastingly recalled as the man who was tried for conspiring to assassinate Gandhiji. Despite acquittal, the J.K. Kapur Commission report raised unanswered questions regarding his role.

Patels appropriation is a carefully conceived Sangh Parivar project and efforts were first made to project L.K. Advani as the Iron Mans avatar. After his political eclipse, Mr Modi donned the role and the Statue of Unity was announced in 2010 to mark the beginning of the tenth year of him becoming Gujarat chief minister. It virtually launched his prime ministerial bid. When the project was announced, the UPAs terminal decline had started and public sentiment had begun intensifying that India needed a decisive leader who while being Prime Minister would act at his own behest and not as per diktats of a largely inaccessible party president living in a cocoon with access to just a handful. It is not only Patel who has been appropriated  days earlier a similar bid was made at another event at Delhis Red Fort, when an attempt was made to cast Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the Parivars framework. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat too has revised the Sanghs line on the freedom struggle, and in the past the fraternity has embraced many others who they opposed in their lifetime. This just underscores the shallowness of the Sangh Parivars political ancestry. It will remain to be seen if people continue to bank on an organisation and its leaders with a past at conflict or which stands in contradiction with its present.
The company has announced that it is testing out a new tool which will let you switch the order your tweets in your feed.

Twitter is again fiddling with your tweets. The company has announced that it is testing out a new tool which will let you switch the order your tweets in your feed. The company made the announcement through its official Twitter handle, saying that the new switch will be tested first on iOS and will allow users to switch the timeline between the latest and top tweets.

The simple switch will be available for a small number of iOS users and will be located on the top right. By tapping on it once, you will be able to see which version of the feed you are at, and will be able to switch between top tweets or latest tweets easily.

Besides, Scientists recently developed a web-based tool to help monitor the prevalence of fake news on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Developed by researchers at the University of Michigan in the US, the tool uses a Platform Health Metric called the Iffy Quotient, which draws data from two external entities: NewsWhip and Media Bias/Fact Checker.
The USD 8.5 million Google settlement was challenged by an official at a Washington-based conservative think tank.

The case began when a California resident named Paloma Gaos filed a proposed class action lawsuit in 2010 in San Jose federal court claiming Googles search protocols violated federal privacy law by disclosing users search terms to other websites. Google is part of Alphabet Inc. (Photo: AP)

US Supreme Court justices, in an internet privacy case involving Google, disagreed on Wednesday over whether to rein in a form of settlement in class action lawsuits that awards money to charities and other third parties instead of to people affected by the alleged wrongdoing.

The USD 8.5 million Google settlement was challenged by an official at a Washington-based conservative think tank, and some of the courts conservative justices during an hour of arguments in the case shared his concerns about potential abuses in these awards, including excessive fees going to plaintiffs lawyers.

Some of the liberal justices emphasized that such settlements can funnel money to good use in instances in which dividing the money among large numbers of plaintiffs would result in negligible per-person payments. Conservatives hold a 5-4 majority on the high court.

The case began when a California resident named Paloma Gaos filed a proposed class-action lawsuit in 2010 in San Jose federal court claiming Googles search protocols violated federal privacy law by disclosing users search terms to other websites. Google is part of Alphabet Inc.

A lower court upheld the settlement the company agreed to pay in 2013 to resolve the claims.

Critics have said the settlements, known as cy pres (pronounced see pray) awards, are unfair and encourage frivolous lawsuits, conflicts of interest and collusion between both sides to minimize damages for defendants while maximizing fees for plaintiffs lawyers. Supporters have said these settlements can benefit causes important to victims and support underfunded entities, such as legal aid.

During the arguments, several justices, both liberal and conservative, wondered whether the plaintiffs had suffered harm through the disclosure of their internet searches, sufficient to justify suing in federal court, signalling they may dismiss the case rather than deciding the fate of cy pres settlements.

Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer seemed doubtful that simple searches, of ones own name, for instance, would be enough to sustain a privacy lawsuit.

Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh appeared to disagree.

I dont think anyone would want ... everything they searched for disclosed to other people, Kavanaugh said. That seems a harm.

Google agreed in the settlement to disclose on its website how users search terms are shared but were not required to change its behaviour. The three main plaintiffs received USD 5,000 each for representing the class. Their attorneys received about USD 2.1 million.

Under the settlement, the rest of the money would go to organizations or projects that promote internet privacy, including at Stanford University and AARP, a lobbying group for older Americans, but nothing to the millions of Google users who the plaintiffs were to have represented in the class action.

Cy pres awards, which remain rare, give money that cannot feasibly be distributed to participants in a class action suit to unrelated entities as long as it would be in the plaintiffs interests.

While wrestling over the privacy aspects of Google searches, the justices also disagreed about the settlement both sides reached. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito raised concerns that the money would go to groups that some plaintiffs might not like but have no say in opposing.

How can such a system be regarded as a sensible system? Alito asked.

Chief Justice John Roberts, another conservative, noted that AARP engages in political activity, an issue that the Google deals opponents, led by Ted Frank, director of litigation for the Competitive Enterprise Institute, had raised.

Google has called Frank a professional objector.

Roberts also said it was fishy that settlement money could be directed to institutions to which Google already was a donor. Some beneficiary institutions also were the alma mater of lawyers involved in the case, Kavanaugh noted.

Liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told Frank, who argued the case on Wednesday, that at least the plaintiffs get an indirect benefit from the settlement.

It seems like the system is working, added Justice Sonia Sotomayor, another liberal.

In endorsing the Google settlement last year, the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals said each of the 129 million US Google users who theoretically could have claimed part of it would have received a paltry 4 cents in recovery.

(Source)
by Sumon Corraya

The election is scheduled for the last week of the year. Election campaign are frequently marred by acts of violence and persecution against minorities. A delegation of Christians met the Chief Election Commissioner to discuss the issue.

Dhaka (AsiaNews)  Bangladeshi Christians are urging the government not to hold upcoming elections on Christmas Day.

On Tuesday, a 15-member delegation from the Bangladesh Christian Association (BCA) met with KM Nurul Huda (picture 2), Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh, in his Dhaka office.

For BCA general secretary Hemanto Corraya, if the election is held that week, "our religious festival will be ruined, because many people will be forced to stay home to vote, and will be unable to celebrate Christmas with relatives".

During the meeting, the delegation stressed that in Bangladesh, the pre-election period is always marked by acts of violence, demonstrations, blocked roads, clashes between supporters of opposing parties and even petrol bombs thrown at politicians and civilians.

For this reason, "the best time to hold the elections would be before 20 December or in the first week of January 2019", said BCA president Nirmol Rozario. The Christian community "expects a free, neutral and participatory vote to build a democratic nation".

For his part, the Chief Election Commissioner listened to the requests of Christians, and later said that next week he would meet with "other organisers and we will consider your appeal".

According to press sources, the election is expected in the last week of the year. This is the 11th national election for new parliament.

For minority religious groups, elections have never been a peaceful time, given past incidents of persecution. For them, going to the polls is synonymous with fear, not celebration.
A Connecticut Association of Realtors political affiliate paid $545,000 last month for media services in support of Bob Stefanowskis campaign to a Texas firm headed by executives who ran Cambridge Analytica.

Thats the former consultancy mired in scandal over its allegedly improper use of Facebook users personal data, and the Facebook platform, to sway the election of President Donald Trump and the United Kingdoms Brexit referendum.

Does that mean we have the same sorts of voter-persuasion techniques happening in the race for governor that we saw in the presidential race? Theres some evidence of it, and anyway, its becoming more common as big data, politics and social media converge.

The payments by Realtors for Connecticut Political Action Committee were made over four days starting Oct. 15, the day the association announced its endorsement of Stefanowski, the Republican, against Democrat Ned Lamont.

The payments were made to CloudCommerce Inc ., with a San Antonio address. They included $25,000 for a landing page, $90,000 for consulting and $430,000 for online media buys, according to reports filed with the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

Some of the payments were initially filed as having been paid to Data Propria Inc., at the same address in San Antonio, later changed to CloudCommerce. Data Propria, run by former key people from Cambridge Analytica, is a subsidiary of CloudCommerce  a publicly traded, penny-stock company with close ties to Trump.

Key insiders

The subsidiary was founded and is run by Matt Oczkowski, formerly the head of product at Cambridge Analytica. A May 29 news release from CloudCommerce announced the formation of Data Propria as a unit of the parent company  the same month when the Guardian, a British newspaper, reported Cambridge had closed.

The Associated Press reported in June that Data Propria includes at least four former employees of Cambridge Analytica, including Oczkowski and the head of data.

Brad Parscale, a member of the CloudCommerce board of directors, has been named Trumps 2020 re-election campaign manager. He was the Trump campaigns digital chief in 2015 and 2016, based in San Antonio, and was reportedly the operative who brought in Cambridge Analytica.

Stephen K. Bannon, the controversial former Trump top adviser, was a vice president of Cambridge Analytica involved in its funding, according to The New York Times and other sources.

The news release in May touted Oczkowskis supposed breakthrough in using data to help Trump get elected, a claim disputed by some former Cambridge Analytica people in a New York Times report.

Mr. Oczkowski ... most notably ran the team of embedded technical specialists inside the Trump campaign that led to the scientific understanding of the eventual outcome of the election  a scenario that pundits missed, the news release said.

Indeed, during the campaign, the world missed the fact that Cambridge Analytica had acquired and was improperly using personal data on at least 50 million Facebook users  to advance the Trump campaign. Those allegations came out in March of this year, in an investigation by the New York Times and the Observer of London.

Aggressive profiling

Cambridge Analytica advanced a technique known as psychographic profiling. Using data to divide large numbers of people into personality types, the firm would then target those people with ads aimed at exploiting traits such as fear and national pride.

More ominously, Cambridge Analytica was associated with privacy violations that led Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to have to apologize and explain how it happened to Congress, along with aggressive voter outreach including scare tactics and the planting of fake news.

Wed like to know whether Data Propria is now using those same techniques, and perhaps even that same ill-gotten data, in its work for the 17,000-member Realtors Association in favor of Stefanowski. Among the three payments reported in state filings, one, for $90,000, was for modeling/segmentation  terms closely associated with psychographic profiling as targeted people are divided into buckets.

On Sept. 17, the association, based in East Hartford, co-sponsored a debate in New Haven between Stefanowski and Lamont. Michael Barbaro, the association president and a New Haven brokerage owner, moderated the debate.

There are no allegations of impropriety in the political work of CloudCommerce and Data Propria, or in the Realtors PAC hiring the affiliated companies. There is no evidence that Stefanowskis campaign has coordinated activities with the Realtors.

The payments, however, would appear to connect the dots between Stefanowskis support network and the web of social media insiders who played an outsized role in Trumps election.

Barbaro, who was a member of the state Commission on Fiscal Sustainability and Economic Growth, declined to comment on the hiring of CloudCommerce on Thursday. He said the rules of the State Elections Enforcement Commission  absolutely no coordination with the candidate  mean he must remain mum.

Data Propria and CloudCommerce did not respond to my separate requests for comments.

The association, known as CT Realtors, is bipartisan, endorsing candidates across the spectrum on real estate issues, mostly incumbents. In endorsing Stefanowski, it cited his overall economic plan  a promise to cut taxes  and specifically his opposition to new real estate conveyance fees.

The GOP internet

The payments by Realtors for Connecticut represent a significant chunk of business for Data Propria and CloudCommerce. In February, a previously registered PAC affiliated with the association paid $128,000 to Data Propria for polling, not connected with Stefanowskis election. That was around the time the firm was forming.

Then on Oct. 10, the associations new PAC, reconstituted as an independent expenditure group  able to raise outside money in unlimited contribution amounts  paid Data Propria $55,000 for more polling, state records show.

CloudCommerce, which acquired Data Propria in the spring, is a small company with a total market value of $2.25 million. It had outside revenue totaling $3.4 million in the first six months of 2018. Shares were trading over-the-counter at 1.7 cents this week.

As for the Stefanowski campaign, Starting in October, 2017 and extending to last Friday, Oct. 26, it has spent at least $236,000 with Harris Media LLC, according to state filings. Harris is another Texas firm that was briefly hired onto the Trump campaign and has worked with a firm co-founded by Parscale, which Parscale later sold to CloudCommerce, earning him a board seat.

Victor Harris, 30, dubbed the man who invented the Republican internet in a 2014 Bloomberg profile, has provided digital media and consulting to Stefanowskis campaign. At least one media account said Harris Media uses the same big-data-based profiling as Cambridge.

What were seeing is the maturing of an arm of political marketing that was in the vanguard until 2016 and could be headed for the mainstream. Whether election laws are equipped to deal with the fine line between know-your-customer marketing and issues such as privacy violation and fake news, remains to be seen.
An article published in the ruling partys official newspaper calls on the regime to change its centrally planned model and open up to free enterprise. As a result of the fall of world communism and cooler relations with Beijing, Pyongyang must show that it can support itself.

Pyongyang (AsiaNews)  North Korea should change its economic policies to expand the autonomy of enterprises and ensure the responsibility of workers. This would improve their business management, writes Ri Ki-song, a professor at the Institute of Economy of North Korea's Academy of Social Sciences, in an article published in Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling Workers Party of Korea.

"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 and management of enterprises having effects," Ri wrote.

These conditions must be applied first of all to industries including coal, thermal power, machinery, metal, chemical and light industry. This must be followed by the modernisation of advanced technologies such as information technology, nanotechnology and biotechnology, while creating new high-tech sectors.

The scholar goes on to suggest that a new phase in North Koreas economic development should start. Since it was founded, the Workers' Party has been in charge of the economy. In effect, this means the Kim family, which has ruled the country since 1953.

This model has been disastrous. Several famines occurred in the 1990s as a result of a structural weakness that the regime has always denied, but that it could paper over thanks to aid from Russia and China.

With the fall of world communism and the cooling of bilateral relations with Beijing, Pyongyang now seems ready to radically change its economy, effectively opening the doors to capitalism and free enterprise.
Technology, security concerns or profit seeking should not limit our vision. "It would not be enough even to concentrate exclusively on biodiversity and ecosystems, if the role of the human person were left aside.

Bali (AsiaNews)  The Indonesian government hosted this week (29-30 October) the fifth international Our Ocean Conference (picture 2) on the island of Bali titled Our Ocean, Our Legacy to promote the protection of the oceans.

Archbishop Piero Pioppo (picture 1), apostolic nuncio to Indonesia, headed the Holy See delegation to the event. In his address, he said that In the management of marine and ocean resources, it is necessary to employ responsible behaviors, as well as to facilitate the necessary assistance and cooperation for the development of the most vulnerable communities.

Indeed, oceans require our attention and a willing collaboration for the implementation, on the one hand, of a serious interdisciplinary approach and, on the other, of the principle of subsidiarity, involving the local, national and regional contexts, as well as the international level. The common objective is to ensure a real protection of what the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea describes as the common heritage of mankind.

Underlining how the issue of the seas is imported to the Holy See, the archbishop mentioned the initiatives undertaken by the Catholic Church. In particular, he noted the various types of assistance offered to sailors, such as support for the development of fishing communities and the protection of their rights, the incessant work with and in favour of migrants, activities carried out with communities threatened by rising seas, programmes for the protection of the seabed.

The nuncio on those present to focus on issues such as migration flows resources, exploration and exploitation, as well as issues related to trade and transportation.

In order for these interests and activities to be truly at the service of the common good, of the whole human family and of the integral and harmonious development of each person and of each community, it is important that they be guided by just ethical principles. In particular, a healthy anthropology must illuminate our relationship with this marvelous and impressive gift - the oceans.

One must not be limited to a vision of the oceans that is framed solely by technology, by concerns of security, or by the search for profits. [. . .] It would not be enough even to concentrate exclusively on biodiversity and ecosystems, if the role of the human person were left aside, Mgr Pioppo warns.

Instead, we must address the threats to our oceans in a courageous and adequate way. Often, the causes of these threats are found on land: dangerous and forced migration, the scourge of various forms of criminal trafficking and the pollution of the seas.

Citing Pope Franciss Our Ocean 2017, the archbishop noted that the oceans remind us of the need to educate for the covenant between humanity and the environment (cf. Laudato Si', 209-215).

Finally, In this regard, efforts should be made to train young people to care for the oceans but also, wherever possible, helping them to grow in knowledge, appreciation and contemplation of their vastness and grandeur. For the contemplation of creation can teach us valuable lessons and be an unending source of inspiration (cf. Laudato Si', 85)".
China's Sub Force Is Growing More Powerful. This Is What the US Navy Needs to Do to Stay Ahead
The commander in chief said Wednesday that as many as 15,000 troops could be headed to the U.S.-Mexico border, which would top the number military leaders have said they're planning to send.

President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that "we'll go up to anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 military personnel" on the border as a group of migrants makes its way north on foot through Mexico. The military personnel would be on top of the border patrol and immigration and customs enforcement agents from other departments already staged there, he added.

Air Force Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, head of U.S. Northern Command, said Tuesday that the number of troops participating in Operation Faithful Patriot could rise above the 5,239 who have deployed or are preparing to deploy to the border. But he disputed reports that the number could go as high as 14,000.

"I honestly don't even know where that came from," O'Shaughnessy said. "That is not in line with what we've been planning."

Related content:

On Wednesday, the Pentagon released a list of more than three dozen units from nine states that will be supporting the border-security effort. The total number of troops, according to the release, will top 7,000, but "the number ... will change each day as military forces flow into the operating area."

Those units will join the roughly 2,200 National Guard members who've been operating along the border for months, which could bring the total up near 10,000 -- the low end of Trump's estimate. It's unclear whether the Pentagon is planning for the possibility of bringing that up to 15,000.

The decision to deploy thousands of active-duty forces to the border days ahead of the midterm elections has spurred debate in Washington, D.C., and beyond. Military leaders estimated last month that there were about 7,200 troops fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was asked if the move to use troops to harden vulnerable spots along the border is "a political stunt, as critics allege."

"The support that we provide to the secretary for Homeland Security is practical support based on the request from the commissioner of Customs and Border Police," he replied. "So we don't do stunts in this department. Thank you."

When pressed to address whether the troops are there to provide deterrence to the migrant groups, Mattis added: "We are there in support of the secretary of Homeland Security, who needs additional military assistance. We do this following storms; we do this in support of the Department of Homeland Security. This is a different aspect of it, but that's what we are doing."

About 1,000 active-duty troops had already arrived in Texas on Tuesday, where O'Shaughnessy said they would begin their mission of tightening up the border before moving on to other areas in Arizona and California.

Medium-lift helicopters will be used to transport border patrol agents and assess the border at night, he added, saying transport planes are also on standby, including C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemasters that can move cargo and personnel.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ginaaharkins.
Troops from all the services will take part in the southern border buildup, either on duty to back up U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) in the border states or serving as base support in other areas, according to U.S. Northern Command.

Base Support Installations chosen for Operation Faithful Patriot include Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca in Arizona; and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton; Naval Air Facility El Centro, Naval Base Coronado, Naval Base San Diego, and Naval Base Point Loma in California.

In Texas, the Base Support Installations will be Fort Bliss, Lackland Air Force Base, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Naval Operations Support Center Harlingen, and Naval Air Station Kingsville, NORTHCOM said in a statement.

Those bases will serve troops actually going to the border, who will be strictly limited to supporting CBP and will not have law enforcement authorities of detention or arrest in the event of the arrival of the "caravan" of migrants and political asylum seekers now heading north through Mexico.

The NORTHCOM statement also identified units that have already been notified to deploy in support of CBP, but said the actual number of troops on the border will change daily with the flow of units.

NORTHCOM said the initial estimate is that about 7,000 total active-duty troops will deploy, in addition to the 2,000 National Guard troops who have been on the border since April, although President Donald Trump said earlier at the White House that the number of troops could rise to as many as 15,000.

NORTHCOM said the units slated to deploy are:

From Fort Bragg, North Carolina:

Headquarters Command, 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment

Command

2nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division

Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 16th Military Police Brigade

51st Medical Company, 28th Combat Support Hospital

172nd Preventive Medicine

264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion

329th Movement Control Team

403rd Inland Cargo Transfer Company

Headquarters Detachment, 503rd Military Police Battalion

From Fort Carson, Colorado:

Headquarters Company, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

Headquarters Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support

Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

From Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado:

Joint Enabling Capability Team and Aviation Planner from U.S. Northern Command

From Scott Air Force Base, Illinois:

Joint Public Support Element -- Public Affairs

From Fort Meade, Maryland:

55th Signal Company (Combat Camera)

From Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia:

3rd Combat Aviation Brigade Headquarters, 3rd Infantry Division

90th Human Resources Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Sustainment

Brigade

From Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas:

Defense Logistics Agency Contingency Contracting Team

4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command Assessment Team

Headquarters Company, 505th Military Intelligence Brigade

From Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington:

5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, I Corps

87th Engineer Sapper Company, 555th Engineer Brigade

From Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina:

1st Combat Camera Squadron

From Fort Bliss, Texas:

24th Press Camp Headquarters, 1st Armored Division

From Fort Hood, Texas:

89th Military Police Brigade, III Corps

Headquarters, 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade

937th Engineer Sapper Company, 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade

104th Engineer Construction, 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade

289th Quartermaster Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade

From Fort Knox, Kentucky:

Headquarters Detachment, 19th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade

15th Engineer Company (Horizontal), 19th Engineer Battalion

541st Engineer Sapper Company, 19th Engineer Battalion

From Fort Campbell, Kentucky:

887th Engineer Support Company, 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade

372nd Inland Cargo Transfer Company, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade

74th Transportation Company, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion,101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade

From Fort Riley, Kansas:

Headquarters Detachment, 97th Military Police Battalion, 1st Infantry Division

977th Military Police Company Combat Support

287th Military Police Company Combat Support

41st Engineer Company (Clearance), 4th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade.

At a welcoming ceremony for South Korean officials at the Pentagon on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the deployments are not unusual and should not be seen as other than routine military support occasionally provided for other federal agencies, according to a released pool report.

He also rejected the charge that the border buildup is a "political stunt" by Trump to boost support for Republicans in the midterm elections.

"The support that we provide to the Secretary for Homeland Security is practical support based on the request from the Commissioner of Customs and Border police, so we don't do stunts in this department," Mattis said.

He likened Operation Faithful Patriot to the military assistance provided after hurricanes.

"We do this following storms, we do this in support of the Department of Homeland Security. This is a different aspect of it, but that's what we are doing," he said.

Air Force Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, commander of NORTHCOM, gave the first indication that all services would be involved at the border at a gaggle with Pentagon reporters Tuesday.

He said that "every airman, soldier, sailor, and Marine going there" would be fully trained for the mission at the border.

Citing an internal document, The Washington Post reported this week that the deployed force will include a special purpose Marine air-ground task force, among other elements.

However, a Marine Corps spokeswoman said earlier Wednesday that no specific Marine units had yet been tasked by NORTHCOM for the operation.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at richard.sisk@military.com.
Nearly 1,500 U.S. airmen are working to clear debris from flight lines and buildings after Hurricane Michael slammed into Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, last month.

Col. Brian Laidlaw, commander of the 325th Fighter Wing, updated the evacuation order Wednesday, authorizing a minimum evacuation distance of 20 miles from base -- meaning those staying outside the 20-mile radius will receive a per diem stipend, which does cover lodging should they be in paid lodging.

But evacuation entitlements will end for troops who stay within the 20-mile radius, Tyndall officials said in a Facebook post.

Laidlaw said the goal for now is to give troops some sense of routine.

Related content:

"As the base moves out of recovery, we look to facilitate a transition to normalcy for some families through enabling you to return to your homes if habitable, a closer commute to facilitate repairs on homes, dependents to return to employment, and children to return to their Bay County schools," he said of the update.

But base housing remains uninhabitable, and it is unknown when families will be able to call Tyndall home again.

Residents were allowed on base to collect personal belongings Oct. 17 to Oct. 21, said Capt. Margaret Kealy-Machella, a Tyndall spokeswoman. Last week, families again returned to move whatever they could from their homes as they relocate to nearby Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Others are staying with loved ones, often much farther afield.

"Many of our airmen and families have evacuated across the country, as far as California and Michigan, to remain in their safe haven as long as the evacuation order is in effect," Kealy-Machella said in an email Wednesday.

She said only those troops who have homes on base will be allowed on the installation, and then only during daylight hours, unless they are working to assist in recovery efforts.

"We have just over 600 Tyndall permanent party members who have returned to take on the job of recovering the base. [But] currently, no airmen are living with their families on base," she said.

Because base housing is privatized, the companies in charge of the development will determine whether a home is livable, Kealy-Machella added.

"We will support our Tyndall members in accessing their homes, but when it comes to the future of individual structures, unfortunately we are unable to provide an answer," she said.

At Eglin, airmen have created a Tyndall Reception Center where service members can access a variety of support functions, including finance, legal assistance, moving expense information and life consultants.

On Saturday, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein made his second post-hurricane trip to Tyndall alongside Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright.

"We are now leaning forward, and squadron commanders are looking down their rosters, person by person, trying to figure out what works best for each situation," Laidlaw said during their visit.

Vice President Mike Pence and Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson days earlier pledged a full recovery for Tyndall. Wilson said the service has committed $100 million to recovery efforts thus far.

F-22 Raptors that were left behind when the Category 4 storm hit have been moved to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

"We have already flown quite a few F-22s to J.B. Langley-Eustis in the last few weeks," Kealy-Machella said. Air Force Magazine reported from Tyndall that a handful of stealth fighters remain in temporary hangars, but said some looked to be in "rough shape."

Neither the number of F-22s damaged nor how many have made it to Langley will be disclosed for operational security reasons, Kealy-Machella said.

But in a letter addressed to Wilson last week, Sen. Marco Rubio confirmed previous reports that up to 17 aircraft may have been left behind. "As Hurricane Michael approached the Florida panhandle, 31 percent of F-22 aircraft at Tyndall Air Force Base were designated non-mission capable (NMC) and were sheltered in place," he wrote.

Fifty-five of the fifth-generation fighters are assigned to the 325th Fighter Wing, he said.

Kealy-Machella said that officials are working to assess and recover other aircraft, such as the QF-16 -- F-16 Fighting Falcons converted into unmanned aircraft -- and T-38 Talon trainers.

-- Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct information about what the stipend covers for those outside a 20-mile radius of Tyndall. It also corrects the spelling of Capt. Margaret Kealy-Machella's name.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
Army Chaplain Darren Turner returned from his deployment to Iraq to find a whole new battle to fight on the home front to reconnect in his marriage and with his family.

Just out of seminary and commissioned in the Army, Darren almost immediately went to war, leaving his wife, Heather, and children behind. In Iraq, Darren bore responsibility for helping members of his battalion stay in touch with family and keep relationships strong. But over time their own relationship suffered, and when he came home himself, Darren and Heather were shocked to find the invisible, emotional wounds of war tearing their once strong relationship apart -- a reality many military couples face after a deployment.

The Turners' true story is now the subject of a stirring new film, 'Indivisible,' which premiered nationwide Oct. 26. It vividly brings to life the challenges, and triumphs, I've seen resilient military families experience over my years counseling military couples.

We all want and need love, and we all want to receive love in the same way we give it. However, we need to learn our partner's "love language" and speak it.

Of course, military families face special circumstances such as long separation. Those at home live with fear for safety of the military member. Those serving live with concern over leaving family behind.

Over decades of helping couples learn to love each other better, I've learned the five love languages still apply for those who serve: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time and physical touch.

For any relationship, it's vital to know your partner's love language and yours as well. Why? Try to imagine that you speak English and no other language. Your spouse speaks Chinese and no other language. You might have the most awesome words of love and affection to tell him or her. But no matter how hard you try to express that love in English, if your spouse understands only Chinese, you will never understand how to love one another.

If your spouse understands love by hearing words of affirmation and you show love by doing acts of service, all your hard work to show that love . . . doesn't hit the target.

Learning to express love effectively takes work over time. Adding to that the military lifestyle where long separations over long distances with limited communication can be the norm is challenging, but it can be done.

Here are a few examples of how.

If you're a military member who needs quality time to feel loved, what do you do in time of separation?

One family I know made sure to "bank" a lot of quality time together before the deployment. Once deployed, they kept that need at the forefront of their minds, and when they could talk by phone or online, they did all they could to make that time, quality time.

One couple had a daughter who understood love by receiving gifts. Before her father's deployment, he and his wife bought a large number of small presents for their little girl--nothing extravagant, but each thoughtful and intentional. The dad penned a personal note with each gift. The girl regularly received the gifts and notes while her dad was away as regular reminders that she was loved in the love language she understood!

A spouse on the home front gave and received love through Words of Affirmation. Her military spouse husband traveled often in his service. They spoke daily, and he was intentional in affirming the job she was doing meeting the family's needs on her own, affirming her as a wife, affirming her in her work.

Once you identify and learn to speak your spouse's primary love language, I believe you will have discovered the key to a long-lasting, loving marriage. These languages can be spoken even when you are separated by deployment.

You must stay alert to signs that your spouse might be crying out for love. You need to gauge the possibility that his or her emotional love tank could be running on "empty."

And this goes doubly so for military members.

At the heart of humankind's existence is the desire to be intimate and to be loved by another. If we want our spouses to feel the love we are trying to communicate, we must express it in his or her primary love language, whether in uniform or out.

Gary Chapman, Ph.D., is the author of the best-selling The 5 Love Languages series which has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 50 languages, and includes a Military Edition.

Indivisible, from Reserve Entertainment, Provident Films and Graceworks Pictures, is in theaters nationwide now. IndivisibleMovie.com.

-- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
The Marine Corps recently awarded a $59.4 million contract to Central Lake Armor Express Inc. to make the armor inserts for the service's newest plate carrier.

The Oct. 30 contract, awarded by Marine Corps System Command, requires Armor Express to produce 1,322,654 soft armor inserts for the Plate Carrier Generation III, according to Barb Hamby, a spokeswoman for Marine Corps Systems Command.

The overall number breaks down to 658,142 front/back inserts, 658,142 side plate pockets and 6,370 cummerbunds, Hamby said.

The announcement comes after the Corps awarded a $62 million contract in late September to New Jersey-based Vertical Protective Apparel LLC to produce 225,886 Plate Carrier Generations IIIs.

The new plate carrier is about 25 percent lighter than the current vest and comes in more sizes. The service plans to issue the new plate carriers first to infantry, combat engineers and vehicle crewman beginning in 2019.

Armor Express is scheduled to complete production of the entire order of soft armor inserts by October 2023, the release states.

"It is our extreme honor to be chosen by the U.S. Marine Corps for this prestigious award, and we thank them for the trust they have placed in us," Jim Henderson, chief executive officer of the holding company that owns Armor Express, said in a press release from Armor express. "We also commend ongoing efforts by the U.S. Armed Forces to develop lighter body armor systems, while improving the modularity and flexibility of plate carriers deployed in the field."

Marine Corps officials are also working with the defense industry to develop new lightweight armor inserts, designed for less hazardous duty.

The low-intensity threat environment, or LITE, plate would be designed to take two hits from non-armor piercing bullets commonly found in lower-threat areas of operation. The new plates could shave up to six pounds off the current Marine combat load.

Editor's Note: This story was updated to correct the number of inserts being purchased.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

-- Military.com's Gina Harkins contributed to this story.
"Sorry to Bother You" is the first movie from writer/director Boots Riley, an unapologetic provocateur known for his two-decade career as frontman for the hip-hop group The Coup. Set in Oakland sometime in the near future, the sci-fi movie imagines a dystopian world where workers trade freedom and independent thought for job security.

Lakeith Stanfield ("Atlanta," "War Machine," "Straight Outta Compton") plays Cassius Green, a bright young man at loose ends until he finds his mojo working at a telemarketing center by adopting a "white voice" that's dubbed by David Cross ("Arrested Development," "Mr. Show"). Tessa Thompson ("Creed," "Thor: Ragnarok," "Westworld") plays his girlfriend Detroit, an aspiring performance artist who gets involved with the resistance.

Armie Hammer ("The Social Network," "Nocturnal Animals," "Free Fire") gives a brilliantly hilarious performance as Steve Life, an amoral Silicon Valley "visionary" with plans to transform the world. Cassius quickly climbs the telemarketing ladder and ends up selling weapons for Lift.

"Sorry to Bother You" is brutal satire, bending reality in ways that haters of MSNBC and Fox News couldn't begin to imagine. Boots Riley wants to make you laugh before pissing you off. His movie is smart, his ideas are organized and there's incredible attention to detail in everything from casting to music (mostly made by The Coup) to set design to cinematography. He's been waiting a long time to make a movie and Riley hasn't wasted those years. This is a wickedly well-planned piece of work.

If you identify with a "side" in American politics, "Sorry to Bother You" aims to get under your skin. Riley still wants to use his art to change the terms of debate in our national conversation and he's made a movie that aims to force viewers to question their beliefs.

There's a huge sci-fi reveal in the final act that makes it worth seeing the movie before you read too much about it.

There's an excellent documentary feature included on the home video release and a dynamite commentary by Boots Riley. Hip-hop needs this guy to keep making records but the movies might need him even more. I can't wait to see what he does next.
Less than a week after becoming the first to test self-driving cars in Washington D.C., Ford says it is teaming up with Chinese technology company Baidu to test its autonomous vehicles on Beijing's roads.

The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker says in a news release the two companies have entered a two-year join autonomous vehicle test project to advance on-road testing of self-driving cars in China. Sheriff Marakby, Ford's vice president of autonomous vehicles and electrification, says teaming with Baidu will allow the automaker to "leverage new opportunities in China."

"This project marks a new milestone in the partnership between Ford and Baidu, and supports Ford's vision to design smart vehicles that transform how we get around," he said in the release.

Testing on public roads is slated to start before the end of this year, and the goal is that these vehicles will be able to operate autonomously in specific areas and weather conditions by the end of the two-year program.

Ford says this furthers the relationship with Baidu as the automaker is a founding member of the advisory group for the tech company's self-driving open platform, and they have previously worked on A.I. and digital marketing.

"This project will combine our leading-edge technological know-how and understanding of China together with Ford's vehicle expertise, marking a significant step forward towards Baidu's goal of developing autonomous driving vehicles that will greatly benefit future consumers," Zhenyu Li, vice president and general manager of Baidu's Intelligent Driving Group, said in the release.

This partnership abroad comes about a week after Ford decided to make its China business a standalone company while making the head of Chery Automobile its new CEO. The Associated Press reports this decision comes as Ford started losing momentum in the Chinese market, and is a measure to get in front of the issue.

"Success in China is critical as we re-position our global business for long-term success," Jim Hackett, Ford President and CEO, told A.P.

"With today's actions, we are strengthening our commitment to the China market and recognizing our international markets to strengthen their performance."
ANN ARBOR, MI - Five days from now, Ann Arbor voters will decide a ballot proposal for a downtown central park and civic center commons, and its approval could halt a 17-story high-rise.

Longtime community activist Alan Haber, who has been advocating for the creation of a commons on the city-owned Library Lot for several years, is inviting residents to attend a public meeting Thursday night, Nov. 1, to learn more about "The Case for the Commons."

Haber says all questions will be answered from 7 to 9 p.m. or later at Hathaway's Hideaway, 310 S. Ashley St., the campaign headquarters for the Ann Arbor Central Park Ballot Committee.

A discussion of "better approaches to affordable housing than selling the Center of the City" also is expected, Haber indicated.

Meanwhile, opponents of the ballot proposal who are instead supporting the proposed Core Spaces high-rise development, which would include a developer-funded plaza area, are planning to gather Sunday for a "Plaza Party" at the Library Lot, and community members are encouraged to stop by.

The Library Lot is the parking lot atop the city's underground parking garage on Fifth Avenue, next to the downtown library.

The City Council voted last year to sell the development rights to Core Spaces for $10 million, but the sale hasn't been finalized yet.

"What would you do with a 12,000-square-foot plaza and $100,000 of funding to program it? Would you invite taco trucks? What about drag queens?" the Facebook page for Sunday's event states.

"On Sunday, November 4th from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Ann Arbor YIMBY invites you to come out to the Library Lot to imagine what you would do with a public plaza, which is currently planned for the lot as part of a mixed-use development by CORE Spaces."

Ann Arbor YIMBY members plan to offer tours around the site, and representatives of the development team are expected to talk about the development plans and answer questions.

Children and dogs are welcome. Local performer Maxi Chanel is expected to lead a story time with kid-friendly books about buildings checked out from the library.

For those who want to further discuss the Nov. 6 ballot proposal and the vision for the commons, Haber says he'll be holding open-house hours at the campaign headquarters from 1-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday. He encourages anyone with questions, concerns or contributions to come and talk, have some coffee or tea, and "see the archives of the whole struggle since 2005," as well as pick up yard signs and campaign buttons if desired.

Haber notes the city charter already makes reference to the "center of the city" as being where the city's five wards come together. He said passage of Proposal A would add a new section "giving affirmative definition to 'the Center of the City,' as a place for everyone, forever, to be developed, as best we can, as a Central Park and Civic Center, a Commons, to be known as the Center of the City."

"Proposal A is an invitation into an opportunity to participate in the co-creation of the Center of our City as a beautiful place, attractive, and

welcoming to everyone, from around the world, all our visitors and immigrants and people from elsewhere, and from the Huron River Watershed and our County and all our Neighborhoods, Wards and Precincts," he wrote in an email to fellow community members.

"I hope you will accept the Invitation of Proposal A, and participate in the co-creative process."
Two years after failing to unseat U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, Gretchen Driskell is back taking another shot.

The former mayor of Saline and former state representative is once again running as a Democrat in Michigan's 7th Congressional District, hoping to oust the Republican incumbent from Tipton.

Walberg, a former pastor, is seeking a sixth term in Congress. The two candidates will face off Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Earlier this week, former Vice President Joe Biden announced his support for Driskell, joining labor groups, activist organizations and others, including two previous congressmen from the district, Joe Schwarz and Mark Schauer, in endorsing her.

"Gretchen raised three kids as a single mother and she knows the struggles that everyday Michiganders face," Biden said in a statement shared by Driskell's camp. "As the first woman and longest-serving mayor of her town, Gretchen led her community and helped to foster growth and progress through bipartisan solutions. Congress needs someone like Gretchen who will put partisan politics aside to get real results for Michigan -- bringing more jobs home, lowering healthcare costs, and prioritizing public education. I know she will make her constituents proud just like she did as Mayor of Saline."

Driskell said Biden was a tireless advocate for working families while in office and she would follow his example "by putting the needs of our neighbors above any special interests and working with anyone who wants to move Michigan forward."

After Driskell won the August Democratic primary against Steve Friday, Walberg issued a statement suggesting his November election opponent would push an "extreme liberal agenda" if elected.

"It is an honor to serve the hardworking men and women of our district, and I remain committed to delivering bipartisan results that improve people's lives," he said. "We have fought to combat the heartbreaking drug addiction epidemic, expand career and technical education, and grow a healthy economy with more good-paying jobs.

"My opponent, on the other hand, has embraced Nancy Pelosi's extreme liberal agenda and wants to make her Speaker of the House again," Walberg continued. "Michigan families can't afford somebody beholden to Nancy Pelosi who will obstruct and try to reverse the progress we have made."

The district, which leans Republican and supported Donald Trump for president in 2016, includes Monroe, Lenawee, Hillsdale, Branch, Jackson and Eaton counties, as well as western Washtenaw.

In 2016, Walberg won with 55 percent of the vote to Driskell's 40 percent, while Libertarian Ken Proctor netted 5 percent.

This time it's a head-to-head matchup between Driskell and Walberg without any third parties in the race.

Both have raised big money for their campaigns, with Driskell reporting $2.4 million since January 2017, including $150,000 she recently loaned to her campaign, and Walberg just over $2 million.

A real estate agent and accountant, Driskell has touted herself as a strong advocate for small businesses, working families, public education and the environment.

She previously served six years on the Saline City Council, 14 years as mayor, and two years as 52nd District state rep in Washtenaw County.

She passed up the opportunity to seek reelection in the state House two years ago to instead run for Congress against Walberg.

Walberg served in Congress from 2007 to 2009 before being sidelined for one term and has served continuously since 2011.

Walberg says his focus in the U.S. House is encouraging job creation and economic growth, fiscal responsibility, affordable health care and "defending our values."

Walberg and Driskell have taken different positions on issues ranging from health care to climate change. Driskell has disagreed with Walberg's support for repealing the Affordable Care Act.

As for addressing climate change, Driskell considers it a national security issue and says developing a clean energy economy could provide good paying jobs for Michiganders.

"I have worked and will continue to work to protect and preserve Michigan's water, air, and natural resources," Driskell wrote in her response to the League of Women Voters Vote411 voter guide.

Walberg has said he believes in climate change and that humans are the cause of some of it, but he believes God can take care of it.

"As a Christian, I believe there is a creator - a God - who's much bigger than us," he said last year. "I'm confident that if there's a real problem, he can take care of it."

Walberg argues the U.S. should pursue an "all of the above" energy policy encouraging the development of domestic sources like biofuel, wind, solar, hydrogen and other clean-energy alternatives.

"It's also just as important to adopt policies that ensure a steady labor supply and are vigilant against burdensome and onerous regulations," he wrote in his Vote411 voter guide response.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6.

MLive has partnered with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide information to voters about the issues being decided in the November 2018 election. Check out the League of Women Voters Education Fund voter guide at Vote411.org to learn more about candidates and proposals on the ballot.

All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidates and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except for necessary cut if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should not be considered as an endorsement. The league never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 1)  Former fighters of the New People's Army (NPA) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) received certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) from the Department of Agrarian Reform.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday led the distribution of CLOAs covering a total of 5,808 hectares of agricultural lands in Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental.

3,400 agrarian reform beneficiaries received the certificates.

Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones said 283 hectares went to former NPA rebels, while 562 hectares went to former MILF rebels.

"The reason why many of our countrymen are being lured to support the ideologies that are contrary to the belief of our government or to the stance of our government is because they have suffered some sort of difficulty and some problems when it comes to their economic status," Castriciones said.

Castriciones said this move could help convince more of their fellow fighters to return to the folds of the law and come back to society.

"If we are going to help them so that they will be able to recover from these plight of theirs, definitely it will solve the problems we have when it comes to insurgency," he added.

Other land reform areas in Samar and Quezon where insurgents remain are up for distribution, Castriciones said.
During the Angelus, Pope Francis said that the way of the beatitudes runs against the mindset of the world. People should choose between the path of "heaven or earth". For the pontiff, "we were born to never die again, we were born to enjoy the happiness of God!"

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  The Solemnity of All Saints, which the Catholic Church celebrates today, is "a family celebration, said Pope Francis before reciting the Angelus together with pilgrims in St Peters Square. The saints "invite us on the path of happiness, he added, as indicated in today's Gospel", which is that of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12a).

"The saints are close to us, the pontiff noted. Indeed, they are our true brothers and sisters. They understand us, they love us, they know what is really our good for us, they help us and they wait for us. They are happy and they want us to be happy with them in paradise."

However, the way of the Beatitudes runs against the mindset of the world. "The Gospel says blessed are the poor, whilst the world says blessed are the rich. The Gospel says blessed are the meek, whilst the world says blessed are the arrogant. The Gospel says blessed are the pure, whilst the world says blessed are the cunning and the pleasure-seeking. This path of the beatitude, of holiness, seems to lead to defeat. Yet, as the first reading reminds us again, the saints hold "palm branches" (Rv 7:9), that is, the symbols of victory. They won, not the world. And they exhort us to choose their side, that of God who is Holy."

"We should ask ourselves on which side we stand: that of heaven or that of earth? Do we live for the Lord or for ourselves, for eternal happiness or for some fulfillment now? Let us ask ourselves: do we really want holiness? Or do we content ourselves with being Christians without infamy and without praise, who believe in God and esteem others but without exaggerating?"

"It is good for us to let ourselves be provoked by the saints, who here have not had half measures and from there cheer for us because we choose God, humility, meekness, mercy, purity, because we are passionate about heaven rather than the earth."

"Today our brothers and sisters do not ask us to hear a beautiful Gospel again but to put it into practice, to set out on the path of the Beatitudes. It is not about doing extraordinary things, but about following every day the path that leads us to heaven, in the family, at home. So today let us glimpse at our future and celebrate what we were born for: we were born to never die again, we were born to enjoy the happiness of God!"
BAY CITY, MI -- The grand opening of a new Brazilian steak house is set for Saturday, Nov. 10, in Bay City.

The Costela Brazilian Steak House, 110 Uptown Drive, will offer an array of meats, a gourmet Brazilian market table, fine wines and a full bar featuring Brazil's Caipirinha cocktails.

Owners Jose and Alicia Costilla are aiming to create an "authentic churrascaria experience." It's a restaurant that serves meat, mostly grilled, and uses the method of carving different cuts of meat at the diner's table.

"I am so pleased to be bringing an authentic Brazilian steak house to my hometown of Bay City," Jose Costilla said. "We have brought in authentic, wood-fired grills from Brazil and will serve only the finest meats and produce available."

The restaurant will feature a continuous parade of 15 cuts of beef, pork, poultry and freshly-made sausages carved table side. Guests will begin their meal with a gourmet Brazilian market table of fresh salads, smoked fish, meats, soups such as lobster bisque, vegetables, and accompaniments.

Customers can choose to dine the full lunch, dinner or market-table experience.

Lunch market table experience - includes a feijoada bar with seasonal salads, soups, imported cheeses, smoked salmon and more for $18.99.

Dinner market table experience - includes an extensive feijoada bar with seasonal salads, soups, more expensive cheese, smoked meats and sushi for $26.99.

Full Lunch - includes 10 different cuts of meat and the feijoada bar for $36.99.

Full dinner - includes 15 different cuts of meat and the feijoada bar for $49.99.

The public is invited to a ribbon cutting hosted by the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8. Immediately following the event, the Bay Area Community Foundation's Bay Commitment Scholarship Program will take place at 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The program will feature a Brazilian-inspired dinner with some of Costela's finest entrees paired with the gourmet Brazilian market table and a special selection of wine. Call 989-778-2640 to make reservations.

Costilla said he plans to hire 50 people for the contemporary eatery. Restaurant decor includes hand-painted murals and locally produced artwork. The restaurant has a business casual dress code and a no hat policy.

"You'll only see this in big cities," Costilla said. "We're taking risks and bringing it here. We want everybody to try it. I want people around here to experience something like that."

The business will be open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
FLINT, MI - A former Flint police chief faces felony charges in connection to running a video poker arcade.

Bradford Barksdale is charged with gambling operations - felony violations, using a computer to commit a crime and possession of a short-barreled shotgun or rifle.

Barksdale, 66, was arraigned on the three felonies on Oct. 24 in Genesee District Court.

His attorney, Brenda Williams, waived Barksdale's appearance for a probable cause conference on Thursday, Nov. 1 before Genesee District Judge David Guinn. The hearing was rescheduled for Nov. 25.

Williams declined to comment to MLive-The Flint Journal. Barksdale could not be reached for comment.

Adam Crossnoe and his father Alvin Crossnoe also were charged in the case.

The Crossnoes each face one count of gambling operations - felony violations and using a computer to commit a crime.

The allegations come after the state raided West Point Arcade in Flint Township where the Crossnoes and Barksdale operated a video gambling parlor, according to Adam Crossnoe.

"I just feel like it's harassment at this point," Adam Crossnoe said. "They knew what we were doing. We were cleared by the gaming board."

The Michigan Attorney General's Office is investigating the case. Assistant Attorney General Robyn Liddell declined to comment on Thursday.

Barksdale worked inside the establishment and was a part owner, according to Adam Crossnoe.

"It's just an unfortunate situation," said Attorney Fred Meiers, who represents the Crossnoes. "Everything was above-board. It's unfortunate that the gaming laws are such that they're difficult for anyone to interpret."

All three defendants are free on personal recognizance bonds and are not allowed to go to any gaming establishments as a condition of their bond.

Barksdale stepped aside as chief at the Flint Police Department in 2004.

He was cleared of shooting and killing a would-be robber at the Palace Poker Room in Burton in 2009.

Matthew J. Kalahar shot his way into the poker room at 1110E. Bristol Road with a shotgun at about 1 a.m. July 1, 2009, and waived his gun at the crowd, according to MLive-The Flint Journal files. Barksdale, a regular at the poker room, drew his gun and fatally shot the intruder.
FLINT, TWP, MI -- Representatives of the Michigan Secretary of State's Office and Patsy Lou Chevrolet are in talks "about how to resolve" a lawsuit and attempt by the state to suspend the business' license, according to a spokesman for the state.

"We're having discussions with the dealership about how to resolve the issue," SOS spokesman Fred Woodhams said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal. "The matter isn't settled at this point."

In May, the state attempted to suspend the license of Patsy Lou for 15 days, an action that would have prevented the company from buying, selling or trading vehicles during that time, for what it called repeated violations of law for not providing titles to buyers.

But the General Motors dealership went to court, received a stay of the suspension, and claimed allegations against the business and two individuals associated with it were not true.

A hearing in the case had been scheduled for last week but was adjourned, and Genesee Circuit Court Judge Geoffrey Neithercut set a Nov. 30 review date to determine if the matter has been settled, according to court records.

MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach Michael Cox, an attorney for Patsy Lou Chevrolet.

The company has said a long suspension of its license has to the potential to put it out of business.

Patsy Lou Chevrolet was previously on state probation for 12 months, starting in May 2015, after similar complaints were made against it, the Secretary of State Office has said.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Police are investigating a report of an armed robbery at a liquor store in Southeast Grand Rapids.

Officers were dispatched around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, to a report of a robbery at J & M Discount Beverages, 235 Hall St. SE.

Police said an individual entered the store, produced a handgun and robbed the store before fleeing on foot with an unknown amount of cash.

A dispatcher said a witness reported a man fleeing the store with a "Scream" mask on.

Officers were attempting to track the individual and had not made an arrest as of 8 p.m. Wednesday. No injuries were reported.

The incident remains under investigation by the Grand Rapids Police Department.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Kent County's drain commissioner can't use his county vehicle for personal business for a month after he used it to distribute leaflets opposing a local ballot question.

Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt said Ken Yonker, the county's drain commissioner elected in 2016, received the discipline for violating county policy that forbids using public resources for political purposes.

"I spoke with Drain Commissioner Yonker yesterday after receiving the resident complaint and he immediately apologized and took full responsibility of his actions, which he explained were not planned but spontaneous," Britt said in a statement. "While this was an error in judgement, the gravity of the situation required a formal response as county policies prohibit employees, including elected officials, from using county resources to influence the outcome of an election."

Yonker is forbidden from taking the county-owned Ford Explorer home and using it for anything but county business until December, according to Britt.

The vehicle is marked with a Kent County logo.

Yonker used the vehicle Saturday, Oct. 27, in the Glengarry Drive neighborhood north of Caledonia to distribute material opposing the Caledonia schools millage proposal appearing on the Nov. 6 ballot, he told MLive.

His personal truck was not usable at the time, he said, and he made a "split-second" decision to knock out the neighborhood route using his county SUV rather than waiting for someone else in the opposition group to pick him up.

When he got into the neighborhood and began distributing the material, the former state representative said he realized he made a mistake.

"I have no problem owning up to what's asked of me," Yonker said. "I made that judgement, and I'll learn from it. I met with some people in the community, and I'll have to earn their trust back."

Yonker said he rarely uses the county SUV for personal use and that all personal miles are logged and charged to him.

The benefit of taking the county vehicle home, he said, is that he can head straight home after work, saving him the time of detouring back to the Grand Rapids office from work sites around the county.

The county became aware of the situation after a complaint was lodged Monday, Oct. 29, with Kent County administration and the county clerk's office, according to a county statement.

Britt said Yonker understands the punishment and assured county officials it wouldn't happen again.

"As such, we now consider this matter resolved," Britt wrote.

Secretary of State spokesperson Fred Woodhams said he can't weigh in on particular allegations but, generally speaking, use of public resources, such as a vehicle, for political campaign purposes is not permitted under state law.

Those convicted of "knowingly" violating the statute would be guilty of a one-year misdemeanor and could be responsible for a $1,000 fine.

Yonker ran for county drain commissioner after he was termed-out of the Michigan House of Representatives. Yonker was a Republican state representative from 2011 to 2017.

He is not up for reelection this year.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Grand Rapids Community College has added a chief equity and inclusion officer to its list of essential employees, according to GRCC President Bill Pink.

The college has hired B. Afeni McNeely Cobham, who is described as an expert in race, identity, and culture in American higher education. She starts in December and is currently a visiting associate professor at Salem State University in Massachusetts.

"We're proud to have Dr. McNeely Cobham on our team to help us address the challenges locally, as well as regionally, around disparities in education and workforce," Pink said.

"This work makes our college stronger, and our community stronger as well. We've made great strides, but there is more to do.''

Pink said the GRCC is committed to being proactive in providing a high-quality education helping our students be successful in earning a degree, transferring to a four-year school or gaining career skills.

GRCC has long had a director of the Bob and Aleicia Woodrick Center for Equity and Inclusion. However, the position became vacant and Pink totally reframed the job, expanding the duties greatly, and having McNeely Cobham report directly to him instead of a dean.

"This is work I want to have closer to me and what we are doing. Dr. McNeely Cobham will inform and help us as a campus make sure we are doing all we can to properly serve all our students, regardless of their backgrounds,'' Pink said.

McNeely Cobham has more than 26 years in higher education as a faculty member, administrator and consultant.

She said she will be focused on building upon and expanding GRCC's successful efforts in championing equity and inclusion.

"The CEIO (chief equity and inclusion officer) will play an important role toward embedding principles of diversity and social justice into the bedrock of the institution,'' McNeely Cobham said.

"I plan to come alongside President Pink in carrying out this work through support and advocacy, assessment and strategic planning, recruitment and retention, and training and development."

According to GRCC's 2017 enrollment report, the percentage of students from minority populations was 30.3 percent, up from 28.6 percent from 2016. The 2018 report is not yet ready.

Black student enrollment increased to 1,277 and made up 8.9 percent of the total population. In 2017 the Fall enrollment was 14,285 but has since declined to around 13,825.

Hispanic student enrollment increased to 1,946 and made up 13.6 percent of the total population.

Equity and inclusion or diversity and inclusion chiefs and directors tend be at four-year institutions like Grand Valley State University and Davenport University.

But Pink said community colleges are seeing more and more the value of the position.

"If things go as I envision, this position will be seen and recognized internally and externally as a resource for our campus and this community,'' he said, about the work to be done with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

McNeely Cobham's research examines race, identity, and culture, identity development of college students, and the influence of hip hop culture and music in socio-political thought.

Some of here specific duties will be:

Lead the development of a collaborative vision and strategy for equity and inclusion.

Develop with college leadership a set of institutional measures to monitor progress toward strategic goals related to equity and inclusion.

Lead the design or and oversee key equity and inclusion programs and initiatives for students, staff, and community members.

Establish systems to monitor the effectiveness of these efforts.

Lead the development of partnerships related to equity and inclusion with business and industry leaders, governmental agencies, community/civic groups, foundations, and other educational institutions.

Prior to her role this year at Salem State University, McNeely Cobham was an associate dean at Connecticut College from December 2015 through February 2018. She has worked at number of schools, including associate dean at Brown University and assistant provost and affiliate faculty at the University of Denver.

McNeely Cobham, who was among three interviewed for the job, salary will be $98,000. She earned a bachelor's degree from Marist College, a master's degree from the University of Georgia, and a doctorate from Indiana University.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Event pavilions. Children's play areas. A winter lodge for year-round educational and cultural events.

And additional terraces providing greater access to the Grand River for tubers, waders and anglers.

Those are some of the highlights envisioned in the River for All project, a roughly $40 million plan by the city of Grand Rapids and community partners to create six new public spaces along the Grand River between the Grand Rapids Public Museum and Ann Street.

The idea is to strengthen recreation and development opportunities along the river - and it's tied to an effort, already underway, to remove the dams along the Grand River and restore the city's namesake rapids.

"What I think this means for residents of Grand Rapids is greater connectivity, greater connectivity to some incredible natural assets that have been available for years, decades, but not always very easy to get to or be a part of," said David Marquardt, director of parks and recreation for the city of Grand Rapids.

Marquardt was one of several city officials and community members who spoke Thursday at an event at DeVos Place where conceptual plans for the River for All project were shared.

Project planners discussed community input that was gathered to create the plans, fielded questions from audience members, laid out the timeline and estimated cost for the project, and gave an update on the Grand Rapids Whitewater project.

Marquardt said work on the proposed six public spaces is not likely to begin for another five or six years, after construction in the river to remove the dams and restore the rapids is completed.

Work on the $44 million Grand Rapids Whitewater project is expected to start -- pending the approval of federal permits -- in late 2019 or spring of 2020, officials say.

"Once they're pulling off-site with their heavy construction equipment, that's when we can begin coming in and building out some of these opportunity sites," Marquardt said, referring to the six proposed public spaces.

The spaces include:

An area along the river at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Plans include a lower trail providing seasonal access to the river's edge for habitat observation and an amphitheater near the existing river trail.

Fish Ladder Park, at 560 Front Ave. NW. Plans include picnic groves, a sloped event lawn with new trees, and new steps to the river for angler and waders.

A stretch of riverfront along North Monroe Avenue, north of I-196 and south of Sixth Street Park. Plans call for a boat launch, an event pavilion, community plaza and skate park.

The Coldbrook decommissioned water pumping station site, south of Leonard Street, near Canal Park. Additions to the site include steeped river access, a link to the existing river trail, a sculptural play area and mixed-use development.

The decommissioned water department storage yard site, near the location where Caledonia Street NE intersects with Monroe Avenue NW. Plans call for a winter lodge for year-round educational and cultural events, a log-jam inspired nature playground, lawn space along the river, and public use outdoor fire pits.

The Leonard to Ann Street trail connection, which the plan describes as a "critical missing link in the larger regional trail network along the Grand River Corridor." Additions include a public/private river-oriented plaza and a lower boardwalk river trail.

The design of the six public spaces, and the proposed amenities they would include, was led by Nicole Horst, a principal at Wenk, a Denver-based landscape architecture and planning company hired by the city to do the work.

She said her group engaged people at ArtPrize 2017 and held focus groups with dozens of others to shape the vision for the area. The new spaces will help "transform" the river and open new spaces that currently have limited accessibility, she said.

"Being able to have these public spaces and connectivity that brings you farther than just outside downtown is pretty exciting," Horst said.

Now that the renderings have been unveiled, the city will begin looking at how to fund the more than $40 million price tag the construction and renovations will carry, Marquardt said.

"This project cost is not insurmountable," he said. "State, local funding, city funding, private funding, grant funding - all of those sources together, we'll get to that endpoint."

One attendee at Thursday's event, Latesha Lipscomb, who does community engagement work for the city of Grand Rapids, asked whether the development would be created in a way that provides access for all residents, regardless of income.

"You talked about restaurants, you talked about wedding rental facilities, you talked about tubing," she said. "For a lot of people those are expensive to engage in."

City officials said they would aim to provide opportunities for people from all walks of life to participate in recreational activities through community partnerships, and they framed potential business development as an opportunity for entrepreneurs and job-seekers.

"All those activities you just mentioned are also opportunities for entrepreneurship, economic development and thinking about ways to provide jobs," said Tim Kelly, president and CEO of Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.

"If we can think big picture and start to incorporate these goals around equity and inclusion we have in the community, I think this project and this moment is the time to do that."
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids is joining the countless cities across the country in hosting a candlelight vigil to call for peace and unity, and to honor the victims of last week's shooting as a Pittsburgh synagogue.

The vigil -- "A Prayer Gathering for Shalom" -- is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at City Hall's Calder Plaza, 300 Monroe Ave. NW.

"This is an opportunity to further communicate to our city and to our country the importance of unity and our total opposition to violence and hatred and antisemitism and racism and all of those things that play a role in separating us," said Joe Jones, Second Ward city commissioner and president of the Grand Rapids Urban League.

"The opportunity tonight is to stand with those of various faith backgrounds with the understanding that we want to declare that Grand Rapids is a place of peace."

Thursday's vigil comes less than a week after police said Robert Bowers, 46, entered the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Pittsburgh and opened fire on those inside. The shooting killed 11 people and injured six more, including four police officers.

Those killed were Daniel Stein, 71; Joyce Feinberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Rose Mallinger, 97; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; brothers Cecil Rosenthal, 59, and David Rosenthal 54; husband and wife Bernice Simon, 84 and Sylvan Simon, 86; Melvin Wax, 88; and Irving Younger, 69, according to the Associated Press.

Bowers has since been indicted on 44 federal charges, according to a report by National Public Radio.

The mass shooting hit close to home for Police Chief David Rahinsky, who said he's a proud member of the "pretty tightly-knit" Jewish community in West Michigan. He plans to attend the vigil and invited members of the community to join.

Hosting the vigil are members of Temple Emanuel, Congregation Ahavas Israel, Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids, and Chabad House of Western Michigan. Jones will also be in attendance and is expected to speak on behalf of the city.

Earlier this week, a vigil was held at Grand Valley State University in Allendale. Similar vigils were held around the state, including in Ann Arbor, Flint and East Lansing.
WYOMING, MI - Kellooggsville High School was briefly on lockdown Thursday, Nov. 1, due to a student possibly bringing a gun on campus, according to the Wyoming Police Department.

There was no gun. Students sheltered in place for approximately 30 minutes - from 8:50 to 9:20 a.m.

Superintendent Sam Wright said it was reported to staff Thursday morning that another teen had shared plans to bring a gun to the school. He said they called the police and immediately implemented their other emergency procedures.

He said the quasi lock down restricted students to the building but didn't require them being locked in their classrooms.

"I want to assure parents that we follow procedure and maintain a safe school environment,'' Wright said.

The teenage boy who allegedly said he was going to bring a gun to the high school, located at 4787 South Division Ave., attends the district's alternative program.

He was located off campus without a gun and the police determined there was no threat to anyone at the school.
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI - Police say a man with a sign that said, "Trump is Satan," walked into Republican headquarters and suggested someone should bomb the place.

The incident happed around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, at Republican campaign headquarters in Garfield Township near Traverse City.

Staff told police that the man was angry when he walked in carrying the sign. On his way out, police said, he said that "'someone should bomb this place' or 'I should bomb this place.'"

This is not who we are as a country...Its up to all of us to take a leadership role to be civil toward one another and to set the example.



Police continue to search for the man who threatened to blow up the #Republican HQ in #Traverse City yesterday. https://t.co/BoghXMlAGk  9 & 10 News (@9and10News) November 1, 2018

Sheriff's deputies were on scene quickly but were unable to find the man.

A sheriff's dog trained to find explosives was call to the scene but did not any bombs. The Sheriff's Department is continuing to investigate.
Michigan is apparently filled with lonely, heartbroken people.

According to a recent data crunch, which was ironically conducted by the wedding dress company JJ's House, Michigan is home to more people complaining about being "ghosted" than any other state.

That's based on more than 70,000 tweets that were geo-tagged on Twitter throughout October. "Ghosting" or being "ghosted" is a somewhat new term which primarily refers to someone who's in a relationship, dating, or "talking" and one party just stops all communication and disappears like a ghost.



According to the data, Michigan is the top "ghosting" state by a wide margin, meaning there are a lot of unsatisfied, love sick people around.



Texas, Idaho, Oregon and New Mexico are the states that rank just behind Michigan, according to the number crunch.

So, there you have it. On the negative side, there are a lot of sad, love-deprived people in the Great Lakes State. Fortunately, that also means there's plenty of available singles on the market as well.

So, happy hunting kids! Just don't get your hopes up.
A group of retired Michigan police officers is campaigning for legal marijuana, pushing back against the majority opinion of law enforcement organizations in the state.

"They want to keep it illegal because they want to be able to search any and every car or person they come in contact with by the claim that, (sniff sniff) I smell marijuana, get out of your car or up against the wall," said Howard Wooldridge, a retired detective from the Bath Township Police Department who is now a federal lobbyist and a member of COPS, Citizens Opposing Prohibition.

"Driving while black is still a problem in this state and across this country -- and the smell of marijuana is the hook to continue police action, which is often illegal and certainly repugnant," he said.

Wooldridge was one of three former Michigan police officers who gathered Thursday for a press call organized by the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. Also in attendance was Neill Franklin, the executive director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership; retired Wayne County Sheriff's detective and current state Sen. Vincent Gregory, D-Lathrup Village; and Margeaux Bruner, a marijuana advocate who serves on the state's Impaired Driving Safety Commission.

So far, nearly every county sheriff in Michigan and a large number of county prosecutors have voiced their opposition to Proposal 1, which would legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over. Police leadership organizations -- Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police and the Michigan Sheriffs Association

-- have also endorsed the opposition campaign run by Healthy and Productive Michigan.

The group that gathered Thursday at a law office in downtown Detroit sought to present a different narrative.

Black and brown communities have long been targeted by police as they seek to make arrest quotas -- and the smell of marijuana offers police an easy introduction to search a vehicle, home or to seize property through civil asset forfeiture, Franklin said.

Civil asset forfeiture -- the practice by which police departments can stop and detain someone, and take their cash and property -- is sometimes used to fund the general operations of police departments, Franklin said.

"This is a financial interest that these police and prosecutors have that they never mention to the public," Wooldridge said. "It's policing for profit."

In 2016, 304 law enforcement agencies in Michigan reported receiving $12.2 million in proceeds from civil asset forfeiture. In 10 percent of the cases, no one was charged with the violation for which the forfeiture was authorized. Of the 4,955 cases related to controlled substances, 25 percent of them were marijuana-related.

Decades of those interactions have created mistrust between officers and the community they serve -- which makes officers less effective, Nelson said.

"When it comes to the relationship between police and community -- namely black, brown and poor communities, this is the cornerstone for creating an opportunity to repair those relationships," Franklin said.

Last week, the Detroit NAACP and several other African American community leaders voiced their opposition to Proposal 1. They argued a recreational marijuana industry wouldn't bring opportunities to people of color -- and that their neighborhoods would be disproportionally targeted by the industry.

Healthy and Productive Michigan has also argued drugged driving crashes would increase should Proposal 1 pass.

"Officers have been doing this for years. It's offensive to the officers working the road by saying all of a sudden they're not going to have the ability to determine if a person is impaired," said Steve Miller, a retired sergeant with the Canton Township Police Department. " The best tool for determining that is the officer themselves."

A new report from the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, where marijuana has been legal for the past five years, showed the number of citations for marijuana-only impairment has remained at seven percent of all DUI arrests from 2014 to 2017. And drivers in fatal crashes who tested above the legal limit of THC decreased from 2016 to 2017, the Denver Post reported.

Voters will decide the fate of Proposal 1 at the polls Tuesday, Nov. 6.

So far the opposition campaign has raised more than double the funds of the group behind the ballot initiative.
LANSING, MI - The Michigan Republican Party's Garfield Township office near Traverse City was temporarily shut down Wednesday after a man allegedly made a statement about bombing it.

According to the Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office, police were called to the office at 3:15 p.m. for a report of a man who entered the office holding a sign that said "Trump is Satan."

"The subject was angry and on his way out the door made a statement 'Someone should bomb this place' or 'I should bomb this place,'" the sheriff's office wrote in a Facebook statement.

Today at approx. 3:15, the Sheriffs Office responded to the Republican Office Campaign Quarters in Garfield Township... Posted by Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, October 31, 2018

When deputies arrived, the subject had already left. Sheriff's officers checked the office and surrounding area and continue to investigate the incident.

Michigan Republican Party Chief of Staff Colleen Pero sent out statement after the incident, referencing an earlier incident in which graffiti appeared on the party's Lansing office.

"This is the second time in the past week that an MRP office has been threatened or vandalized. Democrats are waking up to the fact that their dreams of a blue wave are quickly evaporating, and now extremist activists are responding with intimidation and threats of violence. We thank the Grand Traverse Sheriff's Department for their quick response and all that they are doing to ensure the safety of our employees and volunteers," Pero said.

State Rep. Michele Hoitenga, R-Manton, said on Facebook she and several volunteers stopped by the office and were subjected to negative comments by a passerby. As they were leaving the parking lot, the individual entered the office and the incident took place, she said.

"I find it disturbing that this is becoming the norm," she wrote on Facebook.

And the possible threat isn't the only incident police have addressed in the lead-up to the Nov. 6 election. In Detroit, two canvassers for Good Jobs Now, an advocacy organization encouraging people to vote, were shot earlier this week. One died and the other was hospitalized.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- A Catholic priest resigned during an investigation into possible misuse of funds at five Southwest Michigan churches he served.

The Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo began investigating "suspected financial irregularities" at five parishes led by the Rev. Richard Altine, according to a release from the diocese. Altine resigned from public ministry on Oct. 22, citing "medical and mental issues" in a Facebook post two days later.

He was scheduled to undergo ankle surgery on Oct. 18, according to another post on his Facebook page.

Vicki Cessna, director of communications for the Kalamazoo Diocese, said Altine resigned after bringing the "financial irregularities" to his attention. Cessna said the investigation is in its early stages and began after the diocese learned accounting procedures were not being followed.

"In order for the investigation to move forward, we thought it best that he not be at the parishes," Cessna said.

Cessna said a finance officer is working on a forensic audit of money that has already been spent and expenses connected to Altine. Pastors have financial responsibilities in parishes they serve, though Cessna said other staff keep financial records.

It could take several weeks for the audit to be completed. The investigation has not been referred to police as of Nov. 1, Cessna said.

"I don't know that it's accurate to say there is money missing," she said.

Altine was serving as pastor of Holy Maternity of Mary in Dowagiac, Holy Family in Decatur, St. Gabriel in Berrien Springs, Sacred Heart of Mary in Silver Creek, and St. Anthony in Buchanan, as well as dean of the Southern Deanery.

The Rev. Alberto Bondy, a retired priest from the Archdiocese of Detroit, has been appointed interim administrator of the collaborative. The Rev. Leo Cartagena remains administrator of St. Anthony Parish and St. Gabriel Parish. The Rev. Mike Rejent will remain as Senior Parochial Vicar at Holy Family Parish.

Altine was appointed dean of the Southern Deanery, a leadership role to oversee parish collaborative or groupings, for the Diocese of Kalamazoo in July 2016.

Dear Friends I have resigned as Pastor of Holy Mothers Sacred Family of Parishes. Also as Dean of Southern Deanery I am... Posted by Richard Altine on Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Last year, Rev. Richard Fritz resigned following an investigation into inappropriate use of church funds between 2010-2016. He served as a priest in the Diocese of Kalamazoo for 35 years.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A lawsuit filed against the American Bar Association for a letter critical of the WMU-Cooley Law School was settled, the school said in a press release.

Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School and the American Bar Association settled the lawsuit Wednesday, Oct. 31, according to documents from the U.S. District Court.

The parties met for a settlement conference on Tuesday, Oct. 30, the documents said.

In November 2017, the American Bar Association sent a letter that said the law school failed to comply with all ABA standards.

The school sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against release of the Nov. 13 letter, citing damage to its reputation.

The ABA Journal posted the letter on its website on Nov. 16, two days after WMU-Cooley filed its lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Detroit.

The ABA committee said the school was not in compliance with a rule that required admitting only "applicants who 'appear capable' of satisfactorily completing its program of legal instruction..."

The ABA asked the law school to submit documentation by Feb. 1 to show that it was in compliance. It required information on overall class size and students' scores on the Law School Admissions Test, or LSAT, and undergraduate grade-point average.

After reviewing that information in March, the ABA determined that the school was in compliance, the press release said.

"On behalf of the law school, we are very happy to put this lawsuit behind us," WMU-Cooley Law School Interim President Jeff Martlew said in the release.

Barry Currier, managing director of ABA Accreditation and Legal Education, said in an email to MLive that the law school dismissed the lawsuit.

"The ABA welcomes the end of this dispute and looks forward to continuing to serve the best interests of students and the public through the ABA law school accreditation process," Currier said.

The settlement was a dismissal with no money paid either way, Martlew said in a statement from a school spokesperson.

"We simply agreed with the ABA to put these issues behind us and move on," Martlew said.

Last November, the school challenged the ABA's findings, and noted it had been found in compliance of other standards. The letter damages the school's reputation and ability to recruit students, attorney Michael Coakley said at the time of the lawsuit.

"Indeed, far from representing a 'final decision' to take 'adverse action,' the Letter explicitly only says the ABA will take 'adverse action' if (Cooley) fails to bring itself into compliance within two years," Coakley wrote in his request for a restraining order.

"It is mid-November, the heart of the law school application period," he said.

He said that publishing the letter "will effectively destroy Cooley's right to appeal as the publication will be widely disseminated on social media. The bell cannot then be unrung."

Students "deserve to know the truth," attorney Reginald Turner said in documents filed with the court, defending the release of the letter to the public.
CHESANING, MI -- It can be argued that mail carriers in Chesaning are some of the most alert delivery workers in Saginaw County. Last year, a mail carrier found a missing 7-year-old boy inside a home.

This month, an alert postal worker helped rescue a woman who had been stuck in her tub for at least five days.

On Oct. 19, Chesaning police were called to the home of the 54-year-old woman after a neighbor and postal worker called 911 to report the woman was trapped in the tub.

According to Chief Stacey Wilburn, the mail carrier grew concerned when the woman's mail began to pile up and contacted the neighbor. The neighbor went around the home and called out for the woman. She responded from inside the home and told them that she was in the tub and couldn't reach the bar to assist her to get out.

Wilburn and another officer arrived and were able to climb through a window and rescue the woman.

"She was in good spirits, actually," Wilburn said. "She was smiling and talking. We were able to get her dressed and get her warm."

The woman stayed warm by using the hot water to refill the tub when needed, Wilburn said. She used cold water to drink and keep herself hydrated.

She was taken to a hospital where she stayed for a few days, Wilburn said.

"I applaud the mail carrier," Wilburn said.

Wilburn said postal workers in Chesaning have an advantage because most are door-to-door and get to learn the area and their customers.

"Just like with the kid," Wilburn said of the earlier incident. "She (the mail carrier) knew no one was supposed to be in that house and she saw the kid waving through the window."

The woman rescued from the tub could not be reached immediately for comment.
FRANKENMUTH, MI -- The Frankenmuth Cheese Haus opened its doors to the community on Thursday to showcase new products, cheese offerings and its new location.

The grand opening kicked off at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at the new Cheese Haus location, 561 S. Main St. The event began with business leaders cutting a cheese wheel as a symbolic gesture.

People gathered outside as a two-man band played tunes in the background, and the Cheese Haus food truck parked nearby took customers' orders. The giant Cheese Haus mouse sculpture sat near the business and customers took selfies with the mouse.

The new location is triple the size of its former building. At 17,000 square feet, it has more cheese offerings and local products such as wine, jams, souvenirs and candy.

Frankenmuth Cheese Haus Tour The grand opening of the new Frankenmuth Cheese Haus. Posted by MLive.com on Thursday, November 1, 2018

"We've been able to expand our cheese lines and produce more of our cheese spreads and the cheese that we make in house," said Martha Zehnder Keller, vice president of sales and marketing for Bavarian Inn Lodge. "So we're really excited to be able to open up this new building and the building opening is in honor of the 50th anniversary."

In June, a 23-foot-copper "Zwiebeltum" - or onion dome - was placed on the top of the building's tower and, at the end of the year, figurine movements, called a "Figurinspiel," will be added to the tower to tell an animated story about how cheese is made.

As customers bustled into the new shop Thursday many mentioned how spacious and inviting the new location was.

"Community and support," said Ann Frank, a Frankenmuth resident who came to see the grand opening. "This is what Frankenmuth is about."

Another shopper who tried the horseradish spread added that the shop will be another destination for Michiganders to travel to.

The Cheese Haus, founded in 1968, features over 160 cheeses, including 12 in-house cheeses, and eclectic cheese spreads such as chocolate, strawberry and the popular garlic spread.

The former Cheese Haus location was transformed into a retail shop called Frank's Muth. It opened on Sept. 1. The store has a more masculine feel and sells vintage items, Michigan made products and sauces, said Judy Zehnder Keller, president of the Bavarian Inn Lodge. Frank's Muth employed six people to run the shop.

"We're all about having an experience," said Zehnder Keller. "You can go to the grocery store and buy cheese, but we want you to have an experience where you can enjoy and you'll come back and want more."
By AusSMC

New laws proposed by the Australian Government target communication services and device makers, and include the power for police to force companies to disclose encrypted information on devices like phones, computers and social media platforms. Apple has called the draft legislation dangerously ambiguous, saying that the Coalition's attempt to weaken digital encryption should be alarming to all Australians.

"Security by design is essential and we are not very good at it in the first place. Weakening any security control by design is, therefore, a bad idea. Cyber criminals are vigilantly seeking vulnerabilities in our devices, social media services, and all forms of telecommunications we rely upon and use daily. If we leave an intentional backdoor, they will find it. Once it is discovered it is usually not easy to fix.

However, there is no easy solution to the situation. Because, if intelligence agencies and law enforcement services need timely access to encrypted communications or devices used by criminals, they would need the keys to unlock it. So we are faced with the challenge of balancing between our privacy, and the security and wellbeing of our family, friends and community. "

Dr Ahmed Ibrahim is Lecturer of Computing and Security, School of Science at Edith Cowan University.

"In a tug-of-war between government and private enterprise, we witness the brute force attack of unravelling proprietary encryption algorithms in the name of national security. What politicians and law enforcement agencies have not realised is that by creating rules that allegedly minimise the risk of cyberterrorism via encrypted messaging, that they are encroaching on organisational security, and on every individual citizen's right to privacy.

This is not a solution to the problem of just-in-time policing and border force security but an override on the freedoms of everyday Australians and Australian companies, or even those doing business in Australia. Privacy is a human right, and one way that right can be maintained in today's digital transactions is through encryption.

The complexity here is in the fact that private corporations like Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft are amassing so much personal data that citizen data rights are being equally eroded by corporations themselves who share the data with third parties. We need to take a step back as Australians and ask ourselves why these private corporations are fighting this government bill together? One answer has to do with products and services that offer encryption in their operating systems and platforms as a competitive advantage, but another might be that private corporations want to maintain their power on governments.

It was not that long ago that I was invited to a Prime Minister & Cabinet scenario setting exercise for 2030 where it was agreed that online communities powered by private companies were driving disruptive changes that were potentially threatening to government stability. We need encryption, no doubt about it, but we also need to acknowledge the strangle-hold these giant corporations have on everyday people using their "free services".

This clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLNjPSt0rb8) is very relevant to the discussion above."

Katina Michael is a professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and School of Computing, Informatics and Decision Systems Engineering at Arizona State University and the University of Wollongong.

"Cryptography and security protocols are fundamental for many digital processes from e-commerce, banking, payments, to supply chains, control of critical infrastructures and others. Thus, it mainly protects our data, prevents crime and enables digitization of our economies in the first place. Building any kind of third-party access into our systems undermines this security. Even worse, it might push criminals into other less visible and actually secure communication channels. I guess, we need to learn to live with secure cryptography, rather than weaken it and risk privacy and security just to strengthen security in a different area."

Dr Carsten Rudolph is an Associate Professor with the Faculty of IT at Monash University, and the Director of Oceania Cyber Security Centre.

"While those who provide technology products to their customers have a commitment to ensure that personal data is protected from unauthorised access they also have an obligation towards the wider community such that they do not interfere with its protection by hindering law enforcement and the security services. The challenge is for manufacturers to meet the needs of both groups rather than adopt the best stance from a marketing/cost perspective.

The proposed legislation leaves the technical decisions to the manufacturers and service providers for how they implement strong encryption for data protection while allowing 'special case' access. The onus is therefore on them to develop a viable solution rather than to fall back on claims that it is too difficult or that it will open up everyones data to snooping by the security services, presumably on the assumption that they dont have anything better to do.

The contention that encryption is simply math also confuses the situation. Encryption is just the mechanism used to obscure the data. A simplistic solution on phone devices would be to store the data twice, once with the user key and once with the manufacturer key so the strength of the encryption itself would not be affected and the risk of having two keys could be mitigated by the use of a very complex manufacturer key requiring physical access to the device. Obviously there would be push-back on the additional storage required and reduced battery life but the point is that from a purely technical standpoint it could be done relatively easily."

Dr Richard Adams is an Adjunct Fellow in the Faculty of Business and Law at Curtin University.
By Guy Nolch

Corporate interests have a heavy hand in how research is designed, conducted and reported.

In February 2017, the American Association for the Advancement of Science staged the launch of the Brussels Declaration (https://goo.gl/Ss6Mp5), which Nature described as a 20-point blueprint for a set of ethics and principles to inform work at the boundaries of science, society and policy (https://goo.gl/Jz9VMK).

However, an investigation published in Tobacco Control (https://goo.gl/caZBRN) has found that the Declarations consultative process was infiltrated by corporate interests, including the alcohol industry and the substantial presence of representatives from the tobacco industry. The study points out: The Brussels Declaration argues for the need to protect science from distortion by vested interests. Yet it appears to be a vehicle for advancing the vested interests of certain corporate sectors. As a result, the 20-point plan fails to address the need for safeguards to protect the integrity of science or policy from corporate interests.

Three studies co-authored by University of Sydney researchers have shed further light on the influence of corporate funding on research. An analysis in The BMJ of 200 trials of vaccines, drugs and devices published in high-impact medical journals concluded that funders are usually involved in every step of the trial, including study design, conduct and reporting (https://goo.gl/88BSWq). While academic authors were involved in 99% of trial reporting, they did so after relinquishing control of the study design (36%) and data analysis (40%).

Despite this, industry involvement was downplayed or even omitted. We quickly discovered that trial publications often lacked basic information about who conducted essential parts of the trial, an accompanying editorial explained (https://goo.gl/5eJyMr). The role of the funder was often described in vague terms and... in some cases, what was described as an independent steering committee in fact involved employees of the industry funder. Furthermore, academics soon discovered that they had limited freedom. They found that the funder ran every research meeting and essentially had deciding power.

A second study in the American Journal of Public Health (https://goo.gl/SyVrLD) examined the strategies used by the medical, food, tobacco, alcohol, sugar and mining industries to reshape entire fields of research. While its not surprising that research was skewed towards commercial outcomes, the study pointed out: Corporate interests can drive research agendas away from questions that are the most relevant for public health.

For example, a third paper in Public Health Nutrition (https://goo.gl/ZoZYHf) pointed to Coca-Colas attempt to shift attention from the role of sugar-sweetened beverages in obesity to the role of sedentary behaviour. With public health experts advocating a sugar tax, the researchers reported: Publications resulting from Coca-Cola- and Mars-sponsored research appear to skew the evidence towards solutions that favour industry interests.

A less obvious tactic was the discovery that 10.8% of publications focused on research integrity and methods. The Sydney authors explain: Shaping the debate around scientific methods can be another strategy that corporations use for their benefit to raise doubts about the methods used in non-industry sponsored research.

Academic authors surveyed in The BMJ study described their industry collaborations as beneficial despite the loss of academic freedom. Theyre hardly going to bite the hand that funds. However, too much is at stake to leave research that informs clinical and public health decisions open to manipulation by allowing vested interests to dictate the research agenda and then analyse the data to fit predetermined outcomes.

Academics may never have the power to push back against their corporate funders, so the onus is on journals to ensure better disclosure of the footprint of commercial interests in each step of research design, conduct, analysis and reporting.
By Peter Bowditch

Predictions of a tsunami hitting Sydney should not have made the news.

In the days leading up to the time when I sat down to write this, news outlets were full of stories and images of the destruction and loss of life cause by a tsunami that struck parts of Indonesia. Just prior, however, the same media outlets had been giving publicity to a prediction that Sydney would be wiped out by a tsunami on 20 September. I joked that since I live 1100 metres above sea level I wouldnt be directly affected, but it might spoil the party for my birthday 2 days later when my friends and relatives were washed out to sea.

For many people, though, it might not have been a joking matter. The fact that some television shows that purport to cover news had covered the story could have given it credibility, and had the Indonesian disaster happened a few days earlier it would have been easier to imagine the damage to Sydney of a huge wave rushing up the harbour and across the beaches.

Apocalyptic predictions have been around for a very long time, and inductive reasoning would suggest that it is a safe bet to assume that things that have never happened will continue to not happen, just as things that always happen can be assumed to keep happening. (Yes, I am aware of Humes criticism of inductive reasoning, as are all those people who thought that the managers of their superannuation funds would continue to back winners in the stock exchange.)

Maybe formal logic isnt required here, just an application of some simple critical thinking. How could a tsunami be so focused that it would only affect Sydney and not Newcastle and Wollongong? What geological event could trigger it? (The North Island of New Zealand collapsing into the ocean would do it, but that would certainly affect more of the Australian coast than Bondi and, in any case, would have been even more predictable if predictions of disaster were reliable.)

This sort of prediction usually arises from someone misreading or misunderstanding some religious text, but if God had wanted to punish Sydney, why on that date and why use total destruction? If he objected to the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras why wait until September rather than blitzing the place in March? If the problem was excessive gambling, why not just symbolic lightning strikes on the casinos and Randwick racecourse? After all, God promised in Genesis 9 not to use a flood as a means of destroying everything ever again, although strictly speaking Sydney is not all the world despite what its residents might think.

So whats the real harm in these predictions?

There are two harmful effects. The first is that people might believe that what is predicted might actually come to pass. When the world was gripped by predictions of the end of times a few years ago, NASA, for example, had to divert resources from its real business to explaining why the Earth cant instantaneously reverse its direction of spin, why the magnetic poles cant flip at a moments notice, and why there cant be a massive planet moving through the solar system without being detected. On a more serious matter, people sold or gave away all their possessions and in some parts of the world there were large numbers of suicides when the predictions didnt come true.

There is also the danger that people apply the induction I mentioned above and think that because these predictions were vacuous then all predictions can be ignored. In the middle of a drought, Sydneys water consumption has increased because the city has never actually run out of water. Some residents of the Blue Mountains arent prepared for bushfires because there isnt a big fire every time the Rural Fire Service issues a total fire ban. People drive while drugged or drunk because they have done it before without any problem.

A little critical thinking can go a long way.

To end on a lighter note, here is something to remember for the trivia night at your local pub. The English language has unashamedly borrowed words from other languages when those words express ideas that take a lot of words to say in English. Think schadenfreude from German, trio from Italian or algebra from Arabic. When I was young, big destructive waves were called tidal waves, but as they had nothing to do with tides a better word was needed for big waves caused by geophysical events so tsunami entered English from Japanese. Heres where the trivia part comes in. The initial phoneme (the first sound) in the Japanese pronunciation of the word does not occur in any dialect of English, so when we use a word that we all understand we mispronounce it because we really have no choice. I always knew the linguistics I studied at university would come in handy one day.
By David Reneke

Astronomers have spotted the most distant star ever seen as well as stunning auroras on Saturn.

More than halfway across the universe, an enormous blue star nicknamed Icarus is the most distant individual star ever seen. Normally it would be much too faint to view, even with the worlds largest telescopes, but through a quirk of nature that tremendously amplifies the stars feeble glow, astronomers using NASAs Hubble Space Telescope were able to pinpoint this faraway star and set a new distance record.

The star, harboured in a spiral galaxy, is so far away that its light has taken 9 billion years to reach Earth. It left there when the universe was about 30% of its current age. The discovery of Icarus through natures naturally occurring magnification boost has initiated a new way for astronomers to study individual stars in distant galaxies.

This is the first time were seeing a magnified, individual star, explained study leader Patrick Kelly, now of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. The cosmic quirk that makes this star visible is a phenomenon called gravitational lensing whereby gravity from a massive cluster of galaxies closer to Earth acts as a natural lens in space, bending and amplifying light.

Sometimes light from a single background object appears as multiple images. The light can be highly magnified, making extremely faint and distant objects bright enough to see.

In the case of Icarus, the magnified image is created by a galaxy cluster about 5 billion light years from Earth that sits between the Earth and the galaxy that contains the distant star. By combining the strength of this gravitational lens with Hubbles exquisite resolution and sensitivity, astronomers can see and study Icarus.

When NASAs James Webb Space Telescope is launched, astronomers expect to find many more stars like Icarus. Webbs extraordinary sensitivity will allow the measurement of even more details, including whether these distant stars are rotating. Such magnified stars may even become fairly common.

Hubbles Stunning Images of Saturns Brilliant Aurora

The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a series of stunning photos of Saturn showing the planets spectacular and breathtaking auroras over a period of 7 months.

On Earth, auroras are generated by solar winds that interact with charged particles in our magnetosphere. These charged particles, mainly protons and electrons, then rain into the ionosphere and travel along the planets magnetic field lines to the poles, creating lights in the night sky as other particles such as oxygen and nitrogen interact with each other.

The space-based telescope used its Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph to study auroras in Saturns northern hemisphere before and after the recent summer solstice. As a tantalising prelude, previous Hubble observations of Saturns auroras revealed the presence of radio wave activity, which is also associated with Earths auroras.

The variability of the auroras is influenced by both the solar wind and the rapid rotation of Saturn, which lasts only about 11 hours, the Hubble team stated.

They also noticed an unexpected variable. The northern aurora displays two distinct peaks in brightness, one at dawn and another just before midnight. The latter peak, unreported before, seems to be specific to the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetosphere at Saturns solstice.

Other planets have auroras, too, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Some exoplanets also show some evidence of auroral activity. However, auroras are unique to each planet. For instance, Jupiters permanent aurora is not caused by solar wind but some mysterious mechanism yet to be discovered. While Saturns main auroral ring seems to be generated by solar wind, there are patches of it that are not, which is still a mystery.
IMA Ponzi scheme case: A multi-crore scheme run by Karnataka-based I-Monetary Advisory (IMA) and its group entities allegedly duped lakhs of people by promising higher returns using Islamic ways of investment. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently investigating the case and has filed at least three FIRs. (File image of the CBI headquarters)

The Central Bureau of Investigation may give a clean chit to independent directors of IDBI Bank in the fraud case pertaining to Rs 600-crore loan given to Aircel promoter C Sivasankaran's companies. The CBI hasnt found any irregularities by independent directors and criminal action not established against independent directors, a source told Moneycontrol.

The agency had booked about 15 officials, including BSE chairman S Ravi and Aptech non-independent director Ninad Karpe. Ravi was the chairman of IDBI Bank's Audit Committee and was also on the boards of several companies and organisations. It may give relief to the independent directors on grounds that they took decision on the basis of the picture presented by the IDBI Bank management.

The scrutiny in the case has executives worried about taking up a board seat. After the action on independent directors, professionals will be cautious about taking up the board seat as an independent director, an independent director on the board of a bank told Moneycontrol.

The CBI in April, registered case against former Aircel promoter C Sivasankaran's companies  British Virgin Islands-based M/s Axcel Sunshine Limited and Finland-based Win Wind Oy  for allegedly defaulting on loans worth Rs 600 crore taken from IDBI Bank.

The agency had conducted searches at 50 places located across 10 cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Faridabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Belgaum, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Pune. The search operation included raids at the residences of MS Raghvan (former CMD, IDBI Bank), BK Batra (former DMD of IDBI Bank) and Mervin O Rego (former DMD of IDBI Bank and presently serving as CMD and CEO of Syndicate Bank). As a result, 15 former and serving officers of the bank were booked.

IDBI Bank had issued a statement saying that they had given a loan to Axcel Sunshine Ltd in February 2014, which became a non performing asset in December 2015. The bank said the loan has been fully provided for and it had initiated steps to recover the dues in August 2016.

According to information received earlier, it was reported that IDBI Bank had sanctioned the loan in October 2016.
CRUDE-OIL

Oil prices fell early on Thursday, extending losses in previous sessions, amid signs of rising supply and growing concerns that demand might weaken on the prospect of a global economic slowdown.

The Brent crude January futures contract lost 44 cents, or 0.32 percent, to trade at $74.72 per barrel by GMT 0054 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 46 cents to $65.01 a barrel.

Both benchmarks posted their worst monthly performance since July 2016 on Wednesday, with Brent falling 8.8 percent for the month and WTI dropping 10.9 percent.

Thursday's drops came after US Energy Information Administration data showed crude oil inventories climbed for a sixth straight week.

"The strong built in oil inventories is likely to keep downward pressure on oil prices," ANZ Research analysts said in a note.

Meanwhile a Reuters survey found the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) boosted oil production in October to its highest since 2016, as higher output led by the United Arab Emirates and Libya more than offset a cut in Iranian shipments due to US sanctions, set to start on November 4.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday in a presidential memorandum that he had determined there was sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products from nations other than Iran to permit a reduction in purchases from that country.

Also weighing on prices is growing concerns over the prospect of a global slowdown amid the ongoing US-China trade war, said Bruce Xue, an analyst with Huatai Great Wall Capital Management.

"Oil investors are now betting on the potential of global slowdown," Xue said.

China delivered disappointing PMI data, with its manufacturing sector in October expanding at its weakest pace in over two years.
Tata Steel

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The European Union probe of the joint venture between Tata Steel's European unit and thyssenkrupp could eventually lead to the sale of one or more assets under the new company, to clear the regulatory hurdle.

The "in-depth investigation" will review if the joint venture will reduce competition in the sector, especially in the niche segments that the joint venture will dominate.

In a similar review, ArcelorMittal had to sell plants in four countries earlier this year to clear its proposal to acquire Italy's largest steel company Ilva.

"Facilities of both the companies - Tata Steel Europe and thyssenkrupp - specialise in flat steel. It is very possible that the European Union will ask them to divest some of their assets," said a senior executive from the industry.

"If the JV is asked to divest facilities, then Port Talbot could be done," added the executive.

Port Talbot in Wales hosts UK's biggest steel facility owned by Tata Steel Europe.

The in-depth investigation is the second stage of the review, which was initially opened in September. The final verdict could come in two months.

The joint venture will emerge as the second largest steelmaker in Europe, after ArcelorMittal, with annual revenues of 17 billion euros and production of 21 million tons.

Dominant share

Including Ilva's facility, ArcelorMittal would have a market share of 40 percent in three products, hot rolled steel, cold rolled steel and galvanised steel. This had prompted the European Commission to begin a review of the proposed acquisition.

To clear the acquisition, ArcelorMittal sold its plants in Czech Republic, Romania, Macedonia and Italy to Liberty House, the UK -based group owned by Sanjeev Gupta.

The joint venture between Tata Steel Europe and thyssenkrupp will not be as dominant as ArcelorMittal. According to a report in Financial Times, the joint venture will have a 27 percent share in Europe's flat steel market.

But the share could increase considerably if sub-segments of the steel market is considered. The Commission has identified three of these segments - automotive steel, coated steel used for packaging and electrical steel.

The Port Talbot facility makes steel used in the automotive and packaging industries.
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Mumbai-based Prabhat Dairy plans to expand its goodness centres, which were launched in May, as it ventures on a retail expansion drive to more than double its annual revenue.

The centres sell products such as lassi, masala chaas and milk shakes.

The company, which has over 40,000 distributors in Maharashtra, plans to hand-pick franchisees that have the requisite real estate and willingness to invest Rs 4 lakh in the business, Joint Managing Director Vivek Nirmal told Moneycontrol.

Prabhat Dairy is keen on expanding its goodness zones as it wants to increase its retail reach and targets a revenue of Rs 1,000 crore in the next two years from Rs 400 crore at present.

Nirmal said a retailer can break even in four months thanks to 20 percent margin and rising demand for quality products in smaller cities.

The management plans to spend Rs 80,000 in the interiors and provide cooling solutions in each of the retail outlets. It has set aside Rs 30 crore for marketing and awareness initiatives around the goodness zone and is currently targeting places where it sells over 4,000 litres of milk.

The company is looking to expand franchisee outlets of 'Prabhat Goodness Zones' in Tier II and III towns of Maharashtra.

Started in 1998 by Founder and Chairman Sarangdhar Nirmal, Prabhat Dairy is an integrated milk and dairy products company producing ghee, flavoured milk, sweetened condensed milk, skimmed milk powder and packaged milk. Its sole manufacturing facility is located at Srirampur in Maharashtra.

Prabhat Dairy caters to retail and institutional customers and also sells co-manufactured products to a slew of institutional and multinational companies.

Excerpts from the interview:

A: Contribution is around 80 percent. We expect this to remain at these levels, but we see products like cheese and yogurt increasing against milk powders.A: Milk prices continue to remain weaker in India due to the overhang of inventories.A:We definitely see this happening. We see more and more consumers shifting to packaged milk in place of loose. We also see a lot of preference for packaged curd as against home preparation.

With a stronger cold chain and growth of organised retail, we see this shift happening faster. The strong role played by food regulator FSSAI is providing confidence to consumers of packaged dairy products.

A: More organised players in dairy will mean a more organised dairy industry. As far as milk procurement is concerned, its a tough play.

We have been working for more than a decade and finally have a very high tech milk procurement platform, sourcing from more than one lakh local farmers. Bigger companies will have to work on milk procurement to have a better business model.

A: We are now adding new milk packing stations on a job work model without investing on our own. We are expanding our consumer business more aggressively in vacant parts of the state. Our exports to the Middle East and Africa for butter and cheese is growing.A: We see that segment growing very fast among organised players. Players like us provide extensive support to farmers in financing, training and feed as well as by making direct bank payments. This creates a preference.A: We see it at normal levels as softer milk prices have been more or less passed to consumers. Government subsidy is also passed on to farmers.A: We are focusing on dairy beverages, which we launched this year, like lassi, masala chaas and milk shakes. We are also working aggressively towards expanding our franchisee outlets - Prabhat Goodness Zones - in Tier II and III towns of Maharashtra.
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The State Bank of India has moved the National Company Law Board to withdraw insolvency proceedings against Uttam Galva Steel.

The move comes after ArcelorMittal's decision to pay off the dues of Uttam Galva, a condition for the largest steelmaker in the world to become eligible to bid for Essar Steel.

A top executive from Uttam Galva confirmed the development but declined to give further details.

State Bank of India had taken the company to bankruptcy courts last year after Uttam Galva defaulted on debt repayments. The public sector bank is the lead lender to Uttam Galva, which had debts of about Rs 6,000 crore.

Eighteen banks, led by State Bank of India, have loaned to Uttam Galva.

ArcelorMittal has agreed to pay Rs 7,469 crore to clear dues of Uttam Galva and KSS Petron. The steel major was a significant shareholder in both the companies and despite exiting them, was asked by the Supreme Court to clear dues.

Clause 29A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code prevents promoters of defaulting companies from bidding for stressed assets.

But it remains to be seen if the payment will now lead to a change in ownership of Uttam Galva Steel.

ArcelorMittal has indicated it is a 'significant financial creditor' of Uttam Galva and is exploring options to take over the reigns. Uttam Galva, owned by the Miglani family, specialises in cold rolled steel and has an annual capacity of 1.2 million tons.
Danske Bank's interim chief executive said that it was too early to assess what damage Denmark's largest lender had sustained from a 200 billion euro ($230 billion) money laundering scandal and warned of potentially "big" fines.

Danske's third-quarter earnings on Thursday showed the bank's lending had increased across the Nordic countries, with solid activity among retail and commercial customers, giving its battered shares a welcome respite.

"We should be careful not to underestimate the undercurrent. Because if we look at the bank's reputation, we can see that it is under pressure," Jesper Nielsen told Reuters in a telephone interview following the results.

It was therefore too early to say whether the scandal could lead to a significant decline in business volumes, he said after Danske reported a 42 percent fall in third quarter pretax profit, largely the result of a previously announced donation it is making to initiatives to fight financial crime.

"One could have feared that a larger decline in the number of customers and a diminishing use of bank services could have had a greater negative impact," investment economist Per Hansen said in a note as Danske shares rose by as much as 6.5 percent.

Investors have been worried about potential fines resulting from the money laundering case, which is the subject of criminal investigations in Denmark, Estonia and the United States.

Before Thursday's increase, Danske's share price had almost halved since February.

BIG FINES

Nielsen said potential fines resulting from investigations in payments through Danske's Estonian branch between 2007 and 2015, many of which the bank said in September were suspicious, could be "big". He declined to elaborate, adding that no subpoenas have been issued so far.

In order to help the investigations, Danske would relieve others of confidentiality clauses, as it has done in the case of whistleblower Howard Wilkinson, who helped expose the scandal, Nielsen said.

Danske said its pretax profit dropped to 3.59 billion Danish crowns ($547 million), missing the 3.72 billion expected by analysts in a Reuters poll, after the 1.5 billion crown donation following the money laundering affair.

Nielsen said it had not yet been decided which specific projects would be supported. However, if any income from the non-resident Estonian portfolio becomes subject to confiscation by relevant authorities, it would be deducted from the donation.

Danske stuck to its full-year forecast from September for a net profit of between 16 and 17 billion Danish crowns.
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The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) will likely raise only Rs 40,000 crore in its next spectrum auction, much lower than the Rs 66,000 crore it had raised in 2016, The Economic Times reported.

This primarily because of the financial condition of the telecom sector and because many operators only need top-up spectrum now.

Banks, especially government-backed ones, are reluctant to lend further to telecom companies since they are already under a lot of debt, a senior DoT official told the paper.

The official said that the sector has undergone consolidation and operators have sufficient capacities now.

The DoT arrived at this figure on the premise that the government will reduce spectrum prices to the extent the regulator proposes. The final price of airwaves will be decided before November 15.

Competition is always good for the sector and we know, if we want more competition, we will need to lower the reserve price of spectrum. The price needs to keep the financial condition of the telecom sector in mind," the official was quoted as saying.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had recommended in August the auction of airwaves across the 4G bands of 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz and 2,500 MHz, other than 5G spectrum in the 3,300-3,600 MHz.

The starting prices for these were lower than those set in the 2016 sale, especially for the premium 700 MHz band, the base price for which was cut by 43 percent. The minimum rate for the next-generation 5G spectrum was set as Rs 492 crore.

Even this was found to be too expensive by industry players because of pressures of revenue and profitability. Experts compared this price to South Koreas Rs 65 crore per unit at a recent auction. An internal committee of the department said there was at least a 25 percent scope for further reduction in the 5G spectrums price.

A section of the department feels that we should make these calculations and reduce the price ourselves instead of sending it back to the regulator for a review since the regulator has already given its calculation, the official said.
Representative image

The US on Thursday revoked duty-free concessions on import of at least 50 Indian products, mostly from handloom and agriculture sectors, reflecting the Trump administration's tough stand on trade-related issues with New Delhi.

The federal register issued a notification, listing out 90 products which were so far subject to duty-free provisions under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).

President Donald Trump issued a presidential proclamation on Tuesday, leading to the removal of these products from the privilege beginning November 1.

As of November 1, these products "will no longer qualify for duty-free preferences under the GSP programme but may continue to be imported subject to regular Most Favored Nation duty-rates," an official of US Trade Representative told PTI.

A review of the products indicates that the presidential proclamation is not country specific, but product specific.

With India being the largest beneficiary of the GSP, it has been hit the most by the latest decision of the Trump administration.

The GSP, the largest and oldest US trade preference programme, is designed to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for thousands of products from designated beneficiary countries.

A count of these products indicated that at least 50 of them are from India. Notably India is the largest beneficiary of the GSP. In 2017, India's duty-free export to the US under the GSP was to the tune of more than USD 5.6 billion.

The volume of India's export to the US impacted by the latest move of the Trump administration is not known yet, but the list of products from which duty-free import provision has been removed reflects that a large number of small and medium size business could be impacted, in particular handloom and agricultural sector.

In his presidential proclamation, Trump said that certain 'de minimis' waivers will no longer be granted for any product, regardless of the country source, that exceeds the GSP's Competitive Need Limitation (CNL) thresholds. The CNL thresholds are quantitative ceilings on GSP benefits for each product and designated beneficiary country.

Trump said he had determined in 2017 certain beneficiary developing countries exported eligible articles in quantities exceeding the applicable competitive-need limitations.

"I hereby terminate the duty-free treatment for such articles from such beneficiary developing countries," he said.

Products from other countries like Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, Suriname, Pakistan, Turkey, the Philippines, Ecuador and Indonesia have also been removed from the GSP list.

Some of the prominent Indian products removed from the duty-free provisions of the GSP include dried pigeon pea seed; areca nuts, fresh or dried, in shell; turpentine gum; mangoes, prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid; sandstone, merely cut into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape; tin chlorides; barium chlorides; salts and esters of tartaric acid, nesoi; and trimethyl phosphite.

Full grain unsplit or grain split buffalo hide or skin; grain split whole buffalo leather, without hair on; whole buffalo skin leather (not full grain unsplits/grain splits); and full grain unsplit buffalo leather (not whole), have also been removed from the duty free the GSP list.

Dyed, plain weave certified hand-loomed fabrics of cotton, containing 85 percent or more cotton by weight; plain weave certified hand-loomed fabrics of cotton, containing 85 percent or more cotton by weight, hand-loomed carpet and other textile floor coverings, not of pile construction, woven, made up of man-made textile materials have also been removed.

Base metal clad with gold mixed link necklaces and neck chains and keyboard musical instruments, like harmoniums and similar keyboard instruments with free metal reeds are among the other propducts.

These products can still be exported to the US from India but they will be subject to regular tariffs.

In April, the US announced eligibility review of India for the GSP. According to the USTR, the total US imports under GSP in 2017 was USD 21.2 billion, of which India was the biggest beneficiary with USD 5.6 billion, followed by Thailand (USD 4.2 billion) and Brazil (USD 2.5 billion).

The programme has now been renewed through December 31, 2020.

FICCI in a submission to the USTR had said that the termination of the GSP would be contrary to the legislative objective and the history of the Trade Reform Act of 1974 of furthering the economic development of developing countries.

It would cause significant distress to the export-oriented sector leading to increased cost for US industries that use products under the GSP, it said.
The central government has approved a 'Safe City Project' for Lucknow at a total cost of Rs 194.44 crore under the Nirbhaya Fund Scheme with an aim to strengthen security of women in public places.

The city will soon have integrated smart control room, exclusive women outposts, pink toilets, night patrols of women police and women help desks in all police stations with counsellors.

The project would be implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme with the centre and the state sharing the funding in 60:40 ratio, an official release said Thursday.

It was approved by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs as part of its plans to implement Safe City Projects in eight selected cities -- Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Lucknow -- under the Nirbhaya Fund Scheme.

The project is being implemented in consultation with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology, respective municipal and police commissioners of the cities besides civil society organisations, the release said.

Incidentally, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is a Lok Sabha member from Lucknow.

The other components of the project are augmentation of existing Asha Jyoti Kendra, implementing safety measures in buses, including installation of cameras, improving street lighting and integration of women power helpline with single Emergency number '112'.

The project also envisages gender sensitisation awareness campaigns and capacity building in collaboration with community and civil society organisations.

It will be implemented by Uttar Pradesh Police, assisted by the municipal bodies and city transport authorities, the release said.
Chinese imports of scrap metal from the United States fell in September, according to customs data on Thursday, spelling out the impact of tariffs imposed by Beijing, while India and Iceland benefited from a boom in Chinese alumina exports.

China's General Administration of Customs said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday that it was making available to the public monthly data on the import and export of commodities, including the country of origin for imports and destination for exports.

Customs had previously provided such data for a fee but suspended this service in April.

A search of the data showed China imported 9,641,673 kilograms, or just 9,642 tonnes, of scrap copper from the United States in September, the most recent month available. That was down 80.1 percent from 50,243 tonnes of imports reported by customs a year earlier.

From January to September, scrap copper shipments from the United States fell 13.8 percent, according to Reuters calculations, to 335,636 tonnes.

China has been cutting imports of scrap and waste for environmental reasons, and in August imposed a 25 percent tariff on scrap material from the United States, one of its biggest suppliers, as part of a tit-for-tat trade row between the world's top two economies.

Partially replacing the U.S. volumes, scrap copper imports from Japan in September more than doubled to 46,446 tonnes from 19,198 tonnes a year earlier.

Imports of U.S. scrap aluminium, which were also hit with a 25 percent tariff in August on top of an earlier 25 percent retaliatory tariff in April, fell in September by 39 percent from a year earlier to 33,880 tonnes.

In the January to September, shipments were down a more modest 5.5 percent to 433,373 tonnes.

Meanwhile, the data also revealed that countries as far apart as Iceland, India and Cameroon have been buying Chinese alumina this year as China has been making rare exports of the aluminium raw material to cash in on a favourable arbitrage to international markets.

China's alumina exports surged more than fivefold from August to more than 165,000 tonnes in September.

The newly available data showed Iceland imported 39,524 tonnes in September, while India took 36,721 tonnes, Malaysia 29,199 tonnes, Russia 28,133 tonnes and Cameroon 16,400 tonnes.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

If the plans are executed as envisioned, soon, India could see aero-boats, double-decker electric buses and catamarans up and running between major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur.

Underlining scores of issues, including air pollution, traffic congestion and rising import bill, Union Minister for Road transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on November 1 said that he envisions "low cost, pollution free and import substitute" modes of transportation in India.

"I want to discourage use of private cars (due to pollution)... There is a big revolution in transportation sector and we must improve public transport," Gadkari said.

Suggesting various alternatives to roadways, Gadkari suggested starting double-decker electric buses between major cities and running aero-boats on Yamuna.

Broad Gauge Metro line

The Road Transport minister said that India could use broad gauge railway line to develop metro along the route.

"We can use existing broad gauge line of railways to start metro... This will run faster than usual express train (60 km/hr) and passenger train (80 km/hr) at 120 km/hr," he said.

He added that such a metro will soon be tested in Nagpur, his constituency, to run "frequent trips like Mumbai fast local. We are trying to use the rolling stock of broad gauge railway to run the Nagpur metro...," Gadkari said.

He said that such a metro would cost almost 1/100th the present railway line.

"A normal metro incurs a capital cost of Rs 350 crore per km but this one incurs only Rs 3 crore per km," he said.

He said that as the gauge line is already existing and the metro would use same signal system, the cost would be reduced.

The metro would be air-conditioned and will run almost three times as the regular railway, the minister said

Double-decker luxury buses

Apart from Railways, Gadkari suggested to start double decker electric buses to carry passengers between major cities in India.

He said that such buses could be run between Delhi - Jaipur, Delhi - Chandigarh and Mumbai - Pune.

"These buses can be connected to metro so that there is minimal use of private cars," he further added.

A similar idea was pitched by his ministry last year, when it proposed to start "luxury bus services".

These buses will "have separate decks for executive and economy" classes along with facilities like recliners, food and beverage availability and steward and hostess assistance, among others, sources had then told Moneycontrol.

"These double-decker buses will be air conditioned with stewards and hostesses serving food to passengers. The upper deck will be economy class and lower deck will be executive class," Gadkari said, adding that he would "urge the state governments" to give permission for the same.

"Bus ports", modelled on the lines of airports could be created that will serve as dedicated parking bays at select locations for the luxury fleet.

Gadkari said that India faces problem of "purchasing power" thus providing an "affordable yet luxury" travel experience to the citizens must be the government's priority.

After Ganga, Gadkari has set hib eyes on Yamuna to provide water transportation in the river.

He said that a Russia based company will soon launch catamaran in India to run water-transport.

"They have combined the technology of aviation, ships and road transport, "he said adding that the first catamaran could well be between Delhi and Agra before January 26 next year.

A catamaran is like a ship with two parallel hulls of equal sizes. The name originated from Tamil word "Kattumaram" which means "two logs tied together".

The hybrid-aeroboats run on petrol, electricity or methanol and runs at a speed of 80 km/hr, going up to 170 km/hr.

"I have requested the Russian company to hand over a seven seater catamaran so that we can start it on pilot basis," Gadkari said.

Gadkari added that apart from Delhi and Agra, it can be run in Ganga between Varanasi and Haldia. India has four river ports at Varanasi, Ghazipur, Sahibganj and Haldia where these catamarans can be stationed.

According to officials, the Centre is "keen" on trying these aero-boats on waterways during Kumbh 2019.

"While the boat is majorly manufacturd at St Petersburg (Russia) but it can be manufactured in India as well because the parts used in the boat are available in India," officials said.

Aero-public transport

Lastly, Gadkari said that India will soon have air-based public transport to carry people around hilly and mountainous terrain.

He said that an Austrian company will enter into a joint venture with state-run Wapcos to develop the same.

The Union Minister made these suggestions during the release of 'Ease of Mobility Index' which was carried out by Ola Mobility Institute. The survey, carried across 20 cities, revealed that about 60 percent of respondents used public transport to commute. About 72 per cent respondents further said that better integration of public transport could significantly improve its preference among citizens.
Excerpts from the DEA Secretary's 26 October letter to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) fears significant default from large non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) and housing finance companies (HFCs) in the next 6 weeks if additional liquidity support is not forthcoming.

In a 26 October letter to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) discussing the financial stability impact of the IL&FS default, the DEA described the financial situation (as) still fragile.

Moneycontrol has reviewed a copy of this letter.

The letter points out that a prolonged liquidity crunch could hurt fund mobilisation in the debt market, impact productive sectors and affect economic growth at a time when India has emerged as one of the fastest growing major economies in the world.

According to the DEA, about Rs 2 lakh crore of NBFC/HFC debt is due for redemption or rollover by the end of December 2018. The department estimates a funding gap of as much as Rs 1 lakh crore by the end of the year if the pace of fundraising seen in the first half of October (about Rs 20,000 crore or 68 percent lower than the same period in August) is sustained.

A further Rs 2.7 lakh crore of commercial paper and non-convertible debetures will be due for redemption over January -March 2019, the letter said.

Without additional liquidity support a significant default from among the largest NBFC and HFC could occur within six weeks and the financing cycle of productive sector would be adversely affected, the letter states.

The DEA's fears underline key issues in the ongoing spat between the Reserve Bank of India and the government. The government wants the central bank to provide liquidity support to NBFCs and HFCs, and relax lending strictures for weak banks. The RBI, on the other hand, believes that the liquidity situation is under control and is loath to relax its rules for weak banks with the NPA problem still on the mend.

NBFCs and HFCs are increasingly significant for credit flow to the economy capturing the space ceded by weak public sector banks. Their business model is largely founded on borrowing from banks and mutual funds to finance their loans. After the IL&FS default which led to the sale of debt and redemption in mutual funds  with outflows of Rs 2.11 lakh crore in September - NBFCs source of funding has dried up.

In a Financial Development and Stability Council (FSDC) meeting on 30 October, the government warned the central bank about the NBFC liquidity crisis spilling over to other sectors. The RBI is said to have assured the government that the liquidity situation has not gone out of hand and has continued to provide systemic durable liquidity through open market purchase of government bonds.

The outcome of that meeting appears to have triggered a full-blown confrontation between the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank. Media reports were abuzz yesterday that the government had or was considering invoking a rare law (Section 7 of the RBI Act) to make the central bank act on its view, and that RBI Governor had threatened to resign on this subject.

It later took the Finance Ministry to issue a statement, saying the autonomy of the central bank was essential.

A prolonged liquidity distress will significantly erode the NBFCs' credit standing, and prove negative for the broader economy as a slowdown in credit growth will dampen overall consumption and economic growth, credit rating firm Moody's Investor Service said in a October 15 note.

However, commentary from the management of a few financial sector firms indicates that liquidity pressures might be waning. HDFC Asset Management Company, for instance, said liquid funds under management grew to Rs 75,000 crore in October compared to an average Rs 40,000 -50,000 crore. In an analyst call, Reliance Nippon Asset Management said inflows into liquid funds in October outpaced the outflows seen in September.

Given support coming in from banks for a buyout or onward lending, inflow into liquid funds, and RBIs OMO, we believe its safe to assume that the risk-related to maturity of NBFCs/HFCs is likely to wane over the next 20 days, said Edelweiss Research in a 1 November note.

The DEA letter said that in view of maintaining financial stability, the new board of IL&FS led by veteran banker Uday Kotak should continue as it would restore confidence and trust of the financial markets.

On 31 October, the new board submitted a broad resolution plan for IL&FS which included capital infusion at the group level, selling subsidiaries and resolution for specific assets.
Amid reports of its mounting tension with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the finance ministry on November 1 said the government has "nurtured and respected" autonomy of the central bank and has been holding extensive consultations with it on many issues.

"The autonomy for the central bank, within the framework of the RBI Act, is an essential and accepted governance requirement. Government of India has nurtured and respected this," it said in a statement.

The government has also for the first time ever used a provision of law to ask the RBI for resolution of differences between them on stressed loans in power sector and other issues, sources privy to the development said.

CNBC-TV18 spoke with Bimal Jalan, former RBI governor; Arvind Virmani, chairman, EGROW; Ananth Narayan, professor, SPJIMR; SS Mundra, former deputy governor, RBI and Yashwant Sinha, former union finance minister, on this issue.

Jalan said the government seeking to de-escalate its stand-off with the RBI is a very positive and very welcome move, "What was going on for the last two three days was a matter of concern and that I hope now will start on a new path as it were."

Narayan said, "Todays communication was clearly welcome. The fact that we havent yet crossed the brink, we are still at a negotiating table in some sense is extremely welcome news and the markets obviously also welcomed it.

Edited Excerpts:

You must have seen the letter. What are your first thoughts  do you think its a good end to what would have been ugly?

Jalan: It is very positive and very welcome. What was going on for the last two three days that was a matter of concern and that I hope now will start on a new path as it was.

Could both sides have deescalated it earlier- you have seen the RBI for 4-5 decades. Consultation under Section 7 is avoidable you thought?

Jalan: I dont want to comment on the earlier differences which emerged. I wont comment on who is wrong and right and so on. But the more important thing is there was a difference of views and that was aired in public, which was a matter of concern but now that the government has announced that everything is resolved in terms of two institutions talking to each other that is a very welcome step.

Any further comments on the prompt corrective action (PCA) into which weak banks were put. We are given to understand that MSMEs and SMEs need capital and government wanted those rules relaxed  any thoughts on this the RBI did not want weak banks to be allowed to lend to companies below A rating, was that the right way to go?

Jalan: I dont want to comment on the right way to go. The only comment I can make is as far as SMEs are concerned and it is most important that they have accessible credit and we have to analyse the reason why there was a problem in terms of repayment and so on and then take a measure.

On the other issue any thoughts, the RBIs capital  the central bank's position I would assume would have been that this is retained earnings over many years and therefore should not be spent in one-year but the government would perhaps want to for capitalising banks or for other social purposes. Should the RBIs capital be touched?

Jalan: I dont think you should put it as capital being touched. I think its like any other institution, the RBI when it has a surplus cash or whatever they may transfer it to the government in terms of dividends as you have seen. It has capital, it has high reserves, so it can transfer to the government as it wishes in consultation with the government.

Source: CNBC-TV18
Federal_reserve

The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday it wants to ease regulations for US lenders with less than $700 billion in assets, a way to lessen the burden on big commercial lenders that do not have volatile Wall Street businesses.

Under the Fed proposal, midsized lenders including US Bancorp, Capital One Financial Corp, PNC Financial Corp and Charles Schwab Corp would face lower liquidity and compliance requirements, and smaller banks would get even easier treatment.

The proposal stems from a law Congress passed in May that ordered the Fed to reduce regulatory burdens on community and regional lenders.

Under the proposal, which is subject to a comment period and may be revised, there would be four tiers of regulation for banks with over $100 billion in assets.

Those with $250 billion to $700 billion in assets could enjoy a reduced liquidity coverage ratio (LCR), which requires banks to hold high-quality assets that could easily be turned into cash. Banks in that range could see their liquidity requirements reduced by as much as 30 percent, the Fed said.

Smaller banks would have even less restrictive requirements and face stress tests of their capital plans less often than the annual exam the Fed now conducts.

Randal Quarles, the Fed's vice chair for supervision, said the changes should "meaningfully" reduce compliance costs for banks without injecting significant new risk into the banking system. "These proposals embody an important principle: the character of regulation should match the character of a firm," he said. Globally systemic banks based in the United States that have large capital markets businesses would not be affected by the proposed changes. Those include JPMorgan Chase & Co, Bank of America Corp, Citigroup Inc, Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley.

The proposal also gives the Fed flexibility to impose stricter rules on banks with less than $700 billion in assets if they engage in higher levels of risky activity.

The banking industry expressed disappointment. The proposal falls short and fails to address underlying issues with bank regulations, the Bank Policy Institute said.

"It does not do enough to tailor regulations based on banks' risk profiles," said Greg Baer, who heads the group.

The proposal was also met with criticism from advocates for stricter rules on Wall Street.

"Deregulating some of the largest banks in the country will make the financial system less safe, less stable and less protected from another crash," said Dennis Kelleher, president and CEO of the pro-reform group Better Markets.

One Fed governor, Lael Brainard, voted against the proposal, arguing it went beyond Congress's intent and exposed the financial system to unnecessary risk.

Although the proposal did not address US subsidiaries of foreign banks, the Fed said it intends to propose a separate rule for them "in the near future." It is also working with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on changes to a requirement that big banks create plans for dismantlement in case of failure, known as living wills.
Canara Bank | Bank reported higher profit at Rs 444.1 crore in Q2FY21 against Rs 364.9 crore, net interest income jumped to Rs 6,296 crore from Rs 3,129 crore YoY.

Moneycontrol News

Shares of Canara Bank fell almost 3 percent in early trade despite reporting a strong result for the September quarter.

The company reported a quarterly net profit of Rs 299.5 crore, a 15.4 percent jump from the same quarter last year.

The lender's net interest income grew 17.9 percent YoY to Rs 3,281 crore.

Canara Bank's Gross NPA ratio at the end of September 2018 was 10.56 percent, slightly higher than 10.51 percent recorded at the end of September 2017.

At 0924 hours, Canara Bank was quoting at Rs 257, down 1.89 percent.
Tata Motors | Company sold 49,650 vehicles in November 2020 against 41,124 units in November 2020. (Image: Reuters)

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Tata Motors on Thursday has reported a healthy 18 percent on year growth in October sales to 57,710 units due to strong sales performance of commercial and passenger vehicles segments in the domestic market.

The company sold 48,886 units in same month last year.

The company also registered a massive 36 percent growth in cumulative sales during April-October period to 3,97,062 units compared to 2,91,673 units sold in same period last year.

"The focus continues on aggressive sales enhancement, rigorous cost reduction and supply debottlenecking," Tata Motors said in its filing.

Commercial vehicles sales in the domestic market, which contributed 68 percent to total sales, grew by 22 percent year-on-year to 39,420 units in October, led by the continued acceptance of the BS4 products.

"Despite the liquidity constraints faced as of mid-September, the commercial vehicles industry continues to grow on the back of strong economic activities, with growth in Index of Industry production (IIP) and core sectors," the company said.

An early resolution to the liquidity crunch issue in the market will help sustain the growth momentum with fundamental drivers of demand still positive, it added.

The M&HCV truck segment registered a 16 percent growth YoY due to government spending on infrastructure projects, affordable housing and irrigation projects.

Its I&LCV truck segment reported a 29 percent growth led by the e-commerce sector, increased rural consumption and supported by new products.

However, its commercial passenger carrier segment recorded sales of 3,185 units, lower by 2 percent compared to October 2017, impacted due to the slowdown in the procurement of buses by STUs and the permits for private hiring, Tata Motors said.

Its passenger vehicles sales grew by 11 percent year-on-year to 18,290 units in month gone by.

Tata Motors introduced 4 new product interventions (Tiago NRG, Nexon KRAZ limited edition, all-new Tigor and the JTP range of cars) to maximise this festive season.

At 15:26 hours IST, the stock was quoting at Rs 178.55, down Rs 0.10, or 0.06 percent on the BSE.
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The Q2 FY19 earnings of Dalmia Bharat, Indias fourth largest cement manufacturer, was in line with other industry majors. Double-digit volume growth drove sales, but profit came in softer as the increase in operating costs dented margin. Despite cost challenges, the company continues to deliver industry leading volume growth in the sector through superior execution. The company has consistently outperformed its peers and is gradually expanding its presence through organic and inorganic routes.

Q2 revenue rose 13 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 2,158 crore. The company sold 4.5 million tonne of cement during the quarter gone by, a volume growth of 13 percent. Strong demand across its key operating markets (east and south) drove volume growth in Q2.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin declined 330 bps YoY as the sector is facing challenging times on the cost front. Power and fuel costs as well as freight expenses have witnessed a sharp rise in the last 12 months.

Realisations remained stable quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) but picked up marginally on a YoY basis as the company benefitted from premiumisation. The company introduced fine blend composite (FBC) cement (mix of clinker, slag and fly ash) in the market last year and has seen positive traction in volumes in this product since its launch.

Despite stable realisation, EBITDA per tonne dipped to Rs 944 as unitary cost increased 4 percent QoQ.

Operational performance was significantly better than UltraTech Cement, ACC and Ambuja Cements. EBITDA per tonne continues to be much ahead of its peers.

The management has increased focus on operating efficiencies and cost rationalisation measures. Petcoke usage constitutes around 57 percent of the current fuel mix. The company is increasingly looking at alternate sources to optimise its cost structure. The recently secured coal linkage should result in further cost savings. Also, easing of axle norms should help reduce freight expenditures.

Amalgamation with Orrisa Cement (now OCL India) is complete. The company plans to list OCL in Q3 FY19 and expects the combined merged entity to be listed in early Q4 through a share swap agreement.

The company has also completed acquisition of Kalyanpur Cements (1.1 million tonne capacity) and the subsidiary has been renamed DDSPL. The management has been able to revive clinker production from this plant over five months and aims to start commercial operations from November.

The company is still awaiting the National Company Law Tribunal and Supreme Courts final decision on Murli Industries and Binani Cement, respectively.

Demand for cement has been fairly strong in H1 FY19. However, pricing power remains elusive as industry leaders prefer to chase volumes. Prices as well as demand should remain stable in the run-up to general and state elections.

Despite the higher competitive intensity, Dalmia has been able to outperform the industry both on volumes as well as margin front. High debt and muted price environment remains a concern, but strong cash flows and acquisition synergies should help pare debt and improve return ratios over the next couple of years.

The company has delivered fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit volume growth and remains our preferred pick among large sized cement companies. We expect it to outperform peers in the largecap cement space.
Over the past many weeks, we have brought you many reports on the Reserve Bank of India - we have dug deep into the tenure of Urjit Patel; we have done multiple explainers on the repo rate and what the impacts of a hike in repo rates are; we tried to understand what Dr Raghuram Rajan had to say about the issue of burgeoning non-performing assets in the banking sector; and more.

Today, we bring to you a story with no precedence. On this edition of Digging Deeper with Moneycontrol, we present to you the many narratives around Section 7 of the RBI Act. This Act has been debated heatedly as the tension between the Central government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) comes to a boiling point. At the heart of the contention is Reserve Bank of India's autonomy. Section 7 is the controversial provision in the RBI Act which empowers the government to issue directions to the RBI. Incidentally, this has never been enforced in the history of independent India.

Autonomy, as you know, is a powerful word in a democracy. The meaning of autonomy however, is being undermined in many parts of the world. And some analysts are of the opinion that that threat has come a-knocking at RBIs door. My name is Rakesh Sharma, and you are listening to Digging Deeper with Moneycontrol.

An overview

With no intent to compare the health of democracies in the world, because each nation including India has a unique set of governing parameters, let us right at the onset, just glance at how various kinds of autonomies are faring under different governments.

Let us begin with Brazil. The Guardian equates the election of Jair Bolsonaro, a seven-term lawmaker and former army captain as the President as a clear and present danger not only to his country but to the planet. Apart from his clear disregard for democratic norms and disdain for inclusive policies, he is known to favour business over biodiversity, and has come out against the policy of reserving 12 percent of the countrys land for indigenous tribes, and has committed to weaken the enforcement of environmental laws and to criminalise activism. The Donald Trump of Brazil, the moniker he goes by, should explain a whole lot.

Even without clear directives straight from the horse's mouth, similar tendencies are noticed across countries where biodiversity is shrinking along with the power of autonomous bodies.

In the US, the government, including its most vocal representative, has infamously rolled back environmental provisions to allow companies more elbow room to mine natural resources. The US has now openly articulated its stand on climate change denial. And NDTV reported just hours ago that US President Donald Trump has claimed that no constitutional amendment is required to do away with the 'birthright citizenship'. This is the process by which babies born in the country to non-US nationals automatically become citizens. Trump wants to use executive powers to do away with it.

This, despite the fact that this form of citizenship is clearly entrenched in the 14th Amendment and cannot be undone by a president. This comes on top of his success in establishing a political and ideological ally in the highest seat of law in the form of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh despite uproarious criticism. And then there are the daily twitter storms from the man to undermine rational and fact checking voices in the media and the autonomous functioning of the FBI.

An essay by independent watchdog Freedom House claims that democracy faced its most serious crisis in decades in 2017, as its basic tenets  including guarantees of free and fair elections, the rights of minorities, freedom of the press, and the rule of law  came under attack around the world.

We quote, "Seventy-one countries suffered net declines in political rights and civil liberties, with only 35 registering gains. This marked the 12th consecutive year of decline in global freedom. The United States retreated from its traditional role as both a champion and an exemplar of democracy amid an accelerating decline in American political rights and civil liberties. Over the period since the 12-year global slide began in 2006, 113 countries have seen a net decline, and only 62 have experienced a net improvement."

The developments in Turkey, Hungary, the ruthless militarisation and ethnic cleansing in Myanmar, Right-wing populism gaining votes and parliamentary seats in France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria during 2017 show a decline in democratic ways that the world had come to take for granted.

Freedom House says, "The eventual outcome of these trends, if unchecked, is obvious. The replacement of global democratic norms with authoritarian practices will mean more elections in which the incumbents victory is a foregone conclusion. It will mean a media landscape dominated by propaganda mouthpieces that marginalize the opposition, while presenting the leader as omniscient, strong, and devoted to national aggrandizement. It will mean state control over the internet and social media through both censorship and active manipulation that promotes the regimes message while confusing users with lies and fakery. And it will mean more corruption, injustice, and impunity for state abuses."

Add to this worrisome mix, oppression of dissenters, murders of journalists and whistle-blowers, and what we have is a dark and dangerous time. World, its time for a crisis huddle. We simply need to do better.

Coming back to the subject at hand, as the world's largest democracy, do we need to set an example by preserving the robust autonomy of key institutions? We have been doing so but experts worry that even small deviances from this path can have far-reaching consequences. Lets get to it.

Decoding Section 7

According to an Economic Times report, the government has invoked Section 7 which as we said before has never been used before. The Economic Times says, Exercising powers under this section, the government has sent several letters to the RBI governor Urjit Patel in recent weeks on issues ranging from liquidity for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), capital requirement for weak banks and lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The RBI is an entity independent of the government as it takes its own decisions, says the piece, and till now it has done exactly that.

This provision in the RBI Act is contained in its Section 7 which says:

1) The Central Government may from time to time give such directions to the Bank as it may, after consultation with the Governor of the Bank, consider necessary in the public interest.

2) Subject to any such directions, the general superintendence and direction of the affairs and business of the Bank shall be entrusted to a Central Board of Directors which may exercise all powers and do all acts and things which may be exercised or done by the Bank.

3)Save as otherwise provided in regulations made by the Central Board, the Governor and in his absence the Deputy Governor nominated by him in this behalf, shall also have powers of general superintendence and direction of the affairs and the business of the Bank, and may exercise all powers and do all acts and things which may be exercised or done by the Bank.

What was the reason behind the government invoking Section 7?

The government and the RBI have not been congenial for a while. The skirmishes with former RBI Governor, Raghuram Rajan have been well-documented. As NDTV reported recently, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has termed as a "roving enquiry" an RTI plea seeking to know details of bad loans submitted by former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan to it.

The PMO has said the query does not come under the definition of "information" in the RTI Act.

More recently, the government and the RBI have been struggling to find a middle ground regarding another issue. While the government maintains that easing of lending rules for the banks under the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework could help reduce pressure on MSMEs, RBI has argued, according to The Economic Times, that such a move would put the clock back and undo clean-up efforts. The Economic Times says, "With the credit markets tightening after the IL&FS (Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited) default in September, non-banking finance companies lobbied the government for more liquidity. But RBI maintained its position since the banking system did not witness any spike in borrowing costs and the market was just repricing risk in an evolving situation."

It was a recent court order suggesting that the government consider giving directions to RBI under Section 7 of RBI Act in a case involving independent power producers that may have opened up the avenue for the Centre. According to The Economic Times, power companies had contested a February 12 circular by RBI that said if a borrower misses a payment even for a day, it would be considered a defaulter even though the account will remain standing in the books of the bank.

Among other issues that the government and the RBI seem to not see eye-to-eye on is the classification of non-performing assets (NPAs) and setting up a payments regulator independent of the RBI.

Is Section 7 an avoidable step?

Viral Acharya, the deputy governor of the RBI, has been a vociferous voice of dissent in this imbroglio. This may be a far-fetched comparison but just as in January this year, four retired judges, including an ex-Supreme Court judge, wrote an open letter to the chief justice of India, to express concern at the state of affairs in the countrys top court, Acharya has openly taken a stance against any interference in the affairs of the RBI.

In a speech he made last week, the tensions between the RBI and the government has spilled out into the public domain.

Acharya has advocated for RBI's autonomy for long-term financial stability in the country. We quoteThe Economic Times again, "This section has never been used in till now. It was not used even when the country was close to default in the dark days of 1991, nor in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis. It is not clear how this Section operates since it has never been used. The aggressive move could scandalise a section of academia and experts, while raising questions about the governments intentions and the impact on RBI's autonomy."

The justifications

NDTV reported sometime back what the government's stand in this argument is. Sources in the government say that "extensive consultations" with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) were in public interest. However the RBI has not taken kindly to this view. We quote NDTV, "TV channels reported that RBI Governor Urjit Patel may consider resigning if the government did use its powers to control his decisions and encroach upon the central bank's domain. It was the letters that were reportedly the provocation behind Deputy Governor Viral Acharya's hard-hitting speech at an event on Friday, in which he warned that toying with the central bank's independence could be "potentially catastrophic.

NDTV also cites Acharya's speech, "Governments that do not respect central bank independence will sooner or later incur the wrath of financial markets, ignite an economic fire, and come to rue the day they undermined an important regulatory institution."

While Virals speech went viral online, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accused RBI of "looking the other way" while banks were lending indiscriminately.

The ministry said: "The government has never made public the subject matter of those consultations. Only the final decisions taken are communicated. The government, through these consultations, places its assessment on issues and suggests possible solutions. The government will continue to do so."

Interestingly, according to NDTV, the RBI has put lending curbs on some weak state-run banks, while the government, facing the 2019 national election, wants to ensure banks continue to lend to boost economic growth.

More explanations

Former Vice Chairman of the NITI Aayog, Arvind Panagariya, told The Quints Editorial Director Sanjay Pugalia that differences between the government and the Bank were not unheard of in the past and invoking Section 7 wouldnt amount to unconstitutional behaviour. TOI has reported as well that the government seems to be advocating RBI's autonomy but within a framework. The paper cited sources in the government as saying, "the autonomy of the central bank, within the framework of the RBI Act, is an essential and accepted governance requirement." The government added that "governments in India have nurtured and respected this."

The finance ministry, in a statement, said and we quote, "Both the government and the central bank, in their functioning, have to be guided by public interest and the requirements of the Indian economy. For the purpose, extensive consultations on several issues take place between the government and the RBI from time to time. This is equally true of all other regulators."

The ramifications

An opinion on Firstpost said that a public quarrel of this scale will further dent an already subdued business and investor confidence. Amid rising oil prices and the weakening rupee and the current account deficit, there is much to consider in the economic front. It said, RBIs quarterly consumer confidence survey for June-September 2018 shows a dip in the current situation index, with a rise in pessimism relating to the economic situation, employment and prices.

An even more important question is this: If we cannot trust the country's central banking institution to run our financial affairs autonomously, then who can we trust?
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan handed over keys of 192 flats, built for families of fishermen, whose homes were destroyed due to sea erosion in various villages in Thiruvananthapuram district.

The 'Prathiksha' (Hope) apartment complex, built at nearby Muttathara, will rehabilitate the families who were rendered homeless by ea erosion and rough seas in Valiyathura, Cheriyathura and other fishing villages here.

The first-of-its-kind project has been constructed by the state government under Mission LIFE (Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment) which envisages a comprehensive housing scheme for all the landless and homeless in the state. Each flat has two bedrooms, a hall, a kitchen and a lavatory.

The complex also has amenities like a library, community hall and sanitation facilities, constructed at a cost of rs 2.5 Crore. It will also help relocate fishing families living in areas close to the sea. Situated on 3.5 acres, these 24 units of eight flats each were constructed at a cost of rs 20 Crore. "The apartment complex in Muttathara is the best flat complex so far constructed for fisherfolk", Vijayan said in a tweet.

The fishing families rendered homeless in the 2016 sea erosion at Veliyathur and those who had lost their homes in rough seas since 2012 and were forced to live in schools turned into relief camps are beneficiaries of the project.

The foundation stone for the complex was laid by the chief minister last year.

Fisheries minister J Mercykutty, presided over the function.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) may ask rating agencies to separate their rating entity and their non-rating businesses in order to avoid conflicts of interest, The Economic Times reported.

The market regulator is considering a proposal to overhaul the role of credit rating agencies (CRAs) in the wake of the IL&FS crisis.

The proposal states that there should not be anything linking the two other than shareholding and that there should be no repatriation of dividend or profit from the non-rating businesses to the company that owns the rating business.

Read  Rating agencies blame lack of timely default data for lag in IL&FS downgrade: Sources

SEBI is also planning to bring a framework on compensation for rating agencies to ensure that there is a disincentive for them to assign aggressive ratings, the newspaper reported.

The regulator believes the move may pave way for rating agencies to deal with conflicts and assign a non-biased rating. These ratings are fundamental to any debt instrument and a vital piece of information in the investment process of fixed income instruments.

"Currently, there is no transparency in the way credit rating agencies are getting compensated. This will bring transparency and accountability," a fund manager with a domestic asset management company was quoted as saying.

Read  IL&FS Transportation defaults on interest payment of NCDs

SEBI is also reportedly considering a rotation of rating agencies, wherein no rating agency would be appointed to a company for two consecutive terms.

The regulator may also tweak its rules to have at least two ratings in a case where the issuance amount is over Rs 100 crore, and three rating agencies in the case the amount exceeds Rs 500 crore.

"The proposal of requiring multiple ratings depending upon the size of an issue, while carrying a decent logic, would be yet one more regulatory prescription which only bolster their business further, that too in the immediate aftermath of the IL&FS rating fiasco," S Raman, former whole time member of SEBI, was quoted as saying.

Read  IL&FS faces more embarrassment as Ind-Ra downgrades MF schemes

Apart from these measures, SEBI is planning a range of measures to strengthen the standards for ratings and disclosures, the news daily reported.

It has proposed that if a subsidiary company gets support from its parent company, or if a company gets support from the government, the rating agency will be obligated to disclose the name of the said parent company or government that will help fulfill debt obligations if necessary.

SEBI is also planning to introduce a specific section on liquidity among key rating drivers that will highlight liquid investments or cash surpluses for servicing debt obligation over next one year, so that investors are aware of the liquidity situation of an issuer.

The regulator will discuss all these proposals at a meeting with credit rating agencies this week.

The credit rating industry has come under scrutiny after rating agencies that assessed IL&FS failed to pick up signals of financial trouble brewing at the lender.

SEBI is considering a probe to see whether proper due diligence was carried out by the rating agency at the time of assigning credit ratings to the company.

There are seven rating agencies registered with SEBI, including CRISIL, Care Ratings, Ind-Ra, and ICRA.
Markets regulator SEBI has imposed a fine of Rs 1 crore on Kolkata-based Vibgyor Allied Infrastructure and three company directors for failing to repay the money to investors collected illegally.

In an order, SEBI said it imposes penalty of Rs 1 crore on Vibgyor Allied and its directors, Rabindra Nath Dey, Raja Bhadra and Rana Bhadra, to be paid "jointly and severally."

The regulator in February 2014 through an order directed the entities to refund the money to the investors after it found that the entities had issued optionally fully convertible debentures (OFCDs) to 49,562 investors and raised an amount of Rs 61.76 crore without complying with requirements relating to the public issue.

After an appeal by the entities against SEBI in SAT (Securities Appellate Tribunal), the tribunal in January 2016 directed entities to comply with regulator's direction passed in February 2014.

The entities have not paid to the investors and thus the claim of repayment to investors by them proved to be false and incorrect, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said in an order dated October 31.

"Noticees (Vibgyor and its directors) not only failed to repay to the investors but continuously endeavours to solicit more funds," the regulator noted.

The entities "have grossly failed to comply with SEBI February 2014 order... and consider it as a fit case for imposition of maximum penalty," it said.

In a separate order, SEBI imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh each on Suresh Nenmalji Malvi and Minaben Prafulbhai Shah for failing to disclose the change in their shareholding in the SMS Techsoft to the BSE under SAST (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has invited companies in Botswana to seize business opportunities in India, which he said is moving rapidly on the path of economic transformation.

Addressing business leaders at the 13th Global Expo Botswana 2018 on October 31, Naidu said Botswana and India enjoy a longstanding and enduring partnership as the two countries share common values of democracy and strong people-to-people ties.

Naidu, who arrived on October 31 on the first leg of his three-nation visit to Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi, inaugurated the expo along with his Botswanian counterpart Slumber Tsogwane. Twenty-five Indian companies have taken part in the expo, the largest participation from a single country.

"India commends Botswana's significant role in integrating its regional partners and promoting inclusive growth for Africa, he said.

"I come from a country that has, from time immemorial, believed that the entire world is one large family. It is a country that has espoused peaceful co-existence among nations. It is a country that believes that all the countries should work together to improve human lives," he said.

India's engagement with Africa over the last four years has been unprecedented, Naidu said.

"Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set out 10 guiding principles to take our relationship with Africa to even greater heights," he added.

"In the India-Africa Forum Summit in 2015, India pledged overall lines of credit of $10 billion for Africa, in addition to $600 million as grant and 50,000 scholarships. We are well on our way to fulfilling these pledges," he said.

India-Botswana business ties have been growing steadily over the years, he said. "Our bilateral trade is valued at $1.75 billion in 2017-18. It is impressive to note that our trade has increased by 26 percent during 2017-18."

India is moving rapidly on the path of economic transformation with an annual growth rate of over 7 percent and presents multiple opportunities for Botswana entrepreneurs in various sectors, he added.

"Transformative taxation reforms like the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) has made India a transparent and an integrated market with greater ease of doing business," he said.

"Aiming to make India the third largest consumer market in the world, we are moving forward to build a five-trillion-dollar economy by 2025," he said.

"Today, in India, there is a new enthusiasm, a new dynamism and a new quest for excellence in all spheres," Naidu said.

The vice president said the Modi government has launched flagship schemes like Swachh Bharat, Make in India, Skill India, Digital India, industrial corridors and smart cities development programmes and asked Botswana companies to "seize these current and emerging" business opportunities.

Naidu's six-day Africa visit is aimed at boosting bilateral ties with Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

During the visit, Naidu's official engagements include meeting presidents of the countries, holding bilateral meetings with his counterparts and delegation level talks, and interacting with business groups and Indian communities.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping

US President Donald Trump on November 1 said trade discussions with China were "moving along nicely" and that he planned to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming G-20 summit, after the two had a "very good" talk.

Earlier on November 1, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told a group of visiting US politicians that China and the United States could overcome their differences and get relations back on track if they worked together in a spirit of mutual respect.

China and the United States are locked in an increasingly bitter trade war, and both countries have already placed tariffs on some of each others' imports.

Trump has long threatened to impose tariffs on all $500 billion-plus goods that the United States imports from China if Beijing fails to meet his demands for sweeping changes to its policies on intellectual property, technology transfers, industrial subsidies and local market access.

He and Xi are due to attend the G20 summit in Argentina, which starts at the end of this month.

"Just had a long and very good conversation with President Xi Jinping of China. We talked about many subjects, with a heavy emphasis on Trade," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter. "Those discussions are moving along nicely with meetings being scheduled at the G-20 in Argentina. Also had good discussion on North Korea!"

Meeting a group of Republican lawmakers in Beijing, China's Li noted the China-US relationship's "ups and downs" over the past four decades of diplomatic ties.

"We do hope that China and the United States will meet each other halfway and work together in the spirit of mutual respect and equality," Li told Trump's fellow Republicans.

Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander told Li that the delegation was there "to show our respect to a great country and a great people," and that the two countries "are competitors but not adversaries."

Alexander said he would be discussing trade with Li, though neither of them mentioned the ongoing tariff war in remarks in front of reporters.

Earlier this week, Trump said he thought there would be "a great deal" with China on trade, but warned that he had billions of dollars worth of new tariffs ready to go if a deal did not materialize.

The United States has already imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods, and China has responded with retaliatory duties on $110 billion worth of US goods.
Answer: Donald Trump.

US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster on Thursday said President Donald Trump's inability to participate as the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations next year was a "purely scheduling issue".

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 on January 26.

Asked if Trump declining India's invitation had something to do with India signing a deal with Russia on S-400 missile defence systems, Juster, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, said, "No, that is a purely scheduling issue."

Earlier this week, a White House spokesperson, when asked about Trump's decision, had said, "President Trump was honoured by Prime Minister Modi's invitation to him to be the chief guest of India's Republic Day on January 26, 2019, but is unable to participate due to scheduling constraints."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited Trump for a visit to India during their talks in Washington in June, 2017.

Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations.

In 2015, the then US president Barack Obama had attended it as the chief guest, which was his second visit to India as the American president.
Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan Addresses Media

The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will contest on all 200 Assembly seats in Rajasthan in the upcoming polls if talks of alliance on 15 seats with the BJP fail to yield any result, a party leader said on November 1.

The party wants to ally with the BJP on 15 seats. The matter was discussed with the state BJP president Madan Lal Saini but the talks did not yield any result, LJP state president Suraj Kumar Burhadia said at a press conference.

He said Saini had assured them to take up the issue with party leaders in New Delhi.

Burhadia said the state unit had also urged party chief Ram Vilas Paswan to discuss the matter with the BJP high command.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept through the Hindi heartland.

In PM Modis home state Gujarat and neighbouring Rajasthan, the BJP staged a clean sweep  bagging 26 and 25 seats respectively.

However, the BJP could not do the same in Madhya Pradesh  a state considered to be a saffron bastion and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)s playground. The BJP failed to win two seats in the state  Guna and Chhindwara.

Both constituencies were won by the Congress. While Guna was retained by former Union minister and titular head of the Scindia royal family, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Chhindwara was retained by Kamal Nath.

Spearheading Congress charge

In April, Congress President Rahul Gandhi appointed Nath, a former Union minister, as the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President.

The move to appoint a 71-year-old politician as the chief of a poll-bound state did raise eyebrows in political circles.

Even though the party has decided to not nominate anyone before the polls, Nath is one of the leading contenders for the chief ministers position.

Reports citing Congress sources suggest that Nath was chosen because of his deep pockets and keeping in mind the partys financial constraints. Nath is one of the richest Members of Parliament (MPs) and had declared assets of over Rs 206 crore in his 2014 election affidavit.

He is, however, a nine-time parliamentarian from tribal-dominated Chhindwara seat in Madhya Pradesh and is one of the senior-most members in the Lower House of Parliament.

His strategy was clear from the get-go  Congress had to hit the BJP where it hurts most. After governing the state for 15 years, the saffron party may have chinks in its armour which could be exploited by Congress.

The party has been raising issues of farmer distress, unemployment and have been playing the soft Hindutva card to neutralise BJP and the RSS.

Also read: Congress promises jobs, farm loan waiver and gaushalas

Outsider

Nath was born in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh and studied at The Doon School in Dehradun. He pursued Bachelor of Commerce at the St Xavier's College of the University of Calcutta.

This, many in the Congress fear, could make him look like an outsider despite having been an MP from a seat in the state for 37 years.

Relations with the Nehru-Gandhi family

Nath has been a close confidant of the Nehru-Gandhi family. Former prime minister Indira Gandhi had introduced him to the people of Chhindwara saying, This is my third son. Please vote for him.

At some point, 'Indira ke do haath, Sanjay Gandhi aur Kamal Nath (Indiras two hands, Sanjay Gandhi and Kamal Nath)' was a popular slogan. Sanjay Gandhi was Naths schoolmate. Nath was also close to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

He has been former Congress president Sonia Gandhis trusted backdoor negotiator too. He played an important role in managing the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) 2.

In 2016, Naths close ties with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)s Mayawati helped a Congress candidate win a Rajya Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh despite the party falling short by two seats.

These ties with Mayawati, however, did not work during the seat-sharing negotiations for the assembly polls. The talks broke down between the two sides with Mayawati deciding to contest the polls alone. The BSP not allying could negatively impact Congress in not just Madhya Pradesh but Chhattisgarh as well, analysts suggest.

Also read: Will the third front be able to make a mark?

Holding key ministries

Nath was first elected to the 7th Lok Sabha in 1980  the general election where Indira Gandhi won a landslide victory.

In 1991, he was inducted into the Union cabinet as a minister for environment and forests. Between 1995 and 1996, he served as the minister of state for textiles with independent charge.

Nath served as the partys General Secretary between 2001 and 2004, when Congress was in opposition during Atal Bihari Vajpayees government.

When UPA 1 came to power, Nath was made the minister for commerce and industry. Upon re-election in 2009, he was given charge of the road transport and highways ministry. In a cabinet reshuffle two years later, Nath became the minister of urban development. Additionally, he was given charge of parliamentary affairs ministry the following year.

Yet, according to the India Today-Axis my India opinion survey, Nath trails in the list of preferred chief ministerial candidates.

Only 8 percent of the respondents wanted Nath to become the next chief minister as opposed to 32 percent for Scindia and 46 percent for incumbent Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Also read: How the election may impact BJP, Congress ahead of 2019

As the elections near, the infighting between the factions has also heated up. So far, the partys central command has refused to name a candidate.

On October 30, when asked about the candidate, Rahul Gandhi said, "Why do I have to declare? There are certain things which Kamal Nath brings to the table and there are certain things that Jyotiraditya Scindia does.

Kamal Nath has experience, and good looks, while Scindia is young and dynamic. I have to carry all these capabilities. The people of the state will decide who will be CM, but why should I not use their capabilities?" he added, keeping Naths fate hanging in the balance.
December 01, 2018 / 04:24 PM IST

Re-polling will take place from 8 am to 5 pm at Mohri polling booth in Anuppur assembly segment of Madhya Pradesh today, an official said Friday.

The Election Commission (EC) endorsed its observer's report which said there was a mismatch of 56 ballots at Mohri in Anuppur district during November 28 assembly polls, state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V L Kantha Rao told PTI.

The report prompted the EC to order re-polling in the booth.

There was a difference of 56 in the number of voters' signatures in the register with the presiding officer and the number of votes recorded in the Electronic Voting Machine, he added.

The state polls saw a voter turnout of 75.05 per cent in the elections, Rao had told the reporters Thursday.

 PTI
Mizoram is heading for polls on November 28 in a single phase. Three major parties are pitted against each other  Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Mizo National Front (MNF).

Mizoram has been under Congress rule for a decade under the leadership of Chief Minister Lal Thanhawala. This year, the party contesting from all 40 seats in the upcoming polls.

Mizoram is the only state in the entire Northeast under Congress rule at present. Hence, it is important for Congress to retain power.

However, there are certain issues that the party needs to worry about as the Opposition this time is stronger and leaving no stone unturned to win the state elections.

Unrest within the party

Sources in the ruling party are saying that a massive tussle has been going on within the party over selection of candidates.

Party insiders said the top leadership of Congress wanted to axe some legislators who were too old or had little chance to win. While doing this, the party is also taking great care to ensure that those left out would not be too numerous to form a rebellious lobby, a party leader said.

The move could widen the crack, especially after the recent resignations of home minister Lalzirliana and former minister and sitting legislator Lalrinliana Sailo.

In addition, two Congress leaders recently quit the party to join the MNF. Dr BD Chakma, former minister and a Chakma tribe leader, has recently quit the Congress to join the BJP.

Anti-Incumbency

Another challenge the party is facing is anti-incumbency. Some ministers from the ruling party are facing corruption charges. Deputy controller of mines, Lalhriatrenga Chhangte, had alleged Lal Thanhawla of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Mizoram police had filed a chargesheet against Thanhawla and two businessmen in connection with a second corruption case. Investigation revealed that more than Rs 5.25 crore was paid from various accounts of the Mumbai-based Eastern Overseas Corporation, which undertook two hydel project construction works in the state, to Oceanic Business Agency, a firm owned by the late Lal Thanzaua, son of the former chief minister, the chargesheet said.

Chhangte had also alleged that the chief minister was constructing a multi-storied building in Kolkata.

Resignation of Lalzirliana

After the resignation of home minister Lalzirliana, Congress fears that more leaders may follow suit. Congress had faced a similar situation in Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur. Considered as one of the most influential members of the Congress party, it is likely that Lalzirliana will join Opposition party MNF.

Bru refugees

The Bru refugees who fled from Mizoram in 1997 were once again called back to their home state. But the Supreme Court instructed the Mizoram government to not go ahead with the proposed repatriation process.

There are over 32,000 Brus lodged in six relief camps in North Tripura district.

On July 2 this year, another repatriation of Mizorams Brus officially ended. This was the eighth such attempt since 2009.

Lifting ban on alcohol

The state passed the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition and Control Act (MLPCA) in 2014 and it came into force from January 15, 2015. The first wine shop opened in Aizawl on March 16, 2015 and officials said they drew huge profits.

However, there have been reports of increased alcohol-related deaths in the state. The Congress lifted the prohibition which existed before. And the Opposition parties are pitted against Congress over this issue.

In the 2008 assembly poll, the Congress won 32 out of the 40 seats with 39 percent vote share, while the Mizo National Front (MNF) had three seats with 31 percent vote share.

In 2013, the Congress increased both its seat count and the vote share (34 and 45 percent) while the MNF saw its vote share decrease to 29 percent but walked away with five seats.

Although a small state with only 7.68 lakh people on the rolls, Mizoram will be an important battlefield for the Congress where the party will test its ability to hold the only post they currently have in the Northeast.
November 28, 2018 / 04:06 PM IST

As voting in the 40 assembly constituencies of Mizoram closed at 4 pm, here are the five key features:

1. Bru voters came out to vote in large numbers. The place of voting for 11,232 Bru voters, who are residing in neighboring Tripura, was the bone of contention, leading to the replacement of the then chief electoral officer, SB Shashank, less than two weeks ahead of the polls.

2. The Election Commission had set up pink polling booths in every constituency to woo women voters. These booths are locally known as Dingdi in Mizoram. Named after a wild flower commonly available in the state, Dingdi is used by poets to depict beautiful women.

3. Even though women voters outnumber men in the state, only 15 out of the 209 candidates were women. BJP fielded the highest number of women candidates at six.

4. The Election Commission also ensured that the disabled and the elderly get to exercise their franchise without any hurdles by arranging special provisions for them. A number of elderly voters turned out to vote, including a few centenarians.

5. All booths in the state were covered via wireless communication for the first time in Mizoram's polling history. This was done to ensure timely reporting of every development and progress of polling.
A pro-Telangana supporter listens to a speaker during a protest in New Delhi November 28, 2011. Protesters are demanding a separate Telangana state be carved out of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and also demanded that government should table a bill for the same in the parliament, according to organisers of the protest,telangana assembly polls 2018

Amar Devulapalli

Voters in Telangana are staring at two extreme approaches taken by the ruling and Opposition parties in the run up to the elections.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which governed the state from 2014, dissolved the assembly and announced the first list of 105 candidates for the 119-member assembly on September 6. On the same day, TRS chief and caretaker chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao directed candidates to head to their respective constituencies and start campaigning. This move by Rao, popularly known as KCR, caught the Opposition parties, including the Congress, by surprise. TRS supporters hailed it as a masterstroke as it would give the party candidates a head start to engage with voters and increase their winning prospects.

However, as days progressed, the situation on the ground turned increasingly difficult for TRS leaders. Anti-incumbency meant that the road got bumpy for many candidates. Most of it is related to the failure of the TRS government to fulfil some of the poll promises made during the 2014 elections. KCR had promised two-bedroom houses to all the house-less poor in Telangana. Out of the total target of two lakh units, only a few thousand have been constructed. Another promise that was not fulfilled was that every poor Dalit family would be given three acres of land.

KCRs flagship project was Mission Bhagiratha, which was a promise to provide piped drinking water to every household in the state. He had said that he only seek votes after the project was completed. However, he went back on his promise as the project could not be completed on time. This has put TRS candidates in a tough spot.

On top of this, hitting the road early also seems to be taking a toll on the candidates. They are forced to maintain the morale of the cadre and sustain the mood of the people by assurances  in some cases through financial incentives. In some of the videos that have gone viral, TRS workers are seen distributing money, and in one particular video, a candidate is seen promising a huge amount in money to the group he is addressing if it casts its vote for him.

KCR is facing an uphill task in his constituency, Gajwel. His slogan of self-rule reverberated well during the 2014 election landing him in the CMs chair. However, four years later he has greatly distanced himself from the public. He has earned a reputation of being inaccessible to the people as he hardly stepped into the state secretariat. He spent most of the time either in his heavily-fortified camp office-cum-residence in Begumpet or his farmhouse in Erravalli village on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Despite being a mass leader who spearheaded a separate state agitation, his public interactions have come down greatly over the years. Within the party too, there is a popular opinion that he does not meet his legislators or ministers on a regular basis. This to an extent also seems to have disillusioned the voters.

On the Opposition side is a four-party coalition that has the potential to be a formidable force to take on the TRS. The Congress, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) have come together to form a Mahakutami or grand alliance.

However, its been two months since the representatives of four parties began negotiations, there is no formal announcement regarding seat-sharing. Voters are still clueless about which party will contest from which constituency. With elections around the corner, several candidates from these parties have thrown their hats in the ring and are waiting for a signal from the top leadership. Further complicating things is the news that there are differences between party leaders regarding seat allocation and candidates.

The biggest disadvantage of the Mahakutami is the presence of too many power centres vying for the chief ministers post. In the Congress, there are many senior leaders who are competing for the post in case the alliance comes to power. Those rallying behind M Kodandaram of the TJS have been vocal in their demand to declare Kodandaram CM candidate to increase the credibility of the alliance. The TDP leaders are also doing their best to not get lost in the melee by bargaining for more seats.

The Mahakutami is yet to instil confidence in the people that it can stick together and become a winning combination. Once there is clarity and the candidates are announced, it has to be seen if the four parties can work as a coalition.

For now, the average Telangana voter is in a wait and watch mode.

(Amar Devulapalli is a Hyderabad-based senior journalist. Views are personal)
Rafale jet

Welcoming the Supreme Court's order to Centre to submit details of pricing of the Rafale fighter jets India is buying from France, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged on Thursday that the Modi government has tried to "cover up" its secret and dishonest activities in the multi-crore defence deal.

Alleging that the Rafale deal was an example of cronyism and corruption, Yechury said he was hopeful the truth about the deal will come out as the apex court has insisted on facts.

"Modi govt has tried to cover up its shenanigans in the Rafale scam by providing all kinds of excuses. With Supreme Court insisting on facts, the truth about this prime example of cronyism and corruption will fully come out," he tweeted.

The government has denied allegations of corruption in the deal.

The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the Centre for pricing details of the 36 Rafale jets India is buying from France in a sealed cover within 10 days but agreed that "strategic and confidential" information need not be disclosed.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi gave some leeway to the government, which has argued that pricing details are so sensitive that they have not even been shared with Parliament.

The court was hearing four petitions, including one by advocate Prashant Bhushan and former ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha who are seeking a court-monitored CBI investigation in the purchase of the fighter jets.

The court posted the matter for hearing on November 14.

India signed an agreement with France for 36 Rafale aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment. The Rafale fighter jet is a twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.

Indian Air Force had advanced a proposal to buy 126 fighter aircraft in August 2007 and floated a tender. Following this, an invitation was sent to various aviation companies to participate in the bidding process.
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Tata Motors, the parent company of Jaguar-Land Rover (JLR), said it will reduce capital expenditure by 2.5 billion pounds over the next two years to soften the blow from a sales freefall in China, even as uncertainty looms on future demand in the world's biggest automotive market.

The company will reduce capex in the two British brands by 11 percent over the next two years resulting in total savings of 1 billion pounds. Its capex plan now stands reduced to 4 billion pounds per year from 4.5 billion pounds announced earlier.

Another 1 billion pound in savings will be achieved through 'profit and cost actions'. Inventory and working capital reductions will help save 500 million pounds. This is the first case of capex downsizing by Tata Motors since the takeover of JLR 10 years ago.

P Balaji, Chief Financial Officer, Tata Motors, said, Any investment has to be razor sharp in a demand environment that is not conducive. When we talk about Brexit, diesel, China and US, the net impact of all this is that demand is likely to be muted. We have to keep our renovation pipeline firing on all cylinders and executions have to be flawless.

China is one of the biggest markets for JLR. It even opened an assembly facility through a joint venture in 2014. Sales in China slumped 43 percent to 21,100 units, resulting in a market share erosion of 200 basis points (100 bps=1 percentage point). The US (30,300 units) has emerged as the biggest market followed by UK (29,700 units).

While the Chinese industry as a whole reported a fall of 7.7 percent during the second quarter, sales of JLR fell nearly 44 percent. Fall in volumes in other markets such as US, UK and Europe have been largely in line with the average industry growth in those markets.

The senior management at JLR did not precisely specify the reason behind the dramatic fall in China, merely stating that macro-economic issues remains a primary concern in that country. JLR CEO Ralf Speth told media persons that the company will not sacrifice profitability for the sake of volumes. He hinted that JLR will not participate in a discount war with German rivals in an effort to retain exclusivity and brand recall.

Tata Motors clarified that the cost-cutting drive though will not impact any product development or upgrade plan of JLR and new projects will go ahead as per schedule. About 16 new products will be unveiled between now and 2024 by JLR, including fully electric and hybrid models.

Tata Motors slipped into the red, posting a loss of Rs 1,049 crore for the quarter-ended September, on the back of a 101 million pound loss in JLR and a one-time charge of Rs 437 crore that rose from the closure of Thailand operations.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 1)  Jennifer Dalquez, the Filipino worker in the United Arab Emirates who was saved from the death row, is finally coming home to the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said it was informed by Ambassador to Abu Dhabi Hjayceelyn Quintana that UAE authorities are coordinating with the Philippine Embassy for Dalquez's flight home on Thursday evening.

Dalquez, a domestic helper, was arrested and charged for murdering her employer on December 12, 2014. UAE's Court of First Instance of Al Ain sentenced her to death on May 20, 2015, but she appealed her case.

She has been in jail since her arrest for stabbing her employer, a policeman, in the lungs. She said he tried to rape her and then attacked her with a knife. Dalquez said she killed her employer in an act of self defense.

She was acquitted by the Court of Appeals in Al Ain on June 19, 2017. She was declared innocent without having to pay blood money.

Dalquez, a mother of two young children, flew to UAE in December 2011 to work as a domestic helper in Abu Dhabi. On top of her job in the home of the policeman, she also worked as a doctor's assistant and cashier in a restaurant.

In February 2017, she appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to help her get back home to General Santos City.

OFW group Migrante International welcomed the good news, but they continue to hope other Filipinos on death row will win the same victory as Dalquez.

"As we laud our triumph, let us never lose sight of our fellow Filipinos who are still on death row and those thousands of other OFWs languishing in prison. The battle is not yet over. Mary Jane Veloso's life is still in limbo while millions upon millions of Filipinos likewise suffer government neglect, repression and persecution," it said in a statement.

Veloso is the lone Filipino on Indonesia's death row. She was arrested in an Indonesian airport in 2010 after 2.6 kilograms of heroin were found in her luggage. She was sentenced to death for drug offenses.
P B Balaji

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Tata Motors has scaled down its capital expenditure guidance for subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover for the first time since acquiring the latter in 2008. The company aims to save 2.5 billion pounds in the current year and the next by way of cutting costs and reducing capex.

Brexit and a fall in demand in China will likely have an overbearing effect on JLR's profitability in the coming months. PB Balaji, Chief Financial Officer at Tata Motors, spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the company's results press conference.

Edited excerpts...

Q: Will new product projects be axed?

A: There are 16 products that are coming in and not a single product that we want to continue is being touched. What we are doing is a (re)calibration of capex. Gearing up for 20-25 percent growth to getting adjusted to a flat growth also means that some of the infrastructure investments need to be calibrated out as we dont need them. We need to be prudent and practical about it. We need to be razor-edged when it comes to spending in a demand environment that is not conducive. Demand is going to be muted and we need to respond in one go instead of doing a thesis on all.

Q: What are the long term issues?

A: Product delays is an issue that has been at JLR for some time, a product has to be launched as committed (as per schedule). And the delays can be due to various reasons  you are moving at too high a speed and dont get the efficiency you need. Then there is the issue of product quality. The ranking of JLR in product quality is not good enough. The reason some of your material margins are not good enough is because there is too much of a cost sitting inside the vehicle. There is no better time to solve a problem than (during) a crisis because it gets everybody aligned. This is a crisis for JLR and we will ensure that we fully come out of it stronger.

Q: Would you have to cut back on your work force?

A: There is a full-fledged team that has been activated on that. There are multiple ideas we are working with. We have formed operational teams to decide on what is right for them just as we did for Tata Motors. We will not cut costs to win in a market. When we are growing at 20 percent we have one kind of skill set and when we are growing at 2 percent or zero percent we have a different kind of skill set.

Q: It has been a while since Tata Motors said it wants to divest stake in Tata Technologies and Tata Hitachi. Has there been any progress?

A: It takes time to have dialogues for transactions. But I am comfortable at the pace at which this is moving forward. We need to ensure that we get a fair value for them. The objective is to not do a distress sale of these assets. We also need to ensure that it goes to the right party. We are not here to do a random exit. All options are open for their sale including sale within the group.

Q: How do you gauge the China business?

A: The Chinese business has been a very successful business. This is the quarter where they have tripped, we should not read too much into it. It also offers us the opportunity on the way we want to sell there. A premium brand needs to move to a pull kind of business rather than push. The entire supply chain overshoots if from 26 percent growth you come down to -7 percent. JLR has managed to improve its EBITDA margin despite one of its profitable markets actually coming under strain.

Q: How subdued is retail demand in China?

A: Walk-ins have come down significantly, which means there is a consumer issue there. This gives us an opportunity to correct any anomaly in supply chain because it has overshot.

Q: How much market share have you lost in China so far?

A: Close to 200 basis points is what we have lost.

Q: Will there be more production holidays like the one we saw in October?

A: We are definitely watching it more closely to the extent inventory corrections are needed. If sale does not happen, we dont intend to keep on producing. It is not good for the company and neither is good for the brand. We keep a very tight watch on inventory.

Q: How much pressure can you absorb before you decide to increase prices?

A: There is a clear pressure on prices with the rupee depreciating. And therefore our first reaction is to have aggressive savings plans. If there is a residual overflow of pricing we need to take, whatever is the bare minimum we need to take we will take because as market leader we need to be responsible and can't just destroy market value. Overall we have improved our realization by 50 bps in the last quarter.

Q: Are you maintaining your margin guidance of 7-9 percent?

The 7-9 percent margin guidance is for JLR and that remains. We are premium OEM and we need to deliver 7-9 percent otherwise we are not a premium car maker. We have inched up the guidance in the domestic market by 100bps. It used to be 3-5 percent earlier, which is now revised upwards to 4-6 percent. PVs has turned around sharply and is becoming EBITDA break-even.
Donald Trump and Narendra Modi

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India is close to a deal with the US that will allow it to continue buying crude oil from Iran without attracting any sanction after it agreed to cut imports and escrow payments, sources in know of the development said.

US sanctions on Iran's oil buyers snap back, forcing importing countries to negotiate with the US for waivers by making cuts in purchases or risk getting blocked from the US financial system.

India, which is the second biggest purchaser of Iranian oil after China, is willing to restrict its monthly purchase to 1.25 million tonnes or 15 million tonnes in a year (300,000 barrels per day), down from 22.6 million tonnes (452,000 barrels per day) bought in 2017-18 financial year, sources said.

US appears to be satisfied with this reduction and is willing to give the waiver provided payments for oil purchases are parked in an escrow account which can be used for purchases from India, they said, adding the US does not want any money to reach Iran.

Sources, however, said no final decision has been made and an announcement is likely just before sanctions on Iran are reimposed on November 5.

India had continued to import crude oil from Iran despite the threat of sanctions. Two of its refiners - Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL) - have even made nominations to buy 1.25 million tonnes of oil from Iran in November.

India, the world's third-biggest oil consumer, meets more than 80 percent of its oil needs through imports. Iran is its third-largest supplier after Iraq and Saudi Arabia and meets about 10 percent of total needs.

US President Donald Trump in May withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, re-imposing economic sanctions against the Persian Gulf nation. Some sanctions took effect from August 6, while those affecting the oil and banking sectors will start from November 5.

Currently, India pays its third largest oil supplier in euros using European banking channels. These channels would get blocked from November.

During the first round of sanctions when EU joined the US in imposing financial restrictions, India initially used a Turkish bank to pay Iran for the oil it bought, but beginning February 2013 paid nearly half of the oil import bill in rupees while keeping the remainder pending till the opening of payment routes. It began clearing the dues in 2015 when the restrictions were eased.

Besides, New Delhi sought to get around the restrictions by supplying goods, including wheat, soybean meal and consumer products, to Iran in exchange for oil.

Sources said this time around the entire 100 percent of Iranian oil import bill can be paid in rupees through the escrow account.

Iran was India's second biggest supplier of crude oil after Saudi Arabia till 2010-11 but Western sanctions over its suspected nuclear programme relegated it to the seventh spot in the subsequent years. In 2013-14 and 2014-15, India bought 11 million tonnes and 10.95 million tonnes respectively from it.

Sourcing from Iran increased to 12.7 million tonnes in 2015-16, giving it the sixth spot. In the following year, the Iranian supplies jumped to 27.2 million tonnes to catapult it to the third spot.

Iranian oil is a lucrative buy for refiners as the Persian Gulf nation provides 60 days of credit for purchases, terms not available from suppliers of substitute crudes -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Nigeria, and the US.

Besides blocking of banking channels from November, the absence of payment mechanism may pose a challenge to the transportation of the oil as Iranian crude is bought on a CIF basis and shipped on Iranian tankers.

Under Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) mode of shipping, the seller assumes the responsibility of transportation and insurance. The liability and costs associated with successful transit are paid by the seller until the goods are received by the buyer.
Representative image

China's rising and "unprecedented influence" in the Indo-Pacific region will challenge American interests, but confrontation must not define relations between the two powers, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned on Thursday.

In his first major foreign policy speech, Morrison tried to tread a careful line between Australia's alliance with the United States and engaging a rapidly and evermore assertive China.

"Inevitably, in the period ahead, we will be navigating a higher degree of US-China strategic competition," Morrison told the Asia Society Australia in Sydney.

"It is important that US-China relations do not become defined by confrontation," he said, against a backdrop of the two economic behemoths trading economic sanctions and counter-sanctions in an ever-deeping trade dispute.

Australia -- a member of the "Five Eyes" Western intelligence alliance and with long-standing and close military ties with Washington -- finds itself slap-bang in the middle of one of the 21st century's geopolitical hotspots.

A quiet battle is raging for influence in the South Pacific -- a region of small island states that is vital to international shipping and provides a stepping stone for Beijing and Washington to project military and economic power across the Pacific region.

"As economic power shifts, it's unsurprising that nations will seek to play a bigger strategic role in our region," said Morrison.

"China, in particular, is exercising unprecedented influence in the Indo-Pacific," he said.

"China is the country that is most changing the balance of power, sometimes in ways that challenge important US interests."

While stressing ties with the United States are vital to Australia's security, he said relations with China must be kept on an even keel.

Rhetoric between Canberra and Beijing has been heightened by Australia's decision to bar Chinese state-linked telecoms firms from operating Australia's new 5G network on the grounds that they pose a security risk.

Morrison described Australia's relationship with China as "vitally important", noting trade, tourism and educational exchanges were at a record high.

Beijing has been showering billions of dollars in infrastructure loans to tiny island nations across the Pacific China, and is reportedly talking to Vanuatu about the possibility of opening a military base there.

Morrison, who came to office in August, indicated Australia would also push its own influence.

He announced an initiative to develop the Lombrum military base in Manus, Papua New Guinea.
Sri Lanka's former President Mahinda Rajapaksa smiles during a news conference after winning the local government election in Colombo, Sri Lanka February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte - RC12B12677B0

Amid political uncertainty in Sri Lanka, India said it was "very closely" following the developments in the island nation and hoped that democratic values and the constitutional process there will be respected.

"We are following the developments very closely. We do hope that democratic values and the constitutional process in Sri Lanka will be respected," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a media briefing.

"India and Sri Lanka enjoy strong bonds of friendship and we will continue to extend our developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka," he said.

In the latest turn of events, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has summoned Parliament, officials said November 1, a move which could resolve the political crisis arose after he sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and installed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa.

To another question on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend attend Maldives president-elect Ibrahim Solih's swearing-in, Kumar said the elements of the swearing-in ceremony were being finalised by Maldives and the two sides were in close touch.

On another question on possible return of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar, he said: "We welcome the agreement reached between the foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and Myanmar. This was on October 29...Once the movement starts, I think it is a good beginning. We hope this process gathers momentum as confidence grows in Rakhine state for the safe speedy and sustainable return of the displaced persons.
Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has lifted the suspension of parliament and summoned a meeting of the legislature on Monday to end the current political stalemate in the country over the sudden sacking of prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, officials said on Thursday.

Sirisena replaced Wickremesinghe with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in a dramatic turn of events last Friday.

Sirisena also suspended Parliament until November 16, which experts said was meant to buy time to engineer crossovers from Wickremesinghe's side to Rajapaksa in the 225 member parliament to reach the 113 majority mark.

He was under increasing political and diplomatic pressure to reconvene Parliament and resolve the crisis.

The president has agreed to call a parliamentary session on November 5, officials at Rajapaksa's office said.

Sirisena and parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuria discussed the issue yesterday. Sirisena later indicated that he may call the session next week.

Jayasuriya's office, however, said that seat for the prime minister in the assembly would be reserved for Rajapaksa as the parliamentary officials are bound by the government gazette issued naming as the premier.

Sirisena swore in a new Cabinet under Rajapaksa on Monday despite a warning from the parliament speaker of possible violence if lawmakers were not summoned immediately to resolve the crisis.

Wickramasinghe, who has refused to accept his dismissal, argues that he cannot legally be removed until he loses the support of parliament.

He has called for a floor test to prove his majority in parliament.

Rajapaksa has so far managed to rope in five lawmakers from Wickramasinghe's party to bolster his strength to 101. Despite the cross-overs, it was unclear if Rajapaksa has the 113 votes he requires to prove the majority.

Prior to the crisis, Wickramasinghe's United National Party (UNP) had the backing of 106 parliamentarians, and Rajapaksa had 95 legislators of the United Peoples' Progressive Alliance (UPFA).

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has 16 seats in the house and the People's Liberation Front (JVP) has six legislators.

On Tuesday, angry protests rocked Sri Lanka's capital as thousands of demonstrators gathered for a rally organised by deposed prime minister Wickremesinghe's party against what it said was a "coup" by President Sirisena.
Answer: Baidu (Image: Reuters)

Volvo Cars has teamed up with Chinese search engine operator Baidu to develop a self-driving taxi for China, it said on Thursday, opening another frontier to secure its place in the robotaxi market while its Uber supply deal remains in limbo.

The Chinese-owned Swedish carmaker is one of a growing list of auto manufacturers tying up with technology companies or rivals to split the huge cost of developing functional and safe self-drive systems.

Volvo said the venture will give it access to Baidu's autonomous driving software Apollo, which it intends to use to develop a so-called Level 4 car, only one off the top level and the most sophisticated yet attempted by Volvo.

The top Level 5 designation is for vehicles that should be capable of navigating roads without any driver input in all conditions.

CEO Hakan Samuelsson said he expects sales of robotaxis to ride-hailing operators to account for a "significant portion" of the vehicles needed to hit its target of achieving a third of its sales from self-driving cars by 2025.

"Robotaxis is a segment where we will compete not as operators but by selling cars to companies we've sold to previously," he told Reuters.

The race is on to be the first to introduce an autonomous product to the ride-hailing market, which already accounts for more than 30 percent of the global taxi market. Goldman Sachs analysts believe the value of the ride-hailing market could achieve an eightfold increase to $285 billion by 2030.

Volvo is trying to make headway as a mid-size luxury player with more limited resources than a BMW or Audi and was forced to drop plans for an initial public offering this year because of international trade tensions and a downturn in share prices across the auto sector.

PARTNERSHIPS KEY

Samuelsson said he expects development costs for self-driving and electric vehicles will be about 5 percent of turnover and that partnerships are essential, such as its venture with technology company Veoneer to develop autopilots for cars to sell to individuals.

"We need to be humble and say that we need new partnerships to be strong in this segment ... We definitely cannot do this in our normal development area," he said.

Samuelsson expects partnerships with battery suppliers as well as producers of components such as electric motors, inverters and chargers, but said the company still intends to develop its own electric powertrain.

Volvo didn't say when the Baidu car would be production ready and its actual sales programme in robotaxis depends largely on its deal to supply up to 24,000 Level 1 and Level 2 autodrive cars to Uber between 2019 and 2021.

That deal was thrown into doubt when Uber halted its road-testing programme after a recent fatal collision, but Samuelsson said the deal was "back on track" with deliveries planned for next year.

However, three sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters that Uber has no intention of buying anywhere near the 24,000 cars the deal allows for, making the Baidu tie-up all the more important for Volvo.

The Baidu deal has no supply agreement, Samuelsson said, but is being viewed as a first step into the China market, which industry forecasts suggest could become the single largest market for autonomous cars in the coming decades.

Baidu last year opened Apollo to third parties to accelerate development in the face of stiff competition from Google's Waymo and U.S. carmaker Tesla.

It has since brought on BMW as an adviser and announced plans to begin testing self-driving cars with Ford by the end of this year.
The Supreme Court was on Wednesday told by forensic auditors that affairs of the real estate major Amrapali group of companies were being run by a "syndicate" and that group's former Chief Financial Officer and statutory auditor were part of it.

"I don't have an iota of doubt that statutory auditors were very much part of the syndicate," forensic auditor Pawan Aggarwal told the bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, also pointing out that the real estate group paid Rs 2 crore income tax of its former CFO and also gave him a BMW car costing about Rs 43 lakh.

"It was a syndicate where CFO and statutory auditor were part of it", Aggarwal told the court.

Forensic auditors are checking the accounts of Amrapali group of companies on the direction of the top court.

Aggarwal also informed the court that every day they were stumbling on new set of companies which were used by the real estate major for channeling its transaction.

Telling the court that "every day we are finding news companies", Aggarwal estimated that there may be a network of 200 to 225 such companies.

Pointing to the gross involvement of statutory auditor Anil Mittal in these companies, Aggarwal told the court that the "relatives of statutory auditor, his wife and brother are grossly involved" in these companies.

Mittal told the court that he received around Rs 50-60 crore from the group beyond his work and the money was put in these companies for routing transaction.

In one instance the money was put in one such company for payment to Mauritius-based J.P. Morgan for the loan taken from it, Mittal told the court.

He told the court that he got into it on the suggestion of former CFO Chander Wadhwa.

Forensic auditors also informed the court that though in pursuance to its October 26 order, Amrapali has handed them computers and two laptops, but not the password.

The court wanted to know if RBI rules were followed in making payments to J.P. Morgan in Mauritius.

Counsel for J.P. Morgan - both for Mauritius and Singapore - told the court that they would furnish all the details as there was a mismatch in the amount that Amrapali said that they have to pay to Morgan and the amount that Morgan said it had to receive.

The court directed Amrapalli to give the password of the computers to the forensic auditors, including information on the accounts of the companies in each computer.

The next hearing is on November 13.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
GN Bajpai, the member on the newly appointed board at Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS) has resigned from the board with immediate effect due to personal reasons, say reports. Mr Bajpai was former chairman of SEBI.

Mr Bajpai was one of the seven directors appointed on the board of debt-ridden IL&FS. The new IL&FS board also includes Kotak Mahindra Bank managing director Uday Kotak, ICICI Bank executive chairman GC Chaturvedi and former bureaucrats Malini Shankar, Vineet Nayyar from the Mahindra group, veteran auditor Nandkishore and CS Rajan, former chief secretary of Rajasthan.

The new board on Wednesday submitted a plan to revive IL&FS to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), paving the way to a potential resolution of the groups future.

The government this month took control of IL&FS after it defaulted on some of its debt, triggering fears of contagion across Indias financial system. It is a dream and hope blueprint for revival, Sanjay Shorey, Director for Legal Prosecution in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), told The Tribunal.

Mr Shorey said the new board of IL&FS was looking at strategies, including an outright sale of the entire IL&FS group and sales of its subsidiaries or assets, among other things.

The company later said in a statement after the tribunal hearing that the options could broadly involve significant capital infusion, divestments and debt restructuring at IL&FS group, its subsidiaries and asset sales.

The NCLT told the MCA that the holding company will have to make all its 347 subsidiaries part of the resolution roadmap within 15 days.

The new board will follow due processes in the finalisation and implementation of the plans and expects to complete the process, in stages and parts, in the next six to nine months subject to market and economic conditions, IL&FS said.

Separately, Neeru Singh, who was independent director of IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd has also resigned from the company board.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
November is the month for all pensioners to provide life certificates to their bank so that they would continue to receive their pension. Pensioners can submit life certificate in physical form as well as in digital format through Jeevan Praman portal, which is based on Aadhaar. Also remember, a pension is not a largesse or bounty conferred by the state and thus cannot be denied for want of Aadhaar, as the Supreme Court has said in its 26 September 2018 judgement. This means, pensioners can use alternate for identification.

While most senior citizen pensioners visit bank branches during November and sign on the register as proof of living, some find it difficult to be physically present for this. This usually means a lot of trauma for elders who are not in good health or too old to make it physically to their bank branches.

The government has taken steps to end the pain of this process. However, many pensioners and their care-givers are unaware of it. Here is what you can do.

The pensioner is not required to visit her pension paying bank branch in November every year for submitting life certificate. Aadhaar based authentication of life certificate can be submitted online through Jeevan Praman portal by the pensioner, which is also accepted as life certificate, in addition to existing ways of submitting life certificate in physical form.

A pensioner can submit life certificate at any branch of her Bank either in person or through her authorised representative. The receiving official will acknowledge receipt of the life certificate, says State Bank of India on its customer care page

A pensioner can submit Aadhaar-based online life certificate through the Jeevan Pramaan website https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in/ . A successful authentication generates digital life certificate that gets stored in the Life Certificate Repository, which can be accessed online by the pension disbursing agencies such as bank. But more about it later.

An office memorandum, issued by the Central Pension Accounting Office, under the Ministry of Finance , clearly says, "...the pension account holding branches of all authorised banks may be instructed to strictly adhere to the existing norms and do not harass the pensioners/family pensioners by insisting upon presenting themselves physically in the bank if their life certificate is submitted duly signed by the authority specified in Correction Slip No.14..."

This means, pensioners who are unable to visit their bank branch, can submit a life certificate, duly signed by a Magistrate, a Registrar or sub-Registrar, a Gazetted Officer, a Police Officer no below the rank of Sub-Inspector, a postmaster, a class I officer of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), a pensioned officer who before retirement exercised powers of a Magistrate, a Justice, a Block Development Officer or Munsif or Tehsildar or Naib Tehsildar, a Head of Village Panchayat, a Member of Parliament or State Legislature or a Treasury Officer..

(Sample of life certificate)

For pensioners receiving pension through their savings account in a public sector bank, the Officer of the bank can sign the life certificate. However, many a times, such pensioners or their family members find it difficult to submit physical copy of the life certificate.

A notification issued last year by the department of pensions and pensioners welfare, under the ministry of personnel, public grievance and pension, clearly says, In view of the difficulties faced by old and infirm pensioners, banks should make concrete effort to provide the facility of obtaining life certificate from the premises or residence of such pensioners.personal appearance may be exempted if a life certificate in the prescribed form singed by persons specified.is produced on his (pensioners) behalf.

Abhay Datar, a retired banker and expert at Moneylife Foundations Helpline says, "Pensioners, who are not in a physical condition to visit the branch, can request an officer from the bank to visit their home for signing the certificate. Also such pensioners should get a similar certificate from their doctor and attach it with the life certificate while submitting to the bank branch. Also note the pensioner is required to submit such life certificate and doctor's certificate within 30 days of signing the same by designated officer and the doctor."

Coming back to the Jeevan Pramaan digital life certificate, which can be obtained through Jeevan Pramaan Centres, banks, government offices or by using an application on computer, mobile (smart phone with fingerprint scanning facility) or tablet.

Here the pensioner needs to bio-metrically authenticate her life certificate in real time by giving her Aadhaar number and other pension details related to her pension bank account.

After successful submission of digital life certificate, the pensioner will receive an SMS giving the transaction ID on her mobile number registered with the bank and Aadhaar. The pensioner can also download computer generated life certificate from jeevanpramaan.gov.in using this transaction ID for their records. However, remember, digital life certificate submitted by the pensioner can be authenticated only when the pensioners account has been seeded with her Aadhaar number.

In case the pensioner does not have an Aadhaar or there are some issues with the biometric authentication, then also she cannot be denied her rightful pension. In its judgement in September this year, the Supreme Court had clearly said, Pension, as a condition of service, attaches as a recompense for the long years of service rendered by an individual to the state and its instrumentalities. Pensioners grow older with passing age. Many of them suffer from the tribulations of old age including the loss of biometrics. It is unfair and arbitrary on the part of the state to deny pension to a person entitled to it by linking pensionary payments to the possession of an Aadhaar number or to its authentication.

A right cannot be denied on the anvil of requiring one and only one means of identification. The pension disbursing authority is entitled to lay down regulations (which are generally speaking, already in place) to ensure the disbursal of pension to the person who is rightfully entitled. This aim of the government can be fulfilled by other less intrusive measures. The requirement of insisting on an Aadhaar number for the payment of pensionary benefits involves a breach of the principle of proportionality. Such a requirement would clearly be contrary to the mandate of Article 14, the apex court has said. (Page 342-343)

In addition, the circular from department of pension and pensioners welfare also clearly states, In case, however, if is not possible to have digital life certificate either through fingerprints or iris scanning, the physical life certificate submitted by the pensioner may be accepted to avoid any harassment to the pensioner. In no case, a pensioner should be returned without accepting his life certificate on account of non-acceptance of his biometric by the system.

This means, pensioner cannot be denied pension for want of Aadhaar number or digital life certificate. Physical life certificate are still valid and continue to be accepted if preferred by the pensioner.
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November 01, 2018 By Way Of Deception - False Flag Terror Acts Press Europe To Sanction Iran Israels secret service Mossad, with the CIA behind it, is framing Iran with alleged assassination plots in Europe. In September a terror attack killed some 30 people in Iran. Two entities, an Arab separatist movement as well as the Islamic State terror group ISIS, took responsibility. After an investigation Iran found that it was ISIS which was responsible. It took revenge against the identified culprits. Six weeks later Denmark claims, without providing evidence, that Iran tried to assassinate a leader of the Arab separatist movement over the incident. Iran denies any such attempt. The right wing Danish government uses the claim to urge other European countries to sanction Iran. It is unlikely that Iran would take action in Europe, which it urgently needs to reduce the damage of U.S. sanction, over an incident for which it already punished the Islamic State. The Danish claims are allegedly based on information provided by Mossad. That only increases the suspicion that the assassination plot is a false flag operation similar to a recent one in Belgium. More likely though is that the CIA is behind such false flag incidents. The details: On September 22 gunmen killed 29 and wounded more than 70 participants and onlookers of a veterans day parade in Ahvaz, Iran: Three of the attackers were gunned down during clashes with the security forces and one other was arrested, news agencies reported.

...

"The terrorists disguised as Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and Basiji (volunteer) forces opened fire to the authority and people from behind the stand during the parade," the governor of Khuzestan, Gholam-Reza Shariati, said, according to IRNA. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert also referred to the attack as terrorism. Nauert said on Saturday, "We stand with the Iranian people against the scourge of radical Islamic terrorism and express our sympathy to them at this terrible time". The Islamic State as well as an Arab separatist movement claimed responsibility: On 22 September 2018, Yaqoob Al-Ahvaz claimed responsibility for the 2018 Ahvaz military parade attack in comments to UK-based Iran International TV. He said that his group Ahvaz National Resistance, a part of Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz, has "no choice but to resist." On 23 September, a statement made in The Hague, Netherlands, on the ASMLA website, denied responsibility for the attack, saying that the claim was made by a "group that was expelled from the organization since 2015." After Yaqoob Al-Ahvaz claimed responsibility Iran accused Saudi Arabia of involvement in the attack: IRGC spokesman Ramezan Sharif said the attackers were affiliated with a terrorist group supported by Saudi Arabia, Iran's state-run Press TV said. "The individuals who fired at the people and the armed forces during the parade are connected to the al-Ahvaziya group which is fed by Saudi Arabia," Sharif said. Saudi Arabia has yet to respond to the allegations. The UK-based Iran International TV, where Yaqoob Al-Ahvaz claimed responsibility, is funded by a firm with ties to Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Several years ago ASMLA aka Al-Ahvaziya committed several terror attacks in Iran. Its leaders live in the Netherlands and Denmark. Iran immediately reminded those countries of their duties: Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassadors of the Netherlands and Denmark, along with a senior British diplomat on Saturday to issue a strong protest the attack, Iran's state-run media reports. Bahram Ghasemi, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, said Iran "re-emphasized" to the diplomats a previous warning about the presence in their respective countries of members of a group that Iran classifies as a terrorist group and wants arrested and prosecuted. According to IRNA, Ghasemi said "it is unacceptable" that members of a terrorist group be allowed in those countries and not be included on the European Union's terror list only because they have not committed crimes on European soil. A few days later though, Iran concluded that the attack was not committed by the Ahvaz movement, but by the Islamic State. On October 1 it responded with a missile salvo that hit Islamic State facilities in Syria: The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced they have bombed a site in eastern Syria in retaliation to the terrorist attack against a military parade in Iranian Ahvaz 10 days ago.

...

The IRGC confirmed that the targeted terrorist group was behind the terror attack that killed over a dozen and injured many more in the city of Ahvaz. An additional operation against the planers of the attack took place on October 15 in Iraq: Irans Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday they had killed the mastermind behind an attack on a military parade in the Iranian city of Ahvaz last month which left 25 people dead, nearly half of them members of the Guards. The Guards said in a statement published on state media their forces had killed a man named Abu Zaha and four other militants in Diyala province in Iraq. One news website run by Irans state television said Abu Zaha was a member of Islamic State. That closed the issue for Iran. On October 30 Denmark suddenly accused Iran of an assassination plot against a leader of the ASMLA group: Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen described the alleged planned assassination by Iran of an exiled separatist leader in Denmark as "totally unacceptable" The Iranian ambassador to Copenhagen was summoned to the foreign ministry over the allegations. A Norwegian citizen of Iranian origin was arrested in Sweden on 21 October in connection with the alleged plan. The man denies the charges. Authorities conducted a massive manhunt on 28 September which led to road closures, trains and ferries being cancelled, and bridges being shut across Denmark. On Tuesday, Danish intelligence chief Finn Borch Andersen confirmed the measures had been taken to prevent the alleged plot. The Danish intelligence accused the Norwegian citizens of taking pictures of a house where one of the ASMLA leader lives. It provide no evidence for its claims. Iran rejected the accusations: An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said such "biased reports" and allegations pursued "the enemy's plots and conspiracies" to harm the developing relations between Iran and Europe, according to Tasnim news agency. It indeed seems that Danish government, led by the rightwing Venstre party, is collaborating with the U.S. and Britain to sabotage the European position against U.S. sanctions on Iran: Mr Rasmussen said, after a meeting with his British counterpart Theresa May in Oslo, that he appreciated her support. "In close collaboration with UK and other countries we will stand up to Iran," he tweeted. Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen said Denmark would discuss further actions with European partners in the coming days. The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, congratulated Denmark on arresting "an Iranian regime assassin". The former Secretary General of NATO and U.S. stooge Anders Fogh Rasmussen is the predecessor of the current Venstre party leader and Danish premier Lars Lkke Rasmussen. Both are hawks. Yesterday Israeli journalist reported that the information on which Denmark acted came from Israel: Barak Ravid @BarakRavid - 10:12 utc- 31 Oct 2018 BREAKING: Israeli Mossad gave Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) the information about the assassination attempt planned by Iranian intelligence service against the leader of the Iranian opposition organization ASMLA, Israeli official tells me Well - if Israeli officials says Iran did something bad that will surely be true. (Not.) Iran's foreign minister accuses Israel of running false flag operations to frame Iran: Javad Zarif @JZarif - 20:15 utc - 31 Oct 2018 Mossad's perverse & stubborn planting of false flags (more on this later) only strengthens our resolve to engage constructively with the world. [...] The Times of Israel notes: Denmarks accusations against Iran followed the unveiling of another suspected Iranian plot to target a Paris rally by an opposition group in June. According to Israeli reports, the Mossad helped thwart that attack as well, which led to the arrest of several Iranians in Europe, including a diplomat. The earlier plot involved two members of the anti-Iranian terror cult MEK in Belgium who were caught with explosives that they allegedly wanted to use to blow up a MEK conference in Paris: The allegation that an Iranian operative plotted an attack on French soil is jeopardizing Europes support for the accord. As U.S. and Israeli officials ramp up pressure on Europe to sever ties with Tehran, they have cited it as a reason why Mr. Macron and other leaders should end their support for the deal. On Tuesday, Denmark announced it had foiled an Iranian operation to kill a dissident, turning up the pressure on Europe to harden its posture toward Tehran. A spokesman for Irans foreign ministry said Iran had no involvement in the case. The most interesting question about such plots is always "Cui bono?". Who benefits from these incidents? Iran has no interest in causing any upheaval with Europe shortly before the second round of U.S. sanctions, which threaten its economic well being, come into place early this month. Iran already took revenge for the Ahvaz attack. It has no need to tackle some unrelated separatist who resides in Denmark. Iran needs Europe to work around the U.S. sanctions. That aim prohibits any such operations. Both, the MEK plot as well as the case in Denmark, smell of false flag incidents. In both case no one was hurt. In both cases some stooges with no current relation to Iran were caught. Both cases came to light after information was allegedly provided by Mossad. But is it really Israel who set up these incidents? Both serve U.S. interest just as much. It is no secret that the U.S. wants to prevent European subversion of U.S. sanctions on Iran. In June 2017 the Trump administration installed a new CIA group to plot and launch undercover operations against Iran. It is led by its most ruthless operator: He is known as the Dark Prince or Ayatollah Mike, nicknames he earned as the Central Intelligence Agency officer who oversaw the hunt for Osama bin Laden and the American drone strike campaign that killed thousands of Islamist militants and hundreds of civilians. Now the official, Michael DAndrea, has a new job. He is running the C.I.A.s Iran operations, according to current and former intelligence officials, an appointment that is the first major sign that the Trump administration is invoking the hard line the president took against Iran during his campaign. Mr. DAndreas new role is one of a number of moves inside the spy agency that signal a more muscular approach to covert operations under the leadership of Mike Pompeo, the conservative Republican and former congressman, the officials said. A year later the same Mike Pompeo, now Secretary of State, created the Iran Action Group within the State Department. It is a complementary entity to the CIA group. Little has been published about the action both groups have taken so far. What has Ayatollah Mike done since he set up shop 18 month ago? It is likely that the false flag operations in Europe, like the ones in Belgium and Denmark, are run by the CIA with the Mossad only in an auxiliary role. The U.S. can hardly admit that it is faking terrorist incidents in Europe while the overrated Mossad loves to take credit for everything that happens on this world. Europe has no interest in supporting or escalating Trump's war on Iran. EU countries should demand hard evidence from Denmark and other accusers of Iran and should not act on the basis of only vague accusations. Posted by b on November 1, 2018 at 14:30 UTC | Permalink Comments
Netflix has released a brand new trailer for a special documentary they are about to release on their services.

The dog-umentary is fittingly called Dogs and follows the unique stories of six different doggos and their owners. The dogs are from all across the globe and all walks of life.

Dogs is set to celebrate 'the deep emotional bonds between people and their beloved four-legged friends' in countries including Syria, Japan, Italy, USA and Costa Rica.

The trailer is hugely emotional with lots of quotes and one-liners that are guaranteed to give you all of the feels.

I can't imagine my life without dogs,

Dogs will highlight not only how we take care of our four-legged friends, it will also show how they look after us in return.

The Netflix series will be six episodes long, and will drop onto the streaming platform mid-November.


Transparency is how we protect the integrity of our work and keep empowering investors to achieve their goals and dreams. And we have unwavering standards for how we keep that integrity intact, from our research and data to our policies on content and your personal data.

Wed like to share more about how we work and what drives our day-to-day business.
The Canadian government should focus its energies on a tailored approach that would address the housing affordability crisis on a province-to-province basis, according to Prof. Ronald Kneebone of the University of Calgarys Department of Economics.

Kneebone argued that since rental housing data from the CMHC indicate that affordability concerns are much more obvious in Western Canada and Ontario compared to other areas, it makes more sense to allot a proportionally greater amount of resources to the problem regions.

If its east of Toronto, there really is no affordable housing crisis and the government shouldnt be wasting money on providing income or housing supports in provinces like Quebec of the Atlantic provinces. They should dedicate all that money in Ontario and out west, Kneebone told CityNews Edmonton.
Vancouvers luxury real estate market is a curious study in contrasts, with demand and price growth performance in the single-detached and condo segments varying significantly.

According to Knight Frank LLPs latest Prime Global Cities Index, Vancouver experienced the greatest decline worldwide in the luxury market during the third quarter of 2018. Average sale prices fell by 11% year-over-year, in large part due to considerable slowdown in crucial areas like West Vancouver.

Coming just behind were Stockholm, Istanbul, and Taipei, all with 6.3% decreases compared to Q3 2017.
Oils set for its biggest monthly drop since 2016 as a looming slowdown in the global economy haunts the market while U.S. inventories grow and producers relay mixed signals.

Futures in New York are poised for a drop of more than 9 percent in October, following two months of gains. A global equity rout and an escalating U.S.-China trade war are weighing on the outlook for growth and energy demand, dragging down prices that only weeks earlier surged to a four-year high. Concerns of a supply squeeze due to impending American sanctions on Iran eased after some other OPEC nations pledged to pump more.

There are fears that China is about to become embroiled in a trade war with the U.S., which could push China into the biggest slowdown since the financial crisis and cripple oil demand, said Neil Beveridge, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein.

While Saudi Arabias Energy Minister said the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is in a produce as much as you can mode, an OPEC committee said it could cut supplies next year, spurring uncertainty in the market. In the U.S., inventories are forecast to climb for a sixth consecutive week. After breaching $76 a barrel earlier this month for the first time since 2014, New Yorks West Texas Intermediate has lost over 10 percent.

WTI for December delivery traded at $66.45 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, up 27 cents, at 10:59 a.m. in London. The contract had declined more than 2 percent in the past two sessions. Total volume traded was about 8 percent below the 100-day average.

Brent for December settlement, which expires Wednesday, added 39 cents to $76.30 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. Prices are on course for a 7.9 percent drop this month, the biggest monthly loss since July 2016. The global benchmark crude traded at a $9.88 premium to WTI.

See also: U.S. Oil Output Likely to Exceed EIAs Forecast, Rystad Says

In the U.S., the industry-funded American Petroleum Institute was said to report crude inventories expanded by 5.69 million barrels last week. If its confirmed by the Energy Information Administration data on Wednesday, it will be a sixth consecutive week of gains, the longest streak of increases since March 2017.

Meanwhile, both Russia and Saudi Arabia have been raising production to ease shortages and to meet demands from U.S. President Donald Trump to lower prices. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said he sees no grounds for reducing output and that theres the risk of a deficit in crude markets, while the Saudis have already boosted supplies to 10.7 million barrels a day, near an all-time high.

To contact the reporters on this story: Heesu Lee in Seoul at hlee425@bloomberg.net;Grant Smith in London at gsmith52@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Pratish Narayanan at pnarayanan9@bloomberg.net, ;James Herron at jherron9@bloomberg.net, Helen Robertson

2018 Bloomberg L.P.
Ervin Well Site Consultants opened its doors as a one-man operation comprised of founder Andy Ervin. In the ensuing years, the company not only survived the oil price crash of 1998-1999 but has grown to include offices in Midland and San Antonio and a presence as far away as Arizona, New York, Pennsylvania and the Bakken play.

"We've been blessed," said the deeply faithful Ervin, sitting in his new offices across from Security Bank Ballpark.

He said he is proud of his efforts to provide his clients with consultants who not only have expertise in everything from drilling and completions, to well production to safety and environmental compliance but who have honesty and integrity.

"I believe I have a gift for identifying good people," he said.

His idea to start a consulting company has its roots in his history with the industry.

"I've been working in the industry since I was 13 years old," he said. "I noticed in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, oil companies were having more layoffs and outsourcing work to contract people instead of employees. There was a time in my generation when we joined an oil company, we said it was for life. I set out to prove to myself I was a good consultant. I'm still holding to that goal."

He now has contracts with 100 different oil companies, ranging from large companies to smaller independents, including one that has just one well, he said.

"Our business is primarily based on our relationship with our clients and with our consultants," Ervin said. "We treat our consultants like our customers."

One reason he is a consultant, he said, is "I've done what they do. I understand their sacrifice."

His wife, Darlyne, said that is one reason "he ensures our contractors get paid (promptly). That's an attraction, but also an assurance because he's been there."

There are so many people in the industry who have worked for independents and were laid off or retired, said Ervin. "I believe, regardless of age, you still have expertise. That's what we work on is that expertise," he said.

Darlyne Ervin said her husband has a way of knowing what some people have to offer. She cites a specific example of a pumper who Ervin encouraged to become a consultant. "And in five years he made more money than he ever had in his life, because (Andy) recognized their potential," she said.

Ervin is starting a new company to serve clients who want W2 consultants, meaning they are employees of the consulting company.

"It will work out well in the end. Because of that, other companies I've not been able to work with because we're not a W2 consulting company, this well open the door to them," he said.
From its start as an electrical and instrumentation services contractor, Saulsbury Industries has grown into a full-service engineering, procurement contractor active in industries ranging from gas processing and treatment to nuclear power to terminals and logistics. It has grown to more than 5,000 employees.

"I didn't think it would be that way when we started," said Dick Saulsbury, who founded Saulsbury Electric in 1967, in a phone interview from his Odessa home.

Despite the various industries Saulsbury serves, "everything we are, everything we have, comes from oil. We keep that in mind," he said.

Born and raised in Smackover, Arkansas, Saulsbury recalled watching his grandmother help his grandfather pull wells. "I was raised in the oil fields," he said, starting work in the industry at age 11.

After getting married, Saulsbury left Louisiana Tech, and he and his wife hitched a trailer to their Buick and landed in Wickett in 1962, lured to West Texas by his uncle to work for Dixie Electric.

Demand for the services of his Saulsbury Electric prompted him to find employees to help with the work. As demand continued, he began to expand and formed Saulcon construction company, Eagle Instrumentation to provide pneumatic services, then Saulsbury Engineering and Construction. He eventually consolidating them into Saulsbury Industries.

Saulsbury is quick to credit his employees with the company's growth. "This is a product of the employees. What God gave us, the employees helped grow," he said.

He said he has had no specific growth targets or goals for the company. "I don't care if we had 50 employees or 150 employees, if we earned $5 million or $500 million. It was important that we work safely, that the people like what they're doing and they're happy," he said.

"We want to do good, honest work and have our employees return home safely  all employees return home safely."
In the midst of the early voting period, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said no other election race in the nation represents a starker divide than the one for his seat. The incumbent on Wednesday during a campaign stop in Midland contrasted his views with those of his Democratic challenger.

This is a moment in our country that is a time for choosing, choosing between two dramatically different paths, Cruz told those gathered at the George H.W. Bush Commemorative Center.

The senator highlighted his record and how it differed from that of his opponent, U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke. In one example, Cruz mentioned he supported the tax overhaul bill, which the El Paso congressman voted against.

RELATED: Cruz campaign says celebrity endorsements aren't that important

Nationally, Cruz emphasized the unemployment rate is the lowest it has been since 1969. The senator said he worked with President Donald Trump to repeal regulations that could hurt jobs. He also said taking away regulations has been beneficial for the Permian Basin.

When it comes to energy, were producing 33 percent more oil in the state of Texas than we did just two years ago in 2016, Cruz told media. Who on Earth would want to screw that up by having the federal government paralyzed by a partisan battle of impeachment?

If Democrats regain control of the U.S. House after the midterm elections, Cruz said there could be absolute political chaos and paralysis. He envisions the start of proceedings to impeach the president as well as Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Theyll open a dozen different investigations into every federal agency, designed to paralyze the Trump administration, to just descend Washington into partisan gridlock and chaos and battles, Cruz said. Thats not good for Texas.

Also during Wednesdays campaign stop, Cruz distanced himself from his opponent in regards to Israel, health care and immigration. On the latter topic, Cruz said the country has to do everything it can to secure the border.

RELATED: Conaway supports Trump's call for ending birthright citizenship

During media interviews, he weighed in on Trumps recent call to end birthright citizenship. He said the system doesnt make much sense, and he thinks the country needs to continue to welcome people entering legally.

I have long thought we should change the policy because granting automatic citizenship to the children of illegal aliens, it only encourages more and more illegal immigration, he said.

The senators Midland event was part of a bus tour, which included appearances in Lubbock and Amarillo later in the day.

Cruzs push to spread word about his campaign comes days before Tuesdays midterm election. Also on the ballot to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate is Libertarian candidate Neal Dikeman.
One of the companies looking to set up a wind farm in the area is settling inand looking improve its relationship with the community.

Everywhere Ive gone working with wind projects, it has some tie to the local community. In this case, my family just happens to have lived here for the past 20 years, said Lael Eason, senior development manager for E.ON. While Eason hasnt directly lived here, his younger brother is graduate of Jacksonville High School and Illinois College and his father was ICs chaplain for years.

E.ON is a wind energy company that has three wind farms in Illinois and 22 across the U.S. It is one of the companies looking build a wind farm in eastern Morgan County. Last month, E.ON set up shop in Alexander and started getting to know the area.

Im really excited about bringing economic development to eastern Morgan County and the county as a whole, Eason said.

While the project has not been approved, the E.ON already is looking to invest and settle into the area.

Right now its about checking to see if the project is viable and fostering a nurturing relationship and building trust within the community, Eason said. Just showing who we are and how we operate. I think thats important.

Meaning that, if this project gets off the ground, the company is here for the long haul. In the meantime, its about addressing community concerns about the project. One common concern is how a wind farm will affect the area environmentally, Eason said.

Being a good steward to the land, he said, listing some of the issues most commonly raised. Any impacts that have an impact to farming operations; so what are the concerns regarding tiling, compassion, environmental as it relates to birds, bats; and the concerns regarding the unknown, if you will, he said. To be able to go out and educate people on that and help them work through those concerns.

The company looks to work with groups such as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to help answer some of the concerns, Eason said.

We want to make sure we are doing right by the community, he said.

The group has also already donated to several groups including the rotary club to go towards the diseased trees in the area and has sponsored the Ferris wheel rides just to name a few.

I wouldnt be proposing a project of this size if I thought it would have an adverse effect to my home or community. So I think a lot of it is getting out there and providing people with the information and tools but also letting people see who we are, Eason said. I joke with people. Feel free to contact my parents if you have an issue. I guarantee theyll whip me in shape. I think its important to understand who youre dealing with and to ensure theyre going to be here for the long run.
Photo provided

Illinois College is offering a quick but up-close glimpse of Cuba via a photo exhibit today at the colleges Center for Global Studies and Parker Science Building.

The exhibit, Perspectives on Cuba, is the result of a six-year collaboration between IC and the University of Pinar del Rio in Cuba. It features photos by both IC students and students from the Cuban university.
DETROIT  A Pike County minister has been arrested and charged with criminal sexual abuse of a minor.

Jeffrey S. Krupinski, 51, minister at Detroit Christian Church, was arrested Friday on charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor.

The arrest came after Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services and Arkansas law enforcement agencies notified Pike County Sheriff Paul Petty that a 14-year-old girl who spent some time with the Krupinski family during the summer has since alleged abuse.

Petty launched an investigation after reviewing the case and determining that there was enough evidence to proceed, according to reports.

Petty was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

The charges filed by States Attorney Zachary Boren accuse Krupinski of rubbing the girls genitals through her clothing and putting his hand on her breast sometime around July 4.

Bond was set at $45,000.

Krupinski had his first appearance in Pike County Court on Tuesday. A verbal motion to reduce bond was denied and the judge told Krupinski to refrain from contact with anyone under the age of 18. Krupinskis attorney filed a request for a speedy trial and a motion for discovery, and a preliminary hearing was set for 1 p.m. Nov. 13.

Aggravated criminal sexual abuse is a felony that can carry a sentence of from three to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and a fine of up to $25,000.

Nick Draper can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1223, or on Twitter @nick_draper.
We should reconsider how people are ...
Bradford Dozier missing bulletin View Photos

Alpine County, CA  The search continues in Alpine County for a Sacramento man that has been missing since Sunday.

As reported here Tuesday, 55-year-old Bradford Dozier went to the Blue Lakes area, which is southwest of Markleeville, to hike on Saturday and when he did not return the next day, his wife called authorities to report him missing. When Doziers vehicle was found that afternoon at the Blue Lakes Campgrounds an air and ground search began. While Tuolumne Countys search and rescue team (SAR) had helped to comb the area yesterday, today the only crews that remain from the Mother Lode are from Calaveras and Amador.

Alpine Sheriffs officials update that as of 2 p.m. no clues have been found. Teams are currently concentrating their search west of Blue Lakes near Deadwood Peak. Resources deployed in the search include ground teams, a CHP and National Guard helicopter.

Dozier is described as a 55 year old, white male adult, 510, 190 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a green shirt, olive colored hiking pants and hiking shoes or boots. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should call the Alpine County Sheriffs dispatch at (530) 694-2231.
Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority View Photos

Sonora, CA  Tuolumne Countys Economic Development Authority and local resident Ken Perkins have reached a settlement agreement in a high profile lawsuit.

Perkins sued the TCEDA, and Director Larry Cope, seeking documents backing up claims that it helped generate tens of millions of dollars in economic benefits and assisted in over $392-million in investment projects.

As reported this past August, the TCEDA responded by releasing redacted records to protect the confidential information of the businesses. In addition, the TCEDA reports that it will pay over $7,000 in attorneys fees to resolve the matter. Perkins, in turn, agrees to dismiss the suit.

When reached this morning by Clarke Broadcasting, Perkins stated a key piece of the decision was the TCEDA agreeing to sign a sworn statement that no other documents exist related to his request.

He added, Im glad it was settled rather quickly. My first goal I was able to achieveand that was to get all of the documents requested. My second goal hasnt been quite achieved yet, and it is in regards to December 31st, which is the deadline for the City of Sonora to decide whether to leave the joint powers agreement with the TCEDA. That has also been one of my goals (for Sonora to break from TCEDA).

Clarke Broadcasting reached out to the TCEDA for comment on the settlement, and board Chair John Gray stated, Im happy that we resolved the issue, but it is very unfortunate we had to go this route. Economic development in Tuolumne County is extremely important and it is very upsetting that we have a citizen like Mr. Perkins to take the route he took. It cost taxpayers additional money, and it slowed down the economic development job we are trying to do. I sincerely believe it is a personal vendetta that Mr. Perkins had with Mr. Cope. I dont have a full understanding of that, but Im glad its done, and we can get on to selling Tuolumne County to the rest of the state and nation.

Gray has publicly given high praise for Copes work on numerous occasions. The TCEDA also emailed a statement adding that the authority hopes the resolution will lead to a more productive dialogue regarding the entity and its mission. It adds that there is no secrecy regarding its dealings and all of its meetings are governed by the Brown Act and open to the public. The statement also notes that any time a lawsuit results in the release of public records, even if redacted, the law requires the public agency pay the plaintiffs attorney fees and costs.
A nearly 10-foot alligator was spotted and captured on a Galveston beach Wednesday morning.

Galveston police were called to the beach at 23rd Street and Seawall Boulevard after beachgoers spotted an alligator hanging out on the sand.

"He didn't hurt anybody or anything like that, he was fairly quiet," said Capt. Joshua Schirard, a spokesman for the police department. "Just hanging out on the beach."

Galveston Police Chief Vernon Hale tweeted a photo of the 9 foot, 8 inch alligator being captured by a Texas game warden. Texas Parks and Wildlife is expected to relocate and release the alligator in freshwater.

Schirard said alligators have been known to make their way out into the Gulf during periods of heavy rain, which makes the water in the freshwater Galveston Bay less brackish and allows the gators to venture farther for food.

This alligator likely get stuck out in the saltwater and ended up on the beach when the tide receded.

Texas Parks and Wildlife did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Nick Powell covers Galveston County for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and send him tips at nick.powell@chron.com
Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here.
Tony Dejak/STF

WASHINGTON - A new report by the American Petroleum Institute pushes back against claims by Energy Secretary Rick Perry that the U.S.natural gas pipelines network is especially vulnerable to cyber attack.

The report argues not only that cyber threat are a risk "across the energy system, including at coal and nuclear plants," but that pipeline companies maintain multiple levels of security "to protect against cascading failure."
Coney Island has Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, but San Antonio-area foodies will be more focused on piling in the tamales at a Boerne competition happening this weekend.

Chilito's Express, a tamales and catering business, is hosting the contest on Saturday. The competition at 826 Johns Road is the first one for the company, according to event details.
For beer enthusiasts who like to get their hands on a unique cold one, a San Antonio brewery is gearing up to offer 16 special-release beers for its second-anniversary party.

Weathered Souls Brewing Co. is turning 2 years old Nov. 17 and is celebrating with a monster list of new releases for the party that have been in development for more than a year from brewmaster Marcus Baskerville.

RELATED: 10 things to know about Wurstfest in New Braunfels

The list includes:

Mostra Cavernous: Imperial stout brewed with Jamaican Blue mountain Coffee, toasted cacao nibs and Madagascar vanilla beans. There will also be versions with hazelnut and coconut.

Crumble, Crumble: Imperial stout made with blueberries, cacao nibs and graham crackers.

Brownie Cavernous: Imperial stout made with marshmallows, brownie batter and Oreo pieces.

Coco Maple Cavernous: Imperial stout made with toasted coconut and cinnamon.

Thin Mint Cavernous: Imperial stout brewed with thin mint Girl Scout cookies and cacao nibs.

Old Fashioned, A Stout Named Slickback: Imperial Milk stout, aged in a cognac barrel with cherries, vanilla beans and cacao nibs.

Key Lime Pie Creamery: Kettle sour made with key lime juice, key lime peel, lactose and vanilla beans.

Rwanda French Press: Imperial double milk stout brewed with Rwandan coffee, roasted by Long Road Coffee and hazelnut (also available in cans).

Murkaveli: A double hazy IPA collaborated with Pure Project from San Diego. This DIPA is made with Galaxy, Citra and Vic Secret hops (also available in cans).

Double Barrel, A Stout Named Slickback: Imperial milk stout with Madagascar vanilla beans. The beer is aged in Buffalo Trace barrels then in former whiskey/vanilla extract barrels (bottles available).

Peach Mango Reverence: Barrel-aged mixed fermentation golden sour made with peaches and mangoes.

Double Peanut Butter ... No jelly: Imperial Stout brewed with peanut butter and peanut butter fudge cookies added.

Reverence: Oak aged mixed fermentation golden sour.

Cognac, A Stout Named Slickback: Imperial Milk Stout aged in cognac barrels.

Cucumber Melon Kettle sour: Kettle sour made with cucumbers and melons.

Sweet Ginger Brown: Imperial stout made with toasted pecans, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg and molasses.

Weathered Souls will have two full tap lines up and going to speed up the pouring process for the event, which will run from 2 p.m. until midnight. Both general admission ($20, plus taxes and fees) and VIP ($40, plus taxes and fees) tickets are available now online at eventbrite.com, but will also be sold at the gate.

General admission includes an anniversary glass and two drink tickets. VIP ticketholders get a separate souvenir glass, three beer tickets and one hour of early access (1 p.m.) into the party.

The brewery is partnering with Lyft for discounted rides (up to 50 percent off) to and from the event. There are also plans to offer live music, as well as food trucks and food stations.

Weathered Souls Brewing Co., 606 Embassy Oaks, 210-313-8796. Facebook: weatheredsoulsbrewing
STAMFORD  A New York man has been accused of illegal fishing in Greenwich.

Lawrence McLoughlin, 61, of New Rochelle, N.Y., turned himself over to police Thursday morning and was charged with taking too many fish, tampering with evidence and littering. He was arraigned at the Stamford courthouse and was released after posting a $10,000 court appearance bond.

Greenwich Marine police stopped McLoughlins 24-foot center console fishing boat on Oct. 17 and escorted it back to the dock for a safety inspection due to rough waters that day.

Police said McLoughlin left the wheel and was seen throwing several large bags of fish overboard as they were escorting him to the dock.

McLoughlin claimed he was throwing bait overboard, but police say they found several bags in the water containing at least 14 blackfish.

State fishing regulations only allow 10 blackfish to be caught each day. Police said the fish in the bag were also smaller than the size allowed to be caught. McLoughlins boat registration was also expired.

McLoughlins defense attorney, Bruce Koffsky, told Judge John Blawie that his client, a former lobsterman, has been fishing in Long Island Sound for 40 years and understands the ecology.

He understands what he did and he understands the charges against him and will have an opportunity to defend himself, Koffsky said, adding that McLoughlin has no criminal record.

In 1985, McLoughlin received an infraction for taking an undersized lobster and was cited in 2001 for taking a fish out of season, Koffsky said

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
UPPER THUMB  Tuscola County Commissioners took the first step in getting into the real estate business when they approved creating a land bank for the county.

Having a land bank with help the county market foreclosed, contaminated, blighted or abandoned properties, explained county Controller Mike Hoagland, noting the state is also considering turning over about 650 acres that includes the former prison camps and some of the Caro Center property.

Some of the state land has been eyed for possible development of a hotel, and for a possible recreation paintball facility.

However, forming a land bank wasnt contingent on getting the state land.

The state has changed its mind a couple of times on what they want to do with the (prison and other) property. Either way, having a land bank will benefit the county, said board Chair Thom Bardwell.

According to the countys Attorney John Axe, the county would be the titleholder of the property, remediate the site, would work with perspective owners on development, would work with the countys brownfield development authority. The county treasurer (Pat Donovan-Gray) must agree to it and be part of the authority, and the land bank authority would be responsible for oversight.

When the commissioners were reviewing the draft to create a land bank, Register John Bishop, who was a practicing attorney before becoming a county employee, expressed concern on who the board for the land bank will be appointed under the inter-local agreement and how the chairman of that board would be appointed. He took issue with Tuscola County Economic Development Director Steve Erickson being automatically appointed as chair.

Because of Bishops concerns, naming a permanent chairperson was stricken from the inter-local agreement between the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority and the county treasurer in creating the Tuscola County Land Bank Authority.

The commissioners unanimous approval was the first step in creating a county land bank.

There will be some initial cost to setting up the land bank that would come from the general fund, but after that it is expected to make money as properties are sold and be self-sustaining, explained Hoagland.

As part of the process, there will have to be public hearings before final formation of the land bank.

Sanilac County also has a land bank.

The Huron County Board of Commissioners recently heard a presentation on forming a county land bank.
The Lion Air jet that crashed into the Java Sea off Indonesia earlier this week had experienced problems with the sensors used to calculate altitude and speed on its previous flight, an issue that could help explain why the plane dove into the water.

Pilots on the nearly new Boeing 737 Max 8 reported the issue after flying from Denpasar to Jakarta the night before the accident, Lion Air spokesman Danang Mandala Prihantoro said Wednesday. The instruments were checked by maintenance workers overnight and the plane was cleared to fly, Prihantoro said.

While it will be days or weeks before definitive information emerges in the crash shortly after takeoff with 189 people aboard, discrepancies in speed and altitude readings can cause confusion on the cockpit and have led to accidents in the past, including the 2009 crash of an Air France plane in the Atlantic Ocean.

Flight-tracking data before the two-month old Lion Air jet crashed showed the plane was varying its altitude and speed, a possible indication that the pilots weren't getting accurate information from the aircraft's air-pressure sensors.

Erroneous sensors could be an explanation for the flight track data, said John Cox, president of Safety Operating Systems and a former airline pilot. But Cox and others cautioned that it's too soon to say what happened on the Lion Air flight and some of the flight data -- such as speeds that weren't extreme and none of the highly abrupt maneuvers that preceded the Air France jet's loss of control -- may suggest some other cause.

Indonesian search teams retrieved the flight data recorder Thursday after more than three days of hunt for the wreckage. They have yet to locate the cockpit voice recorder.

Inspections of the 737 Max 8 aircraft operated by Lion Air and Garuda Indonesia since the accident found no technical issues, according to a statement by the country's Transport Ministry. A review of maintenance documents found no additional issues were reported on the airspeed and altimeter system in the past 3 months.

However, in a crackdown Thursday, the ministry ordered Lion Air to suspend its director of maintenance and engineering, managers in charge of quality control and fleet maintenance and the engineer who signed off on the plane before take-off. The measures were taken to facilitate a smooth probe, it said.

Investigators from around the world, including a team from Boeing, are onsite poring over evidence. For now, the planemaker has told 737 Max operators that it doesn't recommend they take any action at this time.

Even with modern GPS tracking, planes need to calculate their precise speed through the air. To determine airspeed -- which can vary substantially compared to the speed over the ground due to winds -- aircraft rely on Pitot tubes which measure the air rushing into them.

By comparing that pressure against the ambient air pressure -- which is obtained by what are known as static ports -- aircraft can determine airspeed.

If either of the pressure sensors are blocked, it can cause erroneous readings. In the case of the Air France flight, investigators concluded that a high-altitude ice storm clogged the Pitot tubes.

Jetliners are equipped with three separate airspeed sensor systems as backups. If one goes bad, pilots are trained to check the other readings and disregard the one that's incorrect.

United Technologies is a supplier of the systems to the 737 Max, according to Airframer.com, a website that tracks suppliers of aircraft components. A company representative said she wasn't immediately able to confirm whether its equipment was on the Lion Air plane.

Lion Air and investigators haven't provided details about the issue on the previous flight Sunday night. Data provided by flight tracking company FlightRadar24 showed that the jet took off and reached an altitude of 5,550 feet (1,692 meters), then dropped to 4,625 feet, an unusual altitude loss at a time when aircraft normally climb steadily.

The plane then resumed its climb, but never exceeded 28,000 feet. Jetliners usually don't fly below 30,000 feet because cruising at the lower altitudes is less fuel efficient. However, planes with partially malfunctioning altitude sensors aren't allowed above 28,000 feet.

"Every aircraft that we have will go through transit, pre-flight and post-flight checks," said Lion Air's Prihantoro. "We are conducting inspection and maintenance if needed on every aircraft."

Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee, which is leading the investigation, has interviewed pilots from the previous flight, Ony Soerjo Wibowo, an investigator, told a news conference on Tuesday.

In the Air France accident, investigators concluded that the Pitot tubes had become clogged with ice and all three of the plane's speed indicators failed at different times, according to the final report of France's Office of Investigation and Analysis.

The routine flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris was interrupted with a cacophony of alarms and confusing information. Their autopilot disconnected, speed indicators went haywire and warnings sounded indicating they were going too slow. "We haven't got a good display," one of the pilots said, according to the accident report.

Completely flummoxed, the pilots abruptly climbed and then lost control, allowing the plane to plunge for about four minutes until it slammed into the water.

While such failures happen fairly frequently and pilots should be able to continue flying the plane until the problem resolves itself, a handful of airline accidents such as the Air France crash show they can be confusing if pilots are startled and don't react properly.

A charter flight leaving the Dominican Republic in 1996 crashed, killing 189 people, after the captain's airspeed became inaccurate. While it was never proven, a wasp's nest in the Pitot tube was suspected as the reason for the error.

An Aeroperu flight that crashed in 1996, killing 70, was blamed by the Peruvian government on tape that had been left over the static ports. Shortly after takeoff, pilots received nearly simultaneous cockpit warnings that they were going too fast, too slow and too close to the ground, according to the investigation.

While it's too early to know if airspeed indicators will prove to be related to Monday's accident, the possibility underscores the need for better and more consistent pilot training, said David Greenberg, an industry consultant and former operations executive at Delta Air Lines.

Greenberg, who also served as chief operating officer at Korean Air Lines Co., said U.S. airlines drill pilots for such contingencies in the classroom and flight simulators.

Partially as a result of the Air France crash, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in recent years revamped pilot training for how to handle unusual speeds and cases in which the plane goes out of control. It's now common for airline pilots to receive simulator training on how to handle a failure of the plane's speed indicators.

A veteran U.S. airline captain recalled a recent training exercise in the simulator in which the plane's airspeed became inaccurate. The problem was hard to detect and occurred simultaneously with other control issues, said the pilot, who asked not to be named because he wasn't authorized to speak by his airline.

The copilot's speed readings were accurate and control was turned over to the junior pilot, but the captain's instruments continued to behave erratically, which was distracting, the pilot said.

"The government wants to discuss with Boeing to see if there's any mismatch between this aircraft type and the competency of the pilots," Indonesia's Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday.

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Bloomberg's Fathiya Dahrul, Natasha Rausch, Mary Schlangenstein and Anurag Kotoky contributed.
If youre a green entrepreneur, chances are you have strong opinions on how marijuana should be classified under law. Now, you have a chance to make that opinion known, at least when it comes to international law.

The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has opened a small window of opportunity in the month of October for citizens to comment on whether marijuana should be reclassified under global treaties that the United States participates in. Comment can be made through the federal government site that allows for citizen comments on public policy issues. In this case, the issue is international drug rescheduling, which includes cannabis plant and resin, according to the FDA.

Comments were accepted through Oct. 31.

Related: What Will Happen if the U.S. Legalizes Pot Like Canada? A Mind-Boggling Economic Boon, That's What.

International Cannabis Law

The FDA is seeking public comments ahead of its report to the World Health Organization (WHO) on whether international restrictions should be placed on a variety of drugs, including cannabis. The U.S. report to WHO will address the abuse liability and diversion of these drugs.

In the U.S., marijuana currently is considered a Schedule I illegal drug, placing it among drugs such as heroin and cocaine. A Schedule I listing means the federal government regards a drug as having no medical use and a high probability of abuse by users.

More than half the U.S. states have passed legalization for either medical or adult-use marijuana that runs contrary to the federal government position. Internationally, both Canada and Uruguay have now legalized marijuana nationwide, while the Supreme Court of Mexico has ruled prohibition of marijuana use by adults is unconstitutional, opening the way for legalization there.

U.S. officials are making comments regarding marijuana and other drugs so that their opinions can be considered along with those from other nations by the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, which will meet in November in Geneva. The committee will review psychoactive substances on their potential to cause dependence, abuse and harm to health, according to the FDA.

That committee is charged with making recommendations to the United Nations secretary-general on the need for international control of these substances.

Related: Facebook and Google Are Not So High On Cannabis

Canada and Uruguay Blaze New Trail

Much like in the U.S., where voters in Colorado, Oregon and Washington, among other states, have made their own decision on the legalization of marijuana, both Canada and Uruguay have legalized adult-use marijuana nationwide. No directive from the U.N. is likely to change that fact.

Mexico also has legalized medical marijuana nationwide. Columbia has done the same. In both countries, part of the argument for legalization rested on the idea that a legal, regulated market could cripple the drug cartels that operate in those countries. Chile and Iceland also are considering legalization.

Related: Italy Accidentally Legalized Pot and Now the Mafia Is Losing Big Money

WHO already has acknowledged the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis. Information on the WHO website lists benefits including effectiveness in lessening nausea and vomiting for those in the advanced stages of cancer and AIDS. Other conditions WHO lists as treatable by marijuana include asthma and glaucoma.

Follow dispensaries.com on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest cannabis news.

Related:

FDA Welcomes Public Comments on Marijuana

Dear Cannabis Entrepreneurs: Enjoy Ruling Your Small Pond While You Can

What Will Happen if the U.S. Legalizes Pot Like Canada? A Mind-Boggling Economic Boon, That's What.



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Roger Stone, a longtime adviser to President Donald Trump, sent an email to Trump's chief campaign strategist in October 2016 that implied that he had information about WikiLeaks' plans to release material that would be damaging to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

In an email to Stephen Bannon on Oct. 4 - days before WikiLeaks began releasing emails hacked from the account of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta -Stone said that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange feared for his personal safety but would nevertheless be releasing "a load every week going forward."

Stone posted the exchange with Bannon on Thursday in a column on the Daily Caller website, shortly before the New York Times published a story describing the message.

The 2016 email suggests that Stone - long known for a tendency to exaggerate and hype - was nevertheless viewed by Bannon and the Trump campaign as a source to consult for information about WikiLeaks.

The group's release of documents allegedly hacked by Russian operatives in the final months of the 2016 White House race is being investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller's team has been intently focused on the question of whether Stone had knowledge of WikiLeaks' activities.

Stone has long insisted that he did not know what WikiLeaks planned to release and that predictions he made were based on public information and tips from associates.

His newly revealed exchange with Bannon undercuts Stone's insistence this week that he never communicated with Trump campaign officials about WikiLeaks.

"There are no such communications, and if Bannon says there are he would be dissembling," Stone told The Washington Post, which reported Tuesday that Bannon had been asked about Stone's interactions with the campaign in a recent interview with the Mueller team.

On Thursday, Stone told The Post that he "was unaware of this email exchange until it was leaked."

"We had not turned it up in our search," he added. "We can find no others to campaign officials."

William Burck, an attorney for Bannon, declined to comment.

Stone's email to Bannon came in the key week before WikiLeaks began releasing Podesta's emails - a time when Stone had been publicly trumpeting his belief that WikiLeaks would drop material that would reshape the campaign's final weeks.

On Sunday, Oct. 2, Stone tweeted: "Wednesday@HillaryClinton is done. #WikiLeaks."

The next day, Stone received an email from Matt Boyle, an editor for Breitbart News, the conservative publication that Bannon led before he was named Trump's campaign chief in August 2016, the New York Times reported.

"Assange - what's he got?" Boyle asked. "Hope it's good."

Stone wrote back: "It is."

Boyle then forwarded the message to Bannon, writing, "You should call Roger."

A Breitbart spokesman told The Post that Boyle "acted in his role as a journalist to attempt to uncover the story behind Roger Stone's public claims." Boyle has not been contacted by Mueller, according to a person close to him.

On Oct. 4, Assange spoke by video conference to reporters gathered in Berlin. Instead of releasing material, as had been expected, Assange announced a vague plan to publish documents sometime in the future, suggesting that there would be weekly releases at some point.

An apparently disappointed Bannon wrote Stone: "What was that this morning???"

Stone replied: "Fear. Serious security concern. He thinks they are going to kill him and the London police are standing done. However - a load every week going forward."

On Thursday, Stone said that the idea of weekly releases was based on Assange's public announcement. He said that his information about Assange's fears came from Randy Credico, a New York comedian and radio host who had hosted Assange on his show.

Credico has denied providing Stone with inside information about WikiLeaks.

According to Stone, Credico told him that Assange had been warned to delay the release of hacked emails in early October 2016 by Daniel Ellsberg, the military analyst famed for his role as the source of the Pentagon Papers in the early 1970s. In Stone's account, Ellsberg is described as a WikiLeaks "attorney."

Reached by phone Thursday, Ellsberg broke into laughter when told of Stone's claim.

"How absurd," Ellsberg said. "I am not, of course, a lawyer. That doesn't make any sense at all. That story is totally false."

Ellsberg had been supportive of WikiLeaks in 2010, when he appeared with Assange at a news conference in London after the group released hundreds of thousands of Iraq War documents. He said he later visited Assange at the Ecuadoran Embassy in London, where the WikiLeaks founder has been confined for years.

But Ellsberg said he had had no contact with Assange about the WikiLeaks releases during the 2016 campaign. Ellsberg said he opposed the releases and thought Assange had used "bad judgment" in an effort to defeat Clinton.

- - -

The Washington Post's Robert Costa contributed to this report.
MARYVILLE  The Maryville Knights of Columbus Council 6625 and First Collinsville Bank (FCB Banks) joined forces to get coats to needy kids by combining the Knights Coats For Kids program with the banks Coats for Cuties campaign.

The Knights of Columbus have provided coats for kids on an annual basis through a national program whereby cases of boys and girls coats are provided by Supreme Headquarters on an at cost basis.
NEW HAVEN  The city finance department wants to build up the account for other post-employment benefits, but how is to be determined.

The city has started looking at ways to increase the troubled OPEB account without simply paying larger sums out of the city budget each year. OPEBs are benefits retirees have been promised in addition to their pensions. The OPEB plan provides medical coverage to eligible retirees and their spouses, in addition to providing life insurance coverage to eligible retired school administrators and teachers.

We wont solve the problem overnight, but were beginning to address that unfunded liability, city Controller Daryl Jones said.

That net liability, which includes retirees and current city employees, is around $590 million, according to a recent report by city auditors. Without including current workers, the liabilty is closer to $170 million.

Without significant savings in the account, the city operates on a pay as you go model, which isnt sustainable as OPEBs will take up more money in city budgets each year because of more employees retiring and claiming benefits. A little more than 2,800 retirees and their spouses were receiveing benefits as of 2015.

The city currently pays OPEBs through medical spending, said Mohit Agrawal, chairman of the citys Financial Review and Audit Commission. About 30-40 years ago, OPEBs were a benefit citys took on because it wasnt a large expense at the time, he said.

People are starting to realized that it may not be as affordable as expected, Agrawal said.

The OPEB fund holds approximately $3 million now, which was built up largely in the last few years. When Mayor Toni N. Harp entered office, she recognized the problem of underfunded OPEB, Jones said, so for the last three years the city has put $405,000 into the fund each year, whereas the previous administration was only putting in around $15,000.

Additionally, unions members began contributing a percentage of their gross pay as new contracts were settled. The police union was the first to start contributing to the fund, Jones said. Now, the majority of unions are contributing to OPEBs, making New Haven the first municipality in the state with that structure, he said. The maximum percentage contributed by certain unions, such as police, is 1.25 percent, which is calculated on the employees gross weekly pay.

In a recent meeting among city staff, which was incorrectly posted as a public meeting, Acting Budget Directory Michael Gormany, Jones and his staff began to look at what the fund is earning now and the best ways to grow it, Jones said. For example, the city earned more than $1 million in interest on general operating accounts held with banks, many of which are within the city as required by charter, Gormany said.

The initial part was to see what was in the account and to go forward, he said. Were hoping to have a something in place by the end of the year. The meeting was not an official board, so future meetings wont be public unless the city creates one to manage the OPEB fund.

Were looking at all the options, Jones said. At the meeting, ideas were thrown around about how the city should go about growing the OPEB account, but Jones said it was not about plans to invest in the stock market. The city alone cant invest money in the stock market, so the benefit of forming a formal board with representation from the unions and trustees is that board could submit a request for proposal to get a financial advisor to invest the money.

When that fund gets to a point where it gets big, you want to invest it wisely, Jones said. But Jones said he and city staff arent necessarily looking to create a formal board to handle the OPEB funds yet. Jones said the point of gathering finance staff on this issue was to give it the attention it needs.

Here is something that was ignored for years and this administration decided to do something about it, Jones said. Were taking steps in the right direction.

mdignan@hearstmediact.com
Police in Texas charged a 30-year-old man with driving while intoxicated after he crashed a scooter outside a restaurant on Halloween, the Austin American-Statesman reported Thursday.

It wasn't Travis Walker's first DUI, either, according to the report. The paper says he has two prior convictions - presumably with vehicles other than the gas-powered Viza Viper he was scooting around on until the crash Wednesday evening.
Online, he seemed like a monster, spewing hate and vitriol. In his own life, Robert Bowers was a ghost.

Neighbors rarely saw more than his parked car, just once or twice warming his engine on a cold day. To police, he was an unremarkable collection of traffic violations and minor run-ins. High school classmates couldn't even recall seeing him in the halls.

Authorities charged Bowers on Wednesday in a 44-count indictment, accusing him of federal hate crimes in the grisly shooting that left 11 people dead at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Investigators continued combing through the sparse details of his life for clues to explain his turn to extremist ideology and violence.

In a statement announcing the indictment, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the alleged crimes "are incomprehensibly evil and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation. Therefore this case is not only important to the victims and their loved ones, but to the city of Pittsburgh and the entire nation."

Officials say Bowers, 46, of Baldwin, Pennsylvania, drove to Tree of Life synagogue armed with Glock .357 handguns and a Colt AR-15 rifle. Inside the synagogue, they say Bowers expressed his desire to "kill Jews." Social media posts from an account under Bowers' name complained that Jews "infest" the country and compared them to "children of satan."

The hate he apparently espoused now has many across the city combing through their brief, elusive encounters with Bowers looking for clues they may have missed of the anger and carnage that poured out this weekend.

"He sort of stayed to himself and was unavailable in the community. There were no incidents of hate speech that his friends or people who lived around him knew about," said Michael Scott, the chief of police in Baldwin, where Bowers lived most recently. "We had no contact with him at all."

Bowers' mother, Barbara Bolt, is distraught over the shooting, said Mark Schollaert, pastor of First Baptist Monongahela Church, where Bolt is a parishioner. Schollaert said Bolt had asked him to speak on her behalf.

"She doesn't condone at all what her son has done," Schollaert said. "She's praying for the families of the victims and their friends."

Schollaert said he met Bowers while presiding over the funeral of Bolt's father, who died in 2014. He described Bowers as "normal" and said Bowers was a truck driver at the time.

"There was never any unkindness or negativity," Schollaert said.

Growing up, Bowers spent much of his high school years at his grandfather's home in the Pittsburgh suburb of Whitehall, Pennsylvania, according to neighbors from that time. Scott, the police chief, said that a few of Bowers' closest relatives also live in Whitehall, a community of modest brick ranchers and split-level homes.

Those who lived in the area during the 1980s, when Bowers lived there, described it as a mix of blue- and white-collar workers who rode the bus from the top of the hill eight miles to work in downtown Pittsburgh each day.

Bowers took the school bus to Baldwin High School - home of the Fighting Highlanders - which he attended from August 1986 to November 1989, according to the Baldwin-Whitehall School District. He left the year before he was to graduate.

Classmate Kathleen Loeffert, now a dentist in Delmont, Pennsylvania, said she remembered little about the quiet, reserved teen who lived down her street, except that he often wore a green camouflage jacket to school.

"Western Pennsylvania in the late '80s, a lot of the boys wore camouflage," she said.

As an adult, Bowers frequently visited a house on Fieldcrest Drive in Whitehall.

Neighbors said the house belonged to Bowers's aunt, who lived there with her disabled son, and that Bowers worked as the son's caregiver. But throughout that time, Bowers rarely left the house.

"He didn't communicate with me or anyone," said John Boff, who lived across the street. "He would come out and have a cigarette, stand by a post or sit in a chair, and then go back in."

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For much of the 1990s, Bowers hung around Dormont, a working-class suburb in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

His address listed in public records for many years was an apartment above Potomac Bakery, a fixture of a small-town main street that includes diners, coffee shops, and a gyro and pierogi takeout restaurant.

Neighbors there recall Bowers working at the bakery. The bakery's owners said in a statement that someone with that name worked at the bakery "more than 16 years ago" but declined to comment further.

During his time in Dormont, local police said, Bowers had five run-ins with the law, including a traffic violation, after somebody found his "lost wallet" and when officers spotted him on the bakery's fire escape in 1994. There were no arrests, Dormont Police Chief Michael Bisignani said. Dormont police also had contact with Bowers during a 2004 "medical-related issue," but Bisignani said he could not discuss the nature of the call due to privacy rules.

Neighbors said Bowers worked in recent years as a trucker and that he would often leave for days at a time. According to local traffic records, Bowers holds a valid commercial driver's license and in 2015 received a ticket for having an improperly marked tractor-trailer.

On the afternoon of April 15, 2015, Bowers pulled an 18-wheeler into a weigh station on Interstate 79, north of Pittsburgh. The rig, registered to PAM Transport, a national hauling company headquartered in Arkansas, lacked a required decal. The driver's license Bowers provided that day listed his aunt's address on Fieldcrest Drive as his own. He was fined and paid $403 for the trucking violation, according to district court records. Executives at PAM Transport did not respond to calls and an email seeking comment.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, citing a list of local truck drivers, said Bowers had been affiliated at one point with B. Keppel Trucking, based in the city. Two unions representing truckers in Pittsburgh said they had no record of Bowers being a member. Reached by phone Wednesday, Robert Keppel, the owner of B. Keppel Trucking, declined to comment.

The newspaper also cited archived Internet records that suggested Bowers was a sound man or Web archivist with a long-running local conservative radio show.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Jim Quinn, the host of "Quinn in the Morning," said he never met Bowers but that Bowers worked as a volunteer for a company hired to run Quinn's conservative website, "The WarRoom," in the 1990s.

"As far as I know, I've never met the man," Quinn said in an interview. "I wouldn't know him if I fell over him."

Quinn's brash brand of conservative radio - he reportedly considers Rush Limbaugh a mentor - debuted in 1993, part of a wave of conservative commentary that helped shift the political debate in western Pennsylvania, which has grown more Republican-leaning over the years. Quinn - who poses on his website with a rifle-shaped cigarette lighter - said he takes on typical conservative topics on his daily program. On Wednesday morning, for example, he discussed President Donald Trump's proposal to end birthright citizenship with an executive order.

---

In addition to the federal charges, Bowers also faces a criminal complaint filed by the office of Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala.

Zappala said Wednesday that he has investigators working to assess Bowers' mental health and other issues that can impact the state's ability to bring a capital case.

Zappala said federal investigators are in possession of Bowers' computer and other belongings, and that his staff is interviewing Bowers' neighbors, co-workers and others to better understand the suspect's state of mind before the shooting.

"I think we're going to need about another week before we're ready to say anything," Zappala said.

On Tuesday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said that Bowers had legally acquired and possessed the guns found in the synagogue and his home, but the agency issued a clarification Wednesday calling the earlier announcement "premature" and saying that "no determination" had been made. ATF referred further questions to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, which declined to comment.

The indictment filed on Wednesday states that Bowers wielded four guns inside the synagogue: three Glock .357 handguns and a Colt AR-15 rifle. Other weapons were recovered in his home, officials say.

While elements of Bowers' background remained a mystery days after the attack, some of his behavior matched what authorities have observed in other people accused of carrying out mass killings.

The FBI studied dozens of shootings that occurred between 2000 and 2013 and found that most of those shooters were fueled by a grievance of some kind, an issue that "may not have been reasonable or even grounded in reality, but it appeared to serve as the rationale for the eventual attack, giving a sense of purpose to the shooter."

Not all of Bowers' alleged actions matched what the FBI said it saw in earlier attackers. The study found that most of the shooters examined were fueled by grievances related to something that happened to them, while only a handful were driven by "ideology or hatred of a group," as authorities have suggested was the case with Bowers.

The targets of the grievance vary, said Phillip Resnick, who served as a forensic psychiatrist in cases involving the Oklahoma City bomber, Timothy McVeigh, and the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski.

"Whether it's anti-minority, anti-government, anti-technology," he said, "it's that grievance that turns into a justification to kill in their minds."

Academic research on mass shooters, in recent years, has found commonalities among them: They are often rigid, socially isolated and obsessive. Many describe a feeling of persecution by the world.

Rather than seeing themselves as the cause of problems, forensic psychiatrists say, mass shooters project onto others the responsibility for what is wrong in the world.

That sense of grievance appeared to permeate Bowers' online persona. On the social media platform Gab, a user with Bowers' name wrote in his bio that "jews are the children of satan." His banner image was a clear reference to a white-supremacist meme.

The fact that Bowers presented himself so differently online than in person is not surprising, forensic psychiatrist William Reid said. In 2014, Reid spent two months interviewing the gunman who killed 12 and injured 70 in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. He reviewed a thick notebook in which the gunman had sketched out in chilling detail his plan of attack.

"The way we want to present locally to friends or others, it can be very different than the way we present ourselves on paper," Reid said. "What often happens with someone whose psyche is fluid is they don't hold in their thoughts very well. So when they write, their inner thoughts just start pouring out."

---

The Washington Post's Moriah Balingit in New Eagle, Pa., and Mark Berman, Aaron Davis, Katie Zezima, Matt Zapotosky, Devlin Barrett, Julie Tate and Alice Crites in Washington contributed to this report.
Workplace humiliation is far-reaching and spreads like wildfire. Digital stones are being thrown, and shame campaigns are drowning in social media. Real-life consequences are imprinting the lives and livelihoods of many and what is posted, shared or boosted has implications for everyone involved.

Blaming, gossiping, name-calling and harassment are a reflection that shame has permeated your culture. What about the public shaming of staff in front of colleagues, delivering public reprimands or reinforcing that humiliating people are tolerated by the eye rolling, the back-door conversations or when no one does anything?

Related: A Critical Leadership Problem Many Companies Don't Even Know They Have

When leaders embrace shame as a management tool, the tapestry of your organization has been infested. It spreads throughout the organization and creates ripples as people disengage and focus on their survival.

In Jon Ronsons, TED Talk How One Tweet Can Ruin Your Life, he recounted the public shaming of senior director of corporate communications, Justine Sacco. While on holiday, Justine sent an offensive and careless tweet before boarding a flight. By the time she landed a trendy hashtag, #HasJustineLandedYet ignited an international feeding frenzy and her name synonymous with racism. Justine was publicly sentenced, subjected to torrents of abuse and threats resulting in the termination of her employment. Justine claimed that there was no malicious intent in what she wrote, yet it is difficult to find humor in her tweet. Christines fate unravelled publicly, and the power of the instant judgments turned her life upside down

Unfortunately, stories such as Sacco's are not uncommon. From job-shaming Geoffrey Owens, who played Elvin on The Cosby Show and was working at a Trader Joes in New Jersey, to Rachel Hundley, a city council member from California who received a threatening email accusing her of immoral behavior and demanding she drop out of the city council race or a website with photos of her from the Burning Man art festival would be released. Lets not forget about Monica Lewinsky, slut-shamed and body shamed, and in 1998 lost her reputation and dignity and almost her life. Humiliation at her core, Lewinsky's TED Talk The Price of Shame reminds us that public shaming is a blood sport that needs to stop.

Maybe we need a little of Aretha Franklins R-E-S-P-E-C-T to permeate the fabric of the organization. Rather than immersing in the toxicity of an environment, invest in transforming the environment into a more uplifting one where a golden opportunity for improvement is embraced. To move towards a more humanized culture, shame needs to be addressed. When respect is held as one of the highest values, shame and blame cannot penetrate. Empathy is valued, accountability is self-driven, and people feel valued.

Here are five ways to build confidence in the business and start fostering a shame-resilient culture.

1. Self-shaming.

Neuroscience says that self-criticism shifts the brain into a state of self-punishment that causes us to disengage. As a leader, have you ever activated the inner critic, telling yourself that you need to pay attention, you should behave a certain way or you need different skills or experience that what you have? Or maybe you are afraid to share an idea or make a bold move in case someone laughs at you. What often plays out is you become your own worst critic.

To be a leader, this world demands empathy, self-compassion and the courage to try again. Remove the blame-filled self-evaluation and practice a little more self-compassion. Dr. Kristen Neff says self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness help reduce our levels of stress and self-doubt by allowing you to see the story you created is about the things you fear, not the truth of who you are.

Related: Does Empathy Have a Place in Your Workplace?

2. Deliver feedback to inspire.

Resiliency isnt born out of insults or public shaming. If you want to grow your people, deliver feedback to inspire. Honesty is the best policy. Be open and straightforward. There is no moment more important than the moment feedback is delivered. Embrace these as teachable moments by describing the behavior you want your people to change or magnify. You are giving them a roadmap to success.

3. Socrates triple filter test.

In ancient Greece, the famous philosopher Socrates was visited by an acquaintance of his, eager to share some juicy gossip. The man asked Socrates if he would like to know the story he had just heard about a friend of theirs. Socrates, in his wisdom, asked him the following three questions, known as the Triple Filter Test.

The first filter is truth. Is what you are about to tell me about this person truthful?

The second filter is goodness. Is what you are about to share something good about the person?

The third filter is usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about this person going to be useful to me?

It is apparent why Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

4. Re-humanizing the workplace.

Completing a cultural assessment will give you the intel as to whether your company is driven by fear and shame or respect and compassion. When leaders are driven by intimidation, bullying or humiliating people, this results in a contagious environment where innovation is being starved and performance declines.

To understand the cultural landscape, invite conversations that identify common challenges, how people are confronting the challenges and collectively, how they respond. In the book Daring Greatly, Brene Brown recommends that leaders facilitate honest conversations about shame, embrace their vulnerability as a strength, and identify where shame is playing out. Courageous conversations create opportunities for all people within the business to learn how to give and receive feedback in a way that fosters engagement and growth.

Related: I've Been Running My Company for Almost Half My Life. Here's What I've Learned.

5. Workplace culture will be the competitive edge of the future.

Cultivating respect is not a program or project. It is a way of being that must be clearly defined, communicated and modeled from the top down. Being inclusive in your hiring, empowering your employees to succeed, creating bonding experiences with your teams and upholding a zero tolerance for discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment are non-negotiable.

Attracting the workforce of tomorrow requires a respectful workplace. Workplace culture will be the competitive edge of the future, and one of the key factors will be the level of respect within the organization. In 2018, Johnson & Johnson reached the top spot on DiversityIncs Top 50 as the commitment to diversity and inclusion is driven by the Chairman and CEO Alex Gorky. Throughout their organization, they launched and embedded diversity and inclusion through the talent management continuum, implemented development programs for their employees and provided training for their managers on mitigating unconscious bias.

Honest conversations about shame in the workplace are disruptive. Re-humanizing the workplace requires courage, a new language and impossibility to turn back when you have turned the light on.

Related:

To Build a Resilient Culture Stop the Blaming and Shaming and Start Showing People Respect

3 Signs You Are Your Own Worst Business Enemy

Inside Netflix's Notorious Firing Practices



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The Trump administration has launched its most concerted effort yet to pressure Saudi Arabia to end the conflict in Yemen amid growing opposition in Congress to continued U.S. military support for the kingdom's war there.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in recent days have said the time has come to halt more than three years of conflict between Houthi rebels and a government recognized by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the West. United Nations officials have warned that the war has left half the population of Yemen, one of the world's poorest countries, on the precipice of famine.

But the proposals put forth by Pompeo and Mattis are burdened by strategic limitations.

Mattis called for a cease-fire in which the rebels would pull back from Yemen's border with Saudi Arabia and start negotiations within 30 days. But he also said Saudi Arabia had a right to defend itself against Houthi missiles, which U.S. officials say have been supplied by Iran.

Pompeo proposed that the rebels first stop firing missiles at Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and that then Saudi Arabia would stop airstrikes that have killed thousands of civilians.

"It is time to end this conflict, replace conflict with compromise, and allow the Yemeni people to heal through peace and reconstruction," Pompeo said.

The urgency of that appeal reflects the complexity of U.S. interests on the Arabian Peninsula, weeks after Pompeo certified to Congress that Saudi Arabia and the UAE were making progress on reducing civilian casualties in Yemen. The report was required because the United States helps the coalition refuel its jets and shares intelligence with its military.

But neither officials' statements had an "or else" attached to it, former officials said.

"If you give your closest ally a pass, and say 'You don't need to do anything until the enemy takes the first step,' that is not a serious proposal," said Stephen Seche, a former U.S. ambassador to Yemen who now is executive vice president of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. "You've got to propose both parties need to move simultaneously to implement a cease-fire."

It also was unclear who might lean on the Houthis and Iran, especially as Tehran faces the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions next week after President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.

"This won't happen by spontaneous combustion," said Aaron David Miller, a Middle East scholar at the Wilson Center, calling the administration's initiative intriguing but "half-baked."

"Remember next week, oil sanctions kick in. And Tehran will want something in return for leveraging their Houthi ally."

But humanitarian organizations expressed relief, sensing a glimmer of hope that the fighting that has killed more than 10,000 civilians may have a potential end in sight.

Even as the Trump administration intensifies pressure to end the war, the Saudi-led coalition has sent thousands of additional troops to the front lines near the strategic port city of Hodeida. That raises the possibility of a punishing urban battle that could intensify civilian suffering.

The coalition has made capturing the city from the Houthis a priority, in part because it says the rebels have used the port to smuggle in Iranian-supplied weaponry.

Mattis has mentioned the war several times in recent days and. highlighted the human suffering in a weekend speech in Bahrain.

"Now is the time to move forward on stopping this war," he said last weekend, while also lauding Saudi efforts to ensure an accurate air operation and citing the difficulty of avoiding unintended deaths when targeting militants from afar.

On Tuesday, speaking at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Mattis said with a note of urgency, "We've got to move towards a peace effort here, and we can't say we're going to do it sometime in the future. We've admired this problem for long enough down there."

Pompeo weighed in Tuesday night, expressing support for U.N. Special envoy Martin Griffiths, who has called for negotiations to convene in November.

"The time is now for the cessation of hostilities, including missile and [drone] strikes from Houthi-controlled areas into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates," he said. "Subsequently, Coalition airstrikes must cease in all populated areas in Yemen."

The officials' remarks were stronger than anything the administration has said about Yemen in the last 17 months.

Pompeo came under heavy criticism last month when he backed continuing arms sales to the Saudis, reportedly after concerns were raised that a cutoff could affect billions of dollars in arms sales to the kingdom.

Since then, events have converged to push the Trump administration to alter its public stance on Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

The administration appears to be trying to get in front of proposals in Congress to curtail U.S. support, as critics have been emboldened by the international outrage over the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by a team of Saudi agents

"It's hard not to think there is some kind of association here," said Seche, the former U.S. ambassador. "Something other than just a sudden desire see war end. A wave of indignation that has swept over Saudi Arabia because of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi has got to have some impact on our thinking, given our close association with the Saudis in Yemen as the preferred supplier of weapons and logistical support. It implicates the United States in this humanitarian crisis. It's time to get ahead of the wave."

The administration statements come as both parties in Congress press for an end to U.S. involvement in the conflict.

Among those from the president's party who have questioned the current policy are Sen. Todd Young, R-Ohio, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and, more recently, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.

In the House, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., has introduced a measure, now supported by senior Democrats, that would halt U.S. involvement in the conflict under the War Powers Resolution.

Gerald Feierstein, another former ambassador to Yemen, said the changing analysis in Congress could transform U.S.-Saudi ties, particularly when it comes to arms sales.

"People are really questioning the whole nature of the relationship," he said. Saudi Arabia is one of the world's largest purchasers of advanced weaponry and an important customer for U.S. defense firms.

Feierstein said the administration may have another motive to want a swift end to the hostilities: it would alleviate pressure on the administration to take broader punitive action against Saudi Arabia in the wake of Khashoggi's death. If American-made Saudi weapons are not being used in Yemen, it will be easier for U.S. arms sales to the kingdom to continue.

Robert Malley, who was a senior White House official under President Barack Obama and now serves as president of the International Crisis Group, said the Trump administration had closely embraced the Gulf kingdom, smoothing over differences from the previous administration and elevating its position as a central Middle Eastern ally.

"What's been missing is getting something out of that hug," he said. "This could reestablish some balance."

Michael Knights, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said he worries a push for a cease-fire to alleviate political pressure could paper over the fissures driving the war. But he said a cease-fire and negotiations now have a decent chance to succeed.

"Because international support for this war is about as low as you can get," he said. "The United States is under severe pressure from its own congressional branch, and military progress in the war is limited. The U.N. envoy is very active and quite effective.

"And exhaustion may be a factor," he added. "That improves the chances of a settlement."

---

The Washington Post's Sudarsan Raghavan contributed to this report.
San Antonio properties rented on a short-term basis through services like Airbnb and HomeAway will now be regulated by the city after the City Council passed a set of rules Thursday designed to oversee the nascent industry.

Under the ordinance, operators of short-term rental properties will have to register with the city and pay a fee, pay hotel occupancy taxes and limit the number of type 2 rentals  properties where the owner isnt a resident but are rented short-term  allowed in a given area, among other rules.

Councilmen Greg Brockhouse and John Courage voted against the package. District 2 Councilman William Cruz Shaw was not present.

RELATED: Look into these unique Texas vacation rentals under $75 per person, per night

The ordinance would limit the density of type 2 rentals to one in a multifamily development with fewer than eight units. It also would limit the percentage allowed on a residential block or in a larger multifamily development. Property owners offering places for rent in an area thats already hit density limits could ask for an exception from the city Board of Adjustments.

A motion by District 9 Councilman John Courage to ban all type 2 rentals failed.

Property owners who rent their homes to visitors on a short-term basis must register with the city and pay a $100 fee, down from the initially proposed $200 fee. Owners would also pay a $100 renewal fee every three years.

City officials first sought to subject short-term rental properties to an initial safety inspection by the city. Now, the city will allow property owners to self-inspect, only stepping in if there is a complaint or some suspicion of a problem.

Properties that have received city housing incentives will not be allowed to operate as type 2 short-term rentals. Operators would also be barred from using the properties as event spaces or providing food and beverage services to guests.

RELATED: 13 spectacular riverfront homes for your next Texas vacation

Owners of short-term rental properties will now have to pay local hotel occupancy taxes.

The citys finance department currently collects hotel occupancy tax, at a rate of about 9 percent, from 363 short-term rental owners out of the 1,600 the city estimates are operating in San Antonio, according to a memo attached to Thursdays agenda item. The city is looking for a contractor to identify owners who skirt the ordinance by not registering with the city or paying hotel occupancy taxes.

Officials estimate the city would receive $260,000 in revenue within four years.

Property owners are also required to pay county and state hotel occupancy taxes for a combined rate of 16.75 percent.

Joshua Fechter is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering retail and tourism. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFReports
San Antonio Police made a third arrest Wednesday in connection with a violent home invasion in October that left a 51-year-old dead on the Southwest Side.

Miguel Diaz, 31, was arrested without incident on Frio City Road and will face murder charges, said Officer Douglas Greene, a San Antonio Police Department spokesman.

I dont have anything to say, Diaz said Thursday as he was escorted into a police car in front of reporters.

Police allege Diaz was there when a group of masked suspects broke into an apartment in the 6200 block of Old Pearsall Road in the early morning of Oct. 17. The men allegedly started a fight with two residents inside, resulting in a shootout.

Related: Police arrest 2nd suspect in deadly San Antonio home invasion

Officers later found the body of David Escobedo, 51, in a breezeway. Another person survived a gunshot to the upper body and was taken to the hospital, Greene said.

Fidencio Badillo, 57, and Jose Sanchez, 30, were previously arrested and charged with murder for their roles in the killing.

Police say they are still looking for 29-year-old Henry Lozano.

Greene would not elaborate on what role Diaz played in the killing but said he was there the night of the homicide. Detectives believe the attack involved drugs and gangs.

Everything weve gathered so far points in that direction, Greene said.

Police said previously that the shooting was likely the result of a botched robbery attempt because detectives found narcotics and money inside Escobedos apartment.
A San Antonio man's forehead tattoo helped police identify him as the suspect in a recent armed robbery.

Tyrico Simpson, 17, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of aggravated robbery, according to jail records.

On Oct. 14, two women reported that they were robbed. The women agreed to meet with Simpson to sell him a gold ring they posted on the website "Offer Up," according to his arrest affidavit.

RELATED: SAPD arrests man after woman struck by pickup and robbed

Simpson allegedly asked them to get the ring inspected to make sure it was authentic, and the women agreed, police said. He got into their car and pointed a handgun at them, demanding the ring and their cell phone, authorities said.

Officers arrived to the scene and found Simpson's fingerprints on the car, according to the affidavit.

The women further identified Simpson as the suspect as they recalled a small cross tattoo on his forehead.

Simpson was taken into custody on a $75,000, according to jail records.

Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | fsabawi@mysa.com|@FaresInSA
With 30 days still to go, San Antonio has already surpassed the record for the wettest meteorological fall in history, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Yvette Benavides.

San Antonio received 23.33 inches of rain during September and October, breaking a 20-year record of 19.64 inches set in 1998. It was the wettest September ever recorded, with 16.86 inches, and the 15th wettest October with 6.47. The wettest recorded October was in 1998 when San Antonio received 18.07 inches of rain.
San Antonio has a looming health problem: Not enough of us plan to get vaccinated against the flu this winter.

Many of us believe that the flu is not much more than fever, chills and a few days home in bed sipping chicken soup. That perception is wrong; the flu is much more serious and can be deadly  especially as you get older.

Last year, the U.S. experienced the consequences of this misperception  there was a record 80,000 deaths from the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Whats more, seniors continue to account for the vast majority of flu-related deaths. It is estimated that in recent years, between 70 and 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 and older.

This may sound scary, but theres good news. There is a simple and effective way to markedly reduce your odds of getting influenza: the flu shot.

Clover Healths Flu Shot Monitor found that here in San Antonio, only 74 percent of seniors plan to get vaccinated this season. We can do better, considering how easy and inexpensive it is to get a flu shot.

The Flu Shot Monitors findings are also helpful in understanding why so many seniors are choosing to forgo the vaccine. Interviewed seniors in San Antonio who told us they are not getting vaccinated this year said:

They are concerned the vaccine will make them sick (47 percent).

They think they dont need the vaccine or they wont get the flu (44 percent).

They dont think the vaccine will be effective (32 percent).

Lets debunk each of these.

First, flu vaccines cannot cause the flu. The scientists making the vaccines use either inactivated (killed) viruses or a small amount of the full virus, which ensures your body can build up immunity while not making you sick. Yes, a small percentage of people feel sluggish for a couple of days after getting a flu shot, but that is a small price to pay.

The most effective way to protect yourself against the flu is by getting the flu shot. Recent studies show that flu vaccination reduces the risk of the flu by 40 to 60 percent. And just because youre feeling healthy or havent gotten the flu in many years, theres no guarantee you will escape the virus this year.

Our survey results felt familiar, matching what I heard from patients throughout my years as a physician. Unfortunately, seniors who do not get vaccinated not only put themselves at risk but also endanger their friends and family members  particularly their young grandchildren.

As a community, we need to ensure every senior in every neighborhood understands the serious threat the flu virus holds.

While there are a lot of myths about getting a flu shot, the real danger is in contracting the illness. It is our duty to our friends, family and neighbors to dispel these fables and encourage everyone in Bexar County to get vaccinated before the virus hits.

Clover Health treats numerous communities that have experienced flu epidemics. Through initiatives like the Flu Shot Monitor, we are driving awareness and increased access to the flu vaccination. But on its own, our voice can only travel so far. We need your help.

So this fall, please, get vaccinated, get your kids vaccinated, get your grandparents vaccinated, drive a senior to a flu clinic, or help quell a seniors fear of getting ill from a vaccine. At the very least, share this story.

Kumar Dharmarajan is a geriatrician and cardiologist who serves as Clover Healths chief scientific officer.
Theres always a pile of bodies at these massacre sites. Whether its at a synagogue, church, nightclub or school, theres always an assault weapon, or a bunch of them. Theres always the survivors clutching each other, weeping in little clumps outside. And theres always one other thing.

A lonely man.

Theres always one guy, who fell through the cracks of society, who lived a life of solitary disappointment and who one day decided to try to make a blood-drenched leap from insignificance to infamy.

Theres always a guy like Pittsburgh synagogue attacker Robert Bowers, who, according to Times reporting, was friendless in high school and a solitary ghost as an adult, who spent his evenings sitting in his car smoking, listening to the radio, and living, as one acquaintance put it, in his own little world.

Guys like that are drawn to extremist ideologies, which explain their disappointments and give them a sense that they are connected to something. Guys like that convince themselves that by massacring the innocents they are serving as a warrior in some righteous cause.

These mass killings are about many things  guns, demagogy, etc.  but they are also about social isolation and the spreading derangement of the American mind.

Killing rampages are just one manifestation of the fact that millions of Americans find themselves isolated and alone. But there are other manifestations of this isolation, which involve far more carnage.

The suicide epidemic is a manifestation. The suicide rate is dropping across Europe. But it has risen 30 percent in the United States this century. The suicide rate for Americans between 10 and 17 rose more than 70 percent between 2006 and 2016  surely one of the most shocking trends in America today.

Every year nearly 45,000 Americans respond to isolation and despair by ending their lives. Every year an additional 60,000 die of drug addiction. Nearly twice as many people die each year of these two maladies as were killed in the entire Vietnam War.

The rising levels of depression and mental health issues are yet another manifestation. People used to say that depression and other mental health challenges were primarily about chemical imbalances in the brain.

But as Johann Hari argues in his book Lost Connections, these mental health issues are at least as much about problems in life as ones neurochemistry. They are at least as much about protracted loneliness, loss of meaningful work, feeling pressured and stressed in the absence of community.

Protracted loneliness causes you to shut down socially, and to be more suspicious of any social contact, Hari writes. You become hypervigilant. You start to be more likely to take offense where none was intended, and to be afraid of strangers. You start to be afraid of the very thing you need most.

This sounds like a pretty good summary of American politics in 2018.

I keep coming back to this topic because the chief struggle of the day is sociological and psychological, not ideological or economic. And the results are as bloody as any war.

Maybe its time we began to see this as a war. On the one side are those forces that sow division, discord and isolation. On the other side there are all those forces in society that nurture attachment, connection and solidarity. Its as if were witnessing this vast showdown between the rippers and weavers.

And heres the hard part of the war: Its not between one group of good people and another group of bad people. The war runs down the middle of every heart. Most of us are part of the problem we complain about.

Most of us bought into a radical individualism that, as Tocqueville predicted, cuts each secluded self off from other secluded selves. Most of us buy into a workaholic ethos that leaves us with little time for community. Most of us live in insular media and social bubbles that provide us with Pravda-like affirmations of our own moral superiority. Most of us hew to a code of privacy that leads us to not know our neighbors.

The good news is that most of us are part of the solution as well. Most of us admire and want to be the teacher who reaches out to the lonely boy. Most of us mentor and serve people unlike ourselves.

Its easier to destroy trust than to build it, so the rippers have an advantage. But there are many more weavers, people who yearn to live in loving relationships and trusting communities. The weavers just need what any side in a war needs: training so we know how to wage it, strategies so we know how to win it and a call to arms so we know why were in it.
Regarding Trumps latest attack on the rule of law should outrage us all (City/State, Wednesday): President Donald Trump has started the much-needed conversation about birthright citizenship supposedly guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, adopted on July 9, 1868, by suggesting he can change its implementation by executive order.

Im among those who believe this suggestion is absurd, but it serves to start the debate about what the 14th Amendment really means  and its far from clear. Those who argue the current interpretation is carved in stone would have you look only at one portion of the amendment  the portion that grants U.S. citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States but would have you ignore the very next phrase which is and subject to the jurisdiction thereof as well as ignoring legislative history and historical context.

Those who argue that the current interpretation is wrong point to that second phrase which many believe should be read and not owing allegiance to any foreign power which would exclude any citizen of a different nation. This view is consistent with historical context and legislative history indicating the so-called birthright citizenship was tailored exclusively for recently freed slaves living in the U.S. following the Civil War, has no other purpose and does not serve to grant U.S. citizenship to anyone else.

Erica Grieders column correctly states that constitutional scholars disagree on the proper interpretation and opines that the U.S. Supreme Court would also find support for more than one interpretation should the issue ever reach the court  which it should. So lets get on with it and have the U.S. Supreme Court decide one of the most important questions of our time. In the meantime, lets stop the knee-jerk rhetoric from the left labeling as racist anyone who questions the true meaning of the 14th Amendment.

Greg Groh, Spring

Too much power

Regarding Trump targets birthright citizenship (Front page, Wednesday): We are becoming a nation that is governed by executive order instead of laws. The expansion of this presidential power is becoming more and more outlandish. If change is needed, then it should be accomplished through legislation and judicial review.

Presidents have overused and misused this power to the point of absurdity. No matter what party is in power, the president should not be allowed to make law without oversight. This implied constitutional power needs to be curtailed.

Richard Mills, Houston
The constant daily attack by this president on immigrants is alarming. Im saddened that the America who welcomed me as a 9-year-old undocumented child who would grow up to serve in its military and go to college will cease to exist if this president is allowed to continue on his current course of destroying this countrys great ideals.

It will be a different America my children will inherit. The oldest of my two children is a freshman honors student at the University of Texas at Austin with hopes of attending medical school someday. My youngest is a sixth-grader at Holy Spirit Catholic School and wants to follow in his big brothers footsteps.

I have always instilled in my children the work ethic I learned having come to this country as an undocumented 9-year-old. Im especially saddened because the America I have always depicted for them of a welcoming country that allowed me to become a citizen, serve in its military, and eventually go to college and become a lawyer is under attack by this president. I had always instilled in my children that in this great country anything is possible, even for an undocumented child whose parents barely had a grade school education.

I have always told my children that any disadvantage I had growing up poor was overcome with lots of hard work because this country, above all else, valued hard work. It saddens me that this notion is under attack and that they will now be judged by the color of their skin instead of the content of their character, as Martin Luther King Jr. once said.

Felix Gonzalez

Divisive columnist

Re: A nationalist doesnt despise half his people, Other Views by David Brooks, Tuesday:

This opinion piece is a perfect example of the colossal political divide we are hemorrhaging from in our beautiful country. I vehemently agree with his assessment of what nationalism is and then was dismayed by his targeting our president as the root problem.

It never ceases to amaze me how the Democrats can spew the barrage of accusations against any conservative point of view while they have convenient amnesia of their own rhetoric. For example: Hillary Clinton professing that half of Donald Trumps supporters are a basket full of deplorables. Or Rep. Maxine Waters rallying supporters stating, God is on our side, if you see a member of the Trump Cabinet, push back, harass them in restaurants, shopping malls and at home. And my favorite of all time, the Brett Kavanaugh debacle when the same accusing party supported Bill Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein spearheading the challenge while employing a Chinese spy as a driver for years!

As a Republican, I had many fundamental disagreements with the eight years of the Obama administration. Mr. Brooks needs to take a long look into the mirror along with the liberal left and see themselves as part of the problem, as well as the right. To me, they are nothing more than spoiled brats still reeling from the loss of the election.

Hank Hattoy, Fair Oaks Ranch

Unifying columnist

God bless David Brooks. His commentary A nationalist doesnt despise half his people put its finger on the terrible hurt Ive been feeling ever since the last election. He identified the hurt as an alienation from the whole of my fellow Americans. It has been a little-by-little, drip-by-drip affair that finally culminated in my disconnecting my television. There was just too much pain.

Brooks writing has caused me to renew my determination to live out those American ideals that I hold so dear  mainly the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God. We really must rise above the daily discord to fulfill this higher calling. What other choice do we have?

Kay Mijangos

Electoral College fix

Re: Electoral College protects the vulnerable from the mighty, Another View by Gary Abernathy, Tuesday:

On Oct. 12, 2016, I wrote that choosing an election winner by the number of states won is as effective as electoral votes. The number of states won makes Wyoming as important as California in choosing the election winner.

In the 2008 and 2012 elections, Barack Obama won both electoral votes and most states. And this scenario matches other elections going back to the Roosevelt elections of the 1940s. Electoral votes are redundant and are not needed if the most states won produce the same result.

The framers of the Constitution did not write it for us but for themselves to cope with their problems. They did not understand that in 300 years other people would inhabit the country with different problems. Congress should consider revising the Constitution to keep up with the times instead of us having to live in the 18th century.

Richard Wallish

Setting it straight

Faulty editing inserted an error into a sentence in a Your Turn letter by Jack Wernette of Castroville on Monday.

The sentence should have read:   the most absurd, ludicrous moment in the entire Brett Kavanaugh hearing (and there were many to choose from) occurred when the nominee waved his battered juvenile diary  he called it a calendar  to the assembly and insisted that it was proof positive that sexual assault didnt happen.

.
PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader prophet Walter Magaya is considering taking his Aguma herbal supplement  which he claims can cure HIV, Aids and cancer  outside Zimbabwe in the wake of the backlash he received following his announcement last Sunday that he had found a cure for HIV, Aids and cancer.

This followed a raid on PHD Ministries offices by armed police last night to collect samples of the Aguma capsules.

A highly-placed source at PHD, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Magaya was planning on launching Aguma outside Zimbabwe.

Just say a close source says Magaya is planning to go and launch from outside where many countries seem to be offering a good deal and ease of doing business, the source said before cutting the phone.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintended Paul Nyathi confirmed the raid.

He said ZRP was acting within its law enforcement mandate.

I can confirm that Magaya is assisting police with investigations in connection with enquiries the ZRP is currently conducting, he said.

It is the duty of the police to detect, investigate and prevent crime and this is precisely what we are doing.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi announced the raid on his Twitter handle saying it marked the beginning of an investigation into the matter.

Health experts, he said, had said there was no cure for HIV and Aids yet.

I can confirm police this evening raided Prophet Walter Magaya offices to recover samples of his Aguma medicine, which he claims cures HIV. The raid marks the start of an investigation into this matter. Health experts say there is no cure yet, Dep Minister Mutodi said.

Government on Monday dismissed the PHD leaders claims saying prophet Magaya had not submitted Aguma for assessment as a herbal supplement and people should not buy medicines from unapproved and unlicensed persons.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Government was concerned with these claims as there were processes and procedures in Zimbabwe that medicines go through before they are recognised as effective and safe for use by patients.

The ministry strongly urges all clients on treatment for HIV and Aids to continue on their prescribed medication. Any form of discontinuation or switch made without the guidance of medical professionals may lead to adverse consequences on their health status, said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Prophet Magaya had similarly urged people on ART to continue their medication till Government certified his Aguma.

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FOUNDER and executive chairman of Econet Group Mr Strive Masiyiwa has added his voice to the anti-sanctions lobby, saying it is high time the West removes the restrictions it illegally imposed on Zimbabwe.

In an interview with CNBC Africa television channel, Mr Masiyiwa said the sanctions were no longer justified and should be removed as no country can prosper with its hands tied at the back.

He said the changes which had taken place in Zimbabwe were real and the country deserved a chance to turn around the economy.

I have invested in Zimbabwe (in the last 10 years), 1,5 billion US dollars, he said.

I am as committed to investing in Zimbabwe as I have always been come rain or shine. But concerning the change that has taken place; I believe it is real.

I believe President Mnangagwa is sincere with the things he wants to do. It is going to be extremely challenging. Everyone knows that. Anyone who understands economics knows its going to be tough going but I think that Zimbabwe needs to be given a chance.

Mr Masiyiwa said sanctions had to go, adding that Zimbabweans should focus more on economics than politics.

We have to stop the politicking and focus on rebuilding this country And I am right up there. I think the sanctions, should be removed. There is no justification for them anymore and I have always been on record to say the sanctions are not justified. Now we are almost 20 years into the sanctions. You cant have one country operating with its hands tied behind its back.

Government and sections of the opposition welcomed the telecoms tycoons statements saying Zimbabwe needed all the support it can get to grow the economy.

Government welcomes statements by @StriveMasiyiwa calling for the removal of sanctions imposed against the country, the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services tweeted yesterday.

The country requires all the support it can get to create an environment that is conducive for the revitalisation of the economy.

The West imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in early 2000 after the country embarked on a land reform programme to redistribute land to the majority blacks.

Posting on his Twitter handle, MDC-T vice president Mr Obert Gutu backed Mr Masiyiwas call.

Truth of the matter is that sanctions have brought about untold suffering to the majority of Zimbabweans living in both the urban and rural areas.The people against whom these sanctions are intended hardly feel their effect. The poor majority are most affected. Sanctions must GO!

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THE World Health Organisation (WHO), which is responsible for prequalifying medicines before use, has said the only legalised and tested remedy available for HIV clients is antiretroviral therapy.

This follows claims by Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Prophet Walter Magaya that he has found the cure for HIV which has claimed millions of lives the world over. Scientists have spent the last three decades trying to find a cure for the pandemic which affects about 1,3 million Zimbabweans and so far only ART has been proven to suppress the amount of virus in the body.

In a statement in response to questions from The Chronicle yesterday, WHO said no one has approached the international body about any treatment to cure HIV.

There are standard procedures and guidelines for WHO prequalification of medicines which are available to the public. A lot of research is going on in this area but none has demonstrated a cure for HIV among humans, read the statement. Therefore, there is no cure for HIV, although antiretroviral treatment can control the virus, meaning that people with HIV can live long and healthy lives. Once someone stops taking the treatment, the virus re-emerges.

Therefore, no one should stop taking their medicines for HIV treatment.

United Nations Zimbabwe communications specialist Mr Sirak Gebrehiwot added that there is no known and proven cure for HIV to date. Zimbabwe has very well-established procedures for clinical trials.

Clinical trials are the process by which any new medical approaches including drugs are rigorously evaluated to determine whether they are safe and effective in the prevention and/or treatment of any ailments, he said. The United Nations in Zimbabwe wishes to remind and encourage any researchers involved in developing possible new treatments for any ailments, including HIV and Aids to subject these to the Ministry of Health and Child Care national clinical trial processes and procedures, added Mr Gebrehiwot.

An HIV and Aids activist Mr Dumisani Nkomo urged authorities to subject Magayas claims to the usual tests.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care and the National Aids Council should test his herbs for efficacy. He should be given a chance and until authorities research on his product, they should not dismiss him, said Mr Nkomo.

In a statement the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association said Mr Magayas claim will have far reaching repercussions if people pin their hope on his statements.

We wish to advise relevant authorities that Press statements alone are not enough to restore sanity on this subject. We say so because such Press statements may not reach all the people.

Mr Magaya should be asked to publicly reverse and retract his utterances in the manner that he first announced the subject, said ZHDA spokesperson Dr Mxolisi Ngwenya. Until such a time that the robust and rigorous research is done, with enough medical clearance and verification through animal studies, Mr Magayas new drug should be quarantined and isolated from humans. Life is too precious.

We encourage all clients to adhere to all their medication as per doctors prescription, he said.

The only human who was cured of HIV is Mr Timothy Ray Brown who underwent a bone marrow stem cell transplant in 2007. Mr Browns procedure almost cost him his life twice and scientists the world over are closely monitoring a rare genetic mutation in the person who donated bone marrow to Mr Brown which may have had a central role in his cure to formulate a cure for HIV.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe weighed in saying Zimbabwe has made great strides towards reducing new HIV infections, reducing HIV prevalence, prevention of mother to child transmissions and promoting safe and responsible health seeking behaviour and the medical claims (on HIV cure) have a potential to reverse the hard earned gains aimed at the eventual eradication of the disease.

Given this background PSZ would like to caution opinion leaders to desist from misleading the public with unsubstantiated claims. We call for responsible leadership and following of due processes necessary for any innovation within the medical fraternity, said the PSZ in a statement.

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Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder Walter Magaya whose recent claims that he would start selling his recently-found herbal cure for Aids has been ordered to retract his comments.

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) yesterday threatened to slap the PHD founder with a lawsuit within seven days because his HIV/Aids treatment claim is dangerous and leaves patients prone to infection.

This comes after the popular preacher told multitudes at his Waterfalls church on Sunday that he had found a cure for HIV/Aids and cancer but said patients will not be required to stop taking their anti-retroviral drugs.

In a letter to Magaya, ZADHR chairperson Brighton Chizhande told the cleric that his actions are in contravention of the Medicines and Allied Substance Act (Section15:03) and Part 3, Section 32 of the Public Health Act.

We write to seek an urgent retraction of your claim to cure HIV and Aids.

We also demand an immediate halt in the distribution, selling and marketing of any products that mislead the public as to be of curative effect towards HIV and Aids.

As ZADHR, we give you notice to take remedial action within seven calendar days of this notice by withdrawing all products that purport, claim or infer that they cure HIV and Aids from the market forthwith and making a public statement that withdraws your initial claim to have found a cure for HIV.

Failure to reasonably make these remedial actions will inevitably lead to ZADHR filing a legal suit against you and your ministry; as such malicious claims pose an existential danger as defined in the Public Health Act, Chizhande wrote.

He said while ZADHR has no dispute with innovation in discovery of drugs, they argue that due process of proving clinical efficacy and safety prior to any advertisement and distribution is of paramount importance.

On Tuesday, the government also warned Magaya that he risks being arrested if he goes ahead and starts selling his controversial HIV/Aids herbal medicine without regulatory approval.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has dismissed Magayas claim arguing that there is no known cure for HIV infection.

In a statement, WHO representative to Zimbabwe Alex Gasasira said to date, there is no known and proven cure for HIV infection, but effective treatment exists to manage the infection through antiretroviral therapy and drugs.

He added that any new drug should go through clinical trials to be rigorously evaluated and to determine whether they are safe and effective in the prevention or treatment of any ailments.

Any researchers involved in developing possible new treatments for any ailments, including HIV and Aids are reminded to subject these to the ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) national clinical trial processes and procedures, he said.

Besides stirring anger among Western medical experts who said Magaya was giving false hope to the sick, the Health ministry pointedly pooh-poohed his claims and any suggestions that he had the support of the government or might have got approval for his organic medicine.

Gasasira said use of antiretroviral treatment, in line with national guidelines, has resulted in better health outcomes for people living with HIV and encouraged people to continue taking their medication.

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Prophet Healing and Deliverance Leader Walter Magaya has apologised to the Ministry of Health and Child Care for by passing procedure in announcing his cure for cancer and HIV through the Aguma herb.

Magaya on Thursday held a joint press conference with the Ministry of Health and Child Care focusing on his Aids cure claim. Health minister Dr Obadiah Moyo, his deputy Dr John Mangwiro and several senior government officials were in attendance.

Prophet Magaya said, We have engaged the Ministry. I carry an apology to them and the public. Having carried the research from outside the country, I went on to announce the results unprocedurally. I apologize once again.

I took heed of what government and relevant boards have asked me to do to retract my earlier claim, which I am now doing. Together we are going to work towards running intensive clinical trials for Aguma.

Health minister Dr Moyo accepted Magayas apology and announced that they are now working together with the Prophet to test the herb.

Magaya rushed without realizing the impact of his message and his popularity and disregarded the facts in the regulation of medicines in the country. He now appreciates that there are regulations.

I want to reiterate that please carry on with your medicines, Magayas medicine has not yet been approved. Its unfortunate that Magaya did not have all regulations in place.

Zimbabwe appreciate new discoveries but we want them to go through scientifically proven processes and these processes are what we are following now. He has assured us that he will not dispense that medication.

And now following the regulations, he is now back in the fold. It is not our duty to thwart anyones ideas of discoveries. We have been using herbal concoctions from other countries.

Yesterday members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police accompanied by the dreaded Central Intelligence agents raided Magayas Offices in search of his HIV and Cancer cure.

The raid came after the government and health practitioners strongly condemned the public declaration by the self styled Prophet that he has found a cure to the two of the worlds most incurable diseases.

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By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Politics

2020

The unsayable: Bernie Sanders drenched in sweat after giving his third speech of the day. "Brothers and sisters, you are not living in a democracy; you are living in an oligarchy." pic.twitter.com/oXMq5lbd8T  RevoltPolitic (@RevoltPolitic) October 30, 2018

2018

4 days until Election Day, next Tuesday. Too late, I think, for any game-changing events. Even this year. For Handicapping Midterm Races, Old Rules May No Longer Apply [Inside Elections]. Because undecideds break disproportionately to the challenger, any incumbent who is winning by a point or is in a dead heat in the final 10 days of a campaign ought to be an underdog in the election. Thats why handicappers view incumbents who are ahead 44 percent to 43 percent or even 46 percent to 45 percent as being in terrible shape politically. (Incumbents who are running even or slightly ahead but are getting 48 or 49 percent of the vote have a better chance to eke out a win.) So, when I see a New York Times Upshot/Siena College poll showing New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur leading Democratic challenger Andy Kim 45 percent to 44 percent 10 days out from the election, I have to believe that MacArthur is in deep trouble. This year, its hard to know whether that handicapping rule of thumb will hold. President Donald Trump is an unusual political figure who has already violated multiple rules of handicapping, and only a fool would assume that all of the old political rules still apply. The current political landscape is very different to the one we saw before 2015-2016. Voters are behaving differently (just look at the early voting), and the amount of money being spent in the midterms is astronomical . And, of course, the president is unlike other American president. In a week, well know whether any of the midterm and late cycle rules of political handicapping still apply. How Trump Is Winning The Midterm Elections [Moon of Alabama]. My personal hunch is that the Republicans will keep both houses and may even gain a few seats. The U.S. economy is doing relatively well. The Democrats have neither a program nor a leadership that incites to vote fro them. They wasted two years with hyping a non-existent Russiagate that no one but Washington insiders and the media cares about. Did they actually oppose anything Trump did? They tried a #metoo stunt around a Supreme Court nomination but how effective was that?. Trump continues to be an excellent salesman. He knows how to get and maintain attention. Each day he makes some outrageous claim or acts on some hot button issue. This has two effects: it is red meat for his base, and it gives major media attention to his politics. All of the above lets me expect a higher turnout of voters who lean Republican than of those who lean towards Democrats. The higher turnout wins.  Correct to focus on turnout, but the post doesnt mention money, of which the Democrats have great gobs. Hoping for a Midterm Split Decision [Ross Douthat, New York Times]. If you are a conservative who is moderately happy with some of Trumps policy steps, fearful of liberalism in full power, but also fearful of Trump untrammeled and triumphant, the sensible thing to root for  and vote for  is the outcome that appears most likely at the moment: A Republican majority in the Senate and a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. Trump revives Willie Horton tactic with ad linking illegal immigrant killer to Democrats [WaPo]. Pinned at the top of President Trumps Twitter feed Wednesday was a video. The man on the screen has a shaved head and a mustache and long chin hair. Smiling, he announces, I killed f cops. The man is Luis Bracamontes, a twice-deported Mexican immigrant who was given the death penalty in April for killing two California law enforcement officers in 2014. Illegal immigrant, Luis Bracamontes, killed our people! reads text on the 53-second video, which is filled with audible expletives. Democrats let him into our country. . . . Democrats let him stay. . Whether it was simply an attempt to criticize Dukakiss crime policies or if it was an appeal to racial fears, the Willie Horton ads worked. Willie Horton was devastating to Mr. Dukakis, the New York Times wrote in 1990.  Our people. I hate that locution. Then again, since Bush gave us Homeland, I suppose our people was never going to be far behind. Toxic Tropes: Skyrocketing Racism Through Respectable Journalism [Empire Burlesque]. Re so-called anchor babies: We are talking about the birth of 370,000 children over a period of 26 years. 370,000  in a population of 325,000,000. We are talking about a cohort of children spread out over more than a quarter of a century, eventually reaching a total of  0.1 percent of the population. Ohio Ordered to Count Ballots From Purged Voters [Courthouse News]. The Sixth Circuit ruled Wednesday that Ohios elections board must count provisional ballots cast in next weeks midterm election by residents who were purged from voter rolls between 2011 and 2015. The Cincinnati-based federal appeals court found that the subset of voters who moved outside their previous voting district received confirmation notices that likely did not clarify they would be removed from voter registration rolls if they didnt vote or change their voter registration within four years of receiving the notice The Sixth Circuit panel granted in part an emergency injunction sought by The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, A. Philip Randolph Institute and voter Larry Harmon against Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted. FL Governor: The Improbable Run of Andrew Gillum [US News and World Report]. Gillum has clutched to varying polling leads in the preponderance of general election surveys, with a few showing his advantage as high as between five and seven points, a margin that would amount to a blowout in normally too-close-to-call Florida and unprecedented for any Democrat in memory. GA Governor: Georgia GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Ditches Final Debate At The Last Minute' [HuffPo]. The final televised debate between Georgia gubernatorial candidates Stacey Abrams (D) and Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp (R) has been canceled after the Kemps 11th-hour decision to pull out of the Sunday forum. He has decided to campaign that day with President Donald Trump in the city of Macon instead.  Profile in courage GA Governor: Earlier this year, after purging more than half a million votersmore than three hundred thousand of them erroneouslyand sidelining fifty-three thousand voter-registration applications in this election cycle, most of them from African-Americans (Abrams is black), Kemp said, For anyone to think theres a way to manipulate the process because youre secretary of state is outrageous [Sue Halpern, The New Yorker]. VA-07: Spanberger campaign kicks out undercover staffer working for Project Veritas [Richmond Times-Dispatch]. The campaign of Democrat Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday confronted and kicked out a volunteer who was working with Project Veritas, a conservative group that has used deceptively edited undercover video to try to embarrass Democrats and others.  James OKeefe, the founder of Project Veritas, is a creep, but undercover is richly ironic, given Spanbergers CIA background.

Realignment and Legitimacy

Wall Street Tries to Shape Democratic Victory by Backing Moderates [Bloomberg]. For the first time in a decade, the securities and investment industries are spending more on Democrats than Republicans ahead of the Nov. 6 midterm elections. Bankers are also giving to Democrats. A big part of that is anti-Trump, but a lot of the money is flowing to moderate Democrats, a sign Wall Street is seeking Washington allies to temper the impact of progressives such as Representative Maxine Waters and Senator Elizabeth Warren, who are poised to hit the industry with subpoenas and tougher oversight.. Its going to be a very thin majority, said Paul Merski, a lobbyist for the Independent Community Bankers of America. Moderate Democrats, especially those who win in swing districts, will be the deciding factor. And they agree with us on a lot of things.'  Im shocked. Democrats are playing defense against the GOPs Wall Street deregulation agenda, Sen. Sherrod Brown says [CNBC]. Brown: Yeah, I have little interest in reimposing Glass-Steagall. Thats an answer to a question thats not being asked. Breaking up the banks  theyre too big and too powerful  thats not on my agenda. My agenda is to, as you say, play defense, to make sure we have a vibrant consumer protection agency.  Thats throwing the red meat! Thats the stuff to give the troops! Americans see voter suppression as a bigger problem than voter fraud [WaPo]. More than half of Republicans think that even one illegally cast ballot is a major problem; only a little more than a quarter of Democrats agree. But that these laws also have the effect of something that three-quarters of Republicans call a major problem  obstructing hundreds of legal votes  doesnt seem to prompt objections. Thread on family separation, and the continuities between Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump. Lots of links: 1/x Thread on immigration detention and family separation during the Obama years. Trump may be awful, but our treatment of immigrant families has been horrendous for years, Democrats & Republicans can't erase their guilt by pretending Trump is responsible for America's crimes. pic.twitter.com/aWqDPYDWr4  Abolish ICE (@Jamie_Maz) June 20, 2018

Stats Watch

Productivity and Costs, Q3 2018: Growth in productivity slowed in the third quarter but still remained respectable [Econoday]. The best of both worlds, of course, is to have strong real wage gains along with strong output and limited gains in hours worked  which is pretty much the mix of todays report. And but: Productivity trend is improving while unit labor cost trend is slowing [Econintersect]. If data is analyzed in year-over-year fashion, non-farm business productivity improved 1.3% year-over-year, and unit labor costs were up 1.5% year-over-year [last months final published 1.9%. Bottom line: the year-over-year data is saying that labor costs are outpacing productivity improvements.

Purchasing Managers Manufacturing Index, October 2018: Led by a sharp increase in new orders, composite growth in Octobers PMI manufacturing sample is steady [Econoday]. Cost pressures are described as intense, reflecting higher raw material costs and tariff-related pressure for metals, with pass through to customers accelerating. The steady-and-solid verdict from this sample is a positive indication for favorable closure to a strong year for manufacturing.

Institute For Supply Management Manufacturing Index, October 2018: A little slowing from an extremely strong rate of growth is Octobers outcome for ISMs manufacturing sample [Econoday]. [A] little slowing is probably good news for ISMs sample which had been running at a record and perhaps unsustainable pace for more than a year. And even though growth has slowed, it remains very solid and points to a positive close for 2018. And but: [B]elow expectations and suggests manufacturing expanded at a slower pace in October than in September. This was still a solid report [Calculated Risk].

Construction Spending, September 2018: A big upward revision to August offsets a no-change headline for September construction spending. But year-on-year rates tell the story, up sharply [Construction Spending]. This series is notorious for its volatility which the revision to August underscores. And though strength is evident in public spending and also areas of nonresidential construction, spending on single-family homes is a clear shortcoming in todays report and one that was unfortunately evident in last weeks third-quarter GDP report which was pulled down by weakness in residential investment. And: This was below consensus expectations, however spending for July and August were revised up [Calculated Risk].

Challenger Job-Cut Report, October 2018: A massive 44,000 layoff announcement at Verizon skewed Octobers count sharply higher [Econoday]. These results may have little immediate bearing on Octobers employment report for tomorrow, yet they may be an early warning shot that labor demand may be peaking. And: For the third time this year, one companys [Verizons] announcement has made up the bulk of job cuts for one month [Econintersect]. Retail continues to lead all sectors in job cut announcements with 92,375, 7,350 of which occurred in October. Much of these cuts were tied to Searss bankruptcy and announcement of 142 additional store closures.

Jobless Claims, week of October 27, 2018: October was a very healthy month for the labor market based on jobless claims data [Econoday]. Very little effect from Hurricane Michael. Challengers report earlier this morning does show a giant spike in layoff announcements during October and as these announcements are turned into fact a visible swelling in claims would be no surprise. But for now, going into tomorrows employment report, the labor market looks extremely healthy. And: This was slightly higher than the consensus forecast. The low level of claims suggest few layoffs [Calculated Risk].

Shipping: Package delivery robots coming to the Bay Area [Supply Chain Dive]. Autonomous delivery robots made by Starship Technologies will deliver packages to urban dwellers in the Milton Keynes area of the U.K., and will expand to the San Francisco area by the end of the year, the company told Supply Chain Dive in an email. Initially, autonomous parcel deliveries will be available within a three-mile radius of Starship facilities with robots making 15 to 25 deliveries per day operating from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The robots are able to make the journey to the users door using many sensors, including 10 cameras, ultrasound sensors, radar, and GPS, Henry Harris-Burland, vice president of marketing for Starship Technologies said in an email.  15 to 25 deliveries a day doesnt seem like much. Of course, companies dont actually have to make money these days

Shipping: The bottom line for logistics companies is inextricably tied to the financial health of their customers. XPO Logistics Inc. saw its third-quarter results squeezed by a customer bankruptcy in Europe. even as strong freight demand drove up margins in its less-than-truckload business [Wall Street Journal]. XPO reported $4.3 billion in quarterly revenue, $100 million off from analyst expectations. Costs from the customer bankruptcy dragged down operating income in its logistics segment and XPO lowered its full-year target by several million dollars.

Tech: Father of Web says tech giants may have to be split up [Reuters]. Underline that word may. TBL: Before breaking them up, we should see whether they are not just disrupted by a small player beating them out of the market, but by the market shifting, by the interest going somewhere else.  Oh.

Tech: Announcing some security treats to protect you from attackers tricks [Google]. The headline doesnt reflect what is to me the lead, buried five paragraphs down: well now require that JavaScript is enabled on the Google sign-in page. And: Chances are, JavaScript is already enabled in your browser; it helps power lots of the websites people use everyday. But, because it may save bandwidth or help pages load more quickly, a tiny minority of our users (0.1%) choose to keep it off. This might make sense if you are reading static content, but we recommend that you keep Javascript on while signing into your Google Account so we can better protect you.  So we can better protect you.

Political Risk: Opinion: Midterms could surprise, throwing a monkey wrench into investors dreams [MarketWatch]. The midterms have caused some jitters, but most investors and traders still think Democrats will retake the House of Representatives by a small margin, while Republicans will maintain control of the Senate. To status quo-loving Wall Street, thats the best of all possible worlds. If progressives Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams become governors of Florida and Georgia, Wall Street may start quaking in its boots, and the midterms, which havent been a big factor in the recent sell-off, could suddenly loom large.

Political Risk: Opinion: Investors should look forward to a green wave after the midterm election [MarketWatch]. While some shift in power is expected, and priced into the market early in the year, the magnitude of that shift and the impact that will have on policy is unknown until late in the year. Consequently, markets tend to rally near the election, when the results are more predictable, and continue to move upward after the votes are tallied. In fact, since 1950, the average one-year return following a midterm election is 15%; thats more than double the average return in all other years over the same timeframe.

Our Famously Free Press

How a lie about George Soros and the migrant caravan multiplied online [USA Today].

Recode, the original good tech news site, is folding into Vox.com (but relaunching next year) [Neiman Labs]. The archives will remain up and no layoffs will happen.  Consolidation even among the small fry.

Gaia

Econo-missed #6: Markets arent enough to solve climate change [Data for Progress]. The market may prove to be a powerful tool in reducing carbon emissions, but the climate crisis is far too vast to be challenged from the market alone. More important than a carbon tax is government sponsored investment in our infrastructure and energy system  an investment made possible by a Green Jobs for All program. If a jobs guarantee can rebuild Americans trust in government while we tax the rich back to the 20th Century, then maybe a Green New Deal is possible.  The author that a Federal carbon tax can be used to fund Federal programs (for example. Bruenigs social wealth fund). You cant get a Green New Deal going if your first act is to climb inside the austerity box.

Energy company applies to drill wells near former Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant [Denver Post]. Highlands Natural Resources Corp., registered in the United Kingdom, applied this month to the state for a spacing plan for wells on a 2,560-acre site where it has leased minerals in the area of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Rocky Flats, between Denver and Boulder, was converted to a wildlife refuge after a $7.7 billion Superfund cleanup of a plant that produced plutonium triggers for nuclear bombs from 1952 to 1989. The Department of Energy retains control of a 1,300-acre fenced core where contaminated waste is buried.  What could go wrong? (The filing is also under the wire for the possible passage of Proposition 112.)

Heatlh Care

A Sense of Alarm as Rural Hospitals Keep Closing [New York Times]. In every year since 2011, more hospitals have closed than opened. In 2016, for example, 21 hospitals closed, 15 of them in rural communities.  Oddly, consolidation doesnt seem to be part of the story.

Not some Twitter troll:

This years scariest Halloween costume goes to pic.twitter.com/QtRbdmiR8T  Administrator Seema Verma (@SeemaCMS) October 31, 2018

Class Warfare

Google walkout:

Good luck to Google employees on their walkout. We hope your demands are met! And we hope other tech workers take inspiration from your efforts. #googlewalkout https://t.co/PcB3s9GW6D  NYC-DSA Tech Action (@NYCDSATechWG) November 1, 2018

Note #2. I hope that applies to everyone on the Google campus.

Were the Organizers of the Google Walkout. Here Are Our Demands [The Cut]. A commitment to end pay and opportunity inequity, for example making sure there are women of color at all levels of the organization, and accountability for not meeting this commitment. This must be accompanied by transparent data on the gender, race and ethnicity compensation gap, across both level and years of industry experience, accessible to all Google and Alphabet employees and contractors. Such data must include, but not be limited limited to: information on relative promotion rates, under-leveling at hire, the handling of leaves, and inequity in project and job ladder change opportunities. The methods by which such data was collected and the techniques by which it was analyzed and aggregated must also be transparent.  See query above.

News of the Wired

Safe European home:

#MAP: Share in each country who agree with the statement Our people are not perfect, but our culture is superior to others. https://t.co/m1i1RipjMu pic.twitter.com/WlROWXHZHm  Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) October 31, 2018

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Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (d) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. Todays plant (MF):

MF writes; A wild columbine from Fort Hill, Highland County, Ohio. With a fern in the background. Fort Hill is a Hopewell Indian site at the very edge of the Appalachian Plateau. I love columbines, so elegant and old-fashioned. Until this year, mine have always done very well; not sure what the problem was, because I didnt change anything.

* * *

Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the annual NC fundraiser, now completed. So do feel free to make a contribution today or any day. Here is why: Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for five or ten days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of small donations helps me with expenses, and I factor that trickle in when setting fundraising goals. So if you see something you especially appreciate, do feel free to click below! (The hat is temporarily defunct, so I slapped in some old code. The form below should work.)

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Nature has manufactured the perfect machines. Only the fastest, toughest, and most cunning creatures have endured. We examine how animals have evolved and how we can benefit from their evolution.

Sundays from 8:30pm AEDT.
MS Ireland will be bringing the MSunderstood Cafe Roadshow to Tipperary Town Plaza on Monday, 5 November as part of an Irish tour.

Following the success of the experiential Cafe in Dublin earlier this year, the Cafe has been adapted on a specifically designed bus to provide people in Tipperary with a unique insight into what it is like to live with multiple sclerosis (MS).

MS Ireland hope the MSunderstood Cafe Roadshow will build on the support created by the pop-up experiential cafe.

The MSunderstood Cafe Roadshow is a coffee shop that includes experiential elements such as blurry menus, cumbersome mugs and chairs and uneven floors. All beverages and food for sale will be priced at 1 each with all proceeds going to MS Ireland.

Chief Executive of MS Ireland, Ava Battles said: MS Ireland are delighted to bring the MSunderstood Cafe Roadshow to Tipperary Town and show customers the true impact of MS by allowing them to experience just some of the symptoms that those living with the condition manage daily.

We believe that by providing this insight we strengthen our message of the importance that people with MS should have access to the right treatment at the right time. Through this roadshow, we aim to raise awareness and hope the people of Tipperary will come along and show their support for this important campaign.

The MSunderstood Cafe Roadshow begins its 10-day Irish tour in Galway City on Sunday 4th November 2018, and will visit Tipperary, Clare, Limerick, Cork, Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin. MS Ireland invites those in any of the bus tour areas to come on board and experience what it is like to live with MS for just a small portion of their day.

One issue affecting people with MS that the roadshow will highlight is the urgent need for improved access to medicine and treatment for the management of the disease. Recent research revealed 82% of adults in Munster including Tipperary believe it is unacceptable that patients in Ireland have worse access to new and innovative medicines than patients in any other country in Western Europe.1 MS Ireland, in partnership with Roche, is calling for change and asking the Government to improve the market access system. A new website - PatientsDeserveBetter.ie - was launched earlier this year to help those affected by MS demand quick and better access to new medicine.

General Manager, Roche Ireland, Pierre-Alain Delley added: Following the success of the MSunderstood Cafe, Roche and MS Ireland felt it was important to launch the roadshow to raise greater awareness of the impact of the disease. He added, All Irish patients need, expect and deserve quick access to new and effective treatments through a fair and sustainable system. Roche remains committed to collaborating to improve the system which is what patients urgently need.
Observers from member nations of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) are witnessing NATOs largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War, Trident Juncture 2018, which is currently taking place in Norway.

Trident Juncture 2018, involving 50,000 troops from more than 30 nations, will certify the NATO Response Force for 2019. Under the OSCE Vienna Document on military transparency, exercises must be notified to OSCE member states 42 days in advance if exceeding 9,000 troops, and observation is required starting at 13,000 troops.

All members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe have been invited to send observers to the exercise, because NATO Allies respect the letter and the spirit of our international commitments. So Trident Juncture is not only a great example of NATOs strength, but also of NATOs transparency, said the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Observers are provided with briefings on the exercise, opportunities to observe forces and speak to troops, and aerial overflight of the area of military activity. Twenty observers from thirteen OSCE countries - Austria, Belarus, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, the UK, the Netherlands, Serbia, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine and the United States  also participated in the exercises Distinguished Visitors Day on Tuesday (30 October 2018).

In a separate programme, NATO has invited observers from partner nations to the exercise, including Sweden, New Zealand, Serbia, Azerbaijan, United Arab Emirates, Algeria and Switzerland.

NATO strongly supports efforts to build confidence and transparency on military activities and exercises. International rules on military exercises are respected in full, and NATO regularly updates its schedule of military exercises online.
(Natural News) It is widely understood that under Adolph Hitler and the Nazi state, the German people were deprived of many of their basic human rights. But what is less understood is that Americans in 2018 are being subjected to similar tyranny, particularly when it comes to medical freedom.

During a recent episode of his Health Ranger Report, available at Brighteon.com, Mike Adams discusses the parallels between the medical paradigm that exists in the United States and Hitlers Third Reich. As Adams explains, forcing people to take certain medications, undergo certain medical treatments, or receive certain vaccinations against their will, and for the greater good, is no different than what Hitler subjected Germans to during World War II.

Vaccines are now being made compulsory across many European countries, and there have been rallies against it, says Adams. And the vaccine industry, of course, wants everybody to be forced to take all their vaccines at gunpoint, essentially, by the government, so that you cannot say no.

Just recently in Detroit, Adams reveals, a woman was actually jailed for refusing to have her son injected with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccines that stand a really good chance of harming or even killing him. And while she was in jail, the medical overlords injected the boy anyway, giving him the entire immunization schedule all at once.

The vaccine companies keep growing larger and larger so they can sell more and more vaccines, even though the actual science behind all of this is highly fraudulent, dubious, its quackery at its worst, says Adams. This is the rise of medical tyranny in America and around the world.

Be sure to watch this full episode of the Heath Ranger Report below:

What happened to my body, my choice?

Most Americans would agree that people should have the right to do whatever they choose with their own bodies, so long as theyre not harming someone else. Heck, this is a key tenet in the abortion debate, as pro-abortion activists are known to declare that its my body, my choice.

But for whatever reason, such logic goes out the window when it comes to vaccination. Many people who insist that it should be legal to murder unborn life in the womb are also adamant that everyone be forcibly vaccinated, which is really just another way of saying that the government should be allowed to medically molest the population in the name of supporting the greater good.

The underlying principle behind mandatory vaccines is the idea that the government owns your body  and they will assert that they own it by forcing you to be injected with toxic substances, including toxic heavy metals, including unknown viral strains, and including live viruses, plus adjuvants that cause inflammation throughout the body, warns Adams.

They will force you to do this because they, the government  believe that you do not have the right to say no to their invasions  They are medically assaulting you. They are molesting you with medicine when they force a vaccine on you or your child without your consent.

You can read more about this at Vaccines.news.

So whats the solution? According to Adams, violence should always be a last resort. Keep educating yourself and others, and keep standing up to the medical overlords. After all, its your body, and you must be willing to fight for it.

You own your own body, says Adams.

The government doesnt own your body, and the government has no business penetrating your body, injecting you with something against your will, or forcing you to undergo a medical procedure that carries risks, without your consent. Its very simple. Its a basic, humanitarian, divine right.

See more articles on medical tyranny at MedicalTyranny.com.

Be sure to watch this full episode of the Health Ranger Report at Brighteon.com.

Sources for this article include:

USHMM.org

Brighteon.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) With the many incredible scientific and technological advancements that are available to us today, its frustrating that so many people continue to die of cancer. Chemotherapy is still the most widely used treatment, even though it isnt saving nearly as many lives as wed like it to  and those who do manage to survive must often deal with very serious side effects.

Pharmaceutical researchers are constantly developing and testing drugs that never seem to pan out, but what if the answer to all this isnt found in the hospital at all? Scientists are increasingly demonstrating just how powerful naturally occurring substances can be in the fight against cancer. In many cases, these substances are able to destroy cancer cells without harming the healthy cells nearby. One such solution that doesnt get nearly as much attention as it deserves is sweet wormwood.

Wormwood grows natively in parts of Europe, Asia and North Africa and is perhaps most famous for its use in the alcoholic beverage absinthe. Sweet wormwood, however, contains the active ingredient artemisinin, and its been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years to boost the immune system and stop parasites. In fact, its name is due in part to the fact that it is so good at expelling roundworms, threadworms and tapeworms by creating an environment in the intestines in which parasites struggle to survive.

Researchers from the University of Washington have found that a compound made of a highly concentrated form of wormwood and iron can be more than 1000 times as effective as chemotherapy in targeting cancer cells, especially when it comes to breast cancer. The combination is considered a time bomb for cancerous cells.

Study Senior Author Tomikazu Sasaki said: The compound is like a special agent planting a bomb inside the cell.

Because cancer cells dont dispose of free-floating iron molecules as well as healthy cells do, the presence of iron can be stressful for them. This inspired the researchers to use naturally-occurring holotransferrin to carry iron into cells and deliver the high doses of artemisinin in prostate and breast cancer cells that way.

Kills cancer without compromising healthy cells

The researchers compound overcomes the biggest challenge facing cancer treatment developers today, and that is the fact that cancer cells develop from the bodys own normal cells, and most methods of killing them also impact healthy cells. While most of the chemotherapies currently available destroy roughly one normal cell for every five to ten cancerous cells they kill, this method kills roughly one healthy cell for every 12,000 cancer cells. It also has few side effects. Although artemisinin is toxic in the presence of iron, it is generally harmless otherwise.

All of the cancer cells that were exposed to this specially prepared holotransferrin died within just 16 hours. Best of all, the approach works on all types of cancer cells rather than only serving for a few specific types. The reason it can be particularly effective on breast cancer cells is because these cells sometimes have as many as 15 times more iron receptors than the cells that surround them.

In a similar study carried out by Worcester Polytechnic Institute, researchers discovered that that artemisinin reacts with iron to form free radicals that prompt cancer cells to die; cancer cells increased iron uptake makes them vulnerable to the free radicals created by artemisinin.

In addition, sweet wormwood contains other anticancer compounds such as quercetin, limonene, and B-pinene.

Artemisinin is already used as an anti-malarial drug, and now it appears that it could well become the basis of an effective cancer treatment in the future.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalHealth365.com

Washington.edu
(Natural News) Feminist loathing of men has apparently reached the tissue paper market, as the popular Kleenex brand has reportedly decided to rename its Mansize tissues Kleenex Extra Large in order to pacify leftist lunatics who are accusing the company of being sexist.

In a statement, Kimberly-Clark, the Texas-based parent company of Kleenex, said that the name-change is a direct response to a consistent increase of complaints on gender concern  this, despite the fact that Mansize Kleenex tissues have been on the market for some 60 years without issue.

The company insists that longtime use of the word Mansize on the product, along with attractive descriptors about it being confidently strong and comfortingly soft, in no way suggests that any of this is an exclusively masculine trait. But this common sense explanation apparently isnt enough for the deranged, man-haters psychopaths who see sexism in everything.

Nevertheless, as we remain committed to developing the best possible products for our consumers and take any feedback extremely seriously, we decided to renovate our current product and update the product sub-brand as Kleenex Extra Large, the company statement concluded.

Kleenex first introduced male-branded tissues back in 1956, offering them up as a disposable alternative to the large, cotton handkerchiefs that were popular at the time. The company has always offered these and other variations of its tissue paper for both genders, however  which any rational-thinking person should understand.

But feminists clearly arent rational, as evidenced by their insanely and ironically racist response to a product that, because it was originally designed for men, still carries this fact on its label as part of its branding heritage.

Our Mansize tissues remain one of our most popular products, with 3.4 million people buying these tissues every year, the company says.

Demented feminist mom tweets Kleenex in rage after son made innocent observation about Mansize label

To be clear, Kleenexs Mansize tissues have only ever been sold in the United Kingdom, where radical leftism of many flavors, including man-hating feminism, is utterly rampant. Another recent case-in-point was the abolishment of an all-male choir that had been in existence in 1956, simply because it didnt include women.

The U.K. grocery chain Waitrose also abolished a sandwich recently after feminists complained about its misogynistic name: the Gentlemans Smoked Chicken Caesar Roll.

In other words, if its tailored to men, recommended for men, or even just mentions the word man or men, then its on the chopping block in the U.K.  and increasingly in the United States and other Western countries as well, thanks to the rapidly spreading cancer known as feminism.

And all of this insanity is being passed on to the next generation as well. Part of the reason why Kleenex is now kowtowing to feminist mental illness like these others is because of a message it received on Twitter from a feminist mom named Lisa Hancox, a marketing chief.

Hancox whined that her four-year-old son  shame on the man who decided to breed with her  observed that the tissue box said Mansize, and asked whether boys and mummies could use them, too.

It was an innocent statement out of the mouth of a babe that the childs feminist mother of course used as an opportunity to go absolutely rogue libtard on Kleenex.

He suggests you should call them very large tissues,' Hancox claimed, more than likely lying. It is 2018.

To read other insane stories about the societal cancer known as feminism, be sure to check out Gender.news.

You can also read more news about the hijacking of civil culture by political correctness by visiting PoliticalCorrectness.news.

Sources for this article include:

Lifezette.com

USAToday.com

NaturalNews.com

Telegraph.co.uk
(Natural News) TV personality Megyn Kelly rose up the ranks at Fox News over the course of several years, finally earning a coveted spot on prime-time with her own news magazine program that was highly successful.

But like all rising stars, eventually they fall, and Kellys fell dramatically after she asked then-GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump about his mistreatment of women as the first question in a Fox-hosted presidential debate.

Soon after, Kelly inked a deal with NBC and after her first attempt at revitalizing her news chops at the peacock network with a prime-time Sunday night show tanked, she joined the networks Today morning show, where she swore off politics and tried to become an accepted member of the liberal Left-wing media. (Related: Megyn Kelly joins fake news giant NBC News, where news liar Brian Williams used to work.)

For a while, it worked  sort of. Kelly never did generate the kind of ratings NBC bosses had hoped for. But this week her experiment in establishment journalism came to a screeching halt because she broke a cardinal rule of the Democrat Plantation: Appearing to insult black people as a rich lily-white chick.

Kelly made the unforgivable mistake of defending the use of blackface as part of a Halloween costume that accurately depicted the ethnicity of the person or character being played.

But what is racist? she asked a panel of guests earlier this week after the perpetually outraged Leftists at her network and beyond began kicking up a fuss about it. You truly do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface at Halloween or a black person who puts on a white face.

That was okay when I was a kid, as long as you were dressing like a character, she said, as the Leftist The Daily Beast reported. I dont see how that is racist on Halloween.

Well, its not  unless of course you personally want it to be. Then it is. But thats a choice, right?

Right. And NBC has made one too. The network fired her Thursday over the comments, the U.K.s Daily Mail reported.

Megyn Kelly is done. She is not ever coming back, one NBC executive told the British paper, despite Kellys tearful on-air apology Wednesday.

We are just working out the time of the announcement but mark my word  she is gone and will never be seen on NBC live again, the source said.

You can never be too PC enough for the Left

Then again, it could be worse (for her, that is). Heres the worst part, the executive added, her deal is a non-break deal, so she walks away with all that money. Thatd be $69 million, which is what remains on her contract.

Its disgusting, and heads should roll here because of it, said the executive.

Actually, whats disgusting is the lib medias hypocrisy when it comes to who gets the ax when certain things are said about certain people on-air and who doesnt. If youre a libtard you can pretty much say anything you want about white people, conservatives, and POTUS Donald Trump and the Leftist establishment media will let you get away with it.

In Kellys case, her former network made sure to give plenty of air time to fellow journalists Al Roker and Craig Melvin, both of whom are black of course, so they could denounce what she said (which was so obviously not racist it hardly bears mentioning to reasonable people).

As for Kelly, like her or despise her shes got nothing to apologize for. In fact, the vast majority of Americans  on the Left and on the Right  are sick and tired of speech Nazis (on the Left) who insist we all act a certain way and say (or not say) certain things, as a recent study about political correctness shows.

The only people who dont hate PC? Rich white liberals like those running NBC. Go figure.

Read more about the nonsensical behavior of politically correct Left at PoliticalCorrectness.news.

Sources include:

DailyBeast.com

DailyMail.co.uk

TheNationalSentinel.com
(Natural News) The Democrat Party in the age of POTUS Obama and POTUS Trump has gone completely rogue and should no longer be considered a viable American political entity.

Thats because the positions members of the party continually adopt are so far outside our founding mores, values, and principles as to be unrecognizable even to Democrats of 40 or 50 years ago.

The latest evidence of this comes from a former television executive who actually said that straight, white males should be denied their right to vote.

As reported by PJ Media, Steven Clifford, the former CEO of the King Broadcasting Company and National Mobile Television, told the website that in order to save democracy, the federal government should somehow find a way to prohibit the straight white male demographic from casting ballots.

I think its the only hope for democracy in America and I will be leading a great movement to prohibit straight white males, who I believe supported Donald Trump by 85 percent, from exercising the franchise and I think that will save our democracy, he said following a speech he gave at a forum called Destroying the Myths of Market Fundamentalism, an event that was sponsored by the Center for Study of Responsible Law, founded by extreme Left-wing independent presidential candidate and consumer advocate Ralph Nader in 1968.

So thats the solution: Save democracy by denying it to certain Americans, and only because theyre white, straight, and voted for POTUS Donald Trump. Right.

Imagine if this clown had said the vote should be denied to straight black males or any segment of any minority group  and he was a conservative. Liberal heads would be exploding for weeks.

During his speech Clifford, who wrote the book, CEO Pay Machine: How it Trashes America and How to Stop It, urged Democrats to talk about their policy proposals when speaking to voters rather than simply stating their opposition to POTUS Trump.

Like denying people their right to vote. (Related: Lindsey Graham UNLEASHED: Radical Left can kiss my a**.)

Proof Democrats cannot be allowed to govern

Im not a campaign consultant and I think they have to get off the fact that Donald Trump is Donald Trump. Every voter knows that Donald Trump is Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton spent $450 million to say every day that Donald Trump is Donald Trump, Clifford said in reference to her losing the 2016 presidential election campaign.

I think theyve got to tell the voters why theyre going to be better off with a Democratic House or a Democratic Senate rather than just say Donald Trump, Donald Trump, Donald Trump every day Anti doesnt get people out to vote enough, he continued. Its got to help me.

He may have a point about the anti-Trump message, but maybe not. Either way, hes dreaming (or smoking something still illegal in most states) if he thinks that Democrats are ever going to tell Americans who they really are.

They  not Republicans are the party of fascism, authoritarianism, and unconstitutional militancy. Clifford just proved it. This guy wants the government to use power it doesnt have to deny a segment of our population their basic right under our constitutional system: Voting.

And he justifies that by claiming that it will restore democracy. Thats just insanity.

But this is todays Democratic Party, the name of which itself is a contradiction. Democrats dont support democracy, they support rule by force. They support big government interventionism, not individual liberty and free markets. They support taking away rights from people who dont agree with them. They support censorship. They support political violence as a means of implementing their policies.

If there are modern-day Nazis in America today they exist within the Democratic Party. Thats why voting for them makes no sense.

Read more about the radicalized violent Left at Violence.news.

Sources include:

NewsTarget.com

PJMedia.com
Bystanders helped deputies arrest a suspect who stabbed a 19-year-old woman at Cabrillo College in Aptos Wednesday afternoon, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.

Steven Wooding, 48, allegedly stabbed the woman at 11:45 a.m. and was held down by a cafeteria manager and students until deputies arrived on scene minutes later, according to Sgt. Brian Cleveland.

"It could have been a lot worse, the bravery of those staff members probably saved this girl's life," Cleveland said.

The victim is currently at a Bay Area trauma center in stable condition.

Wooding had received a restraining order from the university a few weeks before because of repeated "harassing" phonecalls, Cleveland said.

Wooding was a student at the college about 10 years ago, when he was arrested and placed in a state mental health facility after attacking a person on campus, according to Cleveland.

Deputies allegedly retrieved a knife from the scene of the stabbing and are currently interviewing Wooding before booking him in jail.

Counselors will be available throughout the day to assist students and faculty at Cabrillo College.
Ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's has taken a stand against what it calls the Trump administration's regressive policies by rebranding one of its flavors Pecan Resist with a help from an Oakland artist.

Favianna Rodriguez is the artist and activist behind the artwork on the new ice cream flavor that the company says celebrates activists who are resisting oppression, harmful environmental practices and injustice.

"Im so proud that my art is on this pint! Pecan Resist will highlight four social justice groups focused on freedom, belonging, community, and justice. Im so happy that some of my favorite organizations will be receiving some funds with the launch of this product," Rodriguez tweeted when the flavor was unveiled Tuesday in Washington ahead of the midterm elections.

As part of the campaign, Ben & Jerry's is giving $25,000 each to four activist entities: Color of Change, Honor the Earth, Women's March and multi-media platform Neta.

The company said, "it cannot be silent in the face of policies that attack and attempt to roll back decades of progress on racial and gender equity, climate change, LGBTQ rights, and refugee and immigrant rights."

Rodriguez says she has always expressed herself artistically since she was young. Her parents migrated to the U.S. from Peru. She says she didn't see images of Latinas portrayed in the mass media when she grew up in the 80's, that's why she created the first Latino group at her high school and ran for student body office.

"I think that all art is political. I think that art is always an expression of a human experience, and I very much believe that the arts are central to our society. It took some time, but now I totally see that art and activism very much belong together. Why? Because culture precedes politics. People have to be able to imagine a different world before that world comes into being," Rodriguez said in a Q&A with Ben & Jerry's.

Oakland comedian W. Kamau Bell even tweeted at Rodriguez to congratulate her on the ice cream art, saying "The flavor is called #PecanResist! It supports social movement groups creating a more just & equitable nation & those who are fighting President Trumps regressive agenda. & IT HAS PECANS!!!!"

Pecan Resist is chocolate ice cream with white and dark fudge chunks, pecans, walnuts and fudge-covered almonds.

Ben & Jerry's has previously launched ice cream flavors in support of social and political change. In 2015, Save Our Swirled debuted to bring awareness to climate change. That same year, the company changed the name of its Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream to I Dough, I Dough in celebration of the Supreme Court's decision to strike down states' ban on same-sex marriage.

Im so proud that my art is on this pint! Pecan Resist will highlight four social justice groups focused on freedom, belonging, community, and justice. Im so happy that some of my favorite organizations will be receiving some funds with the launch of this product. pic.twitter.com/MHC0Iymog6  favianna rodriguez (@favianna) October 30, 2018
A commercial fisherman is being hailed a hero after he jumped into the water off the Central California coast to free a humpback whale entangled in a rope, a rescue that was captured on video in September.

When whales become entangled in fishing lines and equipment from other maritime activities, fishermen oftentimes are able to help. In this case, one fisherman literally risked his life to free the whale.

Sam Synstelien leaped onto the massive humpback whale that had a rope wrapped around its back and tail.

"(The whale) was just swimming in counter-clockwise circles," said Nicholas Taron, who shot the video of the rescue. "You could tell he was stressed and being held to the bottom."

Synstelien and Taron are commercial eel fishermen who spotted the humpback whale struggling off Morro Bay. It was trying to free itself from a buoy attached to a rope.

Initially, the crew reported the distressed whale to the Coast Guard.

"The Coast Guard kind of finally said theres nothing else you can do," Taron said.

Thats when the crew took matters into their own hands. Taron said they cranked up the volume on the boats radio and blasted a message to the whale: "We were screaming at the whale, youre either going to help us out and quit swimming away or else, like, good luck."

Synstelien believes the whale got the message loud and clear.

The apparent happy ending could have turned out much worse for the fishing crew, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Fisheries.

"Weve had people die trying to get in the water, and just last year, we lost one of our responders," spokesman Justin Veizbicke said.

The NOAA says theres a common misconception that distressed marine animals will die within hours.

"Even though it seems like its a very stressful situation, we usually have days, weeks, sometimes even months to find these animals and get this gear off," Veizbicke said.

The NOAA said those out on the water who see an animal in distress should call the Coast Guard or NOAAs SOS Whale Hotline at 877-SOS-WHALE or 877-767-9425. The Coast Guard also can be reached on VHF Ch. 16.
Hundreds of Google employees from the main campus and the Google X lab in Mountain View are expected to walk out Thursday because theyre not happy with the way the company has handled sexual misconduct in the workplace.

The employees say it's a protest and a push for change.

"Were here. Were all here together," Google employee Amy Vernetti said. "We can fix this. Were Google. If we cant fix this, who can?"

The planned walkout comes after bombshell allegations published in The New York Times last week, accusing Google of protecting certain executives and paying them millions as an exit package after they were accused of sexual misconduct.

"We think theres a layer of transparency that can go on while protecting privacy," Vernetti said.

In an email to employees after the Times article was published, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the company has fired 48 people in the past two years for sexual misconduct.

But Meghna Virick, who has a background in human resources and is San Jose States associate dean of the School of Business, told NBC Bay Area it can be tricky to balance employee privacy and transparency.

"We have to protect the privacy not just of the victims but of other people who may be involved," Virick said. "And they have to do it out of respect."

Vernetti and her colleagues think the company can definitely do better.

"Our aspiration is that they will go above and beyond, be as transparent as they possibly can to protect us," she said.

In Pichai's message to employees, he said, "We are dead serious about making sure we provide a safe and inclusive workplace."

The walkout is slated for Thursday morning and could involve other Google offices across the country.
Multiple lanes of eastbound traffic on the Bay Bridge were temporarily closed early Thursday following a fiery car crash.

A Sig Alert was issued around 4:30 a.m. It was canceled around 6 a.m.

Further information was not available.
Americans are voting early and often ahead of the midterm elections, with about 25 million votes already cast, and the trend is gaining traction in California.

About 13 million people in the state have received a mail-in ballot, up from 9 million for the last midterm elections in 2014. Nearly 3 million of those ballots already have been sent in, providing data such as party affiliation, age and background of all those voters ahead of Election Day next Tuesday.

Bipartisan tracker Political Data Inc. is flush with the details: more than 1 million Californians (43 percent) have cast ballots as registered Democrats in the congressional races; 850,000 (33 percent) registered Republicans have voted for Congress; nearly 50 percent of the voters thus far are 65 and older; and nearly 75 percent are white.

But Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data, says a more diverse mix of voters are increasingly registering online and voting early.

"The people who deal with the mail most regularly, the people who know where they keep their stamps, that are going to be right on top of mailing those ballots back in are these older, more conservative voters," Mitchell said. "If we start to see an uptick in young people turning out, if we start to see an uptick in Latinos and Democratic Voters participating, that would be kind of the early signs of a blue wave."

In the basement of San Francisco City Hall, Director of Elections John Artnz says early activity has picked up in the City by the Bay too, boosted by California encouraging more mail-in ballots but also a governors race with no incumbent.

Arntz said 16 percent is a good number at this point in the early voting cycle.

"Whenever the primary contest, lets say, for an election theres no incumbent, turnouts tend to be higher for those elections," he said.

In San Francisco, Artnz says, the greatest number of ballots still come in on Election Day.
The United States has charged a government-controlled company in China with stealing trade secrets from an American semiconductor company, the Justice Department said Thursday as it outlined an initiative focused on what officials said was the growing threat of Chinese economic espionage.

The prosecution comes amid heightened trade tensions between China and the U.S. and as the Trump administration raises alarms that Beijing remains intent on stealing technology and inventions to gain an economic upper hand. The two nations have each imposed billions of dollars in tariffs on each other in a reflection of a confrontational relationship with national security as well as economic ramifications.

The case, which involves trade secrets worth up to $8.75 billion and allegedly stolen from Idaho-based Micron Technology Inc., is the latest in a series of prosecutions targeting Chinese corporate espionage. On Tuesday, for instance, federal prosecutors in California charged Chinese intelligence officers and hackers working for them with trying to steal information on commercial jet engines.

Other cases have involved stolen wind turbine technology and software source code.

"China  like any advanced nation  must decide whether it wants to be a trusted partner on the world stage, or whether it wants to be known around the world as a dishonest regime running a corrupt economy founded on fraud, theft and strong-arm tactics," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said at a news conference announcing the criminal case and a new China Initiative.

The charges name two companies, one in China and one in Taiwan, and three Taiwanese defendants. A Justice Department spokesman said the defendants were served summonses in Taiwan and that none is in U.S. custody.

The Chinese Embassy did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment Thursday.

One of the charged individuals had been general manager and chairman of a company that Micron acquired in 2013 and then went to work two years later for the Taiwan semiconductor company, United Microelectronics Corporation, or UMC, where prosecutors say he orchestrated the theft.

That man, identified by prosecutors as Chen Zhengkun, recruited both of his co-defendants to join him at UMC. One, according to prosecutors, downloaded more than 900 confidential and proprietary Micron files before he left and stored them in personal cloud storage and on external hard drives so that he could access them at his new job with UMC.

The company partnered with a Chinese-controlled business, Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., to mass-produce technology memory storage products used in computer electronics.

That technology, known as dynamic random-access memory, is something that the Chinese government had identified as an important priority because its own companies could not develop such advanced capabilities and had to rely on companies outside of China, the Justice Department said

The indictment was announced one day after the Trump administration imposed restrictions on technology exports to the Chinese company that was charged, citing national security concerns. Beijing has spent heavily to build up Jinhua and other chipmakers as part of efforts to transform China into a global leader in robotics, artificial intelligence and other technology industries.

The United States also Thursday sued to block the transfer of trade secrets and to prevent the companies from exporting to the U.S. any products that they manufacturing by exploiting stolen information.

In addition, the Justice Department announced an initiative to target Chinese economic espionage by identifying priority cases and ensuring there are enough resources available.

The administration has characterized China, along with Russia, as a strategic competitor of the United States. The U.S. has taken an increasingly confrontational stance toward what it characterizes as China's "predatory" economic policies. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo set the tone in a June speech where he accused China of an "unprecedented level of larceny" of intellectual property.

Tensions over trade in particular have exacerbated relations between the two world powers. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese products in an effort to narrow the U.S. trade deficit with China. China has retaliated with tariff increases on $110 billion of American products.

The tensions have extended into security issues. China has criticized U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province, and the U.S. has renewed its criticism of China's island-building in the disputed South China Sea. In recent weeks, Trump has accused China of meddling in U.S. elections but hasn't presented substantive evidence of such interference.

In a tweet Thursday, Trump said he had spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping and that they had talked about many topics, but mostly trade.

He said U.S.-China discussions on trade are "moving along nicely" with a meeting being scheduled at the G-20 summit in Argentina, which begins late this month.
Democrats looking to win over the U.S. House of Representatives in November have a keen eye on Florida's 26th Congressional District, where a well-liked Republican who agrees with Democrats on plenty of issues is struggling not to be defined by two positions where the parties dramatically disagree: health care and taxes.

Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo is seeking a third term in a district that runs from Miami's Hispanic southern suburbs down to the Florida Keys. He's out in front on some progressive issues not typically embraced by his fellow Republicans, like climate change and protecting "Dreamers," young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children without documentation.

"These are local issues for us in South Florida. We don't debate these issues in theory, we see them," Curbelo said.

Curbelo's a political rarity: a moderate Republican in the middle of a district that heavily supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. She beat President Donald Trump by 16 percentage points but Curbelo won by 12 points.

"This is a community that I think wants representatives to get things done," said Curbelo, who has regularly distanced himself from Trump on issues from immigration to trade and said he did not vote to elect him.

But the congressman has real opposition in the election. Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, an immigrant and former medical school administrator who lost her bid to win a seat in Florida's Senate in 2016, is making another run at politics, ready to jump into the partisan divide that is Washington, D.C.

This article, part 7 in a series, examines one of the key battleground races for control of the House of Representatives in the Nov. 6 midterm elections. Carried by grassroots momentum, Democrats must take 23 seats from Republicans to win the balance of power. They are contending with Republicans' experience, organization and an outspoken but polarizing president.

Health care, including Curbelo's position on "Obamacare," is the main reason Mucarsel-Powell is running for Congress, she said.

"When I saw that Congressman Curbelo took that vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act in a district that has the second largest number of people that get their health care through the ACA ... I knew that at that moment I had to step in," she said.

Health care is a prominent issue for tens of thousands of people in the district, which did have the second-most enrollees in "Obamacare" as repeal was being debated, according to data compiled by the nonprofit health policy anaylsis and news outlet Kaiser Family Foundation. (It has since dropped to third, behind two other Miami-area districts.)

"Mucarsel-Powell trying to hit him on the health care issue is probably a smart idea ... probably the one issue that might resonate with those Democratic voters," Florida International University political science professor Kathryn DePalo said.

While Curbelo's vote helped the House pass the Affordable Care Act repeal effort, which was narrowly defeated in the Senate, the congressman did see positive aspects to the law, like keeping young people on their parents' plan until they're 26 and guaranteeing coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

Many Democrats in tough races across the country are campaigning on Republicans' attempted health care repeal, and many are also campaigning on the Republicans' successful tax reform bill, including Mucarsel-Powell.

Curbelo and other Republicans argued it would boost the economy and help the middle class but Democrats said it would help the rich more than the middle class or the poor.

"There is nothing moderate about being on the Ways and Means Committee and writing a tax bill that benefits the wealthiest Americans in this country while leaving middle-class families behind," Mucarsel-Powell said.

Democrat Maria Luisa Castellanos, who lives in Kendall, said Curbelo's vote for the tax cut made her so mad she volunteered for Mucarsel-Powell's campaign.

"I called his office and I told him that if he voted for that bill that I would make it my purpose to help whatever opponent he was up against when the elections came because I thought it was so outrageous, she said, adding that she was equally outraged over his vote on the Affordable Care Act.

"He doesn't really care about his constituents, he only cares about big business and the people that contribute to his campaign," Castellanos said.

Curbelo defends his votes on both taxes and health care.

"Shame on anyone who defends the status quo on health care in this country," he said, adding his vote was part of a bipartisan push to build a more accessible, more sustainable health care system.

And Curbelo insisted his challenger is out of touch when it comes to tax reform, because members of the community appreciate keeping more of their money in their pockets.

"I understand if you are wealthy, if you live in a mansion like my opponent does, all this tax relief may not be that important to you," he said.

West Kendall resident Tony Figueroa said that Curbelo's bipartisanship is what he likes most about him.

"He understands his district, so he really makes an effort to listen to all sides," he said.

A publicist and board member of the Miami Young Republicans, Figueroa said Curbelo's first term in office helped him show voters "how he was just that much different from Trump."

The voters of the 26th District are almost evenly split between Democrats, Republicans and independents, and the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as a toss-up.

DePalo sees it as the Democrats' best opportunity to pick up a seat in the area, more so than neighboring District 27, where Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is vacating her seat, leaving a free-for all between Democrat Donna Shalala and Republican Maria Elvira Salazar.

But Curbelo is likable, DePalo noted. "When you have somebody who is trying to paint him as this 'Trump-light,' or doesn't care about the folks in the district, it doesn't really ring true."

Unlike most Republicans in tough races this year, Curbelo has held himself at arm's length from Trump. Nov. 6 will determine whether that's enough to keep him in Congress.

NBC's Asher Klein and Gavrielle Jacobovitz contributed to this report.
The late Arlington Heights spook enthusiast, Michael Podlin, becomes one with his creationsa dying wish come true for a man who spent years pouring his heart and soul into extravagant Halloween displays, and his widow gives her final goodbyes to a community who always looked forward to visiting on Halloween.

The 55-year-old and his family put up a spectacular scene that had thousands flocking to their home for the fall holiday. But this year, the family that spent nearly two decades celebrating the dead, also celebrated the spooky day with one of their own.

We promised to follow through with what he asked of us, Margalit said. If it were up to him, his bones or his casket would be right out there live, Margalit said.

Instead, this Halloween season his ashes were placed inside a now-sealed skull and the family placed it in the very window he once watched trick-or-treaters from.

The skull is attached to a wooden base that has his full name engraved, followed by his date of birth and date of death, and just below it reads, "Loving son, husband, father, uncle and friend."

In addition, the base has a quote Margalit says is something her husband used to say all the time, Tell me your nightmares and let me hep you face them! Halloween was more than a passion, it was a lifestyle!

Podlin died of pancreatic cancer in June. Still, even up to the last two days before his final breath, Halloween remained a topic of conversation, as he stared out the window that overlooked the yard he spent months haunting.

Thats how he wanted to do it. So we did it his way, his wife TammySue Margalit, whose nickname is scary, told NBC 5. He died at home, not under hospital care. With everyone he loved around him.

But before he died, Podlin had one final request--to become part of the display he spent years designing.

"Ive been working on things with my hands, crying my eyes out, two 'o clock in the morning, trying to get this display up," she said.

Margalit said she'd spent weeks setting up his 12-foot wooden skeletons and decorating his home with lights, music and other moving creations.

It took him about 1,000 hours to do two of [the wooden skeletons], Margalit said.

Podlin told the Daily Herald last year that he did it for the kids and everyone else.

Its a passion that I live for, he said.

Podlin was diagnosed with cancer in March 2016 and lived longer than doctors expected, even managing one last Halloween display before his death.

This year, a new addition to his iconic setup included a tombstone he never finished, written in his own words.

"Cancer sucks," the sign reads.

Podlin died in his home with his wife, his 17-year-old son and two teen daughters by his side, his family said.

"Its just sad that the house wont be the same," said Halloween visitor Shawn Larson.

Margalit recalls that her husband was more of the tech guy; she merely the artist.

"Im trying my best and trying to reproduce what he made," she expressed.

Widow Bids Adieu to Annual Arlington Heights Halloween House Display

Margalit said her mother actually died a week before her husband and because of it, she was unsure if she'd be able to do a display this year.

"I felt I owed it to the community at least, to have closure, and to say goodbye to them."

She said the family decided to take a very small amount of his ashes and disperse it all over the yard in his honor.

"I know that I need to take care of myself and kids and move forward and move on," she said. "This will definitely be an amazing memory. Thats why we did, we did it for the memories."

A GoFundMe Page has been set up for any one who wishes to donate to primarily help fund medical bills.

The family has also requested that any other formal donations be mailed or dropped off "For: Michael Podline in the care of TammySue Margalit" at Village Bank & Trust 1845 E. Rand Rd., Arlington Heights.
What to Know Notorious Irish mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger was found dead in his West Virginia cell on Tuesday.

Bulger was recently moved to the high-security prison in West Virginia from Oklahoma.

Inmates at the West Virginia prison have previously warned officials that the facility has been overcrowded.

Long before notorious Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger was killed at a federal prison in West Virginia, lawmakers, advocates and even prison guards had been sounding the alarm about dangerous conditions there. But there has been no public indication that federal prison officials have taken action to address the safety concerns, even as Bulger's killing marks the third at the facility in the last six months.

An independent government commission found that United States Penitentiary Hazelton has been overcrowded for years. Inmates have repeatedly expressed concerns about their safety at the high-security prison, which houses 1,270 male inmates. A 2016 report from the District of Columbia's Corrections Information Council said that prisoners warned officials, "Inmates can lose their lives quickly here."

In April, 48-year-old Ian Thorne was killed during an altercation with a fellow prisoner, and in September, Demario Porter was also killed in another fight with a fellow inmate.

Court records, oversight reports and news articles detail numerous violent incidents in recent years. In 2016, an inmate was charged with murder after prosecutors said he strangled another prisoner to death during a fight. In February 2015, an inmate stabbed a fellow prisoner with a hand-crafted weapon during a fight, according to court documents. Another inmate received an extended sentence in May for assaulting a fellow prisoner and possessing a deadly weapon.

"There are a multitude of federal prisons that don't have a homicide rate like that," said Cameron Lindsay, a former federal prison warden who now works as a jail security consultant.

The federal Bureau of Prisons has not responded to requests for comment about safety concerns at USP Hazelton. It announced Thursday that visitation has been suspended until further notice.

Last week, five members of Congress wrote to Attorney General Jeff Sessions about what they called "dangerous continual understaffing" at federal prisons in West Virginia and Pennsylvania and stated their alarm about the deaths at USP Hazelton.

Justice Department spokesman Wyn Hornbuckle said DOJ was "aware of the concerns raised in the letter" and would respond to the members of Congress.

In a separate letter this month, the District of Columbia's House delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, asked the Justice Department's inspector general to launch an investigation into the conditions at USP Hazelton, citing Thorne and Porter's deaths. Holmes Norton said she had also heard about the "brutal treatment" of inmates at the prison and was concerned that the incidents "may be indicative of larger, ongoing problems at the facility."

In a statement Tuesday, Norton said Bulger's death "underscores reports of a culture of violence at Hazelton."

Norton's office said she had not received a response to her earlier letter, and John Lavinsky, a spokesman for the inspector general, declined to comment.

The 89-year-old Bulger, who benefited from a corrupt relationship with the FBI before spending 16 years as one of America's most wanted men, was found unresponsive Tuesday morning, just hours after he arrived at USP Hazelton. He was declared dead shortly afterward. Authorities have not released a cause of death, but prosecutors said it was being investigated as a homicide. A Mafia hit man, Fotios "Freddy" Geas, who is said to hate "rats," and at least one other inmate are believed to have been involved in Bulger's killing, an ex-investigator briefed on the case said Wednesday. The longtime investigator was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Bulger led a largely Irish mob that ran loan-sharking, gambling and drug rackets. He also was an FBI informant who ratted on the New England mob, his gang's main rival, in an era when bringing down the Mafia was a top priority for the FBI.

It's not clear why he was transferred.

"What I don't understand is why the Federal Bureau of Prisons would transfer a super high-publicity inmate, who is a known snitch, to general population of a high-security prison. You've got to be smarter than that," Lindsay, the former warden, said.

Union officials say the prison is operating at about 75 percent of its staffing level and has dozens of vacant positions. They have also decried a practice known as augmentation, which taps health care workers, teachers, secretaries and prison cooks to fill correction officer positions because of officer shortages and overtime limits.

Justin Tarovisky, executive vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 420, which represents Hazelton prison guards, said Bulger's death "outlines how dangerous this prison is." The union voiced its concerns about staffing in a picket outside the prison as far back as 2015.

The letter sent to Sessions last week by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; Pat Toomey, R-Pa.; Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.; and Bob Casey, D-Pa.; and Rep. Bill Schuster, R-Pa., said Congress had provided additional funding to ensure there would be at least two corrections officers on duty in each housing unit for each shift and that the policy was "not being enforced as intended." The legislators said they were concerned that the Bureau of Prisons hasn't followed Congress' direction to curtail "its overreliance on augmentation, particularly in housing units."

A hiring freeze imposed by the Trump administration has left the agency short-staffed and some already overloaded federal prisons have been housing immigration detainees in recent months as well.

President Donald Trump's son-in-law and top adviser, Jared Kushner, has pushed prison reform as a key priority, though others in the Trump administration --including Sessions-- support the toughest possible sentences for drug and other convictions. Kushner has had an interest in prison reform since his own father, Charles Kushner, was incarcerated for 14 months after being convicted of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering.
Three people were stabbed during a Halloween party in Farmington early Thursday morning and police said information about the party was posted on Snapchat, which led to as many as 300 people showing up.

Farmington police received a 911 call about a loud party outside a home on Talcott Notch Road at 12:40 a.m., responded and 100 to 300 people inside and outside the house.

Officers found two stabbing victims at the scene. One was in critical condition and went to UConn Health and West Hartford Police were called in to assist Farmington Police with crowd control at UConn Health after the stabbing, officials said.

Another victim was in serious condition. Both victims are in stable condition Thursday morning, officials said.

A third victim was found in a Hartford area hospital with superficial stab wounds and has been released.

Police have not identified the victims but said they are 19-, 26- and 27-years-old and were not from Farmington.

Police are asking that anyone with information call Farmington Police.
Police are questioning four New Britain High School students and the school dismissed early Thursday amid an investigation into rumors of violence planned at the school today and reports that a student claimed to have brought a weapon to school in case anything happened.

Supt. Nancy Sarra released a statement Thursday morning that said school officials learned Wednesday of a rumor that an act of violence was being planned for today at New Britain High School and school administrators notified New Britain police, who started investigating immediately.

They spoke with students and staff and learned that a student made an offhand remark in a classroom and students who overheard it shared it with others, according to the superintendent.

Police and school officials didnt find the rumor to be credible, but they took the report seriously and called for extra police presence at the school throughout the day today and beyond, Sarra said in a statement about the incident.

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart said Thursday that three students at the high school heard another student in a bathroom say something to the effect that he or she brought a weapon to school in case anything happens and I can protect myself.

The mayor said no weapons have been found.

Police are speaking with the four students.

Parents said they received calls from their nervous children this morning and didnt hear from the school. Police at the scene said they spoke to parents who arrived at the school to tell them there was no credible threat.

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A man lost part of a finger while trying to stop a pit bull from attacking his dog in New London Tuesday morning, police said, and the pit bull died from injuries sustained in the fight with the other dog.

Police officers and firefighters responded to the area of Cape Ann Court and Ashcraft Road at 7:24 a.m. after a 911 call came in reporting that two dogs were attacking a person.

Twenty-one year old Marquis Boney said he has walked his dog Goji, an almost 1-year-old mastiff, past the pit bull before and never had a problem. He passed Tuesday morning with Goji on a leash.

My dog gave him a look and he gave him a look and I think that just set it off and that dog jumped over the fence, Boney said.

According to Boney, he was trying to break up the fighting when part of his finger was bitten off by the pit bull.

I grabbed his hand and I told him to hold the towel on it to stop the bleeding. Put pressure, said neighbor Emily Pratts, who ran to help. And hes just like, My dog, my dog!

Pratts said other neighbors were outside, including the owners of the pit bull. Someone called 911, another ran to get Boneys mom.

When officers arrived, they attempted to use a bite sleeve but then fired a Taser at Goji when the dogs didnt separate. Goji ran off. The pit bull, Menace, succumbed to his injuries.

Hes like my son. Without him, its like its like breathing without air, Boney said about the fact Goji is still missing.

Sara Alexander, the owner of Menace, said when she ran outside she was shocked to see that her dog apparently jumped the fence. She said he loved people and had been outside around Goji.

We loved him and he loved us. We had high schoolers who would cut through our yard all the time just so they could see Menace, Alexander said.

Her heart goes out to Boneys family.

There really are no winners here. Were all victims now, Alexander said.

Boney said Goji is a service animal who helps with his post-traumatic stress disorder after a battle with bone cancer as a child caused his right leg to be amputated above the knee.

He helps relax me when I feel enormous amounts of stress, Boney said.

Which is one reason he said its critical to get his dog back.

I know this sounds crazy but I will do whatever it takes  I would lose a whole hand for this dog, Boney said. Thats how much I love him.

Police and animal control are looking for the mastiff and they are asking anyone with information about the attack to call New London Police at 860-447-5269, extension 0 or text NLPDTips and the information to Tip411.
Jewish leaders across the country are not allowing their communities to live in fear. Instead, ahead of the first Sabbath after the massacre in Pittsburgh, theyre encouraging people of all faiths to Show Up for Shabbat in solidarity with Pittsburghs Jewish community.

"In my lifetime I dont recall any act of (Anti)Semitism so terrible and so close to home, said Rabbi Marc Ekstrand of Temple Emanu-El in Waterford.

The shooting that killed 11 people at Tree of Life synagogue hit especially close to Ekstrands heart. He grew up going to services at a synagogue also in the Jewish enclave of Squirrel Hill.

I told the congregation what was going on and I just started to cry, Ekstrand said.

He saw the need to heal. Sunday he hosted a vigil along with Congregation Beth El. Monday faith leaders and people of all beliefs came together. Nearly 500 people filled the sanctuary.

Hes ready to see more inter-faith support again this Shabbat. Especially as the hashtag #ShowUpForShabbat is spreading. Started by American Jewish Committee (AJC), theyre asking Jews and non-Jews to attend a Shabbat service Friday or Saturday in solidarity with Pittsburghs Jewish community and to show love triumphs over hate.

To worship together. To sing, to celebrate, to hold each other as a community over the course of the weekend, said Rabbi Rachel Safman of Congregation Beth El in New London.

Rabbi Rachel Safman has already planned for this weekend to have a special program celebrating being an inclusive congregation, specifically to the LGBTQ community. It was easy to expand that into #ShowUpForShabbat.

Safman said she got the word out about through the Greater New London Clergy Association who disseminated information to the faith communities throughout southeastern Connecticut.

Kyle Murray, of New London, is a member of outCT, which is non-profit that supports LGBTQ individuals. Hes not Jewish and said hell be there.

We all have a place in this world. I think it is imperative that love transcends whatever hatred, Murray said.
Police in Marshfield, Massachusetts, are warning residents to inspect their Halloween candy after needles were found inside a 3-year-old trick-or-treater's haul.

Marshfield police said the child received two packages of Twizzlers Twists containing sewing needles on Wednesday night. Thursday evening, police said a third Twizzlers package containing a small piece of metal was also confirmed to have been picked up in the same area.

"Anything is possible at this point," Marshfield Police Chief Phil Tavares said. "We are investigating to figure out where exactly were the needles put into the candy."

Carol Keating, the grandmother of 3-year-old Ronan, said the family went trick-or-treating to about three dozen homes in the Brant Rock neighborhood of Marshfield. Keating said the boy's mother found the needles when she checked the candy upon returning home to Boston.

I cant believe this would happen, Keating said.

Marshfield police are advising parents to throw away all Twizzlers and inspect all of their children's Halloween candy as a precaution. Anyone caught giving out contaminated candy that could cause injury can face up to five years behind bars.

In Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, police said a nail had been found partially inside a mini Hershey's bar. The trick-or-treater's parent believes it may have been picked up on a side street off Vineyard Avenue. Anyone with information is asked to call Oak Bluffs Police.

Similar incidents have been reported in the last 24 hours involving sewing needles in a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup in Maine, a Twizzler in Texas, a Kit Kat in Florida, a Mounds in New York, a 3 Musketeers in New Mexico and a Gummy Life Savers candy in Tennessee. Officials haven't said if there could be any connection.
NBC Connecticut has partnered with ProPublica and other news organizations covering problems that prevent eligible voters from casting ballots  and we need your help.

The Electionland project relies on citizens on the ground to tell us about issues like long lines, registration problems, purged voter rolls, broken machines, voter intimidation and changed voting locations.

Here is how you can participate with NBC CT Investigates and ProPublica:

PHONE: Call the NBC Connecticut Investigates Election Hotline at 1-855-622-2830 to report issues directly to us.

SMS: Send the word VOTE, VOTA (for Spanish) or  (for Chinese) to 81380 (standard text message rates apply).

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Facebook Messenger: Go to m.me/electionland.

Sign up using the form thats embedded at the end of this post.

In 2016, the Electionland coalition went through thousands of tips from a legal call center hotline, as well as thousands of text messages and social media posts. Local journalists around the country reported 400 stories and helped bring attention to voting problems that were fixed before polls closed.

If you notice problems while voting during the 2018 midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 6, please share so we can help investigate them.
Police say the investigation of a missing 2-year-old Central Texas girl has led them to the remains of a small child in the Houston area.

At a Wednesday news conference, College Station Police Chief Scott McCollum said it may take several weeks to positively identify the remains. McCollum would provide no other details.

Police have been pursuing clues to the fate of Hazana Anderson of Bryan, Texas.

Her mother, Tiaundra Kae Christon of Bryan, remains in the Brazos County Detention Center charged with child endangerment and making a false report. Bond is $250,000.

Christon reported her daughter missing Sunday morning. Police say children's clothing was found in a bag in a nearby neighborhood that afternoon. Police say Christon was arrested after telling police she knew nothing about the items.
An HIV-positive man accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl was arrested Wednesday in Davie, Florida, police said.

William Charles Bell, 55, was charged with three counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child between 12 and 16 years old, one count of using or allowing a child to engage in sex and one count of causing or allowing the use of computer pornography by a minor, jail records showed.

Police said Bell had unprotected sex with the underage girl, and that there could be more victims.

"This animal victimized a 14-year-old girl that he was having sex with over the course of a few months," Davie Police Sgt. Mark Leone told reporters Thursday morning.

An arrest report said the sexual encounters took place at Bell's trailer in Davie between August and October 2018.

The report said Bell admitted to having sex with the girl on several occasions and to photographing the victim in the nude.

Leone said that when Bell was arrested officers found multiple images of child pornography on his phone, including some showing him sexually battering the young girl.

The girl was being tested to see whether she had contracted HIV, Leone said.

Bell was being held on $350,000 bond Thursday, jail records showed. Attorney information wasn't available.

Anyone with information is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
Carrying signs that included a mocking use of the company's original "Don't be evil" motto, thousands of Google employees around the world briefly walked off the job Thursday to protest what they said was the tech giant's mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations against executives.

From Tokyo, Singapore and London to New York, Seattle and San Francisco, highly paid engineers and other workers staged walkouts of about an hour, reflecting rising #MeToo-era frustration among women over frat-house behavior and other misconduct in heavily male Silicon Valley.

In Dublin, organizers used megaphones to address the outdoor crowd of men and women, while in other places, workers gathered in packed conference rooms or lobbies. In New York, there appeared to be as many men as women out in the streets, while in Cambridge, Massachusetts, men outnumbered women by perhaps 6 to 1.

"Time is up on sexual harassment!" organizer Vicki Tardif Holland shouted, her voice hoarse, at a gathering of about 300 people in Cambridge. "Time is up on systemic racism. Time is up on abuses of power. Enough is enough!"

About 1,000 Google workers in San Francisco swarmed into a plaza in front of the city's historic Ferry Building, chanting, "Women's rights are workers' rights!" Thousands turned out at Google's Mountain View, California, headquarters.

The demonstrations reflected a sense among some of the 94,000 employees at Google and its parent Alphabet Inc. that the company isn't living up to its professed ideals, as expressed in its "Don't be evil" slogan and its newer injunction in its corporate code of conduct : "Do the right thing."

"We have the eyes of many companies looking at us," Google employee Tanuja Gupta said in New York. "We've always been a vanguard company, so if we don't lead the way, nobody else will."

The protests unfolded a week after The New York Times detailed allegations of sexual misconduct about the creator of Google's Android software, Andy Rubin. The newspaper said Rubin received a $90 million severance package in 2014 after Google concluded the accusations were credible. Rubin has denied the allegations.

The same story also disclosed allegations of sexual misconduct against other executives, including Richard DeVaul, a director at the Google-affiliated lab that created self-driving cars and internet-beaming balloons. DeVaul had remained at the "X'' lab after the accusations surfaced a few years ago, but resigned on Tuesday without severance, Google said.

In an unsigned statement, the Google protesters called for an end to forced arbitration in harassment and discrimination cases, a practice that requires employees to give up their right to sue and often includes confidentiality agreements.

Besides being angry about what they contend has been lenient handling of executives who mistreat women, the protest organizers demanded more aggressive steps for gender pay equity and more inclusive hiring practices to reduce the high concentration of white and Asian men in the industry's best-paying programming jobs.

Women account for 31 percent of Google's employees worldwide, and it's lower for leadership roles. The numbers are similar elsewhere in Silicon Valley.

"I have seen friends get hurt and have their careers destroyed by this, not just at Google but everywhere," protester J.J. Wanda, a male software engineer, said in Mountain View. "We need to show that time's up."

In a statement, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the company is reviewing all the "constructive ideas" from employees to improve policies and practices.

Beyond Google, Facebook has faced criticism over pay inequity and discrimination. The appearance of a Facebook executive behind Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings also caused rifts inside the company.

As Thursday dawned, organizers had predicted about 1,500 employees would participate in the walkouts, mostly women. But the numbers appeared to exceed that, based on media accounts and images posted on the protest's Twitter account.

The protests at Google are the latest sign that frustrations among women are reaching a boiling point, said Stephanie Creary, a professor who specializes in workplace and diversity issues at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.

"People simply aren't willing to put up with it anymore," Creary said. "The workers at Google seem to be saying, 'How is it that we are still having to have this conversation?'"

Google's CEO assured employees earlier this week that the company would support them in their protest. He also apologized for Google's "past actions."

"I understand the anger and disappointment that many of you feel," Pichai said in an email. "I feel it as well, and I am fully committed to making progress on an issue that has persisted for far too long in our society ... and, yes, here at Google, too."

Pichai last week sought to assure employees that the company had cracked down on misconduct, saying it had fired 48 employees, including 13 senior managers, for sexual harassment in recent years without giving any of them severance packages.

In recent months, Google and other Silicon Valley companies have also been plagued by dissension over other corporate policies, customer privacy and what some employees regard as misuses of technology.

More than 1,000 Google employees signed a letter protesting the company's plan to build a search engine that would comply with Chinese censorship rules.

And thousands signed a petitio asking Google to cancel an artificial-intelligence protect to help the Pentagon improve the targeting of drone strikes. Google later said it won't renew the contract, according to published reports, and opted not to bid for another military contract that could be worth $10 billion.

AP Technology Writers Mae Anderson, Matt O'Brien and Frank Bajak, and AP videojournalists Joe Frederick and Haven Daley contributed to this report.
What to Know Four alleged members of a militant Southern California white supremacist group were indicted.

They allegedly incited violence against counter-protesters, journalists and a police officer at political rallies.

Robert Rundo, Tyler Laube, Robert Boman and Aaron Eason were charged in the indictment.

Four alleged members of a militant Southern California white supremacist group were indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for allegedly inciting violence against counter-protesters, journalists and a police officer at political rallies in California and Charlottesville, Virginia.

The defendants -- Robert Rundo, Tyler Laube, Robert Boman and Aaron Eason -- were charged in the indictment with one count each of conspiracy to violate the federal riots act and traveling across state lines to participate in or incite a riot.

If convicted of both counts, each defendant would face up to 10 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutors allege the men -- suspected of membership in the so-called Rise Above Movement -- organized or participated in violence at rallies in Huntington Beach and Berkeley, and are suspected of provoking the deadly riot in Charlottesville during last year's Unite the Right march.

All four are in federal custody without bond. Last month, federal authorities arrested Benjamin Daley, one of the alleged founders of RAM, and three others for their suspected role in the violence. The four were indicted in Charlottesville, where they are awaiting trial. A criminal complaint filed earlier in Los Angeles describes the allegations against Rundo, 28, of Huntington Beach; Laube, 22, of Redondo Beach; Boman, 25, of Torrance; and Eason, 38, of the Riverside County community of Anza.

According to the document:

-- At the Huntington Beach "Make America Great Again" rally on March 25, 2017, members of RAM broke off from the main rally and confronted counter-protesters, where Rundo, Boman and Laube allegedly attacked a number of people, including two journalists.

-- In the weeks that followed, RAM members allegedly celebrated the attacks, which were noted on a neo-Nazi website, and solicited others to attend an upcoming rally in Berkeley, as well as combat training at a park in San Clemente.

-- At the Berkeley rally on April 15, 2017, Rundo, Boman and Eason were allegedly involved in violent attacks, which resulted in Rundo being arrested after punching a "defenseless person" and a Berkeley police officer. -- In the subsequent months, RAM members allegedly celebrated the assaults in Berkeley, which included Boman posting photos of himself attacking people, and RAM members engaging in combat training.

-- On June 10, 2017, Rundo and other RAM members attended an "Anti- Islamic Law" rally in San Bernardino, where they allegedly participated in violent attacks.

The indictment Thursday follows the filing of charges in Charlottesville last month against Daley, 25, of Redondo Beach; Thomas Walter Gillen, 24, also of Redondo Beach; Michael Paul Miselis, 29, of Lawndale; and Cole Evan White, 24, of Clayton, California. Prosecutors allege that RAM and its members documented and promoted their white supremacy ideology through postings on various internet platforms and through graffiti, including tags found in Irvine.

In a video posted online earlier this year and described in the complaint, Rundo said he was "a big supporter of the fourteen," which is a reference to the "14 words," a slogan used by white supremacists and neo-Nazis that reads: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children."

This past spring, suspected RAM leader Rundo and two of the men charged in the Charlottesville case traveled to Europe to celebrate Adolf Hitler's birthday and to meet with members of other white supremacy extremist groups, according to the complaint.
The state Water Resources Control Board Wednesday turned over management of the troubled Sativa Water District, which has been under fire for delivering brown water to customers in Willowbrook and Compton, to Los Angeles County.

The county has been pushing for months to assume control of the district, accusing it of shirking its responsibilities to its customers -- most notably when residents began reporting the murky water coming from their taps earlier this year.

According to the state water board, Sativa "has consistently failed to provide customers ... with a reliable and adequate supply of pure, potable water as required by the California Health and Safety Code." The board's action Wednesday appoints the county Department of Public Works as a temporary administrator of the water district, pending a decision by the Los Angeles Local Agency Formation Commission on dissolving the district and transferring its operations to another company.

Los Angeles County officials, including Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas, will hold a news conference Thursday to discuss the county's takeover of the district.

Four water companies have previously expressed interest in taking over the district: California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water; Golden State Water Company, a subsidiary of American States Water Company; Liberty Utilities Co., a subsidiary of Canadian company Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.; and Suburban Water Systems, a subsidiary of SouthWest Water Company.

The first three parent companies are publicly traded and the fourth is owned by institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
With President Donald Trump getting a cool welcome from the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, Israel's envoy to the memorial ceremonies for the synagogue shooting victims has come to his defense, saying it was "unfair and wrong" to link him to the tragedy.

Trump was greeted by hundreds of chanting protesters Tuesday, many accusing the president's fiery rhetoric for contributing to the climate of violence and emboldening extremists to act.

Pennsylvania's governor and the mayor of Pittsburgh declined to join Trump during the visit, and one of the families of the 11 victims of the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history asked not to meet him. Adding to the anger was the shooting suspect's apparent targeting of a synagogue because of his outrage over a Jewish refugee agency that has become a target of conspiracy theories among Trump's nationalist base.

However, Naftali Bennett, the Israeli minister for diaspora affairs, took issue with those he said were "using this horrific anti-Semitic act to attack President Trump."

"This is unfair and wrong," said Bennett, who rushed to Pittsburgh after the shootings to offer Israel's support to city's Jewish community. "President Trump is a true friend of the state of Israel and to the Jewish people. With President Trump we never have to worry if he has our backs."

Israel's envoys to the United States and the United Nations have also tried to distance Trump from the attack.

Their defense of the president has added another element to the growing divide between Israel's leadership, which hails Trump for his staunch political backing and tough stance against nemesis Iran, and the more liberal American Jewish community, whose members are among Trump's toughest domestic critics.

Trump visited the Tree of Life synagogue and lit candles for the victims before visiting survivors in the hospital. He was accompanied by his daughter Ivanka, a convert to Judaism, and her Jewish husband, Jared Kushner, as well as Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer.

Dermer also backed Trump, saying he was "not aware of a single non-Israeli leader that has made such a strong statement in condemning anti-Semitism."

Nancy Bernstein, co-chair of J Street Pittsburgh, a liberal American Jewish group, said that many American Jews accuse Trump of contributing to the polarized atmosphere that led to the shooting and were unhappy about Israeli leaders being so close with the president. She took particular aim at Bennett, who has been a visible presence in Pittsburgh after the shooting attack.

"He has a history of inciting against refugees in Israel, and this was the very reason that 11 people were murdered in our synagogue here," she said, referring to the alleged shooter's anger toward a Jewish group that assists immigrants in the U.S.

"As Jews, we were once refugees and immigrants," she added. "We understand what it's like to be turned away and not taken care of. Most of us get it."

The Israeli government's consistent support for Trump has far less to do with his controversial domestic policies and more with the blanket international support he has granted Israel.

Fulfilling a campaign promise, Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved the U.S. Embassy there.

In a break from previous administrations, he has placed the blame for failed peace talks solely on the Palestinians and refrained from criticizing Israeli settlement activity. He also pulled out of the Iran nuclear agreement, a step welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has also angered the liberal Reform and Conservative streams of Judaism, which represent the majority of affiliated Jews in the U.S., by siding with Orthodox rabbinical authorities on issues of recognition and pluralism in Israel.

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York, a self-described "passionate Zionist" who recently met with Netanyahu to discuss Israel's relations with American Jews, said the Israeli government mishandled its response to the Pittsburgh shooting.

"What the Israelis should have done is express unity with the Jewish community, unity with American society ... and stand in solidarity," he said. "That's all."

___

Associated Press writer Josef Federman contributed to this report.
(CNN)  U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that up to 15,000 U.S. troops could be sent to the border to deal with the group of migrants heading toward the U.S. through Mexico.

"As far as the caravan is concerned our military is out, we have about 5,000-8 (thousand), we'll go up to anywhere between 10 (thousand) and 15,000 military personnel on top of border patrol, ICE and everybody else on the border," Trump told reporters Wednesday.

The Pentagon has already announced 5,200 active duty troops are being sent to the border and has identified an additional 2,000 that could go. There are currently 2,100 National Guardsmen on duty at the border and an additional 2,000 could be called upon to go if needed.

Shortly after Trump spoke, the Pentagon released a statement saying "The number of troops deployed will change each day as military forces flow into the operating area, but the initial estimate is that the DOD will have more than 7,000 troops supporting DHS across California, Arizona and Texas."

The migrants, who are over 800 miles away from the U.S., are weeks away from arriving at the border where many reportedly plan to seek asylum.

Trump also added that he is thinking "very seriously" and "immediately" of stopping aid to countries where people in the group of migrants are coming from.

"Nobody's coming in. We're not allowing people to come in," Trump said. "If you look at what happened in Mexico two days ago with the roughness of these people in the second caravan that's been forming, and also frankly in the first caravan, and now they have one forming in El Salvador. ... We are thinking very seriously, immediately stopping aid to those countries because frankly, they're doing nothing for the American people."

"Immigration is a very, very big and very dangerous -- a really dangerous topic and we're not gonna allow people to come into our country that don't have the well being of our country in mind," Trump added.

Trump also responded to a question on immigration saying, "I'm not fear mongering at all."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Trump says up to 15,000 troops could go to the border."
What to Know The first day of November is here, South Florida  and NBC 6 has the top six stories for your Thursday.

The first day of November is here, South Florida  and NBC 6 has the top six stories for your Thursday.

Weather wise, the area is in for a mostly dry day with the humidity back up and temperatures in the mid-80s.

No. 1  A child in the hospital after Halloween night takes a tragic turn. A man and another child were killed after a car hit them near Griffin Road in Davie. Police are questioning the driver this morning.

No. 2  Florida gubernatorial candidates Ron DeSantis and Andrew Gillum are touring South Florida today. Gillum will stop first on Key West and then make his way up to Miami-Dade County while DeSantis will start his day at a church before an event in Little Havana.

No. 3  Google employees are planning on walking out of work today. They're protesting reports of sexual misconduct among the company's executives.

No. 4  Toyota and Subaru are recalling more than 400,000 cars worldwide to repair a faulty engine part that could cause a vehicle to stall while driving. The recall affects models made between 2012 and 2013.

No. 5 - Mosquito spraying wrapped up in Weston. Trucks had been up since 4 am spraying the 37 acre area just south of Saddle Club Road, a non-residential are according to county officials, with a chemical not harmful to humans or pets.

No. 6  Fort Lauderdale's 59th annual International Boat Show continues today. It's the largest boat show in the world and lasts through the weekend.
One of Taiwan's fastest passenger trains derailed Sunday on a curve along a popular weekend route, killing at least 18 people and injuring more than 170 others, authorities said.

The Puyuma express was carrying more than 360 passengers from a suburb of Taipei in the north to Taitung, a city on Taiwan's southeast coast, when it went off the tracks shortly before 5 p.m., the government said in a statement.

There was no immediate word on the cause of the accident.

Most of the deaths were in the first car, and it was unclear whether other people were trapped in the train, according to a government spokesman, who spoke on the customary condition of anonymity.

Some passengers were crushed to death, Ministry of National Defense spokesman Chen Chung-chi said.

"Their train car turned over. They were crushed, so they died right away," Chen said.

Earlier, the government put the death toll as high as 22, but the National Fire Agency, citing the Cabinet spokesman's office, later reduced that figure and blamed a miscalculation.

Photos from the scene just south of the city of Luodong showed the train's cars in a zig-zag formation near the tracks. Five cars were turned on their sides.

Local television reports said passengers tried to escape through windows and that bystanders gathered to help them before rescuers arrived.

Hours after the accident, one of the eight cars was seen tipped over at about a 75-degree angle, with the entire right side destroyed.

Fearing people may be trapped beneath the car, firefighters with lights on their hard hats peered underneath as a crane prepared to upend it. The firefighters were joined by soldiers and Buddhist charity workers who gathered on both sides of the tracks.

Soldiers removed bodies to identify them, but nightfall complicated the rescue work.

On a live feed provided by Taiwan's United Daily News, rescuers could be seen carrying what appeared to be a body wrapped in white plastic away from the site.

At the scene, searchers walked through an upright car with flashlights. The search-and-rescue work was to continue until early Monday to make sure everyone aboard was accounted for, Premier William Lai told reporters shortly after midnight.

"The underlying cause should be investigated to the maximum extent to avoid anything like this happening in the future," Lai said. "We will make the whole thing transparent."

Ensuring that rail traffic goes back to normal is also a priority, he said.

Most people who were seriously hurt suffered head injuries and one was bleeding internally, said Lin Chih-min, deputy director of Luodong Boai Hospital, where four people were in intensive care. The hospital had treated 65 people total.

The wreck happened at a railway station called Hsin Ma, but the train was not scheduled to stop there.

The Puyuma was launched in 2013 to handle the rugged topography of Taiwan's east coast. It is distinct from the high-speed rail that runs on the west coast. The Puyuma trains travel up to 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour, faster than any other in Taiwan except for the high-speed rail.

The train that derailed had its most recent inspection and major maintenance work in 2017, Taiwan Railways Administration Director Lu Chie-shen said at a televised news conference.

Sunday's derailment was at least the third deadly rail accident in Taiwan since 2003.

A popular tourist train overturned in the southern mountains in April 2011 after a large tree fell into its path. Five Chinese visitors were killed.

A train undertaking a test run ignored a stop sign and crashed into another train in northeastern Taiwan in June 2007. Five people were killed and 16 others hurt.

And in March 2003, a train derailed near a popular mountain resort, killing 17 people and hurting more than 100 people. Investigators blamed brake failure.
What to Know New Jersey State Police are still working to solve the 40-year-old murders of a couple and their 3-year-old son

The bodies of Gary Deal, his wife Joan and their son Jason were found on Monday, Oct. 30, 1978 in Folsom, New Jersey

All had their throats slashed; the parents were also shot in the head multiple times. No one has ever been charged

State Police are asking the public for helping solving the 40-year-old murders of a South Jersey couple and their 3-year-old son.

The scene on Monday, Oct. 30, 1978 was horrifying. State Police responding to a triple homicide on Mays Landing Road in Folsom found the father, Gary Deal, lying dead on the floor near the front door. He had been shot in the head multiple times and his throat was cut.

His wife, Joan, was found naked on the couple's bedroom floor. She too had been shot in the head multiple times and had her throat cut.

Their little boy, Jason, was discovered dead on his bed with his throat slashed. He was still wearing his pajamas.

Authorities learned the last time anyone had contact with the family was the night of Thursday, Oct. 26, 1978, four days before they were found murdered.

"The brutal murder of the Deal family sent shockwaves throughout New Jersey and across the country, with numerous local and federal law enforcement agencies assisting with the case," State Police said in a statement Wednesday. "The original detectives conducted an extremely thorough and relentless investigation, compiling volumes of information before exhausting all leads."

Multiple suspects were identified over the course of the investigation, but no one was ever charged. The case has remained under investigation for the last 40 years, and updated leads are still being sought.

Ballistic and DNA evidence that were originally collected from the crime scene have recently been resubmitted for additional testing due to new technological advances, State Police said.

Troopers want to bring closure to the Deal family and their community, State Police said. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Mario Nocito, of the New Jersey State Police Homicide South Unit, at 609-561-1800 ext. 3354.
What to Know Missing man's grandsons digging in Long Island basement on a hunch unearthed his remains on Halloween, authorities say

They had been excavating the basement over the last few months and hit the remains below concrete

The family thinks they found the remains of George Carroll, who vanished in 1961; a DNA test has to be performed

UPDATE: 'He Was Here the Whole Time': Long-Missing Man's Son Talks Basement Bones Discovery, Family Mystery



After years of speculation -- and months of digging in their basement -- a family unearths what they think are the long-lost remains of a family patriarch who disappeared more than 50 years ago.

No, it's not the plot of a ghastly blockbuster. Police say it's a very real discovery made by the Carroll family on Long Island this Halloween.

Authorities say they got a call from the Lake Grove family around 2 p.m. Wednesday. When officers arrived at the home on Olive Street, homeowner Michael Carroll met them to report human remains in the basement.

But these weren't just any remains, Carroll told police. He thought they belonged to his father, George Carroll, who vanished in 1961.

The family never knew what happened to him. But police say for reasons that weren't clear as of Wednesday evening, the family had always thought he might be buried in the home.

It was that hunch that led the missing man's grandsons to start digging.

They excavated the basement over the last few months, police say. And coincidentally, they hit the remains -- which sat below concrete -- on Halloween.

Police say a DNA test will need to be performed to confirm George Carroll is the body found in the basement, but they suspect it is in fact him.

Suffolk County police say a medical examiner, forensic anthropologist and investigators have all responded to the basement, but they had never been called there before.
A 24-year-old woman has been charged in the deaths of three children who were struck and killed Tuesday morning at a school bus stop in Indiana, police said.



Alyssa Shepherd was charged with three counts of reckless homicide and one count of passing a school bus and resulting in bodily injury. It is unclear if she has an attorney.

The crash happened around 7:30 a.m. in Fulton County near 4600 N. State Road 25, according to Indiana State Police.

Authorities said the children were at the bus stop on the west side of the road and the stop-arm on the bus was out when a pickup truck hit and killed the kids.

An 11-year-old boy was also injured in the crash and airlifted to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne where his condition was not immediately known.

Police said the children killed were all from the same family. They were identified as twin brothers Xavier and Mason Ingle, both 6 years old, and their 9-year-old sister Alivia Stahl.

"Obviously that compounds this situation even more," said Sgt. Tony Slocum with the Indiana State Police's Peru District. "I just can't imagine the pain that family is going through. The one thing I'd like to tell people - we all have a responsibility to share the road in a safe manner. I don't know why this crash - why this person did not see the stop arm extended but we all need to pay a little more attention because it's all our responsibility to make sure our children get to and from school safely."

There were no children on the school bus at the time of the crash.

Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation said all four children struck were students.

"Our school corporation has suffered a tragedy this morning," the group said in a statement. "We have learned of three student fatalities and one student seriously injured and airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital as they were hit by a vehicle while boarding their bus. We have deployed all school counselors to meet the emotional needs of our staff, students and parents. We are awaiting to learn more confirmed details but wish to ask the community to come together to pray for the families, our students and our staff."

One witness said her grandchildren were supposed to be at the bus stop as well but a last-minute change of plans kept them from being at the scene.

"I knew something bad happened," she said.

The accident happened near Rochester, about 100 miles north of Indianapolis.
What to Know A 14-year-old girl and her 5-year-old brother were trick-or-treating in Olney when two gunmen fired at each other.

Makiya Williams Mael Howel were caught in the crossfire and injured.

"Gun violence is ridiculous," Dominique Wise, the mother of the two victims, said.

Makiya Williams has a message for the two gunmen who sent her and her younger brother to the hospital on Halloween.

"Do better man," Williams said. "It was in broad daylight."

Williams and her 5-year-old brother Mael Howel were trick-or-treating in the Olney section of Philadelphia Wednesday around 6:15 p.m. As they were walking on the 5700 block of Hope Street and Grange Avenue near the One & Olney Shopping Center, two gunmen fired at least six shots at each other.

The brother and sister were caught in the crossfire. Howel was shot once in the left leg while Williams was grazed in the right leg.

A bullet also went through the bedroom window of an occupied home, though no one inside was hurt. Another bullet struck a nearby car.

Williams and Howel were taken to the hospital by a responding police officer. Williams was later released while Howel was transferred to St. Christopher's Hospital where he is in stable condition.

"I was just focused on getting him to safety to make sure he was alright," Williams said.

Doctors put a cast on Howel's leg. Dominique Wise, the mother of the two victims, said she hoped to have her son home at some point Thursday.

"Gun violence is ridiculous," Wise said. "It makes no sense to send your children out to go trick-or-treating and then you get a phone call that not one but two of your children were shot."

SkyForce10 was over the scene of the shooting and spotted candy spilled out on the sidewalk near evidence markers.

"I'm highly embarrassed for the neighborhood and it's just ridiculous as a mother," Wise said.

No arrests have been made and a weapon has not been recovered.

Police did not release detailed descriptions of the two gunmen but say one was wearing a red and white mask and they both had on dark clothes. Both gunmen were seen running north on Hope Street after the shooting.

If you have any information on the incident, please call Philadelphia Police.
What to Know For $22 you can buy a Joe Biden scented candle at the Delaware History Museum.

The candles don't actually smell like the former vice president. They smell like oranges.

The museum in Wilmington started selling the candles after seeing them on Etsy.

Joe Biden scented candles are the best-selling item at a Delaware museum.

The News Journal reported Thursday that the $22 candles don't actually smell like the former vice president. They smell like oranges.

Some think they're hilarious. One person bought six at once, spending $132.

Karen Kegelman of the Delaware History Museum said, "everyone's like, 'What does Joe smell like?' and they have to open it and smell it."

The museum sold out of its first 50 candles, giving one to Biden's daughter, Ashley, along the way, Kegelman said. The museum plans to have more candles in stock on Monday.

The museum in Wilmington started selling the candles after seeing them on the e-commerce website Etsy.

A description claims "the only thing standing between you and Joe Biden is ... well, basically all the same stuff as before. But at least now you have this great candle!"

The former Democratic senator from Delaware is considered a potential presidential contender in 2020.
What to Know Police are investigating a photo of a Philadelphia officer in blackface and wearing an Afro that surfaced on social media.

Officer Hung Nguyen, a 22-year veteran, is currently on desk duty as police work to determine who created the image.

Police have not yet interviewed Nguyen. NBC10 reached out to the Fraternal Order of Police. They have no comment for now.

An investigation is underway and a Philadelphia police officer is now on desk duty after a photo of him in blackface surfaced on social media.

The photo shows Officer Hung Nguyen, a 22-year veteran, wearing an Afro and in blackface. The picture sparked outrage after it was posted on Facebook. Police became aware of the image late Tuesday night and confirmed it was Nguyen in the picture. Theyre now working to determine who created the image.

We dont know the nexus of the photo, Philadelphia Police Captain Sekou Kinebrew said. It could have been some sort of computer graphic that we see, or it could be something he physically applied on himself. Thats something we are looking to ascertain.

Officer Nguyen spoke briefly to NBC10, saying he was hurt and upset. When asked if he put blackface on, Nguyen said its still under investigation and then hung up the phone.

Nguyen, who has been working out of Philadelphia International Airport since 2004, is currently on desk duty as the investigation continues.

Rochelle Bilal, the head of the Guardian Civic League, a group of active and retired minority officers who work to bring neighborhoods and police together, told NBC10 she was disgusted by the image.

If he is the one who put the blackface on and the bush and put all of it out there, then he shouldnt be a police officer, Bilal said. I dont know authentically if its his image but you put it on your page and you left it there, for everybody to see.

Police have not yet interviewed Nguyen. NBC10 reached out to the Fraternal Order of Police. They have no comment for now.
Pennsylvania has 18 congressional seats, and a woman doesn't sit in any of them.

That is about to change Nov. 6 in the midterm elections, and southeastern Pennsylvania could provide the scene for a historic overhaul of the state's representation in Congress.

Women are on the ballots as one of the two major party candidates in seven of the 18 races. In the fifth congressional district that will represent Delaware County and parts of Montgomery County and Philadelphia, Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon and Republican Pearl Kim are facing off, meaning that a woman is all but guaranteed to hold a seat.

In three other races  all in the Philadelphia region  women candidates have been running as the favorites: state Rep. Madeleine Dean in the fourth District to represent Montgomery County, Chrissy Houlahan in the sixth district to represent Chester County, and Susan Wild in the Lehigh Valley's seventh district. They are facing Republicans Dan David, Greg McCauley and Marty Nothstein, respectively.

WATCH: Tap here to hear from the women hoping to make history Nov. 6.

"In 2018, we have a record number of women running and winning nominations for office across all levels," Rutgers University professor Kelly Dittmar said.

Dittmar, who recently co-authored a book on women in politics called "A Seat at the Table," said the momentum must continue beyond the election Nov. 6.

"We have to continue this work. We have to sustain this energy to make a strong case for voters to look to, recruit and support women candidates," she said.

In a state with such a poor track record of electing women to higher office  there has never been a women in the governor's office or representing the state in the U.S. Senate  the last woman to hold a congressional seat said this year's class of female candidates could change perceptions for voters moving forward.

"Women are 52 percent of voters," former U.S. Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Allyson Schwartz said. "Were here. We have a right to be represented."
What to Know Jayme has been missing since early on Oct. 15

Police found the door to her family's home near Barron kicked in and her parents, James and Denise Closs, shot dead inside

Authorities are transitioning from a round-the-clock reactive operation to a more methodical investigative approach in looking for her

Wisconsin authorities are scaling back their ground search for a missing 13-year-old girl whose parents were shot dead, saying Wednesday that their investigation into Jayme Closs' abduction is entering a new phase.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said in a Facebook post that the search for Jayme remains his number one priority and authorities will continue to analyze new leads. But he said incoming tips have declined, so authorities are transitioning from a round-the-clock reactive operation to a more methodical investigative approach.

"I want to reassure the great residents of Barron County and everyone else across the nation who continue to support and follow this case that we have left no stone unturned," Fitzgerald said.

Jayme has been missing since early on Oct. 15, when sheriff's deputies responding to a 911 call found the door to her family's home near Barron kicked in and her parents, James and Denise Closs, shot dead inside. Investigators believe Jayme was abducted and ruled her out as a suspect in her parents' killings.

Fitzgerald said authorities have received more than 2,100 tips in the case. He said authorities have spent the last 18 days going over information from social media platforms, phone records, family members, friends and co-workers.

"They have worked with passion, determination and resilience to solve this case and bring Jayme home. I am so proud of each and every one of them," he said. He thanked community members who provided investigators with meals, people who submitted tips, and volunteers who helped search for Jayme, and he encouraged others to continue to report tips that might lead to her.

"Just because the posture of our operations center has transitioned, does not mean the tips should stop. We still have a team on-call, to handle them as they come in. Please continue to call in your tips  there is a tip out there that will help us solve this case and bring Jayme home," he wrote.

A $50,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to Jayme.
What to Know Authorities said the children were at the bus stop and the stop-arm on the bus was out when a vehicle hit them.

An 11-year-old boy was also injured in the crash and airlifted to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.

A 24-year-old woman has been charged in the deaths of the three children.

The mother of three children who died while crossing a busy street to get to their school bus had complained to her kids' school district about the hazard years before her children were tragically killed, her friend and neighbor told NBC 5.

Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation said in a statement that beginning Thursday, the bus stop on State Road 25 will be relocated into Meiser Park following the death of twin 6-year-old boys and their 9-year-old sister.

In addition, school Superintendent Blaine Conley said a transportation safety review committee will examine all bus stop locations "to ensure our children are transported safely."

But some residents say the change came too late.

Heather Crispen said her family friend, the mother of the children fatally struck Tuesday while boarding their school bus, had fought for years with their school district to have the bus pull into the trailer park where they lived. Instead, the children were forced to cross a busy stretch of road.

"They told us because they were not a special needs child, they were not going to pull into the park," Crispen said, noting that her own children were just steps ahead of the four children hit by a pickup truck on North State Road 25 in Rochester, Indiana. "It could have been prevented a long time ago... shouldn't have to come to her losing half her family for the school to do something about it."

The crash happened around 7:30 a.m. in Fulton County near 4600 N. State Road 25, according to Indiana State Police.

Authorities said the children were at their bus stop, crossing the street with the stop-arm on the bus out when a vehicle hit the kids.

Nine-year-old Alivia Stahl and 6-year-old twins Xavier and Mason Ingle were killed.

"The parents are destroyed. They're never going to see their kids again," said Elgin Ingle, the uncle of the three children killed. "The surviving daughter has no siblings anymore and mother had to run to the aid of children as they lay there lifeless on the concrete. They're doing as bad as you'd expect a parent to be doing."

Eleven-year-old Maverick Lowe was also injured in the crash and airlifted to a hospital in Fort Wayne.

We would like to thank those who have prayed for our family and the families of those involved in yesterdays tragedy," the boy's parents wrote in a statement released by Indiana State Police. "Maverik is currently in stable condition. Our family is focused on his recovery at this time and requests privacy as we heal together.

It was a crash state police said was unlike any other they'd seen.

A 24-year-old woman has been charged in the deaths of the three children. Alyssa Shepherd was charged with three counts of reckless homicide and one count of passing a school bus and resulting in bodily injury.

She was reportedly cooperative with police, picked up at her place of employment and later released on $15,000 bond. It was unclear if she had an attorney.

"I just can't imagine the pain that family is going through," Sgt. Tony Slocum with the Indiana State Police's Peru District. "The one thing I'd like to tell people - we all have a responsibility to share the road in a safe manner. I don't know why this crash - why this person did not see the stop arm extended but we all need to pay a little more attention because it's all our responsibility to make sure our children get to and from school safely."

There were no children on the school bus at the time of the crash.

The accident happened near Rochester, about 92 miles southeast of downtown Chicago. A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help the family of the children killed.
Two of Missouri Republican Steve West's three children told a local newspaper this week that voters shouldn't send their dad to the state legislature, saying he is racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic, NBC News reported.

"He must be stopped," Andy West told the Kansas City Star. "His ideology is pure hatred."

The newspaper had previously compiled a long list of offensive comments Steve West made on his radio show, YouTube channel and website.

But West, who's running for the Missouri House's 15th District, told NBC News that he is not biased against Jews, racist or homophobic, and said his ex-wife "poisoned" his children during an "extremely toxic divorce."
The Department of Defense has selected five San Diego military bases to act as support installations for some of the thousands of troops expected to deploy to the U.S.-Mexico border.

More than 7,000 U.S. service members will be stationed at Base Support Installations (BSIs) in California, Arizona and Texas to provide support to U.S. Customs and Border (CBP), according to U.S. Northern Command.

The deployment, named "Operation Faithful Patriot," is in response to a caravan of migrants making their way hundreds of miles through Mexico to reach the United States' southern border.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday the number of military troops deployed could reach 15,000.

"We'll go up to anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Patrol, ICE and everybody else at the border," he said.

The migrant caravan heading to the U.S. border are still weeks away, and they are now asking for the Mexican government's help. NBC 7's Rigo Villalobos has more.

Among the San Diego Base Support Installations (BSIs) are Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Naval Base Coronado, Naval Base San Diego and Naval Base Point Loma.

The DoD has also selected Naval Air Facility El Centro in California as a sixth support base.

There were no reports on how many service members would be stationed at California BSIs but about 200 National Guardsmen are still stationed in San Diego to assist CBP operations at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. They are expected to be stationed there through March.

On Thursday, thousands of Central American migrants resumed their trek through Mexico, facing a journey of about 900 more miles before they reach the nearest United States port of entry where they hope to seek asylum.

There were four caravans in total that altogether represent just a few days' worth of the average flow of migrants to the United States in recent years.

Images: A look Inside the Migrant Caravan

Similar caravans have occurred regularly over the years and passed largely unnoticed, but Trump has focused on the latest marchers seeking to make border security a hot-button issue in next week's midterm elections.

He is expected to give remarks on immigration from the White House Thursday afternoon, two White House officials told NBC News.

No troops from San Diego-area bases would be deployed to the southern U.S. border, according to U.S. Northern Command.

Service members stationed at military bases in North Carolina, Colorado, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Kentucky and Kansas will be providing support along the southern border.

The DoD will also be responsible for providing temporary housing for CBP and military personnel, helicopters that will support the movement of CBP officers on the ground, engineer battalions that will erect vehicle barriers and fencing and medical units to transport and triage patients.

The Associated Press' Sonia Perez D. contributed to this report
Authorities in Virginia say one of its wild ponies on Chincoteague Island has died of a disease known as "swamp cancer" that has affected several others as well.

News outlets cite a Tuesday release from the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company announcing that a horse named Essie died after surgery, after her infection was "too far gone." Spokesman Denise Bowden reported that other ponies who had the surgery seem to be doing well.

"Swamp cancer" isn't cancer, but rather is pythiosis, which is caused by an organism similar to a fungus.

Two ponies died from it last year. Essie is the first pony to die of the disease this year.

Members of the fire company met with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service this week to try to figure out the cause of the problem.

"Over time, they will be collecting soil, water and plant samples to see if we can get this mess contained. There has just got to be a solution!!" the fire company, which cares for the ponies, said in a Facebook posted.

The Chincoteague Pony Pedigree database says Essie was born in 2013 and bred by the fire company.

Bowden did note some good news: the herd welcomed a foal. "He is gorgeous!!" the firefighters said.
What to Know An Irvine, California, synagogue was defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti overnight

The incident comes days after the massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue

Employees arriving for work spotted the vandalism at Beth Jacob Synagogue at 3900 Michelson Drive

An Irvine synagogue was defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti overnight Tuesday, just days after the massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Employees arriving for work spotted the vandalism about 9 a.m. Wednesday at Beth Jacob Synagogue, 3900 Michelson Drive.

"We think it happened overnight," said Kim Mohr of the Irvine Police Department. The vandal spray-painted "(Expletive) Jews" on the synagogue, said Rabbi Yisroel Ciner. "Members of the Christian, Mormon and Muslim communities reached out to me after the horrific incident in Pittsburgh offering their support and solidarity," Ciner said. "We are saddened that such hate exists everywhere and even in our backyard."

Beth Jacob Synagogue President Allen Berezovksy says he came to the United States from the Soviet Union escaping anti-Semitism. "To find it [anti-Semitism] here in America, in Irvine of all places, is unthinkable," he said. "It makes me very sad."

Irvine police "are fully engaged in trying to find the perpetrator and to ensure the safety of all groups," Ciner said. "We're a resilient group and we're not going to let some fanatic affect us," he said. Allison Edwards, CEO of the nonprofit group OC Human Relations, encouraged citizens to report hate crimes and incidents.

The biggest lead police have for identifying the vandal is a grainy security footage that shows the suspects getting away on a bike stolen from the property.

"We really keep encouraging people to not let these things go unchecked or unreported," she said. "We continue to urge people to report crimes that are hate motivated -- it's the best way to reach out to communities and support them and to take action in the face of hate."

The Irvine PD, in a prepared statement, said "Chief (Mike) Hamel and the men and women of the Irvine Police Department denounce, in the strongest terms, this type of hateful act. We are committed to our mission, working in partnership with the community to preserving the peace."

Berezovsky hopes for safety in the community. "We are not going to let hate deter us from the message of love we try to spread."

Anyone with information about the vandalism was asked to call investigators at (949) 724-7200. The number of hate crimes in the region jumped last year, continuing a trend that began in 2015, according to the OC Human Relations annual report.

Last year, Muslims were the most targeted ethnic group in Orange County for "hate incidents," according to an Orange County Human Relations Commission report. Crimes against Muslims made up 13 percent of the 56 reported crimes, with Jews the second most targeted group at 9 percent.

Acts of hate against Jews have been on the rise. In February, the Anti-Defamation League reported that the number of anti-Semitic incidents against Jewish institutions across the country rose nearly 60 percent last year over 2016, the largest single-year increase on record.

Hetty Chang contributed to this report.
NEC expands broadband availability in Sweden with the iPASOLINK EX-Advanced Radio

Stockholm, Sweden & Tokyo, Japan, November 1, 2018  NEC Corporation and NEC Scandinavia AB announced today the successful expansion of broadband availability in Mossberg, Sweden, through the installation of the iPASOLINK EX-Advanced for Alingsas Energi, a regional supplier of energy and infrastructure services. This marks the first time that a 10Gbps ultra-high speed wireless point-to-point link with a millimeter wave frequency band of 80GHz has been deployed in Sweden.



As a municipally-owned energy company in Alingsas, Sweden, Alingsas Energi focuses on contributing to the municipality's goal of developing a sustainable society. As a result of this project, which was carried out in cooperation with Vixor & Co AB, a leading wireless communications provider, Alingsas Energi was able to rapidly expand the provision of broadband availability in the rural and suburban area of Mossberg by deploying iPASOLINK EX-Advanced to connect to an existing optical backbone.



"The planning, digging and installation that is needed for traditional fiber cables requires both a great deal of time and expensive resources," said Kristian Nilsson, Network Manager at Alingsas Energi. "Therefore, we chose NEC's wireless broadband connection via the iPASOLINK EX-Advanced microwave link. This proven solution has quickly provided the residents of Mossberg with a strong and reliable broadband connection that also promises to meet our future needs with a link capacity of 10Gbps, the first such powerful wireless broadband connection in Sweden."



NEC's iPASOLINK EX-Advanced solution provides the following:

A High profile wireless broadband connection provided in a turnkey solution for the transport of reliable, highly connected Triple-Play-Services, the iPASOLINK EX-ADVANCED is a natural fiber extension with 10GbE optical interfaces and Layer-2 tunneling features for transparent fiber activity

A rapid and cost effective 10Gbps deployment due to its seamless connectivity with optical transport networks in shorter time-to-market as well as the availability of light-licensed 80Ghz spectrum

Overturns the image of E-band during rain and snow with adaptive modulation and bandwidth features that maximize the transmission capacity of the 80GHz spectrum and extend link reliability

A compact, durable and lightweight body that is ideal for outdoor installation - no need to rent additional indoor space

For more information on NEC's iPASOLINK EX-Advanced, please visit our website.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took separate boats Monday to Queensland's Fraser Island as their tour of Australia and the South Pacific continued with a reduced schedule for the pregnant duchess.

Prince Harry took a barge for the 43-mile (70-kilometer) crossing from Australia's mainland to the island, while the former American actress Meghan rode in a far more comfortable cruiser.

Meghan is some four months pregnant and has had her schedule reduced after a hectic start to the 16-day tour.

The Duchess rested for the first part of the day while Harry undertook several engagements focusing on environmental issues. Meghan then delighted onlookers by emerging for a waterside stroll with her husband.

Harry and Meghan touched down midmorning at Hervey Bay, 745 miles (1200km) north of Sydney, in a Royal Australian Air Force plane. The couple descended the stairs hand-in-hand, before going their separate ways: Harry boarding a bus and Meghan a car.

After their boat crossings, Harry was scheduled for a range of engagements on the world's biggest sand island, known as K'gari  or "Paradise"  in the local indigenous language, on day seven of their Australian tour.

After taking part in a traditional "Welcome to Country" smoking ceremony with representatives of the local Butchulla indigenous people, Harry unveiled a plaque dedicating the popular holiday island's pristine rainforests to Queen Elizabeth's Commonwealth Canopy project.

Harry's itinerary also touched on the history of logging on Fraser Island, whose famed hardwood trees were used to build the London's docks in the 1930s.

After their afternoon stroll, the royal couple met locals including Hervey Bay paramedics Graeme Cooper and Danielle Kellam.

The paramedics made headlines last year after a photo of them granting a dying woman's wish to see the ocean at Hervey Bay one last time went viral and captured hearts around the world.

Harry and Meghan are due to leave Australia for Fiji and Tonga on Tuesday. They will return to Sydney on Friday night for the final days of the Invictus Games, Harry's brainchild and the focus of their tour, before finishing off with a visit to New Zealand.
Instead of tricks or treats, a teen in Maine said she received a bag of marijuana Wednesday night while trick-or-treating near a middle school.

Steve Gagne, the fiance of the teen's mother, said he turned it in to Auburn police Thursday morning and filed a report.

"I'm just dismayed," the Lewiston resident said. "The world is a crazy place these days."

Gagne said it was the first year the girl, who is 13 years old, was allowed to trick-or-treat with friends. She said she stayed on side streets near the school, but can't be sure where the pot came from.

She said she didn't notice it until she got home, and was sorting through her candy with her parents.

"While we were going through the bag, she kind of pulled it out like, 'Oh, I got this,'" said Gagne. "We are very proud of her for doing the right thing and turning it into us. We're glad it was one of our older kids and not younger kids that got it."

Auburn Interim Police Chief Jason Moen confirmed the bag contained marijuana, and a report was filed. He said it appears to be an isolated incident, but is asking anyone with information to contact police.

"Any parent should be looking through their kid's trick-or-treat bag, making sure all the candy is intact and does not have any safety issues," said Moen.

At the same time, police in Newport, Maine, are investigating after a pin was found sticking out of a peanut butter cup. In a post on the department Facebook page, police say a parent was stabbed by the pin while reaching into a child's treat bag.
The only statewide race on the ballot in New Hampshire Tuesday is the race for governor.

Republican Gov. Chris Sununu is trying to hold onto the corner office, while Democratic challenger Molly Kelly says it's time for a change.

Both feel confident with just five days until Election Day, but they admit they're expecting it to be a close call.

"It's going to be tight," said Sununu Thursday. "Without a doubt."

Sununu is relying on his record and letting the numbers do the talking.

"We have a very robust economy, more people working than ever before, higher wages than ever before, things are really cooking here in New Hampshire," Sununu told NBC10 Boston.

But the Republican incumbent is still pounding the pavement trying to convince voters that he's got the state moving in the right direction.

"For the first time in years, we are seeing opioid deaths decrease here in New Hampshire, but there's still a long way to go on that," Sununu said.

Kelly is just as confident.

"I would say, 'Do not underestimate me,'" Kelly said in an interview Thursday.

The financial adviser, former state senator and single mom says she wants to make New Hampshire work for everyone.

"What we need to do is invest in education and job training. We need to make college affordable," Kelly said. "My opponent's agenda is really about corporate special interests."

Kelly's focused much of her campaign on drawing parallels between Sununu's policies and President Trump's.

"Because I don't want them here in New Hampshire, and I start to see that happen, and it' wrong for New Hampshire," Kelly said.

Sununu says he doesn't think that strategy will work.

"All of this attachment to Washington, you see, that's just allowing negative Washington politics to come into our state," Sununu said. "They're doing anything they can to distract from the fact that we have such a successful record."

But political analyst Scott Spradling says Kelly might be onto something - tapping into a highly energized Democratic movement with historically high voter turnout.

"If that happens again on Tuesday, New Hampshire Democrats and Kelly could be taking this and making Sununu a one-term governor," Spradling said.

The most recent poll from Emerson College has Sununu leading Kelly by eight percentage points.

It'll all come down to how many people get up, get out and vote.
A Salem, Massachusetts man is facing charges after pulling out a knife and threatening to harm people on an MBTA commuter rail train on Halloween night.

MBTA Transit Police on assignment for Salems Haunted Happenings placed Christopher Leclerc, 25, into custody after receiving a radio call around 6:45 p.m. about an unruly male on the train at the Salem Commuter Rail station.

Leclerc was allegedly intimidating passengers, challenging people to fist fights, consuming alcohol and invading others personal space in an aggressive manner, according to witnesses. Leclerc pulled out the knife when a fellow passenger tried to calm down him down.

Officers recovered the knife and found prescription narcotics in someone else's name on Leclerc.

Leclerc is charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon and possession of Class E drugs.

It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer.
Newbury West Berkshire CIC will help boost district's economy

NEWBURYs first Community Interest Company (CIC) to help turbocharge the districts economy will be launched in the spring.

Newbury West Berkshire CIC will be an independent, non-political body made up of several key stakeholders who will all play a part in helping to raise the profile of the town and promote Newbury as a destination.

The non-for-profit company will promote and sustain economic development in Newbury by harnessing public and private sector interests.

The CIC aims to:

To promote and sustain economic development

Generate private funding

Be for the public good

Be an independent, non-political body

Develop a clear and manageable plan based on the Vision work already under wa

Create brand-Newbury

Take a leadership position and own the agreed objectives

Work with the already successful Newbury Business Improvement District (BID)

Act as a facilitator across all stakeholders  public and private

Develop a plan and drive this forward.

The CIC will be officially formed this month, before a funding model and brand is worked on in December, by which time the full stakeholder group will have been formed ahead of its launch in the spring of 2019.

West Berkshire Brewery chairman David Bruce will chair the CIC and other organisations on board include Newbury Racecourse, Vodafone, Roc Technologies, The Vineyard Group, Parkway Shopping, YA Properties, Newbury Showground, The Newbury pub, Berkshire Youth, Newbury College, the Corn Exchange, Greenham Trust, Newbury Weekly News, Newbury BID and West Berkshire Council.

The CIC board will be supported by a working group, made up of Greenham Trust chief executive Chris Boulton, Newbury Weekly News editor Andy Murrill, Newbury BID managing director Russell Downing, YA Properties director Ian Young and Berkshire Youth chief executive David Seward.

During his previous role as editor of the then Reading Post, Mr Murrill was involved in the establishment of Reading UK CIC, which was set up in 2007 and has been a prolific driver of economic development in the neighbouring town.

Addressing the Newbury Vision conference, Mr Murrill asked the audience: People might know where Newbury is, but do they know where West Berkshire is?

The Newbury CIC will help turbocharge the districts economy and put us on the map.

Newbury West Berkshire CIC will also focus on reducing the number of business movers, growing existing businesses and retaining the young workforce, as well as accumulating a greater dwell-time among visitors.

Mr Downing said the CIC would help raise the profile of Newbury.
Tyler Sizemore / Tyler Sizemore

New Milford Police Department will be participating in the No Shave November campaign in memory of Officer Edward E. DeLisle, Jr., who died Oct. 24, 2017 after a battle with cancer.

DeLisle became a police officer in 1969 when he joined the Ridgefield department. While there, he received the police department's Officer of the Year Award. He was very involved in the Ridgefield Patrolmen's Benevolent Association and was a four-time recipient of the P.B.A. Police Officer of the Year Award. He was also a past president of the police union, according to a post from the New Milford Police Department.
A special fundraising event to support the Foundation 4 Orphans, a non-profit organization founded by former New Milford resident the Rev. Wayne Lavender, Ph.D., will be held Nov. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Ridgefield.

F4O is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that raises awareness and resources to help orphans and vulnerable children in the United States and around the globe.

The event, to take place at the Lounsbury House at 316 Main St. in Ridgefield, will include music, hors doeuvres, a presentation by Lavender and a special guest speaker from Africa.

Lavender is a Ridgefield native, a pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in North Haven and a past longtime pastor of the New Milford United Methodist Church.

He recently returned home from Mozambique, Africa, where he was a guest speaker at the Annual Conference for the Methodist Church in Mozambique.

While there, he addressed church leaders and discussed how F4O can further help transform the lives of orphans there and around the globe.

Bishop Joaquina Nhanala, resident bishop of Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Madagascar, has asked F4O if in the coming years it can help construct up to a dozen new community-based orphanages modeled after the Carolyn Belshe Orphanage in Cambine, Mozambique, built more than a decade ago under the leadership of Lavender and the New Milford United Methodist Church.

An estimated 150 million orphans are alive today, mostly in developing nations of the south. Approximately 16,000 children die daily from the effects of extreme poverty.

There is no admission for the Nov. 2 event. For more information or to make a donation to F4O, visit www.f4o.org or follow the organization on Facebook.
BPS Assessment is providing vital support to physicians in Canada, with the introduction of its pioneering learning technology aimed at ensuring safer prescribing techniques.

The agreement between BPS Assessment, the online learning arm of The British Pharmacological Society, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Royal College), aims to address the risk of medication errors and therefore improve public health. The World Health Organization estimates the annual cost of such errors to be over $42 billion USD worldwide.

The new assessment and learning technology offered by BPS Assessment will provide prescribing skills modules for Royal College Fellows, and give them the chance to sit an exam based on the principles of the UK Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA), which is already taken by UK medical undergraduates. The program, which will start in early 2019, follows a successful eight-week trial between the Royal College and BPS Assessment.

As part of the partnership, physicians will have access to online prescribing skills modules in Canada's official languages (English and French), tailored for the needs of the Canadian healthcare context.

"These modules align with our priorities to provide our Fellows with engaging, relevant content to keep up to date on skills needed for treating patients in the 21st century," said Dr Andrew Padmos, Royal College CEO. "We're proud to be partnering with BPS Assessment to create solutions to this complex problem."

Further, Royal College Fellows will be offered the opportunity to contribute to the question-writing process for the modules, which will help to customize the platform for the Canadian medical community.

"It's timely that we're launching this tool during Canadian Patient Safety Week. It's a subject that resonates with physicians across all specialties and we're pleased to provide this tool to help with their lifelong learning," said Dr Susan Brien, Director of Research, Innovation and Scholarship at the Royal College.

By supporting prescribers with a rich online learning environment, the Royal College and BPS Assessment together aim to reduce the human and financial risks caused by incorrect prescriptions and by errors in guidance given to patience.

Jonathan Bruun, Managing Director of BPS Assessment, arrived in Ottawa during Canadian Patient Safety Week to sign the five-year deal. He commented:

"We're delighted that the Royal College in Canada is joining counterparts in the UK, Asia and Australia in adopting our unique assessments. We believe this collaboration will provide a significant boost to improving standards in the safe administration of medicines, which we understand to be at the forefront of every prescriber's mind. BPS Assessment is committed to improving public health and patient safety, and to helping physicians maintain their skills and standards. Our online training offers a unique contribution to those objectives. We can't wait to get started."
Chinese adults who have children prefer to receive end-of-life care from family members at home, while those who lost their only child prefer to be cared for in hospice or palliative care institutions, finds a new study led by an international team of researchers and published in the November issue of The Journal of Palliative Medicine. Income, property ownership, and support from friends also influenced individuals' end-of-life care preferences.

"Childlessness greatly influences adults' end-of-life care preferences, as children play an important role in traditional Chinese family-based end-of-life care," said Bei Wu, PhD, Dean's Professor in Global Health at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and co-director of NYU Aging Incubator. She is the study's senior author.

Filial piety, or respect for one's parents, is a core value in traditional Chinese culture, and children play a critical role in caring for aging parents and providing end-of-life care. End-of-life care is the support and medical care provided during the days, weeks, or months leading up to one's death.

China's one-child policy has led to a unique situation in caring for aging parents. As of 2010, one million Chinese parents had lost their only child, a number projected to grow to 11.8 million in 2050. Chinese adults who lose their only child are particularly disadvantaged when it comes to family-based end-of-life care.

In Western society, the end-of-life care model relies less on family members, instead using hospice and palliative care institutions and professional health care providers to provide support, reduce pain, and improve comfort. Hospice and palliative care systems are underdeveloped in China and face many structural and cultural challenges, including traditional views toward death, limited public funding, and a shortage of end-of-life care professionals at all levels.

In this study, Wu and her colleagues used data from a survey of 1,400 older adults in Shanghai to explore their end-of-life care preferences. The majority (1,200) were adults aged 60 years and older; the researchers also surveyed 200 adults aged 45 years and older who lost their only child. Participants were coded as having children who live with them, having children who do not live with them, or having lost their only child.

The researchers asked participants to share how they would want to be cared for at the end of their lives: by family, by visiting health care professionals, or in a specialized hospice or palliative care institutions.

They also measured factors related to end-of-life care, including sociodemographic characteristics such as gender, age, marital status, education, income, and property ownership; whether they have a support network of relatives and friends; health status, including chronic diseases, recent hospitalizations, mental health, and limitations in performing daily tasks; and whether they have health insurance.

The researchers found that adults who lost their only child prefer end-of-life care provided by a specialized hospice or palliative care institution (58 percent), while adults with children prefer family care at home (47 percent for adults whose children do not live with them and 49 percent for those whose children live with them).

Additional analyses show that adults with higher incomes and property tend to opt for family care at home. Conversely, those with a supportive network of friends prefer end-of-life care provided by visiting health care professionals or in end-of-life care institutions over family care at home. Health status was not associated with end-of-life care preferences; nor were other demographic factors (age, gender, marital status, and education).

"Our findings demonstrate a need to develop hospice and palliative care in China, both at-home care and care in hospitals and other clinical settings. Health care professionals and policymakers should recognize the particular preferences of those who have lost their only child and should develop tailored care accordingly," said Wu, who is also the director of research for the Hartford Institute of Geriatric Nursing at NYU Meyers.
The One Club for Creativity's ADC 98th Annual Awards is calling for entries. The ADC 98th Annual Awards celebrates global excellence in craft, design, and innovation.Entries are accepted here and the deadline for entry is 31 January 2019.
Medacta International, the privately held, family-owned global leader in the design of innovative joint replacement and spinal surgery products, today announced it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the GMK Sphere - Kinematic Alignment instrumentation and surgical technique for total knee replacement (TKR). The manual instrumentation and technique are components of the new Medacta Individualized Kinematic Alignment (MIKA) offering, which is based on the kinematic alignment surgical approach, an alternative to traditional mechanical alignment for TKR that has demonstrated significant benefits for appropriate knee arthroplasty patients. Medacta collaborated on the development of the instrumentation with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephen Howell, a pioneer in kinematically aligned total knee replacement at Adventist Health Lodi Memorial (Lodi, California).

"Kinematic alignment will play a significant role in the future of total knee replacement and is an extremely effective alignment option for most patients," said Dr. Howell, who has been practicing a version of the technique for over a decade. "This approach, which co-aligns the axes of the components with the three kinematic axes of the native knee, offers many benefits to knee replacement candidates. The kinematic alignment technique has potential for faster recovery, quicker return to normal activities, overall, more comfort with the implant itself, and high long-term implant survival. The use of the caliper technique and the recording of intraoperative checks restores the native joint lines, limb alignment, compartment forces, and laxities of the pre-arthritic knee with high reproducibility with few ligament releases. In working with Medacta, we've put together a program that builds on the benefits of this surgical strategy while opening it up to even more surgeons looking to learn and practice the approach."

The kinematic alignment technique aims to restore normal knee function by resurfacing the femur and tibial articular surfaces to those of the normal or pre-arthritic state. This approach is aimed at achieving optimal patient satisfaction and function, while minimizing damage to the surrounding tissues and ligaments. Studies and patient outcomes are starting to create awareness that kinematic alignment may offer benefits for appropriate knee arthroplasty patients.

Kinematic Alignment will be an addition to Medacta's efforts towards personalized solutions and to the GMK Sphere Total Knee System, a medially stabilized design that facilitates taking full advantage of the kinematic approach due to its intrinsic design features.

Medacta looks to change the accessibility of kinematic alignment by providing dedicated educational tools through the M.O.R.E. Institute as well as new instrumentation. In addition to traditional metal instrumentation, a dedicated planning protocol for patient-specific instruments (MyKnee) will allow surgeons to ease into the technique through the use of surgeon-specified parameters.

"Medacta is committed to cutting-edge medicine and new surgical approaches that advance orthopedics, focusing on personalized medicine and improving the overall patient experience," said Francesco Siccardi, Chief Executive Officer of Medacta International. "Our success in this area stems from our steadfast dedication to surgeon education, particularly around new strategies like Kinematic Alignment. Similar to how we disseminated the anterior approach to hip surgery through our AMIS education program, the MIKA procedure will be a new discipline within our M.O.R.E. Institute, as we look to bring this promising innovation - and all of its patient benefits - into the mainstream."

This innovation will be on display at the 2018 American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) Annual Meeting this week in Dallas and will launch more broadly in Spring 2019. Visit Medacta at Booth #215 onsite at AAHKS to see the new GMK Sphere - Kinematic Alignment instrumentation and explore the company's full portfolio of orthopedic technologies.
In a new study, Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University) researchers found chemical differences between hot and cold brew coffee that may have health impacts. In particular, the researchers found that hot-brewed coffee has higher levels of antioxidants, which are believed to be responsible for some of the health benefits of coffee.

The study, published Oct. 30 in Scientific Reports, also found that the pH levels of both hot and cold coffee were similar, ranging from 4.85 to 5.13 for all coffee samples tested. Coffee companies and lifestyle blogs have tended to tout cold brew coffee as being less acidic than hot coffee and thus less likely to cause heartburn or gastrointestinal problems.

The study was done by Niny Rao, PhD, associate professor of chemistry, and Megan Fuller, PhD, assistant professor of chemistry, both of them coffee drinkers who wondered whether the chemical make-up of cold brew differed from that of hot coffee.

While the popularity of cold brew coffee has soared in recent years--the U.S. market grew 580 percent from 2011 to 2016--they found almost no studies on cold brew, which is a no-heat, long-steeping method of preparation. At the same time, there is well-documented research that hot-brewed coffee has some measurable health benefits, including lower risk of some cancers, diabetes and depression.

While the overall pH levels were similar, Fuller and Rao found that the hot-brewed coffee method had more total titratable acids, which may be responsible for the hot cup's higher antioxidant levels.

"Coffee has a lot of antioxidants, if you drink it in moderation, research shows it can be pretty good for you," Fuller said. "We found the hot brew has more antioxidant capacity."

And considering hot and cold brews have comparable pH levels, Rao said, coffee drinkers should not consider cold brew a "silver bullet" for avoiding gastrointestinal distress.
The Indiana University Philanthropic Venture Fund, which provides capital to faculty, students, alumni and staff at all IU campuses to help them further develop their research and innovations into startup companies, has committed to invest $500,000 in Indianapolis-based NERx Biosciences Inc. as part of a $2.2 million bridge round.

The company discovers and develops targeted therapeutics for cancer treatment. John J. Turchi founded the company and serves as president and chief scientific officer. He is also the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation Professor of Lung Cancer Research and a professor of medicine at IU School of Medicine and the IU Simon Cancer Center.

Katherine Pawelczak, the company's vice president for research, is optimistic about NERx's first-in-class targeted agent.

"This drug shows robust, single-agent, anti-cancer activity. Additionally, it has been designed to work with and enhance existing therapeutic regimens to provide effective combination therapy," she said. "NERx is positioned to lead the first-in-class and first-in-human clinical trials with this novel agent."

Pawelczak said the IU Philanthropic Venture Fund investment will assist NERx in further developing the agent.

"The investment, combined with additional funds we have raised, will allow NERx to complete the preparation of a preclinical data package to support an Investigational New Drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration," she said.

NERx Biosciences has received more than $1.2 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health, including the National Cancer Institute and National Institute of General Medical Sciences. It has also received $150,000 in matching funds from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and Elevate Ventures.

Teri Willey, manager of the IU Philanthropic Venture Fund and managing director of the IU Research and Technology Corp., said the fund is pleased to work with the NERx Biosciences team.

"NERx is developing small molecules for cancers that do not respond to current approaches, including immune therapy," she said. "The company is now in position to expand its team to address the risks in clinical development and corporate partnering, and we are glad to be supporting them in doing so."
The Georgia Esoteric and Molecular Laboratory at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University has been selected as a designated laboratory for the National Cancer Institute's Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice, or MATCH trial, which is assessing the effectiveness of targeting cancer-causing gene changes rather than cancer type.

The NCI-MATCH trial is enrolling up to 6,500 patients, at 2,400 participating sites across the country, with solid tumors or lymphomas that have progressed despite treatment with a standard therapy, or who have rare cancers for which there is no consensus treatment.

MCG is the seventh academic lab in the nation designated for the NCI-MATCH trial.

For the trial, physicians send patient biopsies to these labs for analysis of gene changes known to cause cancer, including mutations and amplifications. Patients are enrolled in one of nearly 40 treatment protocols based on identified changes, regardless of their cancer type, such as breast or colon.

"We are privileged to join the laboratory network for this groundbreaking national trial that we all hope will improve cancer treatment by precisely targeting a patient's gene variants," says Dr. Ravindra Kolhe, molecular pathologist, director of the GEM Laboratory in the MCG Department of Pathology and primary developer of the new test called Augusta OncoTarget.

Augusta OncoTarget, one of the latest additions to MCG's GEM Lab, includes next-generation sequencing that enables large numbers of genes, and an unprecedented number of known cancer-causing variants in those genes, to be tested simultaneously. IBM Watson for Genomics then performs a genomic interpretation of the large amount of data generated to help identify the patient's variants as well as drugs, which are already in use or in clinical trials, known to target them.

Augusta OncoTarget includes the TruSight Tumor 170 panel that simultaneously looks for six different variant classes in both the DNA and RNA of 170 genes in a patient's biopsy.

Within a few minutes, IBM Watson for Genomics identifies gene variants relevant to cancer in the patient sample and associates drugs that target the abnormalities based on the medical literature.

The 170 genes in the panel are commonly altered in a wide variety of cancers in adults and children including brain, breast, lung, bladder, prostate, colorectal, pancreatic, liver, gastric, thyroid, skin, ovarian/uterine, soft tissue cancer like rhabdomyosarcoma as well as leukemia.

Variants detected in the DNA include single nucleotide variations that enable the uncontrolled cell proliferation that is a cancer hallmark, as well as the amino acids that enabled the mutations. They also include the number of copies of a gene, known as amplifications, since multiple copies can dramatically increase the amount of protein produced and aid cancer.

It also detects splicing variants, an alteration in the DNA sequence - the normal order of the letters A, C, T, G - which can alter the proteins produced and the function of genes and cells, enabling, as an example, a healthy cell to become a cancer cell. It also finds insertions and deletions in the DNA sequence, a common genetic variation, which can alter gene function and contribute to disease.

Variants detected in the RNA include gene fusions, since genes normally do not fuse, and their joining can result in the activation of typically silent genes and cancer.

"We look at six different categories of variants in both the DNA and RNA of each gene because cancer can result from all of them," says Kolhe. "We believe this comprehensive analysis will help provide scientifically sound and personalized therapy targets for consideration by patients and their physicians."
New research shows that keyhole surgery or minimally invasive laparoscopic robotic surgery could be dangerous in the long run for women with cervical cancer. Unlike open surgeries, minimally invasive surgeries are being increasingly conducted and preferred because of their minimal tissue damage, minimal pain and risk as well as faster recovery. Both studies have been published in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

The researchers however found that women who were undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomies including some that use robotic surgery for example with the Da Vinci device, are at a greater risk of their cancers coming back compared to women who have had an open surgery.

Cervical cancer development. Image Credit: Double Brain / Shutterstock

One of the studies came from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center that has already stopped minimally invasive hysterectomies for women with cervical cancer. Dr. Joe-Alejandro Rauh-Hain, a gynecologic cancer specialist at MD Anderson and a co-author to one of the studies says that the team was surprised with the results of the study. He said that they had expected survival rates for both kinds of surgeries to be around the same.

Due to the drastically reduced risk of bleeding, pain, infections and surgical complications with keyhole surgeries, they are increasingly being preferred in the US. Rauh-Hain said that after these two studies, the surgeons can no longer recommend minimally invasive surgeries to patients with early stage cervical cancer.

Dr. Alexander Melamed of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School was another co-author of the study. He said that personally he would now refrain from offering minimally invasive radical hysterectomy in cervical cancer patients until more research shows that the risks are absent.

This first study looked at 2,461 women who were diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer between 2010 and 2013. Around half of these women (1225) underwent minimally invasive surgery for hysterectomy while the other got open surgeries. Of the women who underwent keyhole surgeries, 79 percent had be operated using robotic assistance. Authors wrote, Over a median follow-up of 45 months, the four-year mortality was 9.1 percent among women who underwent minimally invasive surgery and 5.3 percent among those who underwent open surgery. Women undergoing minimally invasive surgeries were 65 percent more likely to die within the four years following the operation compared. In comparison to 70 women who died within four years after surgery after an open surgery, 94 women undergoing minimally invasive surgery died during the same period.

In the second study the researchers randomly assigned 631 women to undergo either open surgery or minimally invasive hysterectomy. These procedures were conducted at 33 hospitals across United States, Brazil, Columbia, Italy, Peru, Australia, Mexico and China. At 4.5 years post-surgery, 95 percent women undergoing traditional open surgeries were disease free compared to 86 percent women undergoing minimally invasive surgery.

Dr. Pedro Ramirez, a professor in gynecologic oncology at MD Anderson and one of the researchers on the study explained that for minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, usually carbon dioxide gas is used to inflate the abdomen to visualize the surgical field. He said that this carbon dioxide gas could play a role in causing the cancer cells to be implanted in different parts of the abdominal cavity while operating.

Dr. Shohreh Shahabi, chief of gynecological oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine was one of the researchers on one of the study teams. He emphasized that these findings are true for cervical cancers alone as of now and there are several other cancers that are being surgically treated using laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgeries.

Dr. Amanda N. Fader, director of the Kelly Gynecologic-Oncology Service at Johns Hopkins University wrote an editorial accompanying the studies saying that these results were a great blow to minimally invasive surgical approaches for cervical cancer. She said Johns Hopkins has since this stopped keyhole surgeries for cervical cancers and reverted back to open surgeries.
In 2016, the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) became the first state correctional system in the U.S. to screen all incarcerated individuals for opioid use disorder and provide medications for addiction treatment (MAT) for those who need it. A 2018 study led by researchers from Brown University found that the program significantly reduced post-incarceration drug overdose deaths.

Now, a new $1.5 million grant from the federal government's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will allow Brown, RIDOC and their partners to expand the existing program and treat more people.

"The goal of this project is to increase the number of individuals with an opioid use disorder receiving medications for addiction treatment by providing intensive outreach to those involved in the criminal justice system, who are at high risk for overdose and treatment non-compliance," said Rosemarie Martin, an assistant professor at Brown's School of Public Health and the principal investigator on the grant. "By ensuring access to MAT, levels of relapse and recidivism will decline, hopefully leading to lower crime, intact families, higher levels of employment and community engagement."

Martin is involved in evaluating the effectiveness of RIDOC's existing MAT program, and she said two gaps in the program are ensuring that patients continue treatment after they are released and treating individuals who were released before they began MAT. The new grant will allow the team to specifically address those areas.

The expanded program will include transportation to outpatient MAT service providers for the first six days upon a participant's return to the community. Additionally, the team will work with peer recovery support services to provide expanded guidance, support and information after the participant's release from prison. Peer recovery support specialists are people who have been in recovery from substance abuse for at least two years and have received specialized training in addiction support.

Over the three years of grant support, the team hopes to treat more than 300 additional Rhode Island residents with opioid use disorders. Other partners for the expanded MAT program include CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, the largest and only nonprofit opioid treatment program in the state, and the Rhode Island State Police's Heroin-Opioid Prevention Effort Initiative.
The key to lasting protection against influenza may be in your bones. The cells that naturally protect you against illness originate and live in your bone marrow - and that is one spot where scientists will be looking to understand the human immune system's response to influenza in a groundbreaking new study led by the Human Vaccines Project. The goal is to harness an understanding of the immune system to develop longer lasting protection against the flu.

In the new study, researchers will be conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the human immune system's response to influenza. "What's so exciting about clinical research now is that we have more robust tools than ever to ask questions about the immune system and to understand what makes people respond a certain way to vaccination or infection," says Dr. C. Buddy Creech, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist who directs the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program and is leading the clinical study at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Subjects for the study are healthy men and women who will receive a standard influenza vaccination, and scientists will then take a sweeping range of measurements to analyze individual responses to the shot. Unlike some studies that focus solely on measuring the antibody response to the flu, this study will also include a look at gene regulation, the influence of the microbiome, and other factors, such as whether gender affects immune response. Importantly, the researchers will also take samples after vaccination from participants' lymph nodes and bone marrow where key immune cells reside.

"By sampling the blood frequently and getting samples from lymph nodes and the bone marrow, we can provide one of the most comprehensive studies of the immune response to influenza that scientists have ever been able to undertake," says Wayne Koff, CEO and president of the Human Vaccines Project who presented on this study at the World Vaccine Congress this week in Lisbon, Portugal. "Such work will accelerate the development of more effective influenza vaccines and may lead to the development of a universal influenza vaccine that provides durable protection against influenza even as it changes from year to year. The study will also help elucidate mechanisms of the human immune system that are universal to how people fight disease."

For some pathogens like hepatitis B, scientists know the exact type of immune response needed to provide durable protection through vaccination. For more complex and constantly changing pathogens like influenza, scientists do not yet fully understand what it will take for someone to be immune to the pathogen for a prolonged period of time. This gap in understanding is one of the primary hurdles to developing universal vaccines the provide lasting protection against different strains.

"From the moment many of us arrive in medical school and start seeing patients, we become very curious about why some individuals do not develop a specific infection, why some are seemingly mildly affected by it, and still others are profoundly devastated by what turns out to be the exact same pathogen," Creech explains. "We must seek to understand why the body's response in each case is different."

To find answers, the nonprofit Human Vaccines Project has established a global consortium of researchers to systematically decode the human immune system in order to create better prevention, diagnostics, and treatments for a range of diseases. Under the collaboration, Seqirus, one of the largest influenza vaccine manufacturers in the world, will be providing the vaccine, while Vanderbilt University Medical Center leads the clinical study, with scientists from the University of British Columbia, Telethon Kids Institute in Australia, University of California, San Diego, J. Craig Venter Institute, the Scripps Research Institute, and La Jolla Institute providing expertise and analysis. This network of field-leading scientists is not merely focused on influenza, but seeks to decipher how the immune system responds across various disease areas.

"This study represents the Human Vaccines Project's next step in applying comprehensive measures of the human immune system to specific diseases, in an effort to understand the common principles guiding the generation of protective immunity," says Ian Gust, chairman of the Human Vaccines Project Board of Directors. "Our world-class network is creating a new platform for understanding the human immune system that will allow us to develop a better arsenal for fighting disease."

Source: https://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/
Researchers at the University of Zurich and Harvard University have developed a new strategy in the search for psychoactive drugs. By analyzing the behavior of larval zebrafish, they can filter out substances with unwanted side effects right from the start. This method has resulted in the discovery of a number of new appetite modulators.

Many drugs that take effect in the brain have unwanted side effects. The appetite suppressant Rimonabant, for example, can cause anxiety, depression or even suicidal thoughts, which is why it was taken off the market. "Brain structures are highly complex, which raises the question of whether it's possible for a drug to trigger only one very specific behavior," says Josua Jordi, researcher at the UZH Institute of Veterinary Physiology. To answer this question, he joined forces with US researchers to develop a novel testing system for psychoactive substances.

Using zebrafish larvae as live measuring tools

Unlike previous biochemical tests, the new testing system instead uses the larvae of zebrafish, which are about four millimeters long. The biology of these tropical fish is well characterized, and they can be bred quickly in large quantities. The researchers established an automated measuring process so that they could analyze the behavior of several thousand larvae at the same time: This involved feeding fluorescent paramecia to the fish in order to quantify their feeding behavior - the more fluorescence is in the larvae's stomach, the larger their appetite. The researchers also developed similar methods for a number of other behaviors, including the fish's reaction to light and sound, or simple learning tasks. Experiments with known active substances confirmed that the system works. For example, nicotine was found to reduce the larvae's appetite while increasing their activity. This is in line with the effects nicotine has on many animals as well as on humans.

Analyzing behaviors in parallel

In their large-scale experiment, the scientists searched for appetite modulators and determined the effects of more than 10,000 small molecules on the behavior of larval zebrafish. They found more than 500 substances that either increased or suppressed the appetite of the larvae. However, only about half of these had the specific effect of only modulating the animals' appetite; the other half resulted in additional behavioral changes. "By analyzing several behaviors in parallel, we were able to filter out many substances with non-specific effects from the beginning," says Josua Jordi, first author of the study. "We were very happy to see that right away our approach had the desired effect."

Same effect in mice

Next, the researchers investigated the biological mechanisms of 22 of the most promising substances. They found that some of these substances had an effect on the activity of key neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin or histamine, which is precisely how many of the existing appetite modulators unfold their effects. "The crucial finding, however, was that most substances didn't interfere with any of these known systems," says Florian Engert, last author of the study and professor at Harvard University. This points towards new molecular mechanisms that regulate appetite.

To demonstrate that this not only works in fish but also in higher life forms, UZH professor Thomas Lutz and his team at the Institute of Veterinary Physiology tested the most promising appetite modulators on mice. The researchers found that these substances had the same effect on the feeding behavior in mice than they did in zebrafish larvae, and that in comparison they worked more selectively than any known appetite modulators.

New candidates to treat eating disorders

Josua Jordi now wants to find out whether these results can be transferred to humans. "As far as we know, there are no comparable psychoactive molecules that have such a strong and specific effect as the ones we tested." He believes this will open the door to a whole series of clinical applications such as treatments for obesity or anorexia - and possibly without the risk of adverse side effects.

Since their search for specific appetite modulators has proven so successful, the researchers now plan to use the new method to look for further psychoactive substances such as antidepressants. To pursue these promising approaches, Jordi and some of his fellow researchers have established the start-up business EraCal Therapeutics.
Privacy often conflated with confidentiality, control, and security

Confusion and ambiguity in how U.S. patients and researchers perceive genetic privacy is uncovered by a study published October 31, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Ellen W. Clayton from Vanderbilt University, USA, and colleagues.

To uncover the links between gene variants and disease, researchers must collect genetic data from participants. In the USA, researchers may obtain participants consent for broad data sharing, which gives other investigators freedom to use their data for future research  but participants often cite privacy as a major concern. To investigate how researchers and participants understand genetic privacy, the authors of this study systematically reviewed 53 U.S.-based studies which examined perceptions of genetic privacy among the general public, patients and professionals. In total, the studies included over 47,000 participants.

The authors uncovered confusion and gaps in participants understanding of genetic privacy. Many participants confirmed they were worried about genetic privacy; however, ambiguously-phrased questions often left their specific concerns unclear. Participants also frequently conflated privacy with confidentiality, control, and security.

Participants were frequently concerned about the amount of control they retained over their personal information, the use of their data by third parties, and confidentiality issues. Many were worried they could be harmed if genetic information was divulged to third parties like employers or insurers. However, participants often felt benefits such as getting information from genetic tests were more important than protecting privacy.

The authors note that, in general, the consent process could be improved with increased disclosure around future use of collected data by third parties. While the authors findings are specific to the USA, the authors hope further research might identify best practices around genetic privacy, making the collection and use of genetic data more trustworthy for participants.

Clayton adds:
A study commissioned to help guide revisions of best practices in providing palliative care finds that there is a wide and varied body of evidence to support such clinical practice guidelines.

The systematic review by researchers from the RAND Corporation found that the research base for palliative care was larger than generally appreciated, although there was limited evidence across some areas of clinical practice such as how to care for patients during the last days of their lives.

Published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, the study was conducted to support the fourth edition of the National Consensus Project's Clinical Practices Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care, which establishes best practices in end-of-life care. While previous guidelines have been developed through consensus among experts, the systematic review was incorporated into the just-released fourth edition of the guidelines.

"Our review will help guide best practices going forward and help focus future research efforts to build a high-quality evidence base for end-of-life care," said Sangeeta Ahluwalia, the study's lead author and a senior policy researcher at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "While the palliative care evidence base has been rapidly growing, we now better understand where there are gaps."

Palliative care is a rapidly growing field aimed at improving quality of life for patients with serious illness and their caregivers. Inpatient palliative care programs have increased sharply in recent years, with two-thirds of hospitals with 50 or more beds reporting that they have an interdisciplinary palliative care team.

Researchers from the Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center at RAND reviewed the research literature to assess the status of evidence across eight domains of palliative care: the structure and process of care; physical aspects of care; psychological aspects of care; social aspects of care; spiritual, religious and existential aspects of care; cultural aspects of care; care of the patient nearing the end of life; and ethical and legal aspects of care.

The most promising approaches to palliative care structure and process identified by the review include home-based palliative care, interdisciplinary team care and telehealth interventions. The findings support continued growth in these areas, with attention needed on workforce expansion, quality assessment of these services and innovative payment models.

The study also found there is now documented evidence for comprehensive palliative care and music/art therapy addressing physical and psychological aspects of care. However, the existing evidence base for social needs assessments and culturally-sensitive care remains very limited.

There is also documented evidence that grief and bereavement support services appear to improve key outcomes for caregivers, but the evidence base for effective approaches for care focused on the last days of life is very limited.

Evidence for physician orders and advance directive interventions showed the strongest evidence in the ethical and legal aspects of care domain. Ethics consultations improve consensus in the intensive care unit, which can help reduce use of high-intensity and often life-prolonging treatments at the end of life.

"Our review documents a substantial body of evidence to support clinical practice guidelines for palliative care, but the quality of evidence remains limited," said Susanne Hempel, the study's senior author and co-director of the Evidence-based Practice Center at RAND. "This comprehensive review underscores the importance of targeting future research toward building high-quality evidence in key areas of clinical practice, and patient and caregiver needs."
Entrepreneur magazine calls it quits on printing

Entrepreneur Media SA has decided to cease printing its Entrepreneur magazine and has opted to take the digital route going forward.



The magazine's January 2019 edition will be its final print issue. In line with this new strategy, Entrepreneur Media SA will be launching Entrepreneur.com in early 2019 to replace EntrepreneurMag.co.za.
A scientist at the University of California, Riverside, who researches the malaria-causing parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is the principal investigator, or PI, on two grants from the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, totaling nearly $6.6 million. Funding from each grant is for five years.

The first grant of about $2.8 million is titled "RAPs-mediated post-transcriptional control in Apicomplexan parasites." Karine Le Roch, a professor in the Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology will work on this project with Laurence Florens at the Stowers Institute and Jacquin Niles at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The two institutes will receive about $1.2 million of the grant.

The project is designed to characterize at the molecular level a large family of "apicomplexan-specific mRNA-binding proteins," or RAPs - proteins that are likely to have a role in controlling parasite development. RAPs are essential to the parasite throughout its infectious cycles.

"There is a clear need for new malaria therapeutic strategies, and targeting these RAPs may be highly effective with minimal side effects in humans," said Le Roch, the director of the UCR Center for Infectious Disease Vector Research and a member of the UCR Institute for Integrative Genome Biology. "The project will help determine which of these RNA binding proteins are essential and how they work. Our expected results will not only teach us important biology, but also provide us with numerous novel targets for pharmacological intervention."

The researchers intend to use the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas 9 to insert a tag into specific RAPs, and generate novel parasite lines that they will then exploit to study the functions and regulation of these important proteins.

"When validated, these proteins will make attractive targets for developing new therapeutics," Le Roch said.

The second NIH grant of about $3.8 million, awarded to UC Irvine, is a multi-PI grant shared by Christopher Vanderwal at UCI, Choukri Ben Mamoun at Yale University, and Le Roch. UCR will receive slightly more than $1 million of the grant. Titled "Hit-to-Lead Development of the Kalihinol Scaffold for Malaria Treatment," it will focus on the chemical synthesis and biological activity of a novel class of compounds derived from kalihinol, a natural substance that is a potent inhibitor of Plasmodium falciparum, the agent of the most severe form of human malaria.

"Natural products, such as quinine, have had a high impact on the development of modern antimalarial therapy," Le Roch said. "Our UCI collaborator has synthesized several simplified analogs of kalihinol and we have identified equipotent compounds against malaria. The study is highly relevant to global health because of the devastating effects of malaria on millions of individuals worldwide."

Le Roch explained that the proposed work will deliver samples of potent natural product analogs, available only by chemical synthesis, to fuel critical studies aimed at identifying not only how these chemical compounds act on the parasite but also the best candidates for further preclinical development.

"There is an acute need for such new antimalarials," Le Roch said. "Our work has a high chance of success to advance this potentially new antimalarial class never used before in malaria therapy."
Purchasing travel insurance before traveling to any local or foreign destination brings many advantages, but the most beneficial part  specifically for cruises and foreign trips  is medical cover. Depending on the location the costs of medical treatment can vary considerably, but in the US, France, and Hong Kong, even basic medical treatment could easily amount to more than 1,000 AUD. But if the treatment required goes beyond this the costs quickly soar, regardless of which country you're in, and how low the cost of basic medical care might be there.

 PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/Shutterstock.com

However, what is often not known is that if the treatment is for a preventable disease, and the insured didn't follow any advised precautionary measures, most travel insurance policies will not cover the costs.

What Precautionary Measures Should Travelers Take?

The Australian Governments Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides the most current advice for travelers wanting to follow standard precautionary measures about safety, security, and health. It is easy for those that live in a developed country to be unaware of the prevalence of diseases that aren't usually found in their country.

Growing up you may have had the routine vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), hepatitis B, polio, and pneumococcal, but there are still many diseases you wouldnt have been immunized against.

A couple of months before you are due to leave on your next overseas business trip or holiday, you should visit your doctor to make sure all of the above vaccines are up to date, as well as getting the latest flu vaccine.

The influenza virus evolves at a rapid pace, so the new vaccine against the flu is produced twice a year. If you haven't had a flu vaccine in the last 12 months, you should ask for the latest version. This applies even if the country you are going to is not in the middle of 'flu season'.

When asking your GP about the need for routine booster shots, you should make sure you tell them details of your travel plans, mentioning all the destinations you may visit, and traveling through. They will be able to discuss the advised precautionary measures you should take and which additional vaccines you may need.

This may include vaccinations for cholera, Japanese encephalitis, meningococcal meningitis, rabies, and typhoid, along with advice on additional precautionary measures you should follow, mosquito nets or quinine tablets for example.

What Other Health Risks Should Travelers be Aware of?

It is important that you are conscious that some diseases have no vaccine, including some that can be transmitted through contaminated food and water, and by insects. Your doctor will be aware if any are prevalent in the areas you will be traveling through, and can offer additional precautionary measures, which may include some form of prophylaxis. Although vaccines and prophylaxis cannot guarantee that you wont contract a preventable disease, they will reduce your risk. If you do contract one such disease but have proof that you took the necessary precautions, there shouldnt be any issue in getting any medical treatment claims settled through your travel insurance.

Travel insurance comparison is easy through www.travelinsurance.com.au, but you should also examine each insurers Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to be certain of the cover offered, and how to meet their requirements.

When Should Travelers get Vaccinated?

The reason you should see your GP at least two months before you travel is because some vaccines take a long time to become effective or may require more than one treatment. Travelers should also check with a countrys embassy or consulate to see if they require proof that visitors have been vaccinated against certain diseases.

The doctor or travel clinic that performs the vaccination will be able to issue a certificate for any of the procedures. As well as helping prove to your insurer that you took the necessary precautions, it could also prevent you from being denied entry into a country.

About Travelinsurance.com.au

Travelinsurance.com.au have been helping Australians buy travel insurance online since 1999. Their goal is to help you find the best policy for your needs and offer it at a discount price.

Travelinsurance.com.au has been designed to offer you the easiest way to compare and purchase your travel insurance, choosing from the major Australian brands such as; Suresave, QBE, CHI and Aussietravelcover travel insurance.

Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments.
Mrs Lam (second right) and Mr Yau (right) meet Japans Minister of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries Takamori Yoshikawa (second left) on food safety.

Mrs Lam (centre) and Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau (right) officiate at the opening ceremony of Hong Kong Week 2018 - Greater Bay Area Showcase.

Mrs Lam (centre) speaks at a luncheon attended by representatives from universities, research and development institutions and businesses in relation to innovation and technology.

Mrs Lam (left) and Japans Minister of Economy, Trade & Industry Yoshihiro Seko (right) witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding on business and trade co-operation.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam delivers a speech at the "Think Global, Think Hong Kong" symposium organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today encouraged Japanese businesses in Tokyo to explore Mainland and overseas markets through Hong Kong.

Mrs Lam attended a breakfast meeting with Japanese business leaders and briefed them on the latest developments in Hong Kong, and the opportunities brought about by the Belt & Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Later, Mrs Lam attended the "Think Global, Think Hong Kong" symposium organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) with 1,500 participants from the political and business sectors.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Mrs Lam said Hong Kong and Japan have long had frequent exchanges in areas such as commerce, tourism, culture and education.

She said Hong Kong is the best place to do business with its unique advantage of "one country, two systems", unparalleled knowledge of the Mainland market and deep connections with the world.

The Chief Executive welcomed Japanese businesses to partner with Hong Kong to jointly seize the huge opportunities presented by the Belt & Road Initiative and the development of the bay area.

After the symposium, she witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding on trade and fintech by the HKTDC, the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation and the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company with their Japanese counterparts.

At noon, Mrs Lam had a luncheon with representatives from universities, research and development institutions and businesses in relation to innovation and technology.

She introduced to them the resources allocated and measures rolled out to promote I&T development in Hong Kong, including the establishment of two research clusters on healthcare technologies and on artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, enhanced tax deductions, smart city development, re-industrialisation and the implementation of schemes to attract talents.

Mrs Lam then met Chairman of the Japan Business Federation Hiroaki Nakanishi.

She thanked the federation for its support for Hong Kong over the years and said she hopes it will continue to promote co-operation between the two places.

Mrs Lam later attended an activity to promote tourism in the bay area organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

The activity introduces tourist attractions in Hong Kong and the cities in the bay area as well as Hong Kong's latest infrastructure to the Japanese public.

Speaking at the activity, Mrs Lam said with the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, tourists will find making short day trips to Hong Kongs neighbouring cities much more convenient.

She invited Japanese visitors to Hong Kong to make good use of the new infrastructure when planning their trips.

Mrs Lam then visited a cheongsam exhibition organised by the Hong Kong Arts Centre and spoke with participating Hong Kong designers to learn about how they find inspiration in literature, fine art and Chinese culture to design cheongsams with unique features.

In the evening, Mrs Lam met Japan's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries Takamori Yoshikawa.

Hong Kong has been Japan's largest export market for food and agricultural products over the years, she said, adding this shows the love of Japanese gourmet food by Hong Kong people.

She added Hong Kong authorities will closely monitor the situation of the import of Japanese food and maintain close communication with Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries to ensure food safety and safeguard public health.

At the "Think Global, Think Hong Kong" dinner, she introduced to the guests the close relationship between Hong Kong and Japan and the areas for future co-operation between the two places.

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau and Secretary for Innovation & Technology Nicholas Yang accompanied Mrs Lam during the days events.
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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
New Delhi:

The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) on Thursday said it will contest on all 200 Assembly seats in the state Assembly if talks of alliance on 15 seats with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed. The state goes to polls on December 7.

Keen on a tie-up with the BJP on 15 seats in the state Assembly, the LJP held talks with state BJP president Madan Lal Saini, but there was no breakthrough, LJP state president Suraj Kumar Burhadia told reporters in Jaipur.

Also Read | MS Dhoni creates record in Thiruvananthapuram ODI - Find out Here

Burhadia said Saini had assured to take up the issue with party leaders in New Delhi. The LJP leader is hopeful of party chief Ram Vilas Paswan to discuss the matter with the BJP leadership.

If the talks with the BJP failed, the LJP will contest on all 200 seats in the state Assembly, Burhadia added.
New Delhi:

GSTA collections in October have crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore mark, Finance MinisterA Arun JaitleyA said Thursday. The revenue from goods and services tax (GST) in September was Rs 94,442 crore.

aGST collections for October 2018 have crossed Rs 1 lakh crore. The success of GST is lower rates, lesser evasion, higher compliance, only one tax and negligible interference by taxation authorities,a Jaitley tweeted.

GST collections for October 2018 have crossed Rs. 1 lakh crore. The success of GST is lower rates, lesser evasion, higher compliance, only one tax and negligible interference by taxation authorities. a Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) November 1, 2018

The collections stood at Rs 94,016 crore in May, Rs 95,610 crore in June, Rs 96,483 crore in July, Rs 93,960 crore in August and Rs 94,442 crore in September.

"The government has settled Rs 17,490 crore to CGST and Rs 15,107 crore to SGST from IGST as a regular settlement. Further, Rs 30,000 crore has been settled from the balance IGST available with the Centre on a provisional basis in the ratio of 50:50 between the Centre and states," a finance ministry statement said, adding that both the Centre and states -- after regular and provisional settlements -- earned Rs 48,954 crore and Rs 52,934 crore, respectively, for October. The Finance Ministry had targeted monthly GST collections to be Rs 1 lakh crore for this fiscal.

GST mop-up had crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore mark for the first time in April and since then it has remained above the Rs 90,000 crore level.

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Mumbai:

The BSE Sensex rose over 100 points Thursday, but turned choppy after investors began booking profits at higher levels. The benchmark indices opened higher led by banking and auto stocks amid sustained buying by domestic institutional investors (DIIs), better-than-expected corporate earnings and positive global cues buoyed sentiment.



ALSO READ | LPG price hiked by Rs 2.94 per cylinder

The 30-share Sensex rallied 149.36 points, or 0.44 per cent, to trade at 34,591.41 points.

The gauge had climbed 550.92 points Wednesday.

Sectoral indices led by capital goods, realty, infrastructure and auto were trading in the positive zone, with gains up to 4.29 per cent.

The broader NSE Nifty too surged 55 points, or 0.49 per cent, to 10,441.60 in opening session.

In the Sensex kitty, L&T took the top position by surging 5.73 per cent on the back of better-than-expected quarterly earnings posted by the company Wednesday.

Easing concerns around the rift between the government and RBI, after the Finance Ministry said the autonomy for the central bank, within the framework of the RBI Act, was an "essential and accepted" governance requirement, lifted the market in early trade, traders said.

Other gainers that supported the key indices included Yes Bank, Tata Motors, ONGC, M&M, Axis Bank, Adani Ports, Tata Steel, Maruti Suzuki, HDFC Bank, PowerGrid, ITC Ltd, and Bajaj Auto, rising by up to 1.86 per cent.

Stocks of automakers were in good demand ahead of October month's sale data, to be released later in the day.

However, investors booked profits in index heavyweights, dragging the benchmarks in the negative zone. Top losers include Infosys, TCS, HDFC, HUL, ITC and Wipro, falling up to 2 per cent.

Meanwhile, DIIs bought shares worth a net of Rs 1,124.92 crore, while foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold share to the tune of Rs 193.65 crore Wednesday, as per provisional data.



ALSO READ | Jammu and Kashmir: Two militants killed in encounter with security forces in Budgam

Globally, in the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng surged 1.63 per cent, Shanghai Composite Index up 1.23 per cent, while Taiwan rose 0.32 per cent. Korea gained 0.58 per cent. Japan's Nikkei, however, was down 0.78 per cent.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.97 per cent Wednesday on the back of strong corporate earnings.

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(CNN) The regional governor of Tanzania's largest city, Dar es Salaam, has vowed to arrest people suspected of being gay by next week in an escalating crackdown on LGBT communities in the East African nation.

"I have received reports that there are so many homosexuals in our city, and these homosexuals, are advertising and selling their services on the internet," said the official, Paul Makonda.

"Therefore, I am announcing this to every citizen of Dar es Salaam. If you know any gays ... report them to me," he told reporters in Swahili in a video from a Monday news conference that has emerged on social media.

Makonda, who has ordered anti-gay crackdowns before, said a task force will begin mass arrests of LGBT people in the city by Monday.

CNN has sought multiple requests for comment from the governor, but hasn't received a response.

The network also has reached out to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for comment.

Makonda's rhetoric echoes statements by other government officials about Tanzania's LGBT community, who face increasing animosity from the country's authorities.

LGBT people face a 30-year jail sentence under Tanzania law, mirroring severe penalties for same-sex relationships across many African countries.

Homosexual acts are punishable by the death penalty in Mauritania, Sudan, and Somalia and the northern part of Nigeria.

Government criticized for threats against activists

In 2016, Tanzania's government drew international criticism after targeting LGBT groups in the country.

Amnesty International said the government threatened to deport and prosecute gay rights activists. It alleged some were even subjected to anal examinations.

The country's health ministry suspended HIV/AIDS services last year in 40 clinics it accused of promoting homosexuality.

Hamisi Kigwangalla, Tanzania's minister for natural resources and tourism, said in a Twitter post Tuesday that homosexual acts were "unnatural" and "ungodly."

"I have done a lot of reading on this matter ... from a scientific/medical side. I can strongly conclude that 'no single argument for LGBTI has scientific proof'. It is simply 'unnatural' and 'unGodly'. To me, as a medic, I know it is a social construct, a mental illness," Kigwangalla, who is also a doctor, said in the tweet.

Last year the minister threatened to publish the names of gay people "selling their bodies."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Governor in Tanzania vows mass arrests of LGBT."
New Delhi:

In yet another tragic incident, at least five people have lost their lives while cleaning a well in Thane, Maharashtra, according to Additional CP Pratap Dighavkar. While a labour has died of suffocation inside the well, two trustees and two fire department officials succumbed to death after they went in to rescue the labourer.

"A labourer entered well to clean it and died due to suffocation.2 trustees who went in to rescue the labourer also died inside. 2 fire dept officials who had gone into well also died during rescue operation," the news agency ANI reported.

As per the latest reports, 4 out of 5 bodies have been taken out from the well and the rescue operation is yet to be finished. Preliminary investigation suggests that the incident occurred due to sulphur content in the water of the well in Kalyan.

Maharashtra:5 ppl died while cleaning a well in Kalyan, Thane. Additional CP says, aA labourer entered well to clean it&died due to suffocation.2 trustees who went in to rescue the labourer also died inside. 2 fire dept officials who had gone into well also died during rescue opa pic.twitter.com/bzUZmagw42 a ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2018

"For chemical analysis, sample of water collected from well. We have taken sample from a nearby gutter as well which may have sulphur content. Prima facie, it appears gas collected in the well as it was closed since many days," Dighavkar added.

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New Delhi:

US Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster on Thursday said US president Donald Trump declining India's invitation to be the chief guest at 2019 Republic Day celebrations was completely a scheduling issue. Juster was speaking at the side lines of South Asian Regional Connectivity conference in New Delhi. It is completely a scheduling issue. Right now, there is no Speaker of the House that has even been selected, news agency ANI quoted him as saying.



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It is completely a scheduling issue. Right now there is no Speaker of the House that has even been selected: Kenneth Juster US Ambassador to India on being asked about US president Donald Trump declining India's invitation to be the chief guest at 2019 Republic Day celebrations pic.twitter.com/uUD4zIoK1a  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2018

Earlier, the US President Donald Trump had reportedly declined India's invitation to be the chief guest at the 2019 Republic Day parade. According to reports, US president's 'domestic commitments', including his State of the Union address, around that time were the main reason for denying the invitation. The US authorities had conveyed Trump's decision in a letter to NSA Ajit Doval recently, they said. In the letter, Trump reportedly said that he regreted his inability to accept the invitation.

Speaking at the event Kenneth Juster said, While we recognise connectivity can bring great benefits, we also must acknowledge it carries significant risks. It includes illicit trade, political interference, unsustainable debt arrangements, vulnerability to cyber-attacks and environmental pollution and disease.



ALSO READ | Delhi Air Pollution: Environmental bodies urge people to use public transport as air quality on brink of turning 'severe'

The increased connectivity must be managed effectively and with transparency among stakeholders with agreed upon technical and behavioural standards and with responsible governance, he said.

No government alone has resources to meet all of south Asia's infrastructural needs whether it be for highways, railroads, inland waterways, bridges, airports. Only with support of private sector can we mobilise resources necessary for such needs over next decade and beyond, he added.

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New Delhi:

It is unfortunate that US President Donald Trump has chosen to turn down Indias invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade on January 26, 2019. For the record, the reason cited is domestic commitments but it is all too clear that it is a rebuff to India for going ahead with the S-400 deal with Russia to purchase five units of advanced missile defence systems.

One sees no reason why India should accept dictation from the US on what it should buy, how much and when. Before Trump came on the scene, sanctions were imposed only under UN auspices and individual countries, including the US as the lone superpower had no natural right to enforce economic sanctions and to demand compliance.

Now, however, things have turned topsy-turvy. Trumps US had a problem with Iran on the nuclear question and dictated to the world to stop buying and selling with the Iranians. As an extension of that principle, Trump has made it known that defence contracts with Russia are a big no-no and all countries are expected to comply.

Read Opinion | CBI versus CBI and the 2019 elections

India has for decades had Russia and earlier the Soviet Union as defence suppliers and now we are told not to buy from the Russians because the US wills so. This is preposterous and high-handed.

The Chinese have recently ordered S-400s from Russia and India, vulnerable as it is to the Chinese and Pakistanis colluding to wage war on India can ill afford not to have a sophisticated missile defence system to guard against any nefarious designs.

The Americans are ascribing the declining of Indias invitation to the Republic Day function to the State of the Union message that American presidents read for all Americans on a day in the last week of January or the first week of February, but this is unconvincing.

The fact that Trump slept over the invite for weeks together was discourtesy at its worst. Hints about this were thrown by the White House spokesperson months ago but the US Presidents office made no formal contact with India on it. However, extending courtesies and respecting protocol have never been Trumps strong points.

Read More Opinion | Look before you leap into higher learning destinations

The US president has shown how rude and arrogant he can be with fellow heads of state or governments at bilateral and international forums, be it be with the Canadian prime minister or the German chancellor or to a lesser degree with some others. Yet, he seems to get away because he is the President of the United States.

Trump could also well have asked India for fresh dates if these dates were coming in the way of the State of the Union message. That he did not was a reflection that he wanted to hold out a rebuff to India for defying his diktat on Iran and then on Russia.

That the US is now virtually browbeating India to buy American F-16 or F-18 fighter aircraft in return for escaping American sanctions on the S-400 deal with Russia is also an ugly aspect of Trumps jugglery that is condemnable. One wonders what the world in the time of Trump is coming to.

Is the US not bothered about the threat that India faces from China-Pakistan collusion and does it not think it expedient to prepare India for all eventualities? Do the Americans have a missile defence system that can measure up to S-400 standards? Evidently not, if the international defence suppliers market is to be believed.

Read More Opinion | US mid-term polls: Will Republicans loss cast shadow on Trumps future?

Another aspect of the American reaction to the S-400 deal and the apparent consequent rejection of Modis invitation to Trump is the reaction of Indias main opposition party, the Congress. One would have expected the Congress party to side with the Modi government in criticising Trumps rebuff to India. Instead, there is not a word against the US but a lot of ire against the Modi government for having embarrassed India by having to swallow the rebuff.

Congress foreign affairs spokesperson Anand Sharma cannot be faulted for having suggested that India should have sounded the US administration out before sending a formal invitation but the US rejection is an affront to India that deserved condemnation.
Istanbul:

Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and his body was dismembered and destroyed as part of a premeditated plan, Turkey's chief prosecutor said Wednesday, making details of the murder public for the first time.



The revelations came only an hour after Saudi Arabia's chief prosecutor left Istanbul, and his Turkish counterpart said he was "obliged" to release the information after their talks produced "no concrete results".



ALSO READ | Petrol prices slashed, diesel remains unchanged in Delhi



Gruesome reports in the Turkish media had previously alleged that Khashoggi, a 59-year-old Washington Post contributor who had criticised the powerful Saudi crown prince, was killed and cut into pieces by a team sent from Riyadh to silence him. His body has not been found.



"In accordance with plans made in advance, the victim, Jamal Khashoggi, was strangled to death immediately after entering the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul on October 2, 2018 for marriage formalities," said a statement from the office of Istanbul chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan.



"The victim's body was dismembered and destroyed following his death by suffocation -- again, in line with advance plans," it added.



Saudi Arabia sent the head of its investigation to Istanbul this week, seeking to draw a line under a crisis that has brought near unprecedented scrutiny on the oil-rich Gulf nation.



Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb arrived in Istanbul on Sunday, met with Fidan twice, visited the consulate and spoke with Turkey's MIT intelligence agency.



He then flew out of Istanbul on Wednesday afternoon without making a public statement.



"Despite our well-intentioned efforts to reveal the truth, no concrete results have come out of those meetings," the Turkish prosecutor's office said.

It added that the Saudi prosector's office invited Fidan and his delegation to Riyadh "along with the evidence they have obtained".



A senior Turkish official earlier said that Saudi officials seemed "primarily interested in finding out what evidence Turkey had against the perpetrators".



"We did not get the impression that they were keen on genuinely cooperating with the investigation," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.



After initially insisting Khashoggi left the consulate unharmed, then saying he died in a brawl during an interview gone wrong, the Saudi regime has admitted he was killed by a "rogue operation" and arrested 18 people.



But a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, Omer Celik, said on Wednesday that the murder could not have been carried out without instructions from "high-level" officials in Riyadh.



"Who gave the command?" Celik asked at a press conference, adding he believed it was "out of the question" that Saudi authorities had not learned where the body was.



Erdogan has repeatedly requested the suspects be extradited to Turkey for trial -- which Riyadh has refused to do -- as well as reveal the location of Khashoggi's body and who ordered the hit.



Abdulkadir Selvi, a well-connected pro-government columnist for Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper, on Wednesday accused the Saudi prosecutor of "working to save the crown prince by covering up the investigation rather than shed light on the murder".



The affair has tarnished the image of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who has positioned himself as a Saudi reformer. He has denounced the murder as "repulsive" and strongly denied any involvement.



The case has also sorely strained relations between the ultra-conservative kingdom and the West.



France said Wednesday that "not enough" was being done to find those responsible for the murder of the Saudi journalist, who was an insider in royal circles before going into self-imposed exile in the United States last year.



In an editorial published Tuesday, the Washington Post accused the administration of US President Donald Trump of "playing along" and "pretending to believe that the Saudis can conduct a credible probe -- even though a chief suspect is the kingdom's own autocratic ruler".



The editorial also urged the US Congress to impose sanctions on those responsible. On Wednesday Switzerland said it would halt deliveries of spare weapons parts to Saudi Arabia over the murder.



While Trump has called the case "one of the worst cover-ups in history", he warned against halting a Saudi arms deal, saying it would harm US jobs.



ALSO READ | Jammu and Kashmir: Encounter breaks out in Budgam, three militants trapped



However, relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia, long-time allies, have cooled.



US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said the murder "violates the norms of international law. That much is very, very clear".



And on Tuesday, Washington called for a ceasefire and peace talks in Yemen, where the US has faced fierce international criticism for supporting a Saudi-led coalition.



Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said the US had been watching the conflict, in which nearly 10,000 people have been killed, "for long enough".

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Adolescence subjects you to many forms of torture: hormones, high school, and standardized testing, to name a few.

More than 7 million students took the SAT or PSAT last year, according to the College Board. The test has been around since 1926 so chances are you once took it, too. And it may be harder than you remember.

Many high school students aiming to get into competitive colleges and universities opt to study for the SAT, sometimes with the help of prep courses or tutors. Berkeley-based test prep site Magoosh shared with SFGATE some of the questions that stump nearly all of their students. One of the math problems is so tough, 95 percent of people get it wrong.

Think you're smarter than an 11th grader? Take a stab at some of the hardest SAT prep questions in the slideshow above.

The questions were created by Magoosh to match real SAT prompts as closely as possible since the College Board doesn't allow prep companies to repurpose questions from real SAT tests. However, they do have a few old tests online for free.

"In my 15 plus years of helping students prep for standardized tests, the number one tip I have to get better at solving difficult questions like these is to learn how to learn from your mistakes," says Magoosh's in-house SAT expert, Chris Lele.

Lele suggests students pause to analyze why they get a questions wrong and create a strategy to apply that knowledge to future tests. He shares more tips on tackling the SAT on the website's blog.

By the way, the average SAT score of students admitted into Stanford University is 1520 out of 1600. The calculation of the score isn't super straightforward, but to earn that score you can only get about six questions wrong out of about 150.

Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com.

Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news.
Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media

DANBURY  The United Jewish Center will hold a healing service at 7 p.m. Friday to come together after last weeks shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

We want to make a statement that we will not shut ourselves off from the world in the face of hatred, but continue our mission to build toward a world that is open to tolerance and diversity, UJCs Rabbi Stefan Tiwy said in a release.
Josh Tetrick had never run a food company, and he considered that an asset. His goal was to disrupt the food industry, so he wasnt interested in old ways of doing things. If you had told me when I started the company that one of the keys to success would be hiring people who are experts at going out to the Midwest to visit different warehousing partners, I would have been like, Shut the fuck up,  he says. Instead, as he built his startup JUST (originally called Hampton Creek), he hired outsiders like himself. It seemed to work. His first product, an egg-free mayonnaise, debuted in 2014 at Northern California Whole Foods stores and shortly thereafter was carried by thousands of Safeways and Walmarts. Demand was high.

Related: Hiring Your First Employee Is Scary -- for Good Reason

Then lids started popping off. Labels fell off, too. The packaging was defective, and the product went from a success to a money-loser. As Tetrick scrambled, he came to a hard realization: An entrepreneur can be too disruptive for his own good.

At the beginning, Tetrick fit a certain Silicon Valley archetype -- the brash founder who celebrates inexperience. Theres a logic to it. If you want to rock an industry with fresh ideas, you cant be bound by industry standards. And Tetrick had big ambitions. In creating animal-free versions of staples like eggs, mayonnaise, cookie dough and more, he wanted people to rethink how food is made. So he set up shop in a Bay Area garage and began hiring people he thought could make a huge impact -- experts in data science and high-tech platforms.

Related: 11 Secrets From Top Entrepreneurs on Hiring the Best Talent

Then came the disastrous launch. As his products lost money, he began examining the causes. There were many. His company had a terrible manufacturing contract and had picked the wrong manufacturers and warehouse partners. Its shipping process was a mess, and so was its supply chain. Pretty much everything we should have been doing in operations we werent doing, he says.

When CEOs reflect back, they often regret that they didnt move faster to fire people who werent right for the company. Waiting even an extra month can drag down an organization. Tetrick understood this. Hed hired smart people, but now he realized they were the wrong smart people. So he laid off a few and replaced them with industry vets. We hired a guy who gave me the most boring presentation Ive had in the history of all interviews, Tetrick says. But that was great, because all he wanted to do was talk about warehousing. Then Tetrick forced himself to step back from hiring. Rather than be in control of every decision, as he once was, he left his new industry experts to build their own team -- filtering for what they thought was important, rather than what he did.

Operations team members either caught on or were replaced. Contracts were renegotiated. Supply chains were fixed. Losses shrank and disappeared.

Related: How to Hire Like a Pro

As he watched this happen, Tetrick reconsidered his leadership. I need to be intelligent enough to know that theres a whole bunch of stuff I dont know anything about, he says. But more than that, he needed to appreciate the limits of change. Everything is not a revolution, he says now. Some things can be reinvented, but others are better off embraced.

Today, Tetrick says, JUST is a growing 120-person company and is on its way to going public. Thatll be the next phase of its revolution -- all thanks to some very nonrevolutionary employees.

Related:

After Realizing He'd Hired All the Wrong People, This Food Startup Founder Hit Reset

Big Names Like Facebook Are Recruiting Ph.D.s -- Here's How You Can, Too

Here's How to Stay One Big Step Ahead of Your Changing Talent Pool



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir apologized to his people for a half-decade of civil war as the African nation's main rebel leader echoed his commitment to a new peace deal.

Insurgent chief Riek Machar temporarily returned to the capital on Wednesday to take part in peace celebrations -- his first visit to Juba since being forced to flee more than two years ago. It comes as cease-fire violations and delays cast doubt on whether the latest bid to quell a conflict that may have left as many as 400,000 dead will be successful.

"As your president, I want to apologize on behalf of all the parties for what we have caused you, our people," Kiir told a ceremony whose attendees included the presidents of Sudan, Uganda and Somalia. "Today marks the end of the war in the republic of South Sudan. It was a complete betrayal of our people and the liberation struggle."

The war in the oil-producing country has spurred a regional refugee crisis and brought near-economic collapse since it began in December 2013. Under deals signed with Kiir this year, Machar -- a former vice president -- will return in that role, while insurgents will be included in an expanded cabinet and parliament, due to take shape in about May.

A similar attempt at forming a transitional government failed in mid-2016 and spurred some of the war's worst violence. Machar was eventually forced into exile in South Africa.

Kiir said Wednesday he was ordering the release of two Machar aides, a spokesman and a political adviser, who were sentenced to death for alleged anti-government activities earlier this year.

Machar said his historic return to Juba showed his rebel movement is "for peace."

"All the soldiers will be brought to work together," he said. "All the rebels holding guns should put down the guns and come out for peace."

The head of the United Nations mission in South Sudan, David Shearer, warned there's "much hard work ahead" to ensure the new agreement is implemented.

"The personalities who signed the agreement have in the past been former friends and foes," he told attendees. "So the big challenge ahead is to build trust and confidence between the parties -- and between the parties and the people."

Both government and rebel forces have been accused of atrocities during the conflict that's driven parts of the nation to the brink of famine. Amnesty International has alleged that pro-government forces rampaged through opposition-controlled areas for more than a month this year, even as peace talks were under way.

"The time for blame as to who started it is over," Kiir said on Wednesday.
In the past five years, the cloud management company I founded has grown from a one-person business into a global employer of over 300 people. Recently, VMware, the most important provider of infrastructure and technology in our industry, purchased us -- an exciting milestone as we look to the future and continue to execute on our vision.

Related: The 3-Step Approach for Testing Out Your Business Idea

In spite of all the twists and turns I've experienced, there's been one thing I did right in the early phases of building this business: committing to continuous experimentation.

When I left my previous company, I had an idea of where I could bring the most value in the market, based on my previous experiences in cloud computing. But I'd also been inspired by Stephen Blanks The Four Steps to the Epiphany and indirectly by the Lean Startup movement. As a result, I knew I would start my business from the top down: by devoting myself to a market (cloud management) and to the scientific method for entrepreneurship -- dispassionately testing all assumptions and hypotheses, and following where they led.

So, where did I begin? And where do you begin? Here are the steps.

Develop your initial hypotheses.

The process of entrepreneurship starts with a set of hypotheses to identify the product or service you will bring to your customers. A good hypothesis is that it answers critical questions regarding your initial business concept that can be proven only through experimentation.

I started my own journey by putting a poster on the wall and using sticky notes to capture the critical hypotheses I needed to test. Every two weeks, I selected a set of hypotheses and designed experiments to prove or disprove them.

En route, I thought about the ecommerce company Zappos -- a supporter of the Lean Startup movement --and its initial hypothesis that people would buy shoes online. For the file-sharing company Dropbox, the hypothesis was that users needed a radically simplified way to share files. For the coffee retailer Starbucks, it was that Americans would embrace the Italian coffee culture.

Design an experiment.

Next, choose a set of hypotheses to test, and design an experiment to test them. A good experiment should eliminate all ambiguity from the hypothesis to the answer. It should also prove or disprove the hypotheses with the least possible investment.

I was inspired at this stage by stories from entrepreneurs like Dropbox's Drew Houston, Zappos founder Nick Swinmurn and Starbucks's Howard Schultz. To prove his hypothesis, Houston didn't invest in building yet another file-sharing app; he instead created a video that demonstrated the ease of use of his idea for Dropbox and how it could be a differentiator.

Similarly, Swinmurn didn't choose to buy inventory for his new online shoe store, instead, he took pictures of shoes. He posted them on a website and purchased the shoes from the store only after receiving a customer order.

Schultz, meanwhile, chose to cram his early concept for delivering Italian coffee culture to American consumers into 300 square feet, inside another retail store.

Experiment and observe.

My experiments ranged far and wide -- from driving an advertising campaign, to creating an A/B test website, to performing customer interviews with large financial institutions, to delivering professional services.

For example, one of my sticky notes asserted simply that, "Cloud cost management is a feature and not a market." The experiment I designed to prove or disprove this statement was built around helping five local businesses optimize their cloud costs.

As an early-stage entrepreneur, you have to be willing to conduct these sorts of tests to determine what works, what doesnt and how you can identify real and durable problems in a market. You need to to take risks, to be willing to fail and understand that youre always learning.

Related: Pivot or Persevere? The Key to Startup Success

Dropbox's own critical video experiment resulted in its beta user requests growing from 5,000 to 75,000 users, validating critical hypotheses without investing in a single line of code. Starbucks's first store attracted 1,000 visitors per day to a location that had previously never seen more than 200. Zappos's website resulted in actual sales of shoes, which were fulfilled with purchases -- at list price -- from a local store.

Discuss results with advisors.

Before starting the company, I created my own informal board of advisors, who included a venture investor, two technology CEOs, a business development executive and a technology founder. All were dedicated to my success, with no strings attached.

I met with them for coffee throughout the experimentation process, and always discussed with them what I was learning. Having talented colleagues to provide feedback and advice frequently produced new insights.

Rinse and repeat.

Once you secure answers to your first hypotheses, it's time for you to go back to the drawing board and create new hypotheses, design another experiment and test it. A hypothesis without an experiment does no good. You gain the most knowledge when youre testing the ideas you propose.

Start the business.

I equate the start of my company to an experiment I called the sale. After several months of developing hypotheses and running experiments, I had a good sense of where I could add strong and durable value for customers in the market. But what I hadn't tested was price.

I hypothesized that a prospective customer would need to be willing to spend $50,000 annually -- roughly the average price required to sustain the business model -- on my product, to support the inside sales-driven model I was projecting. So, I designed an experiment around cold calling a handful of prospective customers and trying to convince them to purchase my minimum viable product for $50,000 per year.

In the process of being rejected, I hoped to learn about the additional features these companies needed to justify purchasing a product at that price point.

As part of the exercise, I first spoke with the CFO of a fast-growing technology company. While the CFO understood the problem I was addressing, he had almost no input on features, and no interest in paying for a solution. But then he surprised me by asking for another call the next day with his vice president of engineering and members of his team.

The assembled team not only had deep knowledge in the area in which I had built my MVP, but had already built many of my features themselves.

By the end of the call, the vice president of engineering made the surprising statement: Sure, well buy. When faced with the potential for a sale, the first instinct of every good engineer is to do exactly what you shouldnt: keep talking. Instead, I proceeded to explain how the CFO was hadn't been convinced the previous day, and that maybe the engineering VP should talk to him before agreeing to a purchase.

Our CFO is in the room right now, the VP said. "Well buy. Just send us the contract.

As I hung up, my excitement at having a first customer was tempered by the reality that I had no contract to send, nor a business entity under which to extend it. Since my experiment had been designed for failure, I hadnt given much thought to what to do when confronted with success. Thus began my next challenge: creating a business entity and onboarding a first customer -- fast.

Related: 5 Reasons Not to Follow the Lean Startup Process for Your Next Idea

Reach a conclusion and communicate it with peers

Starting a company is one of the most irrational acts you can do as a human being. You are taking great personal and professional risk for an unknown outcome. While there is no foolproof way to manage this uncertainty, there is a way to minimize the risk: continuous experimentation in the presence of customers. My company exists as a direct result of a commitment to experimentation, a route you should seriously consider when you start down your own entrepreneurial path.

Related:



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Local Reporters were treated to a cocktail night at Basilico Restaurant where Sun International guests shared the business side of the most adored Sun City and the South African North West province.

It is evident that the tourism sector connects the two countries, Botswana and South Africa as well as the rest of the SADC region and the whole world. Group Manager- Africa Sales at Sun International, Jennifer Beattie said in an interview with BG Style that tourism brings people closer and that most Batswana often visit the North West province for a variety of activities including Sun City.

North West province tourism is an opportunity to mingle with business people, while having fun and identifying marketing opportunities too, said Beattie. She emphasized that they are capitalising on media relations tourism to the business traveller, to ensure that they are at par with the business and tourism platform.

Beattie further highlighted that their visit in Botswana was meant to support North West tourism, which enabled them to connect with traders last week.The purpose for this visit was to support North West Tourism which was a huge success connecting with the trade on Thursday at Masa Hotel, she said.

This past Saturday, travellers, business people, including small businesses and shopping enthusiasts flocked the Riverwalk mall, where there were so many stalls set up in support of tourism for the Mahika Mahikeng showcasing of products between Botswana and South Africa.

In an effort to bid farewell to the fallen hero of Hip Hop Pantsola legend, Jabba, one of the local artistes, Loretta Mekgwe also stunned people with her abstract art piece of work which she showcased at the event. Such little beautiful inputs revealed how the two countries are brought together and closely by tourism. The North West Tourism Province has also sponsored 123 learners of Hospitality and Tourism from Botswana.

Desbo Mohono, MEC Tourism at North West Province also emphasized that tourism create temporary and permanent jobs as well as entrepreneurs. Thus, she encouraged the young people to utilise the available opportunities in tourism.
The Rev. Ernestine Holloway is waiting for apologies.

Her dream of becoming a state representative has been deflated by multiple stops by state police troopers as she has campaigned on the streets of Middlefield and Middletown.

I should be judged by the merit of what I do, not the color of my skin. I am angry because this has always been a dream of mine, Holloway, who is black, said on Friday. This is the first time that I have actually had joy in a long time... so why cant I achieve the American Dream like everybody else?

On Oct. 24, Holloway and a team of about 10 volunteers, mostly African Americans, were knocking on doors in the district, which is about 80 percent white, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A van of Holloways volunteers was stopped by at least one police vehicle and asked what they were doing in Middlefield.

When Holloway arrived at the scene moments later, she was told by state Trooper Larry Morello that she needed a peddlers permit to campaign. Holloway ceased her door-to-door effort and went to Town Hall to see whether a permit was required. It was not.

Morello was a driver for the campaign of Susan Bysiewicz, the Democratic lieutenant governor nominee.

Thats racial profiling, said Holloway, who is challenging veteran state Rep. Emil Buddy Altobello. Then he knew that I didnt need a permit.

Bysiewicz said she fired Morello, whom she characterized in a statement Thursday as an occasional volunteer driver.

But Holloways trouble with the state police did not stop there, she said. On Oct. 25, another trooper asked Holloway if her car had broken down when she stopped at a house to campaign. Holloway claims the officer saw her park the vehicle. When she started to say not again, he drove off, she said.

Ive spoken to Ernestine, and Im appalled by what she experienced, said House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, in a statement Thursday. Everyone in this country has the undeniable right to run for office regardless of race, gender or ethnicity, and all candidates must be allowed to do what is necessary to run a campaign without fear as they express their ideas to residents they hope to serve.

The state police, through a spokesman, asserted that a thorough investigation of the incident will be done .

Dora Schriro, the commissioner of the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, which oversees the state police, personally called Holloway to respond to the incident, said Kelly Donnelly, spokeswoman for the governors office. Holloway said she received no such call.

The police will have to investigate whether the incident constitutes racial profiling, said J.R. Romano, chairman of the state Republican Party.

This definitely is a situation where the state police have to take stock, said Romano. This is unfortunate. I have never heard of this before where a candidate has to go get a peddlers license.

Theresa Tillett of Windsor was the treasurer for Holloways 2017 mayoral campaign and discussed the incident with her.

It is very clearly a case of driving while black, Tillett said. Shes had people say things. Its despicable that here it is 2018 and we are still dealing with racism.

Bysiewicz said she was deeply disturbed by the incident.

As the former Secretary Of the State, I believe in fair and open elections, and I have zero tolerance for any group or person who would hinder our democratic process, she wrote. As soon as the details were shared with me, we severed ties.

Holloway said she was disappointed she has not received a personal apology from Bysiewicz, nor have Republicans  though eager to denounce the event to the press  come to see how she and her team are holding up. The incidents have hindered her campaign in the week before the election because her volunteers do not feel safe campaigning, she said.

Holloway believes her identity as a Republican is part of the problem.

If youre black and you are not Democrat it is a problem, she said. Up North they havent seen too many African Americans who are conservative. Being a candidate has been really hard.

News of the incidents follow reports earlier this week in Middletown that a Republican running for the state Senate distributed a mailer depicting a Jewish legislator greedily holding fistfuls of $100 bills. The mailer, which targeted Democratic state Rep. Matt Lesser, has been widely denounced as anti-Semitic.

The mailer was sent by Republican Ed Charamut. Lesser and Charamut are competing for the Senate seat vacated by Paul Doyle, who competed in a Democratic primary for attorney general. The district comprises Rocky Hill, Newington, Cromwell and parts of Middletown and Wethersfield.

emunson@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
The Carnival of Space 584 is up at the Chandra Xray Space Telescope Blog.

Universe Today  How Science Journalism Helped Me Become a Better Sci-Fi Writer

Matt Williams writing for Universe Today helped make him a better hard science fiction writer. Hard sci-fi refers to stories where scientific accuracy is emphasized. This essentially means that the technology in the story conforms to established science and/or what is believed to be feasible in the future.

Matt went with the idea that the main drivers behind off-world settlement will Climate Change and the accelerating pace of change brought about by the Technological Singularity (both of which are expected to culminate around the middle of this century). I also wanted to explore the long-term idea of terraforming,

Universe Today  Blue Origin will be Landing its Rockets on a Used Cargo Ship. Itll Get Converted in Time for First Flights in 2021

In order to ensure they remain competitive, Blue Origin indicated that it would be following SpaceXs lead by recovering its first-stage rocket boosters at sea. To this end, the company has acquired a used Danish vessel known as Stena Freighter, which recently arrived in Florida. Much like SpaceXs Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ships (ASDS), this vessel will be used to retrieve spent rockets after they deliver their cargo to space.

Nextbigfuture  If SpaceX gets lucky the BFR development costs could come in at the $2 billion low-end estimate. Elon Musk had estimated that it would cost $2 billion to 10 billion to develop. A few more critical successes over the next year will enable SpaceX to solidify the finances and funding for the BFR. The needed critical successes are the NASA crewed launch certification in mid-2019 and successful Falcon Heavy launches in 2019.

SpaceX has pre-sold a moon orbit tourist flight to a Japanese billionaire. This was likely for $500 to $800 million.

The SpaceX Falcon Heavy already has up to seven launches lined up. Commercial and government launch buyers are seeing the value in using the larger rocket to directly place satellites in geosynchronous orbit. Continued launch success in 2019 could bring the Falcon Heavy to five or six launches per year.

Nextbigfuture  US Air Force Talks SpaceX BFR for going anywhere on earth in under an hour

Nextbigfuture  Icarus Interstellar Spaceship designer Adam Crowl has provided more analysis of the potential of the 80 Gigapascal carbon nanotube bundle material.

Nextbigfuture wrote this material which has been made in a chinese lab. The material is 20 times stronger than Kevlar.

The material would enable flywheel energy storage with jet engine or rocket like energy density.
NEW HAVEN  It was like a long pregnancy.

It takes awhile to get these things properly birthed, developer Nancy Greenberg said Tuesday, laughing, as she talked about the 42-apartment complex that is being created at 703 Whitney Ave., the longtime headquarters for the Red Cross.

Greenbergs first appearance before the City Plan Commission was in April 2017.

The pieces have now fallen into place and work is clearly underway for a modernist structure by GLUCK+ Architects on one part of the property that will compliment renovations at the adjoining 1902 home.

Fernando Pastor of SEEDnh took on the task of converting the large single-family home into seven market-rate apartments with two on each floor and a caretaker unit in the basement.

The designer said the hard part was fitting the seven kitchens, 10-12 bathrooms and all the mechanicals into the space.

There will be four two-bedroom selections and two one-bedroom units in addition to the live-in maintenance unit.

Architecturally significant elements, such as the nine fireplaces will be retained, as well as the coffered ceiling in the dining room. The doors will also be saved, although there will be new wainscoating, according to the contractor. A massive curved radiator in the dining room will be retained and repurposed.

It is definitely a piece of art, one of the officials observed.

They are trying to leave as much of the original as they possibly can, John Kozlowski of A. Secondino, the general contractor, said.

City Economic Development Administrator Matthew Nemerson said at one point the Board of Education had considered buying the land for parking for the Hooker School, but decided against that.

He said Mayor Toni Harp wants to see a variety of housing throughout the city.

He said this adds more apartments in an area dominated by large single-family homes. Nemerson said there are more people who want to downsize, but continue to be in the city and close to downtown.

By having an architecturally significant and very important project like this come along, it actually gives people the opportunity to take advantage of the shops, of the environment that is East Rock, Nemerson said.

He said one of the great advantages of a city like New Haven are the different densities and different types of community.

Greenberg said they will take down a corridor that joins the main house with a carriage house, bringing it back to its original design.

The complex will have 38 parking spaces and some 12 spaces for bicycles. The Yale shuttle passes the house and there is a Connecticut Transit stop out front.

Pastor said the main entrance to the house will be in the back, after the connecting corridor is removed with a new lobby will be installed.

Greenberg, who lives nearby, can watch the development come to life. The building was a private home for half a century before being used by the Red Cross for another 50 years.

The carriage house will be an amenity space and feature such things as a gym with an outdoor space behnd it, as well as a library and conference center.

After a widespread search she said they engaged architect, Peter Gluck, a Yale-trained architect, who had never built a home in the hometown of his alma mater.

She said they were impressed with a building in Philadelphia that his firm designed, called the Bridge in Old City.

It is stunningly beautiful, but very modern and integrated into the urban landscape in an incredibly successful way. We were confirmed in our original judgement, as just last year it won the best new building in Philadelphia by Curbed, Greenberg said with Cesar Pelli a runner-up.

She said the new building at 703 Whitney Ave. will be an incredibly elegant, sophisticated 35 one- and two-bedroom apartments with fireplaces, outdoor spaces and other features.

Construction is expected to take 12 to 15 months.

mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577.
HARTFORD >> State Rep. Christina Tita Ayala, D-Bridgeport, was arrested Friday on 19 voting fraud charges.

Ayala, 31, is accused of voting in local and state elections in districts she did not live, the Chief States Attorneys Office said in a press release.

The arrest warrant affidavit also alleges Ayala provided fabricated evidence to state Election Enforcement Commission investigators that showed she lived at an address in a district where she voted while actually living outside the district, according to the release.

Ayala, who represents the 128th District, was elected in 2012, replacing her cousin, Andres Ayala, who was elected to the state Senate. She chose to run for reelection earlier this year, despite the voting fraud investigation, but lost a four-way primary in August.

The Elections Enforcement Commission referred the case to the Office of the Chief States Attorney in October 2013, recommending criminal charges.

Ayala allegedly voted in various Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee elections, a municipal primary election and a state primary election between 2009 and 2012 in districts inconsistent with the location of her residence, according to the release. She is also accused of voting in the Bridgeport state general election in 2012 in a district where she didnt live.

According to the Connecticut Post, Ayalas mother, Santa, was also investigated by the Elections Enforcement Commission. The commission also recommended criminal charges be filed against Santa Ayala, the Democratic registrar of voters in Bridgeport, but none have been filed as of Friday.

Christina Ayala was charged with eight counts of fraudulent voting, 10 counts of primary or enrollment violations and one count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

According to the release, fraudulent voting is a felony punishable by not less than one year or more than two years in prison and a fine of $300 to $500 per count. Primary or enrollment violations and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence are class D felonies carrying a maximum prison sentence of up to five years per count.

Ayalas arrest is not her first run-in with the law since her political career began in 2012.

She was fined $350 for a hit-and-run car accident shortly after winning the 2012 Democratic primary for the House seat. She later got into a fight with her boyfriend and faced domestic violence charges, which were dropped after she completed counseling.

In this case, Ayala was released on a promise to appear in court Oct. 7 for her arraignment.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
In March, 2017, Ellen Degeneres had a 5-year-old geography whiz on her show. Nate Seltzer of Stratford, Conn. wowed viewers by proving he memorized the whole globe.

Seltzer has been invited back a number of time since then and will appear on the show Nov. 1 (watch clip above) to show off his new talentlicense plates.

Seltzer started off the show by bringing Degeneres a jar of money ($258.63) from his "lemoNate" stand, which he wanted to donate to Degeneres's wildlife fund raising money for gorillas in Rwanda.

"You're sweet to do that," Degeneres said to Seltzer in a clip. "You know the gorillas are losing their habitat, so we need the money."

"Yes. That's why I brought it," Seltzer replied.

Seltzer then went on to show off his new skill of identifying which license plate designs correspond to which states. Seltzer was shown a screen with a map of the U.S. and an image of a license plate with the state name missing. He was able to correctly point to the state it belonged to.

"Because I like cars," was Seltzers response to why he started learning this trick.

At the end, Degeneres surprised Seltzer with a brand new lemoNate stand so he could raise more money for the gorillas.

The Internet first took notice of Seltzer on his first show appearance when he made a joke abut Donald Trump. After that, Seltzer got attention from sites like Buzzfeed and Mashable for his political humor.
HAMDEN  The ease of walking to Shepherd Glen and Dunbar Hill. The virtues of establishing magnet schools in Hamden. What makes a neighborhood? The nature of equality.

The Board of Education debated these and other issues earlier this week, as members zeroed-in on a decision to restructure the district.

By the end of their meeting Monday evening, board members had reached consensus to close the Church Street and, if necessary, Shepherd Glen elementary schools. But nothing is final.

There are outstanding variables that can alter the final decision  namely, the fate of the Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School building and whether funding can be secured to renovate Dunbar Hill.

District Director of Technology and Communications Karen Kaplan and architect John Ireland of Silver, Petrucelli & Associates walked the board through a decision-making exercise Monday, aiding the group in narrowing down the options and data at hand.

The group first determined how they would like to foster greater diversity in the district schools, with creating Hamden magnet schools and exploring a choice model winning the most support.

The group then considered Church Street school, reaffirming an informal accord to close the institution that was reached at its Oct. 18 workshop.

During the discussion, board members cited the physical nature of the building  for example, you can walk down the hallway before reaching the main office, creating a potential security risk, and the gym is on the second floor, which gives renters access to the entire building  and the stronger sense of community at Helen Street as rationale for the decision.

The sense of community down (at Helen Street) is palpable and it really does translate into better test scores, said Chairman Chris Daur. I think the combination of those is really what swayed me in the end.

Board member M. Arturo Perez-Cabello suggested the Church Street building be used as a space for central office or a community or governmental institution.

Assistant Superintendent Chris Melillo said it could be used for the Hamden Collaborative Learning Center, the districts alternative education program, as well.

In closing Church Street, the board would not intend to incriminate the students or parents there, board member Myron Hul said.

The school serves students with a higher level of need, Perez-Cabello said. While they are making significant progress, they do not start on a level playing field  there are structural challenges that make it harder for them to catch up to students from other parts of the community, he said.

They are growing at a faster rate. Theyre making great gains; they still arent catching up, said Perez-Cabello. The concern here is: is what were doing for this community good enough? Can we do better? And does better mean bringing them to other schools or thinking outside of the box?

Board members examined a series of criteria, including the flexibility and quality of the facility, the location, the cost of operating the building, how accessible it is to the community, in reaching an informal consensus to close Shepherd Glen instead of Dunbar Hill.

That closure, if enacted, is dependent on retaking the Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School building.

As they went around the room offering their current thoughts, board members Walter Morton Jr. and Melinda Saller said they would prefer to close Dunbar Hill. Saller noted that funding was already secured to renovate Shepherd Glen; Morton said he thought creating a magnet school at Shepherd Glen would be attractive.

Hul, Perez-Cabello, Daur, Melissa Kaplan, Lynn Campo, and Gail and Vic Mitchell said they would prefer to close Shepherd Glen.

Among the reasons they cited: the renovations at Dunbar Hill are less urgent, which could give the town greater financial flexibility; the closed classrooms at Dunbar Hill versus the open ones at Shepherd Glen; and environmental conditions at Shepherd Glen.

The board did not vote on closing Church Street or Shepherd Glen Monday.

Under the redistricting plans currently considered by the group, either Church Street or Helen Street would be closed, and if the Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School building becomes part of the district, either Shepherd Glen or Dunbar Hill would be as well.

Saller described the difficulty of the decision.

I dont want anyone to think its like checking off a box, said Saller. I have been up at night thinking about this  how its going to affect kids, how its going to affect parents. Its a difficult, stressful thing.

Melissa Kaplan said her head and her heart were split, as she considered Shepherd Glen and Dunbar Hill.

For me, I was very moved and really very taken with the families and the staff at Shepherd Glen  their commitment, their dedication, their passion for what they do. And for me, my fear is, I dont want to lose that, said Melissa Kaplan. When I look at it... in terms of the facilities, the structure of the building itself, and the sustainability  to me, thats Dunbar.

The board also postponed its planned Nov. 1 meeting, when a vote on restructuring the district was originally expected, until Nov. 29.

The added time will allow the town and the board to do more investigation on the future of Wintergreen and consider whether funding for renovating Dunbar Hill can be obtained from the town and the state.

Although we know that parents and staff were expecting the final decision this week, the Board members are not prepared to vote without the expected additional information, announced district officials on the Hamden Public Schools website. Out of respect for our parents and staff, the Board did not want to hold the meeting knowing that they could not yet make a final decision

Mayor Curt B. Leng and Thomas Dannehy, executive director of Area Cooperative Educational Services, are discussing the idea of ACES purchasing the former Wintergreen school.

The town and state have both previously ascribed funding for the renovation of Shepherd Glen  not Dunbar Hill. Both the Department of Education and Legislative Council would have to sign off on allocating funds to change the plan for it move forward.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
HAMDEN  Kindness isnt lost on children, said a second-grade teacher from Hamden.

Carla Victoria Wallace, who lives in Hamden but teaches second grade at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Meriden, recently won an award for childrens literature in the 2018 African American Literary Awards Show in New York City. She said kindness is a major theme in her book The Bug That Was Afraid Of The Dark.

I think 7 is an age where theyre able to think about problems in stories and how problems are solved, and thats one thing I noticed when I read books to my students, she said.

In Wallaces book, a young girl meets a grasshopper who admits that she is afraid of the dark. The girl immediately decides to help the grasshopper, and the two walk through strategies to help the grasshopper overcome her fear of the dark. Ultimately, the grasshopper meets a lightning bug, and the two decide to stick together.

It was inspired by my daughter, who was 4 at the time, Wallace said. It was kind of her idea.

Wallace said she told her publisher it was very important to her that the books illustrations showed its human character as being somewhat racially ambiguous, but identifiably nonwhite.

I wanted the girl to look multiracial so all ethnicities that may not be white could see themselves in the character, she said, a desire born out of a hope to see more diversity in childrens books, so people of all races are represented.

Wallace, who has been writing professionally since 2010 in addition to her job as an educator, said she was not expecting to receive the African American Literary Awards Show award, as she was nominated alongside other authors who are more established.

With hard work and faith, you can accomplish a lot, Wallace said.

Currently, she is working on a followup to the award-winning book, which she calls The Bug That Went On A Field Trip.

The African American Literary Awards Show celebrates writers of African American heritage. Through the African American Literary Awards Show, authors are nominated and recognized as significant contributors to the literary community in various book categories, according to a release.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
NEW HAVEN  Marisol Velez and Pedro Garcia are a relieved couple.

When Garcia, a construction worker, complained to his wife that he didnt feel well and was dizzy, she took him to a walk-in clinic.

Personnel there told her to get Garcia to the emergency room at Yale New Haven Hospital, where he was told he had a serious heart problem.

Scared that she would not be able to get insurance to cover his bills, Velez consulted Carmen Comacho at the Fair Haven Community Health Center.

The couple used the clinic for their primary care, but did not have insurance as they earned slightly more than what would have qualified them for Medicaid. As for private insurance, she did not think they could afford it.

One of Comachos responsibilities is to help people navigate the ACA website to find the right policy. She said the couple found one through ConnectiCare, where the monthly charge was reduced through tax credits. It also retroactively covered their bills.

One of the most important features for the couple, however, was its coverage of pre-existing conditions.

I want to say thank you, Velez said. This could happen to anyone she said of the medical crisis and the potential financial crisis her family faced.

The couple were at City Hall participating in a press conference with U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, Mayor Toni Harp, Comacho and Dr. Suzanne Lagarde, CEO of the Fair Haven Community Health Clinic.

The open enrollment period to sign up for the Affordable Care Act insurance or renew a policy starts Thursday and continues through Dec. 15. DeLauro said funds to advertise the enrollment period have been cut 90 percent by the federal government and the initial enrollment timeframe has shrunken dramatically.

DeLauro said 10 million people nationally have pre-existing conditions and could be open to discrimination by insurers without protections.

Lagarde and DeLauro said right now the ACA continues to be the law of the land, despite the 70 votes by House Republicans to try to repeal it and the current lawsuit supported by the Trump administration that threatens its benefits.

This takes us backwards, the congresswoman said.

Lagarde had similar advice.

My message to folks is dont assume you dont qualify. You dont know. Sit down with an expert, she said.

A Democratic staff report to the Commitee on Oversight and Government Reform for the U.S. House said as many as 35,000 people in the Third District currently covered in the individual health care market could lose protections if the states challenging the law were to win in court.

DeLauro said 23,000 residents of her district have pre-existing conditions; 10,000 of them have pre-existing health conditions severe enough to deny them any health coverage, according to the report.

She said if the protections for older Americans are eliminated, they could be charged more than 10 times the amount a younger adult now pays for their insurance premiums.

The report said Connecticut has its own state-level protections for pre-existing conditions, women and older Americans, but if they are rolled back at that level, there will be no backstop to federal changes.

Besides enrolling in insurance through the ACA, Lagarde put in a plug for all citizens to exercise their right to vote next week.

One of the ways we can send a strong message to Congress ... is voting. Next Tuesday I would be so proud to say that voter turnout in Connecticut would hit an all-time high, Lagarde said.
You wont find any insults or fur flying in the 116th District, where Republican City Councilman Richard DePalma is trying to unseat Democratic state Rep. Michael DiMassa in a rematch of their 2016 race.

DePalma, R-at-large, and DiMassa, D-West Haven are friends, both say. They see each other frequently in the West Haven City Council office, where DiMassa works as the councils administrative assistant.

But that doesnt mean they agree on everything  and that doesnt mean that each doesnt think he can do a better job than the other.

Nevertheless, the closest youll get to vitriol is when DePalma, 68, said hes disappointed by the fact that DiMassa once told him he wouldnt be afraid to break ranks with Democratic leadership if he disagreed with them, and from what Ive seen, he hasnt broken ranks.

But we get along really well, DePalma, who owns DePalma Oil Co., quickly added.

The district includes all of West Havens Allingtown district plus a small portion of the Hill section of New Haven.

DiMassa, 27, said that while he may not have publicly broken ranks with his fellow Democrats, he has sometimes disagreed on a particular issue and tried to address it diplomatically.

What Ive tried to do up there is, behind the scenes, try to engage with my party when theres some thing he has a problem with to make sure that things that Im against dont come to the floor.

DePalma was elected to the City Council last November after losing the previous 116th District race to DiMassa the previous year. He defeated high school student Roman Khondker in a rare Republican primary in September and says he feels much stronger and more confident about this race than he did in 2016.

To be truthful, I think the first time I ran, I got asked real late, he said. This year, with the doors Ive been hitting, hes run into a lot of people who dont usually vote Republican who are thinking about it, he said.

The doors Ive been hitting, theyve been pretty positive... DePalma said. This time, I think Im going to close the gap pretty good ... I think Ive got a shot. 

DiMassa also feels pretty good about the race.

Obviously, I feel confident about my record and I hope my constituents feel good about it, as well, he said, although he acknowledged that obviously, people are frustrated with the financial condition of the state and the city.

Over the past two years, DiMassa said he feels the West Haven delegation did a good job as a delegation as a whole, landing $1.5 million in state bonding funds for Allingtown Center sewer line restoration work and $100,000 for a new playground at Forest School.

He also worked hard with other members of the delegation to hold the line on ECS money, DiMassa said.

DePalma and DiMassa both consider taxes, jobs and education to be among the most important issues the state is facing.

When the top gets raises all the time and the bottom gets higher taxes, youve got a problem, said DePalma. You cant spend what you dont have, and if you dont do your job, youre gone.

DiMassa agrees that taxes are a problem, but said, the issue Connecticut faces is, if youre going to cut taxes for anybody ... who is going to pick up (the tab for) what youre leaving at the table?

Its very hard for people to find employment., DiMassa said. I dont think we have positioned ourselves yet as the best, business-friendly state  and I think we have a lot of work to do.

With regard to education, DePalma didnt offer a lot of specifics, but said there should be more emphasis on the teachers. I think theres nobody asking the teachers to go the extra nine yards. He suggested we could do something to make teachers more responsible for their job.

DiMassa said that one of the biggest things we do in Hartford is fight for ECS (Educational Cost Sharing) dollars.

DePalma also said the state needs to rebuild its infrastructure  but needs to get sound financially first.

DeMassa cited health care issues as one of his constituents greatest concerns, and said, I have constituents who call me who are paying $400, $500, $600 a month for prescriptions.

Medical is an issue, and the costs continues to rise  and people go without treatment, they go without medication, he said. People shouldnt have to go without health care because they cant afford to pay for it.
The number of Medicaid-insured children treated in Connecticut emergency rooms for behavioral health crises rose 20 percent between 2014 and 2016, mirroring a national trend - despite efforts to provide non-ER treatments, according to a study released Thursday.

In 2014, Connecticut ERs recorded 12,100 Medicaid-insured youth visits compared to 14,448 in 2016, according to a study of Medicaid-eligible patients ages 18 and younger commissioned by the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut.

Most of the children who go to emergency rooms with behavioral health issues go to one of five hospitals, according to data collected by consultant Beacon Health Options, which manages behavioral health care for the states Medicaid population.

Connecticut Childrens Medical Center in Hartford saw the most behavioral health-related ER visits, with 3,962 visits by Medicaid-insured youth in 2016. Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale New Haven Childrens Hospital had a combined total of 2,263 visits, followed by St. Marys Hospital in Waterbury with 1,185 and William Backus Hospital in Norwich with 1,203.

Charlotte Hungerford in Torrington saw 263 visits; Middlesex Hospital in Middletown saw 332; and Griffin Hospital in Derby saw 111 visits.

After those 2016 ER visits, the study reported, 10.4 percent of youths were readmitted to the ER within seven days, and 25.6 percent were readmitted within 30 days. The studys authors said this indicates that youth and/or family needs were not met at the visit or by the services utilized after discharge.

Hospital emergency departments are often ill-equipped to handle children experiencing behavioral health crises. Those children may benefit more from treatment at community mental health centers, schools or a pediatricians office, the reports authors wrote.

Emergency departments are not really set up from physical standpoint or from a staffing standpoint to be a primary care behavioral health treatment center, said Jeff Vanderploeg, the president and CEO of CHDI.

Many of the children did not have a follow-up appointment within a month of their initial trip to the emergency room, the study reported.

The reports authors reviewed several studies of both nationwide trends and the data from individual hospitals, including one that showed emergency room visits for publicly insured patients under age 18 experiencing psychiatric problems rose 26 percent from 2001 to 2010.

A 2014 national study cited in the report showed the numbers of psychiatric emergency room visits for children covered by private insurance declined during the same period.

In Connecticut, the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting prompted state officials to try to reduce behavioral health emergency room visits with initiatives to increase the number of crisis-stabilization beds, create Behavioral Health Assessment Centers and redirect children with autism spectrum disorders to specialized services.

The reports authors said some of those efforts have been effective, singling out the states Mobile Crisis Intervention Service hotline as a critical alternative to the ER that parents, guardians and teachers can call to request a clinician who will treat the child at their home or school.

We have one of the best behavioral health systems for children in the country ... and were still seeing a large number of children showing up to emergency departments for treatment, Vanderploeg said.

The report said nearly 1,300 Medicaid-insured children in 2016 were stuck in the emergency room after a behavioral health crisis, staying in the hospital for days or weeks before they were discharged, according to the data.

And about 35 percent of those children did not have a follow-up appointment to see a behavioral or mental health professional in the month after they went to the emergency room. Vanderploeg said that number could indicate poverty, lack of transportation or poor coordination between behavioral health providers are preventing parents and guardians from taking children to mental health appointments.

A CHDI working group that produced the report concluded that the state should try to alleviate pressure on emergency rooms by promoting collaboration between the hospitals, the states mobile crisis program and schools, and try to promote follow-up care at community health organizations for children who have been to the emergency room.

If someone is coming to the ED and the questions are really about how to manage or treat the individual in an ongoing way ... the staff are not necessarily trained or focused on addressing those questions, said Michael Hoge, the director of Yale Behavioral Health at the Yale Department of Psychiatry and a consultant on the working group. It raised the question of where else they would go.

Family members of children with behavioral health concerns said they relied on emergency rooms when the childs behavior was out of control or when the child had suicidal thoughts, often to get a diagnosis or guidance about how to cope, according to the report.

The working group delivered recommendations for state agencies to lessen emergency room visits and improve access to community-based mental health care, including:

 Allowing the Mobile Crisis Performance Improvement Center to focus efforts on increasing collaboration among the mobile crisis programs, the emergency departments, and schools.

 Fund the placement of care coordinators and family support specialists in high-volume emergency rooms.

 Provide telepsychiatry services connecting behavioral health specialists to emergency room staff, a service already available to pediatricians in Connecticut.

 Appropriate funds for the state Department of Children and Families to create Behavioral Health Assessment Centers that would provide evaluation during behavioral health crises, as well as treatment and referral, for children, youth, and families.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting. ( c-hit.org )
Forty years after a couple and their 3-year-old son were found with their throats slashed in a brutal slaying at their Atlantic County home, the State Police is renewing its call for clues in the cold case and resubmitting evidence for testing.

Advances in ballistic and DNA testing could shed new light on the evidence collected from the crime scene on Oct. 30, 1978 after Gary and Joan Deal, both 26, and their son Jason were found dead, the State Police said this week.

All three had their throats cut. Gary and Joan Deal were also shot multiple times in the head.

Jason was lying on his bed in his pajamas while his mother's naked body was found on the floor of the couple's bedroom. Gary Deal was lying on the floor near the front door when police arrived at the house on Mays Landing Road that night.

The family was last heard from four days earlier, police said.

Local, state and federal authorities conducted an intense investigation, developing several leads but no one was ever charged. The cold case remains under investigation by the State Police's major crimes unit.

The State Police is also renewing its call for tips in the case.

"The brutal murder of the Deal family sent shockwaves throughout New Jersey and across the country, with numerous local and federal law enforcement agencies assisting with the case. "Although numerous suspects were developed, no one was ever charged."

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Mario Nocito at 609-561-1800 ext. 3354. Anonymous tips are welcome.

State Police Seeking Publics Assistance with 1978 Murder of Deal Family Ballistic and DNA Evidence Recently... Posted by New Jersey State Police on Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A judge on Thursday dismissed a theft charge against Englewood Cliffs Police Chief Michael Cioffi that was filed by the mayor over a borough-owned recording device.

Cioffi used the digital recorder to make 120 recordings of himself going about his daily activities at police headquarters, talking to borough employees and other officers.

The recordings were turned over by Cioffi's attorney during the discovery phase of a federal lawsuit Cioffi filed against the borough and according to snippets played during council meetings contain comments about Republican council members -- including that he'd allegedly like to kill former Council President Carroll McMorrow and racist statements about other council members.

Englewood Cliffs was a Democratic strong-hold for more than 40 years prior to current Mayor Mario Kranjac's election in 2016.

Cioffi was suspended for 120 days without pay from his $234,824 per year job by the council in a unanimous vote on Oct. 10. He is expected to retire early next year.

Kranjac filed the theft charge in mid-September against Cioffi after learning during a July 24 deposition on the federal case of the existence of the recordings and Cioffi's possession of the recorder. Cioffi apparently said the recorder was at his home, according to testimony Thursday.

Cioffi was sent letters on July 25 and August 20 demanding the return of the device. The chief apparently gave it to the attorney representing him in the federal case against the borough, according to a letter dated Oct. 26 that was referred to in court Thursday. In the letter, the attorney says he has the recorder and will make it available to the borough's attorneys to do a forensic examination for that case.

"You can't just take property and give it to your lawyer and say you didn't steal it," Kranjac told Central Judicial Processing Court Judge Anthony N. Gallina.

Gallina heard about 50 minutes of testimony from Kranjac and a cross examination by Cioffi's attorney, James Patuto, during which tension was high between the two.

Patuto argued that the prices of the recording devices purchased by the borough started at $149, while Kranjac valued the item at $200 to $499. If the recording device were valued at less than $200 the criminal charge would not be indictable and would be a disorderly persons' offense, Patuto said.

Patuto also said that as a member of the police department, Cioffi had the right to possess the recording device. "He's the chief of police and it's police property," Patuto said.

After a 15 minute recess, Gallina returned to the bench and ruled that there was no probable cause that Cioffi intended to steal the recorder.

"I've seen nothing in testimony, documents and the transcript where the chief is saying 'I'm in possession of the recorder and I'm not giving it back,'" Gallina said.

Outside of the courthouse, Kranjac said the judge "got it wrong."

"It seems like they're bending over backwards to protect people who shouldn't be protected," the mayor said.

"He had control. He admitted having control and yet we still don't have our recorder back," Kranjac said. "What will happen when a police car goes missing in the future -- or something else?"

In a subsequent email statement about the ruling, Kranjac said:

"The judge basically said today that a thief must make it known publicly that the thief will deprive the property owner of its property," the mayor said. "This is not how the statute works and we still do not have the borough's property back. Cioffi confirmed having it and then once demand was made for its return he hid it with his lawyers."

Patuto, meanwhile, was pleased with the ruling.

"I think it's a disgrace that a criminal charge was brought by the mayor of the city against the police chief of the city for theft," Patuto said. "That's so serious for a police officer ..."

The theft charge, he said, could have put Cioffi's pension in jeopardy. "Frankly, I think that's what the mayor wants -- to take away his pension for political reasons."

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
NEW DELHI (PTI): With an aim to "enhance mutual trust" and promote border peace and tranquillity, the armies of India and China held a meeting at Bumla Pass in Tawang, the Army said on Wednesday.



The Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) is a common exercise between the two armies that facilitates interaction between the forces and helps in defusing tension, especially when there is no agreement on border demarcation.



The armies of the two countries were engaged in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam last year that had led to escalation of tensions between India and China.



"A Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) between #IndianArmy & People's Liberation Army was hosted by Chinese side at Bumla Pass in Tawang. The meet took place in an atmosphere of warmth and friendship, with an aim of enhancing mutual trust and promoting border peace and tranquillity," the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, Army tweeted.


Q. I've heard that a Roth IRA is a good way to save for college. Is it? Does it shield the money from financial aid calculations?

-- Saver

A. Here's the rundown on the Roth IRA.

It was named after the late Senator William Roth of Delaware, and it's been around since The Tax Relief Act of 1997.

Most who are familiar with the Roth IRA know it as a vehicle for accumulating retirement savings. However, there are actually many good reasons to use a Roth IRA for college, said Cynthia Fusillo, a certified public accountant with Lassus Wherley in New Providence.

But first, a little primer on how the Roth actually works.

Unlike other retirement plans such as employer sponsored 401(k) plans and traditional IRAs, contributions to a Roth IRA are non-deductible, Fusillo said. This means you contribute with after-tax money. Eligibility includes income limitations.

For example, she said, a married couple filing jointly in 2018 can make direct Roth contributions if their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is below $189,000. This contribution is limited between $189,000 and $199,000 of AGI, and is completely disallowed when AGI exceeds $199,000.

"Withdrawals of your contributions, not earnings, may be taken at any time if the funds are used for qualified education expenses," Fusillo said. "This does not apply to earnings in the account and those withdrawn earnings, used for education purposes, will be taxable if you are under the age of 59 1/2."

Normally distributions of earnings for an account less than five years in existence are also subject to early distribution penalties, she said, but when used for qualified education expenses, your distributed earnings will avoid those penalties.

Fusillo said there are financial aid benefits when using a Roth IRA as college savings.

"Retirement assets are not considered assets on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), meaning your chances for financial aid eligibility are not impacted by owning a Roth," she said. "By contrast, a percentage of 529 accounts are considered assets for FAFSA purposes."

Leftover money in a Roth IRA that is not used for college can then be used for your retirement, she said.

"You do not have that flexibility with a conventional education account, such as a 529," she said. "Leftover funds in a 529 are taxable when withdrawn if not used for education, and could be subject to a 10 percent penalty."

One downside to using a Roth for college savings is that there are contribution limits. Specifically for 2018, they are $5,500 per taxpayer - or $6,500 for folks 50 and over - and you must have earned income in order to contribute, Fusillo said.

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.com's weekly e-newsletter.
A military war veteran and government worker missing for several days has been found dead in Philadelphia, authorities said Wednesday.

William Smith Jr., 47, was last seen about 10:30 p.m. Sunday when he left his home on Addison Avenue in Haddon Township, authorities said.

William Smith Jr.

His body was found Wednesday, according to Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo and Haddon Township Police Chief Mark Cavallo.

"There is nothing suspicious about his death at this time," Colalillo and Cavallo said in a statement.

Authorities did not release details surrounding Smith's death.

Smith was to travel to Texas for a vacation with family members on Friday, his sister said. His father and wife both died recently and that he had been in grief counseling, she said.

Cobain said her brother was a disabled war veteran suffering from "PTSD and other combat-related issues."

Smith worked for the U.S. Department of Defense in Philadelphia, Cobain said.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
President Donald Trump has swamped America with limitless lying, scapegoating and fear-mongering, accompanied by inflammatory rhetoric -- "knock the crap out of them," "enemies of the people"-- that set the tone and opened the gates for those Americans attracted to violence.

As a self-proclaimed "nationalist," how could Trump, who proudly asserts he has a "very, very large brain," and is a "very stable genius," not know that many perceive "nationalist" as an age-old code word for "white nationalists"?

Shouted through the bully pulpit of the presidency, "nationalist" and similar code words can quickly inspire fear-based haters to act to transform Trump's words into violent realities. To me, it's inconceivable that the president doesn't know that hate is contagious. It spreads.

In Trump's January 2017 inauguration speech, he promised the nation, "This American carnage stops right here and stops right now." But, daily murders in America's poorest neighborhoods continue unabated, and mass murders are still common.

In October 2017, we had the Las Vegas slaughter. This year, soon after the Parkland (Fla.) high-school slaughter, Trump promised Parkland students, teachers, and parents that he would do what was necessary to stop the killings. He was emphatic: "It's not going to be talk like it has been in the past."

His scorecard for doing something to end the carnage is a big zero. Will he earn the same score now that hate has led to the murder of two innocent black men at a Kentucky supermarket and 11 worshipers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh?

My guess is, yes. Trump will keep earning zeroes as long as his servile Republican minions in Congress hold the majority. If Democrats gain control, he 'll fold.

Why am I sure of this? His New York City history shows he's brave and combative when he holds overwhelming power, but quickly crumbles when challenged by superior, unflinching power. Voting Democrat on Tuesday can create that power. It may save America.

Howard Margolis, Voorhees Township

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com
A tiny borough in Essex County agreed to pay $325,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by six officers who claimed the force was run by a "megalomaniacal despot."

Roseland, home to approximately 6,000 residents in the western part of the county, agreed to promote two of the officers from sergeant to lieutenant and adjust their pay, according to the settlement, which was obtained through the state's Open Public Records Act. and first reported on a blog run by John Paff, a New Jersey open records advocate.

Roseland Police Chief Richard McDonough. (Star-Ledger file photo)

But those two officers, Terry West and Charles Ribaudo, will resign from the force one year after they're promoted, according to the terms of the settlement.

As part of the settlement, Officer Glenn Carnevale received $50,000 while Officers Kevin Donaldson and Joseph LaPosta each got $30,000.

The remaining officer, Freddie Mitchell Jr., apparently didn't receive any compensation as part of the settlement, which also included $215,000 for attorneys fees.

The wide-ranging lawsuit, filed on Oct. 20, 2014, accused Chief Richard McDonough of using on-duty personnel and police vehicles for personal errands, altering reports to manipulate crime statistics, covering up accidents involving borough officials and using the Internal Affairs process as a "tool of terror."

The lawsuit also named the borough of Roseland and Capt. Kevin Kitchin.

The settlement acknowledges the sum to the plaintiffs is compensation for "alleged emotional distress and any physical manifestation thereof."

The defendants also do not admit any wrongdoing, and the settlement states that it is "solely for the purpose of economic expediency."

An attorney for the officers could not be immediately reached for comment.

An attorney who represented the borough declined to comment.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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A grand jury has decided not to indict a police officer who shot and killed a woman as she drove an SUV toward him while fleeing a shoplifting in June, authorities announced Thursday.

Sgt. Kevin A. Clements shot LaShanda Anderson, 36, of Philadelphia, as she tried to escape pursuing officers after stealing more than $3,000 in merchandise from a Marshalls store on June 9.

LaShanda Anderson, Facebook photo

The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office made public their findings on the shooting -- required by the state Attorney General's office -- and said they interviewed civilian and police witnesses, sought and reviewed any available video footage, reviewed ballistics evidence, medical examiner reports and airbag control module data from the SUV, which crashed after the shooting.

The results were presented to a grand jury, which declined to indict Clements for his use of force, the prosecutor's office said.

The office gave this narrative:

Police were alerted to the shoplifting when a loss prevention officer at Marshalls called 911 to report that three people were trying to leave without paying for merchandise.

During the call, he indicated that one of the shoplifters was wanted for a homicide. That information turned out to be incorrect, the prosecutor's office confirmed Thursday.

As Anderson and two other alleged shoplifters, Chanel Barnes and Raoul Gadson, fled the store, they scuffled with loss prevention officers as police arrived.

Seeing the cops, Anderson ran for the trio's SUV.

Capt. William Bittner pulled his gun "in a show of constructive force" as he ordered Anderson out of the vehicle. Instead, she accelerated and hit the officer with the door after he had re-holstered his weapon and began approaching the SUV.

Bittner ran after the SUV and threw his expandable baton at the rear window, shattering the glass, in hopes of making the vehicle easier to identify after the driver fled, prosecutors explained.

Meanwhile, Clements was standing between 12 and 25 feet in front of the vehicle and drew his firearm as he ordered Anderson out of the vehicle.

The SUV accelerated toward him and "fearing for his life," he fired three shots in rapid succession, striking Anderson twice.

As he fired, he also moved to his right to get out of the vehicle's way.

The SUV, with Barnes in the passenger seat, continued traveling across the parking lot in a wide arc before running over a curb, down an embankment and "striking an access road," setting off the airbags.

An analysis of airbag data indicated the vehicle was traveling at 19 to 22 mph for the five seconds before the airbag deployed.

The medical examiner determined that one shot struck the left side of Anderson's head, while the other hit her right elbow.

An analysis of the trajectory of the bullets indicated one round that entered the bottom center of the windshield was fired from in front of the vehicle, while the shot that entered through the driver's side mirror and window was discharged from a firearm toward the front of the driver's side of the vehicle.

The investigation was complicated by the fact Deptford police don't have body cameras.

Both Barnes, 38, and Gadson, 43, were arrested and charged in connection with their roles in the incident.

The trio were known to Marshalls staff from prior shoplifting incidents, prosecutors previously noted.

The Gloucester County NAACP issued a statement after Anderson was killed expressing concern about the shooting and seeking to "assist in the investigative process and close the divide that police shootings often create among citizens of diverse backgrounds."

Loretta Winters, president of the county NAACP chapter, issued a statement Thursday night acknowledging that the prosecutor's office had notified the group of the grand jury's decision.

"The Gloucester County NAACP practiced its due diligence in pressing for an independent investigation and if we obtain further evidence we are open to revisiting this matter," she said. "Again, we express our condolences to the family of LaShana Anderson and we will continue to press for body cameras for Deptford Police Department and are prepared to lend the support of the GC NAACP in promulgating policies and procedures to keep incidents like this from occurring again."

Clements, who is in his early 40s, is a 19-year police veteran. He was placed on administrative leave pending completion of the investigation.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

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As two men handed out cash to temporary workers at a South Jersey warehouse, two gunmen walked into the secured business with no problem after waiting for someone to come out.

They stuck their weapons in the paymasters' faces and one of them spoke.

"I want everything," he declared.

The bandits made off with $25,000 in cash, which had been packaged in sealed envelopes for the workers.

One of the victims recognized one of the robbers -- the one who spoke -- as a former employee at the facility, according to the criminal complaint filed by Logan Township Police.

A warrant was issued for Anthony Pham, 22, of Philadelphia and the U.S. Marshals fugitive task force later tracked him down, police said.

He has since been extradited to New Jersey.

Pham was is charged with robbery, aggravated assault, theft and criminal trespassing in the Sept. 14 robbery.

The other robber remains at large. He's described as Asian, 5 feet 9 to 6 feet tall, and weighing about 185 pounds.

Their method of breaking into the secured, refrigerated warehouse wasn't high-tech, according to Pham's criminal complaint. They waited for a current worker to exit through the employee entrance, grabbed the door and walked inside.

The stolen cash was not recovered, police said.

Pham is due in court Dec. 6 for a pre-indictment conference on the charges.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.
Three people were struck by a vehicle that veered off the road and onto the sidewalk in the area of 16th Street and Avenue C in Bayonne on Halloween night, the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office said via Twitter.

The crash occurred at roughly 7:40 p.m. Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis said in a Facebook post that he was at the Jersey City Medical Center checking on the injured people, the the HCPO described as two children and one adult. It was previously reported that four people were struck.

The ages of the children were not released but photos from the scene show a damaged stroller and a bag full of candy on the sidewalk.

The area of Avenue C and 16th Street in Bayonne is closed off as police continue to investigate the crash, Bayonne officials said in a Facebook post this evening. The investigation is being led by Bayonne police, with assistance from the HCPO's county Regional Collision Investigation Unit.

Davis said that witnesses and people with any information related to the crash should call the Bayonne Police Department at 201-858-6900.

"It doesn't appear that any injuries are life-threatening at this time," Davis said in the post. "I caution everyone to not believe the false stories being put out on social media. I will provide an update when I learn more information. Please pray for all involved."

The HCPO said in a tweet the three victims are in stable condition. The tweet also said the driver remained at the scene and refused medical attention.

There was no word on summonses or charges related to the crash. More information on the crash and the cause was not immediately available.

This report was updated at 11 p.m. with new information.
JERSEY CITY -- A 27-year-old Jersey City man who spent more than eight years in jail awaiting his murder trial was found not guilty of all counts after about two hours and 20 minutes of jury deliberation Thursday morning.

"First of all, God is good," said Anthony Shuler after the verdict was rendered at about 11:20 a.m. this morning.

Shuler hugged his attorney, Joseph Mazraani, and both wiped tears from their eyes. Shuler said his spirit is high and his faith is strong. He even paraphrased Jesus on the cross.

"Praise God most high," Shuler said. "It is he who allowed me to undergo my struggle without doubt. I have learned to forgive others for they do not know what they do."

Shuler, whose trial was delayed in part because of witness tampering charges, appeals and the dismissal of those charges, was 19 years old when he was charged with fatally shooting Darren Edwards on June 28, 2010 at the corner of Duncan and Olean avenues in Jersey City.

A second man was also wounded in the incident. At a previous hearing, the prosecutor alleged that the pair was targeted because they had changed "sets" within the Bloods street gang and because Edwards was in a homosexual relationship.

At least two of the state's witnesses were problematic during the trial, including the man wounded in the incident and a boy who was 14 at the time. The wounded man took the stand out of the presence of the jury, but did not return to testify in front of jurors.

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Karen Kazanchy said there were five to seven witnesses to the incident, but the jury saw only one.

Initial delays in Shuler's trial were caused by a variety of reasons, but in February 2016 the case was complicated when Shuler and three others -- Robert Dawson, Eric Dawson and Golden Williamson -- were charged with witness tampering and conspiracy to murder witnesses.

Two months later, the state obtained a superseding indictment against the three men, in addition to Shuler, whose murder charge was included in the new indictment. That meant the four would be tried together.

The witness tampering charges stemmed from recorded telephone conversations Shuler had while in jail. Because a reference was made to Shuler's first attorney, Mary Ciancimino, during the phone calls the state moved to disqualify her from representing him.

More time passed when the trial judge agreed with the state and an appellate court upheld the trial judge's decision after an appeal. Although it was expected that Shuler would be tried with his co-defendants, that changed in September.

After all evidence had been submitted to jurors on Tuesday, Hudson County Superior Court Judge Patrick Arre dismissed all conspiracy and witness tampering-related charges against Shuler. The judge found that there was not enough evidence to sustain them.

Mazraani said today that he felt Ciancimino "was vindicated by the dismissal."

Robert Dawson pleaded guilty on Sept. 17 to conspiracy and witness tampering to cause false testimony. His twin, Eric Dawson, pleaded guilty to witness tampering to cause false testimony on the same day, the records say.

The charges against Williamson were dismissed at the request of the prosecution on Sept. 19, the records indicate.

As to today's verdict, Mazraani said "It was long overdue." He said of his client that "I'm relieved for him and I'm sad for him. Sad because he spent almost a decade of his life waiting for this."

The jury acquitted Shuler of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and two gun offenses today. After the verdict came in, the state dismissed the charge of possession of a weapon by a felon.

Shuler was handcuffed to be transported back to the Hudson County jail in Kearny where he was to be processed and released. The jury began deliberating late yesterday afternoon.
Students at St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City were sent home Thursday morning after a faculty member apparently committed suicide inside the high school.

Jersey City spokeswoman Ashley Manz said Thursday afternoon that around 7:11 a.m. Jersey City police responded to a call of a possible suicide in the area of 144 Grand St. and found the victim unresponsive.

Manz added the death did not appear suspicious. The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office said it is not investigating the man's death.

In statements sent to parents and the media, the school identified the faculty member as Jan Butrym, who graduated from the Catholic high school in 2001 and joined its full-time staff in 2007 as a network administrator. He also served as the moderator of the school's robotics team.

Students were called to an assembly and were notified of Butrym's death before being dismissed for the day at about 10:15 a.m. The school sent an email to parents and guardians notifying them of the death.

"This morning we suffered the unexpected death of a staff member on campus. We gathered our school community for Mass this morning; we now have counselors and administrators available on campus for students and faculty," Principal James C. DeAngelo wrote in an email to parents.

"Jan's impact on Prep, both as a professional and as a person, was profound," DeAngelo said. "He was a great role model for both the students and his colleagues -- and he made his mark at Prep far beyond just being 'a tech guy.'"

Dozens of people left messages of condolence on the school's Facebook page,

"So sad, our condolences go out to his family, friends and the entire St Peter's Prep Family," said Robert Grimaldi. "Thank you for all you did for our boys. Especially for the time and talent, you gave to the Robotic's Program."

Another commenter added: "He was such a nice man. Was a pleasure knowing u these last 3 years."

Classes will resume Friday with guidance counselors available for support starting at 8 a.m., the school wrote to parents.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include new information.
A Trenton man who's admitted his role in a string of armed robberies of cell phone stores in 2016 was sentenced Thursday to more than eight years in federal prison.

Rodney Day, 27, pleaded guilty last year to committing three armed robberies of Metro PCS stores in Willingboro, Lumberton and Levittown, Pennsylvania over a two-weeks period in the fall of 2016.

In all three robberies, investigators say the Metro PCS stores' occupants were bound with duct tape and forced into a storage closet or bathroom, and the cash registers ransacked.

Zeldrick Nance, 31, of Trenton, and Lisa Anderson, 35, of Griffithville, Arkansas have also pleaded guilty for the robberies and await sentencing.

In each robbery, Day brandished what appeared to be a firearm while Nance duct taped store occupants and placed them in a separate room. Meanwhile, Anderson stole money from the cash registers, the New Jersey U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.

The trio would also take cell phones, the statement said. Fingerprints on a cell phone box that was recovered from a getaway vehicle lead to the arrests, investigators said.

Day was sentenced to 100 months of prison time, three years of supervised release and an ordered to pay $26,307 in restitution.

Nance and Anderson are expected to be sentenced later this month.

Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross.
Preventing acts of terror, before Jihadists plan them

Photo/Mike Lovett Yujiao "Sue" Su '19 (left) and politics professor Jytte Klausen

Can research on radicalization eventually prevent terror attacks from happening?

Yujiao Sue Su 19 is working to answer that question as part of a team of paid student researchers with Brandeis Western Jihadism Project.

Launched by politics professor Jytte Klausen in 2006, the Western Jihadism Project is housed inside a Brandeis computer laboratory and supports research on Al-Qaeda-affiliated terror networks in Europe, North America and Australia.

Su, an undergraduate research analyst from Sichuan, China, works with her peers to catalogue information on thousands on terrorists and organize it into a custom-built database.

You know that these terrorist acts are happening all over the world and now you get to study this phenomenon, said Su, who is also a Gateway Scholar. The subject is sensitive because most people dont have a substantive understanding of it, but when our team looks at terrorism were not merely looking at ideology. We want to know how this terrorist network is formed.

The Western Jihadism Projects student staff includes a mix academic backgrounds  from psychology and politics majors to those studying international relations, near eastern and Judaic studies and computer science.

Klausen appreciates having diverse perspectives on her team, not only for examining data but also to enhance teamwork and the Western Jihadism Projects overall bandwidth. For instance, a team of computer science students created a server and custom-built web portal so other institutions can access the projects research through an encrypted wormhole.

Written in two computer languages, the server has been upgraded three times and now includes records on 6,300 individuals, 848 terror plots and 333 terrorist organizations.

Su, who majors in politics and minors in business, enjoys being part of the venture. She took Klausens course War on Global Terrorism during her sophomore year based on the professors reputation as a dynamic teacher and came to be fascinated by the subject matter.

At Klausens suggestion, she joined the Western Jihadism Project, where she now helps lead her peers and adds new findings to the projects servers via her senior research thesis, which examines the role prison can play in radicalization.

Prison is a very interesting place, particularly in the United Kingdom and France, Su explained. Sometimes we see petty criminals introduced to terrorists in these settings. Some of these petty criminals are transformed and when theyre released, they commit terrorist attacks. Im studying what prompts this transformation.

The Western Jihadism Project has employed 80 undergraduate and graduate students from 14 different academic departments since its inception. Last summer, Su and Emily Smith 19 received grants from Provost Lisa Lynch to conduct independent research related to the project. Smith even visited the Centre danalyse de terrorisme (Center for the Analysis of Terrorism) in Paris to present her work.

The project has garnered national attention, too. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded Klausen and researchers at the Colorado State University a $731,000 grant to use the Western Jihadism Projects data collection to create an algorithm that can predict when an individual will become radicalized.

Klausen is optimistic about the project and credits her students, both past and present, for doing so much of the legwork over the last 12 years. That said, shes also remained passionate about teaching her current crop of researchers.

Su, who plans to pursue law school next year and focus on either intellectual property or cyber law, considers herself fortunate to have found a mentor that has helped show her the value of research.

In this case, the subjects of law and terrorism are not closely related, but the way of thinking  to analyze something or follow a line of logic  that helps me prepare for law, Su said. Youre using a basic guideline as a lens to examine certain phenomenon.

Klausen also appreciates having Su on her research team.

Su has such a sunny, bright personality and its such a joy to have her here in our lab, Klausen said. Her wonderful disposition is matched by the quality and precision in the way she conducts research and helps others.
A 19-year-old man was charged with driving under the influence after striking and seriously injuring a 14-year-old boy in Middletown on Halloween night, authorities said.

It is not known if boy was trick-or-treating when he was hit around 7:50 p.m. near the intersection of Everett Road and Yale Drive in the Lincroft section of town, Lt. Paul Bailey said Thursday.

The teen was brought to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune with injuries that police said are serious but not considered life-threatening.

Nicholas Andrews, of Union Beach, was charged with assault with a motor vehicle while under the influence, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor/drugs and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle.

Andrews was also issued summonses for reckless driving, careless driving, failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to use headlamps.

Police declined to say if Andrews was under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or a combination of the two.

"Intoxicated can refer to being under the influence of alcohol or drugs," Bailey said. "We are not commenting on the nature of the intoxication."

Anyone with information is asked to contact officer Michael Reuter at 732-615-2045.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- A New Jersey yacht captain accused of causing a fatal collision off the coast of Rhode Island has pleaded guilty.

The Providence Journal reports 79-year-old Cooper Bacon, of Cape May, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Providence to seaman's manslaughter in the death of 81-year-old Walter Krupinski, of Norfolk, Connecticut.

Bacon was previously found guilty in March of charges brought against him by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Prosecutors say Bacon wasn't paying attention when he crashed into Krupinski's fishing boat in 2015, killing him. Bacon was piloting the 60-foot yacht from Newport to a boat show in Stamford, Connecticut at the time of the crash.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 17.
The state Senate is planning a hearing to look into what factors may have contributed to the deadly viral outbreak at a pediatric healthcare facility that has so far claimed the lives of ten children, and continues to grow.

Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex, who chairs the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, said many questions need to be answered in the adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell.

"The public needs to know what happened," he said. "The loss of a child is the very worst thing a family can endure, and we have an obligation as a legislature to make sure our infection controls and protocols are as current and effective as possible."

Meanwhile, another case of infection was confirmed Thursday at the Wanaque Center, bringing the total number of pediatric cases associated with the outbreak to 28, the state Department of Health said late Thursday afternoon. Officials added that a staff member at the facility -- who has since recovered -- also became ill as part of the outbreak.

Those stricken, who ranged from toddlers to teenagers, all became ill between Sept. 26 and Oct. 30. Health officials said the affected children had severely compromised immune systems -- including respiratory problems -- before the outbreak began.

"The loss of these young lives is heartbreaking, and our thoughts are with the families who are affected," said Health Commissioner Shereef Elnahal said. "We are working closely with the facility to conduct respiratory illness surveillance and ensure all infection control protocols are continuously followed. We are also engaging in discussions with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on standards for these facilities."

Adenovirus is a respiratory virus which can cause mild or serious illness, though serious illness is less common. Symptoms may include common cold, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, pink eye, fever, bladder inflammation or infection, inflammation of the stomach and intestines and neurological disease.

Heartbroken to report that a 10th child has died who was a resident at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation: https://t.co/6JG7whD6gm



I am engaging in discussions with @CMSGov on standards for these facilities.  Shereef Elnahal, MD (@ShereefElnahal) November 1, 2018

Earlier this week, the Department of Health revealed a separate outbreak of adenovirus, this one at the Voorhees Pediatric Facility in South Jersey. Four kids have become ill, but there have been no fatalities reported.

The health department is awaiting additional laboratory test results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the cases at Voorhees, but said preliminary test results have ruled out Type 7 -- which has been identified in the far more severe outbreak at the Wanaque Center.

Vitale's wants to schedule his hearing within the next two weeks.

The senator has already expressed his concerns over the long wait before parents were notified, as well as how long it took for the state to visit the Wanaque Center after it first learned there were sick children.

While health officials are still trying to determine how the outbreak grew, Vitale said the Legislature may need to take regulatory action.

"It's awful. It's awful," he said of the mounting death toll. "I want to hear from the state. I want to hear from the Wanaque Center. I want to hear from the industry."

State Sen. Joseph Vitale. (Geoff Mulvihill | AP file photo)

And he said he wanted to hear from family members, if they are willing to come.

"The legislature has passed bills about patient safety and infection control. And we've been fought by the industry," Vitale said. "There's a process here. On a mater this critical we don't allow institution to decide on their own what's best practice."

Health department officials say they plan to launch a team of infection control experts and epidemiologists later this month to visit all four pediatric long-term care facilities in New Jersey -- including Wanaque -- to conduct training and assessments of infection control procedures.

They will also inspect University Hospital, in Newark, where, a possible bacterial infection (unrelated to the Wanaque Center outbreak) may have contributed to the death of a premature baby who had been in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.

The Wanaque Center in northern Passaic County is a 227-bed nursing home, rehabilitation center and a pediatrics center, which offers short- and long-term care. Licensed for 92 pediatric beds, state officials said the facility has agreed to cease admitting new patients until the outbreak ends.

Editor's note: Do you have a family member on the pediatric unit at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, or a child who has been affected by the viral outbreak there? NJ.com would like to hear from you. You may reach us at (732) 902-4559, or write to Susan Livio at slivio@njadvancemedia.com, Spencer Kent at skent@njadvancemedia.com, or Ted Sherman at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A 22-year-old New Jersey woman who was living on the street in Philadelphia with her boyfriend was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver fleeing from a nearby crash, authorities said.

Rhiannon Broderick (Facebook)

Rhiannon Broderick and her 27-year-old boyfriend were lying on a mattress on a sidewalk in the area of Kensington Avenue and Cambria Street when a 34-year-old woman jumped the curb and hit them.

Broderick was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, while the boyfriend was treated and released. The driver, Jessica Ledee-Davila, 34, of Philadelphia, surrendered Tuesday night, Philaldelphia police said.

She is charged with vehicular homicide, voluntary manslaughter and other traffic offenses.

Ledee-Davila rear-ended a car stopped at a red light and got into an argument with the other driver before getting back into her car and hitting Broderick, NBCPhiladelphia.com reported.

Ledee-Davila then abandoned her minivan and took off on foot, the report said.

Broderick's Facebook page says she is from Florence.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
An 80-year-old man participating in one of the largest Halloween parades in the world held annually in Toms River suffered a fractured skull Wednesday when the gas-powered go-cart he was driving rolled while turning, authorities said.

The Willow Grove, Pennsylvania resident was "performing various maneuvers," along the parade route when the go-cart tipped and the man struck his head on the pavement, Toms River police said in a statement.

He is in critical but stable condition at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, a Toms River police spokeswoman said.

The cart didn't have a seat belt, nor was the man wearing a helmet. Police didn't immediately provide additional information about the cart.

Wednesday's parade was the 80th one held in Toms River. Organizers once billed it as the second-largest Halloween parade in the country and the 2016 event attracted a crowd of about 6,000.

The Toms River Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 has organized the township's Halloween parade since 1919. In the 1950s, the event was a giant party held in the parking lot where the Toms River Municipal Building is now located. It featured dancing, games for children, cider and doughnuts.

Video and photos shared on social media show what appears to be thousands of people lining the parade route.

Police ask anyone with video of the incident to send it to pgambardella@trpolice.org.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Two more people have been infected with measles in Lakewood after being exposed to the highly-contagious virus from a traveler who brought it into the country last month, the New Jersey Department of Health said.

The department warned residents Thursday that the two unidentified people may have infected others between Oct. 25 and 30 at the following locations in Lakewood:

* NPGS, 231 Main St. on Oct. 25 between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. and Oct. 29 between 2:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

* Pizza Plus, 241 4th St., on Oct. 28 between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The two people developed symptoms after being infected by another unidentified person who developed symptoms after international travel to Israel and was in Ocean County between Oct. 13 and Oct. 21, the department said in a release.

State health officials said they are considering this a "measles outbreak" and are working with the Ocean County Health Department to identify any other potential places the person could have visited and said they will update the public if necessary.

Anyone who visited the listed locations was asked by the department to call a doctor "immediately."

"Anyone who suspects an exposure is urged to call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department," the department of health release stated. "Special arrangements can be made for evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection."

People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person and anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles was at risk if they were exposed.

Measles symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes and it can cause more serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, according to the department of health.

People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person and anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles was at risk if they were exposed.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.
By Mark Dunec

This is a crucial time for America. This is not a time for voters to be beholden to partisan loyalty or chain our votes to their feelings we may have for one particular politician who is not even on the ballot. What we really need in Washington are leaders who are willing to work with all comers to keep moving America forward.

That is why, even though I am a Democrat and have run for the New Jersey's 11th Congressional District under the Democrat Party banner, I'm supporting Republican Jay Webber.

I've come to know him as a man with integrity and common sense. Webber is the only candidate in this race who has real experience reaching across the aisle as a state Assemblyman. He has delivered policies, like the landmark legislation that keeps predators out of our children's schools, that make New Jersey a better place.

Dunec: Over the last several years I have had increasing concerns that the mainstream Democratic elected officials and candidates have embraced a socialist ideology. (Courtesy photo)

Over the last several years I have had increasing concerns that the mainstream Democratic elected officials and candidates have embraced a socialist ideology. I have witnessed this change not just on a national level but in our district, county and even in my town of Livingston.

Democrat Mikie Sherrill's candidacy was born out of a movement that is based around nothing but opposition. We need a Congressional representative that will embrace the good things that are happening in this country. However, Sherrill has made it clear that she intends to reject the economic progress we have made and supports the policies of far-left Democrat leaders like Senate Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Gov. Phil Murphy.

North Jersey simply cannot afford their high-tax agenda.

Furthermore, when I look across the political landscape, it is only the Republican Party that has demonstrated through actions its unwavering support for the State of Israel. The United States must nurture our relationship with our greatest ally in the Middle East. I know that Jay understands the importance of Israel and the United State's mutual commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights. As a former member of the National Council of AIPAC, I trust that Jay Webber is the best candidate to stand up for Israel.

I have always put principles over partisan politics and will continue to do so. In having the opportunity to get to know Jay Webber, I have come to conclude that my own moderate vision of fiscal responsibility and social consideration is shared by him.

Webber will support his party leaders when they are right, oppose them when they are wrong, and always stand up for North Jersey. For these reasons, I am supporting Jay Webber.

Mark Dunec, a real estate appraiser who lives in Livingston, was the 2014 Democratic candidate in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District.

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Newspapers don't often battle one another, so I was surprised to see the Wall Street Journal take a shot at us this week after we reluctantly endorsed Sen. Robert Menendez over his Republican challenger, Bob Hugin.

First, I think it's great that they are breaking this taboo, as I have in the past. The hands-off tradition is old-school nonsense. Newspapers dish it out; we can take it in, too.

In that spirit, I have a question for the folks at the Journal: How can you be so crazy?

The Journal compares Menendez to Roy Moore, the Alabama judge whose Senate campaign in 2017 was doomed after he was exposed as a pedophile.

"Most national conservatives urged his defeat because it was the right thing to do," the editorial states. "Rank-and-file Democrats can show they're a moral match for Alabama Republicans if they decide to vote for Mr. Hugin or stay home."

If you've been watching TV lately, you may notice that this pitch is precisely designed to fortify Hugin's closing argument in the campaign, the accusation that Menendez paid for sex with child prostitutes during trips to the Dominican Republic.

So, let's start by pointing to a few key differences:

Nine women testified that they were victims of Moore's sexual misconduct. One said that when she was 14, Moore kissed her, took off her shirt and pants, and forced her hand towards his genitals. Another said that when she was 16, he groped her and forced her head towards his crotch. Another said he grabbed her rear, another that he forced a kiss, and so on.

Bob Hugin, the former pharmaceutical CEO challenging Robert Menendezs seat in the U.S. Senate, sat down with Star-Ledger Editorial Page editor Tom Moran to discuss what many polls are showing to be a surprisingly tight race. Posted by NJ.com Opinion on Thursday, October 25, 2018

Hugin's charge against Menendez is based on one tipster -- a man who refused to reveal his identity, or to meet with FBI agents to discuss the charge.

That's it. One guy threw a bomb and disappeared.

No child prostitute stepped forward. The FBI looked for evidence to support the charge and found none. Federal prosecutors dropped the matter years ago.

Now, I'm no lawyer, but the Journal's comparison goes well beyond ridiculous.

Menendez is a slippery guy and should have resigned when he was indicted on corruption charges in 2015, as we urged. He escaped conviction but was "severely admonished" by the Senate for taking expensive gifts, hiding them, and using his office to promote the personal and professional interests of the guy who was writing the checks. He's awful.

But child prostitution? With no evidence? That's a vicious smear from Hugin, and the tactic tells us something about his ethics.

One more thing: The Journal claimed that we oppose Hugin because "he used to work for a biotech company that made a profit."

We offered a few other reasons. His firm, Celgene, has mercilessly beaten back attempts to develop cheaper generic alternative to its lucrative cancer drugs. It paid $280 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit claiming that Celgene instructed its sales force to deceive doctors by hiding information on potentially fatal side effects of its drugs, while defrauding Medicare.

If there's no truth to that, why did Celgene pay such a massive sum without a fight?

And yes, Hugin's enthusiastic support for Trump tipped it for us. He donated more than $200,000 to the cause, volunteered to be finance chairman in New Jersey, and served as a Trump delegate in 2016. His attempts to run from that record now amount to political fraud.

Some critics said that we should have endorsed neither candidate. That was tempting. But voters will be standing in the booth Tuesday, and our core mission is helping them decide which lever to pull.

Others said we were wrong to endorse the "lesser of two evils," an argument that has always mystified me. Isn't that better than the greater of two evils?

Our headline on the endorsement reflected our reluctance: "Choke it down, and vote for Menendez," it said.

That bothered the folks at the Journal, too. They huffed: "The crudeness of the prose reflects the crassness of the argument."

Wow. Maybe next time we'll use more tender language. Until then, maybe the Journal can toughen up a bit when they come pick a fight in New Jersey.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or call (973) 836-4909. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
UPDATE: This story has been updated to include Public School 12 in Paterson which Paterson School District added to the list of schools in shelter on Thursday morning.

Thousands of Paterson school students are sheltering in place for a second day Thursday after school officials were notified of a second gun threat last night, Paterson police Director Jerry Speziale said.

School officials in Paterson were notified of threats at Eastside High School, John F. Kennedy Educational Complex, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg School (School 6), Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Complex (School 30), and Public Schools 12, 20 and 24.

Speziale says police will be providing adequate coverage to protect students as a result of the threats, which he said was made on a social media app. The threats, which NJ Advance Media received from a student, told students to stay home. Another showed a person holding a gun.

Paterson police, the Passaic County Sheriff's Department, Passaic County Prosecutor's Office and the New Jersey State Police are investigating the matter, which Speziale said is being looked at as a threat against an institution.

Under the schools' shelter operation, classes will run as scheduled, but students and teachers will not be allowed to leave the building. All outside activities have been canceled and the district's High School Choice Fair scheduled for this evening at John F. Kennedy High School has been rescheduled for Nov. 15.

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris may be reached at tharris@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ladytiamoyo.

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New Jersey's elected officials want to borrow half a billion dollars to expand vocational schools and bolster security across K-12 school districts. But, first, they need you to give the OK.

When voters go to the polls on Tuesday, they will be asked whether they support the Securing Our Children's Future Act, a $500 million bond measure that also includes funding for county colleges and improving water systems in K-12 schools.

New Jersey's Constitution requires that new state borrowing be approved by a majority of voters.

The bulk of the money would go toward expanding access to vocational schools and better preparing students for good jobs that desperately need trained workers, advocates say.

Getting more young people into those careers would be a win for the state's economy, said state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester.

"There's a lot of jobs that are going unfilled because people aren't trained to do them," Sweeney recently said. "I can tell you as an Ironworker Union ironworker, it's OK to be a union ironworker, welder, plumber, electrician, carpenter. They make pretty good careers. They make pretty good livelihoods."

The state's career and technical schools need to expand in order to serve more students, according to the state association that represents them. For every seat at the schools, there are 2.3 applications, said Judy Savage, executive director of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools. Last year, 17,000 students were turned away.

Expanding those facilities, such auto technology shop or a manufacturing lab, doesn't come cheap, Savage said.

Vocational school and labor leaders have said the technical skills gap between New Jersey's workforce and industry needs is holding back the state's economy, while limited admissions are depriving students of training for careers in welding, clean energy, construction and logistics.

The Democrat-controlled state Legislature initially approved a $1 billion bond question that was cut in half by Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat who warned against adding to New Jersey's already high debt burden.

Of the $500 million, $350 million would fund county vocational technical school expansions and enhanced k-12 school security. Another $100 million would upgrade water infrastructure to remove lead. And $50 million is earmarked for community colleges.

At $1 billion, the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services projected the new debt would add $57.5 million to $72.3 million in new borrowing costs every year through 2048, for a total of $1.7 billion to $2.2 billion.

State officials have not said how much they expect the $500 million in new borrowing to cost each year. New Jersey is one of the most indebted states and is paying more than $4 billion this year to service its debt.

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
A people focused approach to sustainability has won Ibstock Brick two nominations in the Sustainability Leaders Awards 2019.

The brick manufacturer has been shortlisted for the Energy Efficiency category, and Michael McGowan, its Quality, Environmental and Energy Manager, has been shortlisted in the Energy Management Leader of the Year category.

The awards are co-ordinated by environmental publisher edie.net, and recognise businesses that demonstrate excellence in their approach to sustainability.

Ibstocks People First approach identifies people, as opposed to machinery and processes, as major energy users. The company encourages staff to use good energy-saving practices in their day-to-day work. It also runs training sessions and has created a pocket guide for all employees showing them how to save energy at home and at work, and why it matters.

Joe Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of Ibstock, said: It is a real achievement for Ibstock Brick to be shortlisted for these prestigious sustainability awards.

At the heart of our sustainability strategy is a people-focused approach, which sits alongside our investment in more resource-efficient methods of manufacture.

With clear targets and a roadmap to achieve these, we find ourselves looking towards a promising future where our impact on the environment is not only minimised but positive.

Ibstock Brick says it is committed to driving sustainability through investment across its business. Recently it invested significantly in Eclipse, an energy-efficient brickworks at its headquarters in Leicestershire (pictured), which was officially opened in June.

Located on an old landfill site and close to the principal raw materials source, the building meets BREEAM Industrial criteria, is clad in a breathable material to reduce the need for additional ventilation equipment, and consumes energy and resources efficiently.

The winners of the awards will be announced at a gala ceremony in London on 6 February 2019.
WASHINGTON -- More than 90,000 New Jersey residents with pre-existing conditions such as cancer or diabetes could be unable to buy health insurance under policies being pursued by President Donald Trump, according to a report released Thursday.

Such protections would be lost if federal courts overturn the Affordable Care Act, as the Trump administration has urged, the U.S. House Oversight Committee Democratic staff said in the study.

In all, as many as 352,000 New Jersey residents who buy coverage through the ACA's marketplaces no longer would be guaranteed coverage or could face excessive premium increases as administration's actions would remove those protections in the current health care law.

Most of them, 225,000 individuals, currently have pre-existing health conditions and could lose coverage or face unaffordable premiums. As many 94,000 may not be able to find any insurance coverage at all.

The report gave Democrats another opportunity to focus on health care, which voters called the top issue in a midterm election seen as a referendum on Trump, a Republican.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, who is in the final week of a tough campaign against Republican challenger Bob Hugin, highlighted the report today at a news conference with other top Democrats in New Brunsiwck.

"Donald Trump and Republicans running for office here in New Jersey think they can pull one over on the American people , claiming they want to protect patients with pre-existing conditions at the very same time they're trying to overturn those protections," said Menendez, D-N.J., a member of the Senate Finance Committee that oversees health issues.

Menendez says Trump is hurting health care and Republicans in Congress have been complicit in this. pic.twitter.com/cp9h5xQZdZ  Brent Johnson (@johnsb01) November 1, 2018

The report was released on the first day Americans could sign up for health insurance on the ACA exchanges.

"We can't allow this president or his complicit counterparts in the House and Senate to drag us back to a time when kids born with serious health concerns could be denied coverage altogether and just being a woman could mean higher costs," said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist., a member of the oversight panel.

"Rather than put more people at risk, we should work together to put every American in reach of affordable, accessible health care," she said.

Trump and congressional Republicans unsuccessfully sought to repeal the health care law, an action that would have left as many as 32 million more Americans without insurance.

Since then, the president has taken several steps administratively to weaken the law and GOP lawmakers voted to eliminate the requirement that all Americans carry insurance or pay a penalty.

"It is time for the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to stop trying to sabotage the American people's health care," said Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-6th Dist., the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee that also has jurisdiction over health care.

"Rather than allowing insurance companies to increase costs for people with pre-existing conditions and discriminate against the elderly, we should be working together to improve access and lower costs for high quality health care," said Pallone, who joined Menendez, Watson Coleman and Rep. Donald Payne Jr., D-10th Dist., at the news conference in New Brunswick.

Added Payne: "New Jerseyans deserve protection, not discrimination, with health care."

The popularity of the ACA, including its coverage for pre-existing conditions, has caused Trump to falsely claim that the Republicans who tried to do away with the protections really want to keep them in place while the Democrats who support such coverage really want to end it.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning Politifact gave Trump's claim its highest rating for falsehoods.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
A soldier from New Jersey who died as a prisoner of war nearly 76 years ago will be buried with full military honors later this month in Salem County, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

Army Staff Sgt. Karl R. Loesche

Army Staff Sgt. Karl R. Loesche, 22, of Monroeville, was a member of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands on Dec. 8, 1941. Intense fighting continued until the surrender of Bataan on April 9, 1942, and of Corregidor on May 6, 1942.

Thousands of U.S. and Filipino service members were taken prisoner, including many who were forced to endure the Bataan Death March en route to Japanese prisoner of war camps, according to the DPAA.

Loesche was among those captured and held in a POW camp, where more than 2,500 prisoners eventually died during the remainder of the war.

Records show Loesche died Nov. 16, 1942 and was buried with fellow prisoners in the Cabanatuan POW camp cemetery.

After the war, the military exhumed the remains of those buried at the Cabanatuan cemetery and moved them to a temporary U.S. military cemetery near Manila, according to DPAA.

Due to limited technology at the time, scientists were unable to identify many of the remains due to extensive co-mingling.

But with advances in DNA, Loesche's remains were positively identified by the DPAA on Sept. 13.

The DPAA said in a news release and funeral announcement that Loesche's name is recorded on the "Walls of the Missing" at the Manila American Cemetery, along with the other MIAs from WWII.

"Although interred as an 'unknown' in Manilla American Cemetery, Loesche's grave was meticulously cared for over the past 70 years by the American Battle Monuments Commission," the DPAA said. "A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for."

The interment will be Nov. 17 in Elmer. The remains are on the way back to Loesche's family, according to the DPAA.

The New Jersey VFW has asked all its members to attend the services.

Details will be announced on the VFW's Facebook page.

#WW2 #Soldier funeral announcement; Army Staff Sgt. Karl R. Loesche, 22, of Monroeville, New Jersey, accounted for on Sept. 13, 2018, will be... https://t.co/71fnrZ7Hj9  Stichting M.I.A. (@StichtingMIA) November 1, 2018

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A construction worker was killed Wednesday in a wall collapse at a home he was helping to remodel in Salem County, authorities said.

Nauro Ramos-Ramirez, 22, of Bridgeton died after a foundation wall collapsed on him around 9 a.m. in Lower Alloways Creek Township, according to police Chief Richard Venable Jr.

Ramos-Ramirez was trapped under the debris at the home on on Maskells Mill Road. He died at the scene, Venable said.

The victim worked for DeWitt Concrete and Masonry Inc. of Bridgeton, police said.

Venable said the wall was part of the existing structure from when the home was built. It was not clear if the wall was part of the remodeling project.

The construction company's managers were not immediately available to comment Thursday.

Venable said no charges were filed but that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is conducting its own investigation.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office opened an investigation into some racially-charged graffiti discovered in a bathroom stall at a Metairie private school.

Authorities received the complaint Friday (Oct. 26) from officials at Metairie Park Country Day School, 300 Park Drive, Old Metairie, said Glen T. Boyd, spokesman for the department.

The graffiti, found in a girls' bathroom, included a slur for African Americans and encouraged violence against them, according to Boyd.

School officials did not return telephone calls requesting comment Wednesday. But the school sent home letters and notified parents about the graffiti on Friday, according to Fox 8.

The letter from Head of School Matt Neely called the writings hateful and threatening.

Anyone with information about the graffiti is asked to The public can also call Crimestoppers at 504.822.1111 or toll-free at 877.903.7867. Callers do not have to give their names or testify and can earn a $2,500 reward for information that leads to an indictment.
A man accused of beating an alleged wallet thief to death along South Claiborne Avenue this summer has been released from jail without charges, while the District Attorneys office waits for the coroners report on the victim to be released.

Simon Morris, 32, was arrested on one count of manslaughter after he chased down a man who stole his wallet and beat him outside a string of stores in the 4100 block of South Claiborne Avenue, police said. The alleged wallet thief, Kerwin Duncan, 31, succumbed to injuries sustained in the prolonged beating.

Morris was released under Article 701, according to court documents, which protects the defendants right to a speedy trial by requiring prosecutors to file charges within a certain time period if they want to keep the accused in custody. Manslaughter requires prosecutors to act within 60 days, but 68 days after Morris' arrest prosecutors had yet to file charges, prompting the judge to order his release.

District Attorney spokesman Ken Daley said the office was unable to make a charge determination because the Orleans Parish Coroners Office had yet to release their final pathologist report on Duncan. Typically reports are not released until toxicology test results return, causing the process to take eight weeks or longer. Daley said the office will make its decision on the case once the report is received and evaluated.

The altercation began when Duncan asked Morris for a dollar around 8 a.m. in the 2100 block of South Claiborne Avenue. Morris denied his request. Duncan then snatched Morris' wallet and ran across the street. Two witnesses observed Morris follow then beat Duncan. When the witnesses attempted to restrain Morris, he continued to punch and kick Duncan, who begged Morris to stop as he struggled to covered his face, head and body. The beating continued for over five minutes before a witness was finally able to pull Morris away and stop the fight, according to a warrant for Morris' arrest.

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A man stole a wallet, then was beaten to death on Claiborne Avenue, police say

Two weeks after the beating, Morris requested to have his $150,000 bond lowered in magistrate court, but was denied by a judge that told his attorney David Gremillion he needed to address the five minutes or more allegation in the police report.

Gremillion did not respond to a request for comment.

Louisiana law defines manslaughter as a homicide which would be murder ... but is committed in sudden passion or heat of blood immediately caused by provocation sufficient to deprive an average person of his self-control and cool reflection or a homicide committed, without any intent to cause death or great bodily harm.

The charge has no mandatory minimum punishment but can carry up to 40 years in prison, while a murder charge would call for an automatic life sentence.
Two strangers held a student at gunpoint at his on-campus apartment before forcing him to drive to two ATMs and withdraw money Wednesday afternoon, University of New Orleans Police said in an email.

Around 1 p.m., an armed man and woman forced a student to leave his Privateer Place apartment (map) and go to his car, according to UNO police. The unidentified man and woman made the student drive to two separate ATMs, give them cash and drive back to campus, police said. The amount of cash the student was forced to withdraw from the ATMs was not available in an initial report from UNO police.

UPDATE: NOPD releases images of armed couple suspected of robbing UNO student at gunpoint

After arriving on campus, the man and woman got out of the mans car and ran to another car which police describe as a black sedan, possibly a Chevrolet Impala, with a Mississippi license place.

The man, who UNO police describe as 5 feet, 11 inches tall, about 160 pounds and with a slim build, was wearing jeans and a hooded, gray sweatshirt at the time of the armed robbery. Police described the woman as approximately 5 feet, 4 inches tall with a heavyset build and wearing a gray, zippered hoodie.

The NOPD is currently investigating the incident. No additional information was available as of Wednesday evening.

If you have any information that can assist with this investigation, please contact the UNO Police Department at (504) 280-6666 or 280-6371.
A Louisiana Department of Public Safety officer has been fired after investigators determined that he lied in reporting a police chase involving shots fired by a motorcyclist, Louisiana State Police said Wednesday (Oct. 31).

In addition to losing his job, Chandler LeGrange, 29, was booked into the Livingston Parish jail Wednesday with malfeasance in office and filing false public records.

LeGrange reported the chase and shooting about 6 p.m. Monday to Louisiana State Police Communications, saying he had been in a pursuit that involved gunfire from a motorcyclist on Juban Road in Livingston Parish.

The report prompted a significant police response, drawing numerous troopers and other officers to the scene, where a search began for a suspect.

As Louisiana State Police detectives began investigating, several inconsistencies began to surface regarding the sequence of events as reported by LeGrange, according to a state police news release.

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Further investigation and questioning led detectives to determine that LeGrange had fabricated the chase and shooting.

LeGrange was a probationary employee with the Department of Public Safety Police.

A booking photo of LeGrange was not immediately available Wednesday night.

Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news in New Orleans for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.
A 41-year-old woman was able to escape uninjured and with her belongings after a man walked up to her car and pointed a gun at her head while she was at a drive-through ATM on Elysian Fields Avenue early Thursday morning (Nov. 1), New Orleans police said.

The attempted robbery was reported at 12:51 a.m. in the 3700 block of Elysian Fields Avenue, according to a preliminary NOPD report. The woman was sitting in her car when the armed man approached and demanded her money. The woman refused and drove away in her car, police said.

No other information was immediately available.

New Orleans police are also investigating a simple robbery and an aggravated burglary reported between Wednesday and Thursday.

About 1:30 a.m. Thursday, a woman texted a 53-year-old woman about money she owed her before arriving at her home in the 7700 block of North Coronet Court and kicking in the door, according to a preliminary report.

The suspected burglar, who police described as a woman in her early 30s" known as My Girl, entered the house, went upstairs and kicked in the bedroom door. She used a broken piece of the door frame to hit the 53-year-old woman on the back of the head, then grabbed the 53-year-olds wallet and fled the scene, police said.

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No other information was immediately available.

Around 8:55 p.m. Wednesday, a 53-year-old woman was standing near the intersection of Orleans and Bourbon streets with cash in her hand when a man snatched the money and ran, according to an initial report.

Police were able to track and arrest the robber, identified as 47-year-old Michael Neubauer, at the intersection of Bourbon and St. Ann streets. Neubauer was booked with simple robbery and resisting an officer, police said.

A previous version incorrectly named the intersection where Wednesdays simple robbery occurred. The robbery occurred at Bourbon and Orleans streets.

NOPD releases image of couple suspected of robbing UNO student
They number in the tens of thousands and include people from all walks of life. Teachers, doctors, laborers, judges, students, clergy, police officers  even a Roman Catholic archbishop  are among the flock.

When it comes to the Archdiocese of New Orleans Safe Environment training program, no one gets a pass. The program, which includes a background check and a class that teaches adults how to appropriately interact with children, is mandated for anyone who has contact with minors at any Catholic church or school event. Over the past year, more than 16,000 adults in the metro area have participated in the program.

Meanwhile, another component of the Safe Environment program is aimed at youngsters, teaching them what to do if they are touched inappropriately by an adult and how to recognize efforts on the part of predators to groom them for sexual abuse. Over the past year, 43,550 children received the training, archdiocese officials said.

With the raging Catholic clergy sex abuse scandal at the forefront of public consciousness, church leaders have pointed to what they say is the success of the wide-ranging safety initiative, saying the program is largely responsible for a drastic decline in abuse cases over the past decade.

Its been very effective, said Sister Mary Ellen Wheelahan, who coordinates the program for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Its a different generation were raising now.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond said in recent interviews that while recent revelations of clergy abuse in the Catholic Church exposed terrible sins, preventative measures such as Safe Environment put in place by the U.S. Conference of Bishops in 2002 have helped church leaders address the issue and move toward a renewal. He said there have been no credible reports of clergy abuse occurring in the Archdiocese of New Orleans in more than a decade.

In a move that could help support that statement, Aymond has said he plans to release the names of clergy who have been credibly accused of abusing minors over the past five decades once files are closely examined. He did not say exactly when that would be, though he has said it would be sooner rather than later.

Wheelahan said all archdiocese clergy members, parochial school teachers, school volunteers and anyone who has any dealings with minors is required to undergo a background check and take the class. That includes people who may interact with children only sporadically, such as parents who volunteer to chaperone school groups marching on Mardi Gras parades. Everyone required to take the training must repeat it, and resubmit to a background check, every three years.

No one is exempt. Even public school teachers who undergo similar training must take part before they are allowed to be a volunteer. Aymond himself has been the subject of a background check and took the training session.

To be or not to be Catholic

Wheelahan said participants are told that the program came to be as a result of the abuse scandal, which exploded in early 2002 when the Boston Globe published an investigation that led to the criminal prosecutions of five Roman Catholic priests and brought the issue of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy under a national spotlight. Following that revelation, the U.S. Conference of Bishops established the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The charter, which has been updated three times since 2002, mandates that all dioceses in the U.S. establish Safe Environment programs.

In August, a Pennsylvania grand jurys report identified more than 300 priests credibly accused of sexually abusing more than 1,000 child victims over seven decades. That report detailed the pervasive sexual abuse of minors by members of the Roman Catholic clergy, and systematic cover up by church officials, sending shock waves through the church.

Aymond declared the clergy abuse issue and the churchs efforts to cover it up a crisis that has caused anger, disappointment, outrage and heartbreak. However, he pointed out that only a handful of the incidents outlined in the Pennsylvania grand jury report occurred after 2002, which he said was a testament to the impact of the Safe Environment program.

"I am convinced we have a safe environment," Aymond said in a recent interview.

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Archdiocese Communications Director Sarah McDonald said the program, includes training on how to recognize signs that a young person is being abused, has served as a model for other organizations that have created similar initiatives.

Wheelahan said much of what is taught to adults seems like common sense issues, but its easy for some to get caught up in the moment when working with playful children.

We dont tickle children, we dont wrestle with children, she said. We dont touch a childs torso or legs unless its a medical emergency.

The childrens component of the child safety program begins in pre-kindergarten. From that point on, the youngsters are taught that adults must respect boundaries. In working with children in the 4-10 age group, Wheelahan said she asks them to extend their arms to establish the boundary, or the distance that adults should keep from the child in most circumstances.

They are taught that adults have to respect your space, Wheelahan said. They (the children) know that no means no and they know that they are to contact a parent or trusted adult if the feel uncomfortable with someone.

The program is age appropriate, with lessons changing as students get older. The youngsters are eventually taught how to spot possible predators, officials said.

A few weeks ago, Wheelahan said a child saw a man at a church fair acting suspiciously and taking photographs of other children. The principal was alerted and police were summoned, resulting in an arrest. The suspect was not a clergy member.

While the Safe Environment program is an outgrowth of the clergy abuse scandal, archdiocese officials said it has proven to be a useful tool in helping address all facets of child abuse, including cases within families.

Invariably, when we teach a class a child will come forward and tell us something is going on (in their families), she said.

Tim Lennon, president of the board of directors for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest, said he believes Safe Environment is a good program program but it cant wipe away the clergy abuse issue on its own. He said there have been reports of clergy abuse since the program was put in place.

These child protection policies are good, theyre necessary, Lennon said. But its a mixed bag. There are still questions about bishops covering things up.

In addition to Safe Environment, the archdiocese is also part of a pilot program to incorporate high reliability organization practices into the Catholic Church to reinforce its commitment to eliminate sexual abuse. Sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Bishops Office of Child and Youth Protection, the program incorporates principles used by the military and the airline and medical industries to address mishaps that can have profound impacts.

It is based on the theory that organizations that are preoccupied with failure tend to better dissect operational flaws to see what went wrong to prevent reoccurrences. In the medical and airline industries, a mishap could lead to casualties.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans is one of seven Catholic dioceses across the country participating in the program.
A woman pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday (Oct. 30) to using an unauthorized company credit card to steal more than $500,000 from the Old Jefferson business where she worked, court records show.

Nicole Seruntine, 35, was convicted of wire fraud, a charge stemming from her use of the credit card at a LaPlace gas station. The data for the transaction was transmitted to a data center in Boulder, Colo.

According to court documents, from about June 2010 through mid-February 2017, Seruntine worked as a secretary and dispatcher for an Old Jefferson business that specializes in services like crane and forklift rental, trucking, heavy-machinery rigging and hauling and warehousing.

Seruntine was not permitted to use a company credit card, but her job included ordering and distributing the cards to the company's truck drivers, who used them for cash advances, fuel and other job-related expenses, court records show.

Around October 2014, Seruntine used her position to order an extra, unauthorized fuel card and then used the card for more than two years on personal expenses including gas, food and cash advances, according to court documents.

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She also fraudulently charged more than $3,600 to the companys AT&T bill when she bought phone service and Samsung and iPhone devices for her boyfriend, the records show.

According to court documents, Seruntine agrees that the total amount of restitution owed to her former employer totals about $514,000.

Seruntine could face up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and other financial penalties, U.S Attorney Peter G. Strassers office said following her guilty plea Tuesday.

Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news in New Orleans for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.

Old Jefferson employee charged in $500,000 company credit card scheme
State Police on Thursday (Nov. 1) identified the bicyclist who died after being struck by a vehicle near Covington Tuesday night as Alejandro Otilio Reyes-Meza, 59, of Covington.

State Police responded the scene on Louisiana 36 near Covington around 11 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 30). They said Reyes-Meza was struck from behind as he rode a mountain bike west on or near the solid white fog line on the edge of Louisiana 36 near 7th Street.

Reyes-Meza was taken to St. Tammany Parish Hospital where he later died, police said.

Bicyclist dies of injuries in St. Tammany Parish

State Police said the bicycle did not have lights, and the rider was wearing dark-colored clothes but no helmet.

State Police said the driver of the car that hit the bicyclist, a 26-year-old from Covington, provided a breath sample, which showed no alcohol present. As part of the investigation, a blood sample was also collected from Reyes-Meza and will be sent to the St. Tammany Parish Coroners Office for analysis, State Police said.
About three dozen homes in a St. Tammany Parish subdivision reported damage Thursday (Nov. 1) after severe storms passed through the region, officials said.

No one was reported hurt in St. Tammany Parish, but authorities in neighboring Washington Parish, to the north, reported injuries after a tornado near Bogalusa.

In St. Tammany, where damage to trees was widespread as the storms barreled through in the pre-dawn hours, 35 homes on two streets in the Tallow Creek subdivision off Louisiana 1085 near Covington reported damage, St. Tammany Parish government after making an assessment of the area Thursday morning.

Parish government spokesman Ronnie Simpson said the damage was to windows, roofs, siding and buildings in yards. In a news release, Simpson said Parish President Pat Brister had ordered the parishs Emergency Operations Center to coordinate with faith-based groups to offer assistance with temporary tarps to cover roof damage. The news release said the St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office and Red Cross are also involved.

Simpson said most of the damage in Tallow Creek was reported as the worst of the weather passed over between 4:30 and 5 a.m.

Across the parish, crews are working to survey damage and remove downed trees and limbs where possible, the parish said.

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As of 11 a.m. there were 2,000 power outages reported parishwide, the parish said.

In Washington Parish, two tornadoes touched down, the National Weather Service said.

Authorities said two people were injured just east of Bogalusa when a tornado overturned the mobile home they were in around 3:30 a.m., The Associated Press reported. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known, the AP reported.

The National Weather Services Bob Wagner said the preliminary survey of damage in the Bogalusa area indicate the tornado there was a "low end EF2' on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which the weather services uses to measure tornadoes. Such a tornado can have winds up to 135 mph.

-- NOLA.com | The Times-Picayunes Mark Schleifstein contributed to this story.
School districts in the New Orleans metro area are planning to delay school schedules Thursday (Nov. 1), as severe storms pass over the area.

The Orleans Parish School Board recommended all public schools in Orleans Parish start no earlier than 11 a.m. Thursday, according to a school board news release. Public schools will open at 11 a.m. unless included on the following list of schools, officials said Wednesday night. NOCCA also opens at 11 a.m.

These have individualized opening instructions for students and staff:

Abramson Sci Academy is canceled.

Algiers Charter schools

Doors open at 10:30 a.m.

Programming starts at 11:30 a.m.

Audubon charter schools (Uptown and Gentilly campuses):

Staff report at 10:30 a.m.

Before Care and Breakfast is cancelled.

Ben Franklin Elementary (both campuses)

Bus service starts at 10:30 a.m.

Staff arrives at 10:45 a.m.

Students should arrive at 11:30 a.m.

Ben Franklin High School

School opens at 10 a.m. for student drop-off.

Cafeteria opens for service at 10:30 am.

Classes start at 11 a.m.

After-school activities will go on as usual.

Homer A. Plessy Community School

Bus pickup delayed 3.5 hours

Staff report at 10:30 a.m.

Hynes Charter School

Bus pickup: 10 a.m.

Staff report time: 10:15 a.m.

Students should report between 10:30 and 10:45 a.m.

Pre-K class is canceled for Thursday (Nov. 1).

All before-school care and breakfast is canceled for all grades.

All open-house school tours are canceled and will be rescheduled.

The 5th grade StarBase program for 5G and 5D is canceled.

Dismissal and after-care will take place as usual.

Einstein Charter Schools

Staff should report at 10 a.m.

International High School of Louisiana

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Bus pick-up will be three hours later than the usual time.

Faculty and staff should arrive at 10:30 a.m.

International School of Louisiana

For Dixon and Westbank campuses:

Staff reports at 10 a.m.

Students report at 11 a.m.

For the Uptown campus:

Staff reports at 10:30 a.m.

Students report at 11:30 a.m.

Livingston Collegiate Academy

Start time will be at 12:20 p.m.

Morris Jeff Community School

Faculty should report at 10 a.m.

High-school students should report at 11 a.m.

Elementary and middle-school students should report at 11:15 a.m.

Opportunities Academy is canceled.

Warren Easton Charter High School

Staff should report at 11:30 a.m.

Students should report at noon; dismissal will be at 3:30 p.m.

OPSB direct-run schools, which include McDonogh 35 High School and Cypress Academy, will delay the start of school to 11 a.m. Thursday. Parents should check with the schools for transportation information.

Officials with the Jefferson Parish Public School System said classes had already been canceled for Thursday for teacher training and parent-teacher conferences, but officials announced that the training and conferences would be delayed due to weather.

As for Jefferson Parish charter schools, Kenner Discovery asked that staff report at 10 a.m. and students report at 10:15 a.m. at all its four locations. Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish will also have a delayed start time Thursday of 10:30 a.m. Buses will pick students up three hours later than their typical pick-up time, Athlos officials said.

In addition, the Archdiocese of New Orleans announced that all Catholic schools in Orleans and Jefferson parishes will have a delayed start time of 10 a.m. Thursday.

St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools announced on Facbeookthat all of its schools will follow a three-hour delayed start schedule on Thursday due to anticipated severe weather during morning travel time.

Parents in St. Charles Parish have also received notification that all St. Charles Parish Public Schools will operate on a three-hour delayed start time. St. Charles is also canceling before-care services at public schools. Aftercare services will continue as scheduled.

School officials in Tangipahoa Parish stated all Tangipahoa Parish Public School System schools will operate on a two-hour delayed start time. The delayed schedule applies not only to school start times, but also bus schedules and parent drop-off times.

Officials with St. Tammany Parish Public Schools on Wednesday decided they wont delay the start of school, though they told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune they were asking parents to monitor the weather closely and make the best decision for their familys safety. All weather-related student absences and tardies will be excused in St. Tammany Parish on Thursday. The district will be making decisions about transportation schedules and adjusting them accordingly as they get information in the morning.

About 7 p.m. Wednesday, Catholic school officials said St. Tammany Parish Catholic school officials would continue monitoring the weather threat and make a decision later Wednesday. Parents should check school websites and social media accounts for updates.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans also said Wednesday that all Catholic schools in St. John the Baptist Parish and St. Charles Parish will have a three-hour delay because of the severe weather. Catholic schools in St. Charles Parish will also have a three-hour delayed intake. St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Destrehan will be closed as previously scheduled. Annunciation School in Bogalusa will open at 10 a.m., the archdiocese stated.

The National Weather Service warned Wednesday that strong-to-severe thunderstorms could arrive in the area early Thursday morning, bringing damaging winds as strong as 70 mph, large hail and isolated tornadoes.

The New Orleans area is at greatest risk of severe weather between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. The Baton Rouge area is expected to see storms arrive shortly after midnight.

Wilborn P. Nobles III is an education reporter based in New Orleans. He can be reached at wnobles@nola.com or on Twitter at @WilNobles.

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayunes Laura McKnight contributed to this report.
Twenty-three people accompanied Gov. John Bel Edwards on his trip to Israel this week. The group returns from Friday (Nov. 2), having spent several days in business meetings, touring religious sites and going to military installations.

Edwards met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday.

The governor took two members of his personal staff and three state troopers for his security detail on the trip. Three members of the governors cabinet -- Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson and Louisiana National Guard Maj. Gen. Glenn Curtis -- are in Israel as well.

Louisiana first lady Donna Edwards is also on the trip, though the governors staff said the state isnt paying for her travel. Those people accompanying the governor who are not state employees are covering their own expenses, according to the administration.

Louisiana, Israel will work on water research partnership: report

They include prominent Baton Rouge business owners Hans and Donna Sternberg. Donna Sternberg who has been active in pro-Israel lobbying efforts at the federal level for decades.

The Sternbergs sold their department store chain, Goudchauxs/Maison Blanche, in 1992 for $277 million and then a second business, Starmount Life Insurance/AlwaysCare Benefits, for $127 million in 2016, according to the Baton Rouge Business Report. They currently own Highflyer Human Resources, a company that sells businesses software.

Hans Sternberg came to Baton Rouge with his family when he was a baby in the 1930s, escaping Nazi Germany. He is the founding president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Baton Rouge.

Donna Sternberg, his wife, has been on the national board of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee since 1995 and has held several positions within the organization. Currently, she is a liaison on international affairs for the group, according to the biography provided by the governors office. Donna Sternberg is also involved with Israel Bonds, an organization that underwrites securities issued by the state of Israel in the United States.

Israel may look to Louisiana for help with drilling: report

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Campaign finance documents show the Sternbergs contributed several times to Gov. Bobby Jindals campaign, but they didnt donate to Edwards before his 2015 election. They gave money to Edwards' opponent in that race, former Sen. David Vitter, instead.

More recently, Donna Sternberg contributed $1,250 to Edwards campaign in the fall of 2016, a year after he was elected. She has donated to several other elected officials recently too, including state Rep. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, who introduced legislation to ban Louisiana state government from doing business with groups who boycott Israel over human rights concerns.

This past spring, Edwards issued an executive order very similar to Hodges' legislation, which had failed to become law, that bans state contractors from supporting boycotts of Israel.

The Edwards administration said the purpose of his Israel trip is to strengthen Louisianas business and academic relationships with Israeli companies and institutions. Besides Pierson, two other members of the Louisiana Economic Development agency are in attendance as well as two representatives from the Port of New Orleans.

Two officials for the Water Institute of the Gulf were also among those in the delegation. During the mission, the Louisiana-based Water Institute of the Gulf, and Israels Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research signed an agreement to work together for the next five years.

John Grady Davies, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, is also on the trip. His organization helped start the Water Institute of the Gulf.

Edwards said one of the specific purposes of the trip is to boost cybersecurity industry investment in Louisiana. Israel is a leader in cybersecurity issues, and several of the governors business meetings were focused on that area.

Jeff Moulton, head of the LSU Stephenson National Center for Security Research and Training, and Jeff McLeod, who works on homeland security and cybersecurity issues for National Governors Association, also went to Israel with the governor.

A Tulane University government relations staff member and two reporters, Elizabeth Crisp of The Advocate and Matt Houston of WAFB-TV, were also in the group.
Louise is a 17-year-old high school senior from Mid-City. She is a member of NOLA.com | The Times-Picayunes NOLA Student Voices team.

Is the Blue Wave coming to Louisiana? First, Louisiana Democrats need to vote.

The South is changing. The country is shifting, with more young people and minorities expressing strong interests in politics and voting, and the South, a long-time bastion of conservatism, is beginning to lean more liberal.

Democratic Party leaders have had Georgia and Texas on their blue-state wish list for some time, and liberals in Louisiana, particularly those in the stronghold of New Orleans, have long wished for our state to elect more Democrats. Its certainly possible. But for this to happen, we need to take a cue from the other Southern states bucking their conservative stereotypes. We need to vote.

Young people and minorities have begun to show more interest in voting and tend to vote Democrat. A recent survey shows a historically high number of young people plan on voting in the midterms compared with earlier elections, according to Vox. Another recent poll shows eight out of 10 minority individuals said they were determined to vote this year. They also are more motivated: seven out of 10 Latinos said they thought it was more important to vote this year than in 2014.

The number of legal immigrants, who also tend to vote Democrat, has increased dramatically as well. The population of the South, which in the past has been overwhelmingly rural and white, is experiencing rapid urban growth and demographic change. Black, Latino and young voters, as well as voters who live in urban areas, are becoming more politically involved and are much friendlier to liberalism than the older, rural, white voters characteristic of the conservative South.

The South is primed to elect more Democratic candidates into office. Sen. Doug Jones election in Alabama happened under extraordinary circumstances, to be sure, but his popularity has remained high; his approval rating is within four percentage points of that of his Republican counterpart. In Texas, Democrat Beto ORourke is running a competitive campaign against Republican incumbent Ted Cruz. In fact, support for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election in Texas was higher than in some traditional swing states. This is because more people are voting, and these people are voting Democrat.

So, whats going on in Louisiana?

The state of Louisiana is ranked, out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, No. 13 for voter turnout on odd election years. However, the standards for high voter turnout on these odd years are low  only about 45 percent of Louisianians eligible to vote in the midterms actually did. What is concerning for Louisiana Democrats is how that turnout is split along party lines. In 2014, about 61 percent of registered Republicans voted in the midterm elections, compared to only about 54 percent of registered Democrats, according to the Louisiana governments website on election results. In these elections, the Republicans had an advantage not only because they outnumbered Democrats, but also because they were more likely to show up and vote.

Its possible the reason many Democrats in Louisiana stay home from the polls is they believe they are too outnumbered to make a difference. On average, 66 percent of eligible voters turn out in the nations most competitive states, as opposed to 57 percent in the rest of the country, according to FairVote. In a state that always seems to go red, it makes sense Democrat voters would get discouraged, especially in a country where voter motivation seems to be low anyway. A national survey during the presidential election showed that, among individuals who were informed about the election, only about 63 percent of them believed their vote would have an impact on the government.

Uncompetitive races and distrust in the process is certainly not a recipe that would have many rushing to the polls. Although the South is becoming friendlier to liberalism, Louisiana is not yet a supportive state for Democratic candidates, and a lack of viable candidates just does not seem to inspire voter turnout in the way that a competitive race does.

There are signs, however, that seem to indicate voter turnout will soon increase. One piece of that puzzle was a recent, successful attempt to reduce voter disenfranchisement. In May 2018, the Louisiana Legislature passed a bill allowing voting rights to approximately 69,000 people serving probation or parole for felony charges. This bill will not take effect until March 2019, but it is quite possible many of these individuals will vote for Democrats  a 2002 study showed Democratic candidates would have received about 7 out of every 10 votes cast by the felons and ex-felons in 14 of the last 15 US Senate election years."

This is a step in the right direction for increasing voter turnout and is certainly encouraging to Louisiana Democrats looking toward the future. They have reason to hope that, in the future, they will be more successful in this state than they are now. It probably wont happen in these midterms, but overall trends and demographic changes show Louisiana, along with the rest of the South, is poised to elect more Democrats.

Although no data shows how Louisiana voters will turn out this year, one thing is certainly clear: We need to.

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Entergy Louisiana owes up to $4.4 billion for getting the lights back on after a string of storms and needs a $1 billion loan to meet those costs in the short-term, says the head of the utility that provides electricity to about half the states c
06:29:27 AM

Feels Like:

Today

Abundant sunshine. High 74F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 63F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 75F. Winds light and variable.
+2 North Augusta Forward looking to bring downtown development program to city North Augusta Forwards new executive director, Avery Spears-Mahoney, has been in the job for about two months and said the organization wants to continue the citys growth through downtown development.

North Augusta's downtown may be getting a facelift soon. The city has been accepted into the Main Street South Carolina program, which offers a "comprehensive revitalization program" for local downtowns, according to a press release.

Selected communities "receive technical support and training to help restore their downtowns as centers of community and economic activity," the release says, "Member communities have brought significant numbers of new businesses and jobs to their respective downtowns."

North Augusta Forward, a local community development organization, spearheaded the application process for the Main Street program.

"Main Street will be the catalyst to bring collaboration between downtown businesses, citizens, the city, the Chamber and North Augusta Forward as we roll up our sleeves to work on making downtown the heartbeat of our community," said Briton Williams, downtown committee co-chair at North Augusta Forward.
| BY Ricki Green |

As it prepares to turn 15 years in 2019, pioneering Australian restaurant business Grilld has launched its first brand campaign via independent creative agency The Royals, as it prepares for the next phase of growth, which will include an all-new membership program and a revolutionary approach to its takeaway offering.

The campaign introduces Grillds new Motherloving brand platform  calling on Australians to Be a Motherlover, not a Motherfaker. The brands positioning, Burgers from a better place, will underpin the integrated campaign that highlights Grillds commitment to natural and sustainable business practices that respect Mother Earth.

In addition to the campaign, Grilld announced the launch of a new membership programme, inviting the most loyal Grilld customers to become foundational members ahead of a full launch in January 2019. The program is part of a new customer experience strategy that includes a focus on best in-class, mobile-first personalised customers experiences, including a new takeaway offering launching in early 2019. With this Australian-first initiative, Grilld customers will be able to notify the restaurant team as they approach the location so that a team member can be ready and waiting with their takeaway order outside the door. We call it SwingBy. These experiences will be enabled by new partnerships with Salesforce and Swrve.

Says Simon Crowe, founder and managing director, Grilld: The dining landscape has changed dramatically since Grilld first introduced the concept of a healthy and conscientious burger experience to Australians 14 years ago. The purpose of our first-ever brand campaign is to re-define what our restaurants stand for and further differentiate Grilld from the over-processed Motherfakers we compete against. Grilld has grown from five to more than 130 restaurants because its commitment to burgers that are made with love and from local produce resonates strongly with Australians. We know that the opportunity is there for further business growth, despite an increasingly competitive landscape.

Says Andy Jones, CD, The Royals: Its always a challenge creating an inaugural brand campaign  even more-so when the brands as loved as Grilld. So we took things back to the heart of what Grilld stands for: Grilld, and the people that eat there, know that more natural, sustainable and locally produced ingredients make for a better tasting burger.

Says Col Kennedy, marketing director, Grilld: From my first day, the vision and expectation of Grilld has been clear  to deliver world-class customer experiences  and as part of significantly building up our internal capability, we are be focused on working with white-hot partners like The Royals, Swrve, Salesforce and Carat to bring this to life. We will be unveiling more over the coming months, including exciting new product development.

Client: Grilld

Founder: Simon Crowe

CEO: Adam Stapleton

Chief Marketing Officer: Col Kennedy

Marketing Manager: Ingrid Kelly

Agency: The Royals

Managing Partner: Steve OFarrell

Creative Director: Andy Jones

Associate Creative Director: Iain MacMillan

Senior Creative: Andrew Grinter

Senior Creative: Lee Spencer

Design Director: Gavin Wright

Designer: Victoria ONeill

Designer: Zoe Coombs

Senior Producer: Brenton Matulick

Senior Planner: Heleen Hidskes

Group Account Director: Matt Parker

Senior Account Manager: Emma Harrison

Photographer: Danny Eastwood

Producer: Cameron Gray, The Pool Collective
PARIS  Abdellatif Kechiche, an acclaimed French director whose film Blue Is the Warmest Color won the top prize at Cannes in 2013, is under investigation for sexual assault, the authorities in Paris said on Wednesday.

The complaint was filed on Oct. 6 and the Paris prosecutors office opened a preliminary investigation soon afterward. The woman who filed the complaint has not been named.

A report on BFM-TV, a French television network, said that a 29-year-old actress had made the complaint. The woman said that she knew Mr. Kechiche and had been at a dinner party with him and a friend of his in the 20th arrondissement of Paris in late June. She told the network that she had had several alcoholic drinks and did not remember exactly what happened, but that she awoke to find she was lying on a couch with her pants unzipped as he fondled her.

Mr. Kechiches lawyer, Jeremie Assous, told the network that Mr. Kechiche categorically denied the accusations. Efforts by The New York Times to reach Mr. Assous on Wednesday evening were unsuccessful.
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WASHINGTON  Ryan Zinke, the secretary of the Interior Department and a key figure in President Trumps push to roll back environmental regulations and ramp up oil drilling, is facing increased scrutiny amid federal investigations into allegations that he abused travel spending and maintained close ties with industries he oversees.

The criticism escalated sharply after reports this week that the Interior Departments inspector general had referred one of the inquiries to the Justice Department, a potential prelude to a criminal investigation.

The investigations have raised questions about Mr. Zinkes oversight of the Interior Department, where he is essentially the largest land manager in the United States. He has authority over the nations 300 million acres of public lands as well as vast waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the Gulf of Mexico.

Mr. Zinke faces at least a half-dozen ethics investigations. At least nine other inquiries into alleged ethics violations have been closed, in some cases because Mr. Zinke was cleared, in others because of a lack of cooperation with investigators.
Mr. Arkadin

Where to watch: FilmStruck, Amazon

Welles next went to work for the independent producer Louis Dolivet, and he learned that he could clash just as badly with an indie as he had with the studios. Mixing the investigative flashback structure of Citizen Kane with the kind of villainous character Welles played in director Carol Reeds The Third Man (currently on Netflix), Mr. Arkadin is a colorfully engaging, globe-trotting mystery thriller  or at least, its 2006 restoration is. After a contentious shoot, Dolivet took over the picture in postproduction, and beginning in 1955, flooded the market with variations: two Spanish language versions; a European release, retitled Confidential Report; an American release from 1962; and a later home video edit that junks the flashback structure. That version is the one that fell into public domain and has been the cheapest and most readily available. But the Criterion restoration  available on FilmStruck until that streaming service shuts down  does its best to approximate Welless vision. It is a must-see, and even the mangled versions are worth a visit.

Touch of Evil

Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play

Welless next picture underwent a similar bit of reconstructive surgery. Initially, he was hired only to act in this 1958 thriller, but he was promoted to the directors chair on the recommendation of the lead, Charlton Heston, according to the Welles-Bogdanovich interviews. For Welles, it was a chance to reform his image for Hollywood executives, and to that end he delivered a wickedly entertaining, deliriously stylish noir  and then sure enough, Universal re-cut it and reshot scenes without him, ostensibly to simplify the story. (Despite those efforts, it was a commercial failure.) As usual, Welles had to watch his work remixed without his involvement, but he did write a 58-page memo voicing his specific changes and requests. That memo was used, forty years later, to re-edit the film to the directors specifications. Rereleased in 1998, that new version of Touch of Evil was finally greeted with the rave reviews and rapt audiences it deserved.

The Trial

Where to watch: Amazon, YouTube

Crushed by the disappointment of Touch of Evil, Welles returned to Europe for the next several years, putting together the best work he could on the limited budgets he could raise. As usual, he improvised when those funds failed to materialize. His 1962 adaptation of the novel by Franz Kafka offered one of his most ingenious extemporizations: Told that his producers had not procured the funds necessary for his elaborate sets, Welles discovered a moody, abandoned Parisian railway station and shot the bulk of the picture there. Featuring masterly performances by Anthony Perkins (whose closeted homosexuality gives the film a rich retrospective subtext), Jeanne Moreau and Welles himself, The Trial is one of Welless more underrated works but also one of his most nightmarish and inventive.

Chimes at Midnight

Where to watch: FilmStruck, Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play

Welles first experimented with the idea of a Shakespearean hodgepodge, combining pieces of several scripts to create a single arc, in his 1939 stage production Five Kings. He returned to the idea nearly three decades later, taking on the role he was born to play: Sir John Falstaff, the affable adviser and jester to Prince Hal, in this mash-up of five plays. The cheerfully cut-and-paste nature of Welless script was well matched to the production, which was again a stop-and-go process, informed by funding shortages and limited actor availability. (He later told Peter Bogdanovich that the film included a scene in which literally none of the principled actors being photographed were on set; he used seven stand-ins who wore cloaks and wigs.) But more than a decade after Othello, Welles had turned these improvisations into a cogent style, using the machine-gun photography and cutting to tighten the pace of the playing and heighten the excitement of the text, particularly in the jaw-dropping final battle. Critics at the time were unimpressed, but Chimes is seen now as one of Welless crowning achievements.
Do politicians words, the presidents especially, matter?

Since he has been in office, President Trump has relentlessly demonized his political opponents as evil and belittled them as stupid. He has called undocumented immigrants animals. His rhetoric has been a powerful contributor to our climate of hate, which is amplified by the right-wing media and virulent online culture.

Of course, its difficult to prove that incendiary speech is a direct cause of violent acts. But humans are social creatures  including and perhaps especially the unhinged and misfits among us  who are easily influenced by the rage that is everywhere these days. Could that explain why just in the past two weeks we have seen the horrifying slaughter of 11 Jews in a synagogue in Pittsburgh, with the man arrested described as a rabid anti-Semite, as well as what the authorities say was the attempted bombing of prominent Trump critics by an ardent Trump supporter?

You dont need to be a psychiatrist to understand that the kind of hate and fear-mongering that is the stock-in-trade of Mr. Trump and his enablers can goad deranged people to action. But psychology and neuroscience can give us some important insights into the power of powerful peoples words.

We know that repeated exposure to hate speech can increase prejudice, as a series of Polish studies confirmed last year. It can also desensitize individuals to verbal aggression, in part because it normalizes what is usually socially condemned behavior.
| BY Ricki Green |

UPDATED  Melbournes creative advertising community was brought together tonight for the return of the MADC Stars Creative Showcase.

The reformatted and reimagined award show saw Melbournes best examples of local creativity in 2018 celebrated by a 400 strong crowd.

Idea of the Year was awarded to AutoAds, for carsales.com.au, by CHE Proximity with Guilty.

Judges noted: This campaign was unanimously chosen as Idea of the Year. The jury really wanted to celebrate this piece of work for the way it reinvented and reinvigorated one of the oldest mediums in advertising, the 30 second television spot. One of the jurors even commented, I have a car I love, but this makes we want to sell it. We loved the demonstration that creativity, when used correctly, can have a huge impact on commerce.

Used cars around Australia got their very own TV commercial through a very innovative campaign. Melbourne-based production company Guilty and creative agency CHE Proximity created a shiny new idea to sell old used cars, through online second-hand car classifieds platform, Carsales.com.au.

While online technology had evolved, the way people sold their cars hadnt. The MADC Idea of the Year, AutoAds, is a cloud-based platform that used sellers car listing data and merged it with over 5000 pre-recorded audio and visual clips to give every seller a one-of-a-kind car ad. And with over 1.2 trillion possibilities, no two ads were ever the same. Without sellers having to lift a finger, they received an email with five unique commercials to choose from: Luxury, Family, Adventure, City and Tough. In the first week, 435,215 unique car ads were generated, with thousands more generated daily  reducing the average time to sell by 3.5 days.

Guiltys Tony Rogers, who directed the campaign, has an award-winning signature style that incorporates comedic realism and high concepts, using brilliant casting and great performance for clients as diverse as Work Cover, Sorbent, Libra, Just Jeans, CBA, Ford, Nissan, Fosters and AAMI. He was the co-creator and director of the Wilfred series for SBS, which is now a hit series in the US.

Idea of Year (Charity/PSA) was a tie between two winners.

Says Matt Eastwood, Chairman of Judges, MADC Stars is all about celebrating the best work. And we felt that there were two pieces in the Charity/PSA category that were both brilliant, but for different reasons. After much discussion, we decided that if we were to be true to the mission of celebrating the best work, then we should award both.

These winners are:

For Every Bachelor and Bachelorette for Australian Equality Campaign, by Leo Burnett Melbourne with AIRBAG.

Judges said: The Marriage Equality work is a brilliant reminder that a well-placed television spot can genuinely influence and impact culture. We loved the authenticity and sincerity of this work and have no doubt that it played a role in influencing the yes vote. The film itself is wonderful, but the media placement took it to another level.

Invisible Friends for Missing Persons Advocacy Network, by whiteGREY.

Says the Jury: Sometimes an idea comes along that is so brilliant, and almost obvious at the same time, that you cant believe it isnt already out there in the world. This is one of those ideas that genuinely feels like it will make the world a better place. We hoped that when Facebook discover this idea that they would consider implementing it across their platform on a global scale. Its a game changer.

The full showcase of winners can be viewed at madcshowcase.com, where winners can also order trophies.

Contrary to traditional shows, the new MADC Stars Creative showcase dispensed of gold, silver and bronze in favour of a curated collection of Melbournes best work. Other notable points of difference include the inclusion of feedback from judges, to convey why the pieces were awarded.

At $50 a ticket, the show was made accessible to all and the response was overwhelming.

Says Adrian Bosich, MADC president: The decision to bring back the MADC Award Show wasnt a simple one, coordinating it in 9 weeks even less so  to see it sell out and create a waiting list for tickets is proof to us that it was the right choice. Were an industry of intensely hard workers, and its important to pause, reflect and celebrate what weve collectively achieved, even if it is just once a year.

Eastwood found the standard of work across the board to be nothing short of impressive: Community is so important. At a time when our industry is facing unprecedented obstacles, I have been so thrilled to be part of the team that is helping to revive the unique community that is the MADC. When we work and strive together we are stronger. Whats more, some of the best work in Australia, and indeed the world, comes from Melbourne, so its important to recognize and celebrate that with the MADC Stars.

The success of the event was made possible by the generous support of //Thirteen & Co., Bang Bang Studios and Mr Fox, with motion graphics supplied by Jumbla.

Jumbla was also among the winners last night. The studios winning piece Lucys Story depicted the experience of Lucy  a young person living with mental illness  using a melange of animation styles backed by a custom soundscape for client Headspace. The opportunity to visually portray what was happening inside Lucys head, as she told her story, provided many creative opportunities. Jumblas honours were awarded in the Film (Charity / PSA) category.

Jumbla executive creative director Callan Woolcock said the piece combined myriad creative approaches to capture the mood sought by Headspace: We were able to explore a lot of different techniques  3D, 2D, and frame-by-frame animation. It was such an interesting project to tackle.

The soundscape really brought the video to life and Sean (composer and engineer) was great at capturing the atmosphere and mood I wanted to get out of this piece.

AJF Partnership and Sweetshop won two film awards for their Hipsters and Callum Murray films for Dare iced coffee.

In recognising the films the jury described Hipsters as a Brilliant use of humour to create a memorable film from a universal insight, perfect for the brand. They added that Callum Murray was A fun way to express the brand. Great scripting, with a laugh out loud execution.

Says Josh Stephens, partner and executive creative director at AJF Partnership: It was great to have the MADC back supporting our local industry and it was great to see such a high standard of work. Were very proud to have AJF pick up two of only three film awards given the quality of film creative that comes out of Melbourne.

Melbourne-based full-service start-up, Hedgehog Agency picked up the prestigious Design Award for its Work Weird campaign for client, Revolver Lane co-working space.

Revolver Lane is a private, shared workspace for digital, creative and technology companies.

Says Kurt Falkenstein, owner, Revolver Lane: Hedgehog were able to take the vibe of our space and created WORK WEIRD as the anchor point of a comprehensive, cohesive brand, spawning a custom font set, art-driven poster design, website redesign and copy, business cards, keep cups and even an in-house ghost, Randy.

Hedgehog Agency used the campaign to acknowledge weird as good by using the science behind the benefit of working in unusual spaces, allowing Revolver Lane to own the differences, features and imperfections of the old building (and new additions) and in one simple phrase completely distinguish themselves from every other coworking space.

Says Ali Berg, creative director, Hedgehog Agency: The art-based design behind WORK WEIRD unifies the brand as both a workspace and work statement  choosing to work at Revolver Lane is to embrace weirdness professionally and leverage it to better creativity, productivity and community.

The MADC jury said that the crafting of the typography resonated with the judges, as did the personality that had been created for the brand.

A big thank you as well to the MADC supporter agencies who helped reignite the club: AJF Partnership, BWM, By All Means, CHE Proximity, Cummins&Partners, Deloitte, DPR&Co, Fenton Stephens, J. Walter Thompson, Leo Burnett, M&C Saatchi, McCann, Monkeys, Ogilvy, Royals, Saatchi & Saatchi, Taboo and TBWA.

VIEW THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS  MADC Stars_ Creative Showcase Winners.pdf
The worst thing about the rallies is that Trump keeps coming back to immigration, even though recent events have made it crystal clear that this is poisoning the nation. (Were getting prepared for the caravan folks, you dont have to worry about that.)

Hes now adding a plug for his new plan to toss out the part of the Constitution that says if youre born here, youre a citizen  an idea that has even Paul Ryan reeling. (People didnt want to bring it up. I said we have to bring it up.)

We know now that both the alleged pipe bomb-maker and the synagogue shooting suspect were obsessed with immigrants. Immigrant-bashing is what Trump thinks is the key to winning the midterms. Its also the place where Trump becomes an abettor in the right-wing, white nationalist turmoil thats torturing the country.

Its insane to expect him to lift up the nation. But is it too much to ask that he just avoid the violence-inducing themes in his repertoire?

For instance, he loves to remind his fans that he won the election, and thats a safe topic. Maybe he could devote half an hour of every rally to his theory that its harder to win electoral votes than the popular vote. Plus crowd estimates  he could spend some time claiming that 47 percent of the entire population of Fort Wayne, Ind., was standing outside the door, in terrible weather, just to watch him on closed-circuit television.

Were better off if he talks about the mysterious promise of a 10 percent tax cut known to no one in Washington but Donald Trump. And the Space Force! (So important. Thats where its at.)

What else could he say that isnt dangerous? Well  he could talk about the things the Republican majority did over the last two years. O.K., that definitely wouldnt fill up an hour.
We dont want to feel that were unequal or were not respected anymore, said Claire Stapleton, 33, a product marketing manager at Googles YouTube who helped call for the walkout. Googles famous for its culture. But in reality were not even meeting the basics of respect, justice and fairness for every single person here.

[Google employees around the globe are walking out of their offices in protest.]

The walkout is a culmination of simmering tensions at a time when Silicon Valley workers have become more activist. Tech employees once moved in lock step with their leaders to make products that they said would change the world, but the industry has come under the spotlight for causing harm rather than good. That has led engineers, data scientists and others to increasingly question how their work is being used.

Employees at Microsoft and Amazon recently protested the companies work with federal immigration authorities when migrant children were being separated from their families at the Mexican border. And some employees at Facebook have complained that the social network is intolerant of different political perspectives.

Nowhere has the tech employee activism been more evident than at Google. Workers have pushed back this year against the companys artificial intelligence work with the Pentagon, saying their work shouldnt be used for warfare. Google eventually decided not to renew its contract with the Pentagon. Employees also rebuked Mr. Pichai and other executives for developing a search engine for China that would censor results. Since then, Google has not moved forward on a search product for China.

Google declined to comment.

The treatment of female employees has been an especially charged topic at Google. Just 31 percent of its global work force and about 26 percent of its executives are women. Google has also been sued by former employees and the Department of Labor, which claim that it underpaid women; the company has said it does not have a wage gap between male and female employees.
what trump said

The embassy is already built. Its already opened. And it came in $1 billion less than people thought.

This is misleading.

President Trumps claim of a $1 billion price cut conflates the cost of an interim facility and a high estimate for the cost of opening a permanent United States Embassy in Jerusalem. (Last December, he announced that he would move the embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv; it opened in May.)

For months, Mr. Trump has claimed that he reduced the price of a new embassy to $250,000  the amount spent on making adjustments to an existing building in Jerusalem while a permanent embassy was being built. The State Department estimated that the new embassy itself will cost around $500 million.

It now appears that Mr. Trumps $250,000 price tag for adjustments and enhancements to the temporary location was also incorrect. The State Department has awarded a contract to a Maryland company to upgrade the facility for over $21 million.

what trump said

The Constitution does not  I say that to the media  does not require it  read it  because illegal aliens are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

This is disputed.

The legal theory advanced by Mr. Trump flies in the face of judicial and scholarly consensus, which holds that the 14th Amendment guarantees birthright citizenship. The Justice Department and several Supreme Court cases have also contradicted the presidents stance.
Dont get me started on George Soros. The caravan, I feel that all these people are being paid off. I believe its paid for by George Soros. George Soros, the billionaire Democratic fund-raiser who has long been villainized in certain right circles. Billionaire George Soros bankrolls the resistance. Hes been the target of anti-Semitic smears and is often at the center of conspiracy theories. Whos behind the puppets? Whos the puppet master? George Soros. Accused of everything from secretly influencing left-wing policy to funding a caravan of migrants going north toward the United States. Who do you think is behind these caravans? A lot of speculation that its George Soros. George Soros  George Soros  The likes of Soros  These fabulations have been common on the fringes for years. George Soross Open Society Foundation  But now, his name saturates nearly every corner of the G.O.P. ecosystem. You hear it from voters in small towns in Southern Illinois. Soros, George Soros, I believe is paying all these people. On primetime newscasts on Fox. George Soros  George Soros  George Soros  And even from the president himself. George Soros  The longtime investor and philanthropist became the target of misinformation and conspiracies starting in the 1990s. Extremists in the U.S. and Europe cast him as a central figure in a secret cabal of Jews and globalists working to take over the world. A front man for the house of Rothschild called George Soros. Bilderberg group. But Soros is no longer only invoked in fringe, anti-Semitic conspiracies. In 2004, he became a target for Republicans more broadly when he donated $27 million in an effort to defeat then President George W. Bush. If we re-elect President Bush, we are telling the world that we approve his policies, and we shall be at war for a long time to come. And now, Soross name has become shorthand for conservatives across all echelons of power to convince people that there are cryptic forces allied against them. From leaders of advocacy groups  From the Soros-occupied State Department. to state Senate candidates  You know, Soros  Even House representatives  Theres three people who are trying to buy the Congress and flip it. One is Soros. Soros, others, may be funding this  and sitting Senators. Do you believe George Soros is behind all of this? I believe it fits in his attack mode  and at the very top, the president. Go to a person holding a sign who gets paid by Soros or somebody  There is no evidence for these allegations. In fact, Fox later had to come out and condemn this guest. The Soros-occupied State Department. But voters, at least least some of them, seem to be buying it. All the riots and all the marches  hes placed ads in Craigslist paying people $15 an hour or who knows what. You know, hell flat out tell you that his agenda is to destroy America.
ESTERO, Fla.  With a somber trip to Pittsburgh to visit victims of a synagogue shooting behind him, President Trump flew to one of his favorite places in the world  Florida  on Wednesday to host another one of his high-decibel political rallies.

On Thursday, Mr. Trump will be in Missouri. Before the week is out, he will hit West Virginia, Montana and Indiana, all part of an 11-rally blitz leading to the midterm elections on Tuesday.

That is fast, even for him.

For Mr. Trump, the next five days feature battleground states where the Republican Partys hold on the House is in peril and come on the heels of a high-profile Twitter slap at Speaker Paul Ryan, who shot down Mr. Trumps latest promise to issue an executive order denying birthright citizenship to people born to undocumented immigrants.

At the rally in Florida, the president referred to the citizenship clause in the Constitution as a crazy policy, telling a rapt crowd that illegal immigrants are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. (Legal experts would widely disagree.)
On the Sabbath, which starts at sundown on Friday, the Jewish tradition is to say a prayer while lighting two candles, attend synagogue and have dinner with family, along with prayers over wine and challah. On Saturday morning, Jews return to synagogue for services.

Mr. Harris said he saw no better place for people to show support for the Jewish community than at a synagogue, a space meant for peace and community that was turned into one of brutal violence in Pittsburgh last week.

At Park East Synagogue in Manhattan, clergy members are expecting a significantly larger crowd than on a typical Sabbath, said Benny Rogosnitzky, a cantor at the congregation. They plan to address the tragedy in Pittsburgh directly in a prayer and the rabbis sermon, Mr. Rogosnitzky said.

Since Saturdays shooting, religious people outside the Jewish faith have found other ways to demonstrate their solidarity with Jews. For example, two Muslim organizations have raised more than $200,000 to help victims and their families following the massacre.

And Greg Zanis, a retired carpenter who has made tens of thousands of wooden crosses to memorialize the dead, traveled to Pittsburgh from Illinois this week to install 11 Stars of David near the Tree of Life synagogue. Mr. Zanis, who has been constructing such memorials for about 20 years, said he tried to honor all faiths  as well as those who did not subscribe to one during their lives.
A federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted a man who the authorities say killed 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue while spewing anti-Semitic slurs on 44 counts, including hate crimes. He could face the death penalty.

The indictment, handed up by a federal grand jury in western Pennsylvania, charges Robert Bowers, 46, with 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious freedom resulting in death, and 11 counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence.

Mr. Bowers pleaded not guilty in federal court on Thursday. The maximum penalty he could receive if convicted is death, or life without parole plus 535 additional years of imprisonment.

Every American has the right to attend their house of worship in safety, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement on Wednesday. The defendant in this case allegedly murdered 11 innocent people during religious services and injured four law enforcement officers. These alleged crimes are incomprehensibly evil and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation.
TAPACHULA, Mexico  It was only last week that a caravan with thousands of Central American migrants hunkered down for the night here in Tapachula, in southern Mexico.

Days later, a new group numbering in the hundreds arrived, fanning out across the central plaza and surrounding sidewalks.

Now, two more caravans are on their way, as well.

The fact that the first of these caravans was able to move from Honduras into Guatemala and then into Mexico is inspiring other migrants to travel in large groups, reversing the long-established logic of Central American migration to the United States: Rather than trying to travel undetected, some migrants are trading invisibility for safety in numbers.

Everybody wants to form another caravan, Tony David Galvez, 22, a Honduran farmworker, said Tuesday as he rested in Tapachulas central plaza after walking into the city with hundreds of other migrants, part of the second caravan to arrive here this month.
Market guards or police officials would ask me to follow them to an empty room outside the market, or some other place theyd pick, said a former trader in her 40s. They consider us toys. We are at the mercy of men.

Sometimes, she said of the psychological torment from such abuse, out of nowhere, you cry at night and dont know why.

The women interviewed by Human Rights Watch said they seldom reported the crimes for fear of reprisal, and because of widespread stigma attached to rape victims. The coerced sex has become so common that the men dont think their actions are wrong, and the women have come to accept such behavior, some said.

Corruption is so rampant that anybody without power has no choice, said the husband of the trader in her 40s. Traders like my wife have to accept that sexual coercion is part of social and market dynamics. It is the only way to survive.

I know what I know, he said. But we dont talk about it.

Also vulnerable are women who enter China illegally to find work or smuggle goods. When they are caught and repatriated, they are exposed to widespread sexual and other abuse in holding centers and prisons, according to Human Rights Watch, whose report echoed earlier findings on that issue.

In a 2014 survey of 1,125 North Korean defectors by the Souths Korea Institute for National Unification, nearly 38 percent said that sexual harassment and rape were common in those facilities. Thirty-three of the defectors said they had been raped there.

Every night, some woman would be forced to leave with a guard and be raped, a former trader in her 30s who was detained in a holding center told Human Rights Watch. Click, click, click was the most horrible sound I ever heard. It was the sound of the key of the cell of our prison room opening.
MADRID  A Spanish artist painted a dove on the tomb of Gen. Francisco Franco on Wednesday as a protest against the former dictator, the latest in a series of controversies over his tomb and plans to move his remains.

The artist, Enrique Tenreiro, smuggled red paint through the security gate of the huge underground basilica that Franco had built, spray-painting the words For Freedom along with the dove on the tomb.

Mr. Tenreiro, who was taken away by a guard and faces a police investigation, issued a statement saying that he had not meant to offend Francos family and supporters, but had wanted to alleviate the suffering of those who lost a Civil War that shouldnt have occurred.

What does the government plan to do with Francos remains?

The protest came amid a heated debate set off by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs decision to exhume Francos remains from the basilica, built on a site known as the Valley of the Fallen, an hours drive from Madrid.
In the fall of 1968, still aching from an assassins attack, Andy Warhol returned to work in the bright new offices hed rented on Union Square. After years of stardom in Pop Art, he pondered his future. I was confused because I wasnt painting and I wasnt filming there, he recalled.

Instead, he watched his minions taking care of business. They were shooting movies under his name, selling his prints and finding him portrait commissions  one way or another, making money with art. I knew that work was going on, even if I didnt have any idea what the work would come to.

That corporate work, Warhol soon came to realize, was actually some of the most important art he ever made. Business Art, he came to call it, the step that comes after art. It established that everything this artist had done or would do, as head of Andy Warhol Enterprises, Inc.  as portraitist, publisher, publicist or salesman  counted as components in one boundless work: part performance art, part conceptual art and part picture of the market world he lived in and that we all still inhabit.

Now the Whitney Museum of American Art is about to open a major new Warhol survey. Titled Andy Warhol  From A to B and Back Again, it stars a full cross-section of his epochal creations: The Soup Cans and Marilyns of the early 1960s, which held up a mirror to American commodity culture; the experimental films of his Factory years; the society portraits, homoerotica and almost-abstractions of his last two decades. All treasures, without a doubt, but maybe just as significant for the times we now live in as aspects of his Business Art project.
The post-Civil War Reconstruction era  which saw the dramatic expansion of rights for African-Americans, followed by their violent rollback  is one of the most poorly understood periods in American history.

Its also increasingly invoked as a touchstone for understanding our current moment. The election of Donald J. Trump has been seen as driven by a similar white backlash, in this case to Americas first black president. And growing charges of voter suppression in the run-up to the midterm elections have prompted, for many observers, a similar sense of deja vu.

And that was before President Trump, in an interview this week, called for limitations on birthright citizenship, which was written into the Constitution in 1868 via the 14th Amendment, one of the eras signal achievements.

Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow, an exhibition about Reconstruction and its aftermath at the New-York Historical Society through March 3, doesnt draw explicit parallels to todays politics. But perhaps it doesnt have to.
We still live in an Age of Rediscovery regarding the role of women in art, and revelations regularly reshape the way we view both female creators and subjects. A retrospective of the Swedish painter Hilma af Klint at the Guggenheim Museum is one recent example of how a show can alter a long-held assumption. In this case the narrative that abstract painting was the early-20th-century invention of a few white male Europeans.

Posing Modernity: The Black Model From Manet and Matisse to Today sows disruption on another more nuanced front. This taut, riveting exhibition  currently on view at the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery in the new Lenfest Center for the Arts at Columbia University  revisits mid-19th-century Paris to examine the significance of black female models in paintings from the earliest years of European modernism. It then peripatetically traces such figures through successive generations of artists.

At every point, black models pose, or raise, the question of modernity: what is it, who makes it, who is it for? They starkly silhouette the role of the artists model as collaborator, as incisive measures of modernity, mirroring the racial attitudes of both artists and their times.
What theyre both asking is: Can I as an individual bring some of the social capital and financial capital that Ive acquired in my life to somewhere outside the [city] center, so that those who do not have access to the center, or dont feel comfortable there, can still have an encounter with art, Ms. Beckwith said.

Facility is part of a broader shift for Mr. Cave, who for two decades has been closely associated with his crowd-pleasing Soundsuits, acquired by many museums. Theyre always going to be part of my practice, he said, while noting that in recent exhibitions at Mass MoCA and the Jack Shainman gallery, no Soundsuits were included. Wanting to move forward, its about how do you transfer the essence of that work, he said.

One of seven brothers raised in Missouri by his mother after his fathers early death, Mr. Cave received his B.F.A. in 1982 at the Kansas City Art Institute in Missouri and studied dance at Alvin Ailey summer programs. As the only African-American graduate student at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan in the late 1980s, he described having the feeling of being a black male for the first time.

Mr. Cave made his first Soundsuit in 1992 in response to the police beating of Rodney King. The figural sheath made of twigs was a form of protection that obscured race, class and gender, and made a striking noise when worn. To date, he has made more than 500, ever more flamboyant.

I have to feel like this looks, he said, pointing to a Soundsuit covered in exuberantly colored synthetic hair in his studio. He is interested in the power of these fantastical second skins, both for the people wearing them in performances and for the viewer. He would like to think their visual seduction will unify and set us all in a room together for difficult conversations, he said. Mr. Cave said the most meaningful part of his work in recent years has been collaborating with underprivileged children on Soundsuit performances. Its almost like a rite of passage,, he said, recalling how they learn to stand up and move in these 40-pound armatures that can make people look  and feel  like shamans.
Jorie Graham has won the 2018 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry for her 2017 collection Fast.

The biennial award is presented by the Library of Congress and includes a $10,000 prize. The judges selected for this years panel included the poets Natalie Diaz, Catherine Barnett and Betty Sue Flowers. Ms. Graham will receive the prize during a reading at the librarys James Madison Memorial Building in Washington on Dec. 6.

The title of her book describes the speed at which time leaps ahead and rewinds in this mortality-haunted, panic-inducing beauty of a collection as intellectual as it is felt, the jury wrote in a statement.

Ms. Graham wrote the work while undergoing cancer treatment, and that experience comes across in the pages. (One of the poems is titled From Inside the MRI.)
Mary Anne Carter, a former staffer for Governor Rick Scott of Florida, was officially nominated to a four-year term as chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, the White House announced on Thursday.

President Trump has proposed eliminating the agency multiple times throughout his time in office, but his calls have been ignored by Congress, which slightly increased its funding level in the spring.

In a statement, Ms. Carter said, I am honored and humbled to be nominated for this position.

The appointment was mostly a formality: Ms. Carter has been unofficially in charge of the N.E.A. as the senior deputy chairman since Mr. Trumps transition. This was especially the case once Ms. Carters successor, Jane Chu, stepped down in June.

Ms. Carter, with very little background in the arts, is an unusual appointment for the department. She had previously founded a consultancy firm and been a policy adviser to Mr. Scott. But she has won praise within the agency for being an advocate for the department. And her expertise in politics could potentially be a boon to the N.E.A., which some conservatives see as an example of frivolous government spending, though its cost is a minuscule fraction of the federal budget. Last year, the Fox News host Tucker Carlson said the N.E.A. was an example of welfare for rich, liberal elites.
A sense of momentousness charged the air on Wednesday night when New York City Ballet performed Symphony in C. That 1947 masterpiece by George Balanchine is a staple of the companys repertory, so the big deal wasnt the performance so much as where it was happening: not at the companys decades-old Lincoln Center home, but at New York City Center.

The occasion was the first program of Balanchine: The City Center Years, a major festival, running through Sunday, that the theater has organized as part of a season celebrating its own 75th anniversary as an institution. The historical echoes were large.

Symphony in C came last, a foolproof finale. It doesnt just provoke applause, though. It inspires conversion. When Jerome Robbins attended the first performance of City Ballet, at New York City Center in 1948, he was already an in-demand choreographer, in ballet and on Broadway. But Symphony in C moved him to put that at risk and offer his services and devotion to the fledging troupe.
GLENDALE, Calif.  In many ways, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, a new Netflix series from DreamWorks Animation, will be familiar to fans of the campy original. Adora is here, discovering the magic sword that transforms her into She-Ra when she invokes the honor of Grayskull, and so is Catra, her feline friend and on-again, off-again foe. There are rainbow-colored flying unicorns and villains with giant red claws for hands, not to mention cool spaceships and battles royale.

But the reboot, from Noelle Stevenson, who has received critical acclaim for her imaginative girl-centric graphic novels, has more than cheap-looking frivolity on its mind. In place of the often-static animation of the original, the rebooted She-Ra lives in a vibrant world with stylistic homages to the French artist Jean Giraud (a.k.a. Moebius), the Japanese movie director Hayao Miyazaki and mainstream anime. And the series tackles some pretty heavy topics, like colonialism, genocide and isolationism, while aiming to maintain the buoyancy of its inspiration.

I love the original, Stevenson, 26, said. But we wanted to take what was fun about it and deepen it, and flesh it out.
There has probably never been an artist better known to the public than Andy Warhol. But in reality, some of what we think we know is bunkum and myth, quite often spread by the artist himself, who was famous for hiding behind a smoke screen of partial-truths and outright fibs. Here, five revisions of the Warhol story that pierce the fog.

Andy Warhol, Foodie

I was given the same food for 20 years: soup and sandwiches. And I can tell you, my favorite is Campbells Tomato Soup, said Warhol, explaining how his love for the stuff had made him want to paint it. Its one of the artists more famous pronouncements. Its also mostly a fib. His archives are full of receipts that show him choosing to eat in some of New Yorks best and boldest restaurants. He gorged on Japanese food before most Americans had tasted it; he cooked gourmet meals. In the 1950s, he served pheasant under glass to a friend for Thanksgiving; in the 70s, a favorite recipe was linguine with caviar. In 1959, he produced a satirical cookbook called Wild Raspberries" that poked fun at high-end eating. It also proved how much he knew and cared about it. As for Campbells, he once said his favorite was Mock Turtle  a flavor more epicurean than popular.

Andy Warhol, Egghead
Like that old novel, the name of which she cannot recall, Nine Perfect Strangers includes an inquisitive author. Her name is Frances Welty and Moriarty initially planned to just tell the story through Frances  a twice-married extrovert and writer of bodice-ripping romances whose mischievous sense of humor resembles Moriartys.

Explore the New York Times Book Review Want to keep up with the latest and greatest in books? This is a good place to start. Learn what you should be reading this fall: Our collection of reviews on books coming out this season includes biographies, novels, memoirs and more. See whats new in October: Among this months new titles are novels by Jonathan Franzen, a history of Black cinema and a biography by Katie Couric. Nominate a book: The New York Times Book Review has just turned 125. That got us wondering: What is the best book that was published during that time? Listen to our podcast: Featuring conversations with leading figures in the literary world, from Colson Whitehead to Leila Slimani, the Book Review Podcast helps you delve deeper into your favorite books.



But then she fell in love with the other strangers, including the rule-maker: Masha Dmitrichenko, a Russian immigrant and former executive whose passion for transforming peoples lives is borderline bonkers. Nicole Kidman, who already optioned the book, is expected to seize the role.

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Moriarty, 51, a mother of two whose husband is a former farmer, has left the production details to Hollywood. Sitting outside a cafe named Thelma and Louise, wearing black pants and a blue blouse that would blend in wherever rose and oysters are served, she seemed far more eager to explain that Mashas name comes from the winning bidder at a charity auction for the Starlight Childrens Foundation.

Moriartys friends say these smaller-scale interactions are where Moriarty is most comfortable.

Liane is a private person, said Ber Carroll, an Irish-Australian novelist who often shares public readings with Moriarty and a third novelist, Dianne Blacklock. I think that juggling of her private life and public life is difficult for her.

Success has been a something of a simmer. Liane (pronounced Li-ahn) is the oldest of six children, five of them girls, who were encouraged to create by their father, who sometimes paid them to write stories in lieu of an allowance. Her upbringing on Sydneys North Shore was comfortably middle-class, Catholic, and filled with games of storytelling and performance, usually organized by Liane.
All his life, Friedrich Nietzsche hated being photographed. Execution by the one-eyed Cyclops, he called it. In almost every surviving photograph, he looks fugitive and uneasy, as if his clothes are borrowed, Sue Prideaux writes in an exemplary new biography, I Am Dynamite! The elbows and knees are not in the right places and the jackets strain at the buttons.

A man stuffed into the wrong clothes. This is how Nietzsche has come to us through history, for decades notoriously misappropriated by Nazis and nationalists. Under the watch of his sister, Elisabeth, handmaiden to Hitler, this philosopher who deplored German nationalism (Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles, that is the end of German philosophy) and anti-Semitism (I will have all anti-Semites shot) was refashioned into an intellectual architect of the Third Reich. The Nazis distributed copies of Thus Spake Zarathustra to troops in the field.

Fifty years of scholarship has done much to rehabilitate Nietzsches reputation and to reveal the extent of Elisabeths meddling. She assumed care of him in his final years, when fame had found him but he was long gone to madness. With the tacit approval of Heidegger, she strung together uncollected notes into poisonous little tracts, piecing together a Nietzsche to serve as a Nazi mouthpiece. His ideas of the Ubermensch and will to power were stripped of their provocation and clowning and rendered as crudely authoritarian. The hard maxims he proposed to the individual  to be courageous, to seek out the enemy and relish war  were made bluntly literal and adopted by nations, bizarrely, given that the only thing Nietzsche loathed more than war between nations (to him a form of madness) was the idea of the nation itself. He relinquished Prussian citizenship early in his career and remained proudly stateless.

In this biography, Nietzsche steps out of the mists of obfuscation and rumor, vividly evoked with his beautiful manners and ridiculous mustache, the blue-lensed glasses to protect his delicate eyes. Prideaux relies on the mapmakers method of triangulation, using time not place as the fixed point and drawing her subject into focus by examining the events in his life, his personal writing and his published work. This falls into the biographical fallacy, I know, she has said in interviews, but my justification is a passage from Beyond Good and Evil where Nietzsche says that every great philosophy is a form of involuntary and unperceived memoir. In other words, all philosophy is, to an extent, autobiography. One illuminates the other.
The scholar and author, most recently, of Why Religion? tends to avoid reading science fiction: Religious traditions already are packed with fantasy stories.

What books are on your nightstand?

None on a nightstand, but a scattered collection on a coffee table next to the couch and fireplace, where I love to read. Right now I often come back to The Jatakas  tales of the Buddhas countless previous lives, as a compassionate fish, a clever merchant or a holy man offering himself as lunch to a hungry tiger  a book that my wonderful colleague Jonathan Gold suggested when we began planning our new course on Jesus and Buddha. Along with that, Oliver Sacks, The River of Consciousness, with his incisive essay on memory; a book by the Dutch psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, on healing trauma in war veterans, called The Body Keeps the Score; and an old favorite called Inside of a Dog, by Alexandra Horowitz, a cognitive scientist who studies dogs  and took her title from Groucho Marxs marvelous line: Outside of a dog, a book is a mans best friend; and inside of a dog, its too dark to read. And two more: Anthony Appiahs most recent book, The Lies That Bind: Rethinking Identity; and Dani Shapiros forthcoming memoir about family secrets, Inheritance.

Whats the last great book you read?

Most recently, Beyond the Beautiful Forevers, by Katherine Boo. Im astonished and moved to see how she intimately engages and clearly depicts the lives of people living in a slum village next to the airport in Mumbai.

Which books by contemporary historians  both academic and amateur  do you most admire?

So many  but here I can mention only a handful: the work of Peter Brown, who combines enormous learning with historical imagination, as in his essays in Society and the Holy in Late Antiquity; Ramsay MacMullens Enemies of the Roman Order; Noel Lenskis Constantine and the Cities, which makes brilliant sense of sharply divergent views of Constantine; David Brakkes Athanasius and the Politics of Asceticism; and the one I most recently read, Adi Ophir and Ishay Rosen-Zvis new book, Goy: Israels Multiple Others and the Birth of the Gentile. And Im delighted that Annette Gordon-Reeds meticulously researched and intensely contested books on Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings and their families have succeeded in changing the previous consensus!
In Boots initial telling of his story, conservatism is inspiring, principled, responsible, morally demanding, wise. It collapses only when Donald Trump assaults the citadel from the outside, like a rampaging army or deadly contagion. The heroes of this narrative are Boot and his allies, who take a noble if futile stand against this evil invader in the name of their conservative ideals.

But the story Boot recounts in the concluding chapters is different. Now, in light of the present, Boot sees rot on the right that has been there from the start  in William F. Buckleys pro-segregationist editorials in National Review, in Phyllis Schlaflys best-selling screed A Choice Not an Echo, in Newt Gingrichs take-no-prisoners tenure as speaker of the House, in rabble-rousing talk radio shock jocks and above all in the polarizing and poisonous influence of Fox News. All of this leads Boot to conclude that extremism is embedded in the DNA of the modern conservative movement, as if Trump is where the movement had been headed, or fated to end up, from the start.

This implies that its mostly Boot, and not conservatism or the Republican Party, that has changed. Scales have fallen from his eyes. Once he was blind, but now he sees. He even adopts the quasi-religious language of the social justice left in describing an intellectual awakening about the persistence of racism and sexism in American society.

But then what are we to make of Boots epilogue, where he lists the policies he now supports and ends up saying pretty much the same thing he always has? Hes fiscally conservative and socially liberal, favors free markets, free trade and high rates of immigration, and internationalism in foreign policy backed up by the threat (and generous use) of military force around the globe. These were exactly Boots views in 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2015.

The one thing that clearly has changed is that Boot now regards the Iraq war, which he giddily championed in explicitly imperialistic terms, as a mistake  one that has taught him the limits of American power. Thats refreshing, though it would have been nice to see more evidence that this lesson is being translated into greater restraint about Americas conduct in the world generally. Instead, we get reflexively hawkish comments about Americas Obama-era and present-day dealings with Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, North Korea, China and Russia. Many of these statements follow from the same misguided assumptions that convinced Boot and so many others that a war of choice to oust Saddam Hussein was a splendid idea.

One wonders how the book would have turned out had Boot taken a few more steps back from the fray, to place his lifelong ideological commitments in a wider frame. In that case, he might have seen that the principles and assumptions that first drew him to the Republican Party were not especially conservative at all. They were, instead, the expression of a particularly bellicose strand of Cold War liberalism that migrated from the center-left to the center-right in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, when a shellshocked Democratic Party temporarily abandoned it. By the election of Bill Clinton in 1992, this brand of muscular, centrist liberalism was back, dominating (with minor differences in emphasis) both parties.
 The U.S. stands by the Saudi crown prince.

The Trump administration has decided to stand by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to officials familiar with the deliberations, having concluded that hes almost certain to stay in power.

After all, the 33-year-old, above, could rule Saudi Arabia for the next half century.

But since the prince has been weakened by the scandal, the White House and other countries in the region have turned to thinking about how to best leverage his vulnerability to their benefit.

The U.S. is considering sanctions against the kingdom that would be limited enough to avoid a rupture with Prince Mohammed. In exchange, the White House is hoping to negotiate an end to the blockade of Qatar and the Saudi-led bombing of Yemen.
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Mary T. Barra, the chief executive of General Motors, said the company is on track to roll out a ride-sharing service in 2019 that would rely on autonomous vehicles, a development that would advance the already-heated race to bring a self-driving car to market.

Were on track, with our rate of learning, to be able to do that next year, Ms. Barra said at DealBooks Playing for the Long Term conference. She added that the company had a strategy to show how its vehicles are safer than human drivers. The vehicles can currently run safely at speeds of up to about 30 miles per hour, and the service will be limited to a small geographical area, Ms. Barra said.
Im not a nanny either, Mr. Fink said on Thursday. Im not telling companies what their purpose should be. But I do believe its up to the company to identify what their purpose is.

Earlier this year, he sent an open letter pressing public firms to consider not just their bottom lines, but also the broader community  a social responsibility manifesto forged through years of personal experience, public pressure and secret meetings.

Mr. Fink withdrew last month from the high-profile investment conference in Riyadh amid allegations that Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist, had been murdered and dismembered at a Saudi consulate in Turkey.

Other executives  including Mr. Dimon, Stephen A. Schwarzman of Blackstone and Dara Khosrowshahi of Uber  also dropped out of the event. Despite his refusal to attend what he called a very public showcase of the kingdoms strengths, Mr. Fink said that BlackRock would continue to conduct business in Saudi Arabia, adding that he never believed that decision would cost us all the business.

But he stressed that his attention to social responsibility is not a passing fad.

I certainly never did this to be in vogue, he said. Were doing this because were being asked.

 Tiffany Hsu

Steve Ballmer wants to provide a 10-K for government

Steve Ballmer, the former chief executive of Microsoft, concluded his presentation on Thursday with the results of a poll he recently helped run: 61 percent of the people surveyed cared about using researched facts to help form their opinions on policy, beating the 54 percent who said their values shaped their opinions.

For Mr. Ballmer, that is central to a project he has been working on since he retired as chief executive of Microsoft in 2014 and has poured millions of dollars into: USAFacts, a nonpartisan database of federal, state and local government revenue and spending.
I havent cried as much since my mother passed away, he added. It was heartbreaking.

Soon after, Dicks announced that it would stop selling assault-style rifles and require any gun buyer to be at least 21. Mr. Stack went to Washington to speak to legislators about gun control.

Wed do it all over again, he said.

Gun policy has become an enduringly divisive issue. After the Parkland shooting, gun safety activists launched boycotts against companies deemed sympathetic to the firearms industry; Delta, MetLife and several other businesses dropped deals with the National Rifle Association.

Gun rights supporters quickly responded with their own boycott campaigns. Some companies remain reluctant to make changes in strategy in reaction to shootings. Earlier this week, FedEx backed out of a marketing arrangement with the N.R.A., but stressed the decision was unrelated to a gunmans recent rampage at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

After the shooting in Parkland, BlackRock canvassed its clients across the country and eventually said it would help invest in funds without links to the firearms industry.

The company also asked gun manufacturers for more information about their business practices. It backed a successful shareholder proposal  pushed in part by a group of nuns  demanding that the firearm maker Sturm Ruger detail its plans to monitor violence associated with its guns.

We were privately engaged with everyone, Mr. Fink said.

Earlier this year, Mr. Fink issued an open letter pressing public firms to think not just of the bottom line, but also of the broader community  a social responsibility manifesto forged through years of personal experience, public pressure and secret meetings.

In August, Mr. Fink and other business leaders  including Tim Cook of Apple, Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase and Brian Moynihan of Bank of America  denounced the Trump administrations immigration policies.
Although the bank knew Mr. Leissner was at the center of the investigation, the breadth of the charges appeared to have caught Goldman off guard. The bank was not expecting a leader of its Asian investment bank to be implicated as well. Goldman on Thursday suspended Mr. Vella, according to a person with direct knowledge but was not authorized to speak publicly.

Goldman has repeatedly played down its role in the 1MDB scandal, saying it was unaware of how money from the fund was being used. The company said in a statement that it was cooperating with the investigation.

Goldmans chairman, Lloyd Blankfein, sought to frame the matter as the misdeeds of rogue employees.

These are guys who evaded our safeguards, and lie, stuff like thats going to happen, Mr. Blankfein said on the sidelines of The New York Times DealBook conference on Thursday. Somebodys going to use phones away from us, and personal this and personal that, he said, referring to personal devices.

Federal prosecutors have depicted Mr. Low as the mastermind of the scheme to loot the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. During one exchange with Mr. Leissner, Mr. Low advised of the need to suck up to 1MDB officials, including sending cakes  that is to say, bribes, according to government filings.

Court filings unsealed on Thursday showed that federal prosecutors have built out their case since they first filed charges against Mr. Leissner in June. Back then, the charges did not contain any reference to the co-conspirator identified by people familiar with the matter as Mr. Vella. But the court documents associated with Mr. Leissners plea on Aug. 28 do.

According to that filing, the co-conspirator identified separately as Mr. Vella agreed with Mr. Leissner and Mr. Ng, in a 2012 meeting, to keep Goldmans compliance department in the dark about the scheme to bribe government officials to secure financing for a deal.

This looks pretty terrible and a far cry from post-financial crisis settlements, said Alex Turnbull, the son of the former Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and a former Goldman Sachs employee in Singapore who raised concerns about how Goldman valued the bond deals in 2012.
PITTSBURGH  Within 45 minutes of hearing about the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue last Saturday  and before it was known that 11 people had been killed in what is being described as among the deadliest attacks against the Jewish community in the United States  Alana Newhouse had booked an Airbnb in this citys Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

My editors instinct just kicked in and I thought, I think this is going to be an important story for us, said Ms. Newhouse, the editor in chief of the online publication Tablet Magazine, which focuses on Jewish news and culture.

She emailed the six members of her editorial staff, telling them that she wanted to cover the shooting aggressively but that none of them were obligated to travel here and could decline if they wanted.

All six said yes.

Tablet was founded in 2009 and is based in New York. It is supported by the Nextbook foundation, which assists Jewish literacy efforts and promotes Jewish culture. As the magnitude of the shooting became clear  the police have said the alleged gunman, Robert Bowers, spewed anti-Semitic slurs while he was firing  Ms. Newhouse had to decide how to mobilize her small staff.
Tuesday Risk: A Cybersurprise

It wouldnt take much to disrupt Tuesdays vote in a few important swing districts, and thats what the United States government  and many private security experts  are worried about.

The Department of Homeland Security says it will be deploying small teams of cyberexperts to important states  presumably those that are most vulnerable, or have close races  just before the election. But it is not hard to imagine different scenarios that could cause disruption, or just create the illusion of disruption.

A last-minute attack on county or state voter-registration systems, just to knock them off-line, would create an uproar from voters who might show up at the polls and find they could not vote. A strike at power grids, turning out the lights at polling places, or just disrupting transportation systems could suppress turnout and lead to charges of manipulation.

Mr. Rosenbachs group simulated such events in a series of scenarios with election officials, piling one attack upon another in an effort to get them to think ahead about how they would respond, all part of an election playbook that the Defending Digital Democracy program has given to campaigns and officials.

And then there is another fear: Come Wednesday, if there are still races that are too close to call, just a rumor campaign about possible election manipulation might be enough to cast doubt about the integrity of the results. And in the end, thats what election disruption is all about  undermining the citizens confidence that their vote counts.

The Missing Evidence

In 2016, the evidence of the extent of Russian operations on social media did not become clear until months after the election was over  and then, time and again, Facebook had to admit it missed all the warning signs. Mark Zuckerberg, a company founder, moved from arguing that to think fake news and divisive posts influence the election in any way is a pretty crazy idea to ordering the hiring of thousands of Facebook monitors to make sure it never happened again.

But there are no guarantees. Months after the midterms are over, evidence of covert internet action that is currently going unnoticed may well surface. As the Russians and others embrace artificial intelligence techniques, and get better at targeting messages, they may well find ways to route around the phalanx of new social-media police. Ms. Green says that is unavoidable.

Its still retroactive, she said of monitoring social media. We havent figure out how to do this in real time.
So far, 110 schools in eight states and Australia, Morocco, and Taiwan fall under the P-Tech umbrella; California, Colombia and Singapore are set to open schools soon. More than 500 industry partners and 77 community colleges also participate.

P-Tech is filling a necessary void. According to June 2018 data from the Federal Reserve, American students and their families carry more than $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. A Brookings study found that nearly 40 percent of student borrowers may default on their student loans by 2023.

P-Tech students graduate with no debt.

Whats more, college graduation rates among low-income students havent changed very much in 40 years. A 2016 report by the Pell Institute and the University of Pennsylvanias Alliance for Higher Education and Democracy noted that the percentage of students from the poorest families who had gotten college degrees was 6 percent in 1970. By 2013, that number had increased only to 9 percent. And only 6 percent of college graduates from low-income, minority urban schools completed a STEM degree within six years, according to the National Student Clearinghouse.

Yet dual-enrollment programs like P-Tech, in which high school students take college or university courses, have been found to help students complete college.

Its not enough just to say free college, Mr. Davis said. Theres free high school across the country, but that doesnt mean that everyone is finishing with the skills they need to be prepared to move on. So it really is the industry involved that actually can say We know that students need more research skills, we know that students really need to know how to present projects, make an argument. That makes a difference when theyre trying to get a job.
Now, according to an annual survey by the Babson Survey Research Group and the Online Learning Consortium, more than 6.3 million students took at least one distance education course in the Fall 2016 semester (the most recent academic year for which data is available). Thats 31.6 percent of all higher education enrollments, according to the study, and about half of them were taking all of their classes online.

Many of these students are traditional age. But for adult students (generally defined as those 25 and over, working full-time jobs or with parenting responsibilities) online education is a particularly attractive option. Citing several studies, Louis Soares, chief learning and innovation officer for the American Council on Education, says that about a third of all adult students  roughly 13 million  are pursuing advanced degrees online.

I think it has given adult students more opportunities, Mr. Soares said. If done correctly, online education can create a robust learning experience.

Research has shown that students can learn as well online as they can in a face to face classroom, according to Jovita Ross-Gordon, a professor at Texas State University.

In terms of pros and cons, it offers great convenience and access for populations who might not otherwise have it, said Professor Ross-Gordon, an expert on adult education. But a certain degree of self direction is required. And it can be isolating for some folks.

The vast majority of colleges and universities in the United States offer at least some online classes, but there are still those who question its legitimacy and also the quality of for-profit colleges whose curriculum is offered solely online.

Walden University, where Mr. Haynes is earning his doctoral degree, is one such institution. He said that he researched the school through the V.A. and other sources, and heard positive reports from a friend who was also pursuing his doctorate in business administration at Walden, which Mr. Haynes learned was accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools.
In August, Dahna Goldstein, a 44-year-old entrepreneur and mother of one, was feeling frustrated. She was glued to the coming midterm elections, following myriad candidates and the rising tide of disrupters around the country, and she wanted to take what had become a focus of her personal life and include it in her professional life.

She wanted a message tee  or something like it, anyway  that she could wear in a boardroom. She didnt want to leave her wardrobe politics to the weekends.

There was this huge disconnect between what I was feeling going on around me in the country and what was going on in my work life, Ms. Goldstein said.

She complained to her friend Alexandra Posen, an artist who is the sister of the designer Zac Posen and who was the creative director of his company until 2010.
There is no parenting book that explains how to walk your daughter through the standard operating procedures for sniper fire. Should Alyssa wait to see what the men do by turning to page 86, or should she fire on them by turning to page 92? Spoiler alert: If you turn to Page 92, you end up killing two unarmed civilians, which is a war crime. The book says your mission is over, and you will most likely be punished when you get back to base. Alyssa didnt take that path. They dont have any guns, Daddy, so Im not going to shoot them, because they dont look like bad guys. she said. Watching my daughter navigate escalation of force and rules of engagement made me sick. Seeing combat reduced to a common-core multiplication math problem detached from the harsh realities of war left me in a state of shock.

As our adventure came to a close, Audrey asked me for personal context: Did you do that? My reply was more an effort to change the subject than to answer. No, I said. Lets see what this other book says about Afghanistan. I reached for another book about Afghan culture. We would read that instead. I was disgusted by our minutes reliving part of my past. The choose-your-adventure format felt breezy and cavalier, recklessly presenting a bloody contest between the Taliban and the Marines in a manner largely devoid of consequences. I know what the book did not say. My friends and I killed in Marjah, and Marines in my rifle company lost limbs and lives. No notional exercise in choice will erase the fact that both my battalion and the battalion to our north killed many civilians in the opening days of Operation Moshtarak, when American high-explosive rockets struck occupied Afghan homes. Then, in the end, American plans for the area failed. Today Marjah is again under of the control of the Taliban and warlords.

Maybe this moment of discomfort in my home was inevitable. My daughters were, quite naturally, trying to figure out a piece of their lives that everyone seemed to know more about than they did. Eventually I will honestly discuss my time in Marjah with them. I will tell them about the time one of their uncles and I commandeered an Afghan National Army truck for a joy ride. I will tell them about the Marines who died, and how much I miss them every day. Finally, I will tell them about the family I escorted to a graveyard. Their baby had died because, fearing the Taliban, they couldnt get to a hospital. I will tell them about the white blanket that enveloped their child held tightly in the fathers arms as we led them to the burial grounds.

I will tell them that I took lives in combat, because they deserve to hear it. I will tell them the truth. I pray that by then the truth wont tarnish their idea of who I was in the Marine Corps. Until then, I wont participate in the presentation of the Afghan war as an adventure. Some who were among us never came home. Those who did cant turn to page 103 and see the conclusion or turn to page 11 and start a new adventure. There are no do-overs in war.
With visuals as kinetic as its language, Joseph Kahns Bodied is an outrageously smart, shockingly funny satire of P.C. culture whose words gush so quickly youll want to see it twice.

Set in the world of battle rap where combatants square off to exchange what amounts to exquisitely tuned insult poetry, the story (by Alex Larsen, a.k.a. Kid Twist, a 10-year veteran of the battle rap scene) follows Adam (Calum Worthy), a gawky grad student and a paperwhite audience surrogate. Researching raps use of the N-word, Adam is entranced by the vim and creativity of the performers and their utter lack of linguistic inhibition. But when he discovers his own talent for the form, his enthusiasm and naivete threaten not just his relationship with his uptight girlfriend and culturally sensitive cohort, but his academic future to boot.
It would take a telescope to observe anything exciting in Distant Constellation, Shevaun Mizrahis aptly named exercise in extreme-minimalist documentary. Said to be intended as a reflection on shifts in Turkish history and identity, it is too diffuse and withholding to add up to a cogent result.

Mizrahi has cited the influence of the Portuguese director Pedro Costa, who in a trilogy of films shot in the Lisbon slum of Fontainhas allowed residents to shape their dialogue and scenes. Mizrahi, taking her cues from her subjects, has appropriated Costas style pretty faithfully. For the location, she has selected a retirement home and an adjacent construction site in the Istanbul neighborhood where her father grew up.
This year marks the centennial of Ingmar Bergmans birth. The Swedish playwright, theater director and filmmaker, who died in 2007, remains one of the most praised and, to a certain extent, most misunderstood 20th-century artists. The praise stems from his cinematic mastery and treatment of profound themes; the misunderstanding, from the conventional wisdom that because Bergman treated profound themes, his work must be a slog.

But Bergman was a gripping storyteller. You could even call him an entertainer. The German director Margarethe Von Trotta makes that clear in the opening of her new documentary, Searching for Ingmar Bergman, in which she breaks down the opening scene of Bergmans 1957 classic The Seventh Seal. This picture, she says, both engrossed her as a viewer and made her want to be a filmmaker. Her analysis reveals the formal elements that make the oft-parodied Seal so potent.
Even an extraordinary person doesnt necessarily make for a dynamic movie subject. That appears to the case with Kailash Satyarthi, an activist in India who was one of two Nobel Peace Prize winners in 2014 and has devoted his career to rescuing children working as factory slaves. He is the focus of The Price of Free, a routine awareness documentary.

It is difficult to argue with the premises that child labor is wrong; that everyone deserves an education; and that persons who risk their lives to rescue trafficked children  as we see Satyarthi and others in his organization, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, doing in the film  are selfless and worthy of the worlds attention. But because of this, watching The Price of Free is largely a process of nodding in agreement.

The director, Derek Doneen, adds a bit of striking animation for flashbacks, and there are a few strands that generate tension. A village head arrives at Satyarthis ashram to retrieve rescued children, ostensibly to return them to their homes; Satyarthi is duly skeptical. And the film focuses with particular intensity  with the help of clandestinely shot footage  on the search for one boy named Sonu.

Mostly, however, The Price of Free is interested in spreading the word about Satyarthis work, both in India and globally, and in getting consumers to approach what they buy with a critical eye, so as not to support child labor. Thats an important message, and its not essential to watch the movie to receive it.
Maddeningly unacknowledged

Mr. Cuomo certainly has accomplishments. He oversaw one of the nations strongest gun-control measures and a minimum wage hike, the passage of gay marriage and paid family leave, a property-tax cap and spending restraints, plus eight mostly on-time budgets. He has built new bridges and launched a limited free college tuition program.

Along the way, he has cemented a reputation as a win-at-all-costs chief executive. His bulldozer personality and zero-sum approach to power in New York  the more you have, the less he has  have led to fierce fights with fellow Democrats, most recently Mayor Bill de Blasio. Liberal activists complain that he has stalled key priorities  drivers licenses for the undocumented, recreational marijuana, limits on campaign money  and too often must be pressured to act.

So as the Democratic Party searches for its voice in the age of President Trump, few seem to rank Mr. Cuomo high among the partys hopes, despite his prominence and lengthy list of victories.

I find him to be astonishingly productive and maddeningly unacknowledged, said Harold Holzer, who worked for Mario Cuomo and remains close to the Cuomo family. Why? I dont know.

Mr. Cuomo, who can be intensely sensitive to how he is portrayed, declined on-the-record interview requests. But conversations with more than 30 current and former senior advisers, activists and elected officials who have worked with him reveal a political tactician of almost limitless ambition and extraordinary ability, a leader with jagged edges and little regard for rules, especially if they are standing in the way of the results he wants.

By the end of a third term, Mr. Cuomo, 60, will have had the run of the governors mansion for a majority of his adult life: 12 years as governor, 12 years as a governors son. In between, he served as state attorney general and federal housing secretary. He has more and deeper creases in his forehead now  they especially emerge when his eyebrows flare to make a point  but he is the same hard-charger he was in the 1980s as his fathers top lieutenant.
Bernard Bragg, a trailblazer for deaf performers who in 1967 became a founder of the National Theater of the Deaf in Connecticut, died on Oct. 29 in Los Angeles. He was 90.

The actress Marlee Matlin, a longtime friend, confirmed his death.

Mr. Bragg, who was born deaf to deaf parents, began carving out a performing career in the late 1950s after studying with the mime Marcel Marceau. He appeared at clubs in the San Francisco area like the hungry i, working in a style of his own invention he called sign mime, which combined elements of American Sign Language with the tools of mime.

In the mid-1960s he joined up with Edna Simon Levine, a psychologist who worked with the deaf and for some time had been thinking about a professional company of deaf actors, and David Hays, a set and lighting designer. Together they formed the National Theater of the Deaf, which gave its first public performance in 1967 at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn.

The company won a special Tony Award in 1977.

Mr. Bragg performed with it for 10 years, including in several Broadway shows, before becoming a visiting professor at his alma mater, Gallaudet University in Washington, which serves deaf and hard-of-hearing students. A 1979 article in The Washington Post called him the man who invented theater as a professional career for the deaf.
Melvin Ragin, the guitarist who performed as Wah Wah Watson through decades of recording and touring  with the Temptations, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, Herbie Hancock, Alicia Keys and dozens of others  died on Oct. 24 in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 67.

His death was announced by his wife, Itsuko Aono. She did not specify the cause.

Mr. Ragin took his nickname from the gadget that gave him his trademark sound: the wah-wah pedal, a filter that altered the tone of his guitar to make notes and chords wriggle, moan or seem to say wah.

Working the pedal with prodigious and playful subtlety, he used it on many hit songs  for crunching syncopations and floating, curling chords in the Temptations Papa Was a Rolling Stone; for slinky countermelodies in Marvin Gayes Lets Get It On; for chattering propulsion in Rose Royces Car Wash; for little bluesy sighs and rhythmic nudges in Gloria Gaynors I Will Survive; and for airborne, echoing interjections in Maxwells Ascension (Dont Ever Wonder).

One of his signature sounds was a luxuriant swoon, a combination of wah-wah, echo-delay, fast tremolo picking and a downward glissando that became synonymous with sensual R&B. He was widely admired, and imitated, by guitarists seeking the essence of funk.
Italys economic problems are mostly of its own making. But they are compounded by European Union rules (or lack of thereof). Without a domestic central bank, the Italian treasuries market is prone to self-fulfilling panics. Italian banks, which do not have a reliable system of deposit insurance, face the risk of a similar panic. Following the 2008-09 crisis, Italy experienced a second painful recession in 2011-13, entirely driven by these risks, which are outside its control.

Exasperated by stagnant income and increased uncertainty, Italians overwhelmingly voted last March for two parties  the Five Star Movement and the League  that promised change, especially in the relationship between Italy and the European Union.

Italys E.U. partners, however, have shown no interest in reshaping this relationship. Everyone sees the flaws of the current system. The problem is that it would be political suicide to be seen as granting Italy concessions. Its not just budget issues; it also extends to immigration, for which Italy (and Greece) bear more than their share of the cost.

This raises a question: The commission has bent budgetary rules before. So why the intransigence toward the new Italian government?

There are optimistic and cynical possibilities for the commissions rejection. The optimistic one is that the commission had to intervene aggressively to save its reputation because the Italian government made a mockery of the budgetary process. The economic case for the larger Italian budget deficit seemed less like a good-faith argument and more like a deliberate provocation to create a casus belli with European officials. If this were the case, however, it would not make sense for the commission to fall for it.
Ara Guler, who died on Oct. 17, was the greatest photographer of modern Istanbul. He was born in 1928 in an Armenian family in Istanbul. Ara began taking photographs of the city in 1950, images that captured the lives of individuals alongside the citys monumental Ottoman architecture, its majestic mosques and magnificent fountains. I was born two years later, in 1952, and lived in the same neighborhoods he lived in. Ara Gulers Istanbul is my Istanbul.

I first heard of Ara in the 1960s when I saw his photographs in Hayat, a widely read weekly news and gossip magazine with a strong emphasis on photography. One of my uncles edited it. Ara published portraits of writers and artists such as Picasso and Dali, and the celebrated literary and cultural figures of an older generation in Turkey such as the novelist Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar. When Ara photographed me for the first time after the success of my novel The Black Book, I realized happily that I had arrived as a writer.
Ms. Abrams and her team, including her deputy campaign manager, Ms. Byrd, have spent a majority of campaign funds on canvassing and get-out-the-vote efforts. A heavy field strategy may seem counterintuitive in this digital era, but the chance to look someone in the eyes and connect might just be the thing to slice through fake news that exposes voters to so many conflicting messages that they often dont know what to believe.

Opinion Debate Will the Democrats face a midterm wipeout? Mark Penn and Andrew Stein write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond.

write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. Tory Gavito and Adam Jentleson write that the Virgina loss should "shock Democrats into confronting the powerful role that racially coded attacks play in American politics."

write that the Virgina loss should "shock Democrats into confronting the powerful role that racially coded attacks play in American politics." Ezra Klein speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging.

speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. Ross Douthat writes that the outcome of the Virginia gubernatorial race shows Democrats need a new way to talk about progressive ideology and education.

And its working. The New Georgia Project, which Ms. Abrams started in 2014, has registered more than 200,000 voters, many of them young or of color or both. In response, the Republican candidate for governor, Brian Kemp, has unleashed a wave of voter suppression, tossing 53,000 registered voters off the rolls, 70 percent of whom are black.

Jessica Byrd began her electoral consulting firm Three Points Strategies after Michael Brown Jr. was killed in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014. She had two goals. The first was to bridge electoral work with activism, which has led to the creation of the Electoral Justice Project within the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of groups across the country. Her second goal, she said, was to specifically focus on electing really unapologetic, hyperprogressive black women.

Her goal as a millennial and a member of the Black Lives Matter generation, which is skeptical of liberal politics, is to get close enough to the operations of political power to transform electoral politics. Given increasing evidence of rampant voter suppression nationwide, some radical kind of transformation is urgent and necessary. Expanding the voter rolls wont help if in the end, voters are still disenfranchised.

Ms. Byrd says the two-party system is the greatest barrier to black political participation of all other systemic barriers, even though she manages and strategizes for campaigns of black female Democrats, including, in 2017, several mayoral campaigns. She believes that a multiparty system that centers all the issues is the only way forward for democracy and that to get to a new system, you first have to master the old one.
When reporters asked President Trump last week if he bore any responsibility for the pipe bombs sent to many of his critics and adversaries, he declared his innocence:

Not at all, no. There is no blame. There is no anything.

At the same time, an Oct. 29 PRRI survey revealed that 69 percent of voters believe that Trump has damaged the dignity of the presidency.

Trump reinforced this public assessment in his answer to another question: Did he plan to phone any of the officials who had been targeted with bombs, including his predecessors in the White House, the Clintons and the Obamas? His reply:

I think well probably pass, thank you very much.

These exchanges raise the same two questions that have been posed repeatedly during the Trump presidency:

How could this man have been elected to the highest office in the land? And how can Trump not only remain in office but, for the moment at least, appear to stand a reasonable chance of being renominated and even re-elected?

To get some answers to these questions, I turned to a 2018 paper by Ronald Inglehart and two fellow political scientists at the University of Michigan, as well as to a new book by Marc Hetherington and Jonathan Weiler, who are political scientists at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

In The Silent Revolution in Reverse: Trump and the Xenophobic Authoritarian Populist Parties, Inglehart, Jon Miller and Logan Woods provide fresh insight on a subject to which Inglehart, at times writing with Pippa Norris of Harvard, has devoted much of his career: the ongoing tension between materialist and post-materialist values and the political consequences of that tension.
Just so with the Trumpist and alt-right villages. Different methods and values  but not altogether different. Both draw on similarly cramped ideas about nationhood and sovereignty. Both see political opponents as enemies and immigrants as invaders. Both are susceptible to conspiracy theories. And both feed off the same incessant background noise of Trump-speak. Lock her up. Enemy of the American people. Illegal alien mob.

In other words: the criminalization of political opposition, the vilification of the media, and the demonization of foreigners. At some point, the distance between word and deed becomes short. And then they are joined, as they were last week.

Conservatives used to understand the danger. Why care about social formalities, modes of dress, niceties of speech, qualities of restraint? Not simply because manners make the man, although they do, but because manners also shape political cultures. How does a conservative movement that is supposed to believe that every healthy society needs powerful moral guardrails give itself over to a president whose every other utterance cheerfully knocks those guardrails down?

The Trumpian defense is that no political leader can fairly be held accountable for the acts of followers like Sayoc, much less of avowed opponents like Bowers. Also, what about James Hodgkinson, the Bernie Sanders supporter who shot Republican Representative Steve Scalise last year? But Sanders wasnt instigating anyone to violence. He wasnt calling on supporters at his rallies to knock the crap out of hecklers, or praising fellow members of Congress for body slamming a reporter.

In an interview on Tuesday with The Times of Israel, Abe Foxman, the former longtime head of the Anti-Defamation League, precisely expresses the presidents level of responsibility for what happened in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh is not Trump, Foxman says. Its also Trump. Trump, he adds, is not an anti-Semite. But fanning one set of hatreds against immigrants has a way of fanning others, as it did for Bowers when he attacked the synagogue because he was enraged by its support for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.

Turning to last years neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, Foxman says of Trump, He didnt create them. He didnt write their script. He didnt give them the brown shirts. But he emboldened them. He gave them the chutzpah, that its O.K.

And when he had an opportunity to put it down, Foxman adds, he didnt. The blood that flowed in Pittsburgh is on his hands, also.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram, join the Facebook political discussion group, Voting While Female, and sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter.
Tonys photos are, for the most part, not highly dramatic, said James Estrin, a staff photographer at The Times and co-editor of the Lens column. But in a lot of Tonys photographs, theres like a little smile underneath it.

In the newspaper, different styles of photographs accompany articles. For news sections  International, National, New York  the most appropriate option is usually a news photograph that is taken at the scene, in the moment. In feature sections  like The Arts, Styles, Real Estate, and Dining  there is often more flexibility, and a photographer can act more like an artist and stage a scene in a studio.

Sometimes its exciting, and sometimes its like, Take a picture of this toothpick, he said. And Im like, O.K.

When Mr. Cenicola started shooting for The Times, in 2000, he was ready to quit photography. I was really close to just giving up, he said. I was really living hand-to-mouth.

Then, through a friend, he got an assignment from The Times to shoot the Personal Shopper column that highlighted home design objects for sale.

Mr. Cenicolas own business was slow, so he went above and beyond expectations. He drove lanterns  which could have been shot on a white table  to the beach, and photographed them by the water. Later in his career, he made a cherry pie explode, for a finance article about how the standard asset-allocation pie chart had been upended by the 2008 recession.

Image Mr. Cenicola photographed a cherry pie exploding for an article on personal finance in 2009.

That was something new, Ms. Loite said. He changed the course of studio photography at The Times.
After he moved to New York in 2001, Darrell E. Roberson bounced around the Bronx and Harlem, often sharing an apartment with roommates. People were moving in and out of town, or people had life happening, and that caused me to shift my plans, he said.

Eventually he moved out to New Jersey and found himself living in Teachers Village, in downtown Newark  a new development primarily for educators  paying $1,420 a month for a one-bedroom. From there, he commuted to the South Bronx, where he works as a middle-school special-education teacher.

It wasnt until he first made the 90-minute trip that he realized how burdensome it was going to be. With a walk to Newark Penn Station, a ride on either New Jersey Transit or the PATH train, and a switch to the subway in Manhattan, the commute was really killing me, said Mr. Roberson, who is originally from Oakland, Calif. You are on pins and needles: Am I going to get to work on time? Coming home could be even longer. I started thinking, Is this really worth it for me?
NASAs Dawn spacecraft, in orbit around the asteroid Ceres, has died quietly, the space agency announced on Thursday.

Dawn missed its appointed check-in on Wednesday. Mission managers concluded that the propellant for its thrusters had run dry, and Dawn could no longer control its orientation. Its antenna turned away from Earth, and its radio signal was lost forever.

It was an expected end to the mission, although the spacecraft lasted two years longer than originally planned.

Launched in 2007, Dawn has been sending home close-up views of Ceres and Vesta  the largest asteroids in the belt between Mars and Jupiter  as well as clues to the building blocks of the solar systems planets.
Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 11:41AM

Google employees around the world are walking out in solidarity to protest how the company has handled sexual harassment and misconduct. Staring in Google offices across Asia, the walkout resonates the feeling that Google has handled sexual misconduct cases improperly in the eyes of its employees.

This is the latest expression of backlash against harassment and the use of power to subject subordinates to unwanted sexual advances. that's swept the enterainment industry and is now rippling through other industries. Silicon Valley is mostly male dominated and is said to foster risque behaviour many are likening to college fraternities. Google employees are capturing the proceedings on social media using the #GoogleWalkout hashtag.

Recent high-profile misconduct cases at Google, one involving former Android head Andy Rubin (who was let go but given a large payout by the company) have brought wider scrutiny in the corporate culture at Google and Silicon Valley.

The walkout involves thousands of Google employees who are also demanding the following from Google management.

An end to forced arbitration in cases of harassment and discrimination. A commitment to end pay and opportunity inequity. A publicly disclosed sexual harassment transparency report. A clear, uniform, globally inclusive process for reporting sexual misconduct safely and anonymously. Elevate the chief diversity officer to answer directly to the chief executive officer and make recommendations directly to the board of directors. And appoint an employee representative to the board.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently disclosed that 48 employees were fired due to sexual harassment in the past two years alone.

Source: TechCrunch
Buy the right model for your carrier

These days, many phones are compatible with multiple networks. But there are two caveats: You need to make sure the device isnt software-locked to another carrier, and you need to make sure its hardware is optimized for your carrier.

When you buy a phone directly from Verizon, AT&T or another carrier, it usually comes carrier locked. That means that phone will only be usable on Verizon, AT&T or whatever carrier you bought it from unless you ask them to unlock it.

If youre buying a used phone, you want to make sure it isnt locked to a carrier other than your own. If youre on AT&T, you cant buy a phone thats locked to Verizon. Youll either want an AT&T-branded phone or a phone thats listed as unlocked by the seller.

In addition, some phones have a few different numeric models that work better on some carriers than others, Mr. Edwards said. For full and optimal compatibility, you need to pay attention to the specifics.

That means you shouldnt just search for iPhone 7 and buy the cheapest listing that pops up. The iPhone 7 A1660 may look nearly identical to the A1778, but the former works on all carriers, while the latter lacks support for some of the technologies used on Verizon and Sprint. In other cases, you may run into international models, which can lack support for certain features (like Samsung Pay, in the case of the international version of the Galaxy S7).

When you punch the IMEI into your carriers website, it will tell you if a phone is generally compatible with their network, but it will not tell you if it is optimal for their network. If a certain model is compatible with Sprints network but doesnt support all of its LTE bands, your carriers IMEI checker will not tell you  and you may not get the best possible speeds.

If you arent sure which model numbers are compatible with your network, check on the manufacturers website, or Google around to find out which model your carrier sells; then, search for that on your marketplace of choice.
But a constantly updating ledger can have other purposes. It can be good for contracts! And tracking where food comes from!

Perhaps it will save journalism, too?

Nov. 1, 2018

Alas, the Blockchain Wont Save Journalism After All

Hype around the technology has led to incomprehensible applications of it.

Civil Media Company was introduced earlier this year as both a media platform and a network, to be owned and operated by journalists and concerned citizens in tandem. It was an exciting proposal. Its technology (powered by the blockchain!) would churn under dozens of independent newsrooms, its machinery creating a new, utopian model, free from the clutches of miserly businessmen or politically compromised publishers threatening to gum up the works.

We believe that the ad-driven business model is slowly killing good journalism  which is itself a critical foundation for free, democratic societies, wrote one of the companys founders, Matt Coolidge, in one of many, many, many blog posts that have been written trying to explain Civil. So, were introducing a new model.

Fundamental to the model was an option for readers: They could buy into Civil, with a Civil-specific crypto token, which would somehow free journalists to take advantage of self-governance and permanence, Mr. Coolidge wrote. With this financing, Civil would be able to cut out advertisers, clickbaiters and all the other bad actors so often accused of screwing up journalism.

Civil took its currency to market in September for a month. In the end, it fell short of the minimum number of tokens it had hoped to sell by more than $6 million. Of the approximately $1.4 million worth of tokens the company did sell, about 80 percent was purchased by ConsenSys  the blockchain software company that underwrote Civil in the first place. It was as if an Olympic weight lifter said that, at a minimum, hed be able to clean and jerk 400 pounds, and then did not manage to move the bar more than an inch off the ground.
Is Carly Rae Jepsen hoping for a front-row seat at the next Calvin Klein show, perhaps sandwiched amid ASAP Rocky, Khalid and Billie Eilish? That would be the natural conclusion for anyone watching her new video for the single Party for One, which stars Ms. Jepsen and some of the most obvious product placement recently seen onscreen, in the form of Calvin Klein underwear.

The Calvin briefs make an appearance about 38 seconds into the video when Ms. Jepsen sheds her miniskirt, and they are featured on several of her video co-stars, including at least one additional woman and two men.

Absolut Vodka and Postmates also have supporting roles in the video, as Ms. Jepsen and her fellow dancing lonelyhearts converge in a hotel lobby. Overall, Party for One is such an unmistakable ode to the troika of brands that it has not gone unnoticed by viewers.

Surprisingly enough, however, Calvin Klein was not aware it was happening. Calvin Klein did not facilitate the product placement in Ms. Jepsens video, a spokesman said. (He had not seen or heard of the video before being contacted.) But we are always happy to see artists engaging with our products as a form of creative expression.
El Espace is a column dedicated to news and culture relevant to Latinx communities. Expect politics, arts, analysis, personal essays and more. Lo mejor? Itll be in Spanish and English, so you can forward it to your tia, your primo Lalo or anyone else (read: everyone).

At the end of 2016, in between jobs and ready for a change, I moved back to the Dominican Republic for a few months. Every night at my tias home in Santo Domingo, I watched her and the other women and girls on my dads side of the family brush out their curls, braid their hair and wrap it into the same Princess Leia-style buns to sleep. Theyd inherited this bedtime ritual from my grandmother, who died in the early 90s and whose long mane of pelo bueno was legend in my family. (Ugh. I know. But even if it shouldnt be a thing, it still is.) I envied the shared communion of this small gesture, which Id never witnessed growing up in New York: their jalones had historia.

Inevitably, we leave parts of ourselves behind when we emigrate  traditions that are too hard to keep up; foods for which the right sazon is nearly impossible to find. But Mexican-Americans (and Pixar) have taken the Day of the Dead and made it a distinct part of American culture too. In many cities, especially those with large Chicano populations like Houston and Los Angeles, altars honoring deceased ancestors and loved ones with food and mementos have popped up on street corners and in shops in advance of the holiday on Nov. 2.

In Dallas, for example, where about a third of the population is Hispanic and primarily of Mexican descent, Maroches Bakery, in the Bishops Arts District neighborhood, has become known for its Day of the Dead community altar.
Last year, the subway stations of New York and the feeds of Instagram were plastered with cheeky ads with slumped cactuses that offered a tantalizing proposition. They promoted a new service offering guys  young, yuk-yuk millennial guys  solutions to the kind of problems its easier to confide to your smartphone than to your doctor: erectile dysfunction; (Womp womp, said the ad campaign); hair loss (Womp); acne.

Hims, a company buoyed by the first flush of venture capital investment (a $7 million round led by Thrive Capital, Joshua Kushners firm, and Forerunner Ventures), was one of a number of start-ups taking self-care directly to consumers: bypass the doctors office and the drugstore for a doctor online and a pharmacy that will ship to your door.

Hims thrived, according to its founder and chief executive, Andrew Dudum, who said in an interview this week that the company took in $1 million in revenue in its first week. The service has grown every month since then, and has raised an additional $90 million in funding.

The next chapter of this particular new-age story is as old as time: As it is for Him, so it shall be for Her.
In New York, more than 3,000 gathered in a city park and carried signs that said, O.K. Google, really? In Dublin, dozens filled a sidewalk. And in Silicon Valley, thousands poured out of office buildings into a common outdoor area and chanted: Stand up! Fight back!

Similar scenes played out in other cities around the world  from Singapore and Hyderabad, India, to Berlin, Zurich, London, Chicago and Seattle  as Google employees held a wave of walkouts on Thursday to protest the internet companys handling of sexual harassment.

The backlash was prompted by an article in The New York Times last week that revealed that Google had paid millions of dollars in exit packages to male executives accused of misconduct, while staying silent about the transgressions.

I am here because what you read in The New York Times are a small sampling of the thousands of stories we all have, Meredith Whittaker, a Google employee who helped organize the walkout, said to a crowd of colleagues in New York. After she called out the companys pattern of unethical and thoughtless decision-making, protesters chanted, Times up.
The social network also put me on the phone with a top executive who argued boisterously for Mr. Zuckerbergs leadership, but declined to do so on the record. The executive explained that fixing Facebook would involve deep costs. The company is hiring more people to review content, for example, and it might have to slow down some of its most ambitious projects to address its impact on the world. The executive argued that Mr. Zuckerbergs total domination of Facebooks equity, plus the reverence in which employees hold him, allowed him to weather the financial consequences of these changes better than any other leader.

Facebooks stock price plunged nearly 20 percent on a single day this summer after it reported slowing revenue growth and increased operational costs. This week, Facebook repeated its slower-growth warning. A professional C.E.O., one without such a huge stake in the company, would be tempted to try the easy way out, the executive suggested. But Mr. Zuckerberg was free to do whats right.

Mr. Zuckerbergs supporters also argued that he has shown a deep capacity to understand and address Facebooks problems. After the company went public in 2012, its stock price languished for months because it had no plan to make money from consumers shift to mobile devices.

Mark would tell you that he was too late in understanding the importance of mobile  but when that became apparent, Mark understood its gravity and he understood how to fix it, said Don Graham, a former Facebook board member and former publisher of The Washington Post. He changed the direction of that company incredibly fast, in detail, not by one action but by 20 actions  and if you looked at the quarter-by-quarter numbers of what percentage of Facebooks revenue was coming from mobile, I couldnt believe how fast it changed.

The question at Facebook now is whether Mr. Zuckerberg has similarly seen the light on its current problems. He has said fixing Facebook was his personal challenge for 2018. But there are signs that its culture remains the same.

Consider its promise that a new home-hub device, Portal, which it unveiled this month, would not collect information on users that could be used in ads. It had to swiftly walk back that promise because Facebooks data-collection system is so pervasive that even some of its employees dont seem to understand it.

I think he has demonstrably failed over the last two years, and the reason hes failed is because hes unaccountable, said Sandy Parakilas, a former Facebook employee who is now chief strategy officer for the Center of Humane Technology, an activist organization. Given a scenario where shareholders and board members had more influence, its hard to imagine that there would not have been changes faster.
STOREY COUNTY, Nev.  An enormous plot of land in the Nevada desert  bigger than nearby Reno  has been the subject of local intrigue since a company with no history, Blockchains L.L.C., bought it for $170 million in cash this year.

The man who owns the company, a lawyer and cryptocurrency millionaire named Jeffrey Berns, put on a helmet and climbed into a Polaris off-road vehicle last week to give a tour of the sprawling property and dispel a bit of the mystery.

He imagines a sort of experimental community spread over about a hundred square miles, where houses, schools, commercial districts and production studios will be built. The centerpiece of this giant project will be the blockchain, a new kind of database that was introduced by Bitcoin.

After his driver stopped the Polaris on a high desert plateau, surrounded by blooming rabbit brush and a grazing herd of wild horses, Mr. Berns, who is 56, pointed to the highlights of his dream community.
This has started the conversation of Where is the money coming from? Mr. Bansal said.

Other Silicon Valley investors are in a more uncomfortable position. Some start-up founders are asking their investors whether they have financial connections to a foreign government with a poor human rights record. Others say that from now on, they will demand to know the source of investment money.

But it is easy for founders to ask where the money is coming from, and much harder for them to take action. Often, it is difficult to figure out where venture capital firms are getting their money, because the firms rarely disclose that information. And even if start-up executives discover that some of their money is from an unwelcome source, it is tricky to give back money already accepted  and possibly spent.

The efforts and calls for action are nascent. Luis von Ahn, chief executive of a language-learning app, Duolingo, said he had recently taken a closer look at the more than $100 million his company had raised from investors, including Union Square Venture and Kleiner Perkins. He does not believe any of it came from Saudi Arabia, he said, but he added that he could not be sure, given the complex, opaque network of investment vehicles that back venture capital funds.

Mr. von Ahn said the information was more useful for evaluating potential future investments than reassessing past ones, and that he planned to raise the question with potential investors if Duolingo sought more investment.

There are all kinds of places I personally wouldnt want to have money from, he said.

Amol Sarva, a founder of Knotel, a co-working start-up, said he had been telling bankers and fund-raising advisers that he wants to avoid money from certain groups, including evil governments.
Hiking through Forest Canyon Pass, nearly 11,500 feet above sea level, is a little like jumping into an ice-cold pond: Its sobering, invigorating and takes a little getting used to. When I wasnt catching my breath because of the altitude, I was taking in the picture-book panoramas of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Its tough to beat a visit to Boulder, Colo., if youre looking to get back to nature  easy access to several national forests and one of the finest national parks in the country helps  but you dont actually have to leave the city at all to experience some exceptionally fine hiking and outdoor activities, as well as some satisfying dining experiences. Boulder is, however, an expensive city. Its real estate costs are some of the highest in the nation, and with Google and Amazon increasing their presence in town, that issue is not likely to go away anytime soon. Fortunately, I was able to get the most out of Boulder for a minimal amount of cash during a visit in July.

I flew into Denver International Airport and, faced with high on-airport rental car costs, opted to make the somewhat long trek via rideshare to a downtown Avis location. My $42 per day got me a shiny new Subaru Outback (it would not be the last one I saw during this Colorado sojourn). On my way north, I stopped in the town of Louisville at Moxie Bread Co, a top-notch bakery that uses organic heirloom wheat. I arrived near closing time, when most of the items were sold out  the friendly guy behind the counter took pity on me and gave me a free coffee. The flaky croissant ($4.50) was excellent, as was a seedy, slightly tangy loaf of millabrod bread ($6).
Here are some options for a single-parent-led family vacation.

[The topics parents are talking about. Evidence-based guidance. Personal stories that matter. Sign up now to get NYT Parenting in your inbox every week.]

Consider a cruise

Ms. McNally and her sons ending up taking a cruise to the Caribbean with Disney Cruise Line because she had heard that the line went out of its way to accommodate single parent families. For example, single-parent families can choose to dine with others like them and may also be paired for shore excursions, so children have a chance to make new friends, and parents have other adults to interact with. Additionally, all four of Disneys ships have planned activities for solo parents and every sailing offers kids and teen clubs with activities all day that are included in the cost of the cruise.

Ms. McNally and her sons had such a good time on that trip, roughly four years ago, that theyve since been on nine more Disney cruises, including one last December to the Bahamas. The setup on the boats made me and the boys completely relaxed, Ms. McNally said.

Disney Cruise Line is among the several travel companies that increasingly cater to single parent families by grouping them with others who have a similar family setup and offering them price breaks. Some companies have even introduced specific single-parent itineraries.

The river cruise line CroisiEurope, for example, normally charges single adult travelers a supplement fee thats 30 percent of the total cruise fare (a weeklong all-inclusive trip costs around $2500). In July and August, however, this fee is waived for single parents on select European cruises when theyre traveling with children who are 16 or younger; children on these itineraries also sail for free. In addition, the supplement is waived on the companys Christmas market cruises on the Danube and Rhine River.
2) 7 p.m. Nordic dinner

Oslos dining scene musters little excitement compared to its southerly Scandinavian neighbor, Copenhagen, but there are a few bright spots in this famously pricey city that wont break the bank. One excellent option is Arakataka, an elegant bistro with Nordic-inflected dishes, superb service and an interesting selection of natural wines. Get a table by the windows in the food bar, solicit suggestions from the staff about what to drink, and then select several small plates to share. Recent highlights included cured trout with roe; paper-thin slivers of local salumi; and creamy king crab salad with soft, fermented-celeriac bread. Dinner for two, about 800 kroner.

3) 10 p.m. Downtown drinks

What Oslo lacks in dining destinations, it makes up for with downtown drinking dens. Kick off the night at Torggata Botaniske, a bustling bar with plants climbing across the ceiling and a menu of cocktails that favor flora, like the spicy Jalla Jalla (mezcal, cilantro, chartreuse, jalapeno syrup, lime and volcano salt; 131 kroner). Then duck into nearby Oculus, a 20-tap beer bar pouring craft brews from Oslos Cervisiam brewery  the juicy Bad Mango I.P.A. is a favorite. Thirsty for more? Head to Kulturhuset, a cultural center that last year moved into a new three-level space with live music events, shuffleboard tables and local beers on tap. Or stay up late at Handslag, a sprawling new hangout in a revived Youngs Gate complex where a hidden back bar features rotating guest taps from top Norwegian breweries such as 7 Fjell.
The Rio Grande Valley sector is the busiest in the country for apprehensions of unauthorized immigrants, and the agent, Manuel Padilla Jr., said he called the meeting to prepare for the possibility of the first caravans arrival there. Mr. Padilla told those at the meeting that the caravan could arrive at the South Texas border, but it could also show up in towns as far away as California. Of particular concern to local officials is the potential for long lines at international bridges, as those in the caravan seek to enter the United States and apply for asylum.

As far as were concerned, we want to make sure we focus on the ports of entry, so that theres enough help at the bridges so people can get through the port and apply for asylum, said Sister Norma Pimentel, who attended the meeting as the leader of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, which assists migrants after they have been processed at the border and released. She said there was a concern that such large groups could overwhelm facilities along the border.

The officials discussed how to provide health assistance to the migrants. And since the meeting, the officials have been exploring options to add temporary housing, including at churches, because existing temporary shelter space is inadequate.

Chief Victor Rodriguez of the McAllen Police Department, who was also at the meeting, said he was always on standby to assist other agencies. But he was unsure what mission needed to be carried out as the caravan continued to head for the United States and the troops prepared to deploy.

Youve heard the saying: This is a moving target, Chief Rodriguez said. This is not even a target yet, its just moving. Its like Jell-O. There are so many moving parts to this, and until we know what mission were trying to carry out, its hard for us to even plan to give assistance.

The chief said he did not believe military options would be called for if and when the migrant caravan arrived in Texas. My opinion is, if you were that person on the caravan down there and all of a sudden you see pictures of the military on the border, youre getting the message that youre not wanted, he said.
WASHINGTON  The Department of Justice charged a Chinese state-owned company, its Taiwanese partner and three individuals on Thursday with stealing trade secrets from an American technology company, the latest move by the Trump administration to crack down on Chinas economic espionage.

The indictments come as the United States remains locked in a bitter trade war with China, which the Trump administration has accused of unfair trade practices, including stealing valuable intellectual property and technology from American companies. The charges filed on Thursday are the latest in a series of indictments that accuse China of elaborate efforts to steal corporate secrets through espionage and hacking.

The Justice Department unveiled charges against Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, United Microelectronics Corporation, a Taiwanese semiconductor company, and three Taiwanese nationals. They are accused of conspiring to steal technology from Micron Technology, an Idaho-based chip maker that does extensive business in Asia.

As this and other recent cases have shown, Chinese economic espionage against the United States has been increasing  and it has been increasing rapidly, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. I am here to say that enough is enough.
WASHINGTON  Democrats are preparing to use an obscure law to try to obtain a copy of President Trumps tax returns if they win control of the House or Senate  a scenario that could force one of the presidents most trusted aides to reveal his most closely guarded secret.

Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, said in an interview that he would honor any legal requests from Congress to release the presidents tax returns, which are stored in a vault at the Internal Revenue Service. But the demand would undoubtedly thrust Mr. Mnuchin into the fraught position of balancing his loyalty to Mr. Trump with a legal requirement to deliver the returns.

The first issue is they would have to win the House, which they havent done yet, Mr. Mnuchin said during an interview in Jerusalem last week. If they win the House and there is a request, we will work with our general counsel and the I.R.S. general counsel on any requests.

Mr. Mnuchin said his team would analyze any demands for the presidents returns and fulfill them if required by law. Asked whether a request made for political purposes would be legal, Mr. Mnuchin demurred, saying he did not want to stake out any legal positions. His team has not yet studied the issue, he said.
Republicans used last years tax bill to remove the laws penalty on people who do not secure insurance. With two more years, party officials say, they could try to eliminate the so-called employer mandate, removing penalties for employers who do not offer coverage for their employees.

Others would push lawmakers to try to go further and cut at the heart of the laws popularity: its protections of those with pre-existing conditions.

Republicans need to grow a spine and confront that debate head-on, said Mr. Roth, who believes Democrats have scared Republicans into abandoning their position that the heavy federal mandate is driving up insurance costs.

Find common ground or head rightward?

With a presidential election looming, Republicans also face a consequential choice: work with Democrats to achieve some policy victories and lift Mr. Trump, or take advantage of what could be a dwindling period of unified Republican control to press rightward.

Lawmakers in both parties believe there is at least a chance that a Republican House and Senate could pass bipartisan legislation overhauling incarceration laws and prison sentencing, which would include changes to mandatory minimum sentences and programs meant to reduce recidivism.

The first thing you need to be is gracious, said Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina. Thank you very much to the American people for allowing us to stay in charge. You need to challenge the Democrats to find common ground.
Ive lived here my whole life, so I know where everybody lives on a reservation. We dont even have physical addresses. If somebody told me to go to BIA Number 8, I wouldnt even know where that is. But tell me who lives on BIA Number 8 and I can get there. Here on this North Dakota reservation, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians dont use residential addresses. Do you have your ID? But if they want to vote in the midterm election, they need to have one printed on their ID card. Theyre giving free IDs right now. Yeah. And you should get the word out to everybody around here. Thats because of a recent Supreme Court ruling that lets a controversial North Dakota voter ID law stand. The fight against the North Dakota law started after Richard Brakebill and other members of the Turtle Mountain tribe were turned away from the polls in 2014. They said that because my ID didnt have my address, and I didnt really have a North Dakota ID or anything  that was really a letdown to me, you know? I felt bad, you know, when they refused me. Now a seasonal laborer, Brakebill is also a Navy veteran, who says hes voted steadily since he was 18. Thats what kind of upset me too, you know, you go serve our country and then to be treated like that, you know? With the Native American Rights Fund and others representing them, the Turtle Mountain members tried to block the law. They argued that it was discriminatory, in part because reservations dont use physical addresses. They won their case. A federal judge ruled the law unconstitutional in 2016. But their fight wasnt over. The next year, the North Dakota governor signed a new law with essentially the same rules. Turtle Mountain tried to block the law again. And that case made its way up to the Supreme Court of the United States. I didnt hear a lot of conversation about the Supreme Court decision when it first came down. I think it was when people started realizing, a day or two after, that it really meant suppression of our votes. Jamie Azure has been meeting with other tribal leaders and advocates to figure out how to get people the documentation they need. We came up with a tribal letterhead in  when we met at Spirit Lake. I mean, they have everything on there. They have post office box, physical address, enrollment number. They have a photo ID. Proponents of the law say its necessary to stop fraud, especially since North Dakota doesnt require voters to register in advance. But according to the Native American Rights Fund, native voters are more than twice as likely as others to lack a qualifying ID. Come on. Bring it into your heart and bring it over your head. With the midterms fast approaching, the tribes are not alone in feeling the pressure. The Democratic Party is also rallying to get the word out in native communities here. [chanting] [drumming] The reservations in North Dakota are patches of blue in a sea of red. This is a very conservative state. Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp barely won in 2012. Her margin of victory was only about 3,000 votes. You need to vote. And you need to vote in record numbers. Lets send a message that the highest turnout of any group in North Dakota is Native Americans because they wont mess with you again. [applause] Now, Heitkamp is trailing her Republican opponent in the polls. If Democrats are to have a chance of flipping the Senate, Heidi Heitkamp needs to win. And her winning depends on getting native North Dakotans out to vote. Theyre depending on her too. The most important issues on the federal level for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa are federal programs and federal grants. Its scary knowing that we dont have control over our own future right now. The Democratic Party has field organizers working on four reservations across North Dakota. Anna Giron focuses on Turtle Mountain, where shes from. Thank you. The new tribal ID, right? No one knows exactly how many people here lack the proper ID. And Ill give you a ride to go and get your  O.K.  ID. Younger residents are more likely to have a state-issued drivers license, which always has an address on it. The problem is bigger for the elderly. Miss Wally, are you up for a little bit of company? The voter name  Eugene  Oh, you did it already? You dont have any type of North Dakota ID that has a physical address on it? No. Joe, do you have any of your ID on you? All right. Now see, this is an old tribal ID that we have. This has no address on it. New tribal IDs usually cost $10. That may not sound like a lot, but this reservation has a 59 percent unemployment rate. In response to the voter ID law, all the tribes in North Dakota are now issuing IDs for free. One, two, three. Thats nice. Yep, its nice. The county generates the addresses. I look like a criminal here. In Turtle Mountain, there will also be a machine at each polling place on Nov. 6, ready to print new cards for those who still need them. Back in the 1800s, we fought the same battles. The only difference between the 1800s and now is, 1800s, we have guns. Now we have a pen. Yep. And the pen is what we need to use  So now, we are in 2018. And we are reengaged back into the fight. Were not going to let anybody stop us from voting. This is the power that we have. And we have a very unique power for this specific election. And I just want people to understand the importance of that.
Good Thursday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today.

_____________________

 Does former President Barack Obamas signature idealism have a place in todays flame-throwing political climate? Some Democrats are wrestling with that question.

 The Hub Project, a Democratic organization, has spent nearly $30 million on the midterm elections. But the group, which does not reveal its donors, is a mystery even to some of those involved.

 On both sides of the Atlantic, a loose right-wing network has spent years trying to cast George Soros, the billionaire investor and Democratic donor, as the shadowy leader of a radical global movement. Heres how it happened.
A survey released this week by University of Texas/Texas Tribune found that a majority of Texas voters would immediately deport undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S., and that 45 percent believe the country admits more legal immigrants that it should.

And yes, before you start sending me polling cross tabs, Mr. ORourke faces an uphill climb to victory.

But its also undeniable that the guy has built something unexpected in the Lone Star State. He gets thousands out to rallies in small towns. Hes rolling in money. There are T-shirts. Hats worn by celebrities. And even Halloween costumes. (So many Halloween costumes.)

He has a supporter list and bank account that are the envy of many Democrats now, and likely to become even more coveted as the party shifts its focus to the 2020 presidential race.

Mr. ORourkes brand of unabashed liberalism  a model embraced by Andrew Gillum, the nominee for governor in Florida, and, to a lesser extent, by Stacey Abrams, the nominee for governor in Georgia  tests whether, in the Trump era, the answer for Democrats can be found to the left.

Its certainly a way to raise tons of money. But will it be enough to counteract a president who is willing to stoke his supporters biggest fears to drive them to the polls? Well know in five days.

[Sign up here to get On Politics in your inbox every evening.]

____________________

From Opinion: Trump and the midterms

Midterms are always about the sitting president. And then theres 2018: Though hes not on the ballot, President Trump seems to be on everyones mind. Our colleagues from the Opinion Pages sent us this today:

Following the recent horrific streak of terrorism, the president was caught between the roles of national conciliator and Republican partisan. Our opinion writers  left and right  agreed that, with eyes on Election Day, he too eagerly embraced the latter and not the former.
MARIETTA, Ga.  In the big data era of politics, where campaigns are betting millions on software that can harvest hundreds of pieces of information about a single voter, Tony McMullin is making a decidedly different wager.

He is trying to show that elections can be won through the persuasive power of a plaintive handwritten postcard.

It is a battle of quaint vs. quant.

An army of almost 40,000 volunteers, seeking catharsis in the Trump era, have answered Mr. McMullins call to do more than wring hands, and instead, start writing, producing more than 1.5 million postcards since September to try to swing close races in the midterm election. This week, the group aims to send postcards to every registered Democrat in North Dakota to try to win the re-election of Senator Heidi Heitkamp.

We called it Sharpie therapy, said Ellen Bender, who has convened multiple postcard-writing sessions at a Le Pain Quotidien on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Instead of throwing the remote at the TV, we would write postcards.
HOUSTON  Two years ago, the presidential election hinged in large part on a rightward shift among working-class whites who deserted Democrats.

Tuesdays House election may turn on an equally significant and opposite force: a generational break with the Republican Party among educated, wealthier whites  especially women  who like the partys pro-business policies but recoil from President Trumps divisive language on race and gender.

Rather than seeking to coax voters like these back into the Republican coalition, Mr. Trump appears to have all but written them off, spending the final days of the campaign delivering a scorching message about preoccupations like birthright citizenship and a migrant invasion from Mexico that these voters see through as alarmist.

In Republican-leaning districts that include diverse populations or abut cities that do  from bulwarks of Sunbelt conservatism like Houston and Orange County, Calif., to the well-manicured bedroom communities outside Philadelphia and Minneapolis  the party is in danger of losing its House majority next week because Mr. Trumps racially-tinged nationalism has alienated these voters who once made up a dependable constituency.
Mr. Stone has repeatedly said that he had access only to Mr. Assanges public statements and to secondhand information from journalists or other sources. If he implied that he had more direct sources, he has said, he was simply engaging in political hyperbole.

In an interview on Wednesday, Mr. Stone insisted he did nothing more than posture, bluff, hype, based on WikiLeaks Twitter feed and miscellaneous tips.

I didnt need any inside knowledge to do that. They keep looking for some direct communication with WikiLeaks that doesnt exist, he said of journalists reporting on the Russia investigation. He added that he had paid for two polygraph tests that prove he is telling the truth.

But some of his previous statements have proved false. Mr. Stone told The Washington Post this week that he never discussed WikiLeaks with Trump campaign officials. There are no such communications and if Bannon says there are he would be dissembling, he said.

This article is based on interviews with people familiar with the Russia investigation and the inner workings of the Trump campaign, as well as a review of hundreds of text messages and emails that Mr. Stone exchanged over months with several associates, including Randy Credico, a New York comedian, former radio host and left-wing activist whom Mr. Stone has repeatedly identified as his source about WikiLeaks.

Besides the confusion caused by Mr. Stones penchant for innuendo and outright lies, investigators are hampered by the fact that Mr. Assange remains out of reach, holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he has lived for six years in fear of extradition to face possible criminal charges.

Still, Mr. Bannons October 2016 email correspondence shows that the perception that Mr. Stone knew what WikiLeaks had in store for Mrs. Clinton spread to the highest levels of the Trump campaign. No evidence has emerged that Mr. Trump or his advisers alerted the authorities.
WASHINGTON  President Trumps closing argument is now clear: Build tent cities for migrants. End birthright citizenship. Fear the caravan. Send active-duty troops to the border. Refuse asylum.

Immigration has been the animating issue of the Trump presidency, and now  with the possibility that Republicans could face significant losses in the midterm elections on Tuesday  the president has fully embraced a dark, anti-immigrant message in the hope that stoking fear will motivate voters to reject Democrats.

In a rambling speech on Thursday afternoon that was riddled with falsehoods and vague promises to confront a crisis at the border, Mr. Trump used the official backdrop of the White House to step up his efforts to demonize a caravan of Central Americans that has been making its way through Mexico, assail Democrats, and promote a vision of a United States that would be better off with fewer immigrants.

The president said he had ordered troops to respond to any migrants in the caravan who throw rocks as if they were brandishing firearms, saying, I told them: Consider it a rifle. He said his government had already begun to construct massive cities of tents to imprison legal and illegal immigrants who try to enter the United States.
Mr. Bennett, who leads a right-wing religious party, the Jewish Home, which is part of Mr. Netanyahus coalition government, flew to Pittsburgh on his own initiative to mourn the victims. While there, he met Jason D. Greenblatt, who serves as Mr. Trumps Middle East envoy and was taking soundings for a visit by the president.

On Tuesday, Mr. Bennett posted a stream of tweets defending the president, just as Mr. Trump was leaving the synagogue to the distant chants of protesters marching through the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, carrying signs that said Words matter and President Hate is not welcome in our state.

The next day, in New York, Mr. Bennett continued his defense of Mr. Trump. The president, he said, supported Israel in its battle with Iran and recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. His son-in-law, Mr. Kushner, is Jewish; his daughter Ivanka is a convert to Judaism; and his grandchildren are Jewish, as are many of his advisers.

What, he asked, could be more pro-Jewish?

Mr. Bennett also cast doubt on a study by the Anti-Defamation League, which claims the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the United States rose 57 percent in 2017, the first year of Mr. Trumps presidency. Im not sure at all there is a surge in anti-Semitism in America, he said. Im not sure those are the facts.

Mr. Bennett clarified later that he was referring to the number of physical assaults against Jews, not all acts of anti-Semitism. But he also emphasized that anti-Jewish invective comes from a variety of sources, citing Louis Farrakhan, the black Muslim leader who recently posted a video in which he likened Jews to termites.

To many in the American Jewish community, Mr. Trumps responsibility is clear. Bend the Arc, a progressive Jewish group in Pittsburgh, sent the president an open letter urging him not to visit the city until you fully denounce white nationalism.

Our Jewish community is not the only group you have targeted, said the letter, which had more than 84,000 signatures. You have also deliberately undermined the safety of people of color, Muslims, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities.
Mr. Stone had long claimed both publicly and privately that he had foreknowledge of the information that WikiLeaks planned to release about Mrs. Clinton and her political allies. In early October, Mr. Stone predicted on his Twitter account, which was suspended after a string of expletive-laden tweets, that the documents that Mr. Assange promised to make public would hurt Mrs. Clintons campaign.

Oct. 2, 2016 @rogerjstonejr: Wednesday @HillaryClinton is done. Oct. 3, 2016 @rogerjstonejr: I have total confidence that @wikileaks and my hero Julian Assange will educate the American people soon. #LockHerUp

The Emails

On the night of Oct. 3, Mr. Boyle emailed Mr. Stone. Mr. Assange had scheduled a news conference for the next day where he would announce he was releasing a new cache of documents. The emails show how closely intertwined Breitbart News and the campaign were and how people in Mr. Bannons orbit saw Mr. Stone as a direct link to WikiLeaks.

Monday, October 3, 2016

FROM: Matthew Boyle

TO: Roger Stone

EMAIL: Assange  whats he got? Hope its good.  Thanks, Matthew Boyle

Washington Political Editor, Breitbart News

http://twitter.com/mboyle1

http://www.breitbart.com/Columnists/matthew-boyle

Mr. Stone had apparently been trying to get in touch with Mr. Bannon to tell him about Mr. Assanges plans. Mr. Boyle, a protege of Mr. Bannons, forwarded to him Mr. Stones email. But Mr. Bannon appeared uninterested in engaging.

Monday, October 3, 2016

FROM: Roger Stone

TO: Matthew Boyle

EMAIL:



It is. Id tell Bannon but he doesnt call me back.



My book on the TRUMP campaign will be out in Jan.





Many scores will be settled.



R Monday, October 3, 2016

FROM: Matthew Boyle

TO: Steve Bannon

EMAIL:

You should call Roger. See below. You didnt get from me. Monday, October 3, 2016

FROM: Steve Bannon

TO: Matthew Boyle

EMAIL:

Ive got important stuff to worry about Tuesday, October 4, 2016

FROM: Matthew Boyle

TO: Steve Bannon

EMAIL:



Well clearly he knows what Assange has. Id say thats important.

The next morning, Mr. Assange told reporters in Berlin, by teleconference, that he planned to release significant material in the coming weeks, including some related to the American presidential election. He said WikiLeaks hoped to publish a trove of documents each week in the coming months. Mr. Assanges comments were reported extensively in the United States.

Mr. Bannon then contacted Mr. Stone directly, asking for insight into Mr. Assanges plan. Notably, Mr. Stone did not tell Mr. Bannon anything that Mr. Assange had not said publicly. He did explain that Mr. Assange was concerned about his security, and he said in an interview that Randy Credico, a New York comedian and activist whom Mr. Stone has identified as his source about WikiLeaks, also gave him that information.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

FROM: Steve Bannon

TO: Roger Stone

EMAIL:



What was that this morning??? Tuesday, October 4, 2016

FROM: Roger Stone

TO: Steve Bannon

EMAIL:

Fear. Serious security concern. He thinks they are going to kill him and the London police are standing done.



However a load every week going forward.



Roger stone Tuesday, October 4, 2016

FROM: Steve Bannon

TO: Roger Stone

EMAIL:



He didnt cut deal w/ clintons???

The final email in the exchange is vintage Stone. He demanded that Trump campaign surrogates convey his accusations, made without evidence, about Bill Clintons having a love child named Danney Williams. And he told Mr. Bannon to have the wealthy Republican donor Rebekah Mercer send money to his political organization  a 501(c)(4) group sometimes called a C-4  which was structured to keep its donors secret. No evidence has emerged that Mr. Bannon asked Ms. Mercer to send money.

In response to Mr. Bannons request for insider information into whether Mr. Assange had cut a deal with the Clintons not to release the emails, Mr. Stone said he did not know.
When the Department of Veterans Affairs released the annual ratings of its hospitals this fall, the facility in Atlanta dropped to the bottom, while the one in West Haven, Conn., shot to the top. It was something of a mystery as to why.

The Atlanta hospital was downgraded to one star from three on the agencys five-star scale, even though there had been only a trivial change in its quality data from the year before, according to the department. The Connecticut hospital climbed to five stars from three, even though numerous operations had to be performed elsewhere or canceled at the last minute because of problems with sterilization of surgical tools, according to an internal assessment and other accounts cited by Senator Richard Blumenthal in a letter to the agency.

Veterans Affairs set up the rating system in 2012 in the hope of pushing its hospitals to improve, and it has been increasingly aggressive in using the ratings to hold hospital managers accountable. Leaders with low ratings can be ousted, as happened last week in Atlanta, where the chief of staff and heads of the emergency department, primary care and clinical access services were removed because of low scores.

But former senior officials at the agency and experts in health care metrics say the system can be confusing, and so arbitrary that hospitals may gain and lose stars based only on statistical error. More than a dozen hospitals improved care but lost stars; another did not improve and gained one.
The role of evangelical Christianity in American politics has been a hotly discussed topic this year, intersecting with front-burner issues like immigration, the Supreme Court and social justice. Often the loudest evangelical voices are white, male and  not young.

With just days left before the midterm elections  two years after President Trump won the White House with a record share of white, evangelical support  we asked young evangelicals to tell The Times about the relationship between their faith and their politics.

Nearly 1,500 readers replied, from every state but Alaska and Vermont. Hundreds wrote long essays about their families and communities. They go to prominent megachurches as well as small Southern Baptist, nondenominational and even mainline Protestant congregations. Some said they have left evangelicalism altogether.

We read every submission and spent many hours interviewing respondents. Heres what we learned:

Young evangelicals are questioning the typical ties between evangelicalism and Republican politics. Many said it had caused schisms within their families. And many described a real struggle with an administration they see as hostile to immigrants, Muslims, L.G.B.T.Q. people, and the poor. They feel it reflects a loss of humanity, which conflicts with their spiritual call.
Copacabana. This world-class beach is now party central for Brazils far right. Weekly rallies here celebrate the movements rising star and and now future president, Jair Bolsonaro. If you know anything about Bolsonaro, you likely know that hes made some pretty outrageous remarks, such as calling a fellow lawmaker too ugly to rape   and supporting torture. You may also know that women have come out en masse to oppose Bolsonaro, taking to the streets across Brazil under the banner of Ele Nao, or Not Him. But what may be surprising is that almost as many women support Bolsonaro. Hes polarized the entire country, but women seem especially divided about him. His signature gun gesture here hints at a key reason why. In 1964, women marched against communist reforms, setting the stage for a military coup. Twenty-one years of dictatorship followed. Hundreds of dissidents were killed, and thousands were tortured. Jair Bolsonaro, a former Army captain, is an open admirer of the dictatorship. His only criticism: They didnt kill enough people. At Bolsonaro rallies, people reminisce about the role women played in calling for the coup. Crime  and especially violent crime  is a huge problem in Brazil. Last year, nearly 64,000 people were murdered. Bolsonaro himself was stabbed in the stomach while campaigning. His popularity surged afterward. To understand how fear of crime is driving Bolsonaros popularity, we went to meet Sara Winter. She used to be a pro-choice activist. Now shes pro-life, and describes herself as a cured feminist. Shes been mobilizing her Facebook followers to show their support for Bolsonaro. Walking the streets of Rio, we hear similar views. Sofia Caputo voted for the left in the last four elections and now supports Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro has seized on peoples fears to justify iron-fisted policing tactics. His pitch isnt exactly new. The military already polices Rios poorest neighborhoods. We embed with Lt. Commander Enrique Amaral   as he prepares to lead soldiers through the Babilonia favela. His battalion is part of a federal intervention started earlier this year to crack down on crime. Soldiers are looking for guns and gang members. But really anyone can be a suspect. Its like stop and frisk with M-16s. They see a young man who turns away. The young man stops. Hes standing right outside his house. His name is Renan, and his mother is fuming. Renan was let go. But his mother has reason to be scared. Security forces have killed over 1,000 people in Rio since the federal takeover began. Thats a 42% increase from last year. And those killed are mostly young men. Its why many women here  many mothers  fear Bolsonaro. He wants to ramp up the militarys role, give police and soldiers more power with less accountability. Her son was 14 years old. He was shot on his way to school. Whats at stake in this election for you? But outside the war zone in the favelas, theres less concern about the cost of fighting violence with more violence. Bolsonaro also wants to make it easier to buy guns, and that resonates with a lot of middle and upper class people worried about a spike in robberies. One woman, Katia Sastre, became a poster child for self-defense. In March, Sastre was with her daughter at a school Mothers Day event standing outside when a young man walked up and tried to rob them at gunpoint. Sastre, off duty at the time, was recorded on CCTV shooting the gunman three times point blank. He died. The video went viral, and she became an overnight sensation. Soon after, Sastre ran for Congress   and won by a landslide. The gunmans family is now suing Sastre for replaying the moment of their sons death in her campaign. His name was Elivelton Neves, I believe. He was 21. His family has responded. Do you regret using that video at all? Fear, crime and security. Like Donald Trump in the U.S., Bolsonaro has campaigned on these issues. Bolsonaro wants people to believe that his militaristic  some say fascist  agenda can solve all of Brazils problems. Bolsonaros supporters want change. They want a new approach. But at what cost for Brazls democracy? Enough women, and men, appear willing to find out.
RIO DE JANEIRO  The federal judge who doomed former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas bid to return to power by convicting him on corruption charges last year, agreed on Thursday to take a cabinet post in the government of the countrys new president, Jair Bolsonaro.

The decision by the judge, Sergio Moro, to take the helm of the Justice Ministry was met with both outrage and jubilation, a reflection of how polarizing he has become.

The position is newly reconfigured to oversee efforts to fight organized crime and corruption. Mr. Moro, the most visible law enforcement figure in a sweeping corruption inquiry that began in 2014, has been hailed at home and abroad as a crusading disrupter of a political class many saw as descending into kleptocracy.

Yet some Brazilians also came to regard him as a political operator doing the bidding of conservative politicians, particularly as he oversaw the swift prosecution of Mr. da Silva on corruption and money laundering charges.
For anyone curious about the future of democracy, two developments out of Brazil and Germany pose something of a mystery.

The election of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil looks too similar to the wave of right-wing, anti-establishment populism sweeping Europe and the United States to be dismissed as coincidence. Mr. Bolsonaro, known for praising his countrys former military dictatorship and insulting minorities and women, has championed anger at Brazils establishment by promising strong-fisted rule.

Underscoring the sense of a global shift, within hours of Mr. Bolsonaros victory, Angela Merkel, Germanys longtime chancellor and pillar of European stability, announced she would not seek re-election.

Yet there is no obvious link between Mr. Bolsonaros rise and that of Western populists. Figures like Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary and German populist parties rose by railing against the European Union and immigration, neither of them issues in Brazil. Mr. Bolsonaro rode a backlash against corruption and crime epidemics that are distinctly Latin American.
Indonesia is protesting Saudi Arabias execution this week of one of its citizens, a domestic worker, saying the kingdom failed to notify her family or the Indonesian government beforehand.

Tuti Tursilawati, a mother of one in her early 30s from Majalengka, Indonesia, was executed on Monday, seven years after she was convicted of murdering her employer in the Saudi city of Taif. A rights group, Migrant Care, has said she was defending herself from sexual assault.

President Joko Widodo of Indonesia said Wednesday that he had contacted Saudi Arabias foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, to protest the kingdoms actions.

During a visit by Mr. Jubeir last week to Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi lauded the Saudi governments commitment to better protecting the Indonesians living and working there, according to The Straits Times of Singapore.
BANGKOK  An Indonesian Navy diving team retrieved one of the flight recorders from Lion Air Flight 610 on Thursday from the depths of the Java Sea, raising hopes that investigators will be able to solve the mystery of what led a brand-new Boeing jet to fall from the sky this week.

The navy team located the device at a depth of around 30 meters in waters northeast of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. On Wednesday, search teams had heard pings from a locating beacon attached to the data recorder, but strong ocean currents stopped them from recovering the device.

Speaking from a ship where the device was being transported to Jakarta, the leader of the diving team, Senior Chief Petty Officer Hendra, told reporters that divers had to dig into the seabed to recover it. Although the machine was covered in mud, it was intact.

We were desperate, said Mr. Hendra, who uses just one name.

There are two so-called black boxes on each plane, and they are actually bright orange. One records conversations in the cockpit, while the other tracks crucial data, like airspeed, altitude and fuel flow.
SEOUL, South Korea  South Koreas Supreme Court on Thursday acquitted a man who refused to serve in the military because of his religious beliefs, a ruling expected to affect the fate of the more than 900 conscientious objectors who are currently on trial for refusing mandatory service in the countrys armed forces.

For decades, South Korea has required all able-bodied men in South Korea to serve in the armed forces and granted few exemptions under a conscription system seen as crucial to the countrys defense against North Korea.

It has billed military service as a patriotic duty, and the punishment of those who refused to serve has been both uniform and harsh. Each year, South Korea has sent hundreds of young men, most of them Jehovahs Witnesses, to prison by invoking its Military Service Act, which calls for up to three years in prison for those who refuse to serve without justifiable reasons.
Danish officials did not name the man; his group identified him as Habib Jabor, but that is an alias. He lives in Ringsted, a town southwest of Copenhagen, and has been under police protection since the spring because of a threat to his safety.

The Danish investigators received crucial assistance from the Mossad, which passed along information that it obtained in the course of its normal surveillance efforts, according to a high-ranking Israeli official, who asked not to be named when discussing sensitive matters.

Some Iranian officials initially blamed Arab separatists for the Sept. 22 attack on a military parade in the Iranian city of Ahvaz, which killed 25 people and wounded many more, while other officials blamed the Islamic State. When Iran fired missiles into Syria days later, in what it said was retaliation for the massacre, it identified the target as an Islamic State base.

An Arab separatist group, the Ahvaz National Resistance, took responsibility for Ahvaz attack, but Mr. Jabors group insisted that it was not involved. The two organizations have links, but the relationship between them is murky.

The Danish and Swedish police said that a Norwegian man of Iranian decent was arrested on Oct. 21 in Sweden and remains in solitary confinement, but has denied all charges.

In late September, the authorities noticed the man taking photographs of Mr. Jabors residence and intended to pass on the information to an Iranian intelligence service with a view to the information forming part of the plans to assassinate the leader the security service said.

A year ago another member of Mr. Jabors separatist group was gunned down outside his home in Amsterdam, and last month Belgium charged an Iranian diplomat over alleged plans to bomb a meeting of Iranian exiles.
MOSCOW  The bitter relations between Moscow and Kiev continued their downward spiral on Thursday, as the Russian government imposed economic sanctions against a broad cross-section of Ukraines political and business elite.

The Russian prime minister, Dmitri A. Medvedev, issued a decree freezing the assets of 68 businesses and 322 individuals, with the list reading like a whos who of the Ukrainian government. The decree specified that those sanctioned would not be able to repatriate any financial holdings in Russia to Ukraine.

The decree said that the step was being taken now to counter Ukraines unfriendly activities toward Russian citizens and entities, a reference to similar sanctions that Kiev imposed on Russians earlier this summer.

With economic and political relations between the countries crumbling, the impact of the sanctions was likely to be muted, analysts said. In an echo of the Nixon-era enemies list, the Ukrainians singled out, especially those running in next years elections, generally boasted about being sanctioned.
LONDON  It seemed like the perfect pitch to a popular British food magazine that had recently reported on an increase in sales of plant-based food: a new series about veganism.

But the editor of the magazine, Waitrose Food, was not at all impressed by the idea put forward last week by the freelance writer, and he responded with a proposal of his own that led to howls of outrage and his swift resignation from the magazine.

How about a series on killing vegans one by one, the editor, William Sitwell, wrote in an email seen by The New York Times. Ways to trap them? How to interrogate them properly? Expose their hypocrisy? Force-feed them meat? Make them eat steak and drink red wine?

Selene Nelson, the vegan food writer who had sent the pitch to the upscale grocery stores magazine ahead of World Vegan Day on Thursday, said that while she frequently came across people with hostile attitudes toward veganism, she had never seen anything like this.
WASHINGTON  The United States Central Command apologized on Thursday for posting racially offensive language in an online welcome booklet for troops deploying to Saudi Arabia, and said it would review other documents posted on its website to ensure that the term  Negro  was deleted.

A section of the booklet, titled People and Population, described the Saudi population as mainly composed of descendants of indigenous tribes that have inhabited the peninsula since prehistoric times with some later mixture of Negro blood from slaves imported from Africa.

The 69-page booklet has since been taken off the internet. It was published in June for the United States Military Training Mission to Saudi Arabia, a small force of roughly 140 military advisers and conduits for American arms sales to Riyadh.

In a statement, Capt. Bill Urban, the spokesman for Central Command, said that military officials were conducting an internal review of our posting processes, and are conducting a survey of previously posted material to ensure there is no further instances of inappropriate material on our website.
There were 15 of them. Most arrived in the dead of night, laid their trap and waited for the target to arrive. That target was Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi critic of his countrys government and its young crown prince. Since his killing in Istanbul, Turkish media has released a steady drip feed of evidence implicating Saudi officials. Weeks of investigation by The Times builds on that evidence and reconstructs what unfolded, hour-by-hour. Our timeline shows the ruthless efficiency of a hit team of experts that seemed specially chosen from Saudi government ministries. Some had links to the crown prince himself. After a series of shifting explanations, Saudi Arabia now denies that this brazen hit job was premeditated. But this reconstruction of the killing, and the botched cover-up, calls their story into serious question. Its Friday morning, Sept. 28. Khashoggi and his fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, are at the local marriage office in Istanbul. In order to marry, hes told that he needs Saudi paperwork and goes straight to the consulate to arrange it. They tell him to return in a week. It all seems routine, but its not. Inside theres a Saudi spy, Ahmed al-Muzaini, whos working under diplomatic cover. That very day, he flies off to Riyadh and helps concoct a plan to intercept Khashoggi when he returns to the consulate. Fast-forward to Monday night into Tuesday morning. Saudi agents converge in Istanbul aboard separate flights. Muzaini, the spy, flies back from Riyadh. A commercial flight carries a three-man team that we believe flew from Cairo. Two of the men are security officers and theyve previously traveled with the crown prince. A private jet flying from Riyadh lands around 3:30 a.m. That plane is often used by the Saudi government, and its carrying nine Saudi officials, some who played key roles in Khashoggis death. Well get to Team 3 later on, and for now focus on these men from Team 2. This is Salah al-Tubaigy, a high-ranking forensics and autopsy expert in the Saudi interior ministry. Turkish officials will later say his role was to dismember Khashoggis body. Another is Mustafa al-Madani, a 57-year-old engineer. As well see, its no accident that he looks like Khashoggi. And this is Maher Mutreb, the leader of the operation. Our investigation into his past reveals a direct link between Mutreb and the Saudi crown prince. When bin Salman toured a Houston neighborhood earlier this year, we discovered that Mutreb was with him, a glowering figure in the background. We found him again in Boston, at a U.N. meeting in New York, in Madrid and Paris, too. This global tour was all part of a charm offensive by the prince to paint himself as a moderate reformer. Back then, Mutreb was in the royal guard. Now, he would orchestrate Khashoggis killing. And his close ties to the crown prince beg the question, just how high up the Saudi chain of command did the plot to kill go? Early Tuesday morning, Khashoggi flies back from a weekend trip to London. He and the Saudis nearly cross paths at the airport. The Saudi teams check into two hotels, which give quick access to the consulate. Khashoggi heads home with his fiancee. Hed just bought an apartment for their new life together. By mid-morning, the Saudis are on the move. Mutreb leaves his hotel three hours before Khashoggi is due at the consulate. The rest of the team isnt far behind. The building is only a few minutes away on foot, and soon, theyre spotted at this entrance. Mutreb arrives first. Next, we see al-Tubaigy, the autopsy expert. And now al-Madani, the lookalike. The stage is almost set. A diplomatic car pulls out of the consulate driveway and switches places with a van, which backs in. Turkish officials say this van would eventually carry away Khashoggis remains. From above, we can see the driveway is covered, hiding any activity around the van from public view. Meanwhile, Khashoggi and his fiancee set out for the consulate, walking hand-in-hand. In their final hour together, they chat about dinner plans and new furniture for their home. At 1:13 p.m., they arrive at the consulate. Khashoggi gives her his cellphones before he enters. He walks into the consulate. Its the last time we see him. Inside, Khashoggi is brought to the consul generals office on the second floor. The hit team is waiting in a nearby room. Sources briefed on the evidence, told us Khashoggi quickly comes under attack. Hes dragged to another room and is killed within minutes. Then al-Tubaigy, the autopsy expert, dismembers his body while listening to music. Maher Mutreb makes a phone call to a superior. He says, Tell your boss, and The deed was done. Outside, the van reportedly carrying Khashoggis body pulls out of the side entrance and drives away. At the same time, the Saudis begin trying to cover their tracks. While Khashoggis fiancee waits here where she left him, two figures leave from the opposite side. One of them is wearing his clothes. Later, the Saudis would claim that this was Khashoggi. But its al-Madani, the engineer, now a body double pretending that the missing journalist left the consulate alive. Yet theres one glaring flaw: The clothes are the same, but hes wearing his own sneakers, the ones he walked in with. Meanwhile, the van thats allegedly carrying Khashoggis body makes the two-minute drive from the consulate to the Saudi consuls residence. Theres several minutes of deliberations but the van eventually pulls into the buildings driveway. Again, its hidden from public view. Its now three hours since Khashoggi was last seen. The body double hails this taxi and continues weaving a false trail through the city. He heads to a popular tourist area and then changes back into his own clothes. Later, we see him joking around in surveillance footage. Over at the airport, more Saudi officials arrive on another flight from Riyadh. They spend just five hours in Istanbul, but were not sure where they go. Now we pick up Maher Mutreb again, exiting from the consuls house. Its time for them to go. Mutreb and others check out of their hotel and move through airport security. Al-Muzaini, the spy, heads to the airport too. But as theyre leaving Istanbul, Khashoggis fiancee is still outside the consulate, pacing in circles. Shell soon raise the alarm that Khashoggi is missing and shell wait for him until midnight. The alarm spreads around the world. Nine days later, the Saudis send another team to Istanbul. They say its to investigate what happened. But among them are a toxicologist and a chemist, who also has ties to the hit team. He and Tubaigy attended a forensics graduation days before Khashoggi was killed. Turkish officials later say that this teams mission was not to investigate, but to cover up the killing. Now the Saudi story has changed, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for several suspects in Khashoggis killing. But that doesnt include Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who many Western government officials are convinced authorized the killing. Khashoggis remains still havent been found.
The grievous human cost of the Saudi-led war in Yemen has jumped to the top of the global agenda as the outcry over the killing of the Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi prompts Western leaders to re-examine their support for the war.

Recently, the United States and Britain, Saudi Arabias biggest arms suppliers, called for a cease-fire in Yemen. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said it should take effect within 30 days. We have got to move toward a peace effort here, and we cant say we are going to do it some time in the future, Mr. Mattis said on Tuesday.

Riveting images of malnourished Yemenis like Amal  one of 1.8 million severely malnourished children in Yemen  have put a human face to fears that a catastrophic man-made famine could engulf the country in the coming months.

The United Nations warns that the number of Yemenis relying on emergency rations, eight million, could soon rise to 14 million. Thats about half Yemens population.

Aid workers and now political leaders are calling for a cessation of hostilities, as well as emergency measures to revive the battered economy of Yemen, where soaring food prices have pushed millions to the brink.

On a trip to Yemen to see the toll the war has taken, we found Amal at a health center in Aslam, 90 miles northwest of the capital, Sana. She was lying on a bed with her mother. Nurses fed her every two hours with milk, but she was vomiting regularly and suffered from diarrhea.

Dr. Mekkia Mahdi, the doctor in charge, sat by her bed, stroking her hair. She tugged on the flaccid skin of Amals stick-like arms. Look, she said. No meat. Only bones.
Americans are politically divided over climate change, but theres broader consensus around some of the solutions.

New data from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication  in partnership with Utah State University and the University of California, Santa Barbara  show how Americans across the country view climate and energy policies.

There Is Widespread Support for Renewable Energy

Percentage of adults who support requiring utilities to produce 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources 25% 50 75 63% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Conn. Iowa Pa. N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah Md. W.Va. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. ARK. Okla. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support requiring utilities to produce 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources 25% 50 75 63% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Conn. Iowa Pa. N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah Md. W.Va. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. ARK. Okla. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support requiring utilities to produce 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources 25% 50 75 63% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Conn. Iowa Pa. Neb. N.J. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah W.Va. Md. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. ARK. Okla. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support requiring utilities to produce 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources 25% 50 75 63% National AVERAGE: Percentage of adults who support requiring utilities to produce 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources 25% 50 75 63% National AVERAGE:

A majority of Americans in almost every county support requiring electric utilities to produce at least 20 percent of their power from wind, solar and other renewable sources. Currently, more than two dozen states  including Hawaii, Texas and New York  have some sort of renewable energy requirement on their books, though many fall short of the 20 percent mark.

Americans also overwhelmingly support funding research into renewable energy (nationally, 85 percent say they are in favor) and providing consumers with energy-saving tax incentives (82 percent say the same), according to Yales data.

Percentage of adults who support rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels 25% 50 75 82% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Conn. Pa. Iowa N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah Md. W.Va. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. ARK. Okla. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels 25% 50 75 82% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Conn. Iowa Pa. N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah Md. W.Va. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. ARK. Okla. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels 25% 50 75 82% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Conn. Pa. Iowa N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah Md. W.Va. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. ARK. Okla. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels 25% 50 75 82% National AVERAGE: Percentage of adults who support rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels 25% 50 75 82% National AVERAGE:

Support for wind and solar energy cuts across political divides, said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, because its not about climate change per se.

Maybe you support renewable energy because its cheaper, because its cleaner, or because its better for human health, he said. Maybe you support it because it lessens our dependence on fossil fuels and aids our push for energy independence.

Broad support for renewables has been found by other surveys, including one released this year by Pew Research Center, which called the strong national support for expanding solar and wind power a rare point of bipartisan consensus in how the U.S. views energy policies.

Support for Drilling Is More Divided

Percentage of adults who support expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas 25% 50 75 49% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Conn. Pa. Iowa N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah Md. W.Va. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. ARK. Okla. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas 25% 50 75 49% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Conn. Pa. Iowa N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah Md. W.Va. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. ARK. Okla. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas 25% 50 75 49% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Pa. Conn. Iowa Neb. N.J. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah W.Va. Md. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. ARK. Okla. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas 25% 50 75 49% National AVERAGE: Percent of adults who support expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas 25% 50 75 49% National AVERAGE:

The geography of support for expanding offshore drilling looks more political. Counties that voted Republican in the 2016 presidential election generally view offshore drilling more favorably in Yales model than Democratic areas do.

The idea is popular along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana, a major offshore drilling hub. Counties along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts tend to be less enthusiastic.

Last year, the Trump administration moved to open up nearly all United States waters to drilling, but governors from many coastal states raised concerns.

While many Americans want more drilling in general, most agree that certain areas should be protected from extraction. When asked whether they supported opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling, for example, most Americans across the country said no.

Percentage of adults who support drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 25% 50 75 32% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Conn. Pa. Iowa N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah Md. W.Va. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. Okla. ARK. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 25% 50 75 32% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Conn. Iowa Pa. N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah Md. W.Va. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. ARK. Okla. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 25% 50 75 32% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Conn. Pa. Iowa N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah Md. W.Va. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. Okla. ARK. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 25% 50 75 32% National AVERAGE: Percentage of adults who support drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 25% 50 75 32% National AVERAGE:

The Republican-led Congress voted last year to open up the refuge to oil and gas exploration.

Most Americans Support a Carbon Tax, Too, in Theory

Percentage of adults who support requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and using the money to reduce other taxes, such as income tax 25% 50 75 68% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Conn. Pa. Iowa N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah Md. W.Va. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. ARK. Okla. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentrage of adults who support requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and using the money to reduce other taxes, such as income tax 25% 50 75 68% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Conn. Pa. Iowa N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah Md. W.Va. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. ARK. Okla. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and using the money to reduce other taxes, such as income tax 25% 50 75 68% National AVERAGE: Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Minn. Ore. Vt. N.H. Mass. Wis. Idaho S.D. N.Y. Wyo. R.I. Mich. Pa. Conn. Iowa Neb. N.J. Nev. Ohio Ind. Ill. Del. Utah W.Va. Md. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Ky. Calif. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. ARK. Okla. S.C. N.M. Ga. MISS. ALA. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. Hawaii Percentage of adults who support requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and using the money to reduce other taxes, such as income tax 25% 50 75 68% National AVERAGE: Percentage of adults who support requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and using the money to reduce other taxes, such as income tax 25% 50 75 68% National AVERAGE:

The Yale data also shows majority support for a tax on carbon dioxide pollution, with some caveats.

The survey question is worded specifically to explain that revenue from taxing carbon emissions would be used to reduce other taxes, an idea favored by some conservatives. But this may not be the form a carbon tax proposal takes in the real world.

This map gives you a sense of Americans willingness to support this particular concept, Dr. Leiserowitz said. But a real-world policy debate over carbon pricing will mean all of a sudden millions of dollars of pro and con advertising will get thrown at it, and politicians will support or savage the proposal, he said. How that influences public opinion is a different question.
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A Russian scientist working at the Bellingshausen research station on King George Island, in Antarctica, was charged with attempted murder after he stabbed a fellow colleague with a kitchen knife for allegedly revealing the endings of books that he was reading.

55-year-old Sergey Savitsky and Oleg Beloguzov, 52, had been working together at Russias remote Bellingshausen for four years and they were both known to their colleagues as professionals. However, on October 9th, Savitsky reportedly took a kitchen knife and plunged it into Beloguzovs chest, in what has been referred to as the first known attempted murder in Antarctica, ever. It will probably go down in history as one of the strangest as well, as investigators recently revealed that a possible explanation for the crime could be the spoiling of book endings.

Photo: DariuszSankowski/Pixabay

According to Russian media, both men were avid readers, going through numerous books to pass the time on the isolated research station., but Beloguzov had made a habit of tormenting his colleague by revealing the endings of books he was reading before he got to them. On October 9th, after Oleg allegedly once again told Savitsky the end of the book he was reading, the scientist couldnt take it anymore so he just took a knife and stabbed his tormentor in the chest.

[He] kept telling [him] the endings of books before he read them, The Sun reported, citing an unnamed source

Luckily for Beloguzov, who worked as a welder at the station, he was flown to a hospital in Chile fast enough for the doctors there to save his life. Although the knife damaged his heart, the man is now in a stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

Photo: Akulovz/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Savitsky, on the other hand, gave himself up to police after flying to Saint Petersburg on October 20, and is currently under house arrest on a charge of attempted murder. He admitted the attack to Russian investigators, but added that he never meant to kill his colleague, news outlet Nevskie Novosti reported, citing law-enforcement sources.

While Beloguzovs cruel jokes may have been the hair that broke the camels back, so to speak, investigators believe that alcohol and the close confinement in the research base may have played a part in the crime as well. Staff at Bellingshausen have access to just two Russian TV channels, a gym, and a small library, but there is no shortage of vodka, which is shipped in from Russia.


Kevin Foley

Throw out all pretense to civility, folks. If President Trump loses the midterm next Tuesday and the Democrats take control of the House of Representatives and maybe the Senate, his administration will at last come under oversight. That prospect must be avoided at all costs as far as this White House is concerned, civility be damned.

Thus, Trump latest desperate gambit is a disgraceful ad warning voters that Democrats are in league with cop killers and ready to create more mayhem on hapless, helpless Americans should they win the midterms.

Fear mongering has been a reliable arrow in Trump's quiver. Absent any meaningful message to offer average Americans, the president borrowed a page from the Bush 43/Dick Cheney 2004 playbook, telling voters all hell will break loose if you fail to cast your ballot for Republicans. The other day, for example, he declared you will lose a lot of money unless the GOP hangs onto Congress.

Not only are you in danger of seeing your life savings go up in smoke, says Trump, but you will likely be raped and murdered by the likes of Luis Bracamontes because we all know every desperate would-be refugee is a psychopath, despite statistics that show immigrants commit few crimes.

From a communications standpoint, the success of this despicable ad hinges on the ignorance of the audience, folks who haven't troubled themselves to understand what Trump's real objective here is - that they're fears, anger and prejudices are being manipulated and only Donald Trump can protect them from the invading horde.

To help leverage the message, Trump claims, he'll repeal the 14th Amendment by executive order and dispatch as many as 15,000 troops to defend the Southern border. Again, ignorance is key because it's illegal to use U.S. troops to enforce the law on American soil. Likewise, the president cannot repeal any Constitutional Amendment. Some voters don't know this, but it sounds impressive, and, well, gol' dang, them Hispanics are gettin' awful close!

No they're not. The caravan is a thousand miles to the south of El Paso. People are traveling on foot, many with children, carrying whatever they can on their backs, escaping poverty and violence in their native countries. How desperate would a parent have to be to endanger their kids on such a trek? How bad are things in Guatemala or Honduras? Of course, many of them will never get here. It's too far, it's too hot, food and water are in short supply, and the specter of death along the way too great.

It was these unfortunate children of God that the good folks of the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh sought to help through their support of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. And it was the toxic atmosphere of hate created by this president that sent, not Luis Bracamontes, but an American psychopath into their midst last Saturday.

***

Kevin Foley owns KEF Media in Atlanta.


Major Garrett

Are you down in the dumps? Has political hate and vitriol have you feeling blue? Are you following the example of Barbra Streisand and eating lots of pancakes each morning, after hearing the latest news report about Donald Trump?

Fear not. It could be a lot worse, according to panelists at a Commpro webinar held Oct. 30 at Edelmans New York headquarters.

Michael Zeldin, CNN legal analyst, considers Trumps attack on the media chump change compared to the WWI era when Woodrow Wilson launched an all-out assault on dissent.

Wilson created the infamous Committee on Public Information, on which Ed Bernaysthe "father of PR served, to gin up support for the US entry into war in Europe. He was the evil genius behind gems such as the Espionage Act of 1917 and Sedition Act of 1918, which prohibited the use of disloyal, profane, scurrilous or abusive language against the US government, flag, armed forces and institutions.

Thankfully, president Trump isnt up to Wilsons anti-media standards, yet.

We live in a time of domestic tranquility, said Andrew McCarthy, contributing editor of National Review. Speaking after news broke about pipe bombs being mailed to top Democrats, McCarthy, a former US attorney who prosecuted Omar Abdel Rahman (The Blind Sheik) for the 1993 World Trade Center attack, said the number of US bombings is way down from the late 1960s and early 1970s when left-wing groups ran amok in terror attacks against the US government to protest the Vietnam War.

McCarthy believes people who moan about living in troubled times are guilty of presentism, which ignores the past.

Missing "an American president"

Major Garrett, chief White House correspondent for CBS News; Richard Levick, CEO of Levick in DC, and Joe Lockhart, president Clintons press secretary, also sat on the panel. They weren't so upbeat.

The trio's common theme: missing "an American president," one who could inspire the whole country during a time of crisis.

For instance, Bill Clinton comforted the nation after the 1995 Oklahoma city bombing. George W. Bush grabbed a bullhorn and mounted a pile of rubble in New York following the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. Barack Obama delivered an inspiring eulogy and sang Amazing Grace at Charlestons Emmanuel African Methodist Espiscopal in 2015 following the murder of its pastor and eight parishioners.

In contrast, Trump initially focused on the lack of an armed guard at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, where 11 Jews were slaughtered last month.



The panelists view Trump as the leader of his tribe of supporters who cares little about rest (and majority) of Americans.

Some takeaways:



Garrett is confident that journalisms credibility will outlast the Trump administration.

Levick said Trump is the opposite of George Washington, perhaps the greatest US president, in so many different ways.

Lockhart, an Edelman vice chairman, issued a warning, noting that the president called the 2016 vote a rigged election in which he falsely claimed that 3M people voted illegally. And Trump won that election.

Lockhart worries that Trump may not accept the results of the 2020 election, if he loses.

And more important, how will his supporters react?


Chuck Rachford

Current Marketing has brought on Chuck Rachford as executive creative director; Janeen Davis as vice president, planning; and Jennifer Symmonds as vice president, human resources. Rachford joins from Cossette, where he helped the launch the Canadian firms Chicago office as well as serving as executive creative director. Before that, he was senior vice president, group creative director at DDB, where he led creative for brands including Bud Light, Capital One, JCPenny, McDonalds and Starburst. Davis has held executive positions at Intouch Solutions, Edelman, DDB, FCB and Burrell Communications. Shehas worked across many categories, including CPG, beauty and retail. Symmonds joins the firm from Tory Burch, where she was senior HR manger. She has also led HR efforts at Tiffany & Co. and Gap.



Julia Angelen Joy

Swyft has hired Julia Angelen Joy as account director to provide senior leadership for its Denver office. Joy was the founder of Z Group PR and has also served as director of strategic giving for the Idaho Foodbank. She has manged public relations, media outreach, and social marketing programs. In her new position, Joy is tasked with growing Swyfts presence in the Mountain West as well as providing senior leadership over the agencys PR service offerings. Her understanding of both the day-to-day and high-level strategic needs of our clients will be indispensable, said Swyft founder and president Dave Manzer.



Tim Dewald

Dix & Eaton has brought on Tim Dewald as a senior account executive in the firms media relations practice. Dewald comes to Dix & Eaton from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, where he was media relations liaison, guiding and implementing social media and digital marketing initiatives. Prior to the Fed, he served as a producer on CNBCs Mad Money with Jim Cramer. The agency has also hired Kris Fiocca as an assistant account executive, working in its media relations and marketing communications practices.
The latest Trolley and Ward Watch figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation reveal that the number of people left waiting for a bed at Tullamore Hospital's A&E Department has increased 50-fold in ten years.

In 2008, just 6 patients had been left waiting on trolleys and in already full wards in Tullamore in the month of October, but during October 2018, 356 patients were left in a similar situation at the hospital.

The 2018 figure is, however, a decrease from the 422 recorded in October 2017 and 443 patients in October 2016.

The INMO revealed on Wednesday that 2018 has seen the worst October on record for hospital overcrowding, with 9,055 admitted patients forced to wait on trolleys and chairs for beds.



The INMO also expressed concern at overcrowding in smaller hospitals. South Tipperary General Hospital, for example, had 474 patients waiting on trolleys over the month  nearly three times the hospitals total bed capacity.



The union says that much of the overcrowding is down to understaffing, caused primarily by unattractively low pay levels in Irish nursing and midwifery. According to the HSE census, as of September 2018, Irelands health service has 227 fewer staff nurses than December 2017



The INMO will be releasing figures in the coming days which measure understaffing at key hospitals across Ireland.



INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: Over 9,000 patients forced to wait on trolleys and its not even peak winter season. Figures like these do not adequately express the hardship endured by patients who find themselves in these circumstances. The negative health impacts of this overcrowding are known, yet this is not addressed as a national priority."



Our current health service simply does not have the capacity to cope. The government accept that we need additional beds, but we do not have a plan to tackle this daily problem. Opening extra beds requires extra nurses, but low pay means there is no immediate prospect of recruiting additional nurses or retaining current ones," Phil added.

Responding to the figures, a spokesperson for Tullamore Hospital said, "MRHT is working hard to improve the journey of all patients accessing our service through the increased utilisation of our discharge lounge, the establishment of a Short Stay Unit, and the opening of an Acute Medical Assessment Unit in September 2018."

"The recent appointment of a Hospital Patient Flow Manager whose sole focus is improving our patients journey through the hospital is an important development in this endeavour," the spokesperson told the Offaly Express.

"Figures for September 2018 demonstrate that there is an overall increase of 4.8% on attendances at MRHT Emergency Department this year, when compared to the same period last year. Despite these additional demands, staff have continued to treat and care for 26,306 patients at ED so far this year, 6,437 of whom were admitted. Every effort is being made to reduce Patient Experience Time (PET)," they continued.

"The Hospital regrets that any patient should have to wait for admission from ED to a hospital ward."
Offaly County Council hasn't bought a single vacant home through Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) over the last seven years, an Irish Independent report has revealed.

According to the national newspaper, less than half of local authorities have made any effort to acquire houses through CPOS over the last seven years.

The news comes just months after it was revealed that Offaly County Council failed to deliver a single 'new build' social house in the first six months of 2018.

According to the latest Social Housing Construction Projects Status Report for Q2, Offaly County Council relied upon direct Local Authority and Approved Housing Body acquisitions to meet two-thirds of its social housing delivery targets.

Offaly's social housing target for this year is 307 but up to June, they had delivered just 202 of those, none of which were direct council builds.

The figures show that no Local Authority (LA) or Approved Housing Body (AHB) houses were completed in the county, 36 were delivered through LA and AHB acquisitions, seven were leased, while zero came through the Rental Accommodation Scheme.

159 of the 202 social housing solutions delivered by Offaly County Council so in the first six months of 2018 came through HAP contracts. Those on HAP schemes are entitled to remain on the social housing list.

Launching the report, Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy said: "The pace of delivery on the build side will have to pick up considerably in the second half of the year."

"29 out of 31 authorities saw completions in the first half of the year with many more projects progressing through the pipeline."

The issue of housing was raised at the most recent meeting of Offaly County Council where councillors railed against the slow rate of direct builds.

The meeting was informed that 15 families are living in emergency accommodation in the county, while a further 20 single people are also in temporary emergency accommodation.

Councillors were told that almost 1,500 people are eligible for social housing with 675 of those currently on the social housing list, and 805 currently on the HAP scheme.

The housing section said that their target handed down by government is to provide 468 social housing units between 2017 and 2021.

It was revealed that just 86 of those are projected to be direct builds, with over 100 expected to come from council acquisitions. Leasing, voids and refurbishment projects were also included in a figure of 522 Offaly County Council expects to provide by 2021.

In the short-term, the meeting heard that the housing department expects a number of direct builds to be completed before the end of 2019.

Construction is due to commence on four units through housing agency Mid Offaly Housing in Mount Bolus, while work on 26 units at Killane Drive in Edenderry through Tuath and six at Scurragh with Cluid in Birr are set to begin before the end of the year.

Close to 100 others are at various stages of approval and progress.

Responding to the figures, particularly those outlining the number of families in emergency accommodation, Cllr Declan Harvey described it as "a terrible crisis."

He went on to say, "Emergency accommodation is not suitable for small kids - some of it is actually inhumane."

Cllr Peter Ormond added, "We have to get into the real world and increase supply somehow, and the Department needs to move things along faster."

The Fianna Fail member went on to call for more incentives for private sector building projects to add to the affordable and social housing stock.

Cllr John Leahy spoke on the issues and questioned the rhetoric of Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy who seemed to apply blame to councils in relation to action on housing.

"If all county councils were working as efficiently as the housing section of Offaly County Council, there would be no need for such rhetoric out there."

Cllr Leahy also went on to express concern over a number of people on HAP schemes who are in unsuitable or unsatisfactory accommodation but who may be locked into contracts.

Having heard that the social houses commencing this year may not be delivered until late 2019 or early 2020, a number of councillors questioned the effectiveness of housing agencies in the building of social housing units.

Cllr Declan Harvey asked, "Why can't the council build houses directly like we used to? We always had a good record of delivering for people."

"Cllr John Carroll described the providers as "quango agencies" and wondered why the system was ever moved away from direct council building.

While saying "this housing crisis needs to be addressed seriously," Cllr Carroll eluded to "too many schemes" who "take too long" to get houses from start to finish through all the stages required.

He also criticised the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loans established in February of this year to help those who have been denied a mortgage through traditional lenders. The meeting heard that 39 applications for the loan had been received by Offaly County Council but just six loans to the value of 716,000 had been approved as of September 1.

Cllr Carroll criticised the level of deposit still required for the scheme, saying the main thing barring people from purchasing their own home is the process of renting as prices rise while also saving a 10% deposit.

"You give it with one hand and take it away with the other, " Cllr Carroll said of the scheme.

Cathaoirleach Danny Owens concluded the lengthy discussion by agreeing with the view expressed about housing agencies and the protracted process of housing delivery they incur. He said he had expressed disagreement with such agencies "for a long time."
Tesco stores in Birr, Edenderry and Tullamore Square Extra raised a 'fangtastic' 2,558 as part of Trick or Treat for Temple Street over the bank holiday weekend.

In all 151 stores across Ireland, Tesco colleagues dressed up in a variety of costumes while they hosted Halloween parties at the front of each store with cake sales, face-painting, balloons and much more.

All funds raised by Tesco stores will purchase a new Ultrasound machine for Neurosurgery which will be used during neurosurgical procedures to get real-time views of the brain anatomy and thereby facilitating the removal of brain tumours and accurate placement of devices and shunts.

Aoife Donohoe, Head of Corporate Affairs, Tesco Ireland said: We are really proud to have supported Trick or Treat for Temple Street and are amazed by the level of support from our colleagues and customers alike. It really shows what can be achieved when people pull together for a great cause. What a fantastic result for the little heroes of Temple Street.

Denise Fitzgerald, Chief Executive, Temple Street Foundation said: The funds raised by Tesco colleagues and customers at this years Trick or Treat parties in stores across the country is nothing short of phenomenal. We are tremendously grateful to everyone who got involved in the Halloween fun in support of our patients and their families."

"The funds you have raised will be put to work where they are needed most to transform lives for the better. From all of us here in Temple Street, thank you so much for supporting Temple Street and being a vital part of the extraordinary circle of care that surrounds each sick child in our hospital.

Temple Street has been Tesco Irelands charity partner since October 2014 and to date, Tesco Ireland has raised 3.6 million in aid of the little heroes of Temple Street.

Each year Temple Street Childrens University Hospital treats over 145,000 children from across the country and operates the busiest A&E department in Europe. For thousands of children, Temple Street is the only hospital in Ireland in which they can be treated. Through the charity partner programme, Tesco colleagues and customers can help little people from all over Ireland get better and be real life heroes to children attending the hospital.
No Bitcoin scam, says ruling BJP; No foul play in investigation: Bengaluru police

Bengaluru Apartment Fire Accident Today: Fire breaks out at building in Electronic City, no causality reported

Twist in Ramanagara bypoll: BJP's L Chandrashekhar withdraws nomination, joins Congress

Bengaluru

oi-Vikas SV

Bengaluru, Nov 1: Two days before the bypolls in Karnataka's Ramanagara assembly constituency, BJP candidate L Chandrashekhar has withdrawn his nomination and reports say that he has joined the Congress.

The Congress is in alliance with the JD (S) and hence has not fielded candidate for Ramanagara bypolls. Ramanagara bypoll is scheduled to be held on November 3.

Karnataka bypolls 2018: Show of strength by political families

This hints that all is not well within the BJP. Chandrashekhar was said to be miffed with the fact that state BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa did not come for campaigning in Ramanagara. Chandrashekhar had also suggested that there is internal bickering within the BJP.

JD(S) is fielding Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's wife Anitha Kumaraswamy in the bypoll to the Ramanagara Assembly constituency.

The Ramanagara assembly seat fell vacant as Kumaraswamy, who won from both the Channapatna and Ramanagara, opted to represent the former.

Karnataka bypolls: BJP releases list of candidates

The bypolls to three Lok Sabha seats -- Shivamogga, Mandya and Ballari -- and the two assembly seats of Ramanagara and Jamakhandi will take place on November 3. Counting will take place on November 6.

For more Bengaluru news, Click here

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 11:33 [IST]
A TDP teaser and why Naidu will be the glue that would bind the opposition in 2019

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Nov 1: The Telugu Desam Party has upped the suspense ahead of the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu would play a crucial role in shaping the joint opposition ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

[Chandrababu Naidu to meet Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar]

In an official statement, the TDP said that the likelihood of a key announcement with regards to the emerging political equations. In the interest of the future of the country, he (Naidu) will be acting as a bridge to unite various political parties and defeat the NDA allies led by the BJP.

In the past couple of days Naidu has been a frequent visitor to New Delhi. He has met with Congress president Rahul Gandhi several times. The meetings have been on the context of both the Telangana assembly elections 2018 and also the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Naidu's party joined hands with the Congress to fight the Telangana elections. Naidu it may be recalled broke away from the NDA a few months citing the lack of support from the Centre, when it came to giving a special status to AP.

Naidu appears to be the glue which would bring all the opposition parties under one umbrella. The likes of the BSP, SP and the TMC have not been keen to be party of an opposition, which has the Congress in it. However Naidu had said that he did not have any problems with the Congress and also added that for a national alliance, there had to be at least one national party in it.

[Telangana polls: 2019 in mind, will the Congress give TDP the larger pie]

Naidu has been holding deliberations with other opposition leaders as well. He has met with NCP chief, Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi President, Akhilesh Yadav, former BJP leader, Yashwant Sinha and National Conference supremo, Farooq Abdullah. He has also met with Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal and Sharad Yadav. During these meetings, he urged them to come under one platform and fight the polls unitedly against the BJP led NDA in 2019.

There is a lot riding on Naidu as he according to analysts is the one who could bring the opposition together and also make the Congress part of the national alliance. While all the opposition parties have agreed in principle to put up a united front to fight the BJP in 2019, the Congress has proven to be a stumbling block.

In the states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the BSP decided to fight the polls, without the Congress by its side. While Mayawati accused the Congress of being a bully, she reserved her criticism to the likes of Digvijaya Singh. Signalling that the doors were open with the Congress in 2019, she showered praises on both Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 8:14 [IST]
Times Now CVoter tracker: NDA likely to retain power despite stiff UPA fight in Assam

ABP DeshKaMood survey: NDA to win 31, Grand Alliance 44 in UP, if Mahagathabandhan formed

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

New Delhi, Nov 1: NDA is likely to win 31 seats and Grand Alliance 44 seats in Uttar Pradesh if a grand alliance formed for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, according to 'Desh Ka Mood' survey carried out by ABP channel. NDA may settle for 70 and UPA - 2, Samajwadi Party - 4 and Mayawati's BSP to win 4 seats if all major parties decide to contest alone in Lok Sabha elections.

In Maharashtra, (48 seats), BJP to win 23 seats, Congress 14, Shiv Sena 5 and Sharad Pawar's NCP to win 6 seats If all major parties contest independently in the state.

If Shiv Sena is in NDA and NCP in UPA, NDA is likely to win 28 seats and UPA 20.

In Bihar (40 seats), if general elections are held today in the state, NDA to win 34 and UPA 6 seats.

Madhya Pradesh matters and why the Congress is going all guns blazing here

ABP News 'Desh Ka Mood' surveys a series of pre-poll surveys done to gauge the public opinion at regular intervals. This time the survey was conducted to sense the opinion of the electorate across the nation with reference to the Lok Sabha elections of 2019.

With just six months to go for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the political parties upping the ante against each other, ABP News on Thursday conducted the 'Mood of the Nation' survey to gauge the public opinion of the electorate and the nation ahead of the crucial polls.
Chidambaram on India giving 2.5 crore Covid jabs: 'Why did we have to wait until the PMs birthday?'

Honours are even today, which way will wind blow in 2022: P Chidambaram on bypoll results

Aircel Maxis: P Chidambaram and son cant be arrested till November 26

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Nov 1: A Delhi court has extended the interim protection from arrest granted to former union minister, P Chidambaram in connection with the Aircel Maxis case.

The protection from arrest has been granted till November 26, the date on which the court would hear the matter next.

The court has also extended the same order to Chidambaram's son, Karti Chidambaram till November 26.

The order comes just a day after the Enforcement Directorate had sought his custody for interrogation in the Aircel-Maxis case. The submission was made while opposing the anticipatory bail plea filed by him.

ED, which filed its response to the anticipatory bail plea of Chidambaram, said that he has remained evasive and was not cooperating in the probe and therefore grant of anticipatory bail at this stage would be highly detrimental to the investigation.

"From the conduct of the petitioner, which gets amply demonstrated from the records available, the investigating agency has reached a bonafide conclusion that in the absence of custodial interrogation it will not be possible to reach the truth of the allegations as the petitioner has chosen to be evasive and non-cooperative," the agency said in reply opposing the anticipatory bail plea.

It said Chidambaram, being a senior advocate practicing in the Supreme Court, a Rajya Sabha MP and former union minister, "is a highly influential and well-connected individual.

Therefore, there is a serious apprehension of the applicant influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence pertaining to the present case."

The agency said that the investigation pertaining to FIPB approval fraudulently granted by Chidambaram has got several dimensions having wide ramifications for which investigation has been concluded to some extent and with regard to certain issues was still going on.

The hearing on Chidambaram's plea will take place before Special Judge O P Saini on Thursday.

On October 8, the court had extended interim protection granted to Chidambaram and his son Karti till November 1.

Chidambaram had filed the plea for protection from arrest in the ED case on May 30 this year. He has got relief on various occasions.

The agency on October 25 had filed charge sheet against Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case, accusing him of conspiring with foreign investors to clear their venture.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 10:14 [IST]
Gujarat Minister sends his best wishes to rape-convict Asaram Bapu's ashram

Asaram Bapu's plea for parole rejected

India

oi-Vikas SV

Jaipur, Nov 1: Jodhpur District Parole Committee has rejected self-styled godman Asaram Bapu's plea for 20-days parole. Asaram is serving life term after being convicted in a rape case.

In April, the Jodhpur Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe Court awarded life imprisonment to Asaram till death. The five charges levelled against Asaram Bapu were, raping minor girl, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy and sexual harassment.

Asaram had earlier moved a mercy plea before Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh, seeking dilution of his life sentence.

[Who is 'fallen from grace' Asaram Bapu? All you need to know]

In October, Asaram's nephew had contended that the self styled godman has spent five years in the jail already and was, hence, eligible for parole.

[Why Asaram believed rape was not a sin]

Asaram was arrested in 2013 on the complaint filed by a teenage girl from Uttar Pradesh's Shahajahanpur. She had accused him of raping her at his Jodhpur ashram.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 14:21 [IST]
Urmi Boruah reminds us that Sky is not the limit

BJP-ruled states slashes petrol, diesel rates further: New price to come into effect from today

Assam: 5 people killed by ULFA in Tinsukia district

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

Guwahati, Nov 1: Five persons were killed by United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) terrorists in Bishnoimukh village near Dhola-Sadiya bridge in Tinsukia district on Thursday.

Three members of a family were among the five killed while two others were injured in the firing at Kheroni on Thursday night, police said.

The group of assailants, which was armed with sophisticated weapons, fled under the cover of darkness after firing indiscriminately at these people, they said.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal condemn the attack.

Sonowal tweeted, "I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on innocent people at Sadiya. My heartfelt condolence to the family members of those who have lost their lives."

Assam NRC: SC extends deadline to December 15, allows 5 additional documents

"We will take strongest action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime. I have directed all law enforcing agencies to maintain peace and take stern action against anybody trying to destabilise our peaceful society and state," he said.

The CM has directed Ministers Keshab Mahanta, Tapan Gogoi, DGP Kula Saikia and ADGP Mukesh Agrawal to rush to the spot and take immediate measures.

Ministers Keshab Mahanta, Tapan Gogoi, DGP @saikia_kula and ADGP Mukesh Agrawal have been directed to rush to the spot and take immediate measures.



I urge all to maintain peace & tranquility and pray for the departed souls.  Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) November 1, 2018

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, tweeted, "We strongly condemn the brutal attack in Tinsukia and the killing of Shyamlal Biswas, Ananta Biswas, Abhinash Biswas, Subodh Das and Dhananjay Namashudra. Is this the outcome of recent NRC development? We have no words to express our deep sorrow to the grieving families. The perpetrators must be punished at the very earliest."

Terrible news coming out of Assam. We strongly condemn the brutal attack in Tinsukia and the killing of Shyamlal Biswas, Ananta Biswas, Abhinash Biswas, Subodh Das. Is this the outcome of recent NRC development ? 1/2  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 1, 2018

The attack comes weeks after the outlawed outfit detonated a low-intensity bomb in Guwahati on October 13 to protest against the Centre's bid to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. Four people, including a woman, were injured in the blast.

(With PTI inputs)
Bypolls: High turnout in most of the 29 assembly and 3 Lok Sabha seats

BJP misleading people by seeking Opposition support on Ram temple: JDS

India

pti-PTI

Bengaluru, Nov 1: The Janata Dal (Secular) Thursday accused the BJP of "unnecessarily misleading" people by seeking Opposition parties' support for the construction of Ram temple to reap political dividends ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which did not believe in the ideology of Ram, was playing politics in the name of the lord, JDS national spokesperson Danish Ali alleged.

"BJP leaders are unnecessarily misleading common people of the country by asking the opposition parties to support the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya," he said.

If Ram temple is not constructed in India, will it be built in Pak?, asks Congress MLA

"The apex court is hearing a title suit (on the division of disputed land), not construction of Ram temple," he said.

BJP MP Rakesh Sinha had earlier on Twitter hinted that he may bring up a private members bill for the construction of the temple and asked if the Congress, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) and other opposition parties will support it.

Now attack on Poorvanchali in Delhi; BJP MP hold AAP responsible for spreading rumor

Speaking to PTI over phone, Ali also said the verdict in cases like Section 377 and Sabarimala did not take that long, but the issue on Ayodhya was pending for decades.

Describing BJP leaders as "hypocrites" for not raising the issue for the last four-and-a-half years, he said, "the party is raking it up now to reap political dividends ahead of Lok Sabha elections next year and cover its anti-people policies".

He said JDS has taken a consistent stand by saying that it would respect Supreme Court's decision on the issue. "JDS, from day one, is of the opinion that whatever the Supreme Court decides, we all should, as citizens of this country, respect it," he said.

PTI
With 2 more arrests NIA steps up heat on terrorists targeting civilians in J&K

Cleaning up the inside rot: The importance of gunning down Kashmirs white collared terrorists

Hyderpora encounter: Bodies of two civilians exhumed, to be handed over to families

Jammu and Kashmir: BJP's state secretary Anil Parihar, his brother shot dead in Kishtwar

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

Kishtwar, Nov 1: BJP's state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother were shot dead in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar on Thursday.

BJP State President Ravinder Raina, said, "BJP J&K secretary Anil Parihar and his brother were shot by terrorists in Kishtwar around 8 pm today. They were taken to hospital immediately where they succumbed to injury."

The police are trying to find out if the attack was carried out by terrorists or it was a criminal incident, reported ND TV.

Dilbag Singh is now full-time police chief of Jammu and Kashmir

News18 reported that the incident took place when Parihar and his brother were returning home in the Tapan Gali area.

According to India Today, Jammu and Kashmir BJP general secretary Ashok Kaul has said that the two men were shot dead by terrorists.

India protests bus service through Pakistan Occupied J&K

Meanwhile, DDC Kishtwar Angrez Singh Rana imposed curfew in Kishtwar town in view of the tensed situation.

BJP chief Amit Shah condemned the killing of Anil Parihar and his brother. He tweeted, "Just got the tragic news of killing of Shri Anil Parihar, Secretary @BJP4JnK, and his brother by terrorists in Kishtwar. This is a cowardly act that shames humanity. I grieve the death of my valued colleague and pray that God gives his family strength to bear this untimely loss."

Just got the tragic news of killing of Shri Anil Parihar, Secretary @BJP4JnK, and his brother by terrorists in Kishtwar. This is a cowardly act that shames humanity. I grieve the death of my valued colleague and pray that God gives his family strength to bear this untimely loss.  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 1, 2018
Why is Congress unhappy when country's stature is being raised globally: BJP

Why is Congress unhappy when Trumps visit will raise countrys stature globally

Toolkit case: SC dismisses pleas of Chhattisgarh govt against relief granted to Raman Singh, Sambit Patra

BJP uses ease of doing biz ranking to target Congress

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Nov 1: BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Thursday attacked the Congress for being unable to elevate India's position in the global arena for facilitating business.

Addressing the media on India's jump to the 77th position in the ease of doing business rankings, Patra on Thursday said that there was an ease of doing corruption under UPA.

Patra said, "Under the UPA government, India's ranking fell."

Taking a dig at former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, BJP said, "Economist PM ruined the growth path."

'Ease of Doing Business' ranking: Top 10 improvers

Speaking about India's growth under PM Narendra Modi's leadership, BJP said, "The country has escalated from being the fragile 5 to fastest growing economy in the world."

ndia jumped 23 positions in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index and is now ranked 77 out of 190 countries in 2018, a development that could help the country attract more foreign investments.

India ranks at 77 in the World Bank's 'Ease of doing business'

It was ranked 100 in 2017, making a leap of 30 places.

The World Bank released its latest Doing Business Report (DBR, 2019) today in New Delhi.

The ranking comes as a shot in the arm for the Narendra Modi government which faces strong dissenting voices from opposition parties ahead of the general elections next year.

India has improved its rank by 53 positions in the last two years and 65 positions in the last four years.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 13:47 [IST]
CBI vs CBI: No officer examined as yet says CVC

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Nov 1: The Central Vigilance Commissioner, K V Chowdary said that the the CVC is yet to examine any CBI officer. We are still in the process of examining files, with reference to the corruption allegations against CBI Director, Alok Verma.

If the allegations do not survive then we will not examine the officer, he also added. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function, he said that no one has been questioned so far. We will take a decision on questioning officers only after we go through all the files, he added.

The CBI vs CBI war gets dirtier, with a RAW officer being dragged into it

It may be recalled that Verma and special director, Rakesh Asthana had made corruption allegations against each other. The Supreme Court had last week directed the CVC to submit its report against Verma in two weeks. The inquiry is being conducted under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge.

The CVC also added that a separate report on the complaints against Asthana had been submitted and it was on this basis that the officer had been divested of his charge. The CVC also said that they would examine the officers depending on the facts that emerge during the course of inquiry.

In probe against Alok Verma, CVC examines several CBI officials

On why the government had to issue an order past midnight to send, Verma on leave, Chowdary said that any intelligent person would understand the timing of the order after seeing the sequence of events. I would not like to comment any more since the matter is pending before the Supreme Court, he also said.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 6:10 [IST]
Congress accuses the government of hobnobbing with sand mafia in Rajasthan

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Nov 1: The Congress is making illegal mining in Rajasthan an issue in the forthcoming Assembly elections by saying that due to connivance with the government, mining mafia are bolstered in the state. On one hand attack on the government functionaries involved in checking illegal mining is continuing unabated while on the other hand people are forced to buy costly sand from them and the government is in slumber.

Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said that illegal mining in Chambal and Banas rivers is increasing by the day. Over Rs 12,000 crore has been looted from the people of the state. There is a consumption of 5-7 thousand trucks of sand in the state everyday but sand that was available for Rs 7000 to Rs 8000 per truck is being sold by mafias for Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per truck. Sand mafia are killing not only village headman but also police and officials belonging to the mining department.

Also Read | Congress faces tough opposition from within over tainted and outsiders candidates in Rajasthan

The former chief minister said that due to the government failing to plead the matter properly and emphatically in the Supreme Court, there is a crisis of sand in the state. Around 25 lakh people have been rendered jobless due to this mostly laborers, sand truck drivers, truck owners, construction laborers and masons and some other allied workers. Construction work is completely stopped due to crisis of sand not only that all big and small works in Jaipur are affected due to this crisis. There is resentment among people and anger is prevailing due to this.

Gehlot said that the Supreme Court had made harsh comment on the government hobnobbing with the sand mafia. The court had instructed the government to give a report on damage caused by mining to environment but it failed to provide report as per the instructions of the court. Had the report been given to the court well within time some legal way out could have been given for sand mining.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 21:35 [IST]
Congress-TDP meeting: 'We are not going to talk about our past, says Rahul Gandhi

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

New Delhi, Nov 1: Congress President Rahul Gandhi said the gist of the meeting with Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu was about defending democracy and future of the country.

Speaking to media after the meeting, Rahul Gandhi said, "We had a very good meeting, the gist was that we have to defend democracy and future of the country. So we are coming together to work, all opposition forces must unite."

Also Read | 'Save democracy,' says Chandrababu Naidu, on day of Opposition meetings

"We have a past. Both of us agreed that we are not going to talk about our past and talk about our future," the Congress president said, to questions on their bitter rivalry.

AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu met with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, and declared later that it was a "democratic compulsion" to join in the fight against the ruling BJP.

"We have decided to put the past behind. The idea is to defeat the BJP," Rahul Gandhi said, addressing reporters jointly with Mr Naidu outside his Tughlaq Lane home.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 17:44 [IST]
Dailyhunt "Trust of the Nation" poll results

India

oi-Vikas SV

New Delhi, Nov 1: The findings of the Dailyhunt's "Trust of the Nation" poll suggests that the majority of people are still firmly behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and trust his leadership.

In India's largest and most definitive independent political digital survey condcuted by Dailyhunt with Nielsen India, 63% of the respondents expressed more or similar levels of trust in Narendra Modi as compared to 2014, representing satisfaction in his leadership capabilities in the last four years.

PM Modi came power in May 2014 with an overwhelming mandate which is also reffered as some as the 'Modi wave'. The BJP for the first time in the history won a clear majority and stormed to power.

This unique survey covered the length and breadth of the country including voters from the real Bharat, i.e. voters residing in tier II and III Indian towns and cities, apart from the key metros with active participation from first time registered voters in India. Over 54 lakh respondents from India and abroad took part in the survey.

Findings of the Dailyhunt Trust of the Nation survey:

63% of the respondents expressed more or similar levels of trust in Narendra Modi as compared to 2014 (when he came into power), representing satisfaction in his leadership capabilities for the last four years.

More than 50% of the respondents believe that a second term for Narendra Modi will provide them a better future.

Using phones as an indicator for income levels, low and mid-range phone users comprising 90% of the respondents, came across as Narendra Modi's supporters, contrary to the high-end phone users.

60% of the respondents seem to trust Narendra Modi the most in order to uproot the longstanding issue of corruption. Interestingly, AAP National Convenor, Arvind Kejriwal got higher precedence over Congress President, Rahul Gandhi in this category.

62% of the respondents are confident that Narendra Modi is the best fit to lead the nation during a national crisis, followed by Rahul Gandhi, (17%), Arvind Kejriwal, (8%), Akhilesh Yadav, (3%) and Mayawati, (2%) respectively.

On a macro level, southern states barring Karnataka seem to be more cautious about Modi's leadership. #DailyhuntTrustOfTheNation pic.twitter.com/Vl8BVUxd8P  Dailyhunt (@DailyhuntApp) November 1, 2018

Methodology for the poll:

Dailyhunt and Nielsen India jointly created and designed the survey, which was hosted on Dailyhunt's platforms and administered in 10 languages such as English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bangla, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam and Oriya

Dailyhunt collected the data and pushed it to Nielsen through Nielsen's API

Nielsen India collated and reported data through internationally accepted norms and standards that are applied to such surveys

Respondents were across various age groups (18-24, 25-34 and 35+ years) and across genders

"TRUST of the NATION" requested the respondents to answer 10 questions in multiple choice questions format.

President Dailyhunt, Umang Bedi, said the survey truly embodies Dailyhunt's objective to create a suitable platform for enabling people of real India.

"We have managed to achieve rich, deep and meaningful insights with demographic, sociographic, location, state and language specific cuts of the data that provide a very intuitive pulse into the current Indian sentiment. The idea of 'Trust of the Nation' is in complete sync with Dailyhunt's mission to be 'the Indic platform empowering a billion Indians to discover, consume and socialize with content that informs, enriches and entertain'. We are also extremely thankful to our Research Science Partner Nielsen India for supporting the survey of this magnitude," he said.

President Nielsen - South Asia, Prasun Basu, said, "Nielsen is a global measurement and data analytics company that provides the most complete and trusted view available of consumers and markets worldwide. We are happy to be a part of this survey, where we used our gold standard scientific methodology to help design the study and analyse data received from Dailyhunt platforms to arrive at the findings."
Can you spot the Tiger in this picture? Image from Dampa Tiger Reserve goes viral

Indias first tiger translocation hits roadblock; Sundari to be Kept in Zoo

India

oi-Deepika S

Bhubaneswar, Nov 1: India's first interstate translocation exercise for tigers has hit a roadblock with Odisha government 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.

The step was being taken in view of public resentment over the tigress' presence at the sanctuary in Angul district, state Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray said after reviewing the situation.

Odisha lost 179 elephants to electrocution since 2000

Nandankanan Zoo located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is likely to be the new abode for the Tigress after it is captured by forest officials.

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.

Why China's decision to lift ban on trade in Rhino, Tiger products is bad news for India

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.

Sundari and the relocation project

The relocation approved by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) kicked off earlier this year with two big cats: a male (T1) from Kanha Tiger Reserve, followed by a female (T2) from Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh. Both tigers were brought to the 963 square km Satkosia Tiger Reserve in June, to shore up the existing tiger population of two in the reserve and thereby in the state.The number of big cats in the state ranges from 28 to 40.

Earth's wildlife population 'falls by 60% in 44 years': Report

The tigress was relocated from Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to the Satkosia wildlife sanctuary on June 28 in a pilot inter-State transfer project to increase the big cat population in Odisha.

Two tigers, two deaths

Locals allege that Sundari is responsible for at least two fatal attacks on villagers living near the reserve.

The postmortem conducted on the body of a 65-year-old man found in Angul district indicated that he was killed by a tiger. In the second case, a woman was believed to have been killed by a wild animal, but the post-mortem could not confirm if it was a tiger attack.

Locals are demanding shifting of the tigress from the forest after it killed a man Trinath Sahu, on October 21 at Tainsi village. On September 12, the tigress had allegedly killed a 35-year-old woman in the area.

Interestingly, Sundari was not the only big cat shifted to Satkosia. Along with her MB-2, a tiger, also made the move to Odisha. But curiously, MB-2 does not appear to be harassing the villagers. Their ire is directed against Sundari.

Space Crunch

A major reason behind this whole operation is the space crunch. With the steady increase in tiger population in many reserves, there is a need to expand the tiger habitat or to relocate them in a better and safe place.

In April, a tiger (MT-1 or T-91) had been translocated to Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve from Vishdhari Sanctuary in Bundi who had migrated to Ranthambore National Park on his own. Moreover, from Ranthambore National Park, 2 more tigresses are also going to be relocated to Mukundra in coming days.

Tigers at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve are facing space crunch and are moving to new areas on their own. As per a report, in 2016-17, four Tigers (3 male and 1 female) - T-80, T-47, T-72, and T-92 made movements in Kailadevi as a result of lack of adequate space to inhabit. T-72 was also spotted Jhiri forest area in Dholpur twice in 2017. Wildlife experts quoted this incident as an effort to explore new territories in a natural manner by the Tigers.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 12:12 [IST]
"Is that bird dropping?": Divya Spandana's latest jibe at PM Modi

India

oi-Vikas SV

New Delhi, Nov 1: Congress' social media head Divya Spandana has once again posted a tweet which is bound to leave the BJP fuming. Actor turned politician Divya Spandana, also known as Ramya, has posted a pic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi standing at the feet of recently inaugurated Sardar Patel's statue and wrote "Is that bird dropping?".

In the pic, PM Modi can be seen standing near the foot of Statue of Unity and has extended one arm to touch it. PM Modi looks miniscule as compared to the statue's foot in the background. It is not clear what Ramya means and in what context she has the expression "Bird Dropping". Is she referring to PM Modi looking like a tiny dot at the statue's feet?

Divya is known for posting controversial tweets deriding PM Modi. She had earlier posted a tweet which had a photoshopped image of PM Modi painting the word 'chor' (thief) on the forehead of his wax statue.

[Has Divya Spandana relinquished her role as Congress' social media head?]

After this an FIR was filed against Ramya in Uttar Pradesh. The case was registered against the Congress social media head under Section 67 of The Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 and Section 124A 9sedition) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on a complaint filed by lawyer and activist Syed Rizwan Ahmad.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 13:12 [IST]
Congress warns its leaders and workers not to get complacent in the last few hours

Madhya Pradesh matters and why the Congress is going all guns blazing here

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Bhopal, Nov 1: Winning the Madhya Pradesh elections would be more crucial for the Congress, when compared to the rest of the four states which go to polls in November/December.

The BJP has been in power for the past 15 years here and the first priority would be to dislodged the saffron party and reclaim power. Madhya Pradesh incidentally is the biggest states among the five which is polling this year. The Congress would also be mindful of the fact that this state is important in the context of the 2019 poll as well.

Unease in the MP Congress over alleged VYAPAM accused Kirar joining the party

If the Congress is able to dislodge the BJP in MP, then its prospects in 2019 to would open up considerably. The heartland state has 29 Lok Sabha seats and a good showing here would help better its tally in 2019.

The battle for the BJP will not be easy as it was in the previous elections. The first big battle it would be fighting is anti-incumbency. The Mandasur killings and the agrarian crisis have also been haunting the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government for sometime.

Congress president, Rahul Gandhi who launched his campaign in this state earlier this week has been sharp in his attacks against the BJP, accusing the party of being anti-poor, anti-Dalit and corrupt. While the direct attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding corruption may not gain any traction, the farmer related issues could work in favour of the Congress.

The Congress has been attempting to make all the right noises in the state. Rahul Gandhi along with strongmen, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kamal Nath held a road show before visiting the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain. He also followed it up with public meetings in Dhar, Khargone and Mhow.

Shivraj threatens defamation case after Rahul's 'Panama' goof up

The Congress would have however hoped that its alliance with the BSP worked out ahead of the elections. Mayawati while making stinging remarks against leaders such as Digvijaya Singh decided to fight it without the Congress. The BSP could dent the Congress vote bank in certain pockets.

However one cannot rule out the possibility of a post-poll alliance in case the need arises. It may be recalled the while attacking Singh, Mayawati was all praises for Sonia and Rahul, thus giving a clear indicator that the door was not completely shut.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 13:48 [IST]
Mizoram polls: Congress releases manifesto, promises laptops to students

India

pti-PTI

Aizawl, Nov 1: The Congress on Thursday released its manifesto for the upcoming Mizoram Assembly polls on Thursday and promised to provide free laptops to students who have cleared Class 10 and above if it returns to power in the state.

In the election manifesto released by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla here, the party also pledged to continue with its two flagship programmes for farmers and youths.

Mizoram is the only state in the northeast where the Congress has a government and BJP leaders have asserted they would make concerted efforts to oust the opposition party from the eight northeastern states.

Mizoram polls 2018: No alliance with BJP, says NEDA member MNF

Thanhawla, also the party's state unit president, has been the chief minister since 2008. If voted to power in Mizoram for the third consecutive time, students who clear the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) exam for Class 10 and above will be given laptops every year, the party manifesto said.

Mizoram polls 2018: Zoram Peoples' Movement announces 35 candidates

Initially, however, they would be distributed among those students above the HSLC without jobs, it said. The party also promised to continue with its New Land Use Policy (NLUP) for the farmers and New Economic Development Policy (NEDP) for unemployed youths.

The NLUP was launched in January 2011 to end the wasteful practice of shifting or 'jhum' cultivation -- process of clearing land by burning its natural vegetation before growing crops. A beneficiary of the NLUP gets around Rs 1 lakh.

The party said the grant would be raised. It said the NEDP would also be continued with special thrust on entrepreneurship development for the youths. The Congress manifesto also promised housing for the poor in rural areas and residential quarters for employees of police and education departments.

It also promised to set up more rehabilitation centres for drug addicts and alcoholics across the state. Polling will be held in Mizoram on November 28. Results will be declared on December 11 along with four other states.

PTI
'Save democracy,' says Chandrababu Naidu, on day of Opposition meetings

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Nov 1: Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday addressed a press conference with opposition leaders Sharad Pawar and Farooq Abdullah, alleging a "danger to democracy," and urging parties to strengthen a united opposition to take on the BJP.

Addressing the media, the three senior leaders expressed their dissatisfaction with the current state of country'saffairs and stressed on the need for all antiBJP parties to come together in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

"This great nation has given us so much. We have to protect its future. Nation is all we are interested in. They have instructed me to talk to all antiBJP parties to chalk out a programme. That is why I am here," Naidu told reporters.

A TDP teaser and why Naidu will be the glue that would bind the opposition in 2019

The TDP leader said that meetings will be organised between the antiBJP parties in the coming days where a future course of action will be chalked out.

"Condition of democracy and institutions such as CBI, RBI is very bad. The nation is going through great crisis. Today, democracy is in danger and the nation's people are in danger," Farooq Abdullah says following meeting with Pawar and Naidu.

The TDP chief is likely to call on Congress president Rahul Gandhi later in the day, to discuss the matter.

Telangana polls: 2019 in mind, will the Congress give TDP the larger pie

This is Naidu's second trip to Delhi in less than a week. He has already held a round of preliminary meetings with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Dalit powerhouse Mayawati, Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and the Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu.
Bihar By-polls: Lalu Yadav to campaign for RJD candidates on Wednesday to ensure 'visarjan' of Nitish Kumar

Nitish Kumar 'saturated', 'wants to step down', claims Upendra Kushwaha

India

oi-Deepika S

Patna, Oct 31: Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief and Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha on Wednesday made a startling claim, indicating that the top post in Bihar may soon fall vacant and a new candidate will be required.

Addressing his party workers in Patna, Kushwaha said no one knows Nitish Kumar better than him. During one of their interactions, Nitish Kumar had told him that after being in power for 15 years, he doesn't want to continue any longer, Kushwaha added.

"I am neither doing any politics nor I am making any satirical comment on the CM, but he (Nitish Kumar) has himself expressed his desire not to continue beyond 2020. I have ruled for 15 years. How long will I be the CM," Kushwaha quoted Kumar as saying at a party event in Patna to mark Sardar Patel's birth anniversary.

Upendra Kushwaha calls on RJD Leader Tejashwi Yadav after BJP agrees on 50-50 seat sharing formula

"Nitish Kumar had spoken with "a heavy heart" when he had spoken to him about his intention a few months back," he added.

The claim came as a surprise as neither Nitish Kumar nor anyone in his Janata Dal (United) had ever spoken about any such possibility.

However, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar brushed aside Kushwaha's claim and said Kumar is Chief Minister by "virtue of people's mandate and legislators' choice".

The statement on Wednesday is seen as a last-ditch effort by the RLSP to bargain for more Lok Sabha seats in the state than it got for 2014 general elections.

Kumar and Kushwaha are BJP allies in Bihar, but their relationship has reached a new low as it became clear that Nitish Kumar would get as many seats as the BJP - at the cost of smaller allies.

Last week, after BJP president Amit Shah announced final seat-sharing formula and appealed to all allies to make sacrifices to accommodate a new partner, Kushwaha had said: "I respect his statement. We are ready for sacrifice. (But) all partners should share all benefits and losses. I understand that the alliance with the JD(U) has benefited the NDA. Then why can't we share the benefits in Bihar?...Partnership should be equal in profit as well as loss."

This is not the first time that the RLSP chief has raised the issue of Nitish Kumar's future as chief minister. In July, he had questioned the logic of going with Kumar as the National Democratic Alliance's chief ministerial candidate for the 2020 state assembly polls.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 9:14 [IST]
Not 'Bird Dropping', its Congress's values that are dropping: BJP hits back

India

oi-Vikas SV

New Delhi, Nov 1: The BJP on Thursday (November 1) strongly hit back at the Congress over a tweet by grand old party's social media head Divya Spandana in which she posted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photo at the foot of Statue of Unity and wrote "Bird Dropping". The BJP wrote on its Official Twitter handle that it was not 'Bird Dropping', but "the values of the Congress that are dropping".

Ummm no, it is the values of the Congress that are dropping.



Historical disdain for Sardar Patel + Pathological dislike for @narendramodi = Such language.



Clearly, @RahulGandhis politics of 'love'! https://t.co/1TPCY7Fs4d  BJP (@BJP4India) November 1, 2018

Divya Spandana, also known as Ramya, has posted a pic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi standing at the feet of recently inaugurated Sardar Patel's statue and wrote "Is that bird dropping?".

"Is that bird dropping?": Divya Spandana's latest jibe at PM Modi

In the pic, PM Modi can be seen standing near the foot of Statue of Unity and has extended one arm to touch it. PM Modi looks miniscule as compared to the statue's foot in the background. It is not clear what Ramya means and in what context she wrote "Bird Dropping". Is she referring to PM Modi looking like a tiny dot at the statue's feet to "Bird Dropping" ? Well, one can only guess.

Has Divya Spandana relinquished her role as Congress' social media head?

Divya is known for posting controversial tweets deriding PM Modi. She had earlier posted a tweet which had a photoshopped image of PM Modi painting the word 'chor' (thief) on the forehead of his wax statue.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 14:57 [IST]
Now attack on Poorvanchali in Delhi; BJP MP hold AAP responsible for spreading rumor

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Nov 1: Onslaught against people belonging to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar continues but this time in Delhi when South Delhi Lok Sabha MP Ramesh Bidhuri has not only allegedly abused people belonging to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar but his supporters thrashed workers of Poorvanchal Morcha of his own party.

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of former deputy Prime Minister of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a programme 'Run for Unity' was organized in which supporters of Ramesh Bidhuri and workers of Poorvanchal Morcha not only abused each other but MP himself is alleged to have abused Poorvanchal Morcha workers. State BJP president Manoj Tiwari summoned party workers from both the sides but no solution has been reached.

Also Read | Rajasthan polls: Kejriwal asks state's voters to do a Delhi

Former Congress Lok Sabha member Mahabal Mishra criticised Ramesh Bidhuri for misbehaving with the workers of Poorvanchal Morcha of the BJP. He requested state BJP president to ensure well being of people of Poorvanchal and must take immediate cognizance of the matter and ensure punishment for guilty. Tiwari got the post of state BJP president just because he belong to Poorvanchal.

Development of Delhi has been made possible only with the help of people of Poorvanchal. How long they will be victim of violence?

Taking on the BJP, Mishra further said that this is the history of the BJP as they don't want to see people from Poorvanchal to florish anywhere. So much so that a BJP leader in 2005 filed a petition in the court that people from UP and Bihar must not get enrollment in Delhi University. Manoj Tiwari must take a moral responsibility on the issue before the matter snowballs.

We'll make you sealing officer: SC pulls up BJP's Manoj Tiwari

But Ramesh Bidhuri held Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) responsible for it. He said, "It is they who are spreading such rumors and false news about Poorvanchali people getting attacked to sully my image. Anyone who is settled in Delhi is well aware about my work and attempt made by AAP to misguide people from Porvanchal failed." Bidhuri claimed to have got built 17 Chhath Ghat in south Delhi so misinformation is being spread about him. He is being dubbed as enemy of people of Poorvanchal region. He out rightly refused allegation that he has anything to do with 'Run For Unity' spat. A high-powered committee has been constituted to investigate the matter and action will be taken against people involved in it.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 20:37 [IST]
Pakistan hit my mysterious viral fever: All you need to know

Pak-China bus service through PoK violative of our territorial integrity says India

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Nov 1: India has strongly objected to the plans for a bus service between Pakistan occupied Kashmir and China's Xinjiang region.

India registered a strong protest with both Islamabad and Beijing after the Pakistan media reported that a private transport company would launch the bus service on November 3 as part of the the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project. The report also stated that the bus would run between Lahore to Kashgar four days in a week and bookings for the same have already begun.

Such a bus service through PoK will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, India has said. India has communicated to its unhappiness on the proposed bus service that will operate through PoK under the so-called CPEC.

India has said that the so called China-Pakistan boundary agreement of 1963 is illegal and invalid. It has never been recognised by India and hence the bus service through PoK would be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, India has also said.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 10:52 [IST]
Rafale: Govt will maintain topmost secrecy in SC in national interest

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Nov 1: The Supreme Court which is seized off a batch of petitions questions the Rafale Deal had asked the government to furnish details regarding the pricing and also its advantages.

Let them put their house in order first says SC to plea seeking CBI probe into Rafale

When the Centre through Attorney General, K K Venugopal objected to the same, the Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi said, " then file an affidavit to that effect."

On the next date of hearing, the Centre would file an affidavit stating that it would not submit the details as sought by the Court. The government would continue to maintain that it is attaching utmost secrecy to the deal.

Rafale: Tell us details of price, cost of jets in 10 days, SC says despite Centre's objection

The problem is concerned about the technical details being leaked. It would not want the enemy country to know about the technical specifications of the jets. The government however says that the note giving the details of the decision making process was meant only for the judges. The note will not be given to the parties in the case. The note would contain only the decision making process and it would not have technical and other sensitive details, the government also said.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 9:15 [IST]
Tickets for Rajasthan Assembly polls to be delayed as many rounds of discussion yet to take place

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Nov 1: Tickets for the Rajasthan Assembly elections may further get delayed as several rounds of discussion is yet to take place on names of candidates. Constituency wise survey is complete data churning is done but discussion on the names of candidates will take some more time to get ticket finalised in the state.

Ever since Union human resource development minister Prakash Javadekar has been made in-charge of Rajasthan, he has been working on several issues. Sources said that he has been working for the image building. He strengthened the internal system of the party in the state that included media, social media and spokespersons of the party. He is also meeting with all the stakeholders in the state who were otherwise a non-entity in the state's system.

Congress faces tough opposition from within over tainted and outsiders candidates in Rajasthan

But the most important thing is that the party wants to select winable candidates not that this much ticket to this this group and that much tickets to other group. So every candidate matters for Javadekar, said the source.

Meanwhile, national vice president Om Mathur has indicated that still lots of discussions are yet to take place before final decision is reached at. Vasundhara Raje met Om Mathur in Jaipur before they meet Party president Amit Shah in Delhi. He said after the meeting with Vasundhra that no consensus has been reached on ticket distribution so far. Decision in the BJP are taken on consensus. Churning in the party is still continuing.

He said that meeting with the party president will take place soon but it will take time to get ticket declared as many rounds of discussion is still expected. Before meeting with Rajasthan chief minister, Om Mathur has also met minister in the state government Rajendra Rathor and discussion continued for quite long.

Rajasthan assembly polls: BJP picks probable candidates

Both the leaders are in Delhi to meet party president. Sources said that consensus has been reached on 79 seats of the Rajasthan Assembly elections but discussion is continuing. Shah will also meet Union minister of state for agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat who is in-charge of election campaign committee, national joint general secretary (organisations) V Satish and state organising secretary Chandrashekhar to discuss not only tickets but over all situation in Rajasthan.
Unease in the MP Congress over alleged VYAPAM accused Kirar joining the party

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Nov 1: How could fight against Rafale deal and other corruption issues would continue if Congress president Rahul Gandhi himself facilitate joining alleged VYAPAM accused in the party. K K Mishra, senior Congress leader of Madhya Pradesh and the person who had unleashed a campaign against VYAPAM right from the beginning, has written a letter to Rahul Gandhi in this regard.

Mishra claimed that it was true that not only alleged accused in VYAPAM case Gulab Singh Kirar was introduced to Gandhi in Indore but he has joined the party as well. Commotion in the party started after this news reached to public domain. Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi too realised it and expressed his displeasure on demoralization of workers due to this issue. So Congress spokesperson Sobha Ojha issued a statement saying that Kirar has not been given membership of the party and neither he has any connection with the Congress.

Shivraj threatens defamation case after Rahul's 'Panama' goof up

But this argument is very week because after Kirar joined the party two other leaders of the party were introduced to the Congress president in a hotel room. He got his picture clicked with senior state Congress leaders in the hotel and also with leaders of the BJP who switched over to the Congress. The picture is of the same hall in which Rahul released a video of the party. Sources said that he was introduced to Gandhi on 8th floor of the hotel at 10 in the morning.

A senior leader K K Mishra said, "He is hurt by this issue that the main accused in VYAPAM scam has been allowed to join the party." He wrote to the Congress president with all proofs that it is likely that Kirar being the same caste as of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, his past would have been ignored. Mishra writes, "Kirar not only got both of his sons admitted in medical college but also get some other admissions done by taking bribe. But when he got exposed and SIT was after him to arrest along with his sons then he fled and the police fixed Rs 10,000 award over his head."

Mishra said that when the person having status of state minister shared dais with Shivraj Singh Chouhan while on the run, the Congress had made it a big issue. When Shivraj Singh refused to recognise him in the court, the CM was put in dock that how could a person having state minister is not recognised by the CM. Mishra said that the fight against corruption cannot be taken too far if accused are taken in the party.

More outsiders making it to the list of Congress causing resentment in Madhya Pradesh

But after so much of uproar in the party, all senior leaders in the state kept silent including Kamal Nath, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Deepak Bawaria and Suresh Pachauri who were present at the time of Kirar meeting with Rahul. A Congress leader said that he might have come to the hotel by chance and might have come in front of Kamal Nath. There is no information about him joining the Congress. However, Mishra and many other leaders accepted that he along with BJP MLA Sanjay Sharma and Kamlapat Arya had not only met Rahul but joined the party.
Union Cabinet approves resolution to open ISA membership to all UN countries

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Nov 1: The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave ex-post facto approval for India moving a resolution for opening up of International Solar Alliance (ISA) membership to all UN countries, an official statement said.

ISA is an alliance of more than 121 countries initiated by India, most of them being sunshine countries, to work for efficient exploitation of solar energy so as to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. India and France co-hosted the first International Solar Alliance summit here in March this year.

"The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval for moving a resolution in the first assembly of the ISA for amending the Framework Agreement of the ISA for opening up the ISA membership to all countries that are members of the United Nations," the statement said.

[Cabinet gives nod to boost skill ecosystem]

Opening the membership of the ISA will put solar energy in global agenda with the universal appeal for developing and deploying solar energy.

"It will make ISA inclusive, whereby all member countries that are members of the United Nations could become members. Expanding membership will lead to ISA initiative benefitting the world at large," it added.

PTI
Top Lashkar involved in killing of two policemen gunned down in J&K

Was the Haryana Mosque funded by Lashkar? No says panel, NIA digs deeper

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Nov 1: A fact-finding committee of the Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) did not find any evidence showing that militant organisation's money was used in the construction of a mosque in Haryana's Palwal, according to its report released Wednesday.

The four-member panel, led by human rights activist and DMC advisor Ovais Sultan, was formed to look into media reports quoting anonymous sources in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) claiming that money routed from Pakistan-based militant Hafiz Saeed's Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation could have been used in the construction of the mosque.

NIA arrests absconding accused in fake currency case

"The committee did not come across any evidence to state that the terror funding was received for the construction of the Khulafa-e-Rashideen mosque in Uttawar in Palwal, as was alleged in media reports quoting anonymous NIA sources," Ovais said.

The panel had visited the village, where the mosque is located, on October 20.

In July, the NIA had filed a case to probe the funding module linked to Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) -- a front organisation of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The NIA had on September 25 conducted searches at the premises of Mohammad Salman in Nizamuddin, Daryaganj-resident Mohammad Salim (alleged hawala operator) and Rajaram in Kucha Ghasiram in New Delhi, and seized Rs 1.56 crore in cash, Rs 43,000 in Nepali currency, 14 mobiles phones, five pen drives and several incriminating documents.

Following the seizure of incriminating material, the NIA had arrested from Delhi FIF member Mohammad Salman (52), and alleged Hawala operators Mohammad Salim alias Mama (62) and Sajjad Abdul Wani (34), a resident of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, according to an official release issued then.

As per the report of the DMC, local Muslims and Hindus have together donated 10 acres of land for the construction of the mosque and a madrassa.

Accused Salman also donated some money for it after selling his ancestral land in the village, Ovais said.

Pakistani Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist charged by NIA

He said that the mosque belongs to Tablighi Jamaat whereas, LeT and FIF belong to Salafi school of thought and the two do not agree with each other's teachings and practices.

"So, there is no question of collaboration between them or funds being given to the mosque," Ovais said.

The committee has recommended the chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission to write to the Union Home Secretary about "procedural lapses" in the case being probed by the NIA and issue an advisory to all media houses and agencies to be careful in reporting such cases.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 9:09 [IST]
Why CBI didnt seek prior approval from competent authority before filing case against Asthana

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Nov 1: Special Director of the CBI, Rakesh Asthana had said that there was no prior approval sought by the competent authority, before an FIR was registered by the CBI against him in the bribery case.

He further went on to state that prior approval of the competent authority was needed under the Prevention of Corruption Act (Amendment) 2018.

The CBI, without naming Asthana had sought an opinion from the Additional Solicitor General, P S Narasimha with effect to this point. The ASG in his response said that the registration of an FIR/Preliminary Enquiry will not await the previous approval required under Section 17 A.

Asthana is our man and Samant bhai is close to him, CBI officer cites transcript in SC

This opinion had been sought prior to the registration of the FIR and the same was given to the CBI on October 15, following which the case was filed.

While giving his opinion, the ASG cited the Lalita Kumari vs Govt of UP 2014 case. The Supreme Court had said in this case that the registration of an FIR is mandatory if the information given to the police under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure discloses the commission of a cognisable offence. Once the cognisable offence comes to light, the same must be registered as an FIR or PE, as the case may be, the Supreme Court had also said.

Narasimhan further said that the mandatory requirement to register an FIR or PE and the prior approval under Section 17 A operate in different fields. The FIR or PE must be registered the moment a cognisable offence comes to the notice of the law enforcing authorities, he further said in his opinion.

CBI officer probing Asthana case challenges transfer in SC

The case against Asthana was filed after Satish Babu Sana, an accused in the Moin Qureshi had stated before the magistrate on October 4, that he had paid a bribe of over Rs 2 crore to Asthana through a Dubai based businessman Somesh Prasad.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 14:30 [IST]
Will decision on Asia Bibi help bail out Pakistan from financial mess?

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Nov 1: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has acquitted Christian woman Asia Bibi, who was sentenced to death for blasphemy charges nearly eight years ago. Her release has sparked protests in many parts of Pakistan with death threats issued to her from many religious extremist organisations. But the real question is what prompted her release from the charges that had already claimed a couple of lives in the country.

An expert on the issue of Pakistan Sushant Sareen tweeted: "This is how the paks play the international public opinion. This acquittal is not an outcome of justice but of bankruptcy. It is political judgment aimed at inspiring confidence in international community and getting money and concession in return. They have made a mamoo [fool] of everyone."

India protests bus service through Pakistan Occupied J&K

Pakistan has been fooling the international community by such decision and getting away with not only its involvement in terrorist activities but also dismal human right records among minorities and in Baluchistan region.

Sources said that Pakistan is facing a severe financial crunch and this could be one the reasons for such a decision as not only the government but military and judiciary too need money to function and finances of the country are in tatters. The government needed $12 billion to bailout its sinking economy. It has got some assistance from Saudai Arabia but that is not enough. Now Pakistan has to seek some Assistance from International Monetary Fund (IMF) to get some assistance but the IMF has always been taking about some conditions.

It is said that human right activists and many western nations have been questioning Pakistan's poor credentials on this but Pakistan was not paying any heed to them. But when things have become unbearable for Pakistan on economic front, it seems the decision was taken to get some help from western countries. It seems impossible for anyone coming out of gallows in Pakistan on charges of blasphemy. But the decision has been taken and she is released.

Now amid threats from extremists, the way Nobel laureate Malala Yusufzai had been sent out of Pakistan to save her and her family from terrorist threat, Asia and her family would also be flown out of Pakistan to some Western country to ensure their safety. Actually a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar amid great tension and tight security read out the judgment by citing the Quran in his ruling. He ruled: "The judgment of the Lahore High Court and that of the trial court is reversed," adding that Asia should be set free from a jail in Sheikhupura, near Lahore, if she wasn't wanted in any other case. "Her conviction is set aside and she is to be relieved forthwith if not required in other charges," the judgment said.

Pakistan court releases woman from facing death row for blasphemy

But activists of different religious parties came out on the streets, vandalised cars and blocked roads. Protest and violence erupted. The head of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Khadim Hussain Rizvi, started a sit-in opposite the Punjab provincial assembly in Lahore with hundreds of supporters. Jamaat-u-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed called for protests after Jumma prayers.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 12:16 [IST]
Talks with China will not help says USA NSA on situation on Ladakh

20 members of a family removed from US flight after mask of 1 slipped under nose

India at the UN supports lifting of US sanctions against Cuba

International

pti-PTI

United Nations, Nov 1: India reiterated its support for the lifting of all sanctions imposed five decades ago by the US against Cuba, saying the continued existence of the embargo undermines multilateralism and the credibility of the UN itself.

Diplomats representing more than 135 countries including India overwhelmingly called on the Trump administration to end its economic, commercial and financial embargo against the Caribbean island, saying the nearly six-decade-long blockade impedes Cuba's right to development and its ability to participate fully in the global economy.

"People to people contact holds immense possibilities for fostering better understanding between nations. The international community needs to intensify its efforts to promote an environment free from sanctions and embargoes. India hopes that the embargo will be withdrawn at the earliest," India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Tanmaya Lal said Wednesday.

Trump, Putin to discuss INF Treaty in Paris, Russian foreign minister confirms

Lal was participating in the General Assembly session on 'Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial Blockade against Cuba'.

The representatives stressed that the US must heed the Assembly's repeated calls to lift its restrictive policies. Delegates noted that from April 2017 to June this year, the impact of the US embargo on Cuba's foreign trade amounts to more than USD 4 billion.

Lal said that every year, the General Assembly rejected the imposition of laws and regulations with extra-territorial impact and all other forms of coercive economic measures that hurt the progress and prosperity of the people the world over.

Last year, 191 member states voted in favour of the resolution, expressing their strong support to lifting of the embargo.

China backs Iran's full membership of SCO: Chinese ambassador to Tehran

He said the General Assembly has also called upon all states to refrain from promulgating and applying and to repeal and invalidate laws and measures that have extra-territorial effects affecting the sovereignty of other states, in conformity with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law.

"There can be little doubt that the continued existence of this embargo, in contravention of the overwhelming world opinion as expressed by this Assembly, undermines multilateralism and the credibility of the United Nations itself," Lal said.

He said that India stands in solidarity with the General Assembly in its unambiguous rejection of domestic laws having extra-territorial impact.

"Such embargoes have the effect of impeding the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected country, in particular children and women. They also hinder the full enjoyment of human rights, including the right to development, food, medical care and social services among other things," he said.

Lal noted that the embargo, particularly through its extra-territorial effects, has adversely affected the Cuban people and the development efforts of the country and stressed that the continued embargo would severely impact Cuba's ability to implement the comprehensive 2030 Agenda.

Speakers also voiced concern over the recent policy shifts in Washington that are undoing progress made in 2015 and 2016 to normalise bilateral ties with Cuba. The current US administration is pursuing efforts to strengthen the blockade, they added.

PTI
Photo: The Canadian Press

The mother of a 13-year-old girl found murdered in Burnaby will get a Mandarin interpreter so she can understand what's going on in court involving a man accused of the crime, the Attorney General's Ministry says.

"In addition to the interpretation services, the family will continue to have access to support from victim services throughout court proceedings," the ministry said in an email, adding privacy issues prevent it from disclosing specific services that have been accessed.

It said interpreters are provided for victims who testify in court.

However, the Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime called for an amendment to the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights last year so people who are affected by an offence also get that support and don't have to ask for it.

Marrisa Shen's mother requested an interpreter earlier this month through her lawyer in provincial court, and a judge recommended the B.C. government provide that service.

Ibrahim Ali, who is charged with first-degree murder, has had an Arabic interpreter for his pre-trial court appearances. He is set to make his next appearance on Nov. 23.

Shen's mother does not wish to be identified and has not spoken publicly since her daughter was found dead in Central Park in Burnaby in July 2017.

Ninu Kang, spokeswoman for Mosaic Community Services, said victims of crime should automatically get access to language interpreters in court, the same as the accused, as they go through what is an intimidating and overwhelming process for most Canadians.

Kang said victims' relatives, friends or members of a community sometimes step in to translate proceedings but unlike professional interpreters, they are not trained to understand court jargon and could be providing incorrect information while dealing with a stressful situation.

"Family members will further endure trauma and they don't necessarily know even what their role is so they might interpret what is their understanding of what is being said."

Professional interpreters must abide by a code of ethics, ensure accuracy and remain impartial, Kang said.

"There's a need for professional conduct so victims aren't feeling like they owe you anything. They're paid individuals and victims should know they have a right to the workers."

Kang said their non-profit organization, among others, is sometimes hired by the government to provide interpreters or workers who aid victims through the court process.

However, she said there aren't enough resources for language interpretation in the community.

"We have a long way to go to recognize that all victims don't have language proficiency in our two official languages and providing language access is a human rights issue for Canadians."

Mosaic participated in consultations last year as the Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime sought input on how best to meet the needs of people navigating the justice system.

A report released by the office last fall outlined concerns involving the courts.

"We heard repeatedly just how complicated the criminal justice system is and how hard it is to understand, even for those who work within it. Help is needed to navigate a system that is so highly complex and has its own culture and language."
November is here, which means people across the world are once again raising money for men's health.

Those participating in Movember spend the month growing out their moustache, to raise money and awareness for men's health issues like prostate and testicular cancer, along with mental health and suicide prevention.

Since 2003, the Movember Foundation has funded more than 1,200 projects that help men around the world. The foundation projects that by 2030, they'll reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25 per cent.

Four moustache-growing mavericks at Castanet and Okanagan Oldies 103.9 are taking up the challenge this year. After getting a hot shave at Kelowna's The Tailored Shave, reporters Nich Johansen and Wayne Moore, news director Rob Gibson and Okanagan Oldies host Kevin Rothwell are starting their moustaches from scratch for the month.

It's a fun thing to do, and we get to razz each other as a group for a month. What could be better? said Gibson, whose grandfather had prostate cancer.

It affects a lot of men, and it affects a lot of families across Canada, said Rothwell. I think this a good way to bring it into the public.

Head to the Movember website to donate to the Castamos team and to keep up to date on the moustachioed progress of Johansen, Moore, Gibson and Rothwell.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The new pay-equity law the federal Liberals are proposing should close Canada's "shameful" gender gap, and private-sector employers should follow the government's example, union leaders say.

Public Service Alliance of Canada president Chris Aylward says the legislation introduced this week has been a long time coming: his organization first filed pay-equity complaints against the federal government in the 1970s.

"This new legislation, which creates an obligation for employers to eliminate gender-based wage discrimination, means 30-year legal battles to resolve pay-equity complaints will become a thing of the past," said Aylward at a press conference Wednesday on Parliament Hill.

Under the proposed law, employers under federal jurisdiction would need to examine their compensation practices and ensure women and men receive equal pay for work of equal value.

Employers would be required to identify job classes, evaluate the work in each, and compare what they pay with what workers get in jobs dominated by men or by women.

The rules would apply to all federally regulated employers with 10 or more workers, which includes the federal public service, parliamentary workplaces, and the offices of the prime minister and other ministers. It also includes employers in parts of the private sector such as banks, marine shipping, ferry and port services and telecommunications. In all, about 900,000 Canadian workers will be covered.

Jobs that might be under close scrutiny because they are dominated by women include clerical and administrative jobs, marketing, sales and services. Also bank tellers, financial-sales representatives and accounting clerks.

It's up to employers to determine whether a position has been undervalued and if the workers are due for pay adjustments.

Debi Daviau, the president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, said her organization is confident the government, as an employer, "will show the way to all the private ones."

Discrimination against women in the workforce still happens more often than is usually acknowledged, said Hassan Yussuff of the Canadian Labour Congress.

He said until employers have pay-equity plans in place, they can't say they have ended discrimination in the workplace.
Photo: RCMP

A psychiatrist says a cook accused of murdering two people at a Northern Alberta work camp had been hearing voices and thought he needed to kill everyone to make them stop.

Dr. Lenka Zedkova was testifying at the trial of Daniel Goodridge.

Goodridge has pleaded not guilty due to a mental disorder to charges of first-degree murder, assault with a weapon and interfering with human remains.

In an agreed statement of facts, Goodridge admits to the slayings as well as to terrorizing others who woke in the middle of the night to screams at the Canada North oilfield camp near Fox Creek in June 2015.

Zedkova told court that Goodridge's mental state led him to believe his co-workers wanted to assault him.

She also testified that while Goodridge could appreciate that what he was doing could leave someone dead, he did not know that what he was doing was wrong.

Court has heard that Goodridge stabbed one man more than 70 times, cut off parts of his body and set him on fire.

Some workers hid in their rooms while others fled into the bush as he ran around the remote property with a large knife, the agreed facts say.

He also threw rocks at vehicles and set fires in some buildings.

When RCMP arrived, Goodridge refused to drop the knife and lunged at an officer. Mounties fired 12 shots, wounding Goodridge.

Officers then found the bodies of David Derksen, 37, from La Crete, Alta., and 50-year-old Hally Dubois of Red Deer, Alta. (CJXX, The Canadian Press)
Photo: Contributed Police chase after a suspect in West Kelowna.

UPDATE: 4 p.m.

Video from the scene of an arrest in West Kelowna shows four police officers collaring a suspect after a robbery at Dollarama.

The man was walking along Highway 97 towards Kelowna.

The officers got out of their cruisers and walked up to the man before apparently Tasering him.

Once the man dropped to his knees, officers kicked away his bag, handcuffed him and took away a large stick he was carrying.

The man was escorted back to a police SUV.

Traffic appears to be flowing as normal on the highway.

ORIGINAL: 3:45 p.m.

Traffic was briefly backed up along Highway 97 near Elk Road in West Kelowna as police chased down a man Wednesday afternoon.

A witness tells Castanet that a man left Dollarama with a bag of stolen items.

Staff members yelled out that the man was stealing, and he allegedly threatened them with a stick-like object.

The suspect fled the scene, and the employees called 911.

Three police cruisers chased after the man, according to a witness, and apprehended him at Elk Road and Highway 97.
Photo: Contributed

Kelownas Greyhound station on Leckie Road was basically a ghost town on Wednesday afternoon.

A technician was dismantling the lockers, another was sweeping up, and Rick Peterson, the regional safety manager for B.C. and the Kelowna depots operations manager, was spending most of his day saying goodbye out of a trailer behind the main building.

Its hard, because youre sending the last phone calls, the last e-mails to everybody, Peterson said. Every time you see somebody youre shaking their hand knowing its the last time youre probably going to see them.

Greyhound will end its passenger and freight service in Western Canada at midnight after decades of operation, a decision the Dallas-based company made for financial reasons. The last incoming bus was scheduled to arrive from Vancouver at 5 p.m., and the last bus out of Kelowna to depart for Penticton at 5:30.

At the end of today, literally the building is empty, Peterson said. We just took the last chairs out. I have one little desk sitting in the corner. Thats all I have. Everything else is gone. Weve been just getting rid of everything. The good things, we send out east because Ontarios still going to run.

You can hear the echo in here now.

For more on this story, visit Okanagan Edge.
Chelsea Powrie

"Bittersweet" was the word of the day at the last ever Greyhound bus departure from the Penticton bus depot.

A few dozen people, mostly former employees or their family members, gathered at 1 p.m. on Wednesday to welcome the bus from Vancouver, and send it on its way to its final stop in Kamloops. There was a mix of tears and laughter, as old friends reunited and reflected on the end of an era.

This final journey came on the day that the long-haul bus company officially ended its service to the South Okanagan and the rest of B.C., closing the book on 88 years of Greyhound history in the Okanagan Valley.

Lynn Murai was one of those present to witness the milestone moment, in honour of her late father. He was a Greyhound driver for 33 years, and the bus service looms large in her childhood memories of him.

"It was always lots of stories of him on his trips, he would always drive along and stop if he saw things on the side of the road, he had a toolbox full of things that he would find," Murai said. "And there's not too many of the old people around anymore, so I wanted to see who was still here."

The final bus was driven by 39-year Greyhound veteran Blake Moore, greeted with balloons and a warm round of applause as he pulled into the station.

"I was pushing to get to 40 [years]," he said with a laugh. "They had to make a real big effort to get me to retire, as everybody's been telling me!"

Moore's mother, sister and brother-in-law were present to see him on his way to the conclusion of his route.

"He's a senior driver, so he could have driven anywhere, but he's doing the last route here, so we're pretty excited," said Gord Barnes, Moore's brother-in-law.

Among the passengers on the final trip was Jim Adams, a former Greyhound driver who hopped on the bus in Vancouver and took it through to Kelowna, just to be a part of the journey. Holding back tears, he nodded when asked if the day was emotional.

"A lot of good memories, a lot of good people, and a lot of fun drivers to work with," Adams said. "We were a family. We had a lot of fun together. "

Moore echoed the sentiment.

"That's been the greatest part about my career at Greyhound, is the people," he said, adding that seeing the crowd gathered at the Penticton depot was deeply moving. "The word I've been using is 'bittersweet.'"

The South Okanagan-Similkameen is now left without any long-haul bus routes, a concern MLA for Boundary-Similkameen Linda Larson addressed in the B.C. Legislature Monday.

"There is no reason for this last-minute scramble. Greyhound significantly reduced service to the northern parts of the province this summer, after warning the government almost a year ago that they would be cutting back, and ultimately stopping all service in B.C.," she said. "And now there are no viable replacement options for our residents."

Alberta-based bus company Ebus has stepped in to supply a route between Vancouver, Kamloops and Kelowna, but no such options are on the horizon in the Similkameen Valley and South Okanagan.

"The current proposed plan of using reservation-based companies with departures that only happen once or twice a day is no way to serve the residents of this region. Some of these routes, like Highway 3, will leave everyone living along that corridor without transportation options at all."

Shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday, the final Penticton Greyhound pulled away, carrying a handful of waving passengers and honking as it left the Ellis Street lot. At 2 p.m., the local franchise owner Lynda Verrier locked the doors of the depot forever.

Whether or not a new service steps in to fill its shoes in the South Okanagan-Similkameen remains to be seen, but Greyhound is officially gone.
Photo: Contributed

Enbridge Inc. says it has successfully completed repairs on the section of a natural gas pipeline that ruptured and burned near Prince George three weeks ago.

The company says following a comprehensive integrity assessment, it expects to begin safely returning the repaired segment to service within the next two days.

It says it will gradually increase flows of natural gas through the repaired segment until it reaches 80 per cent of its normal operating pressure.

A smaller pipeline nearby returned to service two days after the explosion, also at 80 per cent of its normal pressure, which the company says helps ensure the ongoing safety and integrity of the system.

Once the repaired segment is returned to service, Enbridge says the system is expected to safely deliver between 23 and 25 million cubic metres of natural gas per day to B.C.'s Lower Mainland and the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

The return-to-service plan has been reviewed by the National Energy Board and Enbridge says it's conducting a comprehensive dig to help further validate the integrity of the entire system.

The company says until it's fully satisfied it is safe to operate the lines at full capacity, and subject to regulatory review, both pipelines will continue to operate at reduced pressure.

"We appreciate the support of the local communities, the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation, and government officials throughout British Columbia during this process," it says in a news release.

"We remain in regular contact with the Transportation Safety Board ... and continue to support them in their ongoing incident investigation."

It adds there are a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that might delay its plans for returning the pipeline to service.

The line ruptured on Oct. 9 at a rural location about 15 kilometres northeast of Prince George, causing an explosion and large fireball.

There were no injuries and the RCMP said it did not suspect criminal activity, but the cause of the blast has yet to be determined.

One of the province's largest utilities, FortisBC, has said natural gas supply will be reduced by 50 to 80 per cent during the coldest months of the year.

The utility said keeping homes warm is its top priority as it manages a reduced supply in the coming months and it's encouraging all users to conserve energy.
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UPDATE: 3 p.m.

Castanet News has been informed the provincial government's announcement yesterday that the Swiss Sunset Motel would be operating as a homeless shelter this winter was in error.

BC Housing says they are working on a formal clarification/retraction.

The agency is not yet able to discuss what type of programming will be offered at the motel, but says more information will be released in the coming days.

Those looking for shelter beds should not attend the motel, and instead should head to the former Super 8 on Main Street or Compass House.

ORIGINAL 5 a.m.

BC Housing has announced plans to operate a new winter shelter at a motel on the south end of Penticton.

The Swiss Sunset Inn at 2604 Skaha Lake Road will host 20 beds this winter, possibly to be operated by ASK Wellness, which manages the Fairhaven transitional housing development next door.

BC Housing would not comment on the arrangement that will see the beds used for the homeless, but a manager at the Swiss Sunset Inn told Castanet they are leasing the rooms out to the organization on a temporary basis with plans to resume regular tourist motel operations in the spring.

The 20 temporary beds at the Swiss Sunset Inn will be in addition to 27 extreme-weather beds at the former site of the Super 8 on Main Street and 29 at Compass House, which is open all year.

The cold weather shelter at the old Super 8 and at Compass House is operated by the Salvation Army.

Shelter manager Roger Evans is optimistic there will be enough space to keep people off the streets this winter, noting they were able to manage last year.

The shelter at the Super 8 will be open Nov. 3, he said, and a mad dash is underway to get everything prepared, everything is coming together and we will be ready.

Evans estimated the renovations at the Super 8 to convert it into a transitional housing project, like the Fairhaven, should be complete in March.

The Salvation Army shelters are always accepting donations of blankets, warm clothing, slippers, toques and gloves. Donors can also help the homeless by gifting the same items to SOREBs annual warm up the winter blanket drive, which has donations bins spread throughout the community.
Photo: Contributed

Wingman or Wingwoman

On a round of recent flights across Canada, I was thinking about how easy it is to travel.

Hurtling across the country and continent in a metal tube for a day of meetings or or a special family event and then back seemed so futuristic, but it has really become the norm.

We are not sure how often you think of the brave and very talented pilots who fly us around, but we wanted to take a moment give them a heroes hurrah for earning their wings or stripes and keeping us safe day in and day out.

Often, we take flying for granted and indeed it is very safe, but it doesnt happen by accident; kudos to our pilots from all airlines.

Mentors

We had to take a moment to thank anyone out there in the Valley who is taking the time to mentor someone. Young and old, the benefits of having a mentor are amazing.

Recently, I met a 92-year-old woman in Penticton who was mentoring a neighbour who had dementia and literally helping her learn all over again.

I also came across some elementary aged kids who had paired up in a buddy system to help each other during recess and lunch to ensure they always had someone to play with or talk to a peer. Very cool!

A sign

A huge heroes thanks goes out to all the volunteers who helped take down and recycle election signs.

I dont know about your neighborhood, but in mine they seemed to disappear overnight and, save for a few stragglers, it is amazing to see thousands of signs be scooped up by a dedicated team from all candidates.

I recently watched a segment about how the signs are recycled and it's nice to see that all of the signs dont just end up in the landfill. Cheers to anyone who picked up a sign and returned it.
Photo: Jon Manchester Castanet/Okanagan Oldies 103.9 owner Nick Frost, right, with Castanet GM Chris Kearney, Okanagan Oldies sales manager Cindy Verbenkov, and morning show host Gord Vizzutti.

It's a trifecta of anniversaries at Castanet and Okanagan Oldies 103.9.

Kelowna's newest radio station launched one year ago today, broadcasting from the Castanet studios in downtown Kelowna.

Playing the best music of the 1960s, '70s, '80s and early '90s, listeners have responded with rave reviews. And bolstering the music we all know and love, is the sizeable news machine of Castanet, feeding stories from throughout the Okanagan to hourly newscasts.

The station was lucky to acquire top-notch on-air talent that has made our first year a roaring success. Veteran newsman Gord Vizzutti is news director and morning show host, Kevin Rothwell, another valley radio veteran, hosts the weekend show and reads weekday news, and Ryan Watters handles the afternoon drive as well as being program director.

But that's not the only anniversary going on.

It's also been one year since Okanagan Oldies and Castanet moved into our brand-new, three-storey headquarters on Lawrence Avenue.

And, it's Castanet's 18th anniversary.

We've grown from humble beginnings to become one of Western Canada's most-visited news websites, with an average of 475,000 weekly unique visitors, 10 million page views a week, and satellite offices in Vernon and Penticton.

"It's been a tremendous experience to watch our success consistently reach new heights," says general manager Chris Kearney. "And, we are excited to celebrate Okanagan Oldies' birthday, along with Castanet's.

"We look forward to continued growth, and serving the needs of our audience and advertisers."
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Thanh-Long Huynh, CEO of investment firm HTL Capital, has had a long history in the field of quantitative investing. Prior to starting HTL, he set up quantitative strategies for Societe Generale. Huynh is also the founder of QuantCube Technology, a FinTech startup that makes macroeconomic and financial predictions based on alternative data. QuantCube recently closed a $5 million Series A round led by Moody's Corporation, Five Capital, the investment fund sponsored by CDC International Capital (Caisse des Depots Group) and Kingdom Holding Company of Saudi Arabia. From his dual role as the CEO of a fund and a tech startup, he spoke to Opalesque about how hard it is to find data scientists and what the future may hold for Big Data and investing. According to Huynh, while data science has been around as a field for many years, only now has the computing power really caught up to where it is economical to do data analysis at the scale needed to uncover investment trends from alternative data sources like social media posts or satellite images. "The supply of data will grow infinitely, but there will always be a shortage of data scientists with the expertise to analyze that data for use in investing," Huynh says. "Which means there will always be competition among investment firms for top talent." The other difficulty is competition from the technology industry itself. Tech giants like Alphabet and Apple will always be in need of a...................... To view our full article Click here
Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia:

Northern Trust has appointed Dane Fannin as global head of securities lending, relocating him from Hong Kong to Chicago for the role effective 1 January 2019.

His previous position of head of capital markets for APAC will be taken up by Mark Snowdon, who was responsible for Northern Trust's regional securities lending sales and relationship management team prior.

Fannin will report to Michael Vardas, global head of Northern Trust capital markets, and he will work closely with Andy Clayton, head of capital markets for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Fannin joined Northern Trust in London in 2006.

Snowdon was most recently responsible for Northern Trust's regional securities lending sales and relationship management, based in Singapore.

He joined Northern Trust in 2010 and prior to his current role, Snowdon spent five years in Northern Trust's London Office.

Commenting on the new appointments, Vardas said: "Securities lending has a critical role to play in optimising performance for asset managers, and asset owners, across their investment programmes."

"In today's increasingly complex and uncertain investment environment, forward-thinking firms are able to do this whilst operating within client-specific guidelines and risk management parameters."

"Dane Fannin, through his global experience, will lead the development, expansion and innovation of Northern Trust's securities lending capabilities for our global clients."

......................

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The Three Best Offshore Asset Structures in Belize

Author: Luigi Wewege, Senior Vice President of Caye International Bank

Belize is such an appealing place to invest for many reasons. One of those is that Belize offers a wide range of investment opportunities. Whats important to remember, however, is that offshore asset structures can appeal to different groups of people. A structure that is the perfect solution for one individual might not meet the needs of another investor.By taking a closer look at the top three best offshore asset protection options, you can get a better feel for the offshore asset structures in Belize that are the right fit for you and some of their requirements.1. International TrustsTrusts are perhaps one of the most widely use asset protection structures in the world. A trust is established when a person who owns certain assets transfers them into the hands of a trustee. With that transfer, the original owner no longer has financial or legal liability over the assets. Instead, the trustee is tasked with managing the assets. The beneficiaries of the trust are the third-party individuals or groups that stand to benefit from the trust.Although it is possible to establish an international trust in destinations across the globe, Belize is especially appealing because its laws provide better protection for the assets stored within these trusts. An international trust established in Belize can be an effective way to protect your assets from seizure. In the unlikely event of an asset freeze or a declaration of bankruptcy, the assets in your trust are not eligible for seizure. Since they are no longer owned by you specifically, they cant be taken away from you. This can offer peace of mind for those who are at particular risk for any legal conflicts.An international trust is also an appealing option for those who want to start estate planning. By establishing an international trust in Belize, you can get very specific about who you want to inherit your assets in the years to come. You can earmark certain assets for specific individuals or occasions, and these plans can be kept private and confidential.At the same time, it is worth noting that establishing an international trust has an added tax benefit. This is especially true when you set up an international trust in Belize. By minimizing tax erosion, you can protect more of your assets and ensure that your loved ones have access to as much of your hard-earned wealth as possible.2. International Business CompaniesFor those who have investments that need to be utilized, an International Business Company (IBC) in Belize can be a strong choice. In an effort to encourage international businesses to operate in Belize, the government established a program where companies could incorporate and qualify as IBCs.In order to be an IBC, a business cannot profit from any business activity within Belize. That means you cant directly offer goods or services to those living in Belize. However, if your business operates anywhere else in the world, you can be headquartered in Belize and benefit from being an official IBC.Some of the many assets that can be stored in an IBC might include machinery, copyrights, patents, intellectual property, or foreign real estate. An IBC is recommended for those who are making profits and actively using assets. An IBC is less likely to be the right choice if it contains passive assets.Arguably the best justification for having an IBC is that the assets it contains, and the profits it makes, wont be taxed in Belize. That means you can better protect the money you make without sacrificing profits to taxation.An International Business Company can also be a very private asset structure. Board members and directors can be kept anonymous, should that be desired. In addition, IBCs arent forced to disclose their financial records. The government should know the location of where financial records are kept and businesses are free to store their records anywhere in the world that is most convenient to their operations. In short, having an IBC means enjoying more flexibility and freedom than can be found when operating businesses elsewhere in the world.3. Private Placement Life InsuranceIn order to begin estate planning as efficiently as possible, private placement life insurance can be an excellent option. An offshore life insurance policy can protect your assets while simultaneously avoiding tax erosion. Private placement life insurance is an especially smart choice if you currently hold a number of investments that are earning significant profits or dividends. Holding these types of investments without the benefit of a life insurance wrapper can mean youre paying large sums annually for taxes, which is certainly not anything that an investor wants.A private placement life insurance in Belize operates differently from a more traditional life insurance policy. Instead of paying in fixed sums each month or year as payment, the insurance policy thrives thanks to investments that create their own constant sources of revenue.Another benefit of this type of insurance product is that you can better pass on assets to loved ones and dependents without tax gouging. Youve worked hard to save and accumulate wealth, and you shouldnt be penalized for that. Through the protection of private placement life insurance, youll be better able to pass wealth to your heirs. This is because the assets within the life insurance policy are no longer held directly in your name. This is especially true in like Belize, where asset structures arent taxed as heavily as they are in jurisdictions like North America.Finally, it is worth noting that placing assets into a private placement life insurance policy doesnt necessarily mean the assets are no longer available to you. Tax-deferred withdrawals or loans from the policy can provide you with capital in a hurry, should that ever become necessary. When looking for this type of insurance, it is important to find a provider who maintains compliance with international standards such as those required by the International Insurance Act Chapter 269, Revised Edition 2000 of the laws of Belize.Offshore trusts, International Business Companies, and private placement life insurance policies are great options for individuals who are ready to protect their wealth and diversify their holdings. Caye International Bank headquartered on Ambergris Caye island in Belize, Central America can help you get your offshore bank account set up, as well as assist you through the process of acquiring the best offshore asset for you and your family.Contact Caye Bank today to for the information you need to get started.This article is copyright  2018About Caye International Bank:Caye is the only International Bank headquartered on the beautiful island of Ambergris Caye in Belize, Central America. The bank offers a full range of traditional and non-traditional financial services and accounts in multiple currencies. An application for account opening is a simple process and can be facilitated online from anywhere in the world.About author - Luigi Wewege:Luigi is the Senior Vice President of Caye International Bank, published author of The Digital Banking Revolution, has co-authored economic research which was presented before the U.S. Congress and currently serves as an Instructor at the FinTech School as well as a Speaker at the Silicon Valley Innovation Centre. He holds an Italian MBA with a major in International Business, as well as a BSBA with a triple major in Finance, International Business, and Management - cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.P.O. Box 105, Coconut DriveSan Pedro Town, Ambergris CayeBelize, Central Americanotify@cayebank.bz
Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Comprehensive Analysis on Top key players ENERCON, GE Renewable Energy, Leitner AG, Siemens, VENSYS Energy, ABB, ReGen Powertech, XEMC Windpower

Direct Drive Wind Turbine Industry, Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market, Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Size, Direct Drive

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MarketStudyReport.com adds New Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market 2018 by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023 new report to its research database. The report spread across 147 pages with table and figures in it. The report provides information on Industry Trends, Demand, Top Manufacturers, Countries, Material and Application.Better technological advances and the rise in R&D is expected to increase the demand for direct drive turbines, which in turn will propel the growth of the global direct drive wind turbine market in the next few years. One of the latest trends gaining traction in this market is the rising support of government policies to promote the usage and generation of energy from wind. Wind is considered to be one of the cheapest renewable energy sources compared with other similar energy sources such as solar, nuclear, and even natural gas. Governments worldwide are realizing the potential and long-term benefits of using the wind energy. To induce growth in the wind energy sector, governments are setting up favorable policies to help establish and sustain the wind power against cheaper alternatives. Feed-in tariffs (FITs) are being provided in almost all countries with wind power installations. Moreover, to increase healthy competition, auctions are being held for upcoming wind power installations. With countries increasing their investments in infrastructures to connect wind power to the grid, the market share of the direct drive wind turbine market is expected to grow over the forecast period.Request a sample of this premium report atThe wind is one of the cleanest sources of power generation. Wind turbines are used to harness the energy from the wind. The harnessed power from the wind is used to generate electricity. The wind power is directed to rotate turbine blades that are fixed to a rotor; the rotor is connected to the main shaft that spins a generator to create electricity.APAC is going to dominate the direct drive wind turbine market during the forecast period. This dominance can be attributed to the increasing energy demand, due to the rising global population and the enhanced standard of living. China and India account for most of the installations in the region. This high rate of adoption in these countries is driven by high wind energy potential and strong government support. Also, South Korea is expected to contribute to the market growth through its offshore wind energy programs. Plans directed at tapping offshore wind resources in APAC countries, especially China and Japan, will also boost the growth of the direct drive wind turbine market in the region.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, types and applications.Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Segment by Top Manufacturers Including:ENERCON, GE Renewable Energy, Goldwind Science and Technology, Siemens, VENSYS Energy, ABB, Anhui Hummer Dynamo, AVANTIS Energy, Bora Energy, Foshan Ouyad Electronic, Leitner AG, Mervento, Qingdao Hengfeng Wind Power Generator, Qingdao Richuan Precision Machinery, ReGen Powertech and XEMC Windpower.Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Segment by Type covers Type I Type IIMarket Segment by Applications can be divided into: Offshore application Onshore applicationRequest a discount on standard prices of this premium report atThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Direct Drive Wind Turbine market.Chapter 1, to describe Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Direct Drive Wind Turbine, with sales, revenue, and price of Direct Drive Wind Turbine, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Direct Drive Wind Turbine, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Direct Drive Wind Turbine market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Direct Drive Wind Turbine sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceBuy Now this report at:Table of Contents1. Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Overview2. Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Manufacturers Profiles3. Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Competition, by Players4. Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Size by Regions5. North America Direct Drive Wind Turbine Revenue by Countries6. Europe Direct Drive Wind Turbine Revenue by Countries7. Asia-Pacific Direct Drive Wind Turbine Revenue by Countries8. South America Direct Drive Wind Turbine Revenue by Countries9. Middle East and Africa Revenue Direct Drive Wind Turbine by Countries10. Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Segment by Type11. Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Segment by Application12. Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Size Forecast (2018-2023)13. Research Findings and ConclusionFor more information on this report, please visit at:About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog:
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BCE Inc.'s profit and revenue for the third quarter were better than expected Thursday as the parent of Bell Canada reaped benefits from years of heavy spending to build its telecommunications and media businesses.

"The company actually enjoyed an excellent subscriber growth quarter across TV, internet and wireless," BCE and Bell chief executive George Cope told analysts after the company results.

The Montreal-based company  which operates Virgin Mobile and Lucky Mobile in addition to Bell Mobility  added 178,000 wireless subscribers, a third-quarter record for BCE.

The growth included 135,323 post-paid additions, in line with a consensus estimate of 136,000, and 42,511 prepaid subscribers  as the addition of the Lucky Mobile brand reversed BCE's declines in the pre-paid segment.

"We would expect, for the first time in many years, that our revenue growth from pre-paid will be positive now as we go forward into 2019," Cope said.

"From our perspective, that ultimately gives us an opportunity to migrate (some of) that base to postpaid, which we think is going to be strategically important."

The growth came as BCE reported $814 million or 90 cents per share of net income attributable to shareholders for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with $803 million or 90 cents per share in the third quarter of 2017.

Operating revenue totalled nearly $5.88 billion, up 1.4 per cent from nearly $5.70 billion in the same quarter last year.

On an adjusted basis, BCE earned 96 cents per share for the quarter, up from 91 cents per share a year ago.

Analysts on average had estimated BCE would earn 93 cents per share on an adjusted basis and generate $5.8 billion of revenue for the quarter, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon.

Cope said the capital intensity for its wireless network will likely decline in 2019, in part because a lot of the infrastructure required to move traffic to and from cell towers is being covered by Bell's build-out of fibre optics.

BCE's broadband internet and IPTV businesses, which include the Bell Fibe brand, had 88,000 net additions  including 77,000 strategically important customers with fibre optics networks into their home.

The additions included 47,749 new high-speed internet customers and 40,091 new IPTV customers, including those at affiliates Bell Aliant in Atlantic Canada and Bell MTS in Manitoba.

Canada's major phone and cable companies  including Bell, Rogers Telus and Shaw  have been spending to integrate their fibre optics and wireless networks.

In Bell's case, its capital spending in the third quarter was $1.01 billion, down $30 million from the same time last year.
Danaher, Planmeca Profiled in Dental Imaging Equipment Market 2023 Report - Carestream, Dentsply Sirona, VATECH

Dental Imaging Equipment Market, Dental Imaging Equipment Market trends, Dental Imaging Equipment Market forecast, Dental Imaging

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Market Study Report Add New Global Dental Imaging Equipment Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023. It provides Industry analyses the important factors of this market based on present industry situations, market demands, business strategies utilized by Dental Imaging Equipment Market players and their growth synopsis. This report divides the Dental Imaging Equipment Market based on the key players, Type, Application and Regions are Mentioned Below.The report enumerates the regional spectrum of Dental Imaging Equipment Market is appreciable detail. Spanning the belts of North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa the report explains the contribution of every region toward the global Dental Imaging Equipment Market share. The geographies have been individually analyzed in terms of the parameters such as production, market share in terms of the manufacturers as well as with regards to Type and Applications.Request a sample of this premium report at:The report holds intricate details about the contribution by pivotal contenders and the opportunities that the industry can offer them over 2023. The competitive landscape of global Dental Imaging Equipment Market, inclusive of companies such as company Danaher, Planmeca, Carestream, Dentsply Sirona, VATECH. the report presents details regarding the basic information of every industry magnate, their prominent rivals in the business, manufacturing base, and the business overview. Substantial information about the company revenue, production, price, as well as gross margins have been provided.Adoption of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) will continue to influence global dental imaging equipment market revenues. Dental professionals and radiologists are preferring CBCT over traditional dental imaging techniques as it helps reconstruct a 3-D image of oral and maxillofacial region.In Europe, the growth in demand for cone-beam computed technology is expected to expand at a CAGR of over 7% and reach US$ 174.2 Mn over the period of next 8 years.The worldwide market for Dental Imaging Equipment is expected to grow at a CAGR of roughly xx% over the next five years, will reach xx million US$ in 2023, from xx million US$ in 2017, according to a new study.Market Segment by Type, covers:Intraoral X-ray SystemsIntraoral Plate ScannerIntraoral SensorsExtraoral X-ray SystemsCone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) ImagingIntraoral CamerasMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into:HospitalAmbulatory Surgical CentersIndependent Dental ClinicsForensic LaboratoriesRequest a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:Table of Content:1 Market Overview2 Manufacturers Profiles3 Global Dental Imaging Equipment Market Sales, Revenue, Market Share and Competition by Manufacturer (2016-2017)4 Global Dental Imaging Equipment Market Analysis by Regions5 North America Dental Imaging Equipment Market by Countries6 Europe Dental Imaging Equipment Market by Countries7 Asia-Pacific Dental Imaging Equipment Market by Countries8 South America Dental Imaging Equipment Market by Countries9 Middle East and Africa Dental Imaging Equipment Market by Countries10 Global Dental Imaging Equipment Market Segment by Type1 Global Dental Imaging Equipment Market Segment by Application12 Dental Imaging Equipment Market Forecast (2018-2023)13 Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and DealersMore Details on this Reports At:Related Report:Global Dental Imaging Equipment Sales Market Report 2018Adoption of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) will continue to influence global dental imaging equipment market revenues. Dental professionals and radiologists are preferring CBCT over traditional dental imaging techniques as it helps reconstruct a 3-D image of oral and maxillofacial region.In Europe, the growth in demand for cone-beam computed technology is expected to expand at a CAGR of over 7% and reach US$ 174.2 Mn over the period of next 8 years.The global Dental Imaging Equipment market is valued at xx million US$ in 2017 and will reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 2018-2025.Read More on this report at:About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog:
Nerve Repair and Regeneration Market Trend, Challenges, Drivers , Applications and Demand Analysis with Top Key Company Like Axogen, Baxter International, Cyberonics, Orthomed, Stryker Corporation, Polyganics B.V

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The nerve repair and regeneration market is expected to reach $14.9 billion by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 11.9% between 2017-2023.Growing incidences of peripheral nerve injuries, increasing cases of neurological disorders, growing aging population, and technological advancements in nerve repair and regeneration products are the key drivers for the market.Access Detailed Report Summary:As per the findings of the research, the market for neurostimulation and neuromodulation devices was larger than the market for biomaterials. Internal devices form the larger part of the neurostimulation and neuromodulation devices market. Within internal neurostimulation and neuromodulation devices, spinal cord stimulation devices generate the largest revenue in the market. In terms of application, neurostimulation and neuromodulation surgeries has been the largest application area of the nerve repair and regeneration market, followed by direct nerve repair/neurorrhaphy, nerve grafting and stem cell therapy.Request to Get the Sample Pages at:Geographically, North America has been the largest market for nerve repair and regeneration, with the U.S. being the largest contributor to the regional market. Increasing incidence of peripheral nerve injuries and presence of technological advanced products has been driving the growth of the North American market. In Europe, Germany has been the largest contributor to the nerve repair and regeneration market, followed by the U.K. and France. The market is expected to witness highest growth in Asia-Pacific, during 2017 - 2023, owing to increasing cases of neurological disorders and increasing geriatric population.Make Enquiry Before Buying the Report:Some of the other key players in the nerve repair and regeneration market are Axogen, Inc., Baxter International Inc., Cyberonics, Inc., Integra Lifesciences Holdings Corporation, Orthomed S.A.S., Stryker Corporation and Polyganics B.V.About P&S IntelligenceP&S Intelligence, a brand of P&S Market Research, is a provider of market research and consulting services catering to the market information needs of burgeoning industries across the world. Providing the plinth of market intelligence, P&S as an enterprising research and consulting company, believes in providing thorough landscape analyses on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness.Contact:P&S IntelligenceToll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)International: +1-347-960-6455Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:
Mobile Commerce Market Global 2018-2025 : players covered in this study : Ericsson Inc., PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, IBM, Google, Mopay Inc

Mobile Commerce

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ResearchMoz presents Professional and In-depth Study of "Global Mobile Commerce Market Size, Status and Forecast 2018-2025" with coming years Industries Trends, Projections of Global Growth, Major Key Player and Case Study, Review, Share, Size, Effect.' 'This report focuses on the global Mobile Commerce status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Mobile Commerce development in United States, Europe and China.In 2017, the global Mobile Commerce market size was million US$ and it is expected to reach million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of during 2018-2025.The key players covered in this study- Ericsson Inc.- PayPal- Visa- MasterCard- IBM- Google- Mopay Inc- Oxygen8- SAP- Amazon Inc.- Apple Inc. . Get Sample Report_' 'Market segment by Type, the product can be split into- Smart Phone- Tablets- OthersMarket segment by Application, split into- Retail- Reservation/Ticket Booking- Bill Payments- Mobile Wallets- OthersMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers- United States- Europe- China- Japan- Southeast Asia- India- Central & South AmericaThe study objectives of this report are:- To analyze global Mobile Commerce status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players.- To present the Mobile Commerce development in United States, Europe and China.- To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their development plan and strategies.- To define, describe and forecast the market by product type, market and key regions.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Mobile Commerce are as follows:- History Year: 2013-2017- Base Year: 2017- Estimated Year: 2018- Forecast Year 2018 to 2025. . More Clear Details get Full Table of Contents_' 'Table of Contents1 Report Overview1.1 Study Scope1.2 Key Market Segments1.3 Players Covered1.4 Market Analysis by Type1.4.1 Global Mobile Commerce Market Size Growth Rate by Type (2013-2025)1.4.2 Smart Phone1.4.3 Tablets1.4.4 Others1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global Mobile Commerce Market Share by Application (2013-2025)1.5.2 Retail1.5.3 Reservation/Ticket Booking1.5.4 Bill Payments1.5.5 Mobile Wallets1.5.6 Others1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered2 Global Growth Trends2.1 Mobile Commerce Market Size2.2 Mobile Commerce Growth Trends by Regions2.2.1 Mobile Commerce Market Size by Regions (2013-2025)2.2.2 Mobile Commerce Market Share by Regions (2013-2018)2.3 Industry Trends2.3.1 Market Top Trends2.3.2 Market Drivers2.3.3 Market Opportunities3 Market Share by Key Players3.1 Mobile Commerce Market Size by Manufacturers3.1.1 Global Mobile Commerce Revenue by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3.1.2 Global Mobile Commerce Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3.1.3 Global Mobile Commerce Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)3.2 Mobile Commerce Key Players Head office and Area Served3.3 Key Players Mobile Commerce Product/Solution/Service3.4 Date of Enter into Mobile Commerce Market3.5 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans4 Breakdown Data by Type and Application4.1 Global Mobile Commerce Market Size by Type (2013-2018)4.2 Global Mobile Commerce Market Size by Application (2013-2018)5 United States5.1 United States Mobile Commerce Market Size (2013-2018)5.2 Mobile Commerce Key Players in United States5.3 United States Mobile Commerce Market Size by Type5.4 United States Mobile Commerce Market Size by Application6 Europe6.1 Europe Mobile Commerce Market Size (2013-2018)6.2 Mobile Commerce Key Players in Europe6.3 Europe Mobile Commerce Market Size by Type6.4 Europe Mobile Commerce Market Size by Application7 China7.1 China Mobile Commerce Market Size (2013-2018)7.2 Mobile Commerce Key Players in China7.3 China Mobile Commerce Market Size by Type7.4 China Mobile Commerce Market Size by Application8 Japan8.1 Japan Mobile Commerce Market Size (2013-2018)8.2 Mobile Commerce Key Players in Japan8.3 Japan Mobile Commerce Market Size by Type8.4 Japan Mobile Commerce Market Size by Application9 Southeast Asia9.1 Southeast Asia Mobile Commerce Market Size (2013-2018)9.2 Mobile Commerce Key Players in Southeast Asia9.3 Southeast Asia Mobile Commerce Market Size by Type9.4 Southeast Asia Mobile Commerce Market Size by ApplicationContinue.....01 Nov 18ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,sales@researchmoz.usTel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074
Europe Elderly Care Market WITH Top 10 Players as Hanami Residential, EXTENDICARE, Amedisy, Brookdale Senior Living Solutions, Almost Family, Encompass Health Corporation, Kindred Healthcare

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Market Analysis: Europe Elderly Care MarketEurope Elderly Care 2018 Market Research report provide a detailed analysis of Market Size, Share, Growth, Application, Opportunity analysis and forecast on the basis of key players segments such as end-users, application, technology, and To define, describe and forecast the market by type, end use, and region.Detailed Sample Copy of Updated Analysis @Note: If this link doesnt work in Internet Explorer, kindly try copy pasting it in other browsers.Europe elderly care market competition by top players include -Koninklijke Philips N.V dominated the elderly care market accounting largest market share followed by Right at Home, LLC.., BAYADA Home Health Care. along with other players such as Hanami Residential, EXTENDICARE, Amedisy, Brookdale Senior Living Solutions, Almost Family Encompass Health Corporation, Kindred Healthcare, Inc., LHC Group, Inc., Genesis HealthCare, Compassus, Econ Healthcare Group, Trinity Health, Rosewood Care Group, Interim HealthCare, United Medicare Pte Ltd, Exceptional Living Centers ST LUKES ELDERCARE LTDScope of the Report: The analysis of Europe Elderly Care Market, their growth, demand, position, size and share from different regions are mentioned in detailed. The key players in the market and their share in the Europe market are discussed. The new strategic plan and suggestions that will help old as well as new market players to maintain the competitiveness are also discussed. The Europe Elderly Care market report provides some important points related to growth factors, challenges, opportunities, end-user analysis and achievement and so on.Request Discount on this report @Note: If this link doesnt work in Internet Explorer, kindly try copy pasting it in other browsers.Market Segments:he Europe elderly care market is segmented on the basis of product type, service and application.The Europe elderly care market is segmented based on product type into two notable segments; pharmaceuticals and housing and assistive devices.The Europe elderly care market is segmented based on service into three notable segments; Institutional Care, homecare and adult day care. Institutional care is further segmented into nursing home, hospital based, assisted living, independent senior living. Homecare is segmented into healthcare and non-medical care. Healthcare is segmented into medical care, physiotherapy services, telehealth, palliative care, hospice care. Non-medical care is segmented into personal care, rehabilitation and others.The Europe elderly care market is segmented based on application into nine notable segments; heart diseases, cancer, kidney diseases, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, neurological, respiratory and others.Based on geography, the Europe elderly care market is segmented into 11 geographical regions - Germany France United Kingdom Italy Spain Russia Turkey Belgium Netherlands Switzerland Rest of EuropeEnquiry Before Buying @Note: If this link doesnt work in Internet Explorer, kindly try copy pasting it in other browsers.About Market PrognosisWe at Market Prognosis believe in giving a crystal clear view of market dynamics for achieving success in todays complex and competitive marketplace through our quantitative & qualitative research methods.We help our clients identify the best market insights and analysis required for their business thus enabling them to take strategic and intelligent decision.We believe in delivering actionable insights for your business growth and success.Contact us:ProgMark Pvt Ltd,Thane - 421501India.Contact No: +1 973 241 5193Email: sales@marketprognosis.com
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Services Market World's Top Players Include 8x8, Apple, Avaya, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Orange, Deutsche Telekom AG, KT Corporation, Sprint Corporation

Voice over Internet Protocol Services

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The Voice over Internet Protocol Services is a communication platform that permits user to make calls over internet connection instead of conventional analog telephone lines. Increasing trend of bring your own device is one of the major factor for growth of the market. Most of the companies have implemented this services, owing to advantages such as employees satisfaction, increasing productivity, and cost saving.Download PDF Brochure @Increasing trend of mobile-based VoIP services such as WhatsApp, Line, Viber and Skype, in conjugation with increasing penetration of smartphones plays a major role in the growth of the mobile based VoIP market. According to Coherent Market Insights, in 2017, around 2.3 billion people were using smartphone. However, lack of established internet infrastructure, especially in emerging economies is hindering growth of the global Voice over Internet Protocol Services market.Corporate user is projected to hold the dominant position in global Voice over Internet Protocol Services MarketOn the basis of end users, the Voice over Internet Protocol Services market is segmented into corporate user and individual user. The corporate user segment held the dominant position in 2017 and it is projected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. In 2017, the corporate user segment generated the revenue of US$ 69.4 billion from US$ 63.4 billion in 2016. The cost reduction is major factor for growth of the segment in VoIP market, as most of the business organizations are implementing the VoIP systems to reduce their operation cost.Increasing adoption of smartphones will increase the growth of Voice over Internet Protocol Services market.Rising adoption of smartphone across the globe is the major factor for growth of the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Services market. In 2016, Europe was the dominating region in the VoIP Services market. Countries such as Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Russia contributed to major growth in VoIP Services market. According to Coherent Market Insight in 2017, the VoIP Services market generated revenue of US$ 35.1 billion compared to US$ 32.7 billion in 2016. According to Statista, during 2016, the number of smartphone users in Western Europe was estimated to be 240.3 million which reached to around 258.1 million people in the year 2017.Therefore, increasing number of smartphone users has enhanced growth of mobile-based Voice over Internet Protocol Services market in Europe. Furthermore, increasing trend of digitalization has also increased growth in the VoIP Services market in this region. Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the Voice over Internet Protocol Services market during the forecast period. Rising startups related to digitalization in strong economies such as China, India, Japan, and Australia are expected to boost growth of VoIP Services market in this region. For instance, according to Government of India survey 2015 - 2016, about 19,000 technology-enabled startup was led by consumer Internet and financial services in India.Major Keyplayers in industry:-8x8, Inc.-Apple Inc. (FaceTime)-Avaya-AT&T Inc-Verizon Wireless-Orange-Deutsche Telekom AG-KT Corporation-Sprint Corporation-Telecom Italia-Telenor-T-Mobile-Tata CommunicationPlace your query @About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
Global 100% Tequila Market Demand Analysis By Top Key Players Like Jose Cuervo, Sauza, Juarez, 1800 Tequila, Herradura, Zarco and Others 2018 - 2025

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The Global 100% Tequila Market status and forecast, categorizes the global 100% Tequila market size (value & volume) by key players, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top players in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle East & Africa.Request for discount@The global 100% Tequila market is valued at million US$ in 2017 and will reach million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of during 2018-2025.The major manufacturers covered in this reportJose CuervoSauzaPatrnJuarez1800 TequilaEl Jimador FamilyDon JulioFamilia Camarena TequilaHerraduraZarcoCazadoresCabo TequilaMilagroMargaritavilleClase AzulAvion TequilaGeographically, this report studies the key regions, focuses on product sales, value, market share and growth opportunity in these regions, coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaWe can also provide the customized separate regional or country-level reports, for the following regions:North AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeRest of Asia-PacificEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaRest of EuropeCentral & South AmericaBrazilArgentinaRest of South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaSaudi ArabiaTurkeyRest of Middle East & AfricaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoType IType IIOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingCocktailOtherThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global 100% Tequila sales, value, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025).Focuses on the key 100% Tequila manufacturers, to study the sales, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the marketTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketTo strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of 100% Tequila are as follows:History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2017 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered.Key Stakeholders100% Tequila Manufacturers100% Tequila Distributors/Traders/Wholesalers100% Tequila Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsBrowse complete report@Table of ContentsGlobal 100% Tequila Market Research Report 20181 100% Tequila Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of 100% Tequila1.2 100% Tequila Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global 100% Tequila Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global 100% Tequila Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Type I1.2.4 Type II1.3 Global 100% Tequila Segment by Application1.3.1 100% Tequila Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Cocktail1.3.3 Other1.4 Global 100% Tequila Market by Region (2013-2025)1.4.1 Global 100% Tequila Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of 100% Tequila (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global 100% Tequila Revenue Status and Outlook (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global 100% Tequila Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2013-2025)2 Global 100% Tequila Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global 100% Tequila Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global 100% Tequila Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global 100% Tequila Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global 100% Tequila Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global 100% Tequila Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 Manufacturers 100% Tequila Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 100% Tequila Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 100% Tequila Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 100% Tequila Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global 100% Tequila Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)3.1 Global 100% Tequila Capacity and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.2 Global 100% Tequila Production and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.3 Global 100% Tequila Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.4 Global 100% Tequila Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.5 North America 100% Tequila Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.6 Europe 100% Tequila Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.7 China 100% Tequila Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.8 Japan 100% Tequila Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.9 Southeast Asia 100% Tequila Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.10 India 100% Tequila Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)4 Global 100% Tequila Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)4.1 Global 100% Tequila Consumption by Region (2013-2018)4.2 North America 100% Tequila Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.3 Europe 100% Tequila Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.4 China 100% Tequila Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.5 Japan 100% Tequila Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.6 Southeast Asia 100% Tequila Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.7 India 100% Tequila Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)Who we areResearch Trades has team of experts who works on providing exhaustive analysis pertaining to market research on a global basis. This comprehensive analysis is obtained by a thorough research and study of the ongoing trends and provides predictive data regarding the future estimations, which can be utilized by various organizations for growth purposes.We distribute customized reports that focus on meeting the clients specific requirement. Our database consists of a large collection of high-quality reports obtained using a customer-centric approaches, thus providing valuable research insights.Contact us:Email: sales@researchtrades.comCall us: +1 6269994607 (USA), +91 7507349866 (IND)Web:Skype ID: researchtradescon
Global Unfractionated Heparin Market: Industry Key Player - Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Pfizer Inc., LEO Pharma A/S, Baxter International Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Sandoz International GmbH, Sagent Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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A new report titled Global Unfractionated Heparin Market Industry Assessment & Growth Forecast Examined During 2025 has been included in the enormous research repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) that compiles various facets of the Unfractionated Heparin Market at a global level portraying a holistic analysis of the marketplace along with intelligence on key participants. The report covers an unbiased analysis on various market aspects, emphasizing major trends giving direction to the market, key opportunities paving new growth avenues, key drivers pushing the markets growth and challenges and restraints hindering the market for Unfractionated Heparin Market across the globe.To Get Sample Copy of Report Click here @This report on unfractionated heparin market studies the current as well as future prospects of the market globally. The stakeholders of this report include companies and intermediaries engaged in the manufacture, commercialization, providing unfractionated heparin products as well as new entrants planning to enter this market. This report comprises an elaborate executive summary along with a market snapshot providing overall information of various segments and sub-segments considered in the scope of the study. This section also provides the overall information and data analysis of the global unfractionated heparin market with respect to the leading market segments based on major sources, distribution channels, and geographies.Based on the source, the unfractionated heparin market has been segmented on the basis of source into: bovine source and porcine source. Based on the distribution Channel: it can be segmented into Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies and Online Pharmacies. Each of the market segments have been extensively analyzed based on the market related factors such as increasing adoption rate worldwide, technological advancement, and growing number of use of disposable products in various geographies. Moreover, historical year-on-year growth have been taken into consideration while estimating the market size. The market size and forecast in terms of US$ million for each segment has been provided for the period from 2016 to 2025. The report also provides the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) for each market segment for the forecast period from 2018 to 2025, considering 2017 as the base year.The market overview section of the report explores the market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities that currently have a strong impact on the unfractionated heparin market and could influence the market in the near future. Market attractiveness analysis has been provided in the market overview section in order to explain the intensity of competition in the market across different geographies. The competitive scenario among different market players is evaluated through market share analysis in the competitive landscape section of the report. All these factors would help market players to take strategic decisions in order to strengthen their positions and expand their shares in the global unfractionated heparin market.Geographically, unfractionated heparin market has been segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The market size and forecast for each of these regions has been provided for the period from 2016 to 2025, along with their respective CAGRs for the forecast period from 2018 to 2025, considering 2017 as the base year. The report also provides with market size and forecast for major countries in the respective regions. A detailed qualitative analysis of factors responsible for driving and restraining the market growth and future opportunities has been provided in the market overview section. This section of the report also provides with market attractiveness analysis, Porters five forces analysis, market strategy overview, and market share analysis by key players, thus presenting a thorough analysis of the overall competitive scenario in the global unfractionated heparin market.Browse Complete Report with TOC @The key findings section included in the report would assist existing market players in expanding their market shares, and new companies in establishing their presence in the global unfractionated heparin market. The report also profiles key players operating in the unfractionated heparin market which includes Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Pfizer, Inc., LEO Pharma A/S, Baxter International Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Sandoz International GmbH and Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. among others.The global unfractionated heparin market is segmented as follows:Global Unfractionated Heparin Market, by SourceBovinePorcineGlobal Unfractionated Market, by Distribution ChannelHospital PharmaciesRetail PharmaciesOnline PharmaciesGlobal Unfractionated Heparin Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.FranceItalySpainRest of the EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanAustraliaIndonesiaMalaysiaRest of Asia PacificLatin America (LATAM)BrazilMexicoRest of LATAMMiddle East & AfricaGCC CountriesSouth AfricaIsraelRest of Middle East & AfricaEnquire about this Report @About Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
Advanced Airport Technologies: Asia-Pacific Markets to 2023| Hitachi Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., Johnson Controls International plc (Tyco International plc), NEC Corp

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Advanced Airport Technologies: Asia-Pacific Markets to 2023" to its huge collection of research reports."SummaryThis report covers the Asia-Pacific markets for electronic, electro-optical and other modern security technologies used in airports, principally air/ground traffic management and control systems; airport communications; security, fire protection and other emergency response systems; passenger, baggage and cargo control systems and other modern security technologies.Airports need advanced airport technologies to provide better safety and security. Passenger, baggage and cargo handling and control is expected to hold the largest share in the advanced airport technologies market in the future due to the deployment of these systems at new airports and also at airports in the process of expansion. Security, fire protection and other emergency response equipment are expected to grow at the fastest rate as new technologies such as millimeter wave technology and terahertz imaging are being deployed in some of the worlds major airports in Asia-Pacific; this trend is expected to remain the same during the forecast period.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The Asia-Pacific region has emerging countries such as China and India, which are going to dominate the air transport sector in the near future. In addition, various prominent players operate in this region, such as ADB SAFEGATE, Cisco Systems Inc., Hitachi Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., Johnson Controls International plc (Tyco International plc), NEC Corp., Robert Bosch GmbH, Rockwell Automation Inc., Siemens AG (Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics), Smiths Detection Inc., Thales Group, and United Technologies Corp. (Rockwell Collins), among others.In 2017, the Asia-Pacific market for advanced airport technologies was REDACTED. It is expected to reach nearly REDACTED by 2023, growing at a CAGR of REDACTED during the forecast period. China accounts for the largest market share in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by Japan. India is expected to grow at the fastest rate, due to its increasing investments in the construction of new airports and also increased air passenger traffic co ngestion.""Report Scope:The report covers the market for the following electronic, electro-optical and other modern security technologies used in airports in the Asia-Pacific region: passenger, baggage and cargo handling control systems; airport communications; air/ground traffic management control systems; security, fire protection and other emergency systems; and other technologies- Passenger, baggage and cargo handling control systems.- Airport communication.- Air/ground traffic management control systems.- Security, fire protection and other emergency services.- Passenger and baggage handling and control.This report covers only technologies and equipment that are based at or near an airport. The emphasis is on civil aviation; the military market is not covered in detail.Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @Report Includes:- 19 tables- A brief overview of advanced airport technologies in the Asia-Pacific region- Country specific data and analysis for People's Republic of China (PRC), Japan, Australia, India, South Korea and Indonesia- Coverage of the sophisticated electronic and electro-optical technologies, including passenger, baggage and cargo handling control systems; airport communications; air/ground traffic management control systems; security, fire protection and other emergency systems used in airports in the Asia-Pacific region- Assessment of market dynamics and identification of factors such as drivers, restraints and opportunities that have a major say in the market- Study of current trends and strategies adopted by key players in the Asia-Pacific region- Detailed company profiles of the major players operating in the region, including Hitachi Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., Johnson Controls International plc (Tyco International plc), NEC Corp., Smiths Detection Inc., and United Technologies Corp. (Rockwell Collins)"Make An Enquiry @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on @
Global Kids Wear Market: Industry Size, Growth, Analysis and Forecast of 2025

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Global Kids Wear IndustryNew Study On 2018-2025 Kids Wear Market Global Key Player, Demand, Growth, Opportunities and Analysis Forecast Added to Wise Guy Reports DatabaseKids Wear are clothes for kids. They are usually made up of cotton so that it does not affect the delicate skin of the kids.With the above quote in mind, we have trendy fashion and fashionable clothes available for both for Men and Women, then why should the Kids be far behind? Life is to be enjoyed and it definitely is too short to dress up in boring, and uninteresting clothes. For kids even more, because they outgrow their sizes in leaps and bounds. In the eighteenth century, children's clothing underwent a gradual evolution from constricting garments patterned after those worn by adults to apparel designed specifically for them.Try Sample Report @In the present times, the kids have all clothing options like that of adults, and even much more. They are much more aware than the previous generations, and like to make their shopping decisions for styling by themselves. Excessive exposure to the plethora of brands and the latest fashion trends, kids of today have become brand conscious. And expectedly the trend first started in Hollywood for example the fashionable Suri Cruise.Today's parents are happy to overindulge in keeping their kids stylish, and chic. This flaw has been well realized by the fashion retailers.They are well aware of this metamorphosis of children; their near magnetic attraction to wards prominent brands. Today's kids are consumers who guarantee a purchase and are mostly independent buyers. With nuclear family where both the parents are working, there is enough of disposable income, to splurge on branded merchandise which might be over priced irrespective of the quality that it is offering.In 2017, the global Kids Wear market size was 203200 million US$ and is forecast to 275100 million US in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 3.9% from 2018. The objectives of this study are to define, segment, and project the size of the Kids Wear market based on company, product type, application and key regions.This report studies the global market size of Kids Wear in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa, focuses on the consumption of Kids Wear in these regions.This research report categorizes the global Kids Wear market by players/brands, region, type and application. This report also studies the global market status, competition landscape, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis.The various contributors involved in the value chain of Kids Wear include manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, intermediaries, and customers. The key manufacturers in the Kids Wear includeNikeCarter'sGAPInditexAdidasH&MGymboreeV.F. CorporationFast RetailingC&ANEXTID GroupMothercareOrchestraBESTSELLERUnder ArmourBenettonSanrioMIKI HOUSEDisneySemirLiyingHonghuanglanAnnilPEPCOMarket Size Split by TypeTop ClothingBottom ClothingOuterwearBasicsMarket Size Split by ApplicationOnline StoresSpecialty StoresSupermarkets and HypermarketsBrand outletsMarket size split by RegionNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeMalaysiaPhilippinesThailandVietnamEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaCentral & South AmericaBrazilRest of Central & South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaGCC CountriesTurkeyEgyptSouth AfricaThe study objectives of this report are:To study and analyze the global Kids Wear market size (value & volume) by company, key regions/countries, products and application, history data from 2013 to 2017, and forecast to 2025.To understand the structure of Kids Wear market by identifying its various subsegments.To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks).Focuses on the key global Kids Wear manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in next few years.To analyze the Kids Wear with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.To project the value and volume of Kids Wear submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries).To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.For Detailed Reading Please visit WiseGuy Reports @Some Major Points from Table of content:1 Study Coverage1.1 Kids Wear Product1.2 Key Market Segments1.3 Key Manufacturers Covered1.4 Market by Type1.4.1 Global Kids Wear Market Size Growth Rate by Type1.4.2 Top Clothing1.4.3 Bottom Clothing1.4.4 Outerwear1.4.5 Basics1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global Kids Wear Market Size Growth Rate by Application1.5.2 Online Stores1.5.3 Specialty Stores1.5.4 Supermarkets and Hypermarkets1.5.5 Brand outlets1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered2 Executive Summary2.1 Global Kids Wear Market Size2.1.1 Global Kids Wear Revenue 2016-20252.1.2 Global Kids Wear Sales 2016-20252.2 Kids Wear Growth Rate by Regions2.2.1 Global Kids Wear Sales by Regions2.2.2 Global Kids Wear Revenue by Regions3 Breakdown Data by Manufacturers3.1 Kids Wear Sales by Manufacturers3.1.1 Kids Wear Sales by Manufacturers3.1.2 Kids Wear Sales Market Share by Manufacturers3.1.3 Global Kids Wear Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)3.2 Kids Wear Revenue by Manufacturers3.2.1 Kids Wear Revenue by Manufacturers (2016-2018)3.2.2 Kids Wear Revenue Share by Manufacturers (2016-2018)3.3 Kids Wear Price by Manufacturers3.4 Kids Wear Manufacturing Base Distribution, Product Types3.4.1 Kids Wear Manufacturers Manufacturing Base Distribution, Headquarters3.4.2 Manufacturers Kids Wear Product Category3.4.3 Date of International Manufacturers Enter into Kids Wear Market3.5 Manufacturers Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans4 Breakdown Data by Type4.1 Global Kids Wear Sales by Type4.2 Global Kids Wear Revenue by Type4.3 Kids Wear Price by Type5 Breakdown Data by Application5.1 Overview5.2 Global Kids Wear Breakdown Data by Application6 North America6.1 North America Kids Wear by Countries6.1.1 North America Kids Wear Sales by Countries6.1.2 North America Kids Wear Revenue by Countries6.1.3 United States6.1.4 Canada6.1.5 Mexico6.2 North America Kids Wear by Type6.3 North America Kids Wear by Application6.4 North America Kids Wear by Company7 Europe7.1 Europe Kids Wear by Countries7.1.1 Europe Kids Wear Sales by Countries7.1.2 Europe Kids Wear Revenue by Countries7.1.3 Germany7.1.4 France7.1.5 UK7.1.6 Italy7.1.7 Russia7.2 Europe Kids Wear by Type7.3 Europe Kids Wear by Application7.4 Europe Kids Wear by Company8 Asia Pacific8.1 Asia Pacific Kids Wear by Countries8.1.1 Asia Pacific Kids Wear Sales by Countries8.1.2 Asia Pacific Kids Wear Revenue by Countries8.1.3 China8.1.4 Japan8.1.5 Korea8.1.6 India8.1.7 Australia8.1.8 Indonesia8.1.9 Malaysia8.1.10 Philippines8.1.11 Thailand8.1.12 Vietnam8.1.13 Singapore8.2 Asia Pacific Kids Wear by Type8.3 Asia Pacific Kids Wear by Application8.4 Asia Pacific Kids Wear by Company9 Central & South America9.1 Central & South America Kids Wear by Countries9.1.1 Central & South America Kids Wear Sales by Countries9.1.2 Central & South America Kids Wear Revenue by Countries9.1.3 Brazil9.2 Central & South America Kids Wear by Type9.3 Central & South America Kids Wear by Application9.4 Central & South America Kids Wear by Company10 Middle East and Africa10.1 Middle East and Africa Kids Wear by Countries10.1.1 Middle East and Africa Kids Wear Sales by Countries10.1.2 Middle East and Africa Kids Wear Revenue by Countries10.1.3 GCC Countries10.1.4 Turkey10.1.5 Egypt10.1.6 South Africa10.2 Middle East and Africa Kids Wear by Type10.3 Middle East and Africa Kids Wear by Application10.4 Middle East and Africa Kids Wear by Company11 Company Profiles11.1 Nike11.1.1 Nike Company Details11.1.2 Company Description11.1.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Kids Wear11.1.4 Kids Wear Product Description11.1.5 Recent Development11.2 Carter's11.2.1 Carter's Company Details11.2.2 Company Description11.2.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Kids Wear11.2.4 Kids Wear Product Description11.2.5 Recent Development11.3 GAP11.3.1 GAP Company Details11.3.2 Company Description11.3.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Kids Wear11.3.4 Kids Wear Product Description11.3.5 Recent Development11.4 Inditex11.4.1 Inditex Company Details11.4.2 Company Description11.4.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Kids Wear11.4.4 Kids Wear Product Description11.4.5 Recent Development11.5 Adidas11.5.1 Adidas Company Details11.5.2 Company Description11.5.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Kids Wear11.5.4 Kids Wear Product Description11.5.5 Recent Development11.6 H&M11.6.1 H&M Company Details11.6.2 Company Description11.6.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Kids Wear11.6.4 Kids Wear Product Description11.6.5 Recent Development11.7 Gymboree11.7.1 Gymboree Company Details11.7.2 Company Description11.7.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Kids Wear11.7.4 Kids Wear Product Description11.7.5 Recent Development11.8 V.F. Corporation11.8.1 V.F. Corporation Company Details11.8.2 Company Description11.8.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Kids Wear11.8.4 Kids Wear Product Description11.8.5 Recent Development11.9 Fast Retailing11.9.1 Fast Retailing Company Details11.9.2 Company Description11.9.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Kids Wear11.9.4 Kids Wear Product Description11.9.5 Recent Development11.10 C&A11.10.1 C&A Company Details11.10.2 Company Description11.10.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Kids Wear11.10.4 Kids Wear Product Description11.10.5 Recent Development11.11 NEXT11.12 ID Group11.13 Mothercare11.14 Orchestra11.15 BESTSELLER11.16 Under Armour11.17 Benetton11.18 Sanrio11.19 MIKI HOUSE11.20 Disney11.21 Semir11.22 Liying11.23 Honghuanglan11.24 Annil11.25 PEPCOContinued.For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.Contact Us:Norah Trent+91 841 198 5042Office No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Industry Trends: Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Market By Key Vendors: Bosch, Carrier, NEURA 2018-2025

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump to its huge collection of research reports.Ground source heat pump (GSHP) is a device for transferring from low grade heat energy to high grade heat energy by inputting a small amount of high grade energy energy (such as electricity).The Asia-Pacific region Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.The Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump market was valued at xx Million US$ in 2017 and is projected to reach xx Million US$ by 2025, at a CAGR of xx% during the forecast period. In this study, 2017 has been considered as the base year and 2018 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump.This report presents the worldwide Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump market size (value, production and consumption), splits the breakdown (data status 2013-2018 and forecast to 2025), by manufacturers, region, type and application.This study also analyzes the market status, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, risks and entry barriers, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis.Get Free Sample Report of the Research Study at:The following manufacturers are covered in this report:BoschCarrierClimatemasterNEURAOCHSNER WarmepumpenSpectrum ManufacturingDimplexEarthLinked TechnologiesEnertech GlobalFinn GeothermKensa Heat Pumps...The study objectives are:To analyze and research the global Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump status and future forecastinvolving, production, revenue, consumption, historical and forecast.To present the key Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump manufacturers, production, revenue, market share, and recent development.To split the breakdown data by regions, type, manufacturers and applications.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends, drivers, influence factors in global and regions.To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.Table of Contents1 Study Coverage1.1 Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Product1.2 Key Market Segments in This Study1.3 Key Manufacturers Covered1.4 Market by Type1.4.1 Global Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Market Size Growth Rate by Type1.4.2 Horizontal Ground Source Heat Pump1.4.3 Vertical Ground Source Heat Pump1.4.4 Surface Water Ground Source Heat Pump1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Market Size Growth Rate by Application1.5.2 Household1.5.3 Commercial1.5.4 Industrial1.5.5 OtherRead Complete Research Report at:2 Executive Summary2.1 Global Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Market Size2.1.1 Global Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Revenue 2013-20252.1.2 Global Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Production 2013-20252.2 Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Growth Rate (CAGR) 2018-20252.3 Analysis of Competitive Landscape2.3.1 Manufacturers Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)2.3.2 Key Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Manufacturers2.3.2.1 Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Manufacturing Base Distribution, Headquarters2.3.2.2 Manufacturers Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Product Offered2.3.2.3 Date of Manufacturers Enter into Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Market2.4 Key Trends for Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Markets & Products3 Market Size by Manufacturers3.1 Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Production by Manufacturers3.1.1 Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Production by Manufacturers3.1.2 Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Production Market Share by Manufacturers3.2 Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Revenue by Manufacturers3.2.1 Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Revenue by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3.2.2 Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Revenue Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3.3 Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Price by Manufacturers3.4 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans...List of Tables and FiguresFigure Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Product PictureTable Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Key Market Segments in This StudyTable Key Manufacturers Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Covered in This StudyTable Global Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Market Size Growth Rate by Type 2018-2025 (K Units) & (Million US$)Figure Global Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Production Market Share 2013-2025Figure Horizontal Ground Source Heat Pump Product PictureTable Major Manufacturers of Horizontal Ground Source Heat PumpFigure Vertical Ground Source Heat Pump Product PictureTable Major Manufacturers of Vertical Ground Source Heat PumpFigure Surface Water Ground Source Heat Pump Product PictureTable Major Manufacturers of Surface Water Ground Source Heat PumpTable Global Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Market Size Growth Rate by Application 2018-2025 (K Units)Figure HouseholdFigure CommercialFigure IndustrialFigure OtherFigure Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Report Years ConsideredFigure Global Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Revenue 2013-2025 (Million US$)Figure Global Closed-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump Production 2013-2025 (K Units)...About Us: QYResearchReports delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Photo: BC Gov

The B.C. government has introduced legislation that would bring back a human rights commission to the province.

The former commission was dismantled in 2002, but Attorney General David Eby says given what's happening around the globe, it's never been more important for governments to do all they can to stand up for human rights.

Eby says every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and by re-establishing the commission, the government is creating a more inclusive, just society.

The proposed Human Rights Code Amendment Act will create an independent human rights commissioner who would report to the legislative assembly.

The commissioner will have a mandate to address issues of discrimination, develop education tools, policies and guidelines to promote human rights and combat patterns of inequality and discrimination in society.

B.C. is currently the only province that doesn't have such a body.
Industrial Iot Gateway 2018 Global Market SWOT Analysis and Opportunities To 2021 | Key Players : AAEON, ADLINK, Advantech, Dell, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cisco

Industrial Iot Gateway Industry

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On  Industrial Iot Gateway 2018 Global Market SWOT Analysis and Opportunities To 2021 | Key Players : AAEON, ADLINK, Advantech, Dell, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cisco.Description:-The analysts forecast the global industrial IoT gateway market to grow at a CAGR of 14.71% during the period 2017-2021.An IoT gateway is a switching device used for aggregating, filtering, and processing sensor data by providing a highly-secured platform. IoT gateways are used in the industry for important applications such as device connectivity and protocol translation. As the trend for IoT is growing with the rising in number of connected devices, the demand for IoT gateways is increasing as well. The need for IoT gateways was realized when the evolution of connected things took the momentum since the last few years. The report segments the market based on types of applications, end-users, and geographical regions and provides the market share carried by each segment.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comCovered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global industrial IoT gateway market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas APAC EMEAThe report, Global Industrial IoT Gateway Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors AAEON ADLINK Advantech Dell Hewlett Packard EnterpriseOther prominent vendors Cisco Huawei Siemens Eurotech LantronixMarket driver Increased amount of data generation due to industrial IoT. For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Increased capital investment for industrial IoT. For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Emergence of M2M communication systems. For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Enquiry About Report @Table Of Contents  Major Key PointsPART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Research MethodologyPART 04: Introduction Key market highlightsPART 05: Market landscape Market overview Market size and forecast Five forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by applications Market overview Global industrial IoT gateway market by remote monitoring Global industrial IoT gateway market by preventive maintenance Global industrial IoT gateway market by production optimizationPART 07: Market segmentation by end-user Market overview Global industrial IoT gateway market by process industry Global industrial IoT gateway market by discrete industryPART 08: Geographical segmentation Market overview Industrial IoT gateway market in Americas Industrial IoT gateway market in EMEA Industrial IoT gateway market in APACPART 09: Decision frameworkPART 10: Drivers and challenges Market drivers Impact of drivers on key customer segments Market challenges Impact of challenges on key customer segmentsPART 11: Market trends Increased demand for Big Data analytics Emergence of M2M communication systems Increased adoption of IPv6-based networkingPART 12: Vendor landscape Competitive landscape Other prominent vendorsContinuedBuy 1-user PDF @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Intra-cranial Pressure (ICP) Monitor Market Overview by 2022 | Compumedics Limited, Covidien Plc., Natus Medical Incorporated, Codman & Shurtleff, Inc, etc

Intra-cranial Pressure (ICP) Monitor Market

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Global Intra-cranial Pressure (ICP) Monitor market, although in its embryonic stage, is still witnessing an outstanding growth over the past couple of years. This growth attributes to the ability of these monitors in the field of neurosurgery in processes such as the external ventricular draining, CSF circulation, and CSF functions among others.Acknowledging the traction, this market is vibrating with currently; Market Research Future (MRFR) in its recently published study report giving asserts that the global intra-cranial pressure monitor market gaining further prominence will register a spectacular growth by 2022, growing at an impressive CAGR during the review period (2016  2022).Additional factors substantiating the market growth include increasing government funding and programs primarily in the developing regions to support the R&D activities undertaken to bring more advancements and inventions in these monitors. Technological advancements in the field of telehealth, telemetric monitoring, and in smart and connected devices along with penetration of ubiquitous technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are fostering the market growth of ICP monitors.To Get Sample Report visitIndustry/Innovation/Related News:October 04, 2018  IRRAS AB (Sweden), a medical technology company involved in development and commercialization of innovative brain surgery solutions announced that it has completed its initial review of the IRRAS recertification application for its Notified Body, LNE/G-MED, associated with the CE Mark of the IRRAflow catheter.May 31, 2018  Branchpoint Technologies (US), a company dedicated to providing accurate, reliable and cost-effective mobile solutions for ICP monitoring announced receiving of FDA approval its AURA ICP Monitoring System, including a completely implantable and wireless ICP sensor that enables truly mobile ICP monitoring in brain-injured patients. The AURA ICP Monitoring System also enables reliable telemetric monitoring of parenchymal ICP such as continuous ICP waveforms, weaving off the need to have additional capital equipment investments.Key Players for Global Intra-cranial Pressure (ICP) Monitor MarketSome of the eminent leaders of the market include Compumedics Limited (Australia), Covidien Plc. (Ireland), Natus Medical Incorporated (US), Codman & Shurtleff, Inc. (US), Integra LifeSciences Corporation (US), Raumedic (USA), and Vittamed.Global intra-cranial pressure monitor market appears to be competitive & fragmented owing to the several small & big players accounting for a substantial market share. Through strategic initiatives such as partnership, acquisition, collaboration, expansion, product & technology launch, these players try to gain the competitive advantage in the market.Segments for Global Intra-cranial Pressure (ICP) Monitor MarketMRFR has segmented its analysis into four key dynamics for enhanced understanding.By Techniques: Invasive and Non-Invasive among others.By Methods: Intra-Ventricular Catheter, Subdural Screw, and Epidural Sensor among others.By Applications: Traumatic Brain Injury, Intra-Cerebral Hemorrhage, and Meningitis among others.By Regions: Europe, North America, APAC and Rest-of-the-World.Regional Analysis for Global Intra-cranial Pressure (ICP) Monitor MarketGlobally, North America is dominating the Global Intra-Cranial Pressure Monitor Market. Furthermore, factors such as extensive demand and uptake of technologically advanced monitoring devices in medical, increasing public & private organizations support for R&D activities and high healthcare expenditures substantiate the market growth include. With the growing prevalence of neurological disorders, the North American ICP monitor market is expected to evaluate phenomenally by 2022.Browse Complete Report @The European region is another lucrative market for ICP monitors. Increasing focus on the development of advent monitors alongside rising government support for R&D activities is contributing to the market growth. Also, the increasing numbers of specialty services offered by various healthcare providers foster the growth of the market in Europe.The Asia Pacific region is rapidly emerging as a promising market for ICP monitor, growing rapidly. Increasing incidents of neurological disorders are fuelling the market growth. Moreover, factors such as the augmenting demand for quality equipment and proliferating healthcare technology are projected to provide impetus to the market growth, leading to the increasing the uptake of ICP monitors.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Statistical Report, Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureHadapsar, Pune  411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Air Furniture 2018 Global Market Key Players  Easy Camp, INTEX, Jilong, Best Way, Insta-bed, Simmons, Coleman, FOX -Analysis And Forecast To 2025

Air Furniture Market 2018

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Air Furniture Market 2018Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Air Furniture  Global Market Growth, Opportunities, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2025 To Its Research Database.Description:This report studies the global market size of Air Furniture in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa, focuses on the consumption of Air Furniture in these regions.This research report categorizes the global Air Furniture market by players/brands, region, type and application. This report also studies the global market status, competition landscape, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, sales channels, distributors and Porters Five Forces Analysis.Air furniture is generally made of PVC and is pressurized to allow gas to enter the furniture. It also gets rid of the bulkiness of traditional furniture and can be placed indoors and outdoors. After deflation, it is small in size and easy to carry.In 2017, the global Air Furniture market size was xx million US$ and is forecast to xx million US in 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% from 2018. The objectives of this study are to define, segment, and project the size of the Air Furniture market based on company, product type, application and key regions.The various contributors involved in the value chain of Air Furniture include manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, intermediaries, and customers. The key manufacturers in the Air Furniture includeEasy CampINTEXJilongBest WayInsta-bedSimmonsColemanFOXAier InflatableInsTenTInflatable Design GroupIntexBlofield Air DesignSofairEasy CampRequest for Sample Report @Market Size Split by TypeSofaBedMattressOtherMarket Size Split by ApplicationIn-homeOut-homeMarket size split by RegionNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeMalaysiaPhilippinesThailandVietnamEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaCentral & South AmericaBrazilRest of Central & South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaGCC CountriesTurkeyEgyptSouth AfricaEnquiry before Buying @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of Content:1 Study Coverage1.1 Air Furniture Product1.2 Key Market Segments1.3 Key Manufacturers Covered1.4 Market by Type1.4.1 Global Air Furniture Market Size Growth Rate by Type1.4.2 Sofa1.4.3 Bed1.4.4 Mattress1.4.5 Other1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global Air Furniture Market Size Growth Rate by Application1.5.2 In-home1.5.3 Out-home1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered2 Executive Summary2.1 Global Air Furniture Market Size2.1.1 Global Air Furniture Revenue 2016-20252.1.2 Global Air Furniture Sales 2016-20252.2 Air Furniture Growth Rate by Regions2.2.1 Global Air Furniture Sales by Regions2.2.2 Global Air Furniture Revenue by Regions..11 Company Profiles11.1 Easy Camp11.1.1 Easy Camp Company Details11.1.2 Company Description11.1.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Air Furniture11.1.4 Air Furniture Product Description11.1.5 Recent Development11.2 INTEX11.2.1 INTEX Company Details11.2.2 Company Description11.2.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Air Furniture11.2.4 Air Furniture Product Description11.2.5 Recent Development11.3 Jilong11.3.1 Jilong Company Details11.3.2 Company Description11.3.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Air Furniture11.3.4 Air Furniture Product Description11.3.5 Recent Development11.4 Best Way11.4.1 Best Way Company Details11.4.2 Company Description11.4.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Air Furniture11.4.4 Air Furniture Product Description11.4.5 Recent Development11.5 Insta-bed11.5.1 Insta-bed Company Details11.5.2 Company Description11.5.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Air Furniture11.5.4 Air Furniture Product Description11.5.5 Recent Development11.6 Simmons11.6.1 Simmons Company Details11.6.2 Company Description11.6.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Air Furniture11.6.4 Air Furniture Product Description11.6.5 Recent Development11.7 Coleman11.7.1 Coleman Company Details11.7.2 Company Description11.7.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Air Furniture11.7.4 Air Furniture Product Description11.7.5 Recent Development11.8 FOX11.8.1 FOX Company Details11.8.2 Company Description11.8.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Air Furniture11.8.4 Air Furniture Product Description11.8.5 Recent Development11.9 Aier Inflatable11.9.1 Aier Inflatable Company Details11.9.2 Company Description11.9.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Air Furniture11.9.4 Air Furniture Product Description11.9.5 Recent Development11.10 InsTenT11.10.1 InsTenT Company Details11.10.2 Company Description11.10.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Air Furniture11.10.4 Air Furniture Product Description11.10.5 Recent Development11.11 Inflatable Design Group11.12 Intex11.13 Blofield Air Design11.14 Sofair11.15 Easy CampContinued..Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Invoice Management Softwarenning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune  411028: Maharashtra,: Ph: +91 841 198 5042
Masterbatch Market Growth Analysis 2024 By Top Key Players - RTP Company, PolyOne, Clariant, BASF, The Dow Chemical Company, Cabot Corporation, Ampacet Corporation, Tosaf Group, A. Schulman, Inc.

Masterbatch Market

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Masterbatch market is likely to grow at a CAGR of over 5.4% in the forecast timeframe, rising usage of plastic alternative to metal in automotive will accelerate growth. Government investment plan and stable policy framework for automobile manufacturers in Asia Pacific will significantly impact market growth by 2024.Further changing consumer preferences toward better living standards with growing per capita income in the region is cumulating purchasing power of customer, will substantially boost revenue generation of automotive industry. These factors will positively grow market demand for polymers in automotive industry, promoting growth for masterbatch products by the end of forecast period.Request sample copy of this report @Masterbatch Market size is forecast to exceed USD 14 billion by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. The masterbatch market is highly fragmented comprises of numerous local & global manufacturers, supplier and distributors operating worldwide. Few of these market players follow both backward and forward integration system. BASF and Clariant follow backward integration by manufacturing pigments for their masterbatch products. Prominent industry players include Cabot Corporation, PolyOne, RTP, Ampacet, Plastika Kritis S.A. and Tosaf Group.- Masterbatch Market, Product by End-usero Blacko Whiteo Coloro Additive- Masterbatch Market By End-usero Automotiveo Consumer goodso Packagingo Agricultureo Constructiono OthersMake an inquiry for purchasing this report @Growing percentage of agricultural land due to increasing population will enhance the demand for agricultural films. This film is manufactured by polymers which comprises of masterbatches synthesized from bioplastics. Moreover, rising trend for eco-friendly products among the industrial players and consumers is driving the masterbatch market for bioplastics, further excellent moisture shielding and protecting properties had increased crop productivity which is significantly driving the market.Black masterbatch product is significantly growing with a CAGR of around 5.7%, owing to increasing application in automotive industry. It is highly consumed product in various end-user industry. Second largest segment is color masterbatch which have widespread application in various consumer goods and packaging products. Shift in consumer preference toward packaged food product is augmenting market demand for polymers which is favoring the market.Automotive industry holds highest market share in terms of revenue with USD 6.3 Billion in 2016, the industry is witnessing high growth in Asia Pacific and Europe. China is majorly dominating the market owing to government automotive mid and long-term development plan. In addition, government is highly investing to develop electric vehicle which will drive polymers market in coming years. Agriculture is estimated to grow with CAGR of around 6.0%, the market growth is significantly driven by growing percentage of cultivation land and rapidly increasing population. Followed by agriculture, consumer good segment will witness substantial growth in coming years with increasing application of polymer in home appliance products.Browse Complete Report Summary @Asia Pacific, primarily China, is expected to grow at a significant rate during forecast timeframe. Automotive, consumer goods and packaging are growing industries of Asia Pacific. Countries for instance India and China are spending massive amount to develop these industries for economic growth, which is positively influencing the market size in coming years. The region is witnessing high investment in construction and automotive industry which will gain significant demand for plastic favoring masterbatch market. Europe is second highest country in terms of market share with CAGR of around 5.6%, high automobile production and improving market condition post rescission is likely to grow the market.About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:
Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market | Key Players are AGC Solar, Nippon Sheet Glass, Taiwan Glass Ind. Corp., Xinyi Solar Holdings, Sisecam Flat Glass

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Solar Photovoltaic (PV) glass is a technology that converts solar energy into electric energy, also providing protection against environmental elements such as dust, moisture, and snow. Solar photovoltaic glass is increasingly being used for building integrated photovoltaics. PV glass is being integrated into buildings in the form of windows, roof panels, and building panels. Potential applications of solar PV glass include smartphones, vehicles, and greenhouses. This glass helps reduce the carbon footprint, which helps maintain environmentally-friendly standards of clean energy. Increasing demand for clean energy, due to growing awareness regarding global warming in turn, is increasing the demand for PV glass, thus boosting growth of the market.Increasing adoption of this PV glass, helps block heat, in turn reducing air-conditioning costs. Variance in photovoltaic efficiency and light penetration among these products enables multiple options for architectural design. Thus the demand for PV glass is rapidly increasing in the architectural sector. Major challenge faced by this market includes high capital expenditure for installation of solar energy equipment. Also, availability of high quality solar photovoltaic glass is a detrimental factor to market growth.Download PDF Brochure at :Anti-reflective coating reduces reflection, which in turn, increases the amount of light absorbed by the solar cells. This results in increased energy production. TCO coated glass optimizes light transmission into the solar modules. Tempered glass is strongest glass, which is made by heating glass to 600OC and then cooling it with airflow. Use of such tough glass, makes PV glass strong enough to sustain environmental factors such as stormy and rainy weather.Solar PV glasses are used in both residential and non-residential applications. However, high installation cost involved with solar photovoltaic glass is further hindering growth of the solar photovoltaic glass market. Furthermore, R&D and innovation is expected to result in the development of low-cost production of solar PV glass, in turn, reducing costs of such glass, thus is expected to gain more traction. This in turn, is expected to boost market growth. Increasing number of government initiatives such as Paris Climate Agreement to provide solar energy, is influencing growth of this market.Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market for solar photovoltaic glass. The growing population and insufficient energy supply in the region is expected to boost demand for PV glass, in turn, creating a lucrative environment for market growth. China is the growth engine in the region, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China installed over 34 GW of solar capacity in 2016 to mark itself as the leading user of solar panel in the world. Also, Japan witnessed a 4.3% growth in solar energy production in 2016, according to Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The European Union aims to meet 12% of its energy requirements using photovoltaic glass by 2020. This is expected to provide significant growth to the market in Europe.Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook and Opportunity Analysis, 2018-2026Key Players in the Solar Photovoltaic Glass MarketKey players operating in the solar photovoltaic glass market include AGC Solar, Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd., Taiwan Glass Ind. Corp., Xinyi Solar Holdings Ltd., Sisecam Flat Glass, Guardian Glass, Saint-Gobain Solar, Borosil Glass Works Ltd., Flat Glass Co., Ltd., Interfloat Corporation, Guangdong Golden Glass Technologies, Hecker Glastechnik GmbH & Co. KG, F solar GmbH, Emmvee Toughened Glass Private Limited, and Euroglas.Request for Sample Copy of this Report :About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
Probiotic Cosmetic Products Market | Top leading Players are Estee Lauder,ESSE ORGANIC SKINCARE, L'OREAL, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Unilever, AOBiome, Aurelia Skincare, BeBe & Bella and more

Probiotic Cosmetic Products

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Worldwide Market Reports has announced the addition of the Global Probiotic Cosmetic Products Market Size Status and Forecast 2022, The report classifies the global Probiotic Cosmetic Products Market in a precise manner to offer detailed insights about the aspects responsible for augmenting as well as restraining market growth.Global Probiotic Cosmetic Products market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingEstee Lauder,ESSE ORGANIC SKINCARE, L'OREAL, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Unilever, AOBiome, Aurelia Skincare, BeBe & Bella, The Clorox Company, EMINENCE ORGANIC SKIN CARE, NUDE brands, Onesta Hair Care, Rodial, TULALife, THE BODY DEGeographically, this report is segmented into several key RegionsNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaRequest For Sample Copy:On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoMoisturizerCleanerOtherOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingAcneAppearance Of WrinklesWhiteningOtherIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of ContentsGlobal Probiotic Cosmetic Products Market Research Report 20171 Probiotic Cosmetic Products Market Overview2 Global Probiotic Cosmetic Products Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Probiotic Cosmetic Products Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Probiotic Cosmetic Products Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Probiotic Cosmetic Products Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Probiotic Cosmetic Products Market Analysis by Application7 Global Probiotic Cosmetic Products Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Estee Lauder7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Probiotic Cosmetic Products Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Estee Lauder Probiotic Cosmetic Products Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 ESSE ORGANIC SKINCARE7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Probiotic Cosmetic Products Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 ESSE ORGANIC SKINCARE Probiotic Cosmetic Products Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 L'OREAL7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Probiotic Cosmetic Products Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 L'OREAL Probiotic Cosmetic Products Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Procter & Gamble (P&G)7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Probiotic Cosmetic Products Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Procter & Gamble (P&G) Probiotic Cosmetic Products Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Unilever8 Probiotic Cosmetic Products Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Probiotic Cosmetic Products Market Forecast (2017-2022)For More inquiry visit:About Us:Worldwide Market Reports is your one-stop repository of detailed and in-depth market research reports compiled by an extensive list of publishers from across the globe. We offer reports across virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. The in-depth market analysis by some of the most vastly experienced analysts provide our diverse range of clients from across all industries with vital decision making insights to plan and align their market strategies in line with current market trends. Worldwide Market Researchs well-researched inputs that encompass domains ranging from IT to healthcare enable our prized clients to capitalize upon key growth opportunities and shield against credible threats prevalent in the market in the current scenario and those expected in the near future.Contact Us:Mr. ShahWorldwide Market ReportsTel: +1 415 871 0703Email:sales@worldwidemarketreports.comVisit our new Website:
Packaged Bakery Products Market Report 2018: Segmentation by Type (Bread, Cakes And Pastries, Cookies, Crackers And Pretzel, Doughnuts, Others) by Application (Supermarket, Convenience Store, Others)

Packaged Bakery Products Market

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Global Packaged Bakery Products market research report provides company profile for Yamazaki Baking, American Baking, Aryzta, BreadTalk, Britannia, EDEKA-Gruppe, Finsbury Food Group, Flowers Foods, Grupo Bimbo, Hostess Brands, MCKEE FOODS and Others.This market study includes data about consumer perspective, comprehensive analysis, statistics, market share, company performances (Stocks), historical analysis 2012 to 2017, market forecast 2018 to 2025 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2018 to 2025, etc. The report also provides detailed segmentation on the basis of product type, application, end user and regional segmentation. The regional segment is further bifurcated on country level.Request for Free sample copy of ready Report @Report Coverage:Top Manufactures/vendors of Packaged Bakery Products market:Finsbury Food GroupFlowers FoodsGrupo BimboHostess BrandsMCKEE FOODSYamazaki BakingAmerican BakingAryztaBreadTalkBritanniaEDEKA-GruppeOthers (Note: We can profile additional players without any additional charges)Packaged Bakery Products Type:BreadCakes And PastriesCookiesCrackers And PretzelDoughnutsOthersApplication of Packaged Bakery Products:SupermarketConvenience StoreOthersRegions covered in Packaged Bakery Products Market Research Report:North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)(Note: We can provide country or region specific report on request; please contact us for your specific requirement)The Global Packaged Bakery Products Market analysis report covers detailed value chain analysis of Global Packaged Bakery Products Market. The value chain analysis helps to analyze major upstream raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. The report also provides Porter analysis, PESTEL analysis and market attractiveness which helps to better understand the market scenario on macro and micro level. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities occurred in the market during current and past few years. The Global Packaged Bakery Products Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors. The report also covers import/export data across all major regions covered in this report. Moreover, we can exclusively provide information about import/export data across any particular country as per requirement.How helpful this report will be? Packaged Bakery Products Market share (regional, product, application, end-user) both in terms of volume and revenue along with CAGR from 2018 to 2025 Key parameters which are driving this market and restraining its growth What all challenges manufacturers will face as well as new opportunities and threats faced by themEnquire before Buying @......Table of Content:1 Study Coverage1.1 Packaged Bakery Products Product1.2 Key Market Segments1.3 Key Manufacturers Covered1.4 Market by Type........................Continue (What does Report Include?Historic Data: What was the Packaged Bakery Products Market data (Size, competition, company share, YoY growth rate, etc.) from 2013 to 2018.Current Market Status: A comprehensive analysis of current market Size, trends, growth drivers, industry pitfalls, challenges and opportunities for players.Market Forecast: Report will comment and provide details about market growth and forecast till year 2025.Customization: We can provide following things 1) On request more company profiles (competitors) 2) Data about particular country or region 3) We will incorporate the same with no additional cost (Post conducting feasibility).Contact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website: marketreportscompany.comEmail: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-312-376-8303Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Optimizing Networks Global Market 2018: Key Players  Cisco Systems, Inc., Ericsson Inc., IP.Access Ltd., NEC Corp., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

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Optimizing Networks IndustryDescriptionWiseguyreports.Com Adds Optimizing Networks -Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities and Analysis Of Top Key Player Forecast To 2023 To Its Research DatabaseThe study includes key trends and detailed geographic analyses regarding the small cell equipment market and its various segments. It also describes the global market size, compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and revenue prospects for various segments and subsegments through 2023. The report classifies the global small cell and carrier Wi-Fi market into the equipment types: femtocell, picocell, microcell, metrocell, C-RAN small cell and carrier Wi-Fi. The report provides the market size for standalone equipment and Cloud RAN (C-RAN) small cell technology and carrier Wi-Fi.The market is also segmented on the basis of operating environments in which small cells devices are deployed, including indoor and outdoor operating environments. Further, the small cell and carrier Wi-Fi market is segmented based on the various user types including enterprises; single offices and home offices (SOHOs), small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and large enterprises. The study is primarily aimed at providing insights on the market trends and analyzing revenue generated through penetration of small cell and carrier Wi-Fi devices across regions of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world (RoW). The report also analyzes the revenue generated by small cell and carrier Wi-Fi deployment in various locations or coverage areas; urban areas, rural areas, and residential areas. Additionally, it also analyzes its application in hospitality industry, and public safety.This report also includes company profiles of key small cells and carrier Wi-Fi vendors (i.e., vendors holding maximum market share) and their competitive analysis. Some of the key small cell and carrier Wi-Fi vendors include CommScope, Ericsson, Huawei, ip.access Ltd., Samsung, NEC Corp., Nokia and ZTE Corp. Cisco has confirmed end-of-sale and end-of-life for its various small cell product line as, mentioned on its website, annual report and other publications. The companys entire in-house licensed-spectrum small-cell base station portfolio was scheduled to reach the end of its life in July 2017. Some of the other key small cell and carrier Wi-Fi manufacturers are Airspan, Argela, Arqiva, Baicells technology, Fujistsu, Fiberhome Networks, Parallel Systems, Zyxel and others.However, the report also profiles some of the key MNOs such as AT&T, Vodafone, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and others reselling other manufacturers small cells under their own brand name.Request for Sample Report @Report Includes:- 39 data tables and 21 additional tables- Comprehensive overview of the global markets for small cell and carrier Wi-Fi- Analyses of global market trends with data from 2017, estimates for 2018, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2023- Identification of growth inhibiting drivers, restraints and other factors impacting the global small cell and carrier Wi-Fi market- Characterization and quantification of market potential for small cell and carrier Wi-Fi by product type, user type, operating environment, location/coverage area and geographical region- A brief study of applications of small cell and Wi-Fi technology at different type of locations on the basis of area size and user density- Comparison of product offerings and market strategies of key players and stakeholders in the small cell and carrier Wi-Fi ecosystem- Description of key mergers and acquisitions in the small cells and carrier Wi-Fi industry- Company profiles of key small cell vendors, including Cisco Systems, Inc., Ericsson Inc., IP.Access Ltd., NEC Corp., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., and ZTE CorpTable of ContentsChapter 1 IntroductionChapter 2 Summary and HighlightsChapter 3 Market OverviewChapter 4 Market Breakdown by Product TypeChapter 5 Market Breakdown by Operating EnvironmentChapter 6 Market Breakdown by User TypeChapter 7 Market Breakdown by Locations/Coverage AreasChapter 8 Market Breakdown by RegionChapter 9 Competitive AnalysisLeave a Query @Chapter 10 Company ProfilesCisco Systems, Inc.Company OverviewCompany FinancialsProduct PortfolioCOMMSCOPE INC.Company OverviewCompany FinancialsProduct PortfolioRecent DevelopmentsERICSSON INC.Company OverviewCompany FinancialsProduct PortfolioRecent DevelopmentsHUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.Company OverviewCompany FinancialsProduct PortfolioRecent DevelopmentsIP.ACCESS LTD.Company OverviewProduct PortfolioRecent DevelopmentsNEC CORP.Company OverviewCompany FinancialsProduct PortfolioRecent DevelopmentsNOKIA CORP.Company OverviewCompany FinancialsProduct PortfolioRecent DevelopmentsSAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Company OverviewCompany FinancialsProduct PortfolioRecent DevelopmentsZTE CORP.Company OverviewCompany FinancialsProduct PortfolioRecent DevelopmentsOther Prominent Small Cell ManufacturersACCURIS NETWORKS, INC.AIRSPAN NETWORKS, INC.ARGELA TECHNOLOGIESARQIVA GROUP LTD.BAICELLS TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.FIBERHOME TECHNOLOGIES GROUPFUJITSU, INC.KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIESPARALLEL WIRELESS, INC.QUALCOMM TECHNOLOGIES INC.RUCKUS NETWORKSSPIDERCLOUD WIRELESS, INC.SUPERCOM LTD.ZYXEL COMMUICATIONS, INC.Key Mobile Network OperatorsAT&T INC.SPRINT CORP.TELEFONICA S.A.T-MOBILE US, INC.VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.VODAFONE GROUP PLCBuy Now @Continued...Contact Us: Sales@Wiseguyreports.Com Ph: +1-646-845-9349 (Us) Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (Uk)About Us: Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd Pune  411028 Maharashtra, Global Ph: +91 841 198 5042
Benzene Market 2026 Global Analysis By key Players  Sinopec, BASF, China National Petroleum Corporation, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Dow DuPont, ExxonMobil Corporation, and Royal Dutch Shell plc.

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According to the new market research Benzene Market by Component (Service, Software), Delivery (Subscription, Ownership), Functionality (Clinical, Administrative, Financial), End User (Clinic, Hospital, Private Practice, Payer), and Region - Global Forecast to 2026", The Benzene market is expected to reach USD 111.1 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 4.2%.Benzene is a petrochemical derivative and is produced in bulk quantities, mainly in steam crackers and oil refineries. It is a by-product recovered from the aromatic hydrocarbon stream and thus its demand is driven by the demand of other products such as p-xylene, ethylene, and gasoline.Request free sample copy of this report @Major Key Player in Global Market: -China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec, China)Exxon Mobil Corporation (U.S.)Royal Dutch Shell Plc. (The Netherlands)The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.)JX Holdings Inc. (Japan)China National Petroleum Corporation (China)Total S.A. (France)Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Saudi Arabia)BP Plc (U.K)BASF SE (Germany).Benzene market is mainly driven by its diverse applications within the chemical industry. It serves as a building block for the synthesis of numerous other chemicals such as cyclohexane, ethyl benzene, cumene, alkyl benzene, nitrobenzene, and many others. Benzene has several underlying chemical value chains, for instance, polyurethanes, nylons, polycarbonates, styrenics, and others.The rapidly growing industries such as packaging, construction, bulk chemicals & materials, automotive, textiles and building & construction have substantially driven the applications for the benzene market globally. Rising population in tandem with the increase in disposable incomes has led to growth of many consumer products and bulk materials. Low cost of the feedstock and economical commodity product prices have also contributed to the higher consumption of benzene derivatives.Speak to our analyst and gain crucial industry insights that will help your business grow:Benzene market is also driven by the large scale downstream investments in many countries such as Saudi Arabia and some other emerging nations in Southeast Asia. The global downstream petrochemical industry has been continuously impacted by the integration of the world economy and globalization. Several factors influencing petrochemical industry include economies of scale, price of crude oil, shale gas developments, technology, environment, economic growth & demand, and political uncertainties.Benzene is a petrochemical derivative and thus is subjected to price volatility. The fluctuations in the prices of crude oil directly affect the prices of the by-products derived from its hydrocarbon stream in refineries. The benzene market is highly regulated in terms of policy frameworks as benzene is a toxic chemical where its high level exposure can lead to serious environmental implications.One major restraint that the benzene market holds is huge environmental impact. Benzene when used in high quantities and exposed to the environment can lead to serious damage to soil, aquatic life, and the surrounding as whole. Thus, the global benzene market is regulated via numerous policy frameworks proposed by agencies such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), and many others.The report provides an extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis of the market trends and growth prospects of the Global Benzene Market, 2017-2026. This report comprises a detailed geographic distribution of the market across North America, Europe, APAC and South America, and MEA. North America is further segmented into U.S., Canada. Europe is divided into Germany, UK, Italy, and Rest of Europe. Asia-Pacific is bifurcated into China, India, Japan, and Rest of Asia-Pacific.Browse Complete Report Details @Competitive LandscapeAsia Pacific is the dominant regional player for the benzene market on account of significant ethylene cracker and refining capacities for addressing the rapidly growing demand especially in countries like China. Moreover, China is a global centre for polyester, fiber, clothing, and textile manufacturing that has led to increased consumption of benzene.About Polaris Market ResearchPolaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities.Contact us-Mr. NeelCorporate Sales, USAPolaris Market ResearchPhone: 1-646-568-9980Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.comWeb:
2018 India Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market Growth Size Report | By Companies (Leading Edge Health, Innovus Pharmaceuticals, Direct Digital, SizeGenix, Vimax, Xanogen, Vydox, & TEK Naturals)  Global Forecasts to 2023

Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market, Sexual Enhancement Supplements Industry, Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market Sales

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MarketResearchNest.com published an Exclusive Research Report on 2018-2023 India Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market Report (Status and Outlook) that highlights the in-depth market analysis and covers significant data with future prospects of the market.This report studies the Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market with many aspects of the industry like the market size, market status, market trends and forecast, the report also provides brief information of the competitors and the specific growth opportunities with key market drivers. Find the complete Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market analysis segmented by companies, region, type and applications in the report.In India market, the top players include:Leading Edge Health, Innovus Pharmaceuticals, Direct Digital, SizeGenix, Vimax, Xanogen, Vydox, & TEK Naturals.Split by product types/category, covering:Male Sexual Enhancement Supplements, Female Sexual Enhancement Supplements.Split by applications/end use industries, covers:Physical Stores, Online Stores.Browse full content and In-depth TOC of Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market Report 2018@Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market continues to evolve and expand in terms of the number of companies, products, and applications that illustrates the growth perspectives. The report also covers the list of Product range and Applications with SWOT analysis, CAGR value, further adding the essential business analytics. Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market research analysis identifies the latest trends and primary factors responsible for market growth enabling the Organizations to flourish with much exposure to the markets.Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, covering:India.Request a sample copy of Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market Report 2018@The Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market research report completely covers the vital statistics of the capacity, production, value, cost/profit, supply/demand import/export, further divided by company and country, and by application/type for best possible updated data representation in the figures, tables, pie chart, and graphs. These data representations provide predictive data regarding the future estimations for convincing market growth. The detailed and comprehensive knowledge about our publishers makes us out of the box in case of market analysis.Key questions answered in this report What will the Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market Size is in 2023 and what will the growth rate be? What is the key Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market Trends? What is driving this Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market? What are the challenges to Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market Growth? Who are the key vendors in this Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market Space? What are the Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market Opportunities and Threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market Key Vendor?Purchase a sample copy of Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market Report 2018 Copy@About us: - MarketResearchNest.com is the most comprehensive collection of market research products and services on the Web. We offer reports from almost all top publishers and update our collection on daily basis to provide you with instant online access to the Indias most complete and recent database of expert insights on industries, organizations, products, and trends.Contact us: - Mr. Jeet Jain, Sales Manager, sales@marketresearchnest.com ;+1-240-284-8070, +44-20-3290-4151;Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
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The federal government will look at how it distributes funds in the battle against aquatic invasive species.

North Okanagan-Shuswap Conservative MP Mel Arnold received unanimous support for a motion he introduced calling on the House of Commons fisheries committee to study the federal governments approach to preventing and managing AIS.

The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans has committed to examine the Aquatic Invasive Species Component (AISC) of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans Fisheries Protection Program (FPP).

According to the motion passed Oct. 30, the committees study will focus specifically on the mandate and resources of the AISC and how resources and activities for preventing or managing AIS are distributed across Canada.

Increasing risks of AIS like zebra and quagga mussels necessitate a robust program preventing an infestation in our Okanagan or Shuswap watersheds, said Arnold. An invasive mussel infestation in our region would cost local economies tens of millions of dollars and inflict permanent ecological damage- prevention is the only option that makes sense.

Since being elected in 2015, Arnold has been a crusader to get more federal help in keeping mussels out of local lakes.

Arnolds advocacy led to a commitment last year from the fisheries minister for increased federal resources for AIS prevention in BC this year.

But despite some victories, Arnold called the $50,000 annual increase insulting.

Of the $10.1 million of ongoing funding DFO has for AIS activities nationally, about 86 per cent is given to fighting the invasive Asian carp and sea lamprey in Ontario.

Aquatic invasive species pose a major threat to ecologies and economies across Canada, especially in the North Okanagan  Shuswap, and we must ensure that federal resources and activities are well-placed and managed for optimum results, said Arnold.
Commercial Satellite Launch Service Market Revenue by key players - SpaceX, Orbital ATK, Airbus, Boeing, NASA, Lockheed Martin

Commercial Satellite Launch Service Market

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North America Commercial Satellite Launch Service Market size is predicted will be worth over USD 2.5 billion by 2024. This dominance can be credited to availability of robust infrastructure in the region and presence of multiple space organizations including SpaceX and NASA. Expansion of navigation industry demand to locate destinations is contributing significantly in regional revenue generation. Asia Pacific is anticipated to register robust growth owing to low launching cost offered by organizations such as ISRO.Get Sample Copy of This Report @LEO is likely to exhibit over 3% CAGR in the commercial satellite launch service market from 2018 to 2024. This growth can be credited to low initial launch cost as compared to other orbits, less time to deploy and compact size commercial satellite. LEOs are a positive step towards providing connectivity to remote areas.Commercial Satellite Launch Service Market by Application Navigational Communication Reconnaissance Weather Forecasting Remote SensingCompany profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis:1. Ariane Group2. GK Launch Services3. Lockheed Martin4. United Launch Alliance5. Commercial Space Technologies Ltd.6. ISRO7. NASA8. Antrix Corporation Limited9. COSMOS International10. Sea Launch11. Boeing12. Orbital Sciences Corporation13. SpaceX14. Eurockot Launch Services15. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Launch ServicesMake an Inquiry for purchasing this Report @The micro commercial satellite launch service market will experience more than 6% of growth rate during the projected time span. This growth rate can be credited to rising developments for enhancing affordability and reliability of the launching vehicles. Micro SATs penetration is observed in various industries owing to compact size.Communication commercial satellite launch service market size will dominate industry volume share owing to increasing usage of wireless technology and rising connectivity among various countries. Reconnaissance segment is anticipated to hold over 35% of overall revenue share owing to utilization of imagery SATs for improving farming techniques. Online web sources and GIS tools for farmers will further spur segment revenue over the forecast period.Usage of smart devices and services for personal use such as Smart TVs, online streaming services, etc. accelerates the financial investments. High demand for weather forecasting software is witnessed such as AccuWeather, The Weather Channel, Yahoo Weather, Google Weather, etc. Schools and colleges across the globe are introducing new smart classes initiatives. Rising penetration of mobile phones internet usage across the globe owing to next generation 4G/LTE networks with attractive data plans is driving the wireless technology. Due to proliferating usage of these applications across the globe additional number of satellites will be required. This in turn will escalate the revenue generation of the commercial satellite launch service market.Browse Report Summery @Airbus S.A.S., Arianespace S.A., Axelspace Corporation, Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Orbital ATK, Space Exploration Technologies are few industry participants in commercial satellite launch service market. Joint ventures and partnerships are among the prominent strategies implemented by the competitors to enhance their industry share. For instance, in 2018, United Launch Alliance acquired Atlas 5 division of Lockheed Martin for reducing launch prices and improving business efficiencies.About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.com
Interceptor Missiles Market Research On Top Manufactures - Boeing Co., Raytheon Co., Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems

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Interceptor Missiles Market Report offers an inclusive and decision-making overview, including definitions, classifications and its applications. The Interceptor Missiles Market is anticipated to reflect a positive growth trend in forthcoming years.Interceptor missiles of up to 125 kms range are anticipated to dominate the interceptor missiles market, generating a demand of over 2,000 units till 2024. Continuously increasing penetration of missiles conforming to this range such as PAC-3, Iron Dome, and SM-3, from MEA including UAE, Israel, and Saudi Arabia will primarily support the industry dominance. Interceptor missiles of range above 200 kms will exhibit over 18% CAGR in terms of revenue owing to rising deployment of advanced missiles such as HQ-19. Regular innovations in these missiles in countries such as China will further strengthen the industry penetration over the forecast timeframe.Request a sample of this premium report at:Global interceptor missiles market is expected to cross 3,000 units till 2024. Continuously increasing threat of attacks from rival countries has resulted in proliferating demand for interceptor missiles over the forecast timeframe. Multiple countries across the globe including Netherlands, U.S, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, etc., have purchased patriot interceptor missiles to strengthen their defense inventory, impacting the industry positively.Countries across the globe have witnessed a considerable increase in their defense budget. For instance, in 2015, the defense budget of China was USD 131 billion, which was increased by 11% and crossed USD 145 billion in 2016 and was further increased by 7% in 2017. This will accelerate the revenue generation owing to their enhanced purchasing power for defense systems. However, high initial investment and high manufacturing costs may restrain new entrants from entering the interceptor missile market.Industry is witnessing regular upgradations and innovations in interceptor missiles. For instance, HQ-19 is a significant upgradation of HQ-9 and has gained prominence in 2017. It is capable of targeting satellites and ballistic missiles in lower earth orbit and is featured with kinetic kill vehicle. Moreover, it can intercept the ballistic missiles from a range of 3,000 kms. These innovations are anticipated to induce immense growth potential to the interceptor missiles market over the coming years.Surface to air missiles are expected to capture maximum interceptor missiles market revenue share of more than 80% by 2024. Some of the benefits offered includes light-weight and portability which in turn will drive the industry demand. Water to air missiles will exhibit approximately 7% CAGR owing to rising adoption of these missiles in various countries across the globe for naval border protection.Request a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:PAC-3 is expected to account for highest interceptor missile market share crossing USD 6 billion over the coming years. Proliferating demand of these missiles, especially in developed countries will primarily support the revenue generation. For instance, in January 2013, the U.S. army entered into several contracts worth USD 755 million for purchasing 168 PAC-3 missiles and associated services and equipment. HQ-19 will exhibit over 40% CAGR till 2024 owing to its continuously rising usage as an upgradation of HQ-9. Its enhanced features as compared to its counterparts will further support the industry growth till 2024.MEA interceptor missiles market will showcase dominance over the next eight years owing to rising threat of enemy attacks across the region. Collaborations of various countries with industry players for purchasing of these missiles will further contribute towards the high revenue generation. For instance, UAE and Qatar are anticipated to enter an agreement with Lockheed Martin for supplying patriot missiles. Europe will witness over 7% CAGR till 2024 owing to rising sales of interceptor missiles from countries including Sweden and Poland.Complete report for 2017-2024 on Interceptor Missiles market is now available atRelated Report:Global and Southeast Asia Gas-electric Welding Flux Core Wire Industry, 2018 Market Research ReportGlobal and Southeast Asia Gas-electric Welding Flux Core Wire Market research report is added by Market Study report by covering all major market aspects. The report also touches the key scenarios like top players, competition, types, applications, regions, recent developments and future market predictions.About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:
Shrink Disk Market by Top Key Players- Stuewe, Ringfeder, Ringspann, Norelem, MAV, VULCAN Industrial Engg, RINGSPANN GmbH, WITTENSTEIN SE, TAS-Schafer, Rexnord, True-Tech Industries Co and More

Shrink Disk Market, Shrink Disk Market Trends, Shrink Disk Market Growth, Shrink Disk Market Size, Shrink Disk Market Forecast, Sh

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The latest Shrink Disk Market Research Report 2023 contains complete Industry outlook, market manufacturers and key statistics analysis. The industry sales & Share, industrys trends are all discussed, explained and analyzed. It provides marketing strategy analysis, distributors/traders list, raw materials analysis, import and export analysis, Key success factors and Supply Chain Analysis.This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of Shrink Disk market by product type, application, key manufacturers and key regions and countries.According to this study, over the next five years the Shrink Disk market will register a xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach US$ xx million by 2023, from US$ xx million in 2017. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in Shrink Disk business, shared in Chapter 3.Request a sample of this premium report at:The rapid development of wind power is one of the main driving forces of the industry.The report also presents the market competition landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the major vendor/manufacturers in the market.The key manufacturers covered in this report: Stuewe, Ringfeder, Ringspann, Norelem, MAV, VULCAN Industrial Engg, RINGSPANN GmbH, WITTENSTEIN SE, TAS-Schafer, Rexnord, True-Tech Industries Co, Climax Metal Products Company, Zero-max, Fenner Drives, Wofler, Dusterloh, Shanghai Shuangqing Machinery, Yuhuan Fittings, Xianyang Chaoyue, Longwin Group, Luoyang Jinglian Mechanical and MoreThe shrink discs are external locking devices installed over hub projections. By tightening the locking screws, the locking collars exert radial forces on the tapered ring and on the hub. After bridging the fit clearances, radial clamping pressure is generated between shaft and hub establishing a solid, frictional connection.This study considers the Shrink Disk value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments:Segmentation by product type: breakdown data from 2013 to 2018, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2023 in section 11.7. Standard-duty Heavy-dutySegmentation by application: breakdown data from 2013 to 2018, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2023 in section 11.8. Heavy Machine Wind Power Packaging Machinery Printing Machine CNC Machine Tool Automation Equipment OthersThis report also splits the market by region: Breakdown data in Chapter 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.Americas, United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, APAC, China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain, Middle East & Africa, Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries and MoreRequest a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, the challenges and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development.Research objectivesTo study and analyze the global Shrink Disk consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, product type and application, history data from 2013 to 2017, and forecast to 2023.To understand the structure of Shrink Disk market by identifying its various subsegments.Focuses on the key global Shrink Disk manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in next few years.To analyze the Shrink Disk with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks).To project the consumption of Shrink Disk submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries).To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Table of Contents2018-2023 Global Shrink Disk Consumption Market Report1 Shrink Disk Market Overview2 Manufacturers Profiles3 Global Shrink Disk Market Competition, by Players4 Global Shrink Disk Market Size by Regions5 North America Shrink Disk Revenue by Countries6 Europe Shrink Disk Revenue by Countries7 Asia-Pacific Shrink Disk Revenue by Countries8 South America Shrink Disk Revenue by Countries9 Middle East and Africa Revenue Shrink Disk by Countries10 Global Shrink Disk Market Segment by Type11 Global Shrink Disk Market Segment by Application12 Global Shrink Disk Market Size Forecast (2018-2023)13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixMore Details on this Report:About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog:
Global Coffee Beans Market Analysis by Manufacturers | Kicking Horse Whole Beans, Death Wish Coffee, La Colombe Corsica Blend, Caribou Coffee, Luigi Lavazza S.P.A., Illycaff S.p.A., Hawaiian Isles Kona Coffee Company, Ltd

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According to a new report published by Allied Market Research titled, Coffee Beans Market by Product and End Use: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2024," the global coffee beans market size was valued at $10,471 million in 2017, and is expected to reach $15,635 million by 2024, registering a CAGR of 6.1% from 2018 to 2024. Europe dominated the global market, accounting for around one-third share of the total revenue.The global coffee beans market is driven by increased coffee consumption across nations, expansion in retail market, and health benefits associated with coffee. Moreover, decrease in consumption of carbonated drinks is anticipated to boost the growth of the global coffee beans market. However, availability of substitute such as tea is projected to impede the coffee beans market growth in future.(Get 20% Free Customization In This Report)Download report sample at:Carbonated drinks are harmful beverages containing dissolved carbon dioxide, usually prepared by mixing sweet flavored syrup and carbonated water in their chilled state. Currently, the demand for these drinks is reported to continuously decrease, owing to its different side effects such as belching, heartburn, increase in risk of obesity, tooth decay, reduced bone strength, and others. The carbonated drinks sale is anticipated to decrease further during the forecast period, owing to surge in awareness among people regarding the aforementioned side effect. This in turn increases the consumption of coffee beans.Two types of coffee beans, i.e. arabica and robusta are quite popular in the coffee beans industry. Brazil is the largest arabica coffee beans producer while Vietnam produces robusta beans in large volumes, thereby increasing the global coffee beans market share. Arabica is easy to grow and roast, and hence accounts for the maximum production in the coffee beans market. While, robusta is gaining popularity as it contains three times more caffeine than arabica and is more insect and disease resistant. Thus, the robusta coffee beans market is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate by 2024.The coffee beans market trends are witnessing an economy slowdown as the consumers focus on affordability and thus, shift their preference to inexpensive varieties of coffee. The low cost of production of robusta caf beans has resulted in high demand for robusta. This further fuel the growth in consumption of coffee.Based on end use, the personal care industry in the global coffee beans market is likely to witness a robust growth. While coffee beans are commonly found in the beverage form, the skin care products made from coffee are also gaining popularity in the world. The incorporation of coffee beans in natural skin care products has benefited the customers in the global skin care industry. For instance, the green coffee oil made from fresh green coffee beans contains the necessary fatty acids that are used in spa treatments and mature skin care. This oil has anti-aging properties that result in supple and smooth skin. In addition, the aroma of coffee beans butter makes an enticing addition to balms, and body butters. This butter soothes the red and dry skin, and protects the skin from harsh climate.Access full summary report at:The usage of coffee beans in pharmaceutical industry is augmenting the global coffee beans market. The health-benefits associated with coffee beans in form of dietary supplements has given rise to its consumption. Green coffee beans extracts have a higher level of chlorogenic acid as compared to other roasted and regular coffee beans because green coffee beans are not roasted. Thus, the adoption of green coffee beans in form of weight loss supplements has been widely observed among consumers.Key Findings of the Coffee Beans Market: In terms of value, the arabica caf beans generated the maximum revenue in 2017 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period. The pharmaceutical industry is likely to grow at the fastest rate at a CAGR of 6.9% by 2024. Europe is expected to dominate the market, registering the CAGR of 5.4% in terms of value. Asia-Pacific is projected to show exponential growth in demand throughout 2024, growing at a CAGR 7.6% of in terms of value. India and China are expected to witness considerably high growth rates at a CAGR of 10.9% and 9.0% respectively, during the forecast period.The European consumers prefer high-value specialty coffee that offer a unique experience and are knowledgeable about coffee varieties. In addition, increase in health consciousness of the young population boosts the adoption of black coffee, which drives the market growth. This further offers opportunities for coffee beans suppliers to provide unique blends, flavors, and ready-to-drink coffee.LAMEA is one of the emerging regions in terms of coffee consumption, as Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey offer potential opportunities for the coffee beans market. New product offerings and flavor differentiation are the key strategies adopted by manufacturers to increase their market share. Furthermore, manufactures have introduced promotional pricing strategies to increase their sales. Moreover, introduction of appealing packaging and new flavors combined with campaigns through social events and networks a fuel the growth of the market.For purchase enquiry at:The impact of competitive rivalry in the global coffee beans market is moderate because of large number of players, moderate strategies adopted by operating companies, high innovation pursued, and higher growth rate in the global market. Major players in the global coffee beans market are focusing on new product development to gain a strong foothold in the market. Key players profiled in the report include Kicking Horse Whole Beans, Death Wish Coffee, La Colombe Corsica Blend, Caribou Coffee, Luigi Lavazza S.P.A., Illycaff S.p.A., Hawaiian Isles Kona Coffee Company, Ltd., La Colombe Torrefaction, INC., Peets Coffee & Tea, Inc., Coffee Beans International, Inc.About Us:Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.Contact:David Correa5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free: +1-800-792-5285UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1?855?550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Safety Needles Market Growth Analysis By Top Key Players: Medtronic plc, Becton, Dickinson & Company (BD), Retractable Technologies, Inc., Terumo Medical Corporation, Smiths Group Plc., B. Braun Melsungen AG and Others

Safety Needles Market

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The global safety needles market is expected to reach $3,922 million by 2025 from $1,607 million in 2017, registering a CAGR of 12.1% from 2018 to 2025. Safety needles are used across medical settings in different applications such as drug delivery, vaccination, and blood specimen collection. These are used to administer drugs and withdraw fluids from the body for clinical examination and research. The demand for safety needles has increased significantly in the recent years to prevent needle-stick injuries.Download PDF Report Sample @Increase in the number of needle-stick injuries throughout the world is expected to boost the market growth. The other key factors that drive the global safety needles market are increase in demand for injectable drugs and vaccines, active government initiatives, and surge in application of injection and infusion therapies. In addition, high prevalence of blood-borne diseases increases the demand for safety needles, which in turn provides lucrative opportunities for the market growth. However, alternative modes of drug delivery and high costs associated with safety needles restrain the market growth.The global safety needles market is segmented based on product, end user, and region both in terms of value and volume. Based on product, the market is bifurcated into active safety needles and passive safety needles. Active safety needle holds the major share in the global safety needle market as they are increasingly adopted as a safety engineered devices for the administration of vaccines and medications. Based on end user, the global safety needles market is segmented into hospitals, diabetic patients, family practices, psychiatrics, and others. The hospital segment dominates the global safety needles market and is growing significantly with WHO guidelines for safe practice of needle usage and global campaign to encourage injection safety.Key findings of the Safety Needles Market: Pacific is projected to be grow at the highest CAGR of 13.8% from 2018 to 2025.Asia Based on product, the passive safety needle segment is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. Based on end user, the hospital segment generated the highest revenue in 2017 and is expected to continue its dominance ahead as well. The global safety needles market and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.2%.North America dominaGet Customized Report @Based on region, this market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. North America accounted for the largest market share in the global safety needles market in 2017 and is expected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period.The major companies profiled in the report include Medtronic plc, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), Retractable Technologies, Inc., Terumo Medical Corporation, Smiths Group Plc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, MedPro Safety Products, Inc., Nipro Corporation, Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon Inc.) and Novo Nordisk.The other market players that are not profiled in the report includes Albert David, DeRoyal, Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices Limited, Hi-Tech Syringes, International Medsurg Connection, Medline Industries, Inc., Unilife Corporation, Vita Needle Company, and Vygon.Access Full Summery @About UsAllied Market Research, a market research and advisory company of Allied Analytics LLP, provides business insights and market research reports to large as well as small & medium enterprises. The company assists its clients to strategize business policies and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.Allied Market Research provides one stop solution from the beginning of data collection to investment advice. The analysts at Allied Market Research dig out factors that help clients to understand the significance and impact of market dynamics. The company amplies clients insight on the factors, such as strategies, future estimations, growth or fall forecasting, opportunity analysis, and consumer surveys among others. As follows, the company offers consistent business intelligent support to aid the clients to turn into prominent business firm.ContactDavid Correa5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free: +1-800-792-5285UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1855550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Digital Signatures Market Growth Analysis by Corresponding Detailed Analysis Of The Major Player SunGard Signet Inc, DocuSign, Silanis-eSignLive, SafeNet

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A Digital Signature is a mathematical scheme for presenting the authenticity of digital messages or documents.The boom of e-commerce, online banking which raised the need for companies to secure their networks to gain customers confidence. It has led to greater and faster rate of adoption rates of digital signatures, which act as the senders personal seal of authenticity over any electronic document. However, the lack of understanding of the working of these signatures and inability to properly dispose of/discard the keys once their lifetime/usage is expired hinders the growth of this market.Dont Miss this opportunity to know more about Digital Signatures Market Size, Get a Sample ReportLeaders Of The Industry:- SunGard Signet Inc, DocuSign, Silanis-eSignLive, SafeNet, Inc., ePadLink, Topaz systems, Ascertia, Digistamp, GlobalSign, RightSignature, HelloSign, Wacom and so on.Furthermore, years considered for the study are as follows:The historical year 2013, 2016The base year 2017Forecast period 2018 to 2023Research objectivesTo study and analyze the global Digital Signatures market size by key regions/countries, product type and application, history data from 2013 to 2017, and forecast to 2023.To understand the structure of Digital Signatures market by identifying its various sub-segments.Focuses on the key global Digital Signatures players, to define, describe and analyze the value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years.To analyze the Digital Signatures with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks).To project the size of Digital Signatures submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries).To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches and acquisitions in the market.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Grab Guaranteed Discount:Segmentation by product type:SoftwareHardwareSegmentation by application:BFSIGovernmentHealthcareOil & GasMilitary and DefenseLogistics and TransportationResearch and EducationWe can also provide the customized separate regional or country-level reports, for the following regions:AmericasUnited StatesCanadaMexicoBrazilAPACChinaJapanKoreaSoutheast AsiaIndiaAustraliaEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalyRussiaSpainMiddle East & AfricaEgyptSouth AfricaIsraelTurkeyGCC CountriesWe Also Can Offer Customized Report To Fulfill Special Requirements Of Our Clients.Purchase this Premium Report (Flat 20% off Apply Coupon Code DISC20):-Table of Contents2018-2023 Global Digital Signatures Market Report (Status and Outlook)1 The scope of the Report1.1 Market Introduction1.2 Research Objectives1.3 Years Considered1.4 Market Research Methodology1.5 Economic Indicators1.6 Currency Considered2 Executive Summary2.1 World Market Overview2.1.1 Global Digital Signatures Market Size 2013-20232.1.2 Digital Signatures Market Size CAGR by Region2.2 Digital Signatures Segment by Type2.2.1 Software2.2.2 Hardware2.2.3 Services2.3 Digital Signatures Market Size by Type2.3.1 Global Digital Signatures Market Size Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global Digital Signatures Market Size Growth Rate by Type (2013-2018)2.4 Digital Signatures Segment by Application2.4.1 BFSI2.4.2 Government2.4.3 Healthcare2.4.4 Oil & Gas2.4.5 Military and Defense2.4.6 Logistics and Transportation2.4.7 Research and Education2.5 Digital Signatures Market Size by Application2.5.1 Global Digital Signatures Market Size Market Share by Application (2013-2018)2.5.2 Global Digital Signatures Market Size Growth Rate by Application (2013-2018)3 Global Digital Signatures by Players3.1 Global Digital Signatures Market Size Market Share by Players3.1.1 Global Digital Signatures Market Size by Players (2016-2018)3.1.2 Global Digital Signatures Market Size Market Share by Players (2016-2018)3.2 Global Digital Signatures Key Players Head office and Products Offered3.3 Market Concentration Rate Analysis3.3.1 Competition Landscape Analysis3.3.2 Concentration Ratio (CR3, CR5, and CR10) (2016-2018)3.4 New Products and Potential Entrants3.5 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion4 Digital Signatures by Regions4.1 Digital Signatures Market Size by Regions4.2 Americas Digital Signatures Market Size Growth4.3 APAC Digital Signatures Market Size Growth4.4 Europe Digital Signatures Market Size Growth4.5 the Middle East & Africa Digital Signatures Market Size Growth5 Americas5.1 Americas Digital Signatures Market Size by Countries5.2 Americas Digital Signatures Market Size by Type5.3 Americas Digital Signatures Market Size by Application5.4 United States5.5 Canada5.6 Mexico5.7 Key Economic Indicators of Few Americas Countries6 APAC6.1 APAC Digital Signatures Market Size by Countries6.2 APAC Digital Signatures Market Size by Type6.3 APAC Digital Signatures Market Size by Application6.4 China6.5 Japan6.6 Korea6.7 Southeast Asia6.8 India6.9 Australia6.10 Key Economic Indicators of Few APAC Countries7 Europe7.1 Europe Digital Signatures by Countries7.2 Europe Digital Signatures Market Size by Type7.3 Europe Digital Signatures Market Size by Application7.4 Germany7.5 France7.6 UK7.7 Italy7.8 Russia7.9 Spain7.10 Key Economic Indicators of Few Europe Countries8 Middle East & Africa8.1 the Middle East & Africa Digital Signatures by Countries8.2 the Middle East & Africa Digital Signatures Market Size by Type8.3 the Middle East & Africa Digital Signatures Market Size by Application8.4 Egypt8.5 South Africa8.6 Israel8.7 Turkey8.8 GCC Countries9 Market Drivers, Challenges and Trends9.1 Market Drivers and Impact9.1.1 Growing Demand from Key Regions9.1.2 Growing Demand from Key Applications and Potential Industries9.2 Market Challenges and Impact9.3 Market TrendsAbout Us:Research Reports Inc. is one of the leading destinations for market research reports across all industries, companies, and technologies. Our repository features an exhaustive list of market research reports from thousands of publishers worldwideWith our expertise and research offerings, we ensure we deliver on all your requirements, whether youre looking for the industry analysis or market trends or anything else, first time and every time!Email us sales@researchreportsinc.comCall: US / Canada Toll Free: +18554192424, UK : +4403308087757
In the month of September 2018 Rainer Strzolka travelled through Croatia, installing various artistic objects in fourteen display rooms. He had a diary, wrote lots of letters and took some pictures. Here are the pictures from the digital Crotia project shown for the first time. The pictures of the analogue project will follow in 2019. The pictures oft he first Croatia project in 2002 will follow considerably later. The 
REFURNISHED Two park benches were recently donated to Birdsong Park by The Friends of Birdsong Parklands. They were rehabbed by Howy Holmes and Sandy Trampert. In the photo, Holmes stands by...

Public hearing on marijuana licenses slated for Dec. 15 A public hearing on whether to allow or not allow marijuana on-site consumption licenses will occur at the Dec. 15 Town Board meeting. The hearing is occurring a few weeks...

Town officials planning to shift regular Town Board meeting time come January Come the second Town Board meeting in January, a big shift will be coming to future regular meetings of the board. The meeting will be starting earlier than the usual...
Photo: Richmond RCMP Two of the pythons in a holding cell at the Richmond RCMP

The provincial government now has four massive pythons in its care after they were seized from a driver in Richmond last month.

The BC Conservation Officer Service says they were called by the Richmond RCMP on Oct. 12 about the snakes, which were found in the vehicle of a man they were arresting.

The RCMP transported the snakes to their cells and called BC COS, said conservation officer Nicole Caithness.

The snakes included a 14-foot Burmese python and three reticulated pythons, one of which was 12 feet long.

Both species are banned in B.C. without a permit. All four snakes remain in provincial care.

An investigation continues.
A Lincoln High graduate has once again earned national recognition and support for a nonprofit she founded as a teen that helps bring extracurricular activities to Portland children who are a homeless.

L'Oreal Paris has selected Alisha Zhao, now a sophomore at Stanford, as one of 10 women in the United States to be named a 2018 Women of Worth. The Women of Worth program, which gets its name from L'Oreal's "Because You're Worth It" tagline, recognizes women who have "a singular vision of giving back to their communities to champion a range of charitable causes," according to a press release. The honor comes with $10,000 to support Zhao's cause.

Beginning Thursday the public will be able to vote on which of the 10 women will be named the national honoree, which puts an additional $25,000 toward her cause.

Zhao's cause is her nonprofit, Kids First Project, which gives homeless students in Portland access to extracurricular activities. Zhao's interest in how homelessness hurts children's educations began at 14, Zhao told The Oregonian/OregonLive. She decided to volunteer at the shelter near Lincoln High, just as her older brother had. She was stunned to find girls and boys her age. Homelessness was something she thought of as an adult issue.

Kids First Project 5 Gallery: Kids First Project

She saw services offering adults job training and help with housing. What she didn't see was programming that had children's needs in mind. Teens and children at the shelter had the same concerns and hopes she did, but their experiences were so different, she said, because of the resources she had access to.

So, Zhao set out to find a way to get skilled people in the community to volunteer their time so that children living in a shelter could have access to the extracurricular activities they otherwise miss out on.

The idea began as a school club, but, eventually, she realized the concept was bigger than a club. The effort needed volunteers and infrastructure. She searched for an established organization that the club could partner with, but no one seemed to have the capacity. So, the next step was to create a nonprofit.

"I thought that getting 501(c)(3) status itself was going to be the most daunting part, but that ended up being one of the most easy things," she said. "It was daunting to realize we would have to create bylaws, apply for grants, create a board."

Her classmates helped, and Kids First Project became a robust nonprofit that gives homeless children access to tutoring, mentoring, the arts, skills classes and games.

In 2016, when Zhao was a junior at Lincoln High, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards named her one of the nation's 10 top teen volunteers.

"This point in child development is so critical for a person's entire life," she said. "For kids experiencing homelessness, lacking resources to extracurriculars really impacts their development."

 Bethany Barnes

bbarnes@oregonian.com
By Steven C. Beda

(THE CONVERSATION) Dick Jenkins is a fourth-generation rancher living in Oregon's most remote county. I wanted to know why he continues living in a rural community, even though life elsewhere might be easier.

"Taking care of [the land] is worth more than all the money in the world," he told me. "Taking care of the animals, taking care of the environment, it all goes together and we're very proud of it."

While Dick's answer was more evocative than I could've hoped for, I can't say I was surprised by it.

I'm a historian who studies the rural Northwest, and I've spent a fair amount of time talking with loggers, miners, fisherman and ranchers like Dick.

Each one of them, in their own way, articulates a similar sentiment: Whatever hardships contemporary rural life may pose - and there are many - it's their love of the land and desire to protect it that keeps them put.

This is not a description of rural life you typically hear.

Many stories about rural America, particularly during election cycles like we're in now, portray rural communities as political monoliths made up of nothing more than angry ranchers frustrated with the Bureau of Land Management, what's commonly called "the BLM." Or you see camouflage-clad militia members hoping to overthrow the government.

These people do exist in rural communities. The Three Percenters, a heavily-armed militia whose members advocate the violent overthrow of the U.S. government, has a sizable presence in Harney County, the same county Dick lives in.

And the sheriff of Grant County, just to the north, is a self-described "constitutional sheriff" who believes his power supersedes the federal government's.

But for every AR-15 wielding militia member or rancher angrily shaking his fist at the BLM, there's likely a dozen like Dick who want to find peaceful ways to protect their interests and the environment.

Rebellion vs. collaboration

The tone in recent news coverage of rural issues was largely set in the late 1970s, when ranchers started protesting new BLM limits on grazing in what became known as the "Sagebrush Rebellion." These protests were sometimes dramatic, like when ranchers bulldozed road barriers that had been erected to limit access to wilderness areas.

While the origins of many present-day rural extremist movements can be traced back to frustrations with BLM policy in the 1970s, the Sagebrush Rebellion spawned another less talked-about movement: collaborative land management.

Many people recognized that fighting over wilderness, grazing rights, timber harvests and endangered species protections was getting them nowhere.

So in the 1990s, rural workers sat down with environmentalists, government agents and tribal representatives, and together they worked out agreements that would protect the land, preserve tribal resource rights and allow for continued grazing, mining and logging.

Rarely were these conversations easy.

One early collaborative effort, Northern California's Quincy Library Group, was so named because members met in a setting that would force them to keep their voices - and tempers - in check.

But these difficult conversations bore results.

To name just two examples, ranchers and environmentalists in Idaho have collectively used conservation funds to preserve agriculture and critical habitat along the Snake River. And in Dick Jenkins' Harney County, ranchers, BLM agents, environmentalists and members of the Burns Paiute Tribe work together through the High Desert Partnership to collectively manage the land.

As several scholars have documented, these collaborative partnerships are a source of local pride in many rural communities.

Competing images

So if many rural people are proud of their ability to collaborate, why are we seeing more anger and more high-profile protests directed at environmentalists and the federal government throughout the rural West, what some have called a "second Sagebrush Rebellion"?

The answer is that in recent years it's mostly been newcomers or outsiders who've attempted to mobilize imagined rural anger in order to advance their own narrow political goals.

This was certainly the case during the highly publicized takeover of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in 2016.

Led by a group calling itself the Citizens for Constitutional Freedom, the occupiers argued that the Constitution did not give the federal government the right to own land. They hoped to turn BLM land over to local control and turn Harney County into the first "Constitutional county."

Of the roughly dozen occupiers who said they were fighting for the rights of Oregon ranchers, only one, Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, was actually a rancher - from Arizona. The group's leader, Ammon Bundy, is the son of an infamous Nevada rancher, but he worked as a car fleet manager prior to leading the standoff. And only one, Walter "Butch" Eaton, was from Oregon, and he stayed with the occupiers for just a half hour before deciding to walk home.

Their 'own voice'

These outsiders have been challenged by people in rural communities.

At least in Oregon, the Rural Organizing Project has been at the forefront of efforts to help rural communities fight outside extremist groups.

Founded in the early 1990s to help people in rural communities organize against local anti-gay ordinances, the project has since grown into a network of rural activistswho, according to the group's website, "facilitate local organizing, communication and political analysis."

When the paramilitary group the Oath Keepers occupied the Sugar Pine Mine in Oregon's Josephine County in April 2015, project activists and local community members quickly mobilized to communicate to both politicians and the media that the militia members did not have the support of the community.

According to a statement released by the coalition, the Oath Keepers were "individuals from outside our community" there to "advance their own agenda."

A year later, during the Malheur occupation, the project organized a day of action, coordinating rallies, meetings and press conferences in rural communities across Oregon to again clearly communicate to the media and decision-makers that a handful of armed protesters did not speak for most rural people.

A billboard that Harney County residents put up during the 2016 occupation speaks volumes about the way many rural people feel about these outsiders. It read: "We Are HARNEY COUNTY. We Have OUR OWN VOICE."

A less divisive future

To be perfectly clear, many ranchers, loggers and miners have problems with federal bureaucracies and environmental organizations.

Underfunded and overburdened by arcane rules, the BLM has a massive backlog of grazing permit applications. Federal timber sales are routinely tied up in litigation.

Many rural people are likewise troubled by the federal government's waning investment in rural economies and rapidly declining funding for rural education and social services.

The journalists who report on the radical fringes of rural America are doing important work. Their stories shine light on dangerous political trends that, if allowed to grow in the shadows, might become something even more dangerous than they already are.

But ranchers like Dick Jenkins, groups like the Rural Organizing Project and other rural people committed to collaboration need to have their stories heard, too.

Paying as much attention to them as so-called Sagebrush Rebels just might show that while there are indeed many problems in rural America, most rural people are committed to bringing about a more amicable future.

-- Steven C. Beda of the University of Oregon.

The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.
Democratic Gov. Kate Brown leads her Republican challenger Rep. Knute Buehler by 3 percentage points, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The survey suggests Oregon's governor's race is tight in the final days before Tuesday's 8 p.m. deadline for voters to return their ballots. Forty-five percent of people polled by The Hoffman Research Group said they planned to or had already voted for Brown, compared with 42 percent who supported Buehler.

Brown's lead is within the margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points, meaning it's possible she could pull off a more decisive win or lose to Buehler. Hoffman surveyed 694 likely voters by landline and cell phone.

The Hoffman survey also asked respondents whether they had already turned in their ballots. Among those who had, Brown held a 6 percentage point lead.

"It's obviously tightened," said Hoffman's pollster Tim Nashif, whose firm is based in Portland. In Hoffman's last poll, released in September, Brown held a 10 percentage-point lead.

Another notable poll result was that undecided voters were more than twice as likely to voice support for Buehler: 28 percent compared with 12 percent for Brown. However, the number of undecided voters in the survey was small: just 49 people.

-- Hillary Borrud

hborrud@oregonian.com

503-294-4034; @hborrud
Two years after a series of natural gas explosions rocked the core of the Northwest 23rd business district, the company responsible for the devastation now faces a total of 10 lawsuits.

The last seven lawsuits were filed earlier this month just before a two-year statute of limitations deadline passed for initiating litigation.

Altogether, the plaintiffs are seeking more than $15 million in compensation from Loy Clark Pipeline Co. for injuries that include hearing loss, lingering ringing in their ears, cuts, bruises, brain damage and post traumatic stress disorder.

Among those suing are a Northwest Natural gas investigator who was at the scene to investigate the gas leak, a hair stylist who had just arrived at the Dosha salon, a dental hygienist and patient at a nearby office who were pelted by shards of flying glass and a chiropractor who was thrown to the floor of his clinic.

Officials estimated the three explosions in quick succession caused $17.2 million in damage to surrounding buildings after a Loy Clark Pipeline excavator dug into a gas line 30 inches underground near Northwest 23rd Avenue and Glisan Street. At least eight firefighters, police officers and residents were injured.

The Tualatin-based company has acknowledged causing the blasts.

Andrea Blessum, a spokeswoman for Loy Clark Pipeline, said the company has been working to compensate people for their losses.

Most people who suffered damages have not sued.

More than 90 percent of the claims we received have been settled, Blessum said in an email. We continue to work closely with our insurer to ensure that the remaining claims are handled as quickly as possible.

Blessum declined to say how many claims the company has paid, or how much money has exchanged hands.

Chiropractor Scott Shephard, one of the plaintiffs in the 10 lawsuits, was consumed with worry in the first moments after he was knocked to the ground by one of the big blasts.

He was left stunned thinking that his staff and patients were dead, his lawsuit says. It was filed Oct. 18.

Jason Kundell, who ran the tattoo business Art Work Rebels on Northwest 23rd, claims in a lawsuit that the blasts not only obliterated his business and the troves of photos of his artwork inside, but they ate away at his marriage, too.

Kundell and his wife, Erin Kundell, are suing for $6.5 million. Erin Kundell was pregnant at the time and feeling abandoned after the premature birth of their child because Jason Kundell was focused on rebuilding the tattoo business, the suit says. At the same time, Jason Kundell felt unsupported as he tried to reclaim his lifes work, the suit says.

He has relocated his shop to downtown Portland.

The damage caused by the Loy Clark Pipeline explosion led Erin and Jason Kundell to significant personal losses and bitter estrangement in their marriage, their suit says.

Two of the lawsuits were filed by insurance companies, who paid the businesses they insured and now want Loy Clark Pipeline to reimburse them. That includes the Phoenix Insurance Co., which paid more than $1 million to the popular dessert shop, Moonstruck Chocolate Co.

Many of the lawsuits fault Loy Clark Pipeline for an alleged reckless response: failing to immediately call 911 despite the heavy odor of natural gas, a manhole cover that rattled violently as gas shot out from underneath it and a loud roaring coming from a gas shutoff valve, according to the lawsuits.

A Loy Clark Pipeline worker notified Northwest Natural gas, but waited 19 minutes before calling 911, some of the lawsuits note. The gas ignited at 9:38 a.m. into the series of explosions.

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Oregon Public Utility Commission found Loy Clark Pipeline dug into a sidewalk without first calling to see if there were natural gas lines underneath. OSHA fined Loy Clark Pipeline $4,900 for safety violations.

All 10 lawsuits were filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

-- Aimee Green
A 67-year-old man who attacked a stranger in downtown Portland in 1996 was found guilty Wednesday of first-degree rape and sodomy after the testing of DNA from a sexual assault kit that had been shelved for more than two decades.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Thomas Ryan found Jihad Eldeen Moore guilty after a three-day trial. Moore attacked the woman in Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

"He deliberately targeted her, lured her to an isolated area and once she was seated on the ground, his assault was immediate and brutal, said Deputy District Attorney Tara Gardner during closing arguments.

Brent Weisberg, a spokesman for the prosecutors office, said the woman has requested privacy, but released this statement:

"I never thought this day would come. It would have been better for everyone had the kit been tested years ago. It is hard to relive this so many years later, but justice is finally served.

It certainly lets others know that no matter how long it has been, you have to own your actions and pay for what you have done.

I do feel sorry for Mr. Moore's family and mine. This has been hard on all of us, but I am happy to have closure and to help others have the confidence to report rapes and/or sexual abuse."

The judge's decision marks the fourth time such an offender has been brought to justice in Multnomah County since prosecutors and police embarked on a massive mission in 2015 to test evidence collected from nearly 3,000 kits in Multnomah, Marion and Lane counties that sat untouched for years.

Police and prosecutors have

of those kits, plus about 2,000 others in other parts of the state. The testing was made possible by a nearly $2 million grant from the Manhattan District Attorneys Office and $1.5 million from the Oregon Legislature.

Testing of a kit collected from Moores victim in 1996 led to a match to Moore in 2017. Moores DNA was on file because of his extensive criminal history of robbery, assault and drug possession. He was first convicted when he was 30 years old.

At the time of the rape, Moore was 44 and the woman was 26. Shes now in her late 40s. When Portland police contacted her last year and said theyd found a DNA match, the woman said she wanted to proceed with an investigation of her attacker, according to the prosecution.

living in low-income housing in Old Town. He appeared much more frail than he once had been. He said he had cancer in 2013, and walked with a cane because he was still recovering from a recent broken hip, according to a defense memo.

Now that Moore has been found guilty, he faces a minimum of at least eight years and four months in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced in December.

-- Aimee Green
A man was arrested Wednesday as a suspect in a Northwest Portland stabbing and a woman was arrested on suspicion of trying to hide the knife used in the attack.

Robert E. Fogelman, 39, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on suspicion of second-degree assault. Nenita R. Gatlin, 45, was accused of evidence tampering. Police described Gatlin as an acquaintance of Fogelman's.

According to Portland police, an unidentified man was found wounded shortly after 12:15 p.m. Wednesday near Northwest Naito Parkway and West Burnside Street. He was taken to a hospital and his injuries appeared to be non-life-threatening, police said.

Witnesses provided officers a description of the alleged assailant and it led them to Fogelman and Gatlin, police said. Officers were able to find the knife used in the stabbing.

All three people knew each other, police said. It's not immediately clear what led to the stabbing.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey
A 64-year-old man has been identified Wednesday as the person found dead last week in Southwest Portland.

No foul play is suspected in the death of Gary Dunkley, said Portland Police Bureau spokesman Sgt. Chris Burley. Investigators are still awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine how he died.

Authorities said Dunkley's remains were discovered last Friday by Portland police officers and members of Mountain Wave Search and Rescue about 30 feet down an embankment near Southwest Capitol Highway and Barbur Boulevard.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey
Portland's first bookstore and bar combo is having its grand opening this weekend, just in time for the rainy season.



The Rose City Book Pub, at 1329 N.E. Fremont St., had what owner Elise Schumock called a "slow-pening" this week, with the big festivities planned for Saturday.

The pub is located in the former County Cork space, where Schumock has added book shelves and cozy reading nooks to the former Irish bar.

An estimated 7,000 to 8,000 used books currently for sale at the bar came from the personal collection of Schumock and her family. Her dad, Jim Schumock, was a long-time KBOO radio host who interviewed authors for "Between the Covers." Fair to say, they have an extensive book collection that's heavy on modern American literary fiction.

"My family were all readers and the house was always lined with books," said Schumock, who grew up nearby in Northeast Portland. "It looked a lot like my store."

Schumock's background is as a high school and middle school Latin teacher. She's never run a bar or restaurant, but has been working toward opening the book pub for years and has hired folks with experience in the industry.

The pub will serve cafe and bistro style food, with soup, sandwiches and vegan and gluten-free options. Kids are welcome until 9 p.m., and there's an after-school snack menu and a nook full of children's books.

The pub hopes to host community meetings and book clubs, with quiet hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Look for the in-house Book Pub Book Club to launch in January or February.)

"One person said 'It's so Portland, it hurts,' " Schumock said. "It's just such an obvious business model for Portland. This is the kind of thing people want to be doing here. Tons of readers here, tons of drinkers, and people who like something high quality. And it's also so cozy and winter-y to sit with a drink and maybe a cup of soup and be inside with the warmth of the noise and the people around you, like the old mead halls in Beowulf."

And if it ever gets too loud, ask for complimentary ear plugs from the bar staff.

IF YOU GO: Saturday's grand opening celebration starts at 11 a.m. and runs all night. Festivities include a 2 p.m. pinata party, several bands, tastings and samples from local beer reps, a magician, $1-a-minute massages, and a one-liner joke open mic.

-- Samantha Swindler

@editorswindler / 503-294-4031

sswindler@oregonian.com
Israel's envoy to the memorial ceremonies for the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims says it's "unfair and wrong" to link the tragedy to President Donald Trump.

Naftali Bennett, the Israeli minister for diaspora affairs, lauded Trump's support for Israel and his denunciation of anti-Semitism, saying: "With President Trump, we never have to worry if he has our backs."

His comments late Tuesday came as Trump paid a visit to Pittsburgh amid accusations that the president's fiery rhetoric had contributed to the climate of violence.

Top elected officials avoided him and one of the families of the 11 victims asked not to meet him.

Israel's envoys to the United States and the Union Nations have also tried to distance Trump from the attack.

-PTI
Deputies are asking for help finding a Washington County woman who hasn't been seen for roughly a month and a half.

Roxanne Slayton

A member of Roxanne Slayton's family contacted the county sheriff's office Oct. 15 to say she hadn't been seen in about a month. Slayton, 36, has medical problems and isn't thought to have access to "critical medications," the sheriff's office said.

Her last known address was at an apartment complex at 12070 SW Fischer Rd. near King City. She has ties to King County, Washington, as well.

Deputies said she's 5-foot-6 and has black hair and brown eyes. She weighs about 180 lbs.

Detectives want to talk to anyone who has seen or heard from Slayton over the past month. The sheriff's office asks anyone who has information to call 503-846-2700.

-- Jim Ryan
For Midland native Joe Settineri, music is "the lowest common denominator" -- it can connect people across time and distance and allow them to relate to the subject of a song. The musician, who now lives in Los Angeles, has released his newest song, "Batman Cries." The single deals with the inner battle many have within themselves.

Settineri developed an interest in music and performing arts at a young age. He studied French horn at Bullock Creek High School and was involved with Teenage Musicals Inc. at the Midland Center for the Arts in the summer. He earned a business degree from the University of Michigan and worked for Intel Corp. in California, but music was always in the back of his mind. For his seven-year sabbatical, Settineri attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

"As I was there, I did a lot of soul searching," Settineri said in a recent phone interview.

Soon after he returned to the States, Settineri decided to pursue music as a career. He became involved in musical theater, appearing in shows in Los Angeles and New York.

"The whole time, I was always writing. It took me a while to get my courage up and share it."

Settineri developed his style, releasing his first album, "Stay" in 2009, followed by "Beyond Your Control" in 2014. He describes his songs as "adult pop," which has a more broken down, acoustic sound. He eventually became connected with Nashville-based music producer Mike Krompass, who has worked with musicians including Smash Mouth and David Archuleta. The two of them worked to produce three new singles. The ballad "Hello Goodbye" was released earlier this summer. In October "Batman Cries" premiered.

"It was kinda a little idea I had that even the strongest people I know break down," Settineri explained.

Settineri mulled the notion of writing a song linked with mental health and thought about superheroes.

While he doesn't claim to be an expert about comic book heroes, he thought of the Caped Crusader.

"Batman, out of all of them, has the coldest demeanor, he doesn't let anything out," he said, adding that if Batman is crying, the situation is really bad.

For this collection of songs, Settineri went a step further and began making music videos, adding another dimension to the music. For "Batman Cries" he dressed in dark clothes, applied a bit of dark eye makeup and shot everything in one night between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. The end result introduces another possible facet of the song: What if the hero is you.

"I don't think we cheer for ourselves, I don't think we know how. And sometimes we're the only one who can," he said.

Settineri's third single "Oxygen" is planned for release in January. Although he doesn't have any albums planned, Settineri hopes to continue releasing singles that listeners can relate to.

"I want them to hear the sound that we've created. I'd love it if someone hears my music and connects for it for a moment."

Settineri's music is available for purchase through iTunes. For more information on the artist and to view music videos for "Hello Goodbye" and "Batman Cries," visit his website, www.settineri.com
Having approved medical marijuana in 2008, Michigan voters now have the option to approve the use of recreational marijuana when they head to the polls on Nov. 6.

A recent Midland Area Chamber of Commerce Wake UP! Midland event brought together individuals for a forum regarding the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana, or Proposal 1:

 Josh Hovey, communications director for Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol

 Midland Chief of Police Cliff Block

 Healthy and Productive Michigan President Scott Greenlee

 Wendy Block, Michigan Chamber of Commerce vice president of business advocacy.

If approved, the proposal would make Michigan the 10th state to allow recreational marijuana and would:

 Allow individuals over 21 to purchase, possess and use marijuana and marijuana-infused edibles and grow up to 12 marijuana plants for personal consumption.

 Impose a 10-ounce limit for marijuana kept at residences

 Create a state licensing system for marijuana businesses and allow municipalities to ban or restrict them.

 Permit retail sales of marijuana and edibles subject to a 10 percent tax (in addition to the 6 percent sales tax).

 Change several current violations from crimes to civil infraction.

"We feel that the prohibition of marijuana has been a failure just like the prohibition of alcohol," Hovey stated. "It has led to unsafe and untested products."

He also stated that the majority of voters in Michigan favor recreational marijuana.

"Over 50 percent of voters think we need to regulate and tax marijuana," Hovey said. "About the same percentage across the country agree with that. We're seeing more and more states do this."

Greenlee claimed that Proposal 1 is the most important proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot.

"If we approve it as voters, it's still illegal on the federal level," Greenlee claimed. "If we approve it, we are essentially saying, 'Federal government, we are picking and choosing what laws we want to enforce.'"

Criminalization

Hovey stated that the the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that marijuana is safer and less addictive than alcohol and tobacco. The addiction rate for marijuana is: 9 percent; while alcohol is 13 percent; and tobacco is 32 percent. He also stated that Michigan is arresting 20,000 people annually for minor possession issues of marijuana.

"We think we can redirect those law enforcement resources to more important things like the opioid epidemic, violent crime and things that are truly impacting our quality of life in Michigan," Hovey said.

Greenlee countered with the effect that beer and marijuana have on a person.

"Even though you want to regulate it like alcohol, it is very different. If you had a beer last night, this morning the alcohol is out of your system," he said. "But, marijuana stays in your system for up to 25 days. That means if you used marijuana last night, three weeks from now, it could still be in your system."

Cliff Block shared his concerns regarding the black market sale of marijuana.

"The black market is already in Michigan. They're in Midland County," he said. "They are coming because they expect it to pass. And when it passes they are looking at a lot of opportunities to make a lot of money."

Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012.

"When I talk to (police chiefs) from Colorado, I ask them what is their biggest concern about the legalization of marijuana? Crime, driving and the quality of life," Block added.

Taxation in Michigan

The tax revenue would be divided between schools, roads and local governments. Over the last five years, Colorado has raised $500 million of tax revenue from marijuana. Expectations for Michigan are similar.

"We think we can generate a significant amount of revenue to help meet our state's most important needs," Hovey said. "The first tax dollars go to the enforcement and establishment of the law."

Greenlee stated that Michigan would be the only state in the Midwest to allow recreational marijuana and the tax rate of 10 percent would be the lowest of any state with legalized marijuana.

"Guess where people are going to flock?" he asked.

Local government

Local units of government would have the authority to determine whether, or not, there would be local licensing and zoning for marijuana.

Workplace safety

Businesses will maintain the right to test and ban employees from use.

Hovey cited statements from the International Drug Policy and National Academy of Sciences that stated they have not found " strong connection with workplace safety and states that legalize."

Wendy Block is hearing different concerns from members.

"We are hearing from our members every day the problems of hiring and talent," she said. "One of the key issues is that nobody can pass a drug test."

Sale of edibles

"They say they are not going to market to kids. Google, 'marijuana candies, marijuana sodas, Colorado' and take a look at the pictures and the packaging. You tell me, if they are marketing to adults or if they are marketing to build up a lifetime customer?" Wendy Block said.

For a non-biased view:

 ProCon.org -- www.Procon.com

Pro organizations:

 Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol -- www.regulatemi.org

 Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) -- www.mpp.org

Con organizations:

 Healthy and Productive Michigan -- www.healthyandproductivemi.org

 Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM Action) -- www.learnaboutsam.org/
By Howard Ungerleider

And Mark Bassett

Guest View

Raise your hand if you want a stronger, more competitive Michigan. And then raise your voice this November in supporting pro-business candidates who will continue Michigan's comeback.

Just eight years ago, Michigan's business climate ranked 50th in the nation -- dead last. Businesses were shedding jobs and our people were moving out of state. Michigan lost more than 850,000 jobs from 2000-2009, and was the only state to see its population shrink during that time.

Since then, we have made tremendous progress. Today, Michigan's economy is the nation's seventh-fastest growing since 2009, and our business climate ranking has improved to 25th. The state has added a half million new jobs and our population has increased -- unthinkable just a decade ago. In fact, Michigan has the highest migration of people with bachelor's degrees of all the Great Lakes region.

Michigan's comeback has not happened by accident. Our businesses, our communities and our citizens and colleagues have put in the hard work and taken decisive and forward-looking action.

And while we celebrate the progress, we must also remain focused on the work that still lies ahead. For example, consider that:

 Only 23 percent of Michigan's high school graduates are prepared for a career or college.

 Michigan ranks 46th in fourth-grade reading proficiency and 37th in eighth-grade math proficiency.

 Only 12 states rank below Michigan for percentage of urban roads in poor condition.

As members of Business Leaders for Michigan -- a roundtable of executives from our state's largest jobs providers and universities -- we are committed to addressing these challenges, and to supporting candidates in November who are equally committed to the continued advancement of our great state.

Business Leaders for Michigan's "Plan for a Stronger Michigan" provides the road map to continue our economic revival and position us as a top 10 state for jobs and a healthy economy. It is focused on three key priorities: competing to create a stronger economic environment; investing in the talent and infrastructure needs to meet future demands; and growing Michigan into a thriving place that is the center of innovation.

Achieving our position as a top 10 state today would mean 34,000 more citizens would call Michigan home, and each would earn an average of $9,500 more annual income.

The Michigan comeback story has the potential to be an example for other states to follow. And the ending has not yet been written. We all have the opportunity to be the authors. We hope you will join us in raising your hand --and your voice -- this November in supporting pro-business candidates who will continue Michigan's comeback.

Howard Ungerleider is the chief financial officer of Dow. Mark Bassett is chairman and chief executive officer of Hemlock Semiconductor.
UK-based airline and airport assistance services provider OmniServ has appointed Jim Niblock (left) as the companys new operations director.

Niblock has more than 20 years experience in the aviation industry, working with airlines and airports around the globe. He joins OmniServ from OCS Group, where he was UK operations director for three years. Before OCS, he worked with Menzies Aviation, EasyJet and Servisair at airports including Aberdeen, Glasgow, Luton, Stansted and Gatwick. At Menzies, he also spent a number of years working in the USA, Mexico and the Caribbean.

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In his most recent role at OCS, he was responsible for 900 staff generating annual revenue of 50m (US$65m) and handling 240,000 flights a year throughout the UK, including passengers with reduced mobility (PRM).

In his new role at OmniServ, Niblock will immediately assume responsibility for OmniServs airline operations at Heathrow and Gatwick, with a particular focus on driving innovation and service excellence. He will report to Antony Marke, managing director of OmniServ.

Commenting on the appointment, Marke said, Im delighted to welcome Jim to the OmniServ family  his 20 years of experience in the aviation industry and his in-depth knowledge of numerous UK airports will be invaluable to us as we expand our coverage, which includes a significant new contract win to provide a managed ground handling staffing solution for Ryanair at London Stansted Airport. He obviously has huge experience managing complex services, operations and logistics within our industry and the opportunities we face.

Niblock added, It is an honor to be joining the OmniServ family and I look forward to working with Antony and the team to help develop our business portfolio within the UK and European aviation market, building on a solid foundation of quality service, professionalism and dependability already established in the OmniServ brand. With a reputation of leading from the front, the OmniServ team is one of the best in the business and always strives to deliver for the customer.
The father of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee, said back in 1990 that the 'NeXT' computer that Steve Jobs invented was "intuitive on the outside and extensible and cool engineering on the inside." He went on to describe the ease of working with the NeXT computer: "Programming the WorldWideWeb client was remarkably easy on the NeXT." Tim Berners-Lee in 2018 is now saying that the big Tech Giants have to be split up.

In a new Reuters report today they note that "The digital revolution has spawned a handful of U.S.-based technology companies since the 1990s that now have a combined financial and cultural power greater than most sovereign states.

In particular, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Facebook have a combined market capitalization of $3.7 trillion, equal to Germanys gross domestic product last year.

Tim Berners-Lee, a London-born computer scientist who invented the Web in 1989, said he was disappointed with the current state of the internet, following scandals over the abuse of personal data and the use of social media to spread hate.

Now a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Oxford, Berners-Lee expressed dismay at the way consultancy Cambridge Analytica obtained the personal data of 87 million Facebook users from a researcher.

That scandal, he said, was a tipping point for many. 'We have lost the feeling of individual empowerment and to a certain extent also I think the optimism has cracked'

Berners-Lee went on to say that If you put a drop of love into Twitter it seems to decay but if you put in a drop of hatred you feel it actually propagates much more strongly. And you wonder: Well is that because of the way that Twitter as a medium has been built?'" for more on this story, read the full Reuters report here.




A new school has opened in the New Cumberland area.

New Story, a private school that offers programs for students with special needs, opened new location at 774 Limekiln Road in Fairview Townhip, York County on Monday. The location will serve students from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

New Story is a private licensed academic school that provides special education and behavioral health services to students who have been diagnosed with autism or emotional/behavioral disorders. New Story says it serves as an alternative educational placement for students who are temporarily unable to be successful in the public school environment. Students maintain a regular academic schedule including reading, math, social studies and science, and are also taught life skills as well. The school focuses on what skills the student will need to return back to the district.

The school is located in a 25,000-square-foot facility that houses 12 classrooms with smart boards for every classroom. New Story will work with school districts in Adams, York, Cumberland, Franklin, Lebanon, Berks, and Lancaster counties. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Oct. 25 with the Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce. New Story was founded in 1997, and has numerous locations in Pennsylvania and Ohio. New Story also has a facility in Lower Paxton Township.

Left to Right in the front row are: Larissa Bailey (representative of Senator Pat Toomeys office), Kara Luzek Canale (Vice President of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC), Pennsylvania State Representative Dawn Keefer, Paul Volosov (the founder of New Story), Nichole Arnold (Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for New Story in the central region), Kara Kessel and Dana Monroe (President of New Story).

--Business Buzz
The closing of its woolen mill will mark yet another chapter for Woolrich Inc., the iconic outdoor clothing company which has been in business in Pennsylvania since 1830.

The fabric manufacturing operations at the Woolen Mill in Woolrich, Clinton County are expected to end by the end of the year, and will affect up to 40 employees in the Mill, according to LockHaven.com.

The company said that the decision to close the mill was made following a comprehensive review of the company's overall woven fabric business and the "considerable capital improvements" needed to modernize and maintain viable operations, the report said.

The announcement follows a recent ownership change for Woolrich.

W.P. Lavori of Italy sold a majority share of Woolrich International to L-GAM Advisers, an investment company based in Luxembourg. Woolrich Inc. was a privately-owned company until 2016.

Woolrich still has a store in Woolrich as well as stores in New York City and Boston and a number of other stores outside of the Untied States.
Good Thursday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

We've suspected for a while now that the

16th Congressional District

race between long-serving Republican

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly

and Democrat

Ron DiNicola

could be one of the sleeper surprises of the 2018 midterms.

And a new poll out by GOP-leaning Susquehanna Polling & Research and ABC-27 TV in Harrisburg adds some fuel to that fire this Thursday morning.

It shows DiNicola, an ex-Marine and former Erie County solicitor, with a 51-47 percent advantage over Kelly, a four-term incumbent, with 6 percent of voters undecided.

But because the poll had a 5 percent margin of error, the result means the campaign could be anyone's ballgame.

The result is a pivot from a New York Times/Siena College live poll that showed Kelly with a 50-42 percent lead over DiNicola.

In that canvass, more than four in 10 respondents, about the same who said they had a favorable impression of Kelly, didn't know enough about DiNicola to form an opinion.

For those of you playing along at home, the 16th District includes heavily Democratic Erie County, along with Crawford, Lawrence and Mercer counties, and a chunk of Butler County.

"If voters turn out, we are going to win this race because we have had a message of cleaning up the corruption and dysfunction in Washington, trying to tone down the rhetoric in congress and get congress back on the side of working families," DiNicola told WFMJ-TV on Wednesday. "I'm prepared to work with the President on things that benefit Western Pennsylvania and prepared to roll up our sleeves to try and end the dominance of money over the political process so we can have a fair process that works for the citizens of western Pennsylvania."

The rest of the day's news starts now.



Gov. Tom Wolf and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey have comfortable leads over their respective challengers in the last Franklin & Marshall poll of the fall campaign, PennLive's Ron Southwick reports.

State Rep. Vanessa Lowery-Brown, a Philadelphia Democrat, has been found guilty of corruption charges by a Dauphin County jury, The Inquirer reports.

The Morning Call has a handy interactive map of donor activity in races for U.S. Senate and the Governor's Office.

WESA-FM looks at some dark money being funneled into Democratic races statewide.

A suburban Philly House race is being roiled by accusations of anti-Semitic attacks on the Democratic challenger, The Inquirer also reports.

The Incline looks at the odds that the accused Pittsburgh synagogue shooter will get the death penalty.

Here's your #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day:

GOP Senate candidate Lou Barletta's final campaign ad is a sharp attack on Democrat Bob Casey (via PoliticsPA).



A majority of respondents to a new Politico/Morning Consult poll blames both President Donald Trump - and the press - for dividing the country.

Veteran observer Stu Rothenberg offers a few observations on the midterms, including what might happen in Pennsylvania on Tuesday night (via Roll Call).

Heavy Rotation.

Here's one from Swedish pop chanteuse

Robyn

to get your Thusday morning going.

And now you're up to date.
Philadelphia police officers were tracking a vehicle wanted in connection with a homicide, but the driver managed to elude them.

Then the officers spotted the driver, this time out of the vehicle and sitting, unarmed, on a sidewalk with a hand in his jacket pocket, according to investigators.

The officers aimed their weapons at the man and ordered him several times to show his hands, officials said.

That is when one of the officers, Eric Ruch Jr., 30, fired one shot, striking the suspect in the left hand and the head -- a mortal wound that would claim the mans life despite being rushed to a hospital.

Now, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross has announced that Officer Ruch was not justified in using lethal force when he shot the suspect, Dennis Plowden, 25, on the night of Dec. 27, 2017, as NBC-10 in Philly reports.

As a result, Ross will be fired from the force pending the departments termination process, the news station reports, adding:

Ross also said that Ruch used poor tactics when he opened fire on Plowden and "did not display the proper handling or discharge of his department issued firearm," in according with the department's use of force policy.

The officer shouldve taken advantage of cover and concealment as the other three officers did, Ross said. This wouldve afforded him the opportunity to deescalate the situation where time was on his side. The other officers did not fire.

There was no word on whether the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office will pursue charges against Ruch, who is a 10-year veteran of the 35th District, NBC-10 added.

Meanwhile, the Fraternal Order of Police released a statement regarding Officer Ruch, stating:

We will represent officer Eric Ruch Jr. against these latest allegations," they wrote. "Our attorneys will gather all the facts of the case and appropriately defend the officer.Philadelphia police officers were tracking a vehicle wanted in connection with a homicide, but the driver managed to elude them.
BELLEVILLE, Ill.  The Bishop of Belleville, Ill., apparently had two very different visits to Catholic schools this week.

At Our Lady Queen of Peace in Belleville, he told fifth- and sixth-grade students that there is no Santa Claus and they should not celebrate Halloween, according to parents.

At Blessed Sacrament School, he answered their questions about clergy sex abuse and famous people he had met, and asked what they would dress as for Halloween, the principal said.

Edward K. Braxtons office did not offer any comment to messages left on Wednesday afternoon. The Queen of Peace School office confirmed the bishop had been at the school on Tuesday but had no further comment.

It was something that shouldnt have been said, one parent said on Wednesday of the bishops remarks to the fifth- and sixth-graders.

Boyd Ahlers, father of a fifth-grade boy and sixth-grade girl, said his son had believed in Santa.

He doesnt believe now, Ahlers said. I told (my son)  . it was something that shouldnt have been said. (Santa Claus) was something that was done for the child, the joy of the child to experience Christmas  the spirit of Christmas, and eventually he would have learned.

Today during his visit Bishop Edward Braxton decides to tell the 5th and 6th grade children at Our Lady Queen of Peace... Posted by Boyd Ahlers on Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Parents and others took to Facebook on Wednesday to express their anger and frustration over Braxtons remarks, with many saying he ruined the holiday and the spirit behind it for little children. Several contacted the News-Democrat to confirm their children reported he said Santa was not real, but declined to speak on the record.

Another parent of a sixth-grade boy remained angry on Wednesday afternoon that his parental responsibility had been usurped by Braxton.

Its my job to tell (my son), not his, said Ray Schott, who also has a daughter in kindergarten. He and his wife hope to keep the news from their daughter.

These kids are exposed to so much, so early. (Santa) is the last pure thing in a childs life. It hurts. He had no right to do any of that, Schott said.

His son had tears in his eyes after school Tuesday, Schott said, and told his family that his heart was broken.

He isnt real, but that doesnt mean he isnt in your heart.  Im not the only parent who had to explain early why he said what he said, Schott said.

Ahlers said all the kids are school are talking about it, and even the very young children are sure to hear that the Bishop said there is no Santa.

Bishop Braxton was at Blessed Sacrement on Wednesday afternoon, the principal there said, and spoke to all the classes.

The students asked him questions  ranging from the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church to famous people he has met  and he asked what they were learning, Principal Claire Hatch said.

He also asked the kids what they were going to dress as for Halloween and was laughing with them, Hatch said.

Some parents at other Catholic schools say they will pull their child from school the day that Braxton is to appear.

Jared Vivianos daughter attends St. Teresa in Belleville, and he portrays Santa at the annual Santa Parade in Belleville.

Were at the point that we dont want our child to go to Mass the day hes scheduled to speak (at St. Teresa), Viviano said. If hes going to go and tell Santa isnt real  shes not going to school that day.

I gotta say... hearing that Bishop Braxton told 5th and 6th graders Santa Claus isn't real... irritates me to my core.... Posted by Jared Michael Viviano on Wednesday, October 31, 2018

My message from Santa Claus is totally different than the fictional storybook character, he said, drawing upon Saint Nicholas of Turkey, who used his wealth to help others.

My message to the kids is  You dont have to be rich to be kind to other people. And (dont) need to have a red suit on to be Santa Claus. All year long, have a good heart and help people.

Parents at Queen of Peace said some of his remarks there were against Halloween, saying that Halloween should not be celebrated, in part because it mocks the dead.

Story by Mary Cooley, Belleville News-Democrat
WILLIAMSPORT - It has taken two years and a winding trip through the Lycoming County court system for a Williamsport man to be cleared of charges from a street altercation.

Judge Nancy L. Butts on Thursday in a non-jury trial acquitted Dana S. Sealander, 29, of a city police summary charge of harassment.

She could not imagine Sealander doing what he was accused of, she said, adding she found the testimony of defense witnesses more consistent than those of the prosecution.

The case stemmed from an incident about 2 a.m. on Nov. 20, 2016, on Court Street just north of West Third Street in downtown Williamsport after Sealander's girlfriend, Amanda Kyc, picked up her order from a food truck.

Sealander testified two men were "horsing around" and one of them bumped into Kyc, knocking the food to the ground.

Kyc collaborated that account and that her boyfriend told them what they had done was rude, suggested they apologize and buy her another cheeseburger.

One responded he did not have any money and commented, "You're probably a Hillary supporter," and asked what he was going to do about it, Sealander said.

Three men surrounded him and he was shoved across the street into a parking meter pole, he said. He denied initiating contact. "I just wanted to escape the situation," he said.

Christopher Reed, the victim in the city police charges, and his friend, Jonathan Lehr, a state parole agent, gave a different version.

Reed claimed he was sniffing sauce on a food plate Sealander was holding when a female threw it in his face. Lehr said he saw that, also.

Both men testified Sealander approached in what they considered to be a threatening manner. Reed contended he pushed Sealander in self-defense.

Officers Ryan J. Brague and Laura Miller Kitko came across the incident while on patrol. Reed testified he told Brague he did not want charges filed.

Brague claimed in his affidavit he observed Sealander pushing another man with his hands in a closed fist while others were trying to hold him back.

Sealander, who was studying to be a registered nurse, was charged with disorderly conduct (engaged in fighting). He pleaded guilty before a district judge and was fined $25.

When he learned Brague and Reed were cousins, he moved to withdraw his plea and have his sentence vacated. Senior Judge Dudley N. Anderson granted his motion in April.

Sealander, who is now an RN, explained he pleaded guilty because he did not have the money to hire an attorney and by doing so the charge was reduced from a misdemeanor to a summary.

The case did not end when Anderson vacated the conviction.

At the direction of the district attorney's office, Kitko in May refiled the two disorderly conduct counts and added the harassment charge. Another judge later dismissed the conduct charges.

The criminal case may be over but Sealander has an excessive force, false arrest and malicious prosecution civil suit pending in U.S. Middle District Court against Brague and the city.

It was through a deposition in that case Sealander learned of the relationship between Brague and Reed.

Sealander contends Brague intentionally concealed his cousin's identity to coerce him to plead guilty. Reed's name was not included in arrest documents.

Brague stated in his arrest affidavit that he stunned Sealander after he failed to comply with commands to get on the ground. He claimed Sealander's breath had an odor of alcohol and his eyes were bloodshot.

Sealander in his federal court complaint claims Brague did not issue any commands to him before using his stun gun.

He also charges the city did not properly train the officer on how to use that weapon.

There was no testimony Thursday that Sealander ignored the officer's commands or that he was under the influence.

Judge John E. Jones III had stayed action in the federal civil suit pending resolution of the criminal charges.

In light of Butts' verdict, Sealander's attorney Michael Zicolello said he plans to amend the federal complaint to add a claim of malicious prosecution against Kitko.
SUNBURY -- The Democratic Northumberland County commissioner has withdrawn a Sunshine Act lawsuit she filed against her two Republican colleagues.

Commissioner Kymberly Best contended in the lawsuit filed in Northumberland County Court in September that Commissioners Richard J. Shoch and Samuel J. Schiccatano acted in private to make Northumberland County Drive a public roadway.

The road is adjacent to the new county prison in Coal Twp., outside Shamokin and would provide access to a proposed medical marijuana growing facility.

The two Republican commissioners contended that no vote was needed because making the road public was part of the agreement the commissioners approved in May to sell 10 acres of county land for $1.5 million to Vinyanor LLC for the marijuana facility.

Despite that, a formal vote to make the road public was taken at a recent commissioner's meeting. Best voted no, as she had done on the motion to sell the 10 acres.

"I filed the lawsuit for the sole purpose of making county government more transparent," Best said Wednesday, explaining why she discontinued it.

"I asked the court to block certain actions, taken in private, with respect to Northumberland County Drive and to require that the commissioners take minutes at all meetings where county business is discussed."

As to the issue of asking that minutes be taken at all public meeting, "I have decided it is more efficient to allow the voters to make a final ruling," she said.

Shoch called the suit politically motivated and said he had been advised by county Solicitor Frank Garrigan it was meritless.

The Coal Twp. subdivision ordinance requires roads serving a business must be public, Shoch pointed out.
CLARKSVILLE, Pa. (AP)  Officials say a natural gas explosion in western Pennsylvania destroyed a home and sent a family to a hospital burn unit for treatment.

The home of the White family burst into flames when Cody White went to turn on the stove around 11 a.m. Wednesday. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the suspected cause is a methane leak.

Morgan Township supervisor Shirl Barnhart says there was nothing left to save of the building. He says it just blew up and we just had a hole with fire coming out of it, total loss.

This house in Greene County totally destroyed. A man, woman and small child had burns and were all flown to a hospital in Pittsburgh. The man said he went to light the stove and there was an explosion. More tonight at 5 oclock on channel 11 news pic.twitter.com/uxLgYMrmiQ  Terri Flippin (@tflippinpixi11) October 31, 2018

The explosion happened Wednesday in the 100 block of Bowser Road in Waynesburg, the Tribs news partner WPXI-TV reported. https://t.co/khc6WeBiym  TribLIVE.com (@TribLIVE) October 31, 2018

Utility Peoples Natural Gas and the Public Utility Commission are investigating the source of the methane explosion. Barnhart says methane leaks are unfortunately a problem in the area.
A new wooden pavilion reached skyward Thursday morning over a stage at Harrisburgs Italian Lake.

There, officials gathered to dedicate the new pavilion, cutting a ribbon to celebrate the addition, which Harrisburg Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Sanders said will enhance the parks opportunity to cater to guests.

Public concerts and events are a staple on the stage, but this years rainy summer meant at least four or five of those events had to be canceled, Sanders said.

We had a lot of delays with projects due to weather, he said.

But the idea for a pavilion came much earlier, with community leaders first proposing its construction about two years ago, Sanders said.

It caught fuel probably at the end of last year, he said.

To build the pavilion, organizers first had to come up with nearly $37,000 to cover costs, Sanders said.

They did so through donations. First National Bank donated $25,000, the local park foundation donated $5,000, anonymous donors shelled out $3,000 and the city covered the rest, Sanders said.

Construction started in August and was complete in September.

No official events have been hosted at the venue since its completion, but a wedding was held beneath the pavilion, Mayor Eric Papenfuse said.

Can you think of a nicer place in Harrisburg to get married? he asked a crowd gathered at the Thursday dedication. I cant

At least one holiday event is planned for the venue, officials said.

Papenfuse also revealed that more park improvements at Italian Lake and elsewhere could be made soon. They may include improvements to Italian Lakes seating and concrete stage, he said.
A state appeals court has refused to reinstate the third-degree murder conviction of a central Pennsylvania woman who was found guilty by a jury of suffocating her 1-year-old granddaughter.

The decision by the Superior Court panel affirms a Schuylkill County judges finding that no evidence was presented that Pietrina Hoffman acted with malice regarding the childs death.

Prosecutors insisted the Mahanoy City woman rolled off a couch while in a medication-induced sleep in January 2016 and fell on the child, smothering her. The girl had been sleeping on the floor beside the couch.

Investigators claimed Hoffman, now 55, gave inconsistent accounts of what had happened. She was accused of delaying calling for medical aid.

County Judge William E. Baldwin initially sentenced Hoffman to 17 to 30 years in prison when a jury convicted her of the murder count and charges of aggravated assault, child endangerment, reckless endangerment and illegally possessing a firearm following a trial last year.

However, Baldwin voided the murder and assault convictions when Hoffman raised the lack of malice argument on appeal. He then resentenced her to 5  to 12 years in prison.

It was the ruling which removed the most serious charges that the county district attorneys office appealed to the Superior Court.

The state courts answer is contained in an opinion by Judge Maria McLaughlin. She seconded Baldwins conclusion that evidence of malice was lacking. We agree with (Baldwins) well-reasoned analysis, McLaughlin wrote.

She did, however, send the case back to county court for another resentencing after concluding Hoffmans child endangerment convictions were improperly graded as third-degree felonies. Those should be first-degree felonies, McLaughlin concluded.
Police in Carlisle really got into the Halloween spirit on Wednesday.

The police department made a fun post on Thursday about the apprehension of none other than Michael Myers, a famous horror movie villain.

Police arrested Myers after receiving a call from a concerned resident about a suspicious person in the neighborhood, according to the fun-spirited post.

The police department went so far as to reach out to police in Haddonfield, Illinois, for the post.

When police removed the mystery mans mask, it turned out to be none other than Union Fire Chief Brian Hamilton.

This means the real Michael Myers is still out there, hopefully in Illinois, the post reads.
A recent mild stretch of weather will finally come to an end as wet weather moves through the state into the weekend.

In the wake of that rainy weather, cooler air will return and make it feel much more seasonable.

A storm system that drenched the Mississippi and Ohio valleys with rain will move to the East Coast as the week comes to an end, according to AccuWeather.

While on-and-off rain showers will dampen parts of the Northeast through Thursday, the steadiest rainfall will be concentrated from western Pennsylvania to the Ohio Valley and points south and west, according to the report.

The rain will gradually move across Pennsylvania into Thursday night and last through Saturday. Anywhere from 1 to 2 inches of rain could fall, which could cause localized flash flooding in low-lying and poor-drainage areas.

Rain will gradually move across the state on Thursday night. Enough rain could fall to cause flash flooding.

Storms moving into the region could cause flooding in central Pa. and along the east coast.

As the storm makes its exit, temperatures will be noticeably cooler on Sunday.

Heres a look at the forecast for Harrisburg:

Thursday: Mostly cloudy skies. High: 74

Thursday night: Cloudy skies, a few showers. Low: 65

Friday: Mostly cloudy skies, a few morning showers, rain in the afternoon. High: 67

Friday night: Periods of heavy rain and a thunderstorm. Low: 50

Saturday: Clouds giving way to some sun. High: 56

Saturday night: Partly cloudy skies, cooler. Low: 38

Sunday: Mixture of clouds and sun. High: 57

Sunday night: Cloudy skies, showers in some spots. Low: 42
A pair of felony charges have been filed against a woman, who is accused of playing a role in a Lower Swatara Township drug overdose death.

In a Thursday news release, Lower Swatara police said charges had been filed against 50-year-old Christine M. Austin.

Austins arrest stems from a March 27 overdose death in the township, police said.

Online court documents show that Austin was arraigned Thursday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Michael J. Smith.

She faces felony charges of drug delivery resulting in death and criminal use of a communication facility, as well as a misdemeanor charge of tampering with evidence.

Austin is to appear for a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. Dec. 5

As of Thursday afternoon, online court documents showed that Austin was free from prison on $50,000 unsecured bail.
PITTSBURGH (AP)  Authorities say a worker at a Pittsburgh bar stabbed and seriously injured two colleagues when they tried to fire him.

The stabbings occurred around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Bigham Tavern.

Authorities say the workers were telling 40-year-old Jaymar Gilbert, of Garfield, that he was being fired when he pulled out a knife and stabbed them both.

One victim was stabbed in the abdomen and remained hospitalized Thursday in critical condition, while the other suffered multiple stab wounds and was in serious condition. Their names have not been released.

Authorities say charges against Gilbert are pending. It wasnt known Thursday if he has retained an attorney.
Voters in the new Pennsylvania 10th Congressional District can thank the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and national love him-or-hate him relationship with President Donald J. Trump for one thing this year:

Out of seemingly nowhere, they have they most competitive and - for those who are politically engaged - interesting Congressional general election seen here in years.

That's a good thing, right?

The race pits incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, a Republican, against Democratic challenger George Scott in a new district covering the greater Harrisburg area: all of Dauphin, most of Cumberland and about half of York Counties.

The district, as set out by the state court last winter in response to a gerrymandering lawsuit, still has a clear Republican edge, both in voter registration and performance.

Voters here went for President Donald Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton by a 54.7 percent to 45.3 percent margin in 2016, after third party candidates were factored out.

That's a world apart, however, than the 61 percent Trump, 39 percent Clinton margin in the district that Perry won in in 2016.

Those new lines, and the burst of Democratic enthusiasm in reaction to Trump's election, combined to create a surge of interest among Democratic candidates in the seat.

Ironically, most existing Democratic officeholders in the 10th - including state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale of York and State Rep. Patty Kim of Harrisburg - opted for the safety of their current seats in the end.

But the four-person primary produced a candidate in Scott with the kind of resume to give Perry a serious race: a native son with a long career as an Army officer, now serving as a Lutheran pastor.

That, the party felt, could put the Democrats on a strong footing against incumbent Perry, a National Guardsman who had always owned the security and traditional values argument in his three prior races.

External factors.

Then, some funny things happened on the way to November.

Pennsylvania's new 10th Congressional District.

Somewhat surprisingly, the 10th has become the center of the political universe in Pennsylvania this summer and fall as the national GOP seemed to lose its will in a series of usually competitive battlegrounds in the state's southeast and southwest corners.

Incumbents resigned mid-term after personal scandals or dropped from the race in the wake of the new lines, and other A-list candidates opted not to tackle the mid-term curse that often works against the sitting president's party.

With Perry unable to separate from Scott in the polls here and a relatively inexpensive media market to work in, interest groups on both sides of the philosophical divide put the 10th race on their hot list.

Perry, in particular, is hoping for a boost from a $700,000 investment from the America First superPAC dedicated to supporting candidates who support the Trump agenda.

All told, outside groups including America First ($722,000 against Scott), Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ($400,000 against Perry), the With Honor Fund ($257,000 for Scott) and the House Freedom Fund ($169,000 for Perry), have spent more than $2 million in the race heading into the last week.

That's over and above the $2.8 million raised directly by the candidates' two campaign committees through Oct. 17, according to their latest Federal Election Commission reports.

And now, with a few days left, all independent polling has Perry sitting on leads of two or three percentage points, but still short of 50 percent and the race within statistical margins of error.

That's what you call one of the tightest rates in the state.

The candidates.

Perry, seeking a fourth term in office, is the very picture of the self-made man, having come through a hardscrabble childhood to start his own small business and earn the rank of Brigadier General in the Army National Guard.

In Washington, he is a member of the House Freedom Caucus, a more conservative part of the Republican Conference, and he's fashioned a strong record as a deficit hawk and a supporter of limited government.

Generally perceived as a reliable conservative vote for the GOP, he has actually broken with his leadership and the Trump Administration more than most because of his staunch opposition to spending bills that he perceives as perpetuating deficit spending.

Scott, meanwhile, was a career Army officer who retired from active duty in 2004 and, more recently, has been serving as a Lutheran pastor in East Berlin, Adams County.

He has been working hard to show himself as a centrist Democrat who midstate voters - including those who typically never vote for Democrats - can feel comfortable with, citing his childhood on a farm, his Army service, and his faith life.

This is his first run for elective office.

Both sides have plenty of reason to be nervous going into the home stretch.

For Democrats, there's the sheer force of history.

Blue waves have come and gone, but voters in Cumberland and York Counties - representing about 63 percent of this district - haven't sent a Republican to Congress since 1964.

That's daunting.

And even though the district is more than 40 percent new to Perry this year, "it's still an area where people are more interested in some of the pocketbook and safety and security issues, and those are things Scott Perry has a strong record on and has spent a career fighting for," said Perry's campaign manager, Brian Nutt.

For Republicans, meanwhile, there's some uneasiness from the consistent tightness of the polls.

"I haven't seen a single poll that puts Perry's lead outside of the margin of error, which is concerning for an incumbent in a district like that," said one analyst monitoring the race for a GOP-aligned group, who asked not to be identified in order to discuss the race frankly.

One leading national political analyst, David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report, says what's struck him about the new Pa. 10th is that it's playing out more like an open seat race for Perry because of the redistricting.

The incumbent, he said in an interview this week, probably was caught a little flat-footed by the redistricting because in the old 4th, which Perry has represented since 2012, he never had to raise a lot of money or run a lot of ads for a general election.

As a result, Perry wasn't able to define this year's race on his own terms early on, as incumbents often can do.

The other factor that could be encouraging for Democrats here, Wasserman said, is that the 10th is a district where Republicans generally out-perform the national vote for presidential candidates by six percentage points.

In the average of the special elections that have been held for Congressional seats this year, however, Wasserman noted, Democrats have outperformed their party's previous performance by eight percentage points, enough to erase that GOP advantage.

Which leads to another question? Has that much-discussed "blue wave" already crested? Or might it be neutralized by a Republican riptide?

Consider, in a new statewide poll from Franklin & Marshall College, the so-called "enthusiasm gap" between the two major parties appeared to have dramatically closed.

The October 22-28 poll shows 75 percent of Republicans saying they are "very interested" in the upcoming mid-terms, with 73 percent of Democrats reporting the same.

In an August poll by F&M, Democrats scored a 60 percent to 53 percent edge in that barometer.

Absentee ballot totals from Dauphin County show another sign of high political engagement, running well ahead of ahead of comparable mid-term elections in 2010 and 2014.

The 3,287 votes received through Wednesday, with two days left for collection, beats the totals of 2,577 in 2010 - the big GOP "Tea Party" year; and 1,792 from 2014, said Director of Elections Gerry Feaser.

We may be at the point where it's time to stop over-thinking these things, and just wait and see which campaign does the best job of getting its voters to the polls next Tuesday.

That, as the politicians always say, is the only poll that counts.
This is one of a series of stories on where the candidates for Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District stand on issues of concern to voters.

In the new 10th, comprised of Dauphin, most of Cumberland and northern York counties, incumbent Rep. Scott Perry, a Republican, is seeking a fourth term. He is being challenged by Democrat George Scott, a career Army officer now serving as a Lutheran pastor in East Berlin.

Here are their positions on the debate over immigration reform:

Both candidates agree federal immigration reforms are needed, but their starting points are vastly different.

Perry aligns himself more with President Donald J. Trump in terms of supporting the construction of a wall on the southern border with Mexico.

Calling border security a top priority - both in stopping illegal immigrants and illegal drugs - Perry says "something has to change, so we must secure the border and part of that is a physical border....

"There is a way to fix this but part of it is making sure that people that should not come across the border do not come across the border, and then dealing with the ones that do."

Perry has said he is willing to trade more legal clarity for the "dreamers," those undocumented persons who arrived in the United States as children, as part of the bargaining to get to that end.

The immigration bill Perry supported this summer, but that did not pass the House of Representatives would have:

Sharply reduced legal immigration while beefing up border security;

Cracked down on so-called sanctuary cities;

Required employers to use an internet-based system called E-Verify to confirm that they are hiring legal workers;

Offered a three-year renewable legal status to DACA recipients.

Scott says he would start with clearing up the future for the dreamers, including a path to full citizenship for them, and would pair that with other reforms and border security measures.

Scott argues against dropping current legal immigration levels, arguing that the American economy is going to need more immigrants to fill out the labor force going forward as current demographic trends play out.

But Scott is opposed to the wall as proposed by Trump.

He argues that there are better uses for the billions of dollars it would cost to fulfill a Trump campaign promise that isn't even, in his view, the best or most efficient way to improve border security.

Scott also contends any lasting and permanent solution to America's immigration issues are going to require the kind of bipartisanship that he says he hasn't seen from Perry and his conservative House allies in recent years.

Both men support reforms that would extend the ability of farm workers to stay in the United States, an issue with ramifications for the 10th District and nearby counties that are among the nation's leading fruit producers.

There is no official measure of how many people succeed in illegally crossing the border, but reports of apprehensions along the Mexican border suggest a long-term stabilization in the rate of illegal immigration.

Apprehensions peaked in 2000 at 1.64 million and have generally declined since, totaling 303,916 in 2017, according to U.S. Border Patrol.
History museum to host 'market at the museum' for holiday shopping

The Harbor Springs Area Historical Society will soon be hosting two holiday markets to help shop local this holiday season.
Seventeen days after all votes were cast, the counting of ballots in Montgomery County has been completed and the results of the closely fought Spring-Ford Area School Board race show a Democratic sweep. Representation on the Spring-Ford School Board is divided into three geographic regions and in Region 2, which is comprised of a portion of Upper Providence as well...
Laramie County Sheriff's Department Operations Lieutenant Don. Hollingshead speaks during a public meeting in Albin to address area law enforcement issues and concerns.

ALBIN - Laramie County Sheriff's Department personnel would like to make it into rural Laramie County for patrols and community outreach more frequently - they just lack the manpower.

That's what representatives from Laramie's County's law enforcement agency told about a dozen Albin-area residents at a public meeting held Thursday, Oct. 25.

LCSD Operations Lieutenant Don Hollingshead said the department is looking to build a bigger presence in rural Laramie County as more deputies are hired over the next year or so.

Of the nearly 100,000 residents in the county, 60,000 live in Cheyenne or the surrounding area.

Laramie County deputies often find themselves handling calls in the subdivisions that lay on the outskirts of Cheyenne. Even when there is a deputy patrolling in the area, he or she might be asked to take a call on the outskirts of Cheyenne.

Adding to the problem, rural areas - where backup could be up to 45 minutes away - aren't for green deputies.

"I don't get out here as much as I'd like to," said Sgt. Scott McPherson, who oversees operations in rural Laramie County. "It's because of the area I cover and our manning shortage.

"I cover a 2500-square mile area."

Added Hollingshead: "(McPherson) and I handpick who comes out in the rural areas because we have to have someone who is self-sufficient and self-reliant. They work in an environment where their only backup is 45 minutes away sometimes.

"They have to have the gift of gab. They have to be able to talk somebody into a pair of handcuffs instead of wrestling them into a pair. They have to be of a maturity level where they can talk somebody down."

McPherson and Hollingshead agreed that it takes about a half-decade for deputies to reach that level of self-sufficiency, where they're not needing to look over a supervisor's shoulder.

Compounding the problem is the department's retention issues. It's not a bad place to work, but deputies are often "cherry-picked" when they reach their four or five year mark.

Often, deputies will gain the necessary experience to work independently and then other departments offer signing bonuses and other pay incentives the LCSD simply cannot handle.

For example, a deputy may reach his or her five-year mark and then take a better paying job in Colorado's Front Range Corridor or even make a lateral move to the Cheyenne Police Department.

"Cheyenne has a hiring bonus we can't match. I can see why someone wants to increase their family's income," Hollingshead said. "But those are the challenges we have every day.

Hollingshead said calls to rural Laramie County have decreased significantly over the past year.

Of those calls, some consisted of burglar alarms. There were a few accident investigations, DUIs and welfare checks.

Several residents in attendance said they were concerned with reckless drivers in the area - particularly at the intersections of Wyoming Highway 216 and 213 and where both respective Highways intersect U.S. 85 about 15 miles west of Albin.

Other concerns brought up by area citizens were commercial trucks traveling from out-of-state trying to skirt the scale near Hillsdale.

Commercial traffic through Wyoming is required to stop there, but trucks may take state highways to avoid that.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol currently overseas weighing operations, but it's also within the sheriff's department's jurisdiction.

"I've looked into the feasibility of purchasing scales - and I'm not holding my breath," said McPherson. "They're insanely expensive. Then, you have to get the other special equipment to go with it. You can't haul it in a car. You have to get a vehicle dedicated to hauling it and another two or three people who are dedicated to running in it."

Plus, truckers in violation of the law communicate with each other. McPherson said he's conducted traffic enforcement in the past when, after making a few stops, commercial traffic dwindles.

They're getting on their phones and warning each other, he said.

*****

Before the community meeting concluded, sheriff's office personnel reviewed ways to avoid becoming a victim of a crime.

"I was born and raised in Laramie County," said Hollingshead. "But it's not Mayberry anymore."

Often, criminals commit crimes of opportunity.

For example, Hollingshead said, those will substance abuse issues will steal and try to sell the stolen item or trade it for drugs.

It's not hard to avoid becoming a victim, the lieutenant said.

"Lock your doors and your windows. Lock your outbuildings if you have them," he said.

If you're on vacation, get timers for your indoor lights that make them come on as to appear you're home.
CHEYENNE - The Wyoming State Bar is pleased to announce that it has joined 31 other states in implementing a military spouse licensing rule. Effective October 1, 2018, military spouses and domestic partners may apply for admission to practice law without examination, and their temporary license will last for as long as the servicemembers orders keep the family in Wyoming.

After being approached by representatives from Military Spouse J.D. Network (MSJDN), Wyoming State Bar President Weston Graham pitched the idea to the Board of Law Examiners. President Graham and the Board members all recognized the unique mobility requirements of military families who support the defense of our nation. The proposed rule was submitted and ultimately approved by the Wyoming Supreme Court.

These applicants must meet the eligibility requirements and submit to a character investigation that is performed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

In the event that the attorney admitted pursuant to this rule is no longer married to the service member, the service member is no longer a member of the U.S. Uniformed Services, or the service member receives a permanent transfer out of Wyoming, the attorneys license to practice law shall terminate 60 days after any or all of those occurrences.

Those seeking further information should refer to Rule 306 of the Rules and Procedures Governing Admission to the Practice of Law or call Sharon Wilkinson at (307) 432-2102.
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ISTANBUL (Reuters)  Istanbuls chief prosecutors office said on Wednesday journalist Jamal Khashoggi was suffocated as soon as he entered Saudi Arabias consulate in a planned killing four weeks ago, and his body was then dismembered and disposed of.

In a statement issued after two days of talks with Saudi Arabias public prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb, it also said no concrete results were reached in those meetings.

Khashoggis death has escalated into a crisis for Saudi Arabia, the worlds top oil exporter, which at first denied any knowledge of or role in his disappearance on Oct. 2.

Mojeb later said Khashoggis killing was premeditated and Riyadh said 18 suspects had been arrested. But Turkey, which released a stream of evidence undermining Riyadhs early denials, has demanded more details including the whereabouts of Khashoggis body and who ordered his killing.

Despite our well-intentioned efforts to reveal the truth, no concrete results have come out of those meetings, the Istanbul prosecutors office said of the talks on Monday and Tuesday between Mojeb and Istanbul chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan.

The killing of Khashoggi, a critic of de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has put into focus the Wests close relationship with Saudi Arabia  a major arms buyer and lynchpin of Washingtons regional plans to contain Iran.

President Tayyip Erdogan, who has demanded more information from Saudi Arabia, said on Tuesday Fidan had asked Mojeb to disclose who sent a 15-strong team from Riyadh which is suspected of involvement in the killing.

(Reporting by Ece Toksabay and Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Dominic Evans and Angus MacSwan)
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LOS ANGELES (Reuters)  Hollywood celebrities including Jane Fonda, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Amy Schumer will take part in an online telethon on Monday to urge young people to pledge to vote in Tuesdays congressional midterm elections.

The two-hour Telethon for America, created by comedian Ben Gleib, will be streamed live starting at 9 p.m. ET on Monday on YouTube, Facebook Live and Comedy Centrals website, organizers said in a statement.

This telethon, unlike traditional ones, will not ask for money. Instead, viewers will be urged to call in to a celebrity phone bank and pledge to vote in the next days election.

More than 50 actors, comedians and YouTube stars will take part, including Judd Apatow, Chelsea Handler and Olga Kay. The celebrities will be encouraged to simulcast the program live on their own social media channels.

The telecast will include live performances, comedy, music and taped segments plus information on how to cast a ballot.

Many Hollywood celebrities have urged their fans to support Democrats in federal and state races to fight President Donald Trumps agenda and increase oversight of his administration.

The voter telethon is described as nonpartisan. It is backed by When We All Vote, a nonpartisan, nonprofit campaign launched by former first lady Michelle Obama to encourage voting.

Tiffany Haddish had been scheduled to participate on the telecast but had to drop out because of a scheduling conflict, organizers said.

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Leslie Adler)
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Native Americans in North Dakota are fighting back ahead of next weeks elections with a lawsuit challenging Republican voter suppression efforts in the state.

According to The Hill, The Spirit Lake Sioux tribe in North Dakota has filed a lawsuit aiming to prevent the state from enforcing its voter ID requirement in next weeks midterms, arguing that it will disenfranchise voters living on reservations, according to media reports.

The new law requires Native Americans in the state to present a current residential address before they vote. The only problem, of course, is that tens of thousands of Native Americans dont have traditional addresses because they live on reservations. As a result, they could lose their right to vote.

As Danielle Lang, a senior attorney with the Campaign Legal Center, told The Associated Press, We have a choice between a democracy that includes all eligible voters and a system that excludes people based on their circumstances or backgrounds.

Unless the court steps in, eligible Native American voters including our clients may be denied the right to vote next week due to the states deeply flawed system of assigning and verifying voters residential addresses, she added.

Republicans know exactly what theyre doing

As Rachel Maddow pointed out earlier this month, Republicans in North Dakota know Democrats cannot win in the state if the large population of Native Americans isnt allowed to vote.

What North Dakota Republicans did is fire a heat-seeking missile to nuke the Native American vote in their state, Maddow said. If the Republicans can turn off the Native American vote, if they can end that, they can run the table.

This is particularly important this year as incumbent Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is running in a still-competitive race against GOP challenger Kevin Kramer. According to a Fox News poll released Wednesday, that contest is now within single digits.

Heitkamp pulled an upset victory in 2012 when polling showed similar GOP leads at this point in the race. The GOP effort to keep tens of thousands of people from voting could prevent that from happening again.

If its up to the Native American population in North Dakota, Republicans wont get away with it.

Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook.
By Jessica Resnick-Ault and Chriss Swaney

PITTSBURGH (Reuters)  Federal prosecutors added more charges, including religious hate crimes, against the man accused of killing 11 Jews in a Pittsburgh synagogue, according to an indictment filed on Wednesday, as the city held funerals for three more victims.

Today begins the process of seeking justice for the victims of these hateful acts, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said in a statement, adding that his office will spare no resource to do so.

Eleven worshipers were gunned down on Saturday morning by a man who stormed into the Tree of Life Synagogue and opened fire, yelling anti-Semitic statements including: All Jews must die.

The attack, believed to be the deadliest against Jews in the United States in recent history, has fueled a fierce political debate about white nationalism and anti-Semitism ahead of hotly contested U.S. congressional elections next week.

Mourners gathered for the funerals of Melvin Wax, 88, who was leading Sabbath services when the attack began; retired real estate agent Irving Younger, 69; and retired university researcher Joyce Fienberg, 75.

The after-effects of the tragedy still pervaded life on Wednesday in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood where the synagogue is located.

In coffee shops, customers talked about the victims they knew, remembering them as civic-minded, kind and pillars of the community. In the street, friends embraced and comforted one another during the period of raw grief.

Libby Zal said that Younger was such a fixture in Squirrel Hill that a local store he frequented would send him a get well card if he did not appear after three days.

Dan Frankel, a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, called Younger outgoing and opinionated.

He was very interested in social justice and he probably would not have wanted the death penalty (for the gunman), Frankel said.

A grand jury voted to indict Bowers on 44 counts, according to a filing in federal court in Pittsburgh. He had faced 29 counts.

The new charges included 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death, and various charges related to his use of a gun in anti-religious violence.

Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.

The synagogue attack has heightened a national debate over Republican U.S. President Donald Trumps rhetoric, which critics say has contributed to a surge in white-nationalist and neo-Nazi activity. His administration denies he has encouraged far-right extremism and is instead attempting to unify America.

Amid the first funerals for victims on Tuesday, Trump visited Tree of Life. Thousands protested his presence in the city, accusing him of using rhetoric that has fueled anti-Semitism in America.

Several thousand protesters, an ethnically mixed crowd of all ages, held an anti-Trump rally about a block away from the synagogue just as his visit began, singing Old Testament psalms and carrying signs with such slogans as: We build bridges not walls.

Trump made no public comments during his visit, but wrote on Twitter on Wednesday morning that his office had been shown great respect on a very sad and solemn day in Pittsburgh.

Small protest was not seen by us, staged far away, he tweeted. The Fake News stories were just the opposite-Disgraceful!

More than 1,800 people paid their respects on Tuesday at Rodef Shalom, another synagogue in Squirrel Hill, the heart of the citys Jewish community.

Trumps visit to Pennsylvanias second largest city came seven days before elections that will determine whether his Republican Party maintains control of both houses of Congress or whether the Democrats seize a majority in one chamber or both.

The accused gunman in the synagogue attack, Robert Bowers, was charged on Monday with 29 federal felony counts including hate crimes.

Four days after the attack, nerves in Squirrel Hill were still frayed. A public school was briefly placed on lockdown following a report that someone had brought a gun onto campus, police said. The report was later found to be false.

Jodi Smith, a Pittsburgh native, joined mourners ahead of the Wax funeral at the Ralph Schugar Chapel and remembered him as a very polite, gentle man.

I could have claimed him as a father, Smith said. He was always at the synagogue, always helping out. The synagogue had been his life since his wife passed away a few years ago.

Fienberg spent 25 years as a researcher at the University of Pittsburghs Learning Research and Development Center until she retired in 2008.

She was an engaging, elegant, and warm person, the center said on Facebook.

(Additional reporting by Brendan OBrien and Bernie Woodall; Editing by John Stonestreet and Jeffrey Benkoe)
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By Mark Hosenball

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee is pursuing a wide-ranging investigation into former White House adviser Steve Bannons activities during the 2016 presidential campaign, three sources familiar with the inquiry told Reuters.

The committee is looking into what Bannon might know about any contacts during the campaign between Moscow and two advisers to the campaign, George Papadopoulos and Carter Page, they said.

Papadopoulos, a consultant, initially advised the presidential campaign of Republican hopeful Ben Carson before joining the Trump campaign. Page is also a consultant, who had business contacts in Russia.

On Sept. 7, Papadopoulos was sentenced to 14 days in prison. He had pleaded guilty last year to lying to FBI agents about the timing and significance of his contacts with Russians, including a professor who told him the Russians had dirt on Trumps Democratic presidential rival, Hillary Clinton.

No charges have been filed against Page.

The panel also will examine Bannons role with Cambridge Analytica, a former data analysis company that the Trump campaign hired to help identify and target messages to potentially sympathetic voters, the sources said.

The Senate committee is working with Bannons advisers to set a date for him to be interviewed by staff investigators in late November, two of the sources said.

Neither Bannon nor his spokesperson immediately responded to requests for comment.

Bannon recently met for the second time with investigators working for Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating allegations of Russian interference on Trumps behalf in the 2016 presidential election, one of the sources said.

Russia has denied interfering in the election and Trump denies any collusion, frequently describing the Mueller investigation as a political witch hunt.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Bannon was questioned last week by Muellers team. The newspaper said the interview focused on Trump supporter Roger Stone. In emails to Reuters, Stone has said he did not know about or have access to WikiLeaks materials related to Democrats.

In the run-up to the 2016 election, WikiLeaks published hundreds of emails hacked from the Democratic Party and the personal account of top Hillary Clinton campaign adviser John Podesta.

One of the sources familiar with the Bannon-related Senate panel investigations said Muellers team does not consider Bannon to be a potential subject of their investigation.

Bannon served as a vice president of Cambridge Analytica from June 2014 to August 2016, at which point he joined Trumps presidential campaign as a senior strategist.

Sources said the Senate Intelligence committee has sought to interview other witnesses about the role played by Cambridge Analytica and affiliated companies in the 2016 election.

(Reporting by Mark Hosenball; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and David Gregorio)
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Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Beto ORourke has gotten more voters under 30 who never voted before to already vote in Texas.

Tom Bonier of Target Smart tweeted:

The number of people under the age of 30 who have already early voted in Texas, never having voted at all before (137,762), exceeds the TOTAL number of first time voters in any other state.  Tom Bonier (@tbonier) November 1, 2018

Obviously, we dont know which candidates these new voters who have never voted before are supporting, but the odds are really good that Republican Senator Ted Cruz has not inspired a wave of young first-time voters under age 30 to head to the polls in Texas. It is a safe guess that the young first-time voters who are turning out are doing so for Beto ORourke.

The Surge of New Voters Is Why Polls Could Be Underestimating Democratic Support

The surge in young voters isnt just a Texas thing.

It is also happening in North Carolina:

So what's causing the surge in NC? Young voters. Voters under the age of 40 were 10% of votes cast at this point in '14, and are now 15%. pic.twitter.com/MR15j4rIFC  Tom Bonier (@tbonier) November 1, 2018



The influx of new or young voters makes polling in these Senate races very difficult because pollsters rely on likely, or people that have voted in elections before. Pollsters dont contact first-time voters. A wave of new voters, especially if they support one party over the other is going to throw the polling off. This isnt the pollsters fault. First time voters are one the variables that make polling an inexact science.

Democrats have been over performing the polls since Trump took office. Democrats have outperformed the polls in special elections, the 2017 general election, and the 2018 primaries, so it would be in line with recent behavior if Democrats outperformed the polling results on Tuesday.

We discussed why Democrats might overperform on the Politicus Pod:

A win by Beto ORourke over Ted Cruz would be the biggest upset of 2018. The influx of new voters and the early voting numbers suggest that ORourke has a chance to win, and it could be a rare long night for Republicans in Texas.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook.
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There will be very little reporting that reveals just how non-threatening the caravan is because the media has deployed their people to cover this Trump manufactured drama with the devotion of the truly addicted.

Trump cant sell this conspiracy on his own, yall. He needs help and he has it.

CNNs Tom Kludt observed how the media helped Trump sell this lie, Within days of Trumps tweets, news networks were beaming images of the thousands of individuals making their way through Mexico. Outlets, including CNN, began displaying maps tracking their progress. Reporters were deployed to travel with them. It was suddenly the top story in the country, but to some the coverage was over-the-top.

The pictures! The tick-tock of it all! The troops with their BIG GUNS! This non-story is so titillating and cinematic for the media: The scary, hungry brown people they get to beat up on by portraying as dangerous, backed up now by Trumps 7,000 or possibly 15,000 armed troops  more than we have in Iraq by double or triple if he sends 15,000.

Our for-profit media loves a good teabag waving in the wind, a ridiculous costume they can elevate to the front page even if there were only three people at that tea party rally, and now Trumps caravan of imaginary foes. He spits, they follow.

Yes, the caravan is real. We have covered it here a few times because its real. But the real story is not the non-threat they pose, but the asylum they were so hoping to seek here, in the great country of the United States  only to be turned into punching bags by our President and media.

Theyre trying to escape violence and poverty. They are vulnerable people. If Trump doesnt want to offer asylum anymore, and it seems he doesnt to *some* people, it would be a crisis on its own under normal circumstances, but we could also deal with it. But thats not what hes doing. Hes gleefully, purposefully demonizing people for political gain. He made a story up out of thin air.

No one cared about an email scandal when George W Bush had it, Mitt Romney had it, Sarah Palin had it, but Donald Trump made it sexy for the media and they ate it up. Hes doing the same thing again with the caravan.

The caravan is basically right-wing racism being sold to you by the same media that managed to make Hillary Clintons emails a thing when every Republican who had been in an executive government position had done the same or worse, and now Trump is using an unsecured phone but no one cares.

Trump is desperately using the caravan to change the topic of coverage in the last week before the midterms, away from the pipe bombs sent to his critics and top Democrats and away from the slaughter of 11 Jewish people by a man motivated by this very false caravan story.

And the media is helping him. So in a way, the media is helping him motivate violence. Lets put it this way: Trump couldnt incite violence without the unchecked megaphone of the media. Its not as if they dont know that he will lie. Trump lies every time he speaks. Imagine if they introduced him with the caveat that he has lied 3084 times since becoming president and that he uses racism to divide us and keep himself in power.

Pay attention today at 4:15 EST Thursday to which outlets cover Trumps presser on the illegal immigration crisis and border security and how they cover it. Every outlet should begin by informing viewers that the caravan is not actually a threat, is nowhere near our border, and has every right to seek asylum here.

They should also correct Trumps false, unsupported claims that the caravan is invading the country, which he used to justify deploying U.S. troops within our own borders even though its not true, that there are dangerous people in the caravan and that Democrats are funding the caravan. Trump shouldnt get a megaphone to lie and sow division and hate.

They should actually be covering Trumps defunding of the fight against white supremacist violence and domestic terrorism, because these are the actual threats that face Americans. They should be covering that on Tuesday, just days after the Pittsburgh shooting, DHS completely ignored the massacre of 11 Jewish people on a recent call with reporters, and instead diverted attention to this fantasy threat of the caravan.

We have to cover Trump because he is the president. But we also need to be a part of informing the public, which means we have to kill the lie before it begins, especially when we know its coming.

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Oprah Winfey didnt just campaign for Democrat Stacey Abrams. She took on voter suppression in Georgia.

Winfrey said:



The reality is that we see the injustices big and small all around us every single day of our lives, and I know it is easy for a lot of people to feel that you have no power against the injustices, and this what I am here to tell you that this land was made for you and me. This land was made for you and that is not just the song, thats the truth.

I will tell you  I will tell you that we are not powerless. Every single one of us, every single one of us has the same power at the polls. Every single one of us has something that if done in numbers too big to tamper with cannot be suppressed and cannot be denied. As the civil rights predecessors used to say, we shall not be moved. So every single one of us has the same power at the polls. We have the ability to go into the tiny booth or in my neighborhood, it is not a booth, but a little stand and every one of us, regardless of the color of our skin, and it does not matter when you are there at the polls. Or the god we pray to, it does not matter. Who we choose to love, and whether or not we graduated high school or went to college or how much money you have in the bank or whether or not you have a pre-existing condition or whether you are elderly or whether you are not, whether you are developmentally disabled, it does not matter at the polls, because we are all equal in power.

So on November 6 on November 6th, you all got it or you would not be here, but you need to go out the make sure that everyone has their voice heard on November 6th, and we have an incredible opportunity to make history, and the inalienable right to vote because the one place that we are all equal is at the polls. I am here today because I know that you already know that, but I am here to remind you of the power. I am here because I want you to remind others of the power.

Video:

#Oprah on GOP voter suppression in Georgia, "We are not powerless. Every single one of us, every single one of us has the same power at the polls. Every single one of us has something that if done in numbers too big to tamper with that cannot be suppressed and cannot be denied." pic.twitter.com/oem39vQ5Zl  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) November 1, 2018

Oprah Winfrey Took On Georgias Voter Suppression Machine

Oprah Winfrey could have shown up in Georgia told everybody to vote for Stacey Abrams and left, but she made a passionate plea for people to overwhelm the Georgia Republican voter suppression efforts with sheer numbers at the polls. Republicans cant rig all of the vote, so if enough people turn out in overwhelming numbers, their will can be reflected in the election results. Stacey Abrams could be the next governor of Georgia, and her win would result in all citizens of Georgia being able to cast their ballot in a free and democratic manner.

Oprah could save democracy in Georgia.

For more on the midterm, listen to the Politics Pod:

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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President Donald Trump, along with many like-minded conservatives, believe that rampant voter fraud is widespread in America. According to them, people not legally able to vote are actually voting and influencing elections unfairly.

On the other side, most Democrats believe that laws that were enacted to combat voter fraud have the effect of adding barriers to voting. They also believe that these laws disproportionately affect people who tend to vote Democratic.

And now there is a growing body of evidence that voter suppression is very real but voter fraud is almost nonexistent. Still, Republicans insist that voter fraud is rampant and voter suppression is a left-wing liberal fantasy.

(The Washington Post did an analysis and found that there is no evidence of rampant voter fraud.)

This week the Pew Research Center released a survey looking at how Americans see these issues.

Pew found that voter suppression is considered a major problem by many more Americans than is voter fraud. The number of people saying that fraud or suppression were a problem increased as the number of incidents increased.

Democrats are more likely than Republicans to consider suppression a major problem at every level that it occurs. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to see fraud as a problem.

In fact there are well-documented examples of many thousands of people having their votes suppressed because of laws that make voting more cumbersome. Almost 10,000 people in Wisconsin were blocked from voting in 2016 because they lacked proper identification. A study released in 2014 found tens of thousands fewer voters in Kansas and Tennessee in the wake of new voter ID laws.

These laws restricting voting are generally imposed by Republican legislators who argue that theyre necessary to combat voter fraud.

Most Republicans think that even one illegally cast ballot is a major problem but only a quarter of Democrats agree with this.

Most Republicans also believe that obstructing hundreds of legal votes is not a major problem.

According to Pew:

The most telling partisan divisions are on how easy voting should be in the United States. Overall, two-thirds of the public (67%) says everything possible should be done to make it easy for every citizen to vote, while only about a third (32%) say citizens should have to prove they want to vote by registering in advance.

More than eight-in-ten Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (84%) say everything possible should be done to make it easy for every citizen to vote. By contrast, only about half of Republicans (48%) say this. A similar share of Republicans (51%) think people should have to prove they want to vote by registering ahead of time.

These differences also are reflected in how Republicans and Democrats view proposals for changing the way people register to vote and cast ballots. Nearly eight-in-ten Democrats favor allowing people to register to vote on Election Day at the polls and automatically registering all eligible citizens to vote (78% each). Among Republicans, only about half favor each of these proposals (49% each).

In summary, there is a major split between the two parties on the topic of access to the right to vote. This is one of the most important issues in a democracy. Democrats generally believe voting should be easier and all citizens should be registered automatically and encouraged to vote. Republicans on the other hand believe there should be barriers to voting and it should be harder to vote.

From this one fact we can easily draw a conclusion as to which party is more in favor of democracy, and which party believes that democracy should be limited.
By Roberta Rampton and Letitia Stein

ESTERO/TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters)  Democrats have pulled ahead in Floridas marquee races for the U.S. Senate and governor, a new Reuters opinion poll showed on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump returned to the battleground state in a closing bid to bail out Republicans.

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson is leading Rick Scott, Floridas Republican governor, by 5 percentage points among likely voters, according to the Reuters/Ipsos/UVA Center for Politics poll.

A win by Nelson would be critical for Democrats hopes of taking a majority in the Senate, which would require a net gain of two seats in the Nov. 6 elections. Most opinion polls and forecasters give Democrats a slim chance of winning control of the chamber, because they have to defend 10 seats in states that Trump won in 2016, including Florida.

Addressing a crowd in Estero, Florida, Trump reeled off his usual attacks on the Democrats, saying they stood for high taxes, crime, open borders and uncontrolled immigration.

It was the first stop on a six-day, eight-state, 11-rally tour that will bring Trump to eight states, including Missouri, Indiana and Tennessee, which are also home to hard-fought Senate races.

Democrat Andrew Gillum, the Tallahassee mayor, is holding on to momentum in his bid to become Floridas first black governor. He drew the support of 50 percent of likely voters, unchanged from the last Reuters polling a month ago, compared with 44 percent supporting former U.S. Representative Ron DeSantis.

Ron is running against a radical socialist who wants to turn Florida into Venezuela, Trump told his supporters.

Gillums candidacy may be boosting a Democratic ticket that includes Nelson, who has opened up a significant lead in a Senate race that was tied last month in another Reuters/Ipsos poll. In the latest poll https://tmsnrt.rs/2piev5l, 49 percent of likely voters said they would return Nelson to Washington for a fourth term in the Senate, while 44 percent wanted to replace him with Scott.

The Democratic strength at the top of the ballot could affect as many as a half dozen competitive contests across Florida for the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats are seen as having a strong chance of winning at least the 23 seats needed to gain control of the House, and with it the power to derail Trumps agenda.

Seeking to drive up turnout by his core supporters, Trump in recent weeks has tossed out a rapid-fire set of policy proposals: Sending up to 15,000 troops to the border with Mexico to address illegal immigration, calling for a 10 percent tax cut and floating a plan to reverse a guarantee of citizenship for everyone born in the United States.

This is a referendum on Donald Trump, said Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida, noting that Trumps reputation rode on a governors race where his endorsement delivered the Republican nomination to DeSantis. If DeSantis loses, that is a direct reflection on Donald Trump in Florida and the power and influence that Trump has over Florida voters currently.

Although Trump narrowly won Florida in the 2016 election, 51 percent of likely voters in the state now disapprove of how he is handling the presidency, according to the new Reuters poll.

Oprah Winfrey, whom fans early this year tried to lure into taking Trump on in a 2020 White House run, is due in Georgia on Thursday to campaign with Democrat Stacey Abrams, who is seeking to become the United States first black woman governor.

SENATE BATTLEFIELD

The Reuters poll painted a brighter picture for the Republican slate in Arizona, where two U.S. congresswomen are battling for the Senate seat being vacated by Jeff Flake, a Republican who has been a prominent Trump critic.

Republican Martha McSally leads Democrat Kyrsten Sinema by 2 percentage points, according to the new Reuters poll. Sinema led a Reuters poll last month.

A NBC News/Marist poll released this week showed Sinema with a 6-point lead.

The Reuters poll showed the states Republican governor, Doug Ducey, on track to win his re-election fight, with a 20-percentage-point lead over Democrat David Garcia.

Florida Democrats are trying this year to turn out more young and diverse voters, who lean Democratic but often sit out midterm elections. Leaders in the party hope Gillums candidacy will see a repeat of the voting coalition that enabled former President Barack Obama to carry the state twice, before it swung for Trump.

Obama will stump for Gillum and Nelson in Miami on Friday.

The Reuters/Ipsos/UVA poll was conducted online, in English, from Oct. 17 to 26. It surveyed at least 799 likely voters in each state and had a confidence interval, a measure of accuracy, of 3 percentage points in Florida and 4 points in Arizona.

The poll results measured how voters felt at the time of the survey. Those feelings may change: In 2016, one in eight Americans reported making the presidential pick in the week before Election Day, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton in Estero, Fla. and Letitia Stein in Tampa, Fla.; Additional reporting by Chris Kahn in New York; Editing by Alistair Bell and Peter Cooney)
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Days after the worst anti-Semitic attack in our history, Trump is defunding domestic terrorism and diverting resources to a non-threatening caravan.

As with any day under the Trump presidency, we started off with Homeland Security Ignores White Terror, DHS Veterans Say and we have moved on to Trump will cancel the grant that fights domestic terrorism.

The Trump administration had already canceled a grant that fights white supremacist terrorism, as noted earlier and is now not going to renew the larger, umbrella anti-domestic terror program under which the white supremacist program was located, according to reporting by NBC News.

They are taking this action just days after the worst anti-Semitic massacre in our history, as eleven Jewish people were murdered in their Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, just outside of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

The program Trump is defunding was of course another Obama-era program. He is dismantling anything Obama did, but this one feels specifically convenient for the person whos throwing rhetorical bombs out every day, blaming Democrats for the caravan which he claims is an enormous threat to Americans (it is not).

The program is called the Countering Violent Extremism Grant Program, its under the DHS and during the Obama years it had $10 million to use to fight domestic terrorism of many kinds, including but not limited to right wing extremism.

Top this off with reports that on Tuesday DHS officials had a conference call to discuss the Central American migrants but they had no discussion about the murder of 11 Jews in Pittsburgh.

Just yesterday, the Arab American Institute wrote about the unprecedented increase expected in upcoming FBI hate crime report, As in 2016 and 2015 before, we expect yet another increase of reported hate crime incidents in 2017, representing the first three-year consecutive annual increase since 2001. They are also predicting an increase of anti-Jewish hate crime incidents in the FBIs 2017 statistics.

So as vulnerable minorities are being targeted, Trump is defunding the program that was fighting to combat this violence.

It only makes sense to put our limited resources and money on the biggest threat to our people. That is why on Monday after the week of terror attacks, Congressional Democrats called on U.S. law enforcement authorities to do more to track and prosecute far-right extremists.

But nope. Trump and Republicans are doing the opposite of what makes sense, as usual.

Trump and Republicans are diverting all of our resources and money away from the biggest threat, and pouring it on to a caravan that is 1,000 miles away, carrying people who have every right to seek asylum here and who present no risk to Americans. Its also troubling that we have sent more troops to fight this caravan that is literally not even here yet, and if Trump actually sends the 15,000 troops he mentioned yesterday, we will have three times as many forces as are deployed to Iraq to fight ISIS.

Three times as many troops as we have to fight ISIS and try to stabilize Iraq to a caravan that is not here yet. That is the summation of Trump. Fight the imaginary enemy. Perhaps this is the only way Trump can look strong, but its also not an accident.

They have literally no justification for this except their ongoing effort to use racism as a way to stay in power.

For those who keep wondering why Trump would do something so stupid, its time to give up the assumption that he has good intentions, because this assumption is not backed up by reality or facts. Trump knows exactly what he is doing.

This is the man who said he could shoot someone on 5th avenue and still win the election. Everything is violence mixed with racism with him, and this is not a mistake or a one-off or a failure to understand the outcome of his words. Its deliberate. The facts tell us its deliberate, as Trump continues to do this even after the pipe bombs were sent to the people he targets the most, and even after his fear-mongering about the caravan motivated the Pittsburgh shooter.

Sometimes you have to say what is happening, even when its ugly and of course Trump and Republicans will cry and whine and scream outrage over this, but that has zero bearing on whether or not the conclusion is accurate. One of the more disappointing things that Trump has exploited is the medias unwillingness to hold him and other far right extremists responsible for their actions. If they complain loudly enough, the media backs off in some kind of perverted effort to look fair. Fair is not accurate. Accurate is the job.

The fact is that anyone who deserves to be in the White House would have stopped this rhetoric long ago, would actually have never engaged in it, but certainly would have stopped after it motivated a mass murder and bombs. Trump has only increased his rhetoric. This is not hard to see; its just terrifying.

Donald Trump incites violence in his cult, they act on it, he points to a non-threatening caravan, wastes hundreds of millions of dollars fighting this caravan that hes using purely for political purposes, while he defunds the fight against domestic terrorism

Trump is effectively making good on his promise to pay the legal fees of any of his supporters who beat up someone whos protesting him. He has just diverted the law away from his supporters and focused them all on a non-threat, while he ups the ante of his hate rhetoric by the hour.

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On Wednesday Donald Trump attacked Paul Ryan in what many believe was an attempt by the president to deflect blame in advance of a crushing Republican defeat in Tuesdays midterm elections. It appears that Trump needs a scapegoat and he did not hesitate at all to throw the retiring Speaker of the House under the bus.

Since the GOP is expected to lose its House majority next week Trump obviously believes he should get an early start on blaming other people for this loss, even though he may be primarily to blame.

Trump went on Twitter to publicly slam Ryan who had criticized his statements that he could end birthright citizenship by issuing an executive order.

Paul Ryan should be focusing on holding the Majority rather than giving his opinions on Birthright Citizenship, something he knows nothing about! Our new Republican Majority will work on this, Closing the Immigration Loopholes and Securing our Border! Trump tweeted Wednesday.

Paul Ryan should be focusing on holding the Majority rather than giving his opinions on Birthright Citizenship, something he knows nothing about! Our new Republican Majority will work on this, Closing the Immigration Loopholes and Securing our Border!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018

Its not a secret that Trump has been frustrated about his inability to implement his top immigration priorities since becoming president. He has tried and failed to get full funding for his beloved Mexican border wall under the Republican Congress. So now, with the House majority slipping away from Republicans, Trump is suddenly lashing out at Ryan and deflecting blame from himself.

Republicans in Washington say Trumps lack of discipline and controversial tweets and public statements have hurt them with swing voters. They point to Wednesdays tweet attacking Ryan as a prime example of Trump behavior which hurts his own party.

GOP insiders believe it was harmful to attack Ryan. They say this has increased Republican tensions and knocked the party off message just before Tuesdays critical elections.

Trump has been holding dozens of rallies and urging voters to make this election about him. Thus everyone knows it will not be possible for him to escape blame for GOP losses.

One GOP insider had this to say:

Attacking Paul Ryan, who has busted his butt for the House Republican team, on the eve of this midterm is gobsmackingly counterproductive and wrong-headed, particularly since the President has been 100 percent clear that this election is a referendum on his leadership and his administration.

Trumps vicious attack on Ryan was also interpreted as a sign that he and the White House have given up on saving Republican control of the House of Representatives. His rally schedule includes stops in the Senate battleground states of Florida, Missouri, Montana, Tennessee and Indiana but not in swing House districts.

Ryan, meanwhile, is on the campaign trail stumping for 25 of the most vulnerable House Republicans in 12 states.

During an interview with the Associated Press earlier this month, Trump said he would not be responsible if Republicans lose the House majority.

No, I think Im helping people, Trump said. I dont believe anybodys ever had this kind of an impact.

And Wednesdays tweet slamming Ryan came after POLITICO reported that Trump was privately preparing to hold both Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) accountable for the outcomes of the midterms.

These are their elections if they screw it up, its not my fault, Trump reportedly said, according to an unnamed source.

Although he may claim otherwise, this weeks events confirm that Donald Trump plans to blame upcoming Republican losses on everybody but himself.
On October 25, the official Twitter account of the Russian Embassy in the Republic of South Africa tweeted that Russias 82nd humanitarian convoy had delivered aid to the territory in Ukraines Donbas region controlled by Russia-backed separatists. The tweet was accompanied by photographs showing the white cargo trucks typically used in these humanitarian convoys and bearing the insignia of the Russian Ministry of Extreme Situations, as well as photos of some of the humanitarian aid, packaged and stacked on palettes.

According to the tweet, the vehicles in this convoy were inspected by customs services at the border to verify the trucks contents. However, a crucial detail is missing: it does not say whose customs service inspected the trucks. Russias humanitarian aid convoys cross from Russia into Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine, and the border between these regions is controlled by Russia and the customs service of the separatist pseudo-states known as the Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics. In other words, the aid is going to the same forces Russia is accused (with overwhelming evidence) of supporting militarily and logistically. These convoys have come under scrutiny in the past.

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) has tried to monitor the convoys in the past, but its members have often been blocked by armed men on the pro-Russian side.



In Luhansk city, the SMM saw five white cargo trucks in a compound known to us as used by the armed formations at 2a Rudnieva Street and that they were being unloaded by men in blue work uniforms without visible insignia, but could not see the cargo, reads an SMM report from May 25, 2018.

One of the trucks was labeled Humanitarian Aid from the Russian Federation:the other trucks were not labeled. The SMM saw three armed men in military-type clothing standing around the perimeter of the compound. At the entrance of the compound, an armed man in military-type clothing told the SMM that it could not enter and that none of the people traveling with the convoy could speak to the SMM without permission from the armed formations in Luhansk.

In a May 31 report to the head of the OSCE observation mission, the interim charge dffaires of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE, Harry Kamian, alluded to Ukrainian border guards stationed at the Donetsk border crossing point, but noted that they had no opportunity to inspect the trucks.

Mr. Chair, markings or no markings, we have no idea what is actually inside these supposed humanitarian aid convoys, because the Russian Federation will not let the Observer Mission or the SMM inspect them or watch them unload, Kamian said. We do know, however, that these so-called aid trucks did not unload at any hospital, school, NGO, or UN warehouse. Rather, they were unloaded at a compound the SMM reported as used by Russia-led forces. Armed men in military uniforms guarded its perimeter and prevented the SMM monitors from seeing the cargo or speaking with anyone on site.

In addition to the concerns of the OSCE SMM, Russian and non-Russian journalists alike have noted anomalies in past convoys. For example, some of the trucks were almost two-thirds empty. The convoys have often been spotted being accompanied by military vehicles, including fighting vehicles.

Ukraines Foreign Ministry has repeatedly protested the convoys, pointing to the continued illegal supply of weapons, armored vehicles and mercenaries from Russia.

Additionally, they acknowledge that the Russian border is not controlled by the Ukraine government nor does Russia allow inspections of the convoys.
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Mary Katherine, who also goes by MK, covers health care for The Post and Courier. She is also pursuing a master's degree in data science. She grew up in upstate New York and enjoys playing cards, kayaking and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
South Carolina's largest and wealthiest congressional district  the only one where most residents are not S.C. natives  is about to choose a new representative in a hard-fought contest that's received national attention.

It's a district where the population has been rapidly growing and changing in the greater Charleston area and coastal communities from Hilton Head Island to McClellanville. Whether that changing population will mean a change in political preferences is a question voters could answer Tuesday.

The competitiveness of the contest between Republican Katie Arrington and Democrat Joe Cunningham is unusual because the 1st District was, like all but one of the state's congressional districts, drawn to favor Republican candidates by a comfortable margin. In the last presidential election, Donald Trump carried the 1st District by 13 percentage points, and the 1st hasn't sent a Democrat to Congress since the late 1970s.

Leading political analysts describe the district as "leans Republican," where a Democrat would have to do unusually well just to close the built-in GOP advantage. Forecasters at FiveThirtyEight give Cunningham a less than 10 percent chance of winning, but then, that's more of a chance than CNN projected for Donald Trump the day before the 2016 election.

In South Carolina, the 1st District stands out in several ways.

It's home to some of the most rapidly growing areas on the East Coast, including the Charleston and Hilton Head metro areas. In Bluffton, the population increased 68 percent since 2010, according to Census Bureau estimates.

You would think that the in-migrants might be more disposed to vote Democrat, or at least less Republican, because they are coming from more Democrat-leaning areas," said DuBose Kapeluck, chairman of the Department of Political Science at The Citadel. "But it seems the people coming here tend to be more Republican than Democrat."

In the greater Charleston area, the 1st District's boundaries exclude large majority-black areas such as North Charleston and the Neck Area, while including high-wealth majority-white areas such as barrier islands, Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island and the Charleston peninsula south of Calhoun Street. The 1st also jogs inland through Summerville and up to Moncks Corner.

As a group, the district's residents are far wealthier than the average South Carolinian.

Median household income in the district, the amount where half have more and half have less, is $66,337. That's nearly $20,000 higher than household median income statewide, and 30 percent of households in the 1st have income of at least $100,000.

1st District members of Congress 1941-70: L. Mendel Rivers (D) 1971-81: Mendel Davis (D) 1981-87: Thomas Hartnett (R) 1987-95: Arthur Ravenel Jr. (R) 1995-2001: Mark Sanford (R) 2001-2011: Henry Brown (R) 2011-2013: Tim Scott (R) 2013-present: Mark Sanford (R)

Residents of the 1st are also, as a whole, highly educated.

Among adults age 25 and older, half of those in the 1st District have at least an associate's degree and 40 percent have a bachelor's degree or higher. Among the state's seven congressional districts, the 1st has the lowest unemployment rate, the highest median home value and the most residents who described their ancestry to the Census Bureau as "American."

And the district, with more than 782,000 residents and 518,000 registered voters, is full of people "from off."

The area's rapid population growth has been driven by people moving to the Lowcountry from other states, and Northeastern states in particular. The 1st is the state's only congressional district where most residents were, like Arrington and Cunningham, born outside South Carolina.

South Carolina and the 1st District A look at how the 1st Congressional District compares to the state. Population: 782,340 (1st) / 5,024,369 (SC) Registered voters: 518,013 / 3,143,018 Household income: $66,337 / $46,898 Median home value: $270,900 / $143,600 Bachelor's degree or higher: 40% / 26.5% White residents: 74.3% / 68.5 % Black residents: 19.5% / 27.3% SC residents age 65+: 17.2% 1st Dist. registered voters 65+: 26.3%

The myth about Charleston is that everyone is coming from Ohio and the Midwest," said Jordan Ragusa, political science associate professor at the College of Charleston. "They are coming more from New York and New Jersey."

If the larger national patterns hold, I think the demographics of the 1st District are changing slowly, in a way that favors Democrats," he said.

The 1st District seat is currently held by Republican former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford. He's represented the 1st since 2013, and previously from 1995 to 2001, but was defeated in the GOP primary this year.

Arrington, 47, is a first-term state lawmaker who defeated Sanford in the Republican primary partly by highlighting his reluctance to support Trump unconditionally. Cunningham, 36, is a Charleston lawyer and son of a Kentucky Supreme Court justice who is seeking public office for the first time.

Within the 1st District, there are important differences from county to county.

Fast-growing Beaufort County, with more than one fifth of the 1st District's registered voters, is home to the retiree havens of Hilton Head and Bluffton, and nearly 42 percent of 1st District registered voters there are 65 or older  roughly double the percentage in the district's other counties. The county, full of elderly newcomers, was a stronghold for Arrington in the primary election.

Charleston County is home to 41 percent of potential voters in the 1st. It was one of two counties in the state that didn't vote for Trump in the Republican presidential primary, choosing Sen. Marco Rubio instead along with Richland County, but the 1st District excludes many Democrat-heavy parts of the county.

Like Berkeley and Dorchester counties, more than four out of 10 1st District voters in Charleston County are age 25 to 44.

In the 2018 Republican primary won by Arrington, she collected more votes than Sanford in the Dorchester, Berkeley and Beaufort county portions of the district, while Sanford received more votes in Charleston County and the small slice of Colleton County  Edisto Beach  within the district.

My impression is that the 1st District is more libertarian and less socially conservative," Kapeluck said. He (Sanford) was pretty representative of the district.

Many coastal areas in the district are majority Republican but also oppose offshore oil exploration and are willing to pass regulations aimed at protecting the environment.

Consider Mount Pleasant, an affluent town of about 87,000 in the 1st. The town is governed by Republicans but has moved aggressively to restrict development, and this year approved a sweeping ban on plastic bags and polystyrene packaging such as take-out containers.

There are some interesting regional patterns in South Carolina," Ragusa said. "Youve got the God and guns voters in the Upstate, a lot of veterans and establishment Republicans in the Midlands, and in the Lowcountry it's more fiscally conservative and Libertarian."

The 1st District is full of new residents, and the district boundaries have changed over time because congressional districts are redrawn after each decennial census to account for population changes. The 1st included much of Horry County (home to Myrtle Beach to the north) previously, but its boundaries were shifted down the coast, excluding Horry County and adding Beaufort County in 2011.

Despite the changes, one thing has stayed the same for decades  the political party 1st District voters have chosen to represent them in the U.S. House. No Democrat has won the 1st since the late 1970s, when Mendel Davis held the seat.

The closest a Democrat has come to winning that seat in Congress in recent years was in 2008, when incumbent Republican Henry Brown defeated challenger Linda Ketner by just 4 percentage points. In 2013 in a special election, after then-incumbent Rep. Tim Scott went to the U.S. Senate, Sanford easily won the 1st despite the lingering "Appalachian Trail" scandal from his affair while governor.
Moncks Corner police arrested a 15-year-old Berkeley High School student Thursday after district officials reported he brought a loaded gun to school.

School officials told authorities they received a tip that a student was in possession of a weapon in his backpack after displaying it at a bus stop, said Moncks Corner Police Chief Rick Ollic.

At the start of the school day, around 9 a.m., Ollic said, officers responded to the campus and searched the student's belongings where they recovered a loaded firearm.

"We received a report from a concerned citizen who observed a juvenile at a bus stop with what appeared to be a weapon. We took immediate action to locate the juvenile and conducted a search in cooperation with law enforcement," the school said on its Facebook page. "During the search, we did locate and secure a loaded gun. We are following all school and district procedures and are working with law enforcement to address this matter."

The student, who has not been identified since he is a juvenile, was charged with possession of a firearm and unlawful carrying of a weapon.

He was taken to a juvenile detention center and awaits a hearing before a family court judge, Ollic said.

A spokesperson for the Berkeley County School District could not immediately be reached for comment.

This incident marks the second time in two weeks that a Berkeley County student has been accused of bringing a firearm to campus. On Oct. 16, a 16-year-old boy fled Stratford High School after Goose Creek police said they recovered a handgun in his book bag.
Angie Jackson covers crime and breaking news for The Post and Courier. She previously covered the same beat for the Grand Rapids Press and MLive.com in Michigan. When shes not reporting, Angie enjoys teaching yoga and exploring the outdoors.
Fifth district Circuit Solicitor Dan Johnson confers with colleagues during a hearing in Richland County Court. Johnson was indicted Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, on more than two dozen charges related to the misspending of public funds on trips to foreign countries including the Netherlands and the Galapagos Islands. One of Johnson's top aides pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday. File/Tracy Glantz/The State via AP
Just before the bullets flew, Anna McQuillan walked excitedly into the house and greeted a woman sitting inside.

"You are my queen," she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around the woman, "and I'm always going to love you."

McQuillan, 48, would visit Louise Mitchell's James Island house from time to time. She didn't have a permanent home of her own, but she was a fixture here on Greenhill Road. McQuillan usually was seen helping neighbors with yard work or making conversation.

"Everyone in the neighborhood knew her," Mitchell, 61, said.

Mitchell is widely known here, too. "Queen" was McQuillan's name for her  someone she respected, someone who was always ready with a hug and a smile, someone who opened her home to all.

So when McQuillan walked into Mitchell's home at 1097 Greenhill Road in mid-September, she couldn't help but be overjoyed.

But a man soon showed up there. McQuillan began to argue with him, Mitchell said. About what, Mitchell can't be sure, but the confrontation escalated quickly.

Mitchell watched in horror as McQuillan darted from one end of the living room to the other. She said the man pulled a gun from his waistband, trained it on McQuillan and pulled the trigger. McQuillan dropped to the floor. She would die several days later in a hospital, and a suspect would be arrested on a murder charge.

Despite efforts to bolster patrols, sheriff's deputies said McQuillan was among at least five people in four months injured or killed by gun violence on this street. McQuillan's loved ones are just some of those affected by the crimes. Her death left them trying to piece together her last moments, hoping to make sense of something senseless.

"I prayed so hard that Anna would be all right," Mitchell said. "I still be gettin' up in the night time screamin'. That's something I don't want to relive."

Shots fired

James Island's Greenhill Road is a half-mile stretch that separates rows of mostly small, single-story homes. Tucked away off Dills Bluff Road and about 6 miles southeast of downtown Charleston, sheriff's cars are a common presence.

The block is generally quiet. Sounds of students from the nearby James Island Charter High School extend into the neighborhood.

But gun violence here has surged in the past four months.

On June 5, someone shot at a man outside a home; two men eventually were charged with attempted murder. On June 10, 28-year-old Kurt Melton was shot to death in a car parked at the end of the road; his killing hasn't been solved.

Two days later, Mitchell's house was the target of a drive-by shooting, authorities said, and a relative of hers was seriously injured. At her home, a sheet of plastic remains stretched over the space where a window used to be.

After the flurry of shootings in June, the James Island Town Council approved a $100,000 funding increase that would allow deputies to take on additional patrol hours.

With more time on the street, Charleston County deputies are being afforded additional opportunities to establish new relationships with residents here and to strengthen existing ones.

"When the community sees that increased presence, the community is more likely to talk to us," said Capt. Roger Antonio, spokesman for the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. "We also have our detectives who build relationships. ... They go door to door and build a rapport with the public."

After patrol measures were enhanced, July and August offered a brief respite from the violence.

But between September and October, three more people would become victims of shootings here. Two were injured in one shooting. McQuillan was the target in the other, on Sept. 15.

That day, sheriff's deputies said, Dedric Middleton, 30, walked into Mitchell's home and gunned down McQuillan.

Middleton, who state records show has been charged with various drug and weapons offenses over the past decade, also lives on Greenhill Road.

He and McQuillan knew each other. But the extent of their relationship was not clear, leaving loved ones puzzled by the attack.

Letting go

Two days after the shooting, Angela Hays, 53, lay her head on the hospital bed next to McQuillan.

Hays, a Mount Pleasant resident, listened to the sounds of the machines that were keeping McQuillan alive. After two decades of friendship, it had come to this.

The two had met in the early 1990s and shared an affinity for horseback riding, Hays said. By 1999, Hays and McQuillan were living in adjacent apartment complexes in Mount Pleasant, each raising their own child.

"We were like a family. Like sisters," Hays said. "Our children were very close. They were like little brothers and sisters."

When they could get an evening to themselves, they spent time dancing at downtown Charleston nightclubs like Level 2 Lounge or Club Tango.

McQuillan's life in the Charleston area  where she frequented the beaches  was preceded by a Midwestern upbringing near Urbana-Champaign, Ill., where most of her family still resides.

Her loved ones in Illinois knew her as always gracious, they would recall later; she was equally at home with tourists, Southern gentry and homeless people.

But now, in McQuillan's last moments, the physicians who cared for the gravely wounded woman told Hays and McQuillan's family that despite emergency surgery, she wasn't going to pull through. She spent her final days in a coma, Hays said.

So hospital staff members lowered McQuillan's bed and brought in extra blankets. Hays nestled against McQuillan and spoke in hushed tones.

"It's time for you to move on," Hays told her. "I'm here, so youre not alone."

Then, stillness.

"I just laid down next to her and held her hand, and her heart slowed and slowed and slowed," Hays said. "And then it stopped."
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.
Jamie Lovegrove is a political reporter covering the South Carolina Statehouse, congressional delegation and campaigns. He previously covered Texas politics in Washington for The Dallas Morning News and in Austin for the Texas Tribune.
When the main fundraising arm for congressional Republicans sunk $87,000 into Katie Arrington's campaign this week, the committee tried to downplay the investment.

But apparently Monday's $87,000 TV ad buy was just a fraction of the financial push they've had to commit in her close race with Democrat Joe Cunningham.

Updated filings with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday show the National Republican Congressional Committee has spent almost $230,000 on ads in the district this week.

Political watchers say the new money is proof the 1st Congressional District race, which is normally a safe GOP seat, is tightening.

"When they dump that kind of money in, they must have some qualms," said Neal Thigpen, a retired Francis Marion University political scientist and seasoned tracker of Republican races.

"They're nervous about something where it ought to be a reasonably routine win for the Republican nominee," he said.

All of the media buys being made by the NRCC are opposition ads that take aim at Cunningham.

The first NRCC ad began airing this week and will run through Election Day. The 30-second spot is called "One of Them," and it echoes a strategy Arrington has been deploying on the trail: Link a vote for Cunningham as a vote for House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.

Cunningham, who has pledged to vote against Pelosi for Speaker of the House if he's elected, has accused Arrington of nationalizing the race.

"My opponent, I know, wants to talk about Nancy Pelosi or Maxine Walters," Cunningham said at a Charleston Rotary gathering this week, mispronouncing Maxine Waters. "The truth is, if she wants to run against someone else, she should move to California or back to New York or somewhere else."

The Arrington campaign said the latest ad buys from the NRCC shouldn't spook Republican voters and refuted the idea it could be a warning sign.

Arrington campaign consultant Andrew Boucher said they have been outspent on TV ads 3-to-1 since September.

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"It's getting us closer to parity," Boucher said of the support from the NRCC. "The Democrats  the national Democrats  are trying to buy this seat."

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has actually kept its money out of ads, for now. When pressed for specifics about spending in the 1st District race, the DCCC declined to give details.

"How the DCCC chooses to invest in individual races is continually changing, and we arent going to reveal our playbook," DCCC spokeswoman Amanda Sherman said in a statement to The Post and Courier.

Meanwhile, an outside group that has been backing Democrats nationwide has also been shelling out serious dollars to support Cunningham.

314 Action, a federal Political Action Committee working to get scientists and STEM professionals into office, says it has spent $468,000 in the 1st District so far.

Josh Morrow, the group's executive director, said they are mulling whether to make another ad buy before Election Day.

Though the last time the district sent a Democrat to Washington was in the late 1970s, Morrow said the past may not be the best indicator of what voters want now.

"Voters are really looking for a check and balance," Morrow said in a phone interview. "No one thought this was going to be a race, but it's definitely a race."

Arrington on Thursday attended a campaign rally with Gov. Henry McMaster at Saltwater Cowboys, a waterfront restaurant on Mount Pleasant's Shem Creek.

On Saturday, Karen Pence, wife of Vice President Mike Pence, will be in Charleston to campaign with Arrington at a meet-and-greet event at noon at Andolini's in West Ashley.

Cunningham was scheduled to attend his 13th brewery tour of sites in the district Thursday night.
The vast majority of South Carolinians believe in global warming.

But the state is close to evenly split on whether exploration for gas and oil should go forward off the coast: with 47 percent opposed to it and 42 percent in support.

The trend is included in a new poll released Thursday by Winthrop University that shows South Carolina is keenly attuned to the future of the environment but that residents have differing views on what to do about a changing Earth and its resources.

While only 3 percent of the poll's respondents said they don't believe in climate change, there's far less agreement on whether that phenomenon is natural or driven by human activity.

A plurality  48 percent  believe the phenomenon is equally caused by human activity and natural forces, while 28 percent of respondents said humans were mostly to blame.

About 20 percent said it was completely natural. Two percent of respondents were unsure.

Pollster Scott Huffmon of Winthrop said the results indicate more people are seeing global warming as a reality.

"When you give people plenty of opportunities to express what they really believe, theres a lot fewer people who flat out deny climate change than you would think," he said.

Winthrop University, in Rock Hill, is the most consistent surveyor of voter moods in the state, issuing its polls several times a year.

The split on causes of global warming is strongly correlated with partisan identity, Huffmon said. Adults who identify with the GOP were less than half as likely to pin humans as the sole cause, at just 11 percent of those respondents.

Of the Republican-linked group, 52 percent said the effect was caused by both humans and nature, and 30 percent blamed nature alone. Among Democrats and those who lean toward the party, 45 percent blame humans for climate change, and 45 percent blamed both humans and nature. Only 9 percent felt it is solely a natural process.

The new poll stands in stark contrast to a long-running survey by Yale University, which most recently found that just 66 percent of respondents in South Carolina believed in the phenomenon at all.

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Huffmon said that by not presenting a stark yes-or-no question on global warming that doesn't incorporate the potential causes, he was able to capture a more representative sample of opinion in the Palmetto State.

The vast majority of scientists who study the issue say that greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use are driving the increase of global average temperatures in the atmosphere and in the planet's oceans.

Winthrop's poll comes on the heels of a report from hundreds of scientists working for the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change, which advocated a broad transformation of the world economy to cut carbon emissions and stop warming.

Coastal areas like Charleston stand to bear some of the most severe effects, with even the possibility that a warmer climate could mean more severe earthquakes.

The Winthrop poll queried 674 adults statewide and carries a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.

The poll also queried respondents about whether they supported permitting for offshore exploration and drilling of fossil fuels along the state's coast.

A plurality, 47 percent, opposed it, with 42 percent in support. The remainder showed 10 percent unsure and 2 percent refusing to respond.

Past surveys have shown that opposition to drilling is relatively split statewide but stronger along the coast, where residents and tourism officials alike worry about the possibility of a spill or similar disaster.

It's become a driving issue in the 1st Congressional District race after Republican Katie Arrington initially signaled she supported President Donald Trump, who has pushed to reopen drilling permits along the Atlantic coast.

The district covers much of the state's shoreline, including portions of Charleston, Colleton and Beaufort counties.

Democrat Joe Cunningham opposes opening the Atlantic coast to exploration. Arrington has since said she is opposed to drilling off South Carolina.
WATERLOO , Iowa  Opponents of a proposed wind farm near Hudson, Iowa, contend Black Hawk County exceeded its authority by granting permits for the 35 turbines.

Farmer Harold Youngblut sued the county Board of Adjustment after board members voted 3-2 April 24 to grant special permits for the planned Washburn Wind Energy project on farm land primarily in Eagle Township.

His attorney, John Holmes, was in court last week asking District Court Judge George Stigler to find that Iowa law prevents the county from regulating what happens on land historically used for farming purposes.

"If anybody takes the time to drive the roads in those townships, all you see is corn and soybeans everywhere you look," Holmes said.

Attorney Brent Hinders, who represents the Board of Adjustment, said Holmes was incorrectly interpreting state law.

Hinders agreed the law prevents the county from telling property owners how to use agricultural land. But he said the county does have the right to regulate ag land when the owner chooses to use it for non-farming purposes like wind turbines or shopping malls.

"If what youre putting on that land isnt agricultural, (the county) can regulate you," he said.

Black Hawk County requires large wind towers to obtain special permits through the Board of Adjustment after meeting a number of requirements.

RMP Access won approval for the permits despite heavy opposition from neighboring property owners who packed the meeting room for a five-hour public hearing.

Holmes contends the hearing and vote was moot because the correct way to handle the request would have been through a rezoning application to the elected Board of Supervisors.

"(The Board of Adjustment) have no power to grant a special exemption on land that is exempt from zoning," he said. "They should have just gone home."

Hinders said the zoning ordinance was appropriate in allowing the Board of Adjustment to determine special use permits for wind turbines.

If Stigler finds the county Board of Adjustment was legally entitled to determine special permits for wind farms, the case would continue to a court review of whether the Board of Adjustment acted correctly based on the evidence it received during the April 24 hearing itself.

The Washburn Wind Energy project is the first wind farm to win approval under the countys zoning ordinance. The $120 million, 70-megawatt project drew objections from nearby homeowners concerned about the impact on their property values, health and quality of life.

Supporters of the project said it would generate clean energy, provide a boost the countys property tax base and give farmers hosting the turbines new revenue to keep their farms viable.

RPM Access has not yet started construction.
ST. PAUL  Specialists from the University of Minnesota Extension service will host meetings across central and southern Minnesota to discuss fair farm rental agreements.

Determining a fair profitable farm rental agreement is a challenge in todays economy.

David Bau and Nathan Hulinsky, extension dducators in ag business management, will have examples, factsheets and worksheets to determine a rental rate that is fair for both parties.

Topics will include local historic and projected farmland rental rate trends, current farm land values and sales, a worksheet that will help determine a fair rental agreement. Input costs for 2018 will be presented, along with current corn and soybean prices. Worksheets will examine 2019 costs and what is an affordable rent that a farmer will be able to pay, the rate of return to the landlord and examine flexible rental agreements.

For information about any of these 40 meetings, go to https://extension.umn.edu/business/ag-business-management-event-offerings.

Nov. 13  Long Prairie, Little Falls.

Nov. 14  Alexandria, Chaska, Elko-New Market, Alexandria.

Nov. 15  Melrose, Foley.

Nov. 16  Worthington.

Nov. 19  Sleepy Eye.

Nov. 26  Willmar.

Nov. 27  Ada, Crookston.

Nov. 28  Gaylord, Bagley, Hutchinson.

Nov. 29  Faribault, Morris, Owatonna.

Nov. 30  Pipestone.

Dec. 3  Le Center, Mankato.

Dec. 6 Caledonia.

Dec. 7  Rochester, Preston.

Dec. 10  Madison.

Dec. 11  Slayton.

Dec. 13.  Albert Lea, Blue Earth.

Dec. 14. Cologne, Jordan.

Dec. 17  St. Peter.

Dec. 19  Litchfield, Buffalo.
If you only know jazz because of Kenny G, you might want to visit the third annual Rochester City Jazz Festival.

The fest showcases an eclectic mix of regionally and internationally recognized jazz musicians who really know how to play.

"The vibraphone mallets will move so fast theyll blur, some nasty solos will be ripped, and the jazz will leave scorch marks on your brain," said John Sievers, the founder and organizer of the fest. "The fest is a fantastic day filled to the brim with the kind of jazz that makes the world a better place."

Sievers curates performers and is in charge of every aspect of the event, which began with a grant from the Rochester Downtown Alliance.

"I had the idea for this festival a little more than three years ago," he said. "My band, The DSievers, had been hosting a regular monthly jazz jam for several years before that, and it really attracted a lot of jazz lovers from the area. It felt like there was an audience for jazz in Rochester, so I started imagining how I could build on that."

What the idea has grown into is a show full of talent. There will be bands to satisfy a wide range of tastes  everything from groups performing original songs, to those working from the "Great American Songbook."

The festival includes performances by four impressive jazz groups: The Steve Kenny Quartet, Kevin Clements and Dave Hagedorn, Fuzzy Math, and the McNasty Brass Band are all playing. Plus, food and alcohol will be provided by Old Abe Coffee Co.

"Each of the groups performing at the fest puts on stellar performances and has been recognized for their music," Sievers said. "Fuzzy Math, for instance, made it on the Star Tribunes Best of Minnesota list as the Best Jazz Act For People Bored With Jazz, in part because of the way they put their own jazz spin on pop covers. The unique vibes and bass combo of Kevin Clements and Dave Hagedorn has performed at the regional Bridge Chamber Festival. All four acts are Minnesotan, but theyve toured in the region and even internationally. The Steve Kenny quartet has toured the Midwest and played at well-known fests like Wisconsins Eau Claire Jazz festival, and McNasty Brass has performed for international audiences."

Its clear Sievers knows his jazz and really enjoys it.

"Jazz is one of the only true American art forms, and the great thing about it is that it embraces individuality and welcomes creativity in a way that few other genres of music manage," he said. "Jazz seems more inclusive than exclusive. It thrives on introducing elements from other genres and making them swing. With jazz, each performance has the exhilarating possibility of creating something never heard before. Above all, jazz is the art of listening, interplay, and chasing ideas no matter where they might lead, but this can only happen when everyone involved is willing to collaborate."

And if you didnt know, Rochester has quite the jazz scene.

"Rochester has a long-standing relationship with jazz and it deserves to have its own jazz festival," Sievers said. "In the past, one of our local jazz legends, Les Fields of the Turkey River Allstars, organized a dixieland jazz fest for several years, and over the years, our town has seen its share of jazz greats performing, including legends like Duke Ellington who stayed in the Avalon Hotel in Downtown Rochester."

This years event takes place at the Rochester Art Center on Nov. 10 from 2:30-8 p.m. Tickets are $20. A jazz jam will take place at Forager Brewery on Nov. 11 from 8-11 p.m. that local musicians can sign up to participate in.

The fest is sponsored by the Rochester Downtown Alliance, 507 Magazine, Northern Sun Productions, My Town My Music, and Minuteman Press.

Coverage paid/sponsored by Jazzfest.
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NORRISTOWN  A Pottstown man is on his way to state prison on charges he engaged in heroin trafficking in the borough.

Anthony Douglas Delancey, 41, of the 200 block of King Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to four to eight years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to deliver heroin in connection with incidents that occurred in December 2017.

The sentence was imposed by Judge Richard P. Haaz as part of a plea agreement.

With the charges, Pottstown police alleged Delancey, on two occasions in December 2017, did deliver an amount of packaged heroin to a confidential informant during an arranged meeting in the borough. The informant met briefly with Delancey at the location and exchanged pre-recorded currency for the heroin, according to the arrest affidavit.

The evidence from the so-called controlled buy was sent to a laboratory for analysis. The tests confirmed that the evidence did contain heroin, according to the arrest affidavit.

Other charges of possessing heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a communication facility were dismissed against Delancey as part of the plea agreement.
PHOENIXVILLE  Teachers with more time to listen and better promotion of in-school student resources were just two of the several suggestions Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro received from students during the first of six forums focusing on bullying and cyberbullying in schools.

The forum was held Oct. 26 at Phoenixville High School and featured a panelist of seniors from Phoenixville, Coatesville and Downingtown West high schools and 60 students from all three school districts.

Shapiro told the students he considers bullying and cyberbullying to be critically important issues, but rather than have adults dictate to the terms of how you are going to interact with one another, I believe we need to do a better job of listening and understanding whats really happening in our schools and how we can best address it.

And there was a lot to listen to.

Senior panelists Jordan Ford from Phoenixville, Grace Kennedy from Coatesville and Max Minnier from Downingtown West each offered their own perspective on the issues, all agreeing cyberbullying on social media platforms, is a much larger and more frequent problem than physical bullying in person.

Ford said cyberbullying is more prevalent perhaps because it is more likely to go unchallenged. If it happens in front of your face, you may feel more obliged to stop it, but if you see it in passing online, you may recognize it, but feel less inclined to make an effort to stop it, which is why its so easy to spread. No one likes to be challenged and its easier when no one calls you out.

Minnier and Kennedy said Instagram and Twitter are the social media platforms on which cyberbullying is most likely to occur.

A bully can hide behind a phone or a computer and not have to do it face it face, and social media has a delay, you and wait and think your response through, so a bully feels more protected, Minnier said.

But the issue is more than a black and white, good buy/bad guy scenario, said Kennedy. Understanding what may motivate a student to engage in bullying behavior is an important way to stop it. They may have an issue going on at home that no one knows about and they want to put the attention on someone else, she said.

You need a two-pronged approach, to help the person who was victimized, but also to help the person who was doing the bullying, Ford said.

A lot of people feel ostracized, they dont feel school is a very safe place and they dread going there, said Minnier.

That feeling of being ostracized applies to both bully and victim and making connections with teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, psychologists or school resource officers can often make the difference. But its not always an easy connection to make, the students told Shapiro.

Kennedy said she was bullied, but because she had a good relationship with her principal, the matter was dealt with swiftly.

But many students dont feel comfortable doing that and think of the office as only being the place where you go when youre in trouble, said Minnier. Similarly, he said often the only students who have enough of a relationship to seek help from a school resource officer are those who have a tendency to break the rules and have had contact with that officer previously.

Further, Ford said, most students think of guidance counselors as being people you see primarily when discussing issues about choosing a college. I never thought of them as someone you go to for help with anything else, he said.

No matter who the adult is to whom a student turns in times of need, the most important aspect is often familiarity and trust, the students said.

It has to be someone you have developed a relationship with, Minnier said, and a lot of kids do not have a relationship with or a lot of contact with administrators, or school psychologists.

Many students also attach a stigma to going to see a school psychologist, if there is one, said one student in the audience. It makes you feel like you have some kind of problem, she said.

Further, those resources, Minnier and Ford said, are often not well known among the student population and more education is needed about what is available.

One audience member said there are resources in Phoenixville, for example, but until recently, she was not aware they were there.

Any education Ive received was a quick video or maybe one assembly, which is not something I am going to remember when Im worried about my mid-term, said Ford.

All three panelists, and other students in the audience who spoke up, said it is often a teacher who is the person with whom a student is most likely to have developed a relationship of trust.

You spend the most time with them, and so a teacher is most likely to see what is going on with a situation, said Kennedy.

The teachers most likely to be helpful, said one student speaker from the audience, are those who know how to listen first without giving input right away, but wait to hear the whole story.

Students have a role to play too if they want to form a relationship with a teacher who can help, Ford said. If youre on your phone all day, not giving the teacher your attention, making eye contact, just like anyone else, they may not want to give you the time of day, he said.

But school academics are more high-pressure now, Minnier said, and teachers may not feel they have the luxury of time to devote to developing relationships with students.

Schools are more competitive now and the pressure is on teachers to teach to the test, to make sure they cover everything and they may see that as the first priority of their job, he said.

Shapiros job, he said, is to keep listening.

He praised the students for their questions and their insights. You are extraordinary human beings and you taught me a lot, Shapiro said.

It will be interesting to see what other kinds of input we get from students in other parts of Pennsylvania, said Shapiro, who added he is looking for ways to help law enforcement and school districts do a better job of addressing bullying and cyber-bullying in our communities.

In the meantime, his office is preparing a January launch for an anonymous call number and phone app, called Safe-to-Say-PA, through which tips about kids who may be in trouble can be made.

We all know that it is not only painful for a student to experience bullying or cyber-bullying, but we also know that it has life-ling effects for that student and we cant look away from that, Shapiro said. This is not something we can accept as a reality. This is something we need to fight back against.
Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for porn star Stormy Daniels and a 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful, jumped into the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation battle on the afternoon of Sept. 23. On that day, The New Yorker had published the allegations of a woman named Deborah Ramirez, who claimed that a drunken Kavanaugh exposed himself to her during a party at Yale sometime in 1983 or 1984. Almost immediately, Avenatti took to Twitter with an allegation of his own.

Avenatti said he had a client, a woman with credible information regarding Judge Kavanaugh and Mark Judge. He did not reveal her name.

Within minutes, Mike Davis, chief counsel for nominations at the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent an email to Avenatti. You claim to have information you consider credible regarding Judge Kavanaugh and Mark Judge, Davis wrote. Please advise of this information immediately so that Senate investigators may promptly begin an inquiry.

Avenatti responded quickly. We are aware of significant evidence of multiple house parties in the Washington, D.C., area during the early 1980s during which Brett Kavanaugh, Mark Judge and others would participate in the targeting of women with alcohol/drugs in order to allow a train of men to subsequently gang rape them, Avenatti wrote. There are multiple witnesses that will corroborate these facts and each of them must be called to testify publicly. Avenatti supplied a list of questions Senate investigators should ask Kavanaugh, and also said he would provide additional evidence to the committee in the days to follow.

Of course, it wasnt true. Still, Avenattis allegation poured fuel on an already raging partisan fire over the Kavanaugh nomination. First there was the Christine Ford allegation. Then came the Ramirez accusation, which, coming after Ford, gave Kavanaughs opponents the occasion to claim a pattern of Kavanaughs alleged abuse of women. Then Avenattis allegation  gang rape  sent it into another dimension.

Avenattis client was identified as Julie Swetnick, who had lived in the Washington area during Kavanaughs high school years. Avenatti sent the committee an affidavit in which Swetnick made her claims. Beyond that, he provided no other evidence to support the allegation  beyond the promise of multiple witnesses. Nevertheless, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee took it very seriously.

In light of shocking new allegations detailed by Julie Swetnick in a sworn affidavit, we write to request that the committee vote on Brett Kavanaugh be immediately canceled and that you support the re-opening of the FBI investigation, committee Democrats wrote Republican chairman Charles Grassley.

The committee immediately began investigating Avenattis claim, using staff time and resources it could have devoted to other parts of the Kavanaugh matter. According to Grassley, the committee interviewed 10 associates of Swetnick, working late nights and a weekend in the process. Committee staff sought to interview Ms. Swetnick, Grassley later wrote, but Mr. Avenatti refused.

Not long after, NBC aired an interview with Swetnick in which she backed away from her most incendiary accusations. In addition, Swetnick gave NBC the names of four people she said knew about the gang rapes. The network reported that one of the people did not know a Julie Swetnick, another was dead, and two others did not respond to inquiries.

Avenatti also gave the committee a declaration from an anonymous witness who said that in 1981 to 1982, she personally saw Kavanaugh spike the punch at house parties I attended with Quaaludes and/or grain alcohol. I understood this was being done for the purpose of making girls more likely to engage in sexual acts and less likely to say No.'

Avenatti would not tell the committee who the witness was. But, recently, NBC reported that its journalists talked to the witness, who did not back up the declaration that Avenatti gave the committee on her behalf. It is incorrect that I saw Brett spike the punch, the woman told NBC. I didnt see anyone spike the punch  I was very clear with Michael Avenatti from day one.

I do not like that he (Avenatti) twisted my words, the woman said.

Putting aside the question of why NBC waited to report the womans statement until after the Kavanaugh vote was over, the entire Avenatti episode left Grassley angry that the publicity-seeking lawyer had hijacked the committees time and energy at a critical moment, with claims that were obviously untrue. So on Oct. 25, Grassley formally referred Avenatti (and Swetnick) to the Justice Department for a criminal investigation into their conduct.

It is illegal to knowingly and willfully make materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statements to congressional investigators, Grassley wrote in the referral. When charlatans make false claims to the committee  claims that may earn them short-term media exposure and financial gain, but which hinder the committees ability to do its job  there should be consequences.

With Avenatti, there have so far been no consequences, beyond the loss of whatever credibility some cable TV news organizations conferred on him in repeated appearances over the last several months. Now, with the Grassley referral, that could finally change.

(Byron York is chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner.)
Jason Pye of Freedom Works has a column in the Hill defending the First Step Act. . .sort of. Its mostly an attack on those who oppose this leniency legislation.

Pye calls opponents reactionaries and accuses us of dishonesty and fear-mongering. But name-calling is no substitute for argument, and when Pye gets around to actually arguing, he consistently hides the ball.

Pye writes:

Opponents claim that violent crime is rising and that criminal justice reform would only lead to more violent crime. Federal crime data show that violent crime peaked in 1991 and has been in decline ever since. In 1991, there were 758.1 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2017, the most recent data available, there were 382.9 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants. Separately, property crime is at its lowest rate since 1965.

Here, Pye hides the ball in two ways. First, he neglects to note that the drop in crime that began in 1991 corresponds with the implementation the tough sentencing regime he wants to overturn. John Malcolm, a more forthright advocate of leniency legislation, has admitted that tough sentencing contributed significantly to the decrease in crime.

Second, Pye hides the fact that violent is on the rise. In September of 2017, the New York Times reported that violent crimes increased nationally last year by 4.1 percent and homicides rose by 8.6 percent, one year after violence increased by 3.9 percent and homicides jumped by 10.8 percent.

Pye points to Georgia which has enacted leniency legislation and where, he says, violent crime has decreased. But he offers no statistics on recidivism rates in Georgia. Recidivism rates tells you far more than general crime statistics about how much additional crimes will result from letting prisoners out of jail early and/or shortening their sentences at the front-end.

As I explained here, the overall crime rate tells us the extent to which the entire population elects to engage in crime. The recidivism rate tells us the extent to which the previously incarcerated population elects to do so.

Only the incarcerated population is the subject of sentencing reform. Thus, its the decisions these folks make after release that should guide us when considering such reform.

Pye also discusses Texas and South Carolina, two other sentencing reform state, and here he offers recidivism statistics:

The three-year recidivism rate in Texas as measured by reincarceration among prisoners released in 2013 was 21 percent. Texas passed its first reforms in 2007. In South Carolina, passed prison and sentencing reforms in 2010, the three-year recidivism rate as measured by reincarceration was 23.1 percent.

Even taken at face value, 20 to 25 percent recidivism in three years is not encouraging. It entails a large number of crimes that wouldnt be committed if the prisoners had been in jail for the three extra years.

But Pyes recidivism figures cannot be taken at face value for at least two reasons. First, state prison populations do not much resemble the prison population that would benefit from federal leniency legislation. Unlike in the states, there are no non-illegal immigrant drug possessors in federal prison. Instead, a huge percentage of federal prisoners are illegal immigrants, or gang members, or are drug traffickers who have ended up in federal prison because their crimes were serious enough to warrant federal prosecution.

Pye glides past this reality. Again, hes hiding the ball.

Second, Pye relies on reincarceration rates. But these are a poor surrogate for the commission of crime. According to the Pew Research Center, hardly a conservative source, most crimes are not reported to police, and most reported crimes are not solved. And even when crimes are solved, they sometimes are not punished with prison time. This may be especially true in states that want to tout their sentencing reforms.

Rearrest, though not a perfect surrogate for recidivism either, is more indicative than reincarceration for the reasons stated above. The rearrest rate for state prisoners in Texas after three years is about 45 percent, as measured in the period since Texas adopted sentencing reform.

If were concerned about public safety, a 45 percent recidivism rate in just three years is far too high to make lenient sentencing, whether at the front or the back end, sound policy.

To the extent Pye discusses the legislation he backs, he does so in platitudes and happy talk. For example, he touts risk and needs assessment to determine [a prisoners] risk of reoffending and of tailoring the prisoners programming to his or her risk.

If youre a leftist, perhaps you trust the state to make these sort of individually tailored calls. If youre a conservative, you should quickly spot the hubris associated with the notion that the state can do so reliably.

Pye talks of incentiviz[ing] prisoners to lower their risk of recidivism through earned time credits. He doesnt explain why prisoners genuinely interested in rehabilitating themselves  the only kind of prisoners at all likely to be rehabilitated through such programs  need to be bribed to participate in effective rehabilitation programs.

Pye objects to the term jailbreak as a description of First Step. My preferred description is leniency legislation. But theres no disputing that the legislation would let federal drug felons  including traffickers in fetanyl and other deadly drugs  out of jail early. Thus, jailbreak isnt an unfair metaphor.

The real question, though, is the amount of crime the beneficiaries of lenient sentencing will commit thanks to not being in jail. The best answer is found in recidivism rates, as measured by re-arrest rates.

It is neither fear-mongering nor reactionary to cite these numbers and to argue that the cost of that amount of crime is unacceptable.
President Trump campaigned for Republican candidates at a rally in Estero, Florida. C-SPAN has posted the video here. Adam Kredos Washington Free Beacon account of the speech prompted me to track it down and transcribe the presidents opening remarks:

Before going any further I went to take a moment to address the horrific shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. It was terrible. Eleven Americans were brutally murdered in an evil anti-Semitic attack. Yesterday I traveled to Pittsburgh to meet with the families and first responders and I especially want to thank Rabbi Jeffrey Myers. He was terrific. He was terrific. Fine man. We grieve for the families of the fallen and we send our eternal gratitude to the law enforcement officers who sustained severe injuries taking down the gunman. They were incredibile. They were incredibile. They were incredibile. As bad as it was, it could have been far worse and they got there fast. We pledge our resolve to remove the vile poison of anti-Semitism and so many other problems from our world and we reaffirm our unbreakable solidarity with the Jewish people.

That was in the first five minutes. More of interest follows, including a comment or two about Israel, but I wanted to get that down for the record. The APs running account of Trumps rally last night  posted here by the New York Times  somehow omits any mention of the remarks, as does the Timess own account of the event by Katie Rogers.
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers extended his welcome to President Trump in advance of Trumps condolence call on the Tree of Life synagogue where 11 congregants were murdered this past Saturday. Rabbi Myers had a message out of tune with the insane propaganda of the left seizing the occasion to disparage Trump. Rabbi Myers had the audacity to tell reporters: I am a citizen. He is my president. He is always welcome.

Rabbi Myers also had a timely message that I am quite sure they failed to absorb: Hate is not blue, hate is not red, hate is not purple hate is in all. Speak words of love, speak words of decency and of respect. When the message comes loud and clear, Americans will hear that and we can begin to change the tenor of our country. For his simple decency Rabbi Myers has attracted hate mail and death threats.

CNN reports that while in Pittsburgh President Trump met with four patients and their families at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: The President spent a considerable amount of time with each patient and their family members, and spoke with the hospitals care team, he told reporters. Trump also spoke with a family member of one of the 11 victims, [hospital chief of emergency surgery Donald] Yealy said. The video below must come from this visit.

Pittsburgh hospital staff cheered when they caught a glimpse of President @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS passing by. They were stunned when they unexpectedly turned aroundpic.twitter.com/ydvT8voqZm  CRTV (@CRTV) October 31, 2018

UPDATE: Speaking today, Rabbi Myers said that he was pleasantly surprised to discover a warm and personal side to President Trump when he visited the synagogue on Tuesday. The Washington Post story quoting the rabbis comments continues with this: I was privileged to have a private 15 or 20 minutes with the family. The president was very warm, very consoling, put his hand on my shoulder, and the first question he asked me was, Rabbi, tell me how are you doing. I must say throughout the time we spent together, I was pleasantly surprised by a warm and personal side to the president that I dont think America has ever seen. In addition to his conspicuous decency the rabbi displays bravery and love of truth.
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TORONTO,ONTARIO /ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / AurCrest Gold Inc. (the "Company" or "AurCrest") (TSX-V: AGO) (FRANKFURT:TM8A, WKN: A0YG1K) wishes to announce that it is extending its non-brokered private placement, originallyannounced on September 18, 2018, with a first closing announced on September25, 2018, of up to 4,550,000 working capital units (the "WC Units") for up to $227,500 (the "WC Offering") for a further thirty (30) days.Each WC Unit is priced at$0.05 and consists of one (1) common share and one (1) common share purchasewarrant ("WC Warrant").Each WC Warrant entitles the holder topurchase one (1) common share (a "WCWarrant Share") at a price of $0.075 per WC Warrant Share for a period of until three (3) years following the closing of the WC Offering (the "ClosingDate"). Eligible Finders may receiveup to 7% of the value of proceeds of the sale of WC Units in cash and up to 8%of the number of WC Units sold in the form of broker warrants (the "WC Broker Warrants"), with each WCBroker Warrant entitling the holder toacquire one (1) WC Unit at a price of $0.05 for a period of three (3) yearsfrom the Closing Date. The funds from the WCOffering will be used to provide the Company with working capital and toacquire the 2% NSR.About AurCrest Gold Inc.AurCrest is a mineral exploration company focused on theacquisition, exploration, and development of gold properties. AurCrest has aportfolio of properties in Ontario, which include the Richardson Lake andBridget Lake gold properties.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:AurCrestGold Inc.Christopher AngeconebPresidentand C.E.O(807)737-5353christopherangeconeb@ gmail.com Ian Brodie-BrownDirectorof Business Development(416)844-9969ianbrodiebrown@ gmail.comForward Looking Statement:Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-lookingstatements which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties.Without limitation, statements regardingpotential mineralization and resources, exploration results, and future plansand objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involvevarious risks.The following areimportant factors that could cause the Companys actual results to differmaterially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements:changes in the world wide price of mineral commodities, general marketconditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risks associated withdevelopment, construction and mining operations, the uncertainty of futureprofitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. There can beno assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate asactual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipatedin such statements.AurCrest undertakesno obligation to update such forward-looking statements if circumstances ormanagements estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned notto place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.NeitherTSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term isdefined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility forthe adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: AurCrestGold Inc.
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BOULDER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / BLACKSTAR ENTERPRISE GROUP INC., (OTCQB: BEGI) announces the design and begins the build of a digital equity trading platform on the Hyperledger-fabric blockchain. When completed, this platform will allow Peer-to-Peer trading of BlackStar Digital Shares of Common Stock. The platform is designed to integrate into the existing Broker-Dealer Ecosystem. Our Company, BlackStar Enterprise Group, Inc. (OTCQB: BEGI) is a publicly traded merchant banking firm seeking to facilitate venture capital to early stage revenue companies. BlackStar intends to offer consulting and regulatory compliance services to crypto-equity companies and blockchain entrepreneurs for securities, tax, and commodity issues. BlackStar is conducting ongoing analysis for opportunities in involvement in crypto-related ventures through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Crypto Equity Management Corp., (''CEMC''), mainly in the areas of blockchain and distributed ledger technologies. Proposed BlackStar Digital Trading Platform (''BDTP''): BlackStar's aim is to build BDTP from our existing design, a digital equity trading platform, to trade registered BlackStar securities only. CEMC retained Solidgreen Software, LLC, d/b/a Artuova (''Artuova'') to begin the build of our equity trading platform. The platform development is being overseen by Artuova software engineer Dr. David Gnabasik, providing the expertise needed to develop our platform. Dr. Gnabasik holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Colorado-Denver and implements blockchain solutions for state and federal licensing agencies. As of September 2018, BDTP has been completely designed in terms of the following components: data model, reports, a web-based user interface, a blockchain interface, transaction logic, and a cloud interface. CEMC intends to engage further software developers as needed for blockchain implementation on the Peer-to-Peer (''P2P'') BDTP platform. Artuova will continue to develop the platform that the Company has designed to contain the essentials for full regulatory compliance, subject to availability of funding. The potential regulatory challenges for the functionality of our digital equity trading platform come from integration of the existing broker-dealer ecosystem into the platform, approvals from, advice of, and compliance with the rules and regulations of the OTC Market Group, SEC, FinCen, IRS, CFTC, FINRA, anti-money laundering rules, cybersecurity laws, and other state and federal financial and banking laws.Further details about the BDTP design and strategy, and risks associated with the business and Company can be found in the 10-K/A2 (see ''Current Business'' and ''Risk Factors''). www.BlackStarEnterpriseGroup.com It is BlackStar's hope that the future successful demonstration and implementation of a finalized BDTP will enable the Company to reproduce the technology for other small-cap public companies and unregulated coin offerings and to provide consulting regarding converting their equity to trade on their own encrypted digital trading platform compliant with the existing legal framework of the SEC. The Company's CFO, J E Kurczodyna, said ''BlackStar believes that our planned digital securities trading platform could be an initial step in tying together global digital trading and micro-cap markets.''BlackStar plans to seek regulatory review as necessary from the SEC and various regulators of its platform in ''Demo'' mode prior to activation and implementation, after which BlackStar intends to register digital shares of its outstanding common stock and additional digital shares for sale in a Digital Offering in compliance with all the rules and regulations of the SEC.Additional Risk Factors: There is no assurance of market acceptance or profitability of the concept or Company. The BDTP is not yet developed and may never be developed. Investors holding BlackStar Digital Equities may never be able to transfer BlackStar Digital Equities on the platform. BlackStar Digital Equities (intended to be traded on the BDTP) do not currently exist and may never exist. The warrants for BlackStar Digital Equities outstanding are not currently exercisable for them, and a secondary trading market may never develop for them. See ''Risk Factors'' in the Company's 10-K/A as amended, filed on September 5, 2018 and accessible at www.sec.gov.SEC Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words or phrases "would be," "will allow," "intends to," "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "project," or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements." Actual results could differ materially from those projected in BlackStar's ("the Company's") business plan. The creation of subsidiaries and expansion of services into new sectors should not be construed as an indication in any way whatsoever of the future value of the Company's common stock or its present or future financial condition. The Company's filings may be accessed at the SEC's Edgar system at www.sec.gov . Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. The Company cautions readers not to place reliance on such statements. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, we do not undertake, and we specifically disclaim any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement. Please Contact:Joseph E Kurczodyna CFO (''Joe K'')info@ blackstarenterprisegroup.comcapmercbanc@hotmail.com303-500-5073SOURCE: BlackStar Enterprise Group, Inc.
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 1st, 2018 / CIBT Education Group Inc. ("CIBT" or the "Company") (TSX: MBA, OTCQX International: MBAIF) is pleased to announce the signing of a formal Purchase and Sale Agreement for the purchase by GEC Langara Limited Partnership of two parcels of land to develop a highrise serviced apartment (the "Project") near the corner of Cambie Street and 49th Avenue in Vancouver. The Project, named GEC Langara, is located at the centre of the City of Vancouver and is approximately 20 feet from the Langara SkyTrain station.GEC Langara is the ninth GEC branded project and, once constructed, will be the 12th building within the GEC portfolio. The Project is expected to have a gross building area of approximately 63,000 square feet. The total development budget for this Project, including land, construction, FFE (furniture, fixture & equipment) and financing costs, is approximately $60 million. "After our successful exit of two GEC projects and the sale of 4 ground floor commercial units, we have proven our business model to be successful. Since March 2018, approximately $118.5 million of GEC properties have been monetized, providing liquidity to our limited partnership investors and CIBT", commented Toby Chu, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of CIBT. "In addition to these exits, $260 million worth of properties have been added to the GEC portfolio and new development budgets. These properties are GEC Pearson in Vancouver and Global Education City located in Richmond, B.C. While Metro Vancouver is currently experiencing a slow down in the residential housing market, a rental housing shortage continues to be in crisis mode which prompted rapid appreciation in market value of the GEC real estate portfolio. Regarding financial performance, the exits of GEC Granville and GEC Viva resulted in an ROIC (return on invested capital) to the respective limited partners of 138% and 333% respectively. The GEC Pearson property appreciated in value by $44.6 million, or an increase of 105%, between the time of signing the purchase contract in 2014 and the recent completion of its purchase. This proven track record has allowed us to expand the GEC portfolio rapidly and raise new capital at reasonable terms. We intend to take advantage of the latest real estate market slow down by acquiring undervalued properties, developing new projects, filling them with our large pipeline of students, collecting attractive rental returns, and finally exiting when the next real estate economic cycle returns in a few years".About GEC Langara:GEC Langara will be a 12 storey concrete construction accommodating approximately 220 beds. The location is three blocks from the Vancouver Community College Langara Campus, and approximately 10 minutes of travel time by SkyTrain to downtown Vancouver, Richmond City Centre and the Vancouver international airport. This Project has received re-zoning approval, and a development permit application is expected to be submitted shortly. Construction for this Project is expected to commence in early 2019. The closing date of the purchase of the GEC Langara lands is expected to be January 15th 2019 subject to the satisfactory completion of all due diligence reviews and the removal or satisfaction of other conditions. About CIBT Education Group: CIBT Education Group Inc. is one of the largest education, and student housing investment companies in Canada focused on the global education market since 1994. Listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and U.S OTCQX International, CIBT owns business and language colleges, student housing properties, recruitment centres and corporate offices at 43 locations in Canada and abroad. Total annual enrollment for the group exceeds 12,000 students. Its education providers include Sprott Shaw College (established in 1903), Sprott Shaw Language College, Vancouver International College and CIBT School of Business. Through these schools, CIBT offers business and management programs in healthcare, hotel management, language training, and over 150 career, language and vocational programs. CIBT owns Global Education City Holdings Inc., an investment holding and development company focused on developing education-related real estate such as student hotels, serviced apartments and education super centres. Total portfolio and development budget of projects under the GEC brand is more than C$1 billion. CIBT also owns Global Education Alliance ("GEA") and Irix Design Group ("Irix Design"). GEA recruits international students on behalf of many elite kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities in North America. Irix Design is a leading design and advertising company based in Vancouver, Canada. Visit us online and watch our corporate video at www.cibt.net.Toby ChuChairman, President and Chief Executive Officer CIBT Education Group Inc. Investor Relations Contact: 1-604-871-9909 extension 318 or | Email: info@ cibt.net Forward-Looking Statements:Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (the "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and in this news release include, without limitation, the statements as to the expected acquisition and development of the Project, the expected Project budget, the expected timing of the submission of the development permit application, the expected timing of Project construction, the expectation that the demand for rental accommodations will continue to be strong and the expectation that a strong real estate economic cycle will return in a few years. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors (collectively, "Risks") that could cause CIBTs actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward-looking statements. The Risks include, without limitation, the ability to negotiate and enter into a binding agreement for the construction of the Project, the ability of GEC Langara Limited Partnership to raise the required funds from the sale of equity and to raise the necessary commercial debt financing on acceptable terms, the ability to obtain all required municipal approvals, usual construction risks, and the market demand for accommodations in the Project, once completed. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of CIBTs management at the time they are made, and CIBT does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances should change, except as may be required by law.SOURCE: CIBT Education Group Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-01 15:46:01

CORRECTING and REPLACING Christo Georgiev Announces myPOS Store Expansion Strategy Across Europe for 2019

myPOS Europe Ltd

Martin Kalinov

Head of Marketing

martin.kalinov@mypos.com

Sixth paragraph, first sentence of release dated October 31 2018 should read: myPOS is all set for major expansion in 2019 ...

The corrected release reads:

CHRISTO GEORGIEV ANNOUNCES MYPOS STORE EXPANSION STRATEGY ACROSS EUROPE FOR 2019

The fintech entrepreneur Christo Georgiev, founder of myPOS, a leading European card and online payments provider, has announced his plans for new store expansion in Europe, set to happen in 2019.

The news comes just weeks after the company launched its store in Milan, Italy and signals an aggressive strategy designed to bring the company services closer to merchants. Up until 2018 the famous fintech company, engaged in selling payment terminals and processing card payments, had online presence only. This all changed in spring 2018 when myPOS opened its first ever brick-and-mortar stone in London, the financial centre of Europe, which was quickly followed by a new location in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In May 2018 a new company store was established in Sofia, Bulgaria as well.

The move from online presence only to physical stores is part of the new company strategy for growth driven by the companys experience with online sales. According to the companys founder, Mr. Christo Georgiev, in the age of the Internet online stores are often not enough.

When it comes to selling payment terminals, having an online store is mandatory, but in many cases customers want to be able to see and experience the devices before they decide to commit their money. Having a physical location is crucial in meeting this demand. And theres nothing better than in-person communication when a client needs help or has questions, said Christo Georgiev.

All company stores are located in places that are easy to find and carry the spirit of the city that hosts them. For instance, the myPOS store in London is situated next to Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace, while the store in Amsterdam is located close to the centre of the city and next to channels that Amsterdam is so famous with.

myPOS is all set for major expansion in 2019 when the company plans to open no less than seven more stores across Europe. The first half of 2019 will see myPOS stores debut in Paris, Bucharest, Munich, Lisbon and Warsaw. In the second half of 2019 the company plans to open stores in Prague, the Czech Republic and in Helsinki, Finland.

The ultimate goal is to be present in all major European countries  an accomplishment that is to be achieved in the next several years.

About myPOS Europe Ltd

myPOS Europe Ltd is a licensed payments provider and processor, registered at 25 Canada Square, Level 33, Canary Wharf London E14 5LB, United Kingdom.

The myPOS package includes a smart POS device, a free myPOS account with a business VISA card and access to additional merchant services.

www.mypos.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181031005

FinTech founder Christo Georgiev announces plans for physical store expansion across Europe for 2019. #payment #fintech #europe #myPOS
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-01 16:44:49

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NORTH RANDALL, OH / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / Global PoleTrusion Group Corp. (OTC PINK: GPGC) announces a new biomass-based energy generation project in Chiriqui, Panama. With an initial capacity of 5 MW, the power plant will use palm oil extraction residues (biomass) to generate electricity.Los Santos Energy Corp., a Panamanian company that is 80 percent owned by GPGC, has signed a letter of intent with Renewable Energy Holdings Corp., a company that develops, builds and operates solar plants for Panama's national energy network. Los Santos Energy Corp. will build the biomass power plant to provide Renewable Energy Holdings Corp. with a new source of renewable energy, allowing them to offer hybrid generation that will give them greater flexibility in serving their customers. GPGC will also design and manufacture composite poles for the energy transmission infrastructure. The palm oil extraction residues will be obtained from the Cooperativa de Productores de Palmas COOPEMAPACHI, R.L. ( www.coopemapachi.com) . Ramiro Guerrero, president of GPGC, recently met with the management team of Renewable Energy Holdings Corp. They are now finalizing the details of the project and the power purchase agreement (PPA). Mr. Guerrero says "This is an exciting project for us because it is well aligned with our goal of providing innovative and environmentally friendly energy and infrastructure setups for utility companies." In addition to being renewable and abundant, biomass energy sources can generally be considered carbon neutral, as the energy conversion process does not contribute new CO2 to the atmosphere. The same CO2 that was absorbed by the plant during photosynthesis is released during the energy transformation process. The initial cost of the project is $13 million USD; it is expected to provide gross annual revenues of $3.5 million with operating expenses of $1.1 million. GPGC is currently in the process of securing financing for this project through Polaris Capital Power Inc. ( www.polariscapitalpower.com) . This is expected to take place before the end of 2018. Ramiro Guerrero was recently interviewed by Everett Jolly at Uptick Newswire, where they discussed the design and manufacture of composite electrical poles and how this innovative technology can create superior value within numerous projects in their pipeline. Click this link to listen to the interview: https://upticknewswire.com/featured-interview-president-ramiro-guerrero-of-global-pole-trusion-group-corp-otcpink-gpgc.About Global PoleTrusion Group Corp.GPGC provides composite utility poles and transmission structures that outperform their steel, wood and concrete counterparts. They are stronger, lighter, easier to install and environmentally safe. With its advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities, GPGC is at the forefront of providing creative, effective, solutions to address the needs of utility companies. For more information, please visit www.globalpoletrusiongroup.com . PoleTrusion Canada is GPGCs engineering division. They create the latest state-of-the-art composite structures, custom-designed based on the needs of their clients. The company is part of the Advanced Composite Materials for Civil Structures Chair at the University of Sherbrooke. Dr. Benmokrane, a director of the Chair, is on the technical board at GPGC.GPG Corporate Design LogoContact:Alice Hofmannalice.hofmann@poletrusion.comForward-Looking StatementsThis news release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future.SOURCE:Global PoleTrusion Group Corp.
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VICTORIA,BRITISH COLUMBIA / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / Following the official legalization of recreational marijuana in Canada, HollyWeed North Cannabis Inc. ("HollyWeed" orthe "Company") and Toronto-based Lost Craft Inc. ("Lost Craft") are pleased toannounce signing of a letter of intent with respect to a strategiccollaboration between the two companies. The announcement, made by Renee Gagnon,Founder and CEO of HollyWeed will see the company manufacture recreationalcannabis products for Lost Craft on a "white label" basis where legal. Thescope of the agreement includes packaged flower, infused beverages and otherrelated products. They will also develop strains of cannabis for Lost Craftproducts and incorporate the supply and development of cannabis oils for pensand other recreational use products (where legal and as new legal opportunitiesenter the Canadian market). Lost Craft intends on establishing a new company tolaunch their line of recreational cannabis products. Comments Renee Gagnon, Founder and CEO ofHollyWeed: "I am very proud and excitedto be able to liaise with Lost Craft, adding yet another ground-breakingchapter to both of our businesses. We are looking forward to much growth andsuccess in the future, not to mention providing new and extraordinary productsfor cannabis fans." The letter of intent as signed on October23, 2018 and will leverage the combined expertise and resources of bothcompanies for strategic market entry. "We expect unique delivery alternativeswill be a major growth area within the legal recreational cannabis industry.HollyWeed is a strong partner with international experience who we have greatcomfort in consulting and developing our line of recreational cannabis products," said Lost Craft Founder, Shehan De Silva. As the agreement between HollyWeed and LostCraft becomes more definitive, more details will become publicly available. About HollyWeed North Cannabis Inc.HollyWeed North is a private Canadiancompany incorporated in British Columbia, established in 2016, with operatingsubsidiaries specializing in the growth, manufacturing, licensing andproduction of cannabis and other pharma grade products. HollyWeed North'ssubsidiaries include HollyWeed Manufacturing and Extracts Inc., a federallydealers' licensed company incorporated in British Columbia specializing incannabis extraction and product manufacturing; HollyWeed Grow Inc., a latestage federal ACMPR applicant, also a private company incorporated in BritishColumbia specializing in the growth of medical cannabis and cannabis products;HollyWeed Retail Inc., a retail strategies provider and supply chain managementcompany incorporated in British Columbia; Hollyweed Bakery Inc., a developerand manufacturer of unique cannabis baked goods and edibles incorporated inBritish Columbia; and Terracube International Inc., a manufacturer anddeveloper of proprietary scalable, sanitary grow facilities incorporated inBritish Columbia. HollyWeed North is currently restructuring its capital suchthat, upon execution of the Definitive Agreement, all the subsidiaries will bewholly-owned by HollyWeed North.About Lost Craft Inc.Based in Toronto, Lost Craft is one of thefastest growing privately owned craft beer companies in Canada that focuses onbrewing world class approachable craft beer.Founded in 2015, Lost Craft has quickly become a strong and establishedbrand within the craft beer industry.Ontario is the Company's largest market and Lost Craft's products arealso sold in Manitoba, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Contact: HollyWeed North Cannabis Inc: KateDalgleish, Director of Legal Affairs and Government Relations, 250-889-7044kate@ hollyweednorth.com http://hollyweednorth.com Publicity Contact: Deborah Radel at DRPR, Deborah@ drpr.usLost Craft Inc: Laura Fracassi, PublicRelations, laura@ bluedoorcommunications.ca SOURCE: HollyWeed North Cannabis Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-01 21:09:02

TORONTO, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mandalay Resources Corporation (Mandalay or the Company) (TSX:MND, OTCQB:MNDJF) today announced that its third quarter 2018 financial results will be released after market close on November 7, 2018, followed by a conference call with Dominic Duffy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mandalay, for investors and analysts on November 8, 2018 at 8:00 am (Toronto time).



Analysts and interested investors are invited to participate using the following dial-in numbers:

Participant Number: (201) 689-8341 Participant Number (Toll free): (877) 407-8289 Conference ID: 13684820

A replay of the conference call will be available until 23:59 (Toronto time), November 22, 2018 and can be accessed using the following dial-in number:

Encore Toll Free Dial-in Number: (877) 660-6853 Encore ID: 13684820

For Further Information:

Dominic Duffy

President and Chief Executive Officer

Greg DiTomaso

Director of Investor Relations

Contact:

+1.647.260.1566

About Mandalay Resources Corporation:

Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based natural resource company with producing assets in Australia and Sweden, and care and maintenance and development projects in Chile. The Company is focused on executing a roll-up strategy, creating critical mass by aggregating advanced or in production gold, copper, silver and antimony projects in Australia, the Americas and Europe to generate near-term cash flow and shareholder value.
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-01 13:03:24

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / Northsight Capital Inc. (OTCQB: NCAP) announced that the company has reached an agreement in principal to be the exclusive distributor of CBD products for SeniorsCBD, a brand of Seniors for CBD. Seniors for CBD, www.SeniorsforCBD.com , is a leader in the industry for educating and informing seniors on the continuing research on medical marijuana and CBD by bringing current news daily to their followers. Seniors for CBD and Northsight have signed an agreement in principal to establish the first CBD product line specifically for the seniors market. There have been negotiations with several manufacturers and plans are to introduce their first product in the very near future.The seniors market for CBD is one of the fastest-growing areas for the cannabis industry. According to a new estimate from cannabis industry analysts the Brightfield Group, the hemp-CBD market alone could hit $22 billion by 2022, with senior citizens taking the lead in purchasing the product. As of March 2018, in Colorado, people 50 and older now make up more than 36 percent of patients on the medical marijuana registry. According to an article published by AARP this year, Boomers are turning to CBD oil for pain management and other health issues. CBD, which comes in a wide variety of forms including salves, edibles and oils, does not produce the high typically associated with marijuana. Ten thousand people turn 65 each day, according to the Pew Research Center, and more and more are trying CBD for their health and well-being. In February, a peer-reviewed study of almost 3,000 patients in Israel, the first study of its kind, showed that cannabis can be safe and effective for seniors and lead to decreased use of pharmaceuticals, including opioids. In the study, published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine, almost 94 percent of patients reported improvement in their condition, with their pain level reduced by half.Another study, this time conducted by HelloMD and Brightfield Group, analyzed CBD use in 2,400 members of the HelloMD community. Forty-two percent of CBD users said they were able to stop using traditional painkillers such as Tylenol and prescription medication such as Vicodin. Eighty percent said they found CBD to be either "very" or "extremely" effective.About Northsight Capital Inc.Northsight Capital Inc. ("NCAP") is comprised of a portfolio of online marijuana-related websites developed and operated by the company. These sites incorporate many aspects of the marijuana industry. The company provides its audience with a means to stay informed on the industry's most cutting-edge marijuana-related innovations and legislation. The company's most dynamic concept, Weed Depot, provides consumers with a geo-targeted map directory of medical and recreational dispensaries, head shops, doctors, attorneys and more within the marijuana industry. The new Weed Depot app will be available to be downloaded for free at the iTunes Store and Google Play. The company's 420 Careers is a leading job site in the cannabis space with 2,000 to 3,000 visitors a day and approximately one million page views per month.Northsight's current websites also include: MJBizwire.comMarijuanaRecipes.comRateMyStrain.comWikiWeed.comMarijuanaMD.comForward-Looking Statements:Various statements in this release, including those that express a belief, expectation or intention, may be considered "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates concerning the timing and success of specific projects or transactions. Forward-looking statements may also include projections and estimates concerning our future operating results and financial condition. When we use the words "will," "believe," "intend," "expect," "may," "should," "anticipate," "could," "estimate," "plan," "predict," "project," or their negatives, or other similar expressions, the statements which include those words are usually forward-looking statements. When we describestrategy that involves risks or uncertainties, we are making forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release; we disclaim any obligation to update these statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control.Contact: info@ northsightcapital.com or info@ seniorsforcbd.comSOURCE: Northsight Capital Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-01 22:31:29

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SAN JOSE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / Pacific Green Technologies Inc. (PGT) (OTCQB: PGTK), owner of the ENVI-MarineTM Exhaust Gas Scrubbing System, is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Pacific Green Marine Technologies Inc. (PGMT), has executed an agreement to manufacture and install its ENVI-Marine TM System on three VLCC type vessels owned by Landbridge Group Co. Ltd.PGT's JV partner, PowerChina SPEM Company Limited, will manufacture the System at one of its factories in Wuxi, China with installation at a yard in the Shanghai, China area between July and September 2019 in advance of the IMO legislations for sulphur emissions standards to come into force on 1 January 2020.About Pacific Green Technologies, Inc.Pacific Green Technologies Inc. is focused on addressing the world's need for cleaner and more sustainable energy. The company's strategy is to build through organic development and acquisition, a portfolio of patented competitive cutting-edge technologies designed to meet increasingly stringent environmental standards.For more information, visit PGT's website: www.pacificgreentechnologies.comContact:Neil Carmichael, President and DirectorPacific Green TechnologiesT: +1 (408) 538-3373About Landbridge GroupCo. Ltd.Landbridge Group is a diverse company, specialising in the infrastructure, energy, port logistics and petrochemical industries.For more information, visit Landbridge Group's website: http://www.landbridge.com.cn/en/index.phpAbout POWERCHINA SPEMCo. LtdPOWERCHINA SPEM is a subsidiary of POWERCHINA, the largest power equipment manufacturer in the PRC and owned by the Chinese Government. With abundant resources, expertise, strong manufacturing capacity, domestic sales channels and rich experience, POWERCHINA SPEM is in a strong position to deploy PGT technology throughout China.Notice RegardingForward-Looking Statements:This news release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this news release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, that PGT's emission control system has significant potential to be a market leader in China.Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, general economic conditions, and the continuation of the JV with POWERCHINA SPEM resulting in definitive agreements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.SOURCE: Pacific Green Technologies Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-01 18:04:02

Seaborne Airlines Appoints Mike Bradley Vice President Maintenance and Engineering

Silver Airways

Media Contact:

Misty Stoller, 954-292-8169

mediarelations@silverairways.com

Mike Bradley is returning to Seaborne Airlines as Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering. In the new position, Bradley will serve as the airlines FAA Part 119 director of maintenance (DOM).

Bradley, who started his aviation career as an aircraft maintenance technician for the U.S. Air Force and who previously served in maintenance management roles at Seaborne, re-joins the airline with more than 40 years of leadership and aircraft maintenance and engineering experience.

Most recently, Bradley served as the Director of Maintenance and Engineering for Silver Airways, who recently acquired Seaborne Airlines, and also previously served as Lead Inspector and CASS Manager for Silver. Previously, Bradley was Managing Director of Maintenance for Island Airlines and has served in maintenance roles at Island Airways USVI, Air Wisconsin Airlines, Mountain Air Express, Mesa Airlines, Weststates Airline and Jet Express. Bradley was a part of the Seaborne maintenance team when the airline was headquartered in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Bradley graduated with honors from East Coast Aero Tech in aviation management and studied aviation at the Community College of the Air Force.

We are delighted to have Mike Bradley re-join Seaborne Airlines, said Seaborne COO Captain Jesus Medina. Mikes deep knowledge of regional airline technical operations and experience with land-based and amphibious aircraft will help us raise the bar in improving our level of performance.

About Seaborne Airlines

Seaborne Airlines has been operating in the Caribbean for over 25 years and is one of the largest regional carriers in the Caribbean with over 1,500 monthly flights. Seaborne serves San Juans Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, St. Thomas airport and seaplane base, St. Croix airport and seaplane base, Anguilla, Antigua, Tortola, Dominica, Saint Maarten, St. Kitts and Nevis with convenient online check-in and TSA pre-check offered in most destinations.

Seaborne was recently acquired by Silver Airways. The acquisition has brought together the two strongest independent regional airlines with similar Saab 340B fleets, complementary route networks, and common codeshare and interline partners. With the upcoming deployment of Silvers recently announced new fleet of state-of-the-art ATR-600s across both networks, the combined airline will have an expanded range, allowing it to better serve passengers and markets.

The combined airline continues operating Silver Airways route network in Florida, the Bahamas and beyond under the Silver Airways brand and Seabornes route network throughout Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean under the Seaborne name. The total fleet now consists of 31 aircraft, including Saab 340s and de Havilland Twin Otter seaplane aircraft. Silver is also the North American launch customer for the new eco-friendly ATR-600 aircraft in the U.S. For additional information, visit www.seaborneairlines.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-01 20:23:57

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The District Will Pay a 15-Year Former Employee Who Alleged Harassment and RetaliationSEATTLE, WA / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / Former Seattle Public Schools Program Liaison Ms. Krystyana Brame settled her lawsuit against the Seattle Public School District today. Ms. Brame's lawsuit alleged a hostile work environment based on her gender and race.After Ms. Brame filed a written complaint on Nov. 16, 2015, the District opened an investigation. Ms. Brame left behind a successful 15-year career at the Seattle Public School District.According to her attorney, Scott Blankenship, ''The District did not finalize its investigation until after she resigned. Ms. Brame wanted justice and change for herself and her coworkers.''The District's formal investigation concluded on June 20, 2016, more than two months after Ms. Brame's resignation and eight months after her written complaint to HR. The District found no violation. Ms. Brame appealed the decision on June 29, 2016, to the Superintendent.The District's April 12, 2016 investigative report actually confirmed many of Ms. Brame's allegations. In a letter written on July 28, 2016, by Deputy Superintendent Stephen J. Nielsen, the District reversed its own position.Ms . Brame hopes that this settlement will have a wider impact on companies and public entities where sexual harassment and retaliation are still rampant: ''My hope is that this settlement will force public schools to take notice of complaints like mine seriously and not let them go unheard.''Scott Blankenship served as lead counsel for Mrs. Brame with associate attorney Rick Goldsworthy of The Blankenship Law Firm. The Blankenship Law Firm is an AV-rated law firm located in downtown Seattle with lawyers licensed in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The firm practices in state and federal courts, while practicing primarily employment law and related complex civil litigation in all phases of negotiation and litigation including appeals. Key documents are hyperlinked and embedded in this release. More information is available online at www.blankenshiplawfirm.com.CONTACT:Scott C. G. Blankenship(206) 343-2700 (work)(206) 898-6033 (cell)sblankenship@ blankenshiplawfirm.comwww.blankenshiplawfirm.comKrystyana Brame (center) with lead counsel Scott Blankenship (left) and associate attorney Rick Goldsworthy (right)SOURCE: The Blankenship Law Firm
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-01 20:23:04

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / Skeena Resources Limited (TSX-V: SKE, OTCQX: SKREF) (''Skeena'' or the ''Company'') is pleased to announce that it has filed on SEDAR the independent NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate and Technical Report for the Eskay Creek Project as per the Company's news release dated September 17, 2018. A copy of the Technical Report is also located on the Companys Website.Qualified Persons The Independent and Qualified Person for the Eskay Creek Mineral Resource Estimate and Technical Report is Sheila Ulansky P.Geo., of who has reviewed, validated and approved the Eskay Creek MRE. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo. Vice President Exploration and Resource Development, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting its activities on its various exploration projects On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited, Walter Coles Jr.President & CEOAbout Skeena Skeena Resources Limited is a junior Canadian mining exploration company focused on developing prospective precious and base metal properties in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Companys primary activities are the exploration and development of the past-producing Snip mine and the recently optioned Eskay Creek mine, both acquired from Barrick. In addition, the Company has completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment on the GJ copper-gold porphyry project.Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statementsCertain statements made and information contained herein may constitute ''forward looking information'' and ''forward looking statements'' within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations.Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as ''anticipates'', ''believes'', ''targets'', ''estimates'', ''plans'', ''expects'', ''may'', ''will'', ''could'' or ''would''.Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters.While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.The full technical document can be found on Sedar or on the company websiteContact:info@ skeenaresources.comSOURCE: Skeena Resources Limited
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-01 07:30:56

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Go Viral Now offers its Website and PWA Deal. Get a Progressive Web App with every new and responsive website - for new and existing customers. Further information: https://www.GoMobileWeb.com.au COOGEE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2018 / Sydney web design firm, Go Viral Now, has launched a new responsive website with Progressive Web App package deal for small to medium business owners. With the launch of our Progressive Web Apps (PWA), Go Viral Now are offering a free PWA with every responsive website ordered before end November, 2018 through their new CMS platform at GoMobileWeb.com.auBusiness owners who want to get the most out of their website by turning more traffic into sales and customers, will benefit from receiving a Progressive Web App with every new responsive web build. Google's consumer barometer shows that close to 50% of consumers use 3 devices at one time. At the same time, about 67% of users will start shopping on one device, usually mobile, and complete their order on another device. This demonstrates that it is more important than ever for businesses to have a fully responsive website that works seamlessly on all devices.Go Viral Now has implemented this new element to its responsive website packages to benefit both new and existing customers. Whether it's the first web development or time for an upgrade, the PWA with Responsive Website package will give any business the upper hand.Some of the benefits of PWA's include: they are blazing fast, available on all devices, keep clients loyal and don't need to be installed from the App or Play Stores. By taking away the need to login and install from another website (Apple App or Google Play Store) a PWA is much more likely to be taken up than traditional native mobile apps because of the ease and security they offer.Specifically , this new offer will deliver a stunning new, responsive website that looks great on all devices (desktop PC/Mac, tablet/iPad, iPhone/Android phones) has unlimited pages plus a Progressive Web App that works just like a native app without the cost and time required to develop, upload and install from the App/Play Stores like traditional apps. Go Viral Now has been able to do this by upgrading and updating our website dashboard and technology.Additionally , Apple have recently allowed for PWA's on their iPhones and iPads through an update to their own Safari browser. This has brought Apple into line with Android phones and the Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera browsers. This change made PWA's more accessible, easy to install, super fast to use and provides your website information right on the client's homescreen with the click of a button. No need to search Google or type in a web address to find you. Just a click on the app icon on the homescreen and the PWA is available, both on and offline.To take full advantage of this new update and have a Progressive Web App included with every new responsive website build, customers can order and view examples on the portfolio website at https://www.GoMobileWeb.com.auGo Viral Now is excited to unveil the latest benefit for current and new "Responsive Website and PWA Deal" customers as it's specifically designed to meet the needs of small to medium sized business owners.On this subject, Tess Robinson, Owner of Go Viral Now said: "Being at the forefront of the Progressive Web App revolution, your business will stay one step ahead of the competition. You can stand out from the rest by offering your customers the easiest and fastest way to stay connected with you while you'll have a stunning, new and modern responsive website that has options for insitepersonalisations. Insites give you the opportunity to offer coupons, deals and offers depending on the time of visit, location, number of times the person has visited your site before and more. PWA's and Insites let you stand out from the crowd. With the added design and other options of video backgrounds, click to call, turn by turn directions on Google maps, online payments as well as a booking/online calendar, your customers will be able to easily contact you, book and pay for your products or services."Go Viral Now has made a point of listening to its customers and taking feedback wherever possible. They do this because they feel their business exists to help businesses make more sales and turn more website visitors into calls, bookings and profit. It is common to hear that a company website doesn't bring in much, if any, new business. The fact is, a well built website and strategic online presence can be a major source of revenue.Being mobile is essential now that so many people conduct a large part of their online activities on their mobile device. Go Viral Now's aim is to help turn more website visitors into customers and profits.Having been in business now for over 9 years, Go Viral Now strives to help SMB's increase their website's ROI and turn more visitors into customers. This dedication has meant that much of their business comes through word of mouth recommendations. Go Viral Now are known to achieve high results for clients and their many public reviews and testimonials are testament to this.Go Viral Now (and Go Mobile Web's) websites are known to be fast, SEO friendly and secure. They take the worry out of running a website since all site maintenance is taken care of, including the latest security features and on site statistics. These sites won't be hacked or compromised. Since PWA's only work on secure sites, your progressive web app will also be safe to use.Interested parties who would like to be among the first to experience a Progressive Web App included with every new responsive website build through Go Viral Now are encouraged to visit the portfolio website at https://www.GoMobileWeb.com.au for full details and to get started. Find out more about Go Viral Now.Contact Info: Name: Tess Robinson Organization: Go Viral Now Address: 3 Baden St, Coogee, NSW 2034, AustraliaFor more information, please visit https://www.GoViralNow.netSOURCE:Go Viral Now
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The Acquisition Will Strengthen the Companys Holdings with One of Three Tier-3 Jamaican LicensesVANCOUVER, BC/ ACCESSWIRE / November 1st, 2018 / WeekendUnlimited Inc. ("Weekend" or the "Company") (CSE: YOLO  FSE:0OS1) a lifestyle cannabis company, has entered into an arms-length bindingletter of intent to add to its brand portfolio with the acquisition of R&DPharma in Jamaica, securing one of three Tier-3 licenses available in Jamaica. R&D Pharma Highlights include:Weekend Unlimited's planned acquisition in Jamaica is led by Derrick Lewis and Richard Bailey, CEO and President of R&D Pharma respectively. One of only three approved tier-3 cultivators license holders in Jamaica.Medical tourism in Jamaica, plus phenotyping with Jamaican sativas, to brand and export internationally recognized strains, extracts, and infused products.Will be a significant exporter of branded full spectrum extracts as well as extracted cannabinoids from one of worlds lowest cost geographies for growing cannabis.Weekend Unlimited will acquire 100% of R&D Pharma, which includes a 49% interest in a Jamaican company holding one of the existing Tier-3 licenses in Jamaica.R&D Pharma also holds a royalty agreement on the all production, giving it a near 100% economic interest in the license being acquired. R&D Pharma ("RDP") is a Canadian company building a verticallyintegrated medical cannabis business in Jamaica.R&D has secured a Tier 3 Cultivator'sLicense (only one of three presently issued in Jamaica), which allows for fullcultivation of cannabis plants on land of over 5 acres. R&D's foundersDerrick Lewis and Richard Bailey are citizens of Jamaica who now reside inCanada, both having significant business networks in both countries."This acquisition in Jamaica represents a significant step forWeekend Unlimited as it implements its strategy to be a top tier integratedcannabis company," said Mr. Cody Corrubia, Weekend Unlimited's President andCEO. "By adding R&D to our brand portfolio, we secure a highly covetedasset for cultivation in a low cost, high quality environment like Jamaica,which has international appeal in the cannabis space, with unparalleledlifestyle applications," added Mr. Corrubia."We are thrilled to add value to Weekend Unlimited's brandportfolio," said Mr. Derrick Lewis, CEO and Director of R&D."Our assets in Jamaica are founded uponhighly organized cultivation,which wewill extend to build our international branding base, securing long-termcontracts and relationships for the sale and/or out-licensing ofinternationally recognized strains, full spectrum and extracts, and infusedretail products," added Mr. Lewis. "To accelerate our plan, R&D is building an Herb House/GanjaCafe ("Cafe") and Therapeutic Spa ("Spa") at Ocho Rios, on our 98 acre locationwhich contains the cultivation operation. The Cafe and Spa will showcase products and deliver experiences toconsumers of cannabis from around the world. R&D will also distribute standard medical products on the islanddomestically and to medical tourists," said Mr. Lewis.Weekend Unlimited will issue to the shareholders of R&D atotal of 50,000,000 common shares and 25,000,000 warrants. Each warrantentitles the holder to subscribe for an additional shares for $0.35 for aperiod of 2 years from closing, subject to the right of the Company toaccelerate expiry date upon 30 days' notice if its common shares trade at $0.75or higher for 10 consecutive business days any time after 4 months fromclosing.Approximately 35 million ofthese shares will be subject to a 3 year escrow, with releases of 10% onclosing, and 15% on every 6 month anniversary.Pending closing, the Company has advanced CDN $2.4 million on asecured loan basis to R&D for construction costs.It is anticipated that another US $9 millionwill be required to complete the buildout of the planned Jamaican facilities. TheCompany plans to fund all of this by way of an equity raise or debt or acombination of the two. While in the final due diligence stage, the Company anticipatesclosing this transaction within a month. However there is no certainty thatthis transaction will close, or if it does close, will close on the currentterms as agreed between the parties. For further information, please contact:Telephone: 1 (236) 317-2812E-mail: IR@ weekendunlimited.com Neitherthe Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as thatterm is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) acceptsresponsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward Looking StatementsCertain information set forth in this newsrelease may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial knownand unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements ofhistorical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation,statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use ofproceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-venturesand strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectivesof or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflectsmanagement's current beliefs and is based on information currently available tomanagement. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identifiedby the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "isexpected", "budget", "scheduled","estimates", "forecasts", "predicts","intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates"or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of suchwords and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certainactions "may", "could", "should","would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or beachieved.A number of known and unknownrisks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results orperformance to materially differ from any future results or performanceexpressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-lookingstatements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of whichare beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impactof general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence uponregulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in thepreparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time ofpreparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should notbe placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume anyobligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as aresult of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required bysecurities laws. SOURCE: Weekend Unlimited Inc.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has signed a six-month Direct Sale-Direct Purchase, DSDP agreement with the British BP for the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.

The corporation disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu in Abuja on Thursday.

British Petroleum is the trading arm of BP Oil International Ltd.

He said the latest agreement would represent 20 per cent of NNPC total PMS supply under the DSDP arrangement.

Mr Ughamadu said the agreement would basically allow the corporation to exchange crude oil with international oil traders for imported petroleum products over time.

He added that it was part of measures to sustain the robust supply of petroleum products across the country, especially as the nation moved toward Yuletide and beyond.

Mr Ughamadu quoted the Group Managing Director of the corporation Maikanti Baru, shortly after ceremony, as expressing the commitment of NNPC to ensure product availability.

Mr Baru, who described NNPC as the nation products supplier of last resort, said the commitment would be accomplished by inviting new and old players to boost the Nigerian oil sector.

The NNPC boss noted that over the years, BP had demonstrated the capacity and robustness to augment the shortfall by NNPC, especially as the winter and 2019 general elections were approaching.

As a reliable supplier, we think BP is a brand that we can always partner with. We trust the company and we have a good relationship with it.

We also believe in the companys commitment toward the development of local content, Mr Baru said.

He also commended BP for partnering with AYM Shafa, a local oil company, noting that the local oil company had been expanding its downstream footprints across the nooks and crannies of the country.

BP partnership with AYM Shafa toward delivering on its DSDP obligations makes it a perfect fit for our plans to ensure that there is adequate supply of products throughout the coming Yuletide and even beyond the election period.

In AYM Shafa, you are talking of a local company with over 150 retail outlets, depots as well as a good network of trucks nationwide.

Responding, John Goodridge, Head of Marketing and Origination of BP oil trading business said it was a great honour for BP to be trusted by NNPC as one of its strategic suppliers.

We are delighted to have the opportunity to work more closely with the NNPC. Going forward, we hope to grow this mutual relationship to greater things, Mr Goodridge said.

According to him, BP boasts of a global network of refineries capable of generating the products to meet the specifications required by NNPC.

He said the ultimate was to ensure that over the next six months, Nigeria does not witness any product shortages.

(NAN)
Islamist protesters blocked roads in Pakistans major cities for a second day on Thursday, opposing a Supreme Court decision on Wednesday to acquit a Christian woman on death row for blasphemy allegations, media said.

Knots of protesters from an ultra-Islamist party blocked roughly 10 key roads in the southern city of Karachi and others in eastern Lahore, Geo TV and other channels said. Private schools in both cities were shut, as well as in the capital.

Groups of about 200 protesters from the Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) party sat under large tents, listening to speeches on two blocked roads in Karachi, a Reuters witness said.

In one speech, a TLP speaker exhorted supporters to light new fires if the police managed to douse burning tires and other objects they had already set ablaze.

The demonstrators were protesting against the courts decision to free Asia Bibi, a mother of four, who had been living on death row since 2010, as the first woman sentenced to death by hanging under Pakistans tough blasphemy laws.

Ms Bibi was accused of making derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbours objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim.

But a three-judge panel set up to hear the appeal, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, ruled the evidence was insufficient.

The case has divided Pakistan, where two politicians who sought to help Ms Bibi were assassinated, and outraged Christians worldwide, with Pope Francis saying he personally prayed for Ms Bibi.

In a televised national broadcast late on Wednesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan warned the protesters the government would act against any prolonged blockade.

We will not allow any damages. We will not allow traffic to be blocked, Mr Khan said. I appeal to you, do not push the state to the extent that it is forced to take action.

Mr Khans broadcast followed comments by a senior leader of the Islamist TLP group, calling for Chief Justice Nisar and the other two judges to be killed.

They all three deserve to be killed, TLP co-founder, Muhammad Afzal Qadri told a protest in Lahore.

Either their security, their driver, or their cook should kill them.

He also called for the ouster of Khans new government and urged army officers to rise up against powerful military chief General Qamar Bajwa.

Hafiz Saeed, an influential Islamist whom the U.S. accuses of being the mastermind of attacks in Mumbai in 2008 that killed 166, has called for protests after Friday afternoon prayers.

Another Islamist group, the Milli Yakjehti Council, is also meeting on Thursday to discuss Ms Bibis case and may launch protests.

The whereabouts of Ms Bibi and her family are unclear, and speculation is growing that she will leave Pakistan with her family, who have been in hiding for much of the past eight years.

(Reuters/NAN)
Sexual abuse is so common in North Korea it has come to be accepted as part of ordinary life, Human Rights Watch (HRW) asserted in a report on sexual violence in the reclusive country.

North Korean officials, including high-ranking party members, prison guards, police, prosecutors and soldiers commit sexual abuse with little concern for the consequences, the rights watchdog said.

Afraid of retaliation or social disgrace, women rarely report abuse and authorities rarely investigate or prosecute such cases, according to HRW, which said it interviewed 54 North Koreans who had fled the country since 2011 and eight former North Korean officials.

Most of the assaults reported to HRW took place when the victims were in custody or when the victims were market traders who were attacked by market guards or other officials.

Women in custody could do little to avoid sexual assault since any complaint could result in further punishment including beatings or forced labour, the watchdog reported.

Women not in custody risked jeopardizing their source of income or being sent to prison camps.

Rights activists have repeatedly complained that North Koreas record on human rights has been ignored amid a diplomatic thaw between it and the U.S. and South Korea over the past year.

The watchdog acknowledged its research could not provide a generalized sample since it was limited to interviewing North Koreans who had fled.

But it said the diversity of the survivors and the consistencies in their stories suggested that the patterns of sexual violence identified here are common across North Korea.

Oh Jung Hee, a former market trader from Ryanggang province, told the watchdog: On the days they felt like it, market guards or police officials could ask me to follow them to an empty room outside the market, or some other place they (would) pick.

What can we do? They consider us [sex] toys  We [women] are at the mercy of men, she continued.

Another former trader, Choi Dal Mi, from North Hamgyong province, said she was sexually assaulted several times by police officials and train inspectors as she travelled for her work.

Having sex with men who have power over you or letting them touch all over your body is a necessity to survive, she said.

It never occurred to me that I could or would want to do anything about it. It was just how things are.

She said she had never reported being raped to police and didnt know anybody else who had reported sexual assault to authorities.

The police themselves are [sexually] abusing women, why would they ever investigate any rape case? she said.

Everybody knows the authorities think that [being raped] is the womens fault, why would she spit on her own face and tell anybody something like that?

(dpa/NAN)
South Africans overwhelmingly support changing the constitution to allow land expropriation without compensation, parliament said on Thursday, announcing the findings of draft report that followed public hearings on the issue.

President Cyril Ramaphosas ruling African National Congress had made the acceleration of land redistribution a key issue ahead of 2019 elections, unnerving investors in spite of pledges to do so in a way that did not threaten food security or growth.

Most private land remains in the hands of the white minority more than two decades after apartheid, making it a vivid symbol of wider disparities.

According to the draft report, there was overwhelming support in the public hearings for a constitutional amendment on expropriation of land without compensation, parliaments press office said in a statement.

It further states that those opposed to a constitutional amendment argued that the rejection of expropriation without compensation did not mean that (they) did not support land reform, it said.

Public hearings on land redistribution were held earlier this year across South Africa, attracting large crowds and often emotional testimony.

Written submissions from the public were a different matter, with 65 per cent opposing the change, 34 per cent in favour and one per cent undecided.

Parliaments Constitutional Review Committee on the issue began its consideration of the draft report on Thursday. It did not say when it would conclude its review.

Mr Ramaphosa has also appointed a panel of experts to advise him on land reform. The panel is expected to make recommendations to the president in March 2019.

South Africas sovereign rating risks being downgraded due to concerns about the lack of clarity around land expropriation, a senior S&P Global Ratings analyst said earlier this week, underscoring investor concerns about the matter.

Attempts to redistribute land from whites to blacks since the end of apartheid in 1994 have often failed.

The ruling ANC faces an election challenge next year from a far left party saying all land must be nationalised.

(Reuters/NAN)
Up to 273 Afghan civilians were killed and 550 others injured in separate incidents and terrorist attacks in October, a monitor group Based on Civilian Protection Advocacy Group (CPAG) said on Thursday.

The casualty figures from 23 provinces of the country  273 people were killed and 550 others wounded in all security incidents happened in October, the independent CPAG group said in a press release.

The group said the rest of casualties happened in suicide attacks, roadside bombs, mortar attacks and clashes between Afghan forces and the Taliban.

According to figures released by CPAG, about 128 people including children and women suffered casualties in Afghan forces night raid operations as 83 people were killed and 45 others wounded.

In September, 240 civilians lost their lives and 350 injured as a result of terrorist attacks and clashes across the country.

It said the reasons behind high casualties in October were targeted killing of parliamentary election candidates, attacks on election campaigns and polling centres particularly during the parliamentary elections day, which was held on October 20.

(Xinhua/NAN)
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said trade discussions with China were moving along nicely.

He also said he planned to meet with the Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming G-20 summit, after the two had a very good talk.

Earlier on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told a group of visiting U.S. politicians that China and the United States could overcome their differences.

He said the two countries could get relations back on track if they worked together in a spirit of mutual respect.

China and the United States are locked in an increasingly bitter trade war.

The two countries have already placed tariffs on some of each others imports.

Mr Trump has long threatened to impose tariffs on all $500 billion-plus goods that the United States imports from China if Beijing fails to meet his demands.

The US leader had been demanding sweeping changes to its policies on intellectual property, technology transfers, industrial subsidies and local market access.

He and Xi are due to attend the G20 summit in Argentina, which starts at the end of this month.

Just had a long and very good conversation with President Xi Jinping of China.

We talked about many subjects, with a heavy emphasis on Trade, Mr Trump wrote in a post on Twitter.

Those discussions are moving along nicely with meetings being scheduled at the G-20 in Argentina. We also had good discussion on North Korea, he said.

Meeting a group of Republican lawmakers in Beijing, Chinas Li noted the China-U.S. relationships ups and downs over the past four decades.

We do hope that China and the United States will meet each other halfway and work together in the spirit of mutual respect and equality, Mr Li told Trumps fellow Republicans.

Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander told Mr Li that the delegation was there to show our respect to a great country and a great people.

He said the two countries are competitors but not adversaries.

Mr Alexander said he would be discussing trade with Mr Li, though neither of them mentioned the ongoing tariff war in remarks to reporters.

Earlier this week, Mr Trump said he thought there would be a great deal with China on trade.

He, however, warned that he had billions of dollars worth of new tariffs ready to go if a deal did not materialise.

The United States has already imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods.

China responded with retaliatory duties on $110 billion worth of U.S. goods.

(Reuters/NAN)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reaffirmed that there is no cure for HIV, insisting that people living with HIV and AIDS need to continue with anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy to manage their infections.

The reaffirmation by the UN health agency came after a local preacher in Zimbabwe reportedly claimed that he had received divine revelation of a herbal cure.

Alex Gasaira, WHOs representative in the country, explicitly stated that there is no cure for HIV infection.

According to media reports, the Zimbabwean cleric had notified his congregation in the capital, Harare, on Sunday of the cure for HIV and AIDS.

He also reportedly claimed that a healing plant had been revealed to him by God, sparking a media outcry.

The nations largest newspaper, the Harare Herald, reported that his claims were scientifically baseless and that the Zimbabwean Government was actively discouraging the purchase of unapproved medicines.

According UNAIDS statistics, Zimbabwe recorded some 30,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2016, with well over one million people living with HIV in the same year, .

Those desperate for a cure should not abandon their ARV therapy, the WHO official advised.

He explained that researchers working in the field had been advised to subject their treatments to the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health for proper clinical trials and procedures.

Until a cure is verified, effective ARV drugs can control HIV infections and help prevent transmission, so that people with HIV, and those at substantial risk, can enjoy health, long and productive lives, Mr Gasasira added.

As of the end of 2017, 87 per cent of Zimbabweans living with HIV were aware of their status, and 74 per cent of them were receiving treatment, UNAIDS report stated.

UNAIDS says it is supporting Zimbabwe in its fight to stamp out HIV and AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, starting with informing citizens of their status and working to suppress infection through treatment. (NAN)
The U.S. government is monitoring for possible foreign interference in the upcoming congressional elections and is prepared to sanction any company or individual involved in such activity, a senior intelligence official said.

We remain concerned about interference coming from Russia, China and Iran, the official said in a phone briefing with reporters to discuss federal government plans to help secure the November 6 elections.

The official provided no details about specific threats of foreign influence during the call, but said the intelligence community is prepared to identify individuals who meddle in the voting process.

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election in a bid to bolster support for Donald Trump and have more recently accused Moscow of seeking to influence the outcome of next weeks congressional elections.

Russia has denied the allegations.

Mr Trump, last month, accused China of meddling in the election while speaking at the UN.

He did not provide evidence to support his claim and Beijing has denied the charges.

Mr Trump signed an executive order in September allowing the government to sanction any individual or company found to be interfering in the election through either hacking or disinformation efforts.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security and intelligence will contribute to efforts for thwarting digital attacks on the election, officials said on the call.

The White House will coordinate with these agencies through its National Security Council.

The Justice Department is also planning to launch an election interference command post on election day to help the FBI rapidly communicate with its different field offices around the country, a second senior administration official said.

(Reuters/NAN)
About N3.5 billion was misappropriated in 2016 by the management of the National Assembly, an audit report has revealed.

The monies were siphoned through various schemes such as failure to retire advances, financial documentation irregularities, excess payment for goods, controversial purchases and diversion of funds.

These findings were contained in the 2016 annual audit report released by the Auditor General of the Federation.

The report, released this year, noted how the agency failed to provide receipts, vouchers or contract documents for many transactions made in 2016.

As Senate President, Mr Saraki heads the overall institution of the National Assembly.

Some other key officials in the National Assembly with direct or oversight management responsibilities include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Omolori; Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Adamu Fika; and Director General of the National Institute of Legislative Studies, Ladi Hamalai. Some of them were directly indicted n the report.

INDICTMENT

During the audit of the accounting records maintained at the National Assembly and its agencies, at the management section, under the General Services, it was revealed that capital account payment vouchers for amounts totalling N417 million (N417,312,538.79), raised for settlement of some contractors, were without vital supporting documents, a financial decision that depicts violation of Financial Regulation which provides that all vouchers shall contain full particulars of each service as to enable them to be checked without reference to any other document and will invariably be supported by relevant documents.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani Omolori, should produce the supporting documents to the payment vouchers or recover the amount in question from the contractors, the auditor ruled.

Also, during the audit of staff salary accounts, 37 payment vouchers with amounts to N67 million (N66,713,355) were observed to have been paid between January and June, 2016 for items not related to personnel cost.

The payees in the cashbook also did not correspond with those in the bank statement. This irregularity is a violation of Financial Regulation which states that Expenditure shall strictly be classified in accordance with the estimates and votes must be applied only to the purpose for which the money is provided. Expenditure incorrectly charged to a vote shall be disallowed.

The sum of N66,713,355.08 being irregular expenditure should be recovered from the officer who approved the payments from the personnel vote, the auditor instructed.

Review Of Expenditure

During the review of documents of capital expenditure vote by the auditor, it was discovered that payments totalling N116 million (N116,162,522.60) were made between April and June, 2016 to some contractors for various jobs carried out, without raising payment vouchers.

This contravenes the provisions of Financial Regulation which state that under no circumstance shall money be paid for services, for which a voucher has not been raised.

The Clerk to the National Assembly should produce the payment vouchers for examination, the report added.

Also, a total sum of N57 million deducted from various contract payments in respect of Withholding Tax and Value Added Tax was without evidence of remittance to the tax authorities.

The clerk was asked to produce the acknowledgement receipts from the Federal Inland Revenue Service for verification. He was stated, in the report to have ignored the auditor on these issues.

Watery Documentation

The general services account of the National Assembly was depleted by about N751 million on account of watery financial documentations and failure of staff to retire advances according to the report.

In the documents, it was revealed that N625 million was granted to the Constitution Review Committee through four payment vouchers between March and June 2016. These were not supported with relevant documents and details of the expenses.

This is a violation of Financial Regulation which stipulates that all payment vouchers should contain full particulars of each service, so as to enable them to be checked without reference to any other documents and will invariably be supported by relevant documents, the auditor said.

The report also revealed that cash advances totalling N126 million was granted to 11 members of staff through 19 payment vouchers between March and December 2016 for procurement of goods and services. However, these advances were not retired as at the time of examination in June 2017.

The clerk was instructed to recover N126 million from the defaulting officers in compliance with Financial Regulation which stipulates that accounting officers are responsible for ensuring the prompt repayment of all advances by instalments or otherwise.

Indicted Senate

At the upper chamber of the National Assembly under Mr Saraki, scrutiny of financial documents of the Senate revealed that about N974 million was not accounted for as against financial regulations. This was mostly due to poor control in the management and accountability of public funds, where members of staff of the Senate fail to retire advances worth millions of naira, the report explained.

Bukola Saraki, Senate President

The auditor noted that: Personal advances totalling N747,286,680.00, granted to staff between February and December 2016 for various procurements and services, were not retired as at the time of examination in June 2017.

The clerk was instructed to recover the whole sum from the defaulting officers and furnish recovery particulars for verification. He has not.

It was also revealed that the Senate purportedly made payments of over N100 million for taxes with no supporting documents.

Withholding and Value Added Taxes totalling N118,625,057.48, which were purportedly remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, were not acknowledged with revenue receipts. The Clerk to the National Assembly should produce the receipts from the Tax Authorities for verification.

Other payment vouchers for amounts totalling N109 million paid from the Capital Expenditure vote, were not presented for audit examination by the Senate.

The auditor has subsequently directed the Clerk to produce the payment vouchers for examination, or refund the amount in question to government coffers.

House of Representatives, Legislative Institute Indicted

A review of documents of the House of Representatives under the leadership of Mr Dogara, also revealed that about N1 billion was misappropriated.

Yakubu Dogara

Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deductions from staff salaries totalling N821.6 million was claimed to have been remitted to tax authorities with no receipts or documented evidence to show for it during audit verification, a development the auditor noted runs in contravention to Financial Regulation. The regulation states that deductions for WHT, VAT and PAYE shall be remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service at the same time the payee who is the subject of the deduction is paid.

Also, according to provisions of Financial Regulations that require accounting officers to provide adequate advances records and to ensure that officers granted advances retire them promptly, advances granted to officers of the House of Representatives totalling N254 million for procurement of goods and services between January and December, 2016 remained unretired as at the time of examination in June 2017.

Financial recklessness and misappropriation of funds are not the exclusive preserve of the law making sections. According to the audit report, this extended to the National Institute for Legislative Studies, where N412 million was paid for 11 motor vehicles purchased at a contract sum of N375.9 million.

INFOGRAPH: Showing how national assembly mismanaged billions of Naira through illegal expenditures, fraud.

Examination of the capital account cashbook revealed that after formal payment was made for the vehicles, an additional sum of about N37 million was paid to the same contractor in September 2016 under the same contract, without approval.

The auditor has directed the management of the institute to justify the over-payment, which is in excess of the contract sum or recover the funds.

Extensive Rot

Also, at the institute, it was discovered that seven members of staff who were redeployed from the National Assembly to provide specialised services were paid N11 million from the overhead costs vote. The payment, however, could not be measured, since the personnel details such as salary grade levels, steps, status and rank of the officers were not disclosed in the payroll sheets.

The management of the institute should justify these payments or recover the amounts from the seven officers and furnish recovery particulars for verification, the report noted.

The institute is an organ of the National Assembly established by an Act of Parliament.

President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law the agency on March 2, 2011 following the passage of the same by the Senate and the House of Representatives. The institute is headed by Ladi Hamalai, who has been Director General since its establishment.

Rot In National Assembly Service Commission

At the National Assembly Service Commission headed by Adamu Fika who has been its Executive Secretary since 2013, it was revealed that about N26 million was financially mismanaged.

For instance, the report noted that during its 445th meeting held on September 8, 2016, the commission approved N110 million for the training of officers on Salary Grade Level 14 and above in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Investigation by the auditor revealed that for the training, N128 million was actually paid through 10 payment vouchers to the participants as estacode allowances and also to the two consultants engaged for the training. Cash advances totalling N10 million were then granted to 34 officers as course fees including N5 million paid to a consultant as course fees.

It was also discovered that the number of officers slated for training was not certain. The numbers varied from 33 officers to whom cash advances were granted, to 57 and 75 who were paid estacode allowances and air-tickets while letters of the award of contracts to the consultants were not produced for audit.

The report asked the chairman of the commission to justify the payment of the additional N17.6 million; explain the payment of N10 million as advances to the officers, while also clarifying the exact number of officers trained.

No response was received from the National Assembly Service Commission. Therefore, appropriate sanctions should be meted out and the commission compelled to enforce my recommendation on this matter, the auditor said.

Cheating Government

At the Legislative Aides Section, N12 million earned as interests on bank accounts in a commercial bank between January and December 2016, was not paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

The sum of N9 million was earned from the Personnel Costs account, while the overhead account earned an interest of N3 million.

The non-remittance of these amounts, according to the auditor, contravened Financial Regulation which stipulates that Interest earned on bank accounts must be properly classified to the appropriate revenue head of Accounts and paid to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

The Clerk to the National Assembly should remit the sum of N12,274,587.77 to the Consolidated Revenue Fund and forward relevant particulars for verification, the auditor stated.

Also, documentation irregularities were observed in the recruitment of legislative aides and this resulted in the payment of salaries and allowances not worked for, totalling N9 million.

The actual dates of appointments of some aides were found to differ from the dates of assumption of duty by several months which is quite abnormal the report explained.

The Clerk has been requested by the auditor to restore normalcy in the process of documentation in respect of dates of appointment and assumption of duties of the aides, recover the sum of N9 million overpaid to the aides in question, and forward recovery particulars for verification.

Official Reacts

Repeated efforts to get reactions from the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Omolori and spokesperson of the Senate, Sabi Abdulahi, were not successful as calls placed to their known telephone lines did not connect.

However, the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Abdulrazak Namdas said he was not aware of the said report.

I cannot give you an answer right now because I am not aware of what you just told me. I need to speak to the appropriate committee before I get back. I think it is not something I can give you a straight away answer. I just heard it (report) from you, so I have to get across to the relevant authorities to get the information and then get back to you.

Do you know the chairman committee on public accounts? Well, this is the committee that can give us a straight away answer and during this electioneering campaign, I am not too close (to them). Let me get back to my colleagues and then get back to you.

He didnt pick subsequent calls from placed by PREMIUM TIMES.

A Recurring Decimal- Activist

Meanwhile, the country officer and head of the Nigeria office of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Jude Ilo, while reacting to the report expressed disgust.

This has been happening and one would naturally expect a different kind of response under a government that came in on the credentials of integrity and anti-corruption. Issues identified in the audit reports are small wings, it doesnt take a lot of work, for instance, to hold responsible the officers who are culpable for these kinds of actions; government doesnt have to do a lot of work to get things to happen properly.

They (government) are not doing it, which then calls into the question the whole posturing that they are interested in accountability and anti-corruption, if you cant even discipline staff right under your control.

The National Assembly over the years has not been able to assure Nigerians that they are in any way interested in probity, accountability and all of that. It is a recurring event every year that the National Assembly budgeting process is opaque. We dont know how resources given out to them are reported on (spent), and for a body that is in charge of making laws for the country, this is lawless because that is what you get from these kinds of events.

It is a combination of executive and legislative inadequacies undermining critically feeble conversation about anti-corruption. Perhaps you bring this attitude back a bit and ask ourselves a fundamental question, are we really interested in doing things right? Are we really interested in allowing the report of the auditor general to correct processes that sour the country? If we continue this way, there is no amount of prosecution or posturing that will allow the country to recoup (funds) or plug the leaks.
Usman Yusuf, the embattled Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has dragged two ministers and NHIS to a Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging his suspension from office.

In the suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1220/2018, Mr Yusuf instituted legal action against the Ministers of Health and Justice as well as the NHIS.

The six-page summons was filed by Uchechukwu Obi of Alliance Law Firm, Abuja, on behalf of the plaintiff.

According to the document made available to the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, the respondents are expected to cause appearance within 21 days after the service of the summons on them, inclusive of the day of service.

The summons read in part thus: The plaintiff prayed whether the Governing Council of the NHIS has the powers under the provision of the NHIS Act, particularly Sections 6 and 7 of the Act, to suspend or remove from office the plaintiff who was appointed by the President.

Whether the Governing Council of NHIS has the powers under the provision of NHIS Act to discipline the plaintiff or to investigate allegations made against him as purported by their internal memorandum dated Oct.19, 2018.

Whether the Hon. Minister of Health under the NHIS Act Section 47 of the Act is equipped with the statutory powers to authorise the suspension from office of the ES of NHIS without the approval of the President.

Whether the decision of the Governing Council to suspend the ES of the NHIS taken by 4 out of 11 members of the Council can be said to be a decision of the council in accordance with the NHIS Act.

Whether the Governing Council can appoint the General Manager, Legal Department, or any other employee of the scheme to oversee the affairs of the scheme in acting capacity without the approval of the President, among others.

Mr Yusuf therefore prayed the court to determine all the aforementioned questions in his favour and consequently sought for the following reliefs:

A declaration that the Governing Council of NHIS lacks powers under the provisions of the NHIS Act to suspend or remove the plaintiff who was appointed by the President for a five year term.

A declaration that the members of the council lacks the powers under the provision of the NHIS Act to discipline, or set up the machinery to discipline the plaintiff or investigate allegations made against him as purported by the internal memorandum dated Oct. 19.

A declaration that the internal memorandum dated Oct. 19 which was purportedly issued by the council and signed on their behalf by its Chairman in which it purported to have suspended the plaintiff as the ES of NHIS is ultra Vires, null and void and of no effect.

An order of court setting aside and cancelling the purported suspension of the plaintiff from office as the ES of NHIS.

An order of court reinstating the plaintiff as the ES of the NHIS.

An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their members, servants, employees, agents, officers or any person from disturbing, obstructing the plaintiff from carrying on his official duties as the ES of the NHIS, among others.

A copy of the summons was stamped received by the NHIS head office in Abuja on Oct. 30.

The case is yet to be assigned for date for mention to be fixed.

Mr Yusuf was first suspended by the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, on July 6, 2017, for alleged maladministration, but was recalled by President Buhari on Feb. 6, 2018.

Again, the Governing Council of NHIS led by Ifenne Enyanatu, later slammed an indefinite suspension on Mr Yusuf on Oct. 18 over similar allegations of fraud.

The latest action prompted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, to advise members of boards and governing councils at a retreat that they do not have powers to suspend or meet disciplinary actions on chief executives without recourse to due diligence.

On Tuesday, the Presidency asked Mr Yusuf to proceed on an administrative leave to allow unfettered investigations of the allegations leveled against him.

It appointed Ben Omogo, director, Administration Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of Federation to oversee the affairs of the scheme.

The government also instituted a 7-man panel led by Hassan Bukar, and Jummai Idako from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as secretary, to probe and report their findings within two weeks for appropriate action. (NAN)
At least 130 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria were brought to a Magistrate court on Thursday. They were to be arraigned for alleged unlawful assembly.

The Shiite members were recently arrested following clashes between the group and soldiers in Abuja.

About 120 of them, all men, were arraigned on Thursday. Another 10 female Shiites brought to court could not be arraigned.

A clerk of the court told PREMIUM TIMES that the courtroom meant for the arraignment of the women did not sit.

About 400 Shiite members were arrested and detained after the army accused the group of confrontation, resulting in a clampdown that led to the death of over two dozen Shiite members in and around Abuja, Nigerias capital.

The group clashed with the army during its inter-state protest between last Saturday and Tuesday.

Although they denied confronting the army, some security vehicles were reported to have been destroyed by the Shiite members.

Those brought to court on Thursday were arrested for the Tuesday incident in the Abuja city centre.

On Thursday, the police arraigned the accused in four courtrooms within the Wuse Magistrate Court, Abuja.

Two of the courtrooms had 35 accused persons each. Twenty were arraigned in another courtroom and 30 others in another courtroom for the same offence.

According to the charge, the Shiite members continued in an unlawful assembly, despite knowing that they have been commanded to dispersed.

They were also accused of disturbing public peace, rioting and causing hurt.

The alleged crimes are contrary to sections 79, 104, 113, 106 and 242 of the Penal Code.

It charge reads thus:

That on October, 30, at about 2pm, at different parts of FCT and its environs, following a tip off that some group of persons were rioting, disturbing public peace and blocking vehicular movements-Immediately a team of police men, led by assistant commissioner of police in charge of operation FCT Police command Abuja, ACP Valantine Olumesi arrived at the scene and met you whose names appeared overleap, riotously gathered and blocking vehicular movements and you were ordered to disperse peacefully and you refused and started throwing stones on the police officers and other members of the public and thereby caused them bodily harm.

You thereby reasonably suspected to have committed the above mentioned offence.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were subsequently granted bail, with various conditions.

A Magistrate, Lateef Afolabi, who had 20 of the accused arraigned in his court, granted them bail with a bond of N50,000.

Another Magistrate, Njideka Duru, also granted bail to 35 accused persons brought before the court with the same amount as bail bond.

The other two courts however gave higher amounts as bond for the bail.

The third magistrate, Musa Jibo, granted the 35 accused persons before his court bail with a bond of N200,000.

Another magistrate, Elisabeth Jones-Wonie, granted 30 accused persons bail, with a bond of N500,000 each. The court however ordered that the defendants collectively produce three sureties in like sum.

The leader of the IMN, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, has been in prison since December 2015.

Mr El-Zakzaky was arrested after a clash of Shiite members with Nigerian soldiers over right of way in Zaria, Kaduna State. The army massacred over 300 Shiites in that 2015 onslaught that has been condemned by local and international rights groups.
Amidst the crisis trailing the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in some states, the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has told the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, he is not being asked to sell his conscience but to abide by the rules of the party.

He was reacting to a statement by Mr Oshiomhole after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja that he will not mortgage his conscience to keep his job.

The APC chairman made the statement while dismissing rumours some governors were moblising to unseat him over the outcome of the partys primaries.

Speaking for Mr Amosun in a statement he issued Thursday evening, Dayo Adeneye, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Ogun State, insisted Mr Oshiomhole fell short of all standards of justice and fairness.

We state without any fear of equivocation that no one, at least not on the side of Senator Amosun, has requested or expected Oshiomhole to sell his conscience.

The least we expect of him is to abide by the rules and guidelines of the APC. Oshiomhole knows, as we know, that in the instance of the last primaries in Ogun State, he has fallen short of the minimum standards of justice, equity and fairness.

Mr Amosuns stance differs from that of a national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, who on Wednesday also said the chairman has not broken any law or guilty of anti-party activities.

The Ogun governor is dissatisfied with the primaries of the party in his state which produced Dapo Abiodun, in place of his anointed candidate, Adekunle Akinlade.

APC Chieftain, Bola Tinubu

Before the primaries, the party in the state was divided over what mode of primaries to be adopted as Mr Akinlade was initially announced as the consensus governorship candidate by the governor-led faction of the party.

After the national leadership called for primaries in the state, Mr Amosuns faction moved for an indirect mode which five other governorship aspirants rejected. The National Working Committee (NWC) eventually directed the conduct of direct primaries in the state.

Mr Amosuns anointed candidate, Mr Akinlade, was declared winner of the governorship primary election but the results were not signed by the chairman of the electoral committee and none of the agents of the five other gubernatorial aspirants.

Following this, another election was conducted by the NWC which now produced Mr Abiodun. But the governor has insisted that other exercise did not hold.

Oshiomhole knows that there were no other gubernatorial primaries in Ogun State other than the one that produced Adekunle Akinlade as candidate. He knows that the primaries into national and legislative offices were won hundred per cent by those declared winner by the panel he sent to Ogun State to oversee the exercise, Mr Adeneye stated in his statement on Thursday.

He knows that the shenanigan of unknown court injunctions, unknown appeal panels and all sorts unleashed on the process by him and his cohorts are premeditated schemes executed to deny the members of the APC their true choice of candidates in the elections.

He said the governors consolation lies in the fact that in the fullness of time, what remains unknown to the public will become bare and everyone will see

Oshiomhole and his co-travellers for who they are.

Mr Adeneye, however, assured of the governors full commitment to the reelection of President Buhari, stressing, the issue with the primaries wont change that.

In his conduct, Oshiomhole has exhibited disdain for the interest of the APC and that of the National Leader of the party, President Muhammadu Buhari. Senator Amosun remains committed to his convictions about President Buhari and nothing in the shenanigan of the primaries will change that.

Former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole Photo: DailyPost

Addressing the chairmans claim that only three out of the 23 APC governors are not pleased with the outcome of the primaries in their states, Mr Adeneye said justice is not dependent on number of whom it was denied.

Finally, Oshiomholes claim that only three state governors are aggrieved about the conduct of the primaries flies in the face of the nation-wide outcry that remains loud, trailing the exercise several weeks after.

We remind him that in any case, justice is not dependent on the number of whom it has been denied. Injustice to one is injustice to all.

He said the overwhelming majority of members of the APC in Ogun State remain unshaken in their rejection of the gangsterism that has been visited on them in the conduct of the primaries.

Resolved that the attempt to hand over their state and their patrimony to a rapacious gang of expansionists in the South West will be resisted, not only by members of the APC but by the entire people of Ogun State who are too enlightened to tolerate such abomination.
The Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has said that the national chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, is destroying the party by his handling of the primaries to select candidates for the 2019 elections.

Mr Okorocha, who chairs the APC governors forum, spoke in an interview with State House correspondents on Thursday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said he has confirmed from the president that Mr Oshiomhole does not have the backing of the presidency.

The Imo governor spoke a day after a national leader of APC Bola Tinubu gave his backing to Mr Oshiomhole. Mr Tinubu also spoke after meeting the president.

Excerpt:

Q: What brought you to see the president and what did you discuss?

Okorocha: Gentlemen of the press, I am here to clear the air that the presidency is behind what Oshiomhole is doing in some of the states and which has affected our party negatively. And from my understanding from Mr President, there is no such directive for Oshiomhole to do anything illegal or create any sort of injustice. So, Oshiomole is on his own in this whole thing. There is no presidencys support for him to refuse candidates who won elections and give wrong candidates who didnt win election. This is the matter and I will simply say that he is not with the consent of the presidency, he is on his own.

I also requested that Oshiomole must learn to respect the rule of law and obey court orders where they apply. This issue of treating court orders as tissue papers must stop, it doesnt reflect well, the image of our party, he must act quickly to fix the integrity of this party because his coming in ought to have brought joy into the party and not sadness.

Q: Is the APC disintegrating?

Okorocha: Well, APC will not disintegrate for as long as the person, Muhammadu Buhari, is still the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and remains the leader of this party. So we cannot give that credit to the chairman. He cannot disintegrate this party, the party is still intact, just that many people are hurt. Since his inception and after this primaries, we are losing almost five million voters because of anger, protest everywhere and he needs to be called to order, he has to respect the rule of law, respect court orders and do the right thing  obey court orders where applicable and not turn himself into INEC.

Q: Tomorrow is the last day for the submission of candidates, what is the true position regarding Imo State. Is it that Oshiomhole is siding with Hope Uzodinma?

APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole Photo: DailyPost

Okorocha: He cannot be standing on Hope Uzodinma because that man did not win election, you cannot compare somebody who won 265,000 votes with somebody who won 7,000 votes. He (Hope Uzodinma) never won the election and you cannot impose a candidate who is unacceptable to the people, that is how serious the matter is now. So he (Oshiomole) should do the right thing and I have advised him severally to do the right thing before he creates more disaffection in our party.

Q: It was reported today that the National Working Committee of the APC has submitted the name of Hope Uzodinma to INEC, what is the implication sir?

Okorocha: He cant! I dont think the National Working Committee will do that because in the first place, the National Working Committee sent a 13-man delegation who conducted election and 12 of them signed proving that Uche Nwosu won the election with 265,000 votes as against Hope Uzodinma who got less than 7,000 votes. So they cant do that. And there is a letter to that effect from the National Working Committee saying Uche Nwosu won. There is a Certificate of Return given to Uche Nwosu. There is a police report saying Uche Nwosu won. There is INEC report saying Uche Nwosu won. So nobody can do that and if they do that, that must be the worst imposition in the history of Nigeria.

Q: Yesterday, the National Leader of your party, Tinubu came here and said Oshiomole is a good man, he is working well and those who are angry should just join hands with him to build the party, are you saying that Tinubu himself is supporting the wrong candidate?

Former Lagos state governor, Bola Tinubu. [Photo credit: THISDAYLIVE]

Okorocha: No, may be he is being misinformed, if he is properly informed he will not say what Oshiomole is doing is the right thing.

Q: There is a rumor making the rounds that you are planning to join SDP?

Okorocha: SDP? How can I build a house and leave it for someone else? I am in APC, I founded the APC, I gave the name APC and so this is our party and we must continue with the party and build the party for victory.
Babajide Omoworare, the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, has condemned the usual delay in the passage of budget in Nigeria.

Speaking at a lecture at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Wednesday, Mr Omoworare said, If the legislative arm of government can hold on to the budget for months, then there is something wrong with the legislative arm.

One of the functions of the legislative arm is checks and balances, but it does not have to be at the detriment of the citizens, he said.

Mr Omoworare is the chairman of the Senate committee on rules and business, one of the vital committees of the legislature, which is responsible for the scheduling of the daily order of motions, bills, other matters of legislative deliberations and debate in the upper chamber.

The lawmaker, who spoke briefly at the event titled; Nigeria yesterday, today and tomorrow. The adequate effect of legislation on the Nigerian economic system, promised the participants a detailed analysis if invited for subsequent programmes at the university.

Another programme will be hosted and I will bring the past budgets, the next one and we will deliberate on it.

The keynote speaker, Omosola Arawomo, a lecturer from the Department of Economics in OAU, spoke about the importance of legislature in order to have a stabilised economy.

For a country to have a good economy, she must recognise the role of the legislature. I cannot say which has a more important role to play between the executive and the legislature but what I can tell you is the legislative arm has a very important role to play in order to stabilise Nigerian economy.

The scholar noted that an economy that must grow must have an effective and adequate legislation. When there is no effective budget, there will be economic shut down, he added.

Meanwhile, participants who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES, derided the lawmakers comments. They said he (Mr Omoworare) cannot be exempted from the blame in the delay in budget passage.

My own view is that, in a sane country this should not be happening. But the thing is, he is a legislator, what is he doing about it?

He cannot just come here and do the talking. Let him raise pertinent issues like this in the plenary, Peter Oyebanji, an Accounting student, stated.

Issues like the ridiculous amount of money they earn along with issues like this, he should raise it. We do not just want actions on Twitter and in conferences, let them do where they are paid to (do).

Another student of Political Science, Adewole Lekan, said; He has a point but still does not make him different from other politician in the NASS. Why did he not talk about the ridiculous money they earn monthly? They are all birds of a feather.

It should be recalled that the 2018 Appropriation Bill was approved by the National Assembly seven months after the president, Muhammadu Buhari, presented the documents to the legislative arm.

Also, the president presented the budget of N8.612 trillion to the parliament for passage in November 2017 but the National Assembly raised the estimate to N9.12 trillion.

The Senate, however, laid the blame on members of Mr Buharis cabinet and the ministries, departments and agencies under their portfolios, for the delay in the passage of the 2018 Appropriation Bill.

The delay in the passage of the 2018 budget was a cause of concern to many Nigerians especially experts in various fields, who spoke on the adverse effect on the nations economy, PREMIUM TIMES reported.
Authorities in Somalia should urgently investigate the killing of radio journalist Abdullahi Mire Hashi, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

At least two unidentified gunmen shot Abdullahi in the town of Elasha Biyaha, about 17 km from the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on October 27, according to media reports and two local press rights groups.

Abdullahi, the producer and host of a daily show broadcast on the privately owned radio station Darul Sunnah, was shot dead after attending afternoon prayers at a mosque near his station, Ismail Sheikh Khalifa, chair of the advocacy group Human Rights Journalists (HRJ), and Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, secretary-general of the government-recognized National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), told CPJ. The gunmen fled the scene immediately after the attack, Ismail and Mohamed said.

Authorities in Somalia have a solemn duty to investigate the killing of Abdullahi Mire Hashi and bring those responsible to justice, said CPJ Sub-Saharan Africa Representative Muthoki Mumo. Somalia continues to rank as the worst country in the world for securing justice in the murders of journalists. Rigorously investigating these attacks is the key to addressing the environment of fear in which the press operates.

The radio station for which Abdullahi worked focuses on religious programming. The journalist hosted the show, This Morning on Darul Sunnah, during which listeners called in to describe conditions in their part of town. The show was described as non-political by Mohamed and Ismail.

Ismail said that at least three local journalists, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, told him that Abdullahi had said he recently received anonymous phone calls questioning why the station was not covering the militant group Al-Shabaabs operations in the region.

The town where Abdullahi worked is in an insecure region. A military base for the African Union Mission in Somalia there has been the site of attacks by Al-Shabaab.

An October 28 report by the Kenyan-based newspaper The East African said that no group had taken responsibility for the attack. A police officer who spoke to the Chinese state-owned news agency Xinhua on October 27 said that details about the case were scant.

Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala, the director general in the Somali federal ministry of information, told CPJ in an email today that the attack looked like terrorist action. He said that the government condemned the killing and that security services were investigating.

CPJs calls, a voicemail, and a text message sent to Bashir Abdi Mohamed, Somalias police commissioner, went unanswered.

Somalia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. For the past four years, the country has topped CPJs impunity index, which spotlights countries where journalists are slain and their killers go free. The 2018 index shows that 25 journalists were murdered with complete impunity between September 1, 2008 and August 31, 2018.
President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will continue to implement policies that will make Nigerias economy, which is already looking good, better.

The president stated this during an audience with Jesper Kamp, the new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Nigeria, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

According to him, Nigeria welcomes further strengthening of relations with other countries, especially in the areas of agriculture and trade.

The President told the Danish ambassador he was pleased that relations between Nigeria and Denmark had remained strong.

He noted that in the economic sphere there was more work to do.

The Nigerian economy is looking good and we look forward to making it better, the President told the Danish ambassador after receiving his Letter of Credence.

President Buhari also received Letters of Credence from Waqar Kingravi, the new High Commissioner of Pakistan to Nigeria; Babacar Ndiaye, the new Ambassador of Senegal to Nigeria and Vyacheslav Beskosky, the new Ambassador of Belarus to Nigeria.

He told the envoys that Nigeria valued the existing cordial and friendly relations with their countries.

The president described the long-standing military cooperation between Nigeria and Pakistan as very commendable and beneficial to both countries.

Given the vast experience of the Pakistani military, your commitment in assisting us to develop our military is commendable, he told the Pakistani High Commissioner:

The Nigerian leader recounted that as a former military officer, several of his colleagues who trained in Pakistan still have very fond memories of the country.

While receiving the Senegalese Ambassador, President Buhari commended President Macky Sall of Senegal for his roles in the progress achieved in the political process in Guinea Bissau.

President Buhari noted that he was aware of the economic progress taking place in Senegal.

He, however, stressed the need for stability in the West African region to ensure rapid socio-economic development, particularly in the key areas of education, health and infrastructure.

The bigger we are, the bigger the problems, so we must continue to do our best to surmount our challenges in the region, President Buhari, who is also the current Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government, told the Senegalese envoy.

In his audience with the Belarus Ambassador, President Buhari harped on the need for improved economic ties, while commending the Eastern European country for accommodating international students from Nigeria in her tertiary institutions.

The president wished the four ambassadors very successful tenures, reiterating Nigerias commitment to continue to partner with their countries in areas of mutual concerns.

(NAN)
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) Thursday in Lagos launched its latest publication titled Uncovering Corruption in Nigeria: A Manual for Investigative Journalists.

The manual was presented by journalist and human rights activist, Richard Akinnola, at an interactive session for investigative journalists from across Nigeria which held at the CITIHEIGHT Hotel, Lagos.

According to Mr Akinnola, The public has a right of access to information which is a public concern and of which the public ought to know. The newspapers, TV and radio stations are the agent, so to speak of the public to collect the information and to tell the public of it. In support of the right of access, they should not in general be compelled to disclose their source of information. Neither by means of discovery by trial nor by questions or cross-examination at the trial nor by subpoena.

The manual published with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) read in part: Painstaking research and patience are the dual hallmarks of an investigative journalist. Fortunately, google is everybodys friend. You need to check and double check whatever your sources are giving you. Anyone who walks to you to give you documents incriminating someone has a purpose or agenda, and it may not be altruistic. He may want to even scores with someone and in that process, may procure fake and questionable documents that might appear real and if you dont double check and meticulous, you may be court in the wen of a libel action after publication.

The honey pot of any investigative journalist is his/her sources. A journalist has to develop and cultivate sources and this takes time because confidence-building is very crucial. A source must be able to trust you, hence the issue of confidentiality of what your source gives or tells you. The Code of Ethics for Nigerian journalists, known as the 1998 Ilorin Declaration states inter alia: A journalist should observe the universally accepted principle of confidentiality and should not disclose the source of information obtained in confidence.

A strong cardinal principle of journalism which a trainee reporter first learns in school, is the protection of the source of his information. Like medical and legal practitioners owe it a duty to protect the confidentiality of their patients and clients respectively, the journalists too owes it a duty not to disclose his source of information under any circumstance.

However, more often than not, there are clashes between ethical and legal concepts as regards disclosure of sources of information, a situation that has led to litigations by aggrieved newspapers who feel duty bound to keep their sources of information.

Investigative journalists, particularly those digging into corruption stories, are susceptible to life-threatening situation.

The implication of section 39 of the 1999 constitution, read vis-a-vis with section 22 of the 1999 constitution, which was the section 21 of the 1979 constitution, is that despite the fact that section 39 of the 1999 constitution gives every Nigerian, Right to freedom of expression, the Nigerian media still substantially have its freedom protected, particularly under Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, which is now part of our laws. Nigeria ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Chapter 12, Laws of the Federation, 1990).

A good investigative journalist, particularly working on corruption-related stories should learn how to work incognito. For instance, if there is an unemployment scam and people are asked to pay certain amounts of money as part of application process, an investigative journalist could put in his application and payment and pretend to be an applicant.

With this, he/she would be able to get a first-hand information in respect of the company. But it must be noted that he/she MUST not go the scene of investigation with his work ID card or complimentary card. He also needs some working tools like spy cameras that could be in the form of pens, ATM card, ties, eye glasses, key holders.

The secret recordings are later downloaded into a computer. Examples are the sting operations by some British journalists to expose corruption in FIFA by way of match fixings. Another example is the popular Ghanaian undercover journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas who exposed corruption in the Ghanaian judiciary, leading to the sack of over 22 judges Ghanaian judges who were caught in the web of the corruption scandal.

The signing of the Freedom of Information Bill into law by President Goodluck Jonathan on May 28, 2011 has opened a new vista in our quest for openness and accountability in governance. The FOI Act affords any person the right to access or request for information from public officials, Agencies and Institutions.

A free world demands that the media act to strengthen democracy and institutional bodies. Good governance and accountability thrive on access to information, not just by journalists alone, but by the average Nigerian. Indeed, the right of a people to have access to officially-held information and comment on the affairs of state and conduct of government is an intrinsic part of democracy, which demands accountability of rulers and public officials to the citizenry.

There have been calls for the FOI Act to be domesticated by the various States for it to have effect in those States. Some states like Ekiti for example, have even gone ahead to domesticate it. While this is laudable and it would further strengthen the law, it needs be pointed out that domestication of the law is not necessary for it to have effect in the states. As a matter of fact, there have been a couple of court decisions in this regard. So, an investigative journalist should not be hamstrung if certain state government officials try to frustrate them by claiming that the law has not been domesticated in their respective States.

As a matter of fact, in its decision on March 27, 2018, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure, in the case of Martins Alo v. Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly and Auditor-General of Ondo State, held that all states are bound to accede to requests for information on public expenditure under the FOIA.

This was a case in which the applicant/appellant, a journalist sought for information on the audited accounts of the House of Assembly between 2012 and 2014. He was denied. He filed an action at the State High court which ruled that the applicant had no right to demand how the House spent its money, under the premise that the FOIA did not cover all States, except the States that domesticated it. But the court of Appeal laid this to rest.

Having said that, it is obvious that notwithstanding its non-domestication, all states are under a legal obligation to subject themselves to the law. 

Corruption is not just when someone in public office in engaged in financial malfeasance. It encompasses abuse of office and public morality.
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said he had constituted a committee for the destruction of 10,000 illegal firearms and prohibited weapons recovered from members of the public.

Mr Idris made this known on Thursday in Abuja at a meeting with officers at the rank of Commissioner of Police and above.

He said the arms to be destroyed were recovered during the weapons mop-up operations carried out by the police across the nation some time ago.

The mop-up of the illegal arms was ordered by the police authorities following recurring violent attacks on innocent Nigerians by gunmen across the country.

The categories of the prohibited weapons were artillery, apparatus for the discharge of any explosives of gas diffusing projectile, rocket weapons, bombs and grenades.

Others were Machine guns and machine-pistols, military rifles, those of calibers 7.62mm, 9mm, .300 inches, Revolvers and Pistols, whether rifled or unrifled (including flint-lock pistols and cap pistols).

They also included Pump-Action gun of all categories and other firearms/lethal weapons fabricated to kill.

Mr Idris said 26,000 illegal ammunitions were also recovered in the mop-up operations.

He said members of the committee, headed by Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Operations, comprised UN organs, ECOWAS, Presidential Committee on Prohibition of Small Arms and Light Weapons and other critical stakeholders.

He announced that the destruction of the arms would be carried out before the 2019 general elections.

The government and people expect much from us in ensuring security and safety as we go into the 2019 elections.

The Force will no longer tolerate laxity on the part of any commissioner of police who fails to be proactive in dealing with crisis and other violent crimes in their areas of responsibilities.

We have to do more in ensuring adequate security throughout the country from now on to the 2019 elections and beyond, he said.

He restated the commitment of the force to reduce crimes and criminalities in the country to the barest minimum.

Mr Idris pointed out that the current security situation in the country required more efforts, commitment and dedication to sustain the level of peace achieved so far in the country.

He said the 96 suspects arrested in the recent Kaduna crises were being prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.

We must fine-tune and strengthen our strategies proactively to prevent such occurrences anywhere in the country, he stressed.

The police boss said that more patrol vehicles and police personnel have been deployed to Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) commands to sustain the peace and normalcy that had been restored.

He disclosed that the 400 suspects arrested by the police in connection with the disturbances in the FCT between Sunday and Tuesday would be charged for terrorism.

In a related development, the I-G on Thursday decorated three newly promoted Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and three Assistant Inspectors-General of Police with their new ranks.

The promotions were recently approved by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

(NAN)
The Senate Committee on Local Content on Thursday queried lopsided shareholding structure in favour of foreign component in Halliburton Nigeria.

Chairman of the committee, Solomon Adeola, raised the concern during a tour to Halliburton Nigeria in Port Harcourt, as part of its two-day oversight visit to Bayelsa and Rivers States.

Mr Adeola queried reports that shareholding in Halliburton was 30 per cent for the Nigerian component and 70 per cent for Halliburton global.

He also deplored the fact that Halliburton Nigeria was not listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange.

He requested the company to submit its payroll to ascertain disparity in remuneration for foreign and Nigerian workers.

Mr Adeola also directed the company to submit tax certificate, financial statement and other documents, to ascertain level of compliance with local content regulation.

He asked that company to furnish the committee with its recruitment process as well as level of involvement of local communities in the companys activities.

Responding, Deputy Managing Director of the company, Okey Okoli, assured that all the documents requested would be made available to the committee.

He said the company was 97 per cent Nigerian, with 606 indigenous staff and only three per cent foreign, accounting for 22 expatriate workers.

Mr Okoli added that the company was in strict compliance with tax remittance and the one per cent remittance to the Nigerian Content Development Management Board.

He disclosed that there was no disparity in the salaries and allowances paid to indigenous workers and foreigners, adding that Nigerians who worked in foreign offices were paid hardship allowance like foreigners were paid in Nigeria.

We do not have shortfall in terms of compliance with one per cent remittance to NCDMB.

Our shareholding structure is 70 per cent global and 30 per cent local.

In terms of capacity-building, we noticed a challenge for local companies to train Nigerians abroad, so we opened a training centre in Akwa Ibom state, he said.

Mr Okoli,who is also Country Business Development Manager Nigeria, West Central and East Africa Area of the company, however, noted that the training was mainly in oil and gas.

(NAN)
The Federal Government on Thursday reassured Nigerians that it was doing its best to ensure safe release of Leah Sharibu, the only one of the kidnapped Dapchi school girls who remained in captivity.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, gave the reassurance at the 100 years celebration of St. Andrews Catholic Church, Oro, his home town near Ilorin in Kwara state.

Speaking to journalists after the Centenary anniversary thanksgiving Mass, the minister said Leah, abducted by Boko Haram, is dear to the government.

Nigerians should appreciate that any of our citizens, either boy or girl, Moslem or Christian is dear to us.

We do not look at Leah Sharibu either as Christian or Moslem, but as a precious daughter of the country.

We are doing our best to ensure her safe release and be reunited with her family members, he said.

Boko Haram abducted Leah Sharibu and 109 other girls from their school

in Dapchi on February 19, 2018.

While most of the girls have been released, Leah has remained in captivity, and her abductors had threatened to kill her.

The minister also reiterated that government efforts at containing the Boko Haram insurgency were working and they are winning the war against the group.

He said what was being witnessed were cowardly attacks on soft targets by the insurgents which were also being tackled.

On the centenary celebration, the minister said that 100 years in the life of a Church is historic and significant.

Mr Mohammed, a Muslim from Oro, said the anniversary was beyond the centenary, but a celebration of peaceful coexistence of Christianity and Islam in the town.

If you are looking for a community where there is absolute religion tolerance and peaceful coexistence, Oro is a good example.

As you can see, there are many Muslim faithful, like me, at this ceremony and that is how it has been from time immemorial.

I recalled a time when I was organising Ramadan prayers, I used the premises of this Church as my venue, he said.

The minister noted that no religion preaches violence and hatred but every religion embraces peace.

He appealed to Christians and Muslims where ever they may be in the country to emulate the Oro community in embracing peaceful coexistence.

The Catholic Bishop of Ilorin Diocese, Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, gave gratitude to God for the celebration and described the centenary anniversary as the fruits of the Oro communitys fore fathers who accepted Christ early.

The clergy thanked God for the light of the Gospel, which he said had dispelled all darkness from the town.

Chairman of the Centenary Anniversary Planning Committee, John Aransiola, said it was a special day in the history of Oro community.

In a brief history of the Church, Mr Aransiola said the late Mathew Wouter, SMA, a reverend father, came to Oro from Osogbo through Offa to celebrate the first Mass in 1918.

He paid tribute to a particular parishioner, late Johnson Aina, whom he said, at that time, encouraged the people of Oro to embrace Catholicism.

Mr Aransiola said Mr Aina had spent his youth in Topo, Lagos state, where he learnt about Catholic faith, before coming to Oro.

In 1925, Late Jerome Obada was transferred to Oro and became the first Catechist in the Church, when the first straw roofed church was built.

Obada, was a young boy from the royal family of Kabba in Kogi state, who ran away from home against the wish of his father to become a mission boy to Rev. Wouter in Osogbo where he was baptised.

In 1926, a mission house was built to house the late Chief Obada, the first Catechist, he said.

Mr Aransiola said reverend fathers were coming from Osogbo for Mass until 1931 when Aime Simon SMA became the first resident Parish Priest of the Oro Church.

He said the priest spearheaded the building of a well completed St Andrews Church from 1933 to 1935.

Mr Aransiola said the Church was replaced by an architecturally well designed modern church dedicated in 2014 by the incumbent Bishop of Ilorin Diocese, Atoyebi, who is also from Oro.

He said the establishment of the Church had brought spiritual awakening and educational and social development to the town.

(NAN)
The Director General of the Atiku campaign organisation, Gbenga Daniel, says officials of the United States have hinted the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, that he would get a U.S. visa if he applies for one now.

Mr Daniel disclosed this in an interview on Channels Television programme, Politics Today, on Wednesday.

It has been widely speculated in recent years that Mr Abubakar was banned from entering the U.S. due to allegations of financial impropriety levelled against him, especially in the aftermath of a U.S. congressional report which probed his numerous international financial dealings.

Mr Abubakar has dismissed insinuations that he cannot travel to the U.S. He, however, said he was not granted a visa when he applied. This has not deterred the opposition All Progressive Congress from ridiculing him on the matter.

I can also confirm to you that in last few days that there have been signals from the American officials that he (Atiku) should indeed come forward so he can be granted visa. So between you and I, all the issues are perception, Mr Daniel said.

PREMIUM TIMES is yet to independently verify Mr Daniels claim.

Mr Daniel, during the interview, also explained that the perception of corruption that had tarred the image of Mr Abubakar over the years was misplaced.

Well, my opinion is that the issue appears to have been over-flogged. I remember when we were running the campaign in the primaries and everybody kept confronting us on this perception and we brought it out in the open that indeed it is no more than perception, politically motivated perception which unfortunately appears not to have stopped.

By and large, I think as we move toward the real issues, people would just realise that this is just politically motivated issues. I have repeatedly said that this is not a Banana Republic. Nigeria as a people, we know our weaknesses, anything that is nagetive about our leaders, we are ready to believe it.

But until when (corruption) charges are pressed, as far as we are concerned, there are no issues there. If you look at the newspapers in the last few days, we have read statement issued by the (U.S.) state department that they have no issues or whatsoever with Atiku Abubakar.

He also spoke on the strides made in Mr Abubakars campaign to clinch the top seat.

We have done the first part of the job against all odds, we have been able to deliver his Excellency, Atiku Abubakar as the flag bearer of the party, it is like a relay race of some sort. Now that he is the flag bearer of the party, we must create an opportunity to bring other people in and that is what we have done.

And you would notice that virtually everyone who contested against him in the party has come into the picture and everyone has one role or the other to play.

When asked what his right designation presently was in light of the emergence of other campaign officials of the party ahead of the elections, he explained.

Yes, I am the DG of the APCO (the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation). The new team that is being formed now is by the party and that does not stop us on what we are doing at the APCO. We want wider participation.

He said though he was excited about his nomination to vie for a Senate seat, he did not want to be distracted from his campaign for Mr Abubakar.

I want to seize this opportunity to thank the Bayo Dayo group who put my name on the ballot. I think it is a sign of appreciation, I must thank them. As you are aware I am very busy with the Atiku campaign and it is my immediate priority for now. I am working 100 per cent with the Atiku campaign organisation and I do not want any distraction.
The Nigerian government has arraigned some Shiite members arrested during one of the the recent clashes with the army in Abuja, the nations capital.

About 400 members of the group were arrested and detained after the group clashed with the officers during an inter-state rally which ended in Abuja on Tuesday.

Dozens of Shiite members died during the clashes, with the Nigerian Army alleging that the protesters confronted them to provoke a clampdown by soldiers.

Although the Shiite members denied the allegation, some security vehicles were destroyed during the clampdown.

A member of the group, Abdullahi Musa, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that the Shiite Members were arraigned at a Magistrate Court in Wuse district of Abuja.

Details HERE
Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) have responded to statements credited to Nigerian police tagging them as terrorists.

The Inspector-General of police had on Wednesday directed a total clamp-down on the IMN group over its clash with security operatives.

About 400 members of the group were arrested by the police for alleged destruction of public property over which the police said those being held would be prosecuted on terrorism charges.

Members of the group were accused of disturbance of public peace and law and order in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and setting ablaze of police vehicle.

The police said 31 bottles of petrol bombs and other dangerous weapons were found in possession of some of those arrested, stating that all of them will be arraigned in court after investigation under the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2003.

But in a statement on Thursday by its media forum president, Ibrahim Musa, the Shiite members vowed to resist what they described as attempt to link the Islamic Movement to terrorism.

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria hereby dissociates itself from the deliberate mischief and narration of impounding petrol bombs and burning police vehicle, he said.

This is the plot of the security agents and those instructing them from behind the scene in order to blackmail the movement.

Mr. Musa said members of the group have right to practice their religion or belief, assemble, express themselves and protest as enshrined in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Freedom of Religion. He said they cannot therefore be denied that right with the scare of mischievously placing the movement on red alert.

He also called on the general public not to be deceived by the false allegations and executive lies being spread with the intention of blackmailing the peaceful movement and depicting it as violent even without any trace of violence in its almost 40 years of existence.

Members of the group demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, have since Monday been engaged in pitched battles around Abuja with security agents, resulting in several deaths.
The United States government says it is concerned by the violence between protesting Shiites and Nigerian soldiers in and around Abuja.

Dozens of protesting Shiites were killed between Saturday and Tuesday by soldiers who accused the protesters of throwing stones and other objects at security forces.

In a statement posted on its website, the U.S. embassy in Nigeria called for thorough investigation of the violence.

The United States Embassy is concerned by the deaths resulting from clashes between Nigerian security forces and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in areas surrounding Abuja.

We urge Government of Nigeria authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of the events and to take appropriate action to hold accountable those responsible for violations of Nigerian law. We urge restraint on all sides.

Following the violence, hundreds of Shiites were arrested by the police and 120 of them arraigned on Thursday in Abuja.

Amnesty International has condemned the clampdown on the Shiites, members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), who were demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

Mr El-Zakzaky has been detained since 2015 after a military clampdown on his group left over 300 IMN members dead.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, not to join the smear campaign against its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

PDP made this call in a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, Thursday evening.

Mr Tinubu had on Wednesday said a reported meeting by some leaders of PDP in Dubai to strategise on how to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari will fail.

The presidential candidate of the PDP is currently in Dubai and has been reportedly holding a series of meetings with high-ranking members of the party to strategise over the 2019 election.

We dont fear, whether its in the jungle, or its in Dubai or its in Abu Dhabi, people are free to meet and strategise in any way. But we are not going back to the illusion of the PDP, Mr Tinubu said while speaking to journalists at the Presidential Villa.

The former governor of Lagos State also said he believed it is not possible for Nigerians to return the PDP to power.

But in a swift reaction, Mr. Ologbondiyan advised Mr Tinubu not to toe the path of his party by uttering unguarded utterances against the former vice president.

Asiwaju, as an elder, should not reduce his pedigree by engaging in indecorous utterances which has become the trademark of his dysfunctional party.

It is also instructive to state that a person of Asiwaju status can conduct his political activities without recourse to indecent language that is lacking in respect for a personality, such as Atiku, whom Nigerians, across board, have generally resolved to be their next President.

Mr. Ologbondiyan said the repositioned PDP and its presidential candidate remain committed to their promise to focus on solutions to the myriad of problems facing Nigerians and transform their lives for the better despite the ludicrous disposition of APC and its leaders towards the 2019 election campaign.

The PDP therefore cautions Asiwaju Tinubu to redirect the discourse of his party to productive issues instead of this unbridled resort to lies, deception, beguilement, propaganda, smear campaign and uncouth language, which Nigerians now resent.

The PDP governed Nigeria for 16 years from 1999 before losing the 2015 general election to the APC.
Alliance Law Firm, Lawyers representing the suspended Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf, on Thursday described as false, news that its client sued President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Managing Partner of Alliance, Uche Val-Obi (SAN), in a statement in Lagos, said that his client pledged his continued loyalty to the president and would fully cooperate with the incoming Director, Ben Omogo.

Our attention has been drawn to the false news making rounds that our client, Prof. Usman Yusuf, the Executive Secretary (ES) of NHIS, has taken the Presidency to Court over his purported suspension by the Governing Board.

As Counsel to Prof. Yusuf, we wish to place on record that there is no iota of truth in this story, and that he has not taken the President or the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to Court as alleged.

Instead, our Client had, through our firm, approached the Federal High Court vide an originating summons filed on 29th October 2018 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1220/2018, with him as Plaintiff while NHIS, Hon. Minister of Health, and Attorney General were named as defendants.

By this action, he was essentially seeking the judicial interpretation and determination of certain questions pertaining the propriety or otherwise of the Governing Councils action in suspending him from office without Presidential approval or due process.

He said having received a letter from the SGF conveying a presidential directive that he proceeds on administrative leave, his client welcomed the presidential intervention and remained obligated to fully and strictly comply with the directives.

According to Mr Val-Obi, Mr Yusuf will accordingly be proceeding on the Administrative Leave with effect from Monday, November 5, to give room to the Independent Fact-Finding Panel, set up to carry out its important task of investigation.

In view of this development, to ensure that there is no interference with the work and finding of the panel and as instructed by our client, we shall be taking prompt steps to suspend the pending legal proceedings aforesaid, he said.

(NAN)
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has assured that President Muhammadu Buhari will not interfere in the work of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 2019 general elections.

Mr. Ameachi, the Director-General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, stated this when he received a delegation from the European Union (EU) and ECOWAS at his office in Abuja on Thursday.

The former Rivers State governor also pledged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will adhere strictly to the electoral laws during the polls.

One assurance I will give you today is that well stand by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and we will stand by whatever decision they make.

The assurance I will give you from President Buhari Campaign Organisation is that there will be no interference by the president.

Well play by the rules and whatever the campaign team needs to do to ensure that the election is transparent, we will do.

Well also ensure that the election is such that Nigerians will be proud of, and we hope that the rest who are contesting in other parties will also take the same position, Mr Amaechi stated.

Speaking at the event, Head of the European Union delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ketil Karlsen, said the EU would partner with Nigerians to organise credible polls in 2019.

He said the EU was only concerned about free, fair, credible and peaceful elections, hence we have invested not only our time but also a lot of European tax payers money on engaging with all the Nigerian stakeholders since 1999.

We look forward to a good collaboration on this occasion of the 2019 general elections. We have had election observers in Nigeria for all general elections since 1999.

For the EU, we really do not have any preferred candidate, we dont have any preferred political party, we dont promote any particular ideology in Nigeria.

We have spent more than one hundred million Euros in giving support for electoral process. So currently, we support INEC, we support the National Assembly, we support intra-party democracy and we support all stakeholders.

We had also engaged actively in the party primaries and this gives us reason about the optimism of INEC to conduct elections, Mr Karlsen said.
Another aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial primary which held on October 3 has accused a co-aspirant, Usman Tuggar, of lying about the election results.

Abdulkadir Isawa, who is one of the five aspirants who sought to represent the ruling party in the Senate from Bauchi North, spoke to PREMIUM TIMES in reaction to one of its reports over the weekend.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Mr Tuggars name, despite winning the senatorial primary in six of the seven local government areas of Bauchi North, was substituted without any reason.

APC documents seen by this newspaper show he won in six local government areas: Itas/Gadau, Zaki, Jamaare, Giade, Gamawa and Shira. His closest challenger, Mohammed Bulkachuwa, won narrowly in Katagum local government by 7,263 votes to 6,278.

In total, Mr Tuggar scored 71,508 votes while Mr Bulkachuwa scored 16680 votes. None of the other three aspirants scored up to 10,000 votes in total  a victory that was ascertained by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose officials monitored the primaries.

However, Mr Isawa, who came third in the results seen by this newspaper, said there were no elections in three local governments, Zaki, Gamawa and Itas/Gadau.

He said Mr Tuggars claim of winning the primary was false.

What he said is not true. There was no election in some local governments. The results were probably written in the hotel or somewhere.

His claim of winning five or six of the seven local governments in Bauchi North is not true. In those local governments, voters were there up till 1 a.m., nobody came to conduct election. Elections did not hold there at all, he said.

He also said Mr Tuggars results were fake because in Jamaare local government, party members who came out to vote were not up to 2000 and voting did not start until 6p.m  which is against the law.

There was election in four local governments. I won the election in Giade and Shira local governments. Even in those local governments, officers ran away with the results. Tuggar only won in Jamaare local government and Bulkachuwa won in Katagum.

One fact, however, Mr Isawa concurred with, was that the APC imposed its own candidate after the election.

APC is also lying. Bulkachuwa did not win any election either. Results in these local governments were taken on plain sheets. After the electoral officers left the local governments, they changed the results in Bauchi but at an unknown location.

He also said he wrote a petition to the APC national headquarters on October 3 and is yet to get feedback.

When asked to react to Mr Isawas claims, Mr Tuggar simply referred this paper to some electoral officers who conducted the election, for confirmation.

Everybody will definitely have something to say  to defend himself. Just call the INEC officials and ask them if there were elections or not, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted one of the electoral officers, Musa Azare, who was in Shira LGA  who attested to Mr Tuggars claims.

He said elections held in all the LGAs of Bauchi North and they were all successful. He also confirmed Mr Tuggar as the winner, accusing the APC headquarters of changing the results.

There were elections in all the local governments of Bauchi North and it was successful. No election violence of any kind, he said.

When asked about the results, he said from the results we collated, Tugaar was the winner, so, yes, the APC changed the name.

Isawa did not win in any local government. Even in his local government, Giade, Usman Tuggar defeated him.

The controversy surrounding the Bauchi North senatorial primary continues to linger as most of the candidates have come out to cry foul. The candidates as well as other members of the party have accused the leaders of the APC of being partial with their leadership.

Politicians in Bauchi told PREMIUM TIMES they believe the APC headquarters took the action in order to benefit from Mr Bulkachuwas relationship. Mr Bulkachuwa is the husband of the President of the Nigerian Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa.

PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm if that was the reason the manipulation was done especially as similar scenarios occurred in other parts of the country. The manipulations caused many Nigerians including the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha, to castigate the APC national chairman for the poor handling of the primaries across the country.
The immediate past deputy governor of Kano State, Hafiz Abubakar has abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party to join the Peoples Redemption Party.

Mr Abubakar told his supporters on Wednesday that he left PDP due to injustice meted to his supporters.

He said the PDP failed to grant his only request of one slot in the Kano State House of Assembly to be given to one of his loyalists.

He also said the national leadership of PDP had rejected a move by a former governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who recently joined the party, to nominate a candidate for the deputy governorship slot from his camp, but rather gave the state leadership of the party the privilege to choose who would fly the ticket with Mr Kwankwasos (governorship) nominee.

Mr Abubakar joined the PDP in August in solidarity with Mr Kwankwaso, two days after his (Abubakar) resignation as deputy governor.

An angry Mr Abubakar said, nobody consulted him on the PDP national headquarters directive, but one of the leaders nominated one of his managers to fill the deputy governors candidature.

Although I will not seek the position, because I came from same local government with the governorship candidate, but courtesy demands that I should be consulted. But some people sat down and took decisions without our consent and sent the selected candidate to national headquarters of the party.

They thought I am irrelevant. At this juncture I decided to move out so that whoever thinks I am irrelevant will find out the truth or otherwise of his assumption. This is my main reason of leaving the PDP. I have notified ward and local government leadership of the party, he said.

Mr Abubakars letter written to the chairman of PDP Mandawari ward, Gwale local government area and obtained by PREMIUM TIMES read: I wish to write and notify you of my decision to voluntary withdraw my membership of Peoples Democratic Party on personal ground. This decision is with effect from 29th day of October, 2018.

I want thank all the members of the party at the various levels for the support and cooperation given to me during the period I spent as party member.

Accept assurances of my highest regards please.

Meanwhile, Mr Abubakar also told his supporters about the PRP, the new party he is joining.

I have since expressed my interest to contest for governorship in PRP after obtaining the membership card of the party.

One interesting thing about new PRP is the party has developed certain preconditions to new entrants who want to contest under the party. I read it and I am optimistic of clinching the party ticket, having met all the criteria.
Christian officials in the Kaduna State government led by the deputy governor, Barnabas Bantex, have called on Christian clerics to desist from spreading rumours among their followers.

In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, Mr Bantex alleged some Christian clerics were maliciously linking the killing of a traditional ruler, Maiwada Galadima, by kidnappers to the state government.

Read the statement

With me today are some of the senior government officials of the Kaduna State Government, who like me, are Christians serving the state with all the commitment we can muster.

This kind of gathering of Christians in Government has hardly ever been necessary due to the fact that our government has never designed and or implemented policies on the selective basis of Religion or Ethnicity. This government values everyone who lives in Kaduna State, treating all residents with the equality that the constitution prescribes and encouraging law-abiding conduct by all residents.

We have met to review the threat to peace in Kaduna State, and the focused steps taken by the leadership of Malam Nasir El-Rufai to restore calm. We are proud of the way the state government has contained and managed the crisis, collaborating with the security agencies and constantly assuring and engaging citizens. By acting swiftly to declare a curfew, and meeting with religious, traditional and community leaders, including those from flash point communities, the Kaduna State Government tried assiduously to build a coalition of peace.

For many residents of the state, the crisis was rightly seen as a struggle between those who want the good society, with its premium on harmony, law and order, and criminals who hanker after division, violence and destruction.

So effective was the calming action of imposing a curfew and the attendant security patrols that even the Secretary of the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria publicly called on the Kaduna State Governor not to relax the curfew too soon. The panoply of actions taken by by the Kaduna State government has been rightly praised as the surest means to restore calm and save lives and livelihoods in an atmosphere of tension. Consequently, demonstrable progress has been recorded to improve the situation in the state, encourage peaceful relations and bring people together.

We are therefore appalled by the role of certain pastors in spreading hate, encouraging violence and undermining the security efforts in Kaduna State. These apostles of hatred do not speak for us, and we condemn the attempt to reduce our religion into a vehicle or a convenient mask for the bloodthirsty to practice their trade of division, violence and destruction. We cannot condone illegal conduct even if it is perpetrated by people with whom we share the same faith.

We are shocked that pastors have desecrated the altar of faith to spew lies about the situation in Kaduna State. It has saddened and shocked us to watch videos of pastors preaching fiction and needlessly inciting people. Apart from creating the impression that the curfew affected only Christian residents of Kaduna, these pastors irresponsibly lied about the circumstances that led to the abduction and murder of HRH Agom Adara, Dr. Maiwada Galadima. Their professed knowledge of the motivations that led to the unfortunate situation around the late monarch should be of interest to the security agencies.

But as senior leaders of the Kaduna State Government, we wish to debunk their tissue of lies:

A. HRH Agom Adara was not coming from or going to a meeting with the Governor or any official of the Kaduna State Government on the day of his abduction.

b. The government and the security agencies tried their best to secure the release of the monarch from the abductors.

C. HRH Agom Adara was respected for his dedication and commitment to leading his chiefdom well. There was no contention or dispute between the Kaduna State Government and the late chief on the issue of chiefdom or emirates. We are not aware of any Islamization agenda, and we urge those who mouth its existence to cease and desist from this despicable bogey man allegation, which also constitutes a most unfair insult to everyone in the leadership of the Kaduna State Government.

D. Mrs. Victoria Galadima, the wife of the late royal father, was appointed Permanent Secretary by the current government before her retirement.

E. Curfews are applied whenever the risk of a security breakdown becomes too severe. The duration of a curfew is dictated by the magnitude of the security challenge. A curfew inconveniences everyone in the affected area, but it is better than the alternative of killings and destruction. In the 2016/early 2017 period of violent conflict in parts of the southern Kaduna senatorial district, the Kaduna State Government at times had to impose 24-hour curfews on the flashpoint communities.

F. Criminals have inflicted pains and losses on many of our citizens through kidnapping and banditry. This is a security challenge that the state government has been working to resolve. It is most unfortunate and improper to blame the despicable actions of criminals on religion, or insinuate government involvement.

At least one of the videos to which we refer features the pastor hinting at ties to a party to some of the criminal activity that happened during the Kaduna unrest. It is within the province of the security agencies to interrogate this.

As political office holders who are also Christians, we welcome the intervention of Christian leaders like the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna and the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna State in advancing peace. Security issues should not be invested with unnecessary religious coloration. Crime and its consequences imperil everyone!

We condemn without hesitation the irresponsible utterances and conduct of persons who disgrace the very notion of priesthood. Christianity obliges us to the finest standards of conduct, propelled by our faith in God and His abiding grace.

Christians are enjoined by our faith to strive to live up to the standards of compassion and tolerance to which we are commanded by Christs example in the Sermon on the Mount. We are admonished as Christians to speak only of the things of which we are certain. St. Paul reminded us in 1st Thessalonians 5:21 to Examine Everything, and hold fast to that which is good. Ignorant commentary on government policy is as rascally and repugnant as weaving false narratives to create the impression of victimhood.

The attempt to paint the Kaduna State Government and its leadership in religious garbs must stop. It is a government within which we as Christians proudly serve, and which makes its decisions guided only by the oath of office to which we have all sworn and the constitution.

Enough is enough of this reckless misuse of the apostolic mandate. Pastors have a mission to promote peace, bring people together, and motivate them to better follow the example of Jesus Christ. The reckless rhetoric from some pastors reminds decent people of the unfortunate involvement of pastors in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

We urge the leaders of the Christian faith to urgently address the matter of that constituency of pastors who are never seen to encourage what is good and noble, but who seem to find their voice whenever an opportunity to widen cracks appears. As Christians, we would not allow anyone to use our faith to justify any crime, to engage in reckless incitement and divide a state many of whose residents admirably demonstrated respect for a common humanity during the latest crisis.

As Christians, we are part of this government and its decisions. As Deputy Governor, I am a member of the Security Council, and routinely preside over its meetings. Like my colleagues, we do not view our faith as a bargaining chip or as an instrument for seeking advantage. Our Christian faith is a precious resource, a personal matter of relating to God, seeking to be better with Gods grace and working to ensure our personal conduct reflects the discipline of our faith. We reject in totality any effort to politicize Christianity.

We call on every resident of Kaduna State, whatever their faith, to stand together and resist those who seek to divide us. We commend the clear commitment to peace by our communities and we appeal to everyone to deny criminal elements refuge in faith or tribe. Faith should bring us closer to God, not push us to harm and destroy others who were created by the same God.

Signed on behalf of senior KDSG officials who are Christians:

Barnabas Yusuf Bala

Deputy Governor of Kaduna State

1st November 2018
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State says the state Government would engage 8,500 youths as Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) members to join security agents in combating crimes in the state.

Mr Yari made the disclosure while speaking with journalist on Thursday at the Government House Gusau.

He said the decision was part of the resolutions of the states Security Council meeting.

He said the JTF members would be drawn from all the 17 emirates of the state, adding that they would receive paramilitary training in order to equip them with the skills to fight crime.

The governor further stated that their engagement would be jointly coordinated by authorities at the Local Government Area (LGAs) and security agencies who would screen and train them in all skills, including intelligence gathering and dissemination.

Mr Yari, who expressed concern over the increase in criminal activities in the state in spite of the deployment of additional security personnel, said the JTF would expose all forms of criminals and their hideouts as the civilians know all the people in their respective communities.

He said the JTF recruits would be placed on a monthly stipend of N15, 000 each while their activities which would be backed by law to be enacted by the State House of Assembly, would be closely monitored by the state government.

(NAN)
The Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State Command, Ahmad Abdurrahaman, on Thursday said the command has charged 97 people to court suspected of involvement in the recent crisis in Kasuwan Magani area of the state.

Mr Abdulrrahaman, who made the disclosure at a press briefing in Kaduna, explained that 45 of the suspects were arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court, Ibrahim Taiwo Road Kaduna on October 24.

Also 52 suspects were equally arraigned in the same court on October 31 accordingly. he added.

The CP said that normalcy has been restored in all troubled areas of the state and residents have resumed normal businesses.

The command is currently committed to post violence management efforts and I am appealing to the general public to support the command to ensure success by giving us prompt and relevant information that can facilitate peaceful coexistence in the state as well as expose criminally minded people and rumour peddlers in our midst.

Mr Abdulrrahaman also disclosed that within the last two weeks, another set of 26 suspects were arrested in various crime not related to Kasuwan Magani crisis.

The crimes include criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, rape, illegal and possession of firearms, kidnapping, culpable homicide, drug peddling among others.

He also disclosed that the police recovered one Locally made Pistol, one Short Dane Gun, single barrel Gun, four live Cartridges, a Toyota Siena registered DKA 830 AU, two Fabricated Wooden Pistols, seven Machetes, two Knives, one torch light and 20 bags of substance suspected to be Indian Hemp.

The commissioner said the 26 suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

I wish to thank the good people of Kaduna state for their support to the police and other security agencies during this trying period and to appeal for strict compliance during the remaining curfew period, he said.

He reassured of the command commitment to reduce crime to its barest minimum in the state with the full support of residents.

Mr Abdurrahman said members of the public should continue to provide the police with useful information regarding activities of persons likely to constitute danger to the society, so as to prevent them from carrying out their heinous acts.

(NAN)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the Supreme Court judgement voiding the congresses that produced its officials in Rivers State has nothing to do with its governorship and legislative primaries in the state

The party said this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, on Thursday.

Conflicting interpretations by the two factions of the party in the state trailed the court judgement. The factions are led by transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi, and a senator, Magnus Abe.

The apex court in the ruling set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, which permitted the conduct of congresses by the APC in Rivers, despite an injunction to the contrary by a state high court.

The Supreme Court said the appellate court acted in bad faith on June 21 when it agreed to stay the execution of the decision of the Rivers State High Court.

While Mr Abe said the apex court judgement meant the Ojukaye Flag Amachree, who heads a faction loyal to Amaechi has fallen into a pit from which it cannot be rescued, Mr Amachrees faction said the Supreme Court has not set aside his chairmanship of the APC in the state and the congresses it conducted.

In view of conflicting interpretations that have greeted the recent verdict of the Supreme Court on the contentions among our members in Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), it has become necessary to clarify that the Supreme Courts verdict has nothing to do with the primaries conducted for the governorship and legislative positions in the state, Mr Issa-Onilu stated on Thursday.

He therefore noted that the governorship candidature of Tonye Cole and other candidates listed by the party remain as they emerged in accordance to the guidelines of the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC).

Therefore, the candidature of Arch. Tonye Cole along with his running mate, Hon. Victor Giadom, remains inviolate. The list of our candidates for the governorship, National Assembly, and House of Assembly have been processed by the National Working Committee (NWC) according to the INEC guidelines.

The party expressed appreciation for the support of the people of Rivers State and their commitment towards the victory of its governorship candidate, Mr Cole and other candidates at all levels in the 2019 elections and urged the people to stay poised to effect a change to move the beleaguered state to a path of progress and development.
The undeclared Peoples governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has said he remains committed to the mission to bring to an end APCs bad governance, economic and social enslavement of Osun people.

Speaking after he was granted bail over a hurried case instituted by the police authorities in Abuja, Mr Adeleke said he is innocent of what he called trumped-up charges of examination malpractices, insisting that the case was politically motivated to sabotage his bid to retrieve the stolen mandate freely given him by the good people of Osun State.

He highlighted, in a press release made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that he and his team campaigned and worked hard to earn the confidence and votes of the people despite all intimidation and attacks.

I was duly screened and fielded as a candidate and my people voted massively for me. The whole world knows I won that election and I am at the tribunal to reclaim the mandate. All these fake allegations of examination malpractice and any other imaginary charges cannot change the facts and the Truth! he stated.

He posited that his winning the governorship poll at first ballot less than a year after mass victory at senatorial election confirms his mass appeal and Gods grace.

Our political victories are not our doing. The hands of God and the overwhelming love from the people account for our beating the incumbent administration even with all intimidating apparatus of state. The outcome of the recent poll should enlighten our opponents that this project is divine and supported by the people of Osun State.

Dragging us to court on false charges, maligning our character and misrepresenting us before federal authorities and the whole world will not stop the truth from prevailing neither will it stop the regaining of the hijacked mandate. I am innocent of charges proffered against me and I know I will be vindicated.

Let me reiterate my earlier appeal to our people to please remain calm and law abiding .We are before the tribunal and we trust in God that justice will be served the statement highlighted.

Mr Adeleke was arraigned on Wednesday at a Federal High Court in Abuja on a four-count charge for alleged examination malpractice.

The PDP governorship candidate was arraigned by the police for presenting himself as a student of Ojo-aron community grammar school in his state in 2017.

He denied involvement in the allegation.

The senator was brought to court along with four other accused, including the school principal, by the Nigerian police.

Mr Adeleke was however granted bail on own-recognizance.
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A highly sensitive blood test that detects minute traces of cancer-specific DNA has been shown to accurately determine whether patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are free from cancer following radiation therapy. Findings were presented last week at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

The sophisticated, new liquid biopsy test  which measures fragments of DNA shed by cancers cells in the blood  could save thousands of dollars per patient by reducing the need for costly radiological studies such as PET/CT scans following radiation therapy and greatly increase patients' peace of mind.

"We've developed a highly specific, sensitive liquid biopsy blood test for people with HPV-associated OPSCC," said Bhisham Chera, MD, an associate professor of radiation oncology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. "This blood test had exceptional performance in monitoring patients for cancer recurrence after radiation therapy. If the circulating tumor HPV DNA is undetectable, there is a high likelihood that the patient is in remission and cancer-free."

The number of oral cancer cases associated with HPV has been climbing over the past several decades, even as head and neck cancers have generally been declining. Oropharyngeal SCC is the most common HPV-related cancer, and it is five times more common among men than women. This type of cancer affects the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils, and it is most prevalent in younger, non-smoking men (median age of diagnosis in the 50s). Radiation therapy has been shown to be a highly effective treatment, but patients must be monitored for recurrence for up to five years to ensure their cancer doesn't return.

The liquid biopsy test developed by Dr. Chera and his colleagues to monitor patients following radiation therapy is a digital polymerase chain reaction assay for HPV DNA that is highly specific, in that it does not cross-detect other types of cellular DNA; precise, in that it can be consistently reproduced; and sensitive, in that it has the ability to detect as few as six molecules of HPV DNA in a blood sample.

The test was able to predict whether a patient was cancer-free with very high accuracy, indicated by a negative predictive value  the probability that patients with a negative screening test truly don't have cancer  of 100 percent. That type of accuracy in a liquid biopsy test, said Dr. Chera, could potentially reduce the need for costly radiological studies during post-treatment surveillance, reserving them only for patients with detectable ctHPVDNA. The cost for a liquid biopsy test of this type is in the hundreds of dollars, compared to several thousand for radiological studies.

In other types of liquid biopsy tests, explained the researchers, it can be difficult to differentiate between DNA coming from normal cells and that coming from tumor cells, making it tough to get an accurate picture.

"Viruses circulating in the body can be derived either from tumors or from normal infections, and a key challenge for post-treatment care is distinguishing between these two very different sources," said Gaorav P. Gupta, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of radiation oncology at UNC and also a member of the Lineberger Cancer Center. "Our approach makes it possible to distinguish between tumor-derived and non-tumor sources of HPV."

Their multianalyte assay also tests the same piece of DNA twice, allowing for verification, said Dr. Gupta. "As a result, we can now detect minute amounts of cancer in patients from a simple blood draw. In our clinical study, every patient who developed a recurrence scored positively for the test  in some cases many months before their tumors would be clinically detectable. Not a single patient that was negative for our test developed a recurrence."

The test also uses technology that allows for a more precise count of how many pieces of tumor DNA are in the blood at any given time, said Dr. Chera. "You can see the number of fragments growing or declining, and we can make comparisons over time. Older techniques gave you a relative quantification and had limited sensitivity. Our test is providing absolute quantification, so you can actually measure how much tumor-derived HPV DNA is there each time."

This prospective biomarker trial included 89 patients with HPV-associated OPSCC whose cancer had not spread distantly to other organs. All patients received definitive chemoradiation therapy (CRT), with 78 receiving de-intensified CRT to 60 Gray (Gy) total radiation dose and 11 receiving standard CRT to 70 Gy.

Beginning three months after treatment completion, patients were monitored with a combination of PET/CT scans, CT scans and chest x-rays every six months. Additionally, patients underwent clinical exams every two to four months for two years, and every six months for the following three years. The average follow-up time for patients on the study was 19.8 months (range: 3.744.7).

Blood was drawn and tested for ctHPVDNA in all patients during each follow-up visit after treatment. If ctHPVDNA was detected, additional imaging tests were performed.

Following the three-month, post-CRT scans, 70 of the 89 patients in the surveillance cohort had undetectable levels of ctHPVDNA at every follow-up visit. None of these 70 patients showed any sign of cancer recurrence. The remaining 19 patients developed a positive ctHPVDNA test result with a median interval from CRT of 16.7 months (range: 7.830.4) and a median value of 75 copies/mL (range 928,369). Eight of the patients who developed a positive test result were diagnosed with cancer recurrence (0 local, 1 regional, 7 distant). The other 11 patients showed detectable levels of ctHPVDNA (range: 2328,369 copies/ml) but no other evidence of cancer recurrence; they are being monitored with repeat blood tests and imaging.

The test could provide patients with much-needed peace of mind, said Dr. Chera. "We are showing in this abstract that the blood test performs very well. It detects cancer before the scan detects cancer. Using this test, I can walk into a patient's room and say, 'You are more than likely cancer-free at this point.'"

In the future, ctHPVDNA testing may also potentially be used to screen for cervical cancer or anal cancer, which are also frequently associated with HPV infection, the authors said. They recommend further research to see if it could improve early detection of cancer recurrence and reduce costs by targeting radiographic surveillance to the subset of patients who are at greatest risk of relapse.

Intellectual property related to the test and held by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been licensed to Naveris, a company in which Dr. Chera and Dr. Gupta hold equity stakes.

The abstract, "Plasma circulating tumor HPV DNA for the surveillance of cancer recurrence in HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer," was presented in detail during a news briefing and the late-breaking abstract special session at ASTRO's 60th Annual Meeting in San Antonio. To schedule an interview with Dr. Chera, Dr. Gupta and/or outside experts in oral cancer or liquid biopsy, contact ASTRO's media relations team at 703-286-1600 or [email protected].

Attribution to the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting requested in all coverage.

ABOUT ASTRO

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is the world's largest radiation oncology society, with more than 10,000 members who are physicians, nurses, biologists, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other health care professionals who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. The Society is dedicated to improving patient care through professional education and training, support for clinical practice and health policy standards, advancement of science and research, and advocacy. ASTRO publishes three medical journals, International Journal of Radiation Oncology  Biology  Physics, Practical Radiation Oncology and Advances in Radiation Oncology; developed and maintains an extensive patient website, RT Answers; and created the nonprofit foundation Radiation Oncology Institute. To learn more about ASTRO, visit astro.org or RTanswers.org, sign up to receive our news and follow us on our blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Liz Gardner, 703-286-1600

[email protected]

Jeff White, 703-839-7392

[email protected]



SOURCE American Society for Radiation Oncology

Related Links

http://www.astro.org


POLYTECH Health & Aesthetics GmbH launches its new brand image at the ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) Congress this weekend in Miami, setting the course for international expansion of its market position as an innovation leader. The new branding to be officially launched at the POLYTECH booth, featuring further activities of augmented reality experience and the POLYTECH Lunch Symposium.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8439651-polytech-reveals-new-brand-identity/

Innovation leader on course for international growth

The new branding reflects the company's growth strategy, expanding its global footprint and bringing Quality, Innovation and Commitment to surgeons and patients worldwide. With the largest breast implant portfolio on the market, in a variety of shapes, sizes and surfaces, POLYTECH caters to the specific preferences and needs of surgeons and patients, in both the aesthetic and reconstructive fields. Other products by the company include gluteal and body contouring implants.

POLYTECH's merger with G&G Biotechnology in July 2018, further strengthened the company's product portfolio with the innovative B-Lite, the first and only Lightweight Breast Implants in the world. Up to 30% lighter than traditional breast implants, B-Lite implants combine well known and clinically proven materials in an innovative way to support natural fullness, feel and strength without the burden of extra weight.

Quality for the benefit of patients

"Our new tagline 'Quality you can feel' reflects the company culture, passion and commitment to quality in all that we do", stated Wolfgang Steimel, Polytech's CEO, and added: "With the largest breast implant portfolio on the market, and now with the most innovative breast implant B-Lite, we are committed to providing added value to our partners, customers and patients, with exceptional product quality and outstanding service. This innovation will be the perfect opportunity for POLYTECH to enter the US market."

"POLYTECH is in a unique position to bring its partners the most innovative products and a true commitment to quality, with the added value of financial stability. The new branding reflects the company's rising market position and its strategic decision to grow" concluded Tom Alzin, Managing Director, DBAG and POLYTECH Board member.

Expansion of digital corporate channels

The rebranding campaign focuses on the new website and the expansion of social media channels, optimizing our reach and engagement with partners, surgeons and patients. With over 280,000 social followers across the globe, POLYTECH is a leader in digital communication in the field of breast surgery.

The new website offers a clean, modern and mobile-responsive design, with easy navigation and helpful tools for partners, surgeons and patients. Visit the new website at https://polytechhealth.com/en

POLYTECH at a glance

With a global footprint in over 75 countries, POLYTECH Health & Aesthetics GmbH is an international leader in the development and production of silicone implants. Founded in 1986 in Dieburg, Germany, the company focuses on breast implants, used in both reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery. POLYTECH is the only German manufacturer of soft tissue implants. All products are developed exclusively at the company headquarters in Germany, and are manufactured under clean room conditions. The company employs over 250 people. For more information visit https://polytechhealth.com/en

* POLYTECH products are not sold in the US.

Media contact

dellian consulting gmbh

Karina Fritz und Margit Dellian

Hegelmaierstr. 24

74076 Heilbronn

Germany

Tel: +49-7131-7973-760

E-Mail:

[email protected] ;

[email protected]

Web: www.dellian-consulting.de

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/777641/POLYTECH.jpg )

Video:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8439651-polytech-reveals-new-brand-identity/

SOURCE POLYTECH Health & Aesthetics GmbH
"The 2018 Meyocks Thanksgiving Survey2 suggests 'Friendsgiving' events are popular with younger generations," says Doug Jeske, president of Meyocks. "In addition, Americans living in urban areas are more likely to have multiple Thanksgiving dinners than those dwelling in suburban and rural areas."

Family both a blessing and a stress at Thanksgiving

More than half of survey respondents (53 percent) cited family as the thing for which they are most likely to give thanks, followed by health (21 percent), friends (9 percent) and food (7 percent).

On the other hand, family and preparation of the Thanksgiving meal are the biggest stressors. For 49 percent of women, preparing the meal is the top stress (compared to 33 percent for men). For 47 percent of men, family creates the most tension (compared to 39 percent for women).

More turkey and texting  and another glass of wine, please

Serving alcohol is on the rise: 71 percent of respondents say they will serve alcohol with the Thanksgiving meal, up from 62 percent last year. Serving alcohol is also more common among urban Americans (81 percent), compared to suburban (61 percent) and rural (52 percent) dwellers.

In addition, there is growing tolerance of electronic devices at the Thanksgiving table. Forty-five percent of Americans say they will allow phones and tablets at the table, compared to 35 percent last year.

"Our Thanksgiving study shows that celebration of this American holiday continues to evolve," Jeske says. "There are more choices than ever regarding how you spend the holiday  and with whom  but our study also shows the overwhelming urge of Americans to continue to gather with others and share their joys and thanksgiving."

For more results from the Meyocks survey, visit www.meyocks.com/thanksgiving.

About Meyocks

Meyocks, based in West Des Moines, Iowa, is a full-service branding and marketing agency that focuses on food, agriculture, health and mentor brands.

1Butterball is a registered trademark of Butterball, LLC.

2The 2018 Meyocks Thanksgiving Survey was conducted nationwide via an online panel with 1,061 Americans aged 18 and over. For results based on the total sample of American adults, the margin of error is 3.07 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

SOURCE Meyocks
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Council of Resistance of Iran  U.S. Representative Office (NCRI-US) will hold a press conference on Friday, November 2, 2018 at 10:30 am, to discuss the details on the role of the most senior Iranian regime officials in a new wave of terrorism against Iranian dissidents in the United States and Europe. It will also unveil the agencies involved in the decision-making, planning, and execution of terror operations.

On October 30th, Denmark announced that an Iranian national working for the Iranian regime's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) had been arrested for plotting an assassination in that country. Earlier, two Iranian MOIS agents operating under the cover of diplomats were implicated in the terror plot on June 30, 2018 against the major Iranian opposition rally in Paris attended by NCRI officials as well as senior American, European and Middle Eastern figures. In August, the FBI arrested two MOIS agents, involved in intelligence gathering on officials of the NCRI in the United States for a "capture and kill operation."

In addition, NCRI will reveal the Iranian regime's sophisticated scheme to retain billions of dollars in revenues from oil and gas exports to continue funding its crackdown at home, wreaking havoc in the Middle East and carrying out assassinations against dissidents abroad.

The book, Iran Doubles Down on Terror and Turmoil, will also be released at the conference.

Friday, November 2, 2018, 10:30 AM

Place: NCRI-US Office

1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 1125

Washington, DC 20006

Registration is required to attend this event. To rsvp, please click below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/press-briefing-book-rollout-on-iran-doubling-down-on-terror-tickets-51941321892?aff=PRNewswire

Please follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Contact: Ali Safavi, 202-747-7847

These materials are being distributed by the National Council of Resistance of Iran-U.S. Representative Office. Additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

SOURCE NCRI-US

Related Links

http://www.ncrius.org


"We are grateful to the millions of guests and thousands of team members who have fueled our business for 60 years," said James A. Haslam II, founder of Pilot Flying J. "To celebrate this great achievement, we wanted to say thank you in a meaningful way that honors our history and will make a positive difference in the communities we serve."

More than 20 nonprofit organizations will receive contributions, each reflective of the causes that are important to Pilot Flying J's guests and team members and the values upon which the company was built.

As a veteran-founded company, Pilot Flying J is honored to partner with organizations such as Hire Heroes USA, Bunker Labs, Fisher House and Folds of Honor. Funds will support veterans and their families by providing cost-free housing to those caring for injured loved ones and by connecting them with opportunities to drive their future success. Pilot Flying J is also working with organizations like Boys and Girls Club of America, Feeding America, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and Trucker Buddy International to fund programs that focus on health and wellness, access to food and academic success in communities across the country.

"A spirit of community and philanthropy was instilled in our company's culture from the beginning," said Meg Counts, community relations and events manager of Pilot Flying J. "We are proud to partner with these important organizations, supporting their missions and programs to help our communities and veterans thrive. Together, we are truly able to fuel life's journeys."

Pilot Flying J is also thanking those who serve this Veterans Day with a free breakfast. From November 1012, active-duty and retired military veterans can redeem an offer in the Pilot Flying J app to enjoy a free Pilot Coffee of any size with their choice of a PJ Fresh breakfast sandwich, packaged pastry item or a Cinnabon Center of the Roll.

To learn more about Pilot Flying J's 60th anniversary giving, including a full list of recipient organizations, visit www.pilotflyingj.com/giving-back.

About Pilot Flying J

Pilot Flying J, the largest operator of travel centers in North America, is committed to connecting people and places with comfort, care and a smile at every stop. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot Flying J has more than 750 retail locations in 44 states, Roadside assistance available at over 135 locations nationwide and growing as part of its Truck Care program, 44 Goodyear Commercial Tire and Service Centers, and 34 Boss Shops. The Pilot Flying J network provides drivers with access to more than 72,000 parking spaces for trucks with Prime Parking at more than 400 locations, 5,200 deluxe showers and more than 6,200 diesel lanes with 5,200 offering Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) at the pump. Pilot Flying J is currently ranked No. 15 on Forbes' list of America's Largest Private Companies. Visit www.pilotflyingj.com/ for more information.

CONTACT:

Stephanie Myers Bridgit Fletcher External Communications Supervisor, Pilot Flying J Zeno Group for Pilot Flying J (865) 474-4096 (312) 755-5461 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Pilot Flying J

Related Links

https://pilotflyingj.com


PITTSBURGH, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- USW International President Leo W. Gerard will host a campaign and get-out-the-vote rally on Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. for labor-endorsed candidates in Pennsylvania. Photo and Interview opportunities will be available.

WHO: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, Gov. Tom Wolf, U.S. Reps. Conor Lamb and Mike Doyle, and Emily Skopov, USW-endorsed candidate for State House (HD-28). Special guests include: AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale, and USW District 10 Director Bobby "Mac" McAuliffe. WHAT: 2018 Campaign Rally WHEN: Friday, Nov. 2, at 3 p.m. WHERE: USW Headquarters, 60 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222

Walk packets and phone lists will be available for volunteers to get out the vote for labor endorsed candidates before Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Tim Waters, 412-999-3587

[email protected]

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)

Related Links

http://www.usw.org


BAAR, Switzerland, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Weatherford International plc (NYSE: WFT) (the "Company" or "Weatherford") today announced it has completed the sale of its land drilling operations in Kuwait, including 12 drilling rigs to ADES International Holding Ltd. for $123 million in cash, and an additional $12 million in cash pending the delivery of two idle land drilling rigs in South Iraq.

In July 2018, a subsidiary of Weatherford signed a definitive agreement with ADES International Holding Ltd. for the sale of Weatherford's land drilling rig operations in Algeria, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia as well as two idle land rigs in Iraq, for an aggregate cash purchase price of $287.5 million (the "Transaction"). The Transaction includes 31 land drilling rigs and related drilling contracts, as well as approximately 2,300 employees and contract personnel.

This is the first in a series of four closings, the majority of which are expected to be completed by year-end 2018, subject to regulatory approvals, consents and other customary closing conditions. The purchase price is also subject to a customary post-closing working capital adjustment. Weatherford will use the proceeds to reduce its debt.

About Weatherford

Weatherford is one of the largest multinational oilfield service companies providing innovative solutions, technology and services to the oil and gas industry. The Company operates in over 90 countries and has a network of approximately 710 locations, including manufacturing, service, research and development, and training facilities and employs approximately

28,450 people. For more information, visit www.weatherford.com and connect with Weatherford on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About ADES International Holding

ADES International Holding extends oil and gas drilling and production services through its subsidiaries and is a leading service provider in the Middle East and Africa, offering onshore contract drilling as well as workover and production services. Its over 2,500 employees serve clients including major national oil companies ("NOCs") such as Saudi Aramco, Kuwait Oil Company and Sonatrach as well as joint ventures of NOCs with global majors including BP and Eni. While maintaining a superior health, safety and environmental record, the Group currently has a fleet of thirteen jack-up offshore drilling rigs, fifteen onshore drilling rigs, a jack-up barge, and a mobile offshore production.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements as defined under federal law, including, but not limited to, those related to the sale transactions described in this press release and the use of proceeds therefrom. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "may," "should," "could," "will," "would," and "will be," and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties. Known material factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by such forward-looking statements are described in the forward looking statements and risk factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and those risk factors set forth from time-to-time in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Weatherford undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except to the extent required under federal securities laws.

Contacts:





Christoph Bausch +1.713.836.4615 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Weatherford





Karen David-Green +1.713.836.7430 Senior Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement and Chief Marketing Officer, Weatherford



SOURCE Weatherford International plc

Related Links

http://www.weatherford.com


REYKJAVIK, Iceland, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- There will be no tricks from WOW air this Halloween. Today Iceland's ultra-low cost transatlantic airline, announced it will offer a special treat to those booking flights during the Halloween season. When booking airfare scheduled November 2018 through March 2019, customers can take advantage of 30% off flights from eight airports across the United States to Iceland (KEF) and all of WOW air's European destinations.

The discounted fares go on sale today and can be purchased using the special promo code WOWTREAT at www.wowair.us until November 2, 2018. Treat yourself to a Spooktacular vacation in Iceland, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Frankfurt, Gran Canaria, London, Milan, New Delhi, Paris or Tenerife.

Even though the Halloween season will be over during your trip to Europe, you can still make some spooky plans!

Visit the black sand of Djupalon Beach, known for its legends and folklore myths. Search for evidence of an old shipwreck and take in the striking rock formations. Legend says trolls were once turned into stone when they saw daylight ironically, many of the rock formations resemble trolls... you decide!

Visit the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft to learn about Icelandic folklore, witch-hunts, Viking traditions, superstitions and more!

Stop by the Ghost Centre to attempt a ghost maze while listening to over 20 ghost tales

Tour the Berlin Dungeon where visitors are taken through 700 years of Berlin's dark past

dark past Experience the Catacombs of Paris where six million people are laid to rest

where six million people are laid to rest In London , visit the city of London Cemetery and Crematorium

The discounted fares will be available for select flights departing November 1, 2018  March 31, 2019 (excluding Christmas) from Boston (BOS), Washington, D.C. (BWI), Los Angeles (LAX), Pittsburgh (PIT), Chicago (ORD), Newark (EWR), Detroit (DTW), and Orlando (MCO) to Europe.

*The WOWTREAT promo code is valid for new online bookings on selected dates, when booking return flights within the travel dates listed in the offer. When the promo code WOWTREAT (no spaces) is used a 30% discount off airfare (not taxes, charges and service fees) will be automatically calculated for all passengers on selected flights. To redeem the code you need to book a round-trip flight before 23:59 (GMT) November 2, 2018, or until withdrawal. Travel period is November  March, 2019. Promo codes are not valid when booking a WOW Stopover. Lowest advertised fare is exclusive to MyWOW members.

About WOW air

WOW air offers the lowest fares, a modern fleet with the lowest emissions and the biggest smile; this is the WOW air promise to its valuable customers. As of spring 2018, the airline services 39 destinations across Europe and North America including Dublin, London, Paris, Berlin, and Copenhagen.

Established in November 2011 by Icelandic entrepreneur Skuli Mogensen, the purple airline flies with Airbus A320, Airbus A321 and Airbus A330 models. WOW air boasts one of the world's youngest fleet, with an average aircraft age of just 2 years.

WOW air was ranked as the 7th best low-cost airline in Europe at the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Skytrax World Airline Awards and was the youngest airline in the top ten.

For additional information and bookings please visit https://wowair.us/.

SOURCE WOW air
SUZHOU, China, Oct. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Adagene, Inc., an innovative antibody engineering and discovery company, today announced the dosing of its first patient in its Phase I trial in American for its lead product ADG-106, a fully human agonistic monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting a novel epitope of CD137. Adagene is also announcing a record speed of review and acceptance of their IND in China for ADG-106. Adagene will investigate the safety and efficacy of ADG-106 therapy as a single agent across a range of solid tumor and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients in the Phase I clinical study.

"I have worked on this target previously and believe 4-1BB agonists have tremendous therapeutic potential in immunotherapy by targeting the costimulatory pathway," said Anthony W. Tolcher, M.D., FRCPC, Founder, CEO and Director of Clinical Research at NEXT Oncology (San Antonio, Texas) and an investigator on the trial. "Our team is eager to evaluate ADG-106 because it has shown both excellent safety and efficacy in numerous native preclinical models, and we look forward to assessing the clinical benefit of ADG-106 via its novel mechanism of action that would potentially expand the opportunity for patients to benefit from a novel IO target in both single and combinational therapy."

"The initiation of a Phase I clinical study of ADG-106 is a pivotal milestone for Adagene and our novel approach to improving cancer care," said Peter Luo, CEO of Adagene. "Also, we are honored to receive the IND approval from the NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) in an expedited time. We believe it shows their commitment to support drugs with novel biology and mechanism of action. The preclinical evidence shows we are targeting a novel epitope and the antibody behaves very differently compared with the other two monoclonal antibodies previously in the clinic."

Additional information will be available shortly on the clinical trial at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About CD-137 (4-1BB)

CD137 or 4-1BB, a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily is a promising immune-oncology target. Ligation of CD137 induces a co-stimulatory signal on activated CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, resulting in proliferation, increased pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and cytolytic function. 41BB co-stimulation is the clinically validated pathway for the optimal T cell activation and its anti-tumor response as highlighted by the successful approval of the 41BB-containing CART therapy by the US FDA.

About Adagene

Adagene (Suzhou, China and San Francisco, California) is an innovative antibody engineering and discovery company, by utilizing its proprietary Dynamic Precision Library Platform (DPL), Adagene is showcasing its exceptional antibody engineering capabilities by building franchises of products that are second and third-generation antibodies.

The company's management team is composed of industry veterans with a proven track record in therapeutic antibody R&D. Adagene is backed by top notch global venture funds such as F-Prime Capital Partners, Eight Roads Ventures, Wuxi Pharmatech Healthcare Fund I L.P., GP Healthcare Capital, New World TMT Ltd and Sequoia China. The company has raised over $85 million through its series A to C financing.

SOURCE Adagene
Hails brings more than 25 years of experience in addiction services and behavioral healthcare to his new role as the chief executive officer of the California facilities. Hails will oversee treatment operations and will focus on standardizing treatment services across the California market to ensure patients receive the utmost quality of care.

"I am thrilled to join the AAC family at a time when the disease of addiction is devastating our country more than ever before," said Hails. "Helping people find long-term recovery is a personal calling of mine. I am excited to help grow and expand our facilities so that we can help more people in need of our services."

Before joining AAC, Hails served as the regional vice president of Signature Health, one of the largest privately held psychiatric hospital companies in the country. Prior to that experience, he held a regional vice president role for Hospital Corporation of America's East Florida Division for nearly a decade. Hails has been instrumental in the expansion of numerous addiction and psychiatric organizations in the nation and brings to AAC a breadth of knowledge in streamlining treatment services and transformational growth.

"More than 2,000 people died from an overdose in California last year," said Hails. "It's evident addiction treatment is needed within our communities. With Laguna Treatment Hospital's continuum of care, which includes our satellite campus, San Diego Addiction Treatment Center, we will continue to stem the epidemic in California and beyond. "

Hails is also an active member of the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals.

About American Addiction Centers.

American Addiction Centers (NYSE: AAC) is a leading provider of inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment services. We treat clients who are struggling with drug addiction, alcohol addiction, and co-occurring mental/behavioral health issues. We currently operate substance abuse treatment facilities located throughout the United States. These facilities are focused on delivering effective clinical care and treatment solutions. For more information, follow us on Twitter @AAC_Tweet.

Media Contact:

Joy Sutton, PR Manager

American Addiction Centers

[email protected]

615-727-8407

Yasmeen Garcia, PR Assistant

American Addiction Centers

[email protected]

SOURCE American Addiction Centers
BERWYN, Pa., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE: AME) today announced that it has completed two acquisitions: Telular Corporation, a leading provider of communication solutions for logistics management, tank monitoring and security applications, and Forza Silicon Corporation, a leader in the design and production of high-performance imaging sensors used in medical, defense, commercial and industrial applications. Combined, AMETEK deployed approximately $565 million on these acquisitions.

"We are very excited to welcome Telular and Forza to AMETEK, as they are both excellent companies with differentiated technology solutions serving attractive market segments," comments David A. Zapico, AMETEK Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "2018 has proven to be a record year on the acquisition front and we remain pleased with our efforts in this area as our teams continue to manage a robust pipeline of additional opportunities."

Both companies join AMETEK as part of its Electronic Instruments Group (EIG) - a leader in advanced analytical, monitoring, testing, calibrating and display instruments with annualized sales of $3.0 billion.

Telular

Telular is a leading provider of communication solutions for logistics management, tank monitoring and security applications. Telular's end-to-end solutions include purpose-built hardware, proprietary software and wireless connectivity services to enhance the efficiency and safety of critical assets.

"We are very excited about the acquisition of Telular. Their software-enabled IoT solutions drive attractive, recurring revenue along with long-term customer relationships," noted Mr. Zapico. "The combination of Telular's IoT capabilities and AMETEK's highly differentiated measurement technology provides additional growth opportunities for our businesses."

Telular was acquired for approximately $525 million and has annual sales of approximately $165 million. They are headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Forza Silicon

Forza Silicon is a leader in the design and production of high-performance imaging sensors used in medical, defense, commercial and industrial applications.

"Forza is a highly strategic technology acquisition for AMETEK," added Mr. Zapico. "Customers rely on Forza's leading-edge design capability to support their advanced sensor development projects. Forza also provides our Vision Research business with custom sensor design and production capability, allowing for accelerated development of next generation sensor technology for use across our market leading, high-speed cameras."

Forza has annual sales of approximately $20 million and was acquired for approximately $40 million. They are headquartered in Pasadena, California.

Corporate Profile

AMETEK is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annualized sales of approximately $4.8 billion. AMETEK's growth model is based on Four Key Strategies: Operational Excellence, Strategic Acquisitions, Global & Market Expansion and New Products. AMETEK's objective is double-digit percentage growth in earnings per share over the business cycle and a superior return on total capital. The common stock of AMETEK is a component of the S&P 500 Index.

Contact:

AMETEK, Inc.

Kevin Coleman

Vice President, Investor Relations

1100 Cassatt Road

Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312

[email protected]

Phone: 610.889.5247

SOURCE AMETEK, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.ametek.com


"Pseudonymisation is an effective safeguard for protecting privacy rights of individuals in connection with data processing activities like Big Data analytics & AI initiatives," said Gary LaFever, co-founder & CEO of Anonos . "The GDPR recognizes pseudonymisation as a means to reduce privacy risks to individuals while helping data controllers and processors to meet their data-protection obligations. This is why Anonos spent more than six years researching and developing the state-of-the-art SaveYourData software to enable companies to benefit from properly 'Pseudonymised' data under the GDPR."

"In evaluating Anonos SaveYourData software, Archimede Solutions applied the 'EuroPrivacy' certification scheme, an innovative certification process developed through a H2020 European research project co-funded by the European Commission and Switzerland. EuroPrivacy (europrivacy.org) is managed by the European Center for Certification and Privacy in Luxembourg, and maintained by an international board of experts in data protection," said Dr Sebastien Ziegler, Chairman of the EuroPrivacy Board of Experts. "The EuroPrivacy certification scheme has been designed to enable a systematic and comprehensive analysis of compliance with the GDPR, applicable to products, services and data protection management systems, and encompassing emerging technologies such as data analytics and Internet of Things. The essence of EuroPrivacy is to build trust and confidence in privacy compliance. The evaluation gave us the opportunity to discover an innovative pseudonymisation software for improving the protection of personal data as requested by the GDPR."



"The Luxembourg National Commission for Data Protection (Commission Nationale pour la Protection des Donnees  CNPD) is pleased to see the European Centre for Certification and Privacy in Luxembourg contributing to bring new solutions for the certification in line with the objectives of the GDPR," said Christophe Buschmann, Commissioner at CNDP. "The CNPD welcomes EuroPrivacy's initiative to provide organizations a tool that supports their efforts in regards to compliance with the GDPR. We appreciate the fact that EuroPrivacy has engaged with us to submit the certification scheme for obtaining the European seal under GDPR."

"This certification is a major milestone and highlights the benefits of state-of-the art GDPR encouraged pseudonymisation over traditional privacy enhancing techniques like encryption, static tokenisation and anonymisation," said Francois Zimmermann, Global CTO of Financial Services Vertical at Hitachi Vantara. "SaveYourData provides a technical and legal framework that enables our customers to attain compliance without destroying business value by deleting data. Hitachi is excited to partner with Anonos to help organisations to maximise their use of analytics to support their data driven journey."

"Successfully implementing big data analytics, machine learning and AI inevitably bring significant business, technical and ethical challenges. Not least among these are the absolute requirements that personal data are always appropriately protected," said Martin Whitworth, Research Director, IDC European Data Security and Privacy. "Pseudonymisation, in particular, is a much-misunderstood technique that can be successfully employed to help to manage data subjects' risk while furthering an organization's mission, enabling data utility, and providing support for legitimate interest processing. However, choosing the appropriate protection methods for individual use cases is a non-trivial exercise and requires that we also have a means of safeguarding our current accumulated data stores, in a privacy compliant manner. This is why we are highlighting Anonos SaveYourData in our upcoming report dealing with creating a foundation for accelerating data-driven initiatives."

This IDC report on the GDPR Certified Anonos SaveYourData Solution is available at anonos.com/DoNotDeleteYourData.

About Anonos



Anonos technology reconciles conflicts between protecting the rights of individuals and achieving business objectives to use, share, combine and relink data in a compliant manner. Anonos' patented dynamic pseudonymisation, de-identification and anonymisation technology enables sharing, collaboration, and analytics of personal data by technologically enforcing dynamic, fine-grained privacy, security and data protection policies in compliance with the GDPR and other evolving regulations. BigPrivacy overcomes the shortcoming of other solutions that were "good enough" before the GDPR but fail to support new requirements for compliant Big Data analytics & AI.

A Guide for Compliant Legal Analytics Under the GDPR is available at anonos.com/Legal-Analytics, and Global 500 companies can contact anonos.com/contact to receive a consultation to learn how Anonos' proprietary technology enables maximum data use, value and sharing by leveraging new global data protection laws.

Media Contact: [email protected] +44 203 5144760

Anonos Website: www.anonos.com

EuroPrivacy Website: www.europrivacy.org

SOURCE Anonos

Related Links

https://www.anonos.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading telecom and fiber consulting company APTelecom, today announced several milestones and recognitions the company achieved in 2018.

2018 marked the successful completion of APTelecom's 9th year in business. The company, which was founded in 2010, heads into its 10th year with a strong leadership presence, global footprint, and track record of sales and service success for its customers.

Among the most notable milestones the company achieved over the past year include:

Customer Growth and Expansion : APTelecom has supported over 30 customers to date globally, assisting in the commercialization of well in excess of $2.2bn in systems constructed since its inception in 2009.

: APTelecom has supported over 30 customers to date globally, assisting in the commercialization of well in excess of in systems constructed since its inception in 2009. Global Presence and Client Reach : APTelecom has built its brand into a well-known global leader in telecom and fiber consulting services. The company has serviced clients across 22 countries, including emerging markets such as Africa , Cambodia , Guam , Indonesia , Singapore , the Caribbean and South America .

: APTelecom has built its brand into a well-known global leader in telecom and fiber consulting services. The company has serviced clients across 22 countries, including emerging markets such as , , , , , the and . Growth : In addition to its track record of being behind new systems that reach Ready for Service status (RFS), APTelecom has also developed a reputation for the quality of its general consulting practice, supporting not only new system builds, but also established operators seeking to monetize existing legacy assets.

: In addition to its track record of being behind new systems that reach Ready for Service status (RFS), APTelecom has also developed a reputation for the quality of its general consulting practice, supporting not only new system builds, but also established operators seeking to monetize existing legacy assets. Awards and Recognitions : APTelecom has established itself as the leading provider of telecom and fiber consulting services specializing in emerging markets. The company has been honored with several prestigious global awards and recognitions, including being named the Sales Team of the Year by the Customer Sales and Service Awards, the Golden Bridge Business and Innovation Award for the Telecom, Cable, Broadband, and Voice category, the Silver Award in Network Products Guide's 10th Annual Hot Companies and Best Products Awards for its New System Pre-Sales in the 'IT Products and Services for Telecommunications' category and becoming the Bronze Winner for the 'Most Socially or Environmentally Responsible Company of the Year' category in the Best in Biz Awards International.

: APTelecom has established itself as the leading provider of telecom and fiber consulting services specializing in emerging markets. The company has been honored with several prestigious global awards and recognitions, including being named the Sales Team of the Year by the Customer Sales and Service Awards, the Golden Bridge Business and Innovation Award for the Telecom, Cable, Broadband, and Voice category, the Silver Award in Network Products Guide's 10th Annual Hot Companies and Best Products Awards for its New System Pre-Sales in the 'IT Products and Services for Telecommunications' category and becoming the Bronze Winner for the 'Most Socially or Environmentally Responsible Company of the Year' category in the Best in Biz Awards International. State of Subsea: APTelecom signature corporate social responsibility (CSR) platform has donated more than US$200,000 to support Bloom Again Foundation, Friends International and other charities around the USA and globe.

APTelecom signature corporate social responsibility (CSR) platform has donated more than to support Bloom Again Foundation, Friends International and other charities around the and globe. Media Accolades : APTelecom continues to be sought after by leading global media outlets across the world for its subsea, telecom and fiber industry expertise. APTelecom's management team has been featured in TechCrunch, IDG Connect, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Wired, as well as within recognized industry trade publications such as Telecom Review North America, Telegeography, CommsDay, and Fierce Telecom.

"We're very proud to have surrounded ourselves with great customers, associates and peers over the past nine years," said APTelecom Co-Founder and CEO Eric Handa. "We're excited about what lies ahead for APTelecom, and look forward to continuing to support clients with a first-class level of service, strategy and results in the subsea cable, telecom and fiber community as we head into 2019 and beyond."

For more information on APTelecom please visit their official website at www.APTelecom.com, and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

ABOUT APTELECOM:

APTelecom is a leading telecom and fiber consulting company specializing in emerging markets. APTelecom combines superior customer service, cost-competitive telecom products, and deep experience across a wide range of sectors in the submarine cable and fiber industry to help clients achieve intelligent, sustainable growth. Among the company's core offerings are submarine cable pre-sales, established system sales, due diligence telecom consulting, cloud-based solutions and security, and strategic fiber consulting services.

APTelecom has been named the "Sales Team of the Year" by the Customer Sales and Service Awards, and also captured the "Fastest Growing Companies" Best in Biz EMEA Silver Award. The company has been sought after for commentary on emerging market trends and been featured in dozens of media outlets, including TechTalk, Wall Street Journal, Fox Business Network, Reuters, Yahoo News, Fierce Telecom, SubTel Forum, and Commsday International, among others.

APTelecom is a member of TRACE International, and is FCPA compliant and certified.

Media Contact: North 6th Agency, Inc. (For APTelecom) [email protected] 212.335.9753

SOURCE APTelecom

Related Links

http://www.APTelecom.com


ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced the acquisition of Hatboro, Pennsylvania-based The Walsh Agency, Inc., dba BEAM Insurance, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1996, BEAM Insurance provides property/casualty insurance and risk management services to solid waste haulers and other commercial clients, primarily in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Leo Robert (Bob) Begley and his associates will continue to operate from their current location under the direction of Dan Tropp, head of Gallagher's Mid-Atlantic region retail property/casualty brokerage operations.

"BEAM further expands Gallagher's capabilities in serving solid waste haulers and adds a well-known team of professionals to our Philadelphia-area operations," said Dan Tropp. "I am pleased to welcome Bob and his associates to Gallagher."

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The company has operations in 34 countries and offers client service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Investors: Ray Iardella Media: Linda J. Collins VP  Investor Relations VP  Corporate Communications 630-285-3661/ [email protected] 630-285-4009/ [email protected]

SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Related Links

http://www.ajg.com


SANTA ANA, Calif., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Banc of California, Inc. (NYSE: BANC) today announced that Doug Bowers, President and Chief Executive Officer and John Bogler, Chief Financial Officer, will be participating at upcoming November investor conferences as follows:

On November 6, Banc of California will be meeting with investors at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch's Future of Financials 2018 Conference to be held at the St. Regis Hotel in New York, NY.

On November 8, Banc of California will be meeting with investors at the Piper Jaffray Western Bank Symposium to be held at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, CA.

On November 14, Banc of California will be meeting with investors at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods's West Coast Field Trip to be held at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena, CA.

Conference participation is by invitation only and registration is mandatory. For more information on the conference or to schedule a one-on-one meeting, please contact a Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Piper Jaffray or Keefe, Bruyette & Woods representative.

About Banc of California, Inc.

Banc of California, Inc. (NYSE: BANC) provides comprehensive banking services to California's diverse businesses, entrepreneurs and communities. Banc of California operates 34 offices in California.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "Safe-Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to various factors, including those set forth from time to time in the documents filed or furnished by Banc of California, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and Banc of California, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any such statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date on which the forward-looking statement is made.

INVESTOR RELATIONS INQUIRIES: MEDIA INQUIRIES: Banc of California, Inc. Abernathy MacGregor John A. Bogler, (949) 236-5400 Ian Campbell / James Bourne / Sarah Dhanaphatana, (213) 630-6550

[email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE Banc of California, Inc.

Related Links

http://bancofcal.com


COLCHESTER, Vt., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, Bernie Sanders showed why he has consistently ducked and hid from debating Lawrence Zupan, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. Sanders also refused Zupan's request for an additional debate. Sanders was flustered and bewildered during the entire debate, unable to answer directly most of the questions asked, according to sources. The contrasts between the two Senate candidates were on full display. Lawrence Zupan talked about how America and Vermont have achieved renowned success, how "the United States of America has fed, housed, clothed, in freedom, more people than any other country in the history of the world," while Sanders continued his Presidential campaign by talking about bringing socialism to Americaa system he could not differentiate from the failure on display in Venezuela.

WATCH: Sanders defeated by Lawrence Zupan in Debate: youtu.be/xiqQkxMQ8R0

Sanders also failed to explain why he has failed the people of Vermont as their Senator, missing 37 out of 38 Senate votes while he ran unsuccessfully for President in 2016. He continues to run for President while ignoring the people of Vermont who expect him to do the job he was elected to do.

Lawrence Zupan is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate from Vermont. He will be a unifier, listening to all sides and advocating for the best ideas no matter what party they come from. He has a plan to foster competition in the health insurance industry which will deliver better healthcare than even the billionaires have now. Zupan's plan will invigorate our energy sector by getting government out of the way of innovation, and free Americans from the regressive burden of over-taxation so that they can realize their full potential. He will be a full-time Senator for the people of Vermont. The right path forward for Vermont and America is to send Lawrence Zupan to the U.S. Senate.

Media Department: Hannah Mathems

[email protected]

(802) 430-9929

SOURCE Zupan For U.S. Senate
Ongoing FEMA has closed some of its Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC), established last month to assist residents and businesses whose property was damaged by Tropical Storm Ida. However, face-to-face assistance is still available. Residents can find their nearest DRC online at fema.gov/drc,...
DALLAS, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL) LLP, one of the world's largest immigration law firms, has been named "Immigration Law Firm of the Year" by US News - Best Lawyers. Only one law firm per legal practice area receives this recognition, making the award a significant achievement. BAL has also received a First Tier ranking in Houston, San Francisco and Washington D.C. by Best Lawyers.

The award caps a tremendous milestone year for the firm:

Opening of a 60-person office in mid-town Manhattan .

. Establishing an unprecedented strategic alliance with Deloitte UK that combines the best of Deloitte's scale, expertise and breadth outside of the US with BAL's unparalleled legal expertise and high quality immigration services in the US.

Launching a large-scale Center of Excellence in Richardson, Texas to support over 600 cross-functional professionals including attorneys, legal and operational staff, as well as expansions of offices in Boston , Houston , McLean, Va. and Walnut Creek, Ca.

of Excellence in to support over 600 cross-functional professionals including attorneys, legal and operational staff, as well as expansions of offices in , , and Unveiling of the industry's first mobile immigration app, enabling anytime, anywhere case management across Android and iOS devices. The app is a component of Cobalt the firm's innovative digital immigration platform.

Commenting on the award, Managing Partner Jeremy Fudge stated, "This has been another extraordinary year for BAL. We have been quietly leading the industry for several years now and are honored to receive the US News - Best Lawyers ''Law Firm of the Year' in immigration."

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers "Law Firm of the Year" awards are country and practice area specific. They are determined based on a handful of factors, including: feedback from lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers on individual lawyer and firm-wide work, the size and coverage of the firm in a specific practice area, historical analysis of the firm's "Lawyer of the Year" awards in this area, and research surrounding the firm's overall scope and areas of expertise.

About BAL

BAL is singularly focused on meeting the immigration challenges of corporate clients around the world in ways that make immigration more strategic and enable clients to be more successful. Established in 1980, the firm provides immigration expertise, top-notch information security and leading technology innovation like its Cobalt digital immigration services platform. In 2018, the firm formed a strategic alliance with Deloitte UK to create the world's first global immigration service delivery model. BAL and its leaders are highly ranked in every major legal publication, including Best Lawyers, Chambers, The Legal 500, and Who's Who Legal. See website for details: www.balglobal.com.

SOURCE Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL) LLP

Related Links

http://www.balglobal.com


CAIXA processes a record-number of transactions as demand soars for payments and new digital services

SAO PAULO, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, CAIXA, one of Brazil and Latin America's major public banks, announced their commitment to IBM Z (NYSE: IBM) as the foundation to reshape the bank's technology infrastructure, meet new data compliance regulations such as GDPR, and enable the bank's future expansions and projects.

Following growing demand to meet the public's intensifying expectations for digital services such as self-service balance transactions and the online purchase of Lottery tickets, CAIXA has invested in six IBM Z14 machines for its Brasilia datacenter, supporting Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia hubs to address the growing volume of transactions being processed daily  which represents about 80 percent of all payments processed in Brazil. Just last month, CAIXA hit a record, 2.8 billion encrypted transaction processed in one day. Another record was the almost 23 million transactions registered in CAIXA Internet Banking alone  when considering both mobile and desktop access.

"In the beginning banks were only in the branches, then in alternative channels, such as ATMs and lottery retailers, and now they have gained more speed and practicality within the mobile environment, generating ever greater numbers of access demands to CAIXA's servers," said Sergio Martins, IT Services National Manager at CAIXA. "With a strong social mission, CAIXA works continuously to provide a series of essential services to the population, growing together with digital access and the economy of the country, and offering a better experience for citizens. IBM is very pleased to offer CAIXA the IT environment they need to keep its consistent growth while focusing on social responsibility," said Joaquim Campos, Systems VP, IBM Brazil.

IBM Z is capable of running more than 12 billion encrypted transactions per day. The security, high-performance and massive scale make it the ideal platform for financial institutions around the world. IBM Z is used by 93 of the world's top 100 banks and supports 87 percent of all credit card transactions and 29 billion ATM transactions each year. Its security features Pervasive Encryption, where 100 percent of data associated with any application, cloud service or database can be encrypted with no impact to system performance.

Of the more than thirteen billion data records lost or stolen since 2013 around the world, only four percent have been encrypted1, making the vast majority of this information vulnerable to a breach. For CAIXA, the ability to encrypt all of their transactions was a key differentiator while selecting the IBM Z platform.

By using a platform capable of encrypting 100 percent of the data, CAIXA will be able to offer an unprecedented level of data security and compliance to its more than 80 million customers - inside and outside of Brazil. In addition, IBM Z is an essential component to ensure CAIXA is compliant with the rules of the European Data Protection Act, known as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

"IBM gave our team all the support it needed to be able to do all the planning of the transition to IBM Z for our highly-demanding, mission critical environment. Fortunately, everything was done on schedule and with zero impact to the business or CAIXA customers," explains Martins, reinforcing the alignment between the teams of both companies.

1Source: Gemalto's Breach Level Index, http://breachlevelindex.com/

IBM PR Contact:

Juliana Cayres Setembro

Telefone: +55 11 2132-4522

E-mail: [email protected]

Related resources

Images

IBM Mainframe Ushers in New Era of Data Protection

July 17, 2017: The IBM Z mainframe is a breakthrough in data protection technology designed to tackle the epidemic of data breaches. IBM hardware engineer Rhonda Sundlof (top) and senior engineer Karl Casserly test the IBM Z which is manufactured In Poughkeepsie, NY. (Photo Credit: Connie Zhou for IBM)

Infographic: Why the data protection paradigm is broken and how to fix it

IBM Z - pervasive encryption, all the time. (Credit: IBM)

About CAIXA

CAIXA is the third largest bank in Brazil in assets and one of the five largest in Latin America. Present for over 150 years in the lives of Brazilians, in recent years CAIXA has experienced a growth cycle that mobilized hundreds of thousands of employees and business partners in the four corners of the country. The company reached its goal seven years in advance to be "among the three largest Brazilian banks by 2022, maintaining its role as a strategic partner of the Federal Government in implementing public policy."

In addition to providing bank services to 78.3 million checking and savings account holders, the Bank has built, in 154 years of history, a partnership with Brazilian citizens and workers, by operating labor benefits and social and income transfer, and credit inclusion programs  such as Minha Casa Minha Vida, Bolsa Familia, Employee Government Severance Fund (FGTS). For more information access http://www.caixa.gov.br/site/english/About-Caixa/Paginas/default.aspx

SOURCE IBM

Related Links

http://www.ibm.com


CHOP partnered with the CEO Council for Growth of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia to host the grand opening of the hospital's new Clinical Manufacturing Facility, which will produce clinical-grade biotechnology tools, known as vectors, to deliver cell and gene therapy for difficult-to-treat diseases. Today's opening is part of a broader regional effort to showcase Philadelphia's position as a hub of scientific and medical innovation, attract world-class talent, generate jobs and drive the regional economy.

"Philadelphia is a city of breakthroughs," said Madeline Bell, President and CEO of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, during the event. She added, "In this facility, we make the toolsthe vectorsthat scientists use to deliver cell and gene therapies, bringing dramatic precision medicine treatments to patients."

An earlier version of the hospital's manufacturing facility developed vectors crucial to last year's medical milestonesthe first-ever gene therapies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Collaborating with Penn Medicine scientists, CHOP experts produced the first vectors for CAR T-cell therapy, used against leukemias, and Luxturna, used to treat a form of inherited blindness.

"The Greater Philadelphia region is already a global leader in the field of precision medicine," said Rob Wonderling, President of the CEO Council for Growth and President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. He noted, "With the opening of this facility we demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the future of this very exciting field of medicine. This investment, in particular, will enhance the capacity to bring more cell and gene therapies to patients, a goal we're extremely pleased to support."

To share a parent's perspective on what these innovations could mean for children and families, Devaki Jean spoke briefly. She is the mother of a child with sickle cell anemia, one of the diseases being targeted with new therapies under development at Children's Hospital.

Today's event also featured a panel of research leaders deeply involved in the Clinical Manufacturing Facility. Moderating the discussion was Bryan Wolf, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at CHOP. Joining him on the panel were Beverly Davidson, PhD, CHOP's Chief Scientific Strategy Officer and Director of the Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, which manages the facility, and Stefano Rivella, PhD, a CHOP hematology researcher with expertise in sickle cell disease.

Two research leaders from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania also joined the panel: Carl June, MD, Director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, who led the team that, along with CHOP and Novartis, pioneered CAR T-cell immunotherapy; and Jean Bennett, MD, PhD, F.M. Kirby Professor of Ophthalmology, an expert in retinal disorders who was one of the team leaders who pioneered Luxturna, the gene therapy for blindness now manufactured by Spark Therapeutics.

About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 546-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu

About The CEO Council for Growth: The CEO Council for Growth, a council of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, leads our region forward by envisioning a stronger, more competitive community, convening decision makers, taking action, and advocating for policies and practices that strengthen our regional economy. This team of more than 60 devoted business, higher education, and civic leaders reaches across our 11-county Greater Philadelphia community. They are engaged advocates who are committed to innovation in business, improving regional mobility, and fostering talent as key opportunities that define our competitive advantage and drive economic growth. For more information, visit http://www.ceocouncilforgrowth.com

Contact: Emily DiTomo Contact: Liz Ferry Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia 267-426-6063 215-356-8252 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Related Links

http://www.chop.edu


NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- To recognize the Latino celebration of Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), Compassion & Choices today honored the memory of deceased advocates of the state's medical aid-in-dying bill and to urge lawmakers to pass it.

The Medical Aid in Dying Act (S.3151/A.2383) would allow mentally capable, terminally ill adult New Yorkers with six months or less to live the option to request, obtain and self-ingest medication to die peacefully in their sleep if their suffering becomes unbearable. Polling shows 77% of state voters support medical aid in dying .

Dr. Jaime R. Torres, Dan Diaz, Nilsa Centeno and Guillermo Chacon

Medical aid in dying has made headlines among Latinos because of the advocacy of Dan Diaz , the husband of the late Brittany Maynard , Miguel Carrasquillo and the growing support of national Latino organizations. These organizations include the Hispanic Council on Aging, Latino Commission on AIDs, Hispanic Health Network and Latinos for Healthcare Equity.

"This year several strong advocates, gravely ill, generously devoted precious energy and time to authorization of medical aid in dying in New York," said Barbara Coombs Lee , president of Compassion & Choices. "They passed on before realizing the dream of dignity and autonomy at life's end. We are here to honor their memory, and express our hope that lawmakers in Albany will expand end-of-life healthcare options, so the efforts of these selfless and courageous individuals will not have been in vain."

Advocates from different cultures, some with faces painted as white skulls, kicked off the Day of the Dead celebration with a procession at the Clemente Soto Velez Center in New York City. Inside was a colorful and decorated altar with photos of the late Miguel Carrasquillo, Brittany Maynard and New Yorkers who died during their fight for the option of medical aid in dying.

For the last three years, Compassion & Choices has been working with Assemblymembers Amy Paulin, Senator Diane Savino and Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act. Two hearings with more than 70 testimonies were held earlier this year, in Albany and New York City.

"I am pleased to join Compassion & Choices Day of the Dead commemoration in honor of those New Yorkers who fought tirelessly until their last breath trying to pass the state's Medical Aid in Dying Act," said State Sen. Gustavo Rivera Dist. 33/Northwest Bronx to East Bronx. "I look forward to working with my fellow legislators to allow New Yorkers suffering from terminal diseases the option to make an end-of-life care decision in a dignified and compassionate manner."

The celebration occurs four years to the day of the death of Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old, California woman who moved to Oregon, so she could die peacefully when she could no longer tolerate the suffering caused by glioblastoma, the same kind of brain cancer that recently killed U.S. Senator John McCain. Her advocacy inspired California , Colorado , the District of Columbia and Hawai'i to pass laws authorizing medical aid in dying since she died on Nov. 1, 2014.

Thanks to previously passed laws in Oregon, Washington , Vermont and a Montana Supreme Court ruling in a lawsuit filed by Compassion & Choices, nearly one out of five Americans live in a jurisdiction where this end-of-life care option is available. Collectively, these 8 jurisdictions represent 19 percent of the nation's population and 30 percent of the Latino population.

"No matter how hard we try, we cannot escape the cycle of life and death," said Guillermo Chacon , cancer survivor and president of the Latino Commission on AIDS and founder of the Hispanic Health Network. "My belief is that if the time comes when we can't bear the suffering that afflicted Miguel and so many of my friends who died of cancer, or AIDS, a merciful God will understand that we all should have the option to die peacefully."

"Terminally ill adults with a medical prognosis of six months or less to live who consider using medical aid in dying are not deciding between life and death," said Dr. Jaime R. Torres, president, Latinos for Healthcare Equity . "Their outcome is determined. They will die. Their only two options are a prolonged, painful death or a peaceful death."

Dan Diaz recalled his 29-year-old late wife as he fought back tears.

"Brittany was able to focus on truly living life because she didn't have to be terrified of how her dying process might play out," he said. "She died peacefully, thanks to the option of medical aid in dying."

Miguel Carrasquillo's mom, Nilsa Centeno spoke about her son, a 35-year-old, former New York chef who advocated for medical aid-in-dying laws as he was dying in agony from terminal brain cancer in 2016.

"Miguelito was not a sinner for wanting to die peacefully, as some religious opponents of medical aid in dying would dare to suggest," she said. "He simply wanted to peacefully end to his suffering, not out of despair or depression, but to maintain some comfort in his final days so that he could pass gently."

Compassion & Choices is the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit organization working to improve care and expand choice for the end of life. More information is available at: www.compassionandchoices.org.

National Media Contact :

Steven Greenberg, (518) 469-9858, [email protected]

Latino Media Contact :

Patricia A. Gonzalez-Portillo-c, (323) 819-0310, [email protected]

SOURCE Compassion & Choices

Related Links

https://www.compassionandchoices.org


ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Extempore announces that year over year usage of its Speaking Practice platform has surged nearly 400 percent.

In addition to this growth, teachers are seeing valuable time savings while conducting oral language assessments. The average Extempore teacher has an average of 37 questions in their account and an average of 24 students. Conducting each of these assessments face to face instead of through the app would have taken these teachers nearly 15 hours.

With Extempore, teachers can easily launch oral exams and assessments to get students talking

With Extempore, they are able to quickly create assessment prompts with images, audio and video, and distribute to dozens of students virtually anywhere, on any device.

The tool simplifies language education for academic institutions across the US and globally, and is being used by more than 10,000 foreign language teachers and their students.

"Language teachers are reaping real time savings with the Extempore platform," says Carlos Seoane, co-founder and CEO. "We see them set up oral assignments in minutes with audio and video prompts either for formative or summative assessments or for practice, all over the globe."

"Extempore allows us to increase the amount of speaking practice in our Spanish classes without the limitations like timing and scheduling with our students. Having this kind of flexibility has been transformational for our program, since it gives students more practice speaking and lets faculty provide really detailed feedback from anywhere," says Joshua Pongan, Coordinator of Spanish at Temple University.

Earlier this year, Extempore announced funding as it continues to develop its ed-tech solution and prepares to ramp up its product roadmap into 2019. The next major release will include AP practice features and a collaborative learning component, where students will be able to interact with each other, promoting speaking practice with less instructor intervention.

About Extempore

Extempore makes teaching a language more efficient by simplifying the process of speaking practice. Today's instructor-led focuses on listening and written communication places impractical demands on students and teachers alike when it comes to speaking practice. Unlike consumer applications such as Duolingo and Rosetta Stone, Extempore is a tool that builds on the instructor's experience and knowledge of his or her students to improve language acquisition.

About Temple University

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, a top-tier public research university, is experiencing incredible momentum that is powered by academic excellence and innovation in college access and affordability. Founded by Russell H. Conwell in 1884, Temple's official mottoPerseverantia Vincit, or Perseverance Conquersreflects its community's drive to make a difference and turn opportunities into accomplishments. Temple is a vital institution in the Philadelphia region and across Pennsylvania, contributing billions toward the commonwealth's economy each year. Temple's influence also extends around the globe, with longstanding campuses in Tokyo and Rome; programs in London, Beijing and many other locations; nearly 160 academic cooperations in 48 countries; and more than 317,000 alumni worldwide.

Media Contact:

Carlos Seoane

651-492-7299

[email protected]

Related Images

speaking-practice-anywhere-any-time.jpg

Speaking Practice, anywhere, any time

With Extempore, teachers can easily launch oral exams and assessments to get students talking

the-speaking-practice-app.png

The Speaking Practice App

Create speaking assignments in minutes.

audio-prompts-attempts.png

Audio prompts & attempts

Provide audio instructions and record verbal attempts

oral-exam-questions.png

Oral exam questions

Students can answer questions on the phone or on the web

Related Links

The Speaking Practice App

Sample speaking activities

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JS-NJiptG0

SOURCE Extempore
CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood hosts its Annual Symposium on Saturday, November 3, 2018 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Oak Park Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL.

This free Symposium will focus on critical obstacles facing unwed and divorced fathers. The Council's mission is to increase the number of children in Illinois growing up with a responsible father in their lives.

Governor-appointed Chairman attorney Jeffery M. Leving will host the Symposium, which will include presentations by professionals covering a wide range of fatherhood-related topics. There will be ample time for questions. Featured speakers include:

State Representative La Shawn K. Ford will address a bill that he introduced to the Illinois legislature, H.B. 4113, which creates a presumption in family law cases that equal parenting time for both parents is in the best interests of the child. Chairman Leving, who testified before the Illinois legislature in support of H.B. 4113 said, "This landmark legislation would improve the lives of children throughout Illinois; by giving each parent equal parenting time, this legislation empowers dads to be actively involved in all areas of their children's lives."

Robert Messemer, former FBI Special Agent, will lecture on "Protecting Children from Cyber Threats." Council Member Lois Rakov will present on "Enhancing Fatherhood Involvement: Healthy Start, Watch D.O.G.S., and Other Promising Programs." Wayne Halick, a licensed private investigator, will address "What Parents Should Know About Social Media."

The goals of the Symposiumopen to everyoneare to empower fathers and provide survival strategies for participants.

The Council's members are dedicated experts, each immensely committed to supporting single and divorced dads.

Chairman Leving, author of the acclaimed book, How to Be a Good Divorced Dad, has spent his life making significant strides supporting paternal involvement. Leving is a pioneer in fathers' rights and social change, a renowned divorce attorney, and co-author of the Illinois Joint Custody Law.

"The Council provides solutions to father absence by promoting positive paternal involvement and contributing resources to support all fathers," Leving said. "Present and involved fathers improve academic test scores, reduce teenage pregnancy, and encourage children's self-confidence."

Space is limited, so please RSVP to [email protected].

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

CONTACT: Jennifer Whiteside

312.296.8656

SOURCE The Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood

Related Links

http://www.responsiblefatherhood.com


DENVER, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Third-Quarter 2018 Highlights

Net sales up 8.9% year-over-year to third-quarter record of $828.4 million .

. Net income attributable to shareholders of $59.9 million , or $0.20 per diluted share, compared to prior-year quarter net income attributable to shareholders of $13.2 million , or $0.05 per diluted share.

, or per diluted share, compared to prior-year quarter net income attributable to shareholders of , or per diluted share. Adjusted Net Income of $90.6 million , or $0.30 per diluted share.

, or per diluted share. Record third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $181.2 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin of 21.9%.

and Adjusted EBITDA margin of 21.9%. Maintaining full-year 2018 guidance.

Gates Industrial Corporation plc (NYSE:GTES), a leading global provider of application-specific fluid power and power transmission solutions, today reported results for the third quarter ended September 29, 2018.

Ivo Jurek, Gates Industrial's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our focus on execution delivered another quarter of strong results, with top line growth driven by solid industrial end market and replacement channel demand. Both the Power Transmission and Fluid Power segments posted strong core growth, with accelerating momentum in replacement channels. In September, the second of three planned increments of manufacturing capacity came online, which will allow us to better serve our customer base in the Fluid Power segment, where we experienced growth in nearly all end markets and regions in the quarter. Additionally, our key growth initiatives and new product launches are performing well and remain on track."

Jurek added, "We are encouraged by our progress heading into 2019. We have robust growth opportunities in our core markets and remain focused on executing our key growth initiatives, new product innovation, value analysis - value engineering projects and footprint optimization to deliver long-term value to our shareholders."

Third-Quarter Financial Results

Third-quarter net sales of $828.4 million increased 8.9% over the prior-year quarter net sales of $760.6 million, including 7.2% core revenue growth, which includes increased volumes across both segments as the Company continued to experience particularly strong demand in industrial end markets. Regionally, North America contributed strong double-digit core growth, while emerging markets continued to perform well. Recent acquisitions added 3.9% to net sales during the period, partially offset by a 2.2% negative impact from foreign currency.

Net income attributable to shareholders in the third quarter was $59.9 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, compared to $13.2 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. Adjusted Net Income, which primarily excludes amortization of certain intangibles, transaction-related expenses and foreign currency financing gains and losses, was $90.6 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, compared to $57.9 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. The diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding in the third quarter of 2018 was 298,453,946 compared to 255,130,625 in the third quarter of 2017.

Third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $181.2 million, or 21.9% of net sales, compared to $164.1 million, or 21.6% of net sales in the prior-year quarter. Excluding acquisitions which were not included in the prior-year period, Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by approximately 50 basis points to 22.1% in the third quarter.

Power Transmission Segment Results



Three months ended







(USD in millions) September 29, 2018

September 30, 2017

% Change

% Core Change Net sales $512.5

$499.9

+2.5%

+4.7% Adjusted EBITDA $119.0

$114.5

+3.9%



Adjusted EBITDA margin 23.2%

22.9%

+30 bps



Depreciation & amortization (1) $14.7

$14.4

+2.1%



Amort. of intangibles from acq. of Gates $18.5

$20.2

(8.4)%







Nine months ended







(USD in millions) September 29, 2018

September 30, 2017

% Change

% Core Change Net sales $1,608.1

$1,496.3

+7.5%

+5.1% Adjusted EBITDA $377.6

$342.4

+10.3%



Adjusted EBITDA margin 23.5%

22.9%

+60 bps



Depreciation & amortization (1) $45.4

$42.8

+6.1%



Amort. of intangibles from acq. of Gates $57.1

$62.2

(8.2)%









(1) Excludes the amortization of intangible assets arising from the 2014 acquisition of Gates.

Power Transmission net sales increased 2.5% to $512.5 million in the third quarter, reflecting strong core revenue growth of 4.7%, offset partially by 2.2% of unfavorable foreign currency effects. The Company continued to observe strong replacement channel sales growth, with the highest global growth rates in North America, China and Europe.

Adjusted EBITDA grew 3.9% over the prior-year quarter, while Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 30 basis points, attributable to benefits from higher net sales and procurement initiatives.

Fluid Power Segment Results



Three months ended







(USD in millions) September 29, 2018

September 30, 2017

% Change

% Core Change Net sales $315.9

$260.7

+21.2%

+12.1% Adjusted EBITDA $62.2

$49.6

+25.4%



Adjusted EBITDA margin 19.7%

19.0%

70 bps



Adjusted EBITDA margin, excluding acquisitions 20.0%

19.0%

+100 bps



Depreciation & amortization (1) $9.1

$7.4

+23.0%



Amort. of intangibles from acq. of Gates $11.4

$10.0

+14.0%



















Nine months ended







(USD in millions) September 29, 2018

September 30, 2017

% Change

% Core Change Net sales $947.4

$763.6

+24.1%

+9.8% Adjusted EBITDA $192.4

$153.7

+25.2%



Adjusted EBITDA margin 20.3%

20.1%

20 bps



Adjusted EBITDA margin, excluding acquisitions 21.2%

20.1%

+110 bps



Depreciation & amortization (1) $27.1

$22.0

+23.2%



Amort. of intangibles from acq. of Gates $33.7

$31.2

+8.0%









(1) Excludes the amortization of intangible assets arising from the 2014 acquisition of Gates.

Fluid Power net sales increased 21.2% to $315.9 million in the third quarter, reflecting accelerating core revenue growth of 12.1%, incremental net sales from recent acquisitions of 11.3% and a partial offset from unfavorable foreign currency effects of 2.2%. Core revenue growth continued to be driven by strong demand in industrial end markets, particularly in mobile hydraulic applications and other general industrial applications. The Company also saw double-digit core revenue growth in both developed and emerging markets during the quarter.

Excluding acquisitions, Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 100 basis points over the prior-year quarter, driven largely by the impact of higher net sales and favorable price/cost dynamics.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

During the third quarter of 2018, the Company generated $48.4 million of cash from operations, driven by strong Adjusted EBITDA performance, offset partially by net outflows from the normal seasonality in working capital. Third-quarter capital expenditures were $40.7 million, the largest portion of which represented investment in new manufacturing capacity in the Fluid Power segment.

As of September 29, 2018, the Company had total cash of $296.3 million and total outstanding debt of $3.0 billion, representing an improved net leverage ratio of 3.6 times Adjusted EBITDA.

2018 Outlook

The Company is maintaining its full-year 2018 outlook for net sales growth, core growth, Adjusted EBITDA and capital expenditures. Total net sales growth is expected to be in a range of 10.0% to 12.0%, the core revenue growth component of which is expected to be 6.0% to 7.0%. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $745 million to $765 million. Additionally, the Company expects total capital expenditures to be approximately $180 million.

Conference Call and Webcast

Gates Industrial Corporation plc will host a conference call today at 5:00 pm ET to discuss the Company's financial results. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (866) 393-4306 (domestic) or +1 (734) 385-2616 (international) and requesting the Gates Industrial Corporation Third Quarter 2018 Earnings Conference Call. A webcast of the conference call and accompanying presentation materials can be accessed through Gates Industrial's website at investors.gates.com. An audio replay of the conference call can be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 (domestic) or +1 (404) 537-3406 (international), and providing the passcode 3392999, or by accessing Gates Industrial's website at investors.gates.com.

About Gates Industrial Corporation plc

Gates is a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions. Gates offers a broad portfolio of products to diverse replacement channel customers, and to original equipment ("first-fit") manufacturers as specified components. Gates participates in many sectors of the industrial and consumer markets. Our products play essential roles in a diverse range of applications across a wide variety of end markets ranging from harsh and hazardous industries such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing and energy, to everyday consumer applications such as printers, power washers, automatic doors and vacuum cleaners and virtually every form of transportation. Our products are sold in more than 120 countries across our four commercial regions: the Americas; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Greater China; and East Asia & India.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. In some cases you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seeks," "predicts," "intends," "trends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Statements relating to our estimated and projected earnings, margins, costs, expenditures, cash flows, growth rates and financial results are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risk, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors could affect our results and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors described in the section entitled "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the following: conditions in the global and regional economy and the major end markets we serve; economic, political and other risks associated with international operations; availability of raw materials at favorable prices and in sufficient quantities; changes in our relationships with, or the financial condition, performance, purchasing power or inventory levels of, key channel partners; competition in all areas of our business; pricing pressures from our customers; continued operation of our manufacturing facilities; our ability to forecast demand or meet significant increases in demand; exchange rate fluctuations; market acceptance of new product introductions and product innovations; our cost-reduction actions; litigation, legal or regulatory proceedings brought against us; enforcement of our intellectual property rights; recalls, product liability claims or product warranties claims; anti-corruption laws and other laws governing our international operations; existing or new laws and regulations that may prohibit, restrict or burden the sale of aftermarket products; our decentralized information technology systems and any interruptions to our computer and IT systems; environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; lives of products used in our end markets as well as the development of replacement markets; our ability to successfully integrate future acquired businesses or assets; our reliance on senior management or key personnel; our ability to maintain and enhance our brand; work stoppages and other labor matters; our investments in joint ventures; liabilities with respect to businesses that we have divested in the past; terrorist acts, conflicts and wars; losses to our facilities, supply chains, distribution systems or information technology systems due to catastrophe or other events; additional cash contributions we may be required to make to our defined benefit pension plans; the loss or financial instability of any significant customer or customers; changes in legislative, regulatory and legal developments involving taxes and other matters; our substantial leverage; and the significant influence of our majority shareholder, The Blackstone Group L.P., over us, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its periodic filings with the SEC which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this report and in our other periodic filings. Gates undertakes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Gates Industrial Corporation plc Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)



Three months ended

Nine months ended (USD in millions, except per share amounts) September

29, 2018

September

30, 2017

September

29, 2018

September

30, 2017 Net sales $ 828.4



$ 760.6



$ 2,555.5



$ 2,259.9

Cost of sales 501.2



449.8



1,534.9



1,343.9

Gross profit 327.2



310.8



1,020.6



916.0

Selling, general and administrative expenses 202.7



201.4



621.1



585.5

Transaction-related expenses 0.2



7.2



6.2



11.3

Impairment of intangibles and other assets 0.2







0.6





Restructuring expense 1.2



2.4



3.2



8.3

Other operating expenses (income) 5.1



(0.1)



12.5



(0.1)

Operating income from continuing operations 117.8



99.9



377.0



311.0

Interest expense 40.2



55.0



139.8



179.0

Other expenses 3.4



10.9



17.5



46.7

Income from continuing operations before taxes 74.2



34.0



219.7



85.3

Income tax expense 7.2



15.9



30.4



32.9

Net income from continuing operations 67.0



18.1



189.3



52.4

Loss (gain) on disposal of discontinued operations, net of

tax, respectively, of $0, $0, $0 and $0 0.3



(0.1)



0.7



(0.1)

Net income 66.7



18.2



188.6



52.5

Non-controlling interests (6.8)



(5.0)



(18.9)



(20.0)

Net income attributable to shareholders $ 59.9



$ 13.2



$ 169.7



$ 32.5

















Earnings per share













Basic













Earnings per share from continuing operations $ 0.21



$ 0.05



$ 0.60



$ 0.13

Earnings per share from discontinued operations 













Net income per share $ 0.21



$ 0.05



$ 0.60



$ 0.13

















Diluted













Earnings per share from continuing operations $ 0.20



$ 0.05



$ 0.58



$ 0.13

Earnings per share from discontinued operations 













Net income per share $ 0.20



$ 0.05



$ 0.58



$ 0.13



Gates Industrial Corporation plc Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(USD in millions, except share numbers and per share amounts) As of September

29, 2018

As of December

30, 2017 Assets





Current assets





Cash and cash equivalents $ 296.3



$ 564.4

Trade accounts receivable, net 778.2



713.8

Inventories 526.8



457.1

Taxes receivable 7.3



14.1

Prepaid expenses and other assets 108.6



76.8

Total current assets 1,717.2



1,826.2

Non-current assets





Property, plant and equipment, net 761.7



686.2

Goodwill 2,093.8



2,085.5

Pension surplus 57.3



57.7

Intangible assets, net 2,022.0



2,126.8

Taxes receivable 26.0



32.7

Other non-current assets 40.7



38.6

Total assets $ 6,718.7



$ 6,853.7

Liabilities and equity





Current liabilities





Debt, current portion $ 32.8



$ 66.4

Trade accounts payable 402.1



392.0

Taxes payable 29.3



29.0

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 190.2



210.4

Total current liabilities 654.4



697.8

Non-current liabilities





Debt, less current portion 2,962.7



3,889.3

Post-retirement benefit obligations 155.2



157.1

Taxes payable 79.0



100.6

Deferred income taxes 468.3



517.1

Other non-current liabilities 72.0



63.4

Total liabilities 4,391.6



5,425.3

Shareholders' equity





Shares, par value of $0.01 each - authorized shares: 3,000,000,000; outstanding shares:

289,808,150 (December 30, 2017: authorized shares: 3,000,000,000; outstanding

shares: 245,474,605) 2.9



2.5

Additional paid-in capital 2,415.5



1,622.6

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (787.2)



(747.4)

Retained earnings 306.6



136.9

Total shareholders' equity 1,937.8



1,014.6

Non-controlling interests 389.3



413.8

Total equity 2,327.1



1,428.4

Total liabilities and equity $ 6,718.7



$ 6,853.7



Gates Industrial Corporation plc Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)



Nine months ended (USD in millions) September 29,

2018

September 30,

2017 Cash flows from operating activities





Net income $ 188.6



$ 52.5

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:





Depreciation and amortization 163.3



158.2

Non-cash currency transaction (gain) loss on net debt and hedging instruments (35.0)



47.6

Premium paid on redemption of long-term debt 27.0





Other net non-cash financing costs 54.9



39.2

Share-based compensation expense 5.5



2.9

Decrease in post-employment benefit obligations, net (2.5)



(5.6)

Deferred income taxes (44.0)



(37.0)

Other operating activities 1.5



1.7

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:





Increase in accounts receivable (82.6)



(68.6)

Increase in inventories (81.0)



(55.8)

Increase in accounts payable 16.4



30.1

(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets (24.6)



2.1

(Decrease) increase in taxes payable (6.4)



6.6

Decrease in other liabilities (38.8)



(24.0)

Net cash provided by operations 142.3



149.9

Cash flows from investing activities





Purchases of property, plant and equipment (143.0)



(57.8)

Purchases of intangible assets (11.9)



(6.9)

Net cash paid under corporate-owned life insurance policies (7.4)



(7.3)

Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment 1.6



1.9

Purchase of businesses, net of cash acquired (50.9)



(36.7)

Other investing activities (2.5)



(0.3)

Net cash used in investing activities (214.1)



(107.1)

Cash flows from financing activities





Issue of shares, net of cost of issuance 799.6



0.6

Deferred offering costs (8.6)





Buy-back of shares 



(1.6)

Proceeds from long-term debt 



644.7

Payments of long-term debt (933.5)



(670.1)

Premium paid on redemption of long-term debt (27.0)





Debt issuance costs paid 



(17.4)

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests (23.3)



(17.9)

Other financing activities 5.7



3.5

Net cash used in financing activities (187.1)



(58.2)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash (9.2)



16.6

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash (268.1)



1.2

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the period 566.0



528.8

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period $ 297.9



$ 530.0

Supplemental schedule of cash flow information





Interest paid $ 142.4



$ 169.2

Income taxes paid, net $ 83.7



$ 64.9

Accrued capital expenditures $ 2.5



$ 1.9



Non-GAAP Financial Statements

This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, which management believes are useful to investors, securities analysts and other interested parties. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as its key profitability measure. This is a non-GAAP measure that represents EBITDA before certain items that impact comparison of the performance of our business either period-over-period or with other businesses. We use Adjusted EBITDA as our measure of segment profitability to assess the performance of our businesses, and it is used for total Gates as well because we believe it is important to consider our profitability on a basis that is consistent with that of our operating segments.

Management uses Adjusted Net Income as an additional measure of profitability. Adjusted Net Income is a non-GAAP measure that represents net income attributable to shareholders before certain items that impact comparison of the performance of our business, either period-over-period or with other businesses.

Core revenue growth is a non-GAAP measure that represents net sales for the period excluding the impacts of movements in foreign currency rates and the first-year impacts of acquisitions and disposals. We present core revenue growth because it allows for a meaningful comparison of year-over-year performance without the volatility caused by foreign currency gains or losses, or the incomparability that would be caused by the impact of an acquisition or disposal.

Management uses Free Cash Flow to measure cash generation and liquidity. Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure that represents cash provided by (used in) operations less capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow Conversion is a measure of Free Cash Flow for the preceding twelve months expressed as a percentage of Adjusted Net Income for the same period. We use this metric as a measure of the success of our business in converting Adjusted Net Income into cash.

These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered only as supplemental to, and not as superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Please see below for a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis are not accessible, and reconciling information is not available without unreasonable effort, we have not provided reconciliations for forward-looking non-GAAP measures. For the same reasons, we are unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results.

Gates Industrial Corporation plc Reconciliation of Net Income from Continuing Operations to Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited)



Three months ended

Nine months ended (USD in millions) September

29, 2018

September

30, 2017

September

29, 2018

September

30, 2017 Net income from continuing operations $ 67.0



$ 18.1



$ 189.3



$ 52.4

Adjusted for:













Income tax expense 7.2



15.9



30.4



32.9

Net interest and other expenses 43.6



65.9



157.3



225.7

Depreciation and amortization 53.7



52.0



163.3



158.2

Transaction-related expenses (1) 0.2



7.2



6.2



11.3

Impairment of intangibles and other assets 0.2







0.6





Restructuring expense (2) 1.2



2.4



3.2



8.3

Share-based compensation 2.3



1.2



5.5



2.9

Sponsor fees (included in other operating expenses) (3) 1.9



1.5



5.9



4.5

Inventory impairments and adjustments (included in

cost of sales) 







1.1





Other adjustments 3.9



(0.1)



7.2



(0.1)

Adjusted EBITDA $ 181.2



$ 164.1



$ 570.0



$ 496.1







(1) Transaction-related expenses relate primarily to advisory fees recognized in respect of the initial public offering, the acquisition of businesses and other corporate transactions such as debt refinancings.



(2) Restructuring expense represents costs in relation to specifically defined restructuring projects and includes costs related to decisions to close lines of business, plant closures and relocations, strategic organizational rationalizations and related non-recurring employee severance.



(3) Sponsor fees relate to fees paid to our private equity sponsor for monitoring, advisory and consulting services.

Gates Industrial Corporation plc Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to Shareholders to Adjusted Net Income (Unaudited)



Three months ended

Nine months ended (USD in millions, except share numbers and per share amounts) September

29, 2018

September

30, 2017

September

29, 2018

September

30, 2017 Net income attributable to shareholders $ 59.9



$ 13.2



$ 169.7



$ 32.5

Adjusted for:













Loss (gain) on disposal of discontinued operations 0.3



(0.1)



0.7



(0.1)

Amortization of intangible assets arising from the 2014

acquisition of Gates 29.9



30.2



90.8



93.4

Transaction-related expenses (1) 0.2



7.2



6.2



11.3

Impairment of intangibles and other assets 0.2







0.6





Restructuring expense (2) 1.2



2.4



3.2



8.3

Share-based compensation 2.3



1.2



5.5



2.9

Sponsor fees (included in other operating expenses) (3) 1.9



1.5



5.9



4.5

Inventory impairments and adjustments (included in

cost of sales) 







1.1





Adjustments relating to post-retirement benefits 0.8



(2.7)



2.4



0.6

Premium on redemption of long-term debt 







27.0





Financing-related FX losses (gains) (4) 4.3



14.8



(8.5)



49.5

Other adjustments 0.7



(2.6)



(1.1)



(7.4)

Estimated tax effect of the above adjustments (11.1)



(7.2)



(29.2)



(26.7)

Adjusted Net Income $ 90.6



$ 57.9



$ 274.3



$ 168.8

















Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding 298,453,946



255,130,625



293,456,224



253,321,171

Adjusted Net Income per diluted share $ 0.30



$ 0.23



$ 0.93



$ 0.67







(1) Transaction-related expenses relate primarily to advisory fees recognized in respect of the initial public offering, the acquisition of businesses and other corporate transactions such as debt refinancings.



(2) Restructuring expense represents costs in relation to specifically defined restructuring projects and includes costs related to decisions to close lines of business, plant closures and relocations, strategic organizational rationalizations and related non-recurring employee severance.



(3) Sponsor fees relate to fees paid to our private equity sponsor for monitoring, advisory and consulting services.



(4) Financing-related FX losses (gains) relate primarily to foreign currency remeasurement losses (gains) on the unhedged portion of Gates' Euro-denominated debt, and, in the nine months ended September 29, 2018, a gain of $5.8 million on a currency derivative entered into as part of the redemption of our Euro Senior Notes.

Gates Industrial Corporation plc Reconciliation of Net Sales to Core Revenue Growth (Unaudited)

(USD in millions) Power

Transmission

Fluid Power

Total Net sales(1) for the three months ended September 29, 2018 $ 512.5



$ 315.9



$ 828.4

Impact on net sales of movements in currency rates 10.9



5.7



16.6

Impact on net sales from recent acquisitions 



(29.4)



(29.4)

Core revenue for the three months ended September 29, 2018 $ 523.4



$ 292.2



$ 815.6













Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2017 499.9



260.7



760.6

Increase in net sales on a core basis (core revenue) $ 23.5



$ 31.5



$ 55.0













Core revenue growth (%) 4.7 %

12.1 %

7.2 %











(USD in millions) Power

Transmission

Fluid Power

Total Net sales(1) for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 $ 1,608.1



$ 947.4



$ 2,555.5

Impact on net sales of movements in currency rates (34.9)



(7.1)



(42.0)

Impact on net sales of acquisitions 



(101.5)



(101.5)

Core revenue for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 $ 1,573.2



$ 838.8



$ 2,412.0













Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 1,496.3



763.6



2,259.9

Increase in net sales on a core basis (core revenue) $ 76.9



$ 75.2



$ 152.1













Core revenue growth (%) 5.1 %

9.8 %

6.7 %





(1) Throughout this document the terms "net sales" and "revenue" are used interchangeably in reference to the GAAP measure "net sales."

Gates Industrial Corporation plc Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion (Unaudited)



Nine months ended

Twelve months ended (USD in millions) September

29, 2018

September

30, 2017

September

29, 2018

September

30, 2017 Cash provided by operations $ 142.3



$ 149.9



$ 312.3



$ 319.8

Capital expenditures (1) (154.9)



(64.7)



(201.3)



(89.8)

Free Cash Flow $ (12.6)



$ 85.2



$ 111.0



$ 230.0







(1) Capital expenditures represent purchases of property, plant and equipment and purchases of intangible assets.







Twelve months ended (USD in millions) September

29, 2018

September

30, 2017 Free Cash Flow $ 111.0



$ 230.0

Adjusted Net Income 314.4



216.2

Free Cash Flow Conversion 35.3 %

106.4 %

Contact

Bill Waelke

(303) 744-4887

[email protected]

SOURCE Gates Industrial Corporation plc
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Getaround, the carsharing platform that empowers users to instantly rent and drive great cars shared by people in their city, today announced its arrival in San Diego. Now, car owners in San Diego can reduce the financial burden of car ownership by sharing their car on Getaround and earning money when people rent it. Each car is equipped with Getaround Connect, a proprietary technology that enables renters to locate and unlock the car using the Getaround app. San Diegans who choose to live car-free, or need a specialty car for a move across town or a fun drive up the PCH, can now instantly rent nearby carsby the hour or daythrough the Getaround iOS or Android application, with no need to meet the owner in-person to get the car keys.

"We're thrilled to bring our carsharing platform to San Diego, a city whose culture and landscape make it a hotspot for sightseeing and day trips by both tourists and locals," said James Correa, Getaround General Manager of Southern California. "Powered by the Getaround Connect, renters can instantly access the perfect car for any type of trip or adventure, and car owners can earn money without the hassle of breaking up their day to meet renters. It's a win-win for both owners and renters, and we're happy to facilitate that kind of access and opportunity. There's always something new to see in San Diego, and Getaround is the perfect match to create new experiences in America's Finest City."

Correa helped the company launch in Los Angeles in April 2018one of Getaround's fastest growing markets to dateand he is now leading the charge for San Diego. With people in San Diego seeking transportation alternatives this fall and winter for road trips, apartment moves, and errand runs, now is the time for vehicle owners to list their cars and start earning money. With thousands of people already signed up in San Diego, the company anticipates rapid growth with the potential for many owners to earn over $1,000 per month.

"As we continue to expand, we're dedicated to still making an impact locally," said Sam Zaid, CEO of Getaround. "Not only do we provide car owners with economic opportunity, and allow people to access transportation when they need, but we're also helping cities solve key environmental issues like smog, congestion and traffic issues."

Carsharing is a major part of the environmental sustainability movement. An independent study by the University of California Berkeley Transportation Sustainability Research Center measured the impact of carsharing. The study found that for every one car shared, about ten are taken off the road. This means that for every 1,000 cars shared on Getaround, roughly 100M pounds of carbon dioxide are offset.

Getaround does not require signup fees, annual fees, or access cards, making it convenient and accessible for Miami residents to join the carsharing community as owners or renters. Each trip is insured by Getaround's $1M insurance policy with 24/7 customer support and roadside assistance included. To learn more, list your car, or rent a car nearby, visit https://www.getaround.com .

About Getaround

Getaround empowers people to instantly rent and drive great cars shared by people in their city. Cars can be rented by the hour, or the day, with insurance and 24/7 roadside assistance included. By using the Getaround app, people skip the lines and paperwork at traditional rental car counters, and the hassle of buying and maintaining a car.

Powered by Getaround Connect, the patented connected car technology, Getaround creates a fun and safe carsharing experience without the need to meet the car owner, carry an access card, or coordinate picking up a car key. People share everything from a Prius to a Tesla and earn thousands in extra income each year, offsetting the high cost of car ownership while also making a positive impact on the environment.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Getaround has thousands of cars available throughout major metropolitan areas across the United States. Investors in Getaround include SoftBank, Menlo Ventures, Braemar Energy Ventures, Asset Plus, Triangle Peak Partners, SPARX Group, Toyota Motor Corporation, Cox Automotive Inc., and SAIC Capital.

For more information visit Getaround.com , download the iPhone or Android app, like on Facebook , and follow on Instagram and Twitter .

SOURCE Getaround

Related Links

http://www.getaround.com


A dominant Chinese blockchain player, GXChain, released its newest whitepaper 3.0: A Trusted Data Internet of Value on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, which describes the development in TrustNodes election, earnings and business models of the GXChain Data Economy Ecosystem.

BEIJING, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The influential blockchain company GXChain from China released the newest whitepaper 3.0: A Trusted Data Internet of Value. The whitepaper details the recent updates of the GXChain project in governance, technical structure, application scenarios and business models, helping related organizations and millions of users to better participate in the GXChain ecosystem, and facilitating the transformation of the project to more closely resemble a decentralized autonomous organization.

The revolutionized governance and consensus of GXChain would be the core of updates in the public blockchain ecosystem. According to the whitepaper, GXChain combines "On-Chain" and "Off-Chain" governance, simultaneously putting people and computational code into the governance system, realizing decentralization, robustness, and efficiency.

GXChain "On-Chain" governance is comprised of the Committee and TrustNodes. The committee constitutes 11 members, who can propose to vote for the modification of global parameters of GXChain. The TrustNodes constitute 21 members, who are in charge of the transaction verification, production, and broadcast of blocks.

Through "Off-Chain", GXChain has established GXChain Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization registered in Singapore to take the responsibility of decision making, research & development, global marketing, fund management, and other operations.

The white paper also dictates the qualifications, election and dismissal of the Committee, TrustNodes and GXChain Foundation in detail. Additionally, it reveals the technical and economic structures of GXChain in multiple layers. GXChain can be applied in many fields because of its full-scale advantages, including high performance and scalability, massive data support, developer friendly, dynamic global parameter adjustment.

The whitepaper illustrates a technical upgrade from app-chain to the infrastructure blockchain, including a revolutionized governance and consensus. GXChain will use the vision that blockchain technology could rebuild a credible world, armed with democratic, transparent, and decentralized governance, as well as more extensive community participation, to develop a trusted data internet of value. For more information about the GXChain Data Economy Ecosystem and check the entire GXChain Whitepaper 3.0, please visit: https://gxs.gxb.io/en/.

SOURCE GXChain
STOCKHOLM, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Absolut is launching the global Absolut Creative Competition in 20 countries across the world with the mission to find the next bold creative voice of the brand. The competition entries will be judged by three leading creative voices, with some exciting announcements still to come.

The competition aims to celebrate creativity and harness the power artists have to envision and create a better tomorrow. The competition launches globally on November 1st and artworks can be submitted via http://www.absolut.com/competition until January 31st.

Over the last four decades Absolut has worked with over 550 of the world's boldest artists including Keith Haring, Arman Armand, Romero Britto and Maurizio Cattelan, resulting in over 800 art pieces being created. Today Absolut is launching the biggest effort in its history, encouraging creatives from all over the world to create expressions that bring alive what one of the company's brand beliefs mean to them. The beliefs are centered on creating a more open, equal and inclusive world!

The competition winner will be selected by a global jury as well as have their work amplified on Absolut's social media and digital channels. They will also then have their work displayed on a globally iconic OOH site such as Piccadilly Circus, Times Square. The winners will also receive a 20,000 cash prize, and be invited to the global announcement event in May 2019.

The global jury selected to judge the competition so far includes Aaron Cezar, the founding director of the London based Delphina Institute, where over the last ten years he has positioned the Delphina Foundation as a meeting point and incubator of creative talent, forming partnerships with leading institutions internationally. The final two judges will be announced in the coming weeks.

Sina Neubrandt, Senior Global Marketing Manager says: "Creativity can spark conversation and drive change. This is why Absolut's latest campaign celebrates the power that creativity has for making a real difference in the world. We're excited to see the entries and celebrate the winner in May."

Watch the film here:https://youtu.be/aFmmiIptIPw

Please visit the competition website at http://www.absolut.com/competition page link and follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

SOURCE Absolut Vodka, a Pernod Ricard Company
Speakers emphasized Jewish National Fund's critical work in Israel. Marlee Matlin recounted her first trip to Israel this year where she was inspired by Jewish National Fund's work with Special in Uniform; Dr. Deborah E. Lipstadt led a discussion on the harrowing reality of Holocaust denial which was eerily timely and relevant; Bari Weiss changed her topic to speak about Tree of Life, her home synagogue where she became a Bat Mitzvah. "We will build a Jewish people and a Jewish state that are not only safe and resilient, but self-aware, meaningful, generative, humane, joyful, and life-affirming," said Weiss.

Water and environmental experts from Israel and the U.S. addressed the next steps being taken to confront and mitigate today's global water challenges during the session "Israel's Water Challenges and Opportunities."

On Saturday morning, JNF recognized the horrendous attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh with a moment of silence. "Jewish National Fund-USA mourns with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh and the Tree of Life Synagogue that suffered the tragic and horrific act of terrorism Saturday morning during Shabbat services. This episode of mass violence leaves us devastated and heartbroken," said Conference Co-Chairs Toni Dusik and Marc Kelman.

Conference attendees left feeling reenergized and excited for all the upcoming initiatives and projects that Jewish National Fund is embarking upon in the coming year. One such project is a state-of-the-art culinary institute in Israel's Upper Eastern Galilee. The culinary institute, expected to open in the fall of 2019, will be the first of its kind in the Middle East.

"This year's National Conference surpassed my expectations as we had a fantastic, energetic turn out with 1/3 of our participants under the age of 40," said Jewish National Fund President Dr. Sol Lizerbram. "It was a privilege to particularly spotlight the building we are leading in Northern Israel that will bring thousands of new jobs and residents to the Upper Eastern Galilee along with much needed infrastructure."

Jewish National Fund's 2019 National Conference will take place in Washington, D.C. September 13-16. For more information and to register, please visit jnf.org/nc.

Adam Brill

212-879-9305

[email protected]

SOURCE Jewish National Fund

Related Links

http://www.jnf.org


BEIJING, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jianpu Technology Inc. ("Jianpu," or the "Company") (NYSE: JT), a leading independent open platform for discovery and recommendation of financial products in China, today announced its participation in the following investor conferences:

9th Credit Suisse China Investment Conference, November 5, 2018 , at Futian Shangri-La in Shenzhen

, at Futian Shangri-La in Goldman Sachs China Conference, November 6, 2018 , at the Ritz-Carlton in Shenzhen

, at the Ritz-Carlton in Jefferies 8th Annual Greater China Conference, November 7, 2018 , at Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong

, at Island Shangri-La in Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2018 China Conference, November 9, 2018 , at JW Marriott Hotel in Beijing

Management will meet with institutional investors throughout these events. For additional information, please contact your respective institutional sales representative at each sponsoring bank.

About Jianpu Technology Inc.

Jianpu Technology Inc. (NYSE: JT) is a leading independent open platform for discovery and recommendation of financial products in China. By leveraging its deep data insights and proprietary technology, Jianpu provides users with personalized search results and recommendations that are tailored to each user's particular financial needs and credit profile. The Company also enables financial service providers with sales and marketing solutions to reach and serve their target customers more effectively through online and mobile channels and enhance their competitiveness by providing them with tailored data, risk management and end-to-end solutions. The Company is committed to maintaining an independent open platform, which allows it to serve the needs of users and financial service providers impartially. For more information, please visit http://ir.jianpu.ai.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goal and strategies; the Company's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the Company's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its solutions and services; the Company's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with users, financial service providers and other parties it collaborate with; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Jianpu Technology Inc.

Oscar Chen

Tel: +86 (10) 6242-7068

E-mail: [email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Ross Warner

Tel: +86 (10) 5730-6202

E-mail: [email protected]

In the United States:

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Jianpu Technology Inc.

Related Links

http://ir.jianpu.ai


JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson Vision will highlight new data at the 2018 American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting (Academy 2018), held November 7-10 in San Antonio, Texas. Two paper presentations highlighting visual performance of photochromic contact lenses were designated among the "Most Newsworthy" at the meeting by the Academy. Johnson & Johnson Vision will also sponsor and host a variety of interactive experiences throughout the meeting, focused on enhancing care and improving patient outcomes.

"At Johnson & Johnson Vision, we are committed to helping people see better, connect better and live better, and new scientific data we are proud to present at Academy 2018 has relevance for eye care professionals and their patients around the world," said Peter Menziuso, President, North America, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. "And the interactive experiences in our booth enable us to connect and share our groundbreaking innovation and one-of-a-kind technologies with eye care professionals in unique and exciting ways."

Interactive Experiences in Booth #1742

Johnson & Johnson Vision's exhibit booth #1742 at Academy 2018 will host a variety of interactive experiences including product trials, hands-on demonstrations and education.

Visitors to the Johnson & Johnson Vision booth can experience a one-of-a-kind light simulation highlighting the unique benefits of ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions Light Intelligent Technology and see how the lens works in real-time demonstrations.

The LipiScan Dynamic Meibomian Imager and the LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System will be in the booth, where the Johnson & Johnson Vision team will share how these technologies can help image the Meibomian glands and treat Meibomian gland dysfunction, respectively, and establish a medical service line for dry eye. Booth visitors will have the opportunity to receive their own personal Meibomian gland imaging.

Connect-and-Learn Events

Johnson & Johnson Vision is proud to sponsor events during Academy 2018 that bring together members of the optometric community for access to the latest advances and leading experts  as well as to support and learn from each other. All events, unless otherwise noted, will be held in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

Wednesday, November 7

Knock Out Drop Out in Your Practice Lunch & Learn

12:00  12:45 p.m. , Classroom 152, Room 006CD, River Level

Dr. Carol Alexander provides a comprehensive solution to help eye health professionals and patients break out of the contact lens drop out pattern.

Student Networking Reception

5:00  7:00 p.m. , Ballroom B2

Dr. Charissa Lee helps to welcome optometry students to Academy 2018 at this opening night reception

Cataract Surgery Broadcast

7:00  10:00 p.m. , University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry Lecture Hall 328/Events Room 301

Join Gregory Parkhurst , MD, and Roberto Saenz , OD, along with an esteemed panel of clinical experts for a high-definition broadcast of cataract surgery.

Visit www.cataractsurgerybroadcast.com to register.

Friday, November 9

Student Networking Lunch

12:00  1:30 p.m.

All optometry students are welcome for an engaging networking luncheon, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Vision.

The Future of Contact Lenses for Optometry Vision Theater Session

12:40  1:20 p.m.

Wondering what's next for the future of contact lenses? Dr. Carol Alexander highlights world-class innovations and diverse eye health technologies with a focus on keeping the doctor-patient relationship at the center of care.

Resident & Practitioner Match

4:30  6:00 p.m. , Room 225

Johnson & Johnson Vision is proud to sponsor this opportunity for residents and doctors to meet, talk and connect.

Scientific Presentations

Among the 11 papers and posters presented at Academy 2018 by Johnson & Johnson Vision and its collaborators are studies focused on photochromic contact lenses, myopia control measurement, antimicrobial technologies and more. All scientific presentations will take place in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

Wednesday, November 7

Paper Presentation: A Contra-lateral Comparison of the Visual Effects of Clear vs. Photochromic Contact Lenses. Presented by Dr. Billy Hammond (Room 303, 1:15  1:30 p.m. )

(Room 303, 1:15  ) Paper Presentation: Contact Lens Induced Corneal Infiltrative Events During Extended Melimine Antimicrobial Contact Lens (MACL) Wear Clinical Trial. Presented by Dr. Mark Willcox (Room 303, 2:30  2:45 p.m. )

(Room 303, 2:30  ) Paper Presentation: Does Extended Melimine Antimicrobial Contact Lens (MACL) Wear Affect the Ocular Microbiota? Presented by Dr. Parthasarathi Kalaiselvan (Room 303, 2:45  3:00 p.m. )

) Paper Presentation: Investigating the Role of UV-blocker as an Antioxidant to Prevent Oxidation of Tear Film Component Deposition in Commercial Contact Lens Hydrogels. Presented by Noelle Rabiah (Room 303, 3:00  3:15 p.m. )

Thursday, November 8

Paper Presentation: The Impact of Photochromic Contact Lenses on Daytime and Nighttime Driving Performance. Presented by Dr. John Buch (Hemisfair Ballroom C1 "Hot Topics",

8:30  8:45 a.m. )

(Hemisfair Ballroom C1 "Hot Topics", 8:30  ) Paper Presentation: Meta-analysis of Axial Elongation in Myopic Children. Presented by Dr. Noel Brennan (Room 304, 1:00 p.m. )

Friday, November 9

Poster Presentation: Evidence-based Efficacy of Myopia Control Interventions. Poster #84 presented by Dr. Noel Brennan (Exhibit Hall 3, 10:00 a.m.  12:00 p.m. )

(Exhibit Hall 3,  ) Poster Presentation: Comparison of a Neuro-optical Model with Vision Performance in Multifocal Contact Lenses. Poster #156 presented by Dr. Derek Nankivil (Exhibit Hall 3, 10:00 a.m.  12:00 p.m. )

(Exhibit Hall 3,  ) Poster Presentation: Prevalence of Astigmatism in Presbyopes. Poster #141 presented by Dr. Tom Karkkainen (Exhibit Hall 3, 1:00  3:00 p.m. ).

(Exhibit Hall 3, 1:00  ). Poster Presentation: Prelens Tear Film Measurements Using Twyman-Green Interferometry. Poster #159 presented by Greg Hofmann (Exhibit Hall 3, 1:00  3:00 p.m. )

(Exhibit Hall 3, 1:00  ) Poster Presentation: Comfort and Biocompatibility During Extended Melimine Antimicrobial Contact Lens (MACL) Wear Clinical Trial. Poster #151 presented by Dr. Mark Willcox (Exhibit Hall 3, 1:00  3:00 p.m. )

For more information about Johnson & Johnson Vision at Academy 2018, visit www.jnjvisionpro.com/academy.

Johnson & Johnson Vision

At Johnson & Johnson Vision, we have a bold ambition: to change the trajectory of eye health around the world. Through our operating companies, we deliver innovation that enables eye care professionals to create better outcomes for patients throughout their lives, with products and technologies that address unmet needs including refractive error, cataracts and dry eye. In communities with greatest need, we work in collaboration to expand access to quality eye care, and we are committed to helping people see better, connect better and live better. Visit us at www.jjvision.com. Follow @JNJVision on Twitter and Johnson & Johnson Vision on LinkedIn.

Important information for contact lens wearers:

ACUVUE Brand Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guide.

Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye.

WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long-term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.

 Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. 2018

ACUVUE is a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

Third-party trademarks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

Important Safety Information:

LipiScan with Dynamic Meibomian Imaging https://bit.ly/2GNn7Hk

LipiFlow https://bit.ly/2GNn7Hk

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Vision

Related Links

http://www.jjvision.com


CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI), the leading independent provider of maintenance support and financial services to the aviation industry, has released the JSSI Business Aviation Index for the third quarter of 2018. The index tracks utilization of approximately 2,000 business aircraft worldwide and reports average flight hours flown on a monthly basis by region, industry and cabin type. For the second consecutive quarter, average flight hours exceeded the 30-hour ceiling and reached levels not seen since 2008.

"This positive trend in aircraft utilization demonstrates a high level of confidence in current economic conditions. The continued growth this year, with back-to-back quarters of flight hour averages not seen since 2008 and a year-over-year increase of 5.7 percent, is a testament to today's demand for private travel," said Neil W. Book, president and CEO of JSSI.

The JSSI Business Aviation Index tracks and reports on the global flight activity and utilization of business aircraft, including jets, turboprops and helicopters. Unlike commercial aviation, which is largely driven by consumer spending, business aviation is a tool needed for efficient travel to conduct core business activities. This utilization data ultimately provides useful insights into the state of global economic conditions.

Key findings in the third-quarter data include:

Average aircraft utilization of 30.34 hours for the third quarter is the first time flight activity has averaged over 30 hours in back-to-back quarters in more than a decade.

The helicopter industry continues to rebound in 2018, with a 21.9 percent increase in average flight hours in the third quarter.

Of the nine industries analyzed, six reported an increase and three reported a decrease in quarter-over-quarter flight activity. The largest growth was in the healthcare sector, which reported a 7.9 percent increase in flight activity compared to the second quarter of 2018. The construction industry reported an increase of 4.0 percent; the business services sector reported an increase of 2.6 percent; the power and energy segment increased by 2.3 percent; and the aviation sector saw a flight activity increase of 1.7 percent this quarter. The financial services industry increased by 1.6 percent.

The largest year-over-year decreases in flight activity were seen in the manufacturing sector, with an 11.8 percent reduction; and in the real estate sector, which reported a decrease of 9.9 percent. The consumer goods industry remained relatively flat for the quarter, with a decrease of 1.0 percent from the second quarter but an increase of 6.0 percent year over year.

Seven key regions are sampled in the index. Significant quarter-over-quarter increases were reported in the Middle East , with a 39.4 percent increase in average flight hours; and Africa , which reversed its negative trend for the year with a 37.6 percent increase. South America also experienced an 11.4 percent increase for the quarter. Decreases were seen in Central America , with a drop in average flight hours of 15.7 percent; Asia-Pacific decreased by 8.7 percent, and Europe ended the quarter with a 1.4 percent decrease.

, with a 39.4 percent increase in average flight hours; and , which reversed its negative trend for the year with a 37.6 percent increase. also experienced an 11.4 percent increase for the quarter. Decreases were seen in , with a drop in average flight hours of 15.7 percent; decreased by 8.7 percent, and ended the quarter with a 1.4 percent decrease. North America flight hours increased 1.6 percent quarter over quarter and 6.8 percent year over year.

flight hours increased 1.6 percent quarter over quarter and 6.8 percent year over year. Average flight hours increased 5.7 percent year over year.

For a copy of the latest JSSI Business Aviation Index, visit https://jetsupport.com/insights/ .

About Jet Support Services, Inc.

For nearly 30 years, Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI), has been the leading independent provider of maintenance programs to the aviation industry, covering virtually all makes and models of aircraft, engines, and APUs. JSSI provides its customers with comprehensive, flexible and affordable financial programs and tools for managing the often unpredictable costs of operating and maintaining business and commercial jets, turboprops and helicopters. As the creator of the revolutionary Tip-to-Tail Program, JSSI is the only single source provider of this trademarked service. JSSI serves customers globally and manages maintenance services through its worldwide infrastructure of certified technical advisors.

Other JSSI Services include JSSI Parts, Jet Engine Leasing, JSSI Advisory Services, and Conklin & de Decker. For more information go to jetsupport.com.

SOURCE Jet Support Services, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.jetsupport.com


PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lannett Company, Inc. (NYSE: LCI) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Rivopharm SA to be the exclusive U.S. distributor of Vardenafil Hydrochloride Tablets, 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg, which is the AB-rated generic equivalent to Levitra of Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc. Vardenafil Hydrochloride Tablets are indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

"Our agreement with Rivopharm for Vardenafil includes all currently available dosage strengths," said Tim Crew, chief executive officer of Lannett. "We have commenced shipping the product, which is the first-time a generic alternative has been available for Levitra. We believe we are one of only a few suppliers. We are pleased to have joined forces with Rivopharm, a Swiss-based company with a growing presence in Europe and a well-established track record of gaining product approvals for the U.S. market. This launch again reflects our strategy to add market ready products to our offering, such as Vardenafil, where there are only a few suppliers. Such products advance our near term objective of increasing revenues further strengthening our business."

Vardenafil Hydrochloride Tablets has an estimated IMS market value of approximately $94 million, although actual generic market values are expected to be lower.

Under the agreement, Lannett will primarily provide sales, marketing and distribution support for the product, for which it will receive a percentage of net profits. Other financial terms were not disclosed.

About Lannett Company, Inc.:

Lannett Company, founded in 1942, develops, manufactures, packages, markets and distributes generic pharmaceutical products for a wide range of medical indications. For more information, visit the company's website at www.lannett.com.

This news release contains certain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events or future business performance. Any such statement, including, but not limited to, successfully commercializing Vardenafil Hydrochloride Tablets, whether expressed or implied, is subject to market and other conditions, and subject to risks and uncertainties which can cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors which include, but are not limited to, the risk factors discussed in the Company's Form 10-K and other documents filed with the SEC from time to time, including the prospectus supplement related to the proposed offering to be filed with the SEC. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Lannett Contact:

Robert Jaffe

Robert Jaffe Co., LLC

(424) 288-4098

SOURCE Lannett Company, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.lannett.com/


OXFORD, England, November 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Facilities in The Schrodinger Building to bring together AI experts and biologists

In a key point in its growth strategy, Exscientia, the innovative company at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery, is expanding its Oxford presence to the new Schrodinger Building on The Oxford Science Park, one of the UK's leading parks for science and technology companies. In its new facilities, Exscientia is bringing together its computer scientists, drug designers and biologists under one roof to allow it to rapidly expand its platform development and proprietary drug discovery portfolio. The move also allows the firm to expand its recruitment activities in Oxford. Exscientia is the third occupant of The Oxford Science Park's new Schrodinger Building, and it expects to move in by the end of the year.

On the Park, Exscientia will be focusing on its technology and algorithm development in AI drug discovery projects, with the AI drug designers working closely with drug discovery scientists. This integration is expected to drive progress by rapidly generating new data to seed AI algorithms. In addition to developing its proprietary pipeline, Exscientia is working on projects with partners GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi and Evotec.

The company will be occupying 7750 sq ft of office and laboratory space in The Schrodinger Building. Exscientia currently has 19 employees based in Oxford and is expected to double this number over the next 12 months. In addition to moving in to the new Schrodinger Building, Exscientia is maintaining its corporate headquarters in Oxford city centre.

Professor Andrew Hopkins FRSE FRSC, CEO of Exscientia, said, "Oxford is a hotbed of innovation in biology, chemistry and computer science, with a creative and supportive life sciences community - rivalling the best knowledge hubs in the world. Exscientia prides itself on elegant design in our algorithms and drugs and we felt that The Schrodinger Building matched our corporate values of combining innovation and elegance in design. This represents an important element of our drive to recruit the best talent by providing a state-of-the-art creative working environment."

Piers Scrimshaw-Wright, Managing Director of The Oxford Science Park, said, "It is clear that artificial intelligence is driving innovation across many parts of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector, and we are delighted that Exscientia has chosen to locate its innovative drug discovery activities here. Our state-of-the-art Schrodinger Building, named after the Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist, is a fitting location for this leading AI company. Exscientia brings an interesting interdisciplinary angle to the vibrant scientific and commercial network here, and we welcome it to The Oxford Science Park."

Exscientia was advised by VSL & Partners; The Oxford Science Park was advised by Carter Jonas.

About The Oxford Science Park

The Oxford Science Park is owned and managed by Magdalen College, Oxford. Created in 1991, the Park upholds the College's heritage and provides one of the most influential science & technology environments in the UK. There is more than half a million square feet of workspace accommodation across the Park, which is now home to nearly 2,500 people and more than 80 businesses. These range from start-ups based in the Magdalen Centre innovation hub to major international companies and include Blue Earth Diagnostics, Circassia, IBM, OrganOx, OxSonics, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Sharp Laboratories, Oxford Genetics, ProImmune and Oxford Technology Management.

In addition to being a key property investment, the Park is at the heart of Magdalen College's strategy to support discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. It will continue to develop The Oxford Science Park as a long-term strategic asset, with ambitious plans to create an additional 300,000+ sq ft of office and laboratory space on the remaining 10+ acres of land over the next 3-5 years. This additional capacity will support the growth of businesses already based on the Park, providing flexible workspace accommodation, and enabling new companies to enjoy the Park's exceptional environment and collegiate and collaborative ethos. The Oxford Science Park is located approximately four miles south-east of Oxford city centre, just off the City's southern ring road. It has easy access to the M40 and A34, as well as to Heathrow Airport and mainline train services. For further information, please visit: www.oxfordsp.com or follow us on twitter @OxfordSciencePK

About Exscientia

Exscientia is at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery and design. By fusing the power of AI with the discovery experience of seasoned drug hunters, Exscientia is the first company to automate drug design, surpassing conventional approaches.

Exscientia's innovative platform enables breakthrough productivity gains as well as new approaches to improve drug efficacy. Novel compounds are automatically designed and prioritised for synthesis by its AI systems, which rapidly evolve compounds towards the desired candidate criteria for clinical development.

Exscientia systems learn from both existing data resources and experimental data from each design cycle. The principle is similar to how a human would learn, but the AI process is far more effective at identifying and assimilating multiple subtle and complex trends to balance potency, selectivity and pharmacokinetic criteria.

As a result, the AI-driven process is more likely to achieve the end goal and to do this more rapidly and efficiently than traditional human endeavour.

Exscientia is collaborating with several leading pharmaceutical and life sciences companies, including GSK, Sanofi and Evotec.

Exscientia has its headquarters in Oxford, UK with offices in the UK and Japan.

For more information visit www.exscientia.co.uk or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/exscientialtd

For more information, please contact:



The Oxford Science Park

Emma Palmer Foster, Strategic Communications Consultant

T: +44-(0)-7880-787185

[email protected]



Exscientia

Mark Swindells - Chief Operating Officer

[email protected]



Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Mark Swallow / Pip Batty / Sylvie Berrebi

[email protected]

+44-207-638-9571



SOURCE Exscientia
CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- McDermott Will & Emery has been named "Law Firm of the Year" in Health Care Law on the 2019 U.S. News - Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" list  the second time in three years the Firm has been named the industry leader. The McDermott team also earned national Tier I practice rankings for Biotechnology and Life Sciences and Health Care Law, as well as regional Tier I recognitions for the Firm's Health Care practices in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington, DC.

U.S. News and Best Lawyers honors only one law firm in each practice area with the "Law Firm of the Year" designation. Firms achieving this are "recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise."

"It is a tremendous honor to be named Health Care Law Firm of the Year again. I believe that our unique combination of commitment to service, personal passion and top-notch legal counsel helps set our team apart and makes us a first call for health care and life science leaders," said Stephen W. Bernstein, partner and International Head of McDermott's Health Industry Advisory Group. "This award is a meaningful acknowledgment of our dedication, and of our aim to balance creative problem solving with practical, actionable advice that helps fuel our clients' missions and advance their business goals."

Client feedback associated with the "Law Firm of the Year" honor praised McDermott's Health Care team, extolling the members as "consistently outstanding," "trusted and valued" advisors, providing "legal, regulatory, and strategic advice [that] is unparalleled," and having "a high level of client service."

In total, McDermott secured 24 prestigious National Tier 1 rankings from U.S. News and Best Lawyers, placing it among the top 20 firms nationally. The Firm also secured Tier 1 rankings in 64 metropolitan areas across the United States.

McDermott Will & Emery is the nation's leading health care law firm. The Health Industry Advisory group is the only health practice to receive top national rankings from U.S. News  Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms," Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, and Law360. The practice was also recognized by Chambers as "Health Team of the Year" in 2010, 2013 and 2017. Since 2017, McDermott has taken the top spot in PitchBook's League Tables as the most active firm for health care private equity.

McDermott's global Life Sciences Team fuels the mission of life sciences companies, leveraging a purpose-built and dedicated group of lawyers with demonstrated strengths across intellectual property, regulatory, transactional, employment and litigation law. Combining industry leadership and passion for the work they do  and leveraging the Firm's deep health care experience  team members are routinely listed as "Life Sciences Stars" by LMG Life Sciences. Additionally, the Life Sciences Intellectual Property team was ranked as a leading US practice in Life Sciences on Managing IP's "2018 IP Stars" list.

Visit us for full details about the Firm's rankings or visit U.S. News & Best Lawyers.

About McDermott Will & Emery

McDermott Will & Emery is a premier international law firm with a diversified business practice. Numbering more than 1,000 lawyers, we have offices in Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dallas, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Milan, Munich, New York, Orange County, Paris, San Francisco, Seoul, Silicon Valley and Washington, DC. Further extending our reach into Asia, we have a strategic alliance with MWE China Law Offices in Shanghai.

About "Best Law Firms"

The U.S. News  Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their eld, and review of additional information provided by law rms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a 2019 ranking, a law rm must have at least one lawyer recognized in the 24th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America list for that particular location and specialty.

About U.S. News & World Report

Celebrating its 85th year, U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and Civic, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For more than 30 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualied to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers lists are published in leading local, regional, and national publications across the globe. The Best Lawyers in America list recognizes the very best lawyers in each practice area and metropolitan region in the country.

SOURCE McDermott Will & Emery

Related Links

www.mwe.com


"We are honored that all three of our Thermal-Aid product lines have received recognition as winners of the prestigious NAPPA awards," said Matthew Mills, developer of Thermal-Aid. "We have worked hard to create a product that not only helps relieve pain and inflammation naturally  but one that puts a smile on someone's face."

Thermal-Aid heating/cooling packs and the Thermal-Aid Zoo line act as an all-natural relief treatment for multiple pain aliments. Users can buy the products in various sizes and shapes to correspond with the specific body parts that are affected. The packs are made of 100% natural cotton on the outside, and specifically engineered corn on the inside. Unlike most packs, the unique design enables the user to spot wash them as frequently as needed. The engineered corn eliminates any potential fungi or smell that most heating/cooling packs develop. The clinically proven packs can be both heated and cooled, allowing for the treatment of any sport injury. Thermal-Aid makes various sizes including a small, medium and large sectional pad, small pillow shape, tube shape and eye mask shape intended for migraine headache pain.

About Thermal-Aid

Thermal-Aid is a division of Med-X, Inc.'s wholly owned subsidiary, Pacific Shore Holdings, Inc. based in Canoga Park, CA. The company focuses on providing natural and safe solutions to ailments and household needs that were most commonly treated with synthetic chemicals. The Thermal-Aid product lines are available online and at leading retailers throughout the country. For more information, visit: https://thermalaidproducts.com/

About NAPPA

Integrity and honesty are at the core of what NAPPA stands for. For over 28 years, the National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) has been ensuring that parents purchase the highest quality products that help them connect and enjoy time with their families. NAPPA's team of independent judges, along with parent and child testers, select the best baby gear, toys, apps, games, books, music, and other family must-haves to be award winners through year-round product testing. For more information, visit www.nappaawards.com

ABOUT MED-X

Med-X, Inc. is a Nevada corporation formed in February 2014 which, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Pacific Shore Holdings, Inc., produces various products, such as the all-natural Nature-Cide pest control products that have evolved from its Nature-Cide Pest Management Service division. Pacific Shore Holdings, Inc. is also known for its patented and clinically proven Thermal-Aid hot and cold pain management modality products, which also include the Thermal-Aid Zoo and the Thermal-Aid Headache Relief System. Med-X, Inc. also supports the fast-paced, emerging cannabis industry through the company's digital magazine, The Marijuana Times, which publishes high-quality media content for the business, medical and legislative cannabis communities to generate revenue from advertisers, as well as sell industry related merchandise to consumers. The company has been involved in product development for a number of years and once the federal government allows, is ready to bring various non-psychoactive cannabidiol products to the pain management markets, as well as supplying its products to agricultural and ancillary services industries through its Nature-Cide Integrated Pest Management service division. For more information regarding Med-X, Inc. and its divisions, please visit www.medx-rx.com, www.pac-sh.com, Nature-Cide, Thermal-Aid  therapy packs, Thermal-Aid Zoo, Thermal-Aid Headache Relief System, Nature-Cide Cannabis Division, The Marijuana Times; email [email protected] or call 818-349-2870.

No Offer or Solicitation Securities

This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.

Med-X, Inc. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

There may be statements in this communication that are, or could be, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, therefore, subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Med-X, Inc. or the combined company's future financial position, sales, costs, earnings, cash flows, other measures of results of operations, capital expenditures or debt levels are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "should," "forecast," "project" or "plan" or terms of similar meaning are also generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Med-X, Inc. cautions that these statements are subject to numerous important risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond Med-X, Inc.'s control, that could cause Med-X, Inc. or the combined company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. To learn more about the risk factors, please review Med-X, Inc.'s Regulation A+ offering circular. Contact Information: Med-X, Inc. 8236 Remmet Ave, Canoga Park, California 91304, (818) 349-2870.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tracey Rosen

818-223-9046 x 102 or 800-321-4928

[email protected]

SOURCE Med-X, Inc.

Related Links

http://medx-rx.com


GREENVILLE, N.C., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Metrics Contract Services (Metrics), a division of Mayne Pharma Group Limited, has added a Gerteis Mini-Pactor roller compactor to its granulation capabilities at its new US$80 million oral solid dose commercial manufacturing facility in Greenville, North Carolina, USA. Metrics became a leader in dry granulation development and clinical manufacturing services after it purchased its initial Gerteis Mini-Pactor in 2014.

The Gerteis Mini-Pactor allows optimization within a range of press forces, roller speeds, and gap settings using knurled, smooth, toothed or custom rollers with a production output of up to 100kg/hr. These roller compactors will now be used for early phase formulation development, clinical trial production through to commercial manufacture.

In addition to the investment in dry granulation capabilities, the company's recently opened manufacturing facility in Greenville includes newly purchased equipment from manufacturers such as Glatt, Thomas, O'Hara and IMA. Metrics is now able to offer clinical and commercial scale, solvent capable, fluid-bed processing and film coating, wet granulation, tableting, encapsulation, and pan-coating. The new facility more than quadruples the company's capacity to manufacture oral solid dose pharmaceuticals products to well over 1 billion doses and increases significantly our capacity to manufacture potent compounds.

Metrics' Executive Vice President Kimberly McClintock said, "With completion of our new commercial manufacturing facility and the success of our client's clinical programs, it was time to add a second Gerteis roller compactor for use in commercial production. Based on the anticipated lot size and annual demand of the products progressing toward commercialization, the Mini-Pactor was the right choice for throughput and ease of tech transfer to commercial production. This supports our strategy to be a leading small molecule oral dosage form producer for targeted specialty medicines being developed today."

To date, Metrics has supported over 20 clinical programs using the original Gerteis Mini-Pactor in the drug product manufacturing process. The first programs developed with the clinical Mini-Pactor are now progressing towards submission and commercialization.

About Metrics Contract Services

Metrics Contract Services is a full-service pharmaceutical development and manufacturing organization serving clients worldwide delivering proven scientific and operational excellence for oral dosage forms.

Metrics' areas of expertise include quality pharmaceutical formulation development; first-time-in-man formulations; Phase I-III clinical trial materials manufacturing; and analytical method development and validation services leading to commercial scale manufacturing.

Technical capabilities include highly potent, cytotoxic and unstable compounds; Schedule II-V controlled substances; and products with poor bioequivalence, for which we offer an impressive proprietary portfolio of advanced delivery methods. Located in Greenville, N.C., Metrics is a proud member of Mayne Pharma. Learn more at www.metricscontractservices.com

About Mayne Pharma

Mayne Pharma is a specialty pharmaceutical company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: MYX) focused on the application of drug delivery expertise to commercialize branded and generic pharmaceuticals, providing patients with access to better and more affordable medicines.

Mayne Pharma has a 30-year track record of innovation and success in developing new oral drug delivery systems, and these technologies have been successfully commercialized in numerous products that have been marketed around the world. Mayne Pharma has two drug development and manufacturing facilities based in in Salisbury, Australia and Greenville, USA, with expertise in the formulation of complex oral and topical dose forms including potent compounds, modified-release products and inherently unstable compounds. For further information, visit www.maynepharma.com.

Tom Salus, 1.252.707.6068, [email protected]

SOURCE Mayne Pharma

Related Links

www.maynepharma.com


SAO PAULO, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Minerva Luxembourg S.A., with registered office at 6C, rue Gabriel Lippmann, L-5365 Munsbach and registered with the Luxembourg Register of Commerce and Companies (R.C.S. Luxembourg) under number B 162707 ("Minerva Luxembourg"), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Minerva S.A. ("Minerva"), today announced that it has commenced an offer to purchase for cash (the "Tender Offer") any and all of its outstanding 8.750% Perpetual Notes (the "Notes"). The Notes are unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by Minerva.

In connection with the Tender Offer, Minerva Luxembourg is also soliciting (the "Consent Solicitation") consents (the "Consents") from the holders of the Notes (the "Holders") for the adoption of certain amendments described below to the indenture governing the Notes (the "Proposed Amendments"). The terms and conditions of the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation, as well as the Proposed Amendments, are described in the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement, dated November 1, 2018 (as it may be amended or supplemented, the "Offer to Purchase") and the related Letter of Transmittal and Consent (as it may be amended or supplemented, the "Letter of Transmittal" and, together with the Offer to Purchase, the "Offer Documents").

Subject to the terms and conditions described in the Offer Documents, the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on November 30, 2018, unless the Tender Offer is extended by Minerva Luxembourg (such time and date, as the same may be extended, the "Expiration Date"). Holders who validly tender their Notes and deliver Consents at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 15, 2018, unless the Tender Offer is extended by Minerva Luxembourg (such time and date, as the same may be extended, the "Early Tender Date"), will be eligible to receive the Total Consideration (as defined below), which includes the Early Tender Payment (as defined below), plus accrued and unpaid interest. Notes that have been validly tendered cannot be withdrawn and Consents delivered pursuant to the Consent Solicitation may not be revoked, except in each case, as may be required by applicable law.

The "Total Consideration" for each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and with respect to which Consents have been validly delivered at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation will be U.S.$1,020.00. The Total Consideration includes an early tender payment (the "Early Tender Payment") equal to U.S.$20.00 for each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date. Holders of Notes who validly tender Notes after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to the Expiration Date and whose Notes are accepted for purchase will not be entitled to receive the Early Tender Payment and will therefore be entitled to receive, for each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes tendered, U.S.$1,000.00 (the "Tender Offer Consideration"), which amount is equal to the Total Consideration less the Early Tender Payment. Any payment of the Total Consideration and the Tender Offer Consideration will be paid together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the settlement date, which is expected to be within three business days following the Expiration Date, or as promptly as practicable thereafter. The valid tender of the Notes by a Holder pursuant to the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation will be deemed to constitute a consent by such Holder to the Proposed Amendments; however, no separate consent fee is being paid to such consenting Holders.

The following table sets forth the consideration for the Notes:

Description of Notes CUSIP/ISIN Outstanding Principal

Amount of Notes Tender Offer

Consideration(2) + Early Tender

Payment = Total

Consideration(3) 8.750% Perpetual

Notes 603374 AC3 and

L6401P AD5 /

US603374AC39 and

USL6401PAD52 U.S.$291,153,000(1) U.S.$1,000.00

U.S.$20.00

U.S.$1,020.00















(1) Includes U.S.$3,700,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes held in treasury by Minerva. (2) The amount to be paid for each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender

Date but at or prior to the Expiration Date and accepted for purchase, not including accrued and unpaid

interest. (3) The amount to be paid for each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early

Tender Date and accepted for purchase, not including accrued and unpaid interest. The Total Consideration

includes an Early Tender Payment of U.S.$20.00 per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes.

In the Consent Solicitation, Minerva Luxembourg is soliciting from Holders of Notes Consents to the Proposed Amendments that would eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants as well as certain events of default and related provisions contained therein and to shorten the minimum notice period for the optional redemption of the Notes by Minerva Luxembourg to two business days. The Proposed Amendments require the Consents of Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes (excluding any Notes held by Minerva Luxembourg or its affiliates) (the "Requisite Consents"). Holders who tender their Notes pursuant to the Tender Offer will also be providing Consents with respect to such Notes to the Proposed Amendments.

The Consent Solicitation may be terminated if the Requisite Consents are not obtained, and the Proposed Amendments will not become effective; however, Minerva Luxembourg reserves the right in its sole discretion to accept and purchase Notes tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer for an amount in cash equal to the Total Consideration or the Tender Offer Consideration, as applicable.

The obligation of Minerva Luxembourg to purchase Notes in the Tender Offer is conditioned on the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions described in the Offer Documents, including a financing condition as described in the Offer Documents. The Tender Offer is not conditioned upon the tender of any minimum principal amount of Notes. Minerva Luxembourg has the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation at any time.

Copies of the Offer Documents are available to Holders of Notes from D.F. King & Co., Inc., the tender agent and information agent for the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation (the "Tender Agent and Information Agent"). Requests for copies of the Offer Documents should be directed to the Tender Agent and Information Agent at +1 (800) 893-5865 (toll free), +1 (212) 269-5550 (collect) or [email protected].

BB Securities Limited ("BB Securities") and Banco BTG Pactual S.A.Cayman Branch ("BTG") have been engaged to act as dealer managers and solicitation agents in connection with the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation. Questions regarding the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation may be directed to BB Securities or BTG at their respective telephone numbers set forth on the back cover of each of the Offer Documents.

Minerva Luxembourg reserves the right, in its sole discretion, not to accept any tenders of Notes or deliveries of Consents for any reason. Minerva Luxembourg is making the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation only in those jurisdictions where it is legal to do so.

Neither the Offer Documents nor any related documents have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, nor have any such documents been filed with or reviewed by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Offer Documents or any related documents, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary.

This announcement is not an offer to purchase, a solicitation of an offer to purchase or a solicitation of Notes or Consents. The Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation are being made solely by Minerva Luxembourg pursuant to the Offer Documents. The Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation are not being made to, nor will Minerva Luxembourg accept tenders of Notes or deliveries of Consents from, Holders in any jurisdiction in which the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction.

Minerva S.A.

Media Contact: Eduardo Puzziello

Phone: +55 11 3074 2444

Email: [email protected]

NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the terms of the Tender Offer, the Consent Solicitation and the Proposed Amendments to the indenture governing the Notes. These statements are merely projections and as such are based exclusively on management's expectations for Minerva Luxembourg, Minerva and its business and the proposed transactions discussed herein. These forward-looking statements depend materially on changes in market conditions, government regulations, pressures from competitors and the performance of the industry and the Brazilian economy, among other factors, many of which are outside Minerva Luxembourg's and Minerva's control or ability to predict, that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Each of Minerva Luxembourg and Minerva disclaims any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Minerva Luxembourg S.A.
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Marnita's Table, a non-profit that bridges differences to bring communities together, is actively funding Rapid Response Teams to help defuse conflict in crisis situations. The Rapid Response Team will utilize the model of Intentional Social Interaction (IZI) created by Marnita's Table as a way to create meaningful conversation among people of differing backgrounds and experiences to create shared understanding and trust. In our world characterized by ongoing inequality, injustice and growing uncertainty, creating the social infrastructure that bridges the gap across our differences is invaluable. Too often, our differing experiences and backgrounds are used to separate and divide. Instead, these differences can be used to catalyze, to empower, and to transform our workplaces, our communities and our society.

"When the next Charlottesville or Parkland occurs, we plan to be there within days," promises Marnita Schroedl, Founder and President of Marnita's Table.

"When the next Charlottesville or Parkland occurs, we plan to be there within days," promises Marnita Schroedl, Founder and President of Marnita's Table.

Marnita's Table is recognized for its model of Intentional Social Interaction (IZI). The model has been deployed by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Catalyst Initiative of the Minneapolis Foundation, the United Way of Steele County, and 25 other organizations and communities. For over a decade, measurable outcomes of greater understanding, relationship creation, shared support and newfound connection are what the IZI program has delivered.

Intentional Social Interaction relies on building welcoming spaces where people feel accepted and share a cross-cultural feast during a three-hour guided set of interactions that builds trust and begin lasting relationships. "IZI treats everyone as equals," explains Schroedl, "and builds social capital by dispelling pre-conceived perceptions of 'the other.'"

As many participants have shared, IZI gives people a way to feel heard and to hear others, so that a community can come together instead of come apart. In this same light, Rapid Response Teams will build a counter narrative to the ever-present fear and suspicion that divides families and communities amidst crises.

In its fourteen years, Marnita's Table has brought nearly 50,000 people together. In post-session surveys, 98% of those who attend one three-hour IZI event stated they felt as though they belonged and wanted to be invited back.

On Saturday, November 3rd, Marnita's Table is hosting its 'Start The Conversation' fundraiser, which will bring together over 400 changemakers, community leaders and rising voices around a cross-cultural feast to learn how the Intentional Social Interaction (IZI) is creating shared understanding and connection.

We at Marnita's Table are actively raising $1 million to fund 5+ Rapid Response Teams that can deploy within three days to communities experiencing stress. Our goal is to secure funding for (at least) one Rapid Response Team at our November 3rd event. The Rapid Response Team initiative will be a valuable and scalable extension of our core work, which generates an operating budget from clients we partner with to inspire meaningful relationships and change in their organizations and communities.

Tickets and sponsorships are available at https://www.marnitastable.org/stc/.

Marnita's Table 'Start the Conversation' Fundraiser  Greed, Justice, Generosity.

Saturday, November 3rd - 7:00-10:00 pm

St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church

3450 Irving Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55408

For further information, send an email to Elijah Fortson ([email protected]) or give us a call (612-928-7744).

Contact

Elijah Fortson

[email protected]

612-928-7744

SOURCE Marnita's Table

Related Links

https://www.marnitastable.org


DALLAS, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- North Dallas Moving and Storage (NDMS) , a family-owned and operated Dallas moving company , along with their partner, North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), is working with educators to provide nourishment for chronically hungry kids in North Texas. Since 2013, NDMS has participated in the Food 4 Kids BackPack Program to ensure our youth -- the future of our nation -- doesn't go hungry.

Hunger is real and it's depriving young minds of the nourishment they need to develop and thrive. Food 4 Kids provides elementary school students who come from low-income households and depend upon free lunch programs with nutritious, non-perishable food packages on weekends and when school isn't in session.

Every Friday afternoon, purchased and donated foods are tucked discreetly into the backpacks of students in the program in order to eliminate stigma and protect privacy. By providing students with reliable access to healthy, kid-friendly food, NDMS hopes to fulfill their vision of a hunger-free North Texas.

"Kids hold a special place our hearts," said Brandon Morris, president of North Dallas Moving and Storage. "They're at the mercy of their parents when it comes to food, clothes, medicine, and even a safe place to live. Delivering food to kids in poverty means the world to us. We feel privileged to be able to help the North Texas Food Bank distribute food to children in the Richardson, Plano, and Allen school districts that need it the most."

North Dallas Moving and Storage is one of two Dallas transportation services responsible for serving an average of 1,800 chronically hungry children each week during the school year in over 70 elementary schools.

NDMS has supported and collaborated with several charities over their 50+ years in business, including Move for Hunger and Back the Blue Foundation that supports their local police department. The company continues to partner with the BackPack program year after year, however, as they can see the tangible benefits Food 4 Kids has had on the local youth, providing them with the nourishment they need to flourish and succeed in life.

"It's incredibly rewarding to receive personalized messages from the kids in the program," says Morris. "Just to see their colorful, endearing drawings and read how thankful they are, touches our hearts in ways we could never fully describe. We are so moved by each and every single one that we hang them in our break room at the office."

To learn more about North Dallas Moving and Storage and its full range of moving services and secure storage solutions, visit https://www.ndms.com .

SOURCE North Dallas Moving and Storage (NDMS)

Related Links

https://ndms.com


BETHESDA, Maryland, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- The National Institutes of Health will fund the collection of information from women with disabilities who give birth in the United States. The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a survey of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, administered by state health departments. PRAMS covers approximately 83 percent of U.S. births and includes information on mothers' attitudes and experiences before, during and shortly after pregnancy. PRAMS data are widely used by researchers and state and local governments to evaluate the effectiveness of pregnancy initiatives and outcomes.

"It's estimated that more than 1 million women of childbearing age in the United States have a disability," said Alison Cernich, Ph.D., director of the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR), a component of NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). "But we really know very little about their pregnancy risks or even their basic experiences during or after pregnancy."

NICHD research interests overlap with the focus of PRAMS, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, infant health care and contraception. Dr. Cernich explained that NCMRR's efforts to include data on women with disabilities will contribute important information on the impact of disability on pregnancy and maternal and child health. It will provide $1.5 million to incorporate the disability survey as a supplement to the PRAMS questionnaire as part of data collection in 22 states. The survey will consist of 6 questions on functions, such as seeing, hearing, walking and self-care.

"The new data may help us better understand prenatal complications by disability type and severity, as well as the impact disability status may have on breastfeeding," said NCMRR's Dr. Cernich.

The supplemental disability survey is expected to be administered in 2019. Data are expected to be available by 2020.

About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): NICHD conducts and supports research in the United States and throughout the world on fetal, infant and child development; maternal, child and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit NICHD's website .

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov

SOURCE Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Related Links

https://www.nichd.nih.gov


KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli is pleased to announce the election of 17 attorneys to shareholder, effective today. The new shareholders were elected based on their superior client service and dedicated legal commitment.

The new shareholders span eight Polsinelli offices and more than 10 practices.

"It takes time, dedication and hard work to become a shareholder at our firm," said Polsinelli Chairman and CEO Russ Welsh. "This group of attorneys is most deserving of this milestone in their legal careers, and we look forward to supporting them as they ascend to leaders in the legal community."

The election of the 17 new shareholders concludes a year of significant growth for the firm, which added 128 new hires in 2018. Earlier this year, Polsinelli opened its newest office in Seattle, an important geographical expansion to its West Coast footprint, which includes existing offices in San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Los Angeles.

On Nov. 5, 21 new associates join Polsinelli to support clients coast-to-coast, a result of increased client needs and focus. The new associates are located in 10 different offices and 12 practice areas.

With a total of 46 service areas spanning nine divisions and six departments, Polsinelli continues expansion in alignment with industry demand and the changing legal landscape. Today, Polsinelli has 830 attorneys across 21 offices.

Polsinelli congratulates the following new shareholders:

Chattanooga

Joy D. Hoover  Corporate & Transactional. She earned her J.D. from San Diego School of Law.

Chicago

Elizabeth H. Bray  Employment Benefits & Executive Compensation. She earned her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law

Employment Benefits & Executive Compensation. She earned her J.D. from School of Law Kathleen D. Kenney  Health Care Operations. She earned her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law.

Health Care Operations. She earned her J.D. from School of Law. Jared I. Rothkopf  Real Estate. He earned his J.D. from DePaul University School of Law.

Dallas

Jessica W. Epperson  Corporate & Transactional. She earned her J.D. from University of Texas School of Law.

Corporate & Transactional. She earned her J.D. from School of Law. John T. Synowicki  Health Care Litigation and Disputes. He earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law.

Denver

Taryn A. Elliott  Electrical Engineering/Computer Science Patent Prosecution. She earned her J.D. George Mason University School of Law.

Electrical Engineering/Computer Science Patent Prosecution. She earned her J.D. School of Law. Margaret Olek Esler  Real Estate. She earned her J.D. from Indiana University School of Law.

Houston

Mathew R. Frontz  Electrical Engineering/Computer Science Patent Prosecution. He earned his J.D. from South Texas School of Law.

Kansas City

Bradley R. Gardner  Loan Enforcement. He earned his J.D. from Georgetown University School of Law.

Loan Enforcement. He earned his J.D. from School of Law. Cullin B. Hughes  Health Care Alignment and Organizations. He earned his J.D. from University of Kansas School of Law.

Health Care Alignment and Organizations. He earned his J.D. from School of Law. Alexia L. Norris  Real Estate. She earned her J.D. from University of Missouri School of Law.

St. Louis

William P. Hoffman  Health Care Alignment and Organizations. He earned his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law.

Washington, D.C.

Erin L. Felix  Government Contracts. She earned her J.D. from University of San Diego School of Law .

Government Contracts. She earned her J.D. from . Sara V. Iams  Health Care Operations. She earned her J.D. from Ohio State University School of Law.

Health Care Operations. She earned her J.D. from School of Law. Daniel P. Mullarkey  Trademark/Copyright/Branding. He earned his J.D. from Catholic University of America School of Law.

Trademark/Copyright/Branding. He earned his J.D. from Catholic University of America School of Law. Ryan M. Murphy  Chemical Science Patent Prosecution. He earned his J.D. from University of New Hampshire School of Law.

About Polsinelli

Polsinelli is an Am Law 100 firm with more than 825 attorneys in 21 cities coast to coast. Ranked #24 for Client Service Excellence1 and #10 for best client relationships2 among 650 U.S. law firms, Polsinelli is also named among the top 30 best-known firms in the nation3 for the second consecutive year. The firm's attorneys provide value through practical legal counsel infused with business insight, and focus on health care, financial services, real estate, intellectual property, mid-market corporate, labor and employment, and business litigation. www.polsinelli.com | Polsinelli PC | In California, Polsinelli LLP

12018 BTI Client Service A-Team Report

22017 BTI Industry Power Rankings

32018 BTI Brand Elite

Media Contact;

Carrie Trent, [email protected]

SOURCE Polsinelli

Related Links

https://www.polsinelli.com


SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Vectra, the leader in AI-powered cyberattack detection and threat hunting, today announced that while industrial control systems are in the crosshairs, most cyberattacks against energy and utilities firms occur and succeed inside enterprise IT networks, not in the critical infrastructure.

Published in the Vectra 2018 Spotlight Report on Energy and Utilities, these and other key findings underscore the importance of detecting hidden threat behaviors inside enterprise IT networks before cyberattackers have a chance to spy, spread and steal. These threat behaviors reveal that carefully orchestrated attack campaigns occur over many months.

Cybercriminals have been launching carefully orchestrated attack campaigns against energy and utilities networks for years. Often lasting several months, these slow, quiet reconnaissance missions involve observing operator behaviors and building a unique plan of attack.

"When attackers move laterally inside a network, it exposes a larger attack surface that increases the risk of data acquisition and exfiltration," said Branndon Kelley, CIO of American Municipal Power, a nonprofit electric-power generator utility that serves municipalities in nine states that own their own electric system. "It's imperative to monitor all network traffic to detect these and other attacker behaviors early and consistently."

Remote attackers typically gain a foothold in energy and utilities networks by staging malware and spear-phishing to steal administrative credentials. Once inside, they use administrative connections and protocols to perform reconnaissance and spread laterally in search of confidential data about industrial control systems.

"The covert abuse of administrative credentials provides attackers with unconstrained access to critical infrastructure systems and data," said David Monahan, managing research director of security and risk management at Enterprise Management Associates. "This is one of the most crucial risk areas in the cyberattack lifecycle."

Other key findings in the 2018 Spotlight Report on Energy and Utilities include:

During the command-and-control phase of attack, 194 malicious external remote access behaviors were detected per 10,000 host devices and workloads.

314 lateral movement attack behaviors were detected per 10,000 host devices and workloads.

In the exfiltration phase of the cyberattack lifecycle, 293 data smuggler behaviors were detected per 10,000 host devices and workloads.

The 2018 Spotlight Report from Vectra is based on observations and data from the 2018 Black Hat Conference Edition of the Attacker Behavior Industry Report, which reveals attacker behaviors and trends in networks from over 250 opt-in enterprise organizations in energy and utilities, as well as eight other industries.

From January through June 2018, the Cognito threat-detection and hunting platform from Vectra monitored network traffic and collected metadata from more than 4 million devices and workloads from customer cloud, data center and enterprise environments. The analysis of this metadata provides a better understanding about attacker behaviors and trends as well as business risks, enabling Vectra customers to avoid catastrophic data breaches.

The Cognito platform from Vectra enables enterprises to automatically detect and hunt for cyberattacks in real time. Cognito uses AI to perform non-stop, automated threat hunting with always-learning behavioral models to quickly and efficiently find hidden and unknown attackers before they do damage. Cognito provides full visibility into cyberattacker behaviors from cloud and data center workloads to user and IoT devices, leaving attackers with nowhere to hide.

Cognito Detect and its AI counterpart, Cognito Recall, are the cornerstones of the Cognito platform. Cognito Detect automates the real-time detection of hidden attackers while giving Cognito Recall a logical starting point to perform AI-assisted threat hunting and conduct conclusive incident investigations.

About Vectra

Vectra is transforming cybersecurity with AI. Its Cognito platform automates cyberattack detection and empowers threat hunters from data center and cloud workloads to user and IoT devices. Cognito correlates threats, prioritizes hosts based on risk and provides rich context to empower incident response with existing security systems, reducing the security operations workload by 36X. The company has been issued 10 U.S. patents with 11 patents pending for cybersecurity applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Vectra is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. and has European regional headquarters in Zurich. For more information, visit vectra.ai.

Media contact

John Kreuzer

Lumina Communications for Vectra

[email protected]

(408) 896-3307

SOURCE Vectra

Related Links

http://www.vectra.ai


HAYWARD, Calif., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- R.F. MacDonald Co., a leading provider of boiler and pump equipment and service for commercial and industrial solutions, today announced that the company has recently established a new office in Sacramento to support a growing base of clients in the area. The company has recently completed major projects for a number of local businesses, including HP Hood, LLC, Sacramento Valley Walnut Growers, LLC, and California State University, Chico.

"We've been doing business in and around Sacramento since the company was founded in 1956," said Andy Wade, R.F. MacDonald's General Manager. "Due to an increased demand for our commercial and industrial boiler and pump equipment and related services, we saw a need to establish an office in the area."

The company will employ a number of service techs, boilermakers and sales personnel in the office, providing quicker response times for its local clientele. Wade also commented that the office will maintain a parts inventory in the facility as well, which "will lead to higher levels of customer satisfaction and improved response times" when emergency pump service or boiler repairs are needed.

Founded in 1956, R.F. MacDonald Co. currently employs over 270 people and is headquartered in Hayward, CA. The company maintains offices for the sale and service of commercial and industrial boilers and pumps throughout California and Nevada, including Los Angeles, Orange County, Las Vegas, Reno, Modesto, Fresno, Sonoma/Napa, San Diego, Bakersfield, Sacramento and the Bay Area.

About R.F. MacDonald Co.

R.F. MacDonald Co. was founded in 1956 and has nearly 300 employees throughout California and Nevada. Each department is dedicated to the sales and service of boilers and pumps for commercial and industrial applications. The company also employs experienced engineers to assist contractors, engineers and customers in equipment selection, installation planning, layout permitting and project supervision. For more information on RF MacDonald, please call our Sacramento office at 916-696-6758, visit us at www.rfmacdonald.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

Media contact:

Athena Mekis

[email protected]

510-670-7430

SOURCE R.F. MacDonald Co.

Related Links

http://www.rfmacdonald.com


ATLANTA, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- RootsRated Media, the leading content marketing platform for lean marketing teams, unveiled its new brand identity today. Now known as Matcha , the company has rolled out an entirely new logo, color scheme and website. The new brand aligns with their vision to give lean marketing teams the power of data-driven content marketing, as well as their aim to kick off a broader conversation about what Matcha is calling, the " E-Commerce Revolution 2.0. "

"Just as Matcha tea provides lasting energy to the drinker, we believe our content, insights and services act as fuel to boost marketing efforts and drive sustainable growth for small and medium size businesses," said Fynn Glover, founder and CEO. "Platforms like Shopify, Stripe and Facebook have revolutionized small businesses by making it easier than ever to get a business off the ground. Yet competition has made it harder than ever to build lasting success. It's time for a new crop of solutions to empower small marketing teams to stand out in crowded markets and maintain strong growth trajectories. Matcha does this by making authentic storytelling and data-driven content marketing accessible, scalable and performant for e-commerce marketers at small and medium sized businesses."

Matcha is a turnkey content solution that helps resource-strapped marketers to sustainably acquire, engage and retain more customers. Matcha combines software and services to provide a holistic solution to the challenges of content production, distribution and measurement.

Solving the content supply problem: Matcha boasts a content library of nearly 10,000 articles where marketers can select and instantly publish engaging content to use for multi-audience prospecting and highly tailored email marketing. Matcha also manages a network of hundreds of professional freelance writers and photographers to create bespoke, original content that deepens brand storytelling and customer engagement for clients.

Matcha boasts a content library of nearly 10,000 articles where marketers can select and instantly publish engaging content to use for multi-audience prospecting and highly tailored email marketing. Matcha also manages a network of hundreds of professional freelance writers and photographers to create bespoke, original content that deepens brand storytelling and customer engagement for clients. Enabling smart distribution: Matcha includes paid social media planning and management without the common agency retainer to ensure content reaches the intended audiences and maximize the results from using the platform.

Matcha includes paid social media planning and management without the common agency retainer to ensure content reaches the intended audiences and maximize the results from using the platform. Proving content performance: Robust analytics allow users to understand the ROI of content marketing by showing how articles influence channel performance, on-site engagement, lead acquisition and sales.

Ultimately, Matcha enables better prospecting, email marketing, SEO and brand marketing results for small businesses selling direct-to-consumer.

"Historically, content marketing has been off-limits for e-commerce businesses with lean marketing teams. One of the biggest problems for small businesses is creating, distributing and measuring content that fuels meaningful customer experiences," said Dave Gould, General Partner at TechOperators. "SMB marketers need a solution that simplifies content marketing yet has a powerful impact on the results of their overall growth strategy. We're big believers in what the Matcha platform can do and the larger revolution they are helping to drive for SMBs."

Matcha is steeped in content marketing expertise that extends back to the founding of RootsRated.com, the leading website for where to go outdoors, in 2012. The team behind the RootsRated.com publishing business formed RootsRated Media in 2016 to leverage their experience to develop proprietary content marketing software for lean marketing teams. By mid-2018, RootsRated Media had raised its Series A led by TechOperators, relocated from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and made the decision to rebrand as Matcha. The company recently moved into new offices near Krog Street Market in Atlanta.

About Matcha

Matcha is the leading content marketing platform for lean marketing teams selling direct-to-consumer. Small and growing organizations use Matcha to fuel their marketing and drive sustainable growth. Easily and efficiently source, distribute and measure content to drive customer awareness, acquisition and retention. For more information, visit getmatcha.com

About TechOperators

Atlanta-based TechOperators invests in emerging software companies with high growth potential. The fund looks for entrepreneurs building emerging growth stage companies with defensible positions in large and growing markets. The fund initially invests $2-4 million and continues to support and build value with portfolio companies as they grow.

SOURCE Matcha Inc.

Related Links

http://getmatcha.com


BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE: BFS), an equity real estate investment trust ("REIT"), announced its operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 ("2018 Quarter"). Total revenue for the 2018 Quarter increased to $57.1 million from $56.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 ("2017 Quarter"). Operating income, which is net income before the impact of change in fair value of derivatives, loss on early extinguishment of debt and gains on sales of property and casualty settlements, if any, increased to $16.7 million for the 2018 Quarter from $14.4 million for the 2017 Quarter.

Net income available to common stockholders increased to $10.2 million ($0.45 per diluted share) for the 2018 Quarter from $8.4 million ($0.38 per diluted share) for the 2017 Quarter.

Same property revenue increased $0.9 million (1.6%) and same property operating income increased $1.2 million (2.9%) for the 2018 Quarter compared to the 2017 Quarter. We define same property revenue as property revenue minus the revenue of properties not in operation for the entirety of the comparable reporting periods. We define same property operating income as property operating income minus the results of properties which were not in operation for the entirety of the comparable periods. Shopping Center same property operating income for the 2018 Quarter totaled $32.5 million, a $0.6 million increase from the 2017 Quarter. Mixed-Use same property operating income totaled $10.5 million, a $0.6 million increase from the prior year.

As of September 30, 2018, 95.0% of the commercial portfolio was leased (not including the residential portfolio), compared to 95.5% at September 30, 2017. On a same property basis, 95.2% of the commercial portfolio was leased as of September 30, 2018, compared to 95.5% at September 30, 2017. As of September 30, 2018, the residential portfolio was 95.7% leased compared to 95.0% at September 30, 2017.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 ("2018 Period"), total revenue decreased to $169.8 million from $170.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 ("2017 Period"). Operating income increased to $47.0 million for the 2018 Period from $46.2 million for the 2017 Period. The increase in operating income was primarily due to (a) increased capitalized interest ($1.8 million), (b) higher commercial base rent due primarily to increased rental rates ($1.8 million), (c) higher residential rent ($0.8 million), and (d) lower depreciation and amortization ($0.4 million) partially offset by (e) the net impact of terminating leases for the spaces previously occupied by Safeway at Broadlands and Kmart at Kentlands ($3.5 million).

Net income available to common stockholders decreased to $26.6 million ($1.19 per diluted share) for the 2018 Period compared to $27.4 million ($1.25 per diluted share) for the 2017 Period. The decrease in net income available to common stockholders was primarily due to extinguishment of issuance costs upon redemption of preferred shares ($2.3 million) partially offset by increased net income ($1.4 million).

Same property revenue decreased $0.4 million (0.2%) and same property operating income decreased $1.5 million (1.2%) for the 2018 Period, compared to the 2017 Period. Shopping Center same property operating income decreased 2.2% and mixed-use same property operating income increased 1.8%. Shopping Center same property operating income decreased primarily due to (a) the net impact of terminating leases for the spaces previously occupied by Safeway at Broadlands and Kmart at Kentlands ($3.5 million) partially offset by (b) an increase in base rent ($2.4 million).

Funds from operations ("FFO") available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests (after deducting preferred stock dividends) was $25.0 million ($0.83 per diluted share) in the 2018 Quarter compared to $22.7 million ($0.77 per diluted share) in the 2017 Quarter. FFO for the 2018 Quarter increased primarily due to lower interest and amortization of debt expense. FFO, a widely accepted non-GAAP financial measure of operating performance for REITs, is defined as net income plus real estate depreciation and amortization, excluding gains and losses from property dispositions and impairment charges on real estate assets.

FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests (after deducting preferred stock dividends and the impact of preferred stock redemptions) decreased 2.7% to $69.4 million ($2.31 per diluted share) in the 2018 Period from $71.3 million ($2.42 per diluted share) in the 2017 Period. FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests decreased primarily due to (a) the net impact of terminating leases for the spaces previously occupied by Safeway at Broadlands and Kmart at Kentlands ($3.5 million) and (b) extinguishment of issuance costs upon redemption of preferred shares ($2.3 million), partially offset by (c) higher base rent ($2.6 million).

Saul Centers, Inc. is a self-managed, self-administered equity REIT headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, which currently operates and manages a real estate portfolio of 60 properties which includes (a) 49 community and neighborhood shopping centers and seven mixed-use properties with approximately 9.3 million square feet of leasable area and (b) four land and development properties. Over 85% of the Saul Centers' property operating income is generated by properties in the metropolitan Washington, DC/Baltimore area.

Saul Centers, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands)



September 30,

2018

December 31,

2017

(Unaudited) Assets





Real estate investments





Land $ 484,428



$ 450,256

Buildings and equipment 1,268,120



1,261,830

Construction in progress 161,625



91,114



1,914,173



1,803,200

Accumulated depreciation (516,568)



(488,166)



1,397,605



1,315,034

Cash and cash equivalents 9,771



10,908

Accounts receivable and accrued income, net 55,541



54,057

Deferred leasing costs, net 28,057



27,255

Prepaid expenses, net 9,015



5,248

Other assets 6,149



9,950

Total assets $ 1,506,138



$ 1,422,452









Liabilities





Notes payable $ 861,897



$ 897,888

Revolving credit facility payable 75,200



60,734

Term loan facility payable 74,568





Construction loan payable 1,247





Dividends and distributions payable 18,722



18,520

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities 31,958



23,123

Deferred income 25,747



29,084

Total liabilities 1,089,339



1,029,349









Equity





Preferred stock 180,000



180,000

Common stock 225



221

Additional paid-in capital 373,036



352,590

Distributions in excess of accumulated net income and accumulated other comprehensive loss (206,028)



(198,406)

Total Saul Centers, Inc. equity 347,233



334,405

Noncontrolling interests 69,566



58,698

Total equity 416,799



393,103

Total liabilities and equity $ 1,506,138



$ 1,422,452



Saul Centers, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands, except per share amounts)



Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2018

2017

2018

2017 Property revenue (unaudited)

(unaudited) Base rent $ 46,189



$ 45,385



$ 137,999



$ 135,436

Expense recoveries 9,209



9,447



26,582



26,378

Percentage rent 119



67



786



968

Other property revenue 1,494



1,329



4,263



7,797

Total property revenue 57,011



56,228



169,630



170,579

Property expenses













Property operating expenses 6,910



7,418



20,766



20,543

Provision for credit losses 101



52



530



602

Real estate taxes 6,937



6,834



20,559



20,124

Total property expenses 13,948



14,304



41,855



41,269

Property operating income 43,063



41,924



127,775



129,310

















Other revenue 48



9



218



31

Other expenses













Interest expense and amortization of deferred debt costs 11,022



11,821



33,786



35,585

Depreciation and amortization of deferred leasing costs 11,256



11,363



33,956



34,396

General and administrative 4,141



4,363



13,208



13,178

Total other expenses 26,419



27,547



80,950



83,159

Operating income 16,692



14,386



47,043



46,182

Change in fair value of derivatives 10



(1)



(2)



(2)

Gain on sale of property 







509





Net income 16,702



14,385



47,550



46,180

Income attributable to noncontrolling interests (3,547)



(2,902)



(9,265)



(9,483)

Net income attributable to Saul Centers, Inc. 13,155



11,483



38,285



36,697

Extinguishment of issuance costs upon redemption of preferred shares 







(2,328)





Preferred stock dividends (2,953)



(3,093)



(9,309)



(9,281)

Net income available to common stockholders $ 10,202



$ 8,390



$ 26,648



$ 27,416

Per share net income available to common stockholders













Basic and diluted $ 0.45



$ 0.38



$ 1.19



$ 1.25

















Weighted Average Common Stock:













Common stock 22,432



21,942



22,290



21,844

Effect of dilutive options 69



86



46



105

Diluted weighted average common stock 22,501



22,028



22,336



21,949



















Reconciliation of net income to FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests (1)



Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30, (In thousands, except per share amounts) 2018

2017

2018

2017

(unaudited)

(unaudited) Net income $ 16,702



$ 14,385



$ 47,550



$ 46,180

Subtract:













Gain on sale of property 







(509)





Add:













Real estate depreciation and amortization 11,256



11,363



33,956



34,396

FFO 27,958



25,748



80,997



80,576

Subtract:













Extinguishment of issuance costs upon redemption of preferred shares 







(2,328)





Preferred stock dividends (2,953)



(3,093)



(9,309)



(9,281)

FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests $ 25,005



$ 22,655



$ 69,360



$ 71,295

Weighted average shares:













Diluted weighted average common stock 22,501



22,028



22,336



21,949

Convertible limited partnership units 7,808



7,521



7,700



7,491

Average shares and units used to compute FFO per share 30,309



29,549



30,036



29,440

FFO per share available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests $ 0.83



$ 0.77



$ 2.31



$ 2.42























(1) The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) developed FFO as a relative non-GAAP financial measure of performance of an equity REIT in order to recognize that income-producing real estate historically has not depreciated on the basis determined under GAAP. FFO is defined by NAREIT as net income, computed in accordance with GAAP, plus real estate depreciation and amortization, and excluding impairment charges on real estate assets and gains or losses from property dispositions. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs, which is disclosed in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the applicable periods. There are no material legal or functional restrictions on the use of FFO. FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income, its most directly comparable GAAP measure, as an indicator of the Company's operating performance, or as an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. Management considers FFO a meaningful supplemental measure of operating performance because it primarily excludes the assumption that the value of the real estate assets diminishes predictably over time (i.e. depreciation), which is contrary to what the Company believes occurs with its assets, and because industry analysts have accepted it as a performance measure. FFO may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other REITs.

Reconciliation of property revenue to same property revenue

(in thousands)

Three months ended

September 30,

Nine months ended

September 30,



2018

2017

2018

2017 Total property revenue

$ 57,011



$ 56,228



$ 169,630



$ 170,579

Less: Acquisitions, dispositions and development properties

(82)



(199)



(3,712)



(4,285)

Total same property revenue

$ 56,929



$ 56,029



$ 165,918



$ 166,294



















Shopping Centers

$ 41,161



$ 40,635



$ 119,352



$ 120,569

Mixed-Use properties

15,768



15,394



46,566



45,725

Total same property revenue

$ 56,929



$ 56,029



$ 165,918



$ 166,294



















Total Shopping Center revenue

$ 41,161



$ 40,834



$ 122,982



$ 124,854

Less: Shopping Center acquisitions, dispositions and development properties





(199)



(3,630)



(4,285)

Total same Shopping Center revenue

$ 41,161



$ 40,635



$ 119,352



$ 120,569



















Total Mixed-Use property revenue

$ 15,850



$ 15,394



$ 46,648



$ 45,725

Less: Mixed-Use acquisitions, dispositions and development properties

(82)







(82)





Total same Mixed-Use property revenue

$ 15,768



$ 15,394



$ 46,566



$ 45,725



Reconciliation of property operating income to same property operating income



Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30, (In thousands) 2018

2017

2018

2017

(unaudited)

(unaudited) Property operating income $ 43,063



$ 41,924



$ 127,775



$ 129,310

Less: Acquisitions, dispositions and development properties (51)



(107)



(3,088)



(3,111)

Total same property operating income $ 43,012



$ 41,817



$ 124,687



$ 126,199

















Shopping Centers $ 32,517



$ 31,928



$ 93,802



$ 95,867

Mixed-Use properties 10,495



9,889



30,885



30,332

Total same property operating income $ 43,012



$ 41,817



$ 124,687



$ 126,199

















Shopping Center operating income $ 32,517



$ 32,035



$ 96,839



$ 98,978

Less: Shopping Center acquisitions, dispositions and development properties 



(107)



(3,037)



(3,111)

Total same Shopping Center operating income $ 32,517



$ 31,928



$ 93,802



$ 95,867

















Mixed-Use operating income $ 10,546



$ 9,889



$ 30,936



$ 30,332

Less: Mixed-Use Acquisitions, dispositions and development properties (51)







(51)





Total same Mixed-Use property operating income $ 10,495



$ 9,889



$ 30,885



$ 30,332



SOURCE Saul Centers, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.saulcenters.com


HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In preparation for Pennsylvania's midterm election, Acting Secretary of State Robert Torres suggests Pennsylvanians visit votesPA.com where they can confirm their registration status, verify their new congressional district, locate their polling place and much more.

"VotesPA is an invaluable resource for voters as they head to the polls on November 6," Secretary Torres said. "We encourage all voters to be fully informed about their rights and what to expect at the polling place."

At votesPA.com, citizens can:

Additionally, votesPA.com includes links to A Toolkit for the Pennsylvania Voter, Voter Guide FAQ About Voting in Pennsylvania, the Top 5 Things Every Voter Should Know About Pennsylvania Elections and other useful information. These publications are available to download and print in English or Spanish.

On Tuesday, November 6, the polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM for registered voters to elect:

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

One U.S. Senator

Eighteen U.S. House members

Even-numbered state Senate districts

All state House seats

Voters have the right to cast a provisional ballot at the polling place if they believe they are registered at the precinct but are not listed in the poll book or supplemental poll book. County officials will review provisional ballots within seven days after the election to determine whether the voter was eligible.

Voters appearing at a polling place for the first time must show proper identification, which may be either photo or non-photo ID. There is no identification requirement for voters returning to a polling place where they have voted before.

Voters are entitled to assistance at the voting booth if they are unable to enter the booth or use the balloting system. They can choose who will provide the assistance, except for their employer, an agent of their employer, an officer or agent of their union or the Judge of Elections.

For complete information about voting in Pennsylvania, visit votesPA.com or call 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772).

MEDIA CONTACT: Wanda Murren, (717) 783-1621

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of State

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us


KENOSHA, Wis., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Snap-on has once again been recognized by technicians and leading industry trade media for "breakthrough originality" in its latest products. For its annual "People's Choice" awards, Professional Tools & Equipment News (PTEN) asks readers to voice their opinions on the top products among those nominated for the magazine's Innovation Awards. Snap-on Incorporated racked up more "People's Choice" winners than any company in the five-year history of the program. Snap-on Tools collected 14 awards, while Snap-on Diagnostics and Mitchell1 combined for four more. As a result, Snap-on products were chosen by readers as the most popular in 18 of the 27 "People's Choice" categories.

In addition to PTEN, MOTOR magazine honored Snap-on among its Top 20 Tools for 2018. Snap-on Tools won for the CTR767 3/8 Drive Cordless Long-Neck Ratchet. The John Bean (a Snap-on brand) V2280 Imaging Wheel Alignment System was also named a Top 20 Tool. Both PTEN and MOTOR presented their awards at the 2018 Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAPEX) Show in Las Vegas earlier this week.

"These awards validate the priority Snap-on places on listening to and observing our customers, and our ability to respond innovatively and effectively to their needs. Being chosen both by industry experts and technicians themselves is a true reflection of the Snap-on innovation that is born out of that customer connection," says Ben Brenton, Snap-on vice president of innovation. "We are grateful for these honors and proud to design, engineer and manufacture solutions for a more productive work environment."

Snap-on was honored with Professional Tool & Equipment News (PTEN) "People's Choice" awards for the following products:

Air Conditioning Service: Polartek  YF A/C Machine (EEAC333)  works on both standard and hybrid vehicles and is 10 percent faster than previous units

 works on both standard and hybrid vehicles and is 10 percent faster than previous units Air Tools: 1/2 Drive Air Impact Wrench (PT850)  lightweight powerhouse delivers 1,190 ft-lb of bolt breakaway torque, 810 ft-lb of max torque with 1,270 bpm

 lightweight powerhouse delivers 1,190 ft-lb of bolt breakaway torque, 810 ft-lb of max torque with 1,270 bpm Battery Service Equipment: 12 V Li-Ion Compact Engine Starter/USB Charger and Light (EEJP201MBK)  safely jumps sport, motorcycle and four and eight cylinder vehicles, even in below freezing temperatures

 safely jumps sport, motorcycle and four and eight cylinder vehicles, even in below freezing temperatures Electrical Systems: Digital Multimeter, Circuit Tester and "Y" Terminal Master Kit (EEDMCT-KIT)  all-in-one collection of electrical testing solutions

 all-in-one collection of electrical testing solutions Engine Service & Repair: 1/4 Drive Flex-Head TechAngle  Micro Torque Wrench (ATECH1FS240)  designed for close clearance work and weighing less than a pound, it packs powerful features in a compact steel body

 designed for close clearance work and weighing less than a pound, it packs powerful features in a compact steel body Hand Tools: 3/8 Drive Dual 80  Technology Extra-Long Handle Flex-Head Ratchet (FLLF80)  flexible head makes wrenching easier in hard-to-reach applications, while Dual 80  technology ensures minimum swing arc

 flexible head makes wrenching easier in hard-to-reach applications, while Dual 80 technology ensures minimum swing arc Inspection Tools, Lab Scopes: Video Inspection Scope (BK3000)  detects problems in hard-to-reach areas and diagnoses issues from one screen

 detects problems in hard-to-reach areas and diagnoses issues from one screen Lighting: 750 Lumen Project Light (ECPRA072)  aluminum body is compact and lightweight with a USB-C port, eliminating the need for a cable or cord

 aluminum body is compact and lightweight with a USB-C port, eliminating the need for a cable or cord Tire, Wheel Service: Swing Arm Tire Changer (EEWH329A)  ideal mid-range tire changer with convenient mount-dismount head and four-jaw, self-centering clamp

 ideal mid-range tire changer with convenient mount-dismount head and four-jaw, self-centering clamp Tool Storage: 72 Masters Series Roll Cab with PowerDrawer and SpeeDrawer (KMP1163)  in addition to dedicated charging and organizing drawers, this next-level productivity center's extended cab also affords two extra-wide top drawers

 in addition to dedicated charging and organizing drawers, this next-level productivity center's extended cab also affords two extra-wide top drawers Power Tools: 3/8 Drive Cordless Long-Neck Ratchet (CTR767)  removes and installs fasteners swiftly and efficiently

 removes and installs fasteners swiftly and efficiently Welding: 20 A Plasma Arc Cutting Machine (PLASMA20i)  portable system is lightweight, but packs a punch with capability to cut up to 1/4" steel and sever up to 3/8" material

 portable system is lightweight, but packs a punch with capability to cut up to 1/4" steel and sever up to 3/8" material Chemicals: 4-Pack Black Cherry Hand Cleaner (WOD1125ACSA)  concentrated, water-activated formula, made with 100 percent biodegradable surfactants

 concentrated, water-activated formula, made with 100 percent biodegradable surfactants Personal Gear: Heated Hoodie (SSX17P111)  keeps technicians warm and dry and their mobile devices charged

 keeps technicians warm and dry and their mobile devices charged Diagnostic Test Equipment: ZEUS Intelligent Diagnostic and Information System (EEMS342)  not only comprehensive enough to provide all the diagnostic and repair tips technicians need, it's smart enough to skip the ones they don't

 not only comprehensive enough to provide all the diagnostic and repair tips technicians need, it's smart enough to skip the ones they don't Scan Tools: ETHOS Edge Scan Tool (EESC332)  full-function scan tool that's ready to take on any vehicle in the bay, all day and every day

 full-function scan tool that's ready to take on any vehicle in the bay, all day and every day Repair Information: Mitchell1 ProDemand 1Search Plus  enhanced ProDemand auto repair information with new interface that streamlines user experience with an easy-to-use graphical design and intuitive workflow

 enhanced ProDemand auto repair information with new interface that streamlines user experience with an easy-to-use graphical design and intuitive workflow Computers and Software: Mitchell1 Social CRM LocalSearch  new feature to SocialCRM to help make auto repair business more visible online when consumers search for auto repair

Customers can learn more about these award-winning tools and others by contacting their participating Snap-on franchisee or other sales representative, visiting www.snapon.com or calling toll free 877-SNAPON-4 (877-762-7664).

To U.S. Publications Only

About Snap-on

Snap-on Incorporated is a leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of tools, equipment, diagnostics, repair information and systems solutions for professional users performing critical tasks. Products and services include hand and power tools, tool storage, diagnostics software, information and management systems, shop equipment and other solutions for vehicle dealerships and repair centers, as well as for customers in industries including aviation and aerospace, agriculture, construction, government and military, mining, natural resources, power generation and technical education. Snap-on also derives income from various financing programs to facilitate the sales of its products and support its franchise business. Products and services are sold through the company's franchisee, company-direct, distributor and internet channels. Founded in 1920, Snap-on is a $3.7 billion, S&P 500 company headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

SOURCE Snap-on

Related Links

http://www.snapon.com


OSLO, Norway, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Targovax ASA (OSE: TRVX), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing immune activators to target hard-to-treat solid tumors, today announces its third quarter 2018 results.

Targovax's management will host an online presentation for investors, analysts and the press at 08:45 CET. The presentation in Norwegian can be followed here, or at: https://www.facebook.com/AXExposure/videos/279295392691286/

An English version can be found on Targovax Events & Presentations from 08:45.

For a more elaborate presentation of Targovax, please visit targovax.com for a replay of the 15 October 2018 Capital Markets Day.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER 2018

In July, Ludwig Cancer Research and the Cancer Research Institute announced the completion of the safety evaluation for the first dose cohort in the phase I/II trial of ONCOS-102 in combination with MedImmune's checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) Imfinzi (durvalumab). The trial continued into the second dose cohort

In July, Targovax and Sotio announced that the first patient was dosed in the phase I/II combination trial in prostate cancer of ONCOS-102 with DCVAC, a dendritic cell immune-therapy

In September, Targovax announced interim response rate and immune activation results for the first six patients in the phase I combination trial of ONCOS-102 and Keytruda in checkpoint inhibitor refractory melanoma, including one patient with a complete response

In September, Targovax announced publication of new ONCOS-102 in vivo data in the Journal of Medical Virology, showing T-cell activation in a mesothelioma model

In September, Targovax announced the appointment of Torbjrn Furuseth as Chief Financial Officer, with Erik Digman Wiklund transitioning to the role of Chief Business Officer

POST-PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS

In October, the Company reported the full data set from the TG01 trial in resected pancreatic cancer, including encouraging disease-free survival data

In October, the Company hosted a Key Opinion Leader Symposium on oncolytic viruses in New York City , with speakers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre

In October, the Company hosted a Capital Markets Day in Oslo, Norway , and provided an update on the TG program development strategy

ystein Soug, CEO commented: "Targovax has made great progress in 2018. We have four ongoing clinical trials with our lead clinical product, ONCOS-102, and we reported interim response rate and immune activation data from the trials in mesothelioma and checkpoint inhibitor refractory melanoma. In particular, it was encouraging to see a complete response so early in the melanoma trial, which makes us confident that ONCOS-102 has the potential to provide an important future benefit for difficult-to-treat CPI refractory patients. We are now planning to expand the dosing to fully unlock that potential.

The results from the TG01 trial in resected pancreatic cancer have now also been fully analyzed. We see a very encouraging signal of efficacy, compared to historical control, both in terms of disease-free survival and overall survival. Whilst the ONCOS oncolytic virus program will remain our priority, we plan to continue and expand the TG development program. Based on the TG01 data, several academic groups have expressed interest in sponsoring pancreatic cancer combination trials with the TG vaccine. In addition, we will seek to combine TG vaccination with a checkpoint inhibitor in a small proof-of-concept trial."

Reporting material

Targovax third quarter 2018 report

Targovax third quarter 2018 presentation

The quarterly report and presentation are also available at the website www.targovax.com.

For further information, please contact:

Renate Birkeli, Investor Relations

Phone: +47-922-61-624

Email: [email protected]



Media and IR enquires:

Andreas Tinglum - Corporate Communications (Norway)

Phone: +47-9300-1773

Email: [email protected]



Simon Conway/Stephanie Cuthbert - FTI Consulting (International)

Phone: +44-20-3727-1000

Email: [email protected]



About Targovax

Activating the patient's immune system to fight cancer

Targovax (OSE:TRVX) is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing immune activators to target hard-to-treat solid tumors. Immuno-oncology is currently one of the fastest growing therapeutic fields in medicine.

Targovax's lead product candidate, ONCOS-102, is a genetically modified oncolytic adenovirus, which has been engineered to selectively infect and replicate in cancer cells. It has been shown to activate the immune system to generate tumor-specific immune responses. In phase I trials, ONCOS-102 induced both local and systemic innate and adaptive immune activation, which has been associated with clinical benefit. ONCOS-102's lead indication is mesothelioma, where the virus is currently being tested in a randomized phase II trial, with a phase Ib safety lead-in cohort. Another trial, in advanced melanoma, is expected to produce important proof of concept data for checkpoint inhibitor refractory patients.

Targovax is also developing a neo-antigen cancer vaccine targeting tumors that express mutated forms of RAS - mutations known to drive cancer. The TG vaccine program has shown a signal of efficacy compared to historical control in a 32-patient trial with TG01 in resected pancreatic cancer. A next generation product candidate, TG02 is currently tested as monotherapy and will also be tested in combination with KEYTRUDA (an anti-PD1 check point inhibitor, CPI).

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/targovax/r/targovax-asa--third-quarter-2018-results,c2661643

The following files are available for download:

Q3 report - http://mb.cision.com/Public/17093/2661643/85f997ca69858bc3.pdf

Presentation - http://mb.cision.com/Public/17093/2661643/85bb7888f3ba0149.pdf





SOURCE Targovax

Related Links

http://www.targovax.com


WILMINGTON, Del., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Third Quarter 2018 Highlights

Net Sales of $1.6 billion , up 3%

, up 3% Net Income of $275 million , up 33% with EPS of $1.51 , up 40%

, up 33% with EPS of , up 40% Adjusted Net Income of $271 million , up 33% with Adjusted EPS of $1.49 , up 41%

, up 33% with Adjusted EPS of , up 41% Adjusted EBITDA of $435 million , up 14%

, up 14% Repurchased approximately $136 million of stock during the quarter

of stock during the quarter Expect full year 2018 Adjusted EBITDA in the lower half of our original guidance range of $1.7 to $1.85 billion on reduced Ti-Pure titanium dioxide volume

to on reduced Ti-Pure titanium dioxide volume Affirming three-year (2018-2020) financial targets

The Chemours Company (Chemours) (NYSE: CC), a global chemistry company with leading market positions in fluoroproducts, chemical solutions and titanium technologies, today announced its financial results for the third quarter 2018.

"I am proud of the results we delivered in the third quarter 2018, with solid performance across all our segments, despite lower than expected Ti-Pure titanium dioxide volume, driving top line and bottom line growth for the company," said President and CEO Mark Vergnano. "Our results in the quarter reflect the disciplined execution of our strategy and we remain confident in our ability to deliver consistent growth and create value over the long-term."

Third quarter net sales of $1.6 billion increased 3 percent from the prior year quarter, driven primarily by higher global average selling prices in Titanium Technologies and strong demand in Fluoroproducts. Third quarter net income was $275 million, or $1.51 per diluted share, up 33 percent and 40 percent, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter 2018 increased 14 percent to $435 million. This improvement was primarily a result of increased sales somewhat offset by higher raw material costs.

Fluoroproducts

Fluoroproducts segment sales in the third quarter of $682 million rose 7 percent in comparison to the prior-year quarter. Higher volume versus last year's third quarter was driven by broad-based demand for Opteon and base refrigerants, and fluoropolymer products. Price was modestly favorable on a year-over-year basis driven by improved price for most fluoropolymer products, somewhat offset by seasonally lower base refrigerant pricing. Segment Adjusted EBITDA of $182 million improved 15 percent versus the prior-year quarter, a result of higher sales partially offset by increased raw material expenses.

Chemical Solutions

In the third quarter 2018, Chemical Solutions segment sales were $155 million, a 5 percent increase versus the prior-year quarter. Softer demand for performance chemicals and intermediates products in comparison to last year's third quarter drove lower volume. Price impact was favorable versus last year's third quarter, a result of price increases implemented in 2018 across mining solutions and performance chemicals and intermediates. Third quarter 2018 segment Adjusted EBITDA was $24 million, a 33 percent increase in comparison to the prior year quarter reflecting higher prices, which was somewhat offset by increased raw material costs.

Titanium Technologies

Titanium Technologies segment sales in the third quarter were $791 million versus $799 million in the prior-year quarter. Volume was lower in comparison to robust demand in the prior-year quarter, a result of continued customer inventory destocking. Global average selling prices were higher in comparison to last year's third quarter due to previously communicated price announcements. On a sequential basis, average local price was modestly positive, partially offset by customer mix in comparison to the second quarter of 2018. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $268 million, an 8 percent year-over-year increase versus last year's third quarter. Results were driven by higher global average selling prices for Ti-Pure titanium dioxide, partially offset by higher raw material costs.

Corporate and Other

Corporate and Other represented a $39 million offset to Adjusted EBITDA, $5 million lower versus the prior-year quarter.

The company realized an adjusted effective tax rate of approximately 14 percent in the quarter. The company expects its effective tax rate for the full-year 2018 to be within a range of 18 to 20 percent, reflecting the company's anticipated geographic mix of earnings and the impact of US tax reform.

In the quarter, the company recorded a $30 million non-cash charge in relation to Fayetteville, NC environmental matters.

Liquidity

As of September 30, 2018, gross consolidated debt was $4.0 billion. Debt, net of $1.3 billion cash, was $2.7 billion, resulting in a net leverage ratio of approximately 1.5 times on a trailing twelve-month basis.

Cash provided by operating activities for the third quarter of 2018 was $342 million, versus $112 million, which included the $320 million PFOA MDL settlement payment in the prior year quarter. Working capital for the quarter decreased by $40 million.

Capital expenditures for the third quarter 2018 were $116 million, versus $108 million in last year's third quarter. The company expects its capital expenditures for the full-year 2018 to be approximately $500 million. Free Cash Flow for the third quarter was $226 million versus the prior-year quarter of $324 million, excluding the PFOA MDL settlement payment made in the third quarter of 2017.

In the nine months of 2018, cash provided by operating activities was $881 million, versus $672 million in the first nine months of 2017, which excluded the PFOA MDL settlement payment made in 2017. Year-to-date 2018 Free Cash Flow of $537 million represents a $111 million improvement versus the prior-year Free Cash Flow of $426 million, excluding the PFOA MDL settlement payment made in 2017.

Outlook

"We expect each of our segments to deliver solid year-over-year top and bottom line growth. In Fluoroproducts, we believe continued adoption of Opteon refrigerants and strong demand for fluoropolymers products will drive improved results. We anticipate Chemical Solutions to continue to deliver improved performance, given robust demand for mining solutions products. Finally, we are committed to Ti-Pure Value Stabilization and expect the Titanium Technologies segment to show year-over-year improvement, despite anticipated volume loss due to customer destocking," Vergnano commented.

"With additional visibility into the balance of the year, we now expect Adjusted EBITDA within the lower half of our original guidance range of $1.70 to $1.85 billion. We expect 2018 Free Cash Flow to be approximately $650 million, with Adjusted EPS of between $5.10 and $5.85 per share. We remain committed to meeting or exceeding our three-year financial targets, including our previously announced targets for capital allocation," Vergnano concluded.

Conference Call

As previously announced, Chemours will hold a conference call and webcast on Friday, November 2, 2018 at 8:30 AM EDT. The webcast and additional presentation materials can be accessed by visiting the Events & Presentations page of Chemours' investor website, investors.chemours.com. A webcast replay of the conference call will be available on the Chemours investor website.

About The Chemours Company

The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) helps create a colorful, capable and cleaner world through the power of chemistry. Chemours is a global leader in fluoroproducts, chemical solutions, and titanium technologies, providing its customers with solutions in a wide range of industries with market-defining products, application expertise and chemistry-based innovations. Chemours ingredients are found in refrigeration and air conditioning, mining and general industrial manufacturing, plastics and coatings. Our flagship products include prominent brands such as Teflon, Ti-Pure, Krytox, Viton, Opteon, Freon and Nafion. Chemours has approximately 7,000 employees and 26 manufacturing sites serving approximately 4,000 customers in North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Chemours is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol CC. For more information please visit chemours.com, or follow us on Twitter @Chemours, or LinkedIn.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Within this press release, we may make reference to Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow, Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) and Net Leverage Ratio which are non-GAAP financial measures. The company includes these non-GAAP financial measures because management believes they are useful to investors in that they provide for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making.

Management uses Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow, ROIC and Net Leverage Ratio to evaluate the company's performance excluding the impact of certain noncash charges and other special items which we expect to be infrequent in occurrence in order to have comparable financial results to analyze changes in our underlying business from quarter to quarter.

Accordingly, the company believes the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when used in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, is a useful financial analysis tool that can assist investors in assessing the company's operating performance and underlying prospects. This analysis should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. This analysis, as well as the other information in this press release, should be read in conjunction with the company's financial statements and footnotes contained in the documents that the company files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the company in this press release may be different from the methods used by other companies. For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the attached schedules or the table, "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures" and materials posted to the company's website at investors.chemours.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to a historical or current fact. The words "believe," "expect," "will," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," "target," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify "forward-looking statements," which speak only as of the date such statements were made. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, the outcome or resolution of any pending or future environmental liabilities, the commencement, outcome or resolution of any regulatory inquiry, investigation or proceeding, the initiation, outcome or settlement of any litigation, changes in environmental regulations in the U.S. or other jurisdictions that affect demand for or adoption of our products, anticipated future operating and financial performance, business plans, prospects, targets, goals and commitments, capital investments and projects, plans for dividends or share repurchases, sufficiency or longevity of intellectual property protection, cost savings targets, plans to increase profitability and growth, our ability to make acquisitions, integrate acquired businesses or assets into our operations, and achieve anticipated synergies or cost savings, and our outlook for net sales, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EPS, Free Cash Flow, and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), all of which are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that may not be accurate or realized. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties that are beyond Chemours' control. Additionally, there may be other risks and uncertainties that Chemours is unable to identify at this time or that Chemours does not currently expect to have a material impact on its business. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Chemours assumes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as required by law.

CONTACT:

INVESTORS

Jonathan Lock

VP, Corporate Development and Investor Relations

+1.302.773.2263

[email protected]

NEWS MEDIA

Alvenia Scarborough

Sr. Director of Corporate Communications and Brand Marketing

+1.302.773.4507

[email protected]

The Chemours Company Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)





Three Months Ended September 30,



Nine Months Ended September 30,





2018



2017



2018



2017

Net sales

$ 1,628



$ 1,584



$ 5,174



$ 4,608

Cost of goods sold



1,151





1,119





3,603





3,347

Gross profit



477





465





1,571





1,261

Selling, general, and administrative expense



163





153





466





461

Research and development expense



20





20





61





62

Restructuring, asset-related, and other charges



12





8





32





31

Total other operating expenses



195





181





559





554

Equity in earnings of affiliates



10





9





32





26

Interest expense, net



(47)





(55)





(148)





(160)

Loss on extinguishment of debt















(38)





(1)

Other income, net



24





12





115





77

Income before income taxes



269





250





973





649

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes



(6)





43





119





130

Net income



275





207





854





519

Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests















1





1

Net income attributable to Chemours

$ 275



$ 207



$ 853



$ 518



































Per share data































Basic earnings per share of common stock

$ 1.56



$ 1.12



$ 4.77



$ 2.81

Diluted earnings per share of common stock



1.51





1.08





4.62





2.72



The Chemours Company Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)





(Unaudited)













September 30, 2018



December 31, 2017

Assets















Current assets:















Cash and cash equivalents

$ 1,275



$ 1,556

Accounts and notes receivable, net



998





919

Inventories



1,086





935

Prepaid expenses and other



89





83

Total current assets



3,448





3,493

Property, plant, and equipment



8,885





8,511

Less: Accumulated depreciation



(5,678)





(5,503)

Property, plant, and equipment, net



3,207





3,008

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net



187





166

Investments in affiliates



179





173

Other assets



491





453

Total assets

$ 7,512



$ 7,293

Liabilities















Current liabilities:















Accounts payable

$ 1,123



$ 1,075

Current maturities of long-term debt



14





15

Other accrued liabilities



561





558

Total current liabilities



1,698





1,648

Long-term debt, net



3,985





4,097

Deferred income taxes



220





208

Other liabilities



463





475

Total liabilities



6,366





6,428

Commitments and contingent liabilities















Equity















Common stock (par value $0.01 per share; 810,000,000 shares authorized;

187,149,447 shares issued and 173,849,387 shares outstanding at September 30,

2018; 185,343,034 shares issued and 182,956,628 shares outstanding at December

31, 2017)



2





2

Treasury stock at cost (13,300,060 shares at September 30, 2018; 2,386,406 shares at December 31, 2017)



(636)





(116)

Additional paid-in capital



856





837

Retained earnings



1,358





579

Accumulated other comprehensive loss



(440)





(442)

Total Chemours stockholders' equity



1,140





860

Non-controlling interests



6





5

Total equity



1,146





865

Total liabilities and equity

$ 7,512



$ 7,293



The Chemours Company Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions)





Nine Months Ended September 30,





2018



2017

Cash flows from operating activities















Net income

$ 854



$ 519

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:















Depreciation and amortization



213





204

Asset-related charges









3

Gain on sales of assets and businesses



(45)





(14)

Equity in earnings of affiliates, net



(4)





(26)

Loss on extinguishment of debt



38





1

Amortization of debt issuance costs and issue discounts



9





10

Deferred tax provision



3





53

Other operating charges and credits, net



9





26

Decrease (increase) in operating assets:















Accounts and notes receivable, net



(87)





(110)

Inventories and other operating assets



(186)





(91)

(Decrease) increase in operating liabilities:















Accounts payable and other operating liabilities



77





(238)

Cash provided by operating activities



881





337

Cash flows from investing activities















Purchases of property, plant, and equipment



(344)





(246)

Acquisition of business, net



(37)







Proceeds from sales of assets and businesses, net



46





39

Foreign exchange contract settlements, net



8





5

Cash used for investing activities



(327)





(202)

Cash flows from financing activities















Proceeds from issuance of debt, net



520





494

Debt repayments



(675)





(24)

Payments related to extinguishment of debt



(29)





(1)

Payments of debt issuance costs



(12)





(6)

Purchases of treasury stock, at cost



(520)







Proceeds from exercised stock options, net



15





30

Payments related to tax withholdings on vested restricted stock units



(16)





(10)

Payments of dividends



(106)





(16)

Cash (used for) provided by financing activities



(823)





467

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents



(12)





31

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents



(281)





633

Cash and cash equivalents at January 1,



1,556





902

Cash and cash equivalents at September 30,

$ 1,275



$ 1,535



















Supplemental cash flows information















Non-cash investing and financing activities:















Changes in property, plant, and equipment included in accounts payable

$ 12



$ (16)

Obligations incurred under build-to-suit lease arrangement



41







Purchases of treasury stock not settled by period-end



10









The Chemours Company Segment Financial and Operating Data (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions)

Segment Net Sales





























Three Months













Three Months Ended



Year-Over-Year



Ended



Sequential



September 30,



Increase /



June 30,



Increase /



2018



2017



(Decrease)



2018



(Decrease)

Fluoroproducts $

682



$

637



$

45



$

801



$

(119)

Chemical Solutions



155







148







7







153







2

Titanium Technologies



791







799







(8)







862







(71)

Total Net Sales $

1,628



$

1,584



$

44



$

1,816



$

(188)



Segment Adjusted EBITDA

























Three Months













Three Months Ended



Year-Over-Year



Ended



Sequential



September 30,



Increase /



June 30,



Increase /



2018



2017



(Decrease)



2018



(Decrease)

Fluoroproducts $

182



$

158



$

24



$

230



$

(48)

Chemical Solutions



24







18







6







16







8

Titanium Technologies



268







249







19







295







(27)

Corporate and Other



(39)







(44)







5







(44)







5

Total Adjusted EBITDA $

435



$

381



$

54



$

497



$

(62)



















Adjusted EBITDA Margin 27%



24%









27%









Quarterly Change in Net Sales from September 30, 2017





















Percentage



Percentage Change Due To



September 30, 2018 Net Sales



Change vs. September 30, 2017



Price



Volume



Currency

Total Company $

1,628





3 %



6 %



(3) %



 %









































Fluoroproducts $

682





7 %



1 %



7 %



(1) % Chemical Solutions



155





5 %



12 %



(7) %



 % Titanium Technologies



791





(1) %



9 %



(10) %



 %



















Quarterly Change in Net Sales from June 30, 2018





















Percentage



Percentage Change Due To



September 30, 2018 Net Sales



Change vs. June 30, 2018



Price



Volume



Currency

Total Company $

1,628





(10) %



1 %



(10) %



(1) %









































Fluoroproducts $

682





(15) %



 %



(14) %



(1) % Chemical Solutions



155





2 %



5 %



-4 %



1 % Titanium Technologies



791





(8) %



 %



(7) %



(1) %

The Chemours Company Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions)

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income to GAAP Net Income Reconciliation

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA) is defined as income (loss) before income taxes, excluding the following: interest expense, depreciation, and amortization; non-operating pension and other post-retirement employee benefit costs, which represent the components of net periodic pension (income) costs excluding the service cost component; exchange (gains) losses included in other income (expense), net; restructuring, asset-related, and other charges; asset impairments; (gains) losses on sales of assets and businesses; and, other items not considered indicative of the Company's ongoing operational performance and expected to occur infrequently. Adjusted Net Income is defined as net income (loss) attributable to Chemours, adjusted for items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, except interest expense, depreciation, certain amortization, and certain provision for (benefit from) income tax amounts.





Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended





September 30,



June 30,



September 30,





2018



2017



2018



2018



2017

Net income attributable to Chemours

$

275



$

207



$ 281



$

853



$

518

Non-operating pension and other post-retirement employee benefit income





(4)







(7)







(7)







(18)







(24)

Exchange losses (gains), net





6







4







(2)







4







(3)

Restructuring and other charges





12







8







9







32







31

Asset-related and other charges













1







1















3

Loss on extinguishment of debt





















38







38







1

Gain on sales of assets and businesses (1)





















(3)







(45)







(14)

Transaction costs (2)













1







9







9







3

Legal and other charges (3)





34







7







10







45







18

Adjustments made to income taxes (4,6)





(41)







(11)







(8)







(54)







(24)

Benefit from income taxes relating to reconciling items

(5,6)





(11)







(7)







(14)







(15)







(10)

Adjusted Net Income





271







203







314







849







499

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests





















1







1







1

Interest expense, net





47







55







48







148







160

Depreciation and amortization





71







62







71







213







204

All remaining provision for income taxes (6)





46







61







63







188







164

Adjusted EBITDA

$

435



$

381



$

497



$

1,399



$

1,028



(1) For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, gain on sale includes a $3 gain and a $42 gain associated with the sales of the Company's East Chicago, Indiana and

Linden, New Jersey sites, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, gain on sale includes a $12 gain associated with the sale of the Company's Edge

Moor, Delaware site and a $4 gain associated with the sale of the Company's land in Repauno, New Jersey that was previously deferred and realized upon meeting certain

milestones, which are offset by a $2 adjustment associated with the sale of the Company's Sulfur business in 2016. For the three months ended June 30, 2018, gain on sale

includes a $3 gain associated with the sale of the Company's East Chicago, Indiana site. (2) Includes costs associated with the Company's debt transactions, as well as accounting, legal, and bankers' transaction costs incurred in connection with the Company's

strategic initiatives. (3) Includes litigation settlements, PFOA drinking water treatment accruals, and other charges, including the $30 estimated liability for our Fayetteville, North Carolina site for the

three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the latter of which is included as a component of selling, general, and administrative expense in our consolidated statements

of operations. (4) Includes the removal of certain discrete income tax amounts within the Company's (benefit from) provision for income taxes. For the three months ended September 30, 2018,

the Company's adjustments to income taxes includes the following: $19 in tax benefits primarily related to the filing of the Company's 2017 U.S. tax return and the associated

adjustments including the revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities as a result of the reduced corporate tax rate and other associated adjustments, $17 in tax benefits

for the reversal of the Company's valuation allowance on foreign tax credit carryforwards due to changes in normal business operations, $4 in windfall tax benefits on the

Company's share-based payments, and $1 in tax benefits resulting from unrealized losses on foreign exchange rates related to toll charges pursuant to U.S. tax reform. For

the nine months ended September 30, 2018, adjustments made to income taxes includes the following: $19 in tax benefits primarily related to the filing of the Company's 2017

U.S. tax return and the associated adjustments including the revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities as a result of the reduced corporate tax rate and other associated

adjustments, $17 in tax benefits for the reversal of the Company's valuation allowance on foreign tax credit carryforwards due to changes in normal business operations, $14 in

windfall tax benefits on the Company's share-based payments, and $4 in tax benefits resulting from unrealized losses on foreign exchange rates related to toll charges pursuant

to U.S. tax reform. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, adjustments made to income taxes includes $5 and $18 in windfall tax benefits on the Company's

share-based payments, respectively, and the reversal of a reserve for uncertain tax provisions of $6. For the three months ended June 30, 2018, adjustments made to income

taxes includes $5 in windfall tax benefits on the Company's share-based payments and $3 in tax benefits resulting from unrealized losses on foreign exchange rates related to

toll charges pursuant to U.S. tax reform. (5) The income tax impacts included in this caption are determined using the applicable rates in the taxing jurisdictions in which income or expense occurred and include both

current and deferred income tax expense or benefit based on the nature of the non-GAAP financial measure. (6) The total (benefit from) provision for income taxes reconciles to the amount reported in the consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended

September 30, 2018 and 2017 and for the three months ended June 30, 2018.

The Chemours Company Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

Adjusted Earnings per Share to GAAP Earnings per Share Reconciliation

Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Adjusted Diluted EPS accounts for the dilutive impact of stock-based compensation awards, which includes unvested restricted shares. Adjusted Diluted EPS considers the impact of potentially-dilutive securities, except in periods in which there is a loss because the inclusion of the potentially-dilutive securities would have an anti-dilutive effect.





Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended





September 30,



June 30,



September 30,





2018



2017



2018



2018



2017

Numerator:





























Net income attributable to Chemours

$

275



$

207



$

281



$

853



$

518

Adjusted Net Income





271







203







314







849







499

Denominator:





























Weighted-average number of common shares

outstanding - basic





176,489,881







185,431,036







177,798,484







178,765,676







184,641,599

Dilutive effect of the Company's employee

compensation plans





5,387,244







6,206,778







6,022,757







5,891,072







5,909,015

Weighted-average number of common shares

outstanding - diluted





181,877,125







191,637,814







183,821,241







184,656,748







190,550,614

































Basic earnings per share of common stock

$

1.56



$

1.12



$

1.58



$

4.77



$

2.81

Diluted earnings per share of common stock





1.51







1.08







1.53







4.62







2.72

Adjusted basic earnings per share of common stock





1.54







1.09







1.77







4.75







2.70

Adjusted diluted earnings per share of common stock





1.49







1.06







1.71







4.60







2.62



2018 Estimated Adjusted EBITDA and Estimated Adjusted EPS to Estimated GAAP Net Income Reconciliation (*)





(Estimated)





Year Ended December 31, 2018





Low



High

Net income attributable to Chemours

$ 980



$ 1,075

Other adjustments



(45)





(45)

Restructuring, asset-related, and other charges, net



40





30

Provision for income taxes relating to reconciling items (1)



5





5

Adjusted Net Income



980





1,065

Interest expense, net



200





200

Depreciation and amortization



280





280

All remaining provision for income taxes



240





230

Adjusted EBITDA

$ 1,700



$ 1,775



















Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic (2)



177,000,000





177,000,000

Dilutive effect of the Company's employee compensation plans (2)



6,000,000





6,000,000

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (2)



183,000,000





183,000,000



















Basic earnings per share of common stock

$ 5.54



$ 6.07

Diluted earnings per share of common stock



5.36





5.89

Adjusted basic earnings per share of common stock



5.54





6.01

Adjusted diluted earnings per share of common stock



5.36





5.84



(1) The income tax impacts included in this caption are determined using the applicable rates in the taxing jurisdictions in which income or expense occurred and include both

current and deferred income tax expense or benefit based on the nature of the non-GAAP financial measure. (2) The Company's estimates for the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted reflect results for the year ended December 31, 2017, which

are carried forward for the projection period and updated for the estimated impacts of the Company's 2018 share repurchase and other activity on a weighted-average basis. (*) The Company's estimates reflect its current visibility and expectations of market factors; including, but not limited to: currency movements, titanium dioxide prices, and end-

market demand. Actual results could differ materially from the current estimates due to market factors and unknown or uncertain other factors, such as the impact of currency

movements on the Company's results, including exchange gains and losses, impacts of new accounting pronouncements, cost savings actions that may be taken in the future,

in addition to employee benefit activity with respect to the Company's foreign pension plans, including settlements or curtailments.

The Chemours Company Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions)

Free Cash Flows to GAAP Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities Reconciliation

Free Cash Flows is defined as cash flows provided by (used for) operating activities, less purchases of property, plant, and equipment as shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows.





Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended





September 30,



June 30,



September 30,





2018



2017



2018



2018



2017

Cash provided by operating activities (1)

$

342



$

112



$

343



$

881



$

337

Less: Purchases of property, plant, and equipment





(116)







(108)







(126)







(344)







(246)

Free Cash Flows

$

226



$

4



$

217



$

537



$

91



(1) Cash provided by operating activities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 include PFOA MDL settlement payments of $320 and $335, respectively.

Excluding the PFOA MDL settlement payments, Free Cash Flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 would have been $324 and $426, respectively.

2018 Estimated Free Cash Flows to GAAP Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities Reconciliation (*)





(Estimated)



Year Ended December 31,



2018 Cash provided by operating activities

~ $1,150 Less: Purchases of property, plant, and equipment

~ (500) Free Cash Flows

~ $650

(*) The Company's estimates reflect its current visibility and expectations of market factors; including, but not limited to: currency movements, titanium dioxide prices, and end-

market demand. Actual results could differ materially from the current estimates due to market factors and unknown or uncertain other factors, such as the impact of currency

movements on the Company's results, including exchange gains and losses, impacts of new accounting pronouncements, cost savings actions that may be taken in the future,

in addition to employee benefit activity with respect to the Company's foreign pension plans, including settlements or curtailments.

Return on Invested Capital Reconciliation

Return on Invested Capital is defined as Adjusted EBITDA, less depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBIT), divided by the average of invested capital, which amounts to net debt, or debt less cash and cash equivalents, plus equity.





Twelve Months Ended September 30,





2018



2017

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

$ 1,794



$ 1,266

Less: Depreciation and amortization (1)



(281)





(276)

Adjusted EBIT



1,513





990



















Total debt



3,999





4,095

Total equity



1,146





805

Less: Cash and cash equivalents



(1,275)





(1,535)

Invested capital, net

$ 3,870



$ 3,365



















Average invested capital (2)

$ 3,637



$ 3,102



















Return on Invested Capital



41.6 %



31.9 %

(1) Based on amounts for the trailing 12 months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) attributable to Chemours are

provided on a quarterly basis. See the preceding tables for the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income attributable to Chemours for the three and nine months ended

September 30, 2018 and 2017. (2) Average invested capital is based on a five-quarter trailing average of invested capital, net.

SOURCE The Chemours Company

Related Links

http://www.chemours.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Trends, opportunities and forecast in European glass fiber market to 2023 by application (marine, transportation, pipe and tank, aerospace, construction, electrical and electronics, consumer goods, wind energy, and others), product type (single end roving, multi end roving, woven roving, fabrics, CSM, CFM, DUCS, and CS), manufacturing process (hand lay up, spray up, resin infusion, pultrusion, injection molding, compression molding, prepreg layups, and others), country (Germany, France, Italy)



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05606235



The future of the European glass fiber market is promising with opportunities in the transportation, construction, electrical and electronics, pipe and tank, wind energy, and consumer goods industries. The European glass fiber market is expected to reach an estimated $2.1 billion by 2023 with a CAGR of 2.8% from 2018 to 2023. The major growth driver for this market is rise in demand for products made of glass composites; these include pipes, tanks, wind blades, bathtubs, and automotive parts.



Emerging trends, which have a direct impact on the dynamics of the European glass fiber industry, include cost optimization and performance enhancement of glass fibers.



European glass fiber market by end use industry



European glass fiber market



European glass fiber manufacturers



The study includes the European glass fiber market size and forecast for the global glass fiber market through 2023, segmented by product type, application, and region, as follows:



European Glass Fiber Market by Application Type (million pounds and $ million shipment analysis from 2012 to 2023):

Transportation Construction Electrical and Electronics Pipe & Tank Wind Energy Consumer Goods Marine Aerospace Others



European Glass Fiber Market by Manufacturing Process (million pounds and $ million shipment analysis in 2017):

Hand lay up Spray up Resin infusion Pultrusion Injection molding Compression molding Prepreg lay up Others



European Glass Fiber Market by Product Form (million pounds and $ million shipment analysis from 2012 to 2023):

Single end roving Multi end roving Woven roving Fabrics CSM CFM DUCS CS Others



European Glass Fiber Market by Region (million pounds and $ million shipment analysis from 2012 to 2023):

North America Europe Asia Pacific The Rest of the World



European Glass Fiber Market by Country (Value ($M) and Volume (M lbs) shipment analysis for 2012- 2023):

Germany France Italy Spain UK Others



Some of the European glass fiber companies profiled in this report include Owens Corning, Johns Manville, 3B glass fiber, Nippon Electric Glass and Lanxess and others.



On the basis of its comprehensive research, Lucintel forecasts that E (ECR) glass is expected to be the largest product type of glass fiber by value and volume over the forecast period.



Within the European glass fiber market, transportation is expected to remain the largest and witness the highest growth market by value and volume consumption. Government regulations, such as carbon emission targets in Europe, are putting pressure on OEMs to incorporate lightweight materials to curb the overall vehicle weight, and this is the key driver for glass fiber in the transportation industry.



In terms of supply, the European glass fiber capacity was ~1.9 billion pound in 2017.

Lucintel predicts that the glass fiber plant capacity utilization will go down in 2018 as glass fiber suppliers increase production capacity. For example, in 2018, Owens Corning plans to build additional capacity in France, and ?i?ecam Group is installing a new plant in Turkey.



Some of the features of "Growth Opportunities in the European Glass Fiber Market" include:

Market size estimates: European glass fiber market size estimation in terms of value ($M) and volume (Million Pounds) shipment.

Trend and forecast analysis: Market trend (2012-2017) and forecast (2018-2023) by application, and end use industry.

Segmentation analysis: European glass fiber market size by various applications such as application, manufacturing process, product, and country in terms of value and volume shipment.

Regional analysis: European glass fiber market breakdown by North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World.

Growth opportunities: Analysis on growth opportunities in different applications and regions of glass fiber in the European glass fiber market.

Strategic analysis: This includes M&A, new product development, and competitive landscape of glass fiber in the European glass fiber market. Analysis of competitive intensity of the industry based on Porter's Five Forces model.



This report answers following 11 key questions:

Q. 1. What are some of the most promising, high-growth areas in the European glass fiber market by application (marine, transportation, pipe and tank, aerospace, construction, electrical and electronics, consumer goods, wind energy, and others), product type (single end roving, multi end roving, woven roving, fabrics, CSM, CFM, DUCS, and CS), manufacturing process (hand lay up, spray up, resin infusion, pultrusion, injection molding, compression molding, prepreg layups, and others), country (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Others) ?

Q. 2.

Which product segments will grow at a faster pace and why?

Q. 3.

Which region will grow at a faster pace and why?

Q.4.

What are the key factors affecting market dynamics? What are the drivers and challenges in the European glass fiber market?

Q.5.

What are the business risks and competitive threats in this European glass fiber market?

Q.6.

What are emerging trends in this European glass fiber market and the reasons behind them?

Q.7.

What are some changing demands of customers in the European glass fiber market?

Q.8.

What are the new developments in the European glass fiber market and which companies are leading these developments?

Q.9.

Who are the major players in this European glass fiber market? What strategic initiatives are being implemented by key players for business growth?

Q.10. What are some of the competitive products in this European glass fiber market and how great of a threat do they pose for loss of market share through product substitution?

Q. 11. What M & A activities have transpired in the last 5 years in this European glass fiber market and how have they affected the industry?



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05606235



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

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NEW YORK, Oct. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- About Self-Paced E-Learning



Self-paced e-learning is a method of online learning wherein students take control of the pace at which they learn and complete the course as per their convenience, without the need to adhere to a specified timeline.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02854021



Technavio's analysts forecast the Global Self-Paced E-Learning Market to grow at a CAGR of 2.13% during the period 2019-2023.



Covered in this report

The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the self-paced e-learning market. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the self-paced e-learning.



Technavio's report, self-paced e-learning market in 2019-2023, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.



The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:

 Americas

 APAC

 EMEA



Key vendors

 2U

 Blackboard

 City & Guilds Group

 NIIT

 Pearson



Market driver

 Increasing demand for distance learning

 For a full, detailed list, view our report



Market challenge

 Increase in the number of free online courses

 For a full, detailed list, view our report



Market trend

 Increased emphasis on alternative credentialing

 For a full, detailed list, view our report



Key questions answered in this report

 What will the market size be in 2022 and what will the growth rate be?

 What are the key market trends?

 What is driving this market?

 What are the challenges to market growth?

 Who are the key vendors in this market space?

 What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?

 What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?



You can request one free hour of our analyst's time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02854021



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

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GAFFNEY, S.C., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Innovate Fund, a Community Development Entity (CDE) managed by taxadvantagegroup and Greenville Local Development Corporation in Greenville, S.C., has allocated $13.75 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) as part of a $20+ million renovation and expansion of Brown Packing Co., Inc., a 60-year-old meat packing plant in Gaffney, S.C. The project will involve the construction or renovation of 66,500 square feet of their 150,000-sq.-ft. facility in Gaffney. The project will increase production and completely upgrade the company's facility to meet evolving industry standards, with best in class equipment and technology. The improvements will also include new cooling systems, a new wastewater treatment system, and updated locker rooms and employee wellness facilities for both genders. The expansion is expected to create an additional 25 permanent direct jobs in an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Distressed area.

Brown Packing Co., Inc. is a third-generation, family owned meat packing business in non-metropolitan Cherokee County. The company has grown to 371 full-time employees, 80 percent of which are minorities. It is the second largest employer in the county. Brown Packing provides one of the few entry level job opportunities in the area for low-skilled workers to obtain full-time employment without basic reading or English language skills in an area with a large migrant farming population. Since their entry level jobs have effectively no barriers to entry, Brown Packing serves as a rehabilitation employer for those with criminal, drug, or unemployment backgrounds, offering a path to stable employment that includes full-time working hours and a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance.

Jim Brown, President of Brown Packing Co., Inc., said, "We believe running a business requires a delicate balance of stability and flexibility, and the New Markets Tax Credit allocation from The Innovate Fund has provided us the flexible capital necessary to complete this project. As a family-owned business, we pride ourselves on the relationships we have developed over the past 40 years, and this project will allow us to continue to offer fulfilling jobs to our loyal employees, remain actively involved in the Cherokee County community, and provide excellent service and safe, quality products to our customers and end-consumers."

"Brown Packing is making a huge difference in the lives of its employees, a segment of the population that often finds it difficult to secure quality employment. We are very happy to provide them with this investment so they can remain competitive and operational for decades to come," said Whitney Ferguson, Program Manager of The Innovate Fund. Ms. Ferguson also noted that investment from The Innovate Fund would not be possible without the continuing support from South Carolina's legislative delegation, including U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott.

About Brown Packing Co., Inc.

Brown Packing Co., Inc. is a beef packer located in Gaffney, South Carolina. They harvest cows and bulls, buying cattle from stockyards and producers throughout the Southeast. They strive every day to produce the best quality products and offer the best service in the industry. The 2016 Cattle Buyers Weekly lists the company as the 20th Top Beef Packer in the United States.

About The Innovate Fund

The Innovate Fund and its affiliates are designated Community Development Entities under the provisions of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which since their inception, have been awarded $217 million in allocation of New Markets Tax Credits. The Innovate Fund's mission is to serve and provide investment capital for operating businesses and real estate development projects in low-income communities across South Carolina. The Innovate Fund's partners are the Greenville Local Development Corporation and taxadvantagegroup.

About Greenville Local Development Corporation (GLDC)

Founded in 1979, Greenville Local Development Corporation (GLDC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, was established by a group of committed community and business leaders in Greenville, SC to address obstacles faced by businesses and community based organizations in obtaining conventional financing. Since inception, GLDC has been working to provide financial assistance, real estate development coordination, and strategic guidance for economic development projects and business expansions.

About taxadvantagegroup

Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., taxadvantagegroup (tag) is one of the country's most successful consulting firms specializing in New Markets Tax Credits, helping nonprofit and for profit organizations access capital and transform communities. Since 2004, tag has played an instrumental role in securing funding for over $1.4 billion for community projects across the United States. In addition, tag provides compliance and asset management services on $450 million of NMTC assets.

Media Contact:

Kara Dullea

Details Public Relations

(864) 275-3331

[email protected]

SOURCE The Innovate Fund
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- JoAllyn Archambault was born to a Sioux father and Creek mother. She was raised in Sioux traditions and is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North and South Dakota. Dr. Archambault has made a great contribution to anthropology by providing an insider's perspective to her research on Native American people. Dr. Archambault earned a B.A., an M.A., and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley. She focused her doctorate on the Gallup ceremonial, an annual event held in New Mexico to display the Native American arts of that area of the country.

Dr. Archambault is the Director of the American Indian Program of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. She has taught classes in Native American studies at numerous colleges and universities including Pine Ridge Tribal College, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of New Mexico, and Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Archambault was a Professor at the University of Wisconsin in the Department of Anthropology and as the Director of Ethnic studies at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, California. She works to preserve and promote Native American art, culture, and political anthropology, acts as an ethnic liaison, supervises Native American fellowship interns, and manages an annual program budget. Dr. Archambault is a member and past officer of the American Association of Anthropology.

Please visit the official website of Dr. Archambault today, on this first day of Native American Heritage Month: www.joallynarchambault.com

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Dr. JoAllyn Archambault

Related Links

https://joallynarchambault.com


MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The SRI Conference & Community has announced the lineup of speakers that will address attendees at its 29th Annual Conference. Social Responsible Investing (SRI), Environmental & Social Governance (ESG) and sustainability will be the themes that power the plenaries, conversations and presentations. Folio Financial, Inc. the parent company of The SRI Conference & Community will be introducing new technologies to conference attendees over the three-day conference from November 1-3, 2018 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

The SRI Conference is the longest-running gathering of professionals who are passionate about, engaged in and/or want to learn more about SRI investing and ESG. This year the conference recognizes the $12 trillion under professional management as reported by The US SIF Foundation hat has been deployed for the common good by announcing The SRI Community. This re-energized brand mission that will be introduced at the conference by Jan Mercer Dahms who has taken on the newly created role of CEO of The SRI Conference & Community.

Dahms, Steve Wallman, Founder and CEO, Folio Financial, Inc., and George Gay, CEO, First Affirmative Financial Network will share the refreshed direction of The SRI Conference & Community's strategy in anticipation of the conferences 30th Anniversary in 2019.

"Through The SRI Conference & Community we intend to significantly broaden and deepen the SRI movement by creating and nurturing a more inclusive SRI ecosystem  far beyond the reach of this one conference," said Dahms about the company's mission going forward.

The conference's deep rooted history in SRI and ESG will be spotlighted in presentations by financial industry leaders. Social and environmental issues that the world faces today will also be discussed by leaders in academia, government and the media. A listing of the 80 speakers presenting at The SRI Conference & Community can be found by visiting: https://www.sriconference.com/speakers. A sampling of speakers include:

Folio Financial: Steven Wallman, Founder and CEO, Folio Financial, Inc.

Plenary Speakers: Jeremy Grantham, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Strategist, Grantham, Mayo, & van Otterloo; Daniel C. Esty, Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy, Yale Law School; Chad Myers, Chief Meteorologist, CNN; Kurt Summers, Treasurer, City of Chicago; Phil Weiser, Hatfield Professor of Law, University of Colorado Law School; Michelle Edkins, Managing Director, BlackRock; Robert Jackson, Jr., Commissioner, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Featured Speakers: Gregory Elders, Research, ESG, JPMorgan Indexes; Theresa Gusman, CIO, First Affirmative Financial Network; George Gay, CEO, First Affirmative Financial Network; Jon Hale, Global Head of Sustainability, Morningstar, Inc; Jan Mercer Dahms, CEO, The SRI Conference; Jeff Gitterman, Co-founding Partner, Gitterman Wealth Management, LLC; Leslie Samuelrich, President, Green Century Capital Management; Greg Vigrass, President, Folio Institutional; Lisa Woll, CEO, US SIF / US SIF Foundation

For more information of The SRI Conference & Community go to: https://www.sriconference.com. A detailed agenda is available at: https://www.sriconference.com/agenda

Follow The SRI Conference and Community on Twitter (@SRIConference) and Facebook (@sriconference).

About The SRI Conference

The SRI Conference is the longest-running and premier gathering of investment professionals and investors who are passionate about and engaged in SRI investing. It is offered by The SRI Conference and Community LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Folio Financial, Inc. Conference participants includes investment professionals, institutional investors and related organizations. The annual event features educational sessions and opportunities to network with more than a thousand like-minded individuals, organizations and experts in the SRI field. The 29th annual SRI Conference will be held on November 1-3, 2018 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, CO. www.sriconference.com

About First Affirmative

Financial Network First Affirmative, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Folio Financial, Inc., provides investment advice consistent with the philosophies of sustainable, responsible, impact (SRI) investing. It believes that the ways people save, spend and invest can dramatically influence both the fabric and consciousness of society. Investors can make a meaningful difference by consciously directing investment capital toward enterprises that contribute to a clean, healthy environment, that treat people fairly and embrace equal opportunity, that produce safe and useful products, and support efforts to promote world peace. Clients who choose to invest with First Affirmative make a conscious choice to put their money to work for a dual purpose  to provide for a secure retirement, for example, while working for a better, more socially just and environmentally sustainable future for all. www.firstaffirmative.com. First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC is an independent Registered Investment Advisor (SEC File #801-56587).

About Folio Financial, Inc.

Folio Financial, Inc. (formerly FOLIOfn, Inc.) offers various financial, brokerage and custody technology through Folio Investing, Folio Institutional, VIA Folio, First Affirmative Financial Network and The SRI Conference. The firm has more than 19 patents covering an array of financial services and products and has been, and continues to be, a pioneer in a number of areas in the investing and wealth management fields. The Folio family delivers innovative brokerage and custody tools and technology that benefit investors and those who serve them. It provides services to some of the world's largest financial services firms, boutiques and start ups.

Contact: Joanna Black Up To More Good | [email protected] | 646-912-2681

SOURCE The SRI Conference & Community

Related Links

https://www.sriconference.com


WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers, for the ninth consecutive year, collaboratively announce the release of the "Best Law Firms" rankings.

Firms included in the 2019 Edition of "Best Law Firms" are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.

"U.S. News has more than 30 years of experience evaluating complex institutions and their service to consumers," said Tim Smart, executive editor at U.S. News. "Law rms perform a vital role in American life, and ranking them is a key extension of our overall mission to help individuals and companies alike make important decisions."

The 2019 rankings are based on the highest number of participating rms and highest number of client votes received on record. To be eligible for a ranking, a rm must have a lawyer recognized first in The Best Lawyers in America, which recognizes the top ve percent of practicing attorneys in the U.S. Over 16,000 lawyers provided more than 1,125,000 law rm assessments, and almost 12,000 clients provided more than 107,000 evaluations.

"For the 2019 'Best Law Firms' publication, the evaluation process has remained just as rigorous and discerning as it did when we first started almost ten years ago," says Phil Greer, CEO of Best Lawyers. "This year we reviewed 14,643 law rms throughout the United States  across 75 national practice areas  and a total of 2,118 rms received a national law rm ranking. We are proud that the 'Best Law Firms' rankings continue to act as an indicator of excellence throughout the legal industry."

Ranked law rms, presented in three tiers, are listed on a national and regional-based scale. Firms that received a tier designation reect the high level of respect a rm can earn among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and practice areas.

Awards were given in 75 national practice areas and 122 metropolitan practice areas. Additionally, one "Law Firm of the Year" is named in 74 nationally ranked practice areas.

The 2019 Tier 1 national and metropolitan rankings will be featured in the "Best Law Firms" General Counsel Publication, which will be distributed in November to more than 30,000 in-house counsel, and in digital format to more than 60,000 private practice lawyers worldwide.

The 2019 "Best Law Firms" rankings can be seen in their entirety by visiting bestlawrms.usnews.com.

ABOUT "BEST LAW FIRMS"

The U.S. News  Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their eld, and review of additional information provided by law rms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a 2019 ranking, a law rm must have at least one lawyer recognized in the 24th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America list for that particular location and specialty.

ABOUT U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

Celebrating its 85th year, U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and Civic, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

ABOUT BEST LAWYERS

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For more than 30 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualied to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers lists are published in leading local, regional, and national publications across the globe. The Best Lawyers in America list recognizes the very best lawyers in each practice area and metropolitan region in the country.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report

Related Links

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To access the FDA letter, which was published on October 31, 2018, please refer to the FDA's website here . Vanda intends to meet with the FDA to better understand the reasoning of the letter.

About Vanda

Vanda is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies to address high unmet medical needs and improve the lives of patients. For more on Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc., please visit www.vandapharma.com .

About Fanapt

Fanapt is an atypical antipsychotic approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.

Fanapt is a serotonin (5-HT2) receptor and dopamine receptor antagonist.

Fanapt received US Market Approval by the FDA in May 2009. In addition, Vanda currently has Fanapt distribution partnerships in Israel and Mexico. In 2012, Fanapt was approved for marketing in Israel and Argentina.

Indication and Important Safety Information About Fanapt 

Indication

Fanapt (iloperidone) tablets are indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.

Deciding to look at alternate medications is something your doctor may do. Your doctor needs to consider that Fanapt may change your heart rhythm (meaning there is more time between heartbeats). When taking other drugs that may cause this same change in heart rhythm, you are at a higher risk of a serious, even life-threatening medical issue (torsade de pointes), which may result in sudden death. In many cases, your doctor may prescribe another medication like Fanapt first.

Fanapt needs to be taken as directed starting at a low dose and slowly increasing the strength. This may delay the control of symptoms in the first 1 to 2 weeks of treatment.



Important Safety Information

BOXED WARNING: Elderly patients with psychosis related to dementia (having lost touch with reality due to memory loss and experiencing a decline in day-to-day functioning) who are treated with antipsychotic medications are at an increased risk of death compared to patients treated with a placebo. Fanapt is not approved for the treatment of people with dementia-related psychosis.

Patients should not use Fanapt if they have a known allergy to Fanapt or its ingredients. Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, rapid swelling of the skin (angioedema), and other symptoms of allergy (eg, throat tightness; swelling of the throat, face, lips, mouth and tongue; hives; rash; and itching) have been reported.

An increased risk of stroke (including death) has been reported in clinical studies of elderly people with dementia-related psychosis. Fanapt is not approved for the treatment of people with dementia-related psychosis.

Fanapt may change your heart rhythm (mean there is more time between heartbeats). Heart rhythm changes have occurred in patients taking Fanapt and are a risk factor for serious, even life-threatening medical issues. You should tell your doctor if you have or have had heart problems. Contact your doctor right away if you feel faint or have unpleasant feelings of irregular or forceful heartbeats as any of these feelings could be a sign of a rare, but serious side effect that could be fatal. You should not use Fanapt with other drugs that are known to cause these same heart rhythm issues.

Tell your doctor if you have some or all of the following symptoms; Very high fever, rigid muscles, shaking, confusion, sweating or increased heart rate and blood pressure. These may be signs of a condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a rare but serious side effect that could be fatal. This may happen with Fanapt or drugs like it.

Abnormal or uncontrollable movements of the face, tongue, or other parts of the body may be signs of a serious condition called tardive dyskinesia (TD), which could become permanent. The chance of this condition going away decreases, depending on how long and how much medication has been taken. Tell your doctor if you have body movements you can't control.

Fanapt and medicines like it have been associated with metabolic changes (high blood sugar, high cholesterol and triglycerides, and weight gain) that can increase cardiovascular/cerebrovascular risks.

Tell your doctor if you have diabetes or risk factors for diabetes (for example, obesity, family history of diabetes), or if you have unexpected increases in thirst, urination, or hunger. If so, your blood sugar should be monitored. Increases in blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), which in some cases can be serious and associated with coma or death, have been reported in patients taking Fanapt and medicines like it.

Changes in cholesterol and triglycerides have been seen in patients taking Fanapt and medicines like it. Check with your doctor while on treatment.

Some patients may gain weight while taking Fanapt. Your doctor should check your weight regularly.

Tell your doctor about any medical conditions that you have including problems with your liver. Fanapt is not recommended for patients with severe liver problems.

Tell your doctor if you have a history of or have a condition that may increase your risk for seizures before you begin taking Fanapt.

Light-headedness or faintness caused by a sudden change in heart rate and blood pressure when rising quickly from a sitting or lying position (orthostatic hypotension) has been reported with Fanapt. This condition is most common when you start therapy, when re-starting treatment, or when the dose of Fanapt is increased. You should consult your doctor if you have or have had heart problems or conditions that lead to these sudden changes since Fanapt should be used with caution in these patients.

Fanapt may increase the risk of falls, which could cause fractures or other injuries.

Decreases in infection-fighting white blood cells (WBCs) have been reported in some patients taking antipsychotic agents. Patients with a preexisting history of low WBC count or who have experienced a low WBC count due to drug therapy should have their blood tested and monitored during the first few months of therapy. Some (including fatal) cases of agranulocytosis, a serious decrease in specific types of WBCs called neutrophils or granulocytes, have been reported in drugs like Fanapt.

Fanapt can increase the level of the hormone prolactin. Tell your doctor if you experience breast enlargement, breast pain, or breast discharge, abnormal menstrual cycles in females or impotence in males. If elevated levels of prolactin persist, this may lead to bone loss.

Medicines like Fanapt can impact your body's ability to reduce your body temperature. You should avoid overheating and dehydration.

Fanapt and medicines like it have been associated with swallowing problems (dysphagia). If you have or have had swallowing problems, you should tell your doctor.

As with many conditions that affect the way you think or feel, thoughts of suicide may occur. If you get these feelings, seek help immediately from your doctor, or local emergency room.

For males, in the rare event you have a painful or prolonged erection (priapism), lasting 4 or more hours, stop using Fanapt and seek immediate medical attention.

Fanapt and medicines like it can affect your judgment, thinking, or motor skills. You should not drive or operate hazardous machinery, including automobiles, until you know how Fanapt affects you.

The most common side effects for Fanapt versus placebo were dizziness, dry mouth, feeling unusually tired or sleepy, stuffy nose, feeling faint/light-headed when standing quickly, racing heartbeat, and weight gain. The average weight gain in clinical studies lasting 4-6 weeks was 5 lbs. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor.

When taking Fanapt, you should avoid drinking alcohol, and you should not breastfeed. You should notify your doctor if you become pregnant or intend to become pregnant while taking Fanapt. Tell your doctor about all prescription and nonprescription medicines and supplements you are taking. Some medications may interact with Fanapt.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Full U.S. prescribing information, including box warnings and safety information, can be found at: www.fanapt.com.

About Hetlioz

HETLIOZ is a melatonin receptor agonist. HETLIOZ received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in January 2014 for the treatment of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24). HETLIOZ received European Commission approval in July 2015 for the treatment of Non-24 in totally blind adults in the European Union.

Non-24 is a chronic, circadian rhythm disorder resulting from the misalignment of the endogenous master body clock to the 24-hour day, disrupting the sleep-wake cycle. The sleep disturbance causes significant distress or impairment in social, occupational and other important areas of functioning. Non-24 affects the majority of totally blind individuals and it is estimated that approximately 80,000 Americans have the disorder.

For more information about HETLIOZ call 1-844-HETLIOZ (1-844-438-5469).

Indication and Important Safety Information About HETLIOZ 

Indication

HETLIOZ is indicated for the treatment of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24).

Important Safety Information

HETLIOZ may cause somnolence: After taking HETLIOZ, patients should limit their activity to preparing for going to bed, because HETLIOZ can impair the performance of activities requiring complete mental alertness.

The most common adverse reactions (incidence >5% and at least twice as high on HETLIOZ than on placebo) were headache, increased alanine aminotransferase, nightmares or unusual dreams, upper respiratory or urinary tract infection. The risk of adverse reactions may be greater in elderly (>65 years) patients than younger patients because exposure to HETLIOZ is increased by approximately 2-fold compared with younger patients.

Use of HETLIOZ should be avoided in combination with fluvoxamine or other strong CYP1A2 inhibitors, because of a potentially large increase in exposure of HETLIOZ, and a greater risk of adverse reactions. HETLIOZ should be avoided in combination with rifampin or other CYP3A4 inducers, because of a potentially large decrease in exposure of HETLIOZ, with reduced efficacy.

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of HETLIOZ in pregnant women. Based on animal data, HETLIOZ may cause fetal harm. HETLIOZ should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risks. Caution should be exercised when HETLIOZ is administered to a nursing woman.

HETLIOZ has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment and is not recommended in these patients.

Safety and effectiveness of HETLIOZ in pediatric patients have not been established.

Full HETLIOZ Prescribing Information can be found at: www.hetlioz.com.

HETLIOZ is a registered trademark of Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Company Contact:

Jim Kelly

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.

(202) 734-3428

[email protected]

SOURCE Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Related Links

http://www.vandapharma.com


BALTIMORE, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation today announced $1.2 million in emergency grant funding as an immediate response to the shootings that claimed 11 lives and wounded six individuals this past Saturday at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill community. May the memory of those who lost their lives always be a blessing.

"The Weinberg Foundation mourns those who perished and shares the pain of their loved ones," said Robert T. Kelly, Jr., Weinberg Foundation Board Chair and Trustee. "While we grieve for the victims of this horrific hate crime, the Foundation is compelled to do what it can, as quickly as possible, to support those organizations meeting the urgent needs of the community."

After consulting with more than a dozen leaders in Pittsburgh and across the country regarding the immediate needs the Pittsburgh Jewish community is facing, the Weinberg Foundation has approved emergency grants to the following six organizations:

Local Pittsburgh Nonprofit Funding

$300,000 to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh to support the Victims of Terror Fund (set up by the Federation), the Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) Pittsburgh , and the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Pittsburgh to provide behavioral health services, short-term security for several institutions, medical bills for the injured, and general support for staff working tirelessly to serve the community in this time of need.

to support the Victims of Terror Fund (set up by the Federation), the Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) , and the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in to provide behavioral health services, short-term security for several institutions, medical bills for the injured, and general support for staff working tirelessly to serve the community in this time of need. $100,000 to Jewish Association on Aging ( Pittsburgh ) to provide therapy and counseling for older adults impacted by the shooting and increased security needs for this organization.

to provide therapy and counseling for older adults impacted by the shooting and increased security needs for this organization. $100,000 to the Pittsburgh Police Fund, administrated by the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety, to support individuals impacted by the shooting, including the six police officers injured, and their families.

administrated by the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety, to support individuals impacted by the shooting, including the six police officers injured, and their families. $100,000 to Tree of Life*Or L'Simcha Synagogue for any capital and security needs the synagogue may have at this time.

National Nonprofit Funding

$300,000 to the Anti-Defamation League , including $200,000 in capital funding for improvements and expansion of ADL's technology, which tracks and responds to acts of anti-Semitism via the organization's Incident Response Center, and $100,000 in operating support directed towards the organization's emergency operations in Pittsburgh .

, including in capital funding for improvements and expansion of ADL's technology, which tracks and responds to acts of anti-Semitism via the organization's Incident Response Center, and in operating support directed towards the organization's emergency operations in . $300,000 to Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), including $200,000 for housing assistance, job placement support, and case management services for newly resettled refugees in the United States , and $100,000 to provide increased short-term security for HIAS, which was targeted as part of the attack.

"The Weinberg Foundation stands in solidarity with Pittsburgh's Jewish community," said Rachel Garbow Monroe, Weinberg Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer. "In this difficult moment, the Weinberg Foundation acknowledges that funding alone will not give solace to the families who have lost loved ones, nor will it end the pain of a community in mourning. We hope this emergency funding will ease some of the burden the community faces as it begins to repair and rebuild and will ultimately help the community drive positive change. We know Pittsburgh will lead the way in overcoming hatred and darkness by strengthening a community that is built on respect, diversity, and love for all of its neighbors."

Tragically, this is not the first time that the Weinberg Foundation has responded to Jewish communities targeted by violence. In 2014, the Foundation provided funding to the JCC in Kansas City and the Village Shalom retirement community following the violence that took place on the JCC's campus just before Passover. In 2006, the Foundation provided capital funds for the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle to assist in the rebuilding and renovation of their offices due to a hate crime shooting.

About The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private charitable foundations in the United States, is dedicated to meeting the basic needs of vulnerable people and families experiencing poverty. In 2019, the Foundation will provide approximately $125 million in grants to nonprofits that provide direct services in the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, and Community Services. Grants focus on supporting organizations that serve specific populations, including older adults, women and children at risk, people with disabilities, and veterans, as well as the Jewish community. The Foundation's priority communities include Baltimore, Chicago, Hawaii, Israel, New York City, Northeastern Pennsylvania, San Francisco, and Rural Communities (primarily surrounding other priority communities) throughout the United States. The Foundation's trustees include Robert T. Kelly, Jr., Board Chair; Ambassador Fay Hartog-Levin (Ret.); Paula B. Pretlow; and (effective December 1, 2018) Gordon Berlin. Rachel Garbow Monroe continues to serve as President and CEO. For more information, please visit www.hjweinbergfoundation.org.

SOURCE Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

Related Links

http://www.hjweinbergfoundation.org


Washington, Nov 1 : US President Donald Trump has said that up to 15,000 military personnel could be sent to the southern border with Mexico to help defend against a caravan of Central American migrants.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the number of troops to be deployed at the border "will go up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel", Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.

The comments followed a Pentagon announcement earlier this week that about 5,200 troops would be sent to the US-Mexico border to support law enforcement activities and help stop what the president called an "invasion" by Central American migrants.

Currently, there are 2,100 members of the National Guard helping at the border.

"We're going to be prepared," Trump said. "They're not coming into our country."

He also promised to end so-called "catch and release" practices by building "tent cities" to house those who cross the border illegally.

The caravan is still nearly 1,600 kilometers from the border.

Trump is doubling down his hardline stance on immigration, an issue he's trying to place center and front in the upcoming November midterm elections, which could see Democrats seizing control of at least part of the Republican-held Congress.

The president denied that he was "fear-mongering" with repeated warnings against the caravan or using the issue for political purposes, while admitting the subject is "very important" as he slammed Democrats for their stance on immigration.

According to an interview with Axios, released in part on Tuesday, Trump revealed that he plans to end the right to citizenship for babies of non-citizens and unauthorized immigrants, born in the US.

"A person comes in, was never in our country before, has a baby, and now all of a sudden the baby is a US citizen," Trump told reporters Wednesday.

"Through chain migration and other things, many other people come in through the baby. It's ridiculous," he added.

Birthright citizenship in the country is enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which allows for "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the US and of the State wherein they reside."

Trump insisted that he could and would end birthright citizenship with an executive order, though many, including some Republicans, were questioning his legal grounds.
United Nations, Nov 1 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday announced the appointment of Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen as his new special envoy to Syria, media reported.

Pedersen will replace Staffan de Mistura, who plans to leave the post at the end of November, after just over four years of unsuccessful attempts to mediate negotiations to end the conflict in the Arab country.

Currently Norway's ambassador to China, Pedersen has had an extensive diplomatic career that includes high-level posts in the UN Secretariat, reports Efe.

In a statement, Guterres stressed that the new envoy "brings to the position decades of political and diplomatic experience."

In 1993, Pedersen was part of the Norwegian team that participated in the negotiations leading to the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Pedersen will be the fourth special UN envoy to Syria since the war in that country started in 2011.

The first envoy, former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, left the post after only a few months, frustrated by the lack of cooperation from the parties to the conflict.

His successor, Lakhdar Brahimi, held the post for a little less than two years.

Meanwhile, De Mistura, a veteran diplomat, said that he was resigning for family reasons, but during his four years in the post he was not able to achieve much progress either.
San Francisco, Nov 1 : After Google announced last week it fired 48 people for sexual harassment since 2016, nearly 1,500 workers were planning a walk-out at the company's offices globally on Thursday, the media reported.

According to a report in The New York Times, more than 1,500 -- most of them women -- plan to walk out of almost two dozen company offices around the world to protest Google's handling of sexual harassment and its workplace culture.

"We don't want to feel that we're unequal or we're not respected anymore," Claire Stapleton, 33, Product Marketing Manager at Google's YouTube, was quoted as saying.

In a letter to employees last week, Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said the tech giant was taking a "hard line" on inappropriate conduct.

The letter was in response to a New York Times report that Android creator Andy Rubin received a $90 million exit package despite facing misconduct allegations.

"We want to assure you that we review every single complaint about sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct, we investigate and we take action," said Pichai.

Over the past week, Pichai and Larry Page, co-founder of Google and CEO of its parent company Alphabet, "have taken several steps to calm its agitated 94,000-person workforce".

According to the NYT report, two unnamed Google executives said then-Chief Executive Page asked Rubin to resign after the company confirmed a complaint by a female employee about a sexual encounter in a hotel room in 2013.

A Google investigation found the woman's complaint to be credible, the paper reported.

Rubin has said he did not engage in misconduct and left Google of his own accord.
Washington, Nov 1 : In the most racially charged national political ad in 30 years, US President Donald Trump and the Republican Party have accused Democrats of plotting to help Central American "invaders" overrun the nation with police killers, CNN reported on Thursday.

The new spot, tweeted by the President on Wednesday five days before the midterm elections, is the most extreme step yet in the most inflammatory closing argument of any campaign in recent memory.

The ad -- produced for the Trump campaign -- features Luis Bracamontes, a Mexican man who had previously been deported but returned to the US and was convicted in February in the killing of two California deputies.

"I'm going to kill more cops soon," a grinning Bracamontes is shown saying in court as captions flash across the screen reading "Democrats let him into our country. Democrats let him stay".

The ad also flashes footage of the migrant caravan of Central American asylum seekers that is currently in Mexico.

"Who else would Democrats let in?" a caption asks.

The ad recalls the notorious "Willie Horton" campaign financed by supporters of the former President George H.W. Bush's campaign in the 1988 presidential election.

Horton was a man and convicted murderer who committed rape while furloughed under a programme in Massachusetts where Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis was Governor.

The ad has since been deemed as one of the most racially problematic in modern political history since it played into white fear and African-American stereotypes, CNN said.

Reacting to the ad, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said on Wednesday night the ad was a sign of desperation and suggested that Trump was losing the argument over health care that is at the centre of the Democratic campaign.

"This is distracting, divisive Donald at his worst," Perez told CNN.

"This is fear mongering... They have to fear monger and his dog whistle of all dog whistles is immigration. This has been Donald Trump's playbook for so long."
Mumbai, Nov 1 : The team of forthcoming film "Thugs of Hindostan" have joined hands with Google Maps in India, where superstar Aamir Khan's character from the film "Firangi" will be guiding commuters with directions.

" As people gear up for Diwali and to watch 'Thugs Of Hindostan', we wanted to do our bit by making their driving journeys more fun and playful. We wish the movie all the success," Neha Waikar, Product Manager, Google Maps, said in a statement.

Beginning on Thursday, commuters will have the option to drive along with Firangi on their Android or IOS smartphones. In the navigating app, users will find Aamir riding his pet donkey from the film throughout the journey.

Google and Yash Raj Films (YRF) have also incorporated Firangi's catchy dialogues from the film that have been loved by audiences such as "1-2-3 quick march".

"It's not only the biggest Bollywood movie produced till date but also for the first time ever brings together the two legends of Indian Cinema, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and Mr. Aamir Khan. We were aware that no marketing idea that we implement can eclipse this.

"So we had to think of creating a first time, unparalleled and unrepeatable marketing idea to promote this film. And in Google Maps we found a perfect partner to do so," Manan Mehta, Vice President - Marketing and Merchandising, YRF, said.

Slated to release on November 8, the movie stars Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Sheikh. Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, the film will release in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
San Francisco, Nov 1 : Announcing major improvements for Tesla's Autopark (Summon) feature, CEO Elon Musk has said the company's electric vehicles would be able to find a parking spot and even read signs for parking instruction to avoid tickets by next year.

The "AutoPark" feature comes with "Autopilot" which is its semi-autonomous driver assistance system. When prompted by a driver, the feature can move a vehicle into a parking spot.

"By next year, a Tesla should be able to drive around a parking lot, find an empty spot, read signs to confirm it's valid and park," Musk tweeted late Wednesday.

The electric carmaker's "Autopilot" feature also uses software and hardware to enable automatic steering, braking, accelerating and lane changing under certain conditions.

"Musk described the technology as a 'slightly smarter version' of the automaker's 'Autopark' feature which currently enables a Tesla to parallel park or perpendicular park on its own once the car is next to a clearly marked open spot," reported USA Today.

The company has faced flak calling it "Autopilot", since drivers are supposed to keep their hands touching the steering wheel.

Last month, the electric car maker announced a version of "Model 3" with a new 'mid-range' battery pack for $45,000 before incentives.

"Costs $35k after federal and state tax rebates in California, but true cost of ownership is closer to $31k after gas savings," Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote on Twitter.

"Model 3" has been available for over a year now with the 'Long-Range' battery pack version for 310 miles of range.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday wished the people of Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka and Kerala on their Founding Day.

Greeting Madhya Pradesh, the second largest state currently election bound, Modi said that it has shown unparallel development in the past 15 years.

"Madhya Pradesh is India's heartland and it had always played leading role in country's development," Modi tweeted.

Greeting people on Kerala Piravi, Modi said that he prayed for the progress and prosperity of the people of the state.

"Kerala Piravi greetings! Kerala has a wonderful culture and has always emphasised on human empowerment. It's people have brought immense pride to India. May all their aspirations be fulfilled in the times to come," Modi said.

He wished Haryana, calling it a land of courage, hard work and a dedicated state.

"Haryana is the land that gives India its farmers and soldiers."

Modi credited late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for envisioning and forming Chattisgarh.

"With time, Chattisgarh has developed especially in agriculture," he said.

The Prime Minister called the people of Karnataka bright people who have distinguished themselves in various fields".

"Greetings to my sisters and brothers of Karnataka on the special occasion of Karnataka Rajyotsava. I pray for the happiness and wellbeing of the people of the state."
Berlin, Nov 1 : Bayer Leverkusen beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 5-0 in an away tie to qualify for the round of 16 in the DFB Pokal (German Cup), during a round without many surprises.

The only team that fell to a lower category was SC Freiburg, who lost 1-2 against Holstein Kiel, a team from the second division of the Bundesliga, reports Efe.

Gladbach had no choice against a Leverkusen side who came untied into the encounter and went ahead in the fifth minute with a low shot from Julian Brandt on Wednesday night.

Then Tin Jedvej increased the score. In the second half, Karim Bellarabi scored twice and in the 80th minute Kevin Volland scored the last goal.

Leipzig, meanwhile, defeated Hoffenheim 2-0 with two goals from Timo Werner, who entered in the second half of the match and decided the match.

Against Arminia Bielefeld, Duisburg had the match already practically defined in the first half after going to half-time with a 3-0 in their favour.

Nuremberg, after a two-goal away draw against fourth-placed, Hansa Rostock, also qualified to the round of 16 by winning the penalty shootout.

Schalke, after a 1-1 draw with Cologne, also made it through to the next round by winning the penalty shoot-out.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Even as Ram V. Sutar, the sculptor behind Sardar Patel's 182 metres statue on the Sabarmati in Gujarat, is feted and lionised, there's another artist who has done challenging work in the heart of Delhi and carved granite stones to immortalise the names of 34,884 martyrs in the police and para military forces.

In Chanakyapuri, where the world's embassies occupy sprawling spaces, stands a 30-foot tall structure dedicated to those who laid down their lives in the line of duty. The National Police Memorial has been designed and conceptualised by one of India's prominent sculptors, Adwaita Charan Garanayak, who is also the Director-General of National Gallery of Modern Art.

Coming from a small village in Odisha, Garanayak grew up in the lap of nature and says that for him nature is the biggest teacher as it has "spiritual power" within itself. "Stones, trees, water, have vibrations which I feel and represent through my work," he told IANS in an interview here.

Talking about the concept behind the structure, he said: "When we look at the sky, mountains, ocean, we feel so vast... and if one sees the tall structure of the memorial, one would be able to feel its vastness. While looking up to it, our heads will automatically bow down to it in respect."

The front of the memorial depicts a "soul rising from the human body". The back of it depicts drops of nectar falling from the sky and at the base runs a 60-foot long river. On a "Wall of Valour" along the sculpture are engraved names of over 30,000 persons from almost 65 organisations who were killed in action after the 1962 China war.

These include people from the police forces, the CRPF, the CISF and the BSF, among others, says Garanayak who explained that they did not want to "categorise a martyr" so the name of the organisation is not written on the wall. He said the nectar depicted in the statue is like "God's blessings" to us.

While brainstorming on the design of the structure he said he wanted to make sure that it represented everyone in the country. "I wanted to make it symbolic so that everyone merges into it and have a sense of affinity towards it," he added.

The carving of the monolithic black granite stone, mined from Khammam district of Telangana, started in the first week of August. "We completed a task meant for two years in under three months. It was quite a challenge. The carving was done on the spot in a continuous process," Nivedita Misra, Garanayak's wife, who was also a part of making the memorial, told IANS. The Prime Minister opened the memorial on October 21.

From the beginning, a team of about 40 people were associated with it, though later many more were involved, including those who mined the stone and those who helped to keep the area clean. "There were lots of changes in the initial design. We worked day and night to complete the work before the deadline," an artist from the team said.

"The final structure is far better than what we had conceived. Team work was very important. We did not even let nature stop us...rain, heat or dust... we worked 24/7," Misra said.

"Since we were carving on stone, we could not afford to make a mistake. Everything had to be perfect at one go," she added.

But why black granite?

"Granite is our oldest family member on the planet. We chose it because it has witnessed the history of mankind. If we surrender to it, it comes to life and when we embrace it, we'll be able to talk to it," says Garanayak.

"The colour black absorbs everything. When you come to share your feelings with the memorial, it will absorb it all. The families of the slain soldiers can come and share their sadness with it and the stone will take their messages to the supreme power," he said with complete seriousness.

"We want people to talk to it, feel it, embrace it and salute it," Garanayak said.

For him sculpting means everything. "After completing the sculpture it feels like I have taken a rebirth," he said.

(Muskan Aggarwal can be contacted at muskan.a@ians.in)
Aurangabad (Maharashtra), Nov 1 : For the third time in six years, the drought-hit regions of Marathwada will receive water released from dams in Nashik and Ahmednagar districts in Maharashtra.

Armed policemen were posted at strategic locations as water from two dams in Nashik and one in Ahmednagar was released early on Thursday for the 150 km long journey to Jayakwadi dam in Aurangabad.

"Over the next two days, we shall release a total of 2.64 TMC water to Jayakwadi dam. This will include around 2.04 TMC from Darna and Mukane dams and another 0.60 TMC from the Gangapur dam," Nashik Irrigation Department Executive Engineer R.S. Shinde told IANS from the dam site.

The move came a day after the Maharashtra government declared drought in 42 per cent of the state, portending ill-tidings ahead of the election season and the winter session of the Maharashtra Assembly starting in Mumbai on November 19.

The drought-hit regions include 26 of the total 36 districts, spanning 151 out of 358 talukas (sub-districts).

Severe drought has gripped 112 talukas just as the monsoon bowed out, as there was barely 77 per cent rain in the state.

The decision to release the dam waters was taken after the Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an appeal filed by Padmashri Vitthalrao Patil Sugar Mills against an order of the irrigation authorities to release 8.22 TMC water from Nilwande dam in Ahmednagar to Jayakwadi dam.

Jayakwadi dam is situated on the Godavari river in Aurangabad and the fresh inflow of water would quench the thirst of the people in Aurangabad city, parts of Beed, Parbhani and Osmanabad, said Shinde.

This is the third time after 2012, 2015 that the decision under the ambit of equal distribution of water rules of the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) was taken.

Shinde hinted that with Thursday's release of excess water from the Nashik-Ahmednagar dams, some parts may face "regulated supply" especially during the summer months, though shortages are not anticipated as apprehended by the farmers.

Already 10 out of 14 sub-districts of Nashik were facing drought in 2018, but owing to good rain in the catchment areas the dams were filled to the brim, he added.

However, the grim drought conditions hitting 44 sub-districts in Marathwada and 33 in North Maharashtra, has raised the spectre of shortfall in agriculture, spiralling prices owing to shortages, problems of drinking water and fodder for man and cattle, migration to urban centres and others.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : For millennials, the Diwali celebration is not just about partying to celebrate the festival, but also acting responsible towards the planet.

According to the data collected by OkCupid app, 83 per cent of women and 67 per cent of men users agree with the Supreme Court's ruling about restricting the use of firecrackers.

To understand how OkCupid community likes to celebrate Diwali, over 5,000 users -- with equal number of men and women -- were asked how they spend the festive break.

According to results, 51 per cent of men and 44 per cent of women said puja and parties are an equally important part of Diwali celebrations.

When it comes to Diwali bonus, women (20 per cent) are more likely to save it compared to men (15 per cent), whereas men (18 per cent) are more likely to invest it compared to women (8 per cent).

However, over 30 per cent of both men and women would love to splurge the bonus on themselves.
Chennai, Nov 1 : City-based non-banking finance company Veritas Finance on Thursday said it has raised Rs 200 crore from a group of investors.

In a statement issued here, the company said it has raised the sum from Norwest Venture Partners along with CDC Group Plc, a development finance institution owned by the UK government and an anchor investor P. Surendra Pai.

Veritas Finance is focussed on lending to Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises (MSME). The fresh funds raised will be used for deployment is the MSME sector.

"Through this round of funding, besides expansion, we will also strengthen our technology which will help us achieve higher productivity and bring down the cost of servicing micro-businesses," Arulmany. D, Managing Director and CEO, Veritas Finance was quoted as saying in the statement.

Veritas Finance has created a loan book of Rs 500 crore since inception in 2015, having a customer base of more than 21,000 present across seven states with over 132 branches backed by 1,125 employees.

India is home to more than 60 million MSMEs who contribute to 45 per cent of the exports and it forms the highest share of employment sector in India, contributing around 69 per cent to it, the company said.
Chandigarh, Nov 1 : Accusing the Punjab government for failing to control stubble burning of the harvested paddy crop, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday that the pollution level had deteriorated in the national capital after October 25.

"We have seen abnormal increase in pollution level after October 25. This is nothing else but due to stubble burning in Punjab," Kejriwal told the media here.

Kejriwal, who showed satellite images of stubble burning in Punjab, said the incidents of stubble burning were more in Punjab this year than in Haryana.

"The images show stubble burning in Bathinda, Amritsar and other districts in Punjab. In Haryana, this is limited to north Haryana in the areas around Ambala district."

He said the government and pollution control authorities in Punjab need to take the menace of stubble burning more seriously to find a lasting solution to the annual problem that was causing severe air pollution in Delhi.

"Neither vehicular pollution has increased in Delhi after October 25 nor more industries have been set up and neither there has been a dust build up. The air quality has deteriorated due to stubble burning in Punjab," he said.

He said Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier assured him of lesser stubble burning in Haryana this year and the satellite images showed that stubble burning was indeed less in that state this time.

"I met Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan a few months back to discuss this problem. He assured me that the problem will be curbed as 'Happy Seeder' machines will be provided to panchayats to get rid of the crop residue. However, nothing has happened," he pointed out.

Agrarian states Punjab and Haryana are expecting bumper procurement of over 250 lakh tonnes of paddy this Kharif season.

Kejriwal, when asked about the infighting in the Punjab unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), said this was an internal matter of the party and would be resolved soon.

Asked about the issues raised by ousted leader of opposition and senior AAP legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Kejriwal said that the outcome of the action against Khaira would be known soon.

The Delhi Chief Minister urged the people of Haryana to vote for the AAP in Assembly elections.

"People have tried successive governments of the Congress, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). THey have all failed to deliver on development. Schools, roads, hospitals and other infrastructure are in a bad shape. The Congress, INLD and BJP have ruled Haryana for 52 years. Nothing has changed on the ground," he said.

"We have brought revolutionary changes in Delhi in three years. It is being discussed at the global level. I have travelled in recent days to villages in Haryana. We have been to schools. They are in dilapidated condition," he said.
Hyderabad, Nov 1 : Telangana's main opposition Congress party on Thursday decided to contest 95 Assembly seats and leave the remaining 24 seats for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and other constituents of the grand alliance.

Under the seat sharing agreement, the Congress has allotted 14 seats to the TDP while the remaining 10 will go to the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the Communist Party of India.

Elections to the 119-member Assembly are scheduled to be held on December 7.

President of the Telangana unit of the Congress Uttam Kumar Reddy announced the decision in New Delhi on Thursday.

The Congress' Central Election Committee discussed the list of candidates sent by the party's state unit.

Reddy said the candidates will be announced on November 8 or 9.
Rabat, Nov 1 : Rapper French Montana has funded two pre-school classrooms in Morocco.

The "Unforgettable" rapper is working with the Sabae School of Fida-Mers Sultan district. According to tmz.com, his donation will be able to provide supplies and sustain the classrooms for at least a few years.

Montana grew up in Morocco and moved to the US when he was 13. In June, he became a US citizen.

His investment in education comes on the heels of the $500,000 he raised to help build a hospital in Uganda. The hospital opened in March and it is now servicing more than 300,000 women in 40 villages.
Islamabad, Nov 1 : The lawyer of Christian woman Asia Bibi, who was acquitted of blasphemy charges by the Supreme Court, on Thursday said that his client should leave Pakistan for her safety amid widespread protests by radical Islamist groups, a day after her death sentence was annulled.

"She is not safe in Pakistan and she will have to leave the country," Saif-ul-Malook told Efe news, adding that he might also have to leave the country to protect himself.

The apex court ruling on Wednesday set off violent protests and sit-ins by hardliners who support strong blasphemy laws. Radical Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) called for the death of the judges who passed the verdict.

The hardliners continued to protest and block highways for the second consecutive day in Pakistan.

The Christian woman's lawyer said that she had not been released from Multan prison yet and the process could take many days, the report said.

"I don't know where she goes," said Malook, when asked about possible countries where his client could seek refuge.

Despite having two bodyguards, Malook said he feared for his own life too. "I don't regret defending Asia, but I am scared. I don't think I am safe in Pakistan."

In major cities such as Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, members of the TLP continued to block highways, despite Prime Minister Imran Khan warning them not to confront the state, Dawn online reported.

Around 250 protesters blocked the main entry to the capital on the highway connecting Islamabad with Rawalpindi. The protesters burned tyres and also cut off a number of other roads and highways connecting Islamabad to other parts of the country.

In Lahore, stick-wielding protesters chanting religious slogans outside the Punjab police chief's office attacked policemen in riot gear who were attempting to disperse the agitators.

The demonstrators resisted the police personnel and some attacked officials, after which the policemen resorted to baton-charging the protesters, reports say.

The railway network in Lahore suffered disruptions due to protests and suspension of mobile signals.

Educational institutions remained closed on Thursday in the provinces of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Asia Bibi, a mother of five, was accused by two women of insulting Prophet Muhammad in 2009 and a court sentenced her to death in 2010.

Bibi maintained her innocence, but spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The Prime Minister defended the top court's judgment in a televised address, saying it was in accordance with the Constitution and appealed to the protesters not to challenge the state.

At least two public figures -- former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and minority minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian -- were assassinated in 2011 for supporting Bibi and opposing the blasphemy law.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Lieutenant General P.S. Rajeshwar on Thursday took over as the 12th Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.

After assuming charge, he paid homage to the martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate. He was accorded a tri-services guard of honour on the South Block lawns.

He was serving as Director General (Perspective Planning) at the Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence.

Lt General Rajeshwar was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery in December 1980. He is an alumnus of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and the National Defence College, Delhi.

"He holds a masters in National Security Administration from NDC, Philippines. He has rich operational and staff experience with the distinction of serving in operational environments such as high altitude area, counter insurgency in the northeast and Jammu and Kashmir, apart from UN peacekeeping operations," an official release said.

"During 38 years of his illustrious career, the General Officer has commanded an artillery regiment during Operation Parakram, an infantry brigade at the Line of Control (LoC), a counter insurgency force in Jammu and Kashmir and a Corps in the desert sector. He has also tenanted key staff appointments," it said.
New Delhi/Agartala, Nov 1 : The Supreme Court on Thursday extended the services of sacked 10,323 Tripura government teachers by two more years, as appealed for by the state government, an official said.

"A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi responding to the state government appeal, extended the services of the 10,323 government teachers for two more years. It also directed the Centre to consider giving relaxation in the matter of training and professional qualifications within four months," an official of Tripura's Law Department said.

He said the bench directed the state government to stick to the TET (Teachers' Eligibility Test) method of recruitment as well as to encourage job seekers to complete the required professional courses like B.Ed (Bachelor of Education).

On March 29, 2017, the Supreme Court upheld a Tripura High Court verdict to terminate the services of the 10,323 teachers on grounds of "indiscretion" in selecting them during the former Left Front rule in secondary and higher secondary schools.

After the appeal of the previous Left Front government, the apex court extended their services up to June this year.

The Bharatiya Janata Party led government in June submitted a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court to extend the services.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sudip Roy Barman hailed the decision, saying the state government would try its best to provide quality educations.

"We are expecting that the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry very soon give the one-time relaxation in academic and other qualifications to facilitate recruitment of teachers to overcome the shortages of huge teachers," Deb told the media.

Currently, 40,658 teachers providing education to 7.29 lakh students in 4,928 government schools.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Accusing the BJP of attacking Constitutional institutions, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said on Thursday that "democracy is in danger" as he met NCP leader Sharad Pawar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

"Democracy is in danger. People are in danger," he told the media, as he announced that he along with Naidu and Pawar would convene a meeting of opposition parties to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The country was going through a "great crisis", he added at Pawar's residence.

Naidu said the country was facing a lot of problems and the situation was "deteriorating day by day".

He said they wanted to discuss the issues with leaders of other political parties including Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

"We will have a meeting in Delhi and then chalk out the future (plan of action)."

The Telugu Desam Party leader said they were not coming together out of any greed for power.

Pawar said that institutions were being attacked. If "we work collectively to save democracy, we can save the institutions", he said.

"We will call a meeting of (opposition) leaders and discuss specific programmes," he said.

During his visit to Delhi last week, Naidu met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BSP leader Mayawati, Loktrantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav, former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha and CPI leaders D. Raja and S. Sudhakar Reddy apart from Abdullah.

The meetings are seen as part of efforts to bring together the opposition against the BJP-led alliance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved an agreement between India and South Korea for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism.

The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations with an objective to expand bilateral cooperation in tourism by increasing the exchange of information and data related to the sector.

The objectives of the deal include encouraging cooperation between tourism stakeholders including hotels and tour operators; investment in the tourism and hospitality sectors; participation in travel fairs or exhibitions in each other's country and promoting safe, honourable and sustainable tourism.

With the signing of this bond, the two countries will exchange visits of tour operators, the media and the opinion makers for promotion of two-way tourism.

They will also exchange experiences in the areas of promotion, marketing destination development and management.

South Korea is one of the leading tourist generating markets for India from East Asia.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday alleged that names of lakhs of voters had been axed from electoral rolls in Delhi and blamed the BJP for it.

In a letter to Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat, Kejriwal said that most people whose names have been deleted exist and the deletion had been done "with mala fide intent".

"The procedure prescribed under law for deletion of names has not been followed in almost all cases, which raises suspicion about the motives," Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal approached the poll panel after the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) South Delhi Lok Sabha in-charge Raghav Chadha claimed that about 100,000 voters' named have been dropped from the South Delhi parliamentary constituency alone at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"A cursory perusal of the deleted names shows that most of these votes belong to either the Congress or AAP. Therefore, it is likely that some officers have done it at the instance of the BJP to prevent them from voting," Kejriwal alleged.

In his letter, Kejriwal said that he ordered an enquiry in nine such cases and found that the names were deleted following a door-to-door survey conducted by booth level officers (BLO) in July.

"The BLO could not locate their houses during the survey... Letters sent through Speed Post to these voters subsequently also remained undelivered," he said.

"Now after I ordered the enquiry, the officers have got Form 6 filled from five of them and have promised that Form 6 from the rest four would also be filled," he said.

"If the BLO could not locate the houses during the door-to-door survey, how could he locate their houses so easily after the enquiry was ordered?" Kejriwal asked.

Calling the whole exercise a "huge scam" with grave implications on democracy, Kejriwal urged the Election Commission to take "exemplary penal action" against the officers involved.

"Deleted names need to be added back for those people who actually exist. Since elections are approaching, it needs to be done on a war footing."

He also requested the Election Commission to provide a list of deleted names to all political parties in soft and hard copy so that the voters could be approached immediately.

"The Election Commission should also depute adequate manpower to approach each deleted name and get them to fill Form 6," Kejriwal said.
Lucknow, Nov 1 : Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut on Thursday said waiting for the Supreme Court to settle the Ram Janmabhoomi issue was fruitless as it could stretch on for a "thousand years."

In the temple town of Ayodhya to assess the preparations for the November 25 visit of party chief Uddhav Thackeray, Raut said the only way for the construction of a grand Ram temple was "the ordinance route".

Shiv Sena is BJP's ally both at Centre as well as in Maharashtra.

Raut, a Shiv Sena MP in the Rajya Sabha, said Thackeray's Ayodhya visit later this month was aimed at "reminding Prime Minister Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of their commitment to the cause dear to millions of Hindus."

Raut said Prime Minister Modi has overcome many hurdles in his political career and that he was very hopeful Modi would successfully cross the hurdles around the Ayodhya imbroglio, also.

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New Delhi, Nov 1 : As toxic air chokes Delhi, Ministers from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan on Thursday skipped a crucial meeting held here by the Union Environment Ministry although their officials attended it.

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan had called a meeting of Ministers and officials from Delhi's neighbouring states to study stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana in particular as well as the overall air quality.

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain, who attended the meeting, said the meeting should have been taken seriously.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too questioned the absence of the Ministers from other states.

"Let there be no politics on this matter. We have talked to the Ministers from Punjab and Haryana and they sent their representatives here," Harsh Vardhan told the media here.

He said the stubble burning had reduced by 30 per cent since last year and that the Centre had already released funds to help the farmers.

But the 30 per cent drop was not enough, Harsh Vardhan said.

Delhi and neighbouring areas saw a spike in air pollution due to stubble burning in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana.

Delhi on Thursday witnessed "near severe" air quality, while Noida in Uttar Pradesh as well as Faridabad and Gurugram in Haryana suffered "severe" air quality.

Harsh Vardhan said his Ministry was monitoring the situation and 52 teams of officials from his Ministry, Delhi government and other agencies were keeping a vigil on the environment.

"For next five days there will be more active monitoring... The time of Diwali is always very crucial as several things lead to a spike in pollution, due to stubble burning, local pollutants and weather conditions," he said.
Mumbai, Nov 1 : Actress Karisma Kapoor, who was a celebrity guest on the fourth season of dance based reality show "Dance+", wishes to get choreographed by director-choreographer Remo D'Souza one day.

In an episode of the show, one of the participants paid a surprise tribute to D'Souza, the show's 'super judge', capturing his inspiring journey as a background dancer to an accomplished choreographer and filmmaker in Bollywood, read a statement.

After the act, reminiscing about his journey, he shared a fact with Karisma that he was a part of her song "Sundara sundara" from "Rakshak" as a background dancer.

Appreciating his hard work and his successful journey, she said: "I wish Remo choreographs me some day."

The 44-year-old actress acknowledged the importance of the background dancers in the industry.

"Back up dancers are such a big support to us actors and their contribution in the song is immense," she added.

The show airs on StarPlus.
Guwahati, Nov 1 : The Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) has been honoured with 'University of the Year' award by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the 14th FICCI Higher Education Summit 2018: A Global Conference & Exhibition, held in Delhi on October 30.

The ADBU received the prestigious award among all the universities in India, which are in existence for one to ten years. The award was received by Pro Vice Chancellor, Fr Joseph Nellanatt, on behalf of the university.

R Subrahmanyam, Secretary-Higher Education, MHRD, gave away the awards to 13 educational institutions and eminent personalities in the field of education.

"It is indeed a proud moment for our university, which also received a certificate of special mention for social commitment. At Don Bosco University, we want to make social commitment as our institution's distinctiveness," said Fr Joseph Nellanatt.

"If we compare the national scenario of literacy, at least 20 per cent of our polulation cannot read and write. Only 10 per cent of the country's total population has passed Class X. So, we believe, it is our responsibility to contribute to the society," he said.

The ADBU is already engaged in significant activities in the university's neighbourhood, said Fr Joseph Nellanatt. "It is our commitment to ensure that the villages located near our university also develop as our university develops," he said.
Beijing, Nov 1 : Chile is set to join China's mammoth global investment programme, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Chilean Foreign Minister announced during a business forum here on Thursday.

Roberto Ampuero said Chile will sign a memorandum of understanding on Friday with the Chinese government to advance and develop the BRI in the context of bilateral relations.

"It is a very important decision, also much anticipated by China, which was taken by (Chilean) President Sebastian Pinera," Ampuero told Efe news during the inauguration of a "Chilean Week" in China.

The minister said that the BRI was an additional element to strengthen comprehensive bilateral relations, which opens tremendous prospects of cooperation, especially in infrastructure.

Ampuero dismissed the doubts expressed by some countries about joining the BRI -- due to the fear of their interests being dependent on Beijing -- by saying that Chile thoroughly analyzes agreements and only signed when it was convinced that the pact was in the country's interests.

He added that China was Chile's main trade ally and said that Santiago was interested in strengthening these ties in different spheres.

"One of the areas where we agree with China is defending multilateralism and free, open and transparent markets," the minister said, adding that the BRI will help them work at a better rhythm and within a broader conceptual framework.

Chile's annual trade with China is worth nearly $35 billion, which amounts to around 26-27 per cent of Chile's total foreign trade.

Trade between the two countries has grown 37 per cent this year.
Mumbai, Nov 1 : Ireland's top 20 universities will participate in a series of education fairs in the country to woo Indian students to their country, a top official said here on Thursday.

Starting on November 17 in New Delhi, the fairs will be held over a week in Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru and conclude in Chennai on November 25, Senior Adviser of Education in Ireland Barry O'Driscoll said.

The university representatives will discuss admission procedures, scholarships for the 5,000-plus diverse educational programs and job prospects for Indian aspirants.

"Education in Ireland provides a platform to the intending students to have a face-to-face interaction with the university officials and get answers to all their queries pertaining to the studies and courses in Ireland, gauge their prospect and apply directly to the institutions of their choice," said O'Driscoll.

Besides, qualified students can get a broader percept on the job opportunities and other prospects there after completing their education, he told the media.

O'Driscoll added that Irish universities rank among the best in the world and also offer free fees schemes, scholarships, grants and bursaries for students who meet the various criteria.

After the formal opening in New Delhi, the academic fairs shall be held on November 18 (Pune), November 21 (Mumbai), November 24 (Bengaluru) and closing in Chennai the following day.

Incidentally, in June 2017, Ireland elected an Indian-origin leader with roots in Mumbai, Leo Eric Varadkar, 38, as the country's youngest-ever Prime Minister. A qualified doctor, Varadkar is also Ireland's first openly gay head of government.
Kolkata, Nov 1 : BJP leader and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's grand nephew Chandra Kumar Bose on Thursday urged the Centre to unveil a statue of the revolutionary leader at the India Gate in New Delhi on his next birth anniversary, January 23, which he said, should be declared 'Liberation Day'.

Congratulating the NDA government at the Centre for unveiling the 182-meter statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Wednesday on the occasion of the leader's 143th birth anniversary and celebrating the day as National Unity Day, Bose tweeted that demands are rising for a statue of the Liberator of India in the national capital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on October 21, hoisted the national flag at the Red Fort to mark the 75th anniversary of the formation of 'Azad Hind government' headed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in 1943.
A Chinese research team has developed a "milder" way to synthesize ammonia by requiring lower temperature and pressure than the current method. The process offers great promise for saving energy and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

The new process was developed by a research team led by Prof. CHEN Ping and Dr. GUO Jianping from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It involves a new chemical looping method based on metal hydride and imide. The process operates at atmospheric pressure and 100-350C, in contrast with the Haber-Bosch process - currently dominating world ammonia production - which operates at 100-200 bars and 350-450C.

Ammonia helps feed humanity through its role in producing nitrogen fertilizer. It also has the potential to store and transport renewable energy. However, current ammonia production is very energy intensive - consuming1-2% of world energy output. In addition, about 1.9 metric tons of carbon dioxide is produced for every metric ton of ammonia.

"In order to address the challenges of the energy and environmental crisis, we developed an alternative process for ammonia synthesis from nitrogen gas, water and renewable energy," said CHEN, the study's lead researcher.

The process uses alkali and alkaline earth metal imides as nitrogen carriers that mediate ammonia production via a two-step chemical looping process operating under mild conditions.

"In the first step, nitrogen was fixed through the reduction of nitrogen gas by alkali or alkaline earth metal hydrides to form imides," said CHEN. "In the second step, the imides were hydrogenated to produce ammonia and regenerated the metal hydrides."

CHEN explained that the two steps could be accelerated by the catalysis of transition metals. "The chemical loop mediated by BaNH and catalyzed by Ni could produce ammonia in the temperature range of 100 to 350C and atmospheric pressure. The production rate of ammonia was more than one order of magnitude higher than that of the thermocatalytic process," CHEN added.

CHEN noted that the study provides a "promising solution to the efficient harvest and storage of renewable energy." CHEN said the process has the advantage of operating at atmospheric pressure and also offers a means of synthesizing ammonia in a localized, distributed manner.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the Centre and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) for not doing their work in curbing the unauthorized construction and thereby bringing the city to a "collapse".

"You will have to admit the fact that your people are not doing their work either in accordance with law or the direction of the court," said a three-judge bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice Mohan M. Shantagoudar and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer.

The bench also said that "there are allegation of corruption and connivance, which were also recorded in 2006 judgement and continue even today".

Venting its ire over the callous approach of officialdom both at the Centre and the civic bodies dealing with the national capital, Justice Lokur said, "People who have been there to look after Delhi are not doing their work. It has collapsed."

The observations from the court after it received the report of the joint survey conducted by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Ministry of Urban Development and SDMC of the 800 residential premises in Amar Colony in August is yet to be finalised.

The joint survey was carried out to identify the unauthorised constructions to be sealed in the colony.

Taking exception to the fact that survey was carried out in August but the report is yet to be finalised or "is under finalisation"Justice Lokur said: "Data entry of some crores of cases have been done and you are taking time for compiling data for 800 residential premises".

The court gave time till Friday for the Additional Solicitor General Atmaram Nadkarni to take instructions on the schedule and procedure to be followed for sealing premises which are being used for purposes other is permitted.

In the environment matter, Delhi government informed the court that in pursuance to the top court directions, 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles would not be allowed to ply in the city.

The court was also said that around 40 lakh vehicles have been de-registered in the national capital.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday dared Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to visit any Delhi government Mohalla Clinic after the latter dubbed them "halla" clinics.

"Khattar Sir can choose the Mohalla clinics he wants to visit. I will personally welcome him at the Delhi-Haryana border. Choose a date and inform us," Kejriwal told the media here.

At a rally on October 27, Khattar had termed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's widely praised Mohalla Clinics as "halla" clinics, after which the AAP invited Khattar to visit Delhi and compare the health and education sectors of the two states.

Khattar accepted the challenge at a rally on Wednesday. The date and time of his visit to Delhi are still not confirmed.

Kejriwal added in a tweet: "We are prepared Khattar Sir. This will strengthen democracy. The people will no longer vote for those who talk about temples and mosques but for those who build schools and hospitals."
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The Indian mobile manufacturing industry should focus on manufacturing with an export-oriented approach as the domestic demand has started to decline, a report said here on Thursday.

The ICEA-McKinsey Report 2018 also noted that the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) intended to turn India into a manufacturing hub is not enough to help the country to become an export manufacturing hub.

"The strong growth seen between 2014 and 2017 is starting to slow down," the joint report said.

If the Indian industry restricts itself to making mobile handsets and components only for India, as per the survey the country is likely to manufacture "only 450 million handsets and employ 18 lakh people for an industry worth around $80 billion by 2025".

"If India extends its ambition beyond making in India for India, to making mobile handsets and components in India for the world, it could manufacture around 1,250 million handsets across various segments by 2025, firing up an industry worth around $230 billion," it said.

The report observed that the export oriented approach would create around 47 lakh jobs in the process.

Commenting on the government's Phased Manufacturing Programme, the report said that although PMP has aided the growth in the mobile manufacturing sector, it has failed in taking an export-oriented approach and in creation of a component and sub-assembly ecosystem.

"PMP is effective but does not go far enough to establish India as a global manufacturing hub," it said.

The PMP was started in 2015 by making local mobile phone manufacturing cheaper by imposing duties on imports.

"In value terms, the 2017 estimated exports of around $0.1 billion are short of the target for 2019 of $9 billion. Despite some improvement in exports since 2015, India still has a long way to go to become an export hub," said the report.

It also recommended export incentives, labour reforms and duty differential through PMP among others to increase exports.

"Developing a robust export promotion strategy through increasing incentives under Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) and duty drawback rates available for mobile handsets."

Commenting on the findings of the report, Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, India Cellular And Electronics Association (ICEA) said: "...green shoots have already started appearing in the mobile manufacturing landscape of the nation and this needs to be further accelerated with a major focus on exports."
Panaji, Nov 1 : Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is in the best of health, state BJP General Secretary Sadanand Shet Tanavde said on Thursday.

Tanavde was speaking to reporters outside the ailing Chief Minister's private residence near Panaji, shortly after he along with state BJP leaders including former Speaker Rajendra Arlekar met Parrikar.

"We came to meet him. There was no discussion. We met him, talked to him and left. CM is very well. In best condition. We chatted with him," Tanavde said.

Parrikar is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer and has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, New York and Delhi for nearly nine months.

He returned from New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences on October 14 and had not made a public appearance for two weeks.

Over the last three days, Parrikar has chaired a cabinet meeting, a meeting of the state Investment Promotion Board and Thursday's meeting with BJP leaders, following pressure from the opposition, which alleged that he was no more.

Party sources said that state BJP President Vinay Tendulkar was expected to meet BJP President Amit Shah on Friday to apprise him about the political scenario in Goa.

Parrikar's prolonged ailment has dented the ruling party's image in Goa.
Chandigarh, Nov 1 : Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra on Thursday called for creation of a special National Security Administration Services, and advocated formulation of a National Security Policy.

Delivering the first K.P.S. Gill Memorial lecture on "National Security: Some Concerns" at the Indian School of Business (ISB) campus in Mohali near here, Vohra advocated that a special security administration services should be constituted by the Centre to deal with national security.

Lauding the role of K.P.S. Gill as a police officer and a leader, Vohra said that Gill was an able and courageous police officer who played a historic role in rooting out militancy from Punjab.

Vohra suggested that special forces should be constituted in all states to deal with the threats to national security.

He emphasised that personnel from the special forces should be specially trained, as lawlessness by vigilante groups was causing social tension.

Vohra said that incidents of lawlessness created by a few self-styled religious gurus should also be under the scanner.

"Police is the first line of defence and should be firm in response to a situation to maintain public order," he said.

Vohra lamented the inadequate number of police personnel vis-a-vis population of the country. He said that the police, prosecution and judiciary are understaffed and hence causes lawlessness.

He said that budgetary support to all wings of the police is low and mostly spent on paying salaries and not on modernisation and training.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rakesh Sinha on Thursday said that he would bring a private member's bill in Parliament for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and dared the Opposition to clarify their stand on the issue.

Sinha, an RSS ideologue recently given a Rajya Sabha berth, said he was writing the preface of the proposed bill.

"Will write preface (introduction) of my private member's bill on Ram temple in Ayodhya. Request those asking the date (when construction of Ram temple would start) to send me feedback," Sinha said in a tweet.

Various Hindutva bodies, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, have upped the pressure on the Modi government over the past few weeks to bring a legislation for construction of Ram temple.

"Will Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechury, Lalu Prasad, Mayawati support the private member bill on Ayodhya? They frequently ask the date (as to when construction of Ram temple will start). Now the onus is on them," Sinha tweeted.

He said a legislation for building a grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya had been necessitated as the Supreme Court, which was hearing the matter, was taking too long to decide.

"How many days the Supreme Court took to give verdict on Article 377, Jallikattu, Sabarimala? But Ayodhya is not a priority for decades. It is a top priority for Hindu society," Sinha said.

Reacting to development, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that one MP cannot make a law and it was for the government to enact a legislation to build Ram temple in Ayodhya.

"An MP cannot make a law through a private member's bill. The government has to do it. That is what Shiv Sena is demanding. Enough politics has been done over the issue in the last 25 years. Whenever elections come, they speak of Ram Mandir. But Ram is still in vanvaas (exile)," Raut told CNN-News18 TV channel.

"You make a temple at Ayodhya for Ram. If you can't, tell the people that you had just made a false promise," he added.

On the pendency of the matter in the apex court, the Sena MP said if a law is enacted, the court's issue would be rendered meaningless.

"It's not easy to accept the court's verdict for anyone. No court can decide the matter of faith," he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Sambit Patra said the BJP stood by its resolve to construct a Ram temple in Ayodhya "through constitutional measures".

"Any bill which is to come in future is the property of Parliament. Commenting on that will not be fair. As for the BJP's resolve to construct the Ram temple, we have pledged since 1989 that we will, through constitutional measures, strive for the construction of the temple. We stand by it," Patra said.

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, however, said if the government brought an Ordinance on Ram Mandir, it would be "unconstitutional" and an "adventurous action".
Shimla, Nov 1 : Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday urged people to celebrate the birth of girl child by ending the evil practice of female foeticide.

"It's unfortunate that in a country like India where girls are worshipped as 'devi' that they feel insecure," she said in the Himachal Pradesh capital.

Addressing girls under Mission Sahasi, an initiative of the ABVP to make girls fearless and self-confident, Irani said: "No matter what a girl wears or which family she belongs to, respect is her birth right.

"It was an absolutely enthralling experience to witness 1,300 young school and college girls perform martial arts in Shimla as part of self-defence training programme being organised by ABVP across the country," she said in a tweet.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : From double-decker buses for interstate transport to a catamaran which will ferry people over the Yamuna from Delhi to the City of Taj, Agra -- Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari is eyeing a revolution in public transport in the coming years, which, he said, will be easy on the pockets of common man as well as safe for the environment.

Addressing a gathering, Gadkari said he has a plan to start double-decker buses between cities like Delhi and Jaipur, Delhi and Chandigarh, and Mumbai and Pune, which will give "tea and breakfast like private airlines".

"My vision is to start double-decker buses between cities like Delhi and Jaipur... so that people don't have to drive cars. This will cause less pollution. I will ask states to implement this service. This will bring cleanliness, comfort to passengers and will generate employment," he said during the launch of the 'Ease of Moving Index' prepared by Ola.

The Minister also spoke of a Russian catamaran he is trying to get which will transport people from Delhi to Taj Mahal.

"I am also trying, but don't take it as my commitment, to start a catamaran service between Delhi and Agra before January 26. I am trying to get this 60-seater catamaran, which will run at a speed of 80 km per hour. It runs on water and also on sand. Imagine what a revolution this would be," he said.

The 'Mobility Index', which Gadkari released today, was based on a survey of 43,000 respondents from 20 cities. The Index claimed that over 80 per cent of the respondents believe that urban transport has improved over the last five years and nearly as many believed that by 2030 electric vehicles could replace conventional ones.

The report quantified the responses on five parameters: scale, character, culture, economy and geography.

"This report has important information that can help public stakeholders, city administrators and city planners in making smarter decisions to address pollution, congestion, and safety, and in building dynamic solutions to improve mobility for citizens at large," Gadkari said.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : India on Thursday welcomed the decision to start the process of repatriation of Rogingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar and asked Myanmar to maintain favourable living conditions for those returning.

"We welcome the agreement which was reached between the Foreign Secretaries of Bangladesh and Myanmar," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

"Once the movement of people starts, I think it is a good beginning," Kumar said.

"We hope that this process can gather momentum as confidence grows in the environment in Rakhine state for the safe, steady and sustainable return of the displaced people."

A new crisis erupted in August last year following an attack by a Rohingya insurgent group that led to a violent response by the Myanmar Army in Rakhine state.

This resulted in an exodus of Rohingya refugees from Rakhine State in Myanmar to Bangladesh.

New Delhi has sent relief material for the refugees in both Rakhine state and Bangladesh.

The Rohingya people do not enjoy citizenship status in Myanmar and are sparingly given refugee status in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque made the announcement on Tuesday about starting the repatriation process from the middle of this month after the third Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting with his Myanmar counterpart Myint Thu.

Currently, over a million Rohingyas are living in Bangladesh.

According to the report, Bangladesh and Myanmar for the first time came up with a specific time to start the repatriation of Rohingyas from Cox's Bazar.

It remains a concern of the international community whether the repatriation of the Rohingya people to Myanmar will be voluntary and dignified.

Kumar said that India was in favour of a safe, speedy and sustainable return of the displaced people from Bangladesh to Myanmar.

"I think it is important also to note that India has been working in Bangladesh to provide humanitarian aid to meet the needs of the displaced people as well as in Myanmar to create conditions so that people who are being repatriated back to Myanmar get the proper socio-economic conditions for a favourable return to the place where they belong to," he said.
Ahmedabad, Nov 1 : Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Thursday sought to allay fears of the business community in the wake of migration of workers from north India claiming that there was complete industrial peace and the state continued to be an ideal investment destination.

Speaking at the national executive committee meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Chief Minister said: "There is zero unrest in Gujarat and the state has always had a business friendly environment."

Rupani exhorted the FICCI's delegates to organize conventions and conferences of their business establishments near the 'Statue of Unity'. He added that industries were thriving in Gujarat due to positive atmosphere and the state government's business-friendly policies.

The chief minister's appeal to trade and industry also coincides with the hectic preparations for the Gujarat government's big-ticket Vibrant Gujarat Global Investment Summit (VGGIS) in January 2019 to attract domestic and global investment in the state.

It is also the time when the BJP at the Centre and in north Indian states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh faces crucial elections soon and in 2019. "At such time, it is vital for Rupani to ensure that Gujarat's image in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state is not tarnished, a BJP leader told IANS.

An alleged rape by a Bihar origin man on September 28 had sparked off attacks on migrant workers in the state forcing thousands of them to flee to their home towns in north India well ahead of Diwali festivities.

Though the state Government claimed that it had initiated swift action, it was not before the migration of workers had already started.
Shimadzu's new UV-1900 UV-VIS spectrophotometer is equipped with an ultrafast scan function that enables data acquisition in 29,000nm/min (it takes about three seconds to measure in visible region.), the fastest level in the industry.

The UV-1900 features a large, easy-to-use color touch panel as well as excellent operability, such as support for five languages, including Spanish and Portuguese. In addition, it can perform high-accuracy quantitative analysis, thanks to a proprietary low stray light diffraction grating, the same device used in our top-of-the-range UV-VIS spectrophotometers. Connecting this instrument with Shimadzu's analysis data management system provides integrated data management with various analysis instruments, in an environment compatible with guidelines and regulations related to electronic records and electronic signatures.

LabSolutions UV-Vis, Shimadzu's UV-Vis control software released simultaneously, contributes to data pass/fail judgments via its spectral evaluation functions.

Features of the UV-1900 UV-VIS-NIR Spectrophotometer:

High Performance Matched to a Variety of Sample Analyses

A newly developed ultrafast scan function enables data acquisition in as fast as 29,000nm/min. By performing repeated measurements, the process of sample changes in chemical reactions can be analyzed in a short time. In addition, the UV-1900 incorporates a low stray light diffraction grating, produced in-house. It features excellent spectroscopic capabilities, and is the same device used in our high-end models. As a result, this instrument is capable of high-accuracy quantitative analysis and the detection of low-concentration components.

Intuitive Operability Regardless of the User

The touch panel is deployed at the ideal viewing angle based on ergonomics. It can also be operated using the provided stylus pen, which can be stored in the unit. Target analyses can be performed with ease due to the intuitive operation windows that provide support for Japanese, English, and Chinese, as well as Spanish and Portuguese.



Compatible with Various Regulations and Guidelines Including FDA 21 CFR Part 11

This instrument achieves a resolution of 1 nm and can perform analyses compliant with the pharmacopeia of various countries. In addition, if the standard control software and optional LabSolutions UV-Vis are connected to a Shimadzu analysis data system, integrated data management can be performed with all the Shimadzu instruments in a laboratory, including chromatographs and infrared spectrophotometers, in an environment compatible with FDA 21 CFR Part 11.
Mumbai, Nov 1 : Higher fuel costs and currency losses are expected to push airlines deep into the red this fiscal, ratings agency Crisil Ratings said in a report on Thursday.

According to the report, airlines are required to hike fares by 12 per cent to offset the "fuel-forex double blow".

"At an estimated Rs 9,300 crore, the industry's losses at EBIT (or earnings before interest and tax) level would surpass the Rs 7,348 crore blow it was dealt in fiscal 2014," the report said.

"That was followed by three good years through fiscal 2018, when carriers reeled in aggregate profit of Rs 4,000 crore on average at the EBIT level."

As per the report, the prices of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) which accounts for 35 to 40 per cent of the total cost of airlines are expected to average 28 per cent higher on-year compared with fiscal 2018.

Furthermore, the depreciation in the rupee will translate into higher debt liability.

"Airlines have sizeable foreign currency debt, while their revenues are largely earned in rupees," said Nitesh Jain, Director, Crisil Ratings.

"With 73 per cent of their debt denominated in foreign currency, the debt liability of the three listed airlines (aggregate market share of 71 per cent) will go up by 10 per cent this fiscal."
Guwahati, Nov 1 : Five persons were killed in Tinsukia district of Assam on Thursday evening when a group of unidentified assailants opened fire at a public place, police said.

The assailants are believed to be members of the anti-talk faction of militant outfit ULFA, according to the police.

More details are awaited.
Bengaluru, Nov 1 : Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday said a joint task force set up by the Commerce Ministry and Karnataka government will address the concerns of southern state's flood-hit coffee growers.

"I have spoken to the Chief Minister (H.D. Kumaraswamy) and we have decided to set up a task force along with the Karnataka government to deal with the issues being faced by the coffee planters as a result of the recent floods," Prabhu told a coffee planters' gathering here through a video address from New Delhi.

The Minister was addressing the 60th anniversary of Karnataka Planters' Association (KPA), the apex decision-making body in the state for coffee, tea, rubber, pepper and cardamom plantations.

Due to the heavy rains and floods in the coffee-growing districts of Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan in August, the loss and damage caused to coffee estates, coffee crop and infrastructure is estimated to be Rs 3,000-crore, according to the KPA.

The Commerce Ministry will do everything to ensure the planters' issues are addressed, Prabhu said.

With about 45,000 growers producing 40 per cent of India's coffee, Kodagu contributes a major quantity of the aromatic beverage. With its adjacent districts - Chikkamagaluru and Hassan -- the region in the southern state's Western Ghats accounts for 70 per cent of the country's bean production.

As many as 20,000 of the growers in Kodagu have lost about 70 per cent of their crop due to the recent floods.

With 3.43 lakh coffee growers in the southern state facing pending loans cumulatively amounting up to Rs 6,000-crore, the KPA and the Coffee Board have been seeking interest waiver from the Ministry on the loans.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : In a relief to about 40 lakh people left out of draft NRC for Assam, the Supreme Court on Thursday permitted five additional identity documents for filing claims and objections over non-inclusion in the final draft NRC for the state.

These additional identity documents are National Register of Citizens (NRC), 1951; electoral roll up to 24th March, 1971; Citizenship Certificate; Refugee Registration Certificate and certified copies of pre-1971 electoral roll, particularly, those issued from the State of Tripura; and ration card.

Permitting these five identity documents, the bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman said the fear of an ineligible person getting into the NRC cannot be a ground for exclusion of genuine citizens.

"It is our considered view that the mere possibility of filing of forged documents or that such documents were filed in the earlier exercise cannot be a ground to exclude the same from the impending process of filing of claims and objections," the court said in its order.

Needless to say, the court order said, "all such documents must be subjected to a thorough process of verification and will be accepted only after due and complete satisfaction of the genuineness of the same".

The court said that objection of state coordinator of NRC Prateek Hajela to the five documents, specifically to the names in NRC of 1951 and names in electoral roll up to March 24, 1971 is "based entirely on a possibility of abuse which, however strong, cannot be an acceptable reason in law to exclude the documents from consideration".

While allowing five additional documents, the court extended the time for filing of claims and objections to December 15 from previously set November 25.

The court said that digitisation of documents will be completed by January 15. Thereafter, the notices would be issued and the verification of claims and objections would commence from February 1.

The court also directed Hajela to undertake vigorous verification of the five documents that would be relied upon to file claims for inclusion in and objection to exclusion from the final draft NRC.

Justice Nariman told Hajela that approach that it is "better to exclude a genuine person than include an ineligible is not correct", while Chief Justice Gogoi said: "We have gone through (the report) and we don't think you are right."

Endorsing the position, the Chief Justice said that merely because a forged document could be submitted cannot be the basis of excluding them as documents of identity proof. Even in the earlier exercise to prepare the draft NRC, a large number of documents were disputed, CJI Gogoi reminded Hajela.

The court on Thursday permitted the reliance on five more documents taking note of the position taken by the Assam government, the Centre and other stakeholders.

Earlier, the top court had permitted 10 identity documents for filing claims and objections for inclusion in or exclusion from Assam NRC.

Besides the Centre and Assam, the court in the last hearing on October 23 had sought response from the All Assam Students Union, All Assam Minorities Students' Union, Jamait Ulama-i-Hind, Assam Public Works, Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Progressive), Indigenous Tribal Peoples Federation and the Joint Action Committee for Bangali Refugees on Hajela's objection on permitting five identity documents.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Stubble burning in neighbouring states and local pollution sources worsened Delhi's air quality to near "severe" level, with Thursday seeing the three most polluted cities from the National Capital Region (NCR).

The politics over pollution also intensified, as Ministers from neighbouring states quality skipped a crucial meeting called by Union Ministry, with the Delhi government claiming the latter to be "not serious".

Pollution is set to worsen until at least November 4, with high moisture trapping the pollutants and calm wind not allowing them to disperse, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

The stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana has about 30 per cent impact on Delhi's air quality, say experts from Central Pollution Control Board (CPSB).

The Air Quality Index (AQI) on Thursday was 393 in Delhi, considered "very poor" or near "severe". Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh saw a slight improvement with an AQI of 377.

Haryana's Gurugram had an AQI of 427, while Faridabad and Noida had 407, making them the three most polluted cities in the country on Thursday.

The government has imposed a ban on construction activities, coal and biowaste-based industries, and brick kilns across NCR till November 10.

The Supreme Court appointed EPCA said that it is considering imposing more restrictions including a ban on truck entry in Delhi, if the air quality falls further.

"300 water sprinklers are being used across Delhi to tap down the particle pollutants," said Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain.

However, the politics and verbal spat intensified as Ministers from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan skipped a crucial meeting on air pollution held here by Union Environment Ministry.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, and Delhi Minister Hussain blamed the Centre for the absence of Ministers from these states.

"Why didn't ministers from other states attend? It's a collective problem and I urge everyone to please work together. Only then can we find a solution," tweeted Arvind Kejriwal.

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain, who attended the meeting, said the meeting should have been taken seriously.

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said that concerned ministers are in touch.

"Let there be no politics on this matter. We have talked to the Ministers from Punjab and Haryana and they sent their representatives here," Harsh Vardhan told reporters here.

He said that the stubble burning had reduced by 30 per cent over last year, which was good but not enough.

Harsh Vardhan and Imran Hussain also flagged off five buses fitted with air-filters at the top to tap particle pollutant, under a pilot project to ply 30 such buses.

The ministers also launched an Asthma manual for schools to help schools build better management plans for emergencies and recognise symptoms among children, especially in cities like Delhi with at least four to five months of poor air quality every year.

On Thursday, business venture Blueair collaborated with East Delhi Municipal Corporation to distribute 5,000 N-95 mask among the municipal workers.

Delhi on Thursday saw a rise in particle pollutants with average dispersion of PM2.5 and PM10, or particles with diameter less than 2.5mm and 10mm, being 241 and 437 microgrammer per cubic meters -- about 4 times the permissible limit.

Chandni Chowk, Dwarka sub-city, Rohini, R.K. Puram, Narela and Punjabi Bagh were among the 18 regions out of 36 which reeled under 'severe" air quality with PM2.5 above 400 units.

The permissible limit for PM2.5 and PM10 is 60 and 80 units by national standards and 25 and 50 units by international standards.

Meanwhile, SAFAR advised people to avoid all outdoor physical activities and those with asthma to keep relief medication handy.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : India remains engaged with the United States regarding oil imports from Iran, after Washington imposed fresh sanctions on the Islamic nation over its nuclear programme, a senior official said here on Thursday.

"We have had several rounds of conversation, not only with the US, but also with Iran and other stakeholders on this matter," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to queries at a media briefing here following reports that Washington might have given a waiver to New Delhi.

"As far as the US is concerned, they are well aware about our expectations of the requirement which we have for oil domestically," Kumar said.

"We will continue to engage with the US and other stakeholders to ensure that our energy security is not compromised and also that our national interests are protected."

There have been deep concerns in New Delhi following fresh US sanctions on Iran, set to come into effect on November 4, since the West Asian nation is a major supplier of crude oil to India.

The US pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that Tehran had signed with the five permanent members (P5) of the UN Security Council, Germany and the European Union and imposed the new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.

Under the sanctions, the US wants all countries in the world to stop importing oil from Iran.

India has also voiced its appreciation for the statement made by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the intention of imposing sanctions on Iran is not to hurt India.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The armies of India and Japan on Thursday began a first-of-its-kind joint military exercise 'Dharma Guardian' in Mizoram to build and promote relations between the forces of the two countries in addition to exchanging skills and experiences, a Defence Ministry statement said.

Approximately one platoon strength each of Japanese and Indian contingents took part in the 14-day exercise. The Japanese contingent is being represented by 32nd Infantry Battalion while the Indian side is being represented by Gorkha Rifles.

"The exercise will consist of a balance of indoor classes and outdoor training activities. Due emphasis will be laid on enhancing tactical skills to fight against global terrorism and on increasing interoperability between forces of both countries which is crucial for the success of any joint operation," said the statement.

Both sides will jointly train, plan and execute a series of well-developed tactical drills for neutralization of likely threats that may be encountered in urban warfare scenario, said the statement, adding the exercise will contribute immensely in developing mutual understanding and respect for each other's military.
Guwahati, Nov 1 : At least five persons were killed in Tinsukia district of Assam when militants fired indiscriminately at a group of people on Thursday evening, police said.

The incident took place at a remote location called Kherbari under Dhola Police Station in the district that borders Arunachal Pradesh in eastern Assam, the police said.

Locals said four-five armed militants came in Army fatigue and started firing at the people who were playing Ludo in front of a Dhaba on late Thursday evening.

The police suspect the hand of anti-talk action of ULFA militants behind the incident.

Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said that an operation has been launched in and around the district to track the militants involved in the incident.

Condemning the Dhola incident, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he has spoken with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and asked him take strict action against the culprits.

"Deeply anguished by civilian casualties in an attack in Upper Assam region. It is a reprehensible act of mindless violence. Spoke to Assam CM Shri @sarbanandsonwal regarding the incident and asked him to take strict possible action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime," Singh tweeted.

Meanwhile, Sonowal has asked state Water Resources Minister Keshav Mahanta and Minister of State for Power Topon Kumar Gogoi to rush to the incident site to take stock of the situation.

Sonowal also asked Assam DGP Kula Saikia and ADGP Mukesh Agarwalla to immediately visit the site to tackle the situation, according to an official statement.

The Chief Minister said that perpetrators of the crime would be dealt with firmly. He also directed all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to remain alert.

He condoled the death of innocent people and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families, the statement said.

On October 13, the same ULFA faction had triggered a blast in Guwahati this year and claimed responsibility. Its chief Paresh Baruah had later told some TV news channels that the blast was a warning to those supporting the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : After the White House stated that President Donald Trump cannot come to India next year as chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations, a senior official here said on Thursday that New Delhi and Washington are in discussions to fix a mutually convenient time for Trump's visit to India.

"We believe that as far as high-level exchanges are concerned, it is an inseparable part of our strategic partnership," said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

"Both India and the US are discussing a mutually convenient time for President Trump's visit to India," Kumar said.

Earlier in the day, US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster said that Trump's inability to participate as the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations next year was a "purely scheduling issue".

Trump has declined India's invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade citing pressing engagements, including his State of The Union address, around the time India will celebrate its Republic Day on January 26.

Asked if Trump declining India's invitation had something to do with India signing a deal with Russia on S-400 missile defence systems in the face of Washington's sanctions on Moscow, Juster, speaking to the media on the sidelines of an event here, said: "No, that is a purely scheduling issue."

Earlier this week, a White House spokesperson, when asked about Trump's decision, had said: "President Trump was honoured by Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's invitation to him to be the chief guest of India's Republic Day on January 26, 2019, but is unable to participate due to scheduling constraints."
Jammu, Nov 2 : Unidentified gunmen on Thursday shot dead senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and party's state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Jashmir, police said.

Unidentified gunmen fired at Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit from close range when they were on their way to home, according to the police.

"Both were shifted to a hospital where doctors declared them dead on arrival. A manhunt has been launched to trace the assassins," a police officer said, adding that it was premature to say whether the attack was carried out by militants.

Ravinder Raina, state BJP president, however, said it was a militant attack and that it was a big failure on the part of security agencies.

Protests broke out in the town as the news about the assassination of Ajit and Anil Parihar spread.

Ajit Parkar was an employee of state Financial Corporation.

Authorities have imposed curfew in the town and also suspended mobile Internet services as a precautionary measure.

Condoling the killings, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted: "Shocked and pained by the killing of J&K state BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother. My heart goes out to the bereaved family. Spoke to Advisor to J&K Governor Vijay Kumar regarding the incident. The police will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice."

Jammu and Kashmir is under Governor's rule currently.
Sanaa, Nov 2 : Yemen's internationally recognised government On Thursday welcomed a call from the US for peace in the conflict-torn country, state-run news agency Saba said.

"These calls are coherent with the political leadership's will ... to establish peace and put an end to the suffering of the Yemeni people as result of the coup d'etat by the Houthi militias," the government said, according to Saba, Efe reported.

The Yemeni government said that it was ready to pursue "all possibilities" to rebuild confidence among the warring parties and demanded the release of everyone held captive by the rebels.

"It is time to end this conflict, replace conflict with compromise, and allow the Yemeni people to heal through peace and reconstruction," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement released on Tuesday.

A coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen in 2015 to back the government after it was toppled by the Houthis.

In his statement, Washington's top diplomat put the onus on the Houthis to suspend missile strikes on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while adding that "subsequently, coalition airstrikes must cease in all populated areas in Yemen."

The rebels, however, on Thursday said that the US should end its support for the Saudi-UAE forces to make negotiations possible.

"The US has to lift the political cover it gives to the aggression against Yemen and stop the logistical and intelligence support (to the coalition) to demonstrate the sincerity of the latest calls by its officials," Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam told Al-Masira television.

Washington's appeal comes at a critical moment for Saudi Arabia, which has been under increasing pressure in the wake of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at its consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

The Swedish government said it was ready to host the UN-sponsored negotiations on peace in Yemen.
Washington, Nov 2 : The suspect charged with killing 11 people at a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh pleaded not guilty on Thursday, according to records of court proceedings.

The suspect, Robert Bowers, has requested a jury trial to determine whether he is guilty of the 44-count indictment pressed against him by prosecutors on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The charges included "use and discharge of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence," among others.

This is his second appearance before a federal court. Local media reported that he was wheelchaired into the courtroom due to injuries sustained during his horrific attack. In court proceedings he told the judge that he understood the charges against him.

Prosecutors said a trial would take three to four weeks unless the case is certified for the death penalty.

The US Department of Justice said Bowers faces a maximum possible penalty of death, or life without parole, followed by a consecutive sentence of 535 years' imprisonment.

According to Bowers' indictment, the 46-year-old truck driver drove to the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh Saturday morning and opened fire on the congregation. Bowers surrendered himself to police after the attack and was taken into custody.

Bowers allegedly expressed anti-semitic sentiments on social media before he carried out the attack, making the shooting the worst anti-semitic attack in US history.

US President Donald Trump has said he supported giving Bowers the death sentence.
New York, Nov 2 : Hundreds of Google employees in the city here walked out of the company's Big Apple offices on Thursday as part of a global protest against the tech giant's handling of sexual harassment cases.

The mobilisation followed a report in The New York Times saying that Android creator Andy Rubin received $90 million in severance when Google fired him in 2014 over accusations of sexual misconduct that the company deemed credible.

Thursday's first protests took place at Google offices in Singapore, Tokyo and other Asian locations, spreading to European cities such as London, Berlin and Zurich as the day wore on, reports Efe.

After the reaction to the story in The Times, Google CEO Sundar Pichai sought to reassure employees about the company's stand against sexual harassment.

"Over the past two years, we have terminated 48 people, including 13 senior managers and above for sexual harassment," Pichai said.

"None of these people received an exit package. And to clarify: in that time, we have also not provided any exit packages to executives who departed voluntarily in the course of a sexual harassment investigation," he added.

Organisers of #GoogleWalkout published a list of demands for management, including an "end to Forced Arbitration in cases of harassment and discrimination for all current and future employees" and a "clear, uniform, globally inclusive process for reporting sexual misconduct safely and anonymously."
Washington, Nov 2 : US President Donald Trump slapped new sanctions targeting Venezuela's gold exports on Thursday, as his National Security Adviser John Bolton unveiled a hard-line policy toward Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.

Trump informed US lawmakers that he has signed an executive order to bar US citizens and entities from involvement in the gold export trade from Venezuela, according to a letter released by the White House on Thursday.

In a speech delivered in Miami, the US state of Florida, Bolton elaborated the new US sanctions as he lashed out at Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, Xinhua news agency reported.

Labeling the three nations as "the troika of tyranny in this hemisphere," Bolton accused Cuba of helping Venezuela, saying the State Department will sanction over two dozen entities owned or controlled by the Cuban military and intelligence services, with which US persons are banned from doing business with.

The goal is to prevent money from being gotten by the Cuban military, security and intelligence services, Bolton said at Freedom Tower, a local landmark to the Cuban community as it received many Cuban refugees in 1960s.

He also said that the US administration would review whether to allow US citizens whose property was seized by the Cuban government to sue foreign companies that have invested in the properties in Cuba.

Bolton's speech is believed to further press the two nations that the Trump administration have seen as adversaries, and to consolidate votes for the upcoming high-stakes midterm elections in the state home to many migrants from the two nations.

Bolton also threatened Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, saying unless the country hold "free, fair and early" elections, "the Nicaraguan regime, like Venezuela and Cuba, will feel the full weight of America's robust sanctions regime."

Last year in August, Trump has said that he would not rule out a "military option" in Venezuela "if necessary," despite his aides' opposition. The US side has announced several rounds of sanctions against Venezuelan government officials ever since.

Several US media outlets reported last month that that the Trump administration has talked secretly with rebellious Venezuelan military officers several times to discuss their plans to stage a coup in the South American country.

For its part, Venezuela has slammed the "warmongering" declarations of Trump as "threats to peace" and a "violation" of UN and international laws, instructing the military to prepare to "shoulder arms" in case of a US invasion.

Over 20 US diplomats in Cuba suffered from what Washington called "acoustic attacks" between November 2016 and August 2017.

The incidents led to the partial closure of the US embassy in Havana, expulsion of 15 Cuban diplomats who worked at the embassy in Washington, and a halt to issuance of US visas in Havana.

Cuba rejected the accusation, initiated an investigation, and urged the US to present evidence of the alleged attacks.

Though denying the US accusation, Cuba reiterated its commitment to cooperating with the US authorities to clarify this situation and its willingness to guarantee the health and safety of Cubans and foreign citizens in the island nation.
Billionaire investor Gerry Harvey sold his disappointing Victorian dairy farming venture to the Sydney billionaire father and son combination Tony and Michael Perich.

They have bought his companys rural holdings for more than $40 million.

The pair, together with NSW-based dairy operation Moxey Farms, have purchased Harvey Normans Coomboona dairies.

It spans a 2000 hectare operation north-west of Shepparton in Victoria, with Goulburn River frontage.

Harvey Norman told the ASX the property had been sold.

The sale price didn't cover full outlay of Harvey Normans $75 million exposure.

Harvey Norman took an impairment loss of $28.78 million on the ventures debts in June and said it had recognised a total of $54.01 million in losses in the last financial year.

Harvey Norman put the Coomboona dairies operation on the market in July after the company fell into the hands of administrators Ferrier Hodgson and receivers McGrathNicol, who were appointed by National Australia Bank in March.

Elders Nick Myer and Anthony Stevens sold the property which milks about 2500 Holstein cows and produces more than 30 million litres of milk.

The Perich family has a 54% stake in the listed Freedom Foods which has a Shepparton dairy plant near Coomboona.
Sydney and Melbourne's dwelling decline continued over October, according to the latest CoreLogic figures.

The decline in dwelling values in the two major capital was led by the housing markets.

Melbourne's house values declined more than any capital city with a one percent hit over October, takings its annual house value decline to 6.3 percent.

Sydney's house values declined 0.7 percent over the month, with their annual decline moving to 8.4 percent.

Click here to enlarge.

It's a consistent slow down now for Sydney and Melbourne houses.

Last month (September below) saw Melbourne again as the leading capital city in house price declines, down one percent, with Sydney down 0.8 percent.

Click here to enlarge.

Sydney's median value for houses is now approaching the $950,000 mark, down $70,000 over the last six months from a median over $1.026 million over April.

CoreLogic head of research Tim Lawless said that the declines were concentrated within the largest capitals, while regional dwelling values edged 0.4% higher.
"We're really excited to have Allen on board to drive our growth in North America. His ability to think creatively, and support a large and geographically diverse team, positions him to be a valuable resource to FBA and its partners."

Flood Barrier America is happy to announce the addition of Allen Bonk to its executive team as Vice President of Sales. Allen will be responsible for driving direct sales revenue and expanding the distributor network for FBA's North American operations.

Allen comes to FBA with nearly 3 decades in sales, marketing, and executive leadership for trusted brands. During more than 13 years with Motorola and GE, he helped drive market growth and established a strong brand presence in Western Canada and parts of the US. Allen will now apply his depth of sales and business development experience to meet the revenue objectives for Flood Barrier America.

"We're really excited to have Allen on board to drive our growth in North America. His ability to think creatively, and support a large and geographically diverse team, positions him to be a valuable resource to FBA and its partners," said Zachary Cutler, President of Flood Barrier America.

Flood Barrier America Gains North America Rights to DamEasy

FBA is proud to announce it is now the Primary Distributor of Dam Easy Flood Barrier for both North America and Canada. Innovative and effective flood protection - Dam Easy will help ensure peace of mind to home and property owners everywhere.

Dam Easy broadens the base of available solutions being implemented. With most flood prevention solutions, ROI for the residential market is prohibitive but, with Dam Easy, Allen says FBA will be broadening our base to improve ROI on the residential market. This means more people will have access to protection.

About Flood Barrier America

Headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, Flood Barrier America is the leading provider of flood prevention solutions, offering the widest variety of flood barriers, temporary structures, engineering, and contracting services to protect residential and commercial properties from the disruption and destruction of flooding. Acting as a hub, FBA provides materials and services that ultimately create a complete solution for flood prevention at any given location. Offering a full range from engineered risk assessments, plans and protocols for all sites, providing all the materials and services to fulfill same.

FBA offers environmental cleanup, restoration, and post loss analysis of responses and actions on site. Our services also include emergency or temporary deployment. Currently deployed across North America, FBA's solutions have helped saved millions of dollars in loss from natural and man-made disasters.

Get in early and become an official FBA representative by emailing Allen at info@floodbarrieramerica.com with "I want to prevent floods" in the subject line.
"Our approach here at AFWERX, is to crowdsource a nations worth of talent and ideas to ensure that the best possible solutions reach the warfighter and in turn, ensure our national security. explained Colby Edwards, Deputy Director of AFWERX Vegas.

Since first envisioned by Secretary of the Air Force, Heather Wilson, the AFWERX program has been dedicated to solving some of the toughest challenges the Air Force faces through innovative collaborations between our nations top intrapreneurs, industry experts, academic professionals, and non-traditional contributors.

Through crowdsourcing our nations best and brightest, AFWERX has the unique ability to cultivate accelerated results that can serve the warfighters and operators of the U.S. Air Force during a time when new technologies, new threats, and new opportunities reveal themselves every day.

Part of AFWERXs creative approach to collaborative problem solving is providing unclassified, Air Force Challenges that startups, garage tinkerers, academia, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and established defense companies can submit their ideas to in hopes of attaining funding, additional resources and ultimately government contracts to benefit the warfighter.

Weve created the AFWERX Challenge to accelerate inventive solutions from individuals, startups, small business, large enterprises, academia and research labs in the most collaborative way and get them to Americas Airmen at the speed of relevance" - General Stephen Wilson, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force.

Most recently, AFWERX asked for innovators to submit components, materials or technologies that could improve the USAF Helmet used by pilots and aircrew. Since the initial crowdsourcing campaign, 100+ companies submitted ideas that have been down selected to 30+ solutions to feature as part of its exhibition at Enclave Las Vegas on November 14th  which will be followed by an evening mixer on the rooftop deck.

The next day, November 15, a select number of invited teams will then meet with the project management office at the 30,000-square-foot AFWERX Vegas Innovation Hub, which will give the finalists the opportunity to attain $500K+ of prototype and experimentation funding, a $20M+ government contract, or potential SBIR funding while allowing for customer collaboration with industry and government and official recognition of companies or ideas.

Weve realized that to stay ahead of our adversaries, we can no longer rely on just a few large companies to solve Air Force problem sets, explains Colby Edwards, Deputy Director of AFWERX Vegas. Instead, our approach here at AFWERX, is to crowdsource a nations worth of talent and ideas to ensure that the best possible solutions reach the warfighter and in turn, ensure our national security.

And that talent, and those ideas, are more than grateful for the opportunity to reach those warfighters and ensure that security.

Trevor Rose, a senior studying mechanical engineering from UNLV, praises the program by revealing that as a student, resources to do projects are very limited. Being able to go to the Air Force, present a project, then have it be picked up  whether its with funding, or human resources, or experience that they have to help make those projects a reality  is a big benefit.

To learn more, visit: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/373741?&t=26212713db8e475406c0e2606820e98b

Schedule of Events:

11/14  9:00 am to 4:00 pm: Exhibit Floor Opens at Enclave (5810 S. Eastern Avenue; Las Vegas, Nevada)

11/15  By invite only- Project Management Office one on one time with select teams.

MEDIA CONTACT: Frank Gruber / afwerx(at)est.us / 702-490-9867 / http://www.afwerxchallenge.com
Protecting your most important assets around the globe, 24/7 K Street Group Chief Executive Officer and Former NYPD Detective, Sergio Conde said, "no man, woman or child should fear visiting their place of worship."

In its annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, the ADL found that the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. rose 57 percent in 2017  the largest single-year increase on record and the second highest number reported since ADL started tracking such data in 1979.

Unfortunately, bomb threats, harassing messages on social media and assaults on Jewish Americans have become increasingly common in recent years, according to researchers and federal data. The recent horrific killing of 11 worshipers at the Tree of Life Synagogue; a Pittsburgh synagogue is believed to be the deadliest in U.S. history targeting American Jews.

The debate on just how to address this increasing problem is likely going to continue for years with no resolve in sight. Its a delicate balance between maintaining an open place of prayer and refuge, versus a lock-down fortress. But, there are ways to adequately protect a Synagogue without infringing on access and community participation. Unfortunately, it does involve utilizing Armed professionals along with implementing an effective access control program; this can only be possible by first conducting a thorough risk and threat assessment to better understand the gaps.

The K Street Group has been actively involved in providing effective security solutions for Synagogues and other places of worship for over 10 years. We have designed a flexible options-based program that is adaptable to any congregation; regardless of size, location or community participation. We offer expertise in access control, CCTV, social media intelligence, former law enforcement Armed officers, risk mitigation and customer training and education. Contact us now for a confidential discussion of your needs.
AdhereTech announced today that it has received a significant strategic investment from Argentum, a growth equity firm that provides capital and strategic guidance to high-growth companies that focus on software, technology-enabled services, and healthcare-solutions. The investment will be used to grow AdhereTechs pharmaceutical and pharmacy partnerships, expand into additional healthcare verticals, and further enhance data-analysis & engineering applications.

Founded in 2011, AdhereTech provides pharma-sponsored support programs to patients on specialty medications, all powered by its patented smart pill bottles. AdhereTechs customers include many of the worlds largest pharmaceutical companies, who currently sponsor AdhereTech programs for a multitude of the top-selling specialty medications. These programs are actively supported at nearly every major specialty pharmacy, including 8 of the top-10 specialty pharmacy companies in the US, with the ability to reach every patient nationwide.

AdhereTechs success is driven by the strong results that it generates for both patients and healthcare partners. On average, AdhereTech programs generate 1 to 2 additional fills of specialty medications, per patient per year. Additionally, the programs are clinically shown to improve duration on therapy by 26%, fill rates by 9%, and dose-level adherence by 15% - for specialty medications. Patients love using AdhereTech, with programs receiving an average patient satisfaction rating of 4.7 out of 5. (Published results are available at adheretech.com.)

This strategic investment further validates AdhereTechs status as a leading healthcare technology company, said Josh Stein, CEO of AdhereTech. This investment will allow us to deliver value to our pharmaceutical and pharmacy partners in groundbreaking new ways - while maintaining our primary focus of creating the best possible patient experience. With guidance from the Argentum team, AdhereTech will continue to revolutionize the way in which patient-centric technologies can be used to improve care.

AdhereTech is one of the few companies that is successfully addressing the enormous problem of medication nonadherence, estimated by some analysts to result in over $300 billion in annual avoidable costs, said Dan Raynor, Managing Partner of Argentum. Not only is AdhereTech achieving industry-leading returns for its pharmaceutical clients, but it is also providing them with important data about usage patterns that were previously unobtainable. We have been impressed with what Josh Stein and his talented team have been able to achieve in such a capital efficient manner, and we now look forward to supporting them as they continue to scale the business. Dan Raynor will also join AdhereTechs Board of Directors.

About AdhereTech

AdhereTech provides pharma-sponsored support programs to patients on specialty medications, all powered by its patented smart pill bottles. Customers include many of the largest pharmaceutical companies and specialty medications, as well as most of the top specialty pharmacies in the US. On average, the AdhereTech program generates 1 to 2 additional fills of specialty medications, per patient per year. Additionally, the program is clinically shown to improve duration on therapy by 26%, fill rates by 9%, and dose-level adherence by 15%. Patients love using AdhereTech, with programs receiving an average patient satisfaction rating of 4.7 out of 5. (http://www.adheretech.com)

About Argentum

Argentum is a New York-based growth equity firm that supports entrepreneurial owners in building industry leading companies. The firm partners with management teams of companies with revenues of $5 to $25 million to provide capital to accelerate growth, fund acquisitions or generate shareholder liquidity. Since raising its first fund in 1990, Argentum has invested in over 80 companies and supported nearly 200 add-on acquisitions in technology, healthcare and other high growth service sectors. (http://www.argentumgroup.com)
Aladtec for EMS puts scheduling tools in staff members' hands Im pretty happy with it. It makes the scheduling a lot easier. Members can inter-trade,; then it notifies us when somebodys done that. We just approve it." -- Lee Coons, crew chief with Dallas Co. (IA) EMS Past News Releases RSS Aladtec Will Exhibit at...

Aladtec Team Heading to...

Aladtec Team Will Demo Scheduling...

Some 1,200 emergency medical service professionals will gather at the Iowa Event Center/Community Choice Credit Union next week to learn, trade ideas and visit with about 75 vendors in the largest EMS industry exhibit hall in Iowa.

Representatives Joe Ellis and Jeremy Rodewald from Aladtec, Inc., will be present to meet with customers and demonstrate Aladtec's cloud-based scheduling and workforce management software to others.

Aladtec's robust platform is designed to accommodate unique scheduling and workplace activities used by public safety professionals. Aladtec software is currently used by 35 Iowa EMS agencies and 65 other fire, law enforcement, dispatch centers and healthcare organizations.

Scheduling 45 paramedics and EMTs at two stations for Dallas County (IA) EMS has become a non-event for crew chief Lee Coons.

Before Aladtec, schedules were assembled using paper and spreadsheets. He said it usually takes less than an hour to assemble the schedules and publish them for stations at Adel and Perry.

Yeah. Im pretty happy with it. It makes the scheduling a lot easier and (streamlines) open shifts that come up. Members can inter-trade between themselves; then it notifies us when somebodys done that. We just approve it, said Coons.

Most EMS agencies need to manage 24/7 shift rotations for both full-time and part-time employees. Communication tools embedded on the Aladtec platform enable staff to initiate swaps and trades, request time-off and receive schedule reminders while allowing administrators to make approvals and fill open shifts in minutes. The secure system can be accessed via any smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer with internet access.

Other Aladtec features allow for easy tracking of certifications and licenses, creation and management of electronic forms, a member discussion forum, abundant storage for policies and procedures, and much more. Many customers say they pay for the low-cost annual subscription through time savings in just weeks or a couple of months.

Aladtec improves agency efficiency, reduces human error, and streamlines processes. After implementing Aladtec, agencies also report reduced overtime and reducing staff time spent on employee scheduling and management chores.

There are so many things I like about the Aladtec system. But primarily that it has made scheduling the nursing staff so easy. At a glance, I can see who called in sick, whos on PTO and who traded shifts. No more confusion! I also like that they can put their vacation requests into the system and I can see far in advance when staff will be gone. Also, when they are trading shifts I am made aware of it by getting a notification through my phone so that I am immediately up-to-date on all changes and I can approve or deny the trade right away," said Sara Bruns, Assistant Director of Nursing at Keokuk County Health Center in Sigourney.

View a short video about how Aladtec has streamlined tasks at Great Falls (MT) Emergency Medical Services.

Ellis and Rodewald will offer demonstrations at Booth #76 during the IEMSA exposition. Hours are 9 am-3:40 pm, Friday, and 9:10 am to 1 pm, Saturday.

To learn more about Aladtec now, visit http://www.aladtec.com, or call 888-749-5550 and a representative will be pleased to answer any questions or configure a 14-day free trial, customized to an agency's unique operating practices.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Aladtec, Inc.

387 Arrow Court

River Falls, WI 54022

(888) 749-5550 Toll-Free

(715) 690-2300 Phone

steve@aladtec.com

http://www.aladtec.com
Mike Aiello Named Venture Partner at AllegisCyber AllegisCyber is known as a "company builder" seed to early stage venture firm. I'm thrilled to work with them because they understand how to manage cybersecurity risk.

Mike Aiello, a cybersecurity executive at Alphabet Inc.s Google and previously a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Goldman Sachs for Consumer Banking, will become a Venture Partner for AllegisCyber, a cybersecurity and data science venture capital firm. Aiello will bolster the cybersecuritys firms leading position in seed and early stage investing.

Aiello will continue to work at Alphabet Inc's Google and will join existing AllegisCyber venture partners from Citadel, VMware, Sophos, Cisco and FireEye supporting innovation in cybersecurity.

Aiellos Value-Add In Cybersecurity

Mike is steeped in cybersecurity -- his expertise spans from an understanding of the market at the highest corporate levels to deep technology domain knowledge with a history of working with early-stage cyber startups, said Bob Ackerman, the Founder and Managing Director of AllegisCyber.

Domain expertise and proven operating chops are core to the AllegisCyber team operating philosophy. We view ourselves as Company Builders more than investment managers, continued Ackerman. Mikes knowledge and experience are a natural complement to the balance of our team and will enhance our ability to identify emerging areas of innovation and assist our portfolio companies execute on their visions to become market leaders, Ackerman added.

Im thrilled to be working with the AllegisCyber team because they understand what it really takes to control and manage cybersecurity risk. Helping connect entrepreneurs to the worlds accelerating need for scalable cybersecurity solutions is critical, said Aiello.

Aiellos Background

Aiello is the director of product management for Google Cloud Platform Security, where his work helps secure thousands of businesses and billions of people daily. Prior to Google, he held the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) position at Goldman Sachs for Consumer Banking, where he established the companys Consumer Trust and Technology Risk Committee.

In addition, Aiello was the founder of two startups, including DIFRwear, a leading manufacturer or radio frequency (RFID) blocking wallets, passport cases and badge sleeves and LifeEnsured, a company which allowed customers to privately manage their online identities after death, which was acquired in 2012 by DSwiss.

Aiello has an MBA from the University of Oxford and bachelors and masters degrees in computer science from New York University.

AllegisCyber Firm Professionals And Its Cybersecurity Network

Aiello joins a team with deep cyber security domain knowledge and operating experience at AllegisCyber, including Founder Bob Ackerman as well as Managing Directors Pete Bodine, David DeWalt, and Spencer Tall. The firms roster of Venture Partners include industry leaders Tom Gillis, Senior Vice President and General Manager of networking and security at VMWare; Nawaf Bitar, Chief Information Officer at Citadel Securities; Joe Levy, Chief Technology Officer at Sophos; John Stewart, Senior Vice President of Security at CISCO; and Jeff Williams, the former Senior Vice President of Sales at FireEye and Ironport Systems, a unit of CISCO.

In addition to the strong group of leaders in the AllegisCyber network, the firm has a powerful alliance with DataTribe, the Maryland-based cybersecurity and data science startup studio that co-builds and launches next generational commercial software companies in partnership with domain expert entrepreneurs from the national security and intelligence communities.

About AllegisCyber

AllegisCyber, based in Silicon Valley and Maryland, has pioneered an integrated cybersecurity investment platform spanning seed to early-growth cybersecurity companies. Its the first venture firm focused exclusively on cybersecurity and data science and has been investing in cybersecurity for more than 15 years in the U.S and select international markets. The AllegisCyber team is replete with venture capital and start-up entrepreneurial veterans. The team has been described in industry press as the Cybers Money Men for its domain expertise and position. Current AllegisCyber investments include Area 1 Security, Callsign, CyberGRX, Dragos, SafeGuard Cyber, Shape Security, Signifyd, Source Defense, Synack, and vArmour. For more information, please visit http://www.allegiscyber.com.

About DataTribe

DataTribe is a cybersecurity and data science startup studio that invests and co-builds next-generation commercial software. The firm draws upon experienced technology and entrepreneurial teams from the world's most prestigious, high-stakes environments, including the international intelligence community and National Labs from U.S, Canada, UK and Australia. DataTribe is headquartered in Fulton, MD with offices in San Francisco, CA. For more information, visit: https://datatribe.com/
At Catalent, we are dedicated to partnering with our customers at every level, to focus on supporting consumers needs for health and wellness throughout life.

Catalent Pharma Solutions, the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies and development solutions for drugs, biologics and consumer health products, today announced that it has successfully partnered with Anklam Extrakt GmbH, to develop an innovative softgel formula for people suffering from dry eye discomfort. The product will be launched at the upcoming SupplySide West exhibition, taking place at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, on Nov. 89, 2018.

Anklam Extrakts new product, OPTIBRIGHT Softgel, combines its unique blend of 30 mg MaquiBright maqui berry extract and 450 mg of omega-3 fish oil, with Catalents softgel formulation and encapsulation technology. The result is a convenient, once-or-twice daily supplement intended to aid tear formation and provide relief for dry eye discomfort.

At SupplySide West, Catalent and Anklam Extrakt will host an expert speaking session at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018 at the Exhibition Theatre booth #1381, entitled Latest Advancements in Nutritional Supplements for Dry Eyes. The presentation, by Dr. Andrew Myers, Scientific Advisor, Nutritional Softgels, Catalent Pharma Solutions, will discuss the advantages that this product, with its unique formulation of active ingredients, brings to the marketplace.

Mr. Timothy Doran, Catalents Vice President and General Manager of Nutritional Softgels commented, At Catalent, we are dedicated to partnering with our customers at every level, to focus on supporting consumers needs for health and wellness throughout life.

For more information on SupplySide West, visit https://west.supplysideshow.com/en/home.html

To arrange a meeting with any of the Catalent executives at the event, contact Richard Kerns at NEPR - richard@nepr.eu

OPTIBRIGHT is a trademark of Anklam Extrakt GmbH.

MaquiBright is a registered trademark of Maqui New Life S.A. & Oryza Oil & Fat Chemical Co., Ltd.

About Catalent

Catalent is the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies and development solutions for drugs, biologics and consumer health products. With 85 years serving the industry, Catalent has proven expertise in bringing more customer products to market faster, enhancing product performance and ensuring reliable clinical and commercial product supply. Catalent employs over 11,000 people, including over 1,800 scientists, at more than 30 facilities across five continents, and in fiscal 2018 generated approximately $2.5 billion in annual revenue. Catalent is headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey. For more information, visit http://www.catalent.com.

More products. Better treatments. Reliably supplied.
Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center As one of the most experienced Visian ICL surgeons in the country, I am excited to see the addition of Visian Toric ICL to my options for patients", says Dr. Scott Perkins, a Founding Partner of Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center

Now Offering the Visian Toric ICL, an Innovative Solution to Myopia and Astigmatism

New treatment available at Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center, Scott Perkins, MD

Phoenix, AZ, November 1, 2018  Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center, an American Vision Partners affiliate, is the first practice in the Southwest to provide a new solution for patients with moderate to high levels of myopia and astigmatism  in one simple procedure  following FDA approval of STAAR Surgicals Visian Toric ICL.

The Visian Toric ICL is an additive technology in which a lens is placed behind the iris and in front of the eyes crystalline lens to correct vision. This method works with the eye to not only restore clear and sharp vision but also to provide UV protection and excellent night vision. The Visian Toric ICL eliminates multiple surgical procedures by correcting astigmatism and myopia simultaneously. In a procedure that takes less than 30 minutes, the Visian Toric ICL enables doctors to treat more patients with astigmatism and myopia while preserving the corneal structure of the eye.

The FDAs approval of STAARs Visian Toric ICL provides an exciting treatment option for myopic patients with astigmatism in search of visual freedom. We are pleased to partner with Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center, the first practice in the Southwest to offer this technology to patients, said Jim Francese, Sr. Vice President Commercial Operations of STAAR Surgical.

FDA approval was based on results from the Visian Toric ICL clinical study, which reported that 98.4% of patients would have the Visian Toric ICL surgery again. Barnet Dulaney Perkins took part in the clinical study.

As one of the most experienced Visian ICL surgeons in the country, I am excited to see the addition of Visian Toric ICL to my options for patients. At Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center, we provide a personalized option for each patient to achieve the freedom from glasses and contact lenses, says Dr. Scott Perkins, a Founding Partner of Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center.

For more information about Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center and our expertise in Visian Toric ICL implantation visit https://www.goodeyes.com/implantable-contact-lenses/.

Visit https://staar.com/products/visian-icl to find out more about the Visian Toric ICL.

About Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center

The doctors at Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center are recognized leaders in providing state-of-the-art medical and surgical eye care in Arizona for more than 35 years. Doctors at Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center use the most advanced technologies and techniques to treat patients at all stages of life. Comprehensive eye health services are provided by nationally recognized specialists in multiple fields of ophthalmology, including cataract surgery, vision correction, cornea, retina, glaucoma and oculoplastics. Patients can expect compassionate and convenient care from the doctors of any of the Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center clinics. For more information, please visit goodeyes.com.

About American Vision Partners

American Vision Partners (AVP) is one of the nation's largest and fastest growing eye care physician services organizations. AVP serves communities throughout Arizona and New Mexico with more than 110 nationally recognized doctors and 47 locations, including 24 ambulatory surgical centers. We partner with the most respected ophthalmology practices in the country and share a best-in-class management system, infrastructure and technology to provide the highest-quality patient care. Our partner practices, including Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center, Southwestern Eye Center and M&M Eye Institute, each have been in practice for more than 35 years. For more information, visit http://www.AmericanVisionPartners.com.

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1 Sanders D. Vukich JA. Comparison of implantable collamer lens (ICL) and laser assisted in situ keratomileuses (LASIK) for Low Myopia. Cornea. 2006 Dec; 25(10): 1139-46

2 Shin, JY. Ahn, H. Seo, KY. Kim, EK. Kim, TK. Comparison of higher order aberrations after implantable collamer lens implantation and wavefront-guided LASIK in high myopia. J Refract Surg. 2012; 28(2): 106-111

3 Igarashi, A. Kamiya, K. Shimizu, K. Komatsu, M. Visual Performance after implantable collamer lens implantation and wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileuses for high myopia. Am J Ophthalmol. 2009

4 Parkhurst, G. A prospective comparison of phakic collamer lenses and wavefront optimized laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses for correction of myopia. Clinical Ophthalmology 2016, 10:1209-1215

5 Alfonso, J. et al. Comparison of visual and refractive results of Toric Implantable Collamer Lens with bioptics for myopic astigmatism. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol (2013) 251:967975

6 STAAR Surgical Visian Toric Implantable Collamer Lens PMA Supplement P030016 Ophthalmic Devices Advisory Panel, March 14, 2014
This acquisition further solidifies our leadership position in the life science, diagnostics, and imaging markets while presenting us with exciting opportunities in adjacent healthcare markets including medical device, pharma, and biotech.

For more than 20 years, Kalorama Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, has been a leading publisher of market research in healthcare areas, including in vitro diagnostics (IVD), biotechnology, healthcare, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals.

"The Kalorama name has become the marquee brand in the Life Sciences and Diagnostics space and we couldnt be more proud of it," said Rob Granader, CEO and founder of MarketResearch.com and its publishing division. "I named the brand 20 years ago after the area where I was living at the time, and it has served the marketplace well." Kalorama is a Greek word meaning beautiful vista and is a neighborhood in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, DC.

Kalorama Information is a premier source of high-quality market research reports for corporate decision makers in the clinical diagnostics and life science space, says Craig Overpeck, CEO of BioInformatics. This acquisition further solidifies our leadership position in the life science, diagnostics, and imaging markets while presenting us with exciting opportunities in adjacent healthcare markets including medical device, pharma, and biotech.

Under the terms of the deal, MarketResearch.com will continue selling Kaloramas reports for BioInformatics including subscription Knowledge Centers, through Profound, and academic bundles.

The convergence of science and medicine is ushering in the era of personalized medicine and our clients are expanding into new areas, commented Overpeck, Our latest acquisition shows our determination to be at the center of this transformation with both actionable market intelligence and innovative marketing opportunities for life science companies.

ABOUT BIOINFORMATICS INC.

BioInformatics Inc., now part of Science and Medicine Group is the premier research and advisory firm serving the life science, clinical diagnostics and analytical instrument industries. By leveraging our expert network of more than 50,000 life scientists, the company has supported more than 500 companies in creating insights that lead to better business decisions.

ABOUT SCIENCE AND MEDICINE GROUP

Science and Medicine Group supports companies seeking to commercialize the rapidly changing marketplace at the intersection of science, medicine, and technology. Comprised of industry leading brands, Science and Medicine Group serves analytical instrument, life science, imaging, and clinical diagnostic companies by helping them create strategies and products to win markets and provide platforms to digitally engage their customers through a variety of innovative solutions. Clients including some of the top Fortune 500, Science and Medicine Groups business intelligence, market research and publications, and marketing platforms to grow their businesses globally.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Monika Mahajani

Content Marketing Associate

BioInformatics Inc.

671 N. Glebe Road, Suite 1610

Arlington, VA 22203

703.778.3080 x37

m.mahajani(at)bioinfoinc.com
Tactical 360 is the worlds first tactical helmet with an integrated camera that captures audio and full 360 video surrounding the officer. Super Seer is proud to provide innovative helmet solutions that introduce new features and applications needed to protect and improve effectiveness in the field. We are excited to incorporate Blue Line's expertise in body worn 360 camera technology, said Steve Smith, President of Super Seer.

Blue Line Innovations, LLC recently announced the release of the Tactical 360, the worlds first tactical helmet with an integrated camera that captures audio and full 360 video surrounding the officer at all times.

Specifically designed for the fluidity and uncertainty of tactical operations faced by law enforcement officers, corrections officers, SWAT teams and the military, the Tactical 360 combines a rugged construction with simplicity resulting in a balance of high tech and non-compromising functionality. The low-profile helmet location provides mobility and doesnt divert the officers attention.

The full-coverage shell is designed to meet various threat levels including low velocity projectiles during potentially aggressive situations, such as bottles, rocks, and bricks. Riot face shields fit over most gas masks with an optional rubber seal to prevent fluids from getting into the officers face and eyes. Each helmet can be fully customized from paint to interior options, fastening options, and riot accessories.

Blue Line Innovations is proud to partner with Super Seer, the leading manufacturer of law enforcement helmets in America. With 85% of the U.S. market, Super Seer helmets are also used by mounted and riot officers in Canada, the UK and Australia.

Super Seer is proud to provide innovative helmet solutions that introduce new features and applications needed to protect and improve effectiveness in the field. We are excited to incorporate Blue Line Innovations expertise in body worn 360 camera technology into our line of helmets proudly manufactured and assembled in Colorado, USA," said Steve Smith, President of Super Seer.

About Blue Line Innovations: Blue Line Innovations, LLC is a cutting-edge, law enforcement and military technology company established by a former law enforcement officer. Established in 2017, the BLI focus is centered around protecting the 21st century officer, capturing and securing the truth. We specialize in 360 body cameras, evidence management solutions, and surveillance. For more information on Blue Line Innovations, please visit http://www.BLI360com
Joanna Robinson, Senior Vice President, Technology, Burwood Group "Every young woman deserves the opportunity to embrace their imagination, their curiosity, and their creativity. As they pursue their education and careers, I want to inspire participants to be fearless as they represent the next generation of strong female leaders and innovators.

Burwood Group, a leading IT consulting and integration firm, announced today it is a proud sponsor of the American Heart Associations 2018 Go Red Goes STEM program, a day-long event held in Chicago, IL on November 5, 2018. The event aims to inspire and empower high school girls to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by considering careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. As part of the program, Joanna Robinson, Senior Vice President of Technology at Burwood Group, and Jennifer Courtney, Vice President of Professional Services at Burwood Group, will take part in a series of mentoring sessions to connect with participants, share their backgrounds, and highlight STEM career opportunities.

As an IT consulting firm, Burwood Group has always championed the next generation of women STEM leaders. Its an issue that is very close to our hearts and is ingrained in our culture, said Joanna Robinson, SVP of Technology at Burwood Group. We are honored to sponsor the AHAs Go Red Goes STEM event and I am personally looking forward to meeting these young women and encouraging them to think big and strive for greatness. Every young woman deserves the opportunity to embrace their imagination, their curiosity, and their creativity. As they pursue their education and careers, I want to inspire participants to be fearless as they represent the next generation of strong female leaders and innovators.

At the day-long Go Red Goes STEM event, participants will be exposed to some of Chicagos leading science, technology, and engineering companies as they showcase their innovative work. This event will consist of speed mentoring, breakout sessions led by top STEM-related organizations, and opportunities to make lasting connections with companies and women leaders. Girls will walk away knowing the impact they can make through a career in STEM.

As a science-based organization, the American Heart Association recognizes the need to have more women at the table, making life-saving breakthroughs in STEM fields, said Jessie Brady, Senior Director, Go Red For Women. We are thrilled to partner with Burwood Group to empower young women to take control of their health, and to consider career paths that could impact the health of all Americans.

ABOUT BURWOOD GROUP

Burwood Group, Inc. is an IT consulting and integration firm. We help forward-thinking leaders design, use, and manage technology to transform their business and improve outcomes. Our services in consulting, technology, and operations are rooted in business alignment and technical expertise in cloud, automation, security, and collaboration. Burwood Group was founded in Chicago, IL and is celebrating over 20 years in business. Today, Burwood includes 250 employees and seven U.S. offices including a 24x7 Operations Center in San Diego, CA. Whether you are developing strategy, deploying technology, or creating an operational model, Burwood is a dedicated partner. To learn more, visit http://www.burwood.com.

ABOUT GO RED FOR WOMEN

Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association's national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women. Cardiovascular diseases in the U.S. kill approximately one woman every 80 seconds. The good news is that 80 percent of cardiac events may be prevented with education and lifestyle changes. Go Red for Women advocates for more research and swifter action for women's heart health.
Oh Hey God: a touching novel about faith and bearing witness. Oh Hey God is the creation of published author Cameo Lightfoot, a native of Chicago, Illinois.

Lightfoot speaks through Eric, See how I slipped that in? Thats an obvious transition, I know. Its God though, and theres not a seamless way to introduce Him to a conversation. Hes literally, a showstopper. The way you handle and speak on God will always be a defining characteristic. What God had always intended for me. That means what God thinks, matters to me. I can say that with confidence now, but not too many years ago, I wouldnt have known or cared what that was. Well, let me back up. I should start by saying Im a Christian. Obviously, I believe in God, and I know that Hes real. I mean, dont get me wrong, Im no saint and I havent led the perfect life. I make mistakes every day, and I know that not everything I do pleases God, but I try to do right. I try to use my conscience as a compass through life. In my experience, in the grand scheme of things, that usually works out pretty well. Personally, I struggle with what I think most Christians struggle with today: balance. The choice between what we think (or think we know) is right for our lives and what we know God wants us to do.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Cameo Lightfoots new book is an intimate story that resonates thanks to its autobiographical quality and its unshakable conviction in miracles done through ordinary people.

The author invites the reader to sit in on the captivating conversation Eric has with the mixed bag of strangers at a party in the north side of Chicago and come away blessed to know a God who saves and has a plan for every believerespecially the imperfect ones, who often make the most convincing witnesses.

View a synopsis of Oh Hey God on YouTube.

Consumers can purchaseOh Hey God at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Oh Hey God, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
We are thrilled to accept DC Innos 50 on Fire award for innovation and success in the technology and cybersecurity category, said Stefan Midford, CEO and founder of Capango.

Capango, a mobile-first retail job matching platform that connects job seekers to rewarding opportunities without resumes, today announced they were selected as a DC Inno 2018 50 on Fire winner in the technology and cybersecurity category. Launched this past July, Capango has already secured its position as one of the most innovative companies in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region.

We are thrilled to accept DC Innos 50 on Fire award for innovation and success in the technology and cybersecurity category, said Stefan Midford, CEO and founder of Capango. In todays tight labor market, retailers are under tremendous pressure to find qualified hourly workers, and with the busy holiday shopping season right around the corner, they have to be able to respond to applicants quickly in order to hire top talent. Capangos innovative platform streamlines the hiring process, enabling employers to find and hire the right candidate fast.

In 2018 alone, Capango achieved significant accomplishments and milestones, setting them apart from other tech startups in Washington, D.C. Through a recently established partnership with Shop!, a retail association that has more than 350,000 job seekers and 2,000 companies in its network, Capango transferred thousands of available job positions to its app. Capango also recently partnered with 3Pillar Global, a global software and digital product development company, to create the flagship job-matching mobile app under the same name for the retail sector. With the help of 3Pillar Global, the app's proprietary algorithm uses machine learning to match qualified job seekers with opportunities that suit their powers and passions. 3Pillar's partnership with Capango has yielded a product intended to revolutionize retail hiring.

The annual 50 on Fire award identifies the hottest companies, organizations and people heating up D.C.s innovation economy across six categories. To further commemorate D.C.s biggest game changers, from established leaders to up-and-comers, winners will be celebrated at the annual 50 on Fire event on November 15, 2018 at the National Union Building.

For more information about this years 50 on Fire winners, or to purchase tickets for the event, visit: https://www.americaninno.com/dc/inno-insights-dc/dc-innos-50-on-fire-2018/

About Capango

Capango provides a highly focused, mobile-first retail job matching platform that quickly connects qualified job seekers to rewarding opportunities without resumes through a proprietary matching algorithm. Unlike traditional job boards, Capango eliminates the need to sift through boring resumes and lengthy applications, focusing instead on a candidates powers and passions. For employers, this means direct access to qualified, passionate workers, making hiring fast and cost-effective. Developed by the team behind Natural Insight, a leading provider of a cloud-based advanced retail execution and workforce management platform, Capango bridges the gap between incredible retail talent and great jobs. To learn more about Capango, visit http://www.capango.com/ and follow on Twitter @CapangoLife.
The company launched in 2015, making paper voter guides for the Chicago mayoral runoff. That year, it won $30,000 in the University of Chicagos Social New Venture Challenge, and it later received grants from the National Science Foundation and the Knight Foundation. The company has raised more than $2.3 million in funding to date, Niemczewski said. BallotReady also makes money by creating tools for nonprofits or advocacy groups such as voter guides.
All six community college districts, including their continuing education centers, in San Diego and Imperial Counties are targeting job openings with specific programs and certificates in the Health and Information Communication Technology/Digital Media industries, two of the top nine in-demand industry sectors in the region.

A report last year by the San Diego Workforce Partnership uncovered that employers faced significant hiring difficulties in priority industry sectors, including Health and Information Communication Technology industries.

A lack of industry-specific knowledge was most often rated as a significant reason for hiring difficulty across priority industries, followed by a small applicant pool and insufficient non-technical skills and certifications.

Additionally, when asked about the importance of specific skill sets, interpersonal skills were rated as very important.



Health employers rated social and verbal communication and problem solving and critical thinking as very important; and

Information Communication Technology employers rated problem solving and critical thinking and technical skills as very important.

Whether starting out in the workforce or switching jobs, Career Education students like Leslie Miles and Javi Moreno are benefitting from the regions new focus on aligning Career Education programs with in-demand jobs and offering the real-world skills needed to land them.

Leslie Miles, Grossmont College Alumnae, Cardiovascular Technician

Leslie Miles had two job offers when she graduated from Grossmont College in May.

Deciding she wanted to pursue a new career in a specialized avenue of health care, Miles attended Grossmont when she found exciting program options. While continuing to work, Miles earned an associate degree in Cardiovascular Technology and specializes in electrophysiology.

My instructors are so entrenched in the community and seem to know everyone in the field, which made it very easy for me to connect with local employers, said Miles, a Cardiovascular Technician at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Because they were so knowledgeable, my instructors made the transition to the health care field so fluid.

Javi Moreno, Studying Graphic Design and Digital Media Production at San Diego City College

My instructors advice and support, as well as the technical experience Ive gained through Citys programs, have given me the confidence to push myself into exciting career directions I would otherwise not have pursued, said Javi Moreno, a graphic design student at San Diego City College.

In May, Moreno will earn two associate degrees: one in Graphic Design and the other in Digital Media Production. Moreno will also earn a Certificate of Performance in Special-Effects Makeup. San Diego City College is the only community college in the country that offers this specialized certification.

Citys diverse programs have allowed me to explore all my creative paths, Moreno explained. While Im still technically a student, I was encouraged to begin working as a graphic designer on day one, taking on projects to create business cards and invitations for local businesses.

About Career Education in San Diego and Imperial Counties

San Diego and Imperial Counties community colleges and continuing education campuses have united to fill the growing regional middle-skill labor gap by promoting Career Education programs to target these well-paying, in-demand jobs. Whether learning new skills, completing short-term free career training, or earning a certificate or an associate degree, Career Education students gain real-world experience that prepare them for in-demand, well-paying jobs. With more than 200 programs to choose from, students learn by exploring, collaborating and doing, with hands-on training taught by instructors and professionals in their field of study.

The community colleges and continuing education centers in San Diego and Imperial Counties offering students the opportunity to Learn More. Earn More. are: Cuyamaca College, Grossmont College, Imperial Valley College, MiraCosta College, Palomar College, San Diego City College, San Diego Continuing Education, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College, and Southwestern College. To learn more, visit CareerEd.org.
Being involved with Trees for Troops is truly a gift that gives back, said Dick Darling, Christmas SPIRIT Foundation chairman.

Trees for Troops, the national program that provides free, farm-grown Christmas Trees to armed forces members and their families each Christmas, is off and running for 2018, with plans to deliver more than 15,000 Christmas Trees to 67 military bases in the U.S. and overseas. Now in its fourteenth year, Trees for Troops is a program of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, working together with FedEx, American Christmas tree farmers from all across the United States, and retailers to provide the wonderful family memories of a real Christmas tree for service members.

In 2017, the Trees for Troops program reached a major milestone when it delivered its 200,000th tree! Use this link https://youtu.be/S-eFPo91wwc to see the incredible story of this special tree, harvested at the farm in New Hampshire where it was grown, loaded on to a FedEx truck by school children for delivery to the chosen family who received it along the hundreds of other trees donated by Trees for Troops to the military families at Fort Drum.

The public is invited to help support the Trees for Troops program, and each donation will help ensure Trees for Troops can provide another Christmas Tree as a token of thanks and gratitude for the sacrifices of Americas service men and women and their families. Donations may be tax deductible. Trees for Troops Weekend this year will take place November 30 - December 2 at retail locations throughout the U.S. By visiting one of these designated retail locations, you can purchase a Christmas tree, write a personal message on a tree tag and load it onto a FedEx truck to be delivered the following week to a military family. To donate online or find a Trees for Troops Weekend location near you, visit http://www.treesfortroops.org. Many retail locations have a Trees for Troops collection jar at their checkout area where you can also make your donations to support this wonderful program.

This years Trees for Troops program kicks off November 13 at Dulls Tree Farm in Thorntown, Indiana, where approximately 250 trees donated by members of the Indiana Christmas Tree Association will be collected and transported via FedEx to service members stationed overseas. In the weeks that follow, thousands of trees will be donated, collected and delivered to more than 67 military bases domestically. Trees are provided through the generosity of Christmas Tree growers, retailers and consumers across the country, with shipping provided by FedEx.

Being involved with Trees for Troops is truly a gift that gives back, said Dick Darling, Christmas SPIRIT Foundation chairman. Its rewarding and meaningful to everyone involved, because it gives us the opportunity to say thank you to our troops, and helps ensure military families have the kind of joyful, traditional Christmas memories that we would wish for Americas heroes.

Since 2005, Trees for Troops has delivered more than 208,720 Real Christmas Trees to thankful troops and military families. Each year, thousands of trees are donated by Christmas Tree growers (through the National Christmas Tree Association, state and regional Christmas Tree associations) and consumers. FedEx and its team members generously provide shipping to more than 70 bases in the U.S. and internationally, through FedEx Express air operations and the FedEx Freight trucking network.

About the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and Trees for Troops

The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization that works to recognize and support the true spirit of Christmas for U.S. troops through the Trees for Troops program. The foundation was established in 2005 and is among fewer than five percent of U.S. charities to be awarded the Best in America seal of excellence by Independent Charities of America. Trees for Troops was selected by the US Coast Guard as the recipient of the 2017 Spirit of Hope Award. To learn more, visit http://www.treesfortroops.org or call (800) 965-1653.
We are elated to receive these distinguished accolades, as we have been dedicated to revolutionizing the CDH industry and bringing forth technology and service innovations for the past number of years.

ConnectYourCare (CYC)  a national leader in consumer-directed health care account solutions (CDH)  was recently honored as #19 on Baltimore Business Journals Fast 50 list of the fastest-growing private companies in Greater Baltimore and was also named #56 on the Journals Largest Private Companies list.

The Fast 50 Award honors the fastest-growing private companies, based on revenue growth for 2017 over 2016, and recognizes the 50 best-performing private companies in Greater Baltimore. The Largest Private Company ranking was based on 2017 revenue and honors 100 companies across the Greater Baltimore area.

We are elated to receive these distinguished accolades, as we have been dedicated to revolutionizing the CDH industry and bringing forth technology and service innovations for the past number of years, said ConnectYourCare CEO Steve Grieco. We look forward to many years of successful growth ahead as we deliver first-class service and innovations to our valued clients throughout Maryland and across the nation.

Other notable companies on the largest private companies and Fast 50 lists include L2 Defense, Inc., Allegis Group, Inc., Merkle, Live! Casino and Hotel, and Merritt Companies.

Visit http://www.connectyourcare.com/about-us to learn more about ConnectYourCares history and the services it offers.

About ConnectYourCare

As a consumer-directed health care pioneer and nationally recognized industry leader, ConnectYourCare delivers a comprehensive solution supporting health care savings accounts and expanded tax-advantaged offerings. Through continuous evolution, highly rated service, and domain expertise across the benefits, banking, and payments spectrum, we are revolutionizing the connection between health and wealth. ConnectYourCare creates greater participant value through intuitive account management; greater employer value and savings through dynamic, outcome-based workflows and tools; and greater partnership value through deep engagements to meet goalswith proprietary, cloud-based technology and a modern, intelligent platform as its foundation.

Trusted by leading organizations, spanning all industries and sizes, we are making it easier for people to manage care, so they can enjoy life. For more information, visit ConnectYourCare.com or follow us on Twitter @ConnectYourCare.
Crelate Sponsors 2018 NAPS Conference in Bonita Springs, FL. This year, Crelate is doing NAPS conference swag a bit different. Instead of investing in the usual conference give-aways that often end up in a landfill. Crelate will be making donations to key charities that improve lives through the empowerment of jobs, said Crelate CEO, Aaron Elder.

Crelate, the gold-standard for cloud-based recruiting software, announced today that it will demonstrate its industry-leading talent acquisition technology as a Silver Sponsor during the NAPS (National Association of Personnel Services) conference, November 4 - 6, 2018 in Bonita Springs, FL.

Crelate CEO, Aaron Elder, will be present alongside members of the Crelate Customer Success team to give demonstrations of the recruiting software during exposition hours in booth 16. The demonstrations will explain how staffing and recruiting professionals can easily manage and automate processes to drive better business outcomes using integrated capabilities such as:



Editing and viewing Microsoft documents without leaving the recruiting workflow

External search integrations to source candidates from the web

Free and sponsored job board distribution

Integrated Recruiting CRM and Applicant Tracking functionality to align sales and recruiting teams

Recruiting analytics and custom dashboards

This year, Crelate is doing conference swag a bit different. Instead of investing in the usual conference give-aways that often end up in a landfill. Crelate will be making donations to key charities that improve lives through the empowerment of jobs, said Crelate CEO, Aaron Elder. Conference attendees are encouraged to visit the Crelate booth to participate in the charitable giving by voting for a talent-focused organization.

Participants can indicate their selection by placing a business card in one of three jars that represent a non-profit organization working to improve professional talent in the community. At the end of the conference, Crelate will make a first, second and third place donation to each charity.

The NAPS Annual conference is a 3-day event where attendees have the opportunity to learn strategies to improve their businesses and expand their professional networks.

About NAPS

Since 1961, NAPS has been a leading industry educator in the United States. As the oldest association representing the search, recruiting and staffing industry, NAPS offers the longest and most comprehensive history of professional credentialing in the industry. NAPS continues to maintain the esteemed position as the industry educator through its certification program, continuing education initiatives, monthly Lunch & Learn webinars, eNewsletters and its annual conference. For more information on NAPS, visit http://www.naps360.org

About Crelate

Crelate is a cloud-based recruiting software company that empowers recruiters to better manage talent and opportunity pipelines in a single solution. With fast and powerful capabilities, Crelate optimizes recruiting processes from sourcing to hiring. Since 2012, the Crelate team has focused on customer success and prioritizing innovation based on user feedback. Customers have called Crelate the Best ATS on the market and a recruiting game-changer. Join over 850 leading recruitment teams that improve their hiring efforts with Crelate. Visit http://www.crelate.com for more information.
Jose Rafael Ballesteros, Diplomaticos CEO says, We are truly humbled by this award as it recognizes our contribution to elevate the rum category and make consumers re-evaluate their perception of rum.

Diplomatico  a super-premium rum brand renowned for its superior taste, quality and mixability  is honored to announce its win as the Wine Stars Spirit Brand of the Year. Each year, Wine Enthusiasts distinguished Wine Star Awards recognizes companies and individuals whose vision has impacted the wine and spirits industry. Diplomatico is thrilled to be a part of such an esteemed group as the first-ever rum to win this category. Produced by Destilerias Unidas S.A. (DUSA) in Venezuela, Diplomatico is an independent, family-owned brand recognized as one of the finest rums in the world.

Jose Rafael Ballesteros, Diplomaticos CEO says, We are truly humbled by this award as it recognizes our contribution to elevate the rum category and make consumers re-evaluate their perception of rum. This is an ongoing goal as we work toward being not just the best premium rum globally, but also one of the greatest spirits in the world.

Diplomaticos delicious and distinctive taste profile is the result of a unique rum-making process. The rums are distilled using a rich variety of methods, which allows its award-winning Master Blenders to create exquisite blends, including Reserva Exclusiva, the brands flagship sipping rum.

The high quality of Diplomatico is upheld by its most valuable resource, its people. The companys growth has always been alongside its employees and their families, supported by a long-standing commitment to protect the community and ecosystem surrounding the distillery. The company provides sustainable jobs for over 700 workers in Venezuela and has developed strong social programs to improve the quality of life and growth of its human talents while minimizing environmental impact.

"We're in the midst of a rum revolution," says Adam Strum, Editor and Publisher, Wine Enthusiast Magazine. "We chose Diplomatico Rum for the Wine Star award, not only for its supreme quality but also because we admire their leadership in educating spirits lovers about the ways in which we can mix premium rum, and sip it too. Being a family-owned business ourselves, Diplomatico's commitment to family and work mirrors our philosophy, and were excited to welcome Diplomatico to the Wine Star Awards family as the first-ever rum to win this award."

Earlier this year, Diplomatico announced E. & J. Gallo Winery as its exclusive U.S. distributor. As both companies embrace the same family and community values, they are excited to continue to grow and leverage each others expertise to expand Diplomaticos presence in the U.S. market.

As their U.S. import partner, we congratulate Diplomatico on this well-deserved recognition, says Ernest Gallo, COO of E. & J. Gallo Winery. Diplomatico represents an important part of our growing luxury spirits portfolio as it transcends the rum category and introduces more premium spirits consumers to all that rum has to offer.

Wine Enthusiast will officially award Diplomatico Rum at the Wine Star Awards Gala on January 29th, 2019 in Miami at the Nobu Eden Roc Hotel.

About Rum Diplomatico (http://www.ronDiplomatico.com)

Diplomatico, a family-owned brand inspired by the character of Don Juan Nieto Melendez, whose portrait is illustrated on its labels, is a premium-and-above rum from Venezuela. Located at the foot of the Andes Mountains, the Diplomatico Distillery (producing top-quality spirits since 1959) combines traditional methods with modern technology to produce the finest of rums. The production area boasts great conditions for sugar cane and rum production including fertile lands, abundant water and a tropical weather. The team of award-winning Master Blenders works diligently to create unique and complex rums. The product range consists of the Tradition Range: Planas (aged up to 6 years), Mantuano (aged up to 8 years) and Reserva Exclusiva (aged up to 12 years), and the Prestige Line: Single Vintage and Ambassador, both aged 12 years and finished in Spanish sherry casks for one and two years respectively, and a Special Edition: The Distillery Collection featuring a Single Batch Kettle rum and a Single Barbet column rum.

About E. & J. Gallo Winery

Founded by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo in 1933 in Modesto, California, E. & J. Gallo Winery is the world's largest family-owned winery and the acclaimed producer of award-winning wines and spirits featured in more than 110 countries around the globe. A pioneer in the art of grape growing, winemaking, sustainable practices, marketing and worldwide distribution, Gallo crafts and imports wines and spirits to suit a diverse range of tastes and occasions, from everyday offerings to boutique, luxury bottlings.

The Gallo portfolio is comprised of more than 100 unique brands, including New Amsterdam Vodka and Gin, Familia Camarena Tequila, RumHaven, Lo-Fi Aperitifs and E&J Brandy and luxury spirits offerings which include California Premium Brandies Argonaut and Germain-Robin, imported Scotch whiskies from Whyte & Mackay, including The Dalmore and Jura Single Malts, Shackleton Blended Malt and John Barr Reserve Blended Scotch and Diplomatico Rum. Premium wine offerings include Apothic, Carnivor, Columbia Winery, Ecco Domani, Edna Valley Vineyard, J Vineyards & Winery, Louis M. Martini, MacMurray Estate Vineyards, Orin Swift, Chateau Souverain, Talbott Vineyards, and William Hill Estate, along with highly acclaimed imports, such as Alamos, Brancaia, La Marca, Las Rocas, Martin Codax, Whitehaven, and LUX Wines, importers of Allegrini, Argiano, Jermann, Pieropan and Renato Ratti.

About Wine Enthusiast Magazine

Wine Enthusiasts approach to wine and spirits is accessible and unpretentious, and enjoyed by novices and experts alike. Published 13 times per year, the magazines audience is at nearly one million strong. The magazine and its Buying Guide with more than 200,000 ratings and reviews make up the most comprehensive database in the industry available for free online at http://www.WineMag.com.
All periods of sudden warming throughout Earth's history are contemporaneous with extrusion of large amounts of black, basaltic lava covering tens to millions of square miles of land, according to Dr. Peter L. Ward, a geophysicist who worked 27 years with the U. S. Geological Survey.

Throughout Earth's history, climate has warmed many degrees suddenly, within years, and cooled slowly over millennia. Some warming events lasted tens of thousands of years, heating oceans to hot tub temperatures, causing major ocean acidity, and destroying nearly all life on Earth.

While geologists have been mapping these radical changes in climate worldwide for two centuries, their causes have never been clear, explains Dr. Peter L. Ward, a geophysicist who worked 27 years with the U. S. Geological Survey.

Ward will be explaining why at the national meeting of the Geological Society of America in Indianapolis in a talk at 11:25 am on Monday, November 5th, and at Booth 733 in the Exhibit Hall throughout the meeting.

TALK SUMMARY:

Global warming has been sudden, erratic, and frequent throughout Earth history

The world has often warmed suddenly, within years. Cooling after each warming, on the other hand, usually takes thousands of years.

The largest warming events, lasting tens of thousands of years, heated oceans to hot tub temperatures, destroying nearly all life on Earth. The largest cooling events left the whole world covered in ice. What drives such rapid changes in global climate?

All periods of sudden warming are contemporaneous with extrusion of large amounts of black, basaltic lava covering tens to millions of square miles of land, according to Dr. Peter L. Ward, a geophysicist who worked 27 years with the U. S. Geological Survey. The larger the lava flow, the longer the eruption lasts and the warmer the world becomes.

Ward will be explaining the newest information at the national meeting of the Geological Society of America in Indianapolis on Monday, November 5th. He has already published a book: What Really Causes Global Warming? Greenhouse gases or ozone depletion? and numerous publications available at https://whyclimatechanges.com/about/climate-publications/. In addition, he will be manning a booth in the Exhibit Hall of the conference for four days, talking to hundreds of scientists and giving out extensive printed information.

Ward explains that these basaltic lava flows emit large amounts of hot chlorine and bromine gases observed to rise into the lower stratosphere, where they are known to deplete the ozone layer.

The ozone layer absorbs most ultraviolet-B radiation from Sun, protecting life on Earth from this very hot, sunburning, cancer-causing radiation. When the ozone layer is depleted, more of this hot radiation is observed to reach Earth, warming the oceans and raising the risk of sunburn to you and to corral reefs. The greatest warming is in polar regions where ozone depletion has been greatest.

The most recent sudden warming event occurred between 2014 and 2016, when lava from Bararbunga volcano in central Iceland covered an area of 33 square miles in only six months, the largest such eruption since 1783. This warming was five-times faster than warming observed from 1970 to 1998 that was caused by humans manufacturing chlorofluorocarbon gases (CFCs). CFCs were used widely as refrigerants, solvents, and spray-can propellants. CFCs carry chlorine atoms up into the lower stratosphere where one atom of chlorine can destroy more than 100,000 molecules of ozone. Increases in warming stopped by 1998 because the United Nations Montreal Protocol had mandated cutbacks in CFC production.

Hundreds of square miles of basaltic lava flows were contemporaneous with the Medieval Warm Period starting around 950 AD, the Roman Warm Period starting around 250 BC, and about a dozen warm periods since the end of the last ice age. Earth was warmed rapidly out of the last ice age by extensive basaltic eruptions in Iceland from 12,000 to 9,500 years ago. At least 25 times from 120,000 to 14,000 years ago, sudden warming occurred in Greenland, followed by millennia of cooling.

Cooling is caused when major explosive volcanic eruptions eject megatons of water vapor and sulfur dioxide into the lower stratosphere where they form a mist, known as aerosols, that reflect and scatter sunlight, cooling Earth about one-degree Fahrenheit for two to four years. This short-term cooling affects ocean temperatures for up to a century. Thus, several large explosive eruptions per century for tens of thousands of years can increment the world down into ice-age conditions.

These major explosive volcanic eruptions and extensive lava flows explain the details of climate change throughout earth history. Greenhouse-warming theory cannot. Ward has recently shown that greenhouse-warming theory is physically impossible as explained at Physically-Impossible.com.

Greenhouse-warming theory assumes that radiation from Earth, absorbed by greenhouse gases, ends up one way or another warming Earth. But this is not physically possible. No body of matter can be warmed in any way by absorbing its own radiation. If that were possible, bodies of matter could spontaneously heat upsomething we all know does not happen.

Greenhouse-warming theory also assumes that greenhouse gases form a blanket that warms Earth. We use blankets every day to slow the cooling of a body of matter, but it is physically impossible for a blanket to cause the temperature of the body under the blanket to increase. Otherwise we would have free sources of new thermal energy by placing blankets over hot things.

Concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere are observed to increase with rising global temperatures. This is because the solubility of CO2 in water, or in your soda drink, is well-known to decrease as the water warms, moving more CO2 into the atmosphere. Increasing concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere, therefore, are primarily the result of increasing ocean temperatures, not the cause.

Today, Ward explains, there is widespread consensus that greenhouse gases are causing the warming and that we must reduce emissions promptly to avoid serious consequences. Unfortunately, this is based on faulty assumptions and a fundamental misunderstanding in physics about what heat is and how it flows.

My biggest frustration, Ward concludes, is that very talented fellow scientists simply refuse to even consider the possibility that greenhouse-warming theory could have the slightest flaw. Meanwhile Earth warms and we are preparing to waste trillions of dollars reducing greenhouse-gas emissions even though greenhouse-warming theory is physically impossible.

More information at Physically-Impossible.com, WhyClimateChanges.com, and JustProveCO2.com.

INTERVIEW CLIMATE SCIENTIST DR. PETER WARD

EVENT DETAILS:

What: The 130th Annual Geological Society of America Meeting

Who: Scientists, speakers, guests, general public, volunteers, GSA staff

When: November 4th-7th

Where: Indiana Convention Center, 100 S Capitol Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46225

View complete information HERE.

About: The Geological Society of America, founded in 1888, is a scientific society with more than 25,000 members from academia, government, and industry in more than 100 countries. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA enhances the professional growth of its members and promotes the geosciences in the service of humankind. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, GSA encourages cooperative research among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists, fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues, and supports all levels of earth science education.

ABOUT DR. PETER WARD:

Dr. Ward worked 27 years with the United States Geological Survey as research geophysicist, branch chief, and program manager. He helped develop and manage a major national research program, chaired a committee at the White House, testified before Congress, worked on a committee for Vice President Gore, published more than 50 scientific papers, and won two national awards for explaining science to the general public. He retired in 1998, working intensely for the past decade trying to resolve several enigmatic observations related to climate change.

Wards analysis and theory are explained in detail on his website and in his new book:

"What Really Causes Global Warming? Greenhouse Gases or Ozone Depletion?"

Media Inquiries, Contact:

Erin Klein | Erin.climatepr(at)gmail.com | 866-949-6868

Dr. Peter Ward | (307-413-4055) *Day of, On site
Sharon Kleyne, talk show host of the Sharon Kleyne Hour, an internationally syndicated weekly radio show with a global reach of 3.5 million listeners on VoiceAmerica produced by Rose Hong, founder/director of Global Dragon TV, does not want to see the western United States become a vast desert like the Middle East. I personally believe that the soil is a species, says Kleyne. Water is a species. The aquifers below the soil are vital to all life.

Often a critic of Californias management of the historic 5-year drought that afflicted the state and ended in 2017, Kleyne supports President Donald Trumps executive order, signed in February, rolling back an Obama-era Water of the United States (or WOTUS) rule that designates what smaller bodies of water, tributaries and wetlands are under the control of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corp of Engineers. On Friday, October 19th 2018, Trump issued an order to speed up these environmental reviews and streamline regulations that he claims are preventing progress on major water projects in the West. Projects impacted include the Central Valley Project, the California State Water Project, the Klamath Irrigation Project in Oregon and California, and the Columbia River Basin System in the Pacific Northwest. Wealthy Central Valley farmers and agribusiness also applauded the proclamation and earlier executive order. In an ancillary development, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation establishing statewide water efficiency goals and permanent water conservation rules designed to avoid a recurrence of severe drought.

Our atmosphere is volatile because it is over-evaporating, Power of Water Water Life Science and talk show host Kleyne says. We must make water a top priority, not just in an election cycle, but all the time, dry eye expert Kleyne continues. Water is the breath of life. Without sufficient pure, clean water, disease and sickness skyrocket. Inadequate water research and new water technology result in fewer cures for disease, poor health and poor quality of life.

Kleyne launched her talk show on radio almost twelve years ago. Her goal has always been to host a living laboratory on the air where listeners become educated about the latest research in water in the earths atmosphere, health research and new water technology. Natures Tears EyeMist, the unique dry eye solution, is the sponsor of the Sharon Kleyne Hour Water Life Science/Natures Pharma, The Power of Water & Your Health, is the perfect eye care product for people experiencing somatic awareness. Every week, Kleyne welcomes to the air globally celebrated scientists, researchers, physicians, policy makers and authors to share the latest new water research and technology. Together, they and the shows listeners explore health and the quest for cures of illness and disease around the world. The guest list for the talk show reads like an International Whos Who of the last thirty years. It includes Dame Dr. Effie Chow, considered the mother of American Qigong, L. DeWayne Cecil, former NASA scientist and Western Region Climate Services Director for the NOAA-NCDC, Rose Hong, founder and director of Global Dragon TV, Dr. Yuan Fang, noted scientists in China, Mei Lin Fung, founder of the People-Centered Internet and Becky Straw, Director of Water Programs for http://www.charitywater.org. For example, Kleyne has welcomed the 2002 co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in chemistry, Kurt Wuthrich, Ph.D., who joined her from Switzerland. The two discussed nuclear magnetic imaging and the role of water.

Our bodies begin a process of evaporation at the moment of birth and it lasts until we die, says Kleyne. Living with the charged water in earths atmosphere, we need to supplement and replenish our body water vapor in order to stave off disease and live healthier Water Life Science lives.

If you would like to listen to Sharon Kleynes talk show please follow this link: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/109696/integrate-mind-body-for-self-healing
Elder law attorney Anthony J. Enea, member, Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP Our firm is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards, both in our practice of the law and how we treat clients and peers. We feel privileged to be ranked as superior among the nations leading firms and will continue to honor that ranking as we move into another year.

The law firm of Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP has been selected by U.S. News  Best Lawyers for inclusion in their 2019 Best Law Firms in the fields of Elder Law and Trusts & Estates for the New York metropolitan region. This marks the ninth consecutive year that the firm, with offices in White Plains and Somers, N.Y., has been recognized for its professional excellence.

Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano concentrates its practice on elder law planning, asset protection planning, wills, trusts & estates, Medicaid applications (home care and nursing home), guardianships, and special needs planning. The firm has also attained Martindale-Hubbells highest rating, AV Preeminent, for superior ethical standards and legal ability.

The 2019 Best Law Firm rankings feature law firms that have demonstrated consistently impressive performance ratings by clients and peers. The process addresses expertise, responsiveness, in-depth understanding of business, integrity, cost-effectiveness, civility, and positive referrals. The rankings showcase more than 13,000 law firms in 120 practice areas.

Our firm is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards, both in our practice of the law and how we treat clients and peers, said member Anthony J. Enea. We feel privileged to be ranked as superior among the nations leading firms and will continue to honor that ranking as we move into another year.

The Best Law Firm distinction follows Anthony J. Enea and member Sara E. Meyers recent Super Lawyers accolade, which was presented by the Thomson Reuters publication of the same name. Mr. Enea was also named Best Lawyers 2019 Trusts & Estates Lawyer of the Year in White Plains for his dedication to protecting the rights of seniors, the disabled and their families.

Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is located at 245 Main Street in White Plains, N.Y. with additional offices in Somers, N.Y. Elder law attorney Anthony J. Enea can be reached at 914-948-1500 or a.enea@esslawfirm.com. For the latest news, visit Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano online at http://www.esslawfirm.com.

About Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP

Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is an AV preeminent rated elder law firm with offices in White Plains and Somers, N.Y. The practice concentrates on Elder Law; Medicaid Planning; Nursing Home and Home Care Applications; Wills, Trusts and Estates; Guardianships; Estate Litigation; Supplemental Needs Trusts; and Special Needs Planning. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP serves Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island and Queens and is committed to providing the highest quality legal services to seniors, the disabled and their families. Visit the firm online at http://www.esslawfirm.com.

About Best Law Firms

The U.S. News  Best Lawyers Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a ranking, a law firm must have at least one lawyer listed in the 21st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America list for that particular location and specialty.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is a multiplatform publisher of news and analysis, which includes the digitalonly U.S. News Weekly magazine, http://www.usnews.com and http://www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Personal Finance, Education, Travel, Cars and Public Service/Opinion, U.S. News has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. U.S. News & World Reports signature franchise includes its News You Can Use brand of journalism and its annual "Best" series of consumer Web guides and publications that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, mutual funds, health plans and more.
Ernestos Italian Restaurant I was raised here and went to school here, so I love being able to give back and offer support in any way I can. Ernestos is open to partnerships with any local schools and/or nonprofits.

Ernestos Italian Restaurant is now offering a discounted rate on its banquet rooms for local schools and nonprofits.

We will also waive any audio-visual fees associated with hosting any events, said Chris Wegner, owner of Ernestos Italian Restaurant, which recently replaced all its plastic straws with hay straws in order to protect the environment.

An avid supported of the community, Ernestos regularly donates gift vouchers to local schools and nonprofits for auctions. The revered Italian restaurant is also always open to hosting fundraising events, and donates a portion of the funds from those events to schools and nonprofits.

I was raised here and went to school here, so I love being able to give back and offer support in any way I can, added Wegner. Ernestos is open to partnerships with any local schools and/or nonprofits.

Added client Mike, We want to thank you, the restaurant and all the staff for a wonderful experience February 11th. The Valentine's Dance was a great success thanks to all of your efforts. As always, we wouldn't hesitate to recommend Ernesto's to family and friends and hope to see you again soon.

Ernestos is also a Purple Table Reservation restaurant. This special reservation restaurant training program is designed for people who are living with Dementia/Alzheimers Disease, Autism, PTSD, TBI, a hearing or vision impairment, or other physical or cognitive condition that may benefit from a more predictable environment and additional accommodations when dining out.

About Ernestos Italian Restaurant

Ernestos Italian Restaurants extensive menu ranges from traditional pasta, lasagna, fettuccine and pizza to chef-inspired specials, handcrafted soups and homemade tiramisu. The generous meatballs are hand-rolled daily, along with the fresh focaccia bread and pizza dough. Its full-service lounge is a place for the neighborhood to meet for food, drinks and fun during the great happy hour. For more information, please call 503-292-0119, or visit http://www.ernestositalian.com. Ernestos Italian Restaurant is located at 8544 SW Apple Way, Portland, OR 97225.

About the NALA

The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. The information and content in this article are not in conjunction with the views of the NALA. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361.
FD Fund Administration is in a unique position to both provide guidance to emerging fund managers and to provide insights to ILPA members who regularly evaluate and conduct due diligence on new fund managers

FD Fund Administration, a subsidiary of Frazier & Deeter and leading fund administration provider, today announced its renewed support and sponsorship of the Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA)s annual Emerging Manager Showcase. Now in its third year, the Emerging Manager Showcase is held in conjunction with the annual ILPA Summit and brings premier new fund managers together with limited partners in an effective and efficient day of meetings on November 6 in New York City.

The ILPA is a long-standing organization with nearly 500 member institutions representing more than $2 trillion of private equity assets under administration, said Robert Woosley, National Private Equity Practice Leader of Frazier & Deeter.

As a leading private equity fund administrator connected with a nationally ranked CPA firm, we are in a unique position to both provide guidance to emerging fund managers and to provide insights to ILPA members who regularly evaluate and conduct due diligence on new fund managers, noted Woosley. ILPAs Emerging Manager Showcase represents an intersection of relationship building as well as thought leadership and industry best practices that are so important to fund managers and their investors.

ILPA welcomes FD Fund Administration for its second year of involvement and sponsorship to our Emerging Manager Showcase, said Greg Durst, Managing Director of Corporate Development for ILPA. We know our members are dedicating more time, resources and capital to work with high potential emerging managers. We look forward to having our members and the emerging manager community learn more important best practices surrounding investor reporting and relations, governance and compliance, and other critical operational considerations.

About ILPA

The Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA) engages, empowers and connects limited partners to maximize their performance on an individual, institutional and collective basis. With nearly 500 member institutions representing over US $2 trillion of private equity assets under management, ILPA is the only global organization dedicated exclusively to advancing the interests of LPs and their beneficiaries through best-in-class education, research, advocacy and networking. For more information, please visit ILPA.org.

About FD Fund Administration

FD Fund Administration (http://www.fd-fa.com) provides highly customizable fund administration services to meet the needs of complex real estate and private equity funds. FD-FA offers a robust suite of services, including fund accounting, investment reporting, tax administration, valuation services, investor servicing, company reporting and portfolio analytics and other services. FD Fund Administration is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with additional offices in New York and Atlanta.

About Frazier & Deeter

Frazier & Deeter is a nationally recognized CPA and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with offices across the United States. The firm provides tailored services across a wide range of tax, audit, accounting and advisory needs to achieve each clients unique financial goals. Frazier & Deeter has been named a Best Accounting Firm to Work For, the 52nd largest CPA firm and one of the Fastest Growing CPA firms among the top 100 firms in the U.S. by Accounting Today magazine. Frazier & Deeter has also been named a Best of the Best CPA firm by INSIDE Public Accounting ten times. For more information, visit frazierdeeter.com.
In announcing the new refugee ceiling in September, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. must focus its resources on its backlog of asylum cases, which has ballooned in recent years. People seeking asylum request protection once inside the U.S. or at the border, while refugees are chosen for resettlement while they are abroad. In order to be granted protection as a refugee or asylum-seeker, the individual must have a well-founded fear of persecution at home based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.
"Netgates TNSR presents cloud traffic to Fidelis Network without constraint - enabling sophisticated threat detection and response for customers - wherever they are with respect to cloud migration, said Tim Roddy, Vice President of Product Management, Fidelis Cybersecurity.

Fidelis Cybersecurity and Netgate today announced an integrated solution that combines Netgate TNSR with Fidelis Network sensors to enable advanced visibility, threat detection, and data loss/theft detection for applications and data hosted within Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Netgates TNSR Secure Networking Software Platform provides a high-speed network mirror port which directs packet traffic to a Fidelis Network sensor running in AWS that then provides deep visibility across all traffic, ports, and protocols; threat detection and response; and data loss prevention. With TNSR, the full power of Fidelis Network can be deployed within the AWS cloud without performance limitations.

Owing to compelling economics and IT infrastructure flexibility, business and government IT workloads are rapidly transitioning from premises-based data centers to cloud service providers (CSPs). But challenges arise when CSP compute instances are unable to route network traffic at the speeds required by high-powered threat detection and data loss prevention solutions. In a world where cyber attackers will exploit the slightest weakness for activist, financial, or nation-state gain, traffic inspection speed is vital. But to effectively inspect, traffic has to first be presented to inspection engines without bandwidth or latency constraints. Netgates TNSR enables AWS EC2 instances equipped with Elastic Network Adapter (ENA) to deliver high-speed traffic directly to Fidelis Network sensors running in AWS. With this integration, Fidelis Network can execute the same level of sophisticated threat detection and response performance in the cloud that its customers enjoy on premises.

Our solutions support government, service provider, and large enterprise security needs where tens of gigabits per second of network traffic must be routinely and reliably examined for cyber threats, said Tim Roddy, Vice President of Product Management, Fidelis Cybersecurity. Fidelis Network sensors must perform seamlessly for these customers, regardless of where the inspection point is located. Netgates TNSR presents cloud traffic to us without constraint, letting us address customer needs wherever they are with respect to cloud migration.

This is the type of business problem we set out to address from the beginning with TNSR, said Jim Thompson, Netgate CTO. High-speed packet processing is hardly new. Providing it at orders of magnitude less cost than six figure vendor-proprietary solutions - and irrespective of deployment location - is new. The possibilities of marrying advanced security stacks, like that of Fidelis Cybersecurity, with the packet processing speed and deployment agility of TNSR are very exciting. Enabling high-speed cloud traffic inspection is just the tip of the iceberg.

Fidelis Network and Netgate TNSR are both available on AWS. Additional solution information is available:

Fidelis Solution Datasheet

Netgate Solution Brief

Additionally, in early December, the two companies will host a joint webinar covering solution value and deployment. Click here to attend.

Contact Fidelis Cybersecurity sales or Netgate sales for more information.

About Fidelis Cybersecurity

Fidelis is the leader in automated detection and response. The Fidelis Elevate platform dramatically improves the effectiveness and efficiency of security operations by delivering comprehensive network visibility, rich metadata, intelligent deception, alert validation, and automated investigation and response across networks and endpoints. Fidelis is trusted by the most important brands in the world for its products and services.

About Netgate

Netgate is dedicated to developing and providing secure networking solutions to businesses, government and educational institutions around the world. pfSense - the worlds leading open-source firewall - is actively developed by Netgate, with an installed base of over one million firewall users. TNSR extends the companys open-source leadership and expertise into high-performance secure networking  capable of delivering compelling value at a fraction of the cost of proprietary solutions.
The FSA goal-tracker report allows teachers to identify the monthly Lexile gains needed for each student to achieve a learning gain on the spring administration of their end of year assessment, said Steve Tardrew, vice president of assessment and research at Achieve3000.

Achieve3000, the leader in differentiated literacy instruction, today announced that select school districts are participating in the Florida State Achievement (FSA) Goal Tracker Project. This program is designed to motivate students and give teachers the targeted assessment data they need to help more students achieve a learning gain on Floridas annual assessment. The tool correlates Achieve3000s student performance data with FSA proficiency ranges, making it possible to predict students FSA performance with 82% accuracy for all students in the pilot school districts.

The FSA goal-tracker report allows teachers to identify the monthly Lexile gains needed for each student to achieve a learning gain on the spring administration of their end of year assessment, said Steve Tardrew, vice president of assessment and research at Achieve3000. Goal-setting is an incredibly important motivational tool for students, and the goal-tracker enables teachers to have meaningful conversations with their students about goals and progress.

In Florida, there are five FSA achievement levels ranging from level one to level five, and subcategories within levels one and two. The goal-tracker report creates student objectives aligned to these levels and establishes Lexile goals based on a study conducted by MetaMetrics. Progress towards these goals is tracked using the monthly Lexile measure from the Achieve3000 platform.

When a student is on track to meet his or her goal, it becomes an opportunity for celebration, and the report makes this easier to identify, Tardrew said. The report also aids students who may not be on track, providing teachers with a valuable teaching moment to open conversation on why the student is struggling, and solve it.

The report is in its second year of piloting with an expanded number of districts. The first year included three district participants, and this second phase includes 10 districts.

Our customers are excited about connecting Lexile growth to gains on state assessments, they find this to be motivating for both school personnel and students, said Judith Gould, regional vice present at Achieve3000. As more of our Florida partners engage in this project, we are more and more confident of the efficacy of this tool.

Districts are seeking a reliable way to identify students who may need intervention and empower educators to provide each student with meaningful literacy instruction. The Achieve3000 platform meets this need through providing accelerated learning opportunities to suit every students needs.

Achieve3000 invites districts interested in joining the FSA Goal Tracker pilot project to contact their local Achieve3000 representative to learn more. 800-838-8771

About Achieve3000

Achieve3000 is the leading literacy platform in todays blended learning programs, with cloud-based solutions that serve nearly three million students worldwide. Based on decades of scientific research, Achieve3000s patented and proven differentiated instruction for grades PreK-12 and adult education reaches all students at their individual reading levels (with 12 levels in English and 8 in Spanish) to accelerate learning, improve high stakes test performance, and drive college and career success. Learn more at http://www.achieve3000.com.
The Division of Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy is thrilled to partner with Southern Westchester BOCES for this series and look forward to thought provoking conversations with those in attendance.

The Fordham University Graduate School of Educations Division of Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy and Southern Westchester BOCES are pleased to announce an upcoming speaker series for current and aspiring school and district leaders in the greater New York City area.

The fall/winter series includes:

Engaging in Continuous Improvement Through Improvement Science

When: Thursday, November 8, 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Presented by: Margaret Terry Orr, associate professor

Location: Room 228, Fordham Westchester (400 Westchester Avenue, West Harrison)

What We Are Learning About Principal Time Use  Current Research Findings and Implications for Practice

When: Tuesday, December 4, 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Presented by: Tiedan Huang, assistant professor

Location: Southern Westchester BOCES (450 Mamaroneck Avenue, West Harrison)

Leading Instructional Improvement  Striving for Instructional Coherence

When: Tuesday, January 15, 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Presented by: Elizabeth Stosich, assistant professor

Location: Room 228, Fordham Westchester (400 Westchester Avenue, West Harrison)

Fordham University is dedicated to offering insightful programming to inspire current and future educational leaders, said Terry Orr. The Division of Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy is thrilled to partner with Southern Westchester BOCES for this series and look forward to thought provoking conversations with those in attendance.

All sessions will include welcome remarks, the presentation and a Q&A segment. The series is a free service for educational leaders and alumni in the region. For those interested, there will be a follow-up discussion of Fordhams masters and doctoral programs in educational leadership.

To RSVP, contact Staci Wang at xwang493@fordham.edu or Betty Ann Wyks at BWyks@swboces.org. For more information about the Fordham University Graduate School of Education, visit http://www.fordham.edu/info/20990/graduate_school_of_education.

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Former US Navy SEAL Ephraim Mattos After surviving three wars, a gunshot wound, a near fatal drowning, a failed parachute, Taliban ambushes, ISIS snipers, mortars... I have now returned home to the USA where a CNN host has labeled me as a radicalized right wing terrorist simply because of my gender and the color of my skin.

Former US Navy SEAL, Ephraim Mattos, has responded to comments made this week by Don Lemon on CNNs Cuomo Prime Time.

We have to stop demonizing people and realize the biggest terror threat in this country is white men, most of them radicalized to the right, and we have to start doing something about them.  Don Lemon on CNN (October 29, 2018)

Here is Mattos response:

After surviving three wars, a gunshot wound, a near fatal drowning, a failed parachute, Taliban ambushes, ISIS snipers, mortars, mine-fields, suicide bombers and laying down my life for the cause of freedom while fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with my brother Arabs, Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Animists, and Atheists, I have now returned home to the USA where a CNN host has labeled me as a radicalized right wing terrorist simply because of my gender and the color of my skin.

I represent just one of the hundreds of thousands of conservative white men who have fought to preserve freedom in this great Nation and in other nations. My forefathers are the 3% who founded this Republic against the might of the British Army. It was white Conservative men who died by the tens of thousands after charging into our southern states to free our black brothers from the slavery imposed on them by the Liberal left. We were the ones who acknowledged that women have a right to vote. We held the line in WWI and charged the beaches of Normandy in WWII. We have fought for freedom and liberty for generations and we continue to do so today alongside all of our brothers and sisters regardless of their race or religion.

In the early 1930s, Hitler said the same thing about the Jews that Don Lemon of CNN just said about white men. This is the true face of the Democratic Party. First they enslaved and killed blacks, and now they use them to spew hatred and lies against the very people who have fought for generations to free them and uplift them.

Remember that when you go to vote.

One final thought: To make a point, I have referred to myself as a white male in the previous sentences multiple times, but I must make it clear that I identify as simply American, not as white or male or Republican.

Although blatantly racist and hateful, do not let Don Lemons ignorant words drive you into viewing yourself only by your race and religion. Identity politics does not lead to freedom. It only leads to hatred and division and an us vs. them mentality.

If CNN does not fire Don Lemon immediately, it only goes to show that they are truly the enemy of the people.

 Ephraim Mattos, Former US Navy SEAL

Mattos teamed up with New York Times bestselling author Scott McEwen (American Sniper) to write the new book, City of Death: Humanitarian Warriors in the Battle of Mosul  released October 23rd from Center Street / Hachette Book Group.

In City of Death, Mattos recounts in vivid detail what he saw and felt on the frontlines of the war on ISIS. While volunteering with the Free Burma Rangers, Mattos evacuated the wounded, conducted rescue missions, and at times fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the Iraqi Army against ISIS. Filled with raw and emotional descriptions of what it's like to come face-to-face with death, this is the harrowing and uplifting true story of a small group of men who risked everything to save the lives of the Iraqi people and who followed the credence, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Until being shot by ISIS on a suicidal rescue mission, Mattos witnessed unexplainable acts of courage and sacrifice by the Free Burma Rangers, who, while under heavy machine gun and mortar fire, assaulted across ISIS minefields, used themselves as human shields, and sprinted down ISIS-infested streets - all to retrieve wounded civilians.

The moment Mattos was shot was actually captured on video. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/3P0pZvn22xk
This is an exciting time of creativity and growth for everyone involved in this launch.

Front Porch Media Network, LLC. (Front Porch) is thrilled to announce the launch of the Evergreen Podcasts (Evergreen) network. EvergreenPodcasts.com will host a diverse and dynamically curated blend of creative shows, featuring a wide range of lifestyle and niche programming.

Evergreen shows will be available on all major podcast apps, such as iTunes, Stitcher, and GooglePlay. The network will utilize hosting platform powerhouse  Libsyn.

The new channel will feature original Evergreen shows: Riffs on Riffs, Big Audacious Idea, Pit Pass Moto, Wake Up Call and Design Everywhere. Additional podcasts are scheduled for release in the coming months.

This is an exciting time of creativity and growth for everyone involved in this launch, noted Michael DeAloia - CEO of Front Porch and Evergreen. Evergreen is a catalyst for an incredible portfolio of new podcasts.

We are a media studio that celebrates our artists and hosts, says David Allen Moss - Chief Creative Officer of Front Porch and Evergreen. Evergreen is a welcoming new channel designed for the creative class to create and listen.

About Evergreen Podcasts

Evergreen Podcasts is a community where people think big without talking down. We are boots on the ground storytellers, who love capturing the color and diversity of modern makers. From entrepreneurs and musicians, to philosophers and artists  we are in the business of uniting audiences.

EvergreenPodcasts.com hosts a diverse and dynamically curated blend of creative shows, featuring a wide range of lifestyle and niche programming. Our network features a myriad of entertaining shows, rooted in high creative values and production quality.

Listen up. Listen in. Listen good.

Where You Can Follow Us:

Website: https://evergreenpodcasts.com/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/streamevergreen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/streamevergreen

Twitter: https://twitter.com/streamevergreen

Press Contact: Paige Koteles

Email: pkoteles(at)evergreenpodcasts.com
...Oakland based dance orchestra that plays Roma brass music from the Balkans, performs an upbeat and infectious brand of music. - TEDMED

Who says kids get all the fun during the holidays? This year, the Osher Marin JCC is presenting a weekend celebration; kicking off with a wildly crazy wonderful dance party featuring live music from Inspector Gadje.

The driving groove of low brass and drums, mixed with soaring melodies from trumpets, saxophones, and clarinet, incite joy from the very first downbeat. Inspector Gadje ignites the dance floor and creates a wild dance party where ever they play (including MGM Arena, Fox Theater, Palace of Fine Arts, The Independent, Ashkenazi, Cafe du Nord, The New Parish, Rickshaw Shop and Yoshis to name a few).

The Kanbar Center & the Center for Jewish Peoplehood at the Osher Marin JCC join forces to bring this special evening of BIG Brass, BIG Music, BIG Party, BIG fun, cocktails, food, and dancing to the JCC.

Hearing Inspector Gadje is love at first listen and this program is a party in a box  unique, talented, fun and, well, a little loud. Come to experience the fun of this not so quiet secret that is about to bust out of the SF dance scene.

There will be room for dancing, a belly dancing performance, and food and drink available, so get ready to party!

Video: https://youtu.be/lM0ZopDqVJU

WHAT: A unique night of music from the Balkan s from Inspector Gadje with food, drinks, & dancing!

SEATING: Reserved cabaret table seating & general admission choices

TICKETS: $25  $35 / Ages 17 & under $10 Available at marinjcc.org/arts

WHEN: Sat. Dec. 1 @ 7:30 p.m. Beer/Wine/Concessions avail for purchase @ 7 p.m.

WHERE: The Osher Marin JCC, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael.

PARKING: Ample FREE parking- The Osher Marin JCC is 1/2 mile E off 101.

MARK THE CALENDAR FOR SUNDAY! From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, bring the kids to the FREE, Festival of Lights Hanukkah party with fun, games, food, crafts, music & more for all ages.

Coming Soon:

12/9 Winter Vocal Celebration: Wintersongs  Kitka

12/31 The 9th Annual New Years Eve Other Cafe Comedy Showcase
The Center for Procurement Excellence (CPE) is pleased to announce the City of Lawrence, Kansas as the recipient of the 2018 CPE Honor in Procurement (HIP) Award. The award was presented to the City of Lawrences Assistant Director of Utilities, Melinda Harger. Harger was thanked for her guidance of the Citys policy change efforts to allow for Alternative Project Delivery Methods for capital projects. Harger and the City utilized research and methods recommended by CPE to develop specific procedures for Alternative Project Delivery Methods.

Policy Change  with a Caveat for Transparency!

In January 2018, the City approved a charter ordinance to enable the use of Alternative Construction Methods. Historically, the City has used a Design-Bid-Build approach to construct most capital projects. The City passed a new charter ordinance because State law traditionally calls for a sealed-bid process.

Yet the initial approval came with a caveat  the City Commission requested that detailed procedures be developed to clearly show how Alternative Project Delivery Methods will be selected for future capital projects. The procedures also addressed the manner in which vendors would be procured and managed within the Alternative Delivery Methods.

To develop these procedures, the City utilized CPE best practices in the areas of:

(1) Crafting an evaluation process used to select vendors in a way that balanced qualifications and price. Critical aspects of the process are:

a. An appropriate Selection Committee;

b. Core elements of the solicitation documents;

c. Categories of effective evaluation criteria;

d. Two-envelope cost evaluations, and;

e. Maximum limits on the weight assigned to individual evaluation criteria, including the maximum weight assigned to cost evaluations.

(2) Project Management and Oversight to promote accountability and transparency throughout the construction phase, including:

a. Regular tracking of project status, and

b. Formal reviews of vendor performance.

The Path Forward

The Citys new policies are already being put into action. In late August 2018, the City approved the first construction project to use the Alternative Delivery Procedures. The City released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a $16M first phase of a new police headquarters under the Construction Manager at Risk method (CMAR) rather than the traditional low-bid method. CPE has provided recommendations to assist the City with their RFP language and evaluation procedures to select the most qualified Construction Manager according to fair, open, and transparent systems.

About CPE

CPE is a non-profit member organization focused on the support, education and certification of cutting edge solicitation practices that emphasize attracting and hiring high performing vendors. It provides training and certification for procurement professionals, provides standardized documents, and a venue for procurement professionals to network and advance procedures, processes, and systems. https://center4procurement.org/

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For more information, contact Jeff Sawyer at jeff.sawyer@center4procurement.org
Program insurance continues to grow at more than double the rate of the overall market. And the trend has not gone unnoticed.

Last week over 800 insurance executives descended on Phoenix for the 18th Annual Target Markets Summit. The event has been a traditional bellwether for the program market. Instec, the market leader in software for commercial program and specialty writers, noted several developing trends.

This years conference attracted a host of new attendees from carriers to start-ups to service providers. Program insurance continues to grow at more than double the rate of the overall market. And the trend has not gone unnoticed.

Insuretechs, retail agents, and wholesalers were among the new faces this year. The distributors are evolving into programs  consolidating existing risks, identifying markets, and establishing underwriting expertise. Meanwhile, insuretechs came to the show seeking capacity from carriers ready to onboard new books.

Technology norms are shifting, too. MGAs want to own their data  and their systems. While many carriers still want to provide the system, they are beginning to acknowledge this new paradigm. In response, they are trying to be agnostic about how they interact with and share data. At the same time, they struggle to put processes in place to support compliance.

Speed is still a top priority. And technology and operating efficiencies are improving the speed of program launches  and making it easier for program administrators to change markets and for carriers to capture new books.

Program products are complex, and the pace of change is fast, said Rob Reed, Instec Vice President of Sales. Flexibility and expertise are required in this space. Large, multi-year system projects just dont cut it.

Finally, best of breed is back. Few, if any, carriers are trying to build systems to support programs. If anything, the program units of carriers are seeking a separate system for programs that is responsive, economical and trusted. The era of one system for everything appears to have passed.

About Instec

Instecs unique approach to systems for the insurance industry enables P&C carriers, MGAs and MGUs to launch programs and specialty offerings from start to first quote in as little as four weeks. With built-in bureau content and reusable business rules, Instec systems provide a platform for innovation with reduced risk. In addition, cloud-based deployment and subscription-based pricing enable insurers to test new programs at a low cost of entry and scale up affordably as the business grows. To learn more, visit instec-corp.com.
interworks.cloud among Red Herring's Top 100 Global After rigorous contemplation and discussion, we narrowed our list down from hundreds of candidates from across the globe to the Top 100 Winners. We believe interworks.cloud embodies the vision, drive and innovation that define a successful entrepreneurial venture." Alex Vieux,CEO of Red Herring

interworks.cloud is proud to announce that is among the winners in Red Herring's Top 100 Global in recognition of the leading private companies from North America, Europe, and Asia, celebrating these startups innovations and technologies across their respective industries.

Red Herrings Top 100 Global list has become a mark of distinction for identifying promising companies and entrepreneurs. Red Herring editors were among the first to recognize that companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, Skype, Salesforce.com, YouTube, and eBay would change the way we live and work.

Choosing the companies with the strongest potential was by no means a small feat, said Alex Vieux, publisher and CEO of Red Herring. After rigorous contemplation and discussion, we narrowed our list down from hundreds of candidates from across the globe to the Top 100 Winners. We believe interworks.cloud embodies the vision, drive and innovation that define a successful entrepreneurial venture. interworks.cloud should be proud of its accomplishment.

Red Herrings editorial staff evaluated the companies on both quantitative and qualitative criteria, such as financial performance, technology innovation, management quality, strategy, and market penetration. This assessment of potential is complemented by a review of the track records and standing of startups relative to their peers, allowing Red Herring to see past the buzz and make the list a valuable instrument of discovery and advocacy for the most promising new business models from around the world.

About interworks.cloud

interworks.cloud is a trusted Microsoft Solution Provider. interworks.cloud platform enables CSPs, MSPs, independent cloud services providers and ISVs to start their own cloud business by publishing a custom-branded Marketplace for their customers or resellers, boost their sales and fully automate billing, ordering, payment and support processes for cloud services.

About Red Herring

Red Herring is a global media company that unites the worlds best high-technology innovators, venture investors and business decision-makers in a variety of forums, including print, online and exclusive events worldwide. Red Herring provides an insiders access to the global innovation economy, identifying new and innovative technology companies and entrepreneurs. Its Red Herring 100 awards for North America, Europe, Asia and Global have recognized more than 5,000 companies in their early stages, including Baidu, Google, eBay and Skype.
With the KickFire for Drift integration, modern marketers and sales individuals can enhance Drift conversations and contacts with powerful account-level information and firmographics

KickFire, the leader in IP address intelligence and company identification technology, today announces the release of its integration with Drift, the leading conversational marketing and sales platform. With the KickFire for Drift integration, modern marketers and sales individuals can enhance Drift conversations and contacts with powerful account-level information and firmographics. By unlocking this added layer of insight, Drift users can reveal valuable B2B data points behind anonymous visitors, helping to drive conversational account-based marketing and build better relationships with their buyers.

The beauty of Drifts conversational AI is that it enables companies to connect with in-market buyers at their point of consideration. Joined with KickFires advanced IP intelligence, Drifts Pro, Company, and Enterprise users will be able to de-anonymize website visitors to reveal the previously unknown company behind the conversation. says Tina Bean, Founder and VP of Strategic Partnerships at KickFire.

Teams can easily connect their KickFire for Drift API key to their Drift platform and call upon custom contact attributes to leverage important data such as Company name, Industry, Employee Count, Revenue Range and more. Knowing a prospects firmographic profile leads to better data-based sales and marketing decisions increasing conversion rates and delivering exceptional experiences.

In the past, marketers have had to rely on lead forms to capture relevant information about potential buyers who are on their website. With this new integration between KickFire and Drift, marketers now have instant access to accurate and high-quality company-level information needed to drive more conversations with potential customers says Jared Fuller, Senior Director of Partnerships at Drift.

This powerful integration is now live! To learn more about KickFire for Drift visit kickfire.com/drift, call 408-493-0456 or email sales[at]kickfire.com. For more information about Drifts Conversational ABM Platform, visit http://www.drift.com

About KickFire

KickFire is the leader in B2B IP address intelligence. The KickFire solutions are powered by TWIN Caching, an advanced, proprietary IP-to-company identification technology. TWIN Caching systematically caches and analyzes more than 340 undecillion IP addresses, going beyond traditional IP association to uncover last-mile connectivity ownership. KickFires complete suite of solutions enables companies to tap into their websites invisible pipeline and transform anonymous visitors into actionable sales opportunities. VisiStat, Inc., doing business as KickFire, is a privately held company founded in 2005 and based in San Jose, CA. To learn more about KickFire, visit kickfire.com, call 408-493-0456 or email sales[at]kickfire.com.

About Drift

Drift is the new way businesses buy from businesses. With its quickly evolving set of tools and playbooks, Drift is the worlds leading conversational marketing and sales platform. Over 100,000 businesses use Drift today to build better pipeline faster by connecting them now with customers who are interested now. Based in Boston, Drift was founded by serial marketing technology entrepreneurs David Cancel and Elias Torres, and is backed by leading venture capitalists including CRV, General Catalyst and Sequoia. Learn more at drift.com
If you walked into our office now, youd see tables, little card tables, slammed against the wall (acting as) makeshift workspaces because so many new people are starting, said Gina Hortatsos, head of marketing at the company.
Full-service marketing and public relations firm Kleber & Associates (K&A) has been selected as the public relations agency of record by CertainTeed Roofing, a division of CertainTeed Corporation. CertainTeed is a leading North American manufacturer of interior and exterior building products and a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain S.A., one of the largest and oldest manufacturing companies in the world. CertainTeed has more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada, making roofing and solar products as well as insulation, siding, fencing, decking, rail, gypsum and ceiling products.

We have been very pleased with body of work that K&A has produced to support and elevate our business across the diverse landscapes of residential, commercial and solar roofing, explained CertainTeed Roofing Marketing Communications Manager BethAnn Jordan-Kruljac. The agencys well-established background in the construction trade makes them the ideal partner for our business, and they have demonstrated their expertise by designing and executing a PR plan rooted in our strategic objectives. They quickly learned our goals and jumped right in, becoming an extension of our team, and helping us realize large gains in all facets of our public relations activities.

We are excited for the opportunity to leverage our experience and specialization in the residential and commercial construction products industry to deliver strong public relations efforts for CertainTeed Roofing. We applaud the brands demonstrated commitment to marketing-communications and, as importantly, their desire to raise the bar aimed at marketing excellence. We are looking forward to continuing a long and mutually beneficial relationship, said Steve Kleber, president and founder of Kleber & Associates.

For more information on K&A and its marketing services, visit http://www.kleberandassociates.com.

About Kleber & Associates

Kleber & Associates (K&A) is a leading full-service marketing agency specializing in the home and building products industries. Based in Atlanta, K&A has more than 30 years of experience delivering compelling, creative and measureable results. The agencys service mark is Right at Home, which is brought to life by building better brands that build better homes. K&A is a privately owned agency led by company founder Steve Kleber, who is the president of the National Remodeling Foundation and the immediate past president of the National Kitchen & Bath Associations Center for Kitchen & Bath Education and Research. For more information on K&A, visit http://www.kleberandassociates.com.

About CertainTeed

Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed, headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, has helped shape the building products industry for more than 110 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed is a leading North American brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, drywall and ceilings.

A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, one of the worlds largest and oldest building products companies, CertainTeed has more than 6,300 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. The group had total sales of approximately $3.7 billion in 2017. http://www.certainteed.com
Developing a true omnichannel presence including a wholesale component, as well as new brick and mortar retail stores and a dedicated Canadian website will give our Canadian customers a better overall L.L.Bean experience and make it much easier to shop in the channel thats most conducive for them.

Internationally recognized outdoor retailer L.L.Bean, best known for its legendary customer service and high-quality gear and apparel that help to further peoples enjoyment of the outdoors, is pleased to announce its first-ever entree into the Canadian wholesale and brick and mortar retail market this fall with an exclusive agreement with Jaytex Group to distribute a broad assortment of L.L.Bean products. Jaytex Group, a 40-year old company, is a Canadian distributor of high-quality brand name outerwear and apparel.

Just in time for this winter, Jaytex will be the exclusive distributor of L.L.Beans iconic Bean Boot, the product that launched L.L.Bean and exists as an innovation in warmth and waterproofness, keeping millions of feet warm and dry since 1912. In addition to Bean Boots, select L.L.Bean products will also be featured this fall at various specialty retail stores including Sporting Life, Hudsons Bay and Mountain Equipment Co-Op.

Weve historically had an active and loyal customer base in Canada, said Steve Smith, President and CEO of L.L.Bean. Developing a true omnichannel presence including a wholesale component, as well as new brick and mortar retail stores and a dedicated Canadian website will give our Canadian customers a better overall L.L.Bean experience and make it much easier to shop in the channel thats most conducive for them.

In the spring of 2019, Jaytex will be providing an expanded line of L.L.Bean products to include active and rugged outerwear, footwear, accessories and more. L.L.Bean also recently launched a Canadian website https://www.llbean.ca, selling merchandise at fixed prices in Canadian dollars and communicating duties upfront, which will make shopping much more convenient for Canadian customers.

To say we are excited to be part of the L.L.Bean family is an understatement, said Howie Kastner, President of Jaytex Group. Were proud to be working with a company like L.L.Bean with such a rich history, heritage and tradition of quality products and superior customer service. These are the same core values that the foundation of Jaytex was built upon.

In the fall of 2019, L.L.Beans expansion into Canada continues, as Jaytex Group anticipates opening Canadas first L.L.Bean retail store, which will include an assortment of L.L.Bean products curated specifically for the Canadian market.

This is not L.L.Beans first foray into the global market. In 1992, L.L.Bean opened its first international store in Tokyo and now operates 28 stores, as well as a dedicated Japanese website, contact center and distribution center. L.L.Beans global website, https://global.llbean.com, serves over 200 countries and territories in their own native languages, with product prices converted into over 60 currencies, with accurate tax and duty calculations provided. Currently, L.L.Bean catalogs are mailed to over 150 countries.

ABOUT L.L.BEAN

L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multichannel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. L.L.Bean is a family-owned Maine company led by Executive Chairman, Shawn Gorman, the great-grandson of Leon Leonwood Bean and Stephen Smith, President and CEO. While its business has grown over the years, L.L.Bean continues to uphold the values of its founder, including his dedication to quality, customer service and a love of the outdoors. In the past five years, L.L.Bean has donated over $6 million toward conservation and land stewardship. L.L.Bean currently operates 43 stores in 18 states across the United States, along with 28 stores in Japan. The 220,000-sq. ft. L.L.Bean retail store campus in Freeport, ME, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes more than 3 million visitors every year. L.L.Bean can be found worldwide at http://www.llbean.com, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Google+ and Instagram.

ABOUT JAYTEX GROUP

The Jaytex Group, founded in 1978 is a privately-owned company with a diverse portfolio of private label and lifestyle licensed brands in Canada. Partners Eric Grundy, Howie Kastner and Leo Grunberger commit to deliver the highest standards of creativity, brand integrity and product quality. Jaytex has worked with some of the best fashion brands from around the world, specializing in design, importing and sourcing, through multiple distribution channels. The Jaytex Group is a proud sponsor and supporter of numerous community organizations and fundraising initiatives.http://www.jaytexgroup.com
Gary Horton, President and CEO of Landscape Development, Inc. What started as a relationship between companies working to develop and deploy new technologies turned into an opportunity for us to align and grow stronger together.

Valencia-based Landscape Development Inc. announced today that its maintenance division, Enhanced Landscape Management, has completed the asset purchase of Las Vegas-based NewTex Landscape Inc.

The purchase expands the operations of LDI, which has annual revenues in excess of $110 million in its California operations, into new territory.

NewTex owner Michael Martinez, who joins the ELM executive team as regional manager, said the acquisition by LDI presents an opportunity for the companies teams to grow stronger, together.

I have had the pleasure of getting to know the LDI/ELM team over the course of the past couple years. What started as a relationship between companies working to develop and deploy new technologies turned into an opportunity for us to align and grow stronger together, said Martinez, who will play a key role in the integration of the NLI business into ELM as well as future business development.

NewTex through the course of nearly two decades has established a strong, local reputation for quality and customer service relating primarily to commercial landscape maintenance and tree service. The staff of approximately 120 employees of NLI is being retained, including field personnel and management.

The cultural fit and opportunities for my employees were of the highest priority for me, Martinez said. LDI/ELM has a strong track record of stability, growth, employee development and know-how when it comes to acquisitions. This made me comfortable in my decision to align with them and be part of their future growth, management and innovations to come. My staff were warmly welcomed and made to feel as valuable to LDI/ELM as they are to me.

ELM Division President Ron Reitz said the acquisition brings a wealth of new talent into the LDI/ELM team as the company extends its reach into Nevada for the first time.

It has been a goal of our company to stretch outside of California for some time now and this opportunity brought us together with a great team of professionals in the Southern Nevada market, Reitz said. This is personally exciting for me as I attended UNLV and spent 15 years in Las Vegas working in the commercial landscape and residential development industries. I am very familiar with the local community and look forward to again being a part of it.

Reitz added that the acquisition will benefit team members and clients alike. When the opportunity came for us to align with NewTex and the team that Michael had assembled, it was something we had to seize upon. This addition to our family brings with it greater opportunities for our employees and allows us to deliver expanded service offerings to our valued clients.

Newtex will retain its unique brand identity for the time being as they have developed a strong brand in their market. Soon, an expanded line of services with be added in the Las Vegas area including commercial construction, erosion control, hydroseeding and design. NewTex clients will continue to experience the same familiar service, staff and management to which they are accustomed.

LDI President-CEO Gary Horton said the acquisition is an important step in the companys expansion of services and its plans to serve additional markets.

This is an exciting addition to our LDI family and one which will bolster our presence in key markets, Horton said. This acquisition also allows us to provide additional services to our existing clients who operate in both California and Nevada. We continue to pursue acquisition opportunities to grow our business and provide best-in-class service to our valued clients.

Horton founded LDI in 1983. The company currently operates from 12 regional offices throughout California and Southern Nevada.
Get the facts before you vote using Voter's Edge Voting makes our democracy stronger and allows us to voice our opinions on the issues that matter to our communities. Get trustworthy facts about your ballot and vote with confidence on November 6 said LWVCEF President Helen Hutchison.

Only five days left until Election Day. The League of Women Voters of California Education Fund is encouraging voters to get the facts before they vote using their unbiased online guide, Voters Edge, to cast their ballots with confidence.

Check out these tips to help Californians participate in the November 6 election:



Missed the voter registration deadline? You can still register and vote at the same time at certain special locations - all the way through Election Day. Find locations.

Want to review your entire ballot in one place? View your ballot on Voters Edge by entering your address to see a personalized page with the contests, endorsements, top contributors, news articles, and videos. Save your choices on your smart phone and bring them with you to the polls.

Vote by mail? Make sure you sign your ballot envelope! You can also drop it off at a local polling place. Find yours on Voters Edge.

Looking for information in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Korean? Check out the Easy Voter Guide.

Do you live in Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, or San Mateo County?

This election you have more days and more ways to vote! All registered voters are automatically mailed ballots returnable by mail, drop box, or at any Vote Center. Neighborhood polling places are now full-service, accessible Vote Centers, many of which offer bilingual assistance. If you missed the registration deadline, you can still register and vote at any Vote Center through Election Day! Find locations and more information.

Remember, you do not have to vote on everything for your vote to count. You can also bring your notes and your child into the voting booth with you. Grab a friend and go vote on November 6!

About Voter's Edge

Voters Edge is a joint project of MapLight and the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund made possible by generous support from the Kaphan Foundation, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and individual donors who support our work providing voters with a one-stop source of unbiased, nonpartisan information.

About the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund

For more information on the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund (LWVCEF), visit http://www.cavotes.org.

Be part of the conversation, ask questions, and share info. Find the LWVCEF on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cavotes.

The League of Women Voters of California Education Fund conducts our voter service and civic education activities. It is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonpartisan non-profit educational organization, which:


The Longevity Lab will be open from 8AM-8PM on 11/1 at 198 Allen St. LetsGetChecked will be joined by Bantamweight UFC champion TJ Dillashaw for the keynote speech Your Health Is Your Wealth.

Accessible healthcare, once a dream for New Yorkers (and Americans, alike), is now becoming a reality thanks to the launch of the Longevity Lab from LetsGetChecked, the medical technology platform that helps track, monitor and improve your health from home.

On November 1st, LetsGetChecked will tackle two of the biggest killers in the U.S, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, with free testing on 198 Allen Street, NY 10002 from 8AM-8PM. A reported 987,000 New Yorkers have diabetes and cardiovascular disease is responsible for a third of all deaths in the U.S. every year with one American dying every 38 seconds of cardiovascular disease.

LetsGetChecked will be joined by Bantamweight UFC champion TJ Dillashaw for the keynote speech Your Health Is Your Wealth. Other headline speakers in attendance will include Joe Holder, founder of the Ocho System, Ana Snyder, NYMMG fitness model, Nitika Chopra, TV Host, Nicole Loher, Adidas Ambassador and Conor Beaton, founder of ManTalks.

The launch strives to empower New Yorkers to start their health journey, and take control of their future through at home health testing. Peter Foley, founder of LetsGetChecked says: This launch showcases only a small portion of the at-home tests we have to offer, however, when it comes to taking control of our health, we all need to start somewhere. Preventative healthcare is the only healthcare approach we should be taking in today's busy world.

What can New Yorkers expect from the Longevity Lab?

The activation will attract health advocates, influencers, the media and the general public in with dry ice fog and a futuristic aesthetic in keeping with the cutting edge nature of the product.

Throughout the day, special guests will be speaking on the topic of 360-degree wellness. Attendees are invited to speak to the LetsGetChecked medical team about their symptoms, partake in the free cholesterol and diabetic testing and get their hands on a complimentary at-home personal health test, allowing them choose which aspect of their health they would like to test from home.

The evening will close with a talk from LetsGetCheckeds most well known brand ambassador TJ Dillashaw and a networking hour. LetsGetChecked is making it possible to track, monitor and improve your health in New York and further afield. Its good to know.

About LetsGetChecked:

Founded in 2014 by Peter Foley, LetsGetChecked is a medical technology platform which provides connectivity between its customers and its network of global laboratories for personal at-home health testing. By empowering people to use technology to better control their health, LetsGetChecked is revolutionizing healthcare by making it open and patient-led. LetsGetChecked is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Dublin, with more than 30 tests from fertility and hormonal testing, to cancer screening and general wellness tests, taking a 360 degree approach to overall well-being . Visit LetsGetChecked.com to view the products.

Follow @LetsGetChecked on Twitter and Instagram.
LocateWatch My 85 year old father has LocateMotion. He sent me an SOS call when he fell and dispatchers were able to send paramedics to his home when he was unresponsive. Aaron Walker, a US Caregiver.

To keep a parent suffering from dementia or a child living with autism safe, its important to know their whereabouts. LocateMotion has developed a wearable solution that meets the requirements of people living with mental disabilities as well as helps caregivers keep a track of their loved ones movements to minimize the risk of wandering.

Backed by the Canadian government, research grants, a leading technology University, and currently in pilot & testing phase with Canadas largest home healthcare hospital; the tracker and watch, worn separately, have been designed to help keep families safe and together.

When I lost my son at a busy supermarket, I realized that there was no way for me to find out where he was. I found him later that day but I couldnt shake off the feeling of helplessness. This is one of the reasons I felt that there was a need for wearable technology that can help people stay connected with the ones they care about, said Nauman Jaffar, founder of LocateMotion.

LocateWatch is a durable, splash-resistant wearable that enables the wearer to keep a track of time, set activity alarms, measure steps, and use an SOS button to call a predetermined number if they find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings. It also features a GPS tracker and camera which helps the caregiver keep a track of their loved ones. Geo-fencing, two-way calling, up to three days standby battery life and a dedicated mobile application ensure that the wearer does not wander off. A 24/7 monitoring service similar to home monitoring is also available.

LocateTracker is GPS tracker which can be attached to almost anything. In addition to features like geo-fencing, alerts, and extended battery life (80 hours standby); LocateTracker also facilitates two-way communication. In case a loved one is confused or lost, the caregiver can calm him down and help guide him to safety.

The users of this wearable technology have reported faster response time in cases of emergency. My 85 year old father has LocateMotion. He sent me an SOS call when he fell and dispatchers were able to send paramedics to his home when he was unresponsive. Another time, he had fallen and wanted help from a specific caregiver who they were able to contact. Even when we are not close by, knowing where our father is gives us peace of mind, said Aaron Walker (A US Caregiver).

These wearable devices have been designed keeping scalability, functionality, and affordability in mind. Along with the App, LocateMotion also has a web portal that can be used by large community based organizations where hierarchy can be set. Canadas largest hospital and telecom provider are already in process of piloting various use cases. Through the portal, organizations can now get a quick screenshot and manage their devices from an all in one platform.

Both LocateWatch and LocateTracker are currently available in US and Canada at $0 down with monthly plans starting at $5. This holiday season offer can be availed on the LocateMotion website until stocks last.

About LocateMotion

The LocateMotion management team and advisory board is comprised of experts from various industries, fields of research, and leading tech solutions. The team behind the LocateWatch, LocateTracker, and LocateMotion App is committed to using technology to create solutions that deliver a positive impact for the users and the wider community.
We live in a world where its all too easy to stay connected to the office 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Manhattan Mental Health Counseling, a psychotherapy private practice in NYC that accepts insurance, has an important message for todays career-oriented society.

We live in a world where its all too easy to stay connected to the office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, explains Natalie Buchwald, Founder of Manhattan Mental Health Counseling. Ive met plenty of people who actually take pride in how busy they are. Men and women who seem thrilled to work twelve hour days.

This attitude towards the workplace - that we should always be connected and available - is both unhealthy and unsustainable, according to Natalie Buchwald. Multiple studies have demonstrated that there is a limit to productivity and that even the most brilliant minds need downtime to recharge. Research has also demonstrated that overworking oneself inevitably leads to a wide range of psychological problems and relationship issues.

By all means, be passionate about your job; you should love what you do, Natalie continues. But passion doesnt mean working every waking hour. After your 50th or 60th hour, you likely arent even getting much done - youre just working for the sake of working.

Working exceptionally long hours for an extended period of time puts a great deal of stress on ones mental state. This stress can manifest in many different ways, such as increased irritability, anxiety, substance abuse, and depression. This is further exacerbated by the fact that when one is overworked, one often tends to neglect both their physical and emotional well-being - their interpersonal relationships suffer, and any pre-existing conditions they have may worsen.

Its a vicious cycle, says Natalie, And one which inevitably ends in burnout.

Natalies advice is that instead of working longer hours, employees and employers alike should consider how they might use the hours they do work more effectively. Beyond that, it is important that everyone makes a conscious effort to take time off - periods away from the office where they can relax without thinking even once about work. Finally, she notes that for those who cannot cut down their office hours, counseling may be an effective way to learn coping mechanisms for dealing with workplace stress.

Even if you have no pre-existing conditions, therapy can be beneficial for you, says Natalie. Todays employees are often expected to work extreme hours. Even those of us who choose to throw ourselves into our work to such a degree - those of us who enjoy it enough that doing so doesnt bother us - could benefit from sitting down with a professional to help them make sense of their lives.

Natalie noted that her practice can help such individuals, emphasizing that Manhattan Mental Health Counseling accepts many of the health insurance programs popular in the New York Metropolitan Area.
In light of a cooling luxury real estate market, IMG has recently reinvented the singular focus of staging by creating a unique hybrid of interior design, public relations, marketing and event planning.

What:

New York Real Estate Summit

When:

November 5th  6th, 2018

Where:

The Westin Times Square

270 W 43 St, New York, NY 10036

Features:

Keeping up with new developments and trends in the real estate industry can be a daunting task for investors, developers, brokers and agents, and professionals alike. The New York Real Estate Summit offers busy real estate professionals face-to-face access to leading experts and visionaries in the real estate industry. This year, the Summit tapped celebrity interior designer and luxury stager, Cheryl Eisen, CEO of Interior Marketing Group (IMG) as one of its keynote speakers.

Eisen is slated to speak Tuesday, November 6th at her fireside chat titled, More Than Just a Pretty Space: The New Essentials for Real Estate Marketing, where she will discuss the importance of design in real estate marketing. In addition, Eisen will offer insights into new real estate marketing strategies that go beyond design.

In light of a cooling luxury real estate market, IMG has recently reinvented the singular focus of staging by creating a unique hybrid of interior design, public relations, marketing and event planning. IMG now offers its broker, developer and seller clientele photography, videography, events, public relations and digital marketing services in addition to coveted designs. The combination creates the powerful trifecta of visual differentiation, media exposure and industry buzz needed to defy market trends.

About Interior Marketing Group

Interior Marketing Group is the largest interior design and real estate marketing firm in the United States. Combining its unique design aesthetic with a strategic marketing/PR package, the firm goes beyond standard industry offerings to delivering market-defying results. IMG services Miami, New York City, Los Angeles, the Hamptons, and Connecticut.

About The New York Real Estate Summit

The New York Real Estate Summit on November 5th  6th, 2018 The Westin Times Square, shares the newest and most exciting real estate products and services from leading experts. The superstars of the real estate industry will be on hand to share their knowledge, ideas, information, and techniques with those in attendance. Experts in management and leadership techniques will be joined by specialists offering proven methods that attendees can immediately put to use in their own businesses and professional practices to achieve outstanding results.
MGEMS Marketing Front Sign The MGEMS team is determined to make this new space feel just as much like home as the original.

MGEMS Marketing has been the go to marketing service provider for small businesses all across New Jersey for years now. After years of success, the company has finally made the decision to renovate its home office in hopes of accomplishing even more in the years to come. As the construction reaches its peak, the team is left with no other choice than to temporarily move locations until renovations are complete.

For the coming months, MGEMS Marketing is temporarily located at 3158 State Route 27, Kendall Park, NJ 08824. While it is a small trip geographically from their main office, the MGEMS team is determined to make this new space feel just as much like home as the original. Since moving into the new space, the company has installed new signage to let passerbys know that this is the new home of MGEMS Marketing.

From a client perspective, this change in office location has not affected the quality of their services. While the team does apologize for the initial mess while they move things around, they remain fully functional and just as efficient during this transitional period. All necessary printing equipment has already been moved to the new location and online services are up and running as well.

MGEMS Marketing remains easy to reach by phone at 855-275-6436. Also, they are active on social media as @MGEMSMarketing on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. They also encourage people to visit them on their new site mgemsmarketing.net to see a full list of all their services, partner companies, and other content businesses may find helpful to use.
Adam Margolin, PhD, an internationally renowned computational biologist, has been recruited by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to lead a bold new initiative designed to radically accelerate the pace of therapeutic discovery through integration of large-scale data analysis and advanced genomic technologies.

Dr. Margolin has been named Professor and Chair of the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Senior Associate Dean of Precision Medicine. He will also lead Mount Sinais Icahn Institute, which has been renamed the Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology. He will lead the new enterprise-wide program that focuses on harnessing huge molecular datasets to predict new therapies for complex diseases by using advanced biotechnologies to rapidly tailor novel therapies to each patient faster than has ever been possible.

"By fundamentally changing the understanding of complex diseases, we can customize diagnosis, prevention, and treatment to individual patients," says Dr. Margolin. "We will bring together the top data scientists, genomic technology innovators, and disease experts who will work side by side every day to understand the molecular causes of complex diseases, rapidly test new therapies derived from these insights, and bring these therapies to patients faster than ever before.

Over the next 10 years, Mount Sinai plans to recruit 30 new faculty members at the cutting edge of data science and genomic technology in addition to 25 data scientists to lead projects aimed at interpreting large-scale biomolecular data; launch cross-institutional, cross-disciplinary projects to discover new precision therapies in core disease areas; build computational infrastructure to enable integration and analysis of data throughout the Mount Sinai health system and beyond; build technology platforms to implement and develop cutting edge molecular profiling and therapeutic testing technologies; and launch educational programs to train top PhD and Masters students in biomedical data science.

We are creating a program built for the way science will be done in the future. The traditional academic model, organized around siloed individual labs, cannot achieve the speed, agility, and integration we need to advance biomedical research of today. Our program will be built from the outset to enable world class data scientists, technology innovators, and disease experts to advance large-scale team-oriented goals that could not be achieved in a more traditional model.

Dr. Margolin is a recognized leader in developing machine-learning algorithms to analyze large-scale datasets, to predict therapies specific to an individual patient, and to infer the key cellular processes that underlie cancer drug susceptibility and other clinically relevant phenotypes. He is a passionate advocate of highly collaborative team-based research, and has developed software systems to enable collaborative analysis for several of the largest national and international projects in cancer, genomics, cancer immunotherapy, stem cell research, and pediatric diseases.

"With Adam Margolin at the helm, Mount Sinai is committed to recruiting world-class data scientiststhe same type of people who would otherwise be working in hedge funds or big tech start-upswho can apply those skills to analyzing enormous amounts of data on patients, said Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and President for Academic Affairs of the Mount Sinai Health System. We are committed to pursuing bold new initiatives that enable the best people to work together to unlock insights from massive datasets that will revolutionize our ability to treat a multitude of diseases.

With the new program, Mount Sinai is redoubling its commitment to make big data a centerpiece of its institutional strategy. Dr. Margolin will inherit the positions previously held by Dr. Eric Schadt, who was recruited in 2011 to lead Mount Sinais programs in data science and genomics. Through these efforts, Mount Sinai: grew the genetics department to rise within the top 5 nationally in NIH funding for research; built the largest supercomputing facility of any academic medical center in the United States; was named by Fast Company among the top 10 most innovative organizations in the world in Data Science; developed a state-of-the-art genomic technology development program; and spun out the molecular testing company, SEMA4.

Dr. Margolin joins Mount Sinai from Oregon Health & Science University, where he was the Director of Computational Biology and Professor of Biomedical Engineering. Previously, Dr. Margolin was the Director of Computational Biology at Sage Bionetworks in Seattle. He earned his PhD in biomedical informatics from Columbia University.

About the Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is New York Citys largest integrated delivery system encompassing seven hospital campuses, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinais vision is to produce the safest care, the highest quality, the highest satisfaction, the best access and the best value of any health system in the nation. The System includes approximately 6,600 primary and specialty care physicians; 11 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. The Icahn School of Medicine is one of three medical schools that have earned distinction by multiple indicators: ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News & World Reports Best Medical Schools, aligned with a U.S. News & World Reports Honor Roll Hospital, it is ranked as a leading medical school for National Institutes of Health funding, and among the top 10 most innovative research institutions as ranked by the journal Nature in its Nature Innovation Index. This reflects a special level of excellence in education, clinical practice, and research. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 18 on U.S. News & World Reports Honor Roll of top U.S. hospitals; it is one of the nations top 20 hospitals in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Nephrology, and Neurology/Neurosurgery, and in the top 50 in six other specialties in the 2018-2019 Best Hospitals issue. Mount Sinais Kravis Childrens Hospital also is ranked nationally in five out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked 11th nationally for Ophthalmology and 44th for Ear, Nose, and Throat, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Lukes and Mount Sinai West are ranked regionally. For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org/, or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
The walkout at the companys Midwest headquarters in Chicagos Fulton Market district aligned with similar protests at Google offices around the world. Employees walked out in London, Tokyo, Singapore and Dublin. The Associated Press reported about 1,000 workers participated in San Francisco, along with hundreds in New York and Cambridge, Mass. In some places, they used megaphones to express support for victims of sexual harassment. In others, they stayed inside, gathering in lobbies or conference rooms.
Marla Wears A Halo "This beautiful book truly touched my heart with its compassionate message. It is a must-have book for Blind Dog Owners/Advocates and children." Silvie Bordeaux - Inventor of Muffin's Halo

In Marla Wears A Halo, author Marla Beagle tells the tale of her dogs life  A standard poodle, named Marla, rescued from a farm by a compassionate trio  a local enforcement official, a veterinarian, and boxer rescue group volunteers. Although Marla ultimately loses her sight, she perseveres and shares her time and life-story with children and adults. You will find Marla at a childrens summer program listening as they practice reading skills, visiting 250 second-graders, or spending an evening with a special-needs adult class. No matter the disability, Marla wants everyone to know that animals can adjust, and life will still be fun!

There is a sweet surprise element in this book that involves the last sentence being in braille.

Ms. Holly Frisch, President, Fredericksburg Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia and Volunteers for the Blind (VFB), Fredericksburg, Virginia, and VFB interns were instrumental in printing braille for the book. Hollys mother always felt strongly about the calming influence animals have on children. Marla Wears A Halo is a charmingly endearing book. Im glad that children will be exposed to braille. It plays an essential, critical role in literacy for everyone who is either totally blind or has significantly limited vision, said Holly.

Carol McElhaney Shelton writing as Marla Beagle, was born in the City of Alexandria and grew up in Yacht Haven Estates, Mount Vernon District, Fairfax County with her first standard poodle named Pierre. Carol and her husband are committed to helping dogs by transporting, sheltering, locating forever families, and donating a portion of each book sale to a non-profit animal rescue organization at the end of each month. This is Carol's second book. Her first book is called, "The Adventures of Hot Cocoa and Salt Water Taffy."

Hartwood Pet Lodge LLC, a rescue lodge, is in Stafford County, Hartwood Virginia, just a few miles from the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Carol enjoys reading to children at schools, libraries, summer schools/camps, preschools, and supporting fundraising events for non-profit animal rescue groups.

Muffin's Halo is a protective device that safeguards blind dogs from bumping into walls and hard surfaces. It's a great aid to help them become familiar with existing or new surroundings quicker.

With each purchase of the children's book, Marla Wears A Halo, and $10.00 will be donated to Second Chances for Blind Dogs non- profit organization (SCFBD), whose mission is to supply blind shelter/rescue dogs with Muffin's Halos. Those who volunteer with SCFBD, believe that when blind shelter/rescue dogs are provided halos, they have an improved chance of being adopted whereas the adopter can see the dog's full potential navigating with a halo. It helps take the stigma of blindness away.

Please purchase your copy today at http://www.Hartwoodpetlodge.com or call 540.841.4260. You can also contact Carol Shelton aka Marla Beagle at poodletaxi(at)gmail(dot)com
Tom Kennedy, CFA, Head Trader, Portfolio Analyst "The recent market volatility has meant a clear opportunity for skilled traders like Tom to uphold high standards in managing the diverse needs of customer portfolios..." Nick Giacoumakis, Founder

New England Investment & Retirement Group, Inc. ("NEIRG"), a financial planning and wealth management firm, would like to welcome Tom Kennedy to the team. Mr. Kennedy is an experienced trader of financial investments, with a track record of researching, strategizing for and executing high quality reallocations for client portfolios. He monitors and analyzes the markets frequently to support productive asset management and the needs of NEIRG customers.

In addition to his extensive industry knowledge, Tom is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He has a BS in Business Administration as well as an MBA. As an investment professional, Tom also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

I enjoy being able to directly contribute to client success, said Tom regarding his work at NEIRG. I enjoy the intellectual challenge of competing with the best and brightest in the investment world. You learn something new every day. When asked to comment on his hire at the firm, Tom replied, I am very excited to work with both Nick and Brian, who have a wealth of experience in the industryhave a lot of insight into marketsand learn personally from them.

We welcome Tom Kennedy to the team of NEIRG employees providing exceptional financial industry service, relayed Nick Giacoumakis, President and Founder. The recent market volatility has meant a clear opportunity for skilled traders like Tom to uphold high standards in managing the diverse needs of customer portfolios. As our firm continues to grow, we seek to pursue the kind of prudence and diligence that makes a real difference to our clients.

Founded by Nick Giacoumakis in 1995, the continued mission of the firm is "To help our clients pursue financial independence by providing unbiased, objective guidance. We bring value through communication, education and exceptional service."

NEIRG is a financial services firm with locations in the North Shore of Massachusetts and Naples, Florida. For more than 20 years, NEIRG has helped individuals, families and businesses manage their financial assets and resources in order to achieve financial independence and security. With expertise in customized portfolio management, financial and estate planning, retirement benefits consulting, risk management solutions as well as tax planning, NEIRG provides a comprehensive and integrated approach to managing and building wealth. NEIRG's team of Certified Financial Planners and Chartered Financial Analysts is committed to providing sound and unbiased advice to help clients optimize their complete financial picture with a coordinated estate, investment and tax strategy.
The Block by BLOCK exhibit encourages visitors, and our community, to discuss, debate and collaborate on opportunities and challenges in which science and technology play roles. As an example, the acute homelessness crisis in our region demands curiosity, empathy and innovation.

Pacific Science Centers newest exhibit, Block by BLOCK: Innovating From the Ground Up, challenges visitors to think about using their skills and abilities to come up with new solutions to pressing issues in the community. Block by BLOCK: Innovating From the Ground Up is on display through early January.

We start by igniting curiosity in children, and we are equally focused on fanning the flames of curiosity throughout adulthood, said Will Daugherty, CEO and President, Pacific Science Center. The Block by BLOCK exhibit encourages visitors, and our community, to discuss, debate and collaborate on opportunities and challenges in which science and technology play roles. As an example, the acute homelessness crisis in our region demands curiosity, empathy and innovation.

The exhibit notes several innovative projects in which people used their passion and skills to create new approaches to problems ranging from the waste and environmental damage of the textile and disposable plastic industries to food safety for allergy sufferers. The highlight of the exhibit is The BLOCK Project, a local father-daughter architecture teams innovative response to Seattles homelessness crisis. Their compassion and architectural skills inspired them to design an integrated solution that encourages the whole community to get involved. The BLOCK Project builds sustainable 125-sq-ft homes for people experiencing homelessness in the backyards of willing Seattle homeowners.

We dont think The BLOCK Project will end homelessness through housing, but by changing the way people view homelessness, Sara Vander Zanden, Executive Director, Facing Homelessness, which manages The BLOCK Project. Facing Homelessness matches residents with hosts, a case manager and social services, and also recruit the volunteers who fund and build the homes.

Guests will be able to tour a model BLOCK Home and learn about the Living Building Challenge, the green-building certification BLOCK Homes are designed to achieve. Tablet-based augmented reality shows the homes sustainable electrical and water systems, while an immersive video plays an interview with Bobby, the first resident of a BLOCK Home.

To kick off the opening of the exhibit, Pacific Science Center is hosting a panel, Community-Driven Innovation, and exhibit preview this evening, Nov. 1, which is free to the public.

Block by BLOCK: Innovating From the Ground Up is now on display through January 6, 2019 in upper Building 3. This exhibit is included with general admission. Pacific Science Center opens at 10 a.m. every day and closes at 5 p.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. on weekends.

PHOTOS of Block by BLOCK: Innovating From the Ground Up available for download here.

About Pacific Science Center

Pacific Science Center is an independent, not-for-profit institution in Seattle and has been a gateway to access to science education and innovation for over 56 years. The institution's mission is to ignite curiosity in every child and to fuel a passion for discovery, experimentation, and critical thinking in all of us. Pacific Science Center's award-winning, interactive programs reach more than 1.1 million people each year  in their communities across the state of Washington, classrooms, and on the Seattle campus and at Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center. Pacific Science Center began as the United States Science Pavilion during the 1962 Seattle Worlds Fair. Millions came to explore the wonders of science during the Worlds Fair and upon closing ceremonies, the Science Pavilion was given new life as the private not-for-profit Pacific Science Center, becoming the first U.S. museum founded as a science and technology center. On July 22, 2010 Pacific Science Center was declared a City of Seattle Landmark.
ProgramBusiness.com, the platform where insurance agents connect with MGAs, wholesalers, program administrators, vendors and carriers to expand their books of business, recently announced its new brand assets which includes a UX-based digital platform. The website is designed to deliver an effortless user experience and interface boosted by a proprietary search feature that enables agents to connect with a storefront offering the program or coverage line theyre seeking.

In todays fast-paced and mobile environment, insurance retailers want to find the markets theyre looking for instantly and get the info needed to respond to their clients while carriers, wholesalers, MGAs/MGUs, PAs, and vendors need a platform that reaches a broad distribution base to expand their footprint, said Larry Neilson, CEO of Neilson Marketing Services, parent company of ProgramBusiness.com. Our new platform delivers this.

Each ProgramBusiness.com storefront now includes:



Branded landing pages with in-depth information on their products and classes of business with embedded SIC/NAICS codes and coverage categories for easy search; program carrier ratings; underwriting pen (if applicable); geographic footprint; social links; customer reviews; and a call to action and designated traceable phone number for leads.

Ability to add applications and submission requirements directly to storefront program pages and receive uploaded apps from agents on easy-to-use Dashboard.

Option to offer an instant quote to an agent on a specific target market.

Ability to add storefront-related news, blogs, articles.

Ability to upload vendor brochures for viewers to download (trackable).

A robust Dashboard with reporting features that track monthly interactions including incoming leads and phone calls, agency application submissions with the ability to follow up, agency application downloads and quote requests, and email campaign reports. Storefronts will also receive click data including contact information.

Additionally, storefronts have easy login access to their mini sites to update and reflect new launches, program or product changes and announcements.

About Neilson Marketing Services

Neilson Marketing Services, parent company of ProgramBusiness.com, has been a leader in providing the insurance industry with marketing services for 30 years. Our best-in-class, advanced products help support agents, wholesalers, carriers and vendors in their goals to target specific niche markets and coverage lines.
We are celebrating excellence and success, not just longevity, said The Council President and CEO Terrence Clark.

The New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council (The Council) is celebrating 45 years of facilitating prosperous collaborations between major corporations and Council-certified Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native-American businesses in the New York-New Jersey area. Today, The Council culminates its celebration with the 2018 Partnership Awards Gala, at the New York Marriott Marquis. The theme of the evening is Reflections of Excellence in Diversity.

We are celebrating excellence and success, not just longevity, said The Council President and CEO Terrence Clark. The Gala honors the achievements of stellar minority-owned business enterprises (MBEs) and corporate members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to establish and advance rewarding business relationships. The effects of these relationships are felt nationwide from the creation of new jobs to the delivery of services and goods that are strengthening our economy every day.

The Council will award top suppliers, advocates, and corporations that continually demonstrate innovation, and provide value-added services and excellence in supplier diversity. The award categories are Performance Par Excellence to the Suppliers of the Year; Local and National Corporations of the Year; and Advocate of the Year.

We made many strides since our inception 45 years ago, said Clark. Today we boast a membership of more than 1000 MBEs and 100 corporations. Through their collaborations, more than $40 million in contracts have been generated. This is just the start of what The Council has in store for the business community.

Approximately 500 Council members, small businesses, and corporations are expected to attend the gala.

About the New York and New Jersey MSDC

The New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (The Council), established in 1973, is a vital link between major corporations and minority business enterprises (MBEs). Each year, member corporations have reported billions of dollars spent with Council-certified Minority Business Enterprises. Serving the New York and New Jersey region, The Council is one of the 23 regional affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.

Contact:

Holly Houston

Impact Consulting Enterprises

415-583-3706

Cheryl McCants

Impact Consulting Enterprises

973-337-2028
NewsMatch, the largest grassroots fundraising campaign to support nonprofit news organizations, launches today in newsrooms across the country and online at newsmatch.org. The campaign doubles donations to 155 nonprofit newsrooms in nearly every state across the country, starting today and running through Dec. 31, 2018.

Individuals can learn more, donate and join the movement to support trusted, nonprofit news organizations starting today at: newsmatch.org.

This is the third year of NewsMatch, and the number of nonprofit news organizations participating in the campaign jumped by more than 40 percent since last year. Each organization is eligible to receive a total of $25,000 in matching funds for small-dollar donations from individuals up to $1,000. NewsMatch is designed to help fuel a surge in giving to local and investigative reporting and strengthen nonprofit newsrooms through training and shared resources.

Now more than ever, nonprofit newsrooms across the country are filling information gaps in communities, said Sue Cross, Executive Director and CEO of the Institute for Nonprofit News. This years NewsMatch campaign will enable organizations to raise critical support, which will ensure they have the resources necessary to continue to provide fact-based, local quality journalism for years to come.

NewsMatch is driven by the Institute for Nonprofit News and the News Revenue Hub, two organizations helping build more sustainable models for journalism in America. The campaign is supported by a diverse group of foundations including Democracy Fund, the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation, the Gates Family Foundation (through the Colorado Media Project), the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Wyncote Foundation. The Miami Foundation serves as fiscal sponsor for the fund.

NewsMatch added several major donors in 2018, including a $1 million contribution from the Facebook Journalism Project and $250,000 from the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, which supports investigative journalism around the country.

Other foundations and corporate partners can still join the NewsMatch fund and help make 2018 the largest year for nonprofit news giving ever. Donors and funders who are interested in supporting individual newsrooms or groups of newsrooms in a region or around a topic during NewsMatch are invited to contact The Miami Foundations Lindsey Linzer (LLinzer@miamifoundation.org) to find out more.

Knight Foundation launched the inaugural NewsMatch in 2016, helping 57 nonprofit news organizations raise more than $2.4 million. In 2017, the campaign expanded to include a coalition of funders and helped support important coverage of a wide range of topics including education, immigration, conservation, local government and criminal justice. It raised $4.8 million for nonprofit news organizations, equipped them with professional fundraising, tools and technology and cultivated over 43,000 new donors.

Donors, can easily find and support trusted reporting in their community and on issues they care about at newsmatch.org. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Participating nonprofit news organizations are all members of the Institute for Nonprofit News and abide by guidelines of editorial independence and financial transparency.

They include:

In the Northeast:

Adirondack Explorer; Baltimore Brew; CivicStory; Connecticut Health Investigative Team; City Limits; Delaware Currents; ecoRI News; Hidden City Philadelphia; Highlands Current; Hummel Report; Investigative Post; Lower Cape TV/Lower Cape News; Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting; Maryland Matters; MarylandReporter.com; NancyOnNorwalk.com; New England Center for Investigative Reporting; New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism; New Haven Independent; NJ Spotlight; Philadelphia Public School Notebook; PublicSource; The CT Mirror; The GroundTruth Project; VTDigger.org; and WHYY.

In the Midwest:

Belt Media Collaborative; Better Government Association; Block Club Chicago; Bridge Magazine; City Bureau; Flint Beat; East Lansing Info (ELi); Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism (IowaWatch); KCUR-FM; Madison365; Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service; MinnPost; Eye on Ohio (Ohio Center for Investigative Journalism); South Dakota News Watch; St. Louis Public Radio; The Chicago Reporter; The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting; Wausau Pilot and Review; WDET; WFYI Public Media; and Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism.

In the South:

Alabama Initiative for Independent Journalism (BirminghamWatch); Arkansas Nonprofit News Network; Austin Monitor; Breckenridge Texan; Carolina Public Press; Center for Sustainable Journalism; Centro de Periodismo Investigativo; Charlottesville Tomorrow; Daily Yonder; Florida Bulldog; Florida Center for Investigative Reporting; Georgia Health News; Insider Louisville; Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting; KYForward.com; LkldNow.com; Mississippi Today; North Carolina Health News; Northern Kentucky Tribune; Oklahoma Watch; Scalawag Magazine; Southern Investigative Reporting Foundation; Texas Observer; The Austin Bulldog; The Frontier; The Lens; and The Texas Tribune.

In the West:

Alhambra Source; Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting; Aspen Journalism; Bay Nature Institute; BenitoLink.com; Borderzine; California Health Report; CALmatters; Crosscut; EdSource; High Country News; Honolulu Civil Beat; inewsource; InvestigateWest; KPBS; Mission Local; Montana Free Press; Mountain Independent; New Mexico In Depth; NowCastSA; Rivard Report; Rocky Mountain Public Media; Searchlight New Mexico; San Francisco Public Press; The Colorado Independent; The Nevada Independent; The Seattle Globalist; TucsonSentinel.com; Voice of OC; Voice of San Diego; Voices of Monterey Bay; WitnessLA; and WyoFile.

National/Global Publications:

100Reporters; Anthropocene Magazine; Center for Responsive Politics/OpenSecrets; Chalkbeat; Civil Eats; Current; Energy News Network; Ensia; FairWarning; Food and Environment Reporting Network; Fostering Media Connections; Futuro Media Group; Grist; Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance; In These Times; Injustice Watch; InsideClimate News; International Consortium of Investigative Journalists; Investigative Reporting Workshop; Mother Jones; MuckRock; Next City; Orb Media; PassBlue; PBS NewsHour; PolitiFact; ProPublica; Public Radio International; Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting; Religion News Foundation; Retro Report; Science News; Solitary Watch; The Center for Investigative Reporting; Tarbell; The Center for Public Integrity; The Conversation US; The Forward; The Hechinger Report; The Intercept; The Investigative Fund at The Nation Institute; The Marshall Project; The New Food Economy; The Trace; The War Horse; Threshold; Washington Monthly; and Youth Radio.

Contact:

Elle Communications

Prerana Swami

855.438.3553

newsmatch(at)ellecomm(dot)com

About Democracy Fund:

Democracy Fund is a bipartisan foundation established by eBay founder and philanthropist Pierre Omidyar to help ensure that our political system can withstand new challenges and deliver on its promise to the American people. Since 2011, Democracy Fund has invested more than $100 million in support of effective governance, modern elections, and a vibrant public square. For more, visit democracyfund.org.

About the Facebook Journalism Project:

The Facebook Journalism Project was created in January 2017 to establish stronger ties between Facebook and the news industry. FJP is dedicated to ensuring high quality journalism thrives by delivering value through new products, partnerships with the news industry and programs. FJP works in three ways: collaborative development of new products; providing tools and trainings for journalists; and providing tools and trainings for people.

About the Gates Family Foundation

The Gates Family Foundation is a place-based philanthropy dedicated since 1946 to advancing long-term quality of life in Colorado, through support for educational equity, vibrant and sustainable communities, and stewardship of the states extraordinary natural resources. The Foundation has supported public and independent media for decades, especially as vital issues such as public education, rural issues, and natural resources have faced decreasing media coverage from commercial outlets. Gates also provides underwriting support for the Colorado Media Project, which aims to strengthen and accelerate sustainable, civic-minded journalism that meets the information needs of Coloradans in the digital age.

About the Institute for Nonprofit News:

The Institute for Nonprofit News is a network of more than 190 nonprofit, nonpartisan news media, together strengthening the sources of trusted information for thousands of diverse communities. INN was founded in 2009 to foster a new collective of newsrooms serving the public interest. Today it functions as an innovation network, helping members develop new ways to support journalism and engage communities, providing business, technology and leadership support and a framework for collaboration. INNs work helps newsrooms bring investigative and civic news to more people, hold the powerful accountable and strengthen democracy.

About the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation:

The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur is placing a few big bets that truly significant progress is possible on some of the worlds most pressing social challenges, including over-incarceration, global climate change, nuclear risk, and significantly increasing financial capital for the social sector. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsible and responsive democracy, as well as the strength and vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. More information is available at macfound.org.

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation:

Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit http://knightfoundation.org.

About the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation:

Founded in 2016 and based in Berkeley, CA, the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation supports organizations that advance social justice by promoting world-changing work in investigative journalism, the arts, the environment, education, equity and inclusion and documentary film.

About the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation:

Founded by Edith Kinney Gaylord, Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundations mission is to invest in the future of journalism by building the ethics, skills and opportunities needed to advance principled, probing news and information. For more, visit journalismfoundation.org.

About The Miami Foundation:

Since 1967, The Miami Foundation has used civic leadership, community investment and philanthropy to improve the quality of life for everyone who calls Greater Miami home. We partner with individuals, families and corporations who have created more than 1,000 personalized, philanthropic Funds. Thanks to them, we have awarded over $250 million in grants and currently manage more than $300 million in assets to build a better Miami. As the Foundation marks our 50th anniversary, we are celebrating great Miamians who have championed what matters to them, encouraging all residents to share their Miami stories and unite around the causes they care about. For more, visit miamifoundation.org.

About the News Revenue Hub:

The News Revenue Hub helps news organizations build the trust and financial support of their audiences by providing customized technology tools and proven strategies to create and sustain successful digital membership programs. For more, visit fundjournalism.org.

About The Wyncote Foundation:

The Wyncote Foundation, based in Philadelphia, was founded in 2009 with funds from the Otto and Phoebe Haas Charitable Trusts, at the direction of John C. Haas. Its mission is to support efforts that strengthen and enrich culture, community and the natural environment. Wyncotes Public Media & Journalism program works to further a thriving public media ecosystem that is vital to animating and sustaining democracys public sphere. Learn more at wyncotefoundation.org/public-media-journalism.
In addition to being surrounded by leaders in higher education in the sphere of online learning and engagement, IELOL provided me with a platform to explore ideas and challenge my thinking in how to approach aspirational goals with strategic collaboration.

The Online Learning Consortium (OLC) today announced registration is now open for the 2019 Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL) program. Now entering its 11th year, IELOL is a unique leadership development program designed for those in positioned-for-senior-leadership roles, with responsibilities related to online or digital learning initiatives, or senior leaders who have recently taken on responsibility for digital learning programs and initiatives.

IELOL participants enter the program with different levels of experience, representing a range of higher education roles, said Kathleen S. Ives, D.M., CEO and Executive Director, the Online Learning Consortium. After completing the program, IELOL alumni are better positioned to recognize and seize institutional opportunities for leadership in online education.

The IELOL program aims to develop leadership competencies such as self-awareness, adaptability, learning agility, boundary spanning, collaboration and network thinking. More than 375 emerging leaders have successfully completed the IELOL program since it first launched in 2009. Up to 50 participants are accepted for each annual cohort, drawn from a wide and diverse field of institutional types including for-profits, nonprofits, community colleges, military educational services, religious affiliated institutions, privates, and publics from small institutions to large, consortia and systems.

The goal of IELOL is to close the leadership gap in online education, said Devon Cancilla, Ph.D., Chief Knowledge Officer, the Online Learning Consortium. For this reason, IELOL is not about technical training or best practices for building an online education program. Rather, the program focuses on developing emerging leaders responsible for a variety of online learning initiatives in higher education. Assignments are directed toward helping participants become visible as leaders in their institutions, and raising their awareness of the specific institutional challenges and issues their institutions face.

BLENDED-LEARNING FORMAT INCLUDES ON-CAMPUS EXPERIENCE AT UCF

IELOL is a four-part program that runs from mid-July to mid-November annually, and requires a variety of individual, group, and team project work, including a team-based case study.

The blended learning format includes an Immersion Experience which will be held in August, on the campus of IELOLs current academic partner, the University of Central Florida, a thriving preeminent research university located in metropolitan Orlando.

A post-immersion project allows IELOL participants an opportunity to plan an institution-specific project that will showcase their leadership. The program culminates with the IELOL Masters Class, a pre-conference workshop at the OLC Accelerate 2019 conference held in November, in Orlando, Florida.

In addition to being surrounded by leaders in higher education in the sphere of online learning and engagement, IELOL provided me with a platform to explore ideas and challenge my thinking in how to approach aspirational goals with strategic collaboration, said IELOL 2018 alumnus Brad Washington, Assistant Provost for Online Programs and Director, Online MATESOL Program, Notre Dame de Namur University.

DISTINGUISHED FACULTY

The IELOL program maintains a fresh perspective year over year with a rotating group of faculty comprised of distinguished online learning leaders. Faculty for the 2019 IELOL cohort are:



Devon Cancilla, Ph.D., Chief Knowledge Officer, Online Learning Consortium

Elizabeth Ciabocchi, Ed.D., Vice Provost for Digital Learning and Executive Director of Online Learning & Services, St. Johns University

Amanda Major, Ed.D., CPLP, PMP, Online Learning Organizational Development and Project Management Specialist

Karen Pedersen, Ph.D., Dean for Global Campus, Kansas State University

Russ Poulin, Director of Policy and Analysis, WCET, the Wiche Cooperative for Educational Technologies

Jason Rhode, Ph.D., Executive Director of Extended Learning, Northern Illinois University

The IELOL application period is open from Nov. 1, 2018 through March 29, 2019. OLC is offering an early bird discount for applications completed before Jan. 31, 2019. Details are available online at https://onlinelearningconsortium.org/learn/ielol.

ABOUT ONLINE LEARNING CONSORTIUM

The Online Learning Consortium (OLC) is a collaborative community of higher education leaders and innovators, dedicated to advancing quality digital teaching and learning experiences designed to reach and engage the modern learner  anyone, anywhere, anytime. OLC inspires innovation and quality through an extensive set of resources, including, best-practice publications, quality benchmarking, leading-edge instruction, community-driven conferences, practitioner-based and empirical research and expert guidance. The growing OLC community includes faculty members, administrators, trainers, instructional designers, and other learning professionals, as well as educational institutions, professional societies and corporate enterprises. Visit http://onlinelearningconsortium.org for more information.
This is an incredibly innovative and flexible offering that allows users to get as wide or narrow view of their processes as they want. It then actually gives them the tools to document and automate, which no other technology of this kind can provide, says OpenConnect CEO, Mark Dailey.

OpenConnect, a leader in software solutions that deliver efficiencies derived from objective workforce intelligence, analytics, and robotic process automation (RPA), is announcing an innovative new product offering. DiscoveriQ gives users a real-time, enterprise-wide view of their operations at both the process and task level.

The software gives users all the detail they need to analyze and document processes  based on how employees actually complete them, versus how managers think they should be completed. This level of accurate detail gives companies the data they need to assess which paths are most efficient and either re-train employees or use the information to begin their path to process automation. DiscoveriQ can be used to



Identify most commonly used screens and applications.

Zone in on process variations and opportunities to automate or train and incentivize employees.

Automatically generate process documentation to accelerate requirements gathering.

DiscoveriQ can run alongside other (third-party) automation solutions and can be configured to gather data at an enterprise level on an ongoing basis, creating larger sample sizes for more detailed views of employee tasks. Paired with OpenConnects WorkiQ, DiscoveriQ gives the workforce and process analytics necessary to begin a successful path to automation.

This is an incredibly innovative and flexible offering that allows users to get as wide or narrow view of their processes as they want. It then actually gives them the tools to document and automate, which no other technology of this kind can provide, says OpenConnect CEO, Mark Dailey.

DiscoveriQ is available now for customers and partners and will make its first public debut at the Institute for Robotics Process Automation and Artificial Intelligence (IRPAAI) Automation Innovation Conference in New York on November 29th-30th, at OpenConnects booth. Those interested are encouraged to visit to receive more information and product demos.

About OpenConnect

OpenConnect is the leading provider of enterprise-scale robotic process automation. The OpenConnect process automation platform is comprised of process intelligence and desktop analytics solutions that objectively identify and illuminate workforce activity, resulting in associated productivity gains. With OpenConnects mainframe-proficient AutoiQ process automation software, the costliest processes performed by a workforce can be automated. Combining unparalleled experience and solution capabilities, OpenConnect enables its clients to more quickly address and adapt to todays operational and competitive challenges so they can accomplish more with fewer resources. Learn more about OpenConnect and its products at http://www.openconnect.com.

Michael Cupps

OpenConnect

800.551.5881

mcupps@openconnect.com
The intellectual property law firm Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP is proud to announce that it has been named a Best Law Firm by U.S. News  Best Lawyers for 2019, once again achieving national rankings in the practice areas of intellectual property litigation, patent litigation, patent law, and trademark law.

The firm also has been ranked Tier 1 in the Philadelphia area for intellectual property litigation, patent litigation, and patent law, while also achieving a ranking in trademark law.

Best Law Firm rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process.

The highest honor, a Tier 1 ranking, is based on a firm's overall evaluation. This is derived from a combination of its clients' impressive feedback, the high regard that lawyers in other firms in the same practice area have for the firm, and the information that the firm provided to Best Lawyers via a survey.

To be eligible for a Best Law Firm ranking, a firm must have at least one lawyer named among The Best Lawyers in America. Attorneys are neither required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed. For 2019, seven of the firms attorneys have been recognized among Best Lawyers, with one, partner Ronald L. Panitch, also being named Lawyer of the Year in the practice area of trade secrets.

About Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP  Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP is a boutique intellectual property law firm with offices in Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. The firms IP law practitioners provide strategic litigation, licensing and counseling service relating to patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, domain names and internet issues domestically and internationally. The firms long-standing relationships with a network of associates worldwide enable its attorneys and advisors to provide clients with global intellectual property advice and protection.
PepsiCo Inc. Chairman Indra K. Nooyi received the Network of Executive Women's William J. Grize Award for her commitment to gender equality in the workplace, Oct. 29, 2018. "Indras contributions to the retail and consumer goods industry cannot be overstated. But, just as great, have been her contributions to gender equality in the workplace.

PepsiCo Inc. Chairman Indra K. Nooyi was recognized for her career-long commitment to womens leadership and gender equality with the Network of Executive Womens William J. Grize Award, Oct. 29, 2018, in Purchase, N.Y.

The William J. Grize Award is named for the late president and CEO of Stop & Shop, an early champion of gender diversity. Since 2011, the William J. Grize Award has honored industry leaders who have demonstrated "an enduring commitment to the advancement of women and to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.

"Indras contributions to the retail and consumer goods industry cannot be overstated. But, just as great, have been her contributions to gender equality in the workplace, said NEW President and CEO Sarah Alter, who presented the award with Stop & Shop President Mark McGowan.

Under Indras leadership, PepsiCo has increased the number of women leaders through recruiting and development initiatives, McGowan said. Her outspoken advocacy, enduring commitment to gender diversity and inclusion, and status-quo-busting efforts have helped advance women here and around the world.

Nooyi, who served as CEO of PepsiCo Inc. for 12 years before stepping down Oct. 3, was the chief architect of Performance with Purpose, PepsiCos promise to do whats right for the business by doing whats right for people and the planet. She serves as co-chair of the NEW Future Fund, a $5 million fund-raising campaign to support NEWs investments in learning programs, technology, research and insights aimed at achieving gender equality in retail, consumer goods, financial services and technology.

"Indras journey, her achievements and her leadership are inspiring examples of whats possible, noted Karen Meleta, vice president of consumer and corporate communications for Wakefern Food Corp., who facilitated an hour-long discussion and Q&A with Nooyi prior to the award presentation at the NEW New York Metro learning event.

Prior recipients of the William J. Grize Award are:

2011



Linda Dillman, Hewlett-Packard, honored for her work at Walmart Inc.

Jeri Dunn of Bacardi, honored for her work at Tyson Foods

Tom Greco, PepsiCo Inc.

Don Knauss, The Clorox Company

Jeff Noddle, retired CEO of SUPERVALU

Kay Palmer, J.B. Hunt

Judy Spires, Kings Super Markets

James White, Jamba Juice Company, honored for his work at Safeway

2012

Mike Duke, Walmart Inc.

2013

Regenia Stein, Ingenuity Consulting, honored for her work at Kraft Foods

2014
No. 3 Charleston is the capital of West Virginia, a state wracked by coal industry bankruptcies, poverty and drug addiction. In September, a poll by MetroNews Dominion Post showed half of West Virginians "say they have a friend or family member who has been addicted to prescription pain medications." Other West Virginia cities on the brain drain list are Bluefield at No. 9, Huntington No. 14, Weirton No. 45, Clarksburg No. 46.
Dr. Gary Roberson

Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services, one of the nations most comprehensive treatment campuses is proud to welcome esteemed Psychiatrist, Dr. Gary Roberson as their Medical Director. Dr. Roberson was recently featured on the cover of Top 100 Magazines summer 2018 issue, which highlighted the top 100 Doctors in America. At Pine Grove, Dr. Roberson leads the clinical and operational decisions pertaining to the organizations medical staff. He said, When I was given the opportunity to lead the premier behavioral health care and addiction treatment hospital in the Southeastern United States, it was an opportunity I could not refuse.

Dr. Roberson completed his medical education including his Psychiatry Residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS. Dr. Roberson earned a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in evidence-based medicine, a Masters Status (MSc) in Experimental Therapeutics (Clinical Pharmacology), and a Diploma in Theological Studies from the University of Oxford, England. Additionally, Dr. Roberson completed a Rotary International Graduate Fellowship at the University of York, England. Dr. Roberson is a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties and a lifetime member of the Oxford University Science Society. Debbie Sanford, Administrator of Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services said, With the addition of Dr. Gary Roberson to our medical team, Pine Grove is well positioned to further our tradition of being a strong leader in the treatment of behavioral health care and addiction issues.

Pine Grove also recently welcomed the addition of two other noted physicians to their medical staff, Dr. Charles Richardson and Dr. Siddeequah Bilal. Dr. Richardson completed his medical education and Psychiatry Residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and his fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at Emory University, in Atlanta, GA. At Pine Grove, Dr. Richardson specializes in the care of adult patients receiving inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment. Dr. Siddeequah Bilal earned her Masters of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, and completed her medical education and psychiatry residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Additionally, Dr. Bilal was a Maternal and Child Health Research Fellow through the Association of Schools of Public Health. Dr. Bilal treats adult patients within Pine Groves Outpatient Services Department including the treatment of women with prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum mental health care issues.

Pine Groves world renowned programs treat gender specific chemical addiction including a specialized track for co-occurring eating disorders. Additionally, Pine Grove offers a substance abuse healing program for adults age 55 plus. Other Pine Grove specialty programs include a dedicated professionals treatment curriculum and a comprehensive evaluation center. Pine Grove also features a program for patients with sexual addiction. Inpatient Services including an Adult Psychiatric Unit, along with a Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, and Outpatient Services are other components. Pine Grove was established in 1984 and has provided nationally and internationally recognized health care for nearly 35 years.
"The PlayerLync team demonstrates sound go-to-market tactics and the operational discipline required to service world-class organizations such as: Starbucks, Jack-in-the-Box, Talbots, Crocs, Southern Co Gas, and Chipotle," states Roger Hurwitz, Managing Partner at Volition

PlayerLync, the leading mobile content platform for modern learning and performance management, secured $12.5 million in growth financing for the purpose of marketing, additional staffing, and entering new markets. Volition Capital led the financing with participation by Anschutz Venture Group (AVG), a longtime investor in PlayerLync. Volition is investing in the 2018 Colorado Companies to Watch winner, PlayerLync, and looking to duplicate their success as an early investor in Denver-based Ping Identity, another stand out leader in the Colorado technology landscape.

PlayerLyncs rapid growth comes from their solutions wide market appeal and an ability to effectively navigate into adjacent industry verticals. While the business originated in Sports, PlayerLync now serves top Restaurant, Retail and Hospitality brands with over 1 million daily end users. The PlayerLync team demonstrates sound go-to-market tactics and the operational discipline required to service world-class organizations such as Starbucks, Jack-in-the-Box, Talbots, Crocs, Southern Co Gas, and Chipotle, states Roger Hurwitz, Managing Partner at Volition. Were confident from those successes and excited by the growing interest in PlayerLyncs offerings from the Energy, Logistics and Transportation verticals. Were simply empowering a competent team to more aggressively pursue this multi-billion dollar opportunity.

PlayerLync is experiencing fast growth under a strong leadership team. Founders Bob Paulsen, Greg Menard, and Robert Smith bring professional execution along with telecom and software experiences to the table, which directly translate into enterprise-ready scale and quality.

From our backgrounds, we understand that carrier-grade is table stakes for enterprise customers today. So, we built PlayerLync on a technology foundation that excels in performance, quality, and security. Then we took it a step further by designing functional teams modeled after world-class SaaS organizations, said Bob Paulsen, CEO of PlayerLync. Were filling a large gap for enterprises, and weve got a winning combination thats allowed us to earn business from marquee brands, pursue partnerships with the largest companies in the world and quickly secure the leadership position in this category. Were thrilled by this vote of confidence and to be working beside high caliber investors like Anschutz and Volition.

Roger Hurwitz joins PlayerLyncs Board of Directors.

About PlayerLync

PlayerLync is a modern learning and performance management platform that connects deskless and mobile workers to content and one another, even when network bandwidth is low or non-existent. Content is easily managed, and video and documents sync automatically, so people always have the media they need at their fingertips on personal or shared mobile devices. The User and IT friendly platform is encrypted, secure and integrates to core systems like LMS and HRIS. PlayerLync allows companies to train and support todays workers right where they perform their jobs.

About Volition

Volition Capital invests growth equity in high potential, founder-owned companies with emerging market leadership positions. Volition specializes in software, Internet, information services and tech-enabled companies that have strong operating discipline, innovative solutions and aspirations for greatness.
Water varies from place to place, depending on the condition of the source and the treatment it receives.

Award winning actor Laurence Fishburne will host a new segment of the program "Information Matrix" discussing public water quality. The quality of public water is an important issue for every American, whether they realize it's importance or not. Water varies from place to place, depending on the condition of the source and the treatment it receives.

The United States has one of the safest water supplies in the world. However, water contamination can still occur. The sources of contamination can be malfunctioning on-site wastewater treatment systems, manufacturing processes, local land use practices, naturally occurring chemicals and minerals and sewage releases. Improperly maintained water distribution system could also cause contamination.

Contaminated water can cause a disease epidemic. Many diseases can be spread through contaminated water. The World Health Organization has international norms on the quality of water and human health that are used as the basis for standard setting worldwide. To maintain the quality of public water, members of the public should report anything that can cause water contamination.

Public water undergoes treatment and testing. Standard and regulations for levels and presence of many different contaminants including metals and microbes. Community water suppliers should always produce an annual report providing information on the quality of the water. This measure aids in ensuring that Americans get water that is of good quality.

This segment will feature experts and industry scientists who will shed light on these subjects and more, and discuss what is being done to modernize water quality procedures towards the future. Viewers can tune in to "Information Matrix and get insight on public water quality.

All the information on "Information Matrix is verified before release. Many Americans have given the program positive reviews.
Anne Applebaum

The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) will present its 14th Annual Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Service to Anne Applebaum at its 2018 Annual Dinner on Wednesday, November 7, at the Union League of Philadelphia.

Seating is limited, and both individual tickets and tables are available for purchase. For pricing information or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Eli Gilman at - egilman@fpri.org or at 215-732-3774 ext. 103.

A Pulitzer-prize winning historian, Anne Applebaum is a columnist for the Washington Post and a Professor of Practice at the London School of Economics Institute of Global Affairs, where she runs Arena, a program on disinformation and 21st century propaganda. Formerly a member of the Washington Post editorial board, she has also worked as the Foreign and Deputy Editor of Spectator magazine, as Political Editor of the Evening Standard, and as a columnist at Slate and at several British newspapers, including the Daily and Sunday Telegraphs. From 1988-1991 she covered the collapse of communism as the Warsaw correspondent of The Economist magazine and the Independent newspaper.

Her newest book, Red Famine: Stalins War on Ukraine was published in October 2017. Her previous books include Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1944-1956, which describes the imposition of Soviet totalitarianism in Central Europe after the Second World War. She is also the author of Gulag: A History, which narrates the history of the Soviet concentration camps system and describes daily life in the camps, making extensive use of recently opened Russian archives as well as memoirs and interviews. Gulag won the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction in 2004.

"At this critical moment in history," said FPRI President Alan Luxenberg, when democracy appears to be on the wane while authoritarianism is on the rise, there are few people better able to assess where we are and where we are headed than Anne Applebaum, who has studied the cruelties of tyranny in history while observing a world in transition today." Hence, she will address the theme of "Dictators vs. Democrats in the 21st Century: A Scorecard."

ABOUT THE FOREIGN POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

FPRI is a non-profit, non-partisan think tank located in Center City Philadelphia. Its mission is to bring the insights of scholarship to bear on the foreign policy and national security challenges facing the United States. It seeks to educate the public, teach teachers, train students, and offer ideas to advance U.S. national interests based on a nonpartisan, geopolitical perspective that illuminates contemporary international affairs through the lens of history, geography, and culture.

For more information about the FPRI, please visit http://www.fpri.org.
"This years nominations are fascinating, and we look forward to meeting the winner at the DCD Award gala in London"

Quality Uptime Services, a leading provider of UPS and battery preventative maintenance services, will once again sponsor this years creative category for DCD Awards 2018. Recognizing the Worlds Most Extreme Data Center on the Planet, the award was conceived by Datacenter Dynamics and seeks to find data centers that push the boundaries of possibility.

The award will be presented during the 2018 DCD Global Awards, an industry awards ceremony designed to highlight the great people and excellent projects in the data center industry. These awards are often referred to as the Oscars of the data center industry. The ceremony and gala will take place in London, England on Thursday, December 6th.

Extreme Data Centers should be celebrated for the lengths that designers/builders go to ensure facilities are delivering reliable service while being energy efficient and environmentally friendly, regardless of the location or climate, explains Frank Monticelli, Vice President at Quality Uptime Services, Including locations that push the definition of being habitable by humans.

Voting is now open for Most Extreme #DataCenter on the Planet. From an IceCube Lab in Antarctica to Bluebird Underground Data Center in Springfield, Missouri, VOTE for your extreme data center. You can also read the DCD article, Taking it to the extremes that was the inspiration for the award. #datacenter #DCDAwards.

We are honored to return this year as the sponsor of DCDs 2018 creative category award. This years nominations are fascinating, and we look forward to meeting the winner at the DCD Award gala in London, said John Raio, President at Quality Uptime Services.

About Quality Uptime Services

Quality Uptime Services provides UPS and battery preventive maintenance services with a team of factory-trained field service engineers. They support a national client base across all industries. With over 8.2 million sq. ft. of raised floor under contract and a 97% customer retention, Quality Uptime Services maintains 100% uptime for clients who confidently engage them. Learn more about QUS, and follow us on our blog, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
BirdEye + Rocket Matter Integration Together, Rocket Matter and BirdEye are providing law firms with the resources they need to improve their online presence, and foster trust and loyalty with their clients.

Today, BirdEye formally announces its partnership with Rocket Matter, the pioneering cloud-based legal practice management software used by both small and medium-sized law firms, offering features including billing management, tracking, payments, calendar etc. With this new integration option with BirdEye, Rocket Matter customers will have the ability to automatically send review requests to clients based on critical touch points.

Client reviews can shape a law firms online profile and ultimately impact search engine results. 96% of people seeking legal advice use a search engine like Google and 62% of legal searches are local-specific (e.g. Florida divorce lawyer) according to The National Law Review. Furthermore, 83% of clients read online reviews as the first step to finding a lawyer. Before this integration, lawyers using Rocket Matter would have to manually manage what their clients were saying about their firm online. It can be overwhelming for lawyers dealing with complicated cases to dedicate the necessary time, resources & staff to manage a firms online reputation. Therefore, this critical piece of the business can often get overlooked or forgotten.

With the BirdEye integration, lawyers can now automate the process of sending out review requests to their clients when legal matters are completed/closed (triggered within Rocket Matter). BirdEye will seamlessly pull client information from Rocket Matter and automatically send review requests via email or SMS based on the preferences set within the BirdEye dashboard.

Were excited to partner with Rocket Matter to help lawyers and their firms develop long-lasting relationships with clients, said Neeraj Gupta, Co-Founder and COO of BirdEye. "Together, Rocket Matter and BirdEye are providing law firms with the resources they need to improve their online presence, and foster trust and loyalty with their clients.

At Rocket Matter, we're committed to helping our partner law firms boost their revenue and profits, which is something we have done consistently over the last 10 years, said Larry Port, CEO of Rocket Matter. "By partnering with BirdEye to provide an automation solution for word-of-mouth marketing, we're excited to offer our clients new ways to drive business to their firms.

About Rocket Matter

Rocket Matter helps law firms offer better client service and also increase revenues by more than 20%. The company was the first cloud-based legal practice management software on the market, landing its first client in 2007. It has been a leader ever sinceRocket Matter has the most powerful, easy-to-use time and billing software in the industry. Also, when law firms want to make more money, go paperless, or increase confidence in their trust accounting, Rocket Matter helps them achieve those goals. With award-winning customer service based in the United States, its no wonder thousands of law firms swear by Rocket Matter.

About BirdEye

BirdEye is a SaaS platform that reimagines the way consumer feedback is used to acquire and retain connected customers by closing the loop between reputation marketing and customer experience. BirdEye enables businesses to get new reviews and captures existing customer sentiment from review sites, social media, Net Promoter Scores, and support cases in real-time. BirdEye converts all feedback into actionable insights so businesses can engage in every step of the customer journey, establish an effective online presence, and benchmark performance across locations and against competitors. The BirdEye platform is trusted by 25,000+ businesses and prominent F1000 enterprises. BirdEye was founded in 2012 by Google, Yahoo, Amazon alumni and backed by Silicon Valley whos who including Trinity Ventures, Salesforce founder Marc Benioff and Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang. Learn more at BirdEye.com.
xCELLigence Immunotherapy Research Grant winner Dr. Bryan Choi is a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Marcela V. Maus in the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School

Dr. Bryan Choi, a postdoctoral fellow in the Dr. Marcela V. Maus lab at Massachusetts General Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, has been awarded the 2018 xCELLigence Immunotherapy Research Grant by ACEA Biosciences. Cancer immunotherapy, recently recognized by the 2018 Nobel Prize Committee for Medicine, is a promising form of treatment designed to harness a patients own immune system to attack tumor cells. Although the clinical response to these therapies has been remarkable, developing new therapies that are consistently effective in the majority of patients and cancer types has been challenging for immuno-oncology researchers.

The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells developed by Dr. Chois group are specific to a tumor mutation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRvIII). In previous clinical trials, the CART-EGFRvIII cells were efficiently localized to intracerebral sites beyond the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) to eliminate EGFRvIII glioma. Dr. Chois research proposal is to modify these chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells to secrete bispecific T-Cell engagers (BiTEs), with a goal to develop a more effective immunotherapy for patients with glioblastoma (GBM). The proposal was selected by the ACEA Research Grant Committee for its experimental design quality, and the exciting potential to further advance treatment of this deadly disease.

The Immunotherapy Research Grant will provide Dr. Choi with access to the xCELLigence Real Time Cell Analysis SP instrument, and will include consumables for 6 months. During this time, Dr. Chois team will be testing the hypothesis that EGFRvIII CAR-T cells designed to secrete BiTEs (CAR.BiTE) will enhance CAR therapy by reversing regulatory T cell mediated immune suppression and lead to potent and durable antitumor responses against even heterogeneous tumor. With the xCELLigence RTCA platform, the kinetics of tumor cell killing by the engineered CAR.BiTE, and its effects on regulatory T cell and CAR-T cell cytotoxic activity, will be measured with the highly sensitive ACEA technology.

We are excited to see more young researchers adopting the xCELLigence technology for CAR-T research and other immuno-oncology related studies. We are expecting great data from this study, resulting in further collaboration between Mass General Cancer Center and ACEA Biosciences, stated Dr. Yama Abassi, Vice President of ACEA Biosciences.

ACEA Biosciences is now accepting applications for the next xCELLigence Research Grant funding period, which is open to all cell analysis applications. For 6 months, the research grant winner will be provided access to the xCELLigence Real Time Cell Analysis DP instrument, consumables, and consultation. Click here to apply.

About xCELLigence Real Time Cell Analysis (RTCA)

ACEAs xCELLigence RTCA instruments are being used in both academia and industry for life science applications ranging from cancer immunotherapy, bacterial biofilms, vaccine development and cardiotoxicity testing. With the xCELLigence technology, scientists can non-invasively monitor the behavior of cells by quantifying cell proliferation, morphology change, and attachment quality in a label-free, real-time manner.

About ACEA Biosciences

Founded in 2002, ACEA Biosciences is a pioneer in the development and commercialization of high performance cell analysis platforms for life science research. ACEAs xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis instruments and NovoCyte Quanteon flow cytometers are used in pre-clinical drug discovery and development, toxicology, safety pharmacology, and basic academic research. More than 2,500 instruments have been placed globally, and have been used in more than 1,800 peer-reviewed publications.

For more information visit: http://www.aceabio.com.

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For further information please contact:

ACEA Biosciences, Inc.

Dr. Jeff Xue

Phone: 858-299-8023

email: jxue(at)aceabio(dot)com
American IRA CEO, Jim Hitt Whats great about this event is that it brings women into focus

NC Realtors is holding its first womens conference, called Sparkand now, American IRA recently announced that it would be in attendance. The day-long event, scheduled for Thursday, November 8th, is expected to tackle a variety of issues and topics as it relates to women and realty, including key speeches and presentations by prominent female speakers. American IRA, as a Self-Directed IRA administration firm, notes that the event is long overdue.

Whats great about this event is that it brings women into focus, said Jim Hitt, CEO of American IRA. Seeing the slate of expert speakers and role models available at the NC Realtors Womens Conference is exciting for a number of reasons. Not only are the women going to deliver some great information from which we can all benefit, but it helps inspire people and show that real estate is not at all one-dimensional.

But the focus of the NC Realtors Womens Conference will be wide-ranging as well: topics are expected to cover everything from succeeding in business to more specific realty subjects. For instance, Janine Driver, a body language expert and author of You Cant Lie to Me, is slated to speak on her subject of expertise. Thats just one highlight from a wide variety of speakers scheduled to feature at the conference.

Theres a lot to learn in the world of realty, said Jim Hitt. No one knows that better than someone who works at a Self-Directed IRA administration firm. Theres a lot of complexity in the world of real estate. But one great aspect of this event is that well get a wide range of subjects that are relevant to realty without exclusively focusing on it, either. Its an exciting conference and everyone who has an opportunity to check it out should attend.

For more information about Spark: The NC Realtors Womens Conference, visit the website at https://www.ncrealtors.org/learning-center/network/spark-nc-realtors-womens-conference/. Interested parties can contact American IRA at 866-7500-IRA or visit http://www.AmericanIRA.com.

"About:

American IRA, LLC was established in 2004 by Jim Hitt, CEO in Asheville, NC.

The mission of American IRA is to provide the highest level of customer service in the self-directed retirement industry. Jim Hitt and his team have grown the company to over $400 million in assets under administration by educating the public that their Self-Directed IRA account can invest in a variety of assets such as real estate, private lending, limited liability companies, precious metals and much more.

As a Self-Directed IRA administrator, they are a neutral third party. They do not make any recommendations to any person or entity associated with investments of any type (including financial representatives, investment promoters or companies, or employees, agents or representatives associated with these firms). They are not responsible for and are not bound by any statements, representations, warranties or agreements made by any such person or entity and do not provide any recommendation on the quality profitability or reputability of any investment, individual or company. The term "they" refers to American IRA, located in Asheville and Charlotte, NC."
We are proud to have enabled SimpleBills expansion into new markets and to provide an essential channel for millions of young adults to get the credit they deserve for the payments they make.

SimpleBills, the student housing industrys premier utility bill management service, today announced that it has partnered with Urjanet to help millions of students build positive credit using utility payment history. This historically credit-invisible group can now report their utility bill payment history to credit bureaus through SimpleBills, adding another tradeline to their credit report and gaining previously unattainable access to credit.

SimpleBills automates utility bill collection and processing through Urjanets utility data platform, a process that was formerly manual and cost-intensive. With integrations to over 5,000 electric, water, gas, cable, and Internet providers across the globe, Urjanet automatically aggregates and delivers granular payment data to SimpleBills, in addition to an image of the data source for transparency.

There was no way for SimpleBills to effectively grow without a scalable solution like Urjanet, said Kevin Jones, founder and Executive Vice President. Our customer base has more than doubled since we started working with Urjanet; now, we are able to help more than 125,000 residents across 170 university markets and 46 states streamline bill payment and build positive credit history.

Initially launched to simplify utility bill payments for students, roommates, and property owners, SimpleBills enhanced their services to include credit reporting. Residents who pay their utility bills through SimpleBills can opt in to the service for a small monthly fee, and SimpleBills will report their payment history to credit bureaus on a monthly basis. User opt-in rates have already more than doubled in the second year since the service was launched.

Urjanets utility data automation and SimpleBills utility bill management service formed a natural fit from the start. We are proud to have enabled SimpleBills expansion into new markets and to provide an essential channel for millions of young adults to get the credit they deserve for the payments they make, said Urjanet CEO Sanjoy Malik.

Roughly 10 million people between the ages of 18 and 24 in the U.S. are credit invisible, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Without a valid credit score, millions of students and young adults have limited opportunities to get a loan or credit card, perpetuating a cycle of financial exclusion. But with the help of SimpleBills, these students can get credit for the bills they already pay every month.

Learn more about how SimpleBills helps students build positive credit history and how Urjanet automates access to consumer-permissioned utility data from thousands of utility, telecom and cable providers worldwide.

About SimpleBills:

SimpleBills is a complete utility bill management service with a focus in the student housing industry. Over 125,000 residents in over 170 markets in 46 states across the United States use SimpleBills to manage their utilities. For more information, visit http://www.simplebills.com.

About Urjanet:

Urjanet, the global leader in alternative data aggregation from utilities, telecom and cable providers, simplifies how organizations access and use utility data, enabling them to focus on their business. Our technology collects, processes, and delivers data from over 5,000 electric, natural gas, water, waste, telecom, and cable utilities worldwide. The data we provide can be configured and integrated into any application to support an organizations exact utility data needs. For more information, visit http://www.urjanet.com.
In addition to being a world-class educational conference, we also expect SIPNOC 2018 to be a meeting of the brightest industry minds from across the spectrum of the global network operator community.

Now in its eighth year, SIPNOC 2018 is a unique educational conference for international telecommunications stakeholders responsible for the deployment, management and ongoing operation of SIP-based services in service provider networks, including telecommunications providers, major backbone operators, interconnect and wholesale solution providers, ISPs, cable operators, and wireless network operators.

While the international carrier and service provider community is the linchpin of the event, industry stakeholders such as equipment vendors, government agency representatives, large enterprises, and research organizations are also encouraged to attend.

The SIPNOC conferences have attracted technical leadership from service providers from around the world, including Accent Communications, ADP, Airespring, Allstream, AT&T, Armstrong Utilities, babyTel, Bandwidth, Bell Canada, Bluetone Communications, Brighthouse Networks, British Telecom, Broadvox, CableOne, Cablevision, Centracom, CDK Global, Cincinnati Bell, Cinchcast, Charter Communications, Cologix, Comcast, Consolidated Telecom, COX Communications, Deutsch Telecom, Dialpad, E Street Communications, Evolve IP, Frontier Communications, Global Crossing, GRUPO GTD, Hargray Communications, iBasis, IDT, IntelliVerse, Level 3, Livevox, LINX America, Lumos Networks, MarcaTel, Megapath, MTS Allstream, Nextel, Optimum Lightpath, One Access Networks, Orange, Purple Communications, Rogers, SDN Communications, Shentel, Socket Telecom, Somos, Sorenson Communications, Sprint, Swisscom, Telefonica, Telmex, Time Warner Cable, TDS Telecom, Telefonica International Wholesale Services, XConnect Networks, XO Communications, Uni-tel, Verizon, Vonage, Voxbone, Vocalocity, WDT, and Ziggo.

In addition to carrier participants, SIPNOC has also attracted a myriad of SIP community stakeholders from vendors, governments and research organizations such as Amazon, Apple, ATIS, AudioCodes, Avaya, BlueAlly, Broadsoft, CableLabs, California State University, Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), CaptionCall, Cequint, Cisco Systems, Columbia University, Commetrex, CounterPath, CTIA, Democon, Dialogic Corporation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Dialog Technology, DISA (U.S. Defense Information Services Agency), ECG, Edgewater Networks, EGH, Equinox Information Systems, Ericsson, U.S. Federal Communications Commission, First Orion, Frequentis AG, GENBAND, Georgetown University, Hiya, Huawei Technologies, iconectiv, Illinois Institute of Technology, Ingate Systems, ISOC, LogMeIn, Metaswitch, Microsoft, MITRE, Neustar, Netmaker Communications, NICE Incontact, Noble Systems, Numeracle, Penn State University, Polycom, Professional Association for Customer Engagement (PACE), Oracle, Redshift Networks, REVE Systems, Ribbon Communications, Sangoma Technologies, SecureLogix, Siemens, snom, Sonus Networks, TelcoBridges, Teraquant, TNSI, Unify, University of New Hampshire Interoperability Laboratory, University of Virginia, U.S. Dept of Transportation, and Vigilsec.

The SIP Forum has also developed a world-class lineup of speakers for SIPNOC 2018, which can be viewed here: https://www.sipforum.org/news-events/sipnoc-2018-overview/#speakers.

When we launched the first SIPNOC eight years ago, we knew we were embarking on a new type of event for the industry and that there would be interest, and the response we have received over the years has justified our enthusiasm, and then some, said SIP Forum President Marc Robins. In addition to being a world-class educational conference, we also expect SIPNOC 2018 to be a meeting of the brightest industry minds from across the spectrum of the global networking operator community. Our vision for SIPNOC also remains the same: to be a place for network operators of all shapes and sizes to come together to share their perspectives and ideas on how to make IP communications better, and provide tangible results that further accelerate the development of innovative and successful communications services and applications.

Additional highlights for the upcoming SIPNOC 2018 include:



Extraordinary keynote addresses from Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) Chairman and CEO Ian Scott, new FCC CTO Dr. Eric Burger, and SIP Pioneer and Former FCC CTO Dr. Henning Schulzrinne.

An in-depth, full-day Robocall Summit offering a unique opportunity to learn from the experts responsible for the development of the STIR/SHAKEN Framework in the Joint ATIS/SIP Forum NNI Task Force, designed to eliminate Robocalls and Caller ID Spoofing.

A world-class, peer-reviewed agenda that is commercial-free and fully focused on the important technical considerations of the day.

Great networking opportunities for attendees to meet and share their real-world experiences and challenges.

Registration for SIPNOC 2018 remains opens by visiting https://www.regonline.com/sipnoc2018.

Current corporate sponsors of SIPNOC 2018 include Diamond Sponsor Ribbon Communications, Platinum Sponsor Neustar, Inc., and Gold Sponsors ECG, First Orion, Ingate Systems, Metaswitch, SecureLogix, TelcoBridges, Transaction Network Services, and Transnexus. For more information about SIPNOC 2018 sponsors, please visit https://www.sipforum.org/news-events/sipnoc-2018-overview/#sponsors.

About the SIP Forum

The SIP Forum is a leading IP communications industry association that engages in numerous activities that promote and advance SIP-based technology, such as the development of industry recommendations; interoperability testing events including SIPit, and special workshops, educational activities, and general promotion of IP communications standards, services, and technology for service provider, enterprise and governmental applications. The SIP Forum is also the producer of the annual SIPNOC conferences (for SIP Network Operators Conference), focused on the technical requirements of the service provider community. One of the Forums technical activities is the development of the SIPconnect Technical Recommendation  a standards-based SIP trunking recommendation that provides detailed guidelines for direct IP peering and interoperability between IP PBXs and SIP-based service provider networks, and the SIPconnect Certification Testing Program, a unique certification testing program that includes a certification test suite and test platform, and an associated SIPconnect Certified logo program that provides an official seal of certification for companies products and services that have officially achieved conformance with the SIPconnect specification. Other important Forum initiatives include work in security, SIP and IPv6, and IP-based Network-to-Network Interconnection (IP-NNI). For more information about SIP Forum initiatives, please visit https://www.sipforum.org.
Marcotte believes Sears will do its best to pull off a strong holiday season, in part to prove good faith to investors. But he warned against tying the retailers prospects too closely to how many shoppers it can get through its doors in the final months of the year. Former Sears CEO Edward Lamperts unusual role as the companys chairman and, through his hedge fund, its largest shareholder and creditor means all the financial rules go out the door, Marcotte said.
Electronica Munich offers an ideal platform to interact with current and potential customers from all over the world and share how we can support them with customized solutions in even the most complex market situations.

Smith, a global distributor of electronic components and semiconductors, today announces its upcoming exhibition at Electronica 2018 in Munich, Germany. Smith will take part in this leading, international industry gathering to demonstrate the companys broad portfolio of sourcing and service options.

Smith representatives will be on-hand in booth 211, hall C5 to showcase the expansive product sourcing capabilities, inventory management solutions, and comprehensive supply chain support the company provides with its sixteen offices, including its growing European front.

With numerous shortages of varying commodities posing an ongoing concern across the electronic components industry in recent months, the necessity for trustworthy product sourcing has only increased. Smiths Electronica exhibition team will also highlight the intensive quality and anti-counterfeit testing resources that enable Smith to deliver genuine, high-grade components in any market condition and safeguard customers against supply chain risks.

Electronica Munich offers an ideal platform to interact with current and potential customers from all over the world and share how we can support them with customized solutions in even the most complex market situations, said Margo Evans, Smith's Vice President of Marketing. We look forward to the opportunity to show how our expert sourcing and supply chain services meet the evolving needs of tech manufacturers in Europe and worldwide.

WHAT: Electronica 2018

WHEN: Tuesday, November 13 - Friday, November 16, 2018

WHERE: Smith Exhibition Showcase

Hall C5, Booth 211

Messe Munchen

Messegelande, 81823 Munich, Germany

Meetings with Smith personnel can be requested via Smiths Electronica page.

About Smith

Founded in 1984, Smith sources, manages, and distributes the electronic components that go into everything from mobile phones and computers to appliances and directional drilling systems. In 16 cities around the world, from Silicon Valley to Seoul, Smiths legion of employees communicates in 50 different languages and dialects and buys and sells components 24 hours per day, with global annual sales of $1.5 billion. Smith is always moving: helping manufacturers navigate market shifts; customizing supply chain solutions; testing components using cutting-edge technology. With testing and logistics hubs in Houston, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam, Smiths processes focus on critical issues, from quality management to counterfeit prevention and environmental safety. Smiths operations, purchasing, and sales worldwide are seamlessly integrated with the companys global IT infrastructure, offering real-time inventory and logistics visibility anywhere in the world. Smith is the leading independent distributor of electronic components and ranks number eight among all global distributors. Smiths Intelligent Distribution model adapts to ever-changing demands by providing reliable global electronics sourcing and logistics, regardless of distribution channel or locale. For more information, please visit https://www.smithweb.com, or, to reach a Smith representative 24 hours a day, please call +1 713.430.3000.
Solix Technologies, Inc. We are excited to welcome Solix to the Microsoft Azure family. Together, we deliver end-to-end big data applications for the enterprise with a comprehensive operations, data governance and security framework.

Solix Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of big data applications today announced the availability of Solix CDP on Microsoft Azure at Solix EMPOWER New York 2018.

Enterprise companies are increasingly moving business-critical systems to the cloud for the benefits digital transformation provides: better customer relationships, more empowered employees, streamlined operations, new business models, and new products and services.

Microsoft Azure, an open, flexible, enterprise-grade cloud computing platform, offers Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) to help companies optimally realize the benefits from digital transformation.

The Solix Common Data Platform (CDP) is a big data application framework that helps enterprises organize, manage, and process all of their structured, semi-structured and unstructured enterprise data, for advanced analytics, compliance, infrastructure optimization, and data security. Solix CDP now supports deployment on Microsoft Azure and leverages Azure HDInsight, Azure blob storage, Azure data lake store, and Power BI to offer a modern big data management platform on the cloud.

Our partnership with Microsoft will provide Azure customers with a highly scalable big data application framework for next generation, data-driven apps, said John Ottman, Executive Chairman at Solix Technologies, Inc.

We are excited to welcome Solix to the Microsoft Azure family. Together, we deliver end-to-end big data applications for the enterprise with a comprehensive operations, data governance and security framework, said Paul Maher, General Manager - Industry Experiences at Microsoft.

The Solix CDP is cloud-ready software. Key features include:



Support for Azure HD Insights and Object storage (Blob Storage and Azure Data Lake Storage)

Support for Microsoft Power BI

Object Workbench: Uniform data collection of structured and unstructured data, ETL and metadata repository.

Data Governance Workbench: Sensitive data discovery, data masking and encryption, role-based access control, retention management, ILM, GDPR, PHI, PCI and FISMA compliance frameworks

Analyst Workbench: Data preparation, data visualization, search, business intelligence, and analytics

Enterprise archiving and data lake: Real-time data hub architecture for scalable processing with low-cost bulk data storage

CDP API 1.0: API support for certified Solix App Store solutions

For more information on Solix CDP, please visit https://solix.com

About Solix Technologies

Solix Technologies, Inc., is a leading big data application provider that empowers data-driven enterprises with optimized infrastructure, data security and advanced analytics by achieving Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) goals. Solix Common Data Platform (Solix CDP) offers an ILM framework for Enterprise Archiving and Enterprise Data Lake applications with Apache Hadoop as an enterprise data repository. The Solix Enterprise Data Management Suite (Solix EDMS) enables organizations to implement Database Archiving, Test Data Management (Data Subsetting), Data Masking and Application Retirement across all enterprise data. Solix Technologies, Inc. is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and operates worldwide through an established network of value added resellers (VARs) and systems integrators. To learn more, please visit http://www.solix.com
Sourceability is excited to announce a newly signed distribution agreement with Walsin Technology Corporation. WTCs line of passive components will broaden Sourceabilitys product offerings globally. WTCs products will be available through Sourceabilitys global sales team as well as its e-commerce marketplace, Sourcengine (http://www.sourcengine.com).

Were proud to work with Walsin Technology Corporation on international distribution and e-commerce and expand our catalog of passive components, said Jens Gamperl, CEO of Sourceability. As Sourceability continues to grow rapidly, quality suppliers and business partners like WTC will be a key to our success.

About Walsin Technology Corporation: Incorporated in 1992, Walsin Technology Corporation (WTC) is the worlds leading manufacturer of passive components. The companys product lineup includes multiple-layer ceramic chip (MLCC) capacitor/array, chip-resistor/array & networks, RF components, disc capacitor, varistor, and chip fuse.

In less than ten years, WTC grew rapidly into a publicly traded company in Taiwan and ranked as a top tier supplier for passive components. Its dedication in R&D and strategic alliances with business partners contribute to this remarkable achievement.

About Sourceability: Sourceability develops technology that allows our customers to operate in and navigate the electronic component market, providing them with the best opportunity to find success. The backbone of Sourceability is quality and logistics. We have invested heavily in our global distribution centers in Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany and Miami. Each distribution center is supported by regional offices to maintain an understanding of customer supply chain needs. Sourceability will continue to innovate, building upon their initial success by investing in their core beliefs that have made them successful: innovation, customer empowerment, and integrity.
"The companys growth has been enabled by its hardworking employees... I am confident that our team will continue to be thought leaders that can solve complex science issues and deliver results for many years to come." - Michael Pavia, Sydor Technologies President and CEO

Sydor Technologies, a global leader in the manufacturing of high-speed diagnostic imaging solutions and ballistic test systems, announced it was named to the Rochester Chamber Top 100 for 2018. Each year, the Rochester Chamber of Commerce compiles the Top 100 list showcasing the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the Greater Rochester area.

Sydors continued strong growth has led to the creation of new jobs in the local community as well as driving additional manufacturing space requirements. To accommodate this growth Sydor has moved its operations to a much larger facility outside of Fairport. This newly acquired 41,000 sq. ft. facility houses Sydors worldwide headquarters, engineering, and manufacturing.

Sydor is most well-known for providing the worlds highest speed imaging diagnostics and instrumentation solutions. Sydor is an innovative technology transfer partner, delivering novel scientific designs to the commercial sector. For instance, Sydors family of X-Ray Detectors enable our national labs to push the limits of scientific discovery in key areas such as cancer research and clean energy. Sydors ballistics testing systems enable materials research scientists to certify designs used to protect our armed forces.

The companys growth has been enabled by its hardworking employees, they truly are the backbone of the company. We are grateful to have their hard work recognized by the Rochester Chamber of Commerce Top 100 for our fourth year. I am confident that our team will continue to be thought leaders that can solve complex science issues and deliver results for many years to come, says Michael Pavia, President and CEO of Sydor Technologies.

About Sydor Technologies

Sydor Technologies is a global leader providing complex measurement solutions that generate critical results for the worlds most advanced applications in the defense, energy, ballistics, security, space, and research industries. Established in 2004, Sydor Technologies is headquartered in Rochester, NY and now supplies systems and support in over 33 countries. For more information, please visit https://sydortechnologies.com/
We are very proud to call Frederick, Maryland our home; its a strong location for our business. Its a good place to live and a good place to employ our people.

TEFELEN, a Phoenix Mecano company, held its Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting event on October 19, 2018 in Frederick, MD. Joined by TEFELEN partner Rick Hepburn, (President/CEO of Hepburn and Sons, LLC), Philip Brown, President/CEO of TEFELEN and Phoenix Mecano, Inc. did the honors of cutting the ribbon. Business people from around the Frederick, Maryland area were invited to the event as well as an array of elected officials and dignitaries to tour the state-of-the-art Busbar and Bus Pipe facility.

We are very proud to call Frederick, Maryland our home; its a strong location for our business. Its a good place to live and a good place to employ our people. said President/CEO Philip Brown. This area is very important to me. Our business is dependent on the ability to recruit and retain professional people and Frederick is an outstanding area for this.

Mike Gill, Secretary of Commerce for the State of Maryland, spoke to the crowd regarding the positive future of Maryland business, and thanked the team at Phoenix Mecano for bringing even more value to state through TEFELEN. Also in attendance were Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner, Maryland State Senator Ron Young, Frederick County Alderman Roger Wilson, Frederick County Council Member Bud Otis, and Julianna Albowicz from United States Senator Chris Van Hollens office.

About TEFELEN

TEFELEN is proud to be the first American company to provide special low voltage and medium voltage cast resin insulated Busbar and Bus Pipe solutions throughout the U.S. market. Together with its partner Phoenix Mecano, an international stock-listed technology company, TEFELEN is working to establish and strengthen the application of cast resin Busbar systems throughout the American market.
The Baby Box Co. Launches National Parental Education Program We are so happy to be able to provide critical parenting education nationwide, said Doug Wadleigh, CEO of The Baby Box Co. The Baby Box Co. is dedicated to making the world a safer place for kids by providing the information and tools that parents need and this national launch allows us to offer

Parents or caregivers simply log onto http://www.thebabyboxco.com, take a brief educational course developed by experts on a specific topic, pass a short quiz, and receive free quality products and services that are related to that topic paying only a nominal shipping fee.

The Baby Box Co. launched its first education program in New Jersey in January 2016 and since then, the company has positively impacted parents in 10 U.S. states including: New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and California, with regional programs in some additional states. By the end of the year, the program will be available to anyone in the contiguous United States!

We are so happy to be able to provide critical parenting education nationwide, said Doug Wadleigh, CEO of The Baby Box Co. The Baby Box Co. is dedicated to making the world a safer place for kids by providing the information and tools that parents need and this national launch allows us to offer that across the country.

Research shows that 58% of current millennial parents find the amount of parenting information available to be overwhelming. The Baby Box Co. allows parents to cut through the parenting noise to find relief in learning from trusted experts. These experts address topics related to some of the most stressful parenting concerns such as safe sleep, proper nutrition, car seat safety, breastfeeding and more.

The Baby Box Co. has one of the largest communities of prenatal, infant and child experts of any online parenting site, including an advisory board of doctors and healthcare professionals. We also partner with hospitals, clinics and government healthcare agencies for both education and distribution.

About The Baby Box Co.

Founded in 2013, The Baby Box Co. is the only online parenting education company that provides the most important information that parents and caretakers need to know to parent smarter. The Baby Box Co. helps parents cut through the noise of parenting information by providing access to safety education along with the tools necessary to apply that knowledge -- all free of charge. The Baby Box Co. safe sleep module was launched in 2016 in ten states and in November 2018 launched nationally. To participate, parents or caregivers simply log onto http://www.thebabyboxco.com, take a brief educational course developed by prenatal, infant and child experts; and pediatric healthcare professionals on a specific childhood milestone, pass a short quiz, and receive free products and services related to that milestone. Parent smarter with The Baby Box Co.
With an engaged workforce, the quality soars, and that is another key to a stellar reputation. People really want to work with The LMC Group, either as a part of its team or as its clients.

The LMC Group has been awarded the immense honor of being named to the 50 Most Trustworthy Companies list for 2018 by business publication The Silicon Review. The Silicon Review chose The LMC Group after noting its reputation for integrity in its client relationships and the high standards its employees hold themselves to.

The Silicon Review interviewed LMC Founder and CEO Kristen Carroll to learn what principles and decisions had solidified The LMC Group as one of the most trustworthy companies. In an article announcing the award (https://bit.ly/2AB4XJ7), The Silicon Review explained what differentiates LMC from other companies:

"Engaged employees do not rent their positions, they own themand that is certainly the case at LMC. The entire team at LMC has an ownership mentality, and everyone considers the company to be a reflection of their own character. With an engaged workforce, the quality soars, and that is another key to a stellar reputation. People really want to work with The LMC Group, either as a part of its team or as its clients. The company has never had to use the hard sell."

According to The Silicon Review, LMCs collaborative, partnership approach led to new services based on client needs. LMCs culture of integrity protected them from launching new services that didnt really meet a need. As consultants, LMC rises and falls on its relationships with its clients. A major part of being an ethical organization is being trustworthy, and LMC team members follow time-tested guidelines to maintain faith with their clients.

The Silicon Review describes Kristen Carroll as an ingenious visionary:

"Kristen is a real-life renaissance woman who is an accomplished artist, photographer, vocalist, and writer. She is a visionary with creativity that informs her every thought and business approach."

Kristen explained that integrity was the first non-negotiable she established when launching the company:

"When faced with a decision between an ethical choice and a profitable choice, its not even a question for usethics wins every time. Ethical business practices are integral to The LMC Group, spelled out in our values of contribution, responsibility, and integrity. Every time we have made what felt like a sacrifice in service of our ethics, we have never regretted that decision."

The entire team at The LMC Group is tremendously proud to be named one of the 50 most trustworthy companies of the year. They look forward to a bright future of partnering with each other and with their clients.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Stephanie Carnes at stephanie@lmc.group.
"I have now lost more Marines to suicide than from combat. I believed something needed to be done for our veteran community. We dont talk about suicide before it happens and we dont provide solutions to this problem."

After 28 years of service, Retired Marine Sergeant Major Marty Kenny found his new Mission and Purpose by creating The Weekly Fight. The Weekly Fight is a registered 501c3 non-profit company whose mission is: To forge a bond between Veterans and the community to maximize their civilian potential.

The Weekly Fight was founded when one of SgtMaj. Kennys Marines committed suicide after an invisible battle with PTSD. Two years after The Weekly Fights inception, the mission to forge a bond between Veterans and the community to maximize their civilian potential, SgtMajs vision of turning Post-Traumatic Stress into Post-Traumatic Growth has come to life.

Stars and Stripes cited in June 2018 of this year, "The VA has now revealed the average daily number of veteran suicides has always included deaths of active-duty service members and members of the National Guard and Reserve, not just veterans." As our nation continues to face these deep wounds of war, the 20 that commit suicide per day is The Weekly Fight's daily battle to combat the visible and invisible wounds of war.

Kenny stated..."I have now lost more Marines to suicide than from combat. I believed something needed to be done for our veteran community. We dont talk about suicide before it happens and we dont provide solutions to this problem. My biggest push is trying to get our veterans out of post-traumatic stress disorder mindset. When we come together at The Weekly Fight, we are regaining that sense of camaraderie ... it opens these veterans up to begin sharing and talking, it brings them together, and it brings the veterans families together. As The Weekly Fight opens up its fifth chapter in the northeast region of the country, this Veterans Day, we lead the fight for our veterans to overcome the violent struggle and have post-traumatic growth."

The Weekly Fight currently hosts weekly workouts free to Veterans, first responders, and their family members in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Northern Virginia. The Weekly Fight is now serving our nation's veterans in five locations including Frazer, Oxford, Lancaster, Manayunk, and Wilmington Delaware. The Weekly Fight is adding least two additional locations before the end of 2018.

ABOUT: Marty Kenny, SGTMAJ (RET)

Sergeant Major Martin Kenny graduated from Parris Island in May 1986 as the Series High Shooter. Upon graduation from boot camp, Private Kenny was assigned to Marine Air Group 49 in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania as a combat engineer. Sergeant Kenny joined Bulk Fuel Company C in Folsom, Pennsylvania in 1995 as Platoon Guide. Shortly after joining this command Sergeant Kenny was assigned a Platoon as a Platoon Sergeant.

In January 1998 he was selected for Staff Sergeant and assumed collateral duties as Company Career Planner. Later that same year, Bulk Fuel Company C was converted to a Bridging Company in order to better serve the Marine Logistics Group. Staff Sergeant Kenny attended the SNCO Academy in 1998 at Camp Crowder Michigan. Staff Sergeant Kenny mobilized in October of 2002 with Bridge Company Bravo as a Platoon Sergeant in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While serving in Iraq Staff Sergeant Kenny was responsible for destroying more than 75,000 lbs of enemy ordnance was well as completing several bridging missions across the Tigris River. The company demobilized in July 2003.

In January 2004 Staff Sergeant Kenny was mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. During this time the Company was attached to the 420th Army Engineer Brigade. Staff Sergeant Kenny conducted more than 20 bridging operations as well serving as Convoy Commander on numerous convoys logging more than 16,000 miles. On 1 July 2004 Staff Sergeant Kenny was selected for the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and promoted at Camp Anaconda Iraq. Gunnery Sergeant Kenny was demobilized in September 2004. From September 2004 until May 2009 Gunnery Sergeant Kenny served in many capacities at Bridge Company including Platoon Commander, Operations Chief and First Sergeant.

In July 2004 Gunnery Sergeant attended the Advance SNCO Academy in Quantico Virginia. From September 2004 until May 2009 Gunnery Sergeant Kenny served in many capacities at Bridge Company including Platoon Commander, Operations Chief and First Sergeant. In July 2004 Gunnery Sergeant attended the Advance SNCO Academy in Quantico Virginia. Gunnery Sergeant Kenny was mobilized in May 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 9.2.

On 1 May 2009, Gunnery Sergeant Kenny was selected for the rank of First Sergeant. He was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 46 as the First Sergeant of Engineer Company. Engineer Company was responsible for the route clearance and the retrograding of equipment and vehicles to facilitate the withdrawal of Marines from Iraq.

In January 2010 First Sergeant Kenny was selected to train a Battalion for the 215 Corps Afghan National Army. First Sergeant Kenny deployed to Afghanistan and worked with the Afghan National Army until the end of March 2010. First Sergeant Kenny was demobilized in May of 2010. In April of 2013 First Sergeant Kenny was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major and assigned to HMH772, MAG49.

In July of 2015 Sergeant Major Kenny retired from the Marine Corps after thirty years of service. Sergeant Major Kennys awards and decorations include Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon.
Ivy Ann Marie: a charming, rhyming story about the wonders of imagination. Ivy Ann Marie is the creation of published author Tiffany Lovelace, a married mother of three energetic toddlers living on the Washougal River in Washington.

Lovelace writes, Ivy Ann Marie is a spunky, spirited, and imaginative little girl who has her own ideas about how she wants to spend her days. Her mama has a hard time trying to convince Ivy Ann Marie to cooperate with her, until she starts to see things the way Ivy does. See what happens when the two combine imaginations and find joy in the wonder of being a child.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Tiffany Lovelaces new book is a sparkling and amusing reminder to flustered parents that if they take the time to visit the marvels of the imaginary world with their children, they will not just understand them better but bring some of that light and joy into their own lives.

Parents and children will laugh along with Ivy Ann Marie and her fun mom as they journey through the fascinating world behind everyday reality.

View a synopsis of Ivy Ann Marie on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Ivy Ann Marie at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Ivy Ann Marie, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Tony Signals, the pen name of Tony Maniscalco, a retired signal maintainer on the Long Island Railroad, has completed the new book The Adventure Begins on a Magic Carpet Woven of Steel : a childrens book that brings the reader along for a thrilling ride on a Long Island Railroad train, explaining all the action to the reader through the family on-board in the story.

Remember your first train ride? The excitement as it arrived? Scampering into the grouped seating and knowing you only had moments to decide where to sit? Maniscalco said of his book.

Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Maniscalcos descriptive tale is aided by colorful illustrations that can even give readers who have never been on a train a vivid idea of what a trip about an LIRR train would entail.

Maniscalco went on to explain his inspiration to work on trains. As a young lad growing up in Brooklyn, I became close friends with a subway engineer on the IND Culver Line Avenue N train station. For a fifteen cent ride, the engineer taught me rigors of railroading, and I have him to thank for my start in the industry. The author received the moniker Tony Signals through the fact that, There were so many Tonys working on the Long Island and Amtrak Railroads that we were all assigned nicknames. Mine was Tony Signals, since I was the signal maintainer of the Harold LIRR switching tower.

Readers who wish to experience this fun ride of a story can purchase The Adventure Begins on a Magic Carpet Woven of Steel at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional New York based full-service publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex and time-consuming issues, and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Tuesday, October 30, at 2 p.m., the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC), an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, dedicated a new nature trail at Devils Knob-Devils Backbone Natural Area. The trail is a 1.25-mile loop and showcases the beauty of this 822-acre natural area.

Located 10 miles southwest of Melbourne, this Ozark Mountain treasure includes woodlands, forests, glades and bluffs. The natural area is comprised of an uplifted ridge with two knolls that are joined by a saddle, called the Devils Backbone, for which the natural area gets its name.

The trail at Devils Knob-Devils Backbone is the result of yet another example of local government and state government working together to benefit the citizens of Arkansas, Stacy Hurst, DAH Director, said. Thanks to that partnership, even more people can enjoy the scenic views and natural beauty of this area.

The hiking trail starts and ends at the main parking area and is considered moderate in difficulty level. Highlighting the beauty of the natural area, the trail takes visitors to the knolls and back to the parking area. Hikers can see Ashes juniper (Juniperus ashei) trees that are believed to be hundreds of years old, some with trunks measuring at 30 inches or more in diameter. Visitors will walk past glades, under a shelter bluff and past many overlook sites.

Devils Knob-Devils Backbone was added to the ANHCs statewide System of Natural Areas in 1976. The idea to add a trail at the natural area came at the suggestion of Izard County Judge, Eric Smith. Smith contacted the ANHC about the possibility of adding a trail and expanded, improved parking. The ANHC was able to contract with Rogue Trails, LLC. to build the trail. They were able to utilize a pre-existing footpath as a basis for a trail, which was completed this spring. Izard County assisted in parking area improvements at the natural area to accompany the trail.

The natural area is located in the Salem Plateau of the Ozark Mountains and reaches an elevation of 1,058 feet (mean sea level) at its highest point. The knobs and the backbone are home to a variety of outstanding woodlands, glades, and rock outcrops, as well as a variety of plant and animal species. Some of the key species found at the natural area include American smoke-tree (Cotinus obovatus), black-and-white warbler (Mniotilta varia), greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus), late purple aster (Symphyotrichum patens), pine-weed (Hypericum gentianoides), prairie lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus), prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia sp.), tassel-flower (Brickellia grandiflora) and small palafoxia (Palafoxia callosa).

About the Department of Arkansas Heritage

The mission of the Department of Arkansas Heritage is to identify Arkansass heritage and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors by the discovery, preservation and presentation of the states natural, cultural and historic resources. This is accomplished through the work of eight divisions: Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Arkansas State Archives, Delta Cultural Center, Historic Arkansas Museum, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and Old State House Museum.

About the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission

Since 1973, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission has been working to conserve Arkansass natural landscape. ANHCs professional staff conducts on-the-ground field surveys to locate and evaluate occurrences of rare habitats and at-risk species. This information is housed in the Arkansas Heritage Programs biodiversity database. For more information, visit http://www.naturalheritage.com and follow ANHC on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Travefy - the leading itinerary management and client communication tool for Travel Agents - announced a Preferred Supplier Partnership with the Texas based Leisure Travel Alliance (LTA).

We are thrilled by the opportunity to work with the LTA team to assist their wonderful Agents crafting client quotes and itineraries, notes Travefy CEO David Chait.

As a part of the partnership, Travefy will provide LTA Agents streamlined access to Travefys award-winning itinerary management tools, exclusive trainings, and more.

"Leisure Travel Alliance is excited about our new partnership with Travefy, notes Bobby Godwin, Vice President of the Leisure Travel Alliance. Travefy has an excellent platform for itinerary management and client communication. Our member agents are excited to have a new technology at their disposal that is a value add for servicing their clients."

ABOUT TRAVEFY

Travefys mission is to power the success of travel professionals. Our award-winning itinerary management and client communication tools help Travel Agents and professionals save time and impress clients. Professionals can build dynamic travel quotes and itineraries all in their brand that can be delivered via mobile app, responsive web page, or PDF. Additional time-saving integrations bring key data seamlessly to any itinerary.

Travefy powers thousands of travel businesses ranging from small, independent travel advisors to the largest travel agencies, consortia, and organizations. Travefy has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes among other publications and has won numerous industry honors including the Brand USA Marketing Innovation Award at Phocuswright and the 2017 ASTA Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

For more information please see: https://travefy.com/pro

For press assets please see: https://travefy.com/press

ABOUT THE LEISURE TRAVEL ALLIANCE

Leisure Travel Alliance (LTA) is a travel marketing organization that provides a wide array of business services to a network of 300 independent travel agencies and travel suppliers. One of LTAs primary missions is that of marketing premium travel offers to travel consumers on behalf of its affiliated travel agencies and allied travel suppliers.

LTA is based in Austin, Texas and is managed by travel executives with extensive experience in the travel marketing and retail sectors of the travel industry. In addition to consumer marketing operations, LTA manages travel website content and database operations, provides travel product training and education, and negotiates consumer-friendly preferred rates, pricing and value-added features.
Family-owned and operated paint and design services company, Unique Painting KC, is absolutely thrilled to earn its spot on the 2018 Best of Northland-Kansas City winners list. In the competitive Painting Services category, the company makes its inaugural debut on the prestigious list at #2. Services provided by Unique Painting KC include Paint: Residential, Exterior, Interior and Cabinet Refinishing, as well as Design: Color Trends, Color Consultation and Exterior Paint Combinations.

We are so thrilled that the hard work of all our employees has been recognized by the community in which we live and serve, said WEK. It just makes us so proud that the principles on which we were founded  dedication to customer service, commitment to delivering quality work and being an active participant in our community  are all part of deciding who earns a spot on this list.

Unique Painting Philosophy

The company prides itself on these principles and believes strongly that every project must have the exact same goal: do it right, and within budget, the first time. The company also believes it is crucial for it to be good at everything: listening, being transparent, showing up, doing great work, staying on budget.

Unique Painting KC encourages potential customers to do their due diligence in finding the best paint contractor and urges them to seek references and do their homework: interview contractors and see how well they communicate from the beginning; ask them as many questions as possible about proper licenses, insurance, subcontractors, quality of products and more.

Unique Painting in the Community

When the owners and employees talk about providing the highest level of service possible, they are not just talking about the projects for which they are hired. They are talking about participating in the community and being a great neighbor in Kansas City  being of service and giving back as a way to show their gratitude for all that the community offers.

We not only pride ourselves on bringing joy to customers by beautifying their homes, we feel that its their responsibility to help the community in which our customers live, added WEK. We believe in the importance of community and the enhancement and betterment of it in any way we can, because we are so proud to call the Northland our home.

Literacy KC

Literacy for All! The organizations mission is to advance literacy within the Kansas City metropolitan area through direct services, advocacy, and collaboration. We at Unique Painting have supported the organization for years and appreciate the work they do that truly makes a difference in the lives of the people they serve.

Ladies Inspiring Ladies

Unique Painting KC values working to support domestic violence victims and survivors through our efforts with Ladies Inspiring Ladies and Newhouse Shelter. Ladies Inspiring Ladies knows that domestic violence is a horrible thing to have to live through. They do whatever they can to help make life better for these women and their children. Unique Painting KC has donated book bags and school supplies, employees have cooked meals for families, done hair and nails, and provided massage chairs. We look forward to a continued partnership with this amazing community initiative.

Newhouse

In 1971, an ecumenical community service located in the Northeast area of Kansas City, MO, recognized that women experiencing domestic violence needed support. In response, they formed NEWS (Neighborhood Ecumenical Witness and Service) and began working together to respond. Initially, NEWS provided neighborhood programs including substance abuse education as well as food and clothing assistance. The need for shelter became evident as abused women repeatedly requested a place to escape from the domestic violence in their homes. Unique Painting KC works closely with Newhouse to make sure they have the supplies they need to properly support the women who come through their doors.

In addition to the above organizations, Unique Painting KCs employees and the company also have supported other organizations and initiatives, including Sisters in Christ and Youth Mentoring programs.

At the end of the day, we understand we have a role and responsibility to fulfill as part of the Kansas City community, which has the biggest heart of any town around, said WEK. Thats why this honor is so meaningful to us; it lets us know that were doing our part to be a dependable service provider, corporate citizen, and good neighbor.

Contact: Chad Wek

chadwek(at)uniquepaintingkc.com

816-500-7759
Brian Fried, newly appointed Executive Director, United Inventors Association My goal is to bring the inventor back into the United Inventors Association, said Fried on his new position. We are going to continue to bring new innovative ideas into the organization to provide the best resources to inventors and inventor clubs across America.

The United Inventors Association of America (UIA) board of directors decided to appoint the position of executive director to invention expert and thought leader, Brian Fried. Fried will serve as the public figurehead for the UIA as well as sit on the executive committee. The executive director is also responsible for acting as the liaison with inventor clubs cross-nationally and promoting their involvement with UIA-related events.

Brian Fried joins a collection of dynamic and dedicated members of the board. The United Inventors Association of the United States of America is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources to the inventing community while encouraging honest and ethical business practices among industry service providers. Under Frieds direction, the organization hopes to continue its mission of providing resources and access to information to independent inventors across the nation.

Brian Fried has a terrific reputation, said Warren Tuttle, President of the UIA, and the entire board feels very strongly that he will reflect our groups passion, ethics, and purpose. This is the core of what makes the UIA such a unique entity within the inventor community and one that can creditably speak on all inventor issues.

Frieds expertise comes with over 15 years of experience as a mentor to inventors, including celebrities. He is the author of Inventing Secrets Revealed and You & Your Big Ideas. A thought-leader of the industry, Fried has been featured with products on As Seen On TV, home shopping channels, catalogs and online retailers through licensing and manufacturing. With his consultancy Inventor Smart, Fried aids clients through constructive feedback, product development and more to help them bring their ideas to market. The founder and president of the Long Island Entrepreneurs Clubs most recent appearance includes this years Invention-Con hosted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

My goal is to bring the inventor back into the United Inventors Association, said Fried on his new position. We are going to continue to bring new innovative ideas into the organization to provide the best resources to inventors and inventor clubs across America.

Others at the UIA are also excited about what Frieds expertise and connections mean for the future of the organization. His knowledge of the industry, network of independent inventors across the globe and dedication to bringing them together make him a valuable energy source to catapult the power of this organization into the hands of inventors everywhere.

People know that Brians objective is to help them make good decisions as they go from idea to a marketable product, said the organizations treasurer and operations director Deb Hess. His passion is visible behind his deep understanding of the industry and his efforts to make inventors everywhere successful. Hes not in it for himself but for the betterment of inventors everywhere.

The United Inventors Association has been helping inventors through education, access and advocacy since its inception in 1990. Inventors can access the UIA list of online reading and video materials to guide them through the invention process. The UIA trade show programs and educational seminars grant inventors access to a network of companies seeking new products or can offer services to advance the inventors process.

For more information on the United Inventors Association visit the website at http://www.uiausa.org.
Universal Plastics recently received the Diplomats Award from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM). AIM announced the winners of its 23rd annual AIM Global Trade Awards, which recognizes Massachusetts companies and public agencies of all sizes that have demonstrated excellence in international business. The 2018 honorees also include Bennett & Co, and John Hancock.

Says Pia Kumar Co Owner and Chief Strategy Officer, Over the last few years, our customers have developed global supply chains while choosing to retain us as their custom thermoformer. So, we have adapted our business to support our customers globally while continuing to manufacture the highly cosmetic, precision thermoformed parts they need at our three thermoforming facilities in the US  located in Western & Central MA, and in Upstate NY.

From innovation in product development to supporting the profile of our commonwealth across the world, Massachusetts companies are deeply entrenched in the global marketplace, said Richard Lord, President and CEO of AIM. We are delighted to honor the achievements of these winners, who exhibit best practices in advancing global business. During a time when trade and international commerce are key topics of conversation, we want to foster an appreciation for the role of global business in our local economy.

The three Global Trade Award winners will be honored during the AIM Global Trade Symposium & Awards Breakfast on Thursday, November 8 from 8-11 am at Waltham Woods Conference Center The AIM Global Trade Symposium & Awards is sponsored by Massport, Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP) and The Provident Bank.

Universal received the Diplomats Award. Owned and operated by husband and wife team Jay and Pia Kumar, Universal Plastics has grown rapidly in the six years since the couple bought the company. Founded in 1965, Universal Plastics manufactures custom thermoformed plastic parts. These include covers and housings for large machinery such as aircraft engines, MRI machines and dental equipment; plastic components for airplane seats; tamper-resistant signs for bus stops, and kayaks. With 300 employees in Massachusetts, five manufacturing facilities in the U.S., and headquarters in Holyoke, Universal Plastics has created over 100 new jobs in the last 6 years, fueled by export growth.

Universal Plastics is part of the Universal Plastics Group. Universal Plastics Group represents a family of plastics manufacturing companies specializing in a range of processes including injection molding, gas assist molding, heavy gauge thermoforming, blow molding and structural foam molding. The companies have expertise in large, complex and highly aesthetic parts with manufacturing volumes of 50-50,000 parts per year.

In addition to Universal Plastics Corp., the group owns Mayfield Plastics Inc., another thermoformer in Sutton, Mass., that Universal Plastics bought in 2013 as well as Sajar Plastics of Ohio, a gas injection molding specialist and Premium Plastic Solutions, a custom blow molder located in Latrobe PA. Universal Plastics Group also recently acquired the assets of custom thermoformer W. Kintz Plastics, based in Albany, New York

About Universal Plastics Group

Universal Plastics Group is a family of plastics manufacturing businesses comprised of Universal Plastics Corporation (three sites in Massachusetts and New York dedicated to custom thermoforming), Sajar Plastics (gas assist injection molding, straight injection molding & structural foam molding) based in Middlefield Ohio, and Premium Plastic Solutions (custom blow molding) based in Latrobe Pennsylvania.

For more information visit http://www.universalplasticsgroup.com/

Universal Plastics Corp. is the custom thermoforming division of Universal Plastics Group with three facilities in Massachusetts and New York with strong legacy of expertise in manufacturing thermoformed plastic parts of the highest quality with a distinct focus on customer satisfaction. Universal has been in business for over 50 years with a world class management team and currently serves customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, medical device manufacturers, transportation, consumer products, food packaging and electronic companies.

For more information visit https://www.universalplastics.com/

For more information about Sajar Plastics, please visit http://www.sajarplastics.com/

For more information about Premium Plastic Solutions, please visit http://www.ppsmolding.com/
No Shave November Cocktails at Valencia Group's Court Hotels

Valencia Group hotels in Texas are approaching their fifth year in support of No Shave November. Three properties, including Lone Star Court in Austin, Texas, Cavalry Court in College Station, Texas, and the soon to be completed Texican Court in Irvings Las Colinas Urban Center in Irving, Texas will each select managers to throw away their razors for the month in the goal of raising eyes and awareness for cancer prevention. From each of those areas, we have chosen local celebrities to participate.

Throughout November, guests can anticipate 20% of sales from beverage items will benefit the American Cancer Society. In true Valencia Group style, visitors can expect to see a range of creative and limited availability specialty cocktails such as the Mustache Mule and Manly Margarita adorned with handlebar straws. To join Valencia Group in their efforts to raise money, click here to donate.

"No Shave November is a fun and casual way of building awareness that impacts the lives of so many. By getting our staff involved as well as a few local celebrities, we find ourselves working together as a TEAM to build awareness, promote and encourage specific sales to give back to the cause, and support those who may be experiencing this disease directly or indirectly. Giving back to the community fits our brand goals and creates a caring bond by participating, says Marcus Latner, GM of Cavalry Court.

Stop into the Water Trough, The Canteen, or Two Mules Cantina at Valencia Groups court hotels to treat yourself to a fun drink and help raise money in honor of No Shave November.

Manly Margarita



1.5 oz. Bulleit bourbon

0.5 oz. Cointreau

3 oz. homemade margarita mix

Margarita Mix (one gallon)



2 quarts fresh squeezed lime

1 quart agave nectar

1 quart hot water

1 cup orange juice

Mustache Mule



1.5 oz Blue Ice Vodka

Splash cranberry juice

Juice of two lime wedges

Fever-Tree ginger beer to fill

Long Island Goa-Tea



0.75 oz. Seagrams Vodka

0.75 oz. Seagrams Gin

0.75 oz. Bacardi Rum

0.75 oz. Dekupyer Triple Sec

1.25 oz. lemon juice

1.25 oz. lime juice

Coca Cola to fill

About Valencia Group

Houston-based Valencia Group is a fully integrated hospitality company that provides management, development, branding and repositioning services for independent, full-service hotels owned by the company, in addition to third parties. Exceptional service, style and location have become brand trademarks. Earning both national and international recognition for their distinctive designs, amenities and settings, Valencia Group properties are destinations and gathering places within their respective communities, some further benefitting from and enriching their space within the cultural heart of a city. The company continues to forge a niche with hotels that anchor and add value to urban, mixed-use environments, which further support or enhance the guest experience with superior residential, restaurant, retail and office components. The Valencia Group portfolio currently includes the Valencia brands: Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose, CA and Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX. The Sorella brand includes Hotel Sorella CITYCENTRE in Houston, TX by developer Midway. Other brands include Valencia Group's and Midway's The George in College Station, TX and Hotel Alessandra in Houston, TX. The Court concept brands include Lone Star Court in Austin, TX, Cavalry Court in College Station, TX and Texican Court, coming soon to Irving, TX. For more information, please visit http://www.valenciagroup.com
With her passions for writing and photography, as well as her creative thinking and leadership skills as an undergraduate, Nailah stood out to us as a candidate who reflects Bill Caspares spirit and represents the reasons we established this scholarship.

Advertising technology provider Visto, in partnership with the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As) Foundation, today announced that St. Johns University senior Nailah Fisher has been awarded the fourth annual Bill Caspare Memorial Fund Scholarship. Established to support multicultural students pursuing careers in advertising and media, the $10,000 award provides support to Fisher as she completes her studies and embarks on a career in advertising.

Fisher was selected in part for her strong academic record, innovative thinking, creative writing and peer leadership. Already demonstrating her significant talent in the advertising field, Fisher was the only Junior accepted to an elite, Senior-level course that finishes with participation in the American Advertising Federations National Student Advertising Competition. The class selected Fishers creative strategy as the one presented to the judges, resulting in a strong fourth-place finish in their district, recognized as the events most competitive.

The scholarship was established in 2015 by Visto (formerly Collective) and The 4As, the leading trade organization for marketing communication agencies in the US, to commemorate Bill Caspare, a former senior executive with Collective. The fund provides a variety of resources including scholarships that allow students and young professionals of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds to explore careers in new media, data science and product development. This includes all rising college juniors and seniors who identify as African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, Native American, Multiracial or LGBTQ.

With her passions for writing and photography, as well as her creative thinking and leadership skills as an undergraduate, Nailah stood out to us as a candidate who reflects Bill Caspares spirit and represents the reasons we established this scholarship, said Kerry Bianchi, President and CEO of Visto. Were delighted to give her our support as she finishes her degree, and we look forward to seeing her embark on what is sure to be a very successful career journey.

In the dynamic field of marketing and advertising, it is industry critical to have a team of diverse and creative thinkers. Nailah Fisher is a great example of a stellar student passionate about the industry using her talent and skills to keep up with the continuous change, said Marla Kaplowitz, President and CEO, 4As.

About Visto

Visto is a technology company dedicated to bringing transparency, interoperability and accountability to digital advertising. The companys Visto Enterprise Advertising Hub is a vendor-agnostic platform that unites the complete ad tech stack in a single user-friendly interface. Brands, media companies and agencies benefit from transparency in managing execution partners, optimizing ad spend, measuring performance and leveraging analytics to drive efficiencies and improve ROI. For more information, contact http://www.vistohub.com.

About the 4As

Founded in 1917, the 4As was established to promote, advance and defend the interests of our member agencies, their employees and the industry at large. The organization serves 700+ member agencies across 1,300 offices, which control more than 85% of total U.S. advertising spend. As the leading trade organization for marketing communication agencies, the 4As purpose is to help empower its members to deliver insightful creativity that drives commerce, and influences culture all while moving the industry forward. The organization provides community, leadership, advocacy, guidance and best-in-class training that help enable agencies to innovate, evolve and grow. 4As Benefits division insures more than 160,000 employees and its D.C. office advocates for policies that best support a thriving advertising industry. The 4As Foundation fuels a robust diversity pipeline of talent for its members and the marketing and media industry, fostering the next generation of leaders. The organization is dedicated to, and vested in, our members success just as they are dedicated to helping brands create, distribute, and measure effective and insightful advertising and marketing. Visit the 4As at http://www.aaaa.org.
W&J College Associate Professor of Mathematics Ryan Higginbottom; WVU School of Public Health Dean Jeffrey Coben; and W&J Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty Judy Kirkpatrick. Given the rising cost of higher education coupled with the increasingly competitive job market, we wanted to ensure we were meeting students needs and providing cost-effective options, said Jeffrey Coben, dean of the WVU School of Public Health.

In an effort to provide an affordable option for students seeking a graduate degree, Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) and the WVU School of Public Health have established a new shared-credit degree program, the Master of Science in Biostatistics.

The agreement with W&J will provide qualified students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a Master of Science in Biostatistics in just five years. This is the School of Public Healths first shared-credit degree program with an institution outside of the WVU system.

Were very excited to be partnering with Washington & Jefferson College to give students at both of our institutions access to this innovative and cost-effective program, said Joyce McConnell, provost and vice president for academic affairs. As a land grant university, WVU is committed to serving the people of our state and region. By graduating more qualified public health professionals locally, we know we can fulfill that commitment.

Given the rising cost of higher education coupled with the increasingly competitive job market, we wanted to ensure we were meeting students needs and providing cost-effective options, said Jeffrey Coben, dean of the WVU School of Public Health. This new program will give students an edge in the marketplace with their graduate degree in Biostatistics a year earlier than most traditional programs.

The 3+2 program will allow students to work toward their bachelors degree for the first three years at W&J and then transition to WVU for the fourth and fifth years. After successful completion of their third semester at WVU, W&J will issue students their Bachelor of Arts degree. Students will continue to matriculate at WVU until the Master of Science requirements have been met.

Biostatistics is an important, fast-growing area of study that offers many exciting career options, said Associate Professor Ryan Higginbottom, Ph.D., chair of the mathematics department at W&J. Since graduates generally need an advanced degree to make an impact in this field, we at W&J are excited to partner with WVU to make this a possibility for our students.

Details about the program and application process can be obtained from the Department of Biostatistics at the WVU School of Public Health or the Department of Mathematics at Washington & Jefferson College.

About the West Virginia University School of Public Health

The West Virginia University School of Public Health in Morgantown, WV, is dedicated to tackling critical public health issues facing the citizens of West Virginia and the Appalachian region. Through community engagement projects, innovation and research, students and faculty are engaged in partnerships or projects in nearly every county in West Virginia. Research and service efforts focus on contemporary issues associated with injury and disease prevention, elimination of health disparities and policy solutions. The WVU School of Public Health is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The only accredited public health program in the state, the School is home to undergraduate and graduate programs in various public health disciplines at the bachelors, masters and doctoral levels.

About Washington & Jefferson College

Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit http://www.washjeff.edu, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
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Feselani Mcube is reported to have been arrested in the early hours of August 9, Womens Day after he was caught in the bestial act.

SPCA inspector, Mishack Matlou who reportedly confirmed the incident to newsmen is quoted as saying: During the court hearing which was concluded in October, Mcube appeared emotionless when he was cross-examined about the act.

The convict will remain in custody until the day of sentencing because, according to police spokesperson Captain Samuel Sebola, the court upheld SPCAs opposition to his bail application.

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The convict was tried on a charge of bestiality following the sexual assault on neighbours pregnant goat.

Bestiality, according to some South African media has become rampant in the country, especially with men being the culprits in most cases.
Obviously the incident is likely to damage the reputation of the church, hence its overseer, Apostle Joshua Oribhabor has distanced the church from the alleged criminal conducts of the deceased pastor.

READ MORE: Porn star reveals how she had to quit acting porn to save her life

He said: My Ministry Grace Dispensation Prophetic Ministry Intl is not and can never be a party to his evil deed, we are informing the general public that we know nothing about it and the name of our Ministry should not be dragged to the mud.

Apostle Joshua Oribhabor further explained that Pastor Emmanuel was never an ordained pastor of his church, saying: I dont have other Pastors in my Ministry and I have never ordained any, I dont know where and who ordained Pastor Emmanuel, he do attend our programs and became a friend to the Ministry, but we were never aware of his illicit act and we never recognize him as a pastor.
30-year-old John Godwin, according to yabaleftonline.ng, was arrested alongside four other suspects identified as Solomon Adeniji (27), Tosin Adeoye (25) and two nationals of Republic of Benin, Adewale Adebolaji (45) and Moyori Sule (42).

The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer (ZPPRO), CSP Dolapo Badmos is reported as saying the suspects was notorious for snatching vehicles in Nigeria, drive them to Benin Republic and hand them over to a receiver identified only as Alhaji.

READ ALSO: Police shoot to death a pastor who doubles as armed robber

Following his arrest, the ex-convict is quoted as having told journalists that: I was once sent to Ibara Prison in Abeokuta for stealing something at a market in Abeokuta. It was in the prison that I came across Tosin.

My parents told me when I was born a pastor and prophesied that I would become a pastor. When I was in the prison I used to preach and pray with my colleagues. It is the devil that drove me to crime.

Whenever we are going on operation, I usually read Psalm 121. I believe reading the Psalms would give me protection throughout the operation period.

On the fateful day I was arrested, I forgot to read the Psalms before leaving home. I believe God wanted the police to arrest me so as to quit robbery.

Psalm 121 which John Godwin claimed to recite before embarking on every robbery operation reads: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD who hath made heaven and earth.
He said this when he paid a working visit to the Authoritys Ayawaso District office in Accra on Wednesday, October 31.

At the time of his visit, hundreds of NHIS subscribers had thronged the district office to either register or renew their membership. Officials there say that this is a normal scene at the place.

However, the numbers have been inundating.

Dr Annor said the numbers are increasing and subscribers do not have to go through this stress hence the introduction of the electronic renewal.

READ ALSO: Ghanaians will need ID to trade in foreign currencies  BOGGhanaians will need ID to trade in foreign currencies  BOG

This expected to relieve NHIS subscribers of the long hours they spend at the district offices to have their cards renewed.

Currently, an electronic renewal system is being piloted in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region and West Mamprusi District in the Northern Region. It is expected to be rolled out by the end of the year.
READ ALSO: Koforidua rotation nurses declare indefinite strikeKoforidua rotation nurses declare indefinite strike

Speaking to Accra-based Class FM, he said the Police administration will not relent until it flashes out all unqualified officers.

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I know some years back, a group of police officers was nicodemously brought into the Ghana Police Service and I can tell you that about 70 per cent of them are out, ACP Eklu said.

He added that some of the officers have been jailed, while others are also currently on the run after being found out.

The Police Chief called for systems to be instituted to ensure that only qualified persons are recruited into the Police service.

According to him, the systems need to be tight enough to ensure that all officers go through the right processes during recruitment.

READ ALSO: Journalist beaten to a pulp by NDC vigilante groupJournalist beaten to a pulp by NDC vigilante group

That is why I am calling for strong institutions. The UN has rules and regulations and you cannot circumvent [them], if you circumvent it, you will be caught and we need to deliver such strong institutions, ACP Eklu noted.
He said the passage of the law comes with a lot of repercussions, therefore, some patience is needed to look at it carefully.

I am very very worried. It has potential banana skins and we have got to look at it pretty carefully and some of us are petrified. I am very uncomfortable, he said.

Parliament has come under intense pressure from civil society organisations and the media coalitions to expedite action on the passage of the bill.

However, KT Hammond said: "we will do our best. We will go through but nobody is going to rush.

The RTI bill is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the countrys 1992 Constitution and recognised as a right under International Conventions on Human rights.The Bill as it has been drafted is to give substance to Article 21 (1) (f) of the Constitution which states that All persons shall have the right to information subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary for a democratic society.

He added: "In opposition, I held the same view. The very last minute when the NDC government wanted to rush it through Parliament, we made sure we stood firm and made sure that we did the right thing we are going to make sure we in government will do the right thing making sure it goes its normal course.

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Mr. Hammond said he was particularly concerned with clause 17 of the Bill, which he described as the most dangerous clause of all the clauses.
Nigeria and Ghana are the still within the three-digit ranking rate on the World Bank's Ease Of Doing Business report but with a lot of lessons to learn from Kenya's reforms.

Africa's largest economy has been ranked 146 among other countries where entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises can thrive, a drop from 145 it ranked last year.

Ghana, on the other hand, moves six places up to 114 with improvement attributed mainly its single window system in the Port while Kenya jumps 19 positions from 80th last year to 61 this year, out of 190 countries.

World Bank stated this in its latest Ease Of Doing Business global ranking released on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

Commenting on the report, Jim Yong Kim, World Bank President, said it tracked 314 reforms by 128 governments across the world.

Kim said, Sound and efficient business regulations are critical for entrepreneurship and a thriving private sector. Without them, we have no chance to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity around the world.

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Kenya on the World Bank's ease of doing business report:

Per the report, Kenya's attractiveness to investors improved 19 places and advanced to position 61 out of 190 economies from 80 in 2017.

The East Africa nation is also among the top 10 most improved economies in the world and number three in Africa after Mauritius and Rwanda.

Here are some notable lessons for Nigeria and Ghana:

- Kenyan government's efforts to make registration of property easier by introducing an online system to pay fees and obtain digital certificates paid off.

- Time lap for a business to register a property transfer reduced to 49 days, from 61 days.

- Improvement is the ease in accessing credit for businesses.

- Strengthening of requirements regulations for minority investors, including increasing shareholder rights and calls for greater corporate transparency.

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- Kenya allowed for the continuation of contracts supplying essential goods and services to the debtor, giving the administrator the power to continue or disclaim contracts of the debtor.

- Digitization of business regulatory- Kenya simplified the process of providing value-added tax information by enhancing its existing online system, iTax.

- Implementation of an online land rent financial management system on the eCitizen portal, enabling property owners to determine the amount owed in land rent, make an online payment and obtain the land rates clearance certificate digitally.
The On-Air Personality and convenor of the free the sheeple movement recently shared this controversial 'truth' in the Youtube video above titled; 'His Name Is NOT Jesus And This Isn't His Picture!'

In the clip, the religious critic argues that there is no way the Son of God could have been called 'Jesus' because the letter 'J' did not exist during his lifetime.

He says, "Do you guys know that the letter 'J' was not invented until 1600?" There was no letter 'J' until 1600."

Freeze then asks, "If the letter 'J' wasn't invented until 1600, how did Jesus get his name 2018 years ago? How come Jesus had his name 1600 years before the letter 'J' was invented?"

He goes on to declare that the religion has been adulterated by manipulators, explaining that this is why Christians are using the wrong name for Jesus."The answer is simple. Instead of Christianity influencing the world, the world influenced Christianity," he states.

Citing James 1:27, the controversial personality asks, "Why are we now allowing the world to corrupt us? Why do we give Jesus a name that isn't his name?"

What is Jesus' real name?

According to Daddy Freeze, the correct name for God's son is 'Yeshua."

In his words, "99% of what your Pastors and GOs taught you is false! How can his name be 'Jesus' when the letter 'j' was not part of the English language until 1634? Here is a copy of the original translation of the King James Bible completed in 1611. How can his name be Jesus when the Hebrew alphabet doesn't have a 'j' sounding letter?"

"Be careful of what name you call The name 'Jesus' was invented, Yahweh had a son called Yeshua, which means salvation! the name Jesus has no meaning, it's an invention! Yeshua is our Saviour, while 'Jesus' was invented by manipulators, who aligned his birthday with Nimrod's and the pagan 'solstice of the sun'. Yeshua said you can only worship him in truth and in spirit (John4), if you don't know the truth, you end up worshiping a pagan invention."

He backs his point with Matthew 1:23, Hebrews 4:8, Chapter 7:14 and John 4:22.

Faced with questions from a critic, Freeze responded with arguments for his statements. He also called the person "Nimrod The pagan king.."

Watch the entire video to hear all his points.

Who is Daddy Freeze?

The controversial OAP is the leader of the Free Nation in Christ Online Church aka free the sheeple. He recently unveiled the official logo for his church.

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Recently, his church held its first outreach program in . It was done without the physical presence of their convenor - Freeze, who handled things from Nigeria.
The General Overseer of the shared this while addressing to Samford students at the Wright Center on October 24, 2018.

Pastor Adeboye's keys to success

Speaking about the power of perseverance during campus worship, the popular cleric encouraged the students to adopt his four pillars of success which are vision, diligence, perseverance, and prayer.

In his words, "First you must have vision. You must have a goal that is far bigger than yourself. Second, you must have diligence because the moment you begin to move toward your vision, obstacles will try to slow you down."

Citing James 1:57, Pastor Adeboye also talked about the need for perseverance.

He said, "If you are to receive anything from God, you must not waver. Your determination must be very strong The world is full of examples of people who have achieved great things. Those who kept on failing, but kept on going I have good news for you, no matter how big your dream, God can bring it to pass."

According to the popular cleric, fondly known as Daddy G.O, these four things have helped achieve all his goals.

ALSO READ: Pastor Daniel Olukoya shares 5 things Christians need to be successful

Fast Facts on Pastor Adeboye

Years before becoming the renowned preacher that we now know, he was a lecturer in Mathematics at University of Lagos (UNILAG). Reportedly, his original goal was to become the youngest Vice-Chancellor (University President) in Nigeria.

This changed after he gave his life to Christ in 1973. This eventually led to him taking over the leadership of RCCG after the founder and first overseer,Josiah Akindayomi passed away.

Under his leadership, RCCG has expanded rapidly. Reportedly, there are branches in over 100 countries across the world.
For the teacher and blogger named Dale Partridge, the greatest danger is that believers especially parents who participate in this Satanic holiday are making themselves and their children get comfortable with evil.

Responding to the popular question - 'Should Christians celebrate Halloween?' he starts by first sharing the founder of the Church of Satan, Anton Levey's thoughts on this day.

When asked about Halloween in an interview years ago, he said, "I'm glad that Christian parents let their children worship the Devil at least one night out of the year."

Why this Bible teacher is against Christians celebrating Halloween

Responding to this, Partridge writes, "The reality is, Halloween is viewed as a Satanic holiday by Satanists. It was created by pagans for the purpose of honoring darkness. For our family, these facts checked our hearts regarding October 31st. Ultimately and unarguably, Halloween is a celebration of death. This is why your local Home Depot and Target stores are covered in morbid, decaying, witches and skeletons."

The Bible teacher who is also a Wall Street Journal Bestselling author, and the founder of UnlearnChurch.com, goes on to highlight his issue with Halloween.

In his words, "It's a season to make children more comfortable with evil and the distortion of God's image. It's a night to elevate nooses and demons and gore and horror and fear. So do we celebrate Halloween? No. Do we hide in a hole during Fall and the Halloween season? No. However, we do shield our little ones from darkness. We do not partake in the Church's creative attempt to redeem and sanitize Halloween either. We do celebrate Fall. We do understand that some families with older children established in their faith try to use it as an outreach night (which I commend)."

He closes with an important reminder.

"But we must remember, in a world filled with suicide, murder, wickedness, and fear we don't believe dressing up these horrors in cute decor one night per year makes them any less of what they really are - evil," he concludes.

Partridge and his wife use their non-profit platform called UnlearnChurch.com to replace "the lies culture tells us about faith & family with truth from the Bible."
On this day, many people around the world play dress up in scary costumes and fancy getups.

Everyone, including Christians, participates in what seems like a harmless fun thing to do.

What they do not realise that this day is actually quite dark and scary.

Witches, occultists, Satanists and anyone that is anti-God believe that the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest on this day, so it is seen as an opportunity to contact the dead. Hence, the name Feast of the Dead, another term for Halloween.

This explains why former Satanist, John Ramirez says he is surprised that Christians partake in this holiday.

Speaking with CBN News, he shared some secrets about this dark day, along with a stern warning to believers to avoid this day.

In his words, I was a general to the kingdom of darkness in witchcraft. I would sit with the Devil and talk to him like Im talking to you today. It was that kind of communication. It was that kind of relationship.

Sometimes people say I celebrated Halloween 10 years ago, I did this 15 years ago, I did this 20 years ago. But the doors still open. You just cursed your family from three to four generations.

You have to be aware its a curse. You have to go back to the place where you started, that year that you started that Halloween thing, the celebration when you started having that encounter with the dark side. You have to go back to that same spot and renounce and renounce it in the name of Jesus Christ and ask God to forgive you for that so that God can have mercy and close that door so your whole family can move forward.

John Ramirez is now an internationally known evangelist, author and speaker.

ALSO READ: 3 popular things Christians do that are deeply rooted in Satanism

An ex-witch has also shared her scary Halloween story on Theothersideofdarkness.com.

Here is an excerpt:

My parents told me before we went around the neighbourhood we were going to go to the church (Mormon Church) to get some candy there. The church was very close to my grandmothers house, and I knew so from going often.

We went to the church and what happened next made my blood curdle. I was given candy, but that was just a prelude to the sexual abuse that would happen in a satanic ritual."

On Halloween Satanists use young children, such as myself, as sexual idols to worship. Other children receive a far worse fate. Death. I know for some this is more than you can even think to believe, but it is true. I can barely write these words because the pain of the truth is almost more than I can bear. If it wasnt for the grace and love of Jesus Christ, I would not even be here writing this at all.

It was titled: I Was Abused In A Satanic Halloween Ritual.

If this is not enough proof of the evil nature of this day, I don't what it is.

Fun Fact.

Halloween is regarded as one of the two most important holidays of the year. On page 96 of the Satanic Bible, Anton LaVey wrote, After ones own birthday, the two major Satanic holidays are Walpurgisnacht (May 1st) and Halloween.

He has also been quoted saying, I am glad that Christian parents let their children worship the devil at least one night out of the year. Welcome to Halloween.

We might choose to ignore the truth about this festival of death and focus on the cool dress up part. But it does not change the fact that this day definitely holds some dark reality.
In the suit filed on his behalf by his counsel, Mr Adenle Adetoye, Lawal, a former Dean of Department of Mass Communication is seeking a declaration that the termination of his appointment was unjust and unlawful.

The suit according to the News Agency of Nigeria also joined the governor and attorney general of the state as co-defendants.

The 62-year-old lecturer also prayed the court to immediately reinstate him as the Chief Lecturer and Dean of Faculty.

According to NAN, the plaintiff claimed he was unlawfully disengaged on January 11, 2016, while serving as the dean adding that the school's claim for his lay off was because he did not develop himself academically.

Lawal also alleged that it was a ruse to get rid of him because he was an independent-minded person.

The plaintiff claimed that he was employed in the school with HND and a Masters of Communication Arts from the University of Ibadan
Adichie was presented with the award at the organizations 19th annual gala, which took place in New York City on Tuesday, October 30, 2018.

ALSO READ: Chimamanda Adichie will be speaking at 2018 Esquire Townhouse

Why Chimamanda was selected for fight against hunger award

The Action Against Hunger, an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), explained why the Half of a Yellow Sun author was selected for the award.

The NGO also said the author is part of a large community of people who leverage their visibility and voices on behalf of others in the fight against hunger.

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Chimamanda Adichie was selected to accept the 2018 Action Against Hunger Humanitarian Award because we are inspired by her unwavering support of women and refugees. As a transformational storyteller who brings diversity, complexity, and humanity to all her professional projects, ranging from best-selling books to TED talks, her work aligns perfectly with Action Against Hungers mission and vision, the NGO said.

Action Against Hunger's work shows kindness in the world - Chimamanda

Appreciating the humanitarian award, Adichie said the activities of Action Against Hunger across the world shows that there is much generosity and kidness in the world.

ALSO READ: Chimamanda Adichie, John Boyega make 100 most influential black Britons

Commenting after receiving the award, Adichie said: There is so much about the world today that makes me feel close to despair. But we cannot afford despair. It is important to remember that there is also much generosity and kindness in the world. And the work of Action Against Hunger is proof of that. We as individuals may not be able to change the whole world but we can change a small slice of it for the better."
In the Instagram post, George said she has made her choice and will stand by it till the end either she's crucified for her choice or not.

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"...badbelle and high bp wan kill some people. Atiku/obi na my choice O. Go support ur own candidate. Many other great Candidates full ground to choose from, If u abuse ur father here from now till next year, e no change anytin. If e too pain u abeg go hug transformer. Calling me names is not what would make ur own candidate win. Receive sense and get #atikuobilated," she wrote.

In another post, the actress was spotted at the Atiku Campaign global centre, where she declared her support for Atiku and Obi's candidacy saying 'Nigeria must move forward.'
This is in preparation for the movie awards set to hold in 2019 in Lagos, Nigeria.

A statement by AMAA said entries have officially opened for movies made in the space of time under review (November 2017 to December 2018).

"Entries have officially opened for movies made in the space of time under review (November 2017 to December 2018) that will be in consideration for the AMA Awards in at least one of the twenty six (26) various categories available for consideration at the 15th edition of the AMA Awards.

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"Entries can be made online at the AMAA website and are open from the October 21, 2018 till January 26, 2019 when entries closes. Filmmakers, enthusiasts, stakeholders etc., who would like for their movies to be considered by the esteemed AMAA Academy for the 2019 AMA Awards so they can join the elite and prestigious group of AMAA awardees are encouraged to enter said movies using the link above," the statement read in parts.

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Confirming Lagos, Nigeria as the host country for the 15th edition of the awards ceremony, the organisers said, "As in previous years, the Africa Movie Academy Awards 2019, billed to hold in Nigeria, promises to be interesting and engrossing, as it celebrates excellence on the African Movie scene in the time under review."

ALSO READ: AMAA 2018 winners and live updates

Founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the award event was developed to recognize the hard work and excellence shown by people in the movie industry.

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The late Chief Bademosi who was the chairman of Credit Switch Technology was reportedly killed in the early hours of Wednesday, October 31, 2018, at his home in Onikoyi Lane, Parkview Estate.

According to ThisDay, Bademosi was reportedly found with multiple stab wounds.

A neighbour who was at the scene of the crime had told ThisDay that Chief Bademosi was found in a pool of blood.

When we got inside, we saw the man in a pool of blood with the volume of music increased to the highest level, the neighbour said.

In a separate report by Linda Ikeji on Thursday, November 1, 2018, a resident of the estate who spoke under the condition of anonymity gave an account of what happened.

"'I heard a scream from the wife, so I ran outside to their flat and saw her screaming outside with people holding her as she said that her husband had been murdered. When we got inside, we saw the man in a pool of blood with the volume of music increased to the highest level.

"Already we had called the attention of the estate police before going in and they arrived just on time. According to the wife, she said she left her husband very early this morning to do some transactions in the bank.

"On her way back, she called her husband and couldnt hear what he was saying as his words were barely cohesive, and was just muttering words before the call dropped.

She attempted to call him back but he wasnt picking up his phone. On getting home, the security was still asleep and couldnt even respond to her car horns till she got down from her car, to bang on the securitys window; that was when the security eventually woke up to open the gate for her.

But unfortunately, on entering, she met her husband lying in a pool of his own blood and couldnt find the cook who just resumed work on Sunday anywhere.

That was when she screamed out for help and sent the security to help her run to see if he can still apprehend the cook. Perhaps because of fear, the security who was just employed on Sunday as well also took to his heels upon the news that his new boss had been murdered" the neighbour said.

A homicide investigation officer also at the scene of the murder spoke further revealed the circumstances surrounding the crime.

This is very wicked. In fact, that guy must be a devil itself. He stabbed the man in multiple places. I was the first to enter the apartment.

"In fact, the music was so loud that even if you were to be killing 20 people here, no one would hear them scream. After committing the act, the guy went to the toilet and pulled off the white uniform meant for cooks he was wearing because it was all stained with blood.

"He also left the knife he used inside the toilet there. If you see the knife, its a very strong, long and sharp knife that could only be authorised for military personnel.

"Afterwards, he ransacked the whole apartment and carted away all valuables he could lay his hands on including an unaccountable sum of money, jewellery and the deceased phone.

"What baffles us more is that no one seems to know anything about him because he was only employed a few days ago and brought from Ondo state to resume just this last Sunday. And they only know him by his first name, which is Sunday.

"Again, we went through his things and found some old pictures of him putting on a camouflage belonging to Republic of Benin military.

"Also, he was in a group picture with all of them wearing #Benin Republic military uniform, which suggests that he could be an ex-serviceman in the Benin Republic."

The cook who goes by the name Sunday was reportedly employed on Sunday, October 28, 2018.
He allegedly murdered his boss on Oct. 31, three days after he was brought from Ondo.

NAN gathered that the deceaseds wife had gone to the bank when the cook carried out the act and only came back to find her husband in a pool of his blood.

According to a police source, the suspect had turned up the sound system to the loudest volume while he stabbed his victim on his chest multiple times.

After committing the act, the suspect went to the toilet and pulled off his white cook uniform as it had been stained with blood.

He also left the knife he used inside the toilet, the police source said.

The source noted that the knife used in perpetrating the act signified that the suspect could be an ex-military man.

Again, we went through his things and found some old pictures of him putting on a camouflage belonging to Republic of Benin military, he added.

The suspect, after committing the act then ransacked the apartment and stole huge amount of money, valuables such as jewelry and a mobile phone.

The police, in a notice issued to declare the cook wanted, said actions have been taken to apprehend him.

The notice read: At exactly 8:45am this morning, information got to the police via a phone call that a murder had occurred in an estate.

Immediately, actions were taken to apprehend the suspected killer of Chief Ope Bademosi who was stabbed straight on the heart by the Togolese cook he brought in from Ondo State three days ago.

The culprit is currently at large, anybody with any useful information should contact the nearest police station, the police said.
Lagos Fashion Week is a time for celebs and industry insiders to come together to celebrate their love of fashion. It is also a time for people to put on their best outfits and show their style prowess. Many celebrities attended dressed to the nines but few stood out. One of those few was

The statuesque Idia sat front row at every single show and made sure she supported Nigerian designers with each of her looks. However, the one look that stood out from the rest was her unique

Idia wore a black and white checkered two piece with the word 'Garri' emblazoned across the front in big red lettering. She paired the stylist co-ord with a statement purple and grren overcoat which she hung stylishly across her shoulders.
In Nigeria, light-skinned women are placed upon a hushly whispered bias and pedestal with privileges like acting roles geared towards them. Its not the fault of casting directors, Nigeria just loves and appreciates its light-skinned women.

In Yoruba, there are sayings that aim to adore the ivory or paler skin tones of light-skinned women. Though there are sayings for dark-skinned women, they are not as detailed as with their lighter counterparts.

Even crazier, the average Nigerian man might select all the in a pool to select beautiful women before he even thinks of the darker ones who might be more beautiful.

Nigeria currently boasts a worrying amount of 'bleaching experts' with famed cross-dresser, Bobrisky one of them - they are making money through sales and advisory to underline the pressing need and concern of women to get that lighter skin tone.

It is befuddling how much the reality has been warped to suit this narrative. A cursory look at some light-skinned babes and you can easily find evidence that they were born dark, with some discoloration, contrasting colours and dark spots.

The knuckles, knee caps and elbows could be at warring loggerheads, flying different colours to the rest of the body like two warring confraternities in a Nigerian government University or the face and the body could be in stark disagreement as to the singular colour the body should follow - with each colour competing for attention with the body owner who goes a purge to be 'laiskin'

Recently, a company posted a job ad and specifically requested a light-skinned women for a front desk role. Like the casting directors, its not their fault either. Theyre only conforming to societys definition of attractive. Who does not want society's definition of 'beautiful' at his front desk?

In a June 22, 2018 BellaNaija article by Cisi Eze, colorism was attributed to internalized racism for placing lighter skin of a pedestal. As such, women had to find a way to measure up and stay in the conversation or get phased out by the demand for darker skin in places that matter.

Even in high-end prostitution, light-skinned women literally command higher fees as 'Madames' generally demand more from them.

Like the caste system in India, granting privilege based off skin tone, Nigeria seems to be going through same in a county where we all carry the African hair.

We can definitely find a common ground in creating a new standard of good looking that goes beyond lighter skin. However, it is easier said than done. A caste system, so ingrained as Nigeria is harder to eradicate, probably more than toxic patriarchy and usually unspoken with people accustomed to it and only jealousy as its only adversary to mainstream exposure.

Do we then go on aggressive exposure of this subtle demon? That will definitely achieve something, but I would be loath to see it create a standard of political correctness that people only adhere to at face value. People should genuinely see that beauty is in all colours and it behooves people in the public eye as advertisers, modelling agents and casting directors to use their selections for subconsciously changing this warped narrative.
In a statement signed by the president's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari noted that his administration will continue to implement policies that will make Nigeria's economy better.

"The Nigerian economy is looking good and we look forward to making it better," he said.

The president also told the new ambassador that he was pleased that relations between Nigeria and Denmark have remained strong; noting that in the economic sphere there is still some more work to do.

The president's claim on the economy is bound to ring hollow to Nigerians as the country's gross domestic product growth (GDP) has crawled since the nation emerged out of economic recession last year.

Many have accused the president of mismanaging the economy and predicted gloom for the country if he wins re-election in the 2019 presidential election.
Nigerians notoriously make up a sizeable majority of thousands of people who have walked into Canada from the United States to file refugee claims since January 2017.

The trend worried the Canadian government so much that two officials were sent to Lagos earlier this year to work directly with their counterparts in the U.S. visa office to collaborate on how to lower the number of migrants who make asylum claims in Canada using a U.S. visa.

This was because many of the Nigerian asylum seekers in Canada were observed to have arrived bearing valid U.S. visas after having spent very little time in the States.

According to an exclusive story by Reuters, the Canadian government has adopted a new stringent policy to deal with asylum seekers who illegally enter the country across the U.S. border.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the agency responsible for deportations, disclosed to Reuters that it now classifies border-crossers with criminals as a top deportation priority.

This means quicker processing and deportation of people who crossed the border, unlike in the past when claimants could live in Canada for years while their applications were processed.

Toronto lawyer Lorne Waldman believes that the new policy would easily deter asylum seekers with weak claims from crossing into the country.

"The best way of discouraging people from making frivolous claims is by having the claims processed quickly," Waldman said.

Six lawyers told Reuters that the new policy has already led to accelerated hearings, scheduled in blocs, with a focus on cases involving claimants of Nigerian and Haitian origins.

Canada tightening borders against Nigerian illegal immigrants, others

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The new policy is another in a series of attempts by the Canadian government to keep out as many illegal migrants as possible.

The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL) dragged the Canadian government to court over a recent court ruling that would make it hard for Nigerians to be granted asylum in the North American country.

The association was displeased with the decision of Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) to establish as a legal precedent its ruling to deny a Nigerian woman's asylum request.

The unnamed Nigerian woman was denied asylum even though she claimed she fled Nigeria to escape the practice of female genital mutilation. The court ruled that she could have sought refuge away from her rural family home in any of Nigeria's large cities of Ibadan or Port Harcourt, and not necessarily run all the way to Canada.

The IRB seized on the ruling to designate it as a "jurisprudential guide" or legal precedent in considering all future Nigerian asylum cases.

The association said the decision meant Nigerians would now likely face a higher bar to gain asylum status than they did in the past with their acceptance rate (33% as of June 2018) already below the average (47%) for all those who crossed the border illegally, according to data from the IRB.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, gave the warning in a statement in Abuja.

Adeyeye explained that the fish might contain the potent and deadly toxins tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin, which could cause severe illness and death.

She said that some organs of the fish, such as liver and gonads (ovaries and testes), the skin and intestines typically contained the toxin.

According to her, cooking or freezing cannot destroy the toxin.

She added that freezing and thawing of the product prior to removal of the toxic organs might result in the migration of toxin into the flesh of the fish.

Restaurants and fish sellers are warned not to serve or sell this fish also known as puffer, swellfish, fugu, globefish or sea squad among other names, as this will severely endanger public health.

Due to the potential health hazard associated with the fish, NAFDAC does not allow importation or sale of puffer fish.

And we hereby alert the general public on dangers of consuming PUFFER FISH, she stated.
The minister, who was represented by the Vice Chancellor, Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Prof. Bello Sheahu, said the government was grateful to the bank for the grant.

He said we thank the World Bank for initiating BESDA Project and for providing a total sum of 611 Dollars in supporting Federal Government in strengthening the Universal Basic Education, as well as addressing other challenges in the education sector.

The minister added that no nation could rise above the level of its educational development and stressed the need for developed education system that was knowledge based.

According to him, such a well articulated system will equip and prepare the people to compete in a knowledge-driven economy in the 21st century.

The Team Leader of BESDA, Hajiya Aisha Garba, said that the 611 million Dollars was a loan to Nigeria by the World Bank to support Universal Basic Education.

She said that the bank urged Federal Government to utilize the grant strictly for upgrading facilities in UBE and tackling other challenges in the sector or risk refunding it.

We released this fund to assist the 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory but failure to use it and achieve good results, World Bank will collect its money.

The money was released to address the first pillar of the Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) 2016-2019 on Out of School Children.

According to her, the major objectives of BESDA is to increase equitable access for Out of School Children, to improve literacy in focus, as well as strengthen accountability for results in basic education in Nigeria.

The Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Ismail Yombe, thanked the World Bank and Federal Government for initiating the programme and assured them of full implementation.

He expressed the commitment of the state government in ensuring quality education.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave the reassurance at the 100 years celebration of St. Andrews Catholic Church, Oro, his home town near Ilorin in Kwara state

Speaking to newsmen after the Centenary anniversary thanksgiving Mass, the minister said Leah, abducted by Boko Haram, is dear to the government.

Nigerians should appreciate that any of our citizens, either boy or girl, Moslem or Christian is dear to us.

We do not look at Leah Sharibu either as Christian or Moslem, but as a precious daughter of the country.

We are doing our best to ensure her safe release and be reunited with her family members, he said.

Boko Haram abducted Leah Sharibu and 109 other girls from their schoolin Dapchi on February 19, 2018.

While most of the girls have been released, Leah has remained in captivity, and her abductors had threatened to kill her.

The minister also reiterated that government efforts at containing the Boko Haram insurgency were working and they are winning the war against the group.

He said what were being witnessed were cowardly attacks on soft targets by the insurgents which were also being tackled.

On the centenary celebration, the minister said that 100 years in the life of a Church is historic and significant.

Mohammed, a staunch Muslim from Oro, said the anniversary was beyond the centenary, but a celebration of peaceful coexistence of Christianity and Islam in the town.

If you are looking for a community where there is absolute religion tolerance and peaceful coexistence , Oro is a good example.

As you can see, there are many Muslim faithfuls, like me, at this ceremony and that is how it has been from time immemorial.

I recalled a time when I was organising Ramadan prayers, I used the premises of this Church as my venue, he said.

The minister noted that no religion preaches violence and hatred but every religion embraces peace.

He appealed to Christians and Muslims where ever they may be in the country to borrow a leave from the Oro community in embracing peaceful coexistence.

The Catholic Bishop of Ilorin Diocese, Most Rev. Ayo-Maria Atoyebi gave gratitude to God for the celebration and described the centenary anniversary as the fruits of the Oro communitys fore fathers who accepted Christ early.

The clergy thanked God for the light of the Gospel, which he said had dispelled all darkness from the town.

Chairman of the Centenary Anniversary Planning Committee, Mr. John Aransiola said it was a special day in the history of Oro community.

In a brief history of the Church, Aransiola said Late Rev. Fr. Mathew Wouter, SMA, came to Oro from Osogbo through Offa to celebrate the first Mass in 1918.

He paid tribute to a particular parishioner, Late Mr Johnson Aina, whom he said, at that time, encouraged the people of Oro to embrace catholicism.

Aransiola said that Aina had spent his youth in Topo, Lagos state, where he learnt about Catholic faith, before coming to Oro.

In 1925, Late Chief Jerome Obada was transferred to Oro and became the first Catechist in the Church, when the first straw roofed church was built.

Obada, was a young boy from the royal family of Kabba in Kogi state, who ran away from home against the wish of his father to become a mission boy to Rev. Wouter in Osogbo where he was baptised.

In 1926, a mission house was built to house the late Chief Obada, the first Catechist, he said.

Aransiola said Rev. fathers were coming from Osogbo for Mass until 1931 when Rev. Fr. Aime Simon SMA became the first resident Parish Priest of the Oro Church.

He said the priest spearheaded the building of a well completed St Andrews Church from 1933 to 1935.

Aransiola said the Church was replaced by an architecturally well designed modern church dedicated in 2014 by the incumbent Bishop of Ilorin Diocese, Atoyebi, who is also from Oro.
Aniamaka said the victim was abducted on Sept. 29, on the Sapele/Benin expressway adding that effort was on to rescue him unhurt.

There is a report of kidnap. The person allegedly kidnapped is a Seaman. His name is Omoniyi K. D.

He was last seen in the evening of Sept. 29, when he drove out of the Naval Engineering College, Sapele, in his Toyota Picnic vehicle.

The hoodlums called with his number demanding for Four Million Naira ransom.

The Police are doing everything possible with all the relevant Security Agencies toward his rescue and the apprehension of the hoodlums.

All hands are on deck toward his rescue, Aniamaka said.

The police spokesman said that some arrests were made in connection with the crime but declined to disclose the number of persons arrested so far.
They were alleged to have set a Police vehicle on fire, and arrested with 31 bottles of petrol bombs and other dangerous weapons.

The arrest followed days of protests and unrest in Abuja that had led to the killing of six Shiite protesters, according to the authorities. The group claimed that more than 50 people were actually killed in attacks that were carried out by the Army and Police.

The recent unrest is merely another chapter of a sustained confrontation that has played out for the past three years.

52 Shiites were similarly arrested in January 2018, some with bottles of improvised petrol-bomb, stones and catapult used to attack police operatives and damage police operational vehicles.

A police inspector was also killed after he was stoned and stabbed to death by a mob during a Shiite protest in Kaduna in June 2018.

The nucleus of the group's protests has, for the last three years, been the agitation for the release of its spiritual leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

ALSO READ: Everything you need to know about Shiite Muslims

Who is El-Zakzaky?

65-year-old El-Zakzaky, a native of Zaria, Kaduna was so impressed with the 1979 Iranian Revolution so much that he travelled to Iran to become a Shia cleric and import the second largest branch of Islam into Nigeria, racking up an impressive amount of followers in the 1990s in a country that's dominated by Sunni Muslims.

The spiritual leader of the IMN is believed to be committed to the goal of applying a more rigorous application of the Islamic legal and administrative systems to Nigeria and ultimately turn it fully into an Islamic state.

His political ideal has remained turning Nigeria into an Islamic Republic based on the Iranian model. This is why he was one of the main opposition against the application of Sharia Law in certain states in the north, as he believes its total application is impossible if the system of government is not fully Islamic, devoid of any other religion.

El-Zakzaky never attended a formal primary school with his early education taking place at the Provincial Arabic School, Zaria (1969-1970), the School for Arabic Studies, Kano (1971-1976) before he obtained a first class degree in Economics at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria (1976-1979), a degree that was denied him due to his Islamic activities.

With his unpopular agenda for the Nigerian state, El-Zakzaky has always been an adversary of the government, both military and democratic.

He has spent around 11 to 12 years in total behind bars due to his uncompromising agenda with the most common offence being sedition or inciting disaffection.

He was jailed two different times by the regime of the late military Head of State, Sani Abacha. He famously declared "there is no government except that of Islam" during Abacha's regime.

El-Zakzaky's advocacy for an Islamic Republic has invited personal tragedy into his life, most of it wrought by the Nigerian Army.

During a pro-Palestinian procession by the IMN in Zaria on July 25, 2014, soldiers fatally shot 35 of El-Zakzaky's followers to death. Three of them, Mahmud, Ahmad, and Hamid, were his sons.

The killings drew outrage with many acknowledging that the procession had been peaceful until the massacre happened. Even the administration of then-president, Goodluck Jonathan, distanced itself from it.

The Nigerian Army officially claimed soldiers acted in self-defence and nothing came of an investigation of what is popularly dubbed the Zaria Quds Day massacres.

A year later, more personal tragedy was visited upon El-Zakzaky's household, an episode that continues to drag until now, three years later.

There are two versions of the events of what set off the 2015 Zaria massacre of IMN members.

Regardless of whose story you believe, the one true fact of the matter is that IMN members and the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, were on Sokoto Road in Sabon Gari district, Zaria, at the same time on December 12, 2015. This is where the narration of events differ.

While the IMN claimed that unarmed worshippers were attacked by the Army while conducting its procession, the Army accused the sect of blocking the path of the motorcade transporting the Army Chief of Staff and stoning it, an act declared by the Army to be an assassination attempt.

In the violence that escalated after then, over 300 Shia Muslims were killed by the Nigerian Army. Troops attacked the group's shrines, firebombed its religious center, the Husseiniyya, destroyed another religious center on the outskirts of the city, and firebombed and demolished El-Zakzaky's home.

Again, three of those killed were El-Zakzaky's sons.

During the invasion of his home, El-Zakzaky was arrested and imprisoned with his wife, Zeenah, and indefinitely kept out of the public eye for years without any official court charges.

Despite a December 2016 court order by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of an Abuja Division of the Federal High Court demanding his release, El-Zakzaky remained in custody and kept away from prying eyes, leading to concerns that he might have been killed.

Intense pressure and disturbing reports that he had been extra-judicially murdered in custody forced the Department of State Security (DSS) to parade an ill El-Zakzaky in public in January 2018, his first public appearance since he was arrested.

Five months later in May, he was finally arraigned before a Kaduna High Court and charged with unlawful gathering, criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

The culpable homicide is in relation to the death of Corporal Yakubu Dankaduna, a soldier who was allegedly killed by IMN members when he alighted from Buratai's convoy to disperse the group's procession in December 2015. The allegation of homicide is punishable by death, under section 190 of the Kaduna state penal code law, 2017.

Over the course of the past three years, the Nigerian government's treatment of El-Zakzaky and his Shia followers has invited the added accusation of deliberate persecution especially since the events of the period have happened under the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, a Sunni Muslim.

El-Zakzaky's commitment towards turning Nigeria into an Islamic Republic will definitely not win him many sympathisers, but there are fears that his continued persecution could eventually lead the IMN down the path of terrorist insurgency, much like Sunni sect, Boko Haram, became after its spiritual leader, Mohammed Yusuf, was extra-judicially murdered by police officers in 2009.

The group's unending clashes with security operatives have left a sour taste in the mouth and heightened tensions across the country and many have cautioned the government to tread lightly so as not to create another security concern the country will have to battle for years.

El-Zakzaky will continue to remain a significant symbol in the Shia movement that has taken roots in several states in the country due mostly to his efforts.

With his propagation of the movement, the sect is believed to own more than three hundred primary/secondary schools, known as Fudiyyah Schools, located in different places mainly in the northern part of the country, as well as countless Islamic centers and other institutions.
Kanu is the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government had gazette the Indigenous People of Biafra as a terrorist group after a court had pronounced it so.

Mr Oghenovo Otemu instituted the suit on behalf of the plaintiff, Mr Isaiah Ayugu, a legal practitioner and made copy available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

Others included in the action are: Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Counsel to Kanu, Tochukwu Uchendu, Emmanuel Shallow Ben, Emmanuel Kanu, and Uchechi Kanu.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1254/18, the plaintiff also asked the court to immediately order the commencement of investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape of Kanu from the country.

He averred that action was predicated on the respondents various allegations that Kanu could have been assassinated by the Nigerian Army.

The court was also told to order the arrest and prosecution of respondents after proper investigation must have been done on how the IPOB leader fled the country.

The plaintiff further alleged that all the listed respondents had aided Kanus escape.

The plaintiff had also prayed the court for an order mandating all the respondents to be prosecuted, if they were found to be culpable.

Ayugu said during the period when the blackmail was against the military and the Nigerian government, he suffered emotional and psychological trauma, adding that his freedom of movement and rights were hindered.

Also joined in the suit is Director- General,the Department of State Services (DSS), Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force.
The Managing Partner of Alliance, Dr Uche Val-Obi (SAN), in statement in Lagos, said that his client pledged his continued loyalty to the President and would fully cooperate with the incoming Director, Mr Ben Omogo.

Our attention has been drawn to the false news making rounds that our client, Prof. , the Executive Secretary (ES) of NHIS, has taken the Presidency to Court over his purported suspension by the Governing Board.

As Counsel to Prof. Yusuf, we wish to place on record that there is no iota of truth in this story, and that he has not taken the President or the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to Court as alleged.

Instead, our Client had, through our firm, approached the Federal High Court vide an originating summons filed on 29th October 2018 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1220/2018, with him as Plaintiff while NHIS, Hon. Minister of Health, and Attorney General were named as defendants.

By this action, he was essentially seeking the judicial interpretation and determination of certain questions pertaining the propriety or otherwise of the Governing Councils action in suspending him from office without Presidential approval or due process.

He said that having received a letter from the SGF conveying a presidential directive that he proceeds on administrative leave, his client welcomed the presidential intervention and remained obligated to fully and strictly comply with the directives.

According to Val-Obi, Yusuf will accordingly be proceeding on the Administrative Leave with effect from Monday, Nov. 5, to give room to the Independent Fact-Finding Panel, set up to carry out its important task of investigation.
The governors made the call at the launching of Bayelsa State Safe Motherhood Scheme in Yenogoa, the Bayelsa state capital on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

According to Dickson, the scheme would help enlighten women on the need for antenatal and family planning methods with a monthly stipend of three thousand naira.

A number of the causes of death that we attribute to all sorts of things are attributable to lack of knowledge, we need to enlighten our people, Dickson said.

We are giving N3,000 allowance for every pregnant woman in Bayelsa State but, it is compulsory you (pregnant woman) have to register in recognised medical centre. Once test confirms that you are pregnant, you are entitled to N3, 000 maintenance allowance every month, he added.

On his part, Okowa called on the Federal Government to release fund for the full implementation of the National Health Act which would enable state governments release their counterpart funds for health facilities in their areas.
Ologbondiyan called on the police to assist the party in fishing out and arresting the hoodlums that invaded the secretariat as well as secure the premises against further invasion.

He said that the party would investigate the invasion with a view to exposing and sanctioning anyone found to be involved directly or indirectly in the disruption of the smooth running of its activities in Ekiti.
This is captured in a statement it released on its website on Thursday, November 1, 2018.

"The United States Embassy is concerned by the deaths resulting from clashes between Nigerian security forces and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in areas surrounding Abuja.

"We urge Government of Nigeria authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of the events and to take appropriate action to hold accountable those responsible for violations of Nigerian law. We urge restraint on all sides," the statement reads.

ALSO READ: How more than 10 Shiites were gunned down by soldiers in Abuja

Army blames Shiites for clash in Zuba

According to the Commander Army Headquarters Garrison, Major General James Myam, members of the group mounted a road block and tried to attack a convoy carrying ammunitions.

Myam, in a statement issued to Vanguard, said that the incident occurred at Zuba bridge in Abuja on Saturday, October 27, 2018.

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The commander also alleged that the group destroyed vehicles and attempted to cart away the ammunitions.

He said Troops of Army Headquarters Garrison on official duty, escorting ammunitions and missiles from Abuja to Army Central Ammunition Depot in Kaduna State were attacked by some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) sect at Zuba bridge, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at about 3.00pm on Saturday 27th October 2018.

The sect who were supposedly in a procession, established an illegal roadblock denying motorists free passage.

 When the troops convoy attempted to clear the road block, they met stiff opposition from the sect.

Members of the sect used various objects to barricade the road and also pelted the troops with stones and other dangerous items.

They smashed both military and civilian vehicles windscreens and windows.

They also attempted to overrun the escorts to cart away the ammunition and missiles the troops were escorting.

This led to the troops opening fire to extricate themselves.

Consequently, troops of 102 Guards Battalion in whose Area of Responsibility the incident occurred rushed to the convoys rescue.

Unfortunately, during the encounter 3 members of the sect were killed while 2 soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at a military medical facility.
MOSCOW  The Russian government has imposed financial sanctions on Ukraine's political leadership in a largely symbolic gesture in the ongoing conflict between the two countries.



Relations between Russia and Ukraine soured after Russia pushed through a separatist vote in Crimea and annexed the peninsula in 2014. Russia went on to back separatists in eastern Ukraine in a conflict that has claimed more than 10,000 lives.



Russia's government on Thursday published a list of 322 individuals and 68 companies who will have their assets  if they have any  frozen in Russia. The list is a who's who of Ukrainian politics, comprising of cabinet ministers and top politicians including presidential contender Yulia Tymoshenko . The Ukrainian president is not on the list although his elder son has been blacklisted.



Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
On Tuesday, October 30, 2018, Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom met with the President in Abuja.

In his reaction, Wike said that the visit had nothing to do with politics.

The Rivers state Governor also added that he and his colleagues were there to discuss issues of development in the Nigeri-Delta.

Our meeting with the President had nothing to do with politics. It was strictly for the benefit of the South-South.

There is no personal problem between the President and myself. He came to Port Harcourt to commission a project that would add value and I had to be there.

But when it comes to politics, I say no, the party of the President has performed poorly. It has failed Nigerians. The APC is not doing well. But when it comes to governance, you give the President that respect, he added.

Speaks on minimum wage

Governor Wike also said that the implementation of any amount agreed as minimum wage will depend on the revenue sharing formular.

Calling for the formular to be reviewed, he said I will never oppose the upward review of minimum wage for workers. But the revenue sharing formula must be reviewed. Assuming a state like Zamfara gets N3billion monthly and their monthly wage bill is N4billion, then the state will not survive. Labour should understand the situation .

ALSO READ:Governor Wike says FG wants to frame him up

You cannot talk of sustainable new minimum wage when you have not reviewed the revenue sharing formula. More of the money should be moved from the Federal Government to the states that bear the burden of governance.

If there is no review of the revenue sharing formula, then we are not being fair.
His former Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Salisu Barau, who announced the defection on behalf of the ex-governor at apress conference in Bauchi, said Yuguda decided to cross-carpet to the ruling party after due consultations with his supporters and like minds who believed in the development of Bauchi state.

The purpose of this gathering today is to formally inform the general public of the official defection of Malam Isa Yuguda from the Green Party of Nigeria, to All Progressives Congress.

As at this morning, we have over 500,000 suppoters of Yuguda who have volunteered to follow him to APC,Barau said.

The former commissioner also said that registration of more Yuguda supporters was still ongoing, adding that he was optimistic of having more followers.

As I am talking to you now, the registration is still open and we believe between now and tomorrow, we may register almost a million people.

Mallam Isa Yuguda and all his followers have volunteered to ensure the success of APC at all levels, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yuguda first won the governorship seat in Bauchi in 2007 under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), after defecting from the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Midway into his eight-year tenure as the state governor, he again defected back to the PDP, where he completed his tenure in 2015.

As a serving governor, he contested for the seat of Bauchi South Senatorial District under the platform of PDP in 2015 but suffered a crushing defeat in the hands of the then candidate of APC, late Malam Ali Wakili.

Soon after the election, Yuguda again dumped PDP and joined the newly formed Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), where he contested for Bauchi South Senatorial seat for the second time after the death of Ali Wakili,and was again defeated.
More than anything else, if you look at newspapers in the last few days, weve had even statements issued by the State Department that they have no issue whatsoever with Atiku Abubakar; and if I may chip this in, I can also confirm to you that in the last few days, there have been signals from the American officials that he should indeed come forward; they want him to come so that they would grant him visa, Daniel, a former Governor of Ogun State, said during a ChannelsTV breakfast program on Wednesday, October 31.

'Politically motivated'

Atiku has been plagued with corruption allegations since he left office as vice president to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007.

However, Daniel says allegations of corruption often thrown at the PDP presidential flagbearerhave been politically motivated.

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"I remember when we were running the campaign against the primary, and everybody kept confronting us with this perception; we kept saying the thing is no more than perception. Politically-motivated perception, which unfortunately appears to have stuck. But, by and large, I think as we move towards the real issues, people will begin to understand that all this is politically motivated.

"I have repeatedly said that were not in a Banana Republic. Nigerians, as a people, we know our weaknesses; anything that is negative about our leaders, we are ready to believe it hook, line and sinker. Until such a time when charges are pressed, then there are no issues as far as we are concerned", he said.

Atiku has been implicated in a Siemens bribery scandal which involved a United States Senator Williams Jefferson who served jail time for the illicit transaction.

The former vice president has also been accused of corrupt deals as head of the privatization council of the Obasanjo era.

He has often denied the allegations, saying charges would have been preferred against him if he actually stole.
According to the PDP in a tweet, Atiku has already developed a plan that can help reduce the cost of petrol to be as low as N87.

It condemned Buhari's administration for failing to solve the problem associated with the production and distribution of petroleum products in Nigeria since he became president.

Buhari's cabal accused of diverting subsidy money

In more tweets, the PDP points a finger at Buhari's cabal who are accused of diverting fund supposedly allocated for fuel subsidy.
The Commission disclosed this in a letter addressed to the PDP National Chairman in Abuja. The letter was dated 25 October.

However, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan described INEC decision as a huge compromise.

If INEC claimed that it collected any list outside what the national secretariat of PDP submitted to it, it is a huge compromise.

And we say so according to our statutes and all the laws governing elections in Nigeria. INEC cannot take a list from a state of the party. INEC takes list from the national headquarters of the party.

So if it claimed that it had gone to take any list from anywhere, it is unknown to us and it is unknown to the rule guiding elections in Nigeria.

They acknowledged all the names that we submitted to them. So, it is totally strange, unknown to the rules and unknown to the PDP that INEC is claiming that it has another list. We are not aware, Ologbondiyan said.

The PDP had submitted House of Representatives member Oladipupo Adebutu as the governorship candidate.

In the letter signed by INEC acting Secretary, Okechukwu Ndeche, INEC said its decision was informed by the orders by the Federal High Court in three cases.

These were FHC/L/CFS/636/2016 Engr. Adebayo Dayo & Anor vs INEC & 5 Ors; FHC/l/CFS/114/2018 Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju (Member PDP National Working committee) and 6 Ors. vs INEC and 30 Ors; and FHC/ABJ/CFS/636/2016 Engr. Adebayo Dayo (State Chairman) & 8 Ors. vs INEC & 3 Ors.

INEC said that the the Federal High Court in the matters ordered the Commission to recognise Dayo led State Executive Committee of PDP in Ogun State and receive list of candidates for the 2019 Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly Elections from the said committee.

It recalled that the Commission vide a letter dated April 12, informed PDP of the Commissions compliance with the judgements of the Federal High Court in the suits, which were subsisting until set aside.

Further to the above decision, the Federal High Court Abeokuta Division on 2nd October 2018 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CFS/636/2016 Engr. Adebayo Dayo (State Chairman) 8: 8 Ors. vs iNEC & 3 Ors. also ordered the commission to recognise Adebayo Dayo led state executive committee of PDP in Ogun State and receive list of candidates for the 2019 Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly Elections from the said committee.

Consequently, the Commission hereby notes the decisions of the Federal High Court in the above referred cases and will publish the lists of candidates submitted by the Adebayo Dayo led State Executive Committee of Ogun State pursuant to the Orders of the Federal High Court until they are set aside.

Sen. Buruji Kashamu whose factions list was accepted, commended INEC and the leadership of the party for recognising the Dayo-led Ogun PDP exco.

He reiterated his earlier call on partys elders, leaders and teeming supporters to embark on massive mobilisation and reconciliation for successful outing at the polls.

Kashamu declared that there should be a No victor, No vanquished disposition amongst Party members, saying, we shall all reap from the electoral fortune that will be ours at the 2019 general election.
The former deputy governor, who resigned from his position to join his mentor, SenatorRabiu Kwankwaso, said he took the decision to resign following injustice meted on him and his supporters.

He said, "They thought I am irrelevant. At this juncture, I decided to move out so that whoever thinks I am irrelevant will find out the truth or otherwise of his assumption. This is my main reason of leaving the PDP. I have notified ward and local government leadership of the party."

He also complained that he was not consulted over the choice of the running mate for the party's governorship candidate in Kano, Abba Kabir Yusuf.

He said, "Although I will not seek the position, because I came from same local government with the governorship candidate, but courtesy demands that I should be consulted. But some people sat down and took decisions without our consent and sent the selected candidate to national headquarters of the party."
Okupe who was an aide to former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan responded in a press statement criticizing the ex governor of Lagos State.

According to Okupe, Tinubu's status as a political godfather may see an end if Atiku becomes victorious.

"The comments made by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the APC concerning Alhaji ATIKU's prospects in the coming 2019 presidential elections are essentially not meant for the serious minded, and quite unexpected from the leader of a party in power whose popularity and national acceptability are receding faster than the waters of lake Chad.

Aiswaju's statement is extremely presumptuous. It assumes that he as a person or whatever political platform he stands on will have anything to do with who emerges as president in 2019.

I assure Asiwaju that he does not, and will not have any serious influence on who will emerge as president after the 2019 elections. He had such opportunity in 2015 but it was wasted on a moribund, unproductive and lack lustre presidency.

Hence, it is a fact that Asiwaju had a tremendous influence and did play a significant role in the emergence of president Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

This was due to the fact that he and the APC were able to successfully hoodwink the Nigerian electorates into wrongly believing that the incumbent at that time was weak, inept and clueless.

The prevailing feeling in Nigeria then was that a change was necessary to "save" the country.

However, things are quite different now. Without prompting, propaganda or mass-brainwashing, Nigerians have come to realise that a victory for Buhari in 2019 is an existential threat not only to the peaceful coexistence of the nation, but also to individual wellbeing and survival of families, breadwinners and jobs across the country.

Based on this undeniable fact, Tinubu, APC and their candidate, Muhammadu Buhari have lost the elections even before the set date.

Asiwaju should not worry about where ATIKU is holding meetings to unseat Buhari, or where ATIKU is "going" in 2019. Rather, he should seriously give urgent thoughts to his own destination after 2019.

For certain, I want to assure him that the PDP will retire him gracefully to his political shrine at Bourdillon. While the expired and rejected product he is dutifully carrying to the political market in 2019 heads to Daura; hale and hearty."
Charles Wesco, 44, was travelling with his wife, son and a driver, when they came under fire on Tuesday. He died of his wounds in hospital later the same day in the regional capital Bamenda, the latest violence to rock the country's English-speaking areas.

His comments came amid speculation by separatist supporters on social media in the English-speaking regions -- the site of an uprising by armed secessionists -- that the Cameroon army was behind the killing.

The attack happened in Bambui, 14 kilometres (nine miles) from Bamenda after a group of militants attempted to attack the university and a gendarmerie, according to Beti Assomo.

"Immediately pursued by defence and security forces, the armed terrorists fire back, which provokes a clash between them and the forces positioned around the university," he said.

Four militants were killed, several wounded, he said, adding that a student and a soldier were injured in the crossfire.

English-speaking separatists argue that the French-language education system penalises anglophone students in the largely francophone central African nation.

The unrest has claimed the lives of more than 400 civilians and an unknown number of separatists in the year to September, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG) think-tank.

On Thursday, gunmen killed a linguistics professor in the same area.

University staff said the murder of the academic, who was also in charge of administration, bore the hallmarks of the "Amba boys," or separatists fighting for an independent English-speaking state called Ambazonia.

The government has refused to engage in dialogue with anglophone separatists it brands "terrorists" and has sent forces into the area to restore order.

More than 300,000 people have fled the violence, some to neighbouring Nigeria.

The voter turnout for this month's presidential election was very low in both anglophone regions, though Paul Biya won more than two-thirds of the votes cast, according to official results.
All 435 seats in the House are up for grabs on Tuesday while 35 seats in the 100-member Senate are at stake. Americans will vote for governor in 36 states.

Republicans have a slim 51-49 hold on the Senate, where Democrats have a tough hill to climb with 26 Democratic seats on the ballot and only nine Republican seats.

Democrats need a net gain of 23 seats to take control of the House they lost in 2010 and House minority leader Nancy Pelosi boldly predicted this week they would do so.

"Democrats will carry the House," Pelosi said on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," while also forecasting victory in the Senate.

Political forecasting outlet FiveThirtyEight.com gives Democrats a 6 in 7, or 85 percent, chance of gaining control of the House but only a 1 in 7, or 15 percent, chance of winning the Senate.

As election day approaches and with turnout a major factor, Trump has sought to drive Republicans to the polls and rekindle the enthusiasm of his 2016 upset presidential bid.

"I'm not on the ticket, but I am on the ticket because this is also a referendum about me," he said at a rally last month in Mississippi. "Pretend I'm on the ballot."

Anti-immigration rhetoric

Trump has scheduled 10 campaign rallies over the next five days in eight states -- Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Trump has dialed up the rhetoric on immigration, issuing dire warnings about caravans of Central American migrants heading to the US southern border.

Claiming the caravans include "very bad thugs and gang members," Trump has ordered 5,000 active-duty troops to the border and said he is considering sending up to 15,000.

Trump also posted a political ad on his Twitter account on Wednesday which shows a Mexican man boasting about killing police officers and includes the caption "Democrats let him into the country."

Democrats accused the president of seeking to inflame his supporters with racist anti-immigration appeals.

"This is fear mongering," Tom Perez, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told CNN. "This has been Donald Trump's playbook for so long."

Control of the Senate will come down to a handful of races, in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia, according to political analysts.

Tight Senate races

In Arizona, two women -- Democratic Representative Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Representative Martha McSally, a former air force fighter pilot -- are battling to replace Senator Jeff Flake, a Trump critic who is not running for reelection. 538.com currently gives Sinema a slight edge.

In Florida, incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson is involved in a tough reelection battle with Republican governor Rick Scott. 538.com has Nelson with a small lead.

In Missouri, 538.com gives incumbent Democratic Senator Clare McCaskill a 3-in-5 chance of holding off a stiff challenge from 38-year-old state attorney general Josh Hawley.

In other closely watched races, Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota is trailing in most polls and incumbent Republican Senator Dean Heller of Nevada is locked in a dead heat with Democratic challenger Jacky Rosen.

In reliably Republican Texas, Senator Ted Cruz is facing a surprisingly competitive challenge from rising Democratic star Beto O'Rourke but most polls give the edge to the Republican incumbent.

Two races for governor have drawn widespread attention.

In Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams, former minority leader in the state House of Representatives, is seeking to become the first black woman to become governor of a US state.
"In this meeting the official strongly denied the biased reports on a foiled attack plot on an Iranian dissident in Denmark and its attribution to the Islamic republic of Iran," Ghasemi added.

The official also warned against "hasty and controversial actions".

The Danish ambassador is being recalled by Copenhagen over the alleged plot to kill three Iranians living in the Scandinavian country.

In September, Tehran accused Denmark, along with the Netherlands and Britain, of "hosting several members of the terrorist group" that Iran holds responsible for an attack in the city of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran that killed 24 people.
4) Throw on some stretchy pants for the Arts of Life 10th annual Chili Cook Off. The proceeds benefit Arts of Life, a nonprofit that provides vocational opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Try more than 20 chilis, beer from Middle Brow Beer Co. and gelato from Black Dog Gelato while mingling with celebrity guests like Doug Sohn of Hot Doug and David Eigenberg of Sex in the City and Chicago Fire. Tickets $20. 5-8 p.m. Saturday, 2010 W. Carroll Ave., 312-829-2787, artsoflife.org
The 17-member squad will seek out same-sex couples through social media, while the AFP quoted Mr Makonda as saying: "these homosexuals boast on social networks."

"Give me their names," he said.

"My ad-hoc team will begin to get their hands on them next Monday."

Taboo

Male homosexuality has long been considered a moral taboo to be punished harshly.

Initially brought into being in the 19th century via German, then British colonial-era statues, the country upholds provisions outlined in the Tanzania Penal Code of 1945, stating that any person who "has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature" is liable for life imprisonment or a term for at least 30 years.

Tanzania is one of 37 Commonwealth member-states that continue to uphold colonial sodomy laws, while others, such as South Africa, India and Belize, have overturned them.

International condemnation

The Tanzanian government has not previously been shaken by international condemnation.
A section of the lawmakers have demanded that President Kenyatta rescind his decision to freeze new projects.

They said the Presidents directive has hurt the political careers of first-time Member of Parliaments who had promised new initiatives once they assumed office.

"Now, we have been elected and the Presidents directive has made it difficult to lobby for those projects, said an MP who was quoted by the Nation.

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In July, the President gave a directive to stop new projects until stalled and ongoing ones are completed.

The MPs also requested that they hold frequent meetings with the Head of State amid an uproar that he had become inaccessible compared to his deputy.

"All other regions have had an opportunity to meet him. We are only saying that we also have a stake in this country, he said.

The leaders also said that the President should continue being the regional kingpin even after his term ends in 2022.

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The meeting was confirmed on Wednesday and details communicated to the leaders.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Being with someone who has diabetes and needs immediate care to avoid a coma can be a frightening situation. Even worse, current products and injection kits to help in those emergencies can be complicated to use.

Now Purdue University researchers are working on a solution similar to common EpiPen devices that could help diabetic patients and others with hypoglycemia.

Elizabeth Topp, who led the research team, has personal experience with how the technology developed at Purdue could improve lives. Her younger brother was a principal in Delaware and had a young student volleyball player with diabetes who needed to have a nurse travel with her to games in case she needed an injection of glucagon, which is used to help raise sugar levels.

Our technology will hopefully one day be able to help that student and millions of other people and their families impacted by hypoglycemia, said Topp, a professor of industrial and physical pharmacy. We want an easier alternative to the current rescue kits that require someone to mix components and then figure out how to properly inject the glucagon.

The difficulty in dealing with the glucagon rescue kits also means most people choose to go to the hospital for treatment, when it could be possible to give a simple injection at home.

Topp and the other researchers faced a challenge when developing their technology: Glucagon is poorly soluble and unstable in solution. They solved this challenge by using peptide derivatives of glucagon, which have shown to be soluble and stable in solution.

The derivatives created at Purdue are quickly re-converted to glucagon after injection by enzymes in the body. This process creates an easier and quicker alternative to delivering glucagon to a person in need.

Other members of the research team include Markus Lill, a Purdue associate professor of medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology; Shenbaga Moorthy Balakrishnan, a former Purdue research scientist; and Hamed Ghomi, one of Lills former graduate students.

Its incredible to think that four researchers from places all across the globe were able to come together for this potentially life-changing discovery, Topp said. Purdue is a place that makes such collaboration possible.

Their work aligns with Purdue's Giant Leaps celebration, acknowledging the universitys global advancements in health as part of Purdues 150th anniversary. This is one of the four themes of the yearlong celebrations Ideas Festival, designed to showcase Purdue as an intellectual center solving real-world issues.

Topp is working with the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization and Monon Bioventures, LLC to pursue commercialization.

About Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization

The Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Innovation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University.

Writer: Chris Adam, 765-588-3341, cladam@prf.org



Source: Elizabeth Topp, topp@purdue.edu
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Dr Sean Palmer, chair of Monarchy New Zealand, talks about the success of the brief tour here by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, and how the younger generation of royals are breathing life into the family.
TURKEY: Working with the Directorate-General for Foreign Relations & European Union Affairs, the transport ministry has awarded a contract to modernise a 200 km section of the main line which links Istanbul with the Bulgarian border to a consortium of domestic construction and contracting groups Gulermak Agir Sanayii ve Taah ...
The Rail Delivery Group has announced that the 26-30 Railcard will be available to all 26 to 30 year olds by end of the year. It will be sold for 30 through a smartphone app, and will offer one-third off fares, subject to time restrictions and minimum fares.
In what must seem like a nightmare scenario for Iran, not only is another U.S. president leveling sanctions against its economy, and particularly that economy's lifeblood, its oil sector, but the current U.S. president has admittedly made it his mission to drive Tehran to its knees over what he sees as non-compliance over the 2015 nuclear accord between western powers and Tehran.

As recently as the start of this month, the oil markets narrative was that perhaps President Donald Trump had pushed a bit too hard by reimposing sanctions against Iran. Oil markets, for their part, were jittery while both global oil benchmark Brent and U.S. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures hit four-year highs largely on supply concerns. Some predicted that $100 per barrel oil by the end of the year was imminent, while Tehran maintained a defiant tone, stating that neither Saudi Arabia nor OPEC would be able to pump enough oil to compensate for the loss of Iranian barrels, estimated between 500,000 bpd and 1 million bpd.

Now, what a different just a few weeks can make. Oil prices are now trending downward, falling for a third consecutive week as global stock markets tumbled and oil markets focused on a weaker demand outlook for crude going forward. Brent crude fell 2.7 percent last week and is down 10.5 percent from its October 3 high of $86.74. WTI ended the week down some 2.2 percent and has now dropped around 12 percent from its recent high of on October 3. Moreover, in a sign of things to come, hedge-fund and money managers are trimming their bets that crude oil prices will rise.
Anyway, he loved Wilde. I felt that the Passion of Oscar Wilde  the stations of his cross, so to speak  was something I could put the whole of myself into. Everett sent a copy of The Happy Prince to producer Scott Rudin. He liked it, but he wanted Philip Seymour Hoffman, not Everett, to play Wilde, and an established director to direct. Everett approached six different directors. He heard no six different ways.
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 10/31/2018



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Anfisa Arkhipchenko and Jorge Nava are apparently done with the TLC reality franchise.Anfisa, who starred on the latest season of : Happily Ever After? with her husband, confirmed she and Jorge won't be returning to this past weekend on Instagram.In the comments section of Anfisa's latest post -- a selfie photo at the gym -- a fan complimented Anfisa's physical appearance ever since she and Jorge appeared on Season 4 of together."Oh wow, your transition from first seeing you on has been phenomenal... I hope they bring you and Jorge back next season," the fan wrote."Nope. We are done," Anfisa responded with a smiley face emoticon.When another fan complained, "I guess it's not for better or worse," Anfisa countered by saying, "I didn't marry the show, did I?"It probably doesn't come as much of a surprise to viewers that Jorge and Anfisa aren't returning for another season given Jorge was arrested earlier this year in Arizona with nearly 300 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of his car.Jorge began serving a 22-month prison sentence in September after pleading guilty to a Class 4 felony of Attempted Transportation of Marijuana for Sale, according to In Touch Weekly.The 28-year-old reportedly got pulled over in a rental vehicle in February and was arrested after police discovered the marijuana.Jorge said he probably didn't get off easier due to his criminal record, which includes two previous convictions for cultivation of marijuana.Meanwhile, Anfisa appears to be keeping herself busy by going to the gym and taking classes at a local community college.Anfisa, however, doesn't appreciate being blamed for her husband's mistakes.In a recent YouTube video, Anfisa reportedly said to haters, "In my opinion, Jorge is an adult and he really should take responsibility for his actions... he brought [this] upon himself. And I think I don't deserve to be in this situation and I don't deserve to hear all this negativity from all these people."
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/01/2018



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Nicole Nafziger and Azan Tefou are planning to welcome children together in the near future.Nicole, 24, posted an Instagram Story on Monday, answering a series of questions from her followers, Us Weekly reported "How many kids do you and Hassan [plan] on having?" one fan reportedly asked."We want to add two more to our family! So [three] including May," Nicole allegedly replied in a since-deleted response.Nicole is currently a mom to her toddler-aged daughter from a previous relationship.When asked about the situation regarding Nicole's relationship with her daughter's biological father, Nicole didn't get into detail and simply said the man is no longer a part of their lives, according to the magazine.While Nicole and Azan are already discussing kids, they are not even married yet. In fact, the couple has postponed their wedding twice.As fans last saw on Season 3 of : Happily Ever After?, Nicole and Azan decided to delay their wedding in Morocco in June due to financial constraints.Azan also appeared to talk Nicole into investing their wedding money into a beauty-store business instead."Azan is living off her," Nicole's stepfather Joe Fouraker told RadarOnline in August."She sends him money. He was going to start a business. My wife was there for a week for the wedding. He would never allow anybody to see his place of business... He's milking her for all he can ."In addition, Azan refused to file the marriage paperwork while Nicole was in Morocco on her Tourist visa.Nicole pointed out they didn't need a lavish ceremony just to make their marriage official, but Azan pushed back on the idea and told Nicole he needed more time.Nicole therefore returned to Florida under the assumption she would reunite with Azan in Morocco again and they could wed within a few months, but she reportedly ran out of money and was unable to return to Morocco as she had anticipated.Fans then began to speculate the couple broke up, but Nicole slammed rumors of a split in September.Nicole responded to one person spreading the rumor on Instagram, "That's funny, no one told me and Azan that. We may be thousands of miles apart, but I love you from Florida to Morocco, then to the moon and back."And earlier this month, Nicole shared a photo of the pair on Instagram with the following caption: "You add so much light to my world. I am so proud to have you in my life #LoveOfMyLife #MyLove #TilTheEnd #Forever."Prior to starring on the Happily Ever After? spinoff, Nicole and Azan appeared on Season 4 of as well as Season 5 of the original TLC reality series.
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Georgias maps have been consistently gerrymandered, or drawn for the benefit of one political party, and under Republican rule, Athens has been one of the most gerrymandered cities in the state.
For some festive folks, the end of Halloween means the beginning of a new holiday season. Although Thanksgiving is technically the next holida
Theres a companion documentary, Morgan Nevilles Theyll Love Me When Im Dead, which charts the various stages of incompletion The Other Side of the Wind endured. Also available on Netflix starting Friday, this only adds to the hall-of-mirrors motif. Welles loved that image: Starting from his first feature, Citizen Kane, and most famously in the literal hall-of-mirrors shoot-out in The Lady From Shanghai, mulitple mirrored reflections of his protagonists filled the screen. The filmmaker loved that motif. The Other Side of the Wind seems to be taking place inside in one of those mirrors. It feels both quaintly modish and sincerely modern, a self-directed critique of Welles and of the industry built, as Hannaford says, on the idea of capturing the great places and the pretty people. And then setting up the next shot.
Musicians often feel strong ties to their hometowns, the places that shaped their music and grew their following. Returning to play there for 
Running more mundanely through the film are a series of local council meetings, in which doggedly inconclusive debates run back and forth over such issues as the allocation of fire hydrants in the town, or the merits of developing new business versus new housing: the latter a slightly more heated exchange that tacitly reveals the townspeople's conservative, growth-opposed political impulses. This kind of small-scale community government action is a recurring area of interest for the filmmaker. Sometimes, a protracted discussion over where to place library benches is simply as pedantic as it sounds. That may be the wryest, most cunning upshot of "Monrovia, Indiana's" respectfully observed album of Americana: If there's a bigger picture to be drawn here, the town isn't in a hurry to see it.
Contributed photo /

COLLINSVILLE  Ryo Yanagitani, hailed by the Washington Post as a pianists pianist, will open the Maxwell Shepherd Funds 2018-19 season with a concert on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Collinsville.

Yanagitani, who is artistic director and a performing artist for the Everway Concert series in Washington, D.C., has established himself as one of the most promising young performers in the classical music world. His artistic achievements include winning the gold medal at the 10th San Antonio International Piano Competition and the grand prize at the Hugo Kauder International Piano Competition. He is a laureate of the Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition, the Dr. Luis Sigall International Piano Competition in Chile, and the Hilton Head International Piano Competition.
With one weekend left before the midterm elections, the candidates for Connecticuts 5th District are locked into opposite positions about the two most important issues of the campaign  health care and the economy.

Jahana Hayes, the 2016 Teacher of the Year who is running as a progressive Democrat, says voters in greater Danbury and west-central Connecticut want Medicare for all and the minimum hourly wage raised to $15.

Manny Santos, a former Marine and one-term mayor of Meriden who is running as a Trump Republican, says voters in Connecticuts most conservative Congressional district want an end to Obamacares excessive cost and restrictions, and a continuation of the White Houses economic policies.

I have heard from enough people who are concerned about not being covered, said Hayes. We cannot go back to a place where fewer people are insured.

Santos shakes his head at that.

The majority of people are worried about the costs of their premiums and the costs associated with co-pays, he said. Most voters do not agree with single-payer insurance or government insurance, because they realize it would not be affordable unless our taxes were dramatically higher.

It wont be clear until Tuesday whether the winner will be part of a national story that affects the balance of power in Congress, or whether the 5th District winner will be part of a mixed message that voters send to Washington, D.C.

At stake is whether the conservative principles and nationalistic policies of the president will dominate the political agenda for the last two years of the decade or whether progressive principles of Democrats will be a check on Republican power, leading into the 2020 presidential election.

Tuesdays 5th District election will also determine whether Republicans can gain a seat in Connecticuts all-Democratic Congressional delegation, or whether Hayes will become Connecticuts first black Congresswoman.

Hayes is part of a wave of first-time and underdog minority candidates  many of them women  who have upset establishment Democrats in primaries and energized the party with hopes of inspiring a high voter turnout.

It is stunning to me how we talk about the economy thriving and business doing well and yet we struggle with the thought of paying employees, Hayes said. The minimum wage is a good place to start.

Santos is riding on Republican confidence in Connecticut that voters are fed up with the slow pace of recovery from the Great Recession  a condition blamed on the economic policies of unpopular outgoing Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

Absolutely the only path to a prosperous America is Republican principles, Santos said. The Democrats have nothing - right here in Connecticut, with Democratic principles fully implemented, it is a disaster.

The final days

Charismatic and articulate, Hayes has earned the attention of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as a top-tier candidate who deserves national support, in part because of her campaigns aggressive fundraising, which at last count was $1.6 million.

Santos meanwhile hardly sounds like an underdog  except perhaps on paper, where his last campaign finance disclosure statement showed a total of $64,000 raised since late February. Reserved and principled, Santos continues to argue that he is the right candidate with the right message at the right time.

On the two top issues of the campaign, Hayes says the appeal of offering everyone health insurance with a single-payer system such as Medicare for all outweighs voter concerns about costs, which can always be brought down. On raising the minimum wage, she says she believes in trickle-up economics.

Everything in the economy is raised as a result, she said. We cannot keep making decisions that only benefit one sector of the economy.

Santos says the only part of the Affordable Care Act that he would keep is protection for people with pre-existing conditions. The rest of Obamacare should be dismantled, he said. Santos also disagrees with raising the minimum wage, arguing it will only raise consumer prices.

The minimum wage is not a living wage, its a starting wage, Santos said, stressing that low-taxing and low-regulation policies allow businesses to grow and provide good-paying jobs. Unless Americans have jobs and unless they see a future of prosperity for their families and children, not much else matters.

rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342
I was really just trying to figure out what I wanted to say, he continues. I hate the monotony of life, and it was pretty much like If I dont do this, Im going to have to work for 50 years and every day, Monday to Friday, Ill have to show up at this place and do this. At that moment I just felt really uncomfortable with that, so I just double-downed on myself and started focusing more on the sound and what I think works. At the end of the day, I want to write the songs that I really like and feel natural to me  that are cathartic or fun. All Im trying to do is catalog my human existence and I think a lot of people go through the same things I go through, sometimes maybe worse.
A doctor in Plano, Texas, apologized Sunday after sparking outrage for saying that female physicians make less than men because they "don't work as hard" and prioritize "something else  family, social, whatever."

Medical professionals had taken Gary Tigges to task on social media for views they say are discriminatory and disproved by most research. Some have criticized the Dallas Medical Journal for highlighting the remarks; others have praised the monthly magazine for exposing them.

The quote appeared in the "Big and Bright Ideas" section of the September edition of the Dallas Medical Journal as part of a feature asking industry professionals to share their thoughts and potential solutions to the gender pay gap in medicine.

Tigges contribution: "Female physicians do not work as hard and do not see as many patients as male physicians ... This is because they choose to, or they simply don't want to be rushed, or they don't want to work the long hours."

An internist at Plano Internal Medical Associates, Tigges went on to write that women tend to care more about outside obligations than work. The pay difference, he said, is a natural consequence.

"Nothing needs to be 'done' about this unless female physicians actually want to work harder and put in the hours," Tigges wrote. "If not, they should be paid less."

Male and female doctors alike called out Tigges remarks as sexist and ignorant. "These kinds of views ... are not supported by actual data," tweeted Esther Choo, physician and founder of gender equity consulting firm, Equity Quotient. "This doctor is not only wrong, he's part of the problem," tweeted Jorge Montoya, a cardiologist in Mexico.

Men in medicine often earn 20 to 30 percent more than their female counterparts, research shows. And the gap may be widening. A study released this March from Doximity, a social networking platform for health care professionals, examined compensation data from more than 65,000 doctors across 40 different specialties, and found that female doctors earned an average of 27.7 percent less than males in 2017, amounting to $105,000 less a year.

Tigges did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But he told the Dallas Morning News that his comments were taken out of context and that he didn't know they were going to be published.

"My response sounds terrible and horrible and doesn't reflect what I was really trying to say," Tigges said late last week. "I'm not saying female physicians should be paid less, but they earn less because of other factors."

Tigges, originally from Iowa, founded Plano Internal Medical Associates in 1996, according to the practice's website. He's held several leadership positions at Presbyterian Hospital of Plano and has served on councils for the Texas Medical Association.

Doctors are paid in proportion to the number of patients they see, Tigges said, pointing to data suggesting women work shorter shifts and deal with fewer patients because of other obligations, the Dallas Morning News reported.

On Sunday he apologized in a statement posted on his practice's website.

"I have heard from several trusted female physician colleagues who disagree with and are deeply hurt and offended by the comments," he said. "I sincerely apologize to all female physicians for my comments and the pain they have caused."

Many female doctors do work fewer hours and see fewer patients, but not because of laziness or lack of drive, according to studies from the Annals of Internal Medicine and the American Medical Association. Female physicians shoulder more of the burden at home; those with kids work an average 11 fewer hours a week than ones without, according to a 2017 study by JAMA internal medicine. Their extra burdens at home are used against them - to justify their lower pay and elevate men's higher pay, according to Kim Templeton, a professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.

"Some people have said women doctors don't see as many patients as male doctors because they have other responsibilities at home with kids. That's why they make less," Templeton told CNN Money. "Decades later, the assumption is that (male doctors) should make more because they are taking care of the family."

The myriad responsibilities female doctors often bear can take a heavy toll. Far more female physicians grapple with burnout, according to Dr. Susan Thompson Hingle, a professor at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. This leads many to switch careers at a time when the U.S. stares down a troubling doctor shortage -- with the nation potentially lacking 120,000 physicians across various specialties by 2030, according to recent data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Women in medicine are also more likely to deal with depression, and are twice as likely to commit suicide as the general population, according to a 2018 study by Louise Andrew.

Despite these factors, denial of the gender pay gap and the struggles faced by women is common, Gabriela Zandomeni, a Dallas physician and chair of the committee that publishes the Dallas Medical Journal, said in a statement Sept. 1. The committee chose to publish Tigges' comments because his perspective is common, Zandomeni said, and needs to be dealt with out in the open.

She wrote that she was also outraged by the opinions claiming a gender pay gap doesn't exist. But the problem isn't in what one doctor thinks.

"The danger is in the physicians who think this but do not express it, or who justify it."

The Dallas Medical Journal asked readers to submit reactions to the opinions about gender pay gap from this month's issue, and will publish a "representative sample" next month.
"I think the journalists have taken it personally," said Stewart of Trump's endless attacks on journalism over the past few years. "They're personally wounded and offended by this man. He baits them and they dive in. And what he's done well, I thought, is appeal to their own narcissism, to their own ego ... and the journalists stand up and say, 'We are noble, we are honorable, how dare you, sir.' And they take it personally. And now he's changed the conversation to not that his policies are silly or not working or any of those other things. It's all about the fight."
Chinese spies and hackers have been indicted for "repeated intrusions into companies' computer systems" in the U.S. and elsewhere for more than five years, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced.



Zha Rong, Chai Meng and other co-conspirators worked for the provincial arm of China's state security police in the eastern province of Jiangsu, which has its headquarters in Nanjing, the DOJ said in a statement on its website.



"The conspirators ultimate goal was to steal, among other data, intellectual property and confidential business information, including information related to a turbofan engine used in commercial airliners," it said.



Zha and Zhai used a team of hackers including Zhang Zhanggui, Liu Chunliang, Gao Hongkun, Zhuang Xiaowei, and Ma Zhiqi to try to steal technology for a turbofan engine used on U.S. and European commercial airliners, it said.



The hackers used a range of techniques, including spear phishing, to sow different strains of malware into company computer systems using the victim companies own websites as "watering holes" to compromise website visitors computers, and domain hijacking through the compromise of domain registrars, the DOJ said.



The first alleged hack had begun by Jan. 8, 2010, when members of the conspiracy infiltrated Capstone Turbine, a Los-Angeles-based gas turbine manufacturer, in order to steal data and use the Capstone Turbine website as a "watering hole" to compromise site visitors' computers.



French connection



The team also recruited insiders working for a French aerospace manufacturer that had an office in Jiangsu's Suzhou city and a partner company based in the United States, before hacking the computer systems of the French company.



The French company in Suzhou hired two employees in 2013, Tian Xi and Gu Chen, who had sought their jobs at the behest of the Jiangsu state security department. They then facilitated the infection of the company's systems with malware, and warned the department when the malware was discovered, enabling it to cover its tracks to a certain extent, the statement said.



Companies based in Arizona, Massachusetts and Oregon linked to the turbofan project were also targeted.



"At the time of the intrusions, a Chinese state-owned aerospace company was working to develop a comparable engine for use in commercial aircraft manufactured in China and elsewhere," the DOJ statement said.



Zhang and Li Xiao were also accused of freelancing off the back of the state-sponsored hacking project for their own gain in a project that included a hack targeting a technology company based in San Diego, it said.



"For the third time since only September, the National Security Division, with its US Attorney partners, has brought charges against Chinese intelligence officers from [Jiangsu] and those working at their direction and control for stealing American intellectual property," U.S. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said in a statement.



"This is just the beginning. Together with our federal partners, we will redouble our efforts to safeguard Americas ingenuity and investment," Demers said.



Hacking continues



John Brown, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego Field Office, said Chinese state-sponsored hacking attempts have continued unabated.



"The threat posed by Chinese government-sponsored hacking activity is real and relentless," Brown said. "Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of our private sector, international and U.S. government partners, is sending a strong message to the Chinese government and other foreign governments involved in hacking activities."



The DOJ successfully extradited an officer with the Jiangsu state security department to Ohio in connection with a hacking attempt linked to technology for jet aircraft engines, while a U.S. Army recruit was charged in September of working for the Jiangsu state security department.



Reported by RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Dozens of Chinese rights lawyers have launched a campaign ahead of World AIDS Day to provide free legal advice to people or groups affected by employment discrimination linked to their HIV status, RFA has learned.



A total of 61 lawyers have joined the scheme, titled AIDS Discrimination Legal Advice Month, which will run until World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.



"We are lawyers who are enthusiastic about public welfare," the lawyers said in a statement launching the scheme.



"Many of our lawyers have represented activists involved in rights work on behalf of HIV-infected people."



Earlier this year, some of its members successfully represented Xie Peng, a man living with HIV in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan, who was sent home on extended sick leave by his employer after his status was discovered.



Xie was reinstated in his job with a large pay rise and a two-year labor contract as a result of the mediation, according to the group, which includes Henan-based Chang Boyang, Shaanxi lawyer Chang Yiping and Beijing-based Li Fangping.



"Through our AIDS-related casework, we have become more and more aware that people living with HIV have become a severely marginalized group and that their legitimate rights and interests are being seriously violated," the group said.



Xie confirmed the statement's account of his case in an interview with RFA on Thursday.



"Like me, these lawyers are pioneers," he said. "I think that the law is like a ray of light that can encourage progress and enlightenment."



"If nobody stands up for themselves, then there will never be any progress," said Xie, whose employer had ordered him home to "take care of himself" after his HIV status was discovered in a compulsory health check.



Surge in infections



China last month reported a 14 percent surge in new HIV infections, with around 40,000 new cases reported in the second quarter of this year.



Activists say the ruling Chinese Communist Party has little interest in standing up for people with HIV/AIDS, and that employers still discriminate against people with HIV, in spite of greater awareness of how the virus is transmitted.



"HIV-infected people are unfairly treated or discriminated against in employment," rights lawyer Chang Weiping told RFA. "It is difficult for them to enter the workplace and make a living. So I think lawyers need to offer some legal help or guidance to these potential clients."



While sexual transmissions are on the rise, official figures omit many people in China who have contracted the virus through tainted blood-transfusions, spurred on by the practice of blood-selling in poverty-stricken rural areas.



HIV/AIDS advocacy work has been hampered in China by a wide-ranging clampdown on the activities of civil society and nongovernment groups, especially those receiving foreign funding.



According to Chang Yuping, mandatory health checks by employers are a provision in general guidelines issued by the government for the recruitment of civil servants, which are also used by private corporations as a guide to hiring staff.



"In my opinion, the civil service recruitment guidelines were only ever experimental; they were described as such when they were released, not as something that must be enforced," he said.



"[Mandatory health checks] are at odds with the AIDS prevention principle of voluntary testing," he said.



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Male North Korean government officials and female traders sitting in a railway carriage, while a railroad officer checks a female traders ticket. In railway carriages, women often face harassment by male government officials and railroad officers.

Sexual violence is so rampant in North Korea that it has become an accepted part of ordinary life, according to a report released Wednesday by Human Rights Watch (HRW) based on interviews with women from the North who have taken asylum in South Korea.

The New York-based NGOs 86-page report, You Cry at Night, but Dont Know Why: Sexual Violence Against Women in North Korea, accuses North Korean officials of using whatever power or status they have to coerce women into agreeing to unwanted sexual contact.

Firsthand accounts by survivors describe men using their position of power to choose victims who then have no recourse other than to comply with demands for sex or other favors or face harsh consequences.

The victims implicated high-ranking party officials, prison guards and interrogators, police, prosecutors and soldiers in the report.

The North Koreans we spoke with told us that unwanted sexual contact and violence is so common that it has come to be accepted as part of ordinary life: sexual abuse by officials, and the impunity they enjoy, is linked to larger patterns of sexual abuse and impunity in the country, said the report.

The precise number of women and girls who experience sexual violence in North Korea, however, is unknown. Survivors rarely report cases, and the North Korean government rarely publishes data on any aspect of life in the country, it said.

The report includes accounts from survivors, including Oh Jung Hee, a trader from Ryanggang province who left the North in 2014 and provided the quote from which the report gets its name.

On the days they felt like it, market guards or police officials could ask me to follow them to an empty room outside the market, or some other place theyd pick. They consider us [sex] toys. We [women] are at the mercy of men.

She said it was so common that the men dont think what they are doing is wrong and that women have come to accept it, but sometimes, out of nowhere, you cry at night and dont know why.

HRW also references a study conducted by the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), a South Korean government think tank, with 1,125 North Koreans who re-settled in South Korea between 2010 and 2014. The respondents were comprised of 31.29 percent men and 68.71 percent women.

The KINU survey found that 37.7 percent of the respondents said sexual harassment and rape of inmates at detention facilities was common, with 15.9 percent saying they considered it very common.

Thirty-three women said they were raped at detention and prison facilities, 51 said they witnessed rapes in such facilities, and 25 said they heard of such cases, HRW quoted the South Korean survey as saying.

The study says that abuse is rarely reported because the government does not adequately investigate or prosecute, nor does it do anything to protect survivors, all while claiming that such abuse does not occur at all in North Korea.

The women said the police do not consider sexual violence a serious crime and that it is almost inconceivable to even consider going to the police to report sexual abuse because of the possible repercussions. Family members or close friends who knew about their experience also cautioned women against going to the authorities, said the report.

I think that the North Korea situation is amongst the worst weve seen because we have a system that has made the abuse of women so pervasive that the women themselves believe that in fact theres nothing that they can do about it, said Phil Robertson, the deputy director of HRWs Asia Division, told RFAs Korean service in a telephone interview.

We had a number of cases that where women were saying to us that they only realized that these things that happened to them were rights crimes when they reached South Korea, and that they had never told anyone else before [talking to] us. Robertson said.

They wanted to have justice of some sort. They recognize that what happened to them is a crime, and they are angry enough to basically say we want somehow to have this information come out now so that what happened to us doesnt happen to other people, he said.

HRW noted that North Korea on paper  says that it is committed to gender equality and women and girls rights and has officially criminalized rape of women, trafficking in persons, and other forms of sexual abuse. The country banned domestic violence in 2010.

HRW called on North Korea to issue orders to all police, security officials, soldiers, party officials and other authorities that rape and other acts of sexual violence be investigated and prosecuted, regardless of the status of the alleged perpetrators. The group also called for legal reforms to criminal all forms of sexual violence by government officials and launch a nationwide campaign to educate the public on the problem.

For the report, HRW interviewed 54 North Koreans who fled the country after Kim Jong Un took power in 2011. In addition eight former North Korean officials who left the country were also interviewed.

Additional reporting by Hee Jung Yang of RFAs Korean Service.
A Thai health care worker performs a blood test on a child at a malaria clinic in Kanchanaburi province near the Thai-Myanmar border in a file photo.

Instances of malaria in remote and rural locations of Myanmar have fallen dramatically during a six-year period as a result of trained community health care workers providing a wider package of services along with screenings for the disease transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical regions, a study has found.

When local health care workers began offering more comprehensive services, including screenings and treatments for tuberculosis, respiratory tract infections, malnutrition, and diarrhea, along with malaria, the overall health of villagers improved as did malaria control, according to the study published on Oct. 22 by the online medical journal BMC Medicine.

Villages where health care workers provided malaria diagnosis and treatment saw a 70-percent drop in incidences of Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest of the five species of malaria parasites that commonly infect humans which is responsible for roughly half of all cases of the disease, Oxford University-affiliated researchers said in the study.

The villages, many of which have no formal health care clinics, also saw a 64-percent drop in Plasmodium vivax, a less virulent malaria strain, they said.

To maintain effective malaria control in hard to reach areas, village health workers were trained both to screen and treat malaria and to handle other common health care needs, said study author Frank Smithuis, director of the Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit and the NGO Medical Action Myanmar (MAM) in Yangon.

This significantly reduced malaria transmission and kept patients coming in to be screened for malaria, which is essential if we are to eliminate malaria in Myanmar, he said in a printed statement.

The study was based on a review of more than a half-million malaria rapid diagnosis tests conducted between 2011 and 2016 by more than 1,300 community health care workers, supported by MAM and Myanmars Department of Public Health under the Ministry of Health and Sports.

Offering villagers in isolated communities a package of basic and high-standard health care services is crucial to preventing resurgences of malaria, said Alistair McLean, the reports lead author, in a printed statement.

The analysis was funded by six organizations  The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the 3 Millennium Development Goal Fund; Planet Wheeler Foundation; Kadoorie Charitable Foundation; DAK Foundation; and the Wellcome Trust.

Myanmars malaria burden

Incidences of malaria in Myanmar  the country in the Greater Mekong Subregion with the greatest burden of the disease  declined remarkably between 2010 and 2017, according to best estimate figures in the World Health Organizations (WHO) latest World Malaria Report.

About 142,600 cases, resulting in 240 deaths, were recorded in 2016, down from roughly 2.16 million cases that led to 4,000 deaths in 2010, the report said.

The WHO has set a 15-year strategy for controlling and eliminating malaria by 2030, including reducing case incidents and death rates by at least 90 percent, ridding at least 35 countries of the disease, and preventing the reintroduction of malaria in countries that are malaria free.

The Myanmar government and international partners have provided support and funding for the deployment of tens of thousands of community health care workers, the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets to vulnerable populations, and the improvement of access to artemesinin-based combination treatment  all of which have contributed to the decline of malaria in Myanmar, researchers say.

Derived from a plant used in ancient Chinese herbal therapy, artemisinin quickly reduces most malaria parasites, while a partner drug clears out remaining ones.

Private-sector companies have also joined government efforts in the long-running battle against malaria.

In Myanmar, YOMA Strategic Holdings Ltd., a Singapore-based investment holding company with an office in Yangon, teamed up in August with the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance, an affiliation of Asian and Pacific heads of government, to work on eliminating malaria by 2030, state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported.

The public-private partnership is conducting awareness campaigns and holding fundraising events throughout the country for the malaria elimination program led by the Ministry of Health and Sports, the report said.

Despite a huge reduction in malaria cases and deaths in the Greater Mekong Subregion  an area bound together by the Mekong River that includes Cambodia, Chinas Yunnan province and Guanxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam  resistance to artemisinin and partner drugs have been reported in five countries, including Myanmar, posing a threat to continued progress towards malaria elimination.
"A liberal would try to control a black person through the concept of racism because they know we're very proud, emotional people, he said. So when I said, 'I like Trump' to someone that's liberal they'll say, 'Oh, but he's racist.' You think racism can control me? Oh, that don't stop me. That's an invisible wall."
In a new move aimed at bringing Tibetan Buddhist monasteries more closely under the control of the Chinese state, authorities are now grooming carefully chosen monks to learn and represent the views of the ruling Communist Party, a rights group said this week.



The program is part of a campaign of Sinicization of religion launched during the first term of Chinese president Xi Jinping, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in an Oct. 30 news release.



Under a Four Standards policy introduced this year in Chinas Tibet Autonomous Region, monks and nuns must demonstrate not only religious learning, but also political reliability, moral integrity, and a readiness to play an active role in blocking Tibetan protests against Chinese state policy, HRW said.



Speaking to RFAs Tibetan Service, Sophie RichardsonChina director at Human Rights Watchcalled the new policy an attempt to turn Tibetan Buddhist practitioners into propagandists and cheerleaders for the regime, which is deeply problematic.



I think that if these kinds of policies continue unabated, or if they accelerate, you will see in Tibet whats already happened in Xinjiang, which is that the practice of [religion] as its adherents understand it and want to practice it will effectively become illegal, Richardson said.



I think that Xi Jinpings goal is to refashion beliefs and institutions and policies and practices in ways that ensure that the Communist Party remains in power, and that he in particular remains in the leadership, she said.



A new approach



The Four Standards policy follows earlier attempts, deemed largely unsuccessful, to reshape monastic life in Tibet by introducing work teams into the monasteries to conduct political training and by requiring monks and nuns to denounce exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, HRW said.



And later efforts brought in thousands of party cadres to manage the monasteries themselves, the rights group said.



Tibetans attending teachings by the Dalai Lama in India have since been detained for reeducation on their return to Tibetan areas of China, and senior monks trained in Indian monasteries have been banned by Chinese authorities from teaching.



Politics, law and history are now a required part of the training for senior religious teachers, called Geshes, seeking qualification under Chinese law, HRW said, citing Chinese media reports.



Now, the use of specially trained monastics to promote the views of the party and state may prove more effective than earlier campaigns, Chinas Global Times newspaper said in a recent report cited by Human Rights Watch.



They have a better understanding of the thoughts and habits of their group, the state-linked paper said.



Reported by Tashi Wangchuk for RFAs Tibetan Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Mihrigul Tursun is a 29-year-old Uyghur woman from northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) who gave birth to healthy triplets in Egypt while her husband was working there in 2015. Soon after her children were born, she returned to China seeking help from her parents to raise them, but was arrested by XUAR authorities upon arriving by plane in the regional capital Urumqi, and the triplets were taken from her. She was released on parole weeks later after learning that her children were suffering from a severe respiratory illness that required surgery, but one of her sons died under mysterious circumstances while being cared for in a local hospital.



In the years since the boys death, Tursun was taken into custody several times, including at one of a network of political re-education camps, where Chinese authorities began detaining Uyghurs accused of harboring strong religious views and politically incorrect ideas in April 2017. Tursun said she was targeted because she had lived in Egyptone of a number of countries blacklisted by authorities in the XUAR because of a perceived threat of religious radicalization.



While she was able to relocate to the U.S. in September, Tursuns other son and daughter have developed health complications that require constant monitoring, and she has lost all contact with her husband and other family members. She recently spoke with RFAs Uyghur Service about the struggle she endured during the three years she spent in the XUAR before fleeing China.



RFA: What happened to you and your children after you returned to the XUAR from Egypt?



Tursun: I had tripletstwo boys and one girlin Egypt in 2015. My husband was working there, so I had nobody to help me with the kids and I had to return home [to Cherchen (in Chinese, Qiemo) county, in the XUARs Bayingholin Mongol (Bayinguoleng Menggu) Autonomous Prefecture] to get help from my parents  When my kids were given a medical checkup in Egypt, their health was in a great shape.



I entered the Urumqi airport with my three kids when they were about two months old, on May 13, 2015. At passport control, they asked me to go with them to a different room and questioned me, saying that police would watch my children while they briefly spoke with me, but the questioning lasted three or four hours. At the end, they put a hood over my head and handcuffed me, and brought me out through a different door. My tickets and other belongings were confiscated and I was taken straight to a prison, where I was held until July.



[The prison authorities] eventually told me I had been paroled because my kids were sick, and that I should be with them until their health improved. They also said that I was still under investigation, and that they would contact me whenever they had additional questions for me to answer. They held onto my passport, identification, cellphoneeverything.



I went directly to the hospital where my children were  and demanded to see my boy [who was in the emergency care facility], but they wouldnt allow me toI could only view him from afar. I couldnt tell if he was breathing or not  The next day, they called me in and told me they couldnt save him  They gave me his corpse. They had operated on his neck. The reason they gave for his death was that the treatment hadnt worked, and that he had been unable to breathe.



The other two kids were okayall three of them had been given operations on their necks. I was told that since they could not eat, they had to be fed with a tube. I didnt understand. The babies had been breastfeeding without any issues.



I couldnt communicate with my husband after I arrived [in the XUAR]. I was told not to communicate overseas. I wanted to let him know what had happened, but I didnt know how to tell him.



I buried my dead child and then I was left to deal with the trauma of losing one child, all while nursing two others and seeking medical treatment for them, in addition to needing surgery performed on my daughters eye  The health of my two kids has been poor ever sinceespecially my son.



Mihrigul Tursun and her children in Virginia, Oct. 27, 2018. Credit: RFA RFA: Did the authorities ever take you into custody again?



Tursun: I was detained again in April 2017 [while living at home in Cherchen county], and released soon after. They wanted to interrogate me about what kinds of things I did in Egypt. I was unable to return to Egypt before this detention because all of my documents were in the hands of the authorities, and I had been blacklisted.



I was tortured for seven days and nights without sleep by members of the national security department  They examined me and shaved my head. I was locked up until August, when I was released [to a hospital] because I was frequently suffering seizures and losing consciousness  Later, it was determined that I be sent to the No. 4 Mental Hospital  but my father was able to take me home for treatment, and I recovered.



I was detained [the last time] in [January] 2018  When I was sent home [after being interrogated] before this detention, I was able to go out only with the permission of the local neighborhood committee, which demanded to be informed of my comings and goings. Normally, I couldnt even enter a store [without permission]. I couldnt even leave our neighborhood because I would be identified as a person who had committed an unspecified crime when swiping my ID [at a checkpoint], as I had been blacklisted.



When they interrogate me, they basically ask the same questions: Who are you close to? Who do you know overseas? For which overseas organizations did you work? What was your mission? They ask these questions because I lived overseas and because I speak a few foreign languages, so they are trying to label me as a spy.



When I entered the cell, there were more than 40 women in it, but when I left, there were 68  All of them were people I knew from the past.



The cell had no windows  it was built underground  We were never taken outside to get fresh air. They would only open a hole in the ceiling for ventilation  There were cameras on all four sidesthey have to see every corner of the room.



I witnessed nine deaths in my cell alone. They told us that some of them had previous illnesses, while others they said died because their hearts stopped beating  We had sick people, but they were never taken to the hospital.



RFA: How did you obtain your freedom?



Tursun: The day I was freed [about three months later], I was told to collect my belongings in the cell and come out  They gave me back my own clothing and took the prison uniform. Two hours before my release, I was given an injection. They made me swear a lot of things and took a video of it.



I swore, I am a citizen of China. I love China. I will never do anything to harm China. China has raised me. The police never interrogated or tortured me, or even detained me. I read the statement and signed it.



I was brought to see my kids, who were staying at my neighbors house. They looked skinny and bruised. I was told they had bruises on their faces because they had fallen down. I took them and their belongings while being monitored by the police. I didnt see my parents anywhere.



The police told me to return after taking my kids back to Egypt [where they had been born and have citizenship]. They asked me when I would return. They warned me that my parents, siblings and other relatives were at their mercy. They said they were the ones protecting me. Then, they took my fingerprints, blood sample, recorded my voice, and documented my movements, as well as everything else.



I was released on April 5 and left Cherchen three days later. I stayed in Beijing for 20 days because I was prevented from boarding my plane three times by authorities [who said I didnt have the correct documents]  I was able to leave only on the fourth attempt.



I landed in Cairo, Egypt on April 28  I looked for [my husband] as soon as I arrived, but I learned from his coworker that he returned to China in 2016 to bring his family back and was detained at the airport in Beijing. He was later sentenced to 16 years in prison.



Since leaving, I was once able to contact the teacher of my sister, who was studying in eastern China, and the teacher told me that authorities in the XUAR had arrested her while she was there during a break from classes. I havent been able to reach the teacher again. In July this year, I received a message from my father saying I should return to China as soon as possible because our family members missed the kids. After that, all communication ceased.



I arrived in the U.S. on September 21, 2018. I have no words to express my feelings about coming to America. Sometimes, I wonder if I really arrived in America or if I entered heaven after dying in a Chinese prison. I did not believe I would leave prison in China alive. I was abused, persecuted and tortured in my own homeland where I grew up. America saved me from death.



Reported by Gulchehra Hoja for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Mamatjan Juma and Alim Seytoff.
When 17-year-old Assol Trubetskaya was detained at an unsanctioned protest in Omsk in September, the authorities seemed to be expecting her. "The OMON [riot police] officers grabbed me and dragged me into a van," she told RFE/RL. "A woman from the Juvenile Affairs Department was already sitting in there." In interviews with RFE/RL's Russian Service, teens across Russia told similar stories of how their lives were turned upside down after they were detained on September 9 during a nationwide wave of protests against a government plan to raise retirement ages. More than 1,000 demonstrators were detained in more than 30 towns and cities during those protests, which were organized by opposition politician Aleksei Navalny. Perhaps surprisingly for a protest over pensions, many of the demonstrators were young people, and the authorities seemed to pay them particular attention. "The police have stooped to a new low by treating young, peaceful protesters as if they were criminals," Marie Struthers, Amnesty International's director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said at the time. "This is shameless and heartbreaking."

"In Samara, City Day coincided with the march against the pension reform," said 10th-grade student Yegor Beschastnov. "I asked the police officers who were on the street if it would be all right for me to walk around with a [Russian] flag. They said it would be. I walked around my city waving the Russian flag. And soon I received a summons to appear before the police." Like the other young people RFE/RL spoke to, Beschastnov appeared before a juvenile-affairs commission and was charged with the administrative offense of participating in an unsanctioned demonstration. "I was amused to see an Orthodox priest was the head of the commission," he said. The commission fined him 10,000 rubles ($152) for allegedly disobeying a police order to disperse, he added. "The commission wasn't interested in my side of what happened," Beschastnov said. "I had the impression that they had made their decision in advance. The video did not show me shouting any slogans. I was convicted of walking around town waving a Russian flag."

Nikita Chudinov is a teenage volunteer at Navalny's office in Perm. "Some of the protesters and I were marching toward the World War II monument," he said of the September 9 events in his city. "The police began to surround us. We understood that we were about to be detained, so we began singing the Russian national anthem. Before we got halfway through, they grabbed us and pushed us into vans. One police officer knocked the Russian flag out of my hands and walked on it." Chudinov said he was interrogated at a police station without the presence of his parents. Officers, he said, asked him repeatedly if the U.S. State Department had paid him to participate in the demonstration. In the end, he was charged with participating in an illegal protest and his mother was charged with failure to comply with her responsibilities as a parent. A juvenile-affairs commission convicted him and fined him 5,000 rubles ($76). The charge against his mother was dropped.

Chudinov said his appearance before the commission caused him problems at school. "I had to bring a notice from the commission to school in order to excuse my absence," he explained, "so I had to explain why I'd been called to the commission. My class leader explained that the situation in the country is very tense and they are putting people like me in prison." He added that "a class monitor" told him to remove a pro-Navalny button. "She's a big patriot who had previously gone to military school. We don't see eye to eye," he said. "She told me that people say Navalny is a spy and she warned me that patriots support [President Vladimir Putin]."

Pavel Averochkin, a 16-year-old in Penza, told RFE/RL that his mother was summoned to his school after his detention on September 9. "But there were police there and they forced her to sign a protocol on failure to meet her parental responsibilities," Averochkin said. "She didn't know what she was signing. They told her it was just informative." He said they had since been summoned before a juvenile-affairs commission. "I'm a top-rate student," Averochkin continued. "My mother has a certificate from my school attesting to how well she raised me.... I'm upset because the school let the police meet with my mother in the deputy director's office. Schools are supposed to be outside of politics. After that, social workers came to our apartment, but we didn't let them in. "My mother worries that my civic activism will make it hard for me to get into a university," he said. "But she doesn't forbid me from going to protests and understands that we have become victims of political oppression."
Bulgarian prosecutors have charged senior state officials in connection with a document-fraud scheme that they said had enabled people from Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans to obtain Bulgarian passports and travel freely in the European Union.

Authorities on October 31 said they detained Petar Haralampiev, head of the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, on suspicion of taking bribes and leading an organized criminal group. Haralampiev's lawyer said he denied the accusations.

Some 20 others were also detained in the investigation, including the chief secretary of the agency that provides services to the Bulgarian diaspora, Krasimir Tomov, who faces charges of bribe-taking and influence-trading.

Investigators have also charged a Serbian national and a Bulgarian from the western town of Kyustendil, close to the Serbian and Macedonian frontiers, with involvement in the scam.

"This is the most serious case of high-level corruption to come to light" in Bulgaria, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev told reporters.

Prosecutors said applicants, mainly from the Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine, had been paying up to 8,000 euros ($9,080) to secure fraudulent certificates that supposedly established their Bulgarian origin.

Armed with such certificates, the applicants could apply for Bulgarian passports, and with them obtain the right to travel and work freely across the 28-nation European Union.

BNR public radio reported that the scheme led to between 30 and 40 fraudulent passports being issued per week.

Authorities said the crime ring appeared to target people in Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova, and Ukraine, where there are significant Bulgarian minorities.

Bribes were also paid to speed up the process, they said.

Prosecutors said evidence suggested that the document-fraud scheme dates back to June 2017, a month after Haralampiev took over the agency.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
A Macedonian court has ordered the temporary freezing of property belonging to the country's main opposition party as part of an investigation into suspected unlawful political financing.

The Skopje Criminal Court said on November 1 that it had issued the order following a request from prosecutors for a freeze on the selling or leasing of 69 real estate properties owned by the VMRO-DPMNE party, including the building that houses its headquarters.

Party Secretary-General Igor Janushev condemned the ruling, saying it amounted to "political persecution."

Janushev also said that VMRO-DPMNE had appealed the court's decision, which comes days after the conservative party said it might decide to sell or lease its headquarters in the capital to cut costs.

Prosecutors began an investigation in 2017 against 14 people, including ex-VMRO-DPMNE leader and former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, on allegations the party received 4.9 million euros in funding through money-laundering.

Under Gruevski, the VMRO-DPMNE led Macedonia's government from 2006 to 2017.

Gruevski is due to begin serving a two-year sentence this month in another corruption case.

He was found guilty for unlawfully influencing officials over the purchase of a luxury bulletproof vehicle, and has been ordered to report to prison no later than November 8 to serve his sentence.

With reporting by AP, dpa, and Balkan Insight
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has arrived in Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials in an effort to bolster ties, as the former Cold War allies both face raised tensions with Washington.

Diaz-Canel, who was named to his post this earlier year by his predecessor, Raul Castro, is to meet with Putin at the Kremlin on November 2 as part of his three-day visit.

The Cuban leader's visit comes at a time of increased tensions with the United States.

Under former President Barack Obama, Washington moved to normalize ties with Havana. But since taking office in January 2017, President Donald Trump has looked to reverse many of Obama's actions.

On November 1, the White House labeled Cuba -- along with Venezuela and Nicaragua -- the "troika of tyranny" and announced new financial sanctions against the three countries, which already have been subject to U.S.-imposed penalties.

Separately, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly rejected a U.S. resolution to criticize human rights violations in Cuba and instead condemned the U.S. economic embargo of the island nation of 11.5 million people.

Havana was considered a client state of Moscow during the Cold War, but ties weakened after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, when Russia was no longer able to provide financial support.

Cuba was run for 52 years by Raul Castro's brother, Fidel, who fostered close ties to the Soviet Union to counter U.S. influence. Fidel Castro died in 2016.

Putin visited Cuba in 2000 and 2014 as part of efforts to revive relations with the communist island nation that sits in the Caribbean just 145 kilometers of U.S. territory in the state of Florida.

Russian officials have recently signed contracts to modernize Cuban energy facilities and a metal factory. Russia and Cuba have also discussed expanding military ties.

Meanwhile, relations between Moscow and the West have deteriorated to a post-Cold War low over issues including Russia's seizure of Crimea in March 2014, its role in wars in Syria and eastern Ukraine, its alleged election meddling in the United States and Europe, and the poisoning of a Russian double agent and his daughter in Britain in March.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Interfax
The first passenger flight between Greece and Macedonia in 12 years has landed in Skopje, in another sign of thawing relations after the two Balkan nations agreed to settle their decades-long dispute over the former Yugoslav republics name.

Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Bujar Osmani, who was aboard the November 1 flight from Athens, said the new air connection "symbolizes a new strategic partnership in the region."

Under a June deal with Greece, Macedonia agreed to rename itself North Macedonia in exchange for Athens' promise to lift its objections to the country joining NATO and the European Union.

Athens says the use of the name Macedonia suggests Skopje has territorial claims to Greece's northern region of the same name.

After meeting with Greek officials in Athens, Osmani said that "Greece will be our closest ally.

"I am now heading to the airport as we reestablish an air connection that symbolizes a new strategic partnership in the region," he added.

The minister and the other passengers on the 75-minute flight between the Greek and Macedonian capitals were handed cookies upon their arrival at International Airport Skopje.

The flight is to be operated twice weekly by Greece's Aegean Airlines.

The airliner operated flights on the route in 2003-2006 but halted the service after Macedonia changed the name of its main airport to Skopje Alexander the Great, angering nationalists in Greece where the famed ruler of the ancient Kingdom of Macedonia is also celebrated.

Early this year, the Macedonian government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev renamed the airport International Airport Skopje to help to smooth negotiations that led to the name deal.

The agreement, seen by many as a means to more closely tie Skopje to the West and reduce Russian influence in Macedonia, has been opposed by nationalists in both countries who see it as a step toward a loss of national identity.

Despite the opposition, Macedonias lawmakers voted on October 19 in favor of the name change.

Amendments will now be drafted to incorporate the new name into Macedonia's constitution, after which another parliamentary vote will be required to enshrine the changes -- most likely in January.

If the name change gains final approval in Macedonia, Greece's parliament will then need to ratify the deal before it can go into effect.

With reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters, The Guardian, and RFE/RL's Balkan Service
The Russian and Ukrainian release of a Hollywood action film in which U.S. soldiers rescue a Russian president during a coup attempt has been postponed, and some reports suggest it could be banned in both countries due to its content.

Released in the United States last week, the movie Hunter Killer, starring Scottish actor Gerard Butler, tells the story of a team of U.S. Navy Seals that rescues a Russian president taken hostage by his rogue defense minister  thus averting World War III.

Russian distributor Megogo Distribution asked cinemas not to show the thriller ahead of the scheduled premiere on October 31, saying it had still not received a screening license.

The Culture Ministry, which issues licenses, said the company had provided an incomplete package of documents.



There was no official explanation for the delay of Hunter Killer in neighboring Ukraine, where the movie failed to open as scheduled last week.

Megogo Distribution said in a letter "we still do not have any response from the [Russian] Culture Ministry" about the screening license, according to a report by industry publication Film Distributor Bulletin.

This is despite the fact that all the materials and documents regarding Hunter Killer have been submitted in advance and the ministry previously had no objections to the film's release, the distributor added.

The Culture Ministry told the AFP news agency that it had withheld a screening license for the film because Megogo Distribution did not show confirmation that it "transferred the film for permanent storage in the Russian state film fund [archive]" -- a key prerequisite for obtaining a screening license.

The only copy the ministry received from the company was "of an insufficient quality," it also said.

In a Facebook post, former Duma deputy and opposition figure Dmitry Gudkov wrote that the ministry could be blocking the movie for suggesting that President Vladimir Putin, who has been president or prime minister since 1999, could be ousted.

Earlier this year, the Culture Ministry banned the Death of Stalin -- a satirical British movie about the Soviet dictator -- from cinemas, describing it as extremist, mendacious, and insulting to the Russian nation. The decision provoked international ridicule and heated debates in Russia over freedom of expression.

In Ukraine, an unidentified representative of film distributor Kinomania told AFP that Hunter Killer, which was initially due to open on October 25, "fell under some law and was banned."

'Saving Private Putin'

A representative of the State Film Committee (Derzhkino) said the decision was "being reviewed and will be published soon."

Reports cited a Ukrainian law that bans films that give a positive image of the Russian security forces and their representatives.

Social media commentators in Ukraine also saw parallels between the movie and real life.

"Saving Private Putin," one of them wrote mockingly on Facebook, referring to Steven Spielbergs 1998 epic war film Saving Private Ryan.

Ties between Moscow and Kyiv have dramatically deteriorated since Russia's seizure of Crimea in March 2014.

Russia is also backing separatists in eastern Ukraine, where fighting between government forces and the separatists has killed more than 10,300 people since April 2014.

With reporting by AFP and the BBC
Internet freedom continues to wane worldwide under pressure from attacks on informed democratic debate and notions of privacy, with "a cohort of countries...moving toward digital authoritarianism," U.S.-based democracy monitor Freedom House has warned.

As social media and other online content foster "echo chambers and pull at the social fabric" of countries, the group says, the survival of democracy technology is at risk and "companies, governments, and civil society must work together to find real solutions to the problems of social-media manipulation and abusive data collection."

The 12 months to May 2018 marked the eighth straight year of decline in "global Internet freedom," author Adrian Shahbaz says in the annual Freedom On The Net report.

Authoritarian regimes are consolidating their control over information under the pretext of fighting "fake news," the report says, comparing it to use in the past of "terrorism" to quell dissent.

"Deliberately falsified or misleading content is a genuine problem, but some governments are using it as a pretext to consolidate their control over information," it adds.

The study assesses Internet freedom in 65 countries representing 87 percent of Internet users worldwide, saying 26 of them suffered declines compared to improvements in 19 of them. In almost half the cases where there were declines, the report ties the slippage to elections.

At least 17 states approved or proposed legislation to restrict online media during that period while citing the threat from "fake news" or online manipulation, it says.

Freedom House groups countries into three categories: free, partly free, or not free.

Estonia and Iceland are ranked at the top of the "free" category, while Iran and China are at the bottom of the "not free" group.

"This year has proved that the Internet can be used to disrupt democracies as surely as it can destabilize dictatorships," Shahbaz, Freedom House's research director for technology and democracy, says.

Armenia Now 'Free'

The report says Armenia and Uzbekistan are among the countries where Internet freedom has improved, with Armenia upgrading from "partly free" to "free" after "citizens successfully used social-media platforms, communication apps, and live-streaming services to bring about political change in the country's Velvet Revolution in April."

Armenia thus joins another Caucasus country, Georgia, in the "free" category. The report says that Armenia's case demonstrates that "digital activism fuels political, economic, and social change: The Internet continues to serve as a tool for democratic change."

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev, who took over following the death of Islam Karimov in 2016, has taken steps to open that country to the outside world, Freedom House says.

But despite some improvement in Internet freedom, Uzbekistan remains in the "not free" category," together with places like Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, and Iran, while Kyrgyzstan is rated as "partly free."

"Governments in Belarus, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Iran, and Russia all took steps to silence independent voices, essentially arguing that only the state can be trusted to separate truth from fiction," the report says, adding that both Russia and Iran sought to block secure messaging app Telegram, which is used to circumvent heavily policed social-media environments in those countries.

Russia blocked Telegram in April, citing the company's refusal to comply with laws that require tech companies to make encrypted data accessible to the Federal Security Service (FSB).

Less than a year earlier, Moscow imposed restrictions on virtual private networks (VPNs) in an effort to block users from accessing banned sites hosted abroad.

'Fake News' Is Today's Terrorism

Authoritarian leaders have also targeted entire media outlets under the pretense of fighting "fake news," Freedom House says.

It cites Kazakhstan, where media portals Ratel and Forbes.kz faced criminal charges for disseminating "false information" after a former minister who is currently a businessman, Zeinolla Kakimzhanov, filed a complaint over stories that accused him of involvement in corruption.

Among other former Soviet states, Ukraine remains in the "partly free" category but is singled out as having suffered among the "largest five-year declines," together with Turkey and Venezuela.

Amid its ongoing conflict with Russia-backed separatists and an information war with the Kremlin, the report says, Ukraine blocked several widely used Russian technological platforms on national-security grounds in 2017 and "social-media users faced jail time for nonviolent speech under measures outlawing 'calls for extremism or separatism.'"

The parts of Ukraine outside of Kyiv's control "struggled with connectivity, while journalists faced technical attacks and physical violence on both sides of the conflict," according to Freedom House.

The group urges governments worldwide to ensure all web-related legislation and practices are in line with international laws and standards on human rights and to enact strong laws to protect personal data.

Private companies should be compelled to disclose how they use customer data in nontechnical language and to notify customers in a timely fashion if their information is compromised, the report says, in order to avoid situations such as when social-media giant Facebook "exposed the data of up to 87 million users to political exploitation."

The report also recommends that policymakers ensure that human rights assessments -- including the rights to privacy and free expression -- are taken into account when new artificial-intelligence technologies are implemented.

Sanctions such as the freezing of assets should be imposed on entities "that knowingly provide surveillance systems used for repressive crackdowns," the study recommends, citing the Global Magnitsky Act adopted in the United States.

The Magnitsky Act, originally passed in 2012, imposed visa and asset bans and asset freezes on Russians thought to have been involved in the death of whistle-blowing accountant Magnitsky and was expanded in 2016 to apply more globally.
The White House has joined with a growing number of prominent athletes and anti-doping officials in calling for an overhaul of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in the wake of its controversial decision to reinstate Russia last month.

"We are asking for systematic and deep change," James Carroll, deputy director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said at a gathering of WADA critics at the White House on October 31.

"We are united in calling for the World Anti-Doping Agency to provide stronger leadership on behalf of clean competition," he said.

WADA has moved to reinstate Russia's anti-doping agency after a three-year ban for allegedly running a state-sponsored doping scheme.

Critics say WADA ended Russia's ban without forcing it to meet the stringent conditions WADA originally laid out in 2015, when evidence of widespread Russian doping emerged, such as requiring the leadership of Russia to acknowledge the state's role in allegedly covering up doping violations.



Linda Helleland, Norway's youth minister and a WADA vice president who opposed Russian reinstatement, told the White House gathering that the agency needed reform. She is a candidate to become WADA chairperson in an election to be held next year.

Also attending were athletes and anti-doping leaders from Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

Their joint statement urging reform at WADA came after a similar statement issued by 18 national anti-doping authorities on October 29.

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart, an outspoken critic of WADA's handling of Russian doping, said the move for change at the agency had reached a "tipping point."

The White House group's joint statement said that "WADA must be reformed to make it stronger and more accountable to clean athletes in order for governments, the public, and athletes to continue to support and believe in it."

The group is calling for reforms such as no longer including active sport leaders in WADA's leadership, and giving a greater role to the views of individual athletes.

WADA's current president, Craig Reedie, is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which critics say presents a conflict of interest and compromises his objectivity.

Reedie has defended Russia's reinstatement, calling it a necessary step to compel Russia to turn over urine samples and data that could corroborate evidence of a state-run doping scheme.

Russia faces a December 31 deadline to hand over the information, and WADA could issue new sanctions if Russia does not comply.

WADA, in a statement, dismissed the White House meeting as an invitation-only gathering of those disagreeing with its decision on Russia.

"We welcome debate on this issue and we promote people's right to discuss and push for reforms. But unfortunately, it would seem as though only one side of the story was heard in Washington," WADA said.

WADA said if supporters of Russian reinstatement were there they "would have been able to bring perspective to the debate, to explain why the decision to reinstate RUSADA, under strict conditions, was the right one for clean sport."

But several prominent athletes disagreed.

"We need a truly independent international anti-doping regulator free of conflicts of interest," tweeted U.S. swimming star Katie Ledecky, a five-time Olympic champion who sent a video message to the gathering.

Russian runner and doping whistle-blower Yulia Stepanova, who with husband Vitaly Stepanov exposed the alleged Russian doping scheme, said "my husband and I are not just fighting doping, but are increasingly fighting IOC and WADA."

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters
Inbound and outbound trains on the Milwaukee District North line were experiencing long delays as crews were responding to the crash and investigating the cause. The line runs between Fox Lake and Chicagos Union Station. Amtrak resumed service on the track about 8:35 a.m.
Islamist protesters have blocked roads in Pakistan's major cities for a second day in opposition to a Supreme Court decision to acquit a Christian woman who spent eight years on death row for blasphemy.

After her acquittal on October 31, Asia Bibi was freed and taken to an undisclosed location for her safety, amid angry protests and death threats from a hard-line Islamist party.

Her lawyer said she would soon leave the country. France and Spain have offered asylum to the mother of five, who is a Roman Catholic.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, who on October 31 overturned Bibi's 2010 conviction for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad, said there was insufficient evidence that she violated Pakistan's blasphemy law and suggesting the accusations against her were "false."

The court decision was hailed by rights activists, with Omar Waraich, deputy South Asia director for Amnesty International, calling it "a landmark verdict."

But followers of hard-line Islamist groups such as the Tehrik-e Labaik Pakistan (TLP) party were enraged, blocking motorways linking the capital, Islamabad, with cities such as Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Peshawar and demanding Bibis execution.

Protesters also set up roadblocks and burned tires in the southern port city of Karachi while hundreds clashed with police in various parts of eastern Punjab Province, reports said.

The blocking of major traffic thoroughfares caused gridlock and school closures in Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi.

"We will lay down our lives but never go back," TLP leader Khadim Rizvi told his supporters at a rally in Lahore.

Pakistani security forces deployed outside churches to protect minority Christians and urged demonstrators to disperse peacefully. Commandos were sent to protect Nisar and the other two judges of the high court who received death threats.

Meanwhile, Deputy Interior Minister Shehryar Afridi said the government was negotiating with the protest leaders to a seek a peaceful way out of the situation

Human rights activists urged the government not to make any concessions to the Islamists, with activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir saying that doing so would amount to "surrender by the state."

Late on October 31, Prime Minister Imran Khan warned the protesters the government would not tolerate any prolonged blockade.

"We will not allow any damages. We will not allow traffic to be blocked," Khan said in a televised address late on October 31. "I appeal to you, do not push the state to the extent that it is forced to take action."

Khan's broadcast followed comments by a senior TLP leader calling for Chief Justice Nisar and other two judges to be killed.

"They all three deserve to be killed," TLP co-founder Muhammad Afzal Qadri told a protest in Lahore. "Either their security, their driver, or their cook should kill them."

Qadri also called for the ouster of Khan's new government.

Pakistani security forces deployed outside churches to protect minority Christians and urged demonstrators to disperse peacefully. Commandos were sent to protect Nisar and the other two judges of the high court who received death threats.

The case has divided Pakistan for a long time, where two politicians who sought to help Bibi were assassinated, and outraged Christians worldwide, with Pope Francis saying he personally prayed for Bibi.

Insulting Islam is punishable by death in Pakistan, and the mere rumor of blasphemy can lead to lynchings by mobs.

Bibi was sentenced to death by a district court in the central province of Punjab in 2010 for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbors objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim. Bibi always denied the allegations.

Christians make up only about 2 percent of Pakistan's population and are sometimes discriminated against.

Approximately 40 people are believed to be on death row or serving a life sentence in Pakistan for blasphemy, according to a 2018 report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

At least 1,472 people were charged under Pakistan's blasphemy laws between 1987 and 2016, according to the Lahore-based Center for Social Justice.

It said Muslims constituted a majority of those prosecuted, followed by members of the Ahmadi, Christian, and Hindu minorities.

Rights groups say the laws are increasingly exploited by religious extremists as well as ordinary Pakistanis to settle personal scores.

No judicial execution for blasphemy has ever occurred in Pakistan, but 20 of those charged were murdered.

Bibi's lawyer Malook said she would be secreted out of the country quickly, and he told the Associated Press he expected to follow suit because he has also received death threats.

"I am afraid I will have to leave Pakistan. That is the only way to save my life," he said.

Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia Program at the U.S.-based Wilson Center, called the court ruling a "major legal milestone for Pakistan."

Its significance, however, should not be overstated, and the power of the religiously motivated mob should not be understated, he said.

"The increasing political clout of religious hard-liners, who boast the ability to mobilize in a big way, suggests that the state will be under more pressure than ever before," he said. "The sobering reality is that it's not going to get any easier to push for reform, much less repeal, of the blasphemy law, despite this landmark and very brave decision by the Pakistani Supreme Court."

With reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal, and Reuters
The launch failure last month of a manned mission to space was caused by a faulty sensor that was damaged during the Soyuz rocket's assembly at the launch center in Kazakhstan, the head of a Russian commission investigating the incident has said.

"The cause of the nonstandard separation" of the rocket's second stage was a "deformation" of a part during assembly at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Oleg Skorobogatov said.

He said this caused a booster rocket from the first stage to malfunction and hit a fuel tank, which "led to the loss of stabilization" and triggered an emergency landing.

The executive director of Russia's Roskosmos space agency, Sergei Krikalyov, said on October 31 that the root of the problem was a sensor that indicated the separation of the first two stages of the Soyuz rocket.

Skorobogatov, who heads TsNIIMash, a Russian spacecraft and missile-development agency, said the commission ruled out that the problem happened at the sensor-production facility.

In the aborted October 11 mission, the capsule carrying a two-man Russian-American crew bound for the International Space Station (ISS) landed safely in Kazakhstan.

Russian cosmonaut Aleksei Ovchinin and U.S. astronaut Nick Hague were unhurt.

Skorobogatov added that two more Soyuz rockets may have the same defect and that additional checks were being introduced into the rocket-assembly process.

The chief of the Energia Rocket and Space corporation, Sergei Romanov, said at the commission's presentation that the launch failure caused the change of schedules for the next launches to the ISS.

"The cargo rocket's launch has been postponed from October 31 to November 16 and the launch of the manned Soyuz MS-11 has been moved up to December 3," Romanov said.

The current crew working aboard the ISS since June 6 consists of Sergei Prokopyev of Russia, Serena Maria Aunon-Chancellor of the United States, and Alexander Gerst of Germany.

The next crew -- Oleg Kononenko of Russia, Anne Charlotte McClain of the United States, and David Saint-Jacques of Canada -- was initially scheduled to be sent to the ISS in late December, but that launch was rescheduled after the October 11 accident.

Based on reporting by Interfax, TASS, and Reuters
Russia has imposed sweeping financial sanctions on 322 members of the Ukrainian elite and 68 companies owned by prominent Ukrainian businessmen.

President Petro Poroshenko, whose son. Oleksiy, is among individuals targeted by the sanctions announced on November 1, likened Russian sanctions to badges of honor for Ukrainians and called on Moscow to return the Crimean Peninsula to Kyiv and withdraw from eastern Ukraine.



The Russian sanctions target a slew of prominent Ukrainians, including former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has announced plans to run for the Ukrainian presidency in March 2019.

The sanctions will likely serve to increase already high tensions between Russia and Ukraine, both formerly members of the Soviet Union but now bitter rivals.

Ukraine, like the United States and the European Union, has imposed sanctions on Russian businesspeople, companies, and other entities in response to Moscow's seizure of the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and its support for armed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The Russian sanctions were announced in a decree signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev published on the government's website on November 1.

According to the decree, the goal of the measure is "to counter Ukraine's unfriendly activities toward Russian citizens and entities, and to normalize bilateral relations."

The sanctions include the freezing of assets and property on Russia's territory.

Prominent among Ukrainians sanctioned are:

Interior Minister Arsen Avakov;

Security Service chief Vasyl Hrytsak;

Deputy Prime Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze;

businessman Viktor Pinchuk;

former Prime Ministers Yulia Tymoshenko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk;

the former leader of the ultranationalist Right Sector group, Dmytro Yarosh.

The list also includes:

the secretary of Ukraine's Council for National Security and Defense, Oleksandr Turchynov;

Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak;

Deputy Defense Minister Anatoliy Petrenko;

the chief of the Ukrainian Army's General Staff, Viktor Muzhenko;

deputy speaker of the parliament Iryna Herashchenko;

the veteran leader of the Crimean Tatars, Mustafa Dzhemilev.

Among those affected are also judges of Ukraine's Constitutional Court, Ukrainian lawmakers, oligarchs, officials of the presidential office, executive officials, and major Ukrainian companies.

At a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kyiv, Poroshenko brushed aside Russia's move, saying, "In Ukraine to be on this list is like receiving a state award -- this is how it is seen. And it is very disappointing for those who did not get on the list."

"Instead of saber-rattling on the front line and through sanctions, Russia should do one very simple thing: leave Ukraine, pull out its troops, take away its weapons, and restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine, he told reporters.

Merkel said she was determined to uphold sanctions against Russia for its role in the Ukraine conflict.



"Unfortunately...the Minsk accords have not been respected. If we move forward it's only a few millimeters at a time, sometimes we move backwards," she said, referring to the 2014-15 agreements signed in the Belarusian capital aimed at resolving the conflict.

Tymoshenko, who is a lawmaker and the leader of Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party, said "the Kremlin sanctions do not bother me much."

She wrote on Facebook shortly after Moscow's sanctions were made public that she does not own any businesses either in Ukraine or in Russia.

Yatsenyuk, on his Facebook page, said the list was that of "the real Ukrainian patriots," adding that Ukraine must respond to Moscows sanctions by lawsuits in Ukrainian and international courts.

Medvedev's move came 10 days after President Vladimir Putin signed a decree setting the stage for "special economic measures" against Ukraine, instructing the government to draft a list of Ukrainian firms and individuals to be targeted for economic sanctions.

Putin's October 22 decree said punitive measures could be canceled if Ukraine lifts all restrictions it has imposed against Russian citizens and companies.

On October 23, Medvedev said Moscow was preparing sanctions that will also ban imports to Russia of some Ukrainian products. He did not specify which Ukrainian products would be listed under Russia's import ban.

In June, Putin signed a law on countermeasures against the United States and other countries that have sanctions against Russia.
Germany and France say Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine likely shot down a drone being used by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) monitoring mission, demanding that those responsible be held accountable.

In a joint statement on November 1, Berlin and Paris also noted that in recent weeks, the drone had observed convoys entering Ukrainian territory across a nonofficial border crossing from Russia on "multiple occasions" and spotted a surface-to-air missile system before the loss of communication.

Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the separatists has killed more than 10,300 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014. Russia has repeatedly denied financing and equipping the separatist forces despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, insisting that the fighting was a civil, internal conflict.

Germany and France, which have been working with Moscow and Kyiv as part of the so-called Normandy Format to bring an end to the conflict, said the drone operated by the OSCEs Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) disappeared in the early hours of October 27.

The incident occurred while the long-range drone was following a convoy of trucks near the town of Nyzhnokrynske close to the Russia-Ukraine border, an area controlled by the separatists, the statement said.

It said evidence assembled by the SMM suggests Russia and the separatists it backs bear responsibility for the downing of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

The severe incident stands in clear violation of the SMM mandate as adopted by participating states of the OSCE mission, Germany and France said.

The SMM, a civilian mission assigned to report impartially on the situation in Ukraine, has hundreds of monitors in the countrys east where the separatists are holding parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The mission said in March it was reintroducing its long-range drone program more than 18 months after it was halted due to repeated shoot-downs.

Fighting in eastern Ukraine persists despite cease-fire deals reached as part of the September 2014 and February 2015 Minsk accords, and implementation of other measures set out in the deals has been slow.

With reporting by AP and DW


Imprisoned Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, who ended his nearly five-month hunger strike in a Russian prison in early October, is feeling "much better than a month ago," a prominent Russian rights activist says.

Nikolai Shchur, an outspoken critic of the Russian prison system, wrote on Facebook on November 1 that he received a letter from Sentsov, dated October 29, in which the film director says he had "survived" the ordeal.

"The test results are still not so good, but not as bad as they were before, Shchur quotes Sentsov's letter as saying. So, do not worry too much about me -- I have survived."

The letter could not be independently authenticated, but Shchur, a well-known activist in Russia's Chelyabinsk region, has in the past received correspondence from Sentsov.

Sentsov, a Crimean native who opposed Russia's 2014 takeover of the Ukrainian peninsula, is serving a 20-year prison term after being convicted of terrorism in a trial that he, rights groups, and Western governments contend was politically motivated.

Imprisoned in Russia's Far Northern Yamalo-Nenets region, Sentsov started the hunger strike on May 14, demanding that Russia release 64 fellow Ukrainians he considers political prisoners.

He ended his protest on October 6, saying he had to do so to avoid being force-fed by prison authorities.

Sentsov's cousin, Natalya Kaplan, said on October 16 that Sentsov might not survive after ending the hunger strike because of damage to "almost all his organs," including liver, heart, and brain.

On October 25, the European Parliament awarded Sentsov its prestigious 2018 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

With reporting by Hromadske
The Taliban says it has appointed five militants who spent more than a decade in the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay to be members of its political office in Qatar, where they will take part in any future Afghanistan peace talks.

The five former Taliban commanders -- Mohammad Fazl, Mohammed Nabi, Khairullah Khairkhwa, Abdul Haq Wasiq and Noorullah Noori -- were settled in Qatar following their release from the U.S. detention center in Cuba in 2014, but until now had not been directly involved in political activities, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said on October 31.

The men were released as part of a prisoner exchange in return for former Taliban captive, U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl.

The Taliban announcement came amid gathering momentum for talks to end the 17-year war in Afghanistan.

Qatar has emerged as a principal contact point between the Taliban and the U.S. government. Earlier this month, Taliban officials met the recently appointed U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, in the Qatari capital, Doha, where the militants have a political office that serves as a de facto embassy.

They met there earlier this year with U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells.

Taliban officials said the five Taliban commanders were close to the militant group's late founder, Mullah Mohammad Omar, and are also close to its current leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada.

One Taliban official told Reuters that as former Guantanamo prisoners, they had been subject to restrictions on their movements, but they are now free to travel and attend peace negotiations.

The appointments follow the release by Pakistan last week of senior Taliban figure Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

A Taliban official told AFP the group had requested the release of Baradar and several others at the meeting with Khalilzad.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters
Two inmates have been found dead in a prison in Russia's Far East.

Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSDIN) said on November 1 that the two men, whose identities were not disclosed, were found dead in solitary confinement "without traces of violence on their bodies."

The deaths, which occurred in Correctional Colony No. 39 in the town of Chkalovskoye, are being investigated, FSIN officials said.

Spokeswoman for the Investigative Committee's directorate in the Primorye region, Avrora Rimskaya, said that according to preliminary data, the two inmates might have committed suicide.

Conditions in the Russian penal system and violation of inmates' rights there have again come under scrutiny since a video surfaced in July showing at least 17 guards beating an inmate in a prison in the Yaroslavl region. The video was released on the Internet by the Novaya Gazeta newspaper.

Fourteen guards from the Yaroslavl prison have been arrested following the wave of public outcry after the video became public. A fifteenth guard, Sipan Mamoyan, was detained on October 31 under suspicion of taking part in the beating, the Public Verdict human rights organization said.

Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has mocked Russian sanctions imposed on leading Ukrainian people and companies, saying that being on the list was an honor. He was speaking after talks in Kyiv with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who confirmed she would support extending European Union sanctions against Russia at the next EU summit in December.
U.S. national-security adviser John Bolton says the White House wants sanctions on Iran's oil sector to put a strain on Iran's economy, but it does not want to harm "friends and allies" that depend on the oil.

"We want to achieve maximum pressure, but we don't want to harm friends and allies either," Bolton told the Hamilton Society in Washington on October 31, signalling a possible softening of the White House's demand that all countries reduce their Iranian oil imports to "zero."

The United States is preparing to reimpose sanctions on Iran's oil industry on November 5 after withdrawing from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers. But Washington also has been considering waivers from the sanctions requested by allies such as India and Turkey.

India, which is Iran's second-largest customer for oil, has said it cannot immediately replace its Iranian imports and is seeking a waiver, while Turkey has also sought an exemption from the U.S. Treasury Department.

This week, South Korea also asked U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for "maximum flexibility" on its request for a waiver to prevent companies there from being hit by the sanctions.

Other countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan, also depend on some imports from Iran.

Bolton said the administration understands that a number of countries "may not be able to go all the way, all the way to zero immediately."

Bolton's hint that Washington is preparing to grant some sanctions waivers came as a surprise, as he has been the most outspoken proponent of the toughest possible sanctions on Iran.

Bolton insisted, however, that even if some exceptions were granted, Iran is already feeling pain from the U.S. sanctions, particularly with the collapse of its currency, the rial, this year.

"I think it's important that we not relax in the effort" to keep putting pressure on Tehran, he said.

Hours before he spoke, Iranian President Hassan Rohani warned Iranians they could face more economic hardship in the months ahead as the U.S. imposes a new round of sanctions.

In a presidential memorandum late on October 31, Trump said he determined there was sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products in the global market to cushion the impact of a cut in purchases of Iranian oil.

The determination is needed under U.S. law for Washington to impose sanctions on foreign countries that fail to significantly reduce their purchases of Iranian oil and petroleum products.

The law was originally passed during Barack Obama's administration at part of its effort to pressure Iran to curtail its nuclear program by forcing its major oil customers to reduce their purchases.

But the Obama White House later lifted the sanctions when it agreed to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal, which granted sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear activities.

With reporting by AP and Reuters
Yuri Khachaturov, the current head of the Collective Security Treaty (CSTO), has been relieved of his duties after being charged with overthrowing Armenia's constitutional order when he was the country's deputy defense minister.

The CSTO is a Russia-led regional security grouping that includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

A statement posted on the CSTO website on November 2 says that Khachaturov is leaving his post early at the request of Armenia's government.

The move came a day after Armenian President Armen Sarkisian said that Yerevan may recall Khachaturov from the post.

Khachaturov was officially charged in July of involvement in the "overthrowing of Armenia's constitutional order" during an investigation into the crackdown that followed a disputed March 2008 presidential election.

The same charges were brought against former President Robert Kocharian, who was accused of ordering the violent repression of the protests, in which eight demonstrators and two police officers were killed.

Khachaturov, who is 66, was born in Georgia and was chief of the General Staff of the Armenian armed forces from 2008 to 2016.

At the time of the protests, he was also deputy defense minister.
Lawsuits from victims of Burge, who died in September, have cost taxpayers many millions in settlements and judgments, much of it paid out of city coffers in the past decade. Burge never was charged directly in any of the torture allegations, though he was fired from the Chicago Police Department in 1993. Years later, in 2010, he was convicted of lying to federal authorities about his conduct and sentenced to prison.
Sherwood said Elkins kicked him in the right side of his leg and he heard the bone snap, then collapsed to the sidewalk when he tried to take a step. For the next 30 seconds or so, Sherwood said, Elkins and others in his group pummeled him with kicks and punches, then turned on Stacha when he ran to Sherwoods aid.
Sherwood underwent surgery on his leg on the day after the attack. To repair the compound fracture, doctors shored up the bone with two metal plates secured with screws, he said. Sherwood was forbidden from putting any weight on the leg for six weeks, and his doctor told him there was a 50 percent chance hell need a second surgery down the road. As of last week he had missed four weeks of work but was planning on returning once he could get around on crutches.
Borge granted Amparo but will not go free says state secretary

Cancun, Q.R.  Not being charged with money laundering does not mean he will go free, explained the government secretary of the state after former governor Roberto Borge wins an Amparo.

Francisco Lopez Mena, Secretary of Government of Quintana Roo, says it is important for the public to understand that in the case of the former state governor Roberto Borge Angulo, there are still three valid arrest warrants for him in the state.

He says that Borge won an Amparo that prevents him from being charged with money laundering, and although a federal judge gave him that win, other outstanding arrest warrants remain.

Francisco Lopez Mena, Secretary of the Government of Quintana Roo

If it prospers that there is not enough evidence to prove money laundering, it does not mean that the former governor will go free. There are three crimes with three arrest warrants by the state.

If a judge were to release him for that federal crime, the arrest warrants for the other three crimes would be immediately initiated, he explained.

Rosaura Antonina Villanueva Arzapalo, Specialized Prosecutor in Combat against Corruption of the Attorney General of Quintana Roo agrees, saying that the judgement opens the possibility of bringing him to face his processes in the state.

She explained that the battle to bring Roberto Borge to justice is not easy, saying that the Amparo does not impact the three arrest warrants against him.

Lopez Mena said that even though Borges team may have been granted an Amparo against the money laundering charges, Borge still faces criminal charges of illicit use of power, irregular performance of the public function and embezzlement.
Authorities have not said exactly how the gun reached downtown Chicago, but the firearm  often called a Baby Glock because of its compact size  appears to have made its way to the city by the summer of 2017, just about two months after Caldwell sold it to Jones. Shell casings found at the scene of a Loop shooting on July 10 that year were traced to the Glock.
Prosecutors said that about 1:30 a.m. on June 18 of 2017, Maldonado was out with several friends, and had just left the Innjoy Bar in the 2000 block of West Division Street. Moments later, the 1999 Infiniti she was driving suddenly swerved into the bike lane and struck Eric Judge, 23, who was standing in the lane waiting for a vehicle to pick him up, prosecutors said.
DETECTIVES believe a shotgun attack on a Maltby house this morning was a targeted incident.

It was reported that the firearm had been fired at windows at Novello Street on the White City estate shortly before 3am.

A police spokesman said: Thankfully, nobody was injured and it is believed that this was a targeted attack.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 102 of November 1.
Cinestaan India's Storytellers

Spokesman News Service, Mumbai, 1st Nov'18: After Aamir Khan announced the second edition on August 1,2018, jury members of the country's biggest script contest Raju Hirani , Juhi Chaturvedi and Anjum Rajabali declared the applications open for the second edition of Cinestaan India's Storytellers Script Contest at a special masterclass for writers in Mumbai.

Following the announcement the entries will now be accepted online. The contest follows a transparent process of accepting only those entries that are registered either with the Screenwriters Association (SWA) or with any other organisation where your registration is considered valid.

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Follow the link to submit your entry https://scriptcontest. cinestaan.com/

Raju Hirani while sharing the details of the contest said, "This is a wonderful opportunity for writers and I am happy to be a part of the second edition of the contest. As a filmmaker I am excited at the prospect of discovering fresh story ideas and writing styles coming from different parts of the country through these scripts."

Anjum Rajabali, Juhi Chaturvedi, Rajkumar Hirani

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Aamir Khan said, "Last year when we announced the Cinestaan India's Storytellers Script Contest, it was an attempt to give an opportunity to budding writers. We hope that through this contest we are able to reach out to all those who want an opportunity to write a film script."

Noted writer and contest jury chairperson Anjum Rajabali added, "We are currently shortlisting the scripts from the first edition. The winners will be announced before the end of the year. I understand the struggle of writers and the value of such a contest and hope more and more aspiring writers share their work with us."

Says Rohit Khattar, Chairman of Cinestaan Digital, We are overwhelmed by the response to the first edition and with the unwavering support from Aamir, Anjum, Juhi and Raju, we are delighted to take the contest forward for another year. Discovering talent in our country is one of our main missions."

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Anjum Rajabali, Aamir Khan and Rohit Khattar

The first edition saw close to 4000 entries from across the country. The contest has proved to be a huge boost for writers and has incentivised good content with a total prize money of Rs. 50 lakh for the winners - the winner of the best script gets Rs. 25 lakh. Copyright remains firmly with the writer, and there are no other strings attached.

Not only that, the contest offers a very attractive opportunity for the shortlisted writers to showcase their script for studios and production houses. Actor Aamir Khan, director Raju Hirani, and screenwriters Juhi Chaturvedi and Anjum Rajabali who were on the jury of the first edition of Cinestaan Indias Storytellers Script Contest, continue as the jury for the second edition of the Cinestaan Script contest.

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Launched by Cinestaan Digital Pvt. Ltd. (Cinestaan.com), Cinestaan Indias Storytellers is Indias biggest Script Contest to date. The best script shall be awarded a prize of Rs.25 lakh. The total cash prize for this contest is Rs.50 lakh. Some of the top scripts shall be curated and put into the Cinestaan Script Bank  a treasure trove that Studios & Production Houses can delve into and then directly liaise with the writers, who often find it difficult to get their voice across.
Punjab Police busted a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist module

Spokesman News Service: Patiala/Chandigarh, November 1: Cracking down on the violence, arson and terror unleashed by the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) under the guise of Referendum 2020, the Punjab Police on Thursday busted a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist module, Khalistan Gadar Force, with the arrest of one Shabnamdeep Singh from Patiala.

Shabnamdeep was planning to attack police stations/posts and crowded places in the ongoing festival season. A pistol, hand grenade, CT-100 Bajaj Platinum black motorcycle and letter pads belonging to Khalistan Gadar Force and other banned terrorist organizations have been recovered from Shabnamdeep.

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With this arrest, the Punjab Police has blown up Pakistan ISIs nexus with Gurpatwant Singh Pannus campaign for Sikh Referendum-2020, and the conspiracy hatched by ISI-backed SFJ to spread mayhem in Punjab and other parts of India, DGP Suresh Arora disclosed, giving details of the arrest.

The arrest of Shabnamdeep proves once again that SFJ continues to spearhead and promote the Sikh Referendum 2020 campaign through violence and arson, said the DGP, adding that the organisation is patently preying on the poor, illiterate and devout Sikh youth from the Punjab countryside and radicalizing them.

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The youth are being exploited by SFJ, which is using their poverty and credulity as cannon fodder to unleash violence and promote secessionist acts in the state, said the DGP, appealing to Punjabs youth not to fall into the trap of such anti-national and secessionist forces out to destroy their lives by pushing them into violence and arson.

Shabnamdeeps arrest, and that of his associates found to be working for SFJ leaders, has also once again given lie to the claims of Gurpatwant Singh Pannu that their campaign for self-determination did not have any room for violence, and that SFJ and its leaders were not funding any terrorist activity in Punjab, said the DGP.

It may be recalled that earlier, on May 31, 2018, Batala Police had arrested two radical operatives - Dharminder Singh (a Territorial Army soldier) and Kirpal Singh, who had set two liquor vends on fire in Harpura Dhandoi and Panjgrian villages in Sri Hargobindpur block of Batala Police district. Thus, the SFJ operatives had endangered the life of a poor liquor vend worker who was sleeping in the liquor vend, which was set on fire by the duo.

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Giving details of todays operation, Arora said Shabnamdeep Singh alias Maninder Lahoria @ Sheru @ Deep @ Billa, the son of Jasvir Singh, who hailed from Village Daftari Wala Burar, Samana in Patiala district, was currently out on bail in a petty crime case in Rajasthan. It has been found that Shabnamdeep was operating a Facebook account under the pseudo name of Lahoria Jatt Gill with a profile picture of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale.

Investigations so far have revealed that in July, 2018, he was contacted by one Javed Khan Wazir, a suspected Pak Intelligence Officer (PIO), from Pakistan, and was introduced to a Pakistani Sikh Gopal Singh Chawla. He was further introduced to two other persons, who told Shabnamdeep that they were also supporters of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and asked him to join more associates and propagate Sikh Referendum-2020 in a big way.

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Preliminary investigations have also revealed that Shabnamdeep was further introduced to one Nihal Singh who identified himself as a hardcore SFJ operative. Nihal and the PIOs started communicating regularly with Shabnamdeep, and kept inciting him to indulge in arson involving liquor vends. They asked Shabnamdeep to videograph such acts of arson and share videos along with details of news reports relating to these incidents.

Acting on these directives, Shamandeep and his associate set on fire several liquor vends and shacks, alongwith a house, last month, and sent the videos to the trio. Shabnamdeep purchased one CT-100 Bajaj Platinum Motorcycle and a new mobile phone with the funds transferred to him by Nihal.

Shabnamdeep was also in contact with one Sukhraj Singh @ Raju, s/o Balwant Singh, r/o Village Nagoke, district Tarn Taran, who was also involved in burning of liquor vends and propagation of Referendum 2020, for which he was receiving money from abroad. Sukhraj Singh contacted Shabnamdeep for delivery of weapons to carry out targeted killings. Sukhraj Singh has recently been arrested by Amritsar Police.

Meanwhile, PIO Jawed Khan contacted Shabnamdeep and shared a logo and name of organization Khalistan Gadar Force, and asked him to get the letter pads of Khalistan Gadar Force printed and to use them for issue of press statements staking claims to the acts of arson and other terrorist acts committed by them.

Shabnamdeep and his handlers created a Facebook page in the name of Khalistan Gadar Force to popularize the newly formed terrorist outfit and propagate its actions. Javed Khan tasked Shabnamdeep to carry out targeted killings and also promised him Rs 10 lakhs for each such act.

In the second week of October, 2018, Shabnamdeep was tasked by his handlers/mentors based in Pakistan to procure a new phone and install a new messaging application for further communication. The handlers promised to provide him pistols and grenades. And around 24th October, the Pistol and grenade were delivered to Shabnamdeep. The latter was advised to use this grenade on some Police Station/Police Post and crowded place during the ongoing Festival session.
Discusses Wide-Ranging Issues on Water Conservation & River Cleaning

Spokesman News Service, Lisbon/Chandigarh, November 01: Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Minister for Revenue, Mining & Water Resources, Punjab today met Dr Carlos Martins, Secretary of State for Water Resources, Government of Portugal and had wide-ranging discussions on issues of water management, cleaning of rivers and water conservation. Sarkaria is on a two-day visit to Portugal on the invitation of the Embassy of India in Portugal.

Dr. Martins highlighted the successful efforts of the Government of Portugal in cleaning the Tagus Estuary, which is the largest Estuary in Western Europe. There are 19 municipalities on the banks of the river having 2.8 million inhabitants. Tagus, which was one of the most polluted rivers of Western Europe, has today been transformed into a pollutant free water basin having 35 beaches suitable for bathing next to the estuary, he said.

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The waters, which were unable to support aquatic life, today had dolfins in abundance, a clear proof of the purity of the waters. The wastewater treatment plants have been strategically located as per the quality requirements of the receiving waters. The Integrated project also has provisions for reuse of treated water. He added that the technological interventions considered the integration of infrastructures in the landscape, with minimal environmental impact.

Mr. Sarkaria evinced keen interest in the successful efforts of the Government of Portugal in cleaning of rivers and requested Dr. Martins to depute a team of officials to explore the possibility of undertaking a similar project in the State of Punjab. He also requested them to share technological advances in ground water recharge.

Mr. Sarkaria was accompanied by Mrs. K. Nandini Singla, Ambassador of India in Portugal, Mr. Amararam Gurjar, First Secretary, Embassy of India in Portugal and Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Secretary, Information and Public Relations, Government of Punjab.
Parents and others took to Facebook on Wednesday to express their anger and frustration over Braxton's remarks, with many saying he ruined the holiday and the spirit behind it for little children. Several contacted the Belleville News-Democrat to confirm their children reported he said Santa was not real, but declined to speak on the record.
The group of about three officers followed the man into the third floor of an apartment building about a block away in the 7900 block of South Ingleside Avenue, where there was a confrontation, police said. Police officials previously characterized it as a struggle.
A new study shows that even if fishers used the most efficient and sustainable known practices, they wouldn't generate enough revenue to maintain a living above poverty level.

Researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego and the University of British Columbia found that two-thirds of the small-scale fisheries in the Gulf of California present some degree of overexploitation.

There is a silver lining, however. The study highlights that if fish stocks were allowed to recover, total annual fishing revenues could increase by 70 percent. This represents an increase from $141 million now to $240 million per year in the future.

Still, in areas with large numbers of fishers, such as Mazatlan and Guaymas, even if depleted fisheries recovered, fishers would not earn enough money to pay for food, education, health services and clothing. For the Gulf of California as a whole, as much as 80 percent of fishers would continue to live in poverty.

"Our results demonstrate that fisheries have a maximum economic capacity. Failing to recognize that will harm our efforts to conserve marine resources and to provide economic security for coastal communities," said lead author Alfredo Giron, a graduate student at Scripps.

While fishers around the world are often recognized as vulnerable groups frequently living in poverty, governments seem invested in increasing the number of people trying to make a living out of this activity. For example, between 2006 and 2010, the total number of small-scale fishing boats in the Gulf of California rose from around 18,000 to approximately 25,000. Increasing the number of fishers not only exacerbates unsustainable exploitation of marine ecosystems, but will also compromise fishers' well-being since their individual revenues will continue to decrease year after year.

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"We would not like the only take-home message to be that the only solution to achieve sustainable fisheries is to have fewer fishers, but it definitely needs to be part of the conversation," said Giron.

Oversaturated fisheries are just one part of the problem that fishing communities face in this region, Giron said. Previous studies highlighted the importance of addressing other social problems like marginalization of coastal communities and lax or inconsistent enforcement of sustainable practices.

"Focusing on the sustainable exploitation of fisheries is still important to preserve our marine biodiversity," said Octavio Aburto, a marine ecologist at Scripps Oceanography and co-author of the study. "However, if we want to talk about human well-being, we need to start thinking further ahead within a broader social, economic and ecological perspective."

"It is not a matter anymore of mitigating the effects that fisheries overexploitation has on particular locations, but about designing adaptation strategies that will provide coastal communities with more economic opportunities," said Andrew Johnson, co-author of the study, and a fisheries biologist consultant for the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.

The study, published Nov. 5 in the journal Fish and Fisheries, highlights the need for policymakers to recognize the potential of the oceans as a platform for sustainable economic development and encourage present-day fishers to pursue livelihoods that stand a better chance of providing stable income over the long-term.

For example, ecotourism has been demonstrated to provide alternative and sufficient incomes in the Gulf of California, such as in Cabo Pulmo National Park. Other economic alternatives include offshore wind and tidal energy projects, as well as innovative economic instruments, such as blue bonds and payments for ecosystems services.

"The challenge will be to generate alternate economic opportunities that fishers would be willing to accept, as most times fisheries are not only a job, but a form of living," said Andres Cisneros, co-author of the study and research economist at the University of British Columbia.

With this in mind, this paper aims to alert not only fisheries managers, but development economists, anthropologists, sociologists and new sustainable industries.

Giron was funded by CONACYT (CVU 579904) and Fulbright Garcia-Robles (LASPAU ID 20140963) doctoral program fellowships. Johnson was supported by NSF grant DEB-1632648. Cisneros is supported by the Nippon Foundation Nereus Program. This project was supported by The Nature Conservancy through the project "Mapping Oceans Wealth."
Choosing a baby's name that is distinctive is becoming harder, research reveals.

Greater media access, global communication and rising immigration have increased people's exposure to different names, but also ensures these become common more quickly.

Using a tool originally created for understanding how genes behave, researchers from the University of Edinburgh analysed trends in the names given to more than 22 million babies born in the UK over almost 180 years, between 1838 and 2016.

Naming trends were linked to historical events or people in the public eye, experts found. Changes in tradition, multiculturalism and people's ongoing quest for individuality also played a part.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, name choices were relatively stable, dominated by biblical names such as John and Mary.

These traditional names became relatively unpopular in the years following the Second World War, when increased migration introduced names of Polish, Italian and Indian origin.

Spikes in popularity for certain names become more frequent in the 21st century, but these fell out of fashion owing to over-use.

Experts found that the use of hyphens and variant spelling to make existing names distinct -- such as Amelia-Rose, and Rebekah instead of Rebecca -- had increased substantially in recent years.

This demonstrates society's shifting desire for recognisable, but rare, names they suggest.

The research is published in PLoS One.

Stephen J Bush, Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute, said: "Collectively, shifting patterns of name choice provide a fascinating insight into changes in societal values, personal tastes and ethnic and cultural diversity from the Victorian era to the present day. The speed with which modern name choices fall in and out of favour reflects their increased exposure and people's ongoing desire for distinctiveness."

An interactive database of names created during the project is available: https://demos.flourish.studio/namehistory/
"We had an unacceptable week of violence last weekend and the week before," Johnson said. At least 42 people were shot in Chicago last weekend, 26 of them on Sunday alone, making it the second most violent day of the year, according to Tribune data.
Someone who is "neurotic" does not necessarily show anger or anxiety in a given situation, even though those are generally accepted traits of a person with that personality style.

New University of California, Davis, research suggests that lumping those with personality disorders into a package of traits should be left behind for more dynamic analysis instead. Those who study and treat people with personality disorders need to more deeply look at personality dynamics and variation over time, not just box people into specific categories or traits.

UC Davis psychologist Chris Hopwood wants to take a more dynamic view of personality traits and disorders.

"Just as water level could be affected by climate, tide, and weather, different levels of personality dynamics can be classified according to the timescales along which they occur," said Christopher Hopwood, a psychology professor and author of "Interpersonal Dynamics in Personality and Personality Disorders," which was published recently in the European Journal of Personality.

"Personality researchers are on the verge of marrying technological advances and psychological theories to generate novel insights about why people are different and how that can go wrong," he said.

Hopwood acknowledges that there is value in clinical descriptions of personality disorders focusing on traits -- which he describes as abstract concepts, averaged across situations. For instance, neuroticism includes features such as anger, impulsivity, anxiety and self-consciousness, but those traits are over-generalized and could apply to various psychopathologies.

They are poorly suited to answer specific questions about particular moments in daily life and environmental changes over time, Hopwood said.

"By analogy," Hopwood said, "although it would be more useful for a musician to understand chords (personality factors) and notes (personality facets) than to learn a few songs (personality disorder categories), this does not mean that she would not ultimately prefer a model of rhythm, melody, and key signatures (dynamics) through which she can better understand and even generate her own music."

Hopwood said this research can help improve the treatment of people with personality disorders and better their lives because:

research on clinical personality disorders and basic or "normal" personality processes are both converging on the importance of dynamics,

these dynamics may explain why personality features that are not adaptive stay stable, and

understanding personality in terms of dynamics may provide more guidance for intervention, and thus close the research-practice gap.

But to realize this potential, he added, the field needs to move on from old debates and encounter the massive methodological challenges involved in studying dynamic personality processes.
Most people simply take ibuprofen when they get a headache. But for someone with hydrocephalus -- a potentially life-threatening condition in which excess fluid builds up in the brain -- a headache can indicate a serious problem that can result in a hospital visit, thousands of dollars in scans, radiation and sometimes surgery.

A new wireless, Band-Aid-like sensor developed at Northwestern University could revolutionize the way patients manage hydrocephalus and potentially save the U.S. health care system millions of dollars. The current standard of care involves the surgical implantation of a tube known as a 'shunt' to drain this excess fluid out of the brain. Shunts have a nearly 100 percent failure rate over 10 years, and diagnosing shunt failure is notoriously difficult.

A Northwestern Medicine clinical study successfully tested the device, known as a wearable shunt monitor, on five adult patients with hydrocephalus. The findings will be published Oct. 31 in Science Translational Medicine.

Device could change the lives of a million patients

A device like this would be life changing for Willie Meyer, 26, who has undergone 190 surgeries, spent virtually every holiday in the emergency room and almost missed his high school graduation because of emergency brain surgeries.

"I'm trying to live a normal life, and I really can't because of the headaches," Meyer said.

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Hydrocephalus affects one in 1,000 live births and is about as common as Down Syndrome. Treating the condition costs an estimated $50,000 per patient per year, and costs the U.S. health care system about $1 billion per year. If left untreated, hydrocephalus can lead to death.

To treat the condition, surgeons implant a straw-like catheter, or shunt, into the brain to drain the excess fluid to another part of the body. More than 1 million Americans live with shunts and the constant threat of their failure.

When a shunt fails, the patient can experience headaches, nausea and low energy. A patient experiencing any of these symptoms must visit a hospital because if their symptoms are caused by a malfunctioning shunt, they could be life threatening. Once at the hospital, the patient must get a CT scan or an MRI and sometimes must undergo surgery to see if the shunt is working properly.

The groundbreaking new sensor, developed by the Rogers Research Group at Northwestern, allowed patients in the study to determine within five minutes of placing it on their skin if fluid was flowing through their shunt. The soft and flexible sensor uses measurements of temperature and heat transfer to non-invasively tell if and how much fluid is flowing through.

"We envision you could do this while you're sitting in the waiting room waiting to see the doctor," said co-lead author Siddharth Krishnan, a fifth-year Ph.D. student in the Rogers Research Group. "A nurse could come and place it on you and five minutes later, you have a measurement."

'A Band-Aid talking to a cellphone'

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A very small rechargeable battery is built into the sensor. The device is Bluetooth enabled so it can talk to a smartphone and deliver the readings via an Android app.

"At the end of the day, from a patient perspective, it looks like a Band-Aid that's talking to their cellphone," said co-senior author John A. Rogers.

"It's a wearable device with a specific but useful mode of operation that's addressing an unmet need in clinical medicine," said Rogers, the Louis Simpson and Kimberly Querrey Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Neurological Surgery in the McCormick School of Engineering and a professor of neurological surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "There's nothing like this out there today."

Next steps: Clinical pediatric trial and moving beyond the lab

A larger pediatric clinical trial will be starting soon at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago with the goal of targeting this very vulnerable population. The study authors are also working on outsourced production on the scale of a few hundred sensors to support this study and further develop the technology.

"We realized this couldn't be one of those research projects that stopped with the paper," Krishnan said. "The last few months have been about taking this lab-scale prototype that we've essentially built by hand and thinking about how to make that something that can be manufactured externally with the same level of performance."

That would be a relieve for Willie Meyer's mother, Beth Meyer. She said she learned Willie had hydrocephalus when he was two years old after complaining that "his hair hurt." He was too young to know how to vocalize his headache, which is common among pediatric hydrocephalus patients and is a source of stress for their caregivers.

"Shunt malfunction symptoms, like headaches or sleepiness, are things kids can have for lots of reasons, like the flu," said co-senior author Dr. Matthew Potts, assistant professor of neurological surgery at Feinberg and a Northwestern Medicine physician. "So if a child has these symptoms, it's very hard to know, and every time your kid says they have a headache or feels a little sleepy, you automatically think, 'Is this the shunt?' We believe that this device can spare patients a lot of the danger and costs of this process."

When Willie was younger, Beth said they needed to bring along copies of his CT scans when they traveled, and would research local neurosurgeons in the area in case Willie got a headache.

"The biggest part of hydrocephalus is the unpredictability and not being able to know from one day to the next whether you'll be in the emergency room or at home," Beth said. "This type of device would get rid of the uncertainty."

Co-lead author Dr. Amit Ayer, a sixth-year neurosurgery resident at Northwestern Medicine and an MBA student at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern, has treated Willie's hydrocephalus for the last four years. Ayer said his patients are a driving force behind his motivation to get the device to market.

"Our patients want to know when they can actually use the device and be part of the trial," Ayer said. "I want to get it out there, so we can help make their lives better."

Hydrocephalus can affect adults and children. Often the child is born with with the condition, whereas in adults, it can be acquired from some trauma-related injury, such as bleeding inside the brain or a brain tumor, Potts said.

Given the uncertainty and failure rates associated with shunts, the technology could create immense savings and improve the quality of life for nearly a million people in the U.S. alone.

The science behind the device

The sensor advances concepts in skin-like "epidermal electronics," which the Rogers Research Group has been working on for nearly a decade.

The sensor uses a thermal transport measurement, which means the sensor uses tiny amounts of thermal power to minimally increase the temperature of the skin. If the shunt is working and the excess cerebral spinal fluid is draining properly, the sensor will measure a characteristic heat signature. Similarly, if there is no flow because the shunt has malfunctioned, the sensor will be able to quickly indicate that through heat flow measurements.

The team tested the device in the laboratory before heading to the clinic to perform a pilot study on five patients at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The team could detect clear differences in cases between measurements over working shunts and on adjacent confusing control locations with no flow.

"This means if someone wants to check if their shunt is working, say, when they have a headache, they can quickly do what we call a 'spot measurement,'" said co-lead author Dr. Tyler Ray, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Rogers Research Group. "This device can also measure flow throughout the day enabling, for the first time, the possibility of continuously monitoring shunt performance. This can lead to important insights into the dynamics of cerebral spinal fluid flow previously inaccessible with current diagnostic tools and flow measurement techniques."

This study was funded by the Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics at Northwestern with small additional funding through the Dixon Translational Grant at Feinberg.
A new study of the Deepwater Horizon response showed that massive quantities of chemically engineered dispersants injected at the wellhead -- roughly 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) beneath the surface -- were unrelated to the formation of the massive deepwater oil plume.

A University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science-led research team analyzed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the most toxic components of petroleum, based on the BP Gulf Science Data's extensive water chemistry samples taken within a 10-kilometer (6-mile) radius of the blowout site. The results of this analysis demonstrated that substantial amounts of oil continued to surface near the response site, despite 3,000 tons of subsea dispersants injection (or SSDI) -- a new spill response strategy meant to curb the spread of oil and facilitate its degradation.

Dispersants application to manage surface oil spills has been shown to break the oil into small, easily dissolved droplets. However, the Deepwater Horizon was very different in that the oil entered the system at depth. The turbulent energy and pressure at such immense depths not only contributed to the rapid expansion of the spill, but these natural forces helped disperse oil in micro-droplets and render the dispersant ineffective and unnecessary.

"The results of this study are critically important," said the study's coauthor Samantha Joye from the University of Georgia. "This work shows clearly that the eruptive nature of the Macondo discharge was more than sufficient to generate the deepwater oil plume. Further, application of dispersant did not increase the amount of oil in the aqueous phase or change the distribution of oil over depth. These findings should change the way we think about spill response and calls for a reconsideration and reprioritization of response measures."

The team's research, led by Claire Paris, professor of ocean sciences at UM, founded on an unprecedented volume of data publicly available through the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), demonstrated that the formation of the massive deepwater oil plumes was unrelated to the new response. They further show, in agreement with previous studies, that plumes of oil persisted in the Gulf months after the spewing wellhead was capped 87 days later. The powerful chemical dispersant, called Corexit, may have added to the ecological damage by suppressing the growth of natural oil-degrading bacteria and by increasing the toxicity of the oil itself.

"Our earlier work using computer modeling and high-pressure experimental approaches suggested that pumping chemical dispersants at the spewing wellhead may have had little effect on the amount of oil that ultimately surfaced. But empirical evidence was lacking until the release of the BP Gulf Science Data. When completely different approaches converge to the same conclusion, it is time to listen," said Paris. "There is no real trade-off because there is no upside in using ineffective measures that can worsen environmental disasters."

As the oil industry drills in deeper and deeper water, it must find alternative strategies to manage blowouts, says the study's authors. The "capping stack" method in which BP used to stop the wellhead outflow may be a more effective first response strategy. Bio-surfactants, which are less toxic and more efficacious to biodegeneration, may offer a viable alternative for oil spills in shallow waters, according to the researchers.

As part of the massive response and damage assessment effort, a robust data collection and management strategy was employed, including the BP Gulf Science Data water chemistry data used in this new study and compiled under the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative.

"This type of data management is a strategic asset enhancing both science and management as it allows scientists to use data-driven approaches and test important hypotheses for better understanding and managing future oil spills," said Igal Berenshtein, a coauthor of the study and postdoctoral researcher at the UM Rosenstiel School.

On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, releasing 210 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico for a total of 87 days, making it the largest oil spill in U.S. history.

The study, titled "BP Gulf Science Data Reveals Ineffectual Sub-Sea Dispersant Injection for the Macondo Blowout," was published on Oct. 30 in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science's Marine Pollution section. The study's authors include: Claire B. Paris, Igal Berenshtein, Marcia L. Trillo, Robin Faillettaz, and Maria J. Olascoaga of the UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmosheric Science; Zachary M. Aman of the University of Western Australia's School of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering; Michael Schluter of Hamburg University of Technology, Institute of Multiphase Flows; and Samantha B. Joye of the University of Georgia's Department of Marine Sciences.

The study was supported by a grant from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GOMRI) Center for Integrated Modeling and Analysis of Gulf Ecosystems (C-IMAGE) II and the Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Input to the Gulf (ECOGIG). Data are publicly available through the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC) at https://data.gulfresearchinitiative.org.
By wings or maybe riding on debris, that's how a now-flightless and rare species of tiny birds likely got to Inaccessible Island, an aptly named small island of volcanic origin in the middle of the South Atlantic.

And it turns out that the bird, a rail, listed scientifically as Atlantisia rogersi, needs a name change, says Martin Stervander, a postdoctoral researcher in the Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Oregon. His four-member team has found genetic evidence that ties the bird to a South American species.

Inaccessible Island, the westernmost of three islands in the Tristan Archipelago, is the only place in the world where this species of rail lives. The island, formed by a now-extinct volcano 3 to 6 million years ago, is located roughly 3,600 kilometers (2,250 miles) east of Porto Alegre, Brazil, and about 2,800 kilometers (1,750 miles) west of Cape Town, South Africa.

The birds were first described in 1923 by British surgeon Percy Lowe, a bird-lover who then headed the ornithology collections at the British Museum. He placed the birds in the genus Atlantisia, a reference to mythical Atlantis, and named the species rogersi after the Rev. H.M.C. Rogers, a chaplain on nearby island Tristan da Cunha, who was the first to collect specimens.

Lowe surmised that the birds walked to the island on a since-sunken land bridge from Africa or South America, but the later discovery of plate tectonics ruled out that idea, Stervander said.

"We found obviously that the birds did not walk by foot," he said. "They flew or were assisted by floating debris. Whether they flew all the way or were swept off by a storm and then landed on debris, we can't say. In any case, they managed to make it from the mainland of South America to Inaccessible Island."

Using modern sequencing of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA and phylogenetic methods, Stervander's team tied the island's rail to the South American dot-winged crake, a rail species known as Porzana spiloptera. The split came 1.5 million years ago, with the rail colonizing Inaccessible Island in a single migration, the team concluded in a paper put online Oct. 12 by the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.

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Their genetics also make them relatives of black rails (Laterallus jamaicensis) found in the Americas and likely the Galapagos crake (Laterallus spilonota), which also has a reduced flight ability.

Stervander's team recommends that the Inaccessible Island rail species be reclassified in the genus Laterallus as are the related species.

"We are sorry to be suggesting that we take away this beautiful name, Atlantisia, which is something we can all love, but we can now say that the closest relatives of this species are American birds that were given their name before the Inaccessible Island rail," Stervander said.

When the birds arrived at the island, they found three predator-free habitats -- grasslands, tree fern bogs and woodland -- and abundant food sources, including worms, moths, berries and seeds. Soon after, the reclusive birds no longer needed strong wings for survival and evolved into a flightless species, he said.

Stervander visited the island once, traveling by ship and helicopter in 2011, while a doctoral student at Sweden's Lund University. His research built on earlier efforts by study co-author Peter G. Ryan of the University of Cape Town.

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The genetic analyses began while Stervander was at Lund University and was completed using computational resources at the UO, where Stervander is doing research under a three-year fellowship from the Swedish Research Council.

The island's rail population, Stervander said, is in a delicate situation. While some 5,500 mature birds now thrive on the island, an accidental introduction of rats or other predators could destroy them. Fossils found on other islands suggest that numerous other flightless rail species had been there but fell to predation with the arrival of humans.

The rail is classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list of species threatened with extinction.

The paper's other two co-authors are Martim Melo of the University of Cape Town and the CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources in Portugal, and Bengt Hansson of Lund University.

The South African National Antarctic Programme, Swedish Research Council and Portuguese Science Foundation supported the research.
Two-dimensional magnetism has long intrigued and motivated researchers for its potential to unleash new states of matter and utility in nano-devices.

In part the excitement is driven by predictions that the magnetic moments of electrons -- known as "spins" -- would no longer be able to align in perfectly clean systems. This enhancement in the strengths of the excitations could unleash numerous new states of mater, and enable novel forms of quantum computing.

A key challenge has been the successful fabrication of perfectly clean systems and their incorporation with other materials. However, for more than a decade, materials known as "van der Waals" crystals, held together by friction, have been used to isolate single-atom-thick layers leading to numerous new physical effects and applications.

Recently this class has been expanded to include magnetic materials, and it may offer one of the most ambitious platforms yet in scientific efforts to investigate and manipulate phases of matter at the nanoscale, researchers from Boston College, the University of Tennessee, and Seoul National University, write in the latest edition of the journal Nature.

Two-dimensional magnetism, the subject of theoretical explorations and experimentation for the past 80 years, is enjoying a resurgence thanks to a group of materials and compounds that are relatively plentiful and easy to manipulate, according to Boston College Associate Professor of Physics Kenneth Burch, a first author of the article "'Magnetism in two-dimensional van der Waals materials."

The most oft-cited example of these materials is graphene, a crystal constructed in uniform, atom-thick layers. A procedure as simple as applying a piece of scotch tape to the crystal can remove a single layer, providing a thin, uniform section to serve as a platform to create novel materials with a range of physical properties open to manipulation.

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"What's amazing about these 2-D materials is they're so flexible," said Burch. "Because they are so flexible, they give you this huge array of possibilities. You can make combinations you could not dream of before. You can just try them. You don't have to spend this huge amount of time and money and machinery trying to grow them. A student working with tape puts them together. That adds up to this exciting opportunity people dreamed of for a long time, to be able to engineer these new phases of matter."

At that single layer, researchers have focused on spin, what Burch refers to as the "magnetic moment" of an electron. While the charge of an electron can be used to send two signals -- either "off" or "on," results represented as either zero or one -- spin excitations offer multiple points of control and measurement, an exponential expansion of the potential to signal, store or transmit information in the tiniest of spaces.

"One of the big efforts now is to try to switch the way we do computations," said Burch. "Now we record whether the charge of the electron is there or it isn't. Since every electron has a magnetic moment, you can potentially store information using the relative directions of those moments, which is more like a compass with multiple points. You don't just get a one and a zero, you get all the values in between."

Potential applications lie in the areas of new "quantum" computers, sensing technologies, semiconductors, or high-temperature superconductors.

"The point of our perspective is that there has been a huge emphasis on devices and trying to pursue these 2-D materials to make these new devices, which is extremely promising," said Burch. "But what we point out is magnetic 2D atomic crystals can also realize the dream of engineering these new phases -- superconducting, or magnetic or topological phases of matter, that is really the most exciting part. It is not just fundamentally interesting to realize these theorems that have been around for 40 years. These new phases would have applications in various forms of computing, whether in spintronics, producing high temperature superconductors, magnetic and optical sensors and in topological quantum computing."

Burch and his colleagues -- the University of Tennessee's David Mandrus and Seoul National University's Je-Geun Park -- outline four major directions for research into magnetic van der Waals materials:

Discovering new materials with specific functionality. New materials with isotropic or complex magnetic interactions, could play significant roles in the development of new supercondcutors.

These new materials can also lead to a deeper understanding of fundamental issues in condensed matter physics, serving as unique platforms for experimentation.

The materials will be tested for the potential to become unique devices, capable of delivering novel applications. The two-dimensional structure of these materials makes them more receptive to external signals.

These materials possess quantum and topological phases that could potentially lead to exotic states, such as quantum spin liquids, "skyrmions," or new iterations of superconductivity.

Germano Iannacchione, a National Science Foundation (NSF) program officer who oversees grants to Burch and other materials scientists, said the co-authors offer the broader community of scientists ideas that can serve to guide a dynamic field pushing beyond boundaries in materials research.

"Magnetism in 2D van Der Waals materials has grown into a vibrant field of study," said Iannacchione. "Its investigators have matured from highly focused researchers to statesmen shepherding a field, broadening applications into as many channels as possible. The review captures the multiplicative aspect of steady, focused, and sometimes risky research that opens vast new frontiers, with tremendous potential for applications in quantum computing and spintronics."
Artificial intelligence -- specifically, machine learning -- is a part of daily life for computer and smartphone users. From autocorrecting typos to recommending new music, machine learning algorithms can help make life easier. They can also make mistakes.

It can be challenging for computer scientists to figure out what went wrong in such cases. This is because many machine learning algorithms learn from information and make their predictions inside a virtual "black box," leaving few clues for researchers to follow.

A group of computer scientists at the University of Maryland has developed a promising new approach for interpreting machine learning algorithms. Unlike previous efforts, which typically sought to "break" the algorithms by removing key words from inputs to yield the wrong answer, the UMD group instead reduced the inputs to the bare minimum required to yield the correct answer. On average, the researchers got the correct answer with an input of less than three words.

In some cases, the researchers' model algorithms provided the correct answer based on a single word. Frequently, the input word or phrase appeared to have little obvious connection to the answer, revealing important insights into how some algorithms react to specific language. Because many algorithms are programmed to give an answer no matter what -- even when prompted by a nonsensical input -- the results could help computer scientists build more effective algorithms that can recognize their own limitations.

The researchers will present their work on November 4, 2018 at the 2018 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing.

"Black-box models do seem to work better than simpler models, such as decision trees, but even the people who wrote the initial code can't tell exactly what is happening," said Jordan Boyd-Graber, the senior author of the study and an associate professor of computer science at UMD. "When these models return incorrect or nonsensical answers, it's tough to figure out why. So instead, we tried to find the minimal input that would yield the correct result. The average input was about three words, but we could get it down to a single word in some cases."

In one example, the researchers entered a photo of a sunflower and the text-based question, "What color is the flower?" as inputs into a model algorithm. These inputs yielded the correct answer of "yellow." After rephrasing the question into several different shorter combinations of words, the researchers found that they could get the same answer with "flower?" as the only text input for the algorithm.

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In another, more complex example, the researchers used the prompt, "In 1899, John Jacob Astor IV invested $100,000 for Tesla to further develop and produce a new lighting system. Instead, Tesla used the money to fund his Colorado Springs experiments."

They then asked the algorithm, "What did Tesla spend Astor's money on?" and received the correct answer, "Colorado Springs experiments." Reducing this input to the single word "did" yielded the same correct answer.

The work reveals important insights about the rules that machine learning algorithms apply to problem solving. Many real-world issues with algorithms result when an input that makes sense to humans results in a nonsensical answer. By showing that the opposite is also possible -- that nonsensical inputs can also yield correct, sensible answers -- Boyd-Graber and his colleagues demonstrate the need for algorithms that can recognize when they answer a nonsensical question with a high degree of confidence.

"The bottom line is that all this fancy machine learning stuff can actually be pretty stupid," said Boyd-Graber, who also has co-appointments at the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS) as well as UMD's College of Information Studies and Language Science Center. "When computer scientists train these models, we typically only show them real questions or real sentences. We don't show them nonsensical phrases or single words. The models don't know that they should be confused by these examples."

Most algorithms will force themselves to provide an answer, even with insufficient or conflicting data, according to Boyd-Graber. This could be at the heart of some of the incorrect or nonsensical outputs generated by machine learning algorithms -- in model algorithms used for research, as well as real-world algorithms that help us by flagging spam email or offering alternate driving directions. Understanding more about these errors could help computer scientists find solutions and build more reliable algorithms.

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"We show that models can be trained to know that they should be confused," Boyd-Graber said. "Then they can just come right out and say, 'You've shown me something I can't understand.'"

In addition to Boyd-Graber, UMD-affiliated researchers involved with this work include undergraduate researcher Eric Wallace; graduate students Shi Feng and Pedro Rodriguez; and former graduate student Mohit Iyyer (M.S. '14, Ph.D. '17, computer science).

The research presentation, "Pathologies of Neural Models Make Interpretation Difficult," Shi Feng, Eric Wallace, Alvin Grissom II, Pedro Rodriguez, Mohit Iyyer, and Jordan Boyd-Graber, will be presented at the 2018 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing on November 4, 2018.

This work was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Award No. HR0011-15-C-011) and the National Science Foundation (Award No. IIS1652666). The content of this article does not necessarily reflect the views of these organizations.
New research led by Lijun Song, associate professor of sociology at Vanderbilt University, and graduate student Phillip Pettis suggests that knowing people in high and diverse positions may be good or bad for your health. The culprit? Economic inequality.

Song studies the relationship between a person's health and the socioeconomic status of their social contacts -- what's called "accessed" status. The idea is that we all have a personal network -- consisting of family, friends, relatives, neighbors, coworkers, acquaintances and others -- and the status of our social contacts can impact our lives through our relationships with them.

She and Pettis analyzed nationally representative data from comprehensive social surveys simultaneously taken in the United States, Taiwan and urban China to see whether a person's accessed status might impact whether they experienced a health issue in the previous year serious enough to keep them from participating in their daily routines for more than a week.

Accessed status can impact our health in interesting ways. Higher-status people tend to be healthier in general -- they often are more knowledgeable and conscious about health, have more time and money to invest in a healthy lifestyle, experience less chronic stress and have greater access to medical care, among other positive things. Those are benefits that can extend to their social contacts, too -- something called social capital theory.

"But we find that accessed status has a dark side, and we want to understand why," Song said. In two of the three societies she studied -- the United States and China -- being connected to higher- and diverse-status people was actually associated with more health disruptions, not less. That's an unexpected finding, and one that's not well understood.

To explain it, Song has proposed a new theory to explain the negative impacts of high accessed socioeconomic status on health, called social cost theory. Its main features include negative social comparison, receipt of detrimental resources and networking costs. An example of negative social comparison might be developing negative psychological feelings, such as anxiety or a sense of failure, and poor health habits, such as smoking, when comparing themselves with those in better-off situations, while an example of a detrimental resource might be unwanted intrusion in their affairs. A networking cost is simply the additional effort, such as time, money and energy, that goes into establishing and maintaining valuable high-status relationships.

Social burdens like these may make it harder for a sick person to get the support they need to get better faster.

So why does having higher- and diverse-status connections help in some societies and not in others? Economic inequality appears to play a role. Taiwan has relatively low economic inequality, and of the three societies studied, it is the only one that suggests the good outweighs the bad. The United States and China have much higher degrees of economic inequality, and show the reverse.

Song said it was important to note that the fact that China and Taiwan have different outcomes is interesting because they are both collectivistic societies, while the United States is an individualistic one. This suggests that future research should be cautious when applying collectivism-individualism models to questions of accessed status and health. Song and Pettis also caution that future longitudinal work is needed to understand the causal direction of and the direct mechanisms behind these effects. Additionally, future larger-scale comparative research is also needed to understand variations across different societies and cultures.
As recently as September, mayoral aides and water department officials continued to insist that it is up to individual homeowners to protect themselves from mostly invisible particles leaching out of lead pipes the city required by law for decades. On Wednesday, Emanuel himself declared Chicagos drinking water is safe while opposing plans introduced in the City Council to finance the replacement of lead service lines. He accused the measures authors of treating homeowners as an ATM machine by proposing to pay for the project with a 1 percent tax on sales of Chicago homes worth more than $750,000.
Other officials at the State Department and Pentagon, however, have said the options under consideration could include a clear discipline of the Saudi government, an end to the Saudi-led blockade of Qatar or a winding down of the war in Yemen. Officials cautioned that no decision has been made, and Trump has expressed little desire to significantly alter U.S.-Saudi relations, but there is an interest in a full vetting of the potential options.
The question for voters is, which dark blot on the candidate bothers us least? Lets see. With the Pritzker mansion, it was his wife, M.K., not J.B., who ordered the toilets removed in order to get more than $330,000 in property tax breaks and refunds, according to a Cook County inspector generals report. No evidence was found  again, according to the IG  that J.B. Pritzker used connections to Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios to get a lower assessed value on the property that led to reduced taxes. But still, Pritzker did get the big tax breaks, and has never offered a persuasive explanation for why the toilets were removed. And Pritzkers response  cutting a check to the county to reimburse it for the lost tax revenue  didnt buy much good will from voters.
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges against an international securities dealer and its Austria-based CEO for allegedly violating the federal securities laws in connection with security-based swaps funded with bitcoins.

According to the SEC's complaint, 1pool Ltd. a/k/a 1Broker, registered in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and its CEO Patrick Brunner solicited investors from the United States and around the world to buy and sell security-based swaps. Investors could open accounts by simply providing an email address and a user name - no additional information was required - and could only fund their account using bitcoins. The SEC alleges that a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, acting in an undercover capacity, successfully purchased several security-based swaps on 1Broker's platform from the U.S. despite not meeting the discretionary investment thresholds required by the federal securities laws. The SEC also alleges that Brunner and 1Broker failed to transact its security-based swaps on a registered national exchange, and failed to properly register as a dealer.

The SEC's complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, charges 1Broker and Brunner with violating registration provisions of the federal securities laws, including Section 5(e) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Sections 6(l) and 15(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and seeks permanent injunctions, disgorgement plus interest, and penalties. In a parallel action, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced charges against 1Broker arising from similar conduct.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by David Hirsch and Morgan Ward Doran, and supervised by Scott Mascianica and Eric R. Werner of the SEC's Fort Worth Regional Office. The SEC's litigation will be led by Chris Davis and supervised by B. David Fraser. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the CFTC.

Note: This litigation release was amended on November 21, 2019, to clarify the SEC's charges.
To better understand why police fail to arrest killers so often, the Tribune is tracking CPDs investigations of those 75 cases in August. The police arrest tally from that weekend is paltry so far: Chicago authorities filed the first murder charge in late September. Two other suspects have been charged in separate cases in which the gunshot victims didnt die. Thats it. Three people charged in 75 cases.
The phone rang in Ann Eliasers shabby Atlantic City, N.J., hotel room.

When she picked up the receiver, Martin Luther King Jr., was on the other end.

Ann, he said, please vote with me.

It was 1964, and Eliaser was a California delegate at the Democratic National Convention. King wanted her to support the effort to seat the delegates from the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, a non-exclusionary alternative to the states all-white contingent.

Eliaser would, hours later, buck her partys leadership to vote with King, prompting a fellow delegate to point his cane at her from across the room and declare her a stupid-ass woman.

It was a seminal moment for the San Francisco political activist and civic volunteer, one of several in a long life filled with a cast of characters now found in history books.

I was trouble and not famous for playing follow the leader, she told her daughter in a letter describing her vote.

Eliaser died Oct. 24 at home in San Francisco. She was 92.

She should never have become a Democrat, said her daughter, Mary Powell.

Born on Sept. 24, 1926, she came from the San Francisco establishment, a fairly well-to-do family with a solid Republican footing  and she went left, Powell said.

She became active in politics in 1952 and would later serve in increasingly influential positions within the states Democratic Party, including as national committeewoman for California.

Eliaser stood out as a woman in the predominantly male world of politics in the 1950s and 60s, clad in double-strand pearls and black stiletto pumps, handbag on her arm, while keeping pace with the likes of Harry Truman.

But she was a force, opposing the Vietnam War and the death penalty when it wasnt popular to do so.

Her commitment to what she believed was correct was the very core of her being, Powell said. The most important moments in her life were all in defiance of conventional wisdom.

Such beliefs led her to campaign for several presidential candidates as well as state and local elected officials, some successful, others famous failures.

She was the national womens chair for her friend Eugene McCarthy during his presidential campaign in 1968 and co-chair of San Francisco Mayor Joseph Aliotos campaigns.

She was also an early backer of Jimmy Carter, campaigning with him in the beginning stages of his run for president even as most people were asking, Jimmy who?

In her oral history compiled by UC Berkeleys Bancroft Library, Eliaser described traveling with Carter before he was an official candidate, sitting with the former Georgia governor in airports, watching him write thank you notes during his down time.

Perhaps her biggest political disappointment was former Gov. Adlai Stevensons inability to capture the Democratic Partys nomination for president at the national convention in 1960 in Los Angeles. Sen. John Kennedy received the nomination.

Eliaser, in her oral history, recalled sitting on the grass with Stevenson, whom she considered a close friend, as he mulled his fate. He confided that he hadnt really wanted the nod, a confession she believed to be only half true.

Courtesy of Mary Powell /

Over the years, her political roles offered Eliaser a place among the countrys power brokers and put her on a first-name basis with presidents.

At a 1967 state dinner for Nepals royalty, she rescued President Lyndon Johnson from an awkward-silence conversation with Queen Ratna before the guests assembled to watch famed guitarist Charlie Byrd perform.

In later decades, Eliaser played more local roles, working to save Lake Tahoe and overturn the death penalty.

She also served on the San Francisco permit board, at one point in 1972 voting against a request by McDonalds to build three more hamburger stands in the city, which already had two.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

She didnt believe the company paid employees enough, and the stands caused too much traffic.

The proposed McDonalds at Hyde and California streets, Eliaser said, was the worst corner in town to put a motorized business.

Eliaser also founded Compass Associates, a professional consulting firm specializing in fundraising for nonprofit, health and education institutions as well as political candidates.

She was married twice, first to Lionel Alanson Jr., a meat company president, who died in 1971, and then to Dr. Maurice Eliaser, a cardiologist, who died in 2001.

A San Francisco resident her whole life, Eliaser played a very big role in a time dominated by men, Powell said.

Her commitment to her community outweighed societys expectations of what a woman was supposed to do, although it surprised no one that she ran campaign headquarters, but showed up early to tidy the office, Powell said.

Bill Young / The Chronicle

That drive to serve landed her in the midst of historically significant places and people and moments in time, giving her a front-row seat and supporting role in one of the countrys most tumultuous eras.

What a life, her daughter said.

In addition to her daughter, who lives in San Francisco, Eliaser is survived by two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Nov. 9, at 11 a.m., at Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., San Francisco.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
A former North Bay school groundskeeper who was stricken with cancer after spraying fields with a Monsanto herbicide will not appeal a judges decision to reduce his damages against the company from $289 million to $78 million, his lawyers said Wednesday.

Dewayne Lee Johnson has agreed to the reduction to hopefully achieve a final resolution within his lifetime, the attorneys said in a statement. They said the case still sends a strong message to deter Monsantos conduct.

Monsanto plans to appeal the judges decision to uphold a San Francisco jurys verdict that the company had knowingly exposed Johnson to a dangerous product that caused his lethal illness.

Johnson, 46, of Vallejo, was a groundskeeper and pest-control manager for the Benicia Unified School District from 2012 until May 2016. His job included regularly spraying glyphosate, the worlds most widely used herbicide, which Monsanto markets as Roundup and Ranger Pro.

He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in October 2014. One of his doctors testified that Johnson is unlikely to survive to 2020.

Johnsons case was the first to go to trial among 4,000 suits nationwide against Monsanto by people who claim they developed cancer or other serious illnesses from exposure to glyphosate.

Glyphosate was classified as a probable cause of cancer in humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an arm of the World Health Organization, in 2015. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found it to be a safe product, and it remains legal in the United States and much of Europe. Johnsons lawyers argued, and Monsanto denied, that the company had unduly influenced the EPAs decision.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

After a four-week trial, the jury found unanimously in August that Monsanto was responsible for Johnsons illness and should have known of the herbicides dangers. The jury awarded him $2.3 million in damages for past and future economic losses, $37 million for loss of life expectancy, and $250 million in punitive damages.

Superior Court Judge Suzanne Bolanos upheld the jurys findings in an Oct. 22 ruling but reduced the punitive damage award to $39.3 million, the same amount as the damages compensating Johnson for his losses. Such reductions are common when the plaintiff has been awarded a substantial amount in compensation, and Bolanos said a higher amount would be excessive in this case.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
The developer behind a long-stalled mixed-use apartment complex above the 16th Street Mission BART Station in the Mission District has a new plan, but so far it is being met with the same staunch opposition as previous iterations.

Maximus Real Estate Partners, which owns the 57,000-square-foot site at the southeast corner of 16th and Mission streets, has filed a revised design that calls for two 10-story market-rate buildings  one on Mission Street and one on 16th Street  totaling 285 units, as well as 46 affordable units arranged in a row of five-story townhomes along adjacent Capp Street.

The affordable units would be given to the city, and the rents spun off from that building, roughly $1.15 million a year, could be used to help subsidize rents in other nearby buildings in the rapidly gentrifying area.

The revised project, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, also scales back some aspects of the project, which critics have long dubbed the Monster in the Mission.

The 163-unit mid-rise on Mission Street would be moved back 15 feet to expand the usable space on the BART plaza by 40 percent. The three buildings would each have a distinct architectural style  one green tile, one red brick and one wood  to break up the massing and better fit into the character of surrounding buildings, project architect Leo Chow said.

There would be space for a pharmacy  a Walgreens now sits on the site  and a 19,000-square-foot market, which would provide a venue for artists and small makers to sell their wares. The upper floors would be set back to decrease shadows, and the ground floor retail would spill out onto the BART plaza.

Our proposal was drafted in direct response to the communitys feedback and concerns  to help families stay in the Mission, assist those potentially at risk for eviction and provide more housing for formerly homeless individuals, said Seth Mallen, a principal with the developer.

But Maria Zamudio, a Mission District community organizer with Causa Justa and member of Plaza 16 Coalition, which opposes the project, said the new plan doesnt square with five years of community feedback.

She called 46 affordable units a bare minimum and objected to the fact the low-income units would be segregated from the market-rate units. The previous plan had 41 affordable condos that the developer had proposed selling to raise money to finance 49 additional affordable rental units off site.

Its a really stagnant proposal that shows this corporation is not listening to the community at all, said Zamudio, who called the idea that the developer should get credit for subsidies going to other buildings funky math.

A rental subsidy is not an affordable housing unit, she said. They should not be able to take credit for buildings that have existed for decades and that they didnt even build.

The new plan comes as the Planning Department was forced to cancel a neighborhood meeting that had been scheduled for Thursday and was billed as a forum for the developer to present its latest vision.

Starting last December, Maximus and opponents worked with city planning staff to arrange the community meeting in the Mission District. But it was canceled after the host, Mission High School, decided it would be too big and too raucous and conflict with an open house for prospective students being held the same night.

On Wednesday, the cancellation prompted each side to blame the other. In a Facebook post, the Plaza 16 Coalition accused the developer of threatening violence at Mission High School, which triggered the pulling of the original permit.

Bert Polacci, a government relations consultant for Maximus, accused the project opponents of pulling out in the face of a large contingent of supporters who he said were prepared to show up and testify in favor of the development.

For the past few months we have been gathering our supporters and speakers, and had over 500 people lined up, Polacci said. We have been trying to meet with the opposition for over a year, and they have refused to even return our phone calls.

But Mission High School Principal Eric Guthertz said it was Maximus that called to warn of disruptions.

I had agreed to host the hearing at the school, but when I began to receive phone calls about potential disruptions and protests, I had to pull the permit, because we were holding an open house the same night, he said. When I asked these phone callers where they were from, they first claimed to be from the Planning Commission, but then admitted they were from Maximus.

He said he would be honored to host the hearing on another date.

Representatives of Maximus said that no one from their organization called to warn of disruptions, and suggested it was an opponent impersonating someone from the development team.

We want this meeting to occur as soon as possible, and Plaza 16 will stoop to any level to prevent anyone besides themselves from being heard, said company spokesman Joe Arellano.

On Thursday, supporters and opponents of the project held dueling protests.

The Plaza 16 Coalition gathered at the edge of Dolores Park and accused Maximus of impersonating Planning Commission representatives, and said the New York developer should forfeit its right to do business in San Francisco. The group marched to the 16th Street Mission BART Station to unveil its plan for 100 percent affordable housing at the site.

Maximus representatives and their supporters, including the pro-housing nonprofit Mission 4 All and the representatives of the citys building trades, held signs in front of City Hall, one of which said, Dont let Plaza 16 Coalition halt housing.

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The original 16th Street Mission BART Station proposal was filed in October 2013, when the current economic boom was just kicking into gear. While other controversial housing projects have been approved and even built since then, the development  in the heart of what is considered by many to be the citys most rapidly gentrifying neighborhood  has been stalled amid opposition that is fierce even by San Francisco standards.

Mallen, a Maximus partner, said the project has been transformed to incorporate many of the priorities expressed by local residents.

We have learned a lot of lessons and reset our outreach program, he said. All we want to do, and all we have wanted to do for the last year, was to put the truth out there.

Maximus says the environmental impact report is close to completion and the company hopes to go before the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors in 2019 for final approval.

But its unlikely to get a vote at the commission or the board until there is a community meeting in the Mission District. Planning Commission President Rich Hillis, who tried to arrange the canceled community meetings, said the passion and controversy around the project is intense enough that a public hearing is crucial.

I think its important to have this meeting in the neighborhood, he said. This is definitely a contentious project, but I think we can have a productive discussion about it.

Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who represents the area, said that she has offered to broker an agreement between the developer and the coalition, but they have not reached out to me at all.

If either side wants me to play a role in trying to reach an agreement, my door is always open, she said.

Ronen said there are things about the new proposal that are creative and interesting but that its not even close to where it needs to be.

This should be one of the more exciting projects in the history of the Mission  a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build above a BART station, she said.

Meanwhile, real estate sources say that Maximus is in contract to purchase an approved housing site at 2675 Folsom St., about eight blocks away. While Maximus wouldnt comment on the property, the company said it is open to and looking at all community benefit options that could help the Mission in the long run.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @sfjkdineen
An electronics company with an office in Sunnyvale, a Chinese government company and three employees have been charged with stealing cyber-secrets worth hundreds of millions of dollars from a U.S. company in what Attorney General Jeff Sessions said was part of a new Trump administration initiative to combat economic espionage by China.

It is time for China to join the community of lawful nations. ... The cheating must stop, Sessions said Thursday at a news conference in Washington, D.C., announcing the newly unsealed indictment, filed Sept. 27 in San Jose.

The announcement comes at a time of economic tensions between the two countries, triggered by President Trumps imposition of tariffs on $250 billion in products imported from China. Sessions raised his own financial battle flag, saying electronic espionage and Chinas other unfair trade practices pose a real and illegal threat to our nations economic prosperity.

Chinas government promised in 2015 not to target American companies for economic gain, but obviously that commitment has not been kept, the attorney general said. Besides the new indictment, he said, the Justice Department is prosecuting five additional cases alleging theft or attempted theft for the benefit of China.

In the case announced Thursday, the Justice Department accused United Microelectronics Corp., three former employees and a China-owned company of conspiring to steal information about dynamic random-access memory, or DRAM, from Micron Technology Inc., the only U.S. company that manufactures the advanced memory-storage technology.

Micron is based in Boise, Idaho, and has an office in Milpitas. United Microelectronics is headquartered in Taiwan and has an office in Sunnyvale.

According to the indictment, Stephen Chen, 55, former president of a Micron subsidiary in Taiwan, went to work as an executive for United Microelectronics in 2015. He then recruited two employees of the same subsidiary, J.T. Ho, 42, and Kenny Wang, 44, to join him after they had stolen hundreds of confidential files related to DRAM technology, some of which was still being developed, prosecutors said.

Chen transferred in February 2017 to a new Chinese government-owned company, Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., where he became the companys president and managed its DRAM production facility, prosecutors said. They said China did not have DRAM technology before the thefts, and had publicly declared the development of such technology to be a national economic priority.

Potential penalties for criminal convictions include fines and forfeitures of more than $20 billion against the two companies, the Justice Department said. It also announced a civil suit seeking to prohibit the Chinese companies from exporting DRAM technology products to the United States.

The department said Taiwans government has assisted in the investigation.

The indictment counters a trend of declining federal prosecutions of economic crimes in the Bay Area. According to a report this week by the online publication The Information, white-collar prosecutions by the U.S. attorneys office in San Francisco, which covers the Silicon Valley, have plummeted from 354 in 1995 to 72 in the 12-month period that ended in October.

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Sessions said the new initiative against economic espionage would seek to identify and prosecute cases of trade theft by China, and support an ongoing Justice Department program to counter covert efforts to influence our leaders and the general public.

The initiative will include U.S. attorneys in five districts, including San Francisco, and will be led by John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security. China, Demers said at the news conference, is bent on stealing its way up the ladder of economic development and doing so at American expense.

United Microelectronics said in a statement that it takes seriously any allegation that it may have violated any laws and fully intends to respond. It described itself as an industry-leading Taiwanese semiconductor company that has been developing integrated circuits and other technologies for four decades and holds thousands of patents.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Theres so much hate in this country.

In just the past week, 11 Jewish congregants at a Pittsburgh synagogue were gunned down, allegedly by a man who authorities say was driven by hate. And this happened days after someone mailed pipe bombs to critics of the U.S. president. That suspect, authorities say, was fired up by the fear-mongering and hate-spewing rhetoric of our leader. Sadly, those events overshadowed the story of the killings of two black people at a grocery store in Kentucky, allegedly by a white man who had first tried to enter a black church. That case is being investigated as a hate crime.

Please join me in taking a deep breath. Im using this space to tell you that there are people out there who want to help, not harm, others.

I figured we could use some good news for a change.

Renee McGhee keeps a gratitude journal, and every morning she writes a sentence or two of appreciation. These days, shes got a lot to be thankful for. But five days before we met early last month, she wrote this in her journal: Im tired of being in debt. Im tired of being late. Im tired of not having enough. I can be trusted with more.

Sarahbeth Maney / Special to The Chronicle

I interviewed McGhee for a column on Josephine, the online marketplace that let home cooks like McGhee sell meals to nearby customers who paid around $12 per serving and picked up the food at the sellers place.

McGhee, 62, was able to afford the $750 rent on her one-bedroom Berkeley apartment by cooking and selling meals once a week through Josephine. But when the Oakland startup shut down in February because of pressure from health regulators, McGhee struggled to make ends meet as a substitute teacher and part-time nanny.

When we met, she was $370 short on her October rent. Just a month later, her situation has dramatically improved: Shes paid her rent through February because of the generous donations she received from The Chronicles readers.

This past year, every other month I was late, McGhee told me on a recent Sunday afternoon. I never want to be behind on a bill again.

After my column was published, a lot of readers emailed me inquiring about a GoFundMe account for McGhee. She didnt have one set up, so, with McGhees permission, I shared her email address with readers.

Sarahbeth Maney/Special to the Chronicle

McGhee said about 20 people sent her messages. Some people shared stories about their lives. One woman told McGhee that her mother raised five children alone and there were always people coming and going from their house because her mother supported the family as a seamstress. McGhees story reminded her of her mother.

A San Francisco man whose wife died a few months ago had his daughter, a Berkeley resident, reach out to McGhee because, the daughter told McGhee, her father wanted to give back.

As the recent domestic threats and attacks further darken the mood of the country, this is your reminder that people still care about each other. And, yes, people are still willing to help strangers in need.

We do so much better as a community  as a country  when we treat each other with kindness and empathy.

McGhees rent is covered for the next four months, and she also opened a business banking account. In September, California became the first state to legalize the sale of home-cooked meals. That law goes into effect Jan. 1, and then cooks like McGhee can legally sell food theyve cooked in their homes to the public.

One man gave McGhee a $5,000 cashiers check, which she used to open the business account. Another man and his wife gave McGhee $750 for rent and $1,000 for her business.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

A woman who didnt want to contact McGhee directly asked me to deliver a cashiers check to McGhee. It was for $800.

It just keeps happening, McGhee said as she held her hand to her mouth after opening the card from the woman.

McGhee told me shes going to have a launch party for her business in January, and shell invite the donors.

I cant tell you how many people have said, When youre up and running, let us know, she said.

Ill let you know, too, because McGhees delectable, oven-baked bread should be tasted by more people.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. normally appears Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
Every morning for the past month, around 100 people gather before dawn in a Salinas parking lot. They start lining up before 4 a.m. outside Cardenas Market, a Latin American grocery store, to board two white buses bound for San Francisco, 100 miles north.

The bus riders destination: the Marriott Marquis hotel, whose workers have been on strike since Oct. 4. The group, largely Latino immigrants, enter through a back entrance, away from the noisy picket lines on Fourth Street. Another bus arrives from Modesto, said Carmelo, a former worker who asked that The Chronicle not use his last name.

For the rest of the day, the temporary workers clean hotel rooms and staircases, replacing some of the 2,500 full-time, unionized Marriott workers in San Francisco who have been striking for weeks at the Marquis and six other San Francisco hotels as they demand higher pay.

The lengthy strike, which has led to numerous event cancellations during a busy convention season for the city, has widened to eight cities across the country and bruised Marriotts reputation. Now temporary workers are alleging labor violations that could leave Marriott, the worlds biggest hotel operator, open to legal claims if their accusations are found to have merit.

Marriott has said that the seven striking hotels remain fully operational during the strike. The company hired a contractor, Environmental Service Partners Inc. of Hayward, to find workers, according to a pay stub Carmelo shared with The Chronicle. It shows a worker was paid $17 an hour and two hours a day of travel time  far less than the actual time it takes to travel round-trip from Salinas for a days work.

The California labor commissioners office is investigating a Marriott hotel in San Diego, where workers are also on strike, and a Marriott contractor there called Hotel Cleaning Services. The National Labor Relations Boards website lists a complaint it received Tuesday against Environmental Service Partners.

Three workers told The Chronicle that they havent been paid on time by Environmental Service Partners. The Hayward firm did not respond to requests for comment.

Maria Calles, a temporary worker, said that she hasnt been paid for three days of work. Alejandro Lara, another worker, said he is owed pay for eight days. They spoke to The Chronicle outside of the Marriott Marquis on Tuesday before going back inside to work.

Another temporary worker, who gave his name as Damian, said he hasnt been paid at all since beginning work on Oct. 11.

Many people are unhappy, Damian said. Some havent been paid for a month.

Marriotts vendor contracts, including its contract with Environmental Services Partners, provide that vendors must comply with federal and state employment laws, a Marriott spokesman said in response to questions about the allegations, referring further inquiries to the contractor.

Damian and Carmelo said the two buses in Salinas sometimes get full in the morning before all workers can board. The extra workers are turned away and not paid, they said.

One time I stood in line at 4 a.m. and the bus was full so I missed a day of work. Thats a big problem, Damian said.

If theres too many people in the bus, they have to go home, said Carmelo, who estimates that each bus holds around 50 people.

Damian and Carmelo said they were compensated for two hours of travel time a day at a rate of $17 per hour.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Katherine Fiester, a staff attorney at Legal Aid at Work, a San Francisco nonprofit that provides free legal help to workers, said it wasnt clear whether Environmental Service Partners was required to pay for travel time.

Someone could argue theyre required to report to a specific site in the morning in the Salinas parking lot, she said. If they are, thats the job site. California law requires that employers pay for travel from one job site to another.

The fact that workers are getting paid for two hours of travel time makes their case stronger for getting paid for all of it, she said. If theyre going to be paying for some travel time, theyre admitting its compensable.

Fiester, whose organization is not involved in the labor dispute, also said that if workers are working for more than eight hours a day, they would be entitled to overtime pay, equivalent to $25.50 per hour. Travel time would also count for that overtime pay.

Unfortunately, we see these cases all too often where immigrant workers are exploited, Fiester said. The janitorial industry is one of the leading violators.

Carmelo said hes lived in Salinas for five years after moving from Puerto Rico. He previously worked in food safety. He said he learned about the job through a Facebook group and was drawn to the $17 per hour wage at Marriott, which is a few dollars higher than typical jobs in Salinas.

Carmelo said he was fired on Tuesday after speaking briefly to a Unite Here Local 2 hotel union field leader, Elizabeth Tapia, outside the Marriott Marquis. Tapia confirmed that they spoke for about five minutes.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

He said he filed charges of interference and discrimination for union activity with the National Labor Relations Board Tuesday against Environmental Service Partners and Marriott Tuesday, which agency records confirm. Federal law prohibits firing an employee in retaliation for union activity.

Carmelo said Yama Anwary, director of loss prevention at the Marriott Marquis, accused him of being a spy for the union, which has been marching in a picket line 24 hours a day outside the hotel. Anwary didnt respond to a request for comment and Marriott didnt respond to questions about its employees conduct.

Carmelo also said he wasnt paid for his last day of work on Tuesday.

That sounds very problematic, Fiester said. If youre fired, you need to be given your final paycheck that day.

A National Labor Relations Board official declined to comment. The boards website states that a decision on whether charges have merit typically takes seven to 14 weeks.

Paola Laverde, spokeswoman for the state Department of Industrial Relations, confirmed that an investigation of a Marriott hotel in San Diego, where workers are also on strike, is under way. No Bay Area Marriott hotels where workers are on strike are being investigated.

Unite Here Local 2, which represents the striking full-time workers, said the alleged violations are deeply disappointing.

This is another sad example of Marriott failing to behave as the industry leader that they should be and try to position themselves as, said Rachel Gumpert, a spokeswoman for Unite Here, in a statement.

Chronicle staff writer Susana Guerrero contributed to this report.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
Sometimes the naming process goes right. Hence the rechristening of Orchard Depot Airport for Edward Butch OHare, the Navys first flying ace. The Jane Addams Tollway memorializes a Nobel Peace Prize winner who acclimated immigrants to Chicago and America. The Bishop Louis Henry Ford Freeway honors a legendary Chicago pastor. The Frank Borman Expressway honors the leader of the first astronauts to circle the moon. A Mississippi River bridge from Rock Island to Davenport, Iowa, was renamed last year for Stanley Talbot, an Illinois state trooper dragged to his death by a driver fleeing a traffic stop at the foot of the bridge.
A man who had been ordered to stay away from Cabrillo College broke a restraining order, entered the school cafeteria and stabbed a 19-year-old student Wednesday morning, officials said.

Steven Wooding, 49, of Santa Rosa, stabbed the female student sitting in the Aptos campus cafeteria around 11:45 a.m. and was quickly physically held down by the cafeteria manager and other staff members until police arrived, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Office.

The woman slipped out of the cafeteria and ran outside, where she waited for paramedics to take her to a nearby trauma center, police said. She is in stable condition and recovering with family members, said Matt Wetstein, the principal and superintendent of Cabrillo College.

Wooding, of Santa Rosa, was booked into Santa Cruz County jail on suspicion of attempted murder. He is being held on $750,000 bail.

Wetstein said in a statement that college officials filed a restraining order against the suspect prior to Wednesdays stabbing.

In 1994, Wooding was arrested in an assault on a Cabrillo College staff member and spent several years in a psychiatric institution for this crime, the sheriffs office said.

He obviously violated (the restraining order) and gained access to our campus, Wetstein said. His act of violence against... our own students represents an assault on all of us.

Wetstein said he is choosing not disclose more details on the suspect to respect the sheriffs office investigation and to avoid giving him unwarranted publicity.

For me, what is important for our campus community is to impart a message of love, safety, and support for our students, he said.

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Sheriffs officials thanked cafeteria staff members in a statement for their work in detaining Wooding until deputies could arrive.

Their brave actions likely prevented others from being injured, officials said.

Cabrillo College officials said classes are expected to continue without interruption and campus mental health counselors are available for staff and students in need.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LaurenPorFavor
January 24, 1977 was a slow news day by any definition. The Chronicle led the front page with two stories about vice-president Walter Mondales upcoming trip to Europe.

But anyone who stayed awake long enough to read to the bottom of Page 4 stumbled across a striking piece of local food journalism history: The San Francisco Chronicle had discovered burritos.

The burrito  a fat morsel named for its resemblance to a small donkey  may be the next food craze to come out of an ethnic ghetto and win a permanent place in Americas eating habits, the article by The Chronicles Jerry Burns began.  If the boom grows, the burrito may soon join such traditional American favorites as chow mein, chicken soup, pizza and the frankfurter.

Time has offered zero mercy to this article.

Each paragraph is a checklist of overgeneralizations, questionable word choices and factual stretches. (Historians offer several competing theories on the etymology of the word burrito. Named for its resemblance to a small donkey is not definitely not one of them.)

More for you Senor Sisig to open Valencia Street restaurant

And yet its important that, even if we dont offer 41-year-old retraction to the story, we learn from this dark moment in publishing history. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.  Louis D. Brandeis

Here are some lowlights:

The burrito varies slightly from place to place but is basically an oversized flour tortilla smeared with sauce, packed with rice, beans and meat, then folded into a short, fat rectangle.

The article describes the food several different ways  and each time its wrong. Its as if the author deliberately avoided looking at a burrito while reporting the story. Short, fat rectangle is how you describe a transistor radio in 1977.

This is frustrating, because there are so many other acceptable ways to describe the shape of a burrito. Cylindrical. Torpedo-shaped. We would have even accepted the rough dimensions of a legless manatee pup.

Where were the editors?

The burrito boom in the city seems to coincide with the growing number of taquerias, the fast food Mexican restaurants sometimes called Mexican McDonalds.

No one in history has ever called a taqueria a Mexican McDonalds. Not even one of those young tech workers who writes a Medium post about how much the homeless in San Francisco are grossing them out.

If you call a taqueria a Mexican McDonalds, you will be evicted from San Francisco. Its in the city charter.

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The trend away from tacos and toward burritos is nationwide, according to officials of the huge Taco Bell chain.

This may be the worst part of the story. The Chronicle, planting its flag for what would be multiple generations of Mission District burrito coverage  quoted an unnamed executive from Taco Bell.

According to the local burrito-moguls, the tasty little rectangles are not known by that name in large parts of Mexico.

This is, to credit Mr. Burns, 100 percent correct, and a very nuanced turn. But again with the rectangles.

The Chronicle apologizes for the error 

Peter Hartlaub is The San Francisco Chronicles pop culture critic. Email: phartlaub@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @PeterHartlaub
Black Friday, of course, starts on the Thursday that used to be Thanksgiving (now known as the final day of Pre-Black Friday) and extends through the Friday following what used to be Thanksgiving. Then its the Post-Black-Friday season until Dec. 11, at which time the two-week Pre-Christmas season begins. That is followed, of course, by Christmas, which begins on Dec. 25 and continues until next Halloween.




1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand.

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.
The Tribunes position in its Oct. 31 editorial As students ghost CPS makes it appear as if student decline in Chicago Public Schools is unrelated to the massive shift in population in the city overall. Prior to 2018, the entire decline in student population was due to fewer black students. This mirrors the dramatic push out of black families from the city. Neighborhoods arent passively emptying out; residents are being forced out by the lack of employment, unaffordable housing and high rates of violent crime. A decadeslong attack on some public schools through disinvestment followed by reconstitution, or turnaround firings followed by closure (such as the case of four Englewood high schools this past year), only magnifies the effects of unemployment, poverty and segregation. And no school choice regime fixes those structural social and economic issues.
With just days to go before the election, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom is enjoying the last stretch of a race hes heavily favored to win. But theres still one big promise he needs to make to the public.

Newsom has said hell make decisions about how to balance his extensive business holdings with his public service after the election.

Thats not good enough. He needs to promise to divest from his extensive business holdings and place them in a blind trust.

This is the course of action recommended by government ethics experts, and  until President Trump  it was the course major U.S. politicians followed.

Newsom, who stands opposed to Trump on nearly every issue, needs to draw a pointed contrast with him on ethical behavior, too.

Before he became a politician, Newsom was a successful businessman. Hes made millions through a web of business investments including hotels, wineries, bars and restaurants.

Nearly all of his businesses are in California. This makes it easy to imagine Sacramento lobbyists seeking to curry favor by, say, booking rooms at the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn.

To his credit, Newsom has released previous years tax returns stating those investments as well as the sizable income he receives from them.

Thats why his reticence to make an unequivocal statement about avoiding potential conflicts by making a hard separation between his office and his business interests is confusing.

We contacted Newsoms campaign for comment. Nathan Click, Newsoms communications director, said in a statement: As governor, (Newsom) will continue to publicly release his tax returns ... he is currently seeking expert advice on additional best practices he can use to ensure transparency and avoid the appearance of conflicts.

When President Trump chose not to divest from his extensive business holdings, ethics experts predicted corruption and scandal would follow. Those experts have largely been proven correct.

In this climate, Newsom needs to prove to Californians that his tenure will be transparent, honest and free of business conflicts. That starts with setting up a blind trust.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
A lifelong San Franciscan, Dani was living the American Dream. The graduate of Mission High School lived in a townhouse in Dublin and had started her own business even as she raised her young children.

But as her marriage fell apart, Dani (a pseudonym to protect her privacy) and her children  all under the age of 9 spiraled into a life she had never imagined: losing their home, living in a storage unit in Pleasanton and lining up for free food at a pantry in Livermore. Still, Dani took her oldest child to elementary school, where few knew he was homeless. Eventually, she was sleeping nights in her car in the Mission District.

It was overwhelming, and I was mortified, Dani says. People had seen me as a success, and I didnt want to appear homeless.

As we debate Proposition C on the San Francisco ballot and how to address our crisis of homelessness, we can never forget that the 7,500 homeless individuals in our city include around 1,200 families, like Dani and her children. They are our neighbors.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Its absurd to claim that there is not enough money to deal with this crisis. We are one of the wealthiest cities in the world, with major corporations worth billions of dollars. Shouldnt the same companies that have helped fuel soaring housing prices be part of the solution?

Thats why I, and Salesforce, are strong supporters of Prop. C. It will levy a small tax  half of 1 percent  on big companies like ours with annual gross receipts of more than $50 million generated in the city. But we can afford it. Prop C could increase Salesforces annual taxes by about $10 million to $12 million. Meanwhile, we expect revenues this year of $13 billion. Small and medium-sized business and individual taxpayers are exempt  they will pay nothing.

With the wealthiest corporations paying a little more, we can generate up to $300 million a year to address this crisis, guided by a comprehensive plan with strong oversight and accountability. The money will help fund more than 1,000 desperately needed shelter beds, additional housing for 5,000 people, and more bathrooms, mental health care and housing assistance so fewer San Franciscans slip into homelessness in the first place.

Danis story is proof that these programs work. The nonprofit Hamilton Families provided her and her children with a room at the groups shelter in the Tenderloin as well as medical care, financial assistance and counseling. I was broken, she says, but they helped put us back on our feet.

Every year, city programs prevent 2,000 people from becoming homeless. More than 10,000 homeless individuals in San Francisco have been reunited with their families through the Homeward Bound program since 2005. Since the launch of the Heading Home campaign in 2016, Hamilton Families has helped more than 350 homeless families move into permanent housing.

Finally, we cannot let ourselves be scared by unfounded fears, such as the claim that Prop. C will drive away business and jobs. The citys Office of Economic Analysis found that over 20 years the effect on the local economy would be smalla mere 0.1 percent. In fact, businesses should be more worried about the risk to economic growth in San Francisco if we dont make a dramatic change. A national medical association recently canceled its convention in San Francisco citing safety and the quality of our streets. Theres a danger tourists may stay away. In other words, Prop. C and reducing homelessness is good for business.

Today, with the help of Hamilton Families, Dani and her children are in a home of their own  a one-bedroom apartment in Fremont. She dreams of running her own business again. Her 10-year-old daughter is falling in love with ballet, and her 9-year-old son has a new interest in Lego robotics. We still have a lot of trauma, she says, but Im working to get us to a better place.

Yet Dani fears that, as a city, San Franciscans are becoming desensitized to homelessness. You may be making a good salary, like I did, she warns, but you could lose that paycheck and be right on the streets like I was. Im all for capitalism and making a profit, I started a business myself, she adds. But companies have a responsibility, not just to make money, but to serve their communities.

I couldnt agree more. Thats why Im voting for Prop C. Im voting for Dani, her children and the thousands of San Franciscans like her.

Marc Benioff is the chairman and co-CEO of San Francisco-based Salesforce.
As I see the daily news images of people from Central America, young and old, carrying bags of their worldly goods and pushing baby strollers, I wonder: What kinds of deprivation propel a person to leave everything they know and set out on the dangerous and difficult journey of a refugee? What is, if anything, my obligation to them as fellow human beings? And what is, if anything, my responsibility as an American citizen for creating the conditions from which many flee?

Take Honduras: In 2009, President Manuel Zelaya, who built new schools, increased the minimum wage, pledged to help small farmers  and had become increasingly friendly with Cuba and Venezuela  was ousted by the Honduran military.

From 2009 to 2016, the U.S. government gave more than $200 million in military aid to Honduras. We still maintain several hundred troops at Soto Cano Air Force Base there. When I visited Honduras on a Human Rights Watch Delegation in 1992, I was told smugly by a Honduran government official that the United States must continue to support Honduras because of its geopolitical position.

Or El Salvador: When unrest between elites and the poor became civil war from 1980 to 1992, our country intervened and supported the military dictatorship that was responsible for death squads that killed tens of thousands of people.

During that civil war, many young men fled El Salvador and came to the United States. Many ended up in Los Angeles and became part of the ethnic gang culture that existed there. After the peace accords in 1992, we deported thousands to El Salvador. There, in a country devastated by war and poverty, young men without jobs or roots re-formed gangs that are now a shadow government that terrorizes large parts of the population.

Or Guatemala: In 1952, the elected president, Jacobo Arbenz, introduced a law calling for unused agricultural land, including land of that nations largest landowner, Boston-based United Fruit Company, to be distributed to landless rural farmers. Landowners would be fully compensated at the price they had listed as the value of the land on their tax returns.

Nevertheless, the CIA and the U.S. Marines participated in the overthrow of Arbenz and installation of a right-wing regime that undid all the previous reforms and ruled by intimidation and death squads for the next 40 years.

To build a sustainable future, we need to acknowledge that we are at least partially responsible for creating the conditions from which people now flee.

Without the military and financial intervention of the United States, the history of Central America might have been very different. The power of the United States too often has been used only to protect multinational business interests and local elites. Reform governments might have succeeded in building societies with greater equity and opportunity. We will never know for sure.

We do know these countries remain violent and poor. Their people are desperate for a place where they can live in peace. We should be doing everything we can to bring stability, democracy and economic opportunity to Central America and other countries to persuade people to remain there. Our national interest is surely not to simply increase the profits of multinational corporations.

When refugees do come here seeking refugee status, in the short-term we can simply follow existing U.S. law. In the future, we need comprehensive immigration reform  which will require a great deal of national introspection about who we really are as a people.

Is the United States no longer a beacon of hope to the world? Are we ourselves becoming just another banana republic?

Let us learn from our past and see how we can create better and more hopeful policies toward refugees  and a more honest and hopeful future for ourselves.

Loni Hancock formerly represented Berkeley in the state Senate.
Imagine that the seafloor is crawling with hordes of giant Dungeness crabs, like something out of a science fiction movie.

For those at Pillar Point Harbor, that vision has jump-started the suspense for opening day Saturday. All week, RVs and boats with crab pots have been piling into the parking lots at harbor. One of the parking lots there is stacked high with crab traps.

Its a symbol of the hope that comes with a healthy population of Dungeness crab along the Bay Area coast and the first chance Saturday to drop a pot for them.

This has become the most celebrated opener in the entire state, said Tom Mattusch, captain of Huli Cat and president of the San Mateo County Harbor District Commission. People plan an entire week of vacation around Saturdays crab opener. Sometimes they even just hang around the harbor to see everything.

All the key factors are aligning for this years opener:

Healthy Dungeness: Dungeness, prized for their size and sweet, white meat, tested healthy off the Bay Area coast with good population numbers, according to the Department of Public Health and Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Improved sea conditions: The forecast calls for the wind and hazardous sea conditions to abate. Earlier this week, the National Weather Service monitored steep wind waves, pushed by gale-force gusts. They now forecast diminished winds and swells by Friday.

All yours for 12 days: The commercial season opens Nov. 15. That gives crabbers on sport boats 12 days to have the expanses of the briny green all to themselves. That is, before the flotilla of commercial vessels takes to the water and puts its collective hammers down.

Rockfish bonus: Party boats out of Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Berkeley, Emeryville and other harbors are offering crab combos. This is where you board a party boat for the chance to catch a limit of 10 Dungeness, 10 rockfish, 2 lingcod, and often along with bonus rock crabs (the limit is 35).

At Princeton Seafood at Pillar Point Harbor, and also at Berkeley Marina, a popular service to cook, crack and clean your crabs will be available.

Get the party started

The first legal moment to put crab pots in the water is 12:01 a.m. Saturday. For boating safety on the open ocean, most skippers wait until first light to venture out. In turn, the line at the boat ramp at Pillar Point Harbor can then extend out of the harbor to Highway 1.

Yet everybody waits their turn and nobody seems to lose their temper. After all, the delectable Dungeness are out there and most everybody has their favorite spot.

The preferred bait is squid. Some with their own boats have found that belly meat cut out of salmon they caught earlier in the year makes for bait that is like a Dungeness magnet. Using the carcasses from rockfish from deep-sea fishing trips seems to get more rock crabs than anything.

Dungeness often seem to roam the bottom in the highest numbers in offshore waters 150 to 180 feet deep.

Im planning to go to my usual area, offshore San Gregorio along the edge of the shipping lanes, said Mattusch of the Huli Cat.

Most private boaters will set their baited pots, marked by a small buoy on the water and a GPS locator in their boats, then fish for rockfish for two hours, and then return to pull the pots.

Out of Half Moon Bay, it is legal to fish out to 180 feet of water. Last week, Mattusch found big schools of 2-pound blue rockfish on the reef off San Gregorio.

On sport and party boats alike, most use power gurneys to hoist the traps. Inshore, some might hand-line their traps, but the shallow areas tend to provide rock crabs, not the delectable Dungeness.

For those without boats or who cannot find a spot on a party boat, Pacifica Pier is the best game in town. Pacifica Pier is located at Sharp Park in central Pacifica, and extends 1,140 feet, often just beyond the surf line. In calm seas, Pacifica Pier provides the best opportunity in California for crabbing. In rough weather, inshore hydraulics can drive the Dungeness to deeper water.

San Francisco Bay, on the other hand, is a nursery area for Dungeness and does not produce legal-size Dungeness crabs. On the San Francisco waterfront, Muni Pier and Torpedo Pier provide fishing sites for rock crabs. Just across the Bay at Fort Baker, a pier provides similar prospects.

Latest on the brine Current wind: Go to www.windy.com. Animated map shows wind direction; then home in on sites and click on for wind speeds and surface temperatures. Buoy reports: Go to National Buoy Center at www.ndbc.noaa.gov - then home in on buoy sites for automated reports for wind, swells and sea surface temperatures. Marine forecast: The National Weather Service Marine Forecast for the Bay Area and Northern California coast is at www.ndbc.noaa.gov - then in search box, copy and paste "FZUS56.KMTR." Sea conditions, by phone: Pillar Point Harbor, 650-726-6070, extension 2; updated each morning. If you want to go Limits: The sport limit for Dungeness crab is 10 with a 53/4-inch minimum size limit, now standardized for both party boats and private boats. Pacifica Pier: GPS location: 2100 Beach Blvd., Pacifica; Department of Parks, 650-738-7381, www.pacificapier.com. Bay restriction: Dungeness crab cannot be caught in bay waters. Boat ramp: Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay, $14 to launch your own boat, park your trailer; www.smharbor.com. Tackle shops: Gus' Discount Tackle, S.F., 415-752-6197, www.GusDiscountTackle.com; Hi's Tackle Box, South San Francisco, 650-588-1200, www.histackleboxshop.com. Pillar Point Harbor (selected list): Huli Cat, Princeton, 650-726-2926, www.hulicat.com; Queen of Hearts, 510-581-2628, www.fishingboat.com; Half Moon Bay Sportfishing and Tackle, 650-728-3377, www.hmbfishing.com. Bay Area ports: Emeryville Sportfishing, 510-652-3403, www.fishemeryville.com; Berkeley Charter Boats, 510-849-3333, www.BerkeleyCharterBoats.com; Bodega Bay Sportfishing, 707-875-3344, www.bodegabaysportfishing.com. See More Collapse

Tom Stienstra is The Chronicles outdoors writer. His Outdoor Report can be heard Saturdays on KCBS (740 and 106.9) at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 12:35 p.m. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom
Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox doesnt care that polls predict Democrat Gavin Newsom will trounce him in Tuesdays election, because hes 100 percent convinced that the people of this state want something different.

Polls are only as good as who you ask and how you ask it, Cox said Tuesday in Vallejo at the start of a bus tour of the state.

Perhaps Cox was drawing hope based on the location of the charter school he toured Tuesday, MIT Academy High School. Its on Positive Place.

He needs the good vibes because poll respondents are saying they prefer Newsom by overwhelming margins. A survey released this week by the nonpartisan organization Berkeley IGS indicated that 58 percent of likely voters support the lieutenant governor, compared with 40 percent for Cox. Only 2 percent remained undecided.

Newsom, who is on his own bus tour through the state, has led in all polls since the primary in June, when he was the top vote-getter and Cox finished second.

But Cox was undeterred, predicting a November surprise.

Californians are famous for making their minds up at the last minute, said the San Diego-area businessman, noting two Democratic candidates from years past who saw their poll leads evaporate on Election Day. You can ask Gov. Tom Bradley or Gov. Kathleen Brown.

Then, remembering that Bradley has been dead for 20 years, Cox said, Im not sure Mr. Bradley is with us still, but the point is California has had surprises in the past and I think theyre going to have another surprise this time.

Cox said the polls are underrepresenting the level of struggle many Californians face in their daily lives.

This is the Golden State, he said. People should enjoy their lives in this state, not work two or three jobs to be able to afford it. Thats what the political class represented by Gavin Newsom is going to continue. Hes going to double down on failure. He likes failure. I like success.

Cox studiously avoided answering any questions about President Trump, whom he has credited with vaulting him into second place in the primary through a pre-election endorsement.

Trump tweeted in May that California finally deserves a great Governor, one who understands borders, crime and lowering taxes. John Cox is the man  hell be the best Governor youve ever had.

But Trump seems unlikely to follow up that late spring endorsement with a fall visit on behalf of Cox and GOP House candidates involved in competitive races in Orange County and the Central Valley.

Trump is campaigning for Republicans mostly in midwestern and southern states in the final days of the midterms campaign. Cox demurred Tuesday when asked whether the president would come here, but California is not on Trumps itinerary.

Nor did Cox want to weigh in on Trump focusing his end-of-campaign efforts on trying to raise fears about a caravan of migrants that is hundreds of miles south of the U.S. border. Trump and other Republicans refer to the migrants, many of whom are traveling with little more than the clothes on their backs, as invaders.

Californias border security is one area where Cox and Newsom have diverged. Newsom wants to pull back 400 California National Guard troops dispatched to the Mexico border by Gov. Jerry Brown earlier this year at Trumps request. Cox would leave them in place.

Coxs response when asked about Trump and his message: This election is about the future of California, about delivering a quality of life, about delivering better schools, affordable housing. That is what Im focused on.

Im not running for president. Mr. Newsom wants to run for president  let him go ahead and do that. Im focused on getting the job done here in California for struggling Californians who are already here and cant afford a home or gasoline or electricity.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
The contest to represent San Franciscos quiet District Four  the Sunset  has turned into one of this years loudest races, as the front-runners, Jessica Ho and Gordon Mar, spar over neighborhood ties, campaign contributions and comments in the Chinese-language press.

Entire storefronts on Irving Street, one of the busiest commercial arteries in the neighborhood, have been shrouded in campaign posters, while both Ho and Mar have pilloried each other in mailers and TV ads.

And the two campaigns for a seat on the Board of Supervisors arent the only sources of ammunition: Outside donors have spent more than $600,000 on Hos behalf, while labor unions have spent more than $90,000 supporting Mar.

But in the backdrop is a relaxed, family-oriented neighborhood that usually isnt the stage for knockdown, drag-out political fights.

We dont like the way that the race has become, said Christian Kropff, Hos campaign manager.

We wish it wasnt like this, said Mars campaign manager, Edward Wright.

For several years, the District Four seat has been held by a political appointee. Current Supervisor Katy Tang was widely expected to win if she ran for re-election. But her surprise decision not to enter the race and instead endorse Ho, her new legislative aide, left the race open.

While there are six other candidates in the race, Mar and Ho  considered the front-runners because of their endorsements and the money they have raised  have focused on attacking each other.

Ho, 30, a Los Angeles native who was an intern for former District Four Supervisor Carmen Chu and student at UCSF, moved to San Francisco in March to work for Tang, who was appointed to the seat when Chu became assessor-recorder in 2013. Mar, 56, is a longtime community and labor activist in the Sunset.

Their latest spat centered on a scathing press release from Hos campaign that accused Mar of telling the Chinese-language newspaper, Sing Tao Daily, that he opposes Proposition 10  which would overturn Californias rent-control restrictions  while telling English-language audiences that he supports it.

Mar denied the accusation and said the paper mischaracterized his comments. He shot back by accusing Ho of misrepresenting how long she has actually lived in the Sunset. Another dispute was about Mar accusing Ho of changing her position on local Proposition C, which would tax large businesses for funds to spend on homeless services. And, most recently, a paid staff member of Mars campaign was caught tearing down a Ho campaign poster.

At the same time, voters are getting inundated with biting campaign flyers, like one paid for by an independent expenditure committee supporting Mar that highlights a post on Hos Facebook page, a picture of Los Angeles with the caption, Home is where the heart is.

She was talking about LOS ANGELES not SAN FRANCISCO, the mailer reads.

Meanwhile, public school teacher Trevor McNeil, the most notable candidate after Mar and Ho, has largely stayed above the fray. McNeil, who has raised far less money than Mar and Ho and hasnt benefited from any third-party spending, said the negativity between Mar and Ho has put a cloud over the race.

It has been disappointing to see people going negative, McNeil said. Especially in a district that hasnt had a contested election since 2006, people are really interested in the issues. ... I feel very confident of our strategy of staying positive, because I think ultimately its going to pay off.

Given the different political leanings of Mar and Ho, it makes sense that the District Four race has spiraled into a tense battle, said longtime political consultant Jim Ross.

Ho is considered a moderate, who would largely carry on Tangs agenda. Mar has a progressive track record and would likely tilt the Board of Supervisors toward the left on issues such as homelessness and housing.

I think it is the one race that could change the dynamic of the board, said Ross, who isnt involved in any local campaigns this election. It could lead to who is going to be the next board president. If Ho wins, it will likely be someone more moderate. If Mar wins, it would likely be someone more progressive.

While they both oppose a Navigation Center and support building more housing in District Four, their biggest differences can be spelled out in their positions on Prop. 10 and local Proposition C, which would tax large businesses for funds to spend on homeless services. Ho opposes both measures, while Mar supports them.

Mayor London Breed endorsed both Ho and McNeil, who is also considered a pro-housing moderate.

I know that both Jessica and Trevor will work with me to support families and working people in our neighborhoods, Breed said in a statement. Its important that we elect people who put neighborhoods before politics.

The amount of outside spending funneled into the District Four race indicates how much outside interests  from real estate investors to labor unions  feel is at stake, likely because of issues around housing and development in the neighborhood. But no independent committee has spent nearly as much on any supervisor campaign as the $618,789 Progress San Francisco, a SuperPAC that often backs moderate candidates in local races, has spent supporting Ho.

And Mars campaign, which has received $93,194 from independent expenditure committees  such as the San Francisco Labor Council Labor & Neighbor Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee  hasnt missed a chance to accuse Ho for being bought by third-party interests.

Meanwhile, some voters said they couldnt care less about all the drama.

What it comes down to is, what are they trying to do? District Four resident Nate Wiley said outside Java Beach Cafe across from Ocean Beach on a recent, fogless afternoon in the Sunset. Just because they have been here for a long time, doesnt mean they have a certain set of values.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
WASHINGTON  A recent spate of hate-based violence is a reason to talk about prescription drug prices. President Trumps desire to end birthright citizenship means its time to talk about preserving health care. In the home stretch of the campaign, Nancy Pelosi refuses to be dislodged from her message.

Trump has spent days tweeting about immigration to fire up his red base. He has ordered more than 5,000 active-duty military troops to the border, more than are serving in Syria, to meet a few thousand impoverished migrants who are weeks away from the U.S., and says he may increase that number to 15,000 soldiers. Hes suggested he would seek to issue an executive order to limit birthright citizenship, though legal scholars are mostly agreed that any change would require a constitutional amendment.

But Pelosi is signaling to her party: Dont take the bait.

The House Democratic leader is unabashedly confident about her partys chances of retaking the chamber next week, telling late-night TV host Stephen Colbert on Tuesday night: We will win.

Poised to regain the House speakership that she lost in 2010 if her prediction is accurate, the San Francisco Democrat is urging party candidates to resist reacting to every Trump development. Instead, she says, stick to the For the People-branded messaging that Democrats believe is key to flipping Republican-held districts: preserving affordable health care, growing wages and cleaning up corruption in Washington.

Everywhere I turn, every ad I see is about the economy or its about pre-existing conditions, which is exactly what they want to be talking about, said Nadeam Elshami, Pelosis former chief of staff and now policy director at a Washington lobbying and law firm. Youve got to give a reason for people to vote for you.

Pelosi has been modeling the tactic.

President Trumps new claim he can unilaterally end the Constitutions guarantee of citizenship shows Republicans spiraling desperation to distract from their assault on Medicare, Medicaid and people with pre-existing conditions, Pelosi said in a statement Tuesday.

In a dear colleague letter to Democrats on Monday on protecting the American people from domestic terrorism, Pelosi closed by pivoting back to the blueprint, saying, By relentlessly driving home our For the People message of health, jobs and integrity in government will we win a better future for all Americans.

The non sequiturs are no accident. Despite the midterm elections being framed in national conversation as a referendum on Trump, Democrats arent campaigning on him.

An analysis by the Media Project at Wesleyan University found that 54 percent of pro-Democrat ads this election cycle have mentioned health care, compared with just over 30 percent for Republicans.

The left-aligned Center for American Progress political arm commissioned polling in early September that validated the approach, according to a strategy document shared with The Chronicle. The partys key talking points tested favorably and improved voters view of Democrats, the groups research found.

Preserving health care was by far the most important issue for the swing voters, the center found.

The GOP also seems to be sensing a need to play defense. Despite his administration supporting a lawsuit that would erase protections in the Affordable Care Act for people with pre-existing conditions, Trump has tweeted that Republicans will be the ones to protect them.

Republicans will protect people with pre-existing conditions far better than the Dems!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018

Pelosi, meanwhile, is a favorite bogeyman in Republican attack ads, something she attributes to being a very effective legislator. Another Wesleyan Media Project study found that Pelosi was the congressional leader most featured in attack ads the last three election cycles.

Trump has gone after her at times on Twitter, including a tweet in June in which he accused her and her sidekick, Cryin Chuck Schumer, of wanting to protect illegal immigrants.

Responding to Pelosis comments on Colberts show, a spokesman for the Republicans campaign arm, Matt Gorman, tweeted, While Pelosi is measuring the drapes, were knocking doors.

His colleague Jesse Hunt told Fox News during a conversation about voter enthusiasm Tuesday that young voters remember the last time Nancy Pelosi was in control of the House, the economy was in shambles. He said that was whats at stake in the election.

Pelosis status as a Republican target hasnt kept her off the trail. According to her office, she visited 30 cities in October for a mix of fundraisers and campaign events, stumping in states including Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, Michigan, Arizona and California.

In a sit-down last month with The Chronicles editorial board, Pelosi said she has told her Democratic colleagues and candidates to steer as far from the subject of Trump as possible.

I say to the members  dont even talk about him, Pelosi said. He is self-evidently what he is; you dont have to bring him up. So to the candidates and to the members, you just connect with the voters in ways that talk about their financial stability.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicle Washington correspondent. Email:

tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
Millennials and their relationship to the voting booth have been subject to incessant punditry in the run-up to the midterm elections: Will they vote? Can they sway the outcome?

Even 75-year-old Joe Biden has weighed in, telling Millennials they need to get off their backsides and get involved.

But Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something, doesnt just want young people at the polls. She wants them on the ballot.

Litman, 28, was director of emails on Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign  the other emails, she jokes. She was approached shortly after the election by a friend, angered by Donald Trumps victory, who wanted to know how to get started in a run for office.

I didnt have a good answer, Litman said. And that felt like a problem that was a symptom of a whole bunch of problems in the Democratic Party.

Those problems, she said, include a lack of intentional candidate development and a weak, non-diverse, uninteresting bench for the future.

The day Trump took office, Litman and Ross Morales Rocketto, a political consultant who is married to one of Litmans friends, started Run for Something to create a diverse talent pipeline.

Several progressive groups were born around that time, but Run for Something stands out for its focus on developing Millennials to run as Democrats for public office. It helps only potential candidates under 40 who are looking to run for the first or second time.

The organization works exclusively with candidates running for office at the state level or below. The group seeks out diverse candidates, emphasizing women, people of color and LGBTQ recruits.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

The organizations 15 paid staffers are bolstered by more than 2,000 volunteers and about 115 mentors, consultants and workers from past campaigns  Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders and Clinton veterans included  who help guide the rookies on the Run for Something roster.

Initially, Litman and Rocketto expected around 100 candidates to sign up in the groups first year, to take part in note-swapping sessions and local support networks. Instead, by March 2017, 8,000 people from around the country had contacted Run for Something. Now that total is up to 19,000 would-be candidates, with more than 400 endorsed candidates on the ballot for Tuesdays elections.

Endorsed candidates benefit from greater attention and, in some cases, money. In the past two years, Run for Something has tapped more than 11,000 donors for money for about 150 candidates in 14 states. So far in 2018, the group says, it has collected $2 million.

In California, 35 candidates have received a Run for Something endorsement for next weeks elections. Among them: 22-year-old Rigel Robinson, running for Berkeley City Council; Alex Brown, 27, who is running for Chico City Council; and 31-year-old Sonia Aery, a candidate for Assembly in the northern Central Valley.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Robinson began his campaign in April, just a few weeks before he graduated from UC Berkeley. He got in touch with Run for Something after meeting Rocketto at the College Democrats of Americas national convention.

Its a funny little kind of ragtag, misfits campaign weve got, Robinson said. For his entirely student-run operation, Run for Something has provided an incredible network ... advice and a sense of community, he said.

For Aery, Run for Something has become an antidote to feeble local support in her campaign against Republican incumbent James Gallagher, who is running for a third two-year term in the Third District.

Its really hard to find the local resources, Aery said. My campaign manager works in Santa Monica, my social media manager lives in Wisconsin. Just having that community has been really helpful.

Aery said she felt compelled to run after serving as emcee for the January 2018 Womens March in Chico.

I said something like, All this marching isnt going to mean anything unless we take action, Aery said. That was the impetus ... being like, Oh crap, I can do this, too. ... I could be a leader in this movement.

Aery needs all the help she can get. The district is solidly Republican, and Gallagher has run up lopsided victory margins in his last two elections. In the June primary, he finished 30 points ahead of Aery.

Its definitely a long shot, Aery said. I think people have resigned themselves to the fact that were just represented by Republicans and well always be represented by Republicans.

Gallagher, ironically, is a Millennial himself. At 37, hes just six years older than Aery. He said he was unfamiliar with Run for Something, but he expressed frustration at groups that have nothing to do with the north state coming into the district to ensure a blue wave.

I think thats really the focus of those types of groups  its about progressive politics, Gallagher said. I dont think its really about their age or that theyre young.

Millennials  defined by the Pew Research Center as people born between 1981 and 1996  make up barely 6 percent of all state legislators, according to a report from Run for Something and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

The same goes at the national level. The average age of House members is almost 58. In the Senate, the average is just under 62 years old, making the current Congress one of the oldest in history.

Despite the built-in disadvantage of running first-time candidates against incumbents, Run for Something made a decent showing in 2017. Just under half the 72 candidates it endorsed that year won their races, the group said.

Litman says Run for Somethings value extends beyond electoral victories.

We think simply running does a lot for the community, she said. As a party, how can we expect voters to show up if we dont give them someone to vote for?

Litman added, We know this from social science: You cant be what you cant see. In the future, it will be unacceptable to say that we cant find a qualified non-white dude.

For Aery, the daughter of Indian immigrants, this pursuit is personal.

I never thought I would run for office growing up, Aery said. You dont see yourself in those positions of leadership.

Look, whatever happens, youre showing a lot of young Indian girls that they can do this, she said. If we dont win, absolutely this will have been worth it.

Holly Honderich is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: holly.honderich@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hollyhonderich
All right. The jig is up. I confess. I am not an American citizen. Of course, I was born right here in Cook County Hospital in 1937, and I have a birth certificate to prove that. I also served three years in the Marine Corps when I was a young man, and although I am retired now, I used to pay hefty sums of income taxes in the years when my business was thriving.
San Franciscos 90-year-old Alfreds Steakhouse is back in familiar hands.

After being sold to Michelin-starred chef Daniel Patterson three years ago, the Financial District restaurant is again being operated by the Petri family, the same folks who ran the business from 1973 to 2015.

Were going to return some normalcy there, said Al Petri, the 75-year-old patriarch who retired from the restaurant business eight years ago. Petri recently became the majority investor in Alfreds, which is on Merchant Street.

San Francisco needs an affordable place where they can come, have a nice dinner and not have to pay such high prices, Petri said.

The restaurant  San Franciscos oldest steak house  is currently closed. It will reopen in early December with a new, fixed-price menu centered around fire-grilled steaks. Similar to another local beef stalwart, House of Prime Rib, the new Alfreds format will have customers pay for the steak cut they choose, with prices ranging from $39 to $68. Included in the price will be an appetizer platter for the table, a choice of starter (Caesar, heart of romaine salad or prawn cocktail) and two sides.

Under the Patterson regime, options were more expensive, and the service model leaned more on a la carte dining. Patterson remains an investor in Alfreds and will continue to help shape the restaurants menu moving forward, Petri said.

Petri originally retired from running Alfreds in 2010, about five years before it was sold to Patterson. At the time, Petri attributed the sale to a changing San Francisco restaurant market, one that made it hard for businesses like his to succeed.

So what would make the 75-year-old return to an industry he wanted to leave just a few years back, thanks partly to rent increases and the high cost of operations? Petri said he was struck with new ideas during retirement, ones that didnt come to fruition until he watched his son Marco run the business for a few years before Patterson.

By simplifying things and just giving people what they enjoy, this can work. I want Alfreds to be around for future generations, he said

Another factor for his return: boredom.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Theres only so many weeds you can pull while youre retired, he said with a laugh. Theres only so many times you can cut the grass.

The ownership transition bookends a hectic past few years. After Pattersons restaurant group revamped the space with a new coat of paint and added grass-fed beef to the menu in 2015, a two-alarm fire forced the restaurant to close in 2017.

And when it closed again without warning in June to accommodate the ownership transition, rumors swirled that the business would shutter for good.

Petri said keeping Alfreds alive is an act imbued with a sense of pride and also defiance.

I want to show that this business model can work, he said. I could see it after stepping away for a while. With some small changes, getting back to what we used to do, I think it can last.

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
The universe of Italian wine is vast  maybe, ultimately, unknowable. Over 2,000 indigenous grape varieties originated in the country, claims expert Ian DAgata, more than Spain, France and Greece combined. (Of those, just 377 are cultivated, according to Jancis Robinsons Wine Grapes.) Some, like Sangiovese and Nebbiolo, will sound familiar (at least vaguely familiar) to American wine lovers. But for every up-and-coming variety  Rossese, Lagrein, Frappato  there are dozens languishing in obscurity. Caloria, anyone? Quagliano?

Italian wines heterogeneity is what makes it exciting, though it may also explain why its neighbor to the west is more often represented on top U.S. wine lists, even those that look beyond the big names in Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhone. Whereas its easy today to find restaurants with specialties in French regions like the Loire Valley or the Jura, its still the rare sommelier who stakes a special claim in Italys Friuli or Valle dAosta.

Yet its from these fringe regions where Italian wines greatest pleasure can most often be accessed: the pleasure of discovery.

Brunello, Barbaresco and Barolo, Italys trophy wines, have never been scarce among great wine lists. You can find deep, impressive selections of these great bottles, in many cases with vintages stretching back more than half a century, at Bay Area restaurants like Acquerello, Gary Danko, Quince and Cotogna.

But in recent years weve seen a different type of Italian wine list emerge: lists focused on the back roads of Italy, celebrating the idiosyncratic, heterogeneous creations of less-familiar regions. Here in San Francisco, we might call it the A16 model. (In A16s case, the restaurant was literally named for the back road.)

Lance Iversen/SFC

When Shelley Lindgren opened A16 in 2004, it was a novel concept to base a list on a subregion of Italy that wasn't Tuscany or Piedmont. Yet it made perfect sense: The exuberant table wines of Campania were a natural fit for the restaurant's Campanian food, most of all the simple, hearty Neapolitan pizzas. Lindgren stocked her list full of sunny, salty whites like Fiano and Greco and Falanghina and grippy, savory reds like Aglianico and Piedirosso. Compared with lists steeped in Barolo and Brunello, the A16 wine list is loaded with bargains.

You don't go to A16 to drink a trophy wine. You go there to taste something you've never had before  maybe something you've never even heard of before.

Lindgren was not the first sommelier to create an Italian wine list like this, but her restaurant helped give shape to the genre, at the same time as its style of food  the produce-driven pizza-and-salad model, which we see now in places like Del Popolo and Fiorella  began to proliferate. And when she opened SPQR in 2007, she established an A16-style wine list there, despite the fact that the restaurant is much more upscale than its pizzeria predecessor.

In San Francisco, were lucky to live among a number of restaurants, in addition to A16, whose wine lists revel in the quintessentially Italian pleasure of discovery. Here are some of the best.

Leah Millis / The Chronicle

La Ciccia: Of the roughly 200 selections on La Ciccias wine list, all are Italian and roughly half are Sardinian  a remarkable showing for the small Mediterranean island. Although Sicilian wine has become a hot commodity in recent years, Sardinia remains in the shadows, and La Ciccia owners Massimiliano Conti and Lorella Degan may be its most effective proselytizers in this country. Sardinias wines, like its food, are heavily influenced by the period of Spanish colonial rule; major grape varieties include Cannonau (Grenache) and Carignano (Carignan). Dont be shy about asking for a staff recommendation when ordering a bottle.

Flour + Water: The Mission District restaurants dim lighting and earthy cuisine echo its eclectic, back roads-heavy wine selection. Wine director Sam Bogue has compiled a list thats heavy on delicate styles and natural wines, spanning Italy from north to south. Although recognizable names dot the list, like Frank Cornelissen in Sicily, Ar.Pe.Pe in Valtellina and Quintarelli in the Veneto, the list is organized primarily by flavor profile (Elegant & Floral; Crisp & Mineral), prompting you to take a chance on something unfamiliar.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

Uva Enoteca and Fiorella: The all-Italian wine list at Uva Enoteca is organized less by political boundaries than by topography: the Alpine border, for example, or the central Tyrrhenian Sea. Owner Boris Nemchenok celebrates indigenous varieties; you can find bottles here of Tintilia (a deeply colored red grape from Molise) and Albana (a full-bodied white from Emilia-Romagna). Wines with some age are often available by the glass here, which is always a treat, such as, on a recent visit, a nutty 2009 Verdicchio and an elegant 2006 Merlot-Sangiovese Toscana blend.

Nemchenoks Outer Richmond restaurant Fiorella offers a kind of pared-down version of the Uva list, with some California wines thrown into the mix. Its especially strong in its bottle selection of Italian whites. Note: Both spots serve 8-ounce glass pours, which is larger than the typical 5- or 6-ounce glass youll find at most restaurants, making it feasible to share a glass (or several) between two people.

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54 Mint: Under wine director Gianluca Legrottaglie, this Roman-style restaurant serves only Italian wines made from indigenous grapes (though you will find a super Tuscan or two, Sangiovese blended with grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon). As at its sister restaurant Montesacro Pinseria, the central Italy region of Lazio  where Rome lies  is given a little more attention than at other Italian restaurants. Try a wine from the red grape Cesanese, a Lazio specialty (and, historians believe, a favorite of the ancient Romans), which can be peppery and full of light, bright red fruits.

AltoVino: Claudio Villani handed over his casual, neighborhood-centric InoVino earlier this year, having moved on to the newer, more ambitious AltoVino, which replaced Mason Pacific. That Villani is originally from Tuscany is evident in the AltoVino wine selection, which leans heavily on that regions two most famous wines, Brunello and Chianti. But the list has plenty of surprises too: a full section of Pinot Nero from Alto Adige on the Swiss border; Zinfandel (not Primitivo!) from Puglia; Syrah from the outlier Tuscan appellation of Cortana.

P.S. Its not a restaurant, but the wine shop Biondivino deserves a mention among these lists. Owner Ceri Smith is dialed in to the most exciting wines from all over Italy, both established and up-and-coming, and Ive never visited the shop  which has locations in both Russian Hill and Palo Alto  without discovering something extraordinary.

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob
Neil Young spilled the beans.

The 72-year-old musician revealed he's married to actress Daryl Hannah, 57, in an online post encouraging people to vote and featuring his new video for the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young classic "Ohio."

In the message on Young's personal site, he refers to Hannah as "my wife."

Young has been in a relationship with the "Splash" actress since 2014, and rumors have circulated for months the coupled tied the knot in a small ceremony, but neither publicly confirmed this.

MORE: Bay Area rock legend Neil Young on Trump: 'He has no balls'

Prior to Hannah, Young was married to Pegi Young for 36 years and the two lived together in the Bay Area for many years. The couple divorced in 2014.
A United Nations expert on housing is calling the Bay Area's treatment of the homeless "cruel and inhuman" in a special report released in October.

Leilani Farha, 49, a special rapporteur on adequate housing for the intergovernmental organization, visited San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley in January 2017 as part of a world tour of encampments that included stops in Belgrade, Buenos Aires, Delhi, Lisbon, Mexico City, Mumbai and Santiago.

Now, Farha has summarized her findings in a report titled "On Adequate Housing as a Component of the Right to an Adequate Standard of Living," and it she includes one paragraph with an assessment of the informal tent encampments homeless people in the Bay Area are creating:

Attempting to discourage residents from remaining in informal settlements or encampments by denying access to water, sanitation, and health services and other basic necessities, as has been witnessed by the Special Rapporteur in San Francisco and Oakland constitutes cruel and inhuman treatment and is a violation of multiple human rights, including the rights to life, housing, health and water and sanitation.

[...] The right to a secure home is a universal right under international human rights law. Lack of security of tenure can never justify forced evictions of those residing in informal settlements.

ALSO: We asked 12 homeless people what happened. Their answers show we all are close to the streets

During her January visit, Farha told SFGATE she spoke with about 50 people living on the street and said she "can't help but be completely shocked"

"Every single person, whether it was in passing or in a long conversation, said they just want to be treated like a human being," said Farha, who is a lawyer by training and lives in Canada. "What does that say? That is bleak.

"If I could add, the other thing that just struck me ... but I'm sorry, California is a rich state, by any measures, the United States is a rich country, and to see these deplorable conditions that the government is allowing, by international human rights standards, it's unacceptable. I'm guided by human rights law."

In San Francisco, about 7,500 people are homeless according to the last count, but this number is elusive and some believe the number is between 10,000 and 12,000. San Francisco has doubled the money it spends annually on homelessness to more than $300 million. The city's first unified Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing was officially launched in August 2016 and has since opened four new Navigation Centersone-stop counseling-intensive shelters aimed at moving people into permanent housing  bringing more than 1,500 highly vulnerable people off the streets.

MORE: We asked people living on SF's streets, 'What's the best thing that happened to you last week?'

Farha told SFGATE she was struck by the difference in the way governments view "informal settlements" in the United States versus countries like India global south.

"The struggle in the south is to legalize and regularize encampments," she said. "Here, the struggle is simply to be able to create an encampment. In the south, there's sort of a blind eye that has turned. Once an informal settlement is created, it's established. Whereas here, they can't create them."

In the Bay Area, Farha talked to many people who were temporarily living in an encampment before they were ordered to move by city officials during a "tent sweep."

"It's damaging because they always have to move," she says. "They're treated like nonentities. Sometimes they say (belongings are) put in storage, but more often they'll dump everyone's possessions into one Dumpster. It's horrible. It's not dignified. The people have nowhere to go. It's illogical. It's tragic."

Farha points out that one of the myths of homelessness is that drug users end up on the street, but she says in her experience people thrown into homelessness turn to drugs as a way to cope and assuage the pain.

"Most people on the streets are living with some sort of 'structural trauma,' meaning they have lost their job, can't afford housing, been evicted by a landlord," she said."The structural trauma causes deeply personal effects that can lead to living on the street that triggers drug use."

SFGATE reached out to San Francisco's Department of Public Works and they chose to not comment for this story. SFGATE also reached out to the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing and didn't hear back.

(Note: This story was updated on Mon., Nov. 5.)
A number of Burners who felt they were wrongly targeted during traffic stops and drug searches on the road to Burning Man are being vindicated after the local district attorney's office rejected nearly all of the cases.

Both the Office of Indian Affairs and Pyramid Lake worked to pull over vehicles on the road to Burning Man back in August, but now the Washoe County District Attorney's Office has decided not to pursue seven of the nine cases, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

The district attorney's office said the charges in those cases would not hold up in court, citing issues such as conflicts between state and federal laws or lack of probable cause, according to court documents the newspaper obtained.

"The Fourth Amendment issues are troublesome," was just one of the comments made by the district attorney's office in one of the cases.

The cases could still be in federal court due to the fact that the Bureau of Indian Affairs is involved, although a spokeswoman with the U.S. Attorney's Office told the Reno Gazette-Journal that they have not looked at the cases yet.

In the meantime, about 300 citations are filed and merely awaiting payment.

Burners felt they were being targeted by the traffic stops, and Burning Man organizers told participants that they felt "these tactics are overly aggressive, unconstitutional, unnecessary, pretextual and unacceptable." A spokeswoman with the Office of Indian Affairs said, however, that the stops have "nothing to do with Burning Man."

The apparent reasoning was that law enforcement was attempting to keep opioids off reservation land, officials told The Chronicle, but officers never found any opioids, according to the reports. They did find plenty of other drugs, however, including meth, ketamine, cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana.

Read the Reno Gazette-Journal's full breakdown of the cases and issues surrounding them here.

Read Dianne de Guzman's latest stories and send her news tips at ddeguzman@sfchronicle.com.

Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news.
In the past year, the cumulative value of all major cryptocurrencies has tumbled by more than 70 percent. But that doesnt mean no ones making money in crypto anymore.

Coinbase, the go-to exchange for cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, is projecting revenue for the year of nearly $1.3 billion, according to a document reviewed by Bloomberg. And investors have taken note. In October, Coinbase raised money at a valuation of $8 billion, which places it among the ranks of the worlds most valuable startups. That valuation is more than five times higher than it was early last year.

The San Francisco company has been able to capitalize better than most on the crypto frenzy of the past few years. The companys $1.3 billion in revenue for 2018 comes from the commissions on trades on its server, as well as from gains and losses in its own crypto holdings. Because the firm considers several measures of revenue, the exact figures can vary.

In 2016, as cryptocurrency prices began to take off, Coinbases revenue was just $17 million, the same document shows, and the company recorded a net loss of $16 million. By 2017, however, it had recorded a profit of $380 million. It is now projecting that profit in 2018 will be $456 million.

The companies interested in investing in us know that this is the next wave of tech innovation, said Asiff Hirji, Coinbases chief operating officer. This was an opportunistic round, he said, referring to the October investment. We didnt have to go out and raise capital.

Trying to reach more than $400 million in profit seems ambitious for a 6-year-old startup in an uncertain industry, and its not without risk. By some estimates, the number of U.S. users who execute trades on Coinbase has fallen roughly 80 percent since the peak in late 2017 and early 2018. Hirji wouldnt comment on the specific revenue figures, but he did say that Coinbase is a bet on the future of crypto, and that if the value of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies declines, sales will too.

At the end of the first half of this year, the document shows, the firm had $503 million in cash in the bank. It did not detail projected revenue for 2019.

As Coinbase was raising its most recent funding, the value of cryptocurrencies was sinking. According to reports, the company was planning to raise money at an even higher valuation, but the decline in the price of bitcoin weighed on those conversations. Investors did find comfort, however, in the firms efforts to diversify. Tiger Global will be leading the round, which was initially reported by Recode.

One push for expanding its business has been to add services for larger institutional clients. Cryptocurrency-focused hedge funds have been the first to adopt some of these tools, which include custodial services where investors can store large amounts of digital currency, as well as enhanced trading capabilities, such as risk management and margin trading, which allows customers to use borrowed money. This has been slow to take off, but Coinbase is telling investors that it expects to have 40 clients with more than $1 billion worth of digital funds in the coming weeks.

Last week, it received regulatory approval to operate as an independent qualified custodian for select cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether.

But no amount of diversification will change the fact that that Coinbase is a cryptocurrency company. And its investors are optimistic about the future of digital currency as well as of the trading service.

For this round, we simply werent interested in taking investments from firms that didnt have a constructive view of crypto, Hirji said. This round, and the future of crypto in general, needs to be about more than asset prices.

Julie Verhage is a Bloomberg writer. Email: jverhage2@bloomberg.net
WASHINGTON  The Federal Reserve is proposing to ease requirements for holding capital and cash for banks that are big, but not as big as the Wall Street mega-banks.

The Feds proposal issued Wednesday is the latest move by federal regulators to relax government oversight of financial firms in line with President Trumps objectives.

The Fed governors, by a 3-1 vote, put out the proposals for public comment. They also are looking to ease the schedule for the agencys stress tests for banks, based on their size and risk.

Fed officials want to relax rules implemented under the 2010 law enacted in response to the financial crisis that pushed the economy into recession.

Lael Brainard, the only Fed board member not appointed by Trump, was the dissenting vote. She warned that the moves would raise the risk of another taxpayer bailout of big banks.

A new law enacted in May dismantled a chunk of the Dodd-Frank rules framework for banks installed to prevent a recurrence of the 2008 crisis. The Republican-led legislation was aimed at helping small and medium-size banks, including community banks and credit unions. It multiplied by five  to $250 billion  the level of assets at which banks are deemed so big that if one were to fail it would create major havoc. Those banks are subject to stricter capital and planning requirements.

The new law means that regulations and oversight were eased on more than two dozen financial institutions with assets between $100 billion and $250 billion, including BB&T Corp., SunTrust Banks, Fifth Third Bancorp and American Express.

Brainard said the new Fed proposals reach beyond that law by easing requirements for banks with assets from $250 billion to $700 billion. The proposals weaken the (capital) buffers that are core to the resilience of our system, she said before the vote. This raises the risk that taxpayers again will be on the hook.

But Randal Quarles, the Feds vice chairman for supervision and the chief architect of the proposals, said they follow an important principle: that the level of regulation of a bank should match its characteristics.

Generally, he said, U.S. banks with assets between $100 billion to $250 billion dont show meaningful levels of complexity and tight connection with the financial system.

A capital buffer is designed to cushion the shock to a bank of unexpected losses. Capital is long-term money that a bank can draw on to make loans; it comes mostly from the banks shareholders and profits it keeps.

The stress tests assess whether a bank has a big enough capital buffer to survive an economic shock and keep on lending.

The 2010 Dodd-Frank law was enacted by President Barack Obama and the Democrats who then controlled Congress. It sought to restrain banks, which received hundreds of millions in taxpayer bailouts, from the kind of reckless practices that many blamed for the crisis.

Trump and Republican lawmakers have argued that the stricter regulations have constrained lending and economic growth.

The new Fed proposals also would modify the so-called liquidity requirements for big banks to hold enough cash, government bonds and other high-quality assets to fund operations for three to four weeks during a time of financial distress. The idea is to help ensure that a banks cash resources  not taxpayers money  would provide the needed support for it to withstand stress.

The proposed change would eliminate liquidity requirements for most banks with $100 billion to $250 billion in assets.

At the other end of the scale, the proposals would keep the current requirements for capital, liquidity and stress testing for mega-banks with $700 billion or more in assets, the Wall Street powerhouses deemed so big and interwoven with the financial system that each could threaten its stability if it failed. They include JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and Citigroup.

Marcy Gordon is an Associated Press writer.
Polls can be wrong. Rauner, who won by 3.9 percentage points in 2014, can still be re-elected, and Baker, who eked out a 1.9 percentage point win in 2014, can still lose. But theres a lesson in the divergence so far, one that tells us that even in these angry and polarized times, theres a market for decorum, pragmatism and political centrism.
Surf Air, the Southern California-based airline that offers unlimited flights for a monthly fee, has resumed flying in and out of San Carlos Airport on the Peninsula.

According to the company, a limited number of flights returned to San Carlos Oct. 22. As we reported in September, Surf Air suddenly stopped flying to the airport and transitioned many flights across the Bay to Oakland International Airport.

Surf Air continues to operate flights in and out of OAK as well, but as a company spokesperson told SFGate then, the intention was to always return to San Carlos, which is a much more convenient for the vast majority of the company's Silicon Valley members.

The hiatus happened when Surf Air switched air charter operators over the summer, and the new company lacked enough eight-seat Pilatus PC-12 single-engine propellor planes to serve the Peninsula airport.

Out of San Carlos, Surf Air is currently offering flights to Santa Barbara, Hawthorne (not far from Los Angeles International Airport), and Truckee. FlightAware shows there were only three Surf Air arrivals into San Carlos on Tuesday, two flights from Santa Barbara and one flight from Hawthorne.

This week, the company also launched a new membership tier called Surf Air Express that executives believe is perfect for fliers who "desire a membership that is designed for the less frequent 'per flight' consumer."

"It offers the ability to purchase flat-rate flights on an a la carte basis," explained Surf Air Marketing Director Hudson Andrews. "It eliminates the need for a monthly subscription for fliers that don't travel as frequently as our primary business commuter."

The new tier officially launched October 23 through a Indiegogo fundraising campaign that's offering some deeply discounted membership rates and pricing for flights.

With Surf Air Express, customers pay a $2,500 flat-rate annual membership fee. Then they can purchase one-way fares for $445.

Surf Air said the rates are comparable to "prices similar to business class and last-minute economy" on commercial airlines.

The company said Express members will have limited access to some of the most popular flights to preserve access to members who have subscribed to pricier tiers.

"All Surf Air routes are available on the Surf Air Express Route Network," Andrews said. "However, not all flight times are available. We've reserved our peak flying to only be available to our All You Can Fly members."

Surf Air's standard membership offering involves a flat monthly fee of either $1,950, $2,450 or $2,950 depending on usage. Membership includes access to unlimited flights on Surf Air's intra-California network.

The company began operating at San Carlos in 2013 with a fleet of eight-passenger Pilatus PC-12 single-engine propellor planes, each outfitted with leather seats and high-end interiors. (SEE SLIDESHOW AT THE TOP FOR A LOOK)

Surf Air is more of a marketing company and does not operate any airplanes  it partners with Hawthorne, Calif.-based charter airline Advanced Air to do the flying on the West Coast.

This summer, Surf Air cut ties with its former operator, Encompass Aviation LLC, triggering a bitter legal fight that is still not yet resolved. Surf Air is also in the process of paying down government tax liens of $2.4 million.

Have you flown Surf Air? Would you? Please leave your thoughts in the comments.

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Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis.
BOSTON  A Mafia hit man who is said to hate rats is under suspicion in the slaying of former Boston crime boss and longtime FBI informant James Whitey Bulger, who was found dead hours after he was transferred to a West Virginia prison, an ex-investigator briefed on the case said Wednesday.

The former official said that Fotios Freddy Geas and at least one other inmate are believed to have been involved in Bulgers killing. The longtime investigator was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
PORT ORANGE, FLA.  A 32-year-old has died of a gunshot wound to the head following a confrontation with law enforcement officers at a central Florida convenience store.



The shooting happened late Wednesday as Volusia County Sheriff's deputies and Port Orange police were pursuing the man who had threatened a woman he had been accused of stalking.



Sheriff's spokesman Andrew Gant says the man had pointed a gun at his own head and at law enforcement officers, who fired at him. Gant says it's not yet clear whether the man shot himself or was shot by officers. The officers were not injured.



The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating.



No further details were immediately available.



Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Chicago Lakeshore Hospital is proud to provide the highest level of services to some of the most vulnerable children in the state of Illinois, he said in a statement. We will never give up on any child who needs help.  Our goal is to improve the lives of these young patients so they can grow to be healthy adults, both physically and mentally.
She said the ACLU reached out to DCFS lawyers on Oct. 1 to find out about possible safety issues at Chicago Lakeshore after learning it was in jeopardy of losing its federal funding. Dalenberg said the ACLU was told the federal concern primarily centered on a technical issue over the length of the facilitys telephone cords being a possible suicide risk to patients and that the hospital was resolving the matter.
A few weeks ago, after Facebook revealed that tens of millions of its users accounts had been exposed in a security breach, I began asking people in and around the tech industry a simple question: Should Mark Zuckerberg still be running Facebook?

Ill spare you the suspense. Just about everyone thought Zuckerberg was still the right man for the job, if not the only man for the job. This included people who work at Facebook, people who used to work at Facebook, financial analysts, venture capitalists, tech-skeptic activists, ardent critics of the company and its giddiest supporters.

The consensus went like this: Even if Zuckerberg  as Facebooks founder, chief executive, chairman and most powerful shareholder  bore most of the responsibility for the companys cataclysmic recent history, he alone possessed the stature to fix it.

More than one of his supporters told me it was bad faith to even broach the subject  that Zuckerbergs indispensability was so plain that the only reason I might have to ask whether he should still run the company was the clicks I would get on this article. But even critics were not that excited about the idea of Zuckerbergs removal. Barry Lynn, executive director of the Open Markets Institute, an organization that fights monopoly power, argued that Facebooks problems grew out of its business model and the legal and regulatory vacuum in which it has operated  not the man who runs it.

To be blunt, if we took Mark Zuckerberg out and we replaced him with Mahatma Gandhi, I dont think the corporation would change in any significant way, Lynn said.

That few can imagine a Facebook without Zuckerberg, 34, underscores how unaccountable our largest tech companies have become. Zuckerberg, thanks to his own drive and brilliance, has become one of the most powerful unelected people in the world. Like an errant oil company or sugar-pumping food company, Facebook makes decisions that create huge consequences for society  and he has profited handsomely from the chaos.

Yet because of Facebooks ownership structure  in which Zuckerbergs shares have 10 times the voting power of ordinary shares  he is omnipotent there, answering basically to no one.

This fits a pattern. Over the past two decades, the largest tech companies have created a system in which executives suffer few personal or financial consequences for their mistakes. Big tech has turned founders into fixtures  when their companies are working well, they get all the credit, and when their companies are doing badly, they are the only heroes who can fix them.

Theres another way to put this: For better or worse, Zuckerberg has become too big to fail.

In America, its not unusual for executives to escape punishment for how they steer their corporations (see Wall Street after the 2008 financial crisis). Still, when companies step in it badly, there are often at least calls for their leaders dismissal. The chief executives of Equifax and Target were pushed out after data breaches. The chief executive of Wells Fargo was ousted after a scandal involving sham accounts.

Even in Silicon Valley, where company founders are revered as money-laying rainbow unicorns, there is some limit to corporate patience. In the 1980s, Apple fired Steve Jobs. Last year, Uber ousted Travis Kalanick, who was as closely aligned with his companys culture as Zuckerberg is with his.

Facebooks problems have not reached the level of lawlessness we saw at Uber, but they have been far more consequential. Besides the breach, Facebook has been implicated in a global breakdown of democracy, including its role as a vector for Russian disinformation during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Investigators for the United Nations have said Facebook was instrumental to genocide in Myanmar; it has also been tied to violence in India, South Sudan and Sri Lanka. There have been privacy scandals (Cambridge Analytica most recently), advertising scandals (discriminatory ads, fishy metrics), multiple current federal inquiries, and an admission that using Facebook can be detrimental to your mental health.

Even though Zuckerberg has apologized and vowed again and again and again to fix Facebook, the companys fixes often need fixing. In the past week, reporters showed that the companys recent move to clamp down on political ads has not worked  Vice News bought Facebook ads falsely stating that they were paid for by Vice President Mike Pence and ISIS.

So given such failures, another question might be: Why havent any heads rolled at Facebook? Although there have been some high-profile defections  the co-founders of WhatsApp, Instagram and Oculus, all companies bought by Facebook, left in the past few months  Zuckerbergs most loyal executives have been with him through thick and thin, many for more than a decade.

If Facebook admits now that its problems were caused by a too-idealistic, move-fast culture, and if it is conceding now that its culture must change, how can we be sure thats happening if most of the people who run Facebook remain the same?

When I asked Facebook about this, the company argued that things were changing. It just hired Nick Clegg, a former deputy prime minister of Britain, as head of global affairs  a move that the company said imbued it with a serious outsiders perspective.

The social network also put me on the phone with a top executive who argued boisterously for Zuckerbergs leadership, but declined to do so on the record. The executive explained that fixing Facebook would involve deep costs. The company is hiring more people to review content, for example, and it might have to slow down some of its most ambitious projects to address its impact on the world. The executive argued that Zuckerbergs total domination of Facebooks equity, plus the reverence in which employees hold him, allowed him to weather the financial consequences of these changes better than any other leader.

Facebooks stock price plunged nearly 20 percent on a single day this summer after it reported slowing revenue growth and increased operational costs. This week, Facebook repeated its slower-growth warning. A professional CEO, one without such a huge stake in the company, would be tempted to try the easy way out, the executive suggested. But Zuckerberg was free to do whats right.

Zuckerbergs supporters argued that he has shown a deep capacity to understand and address Facebooks problems. After the company went public in 2012, its stock price languished for months because it had no plan to make money from consumers shift to mobile devices.

Mark would tell you that he was too late in understanding the importance of mobile  but when that became apparent, Mark understood its gravity and he understood how to fix it, said Don Graham, a former Facebook board member and former publisher of The Washington Post. He changed the direction of that company incredibly fast, in detail, not by one action but by 20 actions  and if you looked at the quarter-by-quarter numbers of what percentage of Facebooks revenue was coming from mobile, I couldnt believe how fast it changed.

The question at Facebook now is whether Zuckerberg has similarly seen the light on its current problems. He has said fixing Facebook was his personal challenge for 2018. But there are signs that its culture remains the same.

Consider its promise that a new home-hub device, Portal, which it unveiled last month, would not collect information on users that could be used in ads. It had to swiftly walk back that promise because Facebooks data-collection system is so pervasive that even some of its employees dont seem to understand it.

I think he has demonstrably failed over the last two years, and the reason hes failed is because hes unaccountable, said Sandy Parakilas, a former Facebook employee who is now chief strategy officer for the Center of Humane Technology, an activist organization. Given a scenario where shareholders and board members had more influence, its hard to imagine that there would not have been changes faster.

One fix for Facebook might be to give the board greater power over the company. Trillium Asset Management, an investment firm, recently put forward a shareholder resolution supported by several state funds that would require Zuckerberg to step down as Facebooks chairman, though he would still maintain majority voting control of the company.

I think by taking the step to relinquish the position of the board chair, its a very important structural change so that he would not have a completely free hand to muscle his way through decisions, said Jonas Kron, a Trillium senior vice president.

A Facebook spokesman said the company had not yet taken a position on the resolution. In the past, similar measures have been voted down by Zuckerberg and his allies.

Which leaves us here: Either Zuckerberg fixes Facebook, or no one does. Thats the choice we face, like it or not.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Fulton Market Kitchen (311 N. Sangamon St., 312-733-6900) offers a $30 six-course tasting menu including fish tacos, black pepper prawns and chocolate hazelnut cake from 10 p.m. to midnight. The dishes are also available a la carte for $3-$8.
This party goes all day and all night, literally. The 23 Hour Party People event is exactly what it sounds like: a 23-hour dance party in a fun, inclusive environment. For 23 consecutive hours  starting at 7 a.m. Saturday and continuing through the following Sunday morning  some of Chicagos favorite DJs will take over both levels of the Metro (3730 N. Clark St.) for dancing and a little delirium. At SmartBar on the lower level, the party wont stop, while the Metro space on the upper level will be a chill zone with food for purchase and space to rest, as well as a more laid-back soundtrack. Tickets: $20. etix.com
PHOTOS 25 helpful tips to become a more efficient packer

After years of overpacking and stuffing things in your bag at the very last minute, its time to do things differently. Little tips and tricks make all the difference, here is your ultimate list for finally becoming an efficient packer. (Zareen Syed, The Active Times)
Scarborough Leader

The Oak Hill Players are performing the musical 'Honk!', their first live performance since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tickets are $5 for children, $10 for adults or $30 per family if purchased in advance at fvwc.org/events-and-fundraising. Tickets at the door are $10 per child, $15 per adult and $40 per family.
The county has become more diverse in the last 10 years and residents need more access to resources than what is being provided, Torres said. Families don't have time to spare to visit the county clerk's office and it needs to evolve with those changes.
CUPERTINO (BCN)



A property developer today decided it will move forward with its own plan to revitalize the decades-old Vallco Mall in Cupertino, passing over a plan approved by the city after residents gathered enough signatures to fight it with a referendum .



The project had been plagued with years of delays before developer Sand Hill Property began demolition at the site about three weeks ago, shortly after the city approved its plan. Sand Hill's plan is modeled after affordable housing regulations in California Senate Bill 35.



Sand Hill Property officials hadn't publicly announced which plan they would choose until today, when owner Reed Moulds said the company has been enthusiastic about working on a collaborative plan with the city, but would no longer consider a plan bogged down with delays caused by a referendum.



"This latest obstruction, and the 2-year delay it causes, gives the Community Plan no chance to catch up to the already approved and underway Vallco Town Center project," Moulds said in a statement. "We consider ourselves patient people, but our patience has finally run out."



Political action committee Friends of Better Cupertino rallied to collect over 5,000 signatures, deeming the city's plan "aggressive" and calling for voters to defeat it during the November election. If the signatures are approved, the city can either withdraw the plan or place it on the ballot.



Sand Hill Property officials said they are "saddened" the referendum crushed a community plan that was supported by many.



Both plans allowed for about 2 million square feet of office and commercial space, but Sand Hill's plan, which has about 2,400 housing units to the city's 2,900, is one of the first in the state to be approved under a 50 percent affordable housing mandate in SB 35.



The SB 35 plan does not require the community benefits that area tied to the city's plan, such as donations to the Cupertino Unified School District or open space regulations. But the company plans to give the school district a $14.25 million cash gift and educational infrastructure at the Vallco Town Center.



The mall was originally built in the 1970s but slowly became a miniature ghost town after the departure of large department stores like Sears over the last 20 years.



It's located about 1 mile away from Apple headquarters, in what has become prime real estate for the city, and Sand Hill Property hopes to create a new shopping and living hub for Cupertino residents.



"We know that there may be some disappointment about this, but we also take heart in knowing that, once complete, Vallco Town Center will be a remarkable destination, fully embraced and utilized by Cupertino, even its detractors," Moulds said.





Copyright  2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
OAKLAND (BCN)



A former treasurer of a union representing East Bay Regional Parks workers has pleaded guilty in federal court in Oakland to embezzling $490,338 from the organization.



Susan Kyle, 61, was treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2428, which represented the parks employees, from 1999 to 2014.



She pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam to one count of embezzlement from a labor organization as an officer, by diverting $490,338 from the union's bank account to her personal bank account between 2007 and 2014.



Kyle will be sentenced by Gilliam on Feb. 4 and could face up to five years in prison, as well as an order for restitution.





Copyright  2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
MOUNTAIN VIEW (BCN)



More than 500 Google employees in Mountain View walked out of the company's headquarters this afternoon, joined by thousands across the globe in a protest to hold sexual harassers accountable in the workplace.



Organizer Celie O'Neil-Hart yelled, "Time's Up in Tech!" as she read a list of demands for Google executives, including a better reporting process for sexual abuse, equal opportunities for all demographics, a public sexual assault transparency report and an end to forced arbitration, which forces employees to waive their right to sue.



The walkout was designed to support victims of abuse at the company, including those who did not speak today due to fear of retaliation or fresh emotional wounds.



Oralia Alvarado, 27, began working at Google about five years ago as a barista. During that time, Alvarado said she saw cafeteria workers commonly subjected to harassment due to their perceived lower rank.



A man once told Alvarado to lick her lips for him because her lipstick was beautiful, but she said she didn't feel validated until a male employee expressed his shock at the interaction.



Another woman, Nancy, described a company gathering at Google-owned YouTube where she lost her memory after a male coworker asked to switch drinks. She said another colleage saw her being "dragged away by the hand" and helped her. Her manager later told her the coworker could be fired immediately, as long as he held a less important role on the team than her.



Both women hoped telling their story would galvanize victims of abuse, as well as their allies.



Google CEO Sundar Pichai told employees earlier this week the company was aware of the protest and participants would receive support.



"Employees have raised constructive ideas for how we can improve our policies and our processes going forward," Pichai said in a statement. "We are taking in all their feedback so we can turn these ideas into action."



Google came under fire after a New York Times report on Oct. 25 revealed a $90 million payout for an employee who had been accused of sexual harassment. Speakers said today the company was in the habit of protecting itself from legal action by in turn protecting accusers. One man held a sign that said, "Happy to Quit for $90 million, no sexual harassment required."



After the report surfaced, women at the company organized the protest in about five days. Offices in Singapore began the protest at 11:10 a.m., with other protests happening at offices around the world.



"We chose 11, one, or 11:10, because we believe that one story is too many and we've heard thousands as part of this movement," O'Neil-Hart said, explaining that the movement began on internal channels, but quickly grew to more than 60 percent of Google offices across the world.



The protest in Mountain View today ended with a roaring chant of "Time is Up!" following on the heels of similar movements against perpetrators of abuse in Hollywood and other industries.





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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



The State Bar Court of California announced today that a judge has found a San Francisco prosecutor culpable of misconduct for his work earlier this decade in a murder trial in Solano County.



On Monday, State Bar Court Judge Patrice McElroy found San Francisco Assistant District Attorney Andrew Ganz culpable of four counts of misconduct, including suppression of evidence, making misrepresentations, conduct involving gross negligence and moral turpitude, bar court officials said.



McElroy, however, did not find Ganz culpable of two other charges, violating a professional conduct regulation by intentionally suppressing evidence and failing to give the defense documents and reports concerning a prosecution expert witness on DNA evidence 30 days before trial.



The counts stem from a murder case in which 60-year-old Michael Daniels was accused of killing an Oregon woman, 37-year-old Jessica Brastow, at a Vallejo motel in 2012.



While serving as a prosecutor on the case in 2013 and 2014, state bar officials said Ganz hid evidence from the defense. The evidence was medical examiner's opinions and statements.



Daniels was acquitted of the murder in April 2014.



McElroy is recommending that Ganz serve a 90-day suspension and two years of probation. If he violates his probation, his suspension could last up to a year. The California Supreme Court, however, must approve the recommendations before they're final.



Today, Ganz's attorney Alfred Giannini said he didn't agree with McElroy's decision but said that the ruling cleared Ganz of intentionally hiding evidence.



"The most important part of this decision is that Mr. Ganz has been cleared of the accusation that he committed deliberate misconduct in a homicide case... I hope this lays to rest the suggestion that he did something wrong on purpose," Giannini said. "We are considering an appeal but we are enormously relieved that the most serious accusation was found not to be true," he said.



In a separate but related matter, San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi has accused Ganz of prosecutorial misconduct for allegedly misrepresenting a 2015 San Francisco murder case to a grand jury.



In 2017, a grand jury indicted Carlos Argueta, a former attorney with the tenancy advocacy group Eviction Defense Collaborative, on murder and second-degree robbery charges for the stabbing death of 61-year-old James Thomas in the city's South of Market neighborhood, after a judge dismissed the initial charges against Argueta.



According to a motion filed by Adachi in September, Ganz allegedly presented the case to a grand jury with "dramatically" changed testimony from a witness and distorted testimony by a medical examiner during the grand jury hearing.



The motion also claims that Ganz encouraged the grand jury to rush the indictment by instructing them that if they didn't indict Argueta within 20 minutes, they would have to return the following week.



Adachi is seeking to have the indictment dismissed based on prosecutorial misconduct.



"Ganz-a prosecutor sworn to uphold the truth-has now been caught influencing the testimony of a medical examiner and then lying about it," Adachi said in a statement issued today. "The State Bar recognized this and rightly found him guilty of abusing his position and subverting justice.



"I hope that prosecutors everywhere will take note that they will be held accountable for falsifying or hiding evidence. We will no longer look the other way and allow those who are trusted to uphold the law corrupt our most sacred process-the right to a fair trial."





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OAKLAND (BCN)



An Oakland man who was only 16 at the time was convicted today of first-degree murder for the shooting death of an off-duty paramedic in the Oakland hills in 2013.



After deliberating for only one day, jurors also convicted Christian Burton, who's now 21, of the special circumstance of committing a murder during a carjacking for the fatal shooting of Santa Clara County paramedic Quinn Boyer, 34, shortly before noon on April 2, 2013.



However, jurors didn't find that Burton was the person who shot Boyer, who lived in Dublin and had been married for less than a year.



Boyer crashed his car down a ravine in the 5200 block of Keller Avenue after he was shot and died two days later of a single gunshot wound to his head.



Boyer grew up in Oakland and had been in the city that day to take his father to a medical appointment.



Alameda County prosecutor Jimmie Wilson explained after the verdict today that jurors had reasonable doubt that Burton was the shooter because the only eyewitness in the case, a woman who's now 80 years old, identified another teen, Nazhee Flowers, as the person she thought shot Boyer.



Wilson said jurors found Burton guilty of murder under the felony murder rule because they thought he was a major participant in the crime, even if they didn't agree that he was the shooter.



Wilson stressed in his closing argument on Tuesday that Boyer's final words to police before he died was that he was shot during a robbery, not a random incident.



Wilson also said in his argument that he thinks the eyewitness's description of the shooting doesn't match the evidence in the case and the shooting couldn't have happened the way she said it did.



Wilson said the fatal shooting of Boyer occurred during a crime spree in which Burton and five other teens who played hooky from school on that spring day committed two carjackings and a robbery in addition to the shooting.



Wilson alleged that the teens wanted to carjack Boyer's Honda Civic, as he had pulled his car off to the side of the road to use his cellphone.



Burton's lawyer Ernie Castillo told jurors in his closing argument that they should find Burton not guilty because the eyewitness's description of the shooter matched Flowers, not Burton.



Castillo admitted that Burton confessed to police that he was the shooter but said Burton did so only because he was a gullible 16-year-old kid who was worn down by police officers who used sophisticated tactics such as isolating him for hours in a room without windows and lying about the evidence in the case.



Boyer's father, Roger Boyer, wife, Liz Boyer, and other family members and friends attended Burton's trial and Boyer's wife cried when the jury's verdict was announced.



Liz Boyer declined to comment immediately after the verdict, saying she was confused by the jury's decision not to conclude that Burton was the shooter.



But Wilson said he thinks Boyer's family will be happy that Burton was convicted of murder with special circumstances and could face life in prison without the possibility of parole when Alameda County Superior Court Judge Kevin Murphy sentences him on Jan. 25.



However, Wilson said that because Burton was only 16 at the time of the shooting Murphy also has the option of sentencing Burton to life in prison with the chance of eventually being paroled.



This was Burton's second trial for the death of Boyer because his first trial in 2015 ended in a mistrial with jurors deadlocked 7-5 in favor of finding him guilty.



Co-defendant David McNeal, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, was found guilty of first-degree murder in that same 2015 trial and was sentenced to 48 years to life in state prison for his role in the crime, which was providing the gun that was used to kill Boyer.



Three of the other teens who were involved in the crime pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in juvenile court for being accessories and are serving their sentences with the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Division of Juvenile Justice.



Flowers, the person who Castillo alleges was the teen who shot Boyer, pleaded guilty in adult court to a carjacking charge and was sentenced to 15 years in state prison.





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SANTA ROSA (BCN)



Santa Rosa police arrested a stolen car suspect after a chase through J.C. Penney Co. in the Coddingtown Mall Tuesday, police said.



Officers tried to contact Donovan Lee Sweeden, 32, of Santa Rosa outside the mall around 4 p.m. regarding a vehicle stolen on Monday, according to police.



Sweeden allegedly ran through Coddingtown Mall and officers lost sight of him. Police said that about an hour later officers learned from security personnel that he was inside the department store trying to buy a pair of shoes.



Officers surrounded the store and saw Sweeden leave the west side of it on Range Avenue. Sweeden allegedly ran back into the store where a security guard and an officer caught him. Police said the officer suffered a minor arm injury during the arrest.



Sweeden suffered minor injuries and was treated at a hospital before he was booked in the county jail on suspicion of resisting arrest, vehicle theft and a violation of probation.





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Just because there could have been a second shooter doesnt change the nature of the trial or the outcome, Kane County Assistant State's Attorney Mark Stajdohar said. It is the defendant's attorneys right to proceed with the case how he sees fit and how he sees is appropriate as long as he doesnt neglect the case.
And so, just before midnight on the same day as the shootings, Zanis loaded his truck with 11 of his now familiar crosses, as well as 11 Stars of David he carved that afternoon and planned to attach as soon as he arrived in Pennsylvania. Then, just before he left around midnight, Covenant Christian School Principal Phil Lundquist brought over a pile of decorated hearts, made of brightly colored tissue paper and similar to the ones the students from this small private school in Aurora had created for the anniversary crosses Zanis took to Las Vegas in October in remembrance of the mass shooting there in 2017.
For more than three decades, the clubs have enlisted volunteers from the community for the program, which is intended to make the Thanksgiving holiday a little brighter for low-income families in the area, according to Denny Snyder, a Buffalo Grove Rotary Club member who chairs the Baskets program.
A retail center with space for six tenants along Plainfield Road is part of the Petes development, but no businesses are ready to open there yet, Halik said. An AT&T cellphone store, a breakfast restaurant and a dentist office plan to open in the building, he said.
Specialties: My sister is gluten-free. I saw firsthand how difficult it was to be able to go out and eat food. Its really not that hard to make something if you just take the effort to look into the ingredients, see what everything consists of and what your options are. We do a lot of gluten-free, said Modjeski, who grew up in Dolton and attended Seton Academy in South Holland.
I often sit back and imagine a young 18- to 22-year-old Tuskegee Airman flew the same type of plane across the country. The aircraft is a time machine to take me back to what young men were able to do at a time when they werent welcome to do it. That gives me strength to do what I need to do.
The uptick in early-voting numbers in Cook and Will counties appears to be part of a nationwide trend. As of Wednesday, more than 24 million absentee and early-voting ballots had been counted, compared to 12.9 million for the same time period during the 2014 midterm election, according to NBC News, CNN and others.
CANBERRA, Australia  Australia aims to remove all asylum seeker children from Nauru within two months as concerns escalate about their deteriorating health after languishing on the tiny Pacific atoll nation for up to five years.

But Cabinet ministers said Thursday the government is maintaining its much-criticized policy of sending all asylum seekers who attempt to reach Australia by boat to immigration camps on Nauru and Papua New Guinea. Refugee advocates welcomed the change for children, 46 of whom were born in Nauru.

Activists said there were only 38 children remaining on Nauru by Thursday. Papua New Guinea has male-only facilities and all asylum seekers there are adults.

The news was met with mixed reactions from those who remain on Nauru.

Helia, 15, a refugee from Iran, said she was worried that her parents may not be able to get work visas in Australia or lead normal lives there.

I dont know whats going to happen to me if we move, she said. But if we stay here, I still dont know whats going to happen.

She said two close friends moved to Australia a few months ago, and it has been good for them because they can finally go to school, make new friends and go out at night.

But Helia said she really wants to move to New Zealand, if Australia would take up its offer to resettle 150 refugees from Nauru and Papua New Guinea. That way, she said, shed have a better future and be free.

Mehdi, 38, said it was great news that all the kids are being moved off Nauru, and they should have first priority. But he said he and the other adults who dont have children wonder what will happen to them.

We all worry about our situation, what will happen to us, what they will do to us after they evacuate all the kids from Nauru, he said. We are worried, and the situation is getting worse day by day.

The refugees did not want their full names used due to fear of reprisals.

Australias top diplomat in Britain, High Commissioner George Brandis, told London radio LBC that the government expects all asylum seeking children to be moved from Nauru to Australia this year.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison offered few details on Thursday.

I havent been showboating about it. I havent been drawing attention to it. Its been done in accordance with our policies, our existing policies and I obviously dont go into the operational arrangements, Morrison said.

When Morrison took office in an internal government leadership ballot in August, there were 113 asylum seeker children on Nauru. Last week, the government said that number was down to 52.

Australia has all but ended the people-smuggling traffic from Southeast Asian ports since it announced that any asylum seekers who attempt reach Australian shores by boat from July 19, 2013, would never be allowed to settle in Australia.

Pressure has mounted on the government to make an exception for children, but some government lawmakers argue that would only encourage asylum seekers to put children at risk by bringing them on treacherous voyages to Australia on rickety fishing boats.

The United States agreed in 2016 to accept up to 1,250 refugees from Nauru and Papua New Guinea. But after more than a year of screening, only 439 have found new homes in the U.S.

Rod McGuirk and Nick Perry are Associated Press writers.
ISLAMABAD  A Christian woman acquitted in Pakistan after eight years on death row for blasphemy plans to leave the country soon, her family said Thursday, and authorities said they arrested two prisoners last month for conspiring to kill her.

Radical Islamists mounted rallies across the country for a second day after Pakistans Supreme Court in a landmark ruling overturned the 2010 conviction against Asia Bibi for insulting Islams Prophet Muhammad. The charge of blasphemy carries the death penalty in this majority Muslim nation.

Bibis acquittal posed a challenge to the government of Pakistans new Prime Minister Imran Khan, who came to power this summer partly by pursuing the Islamist agenda. He asked protesters not to test the patience of the state.

On Thursday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the government was avoiding the use of force against demonstrators to resolve the issue peacefully.

Bibi remained at an undisclosed location Thursday, where the 54-year-old mother of five was being held for security reasons, awaiting her formal release, said her brother James Masih.

Masih said his sister simply would not be safe in Pakistan.

She has no other option and she will leave the country soon, he said.

Masih would not disclose the country of her destination but both France and Spain have offered asylum.

Also on Thursday, jail officials said two inmates were arrested last month at an undisclosed detention facility for planning to kill Bibi by strangling her. They said the men were still being questioned.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

A female commando who is part of a team of police and paramilitary troops deployed to protect Bibi, said Bibi was reading a Bible when the news about her acquittal was conveyed to her.

Bibis husband, Ashiq Masih, had returned from Britain with their children in mid-October and was waiting for her to join them, the brother said.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 Islamists blocked a key road linking the capital Islamabad with the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Thursday, demanding Bibi be publicly hanged. Authorities deployed paramilitary troops, signaling they could move in to clear the roads.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers in parliament called Thursday for reforming the judicial system and Pakistans controversial blasphemy law  so that innocents like Bibi wouldnt spent years languishing in jail.

Bibi was arrested in 2009 after she was accused of blasphemy following a quarrel with two fellow female farm workers who refused to drink from a water container used by a Christian. A few days later, a mob accused her of insulting Islams prophet, leading to her 2010 conviction.

Bibis family has always maintained her innocence and says she never insulted the prophet.

Munir Ahmed and Asim Tanveer are Associated Press writers.
MOSCOW  The bitter relations between Moscow and Kiev continued their downward spiral on Thursday, as the Russian government imposed economic sanctions against a broad cross section of Ukraines political and business elite.

The Russian prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, issued a decree freezing the assets of 68 businesses and 322 individuals, with the list reading like a whos who of the Ukrainian government. The decree specified that those sanctioned would not be able to repatriate any financial holdings in Russia to Ukraine.

The decree said the step was being taken now to counter Ukraines unfriendly activities toward Russian citizens and entities, a reference to similar sanctions Kiev imposed on Russians earlier this summer.

With economic and political relations between the countries crumbling, the impact of the sanctions was likely to be muted, analysts said. In an echo of the Nixon-era enemies list, the Ukrainians singled out, especially those running in next years elections, generally boasted about being sanctioned.

President Petro Poroshenko, a chocolate tycoon, was not on the list, but his son Olexiy was, along with: the interior minister, Arsen Avakov; the chief of the security services, Vasyl Hrytsak; presidential contender and former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko; and oligarch Viktor Pinchuk.

Ties between Russia and Ukraine have frayed badly since Russias 2014 invasion and annexation of Crimea and its support for an antigovernment uprising in the east. Despite those differences, however, trade had been improving, growing to $12.9 billion last year after hitting a low of $10.26 billion in 2016, the TASS news agency reported. But those numbers are far removed from the 2011 peak, when trade between the countries exceeded $50 billion, the agency said.

Lately, relations have been strained by Ukraines effort to establish its own Orthodox Church, separate from the Russian Orthodox Church.

Vadim Karasyov, a political scientist who heads the Institute of Global Strategies in Kiev, said Russias president, Vladimir Putin, was under pressure from the security services at home to respond to recent Ukrainian moves.

Outright hostility, however, could provoke further Western sanctions on Russia.

He still needs to demonstrate that his position on Ukraine is tough, said Karasyov.

Neil MacFarquhar is a New York Times writer.
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The office noted that while polling places are usually in public buildings, they can change for a variety of reasons, such as for safety issues, construction projects or space constraints.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A chemical exposure incident that occurred Tuesday at the Oakwood Wastewater Treatment Facility in Oakwood Beach is still under investigation Wednesday, according to a spokesman for the city Department of Environmental Protection.

Six employees were taken to the hospital after a chemical exposure incident in the facilitys laboratory, the agency said Tuesday.

FDNY officials confirmed that six individuals were taken to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze at around 2:10 p.m., and that hazmat units responded to the scene.

Neither agency could provide details about what chemical the employees were exposed to or the nature of their injuries. A spokesman for Staten Island University Hospital did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday night.

A spokesman for the DEP said operations at the facility were uninterrupted by the incident.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Muslim Staten Island woman took the feds to court after they seized her cellphone without a warrant at a local airport earlier this year--and won. In a landmark settlement, Customs officials have now agreed to delete any data copied from her phone, lawyers said.

It establishes that citizens have a privacy interest in their cellphone data and that cannot be subjected to unconstitutional search and seizure, said Jay Rehman, legal director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) New Jersey, in a statement to the Advance.

Borough resident Rejahne Lazoja, 39, who wears a hijab, a headscarf, said she was illegally searched after a landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on a flight from Switzerland on Feb. 26, according to a lawsuit filed in New Jersey federal court.

Lazoja, an American citizen, was traveling with her 6-year-old daughter when Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents took her to a small, windowless room and questioned her for several hours before confiscating her iPhone 6s, said the filing.

Agents asked Lazoja to unlock the phone, but she refused because the device contained sensitive religious materials, including pictures of her without the hijab.

CBP held Lazojas device and SIM card for 130 days, never explaining why they were taken.

The filing said the search and seizure without a warrant violated Lazojas Fourth Amendment rights, and asked that authorities delete the copies of the data.

On Wednesday, the CBP agreed to erase the duplicated files, according to a release from CAIR.

Under the agreement, however, CBP did not admit any wrongdoing.

Im incredibly relieved to know that my files and my photos have been deleted, Lazoja said in the statement. After this settlement, I hope others wont have endure the same degradation I faced.

Numerous lawsuits have challenged CBPs deletion of data at the border, but this settlement is the first in the country to secure the deletion of illegally-seized data, CAIR said. The case was also novel under a federal provision for recovering unlawfully seized property.

This settlement is important because it shows the CBP that citizens still have constitutional rights at the border, and that they must abide the law just like any other agency, Rehman said.

In 2017, CBP searched 30,200 devices, up from 19,051 from the previous year, lawyers said.

A CBP spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - A justice has tossed out criminal charges against an Eltingville couple who had a tense standoff with police last year, ruling cops unlawfully entered their home after the pair had exited, thereby nullifying the seizure of a gun, ammo, counterfeit cash and other items.

State Supreme Court Justice Mario F. Mattei said officers recovered the evidence from the Lyndale Lane home where Wendy Rivera and Koran Tarantola lived on April 25, 2017, in violation of the defendants Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Mattei said police are allowed to conduct a protective sweep  a quick and limited search of a premises  if they believe a person posing a danger to cops or others might be hiding there.

However, in this instance, both Rivera and Tarantola had been taken into custody outside the home, and there was no longer any emergency or reason to believe anyone else was inside, said Mattei.

Officers had responded to the residence based on a third-partys call to 911 that Rivera was overdosing inside, the decision said.

The gun, ammunition and fake money were seized during a subsequent search, pursuant to a warrant.

The purpose of the police response to the home, to aid an alleged identified overdose victim, was accomplished once Rivera left the house and was taken to the ambulance, and there was no exigency present since Rivera and Tarantola were handcuffed and the child was in the care of the police, the judge wrote.

The child was Riveras 2-year-old daughter, who Tarantola was holding when police arrested him.

Since the (first) entrance into the home was unlawful, the evidence obtained from that entry must be suppressed, Mattei wrote. This evidence was the sole basis for the search warrants issued, and therefore any evidence obtained pursuant to the search warrants was seized in violation of the defendants Fourth Amendment rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures and must also be suppressed.

The events unfolded around noon when a friend of Riveras called 911 from Tennessee to report Rivera was overdosing inside her Eltingville home, said the ruling.

More than a dozen officers responded, but Rivera, then 35, would not let them inside.

In the meantime, the friend had forwarded police a Facebook photo of Rivera along with a Snapchat conversation between Rivera and herself, which indicated Rivera had ingested 18 pills, the decision said.

An officer testified he saw Rivera at a second-floor window and she was screaming, Im not coming out. Get out of here. I have kids here.

Emergency Service Unit officers arrived at 1 p.m. and began banging on the door with a sledgehammer. They tried unsuccessfully to speak to Rivera.

About an hour later, she opened the front door.

The cop testified Rivera was holding her daughter, and walked out, followed by Tarantola, 43.

Rivera was placed on the ground and arrested, the officer testified.

However, the defense contradicted that testimony with photos showing Tarantola holding the child inside the homes threshold while Rivera was on the ground, said the ruling.

Tarantola was pulled outside the residence and handcuffed because, the officer testified, police didnt know if he was the person overdosing.

The cop testified he smelled marijuana emanating from the home, and he entered with Emergency Service officers to see if anyone needed help or was overdosing.

During that protective sweep the officer saw a marijuana grinder, an empty prescription bottle for another person, and two small, smoked, but extinguished marijuana cigarettes in the family room, the ruling said.

He also saw white powder in plastic bags, but it didnt turn out to be drugs.

Based on his observations, the officer obtained a search warrant. Police returned that evening.

They recovered a 9 mm gun and 10 bullets, seven cell phones, two credit/debit cards issued to other people, five counterfeit $20 bills, a grinder with marijuana and a spoon containing THC residue, said the ruling.

Rivera and Tarantola were re-arrested and charged with crimes linked to the items recovered under the search warrant.

Mattei said there were several inconsistencies in the officers account.

Despite testifying he first saw Tarantola as the defendant exited the front door behind Rivera and her child, the officers search-warrant affidavit said cops initially encountered Tarantola after they entered the home and were walking down the hallway, the judge wrote.

In addition, the cop testified on direct examination he had seen a photo of Rivera.

Yet on cross-examination, he denied knowing Rivera was the woman police encountered at the scene.

And the officers belief that Tarantola might have been the overdose victim belied the 911 call stating the victim was a woman, said the judge.

Mattei said police entry into the home was unlawful because cops never asked anyone on the scene whether someone else was inside, and there was no basis to think so, based on the officers testimony.

Because authorities couldnt prove the protective sweep was necessary or lawful, the judge suppressed the evidence recovered during cops initial entry into the home.

And since the suppressed evidence was the basis for the search warrant, Mattei also suppressed the evidence the search produced on cops return to the home as the fruit of the poisonous tree.

The defendants lawyers hailed the ruling.

When the most conservative judge in the county rules that this intrusion by police was illegal, you can only imagine how egregious the police conduct must have been, said Mark J. Fonte, Riveras attorney.

This decision reinforces the bedrock principle that citizens should be secure in their homes from intrusions by agents of the government, Fonte said. Every Staten Islander is safer in their homes tonight because of this decision. Every Staten Islander owes a debt of gratitude to Judge Mattei.

Mallory Harwood, Tarantolas attorney, called the ruling just. 

The officers who descended upon Mr. Tarantolas family home were mistaken that anyone inside was in danger, unlawfully entered Mr. Tarantolas home, and violated Mr. Tarantolas and his familys rights under the laws that protect all of us, said Harwood. We are confident we would have prevailed had we gone to trial, but Judge Mattei made the right decision, and Mr. Tarantola and his family can now put this traumatic incident behind them.

Prosecutors did not immediately comment on the ruling.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Lands End Airstream will make a stop at the Staten Island Mall store this weekend to mark its heritage tour celebrating the retailers 55th anniversary, and to kick off the holiday season.

Shoppers will be able to visit the Lands End Airstream, parked in the Malls new plaza, -- located outside the New Springville shopping centers main entrance -- from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Its a chance for people to tour the Airstream and see some of our history, talk to people from Lands End headquarters in Dodgeville, and share their stories with us in person or via #LandsEndHeritageTour, said Anna Schryver, spokesperson for Lands End.

Those who visit the Airstream, designed as a traveling Seagoing Duffle bag, will have the opportunity to enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win one of several Lands End heritage duffle bags. In addition, kids can color a Lands End lighthouse drawing. Each child who brings his or her drawing into the store will receive a free keychain tote, plus, Lands End will display the artwork inside the store.

The store will also offer 40 percent off, said Schryver.

In addition, there will be a sign-up for the chance to win a five-day stay in a classic Airstream equipped with Lands End Home products. Theres also a chance to win a $500 gift card.

The first free-standing Lands' End store -- known for its line of school uniforms and casual clothing for men, women and children -- in the New York metropolitan area opened in the Staten Island Mall in August.

The addition of Lands' End is part of the Staten Island Malls 242,000-square-foot expansion, that has welcomed more than a dozen new retailers and restaurants to the Mall.

Were excited to offer products for the entire family to Staten Island shoppers, many of whom have been loyal customers for decades, said Jerome Griffith, chief executive officer and president, Lands' End about the 5,000-square-foot stores opening. The new store is a place where everyone can experience in person our fit, quality and products with a purpose, just in time for back-to-school shopping.

Lands' End formerly existed within Sears in the Staten Island Mall until that retailer downsized its store.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- To hear Max Rose tell it, its Staten Islands reputation of being known as a law enforcement-friendly borough that prompted him to make the move across the bridge from Bay Ridge.

Since his move to St. George nearly three years ago, the borough has already served as the backdrop to some major life events.

In March, just a two-minute walk from their apartment, he married his fiancee Leigh Byrne, a fashion stylist, at Flagship Brewery in Tompkinsville.

And two months before that he kicked off his first political campaign in Port Richmond.

What I think separates Staten Island from any other community that Ive seen in New York City, is that it welcomes vets and members of the law enforcement community with such open arms, Rose told the Advance. My transition was not the easiest. It isnt easy for anyone. You dont feel as if necessarily that your experiences are understood and related to. Youve obviously experienced stuff that takes some time to get over and theres no better place to be a vet than this community."

Taking the stage at the historic Reformed Church in late January, Rose, a 31-year-old U.S. Army combat veteran, told the crowd that he quit his job to challenge Rep. Dan Donovan because the former prosecutor as well as Democrats and Republicans in Washington have failed them.

Democrats need to go back to being Democrats again. We need to be proud of what we stand for. We need to think big again. And we need to do the right thing no matter what the political consequences, said Rose. "And most importantly we need to regain voters' trusts, because weve lost it.

HIS SERVICE IN THE MILITARY

Rose -- who last worked as chief of staff of a health care non-profit with 800 employees and a presence in every borough -- often tells voters that he learned that government can put partisanship aside and solve important issues. He learned that In April 2013, when the then-26-year-old Army first lieutenant was knocked unconscious after his platoons Stryker combat vehicle drove over a roadside bomb in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan.

Rose woke up bleeding profusely from his head and had a gash on his right knee; he was hospitalized for 10 days. He later earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

A two-star general comes up to me and he says: Son, five years ago youd be dead,''' Rose, whos an infantry commander in the National Guard, recalled.

Thats because Congress, as Rose said, got their act together and supplied Strykers with armor designed to withstand explosive attacks. Rose says he wants to do the same if elected to represent New Yorks 11th congressional district.

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY AND POLICY POSITIONS

Donovan, a Republican lawmaker in a Trump-friendly borough, has already handedly beat back two Democratic challengers.

But in a mid-term election year that appears set to be a referendum on President Trump, Rose, who rarely wears a tie, doesnt come off as the usual NY-11 Democratic challenger.

Since he kicked off his campaign, he has rejected some of the more liberal policy ideas that have emerged, even while he was embroiled in a six-way Democratic primary and several of his opponents were touting Medicare for all" promises.

If you ask him why, hell tell you in great detail.

He believes the only way to tackle the opioid epidemic is through a 21st-century version of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act, which improved care for low-income, uninsured and underinsured people with AIDS as well as provide drug assistance for nearly a third of HIV-infected patients.

He also supports passing a federal infrastructure bill to finish expanding the Staten Island Expressway, build a light rail, and expand ferry service.

In hopes of controlling rising premiums and deductibles, the former health care executive also wants to create a public health care option so no county has only one insurer and give the government the authority to negotiate the price of all medical services.

His Army-green lawn signs and campaign literature signal that Roses campaign is emphasizing his status as a veteran, but he comes across as policy-focused and relishes delving into the weeds of why he does or doesnt support certain positions.

HIS BACKGROUND

His educational background and work in government already spells this out to voters.

Rose went to Poly Prep Country Day School in Bay Ridge before studying history at Wesleyan University.

In college, he interned for U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) when Booker was the mayor of Newark and even continued to work remotely in his last year of undergraduate.

Rose continued his studies at the London School of Economics where he received a masters in philosophy and public policy.

After his 10-month deployment to Afghanistan he went on to work for Brooklyns first black district attorney, Kenneth Thompson, as a special assistant.

Rose -- the son of a City University of New York professor -- brushes past these parts of his resume and instead credits his mother, a welfare policy and social work expert, for his personal values.

She always held me to a high standard. You want to sit down, you want to talk, Maxie? Lets talk about the issues, said Rose, mimicking one of his mothers refrains. Because there was this sense that you have to serve. And if youre going to serve, then you got to do it right. And if you want to do it right, then youve got to be educated about the issues.

Max Rose spends time with members of the West Brighton Senior Center during a campaign stop in October. (Staten Island Advance/Amanda Steen)Amanda Steen

WHERE THE RACE STANDS

A New York Times/Siena College poll shows Rose within the 4.7 percent margin of error, with Donovan leading 44-40 and 15 percent of voters surveyed saying they were undecided. The political newcomer, who has proven himself to be a prolific fundraiser, has a little over $1 million in his campaign coffers, while Donovan has a little over $250,000.

The two candidates have released a torrent of ads in recent weeks. Roses campaign has put out ads in recent weeks for taking campaign contributions from Purdue Pharma executives (Donovan has since pledged to donate the contributions to Island drug treatment centers). Donovan has sought to tie Rose to some of the more liberal campaign issues that have emerged in the midterms and has a televised ad buy calling Rose not one of us.

Democrats hoping to flip the seat added Rose to the national Red-to-Blue program, which provides resources and support for candidates, but major political forecasters all mark the race as Lean Republican or Likely Republican.

The general election is on Nov. 6.
We had a broker for over a year, if not two, without any progress whatsoever, she said. If we are looking to sell our portion were going to look for uses that are compatible with the township or do not negatively impact township operations because we want to be a good partner.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Cops say a 64-year-old man drove his car off the road after he suffered a medical episode late Wednesday night in Mariners Harbor.

The unidentified individual was traveling south on South Avenue toward Amador Street when car veered to the right into the woods that run along the street.

A police spokesman said he suffered a medical episode, but could not provide the nature of the episode. EMS transported the man to Richmond University Hospital in West Brighton in critical condition, the spokesman said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- No matter how qualified a candidate for political office, he or she should not go unchallenged by a major party opponent in a general election.

We are dismayed that candidates go unchallenged all too often on Staten Island. This year, four major party candidates face minor party challenges, or none at all. With all due respect to those minor parties and their candidates, they rarely have impact with the electorate. Its a shame it is that way because its a good way to get new blood into our politics. But lack of infrastructure within their own campaign, lack of money, and the electorates focus on the two major parties often negates their effort.

Meanwhile, the judicial elections this year are just another example of a supposedly non-political race marred by politics. Two candidates on the Democratic line  Anthony Catalano and Orlando Marrazzo  were removed from the ballot because of a paperwork snafu by the Democrats. And what makes the situation even worse is the in the court ruling removing them, it was noted the paperwork work foul-up need not have been a fatal defect. But the Democratic Party did nothing to try to fix the problem after it was discovered."

Why? You got us.

Given all that, we do have strong candidates seeking office.

South Shore Assembly: Michael Reilly

Republican Michael Reilly is the best choice to represent his district in the New York State Assembly. We endorsed him in the primary and endorse him now in his race against Republican Glenn Yost, who is running on the Reform Party line. Yost lost to Reilly in the primary.

Like Yost, now an attorney, Reilly is retired NYPD but made his mark as president of Staten Islands Community Education Council. Whether at public meetings or through his strong social media presence, Reilly has tackled education issues like battling Common Core, pushing school safety and fighting cyber-bullying.

We endorse Michael Reilly.

East Shore Assembly: Nicole Malliotakis

Her opponent maintains that Republican Nicole Malliotakis doesnt serve her districts needs. With all due respect to Adam Baumel, the opponent, he doesnt know of what he speaks.

Malliotakis has served the East Shore of Staten Island extraordinarily well and with a passion. That passion drove her to challenge Mayor Bill de Blasio in a mayoral race most knew she couldnt win. But she did it because of her deep belief that Staten Island  and frankly, the rest of New York -- is not being served well by this mayor. She made no secret of her criticisms.

She is relentless in her push for property tax reform. She had no problem standing up to the likes of Shelly Silver, the former Democratic speaker of the state Assembly, and was proven right when Silver was arrested on federal corruption charges. Although representing just a portion of Staten Island, Malliotakis fights for the entire borough. Staten Island is fortunate she has chosen public service and the East Shore could not have a better representative in Albany.

We endorse Nicole Malliotakis.

State Senate: Diane Savino

Staten Island seemed not-all-that-concerned that Democrat Diane Savino was one of eight players in the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) that caucused with state Republicans to give that party a majority.

Six of the IDC members were defeated in the September primary. Two survived. Savino was one.

Staten Island voters were right then. And they should vote the same way Tuesday, returning this savvy legislator to the state Senate by a landslide. She is tough and fair. She knows the North Shore and its needs. She was instrumental in hiking the states minimum wage, legalizing medical marijuana and creating paid family leave.

Her opponent is Republican David Krainert of Brooklyn, a former FBI agent who now has his own financial investment firm.

We endorse Diane Savino.

North Shore Assembly: Charles Fall

In the September primary, the Advance endorsed Democrat Patricia Kane for this seat over Charles Fall. At the time, we felt Kane showed a deeper understanding of issues in her district, primarily because of experience. She remains on the Working Families Party ballot line.

North Shore voters felt differently and chose Fall. We respect that, and after several more meetings with him, we have developed much respect for Fall. Although Kane would make a good state legislator, our choice in November is Charles Fall. He brings youth and new ideas to the job  something we have not seen in a while. His issues are the typical ones  transportation, education and drug abuse. He also wants to see the cash bail system reformed.

We think, once he gets to Albany, his vision will expand and he will be an effective legislator for the North Shore.

Also on the ballot is Daniel Falcone on the Green Party line.

We endorse Charles Fall.

Mid-Island Assembly: Michael Cusick

There is no question: Voters must return the dean of Staten Islands Albany delegation to the state Assembly. Michael Cusick, the incumbent Democrat, has served his constituents and the borough well.

His command of the legislative process in Albany and his dignified, professional approach to public service are unmatched. His good relationship with the governor has resulted the states attention to increased cancer rates on Staten Island and a year-long study in an effort to trace the cause.

His opponent is John Dennie on the Green Party line.

We endorse Michael Cusick.

South Shore State Senate: Andrew Lanza

South Shore voters have a superb representative in State Sen. Andrew Lanza and should send him back to Albany with enthusiasm. Lanza has no opponent in the race, which does distress. But frankly, it would be hard to imagine a newcomer overtaking this experienced legislator in terms of knowledge, fairness and dedication. That said, we still feel healthy debate is important and that is what we missed in this race.

Lanza has shown bipartisan collaboration with Michael Cusick in restoring school bus service for middle-schools, the resident toll discount on New Jersey bridges and legislation to check the scourge of prescription drug abuse. He, too, was with the governor when the year-long cancer study was announced and has a good relationship there as well.

We endorse Andrew Lanza.

The judges

Staten Islanders have the opportunity to vote for two judges in this election. As noted, the Democrats were dealt a severe blow when a paperwork snafu caused them to be removed from the Democratic line.

However, one Democrat does appear on the Reform line.

On the ballot are Marina Cora Mundy, Ralph J. Porzio and Orlando Marrazzo Jr.

Mundy and Porzio are Republicans. Marrazzo is a Democrat. Mundy is a Housing Court judge seeking a Supreme Court seat. Porzio was an assistant district attorney and then a Family Court judge before returning to private practice. Marrazzo is a Civil Court judge currently serving as an acting Supreme Court judge.

All three are qualified. Porzio holds an edge on the Republican side because of his experience in the D.A.s office.

Marrazzo, however, clearly has the most experience and knowledge because he now sits in the Supreme Court.

Staten Islanders, who can vote for two and who want to right a wrong, should vote for one of the Republicans and Marrazzo on the Reform Party line. Its a long shot given the penchant to vote party lines in such races.

But it would make a statement and give Orlando (Lindy) Marrazzo, an ultimately qualified jurist, the chance to serve on a permanent basis.
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Macquarie Group did business with a British hedge fund investor who has been accused by the Danish government of orchestrating a large-scale alleged tax fraud, as banks face growing pressure over a European share-trading scandal.

After Macquarie in September said top executives were among 30 staff likely to be classified as suspects as part of a German tax investigation over a 2011 deal, a hand-written note reveals the bank in 2012 did business with Sanjay Shah, a key figure in a similar Danish tax scandal.

Macquarie Group is one of many banks embroiled in Germany's investigation into a multibillion-dollar tax scandal. Credit:Jim Rice

The bank on Thursday confirmed it had lent money to a hedge fund founded by Mr Shah, Solo Capital, for a trading strategy centred on Luxembourg shares in 2012.

But it said the deal had the approval of Luxembourgs tax authorities, the bank had no appetite for transactions that were motivated by tax avoidance, and added it was not under investigation in Denmark or Luxembourg.
Check your wallets, folks: the Royal Australian Mint has launched a national treasure hunt.

The mint has released 3 million specially marked $1 coins into circulation and people are being urged to check their change.

The Royal Australian Mint has launched a treasure hunt, releasing 3 million $1 coins marked with the letters A, U and S. Credit:Royal Australian Mint

The coins are marked with the letters A, U or S, are date stamped 2019 and have the number 35 to mark the 35th anniversary of the $1 coin (which is on May 14, 2019).

People who collect one of each coin can enter the competition for the chance to be one of eight to win a trip to Canberra with a stay at the Jamala Wildlife Lodge.
Billionaire Gina Rinehart has staked a claim to being the nation's greatest individual taxpayer after her Hancock Prospecting business posted a bumper profit fuelled by strong iron ore prices and the ramping up of new mine operations.

Accounts lodged with the corporate regulator on Wednesday show profit for Mrs Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting Group was $1.37 billion for the year to June 30 up from $1.07 billion the previous year.

Gina Rinehart's mining business performed well last year.

A statement released alongside the accounts showed that Hancock Prospecting paid $860 million in federal and state taxes in the 2018 financial year.

"Mrs Gina Rinehart, personally and through the HPPL [Hancock Prospecting] private group, pays more tax than any other Australian," it says, adding that Hancock was one of the nation's largest corporate taxpayers based on official data.
Facebook has faced so much criticism lately that it's tempting to see its unexciting earnings release this week as another sign of trouble. More likely, however, the company is merely turning into an Apple lookalike, profiting from network effects rather than from disruptive innovation or any kind of residual positive vibe from its brand.

It's no accident that on the earnings call, Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg named an Apple service as Facebook's main competitor.

Whisper it, but neither Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook nor Apple needs to do much innovation these days, Credit:Bloomberg

On the earnings call, Zuckerberg said usage of his company's products was shifting from the Facebook and Instagram news feeds to ephemeral "Stories" and private messaging.

On the latter, he said: "We are leading in most countries, but our biggest competitor by far is iMessage. And in important countries like the US where the iPhone is strong, Apple bundles iMessage as the default texting app and it's still ahead. In countries where there's more competition between iOS and Android, like much of Europe, people tend to prefer our services."
A Canberra university science student accused of cooking drugs in his dorm room has been sent for mental health assessment.

Miles Dorian Whitty, 19, appeared briefly in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday on a charge of manufacturing a controlled drug.

Magistrate Bernadette Boss ordered he be taken to hospital to have his mental health assessed.

He will reappear in court later this month.

Court documents, tendered during the short proceedings, said Mr Whitty  who is studying an undergraduate degree in science  contacted paramedics with breathing difficulties after inhaling noxious gas about 4.48pm on Tuesday.
Police are investigating the murder of little Safa Annour, a two-year-old Canberra girl who died of internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma.

Detective Superintendent Scott Moller, who described it as an absolutely horrendous case, said Safa had been taken to Canberra hospital about 1.50pm on Monday, April 30, and died despite resuscitation attempts.

"A post mortem examination established Safa died as a result of blunt force trauma and fatal internal bleeding. These injuries were caused by another person," he said.

"Police have identified two people responsible for Safa's care during the time she is suspected to have received her fatal injuries."
Mafia drug growers "had a sufficiently strong motive" to assassinate police chief Colin Winchester, David Eastman's defence team says.

Defence counsel George Georgiou, SC, on Thursday said 11 men - with alleged Mafia links - caught in a police sting had all lost money and faced time behind bars on serious charges.

Mr Georgiou used the final hours of his more than week-long closing submissions to explore a possible link between Italian organised crime and Mr Winchester's 1989 murder.

Mr Eastman, 73, is on trial in the ACT Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to gunning down Mr Winchester after he pulled into his neighbours Deakin driveway about 9.15pm on January 10, 1989.

The prosecution alleges Mr Eastman murdered Mr Winchester in an act of revenge after developing a murderous hatred of police due to perceived injustices committed against him.
As parents, we want this evil to disappear. How our most sacred spaces have become open to violence is mystifying and maddening. Still, I hold out hope for our own community to be better and do better, Weinberg wrote in the letter. He was referring to the shooting of 11 Jews at the Pittsburgh synagogue.
A 19-year-old man has been charged with using his room at the University of Canberra as a clandestine drug lab, after an explosion at the student hall on Tuesday night.

Canberra police say they found chemicals, as well as a notebook with the chemical formula of the drug MDMA, in a fourth-floor room at Cooper Lodge.

The man was taken to the Canberra Hospital and students were evacuated for large parts of Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon.

Police said the scene had been contained, and there was no ongoing threat to public safety.
Indian mining giant Adani has scaled back its plans for a massive coal mine in Queensland as it tries to stitch up funding for the project.

The original $16.5 billion Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin would have seen an output of 60 million tonnes of thermal coal per year at its peak.

Adani's proposed Carmichael coal mine. Credit:Tony Moore

That's now been scaled back to an initial outlay of less than $2 billion for the first stage of the project.

Initial output will sit at around 15 million tonnes a year, with capacity to ramp that up to 27 million tonnes.
A Queensland judge has expressed concern after an innocuous push on the bottom ended in a court date for a teenaged transgender woman.

The 18-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of common assault at Southport District Court on Thursday in relation to the 2017 incident at a popular Gold Coast swimming hole.

The transgender woman spent more than a month in the Southport Watchhouse. Credit:File Image

The court heard the woman and another teenaged girl, who were living under the care of the Department of Child Safety, were part of a group on a day trip.

When the younger girl showed hesitation to go through a waterfall, the woman offered to help her through and pushed her on the bottom.
James Bazley.

A hitman suspected of killing anti-drugs campaigner and would-be politician Donald Mackay in a car park in the 1970s has died, taking with him the secrets of one of Australia's most enduring murder mysteries.

Australia's oldest known contract killer, James Frederick Bazley, aged in his early 90s, spent his last years in a Melbourne nursing home after suffering ailing health.

It is understood he died on Thursday morning.

He is suspected of being paid $10,000 in a high profile Mafia plot to kill Mr Mackay, who was shot in the car park of the Griffith Hotel on July 15, 1977, before he disposed of the businessman's body.
"So in essence if a school wants to discriminate, they need to be very clear that they are going to discriminate, that they hold their religious beliefs higher than anything else and that is consistent with best practice discrimination law in this country that's been practiced in Tasmania for sometime now." He said "the market is going to dictate what happens here", and with the exception of a few niche schools, most would not seek the exemption at the peril of losing students. "Frankly there will still be situations where there are hardline religious schools who will seek to discriminate but there are not many of them in the ACT and they would seek to do so, they would have to be public about that and do so at the detriment of their own finances and their own capability to offer an education program," Mr Barr said. If you want to be so hard line and so doctrinaire about your religion that you will exclude anyone who isnt a hardline advocate of that religion, youre not going to find many enrolments in the ACT."

However ACT Opposition leader Alistair Coe said the government "seems to have backtracked more slightly from its more extreme position of a week or two ago". Both Mr Barr and Mr Rattenbury denied this was the case, and said legislation was based on the Tasmanian anti-discrimination laws, which were best practice. But Mr Coe said while the bill was more of a "commonsense approach" in his view, he warned it could have unintended consequences. The way the legislation has been written is a complete repeal of section 33 of the previous Discrimination Act. Section 33 really does allow for religious schools to teach certain things that are consistent with their faith and I think most people would expect if you go to a religious school theres going to be certain elements of that faith that are taught," Mr Coe said.

"By repealing section 33 there is a risk that certain schools may not be able to teach certain things that are consistent with their faith. Whether this was the intended outcome of this legislation or whether it was an unintended problem because theyve rushed it, who knows." However the bill's explanatory statement said even without without the Section 33 exemption the Discrimination Act would not stop schools teaching religious beliefs, as the laws distinguished between direct and indirect discrimination. "While it would be unlawful to treat an individual student unfavourably because of a protected attribute, it would not be unlawful to impose a general requirement or condition on all students even though this may disadvantage a student who has a protected attribute, provided that this requirement is reasonable," it reads. Just-Equal founder Ivan Hinton-Teoh also expressed reservations about the legislation. "While I welcome the government's attention in addressing discrimination experienced by LGBTIQ+ students and staff I'm concerned that these reforms do not go far enough. These reforms may create an unintended and particularly insidious new type of discrimination," Mr Hinton-Teoh said.

"Will students and teachers alike be compelled to define themselves as broken or sinners due to their sexuality or gender identity if they wish entry to the school? Will LGBTIQ+ staff be uniquely compelled to publicly affirm that marriage is only between a man and a woman so that they can teach mathematics or be employed in the school's administration?" Mr Rattenbury acknowledged while the new exception would permit a level of discrimination against teachers and staff, religious schools needed to employ staff whose beliefs were in line with their doctrine. There is no doubt there are times when different human rights come into conflict and they are competing in this regard and its a matter of trying to strike the right balance between those competing interests," Mr Rattenbury said. We obviously looked at a whole bunch of legislative options and the directorate presented us with a number of scenarios, but this one is the one that does strike the balance with the right to religious freedom and the right to freedom from discrimination. Im comfortable this is the right response to the situation we find ourselves in. It respects the diversity of the Canberra community but also clearly underlies the inclusivity of this community."
An ABC journalist has been suspended and is the subject of a two-month investigation following a direct complaint by Malcolm Turnbull's son to former chairman Justin Milne.

Peter Lloyd, a senior correspondent in the broadcaster's radio current affairs division, is accused of leaking un-aired portions of an interview between high-profile presenter Emma Alberici and Alex Turnbull in August.

ABC reporter Peter Lloyd has been suspended pending an investigation.

The ABC told Senate estimates last week no formal complaint had been made, and on Wednesday said Mr Milne never raised the issue with ABC management.

But Fairfax Media can reveal Alex Turnbull telephoned Mr Milne shortly after the leaked comments were published by the Australian Financial Review, and demanded answers.
A parliamentary inquiry into Labors $55 billion dividend imputation policy has been inundated with complaints from retirees about the proposal to strip tax refunds from investors, including one who called it "abhorrent".

The unusual inquiry has received more than 240 submissions and while the vast majority are critical of the proposed wind-back, some came from people who currently benefit from the tax credit and argue that the change would be fair.

Retirees have made hundreds of submissions to a Parliamentary inquiry. Credit:Andrew Quilty

In a sign the Coalition intends to weaponise the issue in the lead up to the next federal election, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg ordered the probe into the opposition policy in September despite inquiries historically being reserved for government policy or broad areas of reform.

Labor has gambled many of the voters outraged by the policy are already locked in behind the Coalition. The change would eliminate a cash refund of as much as $5000 on share dividends for up to 1.1 million voters who do not pay any tax.
Australian war ships will make port visits to an enlarged naval base on Papua New Guinea, expanding the Navys presence to Australias north as concerns rise over Chinese interest in the region.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed on Thursday afternoon he had signed an agreement with PNG counterpart Peter ONeill for a joint redevelopment of the naval base at Lombrum, Manus Island.

Australia is expected to pay for much of the upgrade  a signal of the governments eagerness to hold onto its status as PNGs preferred security partner rather than risk having Beijing step in and fill the role.

This initiative will further enhance interoperability between our defence forces, and deepen our maritime security co-operation, including through increased Australian ship visits over time, Mr Morrison said.

He said the redevelopment of the base - which was established by the US during World War II and later used by Australian naval ships for resupply in the 1950s and 1960s - would more broadly boost the strong partnership with the PNG national government and provide economic opportunities for Manus Islanders.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has a mixed record on foreign affairs so it was important that on Thursday he finally devoted a major speech to the issue.

The reassuring message of his address in Sydney was that Mr Morrison is happy to continue running an independent middle course between the opposing powers of China and the US.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

He avoided backing either side and said that a confrontation between the US and China "risks unimagined damage to economic growth and the global order. Damage where no-one benefits. Lose-lose".

That might seem unremarkable and, indeed, it is what his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull used to say but it was worth stating because Mr Morrison had shown worrying signs of embracing US President Donald Trump's confrontational, anti-globalist agenda.
Academics from one of the Sydney University departments central to a Ramsay Centre-funded course in western tradition has unanimously rejected it as a political agenda dressed up as an academic program.

The English Department is the sixth to declare its opposition to a proposed partnership with the Ramsay Centre, but the most significant because its expertise would likely be needed for a program focusing on important European texts.

A sign from a meeting of Sydney University staff opposed to a partnership with the Ramsay Centre. Credit:James Brickwood

Sydney University is divided over the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation's offer to fund a three-year, great books-style program. Supporters argue it is a good opportunity for students, while opponents say it is an ideological Trojan horse for right wing critics of universities.

The latest letter, which was sent on Thursday and is believed to have received unanimous approval during a department meeting, said no rationale had been given for the proposed program.
Scott Hammermeister, 33, of the 3700 block of North Pittsburgh Avenue, Chicago, was charged Oct. 26 with driving on a revoked license, driving without insurance and possession of cocaine after a traffic stop at North and Prater avenues, police said. Police said he was pulled over for talking on his cellphone and also cited for that offense. He is to appear for a hearing Nov. 20 in Maybrook Court.
Regular readers know that Ive been very positive about the Chinese One Belt One Road initiative to the point of spending time with Professor Wang Yiwei of the Renmin University in Beijing where he is the director of the Centre for European Studies. Hes written two books on One Belt One Road in which he not only explains the enormous potential for the growth of international trade, he also addresses the suspicions that some hold. He is of the view that healthy, mutually beneficial trading relationships provide the basis for solving any issues that arise between countries.

I agree with him. The way to expand opportunity in any field is to engage and build relationships.

Because of the huge population of China, social media sites like WeChat are used by hundreds of thousands - if not millions - of users. Credit:Reuters

The Victorian government understands this and last week it signed an MOU with the Peoples Republic of China to participate, while our federal government sits on the sidelines. Victoria's Daniel Andrews was the only premier to be invited to the belt and road forum which took place in China last year. The state has had strong trade and cultural relationships for many years and is well positioned to benefit from Chinas inevitable rise to become the biggest economy in the world.

It is already our biggest trading partner and business leaders from Australia continue to plan their operations with the Middle Kingdom. We should be confident enough in ourselves to be able to deal with China as well as maintain our long-standing relationships with Great Britain and the USA.
London: The Prince of Wales said he warned about the dangers of plastic 40 years ago but was dismissed as "out of touch" and "anti-science".

In an interview with Vanity Fair, the Prince said he had felt uncomfortable putting his head "above the parapet" in the Seventies, and said it "seemed to take forever" for people to wake up to the danger of failing to protect the environment.

Prince Charles. Credit:AP

Ahead of his 70th birthday on Nov 14, the Prince said he felt it was his duty to help find solutions to the problems facing humanity, including plastic in the oceans and climate change.
London: A Japan Airlines co-pilot arrested after failing a breath test shortly before a London to Tokyo flight has pleaded guilty to being almost 10 times over the legal limit for alcohol.

London's Metropolitan Police force say Katsutoshi Jitsukawa appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court in west London on Thursday and admitted to exceeding the alcohol limit.

The airline said the co-pilot was arrested on Sunday at Heathrow Airport for violating British aviation law.

Pilot Katsutoshi Jitsukawa admitted to exceeding the alcohol limit.

The driver of a crew bus at Heathrow smelled alcohol on Jitsukawa and reported it to police, Japan's NHK public television said.
A spokesman for the Anti-Defamation League said that before the Pittsburgh shooting, the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in recent US history was in 1985, when a man killed a family of four in Seattle. He had mistakenly thought they were Jewish. There was also an attack by a white supremacist on a Jewish Community Centre filled with children in Los Angeles in 1999 that injured five. More recently, in 2014, a white supremacist opened fire outside a Jewish Community Centre in a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, killing three people. Loading "I'm not a Chicken Little who's always yelling, 'It's worse than it's ever been!' But now I think it's worse than it's ever been," says Deborah Lipstadt, professor of Holocaust history at Emory University, in Atlanta, and author of an upcoming book on anti-Semitism. Lipstadt said she did not wish to be seen as alarmist, because in some ways "things have never been better" for Jews in America. But she likened anti-Semitism to a herpes infection that lies dormant and re-emerges at times of stress. It does not go away, no matter how "acculturated" Jews have become in the US, because "it's a conspiracy theory," says Lipstadt, whose win at trial against a Holocaust denier in England was portrayed in the 2016 movie Denial.

What has changed, say several experts, is that conspiracy theories and "dog whistles" that resonate with anti-Semites and white supremacists are being circulated by establishment sources, including the President and members of Congress. Bizarre claims about Jews have moved from the margins to the establishment. Loading Prominent recent examples include unfounded conspiracy theories about George Soros, a wealthy donor to Democratic Party causes, and a Jewish emigre from Hungary who survived the Nazis. On October 5, Trump asserted on Twitter that the women who stopped Republican Senator Jeff Flake, in an elevator to plead with him to vote against advancing the nomination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh for the US Supreme Court were "paid for by Soros and others". In a rally in Missoula, Montana, on October 19, the President told the crowd that the media prefers to interview protesters who were paid for by "Soros or somebody". Soros has also been accused of financing the caravan of Hondurans and Guatemalans fleeing north on foot through Mexico  another claim with no factual basis.

A day after a pipe bomb was discovered at Soros' home in Westchester, New York, Republican Kevin McCarthy, the House majority leader, wrote in a tweet, "We cannot allow Soros, Steyer and Bloomberg to BUY this election! Get out and vote Republican Nov. 6." Loading Tom Steyer is an Episcopalian and is of Jewish descent. Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City, is Jewish. After more explosive devices were found in the homes and offices of other Democratic leaders and supporters, McCarthy deleted the tweet. Anti-Semitism has also become a charged topic on many US college campuses, with Israel as the detonator. Activists on the left  sometimes including young Jews  call for boycotts and divestments from companies doing business in Israel, or the occupied territories. Mainstream Jewish groups are now branding such campaigns as anti-Semitism. Where to draw the line between criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism is a growing source of friction in many colleges and state capitals. In Europe, Jewish leaders have been confronting open hatred toward Jews, also sometimes linked to animosity toward Israel.

In France, Jews have increasingly faced attacks and insults from members of the country's large Muslim community. In March, an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor, Mireille Knoll, was knifed to death in her apartment by a young man who shouted "Allahu akbar." Prosecutors classified it as an anti-Semitic hate crime. In a 2015 study, 42 per cent of French Jews surveyed said that they had suffered insults or aggressive acts at the hands of Muslims. In Germany, anti-Semitism remains a daily occurrence, sometimes taking on the form of criminal attacks on Jews or Jewish institutions in the country, but often in more casual insults or the questioning of the country's post-World War II commitment to "never again" repeat the Nazi Holocaust. One of the most prominent anti-Semitic attacks this year, in which a young Syrian struck a man wearing a skullcap on the street of a trendy Berlin neighbourhood, led the head of Germany's main Jewish organisation to warn Jews against openly wearing skullcaps, or other public displays of their religion. A demonstration in support of the country's Jews drew thousands of people to the streets, but months later, in the midst of violent demonstrations by neo-Nazis in the eastern city of Chemnitz, masked assailants threw rocks and bottles at a local Jewish restaurant and shouted anti-Semitic insults, the owner told police.
"You don't have to worry about that," he said. Providing no evidence, Trump continued: "They've got a lot of rough people in that caravan. They are not angels." Loading Trump's legally questionable call to revoke birthright citizenship through a unilateral executive order has drawn opposition from House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. - prompting a presidential rebuke Wednesday, delivered via Twitter - as well as rejections from House Republicans in competitive reelection contests, such as Reps. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., and Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla. But another Republican candidate in a closely contested House race, Maria Elvira Salazar, said Wednesday that the clause of the 14th Amendment that provides the constitutional underpinning for birthright citizenship "needs to be reviewed," according to the Miami Herald. "I think the president is saying what I think my community shares, the fact that we do not want abuses," said Salazar, who is running for election in the district that is being vacated by retiring congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla. - and that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in 2016 by 19 percentage points. "The Constitution says very clearly that those that are born here are citizens, but we need to see to what extent."

On the Democratic side, Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., a moderate running for reelection in a conservative state, appeared to leave the door open to legislation that would end birthright citizenship, the concept that nearly anyone born on American soil is automatically a citizen of the United States. "We have to take a look at that legislation," Donnelly said during a debate on Tuesday evening about a bill that would revoke the right, adding, "I'd want to see that legislation and make sure it was constitutional and review it first." Asked about those comments on Wednesday, Donnelly's campaign released a statement from the senator saying the 14th Amendment is "clear" - and "what's also clear is that our immigration system is broken." "As I have done in the past, I will work with both parties to find a solution that secures our borders and fixes our broken immigration laws," Donnelly said. But Donnelly is far from the lone Democratic Senate candidate in recent days to adopt immigration stances that seem almost Trumpian in nature.

In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Sen Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., urged Trump to "use every tool he has at his disposal" to halt the caravan of migrants travelling north to the United States, adding, "I 100 percent back him up on that." Calling for a speedier process for migrants seeking asylum, McCaskill said, "I do not want our borders overrun, and I support the president's efforts to make sure they're not." And in Tennessee, Democrat Phil Bredesen released an ad Tuesday that promoted his decision as governor more than a decade ago to deploy 1,600 members of the Tennessee National Guard to the southern border. That ad was accompanied by an op-ed in the Tennessean that warned both parties against using the caravan issue to "inflame passions" over the sensitive topic. "Actions speak louder than words," the ad says. "In 2006, when the president said he needed help to secure the border, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen didn't wait to be asked. And he didn't play any politics." Immigration has become an increasingly central issue for the GOP in other closely watched Senate races. A CNN poll released Wednesday showed that immigration is now the top issue for Republican voters in Nevada and Arizona, with 42 percent of Republicans in Nevada now saying immigration is the most important issue in their Senate vote, while 50 per cent in Arizona say the same.

In Tennessee, immigration has risen to the second-most-important issue for voters there in internal Republican polling, according to one official with knowledge of the numbers. "I'm not surprised to see the scramble [among Democrats]. I think at this stage, it's a little inauthentic," said GOP strategist Josh Holmes, a former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Immigration "has a significant resonance within the base of the Republican Party, but it has more independent pull than one would think." The contrast between the parties has become sharper this year, Holmes added, particularly as leading Democratic politicians increasingly embraced liberal positions on immigration, such as abolishing the federal agency that enforces U.S. immigration laws. Tyler Moran, the director of the Immigration Hub, which advises a wide range of progressive organisations on immigration policy, said that the moderates taking a more conservative tack on immigration were the outliers and that congressional and gubernatorial candidates nationwide were largely "rejecting Trump's strategy of lies and division." "First of all, every single one of those Democrats voted for immigration reform," said Moran, who worked on immigration issues under then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and in the Obama White House. "Yes, in their tough races, I wouldn't agree with the way they're approaching this. But we have a big-tent approach to immigration."
To: The Council of Ministers of Sint Maarten

C/o The Honorable Prime Minister Mrs. Leona Romeo-Marlin

Government Administration Building

Pond Island, Philipsburg

Sint Maarten

Philipsburg, November 1st, 2018

Re: Repeat request for meeting to address: Poverty Eradication, Equality and the Right to Development for the people of Sint Maarten.

Honorable Ministers,

We hereby repeat our request dated August 18th, 2018 for a meeting with the Council of Ministers to dialogue with the Ministers on how we can realize the eradication of poverty, equal rights and the right to development of the people of Sint Maarten, as development priority in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Governing Program 2018-2022 Building a Sustainable Sint Maarten, The National Recovery and Resilience Plan-Government of Sint Maarten, The Financial Recovery Plan 2018-2022- Government of Sint Maarten have not been discussed with the Sint Maarten Anti-Poverty Platform. We would therefore like to dialogue with your Council of Ministers, how the poverty eradication, equal rights and the right to development of the people of Sint Maarten in the Kingdom of the Netherlands can still be implemented in the aforementioned programs.

We would like to quote from the Governing Program that was signed by all Ministers and the Parliamentarians of the coalition: Through consistent dialogue and improved public services, the government will strive to realize a socially and economically sound Sint Maarten.

Awaiting your invitation for this meeting on behalf of the Sint Maarten Anti-Poverty Platform, we remain

Respectfully yours,

The co-coordinators

________________________ _______________________

Mrs. Claire Elshot-Aventurin Mr. Raymond Jessurun

President of WICLU Vice President SMSPA

To: The Parliament of Sint Maarten

c/o President of Parliament Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten

Philipsburg, November 1st, 2018

Re: Repeat Request for meeting to address: Poverty Eradication, Equality and the Right to Development for the people of Sint Maarten.

Honorable Members of Parliament,

We hereby repeat our request dated August 18th, 2018 for a meeting with members of Parliament to dialogue on how we can realize the eradication of poverty, equal rights and the right to development of the people of Sint Maarten, as development priority in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Governing Program 2018-2022 Building a Sustainable Sint Maarten, The National Recovery and Resilience Plan-Government of Sint Maarten, The Financial Recovery Plan 2018-2022- Government of Sint Maarten have not been discussed with the Sint Maarten Anti-Poverty Platform. We would therefore like to dialogue with our members of Parliament, how the poverty eradication, equal rights and the right to development of the people of Sint Maarten in the Kingdom of the Netherlands can still be implemented in the aforementioned programs.

We would like to quote from the Governing Program that was signed by all Ministers and the Parliamentarians of the coalition: Through consistent dialogue and improved public services, the government will strive to realize a socially and economically sound Sint Maarten.

Awaiting your invitation for this meeting on behalf of the Sint Maarten Anti-Poverty Platform, we remain

Respectfully yours,

The co-coordinators

________________________ _______________________

Mrs. Claire Elshot-Aventurin Mr. Raymond Jessurun

President of WICLU Vice President SMSPA
POND ISLAND:--- The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) recently announced that the World Health Organization (WHO) has removed its Zika virus country classification scheme, which categorized most of the Caribbean territories as having active Zika virus transmission.

Minister of Tourism Affairs Stuart Johnson on Wednesday said this news is very much welcome especially as the region and Sint Maarten in particular heads into the high 2018-2019 tourist season.

CARPHA reported that the Zika virus transmission in the Caribbean had been interrupted for over 12 months, or was at undetectable levels, thereby posing very little risk to residents and visitors to the Region.

This was matched by data shared with CARPHA by Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States of America, which showed that no Zika had been detected for over 12 months in travelers returning from the Caribbean to their countries, according to CARPHA information.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) took the lead of keeping CARPHA and WHO informed about the impact of Zika on the regional tourism sector.

The Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region in the world.

When Zika was at its height in the Region, there were a number of cancellations throughout the tourism sector across most if not all destinations. I am pleased that the classification of most Caribbean countries as Category 1 (having active Zika transmission) to Category 3 (having no Zika transmission) is no longer active.

I would like to commend regional organizations such as CARPHA, CTO, and CHTA for their regional advocacy on behalf of tourism dependent destinations including Sint Maarten in achieving the removal of the classification system.

This will without a doubt contribute to the safety image of the Region and have a positive impact on the Region and Sint Maarten in particular for the upcoming high tourist 2018-2019 season, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Stuart Johnson said on Wednesday.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The judge found it proven that K.J.C. had called the Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) 911 emergency number and falsely reported that there was a bomb aboard a JetBlue flight.

K.J.C. was also sentenced to 240 hours community service, wherein the event of noncompliance K.J.C. will sit 120 days in prison, additional to the 8 months conditional. K.J.C. will also have 2 years to pay a NAf. 4.500,- fine.

The Public Prosecutor requested an 8-month unconditional prison sentence. In support of the request, the Public Prosecutor pointed out that the airport is the heart of the islands tourism industry and K.J.C. jeopardized the islands image with his careless behavior.

Prosecutor's Office Press Release.
PHILIPSBURG:--- As part of the clubs, Reach 1 Feed 1 initiative, the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset distributed over 130 hot meals to citizens on October 28. Reach 1 Feed 1 (R1F1), is a program created by the club to provide assistance to families faced with various challenges. The program will be carried out every October as part of Rotary Internationals theme, Economic and Community Development.

Members of the club delivered hot meals and cold beverages to citizens in the Dutch Quarter, Pond Island, Cay Hill, St. James and Agreement districts. Present to assist in the distribution of meals in the St. James and Agreement districts were Andy Dutty Sham Polynice-Flanders of Association Swalitainment. Through the R1F1, the club is able to have dialogue between people, communities, and nations in ways that people would not ordinarily have experienced before. These dialogues are key contributing factors in addressing the struggles our fellow citizens are faced with, strengthening communities and nation-building, the club stated.

The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset would like to thank its partners; Pineapple Pete, Diana Gumbs, Quality Food, Les Delices Creoles, Flemings Cafe, Cake House and members of the club for preparing the meals. Special recognition is extended to Mr. Jerry Flanders of A & J Destination Management Company for providing transportation to the club members in order to carry out this initiative. The club encourages the community at large to do their part in assisting where possible, which in turn will improve the islands economy and community.
James Smith, 56, of the 1400 block of Regency Lane, Lake Villa, was arrested Oct. 28 on an in-state warrant as a result of a traffic stop at the intersection of Clavey Lane and Clavey Road in Highland Park. He is due to appear in court in Rolling Meadows on Nov. 21.
Bridgetown, Barbados, 1st November 2018. CIBC FirstCaribbean has a new CEO from today.

Colette Delaney, the first female to occupy the CEOs chair at the bank, spent her first day on the job visiting two important groups of the banks stakeholders  clients and employees.

Ms. Delaney visited two of the banks branches in Barbados, where she is based  Broad Street in Bridgetown and the Warrens branch, a stones throw away from her office at the banks headquarters in Michael Mansoor Building.

Of her plans for the bank, Ms. Delaney noted: I want this to be the bank that offers the best Employee experience and the best Client experience  because I believe the two go hand-in-hand.

Ms. Delaney added that, under her watch, CIBC FirstCaribbean will continue to deepen its client relationships by offering clients a modern banking experience with access to the latest digital products. She noted that the bank is actively working on improving its clients banking experience by simplifying the way it interacts with its clients.

She also noted: We are creating an environment where all employees are able to develop and excel  I mean this in every sense. The level of trust and respect we build with each other and with our clients is what will make the difference.

Ms. Delaney joined CIBC FirstCaribbean in 2013, and amongst other roles she has served as the Banks Chief Risk and Administrative Officer. She was appointed Chief Operating Officer with effect from 8th December 2017 and is a member of the board of CIBC FirstCaribbean.

Ms. Delaney is a banking professional of over thirty years' experience, having begun her career with CIBC in 1987, and previously with National Westminster Bank plc. She holds a Master of Arts degree from St. Anne's College, University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, an MBA from Cass Business School in London, and received the designation of Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in the United Kingdom in 1989.

Prior to joining CIBC FirstCaribbean, Ms. Delaney held the position of an Executive Vice President within Retail Banking at CIBC. She is a former Director of the Canadian Payments Association and Acxsys Corporation. She was also a Director of Skills for Change, a non-profit organization helping newcomers to Canada.

Over the past several weeks, Ms. Delaney has been visiting the other markets where the bank operates meeting with Employees and clients to talk about their business and to hear their thoughts on the banks operations.
HID Global hails the renewed promise of mobile access

Its been almost exactly a decade since HID Global launched the world's first university pilot of smartphones carrying secure mobile IDs. A lot has changed in the following 10 years. Todays technology has matured, advanced, and proliferated across a variety of high-value use cases. To catch up on the latest developments in mobile access, we contacted Luc Merredew, Product Marketing Director, Physical Access Control, at HID Global. Q: What has changed since the first pilot implementation of smartphones used for secure mobile identification? Merredew: One of the biggest milestones several years ago was when mobile access solutions achieved certification to the ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System (ISMS) standard. With increasing awareness of cloud-based security threats and resulting high expectations from a solution, todays system owners, operators, and users insist on companies being able to demonstrate that they have had their services vetted by independent laboratories and/or agencies. When adopting mobile access solutions that maximise convenience and efficiency, and deliver dramatically improved user experiences, it is neither necessary nor acceptable to compromise security in either the physical or digital domains. Q: Do universities continue to be the biggest users? Mobile IDs on devices eliminate person-to-person credentials when accessing secured areas Merredew: The use cases have grown dramatically, spread evenly across all types of organisations in locations ranging from high-rise buildings to multi-campus global enterprises. But yes, universities continue to be big adopters, and they were among those most eager to leverage the technology so they could bring people back to campus in person during the pandemic. In this environment, mobile IDs on smartphones and other devices eliminate person-to-person credential (e.g., badge or ID card) issuance or revocation, as well as the need to physically touch cards, readers, or keypads when accessing secured areas. Q: How were mobile IDs employed by your customers as they brought people back to physical locations after the pandemic shutdown? Merredew: One example is Vanderbilt University, where the challenges of COVID-19 brought renewed attention to the importance of a modern system for identity management and access control that was compatible with Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth technologies. Members of the campus community could more conveniently access buildings and services with their mobile devices, and the university could efficiently provision and de-provision credentials remotely without person-to-person contact. More recently, Vanderbilt leveraged HID Mobile Access to deploy campus IDs on iPhone and Apple Watch through Apple Wallet. Q: Is there another example outside the university vertical? Merredew: Another example is the iconic tower Arcos Bosques Torre 1 in Mexico City, where the owners and tenants enjoy the simplicity of using their trusted mobile devices to seamlessly access their spaces. As with the Vanderbilt deployment, the drive for operational efficiency and convenience in the tower was combined with a desire to minimise the need for users to come in physical contact with the system. Having a solution like HID Mobile Access that delivers touchless entry and increased safety and security is important. Q: What have been the biggest mobile access advancements? The mobile credential provides contactless, seamless access to a wide range of devices and services Merredew: One of the most important advancements was simplifying upgrade paths to mobile access. In the Vanderbilt example, our HID Reader Manager was used to upgrade the firmware on the universitys physical access control readers and extend support for NFC-based credentials in Apple Wallet. The university uses the HID Origo Mobile Identities API integrated with CS Gold, a higher education transaction system from CBORD, for credential lifecycle management. Another significant enhancement has been the expanded range of uses cases for the mobile credential, going beyond simply opening doors to include providing contactless, seamless access to a wide range of devices and services such as time-and-attendance terminals, cashless vending machines, printers, computers, workstations, and many other applications. Q: Wearables are also having an impact. Merredew: Contactless mobile experiences are also delivered through wearable wristbands. One example is the Nymi band which, once authenticated, continuously authenticates the identity of the user until its removed from the wrist. This delivers zero-trust security principles and access control using convenient fingerprint and heartbeat biometrics to users seeking touchless authentication. Q: What is the impact of the cloud? Merredew: The move to a cloud-based system to issue and manage mobile identity credentials has unified, automated, and simplified identity issuance at a single facility or across any number of distributed office or remote work locations. Q: What should end users look for in a mobile access solution? Look for solutions that use a secure element in the reader as well as cloud certificates, to ensure security and data privacy Merredew: Solutions should support the largest possible number of popular mobile devices  in HIDs case, this includes more than 250. Look for solutions that use a secure element in the reader, and a secure key management process, as well as cloud certificates, to ensure both security and data privacy. Make sure the solution supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC), and both iOS and Android operating systems. Solutions that provide Application Programming Interface (API) and Software Development Kit (SDK) support offer direct access to the solutions access control hardware, speeding deployment while enabling integration partners to continue innovating products that deliver even better user experiences. Q: Wonder what this market will look like in 10 more years. Whats next for mobile access? Merredew: Future innovations are on the horizon with technologies such as Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless connectivity, which HID expects will become ubiquitous on mobile devices. It provides unprecedented accuracy and security when measuring the distance or determining the relative position of a target. It is not HIDs expectation that UWB will replace Near Field Communication (NFC) or Bluetooth, but rather supplement Bluetooth and other technologies to provide the assurance, reliability, and granularity of device position that enables truly seamless experiences.
Its not unusual in my experience but still surprising, Vealitzek said. He didnt mean it this way, but it had the effect of putting me in my place. It says its your looks that matter, not whats coming out of your mouth or my candidacy.
Georgetown, SC (29440)

Today

Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 61F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 42F. Winds light and variable.
State Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, a Republican from Georgetown and a 2004 graduate of The Citadel, wrote a letter to the historic military college's Board of Visitors on Sept. 2 demanding that Chairman Fred Price step down. Provided
In the most recent meeting of the National Space Council on Oct. 23, officials discussed how to implement a proposed new branch of the military called the Space Force. And over and over, they've pointed to the long history of American military leadership in space as justification for the organizational need.

It's a history that some space fans don't even realize exists. But when, for example, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence argues for the Space Force by saying that space has always been a military realm, he's portraying history accurately and isn't confessing to a violation of international treaties.

Let's start from the beginning  literally, with the earliest days of space exploration. When the U.S. launched its first satellites, there was no NASA. Instead, the Army, the Air Force and even the Navy were all thinking about space. "The bottom line point is that the military has been involved in space activities since there were space activities," John Logsdon, a space historian at George Washington University, told Space.com. To reduce interbranch bickering, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to oversee all military space work. [What Is the US Space Force?]

But Eisenhower was also talked into creating a separate civilian agency  what became NASA. And if you've heard plenty about NASA's work, even its geopolitical Apollo program, but not so much about DARPA's, that's not surprising. "Well, in a sense it was on purpose, to have on one hand an open civilian agency doing things that the country could brag about, while at the same time on the other side you were doing national security things that you didn't talk about," Logsdon said. "NASA was a very effective way of shifting the attention to the civilian side."

Explorer-1, the first U.S. satellite, was launched by the Army before NASA was established. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Instead, it's designed to pull together all the work different branches of the military do in space, from watching for missile deployments to monitoring spacecraft put into orbit. "Space has from the start been militarized, but so far not overtly weaponized," Logsdon said. "There is maybe not a bright bold red line, but a somewhat fuzzy line that has not yet been crossed."

That fuzzy line is established by the Outer Space Treaty, which went into effect in 1967 and which allegedly governs how militaries can behave in space  but actually leaves plenty of wiggle room. It outlaws a couple of very specific actions: No lofting weapons of mass destruction into orbit, for example, and no putting nuclear weapons on celestial bodies like the moon.

But the treaty's provisions aren't as clear-cut as one might like. What about putting weapons of mass destruction in space without fully achieving orbit? What about weapons that wouldn't cause mass destruction? How much destruction even counts as mass destruction?

"There's a difference, at least legally, between militarizing something and weaponizing something," Michael Dodge, a space lawyer at the University of North Dakota, told Space.com. "This is actually a very long debate that's been had in the halls of space law for decades." [XS-1: A US Military Space Plane in Pictures (Gallery)]

And the matter is muddled even further by the fact that the vast majority of satellites in orbit around Earth have both military and civilian purposes  about 95 percent of satellites are so-called dual use, according to Johnson-Freese. Those include some very familiar examples. "The GPS system is technically a military asset," Dodge said. "They just share it with the rest of the world; they don't technically have to do that." And the military uses data and services provided by civilian satellites in return.

The overlap goes beyond satellite data. Consider a spacecraft that can maneuver itself (not just to retain its altitude), an ability that could have perfectly valid civilian purposes, but also means it could theoretically be directed to collide with another spacecraft. That isn't banned by the Outer Space Treaty, and it's certainly not a capability countries want to be left without if others have it.

Combine ambiguities in the treaty and ambiguities in the technology and the result is exactly what you would expect. "There's a huge amount of gray area," Johnson-Freese said. "I think there is a very large portion of the security community that is very happy for those ambiguities," she said.

Whether that uncertainty will push space from militarized to weaponized is still unclear. "If you create a full blown Space Force, the people in that Space Force are going to consider ways to apply force in space or from space," Logsdon said. "There is a school of thought that says that continuing to treat space as a sanctuary free from armed conflict is kind of a fool's errand, that every other arena for human activity  land, sea, air  has been weaponized, and the idea that you can indefinitely keep space from being weaponized is naive."

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. Original article on Space.com.
After guiding us across the universe, astrophysicist and Space.com columnist Paul Sutter closes his basic astronomy series this week by looking at the arguments for and against the existence of quark stars.

In Episode 12 of the Facebook Watch series "Ask a Spaceman," Sutter continues to explore the topic of these stars, finishing a miniseries that began with Episode 10 and Episode 11. Scientists haven't observed quark stars yet, but the objects may exist. Such a star would be a leftover remnant of a star that exploded and would be packed even more densely than a neutron star; the quark star would have such strong gravity that fundamental particles in the core, such as protons and neutrons, would break down into their constituent parts, called quarks.

"Is there any astrophysical scenario at all that enables them [quark stars] to appear in our universe?" Sutter asks in the new episode. At first, he suggests there might be some things we categorized a dwarf stars that are more dense and massive than what physics would suggest. So, maybe we have seen quark stars, but we can't tell the difference between a quark star and a neutron star  they look too much alike, Sutter says. [Supernova Fail: Giant Dying Star Collapses Straight into Black Hole]

Or perhaps quark stars are "out there" but invisible for some reason, because there appears to be a gap between the most-massive neutron star we see and the least-massive black hole we observe. (The "sweet spot" for the existence of a quark star appears to be two to three times the mass of the sun, Sutter says.) Further, perhaps we haven't been doing telescopic astronomy long enough to see quark stars, which might be extremely rare, he says.

It's also difficult to predict how to put a quark star together. As Sutter explained in Episode 11, quarks come in six "flavors": up, down, top, bottom, strange and charm. Protons and neutrons are made up of up and down quarks, but if you were to build a quark star out of these quarks, that star would be unstable. Quark stars would stabilize with the addition of strange quarks, but strange quarks are not very common in the universe. It's unclear if the universe has produced enough strange quarks to make quark stars possible, Sutter said.

Sutter closes the latest episode by suggesting about quark stars, "Maybe nature just doesn't make them, because nature isn't as interested as we are." To learn more about quark stars, you can check out Sutter's column about them.

To see all the episodes of the "Ask a Spaceman" Facebook Watch series, check out (and maybe "like") the Facebook page for the show. Sutter also responds to reader questions in every episode. Check the page to learn more about past topics the show has covered, such as the Big Bang, Pluto and galaxy collisions.

Sutter is a cosmologist at The Ohio State University and chief scientist at Columbus Ohio's Center of Science and Industry. He has a long-running podcast, also called "Ask a Spaceman." You can catch all past episodes of that podcast here.

Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Original article on Space.com.
An artist's depiction (not to scale) of the Lucy spacecraft visiting the Trojan asteroids near Jupiter.

A NASA mission designed to study a whopping seven different asteroids in one shot has officially been given a schedule and budget by the agency after successfully passing a crucial review.

That mission, called Lucy, is now due to launch in October 2021, when it will begin a 12-year flight through the solar system. Along the way, it will visit one object in the asteroid belt and six different asteroids in the clumps that precede and follow Jupiter, called Trojan asteroids.

"Up until now this mission has entirely been on paper," Hal Levison, an astronomer at the Southwest Research Institute and principal investigator of the Lucy mission, said in a NASA statement. "Now we have the go ahead to actually cut metal and start putting this spacecraft together."

The mission takes its name from a famous female fossil specimen of Australopithecus afarensis, an early relative of humans. The name was chosen based on scientists' hopes that studying these asteroids will shine light on the earliest days of our solar system.

That's because Lucy will swing by a stunning variety of solar-system artifacts. First, in 2025, it will stop by the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Then, it will continue on toward Jupiter, which orbits the sun smack between two clumps of Trojan asteroids. Between 2027 and 2033, Lucy will fly by six different asteroids, including three different subclasses and two objects that rotate around each other in a binary pair.

When Lucy finally launches, it will join the ranks of other NASA missions that have sought the mysteries of the solar system within asteroids, including the Dawn mission, which is ending its journey at dwarf planet Ceres, and the OSIRIS-REx mission, which is just now reaching an asteroid called Bennu.

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. Original article on Space.com.
In this recent view of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, the 96-foot line-feed antenna that once dangled above the telescope dish is still missing. It broke off during Hurricane Maria and punctured the dish below.

Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory, the second largest radio telescope in the world, celebrates the 55th anniversary of its grand opening today (Nov. 1).

Since it began operations in 1963, the telescope has scanned the skies for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence and potentially dangerous near-Earth asteroids. It even made a cameo in the James Bond movie "GoldenEye."

The observatory suffered some damages when Hurricane Maria pummeled the site, and it may have lost its "new telescope smell" over the decades. But the telescope is up and running and still accomplishing plenty of science, and some new upgrades will soon expand the telescope's capabilities. However, the repair work is still far from done. [The Arecibo Observatory: Puerto Rico's Giant Radio Telescope in Photos]

Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm on Sept. 20, 2017. The storm destroyed much of the island and inflicted damages on the radio telescope's 1,000-foot (305 meters) dish. A large line-feed antenna that hung high above the dish broke off completely. While science operations resumed shortly after the hurricane, it will take another four years to complete the $14.3 million repair job, Francisco Cordova, the director of the observatory, told Space.com in an email.

"We have performed most of the immediate repairs needed to sustain operations," Cordova said. "These include debris-cleanup activities, repair of the primary reflector panels damaged/punctured during the hurricane, inspection and cleaning of the rim wall surrounding the primary reflector," and repairing damages to other buildings at the observatory, he said. Meanwhile, the observatory is also being fortified to prepare for any additional catastrophic storms that could hit Puerto Rico in the future.

"That being said, there is still a lot to be done, in particular for more-complex scientific equipment," he said. One of the big repairs still pending is the replacement of the big line feed that broke off during the hurricane.

Although the 96-foot (29 m) antenna might have looked like one of the most important components of the radio telescope because of its size, but losing it hasn't affected the observatory's science capabilities too much. "By losing the line feed, we lost our ability to perform dual-beam 430-MHz atmospheric radar observations," Cordova said. However, there's another 430-MHz radar feed inside the dome that is suspended above the dish, "so we have been able to maintain a similar capability," he said.

Another priority will be to fix the alignment of the telescope's primary reflector, or the enormous main dish that was damaged during Hurricane Maria when the line-feed antenna fell on it. First, scientists are working on coming up with a new kind of technology to accomplish that task more efficiently.

"In the past, photogrammetry was used for this, but the process was very manual- and labor-intensive, taking over six months just to collect the data," Cordova said. "We are exploring a laser technology that could provide a real-time model of the dish in less than 3 hours." After the team maps the surface of the dish, adjusting the alignment should take less than six months.

The aging Arecibo Observatory, which has received most of its funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) since the 1970s, has been on the chopping block for more than a decade. In February, the NSF announced that it would cut its annual contributions to the observatory by more than 25 percent and that the University of Central Florida (UCF) would take over management of the observatory.

Some researchers who use Arecibo Observatory voiced their concerns over the ongoing funding uncertainties during a town hall event at the 50th annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Oct. 24.

"The National Science Foundation has been very generous with the repairs," Yan Fernandez, a principal scientist at UCF, said in the town hall. But now, "the task for UCF is to figure out how to replace that money" that NSF was contributing annually. NASA is increasingly providing funding for radar astronomy observations at Arecibo, which helps, but it's not enough to make up for the deficit. NSF will gradually reduce its funding over the next five years, giving the observatory time to find additional outside donors and partners who can "buy into the observatory," Fernandez said.

While scientists were thrilled to learn that NSF would not shut down the observatory in the expensive aftermath of hurricane Maria, some researchers now worry that the financial burden may fall on their respective research institutions.

Researchers may have to pay fees of more than $2 million for each use of the telescope. This whopper of a price shocked a few scientists at the town hall. However, others pointed out that the funding NSF is taking away from Arecibo Observatory could be awarded to scientists as research grants instead and that other donors may be interested in funding specific research projects.

Fernandez suggested that another way to help Arecibo Observatory astronomers fund their work would be to make the observatory a part of UCF, which is now only managing the facility. If the university owned the observatory, it could get funding from the state of Florida, he said.

An aerial view of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico following the cleanup of Hurricane Maria. The 1,000-foot (305 meters) dish was cleaned for the first time in history after the hurricane. (Image credit: NAIC)

Old scope, new swag

While repairs are underway, the observatory will get some big upgrades, too. In August, UCF announced that the Arecibo Observatory will soon receive a new supersensitive antenna called ALPACA (Advanced Cryogenic L-Band Phased Array Camera for Arecibo). Now, the observatory staff are working on a second proposal to submit to NSF for another round of repairs. That proposal will be submitted in early 2019, Cordova said.

Some big projects that observatory staff are considering for the new repair proposal include "major upgrades to telescope control and transmitter systems" and "infrastructure improvements for better maintenance of critical equipment," he said.

The observatory may also soon get a new supporting cable to replace one that was damaged during an earthquake in 2014. "While it does not pose an immediate risk to the structure, we would like to see that cable completely replaced," Cordova said.

With all of these upgrades and repairs, "our intent is to maximize resiliency while increasing scientific capability" of the Arecibo Observatory, Cordova said. The NSF, which is paying for most of the repairs using disaster-relief money awarded by Congress, will review the observatory's new proposal and allocate funds to the various projects sometime in 2019.

Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Original article on Space.com.
A Russian Soyuz rocket experienced an anomaly shortly after launching toward the International Space Station (ISS) on Oct. 11, 2018, forcing two crewmembers to make an emergency landing. A Soyuz will launch ISS crewmembers again on Dec. 3.

The hiatus in human spaceflight caused by last month's failure of a Russian Soyuz rocket will be quite brief indeed.

Three crewmembers will launch toward the International Space Station (ISS) atop a Soyuz on Dec. 3, Russian space officials announced today (Nov. 1). That target date falls less than eight weeks after the Oct. 11 launch anomaly, which forced the Soyuz spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin to make an emergency landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan.

Hague and Ovchinin landed safely and are in good condition, but they won't fly on the Dec. 3 mission. The upcoming launch will loft cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, NASA astronaut Anne McClain and the Canadian Space Agency's David Saint-Jacques. [Soyuz Space Crew Launch Failure 2018: Full Coverage]

An uncrewed Soyuz ISS mission will precede the Dec. 3 liftoff, Russian space officials added today: A Soyuz will launch a robotic Russian Progress cargo ship toward the orbiting lab on Nov. 16.

The Russian federal space agency, known as Roscosmos, also revealed today the results of the Soyuz-anomaly investigation. The failure occurred about 2 minutes after liftoff from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, when one of the Soyuz's four strap-on boosters (the one known as Block D) failed to separate properly and instead slammed into the rocket's core stage.

"The abnormal separation was caused by the nonopening of the lid of the nozzle intended to separate aside Block D oxidizer tank, due to the deformation of the separation sensor pin [which was bent by 6 degrees and 45 minutes]," Roscosmos officials said in a statement today. "It was damaged during the assembling of the strap-on boosters with the core stage (the Packet) at the Baikonur Cosmodrome."

The quick return to flight will alleviate concerns about how well the ISS can function when understaffed or completely unstaffed. The Soyuz rocket-spaceship duo has been astronauts' only ride to and from the orbiting lab since NASA grounded its space shuttle fleet in 2011.

This complete dependency should end relatively soon. The U.S. companies SpaceX and Boeing are developing astronaut taxis under multibillion-dollar NASA contracts, and both vehicles are scheduled to make their first crewed test flights in the middle of next year.

Hague and Ovchinin will likely get to fly again before those two private spacecraft come online. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said last month that plans call for the two astronauts to launch toward the ISS in spring of 2019.

Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, "Out There," will be published on Nov. 13 by Grand Central Publishing. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us @Spacedotcom or Facebook. Originally published on Space.com.




A'ohe Mea 'Imi a Ka Maka is mostly a standalone episode that has no bearing or connection on the greater show or past revelations of character backstory and motivations. The crimes investigated are secondary to creating an entertaining, creepy tone. The episode might not have the most original set of mysteries, but it is fun.



Buckle up for a spooky ride that starts, as half of all scary stories do, at summer camp. In 1982, young Jerry and four of his friends were breaking curfew to roast marshmallows, and Jerry regaled his pals with a tale of an ax murderer in those very woods. Clearly, the aforementioned murderer was hermit Bo Bradley who lived nearby. Jerrys pals Crystal, Eric (recurring guest star Andrew Lawrence), and Ano are bored by his story, which he insists is true. Apparently young Jerry is a little dishonest.That means that no one believes Jerry when he actually witnesses a man cleaning a bloodied ax in the woods later that night. Thirty-something years later, Jerry and his friends gather back at their old camp. Its become a yearly tradition for them to come back to look for the body. Young Jerry was convinced the victim was a missing teenager named Susanna Tumuro who disappeared right at that time. He apparently went to great lengths to search for her but never found a trace. The old camp and surrounding woods are marked for development, so this is their last chance. Thats something weighing significantly more on Jerry than anyone else.Noelani joins them with some specialized equipment to help the search. They uncover a bone, but it is revealed to be canine. Jerry doesnt want to give up, remarking on how some killers have been known to bury dogs on above their victims to ward off discovery. His friends bail, though, as it starts to rain. Noelani has to get the equipment out of the storm. But Jerry remains behind, frantically continuing to dig through the storm. The others return to their cabin and soon discover their keys and phones are missing. (No way I would have left those articles behind!) Noelani confidently tells them she puts her under her pillow. They are gone too. Everyone is annoyed with Jerry, as they assume he trapped them there. Jerry then appears himself, with a cinematic backdrop of furious rain and lightning. He has a different bone..this one is human! Oh, but he didnt take their things.On that note, a man appears in the doorway with a mask brandishing an ax. Its a suitable jump scare. Just as you realize its a bit too cheesy, the mask comes off, and its their fourth friend Gordon. He was late to the get-together and couldnt resist pranking his pals. Their keys and wallets are in his car. Gordon goes to get them. Everyone is clearly still on edge. They are irritated when Gordon comes staggering back, clutching his throat, with blood all over him. Noelani quickly realizes its not a prank. The real murderer has returned. Up to that point, I was completely expecting the murderer wouldnt put in an appearance but they would just reveal him later on a screen or something. They quickly barricade themselves in, but the murderer decides to burn them out. Jerry tells his friends to escape out the window, while he creates a diversion out front. He runs out to face the murderer, only to lose the upper hand. Thankfully, a shotgun blast from the real Bo Bradley saves the day. Jerry and company unmask their villain and see their old camp counselor. (Much like a classic Scooby-Doo episode, he was identified early on in the episode when he mocked young Jerry to a police officer for his imagination getting the best of him.)While Jerry and Friends got their meddling kid groove on, McGarrett along with Tani and Junior worked a disturbing mystery of their own. (Danny was presumably spending Halloween with his kids, but that also means we didnt get a single McDanno moment.) The case of the week is naturally murder. But the twist is that a little girl apparently drew the crime scene and the body before it was found. She tells them she didnt draw the pictures though. Her friend Molly, whom her parents think is imaginary, did. Of course, Molly isnt imaginary, rather the unwilling accomplice and daughter of the killer who turns out to be targeting women who look like his ex-wife. (What if this kid knows so much about the murder because she was there? Steve theorizes after they learn Molly is real. I groaned because that was so obvious.) They are able to rescue Molly, and I did get a lump in my throat when Tani picked up the poor child and hugged her. Mollys mom came to pick her up, and hopefully she can afford therapy.Just when it seemed like this episode would be a complete one-off, Tani gets the call. The gun she found does match the weapon used to kill Noriko Noshimuri. As we knew it would, but this does make Adam look a wee bit guiltier. It seems unlikely it was planted so obviously to frame him, but it also seems unlikely he would have left it in such an accessible place. Theres more to the story...hopefully. For now, what will Tani do next? To be determined.I think that, especially with Danny being gone, this episode missed a chance to focus more on the bond between Tani and McGarrett. That would have helped make that ending note more somber, since now she will have to tell him what she found. It could still play out with a solid emotional backbone, but they could have reinforced her internal conflict a bit more.Also, that Sadness/Velma confusion bit was clever, even if it's strange that Jerry would think Sadness first over Velma. He's totally a kid who grew up watching Scooby-Doo!






The Good Place airs tonight at 8.30 on NBC. Do you think the Soul Squad will ever end up in the real Good Place? Let me know in the comments.

After the revelation at the end of last week's episode that Eleanor's mom is in fact alive, Eleanor and Michael take a road trip back to Nevada to pay Donna a little visit. Whilst Eleanor does have unfinished business with one of her parents and is working to get Donna into The Good Place, much like Jason with Donkey Doug last week, their reunion is nowhere near as amicable as what we were treated to last week.The trip to Nevada allows us to see a side to Eleanor we don't usually get to see, a more vulnerable one that allows her to connect more to Michael and open up more about her family and what she wants from the relationships in her life.Elsewhere, in Hungary, the other four are visiting Kamilah's art installation in hopes that Tahani can make things right with her sister, but will Kamilah's superiority complex and Tahani's hurt feelings triumph over Tahani doing the right thing? They very may well do, as Kamilah seems unwilling to accept Tahani's attempts at a truce, leading Tahani to feel a little bit destructive.Their competitive relationship is further explored and given definition through the use of flashbacks, so if you do want to learn more about Tahani's childhood then buckle up. With these last two episodes, the newly minted Soul Squad have come explored some of their most fraught familial/close connections, so it'll be interesting to see what they might do with Chidi going forward, especially with what is divulged at the end of this episode and how that may be dealt with.And until you watch the episode, here are a few of some of the funny lines in
STAMFORD  Students at Westover Magnet Elementary School had a term for the shifting of classrooms that has dominated the school year: getting molded.

As mold has spread throughout the Stillwater Avenue school, classrooms have shut down one-by-one until the Board of Education made the decision this week to close the school until next Wednesday at the earliest to allow for remediation and repairs.

But the damage was already done for Westover families who feel the district has done too little, too late.

You claimed a phrase for whats happening at the school, said Megan Duffy, who has a son at Westover. Its sad. It never shouldve gotten this far.

Last week, parents and staff from Westover came to a Board of Education meeting en masse, wearing the school colors, to talk about the effects the mold has had on morale, health and their trust.

The board followed up with an inspection of the school last Saturday which included an air quality control test. When preliminary test results on Tuesday afternoon showed elevated mold counts in 21 out of 90 tests performed, officials made the decision to close school for at least a week to clean the mold and repair facilities problems that have enabled it to grow.

The test results came in at 4 oclock, said Stamford Public Schools spokesperson Sharon Beadle. We cant communicate anything to parents without having a plan for them. As soon as we had a plan, we were able to communicate and we did communicate. ... Honestly, I think we did an outstanding job in rallying the troops to do the best thing we can do in a crisis situation.

On Wednesday, teachers, including union rep Heather Stramandinoli, returned to their classrooms to clear them out. Stramandinoli had previously spoken at an Oct. 23 board meeting, asking for help for the mold issue.

Right now, were trying to do the best we can to come together to prepare to remediate all our rooms, she said.

Parents are also coming together in wake of the closure. A group of Westover families got together in Scalzi Park on Wednesday morning for an impromptu replacement Halloween celebration in light of school closing, according to Westover PTO president Karen Anderson.

Anderson, who has a flexible work schedule and a spouse who works from home, said the decision to cancel school is inconvenient, but necessary given the gravity of the situation.

I was very glad that they are just taking this very seriously and doing what needs to be done to remedy the situation, she said. I have heard some parents have complained about the lack of notice, but really I dont see what else the school or the Board of Education or the City of Stamford couldve done differently. They had information and they had to act on that information.

On Tuesday night, the district announced parents without child care could send their children during the closure to the Boys and Girls Club on Stillwater Avenue, where they are under the care of paraprofessionals from the district and club staff. However, some parents were unsure about the choice and felt it left too many questions about what students would be doing, who would be supervising, what security is like at the building and how pickup and dropoff would be handled.

Im not comfortable with the option of the Boys and Girls Club. said Gloria Domiziano, parent of two at Westover. I dont just leave my children with people I dont know.

Concerns were also raised about the club also being home to the Alternative Routes to Success program for high school students. According to the Stamford Public Schools website, the ARTs program is an alternative learning program which uses a structured, team-based approach to help students achieve their emotional and academic goals.

Following the announcement, Jackie Pioli, Democratic candidate for the Board of Education, posted a statement on Twitter questioning younger students sharing the space with middle- and high school students who are struggling with social and/or emotional issues and may have violent behaviors.

However, Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Michael Cotela said the nine students in the ARTs program at the Stillwater location were kept in a separate space from the younger students on Wednesday and have since been relocated.

Beadle said on Wednesday the ARTs program was being relocated to the Yerwood Center for the time being due to space constraints. About 135 Westover students went to the Boys and Girls Club on Thursday, an uptick from the 75 students who went to the club on Wednesday.

I wouldnt consider the (older) kids dangerous by any stretch, Cotela said. The big thing is we never want to mix teenagers with young kids for obvious reasons. The program is so well supervised. Not only do we have all the paraprofessionals here from school, we also have our own staff working overtime.

Cotela added there is also someone working the front desk at the club at all times to prevent anyone from just walking in.

According to Stamford director of operations and mold task force member, Mike Handler, the team will provide real-time updates on the task force website. As of now, the group is still gathering data as to whether or not the school may be able to reopen next week as planned, and coming up with backup solutions.

People are rightfully concerned and nervous, he said. Its going to take a willingness to be as transparent as humanly possible, but also educating. ... Im asking for the public to be sensitive to the fact this is not a single decision tree. There are 12 branches that are highly technical.

erin.kayata@stamfordadvocate.com; (203) 964-2265; @erin_kayata
In 1989, the village of Beach Park was incorporated. The goal was to create our own village, so that we could have local control of our own destiny. In Beach Park, there is no village property tax and the village has maintained a balanced budget in all 30 years of its existence. There is a home rule referendum on the ballot for the upcoming election, asking voters to weigh in on the future of the village. This referendum is not about the village suddenly levying a property tax, after 30 years without doing so. It is about enabling the village to better plan for its future, without being heavily dependent on Springfield for already decreasing revenue-sharing.
Only one week ahead of the midterms, President Donald Trump is working hard to turn a few thousand migrants who are on their way to the United States into an "invasion." More than 5,000 active U.S. service members have been ordered to the border, as the president is spreading unsubstantiated claims that "unknown Middle Easterners" are in the caravan.

There is no evidence for a looming invasion or a terrorism risk. But Trump's game of making up a migrant invading force isn't surprising to anyone who has watched populists gain power in Europe in recent years. There's no better way for populists to win an election than by announcing a national emergency that plays into the fears of voters.

Europeans still remember how Nigel Farage, then the British Independence Party leader, unveiled a poster ahead of the Brexit vote that read "Breaking Point" and showed a long line of predominantly male refugees.

Farage of course didn't mention that almost none of those refugees had any chance of ever reaching Britain because the country is not part of the border-free Schengen zone. Only a tiny fraction of the refugees who entered Europe ended up in Britain - with most of them being carefully resettled and screened by the government - while over 1 million headed to Germany. And yet, it was Britain and not Germany that later decided to leave the European Union to "take back control," as Farage said.

Then, there's the example of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. When migrant flows into Europe surged in 2015, many arrived in the central European country - but almost nobody wanted to stay there, given the state of social services and a more hostile attitude toward migrants than in Western Europe. Regardless of the nonexistent threat of being overwhelmed by refugees in the long-run, Orban ordered the construction of a border fence and some of the toughest anti-migrant laws in the Western hemisphere. The strategy worked: Many Hungarians bought into the threat scenario Orban made up and celebrated his remarks in which he claimed that Muslims were an immediate threat to Europe's Christian identity.

It's somewhat ironic since Hungary in fact needs foreign workers and is now trying to recruit non-Muslims from abroad. The reason? Many Hungarians have escaped unemployment or poor social services in their own country and have moved to wealthier countries like Austria and Germany.

There has been a similar exodus among younger Italians who suffered under a youth unemployment rate of approximately 35 percent last year. When the country's new populist government came to power this year, the number of refugees arriving there had significantly sunk. So, Italy's government decided to create some unnecessary drama to bring the issue back onto the news agenda by temporarily preventing its own Coast Guard members from disembarking from their vessel, after they picked up migrants at sea. The government has also cracked down on private rescue operations, arguing that it encourages crossing attempts.

Preventing a few hundred migrants from entering Italy may never have been the point the Italian government wanted to make - as is so often the case in recent years, the domestic message here was the real key to understanding what was unfolding. Artificially creating that crisis has come at a high cost, however. Human rights groups say that the crackdown on rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea has resulted in a surge in migrant deaths, even as fewer people have tried to cross.

In the case of President Trump, careful observers may have suspected a long time ago that he was keen on the European populists' playbook. In 2016, the Trump campaign released a video ad in which a narrator warned of "illegal immigration" at the southern border and demanded the construction of a border wall to stop it.

To make its point, the Trump campaign showed dramatic footage of African migrants scaling the fences around the Spanish enclave of Melilla in Morocco, northern Africa. It conveniently forgot to mention the events in the video took place more than 5,000 miles from America's southern border, just like some of the other facts that went unmentioned as populist leaders made up invasions that never occurred.
This appears in Thursday's Washington Post:

The fact that Maryland Sen. Benjamin Cardin has held public office since 1967, when Lyndon B. Johnson was president, is being used against him, predictably, in his campaign for a third term in the U.S. Senate. Unfortunately for his rivals, none of them particularly qualified for high elective office, longevity has dimmed neither his energy nor his abilities. Maryland's senior senator remains, as he has been for decades, a conscientious, substantive and ethical public servant. He deserves re-election.

Cardin, who served 40 years as a state lawmaker and then in the House of Representatives before being elected to the Senate in 2006, is a resolute Democrat; he has been equally resolute in seizing opportunities at bipartisanship. In the Senate, he has joined forces with Republicans to advance legislation to assist retirement savers; impose sanctions on Russia for human rights abuses; and, most recently, promote a healthy Chesapeake Bay. Detail-oriented, no-nonsense and far less prone to grandstanding than most of his Senate colleagues, Cardin works well across the aisle because he is what he appears to be: Deeply committed to the hard work of legislation and oversight based on the values he cherishes.

Those values are animated by, among other things, Cardin's abiding commitment to human rights at home and abroad. He has served as a co-chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, which promotes democracy in former Soviet bloc countries, and remains a commissioner of that organization. With Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Cardin led a drive to punish Russian officials involved in the death of a Russian lawyer who had exposed high-ranking government corruption. He is now pushing to use that same legislation to hold Saudi Arabia's royal family to account for the death of journalist and Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi. Few sitting senators have been as effective in advancing the cause of aligning American values and policies in the conduct of U.S. foreign policy.

At the same time, he has tended to shy away from knee-jerk partisanship and sloganeering, declining, for instance, to call for disbanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency whose deportation zeal and excesses, as Cardin understood, are exercised at the Trump administration's behest.

That has left his opponents scrambling for traction and unable to make a compelling case for their candidacies in the current race. They include a Republican, Tony Campbell, a lecturer at Towson University who has sought to blame Cardin for problems in Baltimore's school system - notwithstanding the fact that public schools are mainly a local and state responsibility, not a federal one. An independent candidate, Neal Simon, a financial services executive, seeks to capitalize on Cardin's long service by saying he is "part of the problem" in Washington.

In fact, it strains credulity to think Campbell or Simon would be remotely effective in the Senate, given their inexperience. By contrast, Cardin - deeply knowledgeable, thoughtful and effective - is a credit to Maryland.
This appeared in Thursday's Washington Post:

---

The Trump administration on Tuesday took a first step toward adjusting U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. It issued a call for a cessation of hostilities in Yemen, where the Saudis have been leading a murderous but ineffective military campaign that, with U.S. support, has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The Saudi intervention was the first of a series of reckless adventures by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that have harmed U.S. interests, culminating in the Oct. 2 slaying of Khashoggi. Yemen is where U.S. action is most urgently needed to contain the damage the crown prince has caused.

When the Saudi campaign launched in 2015, Mohammed bin Salman confidently predicted it would quickly rout Houthi rebels who had captured Yemen's capital and deposed a Saudi-backed government. Three years later, it is nowhere close to that goal - but, according to the United Nations, more than 16,000 civilians have been killed or injured, mostly in airstrikes by the Saudis and their allies that have struck schools, hospitals, food markets, weddings, funerals and, in August, a school bus packed with children. The U.N. chief of humanitarian affairs said last week that half of Yemen's population - 14 million people out of 28 million - are now on the brink of famine; more than 1 million have been infected by cholera, the largest such outbreak in modern history.

Until this week, the Trump administration had offered rhetorical support for a U.N. peace mission while continuing to aid the Saudi air force with refueling and targeting. A U.S.-supplied bomb killed 40 children in that bus. Now, with sentiment in Congress trending toward a cutoff of all U.S. support for the war, the administration has issued parameters for a deescalation. A statement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Houthis should first stop missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia, and that "subsequently, [Saudi] air strikes must cease in all populated areas."

Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said U.N. peace talks should begin by the end of November and focus on confidence-building measures, including the demilitarization of the border and the placing of heavy weapons under international observation.

That formula seems tilted in favor of the Saudis, but international officials say there is some reason for it. The Houthis, who refused to attend U.N. talks in September, still control the capital, Sanaa, and the port of Hodeida; they might take a cease-fire as a victory rather than a respite. U.N. officials have been seeking to induce the rebels, who have the backing of Iran, to take steps that show they are serious about making peace - as they have said they are.

The Saudis also claim they are open to peace talks. But the regime's maneuvering on Yemen has been eerily similar to that in the Khashoggi case. Following the bus bombing, Saudi officials first called it an attack on a legitimate target; then said it was an accident; then, as international outrage mounted, labeled it a rogue operation, and promised to investigate and to punish those responsible. If the Trump administration is serious about putting an end to this catastrophic war, it will have to find a way to counter the mendacity as well as the cruelty of Mohammed bin Salman's regime.
The following editorial appears on Bloomberg Opinion:

The Trump administration's decision to push Saudi Arabia to bring the war in Yemen to an end and lift its blockade of Qatar is overdue. These were costly misadventures that should have been halted already. Now that the killing of Jamal Khashoggi has weakened the hand of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the architect of both policies, there's a better chance that outside pressure will succeed.

The war in Yemen has been a humanitarian calamity. Now in its fourth year, it has killed at least 10,000, and put 14 million, nearly half the population, on the brink of starvation. It has aggravated the global refugee crisis, divided the Arab world, and hobbled the military forces of the Saudi-led coalition.

The original objective - to defeat the Houthis, a rebel militia loosely backed by Iran, which had ejected a pro-Saudi government from Sanaa - is no closer to being realized. The Houthis retain control of the Yemeni capital, and their relationship with Iran has, if anything, deepened. The Trump administration needs the Arab world to unite in opposition to Iran, and the war has made that harder.

The U.S. provides arms and intelligence support to the Arab coalition, so it has leverage in imposing the 30-day deadline announced by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis for cease-fire talks. It should recruit the Sultan of Oman, who has kept his country out of the fighting and who maintains contact with both Iran and the Houthis, to persuade the rebels to negotiate. And Washington should lead a global relief effort to stave off starvation and disease among the Yemenis.

Many of the countries in the Saudi coalition also joined in the blockading of Qatar last year, accusing it of being too close to Iran. The isolation has had little effect on Qatar's economy - and again, it has led to closer relations between the emirate and Iran. Qatar hosts an enormous U.S. air base and is an important ally. The Trump administration has been quietly urging Prince Mohammed to end his feud with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The White House ought now to speak more forcefully.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia share the larger goal of keeping Iran in check.

Next week, the U.S. will impose crippling new sanctions - the clearest expression so far of the Trump administration's determination to constrain Iran's rulers. The crown prince can prove his own commitment to that cause by starting to undo two of his biggest mistakes.

- - -

Editorials are written by the Bloomberg View editorial board.
Lindenhurst police said an investigation into the Sept. 12 robbery led to Hall, who allegedly entered the Clark gas station at 2041 E. Grand Ave. with his face partially covered with a bandana. He then brandished a shotgun and demanded money from an employee, authorities said.
F ormer Prudential boss Tidjane Thiam is making inroads at Credit Suisse, the bank that employs more than 5000 at its London base in Canary Wharf.

He is battling challenging conditions and lower levels of client activity as he moves to turn the investment bank into a leading wealth manager.

Yet third-quarter profits rose 74% to 424 million Swiss francs.

Thiam told CNBC: I can tell you in a quarter like this, the old Credit Suisse would have lost hundreds of millions Today we are making a profit.

He said market sentiment is fragile even though economic figures are strong. There is a disconnect because the condition of the economy, if you wish, and the psychology, the mindset in markets.

The profit figure was a bit lower than analysts hoped for. Credit Suisse hopes to make a profit for the full year, the first time it will have done so for several years.
O nline takeaways firm Just Eat had no appetite on Thursday to discuss whether it will be hit by the governments new tech tax, and instead cheered higher sales.

The FTSE 100 firm made no mention of the digital services tax, unveiled in Mondays budget, which is targeting online giants that generate annual revenues of more than 500 million. Some analysts have said that could mean a 2% revenue tax for Just Eat.

Just Eat said its third-quarter sales rose 41% to 195.3 million. Year-to-date revenues are up 44% to 553.7 million. Shares rose 32.4 p to 640p.

Italian, Chinese and Indian were the most popular orders in the UK.

The firm also benefited from the inclusion of rival HungryHouse which it took over this year.

Chief executive Peter Plumb said investments in delivery and data are making it easier for customers to order from a widening choice.
J ohn Stuart Mill stands among the greatest and most optimistic champions of freedom who lived. As long ago as 1859, he wrote: The time, it is to be hoped, is gone by when any defence would be necessary of the liberty of the press as one of the securities against corrupt or tyrannical government.

Sadly, the argument that Mill thought settled is still raging in many parts of the world. This year, 62 journalists have been murdered and hundreds more locked up for no offence save doing their jobs. The appalling killing of Jamal Khashoggi on October 2 provides more evidence of the risks that many journalists are forced to run.

Defending a free media must therefore be a central element of British foreign policy, in keeping with our countrys role as an invisible chain linking the nations that share our values.

I write as a politician and, like many in my profession, I do not always enjoy reading what the newspapers say about me. The media sometimes make mistakes and journalists, being human, are not beyond hyperbole and excess. But none of us would wish to live in a country where newspapers are muzzled or controlled. A media willing and able to investigate wrongdoing, expose failures and criticise the mighty, provides one of the strongest defences against corruption and arbitrary state power.

The Foreign Office has always sought to encourage good governance and defeat corruption. Promoting a free media is an essential part of achieving both goals. This is not mere assertion or guesswork. Hard evidence shows a striking overlap between the countries with the least corruption and the countries with the freest media.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt / Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament

If you take the 10 cleanest nations in the world, as ranked by Transparency International UK in 2017, six of them also appear in the top 10 of the Press Freedom Index.

And the correlation holds at the other end of the scale. Of the 10 most corrupt countries in the world, four are also in the bottom 10 when it comes to press freedom.

It takes no great leap of the imagination to understand why. Powerful people will be deterred from abusing their positions if there is a good chance of their behaviour being exposed. The opposite is obviously true: if there is no risk of being found out by the media  or if you can reach a level where you gain immunity from scrutiny  then the powerful are far more likely to develop the sense of impunity that leads to corruption.

Next year, I will host an international conference in London on media freedom. My aim is to bring together the countries which believe in this cause in order to mobilise a consensus behind the protection of journalists. Britain will be a chain that links the nations who share our values.

"While it has never been easier to publish and receive information, it has never been easier to spread lies"

We cannot physically prevent journalists from being locked up in other countries. But if governments choose to jail them without good reason, we can alert global public opinion and impose a diplomatic price.

British embassies routinely lobby their host governments if serious violations of media freedom occur  and I take up individual cases myself. When I met Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese leader, I raised the plight of two Reuters journalists imprisoned after reporting from Rakhine State, where more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees have been driven from their homes since 2017.

Diplomats from our embassy in Burma attended the trials of the journalists and our ambassador spoke out against the guilty verdict.

We also support media freedom projects through our Fund for Human Rights and Democracy, named after Magna Carta. We are helping to train journalists in Ethiopia, where a new prime minister has promised a more enlightened approach, and in Venezuela, where an authoritarian government has suppressed its critics. We will seek to expand the number of journalists receiving training, including in newsrooms here in the UK.

In the era of fake news and concerted propaganda by hostile states, supporting a free media also means countering the incoming tides of disinformation. While it has never been easier to publish and receive information, it has also never been easier to spread lies and conspiracy theories. Social media offers a malign opportunity to whip up hatred and incite violence against vulnerable minorities.

So Britain is helping to lead the struggle against propaganda and the misuse of the internet. This year, the Government is providing 8.5 million for this essential work in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

All of this serves our goal of promoting good governance wherever possible. Yet, in the end, I believe a British Foreign Secretary should defend the free media, not primarily for reasons of policy, but because this is part of what our country stands for. Democracy, the rule of law and freedom of expression mean nothing unless independent journalists are able to hold the powerful to account, however inconvenient this might be for those who find themselves on the receiving end.

A free media is part of the assembly of values in which this country believes, making us an invisible chain that links together like-minded nations.

One day, I hope John Stuart Mills optimism will be vindicated and there will no longer be any need to defend this cause. Until then, we must do whatever we can to safeguard and promote a free media.
W aitrose often finds itself the target of TV comedians poking fun at the spending habits of the middle classes.

As a successful, self-confident business, it laughs them off. But when William Sitwell, the editor of the magazine it commissions, made an admittedly rather lame joke about killing vegans in a private email, the supermarket had a sense of humour failure.

This was not simply a case of the editor of a food magazine being indelicate about the tastes of some customers. If it was, then the apology he issued would have been enough. Not long ago it would have been.

Instead, faced with a minor social media storm generated by the self-appointed representatives of the vegan community, he was forced to resign .

Mr Sitwell is an accomplished, well-connected food writer. He may have made an error of judgment  this is, after all, the person who asked Jacob Rees-Mogg to be his best man. Thats a joke, by the way.

We suspect this whole episode will end up boosting Mr Sitwells career. So he does not need societys protection. But nor do vegans.

They are not an oppressed minority. They do not suffer abuse and discrimination because of their gender, sexual orientation, race or physical ability. They are just people who choose not to consume animal products, just as some people do the opposite.

Mr Sitwell engaged in free speech not hate speech.

Speech is only free if you are allowed to say things which others dont agree with or find amusing. Just because someone chooses to take offence at something someone says doesnt mean it cannot be said.

Its time to recover a sense of proportion, and remember the value of freedom.

If we dont, then the world were creating will not look very funny at all.

A new city in the East

If you spent half-term in the crowds at the Natural History or Science museums, youll also have visited Albertopolis.

Thats the name Victorians gave to the complex of galleries, scientific centres and cultural centres which were built in memory of Prince Albert  a place which brought together the intellectual brilliance and creativity of the first industrial age.

Why did it work? Because it broke down boundaries, reached out to the world and celebrated everything that Britain could do.

Now, almost two centuries on, we need to do that all over again for the age of digital technology, part of what some call the fourth industrial revolution, and it is happening in east London.

Today we report a first look inside part of it  the new V&A East. Yes, there will be treasures from the past, giving space for exhibits which are rarely seen at the V&As original South Kensington home.

But the point about the place, which is being built in Stratford as part of the Olympic Park, is the connection it will make with the future.

V&A East is teaming up with the Smithsonian, from Washington  the US gallerys first overseas venture. Nearby, UCL will open a new campus. The BBC is moving in; so is Sadlers Wells theatre. Each will link to the others.

Its remarkable  but comes with a warning. From Berlin to Mumbai, our competitors are investing too.

London will lead while it attracts the best, and big-name schemes are backed up by innovators and start-ups. That means staying open to the world.

Can we be sure thats where our countrys headed?

V&A unveils vision for new Stratford site - In pictures 1 /7 V&A unveils vision for new Stratford site - In pictures Internal render view of the new V&A collection and research centre at Here East, with Altamira Palace ceiling installed Diller Scofidio + Renfro, 2018 External render view of the new V&A museum at Stratford Waterfront, designed by ODonnell + Tuomey. ODonnell + Tuomey / Ninety90, 2018 Internal render view of the new V&A museum at Stratford Waterfront, designed by ODonnell + Tuomey. This is one of two sites planned for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as part of the V&A East project ODonnell + Tuomey / Ninety90, 2018 nternal render view of the new V&A collection and research centre at Here East, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro Diller Scofidio + Renfro, 2018 Render shows Natalia Goncharovas Backcloth Design for the Finale of LOiseau de Feu (The Firebird), c.1926 ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, 2018 Internal render view showing a performance in the new V&A collection and research centre at Here East Diller Scofidio + Renfro, 2018 Internal render view of a flexible display space in the new V&A collection and research centre at Here East Diller Scofidio + Renfro, 2018

Happy Xmas: Tube strike

Another day, another strike called by a rail union to make the lives of Londoners harder. This time its a threat by the drivers union Aslef to disrupt Christmas Tube services over a security issue .

Drivers voted for action earlier this year and now say talks are getting nowhere. But thats absurd.

Transport for London and its staff have, sadly, had to endure the threat of terrorist attacks for years. It doesnt need a strike to make them worry about security.
F urther to Sir John Majors case for a second vote on Brexit [Comment, October 30], the English have a history of neglecting their children. It is therefore not surprising that some are indifferent to young peoples loss of opportunity through Brexit.

There is, unfortunately, no Sir John Major to save us. He represents, unfortunately, a bygone modern era of public service. He represents those who entered politics to serve the public.

While history will be the judge of Parliaments calamitous decision-making on Brexit, the public will bear the burden of their pusillanimous response. It would be most welcome to have a Parliament that represents the traditions that Sir John speaks of in his article.

We have a very poor facsimile of this robust parliamentary tradition. The option for a second referendum, or indeed a motion to set aside the first one, is in their hands. One trusts they will serve the public good with their decisions.

Peter McLennan

Sir John Major is absolutely right to say that those who peddle illusory benefits of a no deal Brexit will never be forgiven.

I can respect those who argue that a serious economic hit is a price worth paying for some ideology in which they believe.

But I cannot respect those politicians, and we all know who they are, who conjure up some meaningless bright, sunny uplands to con us into accepting no deal.

Alan Pavelin

EDITOR'S REPLY

Dear Peter and Alan

Sir John made a typically well-argued case but there are sizeable obstacles to another referendum. It would require a postponement of Brexit, due on March 29, plus complex primary legislation. Both would need the support of a Prime Minister  Theresa May is opposed to it, as is Labours Jeremy Corbyn.

Even backers of a second vote cant agree the question. A binary choice of Mays deal versus Remain would offend millions seeking a different choice  and might be vetoed by the Electoral Commission.

A referendum, bizarrely, takes longer to organise than a general election. It would need new rules to prevent cheating. You may ask why preparations werent started two years ago  but they werent, which limits our choices. A bit like Brexit itself.

Incidentally, no scientific polls show a majority for a second referendum, not even in Remain-voting London. Thats a challenge for those who argue that the estimated 700,000 marchers recently represented the whole country.

A referendum may not produce the result you want  or any clear result.

Joe Murphy, Political Editor

Living buildings are the future

I READ peoples opinion of the Walkie-Talkie and other new structures in Londons centre [The Reader, October 31].

Why cant we have more living buildings that offer excellent office space but meet the needs of nature too? We provide no high-level ecosystem to support birds or other animals, which we could easily do by copying Singapore and other amazing new architectural developments.

Kate Covill
Want your dog to be the most stylish pooch in the park?

Now is your chance, as some of fashion's biggest designers have created bespoke coats, collars and leads for your beloved four-legged friend in order to help Battersea Cats & Dogs Home.

Vivienne Westewood, Julien Macdonald, Lulu Guinness and Jenny Packham are just a few of the renowned British designers who have created couture coats to fit all shapes and sizes.

Jenny Packham tried to take some inspiration from her own pup, explaining: "I asked Byron my adorable rescue Sprocker from Battersea what I should design for glamorous dog coat.. He cant talk and continued sleeping so I took inspiration from his luscious coat of Black and White fur and designed a classic dogstooth weave created by using shiny sparkly sequins creating a smart but not ostentatious outerwear style."

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Daisy models a dog coat designed by Jenny Packham (Rankin ) / Rankin

Julien Macdonald wanted to take his latest catwalk collection to the pavements: I wanted the dog coat to have a subtle hint of my SS19 runway theme, so that it was true canine-couture... I wanted the very special model to strut down the Collars & Coats dog-walk feeling like a million dollars!"

Bulldog Marjorie models a dog coat designed by Julien Macdonald (Rankin ) / Rankin

Indeed, the models are very special, as a range of Battersea rescue dogs were plucked from their kennels for the photoshoot, which was with none other than British photographer Rankin.

The line-up included five-year-old Bichon Frise Gemma, nine-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Daisy, and six-year-old British Bulldog Marjorie - who were all looking for a new home.

Since the shoot, all have now found new families, apart from five-year-old Greyhound Junior, who looked majestic in a Christopher Raeburn coat.

Greyhound Junior models a dog collar designed by Swarowski (Rankin ) / Rankin

The doggy fashion accessories were also equally impressive. There were collars dripping in Swarovski crystals and royal favourite Philip Treacy even contributed a one-of-a-kind pearl-embellished collar.

Each of the couture items will be unveiled in a 'Dog Walk' at Battersea's Collars & Coats Gala Ball on November 1. The show will also see a few famous faces take to the catwalk as David Gandy struts his stuff accompanied by his own Battersea rescue dog, Dora.

David Gandy attends the Collars and Coats Ball 2017 with his dog Dora / Getty Images

Dogs, designer clothes and David Gandy. What more could you want?
The 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is just days away.

Set to take place on November 8 in New York, the model line-up includes a plethora of new faces, as well as returning Angels like Taylor Hill, Stella Maxwell, Candice Swanepoel and Romee Strijd, who have all touched down in the city for their final fittings at Victoria Secret HQ.

Of course, being VS models, they didn't turn up in any old outfit. Instead, they served up some of the hottest looks to inspire your autumn/winter 2018 wardrobe.

Bella Hadid arrived at the lingerie retailer's HQ rocking this season's jumper dress trend with a retro twist. The 22-year-old accessorised the oversized knit with a Chanel chain belt and snakeskin boots.

Bella Hadid arrives at Victoria's Secret headquarters in New York City / Christopher Peterson / SplashNews.com

Returning Angel Behati Prinsloo, who will take to the catwalk after a three-year hiatus, looked every inch a street style star in a pair of hot pink trousers (coincidentally, VS's signature colour) and trendy cropped puffer jacket.

Behati Prinsloo Levine wears pink trousers and a cropped puffer to VS HQ / Christopher Peterson / SplashNews.com

The majority of models, including Martha Hunt, Elsa Hosk, Kelly Gale, Cindy Bruna and Josephine Skriver, went for classic all-black looks with glamorous twists. Often including faux fur jackets or over-the-knee boots.

Martha Hunt shows off her off-duty look after a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show fitting / Christopher Peterson / SplashNews.com

Both Lais Ribeiro, who wore the iconic Fantasy Bra worth $2 million at last year's show, and Jasmine Tookes added a pop of colour to their black ensembles with statement jackets. Tookes in particular served up AW18 inspiration with her on-point leopard print.

Jasmine Tookes arrives for her fitting in New York City / Christopher Peterson / SplashNews.com

She wasn't the only one to show off her wild side.

We're sure the outfit inspiration won't stop there, as several Angels are still expected to come in and out of those VS HQ doors in the coming days.
T hese are the first artists impressions of the V&As new multimillion-pound building that will allow visitors to see rarely seen treasures from the archive and watch museum staff at work.

Among the major exhibits going on display at the Collection and Research Centre in Stratford is a Thirties office interior designed by US architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and a 15th-century carved wooden ceiling from a Spanish palace that was last seen 25 years ago.

Tim Reeve, deputy director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, said the V&A East scheme, which also includes a new museum, would for the first time illuminate the entire life cycle of the institution.

From the moment of an objects acquisition, through its conservation, the research, enquiry and debate that follow, to its display as part of the story of an exhibition, this 360-degree view is unprecedented and will revolutionise how people experience, and are inspired by, our collection, he said.

The centre will include a central collection hall for exhibitions, performances and film screenings.

US architect Elizabeth Diller, who designed the centre, said it would be a new model for collection storage and public display. She added: Planned from the inside out, this project will be like stepping into an immersive cabinet of curiosities  a three-dimensional sampling of the eclectic collection of artefacts, programmed with diverse spaces for research, object study, workshops, and back-of-house functions.

Mr Reeve said the huge new building would also allow large exhibits, such as a 15-metre-wide theatrical backdrop designed for the 1926 London premiere of Stravinksys Firebird. The V&A currently stores its archive in Blythe House, West Kensington, but the government-owned building is up for sale.

The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures 1 /15 The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Natural History Museum UNSPLASH/Daniel Rauber The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures V&A Museum Peter Kelleher The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Science Museum Plastiques Photography/Science Museum Group The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures British Museum British Museum The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Imperial War Museum The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Design Museum The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Wellcome Collection PA Archive/PA Images The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Charles Dickens Museum Siobhan Doran The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures V&A Museum of Childhood PA Archive/PA Images The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Sir John Soane's Museum The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Museum of London The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Horniman Museum The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures National Maritime Museum Getty Images The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures London Transport Museum The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Coming soon: East End Women's Museum

Mr Reeve added: Museum audiences are increasingly very well informed but what you see when you walk around for a few hours is just the tip of the iceberg. We think if audiences understand more what goes on in a museum they will value it more. The centre, which will be home to about 250,000 objects, will open in 2023 along with the new museum,which will be a 10-minute walk across the Olympic park.

The five-storey museum at Stratford Waterfront will be run in partnership with the US-based Smithsonian Institution, which will co-produce the opening exhibition before taking on responsibility for one in every four shows.
T he legendary Bag ONails venue in Soho where Jimi Hendrix performed and The Beatles socialised is to be transformed into a private members club.

The venue, which until closing earlier this month was a private members karaoke bar, will be run by a team of Londons leading hospitality gurus.

The site in Kingly Street has been acquired by a consortium led by entrepreneur Harry Mead, who has bought the leasehold of the 3,500 sq ft property from a private investor and plans to commit 2 million to the project.

He will personally host members each night when the site reopens as The Court early next year. Mr Mead said: This venue is dripping in history, with The Beatles, the Stones, The Who and Jimi Hendrix either performing or hanging out there in the Sixties.

Paul McCartney also met future wife Linda Eastman at the venue. Mr Mead added: Me and my team plan to revive the charm and intimacy that made it so famous, but with modern food and drink menus created by some of the industrys biggest names, and an unbeatable live music programme. Annual membership will start from about 600 per year.

London's best independent music venues 1 /6 London's best independent music venues Union Chapel Daniela Sbrisny Bush Hall The Shacklewell Arms Carolina Faruolo Brixton Jamm Ronnie Scott's The 100 Club Getty Images

Mr Mead previously worked at advertising agency AMV BBDO and ran business development for the firm behind cocktail bars Dandelyan and White Lyan. He is backed by a number of minority investors. Partners include chef Tom Sellers, who holds one Michelin star and will develop The Courts menu, and mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana and his team at Mr Lyan Studio, who are creating the drinks list. Other partners include celebrity florist Nikki Tibbles. Richard Haddon, the former general manager of Mahiki London, will take the same role at The Court.
The Supremes

Any number of girl groups on the Motown label in the 60s could have made the list, not least Martha and the Vandellas and The Marvelettes, but The Supremes are certainly one of the most influential groups of all time and thoroughly deserve to be recognised as such. The group enjoyed 12 number ones between and 1964 and 1969, becoming the most popular Motowns most successful act of the decade. Songs like Baby Love, Stop! In the Name In Love and You keep Me Hanging On are pop at its purest, and while Diana Ross went on to leave the group and become a huge star in her own right, theres a timeless nature to the music of The Supremes that will endure for decades to come.
The rousing march, written in 1929, is bound to get things off on the right foot. The first half of the concert also will feature several selections that had to be jettisoned when the bands last summer concert was partly rained out. Fortunately, that cant happen this time around in the indoor venue.
N ow that spooky season is officially over and our Halloween costumes are packed away for another year, our thoughts may start to turn to Christmas.

But don't be putting up the tinsel just yet, because directly after Halloween is the Christian holiday of All Saints' Day.

While it may be easy to forget the religious origins of Halloween, November 1 marks a special holiday observed by Roman Catholics and most Protestant denominations worldwide.

All Saints' Day is an opportunity for worshippers to remember saints and martyrs throughout Christian history.

So why do Christians celebrate All Saints' Day - and what is it? Here's everything you need to know.

When is All Saints' Day?

All Saints' Day - also known as All Hallows' Day or Hallowmas, is celebrated on November 1, the day after Halloween.

It comes just after the pagan holiday of Samhain and is directly followed by the Mexican Day of the Dead festival and another Christian holiday, All Souls' Day.

In Eastern Orthodox and associated Eastern Catholic churches, All Saints' Day is observed on the first Sunday following Pentecost.

Why do Christians celebrate it?

All Saints' Day has been a Christian tradition since the 4th century AD, but it wasn't until 609AD that Pope Boniface IV decided to remember all martyrs.

Originally the Feast of All Holy Martyrs, as it was then known, was celebrated on May 13.

Then in 837AD Pope Gregory IV extended the holy day to remember all saints, changed its name to the Feast of All Saints and changed the date to November 1.

It's thought that the date was chosen to replace the end of harvest time and the Gaelic festival of Samhain, known as the festival of the dead.

In Catholic tradition, the holiday honours those who have passed on to the Kingdom of Heaven.

In Methodist tradition, it relates to giving God earnest gratitude for the lives and deaths of his saints.

Pope John Paul II stressed the importance of All Saints' Day in 2003: We celebrate today the solemnity of All Saints. This invites us to turn out gaze to the immense multitude of those who have already reached the blessed land, and points us on the path that will lead us to that destination.

How is All Saints' Day celebrated?

Catholics are expected to attend mass on All Saints' Day, although Bishops in many countries don't make this a requirement if the holiday does not fall on a Sunday.

There is usually a reading of the Beatitudes, the eight blessings recounted in Jesus Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew.

Some also leave offerings of flowers to dead relatives and others may light candles and visit the graves of lost loved ones.

How does it relate to Halloween?

While nowadays we may associate Halloween with trick or treating and scary movies, Halloween started out as a holy Christian celebration.

'Hallow' in Old English means 'holy' or 'sacred,' so Hallows' Eve or Halloween simply means "the evening of holy persons" and refers to the evening before All Saints' Day.
J ust like that, we're back to frosty mornings, winter pyjamas and a 4pm nightfall. It feels as if we've skipped autumn all together and jumped straight to winter.

Yet, autumn and winter are the perfect months to get back into reading. The crackle of the fire (or, if you're a London dweller, heat from the radiators) are enticing enough to keep us home with a good book.

To celebrate the return of reading season, we've rounded up the best new books that should be adorning your shelves this November.

From Michelle Obama's much-anticipated memoir to a new book in which Brexit takes centre stage and the final collection from Carol Ann Duffy during her tenure as Poet Laureate, below are the best books to dive into this month.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Release date: November 13, 2018.

Assuredly the most anticipated memoir of the year, former FLOTUS Michelle Obama chronicles her time as the first African-American First Lady and the experiences that shaped her. From growing up on the South Side of Chicago to balancing work with motherhood and how this led her to the White House, Becoming will no doubt inspire you to chase your dreams.

You can buy the book here.

Why We Dream: The Transformative Power of Our Nightly Journey by Alice Robb

Release date: November 20, 2018.

Approximately 98 per cent of the world's population remember their dreams the next morning, and when we wake up we spend a few minutes trying to decipher them. In her new book, science journalist Alice Robb uncovers why we dream, why dreaming matters, and how we can and should improve our dream life. Robb wrote the book after a recent research trip to Peru where she 'became hooked' on lucid dreaming - something only 10 per cent of people can do - and explains how others can learn to do this in her book. Throughout, Robb draws on new and forgotten research to explain why dreams are vital to our emotional and physical health in this fascinating read.

You can buy the book here.

In Extremis: The Life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin by Lindsey Hilsum

Release date: November 1, 2018.

Marie Colvin, a revered war reporter for The Sunday Times who died in Homs, Syria in 2012, is currently the focus of a documentary, a Hollywood film and now a new biography. Written by Lindsey Hilsum, a fellow foreign correspondent, In Extremis delves into Maries home life as well as her extraordinary career, telling the tale of a woman who defied convention.

You can read our full review here and buy the book here.

Inside Black Mirror: The Illustrated Oral History by Charlie Brooker, Annabel Jones and Jason Arnopp

Release date: November 1, 2018.

If youre a fan of the cult hit Netflix show Black Mirror, this is the book for you. Co-written by Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker, it guides the reader through how Black Mirror came to be with a look at the behind-the-scenes imagery, creative genesis and the inspiration and thought process behind the episodes.

You can buy the book here.

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

Release date: November 1, 2018.

A Spark of Light will be Jodi Picoults 25th novel in 26 years since her debut novel, Songs of the Humpback Whale, debuted in 1992. With a cult following, Picoults books are guaranteed best-sellers and her latest novel centres around a reproductive health clinic that is taken hostage by a lone gunman. The tense novel tackles two of the biggest issues facing America today: abortion and gun control and unravels what bought these people to this point.

You can buy the book here.

Middle England by Jonathan Coe

Release date: November 8, 2018.

Coe manages to capture the mood of the country with his new novel, Middle England, which begins in Birmingham in 2010 and follows the protagonist Benjamin Trotter and a cast of loosely connected characters across the country up until the EU referendum. The novel reminisces about the UK of the past and helps to make sense of these uncertain political times.

You can read our full review here and buy the book here.

Roar by Cecelia Ahern

Release date: November 1, 2018.

When Cecelia Ahern wrote P.S I Love You in 2004, it became an instant best-seller. Since then she has been writing a number of beloved novels and her latest release, Roar, is a collection of thirty short stories about thirty different women, each discovering they have the power to make a change.

You can buy the book here.

A Short History of Europe by Simon Jenkins

Release date: November 8, 2018.

Best-selling author Simon Jenkin details our remarkably successful continent, from its battlefield beginnings, through Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages, the French Revolution and the two World Wars to where we are today. He also discusses how diplomacy has so often resulted in bloodshed and the implications this has on present day. Its a lot to fit into a book but Jenkins does it succinctly and in a way that keeps readers interested.

You can buy the book here.

Sincerity by Carol Ann Duffy

Release date: November 1, 2018.

Carol Ann Duffy has been the UKs Poet Laureate since 2009  both the first female to be appointed and the first Scot - and, as she will be hanging up her hat next year, this will be her last collection of poems written under this title. Sincerity reflects on the autumn of life with moving verses about past loves, children who have flown the nest and lost parents and youth. Duffy also explores our current political situation and the collection, as the title suggests, is an ode to sincerity and ends on a touching note.
P ast Tense by Lee Child

By now, Lee Childs army of fans knows what to expect: a tale of very bad things with lashings of violence and ever-changing scenery. Here, though, in Laconia, New Hampshire, near where his hero Jack Reachers father grew up, the backdrop is pretty much constant: apple trees, fields and more trees. The excitement, at least for the first 200 pages, is, um, suppressed.

Bird-watching and census-taking are not subjects that stir the blood of the average reader but an excellent writer  and Child is an excellent writer  can make anything interesting. It turns out that Jack is very much a chip off the old block.

Meanwhile, in another neck of the woods, Patty and Shorty, on the way to Florida, are trapped in a motel from hell. What do the rich folk who are secretly flying in from all over the US intend to do with them?

Reacher first says nothing on page 52 and throws his first punch 40 pages later. Deja vu all over again is the main theme of Past Tense and boy, does the cunning Child make you feel it. As ever, the prose is precision-tooled.

Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly

It was only a matter of time before Renee Ballard, whom we first met last year in The Late Show, crossed paths with Michael Connellys original crime-fighting hero Harry Bosch.

Bosch is trying to solve the cold case of a street girl killed in 2009; Ballard, soon intrigued, agrees to join his crusade (when not investigating other deaths on the night shift). Meanwhile, back in San Fernando, where Bosch is a part-time detective, the blatant execution of an informant sees him go toe-to-toe with a gung-ho Mexican.

The opposing viewpoints of the pair give Dark Sacred Night a greater depth  even though Connellys narratives have inevitably become more streamlined as Bosch, the excellent Amazon drama that he executive-produces, has gone from strength to strength.
I n 1971 Saul Bellow, a Booker Prize judge, said of a favoured contestant: This is an elegant tinkling teacup novel of the kind that you Brits do very well, but its not serious stuff. Part two of Zachary Leaders biography covers his years of fame, and Bellow, who had insisted on being put up at The Ritz, knew his worth. On his way to a Nobel Prize five years later he saw no reason to disguise his wealth, his opinions, or his taste for women.

Herzog, published in 1964, was serious stuff all right. For the critic Alfred Kazin the humbly born Chicago kid was our plebian princeling and imaginative king, with a new language combining intellectual musing with earthy humour. If his writing was later to become more sober, it was because he began trawling through drafts taking out jokes, his friend Allan Bloom told me, to avoid appearing light-minded.

In the politically fevered late Sixties he could come across in campus confrontations as contemptuous of student excesses, because he was (all is righteousness and rage).

Not that the one-time Trotskyist had rocketed Rightwards: now a Democrat, he was attracted by President Johnsons Great Society and racial reformism, but was against the Vietnam War.

What repelled him in politics were its deserts of abstraction, leaving little more than systems of opinions and formulas that hide reality from us. Which is why Trotsky, Sartre et al had long been junked. Despite his hard-bitten background, Leftish isms were not his thing, as The Deans December, set in communist Romania and Chicago, showed.

Lecturing about Chicago after visits to slums or prisons, and calling out corrupt city bosses only encouraged his critics, however, because of his lamentations of decline. Discussing life in drug-ridden black ghettoes meant contrasting it with his own Chicago of aspiring Jewish artisans or shopkeepers, bringing inevitable charges of racism.

A crack about the stench of cultural mildew from the suburbs didnt go down well either, any more than a line in The Deans December about their children absorbing the values of the black underclass.

Then there were his women. What has he got to tell you? a student says of the ageing hero of Mr Sammlers Planet, Bellows attack on the counterculture. His balls are dry. With Bellow this was very much not the case. As Leader comments, he was never more sexually promiscuous than during the sexual revolution the novel deplores, and his lovers could suffer harsh treatment in his work. He loses a woman with every book, one of his endless paramours complained after her appearance in Humboldts Gift. Hes certainly lost me with this one.

Four of his five marriages ended in divorce, and the third  with the socially ambitious Susan Glassman  kept him entangled with lawyers over many years. Leader is frank about the mental cruelty he could cause and the after-effects of leaving his three sons largely to their mothers. Marriage to Alexandra Tuleca, a Romanian mathematician, brought better behaviour, but it didnt last. Though respectful of her professional standing, he came to resent the calls on her time, and his philandering resumed.

Asked why hed married so many times, his last wife Janis Freedman, an angelic yet strong-minded woman four decades his junior, who bore him a daughter when he was 84, replied because he was looking for me.

Beyond the family strife, the travelling, the womanising and lawyering were the novels. His discipline and productivity were phenomenal.

Like the others, the last, Ravelstein, a lightly disguised biography of his soul-mate Allan Bloom, author of The Closing of the American Mind, brought trouble. Its disclosure that Bloom was homosexual (gay as a party hat in one description) and probably died from Aids was widely resented, though Bellow insisted the dying Bloom had urged him to be truthful.

He never lacked feuds but attracted fellow writers. Philip Roth revered him, as did Martin Amis, his fourth son, and the critic James Wood, who were both close by when he died. I knew him in his mellowing years, in Paris, New York, Chicago, Boston and London, where I took him to see Mrs Thatcher (I didnt get a word in, even edgeways.)

Talk of his poor behaviour was hard to remember in his company. One admirer spoke of a sort of electric halo of intelligence some people have, as though youre near a live wire. Touch it carelessly and you could get singed, but as on the page, his wit and perceptiveness illuminated everything he spoke of.

Leader captures this iridescence perfectly, showing how far his life was stitched into the fabric of his work in heightened colours, and providing a running commentary of elucidation and criticism. A complex man, Bellow calls for a sensitive balance between censure and understanding, to avoid overshadowing his genius, and it is hard to imagine anyone doing it better.
P eter Frankopan has gone up in the world since his bestselling Silk Roads history was published to great acclaim in 2015  and deservedly so. The Byzantine specialist is now professor of global history at Oxford University.

The New Silk Roads picks up where he left off, which is to say that this new book is less a history than a journalistic resume of world affairs over the past three years. Among the many remarkable factoids and statistics assembled here to reveal the shifting tectonic plates of a new world order, one in particular stands out.

As recently as 2001, Chinas GDP was 39 per cent of that of the US. By 2016 it was 114 per cent and rising swiftly. The Asian century continues apace. Not that the parochial British media, transfixed by the Brexit and Trump horror show, appears to have twigged.

If there is a narrative spine to this highly discursive and free-flowing book, it is surely Chinas much-vaunted Belt and Road initiative. Although this may be amorphous, opaque and overhyped by Beijing, it is nevertheless evolving into a multi-billion-dollar, world-spanning network of infrastructure investments in roads, railways, ports and airports, funded by all manner of loans to smaller countries.

China describes it as win-win. Others see it as imposing strangulating levels of debt on independent states and thereby turning them into Chinese clients. Either way, it dwarfs anything coming from the western world  and that is Frankopans point.

The unmistakable fact, however unpalatable from a western perspective, is that whether you are a country in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean or Central Asia, these days the offering from China trumps that of the US.

As Pakistan hovers on the verge of bankruptcy and America warns against an IMF bailout of a nation led by a congenitally corrupt political elite, China has stepped in to offer a $2 billion credit line. Apart from the obvious risk of debt dependency and the ominous consequences of default, both of which can be kicked down the line, whats not to like?

Equally unpalatable for the West is that what only recently looked like the unstoppable march of liberal democracy is increasingly a chimera. Asias Chinese-led economic resurgence has little concern for human rights and political plurality. A new world is emerging in Asia, and it is not a free one, Frankopan observes.

While Beijing is assiduously courting the world, an isolationist America is meanwhile losing friends, withdrawing from treaties and retreating into unilateralism. Where is the Wests strategic vision? The Trump doctrine, Frankopan notes, has been distilled into three words by a senior White House official: Were America, bitch. It would be amusing, were the consequences not so damaging.

In fact, as the author convincingly demonstrates, what passes for US policy actually hurts American interests while advancing those of rivals such as China, Russia and Iran, which are being drawn steadily closer together. Bilateral relations between Moscow and Beijing, the stuff of nightmares in Washington, are better than ever.

The US fixation on regime change in Iran, meanwhile, looks like an expensive road to nowhere. Washingtons convoluted and counter-productive policy of imposing sanctions on Iran and those who trade with it alienates allies like Turkey and India who rely on Iranian energy supplies.

It also hurts the interests of companies like Boeing and Airbus, which in 2016 signed agreements worth $39 billion to supply commercial aircraft to Iran. The EUs response, akin to a chihuahua picking a fight with a pitbull terrier, has been to try to ban European companies from complying with the sanctions.

Frankopan discerns the painful surrealism of a situation in which European businesses must choose between being fined by the US for doing business with Iran, or being fined by the EU if they do not. It is hard to think of a more appropriate way to show how the West has lost its way, he writes. You can almost hear the chuckles in Beijing.
I t was mid-August when one of my friends first started talking about Christmas.

The temperature had dipped slightly, and while snow was hardly falling thick and fast, summer had peaked and something else had to be found to look forward to, if only to mitigate the all-consuming dread that we are slowly heading towards the abyss. And so, as the sun shone vehemently in the sky, and the dogs chased squirrels in that hopeless, cack-pawed way that dogs do, three tragic, over-excited women started planning the dinner they would cook four months from now.

Always too eager for the future, we / Pick up bad habits of expectancy, wrote Philip Larkin in Next, Please, the most depressing poem ever written. According to Google, Brits make more Christmas searches than any other country in the world, topping the chart for the past four years. Presumably, this is why shops have been flogging Advent calendars, Christmas trees and Santa-shaped chocolates since late September, right next to the Halloween tat. I mean, its November now. It must almost be time to wheel out the Easter eggs.

Normally, people get vexed at the previousness of Christmas. Put it away, they say. Spare me from those in the grips of OCD (Obsessive Christmas Disorder  no, I didnt coin the phrase and yes, there is already a T-shirt). But not this year. This year, it cant come soon enough. Grown adults are booking pantomimes. Elf has been watched, twice. My husband has been snarfing salted caramel liqueur since mid-October. Every kid I know is already at Mach 1, hyped up as though its Christmas Eve. Im not even that into Christmas, yet seem to have bought two minging rolls of wrapping paper with stars on.

But look at the state of things. No wonder were all booking Christmas karaoke sessions, Winter Wonderland trips and outlandishly priced dinners in log cabins. No wonder were counting the days until the John Lewis Christmas ad is released, and we can cry the hot wet tears of the repressed and blame the cuteness of the penguin, cockapoo or badger  God, please let there be a cute animal. Brexit can do one. Bring on the tinsel.

Dis-dressing rhetoric

Lily Allen recently wore a transparent mesh top at a gig in New Orleans, and subsequently called out a newspaper for its judgey coverage. Leaves little to the imagination is such a creepy phrase in itself. F*** your imagination when it comes to our bodies, she tweeted. You cant go from being t*** out at every opportunity to complaining when people sexualise you, one Twitter user objected.

Lily Allen / ISM/Capital Pictures

Actually, I can. Next, Lily replied. Leaves little to the imagination is a phrase so ingrained in tabloid rhetoric that we tend to read it without thinking, but Lily is right: it is creepy. Although shell have to wear a different top if shes performing at Wireless next year: the licensing committee has requested performers must not offend with attire which exposes the groin, buttocks or female breasts. The 1950s called: it wants its dress code back.

New polo minted

It was 19 October when three billboards first appeared in Tokyos Shibuya district, branded with Polo Ralph Laurens pony riding above a Palace Skateboard logo. On 22 October, Palace confirmed Worlds Most Exciting Collab Ever via Instagram. At the time of writing, the drop is imminent. Casting aside the small matter of when new clothes became drops (is it just me, or does it make anyone else imagine giant, slightly malevolent pigeons?), if Palace Ralph Lauren has dropped by now, it would be wise to drop everything and buy some. That is, if youre not too late. Unlike some collaborations, this one has a genuine synergy: I think itll be blinding.
H ome is

On the border of Lewisham and Greenwich with my wife and the two youngest kids. My stepson James went to Newcastle University recently to become a doctor and has left a massive hole in the house.

Where do you stay in London?

The Groucho. They gave me a life membership seven years ago and I love the place. Its like home. Of course, its got a reputation, too. Sometimes Ill book into a small room to hide from the hangover and the night bus home.

Favourite pub?

I love the French House in Soho. They used to throw you out if your mobile rang, and its the only pub that celebrates Bastille Day. Its bonkers. They dont serve pints but when Bernie Katz, the late front-of-house manager at the Groucho, died, everyone was allowed to have a pint if they said it was for Bernie.

Alamy Stock Photo

Where would you go on a first date?

Gordons Wine Bar near Charing Cross. Its not quite as good as it used to be because more people know about it, but it was one of the first places I went with my wife. If you ran out of things to say you could always people watch.

Is Charming your real name?

Charming is a nickname that everybody seems to be calling me now. Except for my wife. She doesnt often call me Charming.

Last play you saw?

The Book of Mormon. My wife bought tickets for my birthday the year before last. It was brilliant. Im not often shocked, but it was shocking in all the right ways.

What do you do to keep fit?

I run east from Greenwich along the river path. You can go as far as Woolwich, which is a good 10 miles if you want. It used to be really industrial, with boat scrapyards and gasworks, but apartments have been built there now. The whole flavour of the place has changed. But theres still a bit where big barges unload stone. Its beautiful, in a rough kind of a way.

Alamy Stock Photo

Best meal youve had?

There was this tiny pasta place called Ruby Cafe in Hoxton where everyone spoke Italian and they served dishes they just made up, like poussin with lentils, and a different pasta every day. It was cheap, simple and always full.

Favourite shops?

Paul Smith for formal stuff; Atlantis in Hackney for art supplies; hardware shops, where Im always buying things like sheets of wood or screws. There are still little ones in Mayfair and Soho, which I dont understand. How much money can you make on half-inch nails?

What makes someone a Londoner?

My father was in the Army so we moved around a lot when I was young and I always felt like an outsider. On the Isle of Wight, if you move there, youre always an overner (someone from the mainland), never somebody who is from there. But if you choose to make London your home, you are a Londoner. Thats the great thing about it, the acceptance.

Whats your greatest extravagance?
U nfortunately, vegans have earned themselves the reputation for being notoriously difficult to take on a dinner date.

It wasn't too long ago that people were gasping at the very thought of having a cheese-less pizza or a meat-free burger, but thanks to the growing demand for plant-based products in the UK, that's all changing.

According to market researchers Mintel, the UK market for meat-free foods was reportedly worth 572m in 2017, up from 539m only two years earlier.

There are now estimated to be around 540,000 vegans in the UK, and well-known high street restaurants are catching up to speed.

Here's how to veganise your favourites:..

Nando's

It's hard to imagine a restaurant that revolves around chicken offering any animal-free options, but Nando's has certainly stepped up its veggie game.

Surprisingly, loads of the starters are vegan (even the garlic bread!) and last year the restaurant chain introduced two new veggie burgers - the Supergreen and the Sweet Potato & Butternut.

Just remember to hold the mayo when you're ordering a wrap, burger or pitta. Luckily, all the peri-peri glazes are vegan!

For dessert, you can have your pick of coconut, mango or vanilla gelado.

Greggs

Say goodbye to your New Year's diet - Greggs have finally launched a vegan sausage roll!

The traditional pork filling will be replaced with Quorn, wrapped in 96 layers of delicious of puff pastry.

It's an absolute steal too, setting you back just 1.

McDonald's

Think eating vegan in McDonald's is impossible? Think again.

Despite the debate over whether the McDonald's Vegetable Deluxe burger is vegan - we can confirm that it is vegan-friendly, as long as you remember to leave out the mayo.

As well as the veggie burger, you can also order hash browns, fruit bags and french fries.

Giving hope to hungover vegans everywhere, the fast-food chain is currently trialling a vegan burger - aptly called the McVegan - in Finland. If it proves a hit, let's hope the McVegan will be rolled out globally. Happy munching!

Starbucks

Coffee is vegan (thank goodness), but it's the added extras you'll need to watch out for.

At Starbucks, you can veganise any hot or iced coffee by opting for soya, coconut, almond or oat milk.

When ordering, ask the barista to leave out any cream, java chips, protein powder (added to the smoothies) and caramel drizzle.

Starbucks' classic pumpkin spice latte is now vegan, meaning everyone can enjoy this autumnal treat.

Pizza Express

Pizza Express is another restaurant chain which has upped its game when it comes to providing tasty vegan options.

They've not only introduced vegan dough balls but a host of other vegan-friendly pizzas too.

The latest addition is the super-tasty Vegan Puttanesca, featuring marinated jackfruit, tomatoes, olives, capers, red onion, chilli, garlic & herbs and a vegan mozzarella alternative.

Pizza Hut

Thanks to the introduction of vegan cheese to the menu last year, Pizza Hut is super easy to veganise.

Getting into the Veganuary spirit, Pizza Hut has also announced they will be releasing a brand new vegan jackfruit pizza - called the Vegan Jack 'N' Cheese.

It's around for a limited time only, but Pizza said on their Twitter page that if 10,000 Vegan Jack 'N' Ch**se pizzas are ordered, it will become a permanent fixture on their menu.

Wagamama

From noodles to curries, Wagamama can be a vegan's best friend.

It's recently rolled out a vegan version of the katsu curry - the Vegatsu - across all UK branches.

Made from Seitan, a meat alternative, the plant-based dish tastes just like the real thing.

The vegetable gyoza is also vegan-friendly, and for dessert there's a choice of pink guava & passion fruit or lemongrass sorbet.

JD Wetherspoon

Traditionally, vegans avoid pub food like the plague.

But good old Wetherspoons has been serving vegan-friendly dishes for a while now, and the results have clearly paid off.

For mains, the Sweet Potato, Chickpea and Spinach Curry, Five Bean Chilli, Teriyaki Noodles, Quinoa Salad and Five Bean Chilli Jacket Potato are all vegan.

If you're a sucker for a 'Spoons breakfast, you can also make their veggie breakfast vegan-friendly by getting rid of the egg and the beans (Heinz confirmed earlier this year that their No Added Sugar beans used by Wetherspoons aren't vegan).

Toby Carvery

You wouldn't usually dream of taking a vegan to a carvery, but what's on offer at Toby's Carvery is pleasantly surprising.

For mains, you can choose from the Portobello Mushroom Bullseye Tart, Grilled Aubergine Stack and Root Vegetable Roast.
D ont mess with vegans. Yesterday, on the eve of World Vegan Day, the editor of Waitrose Food magazine, William Sitwell, resigned. He faces a storm of criticism after hed suggested a series on killing vegans, one by one, as a joke, responding to freelancer Selene Nelsons offer to write plant-based recipes for the magazine.

Battle lines were drawn quickly when Nelson shared his reply with the website BuzzFeed. It went viral: animal protection group the Humane Society called for Sitwell to be fired, while Great British Menu judge Matthew Fort said, it is a great pity that he has lost his job because he has been a great editor.

So a man has lost his job, after making an (admittedly bad) joke about vegans in a professional capacity.

Evidently, plant power is stronger than even inveterate aficionados had imagined. Within the M25 the battle is certainly over. Everyone is curious: Google trends show searches involving the word vegan have tripled in the past 10 years (are vegans ... healthy? Wrong? Skinny? Allowed to eat honey?). Were used to living in a non-vegan world, and shouting to make ourselves heard, Meriel Armstrong, co-owner of The Spread Eagle in Homerton and founder of vegan street food stall Club Mexicana, said to me when I interviewed her last year. She has been a vegan for 24 years. So its odd to find yourself being called mainstream.

Plant power is stronger than ever / Getty Images/Westend61

Deliveroo has a vegan search tab, the Spread Eagle is Londons first vegan pub and Wagamama has a vegan menu, joining Pizza Express and Zizzi, which offer vegan pizzas. Last year Guinness went vegan and stopped using fish bladders in its brewing process. Tescos new plant-based Wicked Kitchen range includes vegan-friendly ready meals and Sitwells former employer, Waitrose, has a vegan Christmas range. Its annual report came out yesterday saying one in eight Britons is now vegetarian or vegan. When once one would be pushed to find a vegetarian option in a London pub, now its a shock when your eyes dont alight on a nut roast.

But do vegans still feel threatened? Were realising that were not hated anymore, says Ed Ayton, who works for an organic food company, and no longer feels like his lifestyle is an uphill struggle. But we all remember the jokes, and weve had to put up with them for years. How do you know someones a vegan at a party? Because theyve already told you five times.

The tables have turned, and theyre dairy-free. Vegan tribes have taken the city. Theres the old guard, the meat is murder camp who have long campaigned for a better world (Morrissey, who has long claimed vegans are superior beings, has done little for vegan PR by throwing his support behind the far-Right For Britain party).

Celebrity vegan couple Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth / Getty Images for EJAF

Theres the new glossy posse: younger millennials who look to celebrity vegan couple Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, as well as Ellie Goulding, Natalie Portman, Ariana Grande, Woody Harrelson and JME. The Duchess of Sussex has done vegan stints and wore vegan Stella McCartney trainers on her royal tour.

Instagram has been a catalyst for change, says Armstrong: Its shattering perceptions of vegan food by showing them it can look as mouth-watering as non-vegan food. Bloggers such as Sean OCallaghan, whose nom de gram is @Fatgayvegan (66.4k followers) and who hosts a vegan market in Hackney Downs, and the Temple of Seitan, a vegan fast-food outlet in Hackney (77.8k followers), have shown good food can look deliciously dirty. Videos of our deep-fried cheese have gone viral. There are sub-tribes; the veggan (can eat eggs); the freegan (per the OED, a person who seeks to help the environment by reducing waste, especially by retrieving discarded food); the flexitarian (an occasional meat-eater).

The duchess of Sussex on the royal tour / Getty Images

Barely a week passes without a story suggesting veganism will save the world. The 2014 documentary Cowspiracy looked at the environmental impact of animal agriculture, its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and excessive water use. Novara media has called for Fully Automated Green Communism to stave off global warming.

Yet the power of the vegan lobby still surprises, and the strength of the outrage is heavy. In a matter of days, the online invective directed at Sitwell  and pressure on Waitrose  made his departure inevitable. Waitrose said in a statement: In the light of Williams recent email remarks, weve told John Brown Media that we believe this is the right move  we will be working with them to appoint a new editor for the magazine.

Sitwell has moved to apologise profusely to anyone who has been offended or upset by this, and stressed it was a joke. But every critic who tried to come to Sitwells defence has been similarly scolded. It was a stupid email but should not be a career-ender. Vegans are not a race or a gender or a sexual orientation or a differently abled group. They just choose to eat plants. You should be able to take the piss and not lose your job, tweeted Giles Coren.

I dont want to go against William, hes done a hell of a lot for food, and he is of the old school, says Gizzi Erskine, the celebrity chef whose vegan junk food venture F!lth launches in November. But its hard sometimes to recognise the changes that are going on. Its imperative for us to consider why we eat what we eat and where it comes from. Two weeks ago there was a story saying we have 20 years of eating meat and drinking dairy left. Good intentions are big business.
I n the past, when making dinner plans, the mention of a vegan attending would be enough to make anyone stay home in front of Netflix instead.

But now, as the number of vegans in the UK has skyrocketed to at least half a million, not only are our favourite high street restaurants catching up to speed but some of the world's best exclusively vegetarian and vegan restaurants have popped up across the country.

The trick is knowing where to look. From ethical fine dining to cruelty-free fast-food, weve rounded up the best establishments across the UK, where any vegan can get their fill of tasty and nutritious food without feeling like they have to compromise on style or flavour.

You'll never need to cancel your dinner plans again.

Food For Friends, Brighton

Food for Friends

This smart and classy eatery in the heart of Brightons historic lanes is part of a newer breed of high-design veggie restaurants in the UK that goes way beyond your average hemp-filled cafe, and is perfect for wining and dining a well-heeled vegan. Its ethos is tasty and affordable food, using the best locally sourced ingredients to produce a seasonally inspired menu - serving up everything from fragrant coconut curries to fresh salads. Book a table for the weekend early because it gets busy.

Terre a Terre, Brighton

For haute cuisine with a relaxed vibe its hard to beat a trip to Terre a Terre. This brightly coloured seaside restaurant has long been a favourite for Brightonians (its been in business for over 20 years), serving up world-inspired veggie and vegan dishes with a fine-dining finesse. Theres a set menu to choose from as well as tapas-style sharing plates if you cant decide on just one dish. Try the blistered padron peppers with Chinese watercress or the brilliant cheese and pickle gnocchi. There are several interesting vegan dishes on the menu that go beyond butternut squash and tofu, and plenty of the vegetarian options can be made vegan too.

Purezza, Brighton

Pizza at Purezza

Didnt think vegans could eat pizza? Think again. Italian dishes are the order of the day at this animal-free pizzeria, which prides itself on offering healthy and tasty pizzas for those who dont want to abstain from tucking into a slice or two after a long day at work. Theres an extensive list to choose from - from quattro formaggi (coconut, soya, cashew and almond cheese) to Hawaiian (pineapple and seitan salami), which can all be washed down with an excellent selection of vegan wine and beer from the bar.

Black Cat Cafe, London

If #cleaneating and pushing lettuce leaves around your plate isnt your thing, head to Black Cat. This all-vegan, volunteer-run cafe in the heart of Hackney has plenty of normal grub on the menu to keep even the most hardened of carnivores happy. Theres a cruelty-free fry up, bolognese lasagne, and monstrous beef-style burgers with fries to tuck into. Make sure to wash it all down with one of the excellent almond milkshakes.

76a Clarence Rd, E5 8HB

Vantra, London

Dessert is served at Vantra in London

The yoga-loving health brigade head to Vantra post-workout, keen to feast on its menu of organic, macrobiotic and raw global dishes that are good for the body, soul and planet (or so it says on its website). While the menu is vast and varied, make the most of the restaurant's buffet; a veritable feast of soups, raw salads and fermented and steamed superfood concoctions.

Mildred's, London

Somewhat of a Soho institution, Mildreds is as old as she sounds - hailing right back to the late Eighties. But dont expect dated earthenware pottery and peeling wallpaper, this modern restaurant has been brought slap bang into 2016 with a chic Scandi vibe inside. The menu is international-themed, so theres something to keep everyone happy - from burgers and salads to larger sharing plates. Its worth noting that it doesnt take bookings, so get in early to grab a table.

Ethos, London

Stylish Ethos near Oxford Circus

A stone's throw from Oxford Circus, this beautifully designed restaurant offers simple vegetarian soups and salads alongside sweets like doughnuts and cake pops. Be careful: the price is by weight not by dish, so don't go if you're feeling ravenous or you might bankrupt yourself. It's safer to snack here after a day of shopping.

The Waiting Room, London

This hipster hideaway on Deptford High Street is another welcome alternative to the Deliciously Ella effect. Think less steamed kale and more meat-free buffalo hot wings, sticky BBQ ribs and hot dogs. The fridge is well stocked with Brewdog and Beavertown beers and theres a small community library inside - bring a book along and swap it for one you fancy on the shelf.

The Old Hardware Shop, Liverpool

The Old Hardware Shop in Liverpool

There are no shortage of veggie restaurants serving up junk food in the capital, but this small family-run business is something of an anomaly in the North West. Its only been around for a year or so, but its already become a hit with the locals of Woolton Village and farther flung areas of Merseyside. Everything on the menu is vegetarian, but pretty much everything can be 'veganised' - from cheese toasties and hot dogs to chocolate peanut butter shakes with lashings of whipped cream and cherries on the top.

The Egg Cafe, Liverpool

The Egg has long been a place of pilgrimage for Scouse vegans, a light and airy loft space with mismatched wooden furniture and colourfully painted beams inside. Expect to see artist, students and bohemian types tucking into their comforting and homely menu.

The Art School, Liverpool

The Art School

Located in a stunning former Victorian orphanage building, this fine dining menu is a meat-free masterpiece offering fixed-price and tasting menus for vegans, vegetarians and pescetarians. Try the warm salad of roasted fig, spring leaves, fennel, wild rocket, red onion with toasted walnuts, almonds and focaccia croutes to start and the brilliant salt baked celeriac with quinoa, roasted sweet potato, shaved fennel salad and charred chicory. If youve still got space after your four courses, try to pack in the marinated red berries and sweet tapioca with lemon balm, kikuna leaf, lychee and cinnamon syrup.

The Warehouse Cafe, Birmingham

The self-proclaimed greenest restaurant in the Midlands, this community-orientated eatery offers affordable and accessible dishes inspired by seasonal British fruit and veg. There are curries, salads and soups and the cafe recycles everything that it uses, uses a bicycle courier (or foot) for the majority of its fresh produce and buys organic and fair-trade wherever it can.

V-Revolution, Manchester

Vegan burgers are on the menu at V-Revolution

Not a fan of chickpeas and lentils? This strictly vegan restaurant will rewire your thinking. Not only is the menu ludicrously cheap (with prices ranging from 1 to 6) it also serves to highlight that going vegan doesnt mean going without. This American diner-style cafe in the trendy Northern Quarter offers a decent array of chicken and beef burgers alongside grilled cheese sandwiches, loaded nachos, desserts and soy ice cream floats.

The 8th Day, Manchester

Finding life from the roots of a craft exchange and alternative centre, Eighth Day has been a major part of Manchesters vegan community since the 1970s. On the ground floor youll find a shop selling trendy vegan brands and health foods, but venture downstairs and youll discover one of the city's best-kept secrets. This bohemian basement cafe is popular with both vegans and gluten-free folk, offering everything from veggie sausage and cider casseroles, lentil and coconut soups and a range of jacket potatoes.

Earth Cafe, Manchester

This pretty cafe is located in the basement of the Manchester Buddhist Centre is a vegan-friendly retreat with an emphasis on healthy eating. Dont expect chips and meat substitutes - on the menu youll find healthy mung bean curries, tomato and chickpea salads and freshly made smoothies. But if youre looking to finish off a session of clean eating with something decadent, fear not, because theres a brilliant array of cakes to sample on the ever-changing dessert counter.

Mono, Glasgow

One of the jewels of Glasgows gig scene also happens to be one of the best spots to grab vegan grub in the city not to mention the most trendy. The menu is adventurous to say the least, serving up buffalo cauliflower pizzas, avocado chocolate cheesecakes and to-fish n chips. Its ethos is simple: good beer, good vegan food, good gigs and good times'. Sounds good to us.

Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen, Bath

Acorn

From the ashes of Demuths, the restaurant that ruled the South West veggie scene for almost a quarter of a century, rose Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen. Set across two floors of a stunning Georgian building, this reasonably priced menu offers hand-prepared, locally-sourced, seasonal vegetarian food, as well as stunning panoramic views of Bath Abbey and beyond from its large sash windows.

The top 25 cheapest city breaks in Europe 1 /25 The top 25 cheapest city breaks in Europe Bratislava, Slovakia Typical price per night: 36 Shutterstock Athens, Greece Typical price per night: 36 Milos Bicanski/Getty Images Vilnius, Lithuania Typical price per night: 35 Maciej Lulko/Flickr Istanbul, Turkey Typical price per night: 27 Chris McGrath/Getty Images Belgrade, Serbia Typical price per night: 27 Shutterstock Wrocaw, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Janek SkarzynskiFP/Getty Images Toulouse, France Typical price per night: 36.50 Rob DeGraff/Flickr Ljubljana, Slovenia Typical price per night: 36.50 Pedro Szekely/Flickr Thessaloniki, Greece Typical price per night: 28 Shutterstock Zadar, Croatia Typical price per night: 36.50 Min Zhou/Flickr Riga, Latvia Typical price per night: 36.50 AFP/Getty Images Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria Typical price per night: 33 Shutterstock Sofia, Bulgaria Typical price per night: 28 Dennis Jarvis/Flickr Tbilisi, Georgia Typical price per night: 24 Shutterstock Nantes, France Typical price per night: 38 AFP/Getty Images Palermo, Sicily Typical price per night: 36.50 Shutterstock Budapest, Hungary Typical price per night: 36 GLars Baron/Getty Images Catania, Sicily Typical price per night: 35 Carlos Bustamante Restrepo/Flickr Leipzig, Germany Typical price per night: 32.50 Shutterstock Krakow, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Jan Kucharzyk/Getty Images Zagreb, Croatia Typical price per night: 32 Shutterstock Saint Petersburg, Russia Typical price per night: 28.50 Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Bucharest, Romania Typical price per night: 28 Shutterstock Warsaw, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Shutterstock Kiev, Ukraine Typical price per night: 28.50 Marco Verch/Flickr

David Bann, Edinburgh

David Banns eponymous restaurant is a well-deserved, if obvious, inclusion in any vegan-friendly recommendation list thats venturing up north for ideas. The veggie menu has plenty for dairy-free eaters too, with a globally inspired menu of fusion dishes from the Med to the Pacific.

The Vegetarian Food Studio, Cardiff

The Vegetarian Food Studio in Cardiff

Owner Neil Patel set up the Vegetarian Food Studio in 2003, and has since attracted a cult following from both the South Wales Indian community and those from further afield seeking their first taste of authentic vegetarian and vegan foods from Asia. This cheap and cheerful Indian is popular with locals and tourists, serving up traditional vegetarian curries that wont make you miss the meat. Theres Gujarati and South Indian-inspired dishes to try as well as Indo-Chinese dishes, and a good selection of breads and rices to go alongside.
Through her alleged actions, Mrs. Boyan abused the trust placed in her by Addison School District #4 for her own personal gain, Berlin said. I would like to thank authorities at Addison School District 4 for bringing this matter to our attention and for their cooperation throughout the investigation.
A fter receiving 7,500 submissions, the National Trust has just announced the winner of its annual photography competition.

The theme of this year's competition was Our space to explore, and the winning images needed to show a connection to nature and to reflect the work National Trust do to preserve the great outdoors.

There were two winning images, with one going on the 2019 National Trust handbook and the other going on the member card. The winners were Ed Silvester and Brian Terrey respectively.

Silvesters winning shot depicted his son bounding over the rocks at Prawle Point in South Devon and will now be the cover of the 2019 National Trust Handbook after the judges of the competition praised it for its 'colours, energy and sense of adventure'.

The winning handbook image for the National Trust Photography Competition / Ed Silvester/National Trust

Silvester said in a statement: "Wed driven down from London for an Easter break in Devon. Prawle Point was our morning and evening playground. The kids would explore the rock pools and splash in puddles, doing all the things kids do when theyre not distracted by their phones.

"I was photographing the sunset one evening when my 10-year-old son Adam came bounding into the frame. I like that hes got his boots on, hes not looking at a screen  hes just jumping over the rocks. For me it captures the essence of what childhood is about."

The winning image of the member card category, shot by Terrey, was taken in Dorset with the sun rising over Corfe Castle. The judges commended Terrey on capturing the perfect mood for an iconic piece of English heritage.

The image that will feature on 2019 member cards / Brian Terrey/National Trust

Terrey said: "That morning I climbed the hill to the west of Corfe, hoping for a break in the clouds. You never know what the weather is going to be like up there, its so unpredictable. Luckily the sun burst through and everything came together  the sky, the mist, the atmosphere.

"Corfe is one of those enchanting places that Ill never get bored of. I used to visit as a child and roll down the grass banks around the castle. Now I take my six-year-old boy. Its somewhere Ive grown up with and somewhere Ill always come back to."
N orwegian has announced a five-day sale with flights to Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Denver starting from 160 one-way.

The budget airline launched its "west coast USA flight sale" online today to holidaymakers from the UK, which ends at midnight on November 5.

The discounted flights departing from London Gatwick are for travel between from December 1 2018 and February 28 2019.

The low-fare flight routes included in the sale are as follows:

Las Vegas from 159.90 one-way

Oakland  San Francisco from 159.90 one-way

Denver from 164.90 one-way

Los Angeles from 169.90 one-way

We took a look at the flights currently available in December, which are still quite pricey in the lead-up to Christmas in the second half of the month:

Norwegian

But if you fancied a slice of Californian sunshine to beat the January blues, it looks as if you can get an economy round-trip from Gatwick for under 300:

Norwegian

Norwegian is offering discounts on premium seats - with extra leg-room and free booze and food - on west coast-bound flights, too, with prices to all four destinations starting from 519.90 one way.
P olice investigating a spate of sexual assaults against nine women in east London have arrested a 13-year-old boy.

The teenager has been bailed pending further enquiries until late November.

It comes after nine women were subjected to unwanted sexual touching over a five-week period in the east end of the capital.

Scotland Yard said the attacks were particularly clustered around Blackwall Way, in Poplar.

They took place in the evening between September 6 and October 11.

Police have stepped up patrols in the area to reassure the public.
T housands of criminals who reoffend immediately after their release from prison will be targeted by law enforcers, as part of the Governments new plans to tackle Britains most harmful crime bosses.

An organised crime strategy published today by Home Secretary Sajid Javid states that there are about 6,500 organised criminals in jail.

The total  which includes some of Londons most notorious gangland bosses  represents more than a fifth of all the organised criminals known to be operating in the UK.

But the strategy unveiled today warns that some of them manage to orchestrate crimes from behind bars, arranging drug trafficking and even murders from their cells. Half also commit further offences within a year of being freed.

The new approach promises to address the problem with new lifetime management controls which will come into force next year.

The aim is to allow law enforcers to track and manage priority serious and organised crime offenders through their entire journey in the criminal justice system and beyond, irrespective of where they live or where they are in prison.

The curbs will be part of a wider crackdown designed to reduce the estimated 37 billion-a-year cost to this country of serious and organised crime. It will also include enhanced efforts against sex offenders accused of using the internet to exploit a growing number of child victims, including babies and toddlers, through methods including live streaming.

Further measures will include a purge on professional facilitators, including solicitors, accountants and estate agents, who ministers believe are helping wealthy criminals launder dirty money.

Private schools, art dealers and other sellers of luxury goods will also be told that they must exercise proper diligence when accepting large sums, or risk sanctions including prosecution.

Revealing the strategy, Mr Javid said that serious and organised crime was the most deadly national security threat faced by the UK.
A hairdresser found guilty of deliberately trying to infect 10 men with HIV has lost challenges against his conviction and sentence.

Daryll Rowe watched proceedings via video link from prison as leading judges rejected his appeal applications on Thursday.

Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with two other judges at the Court of Appeal in London, announced that the grounds presented on his behalf in relation to both conviction and sentence were "unarguable".

The 28-year-old was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 12 years by a judge at Brighton Crown Court in April.

He became the first man in the country to be found guilty of intentionally setting out to spread the virus.

Daryll Rowe is charged with infecting four men with HIV / PA

Felicity Gerry QC had argued on Rowe's behalf during the appeal proceedings that a submission of "no case to answer" should have been accepted by the trial judge.

She said: "Our primary submissions are that the submission of no case to answer should have succeeded.

"That not having succeeded, the summing up was inadequate."

But the prosecution argued that there was "no merit" in the "bold" submissions made on Rowe's behalf.

Rowe was convicted of 10 charges - five of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and five of attempting to do so.

His victims cannot be identified for legal reasons and Lady Justice Hallett emphasised that nothing must be published which could lead to their identification.

At his trial, Rowe was accused of launching a deliberate campaign to infect gay men he met on a dating app after being diagnosed in April 2015 in his home city of Edinburgh.

He had sex with eight of them in Brighton, East Sussex, between October that year and February 2016, and later with two others in the North East.

Rowe told jurors he believed he had been cured of the virus by the time he moved to Brighton, having adopted the practice of drinking his own urine as a treatment, supplemented with natural remedies, including oregano, coconut and olive leaf oils.

Lady Justice Hallett said the court was "entirely satisfied" that the trial judge "was right to refuse to withdraw the case from the jury".

Announcing the decision on the conviction application, she said: "We are satisfied that the grounds of appeal are unarguable."

The appeal judges concluded that nothing raised on Rowe's behalf had "undermined the safety of the conviction".

Lady Justice Hallett said the trial was a "thorough review of the evidence and the issues", and the summing up was "full and fair".

She added: "The issues were straight forward and the jury convicted on a powerful case."

It was argued during the hearing that Rowe's sentence was "manifestly excessive" and "wrong in principle".

(Gareth Fuller/PA ) / Gareth Fuller/PA

But Lady Justice Hallett announced: "A life sentence is a sentence of last resort, reserved for cases of extreme gravity, but in this case we are satisfied that the judge was right to conclude that the applicant is dangerous."

She added: "The nature and seriousness of the offences was such that only a life sentence was justified, despite the applicant's age and his previous background."

Rowe was convicted in November last year, and when sentenced by Judge Christine Henson QC in April she told him that statements from victims described "living with a life sentence as a result of your cruel and senseless acts".

Victims told how they had considered suicide having suffered physical and psychological damage, needing to take daily medication.

Rowe's first victim, who was diagnosed with HIV in January 2016, said: "Daryll has destroyed my life. I would rather he had murdered me than left me to live my life like this."

The hairdresser, who had refused treatment, insisted on having unprotected sex with men, claiming he was "clean". When they refused he tampered with condoms, tricking them into thinking he was practising safe sex.

He taunted them over text, telling one: "I have HIV. Lol. Whoops!"

In separate proceedings in Scotland in May, Rowe was sentenced to eight years after pleading guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to four incidents where he intentionally had unprotected sex with partners, while fully aware he was HIV positive.

One of the men went on to contract HIV.
A 26-year-old man has been arrested in east London under the Terrorism Act.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said counter terror police detained the man at around 5.20pm on Wednesday in a pre-planned operation.

He remained in custody at a south London police station on Thursday.

He has been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism, under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

A search at a property in east London continues, the force added.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "Detectives from the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command have arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism, under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

"The man was arrested on Wednesday, October 31, in east London at approximately 5.20pm in a pre-planned operation.

"He was taken to a south London police station, where he currently remains in police custody.

"Detectives also executed a search warrant at an address in east London which remains ongoing at this time.
A man is fighting for his life after being shot in south-east London during a day of Halloween bloodshed.

Police descended on an apartment block in Walworth shortly after midday on Wednesday, after paramedics alerted them to a seriously injured man.

They found a 48-year-old at the scene in Cuxton House, Mina Road, suffering from a gunshot injury.

He was rushed to hospital where he remained in a critical condition on Thursday.

Officers from Southwark have launched an investigation into the shooting, while the victims next of kin have been informed.

At this early stage the man's injuries are unexplained, said a Scotland Yard spokesperson.

In a separate incident, a 38-year-old man was stabbed to death in nearby Southwark Park just before 2pm on Wednesday.

A man was stabbed near the entrance of Southwark Park in Rotherhithe / NIGEL HOWARD 

Rocky Djelal, 38, was found near the entrance of the park after collapsing next to a childrens playground.

Witnesses said a fight broke out in the park next to the play area before a man was heard screaming in agony. Ambulance crews called to the park tried to save him but he died at the scene.

Victim: Rocky Djelal, 38, was stabbed to death on Halloween

Police were called just before 6pm to reports of a fight in Lunham Road, at the junction with Victoria Crescent.

Police at the scene of the double shooting in Crystal Palace / Olivia Tobin

Both victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting, Scotland Yard said.
D octors will be able to prescribe medical cannabis products to patients in the UK from November 1, thanks to new legislation.

As of Thursday, specialist doctors - not a GP - have been given the option to prescribe cannabis-based products containing varying amounts of the compounds THC, which makes people feel "high", and CBD, another compound scientists are investigating for its potential medical benefits.

The change comes after a series of high-profile cases, including that of 12-year-old Billy Caldwell who has severe epilepsy, whose conditions appeared to be helped by cannabis oil.

In June of this year, Charlotte Caldwell had her son's cannabis oil seized at Heathrow airport when she attempted to bring it in into the UK from Canada.

Despite the new rules being a landmark move in medicine, experts argue it's not as straightforward as it seems because not everyone who needs it will be granted a license.

Here's everything you need to know about medical cannabis in the UK:

What are the new laws on medical cannabis?

Charlotte with twelve-year-old son Billy Caldwell / PA

Under new regulations, specialist doctors will be able to prescribe medical cannabis for patients.

The decision to reschedule the products came following a specially commissioned review.

An initial review by chief medical adviser Dame Sally Davies concluded that there was evidence medicinal cannabis can have therapeutic benefits.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which carried out the second part of the review, then said doctors should be able to prescribe medicinal cannabis provided products meet safety standards.

Announcing the move, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: "I have been clear that my intention was always to ensure that patients have access to the most appropriate course of medical treatment.

"I stressed the importance of acting swiftly to ensure that where medically appropriate, these products could be available to be prescribed to patients."

The new rules apply to England, Wales and Scotland.

Can my GP prescribe medical cannabis? Who is allowed to?

No - the new legislation says medical cannabis should only be prescribed by specialist doctors.

Dr Zoe Williams explained on This Morning that obtaining medical cannabis is not as straightforward as it sounds.

She said: "It sounds good on paper, but we just need to be realistic about what this really means in real terms.

"My local pharmacy wouldn't be able to dispense it, I haven't got the expertise or knowledge to weight up if that's in my patient's best interest."

She added: "This is the first step on a long journey. There's more work to be done."

Medical cannabis prescribed by specialist doctors will contain compounds of cannabis, including CBD and low levels of THC.

"CBD oil" and "cannabis oil" are two cannabis-based products patients can be prescribed.

The two terms are often used interchangeably, although cannabis oil tends to include THC, the psychoactive substance found in cannabis.

CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is one of 104 chemical compounds found in the marijuana plant. The substance can be extracted and mixed with a carrier oil, often hemp seed or coconut, to create CBD oil.

Unlike THC, the chemical compound is not psychoactive - it won't make you feel "high".

Instead it is thought to have significant therapeutic properties - but researchers are still working hard to understand the specifics.

Last year, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) classed CBD as medicine, providing it meets a strict set of "safety, quality and efficiency standards".

What conditions can CBD treat?

CBD has been claimed to be able to treat a variety of conditions including chronic pain.

CBD is currently present in two licensed products in the UK - Sativex, used to treat multiple sclerosis and Epidiolex, used to treat childhood epilepsy.

Am I eligible for CBD oil by prescription?

Those wanting to obtain CBD oil for medical purposes will have to apply for a license under a temporary approval panel.

The panel will consider the merits of each case to establish whether certain criteria have been met.

The specialist clinician wishing to prescribe CBD oil will have to prove exceptional clinical circumstances. They would have to demonstrate that there is no other lawful medicinal product that would meet the specific needs of the patient.

The specialist would also have to accept responsibility for risks and liability.

Applications should be made using the application form on the gov.uk website and sent to secretariat@expertpanel.gov.uk.

Is it illegal to buy CBD oil online or obtain it without a prescription?

Since the law has recognised CBD as medicine, it is legal to use.

Many health stores such as Holland & Barrett have started selling CBD products, although these do not contain THC.

CBD products with a higher THC content are subject to tighter regulation.

This is because THC is illegal in the UK.

Currently, the law states that CBD products can have a maximum THC content of 0.2 per cent.

So any CBD oil with a THC content higher than this obtained without prescription is illegal and use is to be prohibited.

Can I take CBD oil abroad?

It depends on where you're travelling to.

For example, in the US, when it comes to travelling with CBD oil, it must have a THC content below 0.3 per cent to be cleared.

Since laws on CBD oil differ around the world, it's advised to never fly with any potentially illegal substance, even if it's a non-psychoactive product such as CBD.

Is possession of cannabis still illegal?

Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash

Yes - cannabis continues to be a class B drug and possession will still carry an unlimited fine and up to five years in prison.

Mr Javid made this clear when he announced the UK was to legalise medical cannabis.

He said: "I have been consistently clear that I have no intention of legalising the recreational use of cannabis.
N HS hospitals are to pay for new visas for thousands of EU staff in a bid to keep them in London after Brexit, the Evening Standard can reveal.

University College London Hospitals, St Georges Hospitals and Guys and St Thomass are among the NHS trusts offering to foot the bill to prevent a feared exodus of foreign health workers.

More than one in 10 of the capitals health workers are from other European countries and NHS leaders are concerned that the UKs departure from the EU on March 29 next year will worsen dire staff shortages.

Professor Marcel Levi, chief executive of UCLH, one of the countrys elite NHS trusts, has written to almost 1,300 staff offering to cover the cost of each applying for settled status.

This is likely to cost UCLH, which has nine hospitals in central London, in excess of 100,000.

Professor Levi, who is from the Netherlands, told staff: Regardless of Brexit, we want you to stay with us.

Jacqueline Totterdell, chief executive of St Georges, in Tooting, is due to send similar letters to its 1,000 EU staff next week.

Our EU staff are all valued members of Team St Georges and make an enormous contribution to the services we provide every day, a spokesman said.

Siobhan Harrington, chief executive of Whittington hospital, in Archway, also offered to cover the cost of staff securing their immigration status to remain in the UK.

She said: [Its] so important to ensure our European colleagues are supported through any uncertainty. Valuing our staff who do such a great job to care for patients is key to our future NHS.

Imperial College Healthcare, which runs five west London hospitals including St Marys, and London North West Healthcare, which runs four hospitals including Northwick Park, are considering similar help for EU staff.

UCLH was unusual in declaring a 76m surplus in the last financial year but most of the other NHS trusts are struggling for cash to maintain frontline services.

An early bird settlement scheme for NHS workers launches on November 29, four months ahead of the general population. Applications cost 65.

UCLH said it would reimburse staff 85 to ensure they did not lose out once their wages were taxed. It is also arranging for specialist employment lawyers to hold advice sessions.

Settled status will give EU citizens unrestricted rights to remain in the UK, and the right to a British passport after five years of continuous residency.

Those who do not apply may have to leave the country by December 2020.

Last week Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, urged London health workers to hug an EU nurse to demonstrate that they are welcome to stay in the capital after Brexit.

Mr Stevens revealed he had personally sought out Spanish nurses at St Thomass hospital, in Lambeth, when his wife was receiving treatment, to reassure them and encourage them to remain with the NHS.

He said: We need everybody across the NHS in London to put your arm around a friend from the rest of the European Union and make sure they get that message.

The capital has about 8,000 nursing vacancies - up five per cent on last year.

Professor Jane Cummings, chief nursing officer at NHS England, said: We are all concerned [about Brexit], particularly about workforce implications.
A Japanese pilot has admitted being almost 10 times over the alcohol limit shortly before a flight from Heathrow Airport, police said.

Drunk first officer Katsutoshi Jitsukawa, 42, was already in the cockpit when police detained him on Sunday evening just 50 minutes before Japan Airlines (JAL) flight JL44 to Tokyo was due to take off.

Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that the driver of a crew bus alerted police after smelling alcohol on the pilot. Jitsukawa was arrested after he failed a breath test.

The flight was operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft which holds up to 244 passengers.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said Jitsukawa pleaded guilty to exceeding the alcohol limit at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Tests revealed he had 189mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in his system, almost 10 times the 20mg limit for a pilot.

The drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on November 29.

JAL issued an apology and pledged to "implement immediate actions to prevent any future occurrence", adding that "safety remains our utmost priority".

The flight departed after a 69-minute delay.

In June an experienced British Airways pilot was jailed for eight months for being caught on duty while more than four times the alcohol limit.

Julian Monaghan drank three double vodkas in his hotel room on an empty stomach before he was due on board a flight from Gatwick Airport to Mauritius on January 18.
Hobby Lobby expects the new store, which will be located between Harbor Freight and Big Lots, to open in March of next year, the company representative said.
L uxury flats at London's Centre Point have been removed from estate agents' listings due to property market uncertainty amid reports of people making "detached from reality" low offers.

Looming tax increases on overseas investors have resulted in prospective buyers making offers well below the asking price, developer Almacantar said.

The developer's chief executive Mike Hussey told the Guardian: Offers are now reflecting uncertainty on potential changes to stamp duty, taxation of overseas investors and other fiscal policy proposals.

Half of the tower's 82 flats will now lie empty, according to reports.

Rather than lower prices to meet the offers, the company has adopted a fresh approach to selling the multimillion-pound luxury apartments.

The former office building has been converted into 82 one to five-bedroom apartments / Getty Images

In response to the challenging market, Almacantar said they will no longer use agents CBRE and Knight Frank "until further notice" but instead use a small in-house sales team.

Hussey played down sales concerns, saying the developer, which has sold half the apartments, has cleared construction debts and leased the retail space at the bottom of the tower.

In 2015 the Standard revealed that the first apartments to go on sale at the West Ends only residential skyscraper were snapped up at asking price.

Apartments at the Grade II listed tower on the junction of Tottenham Court Road and New Oxford Street, now called Centre Point Residences, range in price from 1.8 million to 55 million.
G roups of reckless youths caused chaos in London on Halloween night, throwing fireworks at people and vehicles in various incidents across the capital.

Incidents were recorded in Harrow, Enfield and Haringey with officers reporting multiple cases of confiscating fireworks from teenagers.

Police in Haringey said that since 2pm on Wednesday, one of its response teams had received over 60 calls requiring immediate response, of those calls, 50 percent were about fireworks and anti-social behaviour.

Haringey police said Halloween is its busiest night of the year with extra officers put on the streets along with a higher frequency of patrol vans across the area.

Video footage taken in Harrow which contains some strong language shows youths launching fireworks at cars.

The video, taken on Cumberland Road in Queensbury shows two youths dressed in black running away from the scene.

In Enfield, police confirmed that they arrested a 14-year-old for possession of fireworks at Edmonton Green.

While officers also confiscated fireworks and dispersed teenagers on Poppy Drive.

Other incidents were recorded across the capital.

Inspector Owen Pyle from Southwark police said: "Fireworks calls are coming in thick and fast now. We're getting to them pretty quickly. Fair few person and vehicle stops. Please keep reporting any incidents, we'll attend them and deal with any offences."

While one twitter user, Annabelle Redman said she had seen "fireworks being thrown across Epping High Street at people by a group of young kids."

Last week, a group of teens were seen firing fireworks at each other on Kymberley Road.
T his is the terrifying view from the headcam of the so-called French Spiderman as he scaled the tallest building in Londons financial district.

Video footage from Alain Roberts camera reveals the nerve-shattering view he had beneath him from the Heron tower, which measures at 230m high.

The daredevil climber sparked a major police operation in the City last week after he scaled the building with his bare hands.

His antics, which caused the large police response, were understood to be a PR stunt for Dead Mans Fingers rum.

AP

Footage from the nerve-wracking video show Mr Robert holding on to the building with his bare hands and the long drop beneath him.

The climber can also be heard breathing heavily as he manoeuvres his feet carefully to not fall off.

City of London police confirmed they arrested the 56-year-old following the climb for causing a public nuisance.

Reuters

Commander Karen Baxter condemned the stunt, accusing the risk-taker of diverting resources.

She said: "The incident this afternoon has had a considerable impact on police, other emergency services and the local community.

"Our officers, the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service all attended this incident taking them away from genuine emergencies.

AFP/Getty Images

"Road closures meant a significant disturbance to local transport and businesses and their staff located in the building were also considerably affected.
T ube and Overground stations across London have been transformed today to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.

Stations in north, south, west and east London will have their recognisable names decorated with poppies to mark the special occasion.

And commuters may notice a different voice on board trains for the centenary, as celebs Jo Brand, Shane Richie and Lesley Joseph will be warning travellers to mind the gap.

The celebritys voices will be heard for one day only to support the Royal British Legions London Poppy Day, as they encourage commuters to donate money to the cause.

Underground and Overground stations, trams and buses will feature / TfL

More than 1,200 members of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force (RAF) have volunteered and will be spotted across 44 Underground stations to take donations.

There will also be a collection taking place on the Circle line, TfL staff who are serving or ex serving military will be joined by Britains Got Talent winner, Lance Corporal Richard Jones

TfL

Poppy vinyls will cover stations on the underground, overground, DLR stations, trams and eight buses in London.

Travellers also caught a guards band performing on Thursday morning across stations in London.

Director of Fundraising at The Royal British Legion, Claire Rowcliffe, said: The Poppy Appeal target for 2018 is 50 million which is our biggest target ever and London Poppy Day is a huge part of that. We are aiming to raise 1 million on the day across the city.

Managing Director of London Underground, Mark Wild, said: This year marks 100 years since the end of World War One and we will never forget the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women. We are committed to supporting the armed forces and their families as well as maintaining our relationship with The Royal British Legion.

This has only been made possible due to the support of bus operators, station staff and our celebrity friends and we hope that Londoners give generously to this wonderful cause.

The stations included are:
T wenty Labour MPs have rebelled to oppose Philip Hammond's income tax changes, amid Opposition tensions over how to respond to the Chancellor's latest Budget.

Former ministers Yvette Cooper, Dame Margaret Hodge and David Lammy were among those Labour MPs who voted against the Budget resolution to raise the personal allowance to 12,500 and the higher rate threshold to 50,000 from April 2019, despite party orders to abstain.

MPs approved the proposal by 314 votes to 31, majority 283, as the Budget debate concluded after four days.

Labour also put down an amendment which sought to press for a hike in income tax to 45 per cent on earnings above 80,000, and 50 per cent for those above 125,000, although this was defeated by 313 votes to 246 - majority 67

This proposal from the Opposition followed a heated row in Labour ranks after shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the party would not oppose Tory tax cuts for the middle class.

Under Mr Hammond's Budget plans the personal allowance, which is the maximum amount someone can earn before paying tax, will rise to 12,500 from 11,850.

The higher rate threshold - the income at which someone becomes liable to pay the 40 per cent tax rate - will rise to 50,000 from 46,350 at the same time.

A number of prominent Labour MPs called on the party to oppose the changes as they say they disproportionately benefit the better-off.

Ahead of the final day of debate, Labour MP Chuka Umunna told ITV's Peston: "No, I don't think these are the right kinds of things to be basically making a set of income tax changes which primarily benefit high earners. That's obviously wrong."
A ll-day drinking at UK airports could be banned under radical new proposals put forward by the government.

The Home Office is set to launch a review into whether high-street licensing laws should be extended into terminals at the countrys airports.

The move could see bars and restaurants unable to sell booze before 10am, ending the popular holidaymakers tradition of the early morning pint.

Airlines have been calling for a clampdown on alcohol sales before flights following an increase in cases of drunken behaviour, and a spike in arrests.

The Civil Aviation Authority said there were 417 reports of serious disruption on flights in 2017, up from 415 in 2016 and 195 in 2015.

Ryanair has previously called for more significant changes to cut down the sale of alcohol at airports, including a two-drink limit per passenger.

A month later, a Ryanair flight to Ibiza was forced to return to Manchester airport after 36 minutes because of a drunk and disruptive female passengers, who was later arrested.

Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins said disruptive or drunk behaviour in the skies was unacceptable.

Currently, airside pubs and restaurants  those which are beyond passport control - are exempt from the high street licensing laws. The Wetherspoons in Gatwick Airport opens at 3am.

The government is expected to release more details on its proposals today.

TODO: define component type apester

Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins said: "Air travel often marks the start of an exciting holiday abroad and airports are places to eat, drink and shop as we wait to board our flights.

"Most UK air passengers behave responsibly when flying, but any disruptive or drunk behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

"This Government is committed to ensuring that the travelling environment for airline passengers remains safe and enjoyable.
A criminal investigation has been launched by the National Crime Agency into alleged illicit and illegal funding of the pro-Brexit campaign in the 2016 referendum, it was announced today.

In a bombshell statement, the Electoral Commission said it had grounds to think that the true source of some 8 million for anti-EU propaganda was not declared. The investigation is centred on millions of pounds in loans and gifts to groups linked to one of the major figures in the campaign, tycoon Arron Banks, below.

Mr Banks, 52, said he was "confident the investigation would finally put an end to the ludicrous allegations". Companies and individuals linked to him have now been referred to the crime agency, dubbed Britains FBI, by the commission, which is the official watchdog established to ensure fairness in politics.

The insurance tycoon, who wrote a book called The Bad Boys Of Brexit, has long attracted controversy, not least for meeting Russian officials during the referendum campaign and being hosted at the Russian embassy.

Todays announcement follows the commissions wide-ranging investigation into claims  denied strongly by the major campaigns  that some funding broke strict legal limits.

In a statement, the commission said it had referred Mr Banks and Better For The Country, the organisation that ran the Leave.EU referendum campaign, plus Elizabeth Bilney, Leave.EU CEO, and other companies and individuals.

Detectives are looking at 2 million reportedly loaned to Better For The Country by Mr Banks and his group of insurance companies.

Arron Banks pictured with former Ukip leader Nigel Farage / PA Archive/PA Images

They are also investigating a further 6 million reported to have been given to the organisation, on behalf of Leave.EU, by Mr Banks.

Some 2.9 million of this money was used to fund referendum spending carried out on behalf of Leave.EU, along with donations to other campaign groups during the referendum battle.

The Commission said it had reasonable grounds to suspect that Mr Banks was not the true source of the 8 million loans made to Better For The Country. It also had reasonable grounds to suspect loans to Better for the Country involved a non-UK company which was ineligible to bankroll a British referendum by law.

Other suspicions are that Mr Banks, Ms Bilney and others concealed the true details of these financial transactions.

Mr Banks said: "I am pleased that the Electoral Commission has referred me to the National Crime Agency. I am confident that a full and frank investigation will finally put an end to the ludicrous allegations levelled against me and my colleagues.

"There is no evidence of any wrongdoing from the companies I own. I am a UK taxpayer and I have never received any foreign donations. The Electoral Commission has produced no evidence to the contrary.

"The Electoral Commission has referred me to the National Crime Agency under intense political pressure from anti-Brexit supporters.

"I am already in court with the Electoral Commission. In witness statements the commission has admitted it got its figures wrong in relation to a previous investigation and it even submitted its final report without taking evidence from us.

"Isn't it funny that none of the financial contributions made by George Soros to British political campaigns are ever subject to any level of scrutiny by the Electoral Commission despite his being a foreign national."

TODO: define component type apester

Bob Posner, a senior official at the commission, said: We have reasonable grounds to suspect money given to Better For The Country came from impermissible sources and that Mr Banks and Ms Bilney, the responsible person for Leave.EU, knowingly concealed the true circumstances under which this money was provided.

This is significant because at least 2.9 million of this money was used to fund referendum spending and donations during the regulated period of the EU referendum. Our investigation has unveiled evidence that suggests criminal offences have been committed which fall beyond the remit of the commission. This is why we have handed our evidence to the NCA to allow them to investigate and take any appropriate law enforcement action. This is now a criminal investigation.
S martphones with thermal imaging technology are being used to stop hedgehogs being accidentally burnt and killed in fires during Bonfire Night celebrations.

The phone is being used to scan unlit fires for any sign of the endangered animals, which are regularly found hiding or hibernating in piles of wood used for bonfires.

Using built-in thermal imaging technology, the Cat S61 smartphone is able to detect variations in heat, something which enables users to pinpoint where a hedgehog is hidden.

The use of the thermal imaging technology to save nestling hedgehogs in bonfires comes at a time when numbers of the endangered species are rapidly falling.

Thermal imaging technology is being used to save hedgehogs from bonfires / Amy Story

Fay Vass, chief executive of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, said a pile of bonfire material "looks like a five-star hotel to a hedgehog" and welcomed the technology.

She said: The estimated number of UK hedgehogs have fallen by half in rural areas and by a third in urban ones since 2000.

With there likely to be fewer than one million hedgehogs left, we need to do all we can to help. Any method of checking bonfire piles for hedgehogs is welcomed and encouraged.

Thermal imaging technology is being used to save hedgehogs / Amy Story

"Ideally the pile should be re-built on a clear site just before lighting and then be lit from one side only to offer an escape route for anything that has been missed.

Hedgehogs found when checking should be kept safe and secure away from festivities with some meaty cat or dog food and water, then released in the evening once the fire has dampened down.

Hedgehogs are an endangered species / Amy Story

The Cat S61, made by Reading-based company Bullitt Group, is used by builders and farmers as it is designed for the outdoors.

A spokesman for Bullitt Group said: Were continually surprised at the innovative uses people come up with for the phone and clearly anything that can be done to help endangered British wildlife has got to be a good thing."

Calling the Cat S61 a versatile piece of kit, the spokesman added: The phone is also used by farmers to find lost lambs and by people hunting for lost pets.

Hedgehogs rescued from a bonfire / Amy Story

Tom Sands, producer and director at Substantial Films, captured his friends hunting for hedgehogs nesting in bonfires around Lewes, in East Sussex  an area famed for the biggest bonfires in the country on Guy Fawkes night.

Ive loved bonfire night since I was a kid and Lewes builds some of the biggest bonfires in the country, Mr Sands said.

For us this is a great fun time of year but it can be a very dangerous time for hedgehogs and other wildlife, as many are accidentally being killed each year.
F urious Ryanair passengers have told of their anger over Ryanairs new baggage policy which sees passengers charged for carry on suitcases.

It is the second time in 2018 the budget airline has change its rules on hand luggage, with charges now in place for all items placed on board except the smallest of bags.

The firm claims this is to reduce boarding times and delays to flights. They said on social media the policy was working well on the first day.

Ryanair cabin crew across Europe have scheduled a strike due to take place Friday 28 September / REUTERS

However, the new rules have been met by derision from customers who claim they feel the measure is just a way of making Ryanair more money.

One wrote: 'Working well?' Working well for who? Another scam by the kings of the 'let's squeeze more out of our loyal travellers' company.

Another called it absolute robbery, a "transparent cash grab" and the company was asked how can you call yourself a low cost airline?.

Another said: Unbelievable, trying to put a positive spin on another money making racket. What an example of customer service!! Definitely worth looking at prices from other airlines as no longer comparing like with like.

As people got to grips with the new policy, Ryanair was tagged with queries as to what could and could not be taken on board.

New rules: Ryanair passengers will have to pay to take more than a small personal bag on board / PA Archive/PA Images

Its website was branded so confusing and the business was asked why is your luggage policy so confusing?

A photo showing a huge a Ryanair check-in queue was shared by a passenger on Thursday morning who wrote: Ryanair are a joke.. They are 1000% gonna lose business over the new bag check in.

Some flyers did welcome the policy though.

One said: Great news about the baggage changes. Fed up with waiting to board with my backpack and everyone bundles by with bloody suitcases. If everyone just has a backpack that goes under the seat, will make getting off the plane so much quicker too.

In January, Ryanair began a policy which saw passengers who had not bought priority boarding permitted to take a "personal bag" such as a handbag on board.

Then a second larger bag such as a wheelie suitcase weighing up to 10kg could be put in the hold free of charge.

But this resulted in up to 120 bags being tagged at boarding gates for each flight.

As a result, departures were disrupted, leading Ryanair to no longer allow any luggage in the hold free of charge.

Passengers have to pay 8 to check in a 10kg bag, dropped from the previous lowest price for checked luggage was 25 for up to 20kg, which remains an option for those with heavier cases.

Only small bags will now be permitted on board for free / REUTERS

Passengers who pay for priority boarding costing 6 will continue to be allowed to take both a "personal bag" and small suitcase as hand baggage.

Ryanair believes some customers may prefer the 8 checked luggage option because they do not want to drag a wheelie case through airport security.

A statement on the airline's website read: "Main benefits of this new policy will be reduced flight delays and cheaper checked bag option. Pack more liquids into a 10kg checked wheelie bag. Walk to the boarding gate hands free."

Ryanair insists it does not expect to make more money from the new rules.
S ome 250 staff at Gatwick Airport who assist passengers including disabled travellers are to hold three 48-hour strikes amid a pay rise row.

The assistance workers, employed by logistics firm Wilson James, are involved in a tussle for a 1 increase to their hourly wage.

Those planning the walk out are members of the Unite union and claim they are paid less than half other staff employed by the same business.

Gatwick Airport has urged both sides to find a resolution while Wilson James said it hopes to achieve a "mutually agreeable outcome".

Unite regional officer Jamie Major said: "Our members have given us an overwhelming mandate for strike action in their dispute over this massive inequality in pay.

"We now have a generous window of opportunity for the management to sit down with us and negotiate a decent pay award before the six days of strike action kick in this month and in December.

"The last thing our members want is to cause inconvenience and distress to those passengers who rely on their services during their time at Gatwick Airport but they feel they have been forced into a corner by a tight-fisted management who refuse to address the pay inequality issue.

"There is no rhyme nor reason why pushing luggage is valued more than helping people."

The workers claim they are paid half the amount of other airport staff / Getty Images

The workers will leave their posts for 48-hours at a time from 5am on November 20, November 26 and December 21.

A statement from Unite says the workers involved help around 670,000 people each year and are paid 8.27 per hour.

A Gatwick spokesman said: "We encourage both sides to continue discussions and to work for an outcome to resolve the dispute.

"The welfare of our passengers remains our top priority however and we remain confident that services at the airport will not be disrupted as Wilson James has a range of mitigation measures ready to put into place should strike action take place."

A spokesman for Wilson James said: "We are disappointed in this ballot decision but we remain committed to continuing the dialogue in good faith with our colleagues at Unite to achieve a mutually agreeable outcome.
According to a police report, the pedestrian, a Chicago resident, was walking in the 500 block of South Austin Boulevard at about 4:46 a.m. when two men approached. Police said the men displayed handguns and struck the pedestrian.
T housands of people in Pakistan have taken to the streets for a second day to protest the acquittal of a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy.

Asia Bibi spent eight years on death row for insulting the prophet Muhammad before her acquittal on Wednesday.

Radical lsamists mounted rallies against the verdict, blocking roads and burning tyres in protest as they demanded she be executed.

Groups of protesters have blocked at least 10 key roads in the country demanding the womans execution, according to reports.

Video footage showed huge crowds blocking a motorway linking Lahore and Islamabad. Several vehicles could be seen on fire.

Asia Bibi was on death row for over eight years, convicted of blasphemy / EPA

The protests have now entered their second day.

More than 1,000 Islamists blocked a key road linking the capital, Islamabad with the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Thursday, demanding Bibi be publicly hanged.

Authorities deployed paramilitary troops, signaling they could move in to clear the roads.

Hundreds also blocked another key motorway, linking Islamabad with major cities such as Lahore and Peshawar, chanting slogans against Bibi and demanding her execution.

Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for calm after the countrys islamist party called for the death of judges that overturned the death sentence.

On Wednesday, he accused religious hardliners of inciting" people to protest for their own political gain.

He added: Who suffers due to this? Our Pakistanis. The common people, the poor. You block the roads, you rob peoples livelihood.

This is not the service of Islam, this is enmity with the country. Only anti-state elements talk like this, that kill the judges, start a revolt in the army.they are only trying to beef up their vote bank.

Ms Bibi was convicted of blasphemy after a row with neighbours.

Supporters of a Pakistani religious group burn tyres while blocking a main road / AP

She went to get water for her and her fellow farm workers. Two Muslim women refused to drink from a container used by a Christian and a few days later she was accused of blasphemy.

Islamists had demanded her execution.

A protester gestures at a poster depicting Asia Bibi / EPA

Ms Bibi and her family are expected to leave the country.

Her brother James Masih said: "She has no other option and she will leave the country soon."

Authorities place shipping containers to try and stop protesters from entering the capital / AP

She has been offered asylum in Spain and France.

The judges and Ms Bibi's lawyer have been forced to go into hiding following the case.

Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab province, was shot and killed by one of his guards in 2011 for defending Ms Bibi and criticising the misuse of the blasphemy law.
Y ouTube star and TV presenter Candace Owens has apologised to Kanye West over his name being linked to the design of a controversial Blexit t-shirt range.

Ms Owens, a political commentator and activist in the US, wrote to clarify the situation after Mr West announced his decision to step away from politics following its fallout.

It was reported that Mr West had designed the logo for Blexit, a movement launched by Ms Owens urging black American voters to cease supporting the Democratic Party.

In a statement on her blog, the 29-year-old wrote: I never once said that Kanye designed the t-shirts for BLEXIT. This is a lie that seems to have made its way around the world; a lie I would like to again correct for the record.

YouTube star and TV presenter Candace Owens / Rex Features

Kanye was completely right to feel used in that regard and as I have done personally, I would like to publicly apologize to him for any undue stress or pain the effort to correct that rumor has caused him, his business relationships, or his family. He simply never designed them.

I am a leader, and I would like to lead in this moment by stating that any and all confusion relating to this topic is therefore my fault, entirely.

However, in a video shared by Breitbart of Ms Owens announcing her Blexit campaign, she held up a cap and said: I am blessed to say that this logo, these colours, were created by my dear friend and fellow superhero, Kanye West.

Following Mr West being linked to the range, he wrote on Twitter to share his stance on the situation.

He also said in posts he did not agree with some of the political views of Ms Owens and the Blexit, black exit, campaign.

Rapper Kanye West shows President Donald Trump his mobile phone during a meeting in the Oval Office / REUTERS

The rapper, now going by the name Ye, said: I introduced Candace to the person who made the logo and they didnt want their name on it so she used mine. I never wanted any association with Blexit. I have nothing to do with it.

The in a second post he said: My eyes are now wide open and now realise Ive been used to spread messages I dont believe in. I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative !!!

The latter was linked by many as connected to Mr Wests friendship with, and support of, Donald Trump.

Ms Owens also apologised to Mr Trump in her statement and said: I would also like to publicly apologise to President Trump, as I know that Kanyes tweets were rapidly misinterpreted as a shot to this administration.

His tweets were aimed at me and me only, rightfully, for my personal failings. I bare full responsibility.
P resident Donald Trump has launched a final midterm election campaign blitz with a racially-charged political advert that accuses Democrats of plotting to allow immigrant murderers into America.

The advert was described by CNN today as the most extreme step yet in the most inflammatory closing argument of any campaign in recent memory.

It features Luis Bracamontes, an illegal immigrant from Mexico who has been deported twice but sneaked back into the US and was convicted in February of murdering two California police officers.

Im going to kill more cops soon, a grinning Bracamontes is shown saying in court as captions flash across the screen reading: Democrats let him into our country. Democrats let him stay.

Donald Trump is trying to whip up anti-Democrat sentiment ahead of the midterm elections (Getty Images)

The advert, which was produced by Mr Trumps campaign and shared in a tweet by the president only days before next weeks crucial midterm elections, also includes footage of the migrant caravan heading through Mexico to the US border from Central America together with a caption asking: Who else would Democrats let in?

It ends with the boast: President Donald J. Trump and Republicans are making America safe again!

Mr Trump posted the film on Twitter with the message: Its outrageous what the Democrats are doing to our country. Vote Republican now!

The advert has been compared with the notorious Willie Horton campaign advert financed by backers of George H.W. Bush in the 1988 presidential election which targetted a prison release plan being pushed by his Democrat opponent Michael Dukakis. Horton was an African-American prisoner who was released from jail for a weekend and went on to commit a rape, armed robbery and assault.

The advert was blasted at the time for playing to white voter fears and black stereotypes but was nevertheless regarded as being devastating to the doomed Dukakis campaign.

Former US Secretary of Labour Robert Reich called the Bracamontes advert the most desperate and vile since Willie Horton.

Theyve resorted to fear mongering, he wrote of the Republicans.

Mr Trump is attempting to steer the debate towards immigration issues as he begins a final campaign swing with 11 rallies in eight states before Tuesdays vote that will decide whether the Republicans can regain control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Trump discusses plan to sign an executive order terminating birthright citizenship

Taking the Pentagon by surprise last night, he also suggested that as many as 15,000 US troops could be deployed to Americas borders with Mexico to keep out undocumented immigrants.

We have to have a wall of people, he told ABC News.

The president will criss-cross the nation, landing him in Senate battlefields such as Indiana, Missouri and Florida along with nail-biter contests for governor in Georgia and Ohio.

Speaking at a rally in Florida last night, Mr Trump again took aim at the US media, claiming that a third of Americans believed it was the enemy of the people.
T he suspect in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre in which 11 Jewish people died has pleaded not guilty to federal murder and hate crime charges.

Robert Bowers spoke little in court, other than to say he understood the 44 charges and to enter a "not guilty" plea.

The plea comes four days after 11 people were killed when a gunman opened fire in the Tree of Life Synagogue.

Bowers is the suspect in what is believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in the United States in recent history.

The 46-year-old has been charged with counts including religious hate crimes, firearms charges and causing injury to police officers.

US federal prosecutors have previously indicated they plan to seek the death penalty.

Robert Bowers, the suspect of the attack at the Tree of Life synagogue / AFP/Getty Images

Robert Bowers, the suspect of the attack at the Tree of Life synagogue (AFP/Getty Images)

A married couple, two brothers and a 97-year-old woman were among those killed in the massacre on Saturday.

The victims include a pair of brothers and a husband and wife, with their ages ranging 50 to 97.

Speaking after the charges were announced on Wednesday, US attorney Scott Brady said: "Today begins the process of seeking justice for the victims of these hateful acts, and healing for the victims' families, the Jewish community, and our city.

"Our office will spare no resource, and will work with professionalism, integrity and diligence, in a way that honours the memories of the victims."

Bowers, who worked as a lorry driver, remained jailed without bail ahead of the preliminary hearing on Thursday.

Authorities say he raged against Jews during the attack.

Flowers surround Stars of David on Wednesday / AP

Members of Pittsburgh's grief-stricken Jewish community yesterday endured another round of funerals for the congregants who were gunned down in Saturday's rampage.

Melvin Wax, 87, Irving Younger, 69, and Joyce Fienberg, 75, were being laid to rest as part of a week-long series of services.

"It can't be fixed," Robert Libman said at the funeral of Ms Fienberg, his sister, clutching his chest as he described the pain of losing her.

Students from the Yeshiva School after attending the funeral service for Joyce Fienberg / AP

"My sister is dead. My sister was murdered. There was no one I know like her. Pure goodness. ... She was the most tolerant and gentle person that I've ever known."

Six people were wounded in the attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue, including four police officers, two of whom remained in hospital with gunshot wounds.
O fficials in Tanzania have launched a surveillance task force to hunt down and "round up" members of the LGBT+ community within its borders.

Governor Paul Makonda today announced the creation of a new surveillance squad dedicated to hunting down gay people in the major city of Dar es Salaam, and told reporters "round-ups" would begin next week.

The crackdown comes amid a harsh repression of opposition parties in the country and numerous disappearances, sparking human rights concerns from the international community.

Now a new team is said to scrutinise social media for "homosexual acts" and arrest people in same-sex couples.

Homosexuality is illegal in Tanzania, and homophobia has been increasingly prevalent since the election of President John Magufuli, who is known for anti-gay rhetoric, in 2015.

Some 17 officers from the Tanzania Communications Authority and police and media practitioners would be brought in to run the "round-ups".

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has spurred a rise a anti-gay rhetoric in the jointly Christian and Muslim country / AFP/Getty Images

The government has called for people to inform on each other, and said anyone who has "carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature" is punishable by 30 years in prison.

Many gay, lesbian and transgender people are forced to hide their sexuality, and Mr Makonda called on the country's deputy health minister to "give me their names", after previously threatening to publish a list of known homosexuals.

"I prefer to anger those countries than to anger God," he said, referring to the expected anger around the rest of the world.

HIV clinics in the country have been forced to close, and the regime has made strict warnings for people to delete naked photos from their phones in a parallel crackdown on pornography.

Mr Makonda told reporters on Monday: "I have received reports that there are so many homosexuals in our city, and these homosexuals, are advertising and selling their services on the internet.

"Therefore, I am announcing this to every citizen of Dar es Salaam. If you know any gays... report them to me," he added during a news conference in Swahili.

Thousands of gay and transgender people are said to be hiding in fear since the announcement. Some said they were too scared to go outside during the day, while others had left their homes fearing imminent arrest.

"Since Monday, I have left my place and have been moving here and there. I am always looking over my shoulder in case they coming for me," Nathan, 24, said.

"There's so much tension within the gay community at the moment. Not just in Dar, but all over the country. We are really scared. We don't know what to do and where to go."

"I haven't left my house during the day for the last four days. I am scared to death," said 19-year-old sex worker Michael, from the northeastern city of Arusha,

"We have no one to protect us. We ask the United Nations and other countries to help us to go somewhere else where we do not have to hide in fear."

Deniz Nzioka, a journalist on sexuality issues in East Africa told the Standard the threat of "round-ups" was just the latest development in a trend which has swept the region.

File photo: Weregesa Moita, 85, looks after her children born in her same-sex marriages to wife Monicca Moita, 23 (unseen). Their tribe in northern Tanzania became a safe haven for gay couples as much of Africa outlaws homosexuality. Now Tanzania's authorities are clamping down on gay couples, and threatening to use social media surveillance to "round them up" and imprison them for up to 30 years. / AFP/Getty Images

He said: "It has been difficult for LGBT people in TZ ever since President Magufuli came to power. Since cracking down on foreign donors, the media and other human rights organisations, it was only a matter of time before his administration trained its eyes on LGBT people.

"We have seen a number of anti gay rhetoric from politicians and police, state-sanctioned raids on LGBT offices, arrests and public statements meant to instil fear.

"We had a vibrant queer organising community in TZ a few years back - they are now forced to hide, avoid using social media, and live in fear of being reported to police."

The anti-gay agenda has become a political tool for leaders seeking a popular vote, Mr Nzioka added, already used in Gambia, Uganda, Nigeria and Cameroon to inflame hatred of marginalised groups.

"Politicians, often to side with the majority, and usually around election time, would target, profile, and fan anti gay, anti sex, anti foreigner, anti-Western messaging," he said, "just to get support and consolidate a voting base, from the church, traditional leaders, and secular leaders."

But there "isn't an iota of evidence" that the "thousands of names" supposedly reported to police are genuine, added the Kenyan journalist.

"We cannot authenticate these names or persons reported to the Commissioner.

"There is no iota of evidence to warrant a conviction based on a complaint someone made about you.

"A culture of impunity is being created, where people will report on each other just because they had a fight, or they don't like each other.
T ommy Robinson is facing backlash in Australia after he announced a new speaking tour of the country alongside the leader of a new right men-only group.

The tour, named The Deplorables, features Mr Robinson and Gavin McInnes addressing crowds in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Sydney in December.

Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon was freed on bail from a UK prison earlier this year after being charged with contempt of court.

Gavin McInnes, centre, founder of the far-right group Proud Boys / AP

Gavin McInnes was one of the founders of Vice media before embracing right wing politics, forming the group Proud Boys.

Proud Boys have been banned from Facebook and Instagram for "organised hate".

Mr Robinson had been set to tour Australia with Milo Yiannopoulos however the event was cancelled without refunds.

The new tour has drawn criticism from Australians who have called for the pair to have their visas cancelled.

A petition to stop Gavin McInnes tour has been signed by over 48,000 people.

While Australias Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich has called on the countrys Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton to cancel Mr Robinson's visa.

The countrys Green Party has also called for the Home Affairs minister to cancel their visas in a lengthy statement.

Richard Di Natale, leader of the Green Party said: Mr Yaxley-Lennon was recently jailed in the United Kingdom after being found guilty of contempt of court, and while a criminal history alone is not necessarily a justification to deny a visa on character grounds, it clearly reflects that his views remain unchanged.

Mr Yaxley-Lennons sole reported purpose for this trip is to join a fellow white supremacist in a national talking tour, with the intention of spreading hatred and misogyny and the potential to incite violence.

Other Australians have taken to social media to share their outrage at the tour.

Ian Evans wrote: Tommy Robinson and Gavin McInnes are far-right organisers, with violent supporters. Theyve both been in a rally with Generation Identity, the neo-nazi group. They really shouldnt be in Australia.

While Karen Williams said: "I hear Tommy Robinson wants to come to Australia., please do not let him in."

Another user wrote: "In the coming months Australia is going to get visits from a lot of people such as Tommy Robinson & Gavin McInnes. These people & I use that term loosely, scare me."

20,000 people have signed a petition calling for Tommy Robinson and Gavin McInnes to be allowed into Australia.

Tommy Robinson has also been invited to speak in the US by The Middle East Forum. The speech is set to take place in Washington on November 14.

Earlier this year Nigel Farage's toured Australia as part of an "Entertaining Evening with Nigel Farage."
R aab backtracks on Brexit deal date

Dominic Raab has been forced to backtrack just hours after saying a Brexit deal could be made within three weeks.

The Brexit secretary hinted that an EU withdrawal agreement may be finalised by November the 21st.

But his remark was rubbished when his own department last night insisted there was no set date.

Organised crime costs 37bn a year

Serious and organised crime costs the UK economy 37 billion a year, according to an official assessment.

Ministers said the gang activity affects more UK citizens than all other national security threats combined.

It comes as figures showed the scale of damage inflicted by the most dangerous and prolific criminal networks.

The National Crime Agency data showed there are around 4,600 serious and organised crime groups in Britain.

Revealed: this years Christmas stamps

Royal Mail has revealed this year's Christmas stamps, which all feature postboxes.

The six new festive stamps show traditional red-coloured postboxes.

Each one features a cypher from the six monarchs of the last 100 years.

They are available from today. View the new designs here.

Outrage in Essex over US campaign ad

A US congressional candidate has sparked outrage by using an image of an Essex village to show what could happen if voters do not back Donald Trump.

An advert used a picture of UK seaside village Jaywick Sands, near Clacton, to attack Nick Stella's Democrat opponent.

The campaign picture showed a street with an unpaved road and rundown homes.

It read: "Help President Trump keep America on track and thriving."

Locals were furious, with one saying: I don't think foreign people should be using our village as a political tool. How dare they?"

Jonathan Ross Halloween bash

Celebrities were out in force for Jonathan Ross famous Halloween bash at his London manor last night.

Stars including David Walliams, Jimmy Carr and Shirley Ballas were among those to attend the soiree.

Talk show host Ross throws the glitzy bash every year - with many big name stars on the guest list.

On this day...

1512: Michelangelo unveiled his painting of the ceiling of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.

1755: An earthquake reduced 85 per cent of Lisbon to rubble, killing up to 100,000 people.

1848: WH Smith opened its first railway bookstall at Euston Station, London in the start of multiple retailing in Britain.

1922: The first radio licences went on sale in Britain at a cost of 10 shillings (50p).

1956: Computer ERNIE was born as Premium Bonds first went on sale in Britain.
W e may be seeing more vegan options on menus and supermarkets than ever before, but the vegan lifestyle extends to more than what's on our plates.

The demand for vegan beauty has never been higher, leading to a welcome burst of fresh new makeup brands offering high performing products that perform just as well as their traditional predecessors.

But with everyone from established brands to fresh-faced newcomers trying to win the hearts and pounds of customers with their green credentials, how can you tell what's truly vegan and what's not?

Whats the difference between cruelty-free and animal-free?

Natural, ethical, sustainable, organic: it can be hard to cut through the marketing noise and find out which products are truly vegan.

PETA offers a helpful definition: Cruelty-free means that products were created without cruel, archaic testing on animals. Vegan products are defined as being cruelty-free as well as free of animal-derived ingredients.

So that means beauty that contains none of the following on its ingredients list: beeswax, gelatine, lanolin, collagen, silk, dairy or honey. To cut to the quick, if it came from an animal - it's not vegan.

How can you tell if a brand is ethical?

The best way is to read the About Me section online, look out for Vegan trademark sign from the Vegan Society. Steer clear of products made in China as animal testing is required by law there.

See our favourite all--vegan brands below

MUA

MUA has always been committed to bringing the masses cruelty-free beauty but it recently updated its entire collection to ensure it's 100 per cent vegan too, coming good on a pledge it made to its customers in January 2019.

The brand ensured all new product launches over the last 12 months flew the flag for vegan beauty as well as working to reformulate the existing ranges to make them completely animal-friendly. MUA collected the data they found along the way to release its first ever Vegan Beauty Report, which also reveals that 68 per cent of people wouldn't know if an ingredient was vegan unless they looked it up. It's commendable that while we're all still grappling with veganism and trying to make better choices, this makeup brand has taken the confusion out by making its collection all-vegan.

It doesn' hurt that the products are tantalisingly cheap either. MUA is the place to go to for quick thrills - prices rarely nudge beyond a tenner, even for the incredible 20-shade eyeshadow palettes - making it perfect for trying the latest trends without breaking the bank.

Shop MUA now also available at Superdrug

Kat Von D  now KvD Vegan Beauty

Formerly owned by the celebrity tattoo and makeup artist Kat Von D, the brand has changed hands to Kendo, the same producer who makes Fenty and Marc Jacobs Beauty.

Built on 12 years of offering 100 per cent vegan makeup that challenged modern beauty ideals, the new owners are changing the name to KvD Vegan Beauty but the current collection will remain on shelves and the brand will continue to specialise in vegan-only products.

Wrapped in black or Gothic packaging, KvD Vegan Beauty has all you need to create everything from a high-fashion look to off-duty makeup for the weekend.

Lime Crime

A favourite with makeup artists of every level, Lime Crime shouts about its vegan credentials about as loudly as some of the colours in its eyeshadow palette. Not that we're complaining, because the beauty offering is sensational.

Sold in the UK on Cult Beauty, Boots and Lookfantastic, there's everything from wet-look lip glosses to semi-permanent hair dye to lust over, all 100 per cent vegan and cruelty-free.

DearDahlia

So often, the word vegan conjures a budget look or cut-rate alternatives. Not so with DearDahlia, where everything from the packaging and the richly-pigmented formulas say luxe with confidence.

While the packaging might look familiar to a certain BadGals collection, all DearDahlias cosmetics are completely vegan - no compromises.

Our star pick? The dual palettes which come with a mirror, two eyeshadows and a multi-balm to swipe across cheeks, eyes and lips as you wish.

Cover FX

Radiant glowy makeup thats vegan too? Just a click away at Cover FX, whose dazzling Custom Enhancer Drops are legendary. Available in no less than seven shades, use the integrated pipet to mix a few  and we really mean only a few because each packs a blinding gleam of light  drops into your foundation for an all-over glow or sparingly pat along the top of cheekbones for instant highlight.

Theres also foundation, concealer and blush to add to your beauty kit as well as setting sprays to help your freshly crafted look last from dawn to dusk.

As well as fully vegan and cruelty-free, the brand has a long-standing commitment to clean ingredients so you wont find talc, parabens, scent, mineral oil, gluten, sulphates or phthalates in any of their products either. Pretty fantastic.

Milk

From across the Atlantic comes this vegan beauty heavyweight, another wildly popular name on everyone's lips in the beauty community. Despite its name, the brand steers clear of animal by-products in its ingredients list, opting instead for vegan alternatives that are also chemical-free.

Bestsellers include Kush High Volume Mascara, made with highly conditioning oils that come from plants and the multi-use Lip + Cheek stick which comes in five shades - a handbag heroes if ever we saw one.

e.l.f

Cruelty-free, vegan and inclusive, e.l.f stands for every eye, lips and face. The range is aimed at a 20s audience, with an even spread of makeup and skincare. Palettes are full of easy, wearable colours with a little glitter twist thrown in, while the Flawless Finish Foundation, which comes in 40 shades and costs just 7.50, will give you the long-lasting coverage that you would expect from a product triple its price.

Cult Candy Cosmetics

As well as making moves to become more ethical, beauty brands are becoming more inclusive too, acknowledging that men as well as women like to experiment with makeup. A nominee in the ASOS Beauty Awards, Cult Candy Cosmetics is built around the core belief that makeup is for everyone, whether they identify as him, her or non-binary.

But be warned: it's not one for shy, retiring types. Palettes feature the sort of day-glo hues DC Comics Harley Quinn would kill for, but don't let that scare you off. There are a few more sober options for those who want to dabble in colour too.

Weve got our eye on this bubble-gum pink liquid lipstick which dries matte  the perfect colour to cheer up a grey day.

Florence by Mills

Full of gentle, softly enhancing colours at a budget-friendly price (from 10 - 34), this may have started off as beauty for Gen Z-ers, but it appeals to customers across the board thanks to the highly wearable palette of cheek and lip colours.

It comes from 15 year-old Netflix Originals star Millie Bobby Brown, whose supernatural girl-next-door look has won fans across the world. Launched in September 2019, Florence is not only a committed vegan brand, but its also suitable for all skin types, dermatologically tested, infused with vitamins and botanicals, and free from irritants such as parabens, sulphates and synthetic fragrances.

If youre not sure what to try first, we recommend the Cheek Me Later Cream Blush (available in six colours) which can be used sparingly on cheeks and dabbed onto lips for a fresh, rosy glow.

When vegan beauty looks this good, the concept of anything else is a Stranger Thing (not at all sorry).

Axiology

Looking for stop-traffic lipstick that's vegan to boot? Look no further than Axiology, where luxe matte finish colour is the order of the day. They're formulated with leaf-derived candelilla wax rather than beeswax which works to keep your lips hydrated and plump.

What's more, the collection is free of parabens, petrochemicals and animal testing while managing to be completely organic too. Is it any wonder we're obsessed?

Code Beautiful

Back when it launched in 2014, Code Beautiful was one of a handful of beauty brands who could confidently say they were 100 per cent vegan.

While its a busier marketplace now, theyre continuing to up their game with innovative new products like CODE FFL, a pre-mascara plumper that fattens and lengthens lashes to new levels. Granted, Code Beautiful doesnt have a huge makeup offering but that means all the more care has gone into creating the hero products youll find in its online store.

Boutique

Sainsburys is doing more than ever to appeal to the nations 600,000+ vegans, from filling chiller aisles with new ready meals to making over beauty counters with all-vegan makeup and skincare. The 119-product collection, named Boutique, re-launched in September 2019 and is full of essentials as well as trend-led products. Prices top out at just 6, proving that vegan makeup can be found at budgets to suit everyone.

B. By Superdrug

Makeup, skincare and even a mens range  its all vegan at Superdrugs B. Made with the highest quality cruelty-free and vegan-only ingredients and materials, there are some absolute treasures for your makeup kit, including double-ended contour sticks, setting powder and brow kits.

Makeup brands with vegan beauty products

Makeup brands are reflecting the nation's curiosity for vegan products with all-vegan products or special collections. Below are some notable names from the world of beauty who are making the effort to go greener in 2020.

Glossier

The brand of the moment, Glossier is one of the most coveted brands around. While not all the products are vegan, there are lots of makeup and skincare must-haves that are, such as Brow Flick, Perfecting Skin Tint, Wowder finishing powder and Generation G sheer matte lipstick which come in six shades to suit every complexion.

Hourglass

The beauty favourite, known for its incredible highlighters and blush in particular, has pledged to become fully vegan by 2020.

Fenty

Illamasqua

Vegan friendly products from Illamasqua include Skin Base Foundation, Beyond Powder (various shades), Hydra Veil Primer, Iconic Chromes, Loaded Lip Polish and brushes.

Eyeko

All Eyeko eyeliners, the Yoga and Beach Mascara, Define It Brow Pencil, new Galactic Lid Gloss and Eye Boost Serum are all vegan.

SportFX

Made to withstand the most punishing of workouts, SportFX is a new makeup and skincare brand designed with fitness fans in mind. They promise that once applied their long-lasting formulas wont budge, even through a 45min spin class or run club in the rain. Theyre also paraben-free, non-comedegenic and lots of the range is vegan certified.

Coco & Eve

You've no doubt seen their hair masks all over Instagram, such is their popularity with everyone from your cousins to office junior. Slather on and enjoy luscious locks in as little as ten minutes.

Urban Decay
N ile Rodgers is reportedly set to replace Robbie Williams on The X Factor this weekend when he jets off to South America.

Williams, who is mentoring the Groups category, will miss Sundays show due to tour commitments in Chile, leaving Rodgers with the all-important sing-off vote.

Reports in The Sun claim that Williams was due to miss Saturday night as well but ITV will now pre-record the show before the judge catches his flight.

A source told the publication: The show will air as live in its usual slot. Nile is a music legend so viewers will be in for a treat.

Replaced: Robbie Williams will be missing from The X Factor this Sunday / ITV/REX

Standard Online has contacted ITV and The X Factor for comment.

Chic star Rodgers, 66, has already appeared as a guest judge on the show during Judges Houses where he joined Louis Tomlinson, alongside Liam Payne, to help pick the final four boys.

Robbie Williams reveals he is 'genuinely gutted' to leave X Factor

He told ITVs Lorraine show: Im gutted that Ive got to go. Genuinely, genuinely gutted that Ive got to go. It was all booked in before. Im going to go off and do a few gigs in South America.

Im looking forward to going down there because I havent been there forever, but if Id have known it wouldnt be happening, put it that way. Im going to miss the show.

The X Factor is on ITV, Saturday at 8.35pm
T he Apprentices Rick Monk has hit out at Kurran Pooni after becoming the fifth candidate to be fired by Lord Sugar.

Monk was given the boot by the businessman after failing to impress in the ladies shoe marketing task.

Despite not being chosen to go back into the boardroom by project manager Jackie Fast, Monk was ousted after Lord Sugar turned the usual format on its head as he hauled the whole team back in front of him.

And the 33-year-old has made it clear that he shouldnt have been the one to go, pointing the Youre Fired finger at Pooni.

Foe: Rick Monk hit out at Kurran Pooni in his exit interview / BBC

Monk told Standard Online: I think Kurran should have got fired. During the task he wasnt being the product, he wasnt helpful. He wasnt a team player and I dont even know what he contributed.

Its worse than having one less team member. Having someone whos not supportive is just not productive in the team.

And he put himself forward to be PM and he didnt do it  he went back on his word and he had said that to Lord Sugar.

Monk also hinted that his fellow contestant may have been trying to use the show to brand himself.

He said: I dont know what Kurrans business plan was and he said he wants to be an actor. Perhaps he is using it for a platform.

As he spoke about his exit in the taxi, Monk accused Pooni of throwing him under the bus in the boardroom after Pooni pointed out he did less than he had.

Next week, the remaining candidates will be tasked with creating and editing a marketing campaign for a brand new budget airline.
Stanley Piotrowski, 67, of the 5200 block of West Eddy Street, Chicago, was charged with retail theft and battery on the afternoon of Oct. 28 following an alleged incident that occurred at Jewel-Osco, 481 Busse Highway. According to police, Piotrowski was accused of stealing multiple bottles of alcohol from the store before getting into the passenger seat of a car that struck a store employee who was attempting to stop the car from leaving the parking lot. The driver of the car then got out and allegedly punched the employee several times before running away, police said. Officers were continuing to investigate in an attempt to identify the driver. Piotrowski was given a Nov. 20 court date.
I know certain of the sitting board members and I believe that the proposal to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on unneeded physical improvements is an attempt to create a personal legacy, which is utterly divorced from actual need. When I was president, I spearheaded a comprehensive review of the physical conditions of the three schools, which utterly belies the current proposals for more taxpayer money. And please, please dont believe that the cost will be only $350 per household per year. That is an average, based no doubt on fuzzy math, and is not what most people will really owe, if the past is prologue.
Police were advised of a narcotic complaint in the 300 block of Locust Street because the odor of marijuana was coming from an apartment on Tuesday, according to a release from Sgt. E.J. Hall, public information officer with the Valparaiso Police Department.
Deputy Prime Minister Ana Birchall had a series of meetings with representatives of the island states in the Southeast Pacific and Caribbean region, whom she presented to Romania's objectives with the United Nations Organisation, by promoting our country's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 mandate.

Discussions were occasioned by the Romanian official's participation in the high-level inter-regional meeting "SAMOA Pathway Midterm Review" held in Apia, Samoa, informs a release of the Government's Press Office on Thursday.

Ana Birchall hosted an working dinner, having as guests the permanent representatives to the UN of the island states, including Australia and New Zealand, which are the most influent in this part of the world."During the working dinner, they debated on the specific challenges facing the respective regions and security threats generated by the climate changes. On this occasion, the Romanian official conveyed Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila's message of support, for identifying and implementing some dialogue and partnership solutions, both at bilateral and inter-regional level, for managing these risks, taking into account that Romania will hold the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union (starting in January 2019) and our country' bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council," reads the release.Deputy PM Birchall had a bilateral meeting with Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Dame Meg Taylor, whom she discussed with about the specific development needs of the island states in the region, as well as concrete modalities of strengthening cooperation within the multilateral formats of the UN system and support mechanisms managed at the European Union level.
Germany's Ambassador in Bucharest Cord Meier-Klodt on Thursday urged Romania's decision makers to get involved in the development of the dual education system as a real chance for the future of the Romanian society.

"It is very important to the society's prosperity that the education system meet the requirements of the economy today. To prosper, economy certainly needs top engineers and skilled craftsmen, and those who enroll for vocational training receive that recognition on the market. My message to all the decision makers in attendance is to please continue supporting the dual education system. It is not about choosing between tertiary or professional education, but about finding the perfect balance between both (...) It is not about or-or, but about both-and, and of course, an important role for dual education, (...) without unnecessary internal struggles, but simply by taking up seriously the duties for the good of the children. That's not hard, let's do it! "said Meier-Klodt at the" EduPro Summit # 1 - Educator for the Future" conference organised by the German Embassy in Bucharest, in partnership with the Ministry of National Education.

The German diplomat showed that dual education is not the end of a promising career, but in fact, someone can set on it a solid foundation for a successful career.According to him, there are many obstacles to overcome when it comes to steering toward a national dual education network, and a career should be chosen according to the interest and abilities of the child."We have to move toward a system that includes everyone, including the less-developed areas of the country, and I think that should be a political objective. And we are sending a political signal in this direction. The synergistic contribution of various players is needed. Nobody can succeed alone in this endeavour. It is for this reason that we have decided to bring together all the significant stakeholders at this conference for the first time," the German official said.The conference opened in the presence of Romania's interim Education Minister Rovana Plumb; state secretary of the Ministry of National Education Florin Lixandru, other representatives of the relevant institutions and big companies.
Nicolae Grigorescu's painting "Tarancuta cu basma alba" (Peasant Girl with White Headscarf) was sold in the Artmark's Autumn Auction for the sum of 350,000 euro on Wednesday night, becoming the artist's best-selling work, according to a press release of the auction house.

The work comes from the collection of magistrate Lazar Munteanu (1869 - 1951), grandson of collector Iancu Kalinderu. Magistrate Lazar Munteanu was one of the most important collectors of the period between the two world wars. He was president of the Constanta Court, secretary general of the Justice Department and Judge at the Court of Cassation.

Grigorescu remains the best-selling Romanian artist, after setting another record of the art market in December 2016 with the painting "Tarancute de la fantana" (Peasant Girls at the Fountain), sold for 320,000 euro.The Artmark's Autumn Auction saw total sales of 1,632,850 euros, with a sale rate of 81pct.
Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said that the joint sitting of the Romanian and Israeli governments, that was supposed to take place at the beginning of November, will be rescheduled, adding that she will have a discussion, on Friday, in Varna, with counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu according to Agerpres.

"This sitting was postponed not because of us, I understand that there were some problems in Israel. We will reschedule this meeting. I think that during the discussions I will have tomorrow (Friday - ed. n) with Mr. Benjamim Netanyahu, we will schedule the joint government sitting as well," Viorica Dancila said on Thursday, after visiting the INDAGRA fair.

One day prior, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced that she will take part, on Friday, in Varna, Bulgaria in a new Romania - Bulgaria - Greece - Serbia high level reunion, at the working lunch of which the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu being also invited.In August, the Israeli embassy in Bucharest announced that a joint sitting of the Israeli and Romanian governments will take place at the beginning of November, in Bucharest, the Israeli delegation being to be headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Minister of Justice Tudorel Toader on Thursday stated that if he were at the helm of the Ministry of Justice back at the time when the contest was held for occupying the prosecutor general office, he wouldn't have accepted Augustin Lazar's candidacy file because it was not complete.

Asked at the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) headquarters about the fact that Augustin Lazar claimed the Minister Justice pulled a manipulation attempt when he referred to the prosecutor general's candidacy file, Toader said: "I would prefer not to comment, for Mr. Lazar should have said if the affirmations were correct or not, instead. I mean, we are risking to draw the wrong conclusions before seeing if what he said was actually true or not and I will give you another example: March 15, 12.22 am -2016. In the context in which the law says clearly which are the pieces that must be included in the file, the Ministry only received through email a letter of intent and a CV, while the deadline expired on March 16 - it is all written - and the file was incomplete, I for one, if I were Minister back then, I wouldn't have accepted him in the contest for the appointment as prosecutor general as long as his file was not complete."

Romania's Prosector General Augustin Lazar stated on Thursday that Justice Minister's statement regarding the discovery of a fraud in his candidacy file for this office proved to be "a manipulation of the public opinion" and announced that he reserves his right to take action according to the legal procedures in force."The statement regarding the alleged fraud, after two and a half years, in the appointment process of the prosecutor general turned out to be totally lacking support of evidence and, more than that, it proved to be a manipulation of the public opinion, a manipulation and an unjustified suspense regarding a statement that was made in an interested manner, in order to serve a visibly vitiated dismissal procedure. I would like to tell you that at a mere reading of the Superior Council of Magistracy [CSM] decision of 21 April 2016, we will be able to see that the Prosecutors' Section meticulously checked each of the legal conditions that were imposed on the candidates, namely minimum 10 years seniority, the lack of sanctions over the last 3 years - and please note that only for the lack of sanctions the three-year term was required - and it was still necessary the condition of a very good mark at the last assessment. Therefore, the Superior Council of Magistracy, which is the guarantor of the independence of justice, established that all the legal conditions for the candidates were met. The rest is politics and I reserve the right to act according to the legal procedures in force," PG Augustin Lazar stated upon entering the CSM headquarters.
President Klaus Iohannis signed on Thursday the decree awarding the National Radio Broadcasting Corporation the "Cultural Merit" Order in the rank of Commander, Category F - "Promotion of Culture", as a highlight of the corporation's 90th anniversary according to Agerpres.

"On the 90th anniversary of the National Radio Broadcasting Corporation, in recognition of its major contribution to promoting and supporting the Romanian cultural, moral and civilizational values, the President of Romania awarded the 'Cultural Merit' Order in the rank of Commander, Category F - 'Promotion of Culture' to the National Radio Broadcasting Corporation," the Presidential Administration said in a release.
Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar argues that the Minister of Justice, Tudorel Toader, "is exploiting a registration error from March 2016," while the ordinance on the dismissal of a case involving President Klaus Iohannis was not issued, confirmed or verified by the prosecutor general, but by another prosecutor with a similar name, Cristian A. Lazar.

"I found out only after one week of suspense that the ordinance invoked by the Minister of Justice was not issued, confirmed or verified by the undersigned in his capacity as prosecutor general with the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Alba Iulia Court of Appeals, as the Minister seemed to imply, enumerating it [this ordinance] among the reasons for my removal from office. This is a typical method of manipulating the truth. The Minister of Justice exploits a registration error from March 2016, when there were selected the necessary documents for my appointment as prosecutor general with the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice. While making copies of the documents belonging to A. Lazar, the court clerk made a mistake and took his documents as being mine, because of the similarity of our names, but the respective ordinance were in fact issued by the deputy chief prosecutor Cristian A. Lazar from the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice. This severance of causes ordinance with respect to other persons reached, by declining of jurisdiction, to the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Alba Iulia Court of Appeals, a case that I have assigned to another prosecutor for settlement," reads a message published on Wednesday evening by Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar.
A lovely introduction mutually of me to them and them to me was for me to do this melange of lots of different bits of very recognizable symphonic repertoire. Whether or not they know the pieces by name, Im certain about 90 percent of the program will be familiar to 90 percent of the audience.
President Klaus Iohannis, at a joint news conference Thursday with the President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset, on an official visit to Bucharest, encouraged the Swiss investments in Romania, emphasizing the need to boost the commercial exchanges between the two countries.

"As for the bilateral relationship, I appreciated their dynamic and profoundness finding at the same time, the need for a better capitalization of the current potential. In context, I have identified certain priority development paths, such as collaboration in culture, education, research and innovation. I used this opportunity to encourage the Swiss investments in Romania. Currently, Switzerland ranks 11th among the foreign investors," Iohannis stressed.

He underlined the need to boost the commercial exchanges, showing that their level is good, of over EUR 850 million."Around 30,000 Romanian nationals live in Switzerland, most of them highly qualified, highly prepared, very well integrated and I believe we could say that they contribute to the development of the Swiss's economy and society," he said.Iohannis appreciated the Swiss financial contribution to the programmes carried out regarding the European Union's cohesion, specifying that so far it was worth Swiss Francs 180 million in projects in Romania regarding the borders' security, the local and regional management capacity, the upgrading of the judicial system, of the environment and infrastructure, the private sector's promotion, export included, as well as the social development and of the human resources."I voiced my contentment for the until now programmes and my hope that things will go on in a positive manner," Iohannis asserted.He mentioned that the talks have also aimed at the future rotating presidency of Romania to the EU Council, and at the EU enlargement process, as well."Romania will undoubtedly watch actively the negotiations regarding the signing of an institutional agreement-framework between the European Union and Switzerland, and of course to us it is important the new financial contribution of Switzerland to the EU cohesion Funds. I stressed the attention we pay to strengthening the role of the EU in the global multilateral architecture, and to the regional cooperation, too, I have addressed topics such as the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood, and aspects connected to the Black Sea region. I specified that Romania will stay firmly committed in the furthering of the EU enlargement process, this enlargement process that contributes to the stability, prosperity and security of the European Union and Europe, in the broad sense that obviously includes Switzerland," President Iohannis concluded
President Klaus Iohannis, at a joint news conference Thursday with the President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset, on an official visit to Bucharest, encouraged the Swiss investments in Romania, emphasizing the need to boost the commercial exchanges between the two countries.

"As for the bilateral relationship, I appreciated their dynamic and profoundness finding at the same time, the need for a better capitalization of the current potential. In context, I have identified certain priority development paths, such as collaboration in culture, education, research and innovation. I used this opportunity to encourage the Swiss investments in Romania. Currently, Switzerland ranks 11th among the foreign investors," Iohannis stressed.

He underlined the need to boost the commercial exchanges, showing that their level is good, of over EUR 850 million."Around 30,000 Romanian nationals live in Switzerland, most of them highly qualified, highly prepared, very well integrated and I believe we could say that they contribute to the development of the Swiss's economy and society," he said.Iohannis appreciated the Swiss financial contribution to the programmes carried out regarding the European Union's cohesion, specifying that so far it was worth Swiss Francs 180 million in projects in Romania regarding the borders' security, the local and regional management capacity, the upgrading of the judicial system, of the environment and infrastructure, the private sector's promotion, export included, as well as the social development and of the human resources."I voiced my contentment for the until now programmes and my hope that things will go on in a positive manner," Iohannis asserted.He mentioned that the talks have also aimed at the future rotating presidency of Romania to the EU Council, and at the EU enlargement process, as well."Romania will undoubtedly watch actively the negotiations regarding the signing of an institutional agreement-framework between the European Union and Switzerland, and of course to us it is important the new financial contribution of Switzerland to the EU cohesion Funds. I stressed the attention we pay to strengthening the role of the EU in the global multilateral architecture, and to the regional cooperation, too, I have addressed topics such as the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood, and aspects connected to the Black Sea region. I specified that Romania will stay firmly committed in the furthering of the EU enlargement process, this enlargement process that contributes to the stability, prosperity and security of the European Union and Europe, in the broad sense that obviously includes Switzerland," President Iohannis concluded.
President Klaus Iohannis will welcome on Thursday at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset, who is paying an official visit to Romania.

According to the Presidential Administration, within the talks also tackled will be the ways to develop the bilateral relations, aspects regarding the main topics featuring on the European agenda, including the Swiss financial contribution to the Cohesion Fund of the EU, as well as regional topics.

President Alain Berset's visit to Romania takes place in the context of boosting the bilateral dialogue, namely of Romania taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European union, in the first semester of 2019, according to the source. Thus, the discussions will also focus on the relation of Switzerland with the European Union," the Presidential Administration mentions.President Klaus Iohannis will present the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU and will assure, on this occasion, the Swiss part that Romania will further endorse, including from this position, the promotion of an open and constructive dialogue, mutually advantageous, between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in all the aspects of this relationship.The visit of the Swiss official takes place at the invitation extended by President Klaus Iohannis.
President Klaus Iohannis welcomed his Swiss counterpart Alain Berset at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace on Thursday.

The delegation accompanying President Iohannis included presidential advisers Andrei Muraru, Bogdan Aurescu, Leonard Orban, Cosmin Marinescu, presidential spokesperson Madalina Dobrovolschi, as well as state advisers Ligia Deca and Daniela Barsan.

The two chiefs of state were to hold talks and give a joint news conference at the end of the meeting.According to a Presidential Administration release, discussed at the meeting will be ways of developing bilateral relations, issues related to the main items on the European agenda, including the Swiss financial contribution to the EU Cohesion Fund, as well as regional themes."The visit to Romania is part of intensifying the bilateral dialogue and happens ahead of Romania's assuming the presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months in the first half of 2019. Thus, the discussions will also focus on Switzerland's relationship with the European Union."Iohannis will unveil the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU and assure the Swiss side that Romania will continue to support, including from this position, the promotion of an open and constructive mutually beneficial dialogue between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in all aspects of this relationship.Berset's visit that started on Wednesday takes place at the invitation of President Klaus Iohannis.
As of today, 1 November 2018, Romania takes over the Presidency of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), a position in which it will propose the allocation of additional financial resources for the development of the region's potential that this region has.

Minister-delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu recently stated in an interview to AGERPRES that this presidency "represents an extremely important element for our country, because we will basically be able to give a new direction to this strategy."

"Actually, our main objective during this presidency is to revive this strategy by promoting a series of ideas, extremely precise projects (...) it is the second time Romania is holding the presidency of this strategy and when we ran last year we set out to take advantage of the opportunity provided by our presidency of the Council of the EU so as to also bring the EU Strategy for the Danube Region to the forefront of the European agenda. Practically, starting from this new statute that Romania will have, our country intends, first of all, to talk very much about connectivity. I am referring here that we talk about the potential this region has and the way we can improve connectivity in the Danube region. Using the Danube as a navigable means but also using the existing potential in the region in terms of attracting additional European financial resources," Negrescu stated.In the Romanian official's view, our country is the only one that has allocated from the structural funds resources dedicated to the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region.The European Union Strategy for the Danube Region is the second macro-regional strategy of the European Union (of the four existing strategies), taking over the cooperation model developed under the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea (adopted in 2009), with adaptation to the specificity of the Danube region. The EUSDR is a political initiative of Romania and Austria, promoted by a joint letter at the prime minister level (June 2008) and addressed to the President of the European Commission. Based on this and following the consultation with the 14 member states, the European Commission presented on 8 December 2010 the Commission Communication - the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region and the Action Plan, and on 13 April 2011 the document was adopted by the Council of the European Union.Launched in April 2011, the Strategy brings together nine member states of the EU (Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria) and five countries outside the EU (Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine).As of 1 November 2018, Romania takes over the Presidency of the EUSDR for a one-year period.
At the 25th edition of the Top Companies event on Wednesday, the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIB) presented its awards to 6,922 Bucharest-based companies and some special prizes, with the AGERPRES Romanian National News Agency receiving an excellence trophy for objectivity and professionalism in covering economic phenomenon.

"Honouring its tradition of initiating the bodies of the modern Romanian economy, the Bucharest Chamber rewards consistency, development and contribution to the building of a complex economic fabric with measurable impact on the evolution of the economic ecosystem in the society. 150 years into business, CCIB proves it has the breath needed to be a long time from now on, at all levels, the balanced and listened voice of the most powerful business community of the country, that of the capital, and a natural binder between the needs of the business community and the decision makers (...) For a quarter of a century, we have rewarded excellence in all its forms. We unveil success stories, but we do not forget that behind them are people, visionary entrepreneurs, consistent managers, dedicated, creative and passionate teams. Besides rankings and methodologies and top financial results, we reward those who want tomorrow to be better than today. The ranking of the top Bucharest-based companies has proved to be an excellent opportunity to meet innovative managers and visionary entrepreneurs over the years," said CCIB Chairman Sorin Dimitriu at the opening of the event.

He added that today's laureates are part of the most dynamic and powerful business community in the country, that of the capital, where unemployment is only 1.4pct, compared with an average 3.4pct nationwide. Bucharest also hosts more than 23pct of all Romanian operating companies and 21pct of the country's total employees, as well as 30pct of the retail trade space, using 16pct of the Romanian exports, generating 29pct of the country's imports and 60pct of research activity. Last but not least, over 60pct of foreign investment conducted in Romania is recorded in Bucharest."We also have a number of special prizes, symbolically rewarding passionate and enthusiastic people who have developed beautiful projects to promote ideas, products and services, but also professionals in the field of journalism. There are people who, at difficult times, can make you advance, can bring you the information you need or maybe the partners you are looking for," Dimitriu said.According to the CCIB, the top prize winners were established according to a strict and complex methodology, approved and applied unitarily, throughout the cameral system. In determining the final rankings, indicators such as: net turnover, operating profit, operating margin, efficient utilisation of human resources and return on capital employed, calculated against 16 items extracted from the financial statements submitted by the companies at the Ministry of Public Finance and the National Companies Registry Office.Thus, out of the 130,653 Bucharest-based companies that submitted their balance sheets for 2017, 41,987 companies met the eligibility criteria, ie 32.1pct of the total. Of these, the Bucharest CCIB is rewarding 6,922, which is 16.5pct of the total number of eligible companies .By field of activity, most of the companies rewarded by the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce operate in the field of services (2,379 companies, 34pct of the total), followed by trading companies (1,973 companies, 29pct of the total); industrial companies (1,384 companies, 20pct of the total). CCIB is rewarding this year, according to the ranking methodology, 415 companies specialising in construction, or 6pct of all the winners. In the CCIB ranking, a 6pct share is held by research, development and innovation companies (387 awarded entities), tourism, 3 pct (240) and agriculture, forestry and fisheries, 2pct (144). In order to achieve a more objective ranking, each group is included in one of five classes by size: very large, large, medium, small and micro enterprises. The 6,922 companies together make a turnover of almost 69 billion euro, an operating profit of more than six billion euro, using 578,060 employees.In addition to the honours awarded for the 2017 business results, trophies of excellence were awarded to companies that ranked first in the elite competition for the past five years, namely the 'George G. Assan' Trophy for The Romanian Brand of the Year that went to Zarea SA; the 'Ioan V. Socec' Trophy that went to Digi 2 broadcaster for entrepreneurship support under the Romania Fast Forward project. Also presented with excellence trophies were the Bucharest University of Polytechnics for 200 years dedicated to educating young people; the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation for 90 years of activity in public service; the AGERPRES Romanian National News Agency, for objectivity and professionalism in covering economic phenomena; the Romanian Television Broadcasting Corporation for the promotion of the business community; Bucharest FM and the Institute for Research and Development in Mechatronic and Measurement Techniques.
Theres also been progress made on where Elhassanis four children will be placed, Durkin said. When Elhassani was transferred from the custody of the Syrian Democratic Forces and was brought back to the U.S. in July, her children were put in the custody of the Indiana Department of Human Services. Elhassani is hoping the children could go live with her parents in Oklahoma, Durkin said.
During the robbery, one of the victims, a 21-year-old male from Hammond, was shot in the head by one of the suspects, the post states. The victim was injured but is currently in a Chicago area hospital in stable condition.
The Indiana University Northwest School of Nursing and College of Health and Human Services will hold its annual Health Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the John W. Anderson Library Conference Center, 100-196 W. 35th Ave., Gary. Lab workups include, but are not limited to: A wellness panel; hemoglobin A1C (diabetes screen); thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH); prostate-specific antigen (PSA); hepatitis C antibody; and vitamin D screenings. Free health screenings include blood pressure screenings, bone density screenings and HIV testing. Lab work will be conducted between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. Those participating in the wellness panel must fast for 12 hours and can only drink black coffee or water during the fast. The wellness panel lab work is $30. Prices will vary for additional lab work. Payment is due the day of the test. Only cash or checks will be accepted. Appointments are not necessary. More information is with Glenda Dexter-Brown at 219-980-6619 or gbrown@iun.edu.
Hate is all around us these days, just as it has since fear has been within us. But especially now, when hate-filled political rhetoric again serves as coal for a dangerous train of thought. It has again led to deadly acts of domestic terrorism, the latest taking place in Saturday a Pittsburgh synagogue.
Trump fans never, ever, have any kind of fair or reasonable defense for any of Trumps actions. They always have to fall back on the only thing these simple-minded folks can come up with: Hillary lost and people are still mad about it. Our innocent Americans are being murdered, let that sink in, due to fear-mongering. That has nothing to do with Hillary, or Democrats, but with the current administration. Deal with it.
On Oct. 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to the newly elected Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro, congratulating him on his victory in the presidential race and expressing confidence that bilateral relations will continue to move forward. The victory of Jair Bolsonaro that has been so trumpeted by the media is indeed an event of great significance. It really matters who has been elected as the 38th president of such a big and important country.

Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country geographically (8.5 million square kilometers or 3.2 million square miles) and the sixth most populous. It is the largest country in Latin America with over 208 million people. In 2017 Brazil boasted the eighth largest GDP in the world (both nominal and PPP).

Jair Bolsonaro is known as a far-right politician but what does that mean in practice? As befitting a chief executive, whether conservative, liberal, or middle-of-the-road, this former army captain promises to fight corruption, crime, and the economic downturn. The country has been hit by corruption scandals and the worst economic recession in the last 100 years. If the president can make things better, hell go down in history as a hero or a Messias (Messiah)  his middle name, which his supporters have played on.

He is expected to ally himself with the United States but that does not automatically make him unfriendly toward Russia, Brazils BRICS partner, along with India, China, and South Africa. One of the first statements Mr. Bolsonaro made was a rejection of military intervention in Venezuela  an idea that was floated when Luis Almagro, the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), said in September that the use of force was not ruled out.

Bolsonaro sounds friendly toward Donald Trump  the US President Vladimir Putin enjoys a great personal relationship with, despite all the tensions that cloud the ties between the US and Russia. The Russian president has just been invited by his US counterpart to visit Washington. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have also agreed to meet on Nov. 11 in Paris during the WWI commemorations.

Regardless of all the predictions to the contrary, Moscow was engaged in a constructive and mutually advantageous dialog with the right-leaning, interim government of Brazils acting president Michel Temer, who signed a statement on "strengthening a strategic dialogue on foreign policy issues" during his visit to Moscow in June, 2017. Prior to that, Brazilian presidents had traveled to Russia in 2002, 2005, 2010, and 2012. President Putin visited Brazil in 2004, 2008, and 2014. It was Russian intelligence and military professionals who helped the Brazilian military provide security during the summer 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Few Brazilians are aware that Brazils first astronaut, Marcos Pontes, was launched into space to work on the international space station with the help of the Russian Soyuz TMA-8 rocket.

The Russian Chamber of Commerce believes these bilateral trade ties will continue to develop once the new Brazilian president is in office. Brazil is the largest exporter of food and agricultural products to the Russian market. The two nations cooperate in the development of space, military, and telecommunications technologies.

In his remarks at the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the 190th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Brazil on Oct. 26, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Our relations continue to expand incrementally. A regular and trust-based political dialogue is maintained at all levels, including the highest. Bilateral sectoral cooperation mechanisms are functioning effectively, and trade and economic exchanges are expanding. Adding, Our interaction in international affairs is based on coinciding or similar approaches to the key challenges of our time. We closely coordinate our moves at key multilateral venues, primarily, the UN, the G20 and, of course, BRICS, which is an association of a new type, and is an important element in the emerging polycentric architecture of world. According to the minister, both nations see mutual interest in moving forward along the path of deepening Russian-Brazilian strategic partnership.

The use of the word strategic by such a senior official as the chief of foreign policy provides some good insight into the state of those bilateral ties. The New York Times Spanish-language news site compared Mr. Bolsonaro to Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini  two European politicians who are friendly toward Russia, calling for lifting or at least easing the EU sanctions and engaging in dialog to improve the Brussels-Moscow relationship. The director of the Russian Ibero-American Institute, Vicente Barrientos, has no doubt that Russian leaders will manage to find common ground with the Brazilian Trump. Progress in those bilateral ties looks promising after the new president of Brazil takes office on Jan. 1.
A majority of Democrats want a third major political party to be formed in America. An overwhelming majority of independents do. But only 38% of Republicans do. Thats according to Gallups October 26th article "Majority in US Still Say a Third Party Is Needed.

54% of Democrats do, and 72% of independents do. That 54% among Democrats is the highest figure ever, since Gallup started polling this question in 2003, when both of Americas political Parties endorsed invading Iraq. At that time, only 38% of Democrats wanted there to be a major new political party formed. (This means that in 2003, the vast majority of Democrats, and not only an overwhelming majority of Republicans, favored or at least thought to be acceptable, invading Iraq  a country that had never invaded nor even threatened to invade US  they wanted, or at least accepted, that America commit the international war crime of Aggression or War of Aggression. It was clearly illegal invasion that both American political Parties are guilty of having perpetrated; it wasnt only guilt by Republicans, though Republicans supported it much more than did Democrats. In March 2017, Yale University even went so far as to publish a justification of non-murderous aggressions but failed to cite any historical examples of such; the article even condemned Libyas effort to defend itself against NATOs 2011 invasion, and called it the Libyan action against NATO, which could have given Joseph Goebbels a good belly-laugh. But thats Yale. Its like Hitlers Germanys having blamed Polands Government in 1939 for Germanys invasion. The invasion was referred to by Germany as the 1939 Defensive War. All of Americas invasions since at least 2003 have similarly been defensive in Newspeak, such as that Yale article.) In 2003, only 22% of Republicans wanted such a new party formed. (Republicans were virtually united in wanting the US to invade Iraq.) And only 56%  the lowest percentage ever found by Gallup  of independents wanted such a new party formed, in 2003.

Ever since 2003, there has been an enduring decline in Americans trust in the US Government itself. In 2004, which was just before the reality started to sink in, among Americans, that America had committed a war-crime by invading Iraq  that no weapons of mass destruction had actually existed there as the US President had promised; that there was no way in which this invasion was defensive  52% of Americans in Gallups ongoing polls of confidence in US institutions still had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the US Presidency. In 2005, that became 44%. In 2006, it was 33%. In 2007, it was 25%. In 2018, it is back up to 37% (but still well below the 52% in 2004). The similar figures for trusting Congress were 30% in 2004, 22% in 2005, 19% in 2006, 14% in 2007, and 11% today. The similar figures for trusting Newspapers were 30% in 2004, 28% in 2005, 30% in 2006, 22% in 2007, and 23% today. So, apparently, Americans blame the President and Congress far more than the news-media that stenographically transmit the Governments lies to them. The break-point for the historic downturn in Americans trust of the US Government was 2003. And Americans now are forgetting any lessons that might have been learned from the US Governments clear turn toward fascism since 2003. America therefore has now become a country that increasingly accepts itself as being fascist. Trumps being the US President is merely another sign of that fact. Whats even worse is that he was running in 2016 against a Democratic Party fascist (Hillary Clinton); both choices were fascist. (Americans use the euphemism neoconservative to refer to fascism, and support by US officials for it has become bipartisan, such as it was in the Clinton-Trump contest.)

As fascism is thus being accepted by the American people, the individuals in both Parties who want America to be a democracy, are abandoning both Parties; and, so, now, independents outnumber each of the two Parties. However, the real problem isnt the number of parties; its the increasing control of the US Government by the billionaires  and that is fascism. The move away from the two fascist Parties is no solution; only the defeat of fascism in America can be that. But few Americans even know what fascism actually is. Its not a political-party problem; its an ideological problem. And it is bipartisan. Making it tripartisan wouldnt help, at all. But disenchantment with political parties rises to the extent that democracy declines.

Thus, the latest Gallup poll is reporting that ever since 2003, the percentage of Democrats who want a third party has risen from 38% to 54%, and the percentage of independents who do has risen from 54% to 72%, and the percentage of Republicans who do has risen from 22% to 38%. Consequently, now, not only are independents (the category that has always majority-favored the formation of a third party) dissatisfied with both Parties, but 54% of Democrats also are dissatisfied with both Parties. The percentage of Republicans who are dissatisfied with both Parties is 1.73 times what it was when America invaded Iraq in 2003. The similar Democratic percentage has increased 1.42 times. The similar independent percentage has increased 1.29 times. (Perhaps that low figure of 1.29 is because so many Republicans became independent after their Party had led America into invading and destroying Iraq  theyd finally had enough of the Republican Party, and this might be the main reason why there are more independents now than either Democrats or Republicans. But there has also been a decline in the percentage of Americans who are Democrats, not only in the Republican percentage.) Thus, apparently, more Republicans became independents after that invasion than Democrats did. According to Pews polling, Republican-Party self-identification between 1994 and 2017 peaked during 2002-2005, which was the gung-ho-for-invasion period, and has declined since then, while independent self-identification bottomed during 2002-2005and has risen since then. (Gallups polling shows the same, except that since 2014, there has been a trend back toward the two major Parties. Yet, still, ever since 2008, there has been a larger percentage of the US electorate who are independents than who are either Democrats or Republicans.) Consequently, todays Republican voters seem especially likely to be a self-selected group of only the most extreme supporters of aggressive invasion  the voters who still support invasions such as of Iraq 2003, Libya 2011, Syria 2012-now, and Yemen 2016-now. Todays Republican voters are the military-industrial complexs dream of a political base, who will support any invasion by the United States; theyre terrific for US weapons-sales. Any Republican today who doesnt support control of the US Government by the profiteers of war is an extreme rarity  rarer even than was the case in 2003.

The previous peaks in Democrats support for the formation of a new and seriously contending US political party to be formed, were 50% in 2006, and 52% in 2017. So, this new 54% figure is the highest ever, among Democrats.

The 22% of Republicans who in 2003 favored the formation of a serious new party was by far the lowest ever (since the first of Gallups polls on this topic were taken). Between 2007 and 2017, Republicans and Democrats were close to tied in their percentages favoring the formation of a new and serious political party emerging. But both during 2003-2006 and right now in 2018, Republican voters are so strongly satisfied with their Party, they dont want a third serious party formed. However, Republicans arent nearly as satisfied with their Party now under Trump as they were in 2003 when another Republican President (George W. Bush) led America to invade Iraq. Perhaps if the current Republican President will kick U.N. inspectors out of a country today in order to start bombing it, he will be able to unite his Party as much as Bush did.

The all-time-high of 54% of Democrats, who want there to be a new seriously contending party, constitutes a reliable indication that most Democrats today are profoundly dissatisfied with their Party. Democratic candidates thus could lose the mid-terms by a lower voting-turnout than for Republican candidates.

The only two times when a majority of Republicans wanted a third party formed were 2011 and 2013, both times around 52% favoring that. Both times, the electoral prospects for the Republican Party seemed to be especially poor. However, there has been no time in Gallups polling when as high as 54% of Republicans favored the formation of a new party. But given the margin of error in these polls, it could have happened, even though its not shown in Gallups numbers.

The record-high percentage of Democrats who favor a new party might similarly be an indication of the Democratic Partys failure to win elections, instead of an indication of any dissatisfaction due to the Partys war-mongering. If that is the case, and if the Democratic Party fails to win control of the House this November 6th, then that 54% figure could go even higher. A billionaire such as Wall Streets Michael Bloomberg might then do it (run for President without major-Party support), or else a popular progressive like Bernie Sanders might do it, or two such candidates might simultaneously attempt to do it, which would almost certainly produce a Republican or Democratic victory in 2020 (since both Parties have existing structures in place to win national elections, and no new party could successfully compete against both that and simultaneously another major unaffiliated contender). Therefore, yet again, Americas fate could still be determined behind closed doors, when the final election-ballot options are decided by the billionaires, and the existing two-party dictatorship would continue on as before.

The failure of America isnt due to its having too few parties, but instead to the way that these parties determine whom their respective nominees will be. Its controlled by and serves the billionaires. Its not a democracy; it is an aristocracy. (Most dictatorships are aristocracies. By contrast, no democracy is controlled by its super-rich.) Therefore, anyone who calls the US a democracy is either ignorant or else a liar. It was democratic, in a limited sense, at some time in the past, but it no longer is, at all. In fact, even by comparison with some of the nations that the US Government alleges to be dictatorships (so as to be able to target those nations for conquest), the US Government is more of a dictatorship than they are.

The reason America is a war-criminal nation is that its not a democracy. The public never profit from wars; only extremely wealthy people can do that. The major war-criminals are the nations leaders and the aristocrats whom they secretly represent. Adding a new party cannot solve that basic problem; it would be irrelevant to the problem. War-making is enormously profitable, unless the government alone controls the design, manufacture, and sale, of its war-weapons (in which case there are no stockholders to become enriched by invading). As Micah Zenko recently found (and documented here), the US Governments international relations are controlled by and serve America's military-industrial complex, not by nor for anyone else. And it serves not only American but also foreign billionaires, called allies. But in order to have an alliance of other countries governments buying your companies weapons, that alliance needs to have a country or group of countries (such as, for America: Russia, China, and Iran, and their allies) that are accepted as being targets for those weapons to be used against. Its serving billionaires not only in the US but in its allied countries. And it causes War of Aggression, such as has become routine for the US to perpetrate since 2003.

Alliances are between aristocracies, not between publics. This is why Americas Founders shunned entangling alliances. They wanted there to be no military treaties such as NATO. And even as recently as World War II the United States was allied with imperial England and communist USSR against fascist Japan, Germany, and Italy  but there werent any entangling alliances formed at that time. However, after Americas military-industrial complex (MIC) took over immediately afterward, there are (starting with NATO). And its steadily getting even worse. All military treaties need to be eliminated, because they are agreements to invade. They benefit only weapons-firms. They should be outlawed by the U.N. But, of course, any militarily controlled governments on the Security Council would block it. Any such nation (the blockers) should then be sanctioned and boycotted by all countries that are not. Military treaties represent only aristocratic gangs, not real democracies, and are therefore threats to peace  they have no place in a decent world.

Harry S. Truman was the beginning of American democracys end. What there was of American democracy terminated when FDR did. Everything since then is merely rule by the billionaires and their MIC. Americas Founders had excellent reason for doing all they could to prevent the formation of any standing army  professional soldiers. If anything violates the US Constitutions original intent, then todays US military does. It has become the tail that wags todays American dog.

A standing army represents only the aristocracy. Therefore, right now, US spends around half of the entire worlds military budget and spends over a trillion dollars annually on defense and far less on everything else, except adding around a trillion dollars annually to the US federal debt (so as to be able to pay that trillion-dollar-plus annually on defense), which also benefits only todays investors. All of that defense and debt are in order to benefit only billionaires and their armies of lobbyists etc. Like Jimmy Carter said, Now it's just an oligarchy with unlimited political bribery being the essence of getting the nominations.

Any oligarchically-run country will have high economic opportunity for the aristocrats (oligarchs), and low economic opportunity for the public; so, this US waste of over half of the US Governments discretionary spending (for the weapons-making firms and profits to their owners) means theres a continuous economic siphon, from the public to the aristocracy, and domestic policies can also only be regressive, not at all progressive. An example is one prominent Republican US Senator who explained why he was supporting passage of the largest US military budget in history, and said, on 7 February 2018, Id rather we didnt have to do as much on non-defense: he wished that the shrinking non-defense percentage would shrink yet more than it did. Fascists want more for the military, and less for everything else. Some call this libertarian, but none call it fascist, because the US waged war against fascism when FDR was President. Therefore, such euphemisms are being used for referring to it, in the wake of the defeat of the fascist powers in WW II. Almost no one calls himself fascist now.

Americas problems run far deeper than the number of political parties, and wont necessarily change if that number becomes changed. The question that Gallup asked here is politically interesting, but is irrelevant to any solution for Americas actual problems.

Throughout the world, the publics enemy is the aristocracy (and its hired agents). Where such an enemy controls the government, its a fascist regime. Any country thats controlled by them is a dictatorship, not a democracy, and therefore war-profiteers end up controlling the government; and this is Americas (and the worlds) biggest problem.



For anyone who is interested in knowing the extent to which the invasion of Iraq was a Republican initiative but was supported by both parties (a bipartisan crime), here are some relevant data:

Prior to the Iraq invasion, 58% of Democratic Senators and 39.2% of Democratic Representatives supported it. 98% of Republican Senators and 96.4% of Republican Representatives did. So, there was a united Republican Party but a very divided Democratic Party, on whether to go the fascist route on Iraq. The two Parties publics were similarly split. A CBS poll during 7-9 March 2003 found that invading Iraq was favored by 73% of Republicans, 52% of independents, and 42% of Democrats. Then, on 15-16 March, it found these percentages to be 73%, 45%, and 34%.

But right after the invasion, even Democrats overwhelmingly endorsed this aggressive war: A Los Angeles Times poll during 2-3 April 2003 found that the invasion was endorsed by 95% of Republicans, 72% of independents, and 70% of Democrats.

In 2006, Politico asked Senators their 2002 and 2006 views on invading Iraq:

Republican Senators still overwhelmingly (excepting only Chuck Hagel, Gordon Smith, and Olympia Snowe) supported it.

19 Democrats (including the independent Bernie Sanders) voted against it and they all remained against it.

12 Democrats voted for it but by 2006 regretted it: Max Baucus, Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Tom Carper, Chris Dodd, Diane Feinstein, Tom Harkin, John Kerry, Herb Kohl, Mary Landrieu, Bill Nelson, and John D. Rockefeller.

9 Democrats (including independent Joseph Lieberman) voted for it and didnt regret it: Maria Cantwell, Byron Dorgan, Tim Johnson, Joseph Lieberman, Blanche Lincoln, Ben Nelson, Harry Reid, Charles Schumer, and Hillary Clinton.

Democratic Party voters did not reject Democratic Senators who had voted for it  not even ones like Clinton who continued supporting a fascist invasion. Therefore, the Partys voters accepted fascism and fascists. Democratic Party voters, like Republican Party voters, accept being lied-to  even lied into a war (like had happened to Germans, under Hitler).
Some political observers in the United States are saying that next weeks midterm voting for seats in the Senate and House of Representatives as well as a number of governorships is the most important national election since those in 1968 and 1980. The 1968 voting saw a law and order Richard Nixon win the presidency in a rebuke to Lyndon Johnsons soft handling of the civil rights and anti-Vietnam war movements while Ronald Reagan won in 1980 at a time of economic turmoil, in part running on a similar get-tough platform to replace the seemingly hapless and indecisive Jimmy Carter.

In both 1968 and 1980 the election produced a decisive turn in direction by government, leading eventually to an end of the Vietnam War by Nixon and a more assertive foreign policy by Reagan. Though the upcoming election is midterm rather than a presidential, those who are seeing it as important hope that flipping control of the two houses of congress will check President Donald Trump and force him to change course in a number of areas. The election is, in fact, an accountability moment for Trumps policies as seen by the American public. If there is a blue wave in congress and in the governorships, Trump will inevitably have to take notice and his impeachment becomes a real possibility.

But will that happen? The lead-up to the 2018 midterm election is playing out very much like the 2016 presidential election. In both cases the punditry and media have been promising an easy win for the Democrats, but winning will require selling something to voters that is more than just hatred of Trump.

Unfortunately for them, the Democrats are largely clueless on issues that matter to voters and continue to be a party that reactively blames the Russians while preaching diversity as if it were a solution to what ails the country. They studiously ignore the fact that opinion polling suggests that there are two issues that really concern Americans. Top of the list is health care. Anyone who actually pays for health insurance out of his or her own pocket will no doubt observe how healthcare costs have skyrocketed under Obamacare to the point where insurance is available but unaffordable, with premiums that in many cases have trebled per month over the past four years. The real damage to affordable health care in America has been done by the Democrats and those who are personally paying for insurance know that.

Since the Republicans do not have a health care plan but are resolved to repeal Obamacare, they win on the issue with voters. The second most important issue is immigration, both legal exploitation of existing loopholes in the system and illegals. The legal immigration problem includes birthright citizenship, when foreigners come to the U.S. to deliver babies who automatically become American citizens. Trump has indicated he will ban the practice by executive order.

Legal immigration problems also include those who are allowed to get green cards legally and then proceed to bring their entire families over including cousins and relatives by marriage. That was not the intent of the 1965 legislation. In fact, chain immigration was dismissed as a possible consequence of the law, with President Lyndon Johnson and Democratic congressmen including Senator Ted Kennedy assuring the public that it would not occur. Of course, they were wrong. Or they were lying. They were also Democrats.

The Democratic solution to the problem of illegal immigration is, apparently, to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), giving the United States open borders. Even given the fact that the horrible mess in Central America is the result of Washingtons meddling in its countries for the past 100 years, that does not necessarily mean the solution is an open doors policy that will drastically change America. Bringing in thousands or even millions of uneducated and unskilled migrants who do not speak English and then requiring local governments to educate, house and feed them is a recipe for disaster. Indeed, it has already proven to be just that for many communities, with standards declining and neighborhoods in decay.

There is considerable suspicion that the current mass migration from Central America is being organized and funded by Democrat George Soros to coincide with the election, and it only angers the voters who remember a time when local communities were safe places where everyone knew their neighbors and worked hard to get along. Today the social justice warriors, like Soros and other leading Democrats, have made a sense of community a crime because it does not invite enough diversity.

If one compares how the two parties stand on immigration, the Republicans win easily as they are pledged to stop the illegals and reduce the number of currently legal immigrants. It is a major issue for voters and the Democrats are predictably on the wrong side of it, just as they are with health care.

And the Democrats are also tactically inept. Having the widely despised Clintons and Obama out campaigning for Democratic candidates will surely encourage nervous Republicans to get out to vote. So, on balance, the GOP could do very well next week with issues-focused voters and might retain its advantage in both houses of congress. If that is so, the complaining from the Democrats will start immediately. Will their failure be blamed on the Russians again this time?
A Canadian university recently released a study of cellphone spyware and claimed it had identified legal (for government agencies) spyware being used in 45 countries to secretly reside on Apple iPhone cellphones and send activity on the cellphone back to those who put the spyware on the phone. This spyware (Pegasus) was made by an Israeli firm (NSO Group) and has been available since 2010. NSO is continually upgrading Pegasus to work on subsequent versions of IOS (the iPhone operating system).

NSO responded to the university study by pointing out that it only sold to governments and had no control over what happened to Pegasus after a user obtained it and put it to work. Moreover, there are many apps out there similar to Pegasus which, while not as effective as Pegasus, are often sold to criminal organizations and anyone who can pay. Such spyware has been around since shortly after cellphones first appeared. Israel is often the target of such spyware since many governments and organizations hostile to Israel try to use such spyware against Israel. For that reason, Israel has become the foremost producer of Internet security software as well as spyware. Naturally, the Israelis do not want this security software used against them and one method for doing that is to make spyware detection and prevention software widely available.

Earlier in 2018, there was a highly publicized example of what NSO was talking about. It was revealed in the media how a successful cellphone spyware incident involved a group of Pakistani hackers, who specialized in creating and maintaining surveillance software (similar to Pegasus) for parents to track their children (or a spouse). This group was apparently hired by the Pakistani ISI (Inter Service Intelligence agency, the local equivalent of the CIA/NSA) to create spyware (Stealth Mango for Android and Tangelo for IOS) versions of the surveillance software and then help distribute it to some key government officials and civilians in Afghanistan, India, Iraq, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan using Facebook Messenger. This approach uses a lot of social engineering as the hackers must contact the target individuals and persuade these potential victims to download an app that pretends to be something other than spyware. Most targeted individuals were either not interested or didnt trust the offer. The most secure (resistant to this spyware) cell phone was the iPhone and the spyware would only work on the small number of iPhones that that had been modified (jailbroken) to run apps that did not come from the Apple App Store. As usual, the Android phones were much more vulnerable. In any event, it appears that only about a dozen people were persuaded to install the app. That, it turned out, was enough key people to collect a lot of important data.

The Stealth Mango/Tangelo effort was another intelligence-gathering operation that, in this case, collected a lot of sensitive data about American and Australian military and diplomatic activities. Collecting and transmitting the data (without the phone owner being aware) was how Stealth Mango/Tangelo was discovered (by an Australian Internet security company) in early 2018. Stealth Mango/Tangelo needed a lot of permissions on the infected phone in order to work and mostly went after data (documents and photos) as well as messages, location and contact lists. At least 40 GB of material was stolen from the infected phones by the hackers before Google and Apple were informed and victims were notified and the spyware was disabled. But it will be back. Actually, this sort of spyware has been around for quite a while and the latest ISI use of it was just another example.

The Canadian university researchers who accused NSO of selling Pegasus to governments who use it to spy on local government critics called for restrictions on who could buy Pegasus and use it for activities many Westerners do not approve of. It is a little late for that because spyware and Internet monitoring software is a huge industry and spyware, in general, is considered generic. Many developers are in countries that dont care if Westerners are offended by how spyware is used. Actually, some countries see such criticism as a form of praise. NSO already sells its spyware openly and subject to scrutiny by Israeli and other Western intelligence agencies. Its the spyware that is not created and used (whether sold or not) for spying on cellphone and Internet users that you should be worried about. But complaining about that stuff wont gain you much recognition for academic Internet security researchers.
Officers responded Oct. 23 to a residence in the 1700 block of Colonial Lane for a homeowner who reported receiving suspicious emails from a person who stated that he had hacked the homeowners accounts and was demanding payment to return control of the accounts. The homeowner was advised to contact his internet service provider.
by Austin Bay October 31, 2018

In retrospect, the June 1989 massacre in Beijing's Tiananmen Square signaled that China's rise would not be peaceful. In Tiananmen, the Communist government's security forces slaughtered more than 2,000 demonstrators.

Let's stipulate that China's four-decade rise from a hunger-plagued developing country to a great power with global clout ranks as one of history's more striking political-economic achievements.

As China's economy modernized, the U.S. bet political liberalization would follow. International integration would moderate China's Communists and a democracy focused on internal development and peaceful economic competition would emerge.

So much for optimism. The Communist dictatorship opted for imperial territorial expansion, most overtly in the South China Sea. However, its territorial aspirations in the Himalayas and the East China Sea are also aggressive.

Instead of liberalizing on the home front, Beijing bullied the neighbors it could not buy, with the goal of gaining regional supremacy in East and Southeast Asia.

Chinese offshore oil exploration rigs have violated Vietnamese waters. In the South China Sea, the Philippines has lost territory to "dredge and barge" invasions. Chinese maritime construction task forces, using dredges and lots of concrete, have turned what geographers call features (rocks, shoals, et cetera) into man-made islands. If the final product looks something like a stationary aircraft carrier surrounded by a strip of sand, that isn't a glitch, it's a feature.

China then claims full sovereignty and its diplomats and admirals argue that foreign ships need permission to enter the "territorial waters" of these fakes.

The U.S. is a fervent advocate of freedom of navigation and China's South China Sea shenanigans restrict that freedom. Thus, Beijing's bullying explicitly tests American resolve to support the post-WW2 international order. It implicitly attacks America's goal of preventing the emergence of a regional hegemon in East Asia.

As a result, we are witnessing the emergence of a great power competition, complete with military buildups, diplomatic maneuvering and -- this year -- a war.

So far, it's just a U.S.-China trade war, not a hot, shooting war. Beijing, however, is preparing for "hot war" with the U.S.

For the last 15 years the dictatorship has spent hundreds of billions on military modernization. China's navy is acquiring advanced nuclear submarines. The air force is buying stealthy supersonic jet fighters. China's strategic rocket forces have acquired anti-ship ballistic missiles with precision warheads that can allegedly hit a moving U.S. carrier. The subs, fighters and missiles support China's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) military strategy.

Who is being denied access? The U.S. Navy.

A2/AD has a coercive political goal: Seeding doubts in Asia that the mighty U.S. will come to the rescue should China decide to launch an offensive to grab more territory -- like the Strait of Malacca, which connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Doubting U.S. resolve makes Asian countries susceptible to diplomatic intimidation.

China is also acquiring its own aircraft carriers, which can project power through the Straits of Malacca and into the Indian Ocean. But as the Pentagon noted in 2017, China's artificial islands (in Filipino territory) have air bases and Chinese military aircraft can already "operate over nearly the entire South China Sea."

But China isn't ready to go hot, not yet. Presenting America with a peer-level military challenge is 10 to 15 years away.

So Beijing wants to continue the quiet struggle, avoiding high-risk confrontations with Washington while increasing its economic power. These operations include cyber attacks and intellectual property theft. Chinese spies steal intellectual property and Chinese corporations use the filched technology to make money.

The military and diplomatic dimensions of 21st-century Chinese Communist imperial bullying rely on an expanding economy, continued productivity and relatively unfettered access to markets -- especially the American market.

Perhaps the U.S. trade war with China is the beginning of a strategic counter-attack on the cash cow that the Beijing dictatorship knows is its long-term route to global power. If it is, then the American response is long overdue.
The death toll from the Ebola virus epidemic in eastern Congo continues to mount. So far 177 people have died from the eastern outbreak and that figure will go higher. On October 29 Uganda reported it had information that another 257 people in Congo have contracted the virus. A Ugandan medical official indicated the death toll in Congo has already exceeded 200 people. The World Health Organization confirmed the Ebola epidemic is spreading in North Kivu province but at the moment the outbreak does not constitute an international public health emergency. That noted, Uganda is screening from 8,000 to 20,000 people a day along its Congo border. Most of the screenings occur on market days when Ugandans and Congolese cross the border to shop and trade. There are seven border crossing points with screening clinics. Attacks by the Ugandan ADF Islamic rebels and other violence have disrupted efforts to control the epidemic in North Kivu. Patients in traditional healing clinics (folk medicine) have been exposed to Ebola while seeking treatment for malaria. The ADF attacks create the risk that the Ebola could spread to Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi.

October 31, 2018: In eastern Angola (Lunda Norte Province) the government is seeking to shut down the illegal diamond mining operations that were largely operated by Congolese refugees who compete with legal diamond mining operations financed and operated Chinese and Russian firms. Local officials were paid to stay out of the way of the smugglers, who have armed enforcers who are used as needed. The diamond miners and smugglers comprise a minority of the Congo refugees in Angola but provided income that sustained the entire Congo refugee community in Angola. Police have seized over a million dollars of illegal diamonds and seized 60 firearms in October, when most of the Congolese refugees were forced back across the border into Congo. The return of these refugees has caused problems in Congo where aid agencies are already trying to cope with hundreds of thousands of refugees who did not flee the country.

October 30, 2018: In Congo the major opposition parties have not yet agreed on a joint candidate for the December presidential election but insist they will before November 15th. The national election to replace President Joseph Kabila has been delayed because Kabila. Who was supposed to have left office in December 2016, refused to organize the elections or leave office. Kabilas governing party has already named former Interior Minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary as its candidate.

October 28, 2018: Angola announced that in January 2019 it might begin seizing assets stolen by corrupt officials and their organizations. Angola will seize assets in the country and attempt to seize assets hidden abroad. Implementing the policy depends on the successful passage of the Law on Coercive Repatriation and Extended Loss of Property. The law targets incongruous goodsproperty and assets purchased from wealth generated by criminal activity.

October 27, 2018: CENI (Congos electoral commission) has announced that there are 21 presidential candidates on its definitive list. Definitive appears to mean acceptable. Opposition political leaders Felix Tshisekedi and Vital Kamerhe are on the list. So is the pro-Kabila Emmanuel Shadary. Former vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba and former Katanga Governor Moise Katumbi have been excluded from the presidential candidate list,

October 25, 2018: The Burundian government has boycotted the fifth round of meetings, sponsored by the EAC (East African Community) designed to assure free and fair election occur in 2020. The talks were scheduled for October 24 in Arusha, Tanzania but Burundi refused to send a representative.

October 23, 2018: In eastern Angola (Lunda Norte Province) violence in the provincial capital Lucapa near the Congo border. Angolans objected to the increasing number of Congolese refugees in the area. An estimated 300,000 Congolese have fled to Angola since early 2018. Many of the refugees are from the Kasai region in southwest Congo. The anti-Congo violence began on October 3 with three days of Angolan rioters attacking Kapende, Lucapas Congolese neighborhood. Congolese residents fought back with machetes but most of the shanty homes were destroyed. After the riots Congo delivered a strong diplomatic protest to Angola and Angolan officials acknowledged that at least 14 people were killed in the early October violence. Meanwhile, the Angolan government has begun cracking down on illegal diamond mining operations run by Congolese migrants and this has sent at least 300,000 Congolese refugees fleeing back into Congo.

October 22, 2018: The UN revealed that their investigators concluded that each year from $300 million to $600 million worth of gold is smuggled out of Congo.

October 21, 2018: In eastern Congo (North Kivu Province) Ugandan ADF Islamic rebels attacked Congolese troops near the town of Beni. The ADF fighters also attacked several neighborhoods in the town and killed at least 13 civilians while abducting 12 children. UN peacekeepers deployed to protect civilians exchanged fire the rebels near Beni but could not stop the rebels or rescue the captives.

October 20, 2018: The government said that new voting machines will arrive in country by the end of October and will be on hand for the election in December. The political opposition believes the new machines are not secure and enable fraud.

October 16, 2018: Russia confirmed that around 175 Russians, most of them PMCs (Private Military Contractors) are engaged in training security forces in the Central African Republic (CAR). Russia calls the PMCs civilians, but essentially they are Russian mercenaries. In July Russia confirmed that Russian PMCs had long term contracts to train security forces in Sudan. Sudan is now a staging area for the PMC operations in the CAR. The rumor is the Russian PMCs do more than train locals. They provide security for Russian mining concessions.

October 15, 2018: The UN Congo peacekeeping force revealed that as of September 30 it deployed 15,375 military personnel in peacekeeping formations and 214 military observers. 1,044 security personnel serve in Formed Police Units (paramilitary police). Another 307 policemen serve with as separate UN police training operation.

October 13, 2018: In eastern Congo (North Kivu Province) a second wave of Ebola virus cases has broken out near the Ugandan border and the town of Beni.

October 11, 2018: In eastern Congo (North Kivu Province) peacekeepers encountered what they believed were ADF rebels near the town of Oicha. The rebels fled towards the Ugandan border.

October 7, 2018: Representatives from the East African Community (EAC), which is overseeing mediation efforts in Burundi, have scheduled a fifth round of talks to be held later this month. The EAC mediators asked the Burundian opposition to agree to a common position prior to the talks.

October 5, 2018: Russia has signed new military cooperation agreements with Burundi and the Central African Republic in 2018. Both agreements call for sharing counterterrorism resources and training for Burundian and CAR security personnel in Russia.
As the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service's Nippers prepares to celebrate their 50th anniversary next month, ACG Tauranga in Pyes Pa is delighted to announce it will continue as primary sponsor of the Nippers programme for a second year.

The sponsorship is part of the independent schools ongoing commitment to education and community.

It continues for the 2018/2019 summer season under the leadership of principal Thea Kilian who started at the school last term.

Our school opened in 2015 and, as a relative newcomer to the Bay of Plenty, its humbling for us to partner with such an established club, particularly in a year in which the Nippers celebrate this tremendous milestone, she says.

Were so proud to support a local organisation that, like us, wants to develop capable confident young adults for the future. Its about giving back to the community, supporting each other and learning life skills that will be invaluable for our kids for the future.

Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service Chairman Paul Manning says the club is delighted to continue the partnership.

The goal of the Nippers programme is to develop the lifeguards of the future through providing education, competence and confidence in and around the beach environment. ACG have shown they care deeply about education, service and community, and both organisations share a real passion for innovation and continuous improvement, so theres a great natural fit there.

Were really proud of the long history of Nippers here at the Mount and nationwide and the ongoing support provided by this partnership ensures the programme will continue to thrive.

The Nippers programme teaches 5-to-13 year old kids important water skills, helps to grow confidence on the water and teaches them how to keep locals safe on the beach.

It complements the competitive Oceans (10-13) age group, the Rookie Lifeguard programme and weekly skill sessions and school holiday programmes for a range of levels.

The focus on ongoing education is well-aligned with ACG Tauranga, which opened a new preschool on its campus last year and now offers education from Preschool through to Year 13.

Nippers a transformational experience: the Rimmer family

Grant Rimmer says his familys experience being part of Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service over the years has been transformational.

His sons Quinn, Year 8, and Tai, Year 6, both at ACG Tauranga, joined the club as toddlers.

Starting in the Nippers programme, Quinn has progressed to the Oceans Athletes Squad, while Tai is in the Rookies programme for lifeguards in training.

As well as training, education, experience and skills, Tai and Quinn have had many opportunities to give back to the club by helping younger children and developing as volunteers from a young age. Healthy is the word he associates with his experience.

Not just in terms of the physical benefits, he says. I mean the friendships, the culture of the club, its supportiveness.

He says the boys had gained confidence through being involved, and putting themselves up there on a stage.

Looking back all those years ago to when they started, I get quite emotional when I think of the transformation, he says.

Particularly for Quinn. I dont think they would have done that without the supportive environment of the club.
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Heat radiating from an incandescent reflector lamp has been found as the cause of a cargo hold fire on a multipurpose container vessel.

The vessel Kokopo Chief, was loading a cargo of containers and general cargo at Port of Tauranga when the fire happened on September 23, 2017, says a report released by Transport Accident Investigation Commission.



Number 4 cargo hold was completed with tiers of packaged timber, after which the hatch lid was closed and containers loaded on top.

Cargo operations were completed by about 11.30pm and the crew stood down to rest before the vessels departure, which was scheduled for early the next morning.



Shortly before midnight, the ships smoke-detection system alarmed, alerting the crew to a fire that had broken out in number 4 cargo hold.

The crew response to the fire included activating the ships fixed carbon dioxide fire-extinguishing system, which involved sealing the cargo hold and releasing liquid CO2 into the cargo hold.



The master alerted harbour control, which called the local fire service, responded and combined with the ships crew to form a joint fire command team and a fire control team. The fire control team monitored the temperatures of the steel surfaces around the cargo hold, which indicated that the fire was being suppressed by the CO2 gas in the hold.



A decision was made to unload the containers on top of the hatch and partially open one of the lids, says TAIC.

However, smoke was emitted from under the hatch lid, so it was replaced and any remaining bottles of liquid CO2 were released into the cargo hold.



After several hours the temperatures had decreased, so the hatch lid was removed. There were no obvious signs of fire, so the timber packs were unloaded and any remaining hot spots attended to.



TAIC found that the fire was caused by heat radiating from an incandescent reflector lamp that set fire to packs of timber that had been stowed close to the lamp.

The cargo hold lights had not been switched off on completion of loading, says the report.



The Commission also found that the ships fixed CO2 fire-extinguishing system was effective, but that the fire could have been extinguished sooner if the hatch had not been opened earlier.



The Commission also found that the response to the fire was well co-ordinated, but identified the following safety issues:

- the operators safety management system had not fully mitigated the risk of fire caused by cargo hold lighting, in spite of an earlier incident involving similar circumstances

- the responsibilities of the various authorities involved in responding to the fire were not clearly documented and understood by all parties

- the Fire and Emergency New Zealand training standards did not fully cover the special considerations for responding to shipboard fires.



The operator has taken a number of safety actions to address the first safety issue, while the Commission has made two recommendations to Fire and Emergency New Zealand to address the other safety issues, says TAIC.

The Commission also made recommendations to the International Association of Classification Societies and the International Group of P&I Clubs to disseminate the lessons learned from this accident to the global shipping fleet.



Key lessons arising from this inquiry include:

- safety procedures such as switching off cargo hold lights should be documented and include systems for checking that they have been carried out

- some lamp types generate a substantial amount of heat that can be a fire hazard. Ship owners and operators should consider using other types of lamp that do not generate high heat in locations where the risk of fire is present

- the required firefighting systems on board ships are unique to the special design and construction of the ships. When possible, they should be fully utilised in accordance with the operating instructions.
Why did you choose to run for office? With Sheriff John D. Jenson retiring this year, the opportunity presented itself for me to step up and continue with some long term goals that I have had for myself.

What skills do you have that you will bring to the office? I am a lifelong resident of Cheyenne County, so I have a vested interest in the safety and security of my community. With that I bring 16 years of law enforcement experience, all with the Cheyenne County Sheriffs Office: nine years as a Sergeant, seven years as a K-9 handler, seven years on the Cheyenne County SWAT Team ( one year as Team Leader and two years as Team Commander).

What do you hope to accomplish if elected? My goal is to continue the legacy of former sheriffs Darrell J. Johnson and John D. Jenson. That is one of professionalism, courtesy and integrity. As far as I am concerned, we have one of the most professional and well respected offices in the country and most definitely in the State of Nebraska. My goal is not to make any drastic changes to an already well-oiled machine, but to continue with our day to day business, and most importantly in our fight against illegal drugs. I know that everyone says its a fight we cannot win, and to some extent they are right. However, to me, every life saved and every person helped is a victory for those of us in law enforcement.

What are some challenges you hope to overcome? One of the biggest challenges facing us today is the mental health system. It is broken. We have so many people, even just in our small community, who at times are in need of emergency help. Right now, the closest place for us to take those folks is Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. The problem is, RWMC services the whole Nebraska Panhandle, and as such, there arent enough beds at this location to serve the need. We are then forced to travel east across the state to distant locations to get them the help that they need.

Another problem with the lack of facilities is that many of the mentally ill end up in jail for minor law violations. They actually need to be in a facility that can help them and treat them, but due to a lack of bed space and financial support, these folks end up out on the street and its only a matter of time until they eventually end up in jail. My goal is to help and support putting practices and services in place locally that will greatly alleviate the need to travel so far for services and to help people get the services they need, so they can avoid going to jail.

What are the most important issues to be addressed by your office? One of the most important issues facing all of law enforcement today is the influx of dangerous and illegal drugs into our communities. My goal is to continue to fight this influx. During my career, I have seen everything from marijuana in all of its forms, methamphetamine and labs, prescription drug abuse, to the new drug of choice, heroin.

I will continue to be very vocal, as Sheriff Jenson has, about the need to be united as a state to keep fighting the legalization of marijuana. The hype that is being sold to the states of how great it is, is just that, hype. If you take an unbiased, open minded look at all of the information out there, you will see that it is a fake bill of goods. We need only look at Colorado itself and you will see just how detrimental that its legalization has actually been to Colorado as a whole. The arrests involving marijuana have gone up, not down. The tax revenue from it accounts for 2 percent of their total tax revenue. Traffic accidents involving marijuana are through the roof. Emergency Room visits involving marijuana, and more importantly children, have increased exponentially, and the homeless population has exploded, etc. In a nutshell, marijuana consumption is not a victimless crime.

In closing, Cheyenne County has and always will be my home. I cannot think of anyplace I would rather live and I look forward to continuing in my service to this great community.

Thank you.

Adam E. Frerichs, Republican Nominee for Cheyenne County Sheriff.
Do you see needs in Sidney that arent being met? Would you like to see the city become even better? Rotarians want to help.

Representatives of Rotary District 5630, which covers western Nebraska, will host an informational meeting 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, at Buffalo Point Steakhouse, 638 Cabela Drive. The purpose of the meeting will be to discover the goals and passions of local residents and to offer Rotarys extensive resources to help meet those goals.

This meeting will not focus on Rotary specifically, but avenues of service in Sidney and Cheyenne County. Rotarians from the active clubs in Alliance, Chadron, Chappell, and Kimball have been invited to attend and share their communities vision of Rotary as well, said District 5630 Membership Chairman and Past District Governor Dian Edwards.

Edwards will be chairing the Nov. 5 meeting.

Nebraska Rotarians share in Sidneys desire to create opportunities for service while maintaining its small-town values. Rotarians are motivated by their motto of Service above Self and guided in their decisions by their 4-Way Test: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Is it beneficial to all concerned?

We want to find out the best ways to serve Sidney. We want to learn how we can help you reach your goals  particularly for your youth. We believe young people want to be engaged in the community, and we have the resources to provide them with leadership training and foreign exchange opportunities while channeling their energies toward community service, Edwards said.

Drinks and hors doeuvres will be served at the meeting. There is no cost to attend. For more information about the meeting or about Rotary, call Dian Edwards at 402-340-6166 or email [email protected]

Sidney had a charter club until last year when it surrendered its charter, Edwards said. She added Sidney and Cheyenne County has a history of supporting its youth. However, Rotary needs to hear from local residents to determine what is needed in the Cheyenne County community.
TOWN OF WILNA, N.Y. -- A Carthage man was thrown from his vehicle when it crashed in Jefferson County on Wednesday, according to the New York State Police.

David C. Baker, 22, of Carthage, was in critical condition, police said in a news release Thursday.

Baker was driving a 1989 Jeep south on County Route 41 at about 2 p.m., when it went off the road in the Town of Wilna, police said.

The driver side door fell off the Jeep, and the car sideswiped a National Grid utility pole and a state "share the road" traffic sign, police said.

The Jeep got back on the road and Baker drove for another 2.8 miles on County Route 41, police said. The vehicle didn't stop at a stop sign and hit an embankment at the intersection with County Route 40, police said.

Baker was thrown from the Jeep, police said. The vehicle came to rest about 130 feet off the road, police said.

He was taken by Fort Drum helicopter to Samaritan Medical Center, police said.

State police are still investigating the crash.
Cyrell Haygood

Syracuse, NY -- An Onondaga County jury, held in suspense for more than a day by cryptic references about a murder case, finally heard what prosecutors really believe happened.

A judge had previously barred prosecutors from arguing that Cyrell Haygood shot to death George Booker Jr. in a long-standing gang rivalry. There has been no other motive suggested and the two men have no known history with each other.

Calling someone a gang member to a jury is considered extremely prejudicial and can only be done if a judge rules there's enough evidence to substantiate the allegation.

Haygood's case has been dominated for weeks by arguments over whether or not it could be used. State Supreme Court Justice Gordon Cuffy had not yet decided when trial started in Booker's June 2017 death on East Kennedy Street.

Prosecutor Jordan McNamara -- at the time unable to bring up gangs -- told jurors during opening statements only that he didn't know how the trial would unfold.

But Wednesday, Cuffy allowed gang evidence to be revealed.

A witness, who asserted knowledge of the murder and the gangs themselves, testified Wednesday afternoon in Haygood's murder trial.

The 20-year-old man, who left court flanked by armed DA's office investigators, testified that he was a member of Furman Fast Cash, as he said was the accused, Haygood. Authorities say Booker Jr. was a member of the rival 1500 gang.

The witness also testified that he reached out to other witnesses in the case after Haygood allegedly threatened their safety. The witness and Haygood were in jail together.

It will ultimately be up to the jury to decide if the witness's testimony about Haygood's gang affiliation was credible.

Defense lawyer Ed Klein ripped the witness during cross-examination as someone who amounted to a professional snitch, gathering little bits of information and making up what he didn't know.

The witness was released from jail a week before trial on unrelated charges after talking to prosecutors, the defense lawyer noted.

In court, the witness testified he knew very few other gang members in the rivalry, and those he did know, he declined to identify in court. He testified he felt safe on the rival gang's turf.

The witness also said in a sworn affidavit that he was "family" to Haygood, Klein noted. In fact, the witness testified, his father was close with Haygood's father, but he knew of no blood relation.

The contentious cross-examination ended as Klein asked the witness about a jailhouse exchange involving Haygood.

The witness, who was in segregated lock-up, testified that Haygood called him a "snitch" and other things as he was being escorted through the jail.

Klein, clearly doubting the account, noted that Haygood was being held in a second-story cell and would have had to shout across a common area at the witness. That would have been against jail policy.

The witness acknowledged that there was no evidence that Haygood was ever disciplined for the alleged exchange. He said that's because jail deputies were "a**holes."

"You think they're all a**holes, don't you?" Klein fired back.

"Yes I do," the witness replied.

Before lunch today, a district attorney's office gang expert testified about the gang rivalry and how he placed Haygood in Furman Fast Cash and Booker in the 1500 gang.

Detective Tim Gallanaugh had testified in-depth at a pretrial hearing about the same connections.

But Gallanaugh also testified that he had not heard the key witness identify himself as a Furman Fast Cash member before trial. Klein suggested the witness claimed Furman Fast Cash membership for the first time recently.

The witness had claimed other gang membership, including in the jailhouse "Crips" gang and "Ben's Block," a segment of the Bricktown gang.

On further questioning by prosecutor Joseph Coolican, however, Gallanaugh added that the witness's child's mother had a relative in Furman Fast Cash.

There's also evidence that Haygood's siblings are involved in gangs, prosecutors have said. Haygood was tied to an address that had been targeted by gangs, they added.

Klein has suggested that prosecutors are fishing for a motive by bringing up the alleged gang activity, which Haygood denies.

Haygood faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of murdering Booker.
"Can we try that crowd-surfing thing again?" Pond frontman Nick Allbrook after attempting to during the band's previous song. "I just want to try that one more time seeing as it failed so miserably last time."

He shooshed everyone. Once everyone was quiet, he started to lean back, and then people started talking, and he shooshed them again. Once the room quieted down, he fell down into the crowd, that passed him around the room while shushing and laughing until he made it back to the stage.

Pond put on an energetic and heavy show at The Haunt in Ithaca on Oct. 31, and dressed in costumes onstage for a festive and spooky show at an appropriately named venue.

The Perth, Australia, band invited Juan Wauters to open for them, and though both acts were great, Wauters may have even been better.

Wauters wore bellbottom-esque jeans, a suede and faux fur fringe jacket, white velcro shoes, and a black ski mask onstage. Someone asked what his costume was supposed to be: he said "a murderer."

He strummed an old acoustic guitar and sang a 60s-folky ballad about James Brown, a shoeshiner from Atlanta who became the king of soul. Seven to 10 minutes into his set and he was still going with that one song, with only one verse. Between verses he would drop it low and sprint across the stage, only managing to get five strides in before needing to turn around.

He invited some costumed crowd members on stage and held a costume contest. He tried to determine the most popular name in the room (he settled on David). He held a "how long can you clap" contest. He punctuated these contests with more James Brown and a second song about a fruit vendor. The audience howled with laughter.

Wauters, who moved to Queens from Uruguay as a teenager, ended his set with a speech about why he delivered such an unusual set.

"Many many places that I go, people don't know how to have fun. We should try really hard to preserve our fun moments. Even though things are rough, we still have that moment of the day for a little fun," he said.

He certainly got the crowd excited for Pond, especially brother and sister superfans, Bryan and Melissa, standing in the front row. Melissa had been at The Haunt since 11 a.m.; Bryan is traveling to Boston on Friday and to Montreal on Sunday to see the next shows in Pond's tour.

With a breed of psychedelic rock that sounds like early Tame Impala and David Bowie's lovechild, Pond jammed hard to a packed house. Nearly the whole floor was full and more people dotted the back bar area. Many wore costumes. Frida Kahlo buying Pabst Blue Ribbon 16-oz. cans from the bar, Dwight Schrute from "The Office," Superman, Supergirl, and plenty of animal onesies headbanged along to "Paint Me Silver," "Sweep Me Off My Feet" and "Sixteen Days."

"It's lovely seeing you all here. You make us feel very important," Allbrook said, the fake blood all over his face and chest sweating off. "And Happy Halloween! I've never done this before. It's ... fun as hell."
Growing up in the Rocky Mountain foothills near Golden, Colorado, quilter Deb Berkebile loved nature. It's easy to understand why, with the city's dinosaur fossils, hiking trails, and scenic views from its three surrounding mountains.

"Living in such a beautiful place makes you want to protect what is there for future generations," she said. "I seek to improve and protect the quality of the environment through my quilts so that people will become educated about activities that can harm nature and its surroundings."

This art quilt created by Deb Berkebile, called "The Painted Desert," was included in Schweinfurth Art Center's Quilts=Art=Quilts 2016 exhibition. Berkebile started making art quilts just two years earlier.

Now a resident of Conneaut, OH, a small city nestled on the shore of Lake Erie just west of the Pennsylvania border, Berkebile celebrates the beauty of the Great Lakes in her latest quilt to be included in the Schweinfurth Art Center's Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibit. The show, which features 73 artworks by 59 artists from around the world, will be on display through Jan. 6, 2019.



"My current body of work explores satellite imagery and creating a 'false-color' depiction of remote sensed satellite images (Geographical Information Systems)," she said. Her piece in the current exhibit, "The Great Lakes Project," depicts a view of the Great Lakes basin, including the Finger Lakes. While much of the land is depicted in spring and summer greens, cities - including Chicago, Cleveland, and Buffalo - are highlighted in red or orange.



"(Satellite images') vivid colors and variations are what first drew me to representations of incredible Earth scapes, such as the Great Lakes," said Berkebile, who is a mechanical engineer. "These five interconnected bodies of water account for one-fifth of the Earth's fresh surface water and span 750 miles. The Great Lakes have come a long way since the early 60s, when they were very polluted, but today Lake Erie still has the poorest ecosystem."

Sewing since a second-grader

Berkebile began quilting as a second-grader under the tutelage of her mother. She started with doll clothes and was sewing her own clothes by high school, moving to quilting in 2005 with the encouragement of her mother.

Deb Berkebile used several techniques, including painting, machine quilting, and fabric dyeing, to make this quilt, "Grand Canyon."

She began making art quilts in 2014, and Berkebile's first two GIS quilts were accepted into the Houston International Quilt Festival, the largest U.S. quilt show. Her quilt "The Painted Desert" was accepted into the 2016 Quilts=Art=Quilts show at the Schweinfurth.



"It is a juried show, so you know if your artwork is accepted it will be among artwork of other well-known artists," Berkebile said of QAQ. "As one of my artist friends and mentors said to me after my piece made it into the 2016 show, 'You are running with the big dogs now!'"



Because of the unique requirements of her GIS quilts, Berkebile creates all the fabrics she uses. "I use surface design techniques, hand-dyeing, ice-dyeing, painted fabric, and digital manipulation of images printed on fabric," she said.



In addition to her GIS quilts, Berkebile is working on other quilt series, including one on national parks and another on civil rights. "I enjoy the challenges of creating original artwork that combine my passions and interests," she added.



If you go...

What: 38th annual Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibition

Who: 59 artists from around the world are represented in the show

Where: Schweinfurth Art Center, 205 Genesee St., Auburn

When: Through Jan. 6, 2019; art center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day

Hours: The art center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays

Cost: $10 a person; members, exhibiting artists, and children 12 and under are free
There will be a new attorney general in New York thanks to the resignation of Eric Schneiderman in May. This office holds great importance with the seemingly endless corruption in Albany.



It's also a historic race, with two African-Americans running as the major-party candidates. Either would be the first black attorney general in the state's history.



There are five candidates running for attorney general. While no one is a perfect fit, we believe Letitia "Tish" James is the right choice for this office.



James, a Democrat and the New York City Public Advocate, is running against Republican Keith Wofford, a New York City corporate lawyer born and raised in Buffalo; Green Party candidate Michael Sussman, a civil rights attorney from Orange County; and two relative unknowns, Nancy Sliwa of the Reform Party and Christopher Garvey of the Libertarian Party.



James is running because of the "fierce urgency of now." James believes the state has become a laughingstock thanks to the corruption at the state level, with dozens of officials convicted in the past decade. In her first 100 days, she plans to introduce an omnibus bill (her version of Albany's "big ugly" budget bill) to focus on ethics reform, campaign finance and more reporting requirements and disclosure. She also would rein in state agencies' use of nonprofit corporations to get around state contracting rules. She wants to join with the comptroller and district attorneys in all 62 counties. She'd strengthen the public integrity unit in cooperation with the comptroller. James would ask the state Legislature for jurisdiction over corruption - something the AG can only get from the governor now. James also has her eye on consumer fraud and creating an internet bureau to deal with data breaches and net neutrality.



While James has been endorsed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, she says he's not done enough about corruption and she'd be a "pain in his side." She describes herself as a member of the Trump resistance and plans on joining with other Democratic attorneys general in lawsuits against the president's administration.



While we agree with James on the need to clean up Albany, we'd urge her to think carefully about using her office to go after Trump. These pursuits could overtax the AG's resources, and there's plenty of work to do in New York state.



Wofford has his own plans to deal with corruption. He believes the AG already has authority to review contracts and investigate independently of the governor under the state constitution. (Both James and Sussman disagree with this.) He sees education as the civil rights issue of our time and would use the office to ensure a sound, basic education for all.



Wofford, an African-American who voted for Trump, says that while the president has said some irresponsible things, the direction of the economy is the core issue. He says he would sue the Trump administration when state's rights are at issue or where New York has common interest with other states. However, he says there shouldn't be a political agenda in the attorney general's office.



Sussman, the Green Party candidate, says only an outsider, not beholden to the major parties, can restore integrity in government. Sussman would stop the AG's "knee-jerk" defense of state agencies that are clearly breaking the law. That would free up resources to go after police misconduct, bail reform, denial of education services to special needs kids, wage theft from immigrants and educating citizens on their rights. He would continue investigations into President Trump's foundations and taxes.



Our endorsement is a close call, but we believe James has the fighting spirit and best plan to start cleaning up the mess in Albany.

Why we endorse



The purpose of an editorial endorsement is to provide a thoughtful assessment of the choices voters face in an election. We offer editorial endorsements to stimulate the public conversation and promote civic engagement. Voting is a right and an obligation of citizenship. That part is up to you. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6.

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The race for the New York State Assembly's 127th district sees a first-time candidate facing off against an incumbent who has won three hotly-contested matches.

Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) will face newcomer Nick Paro on the ballot on Tuesday, to represent a district that includes the towns of Clay, Cicero, Manlius, Pompey and Fabius and Tully.

Republicans have a slight edge among registered voters in the district, with 31,571 enrolled voters vs. 30,684 Democrats. There are 25,526 voters not registered with a party in the district, according to April 2018 enrollment data from the New York State Board of Elections.

Stirpe has raised $165,604 in campaign contributions during his last two years in office, while Paro has $32,093 in campaign contributions for the same time period, according to the New York State Board of Elections.

Assemblyman Al Stirpe is running for re-election in the 127th Assembly District.

Stirpe was first elected to his office in 2006. After growing up in Clay and graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Stirpe returned to Syracuse to work for General Electric. He worked for various technology companies in the early 2000s but said he wanted something more mobile and more stable. He decided to get involved in politics.

Stirpe was in office from 2007 to 2010 before he was defeated in the 2010 race by Donald Miller. He reassumed office in 2013. He lives in North Syracuse with his wife and daughter and sits on the board for Advocates Inc., a nonprofit working with parents of children with disabilities.

Nicholas Paro is the 2018 challenger in the 127th Assembly District.

Challenger Nick Paro graduated from Liverpool High School, attended Onondaga Community College and graduated with a degree in political science from Syracuse University. He says he attributes his desire to be in Albany from the internship experiences he had with Mayor Stephanie Miner, in Washington D.C. and in Albany with Assemblyman Will Barclay (R-Pulaski).

Paro currently works for county executive Ryan McMahon at the Onondaga County Legislature. Paro has also started a non-profit called Together Now that provides paid internship experiences at local businesses to low-income high school students in Syracuse.



Both candidates answered the same questions for Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard this week. Some answers have been consolidated for length.

Question: Why are you running for office?

Stirpe: When he ran for reelection in 2013, Stirpe said the biggest issues among constituents were the perceived lack of jobs and the cost of living. "We realized that there are a lot of jobs, but people don't know about them and a lot of people don't have the right skills to match up with those jobs," said Stirpe, adding that local manufacturers are also frustrated that they can't find qualified workers.



Stirpe said he worked with CenterState CEO, to create a training program for manufacturing jobs. The program had two goals: to get companies immediate help through a manufacturing bootcamp program and to change some education policies to encourage students to be ready to work upon high school graduation.



"We're trying to create higher paying jobs and keep them here," Stirpe said. "We want to build on those jobs - they are jobs that will last here for generations."



Paro: Outmigration. "People are leaving because it's expensive in New York State to settle down, put down your roots and start a life here and there's not really the job opportunities that pay enough for you to be able to afford to live in New York State," Paro said. "Being a younger individual, seeing how outmigration has affected my generation I think it's one that I should have a voice in in trying to solve."



Paro is also campaigning against corruption in Albany.



"Corruption has run rampant, it seems like it never stops, it's almost accepted," Paro said. "It's something we can't stand for anymore. Hopefully I can get people to listen, jump on board with me and we can get rid of the politicians who have been there for a while and come up with better politicians in Albany."

Question: What do you see as the biggest issue in your district?

Stirpe: Making sure that people are prepared for the jobs of the future and not the jobs of the past. "Teaching kids and providing resources for schools -- things like Makerlabs, these little robots that you have to program in order to do tasks -- we've put them in elementary schools and middle schools so kids can get more engaged with things they have to learn."

Paro: In addition to corruption and outmigration, Paro said the future of the Route 81 corridor remains a concern for voters. "If you eliminate that route you kind of sever my district off a little bit and it's one that they're very concerned about," he said.

Question: What can be done to spur the local economy?

Stirpe: Growing local industries. Stirple pointed to a $5 million grant for CenterState CEO for an unmanned aerial systems job fund. "This fund is supposed to help attract companies to come here to Central New York to set up either headquarters or the North American headquarters," he said.

Paro: Implementing policies to encourage business growth and supporting local entrepreneurs. Paro pointed to local startups like the Plowz & Mowz and SpinCar 360 app as examples of local ingenuity that can make a difference in the economy. "The business climate really suffocates individuals and businesses," Paro said. "If we (can change the business climate), good paying jobs will grow out of those companies and those companies will want to stay here for the long term future as well."

Question: What tax policies would you change?

Stirpe: Property taxes and the impact on education funding. Stirpe applauded the tax cap policy that sends refunds to taxpayers. district or municipality. "It keeps it at zero impact year after year," Stirpe said.

Paro: Property taxes and the impact of unfunded mandates. Paro said when he was house hunting with his fiance, the property tax burden put many homes out of their reach. "We couldn't afford to buy the home because we couldn't afford to pay the taxes." He pointed the finger at the impact of unfunded state mandates on county budgets, like the $101 million Medicaid bill passed on to Onondaga County taxpayers. "The state needs to take control of that," Paro said. "I think it would put a reduction in the property taxes for many homeowners around the state."






Syracuse, N.Y. - Mai Lan, the Vietnamese restaurant on the city's North Side, has closed after 25 years.

The Mai family opened their restaurant at 505 N. State St. on June 1, 1993. At the time, Syracuse had only one other Vietnamese restaurant, one near Syracuse University.

Mai Lan opened on the North Side, a neighborhood home to many waves of immigrants during the city's history. The restaurant was one of several new Vietnamese businesses in the 1990s -and over time it developed loyal customers who kept the nine-table restaurant going for more than two decades.

A message on the restaurant's website thanked customers:

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Mai Lan Vietnamese Restaurant," the message said. "For the last 25+ years, our family has proudly served the Syracuse community, introducing piping hot pho and other fresh and healthy Vietnamese fares to the people of CNY. As refugees and immigrants to CNY, the Syracuse community welcomed our family with open arms and gave us a chance to achieve the American Dream, for that our family will forever be grateful."

The restaurant closed Oct. 20.
Officials are urging parents to check their children's Halloween candy amid reports of tampered treats in Upstate New York and other parts of the U.S.

WRGB reports police are investigating a report of a child who bit into a Mounds candy bar with a needle inside after trick-or-treating in Hoosick Falls, N.Y. The child was not injured.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS: The Hoosick Falls Police Chief says a child bit into this candy bar after trick-or-treating and discovered a needle in the candy. The chief is encouraging all parents to check their kids' candy before eating it. They do believe this is an isolated incident. pic.twitter.com/dvSiAklUhV  Peter Eliopoulos (@petereliopoulos) November 1, 2018

Police say it appears to be an isolated event, but other reports of potential dangers from Halloween treats are raising concerns.

Oswego County District Attorney Greg Oakes said Wednesday that two people who took their kids trick-or-treating in the Town of Mexico received rocks in a box of Dots candy. Parents said the box had been opened, the candy was replaced with rocks, and the box was resealed.

ALERT: There are two reports that parents found a DOTS candy box filled with rocks in their childrens' trick-or-treat supplies. D.A. Greg Oakes says both reports involve candy collected in the town of Mexico. Parents there should check candy carefully to avoid a choking hazard. pic.twitter.com/7g0WzIJm6M  Tammy Palmer (@TammyPalmerNews) November 1, 2018

Oakes said another "constituent" claimed a bag of M&Ms received in the Town of Mexico was also tampered with. It's unclear if the M&Ms and the Dots candy came from the same person or are connected, Oakes said.

There were no injures in the Town of Mexico, but Oakes warned the rocks could pose a safety or choking hazard.

The scares follow similar, but unrelated, incidents in other parts of the U.S.

WSYX-TV reports a 5-year-old boy in Galion, Ohio tested positive for methamphetamines after eating a piece of candy Sunday that may have been laced with drugs. Police said he was hospitalized for a suspected seizure after a trick-or-treating event, and may have been exposed to meth in the tainted candy or non-edible items like rings, bracelets, necklaces or fake teeth.

"The left side of his face was just droopy and then he fell and then he couldn't move his left arm," the boy's mother, Julia Pence, told the TV station. "And he didn't know where he was, he didn't know what he was doing."

WAND-TV reports a metal object was found in a child's Reese's Stuffed with Pieces candy in Sherman, Illinois, on Wednesday. No injuries were reported.

Sherman, Illinois, police say they have a single report of tainted candy and urge parents to inspect their kids' treats. No injuries reported. Metal object found in @reeses cup. Pic: pic.twitter.com/Kz7gwnyD6x  Bishop On Air (@BishopOnAir) November 1, 2018

WJXT reports candy may have been tampered with in Clay County, Florida, but was not ingested. Additional details were not available.

A needle was also reported in a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup in Newport, Maine. WGME reports a parent was "stabbed" by the sharp object while reaching into their child's trick-or-teat bag.

Just a reminder to all parents! Please check your childrens candy. This was reported to us here at Newport PD. Unfortunately, a parent got stabbed by the pin upon reaching into their childs bag. Posted by Newport Police Department on Wednesday, October 31, 2018

How concerned should parents be?

According to History.com, most stories of Halloween candy being poisoned or drugged are a myth -- largely related to fears of Tylenol poisonings in the 1980s -- but there have been some real instances of "Halloween sadism."

In 1974, a Texas man named Ronald O'Brien gave cyanide-laced Pixy Stix to five children; the only one who ate the candy was his 8-year-old son, who died. Police said the "Candyman" murders were not a random attack, as O'Brien appeared to be targeting his own kids and their friends after taking out life insurance policies on his children.

What about razor blades in Halloween candy? According to Snopes, there have been about 80 reports of sharp objects in food, but most turned out to be hoaxes or pranks such as being inserted into candy by a relative or friend.

Authorities still encourage parents to check their children's candy every year. If anything appears to be tampered with, they should contact their local police department.

According to WJXT, there are four main warning signs for potential tampering:
After touring the United States for 40 days to sketch wild landscapes, artist Zhou Changxin created 37 oil paintings, depicting the magnificent mountains and rivers of the United States. They recently went on display at United Nations headquarters in New York.

"Through my observation and then my brushwork of the mountains, rivers, plants and flowers in the US, I wanted to express the coexistence of men and other living beings, to call for human beings to work together to protect our home, which is already fragile," Zhou explained on Oct. 19 at the opening of the exhibit Dynamic Life, Rainbow Colors.

"As we all know, at present, the multipolarization of the world is being challenged unprecedentedly. The international order, on which human beings depend, is gradually disintegrating," he said.

"So, I think it's time to let my voice be heard though art," he added.

Zhou visited 10 states from the West Coast to the East.

"I traveled to Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Arizona and Nevada to capture scenes and sights like Yellowstone Park and the Grand Canyon," he said.

"And others I made based on scenes in the Catskills of New York and Niagara Falls," he told China Daily.

Zhou said he felt blessed to travel to the Catskills and the Hudson Valley, as the scenery there was featured in paintings by Thomas Cole (1801-1848), the English-born American painter known for his romantic paintings of the American wilderness.

This exhibition is the seventh stop on the worldwide tour of Zhou's exhibition. Over the past 10 years, the show has been mounted in Italy, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

In May, Zhou had a large one-man show at the National Museum of China in Beijing.

As a renowned contemporary Chinese artist, Zhou is known for combining creativity with the beauty of the wilderness. The contemporary Chinese artist is also well known for his invention  zhong cai oil painting.

All of the works on display at the UN exhibition are zhong cai oil paintings.

Zhong cai, which means "heavy color" in Chinese, is considered one of the two most important painting styles of traditional Chinese painting, along with ink.

A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains by Wang Ximeng of the Song Dynasty (960-1127), now displayed in the Palace Museum, is considered the pinnacle of zhong cai.

From the late 1980s to early 1990s, after Chinese-American artist Ting Shao Kuang introduced Chinese zhong cai painting to the US, it became popular globally. In its prime, Chinese zhong cai was considered noble and fashionable by American families.

After years of study and practice, Zhou concluded that Chinese zhong cai is lacking when it comes to molding figures and expressing national spirit.

"The creativity of Chinese painting is facing serious problems," he declared.

However, "zhong cai oil painting is a brand new form in contemporary China born out of the happy marriage of Chinese and Western art," Zhou explained.

"Oil in form and Chinese in elements, it is a powerful and free-hand genre in oil painting, highly expressive and unlimited," he said. "I would like to compare zhong cai oil painting to a product of oil art globalization, an expression of Chinese art to the world."

"The invention of zhong cai oil painting is more than just of academic significance. It is an artistic idea, an attitude toward culture," said Shui Tianzhong, fellow of the Chinese National Academy of Arts.

"This idea is base on his strong confidence in the vitality of Chinese culture, in the through knowledge and profound study of Chinese and Western art," Shui wrote.

Born in 1973 in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province in South China, Zhou graduated from the Art School of Zhanjiang in 1993. In 1994, he began to study modern zhong cai at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (now the art school of Tsinghua University) in Beijing and was admitted into its graduate school as a mural painting major in 2000.

Zhou, currently the dean of the Changxin International Art School at Yunnan University and honorary chairman of the Zhou Changxin Art Fund, is active in promoting cross-cultural exchanges apart from painting.

"Both the Eastern arts and the Western arts have their own strengths. It's necessary that the East and the West communicate often, to learn from each other's strengths, and to develop together," Zhou said.

"I hope the United Nations as a vehicle for human progress could open up more space for artists from all over the world to showcase their artworks, to exchanges ideas and to promote arts to a higher and better direction in the future," he said.
The mother of a 1-year-old North Carolina boy who drowned in Hurricane Florence flooding has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with his death.



Dazia Ideah Lee, 20, was driving with her son, Kaiden Lee-Welch, on the night of Sept. 16 in Union County, North Carolina, according to the Charlotte Observer. Flooding from the hurricane was hitting the area hard at the time.



Flood waters swept Lee's car off a road as she drove. She managed to free her son from his car seat, but was unable to hold onto him in the rushing water and he was swept away, according to The New York Times.



His body was found the next day. Lee spoke with reporters in the wake of the death and the story was reported widely.



The charge results from the fact that Lee allegedly drove around a barricade that had been set up to close the road where the accident eventually occurred. She is also facing a misdemeanor charge of driving on a closed highway, according to ABC News.



If convicted, Lee could face 13 to 16 months in prison, according to the Times. She'll appear in court Nov. 20.



"The tragic death of this child and the circumstances surrounding this case are heartbreaking," Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey said in a statement, according to ABC. "We continue to pray of all those suffering as a result of this child's death. However, after a very thorough investigation and taking all facts into consideration and applying the law, we feel that these charges are appropriate."

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
The Rosamond Gifford Zoo's Dinosaur Invasion! went extinct in September - but it left a big footprint in the form of animals with names inspired by the exhibit.

The summer of dino-mania led the zoo's animal care staff to adopt the theme of naming all new arrivals at the zoo from May through September for characters in "The Land Before Time" movies.

The result is a total of 14 animals with "Land Before Time" names - some a bit obscure if you haven't seen all 14 movies, 13 of which went straight to video.

"A lot of people really loved this theme, and a few hated it," said Zoo Director Ted Fox. "But our staff had a lot of fun with it."

Here's a rundown of the animals and their "Land Before Time" namesakes.

Red panda cub Loofah

Baby Meerkats

At the zoo: Four baby meerkats were born to mama meerkat Pidge and father Leo on May 1 and became the first animals to receive "Land Before Time" names. So of course they represent the main characters from the very first movie, Little Foot, Spike, Petrie and Ducky.

In the movies:

Little Foot is the star of "The Land Before Time" movies. He is a young male Apatosaurus who loses his mother and journeys through the wilderness to find his remaining family. Along the way, he meets several other young dinosaurs who become his friends for the rest of the films.

Spike is a male Stegosaurus or "Spiketail." He is the largest but meekest of Little Foot's friends. Spike does not say a word until the fourth film, "Journey Through the Mists."

Petrie is a comical male Pteranodon or "Flyer" and the first friend Little Foot meets on his journey.

Ducky is a peppy little female Parasaurolophus, often referred as "Big Mouth," "Duck Bill" or "Swimmer." Ducky also gets separated from her family and accompanies Little Foot on his journey. Ducky's famous catchphrase is, "Yup, yup, yup!"

Amur leopard

At the zoo: A female Amur leopard arrived from the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina on May 5. She is being paired with a male, Rafferty, who arrived from the San Diego Zoo in late June, as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) overseen by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums to increase the numbers of this critically endangered species. While Rafferty came with a name, the female did not, so Rosamond Gifford Zoo keepers named her Tria.

In the movies: Tria is a lively triceratops who is known as kind, loving and brave. She is the step-mom of main character Cera.

San Clemente Island goats

At the zoo: As part of a new focus on Heritage Breeds of livestock in its Domestic Animal Barn, the zoo acquired four San Clemente Island goats, an endangered species, on April 5. One female arrived pregnant and had twin girls on May 4. Keepers named the darker one Ruby and the lighter one Lydia.

In the movies: Ruby is an Oviraptor, or "Fast Runner," who is often the voice of wisdom among the young dinosaurs in the series. Lydia is one of three Ceratogaulus - horned gophers - who appear in the "Land Before Time" TV episode, "Stranger From the Mysterious Above."

San Clemente Island goat kids Lydia and Ruby

Markhor twins

At the zoo: Twin male markhor were born on May 22 to mother Sasha and father Thor. Markhor are an endangered species of mountain goat and Pakistan's national mammal. Zookeepers named the twins Tippy and Thud.

In the movies: Tippy is a Stegosaurus who first appeared in "The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze," where his herd heads to the same breeding grounds as Little Foot's family. Thud is a Utahraptor friend of villain Red Claw. He has a brother named Screech, and over several movies Thud proves to be the kinder sibling.

Red panda cubs

At the zoo: Twin male red panda cubs were born to mom Tabei and dad Ketu on June 21. Red pandas are among the most popular and most endangered animals at the zoo. Keepers named the new babies Loofah and Doofah, leading some to suspect they were starting to run out of "Land Before Time" names.

In the movies: Loofah and Doofah are two Beipiaosaurus Yellow-Bellies who only appear in "The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends." Loofah, a cheerful character, is the leader of a herd of Yellow-Bellies. Doofah is the leading female in the herd and is known for her optimism.

Baby patas monkey

At the zoo: baby patas monkey was born on exhibit August 1 to mother Becca and father MJ. Patas monkeys are such social animals that a pregnant female doesn't separate from the group to give birth. The zoo held an online naming vote for the baby, asking the public to choose from five "Land Before Time" names: Mo, Foobie, Etta, Ali and Shorty. Etta won by a landslide.

In the movies: Etta, voiced by Reba McEntire, appears in "The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave." She is a Pteranodon, or "Flyer", and befriends Little Foot et al during their search for Little Foot's father.

Snow Leopard cubs

Snow leopard cubs Ozzy, right, and Strut, left.

At the zoo: Twin male snow leopard cubs were born to first-time mom Daania and father Senge on May 30 and introduced to the public this fall with the names Ozzy and Strut. They are the fourth and fifth snow leopard cubs born at the zoo since 2012 under the Species Survival Plan for this critically endangered species.

In the movies: Ozzy and Strut are Struthiomimus brothers and villains in "The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure." Ozzy is the bold leader and Strut is the more timid follower - which also is true of the cubs at the zoo.

For more information, visit the zoo's website at www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org.

Sources: www.landbeforetime.org, www.landbeforetime.com/the characters
There is a lot that is praiseworthy about grammar schools, but they also have a lot of problems. Having been to one myself, there is one problem which I believe is particularly pressing: their impact on the mental health of their students. It is undisputed that mental health problems amongst young people are on the rise nationwide 1 in 10 teenagers and over a quarter of women aged between 16 to 24 in the UK are currently suffering with mental health problems. Yet grammar schools in particular often seem to create the kind of environment for such problems to develop- and something needs to be done about it.

This is an issue of particular concern for Cambridge students. Statistically, almost one fifth of us come from grammar schools. This means that there are almost one fifth of us who have not only experienced the grammar school system ourselves, but who probably have friends, families and neighbours who have as well. This means we have seen first-hand the effect that they can have on mental health. For me at least, even though I no longer attend one, I know I feel personally invested in how grammar schools deal with these issues going forward.

The extent of the problem really hit home for me in my last year of school. In the space of a year, my younger sister was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, the 15-year-old brother of a friend took his life, and multiple friends of mine did not sit their A-level exams due to mental health issues. You can be told all the statistics in the world, but nothing really makes you realise how bad a problem has become until it begins to affect the people you know, love and care about.

Grammar schools are, by definition, selective. This means that children find huge amounts of pressure placed upon them from a young age. For many, this begins the process of the equivocation of self-worth with academic success. The jump from typically non-selective primary school environments, where such children were likely to be high-achievers, to an environment where they are no longer anything particularly special can cause self-esteem to plummet. Young children fail to contextualise their position; whilst they may be in the top percentile nationwide, the fall from being top of the class to just being average is much more immediately obvious to an eleven-year old child. I know that for my sister, the feeling of not being good enough and the desire to be the best are central to her own struggles with mental health  and this is something she partly attributes to the high-pressure environment of her senior school.

Many private and independent schools have similarly stringent entry criteria which can also place large amounts of pressure on children from a young age. However, these schools have greater resources to combat such problems. Research has indeed found that students at these schools tend to be happier and suffer less with mental health issues than those attending state and grammar schools. In contrast, grammar school budgets have been dramatically cut in recent years. This has arguably worsened the mental health crisis. Almost 60% have been forced to narrow their curriculum, typically leading to a reduction in non-academic subjects and extra-curricular activities such as drama, sport, music and art. This serves only to reinforce the idea that academics are all that matters, robbing children of a valuable outlet for any pressure they might be feeling. Secondly, almost 70% have had to reduce staff numbers. This has especially effected support staff and has led to the loss of valuable networks and services that may have existed previously to help in preventing mental illness, providing support for those living with them, and educating students about them.

I am not trying to say that all grammar schools are awful and that every student leaves having had their mental health torn to shreds. Rather, I am trying to raise awareness of an ever-growing problem which has already taken so much from the lives of so many people around me. I think that in order to combat such problems drastic action is needed. The governments current plans of introducing a mental health lead and compulsory mental health education into schools are steps in the right direction. Yet I support my friend, who since the death of his brother has led a campaign to spread awareness about mental illness in young people, in saying that such measures do not go far enough.

At my grammar school, it took the death of a young boy for anyone to realise there was a problem. But the worst shouldnt have to happen before we start trying to change things. In order to have a future, grammar schools need to act now.
In brief: Electronics giant Xiaomi might be best known for its mobile phones, but electric scooters are just one of the many other products it makes. These two-wheelers are used by several services in the US, including Lyft, but the Chinese firm isnt happy with the ride-sharing company and has sent it a cease-and-desist letter.

The scooters are just one type used by US companies, including Spin and Bird. But, as reported by TechCrunch, Xiaomi has objected to Lyft referencing its brand in ads and other documentation relating to its shared scooter business.

We also do not condone Lyfts unauthorized modification or retrofitting of our electric scooters for general public use, Xiaomi wrote in a letter, obtained by the publication.

Xiaomi warns that unless Lyft stops using its scooters that have been modified without our consent in public scooter rentals, it may launch legal action against the firm.

Lyfts modification to any scooters originally manufactured by Xiaomi without our knowledge, participation, or approval undoubtedly exposes Xiaomi to serious legal risks and liabilities for consumer safety and product liability, states the letter.

In response, Lyft says it is unaware of using of Xiaomis trademarks in its ads and said any modifications meet safety regulations. We have no intention of using any other companys trademarks in advertising our scooters, and are not aware of any instance of having done so with our existing suppliers, a Lyft spokesperson said. We will address these concerns with them directly. Safety modifications, including slowing scooter speeds, have been made to satisfy local regulatory guidelines.

Its not clear why Xiaomi has singled out Lyft when other firms use their scooters, though Bird said it has an exclusive deal with the company to use them. However, an executive with another scooter rental company told TechCrunch it also had a contract with Xiaomi.
There will be "an extremely excellent orchestral landscape in China", with the increasing number of talented musicians coupled with a strong public interest, Daniel Froschauer, chairman of the Vienna Philharmonic, says in an interview.



China is witnessing a boom in its Western classical music scene, Froschauer says, adding that orchestras in China, like the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, are highly impressive. He cites Austrian conductor Franz Welser-Most as being impressed by the performance while attending the 2018 Shanghai Grand Theatre New Year's Concert.

Continued exposure to the world stage will also allow China to add finesse to musical performances, Froschauer adds.

Numerous highlights were seen in the Vienna Philharmonic's history since its establishment in 1842, including ones when members played at the premiere of renowned pieces, such as Symphony No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven. All these experiences have helped shape the world-famous orchestra, says Froschauer.

During visits to China, Froschauer says he noticed that the public expresses a keen interest in the cultural aspects of music. Moreover, they understand it well.

Children in China are brought by parents to witness an orchestral performance, something Froschauer sees as a positive phenomenon. They can then pick up the musical instruments and try for themselves. There are also many respected Chinese musicians whom children can look up to for inspiration.

During its 2018 China Tour from Nov 26 to Dec 2, the Vienna Philharmonic will hold six concerts in Tianjin, Guangzhou and Shanghai.

For Froschauer, Welser-Most is the big star of the tour. The Vienna Philharmonic does not often have a home-grown conductor. Welser-Most certainly adds an Austrian character to the team, says Froschauer.

During last year's visit, Chinese audiences appeared to prefer music with strong rhythms over the constant melody-based pieces, Froschauer says, adding that the orchestra will select music that matches the Chinese audience's taste. Dvorak's Overture Carnival will be included in the coming tour.

China's classical music has always impressed Froschauer with its tonal diversity and richness in melody, such as those in the Butterfly Lovers' violin concerto.
In context: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), also called Bluetooth 4.0 is a wireless protocol designed to be used with apps that do not exchange large amounts of information. Fitbit fitness trackers are a good example, but it is used in other devices as well such as some enterprise networking equipment.

Update (11/5/18): Cisco provided TechSpot with a statement regarding the BLEEDINGBIT flaw. The spokesperson said that the flaw was limited in scope and certain features that an exploit would need are off by default. The full statement follows:

"Cisco is aware of the third-party software vulnerability in the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Stack on select chips that affects multiple vendors. When issues such as this arise, we put the security of our customers first and ensure they have the information they need to best protect their networks. Cisco has identified a limited number of Aironet and Meraki Access Points which, under certain conditions, may be vulnerable to this issue. Cisco PSIRT has issued a security advisory to provide relevant detail about the issue, noting which Cisco products may be affected and subsequently may require customer attention. Fixed software is available for all affected Cisco products. Cisco is not aware of any malicious use of the vulnerability."

Cisco's PSIRT can be found on its disclosure page. Instructions on how to disable setting on Meraki devices is available on the brand's documentation page.

Security researchers at Armis have recently discovered two Bluetooth vulnerabilities they have dubbed BLEEDINGBIT. The flaws are inherent in BLE chips manufactured by Texas Instruments. The ICs are used in networking devices including access points made by Cisco, Meraki, and Aruba Networks.

Armis notes that these companies supply 70 percent of the wireless access points to businesses every year. However, they cannot determine exactly how many devices in total are affected.

Putting it simply, the first exploit flips the highest bit in a Bluetooth packet causing a memory overflow, or bleed. Attackers can use this effect to run malicious code on Cisco and Meraki hardware.

The second flaw affects Aruba devices and can allow the installation of malicious firmware. It works because the hardware does not perform a check to ensure that the firmware update is authentic.

To exploit these holes, attackers need to be within range of a receiver. Most have a reach of about 100 meters. So conceivably a hacker could exploit the flaw from a parked car, unpack some malware then drive off and use remote attacks via the internet assisted by the malicious package.

Furthermore, once the bad actors are in, the networks virtual walls are useless.

In the case of an access point, once the attacker gained control he can reach all networks served by it, regardless of any network segmentation, said Armis. Once the attacker gains control over an access point through one of these vulnerabilities, he can establish an outbound connection over the internet to a command and control server he controls, and continue the attack from a more remote location.

Ben Seri, vice president of the security firm, said they would not release the code used to perform the exploits, but that it is pretty straightforward. He also mentioned that attacks could be executed from any Bluetooth-enabled laptop or smartphone. BLEEDINGBIT is also not limited to just enterprise access points.

This exposure goes beyond access points, as these chips are used in many other types of devices and equipment, said Seri. They are used in a variety of industries such as healthcare, industrial, automotive, retail, and more.

Texas Instruments has been informed of the flaw and has confirmed that it exists by issuing several patches. Even so, TechCrunch notes that the TI has attacked Armis findings calling them factually unsubstantiated and potentially misleading.

Cisco, Meraki, and Aruba have also issued patches for the affected devices. All companies say that Bluetooth on their devices is off by default, so only those that have been enabled by the purchasers or network administrators were at risk.

You can check out a list of known affected devices in in the Armis disclosure write-up.
In brief: If you thought YouTuber der8bauer's dishwasher-based PC hardware cleaning strategy was crazy, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's latest goals will probably surprise you even more. Nadella recently spoke at the Future Decoded conference about the future of data centers - specifically, the executive wants to bring Microsoft's server operations under the sea.

We've already seen that it's possible to stick your computer components in the dishwasher safely, but bringing your system itself underwater probably seems like a slightly silly concept.

Well, it still is, but that's pretty close to what Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently advocated for at the Future Decoded conference, according to Ars Technica. The executive believes the undersea deployment of waterproof "server pods" could be the future of data center expansion.

Though it may sound a bit strange initially, it's a solid -- and proven -- concept. As Ars notes, Microsoft tried out a similar, smaller-scale project in 2016 when it launched a server pod in the ocean near California.

There are a lot of benefits to moving server operations undersea, not the least of which is location versatility. After all, Microsoft wouldn't be restricted by purchasable above-ground land, which becomes more limited by the day. Additionally, data transfer latency could theoretically be reduced quite a bit; Nadella says that roughly "50 percent" of Earth's inhabitants already live near a coast.

It's also worth noting that with undersea servers, there's no real need to build actual facilities. Towering buildings with complex cooling and noise reduction technology would be a thing of the past. Furthermore, if it proves necessary to remove a server due to maintenance issues, it's as simple as hauling it back above the waves.

We can't say for sure how well Nadella's plans will work out, but we are definitely intrigued. What do you think of underwater servers? Let us know in the comments.
The engineers of NASA showed off their skills in an office-wide Halloween pumpkin-carving contest this week held at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California.

On Monday, Oct. 29, the brilliant minds at the U.S. space agency showed off their creations, featuring pop culture references and, of course, some space-themed gourds.

NASA's Pumpkin-Carving Contest 2018

For an hour on Monday, engineers took time off of building spacecrafts and rovers to carve Charlie Brown, Cookie Monster, and E.T. Others created fighting robots, sharks, a space-faring pirate ship, and more.

The one rule was: engineers cannot carve their pumpkins during work hours. They have the liberty to plan and create their masterpieces at home using their own tools. The prize: bragging rights.

pic.twitter.com/tRI0Rb8j7Z What happened when we let our engineers loose on pumpkins for JPL's seventh annual carving contest? Here are the results: https://t.co/z8zCjR6ZP4 October 30, 2018

A Fun Halloween Tradition

"I don't think, even at the time, they appreciated just how seriously our engineers were going to take it," said mechanical engineer Mike Meacham, who is co-running the competition. In 2017, Meacham and his team won third place by creating a Frankenstein gourd that hovers in the air via a parachute and an air blower.

Other standouts from the previous years include this spinning pumpkin carousel that was created in Halloween 2016.

"It's fun to see everybody bring the same kind of crazy energy that they do to making the flight projects to something as simple as a pumpkin carving contest.," shared Iona Brockie, also an engineer who, like Meacham, is working on the upcoming Mars 2020 rover.

The pumpkin carving competition is now on its seventh year at NASA. The U.S. space agency has even published a guide on how to create a jack-o-lantern for Halloween like a NASA engineer on its website. Photos and videos from this year's competition can be found in the agency's Flickr account.

NASA Mars 2020 Podcast

This week, NASA also launched a new podcast that follows the journey of the InSight lander to Mars. Narrated by science journalist Leslie Mullen, each episode will discuss the science and the people behind the mission until the spacecraft's scheduled approach to the red planet on Nov. 26.

The first two episodes are now streaming at the NASA and InSight websites, SoundCloud, and Apple Podcasts.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Russian space corporation Roscosmos has identified the issue that caused its Soyuz rocket carrying astronauts to have a ballistic descent in October.

Roscosmos Reports On Soyuz Rocket Mishap

On Wednesday, Oct. 31, Sergei Krikalev spoke to the press to discuss the incident with the public. After several days of investigations, they concluded that the sensor onboard the rocket failed to signal the separation during the first and second stages. This caused one of the side boosters to knock off with the rocket.

As a result, the Soyuz automatically aborted the mission and pushed the astronauts onboard away from the rocket, sending them back on a ballistic descent to Earth.

Astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksey Ovchinin lifted off from Baikonur on the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with the Soyuz MS-10 space capsule on Oct. 11. Neither men were hurt by the incident.

NASA has been relying on the Soyuz program to send its astronauts to the International Space Station. Three crewmembers remain onboard the orbiting outpost: American Serena Aunon-Chancellor, German Alexander Gerst, and Russian Sergey Prokopyev. They are scheduled to head back to Earth onboard a Soyuz capsule in December.

NASA Relationship With Roscosmos Remain Intact

Despite the incident, NASA has repeatedly expressed confidence in Roscosmos and the Soyuz program. Shortly after the rocket failure in October, chief administrator Jim Bridenstine told the public that the space agency will continue to rely on the Soyuz rocket to launch astronauts to space.

"I fully anticipate that we will fly again on a Soyuz rocket and I have no reason to believe at this point that it will not be on schedule," he told the press.

The next manned launched has been scheduled to Dec. 3, carrying Russian Oleg Kononenko, American Anne McClain, and Canadian David Saint-Jacques. Krikalev has assured that further actions are being carried out in order to ensure the safety of upcoming manned launches.

The Soviet-designed Soyuz rocket is currently the only vehicle that can send astronauts to the ISS. NASA will have to rely on the Russians until the commercial crew vehicles in development by SpaceX and Boeing are ready for flight.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Update, 10 p.m. Thursday

Lt. John Mowell, public information officer for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, said in a news release late Thursday night that after talking with Gil Dozier, the attorney working on behalf of Diocese of Lafayette, that the diocese is not aware of any known victims living in Lafayette Parish.

The diocese, Mowell added, notified the Sheriffs Office "out of an abundance of caution because the reverend who is on administrative leave (Jody Simoneau) worked in this parish."

If any victims come forward as a result of this disclosure, Mowell said, the Lafayette Parish Sheriffs Office stands ready to assist them.

Original post

The Lafayette Diocese on Thursday announced a new allegation involving a priest abusing minors.

Rev. Jody Simoneaux, pastor at St. John the Evangelist Church in Jeanerette, is accused of being involved in improper behavior with minors more than 30 years ago, while he was assigned to St. Anthony Church in Eunice and St. Anne Church in Youngsville, according to a news release.

The statement released by the diocese does not describe the improper behavior, nor specify the number of alleged victims or their gender.

Simoneaux is now on administrative leave while the diocese investigates, and the diocese has reported the allegations to law enforcement authorities in St. Landry and Lafayette parishes, according to the news release.

However, a Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman said in a news release Thursday night that they cannot find any recent complaints about Simoneaux.

"Based on my preliminary research, we do not have any recent complaints concerning this individual," Lt. John Mowell said. "Our office will begin researching our archives to see if any can be found."

The allegation is the fifth involving Lafayette Diocese priests that have surfaced or received new attention since June, when Michael Guidry, a former priest at St. Peter Church in St. Landry Parish, confessed to abusing a 16-year-old altar boy three years ago.

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The victim claimed in a subsequent lawsuit that Guidry plied him with alcohol on several occasions during overnight visits to Guidrys house, and that he developed a drinking problem as a result.

(The victim) was fearful of telling anyone what had happened to him and he began to drink heavily, causing deep concern with his parents and older brother, the lawsuit alleges. It got to the point that every time they confronted him about his alcohol problem (the victim) would get mad and leave, all of which caused a breach in the close and loving relationship he and his family had before (Guidry) came into their lives.

Earlier this month, the diocese disclosed that Monsignor Robie Robichaux had been accused on multiple occasions of abusing a teenage girl. The victim in that case notified church authorities in 1994 and 2004, according to Bishop Douglas Deshotel, who said he first learned of the allegation three weeks before disclosing it.

Lafayette church official accused of sexual abuse faces new allegation from second victim A second woman has stepped forward with a sexual abuse allegation against a Catholic priest placed on leave this month following a previous si

Deshotel has not addressed questions in the Robichaux case.

In addition to the three newly disclosed allegations, two existing ones involving Lafayette Diocese priests have recently received new attention. A lawsuit last month highlighted allegations against the late Kenneth Morvant, who was pastor of the St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville.

Morvant was accused of repeatedly abusing 11 boys in the 1970s, using alcohol and God to seduce them, according to the lawsuit. Those allegations were previously part of Washington, D.C. lawsuit that was tossed for lack of jurisdiction.

A Pennsylvania grand jury report in August included an allegation against John Bostwick, who was transferred to Lafayette in 1992 at the invitation of former Bishop Harry Flynn. Bostwick had refused an order to get counseling for unspecified reasons before being transferred, according to the grand jury report. He was removed in 1996 after an investigation of his alleged abuse of minors in the early 1980s.

Following the lead of other Louisiana dioceses, Deshotel said this month he is committed to releasing a list of all credibly accused priests from his diocese, although he did not specify when that would occur.

Lafayette diocese endorses releasing names of priests accused of abuse but says process will take time The Diocese of Lafayette was among five in Louisiana to announce Tuesday a commitment to release the names of clergy in its jurisdiction credi

The diocese in 2004 disclosed that 123 accusers had received $24.4 million in settlements related to allegations in the 1970s and 1980s. Those accusations were against 15 priests, but the diocese has long resisted calls to identify them.
You are here: Arts

Cast members of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald pose for the upcoming film.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Hogwarts will hit the big screen again this month, with Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, the second film of the titular spin-off franchise that's also a prequel set 70 years before the Harry Potter stories.

It'll open in China and North America on Nov. 16.

Oscar-winning British actor Eddie Redmayne plays the magic world's talented zoologist, Newt Scamander, who hunts for Gellert Grindelwald, the dangerous and powerful villain who has escaped prison and started to recruit dark wizards in 1927.

Redmayne reveals he once felt a bit jealous since many of England's excellent actors have appeared in the Harry Potter franchise but he hadn't.

The shooting is like a party, which was fun, he said during an interview in Beijing on Sunday.
Coming off some changes surrounding the Affordable Care Act this year, the six-week open enrollment period for the individual market begins Thursday for the more than 100,000 Louisianians who receive health coverage through the federal exchange.

The open enrollment period runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15 to put coverage in place for 2019, and the only way to enroll through the federal exchange after that is by qualifying for a special enrollment.

For the first time since the inception of the health law, commonly known as Obamacare, the individual market in Louisiana will see premiums drop on average after Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and Vantage Health Plan slashed rates following a profitable 2017.

Also a first: People are no longer required to buy health insurance after President Donald Trump's administration and Congressional Republicans repealed the so-called individual mandate provision of the ACA starting Jan. 1, 2019. Previously, those without insurance faced a paying a penalty.

Despite those changes, and other regulatory moves by the Trump administration that could undermine the health law, Brian Burton, head of the Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center, is assuring people the open enrollment period is moving forward as scheduled.

People think that because the individual mandate ends on Jan. 1 that the marketplace is closed, Burton said. I keep hearing that a lot.

The marketplace is very much open, Burton notes, and despite the drop in rates, some enrollees may pay slightly more  usually $10 to $20 more a month  than last year because federal subsidies also decreased.

On average, rates in Louisiana are dropping by an average of 6.4 percent, according to the state Department of Insurance. That drop comes after years of double-digit rate hikes.

Burton recommends people shop around for plans this year, even if they are scheduled to be automatically enrolled into their existing plan. Those who dont get federal help should check out some of the bronze and gold plans before giving up and leaving the market.

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Burtons group serves as Louisianas sole statewide navigator organization for the marketplace. The Trump administration last year slashed Louisiana navigator funding from $1.5 million to about $297,000, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Burtons organization is receiving slightly more  $300,000  this year to assist enrollees.

People making between 138 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty line, which is between roughly $16,600 and $48,000 for an individual, are eligible for federal subsidies to help pay for health insurance. Those making less than 138 percent of the poverty line are eligible for Medicaid.

According to data from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, 93,865 of the 109,855 people who enrolled in 2018  85 percent  received federal aid offsetting the cost of premiums. While the average premium cost this year was $648, the average cost after factoring in federal tax credits was $201.

The Trump administration this year also expanded access to short-term health plans and Association Health Plans, moves that proponents argue give consumers more choice but which critics say will undermine the Affordable Care Act. Some have worried the individual mandate repeal will also drive healthy people out of the individual market, driving up costs.

Meanwhile, several Republican attorneys general, including Louisiana's Jeff Landry, are suing to repeal the Affordable Care Act, including the part of the law that protects people with pre-existing conditions.

A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that even though premiums are dropping in the individual marketplace throughout the country, they cost 6 percent more on average than they otherwise would if several changes, including the individual mandate repeal and expansion of short-term plans, had not been made.

Repealing the mandate penalty and expanding the availability of short-term plans and association health plans effectively siphons healthy people from the ACA marketplaces, driving up premiums as insurers risk pools include a larger share of sick people relative to healthier ones, the foundation said in a news release.

Danielle Blanchard, public information officer at the Louisiana Department of Insurance, said while healthy people leaving the market because of the individual mandate repeal is a risk, Louisianas insurers are not as concerned with the possibility of that fluctuation.
A probe into allegations of malfeasance by the town of Clinton's leaders has expanded to the Mayor's Court, where documents show investigators are examining how the municipal court may have collected additional fees and overcharged residents.

"According to information received by investigators ... the Mayor's Court has assessed court costs in excess of those allowed by law and the Mayor's Court has improperly collected 'officer fees' in cases where there was no officer eligible to be compensated," according to a subpoena filed Oct. 25 in East Feliciana Parish. The subpoena has requested records from the Mayor's Court since 2015.

The new court filing came two weeks after Clinton Mayor Lori Ann Bell and Police Chief Fred Dunn were arrested on abuse of office and illegal contract allegations, stemming from an investigation into the town's contract to lease four Chevrolet Tahoes as police units. The lease led to significant debt for the town and the vehicles have since been returned because the town could not afford to pay the costs.

According to an audit report, the town leased four police vehicles in 2016 for a total obligation of $136,104. Payments last year on the Chevrolet Tahoes totaled $40,849.

+3 Clinton police chief, mayor turn themselves in; duo wanted for abuse of office claims The Clinton mayor and police chief were arrested Friday on abuse of office and illegal contract allegations after an investigation into how th

Bell and Dunn signed a multi-year contract in June 2016 for the lease of four Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. Bell signed as the lessee on behalf of the town and Dunn as the counsel for the lease, the warrants say. Dunn is not an attorney, former court filings note.

Dunn has since resigned from his position, but Bell remains in office. Both are out on bail.

The latest court filing shows the former police chief and mayor face additional problems beyond the vehicle leases.

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The subpoena claims that the mayor allowed the police chief to preside over her Mayor's Court and also serve as the prosecutor. Louisiana law allows a municipality's board of alderman, at the request of the mayor, to appoint an attorney to oversee the mayor's court and act as the magistrate, and in the same way appoint one or more attorneys to act as the prosecutor. However, court records have noted that Dunn is not an attorney.

"It's really almost a separate investigation," East Feliciana Sheriff's Chief Criminal Deputy Greg Phares said of the subpoena on the Mayor's Court. "The same people but a different aspect."

Clinton police chief resigns after abuse of office arrest; mayor remains at work After the Friday arrests of two top Clinton officials, the Clinton police chief has resigned but the mayor remained at her post as of Tuesday.

Phares said investigators are "just gathering information" at this point related to the Mayor's Court.

The subpoena, filed jointly by the East Feliciana Sheriff's Office and State Police, requests any fees collected by the Mayor's Court, along with a breakdown and explanation of the court costs. The records were ordered to be turned over by Nov. 5. Phares said investigators have already received some of the information they have requested, but not all.

Prior court filings indicate that investigators are also looking into Dunn's oversight of his police department's narcotics fund, and how he was spending that money.

Criminal probe into financial practices by Clinton police chief, other town officials underway The East Feliciana Sheriff's Office and Louisiana State Police are investigating the Clinton police chief and other town officials for possibl

Bell did not respond to a message left with her office. Attempts to reach Dunn, the former police chief, were unsuccessful.
Jahi Ayala learned about the computer skill of binary coding the other day and hes eager to talk about it.

Its like speaking a whole nother language. Its just so unique, gushed the 14-year-old ninth grader at Tara High. I love how its just ones and zeros. I love just talking in binary messages. I set up an entire alphabet.

Ayala is among 31 students enrolled at this Baton Rouge public high schools new Cy-TECH Academy, which began accepting students this summer from across East Baton Rouge Parish. Its a partnership with IBM to train teenagers in computer science, engineering and other fields that the tech giant relies on for its workforce.

Tara students who enroll are not only pursuing their high school diplomas but they are simultaneously seeking associates degrees at Baton Rouge Community College in applied science via a mix of dual enrollment and in-person courses, and all free of charge.

I found out Im going to get my college diploma before my brother does, Ayala bragged.

IBM provides mentoring and internships to participating students, and all who complete the program get to sit down for a job interview with the company. IBM also hired local educator Sarah Walsh to serve as its full time director of the program in Baton Rouge.

IBM pioneered the concept in 2011 at a high school in Brooklyn. Known as P-TECH  Pathways in Technology Early College High School  the technology giant has since launched programs at 100 high schools across eight states, as well as Australia and Morocco. It counts about 150 graduates so far in a program that can take as long six years to complete and has hired several of those who have completed the program.

Tara High is the first P-TECH high school in Louisiana.

This is really special, East Baton Rouge Parish Superintendent Warren Drake told the students Wednesday at a ceremony at the school to celebrate the new program. Its one of a kind in our state, and were really happy to have it.

Hello team! IBMs Charles Masters greeted Tara students when it was his turn to speak. I call you team because I truly consider you members of our team.

Masters, who serves as vice president for IBMs North America client innovation centers, said hes excited about what these students will accomplish after they complete this program.

Beyond IBM, I cant wait to see what you do to change the world, Masters said.

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IBM narrowly meets job goals in Baton Rouge, must hire 225 by next summer A year after defaulting on its agreement with Louisiana, IBM narrowly met its hiring goals for its Baton Rouge center in 2018 as part of a rev

Tara High students also heard Wednesday from a former Trojan who has gone on bigger things, Sen. Bill Cassidy.

As Cassidy walked into the front door of the 9002 Whitehall Ave campus Wednesday, Homecoming Queen and Miss Tara Dajah Jarrell greeted the 61-year-old Cassidy and handed him a stole emblazoned with Mr. Tara 1975 along with a golden and Trojan red royal hat.

Now I feel a little like a Burger King commercial, the senator quipped.

Talking to students, Cassidy emphasized how much things have changed since the early 70s when he went to Tara: When I was here, personal computers didnt exist.

Since then, Cassidy said, computer literacy has become so important that he would like to allow learning a computer language to fulfill students foreign language requirements.

Several IBM employees who are serving as mentors were also present Wednesday.

Beth OQuinn, a graduate of Woodlawn High, has worked for IBM in Baton Rouge for 33 years and is currently working as a talent manager for the company. She said her interest in the P-TECH program was immediate.

These kids are our future right? OQuinn said. We need to care about all of our children because they are going to be what our economy becomes, what our city becomes.

Ernesto Morejon just started with IBM a month ago as an application developer and signed up as mentor at Tara High two weeks ago.

I want to help people realize their dreams, he said.

A native of Cuba who moved to Baton Rouge when he was 18, Morejon said being hired by IBM is the realization of his own childhood dream. He largely taught himself the skills he needed to get on with IBM and said he thinks there are lessons there for Tara students.

I want to provide students a different perspective, he said. Its not just what you learn here, its what you learn on your own. Its important that you get to that point.
TEL AVIV  Gov. John Bel Edwards wrapped up his trip to Israel with meetings with business leaders in the cybersecurity and energy fields, including a high-level discussion with executives from Delek USA about the company's Louisiana refinery in Krotz Springs.

Edwards, who arrived in the Middle East on Saturday, is scheduled to return to Louisiana Friday morning, after an overnight flight from Tel Aviv.

The week-long trip has included meetings with business leaders and government officials, as well as stops at some of the country's most famous cultural and historical sites. He also has taken part in briefings on Israel security operations near the Gaza Strip and along the Syrian boarder.

Edwards met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for more than an hour on Wednesday, discussing opportunities for partnerships in several realms.

Gov. Edwards discusses cyber security, partnership opportunities with Israel during meeting with Netanyahu JERUSALEM  Gov. John Bel Edwards and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Wednesday to discuss possible future partnerships on cyb

One of the trip's goals is to find ways to grow trade between Louisiana and Israel. Louisiana ranks 9th in U.S. state exports to Israel, with about $200 million in annual exports. Louisiana's total exports are more than $57 billion each year.

But a major focus of Edwards' meetings this week has been on ways to expand applied research partnerships on issues critical to Israel and Louisiana, including water management and defense and technology.

Edwards hailed Israel as an innovative global leader in fields that Louisiana is growing, including cybersecurity.

+6 Gov. John Bel Edwards tours Biblically significant sites in Israel, continues security and business meetings TEL AVIV  Gov. John Bel Edwards and others with him on a diplomatic mission trip to Israel this week took in several of the country's Biblica

Edwards has made cybersecurity a focal point of his administration through the creation of a cybersecurity commission and proclamation of Interstate 20 as a technology corridor for workforce and education opportunities in the field. Ahead of his trip, he had declared October "Cybersecurity Awareness Month" in Louisiana.

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Two of the state's cybersecurity commissioners, Louisiana National Guard Adjutant General Glenn Curtis and Jeff Moulton, executive director of LSU's Stephenson National Center for Security Research and Training, joined Edwards on the trip to Israel.

The cybersecurity commission has spent the past several months developing plans to improve protections in place and plot ways to grow the industry in Louisiana. Edwards said he hopes that part of that growth can come from Israel partnering with Louisiana's assets, including the I-20 Cyber Corridor.

+3 Gov. John Bel Edwards meets with Israeli water, cybersecurity leaders and visits 'Iron Dome' base TEL AVIV  Gov. John Bel Edwards had another busy day in Israel on Monday, meeting with water issues experts, cyber security leaders and Israe

"Innovation is critically important for us," Edwards said.

Edwards has met with several high-level officials during the trip. In addition to Netanyahu, he had meetings with Deputy Minister Michael Oren, Minster of Energy Yuval Steinitz and Ambassador David Melech Friedman. Gilad Katz, Israel's consul general to the southwest United States who formally invited Edwards to Israel, joined the governor for much of the trip.

+6 Gov. John Bel Edwards tours Israel as people react to synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh JERUSALEM  Gov. John Bel Edwards laid a wreath for victims of the Holocaust as the world wrestled with brutal victimization back home.

Gov. John Bel Edwards arrives in Israel for energy, economic development mission JERUSALEM  Gov. John Bel Edwards is in Israel this week to hold meetings with business and government leaders about potential partnerships wi

During the trip, officials from the Louisiana-based Water Institute of the Gulf and Israel's Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research at Ben-Guron University, signed a memorandum of understanding to agree to partner on water research efforts.

Others joining Edwards on the trip to Israel included Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, Baton Rouge Area Foundation President John Davies and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson, as well as representatives from ports, higher education and other fields that were focal points of the meetings.
"The Light of Buddha  Buddhist Sculptures of the Palace Museum and Zhiguan Museum of Fine Arts" opened at the Palace Museum of the Forbidden City on October 23, 2018.



A total of 112 exhibits are on display, selected from the Palace Museum, Zhiguan Museum of Fine Arts and some private collections.

CGTN interviewed Jeff Watt on Tuesday, the director and chief curator of the Zhiguan Museum of Fine Arts in Beijing, a visiting professor at Sichuan University, and executive director of the non-profit responsible for the Himalayan Art Resources website. Watt shared his expertise with CGTN on how to comprehend exhibitions and the future development of Tibetan Buddhist art.

Background of the exhibition

Buddhism and its arts originate from India. Buddhist art, diffused into the Himalayas as the religion spread, is integral to various cultures in the Himalayas and their characteristics.

The exhibits come from ancient northwest India, central India, northeast India, Nepal and China's Tibet Autonomous Region, respectively. The time span of the exhibits ranges from the 2nd century to the 15th century, showing the source of Tibetan Buddhist art and its rich artistic features.

In recent years, Tibetan Buddhist art has attracted more and more attention and appreciation due to its unique charm.

Tibetan Buddhism is part of the Himalayan culture, with deep ties to the cultures of central Asia and western Asia, while understanding Tibetan Buddhism also requires grasping this multicultural context.

Also, the whole exhibition is based on the two major units of Tibetan art style, including Central Tibet and Western Tibet.

"Actually, as all exhibitions are divided according to space, we have to use what space we have in hand," Watt told CGTN.

"Earlier pieces are in one area and the later pieces in another, so it is simply a chronological distinction," he added.

How to get involved in the exhibition

If visitors want to study further, the exhibition hall features text introductions in each unit.

There is no extra charge for this exhibition in the Palace Museum. Watt told CGTN that he hoped everyone would formulate their own ideas after viewing the exhibition.

"I don't agree that the exhibition is a little bit esoteric or difficult to approach," Watt said, discussing the public's expectations and behavior when viewing the exhibit.

He said that some of the visitors simply look at the unfamiliar objects in amazement, while others pose questions.

"But we cant allow too much intellectual activity to overwhelm our experience of actually seeing objects that were not so familiar with," Watt indicated.

For experts or those who want to research deeper, Watt provided three degrees of understanding Himalayan art: art history, iconography, and religious studies and philosophy. "For Himalayan art, you also have to have an understanding of philosophical studies, or religious studies in the West, where you have to know who were the subjects, what's the narrative, what's the overall context to the community or to the culture that the object is being made in."

Future of Tibetan Buddhist art

Luo Wenhua, a researcher at the Palace Museum and director of the Research Center for Tibetan Buddhist Heritage of the Palace Museum, said that the criteria for selecting the collection in this exhibition are the place of origin, age, and quality, and that each piece is very exquisite. Meanwhile, some of the rarest collections come from private collectors or Zhiguan.

There are many organizations and individuals who do not have a strong enough voice to promote the importance, quality and history of this kind of art, so they collaborate to make their voices heard, Watt said.

Just like the theme of the exhibition, many of the pieces displayed feature a high level of execution and artistry.

Likewise, the exhibition not only enables the public to view and appreciate these artistic masterpieces but also provides a platform where scholars and amateurs can examine, research and communicate.
Calvin Duncan poses for a photo with two stacks of legal paperwork in his Central Business District office in New Orleans, La., Friday, Feb. 23, 2018.
The New Orleans City Council could decide to reconsider its earlier vote to authorize the new power plant that's at the center of a controversy over Entergy New Orleans' use of paid actors to support the proposal, some council members said Wednesday.

Two members said they would be open to reconsidering the council's 6-1 vote in March approving the plant. They are the only members still on the council who took part in that vote.

Council members could also slap Entergy with a $5 million fine, the largest single penalty the council has ever imposed but one that represents only a tenth of the utility's annual profits.

The council voted unanimously Wednesday to begin a process that could end in several sanctions against the embattled utility.

It voted after hearing from two investigators who said Entergy was culpable in the ruse to pay actors and from public speakers who said Entergy has lost all credibility.

Many of the critics who have long opposed the idea of a new plant called on the council to reconsider its March vote, not simply fine the utility, as the council originally planned.

After hearing from them, Councilmen Jason Williams and Jared Brossett, both of whom endorsed Entergys plan to build the plant in March, said they would be open to the idea of reconsidering their vote.

Both said they would discuss a possible do-over with their colleagues in the coming weeks, and stressed that the ideas listed in a resolution presented at Wednesday's special meeting  which included the fine but not a new vote  were not final.

Today, we are deciding and talking about a fine, said Williams, the council president. I think  as a person who voted in favor of this plant  that we still need to have a conversation about whether we need to have another vote.

Brossett said the council's earlier approval of the plant was necessary based on the evidence presented to it at the time. However, after hearing (the debate) today, and hearing the many months of discussion and debate in the public, I, too, am open to revoting on this matter.

A reconsideration would not necessarily lead to a rejection of the proposal to build a 128-megawatt, natural gas-fired power plant.

The former council spent nearly two years vetting Entergys proposal before ultimately agreeing with the company's argument that the plant would give New Orleans a badly needed local source of power generation.

Entergy argued that the plant is needed to prevent "cascading outages" and to provide a local source of power generation in case a hurricane or other disaster cuts off transmission of power from outside the city. Critics said the company instead should look to renewable energy sources and do more to harden its transmission lines.

But calling a new vote could help soothe concerns about a tainted process. Some Entergy critics have claimed that actual residents were prevented from entering the council's public meetings to voice their opposition because Entergys supporters  at least some of whom were phony  packed meeting rooms hours ahead of time. However, the council heard from numerous speakers on both sides during the lengthy hearings.

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Those critics have challenged the council's process in Civil District Court. A decision on their case has been held up pending completion of the councils investigation of the paid supporters, but it should be issued soon.

The results of the councils probe, released Monday, suggest that former Entergy New Orleans CEO Charles Rice viewed his companys advocacy for the new plant as a war that needed all the foot soldiers Entergy could find. Rice resigned in August.

The investigation highlights interviews with Entergy employees whom Rice enlisted in that "war," including customer service specialist Alex Dunn, who told investigators, "No one wants to take time out of their day to show support (for the power plant), so we had to produce support."

Entergy has repeatedly claimed not to know that the contractor hired to find supporters, the Hawthorn Group, of Virginia, would work with another vendor, the California-based firm Crowds on Demand, to hire actors to show up at two council meetings.

But the councils investigators said Wednesday that Entergy executives didnt take obvious and necessary steps to find out what occurred and instead accepted Hawthorns denial of such a tactic at face value.

They also said Entergy executives violated the company's own ethics code when they prepared scripts for the plant's supporters to read and then sought to hide their role as the driving force behind that support.

Faced with the evidence, the investigators concluded, top Entergy officials "knew or should have known" that actors would be paid to support the plant publicly.

"They absolutely should have known, and any effort on their part would have discovered that," said former Criminal District Court Judge Calvin Johnson, who worked with former federal prosecutor Matt Coman to prepare the report.

Rod West, the executive vice president and group president of utility operations for parent company Entergy Corp., punched back at some at the report's findings Wednesday, citing a lack of evidence to support the claim that Entergy "knew" about the paid actors scheme.

But he agreed that Entergy New Orleans "could have either prevented the actions of the Hawthorn Group or (Crowds on Demand) or discovered them and stopped them."

"In essence, we should have been more diligent and we 'should have known,' " wrote West, who took over Rice's duties when the latter was demoted to a job in Entergy's legal department.

Williams and Councilwoman Helena Moreno, who chairs the council committee that regulates Entergy New Orleans, took umbrage in particular at the characterization of the campaign as a "war" against the council or the community.

So did the Rev. Gregory Manning, who said the council's plan to fine Entergy $5 million was "a joke" and that if such a deception had played out in a court of law, the case would have been tossed out.

"You have made a decision to build a gas plant based on lies," he said. "Entergy New Orleans has made a mockery of all of us."

Not long after his and other comments, Brossett and Williams said they'd consider reopening the question of whether to build the plant.
The North Dakota lawmaker who died Tuesday morning in New Orleans after eating raw oysters had been visiting family in town, according to an online health journal maintained by her family.

Rae Ann Kelsch, 58, and her husband were visiting her niece and nephew in New Orleans when she started feeling sick on Friday and worsened on Saturday, leading to her hospitalization, according to her Caring Bridge profile.

Kelsch died Tuesday morning at a New Orleans hospital from a bacterial infection, which was linked to oysters, according to the Bismarck Tribune.

The place where Kelsch ate oysters has not be publicly released.

Kelsch was first elected to the North Dakota House in 1990 and served 22 years, including as the chairwoman of the Education Committee.

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She was defeated in the 2012 primary, after it came to light she didn't file state income tax returns for seven years.

Kelsch's husband, Thomas, a lawyer, said at the time that he was to blame for the tax problems. The couple said the tax bill was eventually paid.

Kelsch served as a lobbyist after her tenure as a lawmaker.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A large number of New Orleans city employees would be in line for their first significant, across-the-board pay raise in a decade under the proposed 2019 operating budget Mayor LaToya Cantrell unveiled Thursday.

She also proposed turning off most of the city's traffic cameras that are outside of school zones.

The $698.2 million spending plan, Cantrells first since taking office in May, also includes money for the administrations Clean Up NOLA initiative to fight trash and blight, money for homeless services, and money for various new initiatives proposed by the administration.

The budget totals about $36 million more than the city will spend this year. The extra money comes from a combination of expected growth in tax revenue, money left over from previous years and other sources.

The budget presentation kicks off a month of meetings where the City Council will go through the plan department by department before voting on a final version by Dec. 1. The council's hearings will begin Nov. 9.

Perhaps the most significant change in the budget is proposed raises for more than 2,000 rank-and-file city workers. The 10 percent increase, which will cost about $6.9 million a year, will bring all those employees up to rates recommended by a compensation study completed last year.

The nearly 520 city workers who had been making less than $24,000 received raises last year and will not be included in the new increases. Police Department officers, who also received raises last year, will also be excluded.

The raises also exclude department heads and other unclassified employees who serve at the discretion of the mayor.

Cantrell, in an interview with The New Orleans Advocate last week, said the increases will be a step in the right direction but still are not enough for employees who in many cases havent had a raise in a decade.

Just being honest, our people will still be below market, but we cant get them there because we dont have the money, Cantrell said. But you do it incrementally to get them to where they need to be.

The plan calls for shutting down 20 of the 31 traffic cameras that are not in school zones and making other changes in the camera program.

Cantrell pledged during her mayoral campaign last year to end the traffic cameras, though once in office she suggested the money they bring in is needed for the budget and called for phasing out the program over time.

For 2019, the administration plans to leave 11 cameras outside school zones. Officials have suggested those cameras will be in the locations that see the highest number of violations. The exact locations are still being determined.

We dont want people violating the law. The places with cameras where people are obeying the law, it seems unnecessary; where people are still violating the law, it makes sense to have that hammer there, Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montano said.

The administration will leave about 80 cameras in place in school zones, though those cameras will be shut off except when the school zone speed limits are in place. Currently, those cameras can issue tickets at any time of the day.

All of those changes will mean a loss of between $4 million and $6 million in revenue, Montano said. The city will still receive about $15 million from traffic camera tickets in 2019 after costs are accounted for, he said.

Cantrell said the phasing out of the cameras will be accompanied by an increase in traffic stops by police officers.

Thats the ultimate goal, she said. Police on the street, visibility and traffic stops yields more (arrests of) individuals carrying illegal guns and the like.

The budget also calls for about $2 million for services for the homeless at the city's recently opened "low barrier" shelter and proposed sobering center, and about $2.1 million for Clean Up NOLA, the initiative Cantrell has championed to reduce blight.

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Paying for all the increases involves some changes to how the city has run its budget in the past.

Some of those changes are relatively minor, such as moving the 311 information help line into the Orleans Parish Communications District, which handles 911 emergency calls.

Earlier this year, Cantrell ousted the head of the communications district. She said that following the leadership change, officials realized the agency had sizable reserves that would allow it to absorb the $900,000 yearly cost of providing 311 services.

Other changes could be more significant.

The budget includes drawing down the fund balance that the city has built up in recent years, often from money left unspent by city departments at the end of the year. It wasnt uncommon for former Mayor Mitch Landrieus administration to tap that account to balance the budget, but Montano said last week he plans to keep that balance low and spend the money that accumulates more regularly.

He said he plans to take about $24 million from those funds to bolster the budget, leaving about $3 million to serve as a cushion for next year.

The roughly $30 million in the citys rainy day fund, an emergency reserve that is required by an ordinance passed last year, will not be touched.

The city is also raising what Montano described as ultra-conservative projections of future sales tax revenue to better reflect actual collections in recent years.

He said he also plans to break with the Landrieu administrations practice of paying for some equipment  such as vehicles and radios  out of the yearly operating budget instead of the capital budget, which is funded by bond proceeds.

Overall, the city plans to spend about $50 million from bonds in the coming year, with $32 million of that going to the Department of Public Works, which oversees streets.

Councilman Joe Giarrusso, who chairs the councils Public Works Committee, said hes particularly interested in hearing more details on the funding for improvements. Though there will be more spending for infrastructure, he noted that the budget holds the Department of Public Works operating budget flat.

We want to make sure that the things people care about  like having their streets functioning and having potholes taken care of, streetlights working  are taken care of, Giarrusso said.

The amount of money the city is paying on its outstanding bonds is going down as some bonds are paid off, and Montano said he expects to present a plan next year that will include issuing up to $500 million in new debt to fund infrastructure projects over the coming years.

In submitting the budget on Thursday, the Cantrell administration just made the Nov. 1 deadline for getting its spending plan to the City Council.

Thats been a source of tension between the two governmental branches in recent months, with council members asking for the budget to be released earlier to give them more time to comb through it by their Dec. 1 deadline.

However, council members appeared largely pleased with the administrations proposals Thursday, though several said the process of digging into the details could unearth disagreements in coming days.

The next few weeks, thats where the rubber meets the road and well have to see how our priorities align, said Council President Jason Williams, who added that he didnt see huge areas of discontent with the administrations budget.
A man who was arrested on accusations of beating an alleged wallet thief to death outside an Uptown New Orleans gasoline station this summer has been released from jail without charges, at least for now.

Police had jailed Simon Morris, 32, on a count of manslaughter following the Aug. 10 killing of Kerwin Duncan, 31. Because that crime doesnt carry an automatic life sentence upon conviction, prosecutors had a 60-day window to file charges against Morris to keep him in custody or else the jail would have to release him without bail.

Prosecutors received a 10-day extension of that deadline because the Coroners Office had not completed its report on Duncans death. But prosecutors had not charged Morris by Oct. 17, and he was ordered freed that day, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court records show.

In a statement, a spokesman for District Attorney Leon Cannizzaros office said prosecutors had not ruled out charging Morris for a crime. They just cant reach that decision until the Coroners Office finishes its report, District Attorney's Office spokesman Ken Daley said.

Additionally, in a court filing, the District Attorney's Office described the weight of the evidence against Morris as "great."

The Coroners Office didnt immediately comment Wednesday. The agency typically considers death cases open until toxicology test results return, a process that can take eight weeks or longer.

Morris attorneys didnt immediately respond to a request for comment either.

According to police, Duncan approached Morris and asked him for a dollar outside the Express Mart in the 4100 block of South Claiborne Avenue the morning he was killed. Duncan ultimately reached into Morris back pocket, took his wallet and ran across South Claiborne.

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Police said Morris chased Duncan to the back driveway of a nearby window tinting and upholstery shop. Morris took back his wallet while punching and kicking Duncan for what eyewitnesses believed was five minutes, according to police.

Eyewitnesses, police said, also described Duncan begging Morris to stop while he shielded his face and body.

Two people eventually pulled Morris off, and he was arrested.

One of Morris attorneys, Seth Bloom, has previously said his client justifiably defended himself from a stranger who had harassed and robbed him.

The day of their fatal encounter was not the first time either Morris or Duncan had been accused of acting unlawfully.

Public records show a prior arrest for Morris on allegations of domestic violence battery in Tampa, Florida. Duncan, meanwhile, had previously been sentenced to prison for purse snatching and was due in court the week he died on a separate theft charge.

While Morris is white and Duncan is black, Bloom has said he had no indication race factored into the case. Duncans relatives have said his alleged actions didn't warrant a deadly beating, and they hope Morris will be charged with a crime.

Bloom and his co-counsel, David Gremillion, at one point sought a reduction for a $150,000 bail that had been set for Morris. They said Morris incarceration was preventing him from working to support his longtime girlfriend and their young child, among other things; but Magistrate Court Commissioner Robert Blackburn denied the request.
Casting it as a key step in a broader struggle to build a more equitable justice system, National Urban League President Marc Morial on Wednesday announced his organizations support for a proposed amendment to Louisianas constitution that would require all state juries to return unanimous jury verdicts.

Voters will go to the polls Tuesday to weigh in on that question and to vote in a handful of other races. The measure, called Amendment 2, is one of six proposed amendments to the state constitution. Each requires a simple majority for passage.

Louisiana is one of just two states that allow juries to return verdicts with as few as 10 of 12 jurors in agreement. Oregon is the other, and it does not allow a defendant to be sentenced to life in prison on the strength of a split jury verdict. Every other state requires unanimity.

This to me is Louisiana stepping from the dark past into a bright future, Morial said. The fact that Louisiana has held on to its nonunanimous jury system for so long is puzzling, and to some extent, appalling.

Tilting the scales: What to know about Louisiana's controversial non-unanimous jury law For the last 120 years, Louisiana has had an unusual and long-standing allowance for split jury verdicts in felony cases.

Morial, who served as New Orleans mayor from 1994-2002, pointed out that Louisiana actually required unanimous verdicts for most of its first century of statehood. The change came in 1898, at a notoriously racist constitutional convention whose primary purpose was to disenfranchise the states African-American population.

Morial noted that the amendment has garnered support from organizations and politicians at both ends of the political spectrum as well as the middle, characterizing that breadth as a silver lining, and a cause for hope in a polarized age. Those backing Amendment 2 range from prominent conservative groups like the Louisiana Family Forum and Americans for Prosperity to liberal outfits like the ACLU and the Urban League.

It represents this coming together of multiple elements of the political spectrum, Morial said. It demonstrates what you can do when you work toward a meeting of the minds.

The former mayor spoke at a news conference at the Urban Leagues New Orleans office. Judy Reese Morse, the Louisiana chapters president, said the organization is hosting an all-day event at its Mid-City headquarters Saturday aimed at boosting voter turnout.

Morse said the organization is beginning a push to expand its statewide reach, and one of its priorities will be voter registration and turnout. Among other efforts, the Urban League is partnering with the ride-hailing service Lyft to provide free rides to the polls Tuesday.

Morial made note of recent controversies over the removal of voters from the rolls in some other states, notably Georgia, and said the Urban League and others will have to push back against such efforts.

Were gonna have to engage a whole new fight about voter suppression  which 10 years ago was a battle we thought we had won and was done, Morial said.
A severe rainstorm that went through south Louisiana late Wednesday night and into Thursday morning has moved into Mississippi.

As of 6:20 a.m., 119 houses in the Baton Rouge area were without power and 33 were without power in New Orleans, according to Entergy Louisiana's outage map.

A report from WWL said that three people in Washington Parish were hurt due to a possible tornado. WWL also said more than 10,000 people are without power in St. Tammany Parish.

The National Weather Service's morning forecast said fog and rain will continue in the morning in south Louisiana but that there should be clear skies through the weekend.

Temperatures are expected to drop with a low of 50 on Friday night, possibly reaching the 40s over the weekend.
If your children received either of these lollipops for Halloween, throw them out.

The My Little Pony and Avengers Giant Pops present a health hazard as the products potentially contain metal, Food Standards Australia said.

My Little Pony and Avengers Giant Pops have been recalled. Credit:Food Standards Australia

The lollipops, made in China, were distributed by Park Avenue Foods and were available at Priceline stores around the country.

"Consumers should not eat these products and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund," Food Standards Australia said in the recall notice, first issued on October 29.
The competition watchdog is forecasting global LNG prices will fall more than previously expected next year in welcome news for consumers and companies hit by higher power costs.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on Thursday predicted the export parity price, which influences domestic gas prices, will fall 20 per cent to an average of $10.08 per gigajoule next year. It had previously expected an export parity price of $12.60 a gigajoule.

Falling gas prices in the year ahead are expected as the ACCC lowers its forecasts. Credit:AFR

The ACCC did not outline the reasons for the revision but analysts said a mild start to the northern hemisphere winter was a key factor. Warmer weather means businesses and households consume less energy used for heating, with lower demand translating to more supply and lower prices.

The federal government has asked the ACCC to publish gas price forecasts to enable manufacturers and major gas users to get better deals in the face of potential gas shortages and rising prices.
A calligraphic work said to be by the Qianlong Emperor (1711-99) will go on sale at Chiswick Auctions' Asian Art sale in London later this month.



The scroll of calligraphy recites a poem by Wei Zhuang (836-910) that is included in the Literary Compendium, the Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature, which was commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor in 1772.

Chiswick Auctions said calligraphy from the time of the Qianlong Emperor's reign come up occasionally, but works by the emperor himself are unusual. The emperor was an esteemed writer of prose and poetry and practiced both calligraphy and painting.

"It came from a private German collection and the gentleman who owned it drove with it in the back of his car all the way from Germany," said Lazarus Halstead, head of Asian Art at Chiswick Auctions. "He opened his boot and revealed various different pieces and this was one of the pieces in his collection. It was quite exciting because it's not everyday you see a work like this come to market."

The piece is estimated to fetch 8,000 pounds ($10,000).

Another highlight of the sale is an 18th century imperial cup from the time of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) that was discovered in an attic after having been packed away and forgotten about for 30 years.

Halstead said: "We are delighted to offer this Qing dynasty imperial interpretation of a 15th century Chenghua chicken cup. This version bears an apocryphal Chenghua mark, but the design of the cockerel, chicken, and chicks is charmingly reimagined for 18th century imperial taste."

The auction house said 18th century imperial porcelain, such as the cup, can often make hundreds of thousands of pounds, but, because this one is slightly damaged, it has been given the conservative pre-sale estimate of between 5,000 and 8,000 pounds.

However, the cup has already generated interest and Chiswick Auctionssaid it could make in excess of 20,000 pounds.

The Chiswick Auctions sale takes place on Nov 12.
In Normal People, longlisted (but, sadly, not shortlisted) for this year's Man Booker Prize, Rooney applies her bone-dry wit and scalpel observational skills to similar themes. The dichotomy between the selves we perform and who we inherently are (and the overlap) is at the centre of a black romantic comedy (in the Greta Gerwig/Noah Baumbach sense of the genre) that charts the shifting relationship of two beautiful, insecure intellectuals.

The novel's primary pleasure was the wordy, visceral chemistry Rooney ignited on the page  reminiscent of Barbara Trapido's absorbing romps through bohemian academia in novels such as Brother of the More Famous Jack. But it was equally impressive in its mapping of Frances' conscious self-invention, and the insecurity that underlay the arch performance and cultivated cool of its characters.

Sally Rooney's charismatic debut, Conversations with Friends, was a coming-of-age novel centred on the intellectual and visceral thrills of intimate connections fuelled by a facility with words. This was played out in a borderline-claustrophobic knot of relationships involving middle-aged married creatives Melissa and Nick, and 21-year-old ex-lovers and best friends Frances and Bobbi. Protagonist Frances, a writer, describes an email flirtation with Nick as "competitive and thrilling, like a game of table tennis". Like only Bobbi before him, he makes her "enjoy conversation, in the same irrational and sensuous way I enjoyed coffee or loud music".

Normal People by Sally Rooney.

Marianne, an opinionated, odd bookworm from a wealthy family, is universally shunned at her high school. Handsome, popular Connell, whose mother cleans Marianne's mother's mansion, submerges his bookish hyperintelligence under a carefully bland surface. While the small-town teenage pair have always observed each other from afar, the novel's bite-sized opening chapter, where Marianne declares "like", is a classic meet-cute. A handful of pages later, after Marianne offers to keep their relationship secret, they become clandestine lovers.

This dynamic, as uncomfortable for the reader as for the characters, is not uncommon in awkward coming-of-age tales, such as Curtis Sittenfeld's savagely observational Prep. In Normal People, this power imbalance demonstrates what it usually does in these narratives: the vulnerable pliability of one character (Marianne) and the moral weakness of the other (Connell). But their relationship evolves beyond that, as they discover a bone-level connection that will become, despite a series of betrayals and misunderstandings, an enduring best-friendship.

Perhaps most subversively, the power dynamics between the pair are anything but static: at college in Dublin, the intelligent verbosity that made Marianne a pariah at high school makes her popular, while Connell's shy inability to perform his intelligence brands him dull.

As Connell and Marianne wind in and out of relationships, including with each other, the question of if (and how) they will end up together repeatedly loops back on itself to form the spine of the narrative. Yet Rooney's structural adherence to romance conventions co-exists with her anthropological excavation of the mechanics of social conventions and relationships. Though Connell and Marianne each experience periods of intense popularity within their peer groups, they are painfully aware of not being like "normal people". This means they are constantly trying to work out themselves, their social contexts, and how they fit within them.
Fiction

Paris Echo

Sebastian Faulks

Hutchinson, $32.99

In his latest novel, Paris Echo, the ever-unpredictable Sebastian Faulks has produced a complex narrative told in two alternating voices. The first chapter introduces Tariq, a 19-year-old Moroccan student, ironically self-described as "a mix of soul and sexiness", who decides to head for the land across the ocean viewed from his Tangier home's rooftop terrace. Then the second "voice" is heard as earnest American post-doctoral researcher Hannah, now 31, arrives back in the Paris she left 10 years earlier.

Paris Echo by Sebastian Faulks.

This unlikely pair grabs the reader from the start, so that one wonders what brings them to Paris, whether their paths will cross and, if so, how. The use of Metro station names as chapter headings evokes aspects of World War II history that Hannah is investigating; it also places Tariq's meanderings as he come to terms with this city so different from Tangier. His Paris will involve working in a fast-chicken place; hers will require many hours of listening to recordings of women who survived the German occupation.

While the future lies invitingly before Tariq's good-humoured questing, it is the past that is Hannah's concern. What Tariq has left behind is a middle-class home and a girl called Laila with whom he is infatuated, without the consummation he devoutly wished. His Parisian ramblings via the Metro will, among other discoveries about the city's life, bring him in contact with an old-timer who purports to be called Victor Hugo and performs puppet shows in trains, and with a young woman he calls "Clemence" because she reminds him of a girl in one of Hannah's research findings. Faulks resists the obvious by denying Tariq the discovery of the French connections that were part of his late mother's background and by making this failure a matter for easy poignancy.
Despite its price, this book is a remarkable bargain. In addition to being printed on high-quality paper, it contains not only the diary entries but also hundreds of photos, maps, drawings, explanatory notes and miniature biographies of many of the characters referred to in the diary extracts.

Bean was born in Bathurst in 1879 but educated in England, reading classics and law at Oxford. He returned to Australia and joined The Sydney Morning Herald in 1908. At the outbreak of the war in August 1914 he was appointed Australia's only official war correspondent and filed many reports from Gallipoli before moving to the Western Front early in 1916.

There is no shortage of writing by and about Charles Bean, Australia's sole official war correspondent for most of the years of the Great War. Following the war he published his Gallipoli diaries and oversaw the Australian official history of the conflict, writing six of the 12 volumes himself. There have also been several biographies of Bean. Now Peter Burness has assembled a vast collection of extracts from Bean's diaries during his time on the Western Front between April 1916 and November 1918.

The Western Front Diaries of Charles Bean.

During the war years Bean moved in high circles, having almost open access to visiting Australian politicians, including the Prime Minister Billy Hughes and to the highest ranking military personnel. His diaries make it clear that, despite being surrounded by constant slaughter, he believed in the war, at least in the sense that the soldiers could only go home when the war had been won. This no doubt made it easier for him to accept the rigorous censorship that was applied by the military authorities, although even Bean complained about this on occasions.

Not only were accounts of the fighting heavily sanitised but no photos were allowed that might show the true nature of the conflict. Bean's photo of stretcher bearers carrying wounded across no-man's land was prohibited because it showed them carrying a white flag and this was considered as undermining the war effort. References to the mud in which so much of the fighting took place were also unacceptable because this might affect civilian morale at home. It is interesting to speculate whether support for the war could have been maintained if its full horrors had been publicised. Certainly public opinion about the Vietnam war was significantly affected by television coverage of the conflict.

Not surprisingly perhaps, given Bean's general acceptance of the war, there is no real discussion in the diaries of whether there was any alternative to the British strategy of attrition, orchestrated by its senior commander, General Haig, and the cause, for example, of 20,000 British dead on the first day of the Somme, July 1, 1916.

One of the few commanders who attempted some refinement of this strategy was the Australian general, John Monash, generally accepted as one of the best military minds on the allied side. Bean, however, was consistently hostile to Monash, arguing that "we do not want Australia represented by men mainly because of their ability, natural and inborn in Jews, to push themselves". So too was Keith Murdoch, an Australian journalist and close friend of Bean's who was then based in London but became a press baron in his later career in Australia. Bean was also scathing in his view of the British army: "Generals without brains and an army without physique  and there you have it."
It was a sum of money so vast, and the figure repeated so many times, that it became almost abstract: $498 million to be spent on expansions to one of the countrys most popular tourist destinations.

The money will be used to demolish and rebuild Anzac Hall, expand exhibition spaces and create a new entryway, among various other innovations.

Director Brendan Nelson said the expansion project was designed to honour modern veterans and represent the Invictus generation, rather than just dwelling on past wars.

The Australian War Memorial will receive nearly $500 million in funding for expansions over the next nine years. Credit:Jay Cronan, Defence Media

And he was completely unapologetic about the vast disparity in government funding currently being received by Canberras other national cultural institutions.
The ACT government will publish a list of Canberra's remaining Mr Fluffy homes in December, distinguishing publicly for the first time between the houses still standing and those that have been demolished.

Asbestos Response Taskforce executive director Bruce Fitzgerald told Mr Fluffy homeowners not participating in the government's buyback and demolition scheme of the move in a letter sent on Wednesday.

In the letter, Mr Fitzgerald said 954 of the 1023 Canberra homes affected by the potentially deadly asbestos had been demolished and removed from the affected residential premises register.

While the government published a public list of Mr Fluffy homes in 2015, the Asbestos Response Taskforce has maintained the affected residential premises register behind closed doors, leaving the public unaware of whether the homes listed publicly have been demolished or if they remain standing.

The government will publish the affected residential premises register on the Asbestos Response Taskforce website on December 6 and regularly update it as more homes are razed.
Straight-talking agent Fred Specktor knows his way around Tinseltown. The gold earring-wearing 85-year-old has Hollywood legends Morgan Freeman, Jeremy Irons, Danny de Vito, Dan Aykroyd and Helen Mirren on his books, and has represented Geoffrey Rush for the past 22 years.

And he had no hesitation in telling the Federal Court on Thursday that in his opinion, Mr Rush firmly belonged in the same pantheon. Indeed much of the day centred on expert evidence from three leading US film industry figures who did not always agree with each other on Mr Rushs place in the Hollywood pecking order, or how the actors future might be affected by the outcome of his current defamation action against The Daily Telegraph.

Fred Specktor submitted an expert report on Geoffrey Rush's anticipated longevity in the industry before the articles were published. Credit:AAP

Asked by senior counsel whether the Academy Award-winning movie The Kings Speech could have been made without Mr Rush, Mr Specktor replied firmly, "No".

And questioned on the work prospects of older actors, Mr Specktor suggested that under normal circumstances, Mr Rush, now 67, could have expected his marketability to extend well into the decades to come. "All of my actors are stars, all are older, they work as much as they want and they are all well paid," he said, with more than a touch of pride. Gene Hackman was still getting offers at the age of 88, he proffered, adding that he feared Mr Rush would find it hard to return to his previous prominence as "[this has] been very destructive to him in terms of his psyche".
A young man with chronic schizophrenia who stabbed his mother to death in her bedroom on Sydney's northern beaches has been found not guilty of murder on mental health grounds.

Joel Woszatka, 26, had pleaded not guilty by reason of mental illness in the NSW Supreme Court to murdering 50-year-old Lanell Latta with a kitchen knife in their rented Avalon Beach home in mid-September 2017.

Lanell Latta with her partner Geoff Robson-Scott Credit:Facebook

Justice Helen Wilson on Thursday accepted the defence, saying Woszatka "cannot be held criminally responsible" for her death.

It was clear he had been severely ill since at least 2015, including harbouring homicidal thoughts, she said.
The prestigious cardiothoracic surgery department at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is to be barred from training doctors next year amid allegations of bullying and dysfunction.

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) has withheld training accreditation for RPA's cardiothoracic surgery department in 2019.

No trainees will return to the cardiothoracic surgery department at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital until 2020. Credit:Michele Mossop

College representatives uncovered alleged bullying and dysfunction during the department's recent accreditation review, deeming it an inappropriate environment to train Australias next generation of surgeons.

RACS considered immediately revoking its accreditation in August, issuing the hospital's executive a draft report stipulating it would remove its trainees.
A mother and her six-month-old baby boy who were reported missing from the Gold Coast have been found safe and well on Thursday morning.

Police had appealed for help to find them or the car they were believed to be travelling in after the pair disappeared from a home on Lochinvar Court in Highland Park on Wednesday.

Authorities had been worried because their disappearance was described as "out of character".

The mother and the baby were believed to have been travelling in a 1996 Hyundai Excel.
A woman has been charged with stealing over $3 million while she worked as a bookkeeper at a Northbridge business.

Police allege the woman stole just over $3.5 million from the business since 2011. Credit:Gabriele Charotte

Detectives from the major fraud have charged the woman with 115 counts of stealing after a complex and extensive investigation.

Police will allege between 2009-2017 the woman worked at a business in Northbridge as a bookkeeper and was responsible for banking.

An analysis of business records resulted in the woman being charged with stealing just over $3.5 million from the business since 2011.
Five days away from the first China International Import Expo (CIIE), foreign exhibitors at the event are rushing to make final touches to their booths to ensure their exhibits shine.

The CIIE is slated to kick off in Shanghai on Monday, with the world set to witness China's transformation from being the biggest exporter in goods to an even bigger buyer.

All stars

At the booth of Italian high-tech company Leonardo Helicopter, engineers are busy assembling three slick models.

The company has high hopes for the China debut of one of the models -- the AW189. The high-performance, 8.6-tonne super-medium-sized twin-engine helicopter is priced at 200 million yuan (28.7 million U.S. dollars). It can be used for a wide range of missions for search and rescue, commercial passenger transport and offshore oil-exploration operations.

The company said it plans to establish a helicopter training center and a final assembly workshop in China.

Leonardo has received more than 200 orders from China and its helicopters have been commissioned in medical rescue fleets in over 20 Chinese provincial-level regions.

A flying car developed by AeroMobil, a Slovakian engineering firm, is expected to make its Asia debut at the CIIE. As a star exhibit at the expo, it was shipped to Shanghai on Oct. 18, but has remained veiled.

More than 3,000 companies from over 130 countries and regions have so far confirmed their participation in the event, bringing more than 5,000 new products and technologies to China, Vice Commerce Minister Fu Ziying has said.

Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat OBE, co-founder of London-based luxury shoe brand Jimmy Choo, said he and his godson, a jewelry designer for Reggie Hung, will bring their new luxury brand Genavant to China through the event.

The brand, featuring jewelry-studded shoes, is set to unveil one pair priced at 30 million yuan at the CIIE.

"I have never done a whole pair of shoes covered with pink diamonds before. We spent almost one year on it," Choo said.

"The expo is big news, not only for China but the whole world," the 70-year-old said.

Arancha Gonzalez, executive director of the International Trade Center, called the CIIE "a very unique fair" and "an example of how international trade can be win-win."

"It signals a commitment of China to move from being a global factory to being a global market," Gonzalez said.

He said his organization sponsored 100 SMEs to take part in the expo in order to help firms from less-developed countries benefit from China's opening-up.

Joyful gala

Foreign visitors arriving in Shanghai via Pudong International Airport can take a subway ride directly to the expo's venue, the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), where they will be greeted by the event's mascot "Jinbao," a giant panda wearing a blue and yellow scarf embroidered with the CIIE logo.

According to the organizer, yellow represents the Silk Road Economic Belt, while blue represents the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. A four-leaf clover logo is featured on the mascot's hand representing the shape of the exhibition center.

Strolling in the exhibition area of 270,000 square meters, visitors can shop goods from all over the world, from Russian ice-cream, Georgian red wine, Persian carpet, Turkish handicraft products to Egyptian dates.

Damon Paling, trade commissioner of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, told Xinhua that some 90 New Zealand companies will showcase dairy products, fruit, honey and beverages, among other food and agricultural products at the expo.

"The year 2019 is a special tourism year between China and New Zealand. We really look to grasp that opportunity and showcase the best of New Zealand to more Chinese tourists," Paling said.

Shanghai is gearing up for over 300,000 visitors during the expo. The event is going to bring a big inflow of visitors to neighboring cities in the Yangtze River Delta.

From six days to all year round

Since April, the municipal government of Shanghai has approved 30 year-round platforms for exhibitions and trade of imported goods, many of which are scheduled to open before or soon after the expo.

The platforms are designed to expand the benefits brought about by the six-day CIIE, so that import exhibitions and trade can be available to businesses permanently, said Shang Yuying, director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce.

"Mexican food and agricultural products getting exposure via the expo will make their way to ordinary Chinese households with the help of the year-round platform," said Yonanetl Zavala Cadena, president of Shanghai operations at the Mexican Chamber of Commerce in China.

The platform that Cadena is referring to here is the Greenland Global Commodity Trading Hub, which offers a permanent exhibition space for foreign firms to demonstrate their products after the expo closes. The platform also provides services to help introduce exotic products to channels like the high-end supermarket of G-Super in China.

Cadena said that, thanks to the service, dozens of Mexican companies will be encouraged to bring "a bite of Mexico" to the expo, ranging from chilli sauces, blueberry, raspberry, tortilla, seafood, beer, coffee to canned nopal.

Li Wenchang, director of sales at the Greenland Global Commodity Trading Hub, said the hub hosts an African pavilion for 10 countries including South Africa, Morocco, Angola, Senegal and Ghana. Thanks to this initiative, fresh fruit will go from the fields of these countries to the doors of Chinese families.

"Through the expo, the hub is expected to clinch contracts with over 110 national chambers of commerce, leading industry associations and renowned companies from over 40 countries and regions to better help foreign imports reach the Chinese market," said Li.

Tomoaki Komori, managing director of Shanghai Takashimaya Co. Ltd., a renowned Japanese department store, said 85 percent of the company's revenue comes from overseas consumers. The company is eager to expand its business to China. The Takashimaya exhibition center in Shanghai, one of the permanent platforms, will focus on bringing foreign clothing, children's products and food to the Chinese market.

Explorium, a perennial exhibition center owned by Fung Group, a Hong Kong-based company, aims to introduce new technology and high-tech gadgets to China. One of the service platforms is called "Oriental Express," boasting services to help imported products rush to Chinese consumers.

With the slogan "New Era, Shared Future," the CIIE marks China's strong boost to free trade worldwide and endeavors to inject vitality into global economic growth, said Liang Ming, senior researcher with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Cooperation.
A man has been hospitalised with a gunshot wound after a fight broke out in Perth's southern suburbs on Wednesday evening.

Police are investigating.

It's understood the victim, believed to be in his 30s, was at a home in Maddington with another man who was known to him about 6.30pm.

The two became involved in an altercation and he was shot.

The man was rushed to Armadale Hospital for treatment, and then Royal Perth Hospital for surgery.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is holding the line on his controversial stance on Israel despite a growing rift on the policy with his predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, and a forced retreat on his disputed claim on Thursday about a diplomatic mission to ease trade tensions with Indonesia.

Mr Morrison issued a statement to clarify the purpose of Mr Turnbulls delegation to Indonesia after the former prime minister issued "a few facts" to contradict his successor.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday, with Foreign Minister Marise Payne. Credit:AAP

Fairfax Media has confirmed that Mr Turnbulls mission was dominated by concerns over a trade deal with Indonesia, despite Mr Morrisons claim on radio on Thursday morning that trade was "not really" part of the brief.

Mr Turnbull led the delegation to Bali with dozens of pages of briefing documents on the trade deal and the new stance on Israel, with a mission to smooth over differences with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
A demand to speed up the probe into misconduct allegations against Australia's most decorated soldier has been condemned as "highly inappropriate" by legal experts who say investigators should not be pressured by prominent public figures.

Hours before unveiling plans to expand the Australian War Memorial on Thursday, director Brendan Nelson called for the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force to "damn well get on" with its inquiry into war hero Ben Roberts-Smith.

The Inspector General has tasked NSW Supreme Court justice Paul Brereton with examining the Victoria Cross recipient's role in the deaths of unarmed detainees in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012.

Dr Nelson, a former Liberal Party leader and one-time defence minister, slammed the treatment of Mr Roberts-Smith and said the inquiry needed to be resolved.
One of the remarkable features of Australian politics is the way the nations political volunteers sustain their commitment, no matter how their elected leaders behave. In a sense, the greatest conviction politician is the party member who keeps turning up when MPs in Canberra keep falling apart.

Labor branch members have kept their party together after the infighting between Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. No matter how sharp Bill Shortens media message can be, he owes much of his success to an army of helpers who go doorknocking or staff polling booths.

Illustration: Andrew Dyson Credit:

These foot soldiers were a real force in the Longman byelection campaign, for instance, and achieved a swing that helped trigger a panic in the Liberal National Party that, in turn, put pressure on Malcolm Turnbull and brought on the leadership spill in August. Labor is nothing without these loyal servants.

The Liberal Party has kept some of its volunteers despite the spill against Tony Abbott in 2015 and now the removal of Malcolm Turnbull in August. There has been anecdotal evidence of members quitting the party, some out of loyalty to Abbott, some out of anger at the toppling of Turnbull, but branch members still turned up to defend the Liberals in the Wentworth byelection last month.
Mr Morrison played straight from Trumps songbook two weeks ago when he mused about moving Australias embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and attacked a historic six-nation agreement that has stopped Iran building nuclear weapons. Now that he is no longer trying to win the Jewish vote in the Wentworth byelection, Mr Morrison has dropped this populist adventurism.

That might seem unremarkable and, indeed, it is what his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull used to say, but it was worth stating because Mr Morrison had shown worrying signs of embracing US President Donald Trumps confrontational, anti-globalist agenda.

Mr Morrison avoided backing either side and said that a confrontation between the US and China risks unimagined damage to economic growth and the global order. Damage where no one benefits. Lose-lose.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has a mixed record on foreign affairs so it was important that on Thursday he finally devoted a major speech to the issue. The reassuring message of his address was that he was happy to continue running an independent middle course between the opposing powers of China and the US.

Although he did announce an upgrade to a naval base in Papua New Guinea that the Chinese might not like, Mr Morrison refrained from using the anti-China rhetoric that some security hawks would have liked to hear. That is crucial. Australia should not jeopardise its trade relationship with China to please the US. He stressed the alliance with the US but he also offered a strategy for de-escalating the increasingly dangerous trade war between China and the US. Mr Morrison said he backed resolving disputes at the World Trade Organisation by negotiation rather than by imposing unilateral tariffs that the US has adopted.

In general, the Prime Minister avoided making cheap political points. His speech was not too different from that of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who said last week the ALP would not agree with every tweet out of the White House but would still oppose China when appropriate. Mr Shorten bravely said Australia would discreetly raise concerns about human rights in Chinas Muslim-majority province of Xinjiang.

While all this is reassuring, it is still too early to judge whether Mr Morrison understands how to run foreign policy. He skipped the United Nations General Assembly last month, missing the chance to meet key world leaders. He failed to consult diplomats or generals before announcing his Jerusalem initiative.

At least his speech has set the ground work for a better performance in coming weeks when he heads off to APEC, East Asia and G20 summits. Yet that was drowned out by another silly faux pas when Mr Morrison put domestic politics ahead of long-term foreign policy. He attacked former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull for criticising the Jerusalem policy. He then claimed Mr Turnbull had no mandate to discuss the issue with Indonesian President Joko Widodo when he went to Bali as Australias representative at an environmental conference. Mr Morrison had asked Mr Turnbull to mend fences with Indonesia, yet the PM could not resist bickering with Mr Turnbull to make some political point. The Indonesians will be even more confused.
Cowan MP Anne Aly's electorate office was targeted overnight with "It's okay to be white" posters, a slogan she described as a "white supremacist neo-Nazi mantra".

The phrase was at the centre of an embarrassing gaffe by government senators in October when they accidentally voted for a motion proposed by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson to acknowledge "the deplorable rise of anti-white racism and attacks on Western civilisation" and that "it is okay to be white".

Cowan MP Anne Aly's electorate office was targeted overnight with posters bearing the slogan "It's okay to be white".

Dr Aly told Fairfax Media staff found the crudely produced posters when arriving at work on Thursday morning.

She said there was a direct link between the posters and the One Nation Senate motion.
The move would end one of former prime minister Tony Abbott's signature policies after he reinstated the compulsory program for the long-term unemployed in 2015.

Labor has given its strongest indication yet that it will scrap the Work-for-the-Dole program if elected, warning the industry that the business case for the program is "less than clear" and questioning whether it is the best use of $65 million a year.

"The business case for it is less than clear. Every hour someone spends doing Work for the Dole is an hour not spent looking for work and there is also the risk that every hour someone spends providing labour at no cost to the boss, is an hour for which someone isnt being hired."

She said she had not "formed a firm view about the program yet" but that it was time to have a conversation about whether $65 million was being well spent.

The program, first initiated by the Howard government, has been criticised for its low success rate, with seven out of 10 compulsory participants failing to find work. There have also been allegations of participants being placed in unsafe workplaces and exposed to asbestos.

Her comments come as the opposition puts itself on a collision path with employment services and businesses across the country, signalling it it is ready to tear up employment services contracts under the wider $7.3 billion Jobactive program, which faced a Senate inquiry on Thursday.

The inquiry heard employment consultants working at private job agencies are not required to have any formal qualifications and have the power to cut the payments of welfare recipients for failing to meet requirements, such as missing an appointment. Staff employed by the sector had a systemic turnover rate of 40 per cent, the inquiry was told.
While the heated public debate about unlicensed Airbnb accommodation in WA rages around him, Matthew Bruce has decided to do the right thing.

Instead of ignoring the strict licensing requirements faced by Airbnb operators, who should have their properties registered as short-stay accommodation businesses, he went to his local council to work out how to get his approved.

But after four months Mr Bruce is still running around in circles and now faces a $200,000 fine.

Airbnb owner Matthew Bruce says he has been run in circles trying to work out how to register his Airbnb apartment as a short-stay accommodation business. Credit:Nathan Hondros

The 33-year-old returned serviceman approached the City of Belmont after receiving a letter about his Airbnb but said even they couldn't give him a clear and concise process his business had to go through to be approved.
Indonesian aviation experts, who examined what they said was the maintenance log from the flight from Bali to Jakarta on Sunday, said the plane had experienced problems with unreliable airspeed readings. While it is difficult to guess what might have caused the crash without the black boxes, aviation experts have raised the possibility that problems with the delicate instruments that gauge speed and altitude could have contributed to the tragedy. A variety of malfunctions or oversights could lead to inaccurate speed and altitude projections, including electrical glitches or obstructions to the monitoring instruments affixed to the outside of the plane. Part of what is called the Pitot-static system, the external probes send three sets of measurements to the flight crew, and any discrepancy between readings is cause for concern, aviation experts said. Lion Air technicians cleared the flight for takeoff Monday, and checked the Pitot tubes on the outside of the plane, according to the maintenance log viewed by Indonesian aviation analysts. The tubes can be compromised by invading insects or by ice forming during a flight, among other rare complications. Peter Marosszeky, a longtime aircraft engineer and former senior executive at Qantas, said that while a full investigation of Flight 610's final hours is needed, the initial evidence is consistent with problems with the Pitot tubes. These tubes are particularly vulnerable in hot, equatorial climates like Indonesia's to being blocked by wasps, he said.

"It's very hard to see because the wasps go inside the tube and make a mud nest in there," said Marosszeky, who is now the managing director of Aerospace Developments, a research and consulting company in Sydney. Loading In 2013, an Etihad flight that had been on the ground for little more than two hours in Brisbane, Australia, experienced a faulty airspeed reading during takeoff. Australian transport safety investigators later found that wasps had managed to build a nest in a Pitot tube during the brief stopover. "It's imperative when you park the aircraft that you cover the Pitot tubes," Marosszeky said. But the covers also need to be removed before a plane takes off for the tubes to work in flight. In July, a Malaysia Airlines flight left Brisbane, with all three covers still on the probes.

John Goglia, a former board member of the United States National Transportation Safety Board, said that because the Pitot tubes of Flight 610 had reportedly been checked during the maintenance that took place hours before Monday's fated takeoff, investigators will want to know exactly what was done to them. "Given the fact that the aircraft had a previous problem, one of the first places to check is whether there was the possibility that a mistake was made" in maintenance, he said. The proper functioning of the tubes could also have been affected if the systems connected to them were touched during maintenance, Goglia added. The tubes are covered when a specialised box is attached to them to carry out a safety check, Goglia said. Again, the instruments must be unsheathed before the plane is flown again. It is ultimately the pilot's responsibility to ensure that the covers are off the Pitot tubes, aviation experts said. Normally, pilots are supposed to walk around the plane before takeoff and run through a safety checklist, they said.

Loading Given that the flight on Monday morning left before 6.30, this walk-around would most likely have happened before dawn. "I always carry a strong torch and an extra battery with me to make sure I see things clearly in the dark," said Budi Soehardi, an Indonesian pilot with 40 years' experience flying with various carriers, including Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines. "I'm not sure if everyone does that." It would have been standard procedure for Bhavye Suneja, the 31-year-old Indian captain of Flight 610, to be shown the maintenance log from the previous night's flight that recorded the problem with unreliable airspeed. The 737 Max 8 entered service last year, and the plane involved in Monday's crash was delivered to Lion Air in August. It was owned by CMIG Aviation Capital, an aircraft leasing company that is a subsidiary of China Minsheng Investment Group, the company confirmed.

It also would have been customary for Suneja, who had flown with Lion Air for seven years, to have received training before taking the helm of the new model, to learn how it differed from previous versions of the workhorse 737 jet. But veteran aviators said that what is less common, particularly among low-cost carriers, is for pilots to receive refresher courses on what to do if the flight faces unexpected difficulties, like inaccurate flight data. Because planes are now so heavily computerised, basic skills like flying a plane without the aid of technology has become a less common art, pilots said. "People are so intoxicated by automation that they've forgotten how to do things in basic mode," Budi said. If Suneja was dealing with inaccurate speed or altitude measurements, it should have been possible to adjust for the problem, aviation experts said. The Malaysia Airlines flight crew that took off in July with its Pitot tubes covered was able to land again in Brisbane with the help of air traffic controllers and manual measurements.
China's job market remained stable in the first three quarters of this year as the urban unemployment rate continued to drop, with emerging industries as the biggest employer, official data showed.

Some 11.07 million new jobs were created from January to September, 100,000 more than the same period a year ago, Lu Aihong, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said Wednesday at a press briefing.

"We fulfilled the full-year target a quarter earlier," Lu said, adding that employment is stable for college graduates and the rural migrant labor force.

The registered unemployment rate in urban areas came to 3.82 percent at the end of September, edging down from 3.83 percent three months ago.

The spokesperson attributed the robust job creation to booming new economic drivers, which contributed to two-thirds of the new jobs. "More than 5 million new businesses were registered in the first three quarters, or over 18,000 each day... providing major support for stable employment."

Lu acknowledged that pressures on the job market linger due to increasing uncertainties at home and abroad but stressed the stability will continue thanks to a steady economy and vigorous innovation and entrepreneurship.
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey lent her star power on Thursday to Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams, who is vying to become the first female black governor in the United States, while saying she has no political aspirations of her own.

"I am here today because Stacey Abrams cares about the things that matter," Winfrey told a cheering crowd at a Cobb County town hall, citing Abrams' stance on environmental protection, healthcare and gun control.

Winfrey, who said she is a registered independent, has long championed Democratic Party causes and some fans earlier this year tried to encourage her to run against Republican President Donald Trump in 2020.

"I don't want to run, OK?" Winfrey told the crowd. "I'm not trying to test any waters, don't want to go in those waters."
Mazda Reports October 2018 Sales Results







IRVINE, Calif. (Nov. 1, 2018)  Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total October sales of more than 18,000 vehicles, a decrease of 10 percent compared to October 2017. Year-to-date (YTD) sales through October saw an increase of 5 percent, with more than 253,000 vehicles sold. With 26 selling days in October 2018, versus 25 the year prior, the company posted a decrease of 13 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported best-ever October sales of more than 5,000 vehicles, an increase of 11 percent compared to October last year.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
AUTO LAB RADIO Saturday November 3, 2018; WNYM Radio AM 970 7-9 AM - Helping You Enjoy The Drive







Auto Lab Talk Radio on New York City's WNYM Radio AM 970 Is Streamed Worldwide On TheAutoChannel.Com

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Auto Lab is a 28 year old interactive automotive-focused New York City radio call-in show hosted by Professor Harold Wolchok. Featuring an in-studio panel of experienced hands-on automotive experts sharing accurate, honest, practical and street-smart car repair, automotive career opportunities and vehicle and repair buying advice.

Auto Lab is also about the automotive industry, its history, and its culture, presenting the ideas and advice of leading college faculty, authors, and automotive practitioners in a relaxed, conversational interactive format.

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This Weeks Show: November 3, 2018

IN STUDIO PANEL: Real World Auto Experts, Educators, Technicians, Shop Owners, Insurance Experts, Lawyers Will Answer Your Automotive Questions: Repairs, Second Opinions, Regular Maintenance, How To's, Safety, Used and New Car Buying, Insurance, Ombudsmen Suggestions

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Find these stories and more in the Nov. 1 issue of The Carillon.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 31/10/2018 (1115 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Find these stories and more in the Nov. 1 issue of The Carillon.

New mandate

Reporter Jordan Ross talks with Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen about the new mandates of his portfolio.

Gender balance lags behind

Reporter Jordan Ross looks at the results of municipals elections and where the Southeast stands when it comes to a greater representation of women on council.

Things are looking up

Sports editor Terry Frey talks hockey and the improved fortunes of the Steinbach Huskies.
Oprah Winfrey. Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images

Save for national campaigns, Oprah Winfrey largely stays out of political races, but shell make an exception for a historic one. In a last-minute push in Georgias close gubernatorial race, Winfrey will head down south to knock on doors and hold town halls for Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams, who would be the first black woman governor in U.S. history, if elected.

While Winfrey endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election and held a fundraiser for Cory Booker during his Senate run in 2013, the last time the media mogul hit the campaign trail for a political candidate was for Barack Obama in 2008. This year, both she and Obama will rally for Abrams, who says she is honored to have the support.

Oprah Winfrey has inspired so many of us through the years with her unparalleled ability to form real connections and strengthen the bonds of family and community, Abrams said in a statement. I am honored to have Oprah join me for uplifting and honest conversations with voters about the clear choice before us in this election and the boundless potential of Georgians.

Meanwhile, both President Trump and Vice-President Pence will stump for Abramss opponent, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, a self-described politically incorrect conservative. The race has been marred by allegations of intentional voter suppression, targeted at the states black residents (Kemp is in charge of elections and voter registration in Georgia), but polls still show that the candidates are neck and neck.

Winfrey may not want to run for political office, but that doesnt mean shes unaware of the power of her voice  and the possibility that it could help influence the outcome of a historic race.
China's Shenzhen Airlines on Wednesday celebrated a new direct flight from Shenzhen, a southern Chinese city, to London.

It was the first direct flight between Shenzhen and London. The intercontinental route will be served by Airbus 330 wide-body aircraft and operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Wang Jie, vice president of Shenzhen Airlines, said at the ceremony that "Shenzhen-London route, as the first long haul intercontinental route launched by us, is a crucial starting point for Shenzhen Airlines to step out into the world."

He said the airline would blossom into an internationalized airline based in Shenzhen, with its route network covering Asia and the rest of the world.

The first flight launched on Oct. 30 from Shenzhen to London Heathrow airport. The flight departs from London at 9:40 p.m. local time (2140 GMT) and arrives in Shenzhen at 5:40 p.m. (0940 GMT) the next day. The return flight leaves Shenzhen at 2:10 p.m. (0610 GMT) and arrives in London at 7:40 p.m. (1940 GMT).

Shenzhen Airlines Co., Ltd was founded in November 1992. By the end of 2017, it has operated about 200 domestic and international routes.
An Assyrian gypsum relief of a Winged Genius. Reign of Ashurnasirpal II, circa 883-859 B.C. 7 ft 4 in x 6 ft 5 in offered in Antiquities at Christies in New York, on Oct. 31, 2018. (Courtesy of Christies)

After Dramatic Bidding, 3,000-Year-Old Relief goes to Anonymous Buyer

NEW YORKThe auctioneer has been smiling and now he speaks slowly. He knows the big moment has arrived.

So, let me start this at $7,500,000, he says.

There is a pause.

Then many people raise their hands.

His voice doesnt echo, despite the high ceiling in the carpeted Woods room of Christies auction house in New York City. The auctioneer has been standing at the front of the room behind a podium and making broad gestures, pointing and talking for clarity to bidders and about a dozen staff who are connected over the phone to bidders.

Eight million, eight million five, nine million, nine million five, 10 million, 11 million, says the auctioneer as he sees bids and points. Were at 11 million.

Bidders are seated with paddles in rows. They are wearing suits, leather shoes, scarfs, leather jackets. Others bid online or are talking over the phone with staff seated at two long tables at either side of the room.

Throughout the morning at this antiquities auction, people have been bidding on Egyptian bowls and jars, Greek amphoras, Roman marble heads and torsos. The big ticket item is an Assyrian relief.

The relief, which is over 7 feet tall, isnt in the room. Only five small items are displayed, under glass, between the bidders and the auctioneer. The reliefs photo is on a screen to the left of the auctioneer, which shows each item, one by one, as its being auctioned.

A screen on the right shows the current bid in several world currencies: U.S. dollars, euros, British pounds, Swiss francs, Japanese yen, Hong Kong dollars, Russian rubles, Chinese yuan. There is also a screen at the back of the room, which displays online bids for the auctioneer.

At 11 million, on my left at the moment; 12 million, standing at the back. Gentlemans bid at the back of the room at 12. The numbers on the screen on the right update in all currencies.

The man at the back and someone over the phone, represented by staff member Laticia, now parry bids back and forth.

13 million. 14 million. 15 million. 16 million. 17 million. 18 million.

The relief is described on Christies website by G. Max Bernheimer, International Head of Antiquities at Christies in New York, (who is now taking talking to bidders on the phone): These huge slabs of gypsum, sculpted in relief, were designed to impress and overwhelm. Every aspect was related to the strength and power of the king.

19. 20. Back to you quickly at 20 million dollars. 22 million, with Mark at 22. 24.

Christies description on their website reads, There are approximately 400 of these carved relief panels that would have filled the interior, which depicted narratives of Ashurnasirpals military triumphs, as well as animal hunts and courtly scenes.

The auctioneer says, Laticia has it at the moment at 24 million.

At 24 million. Here is the bid.

The relief was brought back from Mosul, Iraq in 1859 by an American missionary, with others that had also been unearthed at the palace at Nimrud. This one has been at Virginia Theological seminary since 1859. Five other reliefs from the palace were sent to Bowdoin college in Maine and one of them is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Besides the Met, reliefs from Ashurnasirpals palace can also be found in the Brooklyn Museum, in Yale, and in about 60 other museums around the world.

The auctioneer draws out his next words, incorporating the quiet of the room into them.

At 24 million dollars.

The room is silent except for a camera clicking at the back and the rustle of clothing.

Holding here, the auctioneer says.

Ashurnasirpal was a tyrant who ruthlessly expanded his kingdom, Christies website reads, conquering much of the ancient Near East including modern-day Syria and the land between the Tigris and Euphrates riversan area referred to today as the cradle of civilisation. The palace reflected Ashurnasirpals newfound status as the most powerful ruler of the largest empire ever seen.

Holding at 24, the auctioneer repeats.

Christies website also reads, Without question, the relief offered at Christies on 31 October represents the finest example of Assyrian art to have come onto the market in decades.

Coming in.

The auctioneer speaks with finality, preparing to complete the sale. At 24 million dollars-

25, says a man in runners and glasses who is standing at the back of the room.

25 million. Thank you sir. 25 million.

Someone bids 26 through the phone.

At 26 million I am selling to Laticias bidder, unless theres a higher bid.

Two fifty said the man at the back in runners. The auctioneer hesitated.

Ill take $26,250,000, said the auctioneer, accepting the incremental bid. Were very high at this level. 26,250,000. He talks to others in the room, Next is 26 [million] 500 if youd like it.

The man in runners and the buyer on the phone volley bids once more and it gets up to 27 million bid by the person on the phone.

The auctioneers hands are outstretched and he begins to announce, at 27 million dollars

Then he stops and turns to the bidder at the back, Are you sure, sir?

The man at the back doesnt bid.

At 27 million- the auctioneer begins to conclude again.

Then the man at the back bids.

Its at $27,250,000.

In the room now at 27 [million] 250. Ill take 27 [million] 500 if youd like.

27,250,000.

The auctioneer starts his concluding tone, drawing out each word, Standing at the back of the room  here in New York  at Christies  27 million 250 thousand 

Now no one is rustling. Even the camera is quiet.

Then the hammer.

Sold!

Applause erupts and the rest of auctioneers announcement is hard to hear over the excitement as others congratulate the man who is wearing runners. He gives his paddle number to the auctioneer and slips out of the room.

This was the second highest price ever received for an antiquity at auction, according to Sara Fox, a senior public relations manager at Christies. The highest price was for a figurine of a lioness from about 3000 B.C. It was sold at Sothebys in New York in 2007 for $57,161,000.

The Assyrian frieze was sold on behalf of the Virginia Theological Seminary, in order to underwrite a scholarship fund.

The buyer has chosen to remain anonymous.
Alyssa Shepherd Saw Flashing Lights on Indiana School Bus Before Killing 3 Children

The 24-year-old Rochester, Indiana, woman who was charged with reckless homicide after striking four children on Oct. 30 and killing three said she did see the flashing lights that the school bus driver activated.

The bus driver pulled to the side of State Route 25 in Fulton County around 7:15 a.m. and activated the flashing lights and the stop arm seen on buses across the country.

Combined, the measures alert drivers that children are being picked up. Its illegal to pass a school bus when the lights and arm are in place.

Alyssa Shepherd told police officers that she saw the flashing lights but didnt recognize the vehicle as a school bus so didnt think she had to stop.

Emergency personnel responded to a scene of a collision that killed three children crossing SR 25 as they were about to board their school bus north of Rochester, Ind., on Oct. 30, 2018. (Santiago Flores/South Bend Tribune via AP)

Traveling at about 45 miles per hour, according to a witness10 miles per hour under the speed limitShepherd drove her pickup past the bus and struck the children.

Maggie Jo Wilson, the witness, was driving directly behind Shepherd and watched the horror unfold as did the school bus driver, unable to stop the accident.

He said at the last second he hit his horn, but there was nothing he could do, Indiana State Police Detective Michelle Jumper told Fulton County Superior Court Judge Wayne Steele on Oct. 30, where prosecutors sought and obtained an arrest warrant for Shepherd, reported the South Bend Tribune.

He was pretty distraught, Jumper said.

Dark

Shepherd, who has two children herself, 2 years old and 4 years old, admitted to seeing the flashing lights but said by the time she realized it was a bus in the morning darkness, it was too late.

She did not recognize it immediately as a school bus. In fact, she said she was trying to figure out what it was, the detective told the judge.

She knows she dimmed her lights for it because it had headlights, but she couldnt make out what it was. By the time she realized what it was, the kids were right there in front of her.

Xzavier Ingle, 6, Mason Ingle, 6, and Alivia Stahl, 9, all siblings, died after being hit. A fourth child, 11-year-old Maverik Lowe, was flown to a hospital to undergo emergency surgery.

In addition to three charges of reckless homicide, Shepherd was charged with one misdemeanor count for passing a school bus, with the stop arm extended, causing injury. If found guilty, she could face up to 18 years in prison.

She was arrested on the same day of the accident and released on $15,000 bond.

From NTD.tv
Armed Clash Between Marxist Groups Shows Violence Still a Reality in Colombia

BOGOTA, ColombiaA massacre in Colombia attributed to a clash between rival leftist fighters this week shows that armed groups are still wreaking havoc in the country, even after a 2016 peace agreement.

On Oct. 30, six people were killed in a battle that the Colombian army says was between the last standing organized Marxist rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), and dissident members of the demobilized Marxist group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

While it isnt clear whether it was civilians or combatants who were killed, the army said the clash resulted from a dispute over territory, after a FARC member was shot and killed on Oct. 29. The massacre took place in Lopez de Micay in the southern region of Cauca, an area rich in coca, the base ingredient of cocaine. violence in Cauca has soared since the peace deal was signed.

Three women and three men were killed, while two other people were injured. The military has said it will step up its efforts to provide security to civilians in the region.

While the government in 2016 signed a peace deal with the FARConce the biggest rebel group involved in the countrys half-century civil warallowing them to launch a political party, many disillusioned former rebels have picked up their weapons and returned to the jungle.

The rebels are said to be fighting with other groups, including the ELN, over territory in pursuit of lucrative cocaine and mining trades.

Cauca is just one area in Colombia where the peace deal has produced little improvement in security. The mayor of Lopez de Micay, Wilmer Riascos, told local media on Oct. 31 that the big mess in the region is due to the state leaving us totally abandoned.

These illegal groups came to fight over the territory, he added.

Right-wing paramilitaries and narcotrafficking groups are present in the southern part of the country, although leftist rebels have the largest presence. But the presence of all armed groups is something to fearparticularly because the area has historically been neglected by the state.

In terms of sheer numbers, they [leftist groups] are the largest violent groups in Cauca right now, Adam Isacson, the director for defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America, told The Epoch Times.

In July, seven people were found slain in a Cauca municipality, while earlier this month, again in Cauca, activist Maria Caicedo Munoz was kidnapped and later found dead.

Social leaders and activists bear the brunt of the violence as illegal armed groups rush to fill a vacuum previously occupied by the FARC. About 173 of them have been killed throughout the country since the beginning of this year.

But citizens are also unsafe, with Colombia still suffering from some of the highest levels of internal displacement in the world, mostly due to armed groups. More than 90,000 Colombians were forced to flee last year due to a number of illegal armed groups fighting for territory.

If you are a regular citizen in a highly contested part of Caucaor another part of Colombiayou are probably feeling insecure because youre being extorted by more than one group, or because the group thats trying to exert control is weak and on the defensive, said Isacson.

Colombias last standing rebel group, the ELN, was founded in the 1960s. Considered a terrorist group by the United States and European Union, the ELN has carried out a five-decade war against the government, engaging in bombings, kidnappings, extortion, and sabotage of oil pipelines.

Government peace talks with the group have been on and off over the past year. Colombias new President Ivan Duque has said he wont continue talks with the group until it stops its criminal activities.
Wuzhen's expertise in internet enhancement and IT is expected to provide a key platform in Zhejiang province for developing a digital economy, according to Sheng Yongjun, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Tongxiang Municipal Committee.



Wuzhen, an ancient river town in Tongxiang city, has become the permanent home of the World Internet Conference (WIC), also known as the Wuzhen Summit, since the first meeting was held in 2014.

"We have seized the opportunity," Sheng said, referring to the influence of successful hosting of WIC in developing a digital economy that has rapidly transformed the regional industrial structure.

Since the first WIC Wuzhen Summit, Tongxiang city has introduced 565 digital economy-based projects, with total planned investment of 37.73 billion yuan (US$5.41 billion) and a registered capital of 2.5 billion yuan.

From January to August this year, the city's software and information service industry achieved operating income of 250 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 81.8 percent, according to official data.

Sheng pointed out that, with the number of enterprises increasing rapidly each year, the city has been able to become a provincial information economy demonstration zone and a provincial software and IT industry entrepreneurship base.

"Companies and investors across the country are welcome to settle in Wuzhen and take advantage of its strengths in resources, technology and innovative people, along with the platform of the Wuzhen Avenue Sci-Tech Innovation Zone," Sheng said.

The latter's planned area is about 125 square kilometers, accounting for 17 percent of Tongxiang's urban area, and it is expected to eventually produce over 80 percent of the city's GDP. There are four major function areas: internet industrial zone, fashion industrial zone, livable smart new city and advanced manufacturing industrial zone, aiming to bring in various high-end businesses in these areas in the future.

For start-ups like Tongdun Technology, a third-party intelligent risk management service provider, Tongxiang's preferential policies support innovative ability and development potential.

"We sci-tech companies are happy to see the government is willing to implement the Internet Plus government service model, where lies huge opportunities for us to expand and innovate internet products and services," said Jiang Tao, CEO and co-founder of Tongdun Technology.

The company is providing various solutions with regard to anti-fraud technologies such as device fingerprint, proxy detection, and decision engine to improve risk control capabilities of governments and banks, Jiang said.

Tongxiang city is promoting overall information infrastructure to support the development of digital economy. A total of 2,507 4G base stations have been built across the city to achieve full 4G coverage, and wifi hotspots have been provided in its major public places.

According to Sheng, the digital economy will be the priority of Tongxiang's economic development, and Wuzhen will be built into the high point of the digital economy in Zhejiang province.

Looking ahead, Sheng said that the next step was to foster new economic growth points, including big data, cloud computing, internet of things and smart manufacturing, in a bid to better improve the integration of industrialization and information.

"By 2022, the total output of digital economy in Tongxiang is expected to reach over 50 billion yuan," the official said.
A general view of high-rise and apartment buildings in the Docklands in Melbourne, Australia, on June 16, 2017. Victoria has become the first and state in Australia to support China's Belt and Road Initiative, also known as One Belt One Road, after having signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Oct. 25, 2018. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Australias Progressive State Goes Solo, Joins Chinas Belt and Road Initiative

Victoria signed up to the initiative in hopes the deal will boost jobs and trade

UPDATE: The Andrews government released the MoU document to the public late Nov. 11 after pressure from Australias Prime Minister and other politicians (pdf).

Victorias government has signed up to Chinas flagship economic investment project, the Belt and Road initiative, in hopes that the deal will foster more trade and jobs in the state.

Labor Premier Daniel Andrews and Chinas Ambassador Cheng Jingye finalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Australias second-most populous state and China on the Belt and Road initiative (BRI) on Oct. 25.

Chinas BRI projects have been facing a backlash in many countries, including Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, where locals are accusing the initiative of being a platform to serve the ruling Chinese Communist Partys interests through debt-trap diplomacy.

The Oct. 25 agreement makes Victoria the only state in Australia to formally support the BRI, also known as the One Belt One Road project.

This new Australian-first agreement sums up everything we have achieved with China over the past four years, Andrews said of his progressive government. It means more trade and more Victorian jobs and an even stronger relationship with China.

Andrews, of the Labor Party, was the only Australian state premier to be invited to Chinas Belt and Road Forum that was held in 2017.

First announced in 2013 by Chinas leader Xi Jinping, the BRI seeks to increase investment and trade links between China and the world mainly through joint infrastructure projects. China is calling for $5 trillion worth of investments globally to develop the BRI network around the world. It includes railways, roads, ports, energy systems, and telecommunications networks.

In four years, we have more than tripled Victorias share of Chinese investment in Australia and nearly doubled our exports to China. We said wed reboot our relationship with China and were getting it done, Andrews said.

Read More Chinas Arctic Road Initiative

So far, 68 countries, including New Zealand, have signed up to the BRI.

Concerns About Belt and Road

Australias senior security figures have previously warned of serious strategic consequences if Australia formally enlists itself to the BRI, the Australian Broadcast Corporation reported.

Former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also previously told Fairfax that the BRI is Chinas vehicle for greater political and strategic influence in the region despite Cheng saying at an Australian China Business Council event in July in Darwin that the BRI has nothing to do with geopolitics.

The BRI has been criticized for potentially reinforcing corruption in countries with weak institutions. threatening democracy and benefiting Chinese firms rather than serving local interests, The Epoch Times previously reported.

Zeng Jianyuan, a scholar of national development at the National Taiwan University in Taipei, said that the Chinese regime aims to build up geopolitical strength in Asia although its own financial system is facing significant capital-constraints at home.

Right now China is trying to continue its expansion and development, Zeng told The Epoch Times previously. By investing in small underdeveloped Asia-Pacific countries that have no way of paying off their loans, the CCP can guarantee lasting control over the bountiful strategic resources these countries possess.

Australia and the BRI

While Australia has not formally signed up to constructing BRI projects inside its borders, Turnbulls Liberal government did sign a MoU in September 2017 for cooperation with China to build infrastructure in third-party countries, including BRI projects, according to Fairfax.

Fairfax also reported on July 30 after submitting a freedom of information request that the September 2017 MoU had not been made publicly available because Beijing does not want it made public. Then-trade minister Steven Ciobo explained at the time that this was because both parties are required to agree to release the text of the MoU and China has not agreed to do so.

On July 31, Australia announced a trilateral partnership with the U.S. and Japan to invest in projects in the Indo-Pacific region. The partnership aims to develop infrastructure, increase connectivity, and drive economic growth in the region.

The trilateral pact is in direct competition to Chinas BRI, and has been widely regarded as part of the United States efforts to offer smaller nations an alternative to the BRI, AAP reported. The alternative would be free from the risks of Chinas incomplete market economy that is under the political control of a totalitarian autocracy.

From NTD.tv

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Baby-Faced Criminal Jailed For Running Over a Police Officer

A pint-sized teenage criminal who terrorised a local community and bragged about his law-bending lifestyle on social media has been jailed for four years after mowing down a police officer in a stolen car.

Baby-faced Kash Parkinson was handed down the jail sentence on Tuesday, Oct. 30, at Manchesters Minshull Street Crown Court, the Manchester Evening News reported.

The court heard how he had 47 prior convictions for 77 crimes, starting at age 11, the Telegraph reported.

Neighbors had reported him to police numerous times for car and motorbike thefts, according to The Metro.

During sentencing, the accused reportedly showed his contempt for the proceedings by yawning and stretching out his arms. That to me sums up this young mans approach to life, said Judge Martin Savill, according to the report. He couldnt care less.

The 18-year-old received the sentence after running over a police officer during a June 28 chase.

That police officer could have been killed because of your selfishness, Judge Mark Savill said during sentencing. You are just 18 but have an appalling record and the footage of the pursuit I have seen is truly chilling.

Footage released by the shows Parkinson in the drivers seat of a stolen Ford Fiesta that he had fitted with stolen plates, as police officer Christopher Haxby questions him through an open door.

Parkinson suddenly hits the gas and the car door smashes into Haxby, throwing him violently backward onto the hood of his police cruiser.

It is a wonder how you didnt kill or seriously injure a member of the public or a police officer, Judge Savill said.

Injuries sustained by the officer forced him to take time off work.

Damage to the vehicles involved in the incident were estimated at 14,100 ($18,200).

Parkinson, who is just 5 feet 2 inches tall, had earlier gloated about his lifestyle on social media. This included a picture of him at the wheel of an expensive Rolls Royce. Other photos show him pointing a rifle and his name spelled out in cannabis leaves.

His arrest record includes busts for assaulting police officers two times, as well as robbery and theft of vehicles, according to the Manchester Evening News.

When Parkinson was placed in a special care facility, he threatened to shoot and stab the staff.

Parkinsons lawyer, Mark Fireman, tried to defend his clients actions, saying that he had one of the worst starts in life I have seen. Fireman added that the teenager is extremely immature.

The judge expressed sympathy for the lawyers words, but added that there comes a time when the public has to be protected and ordered the defendant to serve time behind bars.

I can only hope this will offer you some cause to consider where your life is going, said the judge, according to The Metro.

At the time of his arrest, Parkinson was on bail over another police chase in a different stolen car, which belonged to a disabled man.
Baby Found Dead in Swing Died of Diaper Rash, Says Prosecutor

Warning: Article contains potentially disturbing details

A prosecutor in the trial of a man accused of murdering his baby has detailed the infants cause of death.

Assistant Iowa Attorney General Coleman McAllister told jurors on Oct. 30, that Sterling Koehn, who was four months of age when he died, was in the same diaper for 9 to 14 days when his body was found in a swing on Aug. 30, 2017, The Associated Press reported.

He said the baby died of diaper rash and included other grim details.

Zachary Paul Koehn, 29, is charged with murder and child endangerment. Cheyanne Harris, the boys mother, was also charged and will be tried separately at a later time, AP reported.

The prosecutor said the diaper rash led to broken skin, leading to an E. coli infection.

He died of diaper rash. Thats right, diaper rash, McAllister said.

A report from the local coroners office said the boy died of dehydration, malnutrition, and the infection.

Koehns attorney said the babys death was tragic, but it was not a crime. He stated that while Koehn was a drug user, he had a 2-year-old daughter and also denied the prosecutors claims.

Toni Friedrich, an EMT nurse, said she was the first to arrive on the scene of the parents apartment in Alta Vista, Iowa.

The babys eyes were open, and it was a blank stare, she said of the boys death. She said Koehn showed no emotion when he led her to the room where the baby had died.

Friedrich told jurors that when she touched the babys chest, his clothes were crusty. There were also gnats on his blanket, she said.

Brandy Harris, a grandmother of the child, said she remembered that the 4-month-old was small but in good health. He was a relatively happy baby, she said, KCRG reported.

Jordan Clark, a trucker who worked with Koehn as a trucker, also said he took meth with both Koehn and Harris at their apartment, the report stated. Clark, however, said he didnt know there was an infant there in the house, and he stated that neither Harris or Koehn mentioned the child, and he didnt see anyone go into the bedroom to provide care.

Clark also stated that Koehn told him to lie or stretch the truth if police spoke to him about drugs at the apartment. Mainly it was if they call dont say anything or stretch the truth, Clark said.

On the morning of the childs reported death, Clark said Koehn called him about missing meth and a scale. He made the comment he needed to find it before anyone else did, Clark said, according to the Des Moines Register.
Baltimore Police Officer Kevin Battipaglia was charged with destroying property in the Northeast District police station, on Oct. 28, 2018. (Baltimore Police Department)

Baltimore Police Officer Arrested for Assaulting Desk

A Baltimore police officer recently acquitted on charges of assaulting a suspect has been charged with assaulting a desk.

Baltimore Police Officer Kevin Battipaglia had been charged with first-degree assault after he allegedly beat a suspect with his baton on Christmas Eve.

After chasing and catching 21-year-old Darrian Carr, Battipaglia allegedly struck Carr in the face with his nightstick, the Baltimore Sun reported.

Both the prosecution and the defense stipulated that Carr had been hit in the face by officer Battipaglias baton. The force of the blow fractured Carrs jaw, WBNG reported.

Battipaglias attorneys claimed that the blow was accidental. They pointed out that the wound was small, consistent with the tip of the baton hitting Carr while the officer was catching him. The wound would have been larger had Battipaglia swung the baton and struck Carr with the shaft, a forensic pathologist testified.

Battipaglia was acquitted on Oct. 11 after a three-day trial for a number of reasons. Battipaglias body camera did not capture an image of the blow, a friend of Carrs who witnessed the act couldnt see clearly what happened, and a training officer said he couldnt tell if the blow was intentional or accidental.

According to CBS News, Darrian Carrs attorney, Latoya Francis Williams, is planning to file a civil lawsuit.

Assault on a Desk

Now three weeks later Battipaglia is back in the news, and headed to court once again.

Battipaglia apparently lost his temper andallegedlykicked a hole in the front desk in the Northeast District police station. The incident was captured on station house surveillance cameras.

According to The Sun, Battipaglia got irritated when a lieutenant told him he would have to work on Halloween.

Battipaglia threw his cellphone to the ground from behind the front desk, said police documents, according to The Sun.

While retrieving it, he then mule kicked the front of the front desk punching a sizable hole in it. Due to kicking the desk with such force he created a mess of the desk and fractured drywall, the documents continued said The Sun.

The police report states that Battipaglia cleaned up the scene with a dustpan and broom. The officer then tried to cover the hole in the desk by taping a poster over it.

He then headed out the front doorwhich he slammed so hard, he broke the glass.

According to the police report, From the impact of his hand, the glass door spider-webbed.

According to WMAR, Battipaglia has been charged with one count of malicious destruction of property valued at less than $1,000.

Battipaglia is 33 years old and has been with the Baltimore Police Department for five years.

He has been suspended without pay. The Baltimore Police Department would not comment on whether the officer had been suspended after the latest arrest.

The officers trial has been set for Dec. 10 in Baltimore District Court. Battipaglia faces a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

From NTD.tv
Belgian Government Under Pressure for Interest Paid out of Frozen Libyan Accounts

BRUSSELSBelgian lawmakers have raised fears their country has inadvertently supported organized crime after reports emerged that billions of dollars were wrongly paid out from frozen accounts belonging to former Libyan dictator Muammar Gadhafi. The issue is now being investigated by the countrys prosecutors.

The central government in Brussels is coming under increasing pressure to explain what happened to up to $5.7 billion in interest and dividends that was dispensed by Belgian banks between 2011 and 2017, according to a report by Belgian broadcaster RTBF.

Opposition members of Parliament and experts fear the cash may have been siphoned off by criminal gangs trafficking weapons and people in and out of the country, where law and order broke down in the aftermath of the 2011 toppling of Gadhafi.

They are now demanding that Prime Minister Charles Michel explain publicly where the money went and whether it could have been used by militant groups operating in war-torn Libya.

The alleged scandal is especially sensitive for EU countries like Belgium which have faced a serious migration crisis since 2015. Libya became a major launchpad for gangs trafficking asylum seekers to Europe after it descended into lawlessness and civil war.

Gadhafi was deposed and later killed during a 2011 uprising, which was part of the Arab Spring of popular movements, and during which rebel fighters were backed by airstrikes from a multi-state NATO-led coalition.

Earlier that year, the United Nations had passed a resolution calling for all of the Libyan dictators assets held outside of Libya to be frozen to prevent him bankrolling his war effort or escaping the country.

At least four banks managed by Euroclear, a financial institution with headquarters in Brussels, together held some $18 billion of Gadhafis wealth which should have been frozen, but instead an investigation by Politico showed that billions in interest and dividends were paid out to accounts in Luxembourg and Bahrain.

In September, a U.N. panel of experts issued a damning report which concluded that Belgium was in violation of international sanctions over the payouts and warned they could lead to the misuse and misappropriation of funds.

Dirk Van der Maelen, a politician from the Flemish part of Belgium, has put in questions to Foreign Affairs Minister Didier Reynders and Finance Minister Johan Van Overtveldt to clarify who has been releasing the money, who has been receiving the funds, and what it has been used for.

Robert Wtterwulghe, a law professor at Belgiums Louvain University, said in an interview with RTBF that the issue involves human trafficking concerns and other illegal activity.

There is a whole market that aims to bring migrants and to engage Nigerian prostitution networks. It is a mafia enterprise but relies on all the militias in questionthey receive external funds.

However Georges Gilkinet, a Green lawmaker in the Belgian Parliament, warned people they should be very careful before claiming the country had been involved in financing militant groups or traffickers, Politico reported.

I think links between the money leaving Belgium and arms deals have been made too quickly. Belgium was obliged to respect the obligation of the U.N., but in 2011, it agreed to release the interest of these funds, he said.

Hundreds of millions of euros were redistributed. No one knows where or why, we just know that it was Minister Reynders at the time who had the power of decision.

For his part, Reynders told reporters he had taken no decision on the matter of whether interest and dividends should be paid, and pointed out he left the finance ministry in December 2011.

A European Commission spokeswoman said it was up to the Belgian authorities to ensure that sanctions against Libyan figures were duly enforced and properly implemented by banks.

The freezing of assets was adopted in 2011 against the Libyan investment authority, also against Muammar Gadhafi. Those measures still hold, the freeze is still there, it is still in force, there has been no change, the spokeswoman said.

A spokesman for the Belgian finance ministry said, In this matter, Belgium has acted in coordination with its European counterparts in the application and in accordance with guidance shared and approved by said counterparts.
Senator Joel Anderson speaks in front of the California State Capitol in Sacramento during a rally to support a resolution condemning the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, on Aug. 29, 2017. (Mark Cao/Epoch Times)

California Legislator Said to Be One in a Million

Reflecting on Sen. Joel Andersons 12 years in the California legislature

SACRAMENTO, Calif.A state legislator who received thousands of constituent thank you letters, dozens of Legislator of the Year awards, and top ranking on several organizations legislative scorecards is coming to the end of his legislative service.

California state Sen. Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) is terming out in November after 12 years in the legislature, and constituents, friends, and fellow lawmakers are reflecting on his remarkable career.

Before he stepped away, Anderson made sure to honor others. He held his last California Heroes Month ceremony in El Cajon, California on Oct. 13. Some 50 community members received Certificates of Recognition for their community service work. Since 2007, Anderson has given out 164,025 Certificates of Recognition.

Speaking on the Senate floor on Aug. 28, Anderson reflected on his job as a legislator, I cant think of a job that Ive enjoyed more. I had the opportunities to reach out to the community, to lift people who needed help.

Stephen Frank, a political and public policy activist and editor of California Political Review, has known Anderson for 30 years. He said, Joel is one in a million. He not only says [what] he believes in, but by his actions, he lives it.

He is open and honest. He doesnt hide where he stands. Whether you agree with him or not, at least he is honest with you. And what more should we expect from a legislator but honesty?

The Anderson Caucus and a Constitutionalist

During the 4-year period from 2012 to 2015, Anderson did not caucus with anyone, hence the formation of the Anderson Caucus.

I talked to Joel about that a couple of years ago, Frank said. He said that he likes to vote the way his constituents want him to vote, that he presents bills that help his constituents and the state. He was elected by his constituents, they are the ones who can tell him what to do, not a bunch of other elected officials. I respect that.

Regardless of who Anderson caucuses with, he has been independent in his ideology and actions. When it comes to bipartisan issues, Anderson very often reached across the aisle and co-authored bills and resolutions with Democrats.

As Sen. Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) puts it, Anderson is known as an independent and strong voice for his constituents He is prolific, and very energetic.

During his 12-year tenure in the California Legislature, Anderson authored 183 bills, and co-authored 418 bills with Democrats and over 160 bills with fellow Republicans.

In 2016, Anderson was the first and only state legislator to endorse Trump before the primary. He introduced Trump at the California Republican Convention in 2016.

Anderson is a guy who is philosophically based to begin with, Frank said. He did not learn his ideology by getting involved. He already had an ideology, which was the reason he got involved.

Anderson is a constitutionalist, a believer in limited government, Frank said. He believes the people are smarter than the government. His voting record shows that. The bills he has introduced show that.

Constituent Services Vital to Government Accountability

Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) pointed out that Sen. Anderson very often writes letters to judges, DAs, the governor, regarding individuals, his constituents, that need someone to intervene on their behalf to have their side of the story to be seriously heard.

Whether it is helping constituents reunite with unclaimed properties held by the State Controllers Office, or helping small business owners with tax issues, or building more housing for the developmentally disabled, or helping a young boys family through complicated health insurance claim procedures, Anderson regards providing constituent services as vital as it promotes government accountability and allows citizens to make their government work for them.

According to his website, his office has responded to 133,388 constituent contacts, resolved 9,607 constituent casework, and held 50 town hall meetings for a recorded total of 2,308 attendees.

Anderson in turn has received over 1,500 thank you letters from the community, 26 Legislator of the Year awards, and the highest ratings on legislative scorecards from Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Republican Assembly, American Conservative Union, and California Taxpayers Association.

Divesting Billions Away from Irans Terror Machine

In his first year in the legislature, Anderson authored AB 221 of 2007, divesting Californias public pensions from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Anderson said: Money is the mothers milk of terrorism. AB 221 will stop Californias investments from being used to fund Irans terror machine.

Frank recalled: I remember that one, because it created a lot of controversy even among conservatives who hadnt thought about it that deep. People say it was [the issue of the] federal government, foreign policy. But Andersons point was, it is foreign policy, its the role of federal government, but the State is using vendors that are helping a terrorist nation. We have a responsibility to do our part to say no.

Condemning the Chinese Regimes Human Rights Violations

In 2008, Anderson authored a letter demanding that the mother of a San Diego resident, a practitioner of Falun Gong in China, be released after she was illegally detained by the Chinese regime.

Falun Gong is a spiritual discipline consisting of moral teachings of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance and a set of meditative exercises. In 1999, a Chinese state survey reported that 70 million Chinese had taken up Falun Gong, a number greater than the membership of the ruling Communist Party. This scared then-Party leader Jiang Zemin, who started a campaign to eradicate Falun Gong, which continues today.

On July 20, 2017, Anderson introduced Senate Joint Resolution 10 denouncing the regimes persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. The resolution passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. But two weeks before the Senate session ended, SJR 10 was tabled by then-Senate President pro tempore Kevin de Leon after the Chinese Consulate intervened.

In the last week of the Senate session, Anderson tried 18 times to bring SJR 10 to a floor vote, with the last attempt at 1 a.m. on the last day of session. Each time, he would give a speech on the Senate floor reminding his fellow lawmakers that human rights is a fundamental building block of the country and the state, and that the issue should be given a chance to be voted on the floor, so that your constituents have a chance to know where you stand on this human rights matter.

The measure was never voted on. However, it left a lasting impression on the members of the legislature. Sen. Jean Fuller spoke about it at Andersons Member Recognition event in the Senate: Who can forget his impassioned stance in support of Falun Gong? I think we all will remember that.
Candles are lit, one for each of the 11 victims, during a Montreal Jewish Community Memorial Vigil for the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue attack in Montreal on Oct. 29, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson)

Canada in Brief, Nov. 1-7

Hundreds in Montreal remember victims of Pittsburgh attack

Hundreds of members of Montreals Jewish community, politicians, and other mourners gathered at a synagogue on Oct. 29 to remember the 11 Jews murdered last weekend in Pittsburgh.

The rabbi of the Beth Israel Beth Aaron synagogue, Reuben Joshua Poupko, watched as people streamed into the main prayer hall, filling every pew as well as the upstairs balcony.

There are members of all communities here. The Jewish community doesnt stand alone and it doesnt grieve alone. The pain is shared by many, he said.

Multi-faith vigils commemorating the slaughter in the Pittsburgh synagogue also took place in Toronto and Edmonton.

Scheer says he and Ford are working toward same goals

Federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer shrugged off suggestions Oct. 30 that Ontario Premier Doug Ford was overshadowing him on matters of importance to the national Conservative cause, saying they simply share common goals.

Scheer faced pointed questions about Fords political influence after meeting with him at Ontarios legislature, where the pair discussed issues including their opposition to the federal Liberal carbon pricing plan.

Ford has been a strong critic of the tax, launching a court challenge against it and raising his opposition to it during recent trips to meet with Conservative political leaders in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

When asked whose brand was stronger, Scheer said he and Ford were both working toward improving life for Canadians.

Abstaining from pot improves young users ability to learn

Researchers say a month of abstaining from cannabis leads to improved memory in adolescents and young adults who are regular users of weed.

A study by the Massachusetts General Hospital found that young people who stopped using cannabis for 30 days had a better ability to learn compared to peers who continued to smoke, vape, or ingest pot.

The authors note that adolescence and young adulthood are critical times for brain development, specifically for brain regions that are most susceptible to the effects of cannabis.

The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Feds to help remote, Indigenous communities without buses

The federal government says it will step in to support the transportation needs of some northern and remote communities affected by the closure of Greyhound bus operations in western Canada and northern Ontario.

Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau says Ottawa is open to helping affected provinces pay for bus service in communities where private enterprise has not come forward to service abandoned routes.

As well, Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott says her department will subsidize bus services to remote Indigenous communities where needed.

The announcement came as Greyhound ended service on all but one of its routes in the West as of Oct. 31.

Putin critic fears for life if sent back to Russia

A vocal opponent of the Putin government says Canada is about to deliver her into the arms of Russias secret police.

Russian scientist Elena Musikhina and her supporters are pleading with the Trudeau government to let her stay in Canada on compassionate grounds.

Musikhina says her family fell into disfavour with Russian authorities for condemning Moscows military incursions in Ukraine and saying Russia illegally annexed Crimea, among other issues.

She fled to Canada in 2015 and sought refugee protection but was refused. Her supporters say a half-dozen other researchers and officials who were aware of the data she uncovered died in mysterious and violent circumstances.

With files from The Canadian Press
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping shake hands at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 9, 2017. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images)

Canada Unprepared to Deal With China on Trade

Working closely with the US the best option for Canada to access Chinese markets in fair trade

NEWS ANALYSIS

Its difficult to predict how trade tensions between the United States and China will ebb and flow, although it appears more near-term turmoil is coming. Between the two powerhouse economies but inexorably linked to the United States, Canada needs to understand China better before considering a deeper economic relationship. It can do so by leaning on its neighbour to the south with hopes of benefitting in the long run.

The Trump administration has targeted China for its untoward conduct in international trade, theft of intellectual property, and forced transfers of technology.

Bloomberg reported that the United States is preparing to announce tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports in December if talks fail to ease tensions.

I do think that cold war is an adequate term that correctly characterizes the relationship between the United States and China, said Matt Gertken, vice president of geopolitical strategy at Montreal-based BCA Research, in an interview. What I think that means is that were in for a very long period  that will be defining the 21st century in which U.S.-Chinese competition is central to global affairs.

Thats a result of the fact that the U.S. is playing catch-up in retaliating for years of Chinese practices and strategic rivalry, Gertken said.

White House National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said U.S. President Donald Trump wants fair trade with China. The President wants a level playing field, reciprocity, zero barriers, zero subsidies, he said in a speech to the Economic Club of Washington on Oct. 4.

The concessions that the United States is demanding from China require a pace and depth of economic reform that the regime has not been willing to do so far, Gertken said. However, slowing down technology acquisitions, curtailing state-owned enterprises, and letting the currency float freely would fundamentally alter the control that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has over the country.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has consolidated his power in China and will not want to be seen as caving, Gertken said, but Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have laid bare the Chinese threat for the American public.

The Democratic Party will be equally keen to demonstrate that it is tough on China as well, Gertken said.

Thus, the dynamic between the United States and China has fundamentally changed for the worse, and with justification, from the Trump administrations standpoint.

For now, Canada is holding off on free trade talks with China. Canadas ambassador to China, John McCallum, emphasized different issues from those that trouble the United States. He told CBC that China must show flexibility on wages, gender equity, and human rightsdemands the CCP previously dismissed.

But he maintains that China, the worlds second-largest economy, must be a part of Canadas trade strategy on account of its sheer size.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr are to meet with Chinese political and business leaders later in November.

What to Do

Former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper said in a recent interview with the Toronto Sun that his government did not pursue a trade agreement with China despite concluding negotiations with 51 other countries.

I certainly dont feel the present government is in a position to negotiate a good trade agreement with China, he said about the Liberals.

Harper said working through the United States to open up the Chinese market is the only way forward for Canada, as Canada cant go it alone in trying to rectify not having fair two-way trade with China.

The American administration put in that [United States-Mexico-Canada] agreement several things that provide incentives for the governments of Canada and Mexico to work with the government of the United States in opening up the Chinese market, Harper said.

Article 32.10 in the USMCA, which makes Canada and Mexico think twice about free trade with China, is the poison pill provision, as described by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. It is a clause the United States could insert into trade agreements with the EU and Japan to further pressure and isolate China.

Trade adviser Eric Miller, president of the Rideau Potomac Strategy Group, said the Trudeau government is trying to figure out what room it has to manoeuvre given this clause.

Its also spurring  a much-needed discussion and debate about if you are going to do an agreement with China, what should that look like anyway, and is it even a good idea to begin with, Miller said in an interview.

Millers argument is that Canada has much to understand about China in order to develop the right strategy, whereas the United States is already clear on its approach. It is trying to form a unified trade front with its democratic allies against China.

I think we could expect that President Trump will be quick to criticize Canada if he thought that its relations with China were undermining his efforts to put pressure on China, said Gertken.

Pressures On

China is seeing the international environment changing, as countries are becoming more skeptical toward the communist regime with respect to trade and foreign investment. Depending on the escalation of the U.S.-China trade tensions, the Chinese economy could be facing challenges it hasnt seen before.

Theyre [China is] struggling to figure out what does this mean and where does this go, Miller said.

Chinese policy-makers face a difficult balancing act to maintain economic growth that appeases the population while not completely abandoning the reform agenda in favour of more government spending and borrowing.

BCA Research has a structurally bearish view of the U.S.-China relationship.

As it sees the walls closing in, China would like nothing more than to have preferential access to Canada, one of the United States closest allies.

The Bank of Canada said deteriorating relations between the United States and China is the biggest downside risk for the Canadian economy; however, should Trump strike a great deal with China, as he told Fox News he expects he will do, Canada would benefit. On net, the BoC views the current standoff as a slight negative for the Canadian economy.

Miller said that Canada, as a mid-sized open economy with lots of natural resources and significant foreign investment needs, must figure out what a relationship with China should look like.

And how does it reconcile with Canadian interests and Canadian values? he added.

Follow Rahul on Twitter @RV_ETBiz
A map of China is seen through a magnifying glass on a computer screen showing binary digits in Singapore in this Jan. 2, 2014 photo illustration. (Edgar Su/Reuters)

China Exports its Restrictive Internet Policies to Dozens of Countries: Report

SAN FRANCISCOChinas restrictive internet policy and digital surveillance has spread worldwide over the last two years, with its government training emerging market countries on process and its companies furnishing the tools, a democracy watchdog groups annual report says.

Freedom House, whose main financier is the U.S. government, said in its report on Oct. 31 that Chinas export of digital authoritarianism had become a major threat to sustaining democratic governance in some countries.

The Chinese regime wants to become a global leader in internet technology, including by exporting the Chinese model of cyberspace sovereignty, the idea that governments should dictate what their citizens can access on the internet within the countrys borders.

Freedom House research director Adrian Shahbaz said that governments had begun justifying increased censorship and diminished digital privacy protections by saying the policies combat the spread of fake news and help catch criminals.

In effect, countries are using the curbs to violate human rights, he said.

Freedom House said China has been leading the charge. It has hosted seminars on cyberspace management since early 2017 with representatives from 36 out of 65 countries tracked by Freedom House, including nations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The 65 countries represent 87 percent of the worlds internet users, the group said.

Discussions with Chinese officials preceded new cybersecurity measures in Vietnam, Uganda and Tanzania over the last year, Freedom House said after reviewing Chinese state media articles and government press releases.

Meanwhile, Chinese technology companies have provided or are set to provide internet equipment to at least 38 of the tracked countries and artificial intelligence systems for law enforcement in 18 countries, the report said.

Beijing has been on a clear charm offensive to woo government officials and media elites, Shahbaz said. Officials in Beijing hope to cultivate allies to follow its lead on global internet policy.

To be sure, declining internet freedom has been a consistent global trend for nearly a decade. And Chinese foreign investment and influence efforts are not new.

But Freedom House said the threat to human rights has grown in severity as powerful technology becomes more accessible to governments and their people.

Chinese dissidents and others who have expressed online opinions critical of the Chinese regime have been punished in the pastwhen they strayed from the correct political path.

As fake news on social media has become a deadly problem, governments are using it as an opening wedge for censorship, Michael Chertoff, the groups chairman and a former U.S. secretary for Homeland Security, told reporters by phone.

Thirteen countries, including Rwanda and Bangladesh, prosecuted people this year for allegedly spreading false information, Freedom House said.

Chertoff said governments should emphasize digital hygiene education and called on multinational firms to take a stand against governments going too far.

By Paresh Dave. The Epoch Times contributed to this report.
Vats of locally made wine called baijiu in a distillery on the Chishui RIver, on September 23, 2016 in Maotai,Guizhou province, China. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

China National Liquor Sees Market Value Shrink by 11 Percent in One Day

Luxury consumption drop among Chinese middle class reflects economic downturn

In the tightening Chinese economic climate, one point of data is China National Liquor  also known by its old name Maotai  an enterprise worth $150.4 billion as of this January. Its value was even higher than French luxury company LVMH, the biggest of its kind in the world.

On Oct. 29, however, China National Liquors market value dropped by 11 percent as sales performance failed to meet expectations. The downturn reflects the decrease in luxury consumption among the embattled Chinese middle class.

Maotai closed at 610.50 yuan ($87.64) in the Chinese stock market on Friday, Oct. 26. When re-opened Monday, it had dropped to 549.09, a 11.18 percent decrease with limits down the entire day, Sina reported. Maotais stock value continued to drop, closing on Oct. 30 at 524 yuan.

Maotai published records of its 2018 third quarter revenues and profits on Oct. 28. The company has a gross revenue of 19.7 billion yuan ($2.83 billion), representing an increase of 3.81 percent from the second quarter. Its net profit of 8.97 billion yuan was an increase of just 2.71 percent, undershooting the firms goals. In the same period in 2017, Maotai reported a profit increase of 138.5 percent.

In January, Maotai, which has been officially termed China National Liquor since 1951, surpassed the French luxury group LVMH in market value. LVMH, with a market value of $148.9 billion, owns Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, LOEWE, Kenzo, Givenchy, as well as dozens of luxury champagne and wine brands, clothes brands, and other luxury brands.

In June 2018, the market value of Maotai reached 1 trillion yuan, a scale second only to banks and insurance companies in Chinas stock markets.

Luxury Consumption

While the Chinese general population has been cutting down on luxury consumption for years, Maotais downturn shows that this phenomenon is now reaching the monied classes.

Since March 2018, the U.S.-China trade war has had a considerable impact on the Chinese economy. Increasing numbers of investors are moving their capital out of China and factories are shutting down.

In 2017, Maotai sold over 26,800 tons of product, equal to about 53.6 million bottles. One half-liter bottle of Maotai goes for 1,700 to 2,000 yuan, compared with just 10 to 30 yuan for Erguotou, Chinas most popular liquor brand.

Because of its costs, the primary consumers of Maotai are people in the Chinese middle class or higher, representing a demographic of about 109 million people who on an individual basis drink an average of half a bottle a year. Several Maotai executives have told Chinese media that the company can only meet 50 percent of demand.

The reason why Maotai failed to meet sales expectations even in these circumstances is due to the fact that Chinese middle-class consumers are turning to cheaper alternatives for their alcohol purchases.

Wuliangye Yibin, the Chinese brand that sells the most liquor, sold about 180,000 tons in 2017 at 1,000 to 1,200 yuan per half-liter. In 2018, its profits increased by about 20 percent from the previous year

Luzhou Laojiao is one of Chinas main liquor brands with sales of 54,100 metric tons in 2017. Its half-liter bottle is 150 to 600 yuan. In the third quarter of 2018, its profits were 45.59 percent higher than the same period last year.

Both Wuliangye Yibin and Luzhou Laojiao also saw major increases in revenue and profits from 2016 going on 2017, showing their appeal as substitutes for more expensive goods like Maotai.
A delegation of Danish companies will attend the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE), being held in Shanghai on Nov. 5-10. The delegation, being led by the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, Ulla Trns, will be highlighting Denmark's status as a leading nation in the areas of sustainability and food safety:

"The Danish presence at CIIE testifies to the strong commitment of many Danish companies in China, and the importance of the Chinese market for Danish exports and the internationalization of Danish companies," the minister stressed.

The theme for Denmark's National Pavilion is 'Sustainability', emphasizing areas where Danish companies hold a strong position.

"Denmark has taken the lead when it comes to solutions and technologies that can ensure a sustainable future, and Danish enterprises have tangible and innovative solutions to the challenges Chinese society is facing," Trns said.

As such, the companies representing Denmark at the CIIE are pioneers in the areas of green energy, environment and food, offering world-class solutions that are in high demand in China, such as development of efficient green technologies, high quality food products and innovative ideas for advancing the livable city concept.

Denmark has long held a strong position in food safety and sustainable agriculture. For the CIIE, the Danish Food Exhibition under the title of 'Food Nation' will showcase the expertise of companies in maintaining high quality in processed food products.

"In Denmark, we have high confidence in our food products because our companies are committed to delivering safe, high-quality products to our own and foreign consumers," the minister said.

"Denmark also has an effective control system, which is established in close cooperation between the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the Danish food industry," she added.

Ahead of her trip to Shanghai, Trns is staying in Beijing Nov. 1-3 to meet her Chinese counterparts.

She will renew a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese State Council Leading Group Office on Poverty Alleviation and Development, first signed in 2014, highlighting the shared objectives of the two countries in reaching the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The minister and the Chinese officials she is meeting expect to address a number of development priorities of key importance to reaching the SDGs, including youth development, gender equality and the strong prospects for development cooperation and sustainable green growth in Africa.

"The SDGs reflect new global challenges and opportunities. To achieve the global goals, partnerships are imperative. That is why I look forward to discussing joint efforts and exchanging lessons learned on working towards the realization of the 2030 agenda with my Chinese counterparts," Trns said.

This year, Denmark and China are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Strategic Comprehensive Partnership. In fact, Denmark is among the very few European, and the only Nordic country having a comprehensive partnership with China.

The first decade of this partnership has resulted in a large number of projects and collaboration between government organizations and Chinese and Danish businesses in the areas of energy and environment, health and food.

In 2020, Denmark and China will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties.
Chinas Birth Rate Set to Continue Decline This Year

SHANGHAI Chinas birth rate is set to decline further this year as well as over the next few years, despite the countrys 2016 move to relax its controversial one-child policy, the China Daily newspaper said on Nov. 1, citing population experts.

Though Chinas birthrate hit its highest level since 2000 in 2016, it fell 3.5 percent last year, and regional data suggests the number will fall even further this year, the newspaper said, citing Zhai Zhenwu, an expert in population studies at Chinas Renmin University.

Zhai said births in Jiangsu Province in eastern China, one of the countrys most populous regions, had declined 12.8 percent in the first half of 2018, and surveys of hospitals in southwest Chinas Sichuan Province also show significantly fewer births this year.

Growing concerns about the countrys rapidly aging population prompted a move by China in 2016 to allow all couples to have a second child, relaxing restrictions on childbirth in place for nearly four decades.

The Chinese regime introduced the one-child policy in the late 1970s as a form of population control, citing Chinas fast-growing population and limited resources. Each family was only allowed to have one child. Violators were either heavily fined or brutally forced to abort their children and undergo sterilization procedures.

Because of traditional beliefs that boys are more capable of helping a household as parents age, this policy led many families to abort their baby girls.

Years later, the policy has produced a severe gender imbalance: There are roughly 115.4 boys to every 100 girls in China as of November 2017, according to the World Bank. This leaves more than 1 million bachelors who will likely remain single for the rest of their lives.

In a sign that it would further relax curbs, Chinas health commission said in September that it would abolish family planning offices.

Meanwhile, the population is quickly aging, with the elderly unable to provide for themselves, as they only have one child who is faced with the burden of caring for both parents and grandparents. The workforce is also shrinking.

Chinas elderly population is expected to reach 400 million by the end of 2035, up from around 240 million this year, putting the countrys health services and pension funds under immense strain, according to data published last year by the China Association of Social Security, a research group.

The northeast rustbelt province of Liaoning said earlier this year that it would consider offering incentives to couples to have more children. While its net population is dwindling, Liaonings elderly population grew 3.6 percent last year.

Despite that the regime dropped the one-child policy, women in some regions of China continue to face pressure to abort their children, including threats of being fired from their jobs and heavy fines. Rising living costs, from rent to infant formula, have also made raising a second child in China very expensive.

While many provinces have introduced measures encouraging couples to have more children, the nations system of fines for families who gave birth to more than their permitted number of childrenfirst established in the 1980sis still effective and was recently brought up a notch in some regions.

Zhecheng County in Henan Province, in central China, for example, launched a new round of campaign on July 5 to levy social maintenance fees from families with more than the permitted number of two children. The one-time fees are standardized to be three times the couples gross income in the year prior to the childs birth.

As a result, the number of newborns did not increase significantly after the ban was lifted. In 2016, the first year after the policy was dropped, the number of newborns was up 7.9 percent from 2015, at 17.86 million. But in 2017, births dropped to 17.23 million, according to a Wall Street Journal report, citing Chinas official statistics.

By David Stanway. The Epoch Times contributed to this report.
People walk past a Huawei store in Beijing on July 20, 2015. The Chinese telecoms equipment giant dominates the 5G wireless technology market, as part of Beijing's goals to achieve tech self-reliance. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinas New Strategy for Tech Domination: China Standards 2035

In the trade dispute with China, the United States has repeatedly called out the Chinese regime for its state-sponsored development of advanced technologiesaccusing Beijing of undermining fair competition while justifying the theft of foreign technology to serve national interests of becoming a high-tech manufacturing powerhouse.

The industrial plan Made in China 2025which proposes gearing China toward achieving self-sufficiency in 10 tech sectors by the year 2025was cited repeatedly as evidence of Beijings aggressive ambition.

In late June, China decided to tone down the nationalistic rhetoric as President Donald Trumps punitive tariffs on Chinese goods loomed closer.

An internal directive from Chinas central authoritiesleaked to Taiwanese mediainstructed Chinese media not to mention Made in China 2025, otherwise, punishment will be dealt. Several state media journalists also confirmed the existence of such instructions to Reuters.

With the word out on Made in China 2025, Beijing is now switching to a new ambitious strategy: China Standards 2035.

The Strategy

In January this year, state-run media Xinhua first made mention of this strategy with a short article that largely went unnoticed, about a national conference on IT industry standards.

To dominate cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, IoT (internet of things), and big data, China intends to accelerate efforts to develop technical standards, eventually exporting them to the international market, the report said.

While global technical standards for these technologies have not yet been established, this is the golden opportunity for our countrys industries and standards to realize the goal of overtaking by changing lanes, the report quoted an official from Chinas national technical committee, the Standardization Administration, as saying.

That metaphor is commonly used in Chinas state-run media to describe finding shortcuts to surpass other countries and become the leader.

Many of these tech industries, such as internet of things (IoT)smart devices that can connect to the internethave a string of international standards bodies that oversee intellectual property ownership, production and security standards, and more.

To wield greater representationand thereby, influenceover international standards bodies, China has already strategically increased its market share in these tech fields.

By making Chinas technical standards the international standard-bearer, China would no longer need to rely on foreign technology.

Furthermore, it would allow Chinese companies to gain economic advantages, as once firms in other countries are pressured to conform to the global standard developed by the Chinese, they can sell their products more broadly or earn royalties from licensing their standards-compliant patents to manufacturers that develop devices under that standard and other downstream companies, according to a newly published U.S. congressional report on Chinas dominance in the IoT industry. The report had warned of the risks for security vulnerabilities to be exploited by Chinese entities.

Self-reliance and the need to develop domestic technologies has especially been a talking point for Chinese leader Xi Jinping of lategiven recent troubles relating to the trade dispute with the United States. When the U.S. administration banned Chinese telecoms giant ZTE from purchasing parts and software from U.S. suppliers earlier this year, the ban had brought ZTEs business to a standstill. The firm had primarily imported its semiconductor chips from the United States.

China Standards 2035 is Beijings effort to coordinate and speed up self-reliance plans. Another state media report about the January conference had noted that the Standardization Administration will select 10,000 firms in 100 cities to elevate Chinas standards and allow them to achieve consistency with international advanced standards.

Taiwans Role and 5G

To achieve its China Standards 2035 goals, China has been luring many Taiwanese contract manufacturers to partner with Chinese firms in AI, IoT, and other tech industries, according to an Oct. 23 report by CommonWealth Magazine, a Taiwanese publication.

An official at Taiwan-based manufacturer Advantechs R&D center told CommonWealth that many of the firms proposals for IoT and smart factories come from China, since the U.S. does not have this kind of demand.

The magazine also named TSMC, Largan Precision, and Compeq Manufacturing among a list of partners with Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, which announced in October that it had developed two new chips for AI applications, the worlds first examples. At the summit where the chips were unveiled, Huawei made clear its intentions to dominate the next generation of technical standards for AI chips.

It is not a coincidence Huawei has developed 5G technologythe next-generation of wireless networkingintensively and is set to become a global leader in the field.

After all, AI, smart devices, cloud computing, and other fields rely on 5G infrastructure to provide faster and more reliable connectivity.

China has adopted a whole-of-country approach that has created an entire ecosystem for domestically manufactured 5G technologies and furthered their inclusion in international technical standards. With ten times the 5G sites per person as in the United States, China appears likely to lead early 5G deployment, the U.S. congressional report said.
Demolition Begins at Kansas Waterslide That Killed 10-Year-Old Caleb Schwab

The dismantling of a waterslide that killed a 10-year-old boy in Kansas City has begun after being delayed for over two years due to ongoing criminal cases following the childs death.

The Verruckt slide demolition at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City commenced on Tuesday, Oct. 30, according to the Kansas City Business Journal, following the slides closure in Aug. 2016 in the aftermath of the tragic accident.

Caleb Schwab was killed while going down the slide when he went airborne and hit a metal rod that held the safety netting in place.

Demolition of the slide was delayed amidst disagreements regarding what needed to be preserved as evidence for a state investigation and multiple criminal cases related to the boys death.

Five people have faced criminal charges in connection with the incident.

On Oct. 18, a court acquitted Schlitterbahn maintenance employees David Hughes and John Zalsman of obstructing the investigation. Hughes and Zalsman were initially accused of lying to investigators in the boys death, but the jury found them not guilty, KSHB reported.

Im relieved for my client, said Chris Joseph, who represented Zalsman, according to the Kansas City Star. I think John really was innocent. I think he went there to try and help out. Theres no way he went there to try and throw off an investigation. I dont believe it for a second.

The verdict speaks for itself, Kansas Attorney General spokeswoman Jennifer Montgomery said.

Charges are pending against Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeffrey Henry, lead designer John Schooley, and Tyler Miles, the former director of operations for the water park.

Henry faces other charges unrelated to slide park incident, according to a Fox4 report. He has been charged with possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, along with charges related to possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of Xanax.

The since-closed waterslide used rafts that made the 17-story drop at speeds of up to 70 mph, followed by a surge over the hump and a 50-foot descent to a finishing pool. Caleb was in a raft that went flying and slammed him into a metal hoop that supported a net meant to keep riders from falling off the slide. Two women on the raft also were injured.

Prosecutors said that Hughes and Zalsman failed to replace a brake mat that fell from the slide two weeks prior to the boys death. They told investigators that the mat was only used during the testing phase.

These are just two good old boys, theyre hard-working guys and because theyre the only two adults in the room they get singled out and have to get charged, said Scott Toth, defense attorney for Hughes, The Associated Press reported.

Why would two working-class, hourly guys lie about something insignificant. It doesnt make sense, Joseph said, KSHB reported.

Winter Prosapio, a spokeswoman for Schlitterbahn, told People magazine earlier this year that the allegation that we operated, and failed to maintain, a ride that could foreseeably cause such a tragic accident is beyond the pale of speculation.

Many of us, and our children and grandchildren, have ridden the ride with complete confidence as to its safety, Prosapio said.

Crews are expected to take four weeks to disassemble the slide, according to Wyandotte Daily.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ontario Education Minister Lisa Thompson rises during question period at the Ontario Legislature in Toronto Sept. 12, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Chris Young)

Discovery Math: Experts Are Watching Ontarios Changes

Education experts say the math curriculum across Canada needs urgent changes in order to boost slumping test scores, and are closely watching developments in Ontario. Last week, the Ford government promised a back-to-basics approach while introducing mandatory math tests for new teachers.

With the percentage of students meeting provincial math standards dropping to a record low this year, Ontarios Progressive Conservative government said it will scrap the current curriculum that focuses on creativity and discovery-based math in favour of traditional memorization techniques and formulas.

This is unacceptable, said Education Minister Lisa Thompson in a statement after test results came back this summer from the Education Quality and Accountability Office showing only 49 percent of Grade 6 students met the provinces standards in math in 2017-2018a five percent drop from 2014.

On Oct. 25, Thompson announced the Safe and Supportive Classrooms Act, stipulating that teachers looking to work in Ontario will have to successfully complete a mathematics proficiency test as a requirement for registration.

Details about the required math test have been scant, but Thompson told reporters that more information would be available as the government holds consultations with those involved in the education sector.

Kim Langen, co-founder and CEO of the Spirit of Math, Canadas largest after-school math program, says an assessment on teachers knowledge in math definitely has merit.

I think it really is needed because a lot of teachers are struggling with mathematics. A lot of elementary teachers in particular are struggling with mathematics, she says.

A mandatory test is just one step in tackling declining math scores, Langen says. Addressing a weak curriculum due to over-emphasis on discovery-based math in each province is also vital if students math skills are to be improved.

Really, the mathematics curriculum throughout Canada is extremely shallow. It focuses so much on activities, they have missed the adaptiveness of skillsets, she says.

Its really a big issue across the whole country.

It was reported last week that in Alberta, slightly more than a third of Grade 9 students in the province failed a standardized provincial math test last yearand the passing grade for the test was set at 42 percent opposed to the benchmark of 50 percent.

During the provincial election, Doug Ford promised to get rid of the discovery approach to teaching math, saying its experimental and doesnt work.

Some experts say that in order for discovery math to be successful, the basic, foundational concepts in traditional math have to be taught as well, and that has been largely overlooked in classrooms.

Combining the two is what is important, Langen said, adding that she has seen intense rote memorization learning while working with students in India, China, and now Pakistan, where she is currently teaching. But she says even if the students excel at remembering math formulas, they may not develop critical thinking skills to understand why or how they got their answers.

With the advocacy of discovery math in Canada, she adds, students have lost the rigour and discipline that comes with mathematics, which translates into a depleted development of skills.

Anna Stokke, a professor in the department of math and statistics at the University of Winnipeg, says putting less emphasis on the discovery curriculum and more on the traditional approach is necessary to bolster students math abilities.

The big problem with this sort of thing is in order to be able to solve complex problems in math you have to have a number of certain things in your long-term memory, she says.

Its really important that students have a strong base to work from and we have seen sort of a move away from that and I think thats part of the reason why students are struggling.

Stokke wrote a 2015 C.D. Howe Institute report detailing the failures of discovery math and the decline in math scores over the last decade in Canada. She recommended provincial governments switch out discovery math textbooks for more rigorous and structured ones.

The textbook that a lot parents have complained about for quite some time is Math Makes Sense. Its a commonly used textbook across Canada and its a terrible textbook, she says.

Instead, Stokke has recommended the textbook Jump Math, and although it is being used in some schools, some consultants have criticized it for its back-to-basics approach, she added.

Stokke said she agrees with the Ontario governments move to test new math teachers.

I think it is an important step. I think it is important in a classroom [for] teachers [to be] actually really comfortable with the math they are teaching.
An American Airlines airline plane is seen on the tarmac at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sept. 19, 2016. (Daniel Slim/AFP/Getty Images)

Drunk Airline Worker Falls Asleep in Cargo Hold, Gets Flown to Another City

A worker heavily hungover from a night of drinking fell asleep in a planes cargo hold and was flown to another city before he being discovered.

The hungover Piedmont Airlines worker fell asleep in the cargo hold of American Airlines flight 363 and was flown from Kansas City to Chicago, Sgt. Rocco Alioto, spokesman for the Chicago Police Department, told ABC News.

The area of the hold where he fell asleep in was pressurized and heated, so the unidentified man survived the one-hour flight, American Airlines said.

Ground employees at OHare International Airport discovered the man after the plane landed at the gate.

Our top priority is ensuring the well-being of the Piedmont employee. He did not request any medical attention upon arrival in Chicago, and we are grateful that he did not sustain any injuries, the airline said in a statement.

The American team is very concerned about this serious situation, and we are reviewing what transpired with our Piedmont and Kansas City colleagues.

Chicago Police Department officers interviewed the man, who told them he had been drinking the night before and fell asleep in the cargo hold after arriving to work.

Well, this may be a first. A baggage handler says he had too much to drink and fell asleep in the cargo of an American Airlines 737. He flew all the way from Kansas City to Chicago! https://t.co/AfpToTnj75  Sally MacDonald (@SallyMacFox26) November 1, 2018

The plane took off at 5:51 a.m. and arrived in Chicago at 7:31 a.m., according to Flight Stats.

Piedmont Airlines, a regional carrier, suspended the worker pending an investigation. He flew back to Kansas City on another flight, reported USA Today.

The FBI and the Chicago Police Department declined to press charges.

From NTD.tv
Edmund Zagorskis Execution to Go Ahead After Court Denies His Legal Challenge

A court has rejected the latest legal challenge by death row inmate Edmund Zagorski to his scheduled Nov. 1 execution, finding this late-hour appeal to be meritless.

Zagorskis execution by electrocution is set to proceed following the decision taken by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals late Wednesday, Oct. 31, the Tennessean reported.

The 63-year-old death row inmates legal challenge focused on objections to the constitutionality of the electric chair. He opted for this method of execution over a lethal injection.

In Tennessee, condemned inmates whose crimes occurred before 1999 can choose to die by the electric chair. Tennessee is one of six states that allow such a choice, according to data from the Death Penalty Information Center. Three other states allow the electric chair as a backup method, but the supreme courts of two statesGeorgia and Nebraskahave ruled its use unconstitutional.

Zagorski requested death by electrocution on Oct. 8 after the Tennessee Supreme Court upheld the states controversial lethal injection cocktail. The three-drug midazolam protocol the state adopted in January of this year is Tennessees third mix of lethal injection drugs, following legal challenges to each mix of drugs on grounds that it could result in a painful death.

Kelley Henry, Zagorskis lawyer, said the repeated changes in the lethal injection protocols have in effect neutralized each legal challenge to this form of execution.

I really thought we would prevail, said his attorney, Kelley Henry, about the recent legal challenge. I believe in our proofs. I believe we have shown this is torture.

Henry said Wednesday night she plans to appeal the 6th Circuits decision to the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday morning, according to the Tennessean.

Earlier statements made by Zagorski suggest his objections to execution by lethal injection center on the methods alleged painful nature.

I dont want to be tortured with those drugs, he told the Nashville Scene in writing, but I am not afraid of death.

But the electric chair may not provide the reprieve from suffering Zagorski is seeking.

Fred Leuchter, the man who built the electric chair that is expected to be used to put Zagorski to death told the Associated Press that he worries his device will malfunction.

Leuchters concern is that Tennessees chair will fail because of changes others made to it after he was no longer allowed to service it.

What Im worried about now is Tennessees got an electric chair thats going to hurt someone or cause problems. And its got my name on it, Leuchter said. I dont think its going to be humane.

Gov. Bill Haslam said he is confident the execution can be carried out without problems.

I have a great deal of confidence in our Department of Correction folks.  Weve spoken with them regularly and theyve assured us, he said, saying that the chair is ready.

The last Tennessee inmate to be executed in the chair was Daryl Holton, who also chose the method, in 2007.

Zagorski was convicted of shooting John Dotson and Jimmy Porter and slitting their throats in 1983.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order on Oct. 22 setting Zagorskis execution for Nov. 1.

His last chosen meal, according to the Tennessean, was pickled pig knuckles and pig tails.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Chairperson of the European Banking Authority Andrea Enria in Brussels, Belgium, on Sept. 26, 2016. (Reuters/Yves Herman/File Photo)

European Banks Braced for Fallout From EU Stress Tests

LONDONItalian banks are expected to be in focus again when results of the latest stress test of top European lenders are released, a health check that could force laggards to raise capital or ditch assets.

The closely watched test of 48 banks across the European Union will be published by the European Banking Authority (EBA), the blocs banking watchdog, on Nov. 2.

It is being touted as EBAs toughest test since the exercise was introduced in 2009 to identify any capital holes and ensure taxpayer rescues like those seen during the financial crisis a decade ago are not needed in future.

The performance of Germanys biggest lender, Deutsche Bank, will also be scrutinized as it seeks to regain its footing after three years of losses.

The tests measure the ability of banks to withstand theoretical market shocks like a disorderly Brexit, a sell-off in government bonds and property, or a rise in political uncertainty against a backdrop of falling economic growth.

Supervisors will use the results to determine how much capital lenders should be holding or which risky assets should be sold over the coming year to lessen the need for capital.

While there is no formal pass/fail mark, investors will check how much core capital lenders hold against a threshold of 5.5 percent under the tests toughest adverse scenario.

No bank is expected to fall below the 5.5 percent mark, but banks that are too close may come under market pressure.

The stress test results might lead banks to issue more capital, rating agency DBRS said in a note on Oct. 30.

Italian Woes

Thirty-three of the banks covered by the test are in the eurozone, where the European Central Bank is their main supervisor.

Italian lender Monte dei Paschi performed worst in the last test in 2016 and has since been bailed out by the state, but it, along with lenders from weaker banking systems like Greece and Portugal, are not included in the EBA tests.

The ECB is separately testing a further 60 smaller banks, some of which are struggling, but will not be publishing the results.

The health check could heighten market concerns over Italian banks which have come under pressure because of the falling value of their large holdings of Italian debt since an anti-establishment, eurosceptic coalition took power in June.

Italys Banco BPM could suffer higher market volatility because it has a thinner capital buffer than its domestic rivals, analysts said.

Michael Huenseler, head of credit portfolio management at Assenagon, said he expected the result for Deutsche Bank to be pretty similar to that in 2016, with the banks improved capital ratio to be offset by a harsher adverse scenario.

The European banking index has lost more than 20 percent so far this year amid concerns over slowing economic growth, weak revenues and stubbornly high costs.

From investors perspective, the results of the test will not shed any additional light on a sector that requires to transform itself dramatically and become much more profitable, said Fernando de la Mora, a consultant at Alvarez & Marsal.

By Huw Jones
Ex-Mafia Hitman Is Prime Suspect in Whitey Bulger Killing

A mob hitman serving a life sentence for murder is reportedly the top suspect in Boston gangster James Whitey Bulgers vicious killing.

Fotios Freddy Geas, a career criminal, is being considered as one of the inmates potentially responsible for beating Bulger to death, according to the Boston Globe. He has reportedly not denied involvement in the killing.

Freddy hated rats, private investigator and Geas friend Ted McDonough told the paper. Freddy hated guys who abused women. Whitey was a rat who killed women. Its probably that simple.

James Whitey Bulger, the longtime gangster who became an FBI informant and later a most-wanted fugitive, was killed at the Penitentiary Hazelton in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, on Oct. 30, said officials.

Bulger had just been transferred to the West Virginia facility the previous day, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Three inmates allegedly attacked Bulger in the general population sector of the prison, according to TMZ. One of the men reportedly used a lock tucked into a sock as a weapon, according to the report, and at least one of his attackers allegedly tried to gouge the gangsters eyes out.

Police are treating Bulgers death as a suspected homicide.

Two Federal Bureau of Prisons employees told the New York Times that Bulger was beaten to the point of being unrecognizable by other inmates but did not provide further details, including with respect to motive.

Geas, 51, is serving a life sentence at the Hazelton maximum-security prison for his role in the 2003 assassinations of Adolfo Big Al Bruno, a former mob boss.

The lawyer who represented Geas in the Mafia killings wasnt surprised to hear his former client didnt deny taking part in Bulgers murder, according to The Globe.

He wouldnt rat on anybody, said attorney David Hoose. And he had no respect for anyone who did.

A law enforcement source told MassLive.com that killing someone like Bulger would elevate an inmates status in prison. Hes a rich man now. Hell run any prison hes in, the source said of Geas, according to the report.

After reports of Bulgers death emerged, Dick Lehr, who is the author of Whitey: The Life of Americas Most Notorious Mob Boss, told CNN, He lived violently and he apparently died violently.

It marks the full circle of a terrible life, Lehr said of the 89-year-old former mobster.

Hopefully the seven years he spent in prison, as well as his recent death, brings some closure to the families of his many victims, Brian Kelly, who was a former federal prosecutor who tried Bulger, told CNN.

The report said he was found unresponsive at 8:20 a.m. and was pronounced dead by the Preston County medical examiner. No other staff or inmates were harmed, officials said.

Defense attorney J.W. Carney Jr. told CNN of his former client, He was sentenced to life in prison, but as a result of decisions by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, that sentence has been changed to the death penalty. However, the circumstances of Bulgers move to West Virginia remain unclear.

Bulger was sentenced to life in prison for 11 murders.
The GM logo is seen at the General Motors Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Lansing, Michigan, on Oct. 26, 2015. (Rebecca Cook/File Photo/Reuters)

GM Offers Buyouts to Cut Costs After Strong Quarterly Profit

DETROIT General Motors Co. on Oct. 31 stepped up efforts to cut costs in response to tariff and market pressures, even as it reported third-quarter profit that blew past Wall Street expectations.

The No. 1 U.S. automaker said on Oct. 31 it is offering buyouts to salaried employees with 12 or more years of service, as Chief Executive Mary Barra told them in an email: Our structural costs are not aligned with the market realities.

GM shares jumped more than 8 percent to $36.34, their highest in almost six weeks.

The Detroit automaker had previously promised investors it would cut $6.5 billion in costs this year, and the buyouts would add to that total, a company spokesman said on Oct. 31.

The company said in a separate statement that it would consider layoffs after it sees the impact of the buyouts and other cost-cutting efforts.

About 18,000 of the companys 50,000 salaried employees in North America are eligible for the buyouts, the company spokesman said. They do not affect the hourly workers on GMs production lines.

GMs move to cut staff stood in contrast to an upbeat profit outlook and its recent success in raising prices, which boosted profit before tax by $1 billion overall in the quarter, mostly in North America.

In her email to employees, Barra focused on the fact that GM has burned through $300 million in cash in its automotive operations during the first nine months of 2018. She also noted that the companys stock price is still stuck near the $33 a share price at which it debuted in 2010 after a bankruptcy restructuring.

Higher Materials Costs

For Detroits automakers, rising materials costs caused by new tariffs on foreign metals imposed by the Trump administration are converging with a slowly deflating U.S. market and a sharper falloff in China, the worlds largest auto market.

GM and rivals Ford Motor Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV have all in recent weeks forecast substantial hits from steel and aluminum costs driven by tariffs.

In the third quarter, GM said it was able to raise prices by $900 million in North America, in part because it is launching a new generation of its large pickup trucks, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Ford, however, has an older product line and said its net pricing in North America fell by $318 million in the third quarter.

The pricing gains are absolutely sustainable, GM Chief Financial Officer Dhivya Suryadevara said.

GM said it still sees a full-year profit in the range of $5.80 to $6.20 a share, but said it now expected to finish at the high end of the range with potential to finish even higher. It cited a favorable tax rate and its strong performance. Wall Street has been expecting $5.88 per share, according to I/B/E/S data from Refinitiv.

In July, GM lowered its full-year forecast, citing higher steel and aluminum costs due to tariffs.

The company said it still expects about $4 billion in free cash flow for the year before the impact of $600 million in pension contributions.

Excluding the effect of any cost-cutting it achieves, GMs Suryadevara reaffirmed GMs commodity costs in 2019 will increase by $1 billion over 2018. Ford has said it expects tariffs to reduce profits by $1 billion in 2018 and 2019, and Fiat Chrysler has warned rising metals costs could cost it 850 million euros ($963 million) this year and next year.

Pressure Increase

The rise in materials costs is increasing pressure on automakers to cut costs ahead of a predicted decline in U.S. vehicle demand after an unusually long bull market.

Earlier this month, Ford said it would cut its 70,000-strong global salaried workforce by an unspecified number and hoped to complete the cuts by the end of June 2019. This week, the No. 2 U.S. automaker is holding three days of meetings to discuss ways to flatten the structure of its salaried workforce and get managers to oversee larger numbers of employees.

GM has cut production at car plants over the last two years and its hourly workforce fell by 4,000 workers last year, according to GMs annual report. In addition, GM in June ended the second shift at its Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant, cutting 1,500 jobs.

In China, GMs largest market by vehicle sales, the automaker said it booked a record $500 million in income from its joint ventures. That result was in spite of the sharpest industry sales drop in nearly seven years during September.

The impact of the sales drop hit harder in Chinas interior, and demand remains strong in larger cities and for luxury vehicles, including GMs Cadillac models, Barra said on a conference call with analysts.

GM reported third-quarter net income of $2.53 billion, or $1.75 a share, compared with a loss last year of $2.98 billion, or $2.03 a share. Last years quarter included a charge related to Europe.

Excluding one-time items, GM earned $1.87 a share in the third quarter, easily beating the $1.25 average analyst estimate, according to I/B/E/S data from Refinitiv.

Revenue in the quarter rose 6.4 percent to $35.8 billion, above the $34.85 billion analysts had expected.8826 euros)

By Ben Klayman & Joseph White
Heather Nauert Offered UN Ambassador Job, Would Replace Nikki Haley: Reports

Heather Nauert, currently the State Department spokeswoman, has been offered the job of Ambassador to the United Nations, according to reports on Nov. 1.

One official told Fox News that Nauert, 48, has been offered the job to replace Nikki Haley, who announced her resignation in early October, but said shed stay on until the end of the year to give the White House time to choose her successor.

President Donald Trump said on Oct. 9, that he would pick a successor in two to three weeks.

Nauert met with President Trump in the Oval Office on Oct. 29, reported Fox News. Its not known if they discussed the position then.

Senior Administration Official tells Fox News that @statedeptspox Heather Nauert has been offered the job of UN Ambassador  John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) November 1, 2018

A source told the Daily Caller on Thursday that Nauert is at the top of Trumps list of potential nominees to replace Haley, but that he had not fully made up his mind yet.

The Wall Street Journal said that Trump is expected to nominate Nauert as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Nauert, a former Fox News host, was named as State Department spokesperson in April 2017 and was also named acting undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs earlier this year.

She last appeared on Fox News in February 2017.

Haley Resigns

Haley and Trump appeared together at the White House to make her resignation announcement.

Haley said that the post had been the honor of a lifetime, but felt like she needed to step aside after serving six years as the governor of South Carolina and almost two years as the U.N. ambassador.

I am such a lucky girl to have been able to lead the state that raised me and to serve a country I love so very much. It has really been a blessing, and I want to thank you for that, Haley told Trump.

Trump said Haley told him six months ago she wanted to take a break by years end. Haley, who has served as the U.N. ambassador since the early days of the Trump administration, emphasized the administrations accomplishments over that time, including imposing strict sanctions on North Korea, exiting the Iran nuclear deal, and moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Now, the United States is respected. Countries may not like what we do, but they respect what we do, Haley said. The U.S. is strong again and the U.S. is strong in a way that should make all Americans very proud.

Haley didnt say what she wanted to do next, beyond indicating plans to campaign for Trumps reelection in 2020.

From NTD.tv
China's job market grew steadily during the first three quarters of the year, as the country's registered unemployment rate fell to 3.82 percent in September, the lowest since 2002, China's top human resources authority said on Wednesday.

Lu Aihong, spokesman for the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said 11 million new urban jobs were created from January to September, 100,000 more than the same period a year ago.

"That number met the year's annual employment target three months early," he said, adding that core employment indicators behaved well.

The registered unemployment rate dropped to 3.82 percent in September from 3.83 percent in June. In addition, the balance of supply and demand for jobs was appropriate, showing that the country's employment situation has developed smoothly and steadily, he said.

"Based on our monitoring of 100 cities' jobs markets, the ratio of jobs to job seekers was 1.25-to-1 in the third quarter, higher than the same period last year, indicating the number of jobs was greater than the number of job hunters," he said.

He attributed the robust job creation to booming new economic drivers, which contributed to two-thirds of the new jobs.

Zheng Dongliang, director of the Work Science Research Institute, a branch of the ministry, said the new economic growth mainly resulted from emerging industries, including internet and telecommunications.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed China's GDP grew by 6.7 percent from January to September.

"Our economy grew smoothly and its structure and quality also improved continuously, which effectively promoted employment," Lu said.

"More than 5 million new companies were registered in the first three quarters, more than 18,000 a day, showing that startup businesses offered strong and obvious support for stable employment," he said.

The ministry also contributed to the employment of the impoverished labor force by creating policies to encourage startup businesses and providing public service jobs such as cleaners and road maintenance workers. Vocational education was also emphasized to promote employment.

In September, the ministry launched an action plan designed to make registered impoverished workers and middle school dropouts eligible for vocational training by the end of 2020.

"The government strongly promoted vocational education for workers, especially those in impoverished areas, which can help them adapt to society's pattern of development, find jobs and make money," said Feng Xiliang, director of the School of Labor and Economics at Capital University of Economics and Business.
A young girl who suffers from the hand, foot and mouth disease undergoes treatment at a hospital in Fuyang City, Anhui Province, China, on April 28, 2008. (China Photos/Getty Images)

Infectious Diseases Spread Throughout China, Affecting Scores of Children

Chinese officials are tracking a couple of outbreaks of infectious illnesses that mostly affect children.

A norovirus outbreak was recently discovered in Beijing, with dozens of children infected in the past week alone. Meanwhile, hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) spread throughout Anhui Province located in eastern China in September, infecting almost 10,000 people.

Beijing recorded 22 cases of norovirus infections last week, including 13 children in kindergarten, eight in elementary schools, and one in middle school, according to a notice by the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control on Oct. 30. This number is significantly higher than the same period last yearand also an increase from the number of infections in the week prior.

Norovirus is highly contagious and is the most common cause of gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu. Its symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, fever, and headaches. The infection usually develops 12 to 48 hours after exposure, and patients usually recover within one to three days. The illness mainly spreads through contact with an infected person or consuming contaminated food or water.

The Beijing disease control center said that based on historical data, the period between October and November is the peak season for norovirus infections in Beijing. It predicted that more cases of norovirus will be reported in the coming weeks.

Norovirus has a rapid mutation rate. It often causes outbreaks in crowded places such as child care centers, schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. There are currently no vaccines to protect against the illness; prevention involves proper hand washing and disinfection of contaminated surfaces.

HFMD Spreads in Anhui Province

On Oct. 29, the Health and Family Planning Commission of Anhui Province issued a report on infectious diseases in September. The most frequent outbreaks were hand, foot, and mouth disease, infectious diarrheal diseases, and the flu. There were 9,960 HFMD cases in September.

HFMD is an infectious disease caused by a group of viruses, most commonly by the Coxsackievirus A16. Common symptoms are fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Infants and toddlers are especially vulnerable and may develop blisters or bumps on the hands, feet, and mouth.

In recent years, China has had high rates of HFMD occurrence every other year. Chinese news portal Sina reported earlier this year that the total of HFMD cases in Henan Province in central China totaled 1,716 in March and 1,500 cases between April 1 and April 8, a significant increase over the same period last year.

One of the most serious outbreaks occurred in March 2009, when Chinas Ministry of Health reported 41,846 cases of HFMD in 30 provinces and regions. Eighteen died as a result, with 94 in critical condition. Netizens suspected the true death toll may have been in the hundreds. At the time, local authoritiesfearing bad publicityhad failed to report the epidemic, causing the disease spreading further.

Netizens had criticized the authorities for failing to act more swiftly to contain the diseasein addition to censoring online information about the spreading epidemic.

Epoch Times staff member Xiao Lisheng contributed to this report.
Iran Could Be Behind Alleged Murder Plot in Denmark

STOCKHOLMAn alleged murder plot in Denmark involving Iranian intelligence agents has put a strain on Irans relations with the Nordic countryand possibly the whole European Union.

Danish authorities said on Oct. 30 they suspected an Iranian government intelligence service had tried to carry out a plot to assassinate an Iranian Arab opposition figure on their soil.

The alleged plot, which Denmarks foreign minister said he believed the Iranian government was behind, prompted the Nordic country to call for fresh European Union-wide sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

A Norwegian citizen of Iranian background was arrested in Sweden on Oct. 21 in connection with the plot and extradited to neighboring Denmark, Swedish security police said.

The Norwegian has denied the charges and the Iranian government also denied any connection with the alleged plot.

Danish authorities have not presented any evidence, but according to Berlingske, it is unprecedented in recent times for the Danish intelligence service to directly accuse the intelligence service of another country of operating on Danish soil and planning assassinations.

The attack was meant to target the leader of the Danish branch of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz (ASMLA), Danish intelligence chief Finn Borch Andersen said.

ASMLA seeks a separate state for ethnic Arabs in Irans oil-producing southwestern province of Khuzestan. Arabs are a minority in Iran, and some see themselves as under Persian occupation and want independence or autonomy.

Borch Andersen emphasized that the arrest of the Norwegian citizen does not mean that the threat [against the Iranian target in Denmark] has been minimized.

In response to the incident, the Danish ambassador in Iran has been recalled, and the Iranian ambassador was summoned to a meeting with the Danish government.

Irans plotting to assassinate on Danish soil is totally unacceptable. Danish ambassador to Tehran has been recalled for consultations. Denmark will discuss further actions with European partners in the coming days. #dkpol  Anders Samuelsen (@anderssamuelsen) October 30, 2018

Danish foreign minister Anders Samuelsen declared at a press conference that his government has long been deeply concerned about Irans international behavior, including the development of ballistic missiles and its view of human rights, Berlingske reported.

In the light of recent developments, Denmark wants to spearhead discussions of further EU sanctions against Iran, Samuelsen said.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi has dismissed the accusations. This is a continuation of enemies plots to damage Iranian relations with Europe at this critical time, Tasnim news agency quoted him as saying.

We congratulate the government of #Denmark on its arrest of an Iranian regime assassin. For nearly 40 years, Europe has been the target of #Iran-sponsored terrorist attacks. We call on our allies and partners to confront the full range of Irans threats to peace and security.  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) October 30, 2018

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed satisfaction over the Danish action. We congratulate the government of Denmark on its arrest of an Iranian regime assassin, he wrote on Twitter. For nearly 40 years, Europe has been the target of Iran-sponsored terrorist attacks. We call on our allies and partners to confront the full range of Irans threats to peace and security.

Several Danish media reports have discussed the possible wider international ramifications, as well as the pattern of suspected Iranian government operations in other European countries.

In an op-ed in Den Korte Avis, the authors point to two other recent incidentsone in the Netherlands, where Ahmad Mola Nissi, an Iranian exile who established ASMLA, was shot dead; and a foiled bomb plot in Parisand ask why Iran is feeling so confident in carrying out operations like these on European soil recently.

They speculate that Iran is counting on the EU being unwilling to risk a breakdown of the Iran Nuclear deal, especially after the United States withdrew earlier this year and reimposed sanctions against Iran. This would restrain the EU response, they argue, calling it unthinkable that the EU would act in a manner that might risk the deal.

One might fear that the nuclear deal has made the EU more afraid to react to Iranian provocations, such as assassinations. And one might fear that the Iranians have seen through this, the authors write.

Reuters contributed to this report.
A Mastercard logo is seen on a credit card in this picture illustration August 30, 2017. (Thomas White/Illustration/Reuters)

Mastercard Lodged US Protest Over Modis Promotion of Indian Card Network

NEW DELHIMastercard told the United States government in June that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was using nationalism to promote the use of a domestic payments network, and New Delhis protectionist policies were hurting foreign payment companies, a document seen by Reuters showed.

Modi has in recent years backed Indias homegrown payments network RuPay, whose rise has broken the dominance of U.S. payment giants such as Mastercard and Visa. More than half of Indias 1 billion debit and credit cards now go through the RuPay payment system, and that means companies such as Mastercard face an uphill task to expand rapidly in one of the worlds biggest payments growth markets.

Modi has publicly endorsed the indigenous card payment network, saying using RuPay was like serving the country as its transaction fee stays within India and could help build roads, schools, and hospitals.

In a written reference to Modis stance, Mastercard told the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on June 21 that the prime minister associated the use of RuPay cards with nationalism, claiming it serves as kind of national service.

The note, which was sent by a Mastercard Vice President for Global Public Policy, Sahra English, said that, while Modis digital payments push was commendable, the Indian government had adopted a series of protectionist measures to the detriment of global companies.

U.S. companies in India have been increasingly battling Modis policies they perceive to be protectionist. This year, U.S. technology companies have protested against an Indian law that would require them to store more data locally, raising their costs.

The previously unreported note, which was seen by Reuters, shows the extent to which Modis support for RuPay frustrated the Purchase, New York-based company, which is the worlds second-largest payments processor.

Increasing rhetoric from the prime minister and government mandates on promotion and preference for RuPay  continues to create market access issues for U.S. payments technology companies, Mastercard said in the note.

The Indian governments preferential treatment of RuPay coupled with fallacies on pricing must be discontinued, the company asked the U.S. government to propose.

In response to Reuters queries, Mastercard said in a statement it fully supports the Indian governments initiatives and is deeply invested in the country. The company did not comment on its USTR note and its executive Sahra English did not respond to questions.

The USTR did not respond to a request for comment and it was not clear whether the U.S. agency raised Mastercards concerns with New Delhi. Visa did not respond to Reuters queries.

There was no response to requests for comment from Modis office.

Mastercard, whose president and chief executive is India-born Ajay Banga, has a planned investment outlay of $1 billion in its key Indian market for 2014-2019. With 2,000 people, India accounts for 14 percent of the global Mastercard workforce, the largest outside the United States.

The company recruited a Bollywood actor this year for a campaign aimed at encouraging consumers in smaller cities to use debit cards more regularly as it seeks to grow in India.

Digital Boost

In November 2016, Modi started promoting the use of digital payments after replacing high-value currency notes in an attempt to crack down on the black economy.

That increased card usage: Indians in August clocked transactions worth $51 billion on debit and credit cards, nearly double the amount recorded in November 2016, according to data from the central bank, which does not provide separate usage statistics comparing Indian and foreign payment networks.

Foreign card companies have also had to contend with a growing use of mobile wallets and state-backed digital money transfer services, some of which Modi promoted.

RuPay received a major boost due to Modis so-called financial inclusion program launched in 2014, which meant that all Indians opening a bank account for the first time were offered a RuPay card, not a Mastercard or Visa.

The Indian card network was developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), a group largely owned by state banks but which also counts private and foreign banks among its shareholders. It also oversees the payments services in India.

In its note to the USTR, Mastercard said the government had mandated banks to support the NPCI directly and indirectly, making it the sole beneficiary of Modis financial inclusion program.

The NPCI acted both as a quasi-regulator and a competing payment network, Mastercard said, adding that this was compounded by the governments open preference for RuPay with misleading statements and inaccurate information on pricing, despite Mastercard being priced lower than RuPay.

Pricing refers to the fee paid by banks to payment processors such as Mastercard for card transactions. The company did not detail which specific statements it was referring to.

The chief executive of the NPCI, Dilip Asbe, did not respond to a request for comment.

At one point, RuPay levied a transaction fee which was half of that charged by Mastercard and Visa, one industry source said, but the U.S. card companies reduced charges in recent months. The pricing and charges are not publicly available.

Modi in June said foreign card companies take their transaction fees abroad and as everyone cannot go to the border to protect the country, we can use RuPay card to serve the nation.

A month later, Mastercard issued a press statement which said the company gets only 15-20 percent of debit card transaction fees, while the rest stays within the Indian economy. It did not name RuPay.

By Aditya Kalra
Megyn Kelly Says Daily Mail Photographer Secretly Taped Her 7-Year-Old Girl

Former NBC host Megyn Kelly said that she has been forced to deal with paparazzi lurking outside her house at all hours of the day, and the actions of one outlet left her furious.

Kelly, who is reportedly in negotiations to exit the network after her show was canceled, said that she has explicitly asked the photographers not to take pictures of her children.

For a week paparazzi has been lurking outside my home day and night. Finally today I took my kids to school. I went out alone 1st, offered them donuts and begged them to just take their pic [sic] of me & to leave my kids alone when they emerged, she wrote on Twitter.

All were nice. Except the Dailymail.

1 of 2: For a week paparazzi has been lurking outside my home day & nite. Finally today I took my kids to school. I went out alone 1st, offered them donuts &begged them to just take their pic of me & to leave my kids alone when they emerged. All were nice. Except the Dailymail  Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 31, 2018

2 of 2: The DailyMail 1st published photos of my husb IN OUR HOME & then *did* photog my kids, trailed us to my daughters school, & secretly videotaped my 7-yr-old child (her classmates too) & posted it. THIS IS NOT RIGHT.  Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 31, 2018

She said the British news outlet videotaped her 7-year-old child without her permission.

The DailyMail 1st published photos of my husb [sic] IN OUR HOME & then *did* photog my kids, trailed us to my daughters school, & secretly videotaped my 7-yr-old child (her classmates too) & posted it, Kelly said. THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

The Daily Mail is infamous for its hyperbolic reporting, which has brought intense criticism and lawsuits at times. In April 2017, for instance, the outlet settled for $2.9 million with First Lady Melania Trump after she sued them over alleged false claims.

On its website on Oct. 31, the outlet ran a story claiming to be an exclusive about Kelly that showed her all smiles as she emerges for the first time in a week and tries to bribe photographers with doughnuts while her husband Doug watches her from a window.

The article included pictures of Kellys husband still inside their home, as Kelly asserted on Twitter. The article did not appear to include pictures or videos of Kellys daughter Yardley.

A 22-second video showed Kelly walking back into her apartment building and included an advertisement for amateur or professional videographers to send footage to the Mail, promising theyd get paid.

The Daily Mail has not responded to Kelly.

The controversy comes after NBC announced on Oct. 26 that Kellys show was canceled, but her attorney Bryan Freedman told the Associated Press the same day that she remains an employee of the network.

Freedman and executives are reportedly in negotiations for an exit but neither side has confirmed shes leaving. Freedman said the negotiations are about the next steps for Kelly.

From NTD.tv
Chaim Deutsch (centre) speaks at a rally held to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in front of New York City Hall on Oct. 31, 2018 (Marina Fatina/The Epoch Times).

Messages of Unity by NYC Council Members, Alleged Shooter Indicted

NEW YORKChaim Deutsch had not yet heard of the mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh when he turned his phone on and received a series of text messages. The messages were from faith leaders and New Yorkers sending him condolences to the Jewish community and to all New Yorkers.

His phone had been off while attending Sabbath services at his synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27.

Four days later, Deutsch, a New York City Council member and chair of the citys Jewish caucus, rallied with other council members, community leaders, and city residents at New York City Halls steps on Oct. 31. They were there to stand in support of the Jewish community and denounce acts of hatred and violence.

Eleven young lives were murdered, Deutsch said at the rally. Why do I say young lives when they were all senior citizens? The reason why they are young lives is because they were taken away from us.

The victims were aged 54 to 94.

The speakers spoke of how Americas diversity is one of its greatest strengths, of standing together in unity against violence, and of the need to educate people away from hatred.

You are what your record says you are, Council Member I. Daneek Miller said. Our record says that we stand for dignity and humanity. We stand with our brothers and sisters of all faiths, all races, and all nations.

Speakers at the rally included Council Member Karen Koslowitz, whose mother escaped the Holocaust; Council Member Ben Kallos, who is Jewish; Yeshiva Universitys Jon Greenfield; and Devorah Halberstam, director of external affairs at the Jewish childrens museum.

Other speakers included council members Ydanis Rodriguez, Margaret Chin, Mark Levine, Barry Grodenchik, Brad Lander, Rory Lancman, Stephen Levin, as well as City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

Alleged Shooter Indicted

In the mass shooting, eight men and three women, were killed and of the six people injured, four were police officers.

Robert Bowers, 46, has been indicted on 44-counts including obstruction by force of the victims free exercise of religious beliefs, intentionally killing with a firearm, and unlawful possession of firearms.

According to the indictment, Bowers entered the Tree of Life synagogue Saturday morning armed with three handguns and a rifle. While inside, he allegedly open fired on the members of three Jewish congregations gathered there for Sabbath services.

The day after the shooting, thousands of people attended an interfaith gathering and vigil at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in Pittsburgh.

Since then, people across the United States as well as Canada have held vigils, memorials, and gatherings in a show of unity to remember the victims and take a stand against hatred.

Speaking at the NYC rally, Rabbi Eli Cohen from the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council expressed his appreciation that communities and people of every race and religion were coming together to express those sentiments.

We do not condone, and we do not allow, violence in our community, and in our hearts, he said.
Migrant Caravans Part of Larger Plan to Damage US

The caravan of migrants that originated from Honduras is still en route to the United States southern border, with a second column now underway, and information that theres a third one in its early stages.

Recently, Vice President Mike Pence said that Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez told him the caravan was organized by leftist groups in Honduras financed by Venezuela and sent north to challenge our sovereignty and challenge our border.

In the days following that revelation, additional supporting details and evidence were reported by the left-leaning Wall Street Journal, the conservative Heritage Foundation, and others that confirm Venezuelas involvement. Venezuela has a long and well-documented history of antagonism towards the United States, and has declared itself a member of an axis of unity, working with Iran, Cuba, and others, against U.S. imperialism.

In fact, Iranian intelligence and military officers are embedded in Venezuelas equivalent organizations, and not just in low-level support positions, but also in higher-level positions of authority. The same and more can be said about the highly professional intelligence agency of Cuba, which has long been a thorn in the side of the United States.

Death by a Thousand Cuts

Venezuela, in conjunction with its friends and supporters, has implemented a strategy of asymmetrical warfare in an attempt to attack the United States, since they lack the military capability to inflict a direct defeat.

Asymmetrical warfare is the new modern term, with a mildly convoluted definition, for an ancient concept made well-known by the Chinese. Its remembered from history as death by a thousand cuts; that is, inflict damage whenever and however you can to weaken your enemy, to the point where they can ultimately be defeated.

These columns of illegal migrants are purposely designed and implemented to inflict damage to the United States and undermine U.S. sovereignty, while avoiding direct conflict. They were likely conceived and financed by Iran, then implemented by Venezuela working closely with the Cubans and Nicaraguans to sow political division and chaos in the United States and absorb resources at little expense to them.

To make this work, there is close cooperation and coordination with transnational criminal organizations, such as narco-traffickers and gangs, which are active particularly throughout Mexico and who are very strong near Mexicos shared border with the United States.

An Alliance

Less well-known and understood is the Bolivarian Alliance, better known by its acronym from Spanish as Alianza Bolivariana or ALBA.

ALBA was founded by Venezuela and Cuba in 2004 and is an association of leftist governments in Latin America and the Caribbean that also cooperate on economic and propaganda efforts with like-minded governments in the region. They are supported by Iran, China, and Russia, who all share the United States as their common foe. ALBA operates extensively and almost entirely unopposed, and its underlying strategy remains constant, which is to damage and ultimately destroy the United States using asymmetrical warfare.

As a retired CIA career intelligence operations officer, I can assure everyone that the intelligence services of Iran, Russia, China, Cuba, and Venezuela, as well as the trained intelligence personnel from all terrorist groups and any others who have access, consider this migrant column an irresistible opportunity to infiltrate people into the United States. I certainly would, if in their position.

The Guatemalan president reported that about 100 people arrested recently have links to terrorism, including the ISIS terrorist group. Former CIA Director and current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned publicly just how dangerous Venezuela is and that the threat needs to be taken seriously.

As a professional in the intelligence world, I understand that the United States has enemies. I understand that cooperation exists between terrorist groups, transnational criminal groups, and hostile foreign governments. It is the way of things.

However, we find ourselves in the predicament where the liberal Democratic Party leadership and the liberal mainstream media seemingly operate in agreement with the activities of these forces, who intend to damage and ultimately destroy us.

Brad Johnson is a retired CIA operations officer and a former chief of station. He is president of Americans for Intelligence Reform.

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated details on the 100 terrorist arrests mentioned by the Guatemalan president. Its unclear whether the arrests were related to the migrant caravan.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Mike Siegel, the son of former leader of the pro-China Communist Workers Party (CWP) Dan Siegel, in a campaign image. (siegelfortexas.org)

Mike Siegel Continues Socialist Familys Legacy of Infiltrating the Democratic Party

Commentary

The son of one of Americas most militant communist radicals is challenging the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee for his Central Texas congressional seat.

Democrat Mike Siegel, an Austin-based assistant city attorney and the son of Dan Siegala former leader of the pro-China Communist Workers Party (CWP)is running against Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) in the 10th Congressional District.

A self-described former civil rights lawyer and community organizer, Mike Siegel cut his political teeth on his efforts to stop key provisions of Texas Senate Bill 4, which was signed into law by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in May 2017.

Mike Siegel previously worked for his fathers law firm in Oakland, California, and further supported Dan Siegels failed bid for Oakland mayor in 2014. Following in his family tradition, Siegel holds socialist policy positions on gun control, immigration, and healthcare among others.

Dan Siegel was an activist at University of California, Berkeley at the height of the Vietnam War in 1969. On May 15 of that year, Siegel and fellow students clashed with riot police over the radical hotbed Peoples Park. The day would become known as Bloody Thursday after a student was killed by police bullets during the violence.

Circa 1970, Dan Siegel was one of the earliest founders of the socialist New American Movement (NAM), an outgrowth of the radical Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). The NAM was later fortified by a split from the pro-Soviet Communist Party USA, before helping to found Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in 1982.

Dan Siegel veered even further to the left, becoming a leading member of the ultra-militant CWP, which followed the policies of Mao Zedong, Joseph Stalin, Cambodian mass murderer Pol Pot, and for a time, the Islamists of the Iranian Revolution.

Dan Siegel served on the executive committee of the organizations key front group Federation for Progress (FFP) alongside Judy Chu, who currently serves as a member of Congress in Southern California.

Meg Anderson, a CWP member from Indiana, alluded to the FFP in a letter to the now-defunct magazine of the Communist Workers Party / New Democratic Movement The Expert Red published in February 1985. The letter dealt with the practicalities of the partys new Gramsci-inspired program of infiltrating civil society. Antonio Gramsci was an Italian Communist Party theoretician who advocated communist penetration of all institutions of capitalist society in preparation for socialist revolution.

The main thing being understood about Gramscis ideas is that we have to be able to take part in life as other people do, thus moving ourselves beyond a limited world of our own making to the world that exists. The question still remains about what party visibility will mean, Anderson wrote. For example in the church there are progressive organizations whose program is even higher than our transitional demands in some ways. What shall I propose to their members? That they all join the Party? Or should I ask the key movers to join, and we meet secretly to act in directors role? It seems to be the same role as FFP would play. Does that mean we virtually turn the FFP into the party, or vice a [sic] versa?

In the mid-1980s, the CWP dissolved and re-constituted as the innocuously named New Democratic Movement (NDM), which explicitly sought to infiltrate the Democratic Party and other institutions.

According to City Journal, at a convention in mid-1985, Jerry Tung, general secretary of the former CWP, explained: Once you get people elected or appointed to office, you can award contracts to friends.  When you can raise money for political purposes, when you do it in the right place in the right atmosphere, and look right, and the [mainstream] party bosses are there, then that money makes them take you seriously.

Lawyer and CWP member Ben Connor elaborated further on the change in party tactics from one of traditional Marxist-Leninist agitation to a conscious program of infiltrating U.S. institutions in CWPs publication The Expert Red:

It was time to assume leadership over the whole society  Rather than storm City Hall, we are donning tuxedoes, and preparing to enter through special invitation. We are learning to use our skills in ways that are proving far more dangerous to the ruling class, and far more beneficial to the masses to whom we have dedicated lives of service. These days we not only organize but will also begin to deliver. We will not be content to petition the state legislature, we want to be the state legislature. It is truly an exciting time to be an American revolutionary. You want me to be a Congressman? Fine, its what my mother always wanted for me anyway. Its all very legitimate. For other new comrades as well, the road is wide open  we can follow any career path we choose, so long as it helps the Party lead and serve the American people.

By 1986, Dan Siegel was one of three co-chairs of the NDM, alongside Phyllis Jones and the aforementioned Jerry Tung, who it should be noted also supported Dan Siegels failed mayoral bid in 2014.

By the early 2010s, Dan Siegel was a well-established Bay Area civil rights lawyer. Siegel Sr. was also serving as an adviser to Oakland Democratic Mayor Jean Quan, an old comrade from his CWP days.

Many former CWP members maintain a strong loyalty to the Peoples Republic of China, including apparently Quan and Dan Siegel.

In May 2011, Quan lead a 12-member trade delegation to China organized and paid for by the Port of Oakland. The delegate list is unavailable, but Dan Siegel was in China at the same time, so it was likely that he was part of Quans entourage.

Dan Siegel penned an article for Truth Dig, published July 7, 2011, titled New China will be Expert and Red echoing the title of the CWPs now defunct journal The Expert Red.

The Chinese Communist Party has aspired to be both Red and expert since the 1950s. The party has carefully nurtured its cadre to ensure the organizations commitment to the welfare of the majority, but at the same time recognizes the need for its leaders to embrace and implement the most advanced concepts in science, technology and management. The partnership of the idealistic Mao Zedong and the pragmatic Zhou Enlai long put human faces on the two sides of the CPCs ideal, he wrote.

Like his father, Mike Siegel has been a lifelong activist.

At Cornell University, Mike Siegel was president of the far-left National Lawyers Guild student chapter. He then served as an intern at the equally radical Center for Constitutional Rights, where he worked as legal coordinator for the Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan conference presented by Iraq Veterans Against the Wara group closely affiliated to the pro-China Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Mike Siegel has been endorsed by Progressive Democrats of America, Texas Alliance for Retired Americans, Our Revolution, and Left Up to US, all fronts for Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

Through his primary race, Mike Siegel enjoyed support from major labor unions, Austin Democratic clubs, and Austin City Councilor and DSA member Gregorio Casar.

Mike Siegels field director, Jacob Aronowitz, is membership coordinator for Austin DSA.

Even deep in the heart of Texas, socialist revolutionaries are infiltrating the Democratic Party with very little oppositionfrom either Republicans or moderate Democrats.

Most American politicians think in terms of two-year election cycles. Communists plan in terms of decades, even centuries. Mike Siegel is part of a long-range strategic plan to infiltrate the U.S. government, a legacy passed down from his father.

Trevor Loudon is an author, filmmaker, and public speaker from New Zealand. For more than 30 years, he has researched radical left, Marxist, and terrorist movements and their covert influence on mainstream politics.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Militia Groups Start Deploying to Border as Border Patrol Warns of Possible Armed Civilians

The United States Border Patrol warned people who own land along the U.S.-Mexico border of possible armed civilians arriving in the area as militia groups have started deploying and are planning to send more members ahead of the migrant caravans arrival.

The U.S. Border Patrol in late October warned local landowners in Texas that it expects possible armed civilians to come onto their property because of the caravans, which now include thousands of people each.

Three militia organizers said they were either going to the border themselves or organizing others and groups on Facebook have posted warnings about the approaching caravans.

One said it was imperative that we have boots on the ground. Another wrote: WAR! SECURE THE BORDER NOW!

The militia members said they plan to bring guns and equipment such as bulletproof vests and lend a hand to the Border Patrol to protect against people unlawfully entering the country.

Theyre just laughing in our face, said Shannon McGauley, president of the Texas Minutemen. Its a free-for-all in America.

McGauley said he already has members at three points of the states border with Mexico and expects to add 25 to 100 more people in the coming days.

He describes the group on its Facebook page as helping protect the nations borders.

Fighting-Age Men

Monica Marin, an Oregon resident who said she has raised about $4,000 online to help militias buy supplies, noted that the bulk of the caravans are young men.

I see young, fighting-age men who do not look like theyre starving. They look like theyre ready to fight, Marin said. Approximately 75 percent of the first two caravans are men.

Video footage showed migrants lobbing Molotov cocktails and rocks, beating police officers with sticks, and ripping down border barriers. The caravans violence has left Guatemalan and Mexican police officers injured, while Mexican police recently deported two known criminals found inside the caravan back to Honduras.

United States officials confirmed that gang members and criminals are embedded in the caravan, and reporters on the ground noted that migrants included members of the notorious MS-13 gang.

Border watch groups and militias have been patrolling the 2,000-mile southern boundary off and on for more than a decade. Typically, the groups watch for people illegally crossing into the Unted States. When they spot crossers, they contact the Border Patrol. The militia plans come as U.S. officials ordered thousands of troops to the border.

Not everyone is pleased the militias plan to deploy to the border ahead of the caravans, though. I want everybody to be aware that we do not want the militias, Clara Godfrey, who owns land in Arivaca near the border, told 3 TV.

In the town in 2009, thee people with ties to the militia movement broke into a house and murdered a nine-year-old and her father. They believed that the man was a drug smuggler. All three are serving sentences and two are on death row.

Other community members in the town, though, told the broadcaster that they dont mind militias and similar groups being in and around the area.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD.tv
Li Ding Yun, who was visiting the United States from China, decided to renounce his ties to the Chinese Communist Party after watching and listening to a "Tuidang"or "quit the Party"rally in Flushing, New York City, on April 28, 2012. (Benjamin Chasteen/Epoch Times)

New Report Details Global Impact of Grassroots Movement to Quit Chinese Communist Party

It all began with a book.

Since then, hundreds of millions have been inspired, fueling the largest grassroots movement in China since the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in 1989.

Back in November 2004, the Chinese-language Epoch Times published an unprecedented editorial series, Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party, that explained the history and inner workings of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since its founding.

Elucidating the Partys dark crimes, the series compelled many Chinese with the desire to dissociate themselves from the CCP and its affiliate organizations, the Youth League and the Young Pioneers.

The Chinese-language Epoch Times then set up an online platform for its Chinese readers and others to record their public statements of quitting the Party organizations.

Since then, a tuidangor quitting the Party in Chinesemovement has led to more than 318 million Chinese publicly announcing their desire to end ties with the CCP.

Inside China, the Nine Commentaries has sparked an uproar. People print copies of the series underground and pass them among each other.

This year, the Epoch Times also published How The Specter of Communism Is Ruling Our World, a follow-up editorial series exploring communisms reach into the West.

The Tuidang Center, a nonprofit established in 2007 to coordinate tuidang efforts around the world, recently published a report documenting the impact of the movement in the nearly decade-and-half since it all began.

Reaching Inside China

Of the over 318 million individuals who announced they have quit the Party, the majority are from within mainland China.

The CCP considers such a withdrawal a dissenting act, since the Party does not allow its members to leave. They can only be expelled by the Party.

Every day, volunteers throughout China risk their lives in order to tell Chinese citizens about the Tuidang movement and help them record their announcements on the Epoch Times platformas the Chinese regime has a history of punishing dissenting voices harshly.

The volunteers primarily spread awareness via face-to-face interactions and making phone calls to CCP members. Others find ways to stealthily hang banners and posters in public spaces so that more Chinese citizens can be exposed to the message.

Volunteers often use pseudonyms for the Chinese citizens who quit the Party in order to protect their identities.

During periods of mass protests or civil unrest, the number of people quitting the Party would increase, the Tuidang Center report found. For example, in April 2017, locals in Kunming City, Yunnan Province protested against a police officer who beat up a street vendor. The immediate days following the protests saw a flood of tuidang announcements.

The Tuidang Center report also found that drops in the number of announcements usually coincided with major CCP political eventswhich are considered sensitive occasions during which the CCP would tighten censorship and clamp down on dissent speech. Those are the times that firewall-bypassing software would fail to work, impeding the ability for citizens to register their announcements on the Epoch Times platform.

Tuidang Center volunteers around the world have also set up booths at major tourist attractions where mainland Chinese are likely to visit, in order to tell them about the Tuidang movement.

Taiwan has over 40 tuidang sites, including at popular sightseeing locations such as the National Palace Museum, Sun Moon Lake, and Alishan National Scenic Area.

The United States alone is home to 26 tuidang sites in 12 cities. Tuidang centers also have a presence in Canada, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, Russia, Australia, South Korea, Turkey, and Malaysia.

Scores of Chinese tourists quit the Party daily. In Taiwan, where many mainland Chinese visit annually, an average of 710 people quit the Party per day.

At New Yorks Rockefeller Center, an average of 15 people quit daily. At Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco, more than 80,000 have withdrawn from the Party in the past four years that a volunteer couple have staffed the site.

A Worldwide Effect

The impact of the Tuidang movement has also been felt throughout the world.

Since the Nine Commentaries editorial series was translated into more than 30 languages, readers around the world have also learned about the CCPs origins and its agenda.

In May this year, U.S. lawmakers, Chinese dissidents, and U.S. human rights activists convened at a panel on Capitol Hill to discuss the Tuidang movement.

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) drafted a proclamation to the House of Representatives to officially recognize the effect of the Tuidang movement, which he explained was not a political movement but simply helps Chinese people reclaim their God-given conscience.

Members of European Parliament and former New Zealand prime minister John Key are also among those who have sent letters and other messages expressing support for the Tuidang movement, according to the report.

Experts have described how the movement has implications beyond those living in China.

Trevor Loudon, a New Zealand-based author and documentary filmmaker, said at the Capitol Hill event in May: [T]he Tuidang movement is probably the most important thing thats being done on this planet right now, because how that goes is going to determine what happens to not just China but freedom-loving people everywhere.
A Suffolk County Medical Examiner has confirmed that the skeleton found under a Long Island man's home belongs to his long-lost father, Long Island, New York, Dec. 11, 2018. (DanTD/Wikimedia Commons)

New York Family Finds Human Remains in Basement

A man whose father has been missing for decades has found human bones in the basement of his familys home on Long Island. Hes having the bones tested to see if they really are his fathers.

Michael Carroll, 57, and his siblings had long suspected that the remains of their father, who disappeared in 1961, could be buried beneath the family home on Olive Street in Lake Shore, New York, which the family had owned since at least 1955.

His mother Dorothy had never given a clear account of where her husband, George Carroll, had gone, and she passed away in 1998. George disappeared shortly after the birth of their son Michael.

Suffolk County Police Homicide Detective Lieutenant Kevin Beyrer told Newsday, It was just always a family legend or lore that the father was buried in the basement since 1961.

The father was a Korean War veteran. One of the stories they had over time was that he had moved back to Korea. So the family just never really knew.

Michael Carroll was only 8 months old when his father disappeared. He has no memories of his father; he knows George Carroll only through a single old photograph.

Lake Grove, NY- Suffolk homicide squad is investigating skeletal remains found in an Olive St home. They may be that of a man missing since 1961 who moved into the house in 1957. pic.twitter.com/qvfPmbIfGr  Stringer News (@Stringernews) November 1, 2018

The Search

The family searched wherever they could over the years for some clue as to George Carrolls whereabouts. The growth of the internet gave the family multiple avenues for exploration, however nothing could be found.

Yet family members continued to talk to anyone who might have had any information. They even consulted psychics.

Eventually Michael Carroll hired a company to use ground-penetrating radar to scan beneath the concrete slab in the homes basement.

Based on what that company told him, Carroll recruited his two sons, both in their 20s to begin breaking through the slab and digging for possible remains.

Carrolls sons dug in their spare time for a few months before finding what they had feared might be there.

Around 10 p.m. on Oct. 30, the sons found skeletal remains. Carroll was immediately sure the bones were human, although he couldnt be sure they were his fathers.

Confirmation Coming

Michael Carroll told Newsday that he called the rest of the family with the news immediately after the bones were found, on the night of Oct. 30. He called the police the following afternoon.

While he has no scientific evidence, Carroll said hes sure the bones belong to his father.

Im happy for my dad because hes out of there, he told Newsday. He didnt deserve to be in the hole. Now I can give him a decent burial.

The police will bring in a forensic anthropologist to examine the remains. The bones will be DNA-tested, and only then will Michael Carroll know for sure if he finally solved the mystery of his fathers disappearance.

The hole in which the remains were found might once have been a well.

Its pretty far down, Lieutenant Beyrer told reporters, referring to where the bones were found. Theres a hole in the basement probably 4 to 5 feet deep. It is under concrete.

Some of Michael Carrolls siblings recall that the hole was covered over with concrete at some time in the past.

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Old Trade, New Game: Taiwans Talk with Australia for CPTPP

By Bruce Hung

With an imminent promise of spring, we look forward to Australias second round negotiation in the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership), which will be held early next year when the agreement has been ratified. And Taiwan, the worlds 18th largest economy in terms of trade, has a strong interest in joining the CPTPP.

Australia is an important supplier of energy and primary agricultural products to Taiwan. In 2017, two-way trade between Australia and Taiwan totalled 8.63 billion Australian dollars. Taiwan became Queenslands 5th largest merchandise export destination. Queensland exported 2.8 billion of merchandise to Taiwan, with 1.5 billion in black coal, 387 million in copper, 258 million in food and beverage, 91 million in zinc, and 41 million in agriculture.

Not only in trade, Queensland and Taiwan maintain close bilateral relations in personal and culture exchange. According to a 2016 census, 15,588 citizens/residents in Queensland were born in Taiwan. And 73,000 Taiwanese tourists visited Queensland in 2017, contributing $208 million to the state economy. There were 5,230 Taiwanese students studying in Queensland in 2017, contributing $186 million to the state economy.

Australia and Taiwan share many values in common, including democracy, freedom, and cultural diversity. Over the past years, both governments have reached the milestone in their reconciliation with indigenous peoples. Taiwan also resembles Australia in that both have been trying hard to strike a balance between economic growth and sustainable environment.

As a leading force of the Partnership, Australias support for Taiwan to join the CPTPP during the second round of negotiation is crucial. Taiwans accession to the CPTPP will benefit Australia through increased market access opportunities in Taiwan. Taiwan also has advantages as a leader in semiconductor manufacturing, automotive electronics, and artificial intelligence. Positive developments in the future is going to further advance tourism and business exchanges.

Being a long-term ally of the democratic world, in return Taiwan will support Australia in its effort to grow economic influence in the Asia-Pacific region. As an old Taiwanese saying goes, For it is united that brothers and sisters work to make soil into gold. Taiwans participation in the trade bloc will help the two partners work closer to create regional prosperity together.

Bruce Hung is the Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Brisbane, Australia

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Package Bomb Suspect Started Planning Attacks Back in July

A letter sent to the judge who is hearing the case of the Cesar Sayoc, the man who allegedly sent suspicious packages to prominent Democrats, claims that Sayoc started planning his attacks in July.

The letter was sent to Judge Edwin Torres by the prosecutors in the case urging that Sayoc not be released on bail before his trial, USA Today reported.

The evidence of the defendants terror campaign is still being collected but is already overwhelming, prosecutors wrote in the letter.

The defendant conducted a domestic terrorist attack targeting at least 15 victims with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that he sent to locations throughout the country in padded mailing envelopes, the letter said.

Employees leaving the facility tell me all they know is the bomb squad is on scene after a package with Maxine Waters name on it was discovered and flagged. No sense of panic, employees standing out in parking lot as authorities investigate. @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/jezL6CuIrH  Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) October 25, 2018

The latest package to be intercepted was sent to CNN headquarters in Atlanta. It was intercepted at a local post office on Oct. 29. The package is the fifteenth bomb-like device that Sayoc allegedly sent to former Obama administration officials, prominent Democratic Party supporters, and the CNN.

Numerous #NYPD offices, detectives converge on restaurant and property owned by #RobertDeniro Many streets closed. Sources: Suspicious package, containing explosive device similar to others sent to Clintons, Obamas, others sent to Deniro #BREAKING #NBC4NY pic.twitter.com/cp6QeJ7Wwz  Katherine Creag (@katcreag4NY) October 25, 2018

The first such package was delivered to Democratic Party contributor George Soros on Oct. 22. President Barack Obama, Vice president Joe Biden, and ex-Senator Hillary Clinton also received suspicious packages.

FBI Director Christopher Wray told a press conference on Oct. 28, Though were still analyzing the devices in our laboratory, these are not hoax devices.

None of the bomb-like devices mailed in the packages detonated.

Hundreds of Potential Targets

Cesar Sayoc was arrested and charged with mailing at least 14 pipe bombs to various former Democraticic officials and party supporters. (Broward County Sheriffs Office via Getty Images)The FBI identified the alleged bomber as 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc, Jr., whose address is listed as Aventura, Florida, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Sayoc was arrested at an auto parts store in Plantation, Florida, on Oct. 26. His van and laptop were seized during the arrest. USA Today reported that he seemed to have been living in his van.

A search of his laptop revealed that he had compiled a list of hundreds of potential targets and had a file from which he could print address labels for those targets, the New York Post reported. The list was first saved on July 26.

Sayocs internet search history showed that he had been researching the addresses of potential targets as early as July 15, when he began looking for Hillary Clintons mailing address, USA Today reported.

The number of searches multiplied in September and October, and the scope of possible targets expanded as well. His later searches included family members of prominent Democratic Party figures.

Sayoc searched specifically for the wife and kids of former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former Attorney General Eric Holder, and former CIA Director James Brennan.

Prosecutors said that the FBI is warning each individual whose name was found on the list of targets.

An FBI press release from Oct. 25 stated, It is possible that additional packages were mailed to other locations. The FBI advises the public to remain vigilant and not touch, move or handle any suspicious or unknown packages.

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Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooter Robert Bowers Pleads Not Guilty, Seeks Trial

Robert Bowers, the man accused of killing 11 people and wounding several more at a Pittsburgh synagogue, pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial.

Bowers, 46, was placed in front of Judge Robert Mitchell in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and said little. He told the judge that he understood the charges filed against him and that some could result in his execution.

Joyce Feinberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; Cecil Rosenthal, 59; David Rosenthal, 54; Bernice Simon, 84; Sylvan Simon, 86; Rose Mallinger, 97; Daniel Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 88; and Irving Younger, 69, were identified as the 11 victims in the shooting. A pair of brothers and a married couple were among those killed.

They were just wonderful, graceful people, Augie Siriano, a custodian at the synagogue, said.

Six other people, including four police officers, were injured before Bowers was shot by police and surrendered.

Prosecutors have stated they will seek the death penalty against Bowers. After the mass shooting, President Donald Trump, who visited the Tree of Life synagogue and met with its rabbi this week, called to stiffen up our laws in terms of the death penalty, CBS News reported.

When people do this they should get the death penalty, the president said. And they shouldnt have to wait years and years.  And, I think they should very much bring the death penalty into vogue.

Bowers also faces Pennsylvania state charges, including 11 counts of criminal homicide and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation. Reuters reported that the federal trial will come first.

Shackled to a wheelchair, he was injured in a shootout with police at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh. On social media, Bowers made anti-Semitic statements, saying Jewish people are the enemy of white people.

Less than an hour before the shooting, Bowers wrote on the website: HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in.

Before that, he criticized Trump, saying hes a globalist and isnt winning. He added: For the record, I did not vote for him.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Then-Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Attorney General Eric Holder participate in a panel discussion in Philadelphia, on April 20, 2016. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Reap What You Sow

Recent public statements by Democratic Party figures have advocated use of aggression towards those holding opposing views

Following the arrest of Cesar Sayoc as the primary suspect in the mailing of bomb-like devices to public figures, coverage on the Oct. 26 edition of the PBS NewsHour echoed many in the mainstream media by characterizing the episode as targeting critics of President Trump.

But President Donald Trump has many critics. What distinguishes those who received the mailings from his other critics? Might it be their own advocacy of confrontation as a substitute for discourse?

Recent public statements by influential public figures, all Democratic Party officials, have advocated the use of aggression towards those holding conflicting ideological views. Former Attorney General Eric Holderonce the United States top law-enforcement officialrecently proclaimed at a campaign event, Michelle [Obama] always says, you know, When they go low, we go high. No. When they go low, we kick them. Thats what this new Democratic Party is about.

Surprised by the vociferous public reaction, he tweeted his own form of humble apology: OK, stop the fake outrage, Im obviously not advocating violence. Obviously? Taken in context with the statements of his fellow activists, the sincerity of his petulant, half-hearted retraction is questionable.

Holders statement came close on the heels of Hillary Clintons similar statement on CNN on Oct. 9: You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about. Thats why I believe, if we are fortunate enough to win back the House and/or the Senate, thats when civility can start again. But until then, the only thing that the Republicans seem to recognize and respect is strength.

Holders and Clintons inflammatory rhetoric follow a common thread. As quoted by Time magazine on June 25, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) addressed a crowd of supporters in California: Lets make sure we show up wherever we have to show up. And if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd, and you push back on them, and you tell them theyre not welcome anymore, anywhere.

Waterss, Clintons, and Holders anti-democratic sentimentsthe list of names and supporting quotes could go onintensify the current atmosphere, promoting substitution of abrasive confrontation as a replacement for civil discourse.

Yet two weeks ago, columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks spoke at length during their regular segment on the PBS NewsHour about the lack of civility emanating from the White House. They commented on the presidents degrading of the culture of civil communication. Not a word, mind you, from either of them on the outrageous calls to confrontation from the presidents ardent and inflammatory opposition.

And the medias departure from objectivity grows more obvious. A New York Times headline on Oct. 26 read: Outspoken Trump Supporter in Florida Charged in Attempted Bombing Spree. Yet, when Bernie Sanders supporter James Hodgkinson opened fire on Republican congressmenhe had previously studied the intended killing fieldcausing a near-fatal injury to Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, The New York Times ran a headline that read, Alexandria Gunman 

Concerning Sayoc, is it ironic that the most vocal advocates of the use of confrontation were the intended recipients of the madmans terrorist actions? And doesnt Democratic donor Tom Steyer, also an intended recipient, see the irony in his words, when he speaks of Trump as having created an atmosphere not merely conducive to violence, but provoking violence. This after a continued barrage from the mainstream wing of the Democrat Party of not merely creating an atmosphere, as Trump is accused of doing, but actually, literally, inciting and encouraging violent confrontation.

Perhaps Sayoc was taking his cue from Holder, Clinton, Waters, and company, redirecting the hostilities back toward those who had advocated hostility.

He chose to terrorize thema true terroristrather than harm them physically. The devices were, it seems, free of gunpowder. A review of the criminal complaint filed in federal court on Oct. 26 refers to the devices as IEDs (improvised explosive devices), and describes the components, but is surprisingly vague in identifying the nature of any chemicals or substances capable of exploding.

Underscoring the drastic shift in the Democratic Party over the past few decades, a recent essay by Sam Roberts in The New York Times analyzes a new documentary film on former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.). Roberts misses the essential points when commenting on how the late senator would have reacted to the hostile political environment we find ourselves in.

Roberts refers to Moynihan as the anti-Trump of American politics (imputing the philosophy of his employer onto the late senator). But Moynihan had great respect for the office of the president, and he served under both Democratic and Republican heads of state. While the erudite and cultivated senator would no doubt have shown disdain for the somewhat coarse, unpolished Trump, his dissent would have been civil, however acerbic.

And he would have, characteristically for him, searched and reached compromise. I know of what I speak, because I worked for Moynihan both as an advance man in his first campaign and as a legislative research assistant in the Senate (along with office-mates Tim Russert, late of Meet the Press, and Elliott Abrams, a future assistant Secretary of State).

Moynihan would have been horrified by the incendiary rhetoric of members of the party to which he had been an icon, the Democratic Party not of Hillary Clinton, not of Maxine Waters and company, but rather of Scoop Jackson and the moderate wing of the party. But thats now defunct, its essential principles having a hawkish (by todays standards) foreign policy and a progressive domestic policy, liberal in its support for a well-administered social network providing aid for those truly in need, policies that have been rendered either obsolete or absorbed by the more moderate wing of the Republican Party.

To borrow from the iconic proclamation (The king is dead! Long live the king!): The Democratic Party is dead! Long live the Democrat Party?

Epoch Times contributor Marc Ruskin is a 27-year veteran of the FBI, an adjunct professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and the author of The Pretender: My Life Undercover for the FBI. He served on the legislative staff of U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan and as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, New York.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Religious Leaders Call for Unity After Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack

NEW YORKFaith leaders on Oct. 31 called for people to stand together against hate in the wake of the massacre at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Prominent religious leaders convened at an interfaith tribute at Park East Synagogue in New York City to show solidarity after a man shot and killed 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue on Oct. 27.

[I]f we stand together, united we prevail, divided we fail. United we can guarantee our security and freedom, said Rabbi Arthur Schneier of Park East Synagogue.

Dozens of religious leaders, elected officials, law enforcement members and Upper East Side synagogue congregants joined Rabbi Schneier at the special service. Young Jewish students donning United Against Hate T-shirts opened the event with a musical tribute, A Prayer for PeaceOse Shalom.

The Best of Man Will Prevail

Schneier, 88, a Holocaust survivor from Austria, said he never thought he would see a display of anti-semitism like this in the United States after escaping Europe at the end of World War II.

Ive been through the worst. Ive seen the beast of man and the best of man, he said

And the best of man are going to prevail. The best of man will prevail because we believe in life and not death. We believe in harmony and peace, and not conflict.

Schneier, who has been the senior rabbi at Park East Synagogue since 1962, won a Congressional Gold Medal in 2011 for his half century of work promoting religious freedom and human rights throughout the world. He founded the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, an interfaith coalition of business and religious leaders, in an effort to achieve this goal.

He said the Foundation pledged $100,000 to pay for funeral, medical, and psychological support costs for the shooting victims and their families.

Schneier also raised the practical matter of security and thanked law enforcement services who responded to the attack. He called for more federal funding to help protect places of worship.

Whether its a mosque, whether its a church, whether its a temple, whether its a synagogue, we cant handle it ourselves, he said. We do need the additional support.

The World has to Change

President of Park East Synagogue, Herman Hochberg, who attended the service, has been a member at the synagogue for around 40 years. He spoke of Schneiers history as an advocate against religious hatred and repression.

During the Cold War  we used to rally in front of [the consulate-general of the Soviet Union] about religious freedom and tolerance, he said.

And the Rabbi was at the forefront [of the movement].

Hochberg recalled his time growing up as a child in Brooklyn.

I had all kinds of friends, [from] all kinds of religions, he said.

But as far as worship, we respected each other. Today, theres too much hate. And the world has to change.

The world has to come together.

Interfaith Leaders Call for Unity

Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan called for people to come together to start the healing process.

[God] bids us  to come together in this holy space, not only rightly to condemn hate, but to console one another, not to point fingers, but to fold hands in prayer, and to hold hands in love and friendship, he said.

Right Reverend Clifton Daniel III, Dean of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, also voiced support for unity.

We must remember that Gods call to us today is to restore civility in national life and to put an end to division and hatred.

Brendon Fallon contributed to this article.
Voters line up to cast their ballots in Fort Worth, Texas on Super Tuesday, March 1, 2016. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Republicans, Democrats Both Scrambling to Get Out the Vote

WASHINGTONRepublicans and Democrats are duking it out, pouring vast resources into one of the most hotly contested midterm congressional elections in recent decades.

Although Republicans have shattered their own record for voter contacts, Democrats enjoy a financial advantage in the election cycle and enter the final days of the campaign with more cash on hand to launch last-minute get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts and advertising blitzes.

Passions are running high on both sides: Violent attacks on Republican candidates and their campaign offices, as well as public harassment of Republican lawmakers and senior Trump administration officials, have become increasingly common in recent months.

Events in the news such as the caravan of would-be migrants from Latin America marching toward the nations southern border have turned up the political heat. The arrest of a purported Trump supporter who mailed explosive devices to prominent Democrats and the deadly weekend attack at a Pittsburgh synagogue have inflamed Democrats and journalists and diverted attention from President Donald Trumps closing arguments.

Republican voters are enraged over the treatment of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his recent confirmation hearings. On Oct. 10, a Rasmussen Reports poll showed Republicans were angrier than Democrats about the Kavanaugh controversy and were more likely to vote as a result of it.

GOP Optimism

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Washington-based GOP strategist Michael Zak said hes optimistic about his partys chances next week.

President Trump certainly knew what he was doing when he chose Ronna McDaniel to head the RNC, said Zak, author of the book, Back to Basics for the Republican Party.

In the 2016 election, she ran a superb get-out-the-vote campaign in Michigan, which carried the state for the GOP. This year, the RNC is on track to repeat that successful initiative nationwide. I am certain that Republicans will do much better in the midterms than the Democrat media predicts.

The fact that the Democrats have outpaced the Republicans on fundraising wont matter in the end, he said. Countering the Democrats money advantage is the Republicans edge in enthusiasm.

Republicans claim to have made a record-breaking number of voter contacts.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) told the Washington Free Beacon that it has contacted 58 million voters as part of its GOTV effort. The GOPs ground game operation is now active in 28 states. If digital GOTV outreach is included, the party expects to have carried out billions of voter engagements by Election Day on Nov. 6. The party says it has 540 paid staffers and north of 200,000 volunteers.

Part of this effort is the Republican Leadership Initiative Fellowship, which Republicans have called a game changer that helped to elect Trump. The program boasts 25,000 fellows, which is five times the size of its voter-outreach force in 2016.

The fellows are trained as neighborhood team leaders and core team leaders and groomed as permanent field organizers, participating in a six-week training program that covers political organizing activities, such as recruiting volunteers, gathering and interpreting data, and leading voter contact activities such as knocking on doors and phone-banking.

They are critical to our permanent, on-the-ground presence and largely considered our eyes and ears as they have a constant pulse of the community, according to the RNC.

Democratic Strong Efforts

On the other side, Maria Simpson, a longtime Democratic operative, said her party is making strong efforts to target women and minority voters.

Grassroots Democrats down here in southern Virginia are very fired up as a result of the bitter confirmation fight over Kavanaugh and are sympathetic to the #MeToo movement that is about raising awareness of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

But she was reluctant to make a prediction about whether Democrats will recapture the House of Representatives. Based on how unpredictable voters can be, I would be very cautious about how it will turn out, Simpson said.

Ever since Dewey versus Truman everybody should have some level of humility, she said, referencing the 1948 election in which pollsters incorrectly predicted GOP challenger Thomas E. Dewey would unseat President Harry Truman.

Democrats point to various anecdotes to suggest their voter outreach program is on the march. The party is gambling heavily on getting minority voters to the voting booth.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which supports House candidates, is spending $25 million on voter outreach aimed at blacks, Latinos, Asians, millennials, and women, Vox reports.

The Democratic National Committee has plowed more than $3 million into organizing and voter registration in 15 states in the off-year election, NBC News reports. DNC Chairman Tom Perez has pushed back after his party was criticized for not putting enough effort into Latino voter outreach. I knew when I took this job, we needed to up our game in every community, he said.

A quilt of black activist groups is trying to turn out minority voters for Democrats.

BlackPAC is spending $8 million on radio ads and mailers in Georgia and nine other states. PowerPAC Georgia is spending $5 million on turning out black voters outside metropolitan Atlanta. Collective PAC is conducting a national text-messaging program aimed at 2 million black voters in at least five states. The Black Economic Alliance is spending $2.6 million on GOTV efforts in 15 national and state races. Color of Change PAC, which is backed by labor unions and billionaire Tom Steyer, is spending $5 million to reach 1 million black voters.

Record Turnout?

Voter turnout in the Nov. 6 off-year congressional elections may break records if recent polling is to be believed, although past experience suggests that indications of high voter interest should be taken with a grain of salt.

A recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showed 65 percent of respondents had high interest in the election. The most comparable expression of interest from voters in recent years was 2006, when 61 percent indicated they were highly interested in that midterm election.

But the 65 percent interest figure probably wont translate into 65 percent turnout.

Historically, most voters skip national elections in which there is no presidential race. Non-presidential elections often see a drop of 20 percentage points in voter turnout from the preceding presidential election. For example, voting-eligible turnout rates hovered around 60 percent in the past four presidential elections, according to the United States Election Project. In off-year elections over the same period, turnout topped 40 percent only in 2010 and 2006, falling to 36.7 percent in 2014.

Put another way, despite 61 percent of voters expressing interest in the 2006 election, only 40.4 percent of eligible voters bothered to cast a ballot that year. That said, evidence suggests that in the current election voters who identify as Republicans are voting early in greater numbers than Democrats.

GOP-affiliated voters have surpassed Democratic-affiliated ones in early voting in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Montana, Tennessee and Texas, the data showed. Only in Nevada have Democratic-affiliated voters exceeded Republican-affiliated voters so far in early voting, according to the data, NBC reported Oct. 28.

The Odds

The Real Clear Politics polling average for the so-called generic congressional ballot question gives Democrats a 7.5-percentage point lead over Republicans.

Conventional wisdom holds that Republicans are unlikely to hang onto the 435-seat House. Based on current standings, Democrats would need to pick up a net 23 seats to take control. Since World War II, the party occupying the White House has on average lost 26 House seats in midterm contests.

According to FiveThirtyEight, Democrats are favored to win a majority of seats if they win the popular vote by at least 5.6 points. The website gives that party an 85.4 percent chance of wresting control of the House from Republicans, who are given a mere 14.6 percent chance of maintaining control. Republicans maintaining control of the Senate seems an increasingly safe bet. FiveThirtyEight calculates there is an 84.7 percent chance Republicans maintain control, versus a 15.3 percent chance Democrats take over.

Republicans currently have 51 seats in the 100-seat chamber, compared to the Democrats 49 seats (which includes two Independents who caucus with the Democrats). Democrats are defending 26 Senate seats; Republicans are defending nine.

Democrats have outraised Republicans in House and Senate races in the current election cycle, and have a cash advantage in the closing week of the campaign.

In House races, Democrats have raised $923 million, spent $801.1 million, and have $261.3 million remaining in cash on hand, according to Center for Responsive Politics figures. Republicans have raised $612.4 million, spent $547.3 million, and have $201 million in cash.

In Senate races, Democrats have raised $540.1 million, spent $459.8 million, and have $168.6 million in cash. Republicans have raised $395.8 million, spent $342.6 million, and have $153.2 million in cash.
The Soyuz 2.1b rocket carrying a military spacecraft takes off from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in Arkhangelsk region, Russia, on Oct. 25, 2018. (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service/Handout via Reuters)

Russian Soyuz Rocket Failure Caused by Damaged Sensor: Investigation

MOSCOWThe abortive launch last month of a manned Soyuz mission to space was caused by a sensor damaged during the rockets assembly at the cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Russian investigators said on Nov. 1.

A Russian cosmonaut and U.S. astronaut were forced to scrap their mission on Oct. 11, after a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS) failed, sending them plunging back to Earth in an emergency landing.

Presenting findings of an official inquiry into the accident, chief investigator Igor Skorobogatov said two more Soyuz rockets might have the same defect and that new checks were now being introduced into the rocket assembly process.

The mishap occurred as the first and second stages of a Russian booster rocket separated around two minutes after liftoff from Kazakhstans Soviet-era cosmodrome of Baikonur.

The reason for the abnormal separation  was due to a deformation of the stem of the contact separation sensor, Skorobogatov told reporters.

It has been proven, fully confirmed that this happened specifically because of this sensor, and that could only have happened during the packages assembly at the Baikonur cosmodrome, he said.

Russian space agency Roscosmos aired footage filmed by an onboard camera, showing the Soyuz blasting off and climbing normally until three of its booster rockets detach, with one of them appearing to fall inwards, rather than away from it.

The Soyuz is then knocked sharply off its trajectory and can be seen shaking and swinging as the footage is partly obscured by a spewing white cloud.

Skorobogatov said the Soyuzs central block was hit in the fuel tank area, causing a depressurization and, as a result, a loss of the space rockets stabilization.

The accident was the first serious launch problem experienced by a manned Soyuz space mission since 1983, when a crew narrowly escaped before a launchpad explosion.

Roscosmos said on Wednesday it hoped to launch its first manned mission since the accident on Dec. 3.

The launch had been planned for mid-December, but senior Roscosmos official Sergei Krikalyov said they hoped to bring it forward so that the ISS is not switched to autopilot when the current three-man crew on board leave.
Son Admits to Double Homicide Because He Was Sick of His Parents

Illinois police have recovered the bodies of a Bradley University professor and her husband, and have charged their son with first-degree murder.

Jose Ramirez, 21, allegedly told investigators he was sick of his parents and stabbed them to death, before dumping their bodies off a bridge.

Susan Brill De Ramirez, 63, was an English professor at Bradley. Her husband, Antonio Ramirez Barron, also 63 years old, was an IT specialist at the same university. Suspicions were raised when the two failed to show up at work on Friday, Oct. 26.

The bodies of the couple were found Tuesday in the Spoon River near Annawan, resting against the riverbank, Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said.

Peoria County Sheriff Brian Asbell told a press conference that Ramirez was arrested and charged on Monday with two counts of first-degree murder after he confessed to killing his parents.

Asbell added the confession was corroborated by evidence found at the scene. This included a call from a concerned relative, signs of a struggle, and traces of blood in the family home.

He also said that 20-year-old Matthew Roberts was also arrested in connection with the double homicide. Roberts faces charges of obstruction of justice and concealment of a homicidal death.

The sheriff also told reporters that he wanted to let the county rest easy that we dont have someone out there whos possibly hurting other people.

This was an isolated incident, Asbell said, and added that we are not looking for any further suspects at this time.

The Associated Press reported that Dave Kenny, Peoria County assistant states attorney, said during a bond hearing Tuesday that Ramirez recounted how he waited until his parents were asleep at home before going into their bedroom. Kenny said Ramirez used pepper spray as a distraction and stabbed his father in the stomach and neck, then stabbed his mother when she woke up.

Ramirez then wrapped the bodies in a tarp and a tent, put them in his fathers SUV and drove them about 50 miles to the Henry County community of Annawan, according to the report. He then dumped the bodies off a bridge into a waterway.

According to earlier reporting by the Journal Star, suspicion fell on Ramirez early in the investigation, in part because of tips received by detectives suggesting his possible involvement in the deaths. Ramirez was allegedly known for causing discipline problems with his parents, according to an anonymous source cited by the Journal Star.

The suspect reportedly tried to cover his tracks by staging a burglary at the scene.

A source told the Journal Star that prior to the suspects confession, detectives had gathered evidence that Ramirez had held a long-simmering hatred for his parents.

Judge Sean Donahue scheduled the suspected killers arraignment for Nov. 29.

Peoria is about 130 miles southwest of Chicago.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Georgia gubernatorial candidates (L-R) Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican Brian Kemp debate in an event that also included Libertarian Ted Metz at Georgia Public Broadcasting in Midtown Oct. 23, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (John Bazemore-Pool/Getty Images)

Stacey Abrams: The Socialists Candidate for Governor of Georgia

Commentary

Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams is being covertly supported by the United States largest Marxist organization, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

The organization wont publicly endorse Abrams, who is a Democrat, but its urging their membership to get involved in her campaign against Republican Brian Kemp.

Abrams has been linked to the Metro Atlanta chapter of the DSA for many years, having attended the organizations first membership meeting in 2011. But the relationship has gone into overdrive since Abrams announced her run for the governors mansion.

Brian Kemp must not be governor, an article in the September 2018 issue of Metro Atlanta DSAs publication Equality states. The Metro Atlanta Democratic Socialists of America stand in solidarity with our fellow Georgians against the government that we have been promised under four more years of Republican leadership. We stand with the workers who work harder than any of the wealthy elite in our state. We stand with those who continue to suffer under white supremacy in the state.

We stand with all of these working families who want Stacey Abrams to be the next governor of this state. For many reasons, we cannot endorse Abrams ourselves, but neither can we stand aside while our friends and allies fight for something they know will make their lives better. We voted to encourage our members, if they feel so moved, to stand up and fight in this election cycle.

There is also evidence that DSA has been supporting Abramss gubernatorial bid from the very beginning. South Fulton, Georgia, city Councilman Khalid Kamau, a Black Lives Matter activist and a DSA member, has close ties to Abrams dating back to 2015. At that time, then-Georgia House Democrat leader Abrams campaigned with Floyd Griffin, the Democratic candidate for Georgia House District 145; Kamau was Griffins field organizer at the time.

On April 8, the DSA-aligned Working Families Party and DSA-affiliated Georgia feminist Aimee Castenell held an event in support of Abrams, with speakers that included Kamau, Georgia state Rep. Renitta Shannon, and Georgia state Sen. Nan Orrock.

At the event, Kamau declared himself a socialist and urged all attendees to get involved in Abramss campaign. Shannon and Orrock are both close DSA affiliates. Orrock, in particular, is a decades-long veteran of the Georgia left, dating back from her time supporting the pro-China October League in the early 1970s (Orrock was then known as Nan Grogan Guerrero).

Georgia State University professor Alex Sayf Cummings posted a short video of the event on Twitter.

In August 2017, state Rep. Stacey Evans, a white woman who was Abramss main competition to be the Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia, spent her entire 10-minute speech at the annual Netroots Nation Conference talking over protesters who chanted, Trust black women!

The disruptive protesters accused white progressives and Democrats of holding Rep. Stacey Abrams (D-Ga.), the first black female leader of her party in the legislature, to higher standards than the white and moderate Evans, according to The Washington Post.

An interruption is not necessarily promoting one person over another, said Anoa Changa, a protester who spoke outside the convention hall after Evans left the stage. How do you have someone onstage with groups like the [National Education Association] that are fighting the issues that she supports? Come on!'

Abrams, first elected in 2006, had been a star at previous Netroots Nations conventions, and spent two days working the convention with a message about how massive voter registration could activate black voters.

We can change the face of Georgia, forever, she told supporters at a Thursday night fundraiser near the convention.

Changa is now a leading member of the Abrams campaign; she also serves on Metro Atlanta DSAs electoral group. Changa recently attended one of Metro Atlanta DSAs monthly Eat, Drink, & Be Marxist events.

Metro Atlanta DSAs Afro-socialist group leader and current Chair Erin Parks also works on the Abrams campaign.

In November 2017, the Working Families Party announced its endorsement for Abrams for governor of Georgia.

I am honored to have the support of the Working Families Party. Together, we are committed to fostering an economy that works for every Georgian, regardless of zip code, and creating a government that lifts up the voice of everyone, Abrams said in the announcement.

Eric Robertson, who is helping to organize the Working Families Party in Georgia, in the announcement: Stacey Abrams is someone we can count on to always stand with working families. Whether its pushing to make childcare more affordable, expanding healthcare coverage or stopping job misclassification that cheats workers out of pay and benefits, she is fighting to make a difference in the lives of working people.

Robertson is now political director at the New Georgia Project Action Fund, the fundraising arm of Abramss voter registration organization New Georgia Project. He also served on the executive committee of Metro Atlanta DSA.

Currently, the DSA has about 500 members in Atlanta, and an additional 80 or so around Augusta, and yet more groups in Athens and smaller communities around the state.

These DSA members are committed revolutionary activists who are willing to write checks and put in long hours going door-to-door and phone-banking on behalf of their ally Abrams. Currently, Abrams and her Republican opponent Kemp are neck-and-neck in the polls. If Abrams wins, shell owe a huge debt to Americas largest Marxist organization.

Trevor Loudon is an author, filmmaker and public speaker from New Zealand. For more than 30 years, he has researched radical left, Marxist and terrorist movements and their covert influence on mainstream politics.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Supreme Court Urged to End Lawyers Abuses in Class-Action Lawsuits

Lawyers in class-action lawsuits shouldnt be allowed to short-change class-action plaintiffs and funnel their settlement money to charities they favor but which the plaintiffs may not, attorney and think-tank official Theodore H. Frank told the Supreme Court during oral arguments on Oct. 31.

The interest group AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) came under fire in oral arguments as the Trump administration told justices the well-heeled group had no reason to be awarded settlement funds in a lawsuit it had nothing to do with.

The case, cited as Frank v. Gaos, is an appeal of a decision rendered by the oft-overturned U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

It arises from an $8.5 million fund created as part of a settlement with Google over privacy abuses committed by the Silicon Valley giant. The search engine giant allegedly violated its users privacy by disclosing their search terms to other websites.

Out of that $8.5 million, $2.1 million went to lawyers, $1 million went to administrative expenses, and $5.3 million went to unaffiliated third-party groups with whom Google and some of the attorneys in the proceeding were friendly.

The lead plaintiffs received a few thousand dollars each, but the bulk of those participating in the lawsuit received nothing.

The $5.3 million went to the Center for Information, Society, and Policy at Chicago-Kent College of Law; the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University; the Stanford Center for Internet and Society; the World Privacy Forum; Carnegie Mellon University; and AARP.

Frank and Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) lawyer Melissa Holyoak participated as members of the court-designated class of plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Google.

On Halloween, Frank argued his own case in person before the Supreme Court, something that rarely happens. He is director of litigation and director of the Center for Class Action Fairness (CCAF) at the CEI. Frank founded CCAF as a nonprofit public-interest law firm in 2009. It merged with CEI in 2015.

Slush Funds

In an interview with The Epoch Times on the courthouse steps after oral arguments, Frank summarized the case: I want them to put a stop to the practice of lawyers using class-action settlements to create slush funds for themselves at the expense of their putative clients.

Such funds often find their way to left-wing causes.

Certainly because lawyers are dictating where the money goes to and most lawyers are on the left, this is money that tends to go to left-wing causes, he said.

While we didnt raise it in this case, we have raised it in other cases, and if the court doesnt shut down the corrupt practice and just wants to nibble on the edges, well certainly attack that abuse if someone tries to send my settlement money to a cause I disagree with.

In response to a question from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg during oral arguments, Frank said the ruling by the Ninth Circuit needs to be overturned because it creates perverse incentives for class counsel to divert money away from their clients and to third parties.

When courts have insisted that attorneys dont get paid unless their clients get paid, the attorneys find a way to improve the claims process and make money get to the class, Frank said.

As Near as Possible

The case deals with the use of the legal doctrine of cy pres in class-action lawsuits. Cy presa truncation of cy pres comme possible, French for as near as possibleis a rule used when a testator or donors intent cannot be carried out. For example, under cy pres, a charity like the March of Dimes, which took in donations aimed at eradicating polio, could focus on other diseases once polio was vanquished.

But in class-action lawsuits, the doctrine is often abused, Frank argued in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. Attorneys too often bilk their clients by claiming it would be too difficult to distribute the money to class members.

Right away, there is a conflict of interest, Frank wrote. Any attorney with a choice between sending out a million $5 checks to clients hes never met or being part of a ceremony to hand over oversize $1 million novelty checks to five of his favorite charitiesand receiving a full fee either waywill have a strong incentive to leave the clients with nothing.

Chief Justice John Roberts seems sympathetic to this view. He said in 2013 that using cy pres to dole out money presents conflicts of interest for the lawyers and judges who choose the recipients of the funds. The Supreme Court may need to clarify the limits of the use of cy pres remedies, he said.

Roberts presented particularly pointed questions to the lawyers arguing the case.

Attorney Andrew J. Pincus, representing Google LLC, stumbled under questioning, leading to an eruption of laughter in the courtroom. But do you think that problem is going to be meaningfully redressed by giving money to AARP? Roberts said. Roberts described AARP as a group that  engages in political activity.

Well, III think the question is  Pincus said. I thinkI think it is because I 

Roberts pounced: As if this is only a problem for elderly people?

No, but AARP is not the only recipient and elderly people are particularly  Pincus said as he was interrupted.

Well, youre changing the subject, Mr. Pincus. AARP is one of the recipients, Roberts said.

Pincus justified handing over the money to AARP, an advocacy group allied with Google that lobbies for bigger government.

It is a fact that elderly people are less knowledgeable about privacy and their vulnerability on the internet than other people, the lawyer said. And so having part of the award be designated  for that group, we think, meets that fit test.

On behalf of the Trump administration, Principal Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey B. Wall told the justices that reform was needed. Meaningful limits are necessary to align incentives and deter abuse of the class action device, he said in response to a question from Roberts.

AARP received a payment it did not deserve, Wall said. Even though the groups proposal dealt with online fraud, this wasnt even a fraud case. All the fraud claims were dismissed.
The entrance of the world largest international police organization Interpol headquarters in Lyon, eastern France on May 6, 2010. (JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images)

Taiwan Seeks Observer Status at Interpol, as It Endures Massive Cyberattacks From China

Taiwan is seeking observer status for the 87th Interpol General Assembly, in hopes of engaging the international organizations help in dealing with problems it faces because of cyberattacks from China.

Eradicating cybercrime is one of three priorities listed by Interpol in its Strategic Framework 20172020, along with counterterrorism, and organized and emerging crimes. Among these, cybercrime is also listed at the top of the list of emerging crimes.

Bloomberg News recently reported that China has ramped up its cyberattacks on Taiwan. The attacks have been ongoing, with an estimated 20 million to 40 million each month in 2017, and have been increasing ahead of Taiwans elections Nov. 24. These elections are for all local-level government officials, including mayors, county and city councilors, and other officeholders.

Relations between mainland China and the self-ruled island of Taiwan are strained, as Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland one day, with military force if necessary.

After Chinas civil war in 1949, members of the Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan following a defeat by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Since then, mainland China has been under authoritarian, one-party rule, while the island of Taiwan has transitioned into a full-fledged democracy with its first direct presidential election held in 1996.

In the past, the Chinese regime has tried to interfere with Taiwans elections in different ways, such as missile threats, or altering trade deals.

Earlier this month, Leu Weng-jong, director general of the investigation bureau of Taiwans Ministry of Justice, said his department has gathered intelligence on about 33 instances of China assisting Taiwanese political candidates with pro-Beijing leanings. Leu identified two chief methods: indirect political donations and the creation of Taiwanese political groups that advocate for pro-Beijing causes.

The cyberattacks not only aim to damage the elections, but also are meant to undermine Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen, who has defied efforts to bring Taiwan under Beijings control, according to Bloomberg. Among the efforts to undermine Taiwan has been Beijings recent attempts to pressure the island nations diplomatic partners into recognizing only one China.

Taiwans request to be granted observer status at the Interpol General Assembly is an effort to break through the isolation Beijing is seeking to impose. Taiwan was a member of Interpol until 1984, when China gained membership in the organization.

Taiwans Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) sent a letter to Interpol in late September requesting to attend this years annual General Assembly with a status of observer. Taiwan has also reportedly made other efforts to communicate with Interpol through different channels.

Taiwans Central News Agency (CNA) has sent emails to Interpol about the status of CIBs request. On Oct. 17, Interpol replied to CNAs email by referring to its 1984 decision to recognize the Peoples Republic of China as a legitimate member. The ongoing cyberattacks from China, together with Interpols priority on cybercrimes, appear to have put the organization in an awkward position about Taiwans potential participation.

Politics should not override global security needs, Tsai Tsan-Po, CIB commissioner, said in a letter sent to Interpol in late October. Taiwans exclusion from Interpol creates a gap in intelligence sharing and a loophole for criminal activity.

Tsais letter mentioned that Taiwan had earned widespread acclaim for its public security, and said, The international community should not exclude Taiwan in the fight against transnational crimes.

Observer status would also allow Taiwan to gain international cooperation in dealing with the massive cyberattacks by Beijing.

The Interpol General Assembly is scheduled to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates from Nov. 16 to Nov. 21.
Tasting Event Promotes Healthy Korean Cuisine

South Korean healthy food has landed in the San Francisco Bay Area. On Oct. 20, a tasting event was held at 99 Ranch Markets Milpitas branch to attract people to try various foods and snacks. Children enjoyed the sweet and crunchy Korean pears, and elderly people liked the nutritious chicken ginseng soup.

Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. (aT), which is dedicated to promoting Korean food, held its 2018 Korean Healthy Food Awards at five branches of the 99 Ranch Market in the Bay Area. The event included trying special products and entering prize drawings for free items.

On the same day, Milpitas Vice Mayor Marsha Grilli, Milpitas councilmember Bob Nunez, and Milpitas Chamber of Commerce director Victor San Vicente attended the opening ceremony. The Milpitas City Council awarded aT a commendation for its effort to enrich the community with Korean food culture and allow people to deepen their interest in Korean food.

Fresh and Healthy

Grilli nodded appreciatively as she tried various Korean foods.

After tasting Korean food and drink, I feel that Korean food is fresh and healthy, she said. I like it very much! My husband and I often travel overseas. Every time we go to a new place, we like to taste local food.

She said it was a great experience to try Korean food in Milpitas, and she appreciated the event. She noted that the city of Milpitas has a large Asian population.

I really like this kind of activity. Helping the community to understand different cultures and traditional cooking methods is very educational and inspiring, good for the community. It also obviously helps promote this, said Grilli.

I like [Korean food] very much, said San Vicente. I have many Korean friends, so I have liked Korean food for the past 20 or 30 years. It can be said I basically eat Korean food every day. Korean food is very healthy, and a healthy person is a happy person!

He enjoyed the aT tasting event.

This kind of activity makes more people notice Korean food. This is of course very good, so that more people can eat healthier food, and the price is also very good, so it will attract more people. More customers come, he said.

People sampled pear slices, grapefruit honey tea, and ginseng chicken soup.

Milpitas resident Situ said, Its delicious; you dont have to cook it.

Another Milpitas resident, Cang Quach, said, Yes, its delicious; I can always see the advertisement of chicken ginseng soup on TV.

Park Ji-hui, manager of the Los Angeles branch of aT, said: Korean food is delicious, and it is very healthy, such as chicken soup with Korean ginseng. It is easy to cook, and many of them are semi-finished products.

Park said the food is suitable for families with fast-paced lifestyles.

Jessie Park said: Through this event, I hope that more consumers can taste Korean food, such as Korean pear, citron tea, and chicken soup, and have the opportunity to purchase more Korean food.

Jessie Park thanked The Epoch Times and New Tang Dynasty Television, which were co-organizers of the event.

Korean cuisine methods and ingredients are being used by more and more chefs internationally because of the cuisines unique taste and healthy properties. According to 99 Ranch Markets statistics, the sales volume of Korean products has recently been increasing by 5 percent each year.

The organizers sent gifts of more than 5,000 Korean specialty foods for the event.

Korean Food at 99 Ranch Market

Aaron Zhou, VP of Store Operation at 99 Ranch Market, said: I am very grateful to the organizers for organizing such an event here. We found that many new customers have been visiting the store today. I hope that such activities can continue in the future.  We are able to understand more about customer needs, which is very helpful for us to improve our services and develop online sales as well.

Zhou talked about the characteristics of Korean food.

Korean food has three main advantages, he said. The first is that the production and packaging are very delicate, a lot of snack brands and diverse taste, which is very popular with young people. The second is that the taste is heavy, and it tastes appetizing. Many people like it. The third is the health function.

He said that many foods are supplemented with Korean ginseng.

He believes that as the United States tightens its immigration policy, it will affect the Chinese family composition. There will be more young families, and they will be more inclined to buy Korean food that is easier to cook, such as chicken soup.

Zhou said: 99 Ranch Markets development objective is to provide customers with one-stop shopping. So in addition to traditional Chinese food, 99 Ranch Market has been increasing Japanese and Korean products year by year and constantly expanding the types of goods.
The logo of Amazon is seen at the company logistics centre in Boves, France, August 8, 2018. Picture taken August 27, 2018. (Pascal Rossignol/File photo/Reuters)

Testy Talks, Tangled Taxes: Amazons Slow Push Into Brazils Retail Jungle

SAO PAULOAmazon.com Inc. is struggling to ramp up its operations in Brazil, a promising market that so far has proven difficult for the worlds largest online retailer to crack, according to nearly twenty people with knowledge of the situation.

Challenges include the nations tangled tax system, complicated logistics, and testy relations with some prominent vendors, who say the Seattle behemoth has shown little flexibility in negotiating even though it is still a minor e-commerce player in Brazil.

Several well-known firms here, including Brazilian fashion label AMARO and footwear and accessory retailer Arezzo Industria e Comercio SA, have declined Amazons offers to sell their goods on its platforms, according to seven of the people. Some big electronics manufacturerssuch as Lenovo Group Ltd., one of the worlds largest computer makershave inked contracts only in the last few weeks after months of intense wrangling.

No one is counting Amazon out. The company continues to push ahead with plans to construct its own in-house fulfillment and delivery network in Brazil, tasks that currently are handled by the vendors whose merchandise it sells on its site.

But that initiative is taking longer than expected and, when finally unveiled, is likely to be modest in scope compared to its operations in other emerging markets such as India and Mexico, according to interviews with current and former employees, manufacturers, consultants and others with knowledge of the effort.

Amazon, in response to a list of questions from Reuters, said it did not comment on rumors or speculations.

AMARO declined to comment. Arezzo and Lenovo had no immediate comment.

Amazons rocky Brazil rollout comes as the retailer is under pressure to boost sales outside its core U.S. market. The companys shares were hammered last week after third-quarter results showed disappointing international sales and a slowdown in overall growth.

While Amazon has expanded rapidly in some emerging markets, it continues to play catch-up in Brazil, where strong local competitors dominate. Shares of homegrown e-commerce players B2W Cia Digital SA and Magazine Luiza SA have risen sharply over the past year.

Asset manager Alexandre Silverio, whose firm holds sizeable positions in some of Brazils largest domestic e-commerce players, said Amazon will have to fight to be king of the jungle here.

Brazil is very different than other markets. You have to know logistics, taxes, said Silverio, head of equities at Sao Paulo-based AZ Quest Investimentos. I dont know how the e-commerce market will be composed here in ten years. But in the short-term, Im not worried about Amazon.

Taxes, Transport, and Red Tape

Amazon has been present in Brazilian retail since 2012. But for most of that time it has stuck mainly to selling books.

The company does not disclose its Brazilian sales, but analysts estimate Amazons revenue is a fraction of that of B2W and Magazine Luiza. Those firms combined for about $4.75 billion in digital sales in 2017, according to securities filings and presentations.

Amazon made its first big move into merchandise in October 2017, when it began offering the use of its Brazilian website to third-party merchants to sell electronics. Under this business, known as Amazon Marketplace, sellers are responsible for handling their own fulfillment and delivery. In recent months, the firm has slowly expanded its Marketplace and moved into clothing and sporting goods.

But a central strategy for Amazon in markets it dominates is taking all those functions in-house to ensure fast delivery and top-flight customer service. In retail parlance that format is known as first party, or 1P.

In Brazil, the company over the past year has laid the groundwork for a 1P operation. The firm has purchased a large warehouse outside Sao Paulo, made dozens of hires and discussed logistics partnerships with firms including airline Azul SA, according to several people familiar with the effort.

Amazon had at one point planned to unveil its 1P business in September, according to one person with direct knowledge of the matter. Several Amazon counterparties have since described repeated delays in the roll-out.

Some expressed doubt that Amazon would have the new platform ready in time for Brazils Nov. 23 Black Friday discount day, a date considered unmissable for taking advantage of the Christmas shopping season.

Building out a logistics network has been particularly challenging for Amazon, two people with direct knowledge of its Brazil operations said.

The countrys land mass is larger than that of the continental United States, but key roads are choked with traffic and cargo theft is rampant.

The firm has also found Brazils Byzantine tax system difficult to navigate, three other people said. Many online retailers here have extensive departments dedicated solely to handling tax matters.

An executive at one of Brazils largest appliance firms said Amazon officials have pushed back launch estimates for the 1P program several times, citing difficulties in sorting out taxes.

Talking Tough

Perhaps the most significant sticking point has been negotiations between Amazon and potential suppliers. Near the beginning of March, Amazon met with Brazils largest electronics manufacturers at a hotel in southwestern Sao Paulo to introduce its planned 1P service here, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Amazon representatives were surprised at the level of skepticism they encountered, one of the people said.

The officials were trying to negotiate with the brands thinking that they were Amazon U.S., said the person, who had direct knowledge of Amazons bargaining with manufacturers. But you are in a market in Brazil with many competitors that are significantly larger.

Attendees were put off by what they perceived as the firms inflexible bargaining position, according to two representatives from major suppliers. They said matters improved little in subsequent one-on-one talks with the retailer. Multiple parties said they felt Amazon was trying to avoid customizing contract terms to the realities of Brazils idiosyncratic retail market.

For instance, one executive at a major electronics manufacturer cited disagreements with the retailer over how they would split the cost of handling potential customer complaints made to municipal and state consumer protection agencies.

Vendors that have agreed to participate in the 1P platform said it is not shaping up to be a blockbuster for this holiday season. For instance, Lenovo signed a deal just last week and is among a number of major firms that have yet to deliver products to Amazon with Christmas fast approaching, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

Three other large firms, including Midea Group Co. Ltd., a major producer of kitchen appliances and air conditioners in Brazil, will sell just a small selection of products through Amazons 1P operation, according to two people familiar with the situation. They described the effort as a modest test phase to flesh out kinks in the system.

Representatives for Midea did not have an immediate comment.

Asset manager Silverio, meanwhile, is continuing to bet on Amazons Brazilian competitors.

There was fear when Amazon first started to eye Brazil, he said. But it has been doing things very cautiously.

By Gram Slattery & Gabriela Mello
(L-R) David M. Lampton, Hyman Professor and Director of China Studies Emeritus, Johns Hopkins University SAIS, Susan A. Thornton, Senior Fellow, Paul Tsai China Center, Yale Law School, Former Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Evan Osnos, Nonresident Fellow,Foreign Policy, John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings Institution, Thomas Wright, Senior Fellow of Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, and Evan Medeiros, Penner Family Chair in Asian Studies at Georgetown University, at the "The China debate: Are US and Chinese long-term interests fundamentally incompatible?" event at Brookings Institution in Washington on Oct. 30, 2018. (Wu Wei/NTD)

The Great Debate: Are the United States and China Incompatible?

WASHINGTONObservers of U.S.-China relations could be forgiven for experiencing a little vertigo.

Relations between the two countries have been changing rapidly and drastically. To help come to terms with the new situation, the Brookings Institution and Yale University staged a debate on Oct. 30.

At issue: Are U.S. and Chinese long-term interests fundamentally incompatible?

Before the 90-minute debate, 35 percent of some 200 audience members thought that U.S. and Chinese long-term interests are fundamentally incompatible, 50 percent voted no, while 15 percent were undecided.

After the debate, four-fifths of the undecided, or 12 percent of the audience, came down on the yes position: the long-term interests are incompatible.

Arguing for the yes team, Evan Medeiros, the Penner Family chair in Asian Studies at Georgetown University, said that because Chinas behavior over the years had changed and evolved, the assumptions that drove U.S.-China policy needed to change, too.

U.S. and Chinese interests are substantially and increasingly incompatible, Medeiros said in the opening argument. U.S. and Chinese interests diverge more than they converge; and the trajectory is towards a greater degree of divergence than convergence.

Medeiros said that, according to Chinese regimes official documents, China has three core interests: maintenance of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s role and social stability; protection of territory and complete sovereignty and unification; and economic and social development.

Because of these goals, U.S. and Chinese interests are incompatible and becoming more so, Medeiros said. The differences of our political systems are an enduring source of distrust, and Chinese efforts to maintain social control at home, especially by using technology, will only draw a starker contrast with the United States.

The U.S. political system is seen by China inherently as a threat. Both U.S. media and NGOs are constantly criticizing China; and there is no American political leader that will ever confirm the legitimacy of the leader of the Communist Party, as the Chinese desire.

Regarding sovereignty and territory, the United States and China will continue to disagree about Taiwan and Chinas various territory claims, Medeiros said.

Regarding economic development, The practical reality is, the policies that China is pursuing are ones that are deeply inimical with U.S. interests.

Medeiros said the CCP is denying basic rights to ethnic and religious minorities, while clamping down on the universal rights of people in China.

These behaviors will never be accepted by the United States, and the differences will only become a greater source of concern, he said.

Susan Thornton, senior fellow at the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School, argued for the no team, that while there are many incompatible issues between the United States and China, We have many interests in common with China.

One is the continuation of the current systems of nation-states within strong international institutions and another is the continuation of the international system.

Thomas Wright, senior fellow of foreign policy at the Brookings Institution, responded for the yes team that its meaningless to see only whats in common between two countries, since, at one time, the United States and Soviet Union also had many common goals.

There is an increasingly ideological element to the competition, Wright said. And that is natural, that is core. China worries that if the U.S.-led international order succeeds globally, it will be bad news for its regime.

And if China succeeds in making the world safer for totalitarianism, that will be bad news for our liberal international order, Wright said.

Wright said that focusing on areas of cooperation and minimizing the areas of competition is very risky, because that would allow vulnerabilities that cant be managed in the future to occur, especially on the technology side, such as artificial intelligence.

While the United States might have won the technological battles in the past, that might not continue in the future.

We would say that matters because we should worry about who wins, Wright said. It does actually make a fundamental difference.
Three Funerals Set as Pittsburgh Grieves Synagogue Shooting Victims

PITTSBURGHPittsburgh prepared to hold three more funerals on Oct. 31, for Jewish victims of a shooting rampage at a synagogue that has become the focus of a fierce political debate about white nationalism and anti-Semitism ahead of hotly contested U.S. congressional elections next week.

Eleven worshippers were gunned down on Saturday morning by a man who stormed into the Tree of Life Synagogue and opened fire, yelling anti-Semitic statements including: All Jews must die. It was believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in the United States in recent history.

Funerals were to be held on Wednesday for Melvin Wax, 88, who was leading Sabbath services when the attack began; retired real estate agent Irving Younger, 69; and retired university researcher Joyce Fienberg, 75.

Mourners began showing up in gray, cool weather, hours before Fienbergs midmorning funeral at the Beth Shalom Synagogue as police blocked off surrounding streets.

The early crowd was lighter than the one for the Tuesday funeral of brothers Cecil and David Rosenthal, widely known and praised as the helpers at Tree of Life.

The aftermath of the tragedy still pervaded life in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood where the synagogue is located.

In coffee shops, customers talked about the victims they knew. In the street, friends embraced and comforted one another during the period of raw grief.

Amid the first funerals for victims on Tuesday, Trump visited Tree of Life.

Trump made no public comments during his visit, but wrote on Twitter on Wednesday morning that his office had been shown great respect on a very sad and solemn day in Pittsburgh.

He was also caught on video visiting the hospital and thanking the employees there.

More than 1,800 people paid their respects on Tuesday at Rodef Shalom, another synagogue in Squirrel Hill, the heart of the citys Jewish community.

The accused gunman in the synagogue attack, Robert Bowers, was charged on Monday with 29 federal felony counts including hate crimes.

Four days after the attack, nerves in Squirrel Hill were still frayed. A public school was placed on lockdown following an unsubstantiated report that someone had brought a gun onto campus, police said

Jodi Smith, a Pittsburgh native, joined mourners ahead of the Wax funeral at the Ralph Schugar Chapel and remembered him as a very polite, gentle man.

I could have claimed him as a father, Smith said. He was always at the synagogue, always helping out. The synagogue had been his life since his wife passed away a few years ago.

Fienberg spent 25 years as a researcher at the University of Pittsburghs Learning Research and Development Center until she retired in 2008.

She was an engaging, elegant, and warm person, the center said on Facebook.

Younger, whose funeral will also be held at Rodef Shalom, was remembered as a doting grandfather.
Tree of Life Rabbi Was Pleasantly Surprised by President Trump

The rabbi of the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, where a gunman killed 11 people on Oct. 24, said that he was surprised by the warmth that President Donald Trump showed when he, First Lady Melania Trump, and other top members of the White House visited the synagogue on Oct. 30.

The president was very warm, very consoling. He put his hand on my shoulder and the first question he asked me was, Rabbi, tell me how are you doing?' Jeffrey Myers told CNN on Nov. 1.

Myers said that the president showed a side of himself thats seldom shown on major news networks.

And I must say, throughout the time we spent together, I was pleasantly surprised by a warm and personal side to the president that I dont think America has ever seen, he said. I told my personal story of my experience, which they found quite shocking and upsetting.

Myers said he conveyed a message to the president that hate speech can lead to actions like Robert Bowers allegedly gunning down 17 people, six of whom survived.

I shared the same message that Ive shared with you throughout the course of the week: that hate speech has no place in our society, that hate speech leads to actions of hate, Myers said. Hate speech led to the death of seven of my congregants and 11 total in my building.

Myers previously said that Trump was certainly welcome to visit Pittsburgh, triggering opponents of Trump to send the rabbi hateful messages.

Bowers shared his hate for Jewish people on the social media platform Gab, including several posts in the days before the shooting, and claimed the president was controlled by Jews. According to witnesses, he yelled all Jews must die, before opening fire.

Bowers has been charged with 44 counts, including murder and hate crimes, and prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty, which Trump said he supports in this case.

Hospital Visit

Myerss comments on Trumps visit came after a video recorded by a hospital employee was shared online showing the president and his wife being thanked profusely by workers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

The couple visited the six people wounded in the attack, including four police officers; Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, also joined to meet with survivors.

The visit was closed to the press.

The hospital employees thanked the Trumps for visiting and asked to shake their hands.

From NTD.tv
Trump Announces Plan to Limit Asylum-Seekers to US Ports of Entry

President issues warning to migrant caravan: Don't throw rocks at troops

President Donald Trump said asylum-seekers will have to lawfully present themselves at a U.S. port of entry, in remarks that addressed what he called a crisis at the southern border.

Migrants seeking asylum will have to present themselves lawfully at a port of entry, Trump told reporters in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Nov. 1. Those who choose to break our laws and enter illegally will no longer be able to use meritless claims to gain automatic admission into our country.

The executive order on immigration will be issued next week, Trump said.

Under the current Immigration and Nationality Act, Any alien who is physically present in the United States or who arrives in the United States (whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including an alien who is brought to the United States after having been interdicted in international or United States waters), irrespective of such aliens status, may apply for asylum in accordance with this section.

Trump has ordered the deployment of thousands of American troops to the U.S.-Mexico border ahead of a thousands-strong caravan of migrants that is heading north from Central America, and is currently in Mexico. The migrants, from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, have declared that they will seek entry into the United States.

These illegal caravans will not be allowed into the United States and they should turn back now, Trump said. We are stopping people at the border. This is an invasion.

The president on Oct. 31 indicated that 15,000 troops could be sent to the border. Well go up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnelon top of Border Patrol, ICE and everybody else at the border, Trump said.

In addition, the president said he would seek to do away with the automatic right of citizenship for U.S.-born children of noncitizens and illegal immigrants, saying he plans to issue an executive order on it. He and other Republicans say theres a loophole in the law that incentivizes people to come illegally into the United States to have children.

Warning to Caravan Migrants: Dont Throw Rocks

Trump also issued a warning to people traveling in the migrant caravan, saying that people who throw rocks at authorities will be treated like those holding a firearm.

We will consider that a firearm, Trump told reporters on Nov. 1, Fox News reported. We will consider that the maximum we can consider that, because theyre throwing rocks viciously and violently. . Were not going to put up with that. They want to throw rocks at our military, our military fights back. I told them to consider it a rifle. When they throw rocks, like they did at the Mexico military and police, I said, consider it a rifle.

The migrant caravan poses a serious threat to the sovereignty of the nations borders, Trump said.

If these caravans are allowed into our country, only bigger and more emboldened caravans will follow  and you see thats whats happening now, Trump said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Trump Didnt Start the Fire

Commentary

It was always burning since the worlds been turning.

Apologies to Billy Joel. But President Donald Trump really didnt start this fire of incivility, nor did he ever preach violence. Or racial animosity. Or economic injustice. He doesnt roll that way. Never has, never will. He fights. Hard. But the characterization and narrative of him being unfit, racist, and violent are absurd.

Dont tell that to your leftist friends and their biased media allies, though. They want you to believe Trump did start the fire. All the fires. Not only did he start them, but hes also responsible for everything they perceive as wrong with our world.

Everything.

If youre a leftist, but particularly a media leftist, think of what youve blamed him for. Its a staggering list, a list of deceit from the left that may never end: treason with Russia, sexually assaulting numerous women, starting fights. Hes racist and misogynistic. He hates immigrants, cheats on his taxes, cheated in business, uses the presidency to enrich his family and companies. He incited the pipe-bomb violence and the synagogue murders.

Lets start with No. 1: Trump colluding with Russia to steal the election from Hillary Clinton. A more deceit-filled, stupid narrative may never have been pushed by the Democratic media slaves. Ever.

Yet its still alive after two years of nonstop coverage and proclamation. Its like The Return of the Living Dead. It never stops coming, even though there is zero evidence of any such collusion happening. Zero.

Yet the geniuses in our leftist media will never admit theres no evidence. Jake Tapper, Joe Scarborough, and Rachel Maddow have gotten richer off this giant fake scandal than any con man ever could have. They reported it daily, breathlessly implying treason, a stolen election, an unfit president, a man for no seasons.

Rumor has it there was a video of Trump telling a Russian official to go tell Putin that after the election, he would have more latitude to do what Russia wanted. But CNN and our leftist media could never find it. Oh, waitthat was the video they never played because it was then-President Barack Obama who was caught saying that on a hot mic.

As to the rest of the list, it was all made up as well; none of these things has any evidence to back it up. The media meme they wanted us all to believe was orange man bad. And they have tried to pretend there is a new scandal virtually every week, making it up out of thin air. Often, they recycle it.

Nope. Trump didnt start the fire.

The elite leftist Democrat/media/#NeverTrump complex did. And they did so in a manner that has virtually destroyed their credibility, their minds, and perhaps their souls.

The Firestarters

Recall if you will the many journalists and news organizations who made the claim they wouldnt do objective coverage of Trump because he was so dangerous.

According to them, they saw a man so vile, so crude, so extreme, so awful, and so disastrous in his thinking, they would not give him the benefit of fair coverage. This was an assault led by the so-called paper of record, by one Jim Rutenberg on Aug. 7, 2016. It became the default position of our leftist media.

Recall, if you will, the Sea Island conference, when the tech-lords, many major media figures, and a host of #NeverTrumpers met on a posh Georgia island to plan how to stop Trump from going further.

Recall the day after the election, when The New York Times actually apologized to its readers, and to the nation, for being so biased and so awful with its lack of correct journalistic practice. Quote the newspaper: [We will] rededicate ourselves to the fundamental mission of Times journalism. That is to report America and the world honestly, without fear or favor.

Heh. Anyone who believed that needs a share of my expensive bridge.

Since then, the coverage has been 92 percent negative in the face of a great, ascending economy and some of the most monumental foreign-policy achievements in the past 40 years.

Do you remember the video some brave person released showing Google executives and some underlings lamenting the election of Trump? We could have called it The Day After. The video was as embarrassing as that movie. My take: A bunch of self-serving, self-unaware tech-nerd millionaires with propellers on their heads whining about what more they could have done and about how they would have to suck it up and be even more dishonest.

So, dear leftists, dear media malaprops, dear Tech-lords, dear Democrat-ick Party: Trump didnt start the fire. You did. You and your vileness. You and your self-proclaimed elite smarts. Your self-projection of superiority. Your pretense of smug self-righteousness.

To recap, consider Trumps opponents: The Republican establishment, the bloated Clinton machine, the fake news old media, and, of course, the tech-lords and their platforms.

Let me add: These tech-lords went from do no evil to lets use our power and money to further the (evil) leftist agenda in less than a decade. They were, and are, all in with the destruction of Trump. They are all in for the destruction of center-right thinking.

The current tech giants are embarrassing, using their power in a way far worse than Microsoft ever did. They are getting away with it right in front of our eyes. Their hubris has no end. Its too bad George Gilders new vision of a world without Google cant come more quickly. Lets hope they are reigned in before they do irrevocable harm to the United States and the world.

Fighting the Giants

Coming back to the point. In order to win, Trump had to fight all these giants.

Big, ugly, powerful giants.

And he won. He beat them all. Its one of the true electoral miracles of our time as if God decided he would intervene.

Another way to visualize it: Think of King Kong all alone on the Empire State Building, fighting off the bi-planes, except theyre F-16s. Kong really didnt do anything wrong, yet they all attacked him just the same. And he wins against all odds. A lot of us on the center-right pitched in. Enough of us joined the Trump train early on to keep him winning.

Thank God.

He was clearly the right choice. He didnt start this rancor, but hes fought all the right people to a standstill. As said above, so many of them have ruined their own lives, professions, and reputations. While Trump helps amazingly good things happen for our country, in spite of them, they keep lighting fires.

Its been an epic battle to watch as Trump builds things while they try to burn them, as Trump extinguishes one flame after another while they blame him for the fires they set.

When the smoke of the fires finally lifts, like Winston Churchill, Trump will be seen as one of the great men and movers of his time.

David Prentice is a writer and novelist from the Midwest. His articles have appeared in the American Thinker.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Trump Rallies Support for Scott, DeSantis in Florida

FORT MYERS, Fla.President Donald Trump focused his Oct. 31 rally in Fort Myers, Florida, on supporting Republican candidates Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis, who are running neck and neck in the polls with their Democratic opponents.

In less than one week, Americans will go to the polls in one of the most important elections of our entire lives, Trump said, adding, Although, I will say, not as important as 2016.

Senate Race

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is running for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.).

Trump praised Scott as one of the best governors, while Scott returned the praise for Trumps delivery on disaster relief after two deadly hurricanesFlorence in September and Michael in Octoberpummeled the state.

Theres absolutely nothing that Ive asked from Donald Trump with regard to these two hurricanes that he hasnt come through, Scott said.

He promised to support Trump on cutting taxes, improving border security, and reducing government debt.

Gubernatorial Race

DeSantis is running to succeed Scott as governor. A Navy veteran of the Iraq War, DeSantis made a pitch for his conservative platform, backed up by six years in Congress representing Floridas 6th District.

Im the only candidate that aint gonna raise your taxes here in Florida, he said. And Im the only guy that can credibly say Im not under investigation for corruption by the FBI.

His opponent, Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Floridas capital city Tallahassee, is reportedly on the edges of, but not the focus of, an ongoing FBI investigation into corruption in the state government, according to the Sun-Sentinel. The FBI is investigating whether the city directed redevelopment funds to specific projects to favor friends and acquaintances.

Meanwhile, in 2016, Gillum accepted a ticket to the play Hamilton in New York paid for by an undercover FBI agent who was posing as a businessman trying to bribe politicians. The cheapest Hamilton tickets in July 2016 ran for $350 apiece, according to SeatGeek.com. Gillum has said he thought the ticket was paid for by his brother and has denied any wrongdoing.

Polls

While polls show both Scott and DeSantis in virtual ties with their opponents, several attendants of the rally questioned the numbers, recalling the inaccurate poll data before the 2016 presidential election, which Hillary Clinton was largely predicted to win.

Im hoping this time theyre wrong again, rallygoer Sandy Kiehl said. Maybe theyre not asking the right people.

Trump supporters and brother Ryan, 28, and Dylan Kren, 26, agreed.

The one thing I know is all the polls before the election in 2016 said Donald Trump was gonna lose, and I think that DeSantis is going to win in a landslide, by far, Ryan Kren said.

I would just not underestimate the spirit of freedom that resides in the American people, his brother said.

Paul J. Philabaun said he doesnt believe the polls, at all.

I watched the governors debates and it seemed that the other guy there [Gillum] was just talking around the questions, while DeSantis actually directed the questions, he said.

Philabaun had never voted in a midterm election before, but this time, he has already cast his vote.

Theres apparently a civil war going on right now and we want our side to win, he said.

Anti-Socialist

Dylan Kren said he thinks Gillum would steer Florida towards socialism.

I think the political and economic philosophies of Karl Marx have been implemented in other countries and have produced miserable murderous regimes. Were educated and were aware of those implications, he said.

At the beginning of the rally, Project Veritas Action released a video where Gillum campaign staffers are caught on camera saying the candidate hides his aggressively leftist positions from moderate Florida voters.

Gillum is a progressive, campaign staffer Omar Smith said. Hes part of the crazy, crazy, crazies.

Trump called Gillum a radical socialist at the rally.

The people of Florida are going to reject socialism and elect Ron DeSantis and Rick Scott, he said.

Epoch Times staff member Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report.
Uyghur Children Kidnapped by the State, Put in Xinjiangs State-Run Orphanages

Uyghur children of parents who are detainees in political re-education camps or living in exile are being placed into state-run orphanages in Xinjiang by local authorities, a traumatized father has told The Epoch Times.

Last year, Xinjiang-born Uyghur businessman Adel Abdukadir, 50, who is currently living in exile in Turkey, had four of his children aged 3 to 8 taken away by authorities in Xinjiang. The children were placed in an orphanage in the remote northwestern region of China and he has since lost contact with them. He told The Epoch Times he is worried as he doesnt know if he will ever be able to see them again.

The news follows orders by Chen Quango, the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) Secretary in Xinjiang, to relocate all orphans in Xinjiang to state facilities by 2020.

The CCPs policy in Xinjiang defines orphans as children who have lost their parents or whose parents cannot be found. Under the order, children cared for in a scattered manner, such as those under the care of extended family members, can also be placed in the institutions.

While China has said the orphanages help disadvantaged children and improve their living standards, a Uyghur worker at an orphanage in southern Xinjiang described the conditions as seriously overcrowded and terrible, with children aged between six months and 12 years locked up like farm animals in a shed, Radio Free Asia reported in July 2018.

Abdukadirs former wife, mother, and brother have also been imprisoned, and his younger sister Amina died while being questioned by the authorities in one of Xinjiangs many internment camps.

As part of its escalating campaign named strike hard, which the CCP says is aimed at cracking down on terrorism, religious extremism, and separatism in the country, the Chinese regime has detained upwards of one million Uyghurs in Xinjiang, according to figures quoted by the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China and the United Nations.

Earlier this week, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said British diplomats who visited Xinjiang in August confirmed that reports of ethnic minorities like the Uyghurs being held in mass internment camps in Xinjiang are broadly accurate.

The UK statement came just seven days before the U.N. to is set to meet and review Chinas status as permanent member of the security council before a human rights panel in Geneva on Nov. 6.

Turn for the Worse After Trip to Turkey

The harrowing string of events came after Abdukadir travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, with his wife, Meripet, to visit relatives in March 2017. Their four children were left in the care of his mother and sister-in-law in their home in Urumqi, Xinjiangs capital.

My wife has some relatives here [in Turkey], and we were planning to go back shortly, Abdukadir told The Epoch Times in a phone interview from Istanbul.

But little did Abdukadir know that his decision to leave on an overseas trip would force him and his wife to live in exile and in the dark about the wellbeing of their children and family in Urumqi.

Abdukadirs four childrenAdile, Abdurahman, Muhemmed, and Abdullawere forcibly taken from their home and sent to live in the Hotan City Kindness Kindergarten in southern Xinjiang.

After just 17 days in the orphanage, photos of his children taken by an individual inside the facility, who Abdukadir says he cannot name, reveal visible marks on their skin.

My children had scars on their faces. I can see they are getting mistreated and tortured so badly thereI can see it from their eyes and bodies, he said.

Its like my kids are in jail, Meripet told The Associated Press. My four children are separated from me and living like orphans.

Totalitarian Regime Sees No Wrong, Its Citizens Live in Fear

A report published by state newspaper Xinjiang Daily in February described the children in the Hotan City Kindness Kindergarten as growing taller and fatter soon after arriving at the orphanage.

And since the beginning of 2017, the CCP has set out a budget of over 200 million Chinese yuan ($30 million) to construct or expand at least 45 orphanages with beds to fit approximately 5,000 children, AP found after reviewing procurement notices in Xinjiang.

Abdukadir and his wife are unable to travel back to Xinjiang for fear of persecution, he said. Abdukadir and his wife have also given birth to another son in Turkey. Travelling to a foreign country or contact with relatives abroad are currently seen as crimes in the eyes of the CCP. Other reasons Uyghurs have been detained include growing beards in accordance with Uyghur tradition and attending religious gatherings.

We feared going back home because everyone who goes overseas is sent to jail or detained in camps. We thought we would definitely would be sent to prison, he said.

Uyghur Families Torn Apart

The first blow for Abdukadir upon arriving to Turkey last year was hearing the news that his brother had been sentenced to five and a half years in prison, probably for talking to me, he said.

Then Abdukadirs former wife was sentenced to 20 years in jail for being my wife, to punish me for not returning to Xinjiang, and because she can read Arabic and the Quran, Abdukadir continued.

Meanwhile, his retired 72-year-old mother has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for listening to an extract of the Quran at a friends party and sending photos of his children to him through the Chinese messaging app, WeChat, while Abdukadir was in Turkey. She did nothing wrong her whole lifethis is unimaginable, Abdukadir said.

His sister, who was severely ill before being detained in Xinjiangs camps, died while being questioned by authorities, [because of] their destructive treatment.

Abdukadir says he is regularly blackmailed for speaking to the media by those he believes are individuals working for the CCP. His blackmailers told him his mother will die in prison in Xinjiang.

Another threat was that Ill never be able to see my children, that theyll disappear, Abdukadir continued.

This is all too much, too painful and too psychologically damaging for me. There is nobody left in my whole family and I dont know what to do.

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Vehicle Hits 3 Children at School Stop in Tampa, One Critical

Police in Tampa, Florida, said a vehicle hit several children who were waiting for their school bus on Nov. 1.

WFLA-TV reported that the driver of the car remained at the scene after hitting the children. The unnamed man is being detained by police, but his name hasnt yet been released to the media.

In all, three children and two adults were hit by the vehicle.

Several children injured after being hit by car in Tampa Bay, Florida, police say. Their conditions are unknown at this time. https://t.co/3pdaY5YfOr pic.twitter.com/2ovg5USglC  CBS News (@CBSNews) November 1, 2018

Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan said that he estimates that the children are between the ages of 6 and 12. One child is in critical condition, a spokesperson told WFLA.

The crash took place at 8:10 a.m. at Marvy and Bougainvillea Avenues.

There are a lot of moving parts. We are piecing everything together, Dugan said, adding that investigators are trying to figure out exactly what happened.

Childrens backpacks and shoes strewn all over the road. This is the aftermath of an accident on Bouganvillea & Marvy in Tampa. Three children are hurt  one in critical condition. 2 adults also taken to the hospital. The students were at the bus stop on the way to Woodson K-8. pic.twitter.com/M1hHo48B3z  Jennifer Epstein (@jenepsteinfox13) November 1, 2018

Hours ago, they were trick or treating. Now, theyre at the hospital, he said of the children.

The driver, according to WPTV, apparently lost control of the vehicle and hit the children and two adults. Police said it isnt clear if he intentionally hit them.

The children attended Woodson K-8 School on North 22nd Street, he said. According to Newsweek, an ambulance was also involved in the crash.

Its not clear if charges have yet been filed, local reports say.

Fox 13 Reporter Jennifer Epstein described the scene of the crash on Twitter, saying there were kids backpacks and shoes strewn all over the road.

Update on Crash in Indiana

Several days ago in Indiana, a similar scene unfolded (see top video) when three children from the same family in Indiana were killed by a car while waiting at a bus stop. The driver, Alyssa Shepherd, was charged with reckless homicide.

Xzavier Ingle, 6, Mason Ingle, 6, and Alivia Stahl, 9, all siblings, died after being hit. A fourth child, 11-year-old Maverik Lowe, was flown to a hospital to undergo emergency surgery, the Indiana State Police confirmed.

UPDATE: Alyssa Shepherd, 24, of Rochester, IN charged with 3 counts of reckless homicide in the deaths of twins Mason & Xzavier Ingle, 6, and Alivia Stahl, 9. Police say Shepherd was the driver of the pickup that killed the siblings while boarding a school bus pic.twitter.com/sjEN6wGVTH  Sean Lewis (@seanlewiswgn) October 30, 2018

Police officers say Shepherd ignored the buss lights and stop sign, trying to speed past it. She then slammed into the children.

The woman was arrested at her workplace on Oct. 30.
Warrens Proposal Seeks to End Model of Maximizing Shareholder Value

WASHINGTONGiant U.S. corporations deliver substantial returns to their investors, thanks to the shareholder value thinking that has dominated the business world over the past few decades. But that doesnt necessarily mean they have done well in protecting American interests, says Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

She introduced in August the Accountable Capitalism Act, which seeks to reverse the notion that the principle of maximizing shareholder value is the best way to ensure good corporate governance.

The Accountable Capitalism Act aims to give companies fiduciary responsibilities beyond their shareholders, and requires them to take into account the interests of other stakeholders, including employees, customers, and the communities in which they operate.

The bill would require corporations with more than $1 billion in annual revenue to obtain a federal corporate charter. This new charter will ask corporate executives to take into account the interests of all key stakeholders in decision-making.

Warren argues that this approach is in line with the benefit corporation model that 33 states and the District of Columbia have already adopted.

The bill also requires substantial employee participation in decision-making at large companies. Employees would elect at least 40 percent of the board of directors, according to the proposal.

The legislation also aims to tackle the pressure of short-termism in the U.S. corporate world.

Companies use stock-based compensation to incentivize their employees, particularly top executives. This gives them huge incentive to focus on short-term shareholder returns, Warren argues. To ensure that companies are focused on long-term value creation, the bill would prohibit directors and officers from selling company shares within five years of receiving them or within three years of a company stock buyback.

In the early 1980s, large American companies sent less than half their earnings to shareholders, spending the rest on their employees and other priorities, Warren wrote in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal. But between 2007 and 2016, large American companies dedicated 93 percent of their earnings to shareholders.

This is the major reason behind the productivity and wage-growth gap in the United States, she argued.

Before shareholder value maximization ideology took hold, wages and productivity grew at roughly the same rate. But since the early 1980s, real wages have stagnated even as productivity has continued to rise. Workers arent getting what theyve earned, she said.

Warren calls maximizing shareholder value a harmful corporate obsession and is urging lawmakers to end it.

The legislation is an important step in the right direction, according to Ralph Gomory, a research professor at New York University and a National Medal of Science laureate.

The great service of this billwhether it ever gets passed or notis that it has raised the issue. It has become a public issue, he said.

Gomory served on the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology under Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, and also has held executive roles in corporations that include IBM. He has raised issues of corporate governance in his articles and inspired Warren in drafting the bill.

I think thats a tremendous change. Something that was not being discussed is now being discussed seriously.

Origin of the Idea

Excessive focus on maximizing shareholder value can threaten companies health and financial performance in the long term, experts warn.

Todays corporate governance model has created an accountability vacuum that results from accepting the faulty premise that shareholders own the corporation, according to Harvard Professors Joseph Bower and Lynn Paine. In their 2017 Harvard Business Review article, Bower and Paine argued that the idea of maximizing shareholder value goes all the way back to 1970s when Nobel-winning economist Milton Friedman first introduced the concept.

In his famous New York Times article, published in September 1970, Friedman denounced corporate social responsibility as a socialist view.

In his capacity as a corporate executive, the manager is the agent of the individuals who own the corporation, he wrote, adding that the managers primary responsibility is to the owners.

That responsibility is to conduct the business in accordance with the owners desires, which generally will be to make as much money as possible while conforming to the basic rules of the society, Friedman said.

This thought system has been embraced not only by institutional investors, but also many board members, managers, lawyers, and academics. It has come to be widely regarded as the best way to ensure good governance.

But corporate executives didnt embrace this new idea willingly, says Gomory. They disliked it so much. That was the reason why they had to be paid so high.

Compensation of CEOs has skyrocketed in the past few decades. The average CEO of a large U.S. company today earns 361 times what the average worker makesup from 42 times in 1980.

Shareholders had to pay managers that much to change the way they did business, Gomory said, adding that in his view, there is a reason why the shareholder value thought system took hold in the 1980s and not earlier.

During the period after the Second World War, there was a very strong threat from communism, Gomory explained. If our corporations had been acting towards our people as they do now, we would not have won the cold war.

During that whole post-war period, from the end of the war to about the mid-1970s, the average wage went up together with the stock market, Gomory said.

Corporations had to recognize their obligations to employees, customers, and the community. But this trend ended when the threat of communism start to disappear in the 1970s, he explained.

Today, there are conflicting views on the corporate governance issue and Warrens bill has drawn criticism from both academics and the business world.

Its not simple but when people say, Well we cant do this, I would say Well, we did [in the past] and it worked well,' Gomory said.

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Wife Had Hopes in Finding Husband After Catastrophic Lion Air Crash

A Lion Air plane crashed into the Java Sea on Oct. 29 just 13 minutes after taking off from Jakartas Soekarno-Hatta International airport. Of the 189 passengers, no survivors were found, according to The Associated Press.

Indonesian search and rescue workers had since found debris and possibly the fuselage of the almost new Boeing 737 MAX 8.

The plane had showed signs of technical problems the day before the catastrophic crash during a flight from Bali. An official said the aircraft had experienced issues with unreliable airspeed readings.

According to The pilot had requested to return after takeoff, but crashed shortly after, according to Reuters.

The cause of the crash is still unknown, but investigators hope the black boxes that record the cockpit voices and flight information will help determine the reason, according to Reuters.

A Woman Sends Prayers to Find Husband

A passengers wife, Inchy Ayorbaba, shared a video she took with her missing husband, Paul Ferdinand Ayorbaba, via WhatsApp before he boarded the plane. He is seen walking along a concourse, showing his Lion Air boarding pass on camera, and zooming in on a Lion Air aircraft while boarding, according to AP.

A Jakarta police hospital interviewed Inchy when she took her three children for DNA tests to help with victim identification, according to AP.

We ask for prayers from all the big families in Papua, Makassar, Manado, America and England. We ask for prayers for the best. Hopefully there are miracles. We are hoping for the best and please pray, Inchy told AP.

How is the Company Doing Now?

Indonesias transport minister, Budi Karya Sumadi, said the technical director of Lion Air and staff who approved the flight have been removed from duty. The ministry will be inspecting the airlines operations, including all low-costing airlines in Indonesia, according to AP.

Lion Air has put an explanation and provided the latest information on its website about the crash. The passengers families continue to process Disaster Victim Identification at the Indonesian Police Hospital. The company is providing assistance for families by setting up a crisis center and providing a telephone number for passenger information. The company also promises to deliver the latest information.
Woman Survives 6 Days in Desert After Car Falls 50 Feet Into Tree

A woman was badly injured in a severe car crash in the Arizona desert near Phoenix and survived nearly a week before being rescued on Oct. 18, said the Arizona Department of Public Safety in a news release.

The 53-year-old woman was driving along U.S. 60 near milepost 117, a few miles outside of Wickenburg on Oct. 12.

She lost control of her vehicle and tore through a fence before she found her car falling 50 feet to land in a mesquite tree. Her damaged car was left stuck in the tree and hanging off the ground.

With no apparent witnesses to the crash, it would be six days before the woman was discovered by the authorities, according to the press release.

A woman lost control of her vehicle on a rainy night in October, went through a fence off the 60 near Wickenburg, and down a cliff. She was out there for SIX DAYS and survivedhear from the ADOT employee who found the tracks tonight #FOX10Phoenix pic.twitter.com/kojoF17aBR  Matt Galka Fox 10 (@MattGalkaFox10) November 1, 2018

After a few days, the woman crawled out of the car and walked towards some nearby railroad tracks to try to find help. However, she was too weak to get very far and never made it to the tracks.

Six days later, an Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) maintenance crew was working with a nearby rancher to capture an escaped cow along the highway when they saw a large hole in the fencing.

When they stood by the damaged fence, they observed a mangled vehicle lodged in a mesquite tree about 50 feet down from the roadway, the press release stated. ADOT notified the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) and a trooper was sent to the scene.

Trooper Caleb Hiegel and ADOT crew members Zach Moralez and Josh Miller, along with the rancher Dave Moralez, then inspected the car. When they didnt find anyone inside, they looked around and noticed footprints leading away from the vehicle towards the dry bed of the Hassayampa River.

After about 500 yards, they discovered a severely dehydrated woman with serious injuries who was curled up in a fetal position on the ground. Fortunately, she was awake and responsive.

The men treated the woman and called for medical help, and she was soon airlifted to a hospital.

The diligence of the ADOT crew and teamwork of everyone involved is exemplary and to be commended. Due to their outstanding efforts, this womans life was saved, said Colonel Frank Milstead, AZDPS Director.
Clinton-based Connecticut Water Service and one of the states leading environmental groups have reached an agreement that guarantees protections for open space lands even after a proposed acquisition of the utility by a California company is completed.

The agreement between Connecticut Water and Connecticut Fund for the Environment was announced Wednesday. In return for the commitments to stewardship and conservation of watershed lands that were agreed to by Connecticut Water, Connecticut Fund for the Environment has agreed not to oppose the utilitys proposed acquisition by San Jose Water Group in proceedings before state utility regulators.

Connecticut Water Companys good practices of transferring Class III watershed lands to conservation interests must continue under the new ownership and into the future when faced with regulatory uncertainty, Katherine Fiedler, a legal fellow at CFE, said in a statement. These conditions will help make sure that happens.

Maureen Westbrook, Connecticut Waters vice president of customer & regulatory affairs said the agreement with CFE is consistent with Connecticut Waters history of working collaboratively with environmental advocates on matters of common interest and our record of environmental stewardship.

It reflects our commitment to protecting lands for open space for the benefit of the State of Connecticut and its residents, above and beyond any statutory requirements, Westbrook said in a statement.

San Jose Water Group officials have expressed their support for the agreement between Connecticut Water and CFE.

SJW shares the strong environmental ethic of our colleagues at Connecticut Water, and we support the agreement with CFE as a way to reassure environmental advocates of our willingness to collaborate on matters of shared interest, Eric Thornburg, chairman, president and chief executive officer of SJW Group, said in a statement.

CFE officials are asking commissioners with Connecticuts Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to include the environmental protections in the agreement as part of the conditions for approval of the sale. Those protections include:

Honoring current statutory requirements for notice and prioritization for future land dispositions even if the current law changes and such notification are no longer required.

Establishing a process to determine if the State, municipalities, other water companies or state or local land conservation organizations have interest in and capacity for acquiring any property that has been identified as no longer needed for public water supply purposes.

Evaluate the possibility of establishing additional passive recreational opportunities on water company land.

Agreeing not to use Connecticut water supplies for use by companies of SJW Group has in California or Texas.

Connecticut Water owns more than 6,500 acres of land in Connecticut and 2,200 acres in Maine, most of which are and will continue to be managed for the protection of drinking water supply sources. Company officials say Connecticut Water has no plans to sell any of its lands.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville is closing at the Mohegan Sun resort in eastern Connecticut, a decade after opening.

In a filing with the Connecticut Department of Labor first cited by the Hartford Business Journal, Margaritavilles parent company indicated the restaurant will close by year-end at a cost of about 60 jobs.
Continuing its recent rebound, technology firm Pitney Bowes notched its fifth straight quarter of year-over-year revenue growth, according to its latest earnings report released Thursday.

Third-quarter returns for the Stamford-based company reached $833 million, up 14 percent from last year. Profits totaled about $77 million, jumping 34 percent.

We continue to make progress against our strategic initiatives and move forward in our transformation, Pitney CEO and President Marc Lautenbach said on an earnings call Thursday.

Among other key indicators, commerce services revenues grew 59 percent to $358 million. The $475 million acquisition in October 2017 of parcel-logistics firm Newgistics drove the increase.

In a related move, the company opened last month a 450,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Greenwood, Ind., an Indianapolis suburb.

Newgisitics, once again, had very strong top-line growth, which indicates the market attractiveness of the capabilities in this business, Lautenbach said.

Small and medium-sized business solutions revenues ticked down 4 percent to $399 million. The division saw declines in recurring revenue streams, but growing equipment sales, driven by its SendPro C-Series mailing-and-shipping product, partially offset the decrease.

Software solutions revenues dropped 19 percent to $76 million, as the business took in lower licensing revenues.

Pitney officials also said Thursday the company had reduced its debt by more than $560 million this year, a total that includes a pay-down of $300 million in bondholder notes. In addition, the firm reported it had reduced gross spending by more than $100 million this year.

Today, our debt is actually lower than where we were two years ago, and yet our portfolio has changed significantly, as a portfolio that has shifted to growth, Lautenbach said.

Company shares closed Thursday at $7.90, jumping nearly 20 percent from their Wednesday finish.

Among other recent milestones, Pitney completed in July the sale of its Danbury-based Document Messaging Technologies production-mail business and supporting software for $361 million to investment firm Platinum Equity. The company has said it would use most of the sale proceeds to pay down debt.

In recent months, Pitney officials have considered a range of options to spur growth after disappointing earnings in recent years. The firm announced in March it would not pursue a sale of the entire company.

In addition to its Stamford headquarters, at 3001 Summer St., Pitney maintains local offices in Shelton.

pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; Twitter: @paulschott
A former Republican gubernatorial candidate sent a cease-and-desist letter Wednesday to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, threatening legal action should his lame-duck administration try to close on the purchase of land for a controversial State Police firing range at Pachaug State Forest in Griswold.

Former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst, a lawyer who campaigned against the project as a candidate and now represents the group Save Pachaug Forest and several owners of property near the 113-acre site, said he suspects that Malloy will make a move toward construction before leaving office Jan. 9.

I wanted to go on record with a cease-and-desist letter to very publicly and directly request they stop any and all further action on this acquisition, especially in light of the fact that the two major-party candidates for governor have said they are opposed to this facility in Griswold, he said. Were going to be watching very carefully.

Herbst said he will seek an injunction should Malloy take any step toward completing the purchase.

Republican Bob Stefanowski and Democrat Ned Lamont each have publicly expressed opposition to placing the firing range in Griswold, a rural community on the Rhode Island border. Officials chose the site, saying it would be bordered on three sides from forests that offer a sound buffer.

A Malloy spokeswoman defended the project, while deferring comment.

We have not had the opportunity to review the letter so I am unable to speak to the details therein, said spokeswoman Kelly Donnelly. However, what I can say is that this project is fundamentally about ensuring public safety, which requires a well-trained state police force. That has consistently been the guiding priority throughout this process.

Opponents said the range is not centrally located and represents an expense the state cannot afford. State Police currently use a firing range at the base of Avon Mountain in Simsbury near the Farmington River. Police said the 12.5-acre site is too small and frequently floods.
NORWALK  Dont bet the house upon the U.S. Postal Service getting your absentee ballot back to the Norwalk Town Clerks Office in time for it to be counted on Election Day, Tuesday.

Better to hand deliver it to the office no later than the close of the business day at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, according to Town Clerk Richard A. McQuaid.

We used to have the distribution center in Norwalk or Westport. It was easy to go to, get ballots or work with them on it, McQuaid said of postal facilities. But its now in Westchester and the circuit is not happening. Were sending other mail out daily, land records and things like that, and what used to take two days across town is taking maybe up to five days. Im not knocking the mail. Its just the nature of the beast right now.

Maureen P. Marion, manager of corporate communications for the USPS in New England and New York, said the postal services nationwide move from one- to two-day delivery for regular first-class mail six years ago  not a change in distribution centers  is behind the longer delivery times. Still, absentee ballots mailed Friday, Nov. 2, should arrive on time, she said.

They be should good even tomorrow (Friday), Marion said Thursday. People who may be looking at dropping an absentee ballot in the mail on Monday, theyre cutting it too close.

In addition to its regular weekday hours, the Norwalk Town Clerks Office will be open Saturday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon, to accommodate voters who meet the legal requirements to use absentee ballots.

Absentee ballots are for voters who cannot make it to their polling place on Election Day for any of the following reasons: they are actively serving in the armed forces; they will be out of town during all voting hours; they are ill or have a physical disability; their religious beliefs prevent them from performing secular activity on that day; or they are working as an election official at a polling place other than their own during all voting hours.

That means persons voting by absentee ballots must hand deliver their ballots to the Town Clerks Office no later than the end of the business day on Nov. 5. Ballots arriving by mail or hand-delivered by a surrogate on Election Day also will be counted.

As of midday Thursday, the Norwalk Town Clerks Office had issued 1,927 absentee ballots and received back 1,429. Thats substantially more than in the runup to Connecticuts last gubernatorial election, McQuaid said.

The presidential was (more) but you really got to match it up with the same type of election, McQuaid said. That would be our governors race four years ago, and the numbers higher.

In 2014, in which the governors office was up for grabs, 921 absentee ballots were returned to the Norwalk Town Clerks Office and counted. In 2016, a presidential election year, 2,648 absentee ballots were counted, according to Stuart W. Wells, Norwalks Democratic registrar of voters.

Applications for absentee ballots may be requested by mail, telephone phone, in person at the Town Clerks Office, or online from the Connecticut Secretary of the States Office at https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Voter-Information/Absentee-Voting.

The applications are available in English and Spanish.

The Norwalk Town Clerks office is in Room 102 of City Hall, 125 East Ave. The offices regular hours are Monday to Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Neil Chatterjee, the new chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, has pledged to keep politics out of the agency's decisions, including high-profile issues about whether to prop up coal and nuclear plants that have been beset by competition from renewables and natural gas.

Chatterjee told reporters Wednesday he has a different outlook since he first joined the commission thanks to the influence of the outgoing chairman Kevin McIntyre, who gave up the chairman's role last week citing severe health problems. McIntyre was diagnosed with a brain tumor in the summer of 2017.

Chatterjee had been a top aide to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., before joining the commission as acting chairman in 2017 and he was openly sympathetic to President Donald Trump and the Energy Department's plan to aide ailing coal and nuclear plants and prevent them from shutting down. Trump has vowed to do something and one of the president's biggest contributors, coal tycoon Robert Murray, has lobbied hard for a change.

However, the five-member commission voted unanimously to reject the Energy Department's first plan, and it now anticipates a new plan. It is also conducting a study of reliability and resilience of the electricity grid, two factors the Energy Secretary Rick Perry's team cited in its initial effort. Thousands of individuals, environmental groups, corporations and others have filed comments to the commission.

"When I first came to the commission last fall, coming from a partisan legislative role in which I worked on behalf of my boss to fight against the retirement of coal-fired generation. . . you know initially I was sympathetic to Secretary Perry' s proposal because of my concern for these rural communities, because of my concern about what the retirement of nuclear units might mean for mitigating carbon emissions," Chatterjee said Wednesday in a briefing for reporters at FERC's offices.

"But as I evolved into the role, I recognize that is not part of our record. That doesn't figure into the statute that governs us."

Chatterjee added: "I had to make a decision based on the record before us" and that any ruling by the commission would have to be grounded in that record.

FERC has been in the spotlight an unusual amount over the past year, not only because of the issue of subsidizing coal and nuclear plants but also because its approval is needed for the construction of interstate natural gas pipelines and for liquefied natural gas export terminals. Moreover, while a key regulatory agency for pipelines and electricity grids that cross state borders, FERC must come to grips with local and state initiatives in many places to boost solar and wind power generation.

The commission is currently down to just four members, divided equally between Democrats and Republicans. Many issues could end in deadlock, which would prevent those issues from moving forward.

Trump has nominated Bernard McNamee to fill the empty slot, but he awaits confirmation by the Senate. Currently working as a political appointee at the Energy Department, McNamee had defended the department's initial plan to subsidy coal and nuclear energy in front of the Senate.

Chatterjee said he would try to move ahead without waiting for McNamee. "There's just too much on our plates to wait for the unpredictable Senate confirmation process," he said.

The commission is also examining cybersecurity issues, something Chatterjee said he was working on closely with Democratic commissioner Richard Glick.

When Chatterjee voted against the DOE's proposal to aide coal and nuclear, he said that the "proceeding speaks to the prudence of considering, as soon as practicable, whether interim measures may be needed to avoid near-term bulk power system resilience challenges that could result from the rapid, unprecedented changes in our generation resource mix."

But he said that the issues seemed more complicated now.

"For me the complexity of these questions weigh heavily on me," he said. "Because I am very pro-market, I also believe fundamentally in state rights and the ability for states to make local decisions about their energy futures. The reality is that these two constructs that I believe in my core are colliding right now. States are taking actions regarding their local generation mix that are having a broader impact on competitive markets."

The former McConnell aide repeatedly praised McIntyre. A fellow Republican and former Jones Day lawyer who had done a lot of work before FERC on behalf of corporations prior to becoming chairman, McIntyre publicly differed from Trump administration officials who suggested declaring a state of emergency to help protect coal and nuclear plants.

"He could not be more strenuous in saying that politics should not be allowed to interfere with the work of the commission," Chatterjee said, "and that has really helped me grow in my role as I've made the transition from formerly partisan legislative aide to independent regulator."
EDWARDSVILLE  For nearly 100 years, the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce Halloween Parade has been a tradition, and gloomy weather with a threat of rain was not stopping people from attending.

Each year the parade draws a crowd of more than 20,000 spectators who line the parade route, and Wednesday wasnt any different, with spectators lining up as many as five-deep in some places as the rain held off for the evening.

I love to see the involvement of the kids. I used to teach at the high school and I would come see my kids on the floats. Now its my grandkids on the floats. We are here to have a good time and support the kids on the floats, said Moro resident Judy Albus, who has been attending the parade since 1986.

Spectators began lining the streets as early as 4 p.m. They were able to take advantage of free food and drinks from local businesses, including First Mid Bank & Trust giving away pizza, apples with caramel, hot chocolate, water, and coffee. Across the street, TheBank of Edwardsville was giving away all-beef hot dogs and kettle corn.

The (spots) were almost gone when we got here. We came at 4:30 p.m., said Albus.

Once the parade started at 6:30 p.m., kids, many in costumes, lined the route from Edwardsville Lincoln Middle School to Eden Church in search of candy.

This years theme for the parade was Celebrating Illinois History in honor of the states 200th birthday. There were nearly 100 entries in the parade, with a number of floats vying for the title of grand champion.

Spectators and participants are encouraged to vote for their fan favorite float (selected from top floats in each category) beginning Thursday. Voting details will be available on the Ed/Glen Chambers website and Facebook page.

More Information Parade Winners GRAND CHAMPION J.F. Electric, Inc. LARGE COMMERCIAL 2nd Place: First Mid Bank & Trust 3rd Place: TheBANK of Edwardsville SMALL COMMERCIAL 1st Place: Artistic Gymnastics Institute 2nd Place: Safe Escape Rooms 3rd Place: Edison's Entertainment Complex LARGE NON-PROFIT 1st Place: St. John's United Methodist Church 2nd Place: Lewis and Clark Community College Truck Driver Training 3rd Place: Edwardsville Public Library SMALL NON-PROFIT 1st Place: Hope Animal Rescues 2nd Place: Red Hill Church 3rd Place: Edwardsville Robotics NEIGHBORHOOD, SCHOOL & YOUTH GROUPS 1st Place: Hentz, Huntley & Friends 2nd Place: Edwardsville Orchestra Boosters 3rd Place: EHS Cheer Boosters See More Collapse

Because of the popularity, to get a good view of the festivities many claim spots early on the day of the parade.

Chairs, tarps, and blankets were empty along St. Louis Street, while businesses along the route put up tents and prepared for parties in anticipation of the annual event on Wednesday morning.

Theresa Barbee had put her chairs near Walgreens.

She said the parade has become an annual event for her and her grandchildren since she moved to the area six years ago.

It is a tradition that I bring my four grandkids to the parade every year, she said. The first few years we had to stand, but then I started claiming a spot early in the day so that they would have a good view.

Trey Green claimed a spot near Hadley House and said he has been to the parade for the last five years.

Each year a group of my friends get together and we come watch the parade. And each year it seems like our little group grows, so its best to try and get a spot where we can all be together, he said.

Katy Wise claimed a spot for her family near the Madison County Courthouse and hoped the weather would clear up for the parade.

The weather has me a little nervous, but rain or shine we will be down here with our children, she said. If it rains, we will just get a little wet.
SPRINGFIELD  Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Leo P. Schmitz was joined by ISP command staff members to recognize the noble contributions made by sworn and civilian members of the Illinois State Police, government agencies, and the public.

The Awards Ceremony was held today, Oct. 31, at Hope Church in Springfield, and paid tribute to the acts of heroism and professionalism displayed by the men and women who were honored during the event. Each award recipient was recognized for their exemplary service to the ISP and the citizens of Illinois.

The courageous dedication to service displayed each and every day demonstrates the commitment the men and women of the ISP have in protecting the citizens of Illinois, said ISP Director Leo P. Schmitz. I am proud to serve alongside every one of them.

Among the award recipients were three individuals who received special recognition for exemplary service: Trooper Cory Fox, District 14  Officer of the Year; Telecommunicator Specialist Bradley V. Richardson, Pontiac Communications Center  Telecommunicator of the Year; and Forensic Scientist Kevin L. Zeeb, Morton Forensic Science Laboratory  Forensic Scientist of the Year.

Officer of the Year, Trooper Cory Fox

Trooper Cory Fox is skilled in the detection of impaired drivers and criminal patrol. Trooper Foxs hard work ethic combined with his tenacity, continues to be reflected in his unwavering dedication to the citizens of Illinois and the Illinois State Police. He retains a high level of activity in a wide variety of areas such as traffic enforcement, motor carrier safety, and criminal law violations. His motivation and dedication to go above and beyond the call of duty.

In November 2017, Trooper Fox was the first Trooper to receive the prestigious Trooper Brian McMillan award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.). Trooper Fox also received the 2017 Quincy Exchange Officer of the Year award. His desire to promote highway safety while patrolling not only helps provide for the safety of Illinois citizens but serves as an example to other officers. Trooper Foxs continuous efforts to develop himself, encouragement to squad members, and subsequent contributions to highway safety are remarkable.

Telecommunicator of the Year, Telecommunicator Specialist Bradley V. Richardson

Mr. Richardson has proudly served the Illinois State Police for more than 20 years as a telecommunications professional. He is an exceptional employee who has earned the respect of sworn officers, peers, and subordinates. Mr. Richardson approaches all aspects of his job in a professional manner, especially in high-stress situations. He is adept at multi-tasking and is capable of handling work of the most complex nature.

Mr. Richardson is a valued and loyal employee who is clearly committed to his role as a telecommunications professional with the Illinois State Police. It is evident he handles emergency situations in a professional manner; even under the toughest circumstances. He is credited for going above and beyond to assist any of his co-workers.

Forensic Scientist of the Year, Forensic Scientist Kevin Zeeb

Mr. Kevin Zeeb served as a Forensic Scientist III in the Forensic Biology/DNA section at the Morton Forensic Science Laboratory. Through his productivity, comprehensive job knowledge, professional work ethic, and community service, he had distinguished himself within the Forensic Sciences Command of the Division of Forensic Services.

Mr. Zeeb was a consummate professional, promoting awareness of quality forensic science across the criminal justice system and the community. In 2017, he taught classes for local Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners to increase their evidence collection skills and understand how that evidence is analyzed in the laboratory. He also delivered forensic science presentations to high schools and a senior community center. Within the ISP laboratory system, his calm manner, kindness, and sense of humor helped coworkers maintain a positive attitude despite various challenges and his drive to continually expand his knowledge in order to provide exceptional service to agencies inspired coworkers to do the same.

Please see the attached program for a list of all nominees and award winners.
COTTAGE HILLS  Officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday to commemorate the opening of its new $450,000 bike trail.

Wood River Township officials, along with Madison County, Bethalto, and Madison County Transit District representatives attended the event. The bike trail is located off Center Street, between Cottage Hills and Rosewood Heights.

We built this trail in an area that doesnt get a lot of attention, Wood River Township Supervisor Mike Babcock said. This is something that the residents of Cottage Hills deserve.

The trail starts at Kutter Park in Cottage Hills and goes north for about 1/10 of a mile along Center Street where it intersects the former railroad tracks. The trail then extends east for about a mile ending just west of Illinois 255.

Both private and public monies funded the project. Phillips 66 donated $100,000, which then allowed the township to leverage grants from the Madison County Park Enhancement Program (PEP) and the Metro East Park and Recreation District.

MEPRD provided more than $200,000 for the project and the countys two PEP grants totaled more than $66,000. The county also provided an additional $15,000 environmental grant and the townships parks budget covered the remainder of the project.

Babcock said it was the vision of County Board member Tom McRae of Bethalto, who while serving as a Wood River Township trustee, to develop the abandoned railroad tracks as a part of a rails-to-trails program.

Weve worked incredibly hard on this project for years, McRae said. Our hope is that this is just the start of bike trails in this part of the county.

McRae said he and former Bethalto Mayor Steve Bryant visited MCT Executive Director Jerry Kane at the start of the project to find out how they could turn the Bethalto owned right-of-ways, or former rails, into trails.

McRae said while the new trail has no affiliation with the MCT trails, which owns and maintains 130 miles of trails in the county on abandoned railroad lines. Officials hope that future projects will form a connection to the Confluence Trail, something that would allow cyclists coming up from Edwardsville easier access to the area.

The possibilities are endless, McRae said. We will be able to connect from the west, the east and the north here. And the city of Bethalto has expressed an interest in connecting to this trail as well.

Kane said the township was able to lay the foundation for what will become a wonderful bike trail system.

It took cooperation of local government to improve the quality of life for the residents of Madison County, Kane said. Its a public-private partnership that works.

McRae said Bethalto Mayor Alan Winslow and Madison County Chairman Kurt Prenzler were also encouraging of the project.

Prenzler said one of the biggest assets in the county is the hiking and biking trails developed by Madison County Transit.

People come to visit the county just to use the trail system, Prenzler said. This new trail is just another reason that Madison County is one of the best places to live, work and play.
EDWARDSVILLE  In partnership with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is making college more affordable for students with more than $4 million in new grants. Qualified Illinois students can significantly reduce the cost of tuition and fees by combining SIUE academic awards with the new state-funded AIM HIGH Grant.

The State of Illinois created the AIM HIGH merit-based scholarship with a goal of attracting more high school graduates to in-state colleges and universities.

Newly admitted freshmen may receive as much as $2,500 per academic year, while newly admitted transfer students may receive as much as $3,000 per academic year. Prospective students should apply for admission by Dec. 1, 2018.

Continuing and returning SIUE students may be awarded AIM HIGH Grant Finish Line Awards worth as much as $2,000 per academic year. Returning students should apply for admission at least four weeks prior to the start of the term.

SIUE remains committed to helping all students, and through this opportunity, we are hoping our new grant dollars will assist many more students, said Todd Burrell, SIUE director of undergraduate admissions. We encourage all prospective students to apply soon as our Preferential Filing Date is Saturday, Dec. 1.

AIM HIGH funds can be used for tuition and fees for the fall and spring semesters, will not cover tuition and fees paid by a third party such as an employer, and may be awarded in addition to other SIUE scholarships such as Cougar Pride, Johnetta Haley and Provost, but may not be used in conjunction with SIUEs full-ride Meridian Scholarship

According to rules established by ISAC, an eligible AIM HIGH applicant:

 Is a resident of the state of Illinois

 Is a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

 Meets the minimum GPA or ACT/SAT score, and the SIUE grant eligibility and renewal criteria

 Is or will be a full-time undergraduate, not yet received a baccalaureate degree or 135 credit hours

 Is not in default on any student loan

 Does not owe a refund or repayment on any state or federal grant or scholarship

 Has filed a FAFSA and demonstrated need with household income no greater than six times the poverty guidelines

Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis to students with the earliest FAFSA submission, so students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Students may file their FAFSA online with the new app, myStudentAid. Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool will make it fast and easy (SIUE FAFSA code: 001759).

For more information, visit siue.edu/aim-high. Review additional funding opportunities at siue.edu/financial-aid.
Author and Jacksonville High School graduate Sarah McClintock Angleton is building her future as a writer by delving into the past.

Her sophomore book, Gentleman of Misfortune, is a historical novel set in the early 1800s.

In spring of 1833, a shipment of mummies arrived in New York that had been shipped by an Egyptologist who had passed away, Angleton said in detailing the facts on which her tale is based. This shipment was claimed by a man by the name of Michael Chandler. He claimed he was a nephew of the Egyptologist  (but history tells us) he wasnt a nephew. They dont know how he managed to get a hold of the mummies.

While they werent the first mummies to make it to U.S. shores, Chandler took his mummies on a tour of the country to try to make some money off of them.

Reading such true tales tends to raise questions for Angleton, who then uses those questions as a basis for her own tales.

I think its the same thing a writer is doing when he writes fantasy, she said. In reading history, youre getting into a world you cant really be a part of, but it influences the one youre in. I like to read a lot of non-fiction history, but then all of these questions come up. These people who were doing the fantastic things we remember had whole lives. I like to be able to fill in the gaps and let them come to life.

To do that this time, she created a character based on Chandler.

My (lead) character is kind of a scoundrel who is looking to make some quick money, but all sorts of unfortunate things happen to him along the way, Angleton said.

That character, Lyman Moreau, learns that the shipment exists and works with a crooked Customs agent to impersonate Chandler and claim the artifacts.

A lot of mummies got imported at that time into the United States and England, Angleton said. It was odd. People just kind of collected them as conversation pieces and put them in their parlors. Theyd have unrolling parties where they would get people together and unwrap the mummy.

Mummies aside, its not a horror story, Angleton is quick to clarify.

These are not horror mummies, she said. They are mummies that stay very much deceased the entire time. Theres maybe a little bit of a sense that theyre cursed, but its very light.

For Angleton, the book  mummies and all  has been a bit of circuitous good fortune.

She started writing her first historical novel a few years ago and started a blog to give herself a social media base when it came time to promote it. She found a publisher for that novel, only to have things get complicated. While she was trying to sort it and get that book published, her blog was proving popular enough that she used it as a starting point to write another book, Launching Sheep & Other Stories from the Intersection of History and Nonsense, which she released in 2017.

That book is a look at humorous true stories from history. Aside from having a basis in historical fact, it is nothing like Gentleman of Misfortune, Angleton said.

If people are expecting more Launching Sheep, thats not what theyre going to find here, she said of Gentleman of Misfortune. Theyll find my voice, but its not the same.

While Launching Sheep helped Angleton bridge the gap while she was waiting on her first novel, it didnt do much to get that novel published, so she went to work on her second novel, pulling the Moreau character from that book to inspire the new tale.

Shes still hoping to get the first book published soon and has started working on another novel set around the same time period as Gentleman of Misfortune, but this one wont include Moreau.

The next book  is in the same era but, if you see him at all, it will be leaving in the background, she joked. His arc really does get completed.

Along with wanting to be sure that her audience goes into reading Gentleman of Misfortune knowing that its nothing like Launching Sheep, she also wants to be clear that its not horror and its not a crime novel thats going to follow a clear-cut formula to an ending in which the bad guy is caught by the good guy.

Because it is about mummies and has the mummy wrapping (on the Steve Varble-created cover), it almost looks like a crime novel, she said. It is historical fiction. There is a touch of darkness in it, but its not a horror book.  Its pretty straight-forward historical fiction.



If you go 

Sarah Angleton will sign copies of her book, Gentleman of Misfortune, from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Our Town Books as part of First Friday activities centered on the downtown Jacksonville square.

Other downtown merchants participating in First Friday activities include:

 Just Good Trade, with a Christmas preview

 The Soap Co. Coffee House, which will feature a silent auction of art by Ronald D. Cummins

 Taylor Mercantile, which will offer holiday samples

 Illinois Theater, which will have a T-shirt giveaway

 Goldleaf Gallery

 Antiquarius

Angela Bauer can be reached at 27-408-2057.




The first China International Import Expo (CIIE) is scheduled to be held in the global financial hub of Shanghai, from Nov. 5 to 10, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the Shanghai municipal government. This is a highly significant step forward and preparations are currently in full swing to ensure it is a huge success.



The plan to conduct this huge event was first announced by President Xi Jinping in his speech at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May 2017. He pledged that China would develop mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation with countries involved in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), create free trade networks and facilitate investment, thus providing welcome impetus to regional and global economic growth.

CIIE can thus be considered as an important step by China to shift its economic focus from an export-driven to a consumer-led model. It will potentially help China to achieve balanced trade relations with its trade partners by creating substantial opportunities to increase its imports and provide greater market access to foreign firms.

The fascination of gaining access to the lucrative Chinese market is high around the world, proved by a large number of participants signing up for the Shanghai event.

They are lured by the opportunity to supply the country's rapidly growing middle class, whose purchases amounted to almost US$1.95 trillion in 2017, with an expected rise to US$10 trillion in the coming five years. Can any progressive business entity ignore the opportunity to obtain a slice of the pie?

Almost 2,800 companies from more than 100 countries will participate in the event. Among them are expected to be around 100 exporters from India. These companies are mainly associated with the leather goods, auto components and pharmaceuticals sectors. There is also a good representation of exporters of processed food, marine products, value-added organic chemicals, and textiles.

Fortunately, although Sino-Indian relations went through a difficult time during the Donglang (Doklam) stand-off in 2017, reconciliation between the two countries started with the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to New Delhi. This was followed by the 20th round of border talks for confidence-building measures between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi.

During these talks, both sides recognized the importance of stronger India-China relations, of maintaining peace on their long border and developing a comprehensive strategy to work together on resolving important issues.

Sino-Indian relations continued to improve this year, with a strong resolve on both sides not only to maintain peace along the border despite geopolitical concerns, but also to create mutually beneficial new trade agreements. At the 11th session of the India-China Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology this year, they examined different ways to improve bilateral trade, reduce barriers to investment, explore various means to reduce trade imbalances and enhance potential economic cooperation.

Over the past decade, bilateral trade has grown from US$38.2 billion to US$84.44 billion. In spite of this increase, the overall trade figures have been somewhat stagnant in recent years and are far from achieving their full potential.

The trade deficit of US$51.11 billion with China is a major area of concern for New Delhi. The Chinese side is paying heed to this concern, and is willing to cooperate with India to address the issue. In addition, Chinese companies have shown their willingness to invest in different projects across India, committing a total investment of around US$85 billion.

These investments are expected to produce positive results for firms on both sides. Chinese companies can benefit from India's fast economic growth; and India benefit from improved economic activities and employment opportunities for its people.

Currently, the main Chinese items exported to India are manufactured goods such as electrical machinery and power equipment, while Indian exports comprise mainly resource-based items such as iron ore and cotton.

Looking at the current scenario of bilateral trade between the two countries, it seems that the upcoming CIIE could provide an opportunity for both countries to create win-win bilateral ties. Additionally, India could benefit by gaining a greater Chinese market access and achieving the shared prosperity through balanced trade and a reduced deficit.

Rachana Gupta is a China Focus columnist, an expert author of Ezine Articles and an active blogger and poetry writer.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
In his speech on U.S. government policy towards China at the Hudson Institute in Washington D.C. on Oct. 4, 2018, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence stated the Communist Party of China (CPC) began to pursue "authoritarian expansionism" after taking power in 1949. He said it was "remarkable" to think that China and the U.S. fought one another in the mountains and valleys of the Korean Peninsula only five years after they had fought together, and that his father saw combat on that "frontier of freedom." Such remarks fly in the face of historical fact.



First of all, the Korean War broke out in 1950, not long after the People's Republic of China was founded, at a time when the CPC's top priority was to realize the country's reunification. The Kuomintang had fled to Taiwan after losing a civil war with the CPC, and the People's Liberation Army was preparing in southeast China's coastal area for the liberation of Taiwan. There was then absolutely no way that the CPC would be seeking expansionism. The Korean War was a product of the Cold War, with the Korean Peninsula split into two states. The U.S. played a key role in the decision to divide the Korean Peninsula at the 38th parallel. Before the war broke out, both Kim Il Sung, the then-top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and Rhee Syng-man, the South Korean President at the time, proposed that the Korean Peninsula should be reunified by force. Rhee's voice was the louder. Declassified documents from the Soviet Union show that in January 1950, Joseph Stalin, then-leader of the Soviet Union, invited Kim to discuss the reunification of the Korean Peninsula in Moscow. During his month-long visit to Moscow from March 30 to April 25, 1950, Kim met with Stalin for three times. There's no record giving the details of their talks, but later actions proved that Stalin supported Kim's ambition to reunify the Korean Peninsula.

Secondly, China eventually joined in the Korean War because U.S. actions were threatening China's own national security, and that of the Chinese people, and so China was forced to take action to protect homes and safeguard the country. The security of the DPRK has always been closely bound up with China's national security and its own interests. In the belief that the Korean War was the first phase in a Soviet Union plan to launch a global war, the U.S. got involved in the conflict not long after it broke out. On June 27, 1950, then-U.S. President Harry Truman ordered the country's naval, air and other military forces to fight with South Korean troops. On July 27, a United Nations force led by the U.S. landed in Pusan, while at the same time, the U.S. sent its Seventh Fleet into the Taiwan Straits to frustrate China's reunification. At an event celebrating the National Day held by the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee on Sept. 30, 1950, then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai gave a solemn warning to the U.S. that while the Chinese people loved peace, in order to safeguard that peace, they have never been and would never be afraid to oppose war, and that the Chinese people would never tolerate foreign aggression, nor tolerate seeing their neighbors being savagely invaded by imperialists. On Oct. 3, 1950, Premier Zhou Enlai once again warned the U.S. via the Indian Ambassador to China, that China would take action instead of sitting idle, if the U.S. forces should cross the 38th parallel, and that the Korean issue should be settled peacefully. He said the war must be stopped, and the invaders must retreat. However, the U.S. government underestimated China's resolution and determination, and Douglas MacArthur issued an order to cross the 38th parallel and launch military attacks at a time when the Chinese people were celebrating the first anniversary of their new republic. The flames of war burned even at China's own gates, with parts of Chinese territory along the China-DPRK border bombarded by U.S. troops. After 18 days of deliberation, China, which was still rebuilding, eventually decided to send troops, and become involved in a war.

Thirdly, the U.S. was in no way fighting to defend freedom, but for geopolitical expansion. The Korean War was originally solely an internal Korean Peninsula matter, where the north and the south were fighting for national reunification. It was the U.S. which regarded it as the expansion of communism and began interfering, enlarging the regional war into an international one, leading to severe casualties. South Korean administrations supported by the U.S. were hardly democratic. During a demonstration launched by South Korean students and other citizens who called for democracy and freedom from May 18 to 27, 1980, the then-South Korean President Chun Doo Hwan, with the tacit approval of the U.S., deployed troops to Gwangju and opened fire at demonstrators. Official figures suggest 207 people lost their lives and more than 800 others were injured.

In his book Modern Times: The World from the Twenties to the Nineties, British academic Paul Johnson described the Korean War as "a characteristic 20th-century tragedy," "it achieved no purpose, all its consequences were unintended," "Truman judged it to be a prelude to an attack on Japan and a direct challenge to America's willingness to uphold international law through the UN." The Korean War resulted from the development of the global situation. It was a war imposed on China by external forces. It was U.S. troops who threatened China's national security at China's own gates, forcing China to send forces to defend itself. It is simply ridiculous for Pence to claim that the Korean War was caused by what he called China's pursuit of "authoritarian expansionism" and that the U.S. was fighting on the so-called "frontier of freedom."

This is a translation of a Chinese-language article first published by Xinhuanet.com. The article reflects the author's own views.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
United States Vice President Mike Pence delivered a speech on Oct. 4 that laid out United States policy vis-a-vis China. The broad-ranging speech swept through the past and present state of U.S.-China relations. At one point, he turned his hand to modern Chinese literature to make a point, quoting one of its leading lights, Lu Xun.

In "Hot Wind", a collection of short essays and commentaries, Lu Xun wrote that "There had been two ways for the Chinese people to treat foreigners: either as brutes or as emperors. They never called them friends, or thought they were just like us." Vice President Pence used this line, adding that he hopes "Beijing will reach back with deeds, not words, and with renewed respect for America."

The quote comes from a collection of Lu Xun's works published between 1918-1924. Lu Xun was, as the vice president rightfully acknowledged, not a simple storyteller, but a great thinker whose incisive criticism of the national character of old China was based on his profound patriotism. The remark was a harsh criticism of the social atmosphere in China at a time when the country was burdened with outdated values, learning from other cultures was discouraged, and there was a lack of motivation for reform.

When the quote is taken in context, it's clear that Lu Xun was not talking about China's relationships with other countries. Rather, he was critiquing contemporary Chinese society. He saw a tendency in the Chinese intellectual class to enthusiastically discard Chinese tradition and embrace foreign ideas regardless of how suitable they were for the nation's circumstances. Then, when the new ideas so rashly introduced failed to live up to expectations, they were abandoned and the intellectual class turned its back on reform. It need not be said that Lu Xun's argument has nothing to do with China's approach to international relationships, and even less to do with its relationship with the United States.

In his speech, Vice President Pence also talked about the assistance that America provided to China in the later years of the Qing Dynasty. He said, with the tone of a benefactor, that "American missionaries not only did they spread their faith, but these same missionaries founded some of China's first and finest universities." What he failed to mention is that the United States was a party to the Boxer Indemnity agreement, which was imposed on the weakening Qing by the invading Eight-Nation Alliance in 1900 following the domestic uprising against Western imperialism and the imposition of the Christian missionaries. The agreement cost China dearly, further weakening it and leaving it ill equipped to reform itself for the challenges that would accompany the end of the Qing Dynasty, including its legitimate need for self-defense.

Looking forward to China's contemporary military modernization, the vice president criticized the growth of China's strength. But in the same breath, he praised his own administration's military expansionism, saying "We've been making the strongest military in the history of the world stronger still. Earlier this year, our president signed into law the largest increase in our national defense since the days of Ronald Reagan". This includes, he added proudly, modernizing America's nuclear weapons arsenal.

But perhaps the grossest mischaracterization of China's history was made using not his own words, but those of President Trump, whom he quoted: "'We rebuilt China' over the last 25 years." This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's policy of reform and opening up, which has turned the country into the home of the world's second-largest economy, allowed it to develop into an unmatched manufacturing powerhouse, and raised 700 million people out of poverty. "Much of this success," the vice president said, "was driven by American investment in China." The idea that the Americans came to China and saved it, like the missionaries claimed to be doing all those years ago, is a nonsense. Hard work, determination, and a willingness to experiment is what brought China economic success. The result has been that for nearly two decades, China has contributed almost 30 percent of the world's economic growth, and helped the world to recover after 2008 when the global economy almost collapsed as a result of the crisis in the American economy.

China's government is striving to meet the aspirations of its people for a better life. To do so, it must base its policies on China's own national conditions and follow its own path. This is the message that Lu Xun was making when he penned the line that Mike Pence mangled during his speech. And it's a message as valuable today as it was when it was written all those years ago.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
?Combine lessons in lifespan development, teacher education and leadership, and what do you get? Central Michigan University calls it FELC: the Future Educators Learning Community.

Recreation, parks and leisure services administration faculty member Jamie Brown calls it a new way to cross departmental lines and immerse freshmen in fundamentals of becoming a teacher or other education professional.

FELC has given me people to ask for advice, study with, rely on for problems.  Kassidy Cook, special education major

Its good to be innovative, Brown said. We have these great programs, and we need to avoid being in our own silos.

FELC merges three teacher education-related courses into one continuous learning experience, with lessons and assignments that complement and build on each other.

For example, students make a life map of their experiences in one course, write an autobiography in another, view it through the lens of leadership in another, then integrate everything in a five-minute presentation.

Students also volunteer and observe at one of five area schools, followed by a FELC Tank assignment similar to the invention-pitching show Shark Tank: They present a plan that they think would help the school or community.

Three in one

Brown oversees CMUs leadership minor and teaches LDR 200, Introduction to Leadership. Suezell Francek, in teacher education and professional development, teaches EDU 107, Introduction to Teaching. Holly Hoffman, in human environmental studies, teaches HDF 100, Lifespan Development. All are three-credit courses within the College of Education and Human Services.

The same 25 students attend all three courses, taught back to back with short breaks in between. Throughout the semester they work in different assigned small groups.

At the end of this, they will have worked with everyone in the class, Brown said. Its a way to build team spirit and learn to collaborate effectively.

Having the same people in three classes in a row has helped us grow closer, learn better and stay engaged more, said Kassidy Cook, a freshman from Colon, Michigan, majoring in special education with an early childhood development and learning minor. We have created such a community.

Thats the idea.

Brown said FELC, now in its second year, grew out of a focus on shared educational experiences, or learning communities.

Students in FELC also are part of the Education and Human Services Residential College on the second floor of Sweeney Hall.

The resulting team spirit supports students in teacher education.

FELC has given me people to ask for advice, study with, rely on for problems, Cook said. My professors show they care about us. We can come to them about anything, and that has changed the way I view class.

Although teacher education students need to take its three component courses, FELC is not mandatory  students can take the courses separately.

But theres an advantage in taking them together, said Mount Pleasant freshman Rebekah Christie, majoring in early childhood development and learning.

One of the biggest benefits I have experienced by having the linked classes is realizing how intertwined a childs development is with adult influences, she said, and how a teacher can aid or hinder a childs mental, physical and emotional development.

Cook sees another benefit: the motivation to get out of bed early on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Having these three professors two days a week dont make me dread waking up at 8 a.m., she said. They help motivate me to want to wake up at 8 a.m.
Concerns about crime rates, drug addiction and long-term health and safety have sheriffs in mid-Michigan joining law enforcement officials across the state in opposition to a statewide ballot proposal that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana.

Sheriffs Michael Main of Isabella County, John Wilson of Clare County and Doug Wright of Gratiot County signed their names alongside at least 70 other Michigan sheriffs in opposition to Proposal 18-1 set to be decided on Tuesdays ballot.

They join the Michigan Sheriffs Association, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals, and the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan in endorsing a campaign against the initiative by a group called Healthy and Productive Michigan, in a final push to sway public opinion on the measure.

Proposal 1 seeks to legalize the use and possession of small quantities of marijuana and marijuana edibles by those 21 and older. Taxes collected on sales and business permitting related to recreational marijuana would benefit implementation costs, clinical trials, schools, roads and municipalities where marijuana businesses are located, according to the ballot language.

A majority of Michigan voters-57 percent- support Proposal 1, according to an Oct. 25-27 poll of 600 likely voters conducted for The Detroit News and WDIV, with only 2.8 percent of those polled saying they are undecided on the issue.

All three sheriffs shared statistics from other states that have legalized the recreational use of marijuana  in particular Colorado  that raise red flags for the law enforcement officials.

Law enforcement officials in Michigan are also sharing the film Chronic State, How Marijuana Normalization Impacts Communities, which is being used a benchmark for information supporting the continued prohibition of recreational marijuana use.

My big concerns are facts proven by legalizing marijuana in other states, Wright said. Colorado is now number one in the United States with the highest percent of youth smoking marijuana; also (Colorado has) a very high rate of youth going to hospital emergency rooms for treatment for passing out after smoking.

Although the proposal would allow recreational marijuana use in Michigan only for those 21-year-old or older, the sheriffs noted that in Colorado, youth consumption increased with legalization.

I also have concerns for long chronic use with the THC levels so high and for youth using at such a young age for a long period of time, Main said. Im fearful that there maybe long lasting health effects that will occur.

The potential for an increase in crimes related to marijuana industries is a concern for all three mid-Michigan sheriffs.

Just like in other states that have similar laws, the cartels and black markets will set up shop here in Michigan, Wilson said. In Colorado the bordering sheriffs have had a large increase in crime related to the legalization of recreational marijuana. Sure we can make laws to prevent and to protect, but obviously there are those who do not follow the laws, thus will create more of a work load on law enforcement.

Wright said he foresees an increase in thefts and burglaries to fund marijuana use.

Currently many of our larceny and breaking and entering crimes are committed by people trying to get money to buy meth or heroin, he said. If this is legalized those crimes will certainly increase with those same people wanting to buy marijuana.

The sheriffs wonder if the costs of increased crime rates and emergency issues will make the potential tax revenue from recreational marijuana a wash.

I hear that it will bring much needed tax money into this state, trust me when I say the money that would be brought in wouldnt even come close to the lasting effects it will have on our environment and society, Wilson said.

As law enforcement representatives in legal marijuana states compile information, theyve shared those findings with other states and for a couple of years Michigan officials have been attending presentations.

They have one message and that is recreational marijuana has not generated the revenue that was promised and that it has negatively impacted their states greatly, Main said.

The bottom line for law enforcement officials across the state and the sheriffs in mid-Michigan is that marijuana is a mind-altering drug that can be unpredictable or carry unforeseen consequences.

I realize that this is a heated topic among many, one way or the other. However, I dont believe that this is a positive thing for our communities, Main said. I would like to see it left as medical marijuana through a doctors care.
When confronted with an error its always best to acknowledge it, apologize and pledge to do better moving forward. At least thats how the intellectually honest handle their mistakes.

While I stand firmly behind the larger topic of my column last week about spoiled-child psychology and the realm of political and pseudo-scientific discussion, I erred regarding one specific example. Turns out Washington Post writer Elizabeth Bruenig wasnt campaigning against child bearing to bend the worlds will to combat global warming. For erroneously reporting she did, I apologize both to her and readers of this fishwrap.

Yes, it was irresponsible of me to comment on Bruenigs column without completely grokking the final paragraph and preceding sentence. I regret my error, but in no way will I don a hair shirt and engage in self-flagellation.

Why? Because statements such as Holding those actors accountable will require an enormous amount of political will, but also a recognition that the culprits of climate change are not pro- but anti-humanity, and that its their ethos which inclines to nihilism, despair and death are patently ridiculous and reflect not science but only scientism. As I also noted last week, scientism is poorly understood science with just enough metaphysical sprinkles to qualify as religion.

My initial take on Bruenigs column was based on this: Why have children at all, when the future seems so dire? Even if one assumes that having a child wont contribute to the problem  that our progeny will take seriously the creeping catastrophe their parents didnt  it still seems likely that todays youths will be faced with a world vastly and unpredictably altered.

Thats bad enough, but my eyes glazed over three-quarters through the penultimate paragraph of Bruenigs column  the same old, same old about the godawfulness of corporate profits, the callous disrespect of human life inherent in the pursuit of wealth and sound economic policies. Governments and corporations have for too long prized the license and lucre of a handful of people over the well-being of the vast majority of the planets inhabitants, who are suffering thanks to their recklessness.

Ultimately, however, she wasnt recommending avoiding childbirth as did the expectant father in Paul Schraders First Reformed. In that recent film, the young husband tries to convince his young wife to abort their baby so he/she wont be forced to confront what the father is convinced will be eventual and inevitable environmental Armageddon.

Instead, and just as egregiously wrongheaded, Bruenigs saying procreation might be the best means to battle climate change because  life is good. Indeed, life is good for a myriad of reasons. The hope presented by new life, however, should extend well beyond the utilitarian desire to rectify what Bruenig perceives as our planets despoiled state. Whether abstaining from bringing babies into the world or heralding their arrival as a potential impetus for altering human behavior into seeking remedies for climate change, both are grounded in the belief humanity is beholden only to real or imagined temporal and earthbound concerns rather than the more important spiritual aspects of our shared existence.

We are of course called to be effective stewards of Gods creation, and there remains much to be done to clean up some of our messes. But attacking wholesale the creation of wealth ignores the tremendous progress we have witnessed as a result of such efforts. We have reduced extreme human poverty worldwide by more than 50 percent in less than four decades as a result. Thats a proven fact, and one that benefits humanity both spiritually and physically regardless Bruenigs diagnoses grounded more in scientism than science and religious faith.

Bruce Edward Walker (walker.editorial@gmail.com) is a Morning Sun columnist, contributor to The Federalist, host of the Acton Institutes culture segment of the Radio Free Acton podcast, and former Journalist in Residence at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal.
Rob Rogers is an editorial cartoonist who was fired in June after 25 years with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. His departure, he said, came after weeks of tension with a publisher who wanted a more pro-Trump stance.

Were living in a very dark time, Rogers told the local NPR station, in terms of whos in the White House and in terms of embracing what would otherwise be thought of as despicable racism, despicable thoughts.

So it seems grimly fitting that one of the most arresting visual comments on last weeks carnage in Pittsburgh  11 Jews killed by a gunman at the Tree of Life synagogue  came from Rogers, now working freelance. The image is of a window marked Tree of Life Congregation  Pittsburgh, which has been shot full of holes, glass littering the ground. The caption reads: Day of broken glass 

It is, of course, a reference to the night, 80 years ago in November, when Nazis went on a rampage throughout Germany, destroying synagogues, looting Jewish businesses and murdering Jews. It was called Kristallnacht  the night of broken glass. It was the opening bell of the Holocaust.

Well, another bell rang last week. None of us can yet say what it signified, what opened in America. But that something fetid and evil stirred itself seems beyond dispute.

It wasnt just the synagogue killings. It was also the explosive devices sent to Democratic critics of Donald Trump and to CNN, the news network he despises. And it was a white gunman who, after trying unsuccessfully to get into a black church in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, killed two black patrons at a supermarket.

It all added up to one hell of a bad week. Worse, it was a bad week in the context of years that have seen mass murder at a black church in Charleston and the killing of an anti-racism activist in Charlottesville. Suddenly, Marvin Gayes famous question from almost 50 years ago feels freshly relevant: What, indeed, is going on?

Is our toxic political dialogue to blame? Is that what has loosed this era of political, racial and religious violence upon us? Are we reaping this from the diarrheic mouths of leaders whose entire message is to fear them?

No, said White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders. She claimed that Trump  the chief offender  desires to bring our country together.

She spoke on Monday. That same day, her boss called Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum a thief, and a band of refugees moving through Mexico in search of sanctuary, an invasion. This was after calling activist Tom Steyer a crazed & stumbling lunatic. Trump also voiced contempt for journalists, blaming the great anger in our Country on the Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People. If media were nicer to him, he suggested, there would be Peace and Harmony.

It seems the man is congenitally unable to understand that it is not news medias job to be nice to him or to keep him company in his alternate reality. He also doesnt get  or doesnt care  how corrosive it is when a president speaks nothing but invective, self-interest and lies. A president sets the tone. The tone this one sets is poisonous.

Kristallnacht saw over 7,000 Jewish businesses vandalized and 91 people killed. So no, a cartoonists hyperbole aside, last week was not Kristallnacht.

Except in the sense that Kristallnacht was a line, drawn across history, beyond which lay a very different country and an unimaginable disaster. This might be another one. If so, we need to find our way back across.

Assuming it isnt already too late.

Leonard Pitts is a columnist for The Miami Herald, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, Fla., 33132. Readers may contact him via e-mail at lpitts@miamiherald.com.
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday announced the appointment of Geir Pedersen of Norway as his new special envoy for Syria to succeed Staffan de Mistura, who steps down in November.





Pedersen has decades of political and diplomatic experience, having served both in government and United Nations capacities, said Guterres' press office in a statement.





He is the current Norwegian ambassador to China. Before that he was Norway's permanent representative to the United Nations between 2012 and 2017.





Pedersen served the United Nations in various roles, including as special coordinator for Lebanon between 2007 and 2008 and as personal representative of the secretary-general for Southern Lebanon between 2005 and 2007. He also worked as director of the Asia and Pacific Division in the Department of Political Affairs.





Between 1998 and 2003, Pedersen served as the Norwegian representative to the Palestinian Authority. In 1993, he was a member of the Norwegian team to the Oslo negotiations that led to the signing of the declaration of principles and the mutual recognition between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel.





Born in Oslo in September 1955, he is married and has five children.





Pedersen takes up the Syria position at a critical time. De Mistura is struggling to convene a constitutional committee that is tasked to draft a new constitution for the war-torn country.





He told the Security Council last week that Damascus refused to recognize the United Nations' role in forming the constitutional committee. De Mistura will brief the Security Council on Nov. 19 for the last time as special envoy. He decided to step down to have more time with his family.





Guterres on Wednesday reiterated his "deepest gratitude" to de Mistura for his efforts and contributions to the search for peace in Syria.
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China's e-commerce giant Alibaba and the government of Rwanda Wednesday launched Alibaba's Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP), which makes Rwanda the first African country that launches this platform.





The eWTP initiative was proposed by Jack Ma, Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group, in 2016. It aims to promote public-private dialogue to foster a more effective and efficient policy and business environment to enable small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in cross-border electronic trade.





Ma and Rwandan president Paul Kagame jointly unveiled the plaque of the eWTP at its launching ceremony, which also witnessed the signing of MOUs between the two sides in the areas of e-commerce, tourism, e-payment and capacity building, under the framework of eWTP.





Alibaba will work with Rwanda Development Board to help Rwandan small and medium-sized enterprises sell their products, including coffee and handicrafts, to Chinese consumers through Alibaba's online marketplaces.





Alibaba's travel service platform and Rwanda Development Board will also work together to promote Rwanda as a tourist destination through a Rwanda Tourism Store for booking flights, hotels and travel experiences and a Destination Pavilion, where Chinese consumers can learn about Rwanda.





Alibaba's affiliate Ant Financial will share expertise in inclusive financial tools, such as mobile payments, to support the Rwandan digital economy.





Alibaba is also committed to providing capacity building to academics, policy makers and entrepreneurs on how to grow a digital economy. For policy makers, Alibaba will host a three-day workshop at its Hangzhou headquarters to showcase the nature, capabilities and promise of a new digital economy through first-hand experience with digital finance, logistics, e-commerce and big data industries.





A delegation of ministers and government officials responsible for the development of Rwanda's digital economy will attend a workshop in Hangzhou in January 2019.





Alibaba will also continue to support Rwandan entrepreneurs through programs such as the eFounders Fellowship.





"I hope from today, the eWTP Rwanda can be able to support small businesses, young people and women here in Africa and sell their things to enable them to global buy, global sell, global deliver, global pay and global travel," Ma said at the ceremony.





"If we can make 60 million small businesses in the world, they can do business and change the world. We want to ensure eWTP makes 80 percent of small businesses in Africa to be successful," he said.





"Let's support young people and small businesses to globalize," he added.





The eWTP opens up new frontiers in e-commerce and tourism for Rwanda and will also boost the capacity and competitiveness of Rwandan entrepreneurs and business people, said Kagame.





Rwanda greatly values its growing relationship with the Chinese private sector and Alibaba Group in particular, he said, adding that the launch is a tangible example of that and one that Rwanda intends to build on for mutual benefits.





Wednesday's launch is a "starting point" for eWTP in Rwanda and Africa, Angel Zhao, president of Alibaba Global Business Group, told a media briefing after the ceremony.





She expressed confidence on eWTP's success in Africa. "We are going to build a long-term strategy (for eWTP in Africa)," she added.





Using eWTP is really key and comes at the right time as Rwanda launches its Made-in-Rwanda policy, designed to help boost local industrial contribution to the economic growth while promoting the brand of the Rwandan locally made products at the global stage, Rwandan Minister of Trade and Industry Soraya Hakuziyaremye said at the briefing.





It will help Rwanda's young entrepreneurs and also local enterprise willing to export outside, she said.





"It (eWTP) is perfectly fit in our development agenda," said Clare Akamanzi, CEO of Rwanda Development Board.





Rwanda's development priorities, first of all, is to improve the income level of its people and eWTP provides very good opportunities for Rwandan people and entrepreneurs to be able to maximize their incomes from trading and export, said Akamanzi.





The future of Rwanda's economic development is digital and data driven, CEO of the ICT Chamber of Private Sector Federation of Rwanda Alex Ntare said in an interview.





Next drivers of digital transformation of Rwanda is the digital transformation of trade, particularly enabling small and medium-sized enterprises both in formal and informal sectors to boost their customer reach through e-commerce platforms and marketplaces, said Ntare.





E-commerce will help in economic growth of Rwanda in many ways including cross-border trading, time saving, costs reducing, and enhancing convenience, he said.